LAUSANNE, Switzerland, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

At the onset of the financial crisis in 2009, the members of the largest economies in the world launched a crusade against tax havens and banking secrecy.

Eight years later, IMD business school Professor Arturo Bris says the Swiss private banking industry has been unfairly treated and abused using questionable arguments extraterritoriality - KPMG reports that the number of private banks in Switzerland has declined 24% between 2008 and 2015. The US and the European Union have signed exchange-of-information treaties with many countries, and the list of tax havens has been reduced.

"What has probably been one of the most successful battles fought after the financial crisis - the elimination of tax advantages to individuals - has pursued the wrong target," said Professor Bris.

He points out that US, British and other taxpayers were actually defrauding in their home countries, not in Switzerland or the Cayman islands.

"In many cases, as was the case with Switzerland, banking secrecy was massively confused with tax advantages that are gained by charging lower rates to individuals. Tax competition may be considered unfair and undesirable when capital is movable and the wealthier can chose, by means of residency or through shell companies, the lowest possible income and wealth tax rates," he said. "However, this argument does not seem to hold for corporations."

Bris's point being made with the recent letter sent to leaders of the EU members from the Business Roundtable, a group of CEOs who account for $7 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 16 million employees. The letter expresses discontent about the recent decision of the European Commission that ordered Ireland to recover up to 13 billion from Apple, plus interest, for alleged tax savings that were unfairly granted by the government of Ireland. The letter was sent on behalf of CEOs from companies such as General Electric, JP Morgan Chase, Exxon Mobile and Johnson & Johnson.

"The letter makes two essential points," Bris said. "First, that the rule of law must prevail and that the Commission's demand on Apple is illegal; and second, that the US-based CEOs have the power to threaten the European Union with financial harm and pain by significantly reducing their investment."

Mr. John Engler, a former Michigan governor and signer of the letter as President of the Business Roundtable, makes no claim regarding the fairness of the European Commission's demands.

"I find it outrageous that Apple's tax rate in 2015 was 0.005% as the Commission has alleged. Yet I find it even more insulting in the disparity of the world that this shows, knowing that the demand comes from the US. How can those who have fought against personal tax havens in the last years now be so complacent with corporations such as Apple and other multinationals? These companies are clearly avoiding taxes to increase their competitiveness all at the expense of the countries where they operate," Bris said

Bris believes that in the coming years, tax policy will be one of the most effective tools that countries will use to ease income and wealth inequality. But the starting point has to be corporate - not personal taxes. Apple's tax rate is infinitesimal compared to the personal tax rates faced by any of its customers or employees. Bris says this is detrimental to world prosperity and competitiveness for three reasons:

First, because the vast majority of Apple's shareholders, who benefit the most from low taxes, are based in the US. Through globalization Apple is increasing the gap between rich countries (like the US) and the rest. What Nobel prize winner Angus Deaton has called "the Great Escape," will only be more difficult as nations that need tax revenues, especially those coming from large corporations, are deprived from them.

Second, because tax advantages to companies widen the gap between capital and labor income, they increase income inequalities within countries. Corporate taxes are taxes on capital income for individuals.

Third, because pre-defined advantages make the world less competitive. While these unpaid taxes in the European Union are probably benefitting Ireland (at the expense of other members of the EU), they are overall making the EU less competitive vis-a-vis the US and UK. It is therefore perfectly legitimate - I would even argue highly desirable - that the European Commission gets the unpaid taxes back.

Professor Arturo Bris is Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center.

About IMD

IMD is a top-ranked business school based in Switzerland and Singapore. We are the experts in developing global leaders through high-impact executive education and offer a Global Leader Index where executives can benchmark themselves. We are 100% focused on real-world executive development; we offer Swiss excellence with a global perspective; and we have a flexible, customized, and effective approach. (http://www.imd.org)

Contact:

Matthew Mortellaro

+41 21 618 03 52

[email protected]



SOURCE IMD International
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Playing For Change, the foundation created to promote peace and international co-operation through music, will celebrate its sixth annual Playing For Change Day with events at over 200 venues around the world on Saturday, September 24. Playing For Change Day will include participation by PFC and affiliated organizations in countries such as the U.S., Canada, France, Argentina, Bosnia, and Spain, pursuing mutual agendas such as music education, cross-cultural learning, conflict resolution, and more.

Among the high-profile, international celebrations, Ibiza's will offer 30 local bands performing across four stages on Cala Llonga Beach.



Iconic artists supporting PFC include Jimmy Buffett, Sara Bareilles, Bono, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Ziggy Marley, Keb Mo, Keith Richards, and more.



For Sarajevo's second annual Playing For Change Day, the Bosnia and Herzegovina capital will host the world's largest creative roster. Over 100 musical acts will perform at the Jazz Club Monument, which will sponsor the event, carrying themes of peace and the beauty of diversity. In Diamante, a music therapy workshop overseen by Santiago Buzzi is among the day's activities, which also will include live performances from several of Argentina's popular bands.

Canada's participation features Saskatchewan events ranging from live music to the Playing For Change Film Festival at the Regina Public Library Film Theater. There also will be a Songs 4 Nature Workshop at The Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area, Playing For Change Concerts in Montmartre, Change Your Strings For Change at Sawchyn Guitars in Regina, and a PFC Day at the Artful Dodger.

In the United States, Los Angeles will screen Landfill Harmonic, a touching documentary about life in Cateura, an area located in the outskirts of Ascension, Paraguay. Rock & Brews El Segundo will donate a percentage of sales, while musical acts will populate East L.A. schools, cafes, various stages, and street corners, this format also being adopted by many cities across the US with some variations. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, a four day festival is intended to unify humanity, celebrate life, and leave the land better than it was found. Another approach to PFCDay will come on September 25 from Miami Beach's Sweating For Change, a joint venture between Barry's Bootcamp and Sweet Liberty bar, whose Happy Hour will feature live music and cocktails.

Back in California, Huntington Beach will offer Fully Fullwood's Reggae Sunday, which will not only feature the popular area band at Don The Beachcombers, and PFC's Afro Fiesta during the show's second act. Also appearing at the L.A. event will be the Playing For Change Band, which includes studio drummer Peter Bunetta, New Orleans legend Grandpa Elliott, and Cuban bassist Orbe Ortiz. Since its formation over five years ago, the PFC Band has cycled-in world musicians and vocalists such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Mermans Mosengo, Brazil's Paulo Heman, Japan's Keiko Komaki, Israel's Tal Ben Ari "Tula," and The Netherlands' Clarence Bekker, embracing disparate cultures and traditions for one creative mix.

This PFC global collective will broadcast its message of the positive power of music through multiple broadcast mediums and internet platforms, creating a global day of action that brings music into the lives of children around the world while encouraging positive social change.

On September 16, the Playing For Change Foundation joined with UNICEF for the second annual United Nations Youth Summit. About the event, Executive Director John A. MeKenna explained to The Huffington Post, "Being recognized by the world's foremost advocate and protector of children's rights, UNICEF, as a viable partner in the offerings to children in Latin America and the Caribbean, is one that brings pride, but more importantly, a tremendous degree of earned responsibility and commitment to make a difference on a huge scale. Of course, we are most proud of the growth, happiness and joy reflected daily in the kids. This is what change really looks like."

Proceeds from the event will help support the Playing For Change Foundation's efforts to strengthen music and arts education, build music schools, support teachers and performances, purchase instruments, and connect schools to promote cross-cultural learning and conflict resolution.

To find a PFC Day event near you, please visit this website for more information: https://playingforchangeday.org/

Landfill Harmonic documentary film and performance by the children of the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura:

Saturday, Sept 24

2:00-4:30pm

FREE and open to the public.

Torres Auditorium

Torres-East LA Performing Arts Magnet

4211 Dozier Street, Los Angeles, CA 90063

About PFC Day

On Saturday, September 24, 2016, thousands of fans and supporters of the Playing For Change Movement, and humanitarians worldwide, will celebrate the Sixth Annual Playing For Change Day. PFC Day unites communities through music, and raises awareness and funds for music education. The event will build on the success of PFC Day 2015, during which thousands of volunteers organized more than 300 synchronized events in 52 countries on 6 continents. Proceeds from PFC Day will provide support for the Playing For Change Foundation's free music education programs that give children around the world the opportunity to develop new skills and find personal expression through the arts. For more information: pfcday.org.

About Playing For Change Foundation

The Playing For Change Foundation was established in 2007, providing music education in areas that are culturally rich yet economically challenged. Children in countries around the world, from Africa to Latin America to Southeast Asia, attend free classes in music, dance and languages, taught by qualified local music teachers and led by regional administrators. Students learn about their own cultural traditions while employing technology to connect and share experiences with others around the world.

Playing For Change, led by Co-Founders Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, arose from the universal belief that music can connect people across circumstances, challenges and cultural differences. In 2002, a small group of filmmakers set out with a mobile recording studio in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the human race on the streets. The first music video production, "Stand By Me," combined 35 musicians from 10 countries who had never met in person. The phenomenon swept across the world, with "Stand By Me," one of the Playing For Change productions, being viewed over 100 million times online and counting.

Additional information: https://playingforchange.org/about

Media Contact:

Kelly MacGaunn

Bobbi Marcus PR & Events, Inc.

[email protected]

Photo(s):

http://www.prlog.org/12589180

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Playing For Change Foundation

Related Links

https://playingforchangeday.org


A total of four clinical trial sites treated a target enrollment of 70 patients. The primary endpoint of STYLE is safety and tolerability at six months and subjects will be followed for 12 months. Subjects participating in STYLE received one of four treatment arms, including fat plus fat derived stem and regenerative cells.

"Successfully completing enrollment of STYLE is a foundational step towards Kerastem's goal to be the first U.S. FDA approved stem and regenerative cell therapy to treat hair loss. STYLE target enrollment has been completed ahead of schedule," explained Brad Conlan, CEO of Kerastem. Hair loss affects more than 21 million women and 40 million men in the United States alone. The global hair loss market is valued at more than $7 Billion and currently has limited options for women and men with early hair loss.1

"We are extremely pleased by STYLE's progress and this is reflective of the significant interest and commitment of participating subjects and investigators, said Ken Washenik, M.D., Ph.D, Principal Investigator. "In addition, we are encouraged that we have been able to demonstrate that same day adipose (fat) harvest, cell processing and scalp treatment is feasible and readily performed in a number of distinct practice environments throughout the U.S."

For more information, and to speak with a Kerastem executive, contact Richard Laermer at RLM PR: 212-741-5106 X 216; [email protected].

About Kerastem

Kerastem is the leader in the development and commercialization of cell therapy-based approaches to hair loss. The private company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bimini Technologies. Outside of the U.S., the company is actively involved in market development; Kerastem therapy is currently being offered at a number of clinics in Europe and Japan. To learn more about Kerastem or the STYLE Clinical Trial, please log onto www.kerastem.com. The Bimini portfolio also includes Puregraft (www.puregraft.com), the world's leading fat transfer solution.

1 Source: IBISworld Report OD4136: Hair Loss Treatment Manufacturing in the US

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/KERASTEM---Short-version-HD.mp4



Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150728/247048LOGO

SOURCE Kerastem Technologies

Related Links

http://www.kerastem.com


MILWAUKEE, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Klement Sausage Co., Inc. is celebrating National Snack Stick Day by pledging to donate up to $30,000 through a social media campaign. Now through Friday, September 23rd, through the Klement's STICK up for Fighting Hunger Facebook campaign, Klement's will be donating $1 to food banks around the country to help families in need. For every new like on the Klement Sausage Facebook page and for every like, share or comment on their designated photo Klement's will donate $1 for a total donation up to $30,000.

The Klement Sausage Company founded National Snack Stick Day (September 23rd) to celebrate on-the-go snacks for making on-the-go lives possible! These little portions of smoked sausage are a convenient source of protein to take with you on a hike or throw in your gym bag, satisfy mid-morning hunger pangs and are easily shared after school, after work or anytime. With a variety of flavorful choices, snack sticks have the whole family covered. From sweet to spicy and everything in between, this savory snack was made for busy people. The Registrar at National Day Calendar approved the day in 2016.

On September 23rd be sure your pockets, backpacks, and desk drawers are stocked so you can observe National Snack Stick Day! Kick back, chew on your favorite snack stick and raise a toast to all those who set out to satisfy the taste buds of tradition. Use #NationalSnackStickDay to share on social media.

Klement's was established in 1956 by three brothers, John, George and Ron Klement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and continues to be operated under the family name, employing over 350 people in two plants. The company has grown from a small sausage kitchen to one of the largest producers of fine, old world sausage products.

Klement's believes in handcrafted production  meticulously making delicious sausage products the way it used to be done in the butcher shops in the Old World. A small batch focus and "made with care philosophy" supports a compelling attraction for consumers who seek artisan food experiences. The company manufacturers fresh sausages, cooked and smoked sausages, summer sausages and snack sticks.

https://www.facebook.com/KlementSausage

Food banks that will be benefiting from the money raised in the campaign are the following:

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin- Milwaukee, WI

Second Harvest Southern Wisconsin- Madison, WI

Greater Chicago Food Depository- Chicago, IL

St. Louis Area Foodbank- Bridgeton, MO

Second Harvest Heartland- Minneapolis, MN

Food Bank of the Rockies- Denver, CO

Harvesters Community Food Bank- Kansas City, MO

Northern Illinois Food Bank- Naperville, IL

Food Bank of Iowa- Des Moines, IA

Ozarks Food Harvest- Springfield, MO

Second Harvest Northern Lakes- Duluth, MN

Contact: Sarah Hanneman

414-744-2330 x 247

[email protected]

www.klements.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411398LOGO

SOURCE Klement Sausage Co., Inc.

Related Links

http://www.klements.com


LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- KINDLAND (www.thekindland.com), a fast-growing cannabis media upstart, is now the first cannabis industry company to sponsor a major U.S. music festival, Las Vegas-based 'Life is Beautiful,' happening this Friday to Sunday, September 23-25 that will be attended by more than 150,000 people and feature major performances by artists including Mumford and Sons, J. Cole, and Major Lazer.

The partnership will transform one of Life Is Beautiful's Fremont Street venues into the KINDLAND House, a comedy club and cannabis community showcase featuring KINDLAND partners and House sponsors Blunt Box (www.3lunt3ox.com), the premier flower roll company in Las Vegas; High There! (https://highthere.com), a leading social network for the cannabis community; and Yes on 2 (www.regulatemarijuanainnevada.org), the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Nevada.

President of KINDLAND, Mike France, said in a statement, "Life is Beautiful is one of the most recognized festivals in the country, and Las Vegas is an important and unique market for our industry. We are honored to be a Life Is Beautiful partner and a mainstreaming force for the cannabis community."

Mike Olortegui of Blunt Box added, "Life Is Beautiful is a premier music festival. We could not imagine a better place or partner to launch our premium brand of flower roll products."

Darren Roberts, Co-Founder and CEO of High There! additionally notes, "As a global social network that represents mainstream cannabis culture, we see this event as a fantastic way to bring the community together in a live venue, around art, music, and culture, interests that users of our social network connect around every day on our platform."

Ryan Doherty, Partner and CEO of Life is Beautiful, says, "The cannabis community is a customer to festivals in general. We understand the movement and look forward to working with KINDLAND in a responsible and professional way."

"We are grateful to KINDLAND and Life is Beautiful for their commitment to raising awareness about Question 2," said Joe Brezny, spokesperson for Yes on 2, the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Nevada. "There will literally be thousands of attendees at the Life is Beautiful Festival who are passionate about ending marijuana prohibition in Nevada. Accordingly, the event will provide us with an incredible opportunity to educate voters and recruit supporters for the final weeks of the campaign."

SOURCE KINDLAND

Related Links

http://www.thekindland.com


"Lowe's is proud to support the National Museum of African American History and Culture in honoring the rich experience and contributions of the African American community, and how it has shaped our national identity," said Robert Niblock, Lowe's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our support connects to a broader commitment to be even more thoughtful and intentional about embracing diversity as part of our everyday business."

Lowe's continues to expand its diversity and inclusion outreach by engaging in hundreds of related events and initiatives annually. With focused efforts on increasing diverse talent, supporting diverse suppliers and empowering diverse students, Lowe's partners with organizations including, the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), National Association of Black Accountants (NABA),Women of Color STEM, National Minority Supplier Development Council, Urban League and UNCF (United Negro College Fund), to empower the African American community.

For more information about Lowe's commitment to diversity and philanthropy, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.



About the Museum

The National Museum of African American History and Culture was established by an Act of Congress through legislation signed into law in 2003 by President George W. Bush. The museum has been built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on a five-acre tract adjacent to the Washington Monument. The 19th museum in the Smithsonian family, it is the nation's largest and most comprehensive cultural institution devoted exclusively to exploring and documenting the African American story and its impact on American history. For more information, visit the museum's website at nmaahc.si.edu.

About Lowe's in the Community

Lowe's, a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company, has a 50-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. Since 2007, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed more than $250 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility and LowesInTheCommunity.tumblr.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410988

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410989

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131007/MM93272LOGO

SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.lowes.com


PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's Restaurants of the Greater Philadelphia Region along with Covenant House Pennsylvania and Covenant House New Jersey, the region's largest shelter specializing in serving homeless youth, have announced a partnership to help serve the young men and women of Covenant House. The partnership will kick off on National Coffee Day, September 29, with McDonald's restaurants across Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey donating 100 percent of all McCafe drip coffee proceeds to Covenant House.

Covenant House assists 2,500 "invisible" homeless young people per year and provides safe housing for 500 youth. All coffee proceeds from participating Pennsylvania restaurants will be donated to the Covenant House Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, while all proceeds from participating New Jersey restaurants will be donated to Covenant House New Jersey, located in Atlantic City.

In addition to the donation, McDonald's and Covenant House will work together to promote job opportunities for the young men and women at Covenant House. Beyond just gainful employment, the partnership will introduce Covenant House guests to the McDonald's Archways to Opportunity Program, an employee education initiative open to all McDonald's employees with nine months or more of service. The new Covenant House partnership, along with Delaware McDonald's year-long Coffee with a Cause program are all part of McDonald's larger commitment to giving back to their local communities.

"We are extremely humbled to partner with Covenant House," said John Durante, President, McDonald's of the Greater Philadelphia Region Owner/Operator Association. "Youth homelessness is an epidemic in our cities, and with this partnership, we are proud to give our local homeless youth the opportunity to succeed and thrive. McDonald's strives to be a good neighbor and support the local communities we serve. This partnership, along with our Delaware restaurants' Coffee with a Cause program, will help us make a lasting, positive impact in the community."

"Thanks to this donation and the partnership with McDonald's we are now able to provide more of our youth with great opportunities to succeed and thrive here in our community," said John Ducoff, Executive Director Covenant House Pennsylvania. "Many area youth are 'invisible' because they are couch surfing or riding the el end-to-end and not on street corners. Through the generosity of McDonald's, our youth will now have opportunities for gainful employment and benefits that will allow them to finish their degrees and support their families, and we are forever grateful."

"We are so proud and grateful for this amazing partnership with McDonald's," said Jim White, Executive Director of Covenant House New Jersey. "The funds raised will provide food, clothing, shelter, and counseling for homeless kids who have been robbed of the gifts of home and family. And the awareness raised will get more good people involved in helping homeless kids. McDonald's is helping to be a voice for a lot of kids who have no voice of their own and we're so grateful."

Coffee included in the promotion comes from McDonald's McCafe line, which includes regular and decaffeinated drip coffee made with sustainably sourced 100 percent Arabica beans, expertly roasted and freshly brewed in small batches at all McDonald's restaurants to ensure a consistently good cup of coffee at every visit.

For more information on the McDonald's and Covenant House Pennsylvania partnership, please contact Eddie Ravert at [email protected] or 215-790-4392

About McDonald's

McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 27 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @McDPhilly and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/McDonalds.

About Covenant House Pennsylvania

Established in Philadelphia in 1999, Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) is the largest provider of services to homeless and runaway youth in the city. CHPA serves runaway, homeless, and trafficked youth, including mothers with children, through 21 years of age, working to help youth escape the streets and transition to a life with stable housing, a solid educational foundation, and sustained employment. CHPA also provides longerterm living accommodation and support for youth through 24 years of age. CHPA's primary goal is to create a relationship with their kids based upon unconditional love and absolute respect. CHPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, please visit www.covenanthousepa.org.

About Covenant House New Jersey

Covenant House New Jersey is a privately funded non-profit organization with centers in Atlantic City and Newark, NJ. Operating in New Jersey since 1989, it is the largest provider in the state of services to homeless, at-risk, and trafficked adolescents under 22. In addition to food, shelter, clothing, and crisis care, Covenant House provides health care, educational and vocational services, counseling, drug abuse treatment and prevention programs, legal services, mother/child programs, transitional living programs, street outreach, and aftercare services. Tonight alone, they will give 132 homeless adolescents and 19 of their babies throughout the state a safe and caring place to live in North and South Jersey. Another dozen will be found by the Outreach teams on the street or walk through the doors of our Crisis Centers for the first time. More information can be found at nj.covenanthouse.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Eddie Ravert

Tierney

215-790-4392

[email protected]

SOURCE McDonalds Restaurants of the Greater Philadelphia Region
MIAMI, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mi9 Retail, a premier provider of enterprise retail solutions, honored fifteen retailers during its awards gala at the Synergy 2016 Customer Conference. Held at the vibrant W South Beach hotel from September 14-16, Synergy 2016 featured two days of educational sessions, live solution demonstrations, networking, and expert panels discussing the latest trends in retail technology, analytics, payment and data security.

Award winners were acknowledged in ten major categories highlighting their accomplishments in customer engagement, community involvement, retail leadership, and their effective use of Mi9 Retail solutions to drive business performance and innovation.

Winners included Samsonite, Xanterra Parks and Resorts, Central Network Retail Group (CNRG), Helzberg Diamonds, U.S. Coast Guard Exchange, Luxury Jewelers Resource Group (LJRG), The Original Factory Shop (TOFS), Hyde Park Jewelers, Borsheims Jewelry, Benny's, Inc., and Hard Rock Cafe.

"I'm pleased to honor and congratulate all of this year's award winners," said Mi9 Retail CEO, Neil Moses. "I especially want to thank all of our customers who attended Synergy 2016 and who participated in our dialogue on industry best practices, strategies for consumer engagement, and technology innovation. We are committed to our customers and continue to focus on providing the best solutions to meet their diverse retailing needs."

About Mi9 Retail:

Mi9 Retail, a premier provider of enterprise retail merchandising, e-commerce, business intelligence and customer-centric software, empowers the world's most successful retailers to build strong personal relationships with their customers, process high volumes of transactions in real time and optimize inventory across all channels utilizing a single, accurate source of the truth. Built using cutting-edge technology, the software minimizes costs of ownership and provides the industry's fastest time to value. The company's global headquarters are located in Miami, FL, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. To learn more, please visit www.mi9retail.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160701/385734LOGO

SOURCE Mi9 Retail

Related Links

http://www.mi9retail.com


WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Parking Association (NPA) today announced the election of new board officers, as well as seven new board members parking industry leaders to its board of directors. In addition, four current board members moved into officer positions.

Elected officers to the board on Sept. 19, 2016, at the NPA's 65th Annual Convention & Expo in Atlanta, for two-year terms were:

Board Chair, Alan Lazowski , chairman & CEO, LAZ Parking ( Hartford )

, chairman & CEO, ( ) Chair Elect, Nicolle Judge , president, SkyPark ( San Francisco )

, president, SkyPark ( ) Vice Chair, Robert Zurisky , president, Parkway Corporation ( Philadelphia )

, president, Parkway Corporation ( ) Treasurer, David Damus , CEO, System Property Development, Inc. ( Pasadena )

, CEO, System Property Development, Inc. ( ) Secretary, Frank Ching , CPP, director of parking management Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ( Los Angeles )

, CPP, director of parking management Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ( ) Immediate Past Chair, Mark Muglich , retired, ABM Parking Service ( Cleveland )

Newly elected NPA board members are:

Marc Baumann , CEO, SP+ ( Chicago )

, CEO, SP+ ( ) Jeff Becker , vice president, Amano McGann ( Minneapolis )

, vice president, ( ) Bijan Eghtedari , president, Citizens Holdings ( Atlanta )

, president, Citizens Holdings ( ) Alex Israel , general manager and vice president, parking, INRIX ( Seattle )

, general manager and vice president, parking, INRIX ( ) Meredith McLaurin , finance & operations manager, McLaurin Parking, ( Raleigh, N.C. )

, finance & operations manager, McLaurin Parking, ( ) Robert Pohrer , president, St. Louis Parking Company ( St. Louis )

, president, St. Louis Parking Company ( ) John Roy , CPP, chief information officer, MVP Parking REIT ( San Diego )

About NPA: The National Parking Association, established in 1951, is the voice of the $28 billion parking & industry composed of private parking owners and public parking operators that together employ more than 143,000 people. NPA is the premier association for parking owners & leadersproviding research, advocacy, and education and credentialing. Visit NPA at WeAreParking.org.

National Parking Association

1112 16th Street NW, Suite 840

Washington, DC 20036

WeAreParking.org

Contact:

Christina Garneski, CAE

202.296.4336

[email protected]

SOURCE National Parking Association

Related Links

http://www.npapark.org


DENVER, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- History Colorado has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation's Advancing Informal STEM Learning program. The project explores the integration of Native American knowledge with Western science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

"Congratulations to History Colorado on receiving recognition from the National Science Foundation," said Gov. Hickenlooper. "History Colorado is leading the way in innovative methods to collaborate with the tribes, and this grant offers a terrific opportunity for teachers, students and the tribes to continue partnering."

The five-year grant will engage 128,000 STEM learners, educators, and experts across Colorado and Utah in: cutting-edge archaeological and ethnobotanical field work; interactive exhibits and videos; public programs for families and adults; statewide K-12 education outreach programs, digital badges, and teacher training; and findings for museums, tribes, and scientists.

Ute STEM expands on successful collaborations between History Colorado, the three Ute Tribes, and scientist partners. Representatives of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, the Southern Ute Tribe, and the Ute Indian Tribe  Uintah and Ouray Reservation will participate in all aspects of the project. The Dominguez Archaeological Group and ethnobotanist Kelly Kindscher, of University of Kansas, bring extensive experience to this project.

These programs are designed to provide rural residents with increased STEM experiences. Key audiences include Ute elders and youth at the three Ute reservations, as well as K-12 students, families, and adults in Colorado and Utah counties. The project will foster partnerships with History Colorado museums, tribal education departments, local school districts, libraries, museums, and environmental education organizations.

"This project offers a unique approach to interpretation of Ute history by focusing on science and acknowledging Ute use of science in conjunction with traditional knowledge," said Ernest House Jr., Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs. "The field work may interest some Ute youth in pursuing careers in science and in learning more about their own culture."

Ute STEM will highlight Ute peoples' systematic knowledge of plants, engineering of shelters, mathematical patterns in beadwork, and sound amplification for music and dance. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples, developed from experience and passed down over centuries. Ute STEM will demonstrate that TEK and western STEM fields are complementary approaches to scientific understanding. History Colorado will provide an innovative collaboration model for history museums, tribes, and scientists.

SOURCE History Colorado

Related Links

http://www.historycolorado.org


WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees proudly supports Rep. Jan Schakowsky's resolution to designate September 2228 as Federal Nurses Week. Joining Schakowsky are Reps. Keith Ellison, Mark Pocan, and Julia Brownley as original cosponsors of the resolution.

Started in 2014 by AFGE and its Nurses Steering Committee, Federal Nurses Week honors federal and D.C. government employees in nursing professions, including: registered nurses, nurse practitioners, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and nurses' assistants.

AFGE thanks Reps. Schakowsky, Ellison, Pocan, and Brownley for recognizing federal nurses during Federal Nurses Week

"Too many of our country's hard-working nurses have gone unrecognized for too long," said AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. "We are thrilled that Reps. Schakowsky, Ellison, Pocan, and Brownley have joined us to celebrate these medical professionals who care for our nation's heroes as well as some of the most disenfranchised and vulnerable citizens."

"We are grateful to these lawmakers for honoring the nursing professionals who care for our citizens 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and are calling on her colleagues to do the same" said Jane Nygaard, AFGE District 8 National Vice President and co-creator of Federal Nurses Week.

"At the VA our nurses go to work every day understaffed while caring for our veterans who rely on their care and expertise," said Nygaard. "The nurses at the Bureau of Prisons treat some of the most dangerous and hardened criminals in the country. And nurses at the Department of Defense care for our active duty service members and their families."

In 2015, President Obama joined the union in recognizing the week saying, "America's nurses are the beating heart of our medical system," and that "our Nation is forever stronger thanks to the selfless medical professionals who dedicate their lives to promoting the health and well-being of others."

AFGE represents workers in the nursing professions at the Indian Health Service, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Department of Defense.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

For the latest AFGE news and information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In today's globalized world, there are not many places on Earth left unscathed from swarms of tourists and the same international companies typically found in every other major travel destination. But the Guizhou province in China is one such place!

Today, September 23, 2016, the Guizhou Tourism Development Committee partnered with the Sino-American Friendship Association (SAFA) to put the spotlight on this hidden gem at one of New York's biggest tourism, business and cultural exchange promotional events.

Friday's event, 'Mountain Park, Colorful Guizhou' New York Tourism Promotion,' was held at Times Square in New York City. Tourism agencies, government officials and executives from China and the United States joined together to share their global insights and travel experiences, along with their ideas for global tourism cooperation and cultural exchange throughout the United States and China.

Mr. Shi, Jingyi, Chief Planner and member of the Party Leading Group of the Guizhou Tourism Development Committee, said at the event: "Guizhou is known as a mountainous province of scenic landscapes and welcomes tourists from at home and abroad to experience its clear skies and green mountains within the rich historical and cultural context of China."

Currently known to few international travelers, Guizhou is an inland province tucked within China's southwest region. Known as one of the most beautiful provinces in China, Guizhou offers spectacular plateau landscapes cut by dramatic gorges, canyons, and terraced hillsides with enchanting vistas. The province is also famous for its diverse ethnic cultures. It has the third largest ethnic population in China, with several indigenous groups that continue an ancient way of life and time-honored traditions.

This January, The New York Times ranked Guizhou as one of the 52 places to go in 2016 and praised it as an authentic Chinese travel destination.

The Sino-American Friendship Association, (SAFA), has made its mission to introduce China's rising travel destinations to global travelers throughout the United States.

"China is a vast country with thousands of years of culture, history, and some of the world's most exotic landscapes. Our goal is to make American tourists more familiar with all of the travel destinations China has to offer, many of which, people have never heard of before," said Ms. Li Li, Executive Vice President of the association.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Cimagine Media Group

212-964-1228

[email protected]

SOURCE Cimagine Media Group
ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Family Physicians today awarded its highest honor to Karen L. Smith, MD, FAAFP, of Raeford, North Carolina. Smith was named the AAFP's national 2017 Family Physician of the Year, which honors one outstanding American family physician who provides patients with compassionate, comprehensive care, and serves as a role model in his or her community and to other health professionals. She accepted the award during the AAFP's annual meeting, the Family Medicine Experience.

Smith has served the citizens of rural Hoke County, North Carolina, for more than two decades. There she provides the full spectrum of family medicine from obstetrics to care for the elderly. "The power of touch: spiritual, physical and emotional" are words she lives by, both in her clinical work and personal life. Despite running a bustling independent family medicine practice, Smith's care extends beyond the exam room to her family and community.

Raeford is located in an impoverished rural area of the state where primary care physicians are in short supply. More than a decade ago, Smith's practice was one of the first rural, independent, state-of-the-art family medicine practices to simultaneously invest in technology such as interactive patient portals, kiosk-based check-ins and electronic health records. This established her as one of Hoke County's most important and progressive health care providers. Smith has since earned a national reputation as a leading proponent of health information technology and is an aggressive promoter of computer literacy among her patient population.

Many consider Smith's use of health information technology to be a model for rural family medicine practice. However, for Smith, technology is fundamentally a means through which she achieves two aims: providing better patient care and encouraging patients to engage in their health. She has a unique gift for leveraging technology to serve the needs of her patients.



She also was an early adopter of patient advisory panels, using their input to develop strategies to help guide her practice. A trailblazer at heart, she has long used this approach to improve the depth, breadth and quality of service she provides. With her patients as partners, her whole community is better served.

Alongside her practice, Smith also serves as medical director and supervising physician of the Hoke County Health Department. There she treats patients and works tirelessly to help train other health professionals and inspire them to continue serving in the area. On a broader community scale, Smith supports key social service efforts across the region addressing substance abuse issues, food-related health disparities, and working with local youth to deliver after-school programs and guidance. Smith is also a trusted public voice within community media, hosting a weekly radio program sharing timely health information. This has been especially beneficial for elderly patients in the region.

Smith advocates for family medicine and its value to the health care system through her involvement with organizations such as the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians, the North Carolina Medical Society and the North Carolina Medical Care Advisory Committee. She has been called upon to testify on Capitol Hill regarding the challenges and benefits of electronic health technology, and was named a Meaningful Use Vanguard Fellow by the Office of the National Coordinator in 2013. In addition, she has served as chair of the AAFP's Commission on Practice Enhancement and Quality, and is currently a member of the AAFP Commission on Governmental Advocacy. Through all of these roles, Smith's work has impacted family medicine and patient care in ways that extend far beyond North Carolina.

Smith's investments in practice infrastructure, community health, and health care advocacy continue to pay big dividends through improved quality, increased access to care, greater efficiency, streamlined patient communication and more effective population health management. Her contributions and achievements are representative of who family physicians are and what they can aspire to be in similar places in the United States.

Smith earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and her medical degree from the Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed her residency at the Duke/Southern Regional Area Health Education Center Family Medicine Residency Program in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She went on to earn a post-residency certificate focused on preparing physicians to teach in residency and medical school education programs from the Duke University Faculty Development.

Smith is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She has the AAFP Degree of Fellow, an earned degree awarded to family physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education.

About the American Academy of Family Physicians

Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 124,900 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.



Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits -- that's 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America's underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine's cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.



To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP's award-winning consumer website, www.FamilyDoctor.org.

SOURCE American Academy of Family Physicians

Related Links

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EAST HANOVER, N.J., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted three simultaneous approvals for the expanded use of Ilaris (canakinumab) to treat three rare and distinct types of Periodic Fever Syndromes.

Ilaris is the first and only FDA-approved biologic treatment for patients with Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS), Hyperimmunoglobulin D Syndrome (HIDS)/Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF).1,2 All three conditions are part of a group of rare autoinflammatory diseases called Periodic Fever Syndromes, which are also referred to as Hereditary Periodic Fevers (HPF). The most common syndrome is FMF, which mainly affects people of Eastern Mediterranean ancestry. It affects 1 in 250 to 1 in 1,000 individuals in these populations, many of whom are children.3

"We are grateful to the scientists, clinical trial investigators and all associates who worked tirelessly in support of patients to gain three simultaneous FDA approvals of ILARIS," said Fabrice Chouraqui, President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, "It is through their hard work that Novartis can offer a desperately needed new treatment option to the adults and children who suffer from these debilitating conditions and continue to serve the rare disease community."

The FDA approvals are based on results from the pivotal Phase III CLUSTER study which showed rapid (at Day 15) and sustained disease control with Ilaris compared to placebo through 16 weeks, in patients with either TRAPS, HIDS/MKD or FMF.2 As a result of the positive data, the FDA granted Ilaris Breakthrough Therapy status and priority reviews for each of the three Periodic Fever Syndrome conditions.

Periodic Fever Syndromes are a group of rare autoinflammatory diseases that cause disabling and persistent fevers which may be accompanied by joint pain, swelling, muscle pain and skin rashes with complications that can be life-threatening.1

"Adults and children living with TRAPS, HIDS/MKD or FMF often experience extensive delays in diagnosis because the disorders are so rare that many physicians are unaware of them," said Hal M. Hoffman, M.D., chief of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and University of California San Diego. "Following diagnosis, our goal is to get patients treated as soon as possible and that has been challenging due to the lack of available treatment options. That's what makes these three approvals for ILARIS so important for patients."

Ilaris is already approved and marketed in the US as an effective and well-tolerated treatment for another Periodic Fever Syndrome condition  Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), and another autoinflammatory condition  Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA).

About Periodic Fever Syndromes

Periodic Fever Syndromes are a group of diseases that cause serious recurrent fever and inflammation through non-infectious activation of the immune system. Most patients present with symptoms in infancy or childhood, but in some patients the condition only becomes apparent or diagnosed in adulthood.1

Previous treatments for these rare conditions consisted of oral anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, which were used only to help manage the symptoms. While other medicines, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have also been used to help reduce symptoms, they do not prevent or change the overall course of a flare.1

About Ilaris

Ilaris is a selective, high-affinity, human monoclonal antibody that inhibits Interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta, which is an important part of the body's immune system defenses.4 Excessive production of IL-1 beta plays a prominent role in certain inflammatory diseases.5,6 Ilaris works by blocking the action of IL-1 beta for a sustained period of time, therefore inhibiting inflammation that is caused by its over-production.4

Ilaris is currently approved and marketed for the treatment of SJIA in the US and EU and for the treatment of Adult-Onset Still's Disease (AOSD) and the symptomatic treatment of refractory acute gouty arthritis in the EU. Ilaris is also approved in more than 70 countries, including in the EU, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan for the treatment of the Periodic Fever Syndrome CAPS: rare, lifelong, genetic disorders with debilitating symptoms. In the US, Ilaris is approved for two subtypes of CAPS: Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS) and Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS). The approved indications may vary depending upon the individual country.

Important Safety Information

ILARIS can cause serious side effects, including increased risk of serious side infections. ILARIS can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Your healthcare provider should: test you for tuberculosis (TB) before you receive ILARIS; monitor you closely for symptoms of TB during treatment with ILARIS; check you for symptoms of any type of infection before, during, and after treatment with ILARIS. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of an infection such as fever, sweats or chills, cough, flu-like symptoms, weight loss, shortness of breath, blood in your phlegm, sores on your body, warm or painful areas on your body, diarrhea or stomach pain, or feeling very tired.

You should not receive ILARIS if you are allergic to canakinumab or any of the ingredients in ILARIS.

Before you receive ILARIS, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: think you have or are being treated for an active infection; have symptoms of an infection; have a history of infections that keep coming back; have a history of low white blood cells; have or have had HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C; are scheduled to receive any immunizations (vaccines) as you should not get 'live vaccines' if you are receiving ILARIS; are pregnant or planning to become pregnant since it is not known if ILARIS will harm an unborn baby (patients who become pregnant while receiving ILARIS should tell their healthcare provider right away); are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed as it is not known if ILARIS passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will receive ILARIS or breastfeed. You should not do both.

ILARIS can cause serious side effects, including: serious infections; decreased ability of your body to fight infections (immunosuppression; for people treated with medicines that cause immunosuppression like ILARIS, the chances of getting cancer may increase); allergic reactions (call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction: rash, itching and hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, dizziness or feeling faint); risk of infection with live vaccines (you should not get live vaccines if you are receiving ILARIS; tell your healthcare provider if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines).

The most common side effects of ILARIS include:

When ILARIS is used for the treatment of CAPS: cold symptoms; diarrhea, flu (influenza), runny nose, headache, cough, body aches; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (gastroenteritis), feeling like you are spinning (vertigo), weight gain, injection site reactions (such as redness, swelling, warmth, or itching) and nausea.

When ILARIS is used for the treatment of TRAPS, HIDS/MKD, and FMF: cold symptoms, upper respiratory tract infection, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (gastroenteritis), and injection site reactions (such as redness, swelling, warmth, or itching).

When ILARIS is used for the treatment of SJIA: cold symptoms, upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, runny nose, sore throat, urinary tract infection, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (gastroenteritis), stomach pain, and injection site reactions (such as redness, swelling, warmth, or itching).

What is Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS)?

MAS is a syndrome associated with SJIA and some other autoinflammatory diseases like HIDS/MKD that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if your SJIA symptoms get worse or if you have any of these symptoms of an infection: a fever lasting longer than 3 days; a cough that does not go away; redness in one part of your body; warm feeling or swelling of your skin.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide at https://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/sites/www.pharma.us.novartis.com/files/ilaris.pdf for additional Important Safety Information.

Disclaimer

The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by words such as "Breakthrough Therapy Designations," "Breakthrough Therapy," "goal," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new indications or labeling for Ilaris, or regarding potential future revenues from Ilaris. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of management regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that Ilaris will be submitted or approved for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Ilaris will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Ilaris could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including unexpected clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; general economic and industry conditions; global trends toward health care cost containment, including ongoing pricing pressures; unexpected safety, quality or manufacturing issues, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation offers a broad range of medicines for cancer, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, neurological disease, organ transplantation, psychiatric disease, respiratory disease and skin conditions.

Located in East Hanover, NJ Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is an affiliate of Novartis AG, which provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

References

Cleveland Clinic. Periodic Fever Syndrome. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/orthopaedics-rheumatology/diseases-conditions/periodic-fever-syndrome. Accessed September 2016 .https://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/orthopaedics-rheumatology/diseases-conditions/periodic-fever-syndrome. Accessed September 2016. Novartis. Ilaris Prescribing Information. September 2016 . Available at: www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/ilaris.pdf. Accessed September 2016 . National Amyloidosis Centre. Amyloidosis Patient Information Site: The inherited periodic fever syndromes  general information. Available at: www.amyloidosis.org.uk/fever-syndromes/inherited-fever-syndromes/. Accessed September 2016 . Dhimolea E. Canakinumab, MAbs. 2010 Jan-Feb;2(1):3-13. Jesus AA, Goldbach-Mansky R. IL-1 blockade in autoinflammatory syndromes. Annu Rev Med. 2014;65:223-244. Toker O, Hashkes PJ. Critical appraisal of canakinumab in the treatment of adults and children with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS). Biologics. 2010;4:131-138.

Novartis Media Relations

Central media line: +41 61 324 2200

E-mail: [email protected]

Eric Althoff Novartis Global Media Relations +41 61 324 7999 (direct) +41 79 593 4202 (mobile) [email protected] Michelle Bauman US Pharma Communications 862-778-6519 (direct) 973-714-8043 (mobile) [email protected]

Novartis Investor Relations

Central investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944

E-mail: [email protected]

Central

North America

Samir Shah +41 61 324 7944 Richard Pulik +1 212 830 2448 Pierre-Michel Bringer +41 61 324 1065 Sloan Pavsner +1 212 830 2417 Thomas Hungerbuehler +41 61 324 8425



Isabella Zinck +41 61 324 7188





SOURCE Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW), the next-generation security company, and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (Singtel) today announced availability of the Singtel Managed Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP), a unique managed security service that harnesses the expertise of Singtel Managed Security Service (MSS) and the technology of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Security Platform to protect organizations against sophisticated cyberthreats.

This Singtel service aims to keep cyberthreats at bay by monitoring, isolating and preventing any suspicious applications from breaching an organization's networks or endpoint devices. In addition, the ATP's advance threat intelligence capability provides organizations with insights on cyberthreats, allowing them to take necessary security measures.

This collaborative effort expands Palo Alto Networks existing activities with Singtel's managed security services business unit, Trustwave, to bring next-generation managed security services to global multi-national businesses and government agencies.

The Singtel MSS provides organizations with real-time, round-the-clock managed security services through Singtel's global network of eight Security Operations Centres (SOCs). As the SOCs are integrated with Singtel Global Threat Intelligence, they are constantly updated with information from Trustwave's sensors and SpiderLabs malware research laboratory as well as Singtel's extensive network of security intelligence partners. By complementing the Singtel Global Threat Intelligence with Palo Alto Networks AutoFocus threat intelligence, Singtel MSS can provide even faster response to cyberattacks.

The Managed ATP operates on the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Security Platform, comprising Next-Generation Firewall, Threat Intelligence Cloud and Advanced Endpoint Protection. This platform protects organizations by allowing safe applications to pass through networks, cloud and endpoint devices but blocks both known as well as unknown threats and suspicious applications.

In Singapore, the Managed ATP service is delivered through Singtel's Singapore Advanced Security Operations Centre (ASOC), which monitors advanced cyberthreats globally and helps protect organizations against sophisticated malicious cyberattacks. Singtel's cyber security expertise is bolstered by 2,000 security professionals worldwide, including its elite SpiderLabs cyber response team.

Mr. Bill Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Group Enterprise at Singtel said, "As a leading global Managed Security Services Provider, we are committed to strengthening our capabilities to protect organizations against sophisticated, evolving cyberthreats. Through our collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, we have developed an innovative cyber security service which takes a holistic and preventive approach towards cyberthreats."

"Together with our Trustwave managed security service, the trained cyber security experts at our Advanced Security Operations Centre can forestall cyberattacks and use the information of any neutralized malware to update our global threat intelligence to benefit other regions. In the long run, our Managed Security Service will strengthen organizations' cyber defense and reinforce Singapore as a safe and vibrant business hub," he added.

"We are delighted to join forces with Singtel  one of Asia Pacific's most respected, progressive and leading managed security services providers  to deliver unparalleled next-generation, breach-prevention security capabilities to its customers," said Mr. Mark McLaughlin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Palo Alto Networks. "Our collaboration gives organizations the peace of mind to implement key technology initiatives within their cloud and mobile networks and maintain complete visibility and control as their most valued data assets and critical control systems will be protected."

For additional information about the new service offering, visit:

http://info.singtel.com/business/sites/business/files/managed_security/Singtel%20Managed%20Advanced%20Threat%20Prevention.pdf

For additional information on Palo Alto Networks AutoFocus, visit:

https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/secure-the-network/subscriptions/autofocus

About Singtel

Singtel is Asia's leading communications and ICT solutions group, providing a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses. For consumers, Singtel delivers a complete and integrated suite of services, including mobile, broadband and TV. For businesses, Singtel offers a complementary array of workforce mobility solutions, data hosting, cloud, network infrastructure, analytics and cyber-security capabilities. The Group has presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 600 million mobile customers in 23 countries. Its infrastructure and technology services for businesses span 21 countries, with more than 370 direct points of presence in 325 cities.

For more information, visit www.singtel.com

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SingtelNews

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is the next-generation security company, leading a new era in cybersecurity by safely enabling applications and preventing cyber breaches for tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. Built with an innovative approach and highly differentiated cyberthreat prevention capabilities, our game-changing security platform delivers security far superior to legacy or point products, safely enables daily business operations, and protects an organization's most valuable assets. Find out more at www.paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks and the Palo Alto Networks logo are trademarks of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

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The partnership uses Philips' remote intensive care unit (eICU) technology and will see Emory Healthcare intensivists and critical care nurses based onsite at Sydney's MQ Health. MQ Health is the first university-led integrated health campus in Australia, which brings together research and clinical care. This care model enables the Sydney-based US clinicians to provide continuous night-time critical care oversight to patients back in the United States during daytime hours, enabling the clinical team to be wide awake as opposed to working at night.

Combining daytime coverage in Atlanta with night-time coverage from Sydney provides around-the-clock remote management of intensive care unit (ICU) patients by critical care specialists, when adverse events are most likely to occur [1], decreasing the risk of complications, shortening patients' length of stay and saving lives [2].

Critical care units such as ICUs are high-tech units to care for patients with severe and potentially life threatening conditions that require constant and close monitoring. Philips' eICU program is a comprehensive program that enables health care professionals from a centralized eICU center to provide around-the-clock care for critically ill patients. A study that compared patients receiving usual ICU care with patients who received their ICU care from a hospital that utilized the eICU program, showed that the latter were 26% more likely to survive the ICU and discharged from the ICU 20% faster [3].

"We are operating in a time when connected health solutions can truly make a difference in a patient's experience," said Kevin Barrow, Managing Director Philips Australia and New Zealand. "We know that funding for critical care and critical access is not growing despite increases in demand driven by population growth. This program uses a proactive and continuous care model that enable the right care to be delivered remotely at the right time."

Kevin Barrow added: "We aim to transform the delivery of care to address growing clinician shortages while improving patient outcomes. I am confident that the application of these kinds of solutions will shape the future of healthcare. If we are able to do this across continents we can certainly replicate it locally, connecting Australian clinicians with patients in need across regional and remote areas."

The solution allows for near real-time remote monitoring and early intervention via advance audio-visual technology and algorithms that can predict deteriorations in health, giving clinicians the ability to communicate with local caregivers via live video link, continuously monitor patient health, and advise on the best course of treatment from wherever they are located.

This innovation means hospitals dealing with intensive care physician and nurse shortages can provide patients with 24/7 clinical expertise and additional, proactive support to the in-hospital care team. Bringing critical care closer to the patient, remote monitoring removes the hurdle of geography and reduces the burden of transporting patients. This will help healthcare providers avoid transport associated costs, while patients or their families won't have the stress of transferring to higher level critical care centers.

"Thanks to our eICU program we can continuously monitor Atlanta-based patients from MQ Health in Sydney and support the bedside team by recognising adverse physiology, making critical diagnoses and intervening before those issues become significant problems," said Dr Timothy Buchman, Chief, Critical Care Service, Emory Healthcare. "In Australia, these types of technologies also have far-reaching potential to support care of rural and remote patients. Currently the optimal medical treatment, in a stressful setting such as the ICU, can be thousands of miles away. The introduction of electronically-delivered specialist care has the potential to standardise the quality of care between the CBD and the countryside."

"Clinicians collaborating with industry on innovative technological advances that lead to improvements in patient care is the vision of Macquarie University and MQ Health," said Professor Michael Parr, Clinical Program Head, Critical Care and Anaesthetics at MQ Health.

"This partnership will provide the opportunity to build on North American experience and improve intensive care outcomes for rural and remote Australia, and showing what is achievable through global collaboration."

References

[1] Gershengorn H.B. 2016. Nighttime Extubations Are Associated With Worse Outcomes For U.S. Intensive Care Unit Patients. Outstanding Epidemiology and Health Services Research in Critical Care. Available online: http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2016.193.1_MeetingAbstracts.A6150. Date accessed: September 2016.

[2] Tang, Z. et al. 2007. Workflow in intensive care unit remote monitoring: A time-and-motion study. Critical Care Medicine: 35(9): 2057-2063. Available online: http://interruptions.net/literature/Tang-CritCareMed07.pdf. Date accessed: September 2016.

[3] A Multicenter Study of ICU Telemedicine Reengineering of Adult Critical Care, Chest Journal, March 2014. Available online: http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1788059&resultClick=1. Date accessed: September 2016.

For further information, please contact:

Steve Klink

Philips Group Communications

Tel.: +31 6 10888824

E-mail: [email protected]

Albertine Schor

Philips Australia and New Zealand

Tel.: +61 427 915 643

E-mail: [email protected]

Anna Garcia

Issues and Media Manager Macquarie University

Tel: +61 2 9850 1051

E-mail: [email protected]

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion and employs approximately 69,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About Emory Healthcare

Emory Healthcare is a non-profit, charitable, academic health care system consisting of six hospitals, multiple provider locations and more than 2,000 faculty, employed and network physicians in approximately 70 specialties. As the most comprehensive health care system in Georgia and the only health network in the state that brings together a full range of hospitals, clinics and local practices, Emory Healthcare is committed to providing patients and families with better, more collaborative care for all of their medical needs. The Emory Healthcare Network encompasses teams of providers at our locations across Georgia, including Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory University Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, Emory Rehabilitation Hospital and the Wesley Woods Center, Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital and Emory Johns Creek Hospital, the Emory Clinic, and the Emory Healthcare Network physicians, ranging from primary to specialty care providers. Through our integrated, collaborative care network, we are dedicated to providing the standard of care that our patients expect and deserve. For more information, visit www.emoryhealthcare.org.

About MQ Health

MQ Health is the new name for the Macquarie University Health Sciences Centre, bringing together Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie University Clinical Associates, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and clinical components of the Faculty of Human Sciences. MQ Health realises the true and seamless integration of patient-centric clinical care with life changing research and distinctive educational programs. We believe that staying at the frontier of great clinical care requires linkages to evidence based research that transitions to the patient's bedside and a commitment to developing future healthcare professionals. MQ Health has the unique opportunity of integrating all three aspects under one governance structure. For more information visit: www.mqhealth.org.au.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140122/NE50581LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411063LOGO

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SOURCE Royal Philips; Emory Healthcare

Related Links

http://www.usa.philips.com/


TEL AVIV, Israel, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

RADWIN (http://www.radwin.com), the global broadband wireless leader, today announced that RADWIN JET Beamforming Wireless PtMP solutions were deployed by leading mining companies in Australia and Chile to deliver ultra-capacity connectivity in open-pit mines.

Yossi Nissan, Business Development Director, Strategic Industries: "Mining companies require high-quality wireless broadband connectivity to improve operational efficiency, thus enhancing productivity and safety. The ever-changing terrain of surface mines makes it very difficult for existing wireless technologies to deliver the required capacity and service levels. RADWIN's JET Beamforming solution is ideally suited to operate in dynamic mining environments as it continuously adjusts the signal path to guarantee high-level transmission quality. RADWIN JET is already successfully deployed in some of the toughest mining environments in the world, operating in high interference and non-line-of-sight scenarios."

JET Beamforming delivers up to 750Mbps per base station and up to 3Gbps per cell needed to run multiple applications in open-pit mines including backhaul for LTE and Wi-Fi communication trailers, industrial IoT devices, stackers, reclaimers, dewatering systems and sensors as well as high-definition video surveillance. JET Beamforming's multi-band support feature (3.3-3.8GHz and 4.9GHz-5.8GHz) assures optimal deployment flexibility; the solution provides outstanding uplink capacity (up to 90%) and SLA for mission critical applications.

To schedule a meeting with RADWIN at MineExpo contact: [email protected]; +972-3-766-2918

About RADWIN

RADWIN is a leading provider of carrier-grade broadband wireless solutions. Deployed in over 150 countries, RADWIN's solutions power applications including backhaul, broadband access, private network connectivity, video surveillance transmission as well as delivering broadband for trains and metros.

RADWIN Sales

HQ: +972-3-769-2820

US: +1-201-252-4224

Email: [email protected]

Media Contact

Tammy Levy

RADWIN

Tel: +972-3-766-2916

Email: [email protected]



SOURCE RADWIN
DUBLIN, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Rechargeable Batteries - Global Strategic Business Report" report to their offering.

The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2015 through 2022. Also, a six-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research.

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Rechargeable Batteries in US$ Million by the following Battery Chemistries:

Nickel-Cadmium

Nickel-Metal Hydride

Lithium Ion

Lithium Ion Polymer

The report profiles 131 companies including many key and niche players such as

Battery Technology, Inc. (US)

Beckett Energy Systems (US)

BYD Company Limited ( China )

) Duracell Inc. (US)

EaglePicher Technologies, LLC (US)

E-One Moli Energy Corp. ( Taiwan )

) Energizer Holdings, Inc. (US)

Eveready Industries India Ltd. ( India )

) FDK Corporation ( Japan )

) GP Batteries International Limited ( Singapore )

) GS Yuasa Corp. ( Japan )

) GS Yuasa Lithium Power Inc. (US)

Highpower International Inc. ( China )

) Hitachi Maxell Ltd. ( Japan )

) Jiangmen TWD Technology Co., Ltd. ( China )

) Johnson Controls, Inc. (US)

LG Chem Co., Ltd. ( South Korea )

) Panasonic Corporation ( Japan )

) Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales Company ( USA )

) SANYO Electric Company Ltd. ( Japan )

) Saft SA ( France )

) Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. ( South Korea )

) Sony Corporation ( Japan )

) Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (US)

VARTA Consumer Batteries GmbH & Co., KGaA ( Germany )

) TCL Hyperpower Batteries, Inc. ( China )

) Ultralife Batteries, Inc. (US)

Valence Technology, Inc. (US)

Key Topics Covered:

1. Market Overview

2. Market Trends And Growth Drivers

3. Overview Of Key End Application Markets

4. Technological Trends

3D Printed Lithium-Ion Micro Batteries

5. Innovations/Research & Development

6. Global Competitive Scenario

7. Product Overview

8. Raw Materials - An Overview

9. Product Introductions/Launches

10. Recent Industry Activity

11. Focus On Select Players

12. Global Market Perspective

Total Companies Profiled: 131 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries 148)

The United States (42)

(42) Canada (5)

(5) Japan (16)

(16) Europe (20)

(20) - France (1)

(1) - Germany (9)

(9) - The United Kingdom (8)

(8) - Rest of Europe (2)

(2) Asia-Pacific (Excluding Japan) (63)

(Excluding Japan) (63) Africa (1)

(1) Middle East (1)

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/68mxwg/rechargeable

Related Topics: Battery Technology

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 partnership will advocate for the rights of the over quarter of a billion children and young people who are not in school today and an estimated 330 million who are in school but not learning. Operating across more than 60 developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality education, the partnership will prioritize the poorest and most vulnerable, including girls and children affected by conflict and crisis.

In her new role as GPE Global Ambassador, Rihanna will encourage world leaders and policymakers to boost their support for global education and education in emergencies through the Global Partnership for Education, the only global organization focused exclusively on improving education in the world's poorest countries.

The announcement comes the same week as a group of influential leaders from all continents called on the world to invest more and better in education, particularly in the world's poorest countries. The report of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity presents compelling new data and analysis and makes the case for urgent action to ensure education is the foundation for a world that is prosperous, peaceful, equitable and future-ready.

Speaking of the partnership, Rihanna said, "I feel strongly that all children everywhere should be afforded the opportunity of a quality education. Therefore I'm proud to announce Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with education advocacy leaders like the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen. Working together, I know we can amplify our efforts and ensure that millions of children gain access to education globally."

GPE Chair and former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, said, "We are thrilled that Rihanna is joining GPE as Global Ambassador to campaign for every child to be able to experience the power of a quality education. We have a once in a generation opportunity to build the commitment of world leaders to education, and Rihanna's voice and travels to countries where GPE is actively engaged, will be hugely influential in improving the lives of girls and boys everywhere."

Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen said, "Achieving a future free of extreme poverty starts with education. In creating this partnership we bring together three complementary parties, Global Citizen will drive the advocacy and movement building efforts, Rihanna, whose reach as one of the greatest artists of our generation will amplify this essential work, and the Global Partnership for Education will campaign governments around the world to effect real change. By coming together, our organizations will have an impact for generations to come."

About The Clara Lionel Foundation

The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) is dedicated to breaking down barriers and transforming the lives of young people globally through education. CLF was founded in 2012 by Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. Supporting the most innovative education programs worldwide as well as special projects in Rihanna's home country of Barbados, CLF is a revolutionary philanthropic space where supporters can join Rihanna's journey as a global ambassador for education. Current programs include the Clara Lionel Foundation Global Scholarship Program, the Clara Braithwaite Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados and the Barbados Micro Grants for Schools Program.

About the Global Partnership for Education

The Global Partnership for Education works with more than 60 developing countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education, prioritizing the poorest, the most vulnerable and those living in fragile and conflict-affected countries. GPE mobilizes financing to improve learning and equity through building stronger education systems. As the only global organization focused exclusively on improving education, GPE brings together developing country and donor country governments, multilateral development and humanitarian agencies, and organizations from the private sector, philanthropy, civil society and the teaching profession.

About Global Citizen

Global Citizen is a social action platform for the global generation who are passionate about learning and taking action on the world's biggest issues. Global Citizen works in partnership with and supports some of the most effective organizations working to achieve the Global Goals and end extreme poverty. Global Citizen is therefore proud to support this groundbreaking and impactful partnership to support global issues including education and education in emergencies. Global Citizen will amplify, support and promote GPE and CLFs joint activities and advocacy through its platforms, partnerships and outreach to Global Citizens. Committed to providing the most interesting stories, effective actions and powerful campaigns, Global Citizen aims to reach and recruit the largest possible number of people who care about ending extreme poverty.

Media Contact:

For Clara Lionel Foundation

Anna Miller [email protected]

For Global Citizen

Andrew Kirk [email protected]

For Global Partnership for Education

Geoff Adlide [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411343

SOURCE Clara Lionel Foundation; Global Citizen; Global Partnership for Education
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "As the mayor of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I have a very simple message to the great people of New York during these times: we stand together. For over 80 years, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been allies. It has been an alliance forged not only based on economic and strategic joint interests, but a deep social and civic connection. The exchange of knowledge between our two countries, and the years of joint collaboration in a variety of development sectors has played an important role in enabling Riyadh to become the global metropolis of over 6.5 million inhabitants that it is today in a very short period of time.

Like most foreigners, I am awestruck by New York City every time I visit. But this time, I am also humbled by just how much my own home-city shares in common, and hopeful that our cities will continue to stand together.

As I prepare for a visit to the United Nations next week, I am joined by a delegation of Saudi men and women who represent a broad array of our society for a series of events we call "A Day in Riyadh." They come not as politicians or diplomats, but as accomplished private citizens seeking to share their experiences and knowledge with the world about Saudi Arabia, rather than what is sometimes depicted in the Western media.

It is a Saudi Arabia rich with human capital. A country that is striving to achieve an ambitious agenda of long term developmental sustainability. Of balancing the need to make our desert environment livable & enjoyable, while honoring the need for environmental conservation. Of honoring our heritage while also advancing our culture. And make no mistake about it, Saudi women will play an ever-increasing and indispensable role in reaching our vision for the future.

There are many misconceptions about our Kingdom. But as "A Day in Riyadh" at the UN will showcase, there is much more that binds our two cities with one another.

Like New York, the city of Riyadh has faced many challenges and growing pains, but we are still committed to succeeding. Working closely with the United States, with global experts from the United Nations and UN organizations and programs, we are continuing on a path to growth for our citizens. From to the construction of one of the world's largest mass transit systems, to the surge in housing development and foreign investment, Riyadh has more in common with New York every day.

As the United States' second-largest trading partner, Saudi Arabia and the US have forged an interconnected alliance that goes beyond economic and strategic partnershipsan alliance that extends into the realm of culture. This multilateral, cross-cultural exchange has woven our two nations' deep social and civic connectiona connection that will no doubt surprise those who have a misconception of Saudi Arabia a desert country with only oil to offer. But for those fortunate enough to travel, it is hardly news that Saudi Arabia is in the midst of significant economic and cultural and urban development.

Now, it is more critical than ever that our two peoples join world leaders in supporting what unites us."

H.E. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Alsultan is the President of the Arriyadh Development Authority and the Mayor of Riyadh.

SOURCE Arriyadh Development Authority
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has proposed changes to its SBIC Early Stage Program, a feature of the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program. SBA has proposed a number of regulatory changes that seek to broaden access to the Early Stage Program and strengthen the impact of SBIC's on early stage small businesses.

SBA has introduced regulatory changes based on extensive consultation with SBIC Program stakeholders and experts in the early stage investment industry as part of SBA's advance notice of proposed rulemaking concerning its SBIC Early Stage Program published in the Federal Register in March 2015. The major changes include:

Allow Early Stage SBIC applicants to apply to the program on a rolling basis. Allow existing Early Stage SBIC applicants to apply for a subsequent fund. Allow Early Stage SBICs to utilize a line of credit subject to certain terms without SBA's prior approval. Increase maximum leverage from $50 million to $75 million .

These proposed changes are open to public comment for 30 days. To submit comments on the proposed changes to SBA's Early Stage Program, please visit https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=SBA-2015-0002-0009. For additional information, visit SBA's website at www.sba.gov/inv/earlystage.

About the Small Business Investment Company Program

The Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program is a multi-billion dollar, government-sponsored investment fund created in 1958 to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs' need for capital and traditional sources of financing. SBA invests long-term capital in privately-owned and managed investment firms licensed as Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs). Once capitalized, SBICs make debt and equity investments in some of America's most promising small businesses, helping them grow. Since the program was created in 1958, over $80 billion has been invested, helping finance 170,000 American small businesses, including companies like COSTCO, Amgen, Apple, FedEx, Staples, Intel, and Tesla.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

SBA was created in 1953 and since January 13, 2012, has served as a Cabinet-level agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small businesses, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. www.sba.gov

Release Number: 16-69

Contact: Tiffani S. Clements, (202) 401-0035

Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs

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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov


BURLINGTON, Ontario, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian Business and PROFIT today ranked Secure Sense No. 13 on the 28th annual PROFIT 500, the definitive ranking of Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies. It should be noted that Secure Sense placed first overall as the Fastest-Growing Information Technology company on the list. Published in the October issue of Canadian Business and at PROFITguide.com, the PROFIT 500 ranks Canadian businesses by their five-year revenue growth.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411242LOGO

Secure Sense made the 2016 PROFIT 500 list with five-year revenue growth of 4,912%.

"Companies become a part of the PROFIT 500 through innovative thinking, smart strategy, and sheer grit," says James Cowan, Editor-in-chief of PROFIT and Canadian Business. "These firms demonstrate what Canadian entrepreneurs can achieve, both at home and across the globe."

"We are very honoured to be placed on this year's PROFIT 500 Fastest-Growing Companies list. Last year was yet another busy year for us and we're extremely proud of the results produced by our team," says CEO Peter-William Humphries. "Our mission has always been to be a customer and partner-focused company that, at its core, is dedicated to fostering strong relationships. This accolade is another reflection of our customers' trust in Secure Sense, to be their preferred Security Partner."

Visit our Website

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on LinkedIn

About PROFIT and PROFITguide.com

PROFIT: Your Guide to Business Success is Canada's preeminent media brand dedicated to the management issues and opportunities facing small and mid-sized businesses. For 34 years, Canadian entrepreneurs across a vast array of economic sectors have remained loyal to PROFIT because it's a timely and reliable source of actionable information that helps them achieve business success and get the recognition they deserve for generating positive economic and social change. Visit PROFIT online at PROFITguide.com.

About Canadian Business

Founded in 1928, Canadian Business is the longest-serving, best-selling and most-trusted business publication in the country. With a total brand readership of more than 1.1 million, it is the country's premier media brand for executives and senior business leaders. It fuels the success of Canada's business elite with a focus on the things that matter most: leadership, innovation, business strategy and management tactics. We provide concrete examples of business achievement, thought-provoking analysis and compelling storytelling, all in an elegant package with bold graphics and great photography. Canadian Businesswhat leadership looks like.

About Secure Sense

Secure Sense is an IT solution provider specializing in network and security services and product implementation. Not only are we a Value Added Reseller (VAR), we offer managed services and a range of professional services, allowing us to deliver optimal custom solutions for our customers. We've drawn on our skills and in-depth knowledge to drive and establish a philosophy wherein clients are always provided with the value and return on investment they should expect from IT security expenditures.

Media contact

Mackenzie Parnham

Secure Sense

[email protected]

866-999-7506- ext 118

www.securesense.ca

Related Files

PROFIT_PR_sept2016.docx

Related Images

image1.png

image2.png

Related Links

www.securesense.ca

https://twitter.com/securesense

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Secure Sense

Related Links

http://securesense.ca


BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a founding funder of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), we at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) are eager for the opening on Sept. 24 and look forward to this weekend's dedication celebration in Washington, D.C. WKKF is committed to the promotion of racial healing toward racial equity. We believe the opportunities and experiences the NMAAHC will offer can stimulate a much-needed dialogue about race, and foster a spirit of transformation across the country.

Ensuring that authentic narratives are a part of the national history and conversation is a critical part of our work. WKKF has been a long-time supporter of the Smithsonian Institution and our involvement with the NMAAHC as a founding funder included a five-year, $3.5 million grant to support the building of the museum with the important stories from communities, in its "Save Our African American Treasures" program. Treasures was launched in Chicago in February 2008 and has travelled to Los Angeles; Charleston and St. Helena Island, SC; Detroit; Mississippi, and Washington, D.C. where rich stories emerged from community members with their treasures, many of which are now part of the museum's exhibits.

At the Kellogg Foundation, all of our work centers on our commitment to the health, happiness and well-being of all children. We believe that the NMAAHC will create opportunities for children to enhance their formal education experience by learning about the African American culture and how it has helped shape America. Children will have the opportunity to attain a greater sense of their own history and culture, cultivate self-pride and confidence, be aware of and concerned about others, and gain an increased appreciation for global diversity.

I, along with our WKKF trustees Celeste Clark, Rod Gillum and Ramon Murguia will be visiting Washington, D.C., to commemorate the opening. It is our hope that everyone  from across the country and around the world  will visit our nation's capital to explore, learn and experience our common humanity together.

Visit the NMAAHC website for more information.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti.

SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Related Links

http://www.wkkf.org


PUNE, India, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report " Track and Trace Solutions Market by Type (Barcode Scanner, Plant Manager, Labeling, Monitoring & Verification), Technology (1D & 2D Barcode, RFID), Application (Serialization, Aggregation), End User (Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics) - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market is projected to reach USD 2.81 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 17.3% from 2016 to 2021.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 210 market data Tables and 37 Figures spread through 220 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Track and Trace Solutions Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/track-trace-solution-market-158898570.html?utm_source=prnewswire

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The increasing focus of manufacturers on brand protection, growth in the number of packaging-related product recalls, and the need to ensure regulatory compliance are the key factors driving market growth. However, the high cost associated with the installation of serialization and aggregation solutions is restraining the growth of this market.

In this report, the market is majorly segmented by product type, technology, application, end user, and region. Based on technology, the market is segmented into 2D barcodes, radiofrequency identification (RFID), and linear barcodes. The 2D barcodes segment accounted for largest share of the healthcare track and trace solutions market. This is attributed to the increased use of 2D barcodes in packaging, as they have higher data storage capacities than linear barcodes. The RFID segment is estimated to register the highest growth primarily due to the growing demand for these systems in automated pharmaceutical distribution and electronic medical records.

Speak to our research experts:

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=158898570

In 2015, North America accounted for the largest share of the healthcare track and trace solutions market, followed by Europe. Technological advancements in the packaging industry, increasing brand awareness and growing awareness on anti-counterfeit packaging technologies among manufacturers in the region are driving market growth in North America. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth in this market majorly due to improving healthcare infrastructure and mandatory regulations for the implementation of serialization. In addition, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on strengthening their presence in emerging APAC countries.

The global healthcare track and trace solutions market is consolidated in nature, with the top five companies accounting for the largest market share in 2015. Some key players in this market are Axway Inc. (U.S.), Adents International (France), Optel Vision (Canada), Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (U.S.), Systech Inc. (U.S.), TraceLink Inc. (U.S.), Antares Vision (Italy), Xyntek Inc. (U.S.), Sea Vision Srl (Italy), Siemens AG (Germany), Seidenader Maschinenbau GmbH (Germany), and ACG Worldwide (India). These leading players have primarily focused on new product launches, agreements, collaboration, partnerships, and expansion for growth in the market.

Browse Related Reports:

Anti-Counterfeit Packaging Market by Technology (RFID, Coding & Printing, Holograms, Security Labels), Usage Feature (Track & Trace, Tamper Evidence, Overt & Covert Features), End-Use (Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive) - Global Forecasts to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/anti-counterfeit-packaging-advanced-technologies-and-global-market-129.html

Pharmaceutical Packaging Equipment Market by Package Type (Blister, Strip, Bottle, Tube, Aseptic Packaging, Wrapping, Labeling & Serialization), by Product Type (Tablet, Powder, Cream, Syrup, Aseptic Liquid, Aerosol) - Global Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/pharmaceutical-packaging-equipment-market-19845828.html

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm 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

UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ

Magarpatta city, Hadapsar

Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India

1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]



Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://mnmblog.org/market-research/healthcare/healthcareit

Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Twitter and UN Global Pulse today announced a partnership that will provide the United Nations with access to Twitter's data tools to support efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted by world leaders last year.

Every day, people around the world send hundreds of millions of Tweets in dozens of languages. This public data contains real-time information on many issues including the cost of food, availability of jobs, access to health care, quality of education, and reports of natural disasters. This partnership will allow the development and humanitarian agencies of the UN to turn these social conversations into actionable information to aid communities around the globe.

"The Sustainable Development Goals are first and foremost about people, and Twitter's unique data stream can help us truly take a real-time pulse on priorities and concerns -- particularly in regions where social media use is common -- to strengthen decision-making. Strong public-private partnerships like this show the vast potential of big data to serve the public good," said Robert Kirkpatrick, Director of UN Global Pulse.

"We are incredibly proud to partner with the UN in support of the Sustainable Development Goals," said Chris Moody, Twitter's VP of Data Strategy. "Twitter data provides a live window into the public conversations that communities around the world are having, and we believe that the increased potential for research and innovation through this partnership will further the UN's efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals."

Organizations and businesses around the world currently use Twitter data in many meaningful ways, and this unique data source enables them to leverage public information at scale to better inform their policies and decisions. These partnerships enable innovative uses of Twitter data, while protecting the privacy and safety of Twitter users.

UN Global Pulse's new collaboration with Twitter builds on existing R&D that has shown the power of social media for social impact, like measuring the impact of public health campaigns, tracking reports of rising food prices, or prioritizing needs after natural disasters.

About UN Global Pulse:

Global Pulse is an innovation initiative of the UN Secretary-General, harnessing data science and analytics for sustainable development and humanitarian action. (www.unglobalpulse.org)

About Twitter:

Twitter is a global platform for self-expression and live conversation and is the best place to see what's happening in the world right now. This partnership with the UN represents Twitter's largest #DataforGood initiative to date focused on leveraging the power of Twitter data for social good. Twitter is what's happening in the world right now and is available in more than 40 languages globally.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160510/366147LOGO

SOURCE Twitter, Inc.

Related Links

http://twitter.com


CHESTERFIELD, United Kingdom, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: MNK), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has upheld the validity of commercially significant claims related to five patents covering gas delivery systems as well as methods of using such systems related to INOMAX (nitric oxide) gas, for inhalation.

The USPTO decisions came in the context of Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings, instituted by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) following petitions filed by Praxair Distribution, Inc. The decisions concerned five patents that expire in 2031, part of 17 total INOMAX patents listed in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orange Book.

"INOMAX is protected by comprehensive intellectual property covering both the drug and INOmax delivery systems  patents which extend late into the next decade and beyond. Additionally, we believe the customer service and delivery model established for INOMAX provides a high level of account insight that most customers appreciate," said Michael-Bryant Hicks, Mallinckrodt Senior Vice President and General Counsel. "Mallinckrodt will continue to vigorously defend the validity of and enforce the company's intellectual property rights concerning INOMAX."

Independently, on Sept. 22, 2016 the Patent Trial and Appeal Board dismissed a second set of petitions for IPR proceedings concerning four of five patents that expire in 2029 and cover use of a drug like INOMAX. The PTAB had denied Praxair's first request to institute IPR proceedings on these four patents in July 2015, and has now declined a second request seeking to institute such proceedings.

The PTAB instituted an IPR proceeding for the fifth patent expiring in 2029, U.S. patent no. 8,846,112 (the '112 patent). On July 7, 2016, the PTAB upheld the patentability of a claim in the '112 patent that relates to distribution of a drug like INOMAX in conjunction with its approved labeling. The '112 patent was further upheld in an Aug. 25, 2016 PTAB decision dismissing a second petition for IPR proceedings on that patent, noting it had reached a "final decision" regarding the validity of the claims of that patent. Praxair has filed an appeal of this PTAB decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and Mallinckrodt subsequently filed a cross-appeal.

In February and March 2016, the USPTO granted two new U.S. patents associated with delivery of nitric oxide utilizing devices like Mallinckrodt's INOmax DS IR  delivery system (expiring in 2031) and a third new U.S. patent relating to the use of nitric oxide gas sensors (expiring in 2034). These three INOMAX new patents were listed in the FDA Orange Book for INOMAX and added to the company's pending patent litigation against Praxair in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.

About INOMAX

In the U.S., INOMAX is approved for use by the FDA, to improve oxygenation and reduce the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in term and near-term (>34 weeks gestation) neonates with hypoxic respiratory failure associated with clinical or echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension in conjunction with ventilatory support and other appropriate agents.

Important Safety Information

INOMAX is contraindicated in the treatment of neonates dependent on right-to-left shunting of blood.

Abrupt discontinuation of INOMAX may lead to increasing pulmonary artery pressure and worsening oxygenation even in neonates with no apparent response to nitric oxide for inhalation.

Methemoglobinemia and NO 2 levels are dose dependent. Nitric oxide donor compounds may have an additive effect with INOMAX on the risk of developing methemoglobinemia. Nitrogen dioxide may cause airway inflammation and damage to lung tissues.

levels are dose dependent. Nitric oxide donor compounds may have an additive effect with INOMAX on the risk of developing methemoglobinemia. Nitrogen dioxide may cause airway inflammation and damage to lung tissues. In patients with pre-existing left ventricular dysfunction, INOMAX may increase pulmonary capillary wedge pressure leading to pulmonary edema.

Monitor for PaO 2 , methemoglobin, and inspired NO 2 during INOMAX administration.

, methemoglobin, and inspired NO during INOMAX administration. Use only with an INOmax DS IR , operated by trained personnel.

Please see full Prescribing Information here for additional important safety information.

ABOUT MALLINCKRODT

Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products and therapies, as well as nuclear imaging products. Areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and hemostasis products; and central nervous system drugs. The company's core strengths include the acquisition and management of highly regulated raw materials and specialized chemistry, formulation and manufacturing capabilities. The company's Specialty Brands segment includes branded medicines; its Specialty Generics segment includes specialty generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and external manufacturing; and the Nuclear Imaging segment includes nuclear imaging agents. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.

Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.

CONTACTS

Media

Rhonda Sciarra

Senior Communications Manager

908-238-6765

[email protected]

Meredith Fischer

Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs

314-654-3318

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Coleman N. Lannum, CFA

Senior Vice President, Investor Strategy and IRO

314-654-6649

[email protected]

Daniel J. Speciale, CPA

Director, Investor Relations

314-654-3638

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/167103LOGO



SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc

Related Links

http://www.mallinckrodt.com


SAN DIEGO, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson & Weaver, LLP's is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) violated federal securities laws. Wells Fargo provides retail, commercial and corporate banking services to individuals, businesses and institutions.

On September 7, 2016, it was disclosed that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau had fined Wells Fargo $100 million for secretly opening over 2 million unauthorized deposit and credit card accounts since 2011. On September 14, 2016, Reuters reported that the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Southern District of New York and the Northern District of California were investigating the Company. Then on September 16, 2016, The House of Representatives Financial Services Committee announced it was seeking interviews with several bank executives in the wake of revelations that the bank employed thousands of staffers who created fake accounts in order to meet performance goals.

If you are a Wells Fargo shareholder and are interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact Jim Baker ([email protected]) at 619-814-4471. If you email, please include your phone number.

Johnson & Weaver, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonandweaver.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Contact:

Johnson & Weaver, LLP

Jim Baker, 619-814-4471

[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160211/332409LOGO

SOURCE Johnson & Weaver, LLP

Related Links

http://johnsonandweaver.com


"Cleaner water is so much safer for you and your family, and we care about that," says Talbot Watkins, president of Winstar Home Services. "If our service experts are in your home providing any other service, we will test your water free of charge to see if it needs treatment."

The human body is over 70 percent water, so the water we absorb when drinking, bathing or breathing (steam) affects all of our body's systems. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to water contaminants due to their weaker immune systems.

"You can take harmful substances into your body by eating, drinking, breathing, or through your skin," says Watkins. "What you may not know is that your body absorbs six times more through your skin than when you drink it. So when you're taking a nice hot bath, or bathing your baby, you're getting a big dose of chlorine. We want to help fix that and make water safer here in Baltimore."

Today's innovations remove nearly everything from water that isn't water. Water filtration systems achieve incredibly high levels of filtration for the very cleanest, safest drinking water.

While you may be tempted to simply buy bottled water, your municipal water is probably better. Federal guidelines for bottled water are often no different than those from simple tap water, and water utilities serving large populations are subject to more stringent quality regulations than their fancy bottled water competitors.

Baltimore is known for good water that meets all federal standards and ranks highly for quality and taste. The catch, Watkins explains, is that Baltimorelike most citiesuses chlorine to disinfect water because it's cheap and effective and has saved millions of lives. But, recent studies have shown that although chlorine is very effective in removing other contaminants, it increases cancer risks. The compiled results are startling, showing that people drinking chlorinated water over long periods of time have a 21 percent increased risk of bladder cancer and a 38 percent increased risk of rectal cancer.

Chlorine by-products are present in all Baltimore-area drinking water, according to the 2015 Baltimore Water Quality report.

"While chlorine does a good job of removing some pretty bad contaminants, it does need to be filtered out of your tap water," Watkins says. "Otherwise you're going to be drinking it and soaking it in through your skin. Cleaner water is, without a doubt, much healthier."

Winstar uses NOVO water systems because of the incredibly high level of engineering that goes into each system. NOVO manufactures complete systems that improve water quality for general use, as well as those that provide high-quality water for consumption. NOVO's systems:

Operate based on the demand for treated water

Provide a continuous supply of soft water, even while the equipment is cleaning itself

Operate efficiently and provide simple and reliable service

For just pennies per gallon, an in-home purification system removes chlorine, heavy metals, and other drying contaminants. It not only benefits health, but also improves your hair and your skin. It can also extend the life of your appliances, which reduces your utility bills and the amount of energy you use.

To learn more about water filtration and why it's important, contact Winstar at (410) 360-0058.

About Winstar Home Services

Located in Baltimore, Maryland, Winstar Home Services began in 2001 with one man and a van. Talbot Watkins set his goal on becoming a major player in electrical contracting for Anne Arundel County, Maryland. By the end of the year he had two vans and three employees to meet the growing demand for his services. Winstar emphasizes customer service and, within just 15 years, has expanded into a large and smoothly run company with over 100 employees. Visit Winstar on the web at www.callwinstar.com, or call them at 410-360-0058.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Heather Ripley

Ripley PR

865-977-1973

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411097

SOURCE Winstar Home Services

Related Links

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KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / Laguna Blends Inc. (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) (Frankfurt: LB6A.F) (the "Company" or "Laguna"), a network marketing company, announces that it has been included in the CSE Composite index.

The CSE Composite index is weighted by market capitalisation with a $5,000,000 threshold for inclusion. Further information about the index, including the weight of each component security, can be found on the CSE website: http://www.thecse.com/CNSX/Investor-Info/Market-Activity/CSE-Composite-Index.aspx.

The Canadian Securities Exchange, or CSE, is operated by CNSX Markets Inc. Recognized as a stock exchange in 2004, the CSE began operations in 2003 to provide a modern and efficient alternative for companies looking to access the Canadian public capital markets.

Bryan Loree, CFO of Laguna Blends said, "Inclusion in the CSE Composite index is another indicator Laguna continues to deliver shareholder value through its strategic growth strategy. Laguna has positioned itself to be a dominant player in the distribution and marketing of unique hemp and CBD related products around the world."

About Laguna Blends Inc.

Laguna is a network marketing company that generates retail sales through independent affiliates. Affiliates utilize tools and technology that enable them to build an international business from their own home or anywhere else in the world. This technology replaces the need for expensive travel and hotel meetings.

The Company is currently focused on the nutritional health benefits derived from hemp and CBD's.

Functional Beverage Products

"Caffe" is an instant, "just add water" hot coffee beverage that is infused with both whey and hemp protein. With 2 grams of protein in every serving, Laguna's proprietary product packs a powerful protein punch. Caffe, contains Instant coffee, whey protein hydrolysate, hemp protein, natural flavors.





"Pro369" is a single serving, "on-the-go," plant based, instant, hemp protein that is served cold and comes in 4 delicious flavors. Pro369 is water soluble and can be directly mixed in water, added to milk, almond milk or coconut milk. Pro369 can also be blended in a shake or smoothie. Pro369 is also a source of Omegas, 3, 6 and 9 and contains ginseng.

Story continues

Laguna Blends has been granted approval from Health Canada for four powdered Pro369 flavours: Chocolate Banana, Mixed Berry and Vanilla Caramel and Tropical Powder. Pro369 contains Hemp protein, natural flavors, stevia, and American ginseng.

The Minister of Health from Health Canada has granted Laguna a product license along with a Natural Product Number ("NPN") for all four of the Pro369 Flavours. They are all listed under the same NPN.

A source of protein that helps build and repair body tissues.

Source of amino acids involved in muscle protein synthesis.

Assists in the building of lean muscle.

An adaptogen to help maintain a healthy immune system.

Supportive therapy for the promotion of healthy glucose levels.

CannaCeuticals Skin Care Products



Laguna has signed a distribution agreement with ISO International, LLC, a transaction under which Laguna has acquired the exclusive right to market, promote and distribute seven CBD skin care products in the USA and Canada.

CannaCeuticals Swiss heritage is at the core of Canna's revolutionary skincare products. It's pure, cosmeceutical-grade CBD extract hails from the crisp, clean air of Switzerland, but Canna's heritage goes much further than that. Swiss culture is known for its precision and perfectionism, and CannaCeuticals radiates that same standard in every formula it produces. Canna's team of formulators are made up of chemists and product developers that analyze every detail, sourcing ingredients from all ends of the earth to create the most balanced, highly efficacious, anti-aging CBD skincare products in the world.

CannaCeuticals CBD7 anti-aging skincare products incorporate cannabidiol (CBD), a superior antioxidant and a potential anti-inflammatory agent, both of which are significant in anti-aging. Canna's Swiss heritage influences a sense of unity in its products, and it combines CBD with other essential anti-aging ingredients to create formulas that pack a powerful punch.

Hemp has long been recognized by the health and nutrition industry as a super food, cited in many publications as a balanced source of all ingredients required to achieve health and wellness.

HempOmega

HempOmega is an environmentally sustainable, vegetarian source of Omegas 3 and 6 that boasts a superior nutrient profile. A water soluble, homogenous, powdered ingredient, it can be easily integrated and/or manipulated, with no unpleasant taste or chemical contamination - opening up entirely new product formulation opportunities. Hemp Omega's greater ability to endure the digestive process delivers unmatched bioavailability, thereby maximizing its potential health benefits.

The Company currently sells its products through its independent affiliates in the USA and Canada.

HempOmega is a Trademark owned by Naturally Splendid Enterprises, Ltd. and is used under license by Laguna Blends Inc.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Stuart Gray"

Chief Executive Officer

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS:

QualityStocks

Scottsdale, Arizona

www.QualityStocks.com

480.374.1336

COMPANY:

Laguna Blends

ir@lagunablends.com

www.lagunablends.com

www.lagunaworld.com

Join Us On Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/LagunaBlends/

Twitter: @LagunaBlends

Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business, products and future the Company's business, its product offerings and plans for sales and marketing. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Company's products and plan will vary from those stated in this news release and the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.

SOURCE: Laguna Blends Inc.
Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping a career diplomat and former chairman of the African Union Commission, has filed a legal challenge and demanded a recount of the August election results (AFP Photo/Steve Jordan)

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."
New Delhi, Sep 19 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday had ink thrown on him outside Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung's office.

"Sisodia was attacked by a person with ink when he was interacting with the media after meeting the LG," a government official told IANS.

According to sources, the person who threw ink on Sisodia has been identified as Brijesh Shukla and is reported to be a resident of Karawal Nagar.

"We are working on the improvements in health and education sectors but the opposition is working on ink only. Cheap politics by BJP and Congress," Sisodia told media after the attack.

Sisodia had gone to meet Jung after returning from Finland where he had gone to study the educational framework.

Jung on Friday had sent a fax to Sisodia in Finland and asked him to return immediately owing to the outbreak of vector borne dengue and chikungunya in the national capital.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19 : A day after the BJP sought a probe by the CBI or a high court judge into violence against its cadres in Kerala, the Congress on Monday said peace in the state could be ensured if supporters of both the BJP and CPI-M "laid down their arms".

Addressing reporters here, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said political violence and killings in Kerala have increased ever since the Left Front government led by the Communist Party of India-Marxist assumed office after the May assembly elections.

"During earlier Congress rule (2011-16), there was peace in Kannur, but with the change in state government, maximum violence has been reported from villages of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI-M state secretary, both in Kannur district," Chennithala claimed.

Chennithala was the Home Minister in the ealier Oommen Chandy government.

"Political violence in Kannur has increased due to clashes between BJP/RSS and CPI-M activists and police is a mere spectator. Police raids have stopped and a 'bomb culture' prevails there as a result," the Congress leader said.

He said a day-long peace meeting will be held at Kannur on Thursday.

The Bharatiya Janata party on Sunday alleged some 400 cases of assault on its activists in Kerala since the Left Front came to power.

"Ever since the Pinarayi Vijayan government assumed office four months ago, 400 cases of assault against our cadres by CPI-M supporters have taken place," BJP General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav said.

Chennithala also said that there was no decision yet on coordination with the Kerala Congress-Mani in the assembly, whose session begins on Monday.

The Kerala Congress-Mani has parted ways with the opposition United Democratic Front and its members will sit as a separate block in the asssembly. The strength of the Congress-led UDF has since come down from 47 to 41 in the 140-member assembly with Kerala Congress-Mani's exit.
New York, Sep 21 : New York bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami's ex-girlfriend has asked a court to give her full custody of their nine-year-old daughter and issue a restraining order against him.

In a filing on Tuesday, Maria Mena cited Rahami's arrest as the basis for her petition, NBC News reported.

"Defendant has been charged with police attempted murder and currently under protective services after possible terrorist-related activities in New York," Mena wrote in the petition filed in a New Jersey court.

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.

"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."

"I think he was brainwashed," Daily Mail quoted Mena as saying.

He was also heavily critical of the military, once pointing out a military character as "the bad person" to his young daughter.

Court records show that as of last year, Rahami owed Mena more than $3,000 in child support.

The two reportedly met while they were both students at Edison High School in the mid-2000s. Rahami is now married to a woman who was not in the country when he allegedly planted bombs in New York and New Jersey.

Rahami's current wife, Asia Bibi Rahimi, was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday and said she had no knowledge of her husband's alleged plot, a senior law enforcement official told NBC News.

She spent the summer in Pakistan and was planning on returning to the US this week, but the FBI had her stopped in the UAE in order to question her more quickly, the official said, and she will resume her travel home.

Rahami faces further charges for the the bombings in New York City and Seaside Park, New Jersey, on Saturday.

Twenty-nine people were injured in the New York City bombing while no one was injured in Seaside Park, where a military charity race was due to take place. Rahami is also considered a person of interest for the five pipe bombs found near the Elizabeth, New Jersey, train station on Sunday.
Washington, Sep 23 : Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for a "national anti-crime agenda" to combat violent crime in US cities as he condemned the unrest in Charlotte in North Carolina, where protests turned violent.

"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," Trump said during a speech in Pittsburgh on Thursday to a conference of shale oil and natural gas producers, CNN reported.

After police shot a man officials say was armed, two nights of protests followed there, slipping into violence Wednesday night with numerous civilian and police injuries reported, as well as looting and property destruction.

Trump, who has focused on restoring "law and order" in his presidential campaign, seized on the unrest in Charlotte to renew his call for tough-on-crime policies to bring down crime rates in major American cities and once again appeal to African-Americans to join his campaign.

"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 crime is so rampant," 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, ever, ever."

Trump has previously said that he would look to increase the number of police officers in inner cities to bring down the crime rate and improve training, but has offered little other specifics on this policy front.
San Francisco, Sep 23 : US tech giant Apple has acquired Tuplejump -- a Hyderabad-based machine learning startup that helps companies to store, process and visualise big data with its unique software.

Founded in 2013, Tuplejump's two co-founders Rohit Rai and Satyaprakash Buddhavarapu have already joined Apple while third cofounder, Deepak Alur, joined Anaplan - a Cloud-based business modelling and planning platform for sales, operations and finance.

According to a Tech Crunch report, Apple is on a machine learning company buying spree and recently bought two well-known startups Perceptio and Turi.

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," a company spokesperson told Tech Crunch.

Apple was particularly interested in "FiloDB" -- an opensource project that Tuplejump was building to efficiently apply machine learning concepts and analytics to complex data.

The Tuplejump team was well acquainted with open source big data tools such as the Apache Spark processing engine, the Apache Cassandra NoSQL database, and the Apache Kafka distributed high-throughput publish-subscribe messaging system, Venturebeat reported.

"Tuplejump also built an open source search indexing system called Stargate that works with data stored in Cassandra and relies on the fundamentals of the Apache Lucene full-text search software," the report added.

Tuplejump's website has been shut down following the acquisition, the details of which are yet to be disclosed.

In May, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the company's first development centre in Hyderabad to work on Apple Maps during his visit to the country.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Read the story of an English painter and his apprentice, whose paintings become the unexpected crux of the last Anglo-Mysore War. Flick through a nail-biting saga of a young girls clash against her father, in a battle of love, money, lust and longing. Also, go through an insightful view into the world of the millennials and bury yourself in a selection from the rich archives of "The Modern Review" by Ramananda Chatterjee.

There's so much that the IANS bookshelf has to offer this week. Read on!

1. Book: The Untitled; Author: Gayathri Prabhu; Publisher: HarperCollins; Pages: 250; Price: Rs 350 It is 1798 and Richard Dawson, an English painter, has arrived on the southern coast of India, looking for employment. Finding his fellow countrymen unhelpful, he boldly travels to the kingdom of Tipu Sultan to catch history in the making. Though reputedly cruel to the British, Tipu Sultan allows Richard to stay at his fort in Seringapatnam, much to the resentment of his courtiers.

As Dawson and his apprentice, a runaway Brahmin boy named Mukunda, experiment with Indian and Western styles of painting, they find themselves drawn into a high-stakes political intrigue. Devised by the women of the royal family of Mysore, the Wodeyars, and catalysed by the striking Suhasini, this plan to oust Tipu must involve active support from Dawson and Mukunda. Both painters fall under the spell of the elusive Suhasini, even as their paintings become the unexpected crux of the last Anglo-Mysore War.

2. Book: The Strongman's Daughter; Author: Madhuri Iyer; Publisher: Fingerprint; Pages: 223; Price: Rs 250 All hell breaks loose when feisty 21-year-old Aditi Narvekar refuses to carry forward the legacy of her corrupt politician father. The mighty Vithalrao Narvekar, the Chief Minister of Goa, retaliates with fury. He fixes her up with the scion of a wealthy mining family and sets the wedding date.

Rebellious and resourceful, Aditi tries to stay one step ahead of her wily parent. Along the way, she encounters Raj Dias, an activist who fights for a clean and green Goa. He dismisses Aditi as her father's daughter but she is determined to prove him wrong.

Goa becomes an epic battleground where the clean brigade takes on dirty politics. Aditi must confront her own father, but will Raj support her cause?

"The Strongman's Daughter" is a nail-biting saga of a young girl's clash with her father in a battle of love, money, lust and longing.

3. Book: The Millennials; Author: Subramanian S. Kalpathi; Publisher: Penguin; Pages: 277; Price: Rs 299 The millennial generation has impacted our lives, our work and our values in powerful and surprising ways. This book brings together the changes in values, work style and the digital workplace with a truly global perspective.

Born between the early 1980s and 2000, the millennials are the youngest (and on several occasions, the largest) generation at work today. Aided by discerning research, Subramanian S. Kalpathi turns the modern workplace on its head and asks pressing questions about what makes this raring-to-go generation tick.

With case studies of pioneering organisations and holistic multi-generational narratives, "The Millenials" will give you a glimpse into the future by explaining the goals, motivations and dreams of an inspired generation.

4. Book: Patriots, Poets and Prisoners; Author: Ramananda Chatterjee; Publisher: HarperCollins; Pages: 325; Price: Rs 450 Marking the visionary Bengali thinker and reformist Ramananda Chatterjee's 150th birth anniversary, this anthology, edited by members of his family and introduced by historian Ramachandra Guha, brings together a selection from the rich archives of "The Modern Review" to convey its eclectic range and ambitions.

Even after a century, the debates that played out in its pages resonate with the spirit of the turbulent times we live in, making it urgently relevant to the state of the nation and the body politic.
New Delhi : Title: And Then All Hell Broke Loose - Two Decades in the Middle East; Author: Richard Engel; Publisher: Simon and Schuster; Pages: 256; Price: Rs 699 A common perception in most of the world is that the violent anarchy in the Middle East, especially the rise of the brutally murderous Islamic State, stems from then US President George W. Bush's ill-advised invasion of Iraq in 2003. But do others also share the blame?

Yes, especially Bush's successor, President Barack Obama "whose timidity and inconsistency", coupled with Bush's "aggressive interventionism" destroyed the status quo, that though unjust and oppressive, helped keep a peace of sorts in a volatile area, contends American journalist Richard Engel in his third book.

Engel, who has covered the Middle East for the last two tumultuous decades -- from the first example of gratuitous terrorist violence (in Egypt in 1997) to the ongoing Syrian civil war -- does in this memoir-cum-analysis, give due weightage to the colonial state creations after the First World War, the Cold War proxy conflict and the Arab-Israeli wars, but focuses more on the recent past.

In particular, the region's strongmen, who had managed to stay in power after the humiliating defeat to Israel in the 1967 War. The role of the US is not far behind, and closely entwined.

"Secular, nationalist, corrupt, and without exception brutal to their people", all these "Big Men" -- the Assad family in Syria, Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Tunisia's "Little Mubarak", Zine Al Abedine Ben Ali, Libya's "flamboyantly bizarre colonel" Mu'ammar Gadhafi, Iraq's "gangster thug" Saddam Hussein, he argues, "were all undone by a fatal combination of their own poor management and the actions and inactions of two two-term US administrations: Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama".

Engel, now the Chief Foreign Correspondent of NBC, does enliven his terse but incisive account with his own vivid experiences of not only reporting but survival since he chose to become a journalist and decided to cover the Middle East, arriving in Cairo in June 1996 "with two suitcases and about $2,000 in my pocket".

Over the next two decades, he covered (and here recounts his experiences of) the resumed Intifada in the Israel's Palestinian territories, the US invasion of Iraq -- in which he was the sole US correspondent in Baghdad before the US forces arrived -- pretending to be an Egyptian in dire situations thanks to his mastery over the singular Egyptian pronounciation of Arabic -- as well as the long sordid story ahead, the Israeli attack on Lebanon, the Tahrir Square protests which led to Mubarak's ouster, the Libyan uprising against Gadhafi and the Syrian civil war, during which he was himself kidnapped but released unharmed after some time.

"Twenty years have passed since I headed to Cairo to cover what I sensed would be the story of my generation, just as reporters before me had gone to Vietnam and Moscow to cover the big stories of their times.

"It turned out the train of history would pass through the Middle East's station, but who would have guessed that the United States would fight two of the longest ground wars in its history and plunge the Muslim World into a frenzy of violence and revolution? My ambition was to ride the train of history, and the train came rumbling right at me," he says.

But the book is not only about the Middle East or covering it as a journalist, but also on what toll a stint in a war zone does to journalists themselves -- a four stage progression, declining from the initial feeling of invincibility to a feeling of inevitable doom and well as a curious sense of detachment to human suffering when you are exposed to it too long -- with sights such as street dogs with human parts in their jaws all too common.

And this also informs his rather pessimistic outlook of the region's future prospects.

For an informative but easily-understandable account of how the Middle East got this way, with Engel, using his TV experience to explain the most abstruse or complicated issue most briefly but accessibly, this book is unlikely to be bettered.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Leading U.S. homebuilder Lennar Corporation LEN has reached a definitive agreement to buy WCI Communities Inc. WCIC for $643 million. Following the development, shares of WCI rallied nearly 38% on Sep 22.



Details



Per the deal, Lennar will be acquiring all the outstanding shares of WCI common stock in a cash and stock transaction valued at $23.50 per WCI share, which represents a premium of approximately 37% to WCI's closing price as on Sep 21, 2016. Notably, the transaction grants WCI an enterprise value of $809 million.



The proposed deal has been approved by the boards of directors of both the companies. The transaction will close after it fulfills the customary closing conditions, including a WCI shareholder vote consent that is likely to take place in Dec 2016 or Jan 2017.

LENNAR CORP -A Price

LENNAR CORP -A Price | LENNAR CORP -A Quote

Rationale Behind



Notably, the transaction brings together two of the largest homebuilders in Florida. Both the companies combined presence in the leading coastal Florida markets will propel growth and facilitate considerable cross and dual brand marketing opportunities.



Lennar is one of the best positioned homebuilders to capitalize on the housing recovery, courtesy of the diverse revenue mix, steady top-line performance, above-average order growth and improving SG&A leverage.



Meanwhile, WCI is a lifestyle community developer and luxury homebuilder of single- and multi-family homes. In the latest twelve months ended Jun 30, 2016, WCI sold 1,118 homes at an average sales price of roughly $444,000.



The deal will help Lennar boost its lot count in Florida by about 14,200 sites, situated in most of the largest and fastest-growing coastal communities in Florida. In the recently reported third quarter of fiscal 2016, Lennar sold 6,758 homes overall for an average selling price of $362,000.



Furthermore, the transaction will generate significant value for shareholders as it accelerates Lennars growth, diversification and leads to generation of innovative product offerings.



Our Take



Notably, the housing market in Florida has improved the most since last year. Given that Lennar is already one of the largest homebuilders in Florida, the acquisition of WCI will further augment its exposure to the key growth market.



In fact, the company believes that WCI's land portfolio will perfectly complement its Florida footprint and expand its product offerings.



Lennar currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Better-ranked stocks in this sector include MDC Holdings Inc. MDC and TRI Pointe Group, Inc. TPH, both of which sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MDC Holdings 2016 earnings moved up 6.5% over the last 60 days. Further, for full-year 2016, EPS is expected to grow a solid 52.5%.



Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for TRI Pointe Groups 2016 earnings climbed 3.3% over the last 60 days. The companys earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in all of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 34.57%.



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Kozhikode (Kerala), Sep 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to send a strong message to Pakistan from Kozikokde where the BJP National Council's meeting begins on Friday.

The three-day conclave will start with a meeting of party office bearers and state presidents to finalise the resolutions to be passed by the National Council.

BJP sources said a resolution condemning the terror attack on the Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan's role in it would be passed.

On Saturday, Modi will address a public rally on the Calicut beach. This will be first public speech of the Prime Minister after the September 18 Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.

"We are also waiting to hear what he says on Pakistan and Uri," Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS.

He said the National Council will discuss security concerns sparked by the Uri bloodbath.

Hussain said the Modi government was on the right direction and was sure to take every step to corner Pakistan and end terrorism.

"We are a strong economy. We initiated talks with Pakistan and this was the reason the whole world is supporting India and Pakistan has been isolated," he said.

At the venue, a giant poster quotes party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya's views on Kashmir.

"Kashmir is an integral part of India and there will not be any compromise on this," Upadhyaya had said in 1968. He had also said that even the UN won't be allowed to interfere in Kashmir.

The National Council meet, dedicated to Upadhyaya, would conclude on September 25, the day the late leader was born.
Islamabad, Sep 23 : Russian forces arrived in Pakistan on Friday for its first ever joint military drill that begins on Saturday, a military spokesperson said.

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pakistan for first ever Pak- Russian joint exercise," tweeted Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

The military exercise in which around 200 Russian army men are participating, was earlier reported to have been cancelled in the wake of the killing of 18 soldiers in the September 18 terror attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two-week military drill named 'Friendship 2016' is the first between the two former Cold War rivals. It will continue till October 7, according to the Pakistan media.

Militaries of the two countries have not revealed much about the drill. But it is said to take place in "mountainous areas".

The exercise is a signal that Moscow and Islamabad are deepening their military cooperation.

"This obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defense and military-technical cooperation," Pakistan's ambassador to Russia, Qazi Khalilullah, told a Russian news agency last week.
London, Sep 23 : An 18-year-old teenager was raped in Britain after being held down and robbed by two women, police said on Friday.

The victim was approached and thrown to the ground in Manchester city centre on Wednesday by a male before he and a woman held her down while a second woman robbed her, the Guardian reported.

The male offender then raped the teenager before all three fled from the scene.

Detective Inspector Dave Moores of Greater Manchester police said: "This was a horrendous attack on a young woman."
New Delhi : A few years ago, five M.Tech students of agricultural engineering from one of the top agricultural universities of Maharashtra came to our Institute for a four-month internship. One day, during their internship, we had some visitors to whom I was showing our electric trike. While running it, a knob came off its switchboard. To fix it, I asked one of the interns to get me a plier. He brought me a spanner instead! He did not know the difference between the two.

These students during their B.Tech and M.Tech had never worked with their hands or had even seen farm machinery and did not know anything about simple workshop equipment. They had passed engineering examinations without learning anything of practical value.

According to the latest statistics, only 6-7 per cent of India's engineering graduates are employable in the core engineering sector and these interns clearly were part of the trend.

I feel that it is not the students' fault but that of a corrupt and broken teaching system, which fleeces them. There are few good teachers of engineering, but by and large most are mediocre (even in IITs) and the stress is more on passing examinations rather than a hands-on learning experience.

In university after university and in various IITs, I have found that most of the students do not want to do any engineering but opt for MBAs, civil services and software-oriented programmes. The main reason is that they are not challenged to do any hardware-oriented engineering because of the lack of good teachers.

The teaching in most of the engineering colleges, including IITs, has been deteriorating for the last 20-30 years and is currently quite mediocre with most of the faculty not up-to-date in engineering research. In fact, IITs are consistently rated quite low in international university rankings.

Four years of engineering education is a sufficiently long time to inspire the students to take up a career in engineering. The fact that only a handful of students who pass out every year opt for an engineering or a research career shows that very little of good engineering is taught.

Most of the engineering colleges have ad hoc staff and fresh graduates become teachers. Even in IITs around 50 per cent of faculty positions are vacant. The government, in its wisdom, thinks that giving higher pay will help attract good faculty to these Institutes. This is a myth because great teachers are not attracted only by pay but by the scholarship environment of doing good research and teaching. Great engineering colleges the world over produce a good number of excellent researchers, some of whom also become great teachers.

Also, some of the problems with engineering education have been created by information technology (IT) companies themselves. In the past, these companies have heavily recruited from IITs and other good engineering college campuses. In fact, not long ago there used to be a saying "anything that moves in IIT gets a job in Infosys". This resulted in making most of the students complacent and bunking classes since they knew that they will be taken by IT companies irrespective of their grades. With this attitude, it becomes very difficult for students to learn anything.

So, what needs to be done? One of the ways forward is to create a great research and scholarship environment in IITs and engineering colleges. This can happen when faculty and students work on problems of India -- especially for rural areas. Providing basic necessities to 60 percent of our rural population is a huge technological challenge and R&D on this should come from good engineering colleges. At the same time, emphasis should be laid on faculty spending time in industry. This trend is prevalent in European and American universities and needs to be emulated in India.

Another way is for excellent engineers both in India and abroad to be invited to give lectures in engineering colleges. In addition, there are a good numbers of Indians who work as engineering faculty abroad in good schools and come on a yearly visit to India. The HRD Ministry should create systems where both groups are encouraged to teach in engineering colleges at their convenience.

A good way for students to be involved in R&D is for them to spend one or two years doing work or internships in industries and in rural science and technology NGOs. If they understand real-life problems, they will be able to provide practical solutions to them.

Once the R&D bug gets into their head, it will automatically manifest itself in innovative solutions. This R&D bug should be put into these students even during their school days by following the US-based Maker Movement (MM). The US had an old tradition of youngsters tinkering in their garages on amateur radios, making small household items, etc. With the computer revolution, youngsters stopped tinkering and moved into playing with their iPads, iPods, phones and the like. With 3D printing technologies, US schools are now making students interested in creating designs, toys and new inventions. Once bitten by this bug, it is assumed that the students will be more involved in engineering by innovating and creating hardware-oriented products during their college days.

The future of India belongs to the younger generation. All of us have to do our bit to get them involved in improving the lives of Indians. If we do not do so, there will be serious social conflicts. Unless we can provide basic amenities so that the rural poor can live a meaningful life, we will never become a great nation. This is a great challenge for all young engineers and it is my dream that they will take it up to make India a better place to live and work.

(Anil Rajvanshi is the Director, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute in Maharashtra. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at anilrajvanshi@gmail.com)
New Delhi, Sep 23 : With India saying that there have been differences over the implementation of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a dispute that was referred to an international tribunal under the aegis of the World Bank, the issue has come back into focus because of the current tension with Pakistan following the September 18 cross-border terror attack on an army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers. On Thursday, India raised the issue saying a treaty could not be a "one-sided affair".

So, what is the treaty all about? Here is a primer:

What is the Indus Waters Treaty?

The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing arrangement signed by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan on September 19, 1960, in Karachi. It covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers -- Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The agreement was brokered by the World Bank.

Why was the agreement signed?

The agreement was signed because the source of all the rivers of the Indus basin were in India (Indus and Sutlej, though, originate in China). It allowed India to use them for irrigation, transport and power generation, while laying down precise do's and don'ts for India on building projects along the way. Pakistan feared that India could potentially create droughts in case of a war between the two countries. A Permanent Indus Commission set up in this connection has gone through three wars between the two countries without disruption and provides a bilateral mechanism for consultation and conflict-resolution through inspections, exchange of data and visits.

What does the agreement entail?

The treaty gave the three "eastern rivers" of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej to India for use of water without restriction. The three "western rivers" of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum were allocated to Pakistan. India can construct storage facilities on "western rivers" of up to 3.6 million acre feet, which it has not done so far. India is also allowed agriculture use of 7 lakh acres above the irrigated cropped area as on April 1, 1960.

Is there a dispute?

Although the two countries have been managing to share the waters without major dispute, experts say that the agreement is one of the most lop-sided with India being allowed to use only 20 percent of the six-river Indus water system. Pakistan itself in July this year sought an international arbitration if India sought to build hydro power projects on the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. Though the agreement has been seen as one of the most successful water-sharing pacts, the current tension between the two South Asian neighbours might well lead to a flashpoint. Strategic affairs and security experts say that future wars could well be fought over water.

Could India abrogate the agreement?

This is unlikely since the treaty has survived three wars between the two countries. Although on Thursday India raised the issue, saying that for a treaty to work there had to be "mutual cooperation and trust" between the two sides, this seems to be more pressure tactics than any real threat to review the bilateral agreement. And the idea that India can intimidate Pakistan by threatening to cut of river waters is nothing new. It has arisen before every major conflict. A unilateral abrogation would also attract criticism from world powers, as this is one arrangement which has stood the test of time.

Short of abrogation, can India do something?

Some experts have said that if India starts making provision for storage facility involving the "western rivers", which it is allowed under the treaty of up to 3.6 million acre feet, this may send a strong message to its neighbour. Pakistan has often sought arbitration proceedings just on mere impression that India may do so, seeking to dissuade its larger neighbour from tinkering with the status quo.
Kannur, September 23 : The opposition UDF has come down heavily on the CPI-M and the ruling LDF dispensation over the rise in incidents of violence in Kannur, a stronghold of the CPI-M.

The UDF held a peace meeting in Kannur on Thursday exhorting the CPI-M and the BJP to desist from indulging in violence in the wake of the spurt in political violence in the district.

Speaking at the meeting, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala slammed chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying that the latter was rejoicing at the barbarism taking place in Kannur.

Terming as a crime the failure on the part of the chief minister to call a meeting for ensuring peace in the district, Chennithala charged that Pinarayi only wanted justice for the criminals in his own party.

Attacking both the BJP and the CPI-M, he said that the party in rule at the centre and the party ruling the state were attempting to make Kannur a conflict-zone.

CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan gave a public call to his partymen to resort to violence while the BJP state unit president Kummanam Rajasekharan retorted by saying that the BJP would give it back.

The state was witnessing unprecedented violence and atrocities against women, Chennithala stated.

Despite this, the chief minister has not bothered so much as to call a peace meeting. To questions by newsmen on violence in Kannur, Pinarayi responded curtly by asking them to find out by themselves. Only a chief minister with the mind of a criminal could speak like this, Chennithala charged.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said that the ruling dispensation was giving out a message of violence.

People thinking they could achieve everything with violence would learn their lesson when the ground beneath their feet gets swept away, he said.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy opined that maintenance of law and order was the most integral part of a democracy.

Accusing the CPI-M of making deliberate attempts to take law into their own hands, he said that no political party could ultimately succeed by resorting to violence.

Reminding the CPI-M of their plight in West Bengal, Chandy warned that the ruling party would suffer a severe setback should they fail to ensure justice for all.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday urged Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung to "reconsider" his order removing Krishna Saini as Chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

He also expressed his willingness to meet Jung to discuss the issue at Lt. Governor's convenience.

Declaring DERC chief's appointment as void 'ab initio' after a period of six months may lead to serious setbacks as all DERC decisions taken during this period will also become "null and void", the Chief Minister said in a letter to Jung.

This will, in turn, lead to serious problems for the power sector in Delhi, especially huge adverse impact on the consumers, he said.

Former Chief Income Tax Commissioner Krishna Saini was on March 5 appointed the new DERC chief succeeding P.D. Sudhakar, who retired on January 29.

The Chief Minister said that since his appointment, Saini -- a 1981-batch Indian Revenue Service officer -- had taken various measures in the interest of consumers, including making provision for compensation by discoms for unscheduled power cuts, allowing individual metering in group cooperative societies and imposing penalties on discoms for various lapses.

Kejriwal said the entire selection process for DERC chief was conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

"The Selection Committee was headed by a retired High Court judge and included the Chairman, CERC (Central Electricity Regulatory Commission), and the Chief Secretary as members... The only infirmity observed by the Lt. Governor is the lack of approval by him," Kejriwal wrote in the 29-page missive.

Calling it a "curable defect", he requested the Lt. Governor to review his order.

"Copies of both the appointment order of the Selection Committee and appointment order of Chairman was duly sent to the Lt. Governor. Neither any objection was raised by the Lt. Governor nor were the relevant files called," he said.

Referring to the Delhi High Court order that held that the Lt. Governor was the administrative head of the Delhi government, Kejriwal said the judgement has since been challenged in the Supreme Court.

"Since the matter is sub judice, it would only be appropriate that we await the final orders of the Supreme Court," he said.

Jung on Wednesday scrapped the appointment of Saini as DERC chief and asked the Delhi government to start the selection process afresh as per law.

A statement from the LG office had said that the Delhi government had constituted a selection committee to select the chairperson and members of DERC without the approval of Lt. Governor, which is mandated as per rules.
Bangkok, Sep 23 : Three policemen were killed and two others injured on Friday in a bomb blast in southern Thailand, officials said.

The bomb was hidden along a road in Purong district in Yala province, and was detonated when a van carrying the policemen was passing by, a senior police official told EFE news.

One injured policeman was in critical condition, the official added.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : In the wake of the September 18 cross-border terror attack on an army base that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers, Israel on Friday reiterated its offer of experience and expertise to secure India's borders.

"Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) visited Israel and he was shown different kinds of borders in Israel with their own uniqueness," Israeli Ambassador David Carmon said at a press conference ahead of the Israel Homeland Security (HLS) and Cyber 2016 International Conference to be held in November.

"India has 14 different kinds of borders which are managed by different units and forces," he said. "When the minister came back and assessed the situation, I am sure he took some of the ideas he saw (into consideration)."

Carmon said that both countries shared similar challenges in border management and that Israel has the solutions for these, adding that the two countries can work together taking into account the capabilities of Israeli companies and government and adapting them to Indian needs.

Stating that Israel has the cyber technology experience to secure borders, Ram Dor, a former Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Chief Information Security Officer, said that a major problem today was the unauthorised movement of people between nations across borders.

Stating that having faced the issue of safeguarding its borders for many years now, he said that Israel has developed the technological expertise for this.

"We started in the north with Lebanon with a simple fence with very minor sensors," Dor said. "Then we developed the second stage when we developed our border between Israel and Jordan-Sumeria and on the Gaza Strip," he stated.

Following this, he said, the third layer was developed which he described as "the most advanced one", which was with Syria.

"We have three layers starting with intelligence trying to bring in an alert whenever there is an attack coming in, going into the level that we can cover as much area as we can with all types of sensors," Dor said.

He said Israel was now using electro-optical sensors to collect information via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Israel is a world leader in designing and manufacturing UAVs.

Sensors are also used to collect data and information from towers along borders, according to Dor.

He said all the sensors were integrated with a field command and control room "operated by a very intelligent soldier woman", who directs the Israeli special forces in order to mitigate incoming threats.

"So you can see those are the kind of activities that you can do on your borders," Dor said, adding. "These could also be compatible to challenges that you have on your borders," he said.

He said that similar technology is also used to protect Israel's critical assets like airports.

Highlighting Israel's prowess in cyber technology and security, Ambassador Carmon also referred to a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday at the ongoing session of the UN General Assembly.

In his speech, Netanyahu said that though Israel accounted for one-tenth of one percent of the world's population, last year it attracted some 20 percent of the global private investment in cyber-security.

"In cyber, Israel is punching a whopping 200 times above its weight. So Israel is also a global cyber power," he said.

"If hackers are targeting your banks, your planes, your power grids and just about everything else, Israel can offer indispensable help," the Prime Minister stated.

Some 30 to 40 Indian participants are expected at the HLS and Cyber 2016 International Conference to be held in Tel Aviv from November 14 to 17.
* France's PSA confirms "responding" to proposals request

* Japan's Suzuki, France's Renault also responding-sources

* Parent DRB-Hicom may sell some Proton stake - sources

* DRB-Hicom hasn't ruled out majority stake sale -sources

* Govt gave $364 mln aid in April, said model unsustainable (Adds background, analyst comment; changes slug)

By A. Ananthalakshmi and Liz Lee

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Reuters) - At least three firms including Peugeot maker PSA have signalled interest in a deal with ailing Malaysian carmaker Proton, people familiar with the matter said, as the faded brand's owner seeks to sell a stake in a company once seen as a symbol of the country's drive to industrialise.

The search by Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom is the latest in a long series of efforts to find a partner to help revive Proton after years of profit being hit by sub-par cars, poor after-sales service and tough competition. The government gave Proton 1.5 billion ringgit ($365 million) in financial aid in April.

A Paris-based spokesman for PSA said, "Peugeot confirms it is responding to a request for proposals initiated by Proton and its shareholder." The spokesman declined to comment on what PSA's response would be, or the nature of the proposals requested by Proton.

One person familiar with the matter said Proton sent partnership proposals to nearly 20 carmakers earlier this year. Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp and French carmaker Renault SA are also responding to Proton's request for proposals, people said.

Suzuki and Renault officials declined to comment.

While Proton's fortunes have waned since its 1990s heyday, the potential attraction for foreign partners would be access to its under-utilised manufacturing capacity: Proton has two manufacturing facilities in Malaysia that can make up to 400,000 cars annually, though it sold just 102,000 cars last year.

Foreign firms could look to make their cars in Proton's facilities to export around the economic growth hotspots of Southeast Asia, people familiar with the matter said.

Story continues

These people declined to be identified because the discussions around Proton's future were confidential.

DRB-Hicom has not ruled out selling a majority stake in Proton, the people said, and may also consider selling British sports and racing car brand Lotus, owned by Proton.

Proton and DRB-Hicom did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

PREVIOUS SEARCH FAILURE

Founded in 1983 during former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamed's industrialisation push, Proton at its peak boasted a domestic market share of 74 percent in 1993, largely re-badging cars of foreign manufacturers to sell in the domestic market.

But after years of being plagued by quality and service issues, and with move to produce its own models failing to impress consumers, its market share has plummeted to about 15 percent.

DRB doesn't disclose Proton financial statements separately, but said it incurred a pre-tax loss of 821.27 million ringgit in fiscal 2015, largely due to losses from Proton.

While agreeing to support Proton in April, the government said its business model wasn't sustainable, and that it needed to find a strategic foreign partner.

Industry players say Proton also badly needs research and development support from a foreign partner if it is to build a viable future strategy.

"If Proton need to develop their own technology or design, they need more money," said Titikorn Lertsirirungsun, ASEAN manager at consultancy LMC Automotive. "But this is a big challenge for Proton given that its production volume is very low."

Industry watchers expect the potential terms of any prospective partnership - including whether a majority or minority stake of Proton is to be sold - may determine whether the current revival drive fares better than previous attempts.

In 2007, for instance, Proton's search for a foreign partner attracted industry giants Volkswagen and General Motors. But talks with the pair were called off after Malaysia declined to give them a controlling stake. ($1 = 4.1145 ringgit)

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi and Liz Lee; Additional reporting by Gilles Guillaume in PARIS; Editing by Praveen Menon and Kenneth Maxwell)
New Delhi : Absent good advice, democratically-elected leaders are capable of making serious mistakes which have far-reaching repercussions on the future of their country. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's address at the UN General Assembly on September 21 will go down in the country's history as a monumental error of judgement and an example of delusional politics.

Pakistan has been battling allegations of being a state sponsor of terror for nearly three decades. Its track record and the brazen manner in which it has used terrorism as an instrument of policy should have led to its designation in any list of terrorist states that could be so compiled. That Pakistan has escaped doing so is largely a reflection of a certain measure of success by its diplomacy in using its status as a front-line state for counter-terrorism purposes and the leveraging of its relationship with the US to escape such designation. Luck seems to now be running out.

What has changed? The mistakes made by the West in Iraq in 2003, Libya in 2011 and the ongoing horrific violence in Syria have altered the narrative. Many countries are arming rebels and Pakistan perhaps believes it is not the only one. There is, however, a crucial difference.

The rise of the ISIS, the unwanted child of failed and neglected interventions, has driven the fear of God into Western establishments. Pakistan was already on the brink as a result of harbouring Osama Bin Laden in the Abottabad military cantonment. For the Prime Minister of Pakistan to describe a commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, seeking to establish an extension of the Caliphate, as a victim of an "oppressive state" is incredulous beyond the point.

When India held the chair of the UN Security Council's Counter-terrorism Committee in 2012, the "zero tolerance" norm was adopted. The mainstream narrative against terrorism clearly establishes that the terrorist takes away the most fundamental right of all, the right to life. Duplicitous state conduct and human behaviour may well decide to use the arming of rebels as a means to effect regime change, as, for instance, in the case of Libya earlier and Syria now. But to address the UNGA and proclaim a disciple of the ISIS in glowing terms is asinine behaviour at its best. Pakistan has also been getting its other sums wrong. For the first time after many years, it lost an election at the UN Human Rights Council last December.

Pakistan is a major beneficiary of Saudi generosity, and yet it shied away from sending troops to Yemen on Riyadh's insistence. Countries act not out of emotion, but in their self-interest. Pakistan discovered this in New York on September 21. The unkindest cut came when even China asked Islamabad to bilaterally solve its tensions with New Delhi. Pakistan's Permanent Representative in New York, a journalist by profession, succumbed to the temptations of the social media and hastily tweeted that she was going to the UNGA for her "PM's actress" instead of "address".

It is well known that speeches by the Pakistan Prime Minister are sent to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for vetting. The speech delivered at the UNGA appears to have been drafted by the GHQ without even elementary vetting by Islamabad's professional foreign service. A young Indian First Secretary, Eeman Gambhir, delivered a befitting response. Her astute reprimand reminded how "the trail" of 9/11 "led all the way to Abottabad in Pakistan", which stood on the "land of Taxila...now host to the Ivy League of terrorism".

One of the illusions Pakistan has been harbouring for several decades is that a soft Hindu state, benign at its core and wedded to responsible behaviour, can be bled by a thousand cuts. It has underestimated India on two fronts. One, in the world's largest democracy public opinion is a potent force. An inflection point has been reached. Even if the Indian state were to wish to continue the policy of acquiescence of the previous three decades, which is not a suggestion that it so wishes, public opinion would not allow it to do so.

Equally, the talk about desiring to isolate Pakistan appears to be somewhat misplaced. Pakistan already stands shamed. Some further shaming, through concrete evidence and dissemination of such evidence will do no harm. Pariah states never feel isolated. What India needs to drive home is that, henceforth, Pakistan will have to pay a price for irresponsible conduct, and that price can be extracted on multiple fronts -- political, economic and military.

(Hardeep Singh Puri, a veteran Indian diplomat, has presided over the UN Security Council and chaired its Counter-terrorism Committee. He is the author of "Perilous Interventions: The Security Council and the Politics of Chaos". This article is with special arrangement with South Asia Monitor/www.southasiamonitor.org)
Jalandhar, Sep 23 : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday accused the Congress of inciting communal tensions in the state for its vested political interests.

Interacting with reporters after sharing condolences with the family of slain senior RSS leader Brigadier (retd) Jagdish Gagneja here, Badal said the Congress has a notorious track record of dividing the people on communal lines for attaining power in the state.

Gagneja, shot thrice by two men in Jalandhar in August, succumbed to his injuries at a Ludhiana hospital on Thursday.

Blaming the Congress for "black days" in the state, Badal said Punjab had earlier suffered a lot due to these dirty tantrums of the Congress.

He said that once again the Congress was resorting to its divisive politics for disturbing the state's communal harmony.

The Chief Minister said that the killing of Gagneja was not a political issue but it was an issue concerning peace, communal harmony and amity in the state.

He said it was unfortunate that for their personal gains the political parties were politicising the issue.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : A man who threw ink on Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia outside Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung's office was granted bail by a court here on Friday.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ambika Singh granted bail to Brijesh Shukla asking him to furnish a bond of Rs 15,000.

On Monday, Shukla threw ink on Sisodia when he was speaking with journalists after meeting Jung.

The ink scattered mostly on Sisodia's left arm and a part of his face, taking the Deputy Chief Minister by surprise.

When reporters asked Shukla the reason for the ink attack, he responded: "People are dying in Delhi and you (Sisodia) prefer to go on a foreign (Finland) jaunt."

Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, went to Finland to study the country's highly acclaimed educational system.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders expressed surprise that no policeman was present at the site when the attack occurred.

Shukla was said to be a resident of Karawal Nagar in northeast Delhi.
Agartala, Sep 23 : The Tripura assembly's proceedings were disrupted on Friday as opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislators accused Chief Minister Manik Sarkar of "humiliating" the country at a summit here and walked out of the house.

A ruckus was witnessed in the assembly as treasury and opposition benches engaged in a heated exchange of words on the issue. The six TMC legislators, who recently quit the Congress and joined the party, then walked out.

Responding to the charge, Sarkar said he had just advised the Indian government "not to show big-brother attitude with the neighbouring countries as we should help each other for mutual benefit".

"As an Indian, I have the right to advice the Indian government about the country's foreign policy," Sarkar told the house.

Earlier, raising the issue, the TMC lawmakers led by Sudip Roy Barman told the house that the Chief Minister, while addressing the third 'North East Connectivity Summit' on Thursday, "humiliated the country" in the presence of foreign delegates by saying that "India has been acting as a big brother with the neighbouring countries".

"Pakistan has been alleging that India has been acting as a big brother. Sarkar's comments are similar to Pakistan's allegation against India," said Barman, who was supported by other five TMC lawmakers.

The three-day summit organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and supported by the Tripura government was attended by diplomats, officials and business representatives from Russia, Japan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

Congress legislators led by their leader Gopal Roy too staged a walkout over the rejection of a motion by Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath on the August 23 ethnic violence in Agartala.

The Congress demanded a judicial probe by a high court judge into the ethnic violence in which 24 persons were injured and 17 vehicles damaged.

Meanwhile, West Bengal assembly member Manas Bhunia, who quit the Congress to join the TMC, on Friday urged Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy to take action against Sarkar for his comments.

"The TMC will come to power in Tripura in the 2018 elections, ending the 23-year rule of the Left Front," Bhunia said at a gathering organised by the TMC's youth wing here.
Moscow/Islamabad, Sep 23 : Even as Russian troops arrived in Pakistan for the first-ever joint military exercise by the Cold War rivals, Moscow has said it sees no reason for India to be concerned about the drill.

"We were informed by the Russian Defense Ministry that these exercises will not be carried out in [disputed] areas, and a place was chosen that has nothing to do with this. Hence there is no reason for India to worry about it," Sputnik reported quoting Zamir Kabulov, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Director of the Second Asian Department's comments to RIA Novosti on Friday.

However, Pakistan media said that the tactical drills will be held from September 24 to October 7 in the Army High Altitude School in northern Pakistan's Rattu -- which is in Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan that is claimed by India -- and at a special forces training center in Cherat, in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Russian statement came soon after its military personnel taking part in the drill arrived in Pakistan, belying earlier media reports that Moscow had cancelled the exercise in the wake of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers at an army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 18.

About 200 servicemen from both sides will be participating in the exercise, called Druzhba-2016 (Friendship-2016).

"The objectives of the joint exercise include developing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, improving tactical abilities of the participating military personnel and developing a foundation for future interactions," the Pakistan embassy in Moscow said in a statement.

It said the exercises were a "manifestation of the desire" of Islamabad and Moscow "to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest including defence".

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise," tweeted Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

"This obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defence and military-technical cooperation," Pakistan's ambassador to Russia, Qazi Khalilullah, told a Russian news agency last week.

Analysts have noted a warming of Pakistan's ties with Russia, even as its ties with its long-term ally the US seem to be cooling.

Pakistan is particularly looking to Russian for arms. Reports said Moscow recently secured a deal for four Mi-35 attack helicopters, even as Islamabad is also exploring the possibilities of buying Su-35 fighter jets.

The two countries signed a military cooperation agreement in 2014 to enhance defence cooperation.
Cairo, Sep 23 : The number of migrants who perished in a shipwreck off Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Rosetta has reached 112, authorities said on Friday.

"The toll might rise because rescue efforts are still going on," Xinhua news agency quoted Health Minister Khaled Megahed as saying.

The migrant boat that sank on Wednesday was carrying about 600 persons on board whose planned destination was Italian shores.

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 2,856 persons, mainly from Libya, have died trying to reach Europe via the so-called central Mediterranean route.
Kabul, Sep 23 : At least 69 Taliban militants were killed in fresh military operations across Afghanistan, authorities said on Friday.

"The Afghan National Security and Defence Forces (ANDSF) carried out operations to clear the areas of Taliban insurgents over the past 24 hours and also killed 11 militants of Islamic State (IS)," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

The joint Afghan security forces backed by army's artillery and air power also injured 43 insurgents and captured two others, Xinhua news agency cited from the statement.

As the Taliban-led violence continues in Afghanistan, the security forces have pressed on to clear the militants in restive provinces but they have responded by armed attacks and bombings.
Seoul, Sep 23 : After the United States sent two bombers to South Korea, North Korea on Friday accused it of pushing the tense situation in the region towards a nuclear war.

A message from the Korean People's Army said the imperialist US is guilty of pushing the situation towards an imminent nuclear war by bringing strategic nuclear bombers to the Korean peninsula, Efe news agency reported.

On Wednesday, the US sent two supersonic bombers from Guam to South Korea. While one of them landed at the Osan Air base in Pyeongtaek, about 43 miles south of Seoul, the second one returned to its base after flying over the country.

US Air Force said that sending the bombers was a show of strength to counter North Korea's aggressive behaviour.

On September 9, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test which raised tensions in the region and was strongly condemned by the international community.

Since the 1950 Korean War, the US maintains a military alliance with South Korea and is committed to defend it against any possible conflict with North Korea.
Dhaka, Sep 23 : A Bangladeshi man who was among four arrested in Malaysia for terror links had met one of the suspects involved in the Dhaka cafe terror siege on July 1, the media reported on Friday.

The 37-year-old Bangladeshi businessman used his restaurant in Bukit Bintang in Malaysia to meet terrorist Andaleeb Ahmed, who was involved in the attack on Holey Artisan Cafe in Gulshan, an affluent area with many embassies where 22 hostages were killed, mostly foreigners.

He was deported to Bangladesh on September 2.

"The authorities believe that the suspect was planning attacks in his home country.

"He even had regular meetings with many of his countrymen," the Daily Star quoted a source as saying on the condition of anonymity.

The source added that the suspect was also responsible for smuggling AK-47 rifles into Bangladesh.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the businessman was among four men arrested by the Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division between August 2 to September 17.

"The (Bangladeshi) suspect was arrested on August 19. He was placed in Interpol's Red Notice and was deported on September 2," Khalid said in a statement on Thursday.

Three others arrested in the special operation included a 38-year-old Nepalese businessman, a 26-year-old Moroccan and a 34-year-old Malaysian.

It is believed that the businessman whom the suspect worked for ran a car import business in Port Klang.

"He has been involved into Islamic State since 2014," a source said.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : A delegation of Japan-India Parliamentarians Friendship League (JIPFL) on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and supported India's call to isolate countries sponsoring terrorism.

Led by Japanese Parliamentarian Hiroyuki Hosoda, the delegation also called for deeper cooperation between the two countries.

While condoling the deaths of Indian soldiers at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18, the delegation welcomed Prime Minister Modi's call for greater international cooperation against the global menace of terrorism and for coordinated efforts to isolate sponsors of terrorism.

The delegation conveyed that there is strong bipartisan support in Japan for strengthening relations between Japan and India, and welcomed the progress achieved in technology cooperation, especially in high-speed railways.

Modi had interacted with JIPFL in Tokyo during his visit to Japan in 2014. He said that he is looking forward to visiting Japan again in the near future.
Dhaka, Sep 23 : A Bangladeshi politician being investigated for suspected links with the murder of a Chhatra League leader in Comilla has been seen with the Prime Minister's entourage in the US, media reports said on Friday.

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Director Masud Parvez Khan Imran is the prime accused in the case with a member of the executive council of the Comilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which he had once headed, bdnews24.com reported.

Imran and his brother Nasrullah Arman Khan were accused in a case over the murder of Saiful Islam, President of Chhatra League's Comilla city unit, in April last year.

"Imran is the number one accused in the case," police commanding officer Abdur Rab told bdnews24.com.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is investigating the Chhatra League leader's murder.

Witnesses said Imran was in the audience of UN General Assembly. He entered the gallery holding a card that identifies him as a Bangladesh representative.

Former Chhatra League leader Atiqur Rahman Pintu, another accused in Saiful murder case, was also spotted with Imran in New York.

Saiful was stabbed to death during a programme on April 11, 2015, and Imran was among the 22 accused in the case, bdnews24 reported.

This is not the only case that Imran stands accused of. Among the several other cases against him, he has secured bail in an arms case and in another over abduction.

The Chhatra League is linked to the ruling Awami League.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : The Indo-French deal for 36 Rafale multi-role combat jets, inked between Defence Ministers Manohar Parrikar and French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, will ensure some major concessions and special discount for India, officials said here on Friday.

Sources said along with the 36 French fighters, India-specific enhancements and modern air-to-air missiles will give India a clear edge in aerial combat over Pakistan.

The deal signed on Friday would help India save about 750 million euros, following intense negotiations by interlocutors after the Modi government took steps to rework the deal.

Rafale jets as strategic weapons with the Indian Air Force would include Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 km, said to be much higher capability than 80 km range of such weaponry with Pakistan, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition during his trip to France last year.

There is also additional offset clause which is expected to help Indian businesses.

According to sources, three concessions worked out now would include free training for nine Indian Air Force personnel, including three pilots, besides additional guarantee for 60 hours of usage of training aircraft for Indian pilots.

Another clause makes it clear that in case the "Indian infrastructure is not ready for storing" the weapons, there will be guarantee for free storage facilities for six months in France itself.

The better weapons package and free training facilities as worked out would be worth 100 million euros.

"There will be additional guarantee for Air Force, an additional 60 hours for the trainer version of Rafale fighters, and a concession to keep the weapons storage in France for an additional six months without any charge," the official said.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : A 28-year-old man was shot dead by unidentified attackers over a financial dispute here on Thursday night, the police said on Friday.

The killed man has been identified as Vinay Singh, resident of Begampur in outer Delhi, who worked as a private financier, the police said.

According to the police, the attack took place when Vinay Singh was returning home from his office in Rohini area of outer Delhi on Thursday night. He was shot dead by some unidentified men just a few metres away from his office.

"A few passers-by informed the police after noticing him lying in a pool of blood," a senior police officer told IANS.

He was declared brought dead when rushed to a hospital, the police said.

"Prima facie, it appears to be a case of murder over a financial dispute but we are trying to ascertain the exact reason behind his murder. The investigation is on," the senior police officer told IANS.

The officer also said that Vinay's father, Wajir, who is working as a Delhi Police constable, in his statement said that Vinay lent money to people and he had a dispute with someone over Rs 3 lakh three months ago.

A case has been registered, the police said.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that the police should serve people and not politicians, as is the case in India.

"We need to put in place a system which governs itself. India must be governed by the rule of law," he said.

Rijiju was speaking at a conference on police reforms held here on Friday at Mavalankar Auditorium.

"There is so much talk about police reforms. But reforms are required in every sector be it politics, judiciary, and even police. But most of all, reforms are required in the mindset of the people as these very people eventually become part of political, judicial and policing system," Rijiju said.

Speaking on the occasion, senior advocate Fali Nariman called for police to be shifted from the State List to the Concurrent List under the Indian Constitution.

"Unless police is placed in the Concurrent List, it will take years to bring in police reforms," he said.

The conference on police reforms was held jointly by the Indian Police Foundation and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) to discuss the road-map for professionalism and modernisation of police set-up.

The conference was held to mark 10 years of the landmark Supreme Court verdict in the 'Prakash Singh vs Union of India' case.

Addressing the audience, former Border Security Force Director General Prakash Singh said that states have either ignored the court directions altogether or have passed laws that are "against the letter and spirit" of the verdict.

The Supreme Court in 2006 had recommended setting up of State Security Commission to insulate police from political pressures. It also recommended that the Centre 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 the appointee a fixed tenure.

The conference was also attended by former Law Minister Veerappa Moily, former Chief Justice of India R.C. Lahoti, President of Indian Police Foundation N. Ramachandran and Director of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Maja Daruwala.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Two contract killers were arrested for killing a cloth merchant here, the Delhi Police said on Friday.

Nawab Ali, 24, and Nakul, 26, both residents of east Delhi, were arrested on Thursday, the police said.

Both allegedly eliminated Subhash Yadav, 40, for payment of Rs 2 lakh from some of his lenders and financiers. Yadav was found murdered on September 18 with multiple stab wounds.

"During investigation, it was found that Yadav owed Rs 5 crore to his lenders. He was shifting his base to Bengaluru to avoid his lenders," Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rishi Pal told reporters.

"We also recovered a knife, bloodstained clothes and a scooty without number plate used in crime," the officer said.

The police said both arrested men were also involved in other heinous crimes. Pal said Nawab was released from jail in April.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : India on Friday signed a Euro 7.87 billion (about Rs 59,000 crore) deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets that will meet the Indian Air Force's critical operational requirement for a multi-role combat aircraft and enhance its strategic reach, especially in context of arch rival Pakistan.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the inter-government agreement for purchase of the fighter jets in fly-away condition that are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

The deal for fighter jets, which are equipped with latest missiles and weapon systems, was preceded by tough negotiations over the price and will cost India about 7.87 billion euros.

The deal also includes obligations under which the French industrial suppliers will discharge offsets for 50 percent of the value of the procurement.

Soon after the deal was signed, Parrikar said in a tweet: "Will significantly improve India's strike and defence capabilities."

The tough price negotiations led to a delay in the finalisation of the deal, which covers delivery of 36 planes, spares and weapons. The first fighter plane agreement in about two decades was inked almost 16 months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision to buy the jets during his visit to France in April last year.

The fighter plane will be equipped with Meteor, a beyond-visual range air-to-air missile expected to considerably advance IAF's capability in aerial combat. Sources said the missile has a range in excess of 150 km and is of much higher capability than the 80 km range of such weaponry with Pakistan.

Sources said tht IAF has authorisation for 42 squardons of fighter aircraft but its present strength is less than that.

Rafale is a multi-role fighter aircraft capable of undertaking all types of missions with a capability to simultaneously perform both air defence and ground attack roles in a single mission. It will have features like advanced electronically scanned array radar, mid-air refuelling and advanced electronic warfare equipment.

The Rafale fighter jet would be delivered within the next 36 to 67 months in fly-away condition along with weapons, training simulator, associated equipment and Performance Based Logistics(PBL) support. Sources said that the schedule is better than the delivery schedule proposed earlier by the French side.

India will purchase 28 single-seater Rafale fighter jets while eight jets will be two-seaters.

The price of aircraft alone is about 91 million euros each for a single seater and about 94 million Euros for a two seater aircraft.

The sources said the jets would arrive in India in batches, with the first two coming in the next few months.

India had decided to ink the deal for 126 Rafale jets in 2012 during the previous United Progressive Alliance government. The deal was estimated to cost $10.2 billion and the plan was to acquire 18 aircraft in fly-away condition and manufacturing the rest in India.

However, during Modi's visit to France in April last year, India conveyed that it would like to acquire 36 Rafale jets in fly-away condition as quickly as possible in view of the IAF's critical operational necessity for the multi-role combat aircraft.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with France in January this year for the purchase of 36 Rafale.

Sources said the version of Rafale aircraft supplied to India will have better operational capabilities than the Rafale being operated by other air forces in terms of better radar, better detection and survival features and will have capabilities for operations from higher altitude airfields.

The maintenance support for 36 Rafale will be provided through Performance based logistics which also includes advanced training of three IAF pilots, one engineer and six technicians by the French Air Force.

The sources said the 36 Rafale procurement supports the 'Make in India' initiative of the government through offsets.

Thales, a technology firm and a member of Rafale team alongside Dassault aviation, welcomed the signing of the agreement. It said in a release that the contract will create hundreds of jobs on Thales manufacturing sites.
Kozhikode, Sep 23 : The three-day BJP National Council meet that began here on Friday and was slated to focus on party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyay's core idea of "Antyodaya" and "Integral Humanism", but has been over shadowed by the developments following the Uri terror attack.

The party said that it understands the sentiments in the country but as far as the stand of the National Council over the issue is concerned, it will be deliberated at an appropriate stage.

However, the meeting of the office bearers and state presidents was focussed on the agenda of Antyodaya and Integral Humanism.

Briefing the reporters about the meeting Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Ram Madhav said, "You will naturally have one major issue in your minds about the situation in the country and about neighbourhood etc. It is an important national concern but its focus is on Deendayalji.. his ideas and his commitment to the poor and downtrodden. We will take it forward."

Madhav said the focus of meet will be on Antyodaya but he faced a volley of questions related to any proposed action against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack of September 18 that left 18 soldiers dead.

"In the past three days, a lot has happened especially on the diplomatic front and you have also seen that. You have seen the results also," Madhav told a press conference.

"Apko bayan chahiye ya action? Action hote rahenge, dekhna (Do you want statements or action? Action will continue, just keep watching)," Madhav said when a journalist sought to know from him why the BJP has toned down its voice against Pakistan after coming to power.

After the incident of Uri the BJP-led government is under pressure to "teach a lesson" to Pakistan -- with Ram Madhav himself demanding "for one tooth, a complete jaw".

"We are a party of grass root workers. So naturally we appreciate and understand the sentiments in the country," Madhav said.

Although the BJP leader did not put it in so many words, he clearly indicated that the situation emerging in the wake of the Uri attack would also be discussed during the party's three-day National Council meeting here.

"We all National Council members keep getting inputs from the people. All important issues will be taken up at a certain level, and essence of that will be communicated to you," Madhav said.

Responding to a poser that Russia joining military exercise with Pakistan is against India's claim that Islamabad has been isolated diplomatically, Madhav said, "We will wait and see. A lot of news is floating around."

During the meeting party chief Amit Shah asked the party leaders to focus on implementation of 80 public welfare schemes of the Modi government. Shah had constituted a committee on Gareeb Kalyan under the leadership of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The committee submitted its report to Shah suggesting their views on Gareeb Kalyan.

Sources also said that Shah expressed his displeasure over the implementation of the schemes in BJP-ruled states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is all set to address a public rally here at Calicut beach, is also likely to send a strong message to Pakistan.

This will be the first public speech of the Prime Minister after the September 18 Uri attack.

"We are also waiting to hear what he says on Pakistan and Uri," Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS.

At the venue, a giant poster is up with party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya's views on Kashmir.

"Kashmir is an integral part of India and there will not be any compromise on this," Upadhyaya had said in 1968. He had also said that even the UN won't be allowed to interfere in Kashmir.

The National Council meet, dedicated to Upadhyaya, would conclude on September 25, the day the late leader was born.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : A large number of Indians have favoured to snap all diplomatic ties with Pakistan in the wake of the recent terrorist attack on an army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18, a survey said on Friday.

The survey done by a news app -- Inshorts -- said that out of the 71,578 users who were asked if India should snap all diplomatic ties with Pakistan, about 70 per cent voted saying yes, 21 per cent said no and about nine per cent could not make up their minds.

On whether India should continue to keep cultural and sporting ties with the neighbouring country, out of the 68,029 voters, 59 per cent said no, 33 per cent answered in affirmative, and the rest eight per cent were indecisive.

A huge number of people were not satisfied with India's response to various terrorist attacks under the current National Democratic Alliance government, the survey said.

Out of the 66,334 people who responded to the question whether they were happy with the present government's response to various terror attacks in the country, only 24 per cent said yes, while 58 per cent voted in negative.

Responding to how India should respond to the Uri terrorist attack, out of the 1,12,153 users of the news app, 49 per cent voted for undertaking covert operations against terrorists like Hafiz Saeed, while 44 per cent voted for taking military action against Pakistan.

However, only seven per cent respondents voted for seeking Pakistan's support in fight against terrorism.

More than 80 per cent of the people surveyed are below the age of 35 and belong to India's top 10 metros that include New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow.
Mohali, Sep 23 : Observing that the Centre's role is of a facilitator and not a controller, Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday assured greater autonomy to premier institutions of higher learning.

Javadekar chaired a review meeting with directors of five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research located at Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the government role must be of a facilitator and not a controller, for which it proposes to give more autonomy to premier institutions of higher learning, based on their performance.

Stressing on research and innovation, Javadekar said that joint effort of IITs, IIMs and IISERs must be ensured so that the quality of education being imparted in top institutions gets reflected in their international rankings.

He said that research and innovation must power the Make in India campaign, as sustainable progress is achieved only in those nations which themselves innovate.

Having already held review meeting of IIITs, IITs and IIMs, Javadekar is scheduled to meet vice chancellors of 41 central Universities at Banaras Hindu University on October 6 to focus on actions taken and proposed for improvement of quality in education, research, internal resource generation, infrastructure, student-centric initiatives, and e-governance initiatives.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : A delegation of West Pakistani refugees on Friday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here and demanded full citizenship rights in Jammu and Kashmir, including the right to vote, an official release said.

The delegation, led by Labha Ram Gandhi, submitted a charter of demands demanding special package for rehabilitation, right to vote and contest in Jammu and Kashmir state assembly/municipal bodies elections, and allotment of land, among other things.

The delegation also asked for the appointment of a Relief Commissioner to look into and redress the grievances of West Pakistani refugees.

"While appreciating the sentiments of the members of delegation, Rajnath Singh assured the delegation that he will look into the matter and take necessary action. He said that the MHA has appointed a Nodal Officer to exclusively coordinate with the refugee community for redressal of their day to day issues," the release said.

The West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India and have the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

However, they are not permanent residents of the state as per Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and thus cannot vote/contest state assembly and local bodies elections.

In the wake of Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, about 5,764 families who migrated from the then West Pakistan are residing mainly in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts of Jammu division.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : A 24-year-old man was arrested for stabbing his 18-year old lover here on Friday morning, police said.

According to police, the man was identified as Rahul, a resident of Sultanpur Majra in outer Delhi, and a droput from college. He attacked the teen with a kitchen knife on her neck around 9.30 a.m.

"The girl was shifted to shifted to hospital in critical condition," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Vikramjit Singh told reporters.

"According to eyewitnesses the man was identified and arrested from the fish market of Mangolpuri area of outer Delhi," the officer said.

"He confessed to his crime,' Singh said, adding, "He attacked the girl to get rid of her as she was pressurising him for marriage."

As he was unemployed he decided to kill the girl, police added.

A case has been registered against Rahul, police said.
Fitch Law Partners LLP announced today that Jennifer Thelusma and Jennifer Kearney have been selected as the recipients of the annual Fitch Law Partners Scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year. Jonathan W. Fitch, managing partner says, "We congratulate Jennifer Thelusma and Jennifer Kearney as the recipients of this year's scholarships. Our review committee, which includes a cross-section of all staff, had a difficult time choosing among nearly 100 compelling scholarship applications. Both Ms. Thelusma and Ms. Kearney submitted inspiring essays on their motivations for becoming lawyers."

Jennifer Thelusma, who is just entering Duke University Law School student, received the 2016 Future Law Student Scholarship of $1,000. Thelusma is a first-generation American whose academic and community achievements are inspired by her parents' experiences as Haitian immigrants. Jennifer Kearney, a paralegal and night student at Rutgers Law School, is the recipient of the 2016 Law Student Scholarship in the amount of $1,500. Kearney's essay focused on the hurdles that she faced in her youth and her professional accomplishments. Kearney, a third-year law student, has demonstrated excellence in her legal studies at Rutgers while raising two children and working full-time as a paralegal.

The Fitch Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis, and are based upon an applicant's essay and record of achievements. The application period for scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year will open in January 2017 and close on March 1, 2017. For further details on the scholarship, visit: http://www.fitchlp.com/Scholarship.shtml.

For more information contact: Fitch Law Partners LLP, 617-542-5542
We have a single mission  to exceed our clients expectations across all levels of interaction with our firm  and the methodology underlying Five Stars recognition serves as a source of personal validation for which we are incredibly grateful.

Probity Advisors, Inc. announces Adam Bronson, CFA and Christopher Tyler Sorrow, CFA, MBA have been recognized as Dallas/Fort Worth Five Star Wealth Managers for 2016. Bronson and Sorrows honor is featured in a special section of Texas Monthly magazine. This is Bronsons second time to win the award. Sorrow has earned this award seven times in the past eight years.

Five Star Professional partnered with Texas Monthly to recognize a select group of Dallas/Fort Worth-area wealth managers who provide quality services to their clients. Bronson and Sorrow are featured, along with other award winners, in a special section of the August issue. Wealth managers are selected based on their credentials, experience, client retention rate, compliance and regulatory screening, assets under management, and other factors. More information about the award is available online at http://www.fivestarprofessional.com.

Chris Sorrow, Vice President of Probity Advisors, Inc., commented on the award: "This is an honor that is shared with a dedicated team of portfolio managers, financial planners, analysts, and all of our client services partners and staff. We have a single mission  to exceed our clients expectations across all levels of interaction with our firm  and the methodology underlying Five Stars recognition serves as a source of personal validation for which we are incredibly grateful.

The firms president, Porter L. Buddy Ozanne, said, I am thrilled our associates are committed to upholding the values established by our organization when it was founded by my father 60 years ago. We congratulate Adam and Chris on this outstanding industry recognition.

Bronson is responsible for implementation of the firms investment strategies and for managing its trading platform. He grew up in Fort Worth, TX, and attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas on a full academic scholarship, graduating cum laude from the honors program with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Bronson lives in Fairview, TX with his wife and two children. Both Bronson and Sorrow hold the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Sorrow oversees the macroeconomic analysis and research that inform the firms investment decisions. He also leads Probitys compliance department. Sorrow earned his MBA from SMU and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honor society for his academic achievement during graduate school. Sorrow graduated magna cum laude from the University of Rochester in New York with a bachelors degree in economics. Prior to joining Probity, he advised hedge funds on mergers and acquisitions as an analyst at an economic consulting firm in Washington, DC. Sorrow resides with his family in the Lake Highlands neighborhood in Dallas.

About Probity Advisors

Probity Advisors, Inc. is a financial services firm based in Dallas, Texas. For more than 60 years, we have helped individuals, families and businesses manage their financial assets and resources in order to achieve financial independence and security.

With expertise in customized portfolio management, financial and estate planning, retirement benefits consulting, and risk management solutions, we provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to managing and building wealth.

Our highly credentialed team of Certified Financial Planners, Chartered Financial Analysts, Chartered Financial Consultants, and Accredited Estate Planners is dedicated to helping our clients optimize their complete financial picture through a coordinated estate, investment, and tax strategy.
CornerStone Staffing and The Ladder Alliance Its very seldom to get a phone call in the nonprofit world from someone you dont know, that says we want to bring your agency a $15,000 check!

CornerStone Staffing, a locally-owned staffing agency, is celebrating 25 years in business this year. The company started in 1991 with one office in Ft. Worth and over time has grown with the economy in Dallas/Fort Worth to eleven offices. CornerStone offices are located in the communities of Addison, Arlington/Grand Prairie, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Las Colinas, Lewisville, North Fort Worth, Richardson, Watauga, and Frisco (to be opened October 2016).

Committed to supporting the communities they serve and as a means of saying thank you for 25 wonderful years; CornerStone Staffing provided donations to three local non-profits. The Ladder Alliance in Ft. Worth, Dress for Success Dallas, and Attitudes & Attire Dallas each recently received a donation from the company.

"There are many worthy non-profits doing tremendous work in the community. We chose three to which we could really lend our expertise, as they focused on supporting people in their efforts to find employment", said Jody Smith, Co-Owner of CornerStone Staffing. Each of the organizations help women thrive, by providing them with the tools necessary to secure employment and lead successful lives.

Sharon Cox, Founder and Executive Director of The Ladder Alliance, accepted the donation on behalf of The Ladder Alliance and afterwards said, Its very seldom to get a phone call in the nonprofit world from someone you dont know, that says we want to bring your agency a $15,000 check! Such was the case with CornerStone Staffing! But the best part is now a synergistic partnership is developing between The Ladder Alliance and CornerStone. Ladder Alliance can provide the training and CornerStone can then help our graduates find employment. We couldnt be more excited about the new partnership we have with Cornerstone Staffing!

About Attitudes & Attire

Founded in 1996, the idea for Attitudes & Attire was simple - to build the self-esteem of women entering the workforce and to provide professional interview attire. Find more information about Attitudes & Attire on their website at: http://attitudesandattire.org/

About Dress for Success

Dress for Success empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Find more information about Dress for Success Dallas on their website at: https://dallas.dressforsuccess.org/

About The Ladder Alliance

The Ladder Alliance, based in Fort Worth, Texas, empowers women victims of domestic violence and low-income women with the tools to lead self-reliant, successful and independent lives. Find more information about The Ladder Alliance at: http://ladderalliance.org/

About CornerStone Staffing

For 25 years CornerStone Staffing has been providing staffing services to businesses, and employment to professionals in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. CornerStone serves over 600 companies and produces an average of 9000 W2's per year. The company's eleven branches offer temporary staffing, temporary-to-hire staffing, professional placement services and payroll services to a variety of industries including Office Professional, Accounting, Finance, Call Center, Healthcare, IT, and Engineering. A locally-owned company, a 2016 recipient of the Dallas Business Journal's Best Places to Work, and four time Consumer Choice award winner, CornerStone Staffing, relishes opportunities to support their community through donations, fundraising, and volunteer activities.
Emily Aldridge Associate Attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Swords to Plowshares has an exceptional Pro Bono Program, and they make it easy to get involved whether its an hour or two staffing a legal clinic or dedicating more time by taking on a full-scope case.

Emily Aldridge, an associate attorney in the San Francisco office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, received the Bill Brockett Pro Bono Award on Thursday for her outstanding work with veterans.

At a legal reception held at Keker & Van Nest LLP in San Francisco on September 22, 2016, Swords to Plowshares, a San Francisco-based veteran service organization, presented Ms. Aldridge with the award for her to outstanding service to veterans as a volunteer attorney and her dedication to Swords to Plowshares Veterans Legal Pro Bono Program. The award is named in memory of William Bill Brockett Jr. who co-founded Keker & Van Nest LLP along with John Keker.

Swords to Plowshares has an exceptional Pro Bono Program, and they make it easy to get involved - whether its an hour or two staffing a legal clinic or dedicating more time by taking on a full-scope case, Aldridge said. I am grateful to my firm for supporting Swords to Plowshares work on behalf of veterans and I encourage every attorney I know to get involved with their Pro Bono Program.

Emily Aldridge serves as an active member on Swords to Plowshares Pro Bono Advisory Board and has dedicated more than 230 total pro bono hours to help veterans with disabilities obtain service-connected disability benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Aldridge has staffed two clinics at the VA Downtown San Francisco Clinic and also provided full representation to a Vietnam veteran with multiple service-related injuries. On his behalf, she successfully won service-connected disability compensation claims for multiple mental and physical injuries, including those related to Agent Orange exposure.

Aldridge has also dedicated much of her volunteer efforts specifically to helping women veterans. In April 2016, she staffed a Women Veterans Legal Clinic at the Veterans War Memorial Building, where she assisted women veterans in their post-traumatic stress disorder claims related to their experiences of military sexual trauma. Last week, she met with women veterans at the East Bay Stand Down to provide legal counseling as part of Swords to Plowshares pro bono volunteer team.

Were thrilled to honor Emily with this award. She has been a tremendous advocate for her pro bono client and an active participant in our Pro Bono Program, said Swords to Plowshares Legal Director Kate Richardson. Most importantly, the dedication and empathy she displays in working with her veteran client is exceptional, and she has made a tangible difference in his life.

About Swords to Plowshares:

Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides case management, mental health assessment and referral, rapid re-housing and eviction prevention services, employment and training, supportive housing, and legal benefits assistance for low-income, homeless and at-risk veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Swords to Plowshares promotes and protects the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state and national entities. Learn more about the work of Swords to Plowshares, and ways in which you can help, by visiting our website at http://www.stp-sf.org.

About Gibson Dunn:

From Southern California beginnings in 1890, Gibson Dunn has grown into a global law firm providing comprehensive services across borders, jurisdictions and legal disciplines. Gibson Dunn has more than 1,200 lawyers located in 19 offices in major cities throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. They celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2015. Learn more about at http://www.gibsondunn.com/
Chillicothe and Maumee Ohio residents hired (FINRA case # 16-01730) the securities arbitration law firm, Soreide Law Group, to recover more than $300,000 in realized losses from oil and gas related investments sold by John Bradford Leonard otherwise known to his customers as Brad Leonard. Brad Leonard works out of a Toledo, Ohio branch of Wells Fargo. The Claimants accounts were alleged to be invested in more than 70% oil and gas stocks. This alleged over-concentration caused the Claimants to suffer devastating losses to their irreplaceable retirement savings. The investments were allegedly made in oil and gas investments including but not limited to: Linn Energy (bankrupt), Breitburn Energy Partners (bankrupt), SeaDrill Partners, Memorial Production, Energy Transfer Partners, Kinder Morgan, Teekay Offshore Partners, to name a few.

The Claimants attorney, Lars Soreide, Esq., has accused Wells Fargo Advisors and broker of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent supervision, breach of contract, and fraud per the filing. The Claimants are collectively seeking damages of $300,000. The suit also alleges that Wells Fargo failed to supervise their financial advisor, Brad Leonard. The losses experienced by the Claimants at Wells Fargo represented "the majority of their entire life savings" according to the filing.

The first suit being arbitrated through FINRA is case number 16-01730 with the second case just filed in September. Wells Fargo Advisors has yet to file a response to both lawsuits.

Lars Soreide, Esq., expects the case to be arbitrated by the summer of 2017. For more information, Lars Soreide can be contacted at (888) 760-6552 and http://www.securitieslawyer.com.

ABOUT SOREIDE LAW GROUP, PLLC

Located at 2335 E. Atlantic Blvd., Suite 405, in Pompano Beach, Fla., Soreide Law Group, PLLC is committed to helping victims recover investment losses due to fraudulent or negligent conduct on behalf of their broker or financial advisors. The firm represents investors nationwide in the handling of securities arbitration claims. The practice focuses on recovering investment losses due to stockbroker negligence or securities fraud and pursues claims against stockbrokers, financial advisors, brokerage houses and fund managers. For additional information on Soreide Law Group, PLLC, please call 888-760-6552 or visit https://www.securitieslawyer.com.
JTM Food Group, a national leader in the creation of fully cooked menu solutions for the foodservice industry, announced it has earned GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) certification. JTM received an A grade from Cert ID and meets the requirements set out in the BRC Global Standards for Food Safety and GFSI.

The BRC Global Standard  used by over 23,000 certified suppliers in 123 countries  is a leading safety and quality certification program for the food and beverage sector with certification issued through a worldwide network of accredited certifying bodies, including Cert ID. The BRC Global Standard is based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety management plan and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The standards guarantee uniformity of quality, safety and operational criteria, and ensure that manufacturers fulfill their legal obligations and provide protection to the consumer. The BRC was the first standard to be recognized for meeting the GFSI benchmark.

Anthony Maas, President of JTM Food Group, said, Food safety is at the heart of all the decisions we make at JTM. For years, we have received top scores and certification from third party auditors like Silliker, and because we process USDA Foods for the K-12 segment, we are required to have USDA graders on site. We pride ourselves in being the best possible partner to our customer base, so as they adjusted their requirements and standards, it was imperative that we take this step as part of our commitment to providing best-in-class products and services. The BRC certification was truly the next logical step for us as a growing number of manufacturers, retail, and food service companies in North America now require this independent certification.

Jim Falbo, Vice President of Operations for JTM Food Group, added, Globally recognized certifications like BRC are key to JTMs success and ensure our manufacturing facilities and food safety practices are meeting the highest standards possible.

For more information, please contact Brad Nelson, Director of Marketing at bradnelson@jtmfoodgroup.com or call 513-367-3685 ext. 143.

###

About JTM Food Group

Family owned and operated since 1980, JTM Food Group specializes in menu solutions that deliver superior results to the food service industry. Focused on customer service, quality and innovation, JTM serves thousands of schools, restaurants, military and government organizations, food distributors and retailers throughout North America. In 2015, JTM was named the 72nd largest private firm on the Deloitte Cincinnati USA 100 list, and in 2011, JTM was named one of the Cincinnati Business Couriers Fast 55, an award that recognizes the fastest-growing private firms in Greater Cincinnati. For more information, visit http://www.JTMFoodGroup.com.
eLine Technology an established provider of video security equipment and video management software, announces the release of the Mach Micro Video Analytic Server. The Mach Micro is the most compact and affordable video analytic server in the Mach Server series.

The Mach Micro video analytic security server, was developed to perform with Axxon Next VMS, a powerful Video Analytic VMS that eLine believes in. The Mach Micro is the smallest server build in the Mach server series and will support up to 16 IP cameras at 3 Mega-pixel resolutions (camera counts can vary based on resolutions), a single 1080p monitor and up to 18TBs of Surveillance storage.

The Mach servers have the ability to record up to 4K resolutions and are ONVIF conformant for ease of integration. Mach servers were crafted to be a powerful video analytic too that is, affordable and intelligent video security solution that are also adaptable for a range of industries. The VMS will scale infinitely, making the Mach servers ideal for multi-server security projects or multiple location security projects.

eLine Technology strives to provide customers with quality products and service. We create partnerships and utilize the latest industry technology to help create better security solutions for everyone.

Mach Micro Key Features:



Video Analytic Smart Security Solutions

State-of-the-art VMS Software

Forensic Search Engine

Time Compressor

Interactive 3D Map

Flexible Layouts

Scalable for Future System Growth

16 IP Network Security Cameras

18tbs of Surveillance Storage

The most affordable Mach Server Solution

eLine Technology Invites you to experience Smart Security Intelligent Video Analytic Mach Servers

About eLine Technology

eLine Technology is a developer and manufacturer of video surveillance systems, security technology, equipment and software. Our focus is to bring our customers unique high quality security solutions and technology. Our CCTV and Video management packages deliver reliable and effective security solutions across most industries, including construction site security, border patrol security, oil and gas security, retail loss prevention, and security for grocery and convenience stores. Our experience with these industries allows us to create unique system solutions.
On September 19th, Nizar Zakka, an information and communication (ICT) technology consultant, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $4.2 million fine in a secret Iranian tribunal.1 Zakka has led a regional alliance of information and communication technology (ICT) organizations across the Middle East and North Africa for development projects funded by organizations from corporations like Cisco and Microsoft, to the US State Department. Zakkas fateful trip to Iran was funded by the U. S. Department of State to promote ICT for women resulting in his imprisonment.

Nizars fate is now clear: to spend a decade suffering in an Iranian jail for a crime he didnt commit, said David Ramadan. As Nizar served as contractor for the State Department promoting American values; our government has a responsibility to see him freed and brought back to the United States. We call on Secretary Kerry to intervene personally with the Iranian leadership to obtain Nizars freedom, both as a humanitarian and a moral issue.

Zakka, a Department of State contractor, has been a permanent resident of the U.S. since 2013 and resides in Washington, DC. He is one of the founding members of The Arab ICT Organization  IJMA3. Today, the member organizations represent 18 ICT organizations, across 14 countries. In addition to being an advocate for the ICT industry, IJMA3 works on projects in the field of ICT for Development (ICT4D), which aim to promote income generating opportunities and improved livelihoods for people across the MENA region, particularly youth.

Zakka travelled to Tehran on September 11, 2015 under invitation from the Iranian government to participate in a conference on entrepreneurship and employment at the Second International Conference & Exhibition on Women in Sustainable Development in Tehran. On September 18th, Nizar was scheduled to travel to Beirut, but never arrived. Unofficial reports indicated that he checked out of his hotel but was arrested while he was on his way to the airport. On November 3rd, 2015 the Associated Press reported that the Iranian state-sponsored television station aired a piece indicating that Nizar Zakka had been arrested, with false accusations of him being an American spy.2

Ramadan has led an ad-hoc effort of friends and colleagues to obtain Zakkas release, organizing a website http://www.friendsofnizarzakka.com and meeting with Members of Congress to raise attention and interest in his predicament.

Ramadan calls on friends and supporters to visit the website to support this effort and obtain Zakkas return.

Ramadan is available to discuss the background of Zakkas case and to update reporters on specific efforts on his behalf.

Reference notes:

1. Iran Sentences US resident to 10 years in jail after spying claims. The Guardian, 9/20/16. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/20/iran-sentences-us-resident-to-10-years-in-jail-after-spying-claims

2. Lebanese man held in Iran had past US contracts. AP, May 18, 2016. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/acc0212a2aa6487d8d4688c1e2799dc4/apnewsbreak-lebanese-man-held-iran-had-past-us-contracts

# # #
PropertyKey announced today that the Miami Association of REALTORS renewed their long running agreement with a 5 year contract extension for the iMapp System powered by PropertyKey.

"Our members require world-class tools to support their sophisticated clients. said Teresa King Kinney, MIAMI's Chief Executive Officer. iMapp delivers everything they need and members consistently tell me they love iMapp and consider it indispensable for their real estate practice.

iMapp powered by PropertyKey was the first property-centric system linking public record and MLS data. iMapp is a comprehensive public records system including MLS, tax, foreclosure & mortgage data along with interactive mapping, custom search and mailing label creation. iMapp seamlessly connects to all major MLS systems including CoreLogic's Matrix, FBS's Flex and Black Knight's Paragon.

MIAMI was our first MLS client 17 years ago. We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership and we're excited to introduce new features to ensure MIAMI's members have easy access to the most complete, accurate data available. said Steve Gergen, CEO of PropertyKey.

Today's real estate clients have apps that contain unreliable information which can cause problems with client expectations. iMapp provides the most accurate data available to make sure the REALTOR is always the expert and can offer supporting information to guide clients through even the most challenging transactions.

About the Miami Association of REALTORS

The MIAMI Association of REALTORS was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 96 years of service to Realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations, the Residential Association, the Realtors Commercial Alliance, the Broward Council, the Jupiter Tequesta Hobe Sound (JTHS) Council, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) Council and the award-winning International Council, it represents more than 42,000 real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S., and has official partnerships with 136 international organizations worldwide. MIAMIs official website is http://www.miamire.com.

About PropertyKey

PropertyKey is committed to developing advanced map based Real Estate Property Information Systems to meet the needs of all aspects of the Real Estate Industry and anyone in need of Property Information. We are continually developing strategic software, services, and techniques to provide the best access to the most detailed data available. Whether this is developing our flagship product the iMapp System in regional markets, creating more customized services for boards of REALTORS or Government Agencies, or providing individuals access to property reports on the web, we are committed to providing our customers with the property information advantage.

For more information, visit http://www.propertykey.com or contact PropertyKey's National Sales Consultant  Joel Cohen at (727) 643-7385.
The inaugural U.S. Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) held September 14, 2016 in Orlando, Florida during the ASIS International's 62nd Annual Seminar honored the outstanding work being carried out by the U.S. security industry. Security professionals from across the U.S. came together to discover the winners of the OSPAs and celebrate their achievements. A panel of highly respected industry judges made awards in nine distinct award categories and for the Outstanding Security Consultant category of the competition, David G. Aggleton, CPP CSC was selected to receive the award.

"Our finalists and winners are true representatives of outstanding practice in the security industry, said Professor Martin Gill, founder of the OSPAs. The security industry needs to celebrate these achievements and show the world the valuable work that is done, and the OSPAs  building on success in other countries  is emerging as a high profile part of that process, he said.

Harold Gillens, PSP, CFC, CHS-III, President of the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC) said: As a leading expert in security for high-rise buildings and corporate/manufacturing facilities, Aggletons consulting services and innovative solutions have helped improve and sustain the security operations for a large number of major corporations and national landmarks, including the iconic Empire State Building. He is a highly regarded security consultant and most deserving of this prestigious award, said Gillens.

"I was honored to have been nominated by the IAPSC and overjoyed to receive the inaugural U.S. OSPA, said Aggleton upon receiving the award. Dr. Martin Gill is to be commended for his innovative program to launch the OSPAs internationally, he said.

Aggleton joined the IAPSC as a member in 1991, and in 2011, he was certified by the IAPSC as a Certified Security Consultant (CSC). He has been a member of IAPSCs Board of Directors since 1996, serving as its President 2003-2005.

About the IAPSC: The International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC) is the most widely respected and recognized security consultant association in the industry. Its rigid membership requirements allow potential clients to select from a unique group of professional, ethical and competent security consultants. IAPSC members are not affiliated with any product or service they may recommend. To reach these globally recognized leaders and gain access to a security RFP distribution service available at no charge, visit: https://iapsc.org/rfp
Known as the "Crown of the Continent," Glacier National Park sits on the U.S.-Canadian border in the northwest corner of Montana on approximately 1 million acres of pristine forests, mountains and lakes. Close to several towns offering a mix of eclectic museums, history and top-notch dining, along with a multitude of outdoor activities, there is plenty to do in and around the park. With the shorter days painting the leaves on the trees with brilliant colors of reds and gold, the temperatures starting to cool down and the crowds dissipating until next summer, fall is the perfect time to visit Glacier National Park's unspoiled natural wonders. Here's how to traverse the best of the park's diverse regions this autumn.

[See: 15 Must-Visit National Park Attractions.]

Soak in Fall Foliage on Going-to-the-Sun Road

Viewing beautiful fall foliage is one of the most popular activities during this time of year and it's particularly spectacular when driving or biking along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. This 50-mile stretch crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass and is famous for its awe-inspiring scenery. Lush green valleys, rugged rivers with cascading waterfalls and snow-capped mountains will keep you stopping along the way for the next photo opportunity, but nothing is quite as moving as the magnificent glaciers for which the park was originally named. Their numbers have dramatically declined from 100, when the park opened in 1910, to 25 today, and the remaining glaciers are receding rapidly.

Bowman Lake, in the quiet northwestern section and Two Medicine, located in the southeastern portion of Glacier National Park, offer great viewing areas to view fall colors. If you're feeling adventurous, North Fork Road, an unpaved route, also offers breathtaking foliage displays.

Embrace Excellent Wildlife Spotting

The park's native wildlife is active in the fall and frequently in search of food before taking on extra fat for the winter months. There are 71 species of mammals, including bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goats, mountain lions, lynx, wolverines, black bears and the largest grizzly bear population in the 48 contiguous states. Observing these beautiful creatures is certainly exciting, but viewing is best done at a distance with binoculars and assuring the animals are aware of your presence. Surprised animals can be dangerous, so be thoughtful when in their habitat.

Story continues

Tag Along Guided Tours

There's much to see and do in the fall, especially as a first-time visitor, and the best way to do this is with a guide. Take a tour of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, go fly-fishing on some of the most pristine and undisturbed waters in the U.S., try your hand at kayaking or take a scenic float ride with one of the many reputable rafting and fly-fishing companies in West Glacier. Guided boat tours of Lake McDonald are also available with Glacier Park Boat Company. If you would rather explore the park on land or go hiking, tour operator Glacier Guides, Inc. offers hiking and backpacking trips as well as rafting and fishing adventures. For horseback riding enthusiasts, saddle up with Swan Mountain Outfitters for an unforgettable guided tour of the park on horseback.

[See: 12 State Parks That Should Be on Your Bucket List.]

How to Get to Glacier National Park

Glacier Park Airport, located between Kalispell and Columbia Falls, Montana, is the closest gateway at 24 miles southwest of the park entrance at West Glacier Village. The next closest airport is in Missoula, Montana, which sits 132 miles from West Glacier.

Where to Stay in and Around Glacier National Park

The best and most impressive hotel options in the park include some of the oldest properties, dating back to the beginning of the National Park Service. Lake McDonald Lodge is a Swiss-style chalet lodge that was built in 1914. It's located 10 miles into the park on the Going-to-the-Sun Road and sits alongside the largest lake in the park. Many Glacier Hotel (also built in 1914), lies in the northwestern corner of the park, which has been called the "Switzerland of North America" thanks to its panoramic mountain and lake views. (Note: Many Glacier Hotel is undergoing renovations in 2016, and some parts of the property will remain closed and offer limited hours, so make sure to call ahead before making a reservation.) Just outside the park in East Glacier Village is the historic Glacier Park Lodge, which was built in 1912. The most notable feature of the hotel is its impressive three-story lobby lined with 40-foot Douglas-fir trees. The Izaak Walton Inn, a historic property located halfway between East and West Glacier Park, is unique in that it's on Amtrak's Empire Builder Route and features lodge rooms, cabins or accommodations in a luxury railcar or caboose. Meanwhile, Cedar Creek Lodge in Columbia Falls, Montana, is just a a 15-minute drive from the west entrance of Glacier National Park and features an architectural design that's inspired by the original historic lodges in the park.

Explore Nearby Towns

Just 32 miles from the west entrance to the park, the drive to Kalispell offers plenty of scenic vantage points and wildlife-viewing opportunities. A walk down Main Street evokes images of the Old West with its Western Outdoor Store featuring a life-sized horse and buggy atop of the entrance. There's also the famous Kalispell tradition, Moose's Saloon. There are several museums in town when you're interested in indoor attractions, a versatile selection of dining options and local breweries and distilleries. Stop in at the iconic Norm's News Soda Fountain & Candy Shoppe, an old-fashioned drugstore lunch counter and order a regional favorite, Huckleberry ice cream. In keeping with the Old West theme, the Kalispell Grand Hotel, the only surviving historic hotel in town, is located on Main Street and offers bed-and-breakfast accommodations. For a more contemporary property, The Red Lion Inn is also conveniently located within walking distance of many of the attractions and restaurants.

[See: 7 Affordable Ways to Experience America's National Parks].

Located in Flathead County and about 26 miles from the east entrance of the park, Whitefish is a picturesque western mountain town that's home to a popular ski resort, Whitefish Mountain Resort. There are several upscale lodging options, including Grouse Mountain Lodge, just a few minutes outside town, and one of the newest boutique properties in Montana, The Firebrand Hotel, offering a number of amenities including a spa and rooftop patio. The town's main thoroughfare has several quaint shops and art galleries featuring the works of local artists. Whitefish also has a distinguished culinary scene for a small town. For a special evening, head up the mountain to the ski resort and have dinner at Kandahar Mountain Lodge. Chef Andy Blanton, executive chef and owner of Cafe Kandahar, will prepare his Chef's Table tasting menu comprised of local specialties, such as elk, paired with wines from his "Wine Spectator" award-winning selection.

Gwen Pratesi is a James Beard Finalist in Journalism, award-winning food and travel writer, and coauthor of PratesiLiving.com, where she shares the stories of her international food and travel experiences. She also freelances for other regional, U.S., and international publications. You can follow her at Twitter (@pratesiliving), Linkedin, Google+, Facebook, and Instagram.





More From US News & World Report


Eveo, an award-winning health and wellness agency, in partnership with ALPHAEON, a social commerce company in lifestyle healthcare, has launched an exciting new update to ShoutMD, the first social commerce community created by doctors for doctors. ShoutMD allows board-certified doctors, their staff, and residents to collaborate with their peers to discuss products, procedures and specialty trends. Doctors can also purchase, rate, and review products through the ShoutStore, the platforms unique buying experience, while earning valuable rewards for purchases and participation in ShoutMD.

This new release allows users to customize the content they see in the app and web experience by selecting the content type, medical specialties and groups they would like to follow, so each users feed is personalized to their preferences. The update also offers several enhancements to the ShoutStore, including new ways to filter products, location-specific product imagery and pricing, as well as a new streamlined view for users to easily track the reward points they have received for purchases made, and display their ranking in the community on their profile.

We have seen amazing growth and expansion in ShoutMD since its launch three years ago, and these new features are making it even easier for users to interact with content that is relevant to them, and find, purchase and review products that help them provide the best care to their patients, said Olivier Zitoun, Founder and CEO of Eveo, We are proud to partner with ALPHAEON to continue to enhance this community that gives doctors back their voice to change the trajectory of healthcare.

ShoutMD is a rapidly growing community of more than 17,000 doctors across specialties including Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Oculoplastic Surgery, ENT, Facial Plastic Surgery, Dentistry and Orthopedics in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

About Eveo

Eveo is a leading full-service health and wellness agency, rooted in technology. Eveo has partnered with more than 200 health brands to help them achieve their goals through insight-driven strategies, award-winning creative, and groundbreaking innovations. Eveo is based in San Francisco and has offices in San Diego, Irvine, Boston, Chicago and New York. For three years in a row, Eveo was ranked the No. 1 independent digital health agency in the U.S. by AdAge.

About ALPHAEON Corporation

ALPHAEON Corporation is a social commerce company with the goal of transforming lifestyle healthcare by bringing to market highly innovative products and services to promote consumer wellness, beauty and performance. The company works in partnership with board certified physicians ensuring access to leading advancements in lifestyle healthcare. For more information, please visit http://www.alphaeon.com.
Tim Hague, CEO, Omixon HLA typings for solid organ make up the majority of all clinical typings around the world, and we are delighted to see how many labs are recognizing that NGS is a technology that can replace their SSO/SSP workflows, and not just their SBT workflows

Global molecular diagnostics company Omixon, headquartered in Budapest with US offices in Cambridge, MA, announce today that Holotype HLA and other Omixon products will be featured in four oral presentations and five poster presentations produced by customers or collaborators at the annual meeting of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) in St Louis, MO. Additionally, Omixons Lunch Symposium on Thursday will focus on the ASHI accreditation process for NGS (see a summary of Omixons activities below).

Among the oral presentations, Dr. Peter Meintjes, Omixons CCO, will present The Economics of NGS to highlight how the costs of NGS scale with volume and the number of loci, and how NGS compares to legacy technologies as a suitable replacement for labs with any throughput. The more research-heavy oral presentations will feature Dr. Jamie Duke of The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) whose topic Detecting low level clonal somatic mutation in HLA genes using next-generation sequencing in the presence of aplastic anemia highlights complex cases of challenging samples in which Holotype HLA is superior in its ability to detect low frequency signals in chimeric samples. A third oral presentation by Eszter Lazar-Molnar from ARUP Laboratories tackles a similar issue of detecting low frequency signals due to loss of heterozygosity in her presentation entitled Resolution of conflicting HLA assignment due to loss of heterozygosity in the HLA region by NGS typing.

Accreditation and validation will be the major topic of Omixons Lunch Symposium, featuring three independent speakers, who will also speak about their experience in working with Omixon. Two HLA lab Directors that have made leading contributions to the ASHI NGS validation/accreditation standards, Dr. Zahra Kashi and Dr. Lee Ann Baxter Lowe will provide their views, as well as Doreen Sese from Yale University  the first lab in the world to become ASHI accredited with NGS for serving only solid organ programs, moving directly from SSO/SSP workflows to NGS without accrediting SBT, acting as a pioneer for other solid organ only labs.

The case for high resolution typing by NGS for solid organ transplantation will be further enhanced by Yanping Huang of CHOP in her oral presentation entitled Three case reports: NGS-based high resolution HLA typing permits better assessment of donor-recipient compatibility in solid organ transplant. Her presentation is expected to provide a significant stimulus for more solid organ labs to adopt NGS typing for HLA. Omixons CEO, Tim Hague, notes that HLA typings for solid organ make up the majority of all clinical typings around the world, and we are delighted to see how many labs are recognizing that NGS is a technology that can replace their SSO/SSP workflows, and not just their SBT workflows.

Tim Hague and Dr. Peter Meintjes will be supported at the event by a six-strong team including Head of Lab and Field Operations, Efi Melista, Market Development Manager, Nora Nagy, and Sales Directors Faisal Mojaddidi and Maggi Woronkowicz, CHS. Dr. Meintjes notes that The ASHI meeting is an unparalleled opportunity to share in the latest trends through the formal program, informal networking and one-on-one consultative sessions with Omixon. Rounding out the scientific program for Omixon will be the second convening of Omixons Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), Chaired by Professor Dimitri Monos, with contributing SAB Members Prof. Malek Kamoun, Prof. Dominique Charron and Dr. Matthew Anderson.

Omixon at ASHI 2016

Sept. 26-30 | Omixon will be exhibiting at Booth #415 throughout the conference

Sept. 26, 9.30 - 11:00am | Workshop - Introduction to NGS-based HLA Typing (Register here)

Sept. 26, 11:30am - 1pm | Workshop - Resolving Complex Cases of NGS-based HLA Typing (Register here)

Sept. 29, 12:30 - 2:20pm | ASHI 2016 Symposium - NGS Accreditation with ASHI Standards (Register here)

Omixon featured in Oral Presentations

OR31 | P Meintjes et al. (2016) - The economics of next generation sequencing, at 3:30pm on Wed 9/28

OR46 | JL Duke et al. (2016) - Detecting low level clonal somatic mutation in HLA genes using next-generation sequencing in the presence of aplastic anemia, at 4pm on Thurs 9/29

OR48 | E Lazar-Molnar et al. (2016) - Resolution of conflicting HLA assignment due to loss of heterozygosity in the HLA region by NGS typing, at 4:15pm on Wed 9/28

OR53 | Y Huang et al. (2016) - Three case reports: NGS-based high resolution HLA typing permits better assessment of donor-recipient compatibility in solid organ transplant, at 4:15pm on Wed 9/28

Omixon featured in Poster Presentations

P017 | R Pollok (2016) - Automation of HLA-typing using next generation sequencing with Omixon's holotype HLA X2 kit and beckman-coulter's biomek liquid handling system

P056 | CL Saw et al. (2016) - Simultaneous HLA class I and II sequencing by long read-independent circular consensus SMRT technology

P090 | R Ameen et al. (2016) - NGS characterization of HLA haplotypes in multi-generation families of Kuwaiti descent

P091 | T. Profaizer et al. (2016) - Comparison of four HLA next-generation sequencing typing methods

P135 | M Schafer et al. (2016) - Determination of the whole HLA-DQB1 06: 37 sequence by the combination of long range polymerase chain reaction, next generation sequencing and phasing

About Omixon

Omixon is a global molecular diagnostics company, headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, with US offices in Cambridge, MA that commercializes disruptive technologies for clinical and research laboratories. Omixons flagship product, Holotype HLA, is the worlds leading NGS-based HLA genotyping product that delivers the most accurate high-resolution HLA genotyping available, and is used in more than 20 hospitals worldwide. Omixons research software, HLA Explore analyzes data from any sequencing technology and determines HLA genotypes from Whole Exome/Genome Sequencing experiments. Omixon maintains an active grant-funded research program with a product pipeline focused on pre- and post-transplantation, and HLA genotyping applications beyond transplantation. For more information, visit the Omixon website.
This year, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association has selected 30 undergraduate/pre-licensure and graduate students to receive the APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship. These students will receive complimentary registration, travel, and lodging expenses to attend the APNA 30th Annual Conference, October 19-22, at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut. This conference will offer the scholarship recipients 4 days of networking opportunities with psychiatric-mental health nurses, mentoring events, and educational sessions on a variety of topics presented by content experts in the field. Additionally, these students will receive one year of complimentary membership in APNA, which will allow them to interact with experienced nurses and experts in psychiatric-mental health nursing. They will also have access to education and resources to further develop their skills as they prepare to practice nursing.

Prelicensure/undergraduate recipients of the 2016 APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship are: Nazokat Atadjanova, Medical University of South Carolina; Amanda Baecker, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University; Joseph Beeman, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing; Maila Bezerra York, University of North Carolina Wilmington School of Nursing; Nicole Boydston, Samuel Merritt University, San Francisco Peninsula Campus; Jeremy DiBiasio, Rhode Island College; Rachel Hendron, University of Iowa; Brayden Kameg, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing; Hannah Long, Purdue University; Cecilia Lopez, University of Texas; Megan Mehicic, Kent State University, Geauga Campus; Leslie Miller, Decker School of Nursing Binghamton University; Emily Rude, University of Virginia School of Nursing; Cole Upton, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing; Eleanor Walsh, University of South Carolina College of Nursing.

Graduate recipients of the 2016 APNA Board of Directors Student Scholarship are Lindsay Anderson, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Jeanette Avery, East Carolina University College of Nursing; Bailie Cronin, The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Nursing; Dallas Ducar, University of Virginia School of Nursing; Kathy Hunter, Wayne State University; Manton Hurd, University of California, San Francisco; Deborah Johnson, University of Arizona; Sooksai Kaewbua, University of Kentucky, College of Nursing; Jenna Levenson, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing; Jentina Mitchell, MGH Institute of Health Professions; Valerie Rice, Vanderbilt University; Aaron Salinas, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Alenna Smith, The Ohio State University; Ann Stanton, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Nursing; Douglas Taylor, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

The Board of Directors Student Scholars are truly inspirational in their noticeable leadership so early in their careers, says APNA President Mary Ann Nihart, MA, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, PMHNP-BC. Their outstanding energy will lead psychiatric-mental health nursing to a bright future.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is a national professional membership organization committed to the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems and the care and treatment of persons with psychiatric disorders. APNAs membership is inclusive of all psychiatric-mental health registered nurses including associate degree, baccalaureate, advanced practice (comprised of clinical nurse specialists and psychiatric nurse practitioners), and nurse scientists and academicians (PhD). APNA serves as a resource for psychiatric mental health nurses to engage in networking, education, and the dissemination of research.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Centers Commission on Accreditation.
James Niba (left) presents MSgt David Burgos with his promotion plaque during the 2016 SNCO Induction Ceremony.

Andrews Federal recently sponsored the 2016 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) Induction Ceremony; a joint event including the 470th ABS, Geilenkirchen AFELM Component, Kalkar and JFC Brunssum. The event, held at Schinvelder Hoeve in The Netherlands, properly recognizes the remarkable milestone and achievement of more than 20 SNCO Inductees this year.

We are privileged to sponsor this event honoring our military service members, said Andrews Federals James Niba, Schinnen Branch Manager.

The SNCO ceremony honors individuals who have recently been selected for promotion to master sergeant. When an Airman becomes a senior noncommissioned officer, he or she commits to a higher level of service to our nation by taking on greater levels of responsibility, by taking on a larger piece of the mission and by influencing and developing more Airmen.

About Andrews Federal Credit Union

Andrews Federal Credit Union was founded in 1948 to serve the needs of military and civilian personnel by providing a vast array of financial products and services. With over $1 billion in assets, Andrews Federal has grown to serve more than 117,000 members in the District of Columbia, Joint Base Andrews (MD), Springfield, Virginia (VA), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (NJ), and military installations in central Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In addition, the Credit Union serves as a financial partner with many select employee groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey.

To learn more about Andrews Federal Credit Union and its community involvement, or to become a member, call 800.487.5500 or visit http://www.andrewsfcu.org.
Last week, Oildex, a service of Transzap, Inc., hosted the first of this years two Oildex user conferences. Hundreds of Oildex customers attended the first conference in Austin, TX. The event kicked off, September 13th, with a welcome reception and continued the next day with conference sessions and networking. Attendees were provided with brand new content, including job-specific education, product training, and workshops discussing new product launches, like OpenInvoice Field Ticket, and the entire Oildex suite of products.

Oildex hosted its second conference this week in Banff, Canada at the RimRock Resort Hotel. This user conference followed a very similar itinerary as its Austin counterpart with a welcome reception and dinner for customers and the user conference starting the next day at 8am. Customers attending the Banff user conference were also provided with the same content as the Austin conference.

For attendees, a key conference takeaway is the launch of OpenInvoice Field Ticket to the Oildex product line. Customers will be able to learn how Field Ticket can integrate into their current workflow and the effects the tool can have on their bottom line. In addition to the new product launch, attendees are learning more about the growth of the Oildex platform and how they can better use the products to optimize their business processes.

About Oildex

Oildex provides a complete, broad B2B automation offering for oil and gas companies. Services include: digital and scanned invoice processing (SpendworksTM and OpenInvoiceTM), owner relations web portals (Owner Relations ConnectTM), royalty check stub detail and reporting (CDEX), joint interest bill processing (JIB), crude oil data exchange (CODE), gas plant document exchange (GPEX), production and sales volume reporting, Field Ticket, and much more. Oildex is a privately held company backed by Accel-KKR and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with offices in Houston, TX and Calgary, Canada.
Cindy Contreras Joins Hierl Team

Hierl insurance is happy to welcome Cindy Contreras to the team as an administrative assistant. Cindy graduated from Woodstock High School-Illinois, she then went on to join the United States Marine Corps, where she proudly served 7 years. She has a Bachelors degree from Park University-Missouri, where she majored in Business Management. Cindy now resides in Fond du Lac with her loving husband, and they are devoted parents to their three beautiful children.

Cindys background in business administration will streamline Hierls day-to-day operations along with providing clients with dedicated service to help facilitate their needs.

About Hierl Insurance

Locally owned since 1919, Hierl Insurance has earned the trust of more than 250 Wisconsin employers by using insight and innovative technology to create unique strategies that protect business owners, their employees and their budgets, ultimately having a positive effect on clients. Hierl defines this in one simple phrase: Strength. Heart. Results. Strength represents Hierls dedication to their clients. Heart is the passion Hierl has for people. Results Is what Hierl delivers. Visit us at http://www.hierl.com or call us at 920.921.5921.

Contact:

Susan Henderson

Vice President Human Resources/Operations

Hierl Insurance

920.921.5921

shenderson(at)hierl(dot)com

http://www.hierl.com
The most unique feature of the MMT-70 family is its modular open systems architecture which was designed for low-cost development and rapid modification of guided missiles.

The U.S. Army Aviation & Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center successfully launched three modular open systems architecture test missiles Sept. 21 at the Redstone Test Center on Redstone Arsenal.

The test missiles were designed and developed by AMRDEC under the Modular Missile Technologies Project. All three test missiles were .launched from a fixed stand and followed the expected ballistic flight paths. The tests proved out the performance of the low-cost composite rocket motor case and the ability of the missile guidance electronics to function during flight.

The tests were the first in a planned series of flight tests of MMTs 70-mm diameter missile family (dubbed MMT-70). The MMT-70 family consists of a rocket-propelled forward firing variant weighing about 25 pounds and a drop/glide variant weighing about 10 pounds.

The nearest-term warfighter applications for MMT are small guided munitions for Army Aviation helicopters and unmanned aerial systems, according to Christopher Lofts, Capability Area Lead, Aviation Missiles, in AMRDECs System Simulation and Development Directorate. The intent is to give Army Aviators a lighter weight missile for addressing the majority of their threats at longer ranges. The initial variants will have an air-to-surface capability and planning is underway to add an air-to-air capability as a follow-on for the forward firing variant, he said. Although the initial application for the MMT-70 family is the air-launched role these three ground launch tests demonstrated that the rocket-propelled variant can be used in a surface-launched role as well.

The most unique feature of the MMT-70 family is its modular open systems architecture which was designed for low-cost development and rapid modification of guided missiles, Lofts said. The modular open systems architecture design approach allows the two basic variants to share common subsystems and software.

Lofts said the two MMT-70 variants use the same seeker, warhead, control fin section, and guidance electronics unit. These subsystems all have identical mechanical and electrical interfaces which allow them to be stacked in whatever order is necessary. A solid rocket motor is added to the stack to form the forward firing variant. The drop/glide variant is built up by re-arranging the order of the stack and adding a glide kit instead of a rocket motor. The software has also been architected in a manner that permits new subsystems (for example, a heavier warhead or completely different seeker) to be bolted on without having to re-write software in the other subsystems.

MMTs modular open systems architecture is highly adaptable, and it is this adaptability that reduces development time and allows rapid evolution of the system at drastically-reduced cost, Lofts said. This allows the missile system to evolve faster than the threat can change.

Flight tests will continue over the next few years, with plans to transition the MMT-70 to a project office for further development.

AMRDEC develops technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers. AMRDEC employs nearly 10,000 civilian scientists, researchers, and engineers.

Visit https://www.amrdec.army.mil/ or http://www.facebook.com/rdecom.amrdec for more information on AMRDEC.

---------

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to ensure decisive overmatch for unified land operations to empower the Army, the joint warfighter and our nation. RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

For more information:

AMRDEC-PAO(at)amrdec(dot)army(dot)mil
Golden Children White Print Scrub Top The month of September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and more than 15,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year within the United States.

Uniform Advantage (UA), a multi-channel retailer of uniforms for healthcare and hospitality industries partners in designing a scrub top and jacket with the I Care I Cure Childhood Cancer Foundation to raise funds and awareness for better treatments for childhood cancer. UA has been a sponsor of the I Care I Cure Foundation since 2012, contributing more than $11,050 to the organization to help make a difference in the lives of children with cancer.

I Care I Cure is based out of Davie in South Florida and was founded by Beth and Brad Besner, in honor of their son, Ian Besner who was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) just shy of his eleventh birthday. After four months of intensive and excruciating chemotherapy, Ian unfortunately passed away. The Besners established the I Care I Cure foundation after their devastating loss to honor their sons life and help others by raising awareness of targeted therapies and milder cures to childhood cancer that would be easier for children to endure.

Being a uniforms and medical scrubs supplier in the healthcare industry, UA understands and supports the Besners and their foundation in raising awareness of the growing need for gentler, more tolerable treatments for children with this life-altering disease. Uniform Advantage has launched a new yellow ribbon pattern scrub in support of spreading awareness of childhood cancer. UA will donate $1 from the sale of each Golden Children White print scrub top and jacket to the I Care I Cure foundation to help aid in their support of finding better, advanced treatments for childhood cancer.

The month of September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and more than 15,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year within the United States. Join UA in supporting the fight against childhood cancer at uniformadvantage.com and to learn more about I Care I Cure, please visit http://www.icareicure.org.

About Uniform Advantage

Uniform Advantage has represented style, quality and, above all, customer satisfaction for more than 30 years. As the first division of UA Brands, the chain was launched with a single South Florida store in 1985. Today, the company operates 30 retail locations in key markets across the U.S.; e-commerce and print catalog divisions; plus, designs and manufactures its own proprietary healthcare apparel lines. The companys corporate office is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a distribution center near Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more at http://www.UniformAdvantage.com or by calling 800-283-8708.
Because no permanent stent is left behind, we are able to reduce the risk of blood clots forming, said Dr. Vijay K. Verma, a Lourdes interventional cardiologist with The Heart House.

Interventional cardiologists at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center are among the first in South Jersey and Philadelphia to implant a patient with the worlds first FDA-approved dissolving heart stent.

Vijay K. Verma, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a Lourdes interventional cardiologist with The Heart House, implanted the patient with Abbotts Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold on September 16 at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. Dr. Verma was principal investigator of three Absorb clinical trials at Lourdes. The device received FDA approval in July 2016.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) affects 15 million people in the United States and remains a leading cause of death worldwide despite decades of therapeutic advances. The Absorb device is a major advance in the treatment of CAD, said Reginald Blaber, MD, Executive Director Lourdes Cardiovascular Institute and Vice President of Cardiovascular Services and Chairman, Department of Medicine at Lourdes.

The Absorb stent is a game-changer in the treatment of blocked coronary arteries, said Dr. Blaber. Were proud to offer this first-of-its-kind technology to patients at Lourdes. We are committed to providing patients with leading-edge treatments. Bioresorbable stents represent the future of treating heart disease.

While stents are traditionally made of permanent metal implants, the Absorb stent is made of a naturally dissolving material, similar to dissolving sutures. Absorbs small mesh tube is designed to open a blocked heart vessel, restore blood flow to the heart, then gradually disappear over a three-to-five-year span. The device dissolves except for two pairs of tiny metallic markers that remain in the artery to enable a physician to see where the device was placed.

Because no permanent stent is left behind, we are able to reduce the risk of blood clots forming, said Dr. Verma. Although complications from metal stents are rare, the bioresorbable stent offers great benefits to the patient. It also allows physicians to perform additional procedures in the treated vesselshould another intervention be needed in the future.

Coronary artery disease results in blockages caused by the buildup of fat and cholesterol in the vessels that supply blood to the heart, putting patients at risk for heart attack. Since the 1990s, physicians have treated patients with CAD with balloon angioplasty, and metallic and drug-eluting metallic stents, to open the blocked vessels, allowing many patients to avoid more invasive open heart surgery.

Not all patients are suitable candidates for the Absorb device, and the cardiologist will determine the most appropriate stent for placement based on the location and condition of the blocked artery at the time of treatment in the catheterization lab, explained Dr. Verma.

Lourdes is one of the largest providers of cardiac services in the Delaware Valley. Known for its innovation in heart care, the New York Times featured Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center as a national model in the effective and swift treatment of heart attacks (June 2015) (http://files.parsintl.com/eprints/86514.pdf).

Lourdes has received a variety of awards, including being named as one of Americas 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery by Healthgrades (2015), Truven Health Analytics 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals (2015), and the Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Lourdes cardiac program has also garnered national recognition from Becker's Hospital Review.

Lourdes is national leader in cardiac care, said Dr. Blaber. We are pleased to offer patients the Absorb stent as an advanced treatment option.
The final installed system provided a combination of on-target aesthetics and visual transparency, ease of installation, and at the desired price point.

When the architectural firm of Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf (Browning Day) was tasked with designing the new Irsay Family YMCA at CityWay in downtown Indianapolis, they turned to Hollaender Manufacturing for the handrail system that runs throughout the new facility. The Indianapolis based firms design called for a cost effective and versatile railing system that was able to accommodate both glass and metal infill panels. Hollaenders Interna-Rail VUE railing system met both the engineering and aesthetic requirements of the project.

To achieve the desired visual impact, Browning Day Mullins Dierdorfs design called for perforated metal infill panels on stairway railing, and glass infill panels in all other areas. While Hollaenders Interna-Rail VUE system is typically used for either glass or resin panels exclusively, Hollander adapted the system to accommodate the requirements for metal infill. The final installed system provided a combination of on-target aesthetics and visual transparency, ease of installation, and at the desired price point.

Hollaenders Interna-Rail VUE handrail system is an offset, post mounted fitting based railing system for glass, resin infill panels, and perforated metal, designed to combine the clean look of welded rail with all the benefits of a mechanical system. Interna-Rail systems can be designed to meet any building code and are being used throughout the world in architectural, public works, and stadium applications.

About Hollaender Manufacturing

Hollaender is a manufacturer and marketer of aluminum structural pipe fittings, aluminum pipe, as well as final assemblies that use these components.

Hollaender is also a US market leader in the design and manufacture of complete architectural railing systems, often called Decorative Metal Railing Systems.

Hollaender components are used in the design and build of handrail, guardrail and safety rail systems as well as a wide variety of unique modular pipe and fitting based structures for commercial, residential, public works and industrial applications, as well for retail store fixtures and other structural applications. These components and systems are marketed under the trademarked brands Speed-Rail and Interna-Rail. Hollaender also offers consultation, design, and project management services.
Experts from the American Institutes for Research (AIR) will present on a broad range of research topicsincluding Africas unconditional cash transfers, childrens literacy development, and mixed methods approaches for enhancing systematic reviewsduring the What Works Global Summit (WWGS) September 26-28 in London. Pre-conference workshops begin September 24th.

The WWGS is an international event that puts evidence at the center of policy and practice and provides a forum for participants to discuss new evidence and global experiences, policy uptake, uses of evidence, methods for measuring impact, and knowledge translation. Summit participants will include policymakers, program managers and researchers from over 25 countries around the world.

David Myers, AIRs chief executive officer, will give an opening plenary session on Monday, September 26th on the topic, Using evidence for practice: Implications for primary studies, systematic reviews and practice. Dr. Myers, a nationally recognized education researcher, is a leading authority on the design, implementation and analysis of experimental studies of education programs. During his career, he has played a major role in some of the largest randomized control trials on education conducted in the United States.

AIR presentations include:

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Pre-conference Workshop 1: Defining the assumptions of the theory of change: A workshop for policy makers and programme managers

Main Hall, Woburn House | 9:00 a.m.  12:30 p.m.

AIR Presenters: David Myers & Thomas de Hoop

Monday, September 26, 2016

Opening Plenary: Why Evidence Matters

Friends Meeting House | 9:00 a.m.  10:30 a.m.

Using evidence for practice: Implications for primary studies, systematic reviews and practice

AIR Presenter: David Myers

Session 2.15 Use of mixed methods for enhancing the policy relevance of systematic reviews: Experiences from international development

Upper Meeting Room, LIDC | 1:30 p.m.  3:00 p.m.

AIR Presenter: Thomas de Hoop

Session 3.9.1 Improving the evidence for What Works to support children's literacy development

Harvey Room, BMA House | 3:30 p.m.  5:00 p.m.

AIR Presenters: Elizabeth Spier, Thomas de Hoop & Andrea Coombes

Session 3.13.1 Giving cash to the poor? Impacts of Africas unconditional cash transfers

Princes Room, BMA House | 3:30 p.m.  5:00 p.m.

AIR Presenters: Juan Bonilla & Hannah Ring

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Session 5.3 Leveraging impact evaluation for design to scale: Teaching-at-the-right level

Penn Suite, Friends House | 11:00 a.m.  12:30 p.m.

AIR Chair: Ryan Williams

Session 5.9.1 Translating research to practice from Campbell systematic reviews on interventions for individuals with disabilities: Case examples of knowledge translation

Harvey Room, BMA House | 11:00 a.m.  12:30 p.m.

AIR Presenter: Carlton J. Fong & Xinsheng Cindy Cai

Session 7.1.2 Reviewing systematic reviews: Can technology help students score higher in reading?

Small Hall, Friends House | 3:30 p.m.  5:00 p.m.

AIR Co-Author: Tsze Chan

Session 7.12.1 The impact of early childhood development programmes in international development

Room BO4, Birkbeck College | 3:30 p.m.  5:00 p.m.

AIR Presenters: Thomas de Hoop, Marjorie Chinen & Arianna Zanolini

For details about the conference, visit https://www.wwgs2016.org/.

About AIR

Established in 1946, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance both domestically and internationally in the areas of health, education, and workforce productivity. For more information, visit http://www.air.org.
KWizCom Corporation, a leading developer of SharePoint Forms & Mobile Solution, as well as multiple other turn-key SharePoint web parts and add-ons designed to expand Microsoft SharePoint, announced it will be actively participating and exhibiting at the Microsoft Ignite Conference in Atlanta, taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center, between September 26-30, 2016.

The upcoming conference in Atlanta is the largest Microsoft SharePoint event in the world, and has been growing each year since it was first introduced in 2006. The conference is filled with workshops Q&A sessions, a vast variety of presentations, labs, certification testing, as well as networking events for attendees to build their skills and meet with other professionals from the field from all over the world.

We are very excited to be part of the Microsoft Ignite Conference again this year and look forward to exhibiting and showcasing some of our most recent products, says Shai Petel, MVP, the Director of Research and Development of KWizCom. Attendees are encouraged to visit our booth to meet with the team where they will be able to analyze their SharePoint business requirements and ask questions. Moreover, we will be conducting KWizCom Forms Superhero contests which promise to be much fun.

KWizCom wholeheartedly invites the attendees of the conference to visit booth #2244 where they will have the opportunity to win prizes while familiarizing themselves with new groundbreaking add-ons and solutions. At the end of the conference, the company will be drawing valuable gifts, such as a Microsoft Surface tablet, Xbox One, Microsoft Band, over 60 gift cards, and a lot more.

For more details on the conference, please visit: https://ignite.microsoft.com

About KWizCom Corporation

Since 2005, KWizCom has provided innovative solutions and services to make SharePoint even better for over 5,000 companies worldwide. KWizCom's solutions and services expand Microsoft SharePoint out-of-the-box capabilities, streamline workflow, maximize efficiency and enhance over-all productivity for hundreds of thousands of users. KWizCom, a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner, is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Please visit http://www.kwizcom.com to find out more about KWizCom's clients, people, partners and solutions.

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Contact a KWizCom Account Specialist at +1-905-370-0333/+1-855-KWIZCOM or info(at)kwizcom(dot)com
EBR Logo There is a bright future for EBR, and as part of that, work is proceeding on a sub-$10k platform for 2018.

EBR Motorcycles (Erik Buell Racing) announces the release of their 2017 model year American Sportbikes and progress with the rebuilding of the iconic motorcycle brand.

It has been an amazing summer since the new EBR was launched. You can imagine the challenges of restructuring the new company, but we have made really nice progress building our base for 2017 to launch this week, said Bill Melvin, owner of EBR. Our dealers have had nice success selling bikes this summer and we have many new ones coming on. Our quality is continuously improving, our supplier relationships established, and now we are looking towards the future. This fall, we have something Quick, Dark, and Low in the works that should be exciting for urban street riders, and we are making real progress on expanding the range of models of the 1190 platform, as well as developing and delivering accessories that our EBR riders want. There is a bright future for EBR, and as part of that, work is proceeding on a sub-$10k platform for 2018.

EBR Motorcycles has many exciting updates that will be seen soon. The 2017 models hit the showrooms this week. EBR plans to attend the International Motorcycle Shows in Long Beach, California; New York, New York; Dallas, Texas; and Chicago, Illinois. Show visitors will get to see and learn more about the 2017 models. EBR also will show off selected upcoming 2017  & 2018 model prototypes at different shows. EBR Apparel will launch within weeks with clothing celebrating the brand, and the team continues international racing as EBR Splitlath with Shelina Moreda at the helm. Along with new products, EBR is reviewing applications for their new Global Sales Director to support and grow EBRs dealer base organically and through strategic partnerships.

Its a great time to ride the only American Sportbike, designed by Erik Buell, and we encourage patriotic Americans to meet these new EBR dealers for a test ride, said Steve Smith, CEO of EBR. Of course we had some bumps over the last year, but the road is looking pretty smooth now. Its exciting to see growth into our next steps and exciting that we can help support the Buell Nation of enthusiasts and riders.

Dealers, Global Distributors, and riders looking for information on the EBR lineup can visit EBR.com or EBR Motorcycles on Facebook.
LGBT UNITED poster Im looking forward to screening this movie at The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival. Palm Springs is a wonderful city with a strong and active LGBTQ community. Its a great honor for LGBT UNITED to share a stage with amazing LGBTQ films. Past News Releases RSS CSUN Professor Luciana Lagana and...

CSUN Professor Luciana Lagana and...

CSUN Psychology Professor Luciana...

LGBT UNITED, the feature documentary of CSUN psychology professor and filmmaker Luciana Lagana, is an official selection of the 2016 Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival, which runs from 9/22 to 9/25. The multiple award-winning movie will screen on Sunday 9/25 at 2:30 pm at ULTRASTAR CINEMAS - DESERT CINEMA (IMAX), located at 68510 East Palm Canyon, Cathedral City, CA 92234.

This film has been used at CSUN in a Master's thesis research project to test whether watching it has an anti-bias effect on audience members. Dr. Luciana, writer/host/director of the movie, is in the process of publishing the preliminary findings of this research with Kelcey Sholl, who recently graduated from the CSUN Clinical Psychology Masters program. The results of this study look very promising and she's excited to gather new data moving forward.

Kelceys efforts to advocate for increased understanding of young LGBTQ members through this film collaboration is commendable. Working with her was a great pleasure. Im looking forward to screening this movie at The Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival. Palm Springs is a wonderful city with a strong and active LGBTQ community. Its a great honor for LGBT UNITED to share a stage with amazing LGBTQ films, shared Dr. Luciana.

From the festivals website: Cinema Diverse is a program of the Palm Springs Cultural Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education, to nurturing community-wide participation in the cultural arts, and to sponsoring scholarship awards for deserving individuals.

Tickets to see LGBT UNITED and other LGBTQ movies are available at http://cinemadiverse.org/page/ticket-information.

Luciana Lagana is a caring clinical and experimental psychologist. She is also a professor of psychology, gerontology, womens health, and sexuality at CSUN, where she teaches classes and mentors many undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, since 2002, she has been conducting government-funded research at CSUN on the physical, psychological, sexual, and social health of ethnically diverse, primarily low-income older women. Since 2006, she has also been pursuing her creative endeavors by studying acting, TV and radio hosting, screenwriting, directing, and producing in Los Angeles. She has over 50 IMDb credits for hosting and acting in many independent feature films, TV pilots, and web series, as well as several credits for her award-winning screenwriting, directing, and producing. She is the writer/lead actor/director/producer of the 2014 award-winning satirical web series INTIMATE TEMP AGENCY on helping young people with special needs find employment, which won Best Trailer at the 2015 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, among other awards. Her 2014 DR. LUCIANA SHOW  AGING AND FALLING web series won numerous awards, including Best Educational Show at the 2015 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. Within the past two years, her TV pilot DR. LUCIANA ON AGING AND FALLING fared well on the film festival circuit; she also wrote, hosted, directed, and produced three award-winning social impact feature documentaries, UNDERSTANDING PAIN IN OLDER AGE, LGBT UNITED, and AGING AND FALLING.
Wed love to meet as many people as possible at our booth, where we will be running live demos of our solutions.

Qorus Software will be exhibiting at Microsoft Ignite 2016. The organization is well-known for its document generation and proposal management solutions that plug into Microsoft Office and SharePoint, and run on Azure. Qorus will be showcasing its latest products, a series of productivity add-ins for Office 365.

We have had a phenomenal year with Microsoft so far, during which we have built valuable relationships, grown in many ways, and proven once again how we punch above our weight class, says Ray Meiring, CEO of Qorus. We have been working hard and are excited to show off some new Office 365 solutions that we know will help businesses be more productive.

Visit Qorus at Booth 1958

Microsoft Ignite delegates can learn more about Qorus and its solutions by visiting booth number 1958. Wed love to meet as many people as possible at our booth, where we will be running live demos of our solutions, says Meiring.

The freemium Office 365 add-ins can be downloaded here: https://store.office.com/search.aspx?qu=qorus

Cast Your Vote

Qorus has also been nominated as a finalist in the Peoples Choice Awards at Microsoft Ignite. Voting opens on Monday, September 26th. You can cast a vote at: aka.ms/voteappawards. Delegates can vote in person at the event, via the Polls Everywhere app, or by text message.

About Qorus

Qorus runs on Microsoft Azure and integrates with Office 365 to enhance document productivity.

We help organizations create business critical documents more efficiently and accurately. Our software is incredibly powerful but highly intuitive and very easy to use. Even the most non-technical users can quickly create accurate, personalized and compliant documents like proposals, contracts, RFPs, pitches, and reports.

Our award winning Customer Success team ensures our customers across all industries get the most value from our software.

Qorus Software has offices in Seattle, London and Cape Town.

Business critical documents are at the heart of your success, and so is Qorus.

http://www.qorusdocs.com
The session will be of value to any Microsoft partner looking to evolve with their customers as they adopt cloud solutions.

Ray Meiring, CEO of Qorus Software, has been invited to participate in a breakout session at Microsoft Ignite 2016 taking place in Atlanta, Georgia next week. The session is titled Make Your App a Native Part of Office with Office Add-ins and will be hosted by Rolando Jimenez, Principal PM Manager at Microsoft.

The session will take place on Thursday, September 29th at 1.35pm. Learn more about the session here: https://myignite.microsoft.com/sessions/3210

Qorus is well-known for its document generation and proposal management solutions that plug into Microsoft Office and SharePoint, and run on Azure. Qorus will be showcasing its latest products, a series of productivity add-ins for Office 365.

I am looking forward to sharing what we have learned in the process of developing adds-in for Office 365. The session will be of value to any Microsoft partner looking to evolve with their customers as they adopt cloud solutions. The benefits of such solutions are proven, especially when it comes to collaboration and productivity," says Meiring.

VISIT QORUS AT BOOTH 1958

Microsoft Ignite delegates can learn more about Qorus and its solutions by visiting booth number 1958. Wed love to meet as many people as possible at our booth, where we will be running live demos of our solutions, says Meiring.

CAST YOUR VOTE

Qorus has also been nominated as a finalist in the Peoples Choice Awards at Microsoft Ignite. You can cast your vote at: http://aka.ms/voteappawards

Delegates can vote in person at the event, via the Polls Everywhere app, or by text message.

ABOUT QORUS

Qorus runs on Microsoft Azure and integrates with Office 365 to enhance document productivity.

We help organizations create business critical documents more efficiently and accurately. Our software is incredibly powerful but highly intuitive and very easy to use. Even the most non-technical users can quickly create accurate, personalized and compliant documents like proposals, contracts, RFPs, pitches, and reports.

Our award winning Customer Success team ensures our customers across all industries get the most value from our software.

Qorus Software has offices in Seattle, London and Cape Town.

Business critical documents are at the heart of your success, and so is Qorus.

http://www.qorusdocs.com
Water Life Science advocate Sharon Kleyne, host of The Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water radio program, recently welcomed as her radio guests Bill and Delora Risser, founders of Cascade Mountain Spring Water, and their son, Wyatt, the companys CEO. On the September 19th program, Kleyne and the trio discussed the virtue of natural spring drinking water and how it compares to tap water and purified water.

Kleyne, the founder of Bio-Logic Aqua Research Water Life Science, also asked that her listeners pay attention to the fact that water research should be the number one focus for all current and future infrastructure. Please keep in mind, said Kleyne, that our organs, skin, blood and bones are mostly water. The eyes are 99% water; the brain is 80-85% water; the liver is 80% water; blood is 50% water; bones are 20% water, and so on. All of us begin life in a water environmenta mothers water-womb. When we emerge from that womb, the water vapor in the atmosphere keeps us alive. Kleyne has for more than thirty years researched water and focused on supplementing the human bodys loss of water through evaporation.

The Rissers, relative newcomers to the vast, global business of bottled water, returned to Deloras hometown of Butte Falls, Oregon, where they had a small water store. The attraction, besides the natural beauty of Butte Falls, was a natural spring pouring out of the hillside and down the mountain. It is there, in one discreet building, that Cascade Mountain Spring Water is bottled in attractive glass containers with no plastic parts. Our bottles are 100% recyclable, said Wyatt, who also credited his father, the water guru, for getting the company going. My father got the facility up to speed and running, Wyatt said, and his collection of antique water bottles gave us the idea to use glass-only containers for our water.

When Kleyne asked what made the water special, Delora pointed to its PH value of 7.8ideal for healthy human drinking water. Water is always trying to get back to its natural state, Wyatt added, and our water is just about as natural as any water can be. Its cleaner by far than regular tap water, yet it retains the essential nutrients that purified water boils away.

Admiring the bottle itself, Kleyne asked about its distinctive, etched angel wings. Its an homage to the history of Butte Falls and the region, said Wyatt. Every year, Wyatt continued, a snow patch taking the shape of an angels wings conspicuously remains on the side of Mt. McLoughlin until late summer. To Native Americans, the wings were the sign that it was time for berry-picking and harvesting.

Kleyne encouraged listeners to seek out and try Cascade Mountain Spring Water. She also reminded everyone that we live together on planet earth as a family, and that our lives depend on water. In the beginning, earth was surrounded by water vapor, which eventually fell to earth as rain, said Kleyne. The water came down with the rhythm of the solar system, and it came down with the breath of life. There is nothing more magical than water; and life thanks to water.
Winners of American Universitys International Peace Day Challenge Amanda Brenner and Amanda Molina with Prof. James Goldgeier, Dean of American Universitys School of International Service

In recognition of the United Nations International Day of Peace on Wednesday, September 21, American University held the #WAGEPEACE festival. Nearly 150 elementary, middle, and high-school students from D.C. public schools, charter schools, and after-school programs gathered on the AU campus to hear inspirational remarks from local activists, watch performances by AU students, and attend a 'Peace Fair' that promoted local mentorship and opportunities for peace activism.

The festival was the culmination of the School of International Services International Peace Day Challenge, which called upon American University students and 2016 graduates to devise a strategy to promote peace and non-violence within the D.C. community. Sponsored by SIS commencement speaker, Ray Chambers, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Health in Agenda 2030 and for Malaria, and The MCJ/Amelior Foundation, the #WAGEPEACE challenge is an extension of a global campaign that encourages governments and communities to commit to 24 hours of peace on September 21 and to develop strategies to sustain that commitment.

Since our founding in 1957, we at SIS have answered President Dwight D. Eisenhowers call to prepare students to wage peace at home and abroad, said Jim Goldgeier, dean of the School of International Service.

Amanda Brenner, a 2016 graduate of AU, and Amanda Molina, an SIS graduate student and Washington College of Law alumna, took up Chamberss #WAGEPEACE challenge to make their own meaningful difference in a war-torn world and won the competition with a bold vision for a vibrant partnership among D.C. youth, American University students, and local peace-building organizations.

If ever there was a time we needed peace, it is now, said Ray Chambers. We all have the power to champion peace in our communities. I am so proud of young leaders like Amanda Brenner and Amanda Molina who are driving this critical work forward and catalyzing demonstrations of peace across communities.

As part of the #WAGEPEACE challenge, Brenner and Molina partnered with American Universitys Center for Community Engagement & Service to launch a pilot program that focuses on the promotion of peace and non-violence through educational engagement, workshops, and mentorship. The project will work with students from D.C. schools and community organizations, including Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and many of the partners of the university's D.C. Reads Program, to develop students peace-building skills and empower them to serve as ambassadors for peace in their local communities.

Peace begins with listening, flourishes with understanding, and is sustained through love, said Molina. We wanted the #WAGEPEACE Festival to echo through Washington D.C.'s communities with a message of hope, understanding, and positive change by addressing the root causes of violence. By pairing young students with mentors and celebrating peace, we believe we achieved our first goal, and will be excited to watch sustained relationships flourish and grow to improve D.C.'s vulnerable communities.

American University is a leader in global education, enrolling a diverse student body from throughout the United States and nearly 140 countries. Located in Washington, D.C., the university provides opportunities for academic excellence, public service, and internships in the nations capital and around the world.

-AU-
By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - International campaign groups urged the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday to launch an international investigation into alleged war crimes in Yemen, including the killing of many civilians in air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition. A year ago, the Council gave the Yemeni national independent commission of inquiry, which reports to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, time to document violations by all sides in the conflict, after the Netherlands dropped its push for an international probe. But that commission has failed to conduct a credible probe, essentially laying blame only on Iranian-allied Houthi rebels and militias aligned with former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, said a report by the U.N. human rights office issued last month. Groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies issued a joint letter to the Council's 47 member states voicing deep concern ahead of a vote next week on abuses perpetrated in the war. "The resolution will be a litmus test of the Human Rights Council and its capacity to engage meaningfully and effectively to meet the real needs of civilians on the ground faced with potential war crimes and violations of international human rights law," said John Fisher of Human Rights Watch. Since the Council "dropped the ball a year ago", the Saudi-led coalition, which is trying to end Houthi control of areas including the capital Sanaa and restore Hadi's government, have carried out air strikes on hospitals, schools and homes, Fisher said. The U.N. human rights office called last month for more light to be shed on the strikes and for violations including attacks on protected sites such as hospitals to be punished. It said Arab coalition air strikes were responsible for some 60 percent of the 3,799 civilians killed since March 2015. Medics and residents of a Houthi-held area of western Yemen said on Thursday that the death toll from a coalition air strike that hit a house had risen to 26 people. The alliance said it was looking into the report. Diplomats from the European Union and United States are negotiating with Arab counterparts on the wording of the resolution to be voted on next week. The Arab draft, submitted on Thursday, asks the United Nations to provide assistance "to ensure that the National Commission investigates allegations of violations and abuses committed by all parties to the conflict and in line with international standards". A U.N. official close to the issue, who declined to be named, said the proposal was inadequate. "The National Commission is manifestly unable - and possibly unwilling - to do the type of impartial investigation that is required," he told Reuters. "This would be very dangerous, establishing a precedent that could seriously weaken future investigations into very serious international crimes." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Others have copied the design, but Gurundanda uses a unique, heavy-duty plate that makes it last longer and work better. Currently, there is a special deal on groupon.com for this starter kit. This gift of health will also be on sale at Christmas, and can be purchased at Walgreens, Shopko, and Frys Electronics, as well as online at www.gurunanda.com.

In a world full of stress, work, and headaches, it can sometimes feel nice to be told to relax. Thats where GuruNanda comes in, the company that encourages everyone to: Move. Laugh. Breathe. GuruNanda, the brand started by yogi and award-winning entrepreneur, Puneet Nanda, continue to espouse this philosophy, as they have recently introduced the HoneyComb diffuser, the latest in their series of ultrasonic essential oil diffusers.

The HoneyComb diffuser is just the latest model in a series of ultrasonic essential oil diffusers that have become immensely popular. The HoneyComb diffuser is meant to relieve stress and anxiety, transforming the lives of those who own it by taking on a 100% holistic approach to a personal nirvana. The starter-kit that comes with the diffuser is ready-made for anyone looking to begin this path to transformation, as it is packaged with two tantalizing blends of lavender and peppermint oils. These oils are 100% pure and natural, which provide for a completely natural aromatherapy experience.

The scents come from farms on all corners of the world, as the lavender has been procured from Bulgaria, while the peppermint is taken in from a farm in India. It is important that the diffuser does not interfere with the organic nature of the oils, so GuruNanda has created a modern and novel design that is sure to soothe the senses whilst diffusing the mist.

This unique design creates a mist of water, along with the nanoparticles, which disperse into the air via ultrasonic waves. No heating or marring of the scents is involved, thus allowing the true nature to diffuse the air, and the therapeutic oils to be absorbed directly. While others have tried to imitate the design, this diffuser has a unique heavy duty ultrasonic plate that gives it a more durable, long life. Additionally, the comforting, dimmed LED light creates a relaxed environment for the user.

While essential oils have become particularly popular recently, the actual history of these oils is a tale as old as time. In fact, the therapeutic usage of essential oils dates back to biblical times. The power of essential oils holds true in GuruNandas brand. Everything about the packaging and maintenance of the bottles ensures the purity of these oils, as the oils are double quality-tested and are packaged directly from Los Angeles in small, amber glass bottles to preserve the therapeutic properties of the essential oils. Meanwhile, the caps are imported from Germany with the dropper inside to ensure that there is no leakage. These essential oils work to relax all who use them, as the aromatherapy can relieve stress and provide for a deep sleep.

The GuruNanda brand is meant to be shared. Puneet Nanda selected this name for the brand, drawing upon the Indian word for teacher (Guru). Nanda, who is a winner of the 2011 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, created GuruNanda after rediscovering the joy of yoga, so that he could share his journey to a peaceful state of being with others. Nanda refers to himself as Chief Essential Oil, in a company that is, dedicated to providing farm to shelf pure essential oils at best prices. He wanted GuruNanda to be an alternative to the large wholesale distributors of oils, offering others a chance to buy oils that come directly from farms. The new HoneyComb ultrasonic essential oil diffuser can help those who use it perform better in their everyday lives, as it works to improve physical and psychological function.

Currently, there is a special deal on groupon.com for this starter kit. This gift of health will also be on sale at Christmas, and can be purchased at Walgreens, Shopko, and Frys Electronics, as well as online at http://www.gurunanda.com.

About

GuruNanda is a line of exquisite oils and diffusers designed to improve health and well-being. The line of essential oils and diffusers are carefully developed and brought to the end consumer with a farm to shelf process. The quality standards ensure that from seed to shelf, essential oils are harvested and delivered with plants and flowers grown with exceptional care. Every oil and diffuser is designed to turn distress to de-stress.
Clea House by NDD in Hillcrest During the 2016 San Diego MA+DS Home Tour, attendees will have the opportunity to explore a selection of modern homes in the San Diego area that exemplify modern architecture, design, and living.

Modern Home Tours returns to southern California for a fourth self-guided tour of modern homes in the area this fall. This year, the group returns as the new Modern Architecture + Design Society (MA+DS), a new multi-media/multi-function entity that aims to create a vibrant, global community of modern architecture and design enthusiasts through multiple platforms that inspire engagement with the people, places, and things that define the modern movement.

During the 2016 San Diego MA+DS Home Tour, attendees will have the opportunity to explore a selection of modern homes in the San Diego area that exemplify modern architecture, design, and living. Tour-goers can get the inside scoop from homeowners on what its like to live in a modern home, and talk to the architects to find out where they got their inspiration. The event brings yet another rare chance for every San Diegan to see the inside of that unique, cool house on the block

The San Diego MA+DS Home Tour is a featured event in this years Archtoberfest, presented by the San Diego Architectural Foundation. The SDAF has been named the tours local non-profit beneficiary for the third year in a row. Members of the SDAF, along with students from the Design Institute of San Diego, will help staff the event.

The official line-up of participants and their locations for this years San Diego Modern Home Tour are:



A brand new modern home in the Bird Rock area of La Jolla, designed by architect David Hertz in collaboration with Marmol Radziner, named in the top 100 architects of the world. This home combines energy efficient living spaces with a harmonious composition of textures and craftsmanship. The home features open spaces, walls of glass, a pool/spa patio, and an expansive ocean view from the 2,000 square foot hardwood rooftop deck with fire pit.

The Clea House in Hillcrest designed and built by Nakhshab Development & Design. This home is a LEED Gold Certified mid-century modern-inspired dwelling that features 20-foot wide Fleetwood sliding glass doors that open to an expansive outdoor patio from the living room, panoramic views out a front wall of windows that spans almost the entire length of the home, and an elevator.

A new home in the northern edge of Pacific Beach designed by De Bartolo + Rimanic Design Studio and built by Tourmaline Properties. This home features ocean views from the master bedroom and master balcony. Additional features include a standing seam metal roof, mahogany siding, Western windows and door systems, hardwood floors throughout, Silestone countertops, Heath Ceramics tile, and Thermador appliances.

A second look at a home from the 2015 Modern Home Tour. This home in La Jolla, designed by Simi Razavian CGBD, LEED AP, at MSA & Associates Inc. was just shell on last years tour. This time around, see it fully decorated and lived in. The home boasts a number of green design strategies that make for an energy efficient home that is a place of tranquility and peace.

A second Hillcrest home, brand new and designed by Architects Magnus. The home is called Bridge House, for the bridge that connects the main residence to a separate garage/studio. The buildings are separated by a 10-foot City utility easement, running front to back, around which the home had to be built. In the end, the easement became a landscaped focal point, rather than a detriment, to the property.

Participating homes in the 2016 San Diego MA+DS Home Tour will open their doors for viewing from 11AM  5PM on Saturday, October 15th, in the San Diego, California, area. All are invited to attend. Tickets for the tour are $35 in advance online; $40 on the day of the tour. Kids under 12 are FREE when accompanying their parents. To see a current line-up of homes with details and photos, and to buy tickets, visit: http://mads.media/mads-sandiego2016

About the Modern Architecture + Design Society: Based in Austin, Texas, the Modern Architecture + Design Society was founded was founded by James Leasure in 2010 as Modern Home Tours, to introduce modern architecture and living to people across the nation. Through fun and informative self-guided home tours in dozens of cities across the USA and Canada, the group invites people into some of the most exciting examples of modern architecture and design in the nation. With carefully selected architects, neighborhoods and architecture, the MA+DS Home Tours are unlike anything youve ever seen. Not only will you learn about the cutting edge of home design while on our tours, but you might even get an idea or two for your next home project!
Our "Founders Portrait" - This is serious work, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. We wanted a visual representation of the passion we have for keeping this bold spirit of entrepreneurship running free in this great country.

Over the last 30+ years, Employers Resource, a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), has been helping small business leaders find freedom from administrative HR and compliance headaches. In an effort to tackle this challenge, Employers Resource redesigned their logo and launched a new website. http://www.employersresource.com

Whats the Employers Resource story? The short version is a band of four entrepreneurs believed the dreams of American business leaders are this countrys most valuable resource. They dreamed of building a business that would protect these dreams. They asked themselves, how can we accomplish this? They found their answer in providing a service to small businesses to relieve their burden of crippling administrative HR tasks and the weight of regulatory compliance issues. This weight has only continued to mount over the decades.

Employers Resource opened their doors in 1985 to help business leaders stay free and bold, to realize their dreams, to help others reach their dreams, and to build greatness by doing more of what they love and do best. They were on a mission to help the spirit of entrepreneurship continue to run free, even after employees entered the scene.

Mary Gersema, COO, and a co-founder of the company says, Business owners should not be forced to become professional employers. Our company exists to help them turn their dreams into something great and to keep details from distracting them from their calling.

Employers Resource became the first PEO to be licensed in all 50 states. They pioneered the concept of co-employment in an industry now consisting of over 700 PEOs nationwide.

George Gersema, CEO, and Mary Gersema, COO, sought a logo that would help them tell this story. In a letter to employees announcing the new logo they said, We wanted a visual representation of the passion we have for keeping this bold spirit of entrepreneurship running free in this great country. Weve found the wild horse fits the bill. There is a spirit about them...a drive...an urge and a tenacity that cant be fenced in. That is why we chose a wild horse to represent this spirit that we are so focused on protecting. It is as much looking forward to the future of our PEO solution as it is a reflection of our bold and free past. This logo is a tip of the hat to the entrepreneurial spirit in all of us here at Employers Resource.

The new website incorporates the new logo and branding while featuring new content areas like:



PEO services tour:

what is a PEO page and eBook:

a resource center for employers;

ACA compliance help center;

an ACA interactive quiz; and

a re-designed about us area that allows visitors to read their whole story.

With this new logo and website, Employers Resource is poised to continue sharing their story. To employers, their battle cry is Stay bold. Stay free.

You can learn more about Employers Resource, PEO companies and PEO services at http://www.employersresource.com.

About Employers Resource:

Employers Resource provides business leaders relief from administrative burdens, business costs, and compliance risk in the four main areas of payroll and tax compliance, employee benefits, HR and compliance, along with workers compensation and safety.. Their mission is to protect and set free the spirit of entrepreneurship - one dream, one business, and one paycheck at a time.
Renewvia Energy extends its work in Kenya to provide reliable, affordable power to people and small businesses. "Renewvia is delighted to have the opportunity to extend our solar microgrid development in Kenya, said Jarrard. For the first time hundreds of rural Kenyan citizens are receiving power at a rate that is commensurate with off-grid generation."

Renewvia Energy is conducting a feasibility study for the development of solar microgrids in key geographies in Kenya funded by a grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency(USTDA) as part of the Power Africa initiative. On September 21, Trey Jarrard, CEO of Renewvia, signed the cost share agreement during the U.S.-Africa Business Forum held in New York City at the Plaza Hotel. On September 22 Jarrard participated as a panelist for "Climate Week Conversation: Unlocking Clean Energy Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa," an event that brought together CEOs from African clean energy companies to discuss how project preparation assistance can help unlock investment in clean energy across Africa.

In addition to providing the data and analysis necessary to complete the feasibility study, Renewvia will leverage its success of developing solar and microgrid projects on four continents to secure implementation financing for the development of up to 50 megawatts of solar microgrids in Kenya over the next five years. Renewvia understands the need to continue taking balance sheet risk to seed and unlock conventional and scalable financeable structures for rural electrification solar development. Renewvia is in discussions with institutional capital sources to explore conventional financing structures for this new unsecured prepaid individual subscriber model. The total market potential for Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa solar rural electrification is immense and exciting at every level.

"Renewvia is delighted to have the opportunity to extend our solar microgrid development in Kenya, said Jarrard. For the first time hundreds of rural Kenyan citizens are receiving power at a rate that is commensurate with off-grid generation without being responsible for maintaining power equipment.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) microgrids are making the dream of rural electrification a reality, and we are enthusiastic about providing this life-changing technology to areas of critical need in Kenya and beyond, said Pam Onyanyo, Director of Sub-Saharan Africa for Renewvia.

About USTDA & Power Africa

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.

Power Africa is a U.S. Government-led initiative launched by President Obama in 2013. Power Africas goals are to increase electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa by adding more than 30,000 megawatts of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity and 60 million new home and business connections. Power Africa works with African governments and private sector partners to remove barriers that impede sustainable energy development in sub-Saharan Africa and to unlock the substantial wind, solar, hydropower, natural gas, biomass, and geothermal resources on the continent. For additional information, please visit the Power Africa website (http://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica).

About Renewvia

Renewvia Energy designs, installs, owns, and operates commercial and utility solar power systems. The company provides a complete range of solar energy solutions, including turnkey solar installation, integrated financing and solar consulting services. Renewvia solar power plants reside in multiple geographies, interconnecting to numerous utilities under complex and challenging financing structures. For more information, visit http://www.renewvia.com.
Yield Engineering Systems, Inc. (YES) announced they will be exhibiting and presenting at the Lab on a Chip Microfluidics & Microarrays World Congress 2016 being held September 26-28, 2016, at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley in San Diego, California. This established conference in its 8th year brings together researchers and industry participants, discussing the innovative developments in the Lab-on-a-Chip (LOAC), Microfluidics, and the Microarrays Spaces. YES will be located at Booth #E24, promoting their YES-EcoCoat Silane Vapor Phase Deposition System.

YES Founder and CEO, Bill Moffat, will also be leading a presentation at LOAC titled, Need for Surface Tension Preparation for Microfluidic Devices. The presentation will delve into how to create successful microfluidic devices using silane vapor phase deposition. Silane Vapor Phase Deposition is ideal for LOAC users looking for:



SF6 plasma modification of tubes for heart transplant

Plasma adhesion of parts for a medical wall system

Plasma and chemical modification of capillary tubes for gas identifiers

Chemical modification of surfaces that need super-hydrophobicity for immersion in human blood without stiction

Distributing plasma and gas modifiers easily through the length of a microfluidic assembly

On October 18-19, 2016, YES will be exhibiting at the 13th Annual International Wafer-Level Packaging Conference (IWLPC). IWLPC brings together some of the semiconductor industry's most respected authorities addressing all aspects of wafer-level, 3D and MEMS device packaging and manufacturing. IWLPC is being held at the Doubletree by Hilton in San Jose, California. YES will be located at Booth #15, promoting their flexible tools for Wafer Level Packaging (WLP) and Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging (FOWLP) type processes which offer increased performance, small footprint and low-cost of ownership. The YES-VertaCure and YES-450-PB Series dielectric vacuum cure ovens are used for polyimide, PBO and BCB cure applications.

Our line of tools reach far beyond the front-end semiconductor industry we are most known for, said Bill Moffat, Founder and CEO of YES, We have tools for a variety of industries including BioTech, WLP, FOWLP, MEMS and beyond. YES is continually researching niche markets where our systems are a good fit and make end-user processes accurate and simplified.

For more information regarding YES tools, visit http://www.yieldengineering.com or contact them toll free in the USA or Canada at 888-937-3637 or worldwide at +1-925-373-8353.

About Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.

YES was founded in 1980, and is headquartered in Livermore, California, USA. They provide quality process equipment for semiconductor, photovoltaic, WLP, FOWLP, MEMS, medical, nanotech industries and more.

They manufacture dielectric vacuum cure ovens, silane vapor phase deposition systems, plasma etch and clean tools used for precise surface modification, surface cleaning, and thin film coating of semiconductor wafers, semiconductor and MEMS devices, biosensors and medical slides.
Final assembly completed of SWIR's new crawler crane in August of 2016 We know that new, well maintained equipment makes us a reliable source for our customer's crane and transportation needs.

Southwest Industrial Rigging, a US based crane, rigging, and heavy transportation provider has added a 330T Liebherr Crawler crane to its fleet. The new crane adds to the companys fleet of over seventy mobile and crawler cranes. Since 2014, the company has added over 1,000 tons of capability to their crane fleet, and spent $10 million for new crane equipment over the last 24 months, making their fleet one of the newest in the Southwest. Including our specialized trailers and trucks, we have invested over $15 million across the board over the last three years. We know that new, well maintained equipment makes us a reliable source for our customers crane and transportation needs. They know if they call us, we will get them the equipment they need, and also provide the safest operators and riggers to complete the job to the best of our capabilities, safely and on time said company Vice President Mike Madge.

Over its thirty years in business, the companys main operational area has been the Southwestern States of the US, specifically Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. In the third quarter of 2016, the company acquired a contract for a large construction project in the Aurora, CO area. The new crawler crane, which made its way from Germany to Colorado via the port of Galveston, was assembled in August of this year in preparation for the project. The tilt panel contract was a large deciding factor on purchasing the new crawler. We have heard good things in the industry about the machine and its heavy lift capabilities, said Madge. The company plans to invest in an additional LR1300 by the end of 2016 in an effort to acquire more tilt panel work in the Southwest. It is important to keep the communication going with our customers in regards to future needs in their industries. This allows us to strategically purchase the right equipment to meet the demands for lifting solutions when they arise, continued Madge. The company also is researching the possibility of opening a branch in the Denver area sometime in the near future in order to make equipment more readily accessible to the customers in those areas.

About Southwest Industrial Rigging

Southwest Industrial Rigging celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2015. The company started out with a single crane working in Casa Grande, AZ, and now has six divisions including crane rental and leasing, heavy transportation (break-bulk), machinery moving, power division, heavy rigging division and indoor/outdoor storage. Southwest Industrial Riggings continued commitment to safety and focus on providing superior customer service started with Harry Baker thirty years ago, and this commitment has made the Phoenix based crane & rigging company an industry leader. For more information, visit http://www.swirusa.com/.
TIDI Products, LLC (Logo) By placing single-use TIDIShield Grab n Go Eye Shields wherever gloves or masks are available, occupational health and safety staff can help reduce infection transmission risk via conjunctiva

TIDI Products, LLC, a leading manufacturer of clinically differentiated, single-use, infection-prevention products, today cited the presentation of important scientific research at the 2016 OR Manager Conference, occurring September 21-23, 2016, at the Caesars Palace Convention Center, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The annual conference, presented by OR Manager, gathers operating room, perioperative, and other surgical-suite managers, directors, and administrators in an effort to enhance efficiency and safety in healthcare operating environments. The 2016 event has featured a series of presentations offered to help reduce occupational exposure risk.

One such presentation, Quantifying Occupational Risk in the OR from Blood and Body Fluid Splashes, reviews hospital worker risks associated with mucocutaneous blood/body fluid exposures (BBFEs). The findings, presented by Dr. Amber Hogan Mitchell, President and Executive Director of the International Safety Center, are founded in data reported by 30 US hospitals from 2012-2014. Using statistics from the Centers Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet), Dr. Mitchell quantified hospital BBFEs affecting eye conjunctiva. Dr. Mitchell also quantified eye-protection use across hospital departments, compared to the OR only. Dr. Mitchell found BBFEs increased in all hospital departments, including in the OR, while eye-protection use simultaneously decreased. Dr. Mitchell notes that the data illustrates occupational risk is increasing at a time when disease threats are high. One positive finding is that, as a percentage of total facility exposures, those in the OR are declining for all BBFEs, and for eyes only. Dr. Mitchell concludes healthcare workers remain at occupational risk, yet health systems may learn from protection strategies implemented in the OR.

Another presentation, Interdepartmental Collaboration to Reduce Conjunctiva Exposure Risk: Process Improvement to Increase Awareness and Enhance Compliance, demonstrates the clear value of system-wide education and advanced protocols in reducing infection risk via eye exposure. Victor R. Lange, Director of Infection Prevention at Alta Hospital Systems in Los Angeles, educated staff in multiple departments at Promise Hospital of San Diego about the realities of eye-related infection risk and then tested the efficacy of new, best-practice, prevention strategies in reducing exposure. According to Lange, EPINet data reveals more than 60% of reported BBFEs occur to conjunctiva and greater than 90% occur without proper eye protection. With improved processes adoptedincluding pre-task risk review and mask- and glove-level eyewear access (in Surgery, Med-Surg, Intensive Care, Cardio-Pulmonary, Engineering, and Environmental Services units)Mr. Lange tracked a 100% reduction in eye splashes compared to the prior 12 months, as well as 15 splash saves in the first 90 days alone. Mr. Lange said collaboration among Infection Prevention, Occupational Health, Nursing Education, and Executive Management, along with use of appropriate protective equipment, can virtually eliminate eye exposure risk, reduce facility infection transmission risk, and improve overall healthcare worker safety.

TIDI Products offerings are uniquely designed to help define and protect the sterile field, and to help reduce and prevent infection risk to surgical staff and patients. To assist OR professionals in gaining greater compliance, performance, and protection, TIDI Products is showcasing a wide array of its infection-prevention solution portfolio at the 2016 OR Manager Conference. Among others, TIDI Products will feature its patented Sterile-Z back-table covers and patient drapes, C-Armor equipment drapes, and TIDIShield Grab n Go Eye Shields in a convenient, point-of-use dispenser. By placing single-use TIDIShield Grab n Go Eye Shields wherever gloves or masks are available, occupational health and safety staff can help reduce infection transmission risk via conjunctiva. OR Manager Conference attendees may learn more about the TIDI Products portfolio and participate in valuable discussions and demonstrations by visiting TIDI Products in the Caesars Palace Convention Hall Forum Ballroom, Booth #1246. Additional information about TIDI Products also is available online at http://www.TIDIProducts.com.

About TIDI Products, LLC

TIDI Products, LLC is a leading global manufacturer of innovative, single-use, infection-prevention products and unique, safety-improving interventional equipment. TIDI is committed to supporting caregivers and preventing infections in hospitals, clinics, dental offices, and other healthcare environments. The TIDI Product portfolio ranges from exam table paper, patient capes and gowns, dental bibs, curing light sleeves, intra-oral camera covers, and sterile C-Arm drapes; to protective eyewear, gowns, masks and gloves for staff; to securement products for catheters and other devices. For more information, please visit http://www.TIDIProducts.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

CFI Medical, manufacturer of the Sterile-Z and C-Armor product lines, is now part of TIDI Products.
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


Snitch Lighthouse

Alex Teichman crawled on the carpet as the dog ran around him. A camera watched them closely nearby.

On the screen of the computer, Teichman's outline was glaring red, despite him being on all fours like the dog. The pet, though, was a shining green.

It was graduation day from Stanford's StartX incubator, and Teichman and his cofounder Hendrik Dahlkamp had built a home security system that can tell the difference between humans, a potential threat, and things like dogs running around a yard.

However, the video of Teichman versus the dog is the last public evidence of a company then-called Snitch. In early 2015, IEEE wrote the only story about what the duo was working on, complete with the video.

Since then, though, buzz has been slowly building around the "well-funded" and "first-rate" mysterious company and its newly discovered ties to major Google alums. With its focus on machine vision and their expertise in self-driving cars, speculation about the project's potential is growing.

A few recent clues discovered by Business Insider hint at what the tight-lipped startup might be working on.

The mystery of Snitch

Snitch's founding team is two guys with brilliant minds and backgrounds to match, a pair that many Silicon Valley investors would be delighted to throw money at.

Teichman's mentor was Sebastian Thrun, the "father of the self-driving car" who founded Google X. At Stanford, Teichman had worked in Thrun's lab and was the perception lead on Stanford's self-driving car. His summers were spent interning at famed robotics research lab Willow Garage.

Years before, Teichman had suffered from a nagging worry that his house was going to get burglarized, according to a story in IEEE. He had been receiving random phone calls, and there had been a notice of an uptick of crime in the neighborhood. So he rigged up his own security camera and loaded it with the self-driving technology that he had been working on. He wanted to be able to tell the difference between a tree branch in the wind or a burglar entering the backyard. But nothing came of it since his house wasn't robbed.

Story continues

At Stanford, Teichman met his co-founder, Dahlkamp, who also specialized in seeing the world in different ways. He had cofounded the technology behind Google Street View and also went to Stanford to study under Thrun and work on its self-driving car.

The two were at a party together when Dahlkamp brought up the old security system Teichman had built. Only then did Teichman realize it might form the basis of a company.

In October 2014, they incorporated the business. Months later, they graduated from the Stanford StartX labs. And then they all but disappeared.

Business Insider has found a few clues, however.

In November 2015, the pair's mentor, Thrun, tried to find some new talent for the startup, which he described as "well-funded."

"I have an amazing job opportunity in Silicon Valley. A small, first-rate, well-funded team is seeking to hire an RGBD perception expert to help build the 'eyes of the smart home'," Thrun wrote in a robotics forum. (Interested applicants had to e-mail Edwin Jarvis, a cheeky nod to the AI butler from the "Iron Man" series.)

Also, at some point Teichman posted a plea on 99Designs, a website for freelance logo design, looking for an image to go with the name at the time, Snitch: "I'm building an intelligent home security system that uses a totally new kind of camera and can understand what it's seeing, rather than just detecting that something changed," Teichman wrote. "It's super cool but I can't draw for s--. Help!"

The winning design, a grey-and-blue camera, can be found on two websites: Kortschak Investments and Playground Global.

Playground Global is run by Andy Rubin, the creator of the Android operating system who left Google in October 2014 to start a hardware incubator. Turns out that Dahlkamp and Teichman have been incubating the company in Rubin's Playground Global over the last year, according to a job posting from their recruiter Doreen Xia on a computer vision forum.

From Snitch to Lighthouse

Although Playground is a hardware incubator, according to new trademark filings, the young company is now more concerned with software for security cameras  and it has a new name: Lighthouse.

The trademark covers computer software for a range of tasks, from viewing and analyzing video to operating, managing, and monitoring security systems. The trademark covers not only the computer software but also "software as a service", or a licensing model that would let people subscribe to using the software over time.

Today, Lighthouse's website only teases something "Coming soon."

The company declined to talk to Business Insider. Andy Rubin, Playground Global, and Sebastian Thrun didn't respond to request for comment.

Still, venture capitalists are buzzing about it, wondering if it could dethrone Google's Nest in the camera market. Since it's not making its own camera, unlike Nest which acquired Dropcam, it will have a harder time getting its software in the hands of people, one investor speculated.

Others are excited to see the technology behind self-driving cars be applied to other areas beyond the much-hyped automotive space. Lighthouse might be the first breakout company to do it.

NOW WATCH: A tiny camera that sticks to any solid surface takes the ultimate selfie





More From Business Insider


Writing may be a mostly solitary pursuit, but many writers find that adding a social aspect can make the process less lonely, more fun, and provide help in polishing their drafts. Now a quartet of middle-grade authors has figured out a way to turn the friendship that grew from their critique group into a campaign designed to give their books a promotional boost. Its called #TrueFriends and they are offering prizes, writing ideas for students, and a downloadable kit to help spark classroom conversations about reading, writing, and, most importantly, friends.

We thought it was pretty remarkable that all four of us had sold novels that were going to be published in 2016 and that friendship was an import element in each book, said Kirby Larson, whose latest novel, Audacity Jones to the Rescue (Scholastic Press), stars a booksmart orphan who needs her friends  new, old, and four-footed  to help her foil a dastardly plan.

Larson wrote the book with feedback from her longtime critique partners  Barbara OConnor, Susan Hill Long, and Augusta Scattergood  who get together for writing retreats and share drafts long distance. (Two live in the Pacific Northwest; two in the southeastern U.S.) The value of having someone to turn to when a plot takes a nasty twist, when a character wont wake up and speak to you, when youre not sure you'll ever write another sentence, much less a book  thats priceless, said Scattergood. Her new book, Making Friends with Billy Wong (Scholastic Press), features two main characters who meet in Arkansas during the Civil Rights Era and initially think they have nothing in common. Azalea is a reluctant transplant from Texas; Billy is the son of the local Chinese grocer. Similarly, the characters in Longs The Magic Mirror (Knopf) dont start out as likely acquaintances but meet on a journey where they become a band of true friends [who] together discover the meaning of family.

OConnors new book, Wish (FSG), features a hot-tempered heroine whose new best friend is in a lot of ways her polar opposite. The author theorizes that its no coincidence friendship figured so prominently in each novel. Friends are the invaluable link to a sense of belonging, OConnor said. Lets face it. No child wants to each lunch alone while the cafeteria is swirling with hoards of laughing, chattering friends.

Once Larson realized all their books all shared this thread, she wondered if there was a way to capitalize on it in order to reach readers. Were writers, not marketers, but I am always in awe of writers who have figured out a way to promote their books together, she said. Since friendship figured prominently in all four books, and the four are such good friends, it just seemed like a natural fit to build a campaign around that.

Each author created a short video talking about her book and how friendship figured into the plot. Each video, posted to the #TrueFriends YouTube channel, concludes with an idea for a writing prompt. Scattergood suggests writing about meeting someone you took an instant dislike to, or felt you had nothing in common with. What made you turn an unlikely friend into a true friend? she asks. Larson explains how postcards figure in Audacity Jones and encourages students to pretend they are sending one to a friend from a place they have been or a locale theyve always wanted to visit. I love the idea of postcards because its not daunting, she said. You can only get about three sentences on the back, four if you write really small, but they represent such a lost art of writing home when you are away.

The #TrueFriends campaign will also give away 15 sets of all four books, and four Skype visits for a school, classroom or library with one of the authors.

School budgets are dwindling and some school are just to small to bring in an author, Larson said. You miss that kid who comes up to you after the presentation and whispers a question, so it isnt completely satisfying, but it is still much better than nothing.

The giveaway can be entered here and anybody can download the #TrueFriends mini activity kit that features conversations between the authors and a fun Friend Catcher craft to make.

All in all, its a pretty jazzy marketing effort... for a bunch of writers. Even some publishers were impressed. Barbara and I were together at SIBA and wore our little #TrueFriends buttons, Scattergood said. Our publishers people thought they were great.
The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) returns to Boulder, Colo., for the second time, on September 23. Offering three days of readings and panel discussions in and around the citys public library, the event focuses on marginalized voices, including those of native Americans and other minorities and people of color. In all, 80 authors will participate.

Sanjoy Roy, managing director of Teamwork Arts and producer of the JLF, said that he and Tina Brown, who is an advisor to the JLF, were considering numerous cities in the U.S. for the event, but were ultimately charmed by Boulder and its great "indie" feel. Plus, you need somewhere you can come for a few days and feel as if youve thrown away the key. Boulder, with its scenery and its river, is that.

Roy said that in the nine years since the JLF was launched in India, it has become one of the worlds top literary festivals, attracting 330,000 people to the Diggi Palace in Rajasthan, India, each January. It feels like a huge Indian wedding now, he joked.

Boulder is the second offshoot of the JLF outside of India, following JLF in London, which launched three years ago.

This years U.S. event has a decidedly political slant, with talks addressing environmental issues, LGBTQ topics, gun laws, and, naturally, the presidential election.

The highlight of this year's Boulder show, according to Roy, is the appearance of Her Majesty the Royal Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck of Bhutan.

When you have a former head of state who is involved in literature, it sends out the right messages, he said. This is a monarchy which decided to move its country to a democracy and they did it carefully with the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Now, the Bhutanese are often cited as being some of the happiest people in the world.

Writers speaking at the show include Pulitzer Prize-winner Viet Thanh Nguyen, comics creator G. Willow Wilson, Suketu Mehta, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and William Dalrymple (who is also festival director of the JLF). Other speakers range from diplomat Robert Blackwell, futurist Nassim Nicholas Taleb, and Sarah Crichton, editor and publisher of Sarah Crichton Books at Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

The event is not just liberal or left of center, but really for all sides, Roy noted. The only noise you hear today is the noise of extremes and we want to create a space for dialog and the opportunity to listen.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  A multimillion dollar federal grant awarded to Purdue University and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) will help more Indiana students stay on track from middle school to postsecondary education. The statewide effort aims to strengthen academic preparation, college readiness and career guidance with a special focus on students in Indianas 21st Century Scholars program.

Theres no learning more important to the individual and collective future of Hoosiers than science and math, but currently theres no other area in which we are coming up so short. Its hard to think of another project that fits Purdues mission and the needs of our state like this one, said Purdue President Mitch Daniels.

The Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education will be led by Carla C. Johnson, associate dean for engagement and global partnerships in the College of Education, in collaboration with campus partners from the colleges of Agriculture and Science, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, and Student Success at Purdue.

The grant amount is anticipated to be $3.5 million annually with the allocation totaling as much as $24.5 million over seven years.

Indianas GEAR UP grant program closely aligns with the goals of the states 21st Century Scholars program, an early-promise scholarship which has helped more than 70,000 low-income students go to college since it was established in 1990. In 2011 with support from the Indiana General Assembly, CHE created the Scholar Success Program, a set of required activities designed to keep students on track for high school graduation and college completion. The requirements take effect beginning with high seniors graduating in spring 2017.

We firmly believe that the Scholar Success Program provides a clear roadmap for all college-bound students, said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers. Our GEAR Up partnership with Purdue will help us ensure that more Hoosier students, both Scholars and non-Scholars alike, reap the benefits from completing this essential preparation.

Indianas GEAR UP project is a seven-year partnership with CHE and other key stakeholders, including the Indiana governors office, Indiana Department of Education, Conexus, and several Indiana school corporations, that promises to have a statewide reach and significant long-term implications.

This project will potentially impact thousands of Indiana children, said College of Education Dean Maryann Santos. We are committed to helping deliver the best education for all students  especially in the area of P-12 STEM education. GEAR UP is a way for us to create long-term partnerships with teachers and communities that will make a noticeable difference in the state of Indiana.

The program is designed to include academic facets and college knowledge  both identified by research as key components of college readiness programs. In addition, the funding will support research on the impact of the interventions on student success. The College of Education will research students from seventh grade through high school to better understand STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning, literacy, persistence and entry into postsecondary study and careers.

Through this project, we will be able to provide much-needed support for students beginning in middle school that will enable them to experience success and have the opportunity to choose their future academic path, Johnson said. This grant will not only support students, but will also provide on-the-ground professional development within Indiana partner schools to grow teacher effectiveness and after-school programs that will engage parents and the community.

Other College of Education faculty and staff involved in the grant are Signe Kastberg, associate professor of mathematics education, and Kerry Hoffman, director of the Center for Literacy Education and Research (CLEAR).

The preliminary partnering schools and school corporations are the Purdue Polytechnic Indianapolis High School, Community Schools of Frankfort, Crawford County Community Schools, Gary School Corporation, Greater Clark County Schools, Indianapolis Public Schools, Kokomo School Corporation, Lafayette School Corporation, Maconaquah School Corporation, MSD of Warren Township and Muncie Community Schools. The college will partner with Indianas nine educational service centers to make resources available to other schools across the state.

These partnerships will expand the depth and breadth of services, supports and experiences for Indiana K-12 students to ensure they graduate high school and are highly prepared to attend postsecondary education. Researchers in the College of Education will administer the program and conduct research on the impact of the interventions on student success.

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu

Sources: Maryann Santos, 765-494-2336, msdb@purdue.edu

Carla C. Johnson, 765-494-0780, carlacjohnson@purdue.edu

Stephanie Wilson, 260-705-8007, swilson@che.in.gov
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Submitted press release

Rock Island, IL - Rock Island County, as Trustee, has completed their tax deed proceedings on real estate properties that were delinquent for 2012 and mobile homes that were delinquent for 2013 and prior real estate taxes. The County, as Trustee, will now offer for sale the real estate and mobile homes obtained to the public. They will offer approximately 69 real estate items and 16 mobile home items through a sealed bid auction sale. All sealed bids must be in the Rock Island County Treasurers Office located in the Rock Island County Office Building, 1504 3rd Ave., Rock Island IL 61201 no later than the close of business on Oct. 14, 2016.

The sale of these lots and mobile homes should be a major benefit to both the Taxing Districts and the neighboring property owners. This sale will place the real estate and mobile homes into the hands of individuals who have an interest in owning them. The County, as Trustee, hopes that these new owners will both maintain the property and the mobile homes and keep the taxes paid. By eliminating abandoned properties, the appearance of the neighborhood should improve and the value of adjoining properties should increase.

The required minimum bid on real estate is $158 to $658, and on mobile homes is $195 to $695. All items will be sold to the highest sealed bid received on or before Oct. 14, 2016. Complete bidders packets and sale catalogs are now available at the Rock Island County Treasurers Office or online at iltaxsale.com.

For further sale information, contact the Auction Sale Department of the Rock Island County Tax Agents Office. The telephone number is 800-248-2850 or 618-656-5744 or visit us at iltaxsale.com. Office hours are 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
MOLINE  There may again be a push for the state to allow community colleges to offer at least one more advanced baccalaureate program.

Black Hawk board chairman David Emerick said the budget crisis put consideration of a baccalaureate of nursing program on hold about a year ago.

When the Illinois Community College Board was not able to buy supplies or pay its staff, a $100,000 feasibility study  my estimate  we had to pause that, he said.

President Bettie Truitt said such programs could be for nursing or any of the applied sciences. She noted it would be crucial to have the support of area health suppliers. She said tentative planning has started but conversations with hospitals and students are yet to be had.

The board talked about a burgeoning need for nurses. Trustee Tim Black said nursing students are having to go to online programs and for-profit schools.

Were not talking about putting (four-year schools) out of business, he said.

Architect Dominic Demonico of Demonico Kemper said his firm is narrowing a selection of construction management firms in order to start capital improvements. The board gave final approval to $31.5 million worth of building bonds.

New construction involves a well at the east campus and a Building 1 addition in Moline. Renovations include the Outreach Center on the Avenue of the Cities, additional Building 1 work, a forensics lab and classroom improvements at Building 2, horse stables at the east campus and road, parking lot and IT work district-wide.

Finance officer Steve Frommelt said ratings agencies will review the colleges finances in less than two months, and the agencies are well aware of the states problems.

We can emphasize to them that we are managing the money well, he said.

He said there would have to be a reduction in expenses if the state does not receive more than the $3.5 million its taken in to date this year from the state. The college budgeted for $5.4 million.

Ms. Truitt said she had formerly heard talk about Springfield daily, but people have just stopped talking until after the election.

By January, the board wants to begin work on a new vision and mission statement followed by strategic planning. Trustees said the states situation could weigh on those processes.
Sept 22 (Reuters) - Four U.S. steel producers will file petitions with the U.S. Commerce Department charging Chinese producers with diverting shipments through Vietnam to avoid American import tariffs, a law firm representing one of the domestic producers said on Thursday.

ArcelorMittal USA, Nucor Corp, AK Steel Holdings Corp and United States Steel Corp are filing the petition, said Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, the law firm representing ArcelorMittal.

The U.S. Commerce Department last week set preliminary antidumping duties ranging from 63.86 percent to 76.64 percent on stainless steel sheet and strip imports from China after preliminary findings showed the imports were being dumped in the U.S. market at below fair value.

The petition alleges that Chinese producers diverted their steel shipments to Vietnam "immediately" after the duties were imposed.

According to the petition, Chinese steelmakers sent their shipments to Vietnam, where they were modified to make them corrosion-resistant, and then sent them to the United States by paying Vietnam's U.S. tariff rate, which is lower than for China.

The U.S. producers are requesting the agency to inquire into the issue and suspend imports of corrosion-resistant steel and cold-rolled steel imported from Vietnam, said the statement from Kelley Drye & Warren.

"This type of behavior is becoming more frequent, so it is important that the U.S. Government send a strong message that circumvention of our trade laws will not be tolerated," the law firm said, citing a counsel for domestic petitioners.

Nucor is being represented by law firm Wiley Rein LLP, AK Steel by King & Spalding LLP, and United States Steel by Quinn Emanuel LLP.

(Reporting by Anet Josline Pinto in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Cooney)
MOLINE  There is never a bad time for a good book or a good glazed doughnut, which is why I am a big fan of Wilson Middle School's Morning Coffee Club.

Morning Coffee Club began with 27 students in 2007. In 2016, Morning Coffee Club features 127 eager readers meeting five times a year. In the 10 years of Morning Coffee Club, 642 students have shared in the coolest reading group this side of the Mississippi. Heck, it might cover everything west of the big river, too.

The club is funded by grants and donations and is offered at no cost to students. This school year, Morning Coffee Club received funding from the Illinois Reading Council, the Moline Foundation, and the Moline Public Schools Foundation. All have been longtime backers of the program, according Wilson English teacher Susan Smice, who leads Morning Coffee Club.

A bundle of amazing teacher energy, Smice said more than 3,600 books have made it into the hands of middle-schoolers in the decade Morning Coffee Club has been around.

"When grant writing, I estimate how many I think will be in MCC each year," Smice said. "This year I underestimated and therefore am underfunded. It really is a good problem to have. The hope is that each student passes it (a book) on to others and spreads the love of reading.''

To help level its financial playing field, Morning Coffee Club will hold a fundraiser from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Donut Delite, 3606 Avenue of the Cities, Moline. Students will be present to solicit donations from customers. Donut Delite has long been in the corner of Morning Coffee Club.

Students attend Morning Coffee Club meetings with a parent or other adult. Wilson teachers "adopt" those students who don't have an adult to bring with them.

Meetings begin at 7 a.m in the Wilson Middle School library. Students socialize, eat doughnuts and drink milk and orange juice until 7:10. Following the social part of the morning, Morning Coffee Club divides into small groups, and a discussion leader, who is a community member or retired or current Wilson teacher, is selected. A discussion of the book follows.

Smice also has found a way to bring authors and students together. One who visited the Morning Coffee Club was S.A. Bodeen, who wrote "Shipwreck Island," a novel for young adults that's a combination of new-wave adventure mixed with the television show "Lost."

Despite some small hills to climb and a few valleys to deal with, Smice said support from the Wilson administration has been a key to Morning Coffee Club's success.

"A priority at Wilson is to provide students with many opportunities to improve overall literacy," said Bob Beem, Wilson principal. "Additionally, we have identified the need for students to develop higher-level thinking skills by providing opportunities to analyze, synthesize and draw conclusions based on the content of material they have read. These are the proven skills necessary for success in future academic or career paths.

"The Morning Coffee Club allows for students to develop these skills while increasing overall literacy skills in an enjoyable community-based program. The parent and community involvement in the program makes the school/community connection evident and is a true reflection of the larger learning community."

A decade ago, Morning Coffee Club was a great idea. It remains an important part of the educational landscape for impressionable young people. Here's hoping you can find time to share a dollar or two with the Morning Coffee Club.

If people are not able to attend the fundraiser, they can send donations to Smice at Wilson Middle School, 1301 48th St., Moline, IL 61265.
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!
After reports of fraud, identity theft and forgery, Wells Fargo has promised to clean up its act. But based on recent statements by the CEO, the banks troubles are just beginning.

Over the span of five years, Wells Fargo fired 5,300 employees for opening as many as 2 million fake accounts. Roughly 85,000 of those accounts incurred $2 million in fees.

In many cases, customers were unaware of the accounts and the accompanying fees. Those accounts became delinquent, and customers were forced to fight with debt collectors over the fraudulent charges. Their credit reports were damaged, which affects everything from job applications to mortgages.

Wells Fargos bad apples

Wells Fargo describes the problem as the actions of just a few low level employees not a systemic issue, and not something that represents company culture. The CFO, John Shrewsberry, explained,

These bad practices were not a revenue-generating activity. It was really more at the lower end of the performance scale, where people apparently were making bad choices to hang on to their job.

The CEO, John Stumpf, agreed, telling The Wall Street Journal, The 1% that did it wrong, who we fired, terminated, in no way reflects our culture, and that [t]here was no incentive to do bad things.

So why did 5,000 people do bad things with no incentive?

Eight rhymes with great

According to a complaint filed last year, employees were often required to work unpaid overtime to meet unreachable goals:

Wells Fargo has strict quotas regulating the number of daily solutions that its bankers must reach; these solutions include the opening of all new banking and credit card accounts. Managers constantly hound, berate, demean and threaten employees to meet these unreachable quotas.

Bankers werent expected to just open one account for a customer. They had to open multiple accounts, known as cross-selling. If a customer has a checking account, a banker would be expected to sell them a mortgage, sell them wealth-management products, or credit card accounts. Management set a goal of eight products per customer. Every single person who walked into a Wells Fargo branch needed to have eight accounts.

Story continues

Why eight? Stumpf addressed this question in the companys 2010 annual report:

Im often asked why we set a cross-sell goal of eight. The answer is, it rhymed with great. Perhaps our new cheer should be: Lets go again, for ten!

Thats a goal not based on branch traffic or an analysis of customer demand, but based on wordplay.

A rock and a hard place

Over the past five years, there were numerous signs that Wells Fargos strict sales quotas created problems, from customer complaints to labor lawsuits. These suits alleged the company forced employees to work beyond their typical schedule without pay in some cases to meet sales goals. Top reviews on Glassdoor.com warned of the perverse incentives, while dozens of Youtube videos spoofed the banks aggressive sales environment.

One employee, Bill Bado, decided to alert the companys ethics department of the problems in 2013. Shortly after, he was fired, according to a report by CNN Money.

CEO John Stumpf recently admitted to being aware of the problems in 2013, when the LA Times published a scathing piece, which described a micro-managed, high-pressure sales culture:

One former branch manager discover[ed] that employees had talked a homeless woman into opening six checking and savings accounts with fees totaling $39 a month.

Im not aware of any overbearing sales culture, Chief Financial Officer Timothy Sloan said in an interview.

Despite the denials, Wells Fargo held multi-day ethics seminars in 2014 to try to stop employees from making fake accounts. But, according to The Wall Street Journal, the message didnt quite get through to one manager, who after the meeting urged her employees to ignore the bosses and get sales up at any cost.

The practices continued because the impossible quotas werent changed.

Denial at the top

Wells Fargo did announce that it plans to eliminate the aggressive sales goals by next year. But as far as recognizing the pressures placed on employees, that fell short.

When Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley asked if Wells Fargo created a pressure-cooker sales culture that put bankers in an difficult situation, CEO John Stumpf responded, I do not believe that.

While Stumpf has repeatedly said that he holds himself accountable, he continues to deny that he instilled a high-pressure environment that fostered the problems.

Change needs to be driven by recognition and true accountability at the top. Until that happens, its going to be business as usual.
The MTU 12V 4000 R84 engines will have a rated output of 1.8MW and emissions 50% below the levels required to comply with EU Stage IIIB.

Delivery is due to take place in 2017.
One of the 27.7m-long bidirectional vehicles is on display in the outdoor area at InnoTrans. The three-section vehicle accommodates 157 passengers (at 4 passengers m2), 51 of them seated including three on tip-up seats.

Due to open in the middle of next year, the 11.5km line will link the Doha metro with Education City and will be catenary-free for its entire length. The Avenio QEC is equipped with Siemens ultracapacitor-based Sitras HES onboard energy storage system with back-up batteries.

The roof-mounted ultracapacitors will be recharged at each stop with a 1000A current and a 20-second cycle for a full charge. Siemens says one of the vehicles has operated for 6km in catenary-free mode on the line in Qatar and for 30km while on test at Wildenrath.

Siemens was awarded a 100m turnkey contract by the Qatar Foundation in July 2012 to equip the line. In addition to rolling stock, the contract includes signalling and communications systems, electrification, and depot equipment.
We are in dispute over this, just as we are with the infrastructure levy, Dobrindt says. We will remain firm on this issue. Dobrindt believes the public will only accept a strategy to transfer more freight from road to the rail if trains are made quieter.

Turning to another policy initiative, Dobrindt said: Diesel locomotives must become a thing of the past. Dobrindt want to see more of the German rail net electrified even though only half of the network in Germany is currently electrified.

However, Dobrindt says that if electrification on this scale is too expensive alternatives to diesel traction such as battery or fuel cell technology will need to be considered. The transport ministry has contributed nearly 8m to aid the development of the worlds first multiple-unit train powered by fuel cells: Alstoms Coradia iLint.
Cover story, September issue: Like most Class I railroads, Union Pacific has had to make adjustments to deal with sharp declines in coal and other commodities. While its $3.75 billion 2016 capital program is lower than last years, it upholds a strong commitment to maintaining a state of good repair, building capacity and improving technology. As well, UP is committed to sustainability. And then theres yet another historic UP steam locomotive undergoing restoration.

At Railway Ages 2016 Rail Insights conference, UP Chief Financial Officer Rob Knight sat down with Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono to discuss UPs current state of affairs, and what may be in store in the short- to medium-term:

 Coal, one of UPs primary sources of volume and revenues, has been in decline, for more than one reason, not the least of which is the low price of natural gas that has prompted some electric utilities to convert from coal. There still is life in our coal franchise, Knight said, indirectly dismissing those Wall Street analysts who haveshortsightedly in this writers opiniontied UPs future to coal.

 PTC accounts for a significant chunk of UPs capital budget. We have been aggressively pursuing completion, with eyes on that 2018 completion date, Knight said. Its all very complex, and expensive. When finished, we will have spent $2.9 billion on capital up front, and weve already spent about $2 billion, which shows you how far along we are with it all. But it has been costly, and well need to recover our investments somehow.

 Though at the time of the conference UP had 1,800 locomotives in storage, Knight noted that the railroad plans to acquire 230 new locomotives this year, 70 in 2017, from EMD and GE Transportation. What will drive orders after that will be how our business and the broader economy is doing, he said.

 Of UPs $3.75 billion capex budget, about $2 billion is allocated for replacement projects. Our large projects (double-tracking the Sunset Route, for example) are mostly complete, Knight said. He added that rumors of a track speed reduction on UPs triple-track principal trunk line through Nebraska (North Platte to Omaha) are untrue.

 An improved service product and concentrated market research have opened doors to new business opportunities, Knight said.

 UP has a diverse franchise, is doing everything it can within its control to manage that franchise, and is well-positioned for growth, Knight stressed: Industrial products are a lynchpin of our franchise. Weve been experiencing domestic intermodal growth from taking trucks off the highways. Our petrochemical franchise has been a big growth engine. And we have reach into Mexico over all six border interchanges. UP holds a 26% stake in Ferromex, a relationship that began with privatization of Mexicos national railway in the 1990s.

Long Rail Strategy

Union Pacifics Long Rail program, more than a decade in the making, ranks among the industrys most significant engineering innovations. UP is the first railroad to import high-strength, head-hardened continuous-cast rail from Japan, in 480-foot-long sections. Only two welds are needed to create quarter-mile strings, instead of 17 welds connecting 80-foot sectionsan 88% reduction in the number of welds required. Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corp. supply the rail, which is delivered to the Port of Stockton, Calif., by ship, and then transported in specially designed shuttle railcars to UPs $18 million Stockton rail welding plant.

The facility is equipped with a custom overhead crane to lift the rail out of the cars. Holland LP is providing rail welding services for this program.

Sumitomo designed and built Pacific Spike, the first ship of its kind, to serve as UPs long rail carrier. The vessel is outfitted with three cranes synchronized to simultaneously unload five 10-ton rail sections. Rail is stacked three bundles high onto the shuttle cars to be moved from the dock to storage.

Sustainability: Bridging Great Salt Lake

Utahs Great Salt Lake, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, is one of the worlds most unique, and fragile, ecosystems. Its also home to UPs Lucin Cutoff, a 20-mile-long rock-fill causeway built originally by the Southern Pacific. Without the causeway, rail traffic would be diverted to UPs Shafter Subdivision south of the lake, requiring additional train starts. The causeway contained two culverts, both large enough for water and small boats to pass through, that were critical to maintaining the Great Salt Lakes delicate balance of salt and fresh water. That balance impacts, among other things, the lakes brine shrimp population, one of Utahs major exports

The structure had been sinking for quite some time. Diving inspectors discovered cracks in both culverts sidewalls directly under the tracks in 2011. The west culvert was in danger of collapse. Both were closed by 2013.

UP turned to a U.S. Geological Survey computer model of the lakes bi-directional water and salt flow to design a new causeway bridge to replace the culverts. The model allowed UP to determine a bridge width and depth that would duplicate the water and salt transfer once provided by the culverts. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Utah Division of Water Quality approved the design in 2014. The bridge is a 180-foot-long structure supported by 49 pilings, with adjustable earthen control berms that can be built up or removed. Described as an innovative and elegant solution, the berms can be modified if, for example, the ecosystem is determined to be declining. Construction of the bridge and berms is expected to be completed by the end of the month. UP will monitor salinity changes in the lake until 2021.

Improving High and Wide

The Railway Industrial Clearance Association (RICA) recently named UP Railroad of the Year by. RICA consists of railroads, shippers and manufacturers, and logistics providers that plan and execute special movements of loads requiring extra height and width clearances. RICA recognition is based on peer votes in such areas as technological advances and customer service.

UP received RICAs award largely due to creation and implementation of iClear software developed by Union Pacific Corp. wholly owned subsidiary PS Technology. iClear allows users to quickly validate railroad routes for oversized loads, without waiting for manual clearance checks, saving time and improving service. iClear uses automatic 3D modeling, creating loaded railcar geometry and rail network information to check for obstructions, select viable routes and produce meet-pass location mapping. The software, initially implemented by UP, is now available commercially.

Machine Vision

UP, with the help of its R&D lab at its Omaha headquarters, is deploying its version of the state-of-the art rolling stock inspection system known as Machine Vision.

UPs Machine Vision consists of an array or portal containing a combination of fault detection sensors, cameras, lasers and strobes. As a train passes through a Machine Vision portal, the equipment generates a three-dimensional model of every railcar that can be viewed remotely from any UP computer. So far, the system is able to identify and measure 22 railcar components and flag defects that could lead to a delay or, in a worse-case scenario, a derailment. Inspections are conducted 24/7, in any type of weather.

Machine Vision inspections relay information on needed repairs before a train arrives in a classification yard. The technology helps improve yard throughput, reducing dwell time as well as the potential for misrouted cars or missed connections. So far, Machine Vision arrays have been deployed outside three UP yards in Nebraska, Iowa and Arkansas.

Various types of data come from wheel detectors, lasers, infrared cameras and line-scan cameras that photograph one continuous line of pixels at a time50,000 photos every secondthat are then assembled to form a continous image of the train. Algorithms developed by UPs Omaha R&D lab analyze the data gathered by the Machine Vision portal as a train passes through the structure at speeds up to 70 mph, displaying high-resolution images of the train in near real-time.

Theres also LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), a surveying technology used for geomapping. Machine Vision uses LiDAR to generate three-dimensional images of an entire train. Algorithms look for defects using photography and LiDAR. For example, the system can verify that there is an appropriate and balanced amount of spring compression on a three-piece truck.Too much compression on one side throws off the cars balance, which can cause a derailment.

Big Boy Requiem

One of the largest and most famous steam locomotives ever builtUPs articulated 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4014is undergoing restoration to operating condition (including conversion from coal to oil) by UPs Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Heritage Fleet Operations.4014 will join UPs other iconic steam locomotives4-6-6-4 Challenger 3985 and 4-8-4 Northern 844in excursion service when restoration is completed, and become the worlds largest operational steam locomotive. Alco built 25 Big Boys for UP between 1941 and 1944. UP took delivery of 4014 in December 1941. She was retired in December 1961, having traveled more than one million miles in 20 years of service.
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OK
China has been a major proponent of regional security for Northeast Asia. This advocacy is only natural: Truly great powers should pursue more than just their own security.

Many had hoped that the Chinese definition of regional security would include Republic of Korea (ROK) security. After all, the ROK is part of the Northeast Asia region and has been heavily threatened on a regular basis by North Korea. Thus many ROK security experts believed that in the aftermath of six summit meetings through 2015 between ROK President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping, China was committed to stopping North Korean provocations and China was also committed to meeting Chinese international security obligations.

Sadly, China seriously disappointed many in the ROK security community this year. And China has done so not just once, but on multiple occasions.

In January, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear weapon test, a serious violation of multiple U.N. Security Council Resolutions. Admittedly, the failure to deter North Korea's nuclear weapon test fell on a combination of China, Russia, the United States, the ROK, and Japan. But after such a deterrence failure, what happens next can determine the degree to which deterrence will be effective moving forward.

To deter further North Korean nuclear weapon or missile tests, the regional countries needed to demonstrate that North Korea would pay a cost for its fourth nuclear weapon test that would outweigh any benefits it may have gained. This cost versus benefits trade-off is the essence of deterrence.

China's refusal to impose sanctions by early February meant that North Korea had suffered little in the way of costs for its fourth nuclear test.

While China denounced this January provocation, it refused to take any action against North Korea. The international community has focused on economic sanctions to impose costs on North Korea, but to impose significant costs on the North, China must support such sanctions because China is North Korea's biggest trade partner by far. China's refusal to impose sanctions by early February meant that North Korea had suffered little in the way of costs for its fourth nuclear test. China's inaction apparently made a major contribution to North Korea's conclusion that it could get away with the satellite launch/ICBM test it executed on Feb. 7.

Thereafter, China did support U.N. Security Council Resolution 2270, which imposed serious trade sanctions on North Korea. But China does not appear to be fully following those sanctions: Trade between China and North Korea reportedly increased about nine percent year-on-year this June.

On July 7, the ROK and the U.S. announced a decision to deploy the THAAD missile defense system in the ROK to deal with the ever-growing North Korean missile and nuclear weapon threats. This year alone, North Korea has tested 19 ballistic missiles of Scud range or greater, more than in any previous year.

Yet China appears disinterested in ROK security against these North Korean threats. From well before the July announcement, China opposed the THAAD deployment. For example, in February China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi said China's national security interests could be jeopardized or threatened by THAAD since its X-band radar system has a radius that goes far beyond the Korean peninsula and reaches into the interior of China.  We believe that China's legitimate security concerns must be taken into account and a convincing explanation must be provided to China, he said.

In the regional security context, such Chinese concerns are a little difficult to understand. After all, China does not similarly complain about the U.S. X-band radars deployed in Japan or U.S. satellite based observations of China.

North Korea regularly defies Chinese direction, raising questions about whether China really is a great power when it cannot influence even impoverished North Korea.

Even more curious, China deploys a missile defense system referred to as the HQ-19 that has many similarities to the THAAD system. Reportedly, China has developed this system in cooperation with Russia, suggesting that it is not intended to intercept Russian theater ballistic missiles. Other than Russia, North Korea has by far the most ballistic missiles that could endanger China. And while China is supposed to be an ally of North Korea, Chinese and North Korean forces never plan together or train together. In fact, the Chinese and North Korean leaders really don't like each other  North Korea regularly defies Chinese direction, raising questions about whether China really is a great power when it cannot influence even impoverished North Korea.

Indeed, in 1993 during the first nuclear crisis with North Korea, former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung called together his senior military personnel and reportedly asked them what North Korea should do if it had to fight the United States over the North's nuclear program and lost that war. His son, Kim Jong-il, the father of the current North Korean leader, replied, I will be sure to destroy the earth! What good is this earth without North Korea? Chinese leaders know that China is part of the Earth.

North Korean NoDong missiles apparently can reach any target in Japan, and thus the longer range Musudan missile, which cannot reach the U.S., is assumed to be a threat primarily against Guam. But North Korea does not need 50 to 100 Musudan missiles to attack Guam. Interestingly, 12 of the 20 largest Chinese cities appear to be within range of North Korean NoDong missiles, and the remaining 8 are within Musudan range. So it's no surprise that China deploys the HQ-19 missile defense system.

China has not sought ROK permission to deploy the HQ-19, so how can China reasonably suggest that the ROK needs China's approval to deploy THAAD? When China says that it is concerned about regional security, does it really mean that it is only concerned about Chinese security?

Even then, China does not seem to understand the regional implications of the THAAD missile defense system. One fully-deployed THAAD battery is capable of destroying perhaps 50 North Korean ballistic missiles. North Korean planners, recognizing the THAAD capabilities, would need to shift missiles away from targeting China to rebalance its attacks once THAAD is deployed in Korea. Thus THAAD would likely reduce the number of North Korean ballistic missiles targeted on China, a significant improvement in Chinese and regional security.

If Chinese opposition to THAAD makes little sense in a regional security context, why would China be making such a major issue of THAAD? Perhaps it hopes to divert attention from its refusal to abide by international law in the South China Sea. Or it might be interested in establishing a precedent of great influence on ROK national security decisions.

Regardless, THAAD offers the ROK important protection against the North Korean missile and nuclear weapon threat. Of the 50 North Korean ballistic missiles that THAAD could destroy, if only five carried nuclear weapons aimed at ROK cities, THAAD could potentially save the lives of half a million or more ROK citizens. How can anyone say that such an outcome would not enhance regional security?

Bruce W. Bennett is a senior defense analyst at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation.

This commentary originally appeared on The Korea Times on September 21, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
Criminal case against ex-construction boss at Vostochny Cosmodrome reaches court

MOSCOW, September 23 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  A criminal case against former chief executive of TMK (Pacific Bridge Building Company), a contractor in the Vostochny Cosmodrome project, Viktor Grebnev who stands charged with embezzlement, has reached court, local Prosecutors Office announced on Friday.

The case is going to be reviewed by the Primorsky Territory Court in Vladivostok.

According to investigators, from 2012 to the fall of 2014, Grebnev knowingly signed contracts of guarantee that were unprofitable for TMK, thereby embezzling over 288 million rubles ($4.4 million). He also signed several contracts that caused TMK over 130 million rubles ($1.9 million) in losses.

In February, the Commercial Court of the Primorsky Territory declared Grebnev bankrupt.

Earlier, TMK said it failed to pay 96 million rubles ($1.5 million) in wages to workers because of the alleged embezzlement. Investigators claim that Grebnev used the money to buy yachts and a mansion.

In February 2015, the Federal Service of Labor and Employment revealed the failure to distribute over 30.5 million rubles ($462,000) to 1,262 TMK employees working at the cosmodrome. Also, in December 2014, the company was ordered to pay over 61 million rubles ($925,400) of the debt to its staff.

The construction of the space center, due to become Russia's main launch site, began in 2012. The facility is planned to be completed in 2016.
Russian court sentences man for murder committed 54 years ago

MOSCOW, September 23 (RAPSI, Diania Gutsul)  A native of Grushevskaya Cossack village in the Rostov region Viktor Maslov has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for murder of the villages chairman that happened 54 years ago, RAPSI learned from the Investigative Committee on Friday.

Maslov was found guilty of premediated homicide, attempted premediated homicide, committed under aggravated circumstances.

Investigators found out that in July of 1962 Maslov, armed with hunting rifle, rode a bicycle to the house of villages chairman. Maslov shot the chairman and killed him on the spot. He also made several shots at policeman and driver, who were nearby, but they managed to survive. After committing a crime Maslov left the scene and was put on the wanted list. In February 2016, he was located in a prison where he was serving his time for another murder.

Maslov admitted his guilt in full and was sentenced to 12 years in a maximum security penal colony.
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.
Washington was always concerned about spies. They were a constant problem except when the armies were on the move. He knew he could not stop all of them, so feeding them false information was his next best defense. With that in mind on December 12, 1776, he told Colonel John Cadwalader1 of the Philadelphia Associators of the Pennsylvania militia, Keep a good look out for spies; endeavor to magnify your numbers as much as possible. It was a ploy he would use over and over again in creating false troop information, inflating the size and giving the wrong location of his forces for spies to discover and take back to enemy headquarters.

Washington in December of 1776 was desperate to know what the British were doing. Spare no pains or expense to get intelligence of the enemys intentions, Washington told Cadwalader. He had also told General James Ewing, Spare no pains nor cost to gain information of the enemys movements and designs. Whatever sums you pay to obtain this end I will cheerfully refund. He also advised Brigadier General Philemon Dickinson to spare no pains or expense to obtain intelligence, and all promises he made or monies advanced would be acknowledged and paid. Three days later Washington was still desperate for information and again was encouraging Cadwalader to get intelligence of the enemys intentions.

Dickinson, who was at Yardleys farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, advised Washington on the 21st of the information he was able to collect from two people who had come out of New Jersey on what was going on in New Brunswick, and from a person from Crosswicks regarding boats at Lewiss Mill. A slave from Trenton told of boats being built a mile from town. Dickinson told Washington he was going to increase the amount he was offering to $15 or $20 for someone to go as a spy to Trenton and return. People here are fearful of the inhabitants betraying them. On the 24th he was able to secure someone to take the risks and he got him across the river into New Jersey. He was due back the next morning, at which time he was going to be provided with a horse to get to Washington.

On the morning of December 31, 1776, while at Crosswicks, one of Cadwaladers spies, who was identified only as a very intelligent young gentleman, had just returned from the British camp at Princeton some sixteen miles distant. He identified the number and locations of British and Hessian forces in the town. He said there were about five thousand men, consisting of Hessians and British troopsabout the same number of each. . . . He conversed with some of the officers, and lodged last night with them. As part of a disinformation campaign, Washington had previously instructed that the numbers of American troops were to be magnified. The spy complied with these instructions by saying that Washington had 16,000 men. However, they would not believe that Washington had more than 5,000 or 6,000. The spy reported, They parade every morning an hour before day [break]and some nights lie on their armsAn attack has been expected for several nights pastthe men are much fatigued, and until last night [were] in want of provisionswhen a very considerable number of wagons arrived with provisions from [New] Brunswick. He provided a crucial piece of information: the enemy was not expecting an attack from the east, as there were no sentries on the back or east side of the town facing the water, thus leaving the town unguarded. The spy also provided enough detailed information for a map, which was made by Cadwalader, showing the enemys positions at Princeton.

Washington and the army re-crossed the ice-choked Delaware and returned to New Jersey on December 29. The artillery was unable to cross till the 31st due to the ice. When assembled at Trenton, Washingtons forces numbered 6,000 men and forty cannons. However, enlistments were expiring and soldiers would be going home. The army was going to evaporate before his eyes. Washington appealed to his men to stay in service for some promised bonus money. On December 31, Robert Morris in Philadelphia sent Washington the sum of 410 Spanish milled dollars, 2 English crowns, 10 English shillings, and one half a French crown, amounting to 155 pounds, 9 shillings, 6 pence in Pennsylvania currency, or 124 pounds, 7 shillings, 8 pence lawful money, which is the value in gold and silver. Buoyed by the combination of victory at Trenton and money from Morris, most men stayed.

After Washingtons victory at Trenton, British General Cornwallis returned to New Jersey from New York City. He assembled a force of 8,000 at Princeton, leaving 1,200 at Princeton under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mawhood of the 17th Regiment of Foot. On January 2, he took his remaining forces, which included twenty-eight cannons, and marched toward Trenton and Washingtons army. When he reached Maidenhead (now Lawrenceville), he detached Colonel Alexander Leslie of the 64th Regiment of Foot with 1,500 men. He ordered them to stay there until the next morning. As soon as Washington heard that Cornwallis was on his way to attack him, he detached men to skirmish with the approaching British forces in a delaying action. Due to the American resistance it was not until late in the day when the British army finally reached Trenton. It was the second time in eight days that the Americans would engage the enemy.
Trumps break from the international free market and security system ignores 200 years of gains

In Donald Trumps Aug. 15 speech on foreign affairs, the Republican presidential candidate expressed a mercantilist view of foreign policy, stating that, In the old days, when we won a war, to the victor belonged the spoils. Yet in those old days, the United States embraced a much different view: Washington believed that strong alliances and close economic ties created a global tide that lifted all boats, resulting in greater prosperity for the United States than that produced by an inward-focused mindset. While many Republicans remain committed to the principles that supported the U.S.-led construction of an international security order following the end of World War II, Trump has vowed to discard many of the policies that allowed for unprecedented levels of economic growth in the United States and around the world.

Trumps rhetoric paints a view of a world in which there is a finite amount of wealth and one succeeds only by taking from someone else. Many of Trumps positions do not reflect the core lesson of modern capitalism that a product I own might be worth more to you, while you might have a good that provides more value to me. Trumps perspective instead seems to fit with the pre-Enlightenment, mercantilist view of global trade and security, in which countries took resources and constructed security arrangements that focused only on the direct immediate benefit to themselves. In the centuries before the American Revolution, European countries built empires that primarily focused on resource extraction: Establish a colony in Latin America, Africa, or Asia, take the local goods back to Europe, build a navy and army to defend that extraction method, repeat. However, the Industrial Revolution then unfolded, free-market thinkers such as Adam Smith and David Hume advanced economic theory, and it became clear that specialization and trade would best create global prosperity.

Which approach was right? According to U.C. Berkeley professor J. Bradford De Longs work, average real global per-capita gross domestic product increased by 38 percent from 1600 to 1800. Over the next two centuries, as free-market ideas and practice took root, global GDP per capita increased by 3253 percent. Populations also became dramatically healthier: British scholar Angus Maddison estimates that average global life expectancy increased from 26 years in 1820 to 66 in 2002, after barely moving in the prior eight centuries from 24 in the year 1000. Finally, technological breakthroughs enabled by trade in goods, services, and ideas during this period -- such as the telephone, steam engine, and railroad -- made it far easier to move about and understand the world.

A zero-sum, mercantilist approach also ignores the benefits that the global security architecture, without which prosperity could not occur, has brought about for everyone. Trumps rhetoric on NATO exemplifies this misperception. By reducing the threat of invasion by a foreign power, such as Russia today or the Soviet Union during the Cold War, NATO has helped cultivate a European economy that has not only brought prosperity to millions of its own citizens but has also directly benefited the U.S. economy. Europe is Americas largest trading partner. Without the European continent as a destination for the products of U.S. companies, many more Americans would be out of work. The U.S. Trade Representative estimated that exports to the European Union supported 2.6 million U.S. jobs in 2014. We benefit from imports from Europe in many other ways as well -- for example, how many more Americans would be sick or worse without the medicines of such companies as Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi?

Trumps NATO commentary is dangerous in its mere utterance -- whether or not Trump wins the presidency -- as it increases the physical danger posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin to millions of Central and Eastern Europeans. It is worth recalling that former Secretary of State Dean Achesons implication that the Korean Peninsula lay outside the U.S. defense perimeter helped lead to the Korean War. Today, it does not seem a stretch to conclude that Putin, who has already invaded two of his countrys neighbors in the last decade (Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014), would take such comments as encouragement to encroach further upon Russias neighbors. The actions by Trumps team to weaken the Republican platform on Ukraine make this outcome even more likely, as does Trumps repeated praise of Vladimir Putin, under whom Russias economy has declined dramatically. (Russias 2015 GDP per capita was actually below 2007 levels.) In fact, Russian actions in Crimea in the last couple of months seem to indicate that Putin may already be taking advantage of Trumps position.

It is not surprising that many have flocked to Trump: one need only look at the male labor force participation rate, which at 69.2 percent in the most recent reading sits close to the lowest-on-record rate of 68.7 percent, reached in the fall of 2015. Consider also the high rates of substance abuse among the lower-income, rural white population in the U.S. -- where death rates are actually rising among middle-age non-Hispanic whites. The despair is real.

Trump, however, has proposed a path that fails to recognize that the current global security and trade system, even with all its flaws, is by far the best "deal" there is, relative to the alternatives. Working toward another 200 years of improvement on par with the gains seen in the last two centuries requires a system that does not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Instead, we must create companies, tools, organizations, and policies that benefit those who have been left behind in todays economy, rather than offering language that appeals on a superficial level but, in reality, diminishes opportunities for millions.
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Just in time for hunting season, Liberty Ammunition has announced the release for online sales of the Animal Instinct 30-06 Springfield. The copper monolithic, fragmenting hollow-point, lead free, hunting rounds weigh in at 100 grains and hit velocities greater than 3500 feet per second. They advise the drop is roughly 1.8 inch at 100 yards, 0 at 200, -6.5 at 300, -19.2 at 400, and 40.2 at 500 and a minute of angle at 500 yards.

Liberty Ammunition has this to say about the newest in the Animal Instict line.

Liberty Ammo: Animal Instict 30-06 Springfield Released

Although the 30-06 Springfield is known for being a classic hunting round, there's nothing old-school about Liberty Ammunition's new cartridge. This state-of-the-art round boasts a lead-free copper-monolithic fragmenting hollow-point design that gives hunters an edge when they're out in the field.

Liberty Ammunition Animal Instinct 30-06 Springfield Specifications:

Description: Copper Monolithic, Fragmenting Hollow-Point, Lead Free Hunting Round

Weight: 100 gr.

Velocity: >3,500 FPS

Kinetic Energy: >2,700 FPE

Accuracy: 1 MOA @ 500 yds.

Terminal Effect: >5 W x 16 D

Rounds: 20 per box

MSRP: $59.49 Please check your local laws for restrictions before ordering ammunition. Due to a combination of regulations and shipping constraints, we cannot ship through our online store to the following locations: AK, parts of CA, CT, DC, HI, IL, MA, NJ, NY, Canada, and all other international locations. If you live in one of these areas, please contact our office directly at [email protected] For other locations, you must be 21 or older to purchase and sign for ammunition. All ammunition is considered hazardous and will be shipped ground.  Matt Phillips, Vice President of sales and marketing for Liberty Ammunition states, We are pleased to release the 30-06 Springfield round right in time for hunting season. We think hunters of all levels will enjoy the reduced recoil and match grade accuracy and most of all the increased lethality of our Animal Instinct line. 

You can get your paws on the Animal Instinct 30-06 rounds here and you may be interested in other products Liberty Ammunition has to offer, so be sure to check them out.
Georgia-based Liberty Suppressors has announced the release of a new and upgraded version of their popular .300 Blackout silencer, the Chaotic Ti. As you may have surmised by the name, the new Chaotic Ti features a titanium monocore construction, but there's a little more going on here. The Chaotic Ti also has an inconel blast baffle for increased durability, and is now rated for all .30 caliber rounds up to .300 Winchester Magnum.



Here's what they have to say about it.

Liberty Suppressors Announces Chaotic Ti

Liberty Suppressors is proud to announce the release of our latest suppressor design, the Chaotic Ti 30 caliber rifle silencer. The Chaotic Ti is the natural evolution of the Liberty Suppressors Chaotic, boosting it's performance with the additions of a titanium monolithic core. The Chaotic Ti is 6 inches long by 2 inches in diameter with a titanium core and tube, inconel blast baffle, and stainless steel end cap. Weighing in at only 16.7 ounces, the size and performance of the silencer is virtually unmatched. For more information, please contact Liberty Suppressors directly.

MSRP for the Chaotic Ti is $895. However, if you already own a Liberty Chaotic, Liberty Suppressors is offering a Chaotic upgrade program giving you the lighter weight and increased durability with the new guts for $450.

For more information, you can visit Liberty Suppressors online here. To read about a previous visit we made to to Liberty Suppressors, click here.

More about Liberty Suppressors in their own words.

Liberty Suppressors is a family owned, Georgia based silencer company that pioneered the concept that a monolithic core silencer can be quiet. Liberty Suppressors offers a full line of silencer for pistols and rifles from 22 Long Rifle up to 300 Remington Ultra Magnum.
2000 - 2022   24 .-   .       focus-news.net,                 () .                  24 .                 24      .       .       24 .
Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight

A woman and child pass by AAA Massage as they make their way Thursday to a cross-country track meet at nearby Rother Elementary School.

SHARE Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Parents and children who attended a track meet near Parsons Junior High School wait for the traffic light to change as they stand across from AAA Massage on Thursday. Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight AAA Massage is directly across the street from Parsons Junior High School. Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Michelle Redding Spa off Hilltop Drive was one of three Redding massage parlors cited during a Wednesday police sting.

By Jim Schultz, Redding Record Searchlight

A sting operation targeting a trio of Redding massage parlors led Wednesday to three people being cited for allegedly engaging in prostitution, Redding police said Thursday.

Officers said illegal activity was found at all three massage parlors, including one directly across from Parsons Junior High School off Hartnell Avenue.

Multiple citations for both criminal and administrative violations of the Redding Municipal Code, which regulates massage parlors, were issued, police said.

Cited and released were Yan Liu, 48, of AAA Massage at 840 Hartnell Ave., Kim Buidang, 58, of Michelle Redding Spa at 2051 Hilltop Drive, No. A5, and Zongu Wang, 59, of Forever Body Massage at 1708 Placer St., police said.

Parent Stephanie Young was waiting in her SUV parked at Parsons school Thursday as she waited for her two children, who do not attend school there, to return from a cross-country track meet at nearby Rother Elementary School.

And she was shocked to notice the massage parlor across the street.

"Too close to a school," she said, admitting she did not initially notice it being there. "It's kind of weird. But I know Shasta County has a high, weird population."

Employees of a nearby business declined to discuss the sting operation, as did office staff at Parsons school, who directed questions to district officials.

Meanwhile, employees and business owners near Michelle Redding Spa, who declined to give their names said the spa keeps a low profile, noting it does not have any outdoor signage to identify it.

But, they said, business there appears to be good.

"She (the owner) has a pretty good clientele," one of the nearby business owners said. "People are going in and out" at all hours.

But, another business employee said she has not had any problems with the spa or its customers.

She also said she wasn't scared  nor all that surprised  Wednesday to see numerous officers conducting the bust operation.

"We were entertained," she said.

Deputies with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, agents with California Alcoholic Beverage Control and the city of Redding Code Enforcement team assisted with the sting, police said.

Common violations discovered during the operation were prophylactics kept on-site, nudity on the behalf of the masseuse and attempted acts of prostitution, police said, adding that additional massage parlor operations are planned.

Matt Moseley, a founder of the Northern California Anti-Trafficking Coalition, said Thursday he was happy the sting operation occurred.

"I'm glad to see the process started," he said. "There are a lot more to be busted."

It was Moseley who in January approached the Redding City Council with an ordinance he was hopeful the city could use as a model to crack down on illicit massage parlors and sex trafficking rings.

The City Council adopted in June an ordinance that requires massage therapists to be fully clothed, go through background checks and operate regular business hours.

The ordinance, which went into effect last month, also regulates the operating hours of massage parlors and prohibits alcohol or controlled substances on site.
Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight

Enterprise High School students walk past portables between class periods Thursday at the Redding school. The Shasta Union High School District hopes voters approve a new bond measure that would allow the school to replace the portable buildings with a permanent structure.

SHARE Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Enterprise sophomores Ashlyn Curtis, from left, Brianna Mullenix, Vanessa Hernandez and Lindsey Norton have lunch in the hallway Thursday at Enterprise High School. The Shasta Union High School District hopes voters pass a bond measure that would allow the school to build a lunch facility large enough for all students to eat in one place rather than scattered throughout the school. Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Enterprise High School students fill their lunch room to capacity Thursday. The lunch room is not big enough for the whole student body, so students eat at spots all over the campus. The Shasta Union High School District hopes voters pass a bond measure that would allow the school to build a larger lunch room.

By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight

The Shasta Union High School District hopes voters approve a $56.9 million bond measure to help the district improve and update area high schools.

Measure I on the November ballot was developed with input from teachers, parents, staff and community members to figure out what each high school in the district needs.

"To get the best results, we have to put our kids in the best facilities," said Jim Cloney, superintendent with the Shasta Union High School District. "We really want to keep facilities upgraded so students feel good."

The measure would fund specific projects  fixing leaky roofs, upgrading electrical systems, repairing old plumbing, sewer and drainage systems, and building updated science labs to benefit science, technology, engineering and math programs. Funds would also improve campus safety with new fencing, communication systems and door locks. None of the bond money can go toward salaries or benefits.

At Shasta High School, Principal Leo Perez said money from the measure would allow the school to ditch the school's 14 portable buildings and build permanent classrooms. The portables were built to last 20 years, but due to money constraints they've been in use for about 30 years, Perez said.

"If you come to a good looking facility, you're going to feel a little bit of pride in your facility," Perez said.

Shasta High School is home to approximately 1,500 students, but can serve up to 1,700 per day through various programs. The high school is also about 65 years old, needs to have some of its parking structure repaved and is in "severe need of a paint job," Perez said. He added that money would also go toward upgrading the school's information technology department.

"Technology is driving a lot of stuff," he said. "This is an issue right now. We need to say we can handle capacity for entire student population."

Cloney said if money were put toward information technology and electrical systems, the school could secure or even lock down the campus electronically during emergencies.

Early August, two drunk teens broke into the high school, broke windows and damaged the River Bowl Trophy.

Enterprise High School is only a few years younger than Shasta and also needs a lot of attention, Principal Ryan Johnson said.

While both Shasta and Enterprise need to upgrade science labs to meet with current standards, Johnson said the biggest complaints students have are about the cafeteria.

Johnson said the school's cafeteria is too small for the school's 1,250 students. As a result, students scatter around campus to eat lunch.

"It would be nice to have a central focus to see where kids eat," Johnson said.

He added that the bond money would also go toward constructing a two-story building to replace the school's 12 portable buildings. Four of those buildings are used as science labs but don't have any plumbing, he said.

"A lot of these rooms are falling apart," Johnson said.

At Foothill High School, there's been a lot of community interest in building a swimming pool, Principal Steve Abbott said. Currently, the 35 students on the swim team must drive to Enterprise High School for practice.

"Once the pool is in place, we hope to expand the team," Abbott said.

The campus, built in 1991, still isn't a "comprehensive high school," Abbott said. While the science labs are up to current standards, there's still some deferred maintenance that needs to be addressed such as paving the parking lot. Abbott said school officials hope to lower electricity bills by constructing a parking area covered with solar panels.

Cloney said so far, the community response to bond measure has been positive, and his priority is to put students' needs first.

"We're hopeful that people understand this is beneficial," he said.
SHARE

An early-morning chase of a driver in a stolen minivan ended when the driver crashed into a parked car at Moody Creek Drive north of Redding and east of Interstate 5, according to the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

The chase started at about midnight Friday when the gray Toyota minivan failed to yield to a Shasta County sheriff's deputy on eastbound Eureka Way at 11th Street, just west of downtown.

Deputies had earlier spotted the van just a few miles away at Placer Street and Buenaventura Boulevard and checked the license plate to determine it was reported stolen, Sheriff's Sgt. Gene Randall said.

After the chase began, passenger Tamia Lynn Wilcox, of Redding, got out at Eureka and California Street and deputies arrested her on suspicion of resisiting arrested and drug charges, Randall said.

The van, however, sped off after dropping off Wilcox, according to deputies.

The man driving the van led officers with their sirens blaring on a 20-minute chase through downtown Redding onto eastbound Highway 44 and I-5. The chase went west onto Cypress Avenue, south on Bechelli Lane, east on Hartnell Avenue and then north on Churn Creek Road when the pursuit on the citys streets was called off.

"The driver was observed running red lights in the city of Redding along with other flagrant traffic violations," Randall said in a news release.

The chase picked up again on Mistletoe Lane, north on Hilltop Drive, then west on Lake Boulevard to Keswick Dam Road and onto Oasis Road. The driver ended up going the wrong way on northbound I-5, got off on Oasis Road and went north on Akrich Road onto Moody Creek Drive where deputies tried to hit the van's tire spike strip.

The van, however, narrowly avoid the spikes but hit a parked car.

The driver, later identified as Jesse David Owens, 27, of Redding, ran away but gave up to an officer at gunpoint.

Officers checking the stolen van said they likely found stolen property inside.

Randall said deputies arrested and booked Owens at the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of auto theft, though they'll request prosecutors also file charges of possessing stolen property, violating probation, felony evading and several other traffic violations.

Owens was on probation for auto theft at the time of his arrest, deputies said.
SHARE Marmolejo

Outdoors groups to host candidates

A handful of organizations for conservationists and bicycle advocates are inviting the Redding City Council candidates to take their questions at an upcoming public forum.

The free event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at First United Methodist Church, 1825 East St., Redding, and the four candidates  incumbent Gary Cadd and political newcomers Adam McElvain, Lea Tate and Julie Winter  have agreed to participate.

Sponsors of the forum are the Shasta chapter of the California Native Plant Society, Wintu Audubon, Trails and Bikeways Council of Greater Redding, Ride Redding and the Shasta group of the Sierra Club.

None of the organizations is planning to make endorsements. At the forum audience members will submit written questions, which will then be read by the moderator. Each candidate will be allowed to make opening statements and respond to the questions.

Sheriff seeks info on missing woman

The Tehama County Sheriff's Office is calling the disappearance of a Corning-area woman suspicious.

Hilaria Marmolejo, 24, was reported missing by her parents Sept. 12, the sheriff's office said. Marmolejo lived in the Corning area with her boyfriend and two children, and she was last seen Aug. 23 between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. at her home.

She reportedly left her two children alone at home on the evening she went missing, according to law enforcement.

Marmolejo supposedly told her boyfriend she was leaving him for another man, but this information was not confirmed by the sheriff's office. Her parents and her boyfriend do not know where she is, and the only item missing of Marmolejo's is her California driver's license.

If anyone has seen her or has information, they are asked to call the Tehama County Sheriff's Office at 530-529-7920.

5-vehicle collision stalls 299 traffic

A four-vehicle collision blocked traffic in both directions of Highway 299 early Thursday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol reported on its Traffic Incident Information Page.

The crash occurred on the highway between Deschutes and Dry Creek roads, according to scanner reports.

There was no immediate word whether anyone was injured.

Fire burns duplex off Magnums Way

A fire burned a duplex and its contents in the 3300 block of Magnums Way off Lake Boulevard in Redding on Thursday night.

Crews received the report at 7:33 p.m. and had the fire knocked down at 7:56 p.m., according to scanner reports.

The fire was on the second floor of the two-story duplex. Firefighters asked for an investigator to come to the duplex to determine the fire's cause.

Bocce ball teams sought for tourney

Sons of Italy Shasta Lodge No. 2453 has space for additional bocce ball teams at its Paesano Days Bocce Ball Tournament slated Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

The double-elimination tournament will be at South City Park next to Tiger Field in Redding.

The team entry fee is $125. Prize money will be paid to the first-, second- and third-place teams.

Contact John Tasello at 530-365-5978 or 530-356-9213 for more information.

Man arrested on suspicion of rape

A 23-year-old Red Bluff man has been arrested on suspicion of rape, police said Thursday afternoon.

The arrest of Austin Waddell came after an investigation into the alleged rape, which police said occurred about three weeks ago.

Waddell also was arrested on suspicion of oral copulation with a person under age 18.

Police said a 17-year-old girl came to the Red Bluff Police Department on Wednesday and told officers she had been raped by Waddell.

After an investigation Waddell was arrested at his place of employment.

Waddell is being held in the Tehama County Jail in lieu of $240,000 bail, police said.
SHARE Kevin Charles Taylor

By Record Searchlight Staff

A Redding registered sex offender was arrested Tuesday after allegedly exposing himself to an employee at a drive-through coffee shop the day before, a Redding police spokesman said.

Sgt. John Ostrowski said that officers on Monday responded to the Coffee Cruz Thru on North Market Street in Redding after an employee called 911 to report that a customer had exposed himself to her that morning.

Ostrowski said the employee, 20, told officers it was the second time that the man, later identified as Kevin Charles Taylor, 41, had exposed himself to her in as many weeks.

The first incident occurred as Taylor drove past the restaurant's drive-up window, Ostrowski said. On Monday, he exposed himself inside the store, Ostrowski said.

Ostrowski didn't know if Taylor had purchased a beverage before or after he exposed himself, but officers were able to identify him Monday thanks to a credit card receipt he'd left, Ostrowski said.

Investigators telephoned Taylor, who has a history of indecent exposure arrests, and asked him to come into the Redding Police Department for an interview, Ostrowski said.

He subsequently was arrested on suspicion of two misdemeanor charges of failing to register as a sex offender and one felony count of suspicion of indecent exposure.
SHARE

Like much about his campaign, Donald Trump's threat to sue the New York Times over unflattering coverage would be amusing if its implications weren't 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 doesn't mean that some examples aren't 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 journalist's notebook opens.

But Trump's 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 Trump's 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. Trump's 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 Trump's phrase "irresponsible intent," which sounds like a legal doctrine but isn't. 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 Court's 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 that's 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 campaign's 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, Trump's 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 wouldn't 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.

This editorial originally was published in the Orange County Register.
The Honda City is an iconic brand for the Japanese carmaker. While Honda sells the popular sedan and its hatchback variant, the Honda Jazz, in India, heres a look at 7 Honda City/Honda City-based products available elsewhere but not in India.

Honda Grace Hybrid



Honda Grace Hybrid red rear three quarter left

A hybrid variant of the City may be what the mileage-conscious Indian needs right now, given the negative sentiment towards diesel and the incentives offered by the government towards hybrid/electric vehicles.

The Honda Grace Hybrid, as it is known in Japan, is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC Atkinson cycle engine with 110 PS and 134 Nm, a 29.5 PS/160 Nm electric motor and is paired to a Sport Hybrid i-DCD (Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive) 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Honda Freed



2016 Honda Freed front quarter launched in Japan

The Brio-based Honda Mobilio may have taken tanked in India, but the City-based Honda Freed certainly looks like a premium alternative.

With its flat-floor design and convenience of 5-, 6- or 7-seats, the Freed too is available with a hybrid drivetrain similar to that of the Graces.

Honda Greiz



Honda Greiz at 2016 Beijing Motor Show front three quarters

The China-only Honda Greiz is just the Honda City with different front and rear fascias.

The differentiation was introduced as the regular City in China is manufactured by the Guangzhou-Honda JV, and the Dongfeng-Honda JV wanted a share of the segment, but through a car with a different appeal.

The Greiz however gets projector headlights which is unavailable on the City.

Honda Gienia



Honda Gienia front three quarters

The China-only Honda Gienia is the sportback (hatchback) variant of the Honda Griez, and is manufactured by the Dongfeng Honda JV. The Gienia is reported to launch in China next month.

Honda City Modulo & Honda City Mugen



2014 Honda City MUGEN at the 2014 Indonesia International Motor Show

Many South East Asian countries receive these sporty editions of the Honda City, complete with a bodykit, larger wheels, side skirts, sill plates, aluminium pedals and perforated leather upholstery.

While certain Modulo accessories are available for the Indian buyer, Honda Cars India is yet to launch the full range of customization options.

Honda City CNG



2014 Honda City CNG rear

Available in the Thai market, the Honda City CNG is powered by the same 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine as the regular variant, but in CNG mode, this unit develops 100.5 hp and 127 Nm of torque. It gets a 65-liter CNG tank placed in the boot.

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The acquisition process was bad in law but the reconversion of land for agriculture may be another mistake. Is there a way out, asks Ashok K Lahiri.

Will the hands of the clock be put back in Singur in West Bengal?

Will the blue and white factory sheds be dismantled, kilometres of roads dug up, bitumen, tonnes of fly-ash and concrete used for roads and land-fill removed to return the land for agricultural purposes?

Will the suffering by the owners and cultivators, and also of the industrial enterprises  not only Tata Motors, but also quite a few vendors  from 2006 be all in vain?

The Supreme Court in its judgment of August 31 has declared the acquisition of land in Singur by the West Bengal government in 2006 as illegal and void.

It has given 10 weeks to the state government to survey and identify the mouzas of lands acquired, and 12 weeks for possession of the lands to be restored to the landowners/cultivators.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court has stated: In this day and age of fast paced development, it is completely understandable for the state government to want to acquire lands to set up industrial units.

What it has rightly insisted on is the scrupulous observance of the relevant Act and rules and protecting the interests of the weakest sections.

The judgment is not about whether the acquisition was justified or not, it is about how it was done.

It is extremely doubtful if returning the land to the erstwhile owners/cultivators as individual parcels fit for agricultural purposes again is the best solution to the injustices involved in acquisition.

Such returns will involve a destruction of value. The cost involved in reconversion for agriculture will be substantial. It will be a double whammy - the cost incurred in preparing the land for industry plus the cost of reconverting it for agriculture.

With a rising population, migration from rural areas and agriculture, in most parts of the country, there is a clamour for changing land-use from agriculture to commercial, residential or industrial.

There are allegations of influential people buying agricultural land, getting the land-use changed through their contacts and making enormous profits.

Almost a 1,000 acres or over four square km of consolidated land, with plans for factory buildings including utilities such as roads, water line, sewage line, power lines, drainage and effluent treatment plants is a rare thing in densely populated West Bengal. It already exists on the ground in Singur and can command a good price.

Returning the land only for agricultural use will be a rare case of land devaluation from a change of land-use from industry to agriculture.

Why should the poor farmers suffer twice?

First, from an acquisition which was a colourable exercise in power, and then from a destruction of value that already exists?

The acquisition process was bad in law. Reconversion for agriculture may be another mistake, and two wrongs do not make a right.

Is there a way of transferring the value already created through consolidation and change of land use to the poor farmers?

With the Supreme Court judgment, the erstwhile owners/cultivators must have the option of getting back their land.

They can retain the compensation already paid in lieu of the losses suffered due to the deprivation of occupation and enjoyment of their land for the last 10 years.

How about giving them an option of either having the land back or becoming a part-owner of a valuable industrial estate in proportion to the land that they owned - both, without any payment?

In fact, the option of part-ownership of an industrial estate can even involve a sweetening clause  the state government may consider paying out a part of the cost that it would incur in restoring the land for agricultural use.

Two issues are paramount in this context.

First, can the owners/cultivators be organised to agree to voluntarily contribute their land to a jointly-owned industrial estate in Singur?

Given the Supreme Court judgment, this voluntary agreement is important because they have the right to get their land back.

Organising the farmers will not be easy. But, it has been done at least once before in another part of the country.

In Magarpatta near Pune, Maharashtra, 120 farmers families got together in the mid-nineties and did much more than what their counterparts may have to do in Singur.

They built a township over 600 acres of land starting from scratch.

They pooled their land into a development company, accepted proportionate shareholding, got their scheme sanctioned by the Maharashtra government, took bank loans, and executed the project.

Second, is the question of time. Time has been of the essence in Singur since 2006.

Tata Motors wanted to commence production of the Nano in 2008.

Thus, it started to develop the land as soon as it was handed over in January 2007, and continued until it had to stop because of protests, blockades and violence.

By end-September 2008, it decided to shift machinery and equipment to Sanand in Gujarat.

The new government, which came to power in May 2011, had campaigned against the compulsory land acquisition in Singur and promised to return the land to the erstwhile landowners/cultivators.

It was in a hurry to return the land and right on the first day in office announced that 400 acres of acquired land would be returned to former owners/cultivators, who had been unwilling to part with their land.

An ordinance was promulgated for this purpose, but struck down by the court.

The Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Act, 2011 passed on June 20, 2011, also could not withstand a legal challenge.

This is the third time that the clock is ticking in Singur. Twelve weeks is not much time for restoring land developed for industry.

The challenge of organising the owners/cultivators for joint-ownership in an industrial estate in 12 weeks is also a formidable one.

But meeting this challenge is the only way of preventing the hands of the clock going back in Singur.

Can Mamata Banerjee and her popular party rise up to the challenge?

The chief minister had promised that all land-losers would get the same plot of land that they owned before the acquisition.

Can she give them more than what she had promised?

The state government reportedly wants to make the Singur story a part of school textbooks.

A modern industrial estate in Singur jointly owned by the former owners/cultivators will be a spectacular story of development for young students.

The writer is former Chief Economic Adviser.

Photograph: Reuters
After 11 years at the helm of Jubilant, Ajay Kaul, the 'nuts and bolts' executive, called it a day amid speculation that his expansionist strategy was not clicking, says Viveat Susan Pinto.

Jubilant FoodWorks Chief Executive Officer Ajay Kaul has a knack of surprising people. At an event to announce the companys initial public offering a few years ago, Kaul dramatically exited the stage to join the Domino staff at a special counter created for doling out pizzas to people in the room.

To cynics, this was nothing more than a publicity stunt, designed to influence opinion. Kaul insisted this was routine behaviour for him; he preferred to be hands-on.

The nuts and bolts executive, an IIT-XLRI alumnus, surprised observers this week when he tendered his resignation after 11 years at the helm of affairs at Jubilant, the countrys largest food service operator. For a man, whod become the poster boy of QSRs (short for quick-service restaurants), positioning Jubilant as a bellwether in food services, his resignation predictably riled investors.

In the last five days, the stock has tanked 10.34 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange, remaining largely range-bound since his resignation. Jubilant, the master franchisee of Dominos and Dunkin Donuts in the country, issued a clarification this week that said Kauls departure had nothing to do with the companys June quarter results, when same-store sales growth (SSG) declined 3.2 per cent, its lowest in seven quarters.

But analysts say store additions in a slowing market have contributed to sustained weakness in SSG, a crucial metric tracked by investors. SSG typically gives an indication of the health of the retailer from a topline point of view. It takes into account sales growth in stores that are one year and above in existence.

In Jubilants case, SSG has steadily moved down as the number of stores has increased. This even as India emerged as Dominos second-largest market after the US in 2014-15, according to its annual report.

Between the June quarters of 2012 and 2016, Dominos stores have more than doubled to 1,049 from 489. On an average, store additions annually during this period were around 140, say analysts. But SSG fell from 22 per cent to -3.2 per cent during the same time.

This is a test case of a growing base and the challenges of managing it, says Naveen Kulkarni, co-head (research), PhillipCapital. The task for the new CEO will be to look at store-level innovations rather than adding new stores across cities. Expansion will have to be vertical rather than horizontal, he says.

Abneesh Roy, senior vice-president (institutional equities, research), Edelweiss, says, Expansion of Dominos stores has led to cannibalisation. Store additions need to slow to 100 a year.

Despite the challenges that Kaul, 52, has faced in recent years, there is no denying his legacy, say industry sources. Between financial years 2005-2006 and 2015-2016, when Kaul was in charge, Jubilants net sales grew nearly 23 times to Rs 2,438 crore (Rs 24.38 billion) from Rs 108 crore (Rs 1.08 billion).

Net profit jumped over 50 times to nearly Rs 105 crore (Rs 1.05 billion). The latter coming against growing operating expenditure as Jubilants base of stores increased annually.

Jubilant emerged at a time when food services was beginning to evolve in India, says a senior industry executive working for a rival food chain.

Ajay was quick to see the opportunity and expand stores quickly to tap this demand that was emerging in the metros, mini metros and smaller cities. The manner in which he organised Jubilants back-end from sourcing to supply chain and delivery even as the front-end was growing is commendable. In many respects, he positioned Jubilant as being future-ready, drawing investor interest, the executive says.

As things stand now, Jubilant has nine supply chain centres, or manufacturing facilities, across the country. This includes units at Mumbai, Mohali, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Noida (which has two supply chain centres).

A new manufacturing unit, billed as a mega commissary, is being built in Greater Noida. This is expected to take care of future requirements, Jubilant had said when announcing its June quarter results.

On service, Kaul, say sources, literally pushed the boundaries for players by introducing the 30-minute guarantee - a gold-standard in delivery - where pizzas are prepared and delivered within half hour from the time of order.

The stringent standard ensured that not only did his boys fall in line both at the store and en-route to the point of delivery, but rivals were also forced to up the ante when it came to service.

Kaul, who has over 20 years behind him working in various industries, has given no indication of where he is headed next.

The former Modiluft and American Express executive will have a mandatory cooling-off period, say sources, preventing him from taking up any assignment with rival food chains following departure in March 2017.

But the task for his successor is clearly cut out: not only will the new CEO have the challenge of steering Jubilant to growth, he could also find himself constantly being compared to Kaul.

Photographs: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters
Ajai Shukla explains why there is considerable discomfort within the defence ministry about the Rafale deal.

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 Minister's Office.

Could he come in urgently, an official asked, the PM would like to talk briefly.

When Parrikar reached the PMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sprang a bombshell.

Parrikar was told that, on Modi's forthcoming trip to Paris, he and French President Francois Hollande would announce an agreement for India to buy 36 Rafale fighters.

During Modi's nine-day tour of France, Germany and Canada, Parrikar would have to manage the media and field the inevitable questions.

Taken aback, Parrikar still caught his flight to Goa. Over the next week, he batted loyally on behalf of his PM, publicly defending a decision he neither understood nor agreed with, that was taken over his head, and that senior ministry of defence officials warned him would be difficult to defend.

Today, 17 months later, most pledges that Parrikar issued in defence of Modi's Rafale agreement have proven incorrect.

He told the Press Trust of India in Goa that all 36 Rafale fighters would join the IAF within two years; in fact more than six years will elapse before the final delivery is made.

He repeated the Modi-Hollande undertaking that the price would be 'on terms that would be better than' Dassault's bid in the now cancelled tender for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft. It now turns out that India will pay a vastly higher price.

But Parrikar, through 17 months of defending a deal that was not his, has become the face of the Rafale.

And after Friday, when he and his visiting French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian sign an inter-governmental agreement for 36 Rafales, Parrikar -- and not Modi -- will answer for the purchase.

There is disquiet within the MoD about the acquisition, with officials concerned about subsequent scrutiny by Constitutional authorities like the Comptroller and Auditor General. Their key worries are as follows.

Exorbitant cost

A key element in price negotiations is 'benchmarking', or comparing Dassault's price with other contracts involving the same fighter.

With India, Dassault had already established a benchmark in the MMRCA acquisition, where it had quoted a price for 18 fully built Rafales, just like the 36 fighters that India is now buying.

Speaking to Doordarshan on April 13, 2015, Parrikar had revealed Rafale's bid for 126 fighters, stating: 'When you talk of 126 (Rafale) aircraft, it becomes a purchase of about Rs 90,000 crore' -- Rs 715 crore per fighter after adding all costs.

Now Parrikar would be buying 36 Rafale fighters for Euro 7.8 billion (over Rs 58,000 crore), which is over Rs 1,600 crore per aircraft -- more than double the earlier price.

True, the current contract includes elements that were not there in the 126 fighter MMRCA tender -- including a superior weapons package with Meteor missiles; and performance-based logistics, which bind Dassault to ensure that a stipulated percentage of the Rafale fleet remains combat-ready at all times. The percentage is guessed to be about 75 to 80 per cent, an unchallenging target for Western fighter types.

Even deducting Euro 2.8 billion for the weapons and PBL from the anticipated Euro 7.8 billion contract amount, a Euro 5 billion (over Rs 37,000 crore) price tag for 36 Rafales puts the ticker price of each at over Rs 1,000 crore.

For that the IAF can buy two-and-a-half Sukhoi-30 MKI fighters -- a heavy fighter as capable as the Rafale.

Variation in fighter types

IAF logisticians, who already struggle to maintain, repair and support six different types of fighters -- the Sukhoi-30MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar, MiG-29, MiG-27, MiG-21 and the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft -- are hardly welcoming the prospect of a seventh fighter type, which would require expensive, tailor-made base infrastructure, repair depots and spare parts chains.

Air power experts say more Sukhoi-30MKIs would eliminate this need, besides being cheaper.

Alternatively, fast-tracking the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft, which Russia and India intend to co-develop, would eliminate the need for Rafales.

Even if the IAF exercises an option clause for 18 more Rafales, there would be just three operational squadrons, like with the Mirage 2000.

Besides the options clause, nine more Rafales would be needed, since an IAF squadron has 21 fighters.

Sovereign guarantees

While New Delhi is negotiating the Rafale purchase directly with the private vendor, Dassault, the MoD wants sovereign guarantees from the French government, of the kind that come with American equipment bought through the Foreign Military Sales route.

In a FMS procurement -- India's C-130J Super Hercules purchase -- the US Department of Defence (the Pentagon) sets up a dedicated 'project management team' that negotiates on the buyer's behalf, beating down the price, establishing training and logistics support, and providing assurance that the buyer gets everything needed to operate and maintain the product.

Alongside FMS support, corruption is deterred by the stringent US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which vendors seldom dare to violate. This provides comfort to Indian MoD officials against subsequent allegations raised against a deal.

Paris, in contrast, is only willing to give a lukewarm written assurance of support with the Rafale -- something that the MoD refers to disparagingly as a 'comfort letter.'

Piecemeal contracting

India needs some 200 to 300 fighters to replace the MiG-21 and MiG-27 fleet that is being phased out of service. Just 36 Rafales provides little cover, so the IAF hopes to buy not just 18 more under the options clause, but perhaps another tranche later.

MoD officials complain that piecemeal contracting provides little leverage for beating down prices.

The same problem will afflict the procurement of the Gripen NG, or F-16s, which the MoD is weighing as possible options to replace retiring fighters.

With an IGA in the offing, and a formal contract yet to be negotiated, New Delhi would still have the opportunity to address these issues, say MoD officials.

Yet, the IGA on Friday will be celebrated in the IAF as a giant step towards a fighter they have pursued tenaciously for 15 years.
'The era of conventional wars is almost over in the Indian context.'

'In such a scenario, special forces could play a decisive strategic role in the spectrum of conflict.'

Photograph: Defence Forum India

One is a distinguished retired army officer, the other, an outstanding journalist: Lieutenant General P C Katoch and journalist Saikat Dutta.

Their book, India's Special Forces; History and Future of India's Special Forces, is as relevant today in the wake of the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri on September 18, 2016 as it was when published three years ago.

Since there has been animated national discussion on military retaliation against Pakistan after the Uri attack, we republish sections from Sheela Bhatt's interview with General Katoch and Saikat Dutta, first published on Rediff.com on April 15, 2013.

Can you shed light on the distinct identity of such forces if compared to normal battalions?

General P C Katoch: India has failed to strategically employ its considerable number of special forces, especially in creating deterrence against the asymmetric war unleashed upon us by both Pakistan and China since past several years. We need to right this urgently.

Special forces are not only differently organised, manned, equipped, trained and employed compared to normal infantry battalions, special forces should primarily be tasked strategically.

Analyst Stephen P Cohen aptly described the task of special forces in his book The Idea of Pakistan as, 'The proxy application of force at low and precisely calculated levels, the objective being to achieve some political effect, not a battlefield victory.'

There is considerable confusion in India (including some created deliberately by vested interests within the military) as to who the special forces are.

In effect, they are the military special forces, the special action groups of the National Security Guard and the special action groups of the Special Frontier Force, albeit India has failed to employ these forces strategically, as the case should be.

Saikat Dutta: The era of conventional wars is almost over in the Indian context. In such a scenario, special forces could play a decisive strategic role in the spectrum of conflict.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Defence Forum India

Saikat had once written, 'The evolution of special forces in India continues to be a painful and muddled process.' Can you explain why you said so?

General Katoch: When the first Indo-US Defence Planning Group meeting was held in New Delhi post 9/11, the Americans were flabbergasted to learn two facts: First, that our ministry of defence had no military personnel on deputation or on permanent absorption; second, that our parachute (special forces) battalions and parachute battalions are grouped in the same parachute regiment.

When the initial two special forces Battalions (9 and 10 Para Commando) were raised, their strengths being small, they were put in the parachute regiment

The fact is that a parachute battalion is an infantry battalion that can be delivered by air and once para-dropped, it performs its infantry role.

In April 2002, Lieutenant General R K Nanavatty, then the Northern Army commander (who had served as commander, HQ special forces including as part of the IPKF in Sri Lanka) had stated, "I find the vision blurring in certain quarters on the issue of parachute and parachute (special forces) battalions. I am very clear that a parachute battalion is simply an infantry battalion in an airborne role and has nothing in common with a special forces battalion."

"Also, the special forces is not a game of numbers and I for one am against their expansion of any sort. Our special forces in their present state are comparable only to the Rangers of the US. We must consolidate and modernise our existing special forces resources. As regards the parachute brigade, I view them as a rapid reaction force to be used within and outside the country."

Unfortunately, the parachute regiment mostly had colonels of the regiment who had not served or commanded special forces units/sub units and their sole aim was to convert more and more parachute units to special forces, undermining the growth of special forces and stunting the special forces concept.

We have gone for unprecedented special forces expansion, ignoring the universally accepted four special forces truths: One, humans are more important than hardware; two, quality is better than quantity; three, special forces cannot be mass produced; four, competent special forces cannot be created after emergencies arise.

We have faulted in the unprecedented expansion of the NSG as well.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Defence Forum India

During the tenure of General B C Joshi as the chief of the army staff, a special forces regiment was formed in the army with due government sanction and the then three special forces battalions were renamed 1 Special Forces, 9 Special Forces and 10 Special Forces, also with due government sanction.

A HQ special forces, plus a special forces training wing were raised and the commando cell in military operations was elevated to be headed by a brigadier-level officer. Ironically, General Joshi died in harness and his successor, General Shankar Roychowdhury, disbanded the special forces regiment.

Saikat Dutta: Today, in just numbers, we have more fighting men who are called special forces than all the fighting men and women troops under the United States special operations command.

But in terms of quality, reach, capabilities we are far, far behind them.

So what is the use of having large numbers when they are reduced to playing the role of a super-infantry at best? This is an extremely sad state of affairs because special forces, by nature, are small, need intensive investments to develop special skills which cannot be mass produced.

Instead of recognising this basic fact, we have ended up aimlessly expanding our numbers despite our severe resource crunch at the cost of quality. This has severely affected the quality and capability of our special forces.

Have India's special forces been successful?

General Katoch: Let me put it this way, they have been successful within the constraints of their employment albeit they have hardly been employed as how special forces should actually be -- strategically.

They have been mostly used for counter insurgency within India, where their record has been very good, but these are tasks which can also be performed by infantry and troops of other units like the Rashtriya Rifles and the Assam Rifles.

While special forces should be central to asymmetric response including against irregular forces, asymmetric warfare does not automatically equate to a physical attack.

A physical attack is only the extreme and potentially most dangerous expression of asymmetric warfare.

The key lies in achieving strategic objectives through application of modest resources with the essential psychological element.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Defence Forum India

In its history, which action of the special forces will you term as glorious?

General Katoch: The best of actions have been in counter insurgency operations (that is what I call within constraints of their employment). They also accredited themselves very well in Sri Lanka as part of the IPKF as LTTE intercepts indicated these were the troops that the LTTE feared most.

Saikat Dutta: As General Katoch rightly says within the constraints the Indian special forces have done a wonderful job.

If we see the gallantry medals given to the three original special forces units (1, 9, 10) we will see that the high number of medals speaks volumes about the quality of the men who serve in these three elite units.

But special forces are meant to perform strategic tasks. That is the reason countries have special forces.

However, a shy politico-military leadership has trapped themselves into a vicious cycle. They have always viewed and employed the special forces in very narrow, tactical terms. As a result they have never bothered to arm, equip or task them for the strategic interests that special forces are supposed to achieve.

For instance, the only military officer who sits with the Cabinet's crisis management group in the United Kingdom is the director, special forces, a major general officer who has served with the elite SAS in his career. That is the importance mature democracies and governments accord the special forces.

In India, there is no recognition of the role, capabilities and therefore, requirements of the special forces by both -- the military and the political leadership.

Photograph: Kind courtesy Defence Forum India

When did Indian Special forces fail?

General Katoch: Analysis proves that failures have occurred when the hierarchy/higher commanders fail to understand what special forces are about, and ironically fail to listen to special forces advice.

Even if one is stupid enough to task them wrongly, you have to leave the execution to them -- not compound the stupidity of ordering them 'how' to execute the task.

Besides, you cannot task special forces on zero intelligence.

Reading the book, you can examine yourself why the helicopter borne raid in the Jaffna University area during the IPKF operations, why frontal assaults were ordered during Operation Vijay and Operation Blue Star and what the consequences were.

No one was taken to task why such frontal assaults were ordered in the first place when special forces do not have such fire power and manpower, and in one case even barred from carrying what fire power they had, leading to excessive avoidable casualties and the commanding officer telling the media subsequently, "They were sent in with their hands tied behind their back."

The NSG task force enroute to 26/11 was told by the DG NSG enroute that he wanted the terrorists alive -- alive when they are firing AKs and the NSG boys didn't even have corner shots?

Post the US special forces raid to kill Osama bin Laden, I was asked during a television debate whether our special forces can execute such a task. My response was that if we could put down two helicopters similarly in Osama's compound, no reason why our boys cannot do it, but the question is does India has such capacity and is doing anything to achieve such capability -- the answer is a big fat no!

Saikat Dutta: In the book we have recorded how special forces were repeatedly misused -- be it Sri Lanka or the Kargil War.

Under 8 Mountain Division, one elite SF unit was sent on a mission when they did not even have the ropes to tackle the heights. They were not allowed to enter Pakistani-occupied territory when special forces are meant to go behind enemy lines!

Special forces units are much smaller than a conventional infantry unit and since they work in small teams they don't carry any heavy guns or firepower. Despite that, they were thrown into frontal assaults like conventional infantry battalions leading to several failures.

This was a criminal misuse of special forces and left them high and dry.
The three-day National Council meet of the Bharatiya Janata Party began in Kozhikode on Friday with general secretaries, office bearers and key state leaders holding discussions to give final shape to a comprehensive pro-poor agenda of the party and the future strategy to deal with Pakistan in the wake of Uri terror attack.

BJP president Amit Shah is chairing the meeting attended by top party leaders from across the country.

The leaders have insisted that their ideologue Deen Payal Upadhyays concept of Antyodaya (uplift of the last man) will be key to their deliberations which will also touch on the Uri terror attack, that left 18 army men dead, the Kashmir unrest and other germane issues like state polls scheduled for next year and the GST.

The party is expected to articulate its garib kalyan agenda to reach out to the mariginalised like Dalits and OBCs ahead of next years crucial state polls, including in Uttar Pradesh.

This is Upadhyays birth centenary year and his 100th birth anniversary falls on September 25.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also arrive on Saturday and will address a public meeting, his first such address after the attack in Uri. He will address the partys National 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 United Progressive Alliance government over its alleged soft attitude to Pakistan in the face of terror incidents.

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.

In its bid to woo the poor, Dalits and marginalised sections in society, the BJP is of the view that effective implementation of the agenda can help it reach out to them, as it is facing flak over Dalit issues from opposition parties.

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.

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.

Modi on September 25 will inaugurate Upadhyays 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 Bahujan Samaj Party.

The meet will also focus on increased cases of violence against BJP cadres and those of its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Left-ruled Kerala. BJP leadership has blamed Communist Party of India-Marxist for these incidents.

Image: BJP president Amit Shah is welcomed by supporters and followers in Kozhikode. Photograph: @AmitShah/Twitter
Two Indian-American scientists are among 23 scientists who have won this year's prestigious MacArthur Fellowship for showing exceptional creativity in their respective fields.

The Indian-Americans -- Manu Prakash and Subhash Khot are alumunus of Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur and Bombay respectively.

Prakash works as an Assistant Professor in Department of Bioengineering at the Stanford University, while Khot is a theoretical computer scientist at the New York University.

In 2003, Prakash was honoured with the India Abroad Face of the Future Award.

The MacArthur fellowships, popularly known as "genius grants," are awarded to scholars who show exceptional creativity in their work and the prospect for still more in the future.

It includes a stipend of $625,000 (Rs 4.1 crore), given over five years, designed to provide the recipients the flexibility to pursue their activities in absence of specific obligations.

The MacArthur Foundation recognised Prakash for his research that is "driven by curiosity about the diversity of life forms on our planet and how they work, empathy for problems in resource-poor settings, and a deep interest in democratizing the experience and joy of science globally."

"Manu Prakash is not only one of the most innovative scientists of our day, he is also using his interdisciplinary expertise to improve human health around the world," Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said.

He said the scientist harnesses a wide array of technologies, including optical physics, computer science, fluid dynamics, biology and chemistry, to solve tangible human and scientific problems.

It is fitting that his creative approach to applying scientific principles has been recognized as true genius by the MacArthur Foundation, Lavigne said.

The Stanford University, in a release said many of Prakash's ideas come from his travels and from his childhood growing up in India.

"Being in the field gives meaning to working in global health. It teaches you empathy, a driving force so strong that it transforms ideas into actions," Prakash said.

Khot is a theoretical computer scientist whose work is provides critical insight into unresolved problems in the field of computational complexity.

His continued ingenuity and tenacity in exploring the potential of the UGC will drive this important and fruitful area of research for many years to come, the MacArthur Foundation said in a statement.

Khot received a B.Tech (1999) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and a PhD (2003) from Princeton University.

Sri Lankan-American Ahilan Arulanantham is the third South Asian to bag this prestigious award. He is an attorney working to secure the right to due process for individuals facing deportation.

Through advocacy and successful litigation of a series of landmark cases, Arulanantham has expanded immigrant detainees' access to legal representation and limited the government's power to detain them indefinitely, the Foundation said.

In an interview, Arulanantham said he would donate his $625,000 prize for the welfare immigrant children.

Images: (Top) Manu Prakash; (Above) Subhash Khot. Video grabs: Courtesy MacArthur fellowships
The Telangana government has asked Information Technology companies to allow their employees in Hyderabad to work from home so as to avoid venturing out in view of incessant rains in the city for past two days, even as help has been sought from the Army for rescue operation in some areas.

IMAGE: Water-logging near the historic Charminar. Photograph: SnapsIndia

Following the heavy downpour which crippled normal life, the state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Hyderabad on Friday and Saturday.

The government has sought the Army's help for rescue operation in some areas of the city, for which the Defence wing has agreed, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation said on Friday.

"We sought their help and they also came forward. They have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them, the GHMC official said.

IMAGE: A view of the flooded localities after heavy rain in Hyderabad. Photograph: PTI Photo

Telangana's Information Technology Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said, "We have asked the association to send an advisory to all the IT companies located in the city. Accordingly, they issued advisory to all the IT firms. This is in the interest of safety of the employees. The response from companies is good."

Heavy rains battered the city which is a major center for the technology industry, and some other parts of Telangana for the past couple of days, throwing life out of gear in some places.

Some localities in low lying areas of Miyapur and Nizampet continue to be inundated since the last two days.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday reviewed the situation and directed officials to take all precautionary measures in view of the heavy rain forecast.

IMAGE: Flooded streets after heavy rain two wheelers washed away near Mahboob Mansion Market Malakpet in Hyderabad. Photograph: PTI Photo

State IT Minister KT Rama Rao along with senior officials toured the city last night and reviewed the situation. He instructed officials to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

Normal life in some low-lying areas of the city has been disrupted due to the water-logging, and traffic has been hit badly due to the downpour.

Hyderabad traffic police has advised commuters to avoid undertaking unnecessary journeys.
Here's a recap of moments captured in India in the past 24 hours.

Kashmiri vegetable vendors assemble at a floating market in the interiors of the Dal Lake in Srinagar September 22, 2016. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters

Public works department workers at the launch of a fogging campaign by the Delhi government to check the mosquito-borne diseases in New Delhi on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Mumbai police stop a vehicle at a checkpost as a high alert was issued after two school children spotted suspicious looking gunmen at Uran, near Mumbai on Thursday. Photograph: Santosh Hirlekar/PTI Photo

An artist gives touches to an idol of Goddess Durga ahead of Durga Puja celebrations in Mumbai. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo

A man tries to cross a waterlogged street in Hyderabad following heavy downpour on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo

An New Delhi Municipal Council signboard renames Race Course Road as Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi on Thursday. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

Youth Congress activists protest against Bharatiya Janata Party MPs on the Cauvery issue in Chikmagalur, Karnataka on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Cops investigatee the spot where gangster Mahesh alias Attack was shot dead by unknown assailants near Jharsa Chowk in Gurgaon on Wednesday night. Photograph: PTI Photo

Women shout slogans as they protest near the house where militants were hiding during an encounter in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banejee wears a traditional headgear at the 5th founation day function of Lepcha Development and Cultural Board at Kalimpoog in Darjeeling on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Rapid Action Force personnel in action during a clash between two groups in Gaya on Thursday. Photograph: PTI Photo
A mechanised infantry unit of the Russian military on Friday arrived in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever joint military drills dubbed Friendship-2016 starting from Saturday, reflecting growing military ties between the two former Cold War rivals.

A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10, army spokesman Lt-General Asim Bajwa tweeted along with some photographs of the Russian and Pakistan troops.

A statement by Russias Southern Military Command said the drills will involve over 70 servicemen of the Southern Military Command, including the Mountain Mobile Brigades personnel deployed to the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic (North Caucasus), and also officers from the headquarters staff.

The Southern Military Commands mechanised infantry servicemen are fully equipped and have their mountain gear with them, as well as ammunition for their standard weapons, Russias Itar-Tass news agency reported, citing the statement.

The two militaries will share their experience and employ teamwork in fighting in mountainous areas, particularly destroying illegal armed groups, it said.

The joint military drills are aimed at bolstering and building up military cooperation between the two countries, it said ahead of the opening ceremony on Saturday which is scheduled to take place at Pakistan Armys HighAltitudeSchool in Rattu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills called as Friendship 2016, which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era.

The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades.

Pakistan decided to broaden its foreign policy options after its relations with the US deteriorated following secret Central Investigation Agency raid in Abbottabad that killed Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Its relations with the US were soured recently when US lawmakers blocked funds for the sale of eight Lockheed Martin Corporations F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Pakistan decided to look at alternative sources to purchase the aircraft including from Jordan.

Over the last 15 months, the chiefs of Pakistans Army, Navy and Air Force travelled to Russia. The flurry of high- level bilateral exchanges resulted in the signing of a deal for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad.

The agreement, signed in Moscow in August 2015, was considered a major policy shift on part of Russia in the wake of growing strategic partnership between the US and India.

Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington.

After securing the helicopters deal, Pakistan is also exploring options to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. For this purpose, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman visited Moscow in July.

Not holding any anti-terror exercise with Pak in 'so-called Azad Kashmir': Russia Russia on Friday clarified that it was not holding any anti-terror exercise with Pakistan in "so-called Azad Kashmir" or in any other "sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan". "The only venue of the exercise is Cherat. All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," the Russian Embassy said in a statement in New Delhi. "Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan antiterror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called 'Azad Kashmir' or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan," it said. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had on Thursday said that India's "sensitivities" towards Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism are well-known and same was also conveyed to its strategic partner, Russia.

IMAGES: Russian soldiers arrive in Islamabad for the joint exercise. Photographs: @AsimBajwaISPR/Twitter
A six-year-old boy in the United States has won the respect of Barack Obama and thousands of others after he offered to take in a little boy who was injured after his home in Aleppo, Syria, was bombed.

The image of shell-shocked five-year-old Omran Daqneesh sitting alone in an ambulance, covered in dust and blood, shocked the world and inspired Alex, from Scarsdale, New York, to write a three-page letter to Obama.

In a handwritten letter sent to the White House, Alex asked Obama to go and collect Omran and bring him to his house where we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons.

Alex said that Omran could be part of his family, and offered to be his brother. He said he would teach him how to speak English, to ride a bike and added that his sister Catherine would share her toys with him.

Obama read Alexs words aloud in a speech he gave at the United Nations earlier this week, before posting a video of Alex reading the letter himself to Facebook.

In his message, Obama asked people to read the letter to understand why he had decided to share it with the world.

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, the US president wrote.

We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were, he added.

The post has collected more than 100,000 likes and been shared more than 60,000 times, with many Facebook users praising the compassion shown by Alex.

One Facebook user wrote: 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.

Another added: I heard this earlier today, as read by my president. Even with that pre-conditioning, made me cry while reading it just now. Neither of these sweet little boys, someones sons, are Skittles.

Donald Trump Jr, the son of the Republican presidential nominee, had sparked controversy on Monday when he compared Syrian refugees to a bowl of Skittles candies.

The generous offer from Alex comes as Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia have each produced more than 1 million refugees due to ongoing crises, according to the United Nations.

Earlier this year, the world bodys refugee agency said that the number of refugees and displaced people worldwide had surpassed 60 million for the first time.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who was admitted to a hospital in Chennai late Thursday night due to fever, is recovering and continues to be under observation.

"The Chief Minister (Jayalalithaa) has no fever now and is taking a normal diet. She is under observation," Apollo Hospital's Chief Operating Officer Subbiah Viswanathan said in a press release.

"She was admitted to the hospital after she complained of fever and dehydration," he said.

The 68-year-old AIADMK chief was taken to Apollo Hospital after she complained of fever.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayansami wished speedy recovery to Jayalalithaa.

"I learnt Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa is unwell & hospitalized. I wish her speedy recovery," Siddaramaiah said in a tweet.

Narayansami tweeted, "I pray for the speedy recovery of health for the CM of Tamil Nadu.I am sure the prayers & wishes of all will bring back her soon."

Also, AIADMK party leaders and allies offered prayers in places of worship across Tamil Nadu praying that she gets well soon.

Leaders of parties including state unit chief of BJP Tamilisai Soundararajan, All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi chief Sarathkumar, an ally of ruling AIADMK, besides Dravidar Kazhagam chief Ki Veeramani wished her speedy recovery.
A day after a high alert was sounded in Mumbai coast and adjoining areas after a group of men was spotted moving suspiciously near a Naval base at Uran near Navi Mumbai, the multi-agency search for them continued for the second day on Friday, although the Navy called off its operation.

IMAGE: Massive combing operations in Uran and Karanja areas were being carried out with the help of Coast Guard and CISF. Photograph: Arun Patil

Police said none of the men could be traced so far even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Pune, said the information about suspicious armed people being spotted in Uran was yet to be corroborated.

However, police said that based on the description given by some school children, who spotted the armed suspects on Thursday, their sketches were issued late last night.

Talking to PTI, Satish Mathur, Director General of Police, said, "Search operations by police is still on in Uran area. But, so far, nothing significant has been come across."

He said police had also submitted a confidential report on the search operations to the government.

A high-level meeting of Police officials and National Security Guard unit commanders was also held at Uran in the morning, where schools and colleges have been shut on Friday.

The Western Naval Command of Navy, which called of the search operation, in an official statement Uran said, "As far as Indian Navy is concerned, operations based on Thursday's sightings of suspected terrorists are concerned are over. Sanitisation of naval areas has been undertaken. Navy is maintaining close liaison with local police/other agencies for further updates or developments."

"However, as the state of alertness is concerned, Indian Navy maintains a high state of alert and tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances," it added.

The WNC had issued "the highest state of alert" along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts after suspicious movement of the men Thursday morning. The Navy had pressed its choppers for surveillance and heightened patrolling in the sea by its vessels and high-speed boats.

IMAGE: The alleged terrorist sighting in Uran came close to the site that houses units of MARCOS, the Navy's elite strike force. Photograph: Arun Patil



Fadnavis, who was in Pune to take a review of various government schemes, said, "I appeal to people not to get panicked as the information received from the girl, who had informed about the suspicious armed people spotted in Uran, has not been corroborated. However, all the agencies--ATS, NSG, Coastal police, Navy and local police are working together and combing operations are going on."

He also appealed to the electronic media not to televise sensitive establishments in and around Uran for security reasons.

Minister of State (Home) Deepak Kesarkar, however, said information about suspicious men seem to be prima facie true. "Security forces are working on two fronts. The suspects are being identified and combing exercise in the area is also vigorously on," Kesarkar told reporters in Uran.

Kesarkar said, prima facie, what the children had reported seems to be true as it has not been proved otherwise.

"But, there has been no boat, in which they could have travelled, apprehended as yet. Currently, the CCTV footage in the area is being examined and the sketches of the suspects are being circulated in the area," he said.

The minister said that the government machinery is working overtime to ensure there is no repeat of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

"Never before in the past have the agencies been so swift in carrying out identification and combing operations. All tools that we have at our disposal to ensure there is no repeat of 2008 attacks. Even if the terrorists have entered, they will not be allowed to harm a single person," he said.

Kesarkar said he and the chief minister were taking regular updates from the DGP on the matter.

Massive combing operation in Uran and Karanja areas is being carried out with the help of Coast Guard and CISF. The elite commandos from National Security Guard and state police's specialised 'Force One' have also been roped in.

Some children from Uran Education Society's school had spotted the suspects, and their teacher informed the police. Subsequently, the WNC issued a "highest state of alert" along the coasts, where several sensitive establishments and assets are located.

The alert came four days after the Uri attack, which left 18 soldiers dead.

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 in the city 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.
A court in Ambala on Friday granted anticipatory bail to music composer Vishal Dadlani in connection with a case registered against him by Haryana Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with his sarcastic tweet on Jain monk Tarun Sagar.

District and Sessions Judge Deepak Gupta granted the bail setting certain conditions.

Dadlani had filed for anticipatory bail on September 17.

"It is directed that in the event of arrest of the petitioner-accused, he be released on bail on furnishing bail bond in the sum of Rs 50,000 with a surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the arresting officer, as and when he is sought to be arrested," the court observed.

"This bail is subject to condition that he shall join the investigation as and when required by investigating officer and that he shall not leave India without permission of the court and will not make any attempt to influence the investigation," it further ruled.

The public prosecutor submitted that since the petitioner had not cooperated with the investigation agency by not getting the recovery of the device effected from which he sent the tweet, so his anticipatory bail petition be dismissed.

Counsel for Dadlani, however, pleaded that at no stage he has ever denied posting of the alleged objectionable tweets and therefore, non recovery of the device is immaterial.

On September 21, Dadlani had met Sagar in Chandigarh and apologised to him in person for his tweet on the spiritual figure that had kicked up a storm.

Ambala Cantt Police had registered a case recently against Dadlani and one more person under relevant sections including 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 295A (maliciously insulting the religion or religious beliefs of any class) and 509 IPC (uttering any word or making any gesture to insult the modesty of a woman etc).

The case was registered on the complaint filed by Punit Arora, a resident of Ambala Cantonment and he is stated to be a follower of Jain monk.

Dadlani came under sharp criticism from several quarters including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his tweet. After a barrage of criticism, he had tendered an apology for his tweet and also deleted it.

The Jain monk had delivered a lecture 'Kadve Pravachan' at Haryana assembly last month on the invitation of the state government.
Yahoo on Thursday said that 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."

"Based on the ongoing investigation, Yahoo believes that information associated with at least 500 million user accounts was stolen," a statement from the US Internet giant.

"Yahoo is working closely with law enforcement on this matter."

The comments were the first confirmation from Yahoo on the huge data breach, and come after a report earlier this year quoting a security researcher saying some 200 million accounts may have been accessed.

In July, Yahoo was sold to United States telecoms giant Verizon for $4.8 billion (Rs 32200 crore).

The FBI has confirmed it is investigating the attack.

Stolen information may have included names, email address, birth dates, and scrambled passwords, along with encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers that could help hackers break into victims' other online accounts, according to Yahoo.

The ongoing investigation suggested that looted data did not include unprotected passwords or information associated with payments or bank accounts, the Silicon Valley company said.

Yahoo is asking affected users to change passwords, and recommending anyone who hasn't done so since 2014 take the same action as a precaution.

Users of Yahoo online services were urged to review accounts for suspicious activity and change passwords and security question information used to log in anywhere else if it matched that at Yahoo.

"Online intrusions and thefts by state-sponsored actors have become increasingly common across the technology industry," Yahoo said in a release.

"Yahoo and other companies have launched programs to detect and notify users when a company strongly suspects that a state-sponsored actor has targeted an account."
IMAGE: The Mettur dam on the Cauvery river. Photograph: Kind courtesy Vvenka1/Wikipedia Commons

Rediff.com's A Ganesh Nadar travels to the Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu and finds farmers there resigned to their fate.

Even as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka battle it out in the country's highest court for their share of the waters of the Cauvery river, the farmers in the river's delta in Tamil Nadu have little hope of the water reaching them in time to save their crops.

The farmers in the Cauvery delta have no faith in Karnataka keeping its promises.

Thanjavur is Tamil Nadu's rice bowl and the farmers there are at the mercy of Karnataka each time the monsoon fails. Only 10 per cent of the land this year was cultivated for the Kuruvai (short-term) crop.

Aruloli Varman, a farmer in Ammanpettai village, has 20 acres of wet land. "There are 20 more days to harvest. I am praying my wells don't run dry or become salty. If the promised Cauvery water comes, then I have no problems. If not, we are at God's mercy."

He says he has always been dependent on his wells. "The Cauvery is not dependable as Karnataka will never consider our needs."

If the Cauvery water comes, he says his wells will be recharged. He does not think he can do any farming with the Cauvery water though there are canals to carry the water to his fields.

Though this area is located away from the sea another farmer says the ground water turned salty after the December 26, 2004 tsunami. It took 10 years for things to return to normal.

"Only Karnataka's farmers will understand our pain when we see our crops dying," says Varman, "but they have no say in the matter. Farmers in Karnataka did not agitate. It was the youngsters who were rioting."

IMAGE: Farmers in the Cauvery delta depend on borewells to water their farms, but they don't know when they will run dry. Photograph: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com

The Tamil Nadu government has asked the farmers not to plant their regular seeds which take 120 days to harvest, but they should use special seeds that the government is selling. These seeds are ready for harvesting in 100 days. 20 days makes a big difference in the Cauvery delta.

At the moment ground water is available at 70 feet in Ammanpettai. The village has 4,500 acres of wetland. There are 15 lakes in this village which are dependant on Cauvery water. At the moment all of them are dry. No water in the lakes means the ground water is not replenished.

Since there is no water here, farm labourers have gone to work in the construction industry. Only the older farm labourers remain, the younger generation has migrated to cities across the country to work in factories which are more dependable than the Cauvery and the rains.

To augment his income, Varman also sells seeds and pesticides. He grows rice and also sugarcane sometimes.

When farming happens here, work is available for all. Women are paid Rs 120 for five hours' work and men are paid Rs 300.

Saranathan has nine acres of land. He has borewells and water is available at 130 feet on his land. The electicity is not dependable during the day, he says, adding that he gets six hours of supply at night, so he stays awake to make sure his paddy gets water.

"The Cauvery water will only replenish the ground water," he says, "It will not be enough for another crop."

The farmers agree that river water yield is better than ground water as the river water carries silt and minerals with it. "When we use ground water we have to use more costly fertiliser per acre," he adds.

In the Cauvery delta one acre of land is expected to yield between 18 to 27 quintals of paddy. "In the Kuruvai (short-term) crop you can expect an average yield of 20 quintals per acre. For the Samba (crops grown between August and January) crop the yield will drop to 15 quintals per acre," Saranathan adds.

IMAGE: The Grand Annaicut in Trichy, one of the oldest dams in the world, is almost dry. Photograph: A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com

Panjabakeshan, another farmer, has five acres of land. He is cultivating his land with the help of two borewells, where water is at a depth of 70 feet.

"They released some water for Aadi Perukku (a religious festival). That helped replenish the water table otherwise my wells would have gone dry. If there is no water in the Cauvery for two consecutive years, all the wells will dry up," he says.

"We have been having this water problem since 1982," he adds. "Only when there is surplus water, the Karnataka government lets water flow into Tamil Nadu. When there is a shortage, the problem starts."

Jagan Arokiyasamy is a computer engineer who was employed at a software company. When his father died, he returned to the village to look after his family's farm.

He has six acres of land on which he has planted the Kuruvai crop. There are two borewells on his land and the water table is at 40 feet. "When the Cauvery river is flowing, the water level is good. Now it is very low. If river water does not come, we cannot have another crop. The water in the well is not enough for the Samba crop."

"Water in the well is good only when the river is flowing," he adds. "It turns salty in the absence of river water."

Sannanallur village is located in Thiruvarur district, which is also in the Cauvery delta. M Samynathan has 15 acres of land. He has prepared the land to plant the Samba crop.

"I will start planting when it rains. I have no hope of the Cauvery water coming. Last year the Cauvery water was available only for the Samba crop. This year we have already lost the Kuruvai season. There is no water so far. I am hoping the river water is enough for half my needs," he says.

"The other half I can supplement with well water. Now the water is salty. We sit idle when there is no water. Some farmers grow cotton which does not require as much water as paddy," he adds.

Raja Marimuthu, a farm labourer, earns Rs 400 a day when he works in the fields. "There is no industry in the Cauvery delta. When there is no water I work in the construction industry. I also go for NREGA work, but there the pay is very low (Rs 120 per day). I also cut trees and fence farmland," he said.

T Pandian owns 20 acres of farmland and a shop that sells fertilisers and pesticides. "I have two borewells," he says, "but both have turned salty so I cannot do any farming. This happened five years ago. Before that the water was good. I have planted seeds with salt water. Hopefully, the Cauvery water will come or it will rain as salt water is not good for the crop."

"Transplanting will happen only if it rains or the Cauvery water comes, otherwise the seedlings will die," he says.

"Many of our youth have gone abroad," says Pandian. "The money they send is keeping our villages alive. Otherwise, we would have been reduced to begging by now."
Over 300,000 Burundians have fled to stretched neighbouring countries

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Publication Date 23 September 2016 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Over 300,000 Burundians have fled to stretched neighbouring countries, 23 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e518b84.html [accessed 30 October 2022]

The number of people fleeing violence, threats, extrajudicial killings, abduction, torture and persecution in Burundi has passed the 300,000 mark some 18 months after the political crisis in the central African nation erupted in April last year.

These people have fled Burundi - principally from Muyinga, Makamba, Cankuzo, Kirundo and Ruyigi provinces - in search of asylum or international protection. Although departure numbers have generally not been as high as in 2015, there has been a constant flow this year, including more than 20,000 in July and August.

We expect the number of arrivals will continue to rise in the remaining months of this year, but fear that neighbouring Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and aid agencies such as UNHCR will struggle to continue providing adequate shelter, protection and life-saving services.

The reception capacities of these host countries are severely overstretched and conditions remain dire for many refugees, most of whom are women and children.

These worrying trends will persist as long as a solution to the political crisis remains elusive, with far-reaching humanitarian consequences in Burundi and the region. To ensure that the refugees receive the assistance and protection they need, UNHCR calls on the international community to maintain efforts for peace and step up support for the countries of asylum, particularly in areas such as shelter, basic services, education, health and livelihoods.

Tanzania

Tanzania currently hosts 163,084 Burundian refugees, the largest number in the region. In mid-September it was receiving new arrivals at a rate of 324 per day. More than 78% of the new arrivals are women and children.

As the influx continues, UNHCR is in talks with the government to urgently identify a fourth camp site in the west of the country to alleviate the crowding in Nyarugusu (which also houses Congolese refugees), Nduta and Mtendeli camps and to accommodate the new arrivals.

Resources are desperately needed to provide protection and basic assistance and respond to the urgent needs of refugees including, among others, in education, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, child protection and youth programming, psycho-social counselling, and livelihood activities.

Rwanda

Rwanda is home to more than 81,000 Burundian refugees, over 50,000 of whom live in Mahama camp in the east, with some 30,000 in Kigali and other urban areas.

Around 70% of the refugees are living in emergency shelters, which are starting to deteriorate. As the number of arrivals continues to rise, UNHCR is urgently working on the construction of more permanent shelters.

Half of the Burundian refugees in Rwanda are children, many of whom arrived unaccompanied or separated from their families. UNHCR and its partners are concentrating on providing family tracing, reunification, and alternative care arrangements for these children.

Uganda

At the end of August, Uganda was hosting 41,938 refugees from Burundi, 13,298 of whom have arrived this year. A steady influx of between 1,000 and 3,000 have been arriving each month and most are being hosted in Nakivale settlement, with smaller numbers in Kampala, Kyaka and Oruchinga.

We work with the government and partners to provide emergency assistance, including food, water, shelter, but our humanitarian response - as in the other countries - is becoming increasingly stretched in the face of growing needs in areas such as health, education and water distribution.

More health clinics are needed so that people do not have to walk long distances to access care or rely on mobile clinics; pipelines need to be laid to distribute water in refugee settlements and cut costs of trucking in potable water; schools and classrooms are urgently needed as well as school materials.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a significant increase in the number of new arrivals from Burundi: 3,925 refugees were registered between July and mid-September, mostly women and children. This compares to 1,773 from April-June. In August, a monthly high of more than 1,650 Burundians refugees were transferred from the border to Lusenda camp, which now hosts more than 21,000 people - well over its capacity for 18,000.

With the start of the rainy season in late September, many of the emergency shelters constructed in the camp since 2015 need urgent rehabilitation. In the meantime, UNHCR is working closely with the Congolese authorities to identify an additional site near Lusenda, in South Kivu province, to accommodate the new arrivals.

Zambia

More than 1,700 Burundian refugees and asylum seekers have arrived in Zambia since April last year, including 715 between January and August this year. Most of the asylum-seekers are in Lusaka awaiting word on their asylum applications. Once granted refugee status, the Burundian refugees will be relocated to either of two refugee settlements, where they are allotted plots of land by the government and receive assistance from UNHCR and partners.
Russia: Government vs. Rights Groups

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Russia: Government vs. Rights Groups, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e520d24.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.

For the past four years, the Kremlin has sought to stigmatize criticism or alternative views of government policy as disloyal, foreign-sponsored, or even traitorous. It is part of a sweeping crackdown to silence critical voices that has included new legal restrictions on the internet, on freedom of expression, on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and on other fundamental freedoms.

Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow)  June 5, 2014 Regional Public Association in Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms "Golos" (Moscow)  June 5, 2014 Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies (Saratov)  June 5, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) Women of Don (Rostov region)  June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  February 29, 2016) Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma)  June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  June 19, 2015) Interregional Human Rights Association "Agora" (Kazan)  July 21, 2014 Regional public organization "Ecozaschita!  Womens' Council" (Kaliningrad)  July 21, 2014 Public Verdict Foundation (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms / JURIX (Moscow)  July 21, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 26, 2015) Soldiers' Mothers (Saint Petersburg)  August 28, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 23, 2015) Freedom of Information Foundation / Institute for Information Freedom Development  August 28, 2014 PIR Center  September 3, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  February 24, 2016) Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov)  October 2, 2014 (the organization was shut down  November 6, 2015) "News Agency MEMO.RU" (Moscow)  November 20, 2014 Regional Press Institute (St. Petersburg)  November 20, 2014 Moscow School of Civic Education  December 9, 2014 Rakurs, Arkhangelsk regional non-governmental LGBT organization  December 15, 2014 All-Russian movement "For Human Rights"  December 22, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  December 30, 2015) Human Rights Center (Kaliningrad)  December 25, 2014 Krasnodar Regional Social Organization of University Alumni  December 25, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  April 22, 2016) Regional social organization "Public Commission for Academic Sakharov's Heritage Preservation"  December 25, 2014 Resource Human Rights Center (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down  November 3, 2015) Regional Public Organization "Man and the Law" (Republic of Mari El)  December 30, 2014 Center for Social Development "Vozrozhdeniye" (Pskov)  December 30, 2014 Public Human Rights Organization "Civil Control" (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 The League of Women Voters (St. Petersburg)  December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) Free Press Support Foundation  December 30, 2014 Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "The Committee Against Torture"  January 16, 2015 (the organization was shut down  September 13, 2016) Educational Center "Memorial" (Sverdlov region)  January 16, 2015 Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training"  January 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  July 22, 2015) "Information Bureau of the Nordic Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg"  January 20, 2015 Jewish regional branch of the Russian public organization "Municipal Academy" January 26, 2015 (the organization was shut down  May 22, 2015) The noncommercial partnership "Press Development Institute - Siberia"  January 30, 2015 Center for social, psychological and legal help to victims of discrimination and homophobia "Maximum" (Murmansk)  February 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down  October 28, 2015) Interregional public fund for civil society development "Golos-Povolzhye" (Samara)  February 6, 2015 Interregional charity organization "Siberian Environmental Center" (Novosibirsk)  February 12, 2015 Center for Civic Analysis and Independent Research / GRANI (Perm)  February 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  June 19, 2015) Municipal public organization "Samara Center for Gender Studies" (Samara)  February 16, 2015 Regional Fund "Center for Defense of Mass Media Rights" (Voronezh)  February 26, 2015 Regional Charitable Social Foundation "For nature" (Chelyabinsk)  March 6, 2015 Regional Ecological Social Movement "For nature" (Chelyabinsk)  March 6, 2015 Humanist Youth Movement (Murmansk)  March 13, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 25, 2015) Regional Social Organization for Contribution to Harmonization of Interethnic Relations "Azerbaijan"  March 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  July 22, 2016) Regional Social Environmental Organization "Bellona-Murmansk"  March 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down  October 16, 2015) "Educational Center for Environment and Security" (Samara)  March 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  October 8, 2015) Foundation "Migration XXI Century"  March 27, 2015 Eco-logika (Rostov)  April 3, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  March 30, 2016) Transparency International Russia - April 7, 2015 Social Environmental Organization "Planeta Nadezhd"  April 15, 2015 Foundation for Consumers' Rights Defense (Novosibirsk)  April 17, 2015 (the organization was shut down  May 12, 2016) Civil Assistance Committee  April 20, 2015 Foundation 19/29 - Foundation for Support of Investigative Journalism  April 24, 2015 Commemorative Centre of History of Political Repressions "Perm - 36"  April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 18, 2016) Women's League (Kaliningrad )  April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 16, 2015) Legal Expert Partnership "Soyuz "  May 7, 2015 (the organization was shut down  25 August 2015) Center for Development of Non-Commerical Organizations  May 13, 2015 Club of Accountants and Auditors of Non-Commercial Organizations  May 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  March 30, 2016) Informational Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Northern Countries (Kaliningrad)  May 13, 2015 Sutyajnik (Yekaterinburg)  May 15, 2015 Human Rights Academy (Yekaterinburg)  May 15, 2015 Ecological Center "Dront" (Nizhny Novgorod)  May 22, 2015 The non-profit organization "Liberal Mission" Scientific Foundation of Theoretical and Applied Research  May 25, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended  September 11, 2015) The non-profit Dynasty Foundation  May 25, 2015 Union of Employers (Tula region)  May 28, 2015 Youth organization "Nuori Karjala/Young Karelia"  June 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down  March 25, 2016) Siberian Center for Support of Social Initiatives  June 19, 2015 Interregional Social Foundation for Peace in the South and in the Northern Caucasus  June 19, 2015 Informational Center "Free Inform"  June 22, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 21, 2016) Center for Independent Sociological Studies (St. Petersburg)  June 22, 2015 Regional Organization for Population and Development  June 23, 2015 Geblerov Ecological Societ (Barnaul)  June 23, 2015 Association "Legal Basis" (Yekaterinburg)  July 3, 2015 Interregional Non-governmental Organization "Northern Environmental Coalition" (Petrozavodsk)  July 8, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 1, 2015) Komi Human Rights Commission "Memorial" (Syktyvkar)  July 21, 2015 Altai Regional Public Fund for 21st Century Altai (Barnaul)  July 22, 2015 (the organization was shut down  March 28, 2016) Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development "GOLOS-Ural" (Chelyabinsk region)  July 22, 2015 SREDA Foundation  July 28, 2015 Non-governmental environmental organization "Green World" (Nizhny Novgorod)  July 29, 2015 Civic Action Foundation (Perm)  August 5, 2015 Alliance of Funds of Local Communities of the Perm territory  August 11, 2015 Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Center  regional branch of the "For Human Rights" All-Russian movement (Nalchik)  August 18, 2015 (the organization was shut down  November 6, 2015) The Human Rights Center of the Chechen Republic (Grozny)  August 21, 2015 Interregional Social Ecological Foundation "ISAR-Siberia" (Novosibirsk)  August 26, 2015 Perm Regional Human Rights Center (Perm)  September 3, 2015 Siberia's lifeline (Novosibirsk)  September 3, 2015 Golos Foundation in Support of Democracy  September 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 21, 2016) Jewish Cultural Center "Hesed-Teshuva" (Ryazan)  September 4, 2015 Sakhalin Environment Watch (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk)  September 18, 2015 Yasavey Manzara Information and Research Center (Naryan-Mar)  September 23, 2015 (the organization was shut down  June 15, 2016) Consumer Rights and Environment Protection Association "Princip" (Moscow region)  October 5, 2015 Far East Center for the Development of Civil Initiatives and Social Partnership (Vladivostok) October 13, 2015 Russian Research Center for Human Rights  October 20, 2015 Women of the Don (Rostov region)  October 27, 2015 Friends of the Siberian Forests (Krasnoyarsk)  October 28, 2015 Photography Club "Sobytiye" (Omsk)  October 28, 2015 (the organization was shut down  December 16, 2015) Research and Information Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg)  November 6, 2015 Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk)  November 10, 2015 (the organization was shut down  August 1, 2016) Glasnost Defense Foundation  November 19, 2015 Human Rights Institute  November 20, 2015 Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North  November 27, 2015 Green World (Leningrad region)  December 2, 2015 Mashr (Republic of Ingushetia)  December 8, 2015 Woman's World (Kaliningrad)  December 11, 2015 Panorama Information and Research Center (Moscow)  December 18, 2015 Dauria Ecological Center (Chita)  December 30, 2015 (the organization was shut down  September 1, 2016) Yekaterinburg Memorial Society (Yekaterinburg)  December 30, 2015 Bureau of Public Investigations (Nizhny Novgorod)  January 14, 2016 Committee for the Prevention of Torture (Orenburg)  January 14, 2016 Institute of Forecasting and Resolving of Political Conflicts (Nizhny Novgorod)  January 22, 2016 Ryazan Historical, Educational and Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Ryazan)  February 1, 2016 Society of Assistance to Social Protection of Citizens "Peterburgskaya EGIDA" (Saint Petersburg)  February 2, 2016 (the organization was shut down  April 26, 2016) Center for Health and Social Support "SIBALT" (Omsk)  February 15, 2016 Chelyabinsk Regional Organ of Public Independent Action "Ural Human Rights Group" (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Women of Eurasia (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Ural Democratic Foundation (Chelyabinsk)  February 15, 2016 Legal and Social Support Charitable Foundation "Sphere" (Saint Petersburg)  March 1, 2016 Centre for Civic Education and Human Rights (Perm)  March 3, 2016 The International Development Fund for Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East of the Russian Federation "Batani" (Moscow)  March 11, 2016 Center for Social and Labor Rights (Moscow)  March 21, 2016 Arkhar (Gorno-Altaysk)  April 5, 2016 Publishing House "Valentin Manuylov"  April 15, 2016 Tengri School of Soul ecology (Altay) - May 17, 2016 Hanse Buero / Information Bureau of Schleswig-Holstein in Kaliningrad (Kaliningrad) - May 24, 2016 Krasnoyarsk Regional Public Organization Agency of public initiatives (Krasnoyarsk) - May 27, 2016 Saratov Regional Public Organization "Socium" (Engels) - May 30, 2016 Perm regional non-governmental organization "Perm Civil Chamber" (Perm) - June 9, 2016 Regional non-governmental organization Integration center "Migration and Law" (Moscow) - June 16, 2016 Non-Profit Partnership "ESVERO" (Moscow) - June 22, 2016 Andrey Rylkov Foundation for Health and Social Justice (Moscow) - June 29, 2016 Altai regional sport and patriotic youth public organization "Arctica" (Biysk) - July 6, 2016 Autonomous non-governmental organization "Free Word" (Pskov) - July 13, 2016 The Institute of Economic Analysis (Moscow) - July 22, 2016 Penza regional youth civic organization for prevention of negative phenomena among youth "Panacea" (Kuznetsk) - August 15, 2016 Samara regional, civic organization "American alumni club" (Samara) - August 26, 2016 Autonomous non-for-profit organization "Publishing house 'Park Gagarina'" (Samara) - August 31, 2016 Levada Analytical Center (Moscow) - September 5, 2016 Environmental Watch on North Caucasus (Maikop) - September 13, 2016 Autonomous non-for-profit human rights organization "Draftee's school" (Chelyabinsk) - September 21, 2016 Foundation for support of civil freedoms "Legal mission" (Chelyabinsk) - September 21, 2016

And the four NGOs which registered voluntarily:

Non-commercial Partnership "Supporting Competition in the CIS Countries"  June 27, 2013 "The Union of Young Political Scientists", KarachayCherkess Republican Youth Social Organization  December 15, 2014 Regional Social Movement "Novgorod Women's Parliament" (Veliky Novgorod)  March 6, 2015 Center of Independent Researchers of the Altai Republic  June 10, 2015

Leader of at least 1 NGO faces criminal charges personally:

Women of Don (Rostov region) - criminal proceeding is in process. Chair Valentina Cherevatenko faces up to two years in prison for "malicious evasion of the duty to file the documents required for inclusion in the register of nonprofit organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
China: Credibly Investigate Xinjiang Blast

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, China: Credibly Investigate Xinjiang Blast, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e521194.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.

Chinese authorities should credibly and impartially investigate an explosion in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and ensure due process rights for suspects, Human Rights Watch said today. On September 10, 2016, a local police chief was killed and other officers injured when they raided a home where stored explosives were detonated, according to media reports.

"The Chinese government has the responsibility to ensure public safety in the face of those committing reprehensible crimes with explosives," said Sophie Richardson, China director. "Ensuring public safety includes respecting the basic rights of suspects, so that the genuine perpetrators are fairly prosecuted."

The blast killed the county deputy police chief, Gheyret Mamut, 45, in a village in Kokterek township, Guma () county, Hotan () prefecture, South Xinjiang. The authorities have reportedly detained 17 ethnic Uyghurs, including four women, but there is no information on their alleged crimes or their place of custody. Two top county officials have been demoted.

Xinjiang, home to 10 million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, is a site of pervasive discrimination, repression, and restriction on fundamental human rights including freedom of religion. Opposition to central and local policies has been expressed in peaceful protests, but also through bombings and other acts of violence.

The sparse information about the blast comes from United States-funded Radio Free Asia and the Hong Kong-based newspaper Mingpao; Human Rights Watch has been unable to independently verify this information. Following previous incidents of public violence in Xinjiang, the Chinese government has provided little information and failed to reveal the whereabouts or well-being of those detained, in violation of international human rights law prohibitions against enforced disappearances.

The Chinese authorities should ensure that those suspected of criminal offenses are treated in accordance with international due process standards. No one should be apprehended using unnecessary or excessive force. Suspects taken into custody should be protected from mistreatment, have immediate access to legal counsel of their choice, be promptly brought before a judge, and be appropriately charged or released. Suspects should also have prompt access to an independent physician and be able to communicate with family members. In a May 2015 report, Human Rights Watch documented the routine use of torture and ill-treatment by police against criminal suspects across China.

Chinese law deprives terrorism suspects of basic protections that are otherwise available to ordinary criminal suspects. Under the Criminal Procedure Law, police do not have to notify families of terrorism suspects for up to 37 days, as opposed to within 24 hours of criminal detention for other suspects. Terrorism suspects can only meet with lawyers upon obtaining police approval. They can also be subjected to six months of secret, incommunicado detention under "designated residential surveillance."

The Chinese government enacted a new counterterrorism law on January 1, 2016, which adopts an overly broad and vague definition of terrorism that does not necessarily require actual action or violence to prompt a deprivation of liberty, prosecution, or other restrictions. In August, Xinjiang authorities issued a directive to implement the law, becoming the first region in China to do so.

Over the past three years, law enforcement officers have reportedly been responsible for killing hundreds of people in Xinjiang in counterterrorism operations. This has raised serious concerns about the routine use of excessive or unnecessary lethal force, especially since China systematically prevents independent monitoring or reporting of the region.

"China needs to address the problems of Xinjiang by respecting rights as well as through law enforcement," Richardson said, "For a start, it should allow independent human rights monitors unfettered access into Xinjiang."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
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.
Syria: Attack on humanitarian convoy is an attack on humanity

Publisher International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Publication Date 20 September 2016 Cite as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Syria: Attack on humanitarian convoy is an attack on humanity, 20 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e527154.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 Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are outraged by last night's horrific attack on a SARC warehouse and an aid convoy in Orem Al Kubra (Big Orem) in rural Aleppo.

Around twenty civilians and one SARC staff member were killed, as they were unloading trucks carrying vital humanitarian aid. Much of the aid was destroyed. The attack deprives thousands of civilians of much-needed food and medical assistance.

"We're totally devastated by the deaths of so many people, including one of our colleagues, the director of our sub-branch, Omar Barakat. He was a committed and brave member of our family of staff and volunteers, working relentlessly to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people. It is totally unacceptable that our staff and volunteers continue to pay such a high price because of the ongoing fighting," said the SARC President, Dr Abdulrahman Attar.

"From what we know of yesterday's attack, there has been a flagrant violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which is totally unacceptable. Failing to respect and protect humanitarian workers and structures might have serious repercussions on ongoing humanitarian operations in the country, hence depriving millions of people from aid essential to their survival", said Peter Maurer, the ICRC President.

"Today, the Red Cross and Red Crescent is in mourning. In solidarity with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, we are calling on the international community to ensure the protection of humanitarian aid workers and volunteers. We are not part of this conflict," said Tadateru Konoe, the President of the IFRC.

Syria is one of the most dangerous conflicts for humanitarian workers in the world. During the past six years, 54 staff and volunteers of SARC have lost their lives whilst carrying out their duties.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement repeats its demand that all parties to the conflict adhere to the rules of international humanitarian law, which includes protecting aid workers.
ICRC concerned about deteriorating health of three Palestinian detainees hospitalized in Israel

Publisher International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Publication Date 15 September 2016 Cite as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), ICRC concerned about deteriorating health of three Palestinian detainees hospitalized in Israel, 15 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e527ba4.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 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is concerned about the deteriorating health of three Palestinian detainees, who are hospitalized in Israel.

Mohammad Balbul, Mahmoud Balbul and Malek Qadi have been on hunger strike for more than 60 days.

"At this very critical time, we encourage the patients, their representatives and the competent authorities to find a solution that will avoid any loss of life or irreversible damage to their health", said Dr Hishal, the ICRC's doctor who has regularly visited the detainees on hunger strike.

ICRC delegates and medical staff continue to visit the detainees in order to monitor their health and their treatment by prison and medical authorities, as per international rules and ethical standards, specifically the Malta Declaration on hunger strikers (World Medical Association - 1991). The ICRC has been in close contact with their families, whom it has kept informed of developments, in accordance with their wishes, and transmitted personal news between them.

During their regular visits to detention facilities, ICRC staff seek to ensure that all detainees on hunger strike are fully aware of the implications of their decision, and that they are acting on their own initiative and of their own free will.
Ukraine crisis: ICRC participates in release and transfer of six conflict-related detainees

Publisher International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Publication Date 17 September 2016 Cite as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Ukraine crisis: ICRC participates in release and transfer of six conflict-related detainees, 17 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e527f84.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.

Today six detainees held in connection with the conflict in Ukraine were released with the participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and transferred back to their place of origin.

The handover took place near the town of Schastie, at the line of contact.

"The exchange that took place today allowed six families to reunite after a long time," said Alain Aeschlimann, head of the ICRC's delegation in Ukraine. "The authorities led the process, requesting the ICRC to act as a neutral intermediary. We were ready to act and we remain ready to provide support for similar operations in the future."

This is the fifth time this year that the ICRC has participated in the release and transfer of detainees held in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. Acting in accordance with its mandate, the ICRC participated in the release and transfer at the request of the parties. Delegates were able to speak in private with all concerned detainees before their release.

The ICRC also seeks to regularly visit detainees in the places where they are being held in order to monitor their conditions and treatment. The organization works in a confidential manner with those in charge of detention matters to discuss possible issues of concern related to the conditions of detention or treatment of detainees.
Myanmar: 4000 displaced people receive urgent assistance in Kayin State

Publisher International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Publication Date 21 September 2016 Cite as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Myanmar: 4000 displaced people receive urgent assistance in Kayin State, 21 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e528874.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.

In response to displacements following recent armed clashes in Kayin State, around 4000 people who took refuge in Myaing Gyi Ngu have received urgent assistance from the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), supplementing the timely and generous support already provided by the monastries, authorities and civil society.

Armed clashes intensified in that region the first weeks of September which prompted the displacement of around 4,000 people from 22 villages to the town of Myaing Gyui Ngu, situated 2 hours north of Hpa An town. Displaced people took refuge in two monasteries. "These camps are well organized. People receive donations, food and water from host communities, local organizations and the authorities. To complement the initial response, we have decided to support them as well", said Khun Kyaw Win, G1 of the MRCS in Kayin.

The MRCS after an assessment last Saturday together with the ICRC has just distributed this weekend over 300 dignity kits (clothes and hygiene products for women), water purifiers, LED lamps, mosquito repellent coils and oral rehydration salt. "Hygiene is the main issue. More latrines are needed and people should be protected from mosquitos", said See Lwin, field officer in charge of ICRC office in Hpa An. "In addition to this, displaced people are very much concerned by their fields and cattle left behind".

The ICRC and the MRCS are distributing 1000 mosquito nets (one per family), additional supplies such as over 800 dignity kits , 50 garbage bins to support waste management in the camps, 200 sleeping mats. A dozen Red Cross volunteers are on the spot to participate to the relief operations and are involved with the Township Health Department for health care, hygiene promotion and camp management with local authorities, for instance maintaining a clean environment and cooking.

The Myanmar Red Cross has a branch in Hpa-An and the ICRC, whose mission consists of helping those affected by armed conflict, has been present in Kayin State since 2000, where it mainly supports a MRCS physical rehabilitation centre.
Papua New Guinea: Living in the dark, still waiting for the missing

Publisher International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Papua New Guinea: Living in the dark, still waiting for the missing, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e529634.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.

Arriving in Arawa Town shortly after ten on the morning of August 30th, Isabell Neriema sat sweating beneath the big rain tree in Independence Oval. She stared at the line of stores beside what Bougainvilleans call the Second White House - once the seat of the provincial government, now an empty shell of a building. Her eyes bore the vacant intensity of someone whose mind had drifted far away.

Isabell sat quietly among her relatives, nearly all of whom were dressed in black, the colour of mourning. She had turned her mind to the day when it all started: to the morning when her brother and cousin left home, never to return. Tears ran down her face. "I will not stop crying until I find these people, I tell you," she said. "I will continue to cry. My own brother is missing in action."

Isabell lost her brother and cousin during the height of the Bougainville Crisis. She is still waiting for news. What happened to them? Are they dead or alive? And if they were killed, where do their bodies lie? Nearly two decades after the end of the Bougainville civil war, commonly known as the "Crisis", almost every family on the island has a story to tell. But recalling the events that unfolded can be painful, traumatic and fraught with anger.

On the 30th of August each year, the International Day of the Disappeared (IDoD) provides an opportunity for families and friends of people who went missing during armed conflicts and disasters to come together and remember their loved ones. It is also a day to raise awareness about forced disappearances and promote international humanitarian law. The day is commemorated worldwide, in places as disparate as Colombia, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. In 2014, the International Committee of the Red Cross helped introduce IDoD to Bougainville by supporting families in Arawa in their efforts to mark the day.

This year, the event was commemorated in Arawa, Buka and Buin, giving families from Central, North and South Bougainville the chance to publicly remember their missing loved ones. Isabell was among those who commemorated the event in Arawa. She knows that news of her relatives' disappearances may not be revealed anytime soon - a harsh reality that many families have to put up with. But faith continues to drive her. She hopes that one day she may be able to recover the bones of her brother and cousin to give them a formal burial in their own land so that their spirits can rest in peace.

"We will never retrieve the bones of all of them. But please - the ex-combatants must come and we will work together to at least mark the sites where they are, even if they're in the seas, the mountains or along the rivers," she said. "These people's remains are very holy and we have to treat them as holy," she added. "We are superstitious people, we believe in the spirits of our ancestors and spirits of the departed and if we leave them as they are, they will continue to disturb the minds of those that killed them."

The Bougainville Crisis started in September 1988 and continued until a ceasefire was announced in 1997. No official figures were released as to how many people were killed or went missing. But government records estimate between 15,000 and 25,000 people, including PNG soldiers, died.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of those people simply disappeared. After the Crisis, some of their families were able to move on with life - but others are still struggling to cope. Central Bougainville Paramount Chief and youth patron, Thomas Koronaru, said that often the grief of the loss is accompanied by other difficulties, from financial insecurity to political problems. "Families cannot easily rebuild their lives," he said. "Some children are not in school because they have lost either their father or mother or both parents."

Marcelline Kokiai, the Central Bougainville Women's Advocate in the House of Representatives, said solving this issue will not take place overnight. Ms Kokiai pointed out that a perpetrator might be afraid that coming forward would jeopardise his security. "He could come openly to the victims, but will they forgive him?" she asked.

In September 2014, the Autonomous Bougainville Government adopted an official policy on missing persons, stating its intent to work towards solving the issue on behalf of their families. Similarly, the PNG National Government is considering a national version of the policy that will give all its institutions, including the PNGDF, a mandate to work together with the ABG to address the question. Accountability and criminal responsibility will not form part of the process, which is to be treated as a humanitarian issue only. But it is hoped that this policy will provide answers to at least some of the families. Then, perhaps, people like Isabell will finally be able to mark the passing of their loved ones - and begin to put the Crisis behind them.
Turkey: Drop charges against the Altan brothers for expressing dissenting views

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as Article 19, Turkey: Drop charges against the Altan brothers for expressing dissenting views, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e52b754.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.

Update: On the evening of 22 September a new arrest warrant was issued for Ahmet Altan, this time related to headlines from Taraf daily newspaper when he was editor several years ago, and he surrendered himself to the police.

On 21 September, academic and writer Mehmet Altan, and his brother, writer and ex-editor of Taraf newspaper, Ahmet Altan were charged with membership of, assisting and propaganda for a terrorist organisation and attempting to overthrow the government.

ARTICLE 19 believes the Altan brothers have been charged solely for holding and expressing dissenting views and call for charges to be dropped and Mehmet Altan to be immediately and unconditionally released.

At the court in Istanbul, Mehmet and Ahmet Altan were formally charged, on 21 September. The charges of membership of, assisting and propaganda for a terrorist organisation and attempting to overthrow the government, relate to a television interview they gave the night before the coup attempt, in which they criticised President Erdogan.

Upon his release, Ahmet Altan gave a television interview in which he claimed that the court questioned him on his thoughts, beliefs and opinions rather than actions related to a crime. Turkish anti-terror legislation allows individuals to be charged as a member of a terrorist organisation simply for expressing ideas or opinions, without any proof of involvement in an act of violence.

The brothers had been detained in a police holding cell for 11 days before appearing in court in Istanbul on 21 September and receiving formal charges. Under the current state of emergency in Turkey individuals can be detained without charge for up to 30 days. On 22 September, Mehmet Altan was sent to prison in pre-trial detention, while his brother, Ahmet was released from detention on probation.

ARTICLE 19 believes that the government is using the state of emergency to silence critical voices. Since the declaration of the state of emergency, over 100 media outlets have been closed and nearly 100 journalists have been imprisoned. Many more journalists and writers have been detained without charge.

ARTICLE 19 calls upon Turkey to:

drop the charges against Ahmet and Mehmet Altan;

immediately and unconditionally release Mehmet Altan;

release all journalists and writers imprisoned on the sole basis of having expressed ideas or opinions, in the absence of individualised evidence of involvement in a crime;

refrain from extending the current state of emergency after its expiration on 21 October 2016, unless able to demonstrate that the domestic situation still constitutes a public emergency that threatens the life of the nation and that emergency measures are strictly required to confront that situation; and

reform the anti-terror legislation to ensure that it is in line with Turkey's obligations under international human rights law.

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
Egypt: Court orders freezing of assets of prominent human rights defenders

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 19 September 2016 Cite as Article 19, Egypt: Court orders freezing of assets of prominent human rights defenders, 19 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e52bea4.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.

On 17 September an Egyptian court upheld an order of an investigating magistrate from February, which ordered the freezing of assets of several prominent human rights defenders and organisations. This court order is part of an ongoing campaign of repression, aimed at silencing human rights defenders in Egypt.

ARTICLE 19 condemns the court order in the strongest possible terms and calls for Egypt to cease harassing human rights defenders and organisations.

The court order imposes an asset freeze on the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and its founder and director, Bahey eldin Hassan; the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and its director Mustafa al-Hassan, as well as the Egyptian Center for the Right to Education and its founder, Abdel-Hafiz Tayel. The judge also froze the assets of Hossam Bahgat, the former director and founder of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and

Gamal Eid, and the director and founder of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI); without specifying whether the assets freeze would affect EIPR and ANHRI.

"Egypt is using fear and repressive tactics to force the closure of human rights organisations, through opening investigations, issuing travel bans and ordering asset freezes against human rights defenders," said Saloua Ghazouani, Director of ARTICLE 19 Tunisia Office. "The international community must not turn a blind eye to these abuses," she added.

The ruling was issued by investigative judges, also overseeing case no. 173 of 2011 or the "foreign-funding" case. Over the last five years, the foreign-funding case, which was opened just five months after overthrow of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, has been used to stifle civil society organisations.

The case directly impacts the ability of the human rights organisations implicated in the case to carry out their work in Egypt, and creates an environment of repression for civil society more broadly. In 2011 authorities raided 17 NGOs, accusing them of a conspiracy against Egypt. In 2013, foreign NGOs were forced out of the country when a court ordered the closure of several foreign human rights organisations and sentenced their staff. Civil society organisations came under increased pressure after the Ministry of Social Solidarity announced that all Egyptian and foreign NGOs working in Egypt must register with the Ministry of Social Solidarity before 2 September 2014. The foreign-funding case lay dormant for a number of years, but was re-opened in early 2016. The ruling on Saturday is an indicator that criminal sentences in the foreign-funding case may be issued soon.

According to EIPR, at least twelve Egyptian human rights organisations have been subject to repressive measures in the foreign funding case in the last six months. Most of the charges in the case relate to the following problematic articles in the Egyptian Penal Code and the Law of Associations.

Article 78 of the Penal Code criminalises the receipt of foreign funding for the purpose of "pursuing acts harmful to national interests or destabilizing general peace or the country's independence and its unity, or committing hostile acts against Egypt or harming security and public order." It carries a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Article 98 (c) of the Penal Code criminalises establishing or managing an association or organisation of an international character, or a branch of an international organisation, without a license. It carries a maximum sentence of 6 months' imprisonment

Article 98(d) of the Penal Code criminalises the receipt of money or benefits from inside the country or abroad, when the purpose is to commit a crime (listed in 98(1), 98(1)(bis), 98(b), 98(c), or 174 of the Penal code

Article 76 (2) of the Law of Associations punishes failure to register the association with up to 6 months' imprisonment.

ARTICLE 19 and thirteen other international human rights organisations previously called for the investigation to be dropped and raised our concerns at the UN Human Rights Council, along with five other human rights organisations, at the repression of Egyptian civil society.

ARTICLE 19 calls for Egypt to overturn the asset freeze and drop all charges against human rights defenders, and particularly those subject to investigations in the "foreign-funding" case, to be dropped. Egypt should cease the harassment of civil society, and commence a reform process to bring its laws and practice in to line with its international human rights obligations.

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
Kenya: Public Benefit Organizations Act operationalised

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 16 September 2016 Cite as Article 19, Kenya: Public Benefit Organizations Act operationalised, 16 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e52c2e4.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.

ARTICLE 19 welcomes the operationalisation of the Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act 2013 by the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, Mr. Mwangi Kiunjuri on 9 September, 2016. This commencement comes after protracted engagements between CSOs and the state, particularly the Devolution Ministry, about setting a date when the Act should come into force.

"We commend the Devolution Cabinet Secretary on the final operationalization of the PBO Act 2013 after a three year delay by prior Devolution Ministry officials. The law establishes a transparent regulatory and institutional framework within which Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can operate," said Henry Maina, Regional Director of ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.

The law encourages public benefit organizations to maintain high standards of governance and management through effective self-regulation. Constitutionally, the Act is in line with the Spirit of Article 36 of the Constitution which guarantees the freedom of association, which includes the right to form, join, or participate in the activities of an association of any kind.

"It was improper for the former Cabinet Secretary for Devolution to stand in the way of the commencement of a law that was passed by parliament and assented to by the president in 2013," added Maina.

Civil society groups, including NGOs, remain a critical voice in defending the rights of all Kenyans and the operationalization of this law heralds an improved working relationship between the government and PBOs.

ARTICLE 19 hopes that the framework for collaboration between government and PBOs as outlined in Section 67 of the Act will be enforced to actualize principled partnership between PBOs and the government at all levels.

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
UN HRC: Mexico must end impunity for enforced disappearances

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 15 September 2016 Cite as Article 19, UN HRC: Mexico must end impunity for enforced disappearances, 15 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e52c944.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.

ARTICLE 19 is calling upon the Mexican government to end impunity for enforced disappearances in the country, a topic currently on the agenda of the UN Human Rights Council during its 33rd Session.

It has been five years since the UNs Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances observed that in Mexico a chronic pattern of impunity still exists in cases of enforced disappearance, including in cases of disappeared journalists.

Today, impunity remains the norm.

More than 26,000 people are known to have disappeared in Mexico since 2006, and the government claim they are taking the necessary steps to tackle this humanitarian crisis, and determine the fate of so many. However, ARTICLE 19 alleges that a severe lack of political will, and of capacity, is standing in the way of bringing the individuals responsible for these crimes to justice, and denying the victims their right to truth and reparations.

The changes the Mexican government has initiated to institutional structures, and the adoption of new protocols on search and investigation, as well as a database on disappeared persons, are by themselves not enough. Mexico must now commit to addressing the chronic implementation gap and take meaningful action to end impunity for enforced disappearance, including of journalists.

Enforced Disappearance of Journalists

ARTICLE 19 Mexico has documented the disappearances of 23 journalists since 2003, with no single person brought to justice for any one of those crimes.

At its 33rd Session, the UN Human Rights Council will consider a resolution on the safety of journalists, elaborating on what States must do further to implement the commitments they made on this issue at the HRC two years ago. The full and comprehensive implementation of these standards in practice is desperately needed in Mexico.

Journalists in Mexico face serious risks as a result of their work criticising powerful groups, and exposing wrongdoing and corruption. Physical attacks, harassment on and off-line, theft, assassination, and disappearances are worryingly common - and are used to intimidate journalists into silence.

In 96% of the disappearances monitored by ARTICLE 19 Mexico, the journalists had been investigating corruption, public security, and the collusion of public officials. Just under a quarter had been threatened prior to their disappearance.

Too often, however, the authorities in Mexico ignore or dismiss the connection between a journalists disappearance and their exercise of their right to free expression, and even publicly discredit the victims journalistic activities. Investigations for enforced disappearances often appear to be little more than a formality, and continue to be plagued by inertia and incompetence.

As a result, the possible perpetrators, with a clear motive for abducting and holding the journalist, are often not investigated in the critical hours and days after a report has been made. Not only does this hamper initial searches for the victim, and make it less likely that they will be found, but it can also render investigations and evidence-gathering ineffective.

Family and colleagues of the disappeared are themselves often harassed when they try to pursue justice.

Investigating Crimes Linked to Freedom of Expression

The Federal Special Prosecutors Office for Crimes against Freedom of Expression (FEADLE by its Spanish acronym) must systematically and impartially make use of its powers to take-over investigations from state-level prosecutors, according to the clear criteria set out in Article 73, Section XXI of the Constitution.

Less than 1% of the preliminary investigations FEADLE has opened have led to convictions. For this to be addressed, FEADLE must adopt effective investigative protocols, and enhance coordination with the National Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, the National Human Rights Commission, National Security Commission, and State and Municipal authorities.

Though it is important that the UN Human Rights Council renews its focus on the safety of journalists, international standards on paper do not by themselves provide journalists much more security. The adoption of a strong resolution must be matched by ever stronger political will within states at the national and local levels to act on impunity and ensure the safety and accountability promised.

ARTICLE 19 calls on the Mexican authorities to end impunity for enforced disappearances, in particular of persons disappeared for exercising their right to freedom of expression, and ensure protection for individuals at risk of attack or violence, including disappearance.

Moises Sanchez Cerezo

The case of Moises Sanchez Cerezo is emblematic of the persistent challenges to combatting impunity in the case of enforced disappearance of journalists in Mexico.

Moises Sanchez Cerezo, journalist and owner of newspaper La Union, was disappeared 2 January 2015 by an armed group and found murdered 22 days later in Medellin de Bravo, Veracruz. Prior to his disappearance, he had published allegations of abuses by the now ex-Mayor of Medellin de Bravo, Omar Cruz Reyes, as well as the Governor of the State of Veracruz, Javier Duarte de Ochoa.

Whilst investigations were still ongoing, Duarte de Ochoa described Moises Sanchez Cerezo as a taxi-driver and neighbourhood activist, minimising and discrediting his journalistic work exposing wrongdoing. He later claimed that the case had been completely clarified by State Prosecutors, despite ex-Mayor Omar Cruz Reyes, the suspected intellectual author of the crime, and five of the material authors, including the municipal police chief, remaining at liberty.

State Prosecutors proved themselves incapable of carrying out an impartial, speedy, thorough and independent investigation: the case has been marred by serious procedural irregularities, including allegations that the only person convicted for their involvement in the disappearance, and murder, was tortured by investigators.

These irregularities and alleged human rights violations meant that key suspects, including Omar Cruz Reyes and the police chief, were granted judicial protection (amparo). It was only on the 9 September 2016 that Omar Cruz Reyes was stripped of judicial protection, thus reactivating the warrant for his arrest.

FEADLE has repeatedly rejected appeals from Moises Sanchez Cerezos family, and their legal representatives, to use its powers to take sole charge of the investigation into his disappearance, and murder. Instead, two investigations are ongoing leading to unnecessary duplication and uncertainty for the victims family.

ARTICLE 19 calls on FEADLE to use its powers to take over this investigation, and to conduct an effective, impartial, and thorough investigation that upholds the right to truth and reparations.



The Disappeared Journalists

(Name, Organisation, State, Date)

Jesus Mejia Lechuga - Radio MS-Noticias - Veracruz - 10 July 2003

Leodegario Aguilera - Mundo Politico - Guerrero 22 May 2004

Alfredo Jimenez Mota - El Imparcial - Sonora - 2 April 2005

Rafael Ortiz Martinez - Zocalo - Coahuila - 8 July 2006

Jose Antonio Garcia Apac - Ecos de la Cuenca de Tepaltepec - Michoacan - 20 November 2006

Rodolfo Rincon Taracena - Tabasco Hoy - Tabasco - 21 January 2007

Gamaliel Lopez - TV Azteca - Nuevo Leon - 10 May 2007

Gerardo Paredes - TV Azteca - Nueva Leon - 10 May 2007

Mauricio Estrada Zamora - La Opinion de Apatzingan - Michoacan - 12 February 2008

Maria Esther Aguilar - Cambio de Michoacan - Michoacan - 11 November 2009

Pedro Arguello - El Manana - Tamaulipas - 1 March 2010

Miguel Angel Dominguez Zamora - El Manana - Tamaulipas - 1 March 2010

Guillermo Martinez Alvarado - El Manana - Tamaulipas - 1 March 2010

Amancio Cantu - La Prensa - Tamaulipas - 1 March 2010

Guadalupe Cantu - La Prensa - Tamaulipas - 1 March 2010

Ramon Angeles Zalpa - Cambio de Michoacan - Michoacan - 6 April 2010

Marco Antonio Lopez - Novedades de Acapulco - Guerrero - 7 June 2011

Gabriel Fonseca - El Mananero - Veracruz - 19 September 2011

Miguel Morales - Diario de Poza Rica - Veracruz - 24 July 2012

Adela Alcaraz Lopez - Canal 12 de Rio Verde - San Luis Potosi - 26 October 2012

Sergio Landa - Diario Cardel - Veracruz - 22 January 2013

Maria del Rosario Fuentes - Valor X Tamaulipas - Tamaulipas - 15 October 2014

Alberto Crespo - Uno TV - Sinaloa - 3 December 2014

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
Argentina: Access to Information Law is a welcome step forward

Publisher Article 19 Publication Date 15 September 2016 Cite as Article 19, Argentina: Access to Information Law is a welcome step forward, 15 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e52cd24.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.

On 14 September, after a legislative process lasting nearly 12 years, the Argentinian Congress has finally passed an Access to Information law.

Before this law passed, Argentina was one of only four countries in South America which hadn't adopted an access to information law, along with Bolivia, Suriname, and Venezuela. The Bill, whose approval represents an historic event for the country, was endorsed by 199 congressmen and opposed by only 16.

The Bill regulates the right to public information, obliging all state agencies to provide and disseminate information of public interest. It ensures that citizens of the country are able to obtain data and information concerning public administration, and requires state bodies to properly respond to information requests. The law also established appropriate sanctions for public servants who do not comply with its provisions. Argentina's access to information law stipulates that information requests must be answered within 15 working days, with the possibility of an exceptional extension for another 15 days. The various state agencies have one year to adapt to the conditions imposed by the law.

The Argentinian law also creates an Access to Public Information Agency, an autonomous office that will work with functional autonomy within the Executive Branch. Its Director, proposed by the national government, must be elected, and will remain in office for no longer than five years. Furthermore, each of the branches of the Argentinian government must create their own agencies to promote and guarantee the right to information.

ARTICLE 19 welcomes the adoption of an access to information law in Argentina. This new legal framework is a crucial step towards the ensuring the right to information in the country.

Copyright notice: Copyright ARTICLE 19
Egypt's independent human rights community at risk of complete eradication

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 23 September 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, Egypt's independent human rights community at risk of complete eradication, 23 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e52f504.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 undersigned organisations condemn unreservedly the asset freeze ruled on Saturday 17 September by the Cairo Criminal Court in Zeinhom on prominent human rights organisations and defenders in Egypt, as part of case no 173/2011, known as the "foreign funding case".

Prominent human rights organisations and human rights defenders were particularly targeted: the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and its director Bahey el din Hassan, the Hisham Mubarak Law Center (HMLC) and its director Mostafa El Hassan, the Center for the Right to Education and its executive director Abdel Hafiz Tayel, as well as human rights defenders Hossam Bahgat and Gamal Eid.

The personal assets of the five human rights defenders are frozen and three NGOs CIHRS, HMLC and the Center for the Right to Education, are losing access to their bank accounts and their properties. The management of these NGOs' finances and programmes are to be handed over to government officials, giving them control their activities and full access to their records and database, including files related to victims of human rights violations.

This asset freeze is a further step within the judicial proceedings of the foreign funding case, which has also led to the imposition of travel bans on prominent and respected human rights defenders, tax investigations against independent human rights NGOs and repeated interrogations of their staff by investigative judges.

Prosecuting Egypt's independent human rights movement will lead to the permanent closure of human rights NGOs - the most credible, independent and one of the few remaining voices critical of the government's policies - and the sentencing of their workers on heavy charges, of which some carry sentences of life imprisonment.

This is part of a larger crackdown, not only on human rights defenders, but also on the media, trade unions and peaceful protesters, which will further worsen the ongoing closure of the public sphere and of civil society space. Continued attacks on the rule of law, absence of accountability and a crisis of governance have caused increasing unrest.

Civil society is an indispensable pillar in any reform process, if there is to be any hope of its success. In Egypt, as elsewhere in the world, the rising threat of terrorism only increases the vital need for a free and active civil society, as a national partner to propose reform and policy recommendations, and as an intermediary with society, playing a crucial role to help stabilise Egypt and reinforce its security.

The international community should raise the following points with the Egyptian authorities, especially in the context of the UN general assembly currently taking place:

- Egyptian authorities should immediately withdraw this asset freeze and all other measures under the foreign funding case, including travels bans and spurious tax investigations. They should close the case definitively and pardon the persons sentenced in the same case in 2013.

- Egyptian authorities should start a sincere, open and inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders, including independent human rights groups, about the role and status of national civil society; and thoroughly review the legal framework for registration and funding of civil society organisations based on the outcome of this dialogue.

Concerning the EU and its Member States, we urge them to:

- Raise this matter immediately with the Egyptian authorities, to convey the need for the foreign funding case to be closed forthwith and associated measures withdrawn so as to allow the survival of Egypt's independent human rights movement.

- Make the closure of the foreign funding case a condition for the pursuit and conclusion of the EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities and the holding of an Association Council. As indicated in the EEAS spokesperson's statement of 17 September, Egypt is not respecting the commitments it entered into by signing the EU-Egypt Association agreement. Consequently, relations between the EU and Egypt should not progress to an ulterior stage.

- Ensure, with the support of like-minded states and civil society organisations, the delivery of a cross-regional joint statement at the 34th Session of the UN Human Rights Council to address the human rights situation in Egypt.
End ongoing crackdown on peaceful dissent

Publisher International Federation for Human Rights Publication Date 22 September 2016 Cite as International Federation for Human Rights, End ongoing crackdown on peaceful dissent, 22 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e52fac4.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.

Vietnam must end the ongoing repression of peaceful dissent, repeal its repressive laws, and immediately release all political prisoners, FIDH and its member organization Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) said today. FIDH and VCHR's call followed the imprisonment of three government critics in three days.

Today, the People's Supreme Court in Hanoi upheld a lower court's conviction of blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh and his assistant Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy for "abusing democratic freedoms to harm the interests of the State" under Article 258 of the Criminal Code and sentenced them to five and three years in prison respectively. The trial was held behind closed doors. In addition, Vinh's wife, Le Thi Minh Ha, has not been allowed to visit him in prison for the past five months.

Nguyen Huu Vinh and Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy were arrested on 5 May 2014 and accused of "publishing online articles with bad contents and misleading information to lower the prestige and create public distrust of government offices, social organizations, and citizens." On 23 March 2016, a People's Court in Hanoi sentenced the two to five and three years in prison respectively.

On 20 September 2016, the Dong Da District Court in Hanoi sentenced land rights activist Can Thi Theu, 54, to 20 months in prison on charges of causing public disorder under Article 245 of the Criminal Code. Theu was arrested on 10 June 2016 for leading protests against land confiscation outside various government offices in Hanoi. Police beat and detained several activists and family members who attempted to attend the trial.

Vietnamese authorities have repeatedly used legislation inconsistent with Vietnam's obligations under international law to suppress the right to freedom of opinion and expression and to detain government critics.

Vietnam holds about 130 political prisoners - the largest number among Southeast Asian countries.
Azerbaijan: Dubbing Critics as "Islamic Extremists"

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Durna Safarova Publication Date 20 September 2016 Cite as EurasiaNet, Azerbaijan: Dubbing Critics as "Islamic Extremists", 20 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e53e914.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.

Authorities in Azerbaijan are trying to erase the line between legitimate dissent and religious extremism in an attempt to stifle criticism of their policies.

An ongoing trial in the Baku suburb of Nardaran highlights the trend. The proceedings, which began in August, involve 18 defendants, who face a variety of charges, including illegal weapons possession, conspiracy, murder, terrorism and inciting religious hatred.

The defendants were arrested after a November 2015 police raid on the house of Taleh Bagirzade, a young Shi'a cleric and outspoken government critic who heads the unregistered Movement for Muslim Unity, a moderate group that calls for the use of non-violent means in the pursuit of democratic reform and religious liberty. Seven people were killed during the November raid. Several others were wounded.

Bagirzade faces 30 criminal charges, including supposedly plotting a coup with the aim of establishing Sharia rule in Azerbaijan. Bagirzade, who studied theology in Iran, is an outspoken advocate of believers' rights, and has denounced President Ilham Aliyev as a tyrant. Already, he has served a two-plus-year prison term on illegal drug possession charges, a common accusation leveled against the government's political opponents.

According to the official version of events, the defendants fired weapons at police officers, as well as hurled Molotov cocktails, during the raid. But so far, those assertions have not been substantiated by eyewitness testimony.

Fariz Namazli, a lawyer for one of the accused, Abbas Huseynov, maintains that numerous procedural violations marred the police investigation of the violent episode, alleging that supposed witnesses were summoned only once the defendants had been detained.

The 18 accused men, on trial in Baku's Court for Serious Crimes, insist they are innocent of the charges against them, and, like many human rights activists, characterize the case as fabricated. On the witness stand, some have alleged torture.

Foreign and Azerbaijani observers alike have depicted the trial as part of a government systematic and intentional effort to conflate dissenting views with terrorism.

"The government appears determined to crush the Muslim Unity Movement, as well as any other religiously-inspired grouping that the government fears could challenge its authority," noted Felix Corley, editor of Forum 18, a Norwegian religious-freedom advocacy group.

Bagirzade's refusal to register his group with the Caucasus Muslim Board, which Azerbaijan, counter to its international human rights obligations, requires all Islamic civic groups and congregations to join, proved one such threat, Corley elaborated.

Bagirzade has advocated for the release of scores of political prisoners, including those jailed for protesting the ban on hijab in Azerbaijani public schools.

That has made Bagirzade "the subject of intense interest and harsh treatment by the Azerbaijani government," emailed Catherine Cosman, senior policy analyst for Eurasia at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan federal body.

From jail, he also supported a protest against a September 26 referendum that would extend the president's term from five years to seven.

As do others, Cosman believes that Bagirzade was tortured before going on trial "in a vain effort to make him incriminate political dissidents." The cleric sent a letter to the pro-opposition Azadliq newspaper claiming this, as did other trial testimony.

The Nardaran arrests were followed by the arrest of Fuad Gahramanli, a deputy head of the opposition, secular Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, who had posted on Facebook about the Nardaran case.

At the same time, the government has adopted Turkey's argument that followers of the Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen are also intent on overthrowing governments. A top aide to President Ilham Aliyev, Novruz Mamedov, claimed that "certain opposition circles" are linked to Gulen. At least one Popular Front activist has been arrested on suspicion of having such connections.

Wariness of the intentions of Azerbaijan's Islamic organizations means that some democratization activists in Azerbaijani are hesitant to voice support for the Nardaran defendants, noted social-media rights activist Cavid Aga. "Some of my  friends fell for the faux paranoia of an armed religious revolution by one village," he said. "As an atheist, [I would say that the] the same human rights apply to my religious countrymen, too."

Located a half-hour's drive from Baku, Nardaran, a village of about 8,000, has been a bastion of conservative Shi'a Islam for decades. It is a world apart from the rest of predominantly secular Azerbaijan: most women wear chadors, and religious banners hang in the streets.

It also differs for its history of anti-government protests, sometimes fatal.

With that background in mind, authorities tightened controls over Nardaran after the 2015 raid. Azerbaijani flags replaced religious flags and banners. And police demand to see ID cards before allowing individuals to enter the village. Journalists are routinely barred. Meanwhile, locals no longer gather on the streets to chat, and avoid talking to reporters by phone.

The government and its supporters deny that the ongoing Nardaran trial is politically motivated. "I'm also Muslim, but we shouldn't misuse our religion," said Eldar Quliyev, who serves as a member of the Aliyev-controlled parliament. "All people, regardless of their religion, color, identity, have to answer before the law for what they have done."

Authorities seem set to implement additional measures to curb religious expression. Under a draft law now before parliament, any public display of religious slogans or flags will incur fines up to 25,000 manats (about $15,272).

To date, international observers and foreign governments have been relatively quiet about the Nardaran case. Among Western governments, only US officials appear to have mentioned the Nardaran controversy publicly - in reports from the US State Department (the 2015 International Freedom of Religion Report) and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Diplomats from the United States, European Union and Norway did not respond to EurasiaNet requests for comment on the Nardaran trial in time for publication.

Some observers believe that some foreign governments are reluctant to criticize the Aliyev administration's policies, due to security and economic interests: Azerbaijan is strategically located between Russia and Iran, and possesses an abundance of oil and natural gas.

"Azerbaijan's international partners have been reluctant to express much straightforward criticism, wrongly prioritizing in many cases strategic or financial interests ahead of the need for human rights reform," said Jane Buchanan, associate director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch.

"The issues aren't mutually exclusive and governments and financial institutions should set clear parameters for the kind of partner that they want to cooperate with," Buchanan added.

Editor's note: Durna Safarova is a freelance journalist who covers Azerbaijan.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Kazakhstan: Rearranging Chairs on the Ship Astana

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Aktan Rysaliev Publication Date 14 September 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Kazakhstan: Rearranging Chairs on the Ship Astana, 14 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e53ee74.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 latest shakeup of the government by Kazakhstan's president looks seismic at first appearance, but closer scrutiny suggests this is only a cosmetic rearrangement.

Perhaps the most striking innovations to come out of the Cabinet announcements on September 13 were the creation of new government departments: a ministry of religion, to be headed by a former foreign affairs adviser to President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and an anticorruption agency.

Elsewhere, Dariga Nazarbayeva, the Kazakh president's eldest daughter, was removed as deputy prime minister and plopped into the Senate, sparking talk of her being primed to take over the reins. Succession talk comes around periodically in Kazakhstan and has been reignited by recent demise of Uzbekistan's President Islam, who at the age of 78 was only two years older than Nazarbayev is now.

A notable promotion arrived for Imangali Tasmagambetov - another figure sometimes mentioned as a presidential succession option. He was moved from the head of the defense ministry to a position of deputy prime minister, taking over from Nazarbayeva. The defense brief will be taken over by Saken Zhasuzakov, former deputy defense minister and chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

Political analyst Andrei Chebotarev said Tasmagambetov would likely make a smooth transition into the deputy PM's chair. Prior to serving as defense minister, Tasmagambetov had what were perceived as successful stints, from 2004 to 2008, as mayor of Kazakhstan's business capital, Almaty, and mayor of Astana, from 2008 to 2014. He was also prime minister from January 2002 to June 2003. His standing is particularly high in the oil-rich west, where he is from.

Zhasuzakov's elevation to defense minister also suggests an attempt at allocating more apposite roles to various figures.

"The fact that Tasmagambetov was substituted by Zhasuzakov is testament to the fact that the authorities have likely decided to move away from the practice of having the Defense Ministry being run by civilians. Now this ministry will be run by a military man," Chebotarev said.

Other rearrangements saw the minister for state affairs, Talgat Donakov, become deputy head of the presidential administration, and the deputy head of the presidential administration, Marat Beketayev, move to head the Justice Ministry.

Some of the changes were structural.

The Ministry for Affairs of State was downgraded to an agency that also now includes anticorruption in its brief. The creation of the agency has been explained as an attempt to optimize government administration and fight against graft. That new body will be headed by Kairat Kozhamzharov, who formerly was in charge of an analogous sub-ministerial department called the National Bureau for Fighting Corruption.

Another eye-catching development was the formation of a Ministry for Religion and Civil Society to be headed by Nurlan Yermekbayev, a former aide to Nazarbayev and secretary of the National Security Council. Religious issues were previously the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Sport.

Yermekbayev was quoted by TengriNews as saying the new ministry would, among other things, be responsible for "ensuring citizens' rights in the area of religious freedoms." The ministry will be responsible for work with the nongovernmental sector, civil society groups and implementing youth policy, officials said.

Astana has a checkered past in its policies on nongovernmental bodies. Nazarbayev approved a law in December that established a state operator through which funding for NGOs had to be channeled, fundamentally undermining the nongovernmental aspect of such groups. As indignant activists argued at the time, the law appeared intent on securing ideological control over areas of society not directly subordinate to the state machine.

As to the religious component, the appearance of the ministry comes several months after a burst of seemingly Islamist-inspired shootings in the western city of Aktobe that laid bare the authorities' apparent lack of anti-radicalism strategy.

Nazarbayev was enthused by his own shakeup, calling it an appropriate reaction to the demands of the times. The rearrangement will increase public wellbeing, boost economic indicators and ensure national security, the president said, according to a statement on his website. Nazarbayev said the changes had brought in a new generation of officials, including some educated under the Bolashak scholarship program, which has funded the studies of many young Kazakhstanis in universities around the world.

Aidos Sarym, political analyst and head of the Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly Foundation, was more sanguine.

"It is unlikely that there have been fundamental changes in the state system. It is more likely that the authorities understand what is going on in the country and what tasks they face. The government cannot but see that society is demonstrating its unhappiness with the economic situation, and this while the cabinet seems to have lost interest in its job," Sarym said.

It is Dariga Nazarbayeva's appointment to the Senate that has really set tongues wagging, however. That might signal kicking upstairs for some veteran figures, but were she eventually to be named speaker of the upper house, it would formally put her in a position to take over as president in the event of her father being unable to fulfill his duties. That transition would likely set the stage for a dynastic coronation.

But as Sarym argued, Nazarbayeva has struck a far from presidential figure in recent years.

"Dariga clearly couldn't cope with the jobs she was given. And what is more she spoiled her image with some ill-conceived statements," Sarym said.

That was a reference in part to remarks that Nazarbayeva made in 2013, when she created wide offense with crass remarks about disabled children.

"From time to time, we should send young people on excursions to institutions for invalid children so they can see for themselves the result of engaging in ill-advised sexual activity. We can show the children these freaks, let them see for themselves," she said.

Rather than using her multiple appointments to government post to build her influence, Dariga has squandered her opportunities, Sarym said.

"There is unhappiness with her work in the president's entourage and in society at large. Her train has left," he said. "The time when Nazarbayev could name members of his own family as a successor has passed. The world has changed."

Clues about the future may lie in a lower-profile appointment: The naming of the former justice minister and member of the presidential commission on corruption, Berik Imashev, as head of the Election Commission.

That, Chebotarev speculated, may presage the holding of a referendum to modify the constitution to dilute the powers of the president and begin Kazakhstan's transition to a parliamentary system, where authority would be balanced between the president's office and the legislative branch.

Editor's note: Aktan Rysaliev is a pseudonym for a journalist based in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Uzbekistan: Karimov's Stature Grows After Death

Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 13 September 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Uzbekistan: Karimov's Stature Grows After Death, 13 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e53f574.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.

Uzbekistan's long-serving leader may be dead, but the government is intent on having his memory live on.

As soon as the announcement of Islam Karimov's passing was confirmed on September 2, the state propaganda machine kicked into gear hailing the achievements of the late president.

Notably, Uzbek media is hailing Karimov for largely eschewing the vain excesses of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, whose own presidents are subjects of elaborate cults of personality. In contrast with those countries, Uzbekistan refrained from the ubiquitous proliferation of portraits of the president and no statues were erected in Karimov's honor in his lifetime.

As the new leadership seeks to bolster its legitimacy, however, it is looking to consecrate Karimov's standing and favor their own fortunes by association.

The wave of myth-making began with the president of neighboring Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. During his eulogy at Karimov's funeral in Samarkand, Berdymukhamedov announced that squares in Turkmenistan would be renamed in the Uzbek leader's honor. The Turkmen president's speech was aired on Uzbek state television and repeated regularly thereafter.

Berdymukhamedov's words inspired officials in Russia. On the same day, the chairman of the Culture and Mass Communications Commission of the Moscow city Duma, Yevgeny Gerasimov, told REN TV that a statue of Karimov could be installed next to the Uzbek embassy in the city.

"He was a leader that united peoples in Soviet times, as well as in the post-Soviet space. He was a person that enjoyed great respect among many people. He did everything to support piece and mutual understanding," Gerasimov told the broadcaster.

Inside Uzbekistan, feats of reverence toward Karimov are becoming de rigueur.

A 75-year-old pensioner in the Namangan region, Husan Hodjibayev, set off from his home two days after Karimov's funeral to embark on a 520-kilometer bicycle trip to the president's final resting place.

"He spent so many sleepless nights; he worked so many days to build such a flourishing nation. None of this came easy to him. So I too decided to torment myself for a few days on the bicycle for the sake of my friend, so that I could visit his grave," Hodjibayev told RFE/RL's Uzbek service.

The strongest evidence of the incipient personality cult came with the first day of school and university after Karimov's funeral. The semester opened with classes devoted to the late president's memory. Teachers and local officials gave talks about the life and achievements of the dead president and at the end of the class, students were shown a hagiographical video account of Karimov's career entitled "The Future Is for Us."

On the day of the funeral itself, thousands of people in the capital, Tashkent, lined the streets, as a hearse carrying the president's coffin was driven toward the airport for a flight to Samarkand. Many were visibly distraught at the sight, openly weeping. Government employees have told EurasiaNet.org, however, that officials undertook a concerted effort to press-gang as many people as possible into participating in the human corridor for the funeral cortege.

The official mourning period came to a close on September 5. On that day, in accordance with local custom, free dishes of plov were handed out in squares across Uzbekistan. Gatherings were attended by local and religions leaders, who opened proceedings by reciting prayers in memory of Karimov.

Political analyst and economist Anvar Nazirov argued that such adulation is not unusual for the region and was to be expected.

"Eastern peoples, especially Turkic peoples, have always had personality cults and will continue to have them," Nazirov told EurasiaNet.org. "The new people in charge will continue to exploit the cult of personality for as long as it is convenient to them."

In Karimov's lifetime, much of the personality-based devotion was more low-key than elsewhere in the region. Karimov was popularly known as "ota," an affectionate Uzbek word for father. In the Fergana valley, he was referred to as "podsho," meaning padishah, a term for sultans dating back to Ottoman times. Whatever disrespectful names people had for Karimov, they kept to themselves.

The budding Karimov cult rests on the perception that while many have been compelled by poverty and unemployment to seek their fortunes abroad, he stopped Uzbekistan from sliding into economic and social chaos. One key Karimov legacy recognized by admirers and critics alike has been the preservation of secular, albeit conservative, values. As groups like Human Rights Watch have exhaustively documented, however, that achievement came at a great cost.

"In 1998, in the name of preventing extremism, the Uzbek government adopted one of the world's most restrictive laws on religion, outlawing most forms of public or independent worship, regulating religious clothing, and placing mosques under de facto control of the state," HRW noted in a commentary piece after Karimov's death. "By the end of 2003, according to Memorial, the Moscow-based human rights group, Karimov had already imprisoned nearly 6,000 people on political or religious grounds, a number that continued to grow, with hundreds of new arrests each year."

For Karimov's supporters inside Uzbekistan, that may have been a price worth paying to keep the country from falling prey to religious radicalism in the turbulent 1990s.

"Peace and stability - that was his main achievement. Despite everything, Uzbekistan remains a fairly open country to the world," journalist Marufa Tohtahadjayeva told EurasiaNet.org.

Despite all these displays of adulation, Russia-based Central Asia specialist Sergei Abashin said it was too early to speak about a personality cult in the making, such as what has developed in Azerbaijan surrounding the late president, Heydar Aliyev.

"Within a year or two, it will become clear, but of course the authorities at the moment are trying to demonstrate continuity and drawing on the air of legitimacy that Karimov enjoyed in society," Abashin said.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Turkey: Effort to Force Closure of Gulen Schools Falling Flat in Eurasia

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Elizabeth Owen Publication Date 12 September 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Turkey: Effort to Force Closure of Gulen Schools Falling Flat in Eurasia, 12 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e53fdc4.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.

As part of a wide-ranging clampdown in the aftermath of the failed July coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration has urged countries in Eurasia to shut down schools associated with the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. But outside of Azerbaijan, the call does not seem to be swaying Eurasian governments.

Erdogan has publicly accused Gulen supporters of leading the thwarted coup. Accordingly, lots of Gulenists in Turkey have been arrested, and lots more fired from their state jobs. The Turkish government has also classified Gulen's organization as a terror group.

Erdogan's animus toward the Gulen movement is such that Turkey has gone to great lengths to get friendly governments in Eurasia, specifically the Turkic-language states in Central Asia, to crack down on suspected Gulenists in their respective countries, as well as shut down Gulen-oriented schools. The Gulen organization made significant inroads into Eurasia in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Yet, only Azerbaijan, Turkey's closest regional ally, has launched a full-fledged anti-Gulen campaign. One university in Azerbaijan has been placed under state control, and 50 teachers have been deported. In addition, Azerbaijani authorities have shut down a private TV station, and have alleged that some domestic opposition organizations have ties to the Gulen movement. At least one opposition activist has been arrested under such suspicions.

By contrast, Georgia, the pipeline link between Azerbaijan and Turkey, and Kyrgyzstan, a Turkic Central Asian nation, have so far resisted closing Gulenist schools. Strategic partner Kazakhstan - like Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan, a Turkic cousin - only promised to expel any Turkish Gulenist teachers. The governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, two of the most repressive in the world, have long barred Gulenists from operating in their respective countries.

One Gulen researcher posits that, ultimately, Turkey cannot win the campaign against alleged Gulen-linked schools in Eurasia.

Many of the schools in Eurasia have non-Turkish managers, teachers and financing. Thus, there is little that could publicly link these schools to the Gulen movement in Turkey, noted Bayram Balci, an Institut d'etudes politiques de Paris specialist on Islam and Central Asia.

Managers cannot be considered Gulenists in a strict sense because they do not necessarily advocate Gulen's Islamic principles, Balci reasoned. Meanwhile, many junior staffers have only a vague awareness of the elderly cleric, who now resides in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania. And many are unfamiliar with Gulen's writings.

"Gulen schools in some countries are not Turkish anymore, and this specificity will help them to survive," Balci added.

The situation in Georgia illustrates the challenge for Turkish diplomats. A few days after the July 15 coup attempt, a translation of a TV interview began circulating that featured Yasin Temizkan, Turkey's consul in the Black Sea city of Batumi. In the interview, Temizkan urged the Georgian government to close the local Refaiddin Sahin Friendship School, a private institution considered part of the Gulen network. The justification, Temizkan said, was that the school was "serving terrorist groups."

Other Turkish diplomats have made similar appeals worldwide. But in Batumi, angry school staff, teachers and parents demanded a public apology. Five other private Georgian schools, also believed to be Gulen-linked, supported them.

Citing a lack of evidence, Education Minister Aleksandr Jejelava downplayed the matter, but emphasized that Tbilisi does not want "anything to complicate" its "friendship" with Turkey.

That friendship is critical. Turkey ranks as one of Georgia's largest trade and investment partners.

Turkish Ambassador to Georgia Zeki Levent Gumrukcu declined to discuss with EursaiaNet.org how Turkey might respond to Georgia's refusal to close suspected Gulenist schools like Sahin, calling such a topic "very speculative." He emphasized that the ultimate decision depends on the government itself.

"We have  very good relations with Georgia. We speak to each other. We share everything with each other and I think that's the most you can expect out of a relationship," the ambassador said.

He went on to note that the two sides discussed "everything" about the Gulenist movement - both abroad and in Turkey - during Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili's July 19 trip to Ankara and meeting with President Erdogan. The ambassador described the discussions as "an ongoing process."

The Georgian prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment. Kvirikashvili was the first senior foreign official to visit Turkey after the attempted coup - a fact that reflects the two countries' relationship, Gumrukcu underlined.

Balci suggested that Ankara's lack of progress in advancing its anti-Gulenist agenda was due in part to a lack of diplomatic "levers against its partners to force them to close Gulen schools."

Now, there are signs that Turkey may revise its diplomatic approach. Ambassador Gumrukcu earlier announced that the Turkish consul had not meant that Sahin's students and graduates themselves were terrorists, and described the consul's reported remark about presenting the government with evidence on that score as "blown out of its proportions."

Giorgi Badridze, a former deputy head of mission for the Georgian Embassy in Ankara and a former Georgian ambassador to the United Kingdom, does not believe that differences over the perception of the schools will disrupt good bilateral relations.

"Georgia and Turkey have been close partners for the last 25 years," Badridze said. "I think our countries will find ways to resolve this issue in the interests of both nations, and based on the rule of law."

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Ukraine and Georgia: Two Rabbits, One Misha

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Peter Zalmayev Publication Date 8 September 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Ukraine and Georgia: Two Rabbits, One Misha, 8 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e540724.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.

There is an old Ukrainian saying - if you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one. This adage can apply to politics, and it has particular relevancy these days for Mikheil Saakashvili, the erstwhile president of Georgia who managed to morph into the governor of the Ukrainian region of Odessa.

Saakashvili, of course, has been one of Eurasia's most colorful and controversial political figures for more than a decade, a leader who on occasion has resorted to authoritarian means to produce democratic ends.

His stint as Georgian president ended in 2013 due to term limits, but his tenure effectively was finished a year before that, when his United National Movement (UNM) party lost parliamentary elections, and the Georgian Dream coalition took control of the legislature. Shortly after leaving office, Saakashvili departed Georgia, and in 2014, he was charged with abuse-of-power crimes related to his two presidential terms.

At that point, he had seemed to be at a dead political end, but events in Ukraine gave him new life. In May 2015, Ukraine's new president Petro Poroshenko surprised the world by appointing Saakashvili to the Odessa post.

Since assuming his new position in Odessa, Saakashvili has struggled to contain corruption, finding that playing the role of a crusading outsider in the diverse and complex, and yes, corruption-ridden region of Odessa is not easy as it was in his native land. His tough talk and authoritarian style largely succeeded in reducing low-level graft in Georgia, especially among the traffic police. But Saakashvili's methods in Georgia also took a toll on civil society development by occasionally undermining due process.

Saakashvili so far has found that reliance on the same political tactics that he used in Georgia is not producing the outcomes he desired. That he cannot work his old magic is understandable given the greater complexities in Ukraine, especially Odessa. Every Ukrainian government in the post-Soviet era that has tried to get a handle on corruption has failed to do so.

Less understandable, and, at the moment, more significant, are Saakashvili's ambitions in both Ukraine, a country in which he has only recently obtained citizenship, and Georgia, a country whose voters rejected his political vision, and which still appears to be processing both the good and the bad aspects of his administration.

Georgian parliamentary elections are scheduled for October, and Ukrainians will likely go to the polls in the next year or so.

These are the two rabbits that Saakashvili is currently trying to chase.

The problem faced by Saakashvili, or Misha, as he is widely called in Georgia and Ukraine, is that he is well known in both countries, but not exactly popular in either. In Ukraine, Misha has made a lot of noise, but has largely been unable to deliver results in Odessa. Moreover, within a few months of taking charge there, he appeared to set his eyes on a bigger prize - that of becoming prime minister of his adoptive country. This ambition, while impressive given that he is a newly minted Ukrainian citizen, has brought him into conflict with many of Ukraine's more established political leaders. Some of this was due to Misha's anti-corruption fervor, but his sometimes overly aggressive challenges and unfounded accusations were occasionally perceived as motivated by self-promotion, and thus rubbed some important people the wrong way.

In early September, Saakashvili became embroiled in a controversy linked to the grisly rape and murder of a young girl in the Odessa region. The killing sparked what observers characterized as a pogrom against a local Roma community. Commenting on the tragic events, Saakashvili appeared to add fuel to the fire by making what were seen by some as derogatory comments about the Roma community. When his response was criticized in some media, including Foreign Policy, for failing to explicitly condemn mob violence, Saakashvili attacked his critics for being biased.

Curiously, Saakashvili has kept pursuing his Ukrainian goal while simultaneously indicating his interest in returning to Georgia, with the apparent aim of helping the UNM (and, ultimately, himself) to regain power there.

The UNM party has remained a relevant political force, despite the electoral thumping it experienced at the polls in 2012. As this year's parliamentary elections approach, polls show the UNM running neck-and-neck with Georgia's governing Georgian Dream coalition. One of the factors that has enabled the UNM to successfully rebrand itself was that, with Misha off in Ukraine, it could distance itself from the former president's controversial legacy, and present itself as a viable western-leaning alternative to the incumbent Georgian Dream government.

Thus, were Misha to attempt to inject himself now into Georgia's parliamentary race, it would quite possibly create an awkward situation for Western-oriented liberals there. A key to the UNM's potential success in the October elections will be its ability to make voters forget about the abuses and excesses of the Saakashvili era, when the UNM controlled parliament. Saakashvili's potential return to Georgia would only remind voters of those excesses. At the same time, a good electoral showing by a Misha-less UNM would make his oft-stated goal of making a triumphant return to Georgia, or even of becoming politically relevant again in the country, much more difficult.

In Ukraine, meanwhile, there are signs that Saakashvili's tenure in Odessa is reaching the point of diminishing returns. What Saakashvili brings to the governorship is not necessarily what Ukraine needs at the moment.

Ukraine is facing myriads of daunting challenges. First among these is Russian aggression, which has cost Kyiv control of the Crimea and has destabilized the eastern Donbas region. Taming corruption presents another vast challenge, as does crafting a modern economy that works for all Ukrainians. Finding solutions to these dilemmas is difficult enough for any Ukrainian government, but the degree of difficulty is perhaps enhanced by Saakashvili's presence in Odessa. His ambitions and political practices, in particular his habit of accusing anyone who opposes his ideas of being a Moscow lackey, do not exert a badly needed calming influence on Ukrainian politics.

It took over a decade for voters in Georgia to determine they had had enough of the colorful, dramatic, inspired, but also erratic and frequently authoritarian Saakashvili. It is apparent it will take the Ukrainian people, and their leaders, a lot less time than that.

If Misha is thinking about what would be best for his own political legacy, as well as what would be best for the general welfare of both Georgia and Ukraine, he should probably stop chasing rabbits and head down a different path.

Editor's note: Peter Zalmayev is the director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative, a New York-based non-governmental organization that seeks to educate the public about economic, political and social dynamics in post-Soviet states. Recently, Zalmayev has been a frequent commentator on the hostilities in Eastern Ukraine, appearing on leading international broadcast media, including the BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera, as well as most major Ukrainian media outlets. Zalmayev has also contributed commentaries to Al Jazeera's website and The Huffington Post.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
RSF and JED call for investigation into violence against journalists covering protests

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 23 September 2016 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, RSF and JED call for investigation into violence against journalists covering protests, 23 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57e542fd4.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.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) joins Journalist in Danger (JED) in urging the government to investigate and identify those responsible for the violence and abuses against journalists during street demonstrations on 19 and 20 September in Kinshasa.

Please find below JED's communique:

"Journalists attacked during unrest in Kinshasa

In a letter on 22 September to Evariste Boshab, the deputy prime minister responsible for internal affairs and national security, Journalist in Danger (JED) has called on him to launch an urgent investigation to identify and punish those responsible for abuses against journalists during the violence that swept Kinshasa on 19 and 20 September.

In this letter (copies of which were sent to the president, the prime minister, the prosecutor-general and the armed forces auditor-general), JED points out that, in his toll of the clashes between opposition protesters and police, the deputy prime minister referred to persons killed, public buildings and schools set on fire, political party headquarters torched, and homes ransacked, but at no point mentioned the many journalists and media workers who were the victims of violence by the security forces although they were just doing their job.

According to our information, some ten journalists and media workers were roughed up, physically attacked or arrested by the various components of the security forces on both the first and second day of the demonstrations in Kinshasa.

JED condemns this gratuitous wave of violence against Congolese and foreign journalists who were just doing their job, violence that is a flagrant violation of the law guaranteeing media freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The letter provides the deputy prime minister responsible for internal affairs and national security with the details of the following cases as examples of this violence, in case his omission was not deliberate:

1) Radio France Internationale's DRC correspondent Sonia Rolley, Agence France-Presse reporter and photographer Eduardo Soteras and TV 5 journalists Dady Songhozo and John Kinkendu were arrested by Military Police (PM) on the morning of 19 September on Boulevard Triomphal, far from where the demonstrations were taking place. They were then manhandled and taken to Kokolo camp, where they were held for several hours and were stripped of all their belongings, their reporting material, money and mobile phones.

2) Dosta Lutula, a journalist with Kinshasa-based Canal Congo Television (CCTV), was arrested by otherwise-unidentified police while covering an opposition demonstration on 19 September. He was bundled into a police jeep and was taken to Tshatshi military camp, where he was given a prolonged beating. At around 1 a.m., he was taken to Kokolo camp, where he was roughed up again and was undressed. He was finally released the next day at around 6 p.m. after his camera and cassette tapes had been confiscated.

3) Kevin Inana, a journalist with the daily La Prosperite, was arrested near the Huileries traffic circle by a group of uniformed riot police who were firing shots and using teargas to disperse demonstrators. After chasing him, the police asked him to identify himself. As he displayed his press card, they beat over the head with their batons and threw him to the ground. He was left with a broken arm.

4) Eliezer Thambwe, a reporter and presenter of "Tokomi Wapi," a magazine programme broadcast by several Kinshasa-based TV channels, and his cameraman, Dieumerci Makesela, were arrested separately by police while covering the same demonstration on 19 September. Thambwe was arrested at the Victoire traffic circle and was released shortly thereafter. Makesela was arrested on Avenue des Poids-Lourds and was taken to a police special services detention centre where he was held for 72 hours. His camera was confiscated prior to his release.

Media worker associations organized a round-table in July about safety for journalists with the aim of avoiding any recurrence of this kind of violence at a time of widespread concern about an upsurge in political unrest in the DRC. At the end of the round-table, the media workers proposed consultation with the authorities responsible for public safety with a view to prevent dangers to journalists during this period of tension."

The Democratic Republic of Congo is ranked 152nd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
Lakeway, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/23/2016 --Vacation rental and condo rental sites offer seemingly great deals, the operating word here being: SEEMINGLY. The multitude of websites that tout the BEST deals on condo rentals is growing by the truckload daily. At first the spectators on the other end of the screen see endless supplies of beautiful pictures of vacation rentals at unbelievable prices. Unbelievable until you click and start getting near the check-out at which time you are confronted with the reality of fees - and I mean a whole heap of them.



Enter Oliver del Camino who is one of the largest private vacation rental and condo rental providers who changed all that and was banned for it. Too many complaints from other hosts who felt they were being short changed by his tactics of providing high value and low cost accommodations in order to gain market share.



His strategy worked in fact it worked so well that the one single residential home he had listed turned into dozens within a 90 day period due to being constantly sold out. Meanwhile these practices have led to an enormous decline in rental rates in all vacation rentals in Ocho Rios, Negril, Montego Bay and not withstanding Kingston or Portland, hotels, which consequently plummeted the most in places like Negril, Jamaica. The ensuing price war is still adjusting daily and trying to find solid footing.



We have reached a point of saturation whereby the deals are becoming satisfying for the traveler. Condo rentals in Ocho Rios, Jamaica for example have now fallen by 50% just since June and Super Condo Deal is providing a gateway for the savvy crowd. 75% Discount on Beach Condos in Jamaica



About Jamaican Properties

Super Condo Deal.com was founded in 2015 and went live just recently in 2016. Jamaican Properties has been operating and managing residential, hotel and condominiums since 2013 in the Caribbean concentrating on Jamaica and owns http://www.supercondodeal.com which is a vacation rental platform that allows users to reserve and confirm rental condos in real-time without additional deposits or fees other then the nightly wholesale price.
Shania Twain coming to Indianapolis on first tour in nearly five years
The Abilene City Council voted 5-1 to raise CityLink Transit fares to allow the transportation service to become more self-sufficient.

Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Williams cast the dissenting vote. Mayor Norm Archibald was absent because of an injury he suffered Tuesday night.

The last time bus fares were raised was in 2007, said Don Green, the city's transportation services director.

Since then, CityLink steadily has drawn more money from the city's general fund, with that amount set to peak in fiscal year 2017 at about $1.4 million. CityLink only draws enough money from the general fund to match state and federal grants, which is required to receive such grants, Green said.

The increase of 33 percent, which will take effect Oct. 1, is expected to increase revenue by about $88,000.

CityLink initiated the process of raising fares a year ago with a short-term goal of reducing the service's reliance on the general fund and a long-term goal to use those funds for additional projects, such as bus stop signs.

Leigh Ann Fry, executive director of the Noah Project, said she would buy a year's worth of bus tickets for the nonprofit's clients before the rate increase takes effect if the city does not provide a bus stop closer to the Noah Project location.

Currently, clients of the organization, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, have to walk a mile to the nearest bus stop, which leaves them vulnerable to the people from whom the Noah Project is protecting them.

Fry told the council she had no problem with paying the increase if a compromise could be reached about the bus stop.

City Manager Robert Hanna said the city had a solution to the issue that would not be 'perfect' but would prevent the city from having to go through the lengthy and complicated process of altering bus routes, which requires federal approval. He did not offer more specific information at the time.

Cindy Ramsey, president and CEO of Goodwill-West Texas, spoke on behalf of her employees, many of whom are disabled and ride the paratransit bus, required under the Americans With Disabilities Act, to work.

Ramsey said the nonprofit has more than 300 employees in West Texas, with more than 150 in the Abilene area. Roughly 10 to 20 employees would be affected by the increase  or 10 percent of Abilene employees, she said.

'That is their only way of transportation,' Ramsey said. 'Imagine if gas prices went up 33 percent overnight. It would have a significant financial impact on all of us.'

She asked why there has not been an incremental increase and requested that the council reconsider raising rates by this much at once.

Juan Pitts, a Goodwill employee, buys tickets twice a month for a total of $90, which will go up to $120. He said he does not think the increase is fair.

'I love my job. I love going to work, and I don't want to have to quit,' Pitts said, 'but if this continues to happen, it's going to force me to quit.'

Councilman Bruce Kreitler said looking at the fares periodically as opposed to once every 10 years would be 'better stewardship.'

Green said it would be wise to examine fares every few years, as the process is not too onerous on staff. He noted that any fare increase does require state and federal approval.

BUS FARES:

Fixed schedule bus route fares:

Current rate New rate

Adult Fare $1.25 $1.50

Youth Fare $0.75 $1

Day Pass $2.50 $3

7-Day Pass $12 $15

31-Day Pass $38 $45

7-Day Youth Pass $7.50 $10

31-Day Youth Pass $20 $25

Discounted fares:

Elderly/Disabled $0.40 $0.65

7-Day Elderly/Disabled Pass $6 $8

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More than 50 Vietnam War veterans were recognized Friday at the Dyess Air Force Base Museum as part of a national commemoration hosted by the Taylor County Vet Center.

The Vietnam War Commemoration, launched in 2012, was authorized by Congress and aims to 'recognize, thank and honor United States military veterans who served during the Vietnam War.'

Jack Hinkle, who served in the Marine Corps from 1966-1969, and did a tour in Vietnam from October 1967 to November 1968, said he appreciated the recognition.

'There were a lot of us who had bad homecomings,' said Hinkle, who graduated from high school in Cross Plains, and enlisted in the Marines shortly after. 'Fifty years later, this is a great 'welcome home' to a lot of my fellow veterans who've struggled for years with the after effects of the War.'

Nick Tapie, team lead at the Taylor County Vet Center, said Friday's ceremony, in which the Vietnam veterans had their names read aloud before being presented a special lapel pin and proclamation, was a way to publicly recognize the veterans and thank them for their service.

'We hope you feel valued for your service and commitment,' Tapie said during opening remarks. 'There are more than 7 million living veterans of the Vietnam War  26,000 in Taylor County  and to date, the Vietnam War Commemoration has been able to recognize and pin more than 1 million.'

Tapie said that each living veteran who served at any time on active duty in the Armed Forces, regardless of locations, during the period of Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, is eligible to receive the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin.

Col. David Benson, 7th Bomb Wing commander at Dyess, presented each veteran with their proclamation after they had been pinned by a member of the Vet Center staff.

Tapie said the commemoration will continue through Veterans Day 2025 to allow sufficient time for ceremonies, like the one Friday, to occur and veterans to be honored.

'It is going to take significant time to reach out to all these veterans, and Congress wants every veteran possible to receive a pin,' he said. 'We will have additional ceremonies in Taylor County, so if there is someone who wasn't able to make it today, they can contact the Vet Center and get registered for the next ceremony, which will likely be in 2017.'

For more information about the Vietnam War Commemoration, visit www.vietnamwar50th.com.
Here's an anecdote from last week that indicates that Donald Trump has a credible chance to become the next president of the United States:

I attended a lecture titled 'Where Are We in the War on Terror,' presented by retired Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Addicott to several hundred retired residents of Sun City, about 35 miles north of Austin.

Addicott has credentials: He's a professor of law and the director of the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary's University in San Antonio His bio says that he is an 'internationally recognized authority on national security law.' He has testified before Congress and delivered more than 700 speeches. He has written more than 60 books and articles and given more than 4,000 interviews to outlets that range from The New York Times to Fox News.

Nevertheless, he was just plain wrong about a good deal of what he said.

For example, he said that the great majority of the refugees fleeing Syria are men. No, United Nations data, as reported in a number of sources, indicate that males age 18-59 represent about 22 percent of Syrian refugees, less than the 24 percent who are women. Among all refugees, almost 40 percent are children under 12. If these figures are reliable, Addicott is just plain wrong.

Addicott commended George W. Bush (he said that he has met Bush four times) for pursuing the war in Afghanistan after 9/11, but then Bush, he said, made the mistake of listening to bad  if well-meaning  advice about staying in the Middle East to build schools and roads.

No, the bad advice Bush listened to came from his vice president and his secretary of defense, who urged him to use 9/11 as an excuse to pursue an unjustified war in Iraq, which turns out to have been the source of many of our current problems and much of the misery in the Middle East. Again, just plain wrong.

Addicott pictured the 9/11 hijackers as religious radicals, and it's true that few things can radicalize people more than religion. But the hijackers had rational motivations, as well, including objections to American support for an oppressive Saudi monarchy and a long history of Western exploitation of Middle Eastern resources. Oversimplification is another way to be just plain wrong.

Addicott quickly moved from misinformation to fear. He claimed to have predicted 9/11  in ALL CAPs, he said  well before the attack, and now he's predicting another attack in the homeland, but this time the casualties will amount to 3 million rather than 3,000. Scary.

At this point he sort of lost track of his theme and began to take generic, condescending swings at 'liberals.' They're unpatriotic (he's wrong in that blunt generalization). They believe that capital punishment is unconstitutional (again, wrong), and he displayed an unseemly enthusiasm for putting people to death. In fact, if the executioner has to call in sick, let him know and he'd be glad to fly in to throw the switch.

Liberals might whine that, oh, we might accidentally execute an innocent person. But you know, he said, 'Nobody's perfect.'

Huh? At this point I realized that we had moved into the realm of the surreal.

But it was the ordinariness of the occasion, rather than its surrealism, that was alarming. The speaker had respectable credentials. The audience was made up of educated, successful, well-funded, white retirees. They were not the non-college, blue collar coal miners and steel workers whose decline in recent decades has inspired them to support a man who has promised to make America great again. No, America has been good to these people.

A few walked out on Addicott and, I understand, a few registered complaints with the lecture's sponsors.

But many applauded him or, at least, appeared to be content to reside in a place where facts are held in careless regard and where anyone who's very different from us is someone to be feared and subjected to harsh measures.

In short, a land where Donald Trump could be elected president.

Email John M. Crisp, who teaches in the English Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, at jcrisp@delmar.edu.
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This just in...
By Maura Moynihan



DHARAMSALAIt is a singular pleasure to spend an afternoon in a rooftop cafe in Dharamsala. Golden light falls on the snow peaks of the southern Himalaya and on the winding lanes of McLeod Ganj, a magical alloy of Tibet and India where cows, monkeys, and rickshaws collide with Buddhist monks and pilgrims who have come from as far away as Tokyo and New York City to see the Dalai Lamas enchanted kingdom.



But there is also a horror story woven into this peaceful realm where Tibetan refugees planted the seeds of their civilization in the soil of India, the birthplace of the Buddhist faith. That story began in the 1950s when Chinese troops set Tibetan temples and scriptures ablaze and put monks to death because of their bad class status. Today, many of the young refugees who fill the local cafes are former political prisoners and torture survivorsliving witnesses to the continuing persecution of Tibetan culture and religion by the Peoples Republic of China.



I committed no crime



Phuntsok Wangyal is the general secretary of the Gu Chu Sum Society, an organization made up of former political prisoners dedicated not only to helping political prisoners, but also to carrying on the nonviolent struggle for Tibetan Independence. Gu Chu Sum, founded in 1991, now has 400 active members. It provides medical care, education, and training for new refugees, and earns revenue from a Japanese restaurant, tailoring workshop, and Internet cafe in McLeod Ganj.



Wangyal was a student at Lhasa university in 1994 when he wrote a pamphlet on the history of Tibet and its right to independence. For this he was sentenced to five years in Lhasas Drapchi prison.



I had committed no crime, he says. But this is what happens to Tibetans who simply speak about Tibet as a nation. After my release, I was not allowed to work or travel. This happens to all political prisoners, so they try to escape to India. Its dangerous, but its the only option.



Wangyal is a serious young man who rarely smiles. He is composed and articulate when describing the Chinese penal system, and he has published a memoir and a collection of prison poetry. The testimonials in the Gu Chu Sum database document the extreme punishments used on Tibetan political prisoners: beatings and rape with metal rods and electric shock batons, suspensions, and deprivation of food and sleep.



The society also keeps a record of the men and women who have died in state custody. I saw many people tortured to death in prison, Wangyal says.



Global impact



During the past two decades, an estimated 25,000 new arrivals have joined the Tibetan exiles in India and Nepal. One has had a global impact: Palden Gyatso, a monk from Drepung monastery who escaped to India in 1992 after 33 years in a Chinese prison. Palden Gyatso was arrested in 1959 when he refused to denounce his Buddhist teacher or to say that Tibet belonged to China.



For two years, his hands and legs were shackled, and in the years that followed, he was tortured with electric shock batons. When he finally escaped, he took with him a collection of the torture instruments used on Tibetan prisoners.



When I first came to Dharamsala, I felt very lost and sick, he says. But I met His Holiness the Dalai Lama and told him what I had seen in Tibet, and then more people wanted to hear my story. So many people in Tibet died so unjustly; their stories are lost.



Palden Gyatso has testified before the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. His autobiography Fire Under the Snow has been translated into 15 languages. A film about his life, with the same title, debuted at the TriBeca Film Festival in April 2008.



The arrival of the Internet, which barely functioned in Dharamsala a decade ago, has expanded global awareness of the dark side of Chinas Tibet. In the early years of exile, testimonies were written down on rice paper with manual typewriters. In the digital age, there are a lot more tools available to document and expose human rights abuses, says one European Web designer who lives in lower Dharamsala.



The Chinese government is doing everything it can to suppress information about conditions in Tibet from reaching the international media. Chinese propaganda and cyber-espionage is going into attack mode. So we have to keep gathering and updating testimony and getting it out there.

Maura Moynihan, a writer and musician, has been a consultant to the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City, America's largest Himalayan and Tibetan cultural institution. She worked for many years as a refugee consultant in India and Nepal and recently completed a master's degree in political science at the New School.


Several Chinese dissidents were invited to Germany's Embassy in Beijing on Friday for festivities marking the Oct. 3 Day of German Unity, a move one poet praised as a rare show of support amid an intensifying crackdown on lawyers, activists and bloggers.



Among the guests were activist Hu Jia, the wife of one of the lawyers who disappeared in the July 2015 round-up of hundreds of rights defenders, and journalist Gao Yu, who is on medical parole from a five-year jail term. Gao, 71 or 72, was sentenced to a seven-year jail term in 2015 for "leaking state secrets overseas,but the sentence was cut on appeal to five years by the Beijing High People's Court last November.



Beijing human rights activist Hu Jia told RFA's Cantonese Service he had talked to European diplomats at the party about the situation of jailed Uyghur scholar IIham Tohti as well as the fate of Xia Lin and other lawyers caught in the crackdown.



Tohti, named last week as a finalist for the European Parliament's 2016 Sakharov Prize, was sentenced to life in prison following his conviction for "separatism" on Sept. 23, 2014.



Xia Lin, a lawyer whose clients have included dissident artist Ai Weiwei, was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for "fraud" by a Beijing court on Thursday, in a decision rights groups said was political persecution for handling sensitive cases.



"The diplomats are very concerned about the situation of Tohti in prison and also his family as well. They are mainly concerned about his wife and two young children in Beijing," Hu told RFA.



"I could only say that his health was still good, that he had recovered after his trial. He might have intentionally shown that he was well, so the family would not be worrie...nobody knows," Hu added.



Hu said his ability to update the diplomats on Tohti was limited "because there are strict visitation restrictions imposed."



"His family is not allowed to mention any matters, including to friends. They can't tell him anything about outside the world. What he thinks or his thoughts are not able to be relayed as well," added Hu.



Outspoken poet Wang Zang likened China's repression and censorship to the Berlin Wall.



"There are so many Chinese invited to the Germany embassy, it's quite encouraging. I appreciate that Germany continues to raise concerns the human rights with China, not like other countries," Wang told RFA.



"Taking down the 'Berlin Wall' in China requires the efforts of all," he said.



Reported by Su Yitong and Pan Jiaqing for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated by Vivian Kwan. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (R) deliver a statement about the maid-abuse case to the media in Yangon, Sept. 21, 2016.

Myanmar President Htin Kyaws office said Thursday that it is looking into the case of two teenage maids tortured by their employers and has asked the home affairs ministry to provide protection to the citizen journalist who first reported the incident.

The Presidents Office also instructed the ministry to report on how the local police station in the part of the commercial capital Yangon where the maids were abused is handling the case, according to a statement it released.

The two girlsMa San Kay Khaing, 17, and Ma Tha Zin, 16endured five years of torture and physical abuse at the hands of a prominent family of tailors for whom they worked as maids in Kyauktada township in the commercial capital Yangon.

The two were imprisoned by their employers and denied rightful wages. They also were cut with scissors and knives and burned with an iron.

Swe Win, senior correspondent at the independent online news service Myanmar Now, first reported the case in June and filed a report with township police.

When the police failed to take action, he filed a case with the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC), according to a Myanmar Times report.

The MNHRC mediated a financial settlement between the tailors and the families of the two maids in which the girls received a combined sum of U.S. $4,000, and the perpetrators went unpunished.

The case has caused an uproar among the public and human rights groups, who have blasted the commission for letting the perpetrators off the hook after it mediated a financial settlement between them and the victims families.

Many have called for the disbandment of the five-year-old commission.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has filed a lawsuit against the abusers under the countrys law on protecting the rights of children.

What had happened is a violation of Section 66 (D) of the childrens rights law, and as such we have the responsibility to take action and file the case, said Win Myat Aye, minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement.

The ministry is housing the two teenagers at a vocational training school in Yangons Bahan township, where they are receiving medical treatment, he said.



Lawsuits filed

Yangon police have arrested four members of the family accused of the abuse. Owner Tin Thuzar, 57, was arrested on Tuesday, and Tin Min Latt, 37, Su Mon Latt, 27, and Ko Latt, 63, were arrested on Wednesday, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the police force has filed charges against them for trafficking and abusing the two underage girls.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the MNHRC defended its actions in mediating negotiations and a payout for the girls instead of pursuing its own court case.

The commissions response prompted Htay Win Aung, a lawmaker from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party who represents Dawbon constituency, to submit an emergency proposal to parliament on Thursday to censure MNHRC members.

This case of having parts of limbs damaged being settled with a monetary payment, in a very short period, contradicts the objectives laid out in pamphlets the commission itself had published and distributed to the people, Htay Win Aung told lawmakers.

In many cases of enslavement, torture, causing losses of limbs or organs and exploitation of labor in our country are violations of the Childrens Rights Act or Workers Rights Act and some of these cases cannot be condoned in any way, he said.

We cannot accept this

Activist and politician Zin Mar Aung, who currently serves as an NLD deputy representing Yangons Yankin township in the lower house of parliament, said the Commission under the banner of human rights hadnt given protection to the victims and instead mediated between the parties in a case where inhuman acts were committed.

We cannot accept this, she said. We are in total agreement with the peoples wishes to have a civilized society.

Aye Thar Aung, deputy speaker of the upper house of parliament, agreed that the MNHRC should step up its duties to investigate human rights violations and deliver justice to victims in cases like the one involving the two maids, but not be dissolved.

Instead of resigning, the commission should work more zealously for human rights protection, he said.

Prominent legal activist and human rights lawyer Robert San Aung said he will file charges against the MNHRC for criminal concealment.

By helping the perpetrators avoid a police charge and escape due punishment with a monetary payment is, in the eyes of the law, an obstruction of justice, he said.

He also said he would ask President Htin Kyaw for permission to file a lawsuit against members of the MNHRC as well as against those who have threatened reporters covering the case to deter such practices in the future.

Reported by Win Ko Ko Latt, Waiyan Moe Myint and Kyaw Thu for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A court in Vietnams capital Hanoi on Thursday rejected an appeal by well-known blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, sending him back to prison to serve out a five-year sentence for criticizing the government in his online writings.



Vinh, a former police officer also known as Ba Sam, was convicted along with his assistant Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy in March on a charge of abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state under Article 258 of Vietnams penal code.



Thuy was handed a three-year term on the same charge. The two had been held in prison since their arrests in May 2014.



Defense lawyer Tran Vu Hai slammed the courts decision to uphold the verdict, calling the appeal hearing undemocratic in its procedures.



When the hearing began, the chief judge said that he would listen to all sides, but he rejected all our arguments, Hai told RFAs Vietnamese Service.



At times, he even spoke in support of the prosecutors, and finally handed down the same verdict, he said.



The hearing was not handled in the way he had promised.



'Vinh is innocent'



Also speaking to RFA, defense lawyer Tran Quoc Thuan said the indictment and verdict given in Vinhs original trial had been based on improperly gathered evidence, adding, Under the new code of criminal procedures of Vietnam, Nguyen Huu Vinh is innocent.



But we are subject to Vietnams judicial system, and who knows what they stand for?



We have strongly argued against the time that [Vinh and Thuy] have already spent in custody, added Vinhs wife, Le Thi Minh Ha.



The authorities have suggested they can always apply for a commutation of their sentences, but my husband is not guilty of any crime, so why should he ask for his sentence to be reduced?



Paris-based rights group the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organization the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) condemned the rejection of Vinhs appeal in a Sept. 22 statement, calling on Vietnam to end its ongoing repression of peaceful dissent.



Vietnams relentless persecution of government critics using repressive laws and kangaroo courts shows that compliance with the countrys international human rights obligations ranks at the bottom of Hanois priorities, said FIDH president Dimitris Christopoulos.



Hanois repression must now be met by stronger international condemnation, not friendly overtures, VCHR president Ho Van Ai added in the groups joint statement.



Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by KaLynh Ngo. Written in English by Richard Finney.




A rural woman in eastern China has won a landmark legal case after being deprived of her land rights after marriage, she told RFA.



Ye Xueqing, of Xiaowuxi village near Yiwu city in Zhejiang province, filed the lawsuit after complaints to the municipal government over the deprivation of her land rights by officials in the village she married into yielded no result.



Ye began complaining via official channels in 2013 after finding she had been frozen out of a number of economic benefits including the right to a share of compensation for village land taken over by the government, resettlement payments, and land use rights.



She then filed a lawsuit with the Jinhua Intermediate People's Court, which found in her favor last week and ordered city officials to investigate.



"I didn't expect the rule of law to actually work," Ye told RFA in a recent interview. "In the past, all I found was officials protecting each other's backs, and it was very hard to get anywhere."



"I'm actually pretty surprised by this decision. I have waited so long to get this result," she said.



But Ye said she is also skeptical that the government will implement the court's order in good faith.



"I don't know what their next move will be. I have a court order now, but we'll have to wait and see if they actually implement and start an investigation," she said.



Not the only one



Ye said she isn't the only person affected. She estimates that around 1,200 women in and around Fotang township, which administers Xiaowuxi village, have faced similar violations of their property rights.



"I took the decision to do this on my own," said Ye, who started out with more women at her side.



"Some of them weren't happy with the fact that we were taking the government to court, and some thought it was all taking too long," she said.



"They did have their rights violated, but they didn't choose to fight for them," Ye said.



"Me, I wouldn't let it slide. I had to fight for my rights to the bitter end," she said.



Ye said she had stuck to the letter of the law while making her complaints, and believes that this is why she hasn't been targeted for persecution by local officialsyet.



But she did get a phone call from local officials when she chose to pursue her complaint in Beijing during the National People's Congress (NPC) annual meetings in March, she said.



An official who answered the phone at the Yiwu municipal government propaganda department declined to comment when contacted by RFA.



"I don't really know about this," the official said.



Reported by Lee Lai for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.




Demographic Divergence - RFE/RL

Demographic Divergence by Li Ping Luo After 25 years of independence, some former Soviet republics are experiencing record population decline while others are soaring to new highs. This is a story about demographic destiny. Population

Migration

Fertility

Life Expectancy

Future Projections

Population: Opposite trends Eastern Europe & the Baltics

Central Asia

The Caucasus Source: The World Bank The extent of population loss in many former Soviet republics has been staggering. Ukraine has lost more than 6 million people since gaining independence in 1991, while the Baltic states have lost a combined 20 percent of their population. Russias population briefly dipped below 142 million in 2009 -- a post-Soviet low -- but has recently rebounded due to migration, increasing fertility, and declining mortality. In the Caucasus, Armenia and Georgia have experienced similar population decreases while Azerbaijan has surged. Data from Central Asia tell a very different story. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan all have youthful booming populations that are at historic levels. Kazakhstans population fell for over a decade after the dissolution mainly due to an exodus of ethnic Russians and Germans, but has grown overall thanks to strong fertility.

Migration: Russia's draw Eastern Europe

The Baltics

The Caucasus

Central Asia Source: The Pew Research Center Russia has been the main destination for migrants from the post-Soviet space. Many of these immigrants are ethnic Russians once dispersed throughout the U.S.S.R. seeking to reunite with their families, while newcomers tend to go to Russia for education or economic opportunity. A common lingua franca and shared sociocultural characteristics continue to make Russia a preferred choice for migrants from ex-Soviet republics -- especially Ukrainians, 3 million of whom now call Russia home. Baltic emigrants have also preferred to settle in Russia, although many have permanently settled in the United Kingdom or Germany. Educated young people are disproportionately likely to emigrate. This phenomenon has led to accelerating brain drain, thereby weakening labor-market competitiveness and creating long-term structural demographic imbalances.

Fertility: Downward trajectory Source: The World Bank In the 1980s, the Soviet Union implemented nationwide pronatalist policies that effectively boosted birthrates in Russia. But this was a temporary boon. The disintegration of the U.S.S.R. was followed by a rapid downturn in births across all former republics. Many state-run day-care centers were shut down or privatized, meaning that childcare costs increased significantly. Economic instability discouraged large families as the cost of living increased dramatically, impoverishing many families with children. Twenty-five years later, Russia has the one of the highest fertility rates in Europe -- though still well under 2.1, which demographers stress is the level needed for natural population balance. Central Asia experienced an overall drop in fertility, but all five of its post-Soviet republics show a fertility rate that is well above replacement level. Fertility rate is one of the determinant factors in population growth or decline.

Life Expectancy: Sweeping spectrum Source: The World Bank The life expectancy of a Turkmen born in 2015 is about 65 years -- well over a decade less than an Estonian. There are large disparities in life expectancy across the post-Soviet space. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania -- all members of the European Union and Schengen zone -- lead the pack in life expectancy at birth and GDP per capita but are experiencing severe population downturns. Russia and the Eastern European states fall in the middle of the pack. Central Asia is encountering relatively low life expectancy and high population growth rates on average.

Future: Paradigm shift Source: The United Nations Population Division Demographic decline worries governments because it may go hand in hand with geopolitical weight, economic might, and military prowess. In 1989, there were 289 million Soviet citizens -- making the U.S.S.R. the third most populous country in the world, ahead of the United States and behind only India and China. Twenty-five years after its disintegration, the combined population of the 15 former republics stands at just under 294 million. But by 2050, the combined population of former Soviet countries is projected to decrease to just 284 million, a lower estimate than Nigerias. Ukraine, once home to more than 50 million people, will likely continue to suffer acute population loss and will be surpassed by Uzbekistan in the coming decades. Immigration will help to slow Russias losses but not reverse the overall trend of decline throughout post-Soviet Europe. Only Central Asia and Azerbaijan will weather the demographic storm affecting the rest of the former Soviet Union.
The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan says the Taliban controls about 10 percent of the the country and the Islamist extremist group is battling with government troops for control of at least another 20 percent.

Army General John Nicholson also said at the Pentagon in Washington on September 23 that, separately, there are up to 1,300 Islamic State (IS) militants in Afghanistan who receive money, guidance, and communications support from IS leaders in Syria.

He said Afghanistan is paying a high cost in casualties in its difficult fight against Islamist groups.

Nicholson said many of the Afghan deaths are occurring at checkpoints, adding that many Afghan troops are not properly commanded, are ill-equipped, and poorly trained.

He said the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan will help Afghans expand their control within the country and improve the quality of their forces.

He said the U.S. and Afghan military have killed many IS leaders and members in recent months and that they are in fewer Afghan areas than they previously were, holding only three to four districts now compared to 10 one year ago.

Nicholson said the IS fighters are largely in the Nangarhar region and are mainly former members of the Pakistan Taliban.

He added that the Afghan government's peace deal with notorious Islamist warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar signed on September 22 is an "encouraging" step in bringing peace to the country.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters


Two years after a contentious, fraud-marred presidential election pushed Afghanistan to the brink of another bloody civil war, the country is once again staring into the abyss.

The compromise power deal signed by political rivals Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah to avert that crisis expires at the end of this month, threatening to upend the beleaguered South Asian state's governing order with no clear alternative at hand.

The so-called national unity government (NUG) effectively installing President Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah in September 2014 was a temporary solution to pave the way for an overhaul of the political system within two years.

But as the U.S.-brokered deal nears its conclusion, Afghanistan's leadership has failed to live up to many of its commitments under the agreement. By now, Afghanistan was meant to hold parliamentary elections, push through sweeping electoral reforms, and amend the 2004 constitution to create the position of prime minister.

The impasse has led to an escalating feud between Ghani and Abdullah, rising tensions among the country's long-warring ethnic groups and factions, and mounting calls from a vocal opposition for the dissolution of the government.

That has raised the specter of a protracted power battle that could give way to a coup d'etat or parallel government by key national players, or even to rekindled ethnic and factional warfare not seen there since the civil war of the 1990s.

The political crisis has been accompanied by the deteriorating security situation in the country, with a resurgent Taliban now holding more Afghan territory than in any year since 2001. With Ghani forced to concentrate on security, his economic plans have stalled and the country remains entrenched in economic distress sparked by the withdrawal of international combat troops in 2014.

Personal Feud

The NUG has been severely strained by a personal feud between Ghani and Abdullah, bitter rivals who both claimed victory in the 2014 election.

Under the power-sharing deal, Abdullah reluctantly accepted the temporary, secondary role of chief executive, comparable to the post of prime minister. In exchange, a Constitutional Loya Jirga -- a gathering of the country's political, ethnic, and religious leaders with the authority to amend the constitution -- would consider the post of an executive prime minister. The two leaders would wield power together until then, although ultimate power would rest with the president.

But Abdullah has long accused Ghani of marginalizing him, making major appointments and decisions without his counsel, and snubbing his calls for reform. His frustrations boiled over recently when he angrily denounced his governing partner as unfit to govern. Although the two leaders have since met, their first meetings in three months, their personal disputes look far from being resolved.

"Abdullah is known among his colleagues as someone who believes in teamwork and has a lot of patience to listen and engage in critical thinking, whilst Ghani is known to have little patience for deliberations and given his background as an expressive lecturer, acts more professorial than politician," says Omar Samad, a former Abdullah adviser and ex-Afghan ambassador to France and Canada.

"Abdullah spends many hours, sometimes till late at night, meeting provincial representatives from across Afghanistan, while Ghani is more comfortable spending that time in his residence reading a book or report and meeting only key yes-men."

Ghani's allies say the former World Bank official is disdainful of small talk and lengthy, frequently inconclusive meetings. Instead, they paint him as a feverish worker who spends most waking hours devising lengthy, concrete plans to build up the country's budding institutions and alleviate Afghans' woeful economic conditions.

Afghanistan's leadership is hoping for a vote of confidence from an international donors conference scheduled for October 5, at which friendly countries are expected to pledge their continued political and financial support for the government.

New Power Structure

At the heart of the current standoff is a fundamental disagreement over the distribution of power in Afghanistan.

Abdullah, who has widespread support among the country's ethnic Tajik community, and Ghani, a Pashtun, embody opposing sides of the divide. Pashtuns, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, are generally seen to support a centralized state that guarantees their control of the state, and to oppose decentralization because it might lead to ethnic or regional groups seeking autonomy, possibly with the help of their ethnic brethren in neighboring countries.

Non-Pashtuns, especially Tajiks, are seen to believe the current system suffers from being too centralized, with too much power of the state left in the hands of one individual, and to support decentralization because it would enshrine a more inclusive and equitable distribution of power.

The power-sharing agreement Abdullah and Ghani signed commits to replacing the current presidential system, forged from the American model, with a French-style parliamentary system in which the president's role would be checked by that of an empowered prime minister.

But over the past two years, the sides have yet to realize their vision for a new political framework. If parliamentary elections are not held and the constitution is not changed, Ghani and Abdullah could annul the NUG agreement and renegotiate a new deal.

"The political system we will see for a while is the current one, bogged down in an adjourned game with no easy and constitutional way out in sight," says Thomas Ruttig, co-director of the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in Kabul. "This, of course, is very dangerous for the stability of the country."

Growing Opposition

Opposition political groups have been piling pressure on the government for failing to hold parliamentary elections originally scheduled for June.

Former President Hamid Karzai, one of the most outspoken critics of the government, has even demanded that a Loya Jirga, a consultative body whose decisions are not legally binding, be convened to weigh in on the government's legitimacy. Karzai's critics accuse him of trying to destabilize the government as he eyes a return to power.

"The extra-constitutional shortcuts suggested by some also do not guarantee that things improve -- as this comes from sectors of the same elites who maneuvered the country into this situation," Ruttig notes.

Key allies of Abdullah, including former warlords and top regional powerbrokers, have threatened to withdraw their support for the government unless Ghani meets their demands by the expiration of the power-sharing deal.

The opposition has also increasingly taken an ethnically charged line.

A new protest movement has emerged north of Kabul calling for the government to organize an official state burial and gravesite for former Afghan King Habibullah Kalakani, the country's only ethnic Tajik monarch. The movement is supported by some prominent ethnic Tajik lawmakers and former militia commanders who have long been skeptical of Ghani.

Meanwhile, Ghani has also been confronted by street protests named the Enlightenment Movement, in which minority Hazaras have accused his government of systematic discrimination.

"While Afghanistan is not an ethnically divided country, ethnicity becomes more pronounced in politics when any one side attempts to unjustly usurp power, impose its will over others, ignore or denigrate other stakeholders, or renege on its pledges," Samad says. "It is dangerous when seen as part and fabric of the leadership mind-set."
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.
An invitation to speak at an international literary festival in Italy has turned into an ongoing nightmare for Akram Aylisli, an esteemed Azerbaijani author who has endured persistent intimidation since he began criticizing his country's leadership in 2011.

Long honored by the state as a cherished cultural figure, the 78-year-old Aylisli has become a prominent target of what rights activists say is a growing government campaign to silence independent voices and stifle dissent.

On March 30, police at Baku's international airport stopped Aylisli from traveling to the Crossroads of Civilizations festival in Venice, accusing him of assaulting and seriously injuring a border guard almost half a century his junior -- a claim the writer dismisses as "absurd."

Authorities initially charged Aylisli with hooliganism, threatening the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize nominee with up to a year behind bars. But on September 6, the Prosecutor-General's Office revised the charge to "using violence against government representatives," a more serious charge that, considering the border guard's purported injuries, could lead to a seven-year prison sentence.

Investigators said they would summon Aylisli this week for further questioning, but as of September 15 they had not done so.

Aylisli denies the charges, calling them politically motivated retribution for his writing. "They have presented a fit, 30-year-old man who accuses me of using physical force against him, saying I punched him so hard that it caused internal injuries," Aylisli tells RFE/RL. "The allegations are just so poorly thought-out."

"All I did was tell them I was going to an international event with representatives from 20 countries," he said. "They deprived me of my right to travel abroad."

Contradicting Official Truths

Aylisli's troubles with President Ilham Aliyev's government began half a decade ago.

His pension and state awards were revoked after the publication in 2012 of his book Stone Dreams, whose depiction of massacres of ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan during the late 1980s and early 1990s contradicted Baku's official narrative of events during the war over the breakaway of Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Aylisli's writings were removed from school curricula in the former Soviet republic, and his books have been burned at rallies in front of his apartment building in Baku.

He has been accused in parliament of treason and threatened by the leader of the pro-government Modern Musavat party, who offered a bounty equal to $13,000 for cutting off one of Aylisli's ears.

Aliyev's government portrays the backlash against Aylisli as a spontaneous, patriotic movement against a writer who betrayed the country.

But Alasgar Mammadli, a free-speech advocate at the Civil Society Platform, an NGO, says the government is encouraging Azerbaijanis to treat Aylisli as a kind of "persona non grata" as part of an "attack on freedom of expression."

"Nobody considers what happened at Baku airport to be legal, considering his age and status," Mammadli says. "It is obvious that he was artificially barred from leaving the country because of his writing."

Human Rights Watch has called on Aliyev's government to bring an end to the "hostile campaign of intimidation" against Aylisli, saying the state is "making a mockery out of its international obligations on freedom of expression."

An Earlier 'Betrayal'

Khadija Ismayilova, an RFE/RL journalist who spent 1 1/2 years in jail on financial-crimes charges widely seen as retaliation for her reports on government corruption, also believes Aylisli is the target of an intimidation campaign "orchestrated by the government."

"People who have never read any of his writings were forced to come and protest, burn his books, and so on. And the government presented it as if Akram Aylisli was writing against Azerbaijan's national interests and portraying Azerbaijanis as savages," Ismayilova says.

But Ismayilova, who is herself barred from leaving the Caspian Sea state under a court-ordered travel ban, says that "the retaliation was not for Stone Dreams."

She believes Aylisli is being punished for a 2011 novel, The Grand Traffic Jam, that she says portrays President Aliyev's late father and predecessor, Heidar Aliyev, as "a dictator with maniacal problems."

"Whatever has happened to Akram Aylisli since then, including these recent moves against him, is just a continuation of pressure and retaliation for what he wrote about Heidar Aliyev," Ismayilova said.

Before 2011, Aylisli publicly supported the government. He was awarded the title People's Writer and received Azerbaijan's highest state awards: the Medal of Honor and the Medal of Independence.

He also was a member of parliament from 2005 until 2010.

"Akram Aylisli is not like an ordinary Azerbaijani," Ismayilova says. "They've made it clear that if the government can do this to Akram Aylisli, it can be done to any writer. It's one of their tactics of intimidation and it works well."

The authorities are continuing to hold Aylisli's identification documents and enforce a travel ban during an investigation that his supporters fear could last years before any trial. Meanwhile, he lives with the knowledge that he could be taken into custody at any time.

Delaying the judicial process in politically motivated cases is "another one of the tactics the government uses against its critics," Ismayilova explains.

Literature 'Has Its Own Life'

Thomas de Waal, a Caucasus expert and senior associate at the Carnegie Europe think tank, calls Aylisli's writing courageous. "He wrote [Stone Dreams] not as a politician or a journalist, but as an artist and a writer," De Waal says. "He expressed his vision in an artistic work" that calls on Azerbaijani society to admit wrongdoings and accept responsibility.

In an interview, Aylisli says he has lived through many hardships "but what has been happening lately is more difficult than ever."

"I am not at fault for having a work that is accepted around the world differently than the way it is perceived in Azerbaijan," he says. "Literary works have their own destiny once they leave an author's hands. Our authorities, unfortunately, do not accept this fate."

Aylisli says his age and health problems make it unlikely he would survive long in an Azerbaijani prison. "I don't think about where I will die. But at this age, I don't think it would suit our government -- or myself -- if I die in prison," he says.

"My family has been worried about this for a while now, especially the women in my family. Their worries are far worse than my own concerns," he says. "It is harder for them."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
For the first time in 20 years, official election results in Belarus show that candidates who are not allies of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka have won seats in parliament -- two seats out of 110, to be exact.

But independent analysts and election observers warn the results don't mean that Belarus has suddenly cleaned up its notoriously corrupt electoral system or that the beleaguered opposition's fortunes have dramatically improved.

They say the tally for the September 11 parliamentary vote was as fraught with fraud as ever.

This time, critics allege, Lukashenka has allowed two candidates with opposition sympathies to be proclaimed winners because of pressure from the West.

"The appointment of two independent deputies signals Belarusian authorities are ready for some sort of transformation, but they want to control this transformation and limit it very strictly," Andrey Dynko, editor in chief of the independent Our Field newspaper and website, told RFE/RL. "Simultaneously, these appointments are also snubbing the nose of the West and those in the opposition who wanted to mastermind the creation of some moderate opposition."

Lukashenka, he argued, "wants to show that he wants to select who will be the moderate opposition in his country."

On September 12, international observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) cited the weekend Belarus elections as "efficiently organized" but still beset by "systemic shortcomings." They criticized the country's "constitutional and legal framework" as insufficient to meet international standards, in addition to media bias and a lack of "fundamental freedoms."

None of the country's elections has been deemed democratic since referendums in the mid-1990s that ushered in a new constitution and consolidated Lukashenka's power, marginalizing the president's political opponents in the process.

'Concession' To Critics

The editor in chief of the Minsk-based analytical website Our Opinion, Valeriea Kosyugova, noted that Lukashenka has been under pressure to open up elections to the political opposition in order to improve diplomatic and economic ties with the European Union and the United States.

Kosyugova agreed that allowing a single opposition candidate and one independent candidate to win parliamentary seats was a concession to its international critics.

One of those candidates, Hanna Kanapatskaya from the opposition United Civil Party, was declared the winner in Minsk's 97th electoral district.

Her main rival was one of the best-known opposition candidates who did not opt to boycott the ballot: Tatsyana Karatkevich of the Tell The Truth movement, who had run against Lukashenka for president in October 2015.

An independent candidate from the town of Stouptsy, Alena Anisim, was also declared the winner in a race against the principal of a local, state-run elementary school.

Anisim is the deputy head of a nongovernmental group called the Belarusian Language Society, which promotes Belarusian culture and the use of the Belarusian language, which is frequently sidelined in favor of Russian.

'Appointed' To Parliament

Mikalay Statkevich, a prominent Belarusian opposition figure who was imprisoned for 5 1/2 years for organizing mass demonstrations after his unsuccessful 2010 presidential bid against Lukashenka, says both Kanapatskaya and Anisim were "appointed" to parliament by Lukashenka.

"Let's be honest," Statkevich told RFE/RL on September 12. "Lukashenka appointed these women because he thinks they are less dangerous" to his government and his political agenda than other opposition candidates.

Reporters at Dynko's Our Field documented evidence purportedly showing election officials altering the official turnout and early vote count in Kanapatskaya's race against Karatkevich.

Still, Dynko said, any favoritism shown by election officials for Kanapatskaya and Anisim would not be the fault of those candidates.

WATCH: Voting In Belarus 'Just A Wild Guess'

Despite the motive for any favoritism they may have been shown by election officials, Dynka said he sees the emergence of moderate opposition deputies in parliament as a positive development.

He said Kanapatskaya and Anisim are "real, opposition, and not some fake opposition as we've had in Belarus," in Russia, and in other former Soviet republics since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

He told RFE/RL that their ability to voice the opinions and agenda of the political opposition could expose new ideas to new audiences in Belarus.

And while the pair is unlikely to change the political landscape by proposing political reforms that would be passed by other lawmakers, he said he expects Lukashenka's allies will join with them to consolidate a Belarusian national identity and to promote Belarusian national sovereignty.

OSCE election monitors in Minsk concluded that, just like previous elections in Belarus over the past 20 years, the September 11 ballot was "still marred by a significant number of procedural irregularities and a lack of transparency" linked to "early voting and counting and tabulation procedures."

It said that despite the declared victories of one independent and one opposition candidate, Belarus has "yet to take steps towards democratic elections."

'No Way Free And Fair'

Kent Harstedt, the vice president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the head of the OSCE's observer mission in Minsk, told RFE/RL on September 12 that Belarus's elections "were in no way free and fair" and that "there were so many violations that they did not meet international standards."

In fact, Belarus has not held a vote that was assessed by international monitors as free or democratic since the early 1990s.

Authorities there routinely punish dissent and tightly control media -- leading to Western sanctions against Minsk for human rights abuses and severed diplomatic ties.

But relations between Minsk and the West have improved since Lukashenka hosted international peace talks on Ukraine's conflict and announced the release of political prisoners in 2015.

In February, the European Union ended five years of sanctions against Belarus as part of a push to encourage democratic change through engagement rather than isolation.

Washington has also relaxed some of its restrictions as it tries to counter what it sees as a newly aggressive Russia.

Belarus has also implemented some economic reforms in a bid to get loans from international lenders -- including a $3 billion loan it is seeking from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The economic crisis in Russia linked to falling oil prices and sanctions over Moscow's role in Ukraine's conflict has also hurt Belarus.

With 40 percent of Belarusian exports going to Russia, the Belarusian economy shrank by 3.9 percent in 2015.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarusian Service


This photograph, of the Northern Lights sparkling above a village in Belarus, has no artistic merit whatsoever -- according, that is, to a recent court ruling in a copyright dispute between a well-known photographer and Belarus's state-run television network.

On March 17, 2015, Anton Motolko drove 60 kilometers north of his home in Minsk to photograph the Northern Lights, a rarity in Belarus. After a spectacular and successful night working, he published the images on his social media accounts and they quickly went viral.

The next evening, Belteleradiocompany, a state-run television network in Belarus, ran a feature on Motolko's work that compared the hues in his photos to the red and green Belarusian flag. The television channel did not pay or credit Motolko, and had not asked permission to use the pictures.

The unauthorized use of their work is something photographers have become accustomed to in Belarus, Motolko told RFE/RL. "They [the television network] do it all the time."

But this time the photographer saw his images used in a way he never intended. "They used these photos like a f****ing government propaganda symbol," he told RFE/RL by telephone.

The red and green flag is similar to one used by the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic in the 1950s, and is associated with the government of strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who brought it back as an official state symbol in 1995.

It replaced the white-red-white flag -- used by the Belarusian Peoples Republic of 1918 and after Belarus gained independence in 1991 -- that is seen as a symbol of the opposition.

Motolko decided to sue. "I was asking for about 1,000 euros ($1,100)," he said. But as the case wore on, he decided to drop the amount in damages he sought to just one kopek -- less than a cent. "I wanted to be clear that this wasn't about the money, that I just wanted professional respect."

In Belarus, going up against state-run organizations is a difficult proposition, but in this case the country's copyright laws were clear. Motolko felt he was fighting on behalf of the many photographers, two of whom he knows personally, he says have had their images used without permission on state television.

Last week, Motolko learned that his effort had ended in failure.

Key to the television network's case was testimony from an expert who said that Motolko's photographs did not have "any signs of creative freshness, originality, uniqueness, or exceptionality."

The images were deemed to be a commonplace record of a "social event," and therefore copyright protection did not apply. The case cost Motolko around $300, $40 of which was to pay for the expert who declared his work so unoriginal it was unworthy of copyright protection.

There has been outrage, as well as humor, on Belarusian social media in response to the ruling. One beer company came out with an "Autumn Fire" brew, using one of Motolko's photographs on the logo.

Team Brewery thanked Motolko for the "beautiful background that did not feature any creativity, or copyright restrictions."

But this is not the end for Motolko, who is waiting to see if his appeal to the World Intellectual Property Organization, an agency of the United Nations, has been accepted. "This is just the beginning," he was quoted as saying last week by Delovaya Gazeta.

A representative for Belteleradiocompany agreed to respond to RFE/RL's questions by e-mail, but as of time of publication RFE/RL had received no response, and further calls went unanswered.


Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 9 discharged his childrens rights ombudsman, Pavel Astakhov, two months after the high-flying former lawyer submitted his resignation amid outrage over a verbal blunder. The now-50-year-old Astakhov shocked Russians and others alike in June when he quipped to child survivors of a deadly boating tragedy, "So how was the swim?"

But that seemingly callous remark was just the latest bizarre statement to emerge from Astakhov's seven-year tenure as the Kremlin's top advocate for young people. Here are details of his "swim" remark and some of his other more notable utterances.

'How Was The Swim?'

Meeting with survivors of a camp tragedy that killed 14 teens when two boats capsized on a lake in Karelia, Astakhov asked them casually, "So how was the swim?" Social and other media lit up with condemnation, and Astakhov's Instagram claim that he was quoted out of context -- in the face of video evidence to the contrary -- did little to deflect the criticism. He suggested that he was merely using "psychological tricks that help to open up scared children and let them speak out." A petition was nevertheless launched to demand Astakhov's dismissal.

Women And Age

After a viral video and related news stories showed a 17-year-old student being married off to a 47-year-old police official in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya, children's rights ombudsman Astakhov defended the marriage as a reflection of allowable local practices, telling a radio station: "Let's not be hypocrites.... There are places where women, at age 27, you look at her and by our standards they look like they're 50. And, in general, the [Russian] constitution forbids interference in citizens' personal lives." To compound things, a published transcript embellished Astakhov's remark, quoting him as saying: "There are places where women are already shriveled at age 27, and by our standards they look like they're 50." Astakhov was widely ridiculed.

Darwin Award

In April, Astakhov suggested a 13-year-old girl who was mauled by a tiger deserved her fate -- or worse -- after allegedly turning up at a western Siberian zoo after hours under the influence of alcohol. The girl reportedly tried to take a selfie after climbing over a protective barrier when the tiger reached through the bars of its cage and caught her by the leg. An unsympathetic Astakhov cited the Darwin Awards, which are handed out posthumously to mock recklessness that costs people their lives. He tweeted: "Too great a price is paid for 'un-childlike pranks.' To tease a tiger is to risk your life. Stupidity and hooliganism. The Darwin award is calling [your] name!

Scapegoating Turks

When the relationship between Moscow and Ankara went south late in 2015 after Turkish forces shot down a Russian warplane, Astakhov said of Russian-Turkish families: "We live in a world without borders, the president said this today. We can't help falling in love. Love is blind, you may fall in love with a Turk." It was a play on a bit of Russian folk wisdom that declares: "Love is blind; you might even fall in love with a goat."

National 'Humiliation'

As the chill deepened between Russia and the United States -- over missile shields, human rights, espionage, the Arab Spring, and other topics -- Astakhov was a vocal backer of a ban on Americans adopting Russian children. The prohibition was widely regarded as retribution for the so-called Magnitsky Act in the United States (punishing perceived rights abusers and named after a Russian lawyer who uncovered official wrongdoing but died in pretrial custody) and Astakhov elevated it to a question of national pride. During debate over Russia's so-called Dima Yakovlev law -- named after a Russian-born toddler who died when his American adoptive father left him sitting in a hot car -- Astakhov said that adoption by foreigners "humiliates our country and equates it with Third World countries."

Fun With Castration

Astakhov has employed stark language in reference to pedophiles.

He once tweeted: "Lets create an Anti-Pedophile Fund and finance operations to 'neutralize' maniacs and child molesters. The Fund's emblem -- "Faberge Scissors."

He also said that pedophiles "must be persecuted FOREVER."

'Opaque Fences'

Commenting on the kidnapping of a child from an orphanage in July 2015, Astakhov proposed a curious solution to strengthen security measures: "As for security measures, there can never be too much [security] in childcare institutions. We think that they have to be strengthened today, we should build opaque fences."

Sex Ed

Astakhov has spoken out against providing sex education in schools. Children, he suggested, should learn about reproduction from "Russian literature." Moreover, he said schools should educate children to be "chaste" and grow up in "a spirit of understanding family values."

'Anarchy'

In a 2013 interview, Astakhov called "anarchy...the mother of the Internet and bloggers" in answer to a question about web users criticizing officials.

'Pensioner Patrols'

Astakhov earlier this year proposed the creation of "pensioner patrols" -- brigades of elderly men and women -- to keep watch over troubled families and report potentially dangerous health or safety circumstances. He was speaking after a fire blazed through a residential building in Tatarstan, killing a woman and five children. Russia's pool of retirees is "a huge resource," Astakhov said, adding, "if we mobilized them correctly, and used pensioners, who sit at home and simply do nothing, to make volunteer brigades that would go around, look out for security, for fire safety."

He then added cryptically, "They have this in America, by the way."
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.
Two weeks ago, acting Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov convened in Grozny a conference of Islamic scholars to discuss the alleged abuse of Islamic ideas to propagate "extremism" and to establish the criteria for determining who are the true followers of the Sunna (the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad).

Conference participants, who included Ahmed El- Tayeb, rector of Cairo's Al-Azhar Islamic University, adopted a fatwa stipulating that the sole true adherents of traditional Islam are those who abide by Kalam scholastic theology, belong to one of the four madhhabs (legal schools), and follow the path of moral self-perfection espoused by the great teachers, primarily the Sufi sheikhs. It identifies the Salafi strain of Sunni Islam professed in Saudi Arabia as a "dangerous and erroneous contemporary sect," along with the extremist group Islamic State, Hizb ut-Tahrir, and the Habashis.

Several prominent theologians have taken issue with that ruling, however. The International Association of Islamic Scholars reportedly criticized the conference as "a shameful attempt to sow dissent within the Muslim community." Saudi professor Mohamad bin Abdel Rahman al-'Arefe had to disavow a report that he had branded Kadyrov an unbeliever and called for his death.



The Grozny conference was pegged to the 65th anniversary of the birth of Kadyrov's father, Akhmad, a former Chechen mufti whose four-year tenure as Kremlin-installed ruler after the 1999-2000 Chechen war is widely billed in official Chechen historiography as marking the final defeat of "international terrorists" -- a reference to forces loyal to then-Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov -- fighting in the name of Islam to "dismember the Russian Federation" by upholding Chechnyas proclaimed independence.

Ramzan Kadyrov was not present at the opening session of the conference; instead he met late that evening (August 25) in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is not known whether Kadyrov attended subsequent sessions: the proceedings were conducted in Arabic, which he has never publicly demonstrated any fluency in.

Even before the formal end of the conference on August 27, disagreement was said to have arisen among the participants over the wording of the fatwa that reportedly led to the Russian delegation leaving prematurely. (One of its members subsequently declared that they had planned to leave early anyway due to unspecified other commitments.)

The Muslim Spiritual Boards of Daghestan and North Ossetia and Russias Central Spiritual Board apparently did not send representatives to the conference. Nor did Russias Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. The fatwa was nonetheless designated obligatory for all Russian Muslims.

The conference participants also adopted two further documents. The first was an appeal to Putin to ban Salafism in Russia and to designate as "extremism" any criticism of "traditional Islam."

It also proposed expanding the council of experts subordinate to the federal Justice Ministry, to whom courts would be required to refer any questions over whether or not a specific religious text was "extremist."

A further proposal was that the fatwa be regarded as the considered opinion of "leading Russian experts" when evaluating the activity of Muslim organizations and the preaching of individual clerics. Assuming that Kadyrov is counting on a key role in selecting those "experts" the fatwa could be adduced as legal action against respected Ingush clerics Khamzat Chumakov and Issa Tsechoyev, whom Kadyrov has publicly branded Salafis and threatened to kill.

The second document was a resolution calling for the establishment of a Council for Islamic Education, and also a Council of Ulema (Muslim scholars), which would rule on who is and is not a true follower of Sunni Islam.

Hostile Tone

The hostile and categorical tone of the fatwa, in conjunction with the proposals cited above, were widely construed by both clerics and secular commentators as an outright bid by Kadyrov to divide Russias Muslims into two categories: those who unquestioningly accept the importance he assigns to the teachings of the Sufi brotherhoods (and possibly also his own idiosyncratic and controversial version of what constitutes "traditional Islam" and those whose views are "erroneous."

What is more, as Saratov Oblast mufti Mukaddas Bibarsov points out, the question of who qualifies as a true follower of Sunni Islam was definitively resolved centuries ago, and has not (until now) been disputed. Bibarsov added that the fatwa fails to take into account crucial differences between Russias Muslim communities, specifically that Sufism is alien to the Muslims of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and the northwest Caucasus.

The fact remains, however, that the Grozny conference was held with the express support of the Russian president, who apparently sees no problem in implicitly empowering Kadyrov to rule on decisions central to the lives and well-being of millions of believers across Russia.

Addressing Chechen Interior Ministry personnel last week, Kadyrov described the Grozny conference as having the same effect on the "unbelievers" (meaning the Salafis) as a bomb exploding, given that "the most authoritative Islamic scholars proved in the course of this forum that there is no scientific basis to substantiate their pernicious ideas."



In other words, Kadyrov apparently believes he has been given carte blanche by respected clerics to take any action he likes to punish -- with impunity -- anyone who dares to question his own religious views.
There are less than two weeks remaining before Russia holds its so-called legislative elections. But we can already draw conclusions about what is going on. We can see that it is not only pointless, but even harmful, for the opposition to participate in the "voting" if its goal is to oppose the regime of President Vladimir Putin.

It has long been commonplace to say the process that is called "elections" in Russia does not play any role in determining matters of political power. Rather it is an imitative mechanism intended to give the appearance of legitimacy to the regime.

Nonetheless, again and again, politicians claiming to be in opposition try to participate, either not understanding or pretending not to understand that by doing so they are playing into the Kremlin's hands, willingly or not. They are helping it draw Russian citizens into a political process with predetermined results. And by doing so, they become parasites on the understandable human desire of society to believe in the possibility of nonviolent change.

The problem, however, is that Russia long ago passed the point of no return after which change without upheaval (that is, through the ballot) is impossible. In addition, the longer the regime's agony continues, the more profound the upheavals will be for Russia.

By arguing that it is important to participate in the elections, these "oppositionists" are cultivating false hopes in society, which then become an obstacle to any change in principle.

The arguments used to justify participating in these electoral games entirely ignore current political reality and, in particular, the changes that have occurred in the last few years.

It must be recognized that the Putin regime has nearly completed the transformation from a so-called hybrid regime to full-fledged totalitarianism. I know this statement might be received skeptically, since the term "totalitarianism" is normally associated with mass repressions. However, in practice, the distinguishing characteristic of a totalitarian regime is the intention of the authorities to control both the actions and the thoughts of their citizens.

In order to see that totalitarianism is already a harsh reality in Russia, all you have to do is look at the statistics on the criminal prosecutions for "thought crimes," such as posting or "liking" things on social media. Or consider the intensity of the brainwashing being done by the propaganda machine.

Using elections as a means of political struggle in a totalitarian regime is -- by definition -- impossible.

Even in those cases when the system does not create a reason to filter out a genuine oppositionist from the beginning, more radical methods can be applied later. Just remember the examples of legislators Gennady Gudkov, Ilya Ponomaryov, and Lyov Shlosberg, who were deprived of their mandates, or the tragic fate of Yaroslavl Mayor Yevgeny Urlashov, who was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison on bribery charges supporters say were politically motivated. These cases show clearly the utter senselessness of talking about "changing the system from within."

The Legalization Of Theft

We must understand the international significance of these elections. For the first time in modern Russian history, federal elections will be carried out on annexed territory: Crimea and the Crimean city of Sevastopol, which were annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. The Kremlin is trying to use these elections as a tool to legitimize this annexation.

There is a simple logic at work here: Recognizing the elections as legitimate means recognizing their legitimacy across all territories where they are held. And recognizing their legitimacy in Crimea and Sevastopol means recognizing these territories as part of the Russian Federation.

That is why it is extremely important for the international community to refuse to recognize the results of these elections. Participating in the election procedures is the same as participating in the legalization of this theft. Getting a few opposition deputies into the Duma (which can only happen with the blessing of the authorities) would only make this situation worse, since it would enable the Kremlin to use these powerless "opposition" deputies internationally as a pseudo-democratic facade behind which hides the totalitarian essence of the regime.

The Russian authorities -- using repression and manipulation -- have liquidated virtually all internal threats, so practically the only remaining means of changing the situation is pressure from the outside. International sanctions introduced against Russia as a whole as well as against many individuals and organizations playing key roles in the Putinist system are now extremely important. We must remember that the anti-Putin sanctions were not introduced or extended by themselves, but are the result of serious, systematic work with officials and public opinion in the West. And this work must be done over the colossal opposition of numerous pro-Putin lobbyists.

Politics Abroad

The Kremlin understands that the decisive struggle upon which the survival of the regime depends is being conducted in the West. Putin and his inner circle have studied the lessons of history. One of the main ones is that when dictatorial regimes suffer a major international defeat (not necessarily military), it almost always leads to the collapse of the regime itself.

That is why the Kremlin has thrown all its material and political resources into the struggle to lift the existing sanctions and to block any new, harsher ones. Putin appointed Ella Pamfilova (formerly a cabinet minister under President Boris Yeltsin and a liberal member of the Duma) to head the Central Election Commission not in order to affect the results of the elections but to augment the political arsenal of Putin's agents in the West.

The imitation of democratic processes in Russia aims to increase the respectability of the regime abroad. Those Russians who have no idea about this international confrontation and who go into the elections with the argument that "we have to at least do something" are giving a priceless gift to the Kremlin and its agents in the West.

At this moment, it is difficult to give a precise formula for bringing about the liquidation of the Putinist regime in the foreseeable future. But for a start it is essential, at the very least, to refrain from any actions that strengthen that regime.

Garry Kasparov is a Russian politician, a former world chess champion, and head of the Human Rights Foundation international NGO. The views expressed in this commentary, which he wrote for RFE/RL's Russian Service, do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL. Translated from the Russian by Robert Coalson
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."
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


KABUL -- Ahmad Masud was 12 years old when his father, the legendary anti-Taliban military commander known as the "Lion of Panjshir," was killed by two Al-Qaeda suicide bombers in northern Afghanistan on September 9, 2001.

The assassination of Ahmad Shah Masud, who also fought for a decade against Soviet invaders, removed a natural U.S. ally from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Two days later, Al-Qaeda carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States.

The tumultuous events thrust the young Masud into the public eye -- making his first public appearance at his father's funeral in the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, a historic event attended by hundreds of thousands of the slain ethnic-Tajik commander's supporters.

Standing beside his father's coffin with poise and dignity in one of the few parts of Afghanistan that was not under Taliban control at the time, the 12-year-old Masud provoked an outburst of hysterical grieving by announcing: "I want to follow in my father's footsteps. I want to secure our country's independence. I want to be my father's successor."

Since then, alongside his father's status as an iconic national hero, the young Masud has been revered by many Afghans who see him as a symbol of hope for Afghanistan's future.

Today, 15 years later, he says he remains committed to his vow of making his father's dreams become reality -- to make Afghanistan a "united and free country" with leaders chosen by the Afghan people through democratic elections.

Now 27, Masud has nearly completed a degree in international relations at King's College London.

But he returns to Afghanistan each year to be with his family as the country commemorates Masud Day, a national holiday, on September 9 that launches Martyrs Week, honoring Afghan victims of more than three decades of war.

Criticism

Ahmad Masud refers to his father as "the Martyr," telling RFE/RL that at least one of the assassinated commander's dreams for Afghanistan is starting to come true.

"The elections that were held in the past several years -- regardless of their results, just the fact that there were elections -- that's one of the key factors of a democracy, and it demonstrates that one of the wishes of the Martyr is slowly coming true," he told RFE/RL.

But Ahmad is critical of the failure of Afghanistan's government to safeguard people from militant attacks, ethnic strife, and sectarian violence or to create the economic opportunities needed to prevent young Afghans from fleeing the country.

"Without any doubt, these circumstances and the emigration are frustrating," he told RFE/RL.

"Our young generation considers the situation so dire that they do all they can to leave," he said. "It's really frustrating and disturbing."

Masud said he thinks refugees who flee Afghanistan "still love their country."

But he says the government must do more to "fight insecurity and work to bring security and stability" if it is going to end an exodus that already has been joined by millions of Afghan refugees.

"I hope the government comes up with a plan to create jobs," he told RFE/RL. "One of the important reasons for the emigration is that people are looking for a better life, a more stable future. It all goes back to the issue of employment and security."

As for himself, Masud says he will return to Afghanistan permanently after he completes his education in London.

He says the reason for his university studies is to "come back" and fulfill the vow he made at his father's funeral.

He insists that he is "completely devoted" to Afghanistan and has no property outside of the country.

Asked about his political ambitions, Masud said he would take on the duties of public office "if it is the will of the Afghan people."

If he failed to be elected, Masud said, he would still stay in Afghanistan and work as a teacher.

Written by Ron Synovitz with reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan correspondent Hamid Mohmand in Kabul
A Russian performance artist who built a career thumbing his nose at the authorities now says he supports President Vladimir Putin -- even as he seeks asylum in Europe and fears arrest if he returns home.



Oleg Vorotnikov, a founding member of the Voina (War) street-art collective, says he was detained on September 18 in Prague for not having correct papers and was then arrested when authorities discovered that Moscow was seeking his extradition through Interpol over hooliganism charges.



Vorotnikov was released from custody on September 21 after promising not to leave Prague until a final decision is made on his possible extradition. His lawyer, Radim Kozub, says Vorotnikov intends to appeal for asylum in Europe, while Czech authorities have implied he will not be handed over.



Voina is known for such stunts as daubing a giant phallus on a St. Petersburg drawbridge facing the local Federal Security Service (FSB) headquarters and organizing an orgy in a natural history museum in Moscow to mock the youth wing of Vladimir Putins ruling party.

Vorotnikov left Russia in 2011 after he and his wife, fellow activist Natalya Sokol, were detained while taking part in an opposition march in St. Petersburg. He was subsequently charged with hooliganism in connection with the march -- unfairly, he says.



But while Vorotnikov is seeking asylum in Europe, the rebel street artist has had what might seem like an unlikely change of heart: He says he is now a supporter of President Vladimir Putin as Russias national leader and approves of Russias seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.



In an interview with RFE/RLs Current Time TV on September 22, Vorotnikov said his views changed during the spate of anti-Kremlin protests that broke out in big cities in late 2011 and early 2012 as Putin, then prime minister, campaigned for a return to the Kremlin.



"In 2012, I revised some of my positions after what I saw as a fairly inept attempt by the liberal intelligentsia to enter politics from the street, Vorotnikov said. I realized these people should not be allowed anywhere near politics.



He praised the Russian authorities for "tenderly and gently" destroying the protest movement and described Vyacheslav Volodin, the influential deputy chief staff whom Putin tapped on September 23 to become speaker of the State Duma, as "extremely intelligent."



Vorotnikov added that he and his partner, Sokol, would like to leave Europe and move back to Russia but are wanted by the authorities there and do not know what they would do with their three children.



We would both like to return, but its unclear how to do this. The Russian authorities have also dug in, Vorotnikov said.



We are in Prague only because we found accommodation here, he said. The city is beautiful, but I dont see myself here.



Czech Justice Minister Robert Pelikan on September 22 said he had not yet read Vorotnikovs case file but suggested he would probably not approve his extradition to Russia.



State-run Russian news agency TASS quoted him as saying that from what I know about this case, it seems to me unlikely that I will find something in this dossier on the basis of which I would decide to hand him over.
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
The death of a 12-year-old Afghan girl in Iran has prompted that country's health minister to publicly defend a national ban on organ transplants for foreigners that some were initially blaming for the tragedy.

Latifeh Rahmani died last week at a hospital in Shiraz, where she had reportedly been hospitalized for liver problems resulting from a genetic disorder, Wilson's disease, which causes dangerous accumulations of copper in the liver and other vital organs.

Latifeh's father was quoted by a hard-line website on August 19 as saying the girl died because doctors at a local hospital denied her organ transplant because she was an illegal immigrant.

In an interview a few days later with the semiofficial ISNA news agency, Latifeh's father said that doctors at the hospital had first asked whether the family could afford the surgery.

"I told the doctors, 'Do the surgery, we will manage [the payment],'" he was quoted by ISNA as saying. "They said Tuesday. But on Tuesday they didn't operate on her, they said Saturday. But my daughter died on Thursday, August 19."



Iranian authorities in September 2014 announced a ban on foreigners receiving Iranian organs via transplants in the country, citing long waiting lists for would-be recipients.

But doctors at the hospital in question, Namazi, and Iran's health minister rejected the idea that her nationality played a part, and said instead that Latifeh's quickly deteriorating health prevented her from receiving a liver transplant.

"Latifeh was hospitalized at the children's intensive-care unit, where she received medication and was examined for liver transplant. But because of the quick progression of her disease, organ transplant was not possible at all. She died because of a drop in her blood pressure and a heart attack," Saman Nikeghbalian, who works in the liver-transplant unit of Namazi, told local media.

"It is possible to transplant a part of the father or the mother's liver to the child," Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi said on August 22, "but because of the disease's progress, surgery was not possible."

'Careless' Reporting

Ghazizadeh Hashemi said Latifeh had received the best care and had been examined and treated by "the world's greatest surgeons."

"The death of Latifeh Rahmani was not at all because of a lack of an organ," he said, accusing the media of "carelessness" in reporting on her death in part because unnamed individuals are seeking to create tension between Iranians and Afghans, whom he called "our brothers and sisters."

He also defended the ban on foreign recipients, which was announced in September 2014.

"Regarding the organ transplant, we still believe the law banning organ transplant from Iranians to foreigners is for the preservation of the dignity of the people of our country, [so] we defend it," the health minister said.

In the past 10 years, he said, 608 foreigners have undergone organ transplants in Iran, where the sale of kidneys is legal.

Ghazizadeh Hashemi suggested that the real number could be higher because "many foreigners have received organs through illegal and other paths."

He condemned what is sometimes dubbed "transplant tourism," long condemned by the World Health Organization and other international forums, in which frequently wealthy purchasers abroad bypass a country's laws on organ donation at the expense of the donors' home country.

"It is a disgrace for foreign nationals to be allowed to visit Iran and buy the organs of poor Iranians and transplant them," Ghazizadeh Hashemi told domestic media earlier this week, citing similar bans in other countries.

He also noted that he had himself issued "exceptions" in the past, but said, "We can't expand it, because it is not in the interests of our country."

A deputy chairman of the parliament's health commission, Mohammad Hossein Ghorbani, said that body will look into Rahmani's death and suggested a revision of the ban could be in order.

"If necessary, then there should be a revision of the law and hospitals should be given permission to address exceptions," Ghorbani said. "What matters to the medical staff is to save people's lives and exceptions should be taken into account."


Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, once in line to become Iran's supreme leader, has come back from the grave to haunt the Islamic establishment that punished him for openly criticizing the regime's mass killing of political opponents in the late 1980s.

The release of an audio recording made in 1988 of Montazeri lashing out against the authorities for carrying out a fatwa issued by the father of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, against enemies of God and state has opened the lid on one of the Islamic republic's darkest and most secretive chapters.

Montazeri paid dearly for his vocal criticism of the killing of an estimated 5,000 regime opponents in the late 1980s, including members of the banned Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO), leftist groups, and others.

Aside from Montazeri's memoirs published in 2000, the true extent of his resistance to the culling was unproven, and officially questioned. But his voice of opposition comes through clearly in the grainy audio released in August on his official website, maintained from Iran by his family.

"In my view the biggest crime in the history of the Islamic republic, for which history will condemn us, has been committed at your hands," Montazeri tells a group of judiciary officials involved in the executions, including current Justice Minister Mostafa Purmohammadi. "Your names will be written in history as criminals."

The prominent theologian paid for his stance. Montazeri fell out of favor with the clerical establishment, lost his status as Khomeini's hand-picked successor and deputy, spent five years under house arrest, and was scorned for his support for the opposition Green Movement before his death in 2009.

But the emergence of the audio -- released, his son Ahmad Montazeri says, to counter attempts to distort history and to confirm the claims made in his father's memoirs -- has the establishment on the defensive again and has recreated an environment of retribution.

Caught in the crossfire of accusations is a conservative lawmaker who has called for the regime to come clean about the mass killings, leading parliament to form a commission to consider whether he should be removed as deputy speaker.

The authorities in Tehran have also gone after Ahmad Montazeri, who has been interrogated extensively and now faces charges for posting the audio.

'War Against God'

The executions were carried out in the last days of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, after Ayatollah Khomeini declared that apostates and those who had taken up arms against the Islamic republic were "waging war against God" and should be sentenced to death.

The secret fatwa was issued shortly after members of the banned Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) who were based in Iraq at the time and supported by Saddam Hussein -- made a last-ditch incursion into Iran known as Operation Mersad.

The incursion, which came less than a week after both Iran and Iraq had agreed to a UN-backed cease-fire to end the war, was swiftly and definitively repulsed by the Iranian military, resulting in the deaths of thousands of MKO members on the battlefield and thousands more in the ensuing mass killings of imprisoned members of the organization.

But it was not only members of the MKO whose fates were determined by the death committees. Over a five-month period in late 1988, tens of thousands of Iranians would be grilled about their religious beliefs and political affiliations, pressed on their willingness to sacrifice their lives for the Islamic republic -- by walking through minefields, for example -- and strong-armed to denounce their comrades on state media.

A wrong answer would almost certainly end in death by hanging or firing squad.

Mehdi Aslani, a former member of the leftist Fedayeen Khalq organization who served time in Gohardasht prison near Karaj, survived two appearances before the death committee in August 1988. Luck saved him the first time, when his questioning was interrupted by a telephone call. When he was called before his interrogators a second time a few days later, he was better prepared for the key question: "Are you a Muslim or a Marxist?"

"By then I and some others had realized that those who defended their beliefs and reiterated that they were Marxists would be without any doubt executed," Aslani told RFE/RL by telephone this month. "Therefore, during my second session with the death committee, I said that I'm a Muslim who doesn't pray."

Aslani was sent back to his cell but would learn that many of his fellow prisoners did not survive.

The Iranian establishment has rarely acknowledged the executions, which critics and survivors say had been planned months in advance in an attempt to purge the prisons of regime opponents. The authorities have long enforced a news blackout on the issue, and harassed victims' families seeking answers.

Damage Control

Justice Minister Purmohammadi defended the mass killings following the release of Montazeri's audio, saying, "We're proud to have carried out God's order regarding the hypocrites [eds. a term used by Iranian officials to refer to MKO members] and stood up strongly against the enemies of God and the [Iranian] nation."

But the position taken by Purmohammadi and other officials led deputy parliament speaker Ali Motahari, an outspoken conservative lawmaker, to make a surprising call for an investigation into the mass killings. He suggested in August that officials were pointlessly repeating slogans about the crimes of the MKO, which he said had killed his own father, without addressing the public's questions surrounding the executions and revealing possible mistakes or negligence.

In response, some 35 lawmakers signed a complaint letter against Motahari calling for his dismissal as deputy speaker, and a committee has been established to consider the matter.

Others, too, have struck out in the face of criticism.

Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Mohammad Reyshahri, who as intelligence minister was believed to have appointed the ministry's representatives to the death committees, has called on those running Montazeri's website to explain whether "the release of the audio after so many years hadn't been with the aim of harming the Islamic establishment, whitewashing the [crimes of the] MKO, and taking revenge on the late imam [eds. a term used in Iran to refer to Ayatollah Khomeini]."

The Assembly of Experts, meanwhile, has called the release of the audio an attempt to "sanctify those who betrayed the Iranian nation." And Mohammad Reza Naghdi, commander of the Basij militia, has said the executions of MKO members were carried out based on "Islamic, international, and domestic legal and religious principles."

The Secrets Are Out

Speaking to RFE/RL in August, Ahmad Montazeri explained simply that it had been said that the documents revealed in his father's memoirs, which included the wording of Khomeini's fatwa, "are not real or that they're not correct. This audio file confirms those documents."

On September 5, he announced on social media that he had been charged with "acting against national security" for releasing the audio, which he removed from the website following a request by the Intelligence Ministry.

But death-committee survivor Aslani suggests that the Iranian authorities can no longer ignore the issue, comparing the release of the Montazeri audio to the discovery of the black box of a crashed airplane.

"We're hearing the account of one the pilots," he says, adding that "the only thing the Islamic establishment has not managed to do is to silence this voice of protest."

Germany-based lawyer Sahar Mohammadi, who lost her mother and several other relatives in separate executions in the 1980s, says the tone of Montazeri's voice and his apparent outrage hint at the magnitude of the mass killings. She expressed outrage that those involved "are still ruling, they're still killing, and they're saying they did the right thing."

Paris-based Mojatab Taleghani, whose nephew was among those executed, says the official reaction does not come as a surprise. "They're all accomplices in this crime, not defending themselves would be a confirmation that they're criminals, as Montazeri called them on tape," he said.

Taleghani, the son of one of the key figures of the 1979 revolution, Ayatollah Mahmud Taleghani, says those involved in the executions "exterminated a generation of Iran's youth, they exterminated a generation of political activists who could have potentially opposed them."

RFE/RL's Radio Farda broadcaster Mohammad Reza Yazdanpanah contributed to this report
An escalating war of words is reaching fever pitch between bitter regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia ahead of this year's hajj pilgrimage, from which Iranians have been excluded for the first time in decades.

It is the most recent sign of soaring tensions between Riyadh and Tehran, which have historically vied to lead competing branches of Islam and more recently are on opposing sides of bloody conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. They have also sparred publicly over Saudi authorities' execution of a Shi'ite sheikh in January and a mob's storming of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in response.

But tensions between predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia and Iran, which boasts the world's largest population of Shi'ite Muslims, often come to a head during the hajj, which takes place in Islam's holiest sites, Mecca and Medina in the Saudi kingdom.

Tehran and Riyadh have clashed sharply over the running of the biggest event in the Islamic calendar since an estimated 2,400 pilgrims were killed in a stampede during last year's event, including more than 400 Iranians.

The two sides have failed to agree on safety and logistical issues, ostensibly prompting Iran's exclusion from the pilgrimage on September 10, the first time in nearly three decades that Iranians have been barred from Islam's holiest sites in Saudi Arabia.

Unusually Harsh Exchanges

In a message published on September 5, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Saudi authorities of having "murdered" some of the pilgrims who died in last year's hajj stampede. "The hesitation and failure to rescue the half-dead and injured people...is also obvious and incontrovertible. They murdered them," Khamenei wrote on his website.

Khamenei described the Saudi royal family as "small and puny Satans who tremble for fear of jeopardizing the interests of the Great Satan," in reference to the United States.

Saudi Arabia's top religious authority, responding to a question by the Saudi newspaper Makkah, said he was not surprised by Khamenei's comments. "We have to understand that they are not Muslims," Grand Mufti Abdulaziz al-Sheikh was quoted as saying by the Arab News. "They are children of magi and their hostility toward Muslims is an old one."

Magi, or magus, refers to followers of Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic religion that was prevalent in Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia before the rise of Islam in the seventh century. It is sometimes used by Arabs as an insult against Iranians.

That in turn provoked a harsh response on Twitter from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, usually known for his smooth diplomacy.

Saudi Arabia has been criticized for its failure to go after clerics in the kingdom that spread radical Wahhabism, and Tehran in the past has accused Riyadh of supporting extremist groups like Islamic State (IS).

Iranian President Hassan Rohani said on September 7 that Islamic countries should take "punitive" measures against Saudi Arabia. He added that "regional countries and the Islamic world should take coordinated measures to punish the government of Saudi Arabia in order to have a real hajj."

Tensions have escalated between Saudi Arabia and Iran in recent months -- particularly in January, when Iranian protesters ransacked the Saudi Embassy and set fires inside after Saudi authorities executed outspoken Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

History Of Violence

The history of animosity between Saudi Arabia and Iran has on several occasions spilled over to the hajj, leading to bloodshed.

At the pilgrimage in 1987, violence between Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims and Saudi security forces led to the deaths of more than 400 people, including 275 Iranians.

Beginning in the early 1980s, Iranian pilgrims held annual demonstrations against Israel and the United States at the hajj. But in 1987, Saudi police and national guards sealed part of the planned demonstration route, leading to a confrontation. This escalated into a violent clash, followed by a deadly stampede that killed hundreds and injured thousands more.

Following the incident, enraged Iranians attacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called on ordinary Saudis to overthrow the ruling Saud family in revenge for the pilgrims' deaths. Iran officially boycotted the hajj for the next three years.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, severed its ties with Iran and reduced the number of Iranian pilgrims permitted to take part in the hajj to 45,000, down from 150,000 before the incident.

Events in 1989 further dented relations, as Saudi Arabia accused Iran in connection with two bombing incidents during the hajj, purportedly in retaliation for Saudi restrictions against Iranian pilgrims. The twin bombings killed one pilgrim and wounded a further 16. Saudi authorities eventually executed 16 Kuwaiti Shi'a for the bombings after originally blaming Iranian terrorists.

In the early 1990s, diplomatic relations were restored and an agreement was reached to allow Iranian pilgrims to perform the hajj. Demonstrations have since been permitted by the Saudi authorities only in a specific compound in Mecca, with few incidents reported thereafter.

The hajj, a religious duty for able Muslims and one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, routinely attracts more than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world.

Pilgrims converge on Mecca and perform a series of rituals over several days that include walking counterclockwise seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building that acts as the Muslim direction of prayer; visiting the plains of Arafat to hold vigil and seek divine mercy; and throwing pebbles in a ritual known as the Stoning of the Devil.

The rituals end with three days of celebrations around the world marking Eid al-Adha.
ABU GHOSH, Israel -- Salim Jabber recently renovated his house, and he says he feels bad about hanging the portrait of Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov in a corner of the living room: it isnt prominent enough.

"He's a magical guy," Jabber, who spent 25 years as mayor of Abu Ghosh before stepping down in 2013, says of Russian President Vladimir Putin's man in Chechnya. So during our interview, he moves a bookcase to the right to make the portrait more conspicuous.

It is a display of reverence that might seem more suited to life in Kadyrov's southern Russian republic of 1.4 million, where the 39-year-old former rebel has parlayed Kremlin largesse and frontier-style justice into unrivaled power. There, Kadyrov's critics run the risk of vilification in Russia's pro-government media, public shaming at the hands of Kadyrov himself, or politically charged thuggery and even disappearance.

But two years ago, Kadyrov arrived in this village in green hills on the outskirts of Jerusalem to dedicate a mosque that he helped bankroll as a high-profile gesture to a town with possible historical ties to the North Caucasus.

Russia watchers like Maxim Suchkov suggest the massive Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque, named for Ramzan's assassinated father, who ruled Chechnya before him, was an effort "to enshrine family glory." The mosque also allows Kadyrov to paint himself as a generous Muslim abroad, a break from the frequent criticism he faces for his suppression of domestic dissent.

In Abu Ghosh, best-known in Israel for its hummus restaurants and historical Christian churches, locals say the mosque has given them a deeper sense of identity as Muslims -- and possibly Chechens. Now they are cheering on Kadyrov as he faces an uncontested election in mid-September to stay on as head of the Chechen Republic, even as human rights activists blame him for a "vicious crackdown."

"He is a good man and he walks the straight path. He has done something good. May God help him," says housewife Dallal Abu Katish.

Restoring A Lost Connection

Jabber says he grew up hearing that the four extended families of the Abu Ghosh clan originated in Chechnya but that an avatar of those legends arrived when a Jewish Chechen emissary knocked on his office door six years ago and told him Kadyrov was searching for Chechen communities abroad. Would Abu Ghosh like to renew its ties?

"I said we would bless this connection," Jabber says.

Jabber says a number of Chechen dignitaries visited Abu Ghosh, and then he took his first of 12 visits to Chechnya. When the plane landed, he says, "I kissed the ground of my homeland." Looking around him, he was sure the people of Chechnya resembled his neighbors in Abu Ghosh. They spoke Chechen, but Jabber thought he could discern in their voices a similar lilt to the Arabic spoken in his village. Chechen media documented his travels, he says.

Palestinian historian Adel Manna says there may be truth behind Jabber's gut reaction. He says residents of Abu Ghosh are likely descendants of warriors from the Caucasus sent by the Ottoman Empire to guard the main road from Jerusalem to coastal Jaffa. One possible meaning of Abu Ghosh is "father of fighting," he says. The troops may have been from anywhere in Circassia, which spanned a strip across the Caucasus, or maybe they were from Chechnya in the east, he says. In Arabic, he adds, the words for Circassia and Chechnya are the same. Israeli geographer Yehuda Ziv says Abu Ghosh is a variation on Ingushetia, another Russian republic in the North Caucasus that abuts Chechnya.

Today Chechnya is a tiny, mostly Muslim republic still recovering from years of war. After the fall of the Soviet Union, rebel Akhmad Kadyrov fought against Russia for independence, then switched sides to Moscow. He died in a 2004 bombing claimed by Islamist radicals. Putin appointed his son, Ramzan, as his successor.

In political circles outside Russia, Kadyrov is known for his cheerleading for Putin, his administration's persecution of dissenters, and his extravagance -- gold-plated automatic pistols, a fleet of exotic cars, and a stable of racehorses -- much documented on his widely followed Instagram account.

Admirers say Kadyrov has kept the peace in a restive swath of Russia and allowed Chechnya to rebuild. Jabber keeps a souvenir from his visit to Grozny: a 3D laser-etched glass block showing the Chechen capital's modern skyline, erected during Ramzan Kadyrov's time. And Jabber sees in Chechnya's current politics an echo of Abu Ghosh's history. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Abu Ghosh sided with Jewish forces and was permitted to remain, while most other Arabs in the area fled or were expelled.

"[Akhmad Kadyrov] made a smart move," Jabber says. "If he had continued fighting, there would be no more Chechnya. And Abu Ghosh is the same thing: If we had stayed here and insisted on fighting the Jews, Abu Ghosh would not exist."

The appreciation for the Chechen leaders echoes around Abu Ghosh. Fadi Ibrahim printed photographs of Ramzan Kadyrov and his father and hung them in his sandwich shop.

He says he doubts reports of Kadyrov's abuses.

"Maybe the man himself is not like that," he says. "I personally appreciate this man. He did good for me."

Building A Megamosque

Jabber says Kadyrov asked him how he could help the village. At the time, the people of Abu Ghosh were framing a new mosque, funded by local donations, and they were running out of cash. Chechnya sent the money to finish building the four-story house of worship and repave the street outside, and named both for his late father.

On a recent Friday, the Akhmad Kadyrov mosque filled up for noon prayers. The sun streamed into the prayer hall via windows cut into an airy dome, and glinted off three crystal chandeliers. Men who could not fit inside the gleaming building knelt under the shaded arcade at its entrance or sweated out the services under the fierce August sun in the courtyard. The new shrine, with space for 3,000, replaces a tiny stone house of worship that had room for only 150 people, with the overflow praying on asphalt outside.

Dallal Abu Katish, the housewife, says the construction of the mosque was a community effort. She says she cooked eight massive trays of food for the visiting construction workers one evening.

"The mosque united our village," she says.

The striking new structure has left behind almost no paper trail. The AP news agency and others reported that Chechens gave $6 million to build the mosque. Jabber estimates the total was closer to $10 million, including money for heavy wooden doors and gilded marble furniture. Turkish and Chechen craftsmen were also flown to Abu Ghosh, but he cannot provide details on costs and says most payments were made in cash. The village mosque foundation Kadyrov's administration reportedly funded has filed no financial reports with the Israeli government since it was established in 2007, which a clerk at the Charities Registrar says is against the law.

Current Mayor Issa Jabber cannot provide a precise accounting of Kadyrov's contributions either. Jabber is listed as the creator of the village foundation, and Salim Jabber's name and phone number are listed among its founders, but he says a separate foundation funneled the money to the mosque.

"My goal was to get the mosque built," Salim Jabber says. "I am not involved in the financing."

Beyond slipshod accounting, Kadyrov's donation may have also included some arm twisting. Salim Jabber says Kadyrov's wife insisted on adding two minarets to the two that already capped the mosque, which is common in Chechnya and Turkey but flashy among Palestinians. To get his way, Kadyrov's representatives in Abu Ghosh directly funded builders, Jabber says. The mosque's contractor Ali Abu Katish, a distant relative of Dallal, says he appreciated the Chechens' momentum. He also hung photographs of both Ramzan and Akhmad Kadyrov in his living room.

"Here we get slowed down," Abu Katish says. "They [the Chechens] do things the way they're supposed to be done."

A Chechen Gift -- Or Russian Overture?

None of these details surprises Zvi Magen, Israel's former ambassador to Russia.

"Everything is as usual," Magen says. The mosque was a gift, he says, not from Kadyrov to Abu Ghosh but rather from Moscow to the Chechen leader.

Magen says the mosque reflects Russia's growing involvement in the Middle East. Russia is propping up the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, including through a recent bombing campaign. Moscow has worked with Tehran on nuclear technology, security issues and trade, and more recently in Syria. And Putin has offered to host Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as early as this month. While Moscow has courted the Israeli government, Magen says Kadyrov could help cultivate ties with Israel's 20-percent Arab minority, which is mostly Muslim.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry had no comment on relations with Chechnya.

Expert Suchkov at the Moscow-based Russian International Affairs Council says Kadyrov promotes himself as a paragon of Sunni Islam at home. He built a $20-million mosque in Grozny, passed an edict requiring women to wear head coverings at universities and in government jobs, and issued an order in November requiring Chechen police to read 300,000 prayers to the Prophet Muhammad during the month.

Perhaps the Chechen leader is using gestures like the Abu Ghosh mosque to gain renown among Muslims worldwide, Suchkov muses.

Kadyrov's Legacy

For former Mayor Jabber, the relationship with Chechnya has given him a deeper sense of identity. Others are less romantic.

"Until they built the mosque I knew we were from the Caucasus," says village resident Tabet Abu Ghosh, 75. "The Chechens came and said, 'We're Chechen and we want to build you a mosque,' and we said, 'Fine.'"

Dallal Abu Katish says her husband, son, two daughters, and all her brothers and sisters have become regulars at the Kadyrov mosque since it opened. Her sister takes part in Koran study competitions, she says. Abu Katish vows to attend services on the Eid el-Adha holiday.

Jawdat Ibrahim, a distant relative of the sandwich shop owner Fadi Ibrahim, says he is not religious but has become a regular at the new mosque because his 12-year-old son goes to weekly prayers.

Ibrahim is perhaps uniquely qualified to appreciate unexpected windfalls like Abu Ghosh's Chechen funding: He won $22.7 million in the Illinois State Lottery in 1990. With his winnings, Ibrahim returned to Abu Ghosh, founded a university scholarship, and opened an expansive hummus restaurant.

Ibrahim says he also grew up hearing about his Chechen roots, although he concedes he has no evidence.

Still, he says, "When someone tells me, 'We love you,'... why do you have to ask too many questions?"


Word on the health of a gravely ill Uzbek President Islam Karimov was slow to emerge in the Central Asian nation before his death was finally announced on September 2. But that's not really surprising.

In totalitarian states where power is largely in the hands of one individual, the death of the countrys leader can send shock waves through the whole of society with the public uncertain of who or what comes next.

For those jockeying for power, any delay can also be used to advantage. Here are some of the cases in modern history of an announcement of the death of a leader being marked by delays and deceptions.

Yuri Andropov



Soviet leader Yuri Andropov died at age 70 of kidney failure. He already had health issues when he became secretary general of the Central Committee of the Communist Party on November 12, 1982. He had diabetes and in February 1983 suffered kidney failure. At the time, however, the Kremlin did not disclose that fact. It was not until a few days after Andropovs death on February 9, 1984 that TASS finally reported details of Andropov's catastrophically failing condition, which the Kremlin attributed to kidney failure. TASS said Andropov had been receiving kidney dialysis therapy since February 1983 when his kidneys stopped working. For the public in the Soviet Union, it was the first glimpse into some of the details of the Soviet leader's ordeal that incapacitated him for much of his short term in office.

Heydar Aliyev



Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev's rule during both the Soviet and post-Soviet eras was marked by a string of health issues, although little of that was officially reported. Aliyev suffered a heart attack in 1987, and in 1999 traveled to the United States for a heart bypass. People in his oil- and gas-rich Caucasus nation got their first real glimpse that all was not right with the veteran leader when he collapsed not once but twice on live TV in April 2003. The presidential press service downplayed the incident, saying Aliyev had merely lost his balance after suffering a drop in blood pressure. But in August 2003, Aliyev was hospitalized in the United States for treatment of congestive heart failure and kidney problems. It was at that time that Aliyev's administration began the first dynastic succession in any former Soviet state. Heydar Aliyev's son, Ilham, was elevated to the post of prime minister on August 4 and won the presidency in October in an election criticized by opposition leaders and the international community. Opposition leaders alleged during campaigning that officials covered up the extent of Aliyev's illness to facilitate the process of handing power to his son.

Heydar Aliyev died on December 12 of that same year, after leading post-Soviet Azerbaijan for more than a decade. He was 80.

Saparmurat Niyazov

Independent Turkmenistan's leader created one of the more bizarre personality cults in the former Soviet Union. Statues and portraits of the self-styled Turkmenbashi, Father of the Turkmen, were omnipresent. Cities, airports, and even a meteorite bore his name. Niyazov was said to have suffered from heart problems for several years, but media in tightly controlled Turkmenistan never made mention of it. It wasnt until November 2006 that Niyazov himself acknowledged he had heart disease. A month later, he was dead at 66. Turkmen state TV announced on December 21, 2006, that Niyazov had died of a sudden heart attack. Opposition activists, however, said Niyazov, had died three days earlier, according to a RIA Novosti report at the time. Niyazovs death created an instant power vacuum in Turkmenistan, as he regularly rotated officials so there was no one in the country who was an obvious replacement. As it turned out, a trained dentist and deputy prime minister, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, would be named acting president and Turkmen officials would rewrite the rulebook to allow him to stay on as president.

Josef Stalin



The Soviet dictator died on March 5, 1953, at one of his dachas Moscow-area dachas at the age of 74 after suffering a massive stroke. Several conspiracy theories claim he was poisoned by his entourage, but scant evidence has emerged to support that claim. News of his illness was published only a day before his death, when Stalin was already unconscious. After his stroke, Stalin was left alone for a few hours by his staff, who were too afraid to disturb him for fear of being accused of worsening his condition. The Soviet leadership at the time was in a quandary about what to do, since the death of Stalin was considered unimaginable. In the four days between his stroke and death, Stalin received practically no medical attention while Soviet leaders jostled for power. The Kremlin waited six hours to announce his death to the world and then to the Soviet people two hours after that.

Kim Jong Il



The North Korean dictator who drove his country into destitution and famine died of a heart attack on December 17, 2011, at the age of 69. State media in North Korea, however, did not announce his death until two days later on December 19. The delay was chalked up to political infighting and discussion on the makeup of the all-important funeral committee for the deceased leader. On the morning of December 19, the public was notified that a major announcement was coming in the afternoon. At noon, a TV news broadcast announced the death of Kim Jong Il and read out the 233 members of the funeral committee, topped by Kim Jong Un, his son and ultimately his successor. A year after Kim Jong Ils death, rumors still swirled about the circumstances surrounding it. A 2012 report in a South Korean newspaper said Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack sparked by a "fit of rage" over poor construction work at a hydroelectric power plant.
The suspects in an alleged gang rape last month in southeastern Kazakhstan are in custody and authorities there are on the defensive following a desperate social-media push by the victim's family to demand justice.

The 30-year-old victim's mother posted a video appeal after police in the rural town of Esik appeared to ignore the accusations of the brutal assault, in which she says the woman and a male relative were attacked leaving a karaoke cafe late one evening.

Shattering the silence that Kazakh activists say is far more common in the ethnically sprawling, mostly Muslim country of around 18 million, Gulbadar Musinova took to YouTube to detail the incident, accuse police of a cover-up, and counter a stigma.

"Why should I be ashamed?" the mother asks in the video (see below), fighting back tears. "Those men who raped my daughter should be ashamed, not us."

She alleged that one of the perpetrators was the son of an influential local official and that police were thus eager to sweep the case under the carpet.

The 3 1/2-minute video appeal prompted extensive coverage on national media and social media, with comments condemning the police along with the accused rapists.

No 'Forgiveness'

The way the Musinov family is dealing with the case is "unprecedented" in Kazakhstan, according to activist Dina Smailova, who recently launched an online campaign called NeMolchi.kz (Don't Stay Silent) encouraging rape victims to speak out and seek justice.

Official statistics are difficult to obtain, but Smailova says the vast majority of rapes in Kazakhstan go unreported. In many cases, she says, perpetrators settle the matter with the victim's family outside court through a practice known as "forgiveness."

Some people in Kazakhstan and elsewhere in Central Asia practice so-called bride kidnapping -- essentially marriage by abduction, frequently nonconsensual on the woman's side.

But Smailova, a former rape victim herself, praises the Musinov family's actions and says such determination can lead to convictions of rapists as well as of police officers who help cover up such crimes.

"It wasn't an oversight on the police's behalf, it was involvement in the crime," she adds, "because there were obvious suspects and obvious clues, including the car."

Claims Of Cover-Up

A visibly shaken Gulbadar Musinova gave a detailed account of the August 13 attack on her daughter, Zhibek, in the video and later to RFE/RL's Current Time.

She said Zhibek and a male relative who was accompanying her got into an argument with four men inside the local cafe before the four ambushed the pair outside. She said they beat up the young woman's relative, Rustam, then forced Zhibek into a car and sped away.

The mother said family members tracked down the car hours later and found the attackers and victim still inside, with her daughter "almost naked" and "screaming in pain."

A brother, Zholaman Musinov, told RFE/RL's Current Time that the family "detained two of them" on the spot and "two others ran away." The family handed over the suspects to authorities at the Esik district police station, not far from the scene of the alleged rape, he added.

But they were set free after a denial and, the mother insisted, a cover-up began "because one of the attackers is a relative of a high-ranking district official." She said the accused were "behaving like they can get away with anything."

She also complained of her daughter's treatment by doctors at Esik's hospital, where she was sent by the police for a medical examination.

The other victim in the attack, Rustam, "fears for his life" after receiving "threats" that include a caller warning him to "think about your family, your relatives," Musinova said.

But since Musinova posted the video and messages of support followed, regional authorities in the Almaty region have launched a new investigation and arrested four suspects.

The regional anticorruption agency has said it's looking into the allegations against the local police.

The "old stereotypes," activist Smailova says, are changing.

Meanwhile, in their modest house in Esik, the Musinov family stands by its decision to go public with information that some might regard as "shameful" in their society. What happened to my daughter should not happen to others, says the mother of the victim, adding, "We need to stop this."

Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL's Current Time correspondent Dmitriy Belyakov
A citizen of Kosovo has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for hacking the personal data of some 1,300 members of the U.S. government and military and sending it to Islamic State (IS) militants.

The U.S. Justice Department said on September 23 that Ardit Ferizi was arrested in Malaysia in 2015 and extradited to the United States.

It said in a statement that Ferizi, 20, pleaded guilty to the charges against him in a Virginia federal court in June.

"This case represents the first time we have seen the very real and dangerous national security cyberthreat that results from the combination of terrorism and hacking," the Justice Department statement said.

Court documents said that Ferizi -- who is also known as Th3Dir3ctorY -- hacked the computer server of a U.S. online retailer last year and stole personal information of about 1,300 U.S. military personnel and federal officials.

He then gave the list to British hacker Junaid Hussain, who the Justice Department described as "a now-deceased [IS] recruiter and attack facilitator."

Hussain posted a threatening tweet in August 2015 that said: "We are in your e-mails and computer systems, watching and recording your every move, we have your names and addresses."

Based on reporting by Reuters and voa.com
A Kyrgyz filmmaker says the fear of offending Moscow has thus far prevented officials from approving his film about the 1916 revolt against tsarist Russia that resulted in the deaths of at least 150,000 ethnic Kyrgyz.

Producer Mukhtar Atanliev said he submitted his film, Urkun, to the state Goskinofond nearly three weeks ago and has yet to get that body's approval to show the film in Kyrgyzstan. "I think...there is some fear [among the authorities] that the film may cause some issues between Russia and Kyrgyzstan," a frustrated Atanliev told RFE/RL.

Atanliev, who said previous films of his have taken only a few hours or days to gain approval, said none of the members at Goskinofond -- the entity that determines which films can be screened in Kyrgyzstan -- "have the guts" to issue permission for him to show Urkun.

The filmmaker had hoped the film would be in theaters in Kyrgyzstan on Independence Day on August 31 or by September 2, when the Kyrgyz government unveiled a Great Urkun monument to mark the event's centennial.

Some observers have linked a visit to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on September 16 by Russian President Vladimir Putin for a Commonwealth of Independent States summit as the reason Urkun has not been approved.

They suggest that having billboards around Bishkek promoting the film when the Russian delegation descends upon the capital could offend some Kremlin officials.

But Urmat Aytaliev, the head of Goskinofond, dismissed charges that his committee was dragging its feet in approving Urkun. He told RFE/RL on September 14 that a special commission would review the film within the next week. "We consider 10 or 20 films per month...and we are interested in showing [Urkun]," he said. "We cooperate with filmmakers and want to support them."

Central Asian 'Genocide'

The Great Urkun, which is an old Turkic word that means dispersal or scattering, occurred in various forms throughout Central Asia but was a direct reaction to aggressive Russian colonization of the region and the decision by the Russian government to force some 220,000 Central Asian men to join the tsarist Russian Army.

The notion of fighting for the colonial power was certainly not embraced by Central Asians and there was open resistance to conscription into the Russian Army.

St. Petersburg officials ordered Russian troops to quash the uprising, and the reprisals were bloody.

Some historians estimate as many as 250,000 Kyrgyz died in the uprising. A Kyrgyz public commission concluded on August 15 that the crackdown -- which took place during most of 1916 -- was genocide.

The commission's head, Azimbek Beknazarov, told reporters his commission's conclusion was based on data from archives provided by Russian and Chinese authorities.

In April, Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin rejected the genocide allegations in regard to the uprisings, saying that "all nations suffered 100 years ago."

Tens of thousands of Kyrgyz families fled their homes and left the land for safety in neighboring China, although many succumbed to starvation, freezing temperatures, and disease as they tried to outrun Russian forces.

Several of the mountain passes along the escape route taken by the Kyrgyz and within the Tien-Shan Mountains are still littered with the skeletons of people and livestock who didn't make it to China as winter came early in 1916.

'All Nations Suffered'

Atanliev's nearly two-hour film focuses on the travails of one Kyrgyz family as it flees with others toward the border as they are chased by Russian troops.

Medin Uchukeev, who directed the film, said the screenplay had been completed with the approval of historians, scholars, the Kyrgyz film department, and with ex-Culture Minister Altynbek Maksutov. Uchukeev told RFE/RL there was "no discrimination against any nationality" in the film.

Ethnic Russians, who in the 1959 census made up nearly one-third of the population of Kyrgyzstan, have slowly left the country since the break-up of the Soviet Union and currently account for about 8 percent of Kyrgyzstan's population.

"Kyrgyzstan has been talking for almost a year about the Urkun tragedy and what sufferings it brought to the Kyrgyz people -- that is exactly why we decided to shoot the film," Atanliev said. "So many archives have been opened, many books and articles have been written [and] they are all available in the newspapers and broadcast on radio stations. Our film probably shows just 5 percent of what has been written about the tragedy -- I do not understand why it is a big deal to issue the permission."

Although the revolt against Russian colonists and tsarist troops took part in various forms throughout Central Asia, the 100th anniversary of the insurrection is only being officially marked in Kyrgyzstan.

In Kazakhstan, then-Prime Minister Karim Masimov announced on August 12 that Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had agreed to return the skull of Keiki Batyr, a leader of the Kazakh national liberation movement in 1916, to Kazakh officials for burial. The skull of Batyr, who was murdered in 1923, is currently stored in a St. Petersburg museum.

But there was no official commemoration of the Urkun in Kazakhstan.

There likewise have been no official ceremonies in Tajikistan, the base of the fiercely anti-Russian Basmachi movement, which continued fighting Russian and Soviet forces until the 1930s.

With reporting by Bruce Pannier and the Kyrgyz Service's Zayyrbek Azhymatov and Venera Djumataeva
Lavon Volski is one of the most famous rock musicians in his country, but his fans dont hear his songs on the radio, nor can they see him live. Hes from Belarus, where his irreverent lyrics and non-conformist style are not allowed.

A keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist, Volski founded the band Mroja in 1981, and in the glasnost climate of the late 1980s in the Soviet Union, they became incredibly popular. When President Alyaksandr Lukashenka came to power in Belarus in 1994, Volskis criticism grew more strident and he founded a band called N.R.M, which is an acronym in Belarusian for Independent Republic of Dreams. Volski describes the band as a state within a state for all those who dont want to conform to the rules of President Lukashenka, who is often referred to as Europes last dictator. Volski has been banned from performing in Belarus since 2001.

His music is fueled by the rebelliousness of the rock/punk sound, and his lyrics are sharp, honest, often political, and sung in Belarusian, an added irritant to the authorities, who favor Russian as the lingua franca, though both languages have official status. Volskis music was described by one critic as the anthem of those who dream of a democratic and free Belarus.

An N.R.M. song from 2003



In addition to his numerous musical and creative projects, he also writes and performs cabaret-style satirical songs for RFE/RLs Belarus Service. Several times a month the service publishes a new song on a topical issue in Belarusian society, each featuring two characters created by Volski--a bureaucrat who serves as a government mouthpiece, and an opposition activist who argues with him, but using the same tired cliches Volski says the Belarusian opposition has developed over the last two decades.

"This reflects the situation in our society, Volski said. It is divided into those who approve and those who condemn, us and them.

One recent song was about Yury Chyzh, a wealthy businessman who is believed to have ties to Lukashenka. Another dealt with a proposal to raise the retirement age in Belarus.

Inspiration is everywhere here. Ideas are literally lying under your feet. You just need to pick them up and frame them properly, Volski said. The situation in Belarus has gone too far from the civilized world, but it provides plenty of material for parody.

In April 2016 Volski was recognized with the Freemuse award for promoting freedom of expression through music, which is awarded annually by the Sweden based organization, whose aim is to advocate and defend freedom of expression for musicians globally.

Music combined with lyrics has a strong impact on a person, said Volski. One song makes you jump around carefree, while another makes you reflect on how we live. You may cry after the third song, and the fourth one will make you laugh. Therefore, music can do a lot, including the promotion of democratic values, if thats the musicians goal.

--Emily Thompson
The presence of Kyrgyz and Tajik activists at an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) conference on human rights in Warsaw has sparked an official protest from Kyrgyzstan and student protests in Tajikistan.

The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said on September 23 that Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev had expressed his concerns to OSCE Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier regarding the presence of Kyrgyz citizen Kadyrzhan Batyrov at the conference.

Batyrov, an ethnic Uzbek who received political asylum in Sweden in 2011, addressed the OSCE conference on September 21. He criticized Bishkek's plans to amend the Kyrgyz constitution and the government's latest efforts to probe his escape from Kyrgyzstan in 2010.

In 2011, Batyrov received a life sentence in absentia on charges of inciting ethnic hatred and organizing deadly clashes between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010. He denies the charges.

Separately in Tajikistan, hundreds of pro-government university students have protested the presence of Tajik opposition and rights activists at the Warsaw conference.

On September 19, some 20 Tajik activists residing in Europe entered the conference when the human rights situation in Tajikistan was being discussed.

They wore T-shirts with portraits of Tajik opposition politicians and lawyers who were jailed in the country in recent months.

The OSCE conference opened September 19 and ends on September 29.


A Russian mechanized infantry unit has arrived in Pakistan to participate in two countries' first joint military exercise.

The press service for the Russian Southern Military Command said on September 23 that its unit had arrived for the Friendship-2016 exercise involving more than 70 Russian servicemen.

The exercise comes amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and its nuclear rival, India, and follows a military-cooperation agreement signed between Moscow and Islamabad in 2014.

Pakistani military spokesman Asim Bajwa said on Twitter that the exercise will kick off on September 24 and run through October 10.



Hasan Askari, a Pakistani defense and security analyst, told AFP that the exercise signifies Russia's desire "to expand (its) options in South Asia" and is the "natural" result of India's closer ties with Washington.

India and Pakistan exchanged accusations this week following a deadly militant attack on an army base Indian-administered Kashmir on September 18 in which at least 17 Indian soldiers and four attackers were killed.

India accused Pakistan of masterminding the attack, allegations that Islamabad condemned as "vitriolic and unsubstantiated statements" aimed at shifting attention away from rights abuses in Kashmir.

Based on reporting by TASS, AFP, and the BBC
5 Ukrainian artist Daria Marchenko gives the final touches to her work The Heart Of War in her studio in Kyiv. Cartridge casings from different caliber weapons from the eastern Ukrainian conflict zone were used to create the work. (epa/Roman Pilipey)
Reality has been hijacked. Facts are twisted. Confusion reigns. Welcome to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

A referendum called by the president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, over a seemingly innocent question -- whether January 9 should be celebrated as the entity's Statehood Day -- is set to take place on September 25.

Many observers in the Balkans see it as a dress rehearsal for an attempt to secede -- and thus the opening of a Pandoras box in the region. The Bosnian Constitutional Court has asked Republika Srpska to reconsider the choice of January 9, because it excludes the entitys non-Serbian population. It is not only an Orthodox holiday but marks the day in 1992 when a renegade Bosnian Serb assembly declared an independent Serbian state in Bosnia. Ignoring that recommendation, Dodik has decided to proceed with the referendum. He confirmed as much in an interview with RFE/RL.

In a video clip aired on Banjaluka TV, a young man named Stefan says that he was born during the war, that his father was killed, and that all he has left is his faith, his Orthodox holiday, and his homeland. The message is emotionally charged, but it strays from reality. In the clip, Stefan's Serbian father is a victim and a freedom fighter. Yet by far the biggest victims of the war were Bosnian Muslims. It appears that no one ever told Stefan who was responsible for wartime concentration camps, who engaged in systematic ethnic cleansing -- including the genocide at Srebrenica -- or which side took UN peacekeepers hostage.

However, Dodik's referendum was pushed out of the headlines this week by an interview given by Sefer Halilovic, the wartime commander of the Bosnian Army, that was being portrayed by some as the biggest threat to peace in Bosnia.

Talking to TV 1 in Sarajevo, Halilovic said the subversion of the Dayton peace accords -- for instance, through Dodiks defiance of the Constitutional Court or his insistence on holding a referendum over January 9 -- was dangerous. Halilovic even suggested that Republika Srpska could disappear as a result (its existence being guaranteed by Dayton).

We are not threatening anyone, but we will not allow anyone to break off a piece of Bosnia without trouble.... I am asking for them to think carefully [about what they are doing]. Milosevic is dead, the Yugoslav Army is no more, along with its thousands of tanks, armored vehicles.... Serbia cannot help Republika Srpska. We will not allow anyone to break up this country."

Halilovic is a retired general. He is running a fringe political party that has a single deputy in the Bosnian parliament. Even the Belgrade-based newspaper Blic admits that he is marginal character. Yet the Serbian foreign minister has chosen to make waves over Halilovics irresponsible comments, while Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic was considering cutting short his visit to the United States.

Bosnian professor Enver Kazaz explained the storm over Halilovics comments in an interview:

Dodik provoked Sefer Halilovic and exposed his political immaturity, which was then seized on by militant voices in Serbia as if the Bosnian Army was already massing along the border. In short, the current political establishment in the entire region is not to up to the job [and] is incapable of providing a vision of peace or contributing to the institutionalization of democratic practices.

Vucic told B92 on September 22 that he had been receiving private messages from (unnamed) world leaders urging him "not to react to the rhetoric coming out of Bosnia-Herzegovina." Vucic, speaking from New York, claimed that he had been told to ignore Halilovic, who is "irrelevant" and "a madman," but that he remained worried by the lack of public condemnation of Halilovics comments and "because there are more than a few who share his attitude."

Vucic added that Serbia "respects Bosnia-Herzegovinas integrity" but will "not allow Republika Srpska to be destroyed."

It is not clear how his comments might have been meant to be construed any differently -- or as any less as a veiled threat -- than Halilovics controversial remarks about protecting the integrity of Bosnia.

Meanwhile, Emir Kusturica, the controversial film director, wants to be sure that all the dirty laundry of the 1990s has been aired. In an interview with Srna, published by Nezavisne Novine, he said that the Bosniak member of the tripartite Bosnian Presidency, Bakir Izetbegovic, is following in the footsteps of his father, wartime Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic.

Kusturica claims that Alija Izetbegovics rejection of the "Cutileiro plan" -- the Lisbon agreement that proposed the division of Bosnia into ethnic (Muslim, Serbian, and Croat) districts -- allegedly on the urging of U.S. Ambassador Warren Zimmermann, was responsible for the outbreak of the war in Bosnia in 1992. "The same is true now. Everything that Bakir Izetbegovic is doing is aimed at destroying peace in Bosnia." He also called on all Serbs to come out to vote on September 25.

Half-truths are sometimes worse than lies.

In April 1992, Izetbegovic rejected the plan to divide the country along ethnic lines, but the war was started by the Bosnian Serb leadership -- including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic -- backed by the Yugoslav Army. What Kusturica did not say is that once Izetbegovic returned from another round of peace negotiations in Lisbon, on May 2, 1992, he was kidnapped by the Yugoslav Army at Sarajevo airport, the city was sealed off, and a full-scale war was unleashed by the Serb-led Yugoslav Army.

Kusturica, a Sarajevo native, was once celebrated as an award-winning film director. When he openly declared his support for Milosevic during the war in Bosnia, a former screenwriter, Abdulah Sidran, was under siege in Sarajevo. When people approached him to get his reaction, he stayed silent. When news arrived that Kusturica had been given a villa on the Montenegrin coast by Milosevic, Sidran was once again asked about it. His response was pithy: The man is crazy. He gained a house and lost a city.

Arguably, the storm over Halilovic's statement is entirely artificial. The September 25 referendum, on the other hand, is very real -- and potentially a real threat to Bosnias survival and to regional peace. Since the outcome is not in doubt, the choice of January 9 as Republika Srpskas official Statehood Day -- a red-letter day in the Serbian nationalist calendar -- will increase the gap between Serbs and non-Serbs in Bosnia.

Also real is the fear deliberately being sown by politicians -- fear that could stalk voters in the local elections on October 2.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL
The announcement of Uzbek President Islam Karimov's death at the start of this month seems to have touched off a chain reaction in Central Asia. After years of wondering what the succession processes would look like in the region, we are now getting a glimpse of how these things work.

To look at how these succession schemes are playing out, RFE/RL assembled a Majlis, a panel, to discuss the current efforts being made on behalf of a second head of state.

Moderating the discussion was RFE/RL Media Relations Manager Muhammad Tahir. From Scotland, we were joined by our friend Dr. Luca Anceschi, chair of the Central Asian Studies Center at the University of Glasgow. Participating from Washington was Erica Marat, assistant professor and director of the Homeland Defense Fellowship Program at the College of International Security Affairs of the National Defense University and author of numerous articles on Central Asia. And Bakhtiyor Nishanov, deputy director of Eurasia at the International Republican Institute from Washington D.C., also took part from Washington. I've been waiting for these moments in Central Asia for a couple of decades, so I was in on this also.

The focus of the talk was Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. All three countries took steps related to the position of the second leader of their countries.

The first to move was of course Uzbekistan, driven to action by the death of longtime leader Karimov. Authorities stalled on naming an interim leader in the first days after the September 2 announcement of Karimov's death.

Sidestepping The Constitution

Constitutionally, the powers of the president should have transferred to the chairman of the Senate, Nigmatullo [Nigmatillo] Yuldashev. Instead, at a joint session of parliament on September 8, Yuldashev declined the responsibility and urged that the job go to Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev.

Nishanov noted, "The constitution was specifically amended to prevent this kind of power grab, to prevent the prime minister coming in and just talking over."

Ignoring the constitution in Uzbekistan is nothing new. Authorities there disregarded the two-term presidential limit when Karimov was elected to a third term in 2007 and a fourth term in 2015. In both those cases the seven-year term also expired well before the elections were held.

Nishanov said Uzbekistan has demonstrated "complete disregard for the constitution" in this transition process, which may bode ill for the country's future.

But it's not just Uzbekistan.

Following the death of Turkmen Saparmurat Niyazov in late December 2006, the constitution of Turkmenistan was similarly overlooked. There, too, the chairman of the Senate was constitutionally next in line to take over as acting president. But that person, Ovezgeldy Ataev, was arrested shortly after the official announcement of Niyazov's death and Health Minister Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov was named acting leader.

Berdymukhammedov won the February 2007 presidential election despite a constitutional prohibition on an acting head of state running in such polls.

Authoritarian Agendas

Parliament passed amendments to Turkmenistan's constitution on September 15 that lifted an age limit (70 years) and extended the presidential term from five to seven years, paving the way for Berdymukhammedov to remain in power until he dies.

Anceschi said the constitutions the Central Asian states approved in the early 1990s were "in most cases highly presidential," and he added, "They've [the constitutions] been amended with authoritarian agendas in mind, and that entrenched even further authoritarian politics."

The amendments to Turkmenistan's constitution were passed less than two weeks after Karimov was officially declared dead. It is true the proposed changes to the constitution were first announced in early January and published, for "public discussion," in February. But the date for parliament to vote on the amendments was never entirely clear, only that it would happen in the second half of the year.

Karimov's death might have spurred Turkmenistan's second president to have the measures passed sooner.

Nazarbaev Shuffles The Deck



The death almost certainly seems to have affected the succession preparations in Kazakhstan.

"Seeing what happened over there in Uzbekistan, considering that [Kazakhstan's President Nursultan] Nazarbaev is only two years younger than Karimov it must have had some impact on his way of seeing the future," Anceschi said. He added, "I think that what we've seen in the last week is the beginning of a transition."

Nazarbaev started to shuffle government officials on September 8. Among the changes, Nazarbaev moved trusted ally Prime Minister Karim Masimov over to head the Committee for National Security [KNB]. Some saw this as a demotion but in Uzbekistan the relatively smooth transition of power has been overseen by the shadowy head the National Security Service, Rustam Inoyatov.

Nazarbaev might be imitating that strategy of a trusted figure being in charge of national security as a guarantee for the president's family after the president is gone. Masimov is additionally well suited to this job since he is part ethnic Uyghur and so cannot aspire to the presidency because that would risk angering neighbor and major trading partner China, as Beijing has been trying to suppress Uyghur nationalist sentiment in the western Xinjiang region [bordering Kazakhstan] for decades.

Grooming A Successor?

Nazarbaev named Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintaev as prime minister. Sagintaev emerged from relative political obscurity at the end of 2015, appearing ever more frequently in the media, and addressing an increasingly wide range of issues.He appears to have been groomed for something.

Nazarbaev's eldest daughter Darigha was appointed to the Senate on September 13, sparking speculation she might succeed her father. As in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, according to Kazakhstan's constitution the speaker of the Senate takes over in the event a president cannot perform the duties of office. Darigha is only a Senator now, but some feel it is just a matter of time before she rises to become speaker.

However, Marat said it was unlikely Darigha would ever be president. "When you look at Kazakhstan, I think the power transition is going to be different because in Kazakhstan the structure of the state and political elites is different," she said. "There's more competition and there is more bureaucracy, in the good sense of it."

"Tajikistan is the only contender for dynastic rule, power transfer, the son [of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon] is groomed to possibly become the next leader," she added.

It does seem that succession in Kazakhstan will be more complicated than in Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan. As Marat and Anceschi said, there are strong political and economic elites in Kazakhstan.

It also appears some of the transition team for the succession is taking shape, raising questions about what Nazarbaev is planning for the near future.

The Majlis discussed these issues in greater detail and looked at questions of popular acceptance for the second leaders, the durability of current policies, differences between an election and a coronation, a bit about the current situation in Kyrgyzstan, and other topics.

An audio recording of the Majlis can be heard here:

Listen to or download the Majlis podcast above or subscribe to Majlis on iTunes.




WASHINGTON -- Witnesses testifying at a U.S. congressional hearing on September 15 voiced deep concern about rising Russian influence and instability in Azerbaijan, as well as the continued forced closure of RFE/RLs bureau in Azerbaijans capital, Baku.

The hearing, entitled Azerbaijan: Do Human Rights Matter? was organized by the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, chaired by U.S. Representative James McGovern (D-MA), and took place just two weeks before a planned constitutional referendum that panelists and human rights groups have criticized for being held in the absence of independent media, opposing campaigning, and international monitors.

Investigative journalist, former political prisoner, and RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova told the hearing of the harsh conditions faced by journalists like herself who report on high-level corruption, pointing out that no [Azerbaijani] laws say that journalism is a crimeBut where critical journalism is concerned, it is really difficult to enforce the rule of law in Azerbaijan. Ismayilova addressed the hearing by video conference from her home in Baku, as she is currently barred by the government from traveling outside Azerbaijan.

In response to a question from Rep. McGovern about how the international community can help Azerbaijanis access accurate and factual news, Ismayilova noted that Radio Free Europe is the best America has done in Azerbaijan.

Ismayilova, who said 138 political prisoners are currently being held in Azerbaijani prisons, testified that repression inside the country has targeted pro-Western journalists, bloggers, politicians and civil society activists, as well as religious moderates. At the same time, she said, Russian media has its bureaus in Baku, while RFE/RL's Baku bureau is closed and its equipment has been confiscated illegally. Ismayilova also noted in her testimony that RFE/RL has been banned by the government from Azerbaijans domestic airwaves since 2009 -- a restriction that is not shared by Russias Sputnik radio station.

Richard Kauzlarich, who served as U.S. ambassador to Azerbaijan in the 1990s, declared that "quiet diplomacy has not worked as a means of persuading the government to tolerate greater freedoms. He urged Washington to consider recalling its ambassador in Baku, and imposing asset freezes and visa bans for officials involved in repressing journalists and activists.

Ismayilova was released from prison in May this year after being arrested in December, 2014 on charges that are widely believed to have been brought in retaliation for her reporting about corruption linked to family members and friends of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. That same month, RFE/RLs Baku bureau was raided and sealed by government agents in connection with tax-related claims that RFE/RL has called baseless.
WASHINGTON -- The president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) met on September 6 with Armenias president and called for a rapid and transparent investigation of a July 29 attack on three RFE/RL correspondents in Yerevan.

Thomas Kent also expressed satisfaction that RFE/RLs Armenian Service is normally able to operate in Armenia with substantial journalistic freedom, covering local news and interviewing both government and opposition figures. The service is active on television, radio and the internet.

In an interview with the Armenian Service after the meeting, Kent said he told President Serzh Sarkisian that RFE/RLs freedom to operate in Armenia makes the July attack even more surprising.

RFE/RL staff members Karlen Aslanian, Hovannes Movsisian and Garik Harutiunian were attacked by men in plainclothes wielding sticks and metal bars. The reporters were providing reporting and live video of violent clashes between riot police and supporters of opposition gunmen who had seized a police compound.

The reporters were wearing press identification. More than a dozen other Armenian journalists were targeted in the attacks, which U.S. Ambassador Richard Mills called particularly troubling during a July 30 interview with RFE/RL.

I told the president, as I have said before, that RFE/RL expects there to be a full investigation into this case, said Kent. He told me that some people have been arrested already, and I said that we would be looking forward to the progress of that case.

At the meeting, Sarkisian also criticized RFE/RLs coverage of the two-week standoff between security forces and gunmen who seized the police station, killing a police officer. He said coverage was not neutral and objective enough.

I responded that RFE/RL always tries to be fair and objective in its coverage, Kent said in this regard. Clearly whenever we are criticized, we listen carefully to the criticism and if improvements in our coverage need to be made, they will be.
Washington think-tank CSIS and RFE/RL partnered to convene an expert session on September 7 on "Regime Succession In Uzbekistan," with guests Eric McGlinchey of George Mason University; Sebastien Peyrouse of George Washington University; Bruce Pannier, RFE/RL Senior Correspondent; and Alisher Sidikov, Director of RFE/RL's Uzbek Service.

In a wide-ranging discussion, panelists discussed the country's likely leadership scenario for the short-term, and how numerous issues factor into Uzbekistan's longer-term governance, including public expectations, internal patron-client relationships, relations with Moscow, China's interests, and religious extremism. There was consensus that the status quo will continue for the next six months, but opinions differed over the future of Karimov's legacy and what will happen next.

Watch The Video Here


Moscow with Milorad Dodik, the president of Bosnia-Herzegovina's autonomous Republika Srpska (RS) region.

The TASS news agency said the two leaders discussed "the situation in the Balkans and bilateral interaction" during the September 22 meeting.

Dodik said ahead of his trip that he was going to Moscow to discuss economic issues and cooperation with Russia.

He added that the two would also discuss a controversial planned referendum on September 25 on establishing a national day in RS, which has raised tensions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, of which the Republika Srpska is one of the country's two entities.

Bosnia's Constitutional Court has ruled that "Statehood Day" in mainly ethnic Serbian Srpska discriminates against ethnic Croats and Bosniaks because January 9 coincides with an Orthodox Christian holiday.

January 9 is also the day in 1992 when Bosnian Serbs proclaimed a Serbian state separate from Bosnia, one of the causes of the bloody Bosnian war that began just a few months later.

Dodik has said the referendum would be held regardless of the decision by the Sarajevo high court, which said the vote should be scrapped.

Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, B92, and Reuters


It has only been a few days since 34-year old Anna Kuznetsova replaced scandal-plagued Pavel Astakhov as Russia's children's rights commissioner, but she has already become embroiled in a controversy of her own.

Kuznetsova, who replaced Astakhov due to the fallout over his tendency to make callous, off-the-wall comments, is under the microscope for her alleged views on reproduction.

In a 2009 interview with Penza Medical Portal, a psychologist working as a "pre-abortion consultant" identified as Anna Kuznetsova discusses abortions and telegony, a widely debunked theory that every sexual partner a woman has ever had can physically and emotionally influence a child she gives birth to.

The theory -- which dates back to ancient Greece and was popular in the Middle Ages -- is often used to persuade women not to have premarital sex.

"Based on the relatively new science of telegony, we can say that the womb's cells have information-wavelength memory," the interviewee is quoted as saying. "So these cells remember everything that happened in them. For instance, if a woman has several partners, there is a significant chance of a baby being born weakened due to the mixing of information. This fact has an especially strong influence on the morals of a future child."

"An abortion, in its turn, is also a serious shock for a wanted baby, because the cells remember the fetus's fear before abortion -- they remember death."

Kuznetsova, a psychologist and mother of six children, told the RBK news portal she "doesn't remember" saying anything like that, and suggests that the topic was not something she was qualified to discuss.

"You know, it's a story of quite dubious origin," she said. "Besides, it seems like a qualified biologist, at the least a PhD, is speaking [in the interview]. I don't express myself like that," Kuznetsova said.

One 'Positive' Note

Her husband, Aleksei Kuznetsov, a senior priest in Penza Oblast, some 600 kilometers southeast of Moscow, also cast doubt on the interview.

"Some of our Penza journalists like to embellish their creations and add their thoughts to the article," he wrote on Facebook, speaking about local reports on the 2009 interview. Kuznetsov added that telegony is not a science and neither he, nor his wife "recognize its postulates, because there is a clear position of the church on the matter."

He did, however, find one positive note.

"I am happy that the commentators, without realizing it, promoted the topic of abstinence and morality :)," Kuznetsov wrote.

Tatyana Popadeva, the journalist who conducted the 2009 interview, confirmed that she had interviewed Kuznetsova, and defended her work while noting that people can change their mind or forget things from their past.

"We are not tale-tellers, we don't fantasize, don't embellish, don't invent," she said of journalists in an interview with the local 1PNZ news portal. "However, I want to protect my compatriots Anna and Aleksei Kuznetsov. Human memory is imperfect.... Can you imagine how many books you can read in seven years? How many of them can be scientific? In this time anyone of us could change their mind and worldview by 180 degrees."

Popadeva offered to conduct a new interview with Kuznetsova, noting the importance of her new position guaranteeing a precise account of the conversation. Popadeva concluded by saying: "Lying, it is a great sin for anyone."

The extent to which Kuznetsova's position has changed over the last seven years has been of little importance to many on Russian social media.

"Telegony of womb cells: do not forget, do not forgive!" tweeted financial analyst Slava Rabinovich.

"In the U.S., they're presenting the new iPhone, and we have telegony and a womb with wavelength memory," tweeted another user.

Amid the uproar, Pavel Chikov, a prominent Russian lawyer and rights advocate, alleged a new potentially damaging revelation about Kuznetsova. In a tweet, he claimed that she was a member of a group on VKontakte titled: "HIV/AIDS -- the biggest mystification of the XX century."

"I'd like to remind you that there are more than one million HIV-positive children in Russia and there is no money for their treatment," Chikov added.
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
MOSCOW -- She has defended Soviet policies, seemed to praise Josef Stalin, and stressed the importance of fostering "spiritual values" in the young generation.

Critics of Russia's new education minister say her appointment is a disturbing sign of the times  a signal that President Vladimir Putin's emphasis on "tradition" and espousal of the Russian Orthodox Church as a moral compass during his third term are encroaching on everyday life in what the constitution says is a secular state.

With Putin's blessing, Olga Vasilyeva was appointed to head the Ministry of Education and Science on August 19, less than two weeks before the start of the school year on September 1.

Vasilyeva, 56, has promised to support teachers, who struggle to get by on state salaries. But many in Russia, from educators to liberal commentators, say that her defense of Soviet policies and ties to the Orthodox faith make her a questionable choice to head one of the biggest networks of secular academic institutions in the world.

"I've got just one question: What does this person have to do with secular education?" Aleksandr Plyushchev, a prominent journalist with Ekho Moskvy radio, said in a blog on August 22.

A historian of the Russian Orthodox Church, Vasilyeva wrote her doctoral dissertation on The Russian Orthodox Church In Soviet State Policy In 1943-1948. In 2002, during Putin's first term as president, she became head of the religious studies department at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.

'History, Traditions, Spiritual Values'

Vasilyeva, who met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill on August 29, is a former head of the Center for the History of Religion and the Church at the Institute of Russian History, part of the country's Academy of Sciences. Before her new appointment, she had been a deputy chief of the Putin administration's Public Projects Directorate since 2013.

According to a report that year in the Kommersant daily, the 30-person presidential directorate was created in 2012, after Putin's return to the Kremlin, to promote patriotism by disbursing grants for public projects and coordinating policies encouraging patriotism in the regions.



Vasilyeva has come under fire from critics for suggesting that some estimates of the number of people who suffered or died during Stalin's oppressive rule are exaggerated.

"The most important thing for the people who came in 1991 was to cross out the history of the Soviet period, blacken the past, remove from society's consciousness the truth of traditions, the pride in the greatness of our country," she was quoted as saying in a speech in July, adding that "we did not speak about patriotism from 1991 to 2002"



The most reliable foundation for the future "was and remains patriotism," she was quoted as saying. "This is respect for our history, traditions, spiritual values. Remember 1934, when Stalin said that we now have a fatherland, we have a history."

'Orthodoxy, Autocracy, Nationality'

Commentator Aleksandr Golts placed Vasilyeva in the tradition of Sergei Uvarov, a minister under the conservative, repressive 19th-century Tsar Nicholas I, who is said to have coined a three-word formula for the Russian state's priorities in educating the people: "Orthodoxy, Autocracy, and Nationality."

"A century and a half later, the Russian authorities have fulfilled the covenant of Count Uvarov and linked autocracy and Orthodoxy together in public education," Golts wrote. "The new minister personifies this union."

A source close to the previous education minister unleashed blunter criticism of Vasilyeva's appointment, calling it a "spit in the direction of modernizing ideas" in an anonymous comment to the newspaper Vedomosti.

Andrei Illarionov, a former Putin adviser who is now an outspoken critic of the Russian president, called her appointment on August 19 a "symbolic act" timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the botched hard-line coup against reformist Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The unsuccessful putsch hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union, which Putin once called the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.

Nationalists have leaped to Vasilyeva's defense, lambasting liberals in the process.

"With her appointment, we expect deep changes in the very approaches to education and enlightenment of Russian youth," prominent commentator Aleksandr Prokhanov wrote in a column in the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia.

"The whole liberal gang has risen up against her appointment. She has been slandered in newspapers and on radio stations. They insult and humiliate, practically calling her a fascist," he wrote. "I don't doubt that Olga Vasilyeva will make it through this severe test because it is not only she who is going through this test, but our whole country."


The ruling United Russia party won the September 18 State Duma elections by a landslide, according to official results. United Russia is on track to win well over 300 seats in the lower house of parliament, far more than the 238 it holds now. The three other largely loyal parties in the current Duma will also remain, while liberal Kremlin opponents were kept out. Here are six key takeaways from the elections:

Putin's Tightening Grip

President Vladimir Putin said the dominant United Russia party got a "good result" -- and that may be an understatement. With well over 300 State Duma seats in the hands of his loyal party, according to projections, Putin heads into the 2018 presidential election with even tighter control over the legislature -- one of the chief tools of his rule. He can use the Duma at will to enact legislation designed to protect his hold on power, guarantee its extension, and thwart potential rivals.

Putin at any rate would have no problem winning a new six-year Kremlin stint if he seeks reelection, as expected. But under the constitution he would be unable to run again until 2030, when he will be 78, making him something of a lame duck the moment his fourth term begins. A constitutional majority makes it easier for Putin to rewrite the rule book -- whether he wants to engineer a trouble-free succession, remain president for life, or choose some other path to maintain power.

Turnout Trick Works...

With Russia's economic problems denting the reputation of a party whose strong suit has always been Putin's support, the Kremlin uncorked several measures to keep United Russia from losing its hold on the Duma. Chief among them, observers say, were efforts to ensure a low overall turnout, including by moving the elections from December to September, shortening the campaign, and catching voters at the tail end of summer when they would be less likely to vote. This gave more weight to the ballots of voters vulnerable to manipulation, such as state workers, soldiers, and even psychiatric-hospital patients.

This tactic appears to have worked: Official nationwide turnout was 47.81 percent, far short of the 60 percent recorded in 2011, when the state had to turn to what critics say was massive fraud to boost United Russia's result, sparking big protests that unnerved the Kremlin. Turnout was even lower in big cities where government opponents and Russians eager for change are concentrated: About 35 percent in Moscow, a record low, and even lower in Putin's hometown of St. Petersburg.

...Or Does It?

For United Russia, the low turnout comes at a potentially high price in terms of legitimacy. When putting down liberal opponents, Putin frequently touts the importance of majority rule, but the simple mathematics of this election mean that the Duma will be representing less than half of Russia's voters for the first time in its post-Soviet history. Low turnout means that while United Russia will have more seats in the new Duma, its popular mandate is weaker than it was before. That may not be much of a headache for Putin, who is enjoying approval ratings above 80 percent and can use that popularity gap to keep United Russia in line by reminding the party that it serves at his pleasure -- not the other way around.

But the low turnout creates another problem for Putin. While the Kremlin cast these elections as a step forward for democracy, it has left millions of Russians without a voice, potentially reinforcing the feelings of powerlessness and disenfranchisement that fueled the protest movement of 2011-12.

Opposition Blues

For the first time since 2003, half the 450 Duma seats were filled by direct elections in individual "single-mandate" district races rather than by party list. This change was tantalizing for Kremlin opponents because it cracked the door to the Duma open, in theory enabling independent candidates -- and those whose parties had no chance of clearing the 5 percent threshold in the party-list voting -- to win seats.

In practice, that didn't happen: Not a single liberal opposition candidate won a seat. Dmitry Gudkov, the last liberal opposition lawmaker left in the current Duma, lost a Moscow race to Gennady Onishchenko, a controversial and Kremlin-loyal former chief public-health official, and Maria Baronova, one of several candidates backed by exiled former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, also fell short.

The elections leave both politicians and citizens who oppose Putin with no clear answer to a question that divided the opposition before the vote: Is it better to take part in the elections, hoping to force change against the odds, or to steer clear of what Kremlin foes like Garry Kasparov call a sham in which any participation only plays into Putin's hands. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is likely to claim that it took a step toward greater democracy and point at the result as evidence that its liberal opponents have little public backing.

Hidden Threat?

While no liberal opposition figures won a Duma seat from a "single-mandate" district, several candidates whose resumes suggest they will be staunch Putin loyalists did. Along with Onishchenko, they include anti-gay-rights St. Petersburg lawmaker Vitaly Milonov and pro-Kremlin TV journalist and executive Pyotr Tolstoi. But the revival of the "single-mandate" races could pose a threat to Putin's power, at least in the long run. Some Kremlin critics argue that because they had to win votes and outperform specific opponents, these Duma deputies will be more independent -- and less likely to toe the line -- than those who are beholden to United Russia after being granted seats based on their places on a party list.

Foreign Factor

After evidence of widespread violations in the December 2011 State Duma elections sparked street protests and criticism from the West, the 2016 vote -- the first since Putin's return to the presidency in 2012 after four years as prime minister -- was seen as a chance for the Kremlin to mend its reputation by holding a clean vote. It came at a crucial time, with Russia seeking to decrease its isolation and shed Western sanctions over its aggression in Ukraine by dismantling U.S. and EU unity over the measures. Longtime rights activist Ella Pamfilova replaced the previous Central Election Commission chief, Vladimir Churov, whose seeming ability to conjure up votes for the Kremlin earned him the nickname "the magician."

But the elections appear unlikely to sway foreign governments that see Putin's Russia as deeply undemocratic. There are plenty of allegations of fraud, ranging from multiple voting and ballot-stuffing, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) findings were far from a vote of confidence: The head of the OSCE monitoring mission said the biased state media, the Kremlin's tightening grip on civil society, and restrictions on basic rights marred the election.

In Western eyes, its legitimacy is also undermined by the fact that voting was held in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014 after deploying troops and staging a referendum condemned by a majority of countries. The United States said on September 17 that it "does not recognize the legitimacy, and will not recognize the outcome, of the Duma elections planned for Russian-occupied Crimea."
A photograph has appeared on social media that appears to show a senior Russian general using a fake quotation attributed to former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney declaring Washington's intention to "destroy Russia."

Russian journalist Ostap Karmodi, who is a contributor to RFE/RL's Russian Service, posted a photograph showing General Sergei Kuralenko, who commanded Russia's military operation in Syria, giving a presentation in Moscow on September 7 with the quotation projected on a screen behind him.

The source of the photograph has asked not to be identified, but Karmodi told RFE/RL that "I got the photograph from a person that I trust completely."

Russian journalist Aleksei Kovalyov -- who runs the Noodle Remover website, which debunks Russian disinformation, and who wrote an article on the photograph -- told RFE/RL that he knew the image was taken by "a trusted source, a journalist who was present at the roundtable."

The slide, in Russian, says that Romney declared in 2012 that "our target is Russia."

"It is a wild country that threatens not just the United States. Russia presents a threat to all of humanity," the purported quote reads.

"Our goal is to force Russia to consume itself from within, bringing chaos and strife to its society. We will make Russia take up arms. We will set the Chechens, Tatars, Bashkirs, Daghestanis against one another. We must make them fight each other. We must intensify our efforts to discredit the Russian Orthodox Church," it continues.

"If none of this works, we will have no choice but to declare a swift and victorious war on Russia. We destroyed the U.S.S.R. and we will destroy Russia," it concludes.

There is no evidence in available sources that Romney ever said anything like this, although he did say repeatedly during the 2012 presidential campaign that Russia was the United States' "No. 1 geopolitical foe."

The fake quotation, however, has appeared on dubious Russian websites and blogs repeatedly over the last few years. The same quotation has also been attributed to former U.S. national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.

Kuralenko was speaking at an academic forum, titled Army-2016, sponsored by the Russian Defense Ministry. The title of his roundtable was Russia In A Changing World: Challenges, Dangers, Threats.

The quotation is in the spirit of the so-called Dulles Plan, another conspiracy theory that has been used by Russian politicians in recent months as evidence of U.S. ill-will toward Russia.

The Dulles Plan, attributed to Eisenhower-era U.S. CIA chief Allen Dulles, is supposedly a secret plan to break up the Soviet Union by using fifth columnists to undermine the society's morals and heritage.

It originated in a 1971 Russian novel but has been repeatedly used as factual by top politicians and public figures, including Liberal Democratic Party of Russia head Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leftist presidential economy adviser Sergei Glaziyev, and filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.

Samara Oblast Governor Nikolai Merkushkin cited the Dulles Plan last month in an election-campaign speech in which he criticized opposition politician and anticorruption activist Aleksei Navalny as "devoted to Uncle Sam."
MOSCOW -- Russia plans to create a super security agency called the Ministry of State Security (MGB), the name once given to Josef Stalin's Soviet spy apparatus before it was renamed the KGB after his death, Kommersant newspaper reports.

The business daily's September 19 story is based on anonymous sources and could not be independently verified. The report has been neither confirmed nor denied officially, and President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has declined to comment.

Speaking to RFE/RL, two leading experts on Russia's security services and a former KGB lieutenant colonel now in the opposition said variously that the reform was "entirely possible," "certainly plausible," and "very likely."

"I think this is one of the projects that appear to be on the president's table, because in principle the idea of some kind of enlargement of the power agencies has been coming up recently," said Andrei Soldatov, the editor and founder of the investigative website Agentura.ru.

The Kommersant report suggested the changes could make the management of security and law enforcement agencies more "effective" and help stamp out corruption inside the agencies.

In July, the paramount domestic security agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB), carried out searches of the Russian Investigative Committee's Moscow headquarters and arrested senior employees over allegations they were shielding a crime boss from prosecution in return for bribes.

Return Of The KGB?

Kommersant claimed the reform would be carried out before the presidential election due in March 2018 that could also be brought forward following the ruling party's landslide victory in parliamentary polls on September 18.

The report said the monolithic new ministry would be shaped around the FSB and would also comprise the Federal Protection Service (FSO) and the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).

It said the agency would effectively resemble the Soviet Union's Committee for State Security (KGB), where Putin served from 1975 to 1990, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. The KGB was broken up into separate agencies in 1991 during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"Essentially, this is a case of bringing the band back together," said Mark Galeotti, a senior research fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Prague and an expert on Russia's security services. "The suggestion is that a presidential security service will remain outside it. But basically speaking, this ministry would reconstitute the KGB in all its aspects."

The MGB would be given sweeping new powers not only to provide investigative material for cases opened by law enforcement, but also to supervise the cases, the report said. Its investigative department would take charge of the most resonant criminal cases of the day, it continued -- and a Kommersant source specifically said that would include corruption investigations.

The report follows a major law enforcement shakeup in April with the creation of the National Guard, a new body that oversees Interior Ministry troops, OMON riot police, and SOBR special forces. The Federal Migration Service (FMS) and Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) were also folded into the Interior Ministry at the time.

"Earlier, Putin believed in a form of bureaucratic pluralism," Galeotti said. "Multiple agencies overlapping that could be played off against each other and that also could keep each other honest."

"Now we're seeing a different model of governance with a handful of superagencies under people he feels he can trust. I think that's where this fits. It's really more about concerns over the elite," he said.

'Monopolization Of Power'

The report also said that the Investigative Committee -- which styled itself as a Russian version of the FBI but whose star appears to be waning -- may be folded into the Prosecutor-General's Office. If true, that development would appear to chime with a Russian media report on September 14 predicting Aleksandr Bastrykin's imminent departure from his post as chief of the Investigative Committee.

Gennady Gudkov, a former KGB colonel and liberal opposition politician who was expelled from the last convocation of the State Duma, told RFE/RL's Russian Service that he believed the Kommersant report.

"I think this news is very likely, since last night the country made a decision -- to pursue the worst-case scenario. It is entirely clear that the country has gone from authoritarian to totalitarian. This happened on the night from September 18 to 19," Gudkov said in a reference to the ruling party's victory in weekend parliamentary elections.

Putin's United Russia party secured a constitutional majority with 76 percent of seats in the State Duma, while not a single independent opposition voice was elected. "The monopolization of power today has evidently reached a peak," Gudkov said.

The MGB was the abbreviation given to the security service under Stalin from 1946 to 1953.

The Kommersant report noted that the reform would be costly and that simply paying compensation to employees unprepared to work in a new structure might cost tens of billions of rubles.

There is speculation on social media that the possible creation of a powerful KGB-style agency indicates that Putin fears protests during the 2018 elections. Soldatov, however, said that serious reform might conversely spawn transitional chaos in security structures, with staff trying to hold onto their jobs rather than actually work.

"To be honest, I don't understand why they would create this chaos ahead of an event like the 2018 election, which is crucial for the Kremlin. I have a feeling there is a desire to demonstrate the trend of strengthening the special services in order to calm the first man -- and that is all," Soldatov said in a reference to Putin.

Galeotti also said the creation of a super security agency could pose dangers to Putin. He noted that in the Soviet period the Communist Party was careful to maintain control over the KGB.

"You haven't got those institutions now. There will be nothing really significantly outside this ministry that Putin can use, short of the army, to actually control the ministry," Galeotti said.

"Secondly, one of Putin's biggest problems at the moment is that essentially people tell him what he wants to hear. And I think the more you narrow the range of agencies providing information for Putin, the more the politicization of intelligence is going to be a problem."

With reporting by Lyubov Chizhova of RFE/RL's Russian Service
Bulat Barantayev is calling for the impeachment of Russian President Vladimir Putin and for all corrupt officials to be tried and imprisoned.

But that's not why he has no chance of winning a legislative mandate in Russia's September 28 Duma elections.

Barantayev, by his own admission, won't be representing Novosibirsk from the liberal Parnas coalition because he is one of the first openly gay men to run for the Duma in modern Russian history.

"For a long time now, I have used all opportunities to cultivate an audience for accepting LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] people," Barantayev told RFE/RL when asked why he was running in a race he is certain he can't win. "By my example, I show that gays in Russia can create their own successful businesses, can meet with people, can have children, and can even run for the State Duma."

Aleksei Korolyov is another openly gay man on the Parnas ticket in the southern city of Krasnodar. He is also realistic about his chances but confident his candidacy is a step forward for Russia.

"The LGBT community now is in a desperate situation," he told RFE/RL, "and we need allies. It is good that we have been able to form an alliance with Parnas. The LGBT community gets new resources to defend itself and the party should get some new voters.... I decided to run because the ruling party has adopted an extreme homophobic position. The authorities are facilitating a homophobic discourse in society that is inciting hate crimes."

Moved To Action

Both Barantayev and Korolyov were moved to public action by Russia's 2013 law banning the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relationships" to minors.

"The mechanism that the authorities are using to foster homophobia in society is very primitive," Barantayev said. "The LGBT community has been branded as enemies in order to divert the public's attention from real economic and political problems."

Barantayev, 33, has been open about his sexuality since he was 25, and in 2011 he created the local nongovernmental GORD gay-advocacy organization.

In 2009, he was inspired when opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead in Moscow in 2015, made a quixotic run to become mayor of the city of Sochi. He joined Nemtsov's Solidarity movement, the first step on his road to the current campaign.

Korolyov, 29, has been a gay-rights activist in the southern city of Krasnodar since 2012.

"For four years, I have been working to establish relations between the LGBT community and various democratic organizations, including the Yabloko party," he said. "Before the passage of the 'gay propaganda' law, many democrats said the topic isn't important and society won't respond positively. Now everyone understands that the LGBT community needs support."

The liberal Yabloko party even included support for the rights of sexual minorities as a plank in its party platform. Parnas, however, did not.

"Unlike Yabloko, our party is struggling to survive. We can't afford to get into particulars," Barantayev said when asked why. "Even in this silence, the democratic values of Parnas include the defense of LGBT rights."

Playing The Long game

Barantayev said that he doesn't feel in danger running for parliament.

"I am risking less than other candidates from our party," he said. "The leader of the Novosibirsk branch of Parnas, Yegor Savin, is under tremendous pressure. His assistant was recently assaulted. People who are distributing his leaflets have been threatened over the phone. The building where his business is located was set on fire."

"I'm of no interest to local officials, the police, or the United Russia party," Barantayev added. "The authorities believe there is no chance I'll be elected in today's Russia. So they don't pay any attention to me."

This contrasts sharply with his past experience of merely being gay in Russia.

"I have been attacked," he said. "I was called and summoned to the mayor's office in response to my application to hold an LGBT event. But outside the building, I was jumped by thugs and beaten up. When I return home late, young men that I don't know call me by name and shout obscenities. Because of the attacks, I am a little afraid to be out in public sometimes. But I don't have a victim complex. They treat us the way we let them treat us."

Both men are playing the long game and are optimistic that time is on their side.

"Maybe I'll be elected to the eighth Duma [in 2021]," Korolyov said. "We can't hide and be afraid. The discriminatory law has activated the LGBT community and has spurred development. We recognize that if we don't do politics, politics will do us."

In Novosibirsk, Barantayev also sees progress.

"These days, the best journalists come to LGBT events and report about them properly and positively," he said. "In 2016, being a homophobe is the same as having 'I'm a provincial rube' tattooed on your forehead."

Asked about pro-Kremlin television personality Dmitry Kiselyov, who notoriously said the organs of gays should be burned rather than used for transplants, Barantayev said: "Kiselyov is the opinion leader of provincials. He does not determine what happens tomorrow."


SAMARA, Russia -- The CIA has Russias Samara Oblast in its crosshairs. At least that is what the governor, Nikolai Merkushkin, wants voters to think.

In the run-up to September 18 elections to the State Duma, Merkushkin has been working hard to portray the vote as a stark choice between the ruling United Russia party and a U.S. intelligence agency that is bent on tearing Russia apart.

In April, the U.S. ambassador to Russia -- hes the main specialist in organizing Orange Revolutions  came here and he studied the situation, Merkushkin told voters on August 10. And they have one goal -- to undermine confidence in the authorities. In this regard, we must all take the elections with the utmost seriousness.

Two days later, Merkushkin targeted U.S. Ambassador John Tefft again, claiming that the envoy examined Tolyatti, an industrial city in the region, but saw that no sparks could come from here in order to spread the conflagration to the whole country.

That is why the CIA decided to go after all of Samara Oblast, he concluded.

But Merkushkins electioneering assertions come at a time of particularly strained relations between Moscow and Washington, with tensions mounting since Russias seizure of Crimea in March 2014 and the start of its active military support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

On August 30, the governor said opposition politician and anticorruption activist Aleksei Navalny was trained in the United States and is devoted to Uncle Sam -- something Russian officials and pro-Kremlin pundits have been telling the people for years.

Merkushkin took it a step further by saying that Navalny is attempting to carry out the Dulles Plan, apparently a reference to a 1993 book ascribing to Cold War-era CIA chief Allen Dulles an alleged scheme to use agents within the Soviet Union to break it up into many small nations. That fictional plot has been presented as reality by numerous Russian politicians and public figures in recent years, including Liberal Democratic Party of Russia leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leftist presidential economic adviser Sergei Glazyev, and filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov.

On August 17, Merkushkin made the most detailed presentation of his claims so far, asserting that the CIA had hacked Samara Oblasts e-mail system in order to distribute false information to voters and undermine their confidence in the authorities. He also claimed that the CIA is keeping global energy prices low so that the Russian government will not have enough money to pay pensions.

Why did they come to us? Merkushkin asked, referring to the region on the Volga River. Why not Moscow or St. Petersburg or Kazan or Yekaterinburg? We believe the main reason is that for many years we have been the main testing ground for Western experiments. The main testing ground.

Merkushkin, 61, previously served five terms as the authoritarian leader of the nearby Mordovia region. In the early 2000s, he made the mistake of developing ties with oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. After Khodorkovsky was arrested, imprisoned, and dispossessed, Merkushkin had to work hard to demonstrate his loyalty to President Vladimir Putins Kremlin.

In a way, Merkushkins claims make him Putin writ small. In power as president or prime minister since 2000, Putin has persistently sought to boost his popularity and consolidate power by portraying Russia as a defiant country resisting U.S. efforts to bring it to its knees.

Merkushkin is renowned within Russia for his endurance-testing appearances before the press, often lecturing journalists for as long as five hours.

His gruff style came out during a meeting with voters earlier this month in which a woman complained that she hadnt received wages in more than a year and asked when the money would come.

Well, I want to tell you, Merkushkin said abruptly. If you are going to speak in such a tone, [the answer is] never. Never! Go ask the people who are inciting you.

In 2012, Putin moved Merkushkin to Samara following United Russias poor performance in the region in the 2011 elections to the Duma, Russias lower parliament house. In that race, turnout in Samara was just 52.9 percent and only 39.1 percent voted for United Russia. (Nationally, turnout was officially 60 percent and United Russia was credited with 49.3 percent of the vote.)

Meanwhile, the Communist Party made one of its strongest showings in Samara Oblast, winning over 23 percent of the vote in 2011.

By comparison, in Merkushkins Mordovia, official turnout was 94.2 percent, with 91.6 percent endorsing the ruling party. Only Chechnya produced more Kremlin-friendly results.

Merkushkin seems to have brought his election magic -- or methods -- to Samara. In 2014, he ran for election as governor and managed to poll 91.4 percent.

Samara regional legislator Mikhail Matveyev ran against Merkushkin in 2014 and has bitter memories of the experience.

The last election campaign showed that you cant consider Merkushkin a sincere person, Matveyev told RFE/RL. When the voting came and they began stealing votes from the other candidates, it was clear that the governor had set himself the goal of getting 90 percent, even though his polling was about 70 percent. I would guess that he converted that 70 percent into 90 percent just out of pure egotism.

But there is evidence that Merkushkin is under pressure from the Kremlin to produce the right result without outright violations. Vyacheslav Volodin, a powerful first deputy chief of staff to Putin, and Central Election Commission (CEC) head Ella Pamfilova have both repeatedly promised a fair and transparent vote.

Pamfilova told a Moscow press conference that about one-seventh of all the election complaints received by the CEC to date have come from Samara Oblast, including many from United Russia candidates who allege Merkushkin promoted his people during the partys primary.

I see this as the clash of two different points of view at the top, Anton Rubin, who is running for the Duma from the liberal Yabloko party, told RFE/RL. Pamfilova is fighting for fair elections and [Merkushkin] is absolutely ignoring her. The human rights commission and the CEC have sent delegation after delegation down here, but they have had no effect. Merkushkin still appears five times a day at state enterprises. He still uses Samara state television like his personal channel, despite all the election laws. It is an interesting case to see who will beat whom, but for now it is clear that [Merkushkin] is winning.

And if the stick of alleged CIA plots is not enough to bring out the vote, Merkushkin has been trying a carrot, as well. He frequently tells voters that in the near future we will have to fight for every ruble from the federal budget and that will be very difficult without convincing arguments.

If the region gives 97 percent to United Russia, he said on August 24, the Kremlin will listen to him.

And if not?

I will be justified for not doing anything for the people," he said. "You yourselves will have made it so that we arent doing anything for the people.
In a system of "managed" democracy such as Russia's, the importance of elections is not necessarily in their results but in how they are managed.

We are talking about a test for the entire system that manages the elections, Moscow political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya tells RFE/RL.

That system, Stanovaya says, includes the department of the presidential administration that handles domestic politics, President Vladimir Putins All-Russia Popular Front (ONF) project, the ruling United Russia party, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the so-called systemic opposition parties, and more.

In a nutshell, we are talking about all the institutions that are activated to conduct elections, Stanovaya says. In such a case, the result is secondary. What is important is how the entire system works, how effective it can be considering the declining incomes of the population, low global energy prices, and many other varied risks.

To understand Russia's September 18 national and local legislative elections, it is necessary to read between the lines.

The Kremlin clearly feels that the last round of Duma elections, in December 2011, and the presidential election in May 2012 were badly mismanaged, both producing credible claims of mass falsification and bringing thousands of protesters into the streets.

This time, the country is mired in an economic crisis stemming largely from low global energy prices and a sanctions standoff with the West over Moscows forcible annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. While generally apathetic, would-be voters are also showing less tolerance for United Russias alleged corruption, and the partys popularity rating has declined steadily in recent months.

Five Things To Watch In Russia's State Duma Elections FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN RUSSIA'S STATE DUMA ELECTIONS Dmitry Gudkov Gudkov is running for a seat from a Moscow single-mandate district and is also on the Yabloko party list. He is one of the few State Duma deputies of the current Duma who didn't vote for the 2014 Crimea annexation and is the son of expelled Duma deputy and Kremlin critic Gennady Gudkov. The younger Gudkov was kicked out of the Duma faction of the Kremlin-friendly A Just Russia in March 2013 after participating in protests against the falsification of earlier elections. He is running against former chief health inspector Gennady Onishchenko and has faced considerable harassment. Voters in his district recently were given copies of a newspaper claiming Gudkov is turning the district into "a boot camp for Maidan," referring to the Ukrainian protests that ousted then-President Viktor Yanukovych. Will this outspoken young politician be allowed to return to the Duma? Petrozavodsk In the capital of Karelia, liberal former Mayor Galina Shirshina was heading the Yabloko party list for the regional legislature -- the same body that ousted her as mayor last December. But at the request of the nationalist Rodina party, a municipal court disqualified the entire Yabloko list. On September 12, the Karelia Supreme Court upheld that ruling. The party is asking the Russian Supreme Court to overrule the decisions, but two days before the elections the disqualifications stood. Yabloko The liberal Yabloko party has the best chance -- albeit a slim one -- of any party that is not currently in the Duma to overcome the 5 percent hurdle and gain party-list seats. If it does, it could mean that liberal politician Lev Shlosberg could enter the Duma, as he is No. 4 on the national party list. The outspoken Shlosberg was a member of the Pskov Oblast legislature until fellow deputies expelled him in September 2015. He was noted for releasing information about two locally based paratroopers who he believed were killed fighting in Ukraine. At the vote to strip him of his mandate, United Russia deputy Aleksei Sevatsyanov called him "a tool of the [U.S.] State Department." Samara Oblast The ruling United Russia party has traditionally polled poorly in Samara Oblast, southeast of Moscow. In 2011, the party got just 39.1 percent there. So the Kremlin, in 2012, brought over the head of the Republic of Mordovia, Nikolai Merkushkin, to bring the oblast into line. In Mordovia, Merkushkin managed to produce a 91.6 percent result for United Russia in 2011. In Samara, he has been actively campaigning, claiming that the CIA backs the opposition and is trying to destabilize the region in order to break up Russia. He has also told voters that if they don't vote "97 percent" for United Russia, it will be their fault if he is unable to ask the Kremlin for any federal assistance. Turnout By moving the voting from December to September, the Kremlin seems to be trying to lower the turnout, thereby increasing the voting power of its most reliable constituents -- state-sector workers, pensioners, and the military. The elections this year have also sparked deep divisions among the opposition over whether to participate at all. It could be interesting to see how the turnout this year compares to the 60 percent turnout officially recorded in 2011 or the 63 percent recorded in 2007. -- Robert Coalson

As a result, the task of managing elections that outwardly appear as democratic as possible -- to weaken Western resolve on sanctions and to reduce social tensions at home -- is a challenging one.

We know what instructions the presidential administration gave the governors across Russia: 'No scandals. Nothing that would render the elections unlawful, at least in the big cities, exiled opposition activist and former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who spent a decade in a Russian prison and whose Open Russia movement is backing a handful of candidates, wrote on his website.

Putin has certainly not become a democrat. His new strategy of making these quasi-elections look like real ones is a deferred reaction to the 2011-12 protests, the result of a desire to avoid additional complications in relations with the West.

The Kremlin has taken a number of steps that seem designed to make this round of elections appear more democratic. Putin replaced former Central Election Commission head Vladimir Churov -- who was sullied by presiding over previous, compromised votes and endorsing flawed elections in other former Soviet countries -- with Ella Pamfilova, a former liberal Duma deputy and minister in the cabinet of President Boris Yeltsin.

In addition, one-half of the 450 deputies this time will be elected from single-mandate districts, with the other half elected from party candidate lists. Moreover, parties need to poll just 5 percent in order to win party-list mandates, down from 7 percent in the previous election. These are reforms that were proposed under then-President Medvedev following the protests of December 2011.

I would like to say that I have listened to those who have been speaking about the need for changes and I understand them, Medvedev said at the time. We need to give all active citizens the legal chance to participate in political life.

A total of 14 parties -- including a smattering of genuine opposition parties and Kremlin-manipulated spoiler parties ranging from the far right to the far left -- have been cleared to participate. The Communist Party, the A Just Russia party, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia -- all of which are represented in the current Duma -- are considered Kremlin-friendly parties that further the appearance of pluralism but regularly vote with the ruling United Russia party.

At the same time, other developments bolster the Kremlins control over the process and the outcome. The charismatic leaders of the 2011-12 opposition are no longer a factor: Boris Nemtsov was gunned down near the Kremlin in February 2015, and former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has fled the country after receiving death threats.

The respected independent election monitor Golos and the independent Levada Center polling agency have been officially labeled foreign agents, seriously hampering their work, some of which pointed to a recent decline in the popularity of United Russia.

This weekend's vote was also brought forward from December, a move that opposition figures fear will suppress turnout as many voters may choose to spend one of the last weekends of the summer at their dachas. New election legislation significantly shortens the campaign season, too. Even the usually loyal Communist Party voted in the Duma against these changes.

The legally mandated televised debates were shown on state television at 5:50 p.m., which considerably reduced their audience.

It is 100 percent certain that the authorities dont want many people to show up, political analyst and former Duma deputy Igor Yakovenko tells RFE/RL, and it is clear why. Because if more people show up, it will be more difficult to produce the desired result.

Even many of the measures that might first appear to increase democracy actually play into the Kremlins hands, critics say.

The large number of parties means that even if 20 percent of the vote or more goes to anti-Kremlin parties, it remains likely that none of them will pass the 5 percent hurdle.

The small parties will play the role of a collective spoiler, gathering about 15 percent altogether but none of them getting more than 1.5 percent individually, political commentator Aleksandr Morozov tells RFE/RL. Not one of those parties will get into the Duma, and all their mandates will be distributed among the four parties that do. This is an extremely likely scenario."

Although the restoration of the single-mandate districts offers the best hope for genuine opposition voices to appear in the new Duma, it also presents a powerful opportunity for Putin's former party.

The single-mandate districts give United Russia a perfect chance to compensate for its falling party-list results, analyst Stanovaya says. Many of the ruling partys single-mandate candidates are local officials with close ties to their respective governors, raising the specter of some using administrative resources to secure victories. Stanovaya estimates that even if United Russia polled as low as 40 percent in the party-list voting, it would be able to secure an outright majority of seats by means of the single-mandate districts.

This mixed picture has prompted a sharp debate among Russias liberal opposition about a perennial question: whether or not to participate in the process at all.

Oppositionist Khodorkovsky says his Open Russia foundation is participating because the sensible way forward for the real opposition is to make use of all possible opportunities to demonstrate to society that there is an alternative.

But self-exiled opposition figure Kasparov argued earlier this month that any participation helps Putins government boost its appearance of legitimacy and, by extension, helps legitimize the Kremlins claim to the annexed Ukrainian region of Crimea.

Those who go into the elections with the argument that we have to at least do something are giving a priceless gift to the Kremlin and its agents in the West, Kasparov wrote.

For these elections, I dont see any good strategy, analyst Morozov says. If you go and vote, you wont get anything. If you dont vote, you wont get anything either and you wont lose anything. Everyone must simply choose for themselves.

With reporting by RFE/RL Russian Service correspondents Mikhail Solokov and Yaroslav Shimov
Josef Stalin never visited the western Siberian city of Surgut. But earlier this month, local activists from the nationalist Russky Dukh (Russian Spirit) movement erected a bust of the Soviet dictator on the embankment of the Ob River.

"The idea came up when we were celebrating the 70th anniversary of victory [over Hitler's Germany in 1945]," Russky Dukh activist and Communist Party member Denis Khanzhin told RFE/RL. "To honor the leader of that victory: Generalissimus Josef Stalin."

The group collected 260,000 rubles ($4,000) for the project through online crowdfunding, said Khanzhin, 28. He claims that "60 percent" of locals back the idea of honoring Stalin.

A couple of hundred meters away from the bust, however, a wooden sign tells a different story: "On this spot we are building a monument to the victims of political repression."

Surgut, now the largest city in the natural-gas-rich Khanty-Mansiisk Autonomous District, was not formally part of Stalin's notorious gulag network. There were no camps there. But tens of thousands of dispossessed peasants from southern Russia, as well as thousands of representatives of deported ethnic groups such as Finns, Moldovans, and Volga Germans, were internally exiled there, euphemistically labelled "special resettlers."

Pavel Akimov, one of the organizers of the project to remember Stalin's victims, told RFE/RL what happened to him and his parents, independent farmers who were sent to Surgut from Tyumen Oblast in 1930.

"First they were sent to Tobolsk," says Akimov, 71. "Then to Khanty-Mansiisk, which was then called Ostyako-Vagulsk. From there, people were scattered around. My parents and others were simply dropped off on the banks of the river. They were given a few axes and shovels and told to dig themselves some bunkers. It was autumn. They were left to the whims of fate to survive."

'Special Resettlers'

Akimov's father died in 1950. His mother was only given an internal passport, which would have allowed her to leave the region, in 1964, but by then she and her three sons had nowhere to go. The family received an official certificate of "rehabilitation" -- meaning they were recognized as innocent victims of repression -- in 1991, the year the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Like Akimov, many people in Surgut and the surrounding region today are the descendants of Stalin's "special resettlers." Akimov says there are still 760 children of the exiled in Surgut itself, and a total of about 10,000-15,000 descendants and their families in the surrounding region.

For more than a year, Akimov's group, Our Memory, has been raising funds to erect the monument and negotiating with local officials on the details of the project.

Khanzhin told RFE/RL that there is no reason for the descendants of the exiled to object to the Stalin monument. After all, he says, the dictator gave their relatives work when he evacuated a fish cannery to the city from Odesa, in Ukraine, during the war.

"They could work for the good of the motherland," Khanzhin said. "We shouldn't confuse these people with Gulag prisoners who were convicted under the law. And their descendants, I think, are not so bad off now. After all, their relatives were not shot, and they were able to work for the benefit of the motherland, to help during the war. And now they themselves live in a wonderful, rich city."

"What's more, that's 'how the steel was tempered,'" he added, meaning how people who endured such hardships were made tough. "Stalin himself went through this school -- he was exiled, but he dealt with it and became not a criminal but a statesman!"

He acknowledges that there are many opinions about Stalin, but says accounts putting the number of people Stalin killed in the tens of millions are "myths" from the perestroika era.

Drenched In Red

Not everyone seems to agree with his views. At least twice during the bust's first two weeks, unknown vandals drenched it in blood-red paint. Local officials say the Stalin bust was installed without permission and that it might be removed following an investigation by the municipal monuments committee.

Khanzhin denies that his group intentionally placed the Stalin bust next to the place where the victims' memorial is to be. He says Russky Dukh has no objection to the proposed memorial.

"People need to know history and the two [monuments] will complement one another," he said. Moreover, Stalin himself, Khanzhin claimed, "was a victim of [Soviet leader Nikita] Khrushchev's political repressions."

Akimov agrees that people need to know history -- but fears that young Russians of Khanzhin's generation know nothing of what happened to the Soviet people under Stalin.

"No one teaches them this and so no one knows," Akimov told RFE/RL. "In textbooks there is just the phrase 'there were repressions.' Two words -- that is all. And who remembers the summary executions of 1937 and 1938 when nearly 1 million people were shot -- just according to official figures."

"I have children, and they know that I was repressed. When I tell them about my parents, I get chills," he said. "When we were gathering information about the people who were shot here [in Surgut], I wrote it all down but for a long time I couldn't look at those papers. I began trembling when I saw those pages and how whole families were shot down. Not only healthy men who might do something illegal. But what about a 70-year-old? What was he shot for? But they stood him up against the wall together with small children. You don't have to experience that yourself -- just seeing such things on paper is horrifying."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed his deputy chief of staff, Vyacheslav Volodin, to be chairman of the new State Duma, a move that would further tighten Putin's control over the political arena after a massive election win for the ruling United Russia party.

Meeting in Moscow on September 23 with leaders of United Russia and the three other parties that won Duma seats in the September 18 elections, Putin touted Volodin's qualifications.

Putin suggested Volodin's "experience and skills" would help him "build up the work in the lower chamber of the parliament, if, of course, lawmakers make the corresponding decision [to nominate and elect him speaker]."



The leaders of the parties -- United Russia, the Communist Party, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and A Just Russia -- expressed their support for Volodin at the meeting.

The decision to tap Volodin is part of a broad reshuffle of Russia's ruling elite ahead of a presidential election due in March 2018, in which Putin is eligible to seek a new six-year term.



Volodin, 52, who maintains a low profile and has a reputation as a blunt, effective political operator, was secretary-general of United Russia and a lawmaker from 1999 to 2011.

He served as a deputy prime minister from October 2010 to December 2011, during Putin's stint as prime minister between his second and third presidential terms.



He is seen as a key figure behind what Kremlin critics say has been a tightening clampdown on dissent since Putin returned to the Kremlin for a third term in 2012 and is widely believed to have championed the appointment of social conservatives who have been handed important posts over the past year, including the controversial new education minister.



Volodin's move to the Duma would leave an opening in his current post, whose occupant is responsible for overseeing domestic politics and other internal Russian affairs. Putin did not say who would replace him.



Putin's proposal followed a number of personnel changes in the Kremlin and within top security agencies, many in the last few days.



On September 22, Putin named the speaker of the outgoing Duma, his longtime associate Sergei Naryshkin, to head the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).



During a televised meeting with Naryshkin and the SVR's previous chief, Mikhail Fradkov, Putin said that the authorities must "promptly head off threats to Russia that arise -- not let them grow but, on the contrary, act in a way that ensures they don't arise; to neutralize these threats at an early stage."



The days after the Duma vote, the authoritative newspaper Kommersant reported that Russia is planning to fold the SVR and other agencies including the Federal Security Service (FSB) into a powerful new Ministry of State Security (MGB), prompting comparisons to the Soviet KGB.



The postelection moves come in the wake of a number of changes in recent months.



In April, Putin established a new National Guard, led by his former bodyguard and longtime ally Viktor Zolotov.



In August, Putin dismissed his chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, a former KGB officer and defense minister who at one point was seen as a top contender to succeed Putin.



The reshuffling of key security and law-enforcement agencies, the moving up of Duma elections originally slated for December, and an election outcome that has handed the ruling party a constitutional majority has fueled suggestions among Russia observers that ground is being laid for an early presidential election.



Observers suggest that moving up the vote, currently scheduled for March 2018, could allow Putin to circumvent growing public discontent over persistent economic problems.

Russias economy has been hit hard by the fall of world oil prices and sanctions imposed by the West over Russia's seizure of the Crimean Peninsula and involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, as well as countermeasures put in place by Moscow.

With reporting by TASS and Interfax
MOSCOW -- Opposition activists alleged a slew of violations during voting in Russia's parliamentary elections despite efforts taken by the authorities to give the appearance of a clean vote.



Activists shared videos of suspect incidents online, making allegations of major violations such as ballot stuffing, while activist Leonid Volkov claimed that even President Vladimir Putin is powerless to stop what he called a "system" liable to fraud.



Ella Pamfilova, the new Central Election Commission chief who promised to resign in the event of fraudulent elections, said the vote was "entirely legitimate."

She said her organization recorded two times fewer violations than in earlier election campaigns, but that results will be annulled at three polling stations due to attempts at ballot stuffing.

"I am not euphoric or in a hat-throwing mood, let's wait for that, but in any case there is full certainty that the elections have been held entirely legitimately, and we have done a lot to make that happen," she was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.



Ahead of time, election officials and other authorities had made clear efforts to try and organize an election free of the fraud that had tainted previous votes.



Initial results showed the ruling United Russia party holding onto its dominant position in the 450-seat State Duma, with three other main parties also maintaining positions in legislature.



The outcome was unlikely to undermine Putin's grip on power, but the Kremlin was wary of a repeat of the December 2011 parliamentary elections where allegations of voter fraud ignited mass protests in Moscow and elsewhere.

In March, Putin appointed Pamfilova, a respected liberal politician, as the election chief, replacing Vladimir Churov who became known by his detractors as the "magician" during a controversial nine-year tenure.

But authorities also moved to restrict the ability of nongovernmental organizations and independent observers to monitor the vote.

The respected group Golos was designated a "foreign agent" -- an official label that echoes Soviet-era pressure tactics -- as was the survey group Levada Center, whose surveys had shown a drop in support for United Russia.

'Carousel' Voting

Throughout voting on September 18, Pamfilova responded to fraud allegations with tough rhetoric, even threatening to annul the results in the Siberian region of Barnaul if allegations of underhand practices were proved.



Vladimir Ryzhkov, an opposition politician running for the Yabloko party, alleged the widespread use in the region of "carousel" voting, whereby people are transported to multiple polling stations and vote under other people's names.



Golos, said it had logged 427 allegations of violations over its hotline by early evening, just hours before the polls closed.

The group also said 200 of the reports had come from Moscow and that they included possible violations such as carousel voting, ballot stuffing, forced voting, and irregularities involving absentee ballots.

Social Media Claims



Meanwhile online, social network users were poring over surveillance videos recorded at polling stations.



Beslan Uspanov, chief editor of Kavkaz Polit, posted several videos of separate incidents in which women nonchalantly posted multiple ballot papers into ballot boxes in the restive southern region of Dagestan:



Another video shared on Twitter by Golos showed an election official in Nizhny Novgorod surreptitiously produce a clutch of ballot papers from under her other papers and put them into the ballot box:



Nikolai Lyaskin, an ally of opposition leader and anticorruption activist Aleksei Navalny, posted photographs of alleged carousel voters being transported in a bus in the Moscow district of Sviblovo:

Aleksei Venediktov, the editor-in-chief of liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy who headed an election monitor in the capital, however, said that there were no serious violations in Moscow and not a single proven instance of carousel voting.

In St. Petersburg, a journalist for the Fontanka news site alleged that he had been able to obtain a ballot paper under a different name by employing an illegal technique used by carousel voters.



And two widely shared videos from a polling station in Rostov-on-Don appeared to show staff create a human wall in front of a ballot box to obscure it from view, while a women stuffed ballots papers into the box:



Sergei Yusov, the head of the Rostov Oblast Election Commission, reportedly promised an investigation that would be "seen through to the end."



But opposition activists like Volkov were skeptical, claiming that even Putin could not stamp out fraud because, he argued, it was in the interest of regional governors to falsify elections.



"In short, the voting system in Russia is built in such a way that there is no authority that could force the regional authorities to not falsify the elections," Volkov wrote on Facebook.

"Because at the very least, every governor knows that if he stupidly holds 'honest elections' he will end up with nothing, while all his neighbors who work 'as normal' will get a lot of [happiness]," he wrote.


A Moscow court has prolonged the pretrial detention of a Moscow State University student suspected of attempting to join the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria.

The Moscow District Military Court ruled on September 22 that Aleksandra Ivanova (aka Varvara Karaulova), a 20-year-old student who was detained in Turkey in June 2015 while trying to cross into Syria, must stay in pretrial detention until December 13.

Ivanova's trial is scheduled to start on October 5.

Her lawyers insist she never planned to join IS and was used and manipulated by an IS recruiter.

Ivanova legally changed her name last year while in custody.

Based on reporting by AP, TASS, and RIA-Novosti


When liberal rights activist Ella Pamfilova was named to head Russias election commission in March, she promised to clean house and oversee transparent, democratic elections.



We will change a lot, and radically, in the way the Central Election Commission operates. A lot and radically -- this is something I can promise you, she said at the time.



However, a statistical analysis of the official preliminary results of the countrys September 18 State Duma elections points to a familiar story: massive fraud in favor of the ruling United Russia party comparable to what independent analysts found in 2007 and 2011.



The results of the current Duma elections were falsified on the same level as the Duma and presidential elections of 2011, 2008, and 2007, the most falsified elections in post-Soviet history, as far as we can tell, physicist and data analyst Sergei Shpilkin told RFE/RLs Russian Service. By my estimate, the scope of the falsification in favor of United Russia in these elections amounted to approximately 12 million votes.



According to the CECs preliminary results, official turnout for the election was 48 percent, and United Russia polled 54.2 percent of the party-list vote -- about 28,272,000 votes. That total gave United Russia 140 of the 225 party-list seats available in the Duma. In addition, United Russia candidates won 203 of the 225 contests in single-mandate districts, giving the party an expected total of 343 deputies in the 450-seat house.



Shpilkin, who in 2012 won the independent PolitProsvet award for political analysis for his statistical work on the 2011 vote, posted his examination of the latest election on his blog on September 19.



Using data from the Central Election Commissions website, Shpilkin organized all 95,800 polling stations on a graph according to the turnout that they reported.



In fair elections, the graph would form a bell curve, with its peak indicating the average turnout for the entire election. Reading from left to right, Shpilkins graph shows a relatively normal bell curve that peaks at about 36 percent turnout and then, as it moves right, shows a jagged curve that dips unevenly and then begins rising again, as vast numbers of polling stations begin reporting turnouts of 70 percent or more.



Moreover, Shpilkin shows that almost all extra votes from polling stations reporting higher-than-average turnout went to United Russia. That is, a party such as ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovskys LDPR received virtually the same number of votes from polling stations reporting a turnout of 95 percent as it did from stations reporting turnouts of 65 percent. United Russia, by contrast, received about four times as many at the 95 percent stations.



The easiest form of falsification in terms of cost and intellectual effort on the part of the falsifiers is simply to add votes in favor of the desired party or candidate, Shpilkin explained. But adding votes means that the turnout changes in an upward direction from the typical distribution. ... A peculiar characteristic of these elections is that we dont see the transfer of votes from one party to another. Perhaps this is a sign of the good influence of Ella Pamfilova.



In addition, Shpilkins graph is spiked because there were an improbable number of polling stations at the high end of the turnout scale reporting round-number turnouts ending in 5 or 0, such as 75, 80, or 85 percent. This is a phenomenon Shpilkin and other analysts noted in previous elections and dubbed Churovs saw, after former CEC head Vladimir Churov.

In 2008, Shpilkin estimated that United Russia actually won 277 seats in the Duma instead of the constitutional majority of 315 that it was awarded.



This time around, it is somewhat more difficult to tell how the alleged falsification might have influenced the results because half of the Duma was elected from single-mandate districts, from which United Russia got a majority of its deputies. Shpilkin estimates United Russia actually got about 40 percent of the party-list vote, which would have reduced its party-list seats from 140 to around 110.



But, with a projected 343 deputies in the new parliament, United Russia once again has enough votes to unilaterally alter the constitution.



Although Pamfilova has promised to investigate reports of fraud and election officials have already annulled results in at least three polling stations, she maintains that there was no systematic falsification and that the vote was legitimate. On September 20, Russias Prosecutor-Generals Office denied there were any significant violations during the voting and said the number of complaints was significantly lower than for previous elections.



But videos recorded by official cameras from several polling stations seem to tell a different story. In almost all of them, local election officials can be seen working as teams to apparently stuff ballot boxes and prevent outsiders from observing their actions.

WATCH: Apparent Violations Spotted During Russian Elections

Pamfilova has said that such videos do not constitute proof of fraud and, Shpilkin recalls, courts rejected dozens of fraud cases based on similar videos in 2012.



Shpilkin hopes his analysis will help Pamfilova come to grips with what he sees as massive fraud embedded in Russias election system from the ground up.



I am not entirely sure that Ella Pamfilova has a good understanding of the actions of the heads of polling stations on the ground, how they compile their protocols, how they fill in the data and submit it to their regional election commissions, Shpilkin said. Moreover, she most likely does not understand how the results are aggregated and how many votes were added in for those 96,000 polling stations.



Shpilkin emphasizes that his analysis does not mean that the genuine opposition parties that did not get seats in the Duma would have, if not for the alleged falsification.



It is possible that some changes might have been seen on the local level in places like Moscow and St. Petersburg on the level of single-mandate districts, he said. But on the level of federal party lists, the position of the opposition looks entirely hopeless.
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

The sword and shield of the regime are coming back, or so it seems. But what does the potential return of the KGB, in the form of a new Ministry of State Security mean in practice?

Why is Vladimir Putin apparently abandoning his longstanding policy of playing Russia's security services off against each other and opting for a monolithic structure? And what dangers does this pose for him?

I tackled these issues in a blog post (featured below) and on this week's Power Vertical Podcast,

I will explore it further on the Power Vertical Podcast today with co-host Mark Galeotti, an expert on Russia's security services and a senior fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Prague, and Andrei Soldatov, co-author of the book The New Nobility: The Resurrection Of Russia's Security State And The Enduring Legacy Of The KGB.

The podcast will be posted later in the day, so be sure to tune in...

IN THE NEWS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed the first deputy chief of the presidential administration, Vyacheslav Volodin, as the State Duma's new speaker.

The move follows Putin's appointment of the previous speaker Sergei Naryshkin as head of Russias foreign intelligence agency, the latest in a series of personnel firings, appointments, and shuffles at the Kremlin and top security agencies.

Moscow's police chief Anton Yakunin has resigned, Russian news agencies reported..

The top U.S. general, General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers yesterday that he does not believe it would be wise to share intelligence with Russia in Syria should Washington and Moscow work together to fight Islamist extremists in the war-torn country.

Russia and the United States failed to reach an agreement on the Syria crisis at a high-level meeting in New York yesterday, as a new government offensive was reportedly launched against rebel-held areas of Aleppo.

Leading Democrats on the congressional intelligence committees have accused Russia of trying to influence the November 8 U.S. election via computer hacking and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "order a halt to this activity."

Estonia says it has declined an offer from Russia to hold talks on Baltic Sea security.

Prominent Russian opposition figure Aleksei Navalny has called for the resignation of Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova over alleged falsifications in the September 18 parliamentary elections.

Pamfilova, meanwhile, said that reports that more than 100 polling stations in the Saratov Oblast reported the exact same result -- 62.2 percent -- were "taken out of context."

Putin held talks in Moscow yesterday with Milorad Dodik, president of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Republika Srpska.

Pro-Stalin activists in the Siberian city of Surgut plan to erect a bust of notorious Soviet security chief Lavrenty Beria next to a recently unveiled bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

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.

LATEST POWER VERTICAL BLOG

In case you missed it, my latest Power Vertical blog post, The Ministry of Putin Protection, looks at recent developments and argues that Russia is about to enter a new and more sinister political season.

WHAT I'M READING

Another Reshuffle

Slon.ru has a couple of good pieces looking at Putin's latest reshuffle that saw Sergei Naryshkin resign as State Duma speaker to make room for Kremlin chief of staff Vyacheslav Volodin, and take a new job as head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service.

In an editorial, Slon looks at the reasons for Naryshkin's appointment as foreign intelligence chief.

And political analyst Tatyana Stanovaya unpacks the appointment of deputy Kremlin chief of staff Vyacheslav Volodin as speaker of the State Duma.

Volodin's Struggle To Stay In The Kremlin

Vedomosti meanwhile has a piece citing Kremlin sources as saying that Volodin didn't want to become Duma speaker and put up a fight to remain in his previous post.

The End Of The Russian Spring

Also in Slon, opposition journalist Oleg Kashin examines the deeper meaning behind the assassination of pro-Moscow Ukrainian separatist leader Yevhen Zhylin.

Russia's China Problem

Veerle Nouwens, a research analyst at the International Security Studies Department of the Royal United Services Institute, has a piece looking at what is behind the joint Sino-Russian exercises in the South China Sea.

"Recent SinoRussian naval drills in the South China Sea were touted by both states as an example of an alignment in each sides interests. But the reality is more modest, as the two powers carefully balance the strategic advantages and liabilities of their relationship," Nouwens writes.

Ian Bremmer, meanwhile, has a piece in Time Magazine on how China is limiting Russia's international ambitions.

"Russia has an important long-term problem, and it isnt just its slowing economy," Bremmer writes.

"China is an increasingly serious challenger in regions that Russians consider part of their sphere of influence. It is not the West that will limit the expansion of Russian influence and prestige. It is China."

Fifth Columnists

Meduza has a good piece on how Russia has used legislation criminalizing the propagation of separatism to suppress dissent. The story is based on interviews with Pavel Chikov, head of the human rights group, and the group's lawyer, Ramil Akhmetgaliev.

Vote Fraud Here And There

In his column for Bloomberg, political commentator Leonid Bershidsky argues that "Russia proves that vote fraud can happen anywhere."

"One reason the U.S. might be better than Russia at preventing ballot-stuffing is that it has a more independent judiciary, better able to handle fraud complaints, and a far more pluralistic media environment. A big conspiracy to subvert election officials would probably be next to impossible to conceal from reporters," Bershidsky writes.

"The electoral system itself, however, is vulnerable; I imagine if someone with Putin's dictatorial leanings ever were to ascend to the White House, the danger that fraud would return to U.S. politics after a long absence could become real again. The vote-counting system would certainly be vulnerable to this threat."

NOTE TO READERS: The Morning Vertical, and all other Power Vertical products, will not appear next week as I will be attending a conference in Tbilisi, Georgia. All Power Vertical products will return to their regular schedule on Monday, October 3.
Resistance fighter and anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Shah Masud was killed by Al-Qaeda assassins on September 9, 2001, ushering in a chain of events that would place Afghanistan at the center of the global war on terrorism.

Two days after his death, Al-Qaeda operatives would carry out the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. Within a month, the United States military was leading a bombing campaign and invasion of Afghanistan with the intention of overthrowing the Taliban and capturing Al-Qaeda leader and 9/11 orchestrator Osama Bin Laden.

In life and as in death, the military strategist who had made his name as a commander of anti-Taliban forces would have a significant impact on life in Afghanistan. Here are some stories behind the man whose battlefield exploits earned him the moniker "The Lion of Panjshir."

Northern Alliance Founder

He was a key leader of the Northern Alliance, a combination of Afghanistan-based forces that aligned in 1996 to counter the Taliban's takeover of Kabul. After the U.S-led invasion in October, 2001, those forces would play a key role as a coalition partner until a new government could be formed.

Larger-Than-Life Figure

Numerous books, films, and articles have been written about Masud, and to this day he is revered as a national hero in Afghanistan. Posters of the 48-year-old -- wearing his trademark woolen hat, the pakol -- still dot the capital, Kabul, where monuments have been erected and streets named in his honor.

Camera Bomb

Masud was killed in Khwaja Bahauddin, a far-flung area in northeast Afghanistan near the Tajikistan border that served as his base of operations.

His assassins were identified as Abdessater Dahmane and Bouraoui el-Ouaer -- two men of Tunisian descent who posed as journalists and traveled on Belgian passports. They killed Masud by setting off a camera bomb as they interviewed Masud in his office.

One of the attackers died immediately, while the second was shot dead after he attempted to escape. Masud was mortally wounded and died while he was being flown by helicopter to Tajikistan for treatment.

Assassins Spent Time In Molenbeek

The Al-Qaeda militants who killed him were believed to have transited through the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek, which has since become notorious for being home to several suspects linked to recent terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris.

In 2005, a court in Paris found four men guilty of offering logistical support to Masud's killers. The four Islamic militants were sentenced to between two and seven years. Those convicted were captured by French authorities, who traced passports found on Masud's killers to a Brussels-based militant cell run by Tarek Maaroufi, who was sentenced to six years in prison in 2003.

Revered In Neighboring Tajikistan

Masud, an ethnic Tajik, is widely revered in neighboring Tajikistan. In a sign of his enduring popularity, Masud has become a popular name for boys.

Masud received arms and financial backing from the Tajik government during the Taliban's rule from 1996-2001. Some of his wounded fighters were taken to hospitals in Tajikistan. Masud's own stronghold in northeast Afghanistan bordered Tajik territory and he often visited Tajikistan.

After his death, Masud's family briefly moved to Dushanbe, where the family still owns a home. His family eventually moved to Iran.

Warned Of Attack On U.S.

"If President Bush doesn't help us, these terrorists will damage the U.S. and Europe very soon."

Masud gave this warning in an address at the European Parliament in Brussels in April, 2001. He also told EU leaders that he had gathered evidence about an imminent terrorist attack by Al-Qaeda on the U.S. homeland.

His words proved prophetic. Months later, Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four passenger planes with the intention of flying them into U.S. targets. Two brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York. A third hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth went down in a field in Pennsylvania. Altogether, the attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, and injured more than 6,000.

Cold Warrior

A 1992 editorial in the Wall Street Journal described Masud as the "Afghan who won the Cold War."

Panjshir was a bastion of resistance to the 1979-89 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the last stronghold of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance.

Masud's Jamiat-e-Islami political party and military wing was the most successful Mujahedin group fighting against the invading Red Army. From his base in the Panjshir Valley, Masud's men led a successful guerrilla fight against the Soviet forces, which launched several failed operations to claim control of the valley.

Panjshir still bears the scars of Masud's fight against the Soviet Union and the Taliban. Hundreds of destroyed Soviet tanks are littered throughout the valley, as are weapons left by the Taliban in their failed attempts to conquer the area. Vast tunnel networks are carved into the mountains that the Mujahedin used to escape Soviet and Taliban bombardments, and dozens of mine-clearing operations continue on the rocky hilltops surrounding the picturesque valley.

French Connection

Masud spoke some French, having studied at the French-language Lycee Esteqlal school in Kabul, and was admired in France. In 2001, European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine invited Masud to address the parliament.

Masud was also friends with French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy, who visited Masud in the Panjshir Valley in the 1990s. Masud was known to have said that French President Charles De Gaulle was one of his political heroes.

French audiences got to know Masud after the release of a documentary -- The Valley Against An Empire -- by French journalist Christophe de Ponfilly in 1981, just two years after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Reza Deghati, an Iranian-French photojournalist, traveled to Afghanistan and followed Masud from the 1980s until his death. His iconic photographs helped build the legend of Masud.
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov plans a rare visit to Berlin on August 29, where the head of one of the world's most closed countries is expected to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

As both sides look likely to discuss ways to increase trade, it remains unclear whether Merkel will also use the opportunity to press Berdymukhammedov to improve Turkmenistan's poor human rights record despite demands for a tougher stance toward the gas-rich Central Asian republic.

Merkel and Berdymukhammedov last met in Berlin in 2008 during the Turkmen leader's swing through Germany and Austria. More recently, they talked in Astana, Kazakhstan, during a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010.

Announcing Berdymukhammedov's visit on August 26, the German Foreign Ministry gave no details of the agenda. But a German official speaking on condition of anonymity to RFE/RL's Turkmen Service said the meeting was at Merkel's invitation and they would discuss economic and political cooperation.

Germany is Turkmenistan's principal foreign trading partner in the European Union, with bilateral trade worth $466 million in 2014, the most recent figure available. That is up from $448 million in 2013.

Much of the trade focuses on Germany exporting machinery and other industrial products to Turkmenistan -- Berlin's third-largest trade partner in the region after Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

At the same time, German companies have played a role in developing Turkmenistan's energy sector, including exploring for new natural-gas fields on the Caspian Sea shelf. They are reported to want access to Turkmenistan's onshore fields as well.

However, German business activity is complicated in Turkmenistan by reported difficulties in getting permits and nontransparent administrative procedures. Germany's DEA Deutsche Erdoel last year gave up its concession on the Caspian Sea shelf due to reported frustration over bureaucracy and corruption.

The German government official told RFE/RL confidentially that "human rights in Turkmenistan is always a priority but until the meeting takes place [on August 29], I cannot say in what form they will be discussed."

Secret Prisons

International rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Berlin to challenge the Turkmen leader to end its secretive imprisonment of political opponents, free a prominent jailed journalist, and eliminate arbitrary bans on people leaving the country.

"This is one of those rare opportunities for a world leader to stand up for those in Turkmenistan who cannot engage their own government," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW in Berlin. "Chancellor Merkel should not miss this opportunity to speak directly and forcefully about the need to end repression in Turkmenistan."

The rights group says dozens of people, mostly arrested in the late 1990s and early 2000s, have simply disappeared into the Turkmen prison system, with no information of their whereabouts given to relatives. In addition to those secretively imprisoned, Ashgabat has used fabricated drug charges and other allegations to publicly jail many other dissidents, including RFE/RL Turkmen Service contributor Saparmamed Nepeskuliev in 2015.

Thirteen media and human rights organizations sent a joint letter to the Berdymukhammedov in July this year calling for the release of Nepeskuliev, who has been kept incommunicado since his detention.

The Turkmen government also blacklists many individuals, including students hoping to study abroad and activists, from leaving the country -- a practice rights groups call political intimidation.

"During the communist era, many people in East Germany were similarly banned from leaving the country, as in Turkmenistan [today], so this practice should resonate with Chancellor Merkel, who is from the east [of Germany]," Williamson said. "People inside and outside Turkmenistan are counting on her to tell Berdymukhammedov that this practice should end."

Berdymukhammedov removed some of the most egregious aspects of the cult of personality cultivated by his predecessor, the late dictator Saparmurat Niyazov, after the latter's death in late 2006. But he has never dismantled the autocratic system he inherited and has arguably expanded presidential powers in the past decade and continues to ruthlessly stamp out any public expressions of dissent.

With contributions from RFE/RL's Turkmen Service
KYIV -- An apparent arson attack against a popular television news channel is underscoring fears that jingoism-fueled hostility toward journalists could extinguish free speech in Ukraine.

Journalists for Inter television, whose Kyiv studios were set alight on September 4 during a violence-marred protest against the channel's purported pro-Russian stance, described the incident as an attack on freedom of speech and "an attempt to shut up inconvenient journalists."

Government officials have asserted that the fire was a "provocation" meant to tarnish Ukraine's reputation and create fodder for Russia's state-run propaganda outlets, which have painted the country as a failed state. Some even accused Inter of setting its own building alight after the channel reportedly refused to hand over security camera footage from its offices.

"The events that happened at the TV channel can't be understood by any normal person," Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman told a briefing on September 5, according to Ukraine's Interfax news service. "So, today, an important task for law enforcement is to find those who did it, those who benefited from it."

The events unfolded at about 4 p.m., local time, when a group of around 20 camouflage-clad protesters gathered outside Inter's National Information Systems building and began burning tires. According to the National Police spokeswoman for Kyiv, Oksana Blyschyk, the building was set on fire when a smoke grenade was thrown through a window.

State emergency services painted a starker picture, saying a preliminary investigation showed that one incendiary device started the first floor on fire, while a flammable substance caused a fire on the second floor as employees were being evacuated.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, in an interview with the 1+1 TV channel, alleged that most of the protesters were former military servicemen from Ukraine's 30th Brigade. They brandished signs protesting what Avakov described as Inter's pro-Russian stance. Scuffles broke out when police detained several of the demonstrators. Video footage shows them wrestling on the street in front of the building.

Avakov said six people were taken into custody and charged with hooliganism and intentional destruction of property.

Several Inter employees were treated for carbon-monoxide poisoning, while one employee suffered a broken leg, according to an Inter statement. A tweet posted by Hromadske television showed a journalist it claimed had suffered a spinal injury.

Ukraine's UNIAN news agency reported that 30 people were evacuated. The fire was extinguished within two hours, according to the Kyiv fire department.

Inter appealed to President Petro Poroshenko "to intervene to restore the rule of law and protection against such unlawful acts." It also called on law enforcement agencies, including the Interior Ministry and Security Service, "to conduct an objective investigation and to ensure the safety of media."

Dangerous Climate For Journalists

The fire follows a spate of verbal and physical attacks this summer against journalists who have investigated officials, challenged the authorities and the official government narrative of the ongoing conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east, or have reported from separatist-controlled areas.

Many have been scorned by high-ranking government and security officials and found themselves the targets of coordinated online attacks by pro-Ukrainian trolls. Other journalists have been beaten, mugged and, in one case, killed.

Prominent Belarusian-born journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed by a car bomb in Kyiv on July 20. Ukraine's head of police said on September 3 that there had been no serious progress in the investigation into Sheremet's assassination and the perpetrators remained free.

Observers have questioned the authorities' dedication to democracy and protecting freedom of speech, and have voiced concerns over the culture of impunity that existed under the regime of former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and remains more than two years after the Euromaidan revolution replaced him with a pro-European government.

Mustafa Nayyem, a pro-European former journalist turned lawmaker representing Poroshenko's party, said that under no circumstances should media offices be targeted for attacks. "I'm against burning TV channels. It does not matter who, what, or for what reasons it is done," he wrote in a post on Facebook. "Just like the beatings of human rights defenders and the harassment of journalists in general. This is a boomerang that pushes society into a vicious circle of endless mob justice."

Human rights campaigner Halya Coynash echoed Nayyem's sentiment in a blog post. "Irresponsible protesters who attacked the offices of TV Inter on Sunday afternoon have done Ukraine no favors," she wrote.

She also described recent accusations against Inter made by Interior Minister Avakov as "ill-timed."

In a Facebook post on August 31, Avakov urged Ukraine's domestic security service to deport the channel's director, Igor Shuvalov, a Russian national. He described Inter as having an "anti-Ukrainian, antistate" position, and asked: "How much more facts and evidence do you need?!"

Cries Of 'Traitor!'

Inter's work came under heightened scrutiny from Avakov last month following the emergence of a leaked e-mail from an official from the Russia-backed separatist group calling itself the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). The e-email appeared to show Maria Stolyarova, a Russian national and former Inter journalist, seeking approval from the separatist leadership of a story reported from Donetsk before it was aired in summer 2015.

The group that promoted the e-mail leak online was an anonymous, pro-government hacker collective called Myrotvorets, or Peacemaker. The group, backed at least verbally by Avakov and hard-line populist lawmakers allied to him, has leaked the personal data of journalists who have received accreditation from and reported in the separatist-held territories. Both the group and Avakov have labeled those journalists as "collaborators of terrorists" and "traitors" of Ukraine.

Inter was the target of several protests and attacks earlier this year due to its alleged pro-Kremlin editorial stances and ties to Russia. The channel is owned by Ukrainian billionaire Dmytro Firtash, a businessman who profited greatly from key contracts to import Russian natural gas to Ukraine. Accused of bribery by the United States, he is currently fighting the charges and extradition in Vienna.

In January, protesters spray-painted "Kremlin mouthpiece" on its offices and hurled rocks through the windows. In February, volunteer Azov Battalion fighters blocked journalists' access to its offices after the channel aired a story criticizing fallen Euromaidan demonstrators known as the Heavenly Hundred. The reporter responsible for the story, Stolyarova, was subsequently fired and deported by the Ukrainian authorities to Russia. In June, protesters burned tires at the entrance to Inter's offices.

As the smoke settled on September 5, tempers flared again. Dozens of protesters gathered once more outside the Inter offices, carrying with them signs that read, "Burn Inter burn" and "Inter out."

On social media, some anonymous pro-Ukrainian trolls celebrated. "I support the arson on Inter! [retweet] to show how much the oligarchic power is corrupt," wrote one user who attached an image from the Euromaidan revolution showing protesters burning tires.

In contrast to the belligerent statements made by the protesters, online trolls, and Avakov, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's permanent representative to the Council of Europe, wrote on Twitter that no matter what one's stance might be on Inter, "arson is not the answer, because [it's the building], not the editorial policy that burns."
As Graham Phillips tells it, back in the late 1990s as a Dundee University dual major in philosophy and history and a thespian performing under the stage name Brandon Reed, he saw his "career either as journalism, or writing for the theater."

He appears, after stints in state-sector marketing and communications, publishing, and teaching, to have opted for both.

A British expat reporter and videographer who fancies himself a "truth speaker" out to redeem independent journalism in the fog of the Russia-backed war in eastern Ukraine, Phillips' critics describe him as a propagandist, plain and simple.

In his latest clip to have sparked outrage, Phillips uses his stilted Russian and two minutes of exclusive access (apparently granted by the separatists) to berate a badly disabled Ukrainian man moments before his handover to Kyiv authorities as part of a prisoner swap.

Subtitled in English, the video features Phillips climbing into a minivan marked with a red cross before Volodymyr Zhemchuhov is exchanged for several separatists.

WATCH: Graham Phillips Taunts Volodymyr Zhemchuhov

Phillips accuses Zhemchuhov -- who lost both hands and his sight in a mine blast in September 2015, then spent a year in separatist custody -- of speaking "like a brainwashed zombie" and being "not such a smart guy" whose injuries came in a failed effort at sabotage. The latter charge echoes allegations made by separatists that Zhemchuhov was wounded while acting as a saboteur.

He also tells the prisoner that no one needs him anymore because he lost his arms.

Zhemchuhov, who describes himself as "an educated man" who is familiar with Phillips' work, responds to the Briton's taunts by calling him a "traitor, pro-Putin propaganda scum."

"Who made you come here to my Motherland? How much does [Russian President Vladimir] Putin pay you? Go home," he tells Phillips.

Phillips' YouTube clip, from September 17, eventually drew the attention of officials in Kyiv, who have responded with a request via the Ukrainian Embassy in London for British authorities to rein in Phillips to keep him off Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine's ambassador to Britain, Natalya Halybarenko, made the appeal in an open letter on September 22, threatening Phillips with criminal prosecution.

Halybarenko called on British authorities to "take all possible measures including with regard to his travel documents to stop Mr. Phillipss propaganda work for the Russian occupation authorities in Ukraine and for him to leave our country for good."

There was no immediate reaction to the letter from Britain's Foreign Office.

Deported Twice

Phillips has gotten under the skin of Ukrainian officials before. They have twice expelled him and sought to ban him from the country for three years -- but their lack of control over Crimea, which was forcibly annexed by Russia in 2014, and separatist-held swaths of Ukraine's Donbas region have left him free to travel there with Russian or other connivance.

Phillips, who blew onto the international media scene 2 1/2 years ago with the start of hostilities in Ukraine, has made his name on social media and video-sharing sites for brash and sometimes foolhardy reporting around the front lines with pro-Moscow separatists.

He has worked for Russia's state broadcaster RT and its military channel Zvezda and toes the Kremlin line, alleging Kyiv's responsibility for the conflict and shaming its troops and accusing them of the "murder [of] civilians," as well as asserting Moscow's narrative that part of eastern Ukraine "is Novorossia and not Ukraine." He has routinely posed with separatist or Russian weapons in hand and in Russian military uniform, and even cheered separatists' tactical victories on the battlefield.

Phillips' critics call his war coverage mere Russia-sponsored theater with the aim of legitimizing Moscow's designs in Ukraine.

But the results are more than 39,000 followers on his Twitter account, 78,000 subscribers and millions of views on his YouTube channel, and even a crowdfunding effort.

Zhemchuhov's release was announced by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who welcomed him and another prisoner personally upon their return to Ukrainian-controlled territory:

Phillips responded to the Ukrainian diplomatic letter in a series of Twitter posts on September 22, suggesting simply that "#Ukraine hates the truth being reported!" and that the country had gone"into hysterics" out of "hate for one freelance journalist."

The Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, a well-known Ukrainian activist group, called on journalist organizations in the West and elsewhere to condemn Phillips for the interview with Zhemchuhov, saying his aggressive questioning was a form of torture.

"There are doubtless different tasks that Phillips is there to perform, but one advantage to pro-Kremlin sources is quite simply in being able to describe him as 'a British journalist'," the group said in a letter. "It is surely time for both UK and international journalist organizations to publicly put an end to this lie and clearly state that torture, abuse and flagrant distortions are not what journalism is about."

Phillips got into trouble in Latvia earlier this year by accusing Latvian authorities of countenancing Nazism while he was covering a controversial demonstration of right-wing nationalists whose past rallies have drawn criticism from the Kremlin.

A video of the March rally shows Phillips yelling in Russian, "Arent you ashamed of propagandizing fascism?"

He was detained and later expelled.
Final News Summary For September 29

-- We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog. Find it here.

-- Ukraine is marking 75 years since the World War II massacre of 33,771 Jews on the outskirts of Nazi-occupied Kyiv.

-- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to stabilize a fragile cease-fire in Ukraine and do all he could to improve what Merkel called a "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Syria.

-- Russia's Supreme Court has upheld a decision by a Moscow-backed Crimean court to ban the Mejlis, the self-governing body of Crimean Tatars in the occupied Ukrainian territory.

* NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv (GMT/UTC +3)
Ukrainian parliamentary deputy Aleksey Goncharenko from the ruling coalition scuffled with the Opposition Bloc's Mykola Skoryk on September 23. The fight reportedly broke out when Goncharenko presented Skoryk with a pack of dried bread hinting would soon need it. Dried bread is common prison fare throughout the former Soviet space. Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko recently said he intends to strip Skoryk of his parliamentary immunity. The opposition politician has been accused of involvement in riots in Odesa in February 2014. (Natural Sound)
Ukraine's interior minister has vowed there won't be any "whitewash" as authorities investigate the death this week of a 31-year-old man at the hands of a half-dozen policemen with the man's family looking on.

The minister, Arsen Avakov, made the pledge via Facebook after angry residents tried to overturn a police vehicle transporting police officers who were detained over Aleksandr Tsukerman's death in the village of Krivoye Ozero in the southern Mykolayiv region.

With several of the officers already facing charges, Avakov also promised to disband the district police department and replace its entire staff. He said anyone who committed criminal activities would face trial.

Shouting "Murderers!" and spitting, punching, and demanding justice, hundreds of people had converged on the district prosecutors office, where the six officers were being transferred to a detention facility.

Some of the officers in custody were said to have been injured in the attack, despite Ukrainian security forces' efforts to contain the mob.

Ukrainian media reports suggested that an unarmed Tsukerman was handcuffed and beaten by police before being shot dead in front of his mother, wife, and young son in his home late on August 23.

The officers were reportedly summoned by Tsukerman's wife during an argument with her husband.

Tsukermans mother described the police officers as kicking and beating him before shooting him several times. Tsukerman died at the scene.



But the police officers' version of events contends the officers used force in self-defense after Tsukerman came out with a shovel and attacked the policemen, running after them for some 30 to 40 meters.



There was also a related phone call and complaint from a taxi driver directed at Tsukerman the same evening, officials said, possibly involving a robbery.



Local reports say at least three of the officers have been charged with murder.



Angry Krivoe Ozero residents are calling their action the Second Vradiyivka, in a reference to public reactions to the brutal rape and beating of a local woman by police officers in the village of Vradiyivka, also in the Mykolayiv region, in 2013. At the time, hundreds of protesters stormed the Vradiyivka police headquarters, smashing windows and setting the building on fire after authorities were accused of trying to cover up the policemen's crime.

Public protests continued until the police officers were given lengthy prison sentences and several high-profile law-enforcement officials were dismissed for mishandling the situation.

Written by Farangis Najibullah based on local reports and reporting by RFE/RLs Current Time
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.
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Iranian President Hassan Rohani told the United Nations General Assembly that the United States was not fully compliant with nuclear deal signed last year, adding that non-compliance would damage Washington's international credibility. (Reuters)
When prospective voters in Novgorod recently received campaign materials from Russia's ruling party for this month's national legislative elections, they had good reason to scratch their heads.



Under the slogan, "Let's Build The Future Together!" was an illustration showing the new era United Russia apparently envisages for the city. It was an image of a Legoland-like scene showing modern high-rises and factories. The scene bore little resemblance to Novgorod, a smallish city midway between Moscow and St. Petersburg that is famous for its 16th-century kremlin, or citadel -- a major tourist attraction on Russia's Golden Ring of historic, riverside towns.

In fact, with its red double-decker bus, a train painted in the colors of Sweden's national railroad, and cars driving on the left side of the road, it didn't look like anywhere else in Russia either.



The Russian Internet was soon busy trying to learn where the picture had come from and why United Russia was using it as part of its campaign for the September 18 vote.



The source was soon discovered. The picture, and a handful of other, similar illustrations that appeared in the United Party's local election publication, turned out to have been purloined from a collection of drawings a Swedish illustrator prepared for a special supplement of Britain's Financial Times newspaper three years ago. The supplement, called The Specialist, targets readers interested in real estate and infrastructure, and the pictures were created to show an idealized urban environment.



The artist, Nils-Petter Ekwall, says he was taken fully by surprise when someone in Russia anonymously contacted him to ask whether he had sold his work to United Russia. The individual attached a scan of the party's publication.



There was a large logo, I didn't recognize what it was, of something like a polar bear with a Russian flag on top," he told RFE/RL on September 12. "I googled it and I discovered that it was actually the largest party in Russia, United Russia, which had used my illustration without telling me or asking me."



Ekwall's surprise prompted a Swedish TV station to ask United Russia if it had used the artist's works without observing his international copyright. A party official in Novgorod, Roman Zolin, confirmed the use but said it was limited to a small number of "postcards."



However, the truth turned out to be somewhat different.



"I got some information from people [in Novgorod] that this magazine is spread all over Novgorod," Ekwall says. "The circulation is 144,000 copies. That's larger than [just some] postcards."



Ekwall says he has alerted the Association of Swedish Illustrators and Graphic Designers and that he expects their legal representatives to take up the case, along with other groups involved in international copyright protection.



But whether United Russia will pay any more attention to his copyright now than it did before remains uncertain.



"Even after it became clear that, in fact, the circulation was much more [than acknowledged], they have not contacted me directly," Ekwall says.



As for why United Russia chose his pictures to illustrate the city of the future, the Russian-language Internet is still far from solving the mystery.



Commenting on one forum, one observer speculated it might be because Ekwall's drawings show a city with no inhabitants, as they detail infrastructure such as buildings, energy-transmission lines, and transportation.



"All just normal for United Russia," the observer quips. "A world where people don't matter".

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service correspondent Mark Krutov in Moscow
Hundreds of people marched in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 22, the third night of protests over the police shooting of a black man. Police and National Guard troops were deployed to enforce a midnight curfew, announced after clashes broke out during the earlier protests. Police said that Keith Scott, who was shot dead on September 20, was holding a gun and ignoring police orders, but his family has questioned that account. (Reuters)
Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who ruled Central Asia's most populous ex-Soviet republic with an iron fist for a quarter-century, has died at the age of 78.

Uzbek state television said on September 2 that Karimov died at 8:55 p.m. local time in Tashkent, five days after his daughter reported he was in intensive care after suffering a "brain hemorrhage."

A former Communist Party boss, Karimov maintained his grip on power with the backing of a feared security apparatus accused of widespread rights abuses, a geopolitical balancing act between Russia and the West, and an unremitting expansion of presidential authority.

He presided over what activists said was the systematic suppression of political dissent, forced labor in Uzbekistan's cotton fields, and the frequent use of torture by law enforcement and security forces.

Karimov's death invites uncertainty over succession in a country where one man has been in power since before the Soviet collapse, encouraging a system of opaque government and a lack of experience with democracy and the rule of law.

Born in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand in 1938, Karimov was trained as an economist. He rose to political preeminence in 1989, when he was elected first secretary of the Communist Party of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.

In 1990, amid his shift to the still-Soviet republic's presidency through a rubber-stamp vote, Karimov laid out the vision that would dominate Uzbek politics in the emerging state and for decades to come.

"If you elect me president tomorrow, then I need the right to dissolve parliament. Then I would have the final word," he said.

INFOGRAPHIC: Karimov's Lengthy Reign (click to expand)

Karimov declared Uzbek independence on August 31, 1991, as the Soviet Union lurched toward collapse, and subsequently won the country's first presidential election.

Each of his landslide reelections over the next two and a half decades -- with around 90 percent of the vote -- was dismissed by the West as neither free nor fair, and two were disputed by critics citing a constitutional ban on Uzbek presidents serving more than two terms.

A wily political operator, Karimov consolidated power in the newly independent Uzbekistan, eventually used dubious public referendums, neutralization of the political opposition, and elimination of critical media to keep potential rivals -- and the public -- at bay.

Allegations Of Torture

In its annual human rights report in April, the U.S. State Department said that in Uzbekistan "the executive branch under President Islam Karimov dominated political life and exercised nearly complete control over the other branches of government."

Karimov's tenure saw the Uzbek judicial system come under frequent criticism from international watchdogs for its allegedly routine use of torture against detainees.

In 2007, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report titled Nowhere To Turn: Torture And Ill-Treatment In Uzbekistan.

HRW's Geneva director, Juliette De Rivero, told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service at the time that "the main point of this report is to show that [torture] is a systematic practice [and] to show that at all stages of the judicial process detainees are put under pressure and put in situations in which they are likely to be tortured."

Karimov was accused by some of using the threat of Islamist militancy to justify ruthless security practices. Brutal crackdowns on Islamic groups followed bombings in 1999 and 2004 and twin incursions by the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in 1999 and 2000.

Berating lawmakers for a perceived laxity in combating Islamist radicals in the late 1990s, Karimov told parliament: "If you dont have the will to do it, give me a gun and I'll shoot them in the head myself."



Karimov also leveraged Uzbekistan's location to build ties with Washington, offering logistical assistance for U.S.-led military operations across the border in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks blamed on Al-Qaeda.

Rights activists accused U.S. officials of turning a blind eye to the Uzbek president's abuses in return for transit privileges, a charge Washington rejected.

In May 2005, large protests and lawlessness in the eastern city of Andijon were brutally suppressed by Uzbek security forces, reportedly leading to hundreds of deaths.

Karimov refused to allow an international investigation and continued to allege that the unrest was fomented by Islamic militants who had been trained abroad.

Regional Hegemon

Uzbekistan -- which borders each of the region's post-Soviet republics, as well as Afghanistan -- is Central Asia's most populous country with its largest armed forces. It also sits atop considerable oil and gas reserves.

Under Karimov, the country sought to mold itself into a regional hegemon -- sometimes leading to adversarial relations with its neighbors and breakdowns over border and water issues in particular.

Tashkent has repeatedly cited an Islamic extremism threat in closing Uzbek borders, complicating life for residents at home and in adjoining states in the culturally kaleidoscopic Ferghana Valley.

Uzbek gas exports gave Karimov considerable leverage over poorer neighbors Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and there have been frequent gas cutoffs over unpaid bills and other disputes.

Neighboring states accused Karimov's security forces of masterminding attacks on their soil or crossing their borders to seize people sought by Uzbek authorities.

Despite criticism of its human rights record, Uzbekistan's location and energy resources have generally led Russia and Western powers to seek closer ties.

But Karimov's policies have variously created friction between Tashkent and Russia, the United States, the European Union, and international financial institutions.

During the 1990s, Tajikistan fell into civil war while Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan were paralyzed by protests and standoffs between presidents and parliament, and many of Central Asia's emergent states were dependent on international aid for their survival.

Uzbekistan, however, avoided major instability and was able to provide its people with basic goods and services, including utilities like electricity and natural gas.

But observers say the combination of ruthless repression and poor living standards has provided fertile breeding ground for violent resistance.

Uzbekistan has been criticized for a perceived lack of economic reform and condemned as riddled with rampant corruption and nepotism. It has also faced repeated criticism from international rights group for forced labor in its large cotton industry.



A Family Affair



Karimov's two daughters, Gulnara and Lola, are believed to have immensely benefited from the system. In 2011, the Karimova siblings were both included in the list of Switzerland's 300 wealthiest residents published by the Swiss business magazine Bilan.



Karimov's elder daughter, Gulnara -- a prominent socialite and businesswoman once seen as a potential successor to her father as president -- has not appeared in public since 2014 amid reports that she had been placed under house arrest in Uzbekistan amid a corruption scandal.



A day after the Uzbek government announced in a rare statement on August 28 that the president had been hospitalized, it was Lola who communicated with the world about her father's condition.

"At the moment it is too early to make any predictions about his future health," read the August 29 post on Lola Tillyaeva-Karimova's Instagram.



The post, written in Russian, Uzbek, and English, said her father was admitted to the hospital on August 28 and that his condition was "considered stable."



Tillyaeva-Karimova, Uzbekistan's ambassador to UNESCO, called for people to "refrain from speculation" and to respect her family's privacy.

With contributions from Antoine Blua, Bruce Pannier, and Carl Schreck
Amid persistent silence from Uzbekistan's government over the health of President Islam Karimov, Uzbeks inside and outside the country are taking to social media to wish him well or to wish him dead.



The emotionally charged posts reflect the controversial nature of Karimov, who has ruled ex-Soviet Central Asia's most populous nation for all 25 years of its existence as an independent country.



To judge by the messages flooding social media sites in Uzbek and Russian, he is either loved or hated by his countrymen, with little room in between. The 78-year-old leader presents himself as a bulwark of stability as he heads a state regularly rated by human rights groups as one of the world's most intolerant of political opposition.

The government has said nothing about Karimov since it announced on August 28 that he had been hospitalized, without saying what was wrong. His daughter said the next day on Instagram that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage.



One apparent admirer posted a video on Facebook of a woman praying emotionally for Karimov's recovery. "We are asking God to give him health. The whole nation is praying. Let the Almighty give him strength," she wails.



Another admirer posted a photograph of a young girl holding a sign written in crayon and bearing pictures of the Uzbek leader. The sign reads: "Dear Grandad, live to be 100 years old!"





It was impossible to determine whether the authorities were behind any of the messages praising Karimov.



But if posts wishing him well seem loaded with emotion, his detractors are equally passionate as they welcome what they hope is his death.



"For me a donkey has died," said one opponent, holding up a handwritten sign bearing the same words. He added in a brief spoken message that, even if Karimov has not expired "he is politically dead, anyway." Any comparison to a donkey is considered particularly offensive in Central Asia:



A Facebook user said that "for me Karimov has died like a dog and I am very happy about it." In saying Karimov has died he uses a Russian verb usually reserved only for animals:



Critics accuse Karimov of ruthlessly eviscerating all opposition in Uzbekistan -- most prominently with the alleged massacre of hundreds of protesters in the city of Andijon in 2005. They also say that he has monopolized the countrys wealth, mostly based upon cotton exports, while the average annual income is a little over $2,000.



Karimov's long rule and tight control has raised questions about succession and long-term stability in the Central Asian country of 28 million, which has never held an election judged free and fair by international monitors.
As Uzbekistan mourned the death of President Islam Karimov, restaurants across the country offered free meals in keeping with a traditional remembrance feast called the "khudoyi."

But in the days following the September 2 announcement of the strongman leader's death, it appears the memorial comes at a cost for Uzbek citizens and businesses, who say they are footing the bill.

Several sources have told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service on condition of anonymity that state-backed entities and local authorities have ordered local businesses and ordinary civilians to pay for meals served to the public during Karimov's memorial services in Tashkent and Karimov's hometown, Samarkand.

"There are many private businessmen in Samarkand. The city governor has ordered them to raise money for the president's memorial service meal," said a teacher from Samarkand. "I heard this from a friend of mine who owns a furniture business."

The teacher also said that neighborhood committees had been pressuring locals to donate small amounts of money for the memorial service from local residents.

"The head of our neighborhood told us to donate as much as we can," he said. "Some people gave only 100 soms ($0.03), others paid 1,000 ($0.34)."

According to Uzbek tradition, the khudoyi meal mainly consists of plov, a rice and meat dish, along with salad, bread, and tea. The ceremony usually includes at least one religious figure reciting from the Koran and offering prayers for the dead.

Karimov's khudoyi was held in various locations across the country on September 5.

The independent news website Ferghana.ru published a video that shows a crowd of men lined up behind what appears to be a restaurant door trying to get in. The website claimed the men were queueing for a free khudoyi meal in a Tashkent restaurant on September 5.

"It was again public-sector employees that had to pay for the plov," said the manager of a Tashkent nursery. "This compulsory money collecting existed when the president was alive, and it's continuing after he is dead," she lamented.

Karimov's memorial services have not yet finished. According to local customs, further khudoyi meals are expected to be served to mark the seventh, 20th, and possibly the 40th day after his death.

Written by Farangis Najibullah with reporting by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service
In Uzbekistan, the zero hour has finally come. For the first time in 25 years of independence, Uzbeks awake to a country not ruled by Islam Abdughanaevich Karimov.

This is the day that many in the diaspora and the opposition have longed for, that analysts and academics like me have been asked to game-plan for years, because it was clear that the most likely -- and possibly only -- pathway to political change in one of the world's most consolidated authoritarian regimes was that Karimov might finally succumb to the laws of nature. I have lost count of the conversations I have had with Uzbek friends over the years that trail off with "maybe after Karimov dies..." as they wonder aloud when they might see their families again, travel outside their home country, start a business, study abroad -- all things that became impossible or fraught with danger for many as Uzbekistan steadily grew more isolated, its economy and society coming under ever-tighter control.

A few weeks ago, I drove with an ethnic Uzbek friend in southern Kyrgyzstan along the tall barbed-wire fence that marks the Uzbek border and looked across at the weapons-toting guards on foot patrol. We had both lived in Tashkent for several years and both talked about how much we wished we could return. He shook his head and smiled: "After Karimov dies..."

INFOGRAPHIC: How Did Karimov's Tenure Compare? (click to expand)

Today is that day. The new era has suddenly arrived, but what will change?

No matter how many panels and think pieces have been devoted to predicting this moment, no matter how many dozens of articles are written following the 78-year-old Karimov's death, claiming to predict his successor and lay out the potential directions for the future of a volatile region's most populous country, the uncomfortable truth is that we have very little idea.

A scenario many pundits warned we should fear has become reality: Karimov has passed without choosing an "heir" or leaving a clear road to succession. Those who have focused their attention on him personally, rather than the system that developed under him, long warned this could have nightmarish consequences: Islamists that only Karimov's steady hand could supposedly keep in check would erupt from the ever-"simmering" Ferghana Valley; or the country would devolve into open warfare among the country's "clans" that Karimov -- an orphan raised by the Soviet state without political family connections -- had "masterfully balanced" against one another.

While there is a grain of truth in these prevailing narratives, their real commonality is that both are myths used to justify claims that the people of Uzbekistan cannot be trusted to govern themselves. These are the founding myths that justify the existence of Uzbekistan's version of what political scientist Alena Ledenova has called sistema in Putin's Russia -- another highly personalized authoritarian system that has evolved a logic of power that far exceeds the personal reach of a single man or likely the limits of his lifetime. Today Karimov is gone, but the vast security state and strict political economy that developed in the period when his portrait watched over every classroom and office is likely to survive him -- in no small part because the myths that justified them are alive and well.

As Central Asia scholars like Larry Markowitz and Scott Radnitz have described, the political economy that developed in Uzbekistan stands in marked contrast to its neighbors for the degree to which it created a centralized state and loyalty to it as the locus of the entire economy, protected by a security apparatus that could discipline and punish local actors who refused to submit. Outside that "coercive, rent-seeking state" few opportunities exist for advancement, which means the remaining elites -- with or without Karimov -- have little to no incentive to change the political economy from which they all benefit, and the overwhelming reach of the security apparatus ensures that no one else is in a position to challenge them.

Everyday life under this sistema and the coercive power of the country's dominant myths can be seen in a case that unfolded earlier this year. Aramais Avakian was a small-time local entrepreneur in the arid Jizzakh region who owned a property with two small ponds. He attempted to make his livelihood by raising fish in his ponds and had moderate success -- a small aquaculture operation with a few employees -- until his business caught the eye of his local hokim (district mayor), who exercised his authority in the "coercive, rent-seeking" state to demand Avakian sign over his land. He refused. Before long, Avakian was stopped by the police and arrested on charges of being a supporter of Islamic State (IS), after which his family and lawyers attest he was beaten and mistreated until he "confessed" that he and all of his employees were a secret IS cell that were determined to overthrow the government. Among the many problems with the narrative is that Avakian -- an ethnic Armenian and Orthodox Christian -- is not even a Muslim. For the system that has taken root in Uzbekistan, however, this was no obstacle to sending him to jail for years as an Islamist.

This, then, is the system that remains, and one that is unlikely to change with or without Karimov.

As political scientist Eric McGlinchey put it earlier this year, "The Uzbek ruling class...has a strong incentive to maintain the autocratic regime that is the wellspring of financial wealth." The security apparatus that supports this regime -- which many argue long ago grew more powerful than Karimov himself -- is predicated in no small part on the argument that without them an Islamist uprising would engulf the country and from there, overwhelm the region.

As we watch events unfold over the coming weeks -- especially if we see the hopes of so many Uzbeks dashed with little to no change in their everyday lives save the portrait on the wall -- remember the story of the fish farmer from Jizzakh as pundits and defenders sell the false dilemma of "autocracy or Islamic State." There are other choices: In 25 years, the Uzbeks have never had an opportunity to find out what they are.

Noah Tucker is managing editor at Registan.net and an associate at George Washington University's Elliot School of International Affairs Central Asia Program
World-renowned neurosurgeon Juha Hernesniemi was in Helsinki at about 2 p.m. on August 27 when he received an urgent phone call from Central Asia.

Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov was hospitalized in Tashkent after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

According to the Uzbek government's official medical report, an unconscious Karimov had been taken to the Central Clinical Hospital in Tashkent about two hours earlier, at 9 a.m. Tashkent time.

A cranial CT scan revealed that Karimov suffered a "massive subarachnoid hemorrhage" -- a stroke caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the fluid-filled space between his brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain.

Karimov's heart had stopped, but the official medical report said medical teams managed to get his heart beating again after 20 minutes of resuscitation attempts.

Karimov was left in an "atonic coma," however. The function of his brain stem were inhibited and he was put on life support to keep him breathing.

Authorities in Uzbekistan wanted Hernesniemi to travel to Tashkent as quickly as possible to assess the president's condition and recommend any possible treatment -- including brain surgery, if necessary.

Soon after he agreed to make the journey, a private plane met Hernesniemi in Helsinki and whisked him away to Uzbekistan, stopping first in Germany.

It was August 28 by the time Hernesniemen arrived at the Central Clinical Hospital in Tashkent and found himself standing beside Karimov's bed.

Hernesniemi told the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) that it was clear that the "game was over" for Karimov because, "in practical terms," he was already "brain dead."

He said he gave his professional opinion that "surgery did not make any sense at that point" and that it was pointless to continue treatment.

Hernesniemi said he was at the hospital when German and Russian medical experts gave their opinions.

According to the Uzbek government's official report, the German and Russian experts included Hugo Katus from University Hospital Heidelberg, Amir Samii from the International Neuroscience Institute in Hannover, and Leo Bokeria, the head of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Moscow State Medical University.

The official medical report said Gilles Dreyfus, the medical director at the Cardiothoracic Center of Monaco, was also consulted about Karimov's condition.

Hernesniemi told Yle that once the experts had given their assessments, the "power game" began.

Asked to elaborate, Hernesniemi said he was referring to situations like the deaths of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon -- where a politically important person falls into a coma with severe brain damage, but is kept clinically alive on a life-support machine while others take steps to establish a political successor.

Karimov remained on life support through Uzbekistan's celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the country's independence from the Soviet Union on September 1.

On August 31, amid rumors of Karimov's death and conjecture over who might succeed him, a broadcaster for Uzbek state TV read out the text of an Independence Day speech traditionally delivered by Karimov.

In the absence of any official government statement about Karimov's condition or the reason for his hospitalization, his daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva posted messages on social media announcing that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage and was in "stable" condition.

She also implied that Karimov was still alive and there was a chance of "recovery."

But on the morning of September 2, after Uzbekistan's Independence Day celebrations had concluded, it was announced that Karimov was in "critical condition."

He was officially pronounced dead at 8:55 p.m. on September 2.

Written by Ron Synovitz with reporting by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service and Yle correspondent Matti Koivisto
A United Nations human rights expert says that Azerbaijan's civil society has been "paralyzed" by the government and, in the past two to three years, has faced "the worst situation" since the country's independence in 1991.

Michel Forst, the UN's special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, said on September 22 that Azerbaijani authorities have applied crippling pressure to journalists and rights activists critical of the government, and made it virtually impossible for nongovernmental organizations to operate.

"Civil society has been paralyzed as a result of such intense pressure," Forst said in a statement as he wrapped up a nine-day visit to the oil-rich South Caucasus nation to assess the situation faced by rights advocates there.

"Human rights defenders have been accused by public officials to be a fifth column of the Western governments, or foreign agents, which has led to misperception in the population of the truly valuable role played by civil society," Forst added.

Western officials and right advocates in recent years have criticized a broad crackdown on dissenting voices under President Ilham Aliyev's government, including the jailing of journalists and activists who say they were targeted for their criticism of authorities.

Those jailed include RFE/RL journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who spent 17 months in prison before her release in May in a case widely seen as linked to her investigations of the Aliyev family's secretive wealth.

Aliyev's aide for public and political affairs, Ali Hasanov, rejected Forst's assessment, telling the APA news agency that it was "biased" and did not take into account "the Azerbaijani government's stance."

Forst's report came just days ahead of a September 26 referendum on changes to Azerbaijan's constitution that critics say will tighten Aliyev's grip on power, which he has held since 2003 after inheriting the presidency from his father, Heydar.

Council of Europe experts said on September 20 that the proposed changes would severely upset the balance of power and give "unprecedented" control to the president.

The head of the legal department in Aliyev's administration called that assessment "hasty" and "politically driven."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
This weekend, separatists from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Italy, California, Texas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere will gather at a Kremlin-sponsored event in Moscow.

But while the so-called "Dialogue of Nations" conference is sure to grab headlines, at the end of the day it's just another example of Kremlin trolling.

A better signal of how serious Vladimir Putin's regime is about courting Western secessionists and extremists came with yesterday's little government reshuffle.

Sergei Naryshkin resigned as speaker of the State Duma, reportedly to make room for Vyacheslav Volodin, the Kremlin's chief political fixer and leg breaker, who is widely expected to be appointed in his place.

But where the rabidly anti-Western Naryshkin landed, as head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, is also very revealing.

As author and political analyst Anton Shekhovtsov notes on Facebook, Naryshkin is one of the key point men in the Putin regime's courtship of the European far right.

France's Marine Le Pen, for example, has said she meets with Naryshkin "roughly once a year."

The two huddled for more than an hour in the Duma last year, after which Naryshkin called Le Pen's National Front "among the leading political forces in Europe."

He also has close ties with other European extremists, like Italy's Matteo Salvini.

And this man is now Russia's foreign intelligence chief.

The Kremlin's courtship of Europe's xenophobes, it appears, is about to escalate from mere trolling to outright espionage.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.

NOTE TO VIEWERS: The Daily Vertical, and all other Power Vertical products, will not appear next week as I will be attending a conference in Tbilisi, Georgia. All Power Vertical products will return to their regular schedule on Monday, October 3.
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev's office says the Central Asian leader has arrived in Moscow to continue his treatment for apparent problems with his heart.

Atambaev's office said in a September 23 statement posted on the president's website that he arrived in the Russian capital earlier in the day and will continue treatment under the care of Kremlin doctors who had previously "conducted examinations of him and treated him for heart problems."



He is also being accompanied by a top cardiologist who works for the Kyrgyz president and government, the statement said.

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports that Atambaev, 60, is receiving treatment as a day patient and is not hospitalized.

Atambaev, canceled a trip to New York to attend this week's UN General Assembly after suffering chest pains during the flight, his press service said earlier this week.

It said that he began complaining of "chest pains" as his plane made a stopover in Istanbul on the way to New York, and that "according to the doctors' preliminary conclusion," Atambaev was found to have symptoms of heart problems.

His office also said earlier this week that Atambaev, who has led the country since 2011, was not expected to return to work before October 1.

With reporting by Reuters and Interfax
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid bin Ra'ad Al Hussein has urged Macedonia to stop a "systematic policy of expulsion and detention of migrants."

Zeid expressed concerns on September 23 about the situation of some 180 migrants, including around 80 children, who have been living in limbo in two transit centers in Macedonia's north and southeast since the March closure of the country's border.

Zeid said he was also deeply concerned at reports of pushbacks into neighboring countries and collective and arbitrary expulsions of migrants. He called these a breach of Macedonias international human rights obligations.

The UN human rights chief also criticized Skopje's recently amended Asylum Law that make it almost impossible for the majority of migrants to legalize their stay, even when they have requested asylum.

According to Zeid, only five applications for refugee status out of 600 requests filed in 2015 were granted at first instance. He deplored the fact that possibilities for family reunification have also become extremely restrictive.


Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Major General Oleg Baranov as the new chief of the Moscow police force.

Baranov replaces Anatoly Yakunin, who resigned on September 22.

A statement on the Kremlin's website on September 23 said Yakunin, 52, was appointed by Putin to head the Operative Directorate of the Russian Interior Ministry.

Yakunin, a lieutenant general, has headed the Russian capital's police directorate since 2012.

Yakunin's resignation came two days after the spokesman for Russias Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin, announced his resignation.

Media reports said last week that the Investigative Committee chief Aleksandr Bastrykin may also resign soon.

Kommersant newspaper reported on September 19 that Russian authorities are planning to fully revamp law-enforcement structures by the 2018 presidential election.

Based on reporting by Kommersant, TASS, Interfax, and RIA
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Richmond police are searching for a man accused of stealing from a vehicle in Pony Pasture and then committing credit card fraud.

At about 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, police were called to the 7300 block of Riverside Drive for a theft from a motor vehicle. The victim believes the incident occurred between 4:45 and 6:15 p.m. the previous day, Sept. 7, at Pony Pasture.

The thief suspect took several credit cards from the victims purse inside her vehicle and shortly afterward made $12,000 worth of fraudulent charges at the Target at 11301 Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County.

Anyone with information can call Detective Eric Sandlin at (804) 646-1010 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
Scars showing on his back, the figure stands with arms outstretched as his shackles fall away.

For now, the image of the emancipated slave exists as a small-scale model in the workshop of a sculptor in Oregon. But over the next few years, if all goes to plan, the statue will stand 12 feet tall at a prominent spot on Browns Island, which was home to many free blacks after the fall of Confederate Richmond and the end of the Civil War.

The $800,000 monument  being planned by a state commission as part of Virginias efforts to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation  also features a female figure cradling a baby in one arm. In her right hand, she holds high a document inscribed with the date of Abraham Lincolns 1863 order that declared slaves free in rebel states such as Virginia.

The states Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission expects the bronze monument to be in place by the fall of 2019 at the latest, when Virginia will mark the 400th anniversary of four seminal events at Jamestown, one being the arrival of the first Africans in North America.

Once a contract is signed with the artist, Oregon-based sculptor Jay Warren, the monument will take an estimated 18 months to complete.

But first, the commission has to take care of the technical details of securing the right to build a monument on city property, a process complicated further by the fact that the city already leases the entirety of Browns Island to Venture Richmond. The downtown booster group uses the island as a venue for the Richmond Folk Festival and other events.

Del. Jennifer L. McClellan, a Richmond Democrat who chairs the MLK Commission, said last week that the state has been told the land-rights issue can be solved by a city-granted easement or a sublease with Venture Richmond.

The city has basically said defer to the preference of Venture Richmond, McClellan said at a meeting Wednesday. And there have been some personnel changes at Venture Richmond, so those discussions have not progressed to where wed like them to be.

The commission has scheduled another meeting for next month, and McClellan said she doesnt expect the talks with Venture Richmond to cause any significant delay to the projects timetable.

Lisa Sims, Venture Richmonds interim executive director, said the organization, overseen by a board of directors composed mainly of business leaders, fully supports the monument and the planned location.

This is an incredible monument, and Venture Richmond is very supportive of the commissions plan to have it on Browns Island, Sims said in an interview. We hope to wrap up the paperwork very soon. Weve had some turnover in personnel, and were anxious to wrap it up as soon as possible.

Browns Island was chosen as the site two years ago, when former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, D-Richmond, led the MLK Commission and Jack Berry led Venture Richmond. Berry, who supported the monument plan, resigned from Venture Richmond in March to run for mayor.

The Browns Island installation will follow a series of other projects meant to show a more balanced view of history in a city steeped in Confederate imagery. The Reconciliation statue commemorating Richmonds role in the slave trade was installed in Shockoe Bottom roughly a decade ago, and the city is preparing to roll out new plans to develop the nearby Lumpkins Jail site. The city is in the process of erecting a statue of pioneering African-American banker Maggie L. Walker on Broad Street.

The MLK Commission considered several other sites in the city for the emancipation monument, including Shockoe and Monument Avenue. When sites were being considered, the Shockoe land was tangled up in controversy over plans for a new minor-league baseball stadium, and officials decided a location at the far western end of traffic-heavy Monument was less than ideal.

The Browns Island decision, McClellan said, was inspired by the Rev. John Jasper, an African-American pastor who became famous for his dramatic sermon De Sun Do Move. When the former slave founded Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1867, the first services were held in an old Confederate stable on Browns Island.

The base of the monument will feature engravings of eight prominent African-Americans with Virginia ties and historic significance. Last week, the commission held the first of five public hearings scheduled throughout the state to gather nominations from the public.

A hearing in Richmond is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Library of Virginia.

The monument and lease agreement will need to be approved by the Richmond Public Art Commission, Planning Commission and City Council, but the administration of Mayor Dwight C. Jones has promised to collaborate.
A Richmond man is the second to plead guilty in a deadly shooting and abduction at the Mosby Court public housing complex last summer.

Marcus T. Coles, 29, of the 600 block of East Gladstone Avenue, pleaded guilty Thursday to the first-degree murder of 26-year-old His plea came before the prosecution had finished its second day of evidence and testimony.

Coles also pleaded guilty to a gun charge and abducting a witness of the July 24, 2015, shooting in the East End neighborhood.

In June, Coles brother, John Jerry James Jr., pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and abduction two days into that proceeding. He received a 32-year sentence.

Coles was sentenced to 50 years in prison with 25 years suspended for the murder charge on Thursday. He is currently serving five years for drugs found in his possession at the time of his arrest for Youngs homicide.

Coles faces another three to 13 years for the abduction and gun charges, for which sentencing was set for Dec. 16.

In all, he could see 33 to 43 years of active prison time.
Richmond police are seeking the public's help in identifying two men who are persons of interest in nearly two dozen commercial burglaries throughout the Richmond area.

Police said they believe the men may have been involved in multiple break-ins in which convenience stores and gas stations have been the primary target beginning July 11.

The most recent incident occurred last Saturday at a Sunoco station at 3401 Jefferson Davis Highway. In that incident, store surveillance cameras show a man lowering himself through the ceiling of the building. He gained access from the rooftop air conditioning unit, stole cash and climbed back through the ceiling, police said.

Police described the first person of interest, seen on the surveillance video, as black male, 30-40 years old with short hair. At the time of the break-in, he was wearing cargo shorts, a dark jacket, a scarf and white, black and yellow high-top sneakers.

The second person of interest was described as black and wearing all dark clothing and a white T-shirt over his head.

Anyone with information about this incident or the two men can call Second Precinct Detective Pedro Riddle at (804) 646-8168 or contact Crime Stoppers at 780-1000 or at www.7801000.com.
More than $4.6 million in contracts have been awarded to construction, architectural and engineering companies for renovations and improvements to several Henrico County schools.

The contracts, which include $1.76 million to cover designs for renovations at Tuckahoe Middle School and more than $1.38 million at Seven Pines and Chamberlayne Elementary schools, were quickly given the green light by the Henrico School Board at its meeting Thursday.

Al Ciarochi, assistant superintendent for operations, noted after the meeting that the contracts approved by the School Board only begin the design process at the three schools. He added that design teams consisting of school officials, facilities and instructional staff will be formed.

They will come up with a design that brings those schools up to date, he said.

Money for the actual construction would have to be approved by voters as part of the proposed bond referendum on the November ballot. Of the $419.8 million in capital improvements the county is seeking to accomplish with the referendum, $272.6 million is intended to be put toward school construction.

BCWH Inc. will oversee designs for renovations at Tuckahoe, and RRMM Architects will be tasked with the work at Seven Pines and Chamberlayne. Those costs will be paid from the capital project account, according to School Board documents.

Additionally, an approximately $1.47 million contract with Colony Construction was approved for paving improvements at 11 schools throughout the school district.

The School Board also authorized an additional $17,405 for ceiling, lights and exhaust hood work at Longan Elementary School, as well as an additional $24,948 for ceiling tile improvements at Three Chopt Elementary School.
The murder of Blacksburg teen Nicole Lovell is being featured on Saturday's edition of "48 Hours."

The CBS television show is launching its 29th season with an episode that looks at several cases involving online predators who target young people through social media. A news release from CBS said that the episode, titled "Killer App," explores the use of the popular Kik messaging app and other "'parent-proof' platforms" used by teens. The program is to air at 10 p.m.

Lovell's family could not be contacted for comment Friday.

Lovell, 13, disappeared from her apartment in the Lantern Ridge complex during the early hours of Jan. 27. Investigators say that she was lured from her home and killed. Former Virginia Tech student David Edmond Eisenhauer, who was then 18, faces charges of first-degree murder, abduction and concealing a body, and has a trial scheduled for March in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

A second former Tech student, Natalie Marie Keepers, 19, is charged with being an accessory before the fact to Lovell's slaying, and with concealing a body. She also is scheduled to g on trial in March.

An online gaming friend of Eisenhauer's has said that Eisenhauer sent him messages saying he'd met a girl at a party, discovered she was underage and was trying to break up with her because he feared she would "expose" him. Eisenhauer asked for advice on how to hide a body, the friend, Bryce Dustin of Pulaski said in a May interview with The Roanoke Times.

Search warrants in the case have said that the Eisenhauer and Lovell communicated via Kik in the days before her death. It was the last of her many social media accounts that she apparently used, connecting to it at 12:39 a.m. on Jan. 27.

Montgomery County Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt said at a bond hearing that Eisenhauer and Keepers created a plan for Eisenhauer to coax Lovell out of her house for a date, then cut her throat. Keepers told police that she had helped put Lovell's body in the trunk of Eisenhauer's Lexus, Pettitt said.

Lovell's body was found three days after she disappeared, in Surry County, N.C.

Father, stepmother of Nicole Lovell given reduced charges after April incident The father and stepmother of a 13-year-old Blacksburg girl killed in January were ordered to

Woman accused in Nicole Lovell death can't film hearing, judge rules CHRISTIANSBURG  A judge in the Nicole Lovell case ruled Tuesday that a defendant will not b

Nicole Lovell's father, stepmother arrested after domestic incident ROANOKE  The father and stepmother of the late Nicole Lovell were arrested in Wytheville la

Nicole Lovell case: Defense lawyers request their own photo access CHRISTIANSBURG  In the latest development in the Nicole Lovell murder case, the lawyers for
Ahead of Donald Trumps rally today in Roanoke, relatives of Virginia Tech shooting victims said Friday the Republican presidential nominee lacks the temperament to respond effectively to gun violence.

In a press call organized by Democrat nominee Hillary Clintons campaign, four parents or children of people shot during the April 2007 massacre criticized Trumps recent comments in which he suggested that Clintons bodyguards should be disarmed and see what happens to her.

The group  three parents and one child of Tech shooting victims  also praised the response of Clintons running mate, Tim Kaine, who was governor of Virginia at the time of the shooting that killed 32 people and wounded 17 others.

Andrew Goddard, whose son Colin was shot four times but survived, said Trump has shown an extremely cavalier attitude toward violence of any kind.

If you are so blase about violence that you drop it for a joke or you drop it out as a provocation, then you dont have the temperament to control the most powerful military in the world, Goddard said.

Kaine, Goddard said, returned to Virginia from a trade mission in Japan and was at his sons bedside before anyone from Virginia Tech.

It was obvious that he didnt need to be schooled in any of the reactions, Goddard said. He was already there.

Peter Read, a military veteran whose daughter Mary was killed in the Tech shootings while studying to become an elementary school teacher, said Kaine and Clintons careers exemplify the kind of service to community, to state, to nation that is valued in his family.

Unfortunately, Mr. Trump has a record ever since he started to put his toe in the political waters of making outrageous statements, including statements that incite people to violence, Read said.

Read pointed specifically to Kaines work to close a loophole in Virginia law that created gaps between mental health records and information used in background checks for gun purchases.

The Virginia Tech shooter, Seung-Hui Cho, purchased two handguns legally, despite being deemed a danger to himself by a court.

Goddard, Read and the calls other two participants  Lori Haas and Uma Loganathan  all have been public advocates for tighter restrictions on guns.

In a written statement, Republican Party of Virginia Chairman John Whitbeck called Fridays call disgusting and an effort to politicize the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

Virginians of all political persuasions came together after Virginia Tech and worked to strengthen our mental health care system and ensure that the failures leading up to that day never occurred again. Legislation closing loopholes in the law passed with unanimous, bipartisan support, Whitbeck said.

Some things are beyond politics and out of bounds. Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine should be ashamed.
The judge who presided over the trial in which former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife were convicted on corruption charges formally brought their case to a close on Friday.

U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer granted a motion by federal prosecutors to dismiss the indictment against Bob and Maureen McDonnell and to vacate their convictions.

On Thursday, the former governor returned to Twitter for the first time since January 2014, posting: My name is Bob McDonnell and I am back on Twitter!

He added Friday: I know not fully what the future holds as I enter the fourth quarter of life. I do know it will be a wonderful adventure.

In September 2014, a federal jury in Richmond convicted Bob McDonnell on 11 counts and his wife on nine stemming from their acceptance of $177,000 in gifts and loans from Jonnie R. Williams Sr., then CEO of Star Scientific, in exchange for promoting the companys dietary supplement, Anatabloc.

Spencer, the trial judge, later dropped one of the counts against the former first lady on a charge of obstruction of justice.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously threw out Bob McDonnells convictions, citing what it termed the governments boundless interpretation of federal bribery law.

On Sept. 8, federal prosecutors moved to drop the corruption case against the McDonnells. The prosecutors asked the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to send the case back to district court. There, the U.S. filed the motion to dismiss the indictment  the motion Spencer granted.

In an interview Friday on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Bob McDonnell said he took my eye off the ball as governor and was unaware of some of Williams gifts to members of McDonnells family.

There was never any quo in the corruption case, McDonnell said, asserting that Williams got nothing in exchange for the gifts.

McDonnell said that looking back, accepting a business loan from Williams to MoBo, the real estate partnership in which McDonnell and his sister  also named Maureen  owned and rented vacation properties in Virginia Beach, was a big red flag.

In retrospect, obviously, that was something that was probably not good judgment on my part, the former governor said.

He added: Obviously, if I could do it over again, I wouldnt take any gifts.

In March 2012, Williams instructed an assistant to write a $50,000 check payable to MoBo, according to the McDonnells January 2014 indictment. In May 2012, according to the indictment, Williams had an assistant transfer an additional $20,000 to MoBos bank account at Bob McDonnells request.

Bob McDonnell said Friday on MSNBC that he emerged from the 43-month ordeal a better person.

He added: I got my Ph.D. in suffering.
Voters should know before Nov. 8 who Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will pick to fill three crucial national security posts if they are elected president: secretary of state, secretary of defense, and director of national intelligence. The reality is that we elect not just a president but also a team of the presidents appointees who will lead large agencies that carry out government policies vitally affecting our national security.

The president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, needs the support of the military to protect the countrys interests abroad. It is urgent, therefore, that we know who these key officials will be.

The point was underlined by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in a Wall Street Journal commentary, Sizing Up the Next Commander-in-Chief (Sept. 17). Gates credibility is enhanced because hes the only person who served both a Republican and a Democratic president in that post. Gates describes the likely foreign policy crises the new president will face and then makes this assessment of Trumps qualifications to be commander in chief:

Mr. Trump is also willfully ignorant about the rest of the world, about our military and its capabilities, and about the government itself. He disdains expertise and experience while touting his own  such as his claim that that he knows more about ISIS than Americas generals. He has no clue about the difference between negotiating a business deal and negotiating with sovereign nations.

Which raises this central question: What kind of person would Trump pick to be secretary of defense and to manage a department of roughly 2 million military and civilian personnel? How capable will he be in supervising deployment of military forces to dangerous areas if hostilities appear likely? In a recent interview, Trump said hed fire most of the current top generals and admirals and replace them. But with whom? Our top military leaders are the Joint Chiefs of Staff; they are approved by the Senate and serve fixed terms. Its essential, therefore, that we know who Trump has in mind to fill the post of SecDef.

Two other top posts are secretary of state and director of national intelligence. Clinton served as secretary of state from 2009 to 2012, and is better positioned to select people for this department who are well-qualified to carry out her foreign and defense priorities. But Clinton too needs to identify the persons she thinks would be well-suited to fill these three national security posts.

Before Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980, many skeptics worried that he lacked knowledge and experience in foreign policy. One of his first moves was to nominate Gen. Alexander Haig to be secretary of state. Reagan knew this experienced professional had served in high positions at the White House and the Pentagon, and that he would reassure Americas allies that foreign policy would be in competent hands. Who will Trump and Clinton select to fill this top Cabinet position?

Reagan brought to Washington a team of competent professionals from California, where he served two terms as governor. Among them was Caspar Weinberger, who had previously held top positions in the U.S. government. Reagan appointed him secretary of defense, and the military services respected his expertise and leadership.

Who would Trump select as defense secretary, to reassure U.S. allies and caution Russias and Chinas leaders about pushing their armed encroachments into Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia? And who will he select as his top diplomat to carry out his policies in the next four years?

The hard reality is that voters are faced today with a choice in foreign policy between one candidate (Trump) who intends radical change in U.S. relations with the world, and another (Clinton) who will continue a foreign policy similar to what has prevailed under both Republican and Democratic presidents for half a century. We will soon learn whether a majority of Americans prefer a radical change in course.
He wont be onstage Monday night, but President Barack Obama likely will dominate the first presidential debate.

Republicans have hung third Obama term around Hillary Clintons neck as if it were an albatross, but Democrats believe the prospect of a third Obama term could be just the thing to motivate unenthusiastic, undecided voters to go to the polls for Clinton.

Obamas overall job approval rating, in the low 40s a couple of years ago, is a healthy 50 percent. Among Democrats, a whopping 89 percent approve of the way hes handling his job, according to Gallup.

More Americans are working. More have health insurance. Incomes are rising. Poverty is falling, Obama said last week at a rally for Clinton in Philadelphia. Someone in the crowd shouted that gas is $2.

And gas is $2 a gallon, he said. Thank you for reminding me.

So when Donald Trump promises to wipe out everything Obama has done, starting with the Affordable Care Act, he not only threatens Obamas legacy but he gives Clinton an opening with uncommitted voters who like the improved economy and social progress of the past eight years.

Only 2 or 3 percentage points now separate Clinton and Trump, so both campaigns want to woo the 13 percent of voters who are undecided.

Some are better-educated people who lean Republican, who dont like Trump and have zero use for Hillary Clinton, and theyre sort of paralyzed and frozen right now, Republican pollster Bill McInturff told The Wall Street Journal.

Others are millennials who lean Democratic, supported Bernie Sanders in the primaries and havent fallen in love with Clinton. Democrats also worry that black voters, who provided the margin of victory for Obama in several swing states in 2012, could stay home.

Obama has made Clintons election his mission, telling the Congressional Black Caucus gala Saturday that he would take it as a personal insult to his legacy if blacks dont turn out for Clinton.

First lady Michelle Obama, one of the most popular people in America, also is campaigning for Clinton  and Obamas place in history.

Elections arent just about who votes, but who doesnt vote, and thats especially true for young people like all of you, the first lady said last week at a campaign rally at George Mason University.

On the stump, the president charges that Trump is unfit to serve and woefully unprepared to do this job. Trump in turn calls Obama a disaster and the worst president.

If you cant remember a president and first lady being so involved in a potential successors contest, its because it hasnt happened in our lifetimes. Most presidents end their time on the stage on a sour note with the public or with little love for the person itching to replace them.

In 1960, when a reporter asked President Dwight Eisenhower to name a major contribution his vice president, Richard Nixon, then running for president, had made, Ike replied: If you give me a week, I might think of one. I dont remember.

John F. Kennedy used Ikes words in a TV ad  and won that November.

In 2000, Vice President Al Gore  remember him?  kept his distance from disgraced President Bill Clinton, and it cost him.

But when the time came for President George W. Bush to endorse Sen. John McCain for president in 2008, Bushs job approval rating had dropped to the basement  about 30 percent. Even though Bush was still popular among conservatives, McCain chose not to ask Bush to campaign.

At this point in 2012, polls showed the race between Obama and Mitt Romney very tight with about 6 percent of voters undecided. On Election Day, though, the contest wasnt as close. Obama won with 51 percent of the popular vote to Romneys 47 percent.

Democrats hope a similar scenario plays out this year for Clinton.

As much as she might like to win purely on her own merits, Clinton knows It Takes a Village. Her uninspiring campaign style and the reluctance of key demographic groups to back her means she will need the whole Democratic village at her side to win.

Fortunately for her, Democrats still believe in Obama, and he said last week, I really, really, really want to elect Hillary Clinton.
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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
The break taken since August is long enough. It's time to come out of the block and start churning for the General Election. It is not for lack of mater...

2 days ago
JUSTICE campaigners and leading lawyers will address a conference this weekend in support of a group of 12 men accused of being involved in a violent confrontation in Rotherham.

The event aims to highlight the Rotherham 12 Defence Campaign, which was formed to clear the names of a dozen Pakistani men charged with violent disorder following demonstrations in the town centre last September.

Those attending will include Hillsborough and Orgreave campaigners, civil rights advocate Suresh Grove; Imran Khan, the lawyer for murder victim Stephen Lawrences family; Liz Fekete, director of the Institute of Race Relations, and representatives of British Muslim Youth.

Sheffield Hallam University will host the event from 9.30am to 5pm tomorrow.

A spokesman for the Defence Campaign group said it would discuss the systemic existence of institutional racism and injustice in the state, the criminal justice system and in particular, the growth of the Far Right in British society, as well as the spike in hate crimes currently.

The group said the 12 men should not have been charged and the case could lead to an injustice in the legal system should they be convicted, and that tomorrows event aimed to unpick some issues that have been prevalent in the town and provide a different view/slant on things.

Of the 12 men accuess, one has admitted violent disorder and will be sentenced later. The other 11 are due to be tried in October.

Seven other men charged over the disorder in Wellgate  who come from Rotherham and West Yorkshire  is expected to take place in November.
A SUPPORT group for parents of children with disabilities and additional needs is holding an open meeting to spread the word of its work.



Members of the Rotherham Parent Carer Forum, which runs regular advice sessions and develops activities for affected families, will be at the UK Coffee Shop branch at the UK Outdoor Clearance store at Parkgate Shopping next Friday, September 30 from 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 7.30pm.



Charity Officer Louise Graham said: We are based in Parkgate and are a group of parents who all have of children with disabilities and additional needs.



We work to support the families of disabled children in our town in a variety of ways which include running weekly advice sessions at the local Tesco superstore, work with businesses such as Jump Inc and Camelot to offer activities specifically for our families and working with the local authority and

Clinical Commissioning Group to improve the services that our families receive.



The group currently has 600 families on its database but Louise said there was a long way to go reach the families of all children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Rotherham, as there are currently over 8,000 children on the SEND register in the boroughs schools.
Stargems brings the DaVinci system to Botswana Stargems, which was founded by Shailesh Javeri in 1981, has diversified into manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing and tendering or auctioning of diamonds and diamond jewellery.

It is also one of the leading players in the manufacturing, wholesaling...

Coloured diamonds are the best investment option if anyone would like to invest in diamonds Dr Sergio Calqueiro, the President and Managing Director of the Dubai-based Foz Gold & Diamonds Trading has been dealing in polished diamonds, gold, Import & Export, International trade and development for the past six-plus years. Sergio is also the...

What Jagersfontein diamond mine staff should have done to avoid the dam wall collapse A mine dam wall at South Africas Jagersfontein diamond mine in Free State province recently collapsed twice within two weeks, killing one person and damaging properties. The dam at the disused mine held liquid waste from a tailings reprocessing operation...

The global diamond industry must now learn to steer clear of this obstructive and outdated blood/conflict diamond terminology, says Dr Mzee Fula Ngenge, Chairman, African Diamond Council Dr M'zee Fula Ngenge, the Chairman of the African Diamond Council (ADC), a Mining Engineer and highly respected Senior Strategy Advisor celebrated 40 years in the global diamond industry this year. He acts as a professional liaison within...
De Beers chief executive Bruce Cleaver said the threat of a ratings downgrade in South Africa is serious and the country needs to reassure investors of its commitment to regulatory certainty and fiscal stability.

Bloomberg reports that the country was struggling to rejuvenate its festering economy and limit public debt in the face of warnings of possible downgrades to its credit rating, which has been assessed as one level above junk by Fitch Ratings Ltd. and S&P Global Ratings.

An alleged fight between President Jacob Zuma and his finance minister Pravin Gordhan for control of the National Treasury and state-owned companies was not helping allaying fears of the downgrade.

South Africa is in a slightly difficult place right now, Cleaver was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.

I think the threat of a ratings downgrade is serious.

He said South Africas problems should be resolved over time as the diamond group was investing heavily in the country.

We have a $2-billion expansion programme at our biggest mine in South Africa, which is really only 40% of the way, said Cleaver.

De Beers development of the Venetia underground project in South Africa was expected to extend production life at that mine beyond 2040.

The group spokesperson Lynette Gould told Rough & Polished in an interview last month that the new underground mine was the biggest single investment in the countrys diamond industry in decades and was scheduled to begin production in 2022, climbing to full production in 2025, treating about 132 million tonnes of ore containing an estimated 94 million carats.

She said about 1,500 jobs had already been created for local people and another 500 would be drafted in when the major underground work begins.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Lucapa Diamond and its joint venture partners have recovered an exceptional 104-carat diamond from the Lulo mine in Angola.

The D-colour diamond, which is about the size of a 50 cent coin, was the fourth stone over 100 carats recovered from mining operations so far this year, the company said in a statement.

It said the top-tier diamond had been confirmed as a Type IIa diamond following tests.

A 404-carat rock was discovered at the same mine last February.

Valued at more than $20 million, it was the biggest stone ever found in Angola.

Lucapa chief executive Stephen Wetherall was quoted by ABC as saying that the company was on the edge of discovering the original source of the stones, which could make it a takeover target for some of the largest diamond miners in the world.

"It just seems that every corner we turn we seem to trip over a large recovery," he said.

"We are quite excited because when you recover these large diamonds, they generally don't travel very far and if we're going to be recovering these in the source, most certainly we will have one of the most special diamonds in the world."



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Pangolin Diamonds said several targets were drilled at its wholly-owned Motloutse diamond project in Botswana and no kimberlite was intersected.

However, the company said it was still optimistic about locating kimberlite in the area.

It said the results from the drilling allowed for the elimination of certain types of magnetic anomalies to be excluded from future exploration programmes providing for a more focused target selection.

A follow up ground programme including detailed soil sampling, gravity and ground magnetics is in progress in a continued effort to locate the sources of anomalous concentrations of positive kimberlite indicator minerals recovered at surface, said Pangolin.

In addition, an exploration programme consisting of soil sampling and groundmagnetic surveys was initiated to specifically follow up the known diamond occurrences within the Prospecting Licence area.

Motloutse covered the area where the first diamonds in Botswana were recovered in 1959.

It also includes the location where De Beers discovered its first diamonds in Botswana in 1962. However, the kimberlite sources of these diamonds were never been located, said Pangolin.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




It is a list of names that is growing in number and in the frequency of additions.Amadou DialloKendra JamesRonald MadisonSean BellManuel Loggins, Jr.Ramarley GrahamRekia BoydJamar ClarkYvette SmithTamir RiceLaquan McDonaldAkai GurleyEzell FordMichael Brown, Jr.Christian TaylorWalter ScottBrendon GlennSamuel DeBoseGregory GunnAlton SterlingPhilando CastileTerence CrutcherThis is an incomplete listing of black men and women who were not armed at the time they were shot and killed by police officers. The officer who shot the latest victim, Betty Shelby has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Mr. Crutcher. Reading the comments sections of various threads regarding the arrest and charging of Officer Shelby is very interesting. I see several common themes.The charge should have been 2nd degree murder.She will never be convicted.Finally, we're seeing an officer charged in the death of a unarmed black person.Let's examine them one at a time.Oklahoma law defines 2nd degree murder as:Could Officer Shelby's actions be construed as "...evincing a depraved mind...?" Perhaps but it would be a bigger stretch than convicting her under the criminal act she is charged with. I'm not saying definitively that a charge of 2nd degree murder might not be more appropriate; but I think such a charge is much more likely to result in yet another instance where a cop is acquitted for shooting an unarmed person.That she will never be convicted is an easy belief to understand. The four officers charged with 2nd degree murder in the case of Amadou Diallo were all acquitted. The DA declined to charge the officer who shot Kendra James in the head. This past April, 11 years after the shooting death of Ronald Madison, five New Orleans cops pleaded guilty to reduced charges. They'd been convicted in 2011 but their convictions were set aside due to prosecutorial misconduct. In the shooting deaths of Sean Bell, Manuel Loggins, Jr., Ramarley Graham, Rekia Boyd, Jamar Clark, Yvette Smith, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown and others, there was either an acquittal or no charges were brought.I think the fact that Officer Shelby has been charged is a step in the right direction. Ray Tensing, the officer who killed Samuel DuBose has a murder trial starting next month in Cincinnati. A grand jury will consider murder charges against Officer Aaron Smith in the shooting of Gregory Gunn. Former officer Michael Slager was indicted by a grand jury for murder and also faces federal civil rights violations and obstruction of justice charges in the shooting of Walter Scott.This does NOT mean the tide has turned. Local prosecutors will never be completely free from a potential conflict of interest whenever they are investigating/prosecuting local law enforcement personnel. That's because of the fact the prosecutors are dependent upon the cooperation of the cops in their efforts to convict anyone they bring to trial in criminal cases. My belief that the only way to make real progress in handling the shooting of civilians by cops is to have outside agencies investigate and prosecute these matters remains unchanged.We will never know the true origin of the maxim "justice delayed is justice denied." William Penn said "to delay justice is injustice." The Magna Carta includes Clause 40 which reads "To no one will we sell, to no one will we refuse or delay, right or justice." The late Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote "justice too long delayed is justice denied"justice too long delayed is justice denied" in his letter from the Birmingham Jail in 1963.It would be much better for all if we could get instant justice in these cases. In the shooting of Terence Crutcher, we should wait and see what happens with the case that has been brought before we judge whether or not the charge is appropriate, and/or a mistake.
The U.S. dollar strengthened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday amid rising risk aversion, due to falling commodity prices.

Crude oil for November delivery are currently down $0.52 to $45.80 a barrel.

Crude oil prices fell as investors remain cautious ahead of next week's meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in Algeria. Speculation triggered that oil producing nation's such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq, will not slash or freeze production to stabilize the oil market due to their longstanding political rivalry and emphasis to expand market share over prices.

In economic news, initial jobless claims unexpectedly dropped to a two-month low in the week ended September 17th.

The report said initial jobless claims fell to 252,000, a decrease of 8,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 260,000. The decline surprised economists, who had expected jobless claims to inch up to 262,000.

Thursday, the U.S. dollar fell 0.54 percent against the euro, 0.56 percent against the pound, 0.73 percent against the Swiss franc and 0.42 percent against the yen.

In the Asian trading, the U.S. dollar rose to a 2-day high of 101.24 against the yen, from yesterday's closing value of 100.74. The greenback may test resistance near the 105.00 region.

Against the euro, the pound and the Swiss franc, the greenback advanced to 1.1194, 1.3035 and 0.9705 from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.1207, 1.3074 and 0.9688, respectively. If the greenback extends its uptrend, it is likely to find resistance around 1.10 against the euro, 1.28 against the pound and 0.98 against the franc.

Against the Australian and the Canadian dollars, the greenback edged up to 0.7629 and 1.3075 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7641 and 1.3041, respectively. The greenback is likely to find resistance near 0.74 against the aussie and 1.32 against the loonie.

Looking ahead, flash PMI reports from major European economies for September are due to be released later in the day.

In the New York session, Canada retail sales for July and CPI data for August, Markit's U.S. flash manufacturing PMI for September and U.S. Baker Hughes rig count data are slated for release.

At 9:00 am ET, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew and Treasury Deputy Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin will participate in the Freedman Bank Forum, in Washington.

At 12:00 pm ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker, Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester and Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart are expected to participate in "Presidents' Perspectives: The Fed's Role in Our Communities" closing plenary before the "Reinventing Our Communities: Transforming Our Economies," a conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia .

At 12:30 pm ET, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan participates in moderated Q&A before the Independent Bankers Association of Texas Annual Convention, in San Antonio.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Editors Pick

Oil major Exxon Mobil Corp. reported Friday a profit for the third quarter that soared from last year, reflecting sharply higher upstream and energy product earnings. Adjusted earnings per share for the quarter topped analysts' expectations, while quarterly revenues missed them.

Seattle, Washington-based Amazon.com Services LLC is recalling Amazon Basics Executive Desk Chairs, citing fall and injury risks, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The recall involves about 11,400 units of the Amazon Basics Executive Desk Chair.

Shares of Swiss Re AG were losing around 3 percent in the morning trading in Switzerland after the reinsurer reported Friday a net loss in its third quarter and the first nine months of fiscal 2022. The results were hurt mainly by weakness in Property & Casualty Reinsurance or P&C Re segment. Going ahead, the company still expects it is unlikely to reach its Group ROE target of 10 percent in 2022.
Shares of Twitter Inc. (TWTR) after gaining more than 14 percent in Friday's regular trading session after CNBC reported that the microblogging website is close to receiving a formal takeover bid.

Twitter has received expressions of interest from several companies and may receive a formal bid shortly, CNBC reported, citing sources. Twitter is reportedly in talks with potential suitors including Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOGL, GOOG) unit Google, and Salesforce.com Inc. (CRM).

Lately, the market has been speculating an acquisition of Twitter, with Alphabet looked upon as a potential suitor.

In August, rumors swirled that former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud were looking to buy the company.

Twitter's investors have started showing their concern about the social media company as it continues to report weak financial results reflected by its sluggish user growth. The company has never posted a profit since its keenly anticipated stock market debut in 2013.

The social networking site is struggling to attract new users as it used to. Twitter reported monthly active users of 313 million in the second quarter, up just 3 percent from last year.

TWTR is trading at $21.32, up $2.69 or 14.44 percent on a volume of 21.09 million shares.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has seen an increase in support in several key battleground states, according to the results of a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released on Friday.

The poll found that Trump leads Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Georgia and Iowa and has narrowed the gap against the former Secretary of State in Colorado and Virginia.

Georgia has voted for the Republican candidate in seven of the last eight presidential elections, but the results of some recent polls suggested that the Peach State could be in play.

However, the Quinnipiac survey showed Trump with a notable 47 percent to 40 percent lead over Clinton among likely Georgia voters. Libertarian Gary Johnson came in a distant third at 9 percent.

Trump has also seen a reversal of fortune in Iowa, where he now leads Clinton by 44 percent to 37 percent after trailing by 41 percent to 39 percent last month.

Johnson also comes in third among likely Iowa voters at 10 percent, with another 2 percent supporting Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, noted that Iowa lacks the kind of large minority population that has fueled Clinton's leads in some of the large industrial states

The poll also showed that Trump has significantly cut into the big leads Clinton held in Colorado and Virginia last month.

Clinton has a slim 44 percent to 42 percent lead over Trump among likely Colorado voters compared to the 41 percent to 33 percent advantage she held in August. The two-point gap is well within the margin of error.

The results from Colorado suggest that the narrowing of the race partly reflects a significant drop in support for the third party candidates.

While 16 percent favored Johnson and 7 percent backed Stein in the previous poll, their levels of support have fallen to 10 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

Among likely Virginia voters, Clinton is holding a sizable 45 percent to 39 percent lead over Trump, although that compares to the 45 percent to 34 percent advantage she had last month.

"Iowa, Virginia and Colorado are a metaphor for what is happening in the presidential race," said Brown. "When Quinnipiac University polled last in those states on August 17, Secretary Hillary Clinton was riding the post-convention wave that gave her double-digit leads in many polls."

He added, "Now, the race has tightened considerably nationally and that new reality is reflected by these numbers that show the two candidates much closer."

The Quinnipiac surveys of 638 likely Georgia voters, 612 likely Iowa voters, 644 likely Colorado voters, and 659 likely Virginia voters were conducted September 13th through 21st.

The results from Georgia and Colorado had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points, the results from Iowa had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points and the results from Virginia had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Canadian stocks were slightly lower in the early going Friday, following substantial gains in the previous two sessions.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 20 points at 14,776, trimming weekly gains.

Air Canada will launch non-stop Montreal to Shanghai flights.

BlackBerry Limited (BBRY, BB.TO) announced its end-to-end asset tracking solution, BlackBerry Radar, has been deployed with Caravan Transport Group Inc.

In economic news, Canada's retail sales were relatively unchanged for the third consecutive month in July, edging down 0.1% to $44.1 billion.

Sales were down in 5 of 11 subsectors. Excluding gasoline stations, retail sales increased 0.2%.

Also, the Consumer Price Index rose 1.1% in the 12 months to August, after increasing 1.3% in July. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index decreased 0.1% in August.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
The Foreign Press Centers (FPC) issue its own press credential that is recognized by various organizations in the area and allows access to FPC facilities and services in Washington, DC and New York, NY. The FPC credential is typically valid for three years and renewable at the end of that period for members of the media on continuing assignment in the United States.

Credentialing
Louisville residents are happy to be one step closer to an improved metro access with Nebraska Department of Roads listing the four-lane divided highway on N-50 from Louisville to Springfield on its for design work list.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets announced $300 million in new transportation projects Sept. 23.

The projects chosen for construction will be funded by the Build Nebraska Act (BNA) and the Transportation Innovation Act (TIA).

In addition to the eight projects funded for construction by this investment, NDOR will be beginning design work on an additional 12 projects including the stretch from Louisville to Springfield.

According to the press release, this particular corridor is experiencing significant growth.

With increasing truck traffic from the nearby quarries, a four-lane expansion will be needed in the future to reduce congestion, the release states. Area trucks are traveling at slower speeds than the rest of the traffic, which creates safety concerns. NDOR will begin four-lane design work on this nine-mile stretch on N-50 from Louisville to Springfield. Once the design is complete, this project will be ready for future construction.

The project is estimated to cost $63 million.

For years, Louisville leaders lobbied for the project including former State Sen. Dave Pankonin, former Louisville Mayor Alan Mueller, Louisville Mayor Roger Behrns and members of Businesses United in Louisvilles Development.

The process of selection began with public meetings in January to gather input on setting a new criterion for selection of new projects as well as input of which projects the public thought were needed. In addition to engineering performance, (traffic counts and safety statistics) they wanted to consider economic performance, Behrns wrote in an email sent Sept. 23. Obviously, good roads have an economic impact, but the prior selection criteria didnt look at that. On page two of the map-list attachment the projects are listed with the rating information as filled dots. This project wouldnt have made the cut on engineering performance alone. In the meetings we hammered the importance of the heavy trucks to the overall economy. A huge amount of rock from Weeping Water and Cement from Louisville crosses the bridge and much of that is used to make those very roads that we need. Adding in all the commuters to Omaha both locally and from the south and the fact that there are limited river crossings made it obvious to us that it was important and apparently they agreed.

Behrns thanked Mueller, Pankonin and Cass County Nebraska Economic Development Council Director Trista Farrens for bringing the project to the attention of NDOR.

 Also, Alan and Dave have spent years building a good working relationship with the department. I believe that this new selection criteria and the input process that goes with it is a significant change and really makes an improvement to a critical government process. It brings a bit of daylight into decisions that affect the entire state for many years to come, he said.

Former Cass County Economic Development Director John Winkler said the inclusion of the project on the design list was very important to not only Louisville, but Cass County.

When I was with the CCNEDC, we were always squawking about Highway 50 through Louisville, Winkler said.

Louisville leaders and residents attended an NDOR informational meeting on the project and shared their views of its importance.

Louisville did a great job of communicating to them that this is important for the entire area, Winkler said. The only thing is, we need to get it moved up even higher on the priority list. We need to keep communicating with everybody. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, he said. Dave Pankonin has worked hard on this. The BUILD group really picked up on the communication with the Department of Roads. We still need to beat the drums. Leadership at every level is important.
Millennial Moms Review: 2022 Acura MDX is pretty close to the perfect family car

I dont know if perfect is attainable, especially considering weve got the world of options when it comes to modern vehicles. Were spoiled and, as such, we have very specific needs and wants. Driving-wise, the 2022 Acura MDX is one of my favourite ...
Nebraska State Patrol, in conjunction with the Cass County Attorneys Office, has released the names of the deputy and suspect in the officer-involved shooting Sept. 21.

The incident occurred near First and Cherry Streets at 7:12 p.m. Wednesday, when Cass County Deputy Tyler Reiff, 25, stopped a maroon 1992 Buick Century driven by Austin M. Baier, 23, of Louisville. The vehicle matched the description of one reported to have been driven recklessly in the Louisville area.

After the initial stop, Baier drove off, and when he stopped a second time, Baier exited his car and confronted the deputy. An altercation ensued and Reiff fired shots. Medical personnel and Reiff attempted life-saving procedures, but Baier was pronounced dead at the scene. Reiff was not injured.

Reiff, a four-year veteran of the Cass County Sheriffs Office, has been placed on administrative leave.

A grand jury will be convened to investigate the incident. Nebraska Law requires a grand jury investigation anytime someone dies in custody or in the process of apprehension.
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
After more than 44 years, Capt. Douglas Ferguson finally got to come home.

Ferguson, a 24-year-old U.S. Air Force co-pilot, died in December 1969 when his plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire and exploded over Laos.

For decades, the young first lieutenants remains were never found.

But in 2014, Penny Minturn, a forensics bioarchaeologist at Offutt Air Force Base, found some important clues that would help bring closure for Fergusons family in Washington state.

Minturn talked about her work during the Friday morning meeting of the Fremont Cosmopolitan Club 100.

She later spoke at Fremont High School.

Minturn works for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), which strives to locate and identify the remains of missing military personnel from the Gulf War back to 1940, and return them to their families.

The agency began because of the POW-MIA movement founded by families and veterans of the Vietnam War  so a lot of time has been spent working in Southeast Asia and many missing personnel from that area have been returned.

But many more personnel have not been found.

Currently, more than 73,000 World War II personnel are missing around the world. There are almost 8,000 Korean War and 1,600 Vietnam War personnel missing in Southeast Asia.

To help find the missing, the DPAA has a main laboratory office in Honolulu and opened a satellite lab at Offutt in 2013.

Workers travel throughout the world, searching for downed service personnel.

Minturn, who has helped recover remains for at least 23 individuals, talked about the work that goes in finding just one person.

Its a complicated job, especially since many have been missing for years.

Workers do background research, poring over personnel files. That can be tough since many military files were lost in a fire in St. Louis, Mo., in 1973.

Researchers study maps and lists of military people reported missing on certain days. They look at medical records and X-rays.

People can be individuated by the shape and size of clavicle (collar bone) and even the bumps on it. Its an excellent tool for Korean War personnel, almost all of whom had tuberculosis X-rays before they left.

Historians also talk to witnesses, local residents and veterans to gather information.

Minturn talked about the specific case involving an aircraft with Ferguson and another man missing in Laos. An archeologist identified for areas of priority. Two areas were excavated, but the plane wasnt found.

During the next year, Minturn did extensive research and found a man whod written an article about the area and had photos.

That was incredibly difficult to find, she said.

Based on her findings, Minturn singled out one site. She and others began digging. There, she found red and white material and then saw the star  of an American flag.

You should have seen my face when I realized it was a flag, she said. It was very exciting.

The flag was part of a blood chit, a notice carried by military survivors with a message in several languages, seeking help and promising a reward.

Minturn then found two dog tags in excellent shape along with remains. Back at the lab, another archeologist analyzed the findings.

Minturn said bones found at a site can help tell the age, sex and race of the person.

A lot of times we cant tell much, but we do as much as we can, she said.

DNA extracted from a bone can help in identification, but only if there is a family reference sample. Dental records are used, too.

In the Ferguson case, researchers got the information they needed to identify the man, whose remains were returned to his home in Lakewood, Wash.

Everything I read about him sounds like he was a wonderful, funny, outgoing guy, said Minturn, who met his cousin and nephew.

Fergusons obituary talked about his earning a Silver Star, just nine days before he died. The Silver Star citation said that despite adverse weather and intensive hostile ground fire, Ferguson successfully prevented the capture and possible death of two downed airmen, both of whom were rescued.

Ferguson was buried with full military honors in a plot just a few feet from where his parents are buried.

Minturn said she still wants to return to Laos to search for the pilot, Fielding Featherston.

She also said the DPAA is working at Offutt on a disinterment project for men lost on the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk in the Pearl Harbor attack. Thirty-five crew were saved. Remains were buried in graves in a Honolulu cemetery.

The DPAA told the U.S. Navy that it could use DNA to identify the men and return them to their families. The first casket was disinterred in 2003. In that single casket, 95 different mitochondrial DNA sequences were found.

That means there were 95 different people in that casket, she said. There were 429 men missing on the boat, 35 survived. In these graves, there should be about 387. We get 95 in one casket, that means we have a quarter of everybody were looking for is in that one casket.

The DPAA did something similar to remains returned in 208 boxes by the North Koreans. As of today, DPAA is up to 587 individuals and has identified 170 military personnel.

Minturn said 5,000 DNA samples from men on the USS Oklahoma have been sent to a lab in Washington, D.C. Thus far, theyve identified 39 people. Theyre also looking for DNA family reference samples for men on the USS Oklahoma.

They have about 30 percent of family DNA samples.

Minturn also said that on Thursday, the remains of 1st Lt. Ben B. Barnes were released to his family and a service is set for Oct. 15 in Miller, S.D.

Barnes, a pilot, was killed in World War II after his single seat aircraft encountered enemy aircraft, northeast of Berlin, in December 1944.

Minturn found Barnes remains in Germany on a single mission  after 70 years.

He was only 24, she said.

Minturn said that between Hawaii and Offutt, the DPAA has eight archeologists, 25 to 30 anthropologists and many students who help. She, whose dad fought in World War II and brother served in Vietnam, goes to sites with a military team.

That has been my greatest joy in this job is to be able to work with the young men and women that serve us today, she said. They are awesome people.
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.
Yahoo Inc. suffered a data breach in 2014 that affected at least 500 million Yahoo user accounts, the company announced Thursday.

The Sunnyvale, Calif., Internet firm said the hacker is believed to be a state-sponsored actor and may have gained access to user information such as names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, scrambled passwords, and some encrypted and unencrypted security questions and answers.

Yahoo said hackers did not steal unprotected passwords or credit card and bank account information.

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The company did not say how long it had known about the data breach. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Yahoo encouraged users to review their online accounts for suspicious activity and to change their passwords and security questions and answers for any other accounts that use the same information. It said it is sending a notice to users it believes may have been affected, and more information is available on its website.

The FBI is aware of the hack at Yahoo and is investigating, according to a U.S. official briefed on the case.

The FBI has regular contact and good working relationships with our private-sector partners in the Bay Area, said Susan McKee, an FBI spokeswoman. The compromise of public- and private-sector systems is something we take very seriously, and the FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace.

The number of user accounts affected is significant compared with other recent high-profile data breaches. A breach of Target Corp.s database in 2013 affected more than 100 million customers. EBay Inc. experienced a data breach in 2014 that affected its 148 million customers. Anthem Inc. disclosed in 2015 that it was hacked, and information about more than 70 million customers was compromised.

Yahoos security breach poses new headaches for Chief Executive Marissa Mayer as she scrambles to close a $4.8-billion sale to Verizon Communications Inc.

At the very least, Verizon is going to need more time to assess what it will be getting into if it proceeds with its plans to take over Yahoo, said Scott Vernick, an attorney specializing in data security for the law firm Fox Rothschild.

This is going to slow things down. There is going to be a lot of blood, sweat and tears shed on this, Vernick said. A buyer needs to understand the cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses of its target these days.

Investors evidently arent nervous about the Verizon deal unraveling yet. Yahoos stock rose a penny Thursday to close at $44.17. But the Verizon sale represents a sliver of Yahoos total market value, which primarily consists of a stake in Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba Group currently worth $42 billion.

And despite its lagging public image, Yahoo still commands one of the largest online audiences in the world. More than 1 billion people visit its websites every month.

tracey.lien@latimes.com

Del Quentin Wilber in Washington and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Did Wells Fargo violate overtime laws? Elizabeth Warren among 8 senators seeking Labor investigation

UPDATES:

3 p.m.: This article was updated to add Yahoos stock price and discussion of implications on Yahoos deal with Verizon.

12:35 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with Times staff reporting.

This article was originally published at noon.
Sempra Energys subsidiary in Mexico, known as IEnova, has taken another step toward expanding its profile in the countrys energy landscape.

On Wednesday, Mexicos antitrust commission approved IEnovas purchase of a 50 percent stake in the infrastructure company Gasoductos de Chihuahua for about $1.1 billion from Pemex, Mexicos state-run oil company.

The assets in the deal include three natural gas pipelines, an ethane pipeline, a liquid petroleum gas pipeline and an associated storage terminal.

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IEnova officials declined to comment to the Union-Tribune on the deal, which is still subject to closing conditions, although the purchase is expected to be completed later this month.

But energy analysts see the acquisition as part of a larger plan for the San Diego-based Fortune 500 company.

Their Mexican strategy is absolutely a key underpinning to the consolidated Sempra growth strategy. said Julien Dumoulin-Smith, independent power producer equity analyst at UBS Investment Research.

IENova has been very active in Mexico in recent months.

In June, IEnova partnered with TransCanada to construct and operate a $2.1 billion underwater natural gas pipeline that will go from South Texas to Tuxpan, Mexico.

Earlier this month, IEnova jumped into the growing renewable energy market in Mexico, agreeing to buy 100 percent of the Ventika wind farm in northeastern Mexico for $852 million.

The Mexican government has set a clean energy mandate that begins in 2018 and calls for 35 percent of its power generation from renewable sources by 2024.

The ability to wholesale transition the economy there from an oil-oriented economy towards natural gas, to take advantage of cheap renewables, that is no small thing and represents real savings for consumers and ultimately a real opportunity for substantial investment in infrastructure, Dumoulin-Smith said.

According to a July company presentation, Sempra plans on spending more than $2.4 billion in Latin America through 2020.

There are a lot of opportunities down there and if you can get in there early, you can position yourself well for future opportunities, said Andy Smith, senior utilities analyst at Edward Jones.

Mexicos energy industry is going through dramatic changes in the wake of 2013 reforms that saw Pemex lose its monopoly status.

The falling price of oil has forced Pemex to sell off some of its assets, which has attracted financial outfits with deep pockets, such as asset manager BlackRock and the private equity arm of Goldman Sachs, to look for investment opportunities.

IEnova, the first energy infrastructure company listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange, is one of the largest private energy firms in Mexico. At the end of last year, the company listed more than $4 billion in operating assets and projects under construction in Mexico.

Next to their LNG (liquefied natural gas) expansion efforts, this is their second-most strategic pivot for the company, Dumoulin-Smith said.

Sempra has made a massive investment in LNG  the process in which natural gas is super-cooled and condensed into liquid so it can be transported over long distances.

IEnova already operates a complex called Energia Costa Azul, just outside of Ensenada, that has been used to import liquefied natural gas. Sempra officials are considering adding an export component to Costa Azul that could go online by 2022 or 2023.

Theres a lot of need in Mexico for energy infrastructure, whether its natural gas pipelines or electricity and other things, said Smith. So Sempra being down there and having interests in Mexico already, I think its a great opportunity for them to take advantage of that need.

Heres your San Diego need-to-know of the day. A Ph.D. student rates hundreds of burritos Local scientist wins genius grant Sick bald eagle rescued in Ramona

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Sempra goes big on LNG exports

Sempra shakes up its executive ranks
The city of Poway will temporary halt planning work on a long-awaited community center so it can first study whether to partner on the project with the YMCA of San Diego County.

On Tuesday, the Poway City Council instructed city staff to hold off on community center plans, which have been in the development stage for nearly a decade, until the partnership opportunity is fully vetted.

A deal with the Y could potentially save the city $10 million in construction costs, not to mention future operating and maintenance expenses.

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YMCA of San Diego President and CEO Baron Herdelin-Doherty said the Y is willing to work with the city in every way on the design and operation of the center, so that its exactly what the city envisions.

He said he is excited about the partnership opportunity because the Poway area is one of six places in the county where YMCA expansion is warranted.

The city has been planning to build a new senior/community center for nearly 15 years but only recently have the plans taken shape. Preliminary designs for what it would look like inside and out have been prepared and the city was close to putting the design contract out for bid.

Thats been put on hold for the time being and in the next 30 days the YMCA and city will begin talks about just what a partnership would mean financially and physically.

We simply want to explore the possibility of partnering with the YMCA so we can spend less and do more for the community, Mayor Steve Vaus said Tuesday.

The entire council was on board with getting talks started, but made it clear that whatever happens, all of Poways needs must be met as part of the plans.

Several members, including Vaus, said the partnership might in fact be the only way to build a new center because the estimates of how much it might cost have continued to rise to a point that it might be difficult to justify spending the money.

Im not sure that we can look at this as Plan A vs. Plan B and pick one said Councilman John Mullin.

Im not sure how viable it is for us to proceed with building this in the design stages now for a price tag that I know is going to be over $20 million. I just dont know if thats enough bang for the buck, Mullin said.

To have an alternative come up that I think will address and provide many of the services we want to provide  to have the option to do that at a fraction of the cost, is to me a conversation that we have to have.
CITY COUNCILS

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad City Council is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, when it will hear a staff presentation on the status of the Climate Action Plan implementation, and approve $1,946,133 in funding for the NextGen Regional Communications System.

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The Carlsbad Housing Commission will discuss an update to the citys housing element at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. The housing element is a state-required plan to ensure the city can meet future housing needs, including a variety of housing types, densities and options for low-income residents and those with special needs. Public input is welcome. No action will be taken at the meeting, which will be in workshop format.

DEL MAR

The Del Mar City Council is scheduled to meet in special closed session to discuss potential litigation at 5 p.m. Monday in Suite 100 (the former Pilates studio) at 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd. The council will meet in open session at 6 p.m. to discuss broadcasting additional upcoming Ad-Hoc Design Review Process Citizen Advisory Committee meetings; discuss changes to parking code requirements; and decide whether to allow short-term vacation rentals through regulation or to prohibit short-term rentals. The council will also hear a report on potential illegal voter registration.

To celebrate the next step of the construction of the Del Mar Civic Center (City Hall/Town Hall), the city of Del Mar will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Monday at 1050 Camino Del Mar. Light refreshments will be served. Visit www.delmar.ca.us/cityhall or contact Administrative Services Director Ashley Jones at (858) 755-9313, ext. 1155.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Council Chambers, 505 S. Vulcan Ave., to hear a report on an Emergency Coastal Development Permit issued by the Planning and Building Department to authorize a temporary trailer housing an emergency generator; to execute memoranda of understanding between the city and major events such as the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project and Cardiff Kook Run; and to discuss the distribution of educational information and materials related to the Housing Element Update (Measure T).

ESCONDIDO

Escondido residents are invited to a town hall meeting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers, 201 N. Broadway. Town hall meetings are a chance for people to discuss community issues in a less formal environment than regular council meetings. The meeting will start with a brief city update, followed by a question-and-answer period on any topic relating to local government. City staff will follow up on issues not addressed during the meeting. The meeting will also be videotaped and rebroadcast at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 and 26 on Cox Channel 19 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside City Council will meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers, 300 N. Coast Highway, to discuss labor negotiations, litigation and property negotiations. In open session at 5 p.m., the council will authorize release of community SDG&E data for a feasibility study for a Community Choice Aggregation (energy) Program. The council will also hold hearings on whether to allow rooftop decks on a condominium at 514 Morse St., and on an ordinance to amend zoning in regard to adult-oriented and tattoo shops. The council will also consider a resolution opposing Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Initiative.

POWAY

The Poway City Council is scheduled to meet in special closed session to discuss litigation at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Council Chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive. In open session at 7 p.m., the council will consider a variance for a home in the 13000 block of Frame Road to pave more than half of the front yard, and will consider an appeal allowing a mural at Wrench on Wheels, 12555 Poway Road, to stay. The council will discuss the expansion of a Cox Communications facility at 14016 Midland Road, and hold a workshop on a potential partnership with the YMCA.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido Union School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the district office, 2310 Aldergrove Ave., to discuss litigation and personnel matters. In regular session at 7 p.m., the board will hear updates on the districts Proposition E bond program and on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) activities.

FALLBROOK

The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Room 106 of the district office, 321 N. Iowa St., to discuss litigation. In open session at 6 p.m., the board will consider various contracts with outside agencies for services to special-needs students, and review revised board policies on the Local Control and Accountability Plan, Chronic Absence and Truancy, Immunizations, Student Use of Technology and Education for English Learners.

RAMONA

The Ramona Unified School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Thursday at the district office, 720 Ninth St., to discuss personnel, litigation and labor negotiations. In open session at 7 p.m., the board will hear a presentation on the 2016 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress; will certify the sufficiency of instructional materials, as required by the state; will hear a presentation on a utility conservation proposal; and consider authorizing a request for proposal to sell roughly 40 acres of vacant land on San Vicente Road near Hanson Lane.

SAN MARCOS

The San Marcos Unified School District board is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Media Center of the North County Regional Education Center, 255 Pico Ave., when it will discuss supporting Proposition 55: The California Childrens Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2016; various resolutions dealing with the sale of $7,485,000 in special tax refunding bonds; and authorization to seek bids to upgrade technology at Carrillo Elementary, Richland Elementary, San Elijo Middle, Woodland Park Middle and Twin Oaks High schools.
Oceanside City Treasurer Gary Ernst has died, city officials announced Friday. He was 61.

Ernst  who was running for re-election in November  suffered from diabetes and had been in poor health. He died of natural causes, officials said.

A long-time financial adviser, he was appointed to the city post in 2010, after former City Treasurer Gary Felien was elected to the City Council.

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Our city mourns the loss of City Treasurer Gary Ernst, a dedicated public servant, Mayor Jim Wood said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Gary will be deeply missed by the City Council, staff and community.

Councilman Jerry Kern, who had been helping Ernst with his re-election campaign, said he was well liked by colleagues at City Hall.

Its sad, Kern said. He was a very nice guy and very well qualified.

Felien said Ernsts death was unexpected and a blow to all who knew him.

I knew that hed been ill, but I didnt realize it was life threatening, Felien said.

The city treasurer is a part-time position responsible for overseeing the city investments, handling cash transactions and banking services. The treasurer also prepares quarterly reports for the City Council.

Because of state election rules, Ernst name will remain on the November ballot. If he is elected, the council will have to appoint a replacement, City Clerk Zack Beck said.

The only other candidate for city treasurer on the ballot is Nadine Scott, a community activist, a special district treasurer, self-employed investor and attorney focusing in family, environmental and estate law.

Scott said she was saddened by the news and expressed her condolences.

In 2010, Ernst was chosen from among eight people who applied for the Oceanside treasurers job, which pays about $24,000 annually. Ernst served the remainder of Feliens term and then ran unopposed in 2012, clinching a four-year term.

The vote to appoint Ernst followed a failed effort by Councilmen Jerry Kern and Jack Feller to appoint retired insurance broker Larry Hatter. Felien said he recommended Ernst because he had been a member of the Treasurers Investment Oversight Committee and was therefore familiar with city finances.

On Friday, Oceanside officials praised Ernsts handling of the citys investments.

His financial management career began in 1978 as a bank management trainee when he was finishing his business degree at Cal State Los Angeles.

Ten years later, he was a vice president and branch manager at Great Western Banks main office in Los Angeles when he decided to form his own financial services company, Ernst Financial Services in Oceanside.

In 2013, he was hired at Samuel Scott Financial Group as a mortgage adviser.

edward.sifuentes@sduniontribune.com

@EdwardSifuentes
There is an undeniable exuberance to Operation Avalanche, the new found-footage conspiracy film from director Matt Johnson. Its as if the filmmaker, who also co-wrote and stars in the movie as a CIA agent named, appropriately, Matt Johnson, is getting away with something. And in many ways he is.

In 1967, at the height of the space race, Johnson, along with his fellow agents Owen Williams, Jared Raab and Andrew Appelle (all of whom, like Johnson himself, are played by actors who actually possess those names), talk their way into NASA while posing as a documentary film crew. In actuality, theyre looking for the Soviet mole who keeps sharing American secrets with the Kremlin.

Operation Avalanche

Rating: R

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When: Opens Friday, Sept. 23

Where: Landmark Ken Cinema

Running time: 1 hour, 34 minutes

  

Their mission quickly goes awry, and soon Johnson talks his superiors into letting him do what he really wants to do  fake the moon landing.

Like the phony moon landing in the movie, none of this would have come about without the enthusiasm of Johnson, both in terms of the movies plot and the making of the movie itself. On screen, the character plays his superiors and misleads his comrades, signing them all up for a mission none of them thought was necessary and none of them think can succeed. It isnt long before theyre scouting locations and once again going undercover as a documentary film crew, spying on none other than Stanley Kubrick to get filmmaking tips.

This isnt the first film about a faked moon landing. Capricorn One, from 1977, is still the best known, and Moonwalkers, which starred Ron Perlman and Rupert Grint, came out earlier this year. But Operation Avalanche approaches the subject with a different take, one that makes it so strangely meta. Beyond all of the main characters, being played by people using their real names, there is footage that actually was shot on location at NASA. How did Johnson pull that off? If you think he might have posed as a documentary film crew, then youre starting to get the picture.

Of course, faking the moon landing is one of the ultimate conspiracies, and the thing about conspiracies is that its often hard to know when youre pulling the strings or having your strings pulled. Before long, strange things start happening, and Matt and Owen start to wonder if, perhaps, they have an unseen puppet master who is really calling the shots.

As things become more tense and dangerous, Operation Avalanche loses some of the spirit of what made it so enjoyable and ingenious in the earlier stages. However, the found-footage format, which has been out of fashion for a number of years, actually works quite well with the conceit, and Johnson, whose Canadian accent occasionally belies his origins, is enjoyable and has enough vision to hold it all together.

Still, theres something about Operation Avalanche that feels somewhat unsatisfying when all is said and done. The idea is a good one, but the ending feels more standard than the beginning. Johnson cant quite finish as strong as he starts, and in writing and directing his tale, he may have set himself up for something. But that, of course, is the other thing about conspiracies. Every one of them requires a patsy.

Wright writes about movies for The San Diego Union-Tribune. Email him at anderswright@gmail.com.
Is it fair to judge a new movie by the film on which it is based? Its hard not to think of the new version of The Magnificent Seven in terms of John Sturges 1960 film of the same name. That iconic Western features a super team of tough-guy actors such as Steve McQueen, Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson and James Coburn, as well as Eli Wallach as the villain. Even Elmer Bernsteins theme music is some of the best ever. Can Antoine Fuquas new movie stack up?

Maybe it doesnt have to, because Sturges movie wasnt all that original either. It was based upon Akira Kurosawas 1954 film Seven Samurai. The Magnificent Seven may be iconic, but Seven Samurai is seminal, one of the greatest films of all time, and the new movies script is based not on the Sturges film, but on that of Kurosawa.

The Magnificent Seven

Rating: PG-13

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When: Opens Friday, Sept. 23

Where: Wide release

Running time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

  

Those are even bigger cinematic shoes to fill. Fuqua tries, admirably, though his film is weighted down with a bloated script and some thin characterizations. There are some extended shootouts that are wildly exciting, but the movie drags quite a bit early on, taking too much time to get to the meat of the story.

The plot sounds familiar. The small town of Rose Creek is held hostage by industrialist Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), a mining magnate/psychopath who would just as soon kill someone as look at them. When he does just that, the newly widowed Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) collects what she can from the townsfolk and heads out to find help. Luckily, she runs into Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), an all-around white hat who signs on when he hears whom shes up against.

Ideally, hed quickly round up six other hombres willing to lay their lives on the line for very little pay, but it actually takes much longer than that. Still, he signs up the drunken gambler Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), former Confederate sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke) and his buddy, knife expert Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee). The crew is rounded out with the outlaw Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), the tracker Jack Horn (Vincent DOnofrio) and the Comanche warrior Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier).

The Seven quickly rout the small force Bogue has left in Rose Creek, knowing that he will soon return with a small army. That gives them scant time to train the towns farmers to fight, and to deal with their own demons. The epic battle that ensues also follows the classic Seven formula. Justice is dished out with hot lead, and not everyone gets to ride into the sunset.

No, this Magnificent Seven doesnt reinvent the wagon wheel, but its not supposed to. Westerns are as few and far between as water holes these days, though, and Fuqua is trying to recapture the basics of that genre. In doing so, he has brought together a much more multicultural group of heroes than in previous incarnations, which will hopefully appeal to a larger demographic and possibly give the movie more play in some additional markets (including the native Korea of Byung-hun Lee, where the movie has already opened).

The movie is overly straightforward, but it has some lapses in storytelling. Theres obviously something personal between Sam and Bogue, and by the time were told what it is, the credits are ready to roll and were not all that interested. The time for back story has already passed. Its those sorts of details that make the new movie feel as though it isnt as well put together as those of the past.

Like Toshir Mifune and Yul Brynner before him, Denzel Washington brings a steadiness and gravity to the role, and anchors the entire movie. He and Fuqua have collaborated on two previous films, including Training Day, which earned Washington his Oscar. His Training Day co-star Ethan Hawke is given one of the movies more interesting parts, but he doesnt seem to be able to do much with it. The real disappointment, however, is Chris Pratt, who is far more enjoyable when hes the goof of Parks & Recreation and Guardians of the Galaxy. Though hes one of the biggest stars on the planet, his Farraday comes across as smarmy and fairly unlikeable.

If theres a real take-away from a movie thats all about men, it is Haley Bennett. Shes as much an equal as any of the Seven, and she brings a soulfulness to the part that makes you hope youll see her appear in something else down the trail.

Wright writes about movies for The San Diego Union-Tribune. Email him at anderswright@gmail.com.Magnificent may not be as good as its predecessors, but its a steady shooter
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.

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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

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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.

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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
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.

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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.

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Bay Area refinery shuts down operations after oil sheen is spotted in San Pablo Bay

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Prosecutors in Tulsa, Okla., moved swiftly to file first-degree manslaughter charges Thursday against a white policewoman who fatally shot an unarmed black man who had been stranded in his disabled SUV.

The unusual felony charges were filed less than a week after 40-year-old Terence Crutcher was shot on a stretch of darkened highway after officers stopped to investigate. A father of four, Crutcher was returning from a community college class when he was approached by first one, and eventually four police officers.

Police Officer Betty Shelby told interviewers she was afraid Crutcher was going to kill her. But an investigator concluded that Crutcher was walking away with his hands up. When he did not respond to her verbal commands to stop, the investigator said, Shelby became emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted.

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The fatal shooting has quickly become part of the growing list of police shootings that has set the tone for the nations conversation on race relations.

Since the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., in 2014, the string of officer-involved shootings has given visibility and momentum to the Black Lives Matter movement, renewed debate over proper police training and added sharp edges to the presidential campaign.

As Shelby was being charged, members of the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington stood outside the Department of Justice and demanded a stronger, tougher response from Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch to repeated instances of police shooting black men.

We must do something to end this assault on our communities, said Rep. Maxine Waters, the veteran Los Angeles Democrat. We will not continue to ask our constituents to be patient without any hope for change.

Tulsa County Dist. Atty. Steve Kunzweiler appeared determined to head off turmoil in a city with a long and fraught history of racial discord by establishing that the criminal justice system can work.

I do not know why things happen in this world the way they do. We need to pray for wisdom and guidance on each of our respective paths in life, he said.

The response from Crutchers family was muted.

Tiffany Crutcher, his twin sister, said the family was pleased with the manslaughter charge but would remain vigilant to see that there is a conviction.

While we are pleased to learn that the officer that senselessly killed my brother will face criminal charges for doing this act, we understand that nothing will bring him back. Nothing will bring him back  our father, our son, our brother, our nephew, our cousin, she said.

One of the familys attorneys, Benjamin L. Crump, called for the case to be prosecuted vigorously.

Make no mistake, it was clear from the beginning that charges were necessary in this case. The officer responsible for the death of Terence Crutcher had to be brought to justice to be held accountable for her actions. We remain optimistic that the state attorney will now do his job, and vigorously prosecute the officer to the fullest extent of the law, bringing some form of justice to the Crutcher family, he said in a statement.

Shelbys lawyer, Scott Wood, did not respond to requests for comment. But he has said the officer believed Crutcher was on a drug, and his failure to comply with her commands caused her to feel seriously threatened.

Citizen activists who had been demanding a response to the shooting applauded the prosecutors decision but remained suspicious.

Sometimes I think they did this just to quiet things down, said Dwana Gaston, one of a number of demonstrators outside the courthouse Thursday.

The swift decision to file criminal charges against a uniformed officer in Oklahoma stood in contrast to the smoldering discord in Charlotte, N.C., where the citys police chief has refused to release police video of the fatal shooting of a black man who police say was armed. The family said it was a book, not a gun, the man was clutching when he was shot. The incident has drawn loud and violent street protests.

In releasing multiple videos of the fatal shooting in Tulsa, the citys police chief advised that the images were disturbing and vowed to achieve justice.

Protesters quickly demanded that Shelby be fired, and the Crutcher family called for criminal charges against the officer, who remains on routine administrative leave. The Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation, and local authorities are independently investigating the shooting.

Police videos show Crutcher walking toward his SUV with his hands up. Four officers, three male and one female, approach Crutcher as he walks to the drivers side and seems to lower his hands and put them on the car. A man in the helicopter video suggests its time for a Taser before saying, That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something.

Within seconds, Crutcher drops to the ground. Shots fired! a woman yells on police radio as officers slowly back away while holding their guns up. Officers wait more than two minutes before approaching Crutcher again.

Wood, Shelbys lawyer, said that when the officer showed up and asked Crutcher whether the car was his, he did not respond. Crutcher put his hands in his pockets as he walked toward her, then removed them and put his hands up before walking toward the back of her patrol car and putting his hands back in his pockets, Wood said.

Wood said Shelby fired her gun at the same time that a second officer fired a Taser at Crutcher because she had tunnel vision and did not realize other officers were on scene.

When unarmed people of color break down on the side of the road, were not treated as citizens needing help. Were treated as, I guess, criminals  suspects that they fear, said Crump.

David Riggs, another Crutcher family attorney, said there was nothing in the video to suggest Crutcher was dangerous.

Police said they found PCP in Crutchers car, but family attorneys, while not confirming that discovery, dismissed the possibility as playing a role in his death. A toxicology report is pending. Attorneys also contend that Crutchers drivers-side window was up and left smeared with blood after he was shot, suggesting that police had no reason to fear him reaching into the car for a weapon.

Police tactics in Tulsa, the second-largest city in Oklahoma, have come under increased scrutiny. The shooting comes four months after Tulsa County volunteer Deputy Robert Bates was sentenced to four years in prison on a manslaughter charge after shooting and killing Eric Harris, an unarmed black man, during an undercover operation in 2015. The white reserve deputy said he mistakenly reached for his gun instead of his Taser.

And the scars of a 1921 race riot in which white assailants attacked black residents, destroying businesses and leaving many homeless, are also still felt in Tulsa, where schools teach history lessons on the incident. The death toll was estimated to be between 50 and 300, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Across the U.S., fatal shootings in recent years resulted in a few murder or manslaughter charges against police officers, and winning convictions in such cases can be difficult.

It may be that the prosecution is making a rational judgment, but getting a conviction against a police officer is very difficult, said Jody David Armour, a USC law professor. Jurors just dont convict, even when there is compelling evidence.

There was one such conviction earlier this year. New York Police Officer Peter Liang was found guilty in February of manslaughter for killing Akai Gurley, an innocent, unarmed black man, when he fired a shot while patrolling a dark stairwell in a Brooklyn housing project in 2014.

Liang, who was fired after the conviction, was sentenced to five years probation and 800 hours of community service, a sentence that outraged members of the African American community, who said he should have spent some time behind bars.

A Chicago police officer, Jason Van Dyke, currently faces murder charges in the killing of Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old African American, in 2014. Prosecutors say Van Dyke shot McDonald 16 times, and the shooting has prompted a U.S. Justice Department investigation of the Chicago Police Department.

Trial began this month in New Mexico for Keith Sandy and Dominique Perez, two former members of the Albuquerque Police Department, who are charged with second-degree murder in the death of James Boyd on March 16, 2014. A widely circulated video showed that Boyd, who was homeless and had schizophrenia, had taken knives out of his pocket in an altercation with police but appeared to be turning away when he was shot.

In South Carolina, a former white police officer from the city of North Charleston, Michael Slager, was indicted on murder charges in the death of a black man who tried to flee a traffic stop on April 4, 2015. Cellphone video taken by a bystander showed Slager firing eight times at Walter Scott, 50.

Still, obtaining convictions of officers can be difficult.

Six Baltimore police officers were charged in the death of Freddie Gray, who died on April 19, 2015, a week after being transported in a police van. Ultimately, after one hung jury and not-guilty verdicts rendered by a judge, prosecutors dropped all charges, including allegations of manslaughter and second-degree murder against some of the officers.

Eaton is a special correspondent.

Times staff writer Ann Simmons in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

ALSO

Opinion: Does running from police justify execution?

After violent protests, Charlotte police chief vows not to make shooting video public

Anger grows in Tulsa as police release video of fatal shooting of unarmed black man

UPDATES:

9:50 p.m.: This article has been updated with additional comments reacting to the charging decision.

3:20 p.m.: This article has been updated throughout with more details from the affidavit.

1:55 p.m.: This article has been updated with more background information on the shooting.

This article was originally published at 1:45 p.m.
A former Border Patrol agent accused of engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl was convicted Thursday in San Diego Superior Court of felony charges.

Daniel Spear, 46, was found guilty of oral copulation with a minor, digital penetration of a minor and use of a minor in the production of child pornography.

Spear was acquitted of three counts of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor and one count of digital penetration of an intoxicated person.

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Prosecutors had accused him of supplying the girl, then 17, with cocaine.

The jury deliberated less than a day before reaching verdicts.

Deputy District Attorney Marissa Di Tillio has said the crimes occurred last year at Spears Lemon Grove home and at a hotel near Mission Bay.

The girl testified at a previous hearing that she became close to Spear and his family at a time when she was experiencing a troubled home life. She met Spear after she befriended his daughter in school.

She said Spear gave her money and jewelry early on in their relationship but didnt explicitly ask her for anything in return. She said later that he hinted that he wanted both her companionship and sexual favors.

The defendant took several cellphone photos depicting the girl in sexually suggestive poses, the prosecutor has said. The photos were taken at The Dana Hotel on Oct. 20.

Spear had been a Border Patrol agent for 18 years. He was arrested in January and placed on administrative leave. He was fired in February.

He had been free on bail while his case was pending but was taken into custody immediately after the verdicts were read.

Spear faces up to four years and four months in prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Nov. 18.

His defense lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, said he plans to ask a judge to place Spear on probation at his sentencing.

Heres your San Diego need-to-know of the day. A Ph.D. student rates hundreds of burritos Local scientist wins genius grant Sick bald eagle rescued in Ramona

Twitter: @danalittlefield
A man from Tijuana has been charged with smuggling nearly 6,000 fentanyl pills, disguised as oxycodone, into the U.S. from Mexico, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Jose Arturo Acevedo, 35, is accused of driving through the San Ysidro Port of Entry on July 19 with the fentanyl pills, as well as 55 pounds of methamphetamine, 24 pounds of cocaine and 12 pounds of heroin, prosecutors said.

The drugs were concealed in 24 packages hidden in a speaker box behind the front passenger seat, according to a federal complaint.

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The 5,857 blue pills discovered among the narcotics were the dimensions of oxycodone pills and marked as such, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. A Drug Enforcement Administration lab later determined the pills contained fentanyl.

Authorities say fentanyl is 25 to 50 times stronger than heroin, lowers blood pressure, diminishes breathing and slows the heart rate  often leading to fatal consequences.

Fentanyl is cheap to manufacture illicitly, so disguising it as other drugs can be more profitable for dealers. Mexican drug cartels are known to purchase fentanyl from China and produce the opiate from precursors sourced from abroad.

In recent weeks, federal authorities have also intercepted powdered fentanyl, leading to charges against four other men.

Philip Lilien, 64, was charged with smuggling 19 pounds of fentanyl and 20 pounds of heroin through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Customs and Border Protection officers found the drugs inside 11 bundles that were hidden in a spare tire in the rear of the vehicle Lilien was driving, prosecutors said.

The Denver resident, who was living temporarily in Mexico, was charged on Sept. 9 with importation of a controlled substance.

David Martinez-Carillo, 26, faces charges of possession with the intent to distribute in connection with a Sept. 12 arrest at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Pine Valley.

Agents found 18 pounds of fentanyl and 8 pounds of meth in the vehicle the Mexican resident was driving, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Most recently, Arturo Torres-Carballo, 28, of El Centro, and Erik Alejandro Dominguez, 23, of Mexico, were arrested at a Border Patrol checkpoint on state Route 86.

Agents discovered 13 packages of fentanyl in the secret compartment under the rear speaker area of their vehicle on Sept. 16, prosecutors said.

Update: The charges against Philip Lilien were dismissed Nov. 22, 2016.

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
San Diego police have asked the public to keep an eye out for a mother and her 11-year-old daughter who disappeared Friday.

Yadira Robledo, 36, and Michelle Rosas have not been in contact with their family since they left their apartment in the southeastern area of San Diego around 9 a.m. Friday, police Sgt. Lisa McKean said.

The two live with Robledos boyfriend and mother, McKean said.

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They drove off in a black, two-door 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse. McKean said police dont know where they could have gone.

Robledo was described as 5 feet 4 inches and 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a green shirt and black leggings.

Rosas was described as 5 feet 1 inch and 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police dont know what she was wearing when she disappeared.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts was asked to call police at (619) 531-2000.

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
Three things will happen on your first day of college, I can almost guarantee.

If youre driving to school, youll be inducted into what I call the parking games. Think Hunger Games but in a parking structure setting. Everyone will be fighting for the closest spot to campus. This game is brutal.

Youll get lost not once, not twice, but multiple times. Youll get frustrated when you miss your first class searching for SH106D and the only room you find is SH106. It may seem that theyre in the same building but they wont be. Yes, the thought of it still frustrates me, and yes, youll have your own SH106D moment.

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At some point youll end up sitting in the wrong class. Once the professor starts talking about the basics of computer engineering youll freak out and realize youre definitely not in the right place for Spanish 101.

Once you make it to the correct class, the third experience will transpire. The professor will take role and youll feel safe and sound until the awkward ice breaking exercises begin. If youre lucky, youll only introduce yourself to a group of three people. If youre very lucky  please note the sarcasm  youll have to stand up in front of the entire class and state your name, major and something that makes you special.

Youll probably go through this series of events several times before you settle into college life. These crazy situations, however, are only a small part of what is to come.

Entering college is a step toward adulthood, so there are serious matters that need to be considered before you enroll into a community college or four-year institution. These include financial aid, selecting a major and networking.

Financial aid is perhaps the biggest challenge and blessing faced by students. The process includes a significant amount of paper work sometimes overwhelming  and patience. The most important thing to know about submitting a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the deadline.

The sooner you submit the completed application, the sooner youll get awarded. Getting awarded before the semester begins means that youll have money for books or parking permits prior to the first day of school. You can find more information about FAFSA deadlines, paperwork and overall process by visiting fafsa.ed.gov.

Selecting a major seems simple but you have to determine whether or not its impacted. Impacted majors are popular and require high GPAs and tougher prerequisites. Visit an advisor as soon as you can to review your preferred majors guidelines. The sooner you prepare, the quicker youll get in and finish your degree.

Networking is perhaps one of the best perks of college. Connecting with your peers allows you to build relationships that may be quite beneficial upon graduation. Establishing ties with professors and counselors is significant as well.

Internships, scholarships and graduate school applications usually require letters of recommendation or references. Professors are more likely to give references to students who participate in class and use the resources they offer, such as office hours. Dont underestimate the power of participation. Nine out of 10 professors during my academic journey said that participation can take you from a B to an A.

Expect the unexpected during this post high school adventure. Reach out to organizations, teachers, friends and family members that may be able to facilitate this transition. I promise you that at some point during your junior or senior year youll bump into an overwhelmed freshmen and reminisce about the time when you were barely beginning.
When heading off to college, freshmen will have a long list of must-have items, including a laptop, cellphone, assorted chargers, a backpack, clothes, printer and bed sheets. One thing that may not be essential is a car.

In fact, some colleges discourage or prohibit freshmen living on campus from having a car in their first year.

Point Loma Nazarene University, for instance, does not allow freshmen on-campus residents to bring cars on campus. Additionally, UCLA discourages freshmen by putting them at the bottom of the parking-permit application line and requiring them to file special-exemption requests  citing an off-campus job, internship or other specific reason  in order to procure a parking permit while living on campus.

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There are plenty of pros for a student having a car in his or her first year at school, and in some cases it may be necessary if the student is living far off campus or has a job. Plus, who doesnt want the mobility to go anywhere at any time? However, there are cons, too.

For one thing, many campuses just dont have the parking space. Theres also the cost factor  parking permits, gas and maintenance. Plus, if a student has a car and is always leaving school (to go home, downtown or away for the weekend), he or she isnt going to get the full campus experience  especially as a first-year student.

As the mother of four current college students and an administrator with 24-plus years experience, I personally have not allowed my children to have cars on campus when they were first-year students, said Cynthia Avery, assistant vice president of Student Life at the University of San Diego. For those families who allow students to have cars on campus, I strongly recommend that students not come home for the first four weekends of the semester, the time when students engage with their peers, become integrated into the fabric of the community and transition to their new environment, freedoms, etc.

Avery said some students certainly have valid reasons for needing a car, but those should be distinguished from wanting a car.

Also, if the student does take a car to campus, parents and students need to discuss the ground rules beforehand. Will others be allowed to drive or borrow the car? What can it be used for?

At USD, students are neither encouraged nor discouraged from having cars on campus, Avery said. In the 2013-14 academic year, about 52 percent of all students residing on campus had parking permits. There are enough spaces, so that isnt an issue.

What Avery sees as an important consideration for freshmen, however, is the quality of their first year. Without a car, students may actually get more out of their experience.

First-year students are encouraged to fully embrace the campus community and the events, resources, programs and services available to them, she said. This helps their transition to their new home. 

At USD and many other schools, in fact, buses, the trolley (or subway), Zipcars and other means of public transportation, including Uber and Lyft  especially at urban schools  allow students to easily get around. According to Avery, USD has a weekend program called San Diego Spotlight where campus trams take students to off-campus events (December Nights, Earth Day at Balboa Park, etc.) or beaches and malls.

When investigating possible schools to attend, applicants should look into public transportation options and the price and availability of parking permits for freshmen.

Among other points to consider:

 Will the car be used responsibly? Students who are on their own for the first time often will test limits and try new things  so driving under the influence or while exhausted could be a possibility, states the College Parents of America website.

 Will having a car become a distraction?

 Is it worth the additional costs? Remember this, too: parking violations on campuses can be costly and plentiful.

For many students, leaving the car at home  for one year, two years or all four years  is the right decision, according to College Parents of America. They save money, have less responsibility, stay focused and get involved (on campus). For other students, having a car on campus may be important or necessary. The decision about whether or not to take a car to college should be one that is well considered and that you make together.
The average size of a college dorm room is just 12 by 19 feet. Thats a whopping living area of 228 square feet  usually shared by two people.

Space is precious and students often feel cramped. Freshmen heading off to college certainly wont need to rent a U-Haul.

Students packing for college will need to be smart and diligent. Even then, many will discover they either packed too much or left behind critical items.

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By planning ahead and bringing what is needed, while buying other items at the final destination, students can have a smoother, less stressful moving experience. Most college dorms are equipped with a bed, desk and chair, chest of drawers and a closet or wardrobe space.

A dorm room gives students the chance to personalize through decorating and displaying items that remind them of home.

Bring a few pictures of friends, your favorite sweatshirt, and whatever else keeps you anchored, said Dr. Jeff Bolster, dean of students and director of residential life at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. And then leave some important stuff at home, too. You need to grow and develop, so make room for that. You dont need to fill every drawer and every inch of wall space. Grow into your dorm room.

Several websites offer advice and checklists for packers, including collegepackinglist.com and bigfuture.collegeboard.org.

Communicate with roommate

If youre sharing your room, communication with your roommate is wise prior to moving in. Practically, students will only need one television, microwave or refrigerator per dorm room, said Bolster, so talking ahead of time will help avoid duplication. Ideally, one roommate will bring a television while the other brings a refrigerator. This way students can share costs. Simplifying ownership can also save squabbles at the end of the year about who should keep each item.

Making a dorm room comfortable with items from home can also help alleviate homesickness.

Practical items to bring to campus include pillows, blankets, sheets, clothes, non-halogen study lamps, alarm clock, computer or laptop, towels, shower shoes, bulletin boards, personal-care items, dishes and silverware, power strips, desk items, umbrella, flashlight, camera and clothes hangers.

Those leaving home should be sure to have access to prescription medications. Move your prescriptions to a pharmacy that is accessible in your colleges town, or take refills of the medication with you. If you wear eyeglasses, its a good idea to have a spare pair on hand, too.

Incoming freshmen visiting campus before their first semester would be wise to ask to see a dorm room where current students are living to get packing and decorating ideas. Students who cant make it to campus might reach out to their residential life sections to ask for ideas on what to pack.

Bolster suggests avoiding big-box stores when buying for school.

Two words: thrift store. Its a cheap, sustainable and enjoyable way to get some unique stuff in your room, he said.

When it comes to packing clothes, the general recommendation is to pack only clothes for the upcoming season. Most students go home for the holidays and can bring clothes for the next season if necessary, said Christine Clark, with student affairs at UC San Diego. Due to limited storage space, its wise to bring only necessities.

Clark suggested the use of collapsible storage bins to maximize closet and clothes storage spaces. She added students should be sure to mark their names or identification numbers on personal items, especially valuable ones, in case they get lost or stolen

And yes, it is possible for students to pack too much.

Bring about half of what you think you need and you will still be fine, Bolster said.

Items students should not bring to college include personal electric heaters, halogen lamps, items with open-heat sources (such as candles or hot plates), pets, amplifiers or large stereo systems. Students should also be prepared to incur some costs after arriving on campus.

Costs for student meal plans, parking permits, activities, snack food, laundry and books vary, but students need to plan for those expenses.

I find that students are far more prepared than they think they are, Bolster said. Most times they bring a bunch of stuff in an attempt to manage being nervous about college. Take some time in these days leading up to leaving for school and get your mind and your heart ready. Target cant solve that.
As students prepare for college, they have plenty to think about.

Should they live on campus or off? How many units should they carry? Can they squeeze in time for intramural sports, a job or a shift on the college radio station?

Yet with so many exciting decisions to make, many students might overlook the need for insurance.

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Choosing the right kinds  both for health coverage and for their possessions  is among the most important decision students will make.

Medical emergencies can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars, and students need to avoid being saddled with medical bills they are unable to pay and that can ruin their credit ratings. Additionally, accidents and health issues happen: One survey by the Center for Student Health and Life reported that 75 percent of college students have visited a campus health center.

According to a study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), more than 30 percent of all schools require students to have health insurance as a condition of enrollment.

Students may opt to remain on their parents health insurance plan or enroll in a health care plan offered by their college or university.

The GAO reports that 67 percent of college students (age 18-23) are covered by their parents plan; 7 percent are covered by other group plans (including university plans) and 6 percent have public coverage, such as Medicaid. More than 20 percent are uninsured.

Campus plans vary and it is important to know what they will cover, and what they wont. More than half of colleges offer health insurance plans for students. The average annual premium is $850.

Health insurance provided on campus is generally designed to cover minor claims such as office visits, minor lab work, etc., said Anthony Jones, insurance agent with Healthy Body and Mind Insurance Agencies in San Diego. To have adequate coverage for a catastrophic illness or injury, students are better served by having their own personal individual health insurance or maintaining coverage under their parents plan.

But that advice, too, can vary, depending on the plans offered.

Under the Affordable Care Act, dependents are able to stay on their parents health insurance plan until the age of 26. If a student has a pre-existing medical condition, the best choice for them would be to stay on their parents health insurance plan.

Students also have the option to purchase an individual plan on their own. Options vary by state and by where you are enrolled, but some options are affordable for healthy individuals.

The key is to do your homework, shop around at local insurance companies for a health plan that is best for you.

When shopping for an individual health insurance plan, students need to ask some key questions. These include whether the policy covers them when school is not in session, whether they are required to use certain physicians, hospitals and clinics, and whether the coverage applies if they should opt to study abroad.

Renters insurance is another type of coverage that college students do not often choose and is especially important if living off campus. Often students might think that items stolen from their vehicle are covered by their auto insurance, but that isnt necessarily the case. Renters insurance covers personal properties stolen from vehicles, as well as items in a dorm or home such as computers, stereos, bicycles or furniture.

It will also cover their relocation expenses in times they are forced to move due to a covered loss, said Amy Hall Quist, an insurance agent with Farmers Insurance in San Diego. The policy will also cover them against a claim or lawsuit resulting from bodily injury or property damage to others caused by an accident while on the policyholders property.

The cost of renters insurance can range from $10 to $30 a month depending on how much coverage is needed.

I tell college students its the cost of two beers a month, said Michael N. Hill, insurance agent with Allstate in San Diego. Its unfortunate that 90 percent of all renters do not have renters insurance.

Students who live on campus may be covered by their parents homeowners policy and the policy will treat dorm rooms as an extension of the home; but students should check with parents first, said Jordie Fuller, an insurance agent for Allstate.

Fuller said he advises parents or students to look for a specialty policy for laptops and personal devices.

They are reasonably priced and can cover breakage as well as theft, Fuller said. The deductible is usually lower than the parents home or renters policy.
A state appeals court ruled this week that San Diego doesnt have to pay Cory Briggs $258,000 in attorneys fees for a case he won involving the Convention Center because he was representing a suspended corporation.

The opinion, which overturns a February lower court ruling that granted Briggs the fees, also says the way Briggs handled the case was unethical and perhaps criminal.

An attorney for Briggs disputed that characterization on Friday, contending the ruling by the Fourth District Court of Appeal applied the wrong statute of the states Revenue and Taxation Code.

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The attorney, Paul Pfingst, said the court failed to make a key distinction between corporations that get suspended for not paying their taxes and corporations that get suspended for the less serious offense of failing to file tax returns.

Pfingst said he expects the court to re-hear the case and reverse its decision when he makes them aware of the mistake. If they dont take that path, he said the case will be appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The appeals court ruling says Briggs is not entitled to attorneys fees because he knowingly represented a suspended corporation, the nonprofit San Diegans for Open Government.

They also criticize him for not disclosing the suspension to the court or the city during the case, in which he successfully nullified a new city tax that would have financed a contiguous Convention Center expansion.

The lower court expressed similar concerns in February, saying such litigation misconduct constitutes, at best, an ethical lapse, and at worst, criminal behavior.

But the lower court awarded Briggs $258,000, a portion of the litigation costs he incurred during the part of the case after his clients suspension was lifted. Briggs initially sought $862,000.

The appeals court ruling, which was issued on Thursday, said no fees should be awarded because the corporation was suspended when the litigation began in June 2012, depriving it of the right to file the suit.

The 16-page ruling was also more critical of Briggs, using phrases like furtive conduct and bad faith throughout.

It also criticizes Briggs, who frequently sues the city over a wide variety of issues, for not explaining his actions or taking responsibility for them.

In addition, it says the conduct might be criminal based on the states Revenue and Taxation Code, which says its a misdemeanor to violate statute 23301 of the code, which says litigation rights can be suspended when taxes havent been paid.

But Pfingst, the attorney for Briggs, said the appeals court should have instead applied statute 23301.5, which says litigation rights can be suspended if a taxpayer fails to file a tax return.

Such suspensions are not included in the Revenue and Taxation Codes section on potentially criminally conduct.

The Legislature made the determination that if a company doesnt want to pay taxes, then lawyers shouldnt be allowed to go to court and sue on their behalf, and if they do its a misdemeanor, said Pfingst, a former district attorney. If the corporation doesnt file paperwork but is good with the taxes, there is no criminal consequence to it.

Pfingst also contends Briggs wasnt unethical because the suspension was lifted a few months into the case in November 2012. He contends the lifting of a suspension in the middle of a case is retroactive to the beginning of a case.

Theres excellent case law that says under those circumstances where you didnt file, as long as youre making a good faith attempt to get back in the good graces of the government, everything is fine and its a technical violation and they dont care, Pfingst said.

Gerry Braun, spokesman for City Attorney Jan Goldsmith, said: The law was extensively briefed in this case. We will keep our comments to the courtroom.

The city has paid another attorney in the case, Craig Sherman, $453,200 in attorneys fees. Instead of the suspended corporation, Sherman represented activist Melvin Shapiro.

The city has also paid $27,500 to Richard Perl, who helped negotiate the attorneys fees for both Briggs and Sherman.
The Defense Department has awarded UC San Diego $29.3 million to upgrade and overhaul the Roger Revelle, a globe-trotting research ship that the school operates on behalf of the Office of Naval Research.

The universitys Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla has used the 277-foot-long ship for dozens of expeditions, including one to the waters off of Tonga so scientists could examine sea-floor spreading caused by volcanic activity.

The Revelle also has lingered off of New Zealand for researchers could analyze seismic activity in the deep sea, and it has taken scientists to Antarctica to explore climate change.

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The vessel is named after the late Roger Revelle, a researcher who played a pivotal role in the founding of UC San Diego, a campus that grew out of the scientific operation at Scripps. Revelle also is considered the father of the greenhouse effect, an atmospheric process that has gained further prominence with discussions about global warming.

Most ships like this have a service life of 30 years. This overhaul will allow us to extend it to 45, said Bruce Appelgate, who oversees ship operations for Scripps. Thats a tremendous value for taxpayers.

The Revelle is scheduled to begin its overhaul in 2018. Its life is being extended just as SIO is welcoming a new vessel to the fleet, the Sally Ride, which goes into service later this year.
Not to creep you out, but someone might be spying on you.

Its never been easier. The web-connected cameras on your laptop and cellphone  and your doggie-cam and baby monitor, too  are digital peepholes for hackers. Same goes for your smart TV and home security system.

Cybersecurity experts said hackers are broadly exploiting the explosive growth in the use of webcams by using malicious software to quietly take remote control of the devices, sometimes within minutes.

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A Toronto woman was photographed watching Netflix by a hacker who commandeered the webcam on her laptop. Foreign hackers took over the nanny-cam of a Minnesota family and posted photos of their baby online. A Temecula man was sent to prison for spying on women through their webcams, and trying to extort a victim with photos he took.

There also are websites that publicly list private web and security cameras that arent firmly protected. This week, web-surfers could watch scientists in a lab at UC San Diego, employees talking at a nearby construction company, and the inside of a house filled with musical recording equipment. The website, Insecam.org, also exposes the inside of daycare centers, airline hangars, hospitals and shopping malls in other parts of the world.

No one knows how pervasive this is; theres no clearinghouse for such information. But theres plenty of concern.

Earlier this month, FBI Director James Comey told an interviewer that he placed a piece of tape over the webcam on his own computer, and urged the public to follow suit. Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg appeared in a photo that shows he he had done the same thing.

High-profile figures arent the only ones doing it.

I have been teaching my students to put tape over the cameras of their laptops and their TVs, said Murray Jennex, a cybersecurity professor at San Diego State University. Many of them dont even realize that these things have cameras and microphones.

Most computer users dont watch for such threats, choosing to rely on anti-virus programs that can spot and stop most, but not all, malicious software, or malware.

Thats not hard to understanding; keeping up with cyber threats is bewildering. Symantec Corp. of Mountain View said it identified 430 million new and unique pieces of malware last year  a 36-percent increase over 2014.

Malware or bad software is prolific on the web, and nearly every type of device that touches the Internet is potentially susceptible, said Lance Larson, assistant director of the Graduate Program in Homeland Security at SDSU.

Your computer, smartphone, home router, electronic doorbell, and security cameras are all realistic vectors for infection, especially if you dont keep their software up-to-date, and use strong passwords.

Hacking webcams and surveillance systems is a fairly straight-forward process. It usually involves remote-access trojans, or RATs, a type of malware. RATs can give a hacker control of a persons webcam, and enable them to explore computer files and record keystrokes.

Hacking webcams (is) not as easy as they make it out to be in the movies. You have to get past a firewall or install some type of malware to infect a machine, said Erik Knight, founder and chief executive of SimpleWan, a Phoenix-based tech company.

Places like the National Security Agency certainly have these abilities but, generally, hackers have to feed you something first.

Hackers can hide the RATs in applications that users download from the Internet. They can also embed them in email attachments or emailed hyperlinks that ask a potential victim things like, Do you want to hear an interesting new song?

Hackers can create their own RATs, or simply buy them online.YouTube videos explain how to use them.

The FBI said hacker Jared James Abrahams of Temecula used this kind of malware in 2012 and 2013 to take control of the webcams of numerous women, and photographed some of them when they were naked.

His victims included Cassidy Wolf, who was Miss Teen USA in 2013. Abrahams tried to extort some of his victims with photos he took with the webcams. But he was caught by authorities and sent to prison.

The sextortion case generated lots of publicity and gave the impression that such hacking is mostly focused on sex. But Kip Boyle, president of Seattle-based Cyber Risk Opportunities, said this spyware could be used by everyone from partners in a domestic violence case to unethical computer system administrators to spouses and friends who simply want to spy on each other.

And the video may be of secondary interest.

In many cases, the audio feed from hacking a web camera may reveal more information than the video as everyday office tasks such as phone calls and face-to-face meetings could potentially be exposed, said Sadiyq Karim, an executive at NSS Plus, a cybersecurity agency in Falls Church, Va.

Better firewalls and anti-virus software can blunt some of these intrusions. But hackers have been successful at making RATS harder to find  a problem that has yet to trigger widespread outrage among computer users, possibly because many people dont know theyre being spied on.

People are also very conflicted about the nature and use of computers.

San Diego States Larson said: As a society, we want things that are open. We also want things that are inherently secure. These are not harmonious with each other.
State utility regulators, already under criminal investigation for their ties to monopolies they oversee, should ban gifts and travel from energy companies and trade groups to avoid the appearance of improper relationships, a state audit released Thursday said.

The 64-page report issued by California State Auditor Elaine Howle said the California Public Utilities Commission should increase transparency and accountability, and found that its contracting practices do not comply with state requirements or the highest industry standards.

Howle called on state lawmakers to pass legislation to improve operations at the regulatory agency, something several legislators have sought for years.

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The CPUC has not effectively guarded against the appearance of improper influence in its public decision-making, the audit said. The CPUC has failed to fully disclose important communications between commissioners and external parties.

Auditors singled out an undisclosed meeting in Warsaw where former commission President Michael Peevey and a Southern California Edison executive discussed the 2012 failure of the San Onofre nuclear plant north of Oceanside. They sketched out a framework for a deal that assigned ratepayers $3.3 billion of the $4.7 billion in premature closure costs  a ratio that is now being re-examined.

The former president of the CPUC engaged in private discussions that were not disclosed in a timely manner and that have cast doubt on a key CPUC decision, auditors wrote. These occurrences demonstrate a need for changes in the way such conversations are disclosed to the public.

The audit criticized other overseas travel by regulators at the expense of groups run by utility and telecommunications interests.

Including the 2013 trip to Poland, where Peevey and an Edison executive met at the luxury Hotel Bristol Warsaw, auditors counted 19 international tours by seven commissioners between 2010 and 2015. The report included a world map showing the experiences of the regulators, including trips to Australia, China, Japan, Sweden, Belgium and Italy.

The costs, often picked up by nonprofits such as the utility-dominated California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy, totaled more than $150,000. The foundation says its tours are instructive for policymakers and allow for a casual exchange of ideas with industry leaders; auditors said they should be banned.

To help restore its image as a trustworthy, unbiased regulatory agency, the CPUC would benefit from establishing a prohibition against accepting travel, meals or other gifts from individuals or entities that have a strong or direct connection to the utilities it regulates, the report said.

The audit issued 10 primary recommendations and eight additional recommendations in a section titled Other Areas We Reviewed.

Executive Director Timothy Sullivan agreed with many of the suggestions, but not all. Besides rejecting a ban on gifts and travel, he opposed a plan to require participants in open proceedings to fully disclose their interests.

As the audit report recognizes, the commissioners acceptance of identified gifts is consistent with state law, Sullivan said. The commissions legal division will continue to analyze commissioners acceptance of gifts on a case-by-case basis, and such analysis will continue to examine whether any such gift raises appearance issues.

Auditors said the commission awarded too many no-bid contracts, failed to justify those decisions and did not properly monitor such agreements.

They also found the commission did not maintain records effectively, could not locate certain documents, failed to process requests for public records promptly and generally operated in a lax control environment.

In particular, the audit criticized a $3.8 million deal with the California Center for Sustainable Energy, a San Diego nonprofit that won a no-bid contract in 2012 even though utilities said the outreach project should be competitively bid.

The CPUCs final decision explained that although it prefers to conduct competitive solicitations, competition was not required, auditors wrote.

Leendert Len Hering, the charitys executive director, said his organization had nothing to do with the commissions decision to avoid a bidding process.

The process was the PUCs, he said. We were very surprised (to win the contract). It took quite a while for us to agree and construct the statement of work.

One audit recommendation called on the commission to better explain decisions awarding no-bid contracts, a suggestion regulators said they would accept.

Auditors also said lawmakers should require the commission to adopt a standard for commissioners to recuse themselves from proceedings when their impartiality is reasonably questioned.

That suggestion was made after a consumer group complained that Peevey was wrongly involved in a $152 million research and development deal between electric utilities and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Peevey declined to excuse himself from the proceeding despite emails showing he participated in project discussions long before an application was filed.

The state audit affirms what many lawmakers and consumer advocates have thought for years: California utility regulators too often rule in favor of companies they supervise rather than the public at large. A report launched by the commission itself last year reached similar conclusions.

Last year, as the state Attorney Generals Office was serving search warrants at commission and Edison offices, the state Legislature passed six bills aimed at reforming the agency. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed all six bills, saying they were unworkable as a whole.

Lawmakers responded by crafting a constitutional amendment to strip the commission of most of its legal authority. After that plan passed the state Assembly on a 61-9 vote, the governor opened negotiations that led to a compromise overhaul package this past summer.

The strongest changes  toughening rules on private communications, banning utility executives from serving on the commission for two years and allowing Superior Court judges to review denials of public records requests  died in the last hours of the session.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles, who helped negotiate the reforms Brown agreed to in June, said the audit is the latest evidence to show the commission needs repair.

One of the recommendations is that the legislature should pass new laws. I dont know if thats ironic or tragically amusing, he said. This is a commission that needed reforms yesterday, a decade ago, probably even longer ago than that.

I remain very disappointed in the way this (reform legislation) went down, said Gatto, who is termed-out come December. Im now convinced the reforms have to come from the outside, they have to be blessed by the voters and they have to be big.

Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, who has criticized the commission for years and authored numerous efforts at reform, said he will take up the state auditors recommendations in a new legislative package as soon as January.

Were not going to let it go; this is too important, said Hill, whose district includes San Bruno, where eight people died in 2010 when a utility pipeline exploded due to poor maintenance and lax oversight. The governor is a reflection of how good and credible the PUC is and unless they can stand with integrity, it reflects on him.

The Governors Office declined to comment on the audit findings.

San Diego attorney Michael Aguirre, who sued the commission for its San Onofre vote and withholding records, said the findings show Brown is allowing commission business to proceed as usual.

The fact that the governor blocked the reform that would have allowed enforcement of the Public Records Act is especially egregious in light of this very powerful report from the state auditor, he said. Its unfortunate that the PUC, the governor and the attorney general dont have the same commitment to the public interest as the state auditor.

Attorney General Kamala Harris, who collected Browns endorsement in her U.S. Senate campaign, has been criticized by her opponent and others over the pace of the criminal investigation into the agency. Her office said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

The probe was opened more than two years ago, after emails were released in response to the San Bruno blast. The documents showed that regulators routinely dined and traveled with utility executives, trading information and favors that other stakeholders were not privy to.

Heres your San Diego need-to-know of the day. A Ph.D. student rates hundreds of burritos Local scientist wins genius grant Sick bald eagle rescued in Ramona

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
In California, embracing diversity is not just about being comfortable with demographic change. Its about protection against disasters, natural and man-made.

California is a disaster-prone state, and when calamity strikes, diversity  of all kinds  keeps bad times from becoming even worse.

The central insight into diversity as protection is biological: a diverse ecosystem is more resilient because it has a much broader variety of ways to respond to stress and calamity. This insight applies not only in forests but also in neighborhoods, governments and industries.

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When an ecosystem loses its diversity, when the variety of trees and plants and other species narrows, you get disasters that are more damaging than those weve seen before. Thats the story behind Californias mega-wildfires  like the Soberanes Fire in the Big Sur area, now the costliest fire to fight in U.S. history. Instead of allowing smaller fires to thin and renew our lands, keeping them diverse, weve suppressed fires for decades. Now, when the calamities of climate change and drought are upon us, our lands lack protection.

Something similar can happen when disasters strike neighborhoods. The most resilient communities are ones with people of different ages, varied levels of education, and diverse sources of income. When the housing and foreclosure crisis struck California a decade ago, communities across the state got hurt. But the hardest hit were newer low- and middle-income communities inland whose residents conformed to a similar socio-economic profile. Such tracts were all but wiped out by foreclosures, while neighborhoods that mixed home-owning retirees with families and young single renters were more likely to struggle through.

At the same time the housing crisis hit, a lack of diversity was making the economic catastrophe even worse in my own profession: journalism. Economic and technological changes (especially the rise of the internet) were going to do damage to established newspapers and TV stations no matter what. But media outlets made things worse, by employing too many of the same kinds of people.

At the papers where I spent my youth  including the L.A. Times  editors almost exclusively hired people with journalistic training, and were wary of technologists. In addition, the near absence of racial and ethnic diversity in newsrooms meant that media outlets lacked community allies willing to support them when times got rough. So these vital civic institutions didnt have the diversity of expertise and connection to protect against massive change in the business.

When you think about all the ways a lack of diversity leaves us exposed to danger, the lesson should hit home. Diversity is not something to be celebrated or embraced as a virtuous luxury. It must be sought out and developed as a core strategy for survival.

Unfortunately, California is so diverse that weve come to take our diversity for granted. The states racial and ethnic diversity is really a legacy of our parents and grandparents, who brought with them very different cultures and experiences. Todays Californians are majority homegrown, so, despite our different shades, we are more homogeneous than ever before. With immigration levels to California declining dramatically from previous decades, we need to think about renewing our population, by attracting more people from around the world.

In our old-line neighborhoods, we need to stop fighting affordable housing and new developments that bring badly needed diversity. And we need to stop obsessing about income inequality  which is really just diversity of income  and instead make sure that people with different incomes can afford to stay in California, and live and work productively together.

We must stop protecting our highly centralized system of state government, in which Sacramento makes regulatory and tax decisions for us all, and return real control to local governments so they can embrace very different destinies. And we should fight back against those who demand ideological purity in our politics and parties  and purge those who dissent from the party line. Those who create political monocultures are making it possible for dangerous people to invade and take over political institutions.

Biologists will tell you that the healthiest ecosystems often have gradual borders of transition, where, for example, forests slowly become grasslands. California communities need such spaces too. If your town is divided by a big highway or railroad tracks, build big parks or restaurants or grocery stores over these divides, to attract people from both sides.

In the meantime, get out there and become part of our diversity. Make new contacts not like you, move to a different neighborhood, and ignore all your like-minded friends on Facebook. Youre not just turning over a new leaf. Youre protecting the forest from a bigger fire.

Mathews writes for Zocalo Public Square, www.zocalopublicsquare.org.
Record Sept. 19, 2016, as an important moment in Americas history  and future. In announcing long-awaited practical guidelines for driverless cars and other autonomous vehicles, the U.S. government on Monday embraced a future that could be richer, cheaper, cleaner, greener and more convenient.

Dramatic technological advances often spring up with little or no regulation because they occur in fields where the regulation-minded dont think to meddle. The internet, for example, benefited massively from a Wild West culture for most of its existence. So did tech entrepreneurs like Bill Gates in inventing the basics of personal computing and Steve Jobs in fashioning devices like the iPhone and iPad that are now integral to our lives.

But when it comes to integrating driverless vehicles into our everyday lives  a prospect one American Automobile Association survey said alarms three out of four people  a Wild West culture is clearly the wrong way to go. Instead, America needs a regulatory framework that reassures residents they wont be lab rats in a giant experiment playing out on our freeways and roads  yet also doesnt stifle an emerging technology with gigantic, life-altering, life-improving potential.

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That balance appears to have been struck by the rules detailed by Jeffrey Zients, director of the National Economic Council, and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. They have four main components: a 15-point checklist meant to ensure basic public safety in the design and development of driverless vehicles; the call for the eventual establishment of uniform rules governing such vehicles among all 50 states; an overview of how driverless cars are covered (or not) by existing regulations; and establishing the parameters for future regulations of new technologies as yet unseen.

Ford and a trade group representing Google, Uber and Lyft all offered praise for the framework. It was easy to sense a tone of relief in some of the tech worlds comments. It appears government officials heeded the message that advocates conveyed to them in an April meeting  autonomous cars are too important to screw up with bureaucracy, in the paraphrase of The Verge website.

So where do we go from here? Last week Lyft co-founder John Zimmer outlined what he calls a coming transportation revolution. He thinks that within five years, the majority of Lyft rides will be in driverless cars made by General Motors, Lyfts partner in its autonomous vehicle network. And he predicts that by 2025, private car ownership will all but end in major U.S. cities, freeing up vast amounts of land now used for parking.

The latter prediction seems a bit optimistic. People love their cars, and theyre likely to remain status symbols for some time to come. But Zimmers vision of a future in which autonomous vehicles are gradually phased in and become routine looks completely plausible  and hugely exciting.

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The biggest problem facing California is housing affordability. Rent and home prices are so high that middle-income and low-income households alike often struggle to pay for shelter. In metro Los Angeles, one-fourth of households spends at least half their income on housing. As understood by Gov. Jerry Brown and anyone familiar with how free markets work, the best, most decisive and longest-lasting solution to this problem is to add housing stock.

Yet on Thursday, amid demonstrations in dozens of U.S. cities, a group called San Diego Tenants United marched to City Hall in support of rent control. This editorial board is sympathetic to those who struggle with housing costs, and welcomes any demonstration that gets elected leaders to grasp the seriousness of the housing crisis. But rent control doesnt work. Economists surveys show near universal agreement that a ceiling on rents reduces the quality and quantity of housing.

New York City is the prime example. It has some 1 million rent-controlled units and a gigantic problem with housing affordability. So how has New York Mayor Bill de Blasio responded? Not by expanding rent control. By pushing the most ambitious, sweeping changes in city zoning laws in decades, with the goal of making it much easier to add housing.

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De Blasio showed rent control is no way to solve this serious problem. San Diego officials, take note.

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Medical science is more advanced than at any point in history. Yet the health care system  medical science applied to actual patients  still leaves many people without the best and latest treatments.

For example, new knowledge about health and disease accumulates in research labs at an accelerating rate. Genomics explores the effects of DNA variations. Proteomics examines the roles of proteins. The microbiome, the set of microscopic creatures living on and in us, is increasingly linked to well-being. And environmental influences affect all of these other factors, for good or ill.

But amid this torrent of discoveries, theres a growing backlog in trying to put them into action. The innovations remain stuck in the laboratories or kept within elite medical institutions, left untranslated into medications, equipment and other therapies that would help doctors, health insurers and the public.

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Fixing the bottleneck has become its own branch of medical science. The young but exploding field is known by various names that emphasize various nuances  translational medicine, personalized medicine, individualized medicine and precision medicine.

These terms point toward the same goals: Making medicine more effective by creating smoother and quicker paths for commercializing lab discoveries, plus tailoring those new products and technologies to the many different types of patients.

 Precision Medicine uses medical information more efficiently to guide patient care

In its simplest terms, its the right drug for the right patient at the right time, said Damian Doherty, editor of a new publication devoted to the field  the Journal of Precision Medicine. His journal joins an expanding field of similarly focused titles.

It sponsored the Precision Medicine Leaders Summit this month, drawing experts from around the country to downtown San Diego for spirited discussions about the fields biggest hopes and biggest hurdles.

Tremendous changes have already taken place.

With the use of big data and other powerful information technologies, more genetic variations linked to cancer are being identified. Patients genomes are screened against drugs such as the blood thinner Plavix to determine if those medications will be effective, a practice pioneered by the local Scripps Health network.

Such testing is also occurring at Rady Childrens Institute for Genomic Medicine in San Diego. Infants and children with undiagnosed diseases are screened there in a bid to find treatments for them. Dr. Stephen Kingsmore, president and CEO of the institute, discussed at the summit how the life of an infant who had seven days to live was saved by this kind of diagnosis.

The summits participants also dealt with practical challenges.

These include how to get more Americans from diverse racial, gender and age categories to enroll in clinical trials. Also, how to maximize collaboration between scientific institutes, biotech companies and pharmaceutical giants so theres a streamlined process for turning lab findings into usable drugs and products.

And the summits attendees took on the difficult issue of disparities in access to the most advanced and comprehensive care. In other words, how can experts help patients in poor communities or those living far away from a major medical center secure the chance to try groundbreaking or experimental treatments?

Underlying all of these speeches and forum panels was the omnipresent theme of economics. Can the government, hospitals, physicians, drug companies, scientists and others take advantage of precision medicine to control medical costs while raising the quality of care?

The advantages are too great not to pursue precision medicine, said Euan Ashley, a Stanford University Medical Center associate professor of medicine and genetics, in an article last week in Nature Reviews Genetics.

Fueled by technological advancement, fundamental discovery of genetic elements related to health and disease has been the engine of human genetics for decades, Ashley wrote. Building on this foundation, precision medicine will use the knowledge gained to redefine disease, to realize new therapies and to provide hope for generations of patients to come.

Thats the vision. At the summit, experts in precision medicine outlined a path to getting there.

Government efforts

The federal government during President Barack Obamas tenure and California during Gov. Jerry Browns latest terms have committed to advancing precision medicine. These efforts have largely involved fostering coordination among the wide-ranging groups with a stake in the field.

Money hasnt necessarily been a big part of the governmental investment. Californias initial contribution to precision medicine, announced in 2014, was just $3 million. And the Obama administrations push came with a relatively modest injection of $215 million.

More important, making precision medicine an official priority gave it a stamp of approval, indicating that this was the direction health care would take. The goal is to get those in all aspects of medicine to understand that they have a role to play, said Dr. Elizabeth Baca, a senior health care adviser in Browns Office of Planning and Research.

Its not just in one program or one area, Baca said at the recent summit in San Diego. Its about a different approach to disease ... the knowledge network, environment, lifestyle. Its not just about the genes.

While the $3 million wasnt a formidable sum, Baca said it served to prompt discussions about how those involved in medicine could use the resources they already have more effectively through translational science.

We talked with a lot of thought leaders in this space from private sector venture capital, academia, patient groups, to think about what we could do in California, Baca said.

Since all of this planning is supposed to wind up helping patients, any project adopted by the initiative will be measured for results, Baca said. A benefit to patients needs to show up within two years.

One project selected for funding is to speed up diagnosis of infectious diseases by examining body fluids from the spine and elsewhere for the presence of infectious agents. The fluids are screened for the presence of genetic material from a panel of known pathogens. This technology has already been used to diagnose a disease that numerous tests couldnt find, Baca said.

The California programs website is www.ciapm.org.

At the federal level, Obamas campaign, called the Precision Medicine Initiative, was unveiled in January 2015.

Components include enlisting at least 1 million volunteers to provide their health and genetic information, finding genetic variants that fuel cancer and develop better therapies against them, building high-quality databases and formulating better technology for transmitting data across different networks.

Recruiting the 1 million-plus volunteers started last month.

Safeguarding the privacy of volunteers personal information from hackers and others is obviously a concern, said Fae Jencks, a White House adviser with the initiative. The White House is asking the public for suggestions on what it would like to see in terms of data security for such medical projects.

The initiatives website is whitehouse.gov/pmi.

Since theres less than half a year left in the White House for the Obama administration, officials have worked to ensure the initiative continues long term, Jencks said. Survival odds look good because Congress has given bipartisan support to the initiative.

The initiatives work at the National Institutes of Health, the nations dominant source of funding for life sciences, is directed by scientist Eric Dishman. The former Intel executive joined the NIH in April. Since he is not a political appointee, Dishmans job continues even after Obama leaves office, Jencks said.

Scientist Kristen Chen prepares samples for placement into a sequencing instrument at Thermo Fisher in Carlsbad on Aug. 12, 2016. Fellow scientist Azadeh Farahmand is at left. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Cancer

While precision medicine can be used for all diseases, cancer is among those in the most need of better approaches. Uneven progress against cancer provides one of the greatest frustrations for researchers, and it was a major topic at the Precision Medicine Summit.

Underlying the frustration is cancers great complexity. Its not just one disease, but more like many diseases with many different causes. Uncontrolled cell growth is the common factor.

Some forms are easily treatable, such as choriocarcinoma, or cancer of the placenta. This cancer was nearly 100 percent fatal before the discovery of chemotherapy. With chemotherapy, its more than 90 percent curable.

Other forms are mostly incurable even today. These include pancreatic cancer, which killed Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at the age of 56. Its five-year survival rate is just 7 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

Still other cancers, such as ovarian cancer, often initially respond to treatment but tend to recur and metastasize. Subsequent treatments become progressively less effective, and patients often die of the recurrence. Not surprisingly, theres an urgent push to find more effective drugs for resistant and metastatic cancers, and to get experimental drugs to patients in greatest need.

Many of these newer drugs target genetic disorders specific to tumor cells in particular patients. And existing drugs are being further examined to find out if they may work against other cancers than the ones they are approved to treat.

Its a promising approach, UC San Diego oncologist and researcher Razelle Kurzrock said at the summit. Kurzrock is co-founder of CureMatch, a San Diego company that makes software that guides doctors in choosing the best course of cancer treatment.

I genuinely believe that genomics and other omics is bringing us the ability to match patients with the best drugs, Kurzrock said. What they are telling us is the classical way of doing clinical trials and practice doesnt work well. And we need to do things differently in order to transform care.

That transformation must overcome considerable inertia, Kurzrock said.

Weve built this enormous way of doing things that weve been doing for decades, and the science is saying we need to do things differently, she said. For cancer patients with metastatic disease, we need to move to combination therapy. Single agents are unlikely to get very far with these patients.

Advanced approaches to cancer therapy need to be used earlier in the disease.

Right now, were using them almost exclusively for end-stage patients, Kurzrock said. Thats really too late.

The Clearity Foundation, a San Diego nonprofit, specializes in matching the best drugs to ovarian cancer patients with recurrent tumors. Through partners, Clearity arranges for tumor samples to be genetically analyzed and compared with those of others in a tumor database of hundreds of tumor samples.

Results are summarized in a tumor blueprint that indicates which drugs have had the best effect against that tumors genetic profile. This can help doctors and patients decide which drugs to try, whether recommended for the cancer, or an off label use, or perhaps an experimental drug.

Clearity provides these services free of charge.

President Barack Obama prepares to announce the federal governments Precision Medicine Initiative on Jan. 30, 2015 at the White House. / photo by AFP (MANDEL NGAN / AFP/Getty Images)

Adding to arsenal

Meanwhile, discoveries continue to roll out, illuminating the molecular roots of cancers.

In June, scientists led by Kurzrocks fellow researcher and oncologist Catriona Jamieson published a study in the journal Cell Stem Cell that showed how precursor cells to leukemia transform into actual leukemia stem cells  and how that process can be stopped.

The culprit is an enzyme called ADAR1 that edits RNA. In certain leukemias, precursor cancer stem cells become sensitive to inflammation, which causes increased production of ADAR1. That enzyme changes the sequence of genetic molecules called microRNAs.

In turn, the altered microRNAs cause the precursor cells to grow more rapidly, precipitating a dangerous turn of events known as blast crisis.

Jamieson said the discovery could be used in the near-term to monitor and predict the progression of leukemia. In the longer term, a drug that can stop the process could be developed to treat ADAR1-sensitive leukemia.

The final link in this process of research for new drugs and development of new ways to use them is to actually get the drugs to patients.

Surgical oncologist Timothy Yeatman told summit participants the clinical trial locations for testing new cancer therapies are inconvenient for many patients who could benefit. These trials tend to cluster in prestigious hospitals in big cities, posing a burden on patients who live far away or who are being treated in community hospitals.

Since 85 percent of cancer care is delivered in these community settings, theres enormous room to improve patient access, said Yeatman, director of Gibbs Cancer Center. The center is located in Greer, a city of about 27,000 between Greenville and Spartanburg in South Carolina.

Automating start-ups and centralizing contracting can help these community hospitals take part by cutting the needed labor and time, he said.

You can open a trial up in 17 days from receipt (of authorization) like we did last week, Yeatman said.

By teaming with community hospitals and their patients, clinical trial sponsors such as drug companies also benefit, Yeatman said, citing a Forbes article on money lost from trials with botched openings.

Billions of dollars (are) lost in opening trials at sites where there are no patients, Yeatman said. If you can screen for patients ahead of time ... and then not doing the site visit until you absolutely positively know theres a patient there ... you wont have goose eggs when you open a trial. And these $100,000 site openings will disappear.

Advancing technology

Genomic sequencing and testing technology has progressed exponentially since the first human genome draft was completed in 2001. But everyone in the field agrees that much more progress is needed to truly unlock its potential.

Thermo Fisher Scientific is working toward that end in partnerships with the federal government and pharmaceutical companies, said James Godsey, vice president of R&D for Thermo Fishers Clinical Next Generation Sequencing Division.

Thermo Fisher is working with the National Cancer Institute to demonstrate the usefulness of genomic testing as a new standard for guiding treatment, Godsey said. The company has a large center in Carlsbad, acquired when it purchased Life Technologies in a deal completed in 2014 for $13.6 billion. The company competes with Illumina in selling instruments for next-generation sequencing, or NGS.

Now, the focus is shifting to actionable cancer genes, the identification of those in a very efficient manner, Godsey said.

For Novartis and Pfizer, Thermo Fisher is developing advanced cancer tests to be used as companion diagnostics for new drugs. This is one way to increase effectiveness by selecting patients whose tumors are genetically vulnerable to specific drugs. Better targeting could also lower prices, by avoiding the use of drugs that are likely to be ineffective.

Getting medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should be easier when accompanied by a test, he said.

Our goal there is to create the first multi-analyte, universal companion diagnostic NGS panel that enables that, Godsey said. The effort is substantial on many fronts. We have to develop the product; the software and the instrumentation, and validate that on their initial (genomic) markers.

Once that is done and the FDA has approved Thermo Fishers 52-gene panel, physicians can have their patients tumor samples tested using that product, which quickly detects the presence of hundreds of genetic variants associated with solid tumors.

The time to market approval, the cost, the risk, all is driven down dramatically, Godsey said. We think this is central to the success of precision medicine.

Notable names in precision medicine

*ERIC DISHMAN -- Director of the National Institutes of Healths program linked to President Barack Obamas Precision Medicine Initiative.

*DR. ELIZABETH BACA -- Senior health adviser to the California Governors Office of Planning and Research who helps coordinate the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine.

*DR. ERIC TOPOL -- Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and chief academic officer for the San Diego-based Scripps Health network. He is leading a national project, backed by $120 million in federal funding, to enroll 1 million volunteers in a study to deeply explore their health. The aim is to get more data to customize patient care.

*DR. STEPHEN KINGSMORE -- Diagnoses genetic childhood diseases at Rady Childrens Hospital-San Diego as president and CEO of the Rady Childrens Institute for Genomic Medicine.

*J. CRAIG VENTER -- Genomics pioneer based in La Jolla. Beyond his eponymously named institute, Venter is co-founder of Human Longevity, a company aiming to sequence the DNA of hundreds of thousands of people.

*JAY FLATLEY -- Executive chairman of Illumina in San Diego, the worlds leader in making systems that sequence DNA in high volume.

*LAURA SHAWVER -- Founder of The Clearity Foundation in San Diego, which uses precision medicine to help match ovarian-cancer patients with drugs targeted to their various types of tumors.

*DR. ATUL BUTTE -- Professor at UC San Francisco and principal investigator for the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients who take the immunosuppressive drug anakinra are far more likely to develop severe flesh-eating infections, UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers say in a new study.

Moreover, the researchers report they have unraveled why this increased rate of infection occurs in patients taking anakinra, sold under the brand name Kineret. That knowledge could help scientists design more targeted immune-suppressive therapies.

The study was published last week in the journal Science Immunology. It can be found at j.mp/anakinra.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, caused by a malfunctioning immune system that attacks the bodys own cells. Drugs that treat it reduce the immune systems activity, thereby relieving symptoms. However, these drugs may produce side effects such as infections. The precise risks depends on the drug used.

The UC San Diego researchers, Victor Nizet and Christopher LaRock, made their discovery while examining the function of interleukin 1-beta, an immune stimulant naturally made by the body, in connection with Kineret, which suppresses its activity.

Interleukins belong to a class of molecules that regulate immune responses. They are produced by white blood cells called leukocytes.

Searching a Food and Drug Administration database, Nizet and LaRock found that patients getting Kineret experienced a 300-fold greater incidence of invasive Group A Strepococcal infections. These flesh-eating bacteria cause necrotizing fasciitis. They can be especially resistant to treatment.

Bacterial interference

Another RA drug, Ilaris, or canakinumab, also inhibits interleukin 1-beta, but this drug wasnt studied. Other popular rheumatoid arthritis drugs such as Enbrel and Humira work by different mechanisms.

Interleukin 1-beta is produced by the body in an inactive form, and is activated by cutting the molecule. Activation takes place in the inflammasome, a structure found in certain immune cells. This mechanism allows fast response to infection, while preventing a constant and damaging state of inflammation, LaRock said in a UCSD video interview.

Nizet and LaRock discovered that the interleukin molecule is also cleaved by a protein-degrading enzyme made by strep bacteria, called SpeB. This alerts the body to infection, spurring an immune response.

However, some of the flesh-eating strains are known to have a mutation that stops SpeB production, the study reported. And blocking the interleukin could produce a similar effect, explaining the increased rates of flesh-eating Group A Strepococcal infections.

The research was praised by Nunzio Bottini, M.D., a practicing rheumatologist and researcher at UC San Diegos Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute. Until recently, Bottini was an autoimmune disease researcher at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology.

This is a nice example of a solid translational medicine study, where they started from a clinical observation (increased incidence of flesh-eating infection in RA patients treated with an anti-IL1 agent) and through bench experimentation, they produced a working model that might be relevant to development of new therapies for the same patients, Bottini said by email.

Bottini said the increased risk of infection for rheumatoid arthritis immune-suppressing drugs is small and doctors disclose this risk to patients. However, he said it emphasizes the importance of detecting the Group A strep bacteria in patients given drugs that inhibit this interleukin molecule.

Implications

Further down the road, he said, the study highlights the potential of drugs that target the inflammasome to reduce immune overactivation without harming its response to infection.

Bottini cautioned that drugs targeting the inflammasome response might also inhibit other defense against infections that it controls.

All FDA-approved medications for rheumatoid arthritis modulate the immune system, Bottini said. Once the patient has failed first line medications, the second line will be something like Kineret. There is currently no viable alternative to second line immunomodulators for RA patients who do not respond well to first line agents.

Research on how to treat rheumatoid arthritis without depressing the immune system is taking place at the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, Bottini said. The research focuses on local joint cells called synoviocytes that play a key role in the inflammatory process.
Art and society mixed with science at an iconic setting for the 21st year Saturday at the Symphony at Salk.

La Jollas quintessential summer event attracted a sold-out crowd who contributed over $1.1 million to Salks mission of research and discovery.

This year, Tony Award winner Kelli OHara was the featured guest artist at the concert/fundraiser held on the courtyard between the Salk Institutes north and south laboratory buildings.

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But music or even the Salks scientific accomplishments werent the only things on OHaras mind that night. While OHara talked about her music, somewhere in the audience came a familiar cooing sound.

Oh is that a baby? OHara said as the audience chuckled. I have two little kids at home. Stop making me miss my kids.

Her children -- Owen, 6; and Charlotte, 3 -- were also on OHaras mind when she asked if I could move up a scheduled interview time, to devote more attention to them.

OHara is on tour after having played Anna Leonowens in the revival of The King and I. The Salk, however, is more than the ordinary venue, and shes already familiar with San Diego. And as luck would have it, the New York city resident was nearby anyway.

Ive worked in La Jolla and San Diego in the past, I just love it out here. Its beautiful. But Ive never worked at the Salk, and Ive never sung with the San Diego Symphony.

We decided on a program with some of my favorite things, plus we made some new arrangements, so it was a creative thing to do, OHara said. Ive also been spending some time in LA lately so it was an easy place to be ... it all came together.

The songs are all very personal. Theyre all from shows that Ive done, except for one, Im Old-Fashioned, which is a fun thing for me to sing because I feel I am a lot of the time. Its a wonderful new arrangement.

OHara ended the night with an encore song from My Fair Lady, I Could Have Danced All Night.

 San Diego Symphony performs on Aug. 20, 2016 at Symphony at Salk,

Part of the dream

As he has before, Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins discussed the relationship between art and science. Wilkins knows the Salks mission well; this was his 12th consecutive year in this role.

Mixing art and science was part of Jonas Salks vision for the institute, said Rebecca Newman, Vice President, External Relations, and overseer of fundraising efforts.

The Symphony at Salk is almost the best example of what Jonas dreamed of for this place. He always wanted art and music and culture to be part of the whole spectrum of activity at the institute. He believed that art and science come from the same crucible of creativity in the mind and envisioned a place where there would be this nexus between the two.

That nexus was personal to Salk: In 1970 he married painter Francoise Gilot, who serves as Symphony at Salks honorary chair. Salk himself died in 1995.

The event has grown so popular that attendance has been capped at 700, Newman said. In some years when attendance has exceeded that number, the logistics almost becomes unmanageable.

Its a good problem to have. Were very lucky.

 Attendees arrive in the courtyard for the 2016 Symphony at Salk.

Each years guest artist brings a different personality and approach, Newman said.

There are always the artists who either surprise you by being fabulous professionals and gracious to the donors ... or the rare occasion when an artist will get up on stage and make some comments that arent appreciated by the audience, Newman said.

But by and large, the majority of people that Ive worked with have been just terrific, she said. First of all, they take the time to know what it is we do here. Many of the performers in their chit-chat with the audience will talk about what a place like this means to science.

Some of the veteran performers, such as Liza Minnelli and Bernadette Peters, talked about what the discovery of the polio vaccine meant to them in their childhood.

Wish list

Each years performers is drawn up in collaboration with the San Diego Symphony. Two of the criteria are that the artists must be interested in working with the San Diego Symphony, and that they have a reputation of being reliable and not temperamental.

And then theres the money. As a fundraiser, Symphony at Salk works to keep expenses down, while still getting performers people will gladly pay to see.

We always have a wish list, and then the Symphony personnel have a list thats maybe more realistic, Newman said.

These days half the artists that we have on our wish list charge more than $1 million, so thats sort of out of the question. But hope springs eternal that someones going to say, oh, its the Salk Institute, Ill do it for free. That hasnt happened yet, but maybe one day it will.

OHara has been wonderful to work with, Newman said, being accommodating with such tasks as being open to interviews with the media to publicize the event.

 Salk Institute president William R. Brody at the piano with the San Diego Symphony, performing Rhapsody in Blue. Taken Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, at the 19th annual Symphony at Salk fundraiser.

But to date, in the nine years Newman has overseen the Symphony event, nothing tops the surprise for the audience when former Salk President Bill Brody himself took to the piano with the Symphony to perform Rhapsody in Blue.

Newman and others there described it as a magical and memorable moment.

While each years event is different, the pleasure of socializing and dining with the Pacific Ocean as backdrop remains the same, Newman said.

Its almost irrespective of who the performer is, she said. People love that cocktail hour when 700 people are milling around, finding old friends, enjoying just being out on the plaza at the institute.

There was one sad note to the event: Conrad Prebys, the philanthropist who had donated millions to local causes, including the Salk Institute, had died several weeks ago.

Prebys and his significant other, Debra Turner, were Zenith donors to this years event, underwriting the appearance of the San Diego Symphony as they have for many years.
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New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2016 -- Brian Cresta, Health Care Advisor for Ocrolus, was former presidential appointee at the US Department of Health and Human Services, and former member of the House of Representatives in Massachusetts. Cresta has worked for more than three decades at the intersection of government policy and healthcare with a focus on Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.



Cresta is currently principal of The Solutions Group, LLC, Boston, MA. Cresta currently serves on the Middleton, Massachusetts Board of Selectmen. He previously served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001 and as a member of the Wakefield, Massachusetts Board of Selectmen from 1991 to 1994. From 1998 to 2001 he was also the Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party. Cresta was elected in 1991 to the Wakefield Board of Selectmen. At the age of 21 he became the youngest Selectman ever elected in Wakefield's history.



About PerfectAudit

PerfectAudit, is a FinTech platform that eliminates the need to review bank and credit card statements manually. The system analyzes PDF statements from all US financial institutions allowing users to quickly and confidently make financial determinations. PerfectAudit extracts the transactions into an interactive, exportable database for the reviewer to search and analyze. All files, regardless of format and quality, are digitized with over 99% accuracy.



PerfectAudit's proprietary backend combines transaction detection technology, crowd-sourced data validation, and algorithmic reconciliation. This innovative approach enables PerfectAudit to leverage machine learning, continually enhancing automation while accelerating analysis time. The PerfectAudit API will be available beginning in September and includes analytics such as average daily balance, number of days of a negative balance per month, number of interbank deposits, and number of deposits from outside sources.



Summary statistics are automatically generated, and transactional data can be instantaneously searched. PerfectAudit eliminates the need to manually audit bank and credit statements. E-statements, originals, photocopies, faxes and even documents with pen marks or coffee stains are all acceptable. Users can instantly find transactions of any defined value and are automatically alerted of potentially missing statements and transfers between accounts. Every transaction is linked via SNAPSHOT to its precise location on the source document. PerfectAudit does not require the applicant to provide bank login credentials whereas many do require this.



PerfectAudit (http://www.PerfectAudit.com) goes to great lengths to protect clients' private information. All files are encrypted at rest with AES-256 bit encryption, and TLS 1.2 is supported for communications. These encryption standards are recommended and used by many financial institutions as well as the federal government. User data is stored with Amazon Web Services, the same platform used by the National Security Agency and the Department of Defense. Amazon's ultra-secure facilities are monitored 24/7 by security guards and accessible only by biometric scanning. This infrastructure meets the requirements of an extensive list of global security standards, including: ISO 27001, SOC, HIPAA / HITECH, FedRAMP, and the PCI Data Security Standard. PerfectAudit guarantees the highest level of data protection.



Follow PerfectAudit on Twitter at @Ocrolus.
Bradford, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2016 -- In recent news it has been reported that the drought in California continues, with farmers having to look for other ways to grow their crops and feed their animals. It has been reported that one farmer has decided to turn to hydroponics  this lets him grow his crops indoors using minimal water. The farmer is growing sprouted barley inside using hydroponic equipment which requires only using 2% of the water it would talk to grow it outside. Therefore, saving water and money.



Hydroponics isn't just good for places which face droughts. The market for hydroponics has increased massively in the recent years with more people realising how beneficial it is, some benefits including:



- Hydroponics doesn't use a lot of water, therefore saving money.

- Fruit and vegetables taste better as they haven't been grown in soil.

- Your plants will grow faster and stronger, they also don't need as much space.

- No weeding is needed, minimizing stress.

- Hydroponics is environmentally friendly and is also therapeutic.

- You're able to grow all year-round, therefore don't need to worry about the changing seasons.



A spokesperson from Bradford Hydroponics was keen to comment saying, "Hydroponics is great option for everybody; it doesn't just provide complete control over plants but also allows for growing all year-round, which people love. When we first heard about this news we thought that we were going to get a vast amount of enquires from farmers, and we were right. We have been contacted by numerous people who want to find out more about hydroponics. Here at Bradford Hydroponics we sell a variety of high quality equipment for our customers. Feel free to contact us, we're more than happy to help all."



About Bradford Hydroponics

Bradford Hydroponics is an industry renowned provider of high quality hydroponics equipment at accessible prices.



For further information you can visit their website: http://www.bradfordhydroponics.co.uk/



PR Contact:

Company name: Bradford Hydroponics

Tel: 01274 729205

Website: www.bradfordhydroponics.co.uk

Contact person: James Ellam

Email: shop@bradfordhydroponics.co.uk

Address: Bradford Hydroponics

95-97 Manningham Lane Bradford BD1 3BN
Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2016 -- Value Investing Singapore today announced a free value investing package worth $349 which is opened to all Singaporeans and retail stock investors.



This free Value Investing Seminar Package offered by Value Investing Singapore is to help all the fellow Singaporeans and retail stock investors in Singapore. The seminar package includes the following:



* A free 2.5 hours sharing of basic Value Investing Concepts, for example when to safely buy a stock and when to sell a stock to exit the stock market. This seminar also clears one of the misconceptions that cause 95% of the stock investors to lose money.



* 3 exclusive Value Investing Singapore bonuses are bundled to create a good value investing starter kit for those who are seriously looking into improving their own personal financial wealth via value investing.



* "The Expert In Pursuing Wealth" - By Value Investing Singapore.



* "Gone Fishing With Buffett" - By Sean Seah Singapore, Foreword By Mary Buffett.



* "The Secrets of Value Investing - By Value Investing College.



"Value Investing Seminars in Singapore have been getting very popular especially after the end of last global financial crisis back in April 2009. Many Singaporeans start to realise the need to work on safe investment vehicles which can produce consistently good results even during economical crisis or other unexpected global events which may cause a deep dive in stock markets.", the founder of Value Investing Singapore, Royston Tan noted.



Value Investing Singapore anticipates that the next economical crisis will be after the end of 2016 and urges Singaporeans to get prepared to receive the right value investing education to be able to spot and buy undervalued stocks before the next crisis arises. The famous value investing guru, Warren Buffett had quoted that "Value Is What You Get; Price is what You Have Paid".



About Value Investing Singapore

Headquartered in Singapore, Value Investing Singapore is one of the nation's leading value investing blogs which works with the Asia Buffettologist, Sean Seah to jointly promote the importance of having the right value investing education.



For More Information Contact Detail http://valueinvestingsingapore.sg/



For Media Contact:

Contact Person: Lauren

Company: Value Investing Singapore

Website: http://valueinvestingsingapore.sg
Guangzhou, Guangdong -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/22/2016 -- With their fast, efficient and cost-effective mold making services for a variety of industries, Ecomolding Company emerges as a one-stop mold provider in China for the companies around the world. The company offers Custom Plastic Injection Mold making, allowing industries to get product prototypes with precise specifications.



According to the company spokesperson, besides offering custom-made and precise molds, they maintain a cost transparency and deliver molds at factory prices. With a well-equipped factory with experienced staff, Ecomolding is capable of designing and developing custom molds at a reduced cost. The company focuses on quality and techniques and endeavors to become a trustworthy injection mold supplier for all small and big companies around the world. They supply a wide range of molds for different industries, including automotive, home appliances, optics, general industrial applications and others.



The Injection Mold Company In China has an extensive mold range for small and mid-size companies as well as big enterprises to carry out their production task. From a spoon manufacturer to car manufacturers, all can procure quality molds for their production needs. The spokesperson reveals that they have the experience and expertise of customizing injection molds as per the customer demand and their industrial requirements. The company has advanced set of tools and equipments to design and develop molds for different industries. Most of these equipments are imported from Japan, Switzerland and other companies and feature the latest technologies.



Industries that want to manufacture products in-house and want to develop innovative products can rely on Ecomolding Mould Injection services. Ecomolding can supply plastic molds in a variety of designs and different dimensions. The company specializes in large size molds that can meet the specific production related requirements of a number of industrial clients. Accredited with the ISO 9001:2008 certification and with a team of technicians over a decade of experience, Ecomolding is a one-stop customized solution provider in China for all types of mold making requirements.



One can learn more about their services by visiting the website http://www.ecomolding.com/.



About Eco Molding Co. Limited

Eco molding offers plastic injection molding service and specializes in various plastic moulds for automotive, home appliances, electronics as well as general industrial OEM applications. The company covers an area of more than 2000 square meters, surrounded with convenient transportation. At present, they have more than 100 employees and capital assets over 8 million RMB. The company has the capacity 40-50 sets of moulds per month.



For Media Contact:

Telephone: 0086-(0)755 3318 3226

Fax: 0086-(0)755 2975 2893

Email: sales@injectionmold.cn

Website: http://www.ecomolding.com/

Skype: Jackielau0109
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A burned 1,500-year-old Hebrew scroll, which was discovered 45 years ago on the shores of the Dead Sea in Israel, became readable for the first time. The hidden texts reveal verses from the Book of Leviticus.

The discovery was possible through the use of "virtual unwrapping" and also involved analysis from experts in Israel and the United States. The scroll also referred to as En-Gedi scroll was believed to be burned in a fire that took place and ruined a synagogue in the year 600 AD. It was found in 1970, according to Fox News.

Scientists Read Ancient Hebrew Scroll Without Opening It https://t.co/9pvIO87Lg4 pic.twitter.com/mdmHNBYGiT  Popular Mechanics (@PopMech) September 22, 2016

Brent Seales, a professor in the computer science department at the University of Kentucky said that they are reading a real scroll and it hasn't been read for millennia. He further said that many thought it was probably impossible to read.

Phnina Shor, the director of the Israel Antiquities Authority's Dead Sea Scrolls Project, also stated that the discovery of text in the En-Gedi scroll absolutely surprised them. She added that they were certain it was a shot in the dark, but the most advanced technologies have brought this cultural treasure back to life.

The researchers scanned the burned scroll using a micro-CT scanner then they digital unpacked the rolled scroll. Then, they sought experts in Israel for the analysis on the lines of Hebrew text.

Daily Mail shared the revealed texts from the charred Hebrew scroll. These includes phrases: 'If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, a male', 'without blemish he shall offer; to the entrance of the tent of meeting, he shall bring' and 'it is for acceptance on his behalf before the Lord. 'He shall lay his hand upon the head...'

Michael Segal, the co-author of the study and a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was amazed at the quality of the images. He said that they first thought that the scroll contains all the books of the Torah, but later realized it was part of Leviticus. He further said that the En-Gedi Leviticus scroll is the most extensive and important Biblical text from antiquity that has come to light.
You probably heard of the Nobel Prize Awards - which is bestowed in several categories on recognizing academic, cultural, or scientific achievements. However, this high-brow award also needed to get off the high horse, which is why there is such a thing as the Ig Nobel Prize.

According to Reuters, the Ig Nobel spoof awards will be given for the 26th straight year at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts by a group of actual Nobel prize winners, who are said to honor their accomplishments in science and humanities.

The recognized research can be quite unusual. The name, a play on the words of "ignoble" and the Nobel Prize, celebrates the unusual by allowing people to laugh, then think. According to the editor of the Annals of Improbable Research Marc Abrams, unlike most other awards, they find it irrelevant to stand for something as best" or "worse." The Ig Nobel Prize is given out to ten unusual achievements in scientific research, often veiled as criticism or satire. However, as pointed out, it is also used as an example that even absurdity can yield useful bouts of knowledge.

Among the goofiest science awards recognized this year, as noted by Inverse, include "Rats Who Wear Polyester Pants Don't Get Laid As Much" by the late Ahmed Shafik for the Reproduction Prize, "Rocks Have Different Personalities and Personal #Brands" by Mark Avis, Sarah Gorbes, and Shellagh Ferguson for the Economics Prize, and "On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bullshit" by Gordon Pennycook, James Allan Cheyne, Nathaniel Barr, Derek Koehler, and Jonathan Fugelsang, for the Peace Prize.

There had been a lot of other awards that acknowledges the less-than-stellar studies in different fields - for instance, the Darwin Awards is a ceremony that enriches the human gene pool by idiotic self-destruction; the Golden Raspberry Awards that celebrates bad movies and films, and the Pigasus Awards, which goes to exposing paranormal and psychic frauds.
Many parents use the common painkiller codeine for their children but a new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics said it has some deadly effects on kids.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reported their new study that urgently called the attention of medical professionals and parents to stop giving codeine to children because it can slow down breathing that may cause death. Codeine is a type of opiate that is commonly prescribed for pain medications, diarrhea and an active ingredient in cough syrups. The drug has been found to be metabolized differently by adults as compared to children.

The study involved cases between 1965 and 2015, where they found 64 children suffered from severe respiratory issues following the intake of the medication and 24 of them died after taking the opiate. This is not the first time that people have been warned about codeine. The World Health Organization (WHO), Health Canada, US Food and Drug Administration, and European Medicines Agency have already released statements and reports to warn people about codeine's effect. They have been actively warning the public over the last five years.

However, a lot of pediatricians till regularly prescribe codeine to their patients even after knowing this information. And sadly, cough syrups sold across 28 states and in D.C. are found to contain codeine which people can buy over the counter. The AAP study cited another report that states more than 800.000 patients below 11 years of age have been prescribed with codeine making them at risk of its adverse effects.

AAP propose some alternative medications for codeine like hydrocodone, tramadol, and oxycodone, but they have some risks as well. They also advise pediatricians to offer more effective options to kids rather than prescribe more or different medicines to help them feel better.

If children are seeking relief from pain, the best option should be non-opioid agents such as ibuprofen since it is safer. Find the list of medicines that contain codeine in this updated compilation from the US National Library of Medicine website.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Former County Councilman Herbert Ames died Wednesday evening, but his mark on Florence remains.

Ames was 67. His death came after an extended illness.

Ames, a Florence native, began his career in real estate in 1974 and continued as the broker in charge of The Ames Company until his death.

Hes most remembered locally for his life in Pee Dee politics. Ames was a member of the Florence County Council for eight years, serving as chairman for two years and vice chairman for two years.

County officials say Ames was instrumental in bringing some of the areas biggest economic development projects to fruition, including Honda of South Carolina and Roche Carolina.

Florence County economic development director Joe W. King, who served with Ames at a county level, said he was a steadfast ally in county progress.

He was a great guy, a great friend and a great ally. He was chairman when we announced Honda was coming. He didnt equivocate. You didnt have to guess where he stood on an issue. If he was your friend and ally, he was your friend and ally until the end. He stuck with you no matter how political winds were blowing.

Florence County Administrator K.G. Rusty Smith Jr. also served on the county council with Ames in the mid-1990s. He remembers Ames as a devoted county official who always stood by what he knew was best.

He was an outstanding community servant who worked hard for the county. Hell certainly be missed by all his family and friends, Smith said. He was good a good man who was always strong in his convictions and strong in his service to the people of Florence County.

Ames served in state and national capacities as well as at the county level.

In 2003, Gov. Mark Sanford appointed Ames to the State Workforce Investment Board. Ames had previously been appointed to the Permanent Advisory Council to the State Development board by Gov. Carroll Campbell.

In 2004, he was appointed by President George W. Bush as the only at-large commissioner of the National Capital Planning Commission.

Ames was an avid South Carolina Gamecock fan, serving on a variety of club boards for several years.

A memorial service for Ames will be held at 2 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in Florence, with visitation immediately following at the church.

Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church at 700 Park Ave. in Florence or Evergreen Baptist Church at 6316 Pamplico Highway in Effingham.
Suppose Mr. Trump needed to hire a manager for a huge hotel and I applied for the job. After all, I have four college degrees, two board certifications (in pediatrics and cardiology), and over 20 years of business experience (in medicine), but my only hotel job was shucking oysters and delivering room service in 1977. Do you think Trump would hire me, or a candidate with training, knowledge, and experience in hotel management? Seems pretty obvious, doesn't it? Now suppose Trump really likes me and will never be friends with the other candidate. Do I get the job? No: he's hiring an employee, not a friend.

We are about to hire new employee for the office of president, so what are the applicant's qualifications?

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor's degree in political science. He ran a successful construction company and was the Republican governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. Or put another way, this lawmaker claims no training or experience in the law, but is trained in political science and has experience in business and government (at the state level).

Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, graduated from Harvard Medical. She retired from a successful internal medicine practice and held a seat on the town council of Lexington, Massachusetts, from 2005 to 2010. She claims no training or experience in political science or law, but has experience in business and government (at the local level).

Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in business. He has business experience but claims no training or experience in political science, the law, or government.

Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, graduated from Wellesley with a bachelor's degree in political science. She graduated from Yale Law and has been a law professor, a partner in a law firm, the first lady of Arkansas, first lady of the United States, a U.S. senator, and U.S. secretary of state, or put another way, she is trained in political science and the law, has experience in business and the practice of law, was member of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government;; and is the only candidate with foreign policy experience.

We are hiring an employee, not a best friend, and I'm not saying the president has to have a degree in political science, be a lawyer, and have years of government experience at the federal level, but if Trump only hires candidates with the highest qualifications for the job, then why aren't we following his highly effective model? Why is South Carolina supporting the one candidate with the least training, knowledge, and experience for the job?

CHARLES TRANT

Florence
Geekologie has shut down.

Thank you to everybody.

Now go be happy.
CHARLES CITY | City officials urged residents to not use water or wastewater in the town after a pump failed at the wastewater plant.

Officials said the water is safe in Charles City, but the request will help facilities keep up with wastewater.

Speaking at a press conference Friday morning, officials said portable toilets will be set up around the community.

They said smaller, temporary pumps are keeping the sewage plant operational, but the less inflow the facility receives the better it will operate.

They also said about two dozen households were asked to evacuate Thursday. Some didn't, as it wasn't mandatory.

Officials also asked volunteers should check in at 500 N. Grand. Buses will take people to the needed sites.

County officials are still monitoring the rural road situation but indicated the damage could be worse than the flooding in 2008.

Cerro Gordo campgrounds close due to flooding

MASON CITY | Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board campgrounds were closed to due the recent flooding.

Affected parks include: Wilkinson Park at Rock Falls; Linn Grove Park at Rockwell; and Ingebretsen Park at Thornton. Officials also closed the Shell Rock River Greenbelt from Wilkinson Park to Highway 18, west of Nora Springs.

For more information, call 641-423-5309.

In a sign that water is receding, Mason City Police announced 12th Street between Pennsylvania and Carolina is now open.

State of Emergency declared in Franklin County

HAMPTON | The Franklin County Board of Supervisors have declared a state of emergency in the county due to flooding and weather conditions.

Flooding is being reported in Aredale and Sheffield. The supervisors say they are supporting local communities as they request support.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said earlier this morning one paved road was under water. It advised drivers to avoid Tulip Avenue and 210th Street west of Aredale.

Other gravel roads throughout the county are also flooded, the sheriff's office said.

Motorists should avoid driving through flooding roads and find alternative routes.

Harriman Park in Hampton was also closed.

Franklin County officials reported 3.16 inches of rain over the last 24 hours.

Caution urged on Worth County roads

NORTHWOOD | Worth County officials told residents that not all flood-impacted roads will be repaired over the weekend.

They said some damage may not be visible for days, and urged added caution when crossing bridges.

Mitchell County campgrounds close

OSAGE | The Mitchell County Conservation Board closed campgrounds, as well.

Halvorson Park, Interstate Park, Otranto Park, Riverside Park, Pioneer Park, and Cedar Bridge Park were affected.

More rain headed for Mason City, Charles City

CHARLES CITY | Thunderstorms will continue to roll through flooded parts of North Iowa Friday morning and throughout the weekend.

Forecasters for the National Weather Service say heavy rain from these storms will most likely cause more difficult cleanups from the current flooding.

Although it cant be ruled out given the current flooding situation, forecasters said the storms did not appear likely to pack the precipitation or longevity needed to cause the rivers to rise higher than previously anticipated.

This doesnt look like itll be a prolonged (system), said National Weather Service meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg.

Several rivers  notably the Shell Rock in Greene, Cedar River In Charles City and Winnebago River in Mason City  either have hit or are expected to hit major flood stage due to previous rain.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for most of the region through at least this afternoon.

Flood warnings continue in effect for areas around several North Iowa rivers, including the Winnebago River near Mason City, the Shell Rock River near Greene and the Cedar River in and around Charles City.

Numerous gravel roads and county blacktops are covered in water and impassable.

Although many are blocked with barricades, but some are not.

Officials urged residents to avoid these areas. Do not drive in water, as the force of the rushing water has eroded some roads and roadway embankments.

In many places youll encounter roadways that are partially washed away, Floyd County Supervisor Mark Kuhn said during a news conference Thursday night. Weve lost a culvert, a bridge abutment south of Marble Rock, so the best advice is to stay off the secondary roads of Floyd County.

Charles City neighborhoods evacuated, shelters established

CHARLES CITY | Emergency shelters have been established for people and pets displaced by flooding in Charles City.

The Salvation Army will staff a shelter for people in the former middle school, 500 S. Grand Ave., Charles City. A local veterinarian and volunteers will man a shelter for pets at the same location.

Officials say firefighters and police went door-to-door Thursday afternoon notifying residents in the evacuation area.

The evacuation area includes Park Drive, Cedar Circle, portions of Gilbert Street, parts of Lions Field Drive, Cherry Avenue, Riverside Drive and Chautauqua Avenue.

By city order, power and gas has been cut to houses in the evacuation area.

The Brantingham and Main Street bridges across the Cedar River remained open Friday morning.

Cedar River expected to crest at major flood stage in Charles City

CHARLES CITY | The Cedar River in Charles City is expected to crest at 22.4 feet about 1 p.m. Friday.

That's about 2 feet lower than originally forecast, but still at major flood stage.

The river, which enters flood stage at 12 feet, was measured at 19.2 feet at 4:30 a.m. Friday.

City officials have said they expect the rising water to infiltrate businesses along South Grand Avenue and in a low-lying neighborhood that includes Park Drive and Cedar Circle.

Many residents and business owners spent Thursday emptying their homes of valuables, putting small appliances and other items on shelves or other areas higher up in rooms and fortifying their property with sandbags.

In Mason City, residents grateful for less severe flooding than 2008 MASON CITY  Residents in Mason City affected by flooding expressed gratitude Thursday they 

The Winnebago River in Mason City crested at 14.4 feet late Thursday afternoon. It was down to 12.53 feet, or 2.53 feet above flood stage, at 5:15 a.m. Friday.
OSAGE | An Osage woman accused of misappropriating funds from the Mitchell County Treasurer's Office has received a deferred judgment.

Tracey Mooberry, 46, who worked as a clerk in the treasurer's office, was also put on probation for a year and fined $350.

She originally was charged with felony second-degree theft but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of non-felonious misconduct in office.

In her written guilty plea, she admitted to misappropriating funds from December 2014 to May 2016.

The deferred judgment means the conviction will be stricken from Mooberry's record if she successfully completes probation.

Mitchell County Attorney Mark Walk has previously said the money, which was taken from cash tax payments, has been paid back.

Mooberry was also a member of the Mitchell County Conservation Board and the Osage School Board at the time the charge was filed. She has resigned from both positions.

 Mary Pieper
FOREST CITY  A man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison in connection with a December drug bust in Forest City. Dontavious Cunningham, 28, received that sentence this week in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

He was arrested following execution of a search warrant Dec. 8 at the Village Chateau in Forest City.

Cunningham was found guilty by a federal jury in June of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. He will be under supervision for three years after his release from prison.

Co-defendant Mark Cunningham, 29, was sentenced last month to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearms by a felon.

 Mary Pieper
Former N.Y. Governor, Music Producer, and Businessman Separately Charged With Failing to Report Their Stock Transactions as Company Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2016-191

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged three company executives with defrauding investors in a purported project to construct the largest movie studio in North America at a suburban location outside Savannah, Georgia.

The SEC alleges that Manu Kumaran, the founder and former chairman and CEO of a startup movie production company called Medient Studios and later Moon River Studios, schemed with his successor CEO Jake Shapiro to make an assortment of false and misleading statements in press releases and corporate filings. They allegedly claimed that construction was underway and projected dates by which the studio would be operational while knowing full well they did not have anywhere near sufficient funding to begin building the touted "Studioplex." In addition, Kumaran, Shapiro, and Roger Miguel  the CEO of a separate successor public company called Fonu2 that also operated under the name Moon River Studios  are alleged to have backdated and falsified promissory notes as part of a scheme to issue common stock in exchange for financing.

The SEC further alleges that while the Studioplex never materialized and the company eventually shuttered without releasing a single movie or video game, Kumaran and Shapiro nonetheless enriched themselves in the process. According to the SECs complaint, Kumaran spent an average of $1,700 per day of company funds on his globetrotting travel and personal expenses from April 2014 to June 2014 after claiming publicly that he did not draw a salary and assuring shareholders that all funds were being used to benefit the company. Shapiro allegedly misappropriated company funds for personal use after becoming CEO and lived in a house worth nearly a million dollars that was paid for by the company.

Miguel agreed to settle the charges against him without admitting or denying the allegations. He agreed to be barred from participating in any penny stock offerings or serving as a public company officer or director for five years, and the court will determine monetary sanctions at a later date. The settlement is subject to court approval. The litigation continues against Kumaran and Shapiro. The SEC's complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.

Three company directors who are not alleged to have participated in the fraud were separately charged with violating federal securities laws by failing to timely report their stock transactions in the company while serving on its board. Former New York Democratic Governor David A. Paterson and music producer Charles A. Koppelman each agreed to pay $25,000 penalties to settle the charges against them without admitting or denying the findings. An administrative proceeding was instituted against Matthew T. Mellon II, a businessman and former chairman of the New York Republican Party Finance Committee. The matter will be scheduled for a public hearing before an administrative law judge, who will prepare an initial decision stating what, if any, remedial actions are appropriate.

"We allege that Kumaran and Shapiro preyed upon investor interest in the movie industry and financed their own lifestyles rather than build the promised Studioplex, said Walter Jospin, Director of the SECs Atlanta Regional Office. "Koppelman, Paterson, and Mellon allegedly failed in their personal responsibility to comply with the beneficial ownership reporting requirements of the federal securities laws."

The SECs continuing investigation has been conducted by Joshua M. Dickman of the Atlanta office under the supervision of Aaron W. Lipson and William P. Hicks. The litigation to determine the merits of the allegations against Kumaran and Shapiro will be led by Wm. Shawn Murnahan and M. Graham Loomis with the assistance of Shannon Statkus from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Fans of the empirically awesome Netflix series Stranger Things will recall that at one point our adolescent heroes use ham radio to communicate with their pal, who is stranded in another dimension circa 1983.

We have no proof that ham radio actually reaches other dimensions, but on then again, we have no proof that it doesn't, either. And as Trace Dominguez explains in today's DNews report, it's not that crazy of an idea, because ham radio can go a long way.

Ham radio is another terms for amateur radio, and works just like the broadcasts you pick up in your car stereo. The differences are that ham radio is strictly non-commercial and dedicated to specific frequencies or bands on the RF spectrum. There are nearly three million ham licenses worldwide, with major populations of licensed operators in Japan, Germany, England, Indonesia, and South Korea. According to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), there are more than 727,000 licensed ham radio operators -- called hams -- in the United States alone.

RELATED: Not So Fast: Mystery Radio Bursts Far From Solved

As with commercial broadcasts, ham radio signals go out in three main bands within the radio frequency spectrum -- High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF). The naming protocol is refreshingly straightforward and that first designation is actually the most interesting.

Ham radio in the HF band is sometimes called shortwave radio and messages can essentially bounce off Earth's ionosphere -- the electrically charged layer of the atmosphere. This allows ham radio signals to skip around the planet. Ham radio messages that are rebroadcast in relay can literally go around the world.

They can also go out of this world. In 1969, a ham radio operator in Kentucky famously picked up radio transmissions from the Apollo 11 astronauts on the lunar surface. You can still talk to astronauts with amateur radio today. In fact, the crew of the International Space Station schedule regular ham radio chats with amateur operators in specific locations as the ISS passes overhead.

These are, as you might imagine, utterly transcendent moments for ham radio nerds of sufficient intensity. Trace has many more details in his report, or if you're interested in getting started yourself, take a leisurely scroll through the generous introductory material over at the ARRL website.

-- Glenn McDonald

Learn More:

Popular Mechanics: You Can Talk to the ISS With Nothing But a Ham Radio

ARRL: US Amateur Radio Numbers Reach an All-Time High

TechNewsWorld: Why Ham Radio Is Still Handy
Humans and most animals, plants and fungi get their energy mainly from chemical reactions between oxygen and organic compounds such as sugars. However, microbes depend on a wide array of different reactions for energy; for instance, reactions between oxygen and hydrogen gas help bacteria called hydrogenotrophs survive deep underground on Earth, and previous research suggested that such reactions may have even powered the earliest life on Earth.

RELATED: The Dust Devils of Mars Could Pack a Seismic Punch

Prior work suggested that when rocks fracture and grind together during earthquakes on Earth, silicon in those rocks can react with water to generate hydrogen gas. Study lead author Sean McMahon, a geomicrobiologist at Yale University, and his colleagues wanted to see if marsquakes could generate enough hydrogen to support any microbes that might potentially live on the Red Planet. [The Search for Life on Mars in Pictures]

The scientists examined special types of rocks that are created when rocks grind against each other during earthquakes. The samples the researchers analyzed from Scotland, Canada, South Africa, the Isles of Scilly off the coast of England and the Outer Hebrides of Scotland were up to hundreds of times richer in trapped hydrogen gas than surrounding rocks that were not generated from such grinding.

"These findings were surprising and exciting because we didn't know if we were going to find anything at all," McMahon said.

The researchers said the hydrogen gas in the samples they analyzed was abundant enough to support hydrogenotrophs on Earth.

RELATED: Shift Happens: Mars May Have Plate Tectonics

"Our findings are a contribution to a broader picture of how geological processes can support microbial life in extreme environments," McMahon told Space.com. "There's not much of what we think of as food miles below Earth's surface, but over the last few decades, scientists have found that Earth has a huge amount of biomass down there, maybe 20 percent or more of Earth's biomass."

When it comes to whether marsquakes and water might work together to generate hydrogen on Mars, previous research suggested that liquid water was once abundant on the surface of Mars. It also suggests that large reserves of liquid water may still exist underground on the Red Planet at depths of about 3 miles (5 kilometers) on average. However,Mars has much fewer quakes than Earth, because the Red Planet nowadays lacks both volcanism and plate tectonics.

Still, the researchers noted that conservative models of marsquakes based off data from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor suggest that, on average, the Red Planet experiences a magnitude-2 event every 34 days and a magnitude-7 event every 4,500 years. This means that marsquakes may on average generate less than 11 tons (10 metric tons) of hydrogen annually over the whole of Mars, which may be still enough to sporadically fuel pockets of microbial activity there, the researchers said. [The Biggest Earthquakes in History]

RELATED: Mars Water: Follow the Toxic Stream to Find Alien Life

"This hydrogen can probably support only small amounts of biomass," McMahon said. "Still, this fits into the growing picture of the kind of biosphere that Mars might be capable of sustaining. If you look at bacteria and other microorganisms on Earth, you find ones capable of resting in a dormant state for extremely long periods of time, and they can wake up and reproduce and then go back to sleep again for another 10,000 years or so."

McMahon noted that even rocks that lack water can apparently generate hydrogen gas during earthquakes. This suggests that grinding might release hydrogen that is ordinarily chemically bound to rocks. "A lot of work needs to be done to understand how hydrogen can be liberated," he said.

NASA's 2018 InSight mission is scheduled to measure seismic activity on Mars. "Having actual data of marsquakes from the surface of Mars will show whether what we've done here is really relevant or not," McMahon said.

PHOTOS: Weirdest Mars Craters Spotted by HiRISE

McMahon and his colleagues John Parnell at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and Nigel Blamey of Brock University in Canada detailed their findings in the September issue of the journal Astrobiology.

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Before NASA decided to help SpaceX on its journey to Mars, details of which company chief Elon Musk plans to unveil on Tuesday, the U.S. space agency reviewed the plan for SpaceX's first mission, slated to launch in 2018, and decided it has a reasonably good chance of success. For NASA, a successful mission means that SpaceX's Mars vehicle, called Red Dragon, flies through the Martian atmosphere with its thrusters firing in the direction of travel, a technology known as supersonic retrograde propulsion. The feather in the cap would be a propulsive landing on the Martian surface. "This is a critical, critical technology for us," said Phil McAlister, director of NASA's Commercial Spaceflight Division. "This is flight data that would not be available to us by any other means." RELATED: Musk: SpaceX Will Go 'Well Beyond' Mars NASA is working toward sending astronauts to Mars in the mid-2030s. Musk aims to beat that by a decade. The tech entrepreneur, who also heads Tesla Motors, is scheduled to unveil details of his Mars initiative during a presentation on Tuesday at the International Astronautical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. SpaceX's debut mission is well into the planning stages. The company hopes to launch an unmanned Dragon capsule aboard a heavy-lift Falcon rocket in 2018, the next time the orbits of Earth and Mars are favorably aligned for flight. After traveling for about 180 days, Red Dragon would enter Mars' thin atmosphere and make a powered descent and landing on the surface. RELATED: Musk: SpaceX to Launch People to Mars in 8 Years Dragon is too small to have passengers aboard, but it would become the biggest spacecraft ever to land on Mars. NASA wants to be able to land 20- to 30 tons on Mars at a time. So far, the heaviest payload to land was the one-ton Curiosity rover. WATCH VIDEO: Who Will Win the Race to Mars?

"The primary mission objective is to learn how to get to and land on Mars. If they do that -- just that -- this would be a huge success for SpaceX," McAlister said during a teleconference presentation to the NASA Future In-Space Operations group on Wednesday. The Red Dragon mission "offers a flight demo of critical EDL (entry, descent and landing) technology -- particularly the supersonic retrograde propulsion -- probably at least a decade sooner and at a small fraction of the cost to NASA that it would be if we did our own kind of mission to get this data," McAlister added. "We don't even have a mission on the books, so it's not even clear how long it would take. This is a very cost-effective way for us to get this kind of data ... a key first step," he said. RELATED: Red Dragon: SpaceX Targets 2018 for First Mars Mission SpaceX intends to ramp up its expertise on Mars travel and operations with missions each time Earth and Mars favorably align for launch, which occurs about every 26 months. In exchange for flight data and other information, NASA is serving as consultant and technical advisor for the Red Dragon mission. The agency also will let SpaceX use its deep-space and Mars relay communications networks. Red Dragon also may carry some NASA-sponsored payloads. "SpaceX is responsible for and is going to maintain control over the Red Dragon, design, hardware and operations all the way through flight and post-flight," McAlister said. "We determined that there was a reasonable likelihood of success for this mission that would be increased with our participation," he added. "Even if it's not successful, we felt our participation would be worthwhile." GALLERY: Tour 'The Martian' Movie Set... On Mars

The realism of "The Martian" is getting the attention of NASA -- and not only because of what fictional NASA astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) does on the surface. The agency has released several photographs showing real-life locations related to Watney's journey as he tries to get home to Earth. Also, the European Space Agency put out a map showing where Watney moved around on the surface (which we have put last in case you are worried about any spoilers.) Read on to see some of the places Watney had to think about when surviving on Mars. PHOTOS: The Martian: Science vs. Fiction

Watney's journey begins in Acidalia Planitia, the landing site for his mission (Ares 3). Inside the crater you can see deposits that were blown there by the wind. Think about it -- as Watney and his crew moved around the crater, every place they went to, they were the first to put bootprints in that sand. The University of Arizona's HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter helped gather data for this picture. "We cant see the Ares 3 habitat because it arrives sometime in the future, so this is the 'before' image," joked the HiRISE website earlier this year. NEWS: Space Experts Swoon for 'The Martian' Despite Inaccuracies

While we think of Mars as a place devoid of humans, we've sent several landing missions over the years. It turns out that Ares 3 is not so far away from the landing site of NASA Pathfinder and its rover, Sojourner -- the first rover to explore Mars in 1997. This image shows portions of the craft after it was deployed, such as the airbags and possibly parts of the heat shield. Since Pathfinder, NASA has sent three more rovers to the surface: Opportunity (2004), Spirit (2004) and Curiosity (2012). Opportunity and Curiosity are still working on the surface. The European Space Agency plans to send its first rover to Mars as part of the 2018 ExoMars mission . VIDEO: Interview: Matt Damon, Andy Weir Talk 'The Martian'

As the name "Ares 3" implies, the Ares program is just one of a series of missions to Mars. Ares 4 is the next one, targeting a famous crater on the Martian surface: Schiaparelli Crater. Nearly 300 miles (500 kilometers) across, it's hard to get the entire thing into one high-resolution image, so this is just a portion of it taken with HiRISE. According to NASA, the agency has avoided dusty regions like this for two reasons: the dust gets very warm during the day and cold at night (hard on equipment) and it's hard to know if there's anything interesting geologically in the bedrock underneath. ANALYSIS: The Martian Winds WON'T Blow You Away

Here's a challenge about moving around on Mars: it's really hard to judge distance, because there are no familiar human markings to help us find our way around. Astronauts faced this challenge on the moon, and as Watney uses his rover on the surface, he has to be similarly careful not to go in the wrong direction or overstretch his rover's battery. Mawrth Crater is one of the landmarks Watney plots. "The crater rim is not very distinct, and from the Martian surface it would be quite difficult to tell that you are even on the rim of a crater," NASA says . VIDEO: How The Martian Strives to Get the Science Right

The Opportunity rover (which landed in 2004) is somewhat close to where Watney is moving around. It's possible that Watney draws inspiration from the plucky machine, which is still working well on Mars long past its original 90-Martian-day expiry date. Among Opportunity's major milestones: driving more than a marathon's worth of distance on Mars, finding extensive evidence of water around its landing site and beyond, and exploring the rim of a large crater called Endeavour. PHOTOS: Real NASA Space Tech in The Martian

While we initially could imagine craters as simple excavations of the surface, the Martian weather makes them far more complex than that. This is a close-up view of Becquerel Crater , somewhat near where Watney was moving on the surface. These thick deposits would be made either by water (in the ancient past, when Mars was wetter) or wind, based on what we know of similar processes on Earth. You don't see a lot of craters here because the deposits are so thin that the wind can easily erase any craters in the surface. PHOTOS: When Liquid Water Gushes On Mars
Photo: Recreation of a Homo floresiensis male. Credit: Cicero Moraes et al., Wikimedia Commons Humans were on hobbit turf at around the same time that the small people (Homo floresiensis) seemingly disappeared from Earth, according to new evidence presented this week in Madrid at the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution. The evidence -- a pair of 46,000-year-old human teeth -- is described in a Nature report. The teeth were discovered at the former hobbit homeland, Liang Bua cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia. RELATED: Suspicious: Hobbits Vanish When Modern Humans Appear

Earlier research determined that members of our species were living in southeast Asia by around 50,000 years ago. Around this time in Liang Bua, H. floresiensis -- and animals including giant storks, pygmy elephants and Komodo dragons -- disappeared. Scientists began to suspect that Homo floresiensis was not a stranger to Homo sapiens. This possibility was deemed a "smoking gun" by Bert Roberts of the University of Wollongong earlier this year, but he had not yet found the "bullet" linking the two human groups. "The exact cause of the demise of the hominids and associated animals is not yet understood, but in my view, may be related to the appearance in the area of the most aggressive of all hominin species, Homo sapiens, modern humans," said Donald Johanson, founding director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University.

The 46,000-year-old human teeth, consisting of an upper premolar and a lower molar, support Johanson's view. Roberts, archaeologist Thomas Sutikna and their team found the teeth while excavating the hobbit cave. The researchers also found freshwater mollusk shells, which are commonly associated with early Homo sapiens sites in Europe, Africa and other parts of Asia. Stone tools made from a hard rock known as chert were additionally unearthed, as was evidence for fire hearths. All are typical of early human settlements. RELATED: 700,000-Year-Old Tiny Humans Found at Hobbit Homeland

Chris Stringer, a paleoanthropologist at the Natural History Museum in London, was at the Madrid meeting and attended the presentation about the tooth finds. "What we don't yet know is whether there was at least a short overlap in the populations, thus raising the question once again of the possible role of modern humans in the extinction of floresiensis," he said. Stringer mentioned that if the two populations did overlap, they might have interbred, as humans did with Neanderthals. People of European and Asian heritage today retain Neanderthal DNA. The researchers hope to learn more when they return to Liang Bua in April to excavate cave deposits between 46,000 and 50,000 years old. SEE PHOTOS: Hobbits Vanish When Modern Humans Appear

style="text-align: left;">Hobbit humans, giant storks, pygmy elephants and Komodo dragons all suddenly disappeared from a cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, around 50,000 years ago, new research finds. style="text-align: left;">Did our species do them in? style="text-align: left;">In this depiction, so-called hobbit humans inhabit the lush world of the Indonesian island of Flores.

style="text-align: left;">Adult Hobbits (Homo floresiensis) only stood about 3.5 feet tall. New research determined that these diminutive humans vanished from a cave on the island of Flores, Indonesia, around 50,000 years ago. Suspicious: Hobbits Vanish When Modern Humans Appear

style="text-align: left;">The latest excavations at Liang Bua limestone cave on the Indonesian island of Flores show that the Hobbits, as well as many other animals, disappeared 38,000 years earlier than thought. Their disappearance coincides with the time that our species first arrived in the region. Photos: Faces of Our Ancestors

style="text-align: left;">While our species is suspect, there are other possible explanations for the demise of Hobbit humans. One is the tiny elephant relative, pygmy Stegodon, might have been hunted to death, leading to a devastating chain reaction. Hobbit Human Teeth Reveal Surprising History

style="text-align: left;">Big climate shifts and volcano eruptions could have also doomed the hobbits. Here is a view of Liang Bua cave, as seen from the road out front. 'Hobbit Humans' Actually Might Not Have Been Human

style="text-align: left;">Earlier confusion about when the Hobbits and associated animals died out at Flores had to do with the depth and complexity of the cave site's geological layers. Archaeological excavations at Liang Bua can reach depths of more than 8 meters (26 feet), as shown in this photo.
In the dry and inhospitable environment of Turpan, China, cold water miraculously flows from high atop the glacial peaks of the Tianshan Mountains. This is possible only because of a system of underground channels, an engineering feat known as karez, built by pastoralists who settled here 2,000 years ago, reports the New York Times.

The karez provide irrigation for the farms, the animals and the Uighur people of Turpan. Without them, the communities that have settled here over millennia would never have survived. But now, the people of Turpan are facing a harsh reality: the channels are drying up.

Unsurprisingly, global warming is a culprit in this, but even bigger offenders are the oil drillers and industrial farms that are using increasing amounts of water.

RELATED: This Technology Makes Fresh Water by Harvesting Fog

Each year about a dozen of these channels dry up, while others must be abandoned due to oil contamination. If the karez dry up altogether, not only will it threaten a way of life, it will decimate an ancient source of pride for the Uighur people.

"The karez is a symbol of our civilization," Shalamu Abudu, a hydrology expert at Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at El Paso, told the New York Times. Abudu is also a Uighur from Turpan. "It is something we feel very emotional about," he added.

Turpan is located in one of the driest areas in the world, China's far western Xinjiang region. There are no rivers or lakes in the region and it receives little more than a half-inch of annual rainfall.

WATCH: Can Air Be A Water Source During A Drought?
Marc Hudson of Rocket Fiber

In the last three years, Rocket Fiber co-founder Marc Hudson has expanded an admittedly precarious and bold pitch for a high-speed internet venture into a successful, rapidly expanding Detroit startup in the face of major, multimillion-dollar competitors.Hudson first pitched the idea for Rocket Fiber in 2013 while working as a software engineer for Quicken Loans. He says he thought of the idea while reading an article on Google Fiber in Kansas City, and the subsequent influx of technology and entrepreneurship following the launch.Hudson says a light bulb went on, thinking it could be a "game changer" for Detroit. He pitched the idea through the Cheese Factory, Quicken Loans' internal ideas website where employees are encouraged to pitch concepts big or small that could improve the company.This idea was definitely big and quickly caught the eye of Dan Gilbert, who backed the project financially The gigabit internet connection, which launched commercially in January, is 1,000 times faster than the average residential connection. The service is currently being used both homes and businesses in Detroit."Since January, we've been lighting buildings all over the central business district," Hudson says.So far, Rocket Fiber has put down over 20 miles of fiber optic cable in Detroit. Various residential buildings in downtown and Midtown such as the Willy's Overland Lofts, Cadillac Square Apartments, and the Forest Arms Apartments already have Rocket Fiber connections available.Hudson says Rocket Fiber is actively working to expand farther into Midtown, Brush Park, and New Center. They recently connected their first commercial customer in Corktown, as well.In 2017, we'll be setting our sights even bigger than just the downtown area," Hudson says. "We've always said that we want to expand, we want to grow, and we think there's a lot of opportunity to continue to build this company and network in the city of Detroit."Although solid plans aren't in place yet, Hudson says he hopes to eventually bring Rocket Fiber into the suburbs.Beyond physical expansion, the company plans to soon break into the cable market, providing HDTV cable channels and on-demand services."We're still trying to work the bugs out," Hudson says. "TV is actually pretty hard to do, it's actually harder to do than the internet." Still, he says announcements regarding the new service will be made in the "not too distant future."Hudson will be the keynote speaker at Southeast Michigan Startup's High Growth Happy Hour starting at 6 p.m. at Cafe Con Leche in Detroit. There will be time for networking and drinks, a casual chat and Q&A. The event is free, but advance tickets are required . Hudson will highlight Rocket Fiber's expansions and how the company has scaled an innovative tech startup across the city. To encourage this sort of growth from other ventures, Hudson has shared five of his tips for growing an innovative startup in the city."I've been involved in a bunch of different startups, pretty much since I was in college, high school even," Hudson says. "One of the big difference makers for me in this startup environment was having partners. I tried to do a lot of it alone in the past, and it doesn't matter how well-rounded you are, there's always going to be some skill set that you just don't have.""For me, having Edi and Randy as my partners has been a huge part of the success of the Rocket Fiber story," Hudson says of Edi Demaj and Randy Foster. "They were the ones that we showing up, and doing things, and following through, and not just saying they were interested but showing they were interested.  So, to me, it's one thing if someone shows interest but if they actually jump in and roll their sleeves up and start building with you, that's a pretty good indicator that they want to be around for a while.""As a founder of a company, you have a vision, you have a dream, you have an idea and you want to do everything," Hudson says. "As you grow, you really have to trust in the people you put in place to pick things up for you because you can't be everywhere at all times. You have to have people you can trust to take and run with things. And you as a founder, a manager of those people, you need to be able to let go sometimes and let them go and build things. It might not be the exact same way that you would have done it, but that's OK.""Perseverance is one [tip] that is talked about a lot but is still understated," Hudson says. "There are so many times when this project, this idea, could have died along the way for different reasons. It was all about just rolling up our sleeves and just understanding, in our case, that this project was so important for the city of Detroit and for our organization that we weren't going to let the normal things that get in the way slow us down.""We have a saying within our organization which is, 'Ignore the noise.' I think there's a lot of noise out there when you're building a business. It's other people trying to do something similar, it's your competitors dropping press releases, it's the naysayers telling you it can't be done. At the end of the day, it's really about putting the blinders on, focusing straight ahead on you, on your business, your dream, your vision, and shutting everything else out."
MASON CITY  Jurors began deliberations shortly after 2 p.m. Friday and will resume Monday morning in a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit against a Mason City nursing home.

During closing arguments in the trial, an attorney for the family of Maria Savas OBrien, who filed the lawsuit against Good Shepherd, told jurors they have an opportunity to send a message to the nursing home industry.

If you speak loudly, they will hear you, said Pressley Hennnigsen.

Savas OBriens children allege negligence and breach of contract against Good Shepherd.

Savas OBrien, a Mason City resident, was at the nursing home for 2 years. She was taken from Good Shepherd to the hospital in late March 2015 and died in early April 2015 at age 84 while in hospice care.

Savas OBrien, who weighed 127 pounds when she first came to Good Shepherd, lost 43 pounds while she was there.

They were tearing her down, not shoring her up, Henningsen said.

In March 2014 Savas OBrien fell in the bathroom in her room at Good Shepherd  a fall expert witnesses for the family said could have been prevented and was traumatizing for her.

Testimony also was presented alleging possible medication overdoses and staff failure to follow Savas OBriens care plan.

Henningsen said Good Shepherd did not hire enough staff to care for residents.

During his closing argument, David Schrock, one of the attorneys for Good Shepherd, said the nursing home could have done more for Savas OBrien, but met the required standards.

Savas OBrien lost her appetite due to her dementia and other medical conditions, according to Schrock. He said the staff at Good Shepherd gave her supplements and brought in someone to monitor her nutrition.

Schrock said no medical expert ever diagnosed Savas OBrien with a medication overdose.

After Savas OBrien fell in March 2014, her personal physician said she was alert, bright and smiling, according to Schrock.

Is this what traumatized looks like? he asked.

Although Savas OBriens cause of death was ruled as dehydration and family members claim she did not receive enough water while at Good Shepherd, Schrock said no record exists that she became dehydrated while she was at the nursing home.

He said she became dehydrated in the final days of her life while she was in hospice care.

State inspectors came to the nursing home in September and October 2013 after Savas OBriens family filed a complaint.

However, none of the familys allegations were substantiated except one about a mouse getting into her room, Schrock said.

Henningsen said all the inspection showed is what conditions were like at Good Shepherd during a period of time in which staff knew they were being observed.

Savas OBrien ran the former Poodle Lounge on North Federal Avenue for decades and was active in Mason Citys Greek community and the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.

The trial started with jury selection Sept. 13. Testimony began Sept. 14.
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.

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.

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
Richmond began the process of firing one officer and disciplining eight others after an investigation implicated them in the sprawling sexual misconduct scandal involving a 19-year-old woman who lives in the city, officials said Friday.

Richmond officials will seek to demote one officer, suspend one for 80 hours, suspend another for 120 hours and reprimand five others for their connection to the sexually exploited teenager. City officials announced the discipline following a months-long internal affairs investigation in the police department.

All of the officers are currently employed by the department and on full duty, with the exception of the officer set to be fired, whos on administrative leave, said City Manager Bill Lindsay. He said he cant reveal the officers name until the termination proceedings are complete.

In addition to the nine officers facing discipline, two others were found to have broken policies, but they have since left the department, Lindsay said.

Specific details on the misconduct of the officers were not released.

I am both disappointed and outraged that the individual behavior of some Richmond police officers has brought discredit to the department and serves to undermine community trust, Mayor Tom Butt said in a statement. I know that this outrage is shared by my colleagues on the Richmond City Council.

The young woman at the center of the misconduct scandal  who previously went by Celeste Guap but now goes by her first name, Jasmine  has said she had sex with nearly 30 police officers and sheriffs deputies in the Bay Area in the last two years.

Some of the interactions happened when she was 17, too young to legally give consent. Some of the officers paid her, while others tipped her off about prostitution stings or ran the names of people she knew through law enforcement databases.

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Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown said earlier this month that none of the officers investigated in his department had committed any crimes. In Alameda County, though, prosecutors have charged five officers and plan to charge another two for crimes ranging from obstruction of justice to oral copulation with a minor.

Oakland Officer Brian Bunton was set to be the first officer arraigned on charges stemming from the scandal. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon at the Hayward Hall of Justice.

Police officers must be held to a higher standard with regard to their personal and professional conduct because their effectiveness in serving the community depends on the publics trust, Brown said in a statement Friday.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
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LinkedIn on Thursday added online business courses and a computerized messaging assistant, services that both take advantage of the two biggest deals in the social networking companys history.

The launch of LinkedIn Learning is the long-awaited integration of business education company Lynda.com, which LinkedIn bought for $1.5 billion in 2015. The subscription service suggests courses LinkedIns 450 million members might need to advance in their careers.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn is working on a smarter messaging system that includes a computer program that can automatically help schedule meetings. The artificial intelligence program, or bot, provided a teaser of what might come from Microsofts pending $26.2 billion deal to buy the Mountain View company.

That deal isnt expected to close until the end of the year and there few other hints about how the Microsoft takeover might change LinkedIn. CEO Jeff Weiner said LinkedIn teams are beginning to explore possibilities, yet still need to walk before they run.

The stuff you saw today has been in the works long before we were in discussions with Microsoft, Weiner said during the companys first press conference since the merger was announced in June.

LinkedIn unveiled several redesigned products, including a desktop home page that is simpler to navigate and acts more like its mobile app. The page, which the company plans to roll out this year, launches features like suggested new jobs without switching to a different Web page.

Edward Terpening, an analyst with the research firm Altimeter Group, wasnt blown away by the redesign. Like a lot of social platforms, they seem to be in a copy mode, copying features, copying looks, Terpening said. What I saw today looks very much like Facebook.

But the Lynda.com integration was interesting and unique, he said. That is potentially very useful.

LinkedIn Learning costs $30 per month, or $300 for one year, but is included in LinkedIns subscription plans. The service will suggest courses, such as HTML design or management training, that member might need based on their profiles.

Tanya Staples, a former teacher who is now LinkedIns senior director of content and production, said the service could help workers stay ahead of the technology thats constantly changing their jobs.

As a teacher, I could see that we were no longer going to be able to teach all the skills people need in life to set them up for longtime success in their career, she said. The harsh reality is that the useful shelf life of skills has shrunk to less than five years.

The other highlight was improvements to LinkedIn messages. Messaging within LinkedIn has increased 240 percent in the past year. Mark Hull, senior director of messaging, demonstrated how a bot was able to help two people sending notes to each other find available times on their calenders to schedule an in-person meeting.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

So far, LinkedIn is only planning to introduce the calendar bot, although Microsoft is openly experimenting with using AI for conversational computing.

However, Microsofts most public chatbot, called Tay, was a disaster. Within hours of its release, Microsoft had to take Tay down after Twitter members tricked it into posting a series of offensive and insensitive tweets.

In an interview, Hull wouldnt comment on other potential bots his team might include in the future.

Theres a lot of possibilities out there that we can explore as it relates to Microsoft and working with other partners, Hull said. Right now, we just want to make sure were building services that people find useful, not tech for techs sake.

Benny Evangelista is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bevangelista@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChronicleBenny
MASON CITY  Residents in Mason City affected by flooding expressed gratitude Thursday they were not as hard hit as 2008.

Nearly two dozen Mason City high school students spent the morning filling around 3,000 sandbags at the citys Operations and Maintenance building, 725 Massachusetts Ave.

The National Weather Service will keep Mason City at the Winnebago River from Beaver Creek near Fertile to Shell Work River by Rockford under a flood warning through Friday evening, expecting minor to moderate flooding.

The Winnebago River reached 14.12 feet at 5 p.m Thursday. It was expected to crest at 15 feet early Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is at 10 feet.

That level would reach near the top of levees running from the 12th Street Northeast bridge to Ninth Street on its east bank, and from Eighth Street Northeast to Sixth and Hampshire streets.

If the Winnebago River continues to rise and crests at 15 feet, officials say water could spill over the levee system. As a result, sewer backups are possible for local customers.

On Thursday, local officials asked residents to avoid travel and remain in their homes as flooding continued.

Around 9 a.m., Mason City police helped evacuate residents at the Autumn Park Apartments over concerns of low-level flooding in the complexs back parking lot.

Officer Jeremy Ryal said that they were evacuating two buildings and the town homes and sandbagging doors.

He said between 23 and 27 residents were evacuated and taken via transit buses to the Salvation Army on Village Green Drive. Other residents left and would stay with family and friends.

The Humane Society of North Iowa posted a video on its Facebook page on Thursday afternoon appearing to show the flooded road leading up to its building.

In a separate posting, a staffer wrote that all animals and personnel were safe.

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.

Alliant Energy reported 16 customers without power in Cerro Gordo County as of mid-morning on Thursday. All but one was restored by the evening, according to its website.

In the Eastbrooke subdivision near NIACC, the latter half of Marty Ramaekers backyard was under water from Ideal Creek in the afternoon.

Ramaekers said he was grateful it was not as bad as the 2008 flooding in Mason City when several of his neighbors were canoeing in the street and he watched a car get washed away.

His house is 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.
Four men carjacked a woman in San Franciscos Hayes Valley neighborhood Thursday night, holding her at knifepoint and snatching her cell phone out of her hand as she tried to call 911, police said.

The carjacking occurred around 10 p.m. outside a Hickory Street apartment building, just west of Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco Police Department officials said.

The 59-year-old victim, whose name was not released, was not injured in the attack.

Two of the suspects approached her and demanded money as she stood next to her sedan, which was parked on the street, police said. When she told them she had no cash, the robbers ordered her to fork over her car keys, police said.

After a brief struggle, one of the assailants grabbed the victims phone as she tried to call 911. All four suspects then hopped into the womans car and fled south on Van Ness Avenue.

The woman wasnt the only robbery victim to have a cell phone stolen in San Francisco Thursday night while trying to call police for help.

Less than two miles southeast of the carjacking incident, in the Mission District, another woman had her phone stolen as she tried to call 911.

The robbery happened just after 9 p.m. at the corner of 16th and Folsom streets, when three female assailants held up the woman, police said, stealing her wallet and then her phone when she tried to call for help.

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.

The 29-year-old victim, whose name was also being withheld by police, was headbutted and punched in the head multiple times by the muggers, police officials said. She was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction. One was later arrested, but her name was not released.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley
A 19-year-old Richmond resident was charged Thursday with murdering a 29-year-old man early in the week, police said.

Dawaun Rice was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of shooting Javonte Prothro on a Richmond street. Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office charged him the following day in the Monday morning slaying.

Richmond police officers responding to 1025 S. 47th St. on reports of a possible shooting found Prothro slumped over in his car about 11 a.m., police said. He died despite efforts to revive him on scene.

Rice was taken into custody following a probe by homicide Detective F. Rivera and a team of investigators.

Detectives with the departments Special Investigations Section found Rice and arrested him in Vallejo two days after the slaying.

We are proud of our officers' and detectives' tenacity in finding the person responsible for this heinous crime. We are also appreciative of the support we received from the community and the partnership we have that helped solve this homicide, the department said in a statement. We hope this brings some relief and closure for Javonte's family.

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.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno
A man and a woman were seriously wounded after assailants barged into their Concord home and shot them both in what may have been a botched drug robbery, police said.

Just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to reports of gunfire at the home in the 2900 block of Bella Drive and found a 28-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman wounded, said Cpl. Chris Blakely, a spokesman for the Concord Police Department.

The victims were taken to a hospital, where they were in stable condition.

Officers discovered pounds of marijuana on the second floor of the victims home, Blakely said, leading police to suspect the shootings were motivated by an attempted theft of the drugs.

The woman was shot in the right arm, and another bullet grazed her chest, police said. The male was injured more severely, taking multiple bullets to the upper body and one to the head.

Its unclear whether either resident has a medical marijuana permit, police said.

Police believe the two assailants wore black clothing and made their getaway in a dark-colored vehicle. Neighbors called police after hearing seven to 12 gunshots at the house.

Officers recently held a community meeting in the normally quiet neighborhood and residents who attended commented on how peaceful it is, Blakely said.

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.

For that area, its definitely unusual to have something like this, he said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Concord Police Department at (925) 671-3030.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley
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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.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

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
The Dressmaker was clearly intended to be a ravishing creation, but its patched together from such a ragbag of scraps that it cant be called a success. Despite highly enjoyable moments and the welcome presence of Kate Winslet, even sympathetic viewers will be put off by the movies bewildering variety of genres and tones.

The film sets us up to expect the darkest sort of black comedy: Its the 1950s, and a gorgeously attired Tilly (Winslet) arrives in a backwater Australian village, with the stony-faced announcement, Im back, you bastards. Shes a supremely talented fashion designer, intent on wielding her sewing machine to right some serious wrongs from the distant past.

The residents of this miserable burg are narrow-minded, dowdy and dumb  caricatured hicks meant to be disparaged, a point the film beats into the ground. These grotesques would seem to be no match for revenge-minded Tilly, with her red lipstick, cigarettes and haute couture, the likes of which the local harridans have only goggled at in magazines.

Tilly moves into a dismal shack inhabited by a seeming madwoman, who turns out to be her mother, played by Judy Davis in an unbridled performance that steals the film. Both mom and daughter have serious memory issues, but its clear that something horrible happened when Tilly was a child, which drove her to flee.

The film, based on Rosalie Hams 2000 novel, turns on the promising idea that high fashion can be used as weapon, ensnaring the repulsive townswomen and underlining their ugly natures. In a series of highly striking images, these creatures prance around the dusty streets in Tillys creations, which are parodies of 1950s Paris fashions.

Director Jocelyn Moorhouse includes a cinematic quotation from Sunset Boulevard, and The Dressmaker does have its noir side, a brooding sense of the past and a satirical vision of the present. If only the mood were consistent. Instead, the film weaves in threads of melodrama and romance  the latter involving a rugby-playing stud (Liam Hemsworth) whose sleek body the film all but drools over when he is fitted for a suit by Tilly.

Theres more: A mystery is waiting to be solved involving a boys death, and much ado is made about the cross-dressing (and other risque behavior) of the towns single police officer. It all adds up to an awfully busy two hours.

Davis shows us a proud and vital woman emerging from the damaged hag we saw initially. In one of the movies most entertaining scenes, she attends a showing of Sunset Boulevard and treats both the movie and her fellow viewers to hoots and catcalls. Her deepening interactions with Tilly are the closest the movie approaches to substance.

But tonal inconsistencies sink The Dressmaker, and the same applies to Winslets character. The actress does her best with what shes given, but the film never seems to get a handle on the character  her hard edge comes and goes in a bewildering way.

The Dressmakers incessant bludgeoning of the villagers invites us to feel a too-easy sense of superiority. After several false endings, the film has genuinely worn out its welcome.

What a shame, because Tillys surreal, extravagant handiwork is really something to see.

Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: waddiego@sfchronicle.com

The Dressmaker

Comedy-drama. Starring Kate Winslet, Judy Davis, Liam Hemsworth. Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse. (R. 118 minutes.)

To see a trailer: http://bit.ly/1gxFseY
WASHINGTON  One member of Congress from the Bay Area says he will give back the campaign contribution Wells Fargo sent to him and another says hell donate his to a nonprofit.

But while several others, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, expressed dismay at revelations that the storied San Francisco-based banking giant opened as many as 2 million fake customer accounts to boost its sales numbers, they didnt say what they planned to do with any contributions they received.

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, said hes completely done doing business with the bank.

I used to be a Wells Fargo customer, and I have one credit card left, and I intend to chop it all in pieces and send it back to the CEO, he said. About the $1,000 contribution he received from Wells Fargo during the current election cycle, DeSaulnier said, Ill send that back too. I dont want to deal with them.

At her weekly news conference Thursday, Pelosi, D-San Francisco, called Wells Fargos actions appalling, and said she favored a criminal investigation while noting that prosecutors have already opened several, in Los Angeles as well as in New York and North Carolina.

She received $7,500 from the banks political action committee, according to OpenSecrets.org, a website that tracks campaign money. But the San Francisco Democrat, who has raised more than $100 million for her party this election cycle, said Thursday she wasnt aware of it. I dont know if I even have any, Pelosi said.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement through her spokesman that she also expected Wells Fargos top executives to face consequences.

Executives responsible for creating a culture where 2 million fake accounts were created, resulting in the firing of 5,300 workers and $185 million in penalties, must be held accountable, Feinstein said. Her campaign office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether she would return the $3,000 contribution she received from the bank.

Win McNamee / Getty Images 2016

OpenSecrets does not list Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., as having received contributions from the bank.

Wells Fargo is under fire for a practice called cross-selling that appears to have begun as early as 2009. Under pressure by top executives to increase sales of additional bank services, employees allegedly created accounts for existing customers without their knowledge, leading to late fees and other charges in some cases.

On Tuesday, Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf took a bipartisan grilling before the Senate Banking Committee, which called for a criminal investigation of the illegal practices. In a particularly harsh line of questioning, committee member Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tore into Stumpf for failing to fire the top executives responsible for the scandal or surrender any of his own enormous earnings, even as the bank fired 5,300 of its lowest-paid workers for their role in it.

You squeezed your employees to the breaking point so you could cheat customers and drive up the value of your stock, she told him. And when it all blew up, you kept your job, your multimillion-dollar bonuses, and went on TV and blamed thousands of $12-an-hour employees trying to meet cross-sell quotas. You should resign. You should be criminally investigated by the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission.

Thursday, Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, and Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, said criminal charges should be considered for the top executives responsible for the banks alleged misconduct.

An investigation is absolutely needed to find those responsible, hold them accountable and prevent this insanity from happening again, Lee said through a spokesman.

Lees campaign office did not immediately respond to whether she would return her $2,000 contribution from Wells Fargo.

But Swalwell said he will donate the $4,000 in campaign contributions he has received from Wells Fargo to a local nonprofit. His spokesman, Josh Richman, said Swalwell is in the process of choosing which one.

Outside of the Bay Area, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, received $10,000 from Wells Fargo. His office did not respond to requests for comment.

Larry Gerston, an emeritus professor of political science at San Jose State University, said hes not surprised that the Bay Areas congressional delegation hasnt been as forceful as Warren in condemning Wells Fargo, although its headquarters are in San Francisco.

Folks in Congress specialize in the areas connected with their committees. So we think of Feinstein on Intelligence, Boxer on Environment, he said. My sense is that theyre supportive of Warren but this stuff is in her wheelhouse.

Wells Fargo, one of the four largest banks in the United States, and among the largest banks globally, has rained $2.7 million in campaign contributions over the Capitol over the past two years, according to OpenSecrets. It gave generously to both parties but especially to Republicans through its political action committee.

The top recipient of Wells Fargos political contributions in this election cycle, according to OpenSecrets, is the Republican National Committee ($287,000). Second on the list was Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton at $258,351, followed by her primary rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, at $61,043, despite having railed against what he described as corporate corruption of the political process.

DeSaulnier blamed campaign contributions for giving the banking and other industries too much control here.

Members of Congress, he said, are willing to look past this kind of behavior in order to get another contribution.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com
The president came within a few inches of losing his life in the city.

The Chronicles front page from Sept. 23, 1975, covers the assassination attempt that targeted President Gerald Ford in San Francisco.

A shot that missed was fired at President Ford from a crowd lining a street outside the St. Francis Hotel yesterday in the second alleged assassination attempt in 17 days against the nations chief executive, the story read. Although badly shaken, Mr. Ford was unhurt.

Police said Sara Jane Moore, 45, was taking aim for a second shot when a disabled former Marine hit her arm, giving a policeman standing just six feet away time to reach her side and grab the .38-caliber chrome-plated revolver in her hand.

Oliver Sipple was the Marine who saved the president. His quick action stopped Moore from firing again at Ford, after she had missed with her first shot by inches.

Miss Moore, who had been identified by federal computers as a possible threat to the presidents life, had been questioned Sunday by Secret Service agents and later in the day by San Francisco police, read the story by The Chronicles George Murphy and Jerry Carroll. They confiscated a .44-caliber pistol found in Miss Moores purse and cited her for carrying a concealed weapon.

When she was being interrogated in the hotel after the incident, Miss Moore said that if shed had the .44-caliber pistol she would have hit the president.

The assassination attempt came less than three weeks after Manson family member Lynette Frommes pointing of a loaded gun at Ford in a Sacramento park.

Moore was sentenced to life in prison but was released at age 77 in 2007, about a year after Ford died.

See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspapers history.

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

Chronicle Covers highlights one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken and producers Kimberly Chua, Michelle Devera and Jillian Sullivan contributed to the project. Tim O'Rourke is the executive producer of SFChronicle.com. Email: torourke@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TimothyORourke

(Click to enlarge)




MASON CITY  As much of North Iowa continues to brace for severe weather, the National Weather Service is extending flash flood warnings through Friday afternoon.

It issued a flood warning for southeast Worth County, eastern parts of Cerro Gordo County and northeast Franklin County until 10:45 p.m. Thursday.

It also issued a flash flood warning through Friday afternoon.

More rainfall is expected. The National Weather Service is predicting up to one to two inches of rain overnight into Friday. The heaviest rain may fall south of North Iowa, between Highways 20 and 30 south of Iowa Falls.

In Butler County, Greene saw some of the areas most severe flooding on Thursday. Rain totals there reached 10.4 inches on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Little Cedar River near Nashua crested at 14.57 feet at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Its major flooding stage is reached at 14 feet.

In Floyd County, Charles City also saw areas of major flooding. The Cedar River reached 16.27 feet on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The worst is expected to come around Friday afternoon when the river may crest at 23.2 feet  entering well above major flooding stage at 18 feet.

Areas like Greene and Charles City definitely some localized significant flooding, said National Weather Service hydrologist Jeff Zogg.

In Osage, the worst is also expected to come on Friday.

The Cedar River crested at 25.37 feet at 7 p.m. on Thursday  a record. It is expected to reach major flood stage at 27 feet on Friday around noon.

It crested at 16.52 feet near St. Ansgar on Thursday  considered minor flooding.

In Butler County near Shell Rock, the Shell Rock River reached 15.68 feet on Thursday. It is expected to reach 18.1 feet on Friday afternoon.

In Cerro Gordo County, Mason City saw less flooding than historic levels recorded in 2008.

The Winnebago River reached 14.12 feet at 5 p.m Thursday. It was expected to crest at 15 feet early Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is at 10 feet.

If the Winnebago River does crest at 15 feet as predicted, it would be the second-highest recording on record to the 18.7-foot crest recorded in 2008, Zogg said.
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The Bay Area has long considered itself inventive and ambitious. Now theres abundant proof, if the idea ever needed testing. A $3 billion pledge to control global diseases plus four MacArthur genius grants make the case.

Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg and his pediatrician spouse, Priscilla Chan, are going all in on a campaign to research and cure human illness. The work will be done here, spread across health science institutions at UCSF, UC Berkeley and Stanford. For now, theres no need to go elsewhere.
Its no secret why Hillary Clinton gave a speech Monday at Temple University targeted at young folks, and specifically students like me: She needs Millennial votes to win the White House. But I know first hand the obstacles my generation faces to play an active role in democracy, especially those of us going to college or living in a different state from the one where we have permanent residency. Instead of running away from those obstacles to voting, Millennials ought to run toward them.

Consider: In a Quinnipiac University Poll released Sept. 14 that asked respondents to choose only between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, among likely voters ages 18 to 34, Clintons lead over Trump was 21 points. When the poll was broadened to a four-way race with third-party candidates Libertarian Gary Johnson and the Green Partys Jill Stein, Clintons total support among young voters dropped from 55 to 31 percent. (Johnson came in second with 29 percent, Trump third at 26 percent and Stein last with 15 percent.)

We Millennials absolutely cant afford to let our diminished enthusiasm for this election keep us on the couch on election day. Sadly, Millennials have the lowest voter turnout of any age group, even though we have surpassed Baby Boomers as the largest generation in the nation. That must change, because the stakes in this election are too high.

I was born in Reno and carry a Nevada drivers license but have gone to school in Southern California for five years. To vote, I must request by mail an absentee ballot, which I do because my vote in Nevada, a battleground state, means much more than my vote in California, a reliably blue state. Amid midterms, papers and college (or graduate school) distractions, filling out the paperwork ahead of deadlines can be hard.

For Millennials who wish to register to vote in the state in which they are currently living, there are still more obstacles  strict voter ID laws that have been enacted in the name of eradicating voter fraud, despite the extremely low frequency with which voter fraud occurs. Voter ID laws are correctly lambasted as nefarious ways to make it more difficult for minorities and the poor (who are more likely to vote for Democrats but less likely to possess or have the resources to obtain valid identification cards) to exercise their vote. But college voters often find themselves victim of such laws as well.

Students IDs, out-of-state drivers licenses and out-of-state ID cards arent accepted as forms of voter identification in many states, according to the U.S. Vote Foundation. That prompted college students in North Carolina to join a challenge to that states voter ID laws on the grounds that those laws discriminated against them on the basis of age, in violation of the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. Those laws were struck down in August by a federal appeals court.

In Texas, a handgun license is sufficient to register to vote  but an ID card from a state university is not. A federal appeals court tossed out the ID laws, but the Texas attorney general said Thursday that he would file a petition with the Supreme Court to uphold them. You can check on voter ID laws by state at www.usvotefoundation.org.

Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day. Many universities, including mine, will host on-campus events encouraging students to register to vote. Its been a few years since Spider-Mans Uncle Ben reminded us that with great power comes great responsibility. Demographically, we have a great power  so we carry a responsibility to vote, no matter what the challenges.

Nathaniel Haas, a USC graduate, is a student at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
Looks like that squabble over soda tax versus grocery tax isnt anywhere near being resolved.

We told you last week that John Maa, a doctor and staunch supporter of San Franciscos Proposition V to tax sodas and other sugary drinks, filed a complaint with the citys Ethics Commission claiming opponents of the tax were misleading voters by calling it a tax on all groceries. The penny-per-ounce tax is intended to curb the rates of diabetes and obesity, not to make groceries overall more pricey.

The Ethics Commission has informed Maa it wont investigate because it doesnt fall under its purview. Apparently, if campaign mailers claim false endorsements, the commission can intervene. But it cant do anything about other kinds of false or misleading statements on campaign mailers.

Theyre saying the soda industry has a First Amendment right to lie, Maa said.

Maa said that he will file an appeal with the Ethics Commission and that Supervisor Malia Cohen has asked Fiona Ma, chairwoman of the state Board of Equalization, which oversees tax collection, to weigh in. Also, the pro-soda tax folks are sending out their own mailers refuting the grocery tax claim.

Joe Arellano, spokesman for the campaign to defeat the tax, called Maas complaint frivolous.

Its a grocery tax, plain and simple, he said. Instead of wasting time and city resources on baseless claims, the grocery tax proponents should explain to voters why they want to tax distributors like local grocers and small businesses when the cost of living and doing business in our city is already at an all-time high.

Place your bets now on how many times Arellano will use the words grocery tax before election day. And how many times the pro-tax side will freak out about it.

In terms of money, the opponents have the edge, spending nearly $632,000 as of Wednesday getting their message across. Proponents have spent $277,582. The measure is shaping up to be the most expensive on the citys November ballot.

 Heather Knight

Survey says: Polling, especially political polling, is still as much art as science. And like any artistic endeavor, sometimes there are results that science just cant explain.

Take, for example, the Public Policy Institute of Californias latest poll on the U.S. Senate race, which found Attorney General Kamala Harris with a 32 to 25 percent lead over Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez.

That seven-percentage-point difference is great news for Sanchez, especially after a Field Poll released earlier this week found her trailing by 22 percentage points, 42 to 20 percent.

But heres where it gets weird. In July, the PPIC poll found Harris with an 18 percentage-point lead. And whats happened since then to boost Sanchez?

Absolutely nothing, said Mark Baldassare, the polls director. No new controversies, no debates, no rush of television advertising, nothing.

The result surprised me because not much has changed since July, he said.

The Field Poll seems to bear that out, since its survey found Harris gaining seven percentage points since its own July survey.

What the results may show is just how strange and volatile this years Senate race is, because for the first time in Californias history two Democrats will oppose each other on the November ballot. The PPIC poll found that 42 percent of Republicans say they wont vote for either Harris or Sanchez and that 43 percent of likely voters are either undecided or say they wont vote at all. Or at least thats what they say in September.

We have zero experience with this, Baldassare admitted.

 John Wildermuth

Birther controversy: A few years ago, President Obama released his birth certificate to prove he was born in the United States. Now a candidate for San Francisco supervisor is showing hers to prove shes of Chinese heritage.

Michael Macor/The Chronicle

Sandra Lee Fewer, a candidate for District One, held a news conference Thursday to counter claims she is not Chinese.

Fewer has good reason to be upset. Politically speaking, being of Chinese descent is an advantage in the Richmond District, where roughly a quarter of residents are Chinese.

Fewer said the misinformation that shes not Chinese American was being spread on the Chinese radio program Bay Area Metro on KVTO-AM.

Its ridiculous that I have to show my birth certificate from Chinese Hospital to prove that I was born Sandra Lee to Chinese parents, Fewer said in a statement. But I am always so proud to share that I am a fourth-generation Chinese American. My family has a rich heritage in San Franciscos Chinese community. My great-grandparents started the first-ever produce market in Chinatown, and I am happy to share my roots.

Fewers birth certificate doesnt prove she is Chinese. But it does show that both of her parents are of Chinese ethnicity and that she was born Sandra Lee in San Franciscos Chinese Hospital.

Thats important, said campaign manager Chelsea Boilard, because Bay Area Metro radio has suggested that Fewer adopted the name Lee via a first marriage. Boilard said that is plainly wrong, and Lee has been married to one man  John Fewer  for 35 years.

Harrison Lim, head of the Lim Family Association and a prominent figure in San Franciscos Chinese American community, also expressed support for Fewer.

These rumors are unbelievable. Not only does Sandra have a deep family history rooted in the Chinese community, but she has strongly advocated for Chinese students and families throughout her life, Lim said in a statement.

 Emily Green

Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com, jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com, egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightSF, @jfwildermuth, @emilytgreen
MASON CITY | Mason City police were called to Southbridge Mall for a "suspicious subject" around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Mall employees say the person was dressed as a clown. The person in question was not found, according to police logs.

Jayde Espinosa, a mall employee, told the Globe Gazette via Twitter message that she and a co-worker saw an individual dressed as a clown acting "creepily" outside their store just before 7:25 p.m.

She said mall security chased the individual out of the mall. A police search for the clown was unsuccessful.

Police log information did not specify if the individual in question was dressed as a clown.

Mall security referred questions on the incident to management. Mall manager T.J. Just did not respond to requests for comment via email and a message left through mall staff.

 Meredith Colias
California appears poised to join a growing national embrace of marijuana, with a potent majority of people now supporting a November ballot measure to legalize recreational pot use across the state, according to a Field/IGS Poll released Thursday.

Smoking a lawful doobie isnt a radical notion anymore in California, the poll found, even after previous rejections of similar laws.

Sixty percent of likely California voters said they would vote yes on Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which would legalize use and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for people 21 or older and establish regulations, licensing and taxation of the cannabis industry. Thirty-one percent said no and 9 percent were undecided.

Perhaps most striking was the response from Republicans, whose opposition to Prop. 64 still had a tinge of green. Forty percent of those polled said they support legalization, while 53 percent said they would vote no if the election were held that day.

While the let-it-be folk in the poll were all for moving their drug of choice into the mainstream, they were not as open to having guns circulating among the joint-smoking masses.

Sixty percent of likely voters were in favor of Proposition 63, which would require background checks for ammunition buyers, ban possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines and help take guns away from felons. The breakdown of nos and undecideds were similar to the weed question  30 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

The pot proposition, backed by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, would allow adults to grow as many as six plants for personal use  though using marijuana in public would remain illegal. The level of support for the measure, which proponents say could generate $1 billion or more in annual tax revenue, surprised pollsters.

Whats most interesting in this particular measure is the broad-based nature of the support, said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field/IGS Poll. Every age group, education group, race and gender are all on the yes side. Its hard to find a subgroup who are opposed.

The poll found strongest support among people who are single, middle-aged, African Americans, liberal, college-educated and living in coastal counties.

Seventy percent of Democrats and 71 percent of people in Los Angeles County said they would vote for the measure. In San Francisco, 61 percent expressed support, while 64 percent of those surveyed throughout Northern California wanted weed smoking legalized.

California became the first state in the nation to legalize medical use of marijuana in 1996 when voters passed Proposition 215, but efforts to legalize recreational use have not gone as well. The first attempt, in 1972, was rejected, with two-thirds of voters saying no. The last bid in 2010 fell by seven percentage points.

The apparent uptick in support over the past six years comes amid a changing national political landscape. Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia have approved adult use of the drug. But DiCamillo said California itself has changed.

In 2010, people 65 and older were opposed to legalization by a 2-to-1 ratio. The latest poll shows 52 percent of seniors supporting Prop. 64, he said.

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.

Baby Boomers who are not opposed to legalization are replacing seniors who were adamantly opposed, DiCamillo said. Its a generational changeover.

The gun question breaks down more along political lines, with 83 percent of Democrats and 28 percent of Republicans supporting the tighter restrictions on firearms and ammunition. Seventy percent of women and 50 percent of men backed Prop. 63, the poll found.

The Field/IGS Poll results on Prop. 64 were based on online surveys by the site YouGov of 942 registered voters across the state from Sept. 7-13. A subsample of 483 likely voters were asked about Prop. 63.

The poll did not supply a margin of error. Opt-in polls such as the online survey do not lend themselves to the calculation of sampling error as easily as traditional telephone surveys, DiCamillo said.
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I nervously proposed to my girlfriend with a plastic ring on the fifth anniversary of our first date.

I was looking for something classic with a modern twist. And I couldnt find it  nothing locally, nothing online. Not a single ring said Thats so Dani. Shes going to love it.

With time running out, I went to plan B. I purchased an acrylic diamond-shaped ring to serve as a placeholder. Thankfully, she said yes, and understood the ring dilemma. My fiancee enthusiastically joined the hunt.

We sifted through the plethora of online information, educating ourselves on diamonds, jewelry trends and retailers. But we needed to see and touch the goods in person.

Tiffany & Co, Shreve & Co. and their Union Square ilk had classic elegance but lacked that modern twist. Gallery of Jewels, No.3 and Love and Luxe had artisan designers we admired. Their aesthetics werent quite us, but we were getting closer. We also reached out to a few local designers but none got back to us.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

As an S.F. native, I knew of the GiftCenter & JewelryMart, where friends talked about getting great deals from wholesalers and dealers. In recent years, GiftCenter has shrunk and retreated into the buildings basement as Airbnb moved in. Many of the longtime vendors are small and independent, without any brand recognition.

But we were curious. What did we have to lose? We chose Derco Fine Jewelers as a starting point, based on its positive Yelp reviews.

Derco was busy that late Saturday afternoon. A spot at the counter finally opened. Delin Wen warmly welcomed us like guests coming into her home.

She was an effortless salesperson, clearly explaining the 4 Cs of diamond buying  cut, color, clarity, carat  including the unofficial yet important fifth C: cost.

Other salespeople rarely talked about the value of their diamonds immediately. But Delin was honest about the Derco brand, its inventory and advantages over national uptown jewelers. She wanted us to find the right diamond and the right ring for the right price. Her openness and personable customer service charmed us.

Dani felt confident that our cheerful saleswoman could deliver the ring that she envisioned  a white diamond ring with pave black diamonds.

Top Shops 2016 Shopping spree: Read all of Style's fifth annual Top Shops essays.

We took the leap. I purchased a diamond, a step closer to replacing Danis plastic placeholder.

As Delin guided us through various settings, she had an epiphany. She showed us an Art Deco-styled ring with inset diamonds and milgrain accents.

The sample was too embellished for our taste, but Delin assured us that Dercos designers could create anything. She described how they would craft a clean, modern version of this vintage setting.

A picture slowly formed in our minds  a Tiffany setting flanked by two inset black diamonds in a white gold ring of alternating circles and ovals. We loved her idea. We finally found our engagement ring.

Over the course of a month, Delin shared with us 3-D printed rings (plastic!) with requested tweaks and fittings. The prototypes didnt look like its original sample. Delin and her designer commented on its uniqueness and originality.

Our anticipation grew.

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.

One early morning, our ring finally arrived via FedEx. I rushed back to a half-awake Dani. Too excited to take the ring out of the delivery box, I proposed again.

The engagement ring was even cooler than we had imagined. Dani described her ring as an ice cream cone with bow ties. We got that classic ring with a modern twist. And we wouldnt have created this perfect ring without finding Delin.

Christopher T. Fong is a San Francisco Chronicle staff designer and writer. Email: cfong@sfchronicle.com

Derco Fine Jewelers: In GiftCenter & JewelryMart, 888 Brannan St., S.F. Not open to the public; requires appointment. http://dercodiamonds.com; http://sfgcjm.com

Gallery of Jewels: Various S.F. locations. http://www.gallery-of-jewels.com

No. 3: 1987 Hyde St., S.F. https://www.shopno3.com

Love & Luxe: 1169 Valencia St., S.F. http://loveandluxesf.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.
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About 200 housing rights advocates protested Thursday outside the San Francisco home of a 100-year-old woman, demanding that her eviction be overturned as part of a national call to action to raise awareness on housing, eviction and gentrification.

Iris Canada is battling to keep her home on the 600 block of Page Street in San Franciscos Western Addition after the owners said she violated her life estate agreement  which has allowed her to live in her apartment at a fixed rate of $700 a month for life.

The protest was organized by a coalition of San Francisco housing advocates, including the Housing Rights Committee and Tenants Union.

We wanted to focus on the eviction of Iris Canada because it really shines a light to whats going on in San Francisco and the injustice, said Tommi Avicolli Mecca, the director of counseling programs at the Housing Rights Committee. For most people, it is a no brainer that you dont evict a 100-year-old woman, its wrong.

Alex Apke, who owns a unit in the building, said the protesters trespassed to the roof of the property by jumping from the roof of a building next door that is under construction. The protestors hung a 21-foot banner that read, Eviction = Death. Resistance = Life.

It seems kind of silly, Apke said. Im just very frustrated with this harassment. Theyre protesting around us as if we have something to do with it.

Canada and her niece, Iris Merriouns, were home while the protest was going on and the niece briefed the protesters on her aunts predicament.

On Tuesday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge A. James Robertson granted Canada, who has called the apartment home since 1965, a seven-day stay of her eviction, making it her tenth stay since March. The stay will expire at 5 p.m. Tuesday, but Canadas lawyer, Dennis Zaragoza, said he intends to ask for another seven days.

On Monday, Robertson rejected Canadas request for a 24-day stay.

Zaragoza said he wants to gather letters from Canadas doctors and Adult Protective Services to make sure the judge is aware of how a move will affect the elderly womans well-being, he said. Canada blamed recent heart palpitations that landed her in the hospital for several days on the stress of her fight to fend off the eviction.

The court has to understand exactly what the risks are, said Zaragoza, referring to whether Canada will be forced to vacate her unit.

Peter Owens, one of the owners of the unit, said Canada has not been living at the Page Street residence for four years, in violation of her life-estate agreement. He said the woman instead lives with Merriouns, in Oakland - a claim that Merriouns has denied.

We have bent over backwards to try to get Iris back to her unit, Owens said. She moved out in 2012, an unequivocal fact.

In 2005, Owens granted Canada the life estate, agreeing that she would be the sole occupant of the unit as long as she actively lived there. Her name was put on the deed and she was given all rights to ownership. The legal battle to get her out began in 2013 when she refused to sign papers for the building to be converted to condos.

According to court records from a trial in March 2016, Judge Robertson ruled that, Canada has failed to permanently reside at the Premises as the sole and only occupant. The judge declined a request from The Chronicle to comment because the case is ongoing.

Attorney Mark Chernev  who represents Owens and the other owners, Stephen Owens and Carolyn Radish  said the judges statement is based on the fact that Canada no longer lives at the unit.

I deposed Iris Merriouns and she told me under oath that shes been caring for her aunt since 2012 in Oakland, Chernev said. We dont dispute that Iris Canada thinks of this as her home, but its not her home. We terminated the life estate because shes not living there.

Zaragoza conceded that Canada was absent from her apartment for a prolonged period of time around 2012, but that was because she was hospitalized with a stroke and then went to stay with Merriouns in Oakland to recuperate.
Richmond began the process of firing one officer and disciplining eight others after an investigation implicated them in the sprawling sexual misconduct scandal involving a 19-year-old woman who lives in the city, officials said Friday.

Richmond officials will seek to demote one officer, suspend one for 80 hours, suspend another for 120 hours and reprimand five others for their connection to the sexually exploited teenager. City officials announced the discipline following a months-long internal affairs investigation in the police department.

All of the officers are currently employed by the department and on full duty, with the exception of the officer set to be fired, whos on administrative leave, said City Manager Bill Lindsay. He said he cant reveal the officers name until the termination proceedings are complete.

In addition to the nine officers facing discipline, two others were found to have broken policies, but they have since left the department, Lindsay said.

Specific details on the misconduct of the officers were not released.

I am both disappointed and outraged that the individual behavior of some Richmond police officers has brought discredit to the department and serves to undermine community trust, Mayor Tom Butt said in a statement. I know that this outrage is shared by my colleagues on the Richmond City Council.

The young woman at the center of the misconduct scandal  who previously went by Celeste Guap but now goes by her first name, Jasmine  has said she had sex with nearly 30 police officers and sheriffs deputies in the Bay Area in the last two years.

Some of the interactions happened when she was 17, too young to legally give consent. Some of the officers paid her, while others tipped her off about prostitution stings or ran the names of people she knew through law enforcement databases.

Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown said earlier this month that none of the officers investigated in his department had committed any crimes. In Alameda County, though, prosecutors have charged five officers and plan to charge another two for crimes ranging from obstruction of justice to oral copulation with a minor.

Oakland Officer Brian Bunton was set to be the first officer arraigned on charges stemming from the scandal. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon at the Hayward Hall of Justice.

Police officers must be held to a higher standard with regard to their personal and professional conduct because their effectiveness in serving the community depends on the publics trust, Brown said in a statement Friday.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
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Breaking her public silence on the harassment endured by a female firefighter at a station near San Franciscos Chinatown, the citys fire chief strongly denounced the deplorable behavior of the womans male colleagues Friday and left open the possibility of further disciplinary action.

The harassment  which included urination in the female firefighters bed  occurred at Powell Streets Station 2, according to a confidential document obtained by The Chronicle.

Thats something, obviously, that we dont tolerate, said Chief Joanne Hayes-White, after an event at Fishermans Wharf to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the San Francisco Fire Department.

She said the ordeal the male firefighters put their female co-worker through in an attempt to drive her out of the firehouse was a disappointment.

The male firefighters involved in the string of incidents that started in November 2015 and continued until February 2016, according to the report, routinely discriminated against their female co-worker because she is a woman.

According to the document, they pumped her lotion out in the womens bathroom at the firehouse, where the harassment victim also found feces on the floor. Her male colleagues also hid her firefighting gear and referred to her as a bitch on multiple occasions, the report said.

Referring to her decision to reassign the entire Station 2 command staff to other firehouses in the city, Hayes-White said, We made some moves, and we will be making some more moves.

Hayes-White said an internal investigation is ongoing into what she called egregious behavior of the male firefighters in a separate confidential letter also obtained by The Chronicle. On Friday, she described the disciplinary process as unfolding and evolving and said any firefighter found culpable could face additional consequences, including suspension or termination.

Hayes-White, who joined the San Francisco Fire Department in 1990 at the age of 26, said she wouldnt be telling the truth if she claimed she didnt experience any harassment from male firefighters back then.

When she donned her uniform almost three decades ago, there were just 10 female firefighters in the department, the chief said. There are about 250 women in the department now, a sure sign of progress, she said.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley
San Francisco has kicked Wells Fargo out of its Bank On program, which helps low-income people or those with credit problems open checking and savings accounts, city treasurer Jose Cisneros will announce Friday.

The program, which launched in 2006, pairs tens of thousands of people annually with 13 financial institutions like Chase and Citibank. Wells Fargo will be scrubbed from San Franciscos list of participating banks immediately.

Customers walked into Wells Fargo looking for a bank account to keep their money safe, Cisneros said Thursday. Thats not what they got. Staff exploited their personal information without their consent. That is a practice that is truly deceptive, wrong and predatory.

Cisneros is encouraging the 13 other cities with Bank On programs, including Seattle, Houston, Nashville, Los Angeles and Miami, to also drop Wells Fargo from their list of participating banks.

Wells Fargo employees opened as many as 2 million accounts for customers without their knowledge to hit sales goals. City officials are uncertain how many San Franciscans have been affected. The bank has been docked $185 million in fines and settlement payments.

Mayor Ed Lees office has requested information from Wells Fargo on the number of account holders affected and employees terminated, and what corrective actions the bank is taking. There has been no response so far.

In an email response to a request for comment, Wells Fargo communications manager Ruben Pulido stated: We remain committed to addressing the needs of the underbanked and to collaborating with BankOn programs throughout the United States. It is disappointing that Mr. Cisneros has chosen to take an action that will only deter these efforts and impact those who need resources the most.

There is no justification for what happened, said Lee, who has called on City Attorney Dennis Herrera to get involved. The creation of bogus accounts is inexcusable.

Those most vulnerable to the fraud are the people unfamiliar with banking institutions, financial leaders said.

Bank accounts are not something that folks should be lured into for the purpose of exploiting them, said Andrea Luquetta-Kern, director of policy and research at the California Reinvestment Coalition. More than 300 nonprofits constitute the coalition, which ensures that the financial services industry is responsive to low-income and minority communities.

The demographic is more likely to choose a la carte financial options, like a check casher, which come with hefty fees, she said. The coalition works to help them open a bank account with affordable fees and no overdraft charges.

The most basic thing you can have is a banking account, Luquetta-Kern said. Wells Fargo has taken what is arguably the safest possible way to have a relationship with a bank. They turned bank accounts into something to be wary of. That does a huge disservice to our work.

Cisneros and leaders from other nonprofits and financial businesses also say they feel betrayed by Wells Fargo, a homegrown bank that first opened its doors in 1852 the Financial District. Back then, it provided banking and express services to Gold Rush pioneers.

But Wells Fargo moved its shareholder meetings out of San Francisco after 2012. One complaint: front-line employees were driven to unethical behavior by the banks demands to increase sales.

Weve always worked to maintain a relationship with Wells Fargo, Cisneros said. But given all of this knowledge about widespread egregious and potentially criminal actions, I cant say that we will maintain that relationship with Wells Fargo. Ill be standing on the steps of City Hall Friday doing something weve never done before: announcing we are removing them from our list.

Leigh Phillips, CEO of Earn, a nonprofit that helps low-income families learn to save money, said that the more vulnerable demographics, like the homeless or minority communities, were disproportionately affected.

A lot of trust was lost, Phillips said. Our communities havent been well served by banks in the past. Its going to be complicated to untangle this. Does it mean someone paid more on their mortgage? Are there fees that need to be returned? Its very serious.

The city will also be offering free services from local financial consultant Balance to anyone who suspects they were a victim of the Wells Fargo practices. Phillips recommends checking to see if lines of credit have been opened recently. Balance services can be reached at (800) 706-6006. The Office of Treasurer and Tax Collector will also be offering free credit counseling.

There are a lot of unanswered questions right now, Cisneros said. We are doing everything we can as a city to get answers and resolve any negative impact on their finances. Everybody deserves that.

Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn
More than two centuries ago, a wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen turned into one of the best parties Germany's ever thrown.

The following year, they did it all again (sans the nuptials), and every year thereafter it kept growing. By now, that rager, once reserved to the Munich-area fields of Theresienwiese, has spread throughout Europe and the world as a celebration of German culture, music, food, and obviously, beer.
California consumers will have the strongest protections in the nation against getting blindsided by unexpected out-of-network medical bills as part of legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

AB72 was one of 10 consumer-protection measures  eight related to health care  signed Friday by the governor. They include a law that will require health insurers to notify their policyholders when regulators think their price hikes are too high, and one that will allow people to be informed of their rights to timely access to health care and to an interpreter.

The surprise medical bill legislation is designed to prevent patients, many of whom checked in advance to make sure their doctor and hospital were in their insurers list of contracted providers, from getting hit with out-of-network charges after undergoing a procedure or agreeing to services.

No patient should pay for a surprise bill or be forced into bankruptcy because of a complicated and unfair billing system, Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, the bills author, said in a statement released just after the bill was signed.

The law, which goes into effect in July, would keep patients out of what is essentially an issue between the insurer and the health providers.

While insurers generally contract with providers for rates, some doctors, particularly hospital specialists such as anesthesiologists, radiologists and pathologists, dont have contracts because they dont think they will be adequately reimbursed. So a patient who goes to an in-network hospital for surgery can get hit with an unexpected anesthesiologists bill.

The law will require insurers to reimburse these out-of-network providers at 125 percent of the rate Medicare pays, or at the insurers average contracted rate, whichever is greater.

The physician groups that represent California pathologists, radiologists and anesthesiologists opposed the bill, but consumer advocates were elated.

It will take the sting out of surprise medical bills, said Betsy Imholz, director of special projects for Consumers Union, the policy arm of the publication Consumer Reports.

Last year, the Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a survey that found that nearly 1 in 4 privately insured Californians received a surprise medical bill in which their health plan paid less than expected in the past two years. Among those respondents, again nearly 1 in 4 were charged at an out-of-network rate when they thought a provider was in their network.

The new law is stronger than similar out-of-network protections in New York and Florida, Imholz said. She said she hopes Californias law will serve as a model for other states.

Consumers Union supported two other bills that were signed into law Friday, including SB908 by Sen. Ed Hernandez, D-Azusa, which will require insurers to inform policyholders in writing when regulators found a price hike unreasonable or not justified. The group also supported SB1135, by Sen. Bill Monning, D-Carmel, which would require health plans and insurers to let consumers know about their rights to timely access and an interpreter.

The law that will alert people to high price hikes for coverage will go into effect Jan. 1.

Victoria Colliver is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vcolliver@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @vcolliver

Other legislation signed by governor

Gov. Jerry Brown also signed these health care bills:

AB796 Extends indefinitely existing law that requires the states Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services for people with developmental disabilities, including autism

AB1954 Prevents patients from needing a referral to see a reproductive health care provider

AB2024 Eases hiring restrictions for critical-care and rural hospitals to expand access

SB908 Requires insurers to notify patients of premium rate changes deemed unreasonable by state regulators

SB999 Requires public and private health plans to cover and dispense hormonal birth control for up to 12 months, eliminating the need for women to get refills every 30 or 90 days

SB 1135 Provides for notice of timely access to care

SB 1365 Requires hospitals to notify patients scheduled in hospital-based outpatient clinics when services are available in a non-hospital location to reduce the potential of steering patients to a certain facility in which the hospital has a financial interest
Americans retreated from home buying in August, as a worsening inventory shortage appears to be hurting sales and pushing prices higher.

Housing has been a bright spot amid weak economic growth for much of this year. Sales totals continue to recover from the recession. Buyers increasingly have pristine credit. But the primary weakness in housing has been a lack of properties for sale, a reflection of the lingering damage caused by the housing bubble.

Sales of existing homes slipped 0.9 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.33 million, the second straight monthly decline, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. The monthly setbacks happened after a period of steady gains that have lifted home sales 3 percent this year. Historically low mortgage rates have combined with an improved job market to bolster demand.

But drastically fewer sellers are coming into the market. The number of properties for sale is dwindling despite buyer enthusiasm.

Inventory has collapsed 10.1 percent from a year ago to 2.04 million homes.

Inventory woes continue to introduce supply gridlock for home buyers, said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist at the real estate firm Trulia. Those who want to sell their home might not do so because finding another home is difficult.

The median home sales price was $240,200 in August, a 5.1 percent increase from a year ago.

Sales fell in the Midwest, South and West. Only the Northeast recorded gains.

S.F., San Jose

rents drop

In August, rents declined in both San Francisco and San Jose, according to data from Axiometrics, a research firm. For San Francisco, it was the second month in a row in which rents dropped. Oakland registered a 1.4 percent rise, far below the double-digit increases Bay Area rental markets saw for much of 2014 and 2015. Average rents were $3,303 for San Francisco, $2,414 for Oakland and $2,801 for San Jose.

Job growth has slowed, a lot of new supply is coming to market and the double-digit rent growth of last year was unsustainable, said Jay Denton, senior vice president of analytics for Axiometrics, in a statement.

Occupancy remained above 95 percent in the three markets.

Banking

Wells CEO

leaves council

Wells Fargos embattled CEO is resigning his position on the Federal Reserves advisory council amid a scandal over millions of accounts allegedly opened by the bank without customers permission.

The San Francisco Fed said Thursday that John Stumpf is giving up his position as representative from the central banks San Francisco region on the advisory council.

Wells Fargo spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn said the move was a personal decision by Stumpf, saying that his top priority is leading the San Francisco bank.

The announcement came two days after Stumpf faced bipartisan outrage from a Senate panel over the alleged misconduct, believed to have gone on at the second-largest U.S. bank for years. Some 5,300 employees were fired.

Courts

Tesla sues

Michigan

Tesla sued Gov. Rick Snyder and other top Michigan officials Thursday, challenging a law that ensures automakers can only sell 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.

The Michigan Department of State last week denied Tesla Motors 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 that is home to the Detroit 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, the Palo Alto company said in the suit. This is not a legitimate government interest under the U.S. Constitution.

Tesla 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.

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Making shooing gestures with his hands, Ahti Heinla, an engineer who helped start Skype, stood on Balboa Street in San Francisco. Can you come out of the way for the robots? he said to an assembled scrum of journalists. Theyre programmed to not crash into people.

The crowd parted, and two small six-wheeled robots trundled past them at a steady 4 mph, lights flickering around their edges and on a protruding antenna. They glided down the Richmond Districts broad sidewalks, occasionally pausing and zigzagging when they encountered obstacles.

They pulled up outside a house on 20th Avenue. As the resident, Julie OKeefe, came outside, one robots lid popped open revealing a box of pastries.

I got a delivery from a little roaming cooler, it looks like, she said delightedly.

It was a test of robot couriers from Starship Technologies, an Estonian company thats among several contenders seeking to crack the last-mile challenge  getting goods from warehouses or retail storefronts to homes. While Amazon is testing deliveries with flying drones, Starship is one of many upstarts trying a more earthbound approach. Heinla, its CEO, started the company with Skype co-founder Janus Friis after entering a NASA contest to build robots to collect rock samples on Mars and the moon.

We didnt win, but that team became the engineering team for Starship, Heinla said.

Gabrielle Lurie / Special to The Chronicle 2016

Starships friendly sidewalk robots are designed to deliver parcels, groceries and other goods within a 2-mile radius, the company said, operating as a local on-demand service, rather than competing with the likes of FedEx and UPS.

While they drive  or roll  autonomously using nine cameras, GPS, sophisticated software and Starshipss own maps, which are accurate to the nearest inch, they are monitored by humans in a remote location who can take over control if need be.

Starship plans to have 100 robots per human operator and to rent them out to other businesses on demand. To start, each delivery might cost a few dollars, Heinla said, but eventually the cost could be pennies per delivery.

Starship asked San Francisco for permission to do the test. After a few days of pondering, the Department of Public Works decided that a temporary occupancy permit ($66 per side of a block) would be just the ticket.

Gabrielle Lurie/Special to The Chronicle

Thats not a citywide solution, so Starship is talking to San Francisco, among many other cities, about passing laws to enable its brood to hit the streets. Washington this year became the first U.S. city to legalize personal delivery devices powered by electric motors on its sidewalks. That will enable Starship to do more extended tests of its R2-D2-like brood there later this year.

Other companies working on delivery robots include San Joses Fetch Robotics, which has $23 million in funding; San Franciscos Marble, which is still in stealth mode; South San Franciscos Dispatch Robotics, doing testing on college campuses; and Robby Technologies, which recently graduated from the Y Combinator accelerator and soon will begin a pilot program with Instacart. At least three Chinese companies, including e-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com, are also developing robotic couriers.

Starship is testing the robots in Europe with commercial partners like Londons Just Eat and Pronto food-delivery companies; the Swiss Post; and Germanys Hermes delivery service. This month it partnered with Mercedes-Benz to develop and test Robovan, which will use the carmakers Sprinter vans as mother ships for eight delivery robots.

The European test robots have logged some 8,000 miles and encountered more than a million pedestrians. We were worried people would be afraid and would call the police, but most people dont give them a second look, Heinla said.

OKeefe was selected randomly by a company rep knocking on doors to ask for volunteers. She was the first person he asked and was tickled to have such futuristic technology come to the door of the house shes lived in since her birth 67 years ago.

She and her friend Ann Green watched wistfully as one of the robots whizzed away.

Goodbye, R2-D2, Green called after it. What would our grandparents say? she added, shaking her head.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Four men carjacked a woman in San Franciscos Hayes Valley neighborhood Thursday night, holding her at knifepoint and snatching her cell phone out of her hand as she tried to call 911, police said.

The carjacking occurred around 10 p.m. outside a Hickory Street apartment building, just west of Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco Police Department officials said.

The 59-year-old victim, whose name was not released, was not injured in the attack.

Two of the suspects approached her and demanded money as she stood next to her sedan, which was parked on the street, police said. When she told them she had no cash, the robbers ordered her to fork over her car keys, police said.

After a brief struggle, one of the assailants grabbed the victims phone as she tried to call 911. All four suspects then hopped into the womans car and fled south on Van Ness Avenue.

The woman wasnt the only robbery victim to have a cell phone stolen in San Francisco Thursday night while trying to call police for help.

Less than two miles southeast of the carjacking incident, in the Mission District, another woman had her phone stolen as she tried to call 911.

The robbery happened just after 9 p.m. at the corner of 16th and Folsom streets, when three female assailants held up the woman, police said, stealing her wallet and then her phone when she tried to call for help.

The 29-year-old victim, whose name was also being withheld by police, was headbutted and punched in the head multiple times by the muggers, police officials said. She was transported to a hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction. One was later arrested, but her name was not released.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley
Soon after respected tantra instructor Steve Carter was gunned down on a scenic fire trail near Fairfax, a young man walked into a Point Reyes gas station and tried to pay for cigarettes with a wet $20 bill that was missing a corner.

When John Plumeri, an employee at Greenbridge Gas and Auto Station, glanced at the bill questioningly, the man blurted out that his mom washed his pants with the money in it, and thats why its wet, Plumeri testified in Marin County Superior Court this week.

The man was 25-year-old Sean Angold, who pleaded guilty in May to second-degree murder in connection to Carters death. This week, at the preliminary hearing of his co-defendants Lila Scott Alligood, 19, and Morrison Haze Lampley, 24, against whom Angold agreed to testify, prosecutors established that the money was wet because it had been in Carters blood-splashed wallet, which had been struck by one of the three bullets that killed Carter on Oct. 5.

Plumeri testified that the three spent time in the gas station bathroom before entering, and prosecutors suggested they had been washing blood off the money.

The three drifters are accused of fatally shooting Carter, 67, in the Loma Alta Open Space Preserve near Fairfax, just days after killing Canadian backpacker Audrey Carey, 23, in Golden Gate Park. Her body was found on Oct. 3, on the second day of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

During Alligood and Lampleys preliminary hearing, prosecutors established that the motive behind these killings was to rob Carter and Carey. The trio were arrested outside a soup kitchen in Portland, Ore., after authorities tracked them with the GPS in Carters stolen station wagon.

On Thursday, Marin County sheriffs Detective Ed Rudolph testified that he found Careys passport, boarding pass and itinerary in a backpack Lampley had been holding, and her sleeping bag in Angolds possession.

The bullet-pierced wallet was later found by two men on the side of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, missing its money but still holding Carters shattered drivers license and credit cards. It had been taken from Carters pocket as he lay bleeding on the trail next to his Doberman pinscher Coco, who lost her right eye in the shooting but survived.

Rudolph testified that investigators identified blue stains, possibly from a dark blue Lucky 13 shirt in Lampleys possession, on the lining of Carters pocket.

The weapon used in both slayings was a stolen Smith & Wesson handgun. San Francisco police Officer Eric Gopar testified Thursday that the gun was reported stolen on Oct. 1 by a man who planned to take it to a shooting range that morning.

He left the gun in a safe under the passenger side seat of his truck parked on Lombard Street on Sept. 30, Gopar said, as well as two loaded magazines and ammunition in the center console.

When he got to his vehicle the next morning, the drivers side door was ajar, Gopar said. The gun, the safe and the ammunition were all missing. Gopar said the man could not recall if he had locked the vehicle.

The preliminary hearing continues on Monday, after which Judge Kelly Vieira Simmons must decide whether to send the defendants to a jury trial. While investigators and witnesses who have testified thus far have established that the three had all either confessed or implicated each other in some fashion, at debate is who pulled the trigger and who was the mastermind behind the killings.

Detective Salma Tijero testified that a woman who spotted the trio outside Cascade Canyon School just a few hours before Carters death said that Lampley appeared to be the ringleader, but Lampleys attorneys appeared to be working to paint Angold as the one responsible. During the proceedings, they asked investigators and witnesses about which of the three was driving the stolen vehicle, and played surveillance video at a McDonalds shortly after Carters killing that showed Angold smiling and laughing.

Alligood had previously said Angold was the one who pulled the trigger, but investigators said she later admitted that she was just trying to protect Lampley, her boyfriend whom she has known since she was 12.

The couple met up with Angold in San Francisco before the slayings after hitchhiking along Highway 1 from San Diego, according to testimony.

Residents in San Franciscos Haight-Ashbury neighborhood have said that in the weeks before the killings, the three camped out in Buena Vista Park, blending in with the areas transient population and developing a reputation for erratic behavior and meth use.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo
James Tensuan/SFC

Campus police at San Jose State University have identified one of two students who scribbled swastikas this week in freshman dormitories, one of which was accompanied by an anti-Semitic message, school officials said.

The swastika that was written next to the message, Admit one Jew, is not considered a hate crime because it did not target one person in particular, Mary Papazian, university president, said in an email to the campus. A student has been identified as the person responsible, she said.
A man and a woman were seriously wounded after assailants barged into their Concord home and shot them both in what may have been a botched drug robbery, police said.

Just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to reports of gunfire at the home in the 2900 block of Bella Drive and found a 28-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman wounded, said Cpl. Chris Blakely, a spokesman for the Concord Police Department.

The victims were taken to a hospital, where they were in stable condition.

Officers discovered pounds of marijuana on the second floor of the victims home, Blakely said, leading police to suspect the shootings were motivated by an attempted theft of the drugs.

The woman was shot in the right arm, and another bullet grazed her chest, police said. The male was injured more severely, taking multiple bullets to the upper body and one to the head.

Its unclear whether either resident has a medical marijuana permit, police said.

Police believe the two assailants wore black clothing and made their getaway in a dark-colored vehicle. Neighbors called police after hearing seven to 12 gunshots at the house.

Officers recently held a community meeting in the normally quiet neighborhood and residents who attended commented on how peaceful it is, Blakely said.

For that area, its definitely unusual to have something like this, he said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Concord Police Department at (925) 671-3030.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @michael_bodley
GREENE  Flood waters are beginning to recede in Greene while record Shell Rock River levels have been set further south.

Butler County Emergency Management Coordinator Mitch Nordmeyer expects it will be another day or two before the bulk of affected Greene residents can return to their homes and start clean-up.

He estimated 60 percent of Greene has been impacted by flooding  primarily the business district and residences.

We have a lot of homes with water in their main floor and basements, Nordmeyer said.

Although flooding was widespread in the town of about 1,130, Nordmeyer said a shelter was not required since most people stayed with relatives or friends.

Once clean-up begins, Nordmeyer asked those not assisting with recovery efforts to stay clear.

People will need to respect that and stay out of the way, he said.

North Butler School District Superintendent Joel Foster, who shared aerial drone footage of Greenes flooding with the Globe Gazette, said Friday the town is not as bad as it was yesterday.

Main Street remains dry, Foster said late Friday morning. Sandbagging was halted last night.

Were hoping to not get as much rain, the river to go back down and to get stuff cleaned up, he said. Were in a wait-and-see mode right now.

A flood warning remains in effect for Butler County until 11:15 a.m. Saturday.

The Shell Rock River at Marble Rock has crested at 21.6 feet, according to a National Weather Service forecaster in Des Moines. Located north of Greene, Marble Rock is the closest river monitoring station.

But more rain is predicted for Greene Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The highest chance of precipitation  80 percent  is Saturday night, according to forecasts. A half to three quarters of an inch of precipitation is possible during that time frame.

Further downstream, the National Weather Service says the river has crested at 23.3 feet in Clarksville.

The Shell Rock River crested at a record 21.5 feet about 5:30 Friday afternoon in Shell Rock. It exceeded the 2008 record, 20.4 feet, by more than a foot.

The second-highest crest of the Shell Rock River, 17.7 feet, was recorded in 1856 in Shell Rock.

The National Weather Service considers Shell Rock River levels over 20 feet to be major flooding. Gov. Terry Branstad has issued a disaster proclamation for Butler County and 12 other north and eastern Iowa counties.
A 6-year-old child who wrote a heartstring-tugging letter to President Barack Obama is being hailed for his compassionate words.

Alex, from Scarsdale, New York, wrote to Obama in hopes that he and his family could adopt the 5-year-old Syrian refugee named Omran Daqneesh, who was photographed last month as he stared ahead dazed and dust-covered in an ambulance after airstrikes hit his home.

Alex, a young boy who saw this image, wants to rescue the boy.

"Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?" he wrote to the President. "Can you please go get him and bring him to our home?"

"We will give him a family, and he will be our brother...Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him."

The video, posted to Obama's Facebook has now been viewed over 18 million times.

The President, so moved by Alex's words, read the young boy's letter aloud at a United Nations summit on refugees.

"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," the President wrote in the post. "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."

Omran survived the attack, but his 10-year-old brother Ali, died from his injuries.

So far this year, the United States has brought 10,000 Syrian refugees into the country, bringing the total number of refugees here from the war-torn nation to just over 30,000. Canada has accepted 63,000, Germany has brought in almost 42,000, and Britain has welcomed 20,000. Most refugees are relocating to the countries surrounding Syria, including Lebanon (1 million refugees), Jordan (656,000 refugees), and Turkey (2.7 million refugees), per the Washington Post.

A total of 400,000 people  20 percent of which were children  have been killed in the war in Syria since it began five years ago.

With 1,378 Syrian refugees, California has resettled more people in 2016 than any other state.

Alyssa Pereira is a staff writer for SFGATE. Follow her here on Twitter.
MASON CITY | The Lifelong Learning Institute at North Iowa Area Community College is welcoming three published writers for a Writers Workshop Retreat Oct. 7-8.

The workshop is from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The workshop will feature tips on how to incorporate a writing routine into a busy schedule, how to stifle the inner critic when creating and tips on how to create a writing group.

The published authors who will be at the retreat are Claudia Bischoff, a poet from Iowa City; Marjorie Carlson Davis, a novelist and short story writer from Iowa City; and Suzanne Kelsey, a freelance writer/edtior and creative non-fiction writer from Mason City.

To purchase tickets, call the NIACC Continuing Education Center at 641-422-4358. Registration is required and class size is limited.
In celebration of this Sunday's Folsom Street Fair, we've put together a potentially challenging gallery: some of these photos were snapped at Folsom Street Fairs of years past while others were taken at Oakland Raiders games. Can you tell which is which?

While the Folsom Street Fair is famous for boundary-breaking fetish wear, Raiders die-hards are known to celebrate game day by dressing the part. If we zoom in close enough and omit some obvious background clues, we just might stump you.
A British scientist named David Nutt has reportedly invented a "hangover-free alcohol," according to the Independent.

Called "alcosynth," the non-toxic alcohol substitute is supposed to mimic the fun parts of drinking without any of the negative side effects, like nausea, dry mouth, and liver damage.

"We know a lot about the brain science of alcohol; it's become very well understood in the last 30 years," says Nutt. "So we know where the good effects of alcohol are mediated in the brain, and can mimic them. And by not touching the bad areas, we don't have the bad effects."

Nutt, who is a professor at Imperial College in London, is currently testing two versions of the drink but notes that the high costs of funding research for regulatory reasons could slow the process of getting it onto store shelves.

There is also a discomforting caveat to the dream product. Previous developments of alcosynth (first reported in 2011) contained a derivative of benzodiazepine, a component of Valium. Nutt says such a drug isn't in the new formula, but won't reveal what is.

It should also be noted that Nutt was dismissed from his position with the U.K.'s Department of Health in 2009 after he published an editorial stating that taking ecstasy was less hazardous than riding a horse.

In any case, it seems that the Department of Health is quick to forgive. As a matter of fact, it even sound like they would be on board with Nutt's alcosynth, telling The Independent there are currently no plans to fund research, but that "it would be great for producing better workforce efficiency if no one was hungover."

Alyssa Pereira is a staff writer for SFGATE. Follow her here on Twitter.
For many of us, the images of 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh, injured, ashen and bewildered after an airstrike in Aleppo last month, crystallized the horror of Syria's civil war. It made us wonder, again, how that horror might be stopped.

For Alex, a 6-year-old from Scarsdale, N.Y., it called upon an even deeper sense of responsibility and shared humanity.

In a letter to 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?"

"We will give him a family, and he will be our brother."

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 percent 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 U.S. officials cited by the AFP.

Canada and Germany have welcomed the most refugees per capita in the West so far. Eight countries, many of them already burdened with high poverty rates and violent conflicts of their own, are home to more than half of the world's refugees: Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya and Uganda. Six of the world's richest countries -- the United States, China, Japan, Britain, Germany and France -- hosted only 1.8 million refugees last year, or seven percent of the world total, according to research by the British charity Oxfam.

Public opinion in the United States is split, largely along party lines, on whether the country is obligated to take in more Syrian refugees. Republicans, and especially those who identify as supporters of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, argue that the United States has no obligation to take in more refugees. Democrats, as well as younger adults across party lines, tend to support taking in more refugees. A vast majority of Americans overestimate the number of refugees who've been arrested on terrorism charges since Sept. 11, 2001. As of this summer, three refugees have faced such charges in the United States. Only 14 percent of Americans polled guessed that the number would be that low.

Referring to Alex at the summit, Obama said: "He teaches us a lot. 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. We can all learn from Alex."

Despite the long odds of Omran making it to the United States, Alex is looking forward to teaching him how to ride a bike, and to learning Arabic from him.

"Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him," he wrote, in the ragged, determined handwriting of an inspired 6-year-old.

Max Bearak writes about foreign affairs for the Washington Post. Previously, he reported from South Asia for the New York Times and others.
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WOODBRIDGE, N.J., Sept. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EMRISE CORPORATION (formerly traded on OTCQB under the symbol EMRI) (EMRISE or the Company), today announced that the Company expects to make a third liquidation dividend distribution to its stockholders totaling approximately $1,300,000, or $0.120 per share during the week of October 24, 2016 (the Distribution). When paid, the Distribution will bring the aggregate total of the three liquidation dividends paid to date to stockholders to $1.23 per share of common stock.



The Distribution is being made to stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 7, 2015, in connection with the Companys previously announced voluntary Plan of Dissolution (Plan) that was approved by its stockholders at a special meeting held on June 25, 2015.

The Distribution includes $900,000, or approximately $0.08 per share, which is all the funds, less related escrow fees and expenses plus interest, that were on deposit in an escrow account to secure certain indemnification obligations of the Company related to the June 30, 2015 sale of the Companys wholly owned Electronic Devices subsidiary in England, EMRISE Electronics Ltd. (EEL). The Distribution also includes an additional $400,000, or $0.04 per share, from a reduction in the estimate of future dissolution liabilities.

Subsequent distribution

At this time, EMRISE cannot determine when, or if, it will be able to make a subsequent liquidation dividend distribution to its stockholders, or the amount of any such distribution. The determination of whether any such distribution can be made could occur in the first quarter of 2017 and would depend on a variety of factors, including the timely receipt of the monies payable on the promissory note related to the February 2016 sale of its Communications Equipment subsidiary in France, CXR Anderson-Jacobson (CXR-AJ); the determination and payment of State and Federal taxes; and the payment of other costs in connection with the dissolution of the Company.

Following the Distribution, and as necessary, EMRISE intends to make additional public disclosures to provide its stockholders subsequent updates on the status of the Plan, the first of which could occur in approximately four months.

Other Information

Only holders of record of the Companys common stock as of the close of business on July 7, 2015 will be eligible to receive distributions of funds from the sale of the Companys assets, in connection with the Companys dissolution.

For a detailed description of the Plan and the matters relating to it, stockholders are encouraged to read carefully the Companys news release dated June 30, 2015, its Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 1, 2015, and the Proxy Statement it mailed to stockholders beginning May 11, 2015.

Details of the sale of EEL are contained in the Companys news releases disseminated on June 30, 2015 and March 23, 2015, in its Proxy Statement mailed to stockholders beginning May 11, 2015 and in Forms 8-K filed with the SEC. Details of the sale of CXR-AJ are contained in the Companys news releases disseminated on February 18, 2016 and December 28, 2015, and in Forms 8-K filed with the (SEC).

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of EMRISE regarding the Transaction and the dissolution and liquidation of the Company, the liabilities of EMRISE, the net proceeds anticipated to be available for distribution to the Companys stockholders, the distribution of funds to stockholders and other matters, all of which are based on information currently available to the Companys management as well as managements assumptions and beliefs, are forward-looking statements (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. For this purpose, any such statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys expectations, beliefs, or intentions that are signified by terminology such as subject to, believes, anticipates, plans, expects, intends, estimates, may, will, should, can, the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Companys current views with respect to future events, based on what the Company believes are reasonable assumptions; however, such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in EMRISEs filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of the Company, the Distribution or the Companys dissolution and related transactions pursuant to the Plan.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP alerts investors in Inteliquent, Inc. that the firm is investigating possible securities law violations by the Company and its officers.



If you purchased or otherwise acquired securities of Inteliquent before September 19, 2016 and suffered over $50,000 in losses contact Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP. For more information visit:

https://www.hbsslaw.com/cases/IQNT

or contact Reed Kathrein, who is leading the firms investigation, by calling 510-725-3000 or emailing IQNT@hbsslaw.com.

During Inteliquents February 18, 2016 earnings conference call, the Company provided 2016 revenue guidance of $370 to $390 million. The Company reiterated its guidance during the Companys April 28, 2016 earnings conference call. On August 2, 2016, Inteliquent missed profit expectations and reduced revenue guidance to $360 to $370 million, driving the price of the Companys shares down over 20% to close at $16.60 that day.

On September 19, 2016, Inteliquent announced its CFO resigned. In response to this news, the price of the Companys shares fell over 8% to close at $15.34 on September 20, 2016.

Prior to the Companys guidance reduction and stock drop, an Inteliquent director sold nearly $5 million worth of the Company stock in July 2016.

Were looking into when the Company and management knew they would reduce revenue guidance, said Hagens Berman partner Reed Kathrein.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Inteliquent should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new SEC whistleblower program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 510-725-3000 or email IQNT@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national investor-rights law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington with offices in 10 cities. The Firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the Firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Read the Firms Securities Newsletter, and visit the blog. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw.
HORSHAM, Pa., Sept. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bimbo Sweet Baked Goods is joining the fight against childhood cancer as a sponsor for the 2016 St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer. The walk/run takes place in 58 cities across the country and helps raise money for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. The first races were held on September 17, with the remainder being held tomorrow, September 24.



September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and throughout the month, walkers and runners across America join together to support children at St. Jude during their battle with cancer. Cities hosting a walk/run include Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia and many more. Participants can sign up online and fundraise as an individual or part a team. Runners and walkers can also win numerous prizes, including St. Jude outdoor gear.

Were honored to partner with an outstanding organization like St. Jude to provide hope for children fighting cancer, said Eduardo Zarate, Senior Marketing Director at Bimbo Sweet Baked Goods. We believe it is important to support the families in our communities during one of the toughest times of their lives.

St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital provides affordable care to families affected by childhood cancer. Childhood cancer survival rates have increased by sixty percent since St. Jude opened fifty years ago.

About Bimbo Sweet Baked Goods

Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) is a leader in the baking industry, known for its category leading brands, innovative products, freshness and quality. Our team of 21,000 U.S. associates operates more than 50 manufacturing locations in the United States. Over 11,000 distribution routes deliver our leading brands such as Arnold, Bimbo, Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Freihofer's, Heiners , Marinela, Mrs Bairds, Natures Harvest, Oroweat, Sara Lee, Stroehmann, Thomas', and Tia Rosa. BBU is owned by Mexico's Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world's largest baking company with operations in 22 countries. For more information about the brand please visit www.bimbousa.com
Loan officer: Alex Greer.

Property type: Condo in San Bruno.

Appraisal value: $450,000.

Loan type: Conventional 30-year fixed.

Loan amount: $225,000.

Rate: 3.75 percent.

Backstory: Shared ownership is classified as non-married individuals holding ownership jointly in a property and the most common form of that is parents helping their children buy a home.

With shared ownership in San Francisco and San Jose at nationwide highs of 34 percent and 44 percent respectfully, a loan officers knowledge of the ins and outs of a parents/child purchase contract in combination with a purchase loan for just the child is invaluable.

With the cost of housing projected to remain high in the Bay Area, this growing trend isnt going away anytime soon.

In this particular scenario, the parents were trying for some time to help their daughter buy a place but were only being told no wherever they looked. Quicken, U.S. Bank and even their own attorney told the parents that such a transaction was not possible because the down payment was coming entirely from the parents.

The parents ran across Alex Greers last article in The Chronicle and figured they should give him a try. Having done many parent/child purchases in the Bay Area, Greer had no issues structuring the whole transaction in a lender acceptable format and explaining to the parents and daughter the lenders terms.

Within a couple days, the daughter was issued an approval certificate for a purchase loan with the down payment coming from the parents. A few days after that, they were all in a purchase contract together. With a simple and quick close, the daughter is now a proud homeowner.

Alex Greer,

Mortgage Outlet, (408) 352-5147, agreer@themortgageoutlet.com.
ROSETTA, Egypt The bodies of 162 people had been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast by Friday, two days after a boat carrying hundreds of refugees capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to head to Europe.

Dozens more are feared dead, said Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira. He also said that the search operation is still ongoing. Many of them are believed to be children and women who were unable to swim away when the boat sank.

A reporter near the Nile Delta city of Rosetta saw 20 to 30 bodies brought in by coast guards in gray inflatable boats and fishermen in wooden boats early Friday morning and delivered to ambulances at the coast guard pier. Pictures posted on social networking sites showed dozens of bodies lined up in black plastic bags, and others floating near wooden fishing boats. Videos showed that some fishermen were using nets to bring up the bodies.

In one video, a fisherman was heard shouting into his mobile phone that the sea is littered with bodies.

Many of those gathered at the shore where the bodies arrived appeared to be wearing surgical masks to protect them from the smell of decaying bodies. Some brought chunks of ice to be placed on the bodies to prevent them from decomposing.

Authorities have struggled to give accurate figures for the number of people on board the capsized vessel. The U.N. Refugee Agency, 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.

The boat was located nearly 8 miles from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta when it sank. It had waited at sea for many hours  perhaps days  for smaller wooden boats carrying refugees to arrive from different points along the Egyptian coastline.

Survivors said that overcrowding caused the boat to capsize.

Egyptian officials said that over 160 people were rescued and that the majority are Egyptians, while the others are Sudanese and other nationalities, including Somalians and Eritreans.

The International Organization for Migration has said that this year over 3,500 have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, with this number rapidly approaching the record death toll set last year.
Bullit Marquez/Associated Press

PARANAQUE CITY, Philippines  For two decades, Jerry Gonzaga was addicted to drugs. Like many of his neighbors and friends in Paranaque, a city south of Manila, Gonzaga would take shabu, an inexpensive amphetamine, to keep him focused on fixing cars, selling umbrellas, and doing other odd jobs to feed his wife and eight children.

Then, on June 30, Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency on promises to kill scores of drug users  and Gonzaga, a wiry 43-year-old, tried to turn himself in to police. At the station, officers made him sign a form pledging to stay off drugs. It said, If youre caught the first, second and third time, there are warnings and conditions, he said. If you're caught a fourth time, we'll have nothing to do with whatever happens to you.
A few months ago, you read about Ayla Bystrom-Williams and her boyfriend/business partner James Hill in SFR's My Millennial Life cover story. In case you didn't, here's a quick refresher. Born in 1985 and raised in Santa Fe, the two have spent the past few years building their business HoneyMoon Brewery, which makes alcoholic kombucha, right here in their hometown.

The millennial pair is resourceful. They found assistance from local business incubators and sold their idea to Whole Foods before they even had a product. Last night, their resourcefulness paid off yet again and the pair won the Miller Lite Tap The Future Program contest.

HoneyMoon Brewery steadily defeated 14,000 other businesses during the competition, earning a six-figure prize at its conclusion.

"It's still so surreal," says Hill. "They hand you this big check and you're shaking hands with all of these miller executives. It's an experience like we've never experienced before." HoneyMoon Brewery received two checks from Miller, one for $20,000 and one for $200,000, "so they essentially handed us the brewery," says Hill.

The sum was more than the pair had hoped for and they plan to sign a lease on building and order equipment as soon as they get home. "We will be licensed sometime in 2017," says Hill. "We are really tired right now, it's been a long stretch. But we feel really great, really humbled and really blessed."

Santa Fe Reporter
Affco Holdings, the meat company owned by Talley's Group, demanded that the Meatworkers Union cease badmouthing members of the Talley family as a precondition of resuming contract negotiations at its Land Meats subsidiary, an Employment Relations Authority ruling says.

The determination, dated Sept. 22, says Land Meat (LMNZ) breached its duty of good faith to the union and imposed a fine of $15,000 and ordered the company to use its best endeavours to begin the process of bargaining in an effective and efficient manner. It is the latest in a long-running battle between the union and meat companies controlled by Talley's Group over collective contracts.

The dispute dates back to the Land Meat New Zealand Limited Slaughter Collective Employment Contract 2013-2014 which expired on July 1, 2014, and the union lodged proceedings with the ERA in November 2015. Mediation failed to resolve differences. The determination accepts that John Woodhead, the union's Whanganui branch secretary, made multiple attempts to get negotiations started, including "a dozen" calls to the manager to LMNZ's Whanganui plant manager John Fitness, and meetings arranged with Affco director Dane Gerrard, who then failed to turn up.

The company had sent a bargaining process agreement (BPA) to the union in June last year but the union didn't accept its conditions. Then in August 2015, counsel for LMNZ Graham Malone wrote to Woodhead saying the union had acted in bad faith against Affco and its subsidiaries in the previous 18 months including comments from Graham Cooke, national secretary of the NZ Meat Workers and Related Trades Union, that conditions at Affco plants were "third world".

Woodhead took this to be an attempt "to draw in the applicant's Wanganui Branch into the other disputes between the applicant and Affco Group," the determination says. The demand that the union cease making derogatory media releases, including on social media, were raised again by Affco's Gerard in a reworked BPA sent to the union in May this year.

In his brief of evidence, Cooke alleged the company's "anti-union strategy" was due to Talley's Group joint managing director and shareholder Michael Talley. He had either personally or through the companies he controlled "systematically and knowingly ignored and violated employment law" and the Talley's regarded penalties imposed "simply as part of the cost of implementing this strategy of de-unionising their workplace" and "a general business expense", Cooke claimed.

"They continually and routinely breach employment law in complete disregard to the court's rulings, and constantly devise new ways to circumvent very simple and basic employment rights," Cooke said in his brief of evidence.

Appearing before the ERA, Gerard referred to media reports citing the union making "malicious" and "derogatory" statements about Affco, Talleys and the Talley family.

Peter Churchman QC for the union said the company displayed "calculated, cynical behaviour which demonstrates contempt for the law", while Malone for the company argued it had used "best endeavours" to resume negotiations and saying the union's Woodhead had only made two enquiries about bargaining during the period in question.

However, ERA member Trish MacKinnon said she preferred Woodhead's evidence of numerous attempts to contact the company including about a dozen calls.

She noted "an inexplicably lengthy period of non-responsiveness" by LMNZ and wasn't satisfied the company used its best endeavours to enter into a BPA.

"It is well known that LMNZ's parent company and the union have other proceedings before the authority as well as the Employment Court and the Court of Appeal," MacKinnon says in the determination. " However, these are not valid reasons for these proceedings to be used as an excuse to avoid bargaining for a new LMNZ collective agreement."

She called the company's insistence that the union refrain from derogatory media releases "a significant and unreasonable stumbling block."

"LMNZ's failure to engage in any meaningful way with the union over a BPA after the union had initiated bargaining was a deliberate, serious and sustained breach of good faith over a period of several months," she said. "I find the imposition of a penalty is justified." She declined a union request that it receive part of the fine to cover its costs.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Consumers wanting retailers to show me you know me is at the heart of a technology push under a new three-year strategy revealed today by Warehouse Group chief executive Nick Grayston, as the countrys largest listed retailer lifted annual earnings 12 percent.

The Auckland-based company reported adjusted profit rose to $64.1 million in the year ended July 31 from $57.1 million a year earlier following tight cost control and a turnaround in the profitability of Torpedo7. Revenue increased 5.6 percent to $2.92 billion with sales growth across all of the retailers brands, which Grayston said was a good performance in light of currency headwinds and a warmer winter faced in the second half.

The board has approved Graystons new strategy which is two-fold: introducing new technology and utilising the groups scale by integrating data on customers it gathers and introducing personalised offers; and lifting profitability by removing complexity and reducing the cost of goods sold by reshaping some bigger Red Shed store space for other brands, reducing sourcing reliance on China by turning to supply from India and Bangladesh and other emerging countries such as Laos and Myanmar, and lowering the length of time it holds stock in inventory.

Warehouse has spent hundreds of millions of dollars overhauling its outlets and buying new businesses to drive future growth in the past few years under the leadership of former CEO Mark Powell who Grayston replaced in December. That had followed a period of underinvestment and sales decline in the late 2000s.

Grayston said the new strategy will need to be self-funding through driving better profits out of the existing business as capital expenditure this financial year will be limited to the rate of depreciation or similar to last years retail capital spend of around $64 million.

Craigs investment analyst Mohandeep Singh said the balance sheet wont handle any big increase in debt after going through that massive phase of investment.

Its really at the inflexion point now the performance has stabilised and they have stemmed the bleeding over the last three to four years so theyre doing the right thing. The real risk now is around execution, he said. Theres very nice strategy words around what they can do but nothing really tangible around how theyre going to do that.

The retailer was a long way from job done and needed to build on the improved performance it had delivered, Grayston said. He identified internal execution risk around our ability to deliver the changes we have identified in our strategy, as one of the major challenges the retailer faces this financial year.

There has been a paradigm shift in retailing with consumers now holding all the information and the power which meant the business had to become more flexible and based on demand pull rather than push, he said.

Management visited Silicon Valley last week to look at the latest big data technologies available but no decision has been made yet on what cloud-based technology it will go with, Grayston said. Big data was a key focus as the group needed to move beyond just knowing their customers to how to create rich contact and personalised data.

Total group online sales have now hit $181 million a year, up 22 per cent on the previous year and theres growing customer interest in click and collect where they order online and pick up in-store. A platform upgrade is underway to improve mobile options and speed up load times.

The group's best performer in the 2016 financial year was Noel Leeming which lifted profit 88 percent to $12.1 million on a 13 percent increase in sales to $752.1 million, after benefiting from the collapse of consumer electronics chain Dick Smith.

Torpedo7 also boosted sales 13 percent to $148.7 million for a profit of $3.4 million building on the breakeven result it achieved a year earlier and Grayston said the strategy includes accelerating growth of Torpedo7 stores.

The financial services arm Warehouse Money, launched last year, reported an operating loss of $3.4 million in line with expectations, compared to a $1.8 million loss the previous year. The financial services business offers two credit card products and five insurance products.

Chief financial officer Mark Yeoman said the financial services business aimed to breakeven by mid-2018 without any additional external capital injections following the $115 million in equity it raised last year. It has established a securitisation funding arrangement.

He wouldnt supply customer numbers but finance receivables have risen to $73.6 million from $14.2 million a year ago after buying Westpacs share in its previous financial services joint venture that ran for 14 years.

Yeoman said the point of the unit was to support customers for its retail brands rather than become a significant financial services player in its own right.

For example, Warehouse is currently getting consumer feedback on introducing a monthly subscription for cellphone customers that would cover all their costs including a handset updated annually that could be funded through the financial services arm.

The outlook remains challenging with increasing competition including rapid growth in e-commerce. Some 45 percent of New Zealands e-commerce is done through international players and their market share was growing faster than domestic retailers, Grayston said. In apparel there were also new brands emerging such as Zara and H&M in Auckland.

Thats why its important to continue to innovate and use our advantage as a trusted resource in New Zealand to build e-commerce, he said.

FY17 earnings will be significantly influenced by Christmas trading as usual so Warehouse wont provide specific earnings guidance until the end of the first half. A sales update the first quarter will be released on Nov. 11.

Warehouse shares rose 1.7 percent in today's trading to $2.95.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Christchurch City Council could squeeze capital out of its investment company without having to sell shares but asset sales will still be contemplated, says Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

The mayor was explaining comments she made this week during a mayoral candidate debate ahead of local body elections that the city could extract cash from its portfolio of investments without selling shares and that "not a single share from any of these companies needs to be sold to balance the books".

Her main opponent, John Minto, is campaigning on a ticket of not selling assets, a position that has gained traction in a city needing to fund its share of rebuilding after the 2010-2011 earthquakes while owning an investment company that has paid average annual dividends of $47 million, or a total of $474 million in the past decade, and is projected to return about $1 billion more by 2025 in dividends and through other capital levers that are still to be determined.

"We're not in a state of distress, we're not in a fire sale," Dalziel told BusinessDesk. "I have never committed myself to pledge I will never sell assets but there are other ways to leverage the balance sheet to pull out some cash."

The council adopted a 2015-25 long-term plan in June last year but the document was tagged by Audit New Zealand because of a high level of uncertainty over the value of assets, repair works and the outcome of its insurance claims.

Since then the plan has been amended, cutting $131 million from its capital spending, dropping aspirational projects and smoothing the programme, while its "capital release" target for Christchurch City Holdings (CCHL) has been cut to $600 million from $750 million. The settlement of its insurance claim and under-delivery of projects meant its opening debt was $201 million less than planned, easing its short-term borrowing requirements and allowing the city to dial back increases in rates planned for the next three years. The amended long-term plan passed its audit without being tagged.

The Local Government Funding Authority caps allowable debt at 250 percent of the council's net revenue, and the amended plan projects the ratio to top out at 180 percent in 2021. The council's net interest to rates income ratio is projected to hold at around 15 percent through until 2025, below the LGFA's 30 percent limit.

The long-term plan classifies CCHL's biggest businesses - Lyttelton Port Co, 89 percent-owned utility Orion New Zealand and 75 percent-owned Christchurch International Airport - as strategic assets with a combined value of $1.8 billion that can't be sold without public consultation.

The remaining four that could be sold, Enable Services, City Care, Red Bus and EcoCentral, have a combined value of $252 million, although the council abandoned a sale of City Care, its maintenance and construction company valued at $113 million, last month after failing to elicit an attractive offer.

Dalziel said other ways of extracting cash from CCHL include using other types of instruments such as debt. The investment company had total borrowings of about $853 million at June 30 last year, up from $729 million in 2014. Total assets stood at $3.3 billion, having about doubled in the past 10 years.

Last December, Standard & Poor's revised the outlook on the A+/A-1 credit ratings on the council and CCHL to 'stable' from 'negative'. The improvement came from S&P's assessment that the council's downside risks "are abating" and that the city was "addressing potential funding shortfalls" with "a realistic financial strategy that includes rate increases, asset sales and a revised capital programme."

The local economy has been growing at a faster pace than New Zealand as a whole and Statistics NZ figures today showed retail and hospitality sales were $1.9 billion in the second quarter, up 4.8 percent from the same period last year. The trend for combined retail and hospitality sales in Christchurch is up 34 percent in the past six years, outpacing a 28 percent national gain.

This is great news for Christchurchs economy, recovery and residents, said Gerry Brownlee, the minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration. "Given the scale of the recovery and the widespread destruction the earthquakes caused, I am heartened by these latest figures".

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Warehouse Group lifted its staff entitlements provisioning for 2017 by more than a third with the country's biggest listed retailer one of a number of big businesses trying to work out the impact of years of underpaying holiday pay.

The Auckland-based company current provisioning for employee entitlements - which include annual leave and accumulated sick leave expected to be taken within 12 months - was $53.4 million as at July 31, up from $39.1 million a year earlier, its accounts published today show. The expected increase in holiday payments outpaced Warehouse's 4 percent increase in its wage bill to $456.7 million, an amount implying holiday leave totalling $35.2 million.

Warehouse was one of 34 companies and agencies still under investigation by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's labour inspectorate as at July 31 relating to miscalculated holiday pay dating back to a 2004 legislation change.

The Council of Trade Unions released an MBIE document today saying completed investigations led to 25 employers paying arrears totalling some $35 million to 26,000 staff. However, the 34 investigations still open include some of the country's biggest companies such as ANZ Bank New Zealand, Bank of New Zealand, Fonterra Cooperative Group, Restaurant Brands, Countdown supermarket owner Progressive Enterprises, Ryman Healthcare, and Warehouse.

"How much money is owed to these working people is unknown but it seems likely to be tens of millions," CTU national president Richard Wagstaff said in a statement. "But how big is the problem? We believe that the problem is far bigger and that the government has only dipped its toe in the icy water."

The underpayments emerged earlier this year after the discovery of underpayments of staff at MBIE dating back to a 2004 change in the Holidays Act, before the super-ministry was formed.

Business New Zealand and the Payroll Practitioners' Association sought an urgent legislative review at the time, but Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse has said it was difficult to reduce complexity without affecting entitlements although he was open to a more straightforward framework.

Other large entities under investigation include Auckland Council, the Auckland and Canterbury district health boards, the Department of Conservation, University of Otago, and New Zealand Post.

The payroll systems involved in the completed and current investigations include Xero, Datacom, Talent2, Pay Global, MYOB, iPayroll, Sage, and SAP.

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CHANDIGARH: Low-cost handset maker DataWind will roll out a 4G mobile handset at an entry level price of 3,000 before Diwali next month.



"Our 4G handset should come out soon and we are trying that it should come out before Diwali," Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO, DataWind told PTI today.



The company, which had been manufacturing ultra-low cost tablet, has plans to launch three variants of 4G smart phone and their price range will be less than 5,000 a unit.



"The entry level price of our 4G smart phone will be 3,000 and we will keep the price of the models within 5,000," he said.



The handsets will come out with 1 GB, 2 GB and 3 GB RAM with internal memory of 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB, Singh said adding that the 4G mobile handsets would have almost all the features which other smartphones have.



"Moreover, we shall offer internet browsing for one year free of cost on our 4G handset," he said.



Asked whether the company will be making profit out of low-cost 4G handset, he said that he would aim at 10 pct-margin on sales.



The handsets will be manufactured in its plants at Amritsar and Hyderabad, Tuli said.



The company is already having smart phones starting at 1,500.



Tuli further said his company has applied for licence under virtual network operator policy to offer data plan at 99 for unlimited browsing.



DataWind claims to have market share of 76 pct in country's tablet market which is priced below 5,000.



Meanwhile, DataWind today rolled out a mobile app 'Virasat' in association with Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle and the application.



"Virasat will help close the gap of the existing lack of knowledge on Sikhism and digital divide on education between those that have access to technology and those that don't," said Tuli.

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BENGALURU: Smartphone enthusiasts can now experience a paradigm shift in Googles range of premium smartphones. Reports suggest that the search giant is effectively dropping the Nexus brand for its next generation of smartphones. The company is expected to introduce the upcoming range of smartphone, dubbed as the Pixel. To kick-start the new trend, rumors also suggest that the company will launch two smartphones at the event; Pixel and Pixel XL. Further speculations suggest that HTC will be manufacturing the two phones. Claiming as genuine, the Android Police website has already released the images online.

Reportedly, Pixel XL and the Pixel are expected to sport a 5.5-inch and 5-inch display respectively. Considering the design, both the devices are made of aluminium whereas the back panel is made of glass. Similar to the Nexus 5x and 6P, the two phones will effectively feature a fingerprint sensor and a camera with an LED flash placed at the center. Android Police states that Pixel will be the smaller version of Googles next generation of smartphones made available at a price of $649. An online report suggests that the new Google Pixel XL will operate on the latest Android Nougat Manufacturer Release 1. Integrated with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor the smartphones will feature 4GB RAM.

Further rumors about the Google Pixel XL suggest that the camera sensors are manufactured by Sony. Although the information is yet to be confirmed from the search giant, the phone will house a front-facing 8MP IMX179 camera and a rear facing 12MP IMX378 Sony camera sensors.

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Any company migrating data to the cloud has to contend with the shared responsibility model. 64.9 percent of IT professionals consider cloud applications to have equal or better security than on-premises software. All of this is useless, however, unless the cloud customer holds up their end of data security.Microsoft, as the tried and true solution for enterprise software, is leading many enterprises' march to the cloud. 87.3 percent of organizations have at least 100 employees using Office 365, but 93.2 percent of employees still use Microsoft on premises solutions.Gartner has predicted that through 2020, 95 percent of security incidents involving cloud will come from customers' vulnerabilities. Between a lack of expertise and the complexity of an enterprise-wide environment, there are all too many stumbling blocks to deploying effective security measures.After observing companies across all major verticals, we have developed a checklist for Office 365 security based on their successes and failures. Any company considering, starting, or wrapping up an Office 365 deployment needs to account for these seven factors.Moving sensitive data to the cloud may seem like a big leap of faith for some companies, but the reality is that employees have likely already taken this step. 17.4 percent of documents contain sensitive data in the average SharePoint Online deployment. If employees uploaded this data without oversight from IT security, there may not be DLP or access controls in place-policies a company would surely have in place for sensitive data on premises. Policies should prevent employees from accessing data not relevant to their jobs; for example, an employee in R&D should not be able to freely access financial forecasts or sales lists. Then there is the classic "keys under the doormat" phenomenon: the average company's OneDrive stores 143 files containing the word "password" in the filename.Office 365 has turned into the central hub for inter-business collaboration. Companies connect with an average of 72 business partners through Office 365, more than on any other collaboration platform. Once again, ease of sharing functions as a boon and a bane. 29 percent of data shared externally in file-sharing services ends up in the hands of high-risk partners. A company's internal security measures become irrelevant if hackers can target a less secure business partner to access corporate data.IRM policies are a staple for data in companies' on-premises SharePoint. However, many companies hesitate to extend these policies to the cloud because the prospect of hosting encryption keys in cloud or downloading client software to access an acquired SharePoint file is daunting. The solution is not to completely neglect IRM, but rather to apply these policies in a targeted way: encrypt sensitive files as they are downloaded, using encryption keys stored on-premises.After hackers stole terabytes of data from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, companies are doubling down on behavior monitoring to prevent data exfiltration and other threats. The Office 365 Management Activity API provides raw usage data, with 162 distinct event types that users perform. The large amount and variety of data would be overwhelming for manual monitoring, but machine learning algorithms excel with such a rich data set. Microsoft's Graph API connects vendor partners to this data, allowing Office 365 customers to leverage best-in-class machine learning tools to identify threats out of millions of user actions, like an employee downloading an abnormally large amount of data before leaving to a competitor.Cloud's mobile capabilities have transformed the workplace. Office 365 lets employees access data on a smartphone or laptop so they can read an urgent email on vacation or work on a spreadsheet at home. Breaking down the walls of the office can expose data to new risks, however. Employees may access sensitive data through public WiFi or lose a personal device with corporate data. Security policies in Office 365 need to consider contextual information like device type and location. A standard baseline rule is to block downloads of sensitive data coming from outside a trusted network or corporate VPN. From a BYOD perspective, companies should restrict access to sensitive material managed devices only.Passwords have been the fail-point in a quarter of data breaches. Using the Activity Monitoring APIs, thirdparty solutions can detect anomalous login attempts. For example, services should detect when a user who normally logs in from San Francisco attempts to log in from an untrusted location such as China. Other examples include consecutive logins to an account across an implausible geographic distance in a given time frame or multiple failed login attempts indicative of a brute force attack. In addition to monitoring for new threats, closing inactive accounts is one way to reduce risk, especially if they belong to former employees.Administrator accounts pose a unique security threat to companies. Whether at the hands of a rogue insider or a stolen credential, administrator accounts can be abused to compromise large amounts of corporate data. All too often, accounts fall idle and end up as zombie administrators, which are sitting ducks for attackers to exploit. Any company transitioning to Office 365 needs to audit privileged users for security threats, not just end users.Many of these controls may have been standard for on-premises software. As we have reviewed, companies can achieve these capabilities but will need to take a proactive approach to do so. Office 365 currently dominates collaboration and file sharing, but the same principles in this checklist apply to other cloud applications. Microsoft has demonstrated with its warming partner strategy that cloud means perpetual choice for customers. Companies should consider their security responsibilities as they conduct a migration to any cloud service.
The oil market has been enjoying a warm carpet in the last couple of months in response to the chatter that OPEC member nations want to cut their crude oil production. In the year-to-date period, the global benchmark Brent Crude has gained 30.62% and the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has gained 24.64%.

Oil has been trading in a narrow range between $40 and $50 per barrel in the last couple of months. However, experts are speculating that oil could breakout above $50 per barrel if OPEC reaches a consensus to reduce oil prices.

The possibility that oil will break out in the next couple of months is high given the fact that stakeholders are committed to triggering an increase in oil prices. Last month, Russia expressed its support for a production freeze and the Kremlin is billed to meet with OPEC on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum holding in Algeria at the end of this month. This article explores how oil prices could trade in the next couple of months in response to events in the global oil market.

Iran supports the push for stability in oil prices

Iran has been trying hard to recover lost ground in the global crude oil market after UN sanctions had turned the country into a pariah for almost one decade. However, Iran's recent return to the oil markets has worsened the supply glut thereby making it practically impossible for oil prices to rise. Iran was producing oil at a five-year high of 3.6 million barrels per day in August.

Interestingly, Iran returned to the global oil market a point at a time that OPEC is contemplating a production freeze. Hence, Iran hasnt been fully in support of a production freeze. In the last couple of months, Iran had maintained that it wouldn't agree to reduce or stop its production until its oil production output climbed to 4 million barrels per day. However, Iran seems to have understood that the continued weakness in oil prices won't do anybody much good; hence, the country is open to a production freeze.

Iran President, Hassan Rouhani notedthat "Tehran supports any move for stabilization of the market and improvement of oil prices based on justice, fairness and observation of fair quota for the producing countries."Boris Sneider, a trader with a spread betting positions with an exposure to oil prices on ETX Capital observes that "Iran will be one the biggest beneficiary from stability in the oil market and an increase in oil prices will improve the country's balance of trade".

OPEC won't reach a consensus on oil prices in Algiers

From the aforementioned, it is obvious that stakeholders in the global oil market have expressed their willingness to cut/reduce oil production in a bid to trigger an increase in oil prices. Nonetheless, OPEC secretary-general has hinted that OPEC won't make the decision to cut productionwhen it meets during the International Energy Forum in Algiers later this month.

Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo in an interview with Algerian state news agency noted that the meeting "is an informal meeting, it is not a decision-making meeting". It should be noted that the OPEC secretary-general is a spokesperson of the organization but he doesnt have any power to make or influence the decisions that the organization makes. Nonetheless, he noted that OPEC would work out ways to act in one direction: restore market stability.

However, if OPEC member nations show an inclination towards a supply cut, the organization would call another meeting. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo also noted that OPEC might call another meeting to discuss to work out the framework for cutting/freezing oil production. In his words, "the informal gathering was proposed as a move to having an extraordinary meeting with the aim of taking decisions to stabilize the market."
NEW DELHI: UM Motorcycles, the joint venture between U.S.-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.

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BENGALURU: Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting's Singapore subsidiary on Thursday announced acquiring 100 pct shareholding of Zhongshan Ma Er Daily Products Ltd ofChina in an all-cash deal for an undisclosed amount.

"The acquisition includes personal care brands of the Chinese fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) firm such as Enear, Zici and Vcnic and fabric care brands Pahnli and Sunew," said a Wipro official here.

The buyout will help the city-based leading Wipro FMCG to emerge as a leader in south China's personal care market and add to its own brands.

"Post-acquisition, our South East Asian arm Wipro Unza will post an annual run rate of $150 million as against $11 million in 2007 from its China business," the company said in a statement here.

The company acquired many brands over the years, including Glucovita in 2003, Chandrika in 2004, Unza in 2007, Yardley (for Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Australasia) in 2009, Yardley in Britain in 2012 and L.D. Waxsons Group in 2012.

The company's Consumer Care's international businesses will contribute 55 per cent of its global revenues.

Wipro Unza has a formidable presence in China with brands like Enchanteur and Romano and is a market leader in personal wash and deodorant categories in Guangdong and Hainan provinces.

"The transaction propels us to third position in the bath and shower market in southern China and strengthens our fabric care business," Wipro Consumer Care Chief Executive Officer Vineet Agrawal told reporters.

Zhongshan also has a footprint in China and Hong Kong and its brands (Zici, Vcnic, Pahnli and Sunew are market leaders.

"Wipro gives us access to resources that will help us grow faster and enable us to unlock the potential of our brands," said Zhongshan's Chief Executive Chen Rui Qiang.

The acquisition will also enable Wipro to grow in China market by leveraging Ma Er's distribution strength in three-tier and four-tier cities and expand its portfolio of brands.

"The investment demonstrates our commitment to the China market following our acquisition of L.D. Waxsons business," noted Wipro Consumer Care Regiona Director Nagender Arya.

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FILM: "The Magnificent Seven"; Director: Antoine Fuqua; Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Haley Bennett, Peter Sarsgaard, Luke Grimes, Matt Bomer; Rating: ***



Antoine Fuqua's "The Magnificent Seven", has nothing to boast of. It is a remake of a remake that owes its roots to Akira Kurosawa's 1954 classic, "Seven Samurai".



The tried and tested premise where a defenseless village comes under repeated attack by an outlaw gang until a small band of mercenary brave hearts team together to ward off the bad guys, is universally appealing. And this has been replicated in many variations in various language films, which includes Raj Kumar Santoshi's China Gate in Hindi.



This version is set in 1879 in Rose Creek in the US, shortly after the Civil War. The residents of Rose Creek, a village of farmers find themselves locking horns with Bartholomew Bogue, a capitalist and mining baron, who is also a land grabber. He threatens to kill those who do not surrender their land for a paltry sum of twenty dollars.



The villagers are helpless in front of Bogue's brutality. And, after her husband was brutally killed by Bogue's men, Emma Cullen seeks help from a bounty hunter Sam Chisolm, who in turn bands together a gambler Josh Faraday, a sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux, his accomplice, an orient assassin Billy Rocks, a tracker Jack Horne, a Mexican outlaw Vasquez and a native warrior Red Harvest.



The script written by Nic Pizzolatto and Richard Wenk is alternately gripping and weak. It offers nothing new in terms of the plot. Nevertheless, it is still reasonably engaging for the first half of the 132 minutes of its run time. The second half gets into the predictable slot of the engaging battle with Bogue's henchmen.



Dressed in black Denzel Washington cuts a dashing figure as Sam Chisolm. He is the helmer of the operation. Chris Pratt as the reckless charmer Josh Faraday, who uses card tricks to distract his opponents, is charmingly distractive. He exudes an equal amount of mystery and appeal in his persona.



With an interesting facial expression, Ethan Hawke, as the haunted ex-Confederate soldier Goodnight Robicheaux delivers his part sincerely. He is aptly supported by Byung-hun Lee, as his road-show partner, Billy Rocks, who is proficient with knives.



Vincent D'Onofrio as the tracker Jack Horne with a religious streak is menacing. He stands out with his furry tail cap and intimidating demeanour. With a chiselled body and painted visage, Martin Sensmeier makes his presence felt as the archer Red Harvest. His offering a piece of deer meat to Chisolm and taking a bite himself seemed synthetic and made-up. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as the "Texican" with a mean streak, hardly has much to offer.



Peter Sarsgaard as the gold greedy industrialist is ineffective as the antagonist. With a nervous demeanour, he seems more of a weakling than confident, in the field surrounded by his henchmen. He is never intimidating.



Haley Bennett the only lady in this male dominated narrative, has her moments of onscreen glory as Emma Cullen. She holds her stead and guns with gusto.



Visually the film has all the trappings of a Western. The action sequences are skillfully choreographed and every frame is aesthetically captured by Cinematographer Mauro Fiore's lens.

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BENGALURU: While scratching the head for any queries the first thing now anyone turns upto is Google. Google for all purpose has been a go-to option. The search engine giant has been acting as a guide and mentor in all scenarios; from clarifying issues to updating the latest information trends in the market, Google is synonymous to everything.

According to Firstpost, the tech giant is now encouraging applications to attend the session of its Launchpad Accelerator Program. The program further offers start-ups to use Googles mentorship and product access to capitalise on local markets.

The specially designed class offered by Googles Launchpad Accelerator helps providing solutions to the start-ups on their complex business challenges. Moreover, the start-ups applying for the programme should be a tech start-up with an intention to solve the real challenge for the local market and should additionally be market fit. The equity-free programme is expected to start by 30th January next year in San Francisco. The program will sponsor two weeks of all expense-paid training.

Tech start-ups looking for this opportunity can submit the applications by 24th October. Google Launchpad Accelerator provides a robust platform for the enterprises to get a seamless and scalable start in their functioning. The mentorship and equity-free support provided by Google helps selected start-ups to test their true potential.

This is a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and emerging markets, said, Roy Glasberg, Global Lead, Launchpad Accelerator, Google.

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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, 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.

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Source: IANS
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For the third year in a row, Susan E. Wagner Theatre Department performers and artistic staff have received several awards and nominations for their ambitious theatrical endeavors.

Mariah Kanevsky, Deirdre Hansalik and Paul Seblano -- all seniors at Susan Wagner High School in the spring 2016 season and now college students --were honored at the 11th Annual National Youth Arts Eastern Awards Ceremony honoring outstanding work by youth in the arts.

Paul Seblano now attends The American Musical Theater Academy of London and NYC, Mariah Kanevsky now attends Temple University, and Diedre Hansalik now attends Rutgers University.

The three performed highlights from this year's spring show, "Guys and Dolls," to a packed audience filled with fellow performers, parents, family and friends from across the country.

This year more than 500 productions were considered for the awards, including shows from more than 160 different organizations in more than 70 cities spanning 15 states.

Award winners were selected from nominations by a panel of more than 40 judges and reviewers. Ceremonies honoring all of their accomplishments are held in different regions of the country including multiple ceremonies in Arizona, California, Colorado, and New York.

Diane Zerega, director and theatre teacher for Susan Wagner was thrilled to accept the awards for Oustanding Production and Ensemble celebrating the wonderful work done by the entire cast, crew, orchestra and staff.

"As the new performing arts building is about to open this fall it will be wonderful to add these awards to the many Music and Theatre Performing Arts collection," Zerega said.

* NYA AWARDS INCLUDE:

Outstanding Production:

Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:

Paul Seblano as Skye in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical:

Laura Grass as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Deirdre Hansalik as Sarah in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Mariah Kanevsky as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Olivia Parisi as Sarah in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play:

Josie Brennan as Alice in You Can't Take It With You (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Ensemble:

Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Set Design:

Diane Zerega for Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

* ...And the additional Nominees are ... * more below certificate winners

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical:

Matthew Ferrera as Skye in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Joseph Gottfried as Nathan in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Jared Polanco as Nathan in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play:

Victoria Zaccardo as Penelope Sycamore in You Can't Take It With You (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical:

Shane Drucker as Nicely in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical:

MaryKate Brown as Arvida in Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play:

Aissatou Bah as Rheba in You Can't Take It With You (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Choreography:

Christine Leonardi-Kramer for Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Youth Orchestra:

Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Musical Direction:

Paul Corn for Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Outstanding Direction:

Diane Zerega for Guys and Dolls (Susan E. Wagner High School)

Susan Wagner Theatre Department is already gearing up for the SI Zoo Spooktacular as well as a production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company in January. You can follow Wagner theatre at www.wagnerhightheater.org

About Susan E. Wagner High School's Institute of Theatrical Arts

Wagner High School's Theater Department has uniquely broadened the horizons of each of its participating students. The group had the tremendous honor of performing on Broadway, as part of the Shubert Foundation High School Theatre Festival; it also performed in Staten Island's legendary St. George Theatre.

In addition, Wagner drama students have been honored with six National Youth Arts Awards. Memorable and highly lauded productions at the Institute also include In The Heights, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Les Miserables.

Program director and teacher Diane Zerega operated her own theatre company for many years, and relies on her real-world experience continually in the classroom. "Our program has grown so rapidly, from passion to professionalism," she says. "It's my goal to make my actors rise to the occasion--to the level of performance required of a Broadway show. They have done a great job."

Zerega credits her school's principal, Gary M. Giordano, for his unwavering support. "We have the opportunity of a lifetime--a $16 million building is being made available for us," she enthuses. "Giving me a black box theatre for the kids to work in is a wonderful thing. Our students are very skilled in terms of the environments they work in; we took a stage we'd worked on to the St. George Theatre, after all, and rebuilt it there in one day. Our students are hard-working, and when you are capable in this way, people take notice."

Zerega's goals for the future include remaining solid in theatrical academics, as well as continuing to expose her students to real-world theatrical opportunities. "My students ready for many new productions; I'm proud of how far we've come, and it's exciting where we might go next!"
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Midland Beach senior citizen and his wife received flu shots three years ago with a needle at a Dongan Hills pharmacy that had been used on another customer, a lawsuit alleges.

Egidio Rasile was told he and his spouse needed to have blood work performed because of the needle's multiple use in the CVS Pharmacy at 1361 Hylan Blvd., alleges a civil complaint.

Rasile has sued CVS in state Supreme Court, St. George, and seeks unspecified monetary damages.

The complaint, filed last week, alleges he suffered "serious and permanent personal injuries and was required to seek medical treatment."

The injuries are not specified.

Advance reports indicate Rasile is in his mid-80s.

According to the complaint, Rasile received the flu shot in the pharmacy on Sept. 14, 2013.

Three days later, on Sept. 17, the pharmacy contacted him.

He was advised "the needle used for him and his wife, Josephine Rasile, was used on another customer, and that blood work was necessary," said the complaint.

The complaint provides no further details on the incident.

Rasile alleges CVS negligently administered the flu vaccine and failed to properly train staff.

The pharmacy also used "unsterilized and unsanitized needles, equipment and tools" and "improper equipment and tools" to administer the vaccination, alleges the complaint.

John M. O'Dowd Jr., Rasile's lawyer, did not immediately return telephone messages seeking comment on the suit.

Mike DeAngelis, a CVS corporate spokesman, said the company had not been served with suit papers and was unable to comment on the allegations.

However, DeAngelis did say CVS has "stringent processes and procedures in place to ensure that vaccinations are administered safely and accurately."
NWS Elevation

Build it Back spent more than $773,000 to rehab and elevate 38 Topping Street in New Dorp Beach.

(Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimo)

CITY HALL -- Taxpayers will shoulder $500 million in resiliency and disaster costs when the city shifts federal funding to Hurricane Sandy recovery work that's gone over budget.

The city refused to say on Thursday how much had been spent so far rebuilding, repairing and elevating Staten Island homes through the Build it Back recovery program since Sandy struck nearly four years ago.

Some $13.6 million had been spent on borough projects through the end of April. The most expensive borough project at the time was a $773,485 rehabilitation and elevation in New Dorp Beach.

Increasing costs have left a half-billion hole in the program's budget as the city struggles to meet Mayor Bill de Blasio's deadline to finish work by the end of this year.

"The mayor set an ambitious goal and we are working toward it," Build it Back head Amy Peterson told Council members during a tense oversight hearing on the program Thursday.

There were 4,561 Staten Island homeowners who initially applied to Build it Back.

As of Sept. 11, construction had completed on 442 borough projects in the program and another 1,274 homeowners had been reimbursed for repairs, according to the city's online tracker.

That's just 37.6 percent of the borough's initial applicants.

RECOVERY COSTS GROW

Peterson told the Council she didn't know number of people now in Build it Back or how much the program had spent so far.

"The construction market is incredibly hot right now," Peterson testified. "But the costs are also due, really, to both the additional work that we do on all of these homes to make them resilient, due to regulatory requirements, community input and other things like that."

The original budget for the single-family program within Build it Back was $1.7 billion.

The de Blasio administration plans to move an additional $500 million in federal disaster recovery funds to the program, bringing the budget to $2.2 billion.

Of that federal money, $350 million was originally going to finance long-term resiliency projects and $150 million would have been used to reimburse the city for past disaster response costs.

WHERE WILL MONEY COME FROM?

Funding for the resiliency projects will be replaced with city capital dollars. The city insisted that the money is already committed, though exactly where this will come from in the capital budget is unclear.

"Is that going to take away from other capital projects on Staten Island?" Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) wondered after the hearing.

Someone from the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget was supposed to appear at Thursday's hearing but did not attend.

Council members were exasperated at the city's transparency on the funding reallocation, as well as the program's progress overall.

"We're very frustrated," Matteo told Peterson. "Those we represent who are not back home are frustrated more than we are."

'WE REMAIN POSITIVE'

The proposal, first reported Wednesday by the Wall Street Journal, is part of a Friday amendment to the city's spending plan for $4.21 billion in federal disaster aid.

A borough public hearing on the changes will be held at Staten Island University Hospital's Ocean Breeze campus on Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.

"We already know the city of New York is going to be in the resiliency business for years and years to come," de Blasio said at an unrelated event in the Bronx on Thursday when asked about the proposal.

The mayor promised to explain details on the "specific dollars around Build it Back" as the city approaches the fourth anniversary of Sandy next month.

"I intend to lay out exactly where the program stands both financially and in terms of the goals we've set," de Blasio said. "But I can also tell you, right now, we remain positive."
Cusick wreath laying.jpg

Assemblyman Michael Cusick joins members of the Commodore Barry Club of Brooklyn in placing a wreath near a plaque that honors Commodore John Barry Tuesday at Borough Hall in St. George. (Staten Island Advance/Rachel Shapiro)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Here's a recap of what some of Staten Island's lawmakers have been up to recently.

FATHER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY



Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) joined members of the Commodore Barry Club of Brooklyn to pay homage to the man known as the Father of the American Navy on Tuesday, placing a wreath near a plaque that bears his image at Borough Hall in St. George.

The Ireland-born Navy Commodore John Barry spent his American years based in Philadelphia and helped Gen. George Washington in the American Revolution.

President Ronald Reagan designated Sept. 13, 1981, as Commodore John Barry Day, "as a tribute to one of the earliest and greatest American Patriots, a man of great insight who perceived very early the need for American power on the sea," the presidential proclamation reads.

The Brooklyn group participates in various Barry-themed events throughout the year, including visiting his grave in Philadelphia, laying a stone at the old Brooklyn Navy yard and dedicating a memorial to the man at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

SCHOOL FUNDING

Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) has announced that his office has allocated $2.25 million in funding for Staten Island middle schools for this fiscal year. The funds will go toward a number of new projects and upgrades.

The enhancements will include electrical system upgrades in Paulo Intermediate School (I.S. 75) and Bernstein Intermediate School (I.S. 7), which will allow the school buildings to accommodate climate control systems and newer technology, and construction of a greenhouse for the horticulture program at Paulo.



Funding has also been allocated to schools for technology upgrades, including smart boards and laptop carts.

"This year I chose to focus on middle schools because it's the age that children are most vulnerable to making the poor choices that can lead them in the wrong direction in life, and it's imperative that we allocate the appropriate resources to engage them," Borelli said. "In addition to the capital funding, we're also providing each middle school with an after-school program ranging from Sundog Theatre program to the Intrepid's Aerospace Engineering program."

Here is how the funding is broken down:



Marsh Ave Expeditionary Learning School (I.S. 63): $100,000 - technology upgrade

Barnes Intermediate School (I.S. 24): $500,000 - technology upgrade

Laurie Intermediate School (I.S. 72): $150,000 - technology upgrade

Paulo Intermediate School (I.S. 75): $150,000 - gym floor resurfacing; $215,000 - electrical upgrade; $125,000 - greenhouse

Totten Intermediate School (I.S. 34): $150,000 - technology upgrade; $350,000 - classroom conversion to a dance studio

Bernstein Intermediate School (I.S. 7): $200,000 - electrical upgrade (to allow for air conditioning units and updated tech); $300,000 - technology upgrade

From left to right, Sen. Tony Avella, Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud, and Sen. Frederick J. Akhshar, before Wednesday's Legislators' Roundtable. (Photo courtesy of the office of Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis)

BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) this week spoke at the 2016 Annual Meeting of The Business Council of New York State Inc. in Bolton Landing, N.Y.



Malliotakis appeared as part of the Legislators' Roundtable portion of the Government Affairs/President's Council Meeting, where she discussed the state's business climate, minimum wage impact, and other concerns regarding overregulation.



"Overregulation, bureaucratic red tape and new mandates and minimum wage increases are making it harder for businesses to survive, grow and create jobs in New York State," Malliotakis said.

The Business Council is a leading business organization in the state, representing the interests of large and small firms, as well as local chambers of commerce, and professional and trade associations.

Linda Baran, president of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, attended the conference and said: "It is important for the business community to come together and advocate for and against issues that affect the business climate in both the city and state. Having a local representative, like Assemblywoman Malliotakis, speaking about policies that have impacted Staten Island and New York City businesses like tolls, minimum wage and labor issues brings statewide attention to our concerns."



LETTER TO FDA

Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and 48 other congressmen recently signed a letter sent to the Food and Drug Administration expressing concern over the near monopoly held by Mylan Pharmaceuticals on the EpiPen and the skyrocketing cost of the product.

"The price for a two-pack has increased from an average of about $50 in 2004 to more than $300 today ... The continued price increase of EpiPens is a direct result of the absence of competition and an inefficient Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review process," the letter stated.

The letter asked the FDA to spur competition by streamlining the approval process to reduce barriers for those pharmaceutical companies wishing to produce epinephrine auto injectors.

STATEN ISLAND MUSEUM GRANT

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Donovan this week announced that the Staten Island Museum will receive $11,715 in federal grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).



The funding will be provided through IMLS's Museums for America (MFA) program, which supports projects that strengthen a museum's ability to serve its local community.

Specifically, the Staten Island Museum will use the MFA funding to preserve and digitize historical land indentures and real estate documents, including wills and land deeds issued under King James I, Oliver Cromwell, King George I, and King George II.

"The Staten Island Museum, which last year opened its new location at Snug Harbor, is thrilled to have received the funding to treat and digitize the seven land indentures which will be used by researchers and scholars and will be accessible to the public on the Museum's website and physically at the Staten Island Museum's History Archives & Library, which serves hundreds of people annually," said David Businelli, Staten Island Museum board chair.

LEAD TESTING

Schumer this week also announced that the Senate passed his legislation, which will help school districts across New York State test their drinking water for potential lead contamination.

Schumer said the bill, included in the Water Resource Development Act, would establish a new $20 million federal grant program for schools that choose to test for lead beyond this school year.

Schumer said the first priority should be keeping New York State children's drinking water safe when they are at school. He called the passage of his legislation a critical first step and vowed to fight for more funding to address lead contamination in school drinking water.

"It is imperative that we provide a steady stream of support for the schools in New York and around our country to test the quality of our kids' drinking water. We worked hard to pass a bill that addresses the yawning gap in our national lead-testing protocols, and now I'm hopeful that my bill will earn strong bipartisan support in the House and quickly become law," Schumer said.

Elevated lead levels at 35 Staten Island schools were discovered after New York City conducted tests. Thirteen of the 35 schools had elevated lead levels on the second draw. The schools' flowing water is now safe, according to city officials.
Jewel Miller talks about Eric Garner and their baby Legacy

Jewel Miller talks about Eric Garner and their 9-month-old daughter Legacy. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The lawyer representing Legacy Garner, Eric Garner's 2-year-old daughter with Jewel Miller, in the estate battle wants the DNA of Garner's other four children to be tested because his name does not appear on their birth certificates, the Daily News reported.

Lorraine Coyle, who is Legacy's appointed guardian in the $6.9 million settlement with the city, made the request during a meeting in Surrogate's Court on Staten Island Wednesday, the article said.

Coyle said she was not satisfied with Esaw Snipes' explanation about why her kids' -- Erica, 25, Emerald 24, Eric, 22, and Emery, 16 -- birth certificates did not name Garner as the father, and was doing her due diligence as a lawyer, the News reported.

Snipes' lawyer, Jonathan Moore, told the paper the request was offensive.

The family has not received any money from the settlement yet, the article said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A convicted killer from West Brighton who slayed a man when he was 16, will soon return to prison, this time for a weeklong armed robbery spree in his community last year.

Jermaine Reynolds, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday in state Supreme Court, St. George, to first-degree robbery, the top charge against him.

Police said Reynolds launched his one-man crime wave on July 10, 2015, at the CVS Pharmacy at 501 Forest Ave.

The defendant raised his shirt to show a worker what appeared to be the butt of a gun and demanded cash, police said. He left with $150.

Three days later, on July 13, at about 12:50 p.m., he walked into Liquor Castle at 1205 Castleton Ave., pointed a gun at a clerk, and again demanded money, said police. He got $600, according to police.

Reynolds returned to Liquor Castle on July 16 at about 11:45 a.m., cops said. He kicked open the door and tried to snatch the cash register, only to wind up on surveillance video, court papers allege.

A few minutes later, he went down the block to a 99 Cents store at 1151 Castleton Ave., showed a gun to an employee and asked, "Can I borrow money?" said police.

He then pistol-whipped the worker, cutting his head, police allege.

Reynolds was busted the next day.

The defendant's plea covers all charges against him stemming from the incidents.

In exchange, he'll be sentenced Oct. 21 as a second-felony offender to eight years in prison and five years' post-release supervision. Full orders of protection will also be issued in the victims' favor.

"This is a very beneficial plea deal," Assistant District Attorney Natalie Barros told the court.

She said Reynolds potentially faced significantly more prison time if convicted at trial of all the top counts against him.

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon called the disposition a "just outcome."

"The defendant in this case is a convicted felon who committed a series of brazen gunpoint robberies of businesses that serve the Staten Island community," said McMahon, who praised Barros and Assistant District Attorney Kate Malloy for their work on the case.

"This guilty plea will ensure that Mr. Reynolds is put behind bars, and that the hardworking people of Staten Island are safe from further harm," the D.A. said.

Mark Geisser represents Reynolds.

The defendant has already spent a good stretch behind bars.

In July 1992, he was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree manslaughter, according to statements made in court.

Ten months earlier, on Sept. 10, 1991, Reynolds, then 16, fatally shot Bruce Connell, 42, of Rossville, outside the Stapleton Houses.

Reynolds told authorities he had sold fake crack cocaine to Connell, and expected trouble from him, so he fired two shots at the side of the older man's car as it pulled out of a parking spot.

One bullet passed through Connell's lung, fatally wounding him.

Reynolds was accused of murder, but a jury acquitted him of that charge and convicted him instead of second-degree manslaughter, the Advance reported.

While upstate, Reynolds was convicted of promoting prison contraband. He was sentenced in May, 2000, to 18 months to three years behind bars, it was stated in court.


Did you know theres a place with seven world-class wineries all two minutes walk apart? Haro in the La Rioja wine region has the highest concentration of esteemed hundred-year old wineries in the world. Sounds like heaven, right? Especially if you like very good red wine

Built around a 19th century railway station, the Haro Station District is considered the birthplace of Rioja wine from when the Industrial Revolution allowed for wine to be transported by train rather than horse drawn carriages.



For one weekend a year these wineries, or bodegas as they are know in Spain, open their doors first for the press and trade and then for the general public. The unique Haro Station Wine Experience (La Cata del Barrio de la Esacion) allows access to these historical wineries and of course the opportunity to try plenty of their delicious wine.

In La Rioja for a press trip my companion for the day was Lucy, a fellow food and travel blogger who writes for Food Goblin. We were also fortunate enough to meet some wine experts from Decanter magazine who filled in any gaps in our knowledge about wineries and the region. Our first port of call happened to be Haros oldest winery, R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia which was founded in 1877 and remained in the family ever since. Founder Don Rafael, a enthusiastic wine student had fallen in love with the Rioja Alta region and knew it provided the perfect setting and ideal combination of soil and climate for producing exceptional wine.



With exclusive access to the cellars, we walked through the century old wineries and the highly atmospheric surrounding of the barrels ageing the wine. With 14,000 American Oak Barrels and 6,000 metres of cellar space you could easily get lost but the underground conditions provide the perfect temperature for the process.

Coming out of the slightly claustrophobic cellars we emerged to see this beautiful view of the Ebro river. Ok the weather wasnt quite what I hoped for but the mountain views were absolutely stunning. Actually La Rioja is divided into three areas all with a unique version of Rioja wine. Rioja Alta (where we were) has a high elevation and is known for its old world style of wine which is lighter and fruitier. Wine for the Rioja Alavesa region has a fuller body and higher acidity whereas Rioja Baja wine is more deep in colour with a higher alcohol content. Speaking of which, wasnt it about time we tried some?



Extreme care is taken in the selection of the grapes and the ageing of the wine to ensure exceptional quality. Id always associated Rioja with red wine but Vina Tonodia are very proud of their white wines which are aged in the oak for as long as the reds to give a taste of almonds, vanilla and walnut.

With the perfect juxtaposition of old and new, we then visited the districts youngest vineyard, Bodegas Roda.

Founded in 1987 this winery is younger than me, but that doesnt mean less respect for for each vintage. Roda only use local varieties of red grapes, and wines are only produced from old vines.

The result is four incredible wines which we were able to sample.

Next, it was time to once again travel back in time for our another tasting.

Founded in 1890, La Rioja Alta was in my opinion the most beautiful of the bodegas.

The winery was actually founded by five families with a shared passion for wine and even today descendants of the family own shares in the company. The key to the quality of the wine is owning their own vineyard and they have 400 hectares located on some of the best soil in Rioja. At Rioja Alta, quality control is absolutely essential and they make their own American oak barrels, use cutting-edge technology and are devoted to researching for improvements.

Theres also a strong dedication to wine tourism and this beautiful winery is open to the public and offers guided tastings of their distinctive wines.

The final winery that I want to mention with more detail is Muga, the second youngest vineyard founded in 1932. Despite the youth of Muga, the facilities are actually two centuries old and constructed of stone and oak.



Muga is one of the few wineries to make their own barrels and the carefully sourced French and American oak gives the distinctive taste that is characteristic of their wines.



However, what excited me most about Muga was the Cava. While 95% of the famous Spanish sparkling wine comes from Catalonia it can also be produced in Rioja under the correct rules and regulations of producing Cava. I personally really enjoyed the refreshing Cava Conde de Haro and the Cava Conde de Haro Rose that we tried at Muga. Wine tourism is also very much encouraged here with tours of the winery and vineyard as well as guided tastings.

The other three wineries on the circuit were Compania Vinicola del Norte de Espana, Bodegas Gomez Cruzado and Bodegas Bilbainas who all welcomed us with kind hospitality and copious wine!

With an hour and a half flight from London via Bilbao, a trip to Rioja and the Haro Station Wine Experience could perhaps be combined with a larger tour of foodie Spain. San Sebastian, only an hour away from Rioja, is the gastronomic capital of the country and definitely on my to-visit list.

Do you like Rioja wine? Have you ever been to La Rioja or one of the Spanish wine regions?

PIN FOR LATER:



I was hosted by the Haro Station Wine Experience.
A first-class ride for Cowboy Kel Bridle Path residents show love for mail carrier

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21 Greenpoint, the restaurant made famous before it even opened thanks to celebrity bartender Bill Murray, officially opened Wednesday evening inside a reboot of the former River Styx space adjacent to WNYC Transmitter Park. It's run by Sydney Silver and Homer MurrayBill's son, hence the guest bartending stintwho've tapped former Extra Fancy chef Sean Telo to run the kitchen, with its wood-burning oven that'll turn out pizzas and other roasted items and whatever else Telo's inspired by that day.

At Extra Fancy, Telo expertly displayed his finesse with seafood, and he's using that skill here, too. Darling canape-esque bites of salmon pastrami are curled around a creamy sauce gribiche and topped with salmon roe on rye bread. Plump porgy, served raw, takes a bath with plum, jalapeno and grapefruit. Firmly not in precious fish territory: the sinful-sounding steak tartare, which is served inside a roasted marrow bone with lamb fat bread.

The second Sean in the team is Sean McClure, the bar director, who was shaking up some serious cocktails at the preview parties as a foil to Murray's shots of tequila. Saddle up to the curvy bar for drinks like the Smokin' Peaches with both tequila and mezcal plus peach and a habanero shrub. The 6'7'8' Bunchof Banana Song fameis a tropical punch of banana rum, pineapple, coconut, lime, orange and grapefruit.

21 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn; 21greenpoint.com

21 Greenpoint Opening Menu by Nell Casey on Scribd
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The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government department under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, is seeking additional information from the World Health Organization (WHO)/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) with respect to a mosquito-borne Chikungunya-like Mayaro virus that has been reported for the first time in Haiti.

The Mayaro virus was discovered in Trinidad in 1954 and is similar to Chikungunya. This virus is spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito that is found on Sint Maarten. Small outbreaks have been reported in the past mainly in the Amazon jungles of Brazil and other parts of South America.

The re-emergence of this virus once again is a great concern to the public health community within the Caribbean Region due to the quick rate of emergence of mosquito-borne diseases. Therefore it is very important to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

Mayaro is a self-limiting disease causing arthritis in the knee, ankle and small joints of the extremities, followed by a rash.

CPS re-enforces its message that all residents and businesses need to take proactive measures to prevent mosquitos from breeding in order to protect the populace from mosquito-borne diseases. Be on the alert for mosquito breeding sites and eliminate, especially after the heavy rainfall!

Actively destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns/vase or in pet dishes for more than two days. Throw out the water and turn them over every time it collects water.

Screen off cistern outlets, cover and screen septic tanks properly.





An increase in the mosquito population puts residents and visitors at risk. For information about dengue fever, zika and chikungunya prevention measures, you can call CPS 542-2078 or 542-3003 to report mosquito breeding sites or send us an email at surveillance@sintmaartengov.org




A new tenure-track faculty position in Buddhist studies will strengthen Skidmores offerings in both religious studies and Asian studies. The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Professorship will be mostly supported for four years by a $300,000 grant from the foundation.

After the rigorous application process, Skidmore President Philip Glotzbach said, "We couldn't be more delighted to hear of our selection by this prestigious foundation.' The grant serves a core Skidmore mission, he adds, because "our students, and the world, need much deeper understanding about global faiths and cultures."In fact, student interest has been growing so much that Skidmore recently separated religion and philosophy into their own departments and also added a major to its existing minor in Asian studies. The Ho Professor will bridge both areas by teaching three courses in religion and two in Asian studies each year, with at least three of these courses focused on Buddhist studies.

Ho Foundation CEO Ted Lipman says, "As an outstanding liberal arts college, Skidmore provides a solid platform" for the foundations goals of "advancing Buddhist studies and developing a network of scholarship." Skidmores dean of the faculty, Beau Breslin, remarks, "Our faculty members are deeply committed to drawing on the world's literary, religious, philosophical, and artistic traditions, not only as points of contrast and comparison with the European canon, but as intrinsically valuable sources of insight into the universal questions at the heart of a liberal arts education."

An international search this year will bring a new Ho Professor into the teaching schedule by the fall of 2017.

Established in Hong Kong in 2005, the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation supports a range of Chinese cultural programs. The Skidmore funding is part of its Buddhist studies grants administered by the American Council of Learned Societies.


Police are looking for a man who lured a 9-year-old boy into his car and then masturbated in front of the child while parked on a street in Borough Park.

According to the Daily News, the boy was collecting donations for his Yeshiva around 7 p.m. on September 14th when the man approached him. The suspect told the boy he would give him $5 if he got into his car, then gave him $100 after he masturbated.

The incident occurred in the predominantly Orthodox Jewish area of Borough Park, in front of 4913 18th Avenue, near the site where Leiby Kletzky, an 8-year-old Hasidic boy, was abducted in 2011. Kletzy was walking home from religious day camp when he was picked up by Levi Aron, who took the boy to a wedding upstate. Once news of Kletzky's disappearance began to spread, Aron reportedly panicked, killed and dismembered the boy, and disposed of his body in a suitcase, which he left in a dumpster. Aron was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for abducting, murdering, and dismembering the young boy.

State assemblyman Dov Hikind noted that this incident occurred just five blocks from the site of Kletzky's abduction.

"I think this is a wakeup call," Hikind told VIN News. "We have an amazing community, but there are people within our community who are sick and need to be removed from the streets."

The boy's parents reported the incident to police on Tuesday morning and handed over the $100 bill, along with the pants the boy was wearing that day, which may have DNA evidence. The NYPD described the suspect as an Orthodox Jewish man between the ages of 35 and 40 who may have been operating a grey mini van.

"Most of the time, people shove incidents like this under the rug and life goes on, and that is a horror," Hikind said. "If we don't get someone like this off the streets, who will his next victim be?"
The man who was slashed by a fellow D train passenger apparently tried to follow his attacker out of the train, onto the platform and out of station yesterday morning. A witness said of the victim, "[He] looked like he was OK, just dripping from a lot of blood."

According to police, the victim, a 38-year-old man, and the male suspect got into a physical dispute on a northbound D train at 10:18 a.m.: "During the altercation the suspect cut the victim with a sharp object. The victim suffered lacerations to his face, chest, stomach and hands." The suspect then fled the train at Bryant Park-42nd Street station.

NBC New York reports, "NYPD Assistant Transit Chief Vincent Coogan said witnesses told police they couldn't tell what they were arguing about. Police say they don't believe the two knew each other but may have both boarded the train at West 4th Street." The news station also obtained video showing the victim walking around the station:

The suspect was described as 30 to 40 years old, 6'0" to 6'5" and 230 to 240 pounds. He was last seen wearing a dark colored long sleeved shirt and dark colored pants, and the NYPD released surveillance footage of him:

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.


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Dozens of Greenpoint residents crowded a church basement on the west edge of McGolrick Park on Thursday night to question officers from the 94th Precinct about recent reports of assaults on women in the neighborhood, including an alleged rape that has been widely discussed on social media.

"We haven't seen any signs [posted] in the neighborhood or increased police presence, and yet we all know people who know this girl," said Sarah Sealy, a Greenpoint resident, referring to the alleged rape victim.

In the absence of concrete information from the police, some said they suspect a particular group of teenagers that gathers near-daily in the park, on the Monitor Street side, some of whom have been accused of vandalism and assault in the past. "A lot of what was being said is that it was teenagers of mixed race," said one local shop owner, who asked that her name be withheld for fear of retribution. "Then our minds immediately, for a lot of us, go to these kids."

On September 13th around 2 a.m., police say a 34-year-old Greenpoint woman was assaulted by three males of unknown age, possibly on Sutton Street between Driggs and Nassau Avenues, and sustained "cuts and bruises to her neck and hip area." A message posted on Facebook on the 15th by a friend of the victim, and reposted numerous times since, describes the assault as a rape committed by a group of teenagers. The posting states that the victim was also stabbed in the side of her neck.

A 36-year-old woman was knocked to the ground from behind on Driggs Avenue on September 14thpossibly by a group of teenagers, according to the victim. Other reports include a woman robbed by two men on North Henry Street earlier this month, and another robbed while sitting on a bench in the park. Police have not confirmed any connections between these incidents, and according to the precinct's second-in-command, who was on hand for the meeting, details about the purported rape that has galvanized the community are shaky.



Police said earlier this week that one victim was allegedly assaulted on Sutton Street between Nassau and Driggs. (Scott Heins / Gothamist)

"I feel a little awkward that we're here because of an incident that it's really hard for us to respond to, because we don't have an official report of the crime that's been circulating around on the internet," Captain Stefan Komar said Thursday. "We're not, at this point, getting the cooperation that we need [from the victim]."

"I don't want to come across as being insensitive," Komar added. "Maybe it's because this person doesn't want too much attention. It could be embarrassing. But we have specialists who deal with this as professionals, and we still haven't been able to get an exact location. At this point we're not even sure if it happened in this neighborhood."

Many attendees acknowledged that there is a disconnect (a "gulf," according to meeting organizer Emily Gallagher) between the warnings and commentary circulating online, and the information 94th Precinct officers have provided.

"If the victim doesn't feel comfortable pressing charges, that doesn't mean it didn't happen," said Jenny Makholm, a resident of 12 years. "That just means a criminal investigation can't happen."

Others said the 94th Precinct was to blamethat the police seldom respond to their calls in a timely manner, and that, anecdotally, there seems to be a lack of empathy for women bringing assault allegations.

"When I'm telling people, 'Did you hear anything? What's going on?' What I am getting from a lot of people, and it's a lot of females, is that the 94th Precinct doesn't do anything," said Debbie Tenney, a longtime resident. "Now, if this is the impression they are getting, maybe that's why people aren't reporting what's happening."

"I would feel better if I saw cops patrolling," she added.

Komar said that the precinct is in the process of shifting officers to the eastern piece of its jurisdiction near the park, a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk from the closest subway stations, and a distance from the bustle of North Williamsburg's commercial strips.

"We're gravitating to this area a lot more," Komar said. "This is a very quiet area of the precinct, compared to others. I'm sure you can imagine how busy we are on Bedford Avenue, on Wythe Avenue."

Brooklyn Assemblyman Joseph Lentol sent a letter to NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill on Thursday, requesting additional officers for the 94th and 90th precincts in response to the assault allegations and a recent shooting on the Williamsburg waterfront.



(Scott Heins / Gothamist)

"Let's talk about our own fears and our own experiences, rather than things that we heard or people that we think are at fault," urged Gallagher, the meeting facilitator, on Thursday.

Yet many locals peppered accounts of their own experiences with secondhand accounts, and reports of park vandalism from years past. Accusations against local teenagers ranged from quality-of-life offenses like weed-smoking, drinking and vandalism, to verbal and physical assault, including reports of friends and acquaintances struck with rocks and bats. One woman said teens in the park called her friend racial slurs.

"They're rowdy, they're disrespectful to property, plants, trees, people," said a 55-year-old woman who's lived in the neighborhood for eight years. "I don't know how much can come of this regarding these specific [assault] crimes, but I know I speak for a lot of people."

Sam Parks, who moved to Greenpoint three weeks ago from the Lower East Side, was nonplussed by the milder allegations. "I spent 30 years of my life skateboarding, and if I was their age I'd be doing the exact same thing, because why the hell not?" he said. "The concern is that people have attached this weird run-for-your-life mentality to these kids."

At the end of Thursday's meeting, most of the community suggestions for increasing safety involved steering teenagers out of the park.

"Classical music in the park has been shown to drive out young people," said Makholm. "There's this thing called the mosquito that's a certain pitch that young people can hear but we cannot. So, some out-of-the box solutions that don't necessarily go into direct confrontation with these young people, but direct them elsewhere."

Later, she described the ideas as crime prevention solutions, as many women feel "abandoned and [that] their concerns for safety are dismissed by the authorities."



A 36-year-old woman said she was knocked to the ground on Driggs Avenue around 5:00 p.m. on September 14th (Scott Heins / Gothamist)

On Thursday afternoon, a group of about 10 young men in their late teens and early twenties sat along a row of benches on the eastern edge of McGolrick Park, near Monitor Street, passing a joint. They said they hadn't heard about the planned community meeting, but had seen the rape allegations on Facebook.

"This is pretty much all we do," said one member of the group (everyone present declined to provide a name). "We sit here and smoke pot. I don't know why people think we would do something like thatwhy we would even be associated with something like that."

"I understand we're a pretty rowdy crowd," he added.

"Smoking weed don't make you go kill people and rape people," added another one of the group. "You chill the fuck out."

"I think it's people from other neighborhoods who come here," said another. "They do it and they just dip."

"I don't know if they're to blame, said Heather, who lives on the Monitor side of the park, later that evening. "I think that's one of the largest problems. We don't know who to look for. We don't know who to be cautious for, so then people are just like, maybe it's them.
The goal of fast, affordable Internet for New York City is something that residents and technology advocates have been pushing for almost as long as the Internet has been around. Mayor Giuliani dreamed of an unused water main becoming a high-speed Internet conduit. That never happened. Mayor Bloomberg used a backroom deal with Verizon exact a promise to provide insanely fast fiber optic services to all New Yorkers. That didnt quite pan out, either. By the time Bill de Blasio entered Gracie Mansion in 2014, many people had resigned themselves to the idea that the largest city in the United States didnt have a fast, affordable Internet option for its citizens.

The de Blasio administration, trying to bridge this gap between the citys haves and have nots, envisioned a network of Wi-Fi hotspots, spread across the city, taking the place of the citys decrepit and mostly useless phone booths. Almost immediately after de Blasio took office, City Hall issued a request-for-proposal for a company or nonprofit to come in and make the pay phone sites into "state-of-the-art public connection points" that would "transform the physical streetscape."

Flash forward three years and there are 400 hotspots, known as LinkNYC, in three boroughs. The physical streetscape surrounding these hotspots has certainly been transformed, but not quite as the de Blasio administration intended.

The monolith-like digital kiosks, which on top of the free Wi-Fi include a touch-screen tablet, USB chargers, and buttons to contact emergency services, started to pop up this summer. There were reports almost immediately from residents outraged that the kiosks were becoming gathering places for the citys homeless. Newspapers and websites blared headlines about people taking over entire street corners to watch movies, or, on occasion, pornography. The city responded by adding content filters to the built-in tablets, but that still didnt dissuade users from monopolizing the tablets for hours at a time. Last week, the city announced it was shutting down the tablets Internet browsing functions to consider next steps.

"The kiosks were never intended for anyones extended, personal use and we want to ensure that Links are accessible and a welcome addition to New York City neighborhoods," LinkNYC said in a statement.

The huge "beta" labels affixed to the corners of each of the monoliths certainly rang true.



Installation of kiosks in the East Village in December 2015 (Ingrid Burrington)



In conversations with Gothamist, City Hall claimed that it never really intended the kiosks to offer tablets with free Internet browsing in the first place, and the original RFP confirms that the city never asked for one. The idea came from the winning bidder, the CityBridge consortium. The CityBridge consortium includes Qualcomm, CIVIQ Smartscapes and Intersection, which is led by Google parent company Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs. [This story has been updated to clarify the structure of the CityBridge consortium.]

CityBridges bid for the project was ambitious. It promised to install the kiosks free-of-charge, and provide blazing-fast Internet at 7,500 sites around the city. In theory, by opting in to the system on her phone, a user could be handed off from kiosk to kiosk as she traveled through the city, achieving the long-held dream of high-speed public Internet. The consortium would earn advertising money off of the massive electronic billboards on each of the kiosks, and also have unmatched access to Americas largest consumer and media market, as it scooped up data from everyones phones and laptops. LinkNYC declined to comment for this story.

A week since the shutdown, City Hall is unsure of when and if the browsing function will ever be restored.

"There were concerns about loitering and extended use of LinkNYC kiosks, so the mayor is addressing these quality-of-life complaints head on," said Natalie Grybauskas, a spokesperson for the mayor. "Removing the Internet browser from LinkNYC tablets will not affect the other great services LinkNYC providessuperfast Wi-Fi, free phone calls, or access to key city servicesbut will address concerns weve heard from our fellow New Yorkers."

But the browsing function doesnt really seem to be the main issue that business owners and community members are upset about. People are still congregating around the kiosks to use the USB charging stations and free phone calling functionality. On a recent afternoon, several kiosks along Eighth Avenue had people connected to them, charging their phones and using the now Internet-less tablets. With no seating available next to the kiosks, people have taken matters into their own hands, dragging over newspaper boxes and flipping them on their sides.

"I dont know why theyre not designed like a phone booth with shelves you can put your phone onlook at me, I have to sit on the ground just to get a charge," said Jason, a man who said he is homeless and who was charging his phone at a station in Chelsea. He explained that many times as he charges his phone or uses other kiosk functions, security people from nearby buildings or businesses will harass him and tell him to leave. "These are public sidewalks, and I live my life here. Sometimes youre in the middle of something and someone will just boot you off," he said.



Jason at a LinkNYC kiosk in Chelsea. (Scott Heins / Gothamist)

Jason said the kiosks have become an issue of "territory" for much of the street homeless population in Chelsea. Hed even been attacked by people who believed a certain kiosk belonged to them. Still, he believes the kiosks have become a necessity. With Wi-Fi and charging stations, hes able to stay connected in a way that he wasnt able to be before. Wasnt that the goal of the project to begin with?

Apparently, at least to City Hall, it wasnt. A spokesperson from the mayors office pointed out that the city already offers Internet access for individuals without smartphones or laptops, through public libraries, NYCHA resource centers, and Parks Department recreation centers. The goal of LinkNYC, rather, was to provide Wi-Fi access to those already with access to technology. The tablets with browsing capabilities were just a bonus.

But homeless advocates say the browsing tablets were part of what made the LinkNYC project so attractive in the first place. When the city unveiled the kiosks back in January, the mayor highlighted the Internet-browsing tablets as a core functionality. Now that functionality is gone.



(LinkNYC)

"Giving Internet access to those who dont have it is a great idea," said Al Williams, a member of the advocacy group Picture The Homeless. Williams said that he couldnt understand why the city didnt install web filters on browsers in the first place, or anticipate that people would hog the tablets. Even at the library, Williams pointed out, theres a time limit on how long you can use a computer.

"I see a lot of people using them, not just homeless people. People dont want to use up their data, so its a helpful alternative," Williams said. "The city should have known that people would be congregating around thempeople dont have smartphones, some people dont have phones, some people are busy during the day. The library isnt open 24 hours a day, these are."

State Senator Brad Hoylman, whose Midtown district includes many of the 400 existing kiosks, was also surprised the city didnt see the issues with the kiosks coming. "It serves a public function and has some unintended consequences. Anything on the streets of New York, whether it be a park bench or Wi-Fi kiosk, will be repurposed, and I think the designers might have been naive to consider what they would be used for," he said.

Hoylman said that he wished City Hall had been more communicative in the lead up to the installation of the kiosks in explaining their intended purpose. If the city had presented renderings of the actual kiosks to community boards before they were installed, he said, that might have alleviated some of the distrust of the kiosks. (According to Grybauskas, the NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications gave multiple presentations to community boards on the project back in 2014 and 2015, well before the kiosk designs were finalized.)

Despite the current dust-up, City Hall told Gothamist that it remains committed to rolling out the remaining 7000+ kiosks to the rest of the city.

Across the street from where Jason was set up on the sidewalk, Arvit, a 32-year-old analyst from Park Slope, fiddled with his phone as he tried out the Wi-Fi signal from a nearby LinkNYC kiosk. He said he was hopeful that the signal would reach to his office in the building above.

"Its gotta be faster than what we have up there now," he said.
On September 3, 2017 the quaint town of Cascais on the coast of Portugal will host the IRONMAN 70.3 Cascais and you should be there. The region is absolutely beautiful and thus it should be much easier to convince family and friends to join you for that adventure. And that is true whether you are coming from Europe, North America or any other part of the world. Travel there should be easy with the Lisbon International Airport just being a hop and skip away.

According to the IRONMAN press release athletes will start their race with a one-loop 1.9 km swim against the backdrop of the Fortaleza da Cidadela, the most spectacular bay in Portugal. Originating in Cascais, the 90.1 km, one-loop bike course runs alongside the ocean, and through to the Village of Oeiras. The course also covers stunning natural scenery in the Sintra forests, returning to Cascais along the Guincho Beach. The two-loop 21.1 km run course leads athletes along the seafront promenade and to Estoril and S. Pedro, where competitors will likely be cooled by the sea breeze.



The are below is called Hole of Inferno, but word has it that you can check it out before and after the race, but the race course itself will not take you to this place where sea water rushes in and sprays water high in the air.

"We are very happy to host an IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon in Portugal and Cascais is the ideal home for this event. We look forward to providing athletes with one important reason to come here, but many reasons to stay," said Jorge Paulo Pereira, Race Director of IRONMAN 70.3 Cascais Portugal.



You can register for this event starting October 9, 2016 via ironman.com/703cascais
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Clubs ACT has ramped up its campaign against poker machines in the Canberra Casino with a 300-strong rally at the Raiders' Belconnen oval in Holt on Friday morning.

Speaking to the crowd, ACT Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson slammed Labor's promise to give a 50 per cent tax break on pokie revenue for some clubs, announced on Thursday.

Attendees held posters with a range of messengers protesting poker machines at the Canberra Casino Credit:Karleen Minney

"They've come out on the eve of the election with a disgusting move to try and split big clubs from medium and little clubs," he said.

"Clubs aren't buying it, and I'm glad you're not buying what is a pretty cheap and nasty political exercise."
It is now nearly two decades since Joe Cinque, a young civil engineer, died in a flat in Canberra's inner north after his live-in girlfriend, Anu Singh, injected him with heroin.

The case has been dealt with in the courts but for the young man's family and others, including award-winning Canberra filmmaker Sotiris Dounoukos, it still seems that the death of 26-year-old Joe Cinque has yet to be put to rest.

Sotiris Dounoukos, director of Joe Cinque's Consolation. Credit:Nixco

Singh injected him with heroin while he was already heavily sedated with Rohypnol. He lay helpless and unconscious for many hours, vomiting blood, but no call was made to an ambulance until it was too late to save him. His girlfriend's inaction was compounded by others who could have also prevented the death. The court proceedings seemed to deal inadequately with the case. Unanswered questions abound.

It was a singularly shocking event for this relatively quiet town. The photo that circulated in the media at the time showed an attractive young couple, professional and university educated, their arms around each other, mocking the claims that emerged about mutual suicide pacts and bizarre "send-off" dinners, and as reports of witness inaction emerged they were hard to square with our sense of duty of care towards others.
Gold's Gym in Tuggeranong has closed its doors, two months after its franchisee and parent company parted ways.

Less than a year after the Anketell Street gym first opened, members received an email on Thursday notifying them of its closure.

Gold's Gym in Tuggeranong. The Anketell Street gym was shut down on Thursday. Credit:Katie Burgess

"We have decided that today will be our last day of trade and that we will be closing our doors tomorrow morning," the email said.

"Unfortunately, the timing of being a new gym and the ongoing dispute regarding the Gold's Gym brand in Australia have not allowed us the growth and exposure we had hoped for when we decided to expand to the Tuggeranong Valley."
Hawker School teachers turned green on Friday, to celebrate the school's 40th birthday year and the return of the Canberra Raiders to finals footy. The P-6 school was opened in 1976.

Principal Mandy Kalyvas said it was a "happy coincidence" that the school celebrated its green credentials, including being a five-star sustainable school, with the Raiders' appearance in Saturday night's do-or-die final against the Melbourne Storm.

Hawker teachers celebrated the school's 40th anniversary - and the Raiders' final on Saturday night - by wearing green on Friday. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

The teachers celebrated by wearing green T-shirts with "Green Machine" on the back.

"The kids loved it," Mrs Kalyvas said.
A consortium led by pension fund Australian Super has lodged an unsolicited proposal with the NSW government for the part privatisation of electricity distributor Ausgrid just weeks after Chinese bids were blocked on national security grounds.

Premier Mike Baird and Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian on Friday revealed the proposal from Australian Super and IFM Investors.

The unsolicited proposal rules allow for a confidential approach to the NSW government with a unique proposal.

If accepted, the government deals directly with the proponent, without going to tender. Details are normally kept confidential until a binding agreement is struck.
Four nights shivering in a tent and sloshing through mud at Newnes has the compensation of wildlife and spectacular views. Credit:Temuge Namjilsuren "It's a pretty hard, extreme situation, they're spending four nights in a tent in close quarters with lots of challenges," says Price. "You find out what people have got ... when something comes up they're not familiar with, how they approach that, because that's really what business is all about." Joanna Sader, who answered a call-out for a business partner from her would-be co-founder Merissa Cohen on a Facebook mother's forum only a month ago, confides she's finding the camp conditions "rough". She looks a bit out of place, stylish among the tracksuits in her pink jacket and pearl earrings. Her face is a picture of mortification when it takes me a while to comprehend her business idea to do with new mothers, fitness and coupons she's meant to be able to explain in one minute flat. "I'm not getting it, am I? I haven't got the pitch!" Bootcamp does that to you. Over the five days, teams compete in 12 challenges as a prelude to the next seven weeks when, they're warned, the "furious pace requires serious dedication". They're battling for a big prize at the end of the LAB program: up to $250,000 in equity investment and support services from Club Investible, the group led by Folsom of 25 investor partners so far who've signed up to invest $100,000 a year in early-stage start-ups. From LAB, up to two companies are selected to progress on to Investible's incubator program, called the PAD. They are expected to raise additional capital from the market at minimum valuations of $1 million within the first 90 days. They then have another 12-month "runway" to build their worth and raise further capital at whatever fair market value is determined by the founders and investors.

But that's a way down the track and a different set of challenges. For bootcamp, there's a masterchef competition (because business models are like recipes), an orienteering challenge (because you need to plan and navigate your passions) and a theatre challenge (because you have to be like a movie producer, and harness your talents), among others. The theme for the previous night's theatre challenge was decisionmaking and superheroes. Price, a veteran of team-building exercises, had warned in an aside that the five-minute skits would descend into sexual innuendo. He thinks it's something to do with the bush, the dark, and all that burping and farting among strangers. His prediction is 100 per cent right. There's cross-dressing, silly wigs, and hilarity aplenty. It's innocent fun and a textbook case for the old rule: what goes on bootcamp stays on bootcamp. Not long into the uphill "walkshop" we come to a creek and a bucket challenge: the team that can carry a bucket full of holes up a steep slope with the most water at the end wins. The water is a metaphor, of course, for liquidity, and the importance of cash flow in keeping a business above water. It's the Blue Team by a big margin, because, says team member Kelly Slessor, they were "really focused, stayed together, and kept it slow and steady". With the ravine falling away behind him, Price gestures at a chart illustrating the business-as-mountain metaphor. The take-aways roll out of him as effortlessly as if he were yarning around the campfire. Up to 99 per cent of start-up businesses don't last. You don't go climbing a high-altitude mountain without any training. Above all you want to steer clear of the perfect start-up storm: first-time entrepreneur in an industry you've no experience of with a business model that's never existed before. That can be a pretty fast track to falling off the mountain. "People think they are going to be the next Facebook. But really, you have less chance than winning the lottery," says Price.

The industry aphorism is that seed funding for start-ups traditionally comes from "friends, families and fools", but Investible means to take the heartbreak out of it. "Out of 10 start-ups, you might get one that gets the big multiples" of return on investment, says Folsom. Australia has "amazing entrepreneurial spirit" but many start-ups languish in the "valley of death", unable to raise capital from the $100,000-to-$10 million stage. "The risk is there early on but so are the returns. If we can bridge that gap, get vcs [venture capitalists] to back these businesses early into markets," there's greater likelihood more than one in 10 will generate big returns, he says. The track's getting steeper but on the chart, we're still in start-up phase. Phil Chen with his business partner Susan Yu is working on an education business they're calling "STEAM", which puts the arts into science, technology, engineering and maths. He heaves and slips along the wet track behind me for a while. "I thought Monday was bad," he says breathlessly, referring to an infamous night hike earlier in the week. "This is worse." "You know you're through the start-up period when your personal income stops going backwards and your credit card debts stop increasing," Price says during a breather. We still have the hard yards ahead of us. We should expect setbacks, but never lose sight of our goal. The soles have completely detached from Deepak Khemchandani's shoes, so he'll have to slide down the mountain in his uppers. He's laughing. It might count in his favour. Setbacks and all that. The track is steep as we near the summit. Another breather, another apposite anecdote from Price. This one's about how, when he and Folsom were starting out, the door kept slamming in their faces. How they finally did the pitch of their lives to Westpac, who wanted to visit their office the next day. How they rushed back to their "crappy" digs and mobilised the five staff to hire pot plants, computers and furniture, plus family and friends to man the phones "so it looked like we had some clients". Price says no lies were told, and when they later 'fessed up to the "Hollywood set" charade, the Westpac executives had figured it out anyway. "You do have to have a bit of front. First impressions are important," says Price. Both sides did well out of the deal, he adds.
During eight years on the share market, TPG has been the reliable goose that laid the golden egg among telco stocks. While Telstra delivers the big numbers, TPG has delivered the big surprises.

Management regularly upgraded earnings guidance at half-year results, then beat their own upgraded guidance in the full year. Customers flocked to the cut-price telco's unlimited data plans, enabled by acquisition of Pipe Networks and other infrastructure, or were swallowed up in the acquisition of AAPT and iiNet.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 gathered steam through the session to close up 0.7 per cent to 5755.7, its first strong performance of the week. Credit:Peter Braig

But this week, TPG's share price started tumbling as if it had suffered a mortal blow. Its crime? Forecasting lower earnings than the market wanted to hear. It also warned the NBN will squeeze profit margins.

In 2014, TPG's management had forecast earnings growth of 27 per cent, and then 60 per cent growth in 2015. But now it was forecasting just 7 per cent growth.
Are you relatively new to this bustling metropolis? Don't be shy about it, everyone was new to New York once upon a time, except, of course, those battle-hardened residents who've lived here their whole lives and Know It All. One of these lifers works among us at Gothamistpublisher Jake Dobkin grew up in Park Slope and still resides there. He is now fielding questionsask him anything by sending an email here, but be advised that Dobkin is "not sure you guys will be able to handle my realness." We can keep you anonymous if you prefer; just let us know what neighborhood you live in.

This week's question comes from a New Yorker who, like many, is experiencing mounting dread, anxiety, and horror at the looming possibility that noted sociopath Donald J. Fucking Trump will in fact become President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Dear Jake,

I wrote to you back in December about my concerns that Donald Trump might win the election. You offered some consoling words which helped for a time, but over the last few weeks my anxiety over Trump's chances has come roaring back. It's really becoming a problemlike to the extent that I'm having trouble thinking about anything else. Is there anything else you can say to calm me down?

Sincerely,

Still Scared Shitless

A native New Yorker responds:

Dear S.S.S.,

I think no matter how much equanimity you have, this has been a tough few weeks for good humans everywhere. I'm sure even really centered people like the Dalai Lama saw that video of Hillary Clinton fainting and screamed, "Holy shit we're doomed!" The difference between them and you is just that after a few moments of panic, the very wise collect themselves, focus, and get on with what needs to be done.

Stoicism under great pressure is one of the key virtues of real New Yorkers. I'm thinking here of all the people in Chelsea this weekend who heard a bomb go off and then went right back to drinking at the local bars, or those two guys on 27th Street who, after opening a roller bag with a pressure cooker, wires, and a phone inside, said, "Fresh, free luggage!" and dumped the bomb, accidentally disabling it. Or all of the cops and FBI agents who ran to the scene and had this guy in custody in what, 50 hours? I haven't felt this proud of our neighbors since the days after 9/11!

A lesser city might have panicked and shut downnot us. We also refused to let any potential strongmen pander to our baser instincts for political gain: Hillary is still hovering around a 98.1% chance of New York victory on 538. No, we saw this weekend's events for what they were: just another numbskull wannabe jihadist failing utterly in the face of New York preparation and resolve. If there's any lesson to be drawn it's just that Ebay shouldn't sell ball-bearings and gunpowder to people without double checking they haven't also recently bought pressure cookers. But for New York, it's carry on as before.

So be like our neighbors in Chelsea and keep a stiff upper lip. Sure, this is a close election, but Hillary is definitely probably going to win. Despite unpredictable events (pneumonia, terrorist strike, Jimmy Fallon fellating Donald Trump on NBC), Hillary is still leading in all the poll-tracking sites and betting markets. This was always going to be a tough racewe live in a very divided country, Hillary is not a perfect candidate, and Donald Trump has clearly tapped into a reservoir of anger that both parties let build up for at least thirty years.

(The Republicans, of course, deserve the vast majority of the blame- first for the Southern strategy, which stirred up white rage, second for advancing policies that immiserated the working class in order to enrich the wealthy, and third, for losing control of the mob they created to Trump.)



Yes, this guy. (Getty)

I think Hillary is on the upswing, though. She's far more prepared for the debates than he is, and long, one-on-one appearances allow for a lot of followup questionsexactly the kind of detail-oriented stuff Trump hates. When he falls back on invective, he'll be walking right into a trap: the independent, female centrist vote he absolutely must win is going to be real turned off when he shows America exactly what sexist bullying looks like in the flesh. And the longer he stands up there, acting alternatively incoherent and thin-skinned, the more normal Americans, who are just starting to tune into the race, will begin to question whether this disgusting, unstable racist is the best guy to get the nuclear codes.

But what if that doesn't happen? What if Hillary collapses on stage? What if none of the dozens of hard-hitting articles tearing Trump down every day for his venality and corruption find an audience? What if no moderate Republicans like G.W. Bush take a stand, because they believe Trump is a controllable, petty tyrant in the style of Italy's Berlusconi, and it's worth taking a risk on Trump if it means regaining control of the Supreme Court? What if everything breaks exactly Trump's way and he skates his narrow path to victory? What then?

Of course it will be bad. Particularly for the weakest and poorest amongst usimmigrant kids who will get deported, Bald Eagles whose nests will be ripped down to strip mine coal, women in conservative states who will lose their right to an abortion, all sixteen million people who got health insurance on the ACA and will now find themselves once again without it. That'd all be locked in the day Trump assumes office, and doesn't even consider a range of less probable (but still possible) events like a post-Brexit financial meltdown, an emboldened Putin invading Eastern Europe, or yes, Donald Trump launching all of our nukes because some world leader made a joke about him on Twitter.



Jake Dobkin with his emotional support dog, dealing with Trump anxiety. (Courtesy Jake Dobkin Private Collection)

What about New York City in particular? How will we fare? Obviously if the nuclear card is played, we're all dead, but presumably that won't happen, because Trump's family and precious buildings are mainly located in New York City, and he clearly loves one or both of those things. No, I'd say we're looking at a Moscow-under-Putin type situation: New York receives an unexpectedly large infusion of federal funds, which somehow end up in the pocket of friends-of-Donald, while the free press, which is largely headquartered in our city, finds itself slowly strangled to death with libel attacks and other oligarch-style dirty tricks. (Don't weep too much for usmost journalists I know would treasure the opportunity to go down fighting an evil regime.)

Of course, all the while the sea will keep rising, faster than ever, because of Republican climate change denial, so whatever plutocrat-friendly skyscrapers do get built during a Trump regime will not last too long.

It's not all bad news! Remember: the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Any Trump victory would necessarily entail a strong counter-reaction, beginning right here in America's most liberal city. As Trump enacts his policies, and attempts to drag hundreds of thousands of our neighbors out of their homes, plenty of people are going to stand up and fight back. At the next election, the full New York state government will go blue, and probably stay that way for 100 years. Other states will follow, and there's a good chance the Democrats will soon be back in control of one or more branches of the federal government. Not soon enough to stop Trump from enacting a lot of his policies, but soon enough to begin the long, hard work of rolling them back. (Assuming, of course, civilization and American democracy survive Trump.)

But like I said, I don't think this dystopian future is going to come to pass. Allow me to share one more reason for hope. New York is always ahead of the national curve. Trump got famous here before anywhere else, and he became a laughingstock here before anywhere else. New York is probably a decade or two in front of the rest of the country in terms of diversity, humanistic-approaches to public policy, and the fight against inequalitybut sooner or later, where we go, the country always follows. There have been so many times (the Civil Rights movement, the fight against the Vietnam War, etc.) where the rest of the country had to go through a reactionary lurch to the right before it eventually came around, but who's to say that this time the cards might not break our way? Let us pray!

In Solidarity,

Jake

N.B.: The best way to make yourself feel less anxious is to get off your ass and start organizing. You don't even have to get off your assyou could just shift slightly, take out your credit card, and donate as much as you can afford to Hillary's campaign. Then encourage your rich New York friends to give even more. Then sign up to phone bank or canvas in Pennsylvania. You'll feel better if you stay busy for the next 46 days!

Ask a Native New Yorker anything via email. Anonymity is assured.
Have you ever wondered how today's famous companies got their names?

Because of their success, these company names are very familiar to us, but most of them have hidden meanings behind their peculiar names. LEGO, for example, is the combination of two Danish words that translate into "play well."

We tracked down the etymologies of 16 of the world's largest and most oddly named companies.

1. Ikea
The Hotel Indigo brand will be the latest to seek out locations in Australia, to offer a different travel experience and take advantage of the under-supply of rooms, particularly along the eastern seaboard.

It is owned by the Intercontinental Hotel Group and offers a boutique hotel that reflects the neighbourhood in which it is located.

Hotel Indigo Seminyak Beach is due to open later this year. The brand is looking for sites in Australia.

Bruce Ryde, IHG's Asia, Middle East and Africa head of luxury and lifestyle brand marketing, said Sydney and Melbourne are on the radar, with city fringe and possibly beach location, where sites are available.

"We feel the brand will resonate in Australia as it is a mature market and travellers are always looking for a new experience," Mr Ryde said.
Telstra will hire 1000 new field technicians in coming months to cope with NBN-related work and reduce the time customers spend waiting for a fault to be repaired or a new connection.

About one third of the new hires will be full time Telstra staff, and the rest sub-contractors to ISGM, which manages the contracting workforce. This brings Telstra's total technician work force to about 6000 people across Australia.

Telstra will hire 1000 new technicians, with one third directly employed by the company, ahead of millions more households connecting to the NBN. Credit:Robert Gunstone

"We know that sometimes the experience our customers can have when they need a fault fixed or a new service installed can improve and we are building up our resources to do just that," said its executive director customer service delivery, Brian Harcourt.

Customers expect Telstra to install new services and fix faults as quickly as possible after a series of mishaps and outages that plagued its network this year.
Several well-known Melbourne pubs have turned off their Carlton Draught and VB taps and removed many other popular beers from sale, as conflict continues to plague Australia's biggest brewer.

A union-led boycott fighting for the reinstatement of 55 laid-off fitters and electricians at Carlton & United Breweries in Abbotsford this week passed the 100-day mark.

Trade unions have been urging drinkers to ditch some of CUB's best-selling beers  including VB, Carlton, Melbourne Bitter, Pure Blonde and Fat Yak  ever since the company axed a maintenance contract that put dozens of long-serving workers out of a job unless they agreed to take a large pay cut.

A number of pubs in Victoria and interstate have now leapt on board the boycott, removing CUB products from sale.
Early last week I felt a tinge of sympathy for Bill Shorten. Imagine heading up what is meant to be a team and discovering that a member of your leadership group resigned overnight and didn't tell anyone. That being public lays bare for all to see, the mirage of Bill's team being a bunch of happy little campers.

It is almost inconceivable that someone in a leadership position who had worked side by side with people for years wouldn't alert the rest of the leadership team to their sudden departure. That Stephen Conroy let the acting leader find out he was going by being caught out mid media doorstop says a lot about him and the team. Shorten will miss him. Leaders often find themselves surrounded with yes men; lily-livered suck-up artists. There's a view Shorten feels comfortable not being challenged. The loss of a straight shooter like Conroy will therefore be a real blow.

Our regulatory system is not hip.

Just as I was reflecting on Shorten's unhappy predicament I thought of all the complex problems Sussan Ley had to deal with and my sympathy for Shorten disappeared. The federal Health Minister surely, always has the toughest gig. The sheer breadth of the job is daunting in itself. Every state government is out to get more from you and to cost-shift wherever they can. The hospitals, public and private, have their own agendas. Then there's the pharmaceutical companies and the chemists (in every marginal seat). Don't forget the service providers like pathology labs and radiologists, the specialists, the GPs, the private health insurers and the current interest group of the moment, the prostheses providers.

The health minister has to play pick up sticks every day. It's a job that would drain most people but Sussan Ley, the incumbent, seems to thrive on the creative tension that is the everyday stuff of her job. Thank heavens for that. In many ways the health minister's job is more about health financing than it is directly about health. We don't like to face the truth but the reality is that spending on health just keeps rising faster than we can afford to pay. It's a situation that can't continue.
When I was eight years old, and addicted to Enid Blyton, I'd be crazy with envy whenever it came time for the children to eat. They always treated themselves to "ices". What could this magical foodstuff possibly look like? Was it served in a bowl? Was it carried aloft? Was it decorated with sweets of all kinds?

I'd stop and put my book down and stare into the middle distance, trying to form a picture. With each new imagining the dish became more enticing.

Jolly Japes! The Famous Five go to Dorset.

We Australians, alas, didn't have "ices". We just had ice-blocks, which were delicious enough, even though you had to fish them out of the very bottom of the freezer cabinet at the corner store, where the freezer had proven unequal to the fierce Sydney summer, especially given all the opening and closing of lid, the ice-blocks being thrown in there alongside the Fish Fingers and the frozen peas.

The result was the ice-blocks had melted, then been refrozen, and so were slumped into the most interesting shapes, usually covered by ice crystals.
And, in the past two weeks, Merkel's ruling party has haemorrhaged votes to the AfD in two separate elections. In the most recent, the state election for Berlin, Merkel's Christian Democratic Union polled 17.6 per cent. It was the worst Berlin result for the party in its history. The extreme AfD polled 14 per cent. A party that didn't exist three years ago will now be represented in 10 of the country's 16 state parliaments, including Berlin's, the most liberal and tolerant in Germany. The biggest test, a federal election, is due next year. Berlin's mayor, Michael Mueller, said before the vote that a strong result for the AfD would be "seen throughout the world as a sign of the resurgence of the Right and of Nazis in Germany". In response to result, Merkel gave her first sign of contrition. She didn't admit that the refugee decision itself was wrong, but she said that the huge influx would not happen again. Germany was unprepared, she conceded. To now, her mantra has been "We can do it". But this week, a contrite chancellor said that she would abandon her catchphrase because it had become "almost an empty formula".

She said: "If I could, I would rewind time by many, many years so that I could better prepare myself and the whole government and all those in positions of responsibility for the situation that caught us unprepared in the late summer of 2015." Time magazine crowned her person of the year in 2015 for "the most generous, openhearted gesture of recent history [which has] blossomed from Germany." Now Merkel, the real leader of Europe for a decade, has revoked the gesture: "For some time, we didn't have enough control," Merkel said this week. "No one wants a repeat of last year's situation, including me." The Chancellor's contrition is "hugely important," according to a political sociologist at the London School of Economics, Robin Archer. "The election result left her hugely exposed. Hostility to her position on refugees  it's about 85 per cent  was enormous. And now this has happened in Berlin, the least likely place for this to happen."

With the rise of an angry, populist far right, Germany now appears to be joining France, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, and others. The day after Merkel's change of course, the US President, Barack Obama, hosting a refugee summit in New York, publicly thanked her for throwing open German's door to refugees: "The politics sometimes can be hard, but it's the right thing to do." He was right; the politics turned out to be not just hard but insurmountable for one of the most durable and successful leaders in the world. In a grim perversity, as Obama gave eloquent praise to the principles of tolerance, racial violence broke out anew on the streets of his own country in the now-familiar pattern of white police officer killing unarmed black citizen, provoking demonstrations and yet further violence. In the same week, and in the same city, a naturalised American citizen, an Afghan immigrant who arrived in America as a young boy, was charged with terrorism in New York. And the Islamophobic hate-monger Donald Trump, Republican candidate for the presidency, drew level with Hillary Clinton in the opinion polls.

Malcolm Turnbull was another of the leaders at Obama's summit. He, too, spoke ardently in praise of tolerance. He proudly defined Australia: "We are one of the most successful multicultural societies. We are both as old as the oldest continuous human cultures of our first Australians and as young as the child in the arms of her migrant parents. "We are not defined by race, religion or culture but by shared political values of democracy, the rule of law and equality of opportunity  a 'fair go'." These are fine sentiments and ones that, till now, were generally thought to be true. Yet in the same week that the prime minister delivered them, the poll finding on Muslim immigrants directly challenged them. The polling firm, Essential Media, understood the potency of its finding. It first asked the question in a poll a couple of months ago. Shaken by the result, it decided to test its accuracy and asked the question again. The outcome was confirmation. "The first think that strikes me is how interconnected these ideas are internationally," says Robin Archer of the London School of Economics, an Australian.

"There seem to be these international waves of opinion that don't have strictly domestic definitions." For instance, the French ban on the "burkini" moved opinion in Britain in favour of a ban, too, he says. What explains this big, broad phenomenon? What's happening in the West? When the US financial crisis dragged down European and other economies in 2008, "the question was, is this a 1929, or not?" poses Archer. In other words, was economic collapse about to breed an angry, xenophobic populism as it did in Europe in the 1930s, a precursor to World War II? "For some years, it wasn't clear what would happen." But now with Brexit, Trump, the far right rising across most of Europe, "there's something going on more generally  a post-crisis ideological realignment is taking place," Archer tells me. "We're in the middle of it so we can't tell how it will work out." In Australia, the post-crisis realignment seems to be under way, even though Australia didn't actually suffer a crisis. Not one bank failed; the economy did not falter; 25 years of unbroken growth is a standout achievement.

Yet this has not insulated Australia against division and xenophobia, if the Essential poll is even half right. Archer explains this through the prism of terrorism. "To me, the terrorism issue is the nuclear weapons issue of our age  it's perceived as catastrophic, but rarely, if ever, happens." It is powerfully polarising, he says, and, of course, it's intimately connected with perceptions of the Islamic communities of the Western world. We can expect  and demand  that the leaders of the main political parties will defend Australia's social cohesion. In a multicultural, many-hued society, it is a profound national interest. Asked about the Essential poll on Friday, Bill Shorten turned it into a challenge for the government: "It's time for Malcolm Turnbull to tell Australians which side he is on. Is he on the side of the people who split and divide our country, or is he on the side of the rest of us, who know that we're a great country and we do best when we bring people into it and involve everyone?"
The 2016 census will be remembered for the embarrassing website failure that left millions of Australians unable to fill in online forms on census night.

The website shutdown, blamed on a denial of service attack, paralysed the census collection process for nearly two days and triggered a barrage of understandable criticism of the Bureau of Statistics. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull labelled it an "absolute failure" and warned "heads will roll".

Census head Duncan Young. Credit:Sean Davey

Prior to the August 9 website shambles the census was dogged by the publicity of privacy worries over the ABS's retention of personal information. Not since the 1970s have census-related privacy concerns gained so much media attention. A group of senators even refused to provide their name and addresses on the census form.

But as the official census collection period came to a close on Friday fears the census would fail appear to be unwarranted.
I'm sure the invitation is in the mail. But the delay is understandable. It's probably been pretty busy at your end this week, waiting for your moral cloak of superiority to come back from the dry cleaners as you begin to summon a fresh sense of outrage over the decision by Philippines prosecutors to call for the reintroduction of the death penalty for the Australian Peter Scully.

You know about his case, of course. You must be angry. Again. Scully fled Melbourne a few years ago after being involved in the fleecing of more than $2.6 million in a property scam. Made his way to the Philippines, where he set himself up filming the torturing and sexual abuse of little girls, which he later sold on a pay-per-view basis to like-minded scum around the world.

He told 60 Minutes last year he wasn't sure why he'd ended up following such a depraved path but he was still wrestling with the notion of regret over his actions. "At what point do you have remorse? I can't answer that honestly yet," he said. Scully is now facing more than 70 charges, including the murder of an 11-year-old girl whose body was found, strangled, in a shallow grave beneath a house he was renting.

Prosecutors want the death penalty brought back for this case after the Philippines scrapped it in 2006, largely at the instigation of the Catholic Church.
Immigration debates and recessions have this in common  sometimes you just have to have them.

Former Labor prime minister Paul Keating had difficulty explaining to voters why his recession was necessary. Pauline Hanson has caused near-universal uproar over her claims that Australia's migration system should be amended so that a 25 per cent portion of humanity identifying in some way as Muslim aren't allowed in.

A Muslim family in Cobram, Victoria. Credit:Simon Schluter

Hanson's job has become much easier thanks to the release of a recent poll by Essential Research that appears to combine sensational opportunity for sensationalism with arguably dubious statistical integrity. A huge sample representing 0.004 per cent of the population were asked online whether they wanted to ban Muslim immigration. That sample is so big, it's four times the percentage of Australian Muslims who have left to fight in Syria.

So what did this not-so-random sample of 1000-odd individuals declare? About 49 per cent said they supported a ban on Muslim immigration to Australia. About 41 per cent said the main reason they held this view was because Muslims "do not integrate into Australian society", while 22 per cent argued Muslims "do not share our values". Meanwhile, 45 per cent agreed that "Pauline Hanson's views do not reflect Australian values and she should not be given so much media coverage". Very strange.
If I were making a film of Robert Forster's book Grant and I: Inside and Outside the Go-Betweens, I'd have Forster played by Roy of Roy and HG.

Forster could be a comic. He's the person in photographs of the group with his eyes looking to one side in slightly startled fashion like he's seeing something no one else does or, alternatively, he's seeing something that's not actually there. At one point in the book, he describes himself as "a preening ponce". His writing is sharp, with an undercurrent of ironic humour, but, when it comes to the big moment with which the book climaxes, he handles it with emotional precision.

Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. Credit:Domino Postiglione

The Go-Betweens were a band that came out of Brisbane in the '80s. They had success in odd places around the globe and, while never being really "famous", continue to have an afterlife. I am no expert on the band but am familiar with a couple of their albums and was thoroughly bewitched by a documentary I saw on their signature album, 16 Lovers Lane. So bewitched, in fact, I watched it three times.

No less than a documentary I once saw on Fleetwood Mac and the making of their great album Rumours, it's the story of how a confluence of talent, ambition and ill-fated romantic love can produce landmark art. At the time of 16 Lovers Lane, the band's female drummer, a larger-than-life character named Lindy Morrison, was Forster's former partner and first love. Grant McLennan, meanwhile, was in a relationship with the band's violinist, Amanda Brown; she is the star of the retrospective documentary, her contribution hauntingly poignant.
Rising floods are threatening hundreds of homes in central NSW as the State Emergency Service responds to thousands of calls for assistance and road closures cripple the region.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of major flooding of the Lachlan River at Forbes on Sunday with an expected peak of 10.6 metres, similar to the destructive August 1990 floods that peaked at 10.65 metres.

The State Emergency Service has shown examples of practice rescues from whitewater in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of driving into floods. Credit:Nick Moir

The bureau's senior hydrologist Hugh Bruist said forecasts indicated more rain was on the way next week, which could cause another peak.

"We'd love to think it was the last peak but there's more rain next week. We're gearing up for the next burst: our models are indicating with some certainty that there's something on the way," he said.
The Turnbull government could face a battle with the Senate, as well as a stoush with the states and territories, as it seeks to replace Labor's Gonski agreements with a new school funding model from 2018.

School funding negotiations got off to a heated start on Friday with state ministers accusing the federal government of blindsiding them by releasing its funding analysis to the media before giving it to them.

State ministers from both sides of politics said they were angry at the way the process had been handled, a charge dismissed as "political chest-beating" by federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham.

"We're back to the bad old days, where we will be fighting regularly over school funding," NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said after the meeting in Adelaide.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has blamed the media for the failure of its census hotline and blamed an overseas denial-of-service attack for the failure of its census website.

In a strongly worded submission to a Senate inquiry, the Bureau also attempts to deflect blame for the overwhelming of its website on to its contractor, IBM.

The submission says from early on, both its call centre and its automated paper-form request service received far more calls than expected, forcing it to implement a "call blocking" where calls were answered and callers asked to call back later.

It blames "unexpected and unprompted media and social media focus on potential of census fines", for which it hadn't planned because its usual strategy is not to mention fines before the census night. Also Australia Post delivered letters informing people of the hotline more quickly than it expected and its census advertising campaign was more effective than it expected.
Bob Carr has blasted suggestions he is inappropriately supportive of the Chinese government as a war of words escalates between the former foreign minister and United States-friendly interests in Australia.

Mr Carr, the director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, says allegations that he was once reprimanded by a senior representative of the US government are false and has called for equal scrutiny of pro-American voices.

"We've got countless think-tanks, it seems in Australia . . . devoted to studying our relationship with the United States, a hugely important relationship for us and worthy of study," Mr Carr, also the former NSW premier, told ABC radio.

"We've got one, maybe two . . . devoted to studying the China relationship. And just as organisations looking at the Australia-US link take generally a positive or upbeat or optimistic view of the relationship, so we are inclined, like the existing federal government, to see potential and hope despite all the challenges in our relationship with China."
Disgraced former federal MP Craig Thomson is running a migrant worker placement business from his home base on the NSW central coast, offering incentives which appear to exploit loopholes in laws designed to crack down on the abuse of visa schemes in regional Australia.

Mr Thomson - who last year said he was too broke to repay his former union hundreds of thousands of dollars he owes it for credit card abuse - is offering cafes and restaurants near his home several thousand dollars to take workers on temporary 457 visas or via the more permanent Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme.

Craig Thomson at court in 2014. The former MP was convicted of theft from the Health Services Union but escaped a jail term. Credit:Paul Jeffers

Mr Thomson refused to tell Fairfax Media where he was getting the money to pay employers. But his business appears to be operating in a "grey zone" , according to some experts, because of recent bans on the payment of inducements in relation to migrant worker sponsorship.

The RSMS is designed to help regional employers hire migrant labour for specialised jobs when they can't find qualified employees locally. When a business has successfully a sponsored a migrant under the scheme, that worker can apply for a class 187 visa, valuable because it offers permanent residency with the ability to bring in family members. It is thus more highly sought after than 457 temporary worker visas.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's promise of a "civil" debate over same-sex marriage is unravelling, with the group behind an anti-equality smear sheet distributed in suburban Sydney revealed as members of the Liberal Party.

The group "Children's Future", which has firm links to the secretive Catholic religious society Opus Dei, has made the false claim in leaflets that legalising same sex marriage would trigger the controversial Safe Schools program becoming "compulsory" in all Australian schools, even if parents objected.

Any link between marriage equality and sex education in schools was dismissed by federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham on Thursday, while NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli described the message being pushed by Children's Future as "unhelpful".

The website of Children's Future does not reveal any details about the people behind its mission to "safeguard marriage for future generations".
She is probably the most powerful woman in the country that you've never heard of. And that is exactly the way she likes it.

Not yet 40, Sally Cray sits at Malcolm Turnbull's right hand as principal private secretary to the Prime Minister, but don't let that meek-sounding word "secretary" mislead you.

Principal Private Secretary Sally Cray, left, with Deputy Chief of Staff Brad Burke during the 2016 election campaign. Credit:Andrew Meares

Cray is Turnbull's fixer-in-chief, his counsellor and guardian, privy to his most intimate political secrets, and a warrior on his behalf.

A law graduate who got her first taste for politics as a high school student doing work experience in an MP's office, she is described as smart, highly professional, a skilled networker, vivacious and good company, but someone who can turn fierce when her boss's interests are at stake. "She can do the enforcer stuff" says an industry source. In recent weeks she has been glimpsed fleetingly on the nightly news, near Turnbull's side as he travels through Asia and the US.
Actress Mia Farrow is mourning the death of her 27-year-old adopted son, Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, who took his own life.

Thaddeus Farrow was found seriously wounded in his vehicle in Roxbury, a town neighbouring his mother's home in Bridgewater in the US state of Connecticut, on Wednesday.

Mia Farrow in 2015. Credit:Getty

He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

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.
THEY SAID THAT!

It was a wild and raucous night at Parliament House on Thursday for the annual Ernie Awards honouring the most sexist remarks made over the past year. It was a dead heat for the Gold Ernie, the ultimate gong, which was shared by barrister Ben Mallick (he won the Judicial Silver Ernie) for his comments when defending a taxi driver charged with sexual assault, "the attack would not have happened if the woman had sat in the back seat". Sharing the top honour was the NSW Department of Education for proposing that experienced school teachers who take five years off to have children be downgraded to beginner teacher salary when they return to work. Among some of the other, ahem, highlights was jailbird Rolf Harris being awarded the celebrity silver Ernie for writing a song in the big house called Gutter Girls, which includes such charming lyrics as: "Sleeping in the daytime, lying every night. She's scheming, screaming bloody rape and she's got you in her sight."

The former manager of Ian Thorpe is due back in court on October 25 Credit:James Alcock

THORPE'S MANAGER

The former manager of Ian Thorpe, David Flaskas, is due back in court on October 25 after landing in financial hot water over unpaid bank debts. Back in April, David John Flaskas, 66, from Avalon Beach, was slapped with a creditor's petition by National Australia Bank over the $119,052 debt, which he was ordered to pay by the NSW District Court on September 30 last year. At the peak of his career, Thorpe was estimated to be earning $10 million from endorsement and sponsorship deals, many of them struck by Flaskas who had managed him since he was 15. The pair parted company in 2012, with Thorpe signing up with big-name agent David Erskine.
There has been much written about Roxy (The Never Ending Story) Jacenko's apparent absence from the visitor's room at Cooma jail where her husband Oliver Curtis has been serving his sentence after being convicted of insider trading nearly three months ago.

But it would appear Jacenko has found a sympathetic shoulder to cry on in the interim, with the human publicity machine catching up with her former boyfriend, millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal, or "Junior" as he is known around the exclusive eastern suburbs enclaves in which he moves.

Gazal, named after his late property developer father, came to attention back in 2014 when he fronted the ICAC to deny claims his well-connected family paid $10,000 a month to a Liberal slush fund in exchange for political influence as it lobbied for a lucrative shopping centre development. No findings were made against him.

While he is yet to surface on Jacenko's highly-orchestrated Instagram feed, in the real world Gazal has been spotted out and about around Sydney with Jacenko, and with some regularity in recent times, enjoying dinners and appearing relaxed with each other.
Superannuation looked more settled last week after the government withdrew some of the changes it proposed in the May Budget.

They got rid of the $500,000 lifetime limit proposed on non-concessional contributions (made with after-tax earnings) and instead reduced the amount of non-concessional contributions you can put in each year from $180,000 down to $100,000.

There are enough incentives that super makes sense.

Starting next year you can't make non-concessional contributions once there's $1.6 million in you super balance, and the limit on concessional contributions will be capped at $25,000 per year, down from the current limit of $35,000.

It's my belief that many people needn't have worried about this issue.
Top marks to the government for dumping the deeply flawed proposal to introduce a backdated lifetime $500,000 non-concessional contributions cap in response to pressure from passionate self-managed super fund members, the opposition and Coalition backbenchers.

The new plan is simpler and fairer and, even more importantly, capable of being administered by the Tax Office because the limits will apply only to future contributions.

Credit:Andrew Dyson

There will still be a lifetime cap on non-concessional contributions but only after account balances exceed $1.6 million commencing from July 1, 2017. The existing rules will apply until then as I believe they always should have. By all standards, restricting the amount that can be put in by reference to the amount already in super answers the equitable treatment of all taxpayers

The proposed $500,000 cap ignored the needs of the millions of Australians with poor or inadequate employer super having to build up sufficient super to fund their retirement by using inheritances or other windfalls and the proceeds of selling property. The new plan will instead limit the scope for people with generous employer super or who have already deposited large amounts of after-tax money in their fund to further increase their balances.
Police on the scene would not allow ambulance officers to check for signs of life. Apart from the refuse room where her body lay, other relevant scenes on the 12th floor  the apartment where she had lived with Mr Hampel, and the entry to the garbage chute  were not properly secured.

There was blood in the apartment, on a computer keyboard and mouse, and on an architrave in the apartment. Only some of it was tested and found to be Ms Handsjuk's.

Phoebe Handsjuk with Antony Hampel.

Very quickly, police came to regard the death as a suicide. But Ms Handsjuk's family did not accept that. Her grandfather, Lorne Campbell, a retired police detective of 28 years' experience, began conducting his own investigation, involving Ms Handsjuk's friends in attempts to get in to the same garbage chute which she had fallen down.

They found it difficult, but possible, to climb in feet first, but their hands were all over the entrance to the chute, making the lack of fingerprints puzzling.
Teaching graduates facing a 47,000-person queue for a permanent job in NSW are being welcomed with open arms halfway across the world.

Lauren Goldsmith has just secured her first full-time job, weeks before the Notre Dame student is due to finish her teaching degree.

Come January she will be in front of a year 3 class in a school in Blenheim, England.

Along with her friends and fellow students Caitlin Wallace, Jake Kercheval and Joshua Hudson, Ms Goldsmith saw a campus presentation in May from an international recruiter looking to fill teacher positions in England, which is in the grips of a teacher shortage "crisis".
Two years ago, a kilogram of ice would cost a crime group $220,000 - now it can be bought for between $75,000 and $95,000. Unsurprisingly, as profits soared, price has not changed. Ice used to be a cottage industry in Australia, but much is now being imported from China. Lufeng, in China's Guangdong province, is a favourite port for drug smugglers. Locals call it the "city of ice". Large-scale drug busts in that area are not uncommon, with two or three tonnes of ice seized at a time. But law enforcement agencies say it is failing to put a dent in production. With China being Australia's largest trade partner, a law enforcement source says shipments of the drug are hard to detect among the volume of legitimate imports. "You don't need a corrupt worker down in the docks," the source says. "If you send 10 shipments of ice from China to Australia and only one gets through you are still making money." Mexican cartels, long known for the cocaine trade, have seen the profits made in Australia and have also begun exporting ice across the Pacific.

Demand has reached such levels, and the potential profits so high, that law enforcement are now seeing instances where overseas crime groups are sending ice to Australia even before they've found a buyer - so confident they can shift their product. Overseas crime groups will generally deal with local bikie gangs and Australian Mr Bigs who will then on sell the drugs to mid-level dealers, who then supply low-level dealers. "It would be pretty easy for someone to take a kilogram of ice to Byron, that would give about 1500 deals," a law enforcement source says. "That would supply that township for a whole month." Northern NSW features in police drug and alcohol records - grog is a far greater problem - because they are frenetically busy keeping a lid on a party town. But Byron created its own crown of thorns.

Established in the late 19th century as a port when the Big Scrub of the hinterland was cleared for dairy and beef cattle, it dozed off after the Second World War until the 1960s brought surfers looking for waves. The Nimbin festival in 1973 gave it wider exposure down south and fused drugs and a laid-back lifestyle with tourism. When the freeway put it within two hours of Brisbane, Byron roared into life as a party town and overseas backpackers destination. There is a tension between the law as it applies to drugs and Byron's trademark laissez faire, the inheritance of the Nimbin days and the herd of music festivals predicated on sex, drugs and rock and roll that have erupted since 1990. These days, police are torn between enforcing the law at the festivals and turning a blind eye. Byron is now both a money-spinner and a middle-class paradise, sporting middle-class house prices and rents replete with a surprising underbelly of poverty that informs drug usage beyond the hippy, music festival rager mind set. They say the sun is the blanket of the poor, so perhaps it is little wonder that Byron Bay can also lay claim to being homeless central.

The last census found the Richmond Valley - stretching from Ballina to Tweed Heads - had about 500 homeless people and 211 of them were sleeping rough. The Australian Bureau of Statistics said only the Sydney inner-city area had more homeless sleeping rough. Welfare and health workers say the homelessness is also exacerbated by Byron becoming a favoured destination for people coming off rehab programs who head to northern NSW to chill out. Not long ago, their camps seemed everywhere around Byron: there were some 20, in the bush, along the railway track, the sand dunes. But tolerance gave way to "green" hegemony: complaints came in about environmental damage to the dunes and the fire risk. Council rangers (community enforcement officers) carried out sweeps and crown lands moved in with bulldozers and cleaned out everything. Byron Bay Community Centre community services manager Cat Seddon says rough sleepers make up only a small proportion of the town's total homeless and many are sleeping in cars or in friends' garages or on friends' couches, victims of rising rents or the absence of affordable housing. She also says drug and alcohol usage was a symptom but the causes in Byron were often mental health issues and domestic violence, a situation made worse as the Baird government scrapped funding for some local community based programs.

"The social fabric that protects most people from homelessness - family, affordable housing and access to government services - are not always readily available in Byron and it's easy for people to fall through the cracks," she says. Maybe Byron's juxtaposition of the haves and the have-nots makes it too delicious to resist pointing the finger but the story remains the same in other NSW towns as they try to come to grips with the rise of ice. In Kyogle, they ran a local ice dealer out of town. And on the edge of the Great Divide, the beef centre of Casino has been fighting a growing reputation for surrendering many of its young to ice. Kevin Hogan, the National Party MP for Page, says the drug had been a real problem for the town but a crackdown had stopped petty crimes.

However, Krystian Gruft, of The Buttery, a not-for-profit community- based program specialising in the treatment of alcohol and other drug misuse located in the hills behind Byron, says the age of some Casino teenagers taking part in his outreach programs due to ice usage has fallen noticeably. "Whereas we used to see kids usually 15 or 16, we now see a few who are 14, maybe less," says Gruft, manager of The Buttery's outreach programs. Hogan says the federal government had tipped $6 million towards tackling the use of ice on the North Coast and the local primary health network is in the process of appointing people to provide rehab and family support and to train local GPs how to treat ice users. On October 13, the latest Baird government's "breaking the ice" forums will be staged in Byron. It aims to help build and strengthen community partnerships by bringing together local police, health services, youth services, Family Drug Support and local non-government drug and alcohol services. Years ago, often acting on police advice, the media gave marijuana and heroin their own epidemic treatment. Users knew the disconnect between journalism and reality but ice is different: the addiction is immediate and debilitating. Many Australians know heroin addicts who functioned at work for years but ice addicts set like the sun.
Around the school yard there was a saying: "Bums to the wall, Dom's on the crawl."

Darcy John O'Sullivan, or Brother Dominic as he was known, had a reputation among his young male students.

Jailed: Former Marist brother Darcy O'Sullivan, also known as Brother Dominic, in 2014. Credit:Darren Pateman

The 78-year-old was sentenced on Friday to a maximum of six years in jail for molesting a dozen boys while he was a teacher at Marist Brothers in Hamilton, Newcastle, and a principal at St Mary's High School in Casino.

He was charged with 22 historic child sex offences which occurred between 1971 and 1983, and there was evidence he may have committed many more.
A 29-year-old man will remain behind bars after he was charged with murder following the discovery of a body in western Sydney.

Michael Hadler did not appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday and did not apply for bail after being charged with the murder of Brian Hamilton, whose body was found in a shared rental home in Bass Hill on Friday morning.

Police at the crime scene in Bass Hill after a man's body was found Credit:Kirk Gilmour

It is believed the men were known to each other.

Emergency services were called to the home on Buist Street at about 11:20 am on Friday morning and located the body with "obvious signs of injury", Chief Inspector Glen Fitzgerald from NSW Police said.
Police are investigating after a man was found dead in a home in Sydney's south-west on Friday.

Emergency services were called to Buist Street in Bass Hill at 11.20am when another resident at the property found the man, who is thought to be in his mid to late 60s.

Chief Inspector Glen Fitzgerald addresses the media on Friday afternoon after a man was found dead in Bass Hill. Credit:Seven News

Paramedics were called, but the man could not be revived. His death is believed to be suspicious.

A police was launched at the home, which remained underway on Friday afternoon.
Workers in Brisbane's CBD had a sneak peek of the weekend's Riverfire event as two RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets roared across the city at lunchtime on Friday.

It was a practice run ahead of Saturday night's Riverfire fireworks display, which would be bookended by fly-bys at 5.40pm and 7.04pm.

Queensland Police Service riverside patrol group Inspector Jo Henderson said they were expecting between 300,000 and 500,000 people to line the Brisbane River on Saturday night.

Inspector Henderson said public safety would be front and centre of police operations.
Systemic failings faced by domestic violence survivors were thrown into sharp relief in the pages of the Not Now, Not Ever report handed down in 2015.

After speaking with hundreds of domestic violence survivors, service providers and support groups the domestic violence taskforce, chaired by Dame Quentin Bryce, saw three common areas that needed to be addressed immediately: Changes in culture and attitudes, reform to the responses to incidents of abuse and its victims and reform to the response from our justice system.

The Not Now, Not Ever report made 140 recommendations to end domestic violence. Credit:Wolter Peeters

"Alarmingly, the taskforce heard many stories where the workings of the law and justice system (police and courts) only served to further victimise or marginalise victims," the report read.

"This report makes recommendations to government to reform this system so that it supports survivors, achieves fair and protective outcomes for victims and makes perpetrators of violence accountable."
Aeriel view of the Hazelwood power station near Morwell in 2014. Credit:Jason South Hazelwood has about 550 direct employees and 300 contractors, with hundreds more jobs indirectly linked. It has been estimated that 150 to 200 of these jobs could be retained cleaning up the site and rehabilitating the neighbouring open-cut coal mine. Engie of France and Mitsui of Japan are set to announce the closure of the Hazelwood brown coal power station on Thursday. Credit:Pat Scala Plans under consideration include filling the pit with water to create a lake for community use.

Greens federal MP Adam Bandt greeted the news with exuberance, calling a press conference to declare "the age of coal is over". State election rally in 2010 calling on all political parties to replace Hazelwood. Credit:Craig Sillitoe "This good news is the start of Victoria's energy transition, where dirty coal is replaced with clean renewable energy," he said. But Mr Bandt added that successive governments "have been asleep at the wheel and now workers and communities in the Latrobe Valley will be left in the lurch unless we develop a support plan." The fire at the Hazelwood plant in 2014. Credit:Keith Pakenham

Ms D'Ambrosio said she had called Engie's senior management on Friday night seeking more information, but they gave her no indication that closure was imminent. Nor did they give her a time line for the possible shut down, she said. "Let me be very clear  the response from senior management was that no decision has been made," she said. "But what is absolutely important here of course is to understand that our government is absolutely committed to working with the people of the Latrobe Valley, to plan ahead to ensure their future is a prosperous one, and is a future that is sustainable." Built between 1964 and 1971, Hazelwood has long been targeted by environment groups. It is responsible for up to 15 per cent of Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions and 3 per cent of national emissions when fully operational. Ms D'Ambrosio said the Latrobe Valley community could be assured that the government was "with them every step of the way", although no decision had been made.



"If the company decides to stop operating, we will do all we can to ensure those workers and their families get the support they need," she said. CFMEU Victorian mining and energy president Trevor Williams said the union was expecting an announcement about Hazelwood next month, but was uncertain whether it would be an outright or gradual closure.

He called for a transition scheme that would allow older workers ready for retirement from Victoria's coal stations and mines to take a package and younger workers to transfer to other companies to stay in the industry. An Engie spokesman said no decision had been made, and otherwise declined to comment. The state government has already announced $40 million to help the Latrobe Valley economy adjust, with sources flagging efforts to attract new industries to the area. Analysts say the electricity market has more than enough generation capacity to cope with Hazelwood's removal. In 2014, the Australian Energy Market Operator estimated there would be 7400 megawatts of surplus capacity. Analysts have given wildly varying estimates of the impact of shutting Hazelwood on electricity prices, ranging from 0.2 per cent to 25 per cent.

Environment Victoria chief executive Mark Wakeham said retiring Hazelwood was the single largest step that could be taken to clean up Australia's energy supply. "Engie is at a fork in the road. Like all other major global electricity companies, it must choose clean energy as the world acts on climate change," he said. The French company holds a 72 per cent stake in the plant. The remainder is owned by Japanese company Mitsui. Engie chief executive Isabelle Kocher said in May that the company was considering closing or selling Hazelwood, although no timeframe was suggested. "For the Hazelwood plant, we are studying all possible scenarios, including closure, or a sale if the state of Victoria tells us that it cannot meet power generating needs without this plant," Ms Kocher reportedly said
Two families living in the same house in Melbourne's north narrowly escaped death on Friday morning thanks to a quick-thinking four-year-old who heard the smoke alarm and alerted her mother.

The brick-veneer home on Dimboola Road in Broadmeadows was completely destroyed by the fire, but the two families  two mothers and six children  miraculously escaped without any major injuries.

"When I spoke to different members of the family I found out that the four-year-old girl woke up because of the smoke alarm," Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander David Woods said.

The young girl, named Hafsa, woke her mother who woke the rest of the family.
"I don't feel as much of a victim," said an adult survivor of child sexual abuse who tracked down her uncle and brought him to justice more than 20 years after she reported his crimes to police.

The woman was two years old when her uncle began molesting her and her older sister. It continued for eight years in the late 80s and early 90s, including in public places.

But it was not until Friday that the woman's uncle, now 65, was jailed.

The woman  the younger of the sisters  told a school friend about her abuse in 1992, prompting a police investigation.

But on the night police arrived at the sister's house to speak to them, the woman said, her father threw her uncle out of the house.
A 26-year-old woman has suffered head and arm injuries after being hit by a car on a suburban street in Melbourne's north on Friday morning.

Paramedics and police were called to Albion Street, near Wales Street, in Brunswick West about 8.15am to reports a pedestrian had been struck by car.

The scene of a car crash involving a pedestrian in Brunswick West. Credit:Twitter/@JimmyTraffic

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said the woman was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital and was is in a stable condition.

Police are speaking to the driver involved and witnesses to the collision.
A 27-year-old man from Madora Bay has been charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged "coward punch" attack at a Mandurah pub that left a man fighting for his life.

The man charged with GBH has been refused bail and is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on September 24.

The Silver Sands Tavern. Credit:Google Maps

A 48-year-old woman from Meadow Springs has been charged with being an "accessory after the fact to an indictable offenc"'. She is due to appear in the Mandurah Magistrates Court at a later date.

The charges come after Mandurah man Jason Goodwin, 27, was discovered unconscious by paramedics at the Silver Sands Tavern on Tuesday.
An image shared on Facebook by a concerned Perth parent has sparked furious debate about the newest trend in dessert service  serving the chocolate sauce inside a medical syringe.

Dozens of social media users were appalled at the decision by Subiaco's Whisk Creamery to use syringes even in children's desserts, some claiming it served to "normalise" drug taking.

One of the treats Whisk Creamery serves is called Banana Addicted. Credit:Whisk Creamery

One of the treats Whisk Creamery serves with a syringe full of sauce is called "Banana Addicted".

In a story that first appeared in the Western Independent, produced by journalism students at Curtin University, Village Counselling clinical psychologist and social worker Jenny Robinson said images of the desserts were disturbing.
New York: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has accused the United States of not complying with the landmark nuclear agreement that took effect in January, and said American credibility would suffer if the accord were not honoured.

In his annual UN General Assembly speech and later at an hour-long news conference, Rouhani on Thursday criticised what he described as an American failure to adhere to obligations under the agreement, which relaxed many economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for verifiable pledges of peaceful nuclear work.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, facing re-election next year, is under enormous pressure to show positive progress on the nuclear agreement. Credit:Bebeto Matthews

Rouhani told reporters said that despite the intense diplomacy that had achieved the agreement between Iran and big powers including the United States, there was "not a very stellar report card by the United States when it comes to fulfilling the agreement."

Nonetheless, Rouhani's criticism appeared relatively muted and he seemed to carefully avoid any indication that the agreement was at risk.
A notorious Indonesian people smuggler, who allegedly helped organise the failed asylum seeker journey to New Zealand at the heart of last year's cash for boat turn-back scandal, has been arrested in Jakarta.

The captain and five crew members, who said Australian officials paid them $US32,000 to return 65 asylum seekers to Indonesia, are already serving at least five years behind bars for people smuggling.

The Kanak, the boat that was stranded on the reefs near Landu Island after Australian officials allegedly paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Credit:Amilia Rosa

Indonesian police said Abraham Louhenapessy, or Captain Bram as he is also known, had been arrested at 2am Friday local time at his house in West Jakarta and would be taken to the "crime scene" on Rote island on Saturday.

It is alleged that Louhenapessy, 56, who has a long history of people smuggling to Australia, bought the boat and helped organise the trip of mostly Sri Lankan asylum seekers to New Zealand, which left Tegal in Java on April 30 last year.
Istanbul: Airstrikes pounded rebel-held areas in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo on Friday, hitting centres for a volunteer civil defense group in a sharp escalation by government forces after the collapse of ceasefire plans that raised fleeting hopes of peace.

The intensifying offensive on Aleppo - a critical foothold for rebel groups - came amid signals of an all-out push by President Bashar al-Assad to reclaim full control over the northern city, which remains virtually cut off from medical and food supplies.

Activists claim the latest air attacks have tried to further cripple the limited resources in the rebel zones. Among the targets, they say, have been the operational hubs for the civil defense group known as the White Helmets, whose teams rush to bombing sites to aid survivors.

At least three centres had been hit by airstrikes, and fire trucks and ambulances have been damaged, Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the group, told The Associated Press.
A Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officer has been charged over last week's fatal shooting of an unarmed black driver.

At a news conference, the Tulsa County district attorney, Steve Kunzweiler, said the officer, Betty Shelby, had been charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher, 40.

Mr Crutcher, 40, was killed last Friday evening on a Tulsa street by Officer Shelby, who was responding to reports of a tan SUV abandoned in the middle of the road, with its motor running, the driver's door open and the driver nowhere in sight.

Video recorded by a police helicopter and a patrol car's dashboard camera shows Mr Crutcher raising his hands, walking towards a car and leaning against it. He was then Tasered by one officer, Tyler Turnbough, and fatally shot by Officer Shelby, the department said, though the view from both cameras is obstructed in the moments before those actions.
The Dalai Lama gets jokes.

TV personality Piers Morgan asked the Dalai Lama what he thinks about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Thursday.

"I don't know," the Tibetan monk answered, adding that he never met Trump.

Then he did a hilarious impersonation of the real estate mogul. The Dalai Lama, 81, placed his hand over his head and mocked Trump's hair. And made a gesture to his mouth, saying "his mouth ... small."
"My roommates and I were sitting in our common area when we heard a female scream," she said. "We ran to the window to see what was going on and within seconds cops flooded the scene. We left in the next two hours, because we heard that there were still fugitives on the loose and we did not feel comfortable staying there (in our home)." Local police described one of the suspects as a black male wearing a light-coloured bandanna over his face. The other two suspects were described as black males.

"There hasn't been an arrest in the case yet," Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Darnisha Green said. Ms Green declined to say if Mr Reid was shot after refusing to hand over money to the robbers. His friends said the easygoing Australian likely would not have tried to fight off the men. "If I had to guess, when he was approached Kevin would have said, 'Oh come on. I'll give you some cash. Let's go and get a beer'," a friend Marcia Banes, of Old Savannah Tours, told AAP. According to WOTC-TV news, a police report indicates Mr Reid was resuscitated after the shooting and asked to see his wife, but died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

Mr Reid developed a great love of Aboriginal art after living in Alice Springs for 25 years. His Savannah gallery specialised in contemporary central and western desert art and jewellery created using paintings by the Warlukurlangu artists of the Northern Territory. Mr Reid, who first visited the art friendly community of Savannah in 1992, opened what he believed to be the only Aboriginal art gallery on America's eastern seaboard. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia last July, relocating to Savannah in February and opening his gallery in April. In interview last month aired on WOTC-TV, he said he had always been drawn to Savannah.

"I married by beautiful wife here in Savannah last year. I'm from Alice Springs right in the middle of Australia, 27,000 people, so I said to her if I'm going to move over to America I ain't going to live in Atlanta. So we flipped a coin and Savannah came up," he said. Ms Graham-Reid, an American, said the happiest day of her life was when they married. "Kevin was the most wonderful man I've ever known, he would give the shirt off his back to help anyone in need," Ms Graham-Reid wrote. "He was bright, funny and deeply loyal. The happiest day of my life was the day we got married. I treasure every minute we had together.

"He made an impact on people wherever he went and he will be missed by countless." Michael Owens, president of the Tourism Leadership Council, said Mr Reid had been a highly regarded member of the community. "We are all deeply saddened by this loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family," said. Savannah, with its cobblestone streets and rich history as an important site during the American Revolution and US Civil War, is a popular tourist destination. Australians are Savannah's fifth largest international tourism market.

However, locals are concerned by an uptick in violence and filled message boards on local websites with heartfelt messages for Mr Reid and his family, outrage at crime in the area and debated Georgia's lax gun laws. One local wrote she was going to buy a gun "ASAP" to protect herself because she lived just two minutes from the shooting. Christopher Chemsak, who lived in Mr Reid's apartment building, recalled how he sat with him on the front porch a few days ago and the Australian remarked how "life is good". "Last night I heard a wife scream as her husband was shot point blank by three strangers who jumped out of the shadows, only footsteps away from her front door," Mr Chemsak wrote on the Savannah Morning News website. "The only sound more horrifying than the crack of the gunfire was his body's last attempts to maintain life."
GREAT BAY:--- Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that Kortesteeg in Philipsburg will be closed to motorized traffic.

The closure will take place on Sunday, September 25 and Sunday, October 2 from 7.00AM through 2.00PM.

The closure is related to the setting up of scaffolding to be used for the repair of a building in the vicinity. Heavy equipment will also be in use.

Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconveniences this may cause.
DEED, SALE, AND PURCHASE AGREEMENT SIGNED

PHILIPSBURG:--- With a deed signed before a notary as well as a purchase and sale agreement reached between parties concerned, the way has been paved for the construction of new parking facilities in Philipsburg.

The long anticipated facilities are a project of the general pension fund, APS, which signed the deed to the area where the facilities are to be constructed, on Thursday. Earlier a sale and purchase agreement was also signed by APS with the government of St. Maarten.

Finance Minister, Richard Gibson, and VROMI minister, Angel Meyers, signed that agreement on behalf of the government while APS chairman of the board, Franklyn Richards, and Guilliano Saturnilia, a member of the board, signed on behalf of the APS pension fund.

Prior to this recent development, the St. Maarten government and APS entered into a preliminary debt settlement agreement on February 5, 2016, with respect to the payment of the debt that St. Maarten has with APS for an amount of over 83 million guilders.

The sale of the parcel of land is part of the agreement reached to reduce the total amount of monies owed to APS by the country of St. Maarten. With a value of just under 4.5 million guilders, the transfer of the parcel will be reduced to about 79 million guilders. This remaining amount will be settled with funds coming from the settlement of the division of assets of the former Netherlands Antilles and from the sale of the new government building to SZV.

APS is now the owner of the parcel of land located in Philipsburg, bounded to the south by the parcel of land on which the New Government Administration Building is constructed on Pond Island.

APS plans on utilizing the newly acquired parcel to erect and exploit a multi-story parking facility and commercial /office units, as was agreed upon in the debt settlement agreement of February 2016.
Cul de Sac:--- How will they reduce the brain-drain on St. Maarten, what plans or programs will they put in place to reduce crime among the youth on the island, and how can they diversify the economy instead of us relying on tourism as the major economic activity, were just some of the questions posed during Tuesday's panel discussion by students of several high schools to representatives of the nine political parties contesting the September 26 parliamentary elections.

The event, which was sponsored by St. Maarten Timeshare Association, heated up at St. Maarten Academy's academic campus on Tuesday afternoon under the theme, "Generation Hope; Our Future Leaders".

Sitting on the panel were Ms. Marinka Gumbs of the Democratic Party (DP), Mrs. Mercedes van der Waals-Wyatt Leader of Helping Our People Excel (HOPE), Mr. Cedric Peterson of the National Alliance (NA), Mr. Benjamin Bell of Sint Maarten Christian Party (SMCP), Mr. Terrance Frederick of St. Maarten Development Party (SDM), Ms. Tatiana Arrindell of United Peoples (UP) party, Mr. Romain Laville of United St. Maarten Party (US Party), Mr. Leonard Priest of One St. Maarten People Party (OSPP), and Mr. Armando Gumbs of People's Progressive Alliance.

The discussion, which was moderated by Distinguished Toastmaster Amanda Vital-Bedminister, kicked off with a simple question that stumped one panelist: What are the three arms of government? In true diplomatic fashion, both Priest and Laville went to the rescue and gave an explanation to the more than 100 students and teachers from host school St. Maarten Academy, Charlotte Brookson Academy, MAC Comprehensive High School, St. Dominic High, and Milton Peters College.

Although some members of the panel circumvented answering some questions, when pressed on issues of the minimum wage and cost of living, the audience was urged to think outside the box and look at other areas that they can utilize their skills. Become entrepreneurs of your own businesses, and as it relates to the struggle of single parents, divest funds garnered from the millions of tourists to education in order to assist minimum wage parents in educating their children.

Ms. Gumbs stated strongly that there needs to be more programmes on St. Maarten to cater to children with special needs, especially within mainstream schools. On the topic of building a new hospital, former Member of Parliament Laville said people should not only be focused on getting a nice looking building and equipment, but qualified personnel. They should seek to ensure that the care offered is up to par. He pointed out that despite the condition of the building of the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital on the north of the island, the quality of care is known to be good.

Most students felt that the panelists did not discuss how the government would go about promoting norms and values in the country. Nonetheless, the identity issue was a hot topic and all panelists said people should be considered St. Maarteners once they were born here.

All panelists were given three minutes to present their platforms and two minutes to answer questions. All persons were cautioned to discuss issues, not personalities in order to generate a healthy discussion.

Other issues such as education, health care, employment, and identity were raised by the students and aptly handled by the party representatives. The two-hour session had to be extended, as students insisted on being heard.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The SMCU delivered a resolution to the Prime Minister dated August 24, 2016 requesting the reopening of the application for the CEO position of Telem. We also requested for him to appoint the required new members on the board of directors.

The reason that there is a need for the new board members is because the articles of incorporation indicate that the board must consist of a maximum seven or a minimum five members, whereas currently there are three members on the board.

The Prime Minister publicized on September 22, 2016, that three new board member would be added to the board for the board to be complete, but if three new board members are added to the board it will be a total of six members (an even number) and not seven as is mentioned in the articles of incorporation.

The Prime Minister is playing a game where he will appoint three members to the board making the total board members six, and since this will not be in order with the articles of incorporation, one of the board members will become the CEO of Telem and the board will remain with five members.

This would mean that the Prime Minister will not reopen the vacancy of the CEO of Telem as was requested by the employees of Telem and he is trying to keep it a secret till after the election.

Telem has a total of one hundred and thirty-five employees including the management and seventy-two of those employees requested the prime minister in a resolution sent August 24, 2016, to reopen the CEO vacancy and make the process transparent where the employees working in Telem could have also gotten the opportunity to apply for the function base on the qualifications as well as external candidates.

This is a clear indication of a dictatorship of the Prime Minister where he is supposed to be working for the people of St. Maarten, and the people of St. Maarten made a request that it seems like it will not be granted.

The other situation is the merger of Telem/UTS 60/40.

The prime minister publicized the merger of these two companies without even knowing if the employees in these two companies were informed prior to the press release of the Prime Minister.

Anytime there is such delicate information that will be publicized by the council of ministers or the Prime Minister, one should first make it their business to make sure the parties that are going to be affected by the situation is informed prior to making such statements.

St. Maarten has twenty-five percent shares in UTS in general; the question is what will happen with those shares because Curacao claimed that St. Maarten has twelve point five percent.

The Prime Minister also have to inform the people of St Maarten what will happen with those shares and why Curacao claims that. Maarten has 12.5% where there are documents stating St. Maarten has 25%. See the website http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0028594/2010-10-10 where information can be
10 years of SEEBURGER in China

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China is my baby, said the companys founder, Bernd Seeburger, in his anniversary address in Shanghai, explaining SEEBURGERs global commitment and the importance of the Chinese market for the company.

As a technology and software partner for the B2B and EDI requirements of many OEMs and their partners in the supply industry, SEEBURGER AG has been successfully represented in China since 2006 by its Chinese subsidiary and branches in Shanghai and Beijing. As a leading provider of B2B/EDI integration solutions, SEEBURGER CHINA supports automotive, retail, logistics, pharmaceuticals, and high-tech enterprises by providing local competence. Representatives of well-known customers and partners, speaking at the anniversary event, noted how they were able to optimize their business processes in a wide range of ways and share data globally and securely with SEEBURGER solutions. In addition to the SEEBURGER solutions, customers are especially appreciative of the local SEEBURGER teams expertise. The SEEBURGER experts are familiar with the business practices and rules of the Chinese market. They advise and look after their customers multilingually in German, English and Chinese.
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The identity of the 14-year-old Cheddar schoolgirl who tragically died on Tuesday (September 20) has been today confirmed by coroners as Sofia Legg.

Miss Legg, who attended the Kings of Wessex Academy in Cheddar, unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday evening, prompting the school to send a letter to parents on Wednesday morning.

Forte's Ice Cream Parlour in Cheddar, owned by Miss Legg's parents, has been closed this week as a mark of respect.

Tucker's Fish and Chip shop confirmed the ice cream parlour was closed because of the death and that the family was "currently going through some grief".

On Facebook, local people paid tribute to the 14-year-old, with Angela Miller writing: "What tragic, sad news. My heart goes out to the parents, family and friends. God Bless."

Aaron Oates wrote "So incredibly sad. I feel so, so much for the family."

Katie Florey wrote: "Such sad news! R.I.P Sofia."

The letter sent from Kings of Wessex executive head teacher Chris Richardson to parents on Wednesday read: "I am very sorry to have to inform you about some sad news.

"We have been informed by the police that one of our Year 10 students passed away last night. As yet we have no further details.

"I would like to reassure you that we are working hard to support all our students in school who have been affected.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this very sad time."

A separate statement from the school said: "The Kings of Wessex Academy is deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of a student.

"The student will be greatly missed by staff and students and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends at this tragic time.

"The academy is currently supporting students in school."

Later on Wednesday, the police issued a statement confirming the death was not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: "We were called at 10.20pm on September 20 following the sudden death of a 14-year-old girl in Cheddar.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report is being prepared for the coroner."

If you would like to pay tribute to Miss Legg please post your comments in the comment section below or on the Cheddar Valley Gazette Facebook page .
When and where to Trick-or-Treat? South Bend and area times listed

local
BILLINGS -- 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.
BILLINGS -- With one plunge of a 6-inch blade, it was over.

Robert Lee Bauer, 56, was sentenced Thursday to 45 years in the Montana State Prison for the mitigated deliberate homicide of Joseph Broken Rope, a father of eight. Bauer pleaded guilty to the crime in June.

Broken Rope's wife and mother were in the courtroom for the sentencing. Angela Broken Rope testified to the impact the death had left on her large family. Joseph Broken Rope was the main breadwinner for the family. In addition to the emotional toll of losing him, the family has struggled to maintain a residence, even living on the street for two weeks, she testified.

At the end of her testimony, she told Bauer to rot in hell.

Details of the murder were illuminated at sentencing. At the time, Bauer was staying in his twin brother's apartment. He was struggling with depression and substance abuse, and his brother had begun telling him how useless he was. Bauer wanted to get out of Billings.

Broken Rope had often purchased Bauer's state assistance food card from him. Broken Rope had not given him the $150 Bauer believed Broken Rope still owed him. A little before 9 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2015, Bauer called Broken Rope and requested the $150, telling him to meet him downtown.

Anticipating there might be trouble, Bauer brought a knife.

Yellowstone County District Judge Michael Moses said this was where the mitigating circumstances ended in Bauer's case.

"You're the one who took the six-inch blade to a fist-fight," Moses said.

Billings Police Detective Steve Hallam testified about witness accounts of the stabbing.

Broken Rope and Bauer were standing on the sidewalk outside a restaurant near North 25th Street and First Avenue North. Broken Rope struck Bauer once before Bauer stabbed him in the chest.

Bauer then ran away.

The 40-year-old Broken Rope was left to bleed to death. Medical reports would later determine the blade pierced his heart.

"One stroke of that blade into the heart of a man who had assisted you, and that was that," Moses said.

Bauer's attorney, Major Crime Public Defender Clark Mathews, asked the court to remember when sentencing Bauer this was still a reaction, not a premeditated act.

"I didn't go there to hurt nobody," Bauer said. "I wanted to get my money and to leave Billings. It all went bad. I don't know what else to say. I hope God forgives me, but, I don't know."

Bauer turned to the crowd and apologized to Angela Broken Rope.

Moses sentenced Bauer to 35 years, five years less than the maximum. Moses sentenced Bauer to an additional 10 years for using the knife to kill.

Moses also ordered Bauer to pay $824 in restitution to the crime victim's compensation fund, adding no amount of restitution could make up for the trauma Bauer had inflicted on this family.

"Mrs. Broken Rope says someday she will forgive you," Moses said. "That's an amazing statement."
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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.
The Black Moon will occur on Apr, 30. 2022. Pictured here is the earliest visible waxing crescent after a new moon.

The Black Moon is a rare occurrence and will occur on Apr. 30, causing a partial solar eclipse for parts of South America.

A Black Moon is not an official astronomical term but there are two common definitions for the term according to Time and Date (opens in new tab):

The second new moon in a single calendar month. The third new moon in a season of four new moons.

While a full moon refers to the moon phase when the moon's Earth-facing side is fully illuminated by sunlight, a new moon refers to the moon phase when the moon's Earth-facing side is fully in shadow. (Unfortunately, that means the Black Moon will be more or less invisible.)

Related: Full moon names for 2022

What is a Black Moon?

A Black Moon is a fairly rare occurrence, we did not experience any Black Moons in 2021.

Because the lunar calendar almost lines up with Earth's calendar year, there is typically one full moon and one new moon each month. A second full moon in a single calendar month is sometimes called a "Blue Moon." By this definition, a Black Moon is the flip side of a Blue Moon: the second new moon in a single calendar month. These Black Moons occur approximately once every 29 months and are the most common type of Black Moon according to Time and Date.

By the second definition, a Black Moon refers to an extra full moon in a season. Because Earth's seasons are approximately three months long, they typically have three new moons. When a season has four new moons the third new moon is called a Black Moon. These seasonal Black Moons occur about once every 33 months according to Time and Date.

When is the next Black Moon?

This year's Black Moon will occur on Apr. 30, 2022.

Across the southeast Pacific and southern South America, the Black Moon will partially eclipse the sun. Roughly 64% of the sun's disk will be blotted out at most, according to NASA (opens in new tab).

Related: Solar eclipse guide 2022: When, where & how to see them

The next Black Moon by the seasonal definition of the term will occur on May 19, 2023.

Black Moon viewing opportunities

(opens in new tab) . See the moon phases, and the difference between a waxing and waning crescent or gibbous moon, in this Space.com infographic about the lunar cycle each month. See the full infographic (Image credit: Karl Tate/Space.com)

(opens in new tab)

During its "new moon" phase, the moon is always "black". It happens at that time of the month when the moon passes through the same part of the sky as the sun and as such, the moon's dark or unilluminated side faces Earth. So there really is nothing to see.

But since there are times when the new moon passes directly between Earth and the sun and we can then see the moon's black silhouette crossing in front of the sun, causing a solar eclipse. This year's Black Moon will partially eclipse the sun.

Related: Partial solar eclipse of April 2022: When and where it is and how to watch it online

Unlike a "supermoon," which gets countless numbers of people scurrying for vantage points to see a slightly larger and slightly brighter-than-average full moon, with a Black Moon, you simply can't see it.

A couple of evenings later, however, you'll be able to pick out a slender sliver of a waxing crescent moon low in the western twilight sky about 30 or 40 minutes after sunset local time.

Some people mistakenly refer to the appearance of any thin lunar crescent as the "new moon." This fallacy has even spread into popular literature. In his classic work "A Night to Remember," about the sinking of the Titanic, author Walter Lord quotes a fireman in a lifeboat who caught sight of a narrow crescent low in the dawn sky and exclaimed, "A new moon!"

Additional resources

Explore April's partial solar eclipse in more detail (opens in new tab) with NASA. Learn more about Black Moons with BBC Newsround (opens in new tab) and National Geographic (opens in new tab).

Bibliography

Fred Espenak, NASA Eclipse Web Site, (opens in new tab) NASA. Solar Eclipses: 2021 - 2030.

Aparna Kher, timeanddate.com (opens in new tab), When Is The Next Black Moon?

National Geographic (opens in new tab), What is a 'black moon', and how often does one happen?

BBC Newsround, (opens in new tab) What is a Black Moon?

Vanessa Thomas, NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, Partial Solar Eclipse on April 30, 2022. NASA Science (opens in new tab).

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, N.Y. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
SpaceX's planned 2018 Mars mission could pave the way for a few different types of boot prints on the Red Planet.

The California-based company aims to launch one of its uncrewed Dragon capsules toward the Red Planet in May 2018, to test out some of the technologies needed to make SpaceX's ambitious Mars-colonization goal a reality.

One of those technologies is "supersonic retropropulsion." Dragon will hit the Martian atmosphere going far faster than the speed of sound; the capsule will use its onboard SuperDraco thrusters, rather than parachutes, to slow down enough to land. [SpaceX's Red Dragon Mars Mission in Images]

No Red Planet effort has ever relied upon supersonic retropropulsion. But NASA views the strategy as key to enabling human Mars missions, which will require putting extremely heavy payloads such as habitat modules down on the planet's surface. (NASA's 1-ton Curiosity rover, which touched down in August 2012, pretty much maxed out the agency's daring parachute-sky-crane landing system, agency officials have said.)

"Every single candidate EDL [entry, descent and landing] architecture we have for Mars human exploration relies to some extent on supersonic retropropulsion," Phil McAlister, director of the Commercial Spaceflight Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday during a presentation with the agency's Future In-Space Operations (FISO) working group.

So NASA is keen to see how Dragon's ride through the Red Planet's skies goes. That helps explain why the space agency is providing technical support to the 2018 "Red Dragon" mission in a range of areas, from deep-space communication to the drafting of "planetary protection" protocols designed to reduce the risk of contaminating Mars with Earth microbes. (NASA's support does not include funding, as SpaceX is paying for the mission.)

In return for this help, NASA will receive "most of SpaceX's entry, descent and landing flight data," McAlister said. "This is a critical, critical technology for us, and this is flight data that would not be available to us [by] any other means.

"So this was a unique opportunity for NASA to partner on a mission that we could not otherwise do," he added, referring to the collaboration as a "win-win" for SpaceX and NASA. "Could we do one like this in the future? Sure, but we don't have one on the books right now. It's not funded and, to my knowledge, hasn't even been proposed."

NASA aims to get astronauts to the vicinity of Mars before the end of the 2030s. SpaceX is working on a more aggressive time line; if all goes according to plan, the company hopes to launch the first Red Planet pioneers in 2024, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has said.

Musk has stressed repeatedly that he started SpaceX back in 2002 primarily to help colonize Mars, thereby making humanity less vulnerable to asteroid strikes and other calamities that could wipe out the species.

Whereas the 2018 mission will rely on Dragon and SpaceX's in-development Falcon Heavy rocket, SpaceX's crewed Mars efforts will employ an entirely different architecture, known as the "Interplanetary Transport System" (ITS).

Musk has said he will unveil details of the still-mysterious ITS, and the company's broad humans-to-Mars ambitions, next Tuesday (Sept. 27) during a presentation at the International Astronautical Congress meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
MAUI, Hawaii  China and the United States plan to hold a second set of talks later this year to discuss how their militaries operate in space.

In a keynote speech here Sept. 22 at the AMOS conference, Frank Rose, the assistant secretary of State for arms control, verification and compliance, said that the upcoming discussion would likely include talk of space debris.

While representatives from the U.S. and China have met previously to talk about civil uses of space, the two sides met for a separate discussion of military space topics for the first time in May. [7 Wild Ways to Destroy Orbital Debris]

Space debris has been a divisive issue between the countries for nearly a decade.

On Jan. 11, 2007, China deliberately destroyed one of its defunct weather satellites known as Fengyun-1C using a ground-based, medium-range ballistic missile. The action, which was widely condemned throughout the international space community, left a cloud of potentially hazardous debris in a heavily used belt of Earth orbit.

Since that event, U.S. Defense Department leaders say China continues to develop anti-satellite weapons and officials point to similar tests in 2010, 2013 and 2014.

Leaders of the U.S. intelligence community and the Defense Department frequently point to China's actions in developing anti-satellite weapons as a driver in its ongoing space protection efforts.

But Rose said he had "a very frank exchange" with his counterpart from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a meeting in Washington, D.C. in May and that the conversation included space debris, preventing collisions on orbit and China's anti-satellite systems.

"It's very clear there are new threats to the space systems and the space systems of our allies. At the same time, we need a comprehensive approach to this threat. There is no silver bullet," Rose said. "We want to promote strategic restraint where we can. We've also made it very clear to China, Russia and other potential adversaries the United States will defend ourselves and our friends in outer space."

U.S. government estimates say the 2007 test led to 3,400 pieces of debris, more than half of which is expected to still be in orbit in 2027.

But Rose also said the two countries are making progress. Following U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to China earlier this month, the White House issued a fact sheet saying "the United States and China recognized that space debris can be catastrophic to satellite and human spaceflight, and that, due to the global dependence on space-based capabilities, the creation of space debris can seriously affect all nations."

Rose said that five years ago, such discussions would have been nearly impossible. But in the last 18 months he has been to China seven times and worked hard to find common ground on the issue.

Now, he said, China takes "space debris very seriously" and U.S. State Department officials have been encouraged that China's recent anti-satellite tests have not created debris. At the same time, in recent years, the Air Force has provided China thousands of collision alert, warning that debris from the 2007 test was nearing their satellites.

"We have made significant progress. Are we where I would like us to be? The answer is no," Rose said. "But if you had asked me five years ago whether the United States and China would release fact sheets on the challenge of space debris at the presidential level, I would have said 'You're smoking something.'"

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
North Korea's new rocket engine might help the country launch satellites to higher orbits, as the rogue nation claims  but the technology could also help North Korea's (possibly nuclear-armed) missiles fly farther, researchers said.

On Tuesday (Sept. 20), North Korea's state news agency reported a ground test "of a new type of high-power engine of a carrier rocket for the geostationary satellite." Geostationary satellites are located in circular orbits about 22,200 miles (35,8000 kilometers) above Earth's equator, and are often used for communications, weather and surveillance applications.

However, many observers outside North Korea see its space program as a way to develop technologies for long-range ballistic missiles. Such weapons could carry nuclear bombs, which North Korea has tested multiple times. [Images: North Korea's Rocket Program]

The new engine does advance both North Korea's civil and its military rocket efforts, said missile expert David Wright, a senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a science advocacy group in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wright is co-director of the group's Global Security Program.

"This is the kind of thing you try and build to get more rocket capabilities, whether you're trying to build a ballistic missile or space-launch vehicle," Wright told Space.com.

This new rocket engine is larger than North Korea's previous efforts. In the test, the engine was strapped to a test stand, which is typical for tests of engines that are still in development, Wright said.

North Korea said the new engine produced 80 tons of thrust. If true, that is about 2.5 times as much thrust as the engine used in North Korea's Nodong missile, which produces about 30 tons of thrust and has a range of about 800 miles (1,300 km), Wright said. He noted that North Korea used a cluster of four Nodong engines to power the first stage of the country's Unha satellite launcher, which placed small satellites in orbit in 2012 and 2016.

North Korea has launched several rockets and missiles as part of budding space program. Here's how North Korea's Unha-3 rocket works (Image credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor)

"The Unha launcher can put maybe 100 kilograms [220 lbs.] into a pretty low orbit, maybe 400 or 500 kilometers [250 to 310 miles]" above the Earth's surface, Wright said. "By increasing the thrust, it allows North Korea to lift satellites to higher altitudes, or to carry a greater payload to longer distances if it is a ballistic missile."

Wright noted that the earlier, Nodong engine was essentially a scaled-up version of the one in the Scud, the Soviet missile that Iraq often used during the Gulf War of the 1990s. Whereas the Nodong used Scud-level propellants instead of ones used in more modern rockets, Wright noted that the color of the flame coming from the new engine in photos of the test suggest that this missile uses more advanced propellants that can generate higher thrust. [ Top 10 Space Weapons ]

"The surprise has been why North Korea has stuck with Scud propellants for so long," Wright said. "There have been reports for 15 years now that North Korea had bought some submarine-launched missiles from the Soviet Union after it collapsed that used more advanced propellants, yet in all this time, we didn't see them launch missiles with anything but Scud propellant.

"It's possible  and this is pure speculation  that they didn't have the capabilities to produce vast quantities of advanced propellant, which you'd need to fuel these kinds of rockets," Wright said.

To understand what capabilities this new engine might grant North Korea, Wright suggested looking at China's rocket program, which developed engines with similar thrust and propellant to what's found in the new North Korean engine.

Wright suggested North Korea may be advancing its rocket technology along a path similar to China's 40 years ago, which gave that country both a satellite-launch capability and long-range ballistic-missile capability.

For instance, Wright said that North Korea's Unha satellite launcher is similar to China's first satellite launcher. China's subsequent step was to build larger rockets that had greater thrust, such as the YF-20 engine, which produced 70 tons of thrust at liftoff, similar to what North Korea's new engine produces. Ultimately, China used the YF-20 engine not only to launch satellites to geostationary orbit with the nation's LM-3 rocket, but also to help develop the country's first true intercontinental ballistic missile, the DF-5.

Wright also noted that North Korea's Sohae launch facility has a gantry tower  which holds a rocket prior to launch  that is now about 180 feet (55 m) tall. That is tall enough to accommodate China's LM-3 rocket, which was about 140 feet (43 m) tall, but also China's military DF-5 rocket, which is about 105 feet (32 m) tall.

Although North Korea's new rocket engine may be worrisome, "I don't think this changes things much for South Korea and Japan. North Korea already had missiles to reach those countries," Wright said. "And when it comes to the United States, while you hate to see countries, especially ones like North Korea, be able to target heavier payloads to bigger parts of your country, it's hard to imagine North Korea would be suicidal enough to use them."

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebookand Google+. Original article on Space.com.
MISSOULA -- There was an unusual sight on the University of Montana campus Thursday: a student rally.

Its not so much the rally that was unusual as its makeup  this one was diverse, in speakers, attendees and topic, a unique sight at a university with only 14 African-American students as of the 2014-15 school year, and whose student bodys main charges for change dont often include race-related issues.

Were trying to change that, UM Black Student Union President LeShawn George said.

He, along with Native Generational Change founder and director Dustin Monroe, organized the Voice4Justice rally, with a dual message of environmental justice and police accountability.

Standing on a small hill, flanked by a banner reading Black Lives Matter Native Lives Matter in black spray-painted block letters, George stalked back and forth in a Black Lives Matter shirt, a backward UM flat-bill hat and mismatched Nikes, one thumb in his pocket, the other hand holding a microphone plugged into a small amplifier.

In Missoula, we like to feel like were insulated, he said. But no longer can we stand by from issues in other communities.

Giving some background on the Black Student Union (first in the nation, he said, though that's disputed) and the African American Studies Program (third in the nation), George, a senior in the community health program, said that legacy informed Thursdays event.

He recited famous passages from the Declaration of Independence, to the first smatterings of applause that broke into cheers at George's insistence that those famous words  life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness  apply to every person, no matter their race.

Calling the rally a start of further dialogue, George encouraged the crowd to pay attention for more gatherings and events.

Lets stay in contact, lets create change, he said.

Then he introduced Monroe as his indigenous brother and co-freedom fighter, bringing the data analytics masters student from the Fort Belknap Reservation onto the hill.

Monroe said hes been to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation protest twice and is planning a third trip. He referenced arrests and attacks by dogs brought by private security firms at the camps, which he said belie the true, peaceful nature of the protests.

On one of his trips, an elder told him to bring this home with you, inspiring him to join George and the Black Student Unions rally.

Ive lived in Montana all my life and always wondered why people of color dont come together, Monroe said, pointing to George, saying they have similar problems dealing with systemic poverty, racism and crime.

Then Monroe gestured to the crowd, saying just being at the rally meant they cared about these problems too.

My issues are your issues, Monroe said. Even if youre not a minority.

More than 60 people watched, cheered and chanted with George, Monroe and a few other speakers during the hourlong rally, held in UMs free speech zone, a small section of walkways and grassy knolls between the library and University Center.

A student who identified himself as Mateo Mblem, a sustainable construction major and founder of 64 To Your Door music, spoke on police brutality, along with his friend John Ifejika, while Courtney Little Axe shared her experience visiting the Standing Rock camp.

George then led a call-and-response, reading out more than 30 names of people who died from police shootings while the crowd repeated each one after him, along with a few areas, including Flint, Michigan; Standing Rock; and Butte, experiencing water issues.

Around three-quarters of the crowd followed EMPower Montana members Alyx Steadman and Alston Crudup, who were holding the Black Lives Matter Native Lives Matter banner, on a march to the Madison Street Bridge, chanting Water is life!

George ordered right hands up! and fists and pointed fingers were raised as the group marched past traffic. One passer-by grinned and gave two thumbs up to the rally.

On the bridge, George organized the crowd to face Mount Sentinel, even as many held their signs toward traffic, and said a few words while the banner was draped over the side of the bridge.

The rally came together in just a few weeks, after shootings in Orlando and Dallas this summer, George said. Once the protest in Standing Rock gained steam and garnered more attention, Monroe joined the rally.

We didnt wait for our representatives, we didnt wait for our mayor, we didnt wait for anybody, Monroe told the crowd of how the event came together. These are things my children are gonna have to deal with and I say"  to the loudest cheers of the day "Not. No. More."
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BUTTE -- Daredevil Robbie Knievel received a two-year deferred sentence in Butte District Court on Thursday in connection with a drunken driving incident in 2015.

Knievel, the son of the legendary Evel Knievel, stood before Judge Brad Newman and said he was definitely guilty of endangering the individuals who were involved in a four-car pileup after he ran a red light on April 21, 2015.

Before I plead guilty, I would like to say from the bottom of my heart I thank God nobody got hurt. I was definitely guilty, and I learned a lot from it, Knievel said.

The 54-year-old previously denied the felony charge of criminal endangerment in Butte District Court.

Knievel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, a second offense, which was amended from a felony count by Butte-Silver Bow County prosecutors. He received a six-month sentence in city court with all but seven days suspended.

Knievel, who has been sober since his arrest last year, cited his drinking problems all my life and thanked God that none of the victims were hurt.

I dont even know who any of the people are to this day, and that accident just really woke me up in my life, he said.

Knievel was walking with a cane in court, having suffered a spinal injury in a "sober jump" exhibition in Palm Springs, Calif., several months after the Butte accident. He had surgery on his spine in February of this year.

Deputy County Attorney Ann Shea argued for a deferred sentence, saying it was the right amount of time for monitoring and rehabilitation. Two years of reporting to a probation officer would be the best for Knievel and the community, she said.

Insurance covered the property damage resulting from the crash and no restitution would be required, Shea said.

Defense Attorney Walter Hennessey agreed with the prosecutor, adding that the deferred sentence would give his client a chance to prove to the court he had changed.

Newman said he had considered a custodial sentence for Knievel, but given his lack of a felony conviction a deferred sentence should be our first line of attack.

Knievel was overcome with emotion, at times crying, as the two attorneys made their sentencing recommendations.

Newman reminded him how close he came to endangering the lives of the victims in the crash, and hurting himself.

Noting Knievels fame, Newman also ordered him to complete 40 hours of community service, specifically for educational purposes. Knievel had earlier said that he wanted to continue speaking about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Youre going to be a better messenger than the court can be  maybe change someones life, Newman said.
Kathy Miller apologizes and resigns as Donald Trumps campaign chair in Mahoning County, Ohio after getting embroiled in a controversy over racism in America.

This week, Miller took part in The Guardians Anywhere but Washington series, where she had a lot to say about African-Americans.

The series features a reporter driving around America and talking to voters and local officials about the 2016 election. Miller worked as a coordinator for the Trump and Mike Pence campaign in Mahoning County  which is historically Democratic.

The interview started in typical fashion with Miller describing her efforts to get more people to join the Republican party. The British reporter asked Miller her thoughts on the idea that Trump has been able to make the actual racism that was sitting to rise to the surface.

In the video, Miller explains that racism did not exist in America before. She said that she worked as a real estate agent, and all was well before 2008.

She stated that President Barack Obama, the first African-American president, is the reason why the country is racially divided. According to Miller, Obama and the black communitys lack of determination are to be blamed for the rise of gun violence and the impoverishment of some neighborhoods. Miller said:

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 was adamant that black people were well off even in the 1960s despite racism, segregation, the Jim Crow era, and the birth of the KKK.

She also asked black people to stop complaining about the lack of opportunity. She stated that if they are failing, they have themselves to blame. She shared:

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. 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.

Miller also said that the Black Lives Matter movement is a stupid waste of time and claimed that black people do not go out to vote because they were not raised correctly.

After the interview had ended, Miller talked briefly to the reporter saying that she does not care if her statements are viewed as racist or politically incorrect because she was just speaking the truth. The interview went viral, and Miller has since apologized and resigned from her post. She stated:

My personal comments were inappropriate, and I apologize. I am not a spokesperson for the campaign and was not speaking on its behalf. I have resigned as the volunteer campaign chair in Mahoning County and as an elector to the Electoral College to avoid any unnecessary distractions.

Bob Paduchik, Ohio state director for the Trump campaign, said he had replaced Miller with Tracey Winbush, another local campaigner. Winbush, who is African-American, was not always a fan of Mr. Trump. During a political gathering in April, Winbush stated:

For those of you who know, I have a radio show and I have bashed the crap out of Trump for the last five months, six months, nine months. And my listeners are going to kill me if I say anything positive about him.

Paduchik explained the process by saying:

Our county chairs are volunteers who signed up to help organize grassroots outreach like door-knocking and phone calls, they are not spokespeople for the campaign.

Millers comments echoed what Trump told supporters in North Carolina a few days ago. The GOP nominee for president said:

African American communities are absolutely in the worst shape theyve ever been in before. Ever, ever ever.

Some of Trumps supporters are still defending the former campaign aide. Miller was just speaking the truth, they say.
The controversial and unpopular changes will see an end to the CTS linked holding rules. Currently, keepers can register holdings that they regularly use so cattle movements between these linked holdings do not need to be electronically reported, although they do have to be noted in the farms herd register.

The new rules will see all cattle movements in Scotland reported through Scotmoves to an online holding register.

The Union expects that all cattle keepers, including those currently using linked holdings, will be formally notified by Scottish Government of the changes and it welcomes the Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewings reassurance that, given this is a fundamental shift in recording requirements, there will be no financial penalties for any first time breaches for anyone working with the new recording system. That was in response to a specific request from NFU Scotland.

Commenting on the changes, NFU Scotlands Vice President Andrew McCornick said:

As the industry will be aware, Scottish Government has been looking to end the use of linked holdings since 2007 but intervention by NFU Scotland has secured their continued use until now.

Many cattle keepers around Scotland will now be concerned about the replacement system, its reliance on figures being accurately recorded on a central database and what that means for potential penalties and cross-compliance.

We expect details on the new system to be sent to every cattle keeper in Scotland in the near future.

The Cabinet Secretarys announcement that penalties will be waived for first time offences is very welcome. Looking further ahead, should the new system be seen to fail or be difficult to comply with, then further consideration on whether penalties are appropriate must be considered.
B T is investigating whether its customers may be affected by the state-sponsored hacking of 500 million Yahoo accounts.

Personal data has been stolen from the accounts in a security breach which dates back to 2014 but was discovered only recently.

The stolen data includes names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, hashed passwords, and the security questions  and answers  used to verify an account holders identity.

Last month, the technology site Motherboard reported that a hacker who uses the name Peace boasted he had account information belonging to 200 million Yahoo users and was trying to sell the data on the web.

BT, which has used email services provided by Yahoo, said: BT is currently investigating the Yahoo data breach. As a precaution for the minority of our customers who use Yahoo mail, we are advising those who havent changed their passwords post-December 2014 to change them.

Sky, whose email service is powered by Yahoo, told customers: We advise that you change your passwords online and follow good password management practices.

Customers have attacked Yahoo for not discovering the hack in 2014 and failing to tell them about it until yesterday. They also called on boss Marissa Mayer to quit.

News of the security lapse could also damage Yahoo as it tries to sell its digital operations to Verizon Communications for 3.7 billion.

Yahoo said the attack was committed by a state-sponsored actor. A spokesman added: Yahoo is working closely with law enforcement on this matter.
T he Co-op, Britains biggest mutual, which three years ago came close to collapse, is back on track despite first-half profits halving, its boss said today.

Richard Pennycook, who earlier this year opted to take a 60% pay cut, said his plan to rebuild the food-to-funerals group was going well, thanks to investments to drive sales.

There is a real confidence around the organisation that we are heading in the right direction, he added.

In 2013, the Co-op was rocked by the near-collapse of its bank, which needed 1.5 billion to stay afloat. Revelations later emerged about the banks then-chairman Paul Flowers drug use.

Attempting to draw a line under its troubles, Pennycook today said the affair was a good while ago now. We are back to being the Co-op and back to being different, he added.

Revenue rose 2.2% to 4.7 billion in the six months to July 2 but profits slid from 63 million to 31 million. Pennycook said the fall in profitability stemmed from major investments including pay increases for staff and price cuts for customers.

Sales at its food business, which has focused on the growing convenience sector, were up 3.1% on a like-for-like basis reflecting efforts to lower prices, particularly in fresh food. That has helped it take market share from competitors like Tesco Express and Sainsburys Local. It plans to open more stores this year and is looking to build its presence in London.

The bank continued to be a source of pain, however, as the group wrote down the value of its stake in the business by 45 million. The Co-op said that was consistent with falls in bank valuations generally.

The funeral business saw sales rise 1.2% to 164 million as prepaid funerals made up for a lower death rate. Meanwhile, insurance sales rose 30.8% to 208 million as the company rolled out a new IT platform to improve service.

Pennycook said there had been no impact whatsoever from Brexit so far and that while the firm would continue to monitor the situation it would be focused on self-help measures.

It is aiming to attract new members with a new advertising campaign launching in early 2017.
I ndivior dived to the bottom of the FTSE 250 in early trading on Friday as the drugs firm promised to vigorously defend itself against allegations of profiteering from a drug used to treat heroin addicts.

The Slough-based firm, which makes the branded drug Suboxone, said it will fight a civil complaint alleging violations of state and federal antitrust and consumer protection laws from 35 US states and the District of Columbia.

Shares in Indivior fell 43p, or more than 13%, to 283.2p after the announcement.

Its statement came a day after the antitrust lawsuit was filed alleging that the firm  spun out of Nurofen owner Reckitt Benckiser in 2014  was engaged in a scheme to block generic competitors and cause buyers to pay over the odds for Suboxone.

Pennsylvanias Attorney General Bruce Beemer said: This conduct forced consumers to pay more for Suboxone and severely limited their options for treating opioid addictions.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed a new watchdog group to protect users from drug price hikes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says opioids killed more than 28,000 in the US in 2014.
F rench bank Societe Generale was on tenterhooks today over a potentially costly legal ruling on the 4.9 billion (4.2 billion) in losses racked up by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel in 2008.

A Versailles appeals court was set to rule whether to uphold or cut the 4.9 billion in civil damages which Kerviel was initially ordered to pay to his former employer.

That original ruling was overturned and a public prosecutor has argued that the bank was not entitled to damages as it had left the door open for Kerviel to act illegally.

If the damages are quashed and the court rules that the bank shares responsibility with Kerviel for the incident, the French government has indicated that it would reclaim a 2.2 billion tax break granted to SocGen in the wake of the losses.

Analysts fear a legal reverse could lead to the bank scrapping its dividend this year.

Shares in SocGen were down 2% today. In October 2010, Kerviel was sentenced to three years in prison.
V irginia Woolf would surely have thought it a hoot. The select guests for Burberrys much anticipated ready-to-buy catwalk show at London Fashion Week arrived to find a copy of Woolfs 1928 novel Orlando on every seat. Her experimental literary fantasy, usually the stuff of academic seminars, was apparently the key to the fashion parade that they were about to see. Indeed, by being given a copy, the assembled fashion journalists and celebrities were clearly being encouraged to go away and peruse Woolfs modernist classic, all the better to appreciate the labels new collection.

Its all about gender fluidity, as fashion correspondents are solemnly calling it. In the words of Damon Albarn in the Blur song, Girls who are boys / Who like boys to be girls . Orlando is the story of a lovely youth growing up in Elizabethan England whose androgynous beauty makes it unsurprising that he eventually turns into a woman. The Burberry show featured both mens and womens clothes, often seeming interchangeable, modelled by boyish young women and girly young men. At the moment, it seems that there is nothing more fashionable than crossing those irksome gender boundaries.

Orlando gives cross-dressing a touch of class  not just literary distinction but also aristocratic hauteur. And it is true that in Twenties England it was only the upper classes who could safely play at gender-bending.

When Woolfs novel opens in the age of Elizabeth I, Orlando is a young nobleman, the heir to a great estate and a huge, sumptuously furnished ancestral house. Woolfs protagonist seems quite ready for a Vogue photo-shoot, with his teeth of almond whiteness, his cheeks covered with peach down and his eyes like drenched violets, so large that the water seemed to have brimmed in them and widened them. Alluringly androgynous, he possesses a pair of the shapeliest legs that any Nobleman has ever stood upright upon.

He has great fun dressing up. Within a few pages he is being visited by the Queen, in whose honour he hastily dons crimson breeches, lace collar, waistcoat of taffeta and shoes with rosettes on them as big as double dahlias. It is almost as if he were getting ready for the catwalk. (Though the shoes with rosettes seem to have been missing from the Burberry show, the other items were there.) Woolf has gone back to an age, when  if you were to judge from literature or paintings  posh young men were allowed to be beautiful, perfumed and feminine.

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There could be no doubt about his sex, though the fashion of the time did something to disguise it. The Elizabethans did transgender with poetic flair. Arent most of Shakespeares amorous sonnets addressed to a beautiful young man? The name of Woolfs hero-cum-heroine reminds us of Shakespeares Orlando, the lovely young man who wins the heart of Rosalind in As You Like It. This play is surely the ultimate in gender fluidity, featuring, at one point, a boy actor playing a girl (Rosalind) who disguises herself as a young man (Ganymede), who then pretends to be a girl in order to woo her man. Clearly the Elizabethan audience was relaxed about gender differences. All young women were played on the English stage by boys. Cross-dressing was the first principle of drama.

As the dutiful guests from the Burberry show get further into their copies of Orlando, they will find something even stranger than this. As one monarchs reign succeeds another, it is clear that Orlando is not ageing much. More than 60 years after Elizabeths death, still youthful, he is being sent by Charles II as an ambassador to Constantinople (a chance to don Turkish silk pyjamas). There he goes into a trance-like sleep and awakes after several days transformed. Truth! Truth! Truth! we have no choice left but confess  he was a woman.

As a woman she/he lives through another 250 years and ends triumphantly repossessing the ancestral home as an aeroplane roars overhead, in 1928, Woolfs present day.

The characters defiance of time is as useful to the Burberry designers as his/her androgyny, allowing the use not just of Elizabethan ruffs but also Georgian frock coats, and silk pyjamas and a flying jacket (worn together, naturally) from the Twenties. Women wear cavalry jackets and men sport embroidered tops. Some outfits perhaps owe more to Sally Potters 1992 film version of Orlando, in which Tilda Swinton is perfectly cast as the gender-changing protagonist, than to the original novel. Burberrys creative director Christopher Bailey enthuses about Orlando as a love letter to the past and to English history, yet fiercely modern.

It was also a kind of love letter to Vita Sackville-West, whose family home was Knole, Orlandos house in the novel  though, as a female, she could not inherit it. Vita had briefly been Woolfs lover, though, unlike her friend, Woolf was not a confirmed Sapphist (she never used the word lesbian). Its all about you and the lusts of your flesh and the lure of your mind, she told Vita, to whom she eventually dedicated the book. Orlandos gender fluidity is also a celebration of Vita Sackville-Wests defiance of sexual convention, and Woolfs own, briefer defiance of sexual boundaries.

Yet it is odd to see it as a fashion item. Woolf herself was not usually modishly dressed. When the fashion editor of Vogue met her in the Twenties she complained that this beautiful and distinguished woman was wearing what could only be described as an upturned wastepaper basket on her head. But she did love fancy dress. She and Vita liked to disport themselves as (male) cavaliers from the mid-17th century. It was all a practical joke. Indeed, Orlando, Woolf said, began as a joke. Surely she would have enjoyed seeing her jeu desprit inspire such elaborately conceived costumes, for they are costumes as much as clothes  fancy dress in earnest. What might have begun as a jest, the fashion business takes very seriously indeed.

John Mullan is Professor of English at University College London.


A young artist from Hackney who spent a year working on a painting of Barack Obama today told how he was overwhelmed to receive a personal letter of thanks from the White House.

Kevin Gill, 20, worked for up to 10 hours a day over 12 months to create the billion-dollar bill featuring the American presidents face.

He told the Standard he wanted to paint something special as a tribute to his idol, and used the presidents UK visit in April as an opportunity to present the 4ft by 2ft double-sided canvas to his aides.

Four months later, he received an official letter in the post from Mr Obama thanking him for the kind gift. Mr Gill, who has been inspired by the presidents battle to tackle gun crime in the US, said his biggest goal now was to meet him in person.

In the letter, Mr Obama, 55, wrote: Thank you for your kind gift. I want you to know I am moved by your generosity. Though we all come from different traditions and communities, I believe nations and individuals are stronger when they work together. By connecting across borders and cultures and holding firm to the ideals that unite us, we can move toward a future of greater peace and prosperity for all.

Thank you, again, for your thoughtful gesture. I wish you all the best.

The artist said: My main thoughts were that Obama had never been on a note before, and that there has never been a billion-dollar note, so I decided to merge the two to create some artwork.

When I received the reply I was overwhelmed, I was just so moved and shocked. I thought maybe he might reply after he stepped down because he would have more time but I never actually expected a reply.

The whole process took a year, I had to do sketches and planning and then actually paint it. Its not an ordinary painting, its double-sided  so twice the work.

I knew the president was visiting the UK in April, so I started arranging my time to get it to his people by then.

I wrote to David Cameron. He told me to contact the British Embassy  who then organised it for me.

That was the last I heard, until the letter came through. My mum was so excited. Ive been painting since I was 10 years old, and drawing since I was three.

I support Obama as he is trying to cut down gun crime. Coming from Hackney, we have high knife crime rate, I want people to look at the artwork Im doing and for it to inspire others to do something positive instead.

I would love to meet Obama, one day to get to The White House and meet him. Its the ultimate goal.

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Review at a glance









Q uentin Tarantino changed everything for black cowboys. No one remembers Will Smith as a wacky gunslinger in Wild Wild West. By contrast, Jamie Foxxs Django was one of the defining faces of 2012. And in The Hateful Eight Samuel L Jacksons Major Warren kicked up almost as much dust.

Now Antoine Fuqua has put Denzel Washington on a horse, in a remake of the John Sturges classic.

Does it matter that Fuqua is an African-American? Everybodys talking about race... finally, the issue of white supremacy is being talked about. Actually, thats a quote from Tarantino. Fuqua says: I dont talk about colour... it muddies the water.

In 1879 bounty hunter Sam Chisolm (Washington) is asked by a widow, Emma (Haley Bennett), to defend a white town. Its being menaced by Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard). To get the job done Sam recruits three whites, one Chinese man, one Texan-Mexican and a Native American. At first the guys are a little tetchy with each other. Before long theyre as jaunty as The Village People.

The Magnificent Seven Featurette - Sam Chisolm

As youd expect in a film aimed at families the gang are particularly respectful towards their big-daddy. In a surreal touch Sams oldest pal (Ethan Hawke) is a Confederate veteran, a Southerner who views all men as equal. Note how the N-word isnt even uttered by Sams foes. Washingtons lofty character, it would seem, has risen above racism.

Fuqua and Washington, surely, have the right to insulate themselves from ugly terms of abuse, even if it means that what Obama once called the original sin of slavery gets downplayed. As a call to arms The Magnificent Seven underlines the benefits of being able to forgive, or at least forget. The Comanche risks his life for the townspeople whove stolen his land. Needs must.

Women, via pretty Emma, are crucial to the new coalition. Emma wears the sort of tight peasant tops that make even the modestly endowed look like Chesty La Rue. And the highest compliment shes paid is that shes got balls (a loathsome phrase). But at least she isnt slapped around/sexually humiliated and/or paired off with one of the heroes.

In other news, Washington (61) somehow looks younger than Hawke (45). The star of the show is breezily charismatic and, while nothing he does is as thrilling as Elmer Bernsteins famous score (finally heard over the end credits), he definitely suits a big hat. Full of horses, designed not to frighten any, Fuquas avengers yarn suggests a beautiful black cowboy is the next best thing to God. Arch-conservatives, naturally, will find it hateful.

Cert 12A, 132 mins

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J eremy King is sitting in the Bar Americain downstairs at the Brasserie Zedel, nursing a glass of sparkling water and telling me about his latest venture, Live at Zedel. The restaurateur, who together with his business partner Chris Corbin runs Londons classiest gastro-empire  which now spans from Bellanger in the north to Colbert and The Wolseley in the West, via The Delaunay, Fischers and the Beaumont Hotel  is bringing culture into the mix.

For the next four months the 220-seater Parisian-themed brasserie in Piccadilly, with its intimate Crazy Coqs cabaret space next door, will host a jam-packed programme of music, comedy, literature and theatre  with a line-up including celebs from Grayson Perry and Levi Roots to Doc Brown, Maria Friedman and the Philharmonia Orchestra. With up to three performances a night, theres clearly an appetite for cuisine with culture in the capitals already-saturated eating out market.

A lot of culture-hungry Londoners dont even know theyre culture-hungry, so people like us have to be the catalyst for them discovering it  especially in a screen-dominated society, says King, in a low, mellifluous voice. Now bearded and 62, the champion of old-fashioned dining is as suave and matinee-idol handsome as ever, and quite at home in the plush opulence of his Art Deco-themed cocktail bar.

Live Zedel is an expansion of the cabaret acts that have been part of Zedel since it opened in 2012. Its what gives this place heart and soul, he says. At first, people couldnt believe that you could go into restaurant aimed as much at my children as at 70- to 80- year-olds, have a live band and not have to pay for it. It evoked another era and the atmosphere just lifted and lifted.

Star turn: Grayson Perry will perform at Zedel / Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Being King, however, a perfectionist who calls himself a traditional innovator, a lifted atmosphere isnt enough. You always have to strive to improve to stay in the same place. I was in a dilemma as to how to take Crazy Coqs forward when I had a conversation with Alex, he says, gesturing to Alexander Fane, the 22- year-old impresario sitting beside him.

With characteristic self-effacing charm, King credits Fane  who was at Eton with Kings son Jonah Hauer-King  with the original idea: Alex came to work here as a maitre dhotel at the age of 19 and he just lives and breathes jazz, music, theatre and cabaret.

King and Fane made a deal. Fane would work at Zedel on condition he would take up his university place at Kings College London at the end of the year. He didnt, so King had to threaten to sack him. Eventually, Fane gave up his place at Kings and set up his own company before going to work for United Agents, where he is now head of music, while running the Live at Zedel show.

While Jonah is an actor, Kings daughter, Hannah Hauer-King, is a producer for the all-female Damsels in Distress theatre company and has collaborated on the Live at Zedel programme. (King and their American theatre producer mother Debra Hauer divorced in 2005.)

'Restaurants are like children, and if you dont love them all its dangerous'

Might Hannah join the family business? She worked as a maitre dhotel at The Wolseley and talked about the possibility. I said: You could do it but go and do all the other things that interest you. Theres definitely an element of passing the baton, he says.

Regardless of who takes it up, King has never become complacent. I still find it hard to come to terms with the idea of being successful because I always think we could be that much better. Its what drives me forward. One of the great traps is when you ask: How are we going to stay as good as we are and win that prize? Maintaining standards is the root to bankruptcy, because if thats your only aspiration, standards go down while other peoples get better. You always have to try and improve. 

Brexit wont make his task easier, since most of his staff come from Europe. This business wouldnt survive if it werent for the Europeans. Its still incredibly difficult to find staff. But while well manage with the economic stuff  as a species we learn to adapt  I live in fear of xenophobia and hatred, so thats the biggest impact itll have, he says.

King, who never fails to find time to pop into all his establishments daily  theyre like children, and if you dont love them all its dangerous  likes to keep up with Londons fast-evolving restaurant scene. I go to an awful lot of restaurants once just to see what theyre like. At the moment theres this sense you have to wow people to get them to come in. But the place I love returning to is The River Cafe, because it has simple food, wonderful ingredients and high standards, presided over by one of the most essential elements of any restaurant  and thats proprietorship. Too many restaurants these days are run by the boardroom, not the floor, and thats the problem.

So does he, the ultimate co-proprietor, who is never far from the floor, ever think of retiring? Yes all the time, he replies, I just dont know when.

brasseriezedel.com

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S ir Terry Wogans restaurateur son says his father would have been thrilled to see him opening a pizzeria at the site of some the late broadcasters greatest television triumphs.

Brothers Mark and Alan Wogan are launching the next branch of their Homeslice pizza brand at the redeveloped BBC Television Centre in Shepherds Bush in 2017.

As children they often went there to watch their father, who died of cancer in January aged 74, star in rating-topping BBC programmes such as Blankety Blank and Children In Need specials. Television Centre is currently being transformed into a 1 billion complex with 950 apartments, a hotel, a private members club and gym run by Soho House, an Electric cinema, restaurants and offices as well as TV studios.

Alan, 48, said: I can remember being driven through those gates to the doughnut building with Dad as kids  weve got emotional ties with the place. This brings things full circle. Its quite amazing to think that we will be going to have a restaurant right next to it. Obviously ours is a very different business from the one that Dad was in and we are very proud of Dads achievements there.

The best pizza in London 1 /18 The best pizza in London 50 Kalo di Ciro Salvo Don't be fooled by the red and black Dennis the Menace-style decor  this place does seriously good pizza. Ingredients are rich and authentic (the mozzarella is flown in from Campania) and the pizzas come with generous helpings of lip-smacking tomato sauce (that you be mopping up with leftover crust afterwards). Luciano Furia Sodo Pizza Cafe In case you were wondering about the name, Sodo stands for sourdough. And thats something they take pretty seriously here. All the pizza dough is fermented for 48 hours and then baked at over 450 so that its light and airy with plenty of that sourdough tang. With such great bases it makes sense to keep toppings simple, but special kudos must go to the brilliantly named Jon Bon Chovy topped with anchovies, olives, capers, chilli and fresh parsley. Pizza Pilgrims With restaurants in different corners of London, brothers James and Thom Eliot have come a long way since their days as street food traders. The Neapolitan-style pizzas here are soft and doughy with a plumped-up crust and a rich tomato base  try the nudja variety if youre feeling spicy. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele Flying in to Baker Street from Naples, this pizzeria  which incidentally was featured in Eat, Pray, Love  has been described as the best in the world, never mind London. The London branch is less scruffy (and a little more expensive) than the Naples original, and the pizzas are slightly different, too  the bases are thicker for a start. That said, the full-flavoured tomato base which is a signature is present and correct and theres no doubting this is among the finest pizza in the capital. Be prepared to queue. Santore A hefty proportion of the clientele always seems to be Italian at this old-school Clerkenwell local, and thats got to be a good sign. The signature order is pizza by the metre, made with varying toppings along the stretch  you might want to bring a couple of friends to help polish it off though. For something different try the i panuozzi, a pizza sandwich that has the same toppings but double the dough. Crate Brewery No two items could be more perfectly suited to each other than beer and pizza  and few places are as geared up for the pair of them as Crate is. As well as making its own beer on-site it serves crispy, thin-base pizzas that are worthy of much more than just soaking up your drinks. Try the Middle Eastern lamb variety, topped with spicy mince, alongside more traditional numbers. Franco Manca There's a staggering number of Franco Manca branches throughout the capital, from Soho to Southfields and Covent Garden to Chiswick. Despite its size, the slightly sour, salty chewy Neapolitan base which made such an impression at the original Brixton Market branch remains, as do the simple but well-sourced toppings. The original Brixton branch is still the best. Homeslice There are now six buzzy Homeslice sites across London serving up impressive 20-inch pizzas. Some off-the-wall toppings may put off purists, but clever combos and a blistering hot oven ensure the end results really do work  even a goat shoulder and savoy cabbage number. Devour them whole or by the slice. Pizza Union This casual pizzeria with sites in Spitalfields and Kings Cross is buzzy, fast and impressively cheap  plus the pizzas are the real deal. Theyre made in the Roman style, with bases that are thin and crispy rather than chewy, and come in an abundance of varieties. Good news for coeliacs  just ask for gluten free bases. Yard Sale Pizza Yard Sale Pizza started out how you might expect  in a yard. Founder Johnnie Tate began his dough spinning journey cooking pies in a pizza oven in his Hackney back garden, but now the brand boasts five sites across London and has collaborated with the likes of foodie rapper Loyle Carner and, err, Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin. The proof of their success is in the pie  its Holy Pepperoni is topped with two types of pepperoni and nduja sausage, while more contemporary options include the TSB, topped with tenderstem broccoli, manchego and pine nuts. Voodoo Rays Crust-leavers, get yourself to Voodoo Rays. This Dalston-originating pizza joint serves its pizza by-the-slice from massive 22-inch New York-style pies  do the maths and that means less crust, more topping. And what toppings they are: fior di latte mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes are used across the board and varieties include both Italian classic and the likes of the very English Porkys, made with Cumberland sausage, Stilton, red onion and parsley. Zia Lucia Zia Lucia really knows its dough. The growing pizza group has four different doughs on its menu  a traditional, a wholemeal, a vegetable charcoal and one made with gluten-free flour. Toppings are Italian in essence, with a few tantalisingly unusual variations along the way: the Andrea Pirlo is topped with gorgonzola, apple, truffle and olive sauce, while the Green Vegana is spread with spicy broccoli cream and sundried tomatoes. Circolo Popolare The pizzas here are as luxurious as the restaurants famously flamboyant surroundings. Delicious metre-long 'zas arrive from the open kitchens twin rotary oven, placed on tables under floral ceilings and surrounded by walls stacked with 20,000 bottles. The crusts are chewy and light, the toppings are liberally applied and the sauces are perfect. ES Magazines critic Jimi Famurewa was full of praise for the doughy dishes, calling the peach-topped Orlando Blue pie a balanced blast of sunshine. The pizzas at Gloria, Circolos sister restaurant, are just as good too. Lateef Okunnu @lateef.photography Made of Dough At Made of Dough, its all about that crust  generously charred and tangy as heck, its arguably the star of the show. Heading into the centre, be sure that the Truffle is somewhere on your order  a white pizza, both mozzarella and parmesan are topped with white alba truffle oil and portobello mushrooms, with the option to add a mind-boggling portion of burratina on top. Starting life as a residency at Pop Brixton, the Made of Dough team now have a permanent spot in Peckham, as well as popular stalls in Market Hall Fulham and the West End location of crazy golf bar Swingers.

It would have been nice if hed known we were going to open a restaurant where he spent so much of his career. He would have been thrilled. He was very proud of what he had seen of us doing with the business.

Other venues opening at Television Centre include a branch of Mediterranean tapas bar Salt Yard, Italian restaurant Cecconis and burger specialist Patty & Bun. Salt Yard founder Simon Mullins said the development  part of an 8 billion regeneration of the Wood Lane area that includes a new John Lewis and an Imperial College campus  ticks all the boxes for restaurateurs. He said: It has the holy trinity of office workers, tourists and residents.

A 600-seater rooftop summer pop-up called Pergola on one of the buildings scheduled for demolition has had more than 83,000 visitors  twice as many as expected  including Prince Harry. Tomorrow, about 30 apartments go on sale at the site, with prices starting at 750,000 for a one-bedroom flat.

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I ts tricky in Champagne - the challenging climate and problems of frost and spring freeze mean winemakers are dependent on blending to compensate for naturally low sugar and very high acidity levels. Parcels from different vineyards, varieties and villages are blended to give character and structure, with older reserve wines used to smooth out any vintage variation and add complexity.

The traditional big Champagne Houses depend on growers - most buy their grapes from many individual vineyards instead of having their own. These Grandes Marques are driven by quantity and the endless pressure to produce a reliable quality that the market can rely on. The majority of the 19,000 growers therefore sell their grapes and in good years, when competition is hot between the Houses, co-operatives and negociants  wine merchants who assemble and sell the produce of small vineyards - the price per grape rises and growers thrive. In poor years, however, they cant rely on the big players, so as they already have the quality grapes it makes sense for them to make their own Champagne, which until recently was only enjoyed by the French themselves.

Over the past few years, certainly in the UK and the US, Grower Champagnes have surged in popularity. They are produced in smaller quantities, with a greater expression of terroir and vintage variation - like premium still wines from neighbouring regions  and drinkers feel a closer connection to what is in their glass, than with a smoothed-out House style.

As Christian Holthausen, international communications director for grower AR Lenoble points out: "The continuing embrace of independent, family-owned producers in Champagne is encouraging but also represents a global cultural shift. First and foremost, it is an affirmation that we are also producing wines like our neighbours in Burgundy and Alsace. Champagne is a wine-producing region, our wines deserve to be treated as more than commodities or symbols of privilege.

The aim of growers, especially with a non-vintage, is to make a better wine each year, not a consistent House style. One isnt necessarily better than the other  after all, growers wouldnt be around today if it werent for the Grandes Marques buying their grapes - but what drives the winemakers certainly differs.

I hope we can move towards a position where we value good producers based solely on the quality of their wines and strength of their values, and not based on generic categorisation, adds Holthausen.

Todays customer cant get enough of these boutique styles that offer more complexity and diversity, not to mention better value for money, while small growers are finally able to enjoy the plaudits.

12 grower champagnes to try 1 /16 12 grower champagnes to try Francoise Bedel Champagne Dis Vin Secret 179.70 (for six), Henry George wines. Buy it here



From Crouttes-sur-Marne, in the Marne Valley, the golden-coloured Dis Vin Secret overflows with cooked apple, orchard fruit, honey and a good intensity of autolytic flavour from eight years spent on its lees. Dominated by Pinot Meunier, with a dose of Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Noir, this is rich and complex with a lingering finish. Made from the majority of the 2006 harvest, its best enjoyed with sushi and white meats. Waris-Larmandier Cuvee Sensation Brut 31, Champagne + Fromage. Buy it here



Marie-Helene Larmandier, a fifth-generation grower from the Cote des Blancs, started the vineyard in 1989. She is a true artist, with her passion expressed not only in the winemaking but also on the Belle Epoque-style label she designed on the bottle. With her three children now working alongside her, they manage their tiny five-and-a-half-hectare estate to produce wines with subtlety, structure and elegance. The Sensation Brut is fresh and delicate with crisp acidity, honey blossom and citrus - perfectly suited to any celebration, or even brunch, lunch and dinner. Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Cuis Premier Cru Brut NV 173.99 (for a case of 6), Armit Wines. Buy it here Buy it here



Nestled in the heart of the Cote des Blancs, Pierre Gimonnet et Fils grows Chardonnay exclusively on its 25-hectare plot. With 16 hectares in Premier Cru vineyards and 12 in Grand Cru, the family has created a refined marriage between the grape and unique terroir of the different vineyards. Didier and Olivier Gimonnet are the third generation at the helm, producing a beautifully light and pure Blanc de Blancs with apple, citrus and sweet grapefruit and a long, crisp finish. An altogether elegant way to start your evening. Champagne Resonance Marie-Courtin NV 40.49 Les Caves de Pyrene. Call 01483 554750



A stunning Blanc de Noirs from Polisot in the Cote des Bar, Resonance is the first wine from producer Dominique Piollot, made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes. Fresh with a lively zing and structured depth from the red fruit, this will cleanse the palate and then happily accompany you from starter through main course. A wine with great potential for ageing and with such a small annual production (6-800 bottles) youd be well advised to snap this up. Champagne Tarlant Tradition Brut NV 34.95, Harrods. Buy it here



From the village of Oeuilly in the Vallee de la Marne, the Tarlant family have been making wine since 1687. Today Benoit Tarlant and his sister Melanie focus on producing full-flavoured Champagnes from their 13-hectare estate, adding older wines to the blends for greater depth. The NV Brut, with Pinot Noir and Meunier making up the majority of the blend, is rich and honeyed, brimming with red and stone fruit and a toasted brioche finish. AR Lenoble Brut Nature Dosage Zero 35, Stannary Wine. Buy it here



AR Lenoble's Brut Nature Dosage Zero features equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from 2010 and five years ageing in the cellars in a solera system - normally used for sherry, perpetually blending the wines. The legal minimum ageing for NV Champagne is only 15 months and this extra time adds richness and concentration, which is beautifully balanced by the salinity and freshness of no added sugar before bottling. Pure aromas of almond, honey and white truffle on the nose plus citrus-acidity on the palate, this is a heavenly match for oysters, 24-month aged Comte cheese, prosciutto, or simply savoured on its own. Agrapart et Fils Les 7 Crus 49.99, Selfridges. Buy it here



Founded in 1894 by Arthur Agrapart and run by brothers Pascal and Fabrice Agrapart since 1984, this is regarded as one of the finest grower estates in the Cote des Blancs. Their 12 hectares of land is spread over 62 parcels, mainly in Grand Cru villages. Les 7 Crus is a blend of seven of these best villages including Avize, Cramant, Ogier, Oiry, Avenay Val dOr, Mardeuil and Bergeres-les-Vertus, with 40 per cent taken from the 2012 harvest and 60 per cent from the 2013 harvest. Pascal works with natural viticulture and cellar practices to give an authentic expression of terroir. Rich baked apples on the nose, complex and savoury on the palate, a touch of spice and a long, nutty finish. Serge Mathieu Champagne Tradition Brut 24.95, Stone, Vine and Sun. Buy it here



The Mathieu family has lived in the small village of Avirey-Ligey since the 18th century and seven generations have passed through the estate. Serge Mathieu started producing his first bottles in 1970 and his daughter Isabelle came aboard in 1987. She and her husband Michel Mathieu-Jacob lovingly tend their 11 hectares of chalky Kimmeridgian soils - from vine to bottle to sale, they do it all. This golden Blanc de Noirs from 100 per cent Pinot Noir is very good: biscuit, citrus and ripe red and dried berry fruit on the nose and palate, rich and creamy with a perfectly balanced finish. Franck Pascal Reliance Brut Nature 53, Dynamic Vines. Call 020 7064 6841



Franck Pascals precious four hectares, based in the Vallee de la Marne, are planted with 70 per cent Pinot Meunier, 20 per cent Pinot Noir and a touch of Chardonnay. Having formerly worked in the French army, Pascal took over his parents vineyard in 1994 and was horrified to discover how many of the pesticides used were derived from the same components created in chemical warfare. Over time, he patiently prepped the soils and converted the estate to biodynamic practices in 2005, and the Reliance Brut Nature is a grown-up number. Slightly austere at the beginning, it continues to open up with each sip, with notes of lime, white fruit and vibrant minerality. Pair with salty canapes, goats cheese and fish. Francis Boulard Les Murgiers Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut 46, Dynamic Vines. Call 020 7064 6841



The estate of Francis Boulard is mainly located in Cormicy, in Saint-Thierry, on the hills nicknamed the Petit Montagne de Reims. This is Champagne that will delight every single taste bud. Made from 100 per cent old-vine Pinot Meunier, from the 2013 harvest, with 30 per cent from the three consecutive years prior, Les Murgiers boasts nectarine stone fruits, white and red cherry and grapefruit from the get-go, needing no time at all to open up, and with a finish that goes on and on. Serve with fish, white meat or a selection of pates and charcuterie, and attempt to share the bottle. Jacquesson Cuvee 739 Extra Brut 45, Berry Bros. & Rudd. Buy it here Buy it here



Based around the 2011 vintage, this is a Chardonnay-driven fizz with 57 per cent of the grape dominating the blend. Labelled Extra Brut (i.e. 0-6g/L permitted sugar level), dosage is kept to a minimum to preserve the wines purity and elegance. Structured and feminine with white fruit and subtle spice, a glass of this will make your day significantly better. Laherte Freres Ultratradition Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs 34.95, Vinterest. Buy it here



With a patchwork of vineyards spread across Epernay, the Cote des Blancs and the Vallee de la Marne, Aurelien Laherte is the sixth generation to lead the charge in the family business. This 100 per cent Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs uses 30 per cent reserve wines from previous years to give a bone-dry, rich and complex style that invites with green apple, grapefruit pith and toast. They also make a delightful Brut Rose entirely from 30-year-old Pinot Meunier vines - think dark cherries, rose petals, white pepper, full-bodied with an edge of chalky minerality.

Nuria Stylianou is our WSET-qualified wine and spirits columnist. Email her on nuria.stylianou@ and follow her on Instagram @nu_on_the_vine

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A young artist from Hackney who spent a year working on a painting of Barack Obama today told how he was overwhelmed to receive a personal letter of thanks from the White House.

Kevin Gill, 20, worked for up to 10 hours a day over 12 months to create the billion-dollar bill featuring the American presidents face.

He told the Standard he wanted to paint something special as a tribute to his idol, and used the presidents UK visit in April as an opportunity to present the 4ft by 2ft double-sided canvas to his aides.

Four months later, he received an official letter in the post from Mr Obama thanking him for the kind gift. Mr Gill, who has been inspired by the presidents battle to tackle gun crime in the US, said his biggest goal now was to meet him in person.

In the letter, Mr Obama, 55, wrote: Thank you for your kind gift. I want you to know I am moved by your generosity. Though we all come from different traditions and communities, I believe nations and individuals are stronger when they work together. By connecting across borders and cultures and holding firm to the ideals that unite us, we can move toward a future of greater peace and prosperity for all.

Thank you, again, for your thoughtful gesture. I wish you all the best.

The Obama billion-dollar note painted by Kevin Gill

The artist said: My main thoughts were that Obama had never been on a note before, and that there has never been a billion-dollar note, so I decided to merge the two to create some artwork.

When I received the reply I was overwhelmed, I was just so moved and shocked. I thought maybe he might reply after he stepped down because he would have more time but I never actually expected a reply.

Prince George meets the Obamas 1 /20 Prince George meets the Obamas Play-time: Prince George showed the president his rocking horse Up late: The young prince met the leader of the free world in his pyjamas Royal occasion: Mr Obama and his wife Michelle visited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace All smiles: The Obamas pose with Prince Harry as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Rainy evening: Spring showers did little to dampen spirits The two families met in the Drawing Room of Apartment 1A Kensington Palace Behind closed doors: Photographers were allowed inside the Palace for a rare glimpse of the Cambridges' home Around the table: The Obamas dropped by following the president's major intervention in the EU debate Michelle Obama chats to the Duchess of Cambridge as they sit on one of the Palace's sofas The Beast: The President's motorcade arrives at Kensington Palace Wet weather: Mr Obama shields his wife Michelle from the rain with an umbrella Royal welcome: The Obamas were greeted at the door by Prince Harry as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge In conversation: A photograph posted on Twitter by Kensington Palace of Prince Harry talking to Mrs Obama and the Duchess Special occasion: Prince Harry pecks Mrs Obama on the cheek Relaxed: Prince William and Mr Obama chatted casually after Prince George had gone to bed

The whole process took a year, I had to do sketches and planning and then actually paint it. Its not an ordinary painting, its double-sided  so twice the work.

I knew the president was visiting the UK in April, so I started arranging my time to get it to his people by then.

I wrote to David Cameron. He told me to contact the British Embassy  who then organised it for me.

That was the last I heard, until the letter came through. My mum was so excited. Ive been painting since I was 10 years old, and drawing since I was three.

I support Obama as he is trying to cut down gun crime. Coming from Hackney, we have high knife crime rate, I want people to look at the artwork Im doing and for it to inspire others to do something positive instead.

I would love to meet Obama, one day to get to The White House and meet him. Its the ultimate goal.
M ark recently moved into a flatshare in Spitalfields. He found his place on SpareRoom but another room in the flat is let through Airbnb.

My flatmate has a long-term contract for the whole three-bed flat which he cant get out of, so he sublets the other two rooms, says Mark, who is a financial analyst. He tends not to tell me about it, which is annoying, particularly when they show up at 2am.

Even once the temporary tenants arrive, the early-hours wake-up calls dont stop.

The last guy went out every night and woke us all up each time he came back, Mark says. We have a couple at the moment who didnt realise theyd be sleeping in our lounge/kitchen, and were bemused when we strolled in to their room to cook.

What is airbnb and why is it controversial?

Marks situation is not unusual. Airbnb used to be a cheaper and more authentic alternative to sterile hotels. But now that letting out your room is as quick and easy as ordering a Deliveroo burrito were all part of the sharing economy.

Like Uber, Airbnbs anyone-can-have-a-go, disruptive approach has transformed the way our capital operates. Where other cities including Paris and New York have panicked at the prospect of change, clamping down on the sharing economy and imposing hefty fines, London has remained open for business.

The influence of Airbnb and other short-term let sites in London has boomed. According to a report last month by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA), between February and June this year, London listings have risen by 27 per cent to 42,646, although Airbnb disputes the data cited in the report as misleading.

But the rise has been so fast that there is confusion over the rules of short-term letting among users of sites such as Airbnb and authorities alike.

Airbnbs anyone-can-have-a-go approach has transformed the way our capital operates / Shutterstock / Masson

This week the Upper Tribunals Land Chamber ruled that homeowners whose leases state that their properties can be used as private residence only cannot rent out their homes short-term if they dont live there with a degree of permanence going beyond being there for a weekend or a few nights in the week. The ruling was based on a specific lease, rather than an umbrella ruling affecting all short-term lets: a north Londoner, Iveta Nemcova, who was renting out her property on several flat-sharing sites and only staying in the apartment three or four days a week. The judge decided this didnt constitute a permanent residence, and was therefore in breach of her lease.

For the past 18 months, Londoners have been allowed to rent their properties for short-term periods of up to 90 cumulative days without needing any planning permission. The legislation is new and so far fairly untested, but failure to get the proper permissions could lead to fines of up to 20,000.

Airbnb insists that it does all it can to inform hosts about local regulations.

We remind hosts to check and follow local rules before they list their space, throughout the year and at host meet-ups, says Pete Huntingford, Airbnbs head of public affairs.

Airbnb's up-and-coming neighbourhoods 1 /17 Airbnb's up-and-coming neighbourhoods Triana in Seville, Spain Chuo-ku in Osaka, Japan Kaneohe on Oahu, US Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Hammerbrook in Hamburg, Germany Koukaki in Athens, Greece Constitucion in Buenos Aires, Argentina District VII in Budapest, Hungary Capucins in Bordeaux, France Banglampoo in Bangkok, Thailand The Bukit Peninsula, Bali Poncey-Highland in Atlanta, GA Richmond in Melbourne, Australia

When the rules in London changed [regarding the 90-day rule] we held host meet-ups to discuss the rules with our community, he continues. There is a page about responsible hosting on Airbnb with links to legislation and relevant government websites highlighting key policies. Huntingford adds: Weve established a London Borough Working Group to work with London boroughs to promote the rules, responsible home-sharing and support regular people who share their homes to pay the bills.

Emily van Eyssem is a landlady who turned her back on the traditional buy-to-let approach and turned to Airbnb as an alternative. Its incredibly lucrative, she explains. My income has increased dramatically  for example, on a flat Id have been getting 1,300 per month on before costs, Id now be making 3,000 a month.

Through her company Starfish Properties, van Eyssem lets 10 properties in London and has had more than 500 bookings so far this year. She lets for around five to seven days at a time, has a 98 per cent rate of occupancy and is against increased regulation.

She is confident that Airbnb is stimulating income in the city as landlords employ cleaners, maintenance workers and builders more frequently than they would in long-term rental situations.

Its a lot of work. People see it as an easy option, just wafting around with a can of air-freshener, but unless you do it properly, youre not going to get bookings. A few years ago when all the property programmes were on television, everyone became an expert on renovation but it took a period of time for people to realise it wasnt as easy as it looked.

The RLA report on the rise in London listings on Airbnb this year suggested that it may be depriving the London rental market of properties. In spite of this, RLA policy director David Smith is against the extreme measures against short-term lets that have been taken in other cities.

Regulating these industries is not necessarily the best way to go. The idea of these modern industries is that they should be as lightly regulated as possible.

Noisy neighbours? Airbnb insists that it does all it can to inform hosts about local regulations / Shutterstock / 1000 Words

The RLA instead proposes a very simple solution that sites like Airbnb could implement themselves. It believes that a prospective host should have to check a box stating whether or not they have the requisite planning permission to rent the property for more than 90 days a year. No tick means no letting for more than that time. If they do have permission, then their advert listing would include a large box stating that fact.

Smith says local authorities could then cross-reference listed properties with their planning permissions. That would bring the unregulated area of the market to a crashing stop.

So the legislation is there, and there are attempts to enforce it. Westminster council is investigating 1,200 properties for excessive renting and has served two enforcement notices to cease renting.

But Huntingford, speaking for Airbnb, admits that understanding the rules can be complex and slightly tricky, as no one size fits all.

Perhaps this explains why many of the hosts we contacted were completely unaware of the 90-day limit. Christine, who lets out her Clapham flat while remaining on site to welcome hosts, was bewildered when we told her about the rule, while van Eyssem of Starfish Properties had no comment.

Its not just professional landlords who are signing up  increasing numbers of Londoners use the site on a more ad hoc basis for spare cash. A couple in Finsbury Park who own their two-bed flat rent out their spare room. They say: Initially we did it as it gave us the freedom to have friends or relatives stay with us, but then we could rent out the room when it was free.

The best Airbnbs in the UK - in pictures 1 /9 The best Airbnbs in the UK - in pictures Dragon House, Westhall Escape to one of the most diverse properties in the UK (Picture: press) Peaceful Yurt, East Sussex Be at one with nature in this peaceful yurt (Picture: press) St Pancras International Clock Tower, London St. Pancras clock tower (Picture: press) Old Smock Mill, Kent See spectacular views of the Kent countryside from Old Smock Mill (Picture: press) Vine Cabin, Leciestershire Vine Cabin is a peaceful retreat in the wilderness (Picture: press) Railway Carriage Carriage, Cardigan Bay Retreat to a converted railway carriage by the coast (Picture: press) Jack Sparrow House, Falmouth Jack Sparrow house is a quirky retreat in the Cornish countryside (Picture: press)

While its great if youre the one booking the house guests, other residents have found themselves disconcerted by the endless stream of strangers turning up in their homes or buildings. One 32-year-old PA renting a room in South Kensington found herself encountering a stoner student with BO staying in her flatmates room who was swiftly replaced by an Austrian woman who claimed to be alone but came to stay with her five-year-old daughter and elderly mother in tow.

These cases may be against the terms of the mortgage or tenancy agreements. But in practice, when listing your room is so easy, few people are paying attention to the fine print.

Claire Empson, director of Daisy Lets & Sales, has experience of landlords she manages discovering their homes listed on rental sites without their knowledge. I think sub-letting is rising. I dont think people are aware half the time that theyre breaking rules. To some extent its creeping up because of longer, better-quality lets. Tenants are encouraged to see them as their own homes.

Of alleged rule-breaking, Airbnb says: Bad actors have no place on Airbnb and we take appropriate action against those brought to our attention. We want to be good partners to cities and work together to promote responsible home sharing and tackle bad actors.

One thing that everyone (at least in London) seems to agree on is that the traditional use of sites such as Airbnb  renting out your home while youre on holiday or away for short periods of time  is a good thing for the city, its residents and its tourists.

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: The Mayor supports the right of Londoners to be able to benefit from renting out their homes for short periods, but that needs to be balanced against the need to ensure that Londoners are not adversely affected.

Smith, of the RLA, says: Im not anti-Airbnb. If used properly it could be a perfectly good thing. Ive used it myself. What Im concerned about is people breaking the law. A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: We have no desire to stop householders letting out their homes when they go away on holiday. However, the government has set a clear limit of 90 nights and we are working hard to stop those who are ignoring this limit.

Follow Rachael Sigee: @littlewondering

Follow Frankie McCoy: @franklymccoy
U nder 30s in Britain are living in a state of "suspended adulthood", with many women in particular feeling worn down, lacking self-confidence and worrying about the future.

According to a new report by charity the Young Women's Trust, based on responses from thousands of British 18 to 30-year-olds, low pay and a lack of work are largely to blame.

This economic climate is prohibiting them from flying the nest, with many living with their parents (43%), moving back in with their parents after a period away (24%), and postponing having children (48%).

Their situations are also affecting how they feel and how they see themselves, with women feeling notably worse about themselves, and more than half (51%) of all young people feeling worried about the future.

A huge proportion of people said they feel worn down (42%), but there was a stark gender disparity with 46% of women feeling this way compared with 38% of men.

Similarly, more women than men reported feeling a lack of self-confidence, with 54% saying this compared with 39% of men.

More young women than men were also worried about their mental health, with 38% of women claiming this concerned them compared with 29% of men.

The Young Women's Trust said the British government must do more to help a generation "in crisis", reported The Guardian. It recommended creating a new minister responsible for policy affecting young people.

Best books on mindfulness 1 /14 Best books on mindfulness Find your inner peace with our pick of the best mindfulness and meditation books... Mindfulness: a practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world This bestseller will get you in the right frame of mind for 2016. Based on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)  a successful form of brief meditation this book's success relies on the way in which authors Mark Williams and Danny Penman optimistically focus on adding joy to your life as opposed to ridding it of unhappiness. 10.50, Amazon, Buy it now Anti-Stress Dot-to-Dot Always thought that dot-to-dots were an activity for children? Apprently you're wrong be wrong  the pictures in this book, featuring elegant buildings and nature scenes, will relax and focus your mind in a way you never thought a dot-to-dot book could. 5, Amazon, Buy it now I Am Here Now This will help enhance both your observation and creativity; with an audio track (featuring musings from mindfulness teacher Tara Brach) and a field notes page for recording purposes, I Am Here Now will enable your thoughts and emotions to take on a new lease of life. 7, Amazon, Buy it now The Mindful Workplace What better time to deploy the theories of mindfulness than at work? This book, filled with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) techniques, provides an eight-week training course to keep your workplace attitude at its peak. 30.50, Amazon, Buy it now Get some headspace This book from Andy Puddicombe, founder of popular digital health platform Headspace, attempts to get people to take ten minutes out of their day for meditation purposes. Once the technique's been learned, these skills will stay with you for the rest of your life. 10, Amazon, Buy it now The Mindfulness Colouring Book Much like the dot-to-dot book above, this pocket-sized adult colouring book is the perfect activity for a 10-minute breather. Consider your stress and anxiety soothed. 4, Amazon, Buy it now The Little Book of Mindfulness In this day and age, it's more important to be in the moment than ever  this book will help you with that. From Dr Patrizia Collard, these brief practices will rid your day of stress and have you feeling more optimistic. 4, Amazon, Buy it now Body Calm The saying mind over matter derives from the idea that our minds have the power to control our bodies if we really want them to. Equally, mental stress can have a damaging effect on our bodies. Newbigging teaches us a new self-healing meditation technique to help keep our bodies healthy and to understand the source of common stress and anxiety triggers. 11, Amazon, Buy it now The Power of Now The Power of Now has become one of the most famous mindfulness books out there. Helping us to tap into our innermost Being, Tolle guides us through various techniques to help us understand that the present moment is all that really matters. 8, Amazon, Buy it now A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled An ambassador for mental health awareness, Ruby Wax OBE has helped to make mindfulness accessible to all. Having suffered from depression herself, in this book she explores how modern living is causing us more stress and anxiety than ever as we know and see too much. Included are mindfulness exercises and tips for everyone from babies to adults; all with sound underlying scientific reasoning. 4, Amazon, Buy it now

Make no mistake about it, were talking about a generation of young people in crisis," said Dr Carole Easton, the chief executive of Young Womens Trust.

"And while life is hard for many young people, our survey shows its likely to be considerably tougher if you are a young woman, she said.

Adding that it's in no one's interests to "to write off an entire generation", Easton said "much more needs to be done to improve young peoples prospects", including an extension of the National Living Wage to under 25s, improving housing for young people and reducing workplace discrimination.

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T he electric hybrid concept vehicle which Mitsubishi will reveal at the Paris motor show at the end of September is called a Ground Tourer. This is because the company sees it as a vehicle which can cover huge distances across all types of different ground.

The hybrid system uses three motors and will have a claimed range of 750 miles, so that is a lot of ground to tour between fill-ups/recharging. Electric power alone should be good for about 75 miles. Connective technology should be able to use weather and terrain data to improve fuel consumption and handling by modifying how the vehicle behaves as it gets to known

scenarios.

The styling is led by that dynamic shield front end and looks assertive and futuristic in the images weve seen so far. Inside its trimmed in dark red leather, which colour co-ordinates with the roof.

Mitsubishi calls this four-wheel drive vehicle a high-end next-generation SUV.
" Bear! yelled our guide. At the end of our first, hard days paddling, it was just the adrenaline kick we needed to spur us along the final 500 yards to the riverbank where we could wearily haul our canoes onto the beach, pitch our tents  and strike up a cheerful campfire.

And there it was: a massive black beast looking just as startled as we did  with the surging current sweeping us swiftly past, we snatched a thrilling glimpse of muscle and fur deep in a knot of trees lining the Yukon River.

Stretching for 1,982 miles from the heart of British Columbia to the Bering Sea on the Alaskan coast, the Yukon was once a busy highway for the First Nation people, then trappers, followed by Gold Rush fortune hunters and logging companies, all of whom left traces in the form of crumbling, long-deserted camps and log cabins, now slowly being reclaimed by the forest.

Today, however  as we found after launching our canoes at a remote spot in a section known as Thirty Mile River,  its strongest draw is on those seeking to escape civilisation by entering a little-known, pristine wilderness. Small wonder, then, that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend two days in the Yukon on their Canadian royal visit, which starts tomorrow.

My wife Keren and I, accompanied only by our 16-year-old twins Joseph and Anna and experienced 31-year-old wilderness guide Jonathan Alsberghe from Nature Tours of Yukon, decided to tackle a 100-mile expedition down a remote section of the mighty river, carrying all the provisions wed need for four days, seeking out wild-camping spots along the way while watching out for wildlife and bonding as a family  a reward after months of GCSE toil.

Following a long drive from the Yukon capital Whitehorse and a motor boat ride across vast, choppy Lake Laberge, on our first day we encountered not a single soul. It was utter, tranquil bliss, with only soaring bald eagles  and that solitary bear  for company. But after our bear sighting  two minutes from our campsite  Jonathan urged caution. Especially when we discovered fresh bear prints while unloading our precious provisions.

The road to Skagway, South Klondike Highway / Alamy Stock Photo

Not for the last time over the next few days we were thankful for the

reassuring presence of this upbeat, accomplished Frenchman, who has led  and taken part in  expeditions the world over.

Well light a big fire to keep the wildlife away  and nobody goes anywhere without their bear spray, he ordered. No food or toothpaste in your tents that might attract unwanted attention. And if you do need to visit the bushes, whistle or sing  a surprised bear is a dangerous bear. Let him know youre coming.

7 of the best adventure destinations - in pictures 1 /10 7 of the best adventure destinations - in pictures Tracy Arm, Alaska Shutterstock South Georgia Island, Antarctica Shutterstock Omni Village, New Guinea Shutterstock Neist Point, Skye Shutterstock Namibia Shutterstock Canaima National Park, Venezuela Shutterstock Antarctic Peninsula Shutterstock Steve Backshall giving pupils from Salusbury Primary School a tree climbing masterclass

Well beyond the reach of 911 calls, with the nearest road 50 miles away and with only a satellite phone (and bear banger flare) for emergencies, it seemed good advice. Jonathans words rang in our ears as we set-to with axe and saw for firewood and swiftly erected two small tents.

By the time wed installed sleeping bags on top of the thick moss of the forest floor (and wandered self-consciously into the woods with a spade to do what comes naturally to bears), our guide had conjured up a delicious French dish of sausage wrapped in veal and cooked in red wine, eaten from tin plates as we sat on logs, setting a welcome pattern for the days ahead.

Bear or no bear, life doesnt get much better than when youre sitting around a campfire next to the broad, tumbling river as dusk falls, the stars come out, and the forest falls silent  and the nearest humans are several days downstream.

Spotted - a moose in the woods

Teeth, bodies and dishes duly washed in the cold, dark waters of the Yukon, we tumbled exhausted into our tents (axe and bear spray close to hand, as instructed) to enjoy deep, dreamless sleep until the first rays of the morning sun burst through the forest canopy  by which time our tireless guide had coaxed the campfire back into action, conjuring up eggs, sausages and a pot of steaming coffee.

Our back-to-nature adventure assumed a deeply calming rhythm from sun-up to sun-down. Strike tents, roll up sleeping bags, walk into woods with spade, load canoes  then dig our paddles silently into the swirling Yukon to discover what lay around the next corner.

Canoes on the shore in morning sun

We covered 25 miles on day one and a similar number on day two, our canoeing skills growing by the hour. We made regular stops, frequently fighting the fierce current to land, before stalking through the woods to discover those decaying cabins, the hauntingly picturesque remains of a rusting loggers truck, derelict Gold Rush mining equipment, even sections of long-forgotten paddle steamers that came to grief in the shallows a century before.

Other highlights included a huge moose, a beaver  and salmon racing upstream. The jaw-dropping scenery  snow-capped mountains in the distance, towering, thickly forested cliffs in the foreground, with scarcely a human in sight (just three canoes passed us in as many days)  was balm for the soul.

I was proud of how our children  for whom adventure normally means jumping on the Tube to explore London  hauled our canoes through the shallows, chopped wood, mastered the art of the campfire and still found time to be children, frolicking on the riverbank and skipping stones over the waves, until our trip ended at Little Salmon, where we hauled our vessels from the Yukon River for the last time, bidding Jonathan a sad farewell.

Details: Yukon

1st Class Holidays (0161 888 5606; 1stclassholidays.com) offers guided three-night canoe trips from C$1,674 (982) per person. Includes airport meet-and-greet, transfers, meals on

the river, two nights accommodation pre- and post-canoeing, and equipment. Longer tours available.

Air Canada (aircanada.com) offers flights from Heathrow to Whitehorse via Vancouver.

explore-canada.co.uk;

travelyukon.com
W here is it?

Situated at the end of a long twisty-turny track, Masseria le Carrube hides in a blissfully peaceful spot 6km away from Puglian Renaissance city, Ostuni. Cradled at the base of surrounding mountains, overlooking the Adriatic sea, it couldnt be in a more bucolic location if it tried.

Style: Once a fortified farmhouse (masserias are traditional Puglian farmsteads) le Carrubes gleaming whitewashed walls have been weather-kissed to a warm honey hue, softened in harmony with its natural surroundings of prickly pears, pomegranate trees and olive groves.

Inside, the masseria has been lovingly restored to retain its original functional features; a giant olive mill dominates one dining area, while fireplaces so cavernous you can climb into them line the walls. But what makes the place special are the elegantly upscale flourishes and furnishings, courtesy of esteemed designer, Pino Bresica. Think: pastoral Puglian tradition with a luxurious 21st Century style injection. Refined rustic, if you will.

With a soaring arched ceiling, elegant antique cabinets and paintings, our room had a sense of monastic-yet-chic calm the moment we stepped in. Our adjoining gigantic roof terrace offered an envy-inducing 180 degree sea vista. And that sound? Unadulterated silence punctuated only by the occasional chirruping bird.

Facilities: Masseria le Carrube has not one but two dip-worthy swimming pools, shrouded with colourful blooms. Hummingbirds and dragonflies playfully zipped about as we took a plunge. Benefitting from many-a gigantic courtyard and two large dining halls, the masseria is a go-to location for big banqueting parties and weddings. In fact, the entire masseria hosted a week-long wedding fiesta the day before our arrival.

All rooms and suites have a generously stuffed mini-bar, safe, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV, rain shower and gorgeous olive-oil based products.

Extra-curricular: A car is a must, to not only reach the masseria, but to explore the surrounding areas. Nothing in Puglia is much more than a couple of hours drive away and being pretty central to the region it makes an excellent base for checking out pretty towns Martina Franca, Gallipoli and the regions capital, Lecce.

Beach-wise, head east to nearby Torre Guaceto, a protected nature reserve, or south to the tip of the heel to Pescoluse, a vast stretch of sand dubbed the Maldives of Puglia thanks to a rolling azure-blue ocean.

Food & drink: Ethical eating is the order of the day at Masseria le Carrube, their entire culinary output is vegetarian, seasonal and locally sourced. At breakfast we were wowed by a show-stoppingly immense array of home-made pastries, fruits, mueslis, preserves and cheeses.

Despite being staunch carnivores, we summoned our inner-veggie and found their meat-free dinner offering a delight: delicious oricchiette little ear pasta (indigenous to Puglia), grilled vegetables and focaccias aplenty, polished off with a fresh almond semifreddo. Dinner can be taken in one of their dining halls or, as we did, al fresco in their super-quaint orangery.

On a boozy tip, Puglia is a oenophiles dream, so its no surprise Masseria le Carrubes wine list reads like a greatest hits of the regions finest: everything from negroamaros, primitvos to grappas. In keeping with the ethical theme many of their tipples are biodynamic and organic.

Which room?

Put simply, the masseria is a huge place, but with only eight rooms and seven suites, its the antithesis of a mega-hotel so rest assured youre guaranteed an intimate, serene vibe. If you want a sea view, opt for one of their upstairs rooms in the main building. Larger suites are available to cater for families.

Best for:

Solitude-seeking couples and large group bookings.

Any downsides?

If youre after a plethora of meaty Italian antipasto you wont find it here, but the likelihood is you wont even miss it.

When to go:

Puglian peak-season is July and August so expect more co-residents, scorching heat, and busier beaches. June and September-October prove lots quieter yet still offer pleasantly balmy temperatures.

Price:

Off peak double rooms start from 136 per night.

Details:

Masseria le Carrube, C.da Spennati - SS 873 KM Fasano-Ostuni - Ostuni BR, http://www.masserialecarrubeostuni.it/ Brindisi airport is a 40 minute drive away.

Ellen is a lifestyle, culture and socio-political writer. Follow her on Twitter: @ellengracejones or Instagram: @ellengracejones
S cotland Yard lost the case files for 13 unsolved murders and has not ruled out police corruption as the cause, it has emerged.

The Met has admitted the records, relating to cases over nine years in the 1980s, are classed as missing following a review of historical homicides which started in 2012.

Bosses said details of the cases will not be made public over fears it would cause distress to relatives.

Police corruption has not been ruled out as a reason for their disappearance.

A retired officer told the Daily Mirror: If they've lost the case file, the killers will never be brought to justice."

A Met spokeswoman said: At the current time 13 files are classed as missing, but work is ongoing to locate them.

We are not prepared to identify those cases where we cannot currently find the files.

Due to the age of these cases, we have not informed any of the families as this could cause considerable distress after so many years.

To date our efforts in locating some of the files have not suggested that police corruption is a factor. However, this is kept under constant review.

The force today said it was carrying out a full sweep of its estate to ensure its records are kept in check amid the challenge to manage decades worth of material.

The spokeswoman added: We are committed to taking every opportunity possible, no matter how many years have passed, to detecting unsolved murders and bringing justice for families.
A n alleged gunman accused of the double murder of a mother-of-nine and her nephew in East Finchley will stand trial in March next year.

Obina Ezeoke, 24, is accused of killing Annie Besala Ekofo, 53, and her nephew Bervil Kalikaka-Ekofo, 21, who were ruthlessly gunned down at a flat at around 6.30am on Thursday, September 15.

Mr Kalikaka-Ekofo, a psychology student at the University of West London, died from a gunshot wound to the head during the home invasion in Elmshurst Crescent.

Ezeoke, of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from Wormwood Scrubs prison this afternoon to face two charges of murder.

Double murder: Grieving family members at the scene of a murder / Lucy Young

In a brief hearing in front of Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, the Recorder of London, Ezeoke was remanded in custody until a plea hearing on December 10.

Double murder: Family members outside flats in in Elmshurst Crescent in East Finchley ( Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA) / Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA

A provisional trial date has been set for March 13 next year.

Ezeoke did not make an application for bail and spoke only to confirm his name to the court. He has not yet entered any pleas.
E ggheads star CJ de Mooi is to face questions from police about 12 dead bodies found in the canals of Amsterdam after writing in his book that he feared he may have killed someone.

CJ, real name Joseph Connagh, was arrested by Dutch Police at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday over allegations made in his book.

De Mooi, of Caldicot, wrote that he may have killed a mugger while living on the streets of Amsterdam after "punching him in the face and throwing him in a canal".

A Netherlands Public Prosecution Service spokesman told the Sun that the arrest warrant only related to what was written in de Mooi's book.

He said:We want to question him about the incident he described in his book.

In 1988 the Amsterdam police has found around 12 bodies in the canals. One of them could be his victim if his story seems to be true.

The quiz show star was granted bail at Westminster Magistrates' Court yesterday after he was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Ex-Eggheads star CJ de Mooi in court over alleged killing in Netherlands

He could face extradition to the Netherlands if a European Arrest Warrent is approved.
A mentally ill man who was shot dead by police as he opened his front door was lawfully killed, an inquest has found.

James Fox was shot five times in his doorway by officers who believed he was carrying a gun at his flat in Enfield.

Police were called after Mr Fox, 43, had gone to his fathers home, threatening to kill him and pointing a gun at the head of a child.

Jurors at an inquest at North London Coroner's Court on Friday found that Mr Fox's death was lawful, adding that the officers believed they needed to use force to defend themselves.

The police officers who shot Mr Fox dead were also cleared by an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation, which found they had no case to answer.

The report found that "both officers were entitled to believe there was an immediate threat to life and were justified in their decision to fire their weapons".

Speaking in reaction to the verdict, Commander Matt Twist, said: "It is vitally important that when a police officer shoots someone that the full facts of what took place are independently investigated and carefully considered by an inquest.

"My thoughts are with Mr Fox's family, and I recognise that this must have been a very distressing time for them.

"All of our firearms officers are experienced police officers who volunteer for the additional responsibility of carrying a gun, to protect London and their unarmed colleagues.

"That night they knew that Mr Fox had threatened a child with what was believed be a gun and had made other threats to his family. Our officers went forward that evening knowing that they may have to place themselves between an armed and dangerous man and the public.

"The officers had seconds to act when Mr Fox opened his front door and pointed what looked like a gun at them. No police officer wants to take someone's life. We ask our armed officers, and indeed expect them, to make split second decisions, in some of the most complex, fast moving and dangerous situations, to protect the public, their colleagues and themselves.

"They fully understand that they will have to account for any force that they use. No officer would want it any other way."
A north London police officer has been jailed for child porn offences.

Nicholas Tweedie, a specialist constable based in Harrow, has been sentenced to two years after taking indecent images of children.

He is now facing being dismissed from the Metropolitan Police force.

Tweedie, 32, was arrested by Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse detectives in June.

He was found guilty of three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of taking an indecent image of a child.

Tweedie was suspended from the force on the day of his arrest and will now face misconduct proceedings.
P arents today told how they fear for their children's safety after a stranger tried to snatch a four-year-old boy yards from the gates of an east London school.

The pupil was picked up by a man outside St Agnes Primary School in Bow He slung the boy over his shoulder before attempting to flee the scene.

He was thwarted in a "dark" alleyway near the school by the boy's older brother.

Police are hunting a suspect after the incident on Monday afternoon.

Tower Hamlets council said police officers would be stationed around the school at the beginning and end of each day in response to the incident and urged parents to be vigilant.

Lorraine Spiteri Sammut, who says she is the childs grandmother, wrote on Facebook that they only managed to get the boy back due to the actions of her elder grandson.

Parents and children access the school via this alleyway

She wrote: A man picked him up, put him over his shoulder and ran down the road with him, my 11-year-old grandson gave chase and managed to pull him out of the mans arms.

Keep hold of [your] kids hands. Everything happened so fast. Police measured where the man ran and it was seven metres down the road ... We was lucky.

Linda Heales, 65, who has a granddaughter at the school, told the Standard: It's frightening this. My daughter received a text from the school and it's all over Facebook.

Frightened: Grandmother Linda Heales

"It's made me feel scared and nervous.

My granddaughter wanted to start walking to school on her own after Christmas but now there is no way.

Joan Small, who has a daughter in Year Five at the school, said: It is terrifying. I am worried for the childrens safety and I am very angry that we have just been informed via text message.

Worried for the children's safety: Mother Joan Small

We have had letters sent home from the school complaining about the children wearing Kicker shoes but not about this. The entrance to the school is very dark.

Two police officers were outside the school on Wednesday but they've not been there since. The council and the school need to do more.

They can't just wait for a child to be snatched before they take action. All it takes is a split second.

Another mother, who asked not to be named, said: "It's all a bit chaotic. It's all over the place, the way it's been dealt with.

"A lot of parents are very angry. We have been warned by the school not to speak to anybody about it, we were told we'd be in serious trouble.

"All the school has done is send a text message out to warn parents and that's it. We were also told there would be a police presence outside the school but there hasn't been."

The text message sent out to parents by the school on Tuesday read: There was an attempted abduction of one our reception class children yesterday at home time in the alleyway outside the school.

The child was with his brother when he was grabbed by a man who then ran off with him.

It added: Fortunately, the childs older brother gave chase and hung onto the boy. The man let go of the child and ran off down Bruce Road in the direction of Tescos.

The police and local authority were informed yesterday afternoon. Please make sure you know where your children are at all times coming to and from the school.

It is always chaotic at home time and you must make sure that you keep your children close to you.

A council spokesman said: There was an alleged attempted abduction of a child outside St Agnes Primary School on Monday.

Police are investigating the incident. Neighbourhood police will now be present outside the school at the beginning and end of the school day.

Tower Hamlets Council and Police are reminding parents, staff and children to remain vigilant and to report anything they believe to be suspicious to the police by calling 101.

The school refused to comment on the incident.
A City businessman was battered to death by a gang of teenagers on BMXs after a trivial row in a takeaway as he walked home from a drinks party, witnesses said today.

Detectives were today hunting the group of at least four youths who followed the 31-year-old victim for around 100 yards after he left the fast-food outlet before assaulting him, reportedly with a heavy metal chain.

He was found lying in a pool of blood on a footbridge over a railway line opposite All Saints DLR station in Poplar, east London, by a passing cyclist who performed CPR in an attempt to save his life.

Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene at 12.20am yesterday. His uneaten chicken meal was in a bag by his side.

The Mets Homicide and Major Crime Command have launched a murder investigation and are appealing for witnesses.

A worker at Perfect Friend Chicken in East India Dock Road told the Standard the man, who was smartly dressed in a suit and tie, had become involved in a row with a teenager in a grey tracksuit while they waited for their food.

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

He said: I dont know what the argument was about but there was no pushing or shoving, no one threw a punch. They were swearing at each other but it was all over in about ten seconds.

The boy, he was 16 or 17, went and told his friends outside who were on BMX bikes.

One of them who was older came in and put his arm around the man in the suit and said you shouldnt have spoken to him like that.

The guy held up his arms as if to say Im sorry and that was that. There didnt seem to be any animosity.

They both took their food outside and that was it. Ten minutes later we saw all the police and ambulance turn up.

The police came in later and asked to see the CCTV and they said they think he was killed over what happened in the shop.

I cant believe it. Its shocking. It was just a silly exchange of words. You get it sometimes but its unbelievable it can end like this and life can be so cheap.

The guy was clearly a businessman as he was wearing a very sharp grey suit. He was in a good mood. He said hed been at a drinks party after work and was going home.

Another shopkeeper said went to the scene after seeing the emergency services.

He said: There was cyclist with a beard who had blood over his face from him trying to resuscitate the man by giving him mouth to mouth.

I was told he had been badly beaten and there was huge wound to the back of his head.

A post mortem examination is expected to take place today.

A Met police spokesman said: At this early stage, it is believed the victim was involved in an altercation with a group of males inside Perfect Fried Chicken in East India Dock Road.

The victim was then followed down the street and attacked. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.

Witnesses or anyone with any information should call the incident room on 020 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.
F riends have paid tribute to a businessman beaten to death by teenagers after a chicken shop row, as murder detectives made a fresh appeal for information.

Zdenek Makar, 31, was killed, reportedly with a metal chain, by a gang of teenagers riding BMX bikes after they argued in Perfect Fried Chicken, East India Dock Road.

The stricken Czech national, who lived nearby, was found by a passing cyclist who gave him CPR in a failed attempt to save the mans life.

He was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Investigation: Forensic officers combed the road as police investigate the area / Lesley Horner

Paying tribute on Facebook today, one friend wrote he was filled with great sadness by the cowardly attack.

He wrote: The anger has no limits knowing he was killed over a stupid argument and just around the corner from me.

You will always be remembered for your smile and positivism, for your energy and great friendship!!

It hurt me you left us this way bro!! I hope your family get justice and those b******s go to jail for life!! Bye my friend!

Another wrote: A friend goes into a chicken shop on the way home from work, gets stabbed and dies.

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

I am totally sickened. I hope the people that did this rot in hell.

Someone else wrote: "This wasnt supposed to happen. I still cant believe it.

A man with a huge heart, a whole life ahead of him."

A worker at Perfect Fried Chicken in East India Dock Road told the Standard the man, who was smartly dressed in a suit and tie, had become involved in a row with a teenager in a grey tracksuit while they waited for their food.

He said: I dont know what the argument was about but there was no pushing or shoving, no one threw a punch. They were swearing at each other but it was all over in about ten seconds.

The boy, he was 16 or 17, went and told his friends outside who were on BMX bikes.

One of them who was older came in and put his arm around the man in the suit and said you shouldnt have spoken to him like that.

Police cordon: the aftermath of the attack in Poplar

The guy held up his arms as if to say Im sorry and that was that. There didnt seem to be any animosity.

They both took their food outside and that was it. Ten minutes later we saw all the police and ambulance turn up.

Today, police made a new appeal for information on the killing.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: At this early stage, it is believed Zdenek was involved in an altercation with a group of males inside Perfect Fried Chicken in East India Dock Road.

He was then followed down the street and attacked.

Detectives continue to appeal for anyone who was in the area who witnessed the events prior to attack or the incident itself.

They retain an open mind as to the motive for the attack.

Anyone with information should call police on 020 8345 3985 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
H angovers could soon be a thing of the past following the discovery of a new type of synthetic alcohol.

The drink, known as alcosynth, is designed to imitate all the perceived positive effects of alcohol but without the dry mouth, nausea and headache the morning after.

Its creator Professor David Nutt, the former government advisor on drugs, believes alcosynth could completely replace normal alcohol by 2050.

He told the Independent: It will be there alongside the scotch and the gin, they'll dispense the alcosynth into your cocktail and then you'll have the pleasure without damaging your liver and your heart.

Professor Nutt has already patented around 90 different alcosynth compounds, with two currently undergoing tests ready for widespread use.

They go very nicely into mojitos. They even go into something as clear as a Tom Collins. One is pretty tasteless, the other has a bitter taste, he said.

Innovative: Professor David Nutt was formerly the government's advisor on drugs / Tony Buckingham

The effects of alcosynth are said to last around two hours and, according to Prof Nutt, max out after four or five drinks, meaning you never end up feeling too drunk.

Fans of alcosynth also suggest it could relieve a huge burden from the NHS, as alcohol is the third biggest risk factor for disease and death in the UK behind smoking and obesity.

Prof Nutt added: We know a lot about the brain science of alcohol; it's become very well understood in the last 30 years.

So we know where the good effects of alcohol are mediated in the brain, and can mimic them. And by not touching the bad areas, we don't have the bad effects.

We haven't tested it to destruction yet, but it's safer than drinking too much alcohol. With clever pharmacology, you can limit and put a ceiling on the effects, so you can't ever get as ill or kill yourself, unlike with drinking a lot of vodka.

Professor Nutt previously served as a drugs adviser to the last Labour government but was sacked after clashing with ministers over the dangers of cannabis.
A cyclist was seriously injured after reportedly smashing through the rear window of a parked car in Regents Park.

The 30-year-old man was rushed to hospital after emergency services were called to the incident, on the parks Outer Circle, at around 7.50 yesterday morning.

It is believed he smashed through the rear window of the unattended car, which was parked legally, at some speed.

The London Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance attended the scene and he remains today in a central London hospital in serious condition, although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Another cyclist who rode past the scene soon after described it as "grim".

He told the Standard: "A small hatchback car was parked with a hole punched through the middle of the window.

"The bike was on the floor by the rear bumper and the rider was being tended to by other cyclists whilst others were directing traffic around the crash, and the police guard from the embassy was just arriving to provide assistance."

TV presenter Matt Barbet, who hosted The Cycle Show for ITV4, also saw the aftermath of the incident. He tweeted: "Thoughts with the cyclist I saw on the ground in Regents Park earlier after hitting a car apparently. @metpoliceuk may have saved his life."

The Outer Circle was closed from Avenue Road to Hanover Gate, including the bus lane, due to a police cordon.

Detectives from the Mets Roads and Transport Policing Command are now appealing for information and witnesses.

A spokesman said: Officers would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision or the moments leading up to it.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the witness appeal line at Merton Traffic Garage on 020 8543 5157 or via 101.
T he stamp duty burden on London has triggered a collapse in property sales that threatens to derail Mayor Sadiq Khans ambitions for 50,000 new homes a year in the capital.

The number of homes sold in London slumped almost 40 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2016, according to latest figures from the Land Registry.

In central London the falls were even more dramatic, at 55 per cent for houses and close to 60 per cent for flats.

Just 62 houses were sold in prime central London in the three months to the end of June. Property experts warn that former chancellor George Osbornes four steep rises in stamp duty, which fell disproportionately on London, are largely to blame.

The average stamp duty bill in London is now more than 16,500, but as high as 71,000 in Kensington & Chelsea, giving a big boost to the improve before you move trend, website comparethemarket.com said.

It warned: The huge growth in house prices in London makes it difficult for people to make the move theyd like and for a lot of would-be movers stamp duty is the straw that breaks the camels back.

The website says that more than two thirds of Londoners plan to improve their homes to avoid the cost of moving up the property ladder.

London contributed almost half of the Treasurys entire revenues from residential stamp duty in the year to March 2015. The figures for 2016 are due to be published next week and are expected to show a sharp slowdown in growth.

Naomi Heaton, chief executive of property investment firm London Central Portfolio, said the fall in home sales was very concerning, particularly given additional government schemes to augment first-time buyer numbers.

The resulting slump in sales, combined with post-Brexit uncertainty, has also started to undermine what had been an encouraging increase in the number of new homes being built.

The trend is most marked in central London where there were just 680 planning applications for new homes in the second quarter, down from 3,710 in the buoyant third quarter of 2015.

Neil Chegwidden, director of residential research at agents JLL, said: The slowdown in construction activity and more particularly the outlook for further development in London is of deep concern.

James Murray, City Halls deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said: This is a stark reminder of the scale of the challenge we face in building more homes for Londoners, and how factors like the greater uncertainty following the EU referendum have made this challenge tougher still.

He added that the Mayor is committed to working with the Government, London boroughs and builders and developers to make sure we get building more new homes of all types in the capital.
A freshers week student came back to find his dorm room burnt down, destroying all his clothes, his bed and leading to his London halls of residence being evacuated.

Joe Moss, who has just started at Kings College London, tweeted photos showing the charred remains of his bed and clothing, with shattered glass sprinkled across parts of the floor.

Hundreds of panicked students were woken up in the early hours of the morning and told to leave their halls as the fire took hold.

The Arsenal fan tweeted: My freshers is going so well, burnt my room down last night.

Charred: The remains of Joe's room / Joe Moss

He later added: I literally just got a new room but lost all my clothes and stuff.

Asked how it happened, the teenager blamed a faulty hairdryer.

The London Fire Brigade said more than 200 students had to be evacuated from their block in Great Dover Street when the blaze broke out early yesterday morning.

Four engines and 21 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the flames, which took more than an hour to extinguish.

Hairdryer: Joe lost all his clothes in the blaze / Joe Moss

Crews discovered a hairdryer had been left plugged in and switched on at the socket and have now taken it away for investigation.

The brigade is now issuing students with advice on avoiding so-called beauty blazes, including always switching grooming devices off at the mains.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: We are still investigating this fire to determine the exact circumstances.

"But this is a good opportunity to remind people how important it is to ensure that hairdryers and straighteners are turned off at the plug as well as on the appliance.
P olice have made a desperate appeal to trace the family and friends of a tattooed stroke victim who has no ID and is unable to talk.

The man, who is aged around 55, was found collapsed in the street by paramedics outside a Boots store in Union Street, Kingston, on August 23.

He has been unable to communicate with anyone when he was found and staff at a south London hospital later discovered he had suffered a stroke.

The man also had no form of identification on him and no medication.

Police describe him as white, of medium build and around 5ft 7in tall. He has blue eyes with ginger and grey receding hair.

The man also has distinctive tattoos on his left arm including the words mam dad in a cross with Kim underneath. A tattoo of a fish also appears on the same arm.

Sharing photos of the mystery patient, Kingston police said: We want to reunite him with his family or friends as soon as possible.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 and quote reference 16FOU008103.
A nurse who burned himself to death near Kensington Palace had plummeted into depression because of the way a hospital trust handled a disciplinary investigation into his conduct, it was claimed in court.

Amin Abdullah, 41, set himself on fire yards from the London home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge early on February 9 after being sacked from Charing Cross hospital.

A pre-inquest hearing at Westminster coroners court heard allegations from his familys barrister that his three months under investigation caused the mental breakdown that led him to take his own life.

It also emerged that Mr Abdullah had written to bosses informing them that he had had to undergo counselling and see his GP because of the mental stress.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Charing Cross, opened an investigation into Mr Abdullahs conduct on September 15 last year after he became embroiled in a dispute involving a patient and another nurse. The investigation concluded on October 22 but he had to wait a further six weeks for a disciplinary hearing. His dismissal for gross misconduct was confirmed on December 21.

Police were called around midnight on February 9 when Mr Abdullah failed to return to St Charles hospital, Ladbroke Grove, where he was being treated for depression. Officers later found him ablaze in a locked part of the palace grounds.

Caroline Cross, representing Mr Abdullahs partner Terry Skitmore, told the court: There is a clear causal link between the trusts action and his depression and suicide.

The court was told that Mr Abdullah and his support worker from the Royal College of Nursing had written to the trust to outline the effect of the investigation on his health.

Coroner Dr Shirley Radclife said: Clearly the process was taking its toll on his mental health. We will look at whether there was undue delay that may have exacerbated his mental distress.

The inquest is due to be held in February.
A passer-by brought a students two-hour rooftop stand-off with police to a peaceful end by talking him down using tips picked up from a Hollywood movie.

More than a dozen police officers sealed off the concourse outside Stratford tube and DLR station in east London after the man in his 20s climbed onto a glazed balcony and refused to come down.

Hundreds of commuters watched in horror as the man - who wore sunglasses and had a messenger bag wrapped around his waist - swayed, staggered and danced at the edge of the 15ft-high roof swigging from a bottle of Carribean Twist alcopop.

The main entrance below was closed from 6pm causing chaos around the station, which was packed with rush-hour commuters as well as shoppers and diners from the Westfield centre.

Youth worker Jackson Ogunyemi, 36, was walking from his offices nearby to meet his wife Nancy, 30, a nurse, for a date night meal when he saw the drama unfolding.

The man hugs Mr Ogunyemi after finally stopping his rooftop dance routine

Mr Ogunyemi, from Islington, said: I was angry at the way the crowd was just baiting the guy and filming him on their phones so I tried to help.

I started talking to him at the cordon and we made a connection. I kept talking to him, asking him questions about himself and we seemed to connect.

I tried to do a bit of banter. I told him not to worry, I said I had his back and we could go for Nandos if he just came down. He told me he was a vegetarian but I knew I was getting through to him.

The police saw I could do something so invited me through the cordon and I just kept chatting to him. I got through to him by just talking to him about himself and he came down.

Ive never done anything like this before. Ive seen a lot of films where people negotiate and I wanted to be a bit like Samuel L Jackson in The Negotiator. Hes just calm and cool, thats what I tried to be.

The crowd cheered as the young man, who told Mr Ogunyemi his name was Glenn and he was a civil engineering student at a London university, was led down on a fire service ladder shortly before 8pm.

Mr Ogunyemi, known to friends as Action Jackson, hugged the protester before he was arrested and taken away by British Transport Police

He said: It felt right to give him a hug. He said: Im ok, Im ok, and I said Ive still got your back. I hope hes alright, Id meet him if he wants to talk about things some more.

Its hard to know why he did it, he must have been depressed about something. Some people internalise and he externalised. But of course its not right what he did.

Dancer: The man on top of Stratford bus station / Daniel Ripley

One station staff member told Mr Ogunyemi: Well done mate, youre a real hero.

Mr Ogunyemi said: I dont feel like a hero, its up to everybody to try and empower young people.

Im glad I could help. It felt good. I messed up date night but Ill do my best to make it up to my wife at the weekend.

Commuters told of their anger as they watched the bizarre scenes unfold before the incident came to an end.

Natel Allen said the man appeared to be having a rooftop party.

She said: There was a police cordon all around the station. I walked round and there were crowds of people watching him. Everyone had stopped on the escalators going into Stratford to have a look.

He very much looked like he was enjoying himself up there. He did a strutting dance as he was walking across. He looked like a bemused student who had found his way up there.

Omar Khan, 38, a butcher from Deptford, said: I dont know how he got up there but its ridiculous the chaos it has caused. Its a massive waste of time and resources. Ive got no sympathy for him.

A businessman, who asked not to be named, said: There was a huge crowd at the start and he was really playing up to them. But its a huge inconvenience. Theyve had to shut so many entrances. Its really hard for anyone to get in the station so lots of people just ended up watching.

A British Transport Police spokesman said today: At 6.24pm last night BTP officers were called to Stratford London underground Station following reports that a male was on the station roof.

Upon arrival BTP officers spoke to the male and then along with the London Fire Brigade they assisted him in coming down from the roof voluntarily.

The male was arrested for trespass and for being drunk & disorderly and taken into custody.
D iane Abbott today warned critics of Jeremy Corbyn they will find themselves at odds with the membership unless they unite behind him after this weekends leadership election result.

Her comments in an interview with the Evening Standard will be seen as a warnings to rebels, many of whom face difficult re-selection meetings following the planned boundary changes.

Ms Abbott said Mr Corbyn was keen to reach out to enemies in the Parliamentary Labour Party. But she added: The danger for the parliamentary party is that it puts itself at odds with the membership. Some of the most vociferous anti-Jeremy MPs are in constituencies that nominated Jeremy.

Ms Abbott conceded the leadership had to learn from their mistakes but said it was disunity that most put election victory at risk. It would help if colleagues would stop saying we are unelectable, she added. It risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Tomorrows leadership contest result is expected to reaffirm Mr Corbyns mandate from the membership. The question is the margin of victory, said the shadow health secretary.

Set to win again: Jeremy Corbyn / AFP

She said the theme of the conference in Liverpool would be unity. Obviously we have to reach out. The leadership have to learn from their mistakes. We have to press the reset button. But MPs also need to listen to what their constituents want. We are never going to do well in the polls if MPs are criticising the leadership every hour.

Ms Abbott rejected calls led by deputy leader Tom Watson for annual shadow cabinet elections to be reintroduced in an attempt to heal the rift between Mr Corbyn and ex-frontbenchers, who resigned en masse in a failed coup.

What I hear is people are offering to come back and serve anyway, she said. I dont think elections are necessary at this point. She said the battle against challenger Owen Smith had been nastier than last years leadership race. People didnt like the coup or the staged resignations, she said. I dont think Owen Smith is an unpleasant person. He was encouraged to go after Jeremy as a person. It didnt work because Jeremy is basically a nice person.

She made clear Sadiq Khan would not be ostracised for backing Mr Smith. Hes a brilliant mayor  he is entitled to support who he wants. Mr Khan is expected to be a conference star-turn when he speaks on Tuesday. In her own speech, Ms Abbott will warn Londons health service faces more A&E closures under the Tories. She said Sustainability and Transformation Plans being introduced in the NHS were a vehicle for even greater cuts. Theresa Mays grammar school plans had also helped unite Labour, she added. She managed to find one area that unites us and divides her own party  and thats a failure of judgment, said Ms Abbott.

The Hackney North & Stoke Newington MP, 62, is uniquely qualified to comment on Mr Corbyns character, having had a relationship with him after his first marriage, to Jane Chapman, ended in the Seventies. She declined to comment on Professor Chapmans recent announcement that she had voted for Mr Smith. But the MP did respond to the academics claim Mr Corbyns politics had not changed since the Seventies.

The world has changed, so his politics have changed, she said. Hes now for staying in Europe, and he wasnt then. But his values havent changed.
G eorge Osborne today put himself at the helm of the battle against a hard Brexit as the Tories teetered on the brink of a new outburst of bitter infighting over Europe.

The former chancellor branded Leave campaigners  who believe other EU countries with strong trading links with the UK will simply fall in line behind a good Brexit deal for Britain  as naive.

He also hit out at false prophets promising greater security if Britain goes it alone. Millions of people risked finding themselves permanently poorer and more insecure if the departure from the union is bungled, he added.

Speaking in Chicago, Mr Osborne said: Brexit won a majority. Hard Brexit did not.

Memorable moments from George Osborne's time as Chancellor

This was not a popular mandate for less free trade or for a more closed economy.

He believes Britain is facing the most important set of decisions since the Second World War as it seeks to reshape its position in the world.

Get them wrong  consign Britain to a relationship with our neighbours that makes us permanently poorer and more insecure  and the people most likely to pay the price will be precisely those who already feel the most marginalised, he predicted.

Mr Osborne, who was accused of Project Fear with doom-laden economic warnings during the EU referendum campaign, backed Theresa May over the Brexit timetable as she came under growing pressure to press on with it.

Downing Street has rebuffed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for suggesting Article 50 would be triggered early next year to start the withdrawal process.

Mr Osborne, who like David Cameron will not be at Tory conference in Birmingham in just over a weeks time, also believes that serious negotiations with EU leaders will only start from next autumn after German and French elections.

He admitted that during the referendum campaign he had underestimated public concerns about sovereignty and thinks new arrangements will be needed over the free movement of people.

Equally, I find some of the take-or-leave it bravado we hear from those who assume Europe has no option but to give us everything we want more than a little naive, he added.

In an intervention which puts him firmly at odds with Brexit Secretary David Davis, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and dozens of Tory MPs, he advocated the closest possible economic and security relationship with our European partners while no longer being formal members of the EU.

Meanwhile, Treasury minister Jane Ellison appeared to signal that Britain could seek to restrict access for EU citizens to the UK jobs market as part of a Brexit deal.

A No 10 spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister has been clear that her objective will be to get the best deal possible for British goods and services while respecting that the British people want control over free movement.

In his speech honouring Louis Susman, former US ambassador to Britain, Mr Osborne went on to recall how the Queen and Barack Obama sipped cocktails at the American residence in Regents Park in 2011. President Obama was there in his tux. Her Majesty the Queen was wearing her diamonds, he reminisced. I walked into a room full of the A-list, from Tom Hanks to David Beckham. Frankly, I was a little over-awed.

Then Lou came up to me and said: the Queen and the President are having Martinis, you want to join them?
T he president of the European Parliament has blamed the murder of MP Jo Cox on Brexit in a scathing attack on the UK Government.

Martin Schulz blamed the nastiness of the Leave campaign for the death of Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, who was murdered during the campaign.

During a lecture at the London School of Economics, he also described Britain's decision to leave the EU as a failure and disaster.

He hit out at the leave which he said had divided Britain like no other, and said he was alarmed by the recent upsurge in xenophobia in the country.

He said: "Who would have anticipated precisely what came next - that the campaign here in your country would get so nasty that a member of the United Kingdom Parliament, Jo Cox, would be brutally murdered in broad daylight for her political convictions."

European Parliament President Martin Schulz said the UK was 'unprepared' for a Leave vote / EPA

The president, who met with Mrs May in Downing Street on Thursday, said the UK Government was in "no way prepared" for Britain to vote to leave the EU and is unsure when it wants to begin formal Brexit negotiations.

He said: "It is absolutely clear, and it became for me every day clearer, the complexity of the whole exercise is enormous.

"And what we saw was a Government here in London expected a majority for staying in.

"And they were, it was my feeling, no way prepared for the Leave majority."

He said that meant Britain needed time to draw up plans to formally sever ties with the EU, and to decide what type of relationship it wants with the bloc following Brexit.

But he suggested he is not leaving Britain with much more of an idea of what Brexit will look like.

He said: "Honestly, I leave London with a feeling that the Government is undecided about how and when they should trigger Article 50, also with the feeling that they perceive, more and more, the European side - the 27 institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg - can't wait too long."

In an hour-long talk and question and answer session about Brexit and the future of the EU, Mr Schulz said Britain's departure is a blow but may allow the remaining member states to pursue greater integration.

He said Britain's decision to leave "is a failure" and the result was "lose lose" for the UK and the EU.

He said: "A G7 country, the second economy of the European single market, a permanent veto of the security council leaving the European Union is a disaster for us and for the United Kingdom."


T heresa Mays government was hit by its first ministerial resignation today when a Treasury Minister who has been voicing fears over her policies dramatically walked out.

Lord ONeill wrote a resignation letter that hinted strongly he did not trust her commitment to develop ties with China or maintain the Northern Powerhouse policy.

He was also said to be a critic of her decision to expand grammar schools and was known to have considered resigning when she delayed the massive 18 billion Hinkley Point nuclear power station deal with Chinese investment.

The former Goldman Sachs chief economist told Mrs May last night he would go. He also resigned from the Conservative party in the House of Lords, a move that gives himself freedom to speak out.

In a lukewarm endorsement, his resignation letter to Mrs May said the issues that concerned him appear to be commanding your personal attention, implying he doubted it.

Lord ONeill was the economist who coined the term Bric for the booming economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China. He is close to Mr Osborne who championed the Northern Powerhouse agenda.

He wrote: I primarily joined however for the specific purpose of helping deliver the Northern Powerhouse, and to help boost our economic ties with key growing economies around the world, especially China and India and other rapidly emerging economies.

The case for both to be at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention.

He made clear he would be speaking out in future. I am leaving knowing that I can play some role supporting these critical initiatives as a non-governmental person.

Theresa May meets President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz

I look forward to moving to the cross benches of the Lords, and wish you every success with the exciting challenges and opportunities ahead, and thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve in government.

A No 10 source declined to say whether or not Mrs May tried to persuade him to stay.

The FT last month reported him telling friends he would quit unless she persuaded him to stay.

Mrs May sent him a brief letter wishing him well. I was sorry to receive your letter of resignation, she said. I would like to thank you for your service to the Government over these last two years, both as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury and as Chair of the Review on Anti-Microbial Resistance.

As Jim ONeill he worked for Goldman Sachs from 1995 until April 2013, spending most of his time there as Chief Economist. He chaired the Cities Growth Commission in the UK until October 2014 when it provided its final recommendations.
O ne of Londons richest men has recruited a cyber investigation unit to track down the source of a lurid online smear campaign against his family.

The former prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin-Jaber al-Thani, is believed to have hired as many as a dozen experts in London, Europe and the Middle East.

The wholly false claims centre on an alleged orgy at a London hotel attended by a supposed daughter of the sheikh.

One potential explanation the investigation team will explore is whether the smears were politically motivated following his high-profile support for Syrian rebel groups.

A source close to the investigation said: Our investigators will chase down the people behind these lies and hold them responsible wherever they are. Every necessary resource will be given to our team.

The Sheikh, who is known as HBJ in financial circles, was one of the most influential figures in the London property market during his period running the government of the oil and gas-rich Gulf state between 2007 and 2013.

Exclusive: One Hyde Park / Savills

He owns a 120 million penthouse at the One Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge and under his leadership Qatar invested billions of pounds in trophy assets in London  earning it the nickname Londoha  including Canary Wharf, Harrods, Claridges, the London Stock Exchange and the Shard.

The story about the orgy first started appearing on Middle Eastern and Indian news websites last month and quickly went viral.

They falsely suggested that a major media organisation had run a story on its website claiming that a Qatari princess had been found having sex with seven men during a joint raid by MI6 and officers from Scotland Yard.

The fake story went on to claim that Qatari Embassy officials in the UK unsuccessfully attempted to stop the media organisation from publishing by offering a $50 million payment. It has denied publishing such an article and the sheikh does not have a daughter with the name used in the smear campaign. It is understood that the sheikhs investigation will look at all possible sources of the false claims, including internet hoaxers, business and political rivals and people working on behalf of foreign powers. Websites hosted in Germany and Bhutan are believed to have been identified as possible sources.

The global team will operate from clandestine operations centres and leading experts in IT, security and intelligence are among those being recruited. A source close to the sheikh said: This is a cowardly act. These people should reveal their identity rather than hiding behind various websites.
B ritish beachgoers have been warned to avoid the deadly Portuguese man-o-war after several sightings across the south coast.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said the creatures could be appearing at beaches across the UK after verifying sightings in Cornwall and the Scilly Islands.

Despite looking like a jellyfish, the man-o-war delivers an extremely painful sting which has proven to be fatal in some cases.

The creatures are usually found in the surface waters of the open ocean but are sporadically found on British beaches.

The MCS has warned families not to let their children near the creature, which has the appearance of a deflated purple balloon.

The last sightings of the creature in the UK were in 2009 and 2012 when several of the creatures washed up on beaches across the English and Welsh coastline.
S harp-eyed BBC viewers were quick to capitalise when footage of police clashes in North Carolina appeared on a segment apparently about the Southern Rail strike.

The broadcaster mistakenly screened pictures of riot police in Charlotte amid protests over the fatal police shooting of Keith Scott while the news ticker flashed SOUTHERN RAIL STRIKE.

A state of emergency was declared in the US city this week as angry protesters repeatedly clashed with police over the killing of Mr Scott who was shot dead on Tuesday.

And it emerged on Thursday that Southern Rail workers are set to strike for 14 days next month over a bitter dispute about the role of guards on its trains.

A Reddit user who posted a picture of the error included the caption Solidarity from the good people of Charlotte, USA over the Southern Rail strike.

More than 3,000 people have viewed the picture since it was posted on photo sharing website Imgur.
A young boy has been found alive and well after surviving three days alone in a Siberian forest that is home to bears and wolves.

Tserin Dopchut, three, was found alive and well by officials about 3km (1.8 miles) away from his home village of Khut, in the Piy-Khemsky district of the Tuva republic, Russia, on Wednesday morning.

His rescue was announced by the head of Tuva Republic, Sholban Kara-Ool, who blogged: Hurray! Little Tserin has been found alive!

The boy reportedly followed a puppy in to the forests on Sunday morning while under the watchful eye of his grandmother.

Dressed in a shirt and shoes but no coat, he survived on a chocolate bar he had in his pocket and slept in a dry makeshift bed he made himself under a larch tree.

Over 100 people including Russian Emergency Ministrys rescuers, police, volunteers, joined family members on the frantic hunt for the boy.

Home safe: The youngsters first concern was for his beloved toy car

A helicopter was deployed to fly over a search area of some 120 square kilometres.

Regional emergencies chief Ayas Saryglar told the Siberian Times: Of course, the situation was very dangerous. There are wolves, and bears in the forest. The bears are now fattening for the winter. They can attack anything that moves.

Rescue mission: Family and friends hunted for the missing boy

"In addition, it is warm during the day, but at night there are even frosts. If we consider that the kid disappeared during the day, he was not properly dressed - only a shirt and shoes, no coat.

He was found when he responded to the call of his uncle. When discovered his first question was whether his toy car was ok.

Doctors say he has suffered no serious injuries during his ordeal.

His home village, many of whom have nicknamed the boy Mowgli after the fictional orphan in Rudyard Kiplings Jungle Book novels, is now throwing a party to celebrate the boy coming home.
A n Italian man is suing airline Emirates after being given a seat on a nine-hour flight next to an obese man.

Giorgio Destro, a lawyer from Padua in northern Italy, asked if he could change seats a few hours into the flight between Cape Town and Dubai because the overweight man was encroaching on his space, it is claimed.

Airline staff told him that the plane was fully booked and did not offer compensation or apology, an Italian newspaper reported.

He told Mattino Padova: "For nine hours, I had to stand in the aisle, sit on seats reserved for the cabin crew when they were free, and in the final phase of flight resign myself to suffer the 'spillover' of the passenger at my side.

The "gold member" flyer is reportedly asking for 2,759.51 (2,375.23) in compensation - 759.51 (653.87) as a refund for the flight, and a further 2,000 (1,721.81) in damages.

Mr Destro, who previously worked for the Italian Consulate in South Africa, took a selfie during the flight which showed the arm of the passenger seemingly taking up part of his seat.

An Emirates spokesman said they were unable to comment as it was an ongoing legal matter.

The case is due to be heard on October 20 in Padua.

Last year, a man threatened to sue Ethihad airways over claims he suffered a back injury due to sitting next to a very large man on a 13-hour flight from Sydney to Dubai in 2011.
A police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black pastor has been charged with manslaughter.

Officer Betty Shelby, 42, opened fire on Terence Crutcher last week after questioning him on his broken down car in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Shocking footage taken from inside the police car and from a police helicopter showed Mr Crutcher, 40, walking towards his car with his hands in the air before he was gunned down.

Announcing the charges at a press conference, Tulsa County district attorney, Steve Kunzweiler, said the officer had been charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Charged: Betty Shelby / Tulsa Police Department via AP

He said: The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Crutcher are on the hearts and minds of many people in this community.

Despite the heightened tensions felt by all  which seemingly beg for an emotional response and reaction  our community has consistently demonstrated a willingness to respect the judicial process.

Hands up: Footage showed Terence Crutcher complying with police orders / Tulsa Police Department via AP

A warrant has been issued for Shelbys arrest and arrangements are being made for her to surrender at the Tulsa County Sheriffs Department, where she served as an officer.

Protests erupted this week in the US over another fatal police shooting after 43 year-old Keith Scott was shot dead by officers in Charlotte, North Carolina.
C helsea Manning has been sentenced to 14 days in solitary confinement following an attempt to kill herself in her prison cell.

The former US soldier, who is serving 35 years at Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas for leaking classified documents about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, was rushed to hospital in July after the suicide bid.

On Friday, it was revealed Manning had been sentenced to 14 days in solitary confinement, seven of which have been suspended, as a result.

In a statement released by Fight for the Future, a group campaigning on Mannings behalf, she said she was embarrassed by the decision.

She said: My punishment is 14 days in solitary confinement. 7 of those days are suspended. If I get in trouble in the next six months, those seven days will come back.

The term for this status is disciplinary segregation.

There is no set date set for this to start. After I receive the formal board results in writing, I have 15 days to appeal. I expect to get them in the next few days.

I am feeling hurt. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I dont know how to explain it.

Manning said she has 15 days to challenge the decision but has not indicated whether she will lodge an appeal.
U S presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has given Mark Ruffalo her seal of approval to strip off if she beats Donald Trump in the race for the White House.

Ruffalo made the pledge in a bid to incentivise voters to head to the polls and vote for Clinton in the upcoming election.

Clinton told People: For the record, I was planning to vote anyway. That said, Mark's a true patriot, I'm sure he won't let America down.

Ruffalo told fans he would go full frontal in a scene in his next film in a Save the Day video by Joss Whedon to encourage people to vote.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron director pulled together a host of stars including Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Don Cheadle, James Franco, Keegan-Michael Key, Julianne Moore, Stanley Tucci and Martin Sheen.

Speaking in the three minute video the celebrities say: If you do vote, Mark Ruffalo will do a nude scene in his next movie.

Johansson tells fans he will go full monty and Downey Jr. adds: Mark's going to have his d*** out.

Clearly surprised by the plan, Ruffalo joked: Wait what? They should just vote because it matters dont you think?

Scarlett Johansson wows the crowd at Avengers Assemble premiere 1 /13 Scarlett Johansson wows the crowd at Avengers Assemble premiere scarlett.jpg Scarlett Johansson signs autographs for the fans at Westfield Vue scarlett2.jpg The actress blossomed in a black and scarlet floral corset and lace skirt by Prada. Pic: Mamta Kapoor smulders.jpg Cobie Smulders lived up to her name in a red creation by New York designer Alexandra Vidal. Pic: Mamta Kapoor stooshe.jpg Girl group Stooshe were also in attendance. Pic: Mamta Kapoor hemsworth.jpg Chris Hemsworth interacts with fans. Pic: Mamta Kapoor downey.jpg Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr. Pic: Mamta Kapoor hiddleston.jpg Tom Hiddleston plays villain Loki. Pic: Mamta Kapoor carly.jpg Colourful: Emily Head of the Inbetweeners. Pic: Mamta Kapoor rizzle.jpg Rizzle Kicks dressed up for the event. Pic: Mamta Kapoor cisse.jpg QPR footballer Djibril Cisse (left). Pic: Mamta Kapoor

It wouldn't mark the first time the actor has stripped off for a role. He was seen in the nude in 2003 erotic thriller In The Cut.

The Dalai Lama recently opened up about his opinions on Clinton's rival Trump and went on to mock the businessman's famous hair.

During an interview with Piers Morgan he was asked how he feels about Trump, to which he replied: "I don't know, sometimes when you see him, the way his hair... [puts hand on forehead]... and his mouth is small [mimics Trump's mouth]... that is my impression of him but I don't know."

Follow @StandardEnts or like us on Facebook for more news.
M onthy Python star Terry Jones has been diagnosed with dementia.

Jones, 74, is no longer able to give interviews as the disorder has affected his ability to communicate.

The news came as Bafta Cymru announced he had been given the special award for outstanding contribution to film and television.

A representative for Jones said in a statement: "Terry Jones has been diagnosed with progressive Primary Progressive Aphasia, a variant of Frontotemporal Dementia.

"This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews.

"Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations."

Hannah Raybould, Director of BAFTA Cymru, said: We are very much looking forward to celebrating the work of Terry Jones during the ceremony with a look back at his work from 1969 to the present day.

Jones was born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, and went on to read English at Oxford University where he performed comedy with his future Monty Python castmate Michael Palin.

Monty Python - In pictures 1 /45 Monty Python - In pictures Monty Python today Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Eric Idle, John Oliver, and Terry Jones pose for a photo backstage at the "Monty Python And The Holy Grail" special screening during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at Beacon Theatre on 24 April 2015 in New York Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Monty Python's Flying Circus Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969): The Dead Parrot Sketch with Michael Palin and John Cleese BBC Old girl Terry Jones performs on the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena in 2914 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Comedy troupe Monty Python (1975) starring Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam Python Double act Michael Palin and John Cleese perform on the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena on 20 July 2014 in London Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Grumpy old man Terry Gilliam performs on the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena in 2014 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Head judge Michael Palin and Eric Idle perform on the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena in 2914 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Stage stars Michael Palin performs on the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena in 2014 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Hanging out Terry Gilliam performs on the opening night of "Monty Python Live (Mostly)" in 2014 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Stripping off Michael Palin performs on the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena in 2014 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Stage presence Terry Jones, John Cleese and Terry Gilliam perform on the opening night of "Monty Python Live (Mostly)" in 2014 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Sing it out Michael Palin performs on the closing night of 'Monty Python Live (Mostly)' at The O2 Arena in 2014 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Monty Python Live Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Terry Jones perform on the opening night of "Monty Python Live (Mostly)" in 2014 Dave J Hogan/Getty Images On the red carpet Director Ben Timlett, actors Michael Palin, Carol Cleveland, director Bill Jones, actor Terry Jones and director Jeff Simpson attend "A Liar's Autobiography" premiere during the 56th BFI London Film Festival at the Empire Leicester Square on 16 October 2012 in London Samir Hussein/Getty Images Spamalot David Hyde Pierce, Terry Jones, Mike Nichols, Michael Palin, Tim Curry and Eric Idle singing "Always Look On The Brighter Side Of Life" during the opening night curtain call for "Monty Python's Spamalot" at the Shubert Theatre March 17, 2005 in New York Evan Agostini/Getty Images Hollywood Bowl British comedy troupe Monty Python including (left to right) Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman (1941 - 1989), Terry Gilliam, and John Cleese, lounge about at the site of their filmed live show at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California, 1982 Hulton Archive/Getty Images Taking a break British actors, writers and comedians Graham Chapman (1941 - 1989 ) and Michael Palin (in police uniform) sitting in armchairs on Westminster Bridge, London in 1974 Evening Standard Serious reporting The Monty Python team imitate journalist and broadcaster Alan Whicker. Left to right: John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman (1941 - 1989) and Terry Jones in 1971 Alan Howard/Getty Images Group photo Twenty years of Monty Python (1989) with Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman , Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Glliam BBC Having a fumble Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) with John Cleese Universal Pictures Tucking in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) Universal Pictures Very official Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) Universal Pictures Playing dress up Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) with Michael Palin, Terry Glliam and Eric Idle Universal Pictures Live on stage Monty Python Live at The Hollywood Bowl (1982) starring Eric Idle and Michael Palin 20th Century Fox Pontius Pilate Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) with Michael Palin as Pontius Pilate Python Meaning of life Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) with Eric Idle as Harry the Haggler, Terry Jones as Mandy Cohen and Graham Chapman as Brian Cohen Python Crucified Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) with Eric Idle and Graham Chapman as Brian Cohen Python Brian Cohen Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) with Graham Chapman as Brian Cohen Python The Killer Rabbit scene Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975): The Killer Rabbit scene Python Idle Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) with John Cleese and Eric Idle Python Knights in shining armour Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) with Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and Graham Chapman Python On his lonesome Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969) with John Cleese BBC Ministry of Silly Walks Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969) with John Cleese BBC Back in the day Monty Python (1969) starring Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, and Michael Palin BBC

The Welsh comedian  who has written dramas, short stories and has composed operas  starred in Twice a Fortnight and The Complete and Utter History of Britain before becoming a part of the Monthy Python troupe.

He co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Terry Gilliam before directing Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life on his own.

Jones has a seven-year-old daughter with his partner Anna Soderstrom, and two older children with ex-wife Alison Telfer.

Follow @StandardEnts or like us on Facebook for more news.
Macon County prosecutors have dropped their case against a man accused of sexual assault.

Assistant State's Attorney Kate Kurtz on Wednesday filed a motion in Circuit Court to have Brandon M. Peppers' criminal sexual assault charge dismissed and stricken.

Peppers was arrested in September and accused of sexually assaulting a woman after driving with her from a local bar in October 2015.

State's Attorney Jay Scott said that after the arrest, information obtained through further investigation made it impossible to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Scott said he could not elaborate.

Peppers was represented by Assistant Public Defender Timothy Tighe.

This story was updated May 31, 2017.

DECATUR  Brandon M. Peppers, 23, of Decatur is being held on $100,000 bond after DNA evidence linked him to a reported sexual assault that occurred almost one year ago.

On Oct. 30, a 25-year-old woman agreed to meet with a man she knew as Brandon Dobbs. She later learned his actual surname was Peppers.

She told police shortly after the incident occurred that she spoke on the phone with Brandon about 9 p.m. that night. She had met him one week earlier, at the Feeling Lucky Lounge, said a probable cause affidavit by Decatur Police detective Joe Patton.

She agreed to meet with him at the same bar, at Woodford Street and Mound Road, shortly after the phone call. She drank three beers with Peppers, driving from the bar in her vehicle with him about 2 a.m.

The next thing she knew, she woke up in her van at Durfee School, she told police. She was partially undressed and her underwear was turned inside-out.

The woman drove home and called the police. She reported that he must have raped me, Patton wrote in his statement. She said she did not have consensual sex with Peppers. She was alone with him at the bar and could not remember leaving her drink unattended.

The woman was treated and examined at a hospital. Evidence was also gathered from her vehicle.

In a police interview, Peppers admitted to spending time with the victim and having been at the bar with her. He denied having sexual intercourse with her.

Evidence was sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab. In September, forensic scientists reported that the evidence matched Peppers's DNA profile.

After the DNA match was discovered, Peppers once again denied during a police interview that he had sex with that woman. After he was told about the evidence, Peppers then said he possibly had sex with her but that it was consensual if they did.

Peppers was booked into the jail, where he is awaiting his arraignment, to be scheduled next week.

Peppers is listed on the Violent Offender of Youth Registry after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and rendered her unable to walk by kicking her, in a 2011 incident. He pleaded guilty to aggravated battery as part of a plea deal and was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison.

Peppers was also convicted of a felony May 23 in a case in which he forced a 24-year-old woman out of a vehicle then drove away with her climbing on the vehicle to stop him. He stopped suddenly, knocking the woman unconscious by hitting her with the side view mirror. He then drove from the scene.

That incident occurred about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 4, four days after the alleged sexual assault. Peppers was sentenced to a two-year probation term for failure to report an accident resulting in an injury.
MONTICELLO  Gregory J. Houser was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of Sheryl Houser, 29, a nurse who was found dead on the floor of her garage with a rope tied around her neck in rural Piatt County almost 26 years ago.

Houser, 56, Sheryl's estranged husband at the time of her death, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder in Piatt County Circuit Court. He is facing 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted.

His arraignment is expected to be held at about 9 a.m. Monday. The charges were filed early Thursday by Piatt County State's Attorney Dana Rhoades.

Although Houser was a suspect from the outset -- investigators thought it was a staged suicide -- the case went cold after a coroner's jury ruled the death as undetermined.

But new evidence was recently discovered, including that a condom found just outside the garage contained DNA from Sheryl and Gregory Houser. Recent DNA technology was a key element in moving forward with the case.

Another coroner's inquest was held July 8. This time the jury ruled the death a homicide, opening the door for the prosecution of Houser.

Houser testified at that inquest, invoking his right to remain silent to all questions.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Scott Denton reviewed materials related to the case in 2011. His findings, presented at the inquest, were that Sheryl Houser died from strangulation, with an attempt to conceal the cause of death by staging a hanging from the ceiling.

Although the case has been considered cold because of the extraordinary length of time involved, the Illinois State Police, the lead investigating agency, has never closed its investigation.

Houser, who was 30 at the time of his wife's death, was awaiting trial on charges of criminal sexual assault for allegedly tying Sheryl to a bed with nylon rope and raping her Sept. 20, 1990, 15 days before her death.

He was free on bond the morning first responders found Sheryl Houser on the floor of her attached garage, located on her property, between Mahomet and Mansfield. The emergency crews were sent to the scene when she failed to show up for her work shift at Carle Foundation Hospital.

Houser is being held without bond in the Piatt County Jail.
DECATUR -- Current Springfield Clinic patients in Decatur will soon be seeing their doctors at a new building.

The hope is that the change -- moving from the HSHS St. Mary's Hospital campus to Decatur Memorial Hospital's in the renovated, 14,000-square-foot office building at 250 W. Kenwood Ave. -- will eventually mean an expansion of Springfield Clinic's specialty services in Decatur.

DMH President and CEO Tim Stone announced the addition for DMH at a Thursday news conference in the Barnes Lobby. Construction is still in progress at the building on Kenwood, but Springfield Clinic Chief Operating Officer Jay York said he's targeting mid- to late November for the building to be ready for patients.

York said while, on the surface, this looks like Springfield Clinic "switching allegiances" from St. Mary's to DMH, that isn't the case. He said the move keeps the Springfield Clinic from having to build new construction but offers it room to grow.

"The reality is that the current practice on the St. Mary's campus is spatially constrained, and we really can't grow there," York said. "We had been looking at other areas in town, and this is going to allow us to spread out and add more services. Our discussions about those services are currently ongoing.

"But we've been clear with St. Mary's -- this isn't us saying we don't want to work with them in the future. We're here to serve the community as a whole."

Springfield Clinic's Decatur family medicine doctors moving to the new office are John DiMondo, Dennis Heim, Cynthia Marschner, Dennis Rademacher, Tammie Buzan, Mercedes Kent, Nicole Mason, Jennifer Norton and Sara O'Brien. Specialties are adult and pediatric endocrinology, neurology, rheumatology and adult and pediatric dermatology.

"It's just a different location for them; we hope to retain all their patients," York said. "We're not hospital-based, and if you think about the way healthcare is today, physicians aren't aligned with one hospital to where if you see them, you have to go to that hospital."

St. Mary's director of marketing, Jessica Michael, said Springfield Clinic informed St. Mary's of its decision to move Thursday morning. She said said St. Mary's would work to make sure patients' needs are met during the transition.

"It affects a few primary care physician offices, but we will continue to have Springfield Clinic physicians on our medical staff, including specialists who routinely care for patients at St. Marys," Michael said. "We welcome physicians and physicians groups from across the region to practice at our hospital."

Michael said the hospital expects to lease the space being vacated to other physicians.

For DMH, this was the next step in the business model Stone brought to the DMH Board of Directors when he became the hospital's president and CEO last year.

"Both myself and the other members of our executive leadership team are convinced collaborations afford us the greatest opportunity to survive and thrive in the age of the Affordable Care Act, which has encouraged merging," Stone said. "This is an example of two healthcare entities with a common vision coming together to maximize resources and value to the patients and communities we serve."

Stone said once the location is expanded to offer more specialty services, it will help the reverse the "out-migration" of patients to hospitals in other communities, which he said constituted $278 million in business.

"This will increase access in our community for patients needing family medicine and specialty services, negating the need to travel out of town and putting a dent in out-migration," Stone said.

The building the Springfield Clinic is moving into was formerly the DMH Family Residency Program, which has moved into the Kenwood Medical Center -- also undergoing renovation to expand because of DMH's collaboration with SIU School of Medicine.

The collaboration with Springfield Clinic is just the latest for DMH. In February, DMH joined the BJC Collaborative, which aligned DMH with seven other regional hospitals, including Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

The collaborative allows members to remain independent but band together to save money on equipment and supplies, improve access to the health care a patient might need elsewhere and become more efficient with new Medicare and Medicaid payment methods that demand it.

The Springfield Clinic is the second-largest physician-led multispecialty medical group in Illinois. It has more than 400 doctors and advanced practitioners in 80 medical specialties or subspecialties in 40 locations spanning 20 counties.
DES MOINES  It will not be a run-of-the-mill type of opener for many waterfowl hunters in northern portions of Iowa on Saturday.

Extensive flooding has impacted some of the more popular public areas and raised questions on when hunting flooded fields might be considered baiting.

The early season for ducks, coots and mergansers as well as for both light and dark geese starts Saturday for the northern zone of the state.

While agricultural lands offer prime waterfowl hunting opportunities, hunters should be aware that federal law and Iowa DNR regulations prohibit hunting waterfowl on agricultural land where unharvested crops have been manipulated.

Agricultural land may be hunted as long as any seed or grain present has been scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting, normal agricultural harvest, normal agricultural post-harvest manipulation or normal soil stabilization practice.

A normal agricultural harvest is undertaken for the purpose of gathering a crop. A normal agricultural post-harvest manipulation first requires a normal agricultural harvest. To be considered normal, a harvest must be done in accordance with official recommendations of the Cooperative Extension Service. Requirements from insurance companies that failed crops be disked, mowed, burned or otherwise manipulated are not official harvest recommendations of the Cooperative Extension Service.

If an agricultural crop or a portion of an agricultural crop has not been harvested for any reason, and the crop has been manipulated, the area is considered baited and cannot be legally hunted for waterfowl. Manipulation includes, but is not limited to, such activities as mowing, shredding, disking, rolling, chopping, trampling, flattening, burning, or herbicide treatments. Grain or seed which is present as a result of a manipulation that took place prior to a normal harvest is bait.

More information on regulations pertaining to what constitutes baiting for waterfowl can be found online here.

Aldo Leopold Wildlife Management Area in Bremer County is not recommended for hunting. The entire area, including the parking lots, are under water.

Big Marsh Wildlife Management area in Butler County is not recommended for boat use. Those walking in are urged to use caution because water may be deeper than is expected.

The dock is under water at Sweet Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Butler County and there is higher than normal water at the boat ramp. Hunters are urged to use caution due to the varying water levels and conditions.
LINCOLN  The public is invited to attend informational meetings across the state in October regarding the future of Nebraskas aquatic resources.

Fisheries personnel from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission have been developing a road map for the states fisheries and aquatic resources. The publics participation in the planning process is encouraged.

Each meeting will include an overview of the Commissions Fisheries Division, an outline of the planning process and public feedback. The two-hour meetings will begin at 7 p.m.

The meeting schedule is:

Oct. 3: Scottsbluff, North Platte Natural Resources District (NRD), 100547 Airport Road

Oct. 3: Omaha, Papio-Missouri River NRD, Chalco Hills Recreation Area/Wehrspann Lake, 8901 S. 154th St.

Oct. 3: Norfolk, Lifelong Learning Center, 801 E. Benjamin Ave.

Oct. 4: North Platte, Mid-Plains Community College, 1101 Halligan Drive

Oct. 4: Valentine, Niobrara Lodge, 803 E. U.S. 20

Oct. 5: Kearney, E.R.C. Building, E. K. and Mary Yanney Heritage Park, 2020 W. 11th St.

Oct. 6: Lincoln, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, 4703 N. 44th St.

Special enforcement aimed at reduction of accidents on SRAs

Conservation officers with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conducted special enforcement patrols during the summer on state recreation areas in Lancaster County. These efforts were designed to help ensure users have a safe and enjoyable experience on Commission-managed areas.

Enforcement efforts aimed to reduce serious and fatal vehicle and boat accidents resulted in seven arrests for driving under the influence and two for boating under the influence. These special patrols allowed conservation officers to contact an additional 1,300 park visitors from mid-June through Labor Day.

In addition to the nine arrests for impaired operators, officers issued warnings and citations for drug possession (five), reckless driving (three), open alcohol container (five), minor in possession of alcohol (two), and no park entry permit (13).

Conservation officers worked with the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office and Nebraska State Patrol during the patrols, which were made possible by an $8,000 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety.
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THUMBS UP! To the continued efforts to make the former Wagner Castings/Intermet plant location less of an eyesore and hazardous threat. It should come as no surprise the site, which can trace its industrial roots back to the 1880s, is home to numerous hazardous chemicals. Developer Tim Vieweg is working with the state and federal Environmental Protection Agency make the site suitable for new development.

THUMBS UP! To those who take time out of their busy day to interact with elementary students. The most recent examples involves members of the Decatur Police Department. Officers visit South Shores School twice a week to read to students, and other officers paid a breakfast visit to Baum School. While any involvement by the community in the schools is a positive thing, building a bond between young students and police is especially important amid the current state of police-community relations across the country.

THUMBS DOWN! To the continues lack of action by the governor and state lawmakers to craft a budget. By putting politics ahead of the people they are elected to serve, adult learning programs in Decatur are limited in what they can do to help those actually trying to make a better living for themselves.

THUMBS DOWN! To banks that use improper sales tactics to generate unexpected fees for their customers. The issue has been brought to the forefront by an investigation into Wells Fargo for allegedly opening 2 million bank and credits card accounts, transferring money without permission and using false emails to set up online banking in an effort to meet lofty sales goals.

THUMBS UP! To Ramona Borders for her donation to upgrade the Scovill Zoo's animal treatment room. Borders told a group, during a recent celebration luncheon, that she loves animals more than people, which would explain her support of this and other zoo projects over the years. The surgery room was dedicated to Borders' stepson, Mike, who served as zoo director from 1974 to 2008.

THUMBS UP! To Shirley Kistler and Milt Scott for all they did over the years to support the fine art at Eisenhower High School. Their dedication didn't go unnoticed by the many students that passed through the school over the years, some of which led the efforts to have them honored by having a the fine arts wing at the remodeled school dedicated as the Kistler-Scott Center for the Performing Arts. A ceremony marking the official designation was held Saturday.

THUMBS UP! To another successful run of the Arts in Central Park. Although it got off to a wet start last Friday, it proved to be a beautiful weekend for area artists to showcase their skills and for art lovers  old and new  to take in the creativity.

THUMBS UP! To Richland Community College for its efforts to heighten sexual assault awareness and the work that is done by the Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center in Decatur. One presentation that garnered our attention involved students cracking eggs on their heads during a game of egg roulette, hoping the egg was cooked and not raw. If you have to break a few eggs to get the message out, we're all for it.

THUMBS UP! To the announced continuation of the Lakeside Triathlon next summer in Decatur. The future of the event, was put in doubt after the family of Rodney T. Miller, for whom the event was named, decided to step away after 10 years of leading it. The triathlon is another example of the community coming together each year to put Decatur on the map.
I felt personally offended when Donald Trump insulted the reporter with the partially paralyzed hand, ridiculing him, senselessly, like a third-grader who finds solace from his own inadequacies by ridiculing the kid on the playground with a limp or wearing glasses.
In August this year, China s import volumes of steel bars, angles/channels, steel plate , and steel pipes and hollow sections amounted to 100,000 mt, 30,000 mt, 940,000 mt, and 30,000 mt, down 21.1 percent, up 50.7 percent, up 6.1 percent and rising by 29.6 percent, respectively, year on year, as announced by the Chinese customs authorities.
Credibility of political parties is more than just a function of their leaders' speech, as it is also a function of the programmes they advance and the names of candidates on their tickets, Ciolos told AGERPRES in a recent interview.

He says he is convinced that the younger generations can change mentalities.''It is a good thing that they are all over the social media, in the public space generally speaking. I believe this new, younger generation who wants a change for Romania is increasingly more assertive about their wish, in an active manner. I would like to see more and more of these people running on the tickets of political parties, which, I believe, should understand, even at the eleventh hour, that their credibility is not just a function of the speeches of political leaders, but also a function of the programmes they advance and especially of their tickets for elections. So, I am encouraging them, and I can assure them that I am not indifferent to what happens in Romania or what will happen in Romania next. On the other hand, I believe a statesman should be consistent with himself and not lie,'' says Ciolos.Ciolos also have answers to those reproaching him on social media of not running in this autumn's general election: "I believe Romania needs a change in its doing politics. Such change cannot be made by one man alone, and what it entails is the people wanting the change getting personally involved. I took responsibility for that and got personally involved as early as last November, by taking up the office of the prime minister. I said back then that I will not run in the general election, precisely in order to preserve credibility in the balanced approach by the incumbent Cabinet. That does not mean I am not interested in what will happen at this election, and that is why I am urging all those wanting a change in Romania to do it," adds Ciolos.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea, former Interior Minister announced on Friday that he will resign from the position of senator. "I don't hide behind the immunity and, as well as Gigina's family, I wish the truth regarding that accident. I understand that judicial opinions are different regarding the possibility of resuming the vote. Therefore I announce my resignation from the Romania Senate, in order to vanish all the doubts. The procedure will be completed next week, according to the Regulation," Oprea wrote on Friday, on his Facebook page.

Agerpres
Senator Gabriel Oprea, former Interior minister could step down to 'stress-relieve situation', said on Friday president Klaus Iohannis, at Campulung-Muscel, in Arges County, on situation of senator Oprea.

"In my opinion, the Parliament should not vote on somebody's guilt or innocence, be they MP or minister or former minister, this is what a court of law decides. The situation we are now facing, of Senator Oprea is a situation that cannot be easily tense-released and cannot be easily solved. I'm not sure there is a procedural possibility to resume voting in the Senate, but there is a possibility for the person involved to resign, if they want the situation stress-relieved," said Iohannis.

He added he was very worried to see so many people protesting on Thursday night against the vote given in case of Sen. Oprea.

"The people have a right to be outraged. I mean, how do the Members of the Parliament admit to protect someone through their vote?! Should the one is innocent his innocence will be settled in a court of law. Things have reached a zone where they shouldn't have gotten. I'm very sad I'm pained that the Senate after so many discussions on this matter didn't get the point. The senators further vote at their party's command without considering the need for transparency and openness, including the fact that in the Senate there are so many persons with an open anti-justice speech, this is outrageous and I believe that the voter should understand that it is up to them. The voter could fix this matter. There are parties that have somewhat got it that they need this necessity of reform and there are parties that wouldn't understand that Romania is heading to a rule of law and transparence and should the voter wishes to participate in this refreshing process, then they have but to vote parties that do not include criminals on their lists and never cast their vote for the parties that preserve criminals on their lists, with the risk of significant popular dissatisfactions," said the head of state.

President Iohannis is participating on Friday in the southern Arges County in the events that celebrate 100 years since Romania entered the First World War, the Great War as it is well-known worldwide, according to Agerpres.
Our education system is something suffering from 'chronic reforming' that needs to be reconsidered, on Friday said President Klaus Iohannis, in southern Campulung Muscel, the Arges County. He added that this is precisely the reason why he has included the 'Educated Romania' in his Country Project.

"I thought that is it high time that we gather and see what we wish to build, a true country project capable to show how we want Romania to look like within 20, 30, 50 years and how could we get there. How can we find out these things? It's simple: by gathering the people who wish to get involved, by seeing what it is possible to be done, how could it be done and then we'll have our answer. Hopefully, next year I could be able to come before you and present you our Country Project, that will tell where we wish Romania to find its place, if we stick to the sidelines, as we geographically are, or to the middle, if we want Romania to be a country of unqualified workers or perhaps we have the ambition to make out of Romania an intelligent country, with well-educated people, if we want to ruin further the health care or education system, if we want to have modern, performing hospitals, modern and performing schools. These things do concern us and they are an essential part," said Iohannis at the Carol I High School in Campulung Muscel.

He added that this is exactly why he has initiated the 'Educated Romania' project. "Educated Romania is the way to Romania's future. The future could not be built without an educated generation. Without good schools and teachers alike, without parents to understand why their children are going to school we cannot go further," added Iohannis.

According to the head of state, the 'Educated Romania' project is not a reform. "I believe it is not a reform, at least I hope from at least two reasons. (...) The education system has got a disease - chronic reforming. We have had 11 Education ministers since the 1989 Revolution, each of those making a reform or two; we cannot go on like this. (...) One cannot put down and re-build permanently, because we'll get to live the myth of Manole (legendary builder who was ordered by then ruler of Wallachia, Neagoe Basarab, to erect a monastery, the today's Curtea de Arges Monastery. What he was building during the day was falling apart at night. He could only preserve what he built by embedding in the monastery's wall his own wife, Ana - editor's note). We have managed to complete a Manole's education system," specified Iohannis.

"I find it inadmissible for a pupil in the 9th grade to not know how the Baccalaureate exam will take place. They must know this ever since the 5th grade. (...) The school route should be predictable," said Iohannis. He stressed that the first conclusions of the 'Educated Romania' project won't be perceivable earlier than the end of 2017. The head of state added that the pedagogical high schools should be preserved, because they still have a very important role since the young are best educated there.

Agerpres
On the last day of his visit to New York on Wednesday, Prime Minster Dacian Ciolos met American investors operating in Romania, whom he introduced to the measures envisaged by the Romanian Government to secure local economic stability and improve management of state-run companies.

"They underscored the need for predictability and transparence.I introduced them to the measures taken this year to secure stability in the national budget, improve management of state-run companies. Some of them have invested in majority state-owned enterprises that also have private capital contributions. They are certainly interested in the implementation of Ordinance 109 recast to secure quality management for such companies. We also discussed cutting through red tape, another essential they always mention, at each meeting, particularly the quality of the performance of the National Tax Administration Agency (ANAF), which has to do with the business environment. I explained to them the measures already taken to increase transparence in ANAF's business and the simplification measures envisaged by the Finance Ministry for the weeks ahead to be passed," Ciolos said at the end of the meeting, according Agerpres He said the attending American investors displayed interest in the development of Romania's capital market, in the development of the stock portfolio of the Bucharest Stock Exchange."They are ready to invest. I told them that even in this area we are preparing to open up the capital market to improve the performance of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, without losing state control over companies that are important to Romania. (...) That was a useful conversation that allowed us to clarify certain measures we have taken and some we are contemplating taking. On the other hand, I now better understand their expectations from the Romanian business environment (...). They regard economic and legislative decisions, as well as transparency in the decision-making process related to corporate management," said Ciolos.
The copies of 46 documents regarding the Romanians in Serbia from the inter-war period were exhibited on Friday at the Uzdin's Romanian House in Serbia.

The exhibition originator, director of the respective cultural establishment Vasile Barbu, told AGERPRES that this archive pieces are coming from the inventory of the Mehedinti County Department within the Romanian National Archive, the documents dating since 1918-1941.

"This documents relate, mainly, to the Romanians cultural condition from the geographic areas of former Yugoslavia, also illustrate the hardships of the local communities which had to struggle with the lack of books and magazines printed in Romanian. Much of them give us information about the Drobeta-Turnu Severin Free University's efforts to organize conferences across the border, supported, among others by C. Radulescu-Motru, Gh. Ionescu-Sisesti, Ion Pilat, N. Iorga, I. Gh. Duca, Sextil Puscariu, Pamfil Seicaru, O. Goga and Gala Galaction," Barbu stated.

He revealed that documents issued by the I. G. Bibicescu Library in Turnu Severin still exist, from which results the diligences made in the former Yugoslav area in order to found 39 branches, each one featuring 400 volumes in Romanian.

"There is a document referring to the necessity of a book written in Romanian, with Cyrillic letters for the Romanians living in Timoc Valley, authored by Atanasie Petrovici, director of the Regular School in Timisoara," Barbu added, according to Agerpres.
NEW YORK  The genetic ancestry of people living outside Africa can be traced almost completely to a single exodus of humans from that continent long ago, new studies suggest.

Still, a tiny legacy from an earlier exit may persist in some native islanders in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

That's the conclusion from three studies of modern DNA from around the world, released Wednesday by the journal Nature.

Our species, Homo sapiens, arose about 200,000 years ago in Africa. From there, it colonized the world, and scientists are still trying to understand the timing of that expansion.

The new work takes advantage of the fact that human DNA accumulates tiny changes over time. That can be used like a clock to estimate how long ago two populations split off from each other. The approach can't reveal every migration out of Africa, just those that left a genetic legacy that has been handed down to this day.

Scientists have long traced one such exit to a single population that left around 40,000 to 80,000 years ago, probably over time rather than all at once. But some other work has turned up potential signs of a previous migration as early as 120,000 to 130,000 years ago.

One of the new papers says it found a trace of an earlier migration in native people of Papua New Guinea, which lies north of Australia. At least 2 percent of their DNA may come from a population that split off from Africans about 120,000 years ago, reported researchers from the Estonian Biocentre in Tartu, Estonia, and other institutions. The study analyzed the DNA of 483 people from 148 populations worldwide, including six Papuans.

The two other papers concluded that if there was a genetic contribution from an earlier migration, it must be tiny. One studied the DNA of 300 people from 142 diverse populations, while the other examined the genetic codes of 25 Papuans and 83 aboriginal Australians.

Overall, the evidence shows that the vast majority of modern human ancestry outside of Africa comes from a single exit from Africa, said David Reich of Harvard Medical School, an author of the 142-population paper.

Joshua Akey of the University of Washington in Seattle, who co-wrote a Nature commentary on the papers, said linking that vast majority of ancestry to just one departure seems settled.

Todd Disotell of New York University, who didn't participate in the research, said the reported hint in Papuans of an earlier migration might actually be due to something else. The analyses in all three papers are very complex, he noted.
AWARDS

Dr. Mary Jo Gorman, lead managing partner of the Prosper Women Entrepreneurs Startup Accelerator, received the Missouri Womens Council Award of Distinction at the 2016 Governors Conference on Economic Development.

James E. Frey, retired senior vice president of Alberici Group Inc., was awarded the Associated General Contractors of Missouri Skill, Responsibility, Integrity Award.

Otis Williams, executive director of St. Louis Development Corp., received the Governors Career Service in Economic Development Award.

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger received the 2016 Chairmans Award from Citizens for Modern Transit in recognition of the countys efforts in support of the regions transit system.

EXPANDING

OSewpersonal Fabric Shop is now an authorized Bernina dealer.

Inflexion LLC is now a Microsoft Power BI Partner.

HELPING OUT

The Northwestern Mutual Network Office in Clayton teamed with the Gateway Grizzlies to raise $9,300 for the Alexs Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

Lang Insurance donated $5,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through the 2016 Safeco Insurance Make More Happen Award program.

MILESTONES

Presbyterian Childrens Homes and Services was named an accredited agency by the Better Business Bureau for the 10th straight year.

OPENING

Martian Car Wash opened three locations:

 6678 Mexico Road, St. Peters

 7860 Mexico Road, St. Peters

 2601 Old Muegge Road, St. Charles

Treats Unleashed opened a new store:

 1620 Hanley Road, Richmond Heights

Menards opened a new location:

 1280 Maple Street, Farmington

PROJECTS

Korte Co. began construction on a $23 million renovation of a health clinic on the Naval Station in Kings Bay, Ga.

Spellman Brady & Co. completed the interior design for the Woodlands of John Knox Village, a skilled nursing and short-term rehabilitation care center in Pompano, Fla.

RECOGNITION

Purk & Associates was named to Inc. magazines annual Inc. 5000 list of the nations fastest-growing private companies.

Pam Nicholson, president and chief executive officer of Enterprise Holdings, was named to Fortunes Americas 50 Most Powerful Women in Business list.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. was ranked third out of the top 100 Best Workplaces for Women by research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and Fortune.
The planned $340 million redo of the Federal-Mogul foundry in midtown St. Louis as a trendy food hall and high-rise apartments and offices includes taxpayer help.

Many tax incentives are proposed to help finance the projects $134.2 million first phase. The largest, if approved by city officials, would be $19.4 million in tax-increment financing. Also factored into the project are $14.9 million in federal historic preservation tax credits, $17.4 million in state historic preservation tax credits and $5 million in state brownfields tax credits for environmental cleanup.

If fully built, the project would have more than 755,000 square feet of office, retail and residential space on nearly 17 acres east of the Cortex technology district. Lawrence Group, the developer, estimates 1,800 new jobs at the project it calls City Foundry St. Louis at Cortex.

Tax-increment financing would total 14.5 percent of the first-phase cost and pay for much of the infrastructure needed for the entire project. The request meets the citys guideline that TIF covers about 15 percent of a redevelopment projects cost. The TIF Commission could decide the City Foundry request at a public hearing Nov. 2.

Lawrence Group also plans to establish City Foundry community improvement and transportation development districts that would levy 1 percent sales taxes. In addition, the developer wants 10 years of full property tax abatement followed by 15 years of 50 percent tax abatement.

Included in the projects funding sources is a $51 million first mortgage, according to Lawrence Groups TIF application.

Otis Williams, executive director of the St. Louis Development Corp., said Thursday the agency will closely examine City Foundry incentives, adding that his agency is implementing some recommendations of a recent outside study that said St. Louis lacks a plan for citywide redevelopment and incentive use.

The developments first phase focuses on the projects centerpiece: renovation of the foundry, the oldest part built in 1929 for Century Electric Co., a maker of electric motors. The company expanded the foundry Federal-Mogul used later to make brake parts before closing it in 2007.

Lawrence Group bought the property last December after Pace Properties was unable to carry out its plan to replace the foundry with stores. The new owner went to work and, in March, released preliminary City Foundry designs.

Environmental cleanup at the site began a month ago. Lawrence Group hopes to open City Foundrys first phase in fall 2018, said Steve Smith, the companys chief executive.

Its food hall would be the first such development in St. Louis. Unlike shopping mall food courts, food halls  typically in rehabbed historic buildings  have upscale restaurants, specialty grocers and stores.

Lawrence Groups TIF application mentions possible City Foundry tenants, including a national retailer eyeing 30,000 square feet of space in a building planned for rehab. In addition, Lawrence Group is negotiating City Foundry space with a national software developer currently in Clayton and a new innovation center, according to the application.

Smith declined this week to provide details about the potential tenants but said City Foundry will appeal to younger workers.

Its validating the idea that companies that want to be competitive in recruiting young people need to have interesting offices, he said.

City Foundrys planned second phase is a 24-story apartment building on Forest Park Avenue next to a 500-car parking garage included in the first phase. Lawrence Group plans to market the approximately 280 apartments primarily to people at Cortex, St. Louis University and the Washington University medical complex.

Phases three and four include two multistory office buildings, commercial space and parking on Vandeventer Avenue south of Forest Park Avenue. Market demand will determine when those phases are built, Smith said.

Renovation plans for the former foundry include a new common area street-like environment bisecting the site, according to the TIF application. Redoing an unused rail trestle on the site for biking and walking also is planned.

City Foundry has grown in scope since it was first announced. Smith said in August that Bull Moose Industries will take a significant ownership interest in the project. Bull Moose, a maker of metal tubes mainly for the construction industry, is part of London-based Caparo Group. Chesterfield-based Bull Moose shares ownership of the Missouri Theatre building with Lawrence Group, which is redoing the structure, at 634 North Grand Boulevard, as a hotel and Bull Mooses new headquarters.
The Columbia Daily Tribune has been sold, the newspaper reports in its online editions, ending 115 years of local ownership.

The buyer is GateHouse Media Inc., the Tribune reports.

Jason Taylor, president of GateHouses Western Division, with Tribune Publishing Co. President Andy Waters and Tribune Publisher Vicki Russell, announced the new ownership during Friday meetings with managers and employees.

The sale, on terms that have not been disclosed, will be finalized on or about Oct. 1, the Tribune reported.

GateHouse Media is owned by New Media Investments Inc. and operates 125 daily newspapers across the country.

Gatehouse has 14 daily newspapers in Missouri. They are the Boonville Daily News; Constitution Tribune (Chillicothe); Kirksville Daily Express; Lake Sun Leader (Camdenton); Macon Chronicle Herald; Maryville Daily Forum; Moberly Monitor Index; Neosho Daily News; Rolla Daily News; The Carthage Press; The Daily Guide (Waynesville); The Examiner (Independence); The Hannibal Courier-Post; and The Mexico Ledger.

It also owns 19 daily newspapers in Illinois: The Benton Evening News; Carmi Times; Daily Leader (Pontiac); Daily Ledger (Canton); Daily Review Atlas (Monmouth); Du Quoin Evening Call; Eldorado Daily Journal; Harrisburg Daily Register; Journal Star (Peoria); McDonough County Voice (Macomb); Pekin Daily Times; Register Mail (Galesburg); Rockford Register Star; Star Courier(Kewanee); The Courier (Lincoln); The Daily Republican (Marion); The Journal Standard (Freeport); The Olney Daily Mail; and The State Journal-Register (Springfield).
A Decatur cleaning machine repair company is moving into a remodeled building after 30 years in business.

USA-CLEAN will be holding grand opening events next week for its facility at 2803 N. 22nd St. It spent $1.8 million to purchase and remodel the building where Wickes Lumber previously was located.

The move consolidates buildings on Brush College Road and Cundiff Road where USA-CLEAN had been operating along with a rented warehouse in a former K's Merchandise building.

The multimillion dollar company founded by CEO and President Bruce Bushert has outgrown those spaces. USA-CLEAN, which employs 50 people in Decatur along with 600 technicians across the country, fixes and repairs floor cleaning machines for clients in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Bushert, a graduate of Argenta-Oreana High School, started the business after purchasing a floor cleaning company in 1986. He made calls in an attempt to get cleaning jobs and began cleaning floors in Walmarts.

Bushert found a need to repair machines, expanding the business to service machines at Walmart, Decatur Memorial Hospital, HSHS-St. Mary's Hospital, HSHS-St. John's Hospital and other health care facilities. Its clients include educational institutions such as Millikin University and Northwestern University along with St. Louis and Chicago Public Schools.

USA-CLEAN serves retail locations including Target, Aldi and Toys R Us.

The company's Asset Readiness Monitoring & Operational Reporting, or ARMOR, device that attaches to battery powered equipment and reports activity is patented and manufactured in Decatur at Internal Control Services.

A Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting is being held at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26 along with a grand opening open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Call (217) 877-4002.

nnn

The Perfect Place events space in Moweaqua is now at home in a new perfect place.

It's moved down the village main drag a few doors and, since early September, has been located at 117 N. Main St., a former pool hall.

The Perfect Place owner, Shawn Conlin, said the owner of the building was looking to make a change and the new address serves up several advantages.

It can accommodate 60 people seated (twice as many as the old location) and it's got central air and there is a small kitchenette in there, Conlin said.

She said the location is ideal for anything from baby showers to parties, or even as a classroom. Conlin is also dressing the place up with vintage touches like a wall that features old business mementos and pictures.

We're working on what we call the Moweaqua Memorabilia Wall, Conlin said. It's going to look nice.

Call (217) 620-3330.

nnn

First Mid-Illinois Bancshares, Inc. has completed its acquisition of First Clover Leaf Financial Corp.

The acquisition represents approximately $537 million in deposits and $450 million in performing loans in seven full-service banking centers in Illinois and Missouri, operating as First Clover Leaf Bank.

We are very excited to expand our St. Louis metro east presence, said Joe Dively, First Mid Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. We look forward to maintaining strong relationships and involvement in these communities and the opportunity to bring expanded services to our First Clover Leaf customers.

With the completion of this acquisition, First Mid will have 53 banking centers and 66 ATMs across Illinois and Missouri. This growth expands its overall service area and offers customers banking capabilities in 37 Illinois communities.
Republican leaders in Washington and Jefferson City are pushing back against planned sales of commercial aircraft to Iran despite the Treasury Departments announcement this week that it had begun issuing licenses for the exports.

U.S. Reps. Pete Roskam, R-Ill., and Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, in a letter to Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control, seek more answers about any security implications of the delivery of aircraft to Iran.

There is little evidence indicating that Iran Air has indeed stopped transporting weapons, troops, and cash to terrorist groups and rogue regimes, the congressmen wrote in a letter, dated Thursday.

Both congressmen hold influential financial positions in the House. Hensarling is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Roskam is chairman of the tax-writing Ways & Means Committees Oversight subcommittee.

Airbus and Boeing said Wednesday that they had received Treasury approval to begin exporting more than 200 jets to Iran, under a deal struck in January. The news is likely to ease complaints from Iran over implementation of last years international nuclear agreement, in which Tehran agreed to curtail its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

In Missouri, state Sen. Eric Schmitt, a St. Louis County Republican running for state treasurer, said Boeing should be disqualified from receiving state tax incentives because it is doing business with a country designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Boeing, a major employer in the St. Louis area, benefited from a $1.7 billion incentive package the state Legislature approved in 2013 to lure production of a new commercial airliner in the state. Two years later, the company reached a deal with the state for $229 million in tax credits over 18 years to maintain and grow employment in Missouri.

But Boeing shouldnt receive any tax credits after agreeing to sell 80 passenger jets to Irans state-owned airline, Schmitt said at a campaign event.

Schmitt spoke at Boone County Republican headquarters with former treasurer Sarah Steelman on Tuesday. He focused on the lifting of some international sanctions on Iran after the countrys nuclear deal with world powers.

Although some lawmakers have raised concern that killing the jetliner jobs could cost jobs at Boeing plants, opponents say security concerns are more important.

Both Boeing and European airplane manufacturer Airbus announced this week 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 U.S. Embassy takeover.

Under Boeings 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.

Boeing spokesman Marc Sklar said in a statement this week that Boeing remains in talks with Iran Air based on the memorandum of agreement reached in June.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Oftentimes, jumping to conclusions can make a person look ridiculous. Sometimes, the consequences are far more dire. But its more entertaining to start with a trivial example.

Last month, the staff at Des Peres Park moved the picnic tables for a summer evening concert. Around the same time, fencing went up around a few trees.

The trees showed signs of damage. People had been climbing them, which prompted the fencing. The climbing had not been an issue before people started collecting those virtual monsters in the mobile game craze of the summer.

Immediately, the complaints started arriving through the citys website and on its social media page. White-hot Poke-rage prompted some to write that the ill-timed changes were possibly retaliatory strikes against Pokemon Go players. They decried it as a wrong-headed move by the city, designed to push people out.

Slow your roll, Bulbasaur chaser.

Brian Schaffer, director of parks and recreation in Des Peres, reassured those who messaged that the park routinely moves the tables for all concerts. He had the fencing around the trees adjusted so there was more room to walk through them.

Its nice to have people out in the park, he said, and people have different ways of enjoying it. In fact, when the benches were put back in place, Schaffer made sure more picnic tables were added where the Pokemon Go players had been congregating.

Even by Des Peres standards, it was a minor brouhaha, quickly resolved.

I wouldnt accuse the players who protested of paranoia. There have been business owners who have complained about damage left behind by visitors cruising for the virtual creatures that appear in the smartphone game. Several sites around the country have gotten themselves removed from the apps locations. A Chicago lawmaker had proposed certain areas be off-limits to protect natural habitats and nesting grounds from getting trampled.

Its understandable that some players might get rankled or have questions about an unexpected change in a favored hangout. But its the way in which a small group of people responded that is indicative of our times: React first. Assume the worst. Question later.

We live in an age of assumptions and instant judgments.

Weve lost the ability to wait for information to form judgments and react. It may be partly because of a new information structure that allows instant, rapid-fire spread of nuggets  true or untrue  coupled with talking heads who must fill hours before any real information is available.

The ease of spreading misinformation has, at its worst, endangered innocent lives or cost private citizens their reputations. Weve seen this happen via social media during national tragedies when people are desperate for information, and the Internet rampant with people willing to exploit that for their own agendas.

And the ability to fire off an angry missive has never been so simple. An angry tweet or online comment takes even fewer keystrokes than an enraged email.

Parents might recognize this behavior when their toddler, tween or teen reacts this way to a simple misunderstanding. The outsize reactions, accusations, distorted thinking can be a typical developmental stage we guide our children to grow out of.

We try to teach them to ask a question rather than make an accusation. To check multiple, reliable sources for information. To be patient and calm while situations unfold.

But what do we do when so many grown adults have forgotten or discarded these lessons.

We used to urge people to be civil to strangers because it was the right thing to do or because its how we would want to be treated.

Now perhaps we have to appeal to self-interest: Minimize your chances of looking like a fool.

Dont assume the parks are pushing Pokemon Go away.
ST. LOUIS  In the glory days of Mississippi River commerce, the riverfront was a bustling jumble of steamboats, freight wagons and barrels.

As the steamboats went away, it became a much quieter jumble. Excursion boats, floating theaters and other craft took turns lining the cobblestone landing in no particular order.

Robert E. OBrien of Webster Groves, a former teacher, stretched the riverfronts forgiving standards with an old Navy minesweeper. In applying for a mooring permit at City Hall on Nov. 28, 1967, he promised his attraction would be a real slick thing.

OBrien bought the Inaugural from a Navy mothballs yard near Beaumont, Texas. The Inaugural had been in the battle of Okinawa in 1945 but had no connection to river lore. Nor had OBrien served in the Navy. He believed a naval vessel would draw paying customers.

There are already a lot of riverboats down here, so why not a warship? OBrien said.

Just five days after OBrien sought his permit, the old steamboat River Queen, which had been converted into a restaurant, suddenly sank near the Eads Bridge  a sad but typical ending for riverboats.

The Inaugural opened in June 1968, joining the SS Admiral, the Goldenrod Showboat and the rest of the riverfront collection. If a minesweeper seemed out of place, the arrival one year later of the Santa Maria, a replica of Christopher Columbus ship of discovery, was even more incongruous.

Two months later, the Santa Maria sank during a violent thunderstorm. It was raised and patched, but sold to a man in Florida in 1973. The Inaugural endured, drawing old tars and kids who played on its gun mounts.

On May 12, 1972, 10 Vietnam War protesters boarded the Inaugural, seized it for North Vietnam and announced plans to somehow get it around the world to Haiphong harbor, where American warplanes were dropping mines. OBrien patiently outwaited the occupiers, who disembarked the next day.

In other years, veterans of Pearl Harbor gathered on its deck to commemorate the anniversary of Japans sneak attack. Theyd solemnly drop a wreath into the river.

City officials talked to little effect about giving more coherence to the riverfront. But in 1980, a McDonalds opened on a boat built to resemble a river packet. Six years later, the Inaugural became a side attraction to a Burger King barge, owned by local oilman Floyd Warmann.

On Aug. 1, 1993, a record flood crest ripped the Burger King and Inaugural from their moorings and banged them into the Poplar Street Bridge. The Inaugural was rescued and lashed to a barge south of the MacArthur Bridge. Two months later, it suddenly rolled to port and sank.

When the Mississippi gets low, as it has since this summers drought, the silt-filled hulk emerges from the brown current.
ST. LOUIS  Federal prosecutors on Friday accused a Rock Hill man of dealing a heroin that killed someone in St. Charles County in 2014.

Gary V. Nobles, 24, of the 200 block of West Thornton Avenue, was indicted last month on a felony charge of distributing heroin. The indictment makes no mention of a fatality, only that the alleged drug dealing occurred on April 19, 2014 in St. Charles County.

In court Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sirena Wissler said that an overdose death resulted from the drug dealing, and that prosecutors believe Nobles is responsible for the death. The victim was not identified in court.

Wissler also said that on Aug. 30, Nobles' cousin almost died of an overdose in his driveway. The cousin was saved by the Rock Hill fire chief, who administered two doses of Narcan, which counteracts opiates, she said.

Wissler, who asked U.S. Magistrate Judge Shirley Padmore Mensah to hold Nobles in jail until his trial, also cited social media posts showing Nobles with guns and cash as one of the reasons.

Nobles' public defender, Melissa Goymerac, said in court that Nobles was not at home at the time of his cousin's overdose, and said heroin was easily obtainable nearby.

She also said that Nobles only prior conviction was for a parking violation. He works for a car dealership washing cars for $10 an hour, she said.

After the hearing, she said, Our client's a hardworking guy. He lives at home with his family."

She said she has received no information yet from prosecutors, adding that she is "still waiting to hear the connection between our client and this death.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 79F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
The Missouri Supreme Court issued this week a set of minimum standards for municipal courts, a long-awaited response to charges that municipal courts in the St. Louis area are unconstitutional debtors prisons that routinely violate the rights of the poor.

The standards, which go into effect July 1, address some of the failures that made the St. Louis area a national example of a profit-driven justice system balancing municipal budgets on the backs of the indigent.

For example, activists have decried the practice of holding in jail defendants who were unable to pay fines or bail, sometimes waiting for days or weeks to see a judge. In response, the high court established a requirement for municipal courts to have a judge on duty at all times to rule on warrants and bail, and to offer alternative sentences for people who are too poor to pay fines.

They set some standards for transparency, too. Under the new rules, courts must have a clerk on duty for at least 30 hours a week. They must at least be pursuing court automation to allow payments online and make available free online access to information about pending cases, outstanding warrants and scheduled dockets.

And courts must meet in a space thats large enough to accommodate the public  no more people queued up shivering outside court on cold winter nights.

I dont see any problem with these, said Bryan Dunlop, a lawyer who works as a municipal judge in Maplewood and Beverly Hills. Weve been operating with these for a long time.

But the standards stopped far short of what many critics wanted, including forcing some of the countys 80 courts to consolidate.

That was one of the recommendations from the Ferguson Commission appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon to study ways to heal rifts in the community after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown on Aug. 9, 2014.

And the high courts standards lacked any penalties for failure to comply. The municipal courts merely have to certify twice a year to the presiding judge in their circuit that the standards are being met.

The presiding judge and the Supreme Court dont have the inclination or the time to supervise these courts, said Brendan Roediger, an associate law professor at St. Louis University who has sued several courts in St. Louis County on behalf of poor clients. What we need are rules that can be enforced in an individual case.

A Post-Dispatch investigation in 2015 showed the disparity in how people with money and connections are treated compared with poor people unable to hire attorneys, and conflicts of interest in the municipal courts that thrive in an atmosphere of secrecy.

The Supreme Court issued a rule in June ordering a municipal judge to recuse himself when he is related to any defendant, or when he has an interest or has previously served as an attorney in the case, or when the prosecutor regularly serves as a judge in another municipal court in which this judge regularly works as a prosecutor or municipal attorney.

In a speech Thursday to members of the Missouri Bar Association, Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge said she had showed up unannounced at several municipal courts and found problems.

A recorded greeting for one court said it was open until 4 p.m., but a sign on the door said it was closed at 1. Some courts said children were not welcome despite the Constitution and a not-so-gentle reminder from the presiding judge that courts are to be open to the public, she said.

At one court, court clerks wore jackets with police logos, visually illustrating the lack of separation of the executive branch police from the judicial branch court.

At another court, she said, the prosecutor was seated behind the bench with the judge during court proceedings. (Through a spokeswoman, Breckenridge said she would not identify the courts she had visited.)

I experienced firsthand what citizens in our state must encounter every day, she said. I felt frustrated and angry.

She said she expected some of the reforms to be unpopular. To help supervise St. Louis County, she said the court would hire two special monitors.

Breckenridge noted in her speech that several courts in St. Louis County were already planning to consolidate. Normandy Mayor Patrick Green confirmed that Normandys court and several smaller nearby courts were making such plans.

By reducing costs, sharing operations, as well as clerical and judicial personnel, Breckenridge said, we hope to reduce the incentive to use municipal divisions as revenue generators rather than to ensure public safety.
FERGUSON  Lawyers representing the NAACP presented three suggestions at a town hall meeting Thursday night that they plan to present to U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel next week to resolve a dispute over how people vote in the Ferguson-Florissant school district.

Residents met for a two-hour question-and-answer session concerning potential remedies for a system in the district that some say disenfranchises black voters.

I raised two sons in Ferguson, said Mildred Clines, who has lived in Ferguson for 29 years. But the area I lived in, we definitely felt we were underrepresented. It was obvious the Florissant representation was in the drivers seat.

In August, Sippel ruled the district was in violation of the Voting Rights Act, citing at-large voting and staggered terms for diluting the voting power of black voters.

At a hearing after the decision, he spoke at length about one potential option: cumulative voting, which would allow voters to cast as many votes as there are candidates. A person could distribute those votes among candidates in any way he chose. If Sippel chooses that method, ACLU lawyers say the court will also order an education program to limit voter confusion.

ACLU lawyers discussed that option along with two others at Thursdays meeting. One of the options would involve dividing the area into seven separate districts or creating districts that are a combination of five single-member and two at-large districts. Another option would create five single-member districts and two superdistricts that would cover the northern and southern regions of the area.

The Ferguson-Florissant district serves about 11,200 students in parts of 11 municipalities. About 80 percent of those students are black, and 12 percent are white. The population in the district is nearly evenly split between black and white.

Clines was among attendees who liked the idea of seven separate districts; she said it seemed the fairest option.

While some liked the idea of individual districts that would guarantee equity through equal population distribution of blacks of voting age, some were skeptical separate districts were the best solution.

We tried subdistricts in the 1980s and 90s. It didnt work, said former board member James Clark, who served for three decades beginning in 1978, representing Florissant. He and another former board member representing Florissant said the key to change was to get better voter turnout, noting the success of three black candidates elected to the board in the last three years.

In addition to discussing the school board issue, some residents said during the meeting that Ferguson is still feeling the effects of the upheaval after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in the summer of 2014. Some residents said they were feeling tired that their voices were not being heard.

Julie Ebenstein, one of the ACLU lawyers representing the NAACP, said she wasnt sure which option they would present to the judge on Sept. 28. But the purpose of the meeting was to hear from residents first. Some at the meeting said the August ruling could set a precedent for other Missouri districts.

Tony Rothert, legal director for ACLU Missouri, said they planned to meet with the district Friday. The district will also submit remedies to the court in October. The court has decided that elections are on hold until a remedy is selected. Sippel said at the last hearing on this case that he planned to reach a solution by November, a month before candidate filing in December.
As we have since July 2006, each Friday well post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler.

1) Among the choices facing California voters in November is the option to increase the cigarette tax by $2 per pack, with equivalent increases on other tobacco products, including cigars. A yes vote on Proposition 56 would increase the tax on cigars and pipe tobacco by 145% in the countrys most populous state. California Citizens Against Special Interests and Wasteful Taxes set up a website to encourage voters to reject the tax hike, calling Prop. 56 a $1.4 billion tax hike grab by insurance companies and other wealthy special interests to dramatically increase their profits by shortchanging schools and ignoring other pressing problems. Cigars are already taxed at a rate of 27.3% in California. At a time when the California state budget has billions in surplus revenue, is this really the right time to be raising taxesespecially when the revenue will have no taxpayer accountability? asked Tom Hudson, president of the California Taxpayer Protection Committee.

2) Greensboro, North Carolina, is the site of the latest Davidoff Lounge, this one a 2,000-square-foot space with a modern design with industrial touches inside Havana Phils Cigar Company. The grand opening was yesterday. According to a press release: Davidoff commissioned NYC urban artists, UR New York, to create a one-of-a-kind art piece, depicting the fusion of Davidoff luxury and Greensboros local flavor. The lounge also features a filigree polygon base jumper sculpture by artist Moto Waganari, offering interesting perspectives that will take viewers on an experiential journey from virtual art to reality. All decorative elements give this Davidoff Lounge a recognizable stamp of quality and luxury.

3) Inside the Industry: Yesterday, multiple reports surfaced indicating Michael Giannini, creative director at General Cigar, was departing the company where he had worked since 2000. Giannini has held many positions at General over the years, including working with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo on La Gloria Cubana, and then becoming the face of the brand after Carrillo departed. In more recent years, he launched Foundry Cigar Company, which was described as a boutique operation within the General Cigar umbrella. Quotes from both parties suggest they part with mutual respect. Giannini also hinted he will soon reemerge in the cigar industry: A musician knows when to stop playing when they dont have any more songs Im not done playing, he said.

4) From the Archives: If youre a new cigar smoker, you may suffer from too muchor too littleadvice. The simple act of attempting to enjoy a cigar can even become a source of worry, which is the last thing it should ever be. Back in 2013, we presented some suggestions to help beginners more easily find pleasure in the hobby.

5) Deal of the Week: New cigars continue to flow in at Smoke Inn. Now, any purchase of $75 or more includes a free triple-flame lighter valued at $50. To get it, just add the coupon code StogieDeal in your shopping cart before checking out.

The Stogie Guys

photo credit: Flickr
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) partner the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has released a new leak revealing the owners and directors of tens of thousands of offshore companies in the Bahamas. The names include a former top European official.

The documents, firstleaked from the countrys corporate registry to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, provide the names of directors and shareholders of more than 175,000 companies, trusts and foundations registered between 1990 and 2016.

Among those found in the registry were former European Union Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes and former Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy Carlos Caballero Argaez.

Media in Malta that sifted through the registry reported Thursday that among several Maltese found on the registry was Joe Grioli, who formerly headed the Malta Development Corporation, the Malta Export Trade Corporation and the Malta Council for Economic Development.

Unlike the Panama Papers, which included details of emails, contracts, audio recordings and other incriminating documents, the ICIJ said that the leaked documents from the Bahamas do not show what role these people may have played in the companies.

The full trove of documents has been placed online in the ICIJs searchable Offshore Leaks database.

"We see it as a service to the public to make this basic kind of information openly available," ICIJ Director Gerard Ryle said.

The Bahamas documents also include the names of 539 agents that acted as middlemen between Bahamian authorities and people wishing to set up companies. Among these agents is Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the heart of the Panama Papers, which helped set up some 15,915 entities in the Bahamas.

occrp.org
EXCITING plans that could see part of Stratford-upon-Avon recreated more than 6,000 miles away in China are set to be discussed this week by a delegation from the town.

A group of civic officials from Stratford is set to visit the Chinese city of Fuzhou this week as part of an exchange visit, during which they are set to hear about a proposal to immortalise the citys connections with Shakespeare and Stratford.

The city of Fuzhou, is in the province of Jianxi and sits on the river Fuhe.

The plan is believed to be at a very early stage, but there is speculation that it will take the form of some of Stratford's historic buildings.

What do you think about recreating part of Stratford in China? email us at news@stratford-herald.com.

For more on this story, exclusively broken by the Stratford Herald, pick up this week's paper.

Let us know what you think at news@stratford-herald.com
Shakespeare's England were recognised for the most creative marketing campaign

Coventry and Warwickshires thriving tourism and culture sector was celebrated by hundreds of people from the regions business community.

The awards were supported by the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Coventry 2021 UK City of Culture BID and the Ricoh Arena, which won best venue along with the Tin Music & Arts.

A clutch of special awards were handed out to Twycross Zoo, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Jimmy Hill Memorial, Enjoy Rugby Festival and the Aviva Womens Tour.

The Arden Hotel and the Macdonald Ansty Hotel shared the best hotel award, with the best pub prize handed to the Hatton Arms. The best restaurant award was served up to Cafe Vin Cinq, while Kenilworth restaurant The Cross was also given a special recognition award for its performance.

Tourism event of the year was given to the Coventry Transport Museum and the business tourism award was scooped by Warwick Conferences.

The British Motor Museum won the history and heritage award, the Belgrade Theatre Trust claimed the cultural education award and the Rugby Festival of Culture celebrated with the culture award.

Swirls were presented with the artisan award, while Shakespeares England were recognised for the most creative marketing campaign and Study Inn were presented with a customer services award.

Other business that supported the event included Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, Federation of Small Businesses, Shakespeares England, Claire Marie Dresses of Distinction, Dan Skelton Racing, Birmingham Airport, Take Flight Aviation, World Rugby Hall of Fame and Rugby Borough Council.

The second Coventry and Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Awards was organised by Quidem, which owns Touch FM stations and Rugby FM, and was hosted at the Ricoh Arena.
The eighth International Hrant Dink Award was presented on September 22 at the Istanbul LutfiKrdar International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

This years awards were granted to the Diyarbakir Bar Association, a civil society organization that has worked for human rights and rule of law for many years and to Theresa Kachindamoto, a tribal chief from Malawi, who works for childrens human rights and education rights.

The award ceremony was hosted by EceDizdar and the opening speech was made by the Chairman of the International Hrant Dink Award Committee, Ahmet Insel. The award ceremony was opened with Mehmet Erdems performance of his song, 'Hayat Bu'.

2016 International Hrant Dink Award jury member, philosopher, Michel Marian and Yldz Tar on behalf of the 2015 International Hrant Dink Award laureate Kaos GL presented the award to the 2016 International Hrant Dink Award laureate Theresa Kachindamoto; who has strived to overcome the economic difficulties that lead to early marriages in her country Malawi, by creating a fund to pay the tuition for daughters of poor families and encouraging efforts to strengthen childrens bonds to school life, and who has made tireless efforts that have changed the lives of so many young people. Theresa Kachindamoto in her speech, has said: There is no doubt that I need to push against more of the old ways of thinking to achieve my ultimate goal of removing child marriage from Malawi, and giving all girls and boys the opportunity to complete their educationBut we still have a lot of work to do, for which I am prepared.

The second laureate of the 2016 International Hrant Dink Award is the Diyarbakir Bar Association, recognized for its impartiality, its sensitivity to human rights issues, its opposition to all manners of violence no matter who employs it or for what reason, for standing as a role-model in the region, for making constant and determined efforts to ensure effective investigation of human rights violations, its determined fight to prevent cases from being time-barred and to prevent impunity, for being able to use the language of peace at all times and never giving up its ideals for peace despite the heavy prices it had to pay.

On behalf of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, Ahmet Ozmen received the award from the 2016 International Hrant Dink Award jury members MurathanMungan and Rakel Dink.

Ahmet Ozmen in his speech, has pointed out that in the last one and a half year, during the course of conflict in Srnak, Sur, Silvan, Cizre, Idil, Yuksekova and Nusaybin, there have been significant violations of all fundamental rights and freedoms. Ozmen stated that after the July 15 coup-attempt, with the declaration of state of emergency all around Turkey, the European Convention of Human Rights has been suspended. In his speech, he commemorated Tahir Elci, the Bar Association President, who was killed by a bullet to his head in front of the Four-Legged Minaret in the Sur district on November 28, 2015 after his press statement demanding the protection of cultural heritage. Ozmen concluded his speech, by stating that our fundamental and historic duty - not only to protect but also further flourish the legacy bestowed upon us by Tahir Elci and Hrant Dink - is to demand peace and to raise our voice for building peace.

As part of the ceremony, the people and organizations from Turkey and from around the world, who raise hope for the future with their actions were saluted with the video Inspirations 2016. Among the inspirations of 2016 were Association of Bridging People from Izmir for supporting refugees to access their most fundamental human rights, in particular healthcare; Rana Choir from Israel formed by Jewish and Arab women for showing through their songs that coexistence is possible despite political differences and for voicing their call for peace in a multilingual manner; AyseCelik, a teacher in Diyarbakr, for publicly sharing her message Let people and children not die, let mothers not cry, through a telephone connection in a television show which drew attention to the fighting and rights violations in Turkeys East; a husband and wife Khalil Hasan and Ameena Saeed from Iraq for working to rescue Ezidi women kidnapped by ISIS; workers of YeniCeltek Mine in AmasyasSuluova province for their resistance together with the support of their families against the closure of their mine, which paid off after more than a months effort; Wang Yan from China for spending his entire fortune to transform the slaughterhouse into a dog shelter and rescue centre; Academics for Peace from Turkey for their courageous and effective call thanks to their petition calling for an end to the violence and human rights violations taking place in the eastern provinces, which once again stressed the importance of freedom of expression in Turkey and News Watch journalists from Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir for gathering in the name of freedom of press and the right to accurate information in the eastern provinces, with their slogan We seek the truth and support our colleagues.

During the award ceremony, all the people who acted and spoken against the coup-attempt on July 15th in support of democracy, and who lost their lives were also commemorated regardless of their political party, religion, language, gender.

After the Inspirations video and before the announcement of laurates, Bajar and Istanbul Mosaic Oriental Choir had a musical performance.
An explosion on the launch site of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is shown in this still image from video in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. September 1, 2016. U.S. Launch Report/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Irene Klotz

DALLAS (Reuters) - A SpaceX rocket that burst into flames on its launch pad at the beginning of this month likely suffered a large breach in its upper-stage helium system, the company said on Friday.

SpaceX, owned and operated by technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, was fueling a Falcon 9 rocket on the launch pad in Florida on Sept. 1 in preparation for a routine test-firing when a bright fireball suddenly emerged around the rocket's upper stage.

"At this stage of the investigation, preliminary review of the data and debris suggests that a large breach in the cryogenic helium system of the second stage liquid oxygen tank took place," SpaceX said in a statement posted on its website.

SpaceX spokesman Dex Torricke-Barton declined to speculate on what triggered the breach of the helium system, saying the company was still investigating a range of possible causes.

No one was hurt in the explosion, which could be heard 30 miles (48 km) away from SpaceX's launch pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

SpaceX said it had learned enough to conclude that whatever triggered the fireball was not related to a June 2015 accident that occurred about two minutes after liftoff. That accident destroyed a load of cargo heading for the International Space Station.

The company traced that problem to a faulty bracket that was holding a bottle of helium in the oxygen tank of the rockets upper stage. SpaceX replaced thousands of brackets throughout its fleet and resumed flying six months later.

"We have exonerated any connection with last year's  mishap," SpaceX said in Friday's statement.

The Sept. 1 launch pad fire damaged "substantial areas" of SpaceX's primary launch site but key areas were unaffected. The company did not provide an estimate of what repairing the damage would cost, nor how long it would be out of service.

Pad 40 would be repaired, Torricke-Barton said, adding it was too early to say when it would be completed.

The California-based firm said it would shift some missions to a new launch site at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, adjacent to the Air Force base. SpaceX also operates a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, which it uses for high-inclination and polar-orbiting missions.

The company is aiming to resume flights in November.

SpaceX has more than 70 missions on its manifest, worth more than $10 billion, for commercial and government customers.

(Corrects paragraph one to "at" instead of "ate")

(Additional reporting and writing by Alexandria Sage; Editing by Dan Grebler and Sandra Maler)
EVRY, France, Sept. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Bioenergies: Establishment of flexible bond financing by the reserved issue of OCABSAs for an 11.25 million bond loan on condition of shareholder approval

Evry (France) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates), 23 September 2016 - Global Bioenergies (Alternext Paris: ALGBE) announced the signing yesterday of a debt issue agreement with Bracknor Investment to put in place a flexible bond financing line by issuing 300 convertible bonds (obligations convertibles en actions) with a par value of 37,500 each (the "OCAs"), breaking down into a first tranche of 20 OCAs and fourteen tranches of 20 OCAs each, that will be accompanied by share subscription warrants (bons de souscription d'actions - the "BSAs") (the OCAs and the BSAs are together referred to as the "OCABSA") for a total nominal amount of 11.25 million, combined with the suspension of the PACEO agreement, on condition of shareholder approval.

Transaction objectives

The objective of this transaction is to finance:

The development and scaling up of the isobutene procedure and procedures related to the biological production of other molecules, such as butadiene or propylene,

The diversification of carbon-based resources used in the procedure. The Company intends to adapt the procedure to second-generation resources (waste biomass) and third generation resources (industrial gas discharges, in particular CO2),

The intensification of its commercial activity, aiming for the emergence of new factory construction projects.

Francois-Henri Reynaud, CFO of Global Bioenergies, explained: "This new financing will provide security to the Company for the next industrial phase of the Isobutene process, and will also make it possible to increase the liquidity of the Company's shares."

Marc Delcourt, CEO of Global Bioenergies, declared: "This new financing will allow us to intensify our industrialisation work, increase our commercial efforts, and fully implement our programme for the diversification of resources, which will allow us to reduce production costs and further increase the environmental advantages of our procedures."

Aboudi Gassam, Chairman and President of the Investment Committee of Bracknor and Vice-President in charge of Business Development of MS Group declared: "This transaction with Global Bioenergies renews our faith in the renewable energy and biotechnology sector. This action to support the innovative Global Bioenergies project places us alongside other major international groups and aims to take part in the efforts required by COP21."

Pierre Vannineuse, CEO of Bracknor Investment, observed: "Beyond our firm commitment to finance Global Bioenergies with more than 11 million, for Bracknor this is a long-term partnership with the European leader in bio sourced petrochemical compounds that is fully within our investment strategy aiming to support innovative projects working for the future of humanity. We are convinced of the technological effectiveness of Global Bioenergies and we have full confidence in the management's ability to successfully carry out this project."

The issue of the first tranche of 20 OCABSAs for the Investor, representing a bond loan with a par value of 750,000, was carried out yesterday on the basis of the 8th resolution of the Combined General Shareholders Meeting held on 3 June 2015.

The following OCABSAs will be issued in 14 tranches, each in the amount of 750,000, without preferential subscription rights for Bracknor Investment (the "Investor"), on the exercise of warrants issued free of charge to the Investor, and the said warrants shall obligate this latter to subscribe for a tranche of 20 OCSBSAs, on condition of adherence to certain conditions specified below in Note 1.

The issue of these 14 additional tranches is subject to shareholder approval at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company to be held on Friday, 28 October 2016, in accordance with the notice of meeting serving as the official notice published today in the French official bulletin of legal notices (Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires - BALO), to authorise the issue of the 14 OCABSA warrants for the Investor.

It is specified that the drawdown of each tranche shall be carried out automatically upon expiration of a period of 20 trading days starting from the drawdown of the previous tranche, and it is further specified that the Company will control the frequency of the financial assistance offered by the Investor since it will be able to suspend (or resume) the frequency of the drawdowns at any time.

It has moreover been agreed that in compensation of the payment of a fixed-rate commitment fee, the Company will issue an OCA with a par value of 37,500 (without attached BSAs) to the Investor when each tranche is drawn down.

The transaction could thus result in an equity contribution of 18,000,000: 11,250,000 corresponding to the subscription for the totality of the OCAs (other than by compensation with the amount of the fixed-rate commitment fee due at the time each tranche is drawn down) and 6,750,000 corresponding to the exercise of the totality of the BSAs. It should be noted that the issue agreement entered into with the Investor can, when requested by the Company, be renewed.

The Company indicates that this transaction could create a dilution, whose future theoretical impact is shown in the table below.

The impact of the issue of the OCABSAs (if the maximum ceiling is reached) on the investment of a shareholder holding 1% of the capital of the Company prior to the issue and not subscribing thereto, calculated on the basis of the number of shares composing the capital at 21 September 2016, would be as follows:

Theoretical investment in the capital of the Company On the basis of shares outstanding to date(3,200,128) Diluted base of diluting instruments issued prior to 22 September 2016 Prior to the issue of new ordinary shares of the Company from the conversion of the totality of the OCAs and upon the exercise of the totality of the BSAs 1.00% 0.90% ESTABLISHMENT OF FINANCING BY ISSUE OF OCABSA: Following the issue of 32,456 new ordinary shares of the Company issued only from the conversion of the tranche 1 OCAs 0.99% 0.90% Following the issue of 14,683 additional new ordinary shares from the exercise of the BSAs attached to the OCAs of tranche 1 0.99% 0.89% Following the issue of 454,390 additional new ordinary shares of the Company from the conversion of the OCAs of tranches 2 to 15 0.86% 0.79% Following the issue of 205,557 additional new ordinary shares from the exercise of the BSAs attached to the OSAs of tranches 2 to 15 0.82% 0.75%

The average weighted price used to calculate the dilution is the volume-weighted average price of the session of 21 September 2016, i.e. 25.5403. This dilution does not prejudice neither the final number of shares to issue nor their issue price, which will be set according to the market price listed in accordance with the procedures described below.

It should be noted that this transaction will not lead to the establishment of a prospectus subject to AMF approval.

The Company will duly inform the shareholders as and when the 14 OCABSA warrants are issued and exercised.

As a reminder, in October 2015 the Company had put in place an equity financing line (PACEO) with Societe Generale, for a maximum of 250,000 BSAs, each convertible to one share and exercisable over 36 months. To date, 125,000 BSAs have been exercised for a total amount raised of 3,272,300. Societe Generale's execution of the PACEO agreement is suspended as of this day.

Procedures and legal framework of the issue

Main characteristics of the OCABSAs

The OCABSAs will be issued in several tranches, upon the exercise of the warrants issued free of charge that will subsequently oblige their bearers to subscribe for an OCABSA tranche (the "Warrants"), for 24 months, subject to meeting certain conditions detailed below in Note 1. The Warrants cannot be transferred by the bearer without prior approval by the Company, and shall not be subject to a request for admission for trading on Alternext and therefore not be listed.

A first Warrant was issued yesterday for the Investor on the basis of the 8th resolution of the Combined General Meeting of 3 June 2015 (private investment).

The 14 additional Warrants can be issued for the Investor on condition of the approval of the principal by the General Meeting of Shareholders, which will be convened on 28 October 2016 at the Company's registered office.

Main characteristics of the OCAs

The OCAs will be issued at par value, i.e. 37,500, and will not carry interest and will mature after 12 months of their issue.

At maturity, any outstanding OCAs must be converted into shares by the Investor. However, should a default occur, any outstanding OCAs at that date must be repaid by the Company at par value.

The OCAs, which will be transferable under certain conditions, shall not be subject to a request for admission for trading on Alternext and shall therefore not be listed.

The OCAs may be converted to shares when requested by their bearer, at any time, according to the conversion parity determined by this formula:

N = Vn / P

Where:

"N": corresponds to the number of new ordinary shares of the Company to be issued on conversion of an OCA;

"Vn": corresponds to the bond represented by the OCA (par value of an OCA);

"P": corresponds to 95% of the lowest volume-weighted average price of the Company's share at closing (as published by Bloomberg) over the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the date a notice of conversion is sent.

Main characteristics of the BSAs

The number of BSAs to be issued at the time of the issue of each OCABSA tranche will be such that, multiplied by the exercise price of the BSAs (determined according to the conditions defined here below), the amount thus obtained is equal to 60% of the par value of the tranche.

The BSAs will be immediately detached from the OCAs starting from their issue. The OCAs, that will be transferable under certain conditions, shall not be subject to a request for admission for trading on Alternext and shall therefore not be listed.

The BSAs may be exercised for a period of five (5) years starting from their issue (the "Exercise Period").

Each BSA will give its bearer the right, during its Exercise Period, to subscribe for one new share of the Company (on condition of any adjustments).

The exercise price of the BSAs will be equal to 120% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the share of the Company at closing over the five (5) trading days immediately preceding the exercise of the Warrants giving rise to the issue of the OCABSAs from which the BSAs are detached, it being specified that, as these are BSAs from the first tranche, the exercise price is 30.30.

Depending on the share volatility assumption used (48.60%) and on the basis of the closing price of the Company's share on 21 September 2016 (i.e. 25.53), the theoretical value of one BSA is equal to 9.6496.

New shares resulting from the conversion of the OCAs or the exercise of the BSAs

The new shares issued on conversion of the OCAs or on the exercise of the BSAs will bear immediate dividend rights. They will have the same rights as those attached to existing ordinary shares of the Company and will be subject to admission for trading on Alternext on the same listing line (ISIN 00011052257).

The Company will maintain an up-to-date table on its website summarising the Warrants, the OCAs, the BSAs and the number of shares outstanding.

Note 1: Conditions for subscription for the OCABSAs by the Investor:

No significant unfavourable change (material adverse change) has occurred;

No authority (including the AMF) opposes the issue of the OCAs (or their conversion) or of the BSAs (or their exercise);

No case of default exists on the day of the drawdown;

The Company's shares are still listed and the listing of the Company's shares has not been suspended (and there is no identified risk of such a suspension);

The closing price of the Global Bioenergies share must have been greater than 115% of the par value of the share during the 60 preceding trading days;

The Company has an adequate number of authorised and available shares to meet the conversions of the OCAs that must be issued as part of the drawdown (and, as necessary, the OCAs still outstanding), i.e. at least a number of shares corresponding to the par value of this bond divided by the volume-weighted average price of the Global Bioenergy share at closing on the day of the drawdown.

About GLOBAL BIOENERGIES

Global Bioenergies is one of the few companies worldwide, and the only one in Europe, that is developing a process to convert renewable resources into hydrocarbons through fermentation. The Company initially focused its efforts on the production of isobutene, one of the most important petrochemical building blocks that can be converted into fuels, plastics, organic glass and elastomers. Global Bioenergies continues to improve the performances of its process, operates its industrial pilot, has begun the construction of its demo plant in Germany, and prepares the first full-scale plant through a Joint-Venture with Cristal Union, named IBN-One. The company also replicated its achievement to propylene and butadiene, two members of the gaseous olefins family, key molecules at the heart of petrochemical industry. Global Bioenergies is listed on Alternext, Euronext Paris (FR0011052257 - ALGBE).

Should you like to be kept informed, subscribe to our news feed on www.global-bioenergies.com

About Bracknor

Bracknor Capital Ltd is the Investment Manager platform of Bracknor Investment (A Dubai UAE incorporated investment vehicle). Bracknor's mandate is to invest globally in SMEs that bears unique competitive advantages and true potential, providing them with paramount working capital or growth capital needed to foster and ignite their growth.Bracknor, through its Chairman, Mr Aboudi Gassam, is backed up by the Saudi Group MS Group (Jeddah) -http://mscc.com.sa and aim to activate intra portfolio synergies to bring relevant opportunities and cooperative developments to Bracknor's portfolio companies particularly in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Region.

www.bracknor.com

Contacts

GLOBAL BIOENERGIESFrancois-Henri ReynaudChief Financial OfficerPhone: +33 (0)1 64 98 20 50Email: [email protected]

BRACKNORPierre VannineuseCEOEmail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE http://hugin.info/166909/R/2044034/763217.pdf

Source: GLOBAL BIOENERGIES
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 09/23/16 -- Japan Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE: JG) ("Japan Gold" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has been invited to speak at the Tokyo Mining Investment Seminar. The Embassy of Canada to Japan has organized a mining investment seminar on September 29, 2016 in Tokyo. The seminar will provide an opportunity for Japan Gold to meet with Japanese companies interested in investment or partnership, and to further solidify its relationships with Japanese government officials.

Early Warning Report

Further to the news release dated September 16, 2016 announcing Japan Gold's acquisition of Southern Arc Minerals Japan KK for 25,000,000 shares ("Acquisition") and the issuance of 17,500,000 common shares for the private placement financing of C$7,000,000 ("Private Placement"), and as a result of the dilution associated with these transactions, Mr. Frank Giustra and Mr. Brian Paes-Braga are no longer deemed to be insiders of the Company.

Fiore Financial Corporation, a company owned and controlled by Mr. Giustra, acquired 813,750 common shares pursuant to the Private Placement. Prior to the Private Placement and the Acquisition, Mr. Giustra owned indirectly, or had control and direction over, an aggregate of 2,980,555 common shares representing 24.40% of the outstanding shares of the Company. As a result of the acquisition of securities described above and the dilution related to the Private Placement and Acquisition, Mr. Giustra now owns or controls, directly and indirectly, 3,794,305 common shares of the Company representing 6.84% of Japan Gold's current issued and outstanding common shares.

Mr. Paes-Braga acquired 100,000 common shares pursuant to the exercise of warrants of the Company and indirectly acquired 282,500 common shares pursuant to the Private Placement. Prior to the exercise of warrants, the Private Placement and the Acquisition, Mr. Paes-Braga owned, directly or indirectly, 1,700,000 common shares of the Company representing 13.92% of Japan Gold's current issued and outstanding common shares, and would have owned 1,825,000 common shares representing 14.79% of the Company on a partially diluted basis assuming the exercise of his 25,000 stock options. As a result of the acquisition of securities described above and the dilution related to the Private Placement and Acquisition, Mr. Paes-Braga now owns or controls, directly and indirectly, 2,082,500 common shares of the Company representing 3.76% of Japan Gold's current issued and outstanding common shares and would own 2,107,500 common shares representing 3.80% on a partially diluted basis assuming the exercise of his 25,000 stock options.

The Company has been advised that Mr. Giustra and Mr. Paes-Braga each separately acquired these securities for investment purposes and may in the future acquire or dispose of securities of the Company, through the market, privately, or otherwise, as circumstances or market conditions warrant.

On behalf of the Board of Japan Gold Corp.

John Proust, Chairman & CEO

About Japan Gold Corp.

Japan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused solely on gold and copper-gold exploration in Japan. The Company has applied for 80 prospecting rights licenses in northern Japan for a combined area of 27,153 hectares over eight separate projects. The applications cover areas with known gold occurrences and a history of mining, and are prospective for both high-grade epithermal gold mineralization and gold-bearing lithocaps, which could indicate the presence of porphyry mineralization. Japan Gold's leadership team has decades of resource industry and business experience, and the Company has recruited geologists and technical advisors with experience exploring and operating in Japan. Low-impact surface exploration is underway, with the expectation of applying for drilling permits in early 2017. More information is available at www.japangold.com or by email at [email protected].

Cautionary Note

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as such 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 relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from working in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting rights, uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.

Contacts: Japan Gold Corp. John Proust Chairman & CEO 604-609-6143 [email protected] www.japangold.com

Source: Japan Gold Corp.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's Restaurants of the Greater Philadelphia Region along with Covenant House Pennsylvania and Covenant House New Jersey, the region's largest shelter specializing in serving homeless youth, have announced a partnership to help serve the young men and women of Covenant House. The partnership will kick off on National Coffee Day, September 29, with McDonald's restaurants across Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey donating 100 percent of all McCafe drip coffee proceeds to Covenant House.

Covenant House assists 2,500 "invisible" homeless young people per year and provides safe housing for 500 youth. All coffee proceeds from participating Pennsylvania restaurants will be donated to the Covenant House Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, while all proceeds from participating New Jersey restaurants will be donated to Covenant House New Jersey, located in Atlantic City.

In addition to the donation, McDonald's and Covenant House will work together to promote job opportunities for the young men and women at Covenant House. Beyond just gainful employment, the partnership will introduce Covenant House guests to the McDonald's Archways to Opportunity Program, an employee education initiative open to all McDonald's employees with nine months or more of service. The new Covenant House partnership, along with Delaware McDonald's year-long Coffee with a Cause program are all part of McDonald's larger commitment to giving back to their local communities.

"We are extremely humbled to partner with Covenant House," said John Durante, President, McDonald's of the Greater Philadelphia Region Owner/Operator Association. "Youth homelessness is an epidemic in our cities, and with this partnership, we are proud to give our local homeless youth the opportunity to succeed and thrive. McDonald's strives to be a good neighbor and support the local communities we serve. This partnership, along with our Delaware restaurants' Coffee with a Cause program, will help us make a lasting, positive impact in the community."

"Thanks to this donation and the partnership with McDonald's we are now able to provide more of our youth with great opportunities to succeed and thrive here in our community," said John Ducoff, Executive Director Covenant House Pennsylvania. "Many area youth are 'invisible' because they are couch surfing or riding the el end-to-end and not on street corners. Through the generosity of McDonald's, our youth will now have opportunities for gainful employment and benefits that will allow them to finish their degrees and support their families, and we are forever grateful."

"We are so proud and grateful for this amazing partnership with McDonald's," said Jim White, Executive Director of Covenant House New Jersey. "The funds raised will provide food, clothing, shelter, and counseling for homeless kids who have been robbed of the gifts of home and family. And the awareness raised will get more good people involved in helping homeless kids. McDonald's is helping to be a voice for a lot of kids who have no voice of their own and we're so grateful."

Coffee included in the promotion comes from McDonald's McCafe line, which includes regular and decaffeinated drip coffee made with sustainably sourced 100 percent Arabica beans, expertly roasted and freshly brewed in small batches at all McDonald's restaurants to ensure a consistently good cup of coffee at every visit.

For more information on the McDonald's and Covenant House Pennsylvania partnership, please contact Eddie Ravert at [email protected] or 215-790-4392

About McDonald's McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 27 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @McDPhilly and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/McDonalds.

About Covenant House PennsylvaniaEstablished in Philadelphia in 1999, Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA) is the largest provider of services to homeless and runaway youth in the city. CHPA serves runaway, homeless, and trafficked youth, including mothers with children, through 21 years of age, working to help youth escape the streets and transition to a life with stable housing, a solid educational foundation, and sustained employment. CHPA also provides longerterm living accommodation and support for youth through 24 years of age. CHPA's primary goal is to create a relationship with their kids based upon unconditional love and absolute respect. CHPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, please visit www.covenanthousepa.org.

About Covenant House New JerseyCovenant House New Jersey is a privately funded non-profit organization with centers in Atlantic City and Newark, NJ. Operating in New Jersey since 1989, it is the largest provider in the state of services to homeless, at-risk, and trafficked adolescents under 22. In addition to food, shelter, clothing, and crisis care, Covenant House provides health care, educational and vocational services, counseling, drug abuse treatment and prevention programs, legal services, mother/child programs, transitional living programs, street outreach, and aftercare services. Tonight alone, they will give 132 homeless adolescents and 19 of their babies throughout the state a safe and caring place to live in North and South Jersey. Another dozen will be found by the Outreach teams on the street or walk through the doors of our Crisis Centers for the first time. More information can be found at nj.covenanthouse.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Eddie Ravert Tierney 215-790-4392[email protected]

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-to-celebrate-national-coffee-day-with-covenant-house-donation-and-partnership-300333365.html

SOURCE McDonalds Restaurants of the Greater Philadelphia Region
Global Startup Hub Event to Kick Off in Fukuoka

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NANO OPT Media, Inc., sponsor of Interop Tokyo and other major events in Japan in the fields of advanced science and technology will hold a new event dubbed "FiSH," an acronym for the Fukuoka International Startup Hub. FiSH is scheduled for two days from January 31 to February 1, 2017 at the Fukuoka International Congress Center in Fukuoka City.

FiSH will provide business matching opportunities geared towards producing innovations. The event will gather entrepreneurs, corporations, start-up companies, media, investors and morenot only from Japan, but from locations throughout the worldall under one roof.

FiSH will be held in Fukuoka City. For three consecutive years, Fukuoka has held the top position in business start-ups among all major cities in Japan. In fact, the Japanese government has designated Fukuoka as a National Strategic Special Zone for Global Startups and Job Creation, under which the government provides policy-based incentives to entrepreneurs who launch businesses in Fukuoka whether aimed at Japan or the rest of the world.

Despite the large number of well-known start-up events held globally, FiSH has set its sights on going toe-to-toe with them as a world class event.

Overview of FiSH (Fukuoka International Startup Hub) Venue dates: January 31 (Tue) to February 1(Wed), 2017 Venue: Fukuoka International Congress Center (2-1 Sekijo-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-city, Fukuoka) Organizer: NANO OPT Media, Inc. Supporters: Related organizations (being finalized) Premium sponsor: City of Fukuoka Expected number ofvisitors: 2,000 (total for the two days) Official site: http://www.f2ff.jp/fish/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fish2017/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FiSH_startup

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For inquiries concerning this press release, please contact below.

NANO OPT Media, Inc.

Yasuaki Oshima, +81-3-6431-7800

[email protected]



Source: NANO OPT Media, Inc.
HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onit, Inc., a leading provider of Enterprise Legal Management solutions, today announced that it appointed Cole Morgan as the Vice President of Enterprise Legal Management (ELM) solutions.

With 20 years of management experience in the legal technology and legal operations sectors, Cole Morgan will work with corporate legal department clients to optimize service delivery and develop strategies that define the value of legal services within the corporation.

Prior to joining Onit, Cole was the Director, Legal Business Operations, for a Global 500 petrochemical corporation and was responsible for the management of business operations for corporate legal and public affairs.

Cole is a true thought leader in the Enterprise Legal Management space and understands the intricacies of managing a corporate legal department from a technology, operations and management perspective, said Eric M. Elfman, CEO, and founder of Onit. His unique background in professional services and customer success, coupled with his experience as a legal operations director at a Fortune Global company make him an invaluable asset to the company. He understands what it takes to modernize a legal department using technology and will play a pivotal role in defining the enterprise legal management paradigm shift.

He began his career as an early-stage venture participant and ultimately served as vice president of professional services for DataCert, a company pioneering legal software technology. There, he held a variety of roles including product management, sales engineering and professional services management. He has also held a variety of positions in management consulting to large corporate legal departments.

Cole graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelors degree in Management Information Systems and earned his MBA at Rice University.

About Onit

Onit is the leading provider of Enterprise Legal Management (ELM) solutions for the 21st century. Brought to you by the same team that created Spend Management a generation ago, Onit is transforming the way legal departments drive operational and process improvements. By focusing on process, Onit Apps help customers drive tremendous gains in efficiency, accelerate transaction velocity and reduce costs. For more information, visit www.onit.com or contact 1-800-281-1330.

Contact: Onit Jill Black [email protected] 713-560-9225

Source: Onit
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Prince William County, one of Virginias largest and fastest growing counties, recently welcomed the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) at its Prince William Science Accelerator in Innovation Park.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005825/en/

Prince William County receives a $50,000 Grant Award for Northern Virginia's only public-private commercially available wet lab space from the U.S. Small Business Administration. [From Left to Right: PWC - Chris Girdwood, Supervisor Nohe, Chairman Stewart, Supervisor Lawson, County Executive Martino, SBA - District Director Carl Knoblock, PWC - Jeff Kaczmarek, Jason Grant. (Photo: Business Wire)

The SBA presented a $50,000 check to the County as a grant award to the Prince William Science Accelerator, being one of only two Northern Virginia winners of the U.S. Small Business Administration agencys 3rd annual Growth Accelerator Fund Competition.

The Prince William Science Accelerator stood out amongst more than 830 applications nationwide and was recognized primarily for its efforts in driving Americas science and technology start-up ecosystem. More than 100 experts with entrepreneurial, investment, start-up, economic development, capital formation and academic backgrounds from both the public and private sector judged the competition.

Speaking during the Ceremony, Corey A. Stewart, Chairman, Prince William Board of County Supervisors said, From strong partnerships comes innovation. The growth of entrepreneurial innovation is vital to the economic health of our community and our nation, so accelerating opportunities is a priority. The U.S. Small Business Administration and Prince William County recognize this challenge.

Together, we are taking the entrepreneurial ecosystem to the next level by creating new synergies and stronger collaboration to stimulate greater resources that support small business job creation and growth, added Stewart.

Promoting entrepreneurship is core to the Presidents national innovation strategy, said SBA Richmond District Director, Carl Knoblock. We are excited to have so many Accelerators in the region empowering and engaging organizations with the sole purpose of helping start-ups create economic growth, innovation, and ultimately, inspire and empower a diverse community of great American companies.

Were delighted to receive this award today and even more delighted that Prince William County is being recognized as an innovative hub for the life sciences industry throughout the Greater Washington metropolitan region, said Brentsville District Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, Prince William Board of County Supervisors. These funds open new doors to new businesses, which translates into creating more jobs in Prince William County.

The Prince William Science Accelerator is a great example of what a successful public-private partnership can accomplish, said Christopher E. Martino, Acting County Executive. One of our core economic development strategies is to accelerate commercialization and job creation in the life sciences in Prince William County. This award supports this goal and allows us to continue to build on the momentum that we have already established, while minimizing the fiscal impact to County resources.

Prince William County prides itself on being home to the first and only public-private, commercially available wet lab space in Northern Virginia, which is uniquely located within Innovation Park, anchored by the George Mason University Science & Technology Campus. The Prince William Science Accelerator was created to provide the catalyst for a growing life sciences industry cluster. The SBA grant will strengthen the Accelerators graduation program so each startup can successfully exit and function independently in the small business economy, which is achieved by addressing two key issues for scientists: resource constraints; and speed-to-market.

The Prince William Science Accelerators success to date includes six tenants occupying eight out of nine labs. Current tenants include: ISOThrive; Ceres Nanosciences; Virongy; Systaaq Diagnostic Products; Celetrix and Serpin Pharma.

To receive E-Newsletters visit us at: www.PWCEconDev.org or on Twitter @PWCDED.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005825/en/

Prince William County, Virginia

Department of Economic Development

Ginny Person

Main: 703-792-5500

Office: 703-792-5518

[email protected]

Source: Prince William County Department of Economic Development
BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA, and CARDIFF, UK (PRWEB) September 22, 2016

Leaders of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, are congratulating SPIE Senior Member Rebecca Richards-Kortum who was announced Thursday 22 September as the winner of a 2016 MacArthur Fellowship.

"We at SPIE are delighted to see today's recognition for the contributions and achievements of Professor Richards-Kortum" said SPIE President Robert Lieberman. "She is truly an inspiring researcher and teacher, instilling in her students and others her passion for using technology to benefit those who need it the most. She and her lab have been recognized for inventions that have enhanced the capability to detect cancer in novel ways that are more effective and more affordable -- including systems that can be used in challenging environments where electricity may be undependable and resources for equipment are few. We and other colleagues have been privileged to benefit from her leadership and insights at SPIE conferences and through her many publications, and heartily congratulate Rebecca on the award of this MacArthur 'genius grant'."

Richards-Kortum is the Rice University Malcolm Gillis University Professor in bioengineering and electrical and computer engineering at Rice University, and founder and director of the Rice 360: Institute for Global Health Technologies.

In 2005, with the support of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, she and Rice colleague Maria Oden founded Rice's educational initiative, Beyond Traditional Borders, now institutionalized as an undergraduate minor in global health technologies.

Richards-Kortum and Oden received the Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation in 2013, and donated the $100,000 prize money to a project to renovate the neonatal ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi.

A driver for Richards-Kortum's vision is an understanding of the scope of need and the capability of technology to meet that need.

"In the developing world, low-cost portable optical systems could revolutionize gynecologic cancer screening, preventing the unnecessary death of hundreds of thousands of women each year," Richards-Kortum wrote in a 2004 guest editorial for a special section on Biomedical Optics and Women's Health in the Journal of Biomedical Optics.

Along with accuracy, timing is an issue for patients in low- and middle-income countries, who are frequently diagnosed at later stages of disease, Richards-Kortum wrote in a 2009 article in the SPIE Newsroom.

"In developing-world settings, most diagnoses are based purely on clinical signs and symptoms," she noted. "Providing access to objective screening tools at the point of care can have a significant impact on cancer-related mortality and morbidity by enabling early detection, when treatment is cheaper and more effective, and by reducing the burden on overworked pathology laboratories. Optical imaging technologies are well suited to fill this need."

Her team members work alongside physicians and patients in clinical environments in multiple countries, providing the opportunity "to see firsthand the challenges associated with current medical technologies," Richards-Kortum said in an SPIE Women in Optics planner feature article in 2008. "It is extremely rewarding to see a technology that you helped develop actually reach the clinic. The opportunity to be part of a team that can address the desperate need for appropriate health technologies is very motivating."

Among other inventions, her lab has introduced:



DoseRight dosing clips, designed to provide accurate dosing of liquid oral medication in response to the common mis-dosing of medicine in children

Global Focus Microscope, a microscope using battery-operated LED lighting to achieve fluorescent microscopy, which can quickly diagnose diseases like tuberculosis and malaria.

At SPIE Photonics West last January, Richards-Kortum described an affordable, compact, and low-cost high-resolution microendoscopy (HRME) method that could eventually eliminate the need for taking excision biopsies in screening for esophageal cancer, which is highly prevalent in developing countries. Traditional screening techniques offer high sensitivity but low specificity, leading to poor prognosis. Her lab's tablet-interfaced HRME achieved very high sensitivity and specificity, helping to more accurately identify diseased tissues and more effectively treat patients.

Awarded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work, the fellowship comes with a $625,000 prize. The award is commonly referred to as the "MacArthur genius grant."

Richards-Kortum is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors, the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

About SPIE

SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves nearly 264,000 constituents from approximately 166 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2015, SPIE provided more than $5.2 million in support of education and outreach programs. http://www.spie.org

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/09/prweb13710022.htm
Labeling update includes clinical data on use of REXULTI in adult patients with schizophrenia in the maintenance phase of treatment

Approval was based on REXULTI demonstrating efficacy and safety in a long-term randomized withdrawal trial

The trial demonstrated a statistically significant (p

PRINCETON, N.J. & VALBY, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Otsuka) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the labeling update of REXULTI (brexpiprazole) to reflect clinical data for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. The approval was based on results from a long-term randomized withdrawal trial in adults with schizophrenia aged 18 to 65 years.

There are approximately 2.4 million adults in the U.S. with schizophrenia1 and 75% of patients2 experience relapses where their symptoms return or worsen, said Dr. Christoph U. Correll, professor of psychiatry, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and medical director, Recognition and Prevention Program (RAP), Zucker Hillside Hospital, both in New York. These data, as included in the product labeling, confirm the utility of REXULTI in the maintenance treatment of patients with schizophrenia in order to help delay the time to relapse, giving patients and their physicians new data to consider when selecting an antipsychotic.

Clinical Trial Results (Clinical Trials ID: NCT01668797)

The safety and efficacy of REXULTI as maintenance treatment in adults with schizophrenia aged 18 to 65 years was demonstrated in a long-term randomized withdrawal trial. After cross-titration from a prior antipsychotic to REXULTI, and a 12-to 36-week, single-blind REXULTI stabilization phase, patients who had been symptomatically stable on REXULTI for 12 consecutive weeks in the stabilization phase were randomized in a double-blind treatment phase to either REXULTI (n=97) or placebo (n=105). Impending relapse during the double-blind phase was determined if patients met any of the following pre-specified criteria: worsening symptoms defined by changes in PANSS or CGI-I scores; hospitalization for worsening psychotic symptoms; suicidal behavior or; violent/aggressive behavior.

An interim analysis conducted after a pre-specified number of impending relapses (in order to minimize continued exposure to placebo) demonstrated a statistically significant longer time to relapse in patients randomized to REXULTI compared to placebo. The trial was subsequently terminated early because maintenance of efficacy had been demonstrated. The final analysis demonstrated a statistically significant longer time to relapse (hazard ratio: 0.292, p

About REXULTI (brexpiprazole)

REXULTI was discovered by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in Japan and co-developed by Otsuka and Lundbeck. The mechanism of action for REXULTI in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder or schizophrenia is unknown. However, the efficacy of REXULTI may be mediated through a combination of partial agonist activity at serotonin 5-HT1A and dopamine D2 receptors, and antagonist activity at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. REXULTI exhibits high affinity (subnanomolar) for these receptors as well as for noradrenaline alpha1B/2C receptors. The drug was approved in the U.S. in July 2015 as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants in adults with major depressive disorder and as a treatment in adults with schizophrenia. Otsuka and Lundbeck anticipate submitting a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the use of brexpiprazole in the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia.

INDICATIONS and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for REXULTI (brexpiprazole)

INDICATIONS

REXULTI is indicated for:

Use as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants in adults with major depressive disorder

Treatment of schizophrenia in adults

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at increased risk of death. REXULTI is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS

Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in patients aged 24 years and younger. Monitor for clinical worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The safety and effectiveness of REXULTI have not been established in pediatric patients.

Contraindication: In patients with known hypersensitivity reaction to brexpiprazole or any of its components. Reactions have included: rash, facial swelling, urticaria and anaphylaxis.

Cerebrovascular Adverse Events, Including Stroke: In clinical trials, elderly patients with dementia randomized to risperidone, aripiprazole, and olanzapine had a higher incidence of stroke and transient ischemic attack, including fatal stroke. REXULTI is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): NMS is a potentially fatal symptom complex reported in association with administration of antipsychotic drugs. Clinical signs of NMS are hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status and evidence of autonomic instability. Additional signs may include elevated creatinine phosphokinase, myoglobinuria (rhabdomyolysis), and acute renal failure. Manage NMS with immediate discontinuation of REXULTI, intensive symptomatic treatment, and monitoring.

Tardive Dyskinesia (TD): Risk of TD, and the potential to become irreversible, are believed to increase with duration of treatment and total cumulative dose of antipsychotic drugs. TD can develop after a relatively brief treatment period, even at low doses, or after discontinuation of treatment. For chronic treatment, use the lowest dose and shortest duration of REXULTI needed to produce a clinical response. If signs and symptoms of TD appear, drug discontinuation should be considered.

Metabolic Changes: Atypical antipsychotic drugs have caused metabolic changes including:

Hyperglycemia/Diabetes Mellitus: Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Assess fasting plasma glucose before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, and monitor periodically during long-term treatment.

Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Assess fasting plasma glucose before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, and monitor periodically during long-term treatment. Dyslipidemia: Atypical antipsychotics cause adverse alterations in lipids. Before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, obtain a fasting lipid profile at baseline and monitor periodically during treatment.

Atypical antipsychotics cause adverse alterations in lipids. Before or soon after initiation of antipsychotic medication, obtain a fasting lipid profile at baseline and monitor periodically during treatment. Weight Gain: Weight gain has been observed in patients treated with REXULTI. Monitor weight at baseline and frequently thereafter.

Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis: Leukopenia and neutropenia have been reported with antipsychotics. Agranulocytosis (including fatal cases) has been reported with other agents in this class. Monitor complete blood count in patients with pre-existing low white blood cell count (WBC)/absolute neutrophil count or history of drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia. Discontinue REXULTI at the first sign of a clinically significant decline in WBC and in severely neutropenic patients.

Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope: Atypical antipsychotics cause orthostatic hypotension and syncope. Generally, the risk is greatest during initial dose titration and when increasing the dose. Monitor in patients vulnerable to hypotension, and those with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Seizures: REXULTI may cause seizures and should be used with caution in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold.

Body Temperature Dysregulation: Use REXULTI with caution in patients who may experience conditions that increase body temperature (e.g., strenuous exercise, extreme heat, dehydration, or concomitant use with anticholinergics).

Dysphagia: Esophageal dysmotility and aspiration have been associated with antipsychotics. including REXULTI, and should be used with caution in patients at risk for aspiration

Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: REXULTI has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Patients should not drive or operate hazardous machinery until they are reasonably certain REXULTI does not affect them adversely.

Concomitant Medication: Dosage adjustments are recommended in patients who are known cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 poor metabolizers and in patients taking concomitant CYP3A4 inhibitors or CYP2D6 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inducers.

Most commonly observed adverse reactions: In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions were:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (adjunctive treatment to antidepressant therapy; 5% incidence and at least twice the rate of placebo for REXULTI vs. placebo, respectively): akathisia (9% vs. 2%) and weight increase (7% vs. 2%)

(adjunctive treatment to antidepressant therapy; 5% incidence and at least twice the rate of placebo for REXULTI vs. placebo, respectively): akathisia (9% vs. 2%) and weight increase (7% vs. 2%) Schizophrenia (4% incidence and twice incidence of placebo for REXULTI vs. placebo, respectively): weight increased (4% vs. 2%)

Dystonia: Symptoms of dystonia may occur in susceptible individuals during the first days of treatment and at low doses.

Pregnancy: Adequate and well-controlled studies to assess the risks of REXULTI during pregnancy have not been conducted. REXULTI should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit justifies the risk to the fetus.

Lactation: It is not known if REXULTI is excreted in human breast milk. A decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. at 1-800-438-9927 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (www.fda.gov/medwatch)

Please see accompanying FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION, including BOXED WARNING.

About Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) is an innovative, fast-growing healthcare company that discovers and develops new compounds that address unanswered medical needs and advance human health. With a focus on neuroscience, oncology, and cardio-renal treatments, OPDC is dedicated to improving the health and quality of human life. For more information, visit www.otsuka-us.com and follow us on Twitter at @OtsukaUS.

OPDC is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc. (OAI), a holding company established in the U.S. in 1989. OAI is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The Otsuka Group employs approximately 42,000 people globally and its products are available in more than 80 countries worldwide. Otsuka welcomes you to visit its global website at http://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/index.php.

About Lundbeck

Lundbeck is a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases. For more than 70 years, we have been at the forefront of research within neuroscience. The key areas of focus are Alzheimer's disease, depression, Parkinson's disease and psychosis.

An estimated 700 million people worldwide are living with brain disease and far too many suffer due to inadequate treatment, discrimination, a reduced number of working days, early retirement and other unnecessary consequences. Every day, we strive for improved treatment and a better life for people living with brain disease  we call this Progress in Mind.

Our approximately 5,500 employees in 57 countries are engaged in the entire value chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales. Our pipeline consists of several late-stage development programs and our products are available in more than 100 countries. We have research centres in China and Denmark and production facilities in China, Denmark, France and Italy. Lundbeck generated core revenue of DKK 14.6 billion in 2015 (EUR 2 billion; USD 2.2 billion).

For additional information, we encourage you to visit our corporate site www.lundbeck.com and connect with us on Twitter at @Lundbeck.

Lundbeck in the U.S.

In the U.S., Lundbeck employs more than 800 people focused solely on accelerating therapies for brain diseases. With a special commitment to the lives of patients, families and caregivers, Lundbeck US actively engages in hundreds of initiatives each year that support our patient communities. To learn more, visit us at www.LundbeckUS.com and connect with us on Twitter at @LundbeckUS.

1 The National Alliance of Mental Illness, Mental Illness Facts and Numbers. March 2013. Available at: http://www2.nami.org/factsheets/mentalillness_factsheet.pdf

2 British Medical Journal of Clinical Evidence. Schizophrenia (maintenance treatment). April 2009. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19445748

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005874/en/

Otsuka

Media:

U.S.

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Kimberly Whitefield, +1-609-535-9259

Corporate Communications

[email protected]

or

H. Lundbeck A/S

Investors:

Palle Holm Olesen, +45 36 43 24 26

Vice President, Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

or

Media:

EUROPE

Mads Kronborg, +45 36 43 30 30

Media Relations Manager

[email protected]

or

U.S.

Nick Przybyciel, +1-847-282-5715

Public Affairs, Lundbeck

[email protected]

Source: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.
Attila Behovits, owner and managing director of Hungarian firm Kobe Sausages, eats "kolbice", mini sausages and toppings stuffed in a cone-shaped bun, in a market hall in Budapest, Hungary, September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

By Krisztina Than

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Attila Behovits launched his street food business during hard times for Hungary but four years on, the economy - like demand for his traditional spicy sausages - is growing well.

Entrepreneurs like Behovits still believe the country lacks innovative ideas and bemoan a labor shortage as young Hungarians keep heading abroad for a better life.

Nevertheless, "Orbanomics" - Prime Minister Viktor Orban's controversial form of shock therapy - is paying off. The sharp economic contraction of 2012 has turned into a solid expansion, the budget deficit is under control and Hungary is regaining its investment grade credit ratings.

Behovits's business of selling mini sausages and toppings stuffed into a cone-shaped bun, called "kolbice", has grown exponentially in parallel as Hungarians have started spending again after severe belt-tightening following the 2008 global financial crisis.

"Kolbice was my idea, as I go to festivals a lot, and we could see that the sausage and bread combo is always popular," Behovits said at his restaurant in one of Budapest's magnificent 19th century market halls.

Annual turnover at his company, Kobe Sausages, already exceeds 100 million forints ($365,000), and it is expanding a franchise network in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Austria. A mechanical engineer by training, 45-year-old Behovits also manages several other firms.

Orban embarked on his independent policy course shortly after coming to power in 2010. He imposed big windfall taxes on banks, energy, telecoms and retail firms and nationalized private pension savings of 3 trillion forints ($11 billion).

Such unorthodox measures upset investors and brought him into conflict with the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and financial markets, but they also reined in the budget deficit.

After rating the country's debt as "junk" for five years, two of the three main credit agencies upgraded Hungary, once called the "sick man of Europe," to investment grade this year, recognizing for the first time that Orbanomics had worked.

Last week's upgrade by Standard and Poor's, which markets had not expected so soon, drove yields on Hungarian 10-year bonds below those of Poland this week. Analysts expect more investors to pile money into Hungarian assets in the short run.

STABILITY VS COMPETITIVENESS

The budget deficit is now below the EU ceiling of 3 percent of GDP, public debt is declining and the current account is running a huge surplus. The economy grew about 3 percent last year, helped by billions of euros of EU development funds.

By shifting financing to forint-denominated debt sales, Hungary's reliance on foreign currency debt and foreign investors has decreased. And after squeezing the banks for years, Orban started to cut the bank tax this year, improving investors' mood.

"If we look from the stability perspective ... the Hungarian economy is less vulnerable now than it was before the crisis, so from that perspective Hungarian economic policy was successful," David Nemeth, an analyst at K&H Bank said.

But the problems are not over. "On the competitiveness rankings, Hungary is well behind the regional competitors," said Nemeth.

In the World Economic Forum's 2015-2016 Global Competitiveness Report, Hungary ranked 63rd, behind Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania.

The volume of investments in Hungary fell by an annual 20.3 percent in the second quarter, the steepest decline since early 2012, due to EU-financed investments coming to a close.

This shows how much the economy still depends on funding from the EU - with which Orban has had a succession of disputes including over the refugee crisis and constitutional reform.

Small firms like Behovits's street food business are laboring under from Europe's highest value-added tax rate of 27 percent. Banks have tightened credit conditions, while venture capital financing is expensive, although a massive central bank loan program has helped.

VAT on restaurants, internet connections and basic foodstuffs will drop to 18 percent next year but companies still complain about excessive bureaucracy, a lack of transparency and corruption in the state sector.

The government is reluctant to cut the main VAT rate but has promised a reduction in social taxes on jobs. "In the coming years, the government will strive to further reduce the size of tax and social contributions burdening the economy," Economy Minister Mihaly Varga said on Thursday.

EXODUS

Hungary has attracted foreign investors partly because wages are low compared with in Western Europe but Behovits believes this model is at risk.

He says the main problems for the economy are a growing labor shortage, which is putting upwards pressure on pay, and a lack of innovative ideas in an emerging economy dominated by multinational firms, mainly big German car makers.

"It would be very important to have many more domestic innovations, home-grown firms which develop innovative products of their own," he said. "Our big competitive advantage is wages ... but now that we face a big shortage of labor, this is under pressure, wages will rise."

Families' tax burdens have decreased as Orban has introduced a flat personal income tax rate of 15 percent and allowances, but hundreds of thousands of Hungarians have still left the country to work in Western Europe, where they earn much more.

Jozsef Bonyar, 69, who was a miner for more than a decade, denies the economy is doing better. "It is not true," he said. "If that was the case, young people would not go abroad to work."

Bonyar lives on a monthly pension of 50,000 forints ($185) while his son works in Germany as a truck driver and his two step daughters are employed in Italy. He voted for Orban's Fidesz party in 2010 and 2014, but says he would not do so again.

Some take a more favorable view. "The government has made some good decisions," said Adam Paroczi, a 21 year-old who is studying to be a teacher.

But while Paroczi wants to stay in Hungary, he says tax cheating remains a big problem. "Many people are, on paper, employed at a certain wage, and then they get more money in their pockets. Let's be honest, this is the way it works."

(editing by David Stamp)
By Andranik Michaelian

A recent article I read began by quoting a supposed policeman during the July 2016 Sasna Dzrer street protests telling Akhbar Armenians (those not born in Armenia) to go home, that they don't belong in Armenia, as they beat them mercilessly.

These statements were meant to show the feeling that some, if not most, Diaspora Armenians have, that they're not welcome in Armenia, are looked down on by locals, in other words should leave the country.

I suppose the writer of the article thought it would give his opinions more credence if he used the July 29 events and what some wild, half crazy policemen said, but to me it only added fuel to the fire of the sometimes hidden, sometimes not animosities between Hayastantsis and Diaspora Armenians.

Personally, as one born near Fresno, California, and living in Armenia for 16 years, I only rarely hear Hayastantsis talk negatively about foreign-born Armenians. When they do, mainly in recent years, most often they refer to those foreign-born Armenians who now live in Yerevan and, without taking the time to understand the life and local mentality and traditions here, start telling locals to accept certain Western values, some of which include the acceptance of gay rights, women's rights, and the like. A complaint I've heard from locals is that the newly arrived Armenians look down on locals as "backwards" and that they should listen to and learn from the new arrivals, some of whom don't hold back in saying that they consider themselves more educated and culturally advanced than Armenia-born Armenians.

The latter attitudes I often hear during visits to the Diaspora, where Spyurkahays often look down on Hayastantsis, even though they often don't speak Armenian or have a clue about Armenian culture, be it folk song and dance, Armenian literature, or anything else, with going to Armenian picnics and weddings and attending April 24 demonstrations the extent of their being Armenian, the result being the leftover Soviet or pop-rabiz culture that they promote, all the while thinking they're preserving Armenian culture, which although amusing is a little sad.



But this seems to be an Armenian tradition, Armenians from one country looking down on those from another country or area, as I learned in Fresno in the 70s, with the arrival of Beirutsis, who looked down on Fresno Armenians, saying most of them don't speak Armenian, etc., while the Fresno Armenians looked down on the Beirutsis for reasons I don't even remember. And the story goes on.

As a politically astute individual wisely said, many don't know that those who come to Armenia and begin promoting certain groups' "rights" are often funded by western organizations, European and otherwise, adding:

"What do they want? You start by giving rights to this or that "special" group, in effect ending our ancient traditional values, and in the end, what do you want, like what just happened in England, where a mother married her son? Instead they should worry about the large number of Persians locating in Armenia, many of them Azeris from northern Iran, or Azeris, who left Armenia during the Karabagh war. They have an agenda...one that is a danger to our national security...and here we are playing games, with an agenda of giving rights to this or that minority.

Our friends from afar spend all this time and energy trying to improve the Homeland, so they think, but if soldiers are needed on the border, if we have another Sardarabad, will they be on the front line, or will it be like the first Karabagh war, when only a hundred or so from the Diaspora came to fight?

Monte and the others were great, but where was everybody else?"
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)
HANOI (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 labor 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.

The Labour Ministry's plan appears to be in line with what the ILO has recommended for Vietnam, saying a lifting of the retirement age would offset a future decrease of the working-age population and keep pension schemes sustainable.

(Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Martin Petty, Robert Birsel)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

23 September 2016

Commission file number: 001-10533 Commission file number: 001-34121 Rio Tinto plc Rio Tinto Limited ABN 96 004 458 404 (Translation of registrants name into English) (Translation of registrants name into English) 6 St Jamess Square Level 33, 120 Collins Street London, SW1Y 4AD, United Kingdom Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia (Address of principal executive offices) (Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:

Form 20-F _ X _ Form 40-F ___

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ___

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ___

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to

Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ___ No _ X _

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) April 28, 2016

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Maryland

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation) 001-33749

(Commission File Number) 26-0500600

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP, LP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation) 333-189057-01

(Commission File Number) 94-2969738

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

8905 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 108 San Diego, CA (Address of Principal Executive Offices) 92122

(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (858) 677-0900

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On April 28, 2016 and June 1, 2016, Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP (the  Operating Partnership ), the operating partnership subsidiary of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (the  Company ), acting through wholly owned subsidiaries, acquired Bouquet Center, located in Santa Clarita, California and North Ranch Shopping Center located in Westlake Village, California (together, the  Properties ), respectively, for a purchase price of approximately $181.8 million which was paid using borrowings under its credit facility and cash on hand. Bouquet Center is approximately 149,000 square feet and is anchored by Safeway (Vons) Supermarket, CVS Pharmacy and Ross Dress for Less. North Ranch Shopping Center is approximately 147,000 square feet and is anchored by Kroger (Ralphs) Supermarket, Trader Joes, Rite Aid Pharmacy and Petco.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Combined Financial Statement of Businesses Acquired.

Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center

 Independent Auditors Report

 Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Audited) and three months ended March 31, 2016 (Unaudited)

 Notes to Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Audited) and three months ended March 31, 2016 (Unaudited)

(b) Pro Forma Financial Statements for Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (Unaudited)

 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Unaudited)

 Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(c) Pro Forma Financial Statements for Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP

 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (Unaudited)

 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Unaudited)

 Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No. Description 23.1 Consent of Independent Auditors 99.1 Combined financial statement and pro forma financial information referenced above under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Item 9.01

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. Dated: September 23, 2016 By: /s/ Michael B. Haines Michael B. Haines Chief Financial Officer RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP, LP By: RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS GP, LLC,

its general partner By: /s/ Michael B. Haines Michael B. Haines Chief Financial Officer Dated: September 23, 2016

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (Nos. 333-211521, 333-210413 and 333-198974) on Form S-3, the Registration Statement (No. 333-170692) on Form S-8, the Registration Statement (No. 333-146777) on Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to Form S-1/MEF of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., and the Registration Statement (No. 333-211521-01) on Form S-3 of Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP of our report dated September 23, 2016, relating to our audit of the Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses of Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center, for the year ended December 31, 2015, included in this Current Report on Form 8-K.

/s/ PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP

New York, New York

September 23, 2016

Exhibit 99.1

Page Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center Independent Auditors Report F-1 Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Audited) and three months ended March 31, 2016 (Unaudited) F-2 Notes to Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Audited) and three months ended March 31, 2016 (Unaudited) F-3 Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements of Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (Unaudited) F-6 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Unaudited) F-7 Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) F-8 Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements of Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 (Unaudited) F-10 Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the year ended December 31, 2015 (Unaudited) F-11 Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statement (Unaudited) F-12

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp.

Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP





We have audited the accompanying combined financial statement of the properties known as Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center located in Santa Clarita, California and Westlake Village, California, respectively, (collectively the Properties) which is comprised of the combined statement of revenues and certain expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the related notes to the combined financial statement.

Managements Responsibility for the Financial Statement

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of this combined financial statement in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the combined financial statement that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditors Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this combined financial statement based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the combined financial statement is free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the combined financial statement. The procedures selected depend on the auditors judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the combined financial statement, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entitys preparation and fair presentation of the combined financial statement in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Properties internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the combined financial statement.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the combined financial statement referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the combined revenues and certain expenses of the Properties for the year ended December 31, 2015 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Emphasis-of-Matter

We draw attention to Note 2 to the combined financial statement, which describes that the accompanying combined financial statement was prepared for the purpose of complying with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not intended to be a complete presentation of the Properties revenues and expenses. Our opinion is not modified with respect to this matter.

/s/ PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP

New York, New York

September 23, 2016

F-1

BOUQUET CENTER AND NORTH RANCH SHOPPING CENTER

COMBINED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CERTAIN EXPENSES

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

2015 Three Months

Ended

March 31,

2016

(Unaudited) Revenues Rental income (note 4) $ 9,694 $ 2,541 Total revenues 9,694 2,541 Certain Expenses Utilities 179 44 Repairs, maintenance and supplies 503 72 Cleaning and landscaping 286 63 Real estate taxes 919 218 Insurance 48 11 Total certain expenses 1,935 408 Excess of revenues over certain expenses $ 7,759 $ 2,133

See accompanying notes to combined statement of revenues and certain expenses.

F-2

BOUQUET CENTER AND NORTH RANCH SHOPPING CENTER

NOTES TO COMBINED STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND CERTAIN EXPENSES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 (AUDITED)

AND THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2016 (UNAUDITED)

1. Business Organization

Retail Opportunity Investments Corp., a Maryland corporation (ROIC), is organized in a traditional umbrella partnership real estate investment trust format pursuant to which Retail Opportunity Investments GP, LLC, its wholly-owned subsidiary, serves as the general partner of, and ROIC conducts substantially all of its business through, its operating partnership subsidiary, Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the Operating Partnership) and its subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references to the Company refer to ROIC together with its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership.

On April 28, 2016 and June 1, 2016, the Operating Partnership acquired Bouquet Center, located in Santa Clarita, California and North Ranch Shopping Center located in Westlake Village, California (together, the  Properties ), respectively, for a purchase price of approximately $181.8 million which was paid using borrowings under its credit facility and cash on hand. Bouquet Center is approximately 149,000 square feet and is anchored by Safeway (Vons) Supermarket, CVS Pharmacy and Ross Dress for Less. North Ranch Shopping Center is approximately 147,000 square feet and is anchored by Kroger (Ralphs) Supermarket, Trader Joes, Rite Aid Pharmacy and Petco.

2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Combined Statement of Revenues and Certain Expenses (the financial statement) has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the provisions of Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), which requires certain information with respect to real estate operations to be included with certain filings with the SEC. The combined financial statement includes the historical revenues and certain expenses of the seller, exclusive of rental income related to parcels not acquired by the Company, interest income, depreciation and amortization, rental income relating to the allocation of purchase price of the Properties to above/below market leases and management and advisory fees, which may not be comparable to the corresponding amounts reflected in the future operations of the Properties.

The combined statement of revenue and certain expenses for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 is unaudited. In the opinion of management, such statement reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of revenue and certain expenses in accordance with the SEC Rule 3-14. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.

Revenue Recognition

The Properties operations consist of rental income earned from tenants under leasing arrangements which generally provide for minimum rents and tenant reimbursements. All leases are classified as operating leases. Minimum rents are recognized by amortizing the aggregate lease payments on a straight-line basis over the terms of the lease (including rent holidays). Tenant reimbursements for real estate taxes, common area maintenance and other recoverable costs are recognized as rental income in the period that the expenses are incurred.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the combined financial statement in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Properties management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues and certain expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

F-3

Accounts Receivable

Bad debts are recorded under the specific identification method, whereby uncollectible receivables are reserved for when identified.

Repairs and Maintenance

Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, while significant improvements, renovations and replacements are capitalized.

3. Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through September 23, 2016, and has determined that there were no subsequent events or transactions which would require recognition or disclosure in the combined financial statement.

4. Leases

The Properties are subject to non-cancelable lease agreements through 2028, subject to various escalation clauses, with tenants for retail space. As of December 31, 2015, the future minimum rents on non-cancelable operating leases expiring in various years are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

Year ending December 31 Amounts 2016 $ 7,929 2017 7,277 2018 6,626 2019 5,612 2020 4,788 Thereafter 16,376 $ 48,608

The tenant leases provide for annual rents that include the tenants proportionate share of real estate taxes and certain property operating expenses. The Properties tenant leases generally include tenant renewal options that can extend the lease terms.

Rental income on the combined financial statement includes the effect of amortizing the aggregate minimum lease payments on a straight-line basis over the entire term of each lease, which resulted in a decrease in rental income of approximately $23,000 and $33,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015 and the three months ended March 31, 2016, respectively.

5. Concentrations

For the year ended December 31, 2015 and the three months ended March 31, 2016, one tenant represented approximately 11% of the Properties rental income.

F-4

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and for the year ended December 31, 2015 are presented as if Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. (the Company) had completed the acquisitions of Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center (collectively, the Properties) on January 1, 2015.

The pro forma consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Companys 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2016. The pro forma consolidated financial statements do not purport to represent the Companys results of operations that would actually have occurred assuming the completion of the acquisitions of the Properties had occurred on January 1, 2015, nor does it purport to project the Companys results of operations as of any future date or for any future period.

F-5

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2016

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)



Company

Historical (1) Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping

Center (2) Pro Forma

Adjustments Company

Pro Forma Revenues Base rents $ 89,500 $ 3,132 $ 133 (4) $ 92,765 Recoveries from tenants 24,371 632  25,003 Other income 894   894 Total revenues 114,765 3,764 133 118,662 Operating expenses Property operating 15,708 316  16,024 Property taxes 11,708 329  12,037 Depreciation and amortization 42,754  1,417 (5) 44,171 General and administrative expenses 6,835   6,835 Acquisition transaction costs 434   434 Other expense 371   371 Total operating expenses 77,810 645 1,417 79,872 Operating income 36,955 3,119 (1,284 ) 38,790 Non-operating income (expenses) Interest expense and other finance expenses (19,392 )  (1,023 )(7) (20,415 ) Net income 17,563 3,119 (2,307 ) 18,375 Net income attributable to non-controlling interests (1,832 )  (84 )(8) (1,916 ) Net Income Attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. $ 15,731 $ 3,119 $ (2,391 ) $ 16,459 Net earnings per share  basic and diluted $ 0.16 $ 0.16 Dividends per common share $ 0.36 $ 0.36 Comprehensive income: Net income $ 17,563 $ 3,119 $ (2,307 ) $ 18,375 Other comprehensive income Unrealized swap derivative loss arising during the period (818 )   (818 ) Reclassification adjustment for amortization of interest expense included in net income 1,233   1,233 Other comprehensive income 415   415 Comprehensive income 17,978 3,119 (2,307 ) 18,790 Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests (1,832 )  (84 ) (1,916 ) Comprehensive income attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. $ 16,146 $ 3,119 $ (2,391 ) $ 16,874

See accompanying notes to pro forma consolidated financial statements

F-6

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)

Company

Historical (1) Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping

Center (3) Pro Forma

Adjustments Company

Pro Forma Revenues Base rents $ 148,622 $ 7,940 $ 353 (4) $ 156,915 Recoveries from tenants 40,562 1,754  42,316 Other income 3,515   3,515 Total revenues 192,699 9,694 353 202,746 Operating expenses Property operating 28,475 1,016  29,491 Property taxes 19,690 919  20,609 Depreciation and amortization 70,957  3,636 (5) 74,593 General and administrative expenses 12,650   12,650 Acquisition transaction costs 965  207 (6) 1,172 Other expense 627   627 Total operating expenses 133,364 1,935 3,843 139,142 Operating income 59,335 7,759 (3,490 ) 63,604 Non-operating income (expenses) Interest expense and other finance expenses (34,243 )  (2,625 )(7) (36,868 ) Net income 25,092 7,759 (6,115 ) 26,736 Net income attributable to non-controlling interests (1,228 )  (73 )(8) (1,301 ) Net Income Attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. $ 23,864 $ 7,759 $ (6,188 ) $ 25,435 Net earnings per share  basic $ 0.25 $ 0.26 Net earnings per share - diluted $ 0.25 $ 0.27 Dividends per common share $ 0.68 $ 0.68 Comprehensive income: Net income $ 25,092 $ 7,759 $ (6,115 ) $ 26,736 Other comprehensive income Reclassification adjustment for amortization of interest expense included in net income 2,139   2,139 Other comprehensive income 2,139   2,139 Comprehensive income 27,231 7,759 (6,115 ) 28,875 Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests (1,228 )  (73 ) (1,301 ) Comprehensive income attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. $ 26,003 $ 7,759 $ (6,188 ) $ 27,574

See accompanying notes to pro forma consolidated financial statements

F-7

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS CORP.

NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

Adjustments to the Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Derived from the Companys unaudited and audited financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015, respectively.

2. Derived from Bouquet Centers and North Ranch Shopping Centers unaudited financial statements for the period January 1, 2016 through the date of acquisition of April 28, 2016 and June 1, 2016, respectively.

3. Derived from the Properties audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015.

4. Reflects the pro forma adjustment of $133,000 and $353,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015, respectively, to record operating rents on a straight-line basis beginning January 1, 2015.

5. Reflects the estimated depreciation for the Properties based on the estimated values allocated to the buildings at the beginning of the period presented. Depreciation expense is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the assets as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

Estimated Useful

Life 2016 Depreciation

Expense (a) Year Ended

December 31, 2015

Depreciation Expense Building 40 years $ 1,417 $ 3,636

(a) Represents the period January 1, 2016 through the date of acquisition of April 28, 2016 and June 1, 2016 for Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center, respectively.

6. Reflects the pro forma adjustment for estimated costs related to the acquisitions of the Properties.

7. Reflects the pro forma adjustment to interest expense, assuming the Company had borrowed funds from its credit facility to cover the purchase price of the Properties, as if the acquisitions had been made on the first day of the period presented.

8. Reflects the pro forma adjustment of net income attributable to non-controlling interests as if the Company had acquired the Properties on January 1, 2015.

F-8

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP, LP

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and for the year ended December 31, 2015 are presented as if Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP (the Operating Partnership) had completed the acquisitions of Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center (collectively, the Properties) on January 1, 2015.

The pro forma consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Operating Partnerships 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2016. The pro forma consolidated financial statements do not purport to represent the Operating Partnerships results of operations that would actually have occurred assuming the completion of the acquisitions of the Properties had occurred on January 1, 2015, nor does it purport to project the Operating Partnerships results of operations as of any future date or for any future period.

F-9

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP, LP

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2016

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)

Company

Historical (9) Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping

Center (10) Pro Forma

Adjustments Company

Pro Forma Revenues Base rents $ 89,500 $ 3,132 $ 133 (12) $ 92,765 Recoveries from tenants 24,371 632  25,003 Other income 894   894 Total revenues 114,765 3,764 133 118,662 Operating expenses Property operating 15,708 316  16,024 Property taxes 11,708 329  12,037 Depreciation and amortization 42,754  1,417 (13) 44,171 General and administrative expenses 6,835   6,835 Acquisition transaction costs 434   434 Other expense 371   371 Total operating expenses 77,810 645 1,417 79,872 Operating income 36,955 3,119 (1,284 ) 38,790 Non-operating income (expenses) Interest expense and other finance expenses (19,392 )  (1,023 )(15) (20,415 ) Net Income Attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP $ 17,563 $ 3,119 $ (2,307 ) $ 18,375 Net earnings per unit  basic and diluted $ 0.16 $ 0.16 Distributions per unit $ 0.36 $ 0.36 Comprehensive income: Net income $ 17,563 $ 3,119 $ (2,307 ) $ 18,375 Other comprehensive income Unrealized swap derivative loss arising during the period (818 )   (818 ) Reclassification adjustment for amortization of interest expense included in net income 1,233   1,233 Other comprehensive income 415   415 Comprehensive income $ 17,978 $ 3,119 $ (2,307 ) $ 18,790

See accompanying notes to pro forma consolidated financial statements

F-10

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP, LP

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)

Company

Historical (9) Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping

Center (11) Pro Forma

Adjustments Company

Pro Forma Revenues Base rents $ 148,622 $ 7,940 $ 353 (12) $ 156,915 Recoveries from tenants 40,562 1,754  42,316 Other income 3,515   3,515 Total revenues 192,699 9,694 353 202,746 Operating expenses Property operating 28,475 1,016  29,491 Property taxes 19,690 919  20,609 Depreciation and amortization 70,957  3,636 (13) 74,593 General and administrative expenses 12,650   12,650 Acquisition transaction costs 965  207 (14) 1,172 Other expense 627   627 Total operating expenses 133,364 1,935 3,843 139,142 Operating income 59,335 7,759 (3,490 ) 63,604 Non-operating income (expenses) Interest expense and other finance expenses (34,243 )  (2,625 )(15) (36,868 ) Net Income Attributable to Retail Opportunity Investments Partnership, LP $ 25,092 $ 7,759 $ (6,115 ) $ 26,736 Net earnings per unit  basic and diluted $ 0.25 $ 0.27 Distributions per unit $ 0.68 $ 0.68 Comprehensive income: Net income $ 25,092 $ 7,759 $ (6,115 ) $ 26,736 Other comprehensive income Reclassification adjustment for amortization of interest expense included in net income 2,139   2,139 Other comprehensive income 2,139   2,139 Comprehensive income $ 27,231 $ 7,759 $ (6,115 ) $ 28,875

See accompanying notes to pro forma consolidated financial statements

F-11

RETAIL OPPORTUNITY INVESTMENTS PARTNERSHIP, LP

NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)





Adjustments to the Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements

9. Derived from the Operating Partnerships unaudited and audited financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015, respectively.

10. Derived from Bouquet Centers and North Ranch Shopping Centers unaudited financial statements for the period January 1, 2016 through the date of acquisition of April 28, 2016 and June 1, 2016, respectively.

11. Derived from the Properties audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015.

12. Reflects the pro forma adjustment of $133,000 and $353,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015, respectively, to record operating rents on a straight-line basis beginning January 1, 2015.

13. Reflects the estimated depreciation for the Properties based on the estimated values allocated to the buildings at the beginning of the period presented. Depreciation expense is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the assets as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

Estimated Useful

Life 2016 Depreciation

Expense (a) Year Ended

December 31, 2015

Depreciation Expense Building 40 years $ 1,417 $ 3,636

(a) Represents the period January 1, 2016 through the date of acquisition of April 28, 2016 and June 1, 2016 for Bouquet Center and North Ranch Shopping Center, respectively.

14. Reflects the pro forma adjustment for estimated costs related to the acquisition of the Properties.

15. Reflects the pro forma adjustment to interest expense, assuming the Operating Partnership had borrowed funds from its credit facility to cover the purchase price of the Properties, as if the acquisitions had been made on the first day of the period presented.

F-12
Todd Talks

By Todd Muller

People should feel safe at home with their family. For most of us, this is the reality. Sadly, for some of us, it is not. For some people home is a place of terror.

Half of New Zealands homicides are family violence-related. Last year, Police responded to 110,000 family violence call-outs. There were children present at nearly two-thirds of these call-outs. The likes of our local womans refuge and hard-working support groups including our own Tauranga Womens Refuge and Shakti, which do an incredible job of preventing and supporting victims. But we need and must do better.

Solving social problems often means confronting difficult and distressing issues. This has never stopped us from facing the hard problems and taking action, particularly where we think we can make a positive difference in peoples lives.

We are making significant changes to family violence legislation. Both civil and criminal laws will be changed and ministers and departments across 16 different portfolios are working together to redesign the way our system prevents and responds to family violence.

Were going to ensure all family violence is clearly identified and risk information is properly shared. We want people to be able to get help without having to go to court, and well put the safety of victims at the heart of bail decisions. Our changes include creating new offences for strangulation, coercion to marry, and assault on a family member. We will also make offending while on a protection order a specific aggravating factor in sentencing.

It will be easier to apply for protection orders and well enable approved non-governmental organisations to apply on a victims behalf. We will improve protection and care for children by better provision for the rights of children under protection orders, aligning care of children orders to the family violence regime, and trialling supervised handovers. We will make evidence-gathering in family violence cases easier for Police and less traumatic for victims.

But family violence is not a problem that laws and Government alone can solve. We all need to think differently and do our bit. This Government is putting a stake in the ground and taking another critical step for all New Zealanders.
Whether its the iconic waterfall at McLaren Falls Park or the sparkling of the glow worms at night-time  Tourism Bay of Plenty wants to see your creative snapshots showcasing the natural attraction these school holidays.

The Bay of Plenty has made its big screen debut in Disneys live-action feature film Petes Dragon, which opened in cinemas nationwide last week.
Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce has today released an exposure draft of a bill that makes a range of changes to tertiary education legislation.

The proposed Education (Tertiary Education and other Matters) Amendment Bill makes a number of largely technical proposals for legislative change which:

increases the flexibility of funding

further strengthens monitoring and compliance

creates equitable treatment of tertiary education providers.

The Bill is also an opportunity to look at some minor matters that need updating.

We are seeking feedback from stakeholders on whether the draft legislation is clear and easily understood, whether there are likely to be implementation issues, and the potential impact of these proposals on tertiary education organisation and students, says Mr Joyce.

The draft legislation proposes to adjust the Education Act 1989 to enable the plan-based funding system to operate as parliament originally intended, says Mr Joyce. The proposals would allow for more flexibility in the funding framework and improve accountability in return.

Introducing the requirement that Private Training Establishments are funded on the same basis as public tertiary institutions for directly comparable programmes or activities will ensure that tertiary education providers are treated equitably, regardless of whether theyre public or private.

The proposed legislation will also allow Wananga to apply for Ministerial consent to describe themselves using the terms university, college of education, polytechnic or institute of technology. This change would potentially allow Wananga to be able to promote themselves more easily to the international education market, and give them the same right to seek consent to use these terms that private training establishments have under the Act.

The proposed Bill also contains changes that respond to issues raised by the sector. Consultation closes on October 10th.

A copy of the draft Bill, background information and Cabinet paper and information on how to make a submission can be found here.

SOURCE: Office of Steven Joyce
New Zealand is set to join an international agreement addressing carbon emissions from air travel, says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.

International aviation is not included in the recent Paris Agreement, which is why New Zealand will join the voluntary global measure being developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Mr Bridges says.

ICAO is responsible for the regulation of international aviation, including measures for the reduction of emissions in the sector.

New Zealand will support the ICAO Global Measure Resolution and participate from Phase I, which commences in 2021, provided other developed countries and the majority of major aviation states also agree to do so.

A single, robust global market-based measure is likely to achieve a significantly better environmental outcome at a lower cost than a patchwork of national and regional measures.

Mr Bridges says the ICAO measure reflects the importance of a robust environmental outcome while being voluntary recognizes the need to respect different countries capabilities.

New Zealands participation shows our strong commitment to playing our part in the global response to climate change. Supporting this international agreement is the latest in a series of steps Government is taking to encourage a shift to a low-carbon economy, domestically and globally.

It would join our support for the Paris Agreement which we plan to ratify this year, new transport technologies and measures to increase electric vehicles, along with the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme  which was the worlds first major ETS to affect airlines.

SOURCE: Office of Simon Bridges
The Minister of Local Government Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has asked the Select Committee to extend the report back date for the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2).

This will enable more rigorous analysis of submissions and more constructive dialogue with the local government sector, Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

There were nearly 200 submissions on the Bill. Many contain details which need to be worked through with officials to ensure they will work.

I have met with Local Government New Zealand and am pleased that the local government sector supports the general objectives of the reform package, he says.

It is imperative that steps are put in place to ensure core infrastructure including water, sewerage and roads across New Zealand are well managed. Failures of infrastructure and service are unacceptable to New Zealanders.

I acknowledge some of the concerns raised by local government. Solutions need to be found that promote local democracy, while ensuring better quality services and better value for ratepayers,.

I look forward to further discussions with the local government sector to explore options and solutions for the issues that have been raised. Local government and central government need to work together to develop practical solutions that will ensure better services for ratepayers for our longer term future, Mr Lotu-Iiga says.

The Local Government and Environment Select Committee has finished its hearings and was due to report back to the House by 28 October. The Minister has asked the Select Committee to extend the report back date to 31 March 2017. This will allow for further policy consideration and drafting changes to the Bill.

I am committed to legislation that enables high quality, resilient and affordable infrastructure. We need regulations and services that benefit local residents and communities.

The reforms will enable councils to more easily share resources and expertise to address current and emerging challenges.

I will be working with my colleagues and the sector over coming months to address concerns while still achieving the objectives of the reforms.

SOURCE: Office of Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
Police have released the names of the three people who died following the tragic crash in Huntly earlier this week.

Brothers Ruben Bense Williams, 12, Jasper Tabe Williams, 14, and their stepfather Steven Andrew Phillips, 54, were killed after their car collided with a truck on State Highway 1, near Rayners Road on Monday.
The Bay of Plenty public has the chance to show how much the region values the golden fruit, which helped turn around the fortunes of the kiwifruit industry, by voting for it in the NZ Innovation Awards prestigious Peoples Choice Award.

Called Zespri SunGold, the sweet fruit has been nominated for several awards which will be judged by experts, but it will be the public who decide if it wins the Peoples Choice category by casting votes on line before September 30.

SunGold has been the cornerstone of the kiwifruit industrys Psa recovery, with volumes growing strongly to develop a great reputation among customers and consumers around the world.

When the New Zealand kiwifruit industry was decimated by a vine- killing pathogen six years ago, new bacteria- resistant cultivars were immediately developed, utilising resources committed to the crisis by Zespri, Plant and Food Research, and the government.

The resulting new Zespri SunGold kiwifruit variety has been a stunning commercial success, delivering more than a billion dollars of sales, and is on target to generate about $40 billion over its Plant Variety Rights life.

SunGold is popular with consumers around the world, driving up demand, earning premium prices, generating value for growers, and allowing the kiwifruit industry to recover. Zespri has now licensed SunGold to be globally grown to ensure year-round supplies, and the company continues to invest millions annually into kiwifruit varieties for commercialisation.



This SunGold character is part of the Zespri Water Maze which was up in shopping centres around China as part of this seasons promotions.

The 2016 Zespri SunGold promotions included the Zespri Water Maze in shopping centres around China.

More than 10,000 Chinese consumers splashed around in the maze this summer and images of them doing so appeared online 150 million times with nearly two million people clicking, sharing or commenting on the footage.

To cast a vote for Zespri SunGold  go to:

http://www.innovationawards.org.nz/about/peoples-choice
The Tauranga Police Station will trial new front counter enhancements which are designed to improve the safety of staff, volunteers and the public.

Its one of four stations around New Zealand to initially trial the new safety enhancements starting in October, with police planning to rollout the changes nationwide afterwards.

The four premises - Tauranga, Hamilton, Christchurch South and Winton  have all been chosen to trial the changes due to their diversity in size, location and community profile.

Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton says staff at the Tauranga Station are looking forward to seeing the new enhancements introduced.

Construction is currently planned to begin in October. While work is underway there may be some minor disruptions but public access to the station will continue.

It is anticipated that the work at Tauranga Station will be completed before the end of this year.

Tauranga staff will then be asked to provide feedback about the trial which will inform the final front counter safety framework to be rolled out across other parts of New Zealand, adds Clifford.

There are three main components to the new front counter enhancements: safety by design, safety through technology and safety through management.

The most significant change is the new design of the physical front counter, which creates more distance between visitors and police staff to reduce risk, plus subtle design elements aimed at slowing down a threatening person, .

The new design will also work alongside technology, such as monitors screening live CCTV footage of the entrance and waiting area to visitors.

Along with the physical and technological changes, police will improved the operating model for staff working at the counter on top of giving them risk awareness training.

The changes are the result of consultation with design and security specialists, Government agencies, police staff representatives, the Police Executive and Police Association.

The safety and well-being of our staff, volunteers and visitors to Police premises is a priority we take seriously, says District Operations acting assistant commissioner Sam Hoyle.

The risks staff face are real and we want to be sure were doing all we can to reduce them. Our new front counter framework has been designed with that in mind and I look forward to the feedback from staff at the trial sites over the coming months.

In the upcoming weeks the Hamilton Station will become the first premises to trial the full changes.



The Tauranga Police Station. File Photo.
Six lifeguards based in the Eastern Region will be honoured with special service awards at tonights Surf Life Saving New Zealand Awards of Excellence.

Receiving Service Awards will be Mount Maunganuis Damian Munro, Painauis David Boersen, and Waihi Beachs Andrew Cochrane and Christiaan Maarhuis, while Mount Maunganuis Kent Jarman ONZM and Whakatanes Phil Morgan will both receive their 50 Year Badge.
Paul Mercier wanted to thank the town hall for its collaboration during the filming of Pursuit, which has been screened at international film festivals

Scenes from the film were shot in and around Nerja. :: sur

Irish film director and playwright, Paul Mercier, has chosen Nerja for the Spanish premiere of his new film, Pursuit.

Mercier chose the town to thank the town hall for their collaboration during the filming of his latest work in the area.

The film was shown last night at the Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja in front of an audience which included a delegation from the Irish embassy as well as representatives from Nerja town hall.

The film crew spent two weeks in Nerja, during which time they stayed in three of the towns hotels. Scenes filmed in the town include car chases through different streets as well as shots in the surrounding area.

Although much of the film was not made in Nerja, Mercier is said to have arranged the filming to include shots of the area.

The film is a modern-day version of the legend of Diarmuid and Grainne, which tells the story of a love triangle between a warrior and widower, Fionn MacCumhaill, the beautiful but headstrong princess, Grainne and Fionns loyal bodyguard, Diarmuid.

Pursuit stars Liam Cunningham, most famous for his role as Davos Seaworth in Game of Thrones and Brendan Gleeson, who appeared in Braveheart, as well as Cecilia Jorge Andreasson, an actress and dancer from Nerja.

According to Nerja town hall, Mercier initially visited the town having been told about it by an Irish friend and regular visitor to Nerja, who thought that the views from the Balcon de Europa would make the perfect backdrop for one of his films.

A spokesperson for the town hall also highlighted that the film has been shown at a number of international film festivals, before its arrival in Spain.
Gemma Middleton is using her skills as a film maker in Spain to draw attention to the impact that leaving the EU is having on Brits living here

A scene from the documentary trailer as Brits meet in Valencia to be filmed. :: SUR

Part of a documentary, which aims to highlight the plight of British people living in Spain since the UK voted to leave the EU, is to be filmed in Malaga this November.

The one-hour programme, called UK Immigrants in Spain - The Forgotten Voices, is being produced by Girl Friday Films, a production company based in Valencia, run by Brit, Gemma Middleton. A trailer of the documentary can already be seen on YouTube.

Gemma said that she got the inspiration from the documentary immediately after the results of the referendum came through. She says that her decision to make the documentary was largely personal, as her family and many other people she knows in the UK had voted to leave. I just thought nobody cares about me and my situation here in Spain, or the future of my kids, she says.

I even know Brits in Spain who voted to leave. How is anyone going to give us a second thought? asks Gemma, for whom the decision to do something was much more than personal; it was about raising awareness of the impact that Brexit may have on lives, not just in Spain, but in other EU countries, as well as the many EU nationals living in the UK. As a film-maker I knew I had the tools to do something about it, she adds.

Shooting the documentary has already started and interviews have been held in Alicante and Valencia. Next on the list are Malaga, with interviews scheduled to take place sometime in November, as well as Murcia and Madrid. Gemma explains that the documentary will cover unique stories from many points of view, not just the Brit in Spain, but also how Brexit is likely to affect Spanish companies, Spanish law and attitudes towards Brits living in Spain.

Along with the boss of a bar and hotel and owner of an academy, she has also managed to find two people who voted to leave to speak on the documentary, although Gemma adds that they are harder to come by than remain supporters: They are often happy to give their views anonymously, but it seems to take a brave leave supporter to actually come forward and speak publicly.

I know Spanish people living in the UK who have experienced xenophobic abuse and we need to explore how Spanish opinion has changed towards the Brits who live in Spain, says Gemma, who is also heavily involved in the Worrying Signs campaign to combat post-Brexit racial abuse in the UK. The filmmaker describes some of the stories people have told through the campaign, which currently has around 20,000 members, as absolutely sickening.

Gemma, who has lived in Spain permanently for around seven years with her children, is keen to highlight the reason for referring to Brits as immigrants and not expats in the documentarys title. We are no different from Polish or Spanish immigrants living in the UK. I have sensed an attitude among some people of, were British, were OK, she says, but like many, agrees that just because were British it doesnt make us any different.

Gemma is working with well-known Spanish film director, Samuel Sebastian, with whom she has collaborated on other Girl Friday Film projects and they are currently in talks with distributors. The YouTube trailer has been widely shared on social media already and is proving to be a hit among British people living in Spain.

Filming is set to be completed by early 2017, with hopes for it to be televised shortly afterwards.
A police officer from Benamadena will visit refugee camps to raise awareness of the plight of displaced children

Gilberto will deliver 400 boxes to refugee camps in Greece. :: sur

Gilberto Morales, an officer with the National Police in Benalmadena, is set to cycle through Greece in order to raise awareness of the plight of thousands of children stranded in refugee camps in that country.

The police officer, who previously cycled from New Delhi to Kathmandu to raise money for deprived children, collected donations from various businesses and shops in the area, and these items will be boxed and delivered to the thousands of children whose plight has touched Gilbertos heart.

The selfless police officer said, I want to know what happens to the refugees in that country, because I believe this is a great tragedy and one of the largest exoduses of recent history.

Gilberto will travel through Greece by bicycle, passing through the refugee camps to distribute among the children more than 400 boxes containing clothing, toys, books and educational material.

Irene Diaz, councillor for Social Welfare at Benalmadena town hall, praised the police officer for his tireless work, saying, It is a symbolic idea and although it does not solve their problems, it gives them a moment of excitement.

In 2014, almost 300,000 migrants irregularly entered the European Union, half of whom had come from Syria and Afghanistan, and around 60 per cent of these were women and children.

The vast majority arrived in Italy through Libya, but a shift took place in 2015, with Greece overtaking Italy as the primary point of arrival.

Gilberto, who flew to Greece on Wednesday, paid his own fare to Athens, and from there, he will embark on his journey, sleeping in a tent and relying on a small camping gas stove to provide his daily meals.

His journey, which will be recorded daily on his blog, will take approximately one month to complete and he intends to return to Spain on 21 October.
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.
The project will create around 1,300 jobs during construction and a further 350 when it opens in 2020

The view from La Malagueta beach. SUR

Following months of political and institutional procedures, the future five-star luxury Suites Malaga Port hotel in the citys port has reached the public consultation stage. This phase was initiated with a launch, open to the general public, at the Centro de Estudios Portuarios on Monday, carried out by representatives of the Qatari group Al Bidda, which is developing this project.

From the outset, the response of the relevant institutions was positive, starting with agreements from the city hall, the port authority, the regional government and the main opposition parties. Now, what remains is a series of complex, administrative procedures to alter the ordinance for docks (Deup), and the ports development regulations, as well as to gain the approval of the Ministry of Public Works in order to get the definitive green light from the Cabinet.

In any case, the developers feel confident that all the necessary permissions will have been granted by the midpoint of next year, so that work can begin either at the end of 2017 or the start of 2018.

Construction is expected to last at least two and a half years so the opening date is likely to be during 2020.

The investment needed to complete this project is somewhere in the region of 120 million euros and, according to consultants Deloitte, the construction will create 1,300 jobs. Once open, the building will employ some 350 people.

To spend a night at the hotel, guests will have to pay between 300 and 600 euros per night.

The presentation on Monday was the first appearance in public for Abdullah Al Darwish AD Fakhroo, the administrator of Andalusian Hospitality II, the association created by Al Bidda to promote the skyscraper.

The Qatari group has investments throughout the Persian Gulf, but was attracted to Malaga due to its economic growth and tourist attractions. The group has also distanced itself from Malaga Club de Futbol owner Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani, saying that despite shared nationality and family names, there was no professional nor personal link to the man whose concession for the extension to La Bajadilla harbour is set to be removed.

Our vision is to create a destination in itself, to make it a symbol of the city on an international stage, said Al Darwish, who stated the intention for this to be the first of many investments in Spain and especially Andalucia. The Al Bidda group has worked on many significant projects in the Middle East and Europe. We have the expertise and management structures in place to create a hotel of the highest quality.

He also went on to outline the findings of the market and economic viability studies which were very favourable.

Jose Antonio Farfan, of the consultancy firm Deloitte, backed up these claims saying:They were very surprised to see the citys development in relation to others both nationally and internationally. This was the deciding factor.

Aerodynamic building

The building, 135 metres tall, will be made up of 35 floors and 352 rooms. According to its designer, Jose Segui, its design is very simple, with the base of the building containing the majority of non-hotel services such as the car park, the casino, the conference centre and the shopping area to reduce the visual impact of the building on the horizon. The tower, therefore, is almost entirely for guests who, from every room, including the bathrooms, can enjoy sea views thanks to the entirely glass walls. It will be the new lighthouse for the port, he says.
King Felipe addressed the United Nations General Assembly. :: EFE

Spains King Felipe VI caused controversy on Tuesday when he waded into the sovereignty debate and told the United Nations General Assembly in New York that it was time to end the colonial anachronism of Gibraltar with an agreed solution between both countries (referring to Spain and the UK) to restore the territorial integrity of Spain and bring benefits for the people of Gibraltar and the Spanish area of Campo de Gibraltar.

Eyebrows were raised among the Spanish media at this unusual intervention by a monarch into the sensitive political matter of sovereignty of Gibraltar, and the government of the Rock was quick to respond, reiterating its message that Gibraltar is British because that is what its people want, and they have the right to self-determination.

The days when territories could be handed over from one monarch to another regardless of the wishes of the people who live there ended a very long time ago, said the statement issued by the Gibraltar government. This is not 1704, when Britain conquered Gibraltar, or 1713 when Spain ceded it by Treaty forever. This is 2016 when what matters most is the right of a people, however small, to determine their own future. It is regrettable that the mentality in official circles in Spain remains stuck in the eighteenth century. Madrid has still not come to terms with having lost Gibraltar over three hundred years ago. Its time they realised that they are never going to get it back - and never means never!

There are suspicions among many people in Gibraltar that Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, Spains acting foreign minister, had written the kings speech or had at least had considerable input into its content. Since the date of the EU referendum he has lost little opportunity to insist that sovereignty of the Rock should be on the table, and that Brexit would be an ideal opportunity for Spain and the UK to agree joint sovereignty of Gibraltar for a limited period, because this would enable it to have continued access to the EU single market, before becoming integrated into Spain. He has also been attributed with threats to close the border between Spain and Gibraltar after Brexit if the UK does not agree.

There was also anger on the Rock at King Felipes reference to Gibraltar as a colonial anachronism. The government of Gibraltar has been trying for years to have it removed from the UN Committee of 24s list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, as they are now known, but comes up against an obstacle every year when Spain refuses to concede that the people of Gibraltar have the right to self-determination.
Hotels want urgent action to stop British law firms setting up mobile 'help centres' that encourage "false" compensation claims

Benidorm is one resort that has seen an increase in complaints. :: AFP

Hoteliers associations in Benidorm and Gran Canaria have complained about clear abuse by British law firms who approach holidaymakers promising to get them their money back for their holidays on a no win, no fee basis.

According to reports over the summer, mobile help centres have appeared in areas popular with UK tourists that encourage them to make compensation claims for complaints such as sickness or poor quality.

European package holiday legislation makes tour operators responsible for compensating passengers if anything goes wrong on holiday, however these amounts are normally taken off the money paid to hoteliers as part of their contract.

Hotel owners say that not only are most of the claims totally false, but that the legal fees charged are vastly inflated.

Costa Blanca hoteliers association, Hostbec, reports that its  very common to come across cases where, for example, the customer is compensated 500 pounds (590 euros), while lawyers fees of more than 5,000 pounds (5,900) are added on top for the same case.

And all these amounts are taken off the hotels money [by the tour operator] and the hotel cant do anything about it, added the association. The cases are processed in British courts, making it hard for the hotels to defend themselves.

They claim that there has been a big increase this year and one hotel alone has had 200 complaints made against it.

Hostbec has urged the British ambassador and Spanish foreign ministry to take the matter up with the UK government.

Hoteliers in the Canary Islands are also experiencing the same increase in guest-compensation claims. Local hotel bosses have met with national government representatives on the islands to seek a solution.

Reports said that lawyers have also been promoting the same services on the Costa del Sol.
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Brad Pitt attacked on L.A. red carpet

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the world premiere of "Maleficent" in a file photo.

(John Shearer| Invision/AP)

LOS ANGELES  The FBI said Thursday it was considering whether to launch an investigation into an alleged incident on a private jet carrying US actor Brad Pitt and his children.

In a statement, the FBI confirmed it was aware of allegations involving 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," it added.

U.S. website TMZ had earlier reported that Los Angeles police were investigating the alleged September 14 incident, in which it said 52-year-old Pitt had verbally and physically abused his children.

But the LAPD confirmed to dpa that they were not investigating.

Any airborne incident falls under the jurisdiction of the FBI, not the police department.

Pitt's wife, Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce from the actor on Monday citing irreconcilable differences and has asked for custody of the couple's six children, three of whom are adopted.
Lucas Corrado_4.JPG

Lucas Corrado

(Auburn police)

AUBURN, N.Y.-- An Auburn man accused last week in a gas station robbery now faces additional charges for having sex with a 15-year-old runaway girl.

Lucas A. Corrado, 23, of 215 Genesee St. was charged Friday with felony third-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. Third-degree rape is charged when a person older than 21 has sex with someone younger than 17, said Auburn Police Det. Meagan Kalet.

Corrado allowed the girl to stay with him for three days without parental consent, police said. He is accused of having sexual intercourse with her several times during that time, police said.

The girl has since returned home, Kalet said.

Police charged Corrado last week with helping Weston R. Rhodes, 21, also of 215 Genesee St., to plan and implement a gas station robbery. The victim reported the rape to police during their robbery investigation, Kalet said.

Corrado is currently being held in the Cayuga County Jail on the robbery charges.

On Sept. 16, Corrado and Rhodes, 21, were each charged with second-degree robbery. Rhodes was also charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Corrado was charged Friday with conspiracy.

Auburn police officers responded at 3:13 a.m. on Sept. 16, to a report of a robbery in progress at the Kwik Fill gas station at 302 Genesee St.

Witnesses told police that a man entered the gas station, showed what looked like a handgun and demanded money. The clerks handed over an undisclosed amount of cash to the man, who then left.

Rhodes used a BB gun, which looked like a real handgun, during the robbery, police said.

Police said Rhodes robbed the gas station by himself. But, Corrado had money from the robbery when he was found near the gas station, police said.

Police asked anyone with information about the case may contact Kalet at 315-253-3231 or 315-255-4702.
white SUV.jpg

Onondaga County sheriff's deputies are searching for a white 2000 Ford Expedition stolen from the Meadows neighborhood in Salina around Sept. 22, 2016. The photo does not show the actual vehicle, but a similar model.

(Provided Photo)

SALINA, N.Y. -- Thieves targeted several unlocked vehicles and stole a sport utility vehicle in a town of Salina neighborhood last night, police said.

An unknown person entered several unlocked cars in the Meadows neighborhood off Hopkins and Buckley roads, also called "Oot Meadows, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office.

One owner left keys in an unlocked SUV, and it was stolen, Sgt. Jon Seeber said. The suspect took mostly loose change from the other vehicles, Seeber said.

Deputies are now searching for the white 2000 Ford Expedition, he said. It has a New York registration and license plate number EJX-3520, he said.

"In all cases, the vehicles were not locked," Seeber said. "This is a crime of opportunity and we urge residents not to make themselves easy victims. We also ask that residents stay alert, report suspicious activity, keep vehicles locked and keep valuables out of the car and out of sight."

Police have asked that anyone who sees the missing vehicle call 911. Anyone who has information about the thefts can contact the sheriff's office at 315-435-3051.

Reporter Julie McMahon covers Syracuse University and Syracuse city schools. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992
Fighting Bob Fest founder Ed Garvey got a rousing standing ovation when he addressed the Bob Fest audience at Madison's Breese Stevens Field Sept. 17, 2016.
Coming to Syracuse

Retired Syracuse University professor Gerd Schneider seems to have lived multiple lives within one lifetime, growing up as a Jew in Berlin, apprenticing as a waiter, moving to Canada, then to the United States, training to become a respected Professor of German Studies, and engaging with the German-American community in Syracuse. Schneider's cultural experience as a "Mischling," or half-Jew informs much of his personal history, particularly during his time living in Germany and what it was like to emigrate from a war-torn country where survival came with a high price.

At the insistence of his wife and son, Schneider finally penned his autobiography, capturing the familiar and yet entirely unique experience of a German Jew living in both Germany and in North America. Despite the serious nature of many of the events, the book is full of warmth and humor. Schneider wrote the book in German and Syracuse University Professor Emeritus of German, Dennis McCort translated the book into English.

Schneider came to Syracuse in 1966 in order to join the German Department at Syracuse University. In addition to his professorial position Schneider worked with local high school teachers who taught German to help create better course experiences for their students, and to create a new interest in the language. Schneider also organized The Friends of the German Language which was a group that met to discuss German culture.

Schneider believes that the book will be of great interest to any reader with an interest in German and/or Jewish history. "Things Could've Been a Lot Worse: The Experiences of a German American Bellybutton Jew of Berlin Origins" is available on Amazon.

Book Events

The Bridgeport Library is hosting an Author Meet and Greet on September 24 from 12 to 3 PM. Romance writers Diane Culver, Nicki Greenwood, and Regina Drumm will be featured, as well as Historical Fiction writer Cheryl Pula. Refreshments will be served during the event and door prizes will be offered. The event is free and open to the public.

Tickets are now on sale for a special literary and wine event at Fulkerson Winery on October 21 from 7-9 PM. NY Times Bestselling author Kristan Higgins will be joined by local authors Mary Pat Hyland, Roz Murphy, Laurie Gifford Adams, and Kate O'Boyle for an evening of wine, light fare, and a silent auction to beneift the Yates County Humane Society. The first 30 guests at the door will have their name entered into a raffle where the winner will have a character named after them in one of Higgins' upcoming books. For more information on the event, and to purchase tickets visit the Fulkerson Winery website.

Have a book to share?

Are you a local author or have you come across a book set in Central New York? Tell us about it. Send a brief description of the book and the author and we'll add it as a candidate for coverage. Write us at features@syracuse.com.
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Kumari and Bikash Regmi, Bhutanese refugees who married and are now studying to be nurse practitioners, helped the Syracuse Bhutanese Community organize a blood drive for Oct. 7. Provided photo

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Bikash Regmi became a refugee from Bhutan at age 6 and spent the next 18 years in a refugee camp.

He watched people die because they didn't have proper medical care. He wanted to work in healthcare, but as a refugee in a camp, he had few options. He became a science teacher. When he and his family came to Syracuse as a part of a refugee resettlement program in 2009, he pursued his dream of helping others.

Regmi is now a nurse and is nearly done with his schooling to be a nurse practitioner. His wife, Kumari Regmi, a Bhutanese refugee he met in Syracuse, is also finishing her nurse practitioner degree.

Bikash Regmi works in the in the oncology unit at Faxton St. Lukes Hospital in Utica. His wife works at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, also in Utica.

Both see daily how donated blood saves lives.

"Every time I go to work, I hang up blood for a person," Regmi said, referring to the transfusions patients often require. "And I see oh, they feel so different."

He and his wife, along with the Syracuse Bhutanese Community, wanted to do something to give back. So they have set up a blood drive for Oct. 7.

"As an oncology nurse, I cannot stress how important it is to donate blood to save the life of the people," Regmi said. He hopes the blood drive raises awareness in the refugee community about the importance of blood donation. "Back in the county, there was no education given about donating blood and saving life," he said.

The Bhutanese Community of Syracuse Blood Drive, open to anyone, is Oct. 7 from 2 to 7 p.m. at InterFaith Works, 1010 James St., Syracuse. You can set up a time to donate online by following the link or by phone at 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246
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Michela Hugo and her daughter, Genevieve, with diapers that have been collected for the CNY Diaper Bank.

(provided photo)

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse joined a growing list of cities recognizing next week as "Diaper Need Awareness Week".

The CNY Diaper Bank, a new nonprofit organization in Syracuse, was founded earlier this year to provide diapers to food banks and social service agencies. So far, the organization has collected and distributed 32,000 diapers.

Nationwide, a third of families with young children do not have enough diapers.

In honor of the week, two restaurants are hosting diaper drives and fundraisers for the CNY Diaper Bank next week. Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Fayetteville is hosting a "Dough Raiser" from Sept. 26-Oct. 2. For the week, 20 percent of sales from customers who mention the CNY Diaper Bank will be donated to the CNY Diaper Bank.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, Sweet Frog in Fayetteville will donate 25 percent of sales from customers who mention the CNY Diaper Bank.

Both restaurants will have collection boxes for diaper donations.



For more information about the CNY Diaper Bank and other ways to help the organization, visit its website.

Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246


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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo applauds during Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney's State of the County address March 4, 2014 at the former Carnegie Library on Montgomery Street in Syracuse. This is when Cuomo announced the state's intention to site the Central New York Hub for Emerging Nano Industries in DeWitt. The "film hub" is one of several developments at the heart of a federal corruption probe.

(Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

In his first State of the State address on Jan. 5, 2011, Gov. Andrew Cuomo pledged to end Albany's pay-to-play culture, taking aim squarely at the scandal-plagued state Legislature. "Every time there's another headline, there's another cut on the body politic, and a little more trust has bled out," Cuomo said.

And when former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was convicted on corruption charges last December, Cuomo said, "There can be no tolerance for those who use, and seek to use, public service for private gain."

Those words ring hollow today as one of the governor's closest advisers, Joseph Percoco, stands at the center of an alleged pay-to-play scandal of stunning size and brazenness.

Federal corruption charges were filed Thursday against developers involved in Cuomo's signature, multi-billion-dollar economic development projects across Upstate New York.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, in an 80-page complaint, laid out a complex web of no-bid state contracts awarded in return for alleged bribes funneled through a lobbyist and (legal) political contributions lavished on the governor. Two founders of Syracuse's COR Development were charged over a no-bid contract to build the state's "film hub" in DeWitt. Also charged was the Buffalo developer chosen to build a $750 million solar panel factory there, and the flamboyant president of SUNY Polytechnic in Albany who was in charge of orchestrating economic development projects across Upstate New York. Lobbyist Todd Howe pleaded guilty and is cooperating with authorities; eight other defendants pleaded not guilty and will fight the charges.

Bharara's complaint does not implicate Cuomo. But the governor is damaged by it nonetheless.

First, Cuomo is no longer able to claim the high ground in his fight with the state Legislature over ethics reforms.

Second, there's the question of whether more shoes will drop in Bharara's investigation. Central New York politicians with ties to COR Development or who took political contributions from the company's principals are running the other way. Who's next?

Third, the corruption alleged in Bharara's complaint calls into question the Cuomo administration's penchant for fast-tracking projects like the film hub with little or no transparency. Now we know why it landed here, seemingly from outer space, and why it remains empty.

The sad irony is that when Cuomo came into office, the state's economic development efforts were plagued by politics, self-dealing and abuse. Cuomo wrested control from the Legislature based on the premise that the public could trust him to develop a coherent strategy and to invest their money wisely. That idea took a serious blow on Thursday.

Cuomo entrusted hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the vision of SUNY Poly's Alain Kaloyeros, one of the eight people named in Bharara's complaint. SUNY Poly created a private, not-for-profit corporation to conceive, build and manage its research and development facilities in partnership with private companies - largely behind a veil of secrecy and exempt from the scrutiny of the state Comptroller.

On Friday, the governor said SUNY Poly's portfolio, including the Syracuse film hub and the Buffalo Billion, would be moved under the oversight of Empire State Development. Cuomo said ESD President and CEO Howard Zemsky's first mission is to "learn from what happened."

Lesson No. 1 should be: Absolute transparency is a necessity.

With its credibility under fire, the Cuomo administration now needs to convince New Yorkers that its other economic development efforts - the Regional Economic Development Councils and the Upstate Revitalization Initiative - are open and accountable to taxpayers. Central New York is in line for $500 million of URI money. A skeptical public needs to be shown - not told - that decisions about how it is spent are made with local input, based on data and solid planning, and free of corruption.

After Thursday, that's going to be a tall order.
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Patrick Hildenbrand, of Germantown, N.Y., caught and released this impressive, 8-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth bass in the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River.

(Special to nyup.com)

Patrick Hildenbrand said he's your average competitive bass angler - a weekend warrior who fishes a few competitive bass tournaments during the summer around the state, picking up a few bucks here and there.

Now he has something to really brag about.

HIldenbrand, 37, of Red Hook, was recently notified in a letter by the state Department of Environmental Conservation that his "freaky fat," 8-pound smallmouth bass, caught last month during a bass tournament on the St. Lawrence River, officially tied the state record.

As a result, he'll be receiving a custom-engraved plaque, a certificate of achievement and a lapel pin. He'll also be recognized on the DEC's website as the state record holder, along with Andrew Kartesz, who landed an 8-pound, 4-ounce smallie on Lake Erie in 1995.

Hildenbrand's fish has been described as "freaky fat," for obvious reasons. It was 21 1/2 inches long, and 20 3/4 inches around. He landed the fish while fishing in a New York The Bass Federation tournament at Cape Vincent, which was sponsored by the Cape Vincent Chamber of Commerce.

Listen to Hildenbrand talk about his catch:

Hildenbrand, who is a sergeant in the Red Hook Police Department, caught the fish on the morning of Aug. 28. He first marked the fish on his Hummingbird fishfinder. He came back to fish for it using a Berkeley Powerbait Dropshop minnow rig (goby colored) in about 35 feet of water.

He said he's hooked big fish before and he knew he had something huge on. He couldn't believe his eyes, though, when it broke the surface. "That thing is a cow," he remembered shouting out.

He let the fist tire itself out. A 16-year-old co-angler who was is his boat netted the fish.

Hildenbrand said he wasn't thinking state record at the time. He just knew it was a lunker. He immediately put it in his live well and didn't bother to weigh it. He said he was in a tournament and his mindset at the time was "This is a big one. I get four more and this thing is over."

At the tournament's weigh-in, Hildenbrand's fish was initially reported as weighing 8.15 pounds.

However, according to a news release from New York The Bass Federation, "The scales were sent out for a recertification due to the possibility of a state record. After getting the recertified scales back, Patrick's fish actually was found to weigh in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces."

As it turned out, Hildenbrand finished second and ended up taking the Big Bass Award. He received a check for close to $500. And yes, he released the fish alive back in the river after it was weighed.

Hildenbrand said many can't believe the weird proportions of the fish.

"It was crazy. I've had people say that I photo-shopped the pictures of it, Honestly, the pictures don't do it justice. Bass are normally more proportioned. This one was just short and big," he said.



His theory on how it got that way?

"Those fish in the St. Lawrence are eating monster gobies (an invasive baitfish) - which I've seen lately getting up 5 to 6 inches long. You chomp on enough of those and you're going to be 8 pounds," he said

Exactly where on the river did he catch it?

Hildenbrand paused, saying he's going back up to the river this weekend to fish in another tournament.

"Tell them somewhere between Lake Ontario and the bridge by Cape Vincent," he said. "Everyone is going to be watching where I go."
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State Assemblyman Al Stirpe, D-Cicero, says it's time for state lawmakers to pass "real ethics reform and transparency" after federal prosecutors charged nine people in a probe of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's state development projects.

(Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

State Assemblyman Al Stirpe became the second elected official Thursday to reject campaign donations he received from executives of COR Development Co. charged in a public corruption probe.

Stirpe, D-Cicero, said he would donate the $2,500 he received from COR Development and its president, Steve Aiello, to Vera House, a Central New York group that aids victims of domestic and sexual violence.

"In light of the charges brought forth today against COR Development executives, I am taking the contributions the company's leaders have given my campaigns over the years and donating them to those in need," Stirpe said in a statement.

"I have said before, corruption needs to stop," Stirpe added. "Those looking to line their pockets have no place in public service. We deserve a government that works for us."

Stirpe, who is seeking a fifth term in the Assembly in the Nov. 8 election, said it's time for the state to "institute real ethics reform and transparency" to help stop corruption.

Stirpe received four separate donations from Aiello and COR Development, a Fayetteville company, between 2008 and 2014, according to state campaign finance records.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Rep. John Katko said he would return a combined $10,000 in campaign contributions he received from Aiello and COR Development Vice President Joseph Gerardi.

Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
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FILE PHOTO Gov. Andrew Cuomo today went to Buffalo, one day after federal corruption charges accused people working on the Buffalo Billion project of bid-rigging and bribery. Cuomo today acknowledged the seriousness of the charges; he also pledged to invest more in Buffalo and Western New York.

(Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in the wake of a criminal corruption case rocking his $1 billion effort to reshape Buffalo, went to the Queen City today to pledge more oversight and more investment in Western New York.

Cuomo has put Howard Zemsky, a former Buffalo developer and the state's economic development chief, in charge of the Buffalo Billion project. Zemsky will now directly oversee state spending at Riverbend, where the state is investing $750 million in a massive solar panel plant.

And today Cuomo charged Zemsky to come up with Phase II of rebuilding Buffalo and Western New York.

"We are not slowing down, we are speeding up," Cuomo said. "You ain't seen nothing yet."

The governor acknowledged the severity of the criminal charges unveiled Thursday, when nine people were accused of bid-rigging, bribery and other wrongdoing associated with some of Cuomo's economic development projects.

When talking with reporters, Cuomo said he had no indication of the alleged misdoings, even among his top staffers.

Q to Cuomo: How did this happen right under your nose? "I had no idea about anything that was contained in that complaint.''  Tom Precious (@TomPreciousALB) September 23, 2016

Cuomo also expressed sadness that a close friend was at the heart of the allegations. Cuomo never named Joe Percoco, who started as a teen-aged intern with Mario Cuomo and became one of Andrew Cuomo's most trusted aides and fixers in the Capitol and on the campaign trail. Yet he made it clear he was heartbroken at the news.

"It was an emotional day for me," Cuomo said. The governor said it was the first day since Mario Cuomo died in early 2015 that he didn't miss his father. "It would have broken his heart," Cuomo said of the alleged actions by Percoco. (You can watch Cuomo's remarks at the Albright-Knot Art Gallery, from the Buffalo News.)

Cuomo said the criminal complaint spelled out a "disturbing and reprehensible" story of possible misdeeds by the nine charged.

Percoco is charged with accepting bribes, through a consultant, from people with business before the state. In return, prosecutors allege, Percoco and the consultant, Todd Howe, helped specific developers get help from the state. In a separate scheme, Howe worked with developers -- like Louis Ciminelli who won the $750 million Buffalo contract -- to steer state business to them, the complaint alleges.

Cuomo did not specify what Phase II of revitalizing Buffalo would be. He said he expected Zemsky to propose specifics within three months. If Cuomo agrees, he'll present the ideas during his 2017 State of the State in January.
Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan: On Syria and Skittles, demagogues and the damned
AP Moller-Maersk shuffles the pack

Following an ongoing review undertaken by the senior management of the AP Moller-Maersk Group, the various businesses are to be reorganised into two independent divisions - Transport & Logistics and Energy.

Chairman of the board, Michael Pram Rasmussen, explained: The industries in which we are operating are very different, and both face very different underlying fundamentals and competitive environments. 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. This will increase the strategic flexibility by enhancing synergies between businesses in Transport & Logistics, while ensuring the agility to pursue individual strategic solutions for the oil and oil related businesses, he said. Maersk Tanker will come under the Energy division, which will also include Maersk Oil, Maersk Drilling and Maersk Supply Service. Maersk Drilling, Maersk Supply Services, and Maersk Tankers will continue to optimise their market position and operation with the existing fleet and order book. Additional investments in the Groups offshore service businesses and Maersk Tankers will be limited, the group said in a statement. Financial reporting for the new structure will come into effect from the financial year 2017. The registered management of the group will be changed as follows:  Sren Skou will continue as Group CEO of AP Mller - Mrsk A/S and CEO of the Transport & Logistics division.  Claus Hemmingsen will be appointed Group Vice CEO of AP Mller - Mrsk A/S effective on 1st October, 2016 and CEO for the Energy division.  Jakob Stausholm will be appointed Group CFO of A.P. Mller - Mrsk A/S as of 1st December, 2016. On the same day, 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 1st October, 2016 and will leave the Group on 1st November, 2016.  Kim Fejfer will step down as member of the registered management effective on 1st October, 2016 and as CEO of APM Terminals effective on 1st November, 2016 when he will also leave the Group. In addition, Christian Ingerslev has been appointed CEO of Maersk Tankers, which takes effect from 1st November, 2016. Since 2014, he has been Maersk Tankers CCO. Christian Ingerslev has for 15 years been with Maersk Tankers where he has held a number of different leadership roles. He brings with him a deep passion for and profound knowledge of Maersk Tankers business combined with strong leadership skills. Christian has been an instrumental part of the development and execution of the Maersk Tankers strategy Taking Lead, and he is ideally positioned to take over the helm as CEO for Maersk Tankers. I look much forward to working with Christian in his new role," said Claus Hemmingsen, Group Vice CEO of AP Mller - Mrsk A/S.




Gulf Navigation Holding has reduced its debts to $21 mill from $36mill, the company claimed.

GulfNavs managing director and Group CEO Khamis Juma Buamim announced on local television that the high debts were stressful for the company and he hoped to end a long-running dispute with creditors by consolidating all of the companys borrowing before the end of this year.

Buamim clarified that there were no concessions against the amicable settlement with Nordic American Tankers - a debt, which did not exceed $14 mill.

He also announced that the company has expansion plans in Abu Dhabi, Khorfakkan and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.

GulfNavs profit increased by 44% to Dirham14.4 mill in the first half of 2016, he further confirmed.
Ras Lanuf reopens for business

Crude oil exports from the Libyan port of Ras Lanuf have resumed for the first time since 2014, according to newswire reports. The Maltese-flagged Thenamaris-managed Aframax Seadelta left Ras Lanuf on Wednesday of this week carrying 781,000 barrels of crude oil.

The vessel had earlier sailed to a safe distance from the port due to a fresh outbreak of fighting in the area, but was able to resume loading operations after the conflict subsided. The Aframax is currently on its way to Italy, where the cargo will be offloaded. According to AIS data provided by MarineTraffic, the vessel is scheduled to reach Trieste on 24th September, Bloomberg reported. Ras Lanufs port manager reportedly said that a second tanker was preparing to load at the terminal, one of four seized on 11th-12th September by eastern Libyan forces loyal to military leader Khalifa Haftar. Mustafa Sanalla, the chairman of Libyas National Oil Corp (NOC), had earlier said that the countrys oil production could be increased to 600,000 barrels per day within a month, and to some 900,000 barrels per day by the end of this year from the current production capacity of around 290,000 barrels per day. NOC had said last week that it would begin exports immediately from Ras Lanuf and Zueitina, and that it would also restart exports as soon as possible from Es Sider. Exports have continued from Brega, the fourth port that was seized, which had remained open, according to a Reuters report. Together, the ports have a capacity to handle nearly 800,000 barrels per day, though Ras Lanuf and Es Sider had been damaged in clashes and Brega has been operating at below its maximum capacity.




USCG BWTS type approvals- the rush begins

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has confirmed that Norwegian ballast water treatment (BWT) manufacturer Optimarin has become the first supplier to submit an application for US type approval.

John Mauger, Commanding Officer of the Coast Guards Marine Safety Center (MSC), described the move as a milestone in the fight to protect marine biodiversity in US waters. Optimarins application was submitted this week by DNV GL after its Optimarin Ballast System (OBS) satisfied the USCGs stringent testing criteria for fresh, brackish and marine water. MSC has claimed that it will review and reply to submittals within 30 days, after which successful suppliers will receive their approval certification. In a statement from MSC, Mauger hailed the development, commenting: The receipt of the first application for a Coast Guard type-approved ballast water management system represents an important milestone for the future of protecting our nations waterways from the spread of invasive species. Optimarin CEO, Tore Andersen, responded: We have invested a huge amount of time and money in developing a reliable, simple, effective, environmentally friendly and powerful BWT system. This final step towards approval is reward for that, positioning us at the forefront of the market for any shipowner that wants the ultimate in compliance, fleet flexibility and proven BWT success. We believe were now the clear choice within our chosen segments and are delighted to be acknowledged by USCG as a key player in the fight against this pressing environmental problem, he said. Optimarin has received orders for around 500 OBS systems, which use a combination of filtration and powerful 35 kW UV lamps to treat ballast water without the need for chemicals. Of these, 280 have been installed worldwide, with close to 100 retrofits, fitted in tandem with global engineering partners Goltens and Zeppelin. As well as satisfying all IMO and USCG requirements, OBS is certified by a range of class societies, including DNV GL, LR, BV, MLIT Japan and ABS. Meanwhile, Alfa Laval has also filed its type approval application with the USCG for its PureBallast 3 family. This follows the successful completion of land-based tests with marine, brackish and fresh water  all using the current BWTS design. A test report package for PureBallast has now been finalised by the independent lab DNV GL. As expected, the company completed all tests of PureBallast during the summer of this year. These were performed using the CMFDA/FDA (staining) method approved by the USCG and were conducted at DHI in Denmark. It is significant to note that the testing involved the same hardware, power consumption and flow as the already IMO-approved version of the PureBallast 3 family, the company said. We were confident that PureBallast would deliver high-performance results without any change to its components or system design, said Anders Lindmark, General Manager, Business Centre, PureBallast. Test results have now been submitted and they conclusively demonstrate that PureBallast provides reliable biological disinfection at full flow in all water salinities. The system has also met the rigorous mechanical and electrical testing verification schemes required by the USCG and IMO. Meanwhile, Alfa Laval said that it continued to support the efforts to validate the Most Probable Number (MPN) method, which the company sees as a preferable alternative to the CMFDA/FDA method for UV treatment systems. Alfa Lavals decision to proceed with CMFDA/FDA testing was based on the importance of providing customers discharging in US waters with a type-approved solution as quickly as possible. ***ABS has updated its Guide for Ballast Water Treatment . As vessel owners and operators prepare for the implementation of the recently ratified IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, they need guidance from a trusted advisor like ABS. Our team of technical specialists is ready to assist them with addressing this compliance in support of their unique operational challenges, said ABS Executive Vice President for Global Marine, Kirsi Tikka. The update to the Guide comes just as industry is addressing the technical challenges brought about by this Convention. In addition to providing guidance on the new IMO requirements, the latest revision includes changes that:

 Clarify requirements for hazardous area installations and safety practices.

 Recognise USCG Type Approvals.

 Delineate additional verification requirements for administration type approval certification.




Garrison Keillor: What is going on here anyway?
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Google's Daydream platform is ready for developers to start building VR experiences. Today the company announced that their VR SDK 1.0 -- formerly Cardboard SDK -- has moved out of beta and is available on the Daydream developer site.

The updated SDK simplifies common VR development tasks for building "immersive, interactive mobile VR applications." It supports integrated asynchronous reprojection, high fidelity spatialized audio, and interactions using the handheld Daydream controller.

Developers can use existing game engines and tools thanks to a partnership with Unity and Unreal, taking full advantage of Unity and UE4's optimizations in VR rendering, head tracking, deep linking, controller support and more. Google is also opening up the Daydream Access Program (DAP) for anyone who wants to push their VR apps to Google Play.

Google revealed the Daydream platform at its developer platform earlier this year for high quality, mobile virtual reality. While the first Daydream-ready phones and headset are yet to arrive, the timing for the release of the SDK is no coincidence, given the company is gearing up to debut its Pixel and Pixel XL phones on October 4th.

Google also mentioned Daydream-ready headsets in their SDK announcement, so we'll take that as a hint that we may see more than Pixel smartphones at the upcoming event.
It's safe to say that the Note 7 is Samsung's flagship phablet, and the lineup has largely been trustworthy over the years, attracting loyal customers.

The recent recall of the Note 7, the latest in the phablet lineup, has however been giving Samsung a number of problems with customers reluctant to hand over potentially faulty devices. Now as the replacement devices have been arriving in the hands of customers, carriers have started to comment on how the Korean major will be impacted by the fallout from the recall.

Among the carriers who have been providing insight about the recall is Sprint. Speaking to Fortune, the Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure says that "six months from now nobody will remember that there was a Note 7 recall." While this is an optimistic assessment of the recall and its long term impact on Samsung, Claure seems to be basing it on the assumption that the attention span of consumers is very short, and that they want to keep enjoying the benefits provided by the Note 7.

Claure also adds that issues with phones keep happening but they are amplified on the internet. However, even as the CEO of Sprint was attempting to put a positive spin on the recall, warning bells have been sounding on the market. Fortune says that some analysts view the Note 7 recall as a huge problem that will drag down Samsung's profit this year, and they have pointed out that lost revenue could total about $5 billion.

Sprint is already moving ahead with shipping the replacement devices to its customers and it is likely that the issue with exploding batteries that forced the recall will not occur again. However, with the recall moving at a snail's pace, analysts estimate that 2.5 million phablets need to be recalled worldwide, so negative sentiment about it could linger for some time.

It is likely that the full cost of the Note 7 recall, its impact on Samsung's revenue and how the phablet performs against its competitors will only emerge by the time the recall is complete. Meanwhile, Samsung's major competitor Apple has been doing much better with its recently released iPhone 7 lineup selling well and causing its shares to surge in the stock market. Analysts also iPhone 7 sales could reach 100 million units by the year end due to the Note 7 fiasco.

Finally, there are very little indications of how the recall will impact the Note 7 brand and its value. The previous edition in the lineup, the Note 5, ranks before the iPhone 6s Plus and Samsung will be hoping that the goodwill is transferred to the Note 7. It is also likely that if this goodwill translates to increased sales of the Note 7 in the upcoming months, Samsung will be able to curtail the loss arising from the recall.

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Famous NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is firmly against the new Google Allo chat app, arguing that it spies on absolutely everything people say.

Google Allo recently launched as a smart messaging app powered by artificial intelligence, potentially changing the way people communicate with each other. The app has plenty of neat features and tricks up its sleeve, but it also raises some serious privacy concerns.

While Google Allo may seem harmless at first glance, it actually monitors everything users say and stores the data for later analysis, purportedly using it to improve the app.

However, having all of those chats indefinitely stored on Google's servers may not be the best way to ensure user privacy. Google said at one point that it would only store user chats temporarily, retaining a certain degree of privacy for users, but it seems that's no longer the case. The company will keep all data indefinitely, which means that a copy of your conversations will be in Google's pocket for keepsake.

Snowden went on a Twitter spree on Wednesday, expressing his concerns regarding Google Allo and his stance against the intrusive application. In one tweet, the former NSA contractor links to a recent report by the Verge, signaling Google's change in stored message logs policy.

Google said it will use the data it collects to improve the app in certain areas, such as smart replies. Allo would basically read all of your conversations and attempt to figure out how you talk so it can suggest what you might want to say next.

So far, that's not much different from various predictive apps that study the conversations you give them access to in order to improve their predictions. SwiftKey does it, for instance, but only if the user expressly agrees to share data from whichever accounts they choose to link  Gmail, Facebook or the like.

Google, instead, could presumably be able to use the data it collects to target ads. The problem is that some personal chats may include sensitive data users might not want to share with Google.

At the same time, tracking and storing all conversations that occur on Allo would also mean that law enforcement could serve warrants to request access to that data.

"What is #Allo? A Google app that records every message you ever send and makes it available to police upon request," Snowden notes in one tweet.

"Free for download today: Google Mail, Google Maps, and Google Surveillance. That's #Allo. Don't use Allo," he warns in another tweet.

It's worth pointing out, however, that Google does allow Allo users to go Incognito, which enables them to have private conversations protected by end-to-end encryption so that they're hidden, even from Google. The problem is that end-to-end encryption is not enabled by default and is only available in Incognito mode, which renders most of Google Allo's features useless.

In response to a user asking which messaging app to use, Snowden recommends Tor or Signal.

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

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Apple is said to be in talks to acquire Lit Motors, which is a startup developing a self-balancing all-electric motorcycle named the C-1.

News on the potential takeover comes after the quashed rumors of Apple buying McLaren. The acquisition would have made a lot of sense for Apple, as the company is said to be working on a secretive car project known as Project Titan.

Acquiring McLaren would have given the company access to significant expertise in the automobile industry, boosting Apple's efforts with Project Titan. However, a spokesperson for McLaren refuted the reports, stating that there is no takeover or strategic investment that will happen between the two companies.

Apple looks like it really needs help from another company for Project Titan though, with Lit Motors said to also be targeted for a takeover.

Lit Motors, based in San Francisco, is said to have been approached by Apple for a possible acquisition, according to three anonymous sources. Several former engineers of Lit Motors are said to have already been hired by Apple.

The startup has been working on the C-1 for years. The electric motorcycle, powered by two gyroscopes to allow it to maintain its balance, is being designed as a combination of the efficiency of a motorcycle and the safety of a car. The C-1 features a cabin containing airbags, an air conditioning system and a sound system, giving off the feeling of being in a real car. The electric motorcycle, however, will only be able to carry one passenger in addition to the driver.

The C-1 was first announced in 2012, when Lit Motors said that it was looking to sell the electric motorcycle with a price tag of $24,000. The development of the vehicle, however, stalled last year, when Lit Motors CEO Daniel Kim was rendered immobile for six months after being involved in a motorcycle accident in a racetrack.

Why Apple would consider purchasing Lit Motors remains unclear as both companies have refused to issue comments regarding the rumored acquisition talks. However, if Apple would incorporate the technology being developed for the C-1 into its rumored Apple Car, it might be able to differentiate the vehicle from the other electric cars in the market.

Apple, with former Lit Motors engineers already in the fold, may also be looking to purchase the startup simply to acquire the talent and expertise of its employees.

Project Titan has fallen into rough times lately, with a recent report claiming that Apple has laid off dozens of employees from the team.

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Google is expected to unveil the new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones on Oct. 4 at an event in San Francisco. Fans of Google's Nexus devices will surely be looking forward to the successors of the now defunct line, with the new smartphones said to come preinstalled with a special version of Android 7.1 Nougat.

The freedom and openness that Android provides are among the biggest selling points of the operating system compared to rival iOS of Apple. A process called rooting allows users to gain access to a wider range of features on their Android device, allowing users to maximize the usage of their smartphone. Among the capabilities of users with rooted devices include blocking advertisements and installing custom themes and software.

Google's Nexus smartphones, with the last ones released being the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P, have long received heavy support for rooting, with these devices receiving custom ROMs and other root-related features the fastest. Some users who are looking forward to the Pixel and Pixel XL may be hoping for a similar approach to rooting for the upcoming smartphones, continuing the freedom that owning an Android smartphone provides.

However, according to a post on XDA Developers, the upcoming Pixel and Pixel XL are not rootable with the currently available methods. This was discovered upon studying the partitions of the upcoming devices, with attaining root access being described as a losing battle for users.

Google has recently started to crack down on rooted devices, with the company releasing an API that allowed developers to prevent rooted devices from running their apps. An update for Android 6.0 Marshmallow also required users to perform what is known as a systemless root if they want to root their smartphone, which means rooting the device without changing its system partition. If the partition is modified upon rooting, the smartphone will display a message of being corrupt upon booting, preventing it from turning on.

To circumvent the safeguard, rooters have started to modify the ramdisk of devices in replacement of tinkering with the system partition. However, according to code discovered within Android 7.0 Nougat, ramdisk is now being housed within the system partition.

While this does not mean that Google's Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones will never be rooted, users who are looking to root the devices will have to wait for another workaround, as the systemless root being performed on Android 6.0 Marshmallow devices will no longer work.

The move shows that Google is serious on preventing Android-powered devices from being rooted, which is disappointing for users who have been loyal to the platform due to that possibility.

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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.
On Monday, NASA will tell the world about its new findings on Europa. The U.S. space agency has hinted that the media call will be discussing "some surprising activity" on Jupiter's icy moon.

To be held at 2 p.m. EDT, the Sept. 26 press conference will harp on Europa's surprising activity with the limelight on NASA images obtained from the agency's Hubble Space Telescope.

At the media call, NASA will be presenting results about the Europa mission, with data compiled on the ocean underneath Jupiter's moon..

According to a press release, the teleconference will be hosted by NASA officials such as Paul Hertz, director of the Astrophysics Division in Washington, William Sparks, Britney Schmidt and Jennifer Wiseman, who is the senior project scientist at NASA's Center in Maryland.

Curiosity About Alien Life

NASA's focus on Europa started off with its mission in 1989 when it sent a spacecraft to Jupiter for studying mystery moons.

That mission has proved productive and yielded good insights into solar system bodies, with evidence of Europa's presumed underlying ocean whose surface is marked by a frozen crust of unlimited thickness.

In 2015, NASA gave its projections of Europa and said it expects abundant salt water and a rocky sea floor with energy from heating to make Europa the ideal candidate to look for present-day life beyond "our home planet."

NASA's passion on Europa was also reflected in the words of NASA science chief John Grunsfeld who called up scientists to consider a mission to Jupiter's smallest icy moon to probe for alien life.

Speculations about alien life in Europa were also reported by Tech Times.

NASA scientists have been optimistic about Europa's underneath ocean's potential and the chemical balance remarkably similar to the ones on Earth suggesting an abundance of hydrogen and oxygen.

It is expected that the NASA press meet might shed new light on the liquid ocean of Europa, by corroborating new facts on the smoothness of Europa's surface and water vapor plumes noticed on its surface.

According to reports, the first spacecraft for Europa may blast off in 2022. In the long run, tourist space flights can be possible for Europa.

Europa was discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 and is 4.5 billion years old. It has a diameter of 1,900 miles (3,100 km) and is smaller than Earth's moon and the smallest of all Galilean moons.

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Owners of Tesla Motors electric vehicles in Norway have filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming that the Insane Mode of the cars does not go fast enough.

The Norwegian customers, numbering around 126, are seeking refunds from the U.S.-based electric car manufacturer because their Model S P85D vehicles reach only 469 horsepower, compared with the marketed figure of 700 horsepower that Insane Mode is said to provide.

The horsepower of the Model S P85D is too low, said Wikborg Rein law firm attorney Kaspar N. Thommessen, who is representing the plaintiffs. With lower horsepower than marketed, the performance of the car is affected, the customers claimed.

"The consumers seek compensation for the lack of performance," Thommessen stated in an e-mail, with the hearing for the case scheduled at the Oslo City Court this coming December.

The Model S enjoyed significant success in Norway, partly due to state subsidies that encouraged customers to purchase electric vehicles. The Model S P85D variant is no longer being sold by Tesla Motors in the country, as sales have shifted to the Model S P90D, which is its successor.

Insane Mode was introduced by Tesla Motors with the Model P85D, with the acceleration option promising the aforementioned 700 horsepower to allow the electric vehicle to go from zero to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour in around 3.1 seconds to 3.3 seconds.

Tesla Motors has rejected the claims made by its customers in Norway and the accompanying lawsuit. In an e-mail, the company confirmed that through its own testing and studies made by third-parties, the Model S P85D is capable of reaching the horsepower and speed that is promised by the Insane Mode. As such, the car is able to meet the requirements according to the method of measurement that authorities have required, stated Tesla Motors spokesperson Even Sandvold Roland.

Drag Times, a drag-racing website, had fun with Insane Mode in January of last year, as documented by a popular video that showed the shocked reactions of passengers as the driver pressed the Insane Mode button on the Model S P85D. The burst of speed that going into Insane Mode provides unsurprisingly caused the passengers to freak out.

Insane Mode in Tesla Motors vehicles, however, has long been overshadowed by the more powerful Ludicrous Mode, which was introduced with the launch of the Model S P90D. With the new acceleration option, the time needed for the electric car to go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour was further reduced to 2.8 seconds.

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Five days after Dalton Prager  the husband in the real-life "Fault In Our Stars" couple  passed away, his wife Katie died of complications from cystic fibrosis.

Katie was 26 years old.

Surrounded by her parents, brother and her dogs, Katie died peacefully at home, miles away from hospital tubes and IVs, according to Katie's mom, Debra Donovan.

A Long Battle

Dalton and Katie's story was first featured in CNN in 2015.

The young couple first met when they were 18 years old through Facebook. They both suffered from cystic fibrosis, a gene disorder that weakened their lungs.

As they fell in love with each other, they became aware of the possible consequences. It is highly dangerous for people with cystic fibrosis to meet because they can transmit infections to one another.

But Katie and Dalton braved the odds. Although their healths both deteriorated after their first meet-up, they were on the waiting list for lung transplants.

Less than two years after meeting for the first time, the couple got married. They bought a house in Flemingsburg, hosted regular game nights, traveled and posted wedding photos.

"We did stuff; we had fun," Katie told CNN days before she passed away. "It was like something out of a fairy tale."

The Ending

In 2014, the infection got the best of their lungs. The couple entered the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to wait for new lungs.

Dalton underwent the lung transplant first on Nov. 17, 2014. After a long struggle with Medicaid, Medicare and the hospital, Katie got her lung transplant in July 2015.

However, the couple's struggles went on. Dalton developed lymphoma, overcame it, and was hospitalized in Missouri because he was infected with pneumonia.

Meanwhile, Katie was also in and out of the hospital in Kentucky. Earlier this September, doctors told her that there was nothing more they could do. She was sent to hospice care instead.

Their families hoped to fly Dalton to Kentucky so the couple could be reunited. Sadly, Dalton never made the trip home. He passed away at the hospital on Sept. 17. He was 25.

No Regrets

Before her husband died, Katie told CNN that she had no regrets about her decision to meet the love of her life in person. All the time they spent together stood out the most to her, she said.

"I'd rather have five years of being in love and just really completely happy than 20 years of not having anybody," she said.

Their love story was cut short, but Katie knew it brought inspiration to others.

"It gave me some of the best years of my life," added Katie.

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Google has announced that the Daydream VR, its own virtual reality technology, is now out of beta stage. This means that the platform is now officially open to developers.

The Daydream VR platform is Google's more ambitious upgrade to the Google Cardboard. The belief is that Google plans to take things further than simply developing a VR interface. Many suspect that the company plans to make its own VR hardware in the future.

The goal behind the Daydream VR is to allow users to port their favorite Android apps into virtual reality. It will be integrated in Android Nougat running on Daydream-ready phones. It was first announced early this year during the Google I/O confab.

Google has promptly provided the developer tools to get programmers started this early. This purportedly allows the developer time to develop high-quality VR apps before the company starts advertising the technology. The accompanying developer kit, particularly, allows for quick running start as it enables a simplified VR development.

"Our updated SDK simplifies common VR development tasks so you can focus on building immersive, interactive mobile VR applications for Daydream-ready phones and headsets, and supports integrated asynchronous reprojection, high fidelity spatialized audio, and interactions using the Daydream controller," Google said in a blog post.

Google pointed out that the platform will support native integration in Unity, which is known for its optimizations in VR rendering. Daydream VR also updated its support for Unreal engine integration and Google has provided all the necessary tools, plugins and binaries accordingly. For example, controller support has been included in the optimizations, editor and neck model, among others.

There are those who wonder how developers could proceed on exploring and building Daydream VR apps if there are no current Daydream-ready phones in the market. One should remember that compatible devices are only going to start to roll out later this fall. To address this presently, Google has identified the Nexus 6P as an appropriate device. A detailed process has been provided to set it up.

The company warned, however, that the Nexus 6P could run very hot to the point that it thermally throttles both CPU and GPU performance.

The latest development to the Daydream VR is also fuelling speculations that the search company will be launching the headset on Oct. 4 where the much anticipated Google Pixel smartphones are expected to be unveiled. On its public release, Daydream VR is also said to include Netflix, Hulu, HBO, MLB, NBA, CNN and The New York Times. Several games published by Ubisoft and Electronic Arts will also be available during launch.

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Analysis of a new species of extinct reptile whose remains were collected near Big Spring, Texas in 1940 has shown that the shapes of the body and skull of the most iconic dinosaurs are not completely original.

In a new study published in the Current Biology on Sept. 22, a group of paleontologists performed a detailed CT scan of the remains of a new species of extinct reptile called Triopticus primus, or the "First of Three Eyes" that lived about 230 million years ago before the era of the dinosaurs.

The creature was characterized by a large natural pit at the top of its head that looked like an extra eye. It also featured a very thick skull roof similar to those of the distantly related pachycephalosaur dinosaurs that emerged more than 100 million years later.

Many of the other extinct animals that were found with Triopticus in the Otis Chalk fauna were also found to have body parts that resembled those of dinosaurs. Among these features are those that were similar to the toothless beaks of ornithomimids, the long snouts of the Spinosaurus and the armor plates of the ankylosaurus.

The Triopticus provides an example of evolutionary convergence, a common evolutionary phenomenon that occurs when two distantly related species independently evolve similar body shape and appearance likely as a result of having to adapt to similar environments.

"We introduce a new Triassic stem archosaur that is unexpectedly and remarkably convergent with the 'dome-headed' pachycephalosaur dinosaurs that lived over 100 million years later," the researchers wrote in their study.

"Surprisingly, numerous additional taxa in the same assemblage (the Otis Chalk assemblage from the Dockum Group of Texas) demonstrate the early acquisition of morphological novelties that were later convergently evolved by post-Triassic dinosaurs."

The latest finding offered evidence of convergence across a considerable length of time and among a diverse group of dinosaurs and reptiles from the Triassic and Jurassic periods.

The Triopticus in particular exemplifies body-shape convergence as the shape of its skull appear to have been copied by distantly related dome-headed dinosaurs that emerged after more than 100 million years.

"It is amazing to think that many of the iconic dinosaur features that we know and love, such as long snouts, toothless beaks, armor plates and thickened dome skulls, were arrived at completely independently up to 100 million years earlier in these distant reptilian cousins," said University of Chicago evolutionary biologist Katharine Criswell.

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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.
MADISON - Michael H. McCoy, age 78, of Madison, graduated from life's journey in Montello, Wis., on Sept. 7, 2016. He was born in Shelbyville, Ky., the second child of Wade William McCoy and Jane Padgett, on June 29, 1939. A graduate of Shelbyville High School, he attended Indiana University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in journalism. While at IU, Mike (like his father) was editor-in-chief of The Daily Student, was active in U.S. Air Force ROTC, participated in the Marching Hundred, served as chapter president of Indiana Beta of Phi Kappa Psi, and a member of Sigma Delta Chi, the national student journalism fraternity.

Following commencement in 1961, Lt. McCoy's military assignments took him to France where he was a front-line participant in the Cold War. He traveled throughout Europe, including behind the Iron Curtain, where his travels took him as far as Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic. His tour of duty ended in 1964, when he returned to the States for a job with the Indianapolis Times. McCoy's military service continued through participation in Air Force National Guard in both Indiana and Wisconsin.

With the Times's demise, Mike came to Wisconsin in 1965, first working at the Milwaukee Sentinel as their Madison-based reporter on state government. Soon thereafter, he entered public service, working in public relations for the state. He served as personal and press aide to Governor Warren Knowles during the Governor's overseas trade mission to South America in 1967. McCoy served 27 years with the state, ultimately acting as public information officer for the department of industry, labor and human relations and its successor agencies.

In addition to his professional life, McCoy was an active and vital supporter of a number of causes and groups, principally advocating on behalf of the passenger rail throughout Wisconsin, as a founder of Pro-Rail Wisconsin. He was instrumental in lobbying then-Senator Bob Kastenmeier in the establishment of the Hiawatha route between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Mike's interests were myriad. A proud barbershopper, he sang bass/baritone for more than 20 years with the Capital Chordsmen chorus, for which he wrote the stage play When America Went to War, performed at the Middleton Performing Arts Center in 2012; played trumpet in both concert and swing-era bands; and was active in the MadCity Investment Club since 1997.

A lifelong Presbyterian, Mike held membership at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison for more than 40 years. He taught Sunday School and advised the youth fellowship there for several years. A lifelong influence on his faith included the works and writings of the Rev. Peter Marshall, his childhood pastor.

He advised the Phi Kappa Psi chapter at Beloit College and served as the national fraternity's historian for 22 years; he was an active road tripper in search of the Fraternity's history, being one of very few in the Fraternity known to have visited the burial sites of both of the Fraternity's founders and that of its earliest ritualist. In company with other alumni officers and staff, he endeavored to visit as many sites of historical importance to the Fraternity as possible. He was named the fraternity's historian emeritus at its biennial national convention in July 2016. He served as the fraternity's sesquicentennial celebration chairman, earning recognition with the Knight Award of Merit and the President's Medallion for Meritorious Service.

Survivors include his children, a daughter, Anne Elizabeth McCoy of Toronto, Ontario; a son, Jordan Padgett McCoy of Montello; six grandchildren, Emily Olson, Evelyn McCoy, Heidi McCoy, Scott McCoy, Teagan McCoy and Simone McCoy; the mother of his children, Mary McCoy of Winona, Minn.; a brother-in-law, LaMar Gaston of Louisville, Ky.; nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother; and a sister, Susan McCoy Gaston, and lifelong friend and fraternity brother, Kent Owen of Bloomington, Ind.

A graduation ceremony for Michael will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at 3 p.m. with a memorial visitation beginning at 2 p.m. at COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in Madison. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of Michael's final wishes, the family suggests contributions be made to organizations that work in the service of others. Steinhaus-Holly Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Westfield is serving the family. For online condolences, visit www.steinhaushollyfuneralhome.com.
"The Brazilian people will vote for a project through which democracy will win," the Workers' Party leader said. | Read More
American Family Insurance of Madison was presented with the Economic Driver  Large Business Award at the annual Community and Economic Development Awards banquet on Sept. 14 presented by the Wisconsin Economic Development Association at The Edgewater in Madison.

The Large Business Award recognizes a company that invests in its Wisconsin business operations. American Family employs about 4,000 around the state, including 3,100 independent contractor agents and another 7,800 in 19 states. In the past three years, American Family has invested about $75 million in its facilities and equipment in Wisconsin.

Other Community and Economic Development Award recipients included:

 Economic Driver-Small Business: Amerequip, Kiel

 Business Retention and Expansion: Nueskes Applewood Smoked Meats, Wittenberg

 Redevelopment & Reuse: City of West Allis

 Public Private Partnership: City of Eau Claire, UWEau Claire and Haymarket Concepts LLC

 Human Capital: Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation

 Economic Development Initiative: Powell Poage Hamilton Neighborhood Revitalization Project, LaCrosse

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Wisconsin League of Municipalities, Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation developed the awards program to recognize best practices and economic development-focused groups making an impact on their community.
Efforts are underway to promote Chiang Rai as a meetings and events destination focusing initially on the China market.

The initial promotion to showcase Chiang Rais potential in the meetings market was undertaken at the recent IBTM CHINA 2016, held in Beijing.

The objective was to introduce the far-north province to Chinas meeting planners for small meetings with a green tourism branding.

It follows comments made by the Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Yuthasak Supasorn. earlier in the year. He said Chiang Rai province had been designated a business model for sustainable tourism development in 2017, that would position the province as a green tourism destination.

Part of the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, Chiang Rai is the closest Thai province to China. Initially, events would be sourced in Chinas Yunnan province, possibly related to investment opportunities in the Mekong Region.

Tourism officials believe Chiang Rai offers a range of facilities that can serve the needs of business event travellers from Asia.

The provinces travel sector would point out that it is still some distance behind Chiang Mai in offering MICE facilities even for regional markets.

One bright spot, however, is the opening of the provinces convention centre in early September, that can cater for events of up to 3,000 delegates, according to the Tourism Authority Chiang Rais director, Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee.

He surveyed the brand new convention centre shortly before it hosted its first event the Lanna Hilltribe and

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Two Janesville police officers have been suspended without pay after an internal investigation determined both had been drinking while on a recruiting trip in Arizona, with one of the officers driving after drinking.

Officer Chad Sullivan was given a 20-day suspension without pay, and Officer Bradley Rau was given a 10-day suspension without pay, the Janesville Police Department said.

The two officers were in Flagstaff, Arizona, in July to attend a police Explorers conference, to recruit minority candidates for the police force.

The internal investigation determined both had been drinking, then got into their rental car with Sullivan behind the wheel. The incident happened before the conference started. Sullivan was arrested for operating while intoxicated, and Rau was a passenger in the rental car, which was paid for by city funds.

Both officers violated Janesville Police Department policy, the department said.

As part of the disciplinary action taken, the two officers also agreed to attend alcohol assessment.

Sullivan has been on the force for 18 years and Rau for 17 years.
BATON ROUGE (AP)  A deputy city marshal charged with murder after a police body camera captured a 6-year-old boy's fatal shooting is asking a Louisiana judge to throw out his indictment, saying he acted in self-defense by opening fire on a car driven by the boy's father.

Prosecutors from Attorney General Jeff Landry's office said the video shows two deputy marshals firing from "a safe distance" as Christopher Few's car was backing away from them. "Perhaps most important, it shows Few with his hands in the air pleading for the officers to stop firing. They did not," prosecutors wrote in a filing this week.

But Derrick Stafford's attorneys say the video recording lacks audio for the first 27 seconds, making it impossible to determine if Stafford started shooting before or after Few raised his hands inside the car. Neither deputy knew that Few's son, Jeremy Mardis, was strapped in the front seat until after they stopped shooting, Stafford's attorneys added.

Stafford's lawyers claim Few ignored officers' commands to stop and rammed into a vehicle that another deputy marshal, Norris Greenhouse Jr., was exiting.

+9 Two officers face murder counts in Marksville shooting; Body cam footage called 'disturbing' Three days after a 6-year-old boy was shot and killed by officers in a barrage of gunfire th

Stafford and Greenhouse drew their weapons after the "aggressive actions" of Few, who drove forward and then backed the car toward the officers again, Stafford's attorneys said.

"At this point, Stafford, out of fear for his life and that of his fellow officers, began shooting at the vehicle to prevent any further actions by Few which would put the officers in imminent danger," they wrote.

State District Court Judge William Bennett is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on Stafford's motion to quash his indictment.

"A review of the indictment by the court would show that the state does not state any allegations of fact that would satisfy the essential element of specific intent for the offenses charged whereby trier of fact could support a conviction," Stafford's attorneys wrote.

State Police have said the deputies opened fire on Few's car after a pursuit joined by a third deputy marshal and Marksville Police Sgt. Kenneth Parnell III. A police report says video from Parnell's body camera shows Few's empty hands were raised and visible inside the vehicle when gunfire erupted. The video hasn't been publicly released.

Stafford and Greenhouse await separate trials on second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges. Few was critically wounded in the shooting.

Stafford, a Marksville police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former Marksville police officer, were moonlighting as deputy marshals on the night of the Nov. 3, 2015, shooting.

Stafford's trial is scheduled to start Nov. 28; Greenhouse has a March 13, 2017, trial date.

However, in another court filing this week, Stafford's attorneys asked Bennett to consolidate the cases for a single trial.
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The editor of LSU's student newspaper The Daily Reveille called on administrators to denounce statements made by alt-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.

But LSU administrators reached for comment by The Advocate opted not to disavow the comments.

Yiannopoulos, an editor at right-wing news website Breitbart News, spoke at the LSU Union Theatre on Wednesday night drawing a crowd of more than 900 people. He was on a free-speech tour that is intended to be purposely shocking and offensive as a statement about politically correctness driven by liberals.

On Thursday, while on his self proclaimed "Dangerous F***ot Tour," Yiannopoulos spoke at LSU about the value of "fat shaming" people. He spent more than an hour encouraging the audience to feel free to harass people who are over weight, and criticized liberals for spreading a message that obesity should be socially acceptable.

Our Views: LSUs lesson in free speech As fresh debates over free speech heat up at LSU, maybe its time for everyone to remember t

He also took aim at LGBT people and made jokes about the Black Lives Matter movement.

In an editorial, the Reveille's editor Quint Forgey said while LSU should honor free speech, it isn't prevented from disavowing the harmful message from both Yiannopoulos and a member of the faculty who introduced the speaker.

"The University should publicly denounce Yiannopoulos performance, as well as the words of political science professor Benjamin Acosta, whose introduction called upon the audience to 'resist all the f*cktard liberals,'" Forgey wrote.

"Yiannopoulos and Acosta had every right to say what they said, just like I have every right to rebuke them. The administrators of Louisianas flagship university have not only a right, but a responsibility to rebuke them as well," he said.

Reached for comment, Ernie Ballard, an LSU spokesman, only repeated a previous statement that "providing a venue for the students to hold their event is not an endorsement by the university."

But officials said they would have no further comment on the matter.

Read Forgey's full column here.
It says something about this falls contest for the 2nd Congressional District that the incumbent is already looking to his next election, even though hes being challenged by one of the regions major figures in this one.

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden signed up to run against U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond of New Orleans to represent a district that spans both cities. But Richmond, who has held the seat since 2011, is apparently confident enough in his prospects this November that hes quietly putting together a campaign to be the next chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

BuzzFeed reports that a battle is brewing between Richmond and U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York for the prestigious post. The contest is playing out behind closed doors, and the operatives and members the news site quoted said efforts are underway to avert a public showdown between the two well-liked, up-and-coming politicians. Clarke confirmed that shes launched a preliminary campaign, while Richmond didnt comment, the report says.

That Richmond isnt concerned about the Holden challenge doesnt really call for comment, because its obvious on its face.

Holden, term-limited after 12 years as mayor, qualified to run against Richmond in July but has done almost nothing to show hes serious about it since. If Holden was hoping to be elected as a more attentive advocate for the Baton Rouge part of the district, his low-profile during a rapid-fire series of difficult local challenges  the police shooting of Alton Sterling, the murder of three police officers and the devastating flood  has seriously undermined his case. So have trips to Taiwan and Panama, even as the city is fighting for a federal flood-recovery package.

In fact, Richmond has often been more visible during Baton Rouges summer of crisis than Holden has. Maybe he should thank his opponent for making that part of the campaign so easy.
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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.
Hospital patients in Canberra's north are missing out on vital medical services as the city's second hospital and the ACT government squabble over money.

The bad blood between Calvary Hospital and the ACT government has reached a point where one side has been prepared to call in professional mediators to allow the hospital's owners and the territory's health authority to talk to each other.

The bad blood between Calvary Hospital and the ACT government has reached a point where professional mediators may be called in. Credit:Melissa Adams

But Calvary's owners, the Little Company of Mary, says it has not officially triggered the mediation clause in its service agreement with the ACT government.

Medical insiders fear that patient care will be the big loser, with the north side hospital's owners so concerned they have gone over the heads of ACT Health to appeal directly to Chief Minister Andrew Barr to intervene.
Australia's post-mining boom shift to knowledge-based service work has gathered pace after a mid-year surge in skilled white-collar jobs.

In the three months to August, nearly 76,000 jobs were added in professional, scientific and technical services, Bureau of Statistics figures show.

Jobs growth was also strong in administrative services, education and training and information media and telecommunications.

But traditional blue-collar workers did not fare so well  employment shrank in mining, manufacturing, construction and agriculture in the three months to the end of August.
A rural Viroqua man whose cattle truck jackknifed on a flooded Vernon County road drowned in the trucks cab when he couldnt get out of the rising water, authorities said.

Joseph Menne, 79, tried to get out of the cab of the pickup truck but wasnt able to do so before the water rose almost all the way to the top of the closed windows on the cab, Vernon County Coroner Janet Reed said.

The incident happened on Maple Dale Road, just south of Pierce Hill Road, in the town of Viroqua, the Sheriffs Office said.

Menne was reported missing at about 7 p.m., after leaving his home at about 11 a.m., heading to pick up cattle near Soldiers Grove, about 2 miles away.

It appeared Mr. Menne attempted to drive through a water-covered road, the Sheriffs Office said. The cattle trailer jackknifed, causing the truck and trailer to become stuck in the water.

Reed said the trailer had a water line on it about 7 or 8 feet above the roadway.

There was a huge amount of water coming down that roadway and from the hill to the left of the road, she said.

Mennes death was the second attributed to flooding in Vernon County this week.

Michael McDonald, 53, was killed on Thursday when his home slid down the side of a bluff and onto a highway.
The phrase "sovereign risk" is used liberally in Australian public debate, most often in relation to established industries that may be affected by change in federal and state policy. But few have suffered as much as the still-establishing renewable energy sector, which has had to deal with constant chopping and changing in government thinking since the turn of the century.

This has particularly been the case since the election of the Abbott Coalition government in 2013. With an axe hanging over the renewable energy target and the abolition of the Labor-Greens carbon pricing scheme, there was a 70 per cent decline in clean energy investment.

Transmission transition. Credit:Glenn Campbell

In a welcome development, this is beginning to change. Both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg have strongly backed the existing target, roughly equivalent to 23 per cent of clean energy by 2020, and the long-term growth of the sector. But this should just be the start. Australia's energy system is badly in need of an overhaul. The decentralised system has served the country well, driving the development of the prosperous economy we have enjoyed for generations and now take for granted. But it is a system designed for the last century, and in recent years its limitations have been exposed.

In terms of electricity, nearly half the amount consumers pay on their inflated quarterly bills covers the costs of extraordinary spending on networks over the past decade. Much of this investment was not needed: the poles and wires of the national electricity grid have been gold-plated far beyond what is required to ensure our lights stay on.
Open any newspaper, switch on any television, or mistakenly catch One Nation's Malcolm Roberts saying literally anything to anyone and you'll discover that Australia is living in unstable, divided times.

And it doesn't really have to be so. Indeed, one of the entirely reasonable arguments against holding the marriage equality plebiscite has been that it forcibly politicises an issue about which some people feel very, very passionately and most people until fairly recently didn't especially care.

That's the place. Needs more diprotodons, obviously, but otherwise pretty nice.

And it turns out that the more you demand people to take a side about things that aren't really anything to do with them - anti-bullying programmes for LGBTIQ kids, marriage rights for Australian adults, renewable energy research and so on - the more you get people choosing a side and sticking to it, as though the question of "should Australia respect its human rights obligations?" is of similar factual and moral weight to questions like "Was Cold Chisel Australia's best live band?" or "which sport-squadron will claim victory in the upcoming ball-bout?"

Such subjects have become articles of faith for people on different points on the political spectrum, and those people are unlikely to be swayed, even if the evidence is overwhelming, because once a subject becomes a matter that defines your personality or membership of your social group, there's less of an incentive to question the matter at hand, and a heck of a lot of disincentive to actually change one's mind.
Each evening, their camera work is broadcast into millions of lounge rooms around Australia and the world. However their passion and skill for photography often goes unnoticed.

The people behind the cameras that deliver your nightly news bulletins are as well-versed with the visual world as your average professional photographer. In recognition of this, Still Light, an upcoming exhibition in Sydney will showcase photographs by Australian camera operators.

The Still Light exhibition is raising awareness about the impact of stroke. Credit:Luke Adams

The exhibition aims to draw attention not only to their photographic talent but to the work done by the National Stroke Foundation. On the evening of September 30, the exhibition will be launched with a silent auction with the proceeds donated to the National Stroke Foundation to continue research and to support families affected by strokes.

The collection of work will feature travel photography, landscapes, underwater, street, adventure and extreme sport.
Concerns that Australian surgeons may be running cartels to protect their lucrative private markets will be discussed at a national meeting of health ministers next month.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is also under pressure to investigate potentially anti-competitive behaviour by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons after Fairfax Media revealed fresh concerns about its secretive practices.

Following claims of bullying, professional mobbing and improper examinations for overseas-trained surgeons, NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner and her Victorian counterpart, Jill Hennessy, said they both planned to raise the issue at the Council of Australian Governments' meeting of health ministers on October 7.

"I am always concerned about unfair treatment of health professionals, particularly if it has a negative impact on the patients' ability to access specialist healthcare," Ms Skinner said.
Two years ago, commercial fisherman Christopher George Hansen caught what might be the most expensive rock lobsters ever netted.

The Tasmanian delicacies should have brought him about $200 at market; instead, he will pay close to $100,000 for the three lobsters.

A Southern rock lobster. Sustained commercial fishing can destroy rock lobster populations in marine protected areas, the judge said. Credit:TRLFA

Hansen was this week censured by a Federal Court judge in Canberra for setting his lobster traps in part of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network  a huge collection of protected marine areas that stretches from Tasmania in the south to South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

On April 6, 2014, a marine surveillance aircraft photographed Hansen's fishing boat, Breakwater Bay, in marine national park waters off Hobart. Alarmed at being seen, Hansen "zoomed" out of the protective zone, killed a couple of hours and then returned to collect the pots, the court heard. He was questioned by police later that day.
However, Ms Handsjuk did not die as a result of the impact of her 40 metre fall from the 12th floor entry hatch of the garbage chute. A blade in the garbage compactor at the bottom of the chute almost severed her right foot before the machine ejected her and she bled to death as she tried to find her way out of the darkened, locked room. Phoebe Handsjuk was found dead in the chute at a Melbourne apartment building in 2010.

Coroner Peter White found Ms Handsjuk entered the chute in a "sleepwalking state" under the influence of alcohol and prescription sleeping drug Stilnox, and had no intention to kill herself. However, there were no fingerprints on the hatch near the top of the chute and Ms Handsjuk was found with her jeans around her knees. Coroner White controversially rejected the submission of his counsel assisting, barrister Deborah Siemensma, that an open finding was warranted. Ms Siemensma had argued the evidence did not rule in or rule out third party involvement or suicide. However, Fairfax Media has obtained written advice from one of Melbourne's top QC's, Ross Gillies who told Ms Handsjuk's family that an open finding should have been made. "The Coroner's reconstruction involving Phoebe Handsjuk deliberately placing herself in the chute and endeavouring to climb down, whilst possible, is highly unlikely," Mr Gillies wrote.

Several other senior Melbourne barristers, including other QCs, have privately told Fairfax Media that an open finding was the obvious conclusion to Ms Handsjuk's three week inquest. Phoebe Handsjuk with Antony Hampel. Picture supplied by Richard Baker One of Victoria's most experienced forensic pathologists, Byron Collins, said the presence of unexplained bruises on Ms Handsjuk's body which may have occurred before her fall meant an open finding was the safest outcome. "I don't think that one can disregard the potential of the following injuries to point to some sort of foul play with any degree of ease, " Dr Collins said. His view is supported by the Queensland forensic pathologist, Professor Peter Ellis, who advised Ms Handsjuk's family in a report that bruises on her right upper arm "do support the application of fingertips to the inside of the arm, most often seen in the forceful holding of the arm".

Dr Collins, who reviewed forensic evidence in Ms Handsjuk's case for Fairfax Media, also questioned the basis for Coroner White's finding that she had been able to deliberately control her descent. "I don't think that one can say with any degree of certainty whether the fall was free or was impeded by some effort to perhaps press her arms against the side of the chute to slow her fall," he said. Transcripts from Ms Handsjuk's inquest show Coroner White was told by Matthew Lynch, the forensic pathologist who conducted Ms Handsjuk's autopsy, that he had "no view" about whether she had slowed her fall. Dr Lynch also told Coroner White that he could not rule out bruises on Ms Handsjuk's upper body being caused by another incident prior to her entering the garbage chute. Former Victoria Police homicide squad senior sergeant Rowland Legg reviewed aspects of Ms Handsjuk's case for Fairfax Media and said he was unable to reach a conclusion as to the circumstances of her death.

"I wouldn't be able to satisfy myself that it was suicide, third party involvement - and, there's always that other possibility too that Phoebe was affected by something that caused her not to know what she was doing," Mr Legg said. Phoebe Handsjuk with her brothers Nikolai (left) and Thomas and her mother Natalie. Ms Handsjuk's family considered lodging an appeal but were advised by Mr Gillies that the laws in Victoria for challenging a coroner's finding were narrow, and the costs of making an unsuccessful attempt at Supreme Court action could be extremely high. Ian Freckelton QC, a barrister who sits on the Victorian Government's Coronial Council, told Fairfax Media that, as the system currently stands, costs could be awarded against people who challenged a finding, even if they had a good case. Dr Freckleton said the challenges to a coroner's finding would only be considered if a coroner had made an error of law. An appeal based on how much weight a coroner gave to a fact or evidence would not be permitted under current laws, he said.
A graphic designer from Ballarat in Victoria has come up with an alternative to the Turnbull government's plebiscite on same-sex marriage - McDonald's chicken nuggets.

James Raynes has crunched the numbers on holding a nation-wide vote on gay marriage and reckons for the same price - $200,000,000 - we could send everybody in the country 12 chicken nuggets.

That's quite a Macca's run, but Mr Raynes said doing that makes more sense than the plebiscite, and he's produced a series of illustrations and posted them to Facebook to spread his message.

"I can understand why the idea of a plebiscite has some superficial appeal for many voters, but when you consider both the cost involved and the fact that any result wouldn't be binding on the Liberal Party, what's the point?" Mr Raynes said.
Tiahleigh Palmer's biological mother has called for her daughter's death not to be in vain, in her first major public statement in months.

Cindy Palmer thanked police for their "tireless" work throughout the 11-month investigation into her daughter's alleged murder, saying the time had come to get "justice for Tiahleigh".

"My other three children will now grow up without their sister and she will forever be an angel," Ms Palmer said.
A widely condemned film by a key player in the anti-vaccination movement has been dumped from a Castlemaine festival after intense public and political opposition to what would have been its Australian premiere.

Organisers have blamed a "campaign of highly co-ordinated abuse and intimidation" for their decision to dump "Vaxxed: from cover up to catastrophe" from the Castlemaine Local and International Film Festival.

Vaxxed, was due to screen at the Castelmaine's historic Theatre Royal. Credit:Pat Scala

CLIFF felt "personally and professionally threatened," an organiser stated in a Facebook post on Thursday night.

"It is a sad reflection on the state of Australian democracy that legitimate questions cannot be raised in a public forum without inciting a campaign of ill-informed and dishonest intimidation," the post read.
It wasn't so much a case of follow the money as follow the files. Whenever any of the state's 13,000 officers accesses a sensitive database or print a confidential document, they leave a digital fingerprint. Soon, anti-corruption investigators began to focus on a computer at the Criminal Investigation Unit of a bustling inner city police station. The activities of the alleged criminals targeted in the April nightclub raids provided other leads. An ex-cop loomed as the potential link between a suspect detective at the inner city station and the nightclub targets. There are dozens of ex-police working in the security industry across Victoria, mostly doing an honest job as private eyes or investigators for insurers. It's a job where hard-to-find information is an incredibly valuable commodity. The temptation to reach back into the police force, where an ex-detective may have trusted mates, is immense. One of the criminal figures involved in the Two Floors Up nightclub is understood to have been offering $1000 per time for officers to check on the police database. It's easy money for those willing to take a risk that could not only cost them their job but land them in jail. Corruption investigations often have a way of unexpectedly expanding. In this case, the detective under suspicion for leaking information soon led anti-corruption officers to a small number of his colleagues busy arranging a coppers' night out.

A decade ago, this might have involved a plan to drink too many beers at a suburban pub. But on this occasion, a well placed source told Fairfax Media that a detective arranged to acquire "some powders". The use of illicit drugs, including cocaine and methylamphetamine, is emerging as a major concern for force command, especially given the potential dangers that could arise when drug affected officers have access to semi-automatic pistols. Then police commissioner Ken Lay said in 2013: "We know these drugs can do strange things with people's behaviours. We are putting our people out on the street with an array of dangerous weapons. It is imperative they are drug free". This concern has led to education campaigns and targeted drug testing. Members suspected to be using illicit substances are now being subjected to drug tests. The numbers are still relatively small, but more and more police are failing these drug tests. In some ways this is unsurprising, given that drug use is so prevalent in the general community.

When they knock off, some younger police are inevitably going to sporting or night clubs, pubs, festivals and gyms where steroid or party drug culture is entrenched. Policing is also incredibly stressful work and some officers will inevitably use drugs as an escape, just as many people use alcohol to deal with pressure. The anti-corruption probe sparked by the nightclub raids appears to have identified a small number of officers suspected to have indulged in some of the "powders" being spoken about. On August 17, five months after the leak investigation was launched, anti-corruption detectives raided several homes across Melbourne and seized a computer from the inner city police station. They also ordered a small number of detectives to undergo drug tests. After Fairfax Media questioned the force on the operation this week, a spokesman confirmed that three detectives and a uniform officer had been suspended. An ex-cop from the private security industry was also arrested and questioned. "The arrests and searches relate to a protracted investigation into the improper release of police information to people not entitled to be in possession of such information, including criminals," the spokesman said.
MADRID  A Spanish court has convicted and fined an American mining company executive and two other people for environmental offenses committed by a Spanish copper mining firm.

The southern Seville court said Thursday that Bill Williams, former water director at the Cobre Las Cruces open pit mine, and two others, had been fined 2,700 euros ($3,000) each for mismanaging and polluting a public drinking water aquifer with arsenic from 2005 to 2008.

They were also given one-year suspended prison sentences. The company was ordered to pay almost 300,000 euros ($337,000) compensation. The Sept. 12 trial and verdict ended an eight-year battle by Spanish environmental group Ecologists in Action.

Williams is president of the Florida-based Gogebic Taconite iron mining company. The company had sought to build a controversial iron mine in northern Wisconsin but pulled out in 2015 after determining the project wasn't feasible.

The Spanish company's environmental director and a former CEO were also convicted.
Twenty Victorian teachers have been found guilty of sexual crimes over the past two years and barred from working in schools.

And in the past decade, 66 teachers have been found guilty of sexual offences, while many others have been suspended following charges.

Twenty Victorian teachers have been found guilty of sexual offences over the past two years. Credit:Eamon Gallagher

Victims have spoken out in the wake of a state parliamentary inquiry and the ongoing Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, leading to fresh investigations.

Last financial year, 10 teachers found guilty of sexual offences were deregistered and a further five teachers were suspended following charges, according to Victorian Institute of Teaching records.
Jakarta: A third Australian expert has testified there is no evidence to suggest the death of a woman allegedly murdered by an Australian permanent resident was caused by cyanide poisoning.

In a case that has transfixed the nation and become an endless source of gossip, prosecutors claim Jessica Kumala Wongso spiked the Vietnamese iced coffee of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin at an upmarket Jakarta shopping mall in January.

Murder charge: Jessica Kumala Wongso at the Central Jakarta District Court in Indonesia in June. Credit:AP

However, Victorian forensic pathologist Dr Richard Byron Collins said a report by an Indonesian toxicologist found no cyanide in Ms Salihin's gastric fluid 70 minutes after her death.

Tests for cyanide in her bile, liver and urine also came back negative.
Senator Ted Cruz, who endured catcalls at the GOP convention for pointedly withholding an endorsement of Donald Trump, executed a perfect backflip on Friday.

"After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," he posted on Facebook. He cited two main reasons. "Last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word. Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable - that's why I have always been #NeverHillary."

Profile in cowardice: Senator Ted Cruz and the Republican Party. Credit:AP

News spread earlier in the afternoon that Cruz would soon throw his support to the nominee who taunted him as "Lyin' Ted" throughout the primaries, linked his dad to the John F. Kennedy assassination, and tweeted unflattering photos of Cruz's wife. Politico cited sources close to Cruz, as did CNN.

Earlier on Friday, Trump added Utah Senator Mike Lee - Cruz's closely friend and ally in the Senate - to an expanded list of 21 potential Supreme Court nominees. That may have helped seal a deal.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
GAYS MILLS  Billy Heisz stood in front of his sisters house on Highway 131 in Gays Mills late Thursday and saw nothing but water from the flooding Kickapoo River surrounding the property as well most of the older part of the village.

There was no water on the property at 6 a.m, but by 6:30 it was all the way out to the highway, Heisz said. It was quick and its a problem.

That scenario played out throughout much of western Wisconsin Thursday  with some catastrophic results  due to heavy rainfall earlier in the week on already saturated ground that led to flash flooding, mudslides and road washouts.

With more rain in the forecast, authorities are concerned that this flood will be worse than the ones that wrecked havoc around the area in 2007 and 2008.

Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in 13 counties  Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau and Vernon  after authorities said anywhere from five to nine inches of rain fell in the area this week. Flash flood watches and flood warnings continued throughout the region late Thursday.

In Vernon County near Victory, Michael McDonald, 53, was killed around 5 a.m. Thursday while inside his home that was pushed off its footings by mud from the heavy rain and slid down a bluff and onto Highway 35, which runs along the Mississippi River, the Vernon County Sheriffs Office said.

Less than two hours later, a Burlington Northern train derailed from an apparent track washout along Highway 35 in Crawford County near Ferryville, about 25 miles north of Prairie du Chien, according to BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth.

About 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from a ruptured fuel tank from one of two locomotives that derailed and some of it reached the Mississippi River, McBeth said.

Trucks and trailers that carried heavy equipment were parked for long stretches along Highway 35 as dozens of crews from BNSF and elsewhere began rebuilding the washed out area and placed containment and absorbent booms at the site to capture spilled diesel fuel.

Five railroad cars also derailed, including two empty tank cars  one that last carried ethanol and the other that last carried vegetable oil  and three cars loaded with wallboard, McBeth said.

BNSF hoped to have tracks reopened late Friday afternoon, she said.

All along Highway 35 and in Richland, Crawford and Vernon counties, crews put snowplows back on their trucks to clear multiple mudslides  caused when saturated ground liquefies  that led to the closure of dozens of roads and one car crash involving a Richland County Sheriffs deputy racing to a call in Viola, according to Richland County Deputy Sheriff Chad Kanable. The deputy was not injured and the car sustained just minor damage, Kanable said.

Many more roads were closed on Thursday because they were covered with flood waters and made it impossible to reach some villages and towns like Hub City, Yuba, Rockbridge and Woodstock in Richland County and Viola, located in Richland and Vernon counties, according to Pat Metz, Richland County director of Health and Human Services.

It also caused long detours. Patrick Schwingle, who was filling sandbags at the Richland Center Community Center to fill a sinkhole at the church where he works in Richland Center, said that a trucker needed two hours and 20 minutes to make the usually short drive from La Farge to Richland Center.

The Pine River was already two to three feet above flood stage in Viola and was expected to continue rising, Metz said. About 300 homes have already been affected by the flood waters, which were expected to rise to four to five feet above flood stage in Richland Center, he said. Richland Center is protected by a dike but it still could see some damage, especially due to flooded basements, he said.

This flood has the potential to create more damage in Richland Center than both the 2007 and 2008 floods if more rain covers the area over the next several days, Metz said. The 2008 flood caused an estimated $763 million in damage.

The floods in 2007 and 08 were caused by nearly 20 inches of rain that hit the area over a short period of days, while this years flood has been caused by long periods of heavy rain, Metz said.

"This is the third 100-year flood I've had to deal with," he said. "This time our soil is so saturated that there is no place for the water to go. It fills up faster and moves faster. If we get another five or six inches of rain, this will be really bad."

Late Thursday, Highway 56 east of Viola, Highway 131 at Viola and Highway 80, Rockbridge to Hub City remained closed, according to the Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center.

In Vernon County, Highway 35 was closed at Highway UU near Victory, where the house slid onto the highway, as was Highway 131 at Viola and LaFarge where it meets Highway 56 and Highway 162 at Chaseburg, the Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center said.

In Crawford County, parts of Highway 131 were closed near Soldiers Grove and Gays Mills, and Highway 171 was closed in and east of Gays Mills. Water also was creeping over the road on parts of Highway B where farmers were herding cattle to safety from spots isolated by flooding and dozens of acres of corn and soybeans were flattened by the floods.

Also, in Crawford and Sauk counties, state Department of Corrections inmates filled sandbags for use in flooded areas, according to the Emergency Operations Center.

Back in Gays Mills, the annual Applefest celebration scheduled for this weekend was pushed back two weeks to allow for cleanup from the flooding.

Fortunately, most Gays Mills residents have left the flood plain for homes built nearby on higher ground. But Heisz's sister, Jessie Cooper, of Lauderdale Lake, has maintained a summer home several yards from the Kickapoo River banks.

Standing on the edge of the flooded waters, Heisz said he was told the Kickapoo was supposed to reach six feet above flood stage sometime Saturday. That would mean the entire first floor of his sister's home will be flooded.

"We're hoping it recedes some more before it gets worse so we can save everything that's valuable," he said.

The La Crosse Tribune contributed to this report.
Hospital offers safe option to dispose of meds, narcotics Los Robles Health System is working to crush the opioid drug crisis by raising awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. Crush the Crisis will take place...

Alzheimers Foundation to host free conference The Alzheimers Foundation of America will host a free virtual educational conference from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tues., Nov. 15. The event is part of the foundations 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open...

Authorities warn about rainbow fentanyl Victims often arent aware theyre taking it

The Ventura County Office of Education and state health officials have issued a warning to schools and families about rainbow fentanyl, a form of the potentially fatal synthetic opioid that comes in bright colors. Rainbow fentanyl can be found in...

Cancer support community to host remembrance event Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara invites family members and friends of those who have died from cancer to attend the second annual Evening of Remembrance from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Nov. 3 at Cancer Support Communitys Garden of Hope,...
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steinbach is going to be visited today by 42 Ukrainian musicians who are currently travelling across Canada as part of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

The group will offer two performances, both acoustic concerts including sacred classics, with one show at 2 p.m. and another at 7 p.m.

The concerts, to be held at Steinbach Mennonite Brethren Church, is free. A freewill offering will be taken to support the ministries of Music Mission Ukraine Canada.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,061 branches and 3,381 automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada, and 1,148 stores and 2,701 ATMs in the United States, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. It has a strategic alliance with Canada Post Corporation. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
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Farmers in parts of western Wisconsin are adjusting their outlook for the 2016 harvest because of floods and mudslides that are threatening to ruin the quality and quantity of once-promising corn and soybean crops.

If you are a farmer in the valleys and where there are mudslides, you are basically in hell right now, said Vance Haugen, the agriculture agent for the UW-Extension in Crawford County.

There have been two weather-related deaths in Vernon County, where officials put damage to roads and bridges at between $2 million and $3 million. Flood warnings continue there as well as in Crawford and Richland counties due to heavy rainfall earlier this week on already saturated ground. The latest fatality was Joseph Menne, 79, of rural Viroqua, who drowned Thursday after his cattle truck jackknifed on a flooded road in Vernon County and he couldnt get out of the cab in the rising water, the Vernon County Sheriffs Office said.

While residents of towns and villages affected by the flood can begin cleanup operations as soon as the water recedes from the many rivers and streams that are expected to crest Saturday in western Wisconsin, farmers with fields covered in water or mud may have to wait until the ground freezes before they can harvest whatever is in them, Haugen said.

Farmers are getting psychologically worn down, Haugen said. Were in the middle of corn silage harvest and the quality (of the silage used for animal feed) goes down the longer you take to harvest it. And if you go into the fields too soon with your machinery you can squash the soil structure and it can take years  sometimes decades  to repair some of that damaged soil.

Before the flood, farmers in western Wisconsin were in lock-step with the rest of the state and looking at the potential of a record-setting harvest after a near-perfect growing season. All signs pointed to a high-quality and high-quantity harvest.

But corn is already showing signs of reduced quality in wet areas, Haugen said. With reports that sprouts are popping out of corn cobs still attached to the stalks and mold also becoming a problem, farmers are worried that the quality of their corn will dip so low that it wont meet the standards required to make ethanol, he said.

Corn stalks are also weakening in some areas and that will lead to machinery breakdowns during harvest, according to Adam Hady, the ag agent for the UW Extension in Richland County. The crops were so beautiful and a lot of guys went from believing that this was going to be one of the best harvests ever to wondering if theyll even get into their fields for the harvest, Hady said.

Prices for corn futures have not risen due to the flooding because it has occurred in a regionalized area and a bountiful harvest is still expected in most grain-producing states, analysts say. So now theyre going to get poor prices with less of a crop. Thats tough to take, Haugen said.

The forecast for western Wisconsin calls for more rain Saturday night and Sunday in advance of, and along, a cold front that will bring cooler temperatures to the area next week, according to a report from the National Weather Service office in La Crosse.

Models show that storms will move through the area more quickly than in recent weeks but could dump from  inch to 1 inch of rain. Given how incredibly wet we already are with ongoing flooding in many areas, (we) have to be concerned about any additional water, the report said. Any rain that occurs will simply run off and may cause additional rises on streams and rivers and also slow some river crests, especially if some spots happen to pick up in excess of an inch.

There is another chance of rain Sunday night and into Monday, followed by a dry spell that could last through the end of the week, the report said.

As of Friday evening, Vernon County officials were reporting that about 60 roads were either closed or partially closed due to high water. That included Highway 35 near Victory, where Michael McDonald, 53, died Thursday morning when a mudslide sent his home down a bluff and onto the highway. Two other vehicles were struck by mudslide debris on the highway in the same area and one person suffered minor injuries, according to the state Emergency Operations Center.

In Crawford County, crews from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and elsewhere were repairing tracks alongside Highway 35 where an apparent washout caused two locomotives and five railroad cars to derail near Ferryville. Roads also were closed in and around Gays Mills, Soldiers Grove and Steuben.

In Richland County, preliminary reports showed one house destroyed and three with major damage due to the floods, and 40 other homes reported minor damage, according to the Emergency Operations Center. Damage to homes was estimated at $300,000. Roads were closed around Viola and Rockbridge.

In Columbia County, Highway 127 between Portage and Wisconsin Dells remained closed and a flood warning continued for the Wisconsin River at Portage.

Elsewhere in the state, the Canadian National railroad had 50 feet of track washed out in Stanley and 150 feet of track was washed out in town of Wheaton in Chippewa County. Seventy roads were closed in Clark County.
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.
September 16-22, 2016

Weve got some pretty stellar royal jewels on display this week  dont forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!

Photo: NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/AFP/Getty Images

10. In Brussels, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians attended Car Free Sunday with her family. She wore disc-shaped earrings for the event.





Photo: ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images

9. Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands wore floral earrings, a beaded necklace, and a glittering ring on Thursday at a human trafficking conference in The Hague.

Photo: BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP/Getty Images

8. At the Clinton Global Initiative in New York on Monday, Queen Rania of Jordan wore a modern pair of stud earrings with a radiating back piece.

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Global Goals

7. Rania wore a pair of silver-toned pendant earrings on Tuesday for the Global Goals Awards Dinner in New York.

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Global Goals

6. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden also attended the Global Goals Awards Dinner; she wore a modern suite of silver jewelry for the occasion. The circular pin on her blouse is the logo of the Global Goals.

Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

5. In Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom attended church on Sunday wearing her usual pearls, plus her golden Peranakan-style brooch.

Photo: VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

4. Princess Caroline of Monaco attended a new exhibition at one of the principalitys museums on Thursday, wearing a pair of major statement earrings and a necklace with a cross pendant.

Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for World Childhood Foundation

3. For the Thank You Gala in New York on Friday, Princess Madeleine of Sweden wore a stunning pair of modern baroque pearl earrings. ( See jewel close-ups over here!

Photo: KOEN VAN WEEL/AFP/Getty Images

2. At the opening of the Dutch parliament this week, Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands wore a borrowed pair of chandelier earrings and a major insect brooch. ( More pictures and details from the event over here!

Photo: SANDER KONING/AFP/Getty Images

1. Nobody could top Queen Maxima of the Netherlandss jewels this week; she wore major diamonds and sapphires on her ears and at her waist on Prinsjesdag. ( See close-ups over here!
A Silicon Valley titan is putting money behind an unofficial Donald Trump group dedicated to shitposting and circulating internet memes maligning Hillary Clinton.

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey financially backed a pro-Trump political organization called Nimble America, a self-described social welfare 501(c)4 non-profit in support of the Republican nominee.

Luckey sold his virtual reality company Oculus to Facebook for $2 billion in 2014, and Forbes estimates his current net worth to be $700 million. The 24-year-old told The Daily Beast that he had used the pseudonym NimbleRichMan on Reddit with a password given to him by the organizations founders.

Nimble America says its dedicated to proving that shitposting is powerful and meme magic is real, according to the companys introductory statement, and has taken credit for a billboard its founders say was posted outside of Pittsburgh with a cartoonishly large image of Clintons face alongside the words Too Big to Jail.

We conquered Reddit and drive narrative on social media, conquered the [mainstream media], now its time to get our most delicious memes in front of Americans whether they like it or not, a representative for the group wrote in an introductory post on Reddit.

Potential donors from Donald Trumps biggest online communityReddits r/The_Donald, where one of the rules is no dissentersturned on the organization this weekend, refusing to believe NimbleRichMan was the anonymous near-billionaire he claimed to be and causing a rift on one of the alt-rights most powerful organizational tools.

Luckey insists hes just the groups money mana wealthy booster who thought the meddlesome idea was funny. But he is also listed as the vice president of the group on its website.

Its something that no campaign is going to run, Luckey said of the proposed billboards for the project.

Ive got plenty of money, Luckey added. Money is not my issue. I thought it sounded like a real jolly good time.

But in another post written under Luckeys Reddit pseudonym, there are echoes of a similar tech billionaire, Peter Thiel, who used his deep pockets to secretly fund a campaign against Gawker.

The American Revolution was funded by wealthy individuals, NimbleRichMan wrote on Saturday. Luckey confirmed to The Daily Beast he penned the posts under his Reddit pseudonym. The same has been true of many movements for freedom in history. You cant fight the American elite without serious firepower. They will outspend you and destroy you by any and all means.

Before becoming directly involved in the process, Luckey met the man who would serve as the liaison for the nascent political action group, and provide legitimacy to a Reddit audience for later donations without having to reveal Luckeys identity: Breitbart tech editor and Trump booster Milo Yiannopoulos. The bleached-blonde political agitator is most notable for being permanently suspended from Twitter for harassment after a series of abusive messages to actress Leslie Jones.

Luckey first met the alt-right provocateur in Los Angeles about a year and a half ago, before Yiannopoulos began working on a charity to send white men to college. The Daily Beast later reported that the scholarship fund had resulted in zero financial distribution of the donations that had been made directly to Yiannopouloss bank account.

I came into touch with them over Facebook, Luckey said of the band of trolls behind the operation. It went along the lines of hey, I have a bunch of money. I would love to see more of this stuff. They wanted to build buzz and do fundraising.

And thats when the trouble began.

Along with Luckey, Nimble America was founded by two moderators of Reddits r/The_Donald, which helped popularize Trump-themed white supremacist and anti-Semitic memes along with 4Chan and 8Chan. A questionnaire to become a moderator at r/The_Donald posted in March had applicants answer the questions Is there a difference between white nationalism and white supremacy? and Was 9/11 an inside job?

On Saturday, the organization held a fundraising drive on r/The_Donald, stating that all donations to Nimble Americas website or its boost.com fundraising site would be matched by Luckey within 48 hours. This sparked a heated exchange on the site as various users expressed concern about making financial contributions to something that wasnt the official Trump campaign site. (Some even speculated that this was an undercover operation orchestrated by the Clinton campaign.)

Stop trying to monetize this community. Stop trying to make anything official. Stop trying to make this more than what it is. Youre becoming too self-important, wrote IncomingTrump720 in the highest ranked reply to a post called About what happened tonight.

Nimble America boosters swore that there was an anonymous near-billionaire backing the effort. Redditors immediately doubted the money man was real.

Anonymous obscenely wealthy donors are shady as fuck, Trump720 added. The user then posted alleged transcripts of the communitys moderators that purport anyone questioning the legitimacy of the fundraising posts was immediately banned from the subreddit. (Moderators did not respond to requests to confirm the veracity of the transcripts from The Daily Beast at press time.)

Despite vouching for the validity of the organization, not even Yiannopouloss word was taken at face value. Now Luckey, the money man behind this effort, is waiting to see what comes of his investment.

Im not going to keep throwing money after something if I dont see any results, Luckey said after suggesting that the fundraising push was not a good idea. I think these guys are pretty legit. The sums of money are so small, I dont think theyre out to scam anybody. If they disappear with the money, I wouldnt throw any more money at them.

No one within the group answered how much money the group currently has on hand. And without an official accounting with the Federal Election Commission, theres no way for the public to know.

Prior to our launch, we raised over $11,000 in order to launch Nimble America, Dustin Ward, a moderator at r/The_Donald and one of Nimble Americas founders, told The Daily Beast. He said that most of the money had gone toward securing the services of our Nimble attorneys, and that they have in-kind pledges from our donors to be used on the ads and events were planning.

The group filled out paperwork for an Article of Incorporation for Nimble America Inc in Wisconsin and, according to the documents on their own website (PDF), only paid $60 for this service. The lawyer whose name is on the document, Mike B. Wittenwyler, confirmed that he had signed it, but did not answer further questions about payments.

A financial statement document available on Nimble Americas accounts for $9,333 in spending for Facebook ads, billboards and website ops. The last transaction occurred on Aug. 21.

Luckey said that the group had already put up a billboard, which according to their website was placed on a digital display near Pittsburgh. Other details about it are not entirely clear.

Ward said Were purchasing billboard space near the site of the first debate, to run simultaneously and promote a candidate we feel represents our interests.

According to Paul Ryan, deputy executive director of the The Campaign Legal Center, Nimble America can still exist as a 501(c)(4) so long as it does other things besides supporting Trump.

Federal tax law prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from spending any money to intervene in (i.e., influence) a candidate election, Ryan said in an email to The Daily Beast. By contrast, federal tax law permits 501(c)(4) organizations to spend money advocating the election or defeat of candidates, so long as such activity isnt the 501(c)(4) organizations primary activity. And for any group that DOES have candidate advocacy as its primary activity, the appropriate tax exempt status is under Section 527 of the tax code.

So Nimble America is allowed to do what its doing up to a certain point.

The group knows that it can do some candidate election work, but that such work cant be its primary activityi.e., it has to spend more than half of its budget on non-candidate-election work, Ryan told The Daily Beast when provided documentation about the organization.

However, its not clear whether or not the budget would be used for such purposes.

Luckeys LinkedIn profile currently lists him as the founder of Oculus VR. Facebook did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

During the reporting of this article, posts pertaining to Nimble America were rapidly being deleted across Reddit.

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey posted a statement on his Facebook page late Friday night admitting to donating $10,000 to pro-Trump shitposting organization Nimble America, after a Daily Beast article revealed his involvement in the group on Thursday.

In his statement, Luckey denied using the Reddit pseudonym NimbleRichMan to post anonymously about the group. But emails to The Daily Beasts Gideon Resnick from earlier this week reveal Palmer admitting he made the post under the name and he posted the body himself. Those emails are provided in the Tweet below.

Repeated requests to Facebook for comment have gone unreturned.

In a later exchange, Luckey also said that the "NimbleRichMan" account "represents" him.

Editors Note: A previous headline referred to Luckey as a billionaire.

This story initially stated that Luckey isnt employed with Facebook. His LinkedIn currently lists him as Founder of Oculus VR, which is owned by Facebook. Facebook did not comment when asked about his employment status prior to the publishing of the article.
The North Carolina man charged with murdering a protester on Wednesday was arrested early Friday morning.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Kerr Putney announced at a press conference that the departments Violent Criminal Apprehension Team arrested Rayquan Jamal Borum, 21, about 6:30 a.m. on a first-degree murder charge for allegedly killing Justin Carr, 26. Hes currently in the Mecklenburg County Jail on the murder charge and another pending weapons charge.

Our crime scene investigators and homicide detectives were able to use a lot of footage, Putney said, adding that cameras on scene caught evidence on video. Currently we are still conducting the interviews as the investigation continues, but we already have established probable cause and made that arrest.

The homicide, which took place amid riots over the police shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, was witnessed by The Daily Beasts on-scene reporter, Ryan James.

Borum has a long criminal history, according to public records, with previous charges of breaking and/or entering with force, larceny, possession of stolen goods, and resisting a police officer. He was reportedly charged in 2013 with possession of marijuana, possession or transfer of a firearm by a convicted felon, and carrying a pistol without a license.

On social media, Borum went by pistol quan, with the nickname emblazoned on t-shirts, as seen in Facebook photos. In a Facebook video posted on July 4, Borum pans over a spread of firearms displayed on his bed.

Got that hundred round on that bitch, he says while lifting up a machine pistol.

On Wednesday night, Borum presumably used one of those same guns to allegedly fire in Carrs direction around 8:30 p.m., fatally striking him in the head. The shooter held his pistol steady before fleeing the area.

Carr remained in critical condition for fewer than 24 hours before he was finally pronounced dead at the Carolinas Medical Center.

On Thursday morning, Justin Carrs mother, Ann Carr, wrote on Facebook that she felt numb.

She wrote, As I lay by his side and Praying real hard because my baby is fighting for his Life! ...My baby was shot in the head for no apparent reason! I don't know who did this but Lord please bring my baby through this.

A makeshift memorial of candles and flowers remained at the site of Carrs shooting on Thursday night, after he slipped away.
Fifteen months into a campaign of anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiment, Donald Trumps campaign has begun to make quiet attempts to make amends with the American Muslim community.

In September, representatives from his campaign reached out to mosques in Illinois and Virginia, Muslim community leaders tell The Daily Beast, with hopes of speaking to their congregations. They said no to the photo-opbut said they remain in negotiations with the campaign to meet with him privately.

Muslim leaders have every right to be skeptical of the mogul who less than one year ago suggested a total ban of Muslim immigrants into America. The ban, in one iterationeven included U.S. citizens. He has since prayed on the fears of terrorism, frequently using attacks on the United States to whip up anti-Muslim sentiment.

Earlier this month, Stephanie Holderfield, the Illinois State Director for the Trump campaign, reached out to the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, Ill. She was interested in whether Trump could appear publicly before their congregation on Sept. 12, says the mosques president, Oussama Jammal. The day was during Eid-al-Adha, a major Islamic celebration, when 20,000 American Muslim would gather at a stadium to pray in the morning.

Its leaders rejected the idea outright, both because it was an Islamic holiday and because they didnt want to give Trump a stage, but said they were open to a private meeting between local Muslim leaders and the Republican nominee.

Our religion teaches us that if someone is willing to come forward for peace, you should come forward as well. Ignorance can lead to animosity. So if you can come together then we should, Jammal said.

Holderfield asked instead if she could join their breakfast reception preceding Eid-al-Adha prayers. The mosque agreed, and she attended along with other local politiciansBridgewater Mayor Steven Landek, state Rep. Andre Thapedi and U.S. Congressman Dan Lipinskiand continued conversations about the mosque hosting Trump at some point.

We are still in negotiations to have a meeting with Mr. Trump, Jammal said. We talked about having a meeting with Donald Trump, and she said she is working on it, and we will be trying to clarify his positions on the Muslim community.

Reached by phone, Holderfield declined to comment. The Trump campaigns press office did not respond to a request for comment.

The Trump campaign has also reached out to a mosque in Virginia, said Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Awad said he was in touch with this mosque, he said, but declined to name it because of concerns that it could be targeted in some way.

While Awad accused Trump of being a bigot and threat to world peace, he said he reluctantly agreed that the American Muslim community needed to engage with the Republican nominee.

We engage people who make hostile statements. Its our duty to engage and reach them and make sure they have accurate and balanced information, he told The Daily Beast. Is he going to be president of all Americans? In that sense I reluctantly say that people have to engage and talk to him.

The Trump campaigns community outreach arm has been working the Republican Muslim Coalition, a small group of GOP Muslims, to interface with the American Muslim community. Saba Ahmed, who runs the group, insists that the community is increasingly open to voting for Trump.

People are concerned about the Muslim ban, but they also know that it is unconstitutional and will never become law, Ahmed argued. Hes just concerned about extreme vetting of anyone who is coming into this country people want to see a strong leader, and he does seem very concerned with national security.

The attempts to have Trump appear before a American Muslim audience come at a time where Trump has slightly softened his stance on the issuehe says he no longer favors an absolute ban based on religion, just a ban on immigration from certain countries.

And now it appears he wants to erase the issue as much as he can before Election Day, much like his attempt to wipe his birther campaign from history. By changing his position so many times on so many issues, hes muddied the waters so much its hard to know exactly where he stands.

As you can see, Im not very excited about a meeting between the American Muslim community and Trump, said Awad, the head of CAIR. Trump has proven himself to be a bigot. He is not ignoranthe is using ignorance to create fear and bigotry towards Muslims.
Sophia* has a cascade of dark curls and Cupids-bow lips that impose happiness on her whole face regardless of what shes saying. Even when, in an empty classroom, the 15-year-old goes over a bleak list of options for surviving one of the most dangerous parts of growing up in El Salvador: school.

The problems began when she was 13. A gang member in her school instructed Sophia to pass drugs to another student, which she refused to do. Then he started asking her for money, then to go out with him and his friends. After school, they would be waiting for her. She told the principal and he told her parents to pull her out of school. So she moved out of her house and into her grandfathers, which is closer to her new school she started in February, placed back in seventh grade. Going home is unsafe, so she doesnt visit much.

Sophia plans to be the first in her family of 10 to attend university. There, shell study English or French. But first she has to slough through the dangers that come with attending school in El Salvador, where gangs may operate within a quarter of schools. Or, shell be pushed out by threats and intimidation like tens of thousands of children each year. She has an alternative plan, too: an aunt in Houston, who would take her in if she could make the harrowing and illegal journey from El Salvador.

Violence, and particularly sexual violence, is one of the strongest factors motivating a growing migration of El Salvadors girls to escape through Guatemala and Mexico into the United States. Last year, the number of Central American children caught in Mexico was 55 percent higher than 2014 and 270 percent higher than 2013. Many of them are just like Sophia. She lives in Ciudad Delgado, one of the most dangerous municipalities in San Salvador, the traffic-clogged capital of El Salvador, which itself is the most violent country outside of a war zone. This year, the country displaced Honduras as the worlds murder capital.

Sophia doesnt speak bluntly about the dangers she faces as a young woman, but the statistics do. El Salvador has the highest homicide rate of women and girls in the world. More than half of Salvadoran women report suffering from a form of violence during their life. Gangs use rape and sexual assault as initiation rituals and tools to keep control of their neighborhoods. If a girl refuses to go out with a gang member its not uncommon for her to be executed or disappeared. If a gang member missteps, the rape and murder of his wife or sister might be doled out as punishment.

On winding roads across the city and country, guards in neat uniforms and shotguns slung over their shoulders linger outside nearly every doorway. Twenty-five years after a peace accord ended a vicious civil war, during which death squads disappeared tens of thousands of people, the country is more dangerous than ever. Gangs that formed in exile in Los Angeleslike Barrio 18 and its rival Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13returned to the country and carved it up into territories. Few Salvadorans today are untouched by gang extortions called la renta, or the violence that claimed one homicide per hour during the first three months of 2016.

This violence disproportionately affects El Salvadors kids.

During recess at Sophias new school, the schools director, Jose Solis, cracks jokes with the children lining up at the courtyard snack stand. Girls jump rope, and boys run their hands under a faucet, smoothing their hair down with the water. This school, he says, is a safe place for the students. The difficulty is keeping them in it. The year started with 350 students, but theyre already down to 288. They were threatened, he says of the dropouts, and theres not much he can do about it. The teachers watch as the students walk home, but only until theyre out of sight. Here, thank God, we havent had any problems because there are no gangs inside, he says. Only their fans who write graffiti in the bathroom.

But in August, just a few weeks before we met, someone found Sophias phone number on Facebook and started texting her, demanding she send them naked photos or theyd hurt her family. The harassment got so bad she stayed out of school for a week. Her dad told her to tell her teachers shed been sick. But really shed been reading and watching TV at home, nervous that someone was watching her. She deleted her Facebook account.

I dont have many friends here, Sophia says. I dont trust anyone because if I tell them something they might tell the gangs.

Sophia says her two relatives are considering splitting the cost of a coyote to smuggle her to America. The rate has been rising rapidly as the border has militarized. Today, it can cost $7,000 for one attempt, and up to $20,000 for three. Being caught and sent back to El Salvador can be deadly. If the gangs find attempted deserters, theyre killed.

To social worker Yaneth Alvarado, Sophia hits the all the markers for someone at risk of stopping her education: shes too old for her grade and has been forced to miss long stretches of class. Alvarado, a petite woman with dark hair and a serious demeanor, is an instant hit in the schools courtyard. Students crowd around her and she knows them, and hundreds more in the 15 schools where she works, by name.

Alvarados job is inherently dangerous. She makes house calls to students who drop out of school or dont graduate and tries to find solutions to get them back. Shes working with UNICEF to develop a home-study and virtual education program that will be tested in the coming year for the kids who can no longer go to school.

The school year is winding to a close in El Salvador, where it runs from February to November. But as classes end, its a critical time. Last year, 28,000 students dropped out, with the majority attributing it to the violence they experienced, and some 300 kids were killed while walking to school, says Cristina Perez, who advises on disaster management for Plan International, a child-rights organization. The Ministry of Education looks at it like a phenomenon, she says. All these kids are not dropping out of school because they want to. She cites one school, where she says 85 percent of parents have a gang affiliation.

The most troublesome time for kids, Alvarado and the educators agree, is between the first and third gradesthis is when theyre most easily used as pawns by their parents to extort their classmates. Rather than risk jail time themselves, some parents use their childrenwho only face a maximum sentence of seven years in prisonto do the gangs dirty work. A teachers union representative told Reuters in May that sometimes children are forced to collect 10 to 25 cents from each of their classmates per day for the gangs. In these cases, Alvarado will sometimes go to the grandparents for intervention, but says, its practically impossible to help.

Organizations like Plan International and UNICEF walk a tightrope to operate in these neighborhoods. Though they dont negotiate directly with the gangs, theyre being closely watched. Their lives are in danger if the gangs dont like what theyre talking about. All Salvadorans must know how to speak, says Perez.

A couple of blocks away, a marching band practices in the courtyard of a large, double-gated school, where more than 850 students study up to ninth grade. In a classroom near the entrance, students show off the work theyre doing in a robotics class. The class is a three-year-old project to get high-risk kids interested in school. A gangly and serious boy named Carlos* presented his model city, complete with funiculars dangling from a yarn pulley system. They would save the government money and reduce traffic, he recited, to the background rumble of bellowing brass instruments.

After the show, students filtered out, but Carlos stays behind. His classmates were told he would be interviewed about the robotics projects, but he really wants to talk about the gangs. Carlos started at this school earlier in the year, after being kicked out of his last one twice. Due to the two years of classes he lost, hes 16 years old but only in 7th grade.

Carlos speaks bluntly about what he called his aggressive behavior. When he was 13 his friends started pressuring him to harass girls and get in fightsthings he says he didnt want to do. After a spate of trouble at his last school, his father told him he should switch schools, so he came here, where people didnt know his past. He admits that if he had stayed, he probably wouldnt do anything in life. He likes accounting and wants to start a computer business, study English and leave El Salvador. He says he feels safer at his new school, but not because there isnt gang activity. This school is located in the middle of a territory controlled by the Barrio 18 gang.

For some schools the front street is divided and they fight everyday, says Noemi Lopez, a stately grey-haired woman whos been principal for 13 years and a teacher for three decades before that. The gang leaders here respect the school, she says. Though just two blocks away is already the border with a rival gang, where shootings will break out.

Elizabeth Salazar, a petite math and science teacher who runs the robotics program, perches nearby. She says even the educators cant venture past those two blocks, and if she did she would never take a student, go off the main road, or tell anyone that she works at the school.

The school tries to keep an eye on its gang-affiliated students, but without drawing attention to it. Some of the gangs wear certain brands or use certain slang to distinguish themselves. When the kids start we dont ask them if theyre in a gang, but we know by the way they behave and speak, says Lopez. They do keep an eye on the kids and meet with their parents with concerns, but its often not enough. More than 250 students have dropped out in the past year.

Its not just the students who take a risk by going to class each day. Dozens of teachers have been killed over the past few years, for offenses like giving a bad grade or confiscating drugs from students. Lopez says her job has become more dangerous than it was when El Salvador was wracked by civil war. Before, youd know who killed you, she says. Now you dont know.

*Names have been changed.

The International Womens Media Foundation supported Nina Strochlics reporting from El Salvador.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will hold a rally in Waukesha on Wednesday, Trumps state campaign confirmed Friday.

Trump will hold a rally at 6 p.m. at the Waukesha County Expo Center, according to the campaign.

The visit comes days after the release of the latest Marquette Law School Poll, which showed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons lead over Trump continues to be tight.

Its about time that the candidates started focusing to Wisconsin, said UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden. The polls are now indicating that the race is close in the Badger State. Trump is not doing much paid advertising, so his greatest resource is showing up in person.

Campaign spokesman Matthew Schuck did not answer questions about who will be appearing with Trump at the rally. A spokesman for Gov. Scott Walkers political campaign did not immediately respond to an email asking whether Walker will attend the rally.

Clinton leads 44-42 among likely voters in the latest poll, which is almost identical to the 45-42 lead she held in the previous poll released three weeks ago. Poll director Charles Franklin on Wednesday characterized the race as virtually unchanged.

The previous two polls showed Clintons lead drop from 15 points among likely voters after the Democratic National Convention to three points just before Labor Day Weekend. Clinton has yet to visit Wisconsin while Trump has made two trips since the conventions before scheduling the Waukesha visit.

Trumps visit will be to the heart of the states Never Trump movement in the most important conservative area of Wisconsin.

The real estate mogul continues to have his work cut out for him in Wisconsin with state Republicans struggling with how to handle his incendiary statements and past support for Clinton.

Wisconsin also has one of the strongest Never Trump movements. Trump was crushed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the states primary in April after a successful push by prominent state Republicans and conservatives who sold Cruz as the only viable candidate to stop Trump from becoming the GOP nominee and to defeat Clinton.

Cruz on Friday said he would vote for Trump, after refusing to endorse him at the GOPs July convention in Cleveland.

Burden, the UW professor, said Trumps Wednesday visit is part of the only feasible strategy for him to win the state.

Trump is deviating from the standard formula for Republican success in part because of opposition from conservative talk radio and resistance from establishment Republicans such as Scott Walker who have strong ties to the region.

He burned some bridges in advance of the April primary and has yet to rebuild them, said Burden. However, Trump is running stronger than many Republicans have in other parts of the state. If he can improve his standing in the areas encircling Milwaukee, his campaign will have a shot at winning the state. Without Waukesha, it is difficult to see how he could defeat Clinton here.

In both 2012 and 2014 elections, Republicans got about 12 percent of their votes from Waukesha County alone, said Burden. Together, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties generate almost 1 in 5 GOP votes statewide, he said.

The latest Marquette poll found only 29 percent of Republicans say they prefer Trump to other Republicans who sought the nomination, compared with 43 percent of Democrats who say they prefer Clinton to her Democratic challenger Bernie Sanders.

But Clinton has had a rough stretch in September with questions about her health and the Clinton Foundation, and calling half of Trumps supporters a basket of deplorables.

Trump faced criticism just before the poll went into the field for falsely blaming Clinton for starting the so-called birther movement over whether President Barack Obama was born in the United States, while finally admitting that he was.
My friends are scared to death by the closing of the gap between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and by the talk that young people wont vote because of the so-called enthusiasm gap. If youre scared too, take heart. Heres why Hillary will win:

1. National polls are largely irrelevant: The New York Times knows better than to put its national poll on page one Friday. National polls dont matter.

2. Traditional polls are inaccurate: At the end of the 2012 Obama campaign, we were not using traditional polling for assessing the state of the race. Why? Because the methodology is less reliable than ever, given the wide usage of cell phones and the publics antipathy toward answering a 20-minute survey. But even more important, traditional polling doesnt get to what really matters in the last eight weeks of a campaign.

3. What matters most now is targeting: Or more specifically, targeting two groups: Hillarys core supporters, who the Clinton campaign will make sure come out to vote, and leaning or up-for-grab voters, who are still in play.

4. Hillarys campaign knows those voters, person by person: Obamas campaign in 2008 and 2012 invented and perfected the use of big data for just this purpose. It combined the extremely sophisticated tracking of voters behavior with the most effective tactic of persuading and mobilizing voters ever invented: person-to-person contact.

5. How does this work? Just like companies, the campaign will track yournot your friends or brothers, but youronline behavior through your use of Facebook, travel sites, news outlets, Amazon, etc. They know your interests and preferences, range of income, education, and a lot more. They know if you live in a battleground state or not. And, if you contributed $10 to Hillarys campaign or bought a t-shirt, they will know even more about you, and importantly, what matters to you politically: maybe you spent a few minutes on her website, and spent the bulk of your time on her page about climate change. Then, they use publicly available databases that show your party registration and if you voted in the past electionsnot whom you voted for but if you voted.

Next, theyll give all this data to their grassroots army that uses it talk to these voters at home. They go door-to-doorskipping those likely Republicans and non-voters, zeroing in on likely or committed Hillary voters. They will contact them, often repeatedly, during these last weeks, asking if theyve made up their minds; if they havent, they ask if theres information theyd wish to have, or if theyd like to talk to someone about an issue they care about. Or if theyre for sure voting for Hillary, they will ask if they yet know when theyll vote (before work, during the day, or after work), do they need a ride to the polls, or if theyd like to go with Mrs. Jones two doors down, because shes driving folks to vote. Reams of data show that youll be more likely to vote if you have a plan to vote, or know that others they know will vote.

1. All that is unbelievably valuable and effective: The campaign conducts online polls every night with these targeted voters, and then runs thousands of models with varying turnout and preferences. These surveys are incredibly precise, far beyond traditional polling. Many political professionals believe the legacy of the 2102 campaign will be the death of traditional polling for anything other than message testing.

2. The Republican Party is playing catch up in this area; Trump has none of it: The Democrats have always relied on grassroots organizing, given their communitarianism philosophy, working class constituency and relative lack of funds. Republicans havent invested in grassroots much at all. 2008 was a wake-up call for them as to how big data and grassroots can be used together. And in 2012, while Romney did better, they were behind. And they are still behind as a party, but Trump is way, way behind: he has neither a grassroots campaign nor a sophisticated big data operation. Its Hillarys secret weapon.

3. Remember how wrong Romney and Rove were on election night 2012? Romney thought he was going to win, and Rove embarrassed himself on Fox News, claiming the election was still in play. Still in play? Obama won by 4 points and 126 electoral votes.

4. Speaking of electoral votesits the other reason national polls dont matter: What does matter are a few swing states: Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Iowa, North Carolina, and Arizona, most notably. Hillarys Electoral College advantage is so strong that Trump could win five of these seven (FL, OH, NC, AZ, IA) and still lose.

5. And one more thingyoung people will come out big for Hillary: Yes, theres an enthusiasm gap (as there was in September 2012 for Obama), but theres good reason: for young people, the campaign hasnt really started yet. Many have a disdain for politics. So-called low information voters, they passively follow the basics of the election through their Facebook newsfeed. And they are really busy living life: settling in at college, making ends meet, launching a career or family. Usually, with two weeks to go, theyll focus on voting.

They share a set of values with Clinton that is anathema to Trump: tolerance, fairness, open-mindedness, optimism, etc. These manifest in real-life issues for them: marriage equality, equal pay for women, gender inclusiveness, economic fairness, equality, etc. They are the new values voters. They are disgusted by what Trump stands for, and naturally align with Clinton. They will vote for herthey just dont know it yet. Moreover, young people vote as a social bloc; when their friends on campus or at work vote, they will go along. We saw it in 2008, famously, and in 2012, it made the difference in Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, and Ohio, putting the President over the top.

Its not easy to stand up to the medias polling obsession, but rest easy. She will win this thing.
Like most Americans, Im looking forward to Donald Trump and Hillary Clintons first debate on Monday, when these two forces of nature engage in a battle of intellect, contrasting their visions for America. I hope their exchange will give voters a clear picture of their priorities and preparedness to be president. They have plenty to discuss: income inequality, national security, immigration reform, global trade, climate change, access to health care, taxes, and more.

But Im worried that debate moderator Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News may not raise the most important issue after he announced his three remarkably broad debate topics.

The first topic he named was Americas Direction, and there is nothing more important to our nations direction than determining whether or not candidates will ensure we remain a government of, by and for the people. But the barriers to participation in our democracy are complex: money in politics, partisan gerrymandering, and obstacles to identifying the meaningful and comprehensive solutions Americans from right to left are seeking.

Voters are voicing their concern in different ways, but its clear that an overwhelming majority want to hear the candidates ideas on how to restore democracy of, by, and for the people. A CBS News/New York Times poll last year found that 84 percent believe money has too much influence in our elections; 85 percent believe our campaign finance system should be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, and 85 percent believe that elected officials at least sometimes promote policies tailored to help their campaign contributors.

The media need to ask how candidates will get Americans to work together solving these problems. Thats why first debate, democracy, ought to be Holts watchwords. Therell be time in later debates to discuss global and domestic policy priorities; the first Clinton-Trump exchange should be about how we select our representatives and who they serve.

Our current polarized system has failed. It has hamstrung Congress; it keeps wages stagnant and the tax code skewed in favor of the wealthy; it lets Wall Street play fast and loose with the health of our economy; it forces kids and their parents to take on crushing debt in order to pay for college, and it has given us a health insurance regime that caters to healthy people and fends off the injured and infirm.

Money in politics, gerrymandering, and voter suppressionthese are the ways both parties have, at different times, rigged the system.

Hillary Clinton has announced a set of comprehensive solutions to fight big money, leading on an issue important to Sen. Bernie Sanders and his supporters. She seems to recognize that she is a product of a flawed system that relies too heavily on big money and has a plan to fix it. Accountability will be important for voters if she wins.

Donald Trump has boasted of buying political favors for his businesses, arguing that his wealth means he cant be bought. A super PAC now supporting Trump suggests otherwise and hes come around to courting big-dollar donors with a passion matching Clintons. David Bossie, his new deputy campaign manager, once led Citizens United, the IRS-designated social welfare organization whose secret donors underwrote a film attacking Hillary Clinton in 2008. Now, Citizens United is the iconic, and ironic, symbol of everything wrong with money in politics, thanks to the 2010 Supreme Court decision that cleared wealthy special interests to feel as if they can buy our elections.

Trump is right about one thing; the system is rigged. But his billions cant deliver a healthy democracy and his recent hires suggest he isnt as interested in the little guy and gal as he sounded in the primaries.

This is why Lester Holt should have Clinton and Trump, two candidates who profess to recognize that theyre in a flawed system, debate democracy first. How will each ensure democracy works for everyone? How will they check wealthy special interests and balance the needs of working families when setting the national agenda? How will they restore competitiveness and make sure every eligible vote is counted in a modern, safe, and accessible election system?

We know Americans want these problems addressed and some candidates are getting the message. More than 200 candidates for the House and Senate have answered a detailed Who Will Fight Big Money? questionnaire so voters can make informed choices when selecting the next Congress. Their responses are posted here.

Holt should pose similar questions to Clinton and Trump and make sure they detail how and when they will enact reform. In this first debate, the health of our democracy must be the priority.

Robert Reich is the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley, former U.S. Secretary of Labor, and author, most recently, of "Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few."
Donald Trumps supporters clearly dont care about his scandals, outrages, and lieshes the Teflon candidate.

But prosecutors arent so forgiving, and Trumps alleged bribery of Floridas Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has caught their attention and the attention of Democrats in Congress. My colleague Joy-Ann Reid has called the scandal Trumps Benghazi.

But could Donald Trump really be convicted of bribery?

The answer is surprisingly unclear, but a review of the relevant law suggests that the Justice Department could easily get an indictment against himand in terms of the election, that alone might be enough to matter.

Most of the facts at issue are undisputed. Its undisputed that Bondi asked Trump for a donation in 2013, just as she was considering whether to join a multi-state probe into allegations of fraud involving Trump University. Its also undisputed that on Sept. 17, 2013, the Donald Trump Foundation donated $25,000 to a pro-Bondi group. And, finally, its undisputed that Bondi subsequently decided not to join the investigation.

That sure looks suspicious. But the one disputed point is whether there was any relationship between the donation and the decision not to investigate.

On the one hand, Bondis office has staunchly denied any connection between the donation and the non-investigation. Her office told Fortune magazine that there was never any recommendation by the staff to investigate or sue Trump University, and consequently, the matter never rose to the Attorney Generals level for any decision of any kind. It seems implausible that such an important decision would be made by staff alone; it was a high-profile investigation of a close associate whom Bondi had just recently solicited for a donation. But thats their story. Likewise, Trumps spokespeople have said there was never a quid-pro-quo.

On the other hand, Trump has boasted about how he gives money to politicians and then When I want something, I get it. When I call, they kiss my ass. Of course, paid ass-kissing is not illegal. Arguably, its how Washington works. But the timing of the gift and the fortuitous result are powerful circumstantial evidence that a more specific kiss was implicit in the exchange.

Really, there are two alleged violations here, which map onto two different investigations: one by New Yorks attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, and the other on the one that 15 Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee have requested from the Justice Department.

Scheidermans investigation is about the misuse of the Trump Foundation. First, as a 501(c )(3) nonprofit foundation, it is not allowed to engage in political activity. Second, the donation was basically self-dealing: Trump had his foundation pay his political contribution. That violates every nonprofit law in the books.

For these infractions, the Trump Foundation has already paid a $2,500 penalty to the IRS (and been reimbursed by Trump personally), and Trump has reimbursed the $25,000 to the foundation. Spokespeople for the foundation say that this was all a clerical error, and that the beneficiary was confused with another entity with a similar name.

Now, Schneiderman is investigating whether these actions violated nonprofit laws in New York, where the foundation is registered, in addition to IRS regulations.

However, as an analysis by Fortune revealed, the penalties for this infraction are relatively minor. It could become a campaign issue, but legally speaking, its not egregious enough for the foundation to be shut down. The penalty is basically just a fine, like the IRS already assessed.

The bribery accusation, however, is totally different.

If the Trump Foundations donation was meant to influence Bondis decision, then Trump himself could be found guilty of bribery. Thats what the fifteen Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have said, in their recent letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, requesting an investigation into the matter.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler, the lead signatory of the letter, told The Daily Beast that the facts here beg the question of whether or not these payments influenced the Florida Attorney Generals official decision not to participate in litigation against Mr. Trump If true, then that would be a violation of a number of criminal statutes, including bribery, perjury, and deliberate failure to disclose transfers to the IRS.

On the question of bribery, the state of the law is surprisingly vague. The words of the federal bribery statute are clear. The relevant part reads: Whoever, directly or indirectly, corruptly gives anything of value to any public official to influence any official act is guilty of bribery.

But what do corruptly and influence mean, exactly? Obviously, donors are always trying to influence official acts; that may be corrupt in a broad sense, but if it were bribery, every Fortune 500 executive would be in jail. Thus, while the Supreme Court ruled in 1991 that campaign contributions can count as briberythe bribe doesnt have to be some secret exchange of unmarked bills in an envelopeit has also held since 1976 that there must be some specific quid pro quo. Latin aside, the cash must be in exchange for a specific, identifiable action.

The big open question (again, quite surprisingly) is how explicit that quid pro quo must be; in 1991 the Court ruled that it must be explicit, but lower courts have divided on exactly how explicit. Is a wink and a nod enough, if, as in Trump/Bondi, theres a pending matter in front of the public official? Must there really be hard evidence of a specific exchange for a bribe to be proven?

That would be a high standard. Most politicians arent stupid; they dont leave paper trails of documents that say Thank you for your donation. I agree not to prosecute you. But there must be something more than just the gift.

In one recent case, Don Siegelman, the former governor of Alabama, was found guilty of accepting a bribe when a healthcare facility magnate donated to a pet cause of his and was subsequently renamed to a hospital facility planning board. Siegelman said he didnt know he was violating the law, and 113 former state attorneys urged the Supreme Court to resolve the unacceptable and counterproductive ambiguity in bribery law. But the Court declined to hear the appeal, and Siegelman went to jail.

So what about Trump and Bondi?

If the investigation leads to an indictment and trial, the case will almost surely go to the Supreme Court. The Courts precedents are unclear, and the case would be too big, and too close, a case for anything less.

Assuming there is no smoking gun (and Trump and Bondi would be idiots if they left one), the Court will have to decide if there was an explicit enough quid pro quo, despite Trumps and Bondis protestations to the contrary. The case could really go either way. (Indeed, the case is stronger against Bondi, who solicited the donation while she knew her office was debating whether to investigate Trump. Bondi has also continued to make highly dubious claims about the matter.)

It seems clear, however, that there is ample evidence for an investigation, and most likely for an indictmenteither of which would likely impact the presidential campaign. The timing of the donation and the decision not to investigate, Bondis solicitation, the use of the foundation rather than Trump personally, and Trumps numerous brags about buying influenceput together, these provide a strong inference of malfeasance.

Such circumstantial evidence does not prove bribery beyond a reasonable doubt. But it certainly justifies an investigation to see if more evidence exists. And given the ambiguity of what the law actually requires, it might be enough to justify an indictment as well, if the investigation turns up any evidence at all.

The fact of the matter is, Congressman Nadler said, Donald Trump has bragged on numerous occasions that this is how he conducts his businessusing money to influence politicians. And while that may be normal business for Mr. Trump, it is not legal business and should be prosecuted if such allegations have merit.
Starvation has always been a weapon of war. From salting fields to blockading harbors to slaughtering herds of buffalo, nations have consistently used hunger to bring their enemies to their knees. For that reason, food security has always been a bedrock of national security, and Americans have always taken their full stomachs for granted.

But times are changing.

For the first time in history, American food security has been compromised, and no one, at any level of our government, seemed to notice.

Just last week agricultural giant Monsanto announced its takeover by the chemical giant Bayer. This is a big deal. Not just the $66 billion windfall for the players involved, but also a big deal for the average American.

The 2013 Supreme Court decision Bowman v. Monsanto held that genetically modified seeds are intellectual property. When a company rewrites the genetic code of the plant (to make them hardier, more productive, etc.), it makes that plant as original as software or songs or iPhones. Bowman said that replanting harvested GMO seeds is no different than copying any other product and is therefore impermissible.

Only crops arent just any other product. They are the difference between life and death. The reason humanity rose from cowering bands of hunter-gatherersthe reason Im writing this on a laptop instead of scratching it on a cave wallis that our ancestors began the tradition of saving part of their harvest to replant the following season. Farmers have been practicing this tradition for roughly 12,000 years, since the invention of farming. And now, thanks to Bowman, farmers have to line up every year, like hipsters at an Apple Store, to buy their seed crop from Monsanto.

And if that wasnt bad enough, American farmers will now be buying those seeds from a foreign power, albeit a friendly one. And I mean a lot of seedsMonsanto (through its various licensing agreements) controls 80 percent of the corn market and 90 percent of soybeans. The Germany of today would never think of using food blackmail against us, but what about the Germany of yesterday? Would we have given Hitler, or even Kaiser Wilhelm, the keys to our fruited plains?

Thats exactly what could happen if one day Bayer decides to sell its Monsanto Division to China. Beijing already has economic leverage, and China is rapidly expanding its military. Theoretically someday, the Chinese could have the power to threaten us with a seed embargo if we dont agree to their demands. Granted, food blackmail would only last one season, but a lot can happen between fall and spring. At best, commodity prices could skyrocket, sending rippling panic across the economy. At worst, we could risk a genuine famine, the first in our history, and become dependent on foreign charity.

When the decision of Bowman came down, over half of all U.S. farmland, roughly 170 million acres, was planted with GMO seeds. These crops include soybeans, cotton and most importantly, corn, which is in pretty much everything. Next time you go to the grocery store, even organic co-ops or Whole Foods, look at how many products have corn starch, corn syrup, or, in the case of livestock, were fed with cornmeal. Now imagine 80 percent of those products suddenly vanishing overnight because the Chinese want us to abandon South Korea.

Granted, we could always just break the patent (assuming the physical seed banks are inside the United States). Or we could get other agro companies and farmers to fill the gap. Or, at the last minute, we could purchase bulk food shipments from friendly countries. But what are all those emergency stopgaps going to cost? Remember, the whole Middle East is burning now because a Tunisian man couldnt afford to feed his family. And while prices are skyrocketing and our government is scrambling, will the media be trying to calm us down, or grabbing quick ratings by asking Will your child starve this winter? If Americans regularly brawl over flat screen TVs on Black Monday, what will they do for the perceived last bottle of baby formula?

Sounds like a movie, right? Some cabal of nefarious masterminds holding our way of life hostage? Well, thats exactly what happened in the 1970s when OPEC tried to force us to abandon Israel.

We learned from the oil shocks of the 1970s what happens when foreign powers strangle our energy supply. Now we have the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a stockpile of emergency oil to make sure were never threatened with energy blackmail. Will it take a grain embargo before were forced to establish a Strategic Seed Reserve? Now that weve given away our food security, we need some kind of national insurance policy. Consider the very public debate we had after the 2006 Dubai Ports World deal, when we handed over control of our ports to a Gulf-owned company. Everyone from politicians to journalists were discussing the dangers of foreign-owned infrastructure. Compare that to the silence we hear today.

Luckily we already have the legislation in place. Theres something called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Its made up of experts from 12 federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. Their job is to review deals just like this and make sure theres no threat lurking in the fine print. So where are they? And where is the Senate Armed Services Committee that held hearings on the Dubai Ports deal? It seems weve got the safeguards in place, so why arent we using them?

We need to remember how interconnected civilization is, to recognize the security risks within seemingly non-security-related issues. If we thought gas lines were scary in the 1970s, just imagine bread lines in the decade ahead.

Max Brooks is a non-resident fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point.
Recently high-ranking women in the Obama administration shared a powerful tip for how women can get ahead in a male-dominated work atmosphere: help other women. According to The Washington Post, to avoid one of the primary pitfalls women face in the workplace of not getting their voices heard, the women employed amplification, where they would repeat an idea of a female colleague and give her credit for the idea by name. The impact was that not only was one woman able to breakthrough and be seen as an invaluable part of the team, but many women were.

I had this article flagged for me by multiple friends, which I take as testament to the fact that many believe the strategy and success of the women in the Obama White House can be replicated by women outside of the White House and even outside the world of politics. For me, however, the hoopla around the revelation of amplification was validating, encouraging and frustrating all at the same time. Validating because I have always believed that when it comes to achieving gender equality, women have much more power to effect change than society leads us to believe. Encouraging because I am glad to see us harnessing more of our power.

But frustrating because while this article may inspire a lot of celebration of #girlpower on social media, it should also serve as a cautionary reminder that when it comes to the quest for gender equality in any professional setting, women who dont actively help one another are just as harmful as un-evolved men.

For the record, I have wonderful female friends, and my career would not be possible without extraordinary female mentors who have shown me incredible generosity. Butand this is a big butthat doesnt change the fact that throughout my career, the least supportive and most blatantly hostile professional peers I have encountered have never been men, but women who assumed they were in direct competition with me or other women for specific opportunities.

There have been several instances of undermining, such as the time I was informed by a television producer that another female personality had actively tried to discourage a network from booking me. According to the producer, her explanation to them was simply that I was less experienced. But really the other personality and I were apparently being considered for the same slots so she wanted me out of the runningsurmising, I guess, that a fellow male guest wouldnt be as problematic for her own career aspirations as another woman.

There were moments that were just downright petty, such as the Oprah diss. No, Oprah has never done anything to me (except inspire me from afar!). But when a more senior female journalist discovered I have a personal assistant, she declared that such help was unnecessary, because after all its not like youre Oprah anything. (UmI know Im not Oprah. Theres only one Oprah!) She then followed up by telling me (and our boss) that I appeared on TV too much as a commentator, which was strange since that tends to be part of my job, particularly during election cycles. For at least the next year whenever I would have something to celebrate professionally, friends and family would say, Congratulations! And just think: youre not even Oprah! Ha!

With so many stories of sexual harassment and assault, a few instances of career related cattiness seem like small potatoes. But as the Obama staffers prove, women helping or hurting professional peers can make all of the difference in the world. For instance, the numbers of female elected officials remain disappointingly low. Any woman who wants to see them be higher should take a good look in the mirror.

While misogyny remains an unacceptable reality, I believe the way women judge other women still remains worse. Whether the name is Sarah Palin or Hillary Clinton, for every woman who disagrees with her policies, I will show you three who disapprove of her marital choices (I would never stay with Bill. Shes clearly in it for the power.) Or her parenting choices. (I would never go right back to work after giving birth. Clearly Palins power hungry.) Or her looks. (If she wasnt pretty she wouldnt have a career.) Her wardrobe. (Geez. Pantsuits. Really?) Her hair. (Geez. Headbands. Really?)

And when women are competing for the exact same job, things can get even more cutthroat. A perfect illustration comes to us from the world of modeling. Tyra Banks disclosed that she suspected Naomi Campbell intentionally cost her jobs in the fashion industry, leading to one of the most enduring rivalries in one of the worlds cattiest professions. But heres the kicker. Historically fashion has been one of the least diverse professions. Meaning that if one black model was given a job, it usually meant another one was unlikely to be hired, because for plenty of designers and magazines one black model was more than enough. So the system was set up to pit two equally beautiful, capable women against each other, instead of encouraging them to work together. So in the end, whos really to blame?

But Im not letting men off of the hook for their own discrimination, or for influencing the way some women treat other women in the workplace. A landmark study published in Harvard Business Review found that women and minority executives are penalized by their primarily white male superiors for promoting diversity. In other words, while the concept of women catfighting is viewed as a societal joke, particularly among men, (hence the catfight Seinfeld episode,) the impetus behind such competitiveness is no laughing matter.

So you see, I believe theres enough blame to go around. Yes we need to challenge the patriarchy, but we, as women, also need to tell the truthnot only about what men and policymakers can do to help us achieve equality, but also about what we can do, starting with helping each other. To that end Im sure some well-meaning social justice warrior will tweet or blog about how shes only experienced love and light from every woman shes ever met and therefore cant believe I wrote this piece. If thats the case then I salute you but I would also say that your experiencelike that of Lil Waynesis a privileged one.

Hopefully this history-making election year will serve as a powerful reminder that while we can disagree, all women gain something when we work together and respect one another. After all, the election of Hillary Clinton may just inspire the young daughter of a Republican to run for office one day. But part of the responsibility of that young girls parentsespecially her motheris to send the message now during her formative years that while they may disagree with and criticize Clintons policies, they should never criticize her for anything they wouldnt criticize a man for.

But most of all I hope every woman will teach a little girl in her life that being nice to the other girls on the playground and in the cafeteria (or eventually in the workplace) is not only the right thing to do, but could be the key to electing the next female President, Senator, or Congresswoman. It could also be the key to that little girl growing up and making it to the White House herself someday.
History is not homogenous. In every era, there are always people who celebrate new ideas; people whose raw energy and thirst for innovation drive our common culture in new directions. Most of the rest of us try to follow along the best we can, cautiously peering around every new corner before turning it.

Then there are the few who see the corner and maybe even take a quick peek at what lies beyond and then simply stay put. Theyre the flip-phone users, the CD-listeners, the quinoa-avoiders. Some of those people run bars and restaurants, thank God.

Take the people who run Sardis, the legendary theatrical restaurant on Manhattans West 44th St., which celebrates its 95th anniversary this year. Every time the restless trendsetters scampered around another corner, dragging us toward Peruvian-Nepalese restaurants and restaurants devoted only to toast and cocktails made from micro-distilled aquavit spiced with squid-ink bitters, Sardis took a quick look and stayed right where it was, with its Continental cuisine, its caricatures on the wall and its Dry Martinis, considered by many aficionados to be the best in New York.

And yet, if you page through Sardis Bar Guide, which the restaurant published in 1988, it looks like a real corner-turner. Sure, its got Manhattans and Martinis and such, but it also includes a whole raft of the gaudy Disco drinks that so characterized American mixology in the 1970s and 1980s.

From the Alabama Slammer and the Amaretto Sour, on through the Long Island Iced Tea and the Melon Ball, all the way to the Tootsie Roll and the Windex, with frequent stops in between for sex drinks (e.g., Screaming Orgasm, Sloe Comfortable Screw), the book is asometimes appallingtestament to the Dark Ages of Mixology. (And if youre wondering why theyre called that, consider the Oyster concoction, there on page 152: an ounce and a half of vodka stirred into three ounces of Baileys, which then curdles, producing the gobby, globby oysterness from which its name is derived.)

As you look more closely at all those gaudy new drinks in the Sardis book, however, you notice that many of them have comments from the books author, Vincent Sardi Jr. (who was born in 1915 and died in 1997), who wrote it with the help of nonfiction writer George Shea. Sardi was the son of the restaurants founders and, during World War II, a captain in the Marines. When he thought something was stupid, he didnt mind saying so.

That Windex, for instance. He thought the mix of vodka and blue curacao, normally served as a shooter, could also be poured into an old Windex bottle and sprayed into the mouth perhaps, or (better yet) onto ones windows. On the Sunoco 251, another shooter (equal parts 151-proof rum, vodka and green Chartreuse), he begins with No serious, sophisticated bar guide would be really complete without this elegant, upscale drink, before bringing us up short with an All kidding aside. The Screaming Orgasm? To the best of my knowledge, weve never served one of these at Sardis.

So. A book that peers around the corner without actually rounding it. The drinks Sardi takes pride in; the ones he claims for the restaurant; are a much more conservative lot. Of them my favorite is the 44th St Cocktail, named after the restaurants location. I dont know which of the places bartenders at the time, Billy Jimenez, Jack Kustera, Joe Petrosoric and Ray Tornato, came up with this one. But the heart of the drink, the combination of rum, brandy, citrus juice and sugar, goes back to the early 1700s.

You cant get more flip-phone than that. But, you know, the thing still works.

44th St Cocktail

Contributed by Sardis

Ingredients:.5 oz Lemon juice1 tsp Sugar1.25 oz VSOP-grade cognac or Armagnac1.25 oz Rich, dark rum, such as Appleton V/XGlass: RocksGarnish: Fresh piece of pineapple

Directions:Briefly stir together the lemon juice and sugar in a shaker. And the rest of the ingredients and fill with ice. Shake and strain into ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish how you like (a piece of fresh pineapple works particularly well).
When the news broke that Vice President Joe Biden, Obamas perpetually grinning, ice cream and choo-choo train-loving boy Friday, would be appearing on an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, our imaginations went into overdrive. Would he hit the mean streets of NYC with Ice-T? Be the crucial cog in solving an elaborate rape case? And might it rival his memorable turn in Parks and Rec as Leslie Knopes precious cargo?

The episode, Making a Rapist, doesnt air on the peacock until Sept. 28, but The Daily Beast caught an early glimpse and its a doozy.

Bidens cameo, however, isnt all that. Making a Rapist opens with the VP honoring Lt. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and her team at SVU for making their way through thousands of backloggedand untestedrape kits. Since introducing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to Congress in 1990, Biden has been focused on putting an end rape and other violence acts towards women. In 2014, he helped create the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, making the epidemic of campus rape a focal point of his VP tenure.

My Dad used to have an expression. He said, The greatest sin any person can commit is an abuse of power, and the greatest abuse of power is rape, Biden announces to the precinct. It takes women a long time to heal. And when the victim isnt believed, when she goes through the invasive process of having a rape kit put together, and then its stuck on a shelf somewhere, and then the rape kit is never ever tested, well, we fail. We fail her. We fail so many women.

Im proud to say today we did not fail, he adds, before congratulating my friend here, Lieutenant Olivia Benson of SVU.

Lt. Benson then takes the podium, announcing that her team at SVU has begun to clear the national rape kit backlog and in the process righted a terrible wrong. That wrong occurred 16 years ago, when Sean Roberts (Henry Thomas, of E.T. fame) was convicted of a rape in New York City that he didnt commit. By testing an untested rape kit found in Detroit, they were able to extract the DNA of the actual rapist, and let Sean go free. Hes since befriended his former accuser and her family, and is in the midst of suing the NYPD for $30 million for the blunder. But before you can chant DUN DUN, the young daughter of the woman Sean was unjustly convicted of raping is found raped, strangled, stabbed, doused in bleach, and burned. She later dies in the hospital.

The primary suspect is Sean, who was heard by the girls mother chatting with her in their apartment hours before she was found violated to within an inch of her life. If this sounds like the plot of the acclaimed Netflix series Making a Murderer, well, it basically is.

And as this is SVU, there are a coterie of other wacky suspects. Theres the girls rich douchebag boyfriend, Zach, whod recently gotten into an argument with the victim, as well as Charlie, the creepy son of her neighbor, who regularly played peeping Tom to the girl from a little tent on his apartments roof filled with condoms, lube, womens jewelry, and a bloody knife. Hes also very creepy toward Det. Rollins (Kelli Giddish), the striking ex-gambling addict with a love child.

Without giving away the patented SVU twist, its Sean who ends up headed to trial where its revealed that hes still haunted by the physical and psychological trauma of prison, where the meek young man was repeatedly raped by his fellow inmates.

And with Lt. Benson and her SVU team on the caseincluding Det. Tutuola (Ice-T), the cop who arrested Sean 16 years agotheres one thing you can be damn sure of: justice will be served.
Jenny Slate and Nick Kroll have been working together for years. But theyve never done anything quite like My Blind Brother.

The IMDb pages for these two alternative comedy stars are full of overlapping appearances on shows like Parks and Recreation (in which she played party girl Mona-Lisa and he played The Douche, one-half of a shock jock morning radio team) and HBOs animated Animals (in which he played a pigeon and she played a snake). Then there was Kroll Show, the three-season Comedy Central sketch series in which the pair played dozens of characters, including two PR reps both named Liz on the fake reality showingeniously named PubLIZity.

Dating back to their time performing live at the now-defunct Rififi bar and comedy space in the East Village, Slate and Kroll have a reputation for portraying big, outlandish characters. Slate was the first to demonstrate a subtler side, and even garner some Oscar buzz, in 2014s Obvious Child. Now she and Kroll have both brought unexpected depth to their characters in Sophie Goodharts feature debut My Blind Brother, which will be released in theaters and on demand this Friday, September 23.

As I enter a suite at the London Hotel in Los Angeles to interview the pair, Kroll is narrating his activity for my benefit. Kroll worked the bar. It was only 11 a.m., but they were already deeply into their drinks, he says, pouring himself a Perrier.

I almost ordered a Bloody Mary, and then I was like calm down, Jen, Slate, whos wearing a long green dress adds as she slips off her white stilettos and curls up on the couch. This whole outfit is a little bit fancier than anyone needs, she says.

Well, I just looked at myself in the mirror and was like, Oh, wow, I look like a fucking Persian warlord, says Kroll, whos wearing a dark suit and shirt with no tie. Yes, in case you were wondering, they are almost constantly doing bits with each other.

Weve been friends for a really long time and I think we both have really enjoyed one another as people and as performers, Kroll says, turning more serious for a brief second. The prospect of working with their mutual friend and fellow Parks and Rec alum Adam Scott only made the whole project more appealing.

And its different from other things weve done so far, Slate chimes in.

My Blind Brother started its life as a short film of the same name more than 13 years ago. The inspiration for the project came from Goodharts sister Alice, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when they were both in their early 20s. The weird feeling that I was unprepared for is I realized I was having moments of being sort of jealous, Goodhart tells me by phone from New York. As soon as she was diagnosed and became someone living with a disability, she was forever brave. Goodhart, on the other hand, felt she was now seen as the flaky and indulgent one.

The filmmaker did not intend to turn the short, which was nominated for the Palme Dor at Cannes in 2003, into a feature, but once she started exploring an idea about a woman who breaks up with her boyfriend moments before he is accidentally killed, she realized she could marry the two stories into one film. That woman eventually became Slates character Rose, who feels somehow responsible for her exs death and tries to make up for it by dating Robbie (Scott), the blind brother of Bill (Kroll), the man with whom she has a one night stand the night of the funeral.

I really liked how my character was pretty much flailing, making a lot of wrong decisions, Slate says of Rose. And I like trying to make someone like that lovable still. Because I think a lot of us go through those times, where we make a lot of wrong moves and still hope that somebody can love us.

I didnt set out to make a romantic comedy, Goodhart says, as much as she loves the films of James L. Brooks and Nora Ephron. Instead, her intention was to make something darker about jealousy, sibling rivalry and how society treats the disabled.

In the short, Krolls character Bill was played by Tony Hale, just as he was about to break through as Buster Bluth in Arrested Development and long before he won multiple Emmys as Gary Walsh on Veep. According to Goodhart, both Hale and Kroll have the everyman quality the character requires, but Kroll brought more anger and resentment to the fore. Casting him opposite Slate worked so well, in Goodharts view, because they have the type of shorthand with each other that comes from years of friendship. They do really, actively like each other as people, so it was extremely helpful, she says.

For me, Ive been very lucky to play a lot of fun, colorful characters who are often times a little douchey, Kroll says. (Besides The Douche on Parks and Rec, Kroll played a literal animated douche in Seth Rogens Sausage Party.) So the idea of playing a sweet guy whos really passive and gets walked all over was interesting.

Hes probably in certain ways the closest character to me as a person in that I just get walked all over, he adds says, breaking into a faux-baby voice that makes Slate laugh. My goal throughout the day is to try to make people feel OK. And I think Bill in the movie is like that. I think Jenny and I both really enjoy playing somewhat deplorable people, because theyre fun to play on camera. But in real life thats not, I dont think, how either of us are.

Kroll will try his hand at another non-deplorable character when he appears later this year as ACLU lawyer Bernard Cohen in Loving, Jeff Nichols new film about the couple who challenged Americas interracial marriage ban in the Supreme Court and won. When we spoke, he was also about to fly back east to start tech rehearsals for the Broadway run of Oh, Hello, the play he wrote with fellow comedian and former SNL writer John Mulaney about two elderly New Yorkers. Its the most ridiculous thing in the world, he says of the shows latest iteration.

There are also moments where he does really shitty things and I think all the characters do really shitty things, because people do really shitty things, Kroll adds of My Blind Brother. Even good people do bad things. I was excited to be more of a leading man and work on carrying the romantic part of the movie, which was fun.

When I suggest that Adam Scotts character probably gets away with doing the shittiest things of anyone in the film because of his blindness, Kroll is quick to jump in with, in real life too. He jokes, Adam killed homeless guy and told us about it on set the next day and laughed.

At the cast party, he killed a lot of people who are homeowners, Slate adds, straightfaced. And he was like, Youre never going back to your house, youre dying tonight!

Kroll says Scott nailed the blind acting right away, aided by the fact that he wore contacts that not only made his eyes look a little cloudy, but also physically distorted his sight. He genuinely couldnt see very well when he was wearing them. Kroll adds. Its always present, but its also not overdone at all.

The films conceit revolves around the idea that people with disabilities are viewed as heroes regardless of their behavior, which helps explain why Slates character is so quick to embrace Robbie after rejecting Bill. I think she sees the chance for redemption in herself, Slate says of the decision to date a blind man who isnt particularly nice to her. I dont think she sees him for who he is. I think she sees him as a chance to reboot her identity, which is a real bummer position for her to take.

Its really disrespectful. And its from her own lack of self-respect, Slate continues. She feels that shes such an odious person that she has to throw away all of her preferences and forget her past and start again. Those sort of extreme moves end up kicking us in the ass.

Robbies blindness may be portrayed convincingly by Scott, but it is also played for laughs. There are a handful of scenes in the film in which Robbie drives a car while Bill gives him verbal directions to keep him from swerving into the other lane and killing everyone. At one point, Robbie walks in on Bill and Rose having sexbut doesnt realize it because he cant see them.

Given that theyve been friends for so long, wasnt it awkward for Kroll and Slate to simulate sex on screen? We prepped the crew, I was like, Im going to be honest with you guys, I fart whenever I do sex scenes, I get nervous farts, Kroll jokes. And so I had told Jenny, but I made an announcement to the crew as well.

Yeah, well for me, I understand how to not be in control of your body, because my chest hair grows in a lot when Im nervous, Slate improvs without missing a beat. So I had a full chest muff.

All the chest hair that grows on Jenny when she gets nervous and my, lets just call it, farting problem, made for a heck of a scene, Kroll promises. So Jennys in a turtleneck and Im in a diaper, all of which he says was fixed in post-production so you cant tell on screen.

And thats what they call movie magic, Slate says.
She spent 14 years as an NYPD narcotics detective, but she cant get any help for her 16-year-old drug-abusing son.

Unless I have him arrested, says Det. Patricia Jennings, a single mom from Riverdale who spent 22 years as a cop, most of them as a narcotics detective raiding crack houses, locking up pushers, mules, and junkies. I have carried kids out of crack houses to get them into safe homes. But for my own son I have been to every court, rehab, specialized school and city agency you can think of trying to get my son help. I want him mandated to real, long-term rehab, and the officials all say the same thing: If he hasnt been arrested theres nothing we can do. Except wait for your son to be arrested.

With a criminal record.

A record that might follow him through life, says Jennings, who asked that this story use her maiden name to help ensure it doesnt become a rock tied for life to the search results for her son. A record that will exclude him from many city, state, and federal jobs. And many other jobs in the private sector.

As the gossip columns and TV tabloid shows continue to exploit the sad decline of drugged-out celebrities, we sometimes dont want to admit that the disease of substance abuse at some time touches almost every family in America.

Even the kids of narcs.

When I was out there busting people for drugs, I never thought it would happen in my own home, says Jennings, of her son whom we will call Gary here. Gary is actually my biological grandsonthe child of my daughter who had her own set of different problemsand so I legally adopted him at 5. My divorced husband passed away several years ago so I have been Garys single mom much of his life, but for the past five years with my boyfriend who is also a retired detective.

But even with two ex-cops at home, one a father figure, Jennings says she has been unable to stop Gary from graduating from marijuana to cocaine, crystal meth, Xanax, Oxycodone, and lately maybe even heroin. Shes not sure because although New York State law compels her to provide a home for her son, she is not privy to his confidential rehab drug testing results.

Which is nuts.

How can you be a guardian of a minor if you dont know what youre guarding against?

It started when he was 5, with Gary complaining that his brain hurt, Jennings says. He said that inside his head it sounded like the TV was playing 10 channels at once. You have a child who says his brain hurts, hearing multiple voices, you bring him to the doctor. He was diagnosed with hyper tension and ADHD. The pediatrician prescribed Dexedrine, an upper, an amphetamine I used to bust adults for in the street. So Gary was on speed at 5, OK?

Jennings says that as a teenager shes placed Gary in about nine drug clinics and rehabssome at a huge personal expense.

Nothing worked, she says. The out-patient clinics are useless and short term in-patient rehabs do not work if you dont want help. So unless he is mandated to a long-term rehab by the courts Gary knows he doesnt even have to stay. If he says he wants to leave I must by law go and take him home.

At 12, Gary told his mother that he was gay.

I was glad he was honest and not trying to live a secret life in the closet, Jennings says. But he was bullied at a private school on Roosevelt Island so I removed him.

By 13, Gary was smoking marijuana. That bothered me a lot, Jennings says. Because I am completely anti-drug. I will not even take pain killers after a surgery. Gary was now in an expensive private special education school, Robert Louis Stevenson School on West 74th Street where they have random drug testing. It was a great school but Gary tested positive for weed. When he tested positive a second time they expelled him.

Determined to nip her sons drug problem in the bud, Jennings enrolled Gary in an outpatient drug program at a Manhattan hospital with counseling twice a week. After three months, Gary kept testing positive for marijuana and his counselor told the drug-cop mom that her son needed a high level of care, an in-patient drug rehab.

The counselor arranged a bed for Gary in a facility upstate, says Jennings. I drove Gary up there. My GHI (health insurance) from NYPD covered 30 days. The next day I received a call from the rehab to come and take Gary home. I asked what the hell happened. Turns out Garys court-mandated roommate asked my son if he was gay. Gary said yes. The guy assaulted him. I had to get him out of there.

Gary returned home, kept using drugs, and in January 2014 Jennings placed Gary into yet another rehab, this one a six-month program about two and a half hours north of the city.

Gary lasted one day, Jennings says. Because he tested positive for coke. I told her it was snowing and hours away. They said come pick him up. I had to drive up in a storm, get a hotel, spend the night, and drive him home the next day. Gary knows that if hes not mandated by the courts, all he has to do is refuse to obey the rules and I have to come get him. Without a Person In Need of Supervision Warrant, I have no leverage as a parent. The way the system works I am basically powerless to save my kid from drugs.

She took her son home to her apartment on West End Avenue where shed lived for eight years. In February 2014, worried that Gary was plunging into the sub-basement of drug hell, Jennings placed Gary in a Pennsylvania program that cost $15,600 for 30 days.

It was out of network so my insurance would not cover it, says Jennings. I borrowed the money. I was willing to do anything to save my son. The first day the counselor called to say Gary refused to speak at group sessions. Day 2 they called to say Gary refused to speak openly about his biological mother and father. Day 3 they called to say this was not a good program for Gary because he refused to say the Serenity Prayer. I pleaded with them to give him more time. On Day 10, the counselor told me to come take Gary home.

Back in the city, Gary settled for an out-patient program near Union Square. He would go a few times a week but I knew that he was still getting high, Jennings says. But they were strictly forbidden by the state confidentiality law to tell me what he was using. This is madness, a deep flaw in the broken system. Street-smart teens on drugs know how to game the system without consequence. When he refused to urinate in front of a counselor he was dishcharged.

Jennings went back to Manhattan Family Court where she was referred to the Family Assessment Program, or FAP, a diversion program where a counselor visited the familys home once a week to talk to mother and son and ask Gary for a urine sample. Gary tested positive for weed, cocaine, and molliesstreet name for Ecstasyat least 10 times, Jennings says. But if he was using something stronger that he didnt want me know about he just refused to test.

In April 2015 Jennings opened her apartment door to a loud knock to find a narcotics detective saying he had received a complaint that Gary was selling drugs in the building. It was embarrassing and awkward for me because I used to work with this detective, Jennings says. I assured him that Gary was not a dealer, just a juvenile user.

The management company said they had security videos of Gary hiding drugs in the community room and were going to file for eviction. I said I didnt want that on my unblemished credit record, Jennings says. To please give me the time to find another place. They agreed.

In May, Jennings placed Gary in another upstate rehab. I was assured that because my son was openly gay that hed be kept in a separate and secure section, says Jennings. That didnt happen. He was given a roommate who assaulted him when he learned he was gay, screaming, I got a faggot in here! I got a faggot in here!

Someone hurled a brick through Garys window.

The local sheriff refused to file a hate crime report, Jennings says. He charged the assaulter with harassment. I took Gary home. Again.

In July, Jennings had to again borrow thousands of dollars to relocate to the Bronx.

In September, Jennings enrolled Gary in the Harvey Milk School, a city high school with a predominantly LGBT population. It is truly a great school, says Jennings. A Godsend. Absolutely no bullying tolerated. Lots of clubs, tutoring, AIDS counseling, counselors for every teenage and LGBT issue. Gary did very well socially and academically in the first semester.

But by the second semester, Jennings would later learn, Gary was abusing Xanax and injecting crystal meth.

I clean his bedroom all the time and one day I found a hypodermic needle, she says. That truly freaked me out because I knew he could die of an overdose or AIDS.

In February 2016 she applied again at the Bronx Family Court for a PINS warrant.

I had to sit for four hours again filling out the same paperwork Id filled out twice before, she says. And was again sent to FAP. I pleaded with the counselors to let me see a judge who could mandate Gary to long-term rehab because my son was using needles. They said if Gary was not a chronic truant, hadnt been arrested, there was nothing they could offer but FAP counseling.

So counselors came to the new Bronx apartment three times a week, doing drug testing which showed Gary was abusing Xanax, marijuana, cocaine, and crystal meth. He refused to tell me where he got the money to buy these drugs, Jennings says. Then one day he left his Gmail open on his computer and I saw that hed been communicating with an older man in New Jersey about sex.

The retired detective used the GPS tracker on her sons cell phone to tail Gary to a mans house in New Jersey. I staked out the block and saw them leaving a house together. I confronted the 70-year-old man, she says. I told him he was a dirty old pervert. My son was embarrassed and furious. I contacted the sex crimes detectives to report this old guy. They told me that the age of consent in New Jersey was 16, that there was nothing they could do if they didnt witness a money transaction. But now I knew that Gary was selling himself for drug money, which broke my heart.

The counselor advised that every time Gary got high that Jennings should take away something of value like his cell phone.

When I did that Gary wrecked my apartment in a stoned rage, Jennings says.

But then last June, Jennings saw Gary walking into her bathroom with a half-cup of water. I knew from my narcotics days he was using that to go cook and shoot up, she says. I called the counselor and said my son is selling himself, using needles, and I need help. Do we have to wait until he dies to prove hes in danger? I need to see a judge. I need a PINS warrant. I need him mandated into a long-term rehab he cant leave. She said FAP wouldnt recommend that.

When Gary came out of the bathroom she said she could see he was high. He put on a long sleeve shirt on a 90 degree day, Jennings says. Like junkies always do. The next day I confronted him and checked his arms. I found track marks on his left arm. He insisted it was old. I knew better.

On a Friday night at the end of July, Jenningss credit cards, and debit card went missing. I confronted Gary, she says. I told him I had only $20 in cash to my name. He could have that if he gave me back the cards. He denied having them. But hed withdrawn $400 in cash and charged $200 on the credit cards.

That Sunday Jennings and her boyfriend caught Gary hauling the small bedroom safe where she keeps checks and important papers out of the apartment. My boyfriend wrestled it off him, Jennings says. He tried to run out but I blockaded the front door with my body. He bit my right forearm and the crook of my left arm and I fell in a way that dislocated my knee.

Finally, Jennings did what she had avoided for three yearsshe called the police on her own son.

I only had Gary charged with menacing, a misdemeanor, she says. Not the credit card theft. Not the assault. Those are felonies. I had tried to avoid this for years. But I had reached the end of my rope. I needed to have him arrested to try to save my sons life.

This time Jennings saw a judge. He gave me an order of protection against Gary, she says. My son was given a court appointed attorney who said this was his first offense and convinced the judge not to issue a PINS warrant.

Then another Catch-22 of the crazy system kicked in.

I was told that since I was his mother and Gary was a minor I was responsible to provide him with a home even though I had an order of protection against him, she says. If I didnt Id be arrested for neglect. So I had to go back into court to have my order of protection modified so that I could take my son home again. Without a PINS warrant. With no way of getting my son who shoots up drugs into a long term court mandated drug rehab.

Det. Patricia Jennings takes a long deep breath and breaks into soft sobs.

I spent 14 years making drug arrests in this city thinking I was making a difference, she said. I am angry that the same city I served and protected is denying my request to mandate my own son. The system is broken. Parents no longer have rights. I cannot seem to do anything to help my son. Hes smart, sweet, loving, mixed up. He got violent only once when he was stoned. Hes also a great student and very talented and wants to go to the Fashion Institute of Technology for design. But I dont know if hell ever get there. Im afraid he is going to kill himself with drugs first.

And no matter how hard I try the system prevents me from helping to save him.
GISMA, Iraq  The convoy rumbles through this village along the dusty road that has taken it across the Tigris and to the fraying edges of the Islamic State.

We are now about 60 kilometers, or 40 miles, from Mosul, captured by ISIS in 2014 and by far the biggest city under its control.

By the roadside, children flash broad smiles and wave at the dozen or so Humvees and U.S.-made pick-up trucks bristling with machine guns of all calibers. The line of vehicles swerves past the charred hulk of a burned-out armored personnel carrier before taking a sharp turn and slowly pulling into a walled compound.

The village, Gisma, was retaken from ISIS the previous day, as Iraqi security forces inch towards Mosul, once second most populous city in the country and still in the hands of the jihadist group.

Earlier this week, U.S. President Barack Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and declared the fight to retake Mosul could move forward fairly rapidly. But that conversation was in New York. The test will come in places like this.

Today, Maj. Gen. Najim al Jabouri, one of the key commanders of the campaign, decided to pay Gisma a visit, dropping in for lunch at the invitation of the villagers.

Stepping out of his Humvee, the general is greeted warmly by the village elders, who usher him into a house where he takes the seat of honor at the head the dining room. Soon, groups of officers and elders sit around huge tin trays laden with meat, flatbread and bulgur wheat. Several sheep have been slaughtered in the morning, an incredible act of hospitality in a village suffering severe shortages after more than two years of ISIS rule.

After months and years of Islamic State terror, the once maligned Iraqi army is welcomed in the Sunni areas near Mosulat least by those who did not actively join the ranks of the insurgents.

"Its an honor to receive the army here, because they are our people, Hamed, the host, tells the Daily Beast. We were living in darkness, and now the darkness is gone."

When ISIS stormed across the Syrian border to conquer about a third of Iraq in 2014, it was aided by widespread discontent amongst the Sunni population. For years, at least since the American forces in Iraq began to draw down, the Shia-led government in Baghdad had marginalized and discriminated against the Sunni minority, and even sent in the army to shoot up peaceful protests.

In Mosul, the Shia-dominated army was seen as little more than a hostile army of occupation.

But the Islamic State's cruel fanaticism quickly alienated many of those who initially welcomed the insurgents.

In Gisma, everyone has a story to tell about ISIS brutality. Jamal, the septuagenarian head of a 40-strong family, mourns the murder of one of his sons, a police officer. After coming to the village, the jihadists "took him away and sent us a message telling us that they had killed him," says Jamal. Another son, also a police officer, barely escaped with his life by fleeing to the town of Beiji.

Munder, a 14-year-old with a slight frame and bright blue eyes, recounts how ISIS butchered one of the villagers.

"They killed the man and poured gasoline over him so the dogs wouldnt eat him. They paraded his body around the village on the back of a pick up," he says in disgust.

Gen. Jubouri is keen to build on the present goodwill towards the army and police forces. It is a key reason he is in Gisma today, even as mortar rounds from nearby ISIS positions continue to land in the village.

A Sunni himself, he served as the mayor of the town of Tel Afar during the U.S. occupation of Iraq, working alongside the Americans to expel al Qaeda from the city that is now under the control of ISIS, originally a spin-off of al Qaeda in Iraq.

When the death threats against al Jubouri and his family mounted, he fled to the United States before returning to Iraq to continue the fight against Islamist extremism.

"Up to now, the relationship between the security forces and the people south of Mosul is very good," he says. "We will try and continue to build bridges between the security forces and the people."

That had better work. If the local population in and around Mosul decides to reject the army, then recapturing Iraq's second largest city will be a near impossible task, Al Jubouri believes. But if Mosul's inhabitants turn on the insurgents, the few thousand fighters holding the city will quickly be isolated.

In other towns and villages near Mosul recently liberated from ISIS, Iraqi troops have been well received by the locals just as they were here in Gisma. Under Jubouri's command, soldiers have been keen to avoid civilian casualties, and to treat the population with respect.

But Jubouri's efforts could be in vain if Shia sectarian militia groups join the battle for Mosul. These militias are known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, and many them are directly supported by Iran. They have made a valuable contribution beating back ISIS, but also have a track record of killing and torturing Sunni civilians in areas where they operate. Al Abadis weak government in Baghdad has only limited control.

Many experts believe that throwing the Shia militia into the battle for Mosul would play into the hands of the Islamic State, as fearful residents would rally around the ISIS fighters. Deploying the PMF would lead to a "sectarian polarization that makes ISIS appear as the least worst option for Sunnis," says Kyle Orton, a Research fellow with the Henry Jackson Society.

Jubouri is guarded when we ask about Shia militia involvement in the Mosul campaign. "I don't know," is his answer as to whether the PMF should take part. "Not all the PMF are bad people," he says.

Even if the Shia militias stay away, the Iraqis that joined ISIS will fight with the desperation of those who have nothing to lose. The villagers of Gisma are furious at the locals who threw in their lot with the insurgents, and who fled with the retreating jihadists.

"Those who joined Daesh cannot come back, says Hamed, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. Their houses will be razed to the ground. What they did to the people is going to happen to them."

Hamed estimates that between 30 and 50 men from the village of around 5,000 souls sided with the Islamic State. There will be no mercy for their families either.

"They can't stay here, because they didn't stop their sons from joining Daesh," he says.

While al Jubouri lunches with the villagers, the men who took the village patrol the streets and guard the compound. Two members of the SWAT police unit that fought its way into Gisma a day earlier stand in the courtyard, their black uniforms and battered Kalashnikovs setting them apart from Jubouri's lavishly equipped security detachment.

The men, Ali and Yasser, say they fought for three hours to retake the village, during which ISIS launched four suicide car bombs against them.

The two are veterans of the struggle against jihadist groups, having battled a string of militants since the U.S. invasion in 2003 kicked off a brutal insurgency in Iraq.

"Al Qaeda, Jaish al Mujahideen, Daesh, we've fought them all," Yasser says wearily.

Their unit hails from Mosul, and was the last to withdraw when ISIS routed the army in the city in 2014, resisting until they were ordered to pull out, according to Ali. To break their defenses, the jihadists drove trucks filled with explosives into their lines.

Since then, they have been deployed across Iraq to first halt and then push back the insurgents. After campaigning in nearby Salahaddin province, they were part of the force that took Qayyarah airbase, were U.S. Marines and Special Forces are helping prepare for the final push on Mosul. (And where ISIS reportedly launched a rocket or artillery shell on Tuesday that contained mustard gas.)

After a string of victories, the morale within the SWAT unit is high. Many have family members in the Mosul, and they are keen to avenge their humiliation two years ago.

"Soon we will return," says Yasser.
Heres how members of Wisconsins congressional delegation voted on major issues this week.

Note: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, did not vote. By custom, the speaker does not vote except in rare circumstances.

Stock Options, National Debt: Voting 287 for 124 against, the House on Thursday passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 5719) that would allow employees to defer for as long as seven years the payment of income taxes on compensation received in the form of stock options. The bill would add $1 billion to federal debt over 10 years because it is not offset by spending cuts or revenue increases. Under existing law, stock options become a taxable event when they are fully conveyed to the employee, or vested. The bill applies to employees of companies at which at least 80 percent of the workforce receives stock compensation; it does not apply to managements stock options.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate.

Voting yes: Ronald Kind, D-3rd, James Sensenbrenner, R-5th, Glenn Grothman, R-6th, Sean Duffy, R-7th, Reid Ribble, R-8th

Voting no: Mark Pocan, D-2nd

Not voting: Gwen Moore, D-4th

Censure of Payments to Iran: Voting 254 for and 163 against, the House on Thursday passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 5931) that would censure the administration for having paid $1.7 billion in settlements to Iran in the nine months since a global deal to dismantle Irans nuclear program took effect. Made in publicly disclosed installments of $400 million and $1.3 billion, the payments would settle a dispute over arms transactions with the former shah of Iran. The first payment, for $400 million, was made on Jan.16, the date on which the nuclear deal took effect and the U.S. and Iran completed a prisoner swap. Republicans call that payment ransom. This bill imposes conditions on any future payments to settle Iranian claims, including a requirement that Congress be notified in advance.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival.

Voting yes: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble

Voting no: Pocan, Kind

Not voting: Moore

Iranian Leaders Personal Assets: Voting 282 for and 143 against, the House on Wednesday passed a GOP-sponsored bill (HR 5461) that would require the Department of the Treasury to provide Congress with classified information on the financial assets held by Irans top military and political leaders, including information on how they acquired their wealth. Collected by Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control and Office of Intelligence and Analysis, this information is now classified and protected from circulation on Capitol Hill.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it appeared certain to fail.

Voting yes: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble

Voting no: Pocan, Kind

Not voting: Moore

Judicial Purgatory for Federal Rules: Voting 244 for and 180 against, the House on Wednesday passed a bill (HR 3438) that would allow courts to indefinitely delay new federal rules that would impose a cost of $1 billion or more annually on the economy. If a petition seeking judicial review is filed within 60 days of the rules effective date, courts could stay the rule until the legal challenge is resolved, even if that takes years. Agencies have proposed about two dozen billion-dollar rules since 2006. In defining the term $1 billion, the bill counts compliance costs but not the savings to society that result from factors such as improved job safety and environmental protection.

A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it was dead on arrival.

Voting yes: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble

Voting no: Pocan, Kind

Not voting: Moore

Exempting Rules for Homeland Security: Voting 182 for and 240 against, the House on Wednesday defeated a Democratic bid to keep HR 3438 (above) from indefinitely delaying rules that would protect the country against domestic and foreign security threats.

A yes vote was to exempt homeland-security rules from the underlying bill.

Voting yes: Pocan, Kind

Voting no: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Ribble

Not voting: Moore, Duffy

Exempting Rules on Medical Costs: Voting 189 for and 232 against, the House on Wednesday refused to exclude from the scope of HR 3438 (above) any proposed federal rule designed to reduce the cost of health care for persons 65 and older.

A yes vote was to exempt rules that cut seniors medical costs from the bill.

Voting yes: Pocan, Kind

Voting no: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble

Not voting: Moore

$1 Billion in Arms to Saudi Arabia: By a vote of 71 for and 27 against, the Senate on Wednesday tabled (killed) a measure (SJ Res 39) that sought to block a proposed $1.15 billion U.S. arms sale to Saudi Arabia. In the deal, the Saudis would receive 153 Abrams tanks, 20 Hercules armored vehicles and smaller arms such as of machine guns and smoke-grenade launchers. Critics said the deal would further entangle the U.S. in Yemens civil war, which Saudi forces have joined.

A yes vote was to approve the U.S.-Saudi weapons deal.

Voting yes: Ron Johnson, R

Voting no: Tammy Baldwin, D

Next week, both chambers will take up a stopgap spending bill for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, with hopes of recessing at weeks end until after Election Day.

 Thomas Voting Reports, Inc.
ROME  It is certainly no secret that Pope Francis frowns upon idle chatter. Since taking the helm of the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, he has scolded his priests and nuns and parishioners on countless occasions against wagging tongues. Gossip is rotten, he told a crowd gathered in St. Peters Square back in 2014, not even a year into his papacy. At the beginning, it seems to be something enjoyable and fun, like a piece of candy. But at the end, it fills the heart with bitterness and also poisons us.

In early September, he warned bishops who work in missionaries that spreading rumors among the clerical community could destroy the church. Division is the weapon the devil employs most to destroy the church from within, he said. He has two weapons, but the main one is division: the other is money. The devil enters through our pockets and destroys with the tongue, with idle chatter that divides, and the habit of gossiping is a habit of terrorism. The gossip is a terrorist who throws a grenadechatterin order to destroy.

On Thursday, Francis once again likened gossip to terrorism when he met with members of the Italian Council of the Order of Journalists in Vatican City. Certainly criticism is legitimate, and, I would add, necessary, just as is the denunciation of evil... Journalism cannot become a weapon of destruction of persons or even nations, he said. Neither must it nourish fear in front of changes or phenomena such as migration forced by war or by hunger.

Francis is, by far, the most media savvy pope in history, despite the fact that he says he has not watched television since 1990. He does read newspapers and his aides prepare morning headlines and news briefs about world events.

He is inarguably one of the worlds biggest newsmakers. His cordial in-flight press conferences on Apostolic voyages have become the stuff of legend, where almost all of his most astounding comments have bee shared, from Who am I to judge? when asked about whether a gay priest could be considered holy to his comments about Donald Trump not being Christian.

He has more than 30 million Twitter followers on his multiple language @Pontifex Twitter feeds and his @Franciscus Instagram account has more than 3 million followers. His chief spokesman is an American journalist who once worked for Fox news.

Francis has also given more sit-down interviews for newspapers and magazines than any other pope, not to mention allowing unprecedented media access to most papal pageantry that, for years, was tightly guarded and filtered. He has met the leaders of Facebook and Google, and he has held a number of video conferences with students and leaders across the world.

In his remarks to the Italian journalists, he was somewhat sympathetic to the pressure of deadlines fed by round-the-clock news feeds, but he says that tight deadlines should not excuse a rush to judgment or taking comments out of context for the purpose of fear mongering.

I realize that in journalism todayan uninterrupted flow of events recounted 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekits not always easy to arrive to the truth, or at least get close to it. Not everything in life is black or white. Even in journalism, one needs to know how to discern between the shades of gray in the events you are called to cover, he said. Political debates, and even many conflicts, are rarely the result of a distinct, clear dynamic in which it is possible to recognize precisely and unequivocally who is wrong and who is right.

Still, he says journalists and their editors should try harder. There are few professions which have such influence on society as does journalism, he said. The journalist has a role of great importance, and at the same time a great responsibility. In a certain sense you write the first draft of history introducing persons to the meaning of events.
MOSCOW  If you think the American elections look ugly where you are, you should watch the coverage in Russia. News about them is all over Russias mainstream media, and its brutal.

When Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton tried to power through pneumonia and had her fainting spell on Sept. 11, the Russia 24 channel informed its audience of almost 8 million viewers that shed been reported dead.

According to Russia 24, Clintons demise had been caught on camera but allegedly edited out by the American network ABC when it broadcast the footage.

We can now say with some confidence that Hillary Clinton is still alive. But in Russia, the beating goes on.

Thanks to relentless propaganda encouraged by the Kremlin, this is Trump country from St. Petersburg to Siberia. And Trump returns the compliment, repeating at any opportunity that Russian President Vladimir Putin is far more a leader than U.S. President Barack Obama.

More substantively, on critical issues like the fate of Ukraine and the strategy for Syria, Trump appears to be firmly in the Kremlins camp, and he seems to have no qualms about Putins efforts to rebuild the Russian, if not indeed the Soviet, empire.

So its not surprising that Trump gets more favorable coverage here. That is predictable, as Trump has never said that the revival of the Soviet Union would be a disaster, Vadim Dengin, a politician from the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, told The Daily Beast. Unlike Hillary, he makes friendly comments about Russian power. And then theres the matter of business interests. If he builds a hotel in Moscow, I am sure it will be popular, said Dengin.

But what is surprising, indeed shocking, is the vituperation against Clinton.

One of the most aggressive pro-Putin radio and TV presenters, Vladimir Solovyov, claimed on his Polny Kontakt (Absolute Contact) show that the yellow American press is accusing Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump of poisoning Hillary Clinton.

Solovyov claimed he had interviewed some U.S. politicians and doctors, and discovered: The diagnosis that seems much more correct than pneumonia, overheating, or dehydration is Parkinsons disease, and if one supposes that the Russian secret services managed to infect Clinton with Parkinsons, that is a new discovery about the disease. Getting every bit as wound up as Americas Rush Limbaugh, Solovyov declared that if Washington officially accused Russia of poisoning Clinton, that would be a reason for declaring war.

No such declaration was in the offing.

Last week, the major television channel Rossiya devoted an hour-long talk show to the U.S. presidential campaign. State Duma members and political experts argued emotionally about Clintons illness.

She was hiding, hiding it! several participants yelled. Donald Trumps face emerged on the screen in the studio with a citation of the candidate promising to publish his medical tests. The audience applauded in approval.

Some politicians seemed wary of this love fest. Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov did not seem too confident Trump would live up to his friendly words. America has never been a good partner for us, said Zyuganov. The States do not need us to be strong competitors, lets think and develop our own country.

But Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russias biggest advocate for Donald Trump, immediately hit back, blaming the communists for poor relations with the United States. Who broke up with America in 1945? That was you who broke up, Zhirinovsky told the Ccmmunist leader. If we stayed in union with America, there would have neither been Korea, Vietnam, nor Cuba, Zhirinovsky said, rattling off the names of the old Cold War conflicts.

The Kremlin was upset that the Obama administration is playing a Russian card and our presidents card, Putins press secretary Dmitry Peskov said, insisting that the discussion of Russia in the U.S. elections is often a demonstration of blunt Russophobia.

No Kremlin-controlled media seemed serious about investigating the Republican presidential candidates business connections in Moscow, St. Petersburg, or Kiev.

Why?

I am interested, but I have a sense I could be buried for such an investigation, as there are some dangerous guys who were involved in that business, the pro-Kremlin observer and editor-in-chief of the popular Moscow Speaks radio show, Sergei Darenko, told The Daily Beast.

When it comes to Hillary Clinton, Moscows media remain bitter and aggressive, as if the first American woman who might actually win the presidency is Russias worst enemy already.

In his Podyom (Get Up) show, Darenko made ironic comparisons between Clinton and the recently deceased president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, who lingered for quite a while in the hospital: She is going to be dying for as long as Karimov, Darenko informed the broadcasts million listeners.
Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and Oculus Rift developers are donating to Hillary Clinton in direct response to news that Oculus founder Palmer Luckey is backing a political action group pushing shitposts on behalf of Donald Trump.

Some developers are even pulling support for the Oculus Rift and refusing to continue game development on the platform until Luckey is removed from Facebook, where Luckeys LinkedIn states hes worked since he sold Oculus VR to the social media juggernaut for $2 billion in 2014.

A Daily Beast investigation revealed that Luckey, who sold Oculus VR to Facebook for $2 billion in 2014, used the pseudonym NimbleRichMan to act as the vice president of Nimble America, which is dedicated to making pro-Trump meme magic. A spokesperson for the organization said it had raised $11,000 before a Saturday fundraising round on Reddit.

Oculus founder Palmer Luckey posted a statement on his Facebook page late Friday night admitting to donating $10,000 to pro-Trump shitposting organization Nimble America, after a Daily Beast article revealed his involvement in the group on Thursday.

In his statement, Luckey denied using the Reddit pseudonym NimbleRichMan to post anonymously about the group. But emails to The Daily Beasts Gideon Resnick from earlier this week reveal Palmer admitting he made the post under the name and he posted the body himself. Those emails are provided in the Tweet below.

Repeated requests to Facebook for comment have gone unreturned.

In a later email, Luckey said that the "NimbleRichMan" account "represents" him.

Edward E McNeill, who won the 2013 Oculus VR Jam (a contest for early Oculus developers) and created the Oculus Rift launch title Darknet, told The Daily Beast he donated $1,000 to the Clinton campaign directly in response to Luckeys actions. He then posted a receipt of his donation on Twitter and Reddit.

I think that Palmer has the right to spend his money as he sees fit. And so do I, McNeill said. If hes going to put his VR money toward supporting Trump, then Ill put my VR money toward supporting Clinton. Its not much, but its something.

McNeill said he hopes the donation will spur more developers to take action. The donation drive was a shot in the dark, and well see if it gains any traction, he said.

Now, other members of the VR community are joining in.

In the aftermath of the story posting, Logan Olsonwho developed SoundStage, which allows users to make music in virtual realityannounced that all profits from SoundStage in the ensuing 24 hours would go to Hillary Clintons campaign.

I want the VR/AR community to be a diverse and inclusive group who welcomes progress, and Trump is the antithesis of those values, Olson wrote in a direct message on Twitter to The Daily Beast.

Ian Bogost, a video game designer and professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, wrote an incisive piece in response to the revelation for The Atlantic, in which he tied Luckey to a series of individuals who sought revenge on the people who essentially excluded them in some capacity.

Americas long dream of electing a business leader as president (Perot, Romney, Trump, etc.) dovetails so well with Silicon Valleys belief in entrepreneurial success as the ultimate sign of prowess and competence, Bogost writes. Its more surprising that everyone in the Valley doesnt support Trump than that [PayPal co-founder Peter] Thiel and Luckey do.

When reached by email Bogost said that Luckey may have complicated the situation by making his participation somewhat mysterious.

I certainly think Thiels support of Hulk Hogan against Gawker was a kind of precedent but not entirely similar, he said, referencing the now-infamous involvement of a billionaire funding a war against a publication he did not like. An interesting thought experiment: had Luckey just donated $1m (or whatever) to Trumps campaign directly, wouldnt the reaction have been totally different? Its this sense of direct but shrouded cynical cloak-and-dagger work against governance as such that feels new.

He wasnt so certain that this would have immediate damaging ramifications for Oculus however.

A number of smaller game developers have already asserted their intentions to remove Oculus support from their games until Luckey resigns from Oculus VR, Bogost said. But this is largely a symbolic act. Oculus has already helped establish the VR marketplace, and besides that, the vast majority of people probably wont notice.

As Motherboard reported, a slew of virtual reality game developers have already backed away from Oculus less than a day after the news brokesome even insisting theyll withdraw support until Luckey is no longer associated with Oculus VR.

Insomniac Games condemns all forms of hate speech, the makers of Ratchet and Clank and game-developers for Oculus told Motherboard. While everyone has a right to express his or her political opinion, the behavior and sentiments reported do not reflect the values of our company. We are also confident that this behavior and sentiment does not reflect the values of the many Oculus employees we work with on a daily basis.

Tomorrow Today Labs, a VR game studio out of Seattle, tweeted: Hey @oculus, @PalmerLuckeys actions are unacceptable. NewtonVR will not be supporting the Oculus Touch as long as he is employed there.

Palmer Luckeys behavior is unacceptable, Adrienne Hunter, co-founder of the Tomorrow Today Labs, said in an email to The Daily Beast. This is the opposite of promoting inclusion in our industry, and the absolute worst way to lead by example. Oculus SDK support for NewtonVR has been shelved, and any VR tools or games we release in the future will not support Oculus products as long as Palmer Luckey is employed at Facebook/Oculus.

Scruta Games, a Philadelphia-based company, shared the sentiment in a tweet from their company account

Until @PalmerLuckey steps down from his position at @oculus, we will be cancelling Oculus support for our games.

McNeill said he likely wont boycott the company based on the politics of its founder.

Ive had a great experience with Oculus over the yearsincluding working with a lot of good people working thereand I like the products that theyve built, he said. Ill keep working with them. But this sure as hell doesnt make me feel better about it.

And despite some Twitter abuse for making his donation public, McNeill is proud he made his Thursday night impulse donationand did so publicly.

So far, Ive gotten a few encouraging responses from other devs, plus someone accusing me of treason and a guy on Twitter telling me to gas myself. But not much more than that, said McNeill. Im happy with my donation, either way.
Sen. Ted Cruz spent his political career carefully crafting an image of himself as a principled, conservative lawmaker, unafraid to stand up to the party establishment and high powered donors.

And now no one believes him.

Thats because on Friday, Cruz shattered his carefully cultivated reputation by endorsing Donald Trump, a man who insulted his wife, Heidi, hinted that Cruz himself had numerous mistresses and implied Cruzs father was part of the Kennedy assassination.

Cruzs endorsement also marks the latest defection from the ranks of Never Trump, a movement that is slowly capitulating to Trump as Republicans in the long, slow march to Election Day.

After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, Cruz wrote on his Facebook page.

Cruz isnt a politician who acts on a whim. He thinks tactically, measures every move, and makes decisions with extreme caution. When he talks to the press, for example, he will give thought-out quotes that will match quotes he gave an hour laterverbatim.

Its that calculating nature makes the latest decision so stunning: his actions seem designed to do as much damage to himself as possible.

First, Cruz decided not to endorse Trump during the Republican National Convention, inflicting maximum damage to his support among those who had decided to support the Trump nomination. Now, with less than two months to go before Election Day, he comes around to Trump, inflicting additional damage to his support among conservatives who until now had viewed Cruz as a leading member of the #NeverTrump movement.

Cruz is not alone, and is only the latest member of this movement to waver. The Ricketts family, an influential and wealthy conservative family, spent nearly $6 million this campaign cycle to prevent Trump from winning the nomination. The family will now spend $1 million to back Trumps campaign for the White House. The website they funded, trumpquestions.com, is still live.

And the Mercer family, also Republican megadonors, began pouring money into an anti-Clinton political action committee and playing a more central role in Trumps campaign after their $13.5 million investment in Cruzs super PAC didnt play out well during the primaries.

Top conservative radio host Mark Levin also threw in the towel. Levin announced earlier this month that he would reluctantly back Trump, citing his belief that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was a greater danger.

Cruz wrote in his Friday Facebook post that his differences with Hillary Clinton on the Supreme Court, Obamacare, energy policy, immigration, national security and Internet freedom were all key to his decision to back Trump.

If Clinton wins, we knowwith 100% certaintythat she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country. My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that, Cruz wrote.

Cruzs endorsement has been aided by the Trump campaigns decision to hire Kellyanne Conway and Jason Miller as senior staff, both of whom previously worked on Cruzs campaign. Earlier on Friday, Trump released a new list of individuals he would nominate to the Supreme Court if elected president, which included Cruzs closest friend in the Senate, #NeverTrumper Sen. Mike Lee.

On Wednesday Trump sweetened the deal further by wading into an obscure Internet crusade that Cruz had been waging in the Senate, over the U.S. governments role in overseeing domain names.

Being second fiddle to Trump is a position Cruz has some familiarity with. Before they were enemies, they were friends. They held a joint event together on the Iran deal during the primariesCruzs strategy at the time was to maintain good relations with Trump, and then swoop in when the businessmans support collapsed.

The collapse never came. Instead, Cruz maintained an ongoing battle with Trump as among the last candidates standing in the GOP primaries. After attacks on his personal integrity, his wifes looks and his fathers (non-existent) role in the JFK assassination, Cruz fired back.

During the primaries, Cruz called Trump out as utterly amoral and serial philandering, pathological liar, who was a sniveling coward for attacking his wife. And during the Republican National Convention, Cruz notably declined to endorse Trump on the stage, instead telling delegates to vote their conscience.

The stunt was not well received. Delegates began to boo him loudly, until Trump himself walked into the arena, effectively ending Cruzs speech.

I am not in the habit of supporting someone who attacks my wife and attacks my father, Cruz said, defending this decision.

The backlash on social media from Cruzs (perhaps now former) supporters was reliably brutal. Go fuck yourself you gutless traitor, @flametrooper420 tweeted at the senator, with a photo attached of a raised middle finger pointed at a burned Ted Cruz bumper sticker.

What a sellout, Greg Gaines, of Cleveland, Georgia, wrote as a comment on Cruzs Facebook page. I am ashamed to have supported you. By endorsing him you are endorsing everything he has said about you and so many others You just lost a voter, Mr. Cruz.

Ive had a Ted Cruz bumper sticker on my car from day one  Im taking it off of my car right now, Daniel Pulliam, another ex-fan, commented.

Some of Cruzs most famous allies in the #NeverTrump movement were also visibly distraught and profoundly upset on Friday afternoon.

Profoundly sad day for me, conservative radio host Glenn Beck posted on Facebook. Disappointment does not begin to describe. Maybe it is time to go to the mountains for a while.

Their disappointment was built on the fact that they had been led for so long to believe that Cruz would hold his ground. There was so much bad blood that after the Republican National Convention that in July Trump said he would not even accept Cruzs endorsement if it was offered.

But like so many things during this campaign, this pledge was quickly forgotten.

I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz, Trump said in a statement in Friday. We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again.

Asawin Suebsaeng contributed reporting.
I dont remember when I first fell in love with Shonda Rhimes. It may have been the first time Scandal cold opened with an extended sex scene set to a groovy Motown track. Or it might have been when Annalise Keating, the star of Rhimess 2014 offering, How to Get Away with Murder, politely asked her husband, Why is your penis on a dead girls phone? Or it could have been the pure and simple casting of Jesse Williams on Rhimess flagship series, Greys Anatomy. I love me some Jesse Williams.

ShondaLand is the name of television fairy godmother Shonda Rhimess production company. Its also shorthand for a miraculous world that we mere humans are granted access to every Thursday, because God really is a black woman, and her name is Shonda Rhimes. On Thursday, two of ShondaLands stalwartsGreys Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murderreturned to ABC for their fall premieres. Scandal, Rhimess Kerry Washington-helmed Washington D.C. drama, is sitting this one out on account of Washingtons second pregnancy. I like to think that this is because Scandals diehard fans simply would not buy an episode in which Washingtons Olivia Pope didnt drain a fishbowl-sized glass of Pinot Grigio. This is the magical world that Shonda Rhimes has created, and were just living in it.

ShondaLand is superior to the real world for a host of reasons including, but not limited to, the fact that IRL 2016 is fucking horrible. In ShondaLand women, specifically women of color, are respected, high powered professionals. Women like Annalise Keaton, Olivia Pope, and even Meredith Grey are badasses who are unparalleled in their chosen fields. By some otherworldly feat of imagination, Rhimes has managed to conjure up a world in which women are more or less in chargewhere they dont have to pander to powerful men or dab on national television to get the jobs that they deserve. The real feminist fantasy of Greys Anatomy was never getting laid in an unattended supply closet between roundsit was becoming a world-renowned surgeon, or getting appointed chief of staff. In ShondaLand, studly but frequently stupid men are basically scattered around like accessories, ripped and for her pleasure. Call it a groundbreaking reversal of the male gaze or just call it a shirtless Billy Brown giving Viola Davis a foot massagesuffice to say, these women arent worried about the wage gap or the orgasm gap.

In the winter white landscape otherwise known as network television, ShondaLand has given us countless non-white baes to pine over. Rhimess roster of aspirational love interests includes beautiful bisexual women, stereotypically gorgeous white men, hot dudes with beards, hot dudes without beards, sexy gingers of both genders, and Jesse freaking Williams. If you happen to like your women strong and stunning, and your men carved from various shades of marble, youve come to the right place. After one Olivia Pope-sized pour of white wine, even sexy grandpa Richard Webber could get it. Forget about living in ShondaLandcan we just get 24 hours on their Tinder?

In ShondaLand, tailored white suits actually stay clean. Your boyfriend is the President, your doctor is (the ghost of?) Patrick Dempsey, and you probably have a really cool half-sister you dont even know about yet. So without further ado, welcome back ShondaLand. We really freaking missed you.

In a misguided attempt to set boundaries between myself and Shonda Rhimes, I actually stopped watching Greys Anatomy a few years ago. My subsequent decision to watch the premiere of the millionth season of Greys without reading a single recap was, in my opinion, a courageous one. Unfortunately, I quickly learned that all of my favorite characters are dead, and Meredith Greys voiceovers still sound like a collection of yoga teacher Tumblr posts. This season opened on Owens wedding reception to Amelia, a person I have never heard of. McDreamy and love are both dead and theyre never coming back. So naturally, Meredith has a new love interestand boy is he generic. He also has some sort of accent that the ladies of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital are really going wild forcue the inevitable love triangle between Meredith, Maggie and this white guy (fine, his name is Nathan).

After walking in on his girlfriend fully clothed but in proximity to a human man last season, Karev proceeded to pummel said malesurgeon DeLucainto a bloody pulp. Karev then took his own victim to the hospital and attempted to treat him, all while halfheartedly hiding his incredibly suspicious bruised knuckle. Karev and BFF Meredith spend the entire episode trying to get their story straight. Eventually, Karev turns himself in, and learns that he could be facing up to 20 years for his unwarranted assault. Meanwhile, in another hospital wing, April has decided to name her and Jacksons baby Harriet (Tubman) Kepner-Avery, because if weve learned anything from Greys Anatomy, its that your parents can really fuck you up.

My first thought while watching this premiere was, wow, Karev is really the worst. Over the course of one episode, he graduates from beating up an innocent man to making his girlfriend cry by criticizing her for being raised in foster care. The whole time, he pressures Meredith to defend him and puts the entire weight of his poor decision-making on her shoulders. Merediths smoking hot soulmate died in a freak car accident; she should be taking long bubble baths and listening to Frank Ocean, not wasting her energy keeping trifling man-boys out of prison. My second thought was, wow, fictional Seattle real estate is really incredible. I guess in ShondaLand, you know youre a grown-up once youre more turned on by exposed brick and well-tended houseplants than Jackson Avery. Lastly, I learned that 90 percent of acting is just staring at your scene mate, and that Maggie is actually Merediths sister, which, in retrospect, wouldve been really helpful information to have at the beginning of this episode.

Greys Anatomy has a predictable, schmaltzy formula, which some people love and other people love to hate. Meanwhile, How to Get Away with Murder is objectively amazing and everything about it is incredible. This premiere episode is called Were Good People Now. This is an inside joke, stemming from the fact that all of these people are horrible. These characters arent trendy, tortured anti-heroestheyre monsters. HTGAWM, a show about lawyers, might actually have a higher body count than Greys Anatomy, a medical drama.

Last season, Wes finally met his biological dad, who was promptly shot in front of him. We quickly learn that Shonda will be disrupting this perfect hour of television with confusing time stamps, as is her wontShonda giveth, and Shonda taketh away. Wes tells Annalise that Frank, noted killer and beard icon, took him to meet his dad and then fled the crime scene. Because Frank is a hired assassin, and also because of some very complicated backstory between Frank, Annalise, and Wess dad, its clear that Frank killed Wess father. Annalise takes Wes into the woods to scream out their grief, which is sort of cute. Their primal scream is juxtaposed with flashes of Frank shaving his beard and head. I loved Franks beard, but damn if that Italian bone structure isnt working overtime.

Four months later, the gang is back on campus and everyone is in their feelings about it. Wes and Laurel have an awkward reunion, in which we learn that Wes has a new girlfriendthe tragically named Meggy. Asher half-winks at Michaela, reminding us alland seemingly, Michaelathat they were getting busy at the end of last season. An unfriendly new student chimes in, reminding the would-be lawyers that all of their grades are horrible. Apparently, spending your entire semester battling PTSD and killing law enforcement officials might land you on the bottom of your class rankings. Annalise makes her grand entrance, welcoming everyone to her new pro bono law clinic. For each case, students will compete to earn a spot representing their new client. The first client is an immigrant whos facing deportation on drug charges.

Annalises protegees are worried about all the murders they committed last season, and have a sneaking suspicion that there arent enough pro bono cases in the world to clear their consciences. Also, Annalise has a burner phone she keeps in a secret compartment in her jewelry box.

Through a series of flashbacks, we get to catch up on all the goings-on we missed over summer vacay. These scenes are shot in a fun, over-saturated filter, which is how we know that its definitely not fall. Back in May, Laurel came to tell Annalise that shes leaving for Mexico to visit her mother, because her criminal mastermind father still isnt allowed back in the country. Because why make a characters family backstory simple when it could be endlessly intricate and complicated? Laurel tells Annalise that Frank still hasnt contacted her in the wake of his crime spree/beard shaving, and that hes dead to her. Annalise tells her to student to bring me back some tequila, my bodys sick of vodka. If there is one thing this episode will prove beyond a reasonable doubt, it is that Annalise Keaton is not sick of vodka.

In June, Annalise promised Connor not to hire his boyfriend, Oliver. When Oliver comes in for his interview, he confesses to Annalise that he deleted Connors acceptance to Stanford with his super hacker skills, offering this betrayal of trust as evidence that he can be bad too. And in July, a newly cut off Asher went to Annalise asking for a loan, and was promptly laughed out of her backyard: Your white ass hasnt struggled a day in its life.

Annalise and Michaela have their little moment in an August flashback, when Annalise is called to pick up a wasted Michaela from an almost bar fight. Seriously, who lists their terrifying law professor as their emergency contact? Michaela wants to rage at Annalise for turning her life into a living hell, but Annalise is having none of it: Next time you want to drink yourself silly, call me. I have a full liquor cabinet and I wont let you drive home drunk. Annalises one-on-ones with her students overwhelmingly seem to circle back to her own alcoholism, which might be why they call her selfish all the time.

In a flashback meeting with the new university presidentwho, yes, is a black woman; black women run this school, what of it? we learn that Annalises new law clinic is actually a demotion. Shes chastised for her poor performance as a professor, since all of her pet students are basically failing out of school. Its unnerving to see a professional boundary being emphasized on a ShondaLand showAnnalise is actually facing repercussions for treating her students like stand-in kids/criminal accomplices.

Meanwhile, back at school, someone is hanging up killer posters of Annalises face. The kids keep asking Annalise what her plan is, to which she replies, confused, Why you always stalking me? Annalise doesnt love the incriminating posters pasted around her place of work but notes, At least they chose a good photo. Clearly, Annalise has no fucks left to givemaybe theyre hiding in her secret jewelry box compartment.

Time for a mojito party at Oliver and Connors! Meanwhile, Annalise is having a grown up party with her boyfriend, Nathan, whos giving her the topless foot massage of a lifetime.

Asher is an RA now (bummer), but Michaela is still deigning to sleep with him (nice!). Mid-sex session, Michaela catches a glimpse of Ashers notes for the law clinic and leaves in a hurry, with a half-assed excuse about not wanting to date a boy who lives in a dorm room. Asher complains that Michaela is just discriminating against him because hes poor now, to which she effortlessly replies, Welcome to America.

Wes is leading the team at court, where we get a little bit of learning sprinkled in with our soap operaaccording to Annalise, the defense only wins 3 percent of cases in immigration court. Michaela uses the lead she stole from Asher to fill the episodes breathless interruption of a court scene quota. Unfortunately, the judge still rules to deport their client, because life isnt fair and its a whole lot less fair if youre in this country on a green card. Annalise tells Connor shes going hire Oliver, despite promising him that she wouldnt. She also breaks the news about his boyfriends Stanford betrayal as if shes relaying a coffee order, most likely due to her aforementioned lack of fucks.

Connor confronts Oliver about messing with his Stanford application, but is ultimately way too chill about the whole situation. Oliver thinks that Connor should be angry, as anyone who hears this story would be. Touche. Oliver, who is shockingly sane, has to admit that, This is not what a healthy relationship looks like. Now were all crying, as Oliver tells a disbelieving Connor that theyre over.

Meanwhile, Annalise and Bonnie are drinking huge glasses of vodka and thinking about how convenient it would be if Frank was dead. Annalise says shes not a killer, and shes not about to let Frank turn her into onewhich is sort of splitting hairs at this point. Finally, we get back to the mystery of Annalise and her burner phone. She gets a call from a dude whos found Frank at a motel. So, do or die? he asks her. What do you want to do? Before Annalise can answer, Frank sneaks up behind her hired help and starts strangling him.

In a flash forward to two months later, we find Annalise sobbing uncontrollably beside a body, undoubtedly a main cast member. Also, her house is on fire. This. Is. ShondaLand.
President George W. Bush was found guilty of war crimes last night at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. The jury vote was 6-3.

Dont worry if you didnt know the 43rd president was on trial. This was an off-Broadway verdict, the conclusion to a new play called The Trial of an American President . The trial was fiction, but the vote, from nine members of the audience chosen to be the jury, was very real.

In the play, Bush is charged with three overarching crimes resulting from his war against Iraq.

Witnesses appear on videotapeincluding innocent civilians whose families were destroyed and victims of torture at Guantanamo. A midwestern mother mourns the 19-year old son she lost in the war who enlisted because he believed in you and asks what cause he died for.

The President expresses his regret at all the anguish but insists he started the war for a reason. He spouts his long-disproven connection between the 9/11 attacks and Iraq and adds, My gut told me Saddam needed to be removed.

Though the play focuses only on Bush, its timing this election season makes you think about another would-be President who relies on his gut and spews bad information as fact. Donald Trumps casual support of nuclear weapons and waterboarding, and his plan to counter terrorists by targeting their families, could easily get him convicted him at the Hague.

Whats happening in America right now is an embarrassment, and if Trump became president and did the things he says it would be a horror, said first-time playwright Dick Tarlow.

Tarlow had a long and successful career as an advertising executive, and after making a fortune selling Polo Ralph Lauren and Revlon and other glamour products, his turn to serious politics is a surprise.

I read ten or twelve books about Bush and at least three books that accused him of war crimes, said Tarlow. I try not to take sides in the play, but Im of the personal opinion that what Bush did is illegal and the consequences have been disastrous.

The prosecutor, played by Michael Rogers, is tall, imposing, and god-like in a bright blue long robe. (Think a young Morgan Freeman.) His intense style and stentorian voice get you on his side immediately. Bush, in a slightly wrinkled suit, tries to explain that he wasnt a monster and prayed a lot so he would do what God wanted.

When you read Bushs own writings, its amazing how much he deals with religion, said Tarlow. He was a strong Christian with the goal to bring our ideals and democracy to other countries, however misguided.

The video witnesses give the play its greatest emotional heft, reminding us that discussions of foreign policy arent abstract. One woman describes a missile that killed 62 of her neighbors and another wonders why families were slaughtered.

Bush explains that its the price you pay for victory.

No, it was the innocent who paid with their lives, booms the prosecutor.

Tony Carlin, the actor who plays George Bush, joked that when he watched the videos playing behind him, he realized he wasnt going to get much audience sympathy.

Once youve got Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney laughing, its a done deal, he said.

Carlin is a character actor, but Id never done George Bush before. I think at the first reading I did Will Ferrell doing Jon Stewart doing George Bush.

Now hes stopped viewing Bush as a caricature, and even if he disagrees with his policies, I believe in him believing them. He thinks Bushs religious heart was real but his lack of experience did damage.

I see him as a soft jock who had some public policy and was okay as the governor of Texas. But he was not ready for the international stage, and its incredible that he had eight years.

Could he imagine Trump in a similar situation?

I get nauseous at the prospect of Trump winning, Carlin said. I grew up in New York where we thought of him as crass and money-grubbing. Hes the guy who uses the campaign to pay himself.

In the play, Bush says that As commander-in-chief, I didnt think I owed anyone a defense for my actions. Its frightening to imagine the arrogance with which the current Republican candidate might say the same.

When George Bush became president in real life, he removed the United States from being under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and so couldnt be prosecuted for war crimes.

Tarlow tries too hard to explain how this trial might have happened. The basic idea is that Bush voluntarily shows up to restore his name and legacy, even knowing that he could end up in jail. Its distracting and unnecessary. (Good theater brings you into its world. Does anybody leave Hamilton wondering if the Treasury secretary really rapped with Thomas Jefferson?)

Despite the rookie mistake of too much exposition, the play builds in intensity through three days of trial. Confronted with painful testimony from innocent people who were tortured, Bush admits that some of the acts were despicable and claims that if he had known, he wouldnt have condoned them.

If we dont hold ourselves to the standard we hold the enemy to, then we are the enemy, he says righteously. You cant help wishing he had come to that conclusion earlier in the war.

Listening to the prosecutor, you suddenly realize the destruction that an American president can cause in the world. The everyday lives of people around the world can be shattered for no reason.

There are people in Iraq who suffered like mad for what we did, said Tarlow. I wanted to humanize the play so that its not just statistics.

Carlin does his best, but with the powerful prosecutor and the emotional videos, the deck is stacked against him. Unless a bus comes in from Kennebunkport, the audience jury will probably find Bush guilty every night.

The audience gets deeply engaged in the questions the play raises, and Tarlow hopes to film it for wider viewership.

Id love to get some cable station to put it on, and then let the American people vote on whether Bush should be found guilty or not, he said. We need these discussions.

The Trial of an American President is at the Theatre Row-Lion Theater until October 15.
Three key witnesses to Hillary Clintons use of a private email server were given immunity from prosecution in exchange for their cooperation with the FBIs investigation, a top U.S. congressman said on Friday. The revelation is certain to fuel Republican anger over the FBIs handling of the Clinton investigation just days before she and GOP rival Donald Trump will face off at the first presidential debate.

Those who received the deals were Clintons former State Department chief of staff and her attorney, Cheryl Mills; Clinton aide and lawyer Heather Samuelson; and John Bentel, who ran the State Department's information resources management office when Clinton served as secretary.

Potential witnesses are only given immunity when investigators have concluded they cannot obtain the information they need from any other sources. That the three individuals were given deals indicates that the FBI felt their knowledge was vital to its investigation.

The immunity deals, which were first reported by the Associated Press and independently corroborated by The Daily Beast, shed new light on the FBIs investigation into Clintons server.

Bentel, who was aware that Clinton was using a private email server while she was secretary of state, was given immunity from prosecution for the improper transmission or storage of classified materials on unclassified servers, an individual with knowledge of the agreement told The Daily Beast.

The FBI found that some of the emails on Clintons server contained highly-classified information. In 2010, when two State Department employees asked Bentel why Clinton was using a private server, he told them that the matter had been reviewed by the departments lawyers and that it was not to be discussed any further, according to the State Department inspector general.

Mills and Samuelson were given immunity in exchange for handing over their laptop computers to the FBI, with an agreement that they would not be prosecuted for any information obtained from those laptops, according to a statement from Democratic members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Brian Fallon, a spokesman for the Clinton campaign, dismissed the information as "House Republicans are trying to make something out of nothing" and a political ploy three days before the presidential debate.

"As the case file makes clear, these aides were considered nothing more than witnesses and they cooperated in full with the Justice Department inquiry," Fallon said. "This kind of agreement is not at all unusual in an inquiry such as this, and it came after these aides had already given full interviews to the investigators. When the case was closed in July, Director Comey himself said these aides had acted in good faith."

He added, "Congressman Chaffetz continues to abuse his office by wasting taxpayer dollars to try to second-guess the FBI in what amounts to a desperate attempt to boost Donald Trump's chances against Hillary Clinton."

Mills and Samuelson played key roles in the handling of Clintons emails. The two attorneys worked with Clintons longtime lawyer, David Kendall, to decide which of Clintons emails to turn over to the State Department after she left office and which ones she would retain because they were determined to involved personnel matters.

Both lawyers had copies of Clintons emails on their laptops, but they removed those copies in late 2014 or early 2015, the FBI found, months before the existence of the private server became known publicly.

The decision to give Bentel, Samuelson, and Mills immunity drew swift condemnation from Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the oversight committee chairman, who has objected to the FBIs decision not to recommend prosecuting Clinton or her aides.

"This is beyond explanation, Chaffetz said in a statement. The FBI was handing out immunity agreements like candy. I've lost confidence in this investigation and I question the genuine effort in which it was carried out. Immunity deals should not be a requirement for cooperating with the FBI."

Bentel, Mills, and Samuelson have also been the subject of intense interest by a conservative watchdog group, Judicial Watch, which has sued for more information about how Clinton set up the server and why she opted not to use an official .gov email account.

The group deposed Mills in May and will take a deposition from Bentel in October.

Bentel, in late 2010, told two State Department employees not to discuss Clintons email system after they raised questions with him about why she was using a private account. The departments inspector general found that the employees discussed their concerns about Secretary Clintons use of a personal email account with Bentel in late 2010, five years before the existence of the server became known publicly.

In one meeting, one staff member raised concerns that information sent and received on Secretary Clintons account could contain Federal records that needed to be preserved in order to satisfy Federal recordkeeping requirements, the IG found. According to the staff member, the Director [Bentel] stated that the Secretarys personal system had been reviewed and approved by Department legal staff and that the matter was not to be discussed any further.

In fact, Clinton didnt seek approval for the system from the departments lawyers, and had she asked, the approval wouldnt have been granted, the IG found.

Republican lawmakers have publicly second-guessed Director James Comeys decision not to recommend criminal charges. Chaffetz has launched his own inquiry into whether Clinton committed perjury when she testified about her email system before the House committee investigating the Benghazi, Libya, terrorist attacks in 2012. Clinton has said she never sent or received classified information over her private email, a claim that has been disproved by the FBIs investigation.

On Thursday, Justice Department lawyers also showed Chaffetz and his committee members a copy of another immunity agreement given to Bryan Pagliano, the former Clinton IT staffer who set up her server in her New York home and maintained it for her while he worked at the State Department. His deal was previously known.

On Thursday, Chaffetzs committee approved a contempt finding against Bryan Pagliano, the technology specialist who set up the server in Clintons New York home and maintained it for her while he worked at the State Department. Pagliano was also given immunity for cooperating with the FBI. Chaffetzs committee had subpoenaed him to testify about the emails system but he refused to show up.

Jackie Kucinich contributed reporting
How does a lie come to be widely taken as the truth?

The answer is disturbingly simple: Repeat it over and over again. When faced with facts that contradict the lie, repeat it louder.

This, in a nutshell, is the story of claims of voting fraud in America  and particularly of voter impersonation fraud, the only kind that voter ID laws can possibly prevent.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll just found that nearly half of registered American voters believe that voter fraud occurs somewhat or very often.

That astonishing number includes two-thirds of people who say theyre voting for Donald Trump and a little more than one-quarter of Hillary Clinton supporters.

Another 26 percent of American voters said that fraud rarely occurs, but even that characterization is off the mark. Just 1 percent of respondents gave the answer that comes closest to reflecting reality: Never.

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 1 billion votes cast in all American elections between 2000 and 2014, there were 31 possible cases of impersonation fraud. Other violations  such as absentee ballot fraud, multiple voting and registration fraud  are 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. Those groups  mainly minorities, the poor and students  are less likely to have the required forms of identification.

Behind closed doors, some Republicans freely admit that stoking false fears of electoral fraud is part of their political strategy.

In a recently disclosed email from 2011, a Republican lobbyist in Wisconsin wrote to colleagues about a very close election for a seat on the state Supreme Court.

Do we need to start messaging widespread reports of election fraud so we are positively set up for the recount regardless of the final number? he wrote. I obviously think we should.

Sometimes they acknowledge it publicly. In 2012, a former Florida Republican Party chairman, Jim Greer, told The Palm Beach Post that voter ID laws and cutbacks in early voting are done for one reason and one reason only  to suppress Democratic turnout. Consultants, Greer said, never came in to see me and tell me we had a fraud issue. Its all a marketing ploy.

The ploy works. During the 2012 election, voter ID laws in Kansas and Tennessee reduced turnout by about 2 percent, or about 122,000 votes, according to a 2014 analysis by the Government Accountability Office. Turnout fell the most among young people, African-Americans and newly registered voters.

Another study analyzing elections from 2006 through 2014 found that voting by eligible minority citizens decreased significantly in states with voter ID laws and that the racial turnout gap doubles or triples in states with those laws.

There are plenty of shortcomings in the American voting system, but most are a result of outdated machines, insufficient resources or human error  not intentional fraud. All of these are made only worse by shutting down polling places or eliminating early voting hours, measures frequently supported by Republican legislators.

Those efforts are especially galling in a nation where, on a good day, only 60 percent of eligible voters show up to the polls. ... The truth is that those who created the specter of voter fraud dont care about the integrity of the voting system; they want to undermine the rights of legitimate voters because that helps them win elections.

The scary thing is how many Americans have bought into this charade. It shouldnt be surprising that the Republican Partys standard-bearer, Donald Trump, has elevated the lie about voting fraud and rigged elections to a centerpiece of his campaign.
Police officers routinely display selfless, life-saving heroism. That was apparent Saturday night at a mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where off-duty officer Jason Falconer confronted and shot to death Dahir Adan after the 22-year-old had stabbed 10 people. Falconer was widely and deservedly praised for acting quickly to save lives.

But one can revere this heroism while still having profound reservations about a police culture that seems far too tolerant of  and too quick to defend  the use of lethal force against unarmed people, often African-Americans. Another example came last week in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when police Officer Betty Shelby fatally shot Terence Crutcher, 40, who was unarmed and standing by his vehicle. In videos released Monday, there is no evidence Crutcher was behaving in a threatening way. ...

It was impossible not to the think of the wrenching videos of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, men killed by police in Minnesota and Louisiana, respectively, in early July. The reaction of Crutchers twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, to video of an officer calling him a bad dude before he was shot was unforgettable.

The big bad dude was my twin brother. That big bad dude was a father, she said. That big bad dude was a son. That big bad dude was enrolled at Tulsa Community College, just wanting to make us proud. That big bad dude loved God. That big bad dude was at church singing with all of his flaws, every week. That big bad dude, thats who he was.

Now hes dead  for no reason at all.
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
TULSA, Okla. (AP)  Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma filed first-degree manslaughter charges Thursday against the white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a city street.

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.
"After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," Cruz said in a statement released to The Texas Tribune.

Cruz's support coincided with Trump's decision to release a list of additional people he would appoint to the U.S. Supreme Court as president. On the list was U.S. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, a close Cruz ally and another Trump holdout.

"Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way," Cruz said in the statement. "A year ago, I promised to support the Republican nominee, and I will honor that commitment."

Cruzs endorsement is an astonishing reversal. Since he dropped out of the race in May, Cruz has declined to express any support for a Trump presidency  including during a speech at the Republican National Convention that caused an uproar and cast uncertainty over Cruzs political future.

There were signs this week that Cruz was warming to Trump. Jeff Roe, Cruzs former campaign manager, said Wednesday that the senator was encouraged by Trumps recent performance on the campaign trail. Later that day, Trump came out in support of Cruzs top priority in Congress: stopping what Cruz calls the Obama administrations Internet giveaway.

A source familiar with Cruzs decision-making process said the senator has been encouraged by what he sees as movement by Trump toward issues important to conservatives. Cruzs team had asked Trump to include Lee on the judges list, and Cruzs team was also happy to see Trump get involved in the Internet issue  apparently against the wishes of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

With these promises that hes made, [Cruz] now can hold him accountable to keep them, the source said.

Cruz's exit from the race paved the way for Trump to become the GOP nominee. It came after a bloody battle with Trump that included the bombastic businessman attacking Cruz's family, retweeting an unflattering photo of Cruz's wife and suggesting Cruz's father was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Cruz had been under intense pressure to get behind Trump, with many citing the GOP unity pledge the senator signed last year. But in the wake of his controversial showing at the convention, Cruz had argued that Trump abrogated that pledge when he went after Cruzs family. A source close to the Trump campaign says friends, donors and elected officials have all been reaching out to Cruz to encourage the endorsement.

Cruzs decision to finally back Trump will likely not be received well by some of his supporters. As signals emerged in recent days that Cruz could endorse Trump, at least three prominent Cruz allies publicly warned him against doing it, saying he would have nothing to gain.

Within Cruzs own orbit, there has been deep division about whether to support Trump. Even on Friday, it appeared not all of his lieutenants were on board with the decision.

In Texas, Cruzs endorsement will likely be welcome news, though not exactly a cause for celebration. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a former Cruz supporter who now chairs Trumps campaign in the state, recently said Cruz may be left in the rearview mirror if he does not back Trump before Election Day. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, who has been encouraged to challenge Cruz in 2018, also recently said Cruz broke his word by declining to endorse Trump at the convention.

"It's a great day for conservatives in America and exemplifies great leadership on the part of Sen. Cruz," said Tommy Hicks, a longtime Dallas Cruz backer who is a friend of the Trump family.

Read Cruz's full statement below:

This election is unlike any other in our nations history. Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election.

In Cleveland, I urged voters, please, dont stay home in November. Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket whom you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.

After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.

Ive made this decision for two reasons. First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word.

Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable  thats why I have always been #NeverHillary.

Six key policy differences inform my decision. First, and most important, the Supreme Court. For anyone concerned about the Bill of Rights  free speech, religious liberty, the Second Amendment  the Court hangs in the balance. I have spent my professional career fighting before the Court to defend the Constitution. We are only one justice away from losing our most basic rights, and the next president will appoint as many as four new justices. We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices in the mold of Scalia.

For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees  including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice  and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list. This commitment matters, and it provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump.

Second, Obamacare. The failed healthcare law is hurting millions of Americans. If Republicans hold Congress, leadership has committed to passing legislation repealing Obamacare. Clinton, we know beyond a shadow of doubt, would veto that legislation. Trump has said he would sign it.

Third, energy. Clinton would continue the Obama administrations war on coal and relentless efforts to crush the oil and gas industry. Trump has said he will reduce regulations and allow the blossoming American energy renaissance to create millions of new high-paying jobs.

Fourth, immigration. Clinton would continue and even expand President Obamas lawless executive amnesty. Trump has promised that he would revoke those illegal executive orders.

Fifth, national security. Clinton would continue the Obama administrations willful blindness to radical Islamic terrorism. She would continue importing Middle Eastern refugees whom the FBI cannot vet to make sure they are not terrorists. Trump has promised to stop the deluge of unvetted refugees.

Sixth, Internet freedom. Clinton supports Obamas plan to hand over control of the Internet to an international community of stakeholders, including Russia, China, and Iran. Just this week, Trump came out strongly against that plan, and in support of free speech online.

These are six vital issues where the candidates positions present a clear choice for the American people.

If Clinton wins, we know  with 100% certainty  that she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country.

My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that.

We also have seen, over the past few weeks and months, a Trump campaign focusing more and more on freedom  including emphasizing school choice and the power of economic growth to lift African-Americans and Hispanics to prosperity.

Finally, after eight years of a lawless Obama administration, targeting and persecuting those disfavored by the administration, fidelity to the rule of law has never been more important.

The Supreme Court will be critical in preserving the rule of law. And, if the next administration fails to honor the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then I hope that Republicans and Democrats will stand united in protecting our fundamental liberties.

Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way.

A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you dont want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him.

This election is unlike any other in our nations history. Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election.

In Cleveland, I urged voters please, dont stay home in November. Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket whom you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.

After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.

Ive made this decision for two reasons. First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word.

Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable  thats why I have always been #NeverHillary.

Six key policy differences inform my decision. First, and most important, the Supreme Court. For anyone concerned about the Bill of Rightsfree speech, religious liberty, the Second Amendmentthe Court hangs in the balance. I have spent my professional career fighting before the Court to defend the Constitution. We are only one justice away from losing our most basic rights, and the next president will appoint as many as four new justices. We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices in the mold of Scalia.

For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees  including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice  and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list. This commitment matters, and it provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump.

Second, Obamacare. The failed healthcare law is hurting millions of Americans. If Republicans hold Congress, leadership has committed to passing legislation repealing Obamacare. Clinton, we know beyond a shadow of doubt, would veto that legislation. Trump has said he would sign it.

Third, energy. Clinton would continue the Obama administrations war on coal and relentless efforts to crush the oil and gas industry. Trump has said he will reduce regulations and allow the blossoming American energy renaissance to create millions of new high-paying jobs.

Fourth, immigration. Clinton would continue and even expand President Obamas lawless executive amnesty. Trump has promised that he would revoke those illegal executive orders.

Fifth, national security. Clinton would continue the Obama administrations willful blindness to radical Islamic terrorism. She would continue importing Middle Eastern refugees whom the FBI cannot vet to make sure they are not terrorists. Trump has promised to stop the deluge of unvetted refugees.

Sixth, Internet freedom. Clinton supports Obamas plan to hand over control of the Internet to an international community of stakeholders, including Russia, China, and Iran. Just this week, Trump came out strongly against that plan, and in support of free speech online.

These are six vital issues where the candidates positions present a clear choice for the American people.

If Clinton wins, we knowwith 100% certaintythat she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country.

My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that.

We also have seen, over the past few weeks and months, a Trump campaign focusing more and more on freedomincluding emphasizing school choice and the power of economic growth to lift African-Americans and Hispanics to prosperity.

Finally, after eight years of a lawless Obama administration, targeting and persecuting those disfavored by the administration, fidelity to the rule of law has never been more important.

The Supreme Court will be critical in preserving the rule of law. And, if the next administration fails to honor the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then I hope that Republicans and Democrats will stand united in protecting our fundamental liberties.

Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way.

A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you dont want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him.

Washington Bureau Chief Abby Livingston contributed to this report.
Last year in Franklin County, visitors spent $105 million, a new record for the county.

And local tourism-supported jobs jumped to 1,281 persons, representing a 5.3-percent payroll increase to $23,334,422, according to David Rotenizer, tourism development manager for the county.

Local tourism-related taxes were $3,089,246 -- a 6.2-percent increase from 2014.

Wow! Those numbers are amazing.

The data for this comparison was collected by the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) from U.S. Travel Association and is based on domestic visitor spending (travelers from within the United States) from trips taken 50 miles or more away from home.

This is terrific news for our community, Rotenizer said. For five years, Franklin County has continued to witness positive growth in tourism related jobs and revenue. As a point of reference, visitor spending in 1996 was $45,830,000. So the current level of $105,262,670 is impressive.

Rotenizer contributes the uptick to the countys beautiful natural assets, as well as the incredible offering of music, festivals and events at county venues.

The Harvester Performance Center has certainly been a game changer spurring additional investment and visitation into the county, Rotenizer said. And our ample offering of festivals and events are a reliable magnet for visitation, and on-going revitalization in Boones Mill can only amplify future gains.

The Booker T. Washington National Monument had record visitation in 2015, and recent economic impact studies for the Crooked Road, Virginia artisan industry and the Blue Ridge Parkway demonstrate the value of these assets and help to bolster our regional standing.

We can only say thank you to the Franklin County Board of Supervisors and staff, Rocky Mount Town Council and staff, Town of Boones Mill and staff for really placing us on the destination map.

Franklin County may be a great place to visit, but its an even better place to live.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors is moving forward with plans to take over the operation and maintenance of Jamison Mill Park on Philpott Lake.

Although the board did not commit to anything yet, supervisors voted Tuesday to send a letter of intent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to negotiate a lease for the 300-acre park.

With the letter of intent, the Corps has agreed to move forward with replacing the bridge at the entrance of the park and treat the road and parking lots into the park.

The Corps also agreed to forego the $10,000 contribution towards the bridge replacement, which the county offered in February 2016.

Last month, supervisors learned the estimated cost ($99,769) for the county to reopen and operate the park for the first year. The numbers are preliminary, according to Parks Director Paul Chapman, as the county has not completed formal engineering, structural, mechanical or environmental assessments on the property.

The preliminary estimates do not include operating costs for future years or any future improvements to the property, Chapman said.

If a lease agreement can be reached and the supervisors accept it, capital and operational funding will need to be added to the county budget, either in this fiscal year or the next.

The park on Philpott Lake has been closed for nearly two years due to operating cost restraints.

Leasing the park would give us (the county) control over 300 acres, said Blue Ridge Supervisor Tim Tatum. Its a great opportunity for the county to expand our park services. And this one happens to be on the western side of the county.

Jamison Mill Park offers a campground with five water and electrical hookups, as well as primitive camping sites, a restroom and shower house, picnic shelter, boat launch and 6.25 miles of hiking trails. And the park is in overall good condition, according to county staff.

Future improvements to the park could include campground expansion and swimming areas, additional hiking and horse trails, as well as other amenities, like a bait and tackle shop and a gift shop, Tatum said.

The board (of supervisors) is excited about the possibilities, he added. And the lake would offer more opportunities for canoeists and kayakers, who could enjoy the natural setting and wildlife.

Some areas of the park would need to be addressed, such as the parks public water system with outdated plumbing and an inoperable chlorinating structure and the septic system would need to be inspected and pumped. Miles of trails would need to be cleared and marked; however, most of the trails were constructed by community volunteers, which could be utilized to make the trail improvements. And the bathhouse needs to be painted and updated.
September 22nd is World Rhino Day, on this day and throughout the year we say NO to legalizing the rhino horn trade. People all around the world are engaging in activities designed to raise awareness about this magnificent and endangered animal. The NRDC and others are calling on world leaders to stamp out trafficking in rhino horn and elephant ivory.

The article which follows addresses these issues and related concerns about natural capital.



_______________________________

A number of market based solutions have been advanced to address dwindling

biological diversity and the loss of healthy eco-systems. Efforts to save the

rhino serve as a model to explore some of these approaches. Rhinos are one of

the largest living land mammals and they symbolize humans deleterious impacts

on the natural world.

Rhinos are being hunted to extinction for their horns, which are considered

to be a magical cure-all in some traditional Asian cultures. The trade in rhino

horn is currently illegal, but one approach to address this problem strives to

indulge the demand by farming them. The advantage to this approach is that the

horn can be removed without killing the animal, thereby protecting the animal

from extinction.

Skyrocketing Rhino poaching

As reported by savetherhino.org, at the beginning of the 20th century there

were 500,000 rhinos across Africa and Asia. This fell to 70,000 by 1970 and

further to just 29,000 in the wild today. In Asia, the Sumatran and Javan rhinos

are critically endangered. There are fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos left in the

wild and only 35  45 Javan rhinos left.

While deforestation, displacement by human settlements and the fragmentation

of their habitats are threats to the rhinos, by far the greatest threat comes

from poaching. While the numbers of some populations of rhinos have seen some

modest increases, efforts to save these animals are being undermined by growing

numbers of poachers lured by the lucrative demand.

As explained by the New York Times,

After two decades of gains, the worlds population of rhinoceroses is being

killed off by poachers at such a high rate that conservationists fear the deaths

could soon surpass the number of rhinos that are born each

year.

The International Rhino Foundation says that two rhinos a day are being

poached in South Africa alone, and that number is growing. Susie Ellis, the

executive director of the foundation said economics is driving the destruction

of rhinos.

Rhino horn economics

Clearly, prohibitions against the legal sale of rhino horns have not worked.

In fact it has driven up the price on the black market. Rhino horns are now more

valuable than gold. Advocates of rhino farming say that we may be able to

preserve the species by creating a legal industry.

In response to the epidemic of poaching, Bloomberg reports that South Africa is considering legalizing the sale of rhino horn and

authorizing commercial farming. They even suggest that rhino horn should be

traded on the Johannesburg bourse. This approach was supported in a 2013 South

African Department of Environmental Affairs report. Supporters believe that this

is the best way of protecting animals and conserving the natural

environment.

Some viewed the lifting of the ban on trade in rhino horn as the panacea

that would end poaching and save the rhino from otherwise inevitable

extinction, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs report

stated. This view was supported by market theorists who argued that in a market

where rhino horn could be traded freely, market forces would automatically drive

horn prices down, obviating the need for syndicates to face risks associated

with poaching.

Some say that there are parallels for this approach in agriculture and the

farming of livestock. We already plant forests of fruit bearing trees. We remove

the fruit without killing the tree. We also breed a wide range of animal species

for human use. From food to clothing, animals are raised for our use. For

example, sheep are sheared so that we can use their wool to make clothes and

cows are raised to provide milk.

Commoditizing nature

Advocates of pricing nature argue that we can use the profit incentive to

protect the natural world. The commoditization or financialisation of nature

suggests that this is a way to manage our rapacious consumer appetites. In the

book People and Nature: An Introduction to Human Ecological Relations,

Emilio F. Moran says,

The solution to these environmental problems lies within us is closely tied

to our choices. The solution must begin with the individual and a commitment to

resist the forces of global consumerism in favor of a concern with the planet as

our home  now at risk due to policies that fail to give value to environmental

goods and services.

This view that we need to put a price on nature is advocated by men like the

Indian banker Pavan Sukhdev. He and his colleagues explored this approach in a

report on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) which

argues we need to assign a value to address the economic invisibility of

nature.

A March, 2014, article titled Putting a Price on Nature, explained how the Global Economic

Symposium, has proposed the concept of a New Economy of Nature, which

advocates valuing natural resources.

Other variations of this approach are known as payment for ecosystem

services (PES), or payments for environmental services (or

benefits). One of the most ubiquitous is known as natural capital accounting

(NCA). This approach is supported by the World Bank and as they explained in an

April 18th 2013 press release, a group of more than 60 countries have

committed themselves to NCA.

Some of the countries that support NCA include Australia, Canada, Colombia,

Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain,

Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The World Bank supports NCA through a global partnership called WAVES (Wealth

Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services). The WAVES partnership

includes the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations

Development Program, and the United Nations Statistical Commission.

Participating countries want NCA to be part of the discussion on Sustainable

Development Goals post-2015.

These marketplace solutions to the unsustainable exploitation of the natural

world have laudable objectives. The idea is to provide monetary incentives in

exchange for managing aspects of the natural world. While the underlying aim of

these approaches is to promote the conservation of natural resources and

diminish environmental degradation, the actual impacts of such programs may not

produce the ends they seek.

The problem of commoditizing nature

As explored in a Yale 360 article, titled Whats Wrong with Putting a Price on Nature, there are a

number of problems associated with PES. According to Kent H. Redford, an

environmental consultant, we should not assume that old-style conservation

methods have failed. He points to successes like state-sponsored protected areas

which now cover 25 percent of the land in Costa Rica, 27 percent in the United

States (at the federal level alone), 30 percent in Tanzania and Guatemala, and

50 percent in Belize.

A study by Redford and William M. Adams, addresses the numerous difficulties associated with assigning a price to nature

including what those values should be, who has the right to assign such values

and who has the right to benefit.

UNEPs support for commoditizing nature is criticized in a report by Mark

Wilson at the Center for Sustainable Development, Uppsala University,

Switzerland. The report is called The Green Economy: The Dangerous Path of Nature

Commoditization, and it addresses UNEPs proposal to price ecosystem

services. This report cites five aspects of the green economy which could

undermine the practical implementation as well as the social legitimacy of

pricing nature:

Ecosystem services are inherently difficult to price. The consideration of the rebound effect is insufficient. The primacy of economics over the environment is ensured. Markets offer little protection for the poorest people. Existing market mechanisms aimed at safeguarding the environment have not

succeeded.

The green economy relies upon the discursive power of ecological

modernization and our faith in progress to uphold a failing strategy of

unfettered economic growth, Wilson says. This discourse limits our capacity to

conceive solutions outside the economic sphere. Achieving sustainable

development will require a process of social change that could be facilitated by

the acceptance that nature is more than just a form of

capital.

Artificial inflated value

The term, rhino horn economics encompasses maladaptive social

constructs that drive insane levels of consumerism. It also deals with the

psychology of assigning value to something that we really do not need. More

specifically it focuses on the destructive ecological cost of unbridled demand.

To bring it back to the rhino analogy, a living rhino has real value while the

value of a harvested horn is entirely artificial (There is absolutely no

evidence to indicate that they have any medicinal value or treat any disease or

condition). While we attribute value to animal or plant byproducts that are

essential for our survival, it becomes highly destructive when we attribute

value to a product or service that does not meet real human needs.

Once a largely western vice, increasing standards of living in the developing

world are now seeing rising rates of consumption. This type of consumption

threatens the survival of a wide range of species and habitats. The growing

demand for rhino horn is a case in point. It is a cancerous outgrowth of the

rapidly proliferating global society of consumers. While a market for rhino horn

has existed for centuries in Asia, that market is now increasing exponentially.

The growing disposable incomes of people in places like China and Vietnam is

driving the growing demand. As a consequence, Rhino horn is now a sought after

luxury item.

Arguably our relationship to many goods and services are analogous to the

demand for rhino horn. We are a global society of rapacious consumers who buy a

great many things that we really need.

Addressing rampant consumerism

Consumerism is driven by a steady barrage of adverstising that creates a

demand for what we do not need. Surely if a solution exists it starts with

serious questions about our actual as opposed to our perceived needs. Rather

than indulging our rampant consumerism we must pear down our consumption. Based

on this model we have unsustainably consumed vast quantities of resources and

the rarer they get the more desirable they become.

Rather than try to find ways of preserving current consumption patterns we

need to question the underlying insane psychology of our unsustainable

consumption patterns. This implies that we must also question the broken social

constructs that feed into consumer behavior.

The path to destruction

As pointed out in the Redford and Adams study, when monetary values are

assigned to nature they are likely to carry less weight when we reduce them to

economics. In effect we are cheapening nature when we frame it as a service

provider fit to be incorporated into the global capital markets.

As the Guardian, columnist and land rights activist George Monbiot wrote,

When governments and PES proponents talk about employing marketplace

solutions instead of traditional regulatory approaches, what they are really

talking about is shrinking democracy, shrinking public involvement in decision

making, shrinking transparency and accountability. By handing it over to the

market you are in effect handing it over to corporations and the very

rich

As the Yale 360 article points out, It may be, as some argue, that we have

no better way to save the world. But the danger in the process is that we may

lose our souls.

Nature cannot be reduced to a commodity. We cannot monitize nature any more

than we can monitize all the things make life worth living. Anything we do that

reduces the natural world to monetary values detracts from its priceless

intrinsic value.

We need to understand that greed is at the crux of the environmental crises

we face and we are doomed to fail if we premise our solutions on something so

egregiously destructive. Now more than ever we need to rekindle our relationship

to the natural world as the source of all value. Far from being our salvation,

commoditizing nature is sure to divest us of the one thing that can save us from

ourselves.

Source: Global Warming is Real

Related Articles

Video  Pricing Nature is Far Harder than you Think

UNEPs NCD Roadmap: Implementing the Four Commitments of the Natural Capital Declaration

UNEPs Natural Capital Declaration (NCD)

A Response to UNEPs Natural Capital Declaration

The Vital Role of Forests: Carbon, Rain and Food
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.
Its been almost five years since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt. But the events of the past 
National Coffee Day is September 29, and many chains are offering special deals. Grab some freebies or support local business by getting a caffeine fix at one of southwestern Connecticut's coffee shops. If you miss National Coffee Day because you're overseas, don' fret; International Coffee Day is October 1.
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Gov. Dannel P. Malloy needs the General Assembly to sign off on his $220 million incentive deal to keep Sikorsky making helicopters while retaining 8,000 jobs in Stratford through 2032, so on Friday he called for a special session to take place next Wednesday in the state Capitol.

Malloy issued a narrow call to the House and Senate focusing on Sikorsky, but minority Republicans want to expand the session to include other economic issues, from capping the states annual bonded debt, to halting a controversial program that could lead to a mileage tax on motorists.

During an event Friday at the Cambridge Specialty Co. in Berlin, Malloy highlighted a promise that Lockheed Martin, which now owns Sikorsky, would almost double its purchases from in-state suppliers from the current $350 million per year.

We have an opportunity to make the next generation of helicopters in Connecticut, Malloy said in a statement later. These are suppliers that provide thousands of good jobs to Connecticut residents all across the state, and by adopting this agreement we can expect to see more of these jobs in the near future.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, in a letter to legislative leaders on Friday that indicated bipartisan support for the Sikorsky plan, said the special legislative session is a chance to immediately address our states fiscal health.

It was similar to a letter Fasano and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, wrote to Malloy earlier in the week, pointing out the states lingering economic problems.

Fasano asked for a 10-day extension of the session to expand the debate.

We have the second highest tax burden in the U.S., he said. Our state debt, per capita, is the highest in the nation. As businesses and individuals flee, we are facing a brain drain with the fourth slowest population growth overall.

We must seize the opportunity created by the governor calling us into special session next week and begin the hard work of reforming our states fiscal policies now, Fasano said.

He asked for an expansion of the agenda to include legislative prohibition of any future mileage tax; to stop rail and bus fare hikes without legislative approval; to create new pension reforms for state employees; and to cut the number of legislative committees.

Creating uncertainty with a glass half empty mentality is exactly what sends a bad signal to our business community, said Kelly Donnelly, spokesperson for Malloy, in reaction to the GOP request to expand the subject matter of the special session.

Earlier in the week, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, agreed that time is of the essence to conclude the important deal with Lockheed Martin.

This agreement represents a landmark victory not only for the eight thousand workers at Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin, but for the small businesses, machine shops and other workers across Connecticut, Looney said in a statement. The Republicans should not jeopardize this time-sensitive initiative by injecting partisan politics and campaign rhetoric into the process.

kdixon@ctpost.com
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NORWALK  Norwalk Public Schools are filled to the brim  and overflowing.

The latest facilities utilization study released earlier this year, at a cost of around $500,000, showed the school district is 750 seats short, with that figure expected to grow to over 1,000 by 2025.

With an increasing student population and nearly 400 kids already stationed in 15 portable trailers that are nearing the end of their designed life span, administrators are running out of time to figure out where to put Norwalk students.

We cant just not do anything about this, said Mike Barbis, chair of the facilities committee for the Norwalk Board of Education, when he brought the issue up at the Sept. 20 meeting.

Enter South Norwalk, the only remaining part of town currently without a neighborhood school.

Administrators have shifted their sights in their quest to build a new school to a neighborhood in that area, where an estimated 1,375 pre-K to eighth-grade students live and are currently bussed to eight different schools across the city  many riding the bus for close to an hour each way, Barbis said.

In addition to reducing the long transport, some research also shows that kids perform better in neighborhood schools.

Adding a neighborhood school there would just make sense, Barbis said.

But even laying the groundwork for possible plans has been made difficult due to a shortage of suitable open space in the area, an alleged lack of communication with the community in the planning process and concerns over the school becoming a dumping ground for the areas many impoverished, minority students.

Much of South Norwalk stands as an older section of the city that is heavily developed and leaves little room for new construction.

A new school would require at least 8 to 10 acres and room for 100,000 square feet of building, according to the consultants school officials have been working with on the project, architecture firm Silver Petrucelli & Associates and engineering firm Milone & MacBroom, Inc.

The consultants examined a total of 20 city-owned sites, primarily in South Norwalk, including the old Ben Franklin School, a public park and state-owned armory, Barbis said.

Wetlands, air pollution from Interstate 95, brownfield sites, a cell phone tower and space limitations crossed off almost every option, Barbis said.

They ruled out every site except for Nathaniel Ely, Barbis said.

The consultants ultimately recommended the school district to construct a new pre-K through fifth-grade school at the Nathaniel Ely site, situated alongside Springwood Park. But thats not what the school board thought would be most logical, Barbis said.

Instead, their new tentative plan is to raze the current building and construct a K-8 school at the site to include more students.

However, a neighborhood school at that site would pull kids from an area of South Norwalk where almost 90 percent of students receive free or reduced lunch and about 92 percent are considered minority.

You wouldn't be able to be be racially balanced, Barbis said.

Barbis, along with other school officials, agreed that a solution would be to make the new school a magnet school, which would accept students from across the district with a certain percentage  most likely around 50 percent, Barbis said  from the South Norwalk neighborhood.

But instead of creating a completely new magnet school, which could prove to be more cost- and time-consuming, district officials proposed the idea of moving the nearby Columbus Magnet School to become a pre-K through 8th-grade school at the to-be constructed building at the Nathaniel Ely site.

The Columbus Magnet Schools current building in South Norwalk, which is one of the oldest in the district and was determined to need a complete renovation by the consultants, would then be revamped and turned into a small, approximately 400-student capacity neighborhood K-5 school, Barbis said.

The area with fastest student growth, in South Norwalk, would not only have a neighborhood school but a state-of-the-art, very successful magnet school, Barbis said. This sounds like great concept, but obviously you can't force this on a community.

Several community members in South Norwalk have expressed fear that the neighborhood school would become a dumping ground for minority students, that it wouldn't be fairly funded and that they simply havent had a say in the plans to begin with.

State mandates though, set racial standards that say student population in a school cannot vary by more than 20 percent of the overall district, Barbis said.

Also, under student-based budgeting, a certain dollar amount is designated per student in each school, Barbis said.

This would leave no room for improper funding or even the unproportional demographic makeup of a new neighborhood school, Barbis promised.

As far as seeking out community input goes, Barbis called it a chicken-and-egg situation. He said its difficult to have a discussion without yet knowing what is possible.

Everyone wants to have input, Barbis said, but in order to give input you have to have something to give input on.

Board of Education members Shirley Mosby and Sherelle Harris voiced concern over diving too deeply into any plans without first asking for input from the community that the new school would serve.

They like to have some ownership of their school, Mosby said at the school board, addressing concerns she has heard from the community. If they can not go in there and have a say ... like everyone else, then that defeats the purpose of them having their own school.

Harris said, while she loves the idea of a neighborhood school for South Norwalk, a meeting early on needs to happen to alleviate some of the differences in perspective.

I think there are several concerns and I think conversations with people who have the answers would alleviate these different-side conversations, Harris said.

Additionally, several community leaders and groups have voiced opposition to even the idea of constructing a school at the Nathaniel Ely site.

Looking forward, Barbis asked the consultants to come up with tentative schematics to be used at a community forum, which he said he would schedule for the coming weeks.

He added that this is only the beginning of a very long process, which from where we are now to kids walking in the classroom could take roughly three years.

This all takes time we really dont have, Barbis said.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz
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WILTON  Sling an apple at a target. Visit farm animals. Watch the trebuchet fling pumpkins across Ambler Farm.

These are just a few activities families and visitors can enjoy at the16th annual Ambler Farm Day on Sunday, Sept. 25, from 12-4 p.m.

Ambler Farm Day is really our quintessential farm event, said Robin Clune, executive director of Friends of Ambler Farm. Its grown over the years, but its really retained a lot of the same magic from the beginning.

The signature event will feature make-your-own scarecrows, sheep shearing, childrens crafts, hayrides, a hay maze and many other activities and programs that highlight the rich history of the towns 200-year-old farm and the important presence it holds in the community today.

Theres so many people that can utilize the farm, and the day itself, is a day to walk back in history and make your life a little complex and have some fun with your family and think about what life was like back then, said Maria Wilcox, chairperson of Ambler Farm Day.

Wilcox said the day wouldnt be able to run without its visitors, and more importantly, the help from countless volunteers who pick apples on the farm, bake pies for the concessions stand or engineer the hay maze, among other efforts.

Everybody brings their expertise to the day and its amazing how many people come together have a great day, Wilcox said.

Last year, more than 540 families came to the event; this year, Wilcox and Clune hope more will attend.

Its a wonderful activity and a way for the community to enjoy the farm, and its supposed to be a terrific day so were excited about that, Clune said.

The cost is $20 per family or per car, which will be collected upon entrance to the event. Some of the event activities will also require a small charge. All of the money raised will go to Friends of Ambler Farm, so that the nonprofit organization can continue maintaining the farm and its educational programs and social events for all ages.

Ambler Farm is one of the oldest working farms still left in Connecticut, Clune said. So its a really important treasure for Wilton.

Ambler Farm is at 257 Hurlbutt Street. On-site parking on the day of the event will be limited; in case of overflow, additional parking will be available at the Cannondale train station, with a free shuttle to and from Ambler Farm.

For more information, visit amblerfarm.org or email robin@amblerfarm.org.
Albert Jay Nock believed that the Jeffersonian project depended on the improvability of citizens through education, but that the ordinary mass of humans simply could not be so improved.

In Zen Buddhism, the lineage of student to master is extremely importantit is the channel through which the Dharma is transmitted. There is a story of a Zen Master traveling at night over a bridge known to be haunted by a goryo shinan angry ghost. When the ghost appeared, the Zen master unfurled his lineage scrollthe goryo fled in holy fear of the Dharma.

There is a school of libertarians who, however much they may love the market, are most identifiable by their fear and distrust of the state. These Austrians by way of Auburn have become increasingly politically relevant because of their close identification with Ron Paul. To affright the goryo of the state, they wield a modern lineage scroll of political theorists that can be said to begin with Franz Oppenheimer (1864-1943), and carry down through Albert Jay Nock (1870-1945), to Frank Chodorov (1887-1966), and then to Murray Rothbard (1926-1995).[1]

In this essay, I will describe how Albert Jay Nock fitsand does not fitinto this Libertarian tradition. Nock was a journalist and social critic who lived from 1870 to 1945. He was widely published, first in The Nation, then in a short-lived magazine he co-edited called The Freeman, and finally in The Atlantic Monthly. While I will illustrate Nocks place in the libertarian lineage I just described, I am more interested in examining what distinguishes Nock from the others: namely, that Nocks outlook became marked by a pessimism so intense that he concluded the masses could never be convinced of the true nature of the state because the overwhelming majority of his fellow citizens were ineducable.

Nocks most important contribution to the American libertarian tradition is his short critique of the American Founding, Our Enemy, the State. To understand this work, one must turn first to one of the thinkers who most influenced Nock, the historical sociologist Franz Oppenheimer.[2] Oppenheimer contributed to the conflict theory of the origin of the state with his 1908 work, The State.[3] He rejected the idea that the state might have its origin in an outgrowing of familial, kin or clan relations. He also rejected the concept of a state formed around an implicit social contract. Neither, he argued, can the state have formed as the executive committee of the ruling class. Instead, Oppenheimer argued that the institution which Lincoln reckoned of the people, by the people, for the people had its origins at the moment nomadic raiders realized that a murdered peasant will no longer plow, and a fruit tree hacked down will no longer bear.[4] That is to say, the state was born when the mounted and murderous they came down from the hillsides to dwell permanently among the settled agriculturalists they periodically raped and plundered, and in so doing, became a ruling we. The state, then, was an institution that evolved to perpetuate predation in a systematic and orderly fashion.

Indeed Oppenheimer argued that there were only two ways that men could make their living. One could live by the free exchange of goods and services; Oppenheimer called this the economic means.[5] The alternative to the economic means was the use of force to systematically expropriate the goods or services of another; he called this the political means. The state, then, is the organization of the political means.[6]

In Our Enemy, the State, Nock boldly applied the Oppenheimerian mode of analysis to the American Founding, and most especially to the United States Constitution. Nock did not genuflect before the miracle at Philadelphia. He interpreted the Constitution as a document crafted by a group of men representing the merchant elite, the great majority of thempublic creditors who planned and executed a coup detat, simply tossing the Articles of Confederation into the waste-basket, and drafting a constitution de novo.[7] Nock believed that the purpose of the Constitution was to contrive something that could pass muster as showing a good semblance of popular sovereignty, without the reality.[8] The principal purpose of the Washington and Adams administrations, in Nocks eyes, was to administration the Constitution into such absolutist modes as would secure economic supremacy [to the elites who had designed the new government] by a free use of the political means.[9]

No one with Nocks view of the American state and its origins could be taken in by democracy promotion or American exceptionalism. Of the Spanish American War, Nock wrote I was looking at our first full blown adventure in overseas imperialism, and a most amazing and repulsive sight it was. I could make nothing of the seizure of the Philippines but an unprovoked act of particularly brutal highwaymanry.[10] But then, Nock reckoned,

it was clear to me that our acquisition of Texas was a matter of sheer brigandage, and that force and fraud played approximately equal parts in our acquisition of California. I carried on my survey of American imperialism through the Mexican War, our systematic extermination of the Indians, and so on back to the colonial period, and I emerged with the conviction that at least on this one item of imperialism, our political history from first to last was utterly disgraceful.[11]

Nocks sharp distinction between production and predation, and his condemnation of imperialism and the state might suggest we have a plum line libertarian in the Von Mises Institute sense. We dont. To make the distinction, one can contrast Nocks view of the state and the market with that of Murray Rothbard. To Rothbard, the state was a foreign bodya bacillus in the body politica parasite. People only tolerate the state because they have been, in Rothbards words, bamboozled. Therefore, the job of the libertarian is the difficult, but not impossible task of alerting people to the true nature of the state. Rothbard called his program of activism, economic education, and revisionist history, de-bamboozlement.[12] It is a canard to suggest that Rothbard thought the market, in the absence of the state, would create a utopia. Rothbard did believe, however, that freed from the clutches of men and women who live by the political means, the market would likely offer all the services the state offers without the murderous coercion.

Nock took a much darker view of both the state and the market. If Rothbard saw the state as a foreign bacillus, Nock saw it as something more closely akin to a cancer. Indeed Nock saw the modern state itself as a symptom of two deeper maladies. For the first of these maladies Nock coined the term, economism (he found the word materialism insufficient to the task). Nock believed Western society was entirely given over to economism, a creed which interpreted the whole of human life in terms of the production, acquisition, and distribution of wealth.[13] Nock grappled with the corrupting power of economism in What We All Stand For, a February, 1913 article in the American Magazine.

To research What We All Stand For, Nock had visited Coatesville, Pennsylvania, in the aftermath of the horrific lynching of a black man, Zachariah Walker. A mob had dragged Walker out of a hospital where he lay in police custody on suspicion of shooting a security guard. Walker was

thrown upon a pile of wood, drenched with oil, and burned alive. Other human beings to the number of several hundred looked on in approval. when Walker, with superhuman strength, burst his bonds and tried to escape, they drove him back into the flames with pitchforks and fence rails, and held him there until his body was burned to ashes. Those who could get fragments of his charred bones took them off as souvenirs.[14]

Not one person was ever convicted of the murder, even though it had been witnessed by a mob of hundreds. How could this happen? Nock eliminated most obvious motives for the attack, including (perhaps surprisingly) the victims race. Nock argued that Coatesville was a Northern town, where destitute blacks were only a little worse off socially than destitute immigrant whites. Instead, Nock blamed what he would later call economism, for creating, the hellhole that was Coatesville:

Civilization can only be had upon its own terms, and the first of these is a diffused, material well-being. Next (if, indeed, it is not rather a part or adjunct of the first) a homogenous population At Coatesville, material well-being is strictly concentrated, and the three several strata of society stand as distinct as layers in a jelly cake. The immense strata of the exploited is composed of three thousand negroes and thirty-five hundred foreigners human beings who come there from Hungary and the Slavic countries to work for $1.38 a day, and live most wretchedly. Their wages, their conditions of work and of living, preclude either happiness or decency. Above the stratum of the exploited is another, a smug, close mouthed, unintelligent middle stratum that gets its living out of the town by trading and in other ways. This class is characterized by an extreme apprehensiveness about anything that will hurt business or hurt the town. Above this is the stratum of the exploiting class. It is very small. They pay their laborers less, on the average, than two dollars a day, and permit or promote for them conditions of living worse than one can find in the countries from which the foreigners have emigrated.[15]

In all, Nock concluded, Coatesville could burn a man alive and take his bones for souvenirs because Coatesville society was made up of an upper class materialized, a middle class vulgarized, a lower class brutalized.[16]

Do we have, then, a Jeffersoniana partisan of place, a champion of the yeoman farmer against proletarinization? Ultimately, no. In Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, Nock wrote admiringly of the Brooklyn of his childhood. He also recalled fondly the surprising level of culture and civility in the (unnamed) Michigan lumber town on the shore of Lake Huron where he lived from age ten to sixteen. However, neither of these places held the affections of the mature Nock. Indeed no place did, except for Brussels, Belgium. Nock had soured on America well before middle age, having given it up as a place wholly overcome by the economism he hated. However, he sensed this same economism creeping into his beloved Brussels. Indeed the appeal of Brussels, more than anything else, was its easy proximity to a European culture he loved, but believed was in its death throes.

Nock had at one time been sympathetic to the Jeffersonian ideal. He had even written a biography of Jefferson.[17] But in his final work, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, Nock explained his break with the sage of Monticello. In large measure, the break occurred because he had come to believe that while the mass of men might be trainable, that is to say, they might be made sagacious or skillful at a task or trade, they were entirely ineducable; wisdom, the ability to see things as they are was quite beyond them.[18] Nock believed that the Jeffersonian project depended on the improvability of citizens through education, but that the ordinary mass of humans simply could not be so improved.

It is hard to overstate the pessimism of the mature Nock. He had fallen under the spell of Nietzsche as regards the mass man.[19] Furthermore, he had become particularly impressed by a 1932 article by the American architect Ralph Adams Cram called, Why we do not behave like human beings.[20] Cram concluded most people dont becauseby the standards of a Jesus, a Socrates, a St. Louismost people arent. That is to say, by the standard of exalted humanity most of us adopt to take the measure of what it is to be human, what Cram called the mass man or the Neolithic man falls definitively short. Nock adopted this dichotomy for his own; In his Memoirs he frequently distinguished between a small minority of people he called psychically human and the vast majority of people, which he labeled psychically anthropoid, mass men or Neolithic men.[21]

For such people, Nock argued, public education amounted to training at best, but at worst an association pro propaganda fide for the extreme of a hidebound nationalism and of a superstitious and servile reverence for a sacrosanct state.[22] Those trained by the state could, therefore, be relied upon to become the states most devoted supporters. Especially in a regime of economism, the state could never have any use for those capable of wisdom, reflection, and of seeing things as they really are. Nock wrote, intelligence and wisdom would not have exempted a Socrates, Jesus, or Confucius, if of military age, from conscript service in the front line, side by side with the half witted. What other use could the state have had for his proficiencies?[23]

In the face of all this, Nock concluded that very little could, in fact be done about the state. He retreated into a philosophy of intelligent selfishness, intelligent egoism, intelligent hedonism.[24] As America lurched toward involvement in World War I, Nock would listen as acquaintances, swept up in war fever, raged against the Kaiser. When their tirade ended, he would simply agree with them and let it go with that. After the war, Nock made no effort to join a now-chastened public in anti-war efforts, despite his abhorrence of war, because I knew, as they apparently did not, that if you go in for education you must first make sure of having something educable to educate and second, you must have some one with a clear and competent idea of what he is about to do the educating. I saw no prospect that either condition would be met.[25] Indeed, when confronted with any such efforts Nock was inclined to refer to them as Uplift, with an ironic upper-case U.[26] Despite his eloquent writing against the modern state and on behalf of human liberty, he concluded that most people displayed no interest in liberty at all, and indeed often displayed a curious canine pride in their servitorship.[27] Indeed he complained that a status of permanent irresponsibility under collectivism would be most congenial and satisfactory to the psychically-anthropoid majority.[28]

What do we make of the contrast between Nocks stated pessimism and his powerful body of written work? When he wrote about war, he was capable of denouncing it with an almost prophetic urgency and clarity. His description of Our Enemy, The State combines learned argument with genuine moral force. His Myth of a Guilty Nation makes a powerful case that Germany was no more responsible for World War I than any other power, and that the Versailles Treaty was a wicked example of victors justice.[29] It is hard to imagine such work coming from the pen of a man who believed his efforts were pointless.

Nock answered this question himself in his 1937 essay, Isaiahs Job.[30] Nock argued that no matter how ineducable the mass-man proved to beno matter how immoveable the majority seemed to be in their invincible ignorancethere was always what he called, a remnant. For Nock, this remnant is the small number of men and women capable of getting wisdom and understanding. One who attempts to reach, preach to, convert the mass man wastes his time. However, if one does ones best to do good work, the remnant will find that work outand the remnant need all the wisdom, encouragement, reflection, philosophy that can be imparted to them if humans are to keep civilization alive through evil times.

What are we to make of all this? Surely, it is not wrong to place Nock in a chain of anti-state Libertarian intellectuals stretching from Oppenheimer, through Nock, to Chodorov and Rothbard. But Nocks deep-seated pessimism makes him sit uncomfortably in this group. We must contrast his retreat into intelligent selfishness with the passionate activism of the others in that group. Franz Oppenheimer was no armchair intellectual. He was involved in back to the land movements in his native Germany, and has been described as a liberal of that old, heroic, revolutionary brand.[31] Frank Chodorov, who greatly admired Nocks writings and spent time with the older man toward the end of his life, went on to a career of activism in the cause of liberty. Chodorov founded both the Intercollegiate Society of Individualists and Human Events, while remaining prolific as an author and pamphleteer. Murray Rothbard was a passionate activist who made it his lifes work to de-bamboozle the people and free them from the grip of the state. During the Viet Nam War, Rothbard made the, perhaps quixotic, attempt to bring the New Left and the Old Right together against the war; in the 1970s, he founded the Radical Caucus of the Libertarian Party.

How could Nock, who shared the same view of the state as the other men, have chosen to retreat into intelligent selfishness, intelligent egoism, and intelligent hedonism, and to place his hopes only in a remnant? He took a sufficiently jaundiced view of his own efforts that he titled his intellectual autobiography Memoirs of a Superfluous Man. What are we to make of this notion that the majority of people are ineducable at best and psychically anthropoid at worst, and that, therefore, little can be done?

Let us be fair to Nock. Imagine being a critic of the modern state who had to endure the domination of both American political parties by the Progressives from Taft Administration through the Wilson Administration and World War I. After a mere eight-year interval from Uplift, Nock then endured Hoover, thirteen years of Franklin Roosevelt, and a war so deadly it made the Great War appear small. Surely it must have seemed to Nock that a small remnant was the best he could ever hope for in a time when statism seemed everywhere to triumph so utterly that the only question left unsettled appeared to be which form of statism should rule.

However, I think it unfair simply to historicize Nocks pessimism. Nock may have viewed the state the same way as Rothbard and Chodorov, but I am not sure he viewed the world as they did. Anyone who has read Memoirs of a Superfluous Man understands that Nock did not find supreme political value in liberty. Indeed, this fallen-away Episcopal cleric did not find supreme value in any abstraction. Instead, for Nock the greatest human value was simply to see things as they really are. If Nock, having observed his fellow men, concluded that the vast majority were ineducable and therefore unlikely to achieve or maintain any semblance of genuine self-government, his own creed required that he admit as much. For Nock to pretend to Jeffersonian Republicanism after having lost the Jeffersonian faith would have been to betray his own highest value: the philosophic virtue of seeing things as they really are. Indeed, I think that we can infer that Nock did not believe his beloved remnant would be activists, either, but rather men and women with philosophic souls, who could find some balm in the company of those like themselves. While Nock is justly celebrated by contemporary libertarians, I think the author of Our Enemy, The State was simply describing the American political system as he thought it really was, and in so doing discharging his duty not so much to the Republic, as to Philosophy.

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.

[1] Of course the economic thought of the Austrian School is indispensable to this school of Libertarianism, but this essay will be narrowly focused on political theory.

[2] In the interests of keeping the length of this article manageable, I will not address the considerable influence of Henry George and Georgism on the young Albert Nock. The influence of Georgism waned, I would argue, as Nock grew older but it never fully subsided and is detectable in Land Monopoly and American Independence, Chapter Four of Our Enemy, the State.

[3] Franz Oppenheimer, The State trans. John Gitterman (New York: Free Life Editions, 1975)

[4] Oppenheimer, 26.

[5] Oppenheimer, 12.

[6] Oppenheimer, 13.

[7] Albert Jay Nock, Our Enemy, the State (Wisconsin: Hallberg Publishing, 1994), p. 90.

[8] Nock, Our Enemy, the State, 91.

[9] Nock, Our Enemy, the State 91.

[10] Albert Jay Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man (Wisconsin: Hallberg Publishing, 1994), p. 102.

[11] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 103-104.

[12] A brief, powerful introduction to the Rothbardian view of the state is: Murray N. Rothbard, Anatomy of the State (Auburn: Ludwig Von Mises Institute, 2009). For debamboozlement, see Rothbards 1976 article for the Libertarian Forum, Revisionism and Libertarianism.

[13] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 111.

[14] Albert Jay Nock, What We All Stand For in The State of the Union: Essays in Social Criticism ed. by Charles H. Hamilton (Indianapolis: Liberty Press, 1991), p. 139.

[15] Nock, What We All Stand For 139.

[16] Nock, What We All Stand For 147.

[17] Albert Jay Nock, Jefferson (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1926)

[18] Indeed, Nock believed that most of the wealthy were simply mass men with greater skill. Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 120.

[19] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 120.

[20] Ralph Adams Cram, Why We Do Not Behave Like Human Beings, The American Mercury, September, 1932.

[21] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, pp. 233; 237; 277; 319 et al.

[22] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 263-4.

[23] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 274.

[24] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 304.

[25] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 266.

[26] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 44; 67.

[27] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 314.

[28] Nock, Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 319.

[29] The Mises Institute has made this 1922 work available online.

[30] Albert Jay Nock, Isaiahs Job in The State of the Union: Essays in Social Criticism ed. By Charles H. Hamilton (Indianapolis: Liberty Press, 1991), 124-138.

[31] Eduard Heimann, quoted by Chuck Hamilton in his Introduction. Franz Oppenheimer, The State trans. John Gitterman (New York: Free Life Editions, 1975) vii.

The featured image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Central City native and internationally known painter Todd Williams has put all 93 Nebraska counties on canvas for a statewide exhibition during Nebraskas sesquicentennial celebration next year.

Nebraska joined the union on March 1, 1867.

Its sesquicentennial has been in the planning and development stage for several years. One of the first major projects involved Williams and Painting the Legacy of Nebraska, which recognizes all 93 counties, featuring historic locations and aesthetic scenes relevant to each individual locale.

For Hall County, Williams painted the Platte River. One painting shows the river during the drought of 2012, and the other involves the annual spring migration of the sandhill cranes on the Platte River.

Growing up in Central City, Williams developed his gift of painting and art. After high school, he attended Central Community College in Columbus and graduated with an associates degree. He then earned a bachelors degree from the Kansas City Art Institute and worked 10 years for Hallmark Cards until 2002, when he decided to pursue a career as a professional artist.

He said growing up in Nebraska was always impacting his imagination and he wanted to bring its beauty to life on canvas. Williams said his goal was to paint one or two paintings of each county showing both the counties historical legacy and the diversity and simplicity of the landscape and landmarks.

Williams said his artistic influences have been the American Impressionists of the 19th century and early 20th century. American Impressionism is a style of painting characterized by loose brushwork and vivid colors. He said his Nebraska paintings have now all been completed and will be part of a traveling exhibition in the state next year, including Stuhr Museum.

For the Legacy of Nebraska project, he worked with historians, sponsors and leaders in each county to determine significant subjects. The project seeks not only to educate Nebraskans about their history, but also to reach well beyond the states borders with a traveling exhibition, a Legacy of Nebraska commemorative collectors art book, and a documentary film produced by NET, Nebraskas public television affiliate.

The exhibition will open at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln on Statehood Day, March 1, 2017. The exhibition will be on view there until June 4. It will then travel to Grand Islands Stuhr Museum, where it will be on display from June 17 to Aug. 20. All 120 paintings will then move to Omahas Gallery 1516 from Sept. 1 to Oct. 15, 2017. For the rest of the year, the collection will be split up into regional selections and will be simultaneously exhibited at Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art, David City; Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice; Gallery 92, Fremont; Knight Museum, Alliance; Norfolk Arts Center, Norfolk; and the West Nebraska Art Center, Scottsbluff.

Williams said it is his desire for this project to reawaken an appreciation for the arts while preserving the unique beauty and heritage that Nebraska has to offer.

More information about his work can be viewed at www.ToddWilliamsFineArt.com. Information about the Painting the Legacy of Nebraska project is at ne150.org/events-programs/painting-the-legacy.
Terrorism has emerged once again as the central issue in the presidential campaign  but not in a way anyone expected. In the wake of attacks last week in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have accused each other of being the candidate Islamic terrorists prefer.

Clinton started it  this weeks round, at least. She came out swinging on Monday, saying Trumps rhetoric made him a recruiting sergeant for Islamic State. The language that Mr. Trump has used is giving aid and comfort to our adversaries, she said. (Aid and comfort is part of the Constitutions definition of treason.)

Trump, who earlier accused President Obama and Clinton of being the founders of Islamic State, fired back. Terrorists all over the world ... are hoping and praying that Hillary Clinton becomes president, he said. They want her so badly to be your president, you have no idea, he added later. It will be a field day.

Its dangerous to call anything unprecedented, but I cant remember a presidential campaign in which the candidates accused each other of being in league, wittingly or not, with the nations worst enemies.

During the Cold War, Republicans sometimes accused liberal Democrats of being soft on communism  but usually painted them as dupes, not co-conspirators.

When many Americans are gripped by fear of terrorist strikes in city streets or shopping malls, this is pretty rough stuff.

It should go without saying that neither Islamic State nor any other terrorist group has endorsed either candidate. (If they did, the result could be dramatic.)

But on the facts, Clinton has the better of this argument. This spring, spokesmen for Islamic State celebrated Trumps proposals to ban Muslim immigration to the United States apparently because they believed it would sharpen the clash of civilizations the extremist group wants to provoke. I ask Allah to deliver America to Trump, one wrote.

Thats why former CIA director Michael Hayden, a George W. Bush appointee, has criticized the GOP nominee on this issue. When Trump says they all hate us, hes using their narrative, Hayden told the Guardian newspaper. Hes feeding their recruitment video.

Contrary to what Trump said, theres no record of any Islamic State spokesmen saying they want Clinton to win. The GOP nominee claimed that the terrorists prefer Clintons policies to his, but theres no evidence of that either.

Trumps argument is that Clinton, as secretary of state under President Barack Obama, shares responsibility for allowing Islamic State to rise. Weve been very gentle to Islamic State, he claimed on Monday, seemingly ignoring the almost 12,000 airstrikes U.S. forces have carried out against the group since 2014.

Were going to have to do something extremely tough over there, he told Fox News.

Like what? a Fox anchor asked.

Like knock the hell out of them, Trump said. Thats about as specific as he gets.

Trump has offered two more proposals: He wants to increase ethnic and religious profiling to identify possible terrorist sympathizers in the United States. (He claims profiling isnt used now, but hes wrong about that; federal policy explicitly allows it in terrorism cases.) And he wants to impose extreme vetting on foreigners entering the United States. (Clinton has called for tough vetting.)

Heres the political surprise in this brawl: Clinton could come out ahead.

Its not at all clear that terrorist attacks, and the fears they sharpen, automatically produce votes for Trump. Thats not what happened after the attack on an Orlando nightclub in June, where 49 died. After that incident, the polls moved only a little  and in some surveys, Clintons standing improved.

Indeed, Clintons quick offensive on this issue revealed how she wants to frame the voters choice: Which candidate do you want to put in charge of the armed forces?

In normal election years, most voters say they think the Republican candidate, with the GOPs hawkish history, is better qualified to deal with terrorism.

But this isnt a normal year. In a Fox News poll released last week, more voters said Clinton would do a better job dealing with terrorism than would Trump, by 47 percent to 46 percent. Although those numbers are within the polls margin of error, they still mean the GOP has lost its usual advantage. Other surveys have shown similar results.

Clintons argument is that Trump  with his ill-considered, self-indulgent, hair-trigger responses  is too erratic to be president. Shes doing her best to keep the words commander in chief in the air.

In a focus-group discussion with undecided voters last week, several said that issue was weighing heavily on their minds.

I really dislike Hillary, said Cameron Scott, a retired bus driver from Alexandria, Va. But hes just plain scary. I cant vote for him.
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...
In the summer of 1976, James Brown went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad, known then as the Chicago and North Western Railroad Co.

Having grown up caring for quarter horses and driving a hay cart on his fathers farm in nearby Gillespie, Brown started his new job strong and healthy.

And he brought with him the lessons of his father: Leave a thing better than how you found it, his father would say; always give a good days work for a fair days pay.

He lived by those standards of hard work, attorney David Damick told jurors on the first day of Browns civil trial against Union Pacific.

Brown lives in Edwardsville, where the trial is being held on the third floor of the Madison County Courthouse. Damick gave an hour-long opening statement to jurors on Tuesday morning.

By the summer of 2008, Brown, then 51 years old, had stopped working for the railroad. Doctors told him he had suffered from acute myeloid leukemia, a blood cancer. More than 18 years of handling creosote-soaked railroad ties had caused the AML, Damick told jurors. As the trial progresses, experts will testify that even the slightest exposure to creosote, benzene and carbolineum can cause AML, Damick said

Defense attorney Bill Lamson countered that other experts disagree.

The evidence will show that he was not exposed to sufficient amounts to cause AML, he said.

Benzene, he added, is ubiquitous, and people are exposed to it all the time with products such as childrens toys, bananas and weed killer. Dose makes the poison, Lamson said. Thats what this case is about.

For his first witness, Damick called Brown. Brown, who had been seated next to Damick in Circuit Judge Bill Mudges courtroom, made his way unsteadily past jurors and up a ramp to the witness stand. In a soft voice, he told jurors that he still suffers from stomach cramps and nausea. My legs hurt constantly and it really makes it hard for me to move around. It really makes me tired, he said.

Hows your concentration? Damick asked.

Not the best, said Brown.

Damick said Brown has also developed cataracts, a result of radiation treatment.

Lamson told jurors that nearly all Browns exposure to benzene and creosote came during the period from 1976 to 1979 when he worked as a laborer for CNW.

Under questioning by Damick, Brown said he was exposed to benzene and creosote nearly every day during that period, and after that as many as three times a week when he worked as a crane operator, truck operator and heavy equipment operator.

Brown said that he often loaded and unloaded creosote-soaked railroad ties by himself. They called them black bananas, he said.

Brown frequently returned home from work covered from head to toe with creosote. His t-shirt, pants and shoes were often soaked.

When I got home my mother, who was very particular, would not allow me to wash my railroad clothes at home and I had to take them to the laundromat, Brown said. It was very pungent, and she was afraid it would ruin her washer.

Brown said he had to put his clothes in plastic bag and take it up to the laundromat.

Brown says the company offered only a hard hat and safety glasses.

Damick alleged that CNW had been warned about the dangers of such exposure but on the work site they did nothing. Except for the hard hat and safety glasses, he said, the company did not provide workers with basic protection such as boots, socks, gloves and respirators.

The trial is expected to continue through the week.
After receiving grant funding, Mayor Hal Patton announced at Tuesdays City Council meeting the possibility of adding a governors' plaza to the public safety facility site.

As of this week, the city has received approximately $266,000 from the county and the Park Enhancement Program (PEP) grants, the first installment from the state of Illinois in an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant for $200,000. Soon following will be the Metro East Park and Recreation District awarding $300,000, and another $200,000 from OSLAD for the second installment which will total a little over $900,000 in grant funding. The project will also receive funds from the Our Town grant, if approved in the spring of next year.

Patton said now is the right time to start planning the project.

As we witness with the bid opening, we have a great contract with the public safety facility combined, so were excited to know its something within our financial means. I really didnt want to bring this up until we were sure that the bids were something within our expectations, Patton said.

The location of the plaza will be on the public safety facility site and Patton said with the governors plaza, the purpose behind the project is to inform citizens of the governors impact in the city and also educate them.

If youre on the intersection of South Main and Schwarz street, looking up to the site to where the public safety facility would be, you would probably recognize the detention basin thats down in the front. But the idea was a location where we could recognize the five governors that came to Edwardsville or at least spent time in Edwardsville, Patton said.

The plaza will be constructed with concrete and feature five steel silhouettes of the governors with information about each one of the figures on each silhouette. Patton said it seemed only right to honor the contributions and the impact the governors have made on the city.

The idea was to honor them with a plaza that would have some stamped concrete and then a raised stone area with five silhouettes that would have a bronze impression of the gentlemen themselves and then a little history from our Preservation Committee on what that person did in Edwardsville and what they meant in the state of Illinois, he said.

In terms of costs, the estimated amount resides at $22,000 for the plaza, the silhouettes, and the sculptures. Patton said these additions are considered part of the landscaping package for the site.

When we were thinking about this feature, it kept the landscaping for the public safety building to a minimumtheres just some bushes around it, some trees up top. This would be adding what I think is the effective amount of landscaping and features to really make that property pop and look attractive towards our residents; a nice welcoming spot to the community. Overall, I estimated between the trees. . . and the concrete and the sculpture components somewhere between $75,000 to $95,000 total, he said.

Although nothing was decided or finalized, Patton said as the project moves forward, the Public Safety Committee will play a part in approving the elements of the proposed plaza.

For more information about the public safety facility, visit cityofedwardsville.com.
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Linkedin Jusuf Wanandi Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

During the administration of prime minister Tony Abbot, the Australian government rejected the boat people who tried to reach the country. Indonesia was taken aback by this policy. Indonesia did not expect to see this action by Australia because at the end of the 1970s and in the early 1980s, it learned from what was then a magnanimous Australian government how to handle the Indochinese refugees who flocked to some places in Indonesia.

It was Australia that supported an initiative to set up a temporary processing center on Galang Island to accommodate the boat people before they were admitted to the last asylum countries like Australia itself, the US, Canada and France. Altogether, Indonesia managed to process tens of thousands of refugees.

To Indonesias surprise, the processing centers that Australia set up in Nauru and on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, where about 1,500 refugees stay, got negative media reporting. The refugees are not going to be accepted either by Australia or other possible asylum countries. The media carried negative stories on the maltreatment the refugees, especially children, endured at those two places.

During a recent trip to Australia on the invitation of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP) Australia, I asked my Australian friends about the problems and why Australia handled them differently than how it had previously advised the Indonesian government to handle Indochinese refugees. After some discussions that involved some immigration officers, I got a better understanding of the problems and appreciated what the Australian government had done with refugees in general. Dealing with refugees is quite a challenge for Australia and for any country.

Meanwhile, there is a feeling of refugee fatigue with more than 60 million spread around the world, mainly in the Middle East, northern Africa and Europe. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which played a central role when Indonesia was to handle the boat people from Indochina, has now been completely overburdened and I have to admit that the existing regional cooperation at this stage is barely adequate.

The Bali Processing Center, for one, has yet to focus more on real policies, cooperation and actions. That should become a common program between Australia and Indonesia and between Australia and ASEAN. That this kind of joint humanitarian activities has not materialized is indicative that the bilateral relations between them remain incomplete and lack empathy. A remedial step is called for in addition to the many new strategic challenges in East Asia that both countries have to face. Common concern for humanitarian assistance merits more serious attention.

The following figures give an overall view of the situation:

The permanent migration ceiling is 190,000 (slightly higher in 2015/2016 with the main sources being India and China), comprising 68 percent skilled migrants and 38 percent family reunions.

The humanitarian intake target (additional to the figure above) is 13,750.

Humanitarian places provided in response to the Syrian and Iraqi crises is 12,000.

The illegal migration legacy caseload (i.e. illegal arrivals in Australia) is 30,000, mostly in the community but subject to status determination, and about 1,600 are in detention in Australia.

The number in the regional processing center in Nauru on Manus Island is about 1,500.

All those in Categories 1, 2 and 3 have been subject to formal assessments and have been granted visas as a result. Those in Category 4 are subject to processing and, if they do not meet the criteria, will be subject to deportation. In the meantime they are receiving medical aid, education and other support from the Australian government. Those in Category 5 will not be admitted to Australia.

The Australian government also provides substantial funding to support off-shore and some related regional and international bodies, including the UNHCR and International Organization for Migration (IOM). Overall, it is a remarkable generosity to and solidarity with the plight of refugees worldwide and regionally in East Asia. It is obvious that Category 5 is meant to show to the refugees countries of origin that there are limits to Australias ability to accept them all and that there is no compromise.

But the handling of them in those camps can definitely be improved.

The current problem leads the region to an uneasy situation but it will survive nonetheless. However, in the event that the region may have to face bigger humanitarian problems in the future, obviously a more robust and permanent regional cooperation is needed. The refugee composition to Southeast Asia and Australia is of the Rohingyas from Myanmar, from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Middle East (especially from Syria). If, God forbid, a major political crisis does happen in ASEAN, then there could be a real calamity like what the region had with the boat people from Indochina more than 30 years ago.

In the case of Indonesia, in response to the UN secretary-generals appeal for humanitarian assistance to Syrian students, the government will take 100 of them from Europe, to be given a chance to study in universities across Indonesia in accordance with their interests and backgrounds. Living costs and stipends will be provided as well.

This is a good start and Indonesia can also provide education to the children of refugees already in Indonesia. Participation of the community should be encouraged as the state budget has to suffer from necessary cuts resulting from an economic slowdown.

In addition, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) under Vice President Jusuf Kalla can help coordinate programs with the government. If ever there was a humanitarian program in which Indonesia had done well, it was helping the boat people of Indochina through the Galang Island Processing Center.

Australia was very much an important counterpart, which took up quite a number of refugees as the last asylum country and gave assistance to the PMI in managing the processing centers. It may be high time for Indonesia and Australia to create a regional cooperation body to coordinate programs and activities as a further step to the Bali Processing Center and ASEAN should be part of the efforts.

_________________________

The writer is vice chair of the Board of Trustees of the CSIS Foundation.
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Linkedin Anthony McCartney (AP) Los Angeles, United States  Fri, September 23, 2016

The FBI says it's gathering information about an incident involving Brad Pitt and his family aboard a private flight last week.

Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement late Thursday that the agency is still evaluating whether to open its own investigation into allegations Pitt was abusive during the flight toward one of his six children with actress Angelina Jolie Pitt.

Several media outlets, using anonymous sources, have reported that the actor is under investigation by a child welfare agency because of the incident. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Families refused to say whether it was investigating Pitt.

(Read also: Marion Cotillard announces pregnancy, denies Pitt report)

Messages left for Pitt's representatives were not immediately returned.

Jolie Pitt filed for divorce Monday, saying she came to the decision "for the health of the family."
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Linkedin Colleen Barry (Associated Press) Milan, Italy  Fri, September 23, 2016

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."

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."

(Read also: Find out who are the world's highest paid models)

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.
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Linkedin Andi Hajramurni (The Jakarta Post) Makassar, South Sulawesi  Fri, September 23, 2016

On the last day of registration for regional head candidates, West Sulawesis General Elections Commission (KPUD) has received two more governor and deputy governor candidates aspiring to lead the province for the 2017 to 2022 period. Three candidate pairs will now contest next year's election.

The two candidate pairs who registered on Friday were Ali Baal Masdar and Enny Anggraeni Anwar, and Salim Mengga and Hasanuddin Mas'ud. Previously, Suhardi Duka and his running mate, Kalma Katta, had earlier submitted their candidacy.

West Sulawesi KPUD chairman Usman Suhuriah said candidate pair Ali Baal-Enny Anggraeni were supported by a coalition of five parties. They were the Nasdem Party, the Gerindra Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Ali Baal was the former regent of Polewali Mandar for two terms. He was selected to replace his late father, Masdar Pasmar, who also served as the regencys head for two terms. Polewali Mandar is now led by Ali Baals younger brother, Andi Ibrahim Masdar. Meanwhile, Enny, who is the wife of current West Sulawesi Governor Anwar Adnan Saleh, is a House of Representatives member from the Golkar Party faction.

Usman further said candidate pair Salim-Hasanuddin was supported by the Golkar Party, which controlled nine seats in the West Sulawesi Legislative Council (DPRD). Salim, who previously led the Pattimura Military District Command, is currently a House member from the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Hasanuddin is a businessman.

We can confirm that only three candidate pairs have registered for the 2017 elections. They have fulfilled all the registration requirements, said Usman. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has submitted a statement letter to the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU Jakarta) saying that he is willing to take a campaign leave following his registration as a candidate for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, an official said on Friday.

Ahok had handed over a letter to KPU Jakarta stating that he would take a campaign leave on the day of his registration with deputy governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat on Wednesday, KPU Jakarta chairman Sumarno said. All hopefuls must submit all the requirements including the statement letter for the leave period until Oct. 4 before KPU makes the final announcement on the verified candidates on Oct. 24.

The official permission to take a campaign leave must be given after KPU have named the hopeful candidates for the elections, he said.

KPU scheduled the campaign period from Oct. 26 to Feb. 11, 2017, in which candidates who are state officials must take leave in order to join the campaign.

Ahok had filed a motion to the Constitutional Court to challenge an article in the the Regional Elections Law that requires candidates to take a campaign leave. He argued that the requirement must be optional as he initially refused to take leave to secure the city's budget.

The hearings on the petition were still on going as Justices had not yet made a decision on whether or not to grant Ahok's motion. The representatives of the central government along with the House of Representatives had testified at the MK suggesting to reject the judicial review. (wnd/rin)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has welcomed the announcement of a new candidate pair seeking to unseat him and his deputy, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, in Jakartas gubernatorial election next year.

Maj. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has teamed up with Sylviana Murni, a subordinate to Ahok in the city administration, to join the race.

Ahok said he believed the decision by Democratic Party chairman Yudhoyono to appoint his son was taken after thorough consideration. Yudhoyono lead a meeting with three other political parties, namely the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), to agree on a candidate pair to back in the election. The four parties announced their agreement on Agus and Sylviana, who is currently the Jakarta governor assistant for culture and tourism, in the early hours of Friday, following a long meeting.

"It was SBY's [Yudhoyono] decision to appoint Agus. He must have been wise in deciding this, he has calculated this," Ahok told journalists at City Hall on Friday.

However, he refused to be compared with Agus, a 38-year-old member of the Army, as the later did not have experience in politics or as a regional leader. However, he said he respected Agus's candidacy in the election, adding that all candidates had equal positions.

Ahok also expressed support for Sylviana and praised her performance in the city administration. He had no problems with her decision to run in the election, as he always urged his subordinates to work hard for the city.

"Later, the public can assess Sylviana. I think she is an active person and diligent in organization," Ahok said. (rin)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

Having been independent from the former Soviet Union for 25 years since September 1991, Armenia celebrated its independence day with a reception on Wednesday evening by emphasizing friendly ties with Indonesia.

Armenia Ambassador to Indonesia Anna Aghadjanian said the Armenian said although a few thousand Armenians were living in the country, she said yet Indonesian friends had made them feel very welcomed here.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

The Indonesian Army has confirmed that Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the son of Indonesias former president, is in the process of retiring from the force to enter politics.

Agus has been nominated as a Jakarta governor candidate by a coalition of four parties: the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Agus, who ranks as a field officer in the Army, was following the mechanism and procedures to process his honorable retirement under regulations of the Army and the Indonesian Military (TNI), Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Mohamad Sabrar Fadhilah said.

"He will be retired with honor, because he did not commit any mistake and he requested the retirement himself. There is also no problem [with Agus' track record in the Army]," Fadhilah said on Friday.

There was no fixed period to process a retirement request, as the specifics varied from one case to another. The process could take up to a week, Fadhilah said, adding that what was importance was that Agus, the eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), had fulfilled all required procedures.

Amid rumors that Agus still had an obligation to serve in the Army following his state-sponsored study at Fort Benning in the US, Fadhilah said there was no such thing, since an official contract for Army officers was only for 10 years.

Agus had graduated from Military Academy in 2000 and thus had fulfilled the minimum service duty in 2010, the spokesman added. (bbn)
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Linkedin Grace D. Amianti and Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Bad loans in the commodities sector are hitting the nations banks, turning them away from what was once a booming industry.

An indicator of bad loans, the gross non-performing loan (NPL) ratio in the mining and excavation sector skyrocketed to 6.75 percent as of July, from 3.81 percent in the same period a year ago, according to the latest data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

That is higher than the 5 percent healthy NPL level set by financial regulators. Gross NPL surpassing 5 percent triggers special supervision from regulators.

Banks are reducing their lending to commodities-related companies as rising bad loans have forced them to set aside loan loss provision to cushion debt repayment failure, hurting their profits.

Loan growth in the commodity sector declined 13 percent to Rp 120 trillion (US$9.12 billion) by the end of July from the same month last year. That compares with overall annual loan growth of 7.73 percent in July, the lowest level in seven years.

Bad loans in the mining sector occurred as many of our clients had no cash flow because of the ongoing slump in the mining business in the past few years, said Roy A. Arfandy, president director of PermataBank.

The lender saw net losses of Rp 836 billion in the first half as its gross NPL rose to 4.6 percent. Bad loans for its mining clients surged to Rp 791.75 billion in July compared to Decembers figure. It was forced to set aside a provision of Rp 283.79 billion in the sector, from Rp 62.11 billion, company data shows.

Indonesias economy, the largest in Southeast Asia, is blessed with abundant natural resources, including coal and tin. However, as the global economy slumped and remained weak for years, demand for commodities fell along with prices. The governments raw mineral export ban has also shut down many businesses nationwide.

In the coal sector, persistently low coal prices have hit companies operating in the sector, resulting in loan repayment failure, according to the Indonesian Coal Mining Association (ICMA). Coal is now trading at half of peak value in 2011.

Some of them went bankrupt, ICMA executive director Supriatna Suhala said. In Jambi, for example, there had been 33 coal companies operating in the area, now only two remain.

Banks have become highly selective in disbursing loans to the commodity sector.

We are selective in commodity loans because the risk of price fluctuations is our main evaluation factor, said Royke Tumilaar, corporate banking director of Bank Mandiri.

Bank CIMB Niaga has also become more prudent and selective in disbursing loans to weakening sectors, including mining. Its gross NPL stood at 3.9 percent in the first half.

We conduct a stress test at least once every six months CIMB Niaga strategy and finance director Wan Razly wrote in an email to The Jakarta Post.

Overall in the nationwide domestic banking industry, gross NPL surged to 3.18 percent as of July from 2.7 percent in the same period a year ago, OJK data show.

Regulators and analysts seem to look at the glass half full. They believe domestic banks have strong enough capital to cushion rising bad loans and that the future will pan out better.

NPL can decline at year-end if there is significant loan growth. Based on past experiences, loans always grow in the second half, OJK commissioner for banking supervision Nelson Tampubolon said.

Global ratings agency Fitch Ratings said most Indonesian banks were sufficiently resilient to withstand weaker commodity prices, as the industry-wide capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stood above 23 percent, more than sufficient.

Pressure will be greater on medium-sized banks with larger mining exposure, but their buffers remain generally adequate with support from their foreign parents, the ratings agency wrote in a recent note.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

A new coalition consisting of the Democratic Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), who call themselves the Cikeas coalition in reference to the residence of former president and Democratic Party patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), is optimistic that their camp candidates, the pair of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni, will prevail during the Jakarta gubernatorial election next year.

We will do our best to oil our political engine and run it on all cylinders to come to victory, United Development Party chairman Muhammad Romahurmuziy said as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday, referring to the support from councilors of the four-party coalition in the City Council.

According to him, the appointment of SBYs oldest son as Jakarta governor candidate and bureaucrat Sylviana as deputy governor was decided after series of intensive meetings involving top party leaders.

The image of Jakarta reflects the face of Indonesia. Therefore, all party chairpersons deem it worthy to have our hands on the matter in persons, he added.

Romahurmuziy announced the appointment of the coalitions gubernatorial candidates along with PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan, PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and Democratic Party chairman Syarief Hasan.

Agus-Sylviana are pitted in a race against incumbents Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Syaiful Hidayat, who are supported by the Democratic Party of Struggle, Golkar Party, Nasdem Party and Hanura Party. Meanwhile, a coalition of Gerindra Party and the Prosperous and Justice Party have yet to appoint their candidates. (dmr)
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Linkedin Adnan Topan Husodo (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

The arrest of Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker Irman Gusman has stirred a debate over whether public officials are allowed to accept gifts or not.

Irman, according to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), accepted money as a reward for helping a businessman in West Sumatra to secure an increased quota of imported sugar.

The fact that the case only involves Rp 100 million (US$7,600), which is peanuts compared to other cases the KPK has investigated, has also sparked a polemic.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) will set up a campaign team of its own to support Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat in Jakartas gubernatorial election next year.

In this election, we will be on the front line to drive the internal political machine of the party, Djarot, who will personally take charge of the team, said as reported by kompas.com on Friday. He added that the members of the team would only come from the PDI-P, as the campaign would target the grassroots.

The PDI-P is the latest party to declare its support for the incumbent pair, which is already backed by the NasDem Party, the Hanura Party and the Golkar Party. Those three parties have established a campaign team under the leadership of Nusron Wahid from Golkar.

Previously, the PDI-P had expressed its wish to play a key role in the campaign team led by Nusron, given that its 28 seats in the City Council are more than the 24 seats held by the three other parties combined.

Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) head Sumarno said two more candidate pairs would register with the commission on Friday evening to join the election.

Four parties  the Democratic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP)  have decided to nominate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni. Agus is Yudhoyonos son, while Silviana is an assistant to the Jakarta governor for culture and tourism.

Meanwhile, the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) are likely to nominate former education minister Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

The Attorney Generals Office (AGO) has named the former chairman of the now defunct Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), Syafruddin Arsyad Temenggung, a suspect in a cessie agreement related with security firm PT Victoria Sekuritas International (VSI).

Yes, he [Syafruddin] has been named a suspect in a cessie contract case at IBRA, AGO spokesperson Muhammad Rum said as quoted by kompas.com on Friday.

The AGOs investigation into the case started in the middle of 2015. Syafruddin is the first suspect in the case.

Rum said there was solid evidence to name Syafruddin a suspect. He was named a suspect on Sept.21.

Three other people have been named suspects: IBRA credit analyst Harianto Tanudjaja, VSI director Rita Rosela and VSI commissioner Suzana Tanojo. Travel bans have been issued for Rita and Suzana.

The case began after PT Adistra Utama secured a Rp 469 billion (US$35.91 million) loan from a state-owned bank to build a residential compound on a 1,200-hectare plot of land in Karawang, West Java.

During the 1998 monetary crisis, PT Adistra Utama defaulted on the loan, while the bank was included in IBRAs restructuring program. The banks assets, including non-performing loans, were auctioned off. They included PT Adistra Utamas loan, which was purchased by PT VSI for Rp 26 billion

When PT Adistra Utama attempted to buy back the loan, including the land as the collateral, PT VSI set the price at Rp 2.1 trillion, which prompted the former to proceed with a legal case under the suspicion that there had been manipulation.(ebf)
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Linkedin Nethy Dharma Somba (The Jakarta Post) Jayapura  Fri, September 23, 2016

The Golkar Party has denied it gave a double endorsement in the Jayapura mayoral election after two pairs registered themselves in the General Election Commission (KPU) in Jayapura, both claiming to have the endorsement of the largest party in the local council.

There is no double endorsement. We have definitely endorsed the Benhur Tommy Mano and Haji Rustan Saru pair, acting secretary of the Golkar branch in Papua, Marthinus Werimon, said on Friday.

On Wednesday, Benhur-Rustan and Abisai Rollo-Dipo Wibowo both claimed to have the endorsement of Golkar, which has eight seats in the Jayapura Council. Both brought letters of recommendation signed by the party chairman, Setya Novanto.

We indeed gave our support to Abisai Rollo and Dipo Wibowo through a letter on June 2. But after we did an academic survey, we found 56 percent of respondents chose Benhur while Abisai got only 6 percent. So we switched our support to Benhur, he said.

Werimon argued that the letter to Abisai was automatically void after the party issued the letter for Benhur on Sept. 8. But on Wednesday Abisai claimed he had never received any letter canceling Golkars endorsement, so he claimed the June 2 letter was still valid.

Besides those two pairs, Boy Markus Dawir and Nur Alam have also registered as mayoral hopefuls. Boy and Nur are endorsed by the Democratic Party, Star and Crescent Party, and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI). The PKPI also appear to have made a double endorsement because Benhur also claims their support. (evi)
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has admitted that the authorities faced numerous obstacles in resolving human rights abuse cases in Papua.

"The obstacles include a lack of evidence to prove some of the allegations. We also see, in several cases, a lack of witnesses to testify, since the cases occurred years ago," Wiranto told journalists on Thursday.

Nevertheless, he reiterated that the government remained committed to settling rights abuse cases, claiming law enforcers had made some progress by intensifying investigation efforts to deal with gross violations in Papua, so that the cases could be immediately prosecuted at the Attorney General's Office.

Similarly, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said there were some difficult cases that the force was currently trying to settle, including the incident during the third Papuan People's Congress in 2011, when action by police and military officials to disperse the crowd allegedly resulted in the death of at least three Papuans.

Aside from that case, Papuan Police were currently handling three other cases, namely the Wamena incidents, the Yapen Waropen case, as well as the disappearance of Aristoteles Masoka, the driver of Theys Hiyo Eluay, one of Papua's best-known separatist leaders, Paulus said.

Meanwhile, other cases on a list of 12 incidents of alleged gross human rights violations in Papua, including the 2003 Wasior incident and the Paniai shooting of 2014, were being investigated by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and the AGO. (dmr)
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

A score of public organizations under the banner of Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ) have warned the government about potential imbalances during the Indonesia-EU talks on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).



IGJ executive director Rachmi Hertanti said on Wednesday that Indonesia might be required to meet certain standards that were too high and could put the country at a disadvantage, including from rising imports.



The government needs to analyze not only the possibility of rising imports, but also the impact on public life and public policies, she said.



Talks on the CEPA were launched in July by then trade minister Thomas Lembong and EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Guerend. Both sides agreed to negotiate a new agreement for a range of trade and investment issues.



The issues include customs duties, access to public procurement markets, competition rules, protection of intellectual and property rights and other possible barriers to trade and service investments.



The deal will also include vital chapters regarding closer economic relations going hand-in-hand with environmental protection and social development.



The IGJ has highlighted possible requirements made by the EU in the CEPA talks such as amendments to Indonesias negative investment list (DNI), percentage of local content (TKDN) rules and laws on the employment of foreign workers in services and trade, to facilitate European firms.



The DNI is a list of business sectors that are closed to foreign investors and currently contain 20 sectors, including flight navigation services, malt beverage production and gambling or casinos.



The government recently revised the list in its attempt to attract foreign investments to boost the economy. Included in the revision was the cinema business.



The TKDN requirements stipulate that businesses must use a certain percentage of local products within their operations. The proportions vary from one sector to another.



According to the IGJ, the foreign worker requirements will only benefit EU member countries, citing their expertise in the services sector.



Data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, show that the bloc was the worlds largest exporter and importer of services in 2014, with a trade surplus of 162.9 billion (US$182.99 billion).



Meanwhile, IGJ researcher Kartini Samon said local farmers might be forced to meet high standards to be able to export their products, such as sanitary and phytosanitary measures and to obtain Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certification. Both are very hard to achieve, Kartini said.



In addition to the IGJ, other organizations such as SafeNet and the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) have asked the government to publish the CEPA scoping paper and to create a forum that will enable civil society to express recommendations.



Separately, Trade Ministry director general for international trade negotiations Iman Pambagyo said the two parties had just begun initial meetings and were only beginning to discuss general issues. How the negotiation format will be, what kind of working groups we need to establish, what elements we need to exchange data on etc, he said on Thursday.



He said the government would closely coordinate with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) regarding the talks and was mulling over the proper format to inform the public at large.



Meanwhile, Industry Ministry director general for international industrial security and access development Harjanto acknowledged that Indonesia would be required to notify its counterpart of any new regulation throughout the talks, but argued that it was a normal process for members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including Indonesia and the EU.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Vice President Jusuf Kalla marked the beginning of Indonesia's campaign for a non-permanent UN Security Council (UNSC) seat for the 2019-2020 period by striking a gong in a reception ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday.

Hundreds of foreign diplomats attended the event, which put on display various Indonesian cultural performances throughout the night. Abdul Haris, the chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees defense and foreign affairs, was also present.

"There has been a lot of support from many countries but we must continue to lobby further support," Kalla said as quoted by Antara news agency, on Thursday evening local time.

Maldives posed as another strong contender but Indonesia had a greater chance of winning the seat, he further said.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said The True Partner for World Peace would be Indonesias campaign theme in striving to win the non-permanent security council seat.

If we talk about Indonesias diplomacy, Indonesias role as [an agent of] world peace has been widely known. We have contributed a lot to democracy [] The Bali Democracy Forum is one of our activities that have been running globally. So, Indonesias contributions to spread [democratic] values have been highly acclaimed, said Retno.

The UNSC has two types of memberships, namely permanent and non-permanent members. Permanent members comprise the US, the UK, China, France and Russia.

Meanwhile, non-permanent members are selected annually through a voting system. Indonesia has previously been a non-permanent member three times during the periods of 1973-1974, 1995-1996 and most recently 2007-2008. (liz/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian officially appointed Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan officially as the new Jakarta Police chief on Friday.

Iriawan replaced Insp. Gen. Moechgiyarto in taking over the capitals top police post who was transferred to head the National Polices education and training division (Kalemdikpol).

"This is something that must be done on a train that is moving forward. Congratulations to Iwan [Iriawan]," Tito said in a handover ceremony at the National Police headquarters on Friday as reported by Antara news agency.

As the new Jakarta Police chief, Iriawan said his main focus was to maintain the security of the capital for the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election slated to take place in February next year.

"I hope religious leaders, social figures, NGOs and all members of the public can contribute to creating a safe Jakarta. Jakarta is the country's barometer. If Jakarta is safe, God willing other regions are also safe," he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Before taking the chief position, Iriawan had previously served as the polices internal affairs division head (Propam), the police's legal division head, West Java Police chief and West Nusa Tenggara Police chief. (rin)
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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

The National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) says it has not been asked to participate in the drafting of a final recommendation to settle the 1965 communist purge. The rights group says it has not even the slightest idea about the suggestions made to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Following the decision of then-coordinating political, legal and security affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan to combine input from a state-sponsored national symposium in April and a civil society-initiated national symposium in June, Luhut's office formed its own team of three experts to draft out the recommendations, Komnas HAM chairman Imdadun Rahmat said.

Komnas HAM had been involved in the national symposium in April and had been invited to express its opinion, Imdadun said, adding however that the groupd had been excluded from the process of drafting the final recommendation submitted to President Jokowi.

"Since it was not drafted by our joint team, we feel that it's not important for us to ask about the recommendation. It's not ours. If we were part of [the drafters] we would have asked to see the final result," Imdadun said Thursday.

Imdadun added that the final government recommendation, which the group got to read during a meeting at the office of Luhut's successor Wiranto, had some significant differences when compared to the 1965 Symposium team's version. He did not elaborate on the differences.

Komnas HAM, as well as the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), had given their input during the meeting but did not know whether the government had inserted their opinions or not, Imdadun said, adding that the hope to settle the 1965 communist purge and provide justice for the victims and survivors was now in the hands of the government. (dmr)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

In a post-fact world where the news media no longer serves as the only and primary source of information, media literacy is urgently needed to help young people recognize the difference between fact-based information and propaganda.

Milica Pesic, the executive director of London-based Media Diversity Institute (MDI), told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) in Jakarta, that as the popularity of social media among youths was exponentially growing, governments needed to shield young people from being deceived by rampant propaganda online.

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Linkedin Lita Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Manado  Fri, September 23 2016

The debate on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights is still being conducted in the negative terms of deviancy and community norms, an activist has said.

North Sulawesi LGBT Forum advocacy division head Coco Jerico said media reports regarding the LGBT community in North Sulawesi were unbalanced. The negative coverage, he added, shaped the mindset of the public and led to the stigmatizing of and discrimination against the LGBT community.

The negative news has an impact on the LGBT community in North Sulawesi, especially in the three major cities of Manado, Tomohon and Bitung. The media exaggerates negative reporting of LGBT issues, said Coco.

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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Fri, September 23 2016

The customs and excise authorities have thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 28 tons of ammonium nitrate from Malaysia to South Sulawesi.

The material is thought to have been intended for the manufacture of fish bombs.

The National Police, who have taken over the case, said there was so far no indication that the explosive ingredients were to be used for terrorism purposes.

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Linkedin Rory Asyari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

Aug. 26, 2016 may have been the worst day ever for Andrew Kusuma, a 26-year-old Indonesian of Chinese decent who was attacked on a Transjakarta bus for no reason except for his race and his physical resemblance to Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama. Seven attackers made racial slurs by calling him Ahok before hitting him several times. It is unclear whether the assault was politically motivated.

Ahok himself has not been free from racial attacks, although they have been verbal not physical. One of the attacks was issued by Yusron Ihza Mahendra, the Indonesian ambassador to Japan who is also the younger brother of Yusril Ihza Mahendra, a Jakarta governor hopeful. Through his Twitter account, Yusron asserted last March that underprivileged Chinese-Indonesians could fall victim to riots triggered by Ahoks arrogance in governing.

Another racist comment came from Ahmad Dhani, a controversial musician who also wished to contest the local election in Jakartas neighboring city of Bekasi, saying Indonesia was not the land of Ahoks ancestors and the country should not fall under foreign control.

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Linkedin Jusuf Wanandi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

During the administration of prime minister Tony Abbot, the Australian government rejected the boat people who tried to reach the country. Indonesia was taken aback by this policy. Indonesia did not expect to see this action by Australia because at the end of the 1970s and in the early 1980s, it learned from what was then a magnanimous Australian government how to handle the Indochinese refugees who flocked to some places in Indonesia.

It was Australia that supported an initiative to set up a temporary processing center on Galang Island to accommodate the boat people before they were admitted to the last asylum countries like Australia itself, the US, Canada and France. Altogether, Indonesia managed to process tens of thousands of refugees.

To Indonesias surprise, the processing centers that Australia set up in Nauru and on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, where about 1,500 refugees stay, got negative media reporting. The refugees are not going to be accepted either by Australia or other possible asylum countries. The media carried negative stories on the maltreatment the refugees, especially children, endured at those two places.

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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

New Zealand is seeking to forge stronger relations with Indonesia, following a recent high-ranking visit made by Prime Minister John Key to Jakarta.



Both countries now aim to achieve annual bilateral trade of US$4 billion by 2024, an increase from the current $1 billion.



New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay, who is back on his second visit to Jakarta, said that many opportunities were still waiting to be tapped beyond the traditional fields of dairy and crude petroleum oil.



There is a significant number of areas that I talked about with your trade minister today and we need to find very constructive ways to work closely together, he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday after meeting with Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita.



Among the potential fields to explore are specialty coffee, tropical fruits, education, the digital economy and tourism.



Data from the Geneva-based International Trade Center (ITC) show that trade activities between the two countries have grown substantially during the past 10 years.



In 2006, Indonesia exported goods worth $320 million to New Zealand and the figure had risen by 36.3 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, Indonesia imported goods worth $333.75 million from New Zealand in 2006 and had seen this figure jump by more than 90 percent by the end of 2015.



McClay added that constructive cooperation was already ongoing with several pilot projects to improve productivity in several industries, like beef, renewable energy and aviation.



The worlds number one dairy exporter has been helping Indonesia create a sustainable beef industry with research and development that will result in better breeding genetics. New Zealand has a population of 4.5 million, but has the capacity to feed about 40 million people worldwide through its robust food production.



McClay said New Zealand was looking to help Indonesia realize its renewable energy target of 23 percent by 2025 as well, adding that it was already generating 80 percent of its energy from renewable sources, such as hydropower and geothermal.



The two countries energy partnership was reflected by a deal signed in 2012 between Geothermal New Zealand (Geonz) and Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE)the subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas firm Pertaminato develop 1,000 megawatts of electricity generation in Sulawesi and Sumatra.



In aviation, McClay said Indonesia stood a chance of becoming the worlds sixth largest aviation market by 2030 with its more than 250 million people.



McClay is slated to meet with other senior Indonesian officials during his visit, including Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution, Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto and Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Tom Lembong.



Separately, Industry Ministry director general for international industrial security and access development Harjanto said Indonesia saw the partnership with New Zealand as a new trade order approach that enabled it to source raw materials from the Pacific country to be processed as highly value-added products.

--------------

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is overconfident in recommending his eldest son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, for the top job in the capital, a political analyst has said.

As announced on Friday morning, the army major aims to challenge Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama in the election next year, with the Jakarta governor assistant for culture and tourism, Sylviana Murni, nominated as his running mate.

SBY believes that Agus can represent his big name. There is [an element of] political speculation in Yudhoyonos decision to deploy his own son. He is confident that his name can push the electability of Agus, Yunarto Wijaya of Charta Politika told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Yunarto expressed doubt, however, over Agus ability to collect a significant number of votes in the election on Feb. 15. I still dont know how the public will take to Agus, because his name has never been listed in any survey.

Yunarto said that since Agus had no experience in politics, he would rely on the political machines of the four parties backing him, namely the Democratic Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Meanwhile, Sylviana, a career bureaucrat, would help Agus in administration affairs, Yunarto said. Sylviana has long experience in the bureaucracy, and her performance is good. Ahok even praised Sylviana for her good performance, he explained.

Those parties may believe that Agus had good personal branding to help him beat Ahok in the election, but personal branding was not enough, because residents preferred a figure that could develop the city, Yunarto said. (bbn)
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Linkedin Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Less than a month into his administration, Jokowi took many by surprise when he announced the ambitious construction of power plants to produce 35,000 MW of electricity on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing, China, in November 2015.

The construction of power plants to produce 25,000 MW was offered to the private sector, technically called independent power producer (IPP), while the remaining 10,000 MW went to state-owned power company PLN, which almost holds a monopoly in the countrys power business.

A string of regulations and privileges were issued to accelerate the construction and to lure more participation from the private sector, only to harvest complaints from businesses and ignite infighting between government officials.

The commotion has obviously held back the completion of the entire project, which has a 2019 deadline. Acting energy and mineral resources minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan announced in late August that only between 23,000 MW and 25,000 MW of the project could be available by 2019.

That was if, he said, the many bottlenecks plaguing the project could be immediately lifted.

.Acting energy and mineral resources minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan (left) and PLN president director Sofyan Basir. (JP/Dhoni and Nurhayati)

Poor business processes and governance issues in PLN, assigned to spearhead the construction and partner with the private sector, have mostly been blamed for exacerbating the already-protracted problems inflicting those in the private sector wanting to participate in power plant construction.

As problems with land acquisition and local administration licensing processes remain largely unresolved, businesses are now being forced into another round of bottlenecks stemming from policy uncertainty.

For private companies wanting to participate in the project, red tape at PLN remains a hard nut to crack, even before they can move on to the construction phase, despite Jokowis repeated calls for the bureaucracy to be trimmed down to less than one year.

In reality, it still takes years for the pre-construction process. The uncertainty remains high because the poor business processes in PLN enable it to hang up decisions without any reasonable and transparent basis, said Indonesian Independent Power Producer Association (APLSI) executive chair Arthur Simatupang.

Arthur cited as examples PLNs discretionary right to terminate a tender without providing transparent reasons, refusing to comply with regulations on rates and delaying decisions to sign contracts with the private sector without a rational basis.

Companies cannot enter power plant business unless they forge a contract in the form of power purchasing agreement (PPA) with PLN.

A recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed that prior to construction, private companies required between 19 and 43 months of paperwork, from pre-qualification preparation and the bidding process to financial closure. The construction would then take another 18 to 54 months.

Given the lengthy undertaking, Luhut has demanded PLN immediately improve its business processes to prevent more delays in the 35,000 MW project, by revising its internal regulations, among other things.

Ideally, PPA and financial closure could be done within 18 months so that construction could immediately begin, he said, adding that PLN was in the process of streamlining its paperwork.

Source:(PwC/File)

PLN corporate secretary Bambang Dwiyanto recently acknowledged the lengthy paperwork process, and said the company was attempting to resolve the bottlenecks by forming a new directorate to deal with the issue and accelerate the PPA process.

Other attempts to speed things up, Bambang said, included bidding process acceleration for steel procurement, recruitment of 1,000 auditors and cooperation with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to monitor the process.

But resolving the red tape would not guarantee continuity as subjectivity was also at play. For example, PLN unilaterally terminated in June the bidding for the coal-fired 2 x 1,000 MW Jawa 5 power plant in Serang, Banten, among the largest in the wider 35,000 MW project, citing problems with good governance.

Imbued with discretionary rights, PLN recently directly appointed its subsidiary PT Indonesia Power to construct the US$3 billion plant in cooperation with a Japanese company in a bid to reduce Chinas role in Indonesias power plant construction, PLN president director Sofyan Basir said recently.

The direct appointment is aimed at accelerating the construction. Open bidding would take time, and were in a hurry to meet the 35,000 MW deadline, said Sofyan, former state-run Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) president director who took PLNs helm in December 2014.

PLNs direct appointment privilege has annoyed Luhut, arguing that it would go against good governance, as campaigned for by PLN. Thats not the way things are done. The project is subject to open bidding for transparency and fairness, he said.

As Indonesias biggest state company by assets, PLN is often mired in governance issues, with many of its officials in the past having ended up in prison for graft.

The resignation of PLN president commissioner Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, a figure of high integrity, in May positioned PLN in the governance spotlight amid political tussles between Sofyan and then energy and mineral resources minister Sudirman Said, who accused PLN of a series of foul plays.

State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno cited the resignation as being due to personal reasons.

But several sources have suggested it was more about governance issues as Rini has clipped the authority of PLNs board of commissioners, stopping them from participating in the recruitment of the companys executives and from having any decision on power purchasing agreements with PLNs private partners.

A dissenting chain of authority over PLN has also complicated decision making in the 35,000 MW project.

By regulation, the PLN president director has two direct superiors: the energy and mineral resources minister for policy and the state-owned enterprises minister for performance, with the authority to dismiss and retain the boards of directors and commissioners.

Sofyan explained that the firm had a responsibility to both ministers, and demanded they not issue regulations without regard for business interests and the companys profitability.

Amid the protracted bottlenecks in the 35,000 MW project, PLN seems to being pinning success on instant mobile power plants (MPPs), which are supposedly fueled by gas but in most cases are run on expensive diesel fuel.

Procurements for MPPs are direct appointments, taking less than six months to become operational. According to PLNs 2016-2019 business plan for electricity provision (RUPTL) issued in June, around 4,000 MW of the companys allocation in the 35,000 MW project is in the form of MPPs.

Source: (PwC/File)

A gas-or-diesel-fueled 100 MW MPP for the backwater province of Gorontalo was the first of the 35,000 MW project to be officiated over by Jokowi in June.

As of Aug. 18, only 195 MW (all in the form of MPPs), or 1 percent of the 35,000 MW project, were already in operation, while the remaining 22 percent were under construction, 29 percent were in the procurement stage and 21 percent in the planning phase.

Around 27 percent of the project has yet to start construction, although the contractors have signed PPAs with PLN, according to a PLN presentation.

The 35,000 MW project is basically a continuation of the 10,000 MW policy launched by then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his first term as president in 2005, to keep reserve margins  the difference between capacity and peak demand  within the International Energy Agencys recommended level of 20 to 35 percent.

As the nation is at risk of a power crisis should the level decline to below 20 percent, Jokowi has taken the initiative to boost power capacity to accommodate higher economic growth. Reserve margins for the Java-Bali grid currently stand at over 30 percent, according to PLN.

Of the 35,000 MW, only 18,000 MW are actually new projects offered to private investors, according to PLN data, while the remaining 7,000 MW are a carryover from Yudhoyonos term, and 10,000 MW are PLNs share.

Last year, PLN inked PPAs for 9,780 MW, while only 300 MW were agreed between January and July this year. The government is targeting PLN seal PPAs for 11,730 MW by the end of this year to prevent more delays to the ambitious project.

Energy expert Agung Wicaksono, former member of a government unit tasked with overseeing the 35,000 MW project, doubted whether PLN would able to complete the task since it would need greater efforts than last years to complete the PPA within less than six months.

On top of that there are credibility and governance issues plaguing the company. Given the many policies at PLN that have created business uncertainty, there is growing distrust in the market on how this project is going to be managed, said Agung.

Whats the chance of Indonesia facing power crisis?

Source: (PLN/RUPTL 2016-2019)

Despite the 35,000 MW project likely to miss its mark of all plants being operational by 2019, Indonesia is unlikely to suffer an electricity crisis, at least before 2020.

Low demand for electricity following sluggish economic growth and ample supply from new power plants coming on stream are cited as among the reasons power crisis will remain at bay.

The ambitious 35,000 MW project was convened based initially on assumptions that the economy would grow at an average of more than 6 percent per year, which translates into an increase of more than 7 percent in electricity demand per annum until 2019.

However, as the economy grew by 4.79 percent last year, demand for electricity nationwide rose by only 2 percent.

Electricity demand in Java and Bali, the countrys center of industry and growth, expanded by 0.8 percent last year, lower than over 5 percent growth initially projected.

With as much as 25,000 MW of the targeted 35,000 MW expected to go on stream by 2019, this may at some point be a blessing in disguise for state-owned power company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).

The delay will prevent PLN from suffering huge losses due to oversupply amid subdued electricity consumption.

The company is required to purchase the electricity produced by independent power producers (IPPs), regardless of demand.

The delay in the projects completion will not mean the end of the world, PLN president director Sofyan Basir said recently.

We want the 35,000 MW project to be completed by 2019.

But we have to be rational and recognize the fact that not all the supply can be absorbed. With the economy growing at an average of 5 percent, a supply of 5,000 MW per year would be more than enough, he said.

Prior to the 35,000 MW program, Indonesia received an average of between 2,000 and 3,000 MW of new electricity supply per year.

High reserve margins of over 30 percent for the Java-Bali grid and the Sumatra grid also illustrated how Indonesia had kept its potential electricity crisis at bay, according to PLN.

The margin is the difference between capacity and peak demand, with the International Energy Agencys (IEA) recommended level being a 20 to 35 percent margin for a nation to be considered safe from an electricity crisis.

We actually have an oversupply of 30 percent, as reflected in the reserve margin. But why do blackouts still occur in Jakarta and Java? Thats because of problems in transmission, PLN planning director Nicke Widyawati said recently.

Transmission is critical, and thats where PLN will pour its resources to catch up with demand, she said.

PLN, which holds a monopoly over the transmission business, is currently constructing a network of 46,000 kilometers of transmission, slated for completion by 2019.

Aside from transmission problems, a recent study by PwC suggested uneven electricity distribution.

The Java-Bali average reserve margin is deceptively high. In fact, the load distribution [heavy in Jakarta and West Java] versus capacity [concentrated in Banten, Central Java and East Java] still creates localized issues for the grid in Java, said the study.

In recent years, when the reserve margin has fallen to 15 percent, PLN was forced to implement load shedding, leading to two-three hour daily blackouts.

The reserve margin for Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Papua and Maluku and Nusa Tenggara is far lower than the IEAs recommendation.

Energy expert Agung Wicaksono suggested a reevaluation of the 35,000 MW project as the underlying projections that supported the ambitious project had all missed the mark, particularly electricity demand.

A failure to recalculate real demand in the next couple of years would create a burden for PLN in the form of oversupply, potentially causing massive losses to the company, which was already in debt, he said.

This year, electricity consumption is projected to grow by 3.9 percent, far lower than the initial projection of 7.8 percent. That illustrates how all the projections have strayed away from their forecasts, said Agung, former deputy chair of the now defunct Energy and Mineral Resources Ministrys team for the acceleration of electricity projects.

Protection for 35,000 MW

Source:(PLN/RUPTL 2016-2019)

After announcing the ambitious project in November 2014 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing, China, Joko Jokowi Widodo officially launched the project in a ceremony in May 2015 in Yogyakarta.

The project will require the construction of 219 power plants, 737 transmission facilities consisting of 75,000 towers, 1,375 main stations, 2,600 transformers using 300,000 kilometers of aluminum cable.

Investment for the project is estimated at Rp 1.1 quadrillion (US$83.6 billion).

To secure the project from recalcitrant police officers and prosecutors, a commitment was forged in September last year between then National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, Attorney General M. Prasetyo and PLN president director Sofyan Basir to provide direction for PLN officials so they could avoid making legal or policy mistakes that could drag them into being prosecuted for creating state losses.

The law enforcement agencies are also committed to not disturbing PLN officials with the threat of prosecution related to carrying out the project.

A finance minister regulation was also issued in late August, providing a guarantee for the projects.

It gives two guarantees for several projects, namely the 35,000 MW program, the construction of 46,000 kilometers of transmission lines and other supporting infrastructure.

The first guarantee is a loan guarantee, to be given to financial institutions that provide financing to state-owned PLN as loan repayment assurance.

The second guarantee is a business feasibility guarantee, to be given to independent power producers (IPPs) that partner with PLN. It is to provide assurance that PLN has the financial capacity to purchase the power produced by the IPPs according to their agreed contracts.

Robert Pakpahan, director general of financing and risk management at the Finance Ministry, said the government hoped to smooth PLNs electricity generation journey by providing the guarantees because some of the projects assigned to the company might not be economically feasible.
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

With only hours until the candidate registration deadline for the February election, six parties are struggling to unite to name a ticket to challenge Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama.



Lobbying among the six parties began on Tuesday night, right after the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the citys largest political party, which was initially a member of the coalition, eventually threw its support behind Ahok and appointed party member Djarot Saiful Hidayat as his running mate.



Talks of a coalition collapsed again on Thursday night after members previously indicated that they were close to nominating one candidate pair, instead of two or three, met a stumbling block .



The Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) have reportedly insisted on backing businessman Sandiaga Uno after the Democratic Party suddenly proposed a new figure, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the eldest son of Dems chairman and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.



Gerindra has reportedly rejected Agus, a 38-year-old member of the Army, as the party feels he lacks experience.



The candidate will be one expected by the younger generation. Jakartas young population is large, so this candidate will suit their aspirations, Dems lawmaker Benny Kabur Harman argued regarding Aguss nomination.



The Dems proposed Agus on Wednesday night in a meeting with senior politicians from the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) at Yudhoyonos residence in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java.



The Dems also proposed former education minister Anies Baswedan in the meeting. Meanwhile the PPP, the PKB and PAN proposed former law and human rights minister Yusril lhza Mahendra.



Senior members of Gerindra and the PKS did not attend Wednesday nights meeting.



Basically, the four parties attending Wednesday nights meeting agreed to one anothers candidate. They did not oppose each other because we wanted to have one voice, PPP deputy secretary-general Arwani Thomafi said on Thursday.



The Dems said it would announce its candidates at 11 p.m. Thursday night. If Yudhoyono insists on involving Agus, Jakarta may see two other tickets challenging Ahok.



Both groups  led by Gerindra and the Dems  are set to announce their picks on Friday, the last day for candidate registration, with the option of nominating one candidate pair remaining open, for example, by pairing Sandiaga with either Anies or Yusril, who both are acceptable to Gerindra.



Members of the coalition are likely to choose Yusril or Anies, paired with Sandiaga. However, Anies appears to be the safe option on account of his rising electability, according to a recent poll.



Anies is the former rector of Paramadina University and a respected academician. He has grown closer to Yudhoyono since receiving an invitation from the Dems to take part in the 2014 presidential election candidacy.



A survey by Jakarta-based Polltracking Indonesia last week showed that although he has yet to formally campaign in relation to his candidacy in the election, and though he was only mentioned recently as a likely candidate, his electability is above Yusril. His electability is reportedly edging closer to that of Sandiaga, who started introducing himself to Jakartans in March.



The survey showed that Anies came third after Ahok and Sandiaga in first and second, respectively. Anies was favored by 15.85 percent of 400 respondents in the survey. Meanwhile Ahok and Sandiaga were chosen by 41.54 percent and 15.90, respectively.



The survey showed that Yusril was favored by only 12.05 percent of the respondents.

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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

A tax waiver is needed, especially on asset transfers, to make Islamic financing in Indonesia more competitive with conventional financing, a practitioner has said.

The structure of Islamic financing requires that assets be transferred to a third party, usually a special purpose vehicle (SPV), during the lending period, before being transferred back to the lender after the loan repayment.

The value-added tax applied to the transaction creates an instance of double taxation and makes the Islamic financing, especially for housing and infrastructure loans, less competitive with conventional financing.

"In the UK and Malaysia, the asset transfer tax is annulled, they categorize the asset transfer in the Islamic financing structure as a financial transaction, rather than a sales and purchase transaction," Qudeer Latif, a partner at law firm Clifford Chance, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Another problem, he continued, stemmed from the high building transfer fee (BPHTB), which varied from 5 percent to 7 percent. The central government had tried to reduce it to 2.5 percent, but some regional governments still objected to it, as they may lose significant revenue.

"Changing the taxation rule will create a level playing field between Islamic and conventional financing," Latif said.

Clifford Chance has served as a legal advisor to many Islamic financing projects, including the US$500 million sukuk offered by national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia in 2015. (ags)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) has been informed that two more pairs of candidates will register on Friday, totaling to three pairs set to compete in the 2017 gubernatorial election.

Parties have confirmed this morning that they will register their candidates after Friday prayers, said KPU Jakarta chairman Sumarno, adding that the elections organizers would wait for the candidates to register up to perhaps Friday night.

Incumbent pair Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Djarot Saiful Hidayat registered themselves to KPU Jakarta on Wednesday after they secured support from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, NasDem Party, Hanura Party and Golkar Party.

Meanwhile, four parties -- the Democratic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party (PPP)  reportedly have decided to nominate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and Sylviana Murni. Agus is Yudhoyonos son, while Sylviana is assistant to the Jakarta governor for tourism affairs.

Meanwhile, another pair would be nominated by Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). The figures have been widely reported to include businessman Sandiaga Uno, former national education and cultural minister Anies Baswedan and Batang Regent Yoyok Riyo Sudibyo.

Friday is the last day of the three-day registration period for the Jakarta gubernatorial candidates. (wnd/bbn)
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Linkedin Stanley Widianto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23 2016

Bogor-based funk/pop band Tokyolite made its mark in Japan, performing alongside musicians from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Japan and Mexico at Kansai Music Conference.

According to its official website, Kansai Music Conference (KMC) is an independently run, globally oriented music conference in Japan.



Taking place in Osaka, the KMC, which was themed building bridges with music, has been bringing international musicians  of any stature, sound and bankability  onto its stage, seminars and workshops.



At the KMCs eighth iteration, held from Sept. 16 to 18 this year, Bogor-based funk/pop band Tokyolite was the only Indonesian act on the bill.



Formed in 2009, Tokyolite consists of Stevan Arianto (vocals/guitars) and Alexander Bramono (bass/synth).



Drawing from a parcel of musical influences  from funk to jazz  Tokyolite has recorded one EP Hello, one LP Avenue and two remix albums called As Never Want Remixes More and Tanukineiri Sometuke Series Vol. 1.



The first remix album is notable because it was a joint release between two Japanese labels  Positive Records and Hand Craft Records  and inside, a number of Japanese producers put a spin on Tokyolites music. The second remix album was also released by Japanese label Tanukineiri.



Lets think for a second about what the name Tokyolite could hypothetically mean. As Tokyolite said in an interview with Rolling Stone Indonesia in 2014, they went with Tokyolite is because its easily catchy.



Maybe its a way of teasing their potential audience of their Japanese-flavored music (whatever that means)  so they pull together bits or fascimiles of the music coming out of Tokyo to the studio and to their listeners. They bring Tokyo to you!



The thing is, Tokyolites music doesnt always strike as particularly engineered toward the Japanese mainstream.



On their debut LP, Avenue, most of the lyrics are sung in Indonesian and in English, and are heavily drawn from Western influences. So the line between Tokyolite and any notion of cultural pandering ends with their name.



But that doesnt mean that they havent found success there. Along with the Kansai Music Conference gig, they also are embarking on a tour to Japan from Sept. 16 to 27, dropping by cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and Tsuruga.

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Linkedin Rendi A. Witular (The Jakarta Post)  Fri, September 23 2016

Despite the 35,000 MW project likely to miss its mark of all plants being operational by 2019, Indonesia is unlikely to suffer an electricity crisis, at least before 2020.

Low demand for electricity following sluggish economic growth and ample supply from new power plants coming on stream are cited as among the reasons power crisis will remain at bay.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Fri, September 23 2016

The verdict is out: President Joko Jokowi Widodos 35,000 megawatt (MW) signature project is highly unlikely to be completely on stream by 2019, as initially targeted. The Jakarta Posts Rendi A. Witular delves into a pool of many impediments plaguing the ambitious project.



Less than a month into his administration, Jokowi took many by surprise when he announced the ambitious construction of power plants to produce 35,000 MW of electricity on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Beijing, China, in November 2015.



The construction of power plants to produce 25,000 MW was offered to the private sector, technically called independent power producer (IPP), while the remaining 10,000 MW went to state-owned power company PLN, which almost holds a monopoly in the countrys power business.



A string of regulations and privileges were issued to accelerate the construction and to lure more participation from the private sector, only to harvest complaints from businesses and ignite infighting between government officials.



The commotion has obviously held back the completion of the entire project, which has a 2019 deadline. Acting energy and mineral resources minister Luhut B. Pandjaitan announced in late August that only between 23,000 MW and 25,000 MW of the project could be available by 2019.



That was if, he said, the many bottlenecks plaguing the project could be immediately lifted.



Poor business processes and governance issues in PLN, assigned to spearhead the construction and partner with the private sector, have mostly been blamed for exacerbating the already-protracted problems inflicting those in the private sector wanting to participate in power plant construction.



As problems with land acquisition and local administration licensing processes remain largely unresolved, businesses are now being forced into another round of bottlenecks stemming from policy uncertainty.



For private companies wanting to participate in the project, red tape at PLN remains a hard nut to crack, even before they can move on to the construction phase, despite Jokowis repeated calls for the bureaucracy to be trimmed down to less than one year.



In reality, it still takes years for the pre-construction process. The uncertainty remains high because the poor business processes in PLN enable it to hang up decisions without any reasonable and transparent basis, said Indonesian Independent Power Producer Association (APLSI) executive chair Arthur Simatupang.



Arthur cited as examples PLNs discretionary right to terminate a tender without providing transparent reasons, refusing to comply with regulations on rates and delaying decisions to sign contracts with the private sector without a rational basis.



Companies cannot enter power plant business unless they forge a contract in the form of power purchasing agreement (PPA) with PLN.





A recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed that prior to construction, private companies required between 19 and 43 months of paperwork, from pre-qualification preparation and the bidding process to financial closure. The construction would then take another 18 to 54 months.



Given the lengthy undertaking, Luhut has demanded PLN immediately improve its business processes to prevent more delays in the 35,000 MW project, by revising its internal regulations, among other things.



Ideally, PPA and financial closure could be done within 18 months so that construction could immediately begin, he said, adding that PLN was in the process of streamlining its paperwork.



PLN corporate secretary Bambang Dwiyanto recently acknowledged the lengthy paperwork process, and said the company was attempting to resolve the bottlenecks by forming a new directorate to deal with the issue and accelerate the PPA process.



Other attempts to speed things up, Bambang said, included bidding process acceleration for steel procurement, recruitment of 1,000 auditors and cooperation with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to monitor the process.



But resolving the red tape would not guarantee continuity as subjectivity was also at play. For example, PLN unilaterally terminated in June the bidding for the coal-fired 2 x 1,000 MW Jawa 5 power plant in Serang, Banten, among the largest in the wider 35,000 MW project, citing problems with good governance.



Imbued with discretionary rights, PLN recently directly appointed its subsidiary PT Indonesia Power to construct the US$3 billion plant in cooperation with a Japanese company in a bid to reduce Chinas role in Indonesias power plant construction, PLN president director Sofyan Basir said recently.



The direct appointment is aimed at accelerating the construction. Open bidding would take time, and were in a hurry to meet the 35,000 MW deadline, said Sofyan, former state-run Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) president director who took PLNs helm in December 2014.



PLNs direct appointment privilege has annoyed Luhut, arguing that it would go against good governance, as campaigned for by PLN. Thats not the way things are done. The project is subject to open bidding for transparency and fairness, he said.



As Indonesias biggest state company by assets, PLN is often mired in governance issues, with many of its officials in the past having ended up in prison for graft.



The resignation of PLN president commissioner Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, a figure of high integrity, in May positioned PLN in the governance spotlight amid political tussles between Sofyan and then energy and mineral resources minister Sudirman Said, who accused PLN of a series of foul plays.



State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno cited the resignation as being due to personal reasons.



But several sources have suggested it was more about governance issues as Rini has clipped the authority of PLNs board of commissioners, stopping them from participating in the recruitment of the companys executives and from having any decision on power purchasing agreements with PLNs private partners.



A dissenting chain of authority over PLN has also complicated decision making in the 35,000 MW project.



By regulation, the PLN president director has two direct superiors: the energy and mineral resources minister for policy and the state-owned enterprises minister for performance, with the authority to dismiss and retain the boards of directors and commissioners.

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Linkedin News Desk (AFP) Washington  Fri, September 23, 2016

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.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

The government wants Bali to be known not just for its beaches, dances and history, but also for its food. To that end, Jakarta plans to promote the island as the country's prime gastronomy destination through a campaign that highlights local culinary culture and explores the origins of Balinese cuisine.

"A team is currently in Bali to discuss the matter," said the Tourism Ministry's deputy assistant for cultural tourism development, Lokot Enda, in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Bali is considered to be better suited for this role than other regions of Indonesia, based on three criteria: accessibility, amenities and attractions. "Bali already has the brand and resources to become a gastronomy tourism destination. We chose to start with Bali, because we want to accelerate this gastronomy tourism; we don't want to begin from zero. Developing a new area could take five to ten years," said Lokot.

(Read also: Embracing molecular gastronomy: A different dining perspective)

Compared to Jakarta, Lokot said, Bali was more accomplished in terms of gastronomy attractions. "There is one restaurant in Bali where you have to make a reservation up to a year in advance."

Aside from eating, gastronomy tourism involves visiting food producers, culinary festivals, traditional markets, cooking shows and food-tasting events and all tourism activities related to food. (kes)
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Linkedin Asmara Wreksono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

In celebration of its 10th anniversary, dREAMSCAPE, an Asia-based luxury travel operator, is holding a three-day travel show titled Dreams Around the World at La Moda cafe, Plaza Indonesia shopping mall. Taking place from Sept. 23 to 25, the event features high-end luxury travel brands and suppliers, to cater to dREAMSCAPEs clientele, which includes high-net worth customers.

Dreams Around the World is designed to help visitors enjoy luxury travel firsthand through themed travel experiences curated by selected expert suppliers. Exhibitors in the event include Zurich Travel Insurance, Cathay Pacific, Nihiwatu, Scubaspa, HTM Niseko, Castle and Wine, Aqua Mekong, &Beyond, Institut auf dem Rosenberg, Le K2 Courchevel, Alila Purnama, Shangri-La Hotels and Garuda Indonesia.

(Read also: Middle East tourists are biggest spenders, though in smaller numbers)

dREAMSCAPE also celebrates its 10th year anniversary with the launch of its mobile app. Fitri Tresnawida, president director of dREAMSCAPE said in a statement, Its a new phase for dREAMSCAPE with the launch of our app. Not only will we keep servicing customized requests, we will also expand by launching ready made products and small group journeys, which allows luxury travelers to meet like-minded people.

Fitri mentioned that dREAMSCAPEs small group journeys are very popular among its clientele, with Chasing The Aurora in Finland being the most popular package. In this package, travelers will stay in an igloo, and have the experience to see the natural phenomenon, Aurora Borealis. The Aurora Borealis package is by far the most popular, we have a long waiting list. To go in 2018, youll have to sign up this year, she said.

(Read also: 10 local travelers to follow on Instagram)

The Dreams Around The World travel show also features Cathay Pacific airlines, which recently acquired 20 brand new A350-900s, with four already in operation. In the near future, the airline will add 26 A350-1000s, featuring a better circulation system, which will decrease jet lag, and adjustable cabin temperature for a more comfortable travel experience. Both A350 versions come with business, premium economy and economy classes.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, September 23, 2016

Tourists from the Middle East are said to spend more money when traveling to Indonesia compared to other countries.

"Travel spending of Middle Eastern tourists is higher [compared to Asian and European visitors] despite being lower in arrival numbers," said halal tourism acceleration and development head Riyanto Sofyan in Jakarta on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

According to the Tourism Ministry's data, foreign tourists from Middle Eastern countries spent an average of US$1,750 per visit/person, with those hailing from United Arab Emirates spending $1,500 on average. Meanwhile, the average travel spending of visitors from Asian countries is $1,200. "Middle Eastern tourists mostly enjoy shopping, natural and cultural attractions, the beach and sightseeing while in Indonesia. Many also travel to the Puncak area in West Java," said Riyanto.

(Read also: Global travel spending still growing but at a slower pace)

The government is currently targeting the halal tourism market, particularly for countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. "Around 600,000 Middle Eastern tourists traveled to Thailand and over 400,000 visited Malaysia. Meanwhile, Indonesia welcomed around 200,000 of them," Riyanto added.

The potential of halal tourism is high due to the many airlines offering flights from the Middle East to Indonesia, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya previously stated that this particular market was highly significant since of the 6.8 billion of people in the world, around 1.6 billion are Muslim of which 60 percent are under the age of 30. (kes)
The art gallery revolving door continues to spin on the Lower East Side. Spoke Art of San Francisco has taken a space at 210 Rivington St., a building just to the west of Pitt Street.

According to its website, Spoke art specializes in new contemporary painting, sculpture and illustration with an emphasis in accessible programming. This past summer, the gallery ventured east for a Wes Anderson-themed group show in Chelsea. The pop-up event caught fire on social media and was sold out.

The first LES show opens tomorrow night from 6-9 with Bobs Burgers, described on Facebook as, an officially licensed art show tribute to the animated television series. Be forewarned: 2500 people already say theyre attending.

The Rivington Street space was previously occupied by Kansas Gallery, which announced its closure recently after just one year on the Lower East Side.

The Spoke Art deal was brokered by Ryan Reszelbach of Constellation Real Estate Advisors. The asking price for the 900 square foot space was $7,000/month.
Although you might not expect it, communities are able to thrive with the help of insurance companies.

Many are able to launch campaigns with generous grants, which then go on to leave a positive impact on local areas or large scale projects. Local, national or global, the insurance industry is all for influencing all generations. Whether it is health and well-being, preservation or funds to launch projects, the insurance industry is helping more and more to communities to bloom.

Not only are the insurance companies themselves contributing through sums of cash, those working within the industry are increasingly together to show their support.

Employees of Lloyds of London, the global market in specialist insurance, happily help local communities across the globe through a range of programmes. In 2015, over 2,600 people working in the Lloyds market volunteered their time as part of Lloyds Community Programme.

Providing literacy support for primary school students, the volunteers were thrilled to contribute to community growth. They also provided employability skills training, a key session for career progression for all ages and backgrounds.

Its not just local communities being impacted by the insurance industry's help - it's working on a larger scale too. Insurance companies are the first to help in getting disaster areas restored as efficiently as possible, and the industry also helps those affected personally.

Over the last three years, Lloyds Charities Trust has been supporting RedR, an international disaster relief charity. The goal of the partnership is to help recruit humanitarians to respond to any tragedy. During this time 1,780 aid workers have received full training from 160 organisations in 104 countries, in preparation to respond in an emergency - especially in urban areas. Lloyds insurance is definitely living up to their slogan Empower Human Progress.

The insurance industry as a whole holds corporate responsibilities in three sectors; environmental, social and ethical. Its not all economical. Climate change has been a looming fear for the environment, as has the protection and conservation of our planet. Over the last short 30 years, research has shown that we have lost 40% of the ocean's corals. This has been a result of climate change, pollution and harsh fishing. Lloyds feels strongly about protecting the worlds coral reef, and is helping to assess the rate of decline to try and prevent it.

Although the insurance industry may be seen as one that protects our belongings if they are to break or covers our medical costs if we fall ill on holiday, its actually influencing the world we live in. Without us noticing, our local communities may have been shaped and changed as a result of the insurance companys' work and partnerships.

Interested in helping the environment and communities? Interested in working for the insurance industry? Check out Lloyd's of London's 2016/2017 graduate opportunities here.
Approached by an eager model scout on a crowded Manhattan high-street, in June of this year I was encouraged to go along to a meeting with what is known in the modelling world as a Mother Company.

As the name suggests a mother company acts as a parent, nurturing its potential models, training them, and in some cases sculpting them in order to create an image which might be considered desirable, and help secure them representation by a modelling agency.

Now, I was wary from the off, but perhaps not quite as taken aback by the offer as others in my position might have been. I had been told on many an occasion - Oh, but you should be a model! - but what many people dont know is that having spent a good portion of my teenage years fighting with an eating disorder, the common first impression of me as an effortlessly skinny barbie-doll has always been far from my reality, and it is key to note before you read on that at the time of this consultation I was still a fair few of pounds below the recommended BMI of 18.

On the day of my meeting I was led into a spacious white-walled office with floor to ceiling windows looking out on the Manhattan skyline. From the walls a hundred symmetrical faces gazed down at me, all frozen smiles and glossy eyes. "The first thing we need to establish", the sweet-talking scout proclaimed, "Is which category you could fit into easiest". This statement had baffled as he waved a measuring tape in my face, but I soon came to realise that my measurements fell somewhere between standard and plus size model, and thus I faced a choice. Lose 2-inches, or gain 10.

It was only then, after leaving that white-wash office, that the reality of the medias power over body image really hit me. Every image in every promotional campaign along the high-street, in every magazine, in every media campaign, boasts images of women who have been forced to conform to the dangerous guidelines which I myself had just been subjected to.

That impressionable young people are being conditioned by such mentality, believing the images presented to them in the media to be representative of a realistic and healthy ideal is beyond dangerous. With an estimated 1.6 million people in the U.K. known to be suffering with an eating disorder, surely it is time to put a stop to such a disgusting categorising of what is beautiful, what is desirable, and what is ultimately perceived to be normal.

#NoSizeFitsAll is a campaign launched by the Womens Equality Party to coincide with London Fashion Week. Campaigners are calling for an urgent remodelling of the fashion industry starting with the appeal for a law to be passed to ensure that all models with a BMI of 18.5 or lower, must be deemed healthy by a medical professional before they are permitted to be employed by an agency. The campaign's primary aim is to abolish the stringent categories currently imposed by the fashion industry, which cast models into stardard or plus size, so that in future runways we might be able truly be able to see that No Size Fits All.
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Agencies brainstorm a traffic fix

BANGKOK: Various measures have been proposed to tackle the chronic traffic congestion in Bangkok after Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon gave relevant agencies one month to solve the traffic problems on the citys 21 major roads.

accidentscrimepolicetransport

By Bangkok Post

Friday 23 September 2016, 09:22AM

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday (Sept 22) decreed that authorities have a month to clear Bangkok streets of rush-hour scenes like this  but gave no details on or else. Photo: Patipat Janthong

Proposed solutions include setting up separate divisions in municipal courts to specifically handle cases relating to traffic-law violations, improving traffic police personnel, road space rationing for odd-even licence-plate numbers, adjusting work hours to deal with rush hour traffic and quadrupling fines for those who fail to pay their traffic tickets.

A Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) subcommittee working on solving traffic congestion in Bangkok and surrounding provinces met yesterday (Sept 22) to discuss possible solutions to the traffic gridlocks.

Representatives from the other 53 agencies involved in tackling the problem were also present.

In the meantime, a seminar to discuss research work on traffic solutions was held yesterday. Speaking after the meeting, MPB chief Sanit Mahathavorn said the Thailand Research Fund conducted a two-year study on traffic-related issues which offered several useful proposals to ease traffic problems, though they have not yet been put into action.

One proposal calls for the establishment of a traffic court to enforce stricter compliance with traffic laws, while other proposed measures ask that police and City Hall work together to regulate street vendors, improve traffic light systems and provide parking space around skytrain and subway stations.

Lt Gen Sanit said Gen Prawit would also discuss with the Land Transport Department the possibility of more stringent measures against motorists who fail to pay their fines after breaking traffic laws.

They could have their driving licences suspended or revoked and could be made to pay a fine four times higher than the original.

The Bangkok police chief said the Na Ranong Rd intersection where traffic from Sukhumvit, Ratchadaphisek, Asoke and Rama IV roads converge is one of the citys major traffic concerns.

The congestion is further compounded by a rail line crossing the road.

Gen Prawit suggested another flyover be built over the rail crossing to ease congestion. Gen Prawit has also ordered traffic police to remove vehicles parked in the area that hinder traffic flow, Lt Gen Sanit said.

He also said traffic police have set up a team to monitor traffic problems on all roads and the public can call the number 1197 around the clock for them to come and tackle any problems they witness.

Lt Gen Sanit denied reports that 42 median strips in Bangkoks roads would be removed.

Only some median strips that are too wide will be narrowed in size to allow for more traffic space, he said.

Col Patchara Sinloyma, a researcher studying traffic problems, said the total number of traffic police officers in Bangkok is only 2,960, and more than 1,100 of them are 50 and older.

It is now important to design an efficient police personnel management plan to make the most of the current workforce, she said.

Other proposed solutions include training parents to pick up and drop their children in front of their schools more quickly, signing memorandums of understanding with department stores to regulate street vendors, along with some other measures.

Supatra Phanwichit, a researcher on a project to set up a traffic court in Bangkok, revealed a large number of traffic tickets have remained unpaid by traffic law violators, and police had made no serious efforts to follow up on those who refused to pay the fines which has resulted in them breaking traffic laws persistently.

She proposed that a division to handle traffic cases be established in each municipal court. Under the proposal, traffic police must send traffic tickets that remain unpaid to prosecutors who will then forward them to the court within 48 hours from the day the fine payment was due.

Those who are issued with the tickets must show up in court and pay the fine within seven days or the court will suspend or revoke their driving licence and issue a summons for them.

Ms Supatra said that the 1979 Land Traffic Act and the 1956 Municipal Court Establishment Act need to be amended to allow for the establishment of the traffic case divisions.

The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning has also come up with measures to ease traffic congestion in Bangkok.

The short-term measures include strict enforcement of traffic laws to prevent motorists from parking in prohibited areas and jumping red lights, while increasing bus lanes on major streets.

Read original story here.
Aussie schools seek Thai students for study abroad

With rapid growth in the number of Thais studying in Australia, Australian Education Assessment Services (AEAS) with CETA Worldwide Education are coming to Phuket on Sunday October 2 to host the Australian Boarding and Day Schools Exhibition at The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa. Admission is free.

Friday 23 September 2016, 01:37PM

Six Australian schools will be touting the benefits of studying in Australia.

Held from 12pm midday to 4:30pm there will be six prestigious Australian schools present and professional educators on hand to explain more about each institution and the benefits of studying in Australia. An introductory Kick start your entry to School study in Australia - Why Australia is a Great Choice for your Childs Secondary School Education seminar will be held at 12pm midday and will give an insight into what students and parents can expect from study in Australia.

Informal and informative, the event offers prospective students and their parents the opportunity to meet direct with school representatives, and to discuss their education options with experienced education industry counsellors from CETA Worldwide Education.

Andrew Gray, Managing Director of CETA Worldwide Education, said CETA is Thailands only Australian secondary school specialist and has been connecting parents and students with leading Australian secondary schools for many years. Events like these are the best way for students to understand the wide range of education options available in Australia, and speaking to school representatives face-to-face gives you the best sense of what each school offers.

Tracey OHalloran, Managing Director of AEAS, said, AEAS has been working with Thai students enrolling in Australian schools for nearly 30 years.

Research conducted by AEAS shows that parents are choosing Australia because it offers quality education, a safe studying environment and has a truly multicultural society.

Australia has been a popular international education destination for Thai students for many years. Students that attend high school in Australia usually go on to study their preferred course at one of the high quality universities in Australia or other countries.

The Australian Boarding and Day Schools Exhibition 2016 showcases six Australian schools from Victoria and New South Wales, including Avalon College, Billanook College, St Catherines School, St Leonards College, Trinity Grammar School and Wesley College.

These schools offer day, boarding or homestay accommodation and a variety of curriculum options ranging from high school certificates, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program and foundation studies. Over a million baht worth of scholarships, study trials, and fee reductions are being offered by participating schools.

For more information visit: http://www.ceta.co.th/registration
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Authorities mull easing tourist vehicle ban

BANGKOK: The Transport Ministry is considering easing measures curbing the influx of foreign-registered tourist vehicles entering the North of Thailand, particularly from China, following a plunge in Chinese tourist arrivals which has dented tourism revenue.

accidentsChinesetourismtransport

By Bangkok Post

Friday 23 September 2016, 08:55AM

The plan was to restrict Chinese tourists from roaming all over northern Thailand in their private vehicles. The practice was that Chinese have virtually stopped coming at all through points like the Thailand-Laos Friendship Bridge at Chiang Rais Chiang Khong district, seen here. Photo: Cheewin Sattha

Transport Ministry deputy permanent secretary Daroon Saengchai yesterday (Sept 22) discussed the issue with Itthirit Kinglek, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, and tourism operators from Chiang Rai and Tak provinces.

The discussion focused on the impact the Land Transport Departments (LTD) strict regulations on foreign-registered vehicles travelling into the country, which came into effect on June 27, have had on tourism operators.

The LTD imposed the rule after an influx of visiting motorists resulted in a spike in traffic accidents and waste management problems.

The benefits from this group of tourists also were called into question since many of them did not stay in hotels.

Tourism operators complained the number of Chinese-registered vehicles which entered the northern border provinces dwindled considerably after the regulation came into effect.

Each year, more than 80,000 Chinese tourists drive their vehicles to the North of Thailand.

On average, they spent about B30,000 per person a trip, according to tourism operators.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Daroon said tourism operators complained the regulations have put off Chinese tourists from driving their vehicles to northern Thailand, which in turn has adversely affected local tourism operators.

Mr Daroon said that 70 per cent of Chinese tourists travel in caravans arranged by Thai tourism operators while the rest come in private vehicles.

The caravans, each comprising 5-10 vehicles, were unfamiliar with the surroundings but managed to stay their course and avoid accidents, as they were looked after by guides provided by tour operators, Mr Daroon said.

The department will consider relaxing the regulations for vehicles which are specified in the LTD announcement, he said.

He also said other types of vehicles that are not specified in the announcement may also be allowed to enter the country though they must make requests 30 days in advance.

However, Mr Daroon said the easing of the regulation will not apply to tourists driving private vehicles.

There has been a surge in Chinese motorists visiting the northern provinces following the opening in 2008 of the so-called Road 3 Asia, known as route R3A, linking southern China, Laos and Chiang Khong district in the northern province of Chiang Rai.

Apart from Chinese tourists, other foreign-registered motorists including those from Malaysia, Laos, Singapore and Myanmar have also been affected by the measure.

Only vehicles with a total of nine seats and pickup trucks with a maximum weight of 3.5 tonnes are currently allowed to travel into Thailand.

Motorists also need to seek permission and let authorities check their vehicles as they enter.

Read original story here.
11AAA semis will be awesome and more from HS football quarterfinals

high-school-sports
By Julia Echikson

echikson@grinnell.edu

After receiving a call about dead fish along Wolf Creek in Jasper County, Bill Gibbons, an environmental specialist at the Iowa Department of Natural Reserves (DNR), went to investigate. Upon his arrival, he measured the level of the fertilizer ammonia in the water and found the ammonia levels to be so high that he couldnt get a reading.

Theyre above the capability of my kit to measure, he said. Finishing with inspection, the DNR found the ammonia leak had killed 66,500 fish.

The DNR believes last weeks leak stemmed from a tile line coming into the creek. Tile lines are used for draining farm land of wastewater. As Gibbons inspected the creek, he noticed how there were dead fish downstream of tile and live meadow upstream.

The DNR does not know who caused the leak or where it began. Gibbons looked into farm fields near the spillage and an agriculture cooperation in Collins, where the tile line extended, but could not find any evidence of a spill. Ultimately, the leak could have come from other counties, miles away.

To prevent such leaks from happening again, Bill Stowe 81, who works for Des Moines Water Works a company that provides clean drinking water. He recommends finding the culprit and making an example of them.

[Law enforcement should be] fully enforcing the existing regulations, Stowe said. These regulations are largely composed of fines.

Regulations should allow for escalations of penalties and fines, if there is a future violation, Stowe elaborated.

But, that scenario is unlikely.

Some of those tile lines can go long distances, Gibbons explained. The extent of the farming irrigation system makes it hard to locate what caused the leak.

Failure of tile line is a failure of either inspection or lack of protection, he said. The state has history of lax regulation.

This is due to the states economy being entrenched in farming and ammonia being a crucial ingredient.

Despite the death of so many fish, the ammonia leak spared everything else in its path. Gibbons claimed the effects of the leak were pretty localized.

No crops were harmed due to the ammonia leak. With harvest season nearing and due to the breeds of plants farmed, crops were mature enough to resist the effects of ammonia. As the water from Wolf Creek entered Indian Creek, a larger waterway, the ammonia became diluted, and its level became insignificant. Gibbons says he couldnt find large traces of ammonia in Indian Creek. As of now, the DNR is taking a hands off approach in cleaning the creek.

Natural processes will take place, Gibbons explains. There isnt going to be any active clean up in the creek.

As the creeks surroundings were unharmed, the DNR will not take further action that could disrupt the environment. They expect the same process that diluted the ammonia in Indian Creek to resolve any issues that would arise.

Stowes business of providing clean water has been affected.

[Ammonia] triggers a need for additional use of disinfected to treat drinking water. More disinfected means more percentage in risk, Stowe said.

Not all ammonia leaks have had so much mercy. According to press reports, an ammonia leak at the PurService food service plant in Grinnell about a year ago sent almost a dozen people to the hospital, a few of whom had severe breathing difficulties. Crews later determined ammonia leaked from a refrigeration unit in the plant. This past May 11, chicken farm employees were treated for ammonia exposure near George, Iowa.

Ammonia remains an integral part of agriculture and farming in Iowa, as it provides sanitation and fertilization for both industries.

Political pressure can make it difficult to propose and pass legislation that would monitor and prevent leaks into bodies of water.

As of now, there is no regulation on the wastewater that comes from agriculture and farming.
By Keli Vitaioli

vitaioli@grinnell.edu

Fun is flying to new heights this weekend with the Grinnell Rotary Clubs rebooting of a past favorite, Kites Over Grinnell, on Sat., Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ahrens Park driving range.

The family-focused event will offer a full day of kite flying. When the park opens, there will be 200 kites available for participants to put together and decorate at the park. The Rotary Club also purchased kites for the Grinnell Community School Districts kindergarten through fourth grade students and the Ahrens Park pre-school for children to decorate in advance.

Leon Drake, the art teacher for Grinnell [Community School District] got all the kites, and he is letting the kids color the skins of them, said Bruce Blankenfeld, Grinnell Rotary Club secretary and coordinator of Kites Over Grinnell this year. Then they put the kites together, and theyll be all ready to go to fly the kites on Saturday.

Kites Over Grinnell has run previously in the early 2000s, but has been missing from the community for a few years. The decision to bring the event back came when Dick and Sis Vogel, who previously ran the event, came to a Rotary Club meeting to proffer the idea, which was met with excitement by some members.

Dick and Sis Vogel previously ran the event the last two years it appeared and they wanted it to start back up.

Bob Riley, who I believe is 89, was talking about when he was a little kid, and he remembered flying kites and winning ribbons, Blankenfeld said. Next week, he brought in his ribbons from when he was five or six years old.

The Rotary Club is also bringing in American Kite Association (AKA) flyers who will have their own sectioned off portion of the driving range where they will be demonstrating their skills. Visitors are welcome to come and go as they please, and Blankenfeld wants to emphasize the free fun for all that will be had. The Rotary Club will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and pop. Another vendor will be selling cotton candy and popcorn as well.

Im hoping that [people] just come out and fly a kite and just have a great time with their kids or grandkids, Blankenfeld said. Everyone is going to be a winner that day. Ive got some kite ribbons for everybody to win, so whatever little kid flies a kite is going to win a ribbon.

The Rotary Club began planning for the event six months ago, and will begin even earlier next year if the event is met with a positive response from the community since the AKA are booked a year in advance.

This is our first year, so were just keeping it small and trying to see if this is something the city wants to have again, Blankenfeld said.

Students from Grinnell College Swimming and Diving will be assisting in the running of the event alongside former Rotary Club President Professor Heriberto Hernandez, Chemistry, who has been a Rotarian for six years and was involved in the decision to bring back Kites Over Grinnell.

The Grinnell Rotary Club was founded in 1938 and prides itself on promoting and providing service in the community. Their main project has been participating in the cross-club Rotary fight to end Polio worldwide, for every dollar the Rotary club raises towards that goal, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation matches that each dollar of the donation with two dollars.

Other Rotary Club projects in the community include sponsoring exchange programs and providing four or five students from Grinnell High School with 500 dollar college scholarships annually.
By Graham Dodd

doddhenr@grinnell.edu

The United States Latinx Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This year, Karolina Marquez-Gil 17, co-leader of Grinnells Student Organization of Latinxs known as SOL, is helping to organize the Colleges celebration.

The whole point of Latinx Heritage Month is just to promote awareness of Latinx culture throughout the United States so that people could actually celebrate their identity, Marquez-Gil said.

SOL has already begun holding events and plans to end the month by hosting their annual festival celebrating various Latinx cultures. Last Friday, SOL started off the month with a Karaoke event. Other events include a panel on the Colombia peace accord.

George Lopez  not the comedian  was actually involved in making that deal and is coming to speak, Marquez-Gil said.

In addition, this Saturday, SOL is hosting a retreat to Des Moines to attend the Latino Festival, which is, according to Marquez-Gil, the biggest ethnic festival in Iowa.

SOL plans to end the month by hosting their annual Latin American Heritage Festival celebrating various Latinx cultures. The festival will take place around the Nov. 5.

What we are trying to do with this festival is have different showcases from different cultures in Latin America, so a Brazilian group is hopefully coming to perform Capoeira [a form of Brazilian martial arts], and Samba [a Brazilian music and dance style], and we will have Salvadorian food instead of Mexican food  to change it up from last year.

Marquez emphasized the open, welcoming nature of the group and their passion for generating awareness of Latinx culture, as well as the issues surrounding the culture. She stated that the group has grown from seven members in 2007 to more than 30 members this year.

SOL was founded in 1998. Since then, meetings have consisted of discussions about both personal issues and broader global events in members home countries. Many Grinnellians are unaware of some of the events occurring in some Latinx countries, so SOL assigns research to its members to help feed the discussion.

SOL used to stand for the Student Organization of Latinos and Latinas, but this year we changed it to the Student Organization of Latinx to be more inclusive, Marquez-Gil said. During our meetings, we just sit together and talk about things that affect us on campus as Latinx, whether they are things that have been told to us or things that happened to us in class discussions.

SOL has a familial atmosphere, according to Marquez-Gil, and she stressed that non-Latinx students are welcome to attend its meetings and events.

I guess people always have this idea that SOL is just for Latinx [students], but it isnt. We all speak English at the meeting, even though we do make side jokes in Spanish. Its good to have allies on campus, she said. We maybe arent in all the same friend groups outside SOL, but when we are together, we all say jokes, and it is a very comfortable space.
By Megan Tcheng

tchengme@grinnell.edu

As the election season nears its November finale, voters across the country are gradually preparing to cast in their ballots.

While some voters may still be experiencing cold feet or confusion surrounding their candidates of choice, many political supporters are already poised to finalize their votes in pen and paper.

For residents of the greater Grinnell community, Poweshiek County currently offers a range of different options for early voting.

Early voting, which can be completed by mail or in person between Sept. 29 and Nov. 8, allows voter to cast their ballots before Election Day. In the past, Poweshiek Country has registered thousands of early voters, which, in turn, have helped to ease Election Day chaos.

Anna Schierenbeck 18, co-chair of Grinnells Campus Democrats student group, explained the potential benefits of early voting.

It is important to vote early because Election Day can be unpredictable, both in terms of weather and in terms of peoples schedules. In order to make sure that your vote will be counted and that you will have enough time to vote, it is a good idea to know when and how you can vote early, Schierenbeck said.

Diana Dawley, the county auditor and commissioner of elections for Poweshiek County, offered a similar perspective.

I think [early voting] can be a real advantage for people in Poweshiek County. We have a lot of people come in and say that they have positions or personal conflicts that keep them from voting during the day. [Early voting] allows people to  take their time and vote according to their own schedules, Dawley said.

Any Poweshiek County resident can submit their vote early by following one of several official procedures. For voters who prefer to make their decisions in private, individuals can request an absentee ballot request form and submit their ballot via mail. Early voters can also cast their vote at one of several satellite voting stations. Additionally, satellite voting stations will also offer opportunities for voter registration.

Currently, three different satellite voting stations are scheduled for the Grinnell community. The stations will be located at a range of rotating locations, including Drake Community Library, Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance and Grinnell College, and will take place during the day on Oct. 12, Oct. 29 and Nov 5.

Unlike the time intensive process of Election Day, early satellite voting offers a streamlined and effective way to cast your ballot. With reduced wait times and limited paperwork, the entire process takes an average of six to ten minutes.

Schierenbeck stressed the importance of early voting for students at the college.

If you go to a [polling location] at six p.m. on Election Day, you may not be able to vote until nine p.m., Schierenbeck said. Thats way too much time for students to take out of their day. We dont want students to have to choose between studying and casting their ballot.

For students at the college, satellite voting offers the additional advantage of convenience. Due to changes in location availability, the Election Day polling station was recently moved from the centrally located Grinnell Community Center to the Elks Lodge. Located on East Street and clocking in at a 15 minute walk from campus, the new polling location offers its own set of difficulties in respect to student accessibility.

We have organized for transportation to and from the Elks Lodge on Election Day, but, depending on the weather, that can be really rough.  Voting on campus will take way less time, because the JRC location will primarily be filled with students voting on campus. You are not going to have to wait in a line with everyone from Poweshiek County on one day, Schierenbeck said.

As students on campus and voters across the country prepare for the election, Schierenbeck and Dawley both encourage members of the community to cast their votes early.
By Philip Kiely

kielyphi@grinnell.edu

The United States Department of Education recently released its inaugural update to the College Scorecard. Unlike the U.S. News & World Report and similar college rankings, the College Scorecard provides only raw data and statistics and does not impose a definitive ranking. This data includes annual average cost, graduation rate and salary after graduation.

One of the advantages that I see to the Scorecard is that instead of imposing somebody elses methodology, it does at least attempt to get you engaged in the process to think about the differences between the institutions, said Joe Bagnoli,Vice President of Enrollment.

U.S. News & World Report also released its 2017 Best Colleges Rankings on Sept. 13. The report weighs a variety of factors to rank colleges and universities within several categories. Grinnell was ranked at 19 in national liberal arts colleges, tied with West Point.

If you unpack U.S. News & World Report, you will find a number of interesting metrics associated with their methodology, Bagnoli said.

The most recent set of US News & World Report rankings were based on seven weighted metrics: graduation and retention rates (22.5 percent), undergraduate academic reputation (22.5 percent), faculty resources (20 percent), student selectivity (12.5 percent), financial resources (10 percent), graduation rate performance (7.5 percent) and alumni giving (5 percent).

College rankings approach quality with a narrow scope of quantitative metrics, a large portion of which measure external factors not directly related to the academic quality, wrote Tariq Habash, a policy associate focusing on higher education at The Century Foundation, in an email to The S&B.

This quantitative data does not always line up with educational quality.

People go to Stanford because Stanford has a good reputation. You dont get a better education at Stanford as an undergraduate in economics, probably, than you get in Grinnell, said Professor Mark Montgomery, Economics.

The problem of narrow criteria in college rankings is compounded by the self-reinforcing nature of the rankings.

The selectivity is a major factor in reputation, and reputation is a major factor in selectivity. So its a self-reinforcing system. Thats why the rankings matter so much, Montgomery said.

Other rankings systems use different criteria to evaluate the value of colleges.

I for one have come to appreciate rankings like the Washington Monthly because it attempts to value something different than what U.S. News [and World Report] values, Bagnoli said. Washington Monthlys annual ranking evaluates schools based on their contribution to the public good in social mobility, research and service. Grinnell also ranks 19 in Washington Monthlys 2016 College Guide.

All rankings are based on what the creator believes to be most valuable and are therefore difficult to consider objectively. The College Scorecard, on the other hand, provides the information that rankings use but individually rather than in rank order.

The College Scorecard is not a ranking system. It is a database that provides important information to consumers who are looking for the best institutional fit, Habash wrote.

Nonetheless, the College Scorecard is not a perfect database. The College Scorecard only shows data gathered from financial aid recipients and median debt statistics exclude private loans, suggesting that debt levels are lower than they are. Additionally, the salary information includes numbers for students who attended but did not graduate, which downplays the value added by the school on salaries.

The emphasis on salaries is problematic because there is a need for students who will work in public service areas and this is one of those rankings that  seems not to place much value at that, Bagnoli said.

Rankings can also influence salaries for graduates, perpetuating the self-reinforcing nature of college rankings.

To say that employers do not look at rankings as a measure of institutional prestige would be misleading, Habash wrote.

Recruiters target certain schools based on their reputation, giving additional incentive for students to matriculate at high-ranking institutions and allowing the schools to be even more selective.

A lot of education doesnt necessarily enhance everybodys productivity and give them higher wages because they learned so much in school. It gives them higher wages because it signals the employer that theyre a strong candidate, Montgomery said.

Ultimately, rankings still play a role in both decisions of prospective students and opportunities for graduates, but both Habash and Bagnoli note that it is important for students to think about the rankings at a deeper level.

Its up to the student  to think about a more appropriate methodology for the individual student and weigh variables differently, Bagnoli said.

People want to pretend they dont matter, Montgomery said. But because the students think they matter  that turns out to be true.
Three years after graduating from Grinnell, Joy Sales 13 is back on campus to teach a short course on Asian-American activism, a key topic to her doctoral research at Northwestern University. The S&Bs Abraham Golden recently sat down with Sales to talk about her time at Grinnell and how her life has unfolded since graduation.

The S&B: What is your current position at Grinnell?

Joy Sales: Im a Grinnell alum from 2013 and Im currently sponsored by the Wilson Program and History Department to teach a class on Asian-American activism, which is a history class, and an American Studies class. Its almost done. My position here is that Im a visiting faculty.

The S&B: What was particularly influential about your four years at Grinnell?

JS: The really close mentorship that I got from my history professors. When I was here I was also a Mellon Mays undergraduate fellow, so that program helps students  from underrepresented groups go to graduate school and join the professoriate, because in higher education the faculty needs to be more diverse. The student body, not just at Grinnell, but other institutions, is diversifying faster than the faculty are. And thats a problem, because, as many sociological studies have found, students who have teachers and professors who look like them learn better. Through that program, I got not just mentorship from my history advisor, who was [Professor] Sarah Purcell [History], but I also had mentorship from [Professor] Shanna Benjamin [English] whos now a dean  and also mentorship from [Professor] Caleb Elfenbein [History and Religious Studies], hes now director of the Center for the Humanities.  I also had a German advisor, because I also majored in German, so [Professor] Vance Byrd [German] is my other major advisor. I have to give a lot of shoutouts.

The S&B: What did you do once you got out of Grinnell?

JS: I went straight into graduate school and a PhD program, which is really rare nowadays. Grad school is not anything like undergrad. Its work, like, that is your job, going to school. I wasnt that surprised by the format. Its seminar style. If you dont talk, youre screwed, so being at Grinnell prepared me for that.

The S&B: Why is Asian-American activism important?

JS: Whenever we talk about activism and race, we dont talk about Asian-Americans. The question is always worded as Are there Asian American activists? when the question should be What is Asian-American activism, how can I learn more about it? People already assume that it doesnt exist and people assume it doesnt exist because of stereotypes which can be put under the umbrella of the model minority myth.  The model minority myth was first used on Jewish immigrants, but then its mostly been used on Asian-Americans and Asian immigrants, and it was basically created during the Cold War  when the U.S. government, including journalists who worked closely with the government, diplomats, Congressmen  were concerned about the U.S. image in the world. In that time the U.S. was like, were not like the Soviet Union, were a democracy, everything here is equal. But with the U.S. invading Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia, also with the civil rights movement and the black power movement really pointing out how racist the U.S. has been since its founding, the U.S. government was super anxious about its image in the world. So what did it do? Well, in many different circles they were like, Okay, well heres a minority in the U.S. thats doing well. But it wasnt true. They were skewing statistics and data and saying that Chinese and Japanese-Americans were doing well. But what happened 20 years before the mid-1960s with Japanese Americans?  They were thrown in concentration camps  The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the only immigration act in U.S. history to exclude a group based on race.

The S&B: How is Asian-American activism viewed in the U.S. today?

JS: [The Chinese communitys] first form of activism was challenging Chinese exclusion. Japanese Americans  there are four cases of Japanese-Americans challenging internment. They were all Supreme Court cases, and three of them lost, one of them won. Those are just two of many examples of Asian-Americans contesting discrimination based on race that was backed up by U.S. state policy. But we dont know about it because of the model minority myth.

The S&B: What does it mean to be a Wilson Alumni Scholar?

JS: I actually wasnt very familiar with the Wilson Program when I was a student here. I do know that is sponsors alumni short courses, and that is what my course is. One of my former history professors Albert Lacson was trying to get an Asian-American history course here at Grinnell, and students wanted it. The reason I chose the topic of Asian-American activism was because we wouldnt have this class without student activists.  So when I was asked to do this, I was like, Hell yeah, lets do this course.

The S&B: Whats it like to be a professor at your recent alma mater?

JS: I know one Filipino student in my class because we had a mutual friend that was here when I was gone and told us about each other, but it doesnt cause conflicts at all. I established early in the class on the very first day, Call me Professor Sales, you cant call me Joy. Outside of class, if were in a casual environment, yeah, call me Joy, but in a classroom and around other professors, call me Professor Sales. And I havent had a problem with that at all.

The S&B: Any last thoughts?

JS: With my class, I hope that it inspires them to become activists. Or at least working in a sphere where they are aware of issues with immigration, civil rights, human rights, womens rights, whatever sector of work my students go into, I hope they have a more critical understanding of how race and gender and immigration are all at play, and use what they learn to make change, because one of my philosophies is that education should be a tool of empowerment. Its great to accumulate knowledge, but if youre just an armchair academic activist, thats not enough. You actually have to go out there and do something  You also have to fight against what you think is wrong. If you dont have that personal conviction, then theres no point.
By Mineta Suzuki

suzukimi17@grinnell.edu

World leaders, NGOs and even Ringo Starr celebrated The International Day of Peace on Wednesday, Sept. 21, but at Grinnell, the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) Program Committee observed the day with a film screening of He Named Me Malala. The acclaimed documentary traces the footprints of the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and advocate for womens education, Malala Yousafzai, and her backstage identity crisis.

The decision to show a film was decided by the students and faculty of the PACS committee as a simple, singular event to bring people together for the evening and engage the theme, wrote Simone Sidwell, coordinator of the PACS Program, in an email to The S&B.

The committees choice was thought especially suitable for this years Peace Day theme, The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.

One could argue that education is one of the most important and basic building blocks for sustainable peace and development, Sidwell wrote. Its a basic human right, one that the Taliban brutally attempted to withhold from girls by destroying schools.

Sidwell expressed hope that by recognizing Peace Day, students will realize their potential to promote peace.

On one level, I hope that Peace Day inspires students to think about concrete ways to promote peace building  to believe that we can all make a difference, Sidwell wrote. On another level, I hope that students simply take as inspiration what they need most in their lives at this moment in terms of peace and nonviolence.

International Day of Peace began in 1981, when the United Nations declared that the third Tuesday of September, should be dedicated to promoting the ideals of peace and alleviating tensions around the globe. In 2001, the U.N. passed a resolution designating Sept. 21 as a day of annual global ceasefire.

Hopefully [this campaign is] planting a seed that grows into a sustainable world view itself, Sidwell wrote.

To spur the bud of change, Grinnells Peace Day activity was linked to the United States Institute of Peace via social media, using the hashtag #PeaceDayChallenge. According to figures, the hashtag has been used by 21 million people in 129 countries since last year.

Grinnells efforts toward peace-building extend beyond the annual celebration. Last fall, Professor Timothy Dobe, Religious Studies, taught a class called Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies, which will be offered again next semester by Professor Gemma Sala, Political Science, due to growing interest.

In addition, the PACS program recently hired its first faculty member, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Johanna Solomon. Solomon is currently teaching a course on conflict resolution and is a guest lecturer for the PACS department.

Wednesdays film screening was not the only event on the PACS agenda this semester. Another timely event, Can Any U.S. President Bring Peace? is coming up in October and will feature George Lopez, a well-known scholar and peace builder who co-teaches the Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies course, along with Grinnell faculty.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.
Organisation: United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Position No.: 10007615

Vacancy Notice: 021/2016

Reports to: Head of Office

Duty Station: Mbarara,

Uganda

Post Grade: NOA

About UNHCR:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was

established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.

UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international

protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees

and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate

concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under

Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Job Summary: The Assistant

Administrative/Finance Officer will be tasked with establishing and maintaining efficient administrative

services to support the office operation. He/she acts as advisor to the Head of

Office, with authority to discuss problems and seek common ground on which to

recommend solutions based on predetermined guidelines provided by higher

authority. The incumbent directly supervises general service staff.



Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities:

Regularly monitor the day-to-day personnel

and administrative operations of the office;

Actively contribute to providing a healthy

and respectful working environment, free from hazard or security risks;

Offer support in the implementation of

processes and procedures to improve and strengthen internal controls in

line with UNHCR rules and regulations;

Take part in the physical verification of

UNHCR property plant and equipment;

Actively contribute to the process to

determine the country administrative budget;

Carry out regular checks of petty cash and

cash accounts.

Control and check the monthly accounts and

various administrative activities, in order to verify and certify

disbursements are in accordance with the administrative budget and UNHCR

Financial Rules;

Offer support in monitoring local compliance

with UNHCR policies and processes for cash management, requesting support

and guidance when required.

Support office-level training on financial

matters.

Perform any other related duties as

required.

Key Performance Indicators:

UNHCR resources in the office are managed

in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

UNHCR financial rules and regulations,

policies and procedures are adhered to.

UNHCR local cash is safeguarded.



Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:

The ideal candidate for the United Nations

UNHCR Assistant Administrative/Finance Officer career placement should

hold a University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Public or Business

Administration, Economics or related field, OR university degree in

another field combined with a professional qualification in accounting or

finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent).

Professional qualification in accounting

or finance (CPA/CIA or equivalent) is desired

At least two years of previous job

experience in the field of accounting or finance.

One year of experience in an

intergovernmental organization (United Nations or similar) is desired

Excellent computer skills, in particular

in MS Office applications

Possess excellent communication skills.

Excellent knowledge of English and working

knowledge of another UN language.

Good knowledge of United Nations

administrative, human resources and financial rules and procedures.

Working experience with PeopleSoft/Oracle

Financial and/or HR modules

How to Apply:

All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are

encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions

after reviewing the job details.

th

September, 2016 Deadline: 30September, 2016
Organization: PowerFM

(104.1)

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

About US:

Watoto Child Care Ministries is a ministry of Watoto Church that

rescues vulnerable children and restores dignity to them by providing

holistically for their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. Watoto has

operations in Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi and Gulu. Power FM is a radio station

owned by the Watoto Church. 104.1 Power FM is Ugandas leading Christian,

Urban, Youthful and Contemporary Radio Station, with a global Listenership reach

of over 250,000 daily. Reaching an audience of 15-40 year-olds, Power FM

streams on both traditional FM radio and on the internet.



Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities:

Generates appropriate and attractives

Prepare concepts for Marketing of Station

Products and Services.

Prepares appropriate Proposals,

Presentations, Media kits, and Sales contracts.

The incumbent evaluates and continuously

enhances service delivery for on-going Client campaigns.

Develops monthly marketing and sales plans

to enable achievement of set targets.

Negotiates and closes sales with

prospective clients offering mutually beneficial terms of agreement.

Attends sales meetings, industry trade

shows, and training seminars in order to gather information, promote

products, expand network of contacts, and increase knowledge.

Schedules, updates, monitors Client

Adverts on signed for platforms and clients Debt collection



Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:

The ideal candidate for the Marketing

Executive, Power FM job opportunity must hold a Diploma in Marketing.

Possession of a degree in any related field will be an added advantage.

A minimum of three years experience in a

Sales/Marketing related role in a

reputable

organisation.

Prior experience in Media Organization

will be an added advantage.

Good negotiation skills

Keen attention to detail

Co-ordination skills

Ability to multi task, high standard of

numeracy and budgeting skills

Ability to meet tight deadlines and work

with people from different backgrounds

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send one merged

PDF with a cover letter, academic documents and CV ( not more than 6 pages,

less than 20MB) a cell recommendation letter to careers@watotochurch.com

(Subject Line: Marketing Executive Candidate  First Name, Last Name).

Deadline: 28th September 2016
Organisation: United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Position No.: 10026414

Vacancy Notice: 020/2016

Reports to:

Administrative/Finance Associate

Duty Station: Arua, Uganda

Post Grade: GL2

About UNHCR:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was

established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.

UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international

protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees

and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate

concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under

Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Job Summary: The Driver is

mainly responsible for up keep and maintenance of the assigned UNHCR vehicle(s)

as per technical guidance and specifications established by the organisation.

The incumbent will be required to follow strict instructions and security

guidance provided by the supervisor. While the basic function of a driver is to

drive the official vehicles of UNHCR, he/she may be called upon to perform

minor maintenance and repair of UNHCR vehicles. The incumbent has regular

contacts with staff within UNHCR office and with service providers outside

UNHCR involving a limited exchange of information.



Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities:

Drive UNHCR vehicles for the transport of

authorized passengers and delivery and collection of mail, documents,

UNHCR pouch and other items.

Meet official personnel at the airport and

facilitate immigration and customs formalities as required.

Carry out the day-to-day maintenance of

the assigned vehicles; check oil, water, battery, brakes, tyres, etc. and

ensure that the assigned UNHCR vehicles are road worthy and maintained up

to the established security standards.

Conduct minor repairs and arrange for

other repairs and ensure that the vehicle is kept clean.

Ensure that the steps required by rules

and regulations are taken in case of involvement in accident.

Log official trips, daily mileage, gas consumption,

oil changes, greasing, etc.

Perform any other related duties as

required by the Administrative/Finance Associate

Key Performance Indicators:

Assigned UNHCR vehicles are properly

maintained and equipped as per technical guidance and specifications

established by the Organisation.

Local traffic rules and regulations are

strictly observed.

Instructions and security guidance

provided by the supervisor and security focal point are strictly followed

by the Driver and the passengers during the journey



Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:

The ideal candidate for the United Nations

UNHCR Driver job vacancy should have completed Primary Education or

equivalent technical or commercial school.

At least two years of previous job

experience relevant to the function.

Driving licence, knowledge of driving

rules and regulations and skills in minor vehicle repair.

Good knowledge of English, Madi, Lugbara

and Aringa, Swahili

Good mechanical skills are desired

Ability to work in remote areas.

How to Apply:

All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are

encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions

after reviewing the job details.

th

September, 2016 Deadline: 24September, 2016
Organisation: United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Position No.: 10026380

Reports to: Protection

Officer

Vacancy Notice: 18/2016

Duty Station: Adjumani,

Uganda

Post Grade: GL6

About UNHCR:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was

established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly.

UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international

protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees

and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate

concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under

Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Job Summary: The Protection

Associate (Community Based) works directly with communities of concern to

identify the risks they face and to leverage their capacities to protect

themselves, their families and communities. The jobholder will offer support in

the application of community-based protection standards, operational procedures

and practices in community-based protection delivery at the field level. To

fulfil this role, the Protection Associate (Community-Based) is required to

spend a substantial percentage of her/his time working outside the office,

building and maintaining networks within communities of persons of concern. The

development and maintenance of constructive relationships with persons of concern

that measurably impact and enhance protection planning, programming and results

forms the core of the work of the Protection Associate (Community-Based). The

incumbent will also support the designing of a community-based protection

strategy by ensuring that it is based on consultation with persons of concern.



Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities:

Support the functional units, the

Multi-Functional Team (MFT) and senior management to integrate

participatory and community-based approaches in the overall protection

delivery strategy and operational procedures.

The incumbent will work closely with

persons of concern and network of partners stay abreast of political,

social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the

protection environment and provide advice to the protection team.

Understand the perspectives, capacities, needs and resources of the

persons of concern and advise the protection team accordingly,

highlighting the specific protection needs of women and men, children,

youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, marginalized groups.

Work closely with host communities to

identify opportunities for national civil society involvement in improving

the protection of persons of concern.

Work with implementing and operational

partners as well as with displaced and local communities to develop

community-owned activities to address, where applicable, the social,

educational, psycho-social, cultural, health, organisational and

livelihood concerns as well as child protection and prevention and

response to SGBV.

Offer support in the analysis that

identifies the capacities of communities of concern and risks they face.

Support participatory assessments by

multifunctional teams and ongoing consultation with persons of concern.

Render support in the planning and

monitoring of programmes and budgets, with an AGD perspective.

Build office capacity for community-based

protection through training and establishing systems for community

mobilization and participation of persons of concern.

Support communities in establishing

representation and coordination structures.

Ensure community understanding of UNHCRs

commitment to deliver on accountability and quality assurance in its

response.

The incumbent will act as interpreter in

exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities

and respond directly to routine queries.

Perform other relevant duties as required

Key Performance Indicators:

Effective support and advice is provided

to promote AGD sensitive analysis of community risks and capacities as the

essential basis for all of UNHCR work.

AGD sensitive analysis of community risks

and capacities provides the essential basis for all of UNHCR work.

The participation of persons of concern is

assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory,

rights and community based approaches, which inform protection and

assistance programming and ensure that UNHCR meets its commitments to

accountability to persons of concern.

National protection capacities are improved

through direct engagement, research and advocacy with all relevant

external interlocutors

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate for the United Nations

UNHCR Protection Associate (Community Based) job placement should have

completed secondary education with additional training/certificate in

International Development, Cultural Studies, Human Rights, International

Social Work, Social Science, Political Science, Anthropology,

International Law or other clearly related disciplines is required.

At least six years of related work

experience.

Computer literacy skills (MS Office,

including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).

Knowledge of Administrative/financial

rules, procedures, processes in the context of UNHCR offices and Field

operations. -UNHCR learning programmes (Protection Learning Programme)

Fluency in English, Madi, Lugbara and

Aringa

How to Apply:

All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are

encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions

after reviewing the job details.

th

September, 2016 Deadline: 24September, 2016
But the tribe has a long way to go
After having set a deadline for declaration of undisclosed income and assets, the Income Tax department has started knocking at the doors of tax evaders.

Armed with credible information on unaccounted income and assets across the country, the officials have intensified action against possible tax evaders. The deadline for self-declaration is just a week away.

Under the ongoing tax amnesty schemeIncome Declaration Scheme (IDS) 2016 that runs from June 1 to September 30a declarant can pay a total tax of 45 per cent, including 7.5 per cent surcharge and 7.5 per cent penalty, to legalise black money kept within India. However, only white money can be used to pay the tax. Thereafter, no questions will be asked about the source of the declared amount.

IT sleuths have been conducting searches and seizures for the past one month based on information gathered in the current financial year. More raids and surveys are expected in the coming week and the government has given taxmen the targets for each city.

In Mumbai, 50 small businessmen running eateries were raided for the first time. Similar raids of small establishments are going on in other cities.

The IT department is also pursuing taxpayers who are under-reporting their income or exaggerating their deductions in their tax return forms. About seven lakh individuals and entities have been issued notices.

In the initial months, the scheme received only lukewarm response. However, as reports of tax raids spread, more people have started making use of the scheme.

Taxpayers wait to file their income tax returns at special counters set up by the Income Tax department in Bangalore. File photo: AP

At present the percentage of income tax payees in India is a meagre one per cent. Less than three per cent of Indians file income tax return. The department is now widening the tax net.

A massive campaign was launched to persuade tax evaders to make use of this last chance to come clean before government initiates stringent action under the new black money law. The IT department had warned of a massive crackdown on black money after September 30. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had urged the people to come clean in his radio talk 'Maan ki Baat' in June 2016.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policy-making body for the IT department, has assured that the declarations will remain confidential and will not be shared with any law enforcement agencies.
As the three-day meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) National Council began today in Kozhikode, it is the terrorist attack on an army camp in Uri that is dominating the conclave and there is tremendous anticipation over how Prime Minister Narendra Modi will respond to it in his public rally in the northern Kerala city on Saturday.

BJP leaders admitted that the meeting was taking place amidst huge pressure from the public and the party workers on the need to take strong action against Pakistan in view of the string of terror attacks, the latest being Uri.

"When the Prime Minister will speak, he will address the country's expectations. We are all waiting to hear him. The people of the country are waiting to hear him," said BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain.

He said that the NDA government had succeeded in pushing Pakistan into a corner diplomatically following the Uri attack. He said Pakistan had exposed itself with its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif praising a terrorist at the United Nations General Assembly.

"India has replied strongly. And on the 26th, Sushma Swarajji will expose the lies of Pakistan," Hussain said.

Defending Modi, he said that the Prime Minister, by his peace initiatives, had given Pakistan a chance to normalise relations.

On the first day of the meeting, the modalities of the conclave were to be fine tuned by the office bearers under the leadership of party president Amit Shah.

Modi is scheduled to address a public rally at the Calicut beach on Saturday. He and Shah will address the conclave on Sunday.

Around 2500 delegates of the BJP are attending the meeting, which will focus on commemorating the memory of former Jan Sangh president Deendayal Upadhyay and projecting the BJP as a pro-poor party, in line with Upadhyay's philosophy.
In a major U-turn, Vijay Rupani led BJP Government in Gujarat has suspended the implementation of 10 per cent quota for the Economically Backward Class(EBC) until further notice.

On August 4, the Gujarat High Court had described 10 per cent quota for the EBC as unconstitutional. The state government had thereafter approached the Supreme Court.

Through a circular received by the media late on September 23 evening, the state government informed that it has stayed the implementation of the 10 per cent quota.

Earlier this year, the previous state government headed by Anandiben Patel had announced the reservation to pacify the Patidar (Patel) community that has been agitating since July 2015 for reservation under the EBC quota.

Though announcement was of the state government, it was made by Rupani, then the state BJP president. The decision to grant 10 per cent quota for EBC was taken at a high level meeting in partys state headquarter Shree Kamalam in Gandhinagar. National party president Amit Shah was also present at the meeting.

The Patidars, however, had rejected the reservation then as well, terming it as lollipop.

Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel, who is in Jaipur as per the directive of the Gujarat High Court, has reacted to the development and said that the state government has made mockery of three crore people of Gujarat, who could have benefitted from the quota.

Questioning as to who would refund the fees of those admitted under the EBC quota, Hardik has said that the people of Gujarat would not forgive the government.

He warned that it (the BJP) should be prepared to face the consequences.

Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil flayed the BJP government and said that the EBC quota was introduced without conducting any scientific survey. Had it been introduced after undertaking a survey, the result would have been different.

When the Gujarat High Court described the quota as unconstitutional, sources had said that Anandiben was not in the favour of allowing this reservation as senior lawyers and bureaucrats had warned her that it would not stand the test in the court of law. The grapevine was that Shah had prevailed in the decision making.
Its gates, guards and guns for the Mumbai police at present. After schoolchildren sighted "heavily armed men in free-flowing pathan suits" at Uran, 50 kms off Mumbai, on Thursday, the police are rattled and leaving nothing to chance.

With myriad security agencies and the Navy working in tandem with the police in order to "work out leads", the massive manhunt launched since Thursday morning has not yielded any "positive result" yet. Special screening operations are being improvised and carried out at selected areas of the city.

Parallel efforts are ongoing in Navi Mumbai, Mumbai's sister city, which houses the BARC and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port. Nakabandis are being effected in Thane, too, another sister city of Mumbai. NSG commandos, from Mumbai's local commando hub, too are on maximum alert as part of a larger defensive counter-measure.

Security efforts in Mumbai almost chime with India's aggressive posture at the UN on Thursday, where Pakistan was branded as the Ivy league of terrorism and the global epicenter of terror. And, with nothing yet on the identities or likely whereabouts of the "men who had sneaked in" security agencies are working on hard assumptions nonetheless.

"Information leads are worked out in all seriousness and we can't afford to give up on this till we bump into positive dopes of sorts," a top Mumbai police officer told THE WEEK on Friday.

THE WEEK was told that security around several vital and sensitive installations across the city and in certain peripheral pockets is being "hardened". Particularly safeguarded are critical and complex engineering installations and places of religious worship, along with semi-open public places like railway stations and airports.

Counter-measures to minimize risks to critical installations are being worked out against a "more general" input, routed to the state sometime back, about a possible infiltration from the sea side. In fact, threat levels went several notches higher following the most recent Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) attack on the Army camp in Uri.
Many large organisations and firms are adopting open source software in India as they have do not want to be tied down with the limitations which come up with proprietary software. Open source software can accelerate the level of innovation an organisation undertakes as there are no licensing costs, and a company has to spend only on support services. Organisations such as the Indian Railways are now using Open Source software Linux provided by the US, MNC Red Hat Enterprises in its Next Generation e-Ticketing system that can now book 10,000 tickets per minute instead of 2,000 with the old system. Similarly the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is also using open source software from Red Hat for its mission-critical applications. BSE has also been able to scale its overall IT operations using open source software. These observations were made by Rajesh Rege, the Managing Director of Red Hat India.

The open source software adoption is been seen in government departments and many of the e-commerce systems are also running on open source software systems as they do not want to be tied down to proprietary software systems. Even most of the big data and analytics systems are on open source software. There is also a push by the telecom companies towards adopting open source software due to a shift in their focus on providing data. Organisations can also cut down on their overall IT costs using open source software, Rege told THE WEEK.

US North Carolina based open source software provider Red Hat has a number of Indian organisations as its customers such as Mahindra Finance, Tata Sky and Essar which have adopted open source software systems. Interestingly Red Hat is one of the first $ 2 billion open source software company in the world. It has 85 office with 9,300 people around the globe. The company claims that 100 percent of Fortune 500 companies use its products and solutions and more than 50 percent of worlds trades are powered by its products.
Russian intelligence agencies are making a "serious and concerted" effort to influence the US presidential election that could impact the outcomes and sow doubts about the security, two top American lawmakers have claimed.

"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," Senator Dianne Feinstein, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Congressman Adam Schiff ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee 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 behaviour of the Russians," the two lawmakers said in a joint statement. They are from the same Democratic party.

"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 Vladimir 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," they said.
With Rosh Hashanah on the horizon, Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit announced he does not plan to become involved in the controversy surrounding the egalitarian prayer area near the Kosel. In his words, the matter is not a legal one but a political issue.

Responding to his words was MK Moshe Gafne, chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee. He insists the matter is not at all political but a professional decision that has to be made towards determining if there is religion in the State of Israel or not.

Speaking with Yated Neeman, Gafne expressed harsh criticism of the attorney general and justices of the High Court, explaining It is the High Court justices who are political in this case. Their position is not professional but political. They oppose Torah and Yahadut. The courts involvement in this matter professionally speaking is clearly unacceptable.

Gafne claims justices serving on the nations highest court advise leaders of the Reform Movement how to act and when to file a petition, when to pull one and what to bring with them. He adds the so-called religious justice is more extreme than all others in his assistance to the Reform.

Hence, Gafne feels it is incorrect to declare this a political matter and bring it before the High Court. He vows to continue the tenacious battle against the prayer area, and to involve the government if need be to protect and preserve the holy site. We will never recognize the fake preposterous Jewish movement which pokes the holy Torah with its sword.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
700 mispallalim arrived in fourteen buses at Kever Yosef in PA (Palestinian Authority) occupied Shechem on the night of 19 Elul (Wednesday to Thursday) ahead of Rosh Hashanah. As in other recent approved visits, the mispallalim and IDF soldiers were attacked by PA residents with rocks and firebombs. Bchasdei Hashem no one was killed or injured.

The IDF spokesman unit reported that in addition to soldiers taking part in the escort operation at the tziyun there were border police, Shai district police and agents of the Civil Administration.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Ariel flew to Ethiopia earlier this week on a special shlichus. He will be meeting with Israeli businessman Menashe Levy, who has been imprisoned there for 15 months for tax evasion amounting to NIS 26 million.

Ynet reports that with the exception of Jonathan Pollard, this is the first time that an Israeli cabinet minister has been asked to fly to another country to meet with an Israeli imprisoned in another country. Ariel hopes to meet with the Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture. The details of his mission are not being reported and the ministers staff will not comment on the trip. What is known is that prior to leaving Ariel spoke with Foreign Ministry Director-General Dr. Dore Gold, persuading him of the importance of his mission towards arranging a meeting with the Ethiopian Agriculture Minister. Gold spoke with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister to inform him of Ariels upcoming visit.

Ariel decided to fly to Ethiopia after meeting with the family and heard the entire story from them and how he has been attacked in jail and has suffered a heart attack and of late, his health continues to deteriorate.

Levy lived and worked in Ethiopia for the past eight years. He established a branch of   , a major infrastructure business in Ethiopia. The company paved roads in Addis Ababa, along with interchanges, bridges and tunnels. An investigation was launched into his business dealings connecting him to alleged bribery and this led to the charges of tax evasion. He claims persons interesting in taking over his business set him up and he has done nothing wrong.

In July 2015 he was arrested and charged with tax fraud amounting to 144 million birr, about NIS 26 million. He is held in an Addis Ababa prison and awaits the end of his trial. In the interim, local authorities have shut down all his assets and bank accounts and confiscated 38 pieces of equipment valued as $30 million.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
In keeping with annual tradition, Ministry of Agriculture inspectors increase their presence and vigilance ahead of Sukkos, making an extra effort to prevent illegal importation of any of the arba minim into Israel, often infested with different bugs. According to the law, every arriving passenger may bring along one esrog into Israel and that is all. The other minim must be purchased locally. They cannot be brought in legally by arriving passengers due to concerns of infestation.

In an effort to avoid causing arriving passengers agmas nefesh, if one arrives with arba minim, inspectors will give the passenger aravos, hadassim and a lulav; all from Israel, and permit him to bring the esrog. The other minim will not be permitted into the country under any circumstances ministry officials explain.

Customs officials are on the lookout for arriving passengers trying to bring in quantities illegally in the hope of avoiding agriculture inspections and paying taxes. In 2015, ministry inspectors at Ben-Gurion Airport apprehended 650 esrogim being smuggled in illegally.

Today, one is permitted to import esrogim from certain countries without having to obtain special ministry permits, but this does not exonerate one from the various taxes. Hence, the esrogim must be declared upon arrival.

For additional information, one may phone 03-968-1551.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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 werent 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 Irans 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.

Other recent blazes include:

 A July 29 fire at a storage tank at the Bistoon Petrochemical Complex in Irans 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 Irans 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. Irans 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 Irans 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 Jalalis vague comments, what actually infected the plants remains unclear.

Its 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 wasnt involved in investigating this outbreak and declined to comment.

However, Jalalis 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 couldnt 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 companys experience and surveillance.

No company, organization or nation in the world would like to admit theyve 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 hasnt 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 Irans 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. Thats because they werent 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 dams 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.

(AP)
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 years 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.

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. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control early Wednesday. Boeing followed with its own announcement later in the day.

Though based abroad, Airbus needed the approval of the U.S. Treasury for the deal because at least 10 percent of the manufacturers 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 Boeings 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.

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.

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.

Irans U.N. mission did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. State television referred to an AP report on the licenses.

Irans 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.

Most Iranian planes were purchased before the Islamic Revolution that ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Islamists to power. Out of Irans 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 Republics 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.

(AP)
A Jewish schoolboy was left in tears after a gang of teenagers allegedly threatened to beat him up unless he removed his Yarmulka.

The 11-year-old boy was walking home from school in Hackney at 6:30PM Wednesday, 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 Yarmulka by the gang. The child, who did not recognize 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.

(Source: Evening Standard UK)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to address Israels parliament, the Knesset, during 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 Israels neighbors.

The Palestinians have rebuffed Netanyahus past offers for meetings, saying there is no point given his hard line positions on all core issues. Netanyahu rejects a settlement freeze, rejects the 67 borders as the basis for talks and rejects any division of Jerusalem. He has also said he would not uproot settlements.

Speaking shortly before Netanyanhu, Abbas called on the 193-member world body to exert greater effort than at any time in the past to establish a truly independent Palestinian state, as the 50th anniversary of Israels abhorrent occupation approaches in June 2017.

He also called on the U.N. to declare 2017 the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people.

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.

Abbas also 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.

Earlier at the General Assembly meeting, India branded Pakistan a terrorist state in a stinging response to Pakistans criticism of Indian suppression of protests in disputed Kashmir.

(AP)
More than 100 Orthodox rabbis and lay leaders came to Washington, D.C. from across the country Wednesday as part of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Centers 20th annual Leadership Mission to lobby their members of Congress for better security and funding for Jewish day schools, yeshivas and synagogues. The participants also heard from numerous U.S. senators who spoke on a range of issues of concern to the Orthodox community.

The Mission kicked off with an address from Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who spoke about the increase of anti-Semitism across the country and the importance of funding the federal NonProfit Security Grant, legislation that OU Advocacy helped create in 2005 to make synagogues, churches and other nonprofit facilities safer. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) spoke of the need for Israel to remain a bi-partisan issue and said, Your coming here makes a difference.

During the lunch session, participants heard from a range of U.S. senators, each of whom spoke about a variety of topics. Highlights of their speeches included Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who spoke against the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Israel and the United States. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), spoke in favor of the MOU as well as the need to strengthen the Iran Sanctions Act and laws against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Act against Israel (BDS).

Bob Casey (D-Penn.) also emphasized the dangerous rise of the BDS movement, while Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) noted the need for low-income Jewish families to have access to kosher food through federal food programs. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced he is introducing legislation today to defer U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority until its leaders change their laws that provide reward money to terrorists families.

Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), spoke about her sponsorship of a bill backed by OU Advocacy that would provide federal grants to synagogues and other nonprofits so they can become more energy efficient. The Senate passed the bill in April, and Klobuchar said she believes itll become law by the end of 2016. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) spoke about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and her commitment to ensuring that Israel can defend itself.

At the Leadership Missions closing dinner, keynote speaker DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas spoke about the increasing extremism fomented by U.S. citizens radicalized by ISIS that now threatens the Jewish community, as well as the overall rise in anti-Semitism which also fuels the communitys need for better security. That, he said, is the reason Jewish institutions receive the majority of federal funding for nonprofits.

We live in a time of increasing concern, not diminishing concern, he said.

The federal NonProfit Security Grant Program, spearheaded by the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, was funded at $20 million this year. It provides grants of up to $75,000 apiece to houses of worship, museums, hospitals and other nonprofits. Of the 282 grants delivered nationwide in 2016, 247 were awarded to Jewish institutions. Said Mayorkas, $20 million does not cover the need throughout the country.

Mayorkas also spoke about his upbringing as a Cuban Jew raised in the United States and how his mother, a Jew who fled the Holocaust, tried to teach us not to speak of our Judaism outside of our Jewish community.

Also at the dinner, Orthodox Union leaders thanked Mayorkas and Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Committee, for their dedication to protecting the Jewish community and gave them each a gift: a replica of George Washingtons letter to the oldest American Jewish congregation.

Said OU Advocacy Executive Director Nathan Diament, It is reassuring to hear our legislators speak so strongly in support of the Jewish community and take the time to listen to our concerns. By coming to Capitol Hill en masse, they see that we dont take their support for granted.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The father of the man charged with setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey informed the FBI in 2014 about his sons apparent radicalization, he said.

Speaking to The Associated Press early Friday in a telephone interview, Mohammad Rahami, father of alleged bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami, said his son underwent a personality shift after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2013. Speaking in Urdu, Mohammed Rahami said his son was not the same after that trip.

I found a change in his personality. His mind was not the same. He had become bad and I dont know what caused it but I informed the FBI about it, he said.

The elder Rahami said he doesnt think the FBI took any action against his son at the time. He said he and his family were in a state of shock following last weekends blasts, which injured 31 people.

I condemn the act of my son and I am sad over injuries caused to people, he said, adding that he was cooperating fully with investigators.

Rahami, an Afghan-born U.S. citizen was shot and severely injured during his arrest Monday. He has been unconscious and intubated for much of the time since undergoing surgery, said Robert Reilly, a spokesman for the FBIs Newark office.

Prosecutors say Rahami, 28, planned the explosions for months as he bought components for his bombs online and set off a backyard blast. They say he wrote a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other Muslim extremists, fumed about what he saw as the U.S. governments killing of Muslim holy warriors and declared death to your oppression.

(AP)
The Rabbinical Council of America today takes a major step forward toward alleviating the suffering of those who cannot successfully end marriages due to the refusal of one of the parties to participate in effecting a Jewish divorce, said Rabbi Shalom Baum, president of the RCA. A resolution adopted by the RCA now requires each of its members [to] utilize, in any wedding at which he is the officiant (mesader kiddushin), in addition to a ketubah, a rabbinically-sanctioned prenuptial agreement, where available, that aids in our communitys efforts to ensure the timely and unconditional issuance of a get.

According to Jewish law, both the husband and the wife must participate willingly in the delivery and acceptance of a get, a Jewish divorce document, without which neither party can remarry. Most divorcing couples understand the need for the get, and are cooperative and respectful of the process. In some cases, however, one spouse inappropriately uses the get as a bargaining chip to gain concessions in other areas surrounding the divorce such as financial settlements or child custody, or as a tool to torment a former spouse. This is an abuse of Jewish law as well as a form of spousal abuse that uses religious practice as a tool of manipulation and control. A rabbinic tribunal often does not have the authority or capability of forcing a recalcitrant spouse to cooperate, and there are those whose marriages have functionally ended but who tragically cannot remarry due to their religious convictions. A woman who cannot remarry is referred to as an agunah; a man is an agun.

One effective way to prevent get-abuse is the Halachic Prenup. Drafted by Rabbi Mordechai Willig, Sgan Av Beth Din of the Beth Din of America and a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) of Yeshiva University, in consultation with halachic and legal experts, the Halachic Prenup has been advocated by the RCA since 1993. The agreement received wide-spread endorsement of leading rabbinic authorities in Israel and the United States, and is based on much older documents, dating back hundreds of years. This prenuptial agreement both designates the rabbinic forum in which claims for a get will be adjudicated and creates financial incentives for both parties to effect the Jewish divorce in a timely manner. There are other prenuptial agreements that are used as well.

Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann, Director of the Beth Din of America maintains that we have seen, over and over again, that the existence of a halachic prenup dramatically changes the dynamics of contentious divorce cases and virtually eliminates the risk that the get will be improperly used as a tool for leverage or extortion. Rabbi Jeremy Stern, Executive Director of The Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA), a group that seeks to eliminate abuse from the Jewish divorce process and under the halachic guidance of Rabbi Herschel Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS, reports that in well over 1,000 contentious Jewish divorce cases with which his organization has been involved, we have never seen a case of get-refusal in which the halachic prenup did not work. In numerous divorce cases in which the husband began to posture that he would refuse to issue a get, the halachic prenup secured the issuance of a timely and unconditional get.

While until now the vast majority of RCA rabbis have counseled their congregants to enter into halakhic prenuptial agreements, and while many of them refused to officiate at weddings in which these documents were not first signed, this new resolution now requires all RCA-member rabbis to require the use of prenuptial agreements. There is reason to believe that this new mandate will help to prevent or alleviate many agunah cases. Most importantly, it will remove any perceived stigma associated with signing the agreement. Requiring rabbis to officiate only at weddings with halachic prenups eliminates the concern often expressed by about-to-be married couples that signing a prenup casts aspersions on their characters or their marriage.

With the adoption of this new resolution, signing the prenup is now no longer about the couple and the expectations that its rabbi has of them, but is about the rabbi and the professional standards that he must maintain. Rabbi Shalom Baum announced that the RCA will embark on a number of initiatives to help rabbis better implement this new mandate, as well as community programs to encourage the understanding and signing of prenups.

Rabbi Elazar Muskin, Vice President of the RCA said, Seeing that there is a halakhic prenup at every wedding is everybodys responsibility. Mothers and fathers should not walk their children to the chuppah unless a prenup has been signed. Friends should not let friends get married unless a prenup is signed.

Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive Vice President of the RCA said, Supporting members of the community and relieving their distress are among the top priorities of rabbis. If the definition of a religious scholar is one who increases peace in the world (Berachot 64a), then rabbis must certainly step into the forefront when use of halachically acceptable tools are available to prevent the abuse of the vulnerable. Otherwise, we forfeit our claim to the title rabbi.'

(RCA Press Release)
There were warnings of financial Armageddon  but three months on from the UK's decision to leave the EU the average fund is now in profit.

After an initial stock market dip amid the uncertainty of the referendum vote, savers' investments have widely recovered.

Those who held their nerve through the tumult are better off than they were on June 23.

'If you had gone away on June 1 until today you might not have realised that anything of import had even happened in the interim,' says Brian Dennehy, director at Fund Expert.

Rebound: After an initial stock market dip amid the uncertainty of the referendum vote, savers' investments have widely recovered

Data produced by Wealth Club, the service for high net worth investors, has examined the average return of funds in each investment sector, where funds are grouped according to the asset or region they invest in.

Even beleaguered property funds, many of which suspended trading for fear savers would rush for the exit and property values would plummet after the vote, are in positive territory.

The typical property fund, for instance, is up 2.1 per cent over the past three months.

The average China fund has returned 31.8 per cent since the referendum day while tech funds have returned an average of 23.7 per cent, and Global Emerging Markets funds 23.6 per cent.

Experts say the results are a prime example of why savers should sit tight in volatile times.

Regularly investing and riding through peaks and troughs has been the best strategy time and again.

If you had invested 10,000 in the FTSE 100 on June 1 and pulled it out at its low after the referendum, because you were spooked, you would have lost 311.

Those who had left it where it was would now have 11,168. Ben Yearsley, investment director at Wealth Club, says: 'The week after the EU referendum the stock market was extremely volatile, but it bounced back very quickly.

'The doom-mongers of the Remain camp have, so far, been largely disappointed.'

Of course, not all funds have ridden the storm. While each fund sector is up overall, Brian Dennehy, director at Fund Expert, says it's important to be selective in your investment choices.

Even in the top-performing sectors there has been a wide disparity between the best and worst funds.

The top China fund over the past three months, for example, is Matthews Asia China which has returned 36.2 per cent. Bottom of that group is New Capital China Equity which returned 16.6 per cent.

Woodford Equity Income topped the UK Equity Income sector with a return of 13.6 per cent since Brexit, while Marlborough Multi Cap Income came last with a return of 3.4 per cent.

In the UK All Companies sector, Purisma UK Total Return has returned 15.7 per cent over the past quarter, while the Elite Webb Capital Smaller Companies Income and Growth fund has lost 5.3 per cent.

In the three months since the Brexit decision, Dennehy has been impressed by Newton Asian Income fund which invests in companies across the Asia Pacific region.

Top investments include resort and casino operator Sands China, Transurban Group which develops toll roads in the US and Australia, and telecoms firm Telstra.

The fund is up 18 per cent over the past three months and would have turned 1,000 into 1,652 over five years.

In the UK, Dennehy likes Schroder Recovery fund, which focuses on businesses on the brink of a turnaround.
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.
The following companies are subsidiares of Novartis: 1 A Pharma GmbH, Abadia Retuerta S.A, Admune Therapeutics, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications International SA, Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A., Advanced Accelerator Applications S.r.l., Advanced Accelerator Applications USA Inc., Aeropharm GmbH, Alcon, Alcon  Couvreur NV, Amblyotech, Amblyotech Inc., Arctos Medical, Arctos Medical AG, Australia Pty Ltd, Beijing Novartis Pharma Co. Ltd., BioMedical Research Co. Ltd., CELLforCURE, Cadent Therapeutics, Cadent Therapeutics Cambridge, Cellerys, Cellerys AG, CellforCure, Chiron Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Japan Limited, Co. Ltd, CoStim Pharmaceuticals, CoStim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Coalesce Product Development Limited, Corthera, Development Co. Ltd., EBEWE Pharma Ges.m.b.H Nfg. KG, Encore Vision, Endocyte, Endocyte Inc., Eon Labs Inc., Farmanova Saglik Hizmetleri Ltd, Fougera Pharmaceuticals, Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc, Gyroscope Therapeutics, HEXAL AG, Hexal, IDB Holland BV, Iberica S.L.U., Ilaclari Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, JSC Sandoz, Japat AG, Kedalion Therapeutics Inc., Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Lek S.A., Manufacturing Pte Ltd , Navigate BioPharma Services Inc, Neutec Pharma Limited, Novartis (Hellas) S.A.C.I., Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Novartis (Taiwan) Co. Ltd, Novartis (Thailand) Limited, Novartis Argentina S.A., Novartis Australia Pty Ltd, Novartis Austria GmbH, Novartis Biociencias S.A., Novartis Biosciences Peru S.A., Novartis Bioventures AG, Novartis Business Services GmbH, Novartis Capital Corporation, Novartis Chile S.A., Novartis Corporation, Novartis Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Novartis Deutschland GmbH, Novartis Ecuador S.A., Novartis Farma S.p.A., Novartis Farma  Produtos Farmaceuticos S.A., Novartis Farmaceutica S.A, Novartis Farmaceutica S.A. de C.V., Novartis Finance Corporation, Novartis Finance S.A., Novartis Finance Services Ltd, Novartis Finland Oy Espoo, Novartis Gene Therapies, Novartis Gene Therapies EU Limited, Novartis Gene Therapies Inc., Novartis Grimsby Limited, Novartis Groupe France S.A., Novartis Healthcare A/S, Novartis Healthcare Philippines Inc., Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Novartis Holding AG, Novartis Hungary Healthcare Limited Liability Company, Novartis India Limited, Novartis Inflammasome Research, Novartis Integrated Services Limited, Novartis International AG, Novartis International Pharmaceutical Investment AG, Novartis Investment Ltd, Novartis Investments S.a r.l., Novartis Ireland Limited, Novartis Israel Ltd, Novartis Korea Ltd., Novartis Middle East FZE, Novartis Netherlands B.V., Novartis Neva LLC, Novartis New Zealand Ltd, Novartis Norge AS, Novartis Ophthalmics AG, Novartis Optogenetics Research Inc., Novartis Overseas Investments AG, Novartis Pharma (Logistics) Inc., Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) Limited, Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Pharma B.V. , Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma K.K., Novartis Pharma LLC, Novartis Pharma Maroc SA, Novartis Pharma NV, Novartis Pharma Produktions GmbH, Novartis Pharma S.A.E., Novartis Pharma S.A.S., Novartis Pharma Schweiz AG, Novartis Pharma Schweizerhalle AG, Novartis Pharma Services AG, Novartis Pharma Services Romania S.R.L., Novartis Pharma Stein AG, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Limited, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Novartis Poland Sp. z o.o., Novartis Portugal S.G.P.S. Lda., Novartis Ringaskiddy Limited, Novartis Saglik Gida ve Tarim Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, Novartis Saudi Ltd., Novartis Securities Investment Ltd, Novartis Services Inc., Novartis Slovakia s.r.o., Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Novartis Sverige AB, Novartis UK Limited, Novartis US Foundation, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc, Novartis Vietnam Company Limited, Novartis de Colombia S.A., Novartis de Venezuela S.A., Novartis s.r.o., Oriel Therapeutics Inc., PT. Novartis Indonesia, Protez Pharmaceuticals, Pte Ltd, Research Inc, Salutas Pharma GmbH, Sandoz A/S, Sandoz AG, Sandoz B.V., Sandoz Canada Inc., Sandoz Egypt Pharma S.A.E., Sandoz Farmaceutica S.A., Sandoz Farmaceutica Lda., Sandoz GmbH, Sandoz Hungary Limited Liability Company, Sandoz Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Sandoz Inc, Sandoz Industrial Products S.A, Sandoz International GmbH, Sandoz K.K., Sandoz Limited, Sandoz Manufacturing Inc., Sandoz NV, Sandoz Pharma K.K, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d., Sandoz Philippines Corporation, Sandoz Polska Sp. z o.o. , Sandoz Private Limited, Sandoz Pty Ltd, Sandoz S.A. de C.V, Sandoz S.A.S., Sandoz S.R.L., Sandoz S.p.A., Sandoz South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Sandoz Ukraine LLC, Sandoz d.o.o. farmaceutska industrija, Sandoz do Brasil Industria Farmaceutica Ltda, Sandoz s.r.o., Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Shanghai Novartis Trading Ltd., Societe par actions SANDOZ, Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, The Medicines Company, The Medicines Company, Triangle International Reinsurance Limited, Trinity River Insurance Co Ltd, Vedere Bio, Vedere Bio ll, Xiidra, Ziarco, and Ziarco Group Limited.

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Alibaba Group Holding Limited is an eCommerce and Internet technology giant headquartered in the People's Republic of China. Its core platform, Alibaba.com, is the worlds 3rd largest eCommerce platform by sales. The company, through its vast network of subsidiary companies, provides the infrastructure and marketing to help merchants of all sizes develop their brands and to connect with customers in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company also aids other businesses with a vast array of digital and logistical solutions with a reach that spans the globe.

Alibaba was co-founded by Jack Ma in 1999 when it became clear the Internet and digitization were the future of commerce. Mr. Ma is a billionaire investor, businessman, and philanthropist who believes in an open and free-market economy. The company went public in September 2014 with an IPO on the NYSE. The IPO set a record with its valuation of $25 billion and the company is now worth more than $225 billion and ranked among the 10 most valuable companies by market cap. Alibaba is also ranked 5th largest globally in regards to its work in AI, and it owns the world's largest B2B, B2C, and C2C eCommerce portals. In 2022, Alibabas Singles Day event brought in $139 billion to set a new one-day record.

The principal purpose of Alibaba Group Holding Limited is to open the Chinese market and connect it to the world. The company operates through seven segments including China Commerce, International Commerce, Local Consumer Services, Cainiao, Cloud, Digital Media and Entertainment, and Innovation Initiatives and Others.

The companys eCommerce platforms include Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Alimama, 1688.com, Alibaba.com, Aliexpress, Lazada, Trendyol, and Daraz. Taobao Marketplace is a social-media eCommerce platform while Alimama is a monetization platform for entrepreneurs. 1688.com and Alibaba.com are wholesale marketplaces where individuals and businesses can connect with bulk items and the remainder are eCommerce retail platforms and search engines targeting specific markets. In addition, the company also operated a retail chain called Freshippo and Tmall Global which is an import platform for eCommerce.

Other digital services provided by Alibaba include Taoxianda, which is a digital integration service for FMCG goods and grocery retailers, and Cainiao Network which is a logistical services platform complemented by Ele.me, a delivery and services platform.

Alibaba also supports the infrastructure of the Internet with a range of products and services that include computing, storage, network, security, database, big data, and IoT connectivity. This segment includes a suite of cloud-based services such as Alibaba Pictures and content platforms that provide streaming media.
KeyCorp operates as the holding company for KeyBank National Association that provides various retail and commercial banking products and services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Consumer Bank and Commercial Bank. The company offers various deposits, investment products and services; and personal finance and financial wellness, student loan refinancing, mortgage and home equity, lending, credit card, treasury, business advisory, wealth management, asset management, investment, cash management, portfolio management, and trust and related services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses. It also provides a suite of banking and capital market products, such as syndicated finance, debt and equity capital market products, commercial payments, equipment finance, commercial mortgage banking, derivatives, foreign exchange, financial advisory, and public finance, as well as commercial mortgage loans comprising consumer, energy, healthcare, industrial, public sector, real estate, and technology loans for middle market clients. In addition, the company offers community development financing, securities underwriting, brokerage, and investment banking services. As of December 31, 2021, it operated through a network of approximately 999 branches and 1,317 ATMs in 15 states, as well as additional offices, online and mobile banking capabilities, and a telephone banking call center. KeyCorp was founded in 1849 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
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..

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Brookdale Senior Living Inc. owns, manages, and operates senior living communities in the United States. It operates in three segments: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care, and Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The Independent Living segment owns or leases communities comprising independent and assisted living units in a single community that are primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors. The Assisted Living and Memory Care segment owns or leases communities consisting of freestanding multi-story communities and freestanding single-story communities, which offer housing and 24-hour assistance with activities of daily living for the Company's residents. This segment also operates memory care communities for residents with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The CCRCs segment owns or leases communities that provides various living arrangements, such as independent and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing; and services to accommodate various levels of physical ability and healthcare needs. It also manages communities on behalf of others. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned 347 communities, leased 299 communities, and managed 33 communities on behalf of others. Brookdale Senior Living Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Argan, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development, technical, and consulting services to the power generation and renewable energy markets. The company operates through Power Industry Services, Industrial Fabrication and Field Services, and Telecommunications Infrastructure Services segments. The Power Industry Services segment offers engineering, procurement, and construction contracting services to the owners of alternative energy facilities, such as biomass plants, wind farms, and solar fields; and design, construction, project management, start-up, and operation services for projects with approximately 15 gigawatts of power-generating capacity. This segment serves independent power project owners, public utilities, power plant equipment suppliers, and energy plant construction companies. The Industrial Fabrication and Field Services segment provides industrial field, and pipe and vessel fabrication services for forest products, industrial gas, fertilizer, and mining companies in southeast region of the United States. The Telecommunications Infrastructure Services segment offers trenchless directional boring and excavation for underground communication and power networks, as well as aerial cabling services; and installs buried cable, high and low voltage electric lines, and private area outdoor lighting systems. It also provides structured cabling, terminations, and connectivity that offers the physical transport for high-speed data, voice, video, and security networks. This segment serves state and local government agencies, regional communications service providers, electric utilities, and other commercial customers, as well as federal government facilities comprising cleared facilities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Argan, Inc. was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
Validus Holdings, Ltd. provides reinsurance coverage, insurance coverage, and insurance linked securities management services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Reinsurance, Insurance, and Asset Management. The Reinsurance segment underwrites property reinsurance products on a catastrophe excess of loss, per risk excess of loss and proportional basis; and aerospace and aviation, agriculture, composite, marine, technical lines, terrorism, trade credit, workers' compensation, and other specialty lines, as well as casualty and financial lines. The Insurance segment underwrites property, accident and health, agriculture, aviation, contingency, marine, and political lines insurance products; bankers blanket bond, commercial crime, computer crime, cyber- crime, professional indemnity, and directors' and officers' insurance products for various financial institutions and other companies; and commercial and institutional risks comprising general, professional, and product liability, as well as miscellaneous malpractice insurance products. This segment also underwrites marine and energy liability, and political risk insurance products, as well as insurance products for repair, maintenance, and upkeep of aircrafts and premises for small companies. The Asset Management segment manages capital for third parties through insurance-linked securities, and other property catastrophe and specialty reinsurance investments. Validus Holdings, Ltd. was founded in 2005 and is based in Pembroke, Bermuda.
The following companies are subsidiares of Emerson Electric: A.P.M. Automation Solutions Ltd., AE Valves, AGI Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ALCO CONTROLS spol. s.r.o., APM Automation Solutions, ASC Investments Inc., ASCO (Japan) Company Limited, ASCO L.P., ASCO Numatics (India) Private Limited, ASCO Numatics Holding Inc., ASCO SAS, ASCO Valve (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ASCO/JOUCOMATIC s.r.o., ATX SAS, Advanced Protection Technologies, Aegir Norge Holding AS, Alliance Compressors LLC, American Governor, Aperture, Apple JV Holding Corp., Appleton Electric LLC, Appleton Electric S.A. de C.V., Appleton Group, Appleton Group Canada Ltd., Appleton Grp LLC, Appleton Holding Corp., Appleton Holding Sarl, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Artesyn Hungary Elektronikai Kft., Artesyn Technologies, Asco AB, Asco Controls AG, Asco Controls B.V., Asco Joucomatic Ltd., Asco Joucomatic ZA B.V., Asco Magnesszelep Kft., Asco Numatics GmbH, Asco Numatics S.A., Asco Numatics Sirai S.R.L., Asco Numatics Sp. z o.o., Ascomatica S.A. de C.V., Ascomation (NZ) Ltd., Ascomation Pty. Ltd., Ascotech S.A. de C.V., Ascoval Industria e Commercio Ltda, Automatic Switch Company, Aventics, Aventics, Aventics AB, Aventics AG, Aventics AS, Aventics ApS, Aventics B.V., Aventics Corporation, Aventics Holding S.A.S., Aventics Holding S.a.r.l., Aventics Hungary Kft, Aventics Inc., Aventics India Private Limited, Aventics Limited, Aventics Ltd., Aventics Oy, Aventics Pneumatics Equipment (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Aventics Pneumatics Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aventics S.A.S., Aventics S.R.L., Aventics Services Germany GmbH, Aventics Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aventics Sp. z.o.o., Aventics Spain S.L., Aventics spol. s.r.o., Avtron LoadBank, Bannerscientific Limited, Beckman Industrial B.V., Beijing Rosemount Far East Instrument Co. Ltd., Bettis Canada Ltd., Bettis Holdings Limited, Bettis UK Limited, Biffi Italia S.r.l., Bioproduction Group, Branson Korea Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonic S.A., Branson Ultrasonics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonics B.V., Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, Branson Ultrasonics a.s., Branson Ultrasonidos S.A.E., Branson Ultrasons SAS, Branson Ultrasuoni S.R.L., Branson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Bray Lectroheat Limited, Bristol Babcock Limited, Bristol Inc., Buehler Europe Limited, Buehler UK Limited, CR Compressors LLC, CSA Consulting Engineers Ltd., California Emerson LLC, Cascade Technologies, Cascade Technologies Holdings Limited, Cascade Technologies Limited, Chemat GmbH Armaturen fur Industrie - und Nuklearanlage, Chloride Koexa S.A., Componentes Avanzados de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Computational Systems, Computational Systems Incorporated, Conception et Representation de Technologies de Controle C.R.T. Controle SAS, Control Products Inc., Controles de Temperatura S.A. de C.V., Cooligy Inc., Cooper-Atkins, Cooper-Atkins Corporation, Cooper-Atkins Pte. Ltd., Copeland Access + Inc., Copeland Compresores Hermeticos S.A. de C.V., Copeland Corporation, Copeland Corporation LLC, Copeland Limited, Copeland Redevelopment Corporation, Copeland Scroll Compresores de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copeland de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copesub Inc., Crosby Valve LLC, Damcos A/S, Damcos Holding A/S, Daniel Automation Company, Daniel Europe Limited, Daniel Industrial Inc., Daniel Industries, Daniel Industries Canada Inc., Daniel Industries Inc., Daniel Industries Limited, Daniel International Limited, Daniel Measurement Solutions Private Limited, Daniel Measurement and Control Inc., Daniel Measurement and Control S. de R.L. de C.V., Danmasa S.A. de C.V., Dar Ibtikar Al Iraq for General Services and General Trade LLC, Decision Management International, Dieterich Standard Inc., Digital Appliance Controls (UK) Limited, Dixell North America Inc., Dixell S.R.L., Do+Able Products, E. Business Development E.B.D.Com Ltd., E.G.P. Corporation, EECO Inc., EGS Comercializadora Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Private Ltd., EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES s.r.o., EMR (Asia) Limited, EMR (Mauritius) Ltd., EMR Emerson Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, EMR Europe Holdings Inc., EMR Foundation Inc., EMR Holdings (France) SAS, EMR Holdings Inc., EMR Worldwide B.V., EMR Worldwide Inc., EMRSN HLDG B.V., EMRSN Process Management Morocco Sarl, ENPDOR2012A Limited, ENPESNA Inc., EPM Tulsa Holdings Corp., EPMCO Holdings Inc., ETC International Holdings Ltd., Easy Heat Europe SAS, Easy Heat Inc., El-O-Matic B.V., El-O-Matic Valve Actuators (F.E.) Pte. Ltd., Electrische Apparatenfabriek Capax B.V., Emerald Advanced Technology Limited, Emerson (Philippines) Corporation, Emerson (Taiwan) Limited, Emerson (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Arabia Inc., Emerson Argentina S.A., Emerson Asia Pacific Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Holdings Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Sichuan) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Taiwan) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Thailand) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Czech Republic s.r.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Denmark A/S, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control France SARL, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Germany GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hong Kong Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hungary Kft, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Italia S.r.l., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Middle East FZE, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Netherlands B.V., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Polska Sp. Z.o.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Holding LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK II Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control US LP, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Automation Solutions GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Automation Solutions Ireland Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Isolation Valves Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions SSC UK Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Beijing Instrument Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Services LLC, Emerson Climate Technologies (India) Private Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies (Shenyang) Refrigeration Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Transportation Solutions ApS, Emerson Climate Technologies Arabia Limited Co., Emerson Climate Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies FZE, Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH, Emerson Climate Technologies Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Climate Technologies Refrigeration S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Europe S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Sarl, Emerson Commercial & Residential Tools LLC, Emerson Commerical & Residential Asia Limited, Emerson Comres de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson DHC B.V., Emerson Dietzenbach GmbH, Emerson Dominicana Srl, Emerson Egypt LLC, Emerson Electric (Asia) Limited, Emerson Electric (China) Holdings Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Electric (Mauritius) Ltd., Emerson Electric (South Asia) Pte. Ltd., Emerson Electric (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Electric (Tongling) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation, Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation (Chile) Limitada, Emerson Electric (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric CR Limitada, Emerson Electric Canada Limited, Emerson Electric Company (India) Private Limited, Emerson Electric Company Lanka (Private) Limited, Emerson Electric Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, Emerson Electric II C.A., Emerson Electric International Inc., Emerson Electric Ireland Limited, Emerson Electric Korea Ltd., Emerson Electric Nederland B.V., Emerson Electric Overseas Finance Corp., Emerson Electric Poland Sp. z o.o., Emerson Electric U.K. Limited, Emerson Electric de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Electric do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Energy Systems (UK) Limited, Emerson FZE, Emerson Final Control US Holding LLC, Emerson Finance LLC, Emerson Fusite Electric (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Gabon SARL, Emerson Hazardous Electrical Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Holding Company Limited, Emerson Holding Sweden AB, Emerson InSinkErator Appliance (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Industrial Automation USA Inc., Emerson International Holding Company Limited, Emerson Japan Ltd., Emerson Junkang Enterprise (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Korea Limited, Emerson LLC, Emerson LLP, Emerson Machinery Equipment (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Mexico Finance S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Emerson Middle East Inc., Emerson Network Power DHC B.V., Emerson Paradigm Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management (India) Private Limited, Emerson Process Management (South Africa) (Proprietary) Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Tianjin) Valves Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management A/S (Denmark), Emerson Process Management AB, Emerson Process Management AG, Emerson Process Management AS, Emerson Process Management Angola Lda, Emerson Process Management Arabia Limited, Emerson Process Management Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Process Management B.V., Emerson Process Management Chennai Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Distribution Limited, Emerson Process Management Europe GmbH, Emerson Process Management Flow B.V., Emerson Process Management Flow Technologies Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Process Management Holding AG, Emerson Process Management Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management Kft., Emerson Process Management LLLP, Emerson Process Management Lda, Emerson Process Management Limited, Emerson Process Management Ltda, Emerson Process Management Magyarorszag Kft., Emerson Process Management Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Korea Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management NV, Emerson Process Management New Zealand Limited, Emerson Process Management Nigeria Limited, Emerson Process Management Oy, Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions Inc., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions India Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Qatar W.L.L., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Inc., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa LLC, Emerson Process Management Romania S.R.L., Emerson Process Management S.A., Emerson Process Management S.A. de C.V., Emerson Process Management S.L., Emerson Process Management S.R.L., Emerson Process Management SAS, Emerson Process Management Shared Services Limited, Emerson Process Management Sp. z o.o., Emerson Process Management Ticaret Limited Sirket, Emerson Process Management UAB, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Valve Automation Inc., Emerson Process Management Verwaltung GmbH, Emerson Process Management d.o.o., Emerson Process Management de Colombia SAS, Emerson Process Management del Peru S.A.C., Emerson Process Management s.r.o., Emerson Professional Tools (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Puerto Rico Inc., Emerson Retail Services Europe GmbH, Emerson S.R.L., Emerson Sales UK Limited, Emerson Saudi Arabia LLC, Emerson Scroll Machining (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Sice S.R.L., Emerson Sweden AB, Emerson TOV, Emerson Technologies GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Technologies Verwaltungs GmbH, Emerson Tool Company de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Tool and Appliance Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson UK Trustees Limited, Emerson USD Finance Company Limited, Emerson Valves & Controls Japan Co. Ltd., Emerson Ventures Inc., Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC, Emerson Xi'an Engineering Center, Emersub 1 LLC, Emersub 10 LLC, Emersub 11 LLC, Emersub 12 LLC, Emersub 14 LLC, Emersub 15 LLC, Emersub 16 LLC, Emersub 3 LLC, Emersub 4 LLC, Emersub 5 LLC, Emersub 7 LLC, Emersub 8 LLC, Emersub 9 LLC, Emersub CII Inc., Emersub CV Inc., Emersub Italia S.R.L., Emersub LXXXIV Inc., Emersub LXXXVI Inc., Emersub Mexico Inc., Emersub Treasury Ireland Unlimited Company, Emersub XLVI Inc., Emersub XXXVI Inc., Emirates Techno Casting FZE, Emirates Techno Casting Holding Limited, Emirates Techno Casting LLC, Enardo, Endura-Greenlee Tools, Energy Solutions International (India) Private Limited, Energy Solutions International GP LLC, Energy Solutions International Ltd., Energy Solutions International SAS, Energy Solutions International Sub LLC, F-R Tecnologias de Flujo S.A. de C.V., FC QSF LLC, FMC Technologies, Fiberconn Assemblies Morocco Sarl, Fincor Holding LLC, Fire & Safety Group.Com Ltd., Fisher Controles de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fisher Controls International LLC, Fisher Jeon Gas Equipment (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Fisher Regulators (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Sanmar Limited, Fisher-Rosemount Systems Inc., Flow Control Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Flow Control Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Flow Control US Holding Corporation, Francel SAS, Fromex S.A. de C.V., Fusite B.V., Fusite Corporation, Fusite Land Company, GSEG LLC, General Equipment and Manufacturing Company Inc., Generale de Robinetterie Industrielle et de Sytemes de Surete, GeoFields, GeoFields Inc., Greenex Ltd., Greenfield (UK) Limited, Greenlee, Greenlee Communications, Greenlee Tools Inc., Gulf Valve FZE, Gustav Klauke GmbH, H.T.E. Engineering Limited, HD Electric Company, HTE Engineering Services Limited, Hindle Cockburns Limited, Hiross India Private Limited, Hiter Industria e Comercia de Controles Termo-Hidraulicos Ltda., Humboldt Hermetic Motor Corp., Hytork International Ltd., I Solutions Inc., ICC Intelligent Platforms GmbH, ISE-MagTech, Industrial Controls Canada ULC, Industrial Group Metran JSC, Instrument & Valve Services Company, Intelligent Platforms LLC, Intellution, International Gas Distribution SA, Intrinsic Safety Equipment of Texas Inc., JCF Fluid Flow India Private Limited, JSC Metran-Export, Joucomatic S.A., K Controls Limited, Keystone Germany Holdings Corp., Keystone Valve (Korea) LLC, Keystone Valve (U.K.) Limited, Klauke, Klauke (Jiangsu) Electrical Connection Technology Co Ltd., Klauke France SARL, Klauke Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Klauke Iberia S.L., Klauke Polska Sp. z.o.o., Klauke Slovakia s.r.o., Klauke UK Ltd., Knurr, Liebert, Liebert Swindon Limited, Locus Solutions LLC, Locus Traxx Worldwide, Locus Traxx Worldwide Europe BVBA, MDC Technology Limited, MDC Technology Trustees Limited, METCO Services Limited, MYNAH Technologies, Management Resources Group Inc., Mecafrance (Deutschland) GmbH, Metallurgical Services Laboratories Limited, Metaserv Limited, Metco Services Venezuela C.A., Micro Motion Inc., Mobrey Group Limited, Motores Hermeticos del Sur S.A. de C.V., NetworkPower Ecuador S.A., Nippon Fisher Co. Ltd., Novel Environmental Technologies Ltd., Novel Extinguishing Agent Technology Ltd., Numatics Incorporated, Nutsteel DHC B.V., Nutsteel Industria Metalurgica Ltda, O.M.T. Officina Meccanica Tartarini S.r.l., Open Systems International, P I Components Corp., PT Emerson Solutions Indonesia, PT. Emerson Indonesia, PT. Paradigm Geophysical Indonesia, Pactrol Controls Limited, PakSense, PakSense Inc., Paradigm, Paradigm (UK) Holding Limited, Paradigm B.V., Paradigm France S.A., Paradigm Geophysical (India) Private Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (KL) Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical (Nigeria) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (U.K.) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical B.V., Paradigm Geophysical Corp., Paradigm Geophysical Italy SRL, Paradigm Geophysical LLC, Paradigm Geophysical Limited, Paradigm Geophysical Pty Ltd, Paradigm Geophysical S.A., Paradigm Geophysical Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical Spain S.L., Paradigm Geophysical de Venezuela C.A., Paradigm Geophysical do Brasil Ltda., Paradigm Geoservices Canada Ltd., Paradigm Geotechnology (Egypt) S.A.E., Paradigm Kazakhstan LLP, Paradigm Middle East FZ-LLC, Paradigm Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Parex Industries Limited, Pentair Valves & Controls, Pentair Valves and Controls India Private Limited, Permasense, Permasense Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, Permasense Limited, ProSys, ProTeam Inc., Progea, RAC Technologies (Israel) Ltd., RIDGID Inc., RPP Europe GmbH, RPP LLC, Rey-Lam S. de R.L. de C.V., Ridge Tool (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Ridge Tool Company, Ridge Tool Europe NV, Ridge Tool GmbH, Ridge Tool GmbH & Co. OHG, Ridge Tool Manufacturing Company, Ridge Tool Pattern Company, Ridgid France SAS, Ridgid Italia S.R.L., Ridgid Online Inc., Ridgid Scandinavia A/S, Ridgid Werkzeuge AG, Rosemount China Inc., Rosemount Inc., Rosemount Measurement Limited, Rosemount Nuclear Instruments Inc., Rosemount Specialty Products LLC, Rosemount Tank Gauging India Pvt. Ltd., Rosemount Tank Gauging Middle East SPC, Rosemount Tank Gauging North America Inc., Rosemount Tank Radar AB, Rosemount Tank Radar Properties AB, Roxar, Roxar AS, Roxar Flow Measurement AS, Roxar Flow Measurement Sdn Bhd, Roxar Limited, Roxar Maximum Reservoir Performance W.L.L., Roxar Saudi Co., Roxar Services AS, Roxar Services OOO, Roxar Software Solutions AS, Roxar Technologies AS, Roxar Vietnam Company Ltd., Roxar de Venezuela C.A., Rutherfurd Acquisitions Limited, S.F.T. Group Ltd., SABO-Armaturen Service GmbH, Safety Systems UK Pte. Ltd., Sakhi-Raimondi Valve (India) Limited, Scroll Compressors LLC, Scroll Mexico LLC, Sempell GmbH, Shanghai Virgo Valves Technology Consulting Co. Ltd., Sherman + Reilly, Soluciones 0925 C.A., Spectra-Tek Holdings Limited, Spectra-Tek International Limited, Spectra-Tek UK Limited, Spectrex, Spectrex Inc., Spectronix Ltd., Spensall Engineering Limited, Steel Support Systems Limited, Stratos Lightwave, System Plast International B.V., System Plast Ltda, System Plast USA de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., TDM-avtomatizatsiya, TV&C GP Holding LLC, Taiwan Valve Co. Ltd., TechnipFMC, Termocontroles de Juarez S.A. de C.V., Tescom Corporation, Tescom Europe GmbH & Co. KG, Tescom Europe Management GmbH, The Automation Group Inc., The J.R. Clarkson Company LLC, Therm-O-Disc Europe B.V., Therm-O-Disc Incorporated, Thunderline Z Inc., TopWorx UK Limited, Tranmet Holdings B.V., Tranmet Holdings Limited, Verdant Environmental Technologies, Vilter Manufacturing LLC, Virgo Valves & Controls (ME) FZE, Virgo Valves and Controls Sdn Bhd, Von Arx AG, Vulsub 1 Limited, Vulsub Brasil Holding, Vulsub Brasil Ltda., Vulsub Chile SpA, Vulsub Gulf Holding Limited, Vulsub Holding III (Denmark) ApS, Vulsub Holding Ltd, Vulsub Holdings A LLC, Vulsub Holdings B LLC, Vulsub Holdings C LLC, Vulsub Holdings D LLC, Vulsub Italia S.r.l., Vulsub Middle East Holdings LLC, Vulsub Peru S.A.C., Vulsub Property Holding LLC, Vulsub Property Limited, Vulsub S.A., Vulsub South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Vulsub VZ C.A., Westinghouse Electric Pvt. Limited, Westlock Controls Limited, Westlock Equipamentos de Controle Ltda., Woodstock Land Company LLC, epro GmbH, iSolera Inc., iSolutions Private Limited, and intelliSAW.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. It also offers ProxyEdge, an electronic proxy delivery and voting solution; data-driven solutions and an end-to-end platform for content management, composition, and omni-channel distribution of regulatory, marketing, and transactional information, as well as mutual fund trade processing services; data and analytics solutions; solutions for public corporations and mutual funds; SEC filing and capital markets transaction services; registrar, stock transfer, and record-keeping services; and omni-channel customer communications solutions, as well as operates Broadridge Communications Cloud platform that creates, delivers, and manages communications and customer engagement activities. The company's Global Technology and Operations segment provides solutions that automate the front-to-back transaction lifecycle of equity, mutual fund, fixed income, foreign exchange and exchange-traded derivatives, order capture and execution, trade confirmation, margin, cash management, clearance and settlement, reference data management, reconciliations, securities financing and collateral management, asset servicing, compliance and regulatory reporting, portfolio accounting, and custody-related services. This segment also offers business process outsourcing services; technology solutions, such portfolio management, compliance, fee billing, and operational support solutions; and capital market and wealth management solutions. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York.
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By Prem Calvin Prashad

Against a backdrop of slumping voter participation in the five boroughs, Mayor de Blasio has launched new efforts to translate voter registration forms into languages, including Russian, Urdu, Haitian Creole, French and Arabic. With this latest effort, according to the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs, accessible voter registration forms now cover 80 percent of Limited English Proficient voters in New York City.

We have the power to effect change, but we lose that power when we dont exercise our right to vote, state Sen.James Sanders Jr. (D-Jamaica) said in a statement on the voter access initiative.

These forms are currently available on the city Campaign Finance Board website, although the forms provided in languages other than Urdu, Mandarin, Korean and Spanish must be completed in English. Translated voter guides are also available at nyccf b.info/ nyc-v otes/ regis terin g.

This isnt the first time a mayor has made efforts at language access. In 2008, then Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued Executive Order 120, which tapped six critical languages, including Spanish, French Creole and Mandarin Chinese, in which city agencies were mandated to provide translation and interpretation services. In his radio address on July 27, 2008, the former mayor cited the necessity of language access for opening opportunities, assisting law enforcement and understanding their childrens progress in school. The order enhanced and formalized efforts by city agencies and the non-emergency services help line  311 to provide telephone and in-person translation and interpretation services. Today 311 is accessible in 170 languages, including 50 through its online portal.

At the time, touting his acumen as a businessman, Bloomberg compared the city government to a business and called the growing population of immigrants its customers.

Voter access is a hot political issue across the country, with Republicans generally interested in placing restrictions on eligibility and identification requirements, while Democrats focus on access, voter registration. One instance of this tension is in the state of Virginia, where the governor restored the right of ex-convicts to vote, to considerable debate. Bipartisan efforts at ballot access have included expanding early voting and promoting online voter registration. Other proposals have called for the automatic and mandatory pre-registration of 16 or 17 year olds.

With a valid New York state drivers license and Social Security number, New York state residents can register online through the Department of Motor Vehicles website. Registering online substantially simplifies the process to switch party affiliation. During this years primaries, many voters, particularly in Brooklyn, complained that their present affiliation was different than when they had filled out their registration form. They were found to be ineligible to participate in New York States closed party primaries. Many local and state races in the city are often decided in the primary, months before the general elections.

A project by WNYC found that turnout for the 2009 mayoral election was less than 20 percent across broad swaths of southeast Queens, Ridgewood and Astoria. Though there may be some mitigating factors  a non-midterm, non-presidential campaign year, as well as general elections being nominally less competitive than primaries, even though state and local elections typically have a greater impact on day-to-day issues. Encouragingly, in this years competitive presidential primary races, Democrat and Republican turnout rates were clocked at 32 percent and 31 percent, respectively, across the state.

Perhaps civic engagement isnt quite dead in the five boroughs.

.
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By Bill Parry

One week after the release of private security camera footage showing Karina Vetrano moments before her murder, the NYPD has received 104 tips, including some with new information, but the case remains unsolved. The video captures the 30-year-old Howard Beach jogger near Spring Creek Park Aug. 2, just before 6 p.m. where she was beaten, strangled and sexually assaulted, according to police.

Now a candidate for the state Assembly is calling for increased security measures at the Gateway National Recreation Area just to the south. Stacey Pheffer Amato is taking the National Park Service to task for inadequate safety infrastructure, asking them to install security cameras and emergency blue lights in Gateway National Recreation Area, the vast urban park that includes the Jamaica Wildlife Refuge with many deserted trails.

Security cameras are an essential law enforcement tool that help to deter illegal activity and aid local law enforcement in criminal investigation, Pheffer Amato said. It is unthinkable that in this day and age, in an urban park like Gateway, we dont have cameras and other infrastructure to keep an eye on the area and aid visitors in distress. I urge the National Park Service to recognize the unique needs of our urban parkland and install the infrastructure that will keep our families safe.

The Democratic nominee for state Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-??/)s soon to be empty seat, she face Republican Alan Zwirn in the Nov. 8 election.

In a letter to Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Pheffer Amato called on the federal agency to install permanent security cameras and blue light emergency call boxes in Gateway National Recreation Area. She also characterized current safety measures within the Jamaica Bay unit of the park as inadequate, given its urban location and record crowds.

It is a necessity to have tightened security in parkland that is adjacent to our airports, and certainly with the terror threat that always exists in New York, the National Park Service needs to step up their efforts with additional cameras and patrols, said Frank Dardani, president of the 106th Precinct Community Council.

Pheffer Amato also raised the concerns of many families in the community over the condition of the Spring Creek section of the park, saying, the lands relative isolation, limited visibility due to overgrown grass, and lack of safety infrastructure present a potential risk to unaccompanied parkgoers.

Danny Ruscillo, the former president of the 100th Precinct Community Council, demanded the National Park Service provide funds to pay for safety equipment immediately.

The installation of this safety infrastructure should be done in all of our national parks, Ruscillo said. This must be done now in order to keep all our citizens that use these parks safe.

Pheffer Amato commended Borough President Melinda Katz for providing city funds for cameras along the border of Spring Creek. She said now it is time for the National Park Service to recognize that Gateway is an urban park with different security needs than the Grand Canyon or Yosemite.

Gateway is right in the middle of the largest city in the country, and having cameras and blue light boxes here is simply a no-brainer.
Eight Russian firefighters were killed as they battled a blaze at a warehouse in eastern Moscow, authorities said Friday, in the latest deadly fire to hit the capital.

Their bodies were discovered after contact was lost as they fought to extinguish a huge blaze that started Thursday evening at a plastics depot, the emergency services ministry said in a statement.

"The corpses of eight colleagues have been found in the main area where the search was located," the statement said.

"Until the end there was hope that they would be alive. But due to the intense fire, the high temperatures and the thick smoke the firefighters were unable to get out."

The emergency workers were among the first to arrive on the scene and helped evacuate 100 workers from the warehouse located towards the eastern edge of the Russian capital, officials said.

They were battling flames on the roof of the building when it collapsed, the emergency services said.

"The firefighters died doing their duty like heroes," Moscow\s mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Twitter.

"I send my condolences to their loved ones. The city will give all necessary aid to the families of those who died."

Prosecutors launched a probe into possible fire safety violations, the Moscow prosecutor\s office said.

Officials said the blaze  which tore across an area of some 4,000 square metres (430,000 square feet)  was eventually extinguished at 0744 local time (0444 GMT) on Friday.

An AFP correspondent said that the acrid smell of burning could be felt across areas of eastern Moscow close to the blaze.

The fire is the latest deadly inferno to claim lives in the Russian capital, where safety standards are often lax.

Last month 16 migrant workers mostly from ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan died in a fire at a print warehouse where they worked in the city.

A criminal investigation was launched to determine whether the blaze erupted due to arson or negligence and the owner of the warehouse eventually handed himself in to the authorities.
By Daniele Scalea

The last, recent joint note of Italian and Egyptian attorneys on Giulio Regeni\s murder shows that a good degree of cooperation in the investigation has been finally reached. Unfortunately that has required various months during which Egyptian transparency wasn\t so high. Moreover, as the Italian attorney Pignatone has reminded, that underway is not a joint but a mere Egyptian investigation, to whom Italian investigators are only collaborating. So, the chances that we will know one day who and why really killed Regeni are in the hands of destiny and of Egyptian judiciary. For now, it appears fallen at least the trail to the alleged gang of kidnappers killed by the Egyptian police last March.

It is quite obvious that someone among the Egyptian apparatus has tried to sabotage the investigation  too many false trails, omissions and so on. That doesn\t mean, however, that Regeni was killed by Egyptian authorities, not to mention a direct involvement of President al-Sisi, which is really unlikely (even if speculations about that appeared on the Italian newspapers La Repubblica, citing a mysterious Egyptian source). The admission that police investigated on Regeni isn\t an admission of guilt. Egyptian authorities said that the denunciation came from an independent trade union and that the investigation lasted only three days. Could that support the hypothesis of a murder committed by union officials? Whether or not, we are probably still far from any truth, both real or official.

As the judicial sky is clearing up a bit, even on the political stage something has moved between Egypt and Italy after the great chill followed to Regeni\s murder last winter. Italy tried to spark off a diplomatic guerrilla against Egypt, persuading her Western allies to isolate the Arab country. Unfortunately for her, that utterly failed. Western countries showed to evaluate al-Sisi\s contribution against terrorism and Islamism far more than any moral reservation about democracy and human rights. That should have sound unsurprisingly to the Italian Government, as P.M. Matteo Renzi himself once called al-Sisi a great leader and F.M. Paolo Gentiloni described him as an ally against jihadism. No wonder that Italy\s Western partners shares the same idea on al-Sisi, unchanged for them by any Regeni case.

As professor Anis H. Bajrektarevic rightfully diagnosed the trend of 2010s: No Spring on a single string, right?! How could any social cohesion, indispensable for the MENA democratization, possibly work in the world of simplified choices and various binary categorizations (the us-vs.-them/either-or), where primary loyalties are (returned) to sect, tribe or ethnicity? This dilemma relates not only to democracy, but also to the very quest of secularism  for the one presupposes the other  ever since the French Revolution. In this or any other part of the (developing) world, institutionalization of democracy without secularization of state inevitably leads to a dysfunctional, destabilizing and (self-)debilitating government: divinization of the office and personalization of power

Therefore Italy began to soften her stance. In May already, just one month after having recalled it, Italy has reinstated her Ambassador in Cairo. Italian attorneys have began to issue conciliatory statements about their Egyptian colleagues. Even the July vote of the Italian Parliament, the one that stopped Italian free supply of F-16 spare parts to Egypt, was just a speed bump, result more of an independent move by some parliamentarians than of a studied decision by the Government. In fact persists in the Italian public opinion a trend, lead by Regeni\s parents and supported by Amnesty International, pressing for a tougher stance against Egypt, able to condition a large number of MPs but actually in the minority in the country.

So, everything is bound to be settled between Italy and Egypt? Not so fast. Even if Regeni case is no more a decisive factor, may well be a tool in future disputes. And disputes may easily arise from the Libyan theater. Al-Sisi in Libya strongly supports his alter ego, Khalifa Heftar, the most committed enemy of any Islamist factions. On the contrary Islamists abounds in the other camp, the Tripolitanian one, even after the instate of Fayez al-Sarraj and his GNA. Pressed by Western powers, al-Sarraj installation has been possible only thanks to cooptation of a large part of the former Libya Dawn coalition, including Islamists as Abdelhakim Belhadj or Abdelrauf Kara, not to mention the Muslim Brotherhood which is a bete noire to al-Sisi.

Recent conquest of the oil ports by Gen. Heftar has aroused official condemnation by Western countries, but it\s difficult to predict how much of that public opposition could flow into private connivance. Heftar has already received help by a lot of countries that in the meantime strongly supported the GNA  maybe because splitting up the country is emerging in their assessments as the only viable solution to the Libyan conundrum. The same could be true for Italy, especially if  as it seems  Haftar could be a more reliable guardian of Libyan oil (a large stack of total ENI production) than Ibrahim Jidhran was.

 Daniele Scalea, geopolitical analyst, is Director-general of IsAG (Rome Institute of Geopolitics) and Ph.D. Candidate in Political studies at the Sapienza University, Rome.

The views expressed in this article are the author\s own and do not necessarily reflect The Times Of Earth\s editorial policy.
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.
Contributed photo Port Arthur-born Olanna Goudeau (left) and New Orleans native Ashley Renee Watkins' paths crossed many times over the years, though the two sopranos didn't really hit it off until a decade later. They decided to audition for "America's Got Talent" and were featured on Season 9 of the show. They will perform a concert 3 p.m. Sunday in Akin Auditorium on the Midwestern State University campus.

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Concert presented by Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts & Culture

By Richard Carter, Special to the Times Record News

Port Arthur-born Olanna Goudeau and New Orleans native Ashley Renee Watkins did not start off as friends.

It took nearly a decade for them to realize they needed to sing together, beginning with a mutual respect developed over four years and two universities, a hurricane called Katrina, a summer music camp in New Jersey, a mutual need to audition and, finally, a chance audition for "America's Got Talent."

The sopranos live in New York City, perform 50 or so times a year as ACTE II and will perform 3 p.m. Sunday at Akin Auditorium on the Midwestern State University campus. Their MSU show is called "Music Our Way," and they will be accompanied by MSU pianists Martin Camacho and Ruth Morrow.

The free performance is presented by the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture.

Watkins performed a concert this summer at the alliance-sponsored Pop-Up Art Gallery at downtown's Big Blue, otherwise known as the First Wichita Building.

Watkins was in Wichita Falls with a team of master teaching artists to develop a training series for local teaching artists who work with youth, she said. About 150 children took part in the WFAAC's summer program.

Her focus was on developing teaching artists who could then work with students.

Her day job at the Lincoln Center in New York City involves her primarily working with students in social studies classes.

"It's arts integration into education," she said, and can include composing songs about subjects such as social issues and then singing or performing them.

Watkins, like Goudeau, first began singing in church. It was mostly her grandmother who nurtured her.

"I sat on her bed singing hymns and spirituals, and she taught me songs by ear singing with her."

Although Watkins wanted to become a veterinarian, it was her church choir director (who was studying opera) who heard her sing. He began giving her voice lessons and introduced her to a professor at Dillard College who offered her a scholarship.

"Ashley and I didn't become friends quickly," Goudeau said with a laugh. "I was two years ahead of her at Dillard, and our music circles were two opposing sides. There was the New Orleans group and my group from Texas. Both were very talented, and we got along, but there were constant challenges."

The two women respected each other. They were both serious in school and were always prepared.

"Still, we talked very little," Goudeau said.

After graduation, she went off to the University of Oklahoma for her master's degree.

Had it not been for Hurricane Katrina, it's unlikely there would not be an ACTE II.

Watkins said, "Nine days into my senior year, Katrina hit. I didn't know where to go. My mom called and said Olanna had called my aunt's apartment in Dallas and said come to OU. They're accepting students displaced from Katrina."

Watkins and her friend drove to Norman.

"It was the most wonderful and awkward situation. It was a massive campus  a stark contrast to Dillard," she said.

Also, the two women hadn't seen each other in two years. They caught up, and Goudeau helped Watkins get settled.

"We did get to sing together in a few programs at OU," Goudeau said. "But it wasn't like we needed to be Acte II just yet."

Goudeau graduated and left for New York City to audition. In the summer of 2010, she got into the Opera New Jersey summer program.

"And Ashley was there too," Goudeau said. "It was like I couldn't escape her. It took us a while to warm up to each other."

They spent a good deal of time together there and encouraged each other. Once Watkins finished her master's at OU, the two sopranos decided to travel to Germany to audition.

"We were going to raise money together to do it and came up with ideas for programs and recitals," Goudeau said.

They had prepared their material long-distance and were set to announce their debut as ACTE II in Harlem on Nov. 22, 2013.

But then Goudeau told Watkins a crazy idea about auditioning for "America's Got Talent."

"First, we laughed it off," Watkins said. "Then, we thought, 'What if?' It's not the traditional route. Our friends and voice teachers told us to go for it."

"We dressed trendy and wore our Afros, cause we love them. We did the audition, and they loved us," Watkins said.

They sang "The Flower Duet" from "Lakme" (1883) by Leo Delibes. While waiting to hear what might happen, they put off traveling to Europe and decided to perform together as ACTE II.

"It's ours," she said, "and that's what we are going to pursue."

ACTE II performed on Season 9 of "America's Got Talent" (2014) and also sang "I Will Always Love You," or what they call a Dolly Parton song by way of Whitney Houston sung classically.

"We don't limit ourselves to any genre box," Goudeau said.

While both had trained years and years in the opera, they said the vocal technique they learned could be used to sing anything.

"We listen to pop and country and some jazz. We like Beyonce. We like music," Goudeau said.

The concert in Wichita Falls is called "Music Our Way."

The name, Watkins said, "It's very conscious and intentional. It's very out of the box. We are doing some Disney songs, some opera, musical theater, spirituals, some jazz."

Some songs will be sung as a duo and others solo.

"We both personally connect to the material, and we want to share it with audiences."

Also, the music will for everyone.

"We are very personable with the audience, and we have as much fun as them," Goudeau said.
Times Record News file Wichita Falls Mayor Glenn Barham (left) helps tap a Paulaner keg at a past Oktoberfest. The event, which returns Saturday to the J.S. Bridwell Agricultural Center, will include a German meal and traditional German Oktoberfest games. It is a special year for the event, which also is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the German air force at Sheppard Air Force Base.

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By Richard Carter, Special to the Times Record News

Authentic German food, oompah music, lederhosen, dirndls, dancing and beer flow freely in late September each year as part of Oktoberfest.

While the celebration of German culture is special enough in itself, this Saturday's return of the event is even more so, said Lt. Col. Thomas Hullena, German Senior National Representative of the German Air Force detachment of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program at Sheppard Air Force Base.

"It is the 50th anniversary of German training fighter pilots at Sheppard Air Force Base, and the 50th anniversary of the Junior League being the sponsors of our German community," he said. "The motto is 50 years of flying training at Sheppard Air Force Base and 50 years of Junior League sponsorship for the German community."

This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the base and the 35th anniversary of ENJJPT, which the base celebrated Sept. 17-18 with an air show and open house.

German Oktoberfest will run from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the J.S. Bridwell Agricultural Center.

Hullena suggests buying tickets Friday or as early as possible Saturday evening at the door, as the past four events have sold out and only 1,200 tickets are sold.

"We officially open the Oktoberfest with the German Air Force Music Corps marching in with members of the Junior League (of Wichita Falls), my family and Glenn Barham, the mayor."

Hullena will give a short speech and present a plaque to the Junior League for sponsoring the German contingent. That will be followed by short speeches by the Junior League and Barham.

The 20-man German band will play for four hours with brief intermissions.

"They are touring the U.S. on a six-week trip, and it's the first time for them to play our Oktoberfest. The music is the whole variety  whatever you want. They can play classic marches, and we will be surprised how good they are," he said.

The caterer is a German restaurant from Muenster, which will serve typical German food, meaning German potato salad, sauerkraut and bratwurst (German sausage).

German beers and wine and American beers will be available at a cash bar. Attendees will find such brews as Paulaner Oktoberfest, Franconia Lager, and a selection of German wines, said the Iron Horse Pub's Daniel Ahern.

"It is a typical Bavarian evening," Hullena said. "You're invited to wear Bavarian attire, including lederhosen and appropriate shirt and shoes and a hat, maybe. You can also buy your original customized Bavarian beer mug at the event."

Look for dancing, too, especially as the evening goes on.

"It is not a professional dancing group," he said with a smile.

Hullena first arrived at Sheppard Air Force Base in 1979 as a student then returned in October 2013 to become the German Senior National Representative.

Thirty-four German student pilots train at the base. If you count instructors and families, "We have 167 Germans, including a German elementary school with two teachers and 10 students attending school. The school is related to the duty the German Air Force is doing here."

German Oktoberfest started at the base within the past 15 years, Hullena said.

"It's a good tradition, well-established and well-accepted to do this with the Junior League."

In addition to Oktoberfest, the two groups also do a road bowling event, a spring picnic in May and a Thanksgiving dinner.

Oktoberfest is a German celebration that began in 1810 in Munich, when the Bavarian royal family invited the populace to help celebrate a royal wedding.

"They developed a fairground and put up a big beer fest and conducted a horse race. It's changed over the decades," he said. "Nowadays, there's no horse races, and it's the largest fairground in the world. Over 6 million come from around the world to a two-week celebration that begins near the end of September. It's copied around the world."
Lunch Bunch/Times Record News The chicken red curry at Thai Orchid could have used a bit more heat, said the Lunch Dude.

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Chicken-fried steak, Tex-Mex, burgers  these aren't hard to find in Wichita Falls. Practically one member of the group is served on every corner.

Authentic Asian cuisine, on the other hand? That's a bit tougher to locate.

So when my buddy suggested we get some Thai food for lunch, I didn't know where to go. But my buddy, shrewd as he is, was ready with the suggestion: Thai Orchid on Elmwood Avenue North.

Thai Orchid joins the ranks of restaurants my buddy has visited but one whose threshold I had never crossed. I didn't even know where it was. But my buddy drove, so we arrived safely at the restaurant, parking under the big sign that read "Authentic Thai Food."

Thai Orchid's decor is a bit confusing. Rumor has it the building was an Italian restaurant, and decorative remnants to support that theory (the lattice, faux ivy and almost life-size statue). But more striking than the decor is the peculiar aroma that arrested my nostrils as soon as I stepped inside. Perhaps that's what Thai food is supposed to smell like, I naively thought. It was nothing sickening  just odd.

The nice waitress showed us to a booth and handed us two menus.

Thai Orchid's menu offers plenty of options, but there was one problem: I couldn't make out the prices. This was disillusioning when trying to make a selection. The prices obviously have changed over time, and that's OK. But a menu reprint would serve this restaurant better than small Wite-Out strips and a pen.

For starters, we ordered a plate of 10 fried wontons. And after perusing the lunch specials menu, we made our selections: I chose the chicken red curry, and my buddy picked the pepper steak. Each item on the lunch specials menu is served with fried or steamed rice and an egg roll. And according to the menu, lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, although the hours posted on the door say lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A quick note: Our waitress took excellent care of us throughout our lunch. She was quick, nice and made sure we did not go thirsty.

The wontons were the first on the scene. These did not look like any wontons I'd ever had before. They more closely resembled tortilla chips. They were thin, flat and crunchy with a minuscule amount of pork filling. If they had been served with a tasty dipping sauce, they might have been interesting and good. But as they were, with the plastic squeeze bottles of soy sauce and thin, runny, sweet-and-sour sauce, I was disappointed.

Next up were our entrees. Both plates were served with an egg roll and a smooth, pretty ball of fried rice. My buddy's pepper steak was tossed with onions and green peppers and doused in a sauce that was not quite soy but in the soy sauce family. It seemed light in color and thin in density. The flavor of the plate as a whole was disheartening. The beef was tasty enough, but it disappeared quickly. I actually felt guilty for stealing a bite  a first for our Lunch-Bunching adventures.

My chicken red curry was a touch on the anemic side, as well. Like my buddy's plate, the protein was scarce. A Thai food newbie, I wasn't entirely sure what the red curry was supposed to look or taste like, but I was hoping for a little more spice. This curry was yellow in color and overly sweet in flavor. I'm no connoisseur, but it was not what I was expecting.

Overall, our Thai Orchid experience was lackluster. We received excellent service, and the price was reasonable ($24.65 for food, drinks, tax and tip), but the atmosphere was confusing and the food disappointing. Here's our advice: Redecorate and spice up your menu (literally and figuratively), and get a website  but whatever you do, make sure you keep that waitress!

We give Thai Orchid three out of five forks.
JMG file photo Make sure to bring your photo ID to vote.

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Kaye Holland, League of Women Voters. Wichita Falls

National Voter Registration Day (NVRD), a nationwide, nonpartisan effort to register thousands of voters is this Tuesday, Sept 27. The League of Women Voters of Wichita Falls will be happy to direct any potential voter on where and when to register.

Voter information is available at the Wichita County Clerk's office by calling 766-8174. There are voter registration cards and information at the Wichita Falls Public Library. The LWV-WF is ready to assist by contacting us at lwvofwftx@gmail.com. Please encourage anyone you know who is not registered, or needs an address change, to do so before Oct. 11, which is the last day to be registered to vote in Texas.

Now in its fifth year, National Voter Registration Day has been an important campaign to register thousands of voters in communities throughout the country. In Texas, voters can get voter information from the Secretary of State at VoteTexas.gov or the League of Women Voters of Texas at LWVTexas.org. Nationally, a voter can get all the information that will be on that voter's ballot at VOTE411.org. The printed version of the Voters Guide for Wichita County will be available in October.

The League of Women Voters of Wichita Falls encourages voters to register to vote, get informed, and then vote. Remember, vote! It counts.
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John O'Donnell still remembers the gray ash covering rental cars as they returned to Albany International Airport from New York City on Sept. 11, 2001.

O'Donnell, the airport's CEO, remembers the residents who later that night lit dozens of candles in the airport's observatory for those killed.

Now, that same observatory is home to a tangible piece of history.

Officials on Thursday unveiled a salvaged I-beam from the ruins of the World Trade Center, a piece they said spoke to the resilience and fortitude of the American people.

The beam, which is 31 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds, "represents the goodness of our country" and "the determination and resolve" to protect our nation, said Bart R. Johnson, federal security director for Upstate NY Airports.

Johnson praised the work of the Transportation Security Administration, which was created in the wake of the attacks, to deter further attacks.

The beam sits just outside the room dedicated to Capt. John J. McKenna, who was killed in 2006 while serving in Fallujah, Iraq.

Dorsey Whitehead, Albany County Airport Authority member, said the beam should remind people of the nation's "commonality of purpose and desire to help each other" during difficult times.

"Thank God for common people doing uncommon things," he said.
Rotterdam

Charter Communications, the dominant cable TV operator in the Capital Region after acquiring Time Warner Cable, is planning a nationwide mobile phone service  a trend among the largest cable TV companies.

Charter Communications CEO Tom Rutledge said Wednesday at a Goldman Sachs telecommunications conference in New York City that the company was going to exercise wireless spectrum rights that Time Warner Cable acquired from Verizon Communications in 2012, according to a Bloomberg news report.

"We've told Verizon we're interested in pursuing that agreement," Rutledge said. "We'd like to pursue that relationship."

Resale of a mobile carrier's spectrum is not uncommon. Virgin Mobile was a pioneer in the market, using the Sprint network under its own brand, typically at much cheaper rates than Sprint and other national carriers but with bare-bones customer service.

Comcast Corp., which previously failed in a bid to acquire Time Warner Cable, has announced plans to re-sell Verizon wireless service to create a mobile phone service to run on its existing Wi-Fi network.

Like Time Warner Cable, Comcast acquired the Verizon spectrum rights in the same 2012 deal.

It is unclear exactly what Charter's plans for the Verizon network are, and if the company would bundle wireless service with its internet, home phone and TV services, something that Verizon can do today with its FiOS fiber optic service in parts of the Capital Region.

A Charter spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
SCHENECTADY  Funeral services are Friday for Medina Knowles, 17, who was shot to death last week in the home she shared with her family, including her 2-year-old son.

Knowles was a junior at Schenectady High School and worked during the summer for the New York Racing Association at the Saratoga Race Course, her obituary said. She was looking forward to becoming a cheerleader this fall at school.
MENANDS  Voters approved plans for $8.8 million in renovations for the Capital Region's smallest school district.

The vote Thursday on the construction of two additions for the Menands school district was 96-50.

One addition will enable the district to offer a prekindergarten class. The other would create a middle school wing for students in grades six through eight by adding five classrooms.

The school will then be divided into three wings: prekindergarten through second grade, grades 3 to 5 and a middle school wing for students in grades 6 through 8. The district does not have a high school.

Where the middle school grades are now housed will become a centralized area for facilities and services all students use including the principal's office, arts, music, physical education and English as a Second Language, Superintendent Maureen Long said prior to the vote.

The tax impact will take effect starting in 2020. For a home assessed at $100,000, the district said the annual tax impact will be $43 annually if the home owner did not have a STAR tax credit. With one, the impact will be $30 a year. For a senior citizen under the STAR program. It will cost $15 annually.

 Tim O'Brien
Washington

Americans retreated from home-buying in August, as a worsening inventory shortage appears to be hurting sales and pushing prices higher.

Housing has been a bright spot amid weak economic growth for much of this year. Sales totals continue to recover from the Great Recession.

Buyers increasingly have pristine credit. But the primary weakness in housing has been a lack of properties for sale, a reflection of the lingering damage caused by the housing bubble that began to burst nearly a decade ago.

Sales of existing homes slipped 0.9 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.33 million, the second straight monthly decline, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. The monthly setbacks happened after a period of steady gains that have lifted home sales up 3 percent so far this year. Historically low mortgage rates have combined with an improved job market to bolster demand from possible buyers.

But drastically fewer sellers are coming into the market. The number of properties for sale is dwindling despite buyer enthusiasm.

Inventory has collapsed 10.1 percent from a year ago to 2.04 million homes.

"Inventory woes continue to introduce supply gridlock for homebuyers," said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist at the real estate firm Trulia. "Those who want to sell their home might not do so because finding another home is difficult."

The decrease has meant that demand is greater than supply, prompting prices to rise, bidding wars to erupt and many would-be buyers stuck in rentals. Those prospective homebuyers are struggling to find attractive properties in their price range and may be delaying their purchases.

The median home sales price was $240,200 in August, a 5.1 percent increase over the past year. The increase means that many Americans must save more for a down payment, which has contributed to the ownership rate slumping to a 50-year low.

Sales fell in the Midwest, South and West. Only the Northeast recorded sales gains.

Rental prices are starting to become more manageable after several years of outsized growth.

The real estate firm Zillow reported Thursday that rents rose 1.7 percent over the past 12 months to a national median of $1,405 a month. A year ago, rents were climbing at a 6 percent clip.

Construction of single-family houses has increased this year.
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Lots of possibilities are uncovered when a concert is tied in with paintings of nudes. Now don't expect anything too unseemly but there may still be some surprises next Saturday evening. That's when the Four Nations Ensemble returns to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts to perform in celebration of the show "Splendor, Myth, and Vision: Nudes from the Prado," which closes Oct. 10.

The Four Nations Ensemble is dedicated to baroque repertoire  what's typically called early music. If Bach and Vivaldi, the most popular composers of the era, evoke music of a machine-like regularity, even a regimentation, then you'll want to experience what harpsichordist Andrew Appel has put together.

Recently speaking from his home in Columbia County, Appel used terms like sensuality and eroticism to discuss his approach to music and this program in particular.

"For the longest time, the attitude toward Bach and Vivaldi was that it be played in a sewing machine fashion  rhythmic and regular," he says. "But nothing else in the baroque suggests that."

More Information If you go Four Nations Ensemble Music by Couperin, Handel, Boccherini to celebrate the exhibit "Splendor, Myth, and Vision: Nudes from the Prado." When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 Where: The Clark Art Institutue, 225 South St., Williamstown, Mass. Tickets: $15-$35. Call (413) 458-2303 or visit: http://www.clarkart.edu See More Collapse

Turning to the upcoming concert at the Clark, Appel explains, "We took the theme of the nude as both erotic and penitential."

The music will be by Couperin, Handel, Boccherini and others and performed by a group of eight musicians that will include two female vocalists, strings and harpsichord. The concert's title is "Nocturne for the Kings of Spain."

According to Appel, a famed castrato known simply as Farinelli was engaged by King Phillip V to perform some arias every night to help his majesty ward off depression and usher him and his spouse off to bed. The royal couple's successors, Barbara of Portugal and King Ferdinand VI, were music lovers of a more traditional stripe, and they made Madrid into a thriving center of opera and chamber music.

"Most of us in this field are trying to get as much inspiration from all the arts as possible in order to make our music speak better," explains Appel. "To grab audiences you have to look at painters, writers, and architecture."

Obviously Appel is not just a musician, but also an omnivorous arts lover and student of history. Thirty years ago when he founded the Four Nations he borrowed the name from the College of Four Nations, established by the great French King Louis XIV. A kind of forerunner to today's philanthropic foundations, the College was dedicated to supporting the cultural life of France, Spain, Austria and Savoy.

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Appearances at the Clark are the latest expansion for the Four Nations, which also performs regularly at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, and produces its own series at Merkin Concert Hall in Manhattan. Keep an eye on the group's website (http://www.fournations.org) for the occasional series of salon concerts held in great houses throughout the Hudson Valley.

Appel has maintained a home in Columbia County for two decades and been a full-time resident of Craryville for the past eight years. The balance of the Four Nations' membership comes from Montreal, Washington and New York City. Appel says it has a remarkably stable corps and that's allowed for a deeper level of collaboration and greater understanding of the composers' intentions.

"Early in my career, the general idea about baroque music was that you didn't have to rehearse it much, or explore it in the same way you did Brahms or Schubert," he says. "Basically the music played itself."

"That's a completely off approach," he continues. "I was just here with my violinist and we were looking over an 18-measure prelude by Couperin and realizing how much time you spend on a single moment or phrase. That's our job, to put time and attention into these great masterpieces."

Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy.
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Albany

Todd Howe grew up in Troy, rose from advance man and junior aide to Gov. Mario M. Cuomo in the mid-1980s to well-connected lobbyist in both Albany and Washington, D.C. He pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges in a complaint alleging bid-rigging schemes tied to Alain Kayoleros, president and CEO of SUNY Polytechnic Institute, on high-tech development projects across the state.

Howe, 55, who is cooperating with federal investigators, is the first of nine people accused of federal corruption charges to plead guilty.

Howe became close to Andrew Cuomo when the future governor served as his father's $1-a-year special aide in the state Capitol. Howe was a trusted insider to both Cuomos. Howe hired Joseph Percoco, who was charged in the scheme on Thursday, for Mario Cuomo's staff while Percoco was a college student.

Over the past three decades, Howe and Percoco, a former key aide and close friend of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, were stalwart Cuomo loyalists and central members of "the Cuomo alumni"  staffers who served both father and son.

Howe most recently was president of WOH Government Solutions, the Washington, D.C., lobbying subsidiary of the region's largest law firm, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna of Albany. He lived in the Maryland suburbs and had an extensive history of troubled personal finances. He was abruptly fired in May after 14 years with the law firm when news of the federal corruption investigation broke.

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Howe got his start as Mario Cuomo's behind-the-scenes operative  rarely photographed or quoted in news accounts  in blue blazer, chinos, striped rep tie and brown penny loafers. He learned how to move the levers at the nexus of government, business and moneyed influence.

Before state service, Howe worked beginning in 1981 for the former Albany public relations firm Sawchuk Brown. It was owned by his late brother-in-law, David Brown, and sister, Pamela Howe Sawchuk Brown, who is now vice president of community development at Albany Medical Center. She has declined in the past to comment on the charges against her brother.

pgrondahl@timesunion.com  518-454-5623  @PaulGrondahl
Tipperary anglers have expressed their anger at the delay in releasing an official cause behind one of the largest fish kills in the county some seven weeks after an estimated 1,500 salmon and trout were discovered dead along a tributary to the River Suir.

A spokesperson for Inland Fisheries Ireland told the Tipperary Star that the the most probable cause for the extensive fish mortality was due to a combination of elevated water temperatures, low water levels and eutrophication or excessive nutrients in the water.

However local anglers have expressed their anger over the delay in releasing an official report into the fish kill which occurred at the end of July along the nine kilometre stretch of the Ballyley tributary and Drish river, both of which feed into the River Suir.

Thurles Suir Drish Anglers Association chairman Ronnie Cagney says that local anglers are not satisfied with the excuses that have been given to date by the authorities.

Some of our members were the ones who alerted the officials. We are not satisfied with the excuses that have been given so far. We want a definite cause for the fish kill identified. It's nearly seven weeks after the incident and there is still no answers, he told the Tipperary Star.

Inland Fisheries Ireland say they are continuing to monitor the affected area which is known to be among one of the main spawning salmon and trout spots in Tipperary.
Network Ireland North Tipperary branch is pleased to announce they are hosting their first ever Fashion Show Fundraiser Event on Friday, October 7th !

This years charity is Suir Haven, Thurles Cancer Support Centre.

The exciting fundraiser is a unique opportunity to view the work of fashion, jewellery and millinery designers, members and guests of the network.

The event was launched Saturday, 17th September by fashion queen Celia Holman Lee, Michael Boyle, General Manager of the Anner Hotel, ladies members of the Suir Haven Committee and ladies members of the Network Ireland.

The event will commence at 7pm in the Anner Hotel, Thurles with a wine reception whit the show beginning at 8pm. Special attraction for this event is the designer-led fashion show, live performance, exhibitors, shopping, prize raffle, projection of an award-winning animation and Best Dressed Lady Competition. Nora Fogartys solo concert performance and Celia Holman Lee as the producer of the fashion show can only assure that will attract many people in the audience.

Outfits will be provided by Le Chateau 'Choos' & Clothing Boutique and award-winning designers such as Elena Brennan  jewellery, Camelia Shanahan  fashion & knitwear, Alison Roe - millinery. Catherine O'Donnell's award winning animation will be projected on the main screen.

Catherine, an alumna of LIT LSAD Clonmel is the 2015 winner of the Animation & Motion Design Category of the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) Graduate Design Awards.

Network Ireland North Tipperary branch President Camelia Shanahan is looking forward to the event: Style & Rhythm Fashion Show Fundraising Event is an exciting opportunity to demonstratewhat our networking organisation can do for the community.

It is the first time we organise this event and full commitment of the network members, their families and friends to their fundraiser will help Suir Haven provide their support services to the people in need.

Suir Haven is a community based cancer support centre funded and managed by North Tipperary Hospice.

Founded in 1990, the North Tipperary Hospice Movement was set up to fundraise to provide a palliative home care service for people dying of cancer, the service offering people the option of being cared for in their own homes surrounded by family and friends at end stage of life.

Since 1990, the movement has greatly improved their services adding two support centres, Suir Haven in Thurles and Suaimhneas in Nenagh.

Both centres offer emotional support, complementary therapies, counselling, practical help and information in a safe, positive and confidential environment.

Tickets are available from Le Chateau 'Choos' & Clothing Boutique and Unique Salon, Thurles. Alternatively, tickets can be bought online from our branch website: ww.networkireland.ie
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A veteran of the U.S. Army who suffered a bullet wound to the back of the head while serving in Bosnia in 1990 has been working to turn around the admittedly negative public perception of a local auto shop.
ER Information Systems to Deliver Solgari Services

By Paula Bernier , Executive Editor, TMC

IT and cloud computing support specialist ER Information Systems will be able to provide Solgaris enterprise cloud business communications software solution to its customers as a result of a new partnership the companies announced this week.

Solgari sells cloud-based global VoIP and business communications. The offerings include call and videoconferencing, cloud telephony, contact center, desktop sharing, and IVR functionality. Customers can select the specific features they require, so they get and pay for exactly what they need. These services encrypt calls and are compliant with Central Bank, FCA, PCI DSS, and SEC regulations.

In Solgaris blog this week, the company talked about the embedded collaboration, effortless scalability, flexible growth, integrated applications, instant connection, reduced costs, improved performance, and better security that its services offer.

Solgari stands out from the crowd, said Andy Knap, director at ER Information Systems. While there are a lot of companies in the cloud communications space, few can offer global presence and all the services with the ability to liaise with local telecommunications companies in each country. We are confident that our customers will see many benefits when using Solgaris technology.

John Colgan, CEO and co-founder of Solgari, has more than 30 years experience in IT, having also been a leader at Level 3 Communications, Orygen, and Texas Instruments. Solgari CTO and co-founder Vance Harris holds patents for various telecom and voice biometric technologies that are in use by financial services companies and law enforcement officials worldwide.

As for ER Information Systems, the company caters primarily to companies in the professional services sector with its cloud and IT support, and consulting, services. Endpoint, email, network, and web security; hosted email; hosted telephony and collaboration; hosted virtual servers and desktops; and online backup, archive, and disaster recovery are among the things with which ER Information Systems assists its customers.

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Edited by Maurice Nagle
[September 22, 2016] California Department of Technology and City of Sacramento Connect to CENIC, the Premier Research and Education Digital Network

The California Department of Technology (CDT (News - Alert)) announced today that it will connect the state government's network to the Corporation for Education Networking in California (CENIC). CENIC is California's ultra-fast 100Gbps research and education network, designed to build stronger digital connections to California's innovators, researchers, educators and students. This connection has been made possible by the City of Sacramento, which signed a long-term fiber sharing agreement with CDT. The agreement enables the state to use Sacramento's fiber assets and CENIC members to utilize the state's technology service offerings. CENIC's Charter Associates form one of the world's largest education and research systems. Members include the University of California, California's K-12 system, California Community Colleges, the California State University and California's public libraries. CENIC also provides connectivity for its members to leading-edge institutions and industry research organizations around the world, serving the public as a catalyst for a vibrant California. "This agreement plays a significant role in improving the delivery, efficiency and security of government services in the State of California," said Chris Cruz, CDT's Chief Deputy Director of Operations. "Now we can extend these services to CENIC's research and education community thanks to Sacramento's willingness to collaborate on solutions across government entities." CENIC's 10,000 member institutions will now have access to the state's technology service offerings, including its CalCloud Portfolio, the State of California's private cloud, with service offerings such as compute, networking, storage and disaster recovery. CDT can also help CENIC members acquire assessment, planning and implementation service contracts to enable migration to additional CDT services. An important benefit of the CalCloud IaaS is its security posture. CalCloud was designed, built, tested and operated according to the set of controls and processes defined by the Federal isk and Authorization Management Program.



"The state's CalCloud is the first of its kind - a private, secure, multi-vendor platform for public sector organizations and institutions - and, as such, of immense potential value to CENIC's research and education community," said Louis Fox, President and CEO of CENIC. "CENIC's CalREN network is the ideal backplane for our community to access this rich resource, enabling high-speed, private, and secure access to CalCloud for our members, and demonstrates the power of cross-sector collaboration among the private sector, government agencies, and education institutions." This agreement will also enable Sacramento to participate in statewide data-sharing initiatives with other cities who are connected - or will soon connect - to the CalREN network and to California's academic research community. This will embolden a platform for sharing and analyzing data, and enabling the exchange of best practices and new applications across California's public entities. CENIC is advancing the Smart Cities movement through high capacity collection, use and sharing of city-scale data and information technology.

"This is a tremendous success story and a great example of leveraging a city asset that is not being fully utilized, in return for a significant benefit to both the city and the state. This is government at its best," said Maria MacGunigal, Chief Information Officer at the City of Sacramento. "The opportunity to participate in statewide open data initiatives with other cities will allow us to share our best practices and benefit from those of other cities across the state." About the California Department of Technology

www.cio.ca.gov

The mission of the California Department of Technology is to support programs and departments in the delivery of state services and information to citizens and businesses through agile, cost-effective, innovative, reliable and secure technology. About the Sacramento Department of Information Technology

www.cityofsacramento.org/Information-Technology

The mission of the Department of Information Technology is to ensure IT investments and strategic business technologies are customer focused, sound, and deliver the highest possible value to the City and its constituents. About CENIC

www.cenic.org

CENIC connects California to the world - advancing education and research statewide by providing the world-class network essential for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. This nonprofit organization operates the California Research & Education Network (CalREN), a high-capacity network designed to meet the unique requirements of over 20 million users, including the vast majority of K-20 students together with educators, researchers, and other vital public-serving institutions. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006318/en/

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[September 23, 2016] Major Banks Launch Global Payments Steering Group

Ripple, the global provider of financial settlement solutions, today announced that a number of global banks are joining forces to establish the first interbank group for global payments based on distributed financial technology. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Santander, UniCredit, Standard Chartered, Westpac Banking Corporation, and Royal Bank of Canada are the founding members of the organization, known as the Global Payments Steering Group (GPSG). The GPSG will oversee the creation and maintenance of Ripple payment transaction rules, formalized standards for activity using Ripple, and other actions to support the implementation of Ripple payment capabilities. CIBC will also join the GPSG as a new member. "The creation of GPSG is significant because this represents the first time that major banks have formulated policies to govern the transfer of money across borders using blockchain," said Donald Donahue, Chairman of GPSG and former President & CEO of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). "I'm very excited to be a part of this group of forward-looking leaders who are building the payments network of the future today." These leading banks are working with Ripple in an effort to drastically reduce the time and cost of settlement while enabling new types of high-volume, low-value global transactions. By coming together to form the GPSG, they are laying the foundation for a modern payments network underpinned by Ripple's solutions and supported by rules and governance for global settlement. "Today, people expect money to move at the speed of the Internet. That's why we're working with these top banks to address the need for faster cross-border payments," said Ripple CEO and co-founder Chris Larsen. "The work of GPSG, a new global interbank network, will give financial institutions and their customers the ability to make new types of payments at mass scale." Several of the banks commented about their decision to launch the network: Jason Tiede, Head of Innovation, Gobal Transaction Services (News - Alert) at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said, "We are committed to delivering innovations that support the evolution of global payments networks. We are pleased to join this steering group and explore practical applications for blockchain technology that will advance commerce in all regions of the world."



Julio Faura, Head of R&D at Santander said: "It's time for banks to push on and move from discussing the potential benefits of blockchain, to making them a reality. As ever, the devil is in the details. We are joining the GPSG in order to contribute to the definition of the standards and processes which the industry now needs in order to move ahead and build better payments networks." Carolyn Burke, Head, Regulatory Payments, RBC said: "As a leading Canadian player in the global payments ecosystem, RBC is at the forefront of developing payment technology that provides greater choice, security and options for its clients."

Gautam Jain, Global Head, Digitisation and Client Access, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered said, "As a leading international bank committed to digitization, our involvement in this group is only natural. In addition to promoting the use of distributed ledger technology, we have been, and will continue to, drive standards and policies in order to create new value propositions for our clients and wider industry." Mike Baldwin, Head of Transactional Solutions, Global Transactional Services at Westpac Institutional Bank said: "A common set of standards and protocols is critical for the integrity of any platform that transfers money across borders. This is an important milestone for banks to embrace distributed ledgers in the move from proof-of-concept to commercial-ready solutions." Phil Griffiths, SVP, Global Transaction Banking, CIBC said, "Leading in innovation means recognizing the value of collaboration, and we look forward to bringing that approach to this important effort to shape the payments market of tomorrow for our business clients." Today, Ripple's growing, global network includes 15 of the top 50 global banks, 10 banks in commercial deal phases, and over 30 bank pilots completed. To learn more about Ripple's solutions and relevant use cases for financial institutions, please visit Ripple.com. About Ripple Ripple provides global financial settlement solutions to ultimately enable the world to exchange value like it already exchanges information - giving rise to an Internet of Value (IoV). Ripple solutions lower the total cost of settlement by enabling banks to transact directly and with real-time certainty, optionally using the digital asset XRP to further reduce liquidity costs. Banks around the world are partnering with Ripple to improve their cross-border payment offerings, and to join its growing, global network of financial institutions and liquidity providers. Ripple is a venture-backed startup with offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Sydney and Luxembourg. As an industry advocate for the Internet of Value, Ripple sits on the Federal Reserve's Faster Payments Task Force Steering Committee and co-chairs the W3C's Web Payments Working Group. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005192/en/

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[September 23, 2016] "We help make a difference" - 80 million euros: Bosch expands activities in Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With a population of more than 600 million, Southeast Asia offers the Bosch Group excellent business opportunities. The leading global provider of technology and services is present in all ten ASEAN member countries and is continuously expanding its activities. "Southeast Asia is an important region for the Bosch Group," said Peter Tyroller, the member of the Bosch board of management responsible for Asia Pacific. "To support growth in the region, we are planning to invest around 80 million euros in Southeast Asia this year." In the first half of 2016, Bosch opened new offices in the Philippines and Indonesia with the aim of being closer to its customers. The company is also strengthening its manufacturing capacity in the region and plans to expand its Mobility Solutions plants in Malaysia and Vietnam. Additionally, a new plant in Thailand is planned. In the past ten years, Bosch has invested almost 500 million euros in the expansion of its manufacturing and development locations in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia offers Bosch a broad range of opportunities In 2015, Bosch achieved sales growth of 12 percent in Southeast Asia, generating sales of more than 780 million euros. The company also expects positive development in the current year, despite partially volatile economic development in some of the ASEAN markets. In the first half of the year, business in the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam developed well. There are many factors in the region that bring forth opportunities for Bosch: these include its large and young population, the growing purchasing power of the middle class, increasing demand for infrastructure, urbanization, and the need to conserve natural resources. The company also sees potential in the area of connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT) in Southeast Asia. Strong local presence Bosch has been present in Southeast Asia since 1919. Today, the company employs more than 6,800 associates in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. In the coming years, the workforce is expected to keep growing. The comany has manufactured locally for more than 20 years and currently has seven plants in the region. In Malaysia, for example, Bosch manufactures power tools, products for the Car Multimedia division, and steering systems. The Bosch plant in Vietnam produces variable transmissions belts for automatic drive systems. In Thailand, Bosch manufactures washing machines, wipers, and gasoline systems. Southeast Asia is also becoming increasingly important for the Bosch Group's global R&D network. The company has had development activities in Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia for several years already.



Since 2010, Bosch has operated its first software development center in Southeast Asia in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Among other things, engineers at the center work on software solutions for the Internet of Things. This makes Bosch an increasingly important software employer in the region. In Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia, the company has implemented the German concept of dual education. Strengthening of the brand: "We help make a difference"

Besides expanding its regional presence, Bosch is also strengthening its brand communication in Southeast Asia. The first international corporate campaign has been launched in the growth region, with marketing and PR activities on different channels. The aim is to raise awareness about Bosch in the ASEAN member states -- especially in emerging markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. In fact, Bosch is still largely seen as a manufacturer of power tools in the region. The campaign aims to show that Bosch also offers technologies in many other areas that can improve quality of life, among them automotive parts such as spark plugs, wipers, batteries, brakes, and driver assistance systems that make driving safer and more comfortable. Other examples include hydraulic systems for marine engineering that support the progress of local industry, and power tools that contribute to better quality in the building sector. Packaging technology keeps foods and beverages fresh, even in high temperatures. The theme of the campaign is "We help make a difference". In the dynamic growth region, Bosch is working to develop and offer technology that is tailored to the needs of the local market. In some instances, these solutions are available at a lower cost and meet different specifications. Watch the video on the Bosch campaign "We help make a difference" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-AlYCaWI2Q The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. It employs roughly 375,000 associates worldwide (as of December 31, 2015). The company generated sales of 70.6 billion euros in 2015. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 440 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. Including sales and service partners, Bosch's global manufacturing and sales network covers some 150 countries. The basis for the company's future growth is its innovative strength. Bosch employs 55,800 associates in research and development at 118 locations across the globe. The Bosch Group's strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is "Invented for life." The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering." The special ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH. Additional information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com, www.twitter.com/BoschPresse

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[September 22, 2016] Notice of Data Incident at Stallcup & Associates, CPAs

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 11, 2016, Stallcup & Associates, CPAs was subject to a ransomware virus and some of our network files were encrypted without our permission. Fortunately, the virus was detected within an hour and immediately stopped. Although there is no evidence that any files were viewed or exfiltrated, nor that such activities were intended, we are notifying parties of this incident because tax information was located in the same drive as some of the files infected by the virus. Letters were mailed to all affected parties on September 21, 2016, advising them that: If they are an individual , this information may have included their name, gender, birth date, telephone number(s), address, social security number, all employment (W-2) information, 1099 information, direct deposit bank account information, including account number and routing information (if provided to us), and supporting records. If they are an entity , this information may have included their company name, Federal Employer Identification Number, address, telephone number, employee and/or 1099-recipient information, partner, shareholder/officer or beneficiary names, addresses, social security numbers, and supporting records. If you did not receive a letter but are concerned that you could be affected, please call 1-855-253-6261 for verification. Regarding the incident, we immediately contacted our IT consultant to secure our network and hired a third party forensic security firm to perform a thorough investigation ino the breadth of the exposure. With the help of our IT consultants: (1) the malware on the impacted computer's hard drive has been removed; (2) we have made internal software system management changes; and (3) all network firewalls, computers and security protections have been confirmed to be properly functioning.



We have also filed notice of our firm's cyber intrusion with the FBI, all three consumer reporting agencies, and we have notified the offices of the applicable State Attorney Generals. We will further assist in any criminal investigation of the cyber intruder(s). Given the breadth of information potentially exposed, we are recommending that those potentially affected be vigilant in reviewing all bank account and brokerage statements, as well as free credit reports. They may also want to change the bank account numbers provided us, and/or have a conversation with their bank notifying them of the incident. They can also call the three major credit agencies and place a 90-day fraud alert on their accounts. Contact information is: Equifax (1-888-766-0008; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374), Experian (1-888-397-3742; P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013), and TransUnion (1-800-680-7289; P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022-2000). Lastly, individuals are entitled to a free credit report every year from these agencies at www.annualcreditreport.com.

If identity theft is suspected, report it to law enforcement, including the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.identitytheft.gov/Assistant#. Additional information about avoiding and protecting against identity theft can also be obtained by visiting the above Federal Trade Commission website, or by writing the Consumer Response Center at 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington D.C., 20580, or by calling 1-877-IDTHEFT. As an added precaution, we have arranged for complimentary credit monitoring to be provided to those affected for one year through AllClear ID. Please call toll free number 1-855-253-6261 for further information. The protection and privacy of information is a top priority for our firm. After our combined 20+ years of close business relationships with our clients, we have no words to express how devastating it is to have had this happen. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact toll free number 1-855-253-6261; or by mail at Stallcup & Associates, CPAs, 2595 Mission St Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94110. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/notice-of-data-incident-at-stallcup--associates-cpas-300333085.html SOURCE Stallcup & Associates, CPAs

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[September 23, 2016] IBA to Open the Path Towards Adaptive Proton Therapy

LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, Belgium, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- IBA Launches Groundbreaking Online Platform to Gather the Leading Experts in Adaptive Proton Therapy and Create a Community to Develop Research Open Source Software IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, today unveils its unique platform, 'Leading the PATh', which gathers the leading experts in the field of proton therapy all in one place. It is anticipated that 'Leading the PATh' will enable the worldwide medical community to shape the most efficient Proton Adaptive Therapy (PATh), a proton therapy process which improves the accuracy of what is considered to be the most precise cancer treatment available today. The platform www.leadingthepath.org will enable physicians, physicists, academics, researchers, industry experts, patient association advocates and policymakers from all over the world to exchange experiences, discuss best practices and enhance knowledge, to improve the next generation of proton therapy treatment. This platform also includes access to a research software platform. This software will be distributed under an open-source license to foster creativity and innovation withi the proton therapy community. In addition, users will be invited to access and test a software application that proposes a new example of proton adaptive workflow.



Damien Bertrand, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, says: "Open-mindedness and willingness to foster collaboration across the medical community has always been part of IBA's DNA. Sharing expertise and best practice will help the community win the fight against cancer. We are very proud to be part of this one-of-a-kind mobilization, and we remain determined to help our clinical partners alleviate the burden of the patients who are the center of our attention at all times." Gery Gevers, Vice-president Research & Development, says: "With over 50% of the market share, IBA already serves the largest User Community in proton therapy. We firmly intend to continue our work to provide access to the best cancer treatment to as many patients as possible. Adaptive Proton Therapy should contribute significantly to the goal of treating the 20% of radiation patients who could benefit from proton therapy, rather than the 1% who are currently being treated."

About IBA IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBA's proton therapy solutions are flexible and adaptable, allowing customers to choose from universal full-scale proton therapy centers as well as compact, single room systems. In addition, IBA also has a radiation dosimetry business and develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry. Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1,400 people worldwide, IBA has installed systems across the world. IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange NYSE EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB). More information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com. IBA is looking forward to welcoming you at ASTRO 2016. Don't miss the opportunity to meet some of the leading experts in the field of proton therapy. More information and program available at: http://www.perfectingcancercare.com/

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[September 23, 2016] American Heart Association Convenes Top Minds in Health Tech to Lead on Innovation

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Heart Association (AHA) today announced its inaugural Health Tech & Innovation Forum. Organized by the AHA's new Center for Heath Technology & Innovation (CHTI), the forum is part of an AHA initiative to bring together technology innovators with clinical experts in an effort to promote healthcare solutions and technologies that have the potential to improve outcomes, lower cost, and increase health engagement for patients and their families. The forum will be held on September 22-23 in San Francisco, CA and will bring together experts in medicine, technology, industry, research, and investment to discuss healthcare research, application, and technology. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411038LOGO The AHA's CHTI is focused on building and fostering health technologies and relationships in pursuit of innovative and scalable solutions across the healthcare market. The Health Tech & Innovation Forum will be the first of many CHTI efforts to drive positive change in the healthcare technology landscape. The forum will feature a cross-functional group of experts, including established corporations, innovative start-ups, researchers, and health administrators to share insights, research, and experiences that have the potential to drive innovation at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Attendees have the opportunity to network, discuss, and debate cutting edge developments in healthcare research and technology. "The American Heart Association recognizes the critical importance of connecting individual consumers and patients with healthcare providers," said Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association. "We believe that by developing new solutions, whether to improve the delivery of care or to help individuals manage their own health, we can have a tremendous impact on health outcomes." The healthcare technology industry has seen huge growth and consumer adoption in the past few years, fueled by increasingly sophisticated technology on a wide array of digital mediums including tablets, smartphones, and wearable devices. The technology provides an unprecedented opportunity to collect data, study, and find new solutions to improve the overall health outcomes of patients across the US. According to the annual Kelton Pulse of Online Health study, almost two-thirds of Americans would use a mobile app to manage health-related issues, from tracking nutrition to medication reminders. The AHA has made awareness and advancement of mobile health and healthcare technologies a priority in its mission to foster appropriate cardiac care and reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes.



A Collaborative Mission As a part of the AHA, the CHTI provides strong association with the widely acknowledged and trusted AHA brand. As the nation's oldest non-profit organization devoted to fighting heart disease and stroke, the AHA is a trusted industry leader in education, innovation, and activism in the heart disease and stroke prevention and treatment field. Healthcare technology developers that join the CHTI as collaborators gain access not only to research and experts associated with the AHA, but also to a range digital health tools, programs and content.

The CHTI helps its collaborators in the healthcare technology field align and integrate their technology with AHA resources to encourage development and adoption of digital healthcare solutions. These companies can also participate in forums, integrate with research platforms, and potentially collaborate on innovative healthcare solutions with established companies and startups. "Collaboration is essential to delivering health technology innovations that can make a meaningful difference in patients' lives, said Brown. "Combining our foundation of scientific knowledge with the technology and data management expertise of our partners is the most efficient pathway to achieving progress." "Traditionally, the tech space has offered rapid innovation and disruptive technologies but lacked the scientific rigor and clinical research," said Dr. Eric Peterson, Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and the Associate Director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. "The CHTI seeks to bring tech and health science together so that each can benefit from the other's strengths." Expert Knowledge for Industry Leaders Attendees of the Health Tech & Innovation forum will participate in a variety of panels and sessions lead by leading experts selected for their knowledge on the various topics. Speakers include CEOs, clinicians, and researchers from a large variety of renowned companies, provider networks, and research institutions. Speakers include: Nancy Brown , Chief Executive Officer, American Heart Association

, Chief Executive Officer, American Heart Association Vinod Khosla , Founder, Kholsa Ventures

, Founder, Kholsa Ventures Mike McConnell , MD, MSEE, Head, Cardiovascular Health Innovations, Verily Life Sciences & Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University

, MD, MSEE, Head, Cardiovascular Health Innovations, Verily Life Sciences & Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine, Lisa Suennen , Managing Partner, Venture Valkyrie LLC

, Managing Partner, Venture Valkyrie LLC Christopher Koenen , MD, MBA, Head of Cardiovascular Medical, Bristol Myers Squibb

, MD, MBA, Head of Cardiovascular Medical, Bristol Myers Squibb Olivier Leclerc , Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company Robert Harrington , MD, Professor & Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Stanford University

, MD, Professor & Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Eric Peterson , MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center. Learn more at www.ahahealthtech.org. About The American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke  America's No. 1 and No. 4 killers. The AHA teams with industry leaders and expert in healthcare and research, as well as millions of volunteers, to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health awareness, and provide lifesaving tools and information on treatment and prevention. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, and is committed to finding innovative and effective solutions to reduce risk and improve health outcomes for all patients. To learn more visit heart.org. Media contacts:

Brooks Lancaster, AHA

Email Edward Yang, Firecracker PR

Email

(888) 317-4687 ext. 702 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-heart-association-convenes-top-minds-in-health-tech-to-lead-on-innovation-300333149.html SOURCE American Heart Association

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[September 23, 2016] Klement Sausage Co., Inc. To Celebrate National Snack Stick Day On September 23rd

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Klement Sausage Co., Inc. is celebrating National Snack Stick Day by pledging to donate up to $30,000 through a social media campaign. Now through Friday, September 23rd, through the Klement's STICK up for Fighting Hunger Facebook campaign, Klement's will be donating $1 to food banks around the country to help families in need. For every new like on the Klement Sausage Facebook page and for every like, share or comment on their designated photo Klement's will donate $1 for a total donation up to $30,000. The Klement Sausage Company founded National Snack Stick Day (September 23rd) to celebrate on-the-go snacks for making on-the-go lives possible! These little portions of smoked sausage are a convenient source of protein to take with you on a hike or throw in your gym bag, satisfy mid-morning hunger pangs and are easily shared after school, after work or anytime. With a variety of flavorful choices, snack sticks have the whole family covered. From sweet to spicy and everything in between, this savory nack was made for busy people. The Registrar at National Day Calendar approved the day in 2016.



On September 23rd be sure your pockets, backpacks, and desk drawers are stocked so you can observe National Snack Stick Day! Kick back, chew on your favorite snack stick and raise a toast to all those who set out to satisfy the taste buds of tradition. Use #NationalSnackStickDay to share on social media. Klement's was established in 1956 by three brothers, John, George and Ron Klement in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and continues to be operated under the family name, employing over 350 people in two plants. The company has grown from a small sausage kitchen to one of the largest producers of fine, old world sausage products.

Klement's believes in handcrafted production  meticulously making delicious sausage products the way it used to be done in the butcher shops in the Old World. A small batch focus and "made with care philosophy" supports a compelling attraction for consumers who seek artisan food experiences. The company manufacturers fresh sausages, cooked and smoked sausages, summer sausages and snack sticks. https://www.facebook.com/KlementSausage Food banks that will be benefiting from the money raised in the campaign are the following: Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin- Milwaukee, WI

Second Harvest Southern Wisconsin- Madison, WI

Greater Chicago Food Depository- Chicago, IL

St. Louis Area Foodbank- Bridgeton, MO

Second Harvest Heartland- Minneapolis, MN

Food Bank of the Rockies- Denver, CO

Harvesters Community Food Bank- Kansas City, MO

Northern Illinois Food Bank- Naperville, IL

Food Bank of Iowa- Des Moines, IA

Ozarks Food Harvest- Springfield, MO

Second Harvest Northern Lakes- Duluth, MN Contact: Sarah Hanneman

414-744-2330 x 247

[email protected]

www.klements.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411398LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/klement-sausage-co-inc-to-celebrate-national-snack-stick-day-on-september-23rd-300333522.html SOURCE Klement Sausage Co., Inc.

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Briggs: Elkharts RV workers are only essential until a recession

RV sales are great for job security in Elkhart, yet horrible for human bodies.
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Yahoo discovered that 500 million of its user accounts had been compromised while the company was investigating rumors of a different data breach that turned out to be false, unnamed sources told Reuters, The New York Times and IDG News Service in reports yesterday (Sept. 23).

(Image credit: IB Photography/Shutterstock)

The investigation reportedly began after an online criminal calling himself "Peace" or "Peace of Mind" contacted media outlets in late July and offered to sell 200 million Yahoo usernames and passwords for about $1,800, a low price for so much data.

Yahoo analyzed some of the 200 million records and concluded they were probably aggregated by sifting data stolen from other online services around 2012. Over the past few months, Peace exposed several other large breaches dating back to 2012.

But even as Yahoo concluded the 2012 data did not result from a breach of its own servers, it discovered evidence of a breach in late 2014 that exposed 500 million Yahoo accounts to what Yahoo described as "state-sponsored" hackers. Unnamed U.S. intelligence sources told Reuters the details of the Yahoo breach resembled earlier hacks blamed on the Russian government.

MORE: What to Do After a Data Breach

Two Democratic senators took Yahoo to task in separate statements yesterday.

"I am perhaps most troubled by news that this breach occurred in 2014, and yet the public is only learning details of it today," Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said in a statement quoted by the Washington Post. "Action from Congress to create a uniform data breach notification standard so that consumers are notified in a much more timely manner is long overdue."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called for an investigation into whether Yahoo had delayed notification of the breach in order to "artificially bolster its valuation" ahead of its planned sale to Verizon for $4.8 billion, the Post said.

The notion that there were two separate breaches, one of which turned out to be false, puts Yahoo in somewhat better light as it finalizes the Verizon sale. Now, Yahoo look less like it sat on its hands for two months after reports of the fake breach were first disclosed by VICE Motherboard on Aug. 1.

If the culprits in the real breach truly were agents of the Russian government, they probably wouldn't have advertised the stolen Yahoo data in online cybercrime forums, which is how victims of data breaches often learn they've been hacked.

For its part, Verizon told Computerworld that it had learned of the real breach on Sept. 20, two days before the rest of the world found out. Reuters reported that Yahoo and Verizon stock closed slightly higher yesterday.

"We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities," Verizon said in a statement provided to the Washington Post. "Until then, we are not in position to further comment."

It's not clear why Russian intelligence services would want the information of 500 million Yahoo users. However, some of the political email leaks of the past few months, which Democrats have alleged come from Russian intelligence and are designed to weaken presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's chances against her Republican opponent Donald Trump, have involved Yahoo email addresses.

For his part, Peace told IDG News Service that the two breaches were the same, and denied that the information he was peddling was fake.

"I can say is [sic] the 200 million database wasn't the entire database," he told IDG via instant messenger.

However, there are some mismatches between the two data sets. The samples that Peace provided VICE Motherboard in late July were protected by a weak hashing algorithm called MD5, and Peace himself said most of them dated to 2012. Yesterday, Yahoo said that "the vast majority" of the 500 million compromised accounts were protected by a much stronger hashing mechanism called Bcrypt.

Most websites "hash" user passwords by running them through mathematical algorithms that theoretically can't be reversed, then store the hash instead of the actual password. When a user logs in, the password he or she provides is run through the same algorithm, and the hashes are compared. If they match, the user is granted access.

MD5 dates back to 1991, and its vulnerabilities were well understood by 2007. Bcrypt is designed to protect passwords, is much more difficult to reverse, and has no disclosed vulnerabilities. In March 2014, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer hired renowned cryptographic expert Alex Stamos to head up security, and it's likely that the transition from MD5 to Bcrypt happened under his watch.

"Even with substantial resources [cracking Bcrypt passwords is] still slow," password-security specialist Jeremi Gosney told Ars Technica. "Not a fun time, even for nation-states. Super weak (like top50k) passwords will slowly but steadily fall, but any with even a hint of complexity are pretty safe."

It's not clear exactly how many of the 500 million passwords were not hashed with Bcrypt, and even 5 percent would still amount to 25 million crackable passwords. For that reason, anyone with a Yahoo account should change the password to something strong and unique, and either enable two-factor authentication or set up Yahoo's smartphone-app-based Account Key login system.

MORE: How to Create and Remember Super-Strong Passwords

It's also alarming that the hackers got a look at the security questions and answers, such as "What was your mother's maiden name?", that Yahoo uses to verify users' identities. Dispersal of security-question answers would make it easier for hackers to reset passwords on other accounts that used the same security questions.

An ex-Yahoo staffer told Reuters the questions were left unencrypted to make it easier to weed out fake accounts created by spambots, which often reuse answers to standard personal questions.

Yahoo assured Tumblr users that their own accounts were not affected by this new breach, as the two services have not merged their login systems since since Yahoo bought Tumbler in 2013. But Tumblr suffered its own data breach of 65 million accounts in 2013, news of which was disclosed only this year by  you guessed it  Peace.

However, Flickr users are definitely affected, as users of the photo-collection site much use Yahoo passwords to log in. And British independent security blogger Graham Cluley reminded his readers this morning that two large companies in the United Kingdom, BT and Sky, that had used Yahoo login services to their own email services, were probably also affected.

In the meantime, at least one well-known security expert found levity in the situation involving Yahoo, which has been perceived as a company on the decline for more than a decade.

"Yahoo's ad revenue is skyrocketing, as 500 million users log in to Yahoo for the first time in years," F-Secure Chief Research Officer Mikko Hypponen tweeted, "to change their password and log out."
With the news that Sizzler restaurants about to be rebranded as Taco Bells, were looking back on our final trip to Sizzler in 2016  one that left us incredibly impressed with not just the killer dessert bar, but also the music. This article was originally published in September 2016.

If it felt like the Australian music industry was particularly lethargic a couple of Fridays ago, its because we were all in the midst of recovering from our collective BIGSOUND hangover, which loomed over Brisbane like the proverbial spectre of communism over Europe.

If one were to take a cruise through Brisbanes Fortitude Valley and the surrounding areas, they wouldve seen prominent members of the Australian music community sporting thick sunglasses and hunched over like the cover of Atlas Shrugged, humbly awaiting airport-bound cabs.

Were not proud to say it, but the crew at Tone Deaf were no different. We work hard to deliver you the latest goings-on in the local and international music scenes, but we like to party just as hard maybe even a little bit harder.

So when the harsh light of Friday finally came around and we at Team Tone Deaf herded our tenderised carcasses into the lounge of a Fortitude Valley hotel, there was very little on our minds besides getting out our daily newsletter and chowing down on endless piles of food.

The restorative properties of greasy food in great abundance when one is in the midst of what the Germans refer to as a katzenjammer are well documented, and before anyone could say Kill me please we were in a GoGet bound for Sizzler.

For those not old enough to remember, Sizzler was a chain of family-friendly buffet restaurants popular in the 90s, famous for their all you can eat salad bar option, which allowed patrons to take as many trips as their stomachs would allow to the buffet area.

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Whilst Sizzler restaurants, along with equally notable rival Smorgies, have largely disappeared from most Australian cities, they remain quite popular (or at the very least in business) in Queensland.

Their Gold Coast location in particular commands nightclub-like queues (we know, we saw them after last years BIGSOUND). According to the Sizzler website, there are 21 Sizzler restaurants in Australia.

After arriving at the Annerley Sizzler and taking a few photos for social media cred, we huddled into the near-empty restaurant and set up camp at a window adjacent settling of tables, taking a moment to enjoy the atmosphere before we grabbed our plates.

Pictured: Our editor Brandon and intern Steph outside the Annerley Sizzler

After two trips to the buffet and a dozen trips to the self-serve desert bar (give or take a couple), Team Tone Deaf was well on its way to recovery and in the midst of digesting some six or seven thousand calories per staff member.

Believe it or not, the food was actually great. The buffet was restocked regularly during our stay, the cheesy bread was a revelation, and the dessert bar turned into an altar at which we all worshipped the wonder of chocolate mousse and soft-serve ice cream with sprinkles.

But as satisfying as the meal was, what we were really taken by was the music. You may not believe us about the food, but trust us when we say that Sizzler has excellent taste in music. No, really. Were talking as good as your favourite local community radio station.

It was during an indigestion-induced lull in a conversation about the highlights of BIGSOUND that we first noticed that we were listening to the dulcet sounds of DIIVs Under The Sun, which was inexplicably followed by the equally sonorous tones of Day Waves You.

Is this triple j or something? one staffer queried. Must be somebodys iPod, another opined. But as a subsequent Tone Deaf investigation revealed, Sizzlers incredible taste in music wasnt due to our national youth broadcaster or a line cooks Spotify account.

When we are approached by a client we provide a consultancy service that involves a lot of questions to ensure that they play the right music for their environment, Ray from Mood Media, who provide custom music playlists for businesses, told Tone Deaf.

What do they want the music to do? Is it to create a certain atmosphere? What kind of energy do they want? Who are the people listening to the music? What kind of experience are you trying to create for your customer?

Sometimes the client may not know what they want and we use our vast experience in the field of retail to advise them. Acoustic Chill is contemporary and modern with a lot of newer artists, but isnt going to annoy anyone by being too in your face.

Pictured: Spoils of the famous dessert bar

Acoustic Chill is the name of the particular playlist that graced our throbbing eardrums at Sizzler that afternoon. The 20-hour jumbo list of tracks includes cuts from the likes of Riley Pearce, Falls, Hein Cooper, Melody Pool, Halfway, Daughter, Stillwater Giants, Dope Lemon, First Aid Kit, Cub Sport, and more.

You may have heard it whilst out shopping or buying health insurance. Currently the Acoustic Chill playlist is used as part of extended curated programs for Harris Farm Markets, Rip Curl stores, BUPA outlets, and even some Sheraton hotels to name a few, Ray told us.

So how do Mood Media decide what goes in the Acoustic Chill playlist? We listen to lots of music and sort through it to find tracks that are appropriate for the playlist and that are going to work in the environment it is going to play in.

Acoustic Chill kind of says what it is in the name, so we look for tracks that fit the description. Its relaxed but not too laid back and has a contemporary edge. When curating any play list a certain amount of objectivity is always required.

Our personal preferences  likes and dislikes  must be set aside to ensure that the right tracks are selected to create a play list that is right for the environment and engages the audience.

In 2016, playlisting is an art unto itself and increasingly important revenue source for labels and their artists. Some obscure bands and artists have even received considerable paydays as a result of being featured on Spotifys popular playlists.

Just a taste of Sizzlers perfectly-curated dining playlist

In the case of Sizzler, they wouldve come to Mood Media in need of a playlist for their restaurants and wouldve worked with the agencys sales team to nail down a playlist that suited their needs. In this case, the result was Acoustic Chill, and its up to Sizzler to pay the royalties for all that music.

The creative team who curate our playlists have an extensive history of working in the music industry and obviously have a strong passion for music across all genres, Ray explained.

They are always listening out for up and coming artists and use the great relationships with the major record labels, independent artists and promoters to ensure that they are always one of the first to hear something new.

These relationships are essential in contributing to new artists achieving as much exposure as possible in the digital world. Mood Media receives countless press releases and read many of the online music sites, including Tone Deaf, to see who and what is being talked about.

Of course it is also fun to be able to attend shows and festivals that help keep our finger on the pulse. We are pretty much immersed in music. We were immersed in a hangover, but thanks to Sizzlers pairing of the perfect food with the perfect music, we survived.
We havent forgotten about Australia, obviously, we love to play here, but unfortunately because its so big over there, theres millions more people over there, by the time we play a festival season over there and do our headline tour, its months and months and all of a sudden the years gone, says Airbourne guitarist David Roads.

As Dave admits, nowadays Warrnambool-bred rockers Airbourne spend the majority of their time overseas and the lions share of that is spent in Europe, where the bands quintessentially Aussie brand of rock and roll sees them billed at the top of festival lineups and playing in front of anything from 70 to 100,000 people by Daves estimate.

Germany is the first big country that took us on board in Europe, Dave recounts. Then we sort of blew up in France. Its sort of big all over the place there. Most of mainland Europe we do well in and weve even grown in eastern Europe.

Were now starting to go to places like Serbia, Lithuania, Croatia, and Russia. We never used to go that far east, but were starting to do that now. Back home things are admittedly quieter, but Airbourne are grateful for the reception the European crowds give them.

Weve had a few ups and downs throughout our career, says Dave. Our career was nearly doomed from the start, before we released our first album. Capitol Records got bought out by Virgin Records and just about every band on the label got dropped.

There were bands on tour that lost all their tour support and I think we were on tour with Dallas Crane, wed just finished recording our first album, and then that happened and we thought that would really damage us but we had our lawyers fight for our album and we got it back.

We went back to America, showcased it as SXSW, and thats when Roadrunner picked us up. We stayed with the Americans and being signed to Roadrunner made it easier to go to America a lot and that made it easier to make the jump over to Europe. Thats how we got our foot in the door in the Northern Hemisphere.

Airbourne havent just got their foot in the doors, theyve obliterated the door with battering ram force and proceeded mercilessly crush everything underfoot. The bands manager, Gregg Donovan, who also takes care of Grinspoon and Josh Pyke, mused on the situation back in 2007.

Were doing really well with one of our acts, Airbourne, who we cant get arrested in Sydney  were lucky to sell out the Annandale  but yet these kids from Warrnambool are selling 30,000 tickets in two weeks in the UK, he told ABC News.

Theyre doing unbelievable business. Theyve been breaking all over the place, and thats been really difficult. Whilst the bands American label proved the key to breaking into Europe, back home the gatekeeper, everyone seems to agree, is national youth broadcaster triple j.

Back in January 2014, Cherry Bar owner James Young wrote an op-ed for Tone Deaf in which he criticised the stations lack of support for homegrown Aussie rock bands, specifically citing Airbourne. So does the band agree with Youngs views?

I think triple j did play us a long, long time ago back in the day, but yeah, it does hurt you a little bit, because triple j is a powerful radio station in this country, Dave says. It would be good if they were playing more Australian bands, but I guess were not too fussed about it now.

We know weve got our fans here and our hard rock fans, but I guess with the support of triple j it would get across to a broader audience because theyve got coverage of the whole country.

I know Triple M played us as well, but it didnt get in some of the rural areas and thats where a lot of our fans are. Because theyre so isolated they dont hear about us unless theyre following music magazines or online.

But when asked whether Airbournes career wouldve played out differently had they received triple j support, Daves not sure. Hard to tell, really, he says. Maybe, just maybe we mightve gotten that bit bigger with constant play from triple j.

If a mainstream radio station like triple j got behind you and played your new singles or album like they do with popular bands of the time and give you heavy rotation it would have an impact. But thats the way our careers been so far.

Weve never had mainstream radio support anyway, weve been the slow-growing sort of band, as opposed to the overnight success thing. Weve been doing the hard yards, playing as much as we can, and that seems to be working for us.

You know the deal, Airbourne are a band that just likes to make rock and roll and thats always been the top priority, as it was during the recording of their latest album Breakin Outta Hell.

We recorded it at Sing Sing in Melbourne. Its the first album weve recorded on home turf, which was good for once, Dave says of the album. We recorded with Bob Marlette, the producer we worked with on our first album.

Its a rocking album. Every songs had the attention poured into it. We spent enough time in pre-production, working with Bob and rehearsing, to give each song the proper attention. I feel like sometimes were a bit rushed in the studio.

Timelines get tight and that and you feel like youre rushing the last part of it, but we had the right amount of time to get it right. Just the overall sound of it all  the songs are really exciting  and the album sounds amazing, the guitar tones, the drum tones, everything.

Airbournes new album, Breakin Outta Hell, is out now. Their national tour kicks off January 2017  check below for dates and get your hands on the album here.

Airbourne National Tour Dates

Saturday, 7th January 2017

Summernats, Canberra

Tickets: Summernats

Friday, 13th January 2017

The Metro Theatre, Sydney

Tickets: Metro Theatre

Saturday, 14th January 2017

The Triffid, Brisbane

Tickets: The Triffid

Friday, 20th January 2017

Trak, Melbourne

Tickets: Trak
Last week Violent Soho blew out our eardrums with a raucous, acrid live cover of Dogs on Acid, which they recorded whilst in Los Angeles. Apparently, they werent content with the level of carnage it wrought upon La-La Land and decided to take over a rooftop as well.

The Soho boys managed to link up with the House of Blues and performed on the rooftop of the venue, running through renditions of their singles Like Soda and Covered In Chrome with the Hollywood skyline in the background.

Soho recently wrapped their US tour in Detroit and are making their way back over to Australia to embark on one of the biggest tours of their career. Theyll be playing some huge venues with good mates The Bronx all next month.

Mansfields favourite sons also recently celebrated the third anniversary of the release of their breakthrough album, Hungry Ghost. The band unveiled two B-sides from the Hungry Ghost sessions, Domestic Lala and Home Haircut, as limited edition 7 vinyls.
You know how it goes. Youre looking to get a little exercise, so you decide to hike to the top of Mount Coolum on the Sunshine Coast. You make it to the top and youre greeted by a giant velociraptor with a missing eye and tail.

At least, thats what two Sunshine Coast women, Madison Bothe and Julia Blake, found during a recent hike. The raptor was formerly the property of Big Pineapple Music Festival, which takes place annually on the coast.

As ABC News reports, the 1.5-metre tall raptor, sans eye and tail, was stolen two years ago from one of the Big Pineapple fest stages and has only reappeared now, inexplicably enough, at the top of Mount Coolum.

It wouldve taken a couple of guys to walk 40 minutes to get it up the top of Mount Coolum  its crazy, festival director Mark Pico told ABC News. According to Bothe, the raptor wasnt there when shed hiked the peak the day before.

The funny thing is Id actually climbed Mount Coolum the afternoon before to catch the sunset and [the dinosaur] wasnt there, so between then and Julia and me climbing it at 7.30 in the morning, theyd obviously done it overnight or early morning, she said.

There was even a note attached to the dinosaur. We thought it mightve been a joke but then we googled it and to our surprise it came up that the dinosaur had actually been stolen from the Big Pineapple Music Festival in 2014, said Bothe, who phoned the police after the discovery.

I actually had to reassure the woman a few times that it wasnt a joke, that wed actually found a dinosaur at the top and that the dinosaur had apparently been stolen and she was laughing so much.

I wasnt aware of it at the time but a few of the boys at the station positioned it at the entry door so when I walked in, youre face high with a dinosaur, Sergeant Ben Cox from the Coolum Police Station told ABC News.

We come across some unusual things, but this was one of the more unusual. No doubt the Big Pineapple Velociraptor Incident will soon rival the Tamam Shud case as Australias most intriguing and unexplainable mystery.
KANSAS CITY ONLINE ACTIVISTS RAGE AGAINST THE COMMENTS OF A POLICE DUDE AND DEMAND HIS FIRING AS KCPD REVIEWS SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY!!!

Should have dropped the entitlement card and listened the first time. Good shoot.

"I still have the right to my opinion. I speak for myself. If you see it differently so be it. And it's people like you that are the problem. The 'kiss the babies' and 'poor me' syndrome. No one wants to take responsibility for their own actions, they rather blame everyone else."

just as important as our secret ballot

DO YOU THINK THIS KANSAS CITY POLICE DUDE SHOULD LOSE HIS JOB OR FACE DISCIPLINE BECAUSE OF HIS COMMENT ON A NEWS STORY???









NBC Action News: KCPD investigates officer's social media posts

Comments over police shooting once again stir controversy for the Kansas City Police Department.To wit . . .The offending comment on the topic of Terence Crutcher who was killed by a. . .Digging a deeper hole OR defending the initial statement . . .TKC aside . . . This is why anonymous comments, whilst often silly, spammylame and sometimes hilarious or insightful . . . Are stillin terms of keeping a vibrant Democracy according to our blog community.But I digress . . .The question to our blog community in response to a great many social media denizens calling for this guy's job . . .More insightful denizens might also want to offer a bit of guidance on the aforementioned social media policy of the KCPD that is being made up as we go along given so much rapidly changing Internets technology.Check the links:You decide . . .
KANSAS CITY EAST SIDE INSIDERS CALL COUNCILMAN JERMAINE REED A TRAITOR FOR WALKING OUT OF AN IMPORTANT VOTE TO REIN IN KANSAS CITY TAX SUBSIDY!!!

"Councilman Jermaine Reed -- The traitor who betrayed his co-sponsors on the tax incentive reform ordinance. He skipped out before the vote forcing them to hold it 2 weeks. Eastside leaders and his colleagues (especially the Black caucus) are upset with his flip flop and cop out. They all stood behind him on his wasteful and misguided 18th and Vine funding request but he lacked the fortitude and courage to fight for reform that will help schools, libraries and economic development east of Troost. He has the loyalty of a leech."

"Quinton worked months on that reform ordinance and had strong support from white Republican women from the Northland but could not depend on his own in-District colleague when it was time to vote. He was a co-sponsor who did not stay to vote for his own ordinance."

An unexpectedhas evoked frustration from many Kansas City 3rd District residents with the quality of their in-district elected representation.Accordingly . . .Mainstream media reported the two hour debate and wrangling between Councilman Quinton Lucas and Councilman Scott Wagneroverlooked a key player in the drama.Here's the word about how the vote took place behind the scenes:More perspective . . .The citywide support for the measure is important and should be noted. . . This was an issue where 3rd District had a chance to collaborate with City Council across the bridge and demonstrate just a bit of fiscal responsibility. Now, insiders blame Councilman Reed for a failure to control the ongoing corporate tax incentive spree that continues to loot money from urban core schools and neighborhoods.Developing . . .
This developmemt reflects an improvement in liquidity and a reduciton of uncertainty in Greece

The Bank of Greece made an announcement on Thursday explaining how the European Central Bank reduced the ceiling of the Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) to Greek banks by 900 million euros, for a total of 51.9 billion euros.

According to the official statemetn, the Governing Council of the ECB did not object to an ELA-ceiling for Greek banks of 51.9 billion euros, up to and including Tuesday, 4 October 2016, following a request by the Bank of Greece.

The reduction of 900 million euros in the ceiling reflects an improvement of the liquidity situation of Greek banks, amid a reduction of uncertainty and the stabilization of private sector deposits flow.

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 prime minister's trip to New York focused on three issues: the United Nations, the Cyprus problem and the Greek debt, according to government sources.

As they said, Greece was clear and set an agenda that will open on Saturday in Vienna at a European level. Greece will emphasise on the fact if the refugee issue was a big threat of destabilisation and humanitarian crisis last year, this year the foundations for the management of the crisis have been set. "We draw a line, we say that this policy is suitable, this policy can respond to the refugee crisis. There is no point in making it a global issue if you keep on building fences to trap the refugees away in another country."

Regarding the EU-Turkey agreement, the government estimated that all involving members should meet their commitments and added that the implementation of the agreement also depends on the Greek-Turkish relations. In general the government considers positive the dialogue with Turkey even if there are some divergences in certain issues and supports Turkey's asssession process as well as the visa issue if the criteria are met.

On the Cyprus issue, the government stressed the importance of security and withdrawal of the military troops from the island while Tsipras also referred to the guarantees issues in his speech.

On the debt issue, the government expressed optimism. The government sources underlined that Greece is still in negotiations, but investors can see that the Greek economy is outperforming, having better than expected results adding that there are good prospects for recovery. Sources said that prime minister's meeting with US vice president was very important for the debt issue.

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
UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide said the European Commission is a close partner of the UN in efforts for a Cyprus settlement

The UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, has said that the European Commission is a close partner of the UN in efforts for a Cyprus settlement.

Eide, who is continuing his meetings in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini with whom he discussed the steps ahead.

The European Commission is a close partner in our efforts to support a settlement in Cyprus," Eide said in a post on Twitter, adding that he and Mogherini had discussed the forthcoming steps.

Eide also said in another post on Twitter that he had a constructive exchange of views on the Cyprus talks with Russia`s Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksey Meshkov. He added that he had thanked Meschkov for the Russian support in the UN Security Council.

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May last year with a view to reunite Cyprus, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974, under a federal roof.

Source:CNA

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Local residents and tourists have been shocked by the emergence of sexually explicit graffiti on Brussels facades.

Gigantic drawings of penises and sex scenes have appeared on walls of the capital of Belgium, within public view. For over a week now, local residents and tourists have been shocked by the emergence of sexually explicit graffiti on Brussels facades.

An explicit image of a womans vagina appeared on Rue des Poissonniers, in the stylish Dansaert neighbourhood, while in the centrally located Place Stephanie, a graffiti of a woman masturbating also appeared earlier this week.

The latest licentious street art  a gigantic penis painted in black and white  appeared in the business district of Saint Gilles in front of a Catholic institute. Saint Gilles is an extremely busy area, and the drawing has already sparked controversy among local residents.

In the Parliament of the French-speaking Community known as Federation Wallonia-Brussels, an MP Vincent Henderick described the street art as inappropriate.

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
US Vice President Joe Biden has reiterated his country`s support of the ongoing UN brokered Cyprus talks

US Vice President Joe Biden has reiterated his country`s support of the ongoing UN brokered Cyprus talks, with his office issuing two separate press releases on his meetings on Thursday with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

On his meeting with President Anastasiades, it notes that the Vice President commended President Anastasiades on the leadership he has shown in working with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci towards reunifying Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation and congratulated President Anastasiades on the progress made toward this goal in the recent weeks of intensified talks.

Biden, the press release continues, underscored that a reunified Cyprus could yield profound benefits for both communities and for regional stability, security, and energy independence.

The two leaders once again reaffirmed the strategic partnership  between Cyprus and the United States, and looked forward to deepening cooperation in areas such as counter terrorism and non-proliferation," the press release concludes.

Another press release issued after Biden`s meeting with Akinci says the Vice President commended Akinci  on the leadership he has shown in working with President Anastasiades to achieve a more prosperous reunified Cyprus, and congratulated him on the progress made by the leaders during their intensified talks in August and September.

It adds that he pledged strong U.S. support for the leaders as they continue and intensify their efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement agreement in 2016.

Source: CNA

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
The top US 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 US 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 US 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, US 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.



US intelligence officials also have voiced concerns about sharing precise information on the positions of US-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 US Secretary of State John Kerry, who brokered the ill-fated deal, "delusional" for seeking it.



"It would mean that the US 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 US 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.



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.-Reuters
Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce oil production if rival Iran agrees to cap its own output this year, in a major compromise ahead of talks in Algeria next week, three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.



The offer, which has yet to be accepted or rejected by Tehran, was made this month, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.



Riyadh is ready to cut output to levels seen early this year in exchange for Iran freezing production at the current level, which is 3.6 million barrels per day, the sources said.



"They (the Saudis) are ready for a cut but Iran has to agree to freeze," one source said.



Two more sources confirmed the offer was presented to Tehran.



The first source did not say by how much Riyadh would cut if Iran agreed to freeze at 3.6 million bpd, which has been the Opec nation's output for the past three months.



Riyadh's production has spiked since June due to summer demand, reaching a record high in July of 10.67 million bpd and edging down to 10.63 million bpd in August.



From January to May, Saudi Arabia produced around 10.2 million bpd.



Two sources said Saudi Arabia's Gulf Opec allies the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait were expected to contribute to any reduction if an agreement were reached.



Saudi Arabia, by far the largest producer in the Opec, will shoulder the biggest cut, the sources said.



The proposal can be seen as a shift by Riyadh, which orchestrated the current Opec policy in 2014 by refusing to cut output alone to support prices and chose to defend market share against rivals, particularly high-cost producers.



A fall in oil prices to $30-$50 per barrel from levels as high as $115 seen in June 2014 led to a boost in global oil demand and a decline in high-cost supplies such as those from the United States.



But the Saudi strategy caused a rift in Opec, whose poorer members have faced a budget crisis and unrest. Riyadh and its Gulf allies also had to tighten their belts after a decade of generous public spending.



As the pain of cheap oil grew and pressures on Saudi finances increased, Riyadh and Tehran signalled they were willing to show more flexibility to prop up prices.



However, the first attempt at a global production pact collapsed in April when Riyadh insisted Tehran participate. Iran has said it will not join any such agreement until it regains market share and boosts output to pre-sanctions levels of around 4 million bpd.



Opec members will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria from September 26 to 28. Non-Opec producer Russia is also attending the forum.-Reuters
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Galaxy Note 7, the smartphone that thinks big, suddenly shook a Samsung loyalist's devotion after the South Korean's largest business conglomerate provided a confusing response to its latest product safety scare.

According to the news report made by ABC News, Mr. Liu Jingtang, Shanghai Techonology consultant, traded up steadily through its smartphones to the new Note 7.

However, he said that following reports China might have suffered its first explosion of the problem-plagued phone, Samsung's statement saying that they saw no problem with the battery with no further explanation left him bemused.

Mr. Liu said Samsung Electronics hastily confirmed his Note 7 wasn't covered by the last week announcement of recall.

"My loyalty to Samsung is bound to decline by a lot," according to Mr. Liu. "Samsung was my priority, but not anymore," he added.

Although Samsung has not confirmed anyone else in China has suffered the same glitches that led to fires in the United States, but its brand has recently been weather-beaten by complaints as purportedly it's been doing too little to regain the Chinese customers' confidence and reassurance that their handsets are safe.

Chinese consumers may be strangely alert to safety issues following an avalanche of outrage over sloppy or fake food, medicines and other items, but they are also sensitive about being treated as well as Western consumers.

According to Ben Cavender of China Market Research Group, "I think consumers are pretty unhappy with Samsung. 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."

"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.

Samsung customers were upset by saying no phones in China were covered by its global recall and then recalling 1,858 phones. Samsung said in a statement that it is certain Note 7s sold by authorized outlets in China are safe.

As cited by ABC, according to a website comment of the Communist Party newspaper People's Daily, "For Samsung to recall only 1,858 units in China while it recalls 1 million in the United States seems insincere;" "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 said that unspecified external factors might be to blame based on an investigation regarding report of a Galaxy Note 7 fire in China. It said it was unable to investigate a second fire report because the consumer declined to hand over the charred mobile phone.

Samsung has blamed the fires on a manufacturing flaw in batteries. However they said that units of Note 7 sold in China would not be affected because theirs came from a different supplier.

Samsung is the world's biggest smartphone brand by number of units sold. In China it trails market leader Huawei Technology Ltd. and the other local brands, namely: 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.

On an outlet of Suning, the country's biggest electronics retailer in the Wangjing neighborhood on Bejiing's northeast side, there were different insights and reactions by customers when Note 7 was on sale last Tuesday.

"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. "We are making explanations to customers every day, it is up to the customer to believe it or not," she added.

Meanwhile, a salesman who would give only his surname, Li said that 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.

---

AP researchers Fu Ting in Shanghai and Yu Bing in Beijing and AP Business Writer Youkyung Lee in Seoul contributed.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Low pressure system that is currently under New South Wales brings showers and rain to most of the state has been affecting families by causing flash floods.

According to the State Emergency Service, the rains have caused river water levels to rise since Wednesday morning. And since the waters continue to rise causing flood on roads and residential areas, the SES keeps an eye on fourteen rivers including Lachlan River, Murrumbidgee River and the Macquarie River at Warren Town, which is expected to peak near a major flood level.

Residents have been affected by the flash floods, one reason for the SES to organize flood rescues. As of Wednesday, a man who was driving through a flooded road and one person who needed help with their animals were rescued, according to ABC.

Heavy rains have been impacting the houses in the area and the SES is still expecting the floods to get worse because the state has been getting more rainfall than usual.

The authorities had to close some roads in Cootamundra because the flood has reached about two meters in depth. Social workers had no choice but to take detours just to reach residents who need their help.

In Condobolin, residents have been warned about possible evacuation.

"While we haven't evacuated anyone as yet we're just giving residents a heads up there that they may need to evacuate if the flooding reaches a major level," said Becky Gollings from Condobolin State Emergency Service.

Meanwhile in Pontarddulais, flash flooding has been blocked by the flood catchment structure, developed by Natural Resources of Wales, according to Southwales Evening Post.

Residents have been saying that the new scheme made a difference in flash floods in the area because it controls the water in the river and since the, only localised floods took place.

"The river Dulais has a history of flash flooding and it has caused great damage in the past. The new structure will prevent this sort of thing happening in the future but the new structure has also been designed to cope with the effects of global warming and climate change," said Allan Capp, one of the residents.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
California - Google revealed that it will launch a smartphone on October 4. Reportedly, the company is also expected to introduce its new flagship phones.

The media event will be held in San Francisco. The smartphone launch was confirmed in a Youtube video which shows an outline of a vertical phone-shaped rectangle. The video ended with the Google's logo on the right portion of the outline without revealing the name of the phone.

For a long time, it has been rumored that the company will make its own phone device by the end of this year. Additionally, Google is also expected to disclose several hardware announcements, including new phone and 4K-capable Chromecast.

According to statement by Android Police, the phones are to be called the Pixel and Pixel XL. The cost of the smaller phone, the Pixel, might start at $649. Google's rebranding of the phone's name would address a separation from the company's Nexus moniker.

The tech giant is said to provide further information about Google Home, Amazon Echo and the revelation of the design for Daydream VR headset.

Google Home is a new smart speaker, Amazon Echo is an always-listening virtual assistant and lastly, Daydream VR is a hardware and software platform that helps an Android phone maker build its own VR headset.

Meanwhile, the company has started handing out invitations for the event.

Google is looking to highlight Google "assistant", its new software. It Is powered by artificial intelligence and the concept is to know more about your demeanor so it can provide answers which are precisely to you. It was revealed at Googles' I/O developer conference last May.

According to the company's CEO, Sundar Pichai, this software is the future of Google.

It is also rumored that the first products injected with Google's assistant will be Allo and Google Home.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Canada expert Ranch Rider has put a horsey twist on the royal itinerary, the activities at its handpicked list of BC ranches mirroring those on William and Kates schedule.



(TRAVPR.COM) UK - September 23rd, 2016 - With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge about to head off on their family tour of British Columbia (24 September - 01 October), Canada expert Ranch Rider has put a horsey twist on the royal itinerary, the activities at its handpicked list of BC ranches mirroring those on William and Kates schedule. The Yukon also features on the famous foursomes regal calendar, and as the tour operator offers add on fly drives to The Land of the Midnight Sun, adventurers can expect an action packed 2017 Ranch Rider holiday in the Great White North.

Tony Daly, Managing Director of Ranch Rider comments, Our Canada collection has been popular with UK travellers over the 2016 ranch season, but this being Princess Charlottes royal tour debut, BC could soon be taking the top slot on our 2017 bookings list. Known as Super, Natural British Columbia,' the province is blessed with amazing geographical diversity, which means there is an equally amazing variety of places to see and things to do. From cosmopolitan Vancouver, once described as Manhattan with mountains, to its rainforest, desert and snow capped peaks. Our ranch holidays allow guests to discover the beauty of British Columbia, view its abundant wildlife and share its rich tapestry of cultures, the royal tour opening up a whole new world of possibilities for adventurers.

William and Kate will be travelling to Bella Bella to explore the Great Bear Rainforest: the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world home to the Kermode Bears (Spirit Bears).

Opt to hit the trail and join a BC Grizzly Bear Tracker Trip. Set off from the Chilcotin Guest Ranch on horseback; a thriving population residing in the South Chilcotin Mountains. Let your camera roll as you watch the bears from atop your mount, their behaviour completely undisturbed. Three nights from 1,650pp (two sharing) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities, transfers and taxes. Excludes gratuities left to discretion and return flight from 899pp. 2017 departures: June to October.

The Royals will also be including Okanagan wine country on their itinerary. A regular pit stop on Ranch Riders BC self-drives, the tour operator suggests visiting Mission Hill, the family estate world renowned for its award winning wines, stunning setting and architecture. Terrace, its sixty-seat restaurant overlooks Lake Okanagan and was once named as one of the five best winery restaurants in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. Seven night self drive in British Columbia from 659pp (two sharing) including accommodation and car hire.

Alternatively, book a six night stay at the Siwash Lake Luxury Guest Ranch, in south central British Columbia, and soar across the skies on an optional heli-wine tour. Fly due west over to the mighty Fraser River, then follow it south; steep valley walls, hoodoos, Jack Jones Rapids and golden grasslands viewed from above. Wine tasting at the Fort Berens Winery in Lillooet is included part way through the adventure. Located at the start of the provinces historic Gold Rush Trail, the town is situated in one of British Columbias newest emerging wine regions. A regular haunt for foodies, enjoy unlimited riding across the ranchs 80,000 acres and pack a gourmet lunch in your saddle bag. At the end of the trail expect five star dining complete with a choice of vintage wines. Six nights from 5,140pp (two sharing) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities, taxes and gratuities. Excludes car hire from 235 and return flight from 899pp. 2017 departures: June to October.

Before departing Canada, William and Kate will return to British Columbia to visit Haida Gwaii. Formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, the archipelago located off the Northwest coast of British Columbia is one of the richest biological and cultural areas in North America. a canoe trip and visit to ancient Haida villages on the royal itinerary.

You can also combine cultural tours and water based adventures at the Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, the property located in Canadas Cariboo wilderness. Go white water rafting on the legendary Thompson River and experience the thrilling Jaws of Death rapid and back at the ranch embrace First Nations culture with resident Gitxsan artist, Michael Blackstock. Etched into the surrounding trees, Michaels creative works honour the living spirit of spring water. Book a tree carving tour or a take yourself on solo spiritual journey using the ranchs self-guided booklet. Six nights from 1,367pp (two sharing) including accommodation, meals, half-day's riding each day, unlimited fly fishing, nature hikes and much more, taxes and gratuities. Excludes car hire and return flight from 899pp. 2017 departures: May to November.

Add on a self drive in British Columbia or The Yukon from 659pp (two sharing) including accommodation and car hire.

-ends-

Ranch Rider (01509 618811; ranchrider.com) ATOL PROTECTED No 4660 ABTA 96395/V9150.

###
Back in 2012 TreeHugger emeritus Brian Merchant took this photo of the first GE GeoSpring hot water heater rolling off the assembly line in Louisville, Kentucky. He noted that half the city was there to watch the event, seen as a milestone.

Benefits of the GeoSpring

This was a notable occasion for two reasons: First, it marked the beginning of production of the most energy efficient water heater on the market. Second, its the first new product that has rolled off the assembly line at GE Appliances in 50 years....Indeed, if it performs as GE claims it does, the GeoSpring is precisely the kind of appliance that can help Americans take major strides in improving energy efficiency. There's reason to believe the product will be popularprevious models have sold well, and outlooks are promising.

The GeoSpring water heater was a clever design with an air source heat pump mounted on an insulated tank. Heat pumps are more efficient because they move heat instead of making it, and the GeoSpring could save homeowners hundreds of dollars per year and could pay for itself in just two or three years.

The GeoSpring's Demise

But alas, thats not good enough for the I Want It Now culture; Scott Gibson writes in Green Building Advisor that GE is pulling the plug on it writing that " according to published reports, GE Appliances will stop manufacturing the water heaters at the end of the year because of low sales, just four years after the energy-efficient appliances were introduced."

Evidently they cost too much, (two to three times what regular resistance water heaters cost) and GE has been losing millions on them. But there were other issues, raised by commenters at GBI:

Regular water heaters are silent, while the GeoSpring had compressors and was actually noisy, some complain that it was noisier than a fridge;

The quality, at least at the beginning, was not very good;

Lack of clear contractor serviceability; the plumber doesn't know HVAC or refrigeration and the HVAC guy doesn't know plumbing or water heaters;

And my favorite comment:

People just don't care about energy efficiency here in the USA. That's my take on it. Everyone is into the house lipstick. It's not what's inside the walls but what's the wall painted with. Those concerned with true house energy efficiency is a very small minority, especially here in the USA where electricity is still cheap.

The whole story is just sad; when you read Brians post there was so much excitement, optimism and hope about high tech manufacturing returning to America with a great energy saving product. Except when it isnt, and when everyone is into my favorite new term, house lipstick.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

In its first meeting, the GST Council today decided that the annual turnover limit for exemption will be Rs 20 lakh while it would be Rs 10 lakh in the north-eastern and hill states.

The GST Council headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also decided that the states will have jurisdiction over assessees with annual turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crore.

Those with turnover of over Rs 1.5 crore, there would be cross-examination either by officers from the Centre or state to avoid dual control.

However, the power for assessment of 11 lakh service tax assessees who are currently assessed by the Centre would remain with it. New assessees which would be added to the list would be divided between the Centre and the states.

Jaitley said the next meeting of the Council on September 30 will finalise draft rules on granting exemptions, the GST rate and tax slabs would be decided at its three-day meeting beginning October 17. The Council also decided that all cesses will be subsumed in the GST.

The Finance Minister said while the annual exemption threshold for levy of GST would be Rs 20 lakh, it would be Rs 10 lakh in the north-eastern and hill states.

"All items including cess would be included in the GST," Jaitley said, adding the Council is working on a compensation law and draft compensation formula.

The base year for calculating compensation would be 2015-16 and the formula for payment of compensation would be deliberated between the state and Central authorities.

The officials will give a presentation with regard to the compensation formula which can be adopted at the next meeting of the Council on September 30.

"All decisions today by the GST Council were taken on the basis of consensus," Jaitley said and added that there was no need for voting.

The traders body, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), has welcomed the fixation of threshold limit of Rs 20 lakh by the GST Council.

The CAIT said it will take away large number of small traders from the ambit of GST whose cost of compliance is much more than the cost of their livelihood earning.

According to the CAIT, it will also save the government from huge amount of administrative efforts and will allow them to focus on widening the tax base.
It can be only a matter of regret that the Karnataka Cabinet, supported by an all-party meeting on Wednesday and by the Assembly on Friday, has decided to defer implementation of the Supreme Courts order requiring the release of additional Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. This invites the charge of contempt of court. Fridays special session of the Assembly may have helped the government reiterate the political consensus on the issue and reflect the will of the people on the subject through the elected representatives but issue of an open defiance of the apex court cannot be easily ignored.

Political parties in Karnataka, it seems, have either not weighed fully the consequences of their decision or chosen deliberately to disregard the judicial directive. The settled legal position on the protracted battle over Cauvery water is clear. In 1991 a five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court had concluded that no ordinance or Act passed by either Assembly can undo the order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. If an Assembly resolution or a law passed by it cannot render ineffective a tribunal order, in no way can it override a Supreme Court directive. Some experts in Karnataka cite Article 262 of the Constitution to challenge the courts jurisdiction over inter-state river water disputes and claim that only Parliament can resolve such matters by passing a law.

Whatever legal arguments Karnataka, or for that matter Tamil Nadu may have, cannot be made through the media or protests. It is understandable that given the below-average rain this season Karnataka has a genuine case about water scarcity and consequent problems its people would face if more water was released to Tamil Nadu. But the place where the state can present its arguments is the apex court. In the Assembly only political posturing can happen until either the court takes a suo motu note of the disobedience of its order or Tamil Nadu knocks the courts door again for the execution of the order in its favour. In the absence of an Act enacted by Parliament, the court is entitled to entertain either party approaching it with a grievance. Political expediency cannot be a ground for defying the apex court.
Sat Singh

Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, September 23

Residents of 52 villages under the Loharu subdivision today said they would oppose any government move to bring their area under the jurisdiction of the newly formed Charkhi Dadri district. The decision was taken at a mahapanchayat of the Bawaniya Khap in Singhani village of the district.

Ramswaroop Sidhnawa, pradhan of the khap, said a 21-member committee comprising Loharu MLA Om Prakash Badwa, ex-MLAs who contested election from Loharu had been formed to resist any much attempt. The mahapanchayat threatened to launch a stir in case their aspirations were ignored.

The state governments move to declare Charkhi Dadri subdivision as the states 22nd district has not come easy on the people of Loharu subdivision.

Surender Rathi, sarpanch of Singhani village, said, All important educational institutes, degree colleges, universities and the HSEB headquarters are at Bhiwani which is 48kms from Loharu. On the other hand, Charkhi Dadri has no prominent educational institutes and is more than 60kms from Loharu. It is not practically feasible to merge Loharu with Charkhi Dadri.

He said a delegation comprising residents of 52 villages, including from Bahal block, will meet the Deputy Commissioner on September 28 to express their desire to remain part of Bhiwani.
Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, September 23

The decision of the Municipal Corporation Dharamsala to import 145 hi-tech underground dustbins for the Netherlands has come in for criticism from experts. Dr Anjan Kalia, a retired professor who is also running a science-based NGO in Dharamsala, said the underground dustbins that are in use in Scandinavian countries have been designed for places that receive very heavy snow, little rain and are sparsely populated.

However, Dharamsala receives very heavy rains, especially in monsoons. In case any seal on the underground dustbins gets damaged they would be flooded with water and rendered ineffective, he said.

He said before importing any technology it was a general practice that pilot test for it is done in the area where it is to be implemented. The Municipal Corporation Dharamsala should have been done that before importing 145 underground dustbins worth crores, Kalia said.

He said that Dharamsala MC should instead go for door-to-door collection of garbage model that was been successful in Mandi town. By following the model Mandi town has been declared among the cleanest cities of the country. Kalia also said that earlier also the Dharamsala Municipal Council had already wasted money on solid waste management plant that is rendered useless for the time being.

To what use the underground dustbins shall be in case there was no solid waste management plant, he said.

Kalia also said that the Municipal Corporation would be financially burdening itself by installing high value underground dustbins as they would also demand high cost of maintenance. Instead, the corporation should employ more people for door-to-door garbage collection.
Vijay Arora

Shimla, September 23

In a major relief to thousands of non-agriculturist families residing in the state, the HP High Court today directed the state government to make suitable amendments to Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972 read with HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Rules, 1975 in order to facilitate to purchase any land (agricultural and non-agricultural) in the state by the non-agriculturist Himachalis residing in the state for decades prior to the date of commencement of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act,1972, within a period of 90 days.

While passing this historic judgment, a division bench comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Sureshwar Thakur observed that there is perpetual litigation under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972. A large population of non-agriculturist Himachalis has been deprived of their right to purchase property in the state without the permission of the state government though they are residing in the Himachal Pradesh for decades together.The bench headed by Justice Rajiv Sharma further observed that there is a sense of alienation amongst the non- agriculturist Himachalis. They are integral part of the state and have a sense of belonging to the state.

The court passed this judgment on a petition where the petitioner has challenged the definition of the agriculturist provided in Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972.

As per the provisions of Section 118 of the Act the persons who are residing in the state from generation to generations prior to the enactment of this Act are restrained to such an extent that they could purchase only 500 sq. mtrs for dwelling units (House) and 300 sq. mt. for commercial activities that too with the permission of the state government.

Now the judgment passed by the court is a relief for those non agriculturist families who are residing here much prior to the commencement of this Act.

Deprived of right under Sec 118

There is perpetual litigation under Section 118 of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972. A large population of non-agriculturist Himachalis has been deprived of their right to purchase property in the state without the permission of the state government though they are residing in the Himachal Pradesh for decades together.  HC division bench
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 23

Even as the Central leadership of the BJP has asked the state unit to prepare a detailed and comprehensive report about the prevailing unrest in the Kashmir valley, the incapable local leadership has done nothing in this regard as the incumbent leadership has no idea of the ground situation. The report was sought to be presented in the national council meeting of the party, beginning at Calicut in Kerala tomorrow.

Highly placed sources in the BJP said as the Kashmir would be the main issue to be discussed in the national council meeting so the local leadership was asked to prepare a comprehensive report about the reasons of eruption of unrest in the Kashmir valley. Most of the local leaders, including ministers, proved to be incapable of preparing such a report because they are not aware of the real ground situation, the sources said, adding that the state BJP unit has been proved incapable of preparing such a report because local leaders never tried to go into the genesis of the present unrest.

Instead of seriously discussing the prevailing situation in the Valley, all the BJP leaders, including ministers, are indulging into factionalism and infighting so they dont have time to sit together and discuss important issues concerning the ideology of the party, the sources said, adding that the passing of the controversial Transfer of Property Bill by the state Cabinet in the presence of BJP ministers is an indication of inefficiency of the partys ministers.

The sources said in case local leaders failed to brief the national council about the prevailing situation in the J&K, especially in the Valley, the task would be assigned to the partys national general secretary Ram Madhav, who is the architect of the PDP-BJP alliance in J&K. Ram Madhav is in touch with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and other officers looking after law and order, so he is well aware of the ground situation.

Meanwhile, most party leaders left for Kerala to attend the council meeting. State BJP president Sat Sharma, all four general secretaries, senior party leaders and ministers, led by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh will represent the state in the meeting.
Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 23

Taking serious note of the alleged reports of midterm transfer of teaching staff in government schools despite implementation of the new transfer policy in 2015, the School Education Department has directed the authorities, including Chief Education Officers (CEOs), not to effect any transfer/modification till the academic session is completed.

In its new transfer policy, the Education Department had banned midterm transfer of teachers, mentioning that the schedule for transfers in the summer zone would be from June 1 to July 31 and in the winter zone from January 1 to February 28. The Jammu division falls under the summer zone.

Sources claimed that the new policy was not taken seriously and the process of midterm transfers continued, badly affected the syllabus completion on time.

The problem in midterm transfers is that when a teacher of a particular subject is transferred, it takes at least a week or more for appointment of a new teacher. In the process, the precious time of students is lost, an official claimed.

The performance of government schools in academics is already poor and the midterm transfers further add to the grim scenario. Immediate ban on the midterm transfers by the government is a welcome step to keep a check on the practice which has become a routine in the department, he maintained.

Students are the worst sufferers of midterm transfers because just when they are about to understand a subject, the transfer of the teacher upsets the whole process. Even after the implementation of the new transfer policy in 2015, there was no stopping of midterm transfers with employees using approach at the higher level to seek the same which is really unfortunate, said a source.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Jammu, JK Sudan said: Yes, there is a complete ban on midterm transfers now. Strict instructions have already been issued not to entertain any midterm transfer/modification of teaching staff when the academic session is in progress.

The CEO said the ban on midterm transfers would help in streamlining the functioning of schools and completion of syllabus on time.
Arun Joshi

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 23

The United Nations has washed its hands off Pakistans high-pitched call for intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue with India, with its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon advising Nawaz Sharif to seek bilateral dialogue with India and sort out the issue.

All the diplomatic offensive built up by Pakistan at the international stage targeting India and seeking the international communitys urgent intervention to resolve the Kashmir issue under the United Nations resolutions has come to naught.

Ban Ki-moon, according to a statement read by his spokesperson, has asked Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif to hold talks with India and sort out the issues between the two countries, including Jammu and Kashmir.

In the first place, it undid all the diplomatic offensive of Pakistan against India, particularly after the July 8 killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in a routine encounter.

It had sent its envoys to several countries while Nawaz Sharif himself had petitioned the UN Secretary General, five permanent members of the UNSC and the OIC before speaking at the UNGA, urging the UN to intervene and resolve the issue and end Indian brutalities in Kashmir.

Diplomatically, Ban Ki-moon has administered a great snub to Pakistan for its unceasing rant against India vis-a-vis Kashmir.

The world, plagued by terror and aware of all streams of terrorism that flow from Pakistan, did not want to give any credence to the terror-exporting country after having seen wherefrom the perpetrators of the Uri attack originated. The country that planned and executed the Uri attack could not escape eye of the world.

This is a sort of nemesis for Pakistans trouble-stoking mischief in Kashmir, and politically prescient Kashmiris have not lost the message that Pakistan and some sections working at its behest in the Valley have failed yet again.

To read a diplomatic victory for India in this snub to Pakistan will be a mistake of reading too much. Pakistans game of deception is known to the world ever since the Soviets left Afghanistan in 1989.

Islamabad embarked on a strategy to seek global attention, profiling itself as a victim of terrorism while exporting hordes of terrorists to India and Afghanistan to bleed its eastern and western neighbours.

Now, there is hardly a terror act, ranging from Saudi Arabia to New York, whose roots are not in Pakistan. India can only draw satisfaction that the world acted on its own, which vicariously extended and expressed Indias viewpoint.

More than the world bodys snub to Pakistan, what will hurt Islamabad-Rawalpindi the most is the distrust that the commoners in Kashmir will have about them. Pakistan, which has donned the role of providing moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris, has downgraded itself in the eyes of people here.

Who will compensate for the studies of our children? We are more worried about the attitude and defiance of our children and their turning back to normal childhood activities. Pakistan tried to Talibanise our children and society as a whole, rued a retired officer.

If this solution has to come through bilateral dialogue, why were we made victims of the violence? Dialogue should have been held before. There was no need to make us shed blood for nothing. Pakistan will have to give answers to all these questions, observed a college lecturer.

The Hurriyat Conference and the vendors who are selling Kashmir and seeking donations for victims in Kashmir while dining in hotels and visiting foreign countries are the real culprits who vitiated the narrative, feel the people.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, September 23

The first batch of Haj pilgrims is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow after performing the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The first batch of pilgrims will arrive tomorrow. Two daily flights carrying Haj pilgrims will arrive here till October 3, said an official at the Haj House, Bemina.

Even as a festive atmosphere will prevail in households across the Valley once the pilgrims arrive, locals are not throwing elaborate wazwan feasts.

Though the return of Haj pilgrims is like Eid for us, we did not prepare wazwan when my uncle left for Haj. And, as he returns, there will be no major function at home. The guests will be served tea only, said a local resident.

Normal life in the Kashmir valley has remained affected after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 that has caused widespread protests.

Haj is among the five fundamentals of Islam and every believing Muslim aspires to perform the Haj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.

The departure and arrival of the pilgrims in the Valley is a joyous occasion as relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbours can be seen pouring in for at least a week to greet the pilgrims once they return home.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Haj and Auqaf Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, as per an official statement, directed the officials concerned to ensure adequate arrangements to facilitate the hassle-free arrival of the pilgrims and subsequent smooth journey to their respective destinations.

Over 6,450 persons from Jammu and Kashmir performed Haj this year.
Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 23

With the nationalist BJP appearing to be helpless in getting ex gratia sanctioned for Uri martyrs, anger against the state government is brewing among residents of Jammu for disrespect to the Dogra soldiers who had laid down their lives for the nation.

Other states have already announced ex gratia for the next of kin of martyrs of the Uri terror attack, but the Jammu and Kashmir Government has not made any announcement in this regard.

Shockingly, the BJP, which is a partner in the coalition, has urged the government to announce ex gratia instead of making an announcement on its own.

Prof Hari Om is of the opinion that the state government will not announce ex gratia for the Uri martyrs due to vote bank politics.

Appeasing the Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups of the Kashmir valley is the priority of this government and this regime will not take any decision in favour of armed forces personnel, he said.

Ridiculing the BJP for asking the state government to release ex gratia, he asked, The Deputy Chief Minister is from the BJP. Why he is hesitating to announce ex gratia on his own? He claimed that the BJP was more loyal to the Hurriyat than the PDP.

By seeking compensation for Uri martyrs, the BJP had give ammunition to opposition parties. Being an equal part of the government, the partys representatives had the right to announce ex gratia on their own.

Addressing protesting workers in Jammu on Thursday, Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh said the Uttar Pradesh Government had announced Rs 20 lakh as ex gratia to next of kin of bravehearts.

He said Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra had announced of Rs 11 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh, respectively, as ex gratia to the families of martyrs hailing from their states.

On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir has failed to make such a gesture to the sons of the soil who had attained martyrdom and others who had sustained injuries for the security and safety of its people and the nation, he regretted.

He rued that the state government had been disparaging its martyrs right from the beginning with no ex gratia being paid to the next of kin of defence and security personnel who had sacrificed their lives. Of the 18 Uri martyrs, Karnail Singh and Ravi Paul were from the Jammu region.
Srinagar, September 23

A youth was killed and over 30 were injured on Friday in clashes between stone-pelting mobs and security forces in Kashmir where curfew was imposed in some parts of Srinagar district and restrictions were in place elsewhere in the Valley in view of separatist call for protests.

A 22-year-old youth Wasim Ahmad Lone died when security forces opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob in Nadihal area on Sopore-Kupwara road in Baramulla district, police said.

The incident occurred when a mob targeted a convoy of security forces by pelting stones as it was on its way from Sopore to Kupwara, a police official said.

To disperse the mob, the security forces opened fire in which Lone was injured in the chest. He was rushed to district hospital Baramulla but the doctors declared him brought dead, the official said.

The local residents, however, claimed that Lone was not part of the protestors and was harvesting paddy in his field when the army opened fire.

The police official said the law enforcing agencies were trying to restore order in the area.

Following the death, fresh protests broke out in Nadihal and adjoining areas, the police official said.

With this death, the toll in the ongoing unrest, which began after killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, has risen to 83.

Clashes between security forces and stone-pelting mobs were also reported from several other areas of the valley in which at least 30 people were injured. These places included Chrar-e-Sharief in Budgam district and Old Barzulla area of Srinagar, the official said.

Authorities had imposed curfew in parts of Srinagar in view of the apprehensions of law and order problems after Friday congregational prayers, even as normal life remained affected in the Valley for the 77th straight day.

Curfew was imposed in five police station areas of downtown Srinagar and Batamaloo and Maisuma areas in the uptown city, the official said.

He said the curbs on the movement of people were imposed as there were apprehensions of law and order problems in view of the Friday congregational prayers.

Restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPc remained in force in rest of the Valley.

The separatists, who are spearheading the current agitation in the Valley, have extended the protest programme till September 29 but have announced periods of relaxation in the strike on some days, unlike the previous weeks protest programme where there was no relaxation.

They had called for marches to various tehsil headquarters across the Valley today.

Due to the 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.  PTI
Manika Ahuja

Youngsters, well, when they set their mind to something...they can forge historythat is the ideology actor Harsh Nagar, in Chandigarh, to create a flutter about his soon-to-be released (read October 14) film Love DayPyar Ka Din, swears by. And mind you, the Delhi lad is preaching what he claims to follow.

How, youd ask. It all began back in 2010 when Harsh realised that unlike most cinema halls located in South of India and Mumbai, the national anthem is not played before movie screenings in theatres elsewhere.

Wondering what the young law graduate-turned-actor did? He wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of India, requesting him to make it mandatory for theatres to play the national anthem! And that is not all, Apart from the PM, I also dropped letters to other key functionaries, such as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar urging them to play the national anthem in movie halls. It was a heart-warming moment when Amitabh Bachchan backed up my initiative. But what made him support the cause in the first place? Our national anthem is our pride, and the common thread that unites us all. Sadly, once out of school, most of us hardly stand up together and sing it with ardour. That thought is unsettling, he responds, as the conversation slowly drifts towards other intriguing facets of the actors life.

Bromance tales

Switching over to his upcoming movie Love Day, where hell be seen alongside actors Ajaz Khan and Sahil Anand, Harsh states, The film explores the selfless friendship and bromance of three childhood friends as they live through the phases of school, college and post-college life.

Bromance, ah well, that somehow reminds one of the evergreen Bollywood blockbuster Dil Chahta Hai, does he acknowledge some parallels in the storylines? Come to think of it, perhaps some elements are similarthe freshness, the bonding. But then, all of that oozes from the bond of friendship. It is an emotion even a five-year-old can feel.

No chocolate boy, this

Dont let his well groomed appearance deceive you, for it is not just good looks that Harsh hankers after. The black belt-holder in Taekwondo, a Korean martial art form, who has represented India at various international platforms and earned laurels for his stint, loves honing his skills. The actor who has done many commercials, avers, I did not dismiss my brush with commercials as mere ads, I looked at them as a learning exercise. They gave me a chance to observe actors I acted alongside, such as Sonam Kapoor and pick the best from them.

The Delhi lad, who lit up the big screen with a French film, Rani (which released in 2013), moves on to applaud the powerful medium (cinema), which never ceases to amaze him, Cinema is one medium which is closest to life. It is the finest way to replicate and recreate the reality. Well, heres wishing him luck for a new innings in Bollywood!
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, September 22

To improve the quality of astronomy programmes, the Municipal Corporation has started upgrading the Nehru Planetarium in the city. The department is upgrading its sound system and technical features are also being added.

According to the officials, advanced gadgets such as digital projector, better sound system and digital library would be installed. The projector and sound system has already arrived and a team of experts has also come from Kolkata for installation.

An amount of Rs 49 lakh is likely to be spent on the entire work of upgrading the planetarium.

Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said, City residents complained about the outdated system of planetarium which has made the MC switch over to the new technique. It will prove beneficial for people, especially the students. Once its renovation is complete, the planetarium will be opened to the public.

We will also purchase 25 virtual reality devices to show space-related educational movies through VR technology, said Gohalwaria.
Johnson Thomas

A remake of the 1960 Western by the same name, which in itself was a remake of Akira Kurosawas Seven Samurai, albeit in Western garb, The Magnificent Seven gets the mechanics of the genre western right but theres nothing really inventive or different of this exercise other than a different cast and a much more furious tone!

The original Japanese screen-writers have all been given a story credit with the screenplay written by Richard Wenk (The Equalizer) and Nic Pizzolato (True Detective). As in the original, seven renegade gunslingers are hired by grieving widow Emma Cullen (Hayley Bennett) to defend a small mining town Rose Creek from a vicious land-grabber Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Saarsgaard). The names of the seven have been changed in this version, but their roles in the face-off are similar. Peace officer, Sharp-shooter Chisolm (Denzel Washington) puts together the motley group of hired assassins that include Josh Farraday (Chris Pratt), Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke) Jack Horne (Vincent DOnofrio), Billy Rocks (Byung-Hun Lee), Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier).

The interplay between the seven and the final face-off between the never ending Bogues army and the handful of farmers and their protectors is scintillatingly entertaining. The screenplay allows for enough of a character study of each of the seven daredevil heroes and their defence of the weak is amply justified. Fuqua manages to keep things interesting as he steadily moves forward towards the final act.

Emmas involvement is a new twist to the story and gives the typical genre mix-up a fresh influx of emotive engagement. Farraday is by far the most interesting character in the film, more so because the tricks up his sleeve are a beguiling enticement in itself. This is regular traditional fare that is well endowed to lure the fans of western movies.
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kozhikode, September 23

The BJP, ahead of the three-day national council meeting, which begins here today, said the party has cornered Pakistan diplomatically across the world.

Speaking on the sidelined of the meeting, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said Pakistan was "running and is scared". He said people and the Opposition should have faith on the government and the Prime Minister.

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He said the issue of Indus water treaty will be tackled on the level of the government.

The world wanted us to take an initiative on Pakistan, which we have done. This is why so many countries are standing by us and are offering support, he said.

Meanwhile, the meeting, attended by general secretaries, office bearers and key state leaders, will hold discussions to give final shape to a comprehensive pro-poor agenda of the party and the future strategy to deal with Pakistan in the wake of Uri terror attack.

BJP president Amit Shah is chairing the meeting attended by top party leaders from across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also arrive here on Saturday and will address a public meeting, his first such address after the attack in Uri. He will address the party's national 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.

In its bid to woo the poor, dalits and marginalised sections in society, the BJP is of the view that effective implementation of the agenda can help it reach out to them, as it is facing flak over dalit issues from Opposition parties.

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 comeback with two-third majority by trouncing formidable regional rivals like Samajwadi Party and BSP.

The meet will also focus on increased cases of violence against BJP cadres and those of its ideological mentor RSS in Left-ruled Kerala. BJP leadership has blamed CPI(M) for these incidents. with PTI inputs
New Delhi, September 23

After few days of relative lull, heavy rain lashed some parts of the country claiming 13 lives in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana while also troubling Mumbaikars.

Andhra Pradesh reported four fresh rain-related deaths on Friday, which took the toll to nine  six in Guntur district, three in Visakhapatnam.

In Medak district of neighbouring Telangana, four persons were killed and six others injured in separate rain-related incidents.

In Andhra Pradesh, the KL Rao Sagar reservoir is almost filled due to copious showers in Guntur and the upper catchment areas of the Krishna River. While its full level capacity is 45.77 tmc ft, it is now holding 30 tmcft of water.

As much as 1.51 lakh cusecs of flood water is being discharged from K L Rao Sagar reservoir which is reaching Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on Krishna. The Barrage is overflowing as close to 2 lakh cusecs of water flowing in.

This is the first time in over five years that the Barrage has witnessed such massive inflow.

Train services between Guntur and Secunderabad remained suspended for the second consecutive day as over two km tracks near Sattenapalli was washed away due to overflowing rivulets.

Meanwhile, the National Capital had a sultry day on Friday with mercury settling two notches above normal  maximum 36 and minimum 27 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity oscillated between 73 and 91 per cent.

Incessant rain continued to batter Hyderabad for the third day on Friday, prompting the Telangana government to ask IT companies there to allow their employees work from home as it sought Armys help in rescue operation in some areas.

The state government declared a holiday for educational institutions in Greater Hyderabad area today and tomorrow.

They (Army) have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them, an official said.

Some localities in the low-lying areas of Miyapur, Bachupalli and Nizampet continue to be inundated since the last two days. GHMC has been supplying food packets to the people in rain-affected areas.

Mumbaikars this morning woke up to heavy showers as intermittent rains continued to lash the city and its outskirts for sixth day even as the weatherman predicted more heavy downpour in the metropolis.

According to disaster management control room of the civic body, no injury or casualty has been reported so far.

The disaster management cell said they have received several complaints of potholes on roads across the city which have been causing inconvenience to the motorists.

Heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur at one or two places in the next 24 hours, IMD, Mumbai Director V K Rajiv said.  PTI
Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

India on Friday inked the much-awaited contract to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of 7.87 billion euros (Rs 58,828 crore) from France.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the deal.

This will end the two-decade gap in procuring new fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and will provide a technological edge.

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The IAF has not procured any new fighter jets for long, the last being the Sukhoi 30-MKI from Russia first ordered in mid-1990s and since then licence-produced in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The first of the jets from France is to be delivered in 36 months, that is September 2019, and the entire lot will be delivered over the following 30 months. The French company will make India-specific changes like the next-generation missiles like Meteor and Scalp, which will add capability much beyond Indias immediate adversaries. The plane will be fitted with synthetic aperture radar and radar-jamming.

The Meteor is a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 km. It will allow the IAF to hit targets inside both Pakistan and Tibet from within its own territory. The Scalp is a long-range air-to-cruise missile with a range of 300 km.

Parrikar said, Rafale is a potent aircraft which will add to the IAFs capability.

The total cost includes 3.42 billion euros as the cost of the bare planes; 1.8 billion euros for associate supplies for infrastructure and support; 1.7 billion euros for India-specific changes to the plane; 710 million euros for the additional weapons package and 353 million for performance-based logistics support.

Under the logistics support, Dassault will ensure that at least 75 per cent of the fleet remains operational or airworthy at any given time.
New Delhi: Israel on Friday offered to India its expertise for strengthening border fencing. Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his last visit to Israel, was shown the country's preparedness level at the borders. "Our message is, yes, Israel has the expertise, because it has been under threat. We do share similar challenges. We have the solutions. We can work together on the solution," Carmon said. PTI

Parrikar, Rajnath discuss Kashmir, BRICS summit

New Delhi: Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met here today to discuss situation in Jammu & Kashmir after the Uri terror attack and also security preparedness in Goa in view of the BRICS submit scheduled to be held in Panaji on October 15-16. Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the two ministers, during their half-an-hour long meeting, discussed the prevailing situation in Kashmir and steps being taken to check infiltration from across the border. tns
Bengaluru, September 23

Signalling its inability to spare Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as per the Supreme Court direction, a special session of the Karnataka legislature on Friday adopted a unanimous resolution to use the water only to meet drinking water needs and not to provide it for any other purpose.

An impossible situation wherein it is not possible to comply with a court (order) has been created," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in his reply, maintaining that the state was in "severe distress" and struggling to meet even the drinking water needs in the Cauvery basin.

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The resolution did not refer to the Supreme Court direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu from September 2127 but is expected to put Karnataka on a collision course with the judiciary.

Siddaramaiah said: "Nobody should construe as if we are challenging the Supreme Court" and added that his government had equal respect for all the three organs -- legislature, executive and judiciary, "more so for judiciary".

"People have given us a mandate. We cannot defy it," he said, adding, otherwise, "it would be a dereliction of duty on our part."

Prefacing his remarks on the water crisis in the state, he said, "we have great respect for the judiciary. The intention is not to disobey the judicial order. We will not think of it even in our dreams."

Highlighting the "state of acute distress", the resolution, endorsed by all parties, said it was "imperative" that the government ensures that no water from the present storages be drawn "save and except" for meeting drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru.

The interests of the inhabitants of the state are likely to be gravely jeopardised if water in the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin was in anyway reduced other than for meeting the drinking water needs of the people in the Cauvery basin, including the entire city of Bengaluru, it said.

The resolution moved in English by Opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar and in Kannada by Y S V Datta of JDS pointed out that the combined storage in four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin  Krishnaraja Sagar, Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini  had reached "alarmingly low levels at 27 TMC ft."

"It is now resolved to direct that in this state of acute distress, it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storages be drawn save and except for meeting drinking water requirements of villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru," it said.  PTI
Mumbai, September 23

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 schoolchildren at Uran who spotted the armed suspects, their sketches were issued on Thursday night, police said on Friday.

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The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut on Friday.

As per the reports, five to six people were sighted in Pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks, Naval spokesman Commander 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 (NSG) and state polices specialised Force One had also been roped in, police said.

Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police monitored the situation throughout the night along with 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 Societys 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 Indias biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the countrys 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 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 Navys elite strike force. PTI
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Kozhikode, September 23

The Bharatiya Janata Party said on Friday that the party would discuss its pro-poor programmes at its three-day national council meeting that began in Kozhikode on Friday, even as the recent Uri attack threatened to overshadow the event.

Addressing a press conference, BJP national secretary Ram Madhav said that the meeting would focus on antyodaya programmes, or schemes to uplift the poor.

The Kozhikode national council meeting will provide BJP opportunity to reaffirm faith in the ideology of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, Madhav said.

The political resolution will focus on the downtrodden of the society. It will be a unique programme with a focus on constructive thinking, devising plants and action programs on the uplift of poor, he said.

He said atrocities by Communist Party of India (Marxist)s cadres were the reason for the party success in Kerala. The BJP managed to win one seat in the assembly elections earlier this year.

"We are a party of grass root workers. We appreciate the sentiments of cadres," he said in response to queries on the unrest in the cadres over the most recent Uri attack.

Regarding the reports on Russian troops landing in Pakistan, Madhav said: "We will wait and see. A lot of news is going around. Let us see what the real facts are. Many things have happened at a diplomatic level in the past three days." He was responding to a question on whether Russians in Pakistan reflected poorly on India's diplomatic endeavours to isolate Pakistan.

Madhav parried a volley of questions about the party's position on the Uri attack but made it clear that it will be deliberated in the council.

Asked about the "lack of action" despite leaders  including him  making strong comments against Pakistan, he said, "You want only statements or action too? Actions too will keep happening."

As the party faces growing demand from within the party, as well as without, for action against Pakistan over the attack, a key leader of the party maintained that the party appreciated the sentiments in the country and that "action will keep happening" against Pakistan.

Madhav has advocated punitive action against Pakistan.

Soon after the Uri attack, Madhav had spoken about India adopting the policy of "for one tooth, complete jaw", asserting that the days of strategic restraint are over.

Modi, who is scheduled to address a public meeting on Saturday, is expected to speak on the Uri incident.

Eighteen soldiers died when some gunmen attacked an army camp in north Kashmir's Uri on Sunday. (With inputs from Agencies)
Legal Correspondent



New Delhi, September 23

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Centres response to a PIL seeking an independent probe into the purchase of an Agusta A109 VIP helicopter by the Chhattisgarh government in 2007-08 and the alleged offshore accounts of Chief Minister Raman Singhs son Abhishek Singh.

A Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan, however, refused to issue a formal notice to the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government on the PIL by NGO Swaraj Abhiyan and Dr AA Degwekar.

The Bench questioned senior counsel Prashant Bhushan on the nine-year delay in filing the petition. Bhushan pleaded that most of the details about the deal were available only now.

The petition said the deal was for $6.57 million (about Rs 44 crore) and nearly one-third of this ($2 million or Rs 13 cr) was paid to a company registered in British Virgin Islands as commission for early supply. In 2011, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had indicted the state government for wasting considerable money by going through a charade of global tender.

An Internet search showed that several other companies were selling helicopters with same specifications at prices ranging from $1.3 million to $2.6 million, the petition said.

Soon after the state government paid the amount to Agusta dealer Sharp Ocean, Abhishek Singh also opened an account through a company called Quest Heights Ltd, allegedly incorporated in British Virgin Islands, on July 3, 2008, the petitioner pleaded.
Bijaysankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, September 23

Six militants belonging to the banned Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT) were killed following a gunfight with joint team of the Army and Assam Police at Patlangshu under Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district of Assam in the wee hours today.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including one Insas rifle, one SLR, three pistols, two grenades were, recovered from the slain militants.

The KPLT is an militant outfits comprising members from Karbi tribe in Assam.

The outfit has waged war against the state demanding an autonomous state for Karbi tribe of Assam.

On specific information, the joint team launched an operation at Banipathar area under Bokajan police station. And at around 1 am, the militants exchanged fire with the security forces inside a forest.

Two top leaders of the underground outfit are suspected to have been killed in the encounter. The identification process was on.
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.

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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.
Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, September 22

Upset over not being given VIP treatment, the husband and son of an Akali sarpanch allegedly assaulted a nurse in a private hospital at Baghapurana town in the district today.

Ramandeep Kaur of Kotla Mehar Singh Wala village, who works at Gupta Hospital, told the police that Paramjit Singh  husband of Daljit Kaur, Akali sarpanch of Alamwala village  and his son Gurjit Singh came to the hospital along with a patient. They allegedly started quarrelling with the hospital staff over admitting the patient. Paramjit, too, is a local Akali activist.

CCTV: Akali Dal leader Paramjit Singh and son assault nurse at a hospital in Moga(Punjab) (22/9/16) pic.twitter.com/IMa09ytBwE  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

She alleged that she told the SAD leader to wait for two minutes so that she could call the doctor but he got infuriated and slapped her. When she resisted, he allegedly pushed her and she fell on the floor.

The Akali leader wanted VIP treatment. He did not want to wait for the doctor to get his patient admitted at the hospital, the nurse said.

She alleged that the SAD leaders son, too, thrashed her in front of her colleagues. The duo also used derogatory language against me, she added.

SHO Gurmail Singh Sekhon told mediapersons that the police had recorded the statement of the nurse and action would be taken against the accused. However, the police were yet to register an FIR till the filing of this report.

Sources said an MLA was protecting the accused and pressuring the police against the arrest of the accused. PPCC secretary Ravi Grewal alleged that the Akali goons were trying to unleash terror among the people. If the police fail to arrest the accused, the Congress will launch a protest, he said.

The incident was recorded by the CCTV camera of the hospital. The footage has gone viral on social media.
London

A new version of alcohol that does not come with hangover will be commonplace by 2050, a British professor has claimed.

The new type of synthetic alcohol, known as "alcosynth", is designed to mimic the positive effects of alcohol but does not cause a dry mouth, nausea and throbbing head, according to creator professor David Nutt.

The Imperial College professor said he had patented around 90 different alcosynth compounds and two of them are now being rigorously tested for widespread use so that by 2050, alcosynth is served at bars.

"It will be there alongside the scotch and the gin, they'll dispense the alcosynth into your cocktail and then you'll have the pleasure without damaging your liver and your heart," Nutt told 'The Independent'.

"They go very nicely into mojitos. They even go into something as clear as a Tom Collins. One is pretty tasteless, the other has a bitter taste," he added.

Researching substances that work on the brain in a similar way to alcohol, Nutt and his team have been able to design a drug which they say is non-toxic and replicates the positive effects of alcohol.

"We know a lot about the brain science of alcohol; it's become very well understood in the last 30 years. So we know where the good effects of alcohol are mediated in the brain, and can mimic them. And by not touching the bad areas, we don't have the bad effects," Nutt said.

He said the effects of alcosynth lasted around a couple of hours  the same as traditional alcohol.

Nutt said he and his team had also managed to limit the effects of drinking a lot of alcosynth, so in theory it would be impossible to ever feel too "drunk".

The drink is a derivative of benzodiazepine  commonly used to treat anxiety disorder  but does not cause withdrawal symptoms.

Although much research has been conducted into alcosynth, it is still several years before it hits bars due to several regulatory clearances required.  PTI
London, September 23

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government today suffered its first major jolt when Treasury Minister Lord Jim O'Neill resigned amid speculation that he was unhappy with her policies on China.

O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs chief economist who was brought in by former prime minister David Cameron, also resigned as the Conservative party whip. He did not give a reason for his departure but UK media reports indicate it was a result of growing tensions with May's approach.

There had been growing speculation over Lord O'Neill's resignation following a report in the 'Financial Times' in July that cited his unhappiness after May announced a shock review into the 18-billion-pound Hinkley Point project involving China.

O'Neill is best known for coining the phrase "BRICS", an acronym for the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and was a close aide to Cameron. He will now sit on the cross-benches of the House of Lords. Downing Street announced that Lord Young of Cookham will become the new Treasury spokesman in the House of Lords.  PTI
Washington, September 23

A "state-sponsored actor" may have stolen data of some half-a-billion users of Yahoo, the internet giant said, in what is likely the world's biggest known cyber breach ever.

An investigation by the Silicon Valley-based company has confirmed that a copy of certain user account information was stolen from the company's network in late 2014 by what it believes is a "state- sponsored" actor, the company said.

"The account information may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords (the vast majority with bcrypt) and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers," it said.

Yahoo said the ongoing investigation suggests that stolen information did not include unprotected passwords, payment card data, or bank account information; payment card data and bank account information are not stored in the system that the investigation has found to be affected.

"Based on the ongoing investigation, Yahoo believes that information associated with at least 500 million user accounts was stolen and the investigation has found no evidence that the state-sponsored actor is currently in Yahoo's network.

Yahoo is working closely with law enforcement on this matter," the company said.

"The FBI is aware of the intrusion and investigating the matter. We take these types of breaches very seriously and will determine how this occurred and who is responsible," the FBI said.

Yahoo said it is notifying potentially affected users and has taken steps to secure their accounts. These steps include invalidating unencrypted security questions and answers so that they cannot be used to access an account and asking potentially affected users to change their passwords.

Yahoo is also recommending that users who have not changed their passwords since 2014 do so.

"Online intrusions and thefts by state-sponsored actors have become increasingly common across the technology industry. Yahoo and other companies have launched programs to detect and notify users when a company strongly suspects that a state-sponsored actor has targeted an account. Since the inception of Yahoo's programme in December 2015, independent of the recent investigation, approximately 10,000 users have received such a notice," it said.

Recently, Yahoo was acquired by Verizon.

"We understand that Yahoo is conducting an active investigation of this matter, but we otherwise have limited information and understanding of the impact. We will evaluate as the investigation continues," Verizon said.

The data breach is likely to have an impact on this business deal.

"The dark cloud this casts will be very long and will likely impact the merger agreement," Jeff Kagan, a Georgia- based telecommunications industry analyst, told The Washington Post. PTI
Washington, September 23

At least 75 former US ambassadors and top diplomats have endorsed former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, arguing that her Republican rival Donald Trump is "entirely unqualified" to be the next occupant of the White House.

The 70-year-old reality TV star is "ignorant" of the complex challenges that the US faces and has not shown any interest in "educating" himself, they said.

Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

"(Trump) is entirely unqualified to serve as President and Commander-in-Chief.

"He is ignorant of the complex nature of the challenges facing our country, from Russia to China to ISIS to nuclear proliferation to refugees to drugs, but he has expressed no interest in being educated," the former ambassadors and diplomats said.

Several of them have been US Ambassadors to India (Thomas Pickering, Nancy Powell), Afghanistan and Pakistan (Wendy Chamberlin, Ryan Corker, James B Cunningham, Nicholas Platt, Thomas B Robertson).

Former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake, who till recently was the US Ambassador to Indonesia, are among the signatories to a letter endorsing Clinton.

The letter said Trump "entirely misunderstands and disrespects" the high officials in the foreign service and intelligence communities that could guide him to a right course of action on crucial questions of foreign policy.

"Hillary Clinton's handling of foreign affairs has consistently sought to advance fundamental US interests with a deep grounding in the work of the many tens of thousands of career officers on whom our national security depends," the letter said. PTI
Moscow, September 23

Eight Russian firefighters were killed as they battled a blaze at a warehouse in eastern Moscow, authorities said today, in the latest deadly fire to hit the city.

The bodies of the firemen were discovered after they lost contact as they fought to extinguish the huge blaze that started last evening at a plastics depot on the edge of the Russian capital, the emergency services ministry said in a statement.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

"The corpses of eight colleagues have been found in the main area where the search was located," the statement said.

"Until the end there was hope that they would be alive. But due to the intense fire, the high temperatures and the thick smoke the firefighters were unable to get out."

The emergency workers who were killed were among the first to arrive on the scene and helped evacuate 100 workers from the warehouse, officials said.

They were battling flames on the roof of the building when it collapsed, the emergency services said.

Officials said the blaze -- which tore across an area of some 4,000 square metres - was eventually extinguished at 0744 local time (0444 GMT) today.

The fire is the latest deadly inferno to claim lives in the Russian capital, where safety standards are often lax.

Last month, 16 migrant workers mostly from ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan died in fire at a print warehouse where they worked in the city. AFP
Singapore, September 23

A 65-year-old Indian-origin Singaporean has been jailed for 20 months for laundering US$ 200,000 from a Swiss bank account and giving it to a third party he never met.

S Kabaleeswaran had accepted the US dollars equivalent to SGD 246,960 in his account and transferred SGD 235,000 from the total to one Rosidah Said in 2013, The Straits Times reported today.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

He transferred the money to his Singapore account, and later gave it to a third party on the instructions of a woman he was attracted to online.

Investigations into the fraud transaction followed in Switzerland and Singapore but the money was never recovered.

Kabaleeswaran, defended by his lawyer Suresh Damodara, said he did not have reasonable grounds to believe the money was stolen.

But he admitted that he used the balance of SGD 11,690 to take his children to Bangkok.

District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt, in a judgement released yesterday, said Kabaleeswaran was no "babe in the woods" and rejected his claim of being duped by the woman online, named "Lilian" whom he asked many times to meet in person but never did.

"He is not as simplistic and naive as counsel would like the court to believe. No doubt he was hoping that he could forge a long-term love relationship with Lilian, but it was clear from his evidence and statements that he was at all times, mature and sensible enough to be realistic about the outcome of such online dalliances," the judge said.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Gregory Gan said Kabaleeswaran was laundering fraudulently obtained funds on the orders of two unknown individuals known only as "Lilian" and "Fayez", both of whom he never met.

The court heard that fraudsters had impersonated a client of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi Private Bank (Suisse) in Geneva and had the US$ 200,000 transaction executed in October 2013.

"...it was far from a case of someone blindly and unconditionally assisting someone whom he had fallen in love with. It may well be argued that as much as Lilian was baiting him, he was also baiting her by agreeing to assist her in order to get her to meet him in person," Fatt said.

Kabaleeswaran, who was remanded last year, had his jail term backdated and has completed serving his sentence, but he is now appealing against his conviction and sentence. PTI
New York: Several of the best-known names in travel are now united in one hotel company. Marriott International has closed on its USD 13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, bringing together its Marriott, Courtyard and Ritz Carlton brands with Starwood's Sheraton, Westin, W and St Regis properties. In total, 30 hotel brands now fall under the Marriott umbrella to create the largest hotel chain in the world with more than 5,700 properties and 11 lakh rooms in more than 110 countries. AP

Sanders brother to fight on Camerons seat

London: Larry Sanders, the 81-year-old brother of former US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, has been selected by the UKs Green Party to contest from former PM David Camerons old parliamentary seat. Larry grew up in New York and has lived in Oxford since 1969, making him eligible to contest the election on October 20 from Camerons Witney constituency in the university town. PTI

Farrows son committed suicide

Los Angeles: Actress Mia Farrow's India-born son Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, 27, died from a "suicide gunshot wound" to the torso, the medical examiner's office said. She asked fans to lend support to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A paraplegic due to polio, Thaddeus was adopted by Farrow in 1994 from an orphanage in Kolkata following her divorce from Woody Allen. PTI

Helmet rules for Canadian Sikhs too

Toronto: Three Sikh truck drivers have been ordered to wear hard hats at work by a Canadian court which ruled that no exception can be made for them as the men lost a 10-year legal battle against religious discrimination. Three Sikh men at the Port of Montreal had argued they had a right to wear a turban instead of a helmet. PTI
Islamabad, September 23

A mechanised infantry unit of the Russian military on Friday arrived in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever joint military drills dubbed Friendship-2016 starting from tomorrow, reflecting growing military ties between the two former Cold War rivals.

A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for the first-ever Pak-Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10, Army spokesman Lt General Asim Bajwa tweeted along with some photographs of the Russian and Pakistan troops.

A statement by Russias Southern Military Command said the drills will involve over 70 servicemen of the Southern Military Command, including the Mountain Mobile Brigades personnel deployed to the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic (North Caucasus), and also officers from the headquarters staff.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Southern Military Commands mechanised infantry servicemen are fully equipped and have their mountain gear with them, as well as ammunition for their standard weapons, Russias Itar-Tass news agency reported, citing the statement.

The two militaries will share their experience and employ teamwork in fighting in mountainous areas, particularly destroying illegal armed groups, it said.

The joint military drills are aimed at bolstering and building up military cooperation between the two countries, it said ahead of the opening ceremony tomorrow which is scheduled to take place at Pakistan Armys High Altitude School in Rattu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week-long military drills called as Friendship 2016, which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era.

The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades.

Pakistan decided to broaden its foreign policy options after its relations with the US deteriorated following a secret CIA raid in Abbottabad that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Its relations with the US were soured recently when US lawmakers blocked funds for the sale of eight Lockheed Martin Corporations F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Pakistan decided to look at alternative sources to purchase the aircraft, including from Jordan.

Over the last 15 months, the chiefs of Pakistans Army, Navy and Air Force travelled to Russia. The flurry of high-level bilateral exchanges resulted in the signing of a deal for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad.

The agreement, signed in Moscow in August 2015, was considered a major policy shift on part of Russia in the wake of growing strategic partnership between the US and India.

Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington.

After securing the helicopters deal, Pakistan is also exploring options to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. For this purpose, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman visited Moscow in July.  PTI
Marble Hall, September 23

Almost 40 years after the first human test-tube baby was born, South African scientists have produced something bulkier: the first Cape buffalo brought into the world by in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Pumelelo, the buffalo bull calf, was born on June 28 and was unveiled to the world this week at a game farm north of Johannesburg in South Africa's Limpopo province.

The technique holds hope for far bigger and more endangered species such as the northern white rhino, only three of them are left on the planet. "This success is of major importance for the prospective breeding of endangered species, and that is the reason why we are undertaking this work," said Morne de la Rey, a veterinarian and the managing director of Embryo Plus, which specialises in bovine embryo transfers and semen collection, mostly for the cattle industry.

Proud parents are biological mother and egg donor "Vasti" and sperm donor "Goliat", which is Afrikaans for Goliath - in his bulky case, no misnomer. The baby bull has a surrogate mother which has taken to him.

He could grow to 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) or more.

Cape buffalos are notoriously bad-tempered and dangerous animals and Vasti was sedated when her oocytes, or egg cells, were extracted using a technique similar to that used on human donors.

Game farming is big business in South Africa but those involved in the project said the main concern was conservation. "The object is certainly not to reproduce buffalo of superior genetics ... the goal is the conservation of species," said Frans Stapelberg, the owner of the farm where Pumelelo was born.

The project will now focus on the northern white rhino and the trio who remain on the planet on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The San Diego Zoo is partnering with that effort.

There are around 18,000 to 20,000 southern white rhinos left, mostly in South Africa, but they are being relentlessly poached for their horns to feed illicit demand in Asian countries such as Vietnam, where they are a prized ingredient in traditional medicine.  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
OKLAHOMA CITY  So far this fiscal year, the State Board of Education has approved 926 requests from schools for emergency certifications for teachers, the board was told Thursday.

That compares to 842 at this time last year, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said.

The number indicates the states teacher shortage is far from over, despite the fact that schools have eliminated or decided not to fill about 1,500 teaching positions due to budget cuts, Hofmeister said.

It is a crisis and we have got to solve it, she said.

For the entire fiscal year 2016, which ended June 30, the board approved 1,063 emergency certifications, Hofmeister said.

She said she is grateful to those who have stepped into the profession.

While providing competitive pay is the first step to easing the teacher shortage, it wont solve everything, Hofmeister said.

Board member Leo Baxter asked Hofmeister about the impact the emergency certifications were having on the classroom.

Hofmeister said a learning curve exists for any person who is new to a profession, which in education has been compounded by larger class sizes.

Steffie Corcoran, executive director of communications for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, outlined the certification policy.

Districts may hire emergency certified teachers only after the district administrator or designee has signed an affidavit verifying they have made diligent attempts to hire an acceptable candidate who is appropriately certified for a given area of need, Corcoran said. These are one-year certifications renewable for an additional year if the district wishes to rehire the teacher.

After a renewed emergency certificate expires, the teacher must have completed requirements to obtain certification via a state-approved traditional or non-traditional pathway determined by the Oklahoma State Department of Educations Teacher Certification Division in order to continue to teach in an Oklahoma public school.

In other action, the board suspended the teaching certificate of former Broken Arrow Public Schools teacher Greg Durbin, who faces a criminal charge in Tulsa County.

He was charged in August with one felony count of sending a lewd or indecent proposal to a child. He allegedly sent a 15-year-old girl sexually explicit questions on Instagram, a social media service.

Durbin resigned his post at Broken Arrow Public Schools earlier this year.

The suspension is pending individual proceedings or other action, said Brad Clark, board attorney.

This recommendation to the State Board by the Oklahoma State Department of Education ensures student safety while due process runs its course, Clark said.

Lee Berlin, attorney for Durbin, said his client will plead not guilty to the criminal charge.

Berlin said the State Board of Education didnt give Durbin notice about the hearing on the matter.

We were given no opportunity whatsoever to provide the board with any information regarding this, and so I assume when the board gets around to providing notice to us, I will review it and discuss the options with my client and determine how we are going to proceed on that, Berlin said.

The agency is not required to provide notice on an emergency suspension, but does provide it, said Phil Bacharach, a department spokesman.

The agency provided a Sept. 15 letter addressed to Durbin about the emergency suspension.
The CEO of Ramps Logistics says he is "really really disappointed" with the Guyana Revenue A
Mondays Australian Story profiles two cousins who believe their grandfather was not guilty of a murder for which he was convicted in Brisbane in 1947. But not everybody is convinced.

Cousins Deb Drummond and Jan Teunis knew from a young age not to ask questions about their grandfather Reg Brown. It was only as adults they learned the shocking truth. Reg had been jailed for the murder of his 19-year-old typist, Bronia Armstrong, in his Brisbane office in 1947. Nine days after being sentenced, he hanged himself in his cell.

Bronias murder led to an outpouring of public outrage. But behind the salacious headlines lay two family tragedies. The Armstrongs had lost their young daughter, supposedly at the hands of a man considered a family friend. And Reg Browns son, Ian, had lost the girl he loved.

Neither Ian Brown nor his sister, Val Herbertson, spoke to their children about their grandfather. I suppose we were both ashamed, Val said. I locked it away and threw away the key.

But when Ian Browns daughter, Deb Drummond, discovered the family secret she understood her father much better. I always wondered why Dad had a lot of anger built up in him, she said. He thought his father had betrayed him by murdering Bronia.

Deb and her cousin Jan decided to look into the crime and were disturbed by what they found. A circumstantial case, a lightning fast arrest, a conviction within weeks, a lack of forensic evidence, suggestions of verballing and a notoriously corrupt detective, Frank Bischof, behind the investigation.

We began to believe that Reg had been framed by the police, said Jan.

Dr Bob Moles, from the Miscarriages of Justice Project at Flinders University, is one of several legal experts to study the transcripts of the trial and cast doubts on its fairness and the strength of the conviction.

One would probably conclude that they got the wrong man, said Dr Moles, who was instrumental in the successful campaign to overturn the conviction of Henry Keogh.

Many, however, remain convinced Reg Brown was guilty, including former detective Alicia Bennett, who wrote a book about the case.

Although Deb and Jan are unable to prove their grandfathers innocence, the process of discovery has been a healing one. I think one of the greatest satisfactions I have had was to see our parents set free, Jan said. To be able to speak openly with us, to see my mother released from the trauma that happened to her at 18.

8pm Monday on ABC.
UK based channel Pick has acquired broadcast rights to observational series, Gold Coast Medical.

The 10 part series, produced by McAvoy Media, was originally promised by Seven a year ago as part of its Super September line-up.

But it is yet to air in Australia.

The series follows the daily lives of people and staff at Gold Coast University Hospital and the Queensland Ambulance Service.

Earlier this year producer John McAvoy defended What Really Happens on the Gold Coast amid criticisms the show was trashy and presented an inaccurate stereotype of the city.

According to a McAvoy Media page, Gold Coast Medical is still coming soon.

Source: C21
ABC News 24 will be screening the upcoming US Presidential Debates from next week.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump go head to head in the first US presidential debate on Tuesday September 27 from 11am-1pm (AEST) on ABC News 24 and iview. It will also be live-streamed at abc.net.au/news24

The debate will cover three topics: Americas direction, achieving prosperity and securing America.

John Barron, host of Planet America and ABC News 24 presenter Joe OBrien will host a live discussion panel after the debate, featuring expert analysis from commentators who will fill in the gaps around what was, or was not, said by the candidates.

On debate day, follow the live blog coverage online with updates and analysis at abc.net.au/news to help make sense of the developments of the day. For all the latest news and features on the campaign trail and election special coverage go to the ABC News US Election website.

ABC News 24:

USA Votes: Presidential Debate

Tuesday September 27 from 11am (AEST)

Live from Hempstead, New York.

USA Votes: Vice Presidential Debate

Wednesday October 5 from 12-2pm (AEDT)

Live from Farmville, Virginia the US Vice Presidential debate between the Democrat Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Governor Mike Pence.

USA Votes: Presidential Debate

Monday October 10 from 12-2pm (AEDT)

Live from St Louis, Missouri the second US Presidential Debate of the campaign with Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

USA Votes: Presidential Debate

Thursday October 20 from 12-2pm (AEDT)

Live from Las Vegas, Nevada, the third and final US Presidential Debate of the campaign with Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

Planet America airs every Friday night at 9pm AEST on ABC News 24.

Campaign insiders, top reporters and pundits join the ABCs John Barron and The Chasers Chas Licciardello on Planet America each week for a unique take on the race to the White House. Its essential viewing for political junkies or those just trying to work out what on earth is going on in the US election.

Amended.
Militants launched 21 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 10 times in Donetsk direction. The militants shelled Avdiivka Novoselivka Druha, Zaitseve, Novhorodske, using grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms. In addition, they used 82-mm mortars to shell Avdiivka and Novoselivka Druha, reads a report.

In Mariupol direction, 7 ceasefire violations were spotted. The militants used small arms to shell Marinka, Starohnativska, Talakovka, and Taramchuk. In addition, a sniper group operated near Tarmchuk.

Four ceasefire violations were recorded in Luhansk direction. The terrorists shelled Novooleksandrivka, Popasna, and Novozvanivka, using grenade launchers, machine guns, and small arms. Moreover, near Novooleksandrivka the enemy used a sniper group, and shelled the Ukrainian positions in Novozvanivka and Novooleksandrivka using infantry fighting vehicles.

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The Security Service of Ukraine claims that 111 Ukrainian citizens are held captive, of whom 9 are held in Russia, and another 499 people are missing, the SBU press service reports.

Some 111 are held captive, of whom 9 are in the Russian Federation, 499 are missing, reads a report.

The data on Ukrainian hostages, who are held by the militants, was sent to the offices of the German Chancellor and the French President.

SBU Head Vasyl Hrytsak speaking at a briefing stated that for the search of hostages and missing soldiers, a special interdepartmental joint center at SBU was created in cooperation with volunteers.

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No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but one soldier was wounded in eastern Ukraine over the past day.

Presidential Administration Spokesperson for ATO issues, Colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk, said this at a press briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. No Ukrainian servicemen were killed, but one soldier was wounded as a result of sniper fire in eastern Ukraine over the past day, he said. ish
The draft state budget for 2017 foresees an increase in social standards by 10 percent, an increase in pension spending of the Pension Fund by UAH 11 billion, and an increase in salaries to employees of budgetary institutions by more than 20 percent.

Social Policy Minister Andriy Reva said this at a ministrys meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The draft budget for the next year foresees a raise in social standards by 10.1%. Also, spending of the Pension Fund will be increased by UAH 11 billion and salaries to the employees of budgetary institutions will be raised by 20-30%, said Reva.

He also added that the carrying out of social and economic reforms could be accelerated due to the current financial situation in Ukraine

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Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has stated that the Netherlands is unlikely to ratify a treaty between the EU and Ukraine after Dutch citizens voted against the deal in a referendum held in April this year, BBC reports.

I think that ultimately we will not ratify [the agreement], Prime Minister Rutte told Dutch MPs on Thursday.

According to the EU regulations, the association agreement must be ratified by all of the EUs 28 national governments before officially coming into force.

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The Dutch parliament urges the government to submit a decision on an EU-Ukraine Association Agreement not later than November 1.

A relevant resolution was approved on Thursday evening, September 22, Evropeiska Pravda reports referring to NOS.

This decision was initiated by the D66 party that supported the ratification of the agreement during the campaign before a referendum. At the same time, the address to the government was also supported by opponents of the association with Ukraine, reads a report.

Still none of the parties supports the ratification of the agreement; even supporters of Ukraine insist that the government should officially report to Brussels about the current situation.

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The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has banned Russias Channel One journalist Yulia Olhovskaya from entering Ukraine for a three-year term.

SBU spokesperson Olena Hitlianska confirmed this information to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Yulia Olhovskaya really has been denied entry for three years in the interests of the national security of Ukraine, the SBU spokesperson said.

Hitlianska noted that the SBU took a relevant decision as far back as in June.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov have held a meeting at the 71st session of the United National General Assembly in New York, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reports.

The sides discussed a range of current issues of the bilateral relations and international agenda, in particular prospects of political dialog development, holding the next sitting of the joint intergovernmental commission on economic and cultural-humanitarian cooperation, reads a report.

In addition, the sides noted significant potential for further enhanced cooperation in trade and economic, fuel and energy, construction, and transport spheres.

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini have held a meeting in New York, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministrys press service reports.

"The sides discussed the process of Minsk agreement implementation, Ukraine's progress in carrying out domestic reforms and the issue of introducing a visa-free regime with the EU for Ukraine, reads a statement.

Foreign Minister Klimkin also paid special attention to significant improvement in the security situation in Donbas for the further fulfilment of the whole range of activities, including via introduction of efficient cease-fire regime, withdrawal of weapons, as well as the full control by the OSCE of the whole territory of separate regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the Ukrainian-Russian border.

EU High Representative confirmed firm EU support for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements and the work of the Normandy format to resume territorial integrity and peace in Ukraine, as well as non-recognition of Russias illegal annexation of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol

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Ukraine and the NATO will sign a technical agreement on the exchange of classified information.

This has been stated by Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko as a result of participation in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, an Ukrinform correspondent reported from Brussels.

"One of the obstacles was the lack of a technical agreement on the exchange of secret information. It will be signed on September 28," he said.

He noted that this agreement would bring the cooperation between Ukraine and NATO in the field of classified information to higher level.

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UNHCR is deeply saddened by the loss of life after yet another boat capsized in the Mediterranean, this time off the coast of Rosetta, Egypt, reportedly carrying around 450 people.

At least 42 bodies have reportedly been recovered. Currently 150 people (of whom 43 were non-Egyptians, including 26 Sudanese, 13 Eritreans, 2 Somalis, 1 Syrian, and 1 Ethiopian) have been rescued in an operation by the Egyptian authorities involving the army and navy.

The Egyptian authorities have ordered police to arrest smugglers responsible for the deaths, opening an investigation into the incident, and to provide necessary care to the survivors.

Egypt has a long history of providing asylum to refugees and at the same time is a traditional route of irregular migration to Europe by sea.

Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the number of interceptions of refugees and migrants trying to leave Egypt in an irregular manner. For 2016 to date, over 4,600 foreign nationals, predominantly Sudanese, Somalis, Eritreans and Ethiopians, have been arrested for attempting irregular departure from the Northern Coast, which is 28 per cent more than the whole of 2015. The numbers in 2015 were also higher than 2014.

The overall number of irregular Mediterranean Sea arrivals in Italy was stable in the first half (115,068 in Jan-Aug 2016) from a year earlier (116,149 in Jan-Aug 2015). The proportion of departures from Egypt to Italy has been volatile but rose to 9%, as of July 31 2016, from 5% a year earlier. On the Egypt to Italy route, a significant number of unaccompanied minors have been recorded.

Increasing mixed migration flows through Egypt are of major concern to UNHCR. The loss of life faced by refugees and migrants on Mediterranean smuggling routes has increased.

Despite the total number of Mediterranean crossings this year (300,000) being 42% lower than during the same period last year (520,000) -- primarily as a result of fewer crossings to Greece -- the number of people reported dead or missing so far this year (3,498) is only 8% lower than the total number of casualties for the whole of 2015 (3,771). At this rate, 2016 will be the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea.

Meantime, UNHCR Egypt has observed that many refugees and migrants may be using Egypt as a transit country, highlighting the need to address the root causes of mixed migration in their countries of origin.

UNHCR works closely with the authorities to verify the registration status of refugees and asylum seekers in detention and to facilitate their prompt release.

The Government of Egypt typically releases individuals registered with UNHCR from detention after an average of 15 days, in accordance with its international obligations to protect the right of those fleeing conflict and persecution. UNHCR has observed that many attempt to depart again shortly after their release. Those who are not registered with UNHCR are at risk of deportation and UNHCR is concerned that there may still be asylum seekers among them and requests access to them.

During the period of detention, UNHCR and partners also provide detainees with all basic items, including food and medical support.

As of 31 August, 187,838 refugees and asylum-seekers have been registered with UNHCR in Egypt, with 116,175 Syrian (62 %) followed by 31,200 Sudanese, 10,941 Ethiopians, 7,254 Somalis, and 7,000 Iraqis, among others.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
The number of people fleeing violence, threats, extrajudicial killings, abduction, torture and persecution in Burundi has passed the 300,000 mark some 18 months after the political crisis in the central African nation erupted in April last year.

These people have fled Burundi  principally from Kirundo, Makamba, Bujumbura city, Cibitoke and Rumonge provinces  in search of asylum or international protection. Although departure numbers have generally not been as high as in 2015, there has been a constant flow this year, including more than 20,000 in July and August.

We expect the number of arrivals will continue to rise in the remaining months of this year, but fear that neighbouring Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and aid agencies such as UNHCR will struggle to continue providing adequate shelter, protection and life-saving services.

The reception capacities of these host countries are severely overstretched and conditions remain dire for many refugees, most of whom are women and children.

These worrying trends will persist as long as a solution to the political crisis remains elusive, with far-reaching humanitarian consequences in Burundi and the region. To ensure that the refugees receive the assistance and protection they need, UNHCR calls on the international community to maintain efforts for peace and step up support for the countries of asylum, particularly in areas such as shelter, basic services, education, health and livelihoods.

Tanzania

Tanzania currently hosts 163,084 Burundian refugees, the largest number in the region. In mid-September it was receiving new arrivals at a rate of 324 per day. More than 78% of the new arrivals are women and children.

As the influx continues, UNHCR is in talks with the government to urgently identify a fourth camp site in the west of the country to alleviate the crowding in Nyarugusu (which also houses Congolese refugees), Nduta and Mtendeli camps and to accommodate the new arrivals.

Resources are desperately needed to provide protection and basic assistance and respond to the urgent needs of refugees including, among others, in education, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, child protection and youth programming, psycho-social counselling, and livelihood activities.

Rwanda

Rwanda is home to more than 81,000 Burundian refugees, over 50,000 of whom live in Mahama camp in the east, with some 30,000 in Kigali and other urban areas.

Around 70% of the refugees are living in emergency shelters, which are starting to deteriorate. As the number of arrivals continues to rise, UNHCR is urgently working on the construction of more permanent shelters.

Half of the Burundian refugees in Rwanda are children, many of whom arrived unaccompanied or separated from their families. UNHCR and its partners are concentrating on providing family tracing, reunification, and alternative care arrangements for these children.

Uganda

At the end of August, Uganda was hosting 41,938 refugees from Burundi, 13,298 of whom have arrived this year. A steady influx of between 1,000 and 3,000 have been arriving each month and most are being hosted in Nakivale settlement, with smaller numbers in Kampala, Kyaka and Oruchinga.

We work with the government and partners to provide emergency assistance, including food, water, shelter, but our humanitarian response  as in the other countries  is becoming increasingly stretched in the face of growing needs in areas such as health, education and water distribution.

More health clinics are needed so that people do not have to walk long distances to access care or rely on mobile clinics; pipelines need to be laid to distribute water in refugee settlements and cut costs of trucking in potable water; schools and classrooms are urgently needed as well as school materials.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen a significant increase in the number of new arrivals from Burundi: 3,925 refugees were registered between July and mid-September, mostly women and children. This compares to 1,773 from April-June. In August, a monthly high of more than 1,650 Burundians refugees were transferred from the border to Lusenda camp, which now hosts more than 21,000 people  well over its capacity for 18,000.

With the start of the rainy season in late September, many of the emergency shelters constructed in the camp since 2015 need urgent rehabilitation. In the meantime, UNHCR is working closely with the Congolese authorities to identify an additional site near Lusenda, in South Kivu province, to accommodate the new arrivals.

Zambia

More than 1,700 Burundian refugees and asylum seekers have arrived in Zambia since April last year, including 715 between January and August this year. Most of the asylum-seekers are in Lusaka awaiting word on their asylum applications. Once granted refugee status, the Burundian refugees will be relocated to either of two refugee settlements, where they are allotted plots of land by the government and receive assistance from UNHCR and partners.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
A group of women walk along a street in front of the bombed out ruins of what was the Emir's palace in Gwoza, Nigeria.  UNHCR/Helene Caux

GWOZA, Nigeria  After Nigerian forces liberated this once thriving city from Boko Haram militants, displaced resident Saeed returned home to gutted buildings and burned out cars. He is clear about what the city needs: We need everything.

The 38-year-old is among thousands of people, both returnees and those displaced from nearby villages, facing immense challenges in Gwoza, a city 40 kilometres from the border with Cameroon, which was liberated by Nigerian forces in March.

Although driven from the city, the heavily-armed insurgents are still marauding on the far side of mountains flanking Gwoza, and continue to attack nearby villages that supply it with vital produce

The food is an issue, we are mainly farmers here but because of the insecurity still prevailing in the outskirts of Gwoza, and in the villages, we still cannot go and cultivate our fields, says Saeed, describing the fears of those returning to the city, which lies some 150 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital of north-east Nigerias Borno state.

Because of the insecurity still prevailing in the outskirts of Gwoza, we still cannot go and cultivate our fields.

There is no industry in the region, and we need to be able to bring goods from other places, such as from Maiduguri or from Cameroon. But because the roads are not safe, we feel as if we are locked in. We need the roads to be open again, he adds.

More than two million people have been forcibly displaced in Nigeria, including 1.87 million fleeing Boko Haram violence since 2014. Some 169,000 people have sought shelter in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Before Boko Haram captured Gwoza in August last year, it had a population of at least 300,000, although many fled to Maiduguri. The Nigerian military has been distributing some food provided by the government, and WFP has also made some distributions in the city and surrounding areas. Nevertheless, the challenges are immense for the 70,000 people who are now in the city.

Some 70 per cent of the city was razed during the fighting and eight months of Boko Haram occupation. When they stormed the city, militants murdered the Emir, and subsequently abducted an unknown number of women and girls, forcing many into marriage.

A burned out car lies in a street of destroyed homes in Gwoza, Nigeria, recently liberated by Nigerian armed forces.  UNHCR/Helene Caux

While the government has begun rebuilding infrastructure, including the city hospital, and organizations like UNICEF are providing health assistance, some returnees and new arrivals from other areas are living wherever they can  a potential source of problems in the future when more people originating from Gwoza return to find their homes occupied by strangers.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration and other partners are working with the authorities to provide shelter. UNHCR staff are helping develop a new site where internally displaced people arriving in Gwoza can seek shelter. There are three existing sites for the displaced in the city, which are managed by the army.

The welfare of children is also a concern. Many suffer from dehydration and malaria, though UNICEF, MSF and the military are providing health assistance in a tent. UNICEF has erected two big tents to provide classrooms, which are overcrowded with more than 130 pupils per tent. There are not enough teachers.

In general people told UNHCR they felt safe in Gwoza. But many people are not ready to return home, and the UN Refugee Agency reiterates that this should be voluntary. People should have access to sufficient information about the situation at home so that they can make an informed decision about return.

Many of those returning recall harrowing experiences during Boko Harams occupation, particularly women. One woman said she had no news of her 12-year-old granddaughter since she was abducted by Boko Haram, although she believed she had been forcibly married to a militant.

They beheaded her. The insurgents would not allow us to recover her body and to bury her."

I dont know where she is. Boko Haram knew the military were coming soon to try to retake the city so they wanted to take away the girls and young women with them," said the woman, who declined to be named.

Another recalled how her 17-year-old daughter was kidnapped by Boko Haram when she ventured out into the street one night in search of food. She endured several months as their captive, but escaped only to be recaptured. She was subsequently executed after she refused to marry one of the militants.

They beheaded her, the girls mother recalled. After several days, we saw her body and head in the street. The insurgents would not allow us to recover her body and to bury her."

To read a briefing note on the situation faced by those returning to liberated areas of northern Nigeria, click here.
Refugees and migrants fleeing poverty and social unrest from Egypt, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea and Sierra Leone arrive in Port Augusta, Sicily, in this May 2016 file photo.  UNHCR/Patrick Russo

GENEVA  UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply saddened by the loss of life after yet another boat capsized in the Mediterranean, this time off the coast of Rosetta, Egypt, reportedly carrying around 450 people.

At least 42 bodies have reportedly been recovered and 150 people have been rescued in an operation by the Egyptian authorities involving the army and navy, UN spokesperson William Spindler told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday (September 23).

Of those rescued, 43 were non-Egyptians, including 26 Sudanese, 13 Eritreans, two Somalis, one Syrian and one Ethiopian.

The Egyptian authorities have ordered police to arrest smugglers responsible for the deaths, opening an investigation into the incident, and to provide necessary care to the survivors, Spindler told reporters at the Palais des Nations.

Egypt has a long history of providing asylum to refugees and at the same time is a traditional route of irregular migration to Europe by sea.

Since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the number of interceptions of refugees and migrants trying to leave Egypt in an irregular manner. For 2016 to date, over 4,600 foreign nationals, predominantly Sudanese, Somalis, Eritreans and Ethiopians, have been arrested for attempting irregular departure from the Northern Coast, which is 28 per cent more than the whole of 2015. The numbers in 2015 were also higher than 2014.

The overall number of irregular Mediterranean Sea arrivals in Italy was stable in the first eight months of the year at 115,068, compared to 116,149 in the January-to-August period of 2015.

The proportion of departures from Egypt to Italy has been volatile but rose to 9 per cent, as of July 31 2016, from 5 per cent a year earlier. On the Egypt to Italy route, a significant number of unaccompanied minors have been recorded.

Increasing mixed migration flows through Egypt are of major concern to UNHCR. The loss of life faced by refugees and migrants on Mediterranean smuggling routes has increased, Spindler said.

The total number of Mediterranean crossings this year is 42 per cent lower than during the same period last year  300,000 compared to 520,000  primarily as a result of fewer crossings to Greece.

Nevertheless, the number of people reported dead or missing so far this year (3,498) is only 8 per cent lower than the total number of casualties for the whole of 2015, at 3,771.

At this rate, 2016 will be the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea, Spindler said.

Meanwhile, UNHCR Egypt has observed that many refugees and migrants may be using Egypt as a transit country, highlighting the need to address the root causes of mixed migration in their countries of origin.

UNHCR works closely with the authorities to verify the registration status of refugees and asylum seekers in detention and to facilitate their prompt release.

The Government of Egypt typically releases individuals registered with UNHCR from detention after an average of 15 days, in accordance with its international obligations to protect the right of those fleeing conflict and persecution.

The UN Refugee Agency has observed that many attempt to depart again shortly after their release. Those who are not registered with UNHCR are at risk of deportation and UNHCR is concerned that there may still be asylum seekers among them and requests access to them.

During the period of detention, UNHCR and partners also provide detainees with all basic items, including food and medical support.

As of August 31, 187,838 refugees and asylum-seekers have been registered with UNHCR in Egypt. The largest number, 116,175  or 62 per cent of the total  were Syrians, followed by 31,200 Sudanese, 10,941 Ethiopians, 7,254 Somalis, and 7,000 Iraqis, among others.
Burundian refugees waiting in front of a bus at the Bugesera reception center to be relocated to Mahama refugee camp in Rwanda in this 2015 file photo.  UNHCR/Ramcho Kundevski

GENEVA  The number of people fleeing violence, threats, extrajudicial killings, abduction, torture and persecution in Burundi has passed the 300,000 mark, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said today.

The grim milestone comes some 18 months after the political crisis in the central African nation erupted in April last year.

While departure numbers have generally not been as high as in 2015, there has been a constant flow this year, including more than 20,000 in July and August. Most are fleeing Kirundo, Makamba, Bujumbura city, Cibitoke and Rumonge provinces in search of asylum or international protection.

UNHCR expects numbers to continue rising in the remaining months of this year. However, there are fears that neighbouring Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and aid agencies including UNHCR will struggle to continue providing adequate shelter, protection and life-saving services.

The reception capacities of these host countries are severely overstretched and conditions remain dire for many refugees, most of whom are women and children, UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday (September 23).

The reception capacities of host countries are severely overstretched and conditions remain dire for many refugees."

These worrying trends would persist as long as a solution to the political crisis in Burundi remains elusive, he said, with far-reaching humanitarian consequences in Burundi and the region.

To ensure that the refugees receive the assistance and protection they need, UNHCR calls on the international community to maintain efforts for peace and step up support for the countries of asylum, particularly in areas such as shelter, basic services, education, health and livelihoods, Spindler said.

Tanzania is currently hosting 163,084 Burundian refugees, the largest number in the region. As the influx continues, UNHCR is in talks with the government to urgently identify a fourth camp site in the west of the country to alleviate crowding. However, resources desperately needed to provide protection and basic assistance.

In Rwanda, around 70 per cent of 81,000 Burundian refugees are living in emergency shelters, which are starting to deteriorate.

Half of the Burundian refugees in Rwanda are children, many of whom arrived unaccompanied or separated from their familes, Spindler said. UNHCR and its partners are concentrating on providing family tracing, reunification, and alternative care arrangements for these children.

Half of the Burundian refugees in Rwanda are children, many of whom arrived unaccompanied or separated from their familes.

Elsewhere, resources are also under strain in Uganda, which was hosting 41,938 refugees at the end of August. Every month, new arrivals number between 1,000 and 3,000 and more health clinics are desperately needed.

A surge of Burundians, almost 4,000, arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between July and mid-September, mostly women and children. With the start of the rainy season in late September, many of the emergency shelters constructed in the Lusenda camp since 2015 need urgent rehabilitation.

Lusenda camp now hosts more than 21,000 people  well over its capacity for 18,000 and UNHCR is working closely with the Congolese authorities to identify an additional site.

Smaller numbers have been fleeing to Zambia, totalling over 1,700 since April last year. Most are in Lusaka, the capital, awaiting word on their asylum applications. Once granted refugee status, the Burundian refugees are relocated to one of two refugee settlements, where they are allotted plots of land by the government and receive assistance from UNHCR and partners.

However, without funding and support, UNHCR and partners will struggle to continue helping those who have their homes with even the most basic assistance.

UNHCR requested US$175.1 million for the Burundi humanitarian response in 2016 and has to date received US$4.7 million, or about 3 per cent. The UN Refugee Agency thanks donors for their generosity to date while appealing for more urgent funding.
Mariam Muhammed, 30, feeds her daughter Fanne Saleh, 1, Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).

Ajija is tragically not alone. With more areas across northeast Nigeria becoming accessible to humanitarian assistance, the true impact of this crisis is being revealed. There are now nearly a quarter of a million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Borno, a result of more than three years of violence that has devastated the area.

Too dangerous to farm the land, to access markets or even safe water, families and particularly young children have missed out on the essentials for life. For an estimated one million children who still cant be reached, we can only imagine their fate.

This tragedy for Nigerias children was first projected on to the world map in April 2014, when more than 270 girls were abducted by Boko Haram from a school in Chibok. They were also not alone. At least 4,000 young women (ages 18-24), girls and boys have been abducted in the affected northern states of Nigeria since 2009, and some 7,000 women and girls have reportedly suffered sexual violence.

Now Bornos children are back in the spotlight  this time affected by a food and malnutrition crisis that rivals any. But we cannot rely on intermittent peaks of world attention to call for the support needed. We cannot wait for another tragedy to occur. Work goes on, using any available means possible, even despite an attack on a humanitarian convoy.

Firstly, its about saving the lives of children we can reach, many of whom have been uprooted from their homes. Providing what is essentially a simple eight-week course of ready-to-use therapeutic food can help children recover from severe acute malnutrition. But this only works if they also have access to primary health care, safe water and sanitation to avoid preventable and treatable childhood illnesses that can be a matter of life or death for already weakened children.

To achieve this, we must continue to help rehabilitate and upgrade local health clinics, some 60 per cent of which have been partially or completely destroyed across Borno state. We must continue to provide training for health workers and a sustainable source of medical supplies, including the life-saving therapeutic food. At the same time, through a network of community volunteers, with the contacts and knowledge of the local area, we need to rapidly identify and manage cases of child malnutrition.
Sudan - Skills for peace and income

Sponsored by the Government of Japan, UNIDO, in partnership with Khartoum State Supreme Council for Vocational Training and the Sudanese

Red Crescent Society, provides young internally displaced women and men with marketable skills for increasing their (self-) employment opportunities and income generation activities.
By PTI: Raipur, Sep 23 (PTI) In a tragic incident, three siblings, including a 5-year-old boy, were killed and another sibling, a girl, was critically injured after they were hit by a speeding car in Naya Raipur area of Chhattisgarhs Raipur district.

The incident took place last evening when the victims were visiting a roadside temple near a flyover on Naya Raipur-Mandir Hasaud road, Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Shukla told PTI.

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"Two sisters and a brother died in the accident while another sister who was seriously injured is undergoing treatment at a private hospital," he added.

The deceased have been identified as Vikas Jangde (5), Mona Jangde (20) and Lavina Jangde (11), all children of Yashwant Jangde and residents of Chheri Khedi.

Mona, her two sisters Lavina and Monika and brother Vikas were visiting the temple, when a speeding car coming from Naya Raipur skidded off the road and ran over them.

Mona died on the spot while Vikas and Lavina succumbed to injuries while being rushed to hospital. Monika was being treated.

T Raju, who was allegedly driving the car, has beem arrested. He was reportedly caught in inebriated condition by the villagers who thrashed him before police reached there.

Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi along with his supporters and local residents staged a blockade at Cheri Khedi on the national highway between Raipur and Mahasamund and demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the bereaved family.

He also sought strict action against the accused.

Police used lathi-charge to disperse the mob and arrested Jogi and some of his supporters.

The situation was now normal, a police officer said, adding the arrested protesters will be released soon.

Chief Minister Raman Singh in his messageexpressed grief over the deaths and prayed for recovery of the injured girl. PTI TKP KRK AQS BAS

--- ENDS ---
Global - Chemical Leasing: Redefining the Sustainable Management of Chemicals

Chemical Leasing is service-orientated business model that adopts a multi-stakeholder approach to promote the sound and efficient management of chemicals throughout their life-cycle. UNIDO, with the direct support of the governments of Austria and Germany, has been pioneering Chemical Leasing in developing countries and transition economies since 2004. Download the factsheet, which takes a closer look at how Chemical Leasing brings about a win-win situation for the chemical supplier and the chemical user, as well as the environment.
Montenegro - Transfer of environmentally sound technologies for the treatment of sludge

The biological waste water treatment plant in Mojkovac municipality produces some 0.5 m3 of untreated sludge per day. Sludge treatment by use of filter presses necessitates high investment costs and results in high energy as well as operations and maintenance costs. The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism requested UNIDO to provide technical assistance for the development of a sludge treatment concept. A reed bed filter will be built to treat the sludge from the wastewater treatment plant in an environmentally and economically sound way. This will help preserve the tourism resource and contribute to poverty reduction in this region.
PODGORICA, 5 December 2014  Representatives of companies as well as consultants working in Montenegros agriculture and tourism sectors today received certificates of cleaner production from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

UNIDOs cleaner production programme, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro, is funded by the Government of Slovenia, and is being coordinated by Montenegros Chamber of Commerce.

Petra Schwager, UNIDO Project Manager, stressed the importance of resource efficiency and cleaner production in global development trends and the significance of sustainable industrial development for the overall economic development of Montenegro. Based on its experience in establishing national cleaner production centres in some 50 countries around the world, UNIDOs programme will help define the specific conditions needed in order to establish such a centre in Montenegro.

With the implementation of the Cleaner Production Programme, the Chamber of Commerce confirms its commitment and support to activities which enhance knowledge in the field of resource efficiency, an imperative for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness enhancement, said Stanko Zlokovic, advisor at the Montenegro Chamber of Commerce.

The representative of the Slovenian Government, Alesa Sovinc, informed that the project is part of her countrys focus on international development cooperation.

For more information, please contact:

Petra Schwager

Project Manager, UNIDO Environmental Branch

email
By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Sep 23 (PTI) As many as 75 former US ambassadors and top diplomats have endorsed former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, arguing that her Republican rival Donald Trump is "entirely unqualified" to be the next occupant of the White House.

The 70-year-old reality TV star is "ignorant" of the complex challenges that the US faces and has not shown any interest in "educating" himself, they said.

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"(Trump) is entirely unqualified to serve as President and Commander-in-Chief.

"He is ignorant of the complex nature of the challenges facing our country, from Russia to China to ISIS to nuclear proliferation to refugees to drugs, but he has expressed no interest in being educated," the former ambassadors and diplomats said.

Several of them have been US Ambassadors to India (Thomas Pickering, Nancy Powell), Afghanistan and Pakistan (Wendy Chamberlin, Ryan Corker, James B Cunningham, Nicholas Platt, Thomas B Robertson).

Former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake, who till recently was the US Ambassador to Indonesia, are among the signatories to a letter endorsing Clinton.

The letter said Trump "entirely misunderstands and disrespects" the high officials in the foreign service and intelligence communities that could guide him to a right course of action on crucial questions of foreign policy.

"Hillary Clintons handling of foreign affairs has consistently sought to advance fundamental US interests with a deep grounding in the work of the many tens of thousands of career officers on whom our national security depends," the letter said. PTI LKJ SAI

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Brexit has gravely affected not only the economy of Britain but its education sector as well. This what educators from the EU and the UK learned and discussed during the 2016 European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference.

During the conference, delegates discussed that the sentiments the UK have behind Brexit are the same with some of their European counterparts - that there is always a debate even some EU nations whether they have to embrace globalization and its benefits or protect themselves against it. This fear comes from the notion that globalization might destroy their sense of nationhood.

The educators reached a consensus that in order to counter this fear, a new type of internationalization or globalization should be promoted. Where economy and income generation are the main focal points why globalization is good, the shift should focus more on diversity and inclusion. It should talk more about how internalization can foster mutual respect and understanding between nations without destroying their sense of nationhood.

The educators propose that higher education should be the trailblazer for this new kind of internationalization. However, in order to accomplish this kind of globalization, universities need to improve how they communicate this message to the public.

Internationalization also means borderless education which transcends the economic, political, and geographical divides. However, educators also acknowledge the fact that there are certain situations that prevent their efforts to operate globally.

One of these is academics being persecuted by their own governments which are afraid that the free exchange of ideas with other nations will destroy their regimes. Another problem that stops globalization in education is the lack of funding and support for higher education in some countries.

If this type of internalization that fosters equity and diversity will really come to pass, educators need to work hand-in-hand with each other in tackling these problems. Britain might eventually leave the EU but it should not stop educators from reaching these goals.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) PC maker Acer has roped in Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma as its brand ambassador.

She will feature in upcoming campaigns ?- both offline and online -- for the brand and will endorse Acers gamut of products ranging from laptops, desktops, ultrabooks and convertible laptops, Acer said in a statement.

The new campaign featuring Sharma will be broadcast across media, it added.

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"We are delighted to announce one of the leading youth icons, Anushka Sharma, as our brand ambassador. Anushkas love for gadgets and her quest for pushing the limits to be the best seamlessly fit the brand persona," Acer India Senior Director and Consumer Business Head Chandrahas Panigrahi said.

Acer believes that it will be a great association and would help enhance the brands distinctiveness, he added.

According to research firm Gartner, Acer is the fourth-largest player in the Indian PC market with 12.2 per cent share as of March 2016. PTI SR ARD

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Published: September 23, 2016

Broadway Legend Liz Callaway Kicks off UTs PNC Bank Concert Artist Series Oct. 2

On Sunday, Oct. 2, The University of Tampa will welcome Broadway legend Liz Callaway, who will perform songs from her starring roles on Broadway and in her film career as part of the PNC Bank Concert Artist Series in the Sykes Chapel and Center for Faith and Values. The concert will begin at 2 p.m. and is free and open to the public.



Callaway made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheims Merrily We Roll Along, received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Baby and for five years won acclaim as Grizabella in Cats.



She was the singing voice of Anya in the animated film Anastasia, performing the Academy Awardnominated song Journey to the Past, and was also the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disneys Aladdin and the King of Thieves and Return of Jafar. She received an Emmy Award for hosting Ready to Go, a daily, live childrens program on CBS in Boston.



Callaway has released five solo recordings, including Passage of Time, The Beat Goes On, The Story Goes On: Liz Callaway On and Off-Broadway, Anywhere I Wander: Liz Callaway Sings Frank Loesser and Merry and Bright, her new Christmas album.



At UT, Callaway will perform some of her favorite songs from her starring roles on Broadway and in her film career as well as works from Rogers and Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, George Gershwin, Stephen Schwartz, Ahrens and Flaherty, and more.



She will also conduct a master class for UT musical theatre students during her visit.



The concert is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performance. Parking is available on campus.



The 2016-2017 PNC Bank Concert Artist Series is underwritten by PNC Bank and the UT College of Arts and Letters. For more information, contact caldean@ut.edu or go to www.ut.edu/sykeschapel.
Published: September 23, 2016

Sept. 27 UT Honors Symposium to Discuss Zika on Our Doorstep

Over the summer, the active transmission of the Zika virus in two regions of Miami led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a travel advisory within the continental U.S. for the first time.



In a University of Tampa Honors Program symposium on Tuesday, Sept. 27, Deborah Cragun, assistant professor of public health at the University of South Florida, will discuss some of the issues related to Zika. The presentation, titled Zika on Our Doorstep, begins at noon in Reeves Theater on the second floor of the Vaughn Center and is free and open to the public.



While Cragun will discuss some of the topics related to Zika  including infectious diseases, birth defects, mosquito control, tourism, public health, reproductive decision making, politics and health disparities  her presentation will focus on the importance of accurate and targeted risk communication when facing Zika.



Cragun is the founding director for USFs new genetic counseling graduate training program that is slated to begin in Fall 2017. She earned a masters degree in medical genetics from the University of Cincinnati and practiced as a genetic counselor in pediatric, prenatal and cancer specialties for six years.



After teaching genetics for two years at UT, she completed her doctorate in public health, as well as a postdoctoral research fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center and additional training through the National Cancer Institutes Mentored Training in Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer program.



Craguns research interests include risk communication and health education, implementation of new genomic technologies into health care and genetic counseling access, service delivery and outcomes. She serves on the board of directors for the Lynch Syndrome Screening Network and is leading the National Society of Genetic Counselors Outcomes Task Force.



For more information, contact the Honors Program at honors@ut.edu.
From Eslie Otter to Poppy Honey, these celebrity kids will sure have a lot of questions to ask their parents once they grow up.

By India Today Web Desk: Adam Levine and Behati Prisloo have welcomed their first child. While the birth of their baby girl is news in itself, her name deserves a special mention. The Maroon 5 frontman and the stunning Victoria's Secret model have decided to name their daughter, Dusty Rose. Unique isn't it? But Dusty isn't the only celebrity baby with a unique (and strange) name--there are several other famous kids whose parents might've to answer more than a few questions as and when they grow up.

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Here's a list of five celebrity babies with unique names.

1. Blue Ivy

Beyonce and Jay Z's daughter Blue Ivy has enough reason to be in news. After all being the child of one of music industry's most successful couples comes with its fair share of baggage, doesn't it? Both, Beyonce and Jay Z are believed to be very fond of the colour blue and Ivy is Roman for the digit four.



Beyonce, Jay Z and Blue Ivy. Photo: Reuters

2. North West

While the name wasn't exactly Kim and Kanye's idea of making news, it went on to do exactly that. Reportedly, the name North West that started as a mere speculation, turned into a reality after Pharrel Williams and Anna Vintour expressed their excitement around the same.



Kim Kardashian with North West. Picture courtesy: Instagram/ Kim Kardashian

The couple went on to name their second child Saint West.

Also Read: Totes adorbs: 8 awww-worthy photos of birthday baby, Blue Ivy Carter

3. Rocket Ayer

Not just his fashion sense, Pharrel Williams' quirk is evident in his day-to-day life too. Why else would he name his son, Rocket?



Pharrel Williams has named his son Rocket. Photo: Reuters

"In the same way that the Indians name their children, like, behind a force or an animal or an element, we named him after a man-made machine that was meant to go up. Meant to ascend. And metaphorically, it was because of, you know, Stevie Wonder's 'Rocket Love,' Elton John's 'Rocket Man' and Herbie Hancock's 'Rocket.' All of my favourite musicians. And [Rocket's] middle name is not Man. It's Ayer, after Roy Ayers," he said during an appearance on Ellen's show.

Also Read: Kim Kardashian admits to getting butt injections

4. Elsie Otter

Trust actress Zooey Deschanel to own everything with utmost uniqueness. The New Girl star confused the world by naming her child, Elsie Otter.



Zooey's daughter is called Eslie Otter. Photo: Reuters

"I love animals so much," the actress explained while on Ellen's show. "And we love otters because they're so cute, and playful and fun. And they're really smart."

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5. Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo and Petal Blossom Rainbow

River Rocket, Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo and Petal Blossom Rainbow--do you need any more reasons to rely on Chef Jamie Oliver's baby-naming skills? We think not. The renowned chef has a knack for coming up with the strangest names there are.



Jamie Oliver has a whole army of kids with unique names. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Jamie Oliver

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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.
First Debate Watch Party at UW Sept. 26

Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump square off in their first televised debate, and the University of Wyoming and Laramie community can view the event on campus Monday, Sept. 26, followed by a panel discussion.

UWs debate team is hosting watch parties for the three presidential debates between Clinton and Trump as a way to encourage UW students to become more informed about, and involved in, the 2016 presidential election.

The first debate watch party is at 7 p.m. in the UW College of Business auditorium, with snacks being served 20 minutes before the televised event. The theme of the post-debate discussion will be political communication and how the 2016 election departs from traditional understandings of political communication, says Travis Cram, director of forensics in the UW Department of Communication and Journalism.

The first expert panel will feature Kristen Landreville, an associate professor of communication and journalism who specializes in political communication; Jason McConnell, an assistant lecturer in political science who also focuses on political communication; and Beau Bingham, the director of UWs Oral Communication Center.

It is important for students to see the original debate in full and compare what they saw to the medias spin and analysis without a filter, Landreville says.

UW senior Brooklynn Gray encourages students to attend the watch parties.

These events allow for students to create a dialogue where they are able to hear and voice opinions about what is going on in American politics right now, she says. It is helpful that the discussions will be held with similarly interested friends and peers.

For more information, email Cram at tcram@uwyo.edu.
UW Student Health Service Has Flu Shots for Students

The University of Wyoming Student Health Service again will offer seasonal flu shots for students this fall.

Students can get a flu shot at the Student Health Service without an appointment. Shots will be given weekdays from 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. This shot will protect against seasonal flu, including protection against H1N1 influenza, says Joanne Steane, UW Student Health Service director.

Cost for the flu shot is $29, and students can pay with cash, check or billed to a students account. If students have the UW-sponsored student insurance, Student Health Service will bill the insurance company for the flu shots cost. Students will receive a billing statement to submit to other insurance agencies.

Steane notes the following information about receiving a flu shot:

-- This service is offered to students who are eligible to use the Student Health Service, which includes all full-time students and those part-time students who purchased the optional student fee package.

-- Anyone who wants to decrease the risk of contracting influenza should get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone receive a flu shot.

If you get a flu shot, you will be protected against this illness that causes significant fever, muscle pain, cough and sore throat, and can lead to pneumonia and other severe complications, Steane says.

-- When receiving a flu shot, it is recommended that students wear a short-sleeved shirt. Students will need to wait 20 minutes after receiving the immunization to make certain he or she has no reaction.

-- Students are requested to read the following information before going to the clinic: www.immunize.org/vis/flu_inactive.pdf.

For more information, contact the UW Student Health Service at (307) 766-2130 or studenthealth@uwyo.edu.
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By PTI: Ahmedabad, Sep 22 (PTI) A day before the release of Bollywood film Parched, a PIL was today filed in the Gujarat High Court seeking a ban on it, claiming that it had projected the Rabari/Maldhari (cattle-breeders) community in "bad light".

Admitting the petition, a bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi issued notices to Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the films director, seeking their replies by September 27 when the case will be heard next.

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The film, featuring actress Radhika Apte in the lead role, is set to hit the theatres tomorrow.

The petitioner, Masarubhai Rabari, has sought a ban on the film as well as on its telecast.

He submitted that the official trailer of the movie was available online and pleaded that the trailer itself contained some "objectionable" scenes and dialogues which "adversely affected the honour and reputation" of his community.

Taking a strong objection to the portrayal of the community, especially the women, Rabari claimed that the film could create a "wrong impression" among the masses about the Maldhari community as it contained "semi-nude" scenes.

He also alleged that the filmmaker had portrayed the community in a "vulgar, offensive and crude manner", which had hurt the sentiments of all of its members.

He argued that public exhibition of the film could create a misunderstanding regarding his community among the masses. PTI PJT PD NRB NP NRB RC SRE

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In the final week of regular season play of NWSL, the Washington Spirit are traveling to take on the Chicago Red Stars in hopes of claiming the NWSL Shield. After a week without NWSL action due to an international break, the playoff race is back and just as intense as ever with the Red Stars trying to secure their spot for post-season.

Spirit stronger than theyve ever been

The currently first place Washington Spirit have already clinched home field advantage for next weekends playoff matches. They enter the final weekend of regular season play with 39 points, only one more than second place Portland Thorns. A win over the Red Stars will award the Spirit with the 2016 NWSL Shield, a title that has been awarded to the Seattle Reign twice in the last two consecutive seasons.

The best game plan for the Spirit is to keep playing like they have been. Their midfield is the most important part of their play, as they take care of the ball well and also build the attack with some quick one-two touches. Finding the net isnt much of a problem for the first place team either, but players to look out for are Christine Nairn, Johanna Lohman, and Katie Stengel as well as Diana Matheson off the bench.

Midfielder Danielle Colaprico will be an important part of the Red Stars attack. | @ChicagoRedStars

Chicago trying to make second playoff appearance

The Red Stars arent in the clear quite yet, seeing as the last two spots in the playoff race are still very much up for grabs. They sit at third place with 30 points, only a mere one point ahead of fourth-place Western New York Flash and three points ahead of fifth-place Seattle Reign. A win on Saturday night will give Chicago sole ownership of third place and see them through to next weekends playoffs.

Connecting passes and not hesitating or dwelling on the ball will be the biggest points for Chicago. Due to the Spirits ability to control and build from the midfield, the home team needs to make use of their players out wide. Attacking from space on the outside is the best way to go, especially with the types of players Chicago has. Outside back Arin Gilliland will be key in operating on the flank, as well as crucial midfielders Danielle Colaprico and Vanessa DiBernardo.

The Chicago Red Stars host the Washington Spirit in Toyota Park for their last game of the regular season this Saturday. Kickoff is at 8 pm Eastern Time.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) US tech giant Apple has acquired Hyderabad-based Tuplejump, a machine learning startup that helps companies store, process and visualise big data with its software.

Post the deal, two of Tuplejumps co-founders -- Rohit Rai and Satyaprakash Buddhavarapu -- have joined Apple, industry sources said.

When contacted, Apple in an emailed statement said: "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

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Artificial intelligence has become a key area of focus and investment for tech giants like Apple, Google and Facebook that are competing head-on as they develop products like virtual assistants and bots.

The Cupertino-based company is betting big on the Indian market. In July, Apple CEO Tim Cook had said that India is one of its fastest growing markets.

Earlier this year, Apple had announced setting up of a new office in Hyderabad to accelerate maps development, apart from a design and development accelerator centre in Bengaluru to support Indian developers creating innovative applications for iOS.

Besides, sales of its iconic smartphone iPhone also grew 51 per cent year-on-year in the first three quarters of this fiscal year.

Apple chief Tim Cook, who visited India in May, had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various topics, including manufacturing and setting up retail stores in the country. PTI SR PRS ABM

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Ricochet is one of the most well recognized and high profile talents in the world of professional wrestling with his ability extending far beyond the independent scene.

The 27-year-old has in the past been praised by some top names including The Rock and was ranked at number eight on our list of the top ten non-WWE wrestlers in the world.

His high flying offense and connection with Brit Will Ospreay catapulted him into the spotlight earlier this year and it seems that WWE has taken notice, but how much have an interest do they have?

The future of Ricochet

Ricochet is one of the top performers in the world (image: fightnetwork.com)

The young performer currently has the world at his feet, with him currently signed to a number of the world's top promotions but few can resist the temptations if WWE come knocking.

Rumors persist linking the 2014 Battle of Los Angeles winner with a contract under Vince McMahon with NXT his expected destination should he opt in.

However, it remains unlikely that Ricochet, at least for the near future will be going anywhere, as he is currently comfortable in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

His former promotion with whom he ended his contract with this year; Lucha Underground, presented him what was described as a "very good offer" prompting the performer to speak out in a subtle way.

On social media, via his Twitter account, he sent out the following message: "Think I just got some great news. 2017 may just be my best year to date! Not WWE."

This is presumably in reference to the opportunities that have been presented to him, which at this time and according to the man itself are far from the bright lights of WWE.

Other independent wrestlers

Despite being one of the top names in the independent wrestling world, Ricochet is not the only performer linked with a move to WWE.

Tommy End and Roderick Strong are expected to sign deals soon with both men leaving their respective promotions; Westside Xtreme Wrestling and Ring of Honor.

End has or is set to report to the WWE Performance Center this month whereas Strong is still yet to put pen to paper on a deal with the promotion.


In a city that is constantly evolving, STRIPSTEAK at Mandalay Bay has remained a guest favorite. This year the popular steakhouse by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina will celebrate its 10-year anniversary.

Since the restaurant opened in 2006, its been known for being the only restaurant in Las Vegas to butter-poach the finest cuts of meat before finishing them on a Mesquite wood-burning grill. This signature cooking method creates tender, juicy steaks that have kept fans coming back for more. Since its debut, STRIPSTEAK has served more than 1.5 million guests.

Popular dishes such as the American Wagyu Ribcap, Truffled Mac n Cheese and House-made Beignets with dipping sauces are complemented with an award-winning list of more than 110 single malt scotches. Every table at STRIPSTEAK is presented with a trio of Duck Fat Fries as a complimentary amuse bouche. A true crowd pleaser, the Duck Fat Fries is the restaurants most photographed dish on social media and Yelp. As a tribute to all of the great dishes from the past and present, the restaurant will offer special dish and cocktail selections from previous menus throughout the month of October.

What a fun 10 years it has been, said Chef Michael Mina. I want to thank our amazing restaurant team who continues to execute outstanding cuisine and service nightly, our Mandalay Bay family who has been supportive since our arrival and of course, our guests who return time and again. We wouldnt be here without you. I look forward to many more good times ahead.

Beginning October 1, guests will be able to enjoy anniversary specials from the restaurants 10 successful years. Items will be available a la carte and priced from $14-$50. Michael Minas Root Beer Float, a signature dessert served at a number of the famed chefs restaurants and STRIPSTEAK favorite, the Rock n Rye cocktail will be available to order throughout October. The weekly specials are as follows:

October 1-7

Tomato Soup, served with lobster-stuffed grilled cheese

Ahi Tuna Nicoise, a classic nicoise salad with flavorful ahi tuna

Sour Cherry Margarita, made with Herradura silver tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and sour cherry syrup, topped with an Amarena cherry garnish and finished with a cherry Kool-Aid rim

Grape Fizz, created with Skyy grape vodka, grape jam, fresh lime and a splash of soda

October 8-14

Bacon-Wrapped Lobster Fritters, made with lobster, shiso leaves, butter lettuce, and Meyer lemon creme fraiche, wrapped in juicy bacon

Spinach Souffle, a savory souffle made with spinach and parmesan cheese

Claymore, made with Oban 14 single malt scotch, St. Germaine, peach Lambic beer and fresh lime served over a block of ice to achieve a perfectly chilled cocktail

Love Affair, a blend of Grey Goose LOrange vodka, Lillet Blanc and white cranberry juice

October 15-21

Foie Gras Sliders, topped with caramelized onion jus and served on brioche buns

Tomato-Dusted Onion Rings, fried onions, lightly dusted with tomatoes

Pomegranate Caipiroska, a blend of Pearl pomegranate vodka, pomegranate juice and muddled lime

Pineapple Mojito, a refreshing creation built with Mount Gay rum, Bacardi Limon rum and brown sugar muddled with pineapple and mint. Garnished with a mint sprig

October 22-31

Crab Louis Lettuce Cups, Romaine lettuce filled with crab, avocado and spicy Sriracha vinaigrette

Chicken Fried Steak, lightly battered steak, fried to a beautiful golden brown

Adult Cherry Lemonade, a refreshing mixture of Grey Goose Cherry Noir vodka, muddled Amarena cherries, and fresh lemonade, shaken together and served with an Amarena cherry garnish

Perfect 10, Tanqueray 10 gin combined with elderflower syrup and orange blossom water, served straight up with an orange peel garnish
Experience rock n roll revelry at the three floor Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas. Partake in drinks, dancing, bands and a DJ. The celebrating begins at 9pm and doesnt stop until 3am.

A $50 fee covers entrance and 1 free drink ticket. Those with a current military ID will receive free entrance, one ticket per ID. DJ Mike Carbonell, Cityzen and Playground will have the party poppin all night long. DJ Mike Carbonell will be spinning from 9-10pm, 10:30-10:45pm and closing the night from 12:30-3am. Cityzen will be performing from 10-10:30pm. Playground will be playing from 10:45-12:30am.

Featuring 42,000 square feet of pure unadulterated rock n roll, the new cafe, located next to the MGM Grand Hotel, provides three-floors of non-stop action and features the worlds largest Rock Shop. An interactive Rock Wall, interactive Microsoft Surface tables, hi-speed Internet access, a contemporary lounge and bar, and patio dining are yours to experience while enjoying an unobstructed view of the world famous Las Vegas Strip, perfect to enjo. A Hard Rock Live multi-function venue on the 2nd floor rocks with concert seating for 1000, while state-of-the-art in-house audio visual equipment offers mind blowing imagery and sound.

Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas is located on Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip) in the Showcase Mall, next to the MGM Grand and adjacent to the Monte Carlo.


Former California Governor and action star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, attended the 9:30 pm performance of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage in Las Vegas on Thursday, April 12, 2012 (Photo credit: Lauren Lubas/Cashman Photography).

Schwarzenegger, along with 6 other friends, went backstage prior to the start of the show to take a behind the scenes tour and meet some of the excited cast. During the performance, the group snacked on popcorn and sipped on Fiji water.

Schwarzenegger was only in town for the day and during his short time here was able to take in his first Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil production. When asked why he made the trip to Las Vegas he simply replied, To see LOVE.
Athiya Shetty has put an end to speculation related to her link-up with Arjun Kapoor. From Sushant Singh Rajput to Tiger Shroff, many have found their names in gossip columns related to their love lives, but more than often they claim to be just "good friends".

By India Today Web Desk: From movie dates to crazy parties to swanky lunch plans, when two young and single Bollywood actors are often spotted together, the scope of sparks flying is much more. With the reports of their growing fondness for each other, Athiya Shetty and Arjun Kapoor are rumoured to be the new couple in town. The star kids' alleged love story has caught the fancy of paparazzi as well as fans.

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ALSO READ: Are Arjun Kapoor and Athiya Shetty dating each other?

ALSO READ: Have rumoured lovebirds Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt ended their relationship?



But it was the report of them kissing at a nightclub in Mumbai that spread like wildfire. And the news of them doing a film together only added fuel to the fire. But Athiya, who made her Bollywood debut with Hero last year, has rubbished the rumours saying that she doesn't take such link-ups seriously.

In an interview to Mid-Day, Shetty said, "I laugh it off now. I am a friend of Anshula's (Arjun's sister) and that's how I know him. We aren't childhood buddies."

The Hero actor has put an end to speculation with her comment. Well, she isn't the only one who has been linked-up with other B-Town stars. From Sushant Singh Rajput to Tiger Shroff, many have found their names in gossip columns related to their love lives, but more than often they claim to be just "good friends".

Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani

Be it their secret holidays or their pairing in a music video, Disha Patani and Tiger Shroff's off and on screen chemistry cannot be missed. And this very closeness has given rise to rumours about their alleged link-up. But the two have categorically denied being in a relationship. Tiger admitted to being in love with Disha but only as a friend. He was quoted as telling a daily, "I love her, but as a friend. We are only good friends. We like spending time. We go for dance rehearsals together. I love to eat and so does she."

Sushant Singh Rajput-Kriti Sanon

As soon as Sushant Singh Rajput broke up with his long-time girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, he flew to Budapast with his Raabta co-star Kriti Sanon to shoot for the film. And immediately, the rumours of their on film sets romance got stronger. But as soon as Sushant deleted his Twitter and Instagram to stay away from the prying eyes, the smoke only got thicker. After maintaining a stoic silence, Rajput finally clarified, "I read stories about my affair with an actress. Then, it all started again when Raabta went on the floors. These stories are entertaining, but they are fictional. I am not dating anyone right now."

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Alia Bhatt-Sidharth Malhotra

Alia and Sidharth romanced on 70mm in Karan Johar's Student of The Year and soon their reel romance turned into a reality. From dinner dates to movie outings, the rumoured couple has been inseparable. However, the two have often maintained that they are nothing beyond just good friends. Alia in an interview to DNA said, "Let me just say this loud and clear I am single and Sid is a supportive and extremely important friend in my life and will always be that."

Shraddha Kapoor-Aditya Roy Kapur

Shraddha and Aditya made Bollywood fall in love once again with their 2013 film Aashiqui 2. And the crackling chemistry cast a spell on the audience. From posters to 70mm to chat shows, they were seen everywhere. And the stories of their link-up soon started to flood the tabloids. It was only this year that Shraddha clarified her stance on the rumours and told Filmfare, "We were never a couple. It was just a rumour and people got carried away with Aashiqui 2 and started believing that we were a couple. I am single, there is no change in my relationship status and no complaints either."



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Vietnams land use rights can be complicated for first time business investors. In Vietnam, land is collectively owned by people and administered by the government on their behalf. Therefore, under such a system, property owners cannot have full and legal ownership of land. Their rights are limited to land use rights permitted within the law.

Once a foreign investor has decided on Vietnam as a location to establish operations, the next significant step is identifying where and how to obtain land for their business.

Land users typically receive a land use right certificate (LURC), which shows the land users rights on the property. There are different types of land usage rights which we discuss; however, it is important to note that under current law, foreigners can retain an LURC for 50 years, while locals can have one indefinitely.

The government can choose to grant a one-time extension of another 50 years or take the land back if the party has failed to use the land under the terms and conditions of the LURC.

While this system may seem inconvenient, other countries such as the UK also employ such a system without significantly constraining investors. In fact, with a proper understanding of current regulation, leasing land in Vietnam can provide all the resources for successful investment within the country.

As per the Housing Law No. 65/2014/QH13 in 2014, foreigners in Vietnam have many of the same land rights prescribed to Vietnamese nationals subject to certain conditions.

Despite the liberalization, foreigners are still prohibited from possessing more than 30 percent of the apartments in a given building and more than 205 houses in an area where the population is that of a ward-administrative division.

Land use rights

The type of actions an investor may take in relation to the rented property largely depends on the payment schedule. An individual can either lease a piece of land and pay annual rent (called the annual arrangement) or provide the entire lease amount in one payment (called the one-off arrangement).

According to the annual arrangement, an investor is only allowed to use the land for the stated purposes and transfer assets as part of the land. With the one-off arrangement, one can transfer, sublease, or mortgage the land and involved assets. Furthermore, the government allows the opportunity to contribute capital in the form of the LURC and assets to a joint-venture (JV).

Four ways to lease land

For investors keen on leasing land in Vietnam, there are several ways to obtain land with a LURC, although the government enumerates different methods for locals and foreigners. We highlight four available methods that investors can choose from.

Method 1: The first method is through allocation, where the state allocates a LURC via an administrative decision. Land users are required to pay land use fees to the government and this option is available to investors in residential housing projects and infrastructure projects in cemeteries.

Method 2: The government leases the land to the land user where the user pays rent to the government. The rental may be paid in a lump sum or annually. This is in many ways like the customary system of renting.

Method 3: The third option is by a lease or sub-lease agreement with the landlord in an industrial zone, industrial cluster, processing zone, high-tech zone, or an economic zone. The landlord is typically a commercial enterprise that has obtained land use rights under the above two mentioned options.

Method 4: The fourth option is by an agreement on the transfer of assets that are attached to the land with an agreement ton the transfer of land use rights, a land lease agreement, or a capital contribution with an existing land user. In such cases, the investor acquiring land use rights will become the land user of the acquired land area.

Investors can choose any of these options; however, the third method is most straightforward since the landlord in the specific zone should have completed all necessary paperwork and procedures prior to renting land.

Every year, the Peoples Committee, with the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), establishes the land price based on market value. When leasing land in Vietnam, the price cannot deviate more than 20 percent from this official price.

Land can be leased from Vietnamese companies (such as a state-owned enterprise or limited liability corporation), Vietnamese citizens living abroad, or a foreign-invested company (FIC) that is leasing land from the government to develop infrastructure on the rented land.

A company can only lease land if it has obtained the land with the allocation method, unless the land was leased before July 1, 2004, and a sufficient amount of the lease has been paid. Furthermore, land can be leased for a maximum of 50 years, and 70 years in special cases.

To renew the lease, the investor has to obtain approval for an extension. Companies also have the option to rent an office in a building or lease from a company in an industrial zone or export-processing zone.

Steps required for leasing land

While leasing land does not necessarily have to be a complicated process, it is important to determine whether or not the proposed investment will gain approval before signing any rent contracts. Potential investors can obtain an Approval in Principle, which is a letter given by the provincial peoples committee  similar to a cabinet  commenting on the feasibility of the project.

It does not guarantee approval, and the committee may change their opinion about certain aspects of the project, but it is nonetheless a helpful gauge for potential investors. Subsequently, the company must obtain an investment registration certificate and an enterprise registration certificate, and then complete the land lease agreement with the peoples committee.

Finally, the company will need to submit the application to the local MONRE to get the LURC.

Selling Land

Foreigners in Vietnam have many of the same rights as Vietnamese when it comes to selling. A foreigner who is eligible for home-ownership has the ability to sell their land. The process is straightforward, but it is nonetheless important to ensure compliance with all regulations as outlined by Ministry of Construction.

There are several special cases to bear in mind:

If a foreign company owns a house for the purpose of housing employees, they are more limited in their rights  they are unable to sell or lease the house or use it as an office and can only continue to house employees;

If selling a house under a lease agreement, the lessee must be given 30 days notice and given the option to purchase the house, while the lessee must decide whether to do so within that time period; afterwards, the land may be sold to others.

Vietnams emerging real estate landscape

Despite an unequal competitive landscape, foreign developers continue to invest and acquire land rights in hopes that the government will change regulations. Foreign investors face some risk, but investors are positive about the growth of Vietnams property market.

Major investors are from China, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Thailand. In fact, in the first five months of the year, real estate was the third largest sector receiving FDI at US$1.1 billion.

Vietnam faces competition from regional competitors and will want to ensure it remains a preferred destination for foreign capital. As such, this bodes well for foreign investors wanting to enter the growing real estate sector.

Note: This article was first published in September 2016, and has been updated to include the latest developments.
The company also handed over other construction works including parking house and terrace roof to the clinic. This is among several community development initiatives that AES-VCM has supported to not only upgrade the local facilities, but also improve local healthcare services.

One of the core operation principles of our company is to maximise the economic and social benefits associated with the development of Mong Duong 2 BOT Power Plant, said David Stone, AES-VCM Mong Duong Power Companys managing director.

The total value of this healthcare programme is more than VND400 million ($20,000) where more than 400 local people of Mong Duong ward, Cong Hoa and Cam Hai communes received an intensive training on first aid skills and provided with a family first aid kits.

Kevin Pierce, manager of Mong Duong 2 Power Plant emphasised that the value of the programme is not limited to what the company provided at the training but it goes further as people take the skill and knowledge home to share with their family, friends and neighbors to raise the awareness of community healthcare.

AES-VCM Mong Duong Power Company is formed by three investors in which the US AES Corporation is the biggest investor with 51 per cent, Posco Energy Corporation from Korea (30 per cent) and China Investment Corporation from China (19 per cent). This is the first and largest coal-fired power project based on build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme using pulverised coal fired boiler technology in Vietnam. The plant is expected to generate up to 7.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

Since April 2015, both units of the power plant with the total capacity of 1,242 megawatts have entered commercial operations which is over six months earlier than the committed schedule with the Vietnamese government. The plant has contributed more than 4.2 billion kWh of electricity to the national grid in 2016.
Lion Nabha (R) looks at lioness Nova through the bars of his cage at Chittagong zoo in Chittagong on September 21, 2016 during wedding celebrations held by the zoo for them. (AFP Photo/STR)

About 400 guests attended the reception laden with balloons on Wednesday (Sep 21) for long-time resident and lioness Nova and newcomer Nabha at the Chittagong zoo in the country's south.

"This is an unusual function no doubt. And we made an effort to give a festive look to this zoo with colourful decorations to welcome the union of the lion and lioness," government administrator of Chittagong district Mesbah Uddin told AFP.

"We brought the lion named Badsha, renamed Nabha, from the Rangpur zoo to stay here with the lioness Nova for the purpose of breeding," Uddin said.

A pre-wedding party was also held for school children that included a small concert, deputy zoo curator Monjur Morshed said.

But the highlight of the festivities was a 10-kilogramme (22-pound) cake for the couple made mainly of meat that included beef, chicken, eggs and fried liver, he said.

Nova was born in Chittagong zoo about 11 years ago and has been living without a male partner for most of that time, until Badsha arrived two weeks ago.

The lions would remain in separate but adjacent cages for another three days to give them time to get used to one another, Morshed said.
Sixty per cent of Japanese investors face ongoing challenges with legal transparency, taxes, investment licence procedures and administrative reform when they invest in projects in the central region and Da Nang City. - Photo infonet.vn

Kana Miyazaki, deputy chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Ha Noi, reported these and other statistics yesterday during the annual dialogue between the Japanese Business Association in Da Nang (JBAD) and the city's leadership.

Miyazaki said 60 per cent of Japanese investors in the central region and Da Nang still complain that unclear explanations and legal definitions and complicated investment licensing procedures and tax regulations remain major barriers to attracting Japanese investors to the city.

"A recent survey of JETRO revealed that 63 per cent of the Japanese firms based in Asia planned to expand their businesses in Viet Nam due to the development potential of the Asian market. Viet Nam is a favourite investment destination among Japanese investors, with its stable political situation and cheap labour costs," Kana said.

"Central Viet Nam's attractions include favourable investment conditions, cheap labour and fast recruitment of skilled workers," she said.

Da Nang has smoothed the way for Japanese investors by setting up a Japanese Desk Da Nang team which will be available every Wednesday to support Japanese investors by explaining administrative procedures, investment licences, priority policies and other issues.

Kana said she hoped the city's administration would support Japanese investors more actively, starting from the initial investment process.

The JETRO office in Ha Noi receives 12,000 visits from Japanese investors each year, asking for investment environment information about Viet Nam.

The number of Japanese projects in information technology, retail, hospitality industry and cuisine services has been drastically increasing, especially small- and medium-sized businesses with investment capital of US$5 million each, Kana said.

Vice chairman of Da Nang city's People's Committee, Ho Ky Minh, said investment projects funded by Japanese investors helped improve the city's socio-economic development.

"Japan is the biggest investor in Da Nang, with 112 projects worth $397 million  10 per cent of the accumulated foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the city  creating 32,000 jobs for locals," Minh said.

"But the city has yet to attract huge FDI projects, so dialogue will help us speed up policy reform to attract more foreign investment in coming years," he said.

Minh said the city's leadership wants to hear detailed opinions and requirements from Japanese investors regarding the investment environment, difficulties and barriers to doing business in Da Nang.

According to JBAD, the promised apartments, shopping areas and kindergarten projects in Industrial Zones (IZs) and Industrial Parks (IPs) have yet to be developed by the city.

General manager of Tokyo Keiki Precision Technology Inc, Michio Saruhasi, said the city should speed up construction connecting Nguyen Tat Thanh road with Da Nang city's Hi-Tech Park.

"The delayed construction of the road limits us in employing workers. We can only contract 10 per cent of workers needed for our project right now," Michio said.

He said slow completion of the road also causes more transport difficulties for businesses.

General director of Da Nang Nippon Seiki Company, Moriyuki Hosokawa, said the city should build more IT buildings for Japanese IT companies' expansion projects.

"Da Nang should develop more IT parks with the best cyber security, infrastructure and high speed internet service. We also need the city's Information and Communications Department to provide rapid internet repair service within one hour - not the usual seven hours," Moriyuki said.

Da Nang University also proposes to increase enrollment in information technology training at the Technology College in 2016-20, to meet the demand for a skilled labour force for Japanese investors.

Director of the city's investment promotion centre, Le Canh Duong, said 11 barriers raised by JBAD in a dialogue last year have been completely dismantled.

"We reduced the length of time needed to grant licences for foreign employees from two weeks to eight days. Some procedures has also been conducted online to facilitate things for Japanese businesses," Duong said. "Also, the city's Customs Department now offers automatic customs clearance procedures for Japanese investors."

"Many Japanese investors agreed to build workshops to provide Japanese-style work places for companies in some industrial zones. Garbage collection and cleaning service is also done twice a week at Hoa Khanh Industrial Zone, as required of Japanese businenesses," he said.

The city will reserve a 9ha complex for developing apartments, supermarkets and 2,000 sq.m of kindergarten projects to serve IZ and IP workers in the Lien Chieu district in 2017-20.

Da Nang will subsidise 50 per cent of van rental costs for investors transporting workers from the city centre to IZs and IPs. Bus routes are planned for 2020.

The city has developed an Information Park on 344ha of land in Hoa Vang District and an IT park on 55.6ha nearby, where space has been reserved for IT investors from Japan.

The city also plans to build an industrial park for small- and medium-sized businesses from Japan on 134ha.

Da Nang will begin construction of the Japan-Viet Nam Culture Centre in Ngu Hanh Son District and launch a new direct flight from Da Nang to Osaka in October.
Egyptians gather at Rosetta during a search operation after a boat carrying migrants capsized in the Mediterranean, (Photo: AFP)

Survivors said up to 450 migrants were on board the fishing vessel when it sank about 12 kilometres (eight miles) off the coast of Rosetta, an Egyptian Mediterranean port city, on Wednesday morning.

The military has said 163 survivors have been rescued so far, with a health ministry official saying 51 bodies had been retrieved by Thursday afternoon.

An AFP correspondent saw a military boat bringing six bodies to shore on Thursday, laying them out in body bags. One contained the corpse of a child. His grandfather recognised him and knelt next to the body, in shock.

Rescuers said search operations would focus on the boat's cold storage room where witnesses said around 100 people 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 deadly 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 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 early Thursday. 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.

"There was 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."

FOUR DETAINED

A municipal official in Rosetta told AFP that Wednesday's victims included one child, 10 women and 31 young men.

Ali Abdel Sattar said that Egyptians, Eritreans, Sudanese and Syrians were on board the vessel, which had been bound for Italy. "I just wanted to reach Europe and live a decent life," said survivor Ahmed Gamal, 17.

Judicial and security officials said Thursday that four alleged smugglers had been detained over the capsizing, 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 UN refugee agency (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.
Workers process wooden products at a local small firm. The VCCI and municipal and provincial authorities signed an agreement yesterday to jointly create a favourable business environment. - Photo baotintuc.vn

The agreement is designed to implement Government Resolution 35 on enterprise development until 2020 by simplifying administrative procedures, increasing dialogue between businesses and authorities, among others.

VCCI President Vu Tien Loc said the resolution, which went into effect in May 2016, is expected to produce more than 100,000 new companies within a year. At such speed, 150,000-200,000 new firms will debut each year and the goal of a million by 2020 will be within reach.

He also took the occasion to call on localities to launch start-up campaigns and pledge to assist enterprises in improving their competitiveness.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also head of the Central Steering Committee for Enterprise Reform and Development, said that with the signing, all 63 localities have reached a deal with the VCCI.

The Deputy PM made it clear that the Party and State appreciate businesses and businesspeople, adding that the amendments to the Law on Investment and the Enterprise Law, as well as other laws, are also meant to generate an environment conducive to business operations.

Hue suggested building an annual business development index which would include corporate revenues and workers' income.

Since the resolution was issued, more than 9,000 new firms have been established per month. Ha Noi recorded 15,530 in the past eight months and expects to have at least 400,000 by 2020.

Early this year, the PM approved a project supporting start-up ecosystem and national renovation by 2025. The Government is preparing for proposed revisions to 15 laws regarding the business environment to be submitted to the legislature for consideration, as well as a bill to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups and start-up ecosystem.

Localities were asked to attract foreign direct investment, encourage trading households to register as businesses, provide more credit for SMEs, and establish venture funds at local and central levels.
Illustrative image - File photo

According to an August financial report of Mobile World Group (MWG), the operator of the The Gioi Di Dong mobile phone store chain, MWG has had to close 22 stores at Big C supermarkets following the chains recent acquisition by a Thai firm.

The Gioi Di Dongs sales at Big C outlets were modest compared to more than 1,000 stores countrywide, so the withdrawal of its stores did not cause any significant impact on revenue growth of MWG in August, the listed enterprise told its shareholders.

Speaking to the press, MWG general director Tran Kinh Doanh said it was just a normal business agreement between the two parties.

In late April, Frances Casino Group announced it had sold its Vietnam unit to Thai conglomerate Central Group for one billion euros (US$1.14 billion). In January 2015, Power Buy, a unit of Central Groups Central Retail Corporation, also acquired a 49% at Nguyen Kim.

Therefore, industry insiders said it is not a surprise that Big C Vietnam has to adjust its business strategy and make room inside its supermarkets for Nguyen Kim.

However, some mobile retailers are still operating normally at Big C supermarkets. Yesterday, a staff at Vien Thong A said that his store was still open at Big C Go Vap in HCMC.

Shop-in-shop, or store-within-a-store, is an agreement in which a retailer rents part of retail space to run an independent store. MWG opened its first The Gioi Di Dong store at the Big C supermarket chain in the southern province of Dong Nai in March last year.

According to MWGs media relations department, the withdrawal is totally voluntary.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Destitute orphaned children from general categories should get 27 per cent reservation along with OBCs for admission in government schools and jobs, according to a resolution passed by National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC).

"The resolution was passed by the commission last week stating that those children who have lost their both parents and are below the age of 10 should be included in the OBC list and are eligible for reservation at par with all OBC castes," NCBC member Ashok Saini told PTI.

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Saini said this comes with a condition that there is no guardian to take care of these destitute orphan children and they are admitted to either government or government-aided orphanages and schools.

The copy of the resolution has been sent to the Social Justice Ministry, Saini said.

According to sources, the NCBC proposal will be considered at the top-most political authority level and it may require a Cabinet approval.

Tamil Nadu, which has already been giving reservation to the destitute orphaned children under the state OBC list for the last three years, has also requested the Centre to include orphans in the central OBC list.

Besides Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Rajasthan are two states which have included orphans and destitute children in the central OBC list.

In a similar move, the NCBC had earlier recommended for reservation to the transgenders under the existing 27 per cent quota meant for OBCs.

But, the ministry dropped the provision after protests from OBC groups, and there was no mention of reservation for transgenders in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha last month. PTI JTR PMS RT PMS

--- ENDS ---
The price of Sai Gon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Joint Stock Company (Sabeco) shares have soared in recent days on the over-the-counter (OTC) market after the company announced its listing plan on the HCM Stock Exchange. - Photo cafef.vn

The number of offers to buy shares of Viet Nam's biggest beer producer have perked up rapidly since early this week with the bid volume reaching over one million shares a day.

The tender prices are currently around VND100,000-102,000 (US$4.48-4.57) per share, up 25 per cent over August.

Increased investor interest was attributed to Sabeco's listing plan this year.

Last week, Sabeco asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to debut its shares on the HCM Stock Exchange in the future. The company said it was working with a consulting securities firm and the procedures would take at least two months to be completed.

Shares of Sabeco is being traded on the OTC market, a decentralised and off-exchange trading floor where stocks are traded through a dealer network.

In August, the Government asked Sabeco and Ha Noi Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Joint Stock Company (Habeco), the country's two biggest breweries, to list their shares on the local stock exchange, saying it is "mandatory" for State-owned enterprises to list on the stock market after equitisation.

Both Sabeco and Habeco madeinitial public offerings in 2008.

According to the divestment plan, the State will sell its entire 82 per cent of capital, equivalent to VND9 trillion at the Habeco this year.

As for Sabeco, the divestment will consist of two tranches in which around 54 per cent of capital will be sold this year while another 36 per cent will be put up on sale in 2017, after Sabeco shares are listed on the stock exchange.

Based on OTC prices, Sabeco is valued at around VND65 trillion and the divestment value amounts to VND57.5 trillion, or $2.6 billion.

In the OTC market, the bid prices of Habeco are around VND47,000 and VND48,000 a share, slightly higher than that in early August.

Sabeco and Habeco hold a combined market share of 60 per cent in the local beer market.

The local beer market has seen an annual growth rate of 35-40 per cent in recent years. Viet nam is forecast to consume 4.04 billion litres of beer in 2016, the highest in the ASEAN region.
Earlier, on September 9, equal funds were provided to Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. The program is expected to popularise new, more inclusive and interactive teaching and learning methods at universities.

Education and healthcare are the key sectors of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, through which we invest for the development of Vietnam and display our gratitude for the local societys kind support, expressed Hyun Woo Bang, Samsung Vietnams senior vice president and chief relations officer.

The Smart School initiative closely follows the Ministry of Education and Trainings directive on educational innovation programmes.

Samsung Smart School was developed and implemented through the consultations with high-profile experts from the educational organisation HAIVN (Health Advancement in Vietnam), which includes alumni from Beth Israel Medical Center Deaconess and Harvard Medical School.

Grants provided to universities within the Smart School Programme include hardwarekitting out interactive classrooms with modern equipment, such as Interactive White Board (IWB), Galaxy Tab A 9.7, as well as Internet system connected to a server, and extremely convenient and advanced accessories.

The second component of the grant is lesson content creation using specialised software and training tools for teachers and students that familiarize them with the new teaching and learning model.

Interactive lessons can now be presented with various illustrations, such as images, sounds, video clips, and movies. Besides, complex 3D images for medical students, such as histology and musculature models in the human body that are free to handle through 'strip,' 'separate,' and 'rotate' features, will allow students to visually observe.

It is so much closer to reality compared to the previous theoretical lectures. No wonder we find it inspiring and easy to grasp this knowledge, said Nguyen Huong Lan, a second-year student joining the trial Smart School class at Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

In addition to entertaining and convenient technology, the Smart School system utilises the Team-based Learning method developed by Dr. Larry K. Michaelsen, Professor Emeritus of Management at the University of Oklahoma in the US.

Advanced technological equipment and teaching methods together will set the first steps to innovate education in Vietnam. We, therefore, truly appreciate Samsungs great contribution to this promising development, said Associate Prof. Nguyen Van Son, principal of Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
This schedule was included in the equitisation plan designed for Song Da Corporation by the Ministry of Construction, along with criteria to choose strategic investors. The plan is awaiting the prime ministerial approval, according to newswire Vneconomy.vn.

Accordingly, Song Da Corporation will issue 450 million shares, equalling an 18.82 per cent stake, at the initial price of VND10,000 ($0.45) per unit.

The corporation expects to acquire VND2.89 trillion ($129.7 million) in revenue and VND160 billion ($7.2 million) in pre-tax profit in 2016 after the sales.

Previously, Song Da Corporation planned to launch its initial public offering (IPO) in July 2016, but was forced to delay by circumstances.

Regarding the strategic investors, the criteria stipulate that candidates have to register to buy at least 5 per cent of the 30 per cent stake set aside for strategic investors. In addition, aspiring investors must have experience and capacity in the sectors of electricity, construction, and real estate. It is particularly important for candidates to have a total asset value of at least VND1 trillion ($44.9 million) as of 2015 and an equity of VND300 billion ($13.5 million). In addition, candidates must operate with profit and without bad debts.

The equitisation of the corporation will occur in the context of its massive losses. Notably, according to the companys financial report, its debts of VND10.2 trillion ($457.6 million) far outweighed its equity of VND2.6 trillion ($116.7 million) at the end of 2015.

Earlier in August, Song Da Corporation reportedly sold its entire 53.04 per cent holding, equalling 26.1 million shares, in Vietnam-Italy Steel Company (VIS).

The VIS shares were traded at VND12,800 ($0.57) apiece, bringing the transaction value over VND334 billion ($14.85 million).

Since November 2015 Song Da Corporation had registered three times to sell its entire holding in VIS , but transactions were not successful as the payment of the steel producer's share prices were not high enough.

Established in 1961, Song Da Corporation specialises in developing thermal power plants, traffic infrastructure, industrial factories, and real estate projects as well as manufacturing construction materials.
The Chi initiative, launched in 2014 by TRAFFIC and Intelligentmedia with the aim to instill in wealthy Vietnamese men the habit of zero tolerance of consumption and trade of wildlife, has entered its second phase. Nguyen Xuan Phu, chairman of Sunhouse Group and ambassador of the initiative, talked to VIRs Hong Anh about his plan to raise awareness of wildlife protection among businesspeople in Vietnam. Why did you agree to become the ambassador for the Chi initiative? Chi is a very creative public relations campaign built on the Vietnamese cultural concept of Chi, targeting the primary users of rhino horn, namely wealthy urban men between the ages of 35 and 55. The overarching message of Chi drives the concept that success, masculinity, and good fortune come from an individuals strength of character and cannot be found externally in a piece of horn. It encourages wealthy businessmen to demonstrate their Chi by pioneering corporate social responsibility and wildlife protection. The new phase of Chi, launched in 2016, builds on this foundation, but suggests an even more powerful concept: Vuong tu Chi, Lui vi sung, which roughly translates to Prosper through inner strength, invite hardship with rhino horn. It continues to call on individual businessmen to lead their community and take a stand against the consumption of rhino horn in their personal lives and business networks. With such aims, this campaign is very meaningful and beneficial to the community. It is suitable for us businesspeople and Im very proud to join in as an ambassador. What are your tasks as an ambassador? As an active member of numerous business associations, such as the Hanoi Young Entrepreneurs Association and the Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprise Association, I hold events to cultivate in others a habit of zero tolerance towards consumption and trade of wildlife. I will ask other companies to work with Sunhouse Group in promoting wildlife protection. The initiative does not only help businesses to avoid risks but also improves their reputation and standing which are key to sustainable development. Wildlife protection is not only a responsibility of each individual but of the whole community. I hope you will join me in this meaningful campaign. Do you think the Art & Your Social Status event is going to be an effective way to get the message across? I think the event is very creative. It broadens participants awareness and is a way for businesspeople, artists, and the general public to once again commit to showing zero tolerance towards the consumption and trade of wildlife. The event will propagate belief within the business community that sophistication is shown through the appreciation of art and not the consumption of rhino horn.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Britain plans to trigger Article 50, the formal process for leaving the European Union, early next year. (AFP/Timothy A. Clary)

"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 Britain's Sky News television in New York.

Prime Minister Theresa May has previously said only that Britain would not trigger Article 50 before the end of this year.

Doing so would mark the formal start of a two-year negotiation period for Britain to leave the EU following its referendum vote in June to pull out of the 28-nation bloc.

However May's Downing Street office distanced the government from Johnson's comments. "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," a spokesman said.

And Johnson, who spearheaded the Leave campaign for Brexit, was dogged by claims from one of his own Foreign Office junior ministers that he only did so to position himself to take over as prime minister.

Europe minister Alan Duncan said he did not believe Johnson really wanted Britain to leave the EU at all.

"I've always thought that Boris's wish was to lose by one (vote) so that he could be the heir apparent", without having to deal with "clearing up all the mess", Duncan told the BBC.

May succeeded fellow Remain-backer David Cameron as leader of the governing centre-right Conservatives, and therefore prime minister, in July.

TRADE-OFF 'BALONEY'

In New York, Johnson indicated he did not think the Brexit negotiations would need the full two years to be completed. "I don't think we will actually necessarily need to spend a full two years but let's see how we go," he said.

Johnson also hit out at suggestions that Britain would have to continue to allow free movement of people with the EU if it wanted to maintain access to the European 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."

And he insisted that even after Brexit, Britain would still play a role in pan-European defence and security matters.

"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.

Meanwhile in London, May was meeting with Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, who urged her to trigger Article 50 as soon as possible.

"This period of preparation is valuable for all concerned and while we are going to leave the European Union, we are not leaving Europe," said May as she welcomed him to her Downing Street office.

"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."

Before the meeting, Schulz said in a statement that the final deal between Britain and the EU needed to be good for all sides, while the four freedoms of the single market - goods, capital, services and persons - were all equally important.

"The European Parliament favours the earliest possible triggering of Article 50," he said.
Truong Ho Phuong Nga, 29, of Vietnamese and Russian nationality, told a court in Ho Chi Minh City such massive amount of money was agreed upon by the two in forming a love contract, rather than result of a fraud.

Nguyen Duc Thuy Dung, 27, introducing as Ngas best friend, also stood at the same court as her accomplice in the case. The victim had transferred the money into the account of Dung instead of Nga.

In 2015 Nga, who was crowned at a pageant held for Vietnamese beauties in Moscow in 2007, was arrested on fraud charges, after a wealthy businessman only known as C.T.M. denounced her for cheating him of VND16.5 billion ($736,607).

Nga had fooled the man into paying the money in different installments to buy several houses at prices cheaper than on the market, but no transactions ever proceeded.

The house buying offers were made after Nga and M. had been in a romantic relationship for three years from 2012, before she knew that the man is already married.

The accused told today court that even though she had made a written receipt for the VND16.5 billion sum to buy houses for M., the document was in fact an agreement that [I] would live with him without getting married.

Nga said she had demanded such a guarantee from M. as she did not want him to divorce his wife, but he should have proof for his love for me.

The beauty asserted that the money transfer was done totally voluntarily from the businessmans side.

Ngas testimony at court is however against what she previously said when interrogated by police following her arrest in March 2015. At that time, Nga admitted to having received the massive amount of money to help M. buy some houses at cheap prices.

At the Wednesdays court, the beauty said she had made such confession under pressure because M. then threatened to defame her as involving in prostitution if she did otherwise.

Asked why she insisted M. transfer money into the account of Dung instead of her own, Nga said as a member of the show business, she did not want to attraction attention with too much money in her account.

In the meantime, Dung told the court that everything Nga said is true, adding that the VND16.5 billion is the fee for the love contract between the two.

The court is poised to make ruling on Thursday.

At 11, Nga moved with her family to Russia, where she grew up and enrolled in a university in Moscow, media reports said.

Ten years later, she returned home and embarked on an artistic career as a model and actress.

She has starred in several films and music videos shot in Vietnam.
Photo by IDAHO STATESMAN

Protesters holding anti-Donald Trump, pro-Hillary Clinton and third-party option signs chanted, Show us your taxes, on Thursday across the street from the Jackson Jet Center at the Boise Airport in Idaho. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps son, Donald Trump Jr., made a quick stop in Boise on behalf of his father. Trump and Clinton will debate Monday.
Even the swing states where Trump and Clinton are tied arent enough to hand him a win
By PTI: Coimbatore, Sept 23 (PTI) A state-wide dawn to dusk bandh called today by Hindu Munnani in protest against the alleged murder of its spokesperson turned violent and targeted police, as some miscreants torched a police vehicle in Thudiyalur on the city outskirts.

Hindu Munnani spokesperson Sarikumar was returning home last night when he was allegedly murdered by four persons, riding two motorcycles, prompting the Munnani to announce a state-wide dawn to dusk bandh.

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Nearly 500 workers gathered outside the Big Bazaar Street Police station after five Munnani workers were arrested this morning. They were demanding their release and accused police of failing to nab the accused.

The situation, however, was brought under control by City Police Commissioner, A Amalraj, who rushed to the spot and assured the release of the arrested workers, after which the activists dispersed.

Meanwhile, a police head constable, Bala, was injured when two groups indulged in stone pelting in Kottaimedu in the city over closure of shops in the area.

However, the crowd was dispersed after a cane charge.

As Sarikumars body, with 11 sickle injuries, was reaching his residence, some miscreants put on fire a police vehicle in Thudiyalur on Mettupalayam Road and also targeted media persons, covering the funeral procession.

Three police personnel sustained burn injuries in the incident. Fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot to douse the flame.

Following reports of police vehicles being targeted, Amalraj and District Collector, T N Hariharan rushed to the spot, police sources said.

Amid reports of torching of cars, some miscreants allegedly indulged in arson and ransacked a few shops.

Also, there were reports that some miscreants have hurled petrol bombs at three places in the city, escalating tension in the city, police said.

However, with additional police force from nearby Tirupur, police are keeping strict vigil to bring the situation under control, they said. PTI NVM SMJ KK

--- ENDS ---
Photo by ASSOCIATED PRESS

Attorney Steve Forester, with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, second from right, speaks about a ruling by the Obama administration that routine removals of undocumented Haitian immigrants will resume Thursday during a news conference at the Haitian Women of Miami center in Miami. Many Haitians have been traveling through Central America and Mexico to cross into the United States.


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Almost six months after prohibition was imposed in Bihar, there are hardly any takers for Nitish's suggestion to turn liquor shops into milk parlours.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of imposing prohibition in the state had suggested the liquor shop owners to turn their shops into milk parlors in a bid to escape immediate unemployment. However, almost six months after prohibition was imposed in Bihar, there are hardly any takers for Nitish's noble suggestion.

In April, Nitish had announced those running liquor shops could open milk parlours under Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation Ltd. (COMFED), which sells 'Sudha' brand milk products.

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India Today in a bid to get a ground reality whether liquor shops which were functioning before prohibition have really turned into milk parlors. The outcome was somewhat surprising. Reality checks were done in Patna, Chapra, Saharsa, Gaya and Darbhanga but it was only in Gaya where we found a person in fact turning his liquor shop into milk parlour.

Also read: Bihar CM now wants MP liquor-free, to launch prohibition drive on September 16



"I had a liquor shop here in Bodh Gaya where there is Vishnupadh temple. People used to come here earlier to buy liquor. However, after prohibition was imposed, I thought that since there was a temple nearby, why not open a milk parlor. Now I am selling milk products in the shop where earlier I used to sell liquor," said Deepak Kumar, owner of the milk parlour in Bodh Gaya.

6,000 SHOPS SHUT AFTER PROHIBITION



However, there are not many like Deepak who have in fact opened milk parlour in their liquor shops. After prohibition was imposed, more than 6,000 shops across the state have been shut down. In fact, most of the liquor shop owner have refused to turn their shops into milk parlours. However, there are others who have started different business in their liquor shops.

Also read: Bihar assembly passes prohibition bill, now awaits Governor's assent



"We were involved in the liquor business but now we have opened a motor parts shops in the liquor shop. The government had promised to help us open milk parlours but they have done nothing till now", said Manoj Kumar, a former liquor shop owner in Darbhanga.

LIQUOR STORE OWNERS' STRUGGLE



"Earlier there used to be long queue in front of my liquor shop before prohibition but after prohibition was imposed, I was compelled to open a mobile shop in my liquor shop for an earning. I don't have much idea of milk parlour business", said Manoj Kumar who now runs a mobile store in Chapra.

Also read: Bihar: 10 police officers suspended for not implementing prohibition law



Prohibition in the state is causing a revenue loss of about Rs. 5000 crore and also rendered several unemployed. However, Bihar's CM's dhoodh-dahi offer does not appear lucrative to the former liquor shop owners as they think that the high profit margin that was in sale of liquor is definitely not in selling milk products.

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Also read: Bihar: JD(U)-RJD face-off over stricter prohibition laws in upcoming monsoon session





--- ENDS ---
More than half of the refugees who are resettled in the U.S. each year come from agricultural backgrounds. And they are bringing valuable farming skills as they rebuild their lives in their new communities. VOAs June Soh met some of the refugee farmers who are planting new roots in Charlottesville, Virginia. Faith Lapidus narrates.
U.S. politicians have to tread carefully on the issue of violent protests following the fatal police shootings of two more African-Americans. It is especially true of the presidential candidates, who don't want to alienate African-American voters by siding with the police or antagonize others by criticizing law enforcement actions. The safest thing to express is condolences to the family and friends of the black men recently killed in North Carolina and in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Zlatica Hoke has more.
Police in Washington gave the all-clear signal Friday afternoon after investigating reports of a vehicle containing a possible explosive device parked a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.

Police and security personnel sealed off streets near the vehicle, about one city block from VOA's Washington headquarters.

Bomb squad robots were used to investigate the vehicle. Police could be seen taking an industrial-size drum out of the vehicle.

They found nothing suspicious.

The investigation caused traffic tie-ups in the area near the Capitol, just a few blocks from where the dedication of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture is to take place Saturday morning.
Afghan security forces are engaged in fierce battles with Taliban insurgents over a besieged southern provincial capital that stands in the way of the Taliban's attempt to carve a direct military route into central Afghanistan.

Taliban militants have blocked the critical Kandahar-Uruzgan highway, leaving the city of Tarin Kot in central Uruzgan province with few Afghan enforcements and dwindling supplies. Several police checkpoints on the highway have fallen to the Taliban, but U.S. bombers have been aiding Afghan forces.

If the Taliban efforts succeed, even temporarily, analysts say that would be a significant defeat for the Afghan government, giving the insurgents easy access to several nearby provinces. The Kabul government's forces have been making steady gains against militants in southern Afghanistan, and are trying to contain any Taliban move toward the capital.

"Tarin Kot is a strategic location for the Taliban," Wahid Muzhda, a Kabul-based Taliban expert told VOA. "They want to create a safe corridor for their movement to central and northern parts of Afghanistan."

Taliban close to city center

Armed with rocket launchers, Taliban fighters in recent days overran several government outposts, including one on Thursday that is a kilometer from the provincial governor's office in the center of the city, local sources told VOA.

The commander of Afghan armed forces in the southern zone, Major General Daoud Shah Wafadar, told VOA that 89 security checkpoints in the province have fallen to the Taliban since fighting began this month. Afghan Special Forces led by General Abdur Razeq have arrived in Tarin Kot to help suppress the Taliban attacks, according to Afghan media reports.

The battles intensified days after Afghan security forces claimed to have repulsed a major Taliban assault on the capital. Both sides have suffered heavy casualties, and at least eight Afghan policemen died in an errant U.S. airstrike Monday.

According to security officials in Uruzgan, 50 or more Taliban insurgents have been killed since Thursday night. At least 22 Afghan security personnel also died.

An Afghan security official told VOA's Afghan service on the condition of anonymity that the Taliban kidnapped and killed nine soldiers. Their bodies were dumped throughout the city, according to local residents.

Uruzgan police chief dismissed

The government in Kabul removed the police chief of Uruzgan for "incompetent management," according to an Uruzgan provincial official who asked not to be identified, after the chief ordered police personnel at several checkpoints to flee without showing any resistance to the Taliban.

A spokesperson for the provincial governor told VOA that three weeks of battle have displaced thousands of residents. Others are being used as human shields by the Taliban, he added, a move that compels Afghan forces to slow their counterattacks.

If Tarin Kot falls to the Taliban, the militants will multiply their regional influence, analysts say. Uruzgan province borders Kandahar, Helmand and Ghazni provinces, where the Taliban already have a public presence.

A possible Taliban target is the nearby Kajaki hydroelectric dam, which generates 33 megawatts of power and irrigates 1,800 square kilometers of agricultural land. The Afghan government, with U.S. funds, has several projects underway to expand the dam's capacity.

Effect on opium trade

Southwest of Tarin Kot, Taliban launched multiple attacks on Helmand's capital, Lashkargah, after capturing several of its districts last month. Helmand, the center of opium poppy production in Afghanistan, accounts for more than 90 percent of the world's opium.

"They [Taliban] also want to control the Sangin district, where the global prices of opium are determined," said Taliban watcher Muzhda, referring to a key area for opium smuggling.

Tarin Kot also borders restive Zabul province, which borders tribal regions in Pakistan where Taliban militants have been receiving help from foreign fighters. The insurgents also pass through Zabul province area as they bring their wounded fighters into Pakistan for treatment, according to Afghan government and media reports.
A peace deal signed with a notorious Afghan warlord is opposed by some political figures and rights groups who worry about its impact on the countrys fledgling democracy.

Thursday's agreement opens a new chapter for Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who fought against the Soviet Union in the 1980s and whose fighters were once beneficiaries of CIA support. He was later accused of abuses during Afghanistan's brutal civil war in the 1990s and designated as a terrorist by the United States in 2003 for his support of al-Qaida.

Political analysts say concerns over the warlord's return to politics are legitimate, and much depends on how he acts going forward.

Michael Semple, an Afghanistan expert at Queen's University Belfast's Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice, voiced optimism about the peace deal, telling VOA that Hekmatyar can play a positive role in Afghanistan if Hekmatyar distances himself from the political mindset of the 1980s and 1990s and embraces democratic change.

"In the period when Hekmatyar was one of the key stakeholders in Afghanistan, there was no genuine democratic politics; there was no guarantees for the rights of the population; the only way the people were able to conduct their politics was through forces, violence and often through conspiracies. Those are no longer necessary; they no longer offer a way for somebody to advance in politics," Semple added.

To have a positive role in the political future of Afghanistan, Semple says Hekmatyar should "do politics without resorting to force."

Old foes wary

Following the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union, Hekmatyar attracted followers across Afghanistan to fight against a Russian-backed regime in the country, but also provoked tough opponents among other militant factions, who repeatedly clashed over territorial control.

In the past 15 years, however, most of the warlords who fought Hekmatyar during the civil war of the 1990s have gained high-ranking positions in the internationally-backed government in Afghanistan. Some of them still oppose him, and objected to signing a peace deal with him.

Lisa Curtis, a South Asia expert at The Heritage Foundations Asian Studies Center, says their opposition comes from both their history of animosity, and wariness about the political power he could wield.

"I think it is both: fear and hatred," she said. "Look, the U.S. has enlisted him a specially designated terrorist leader. He has been involved in attacks, involved U.S. casualties. So, this is somebody that has a really very bad track record in the country."

Considering the complexity of political conflict in Afghanistan, she says, the implementation of the peace deal with Hekmatyar will experience ups and downs.

Despite the catastrophic records of warlords such as Hekmatyar in Afghanistan, Curtis believes that the peace deal is a good first step for Afghanistan to gradually rid itself of decades of intractable conflict and move towards stability.

"We should focus on moving Afghanistan beyond its troubled history, which of course includes human rights abuses and inexcusable violence by several different actors," Curtis said, adding that the peace deal could move Afghanistan toward a better future.

Following the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001, Hekmatyar, then living in self-exile in Iran, apparently returned to Afghanistan, where he opposed both politically and militarily the internationally-backed regime in Afghanistan and on several occasions, claimed responsibility for lethal attacks in Afghanistan.

However, in the past 15 years, the Taliban and its affiliated groups such as the Haqqani Network, were responsible for most of the violence across Afghanistan -- not Hekmatyars group.

Given Hekmatyar's comparatively diminished military strength in the past 15 years, Semple from Belfast Queen's University's Institute believes that the peace deal with him is most significant in how it serves as an example for others. He says that if Hekmatyar, a prominent Islamic leader, has joined peace, many could ask why not others -- including the Taliban?

Omar Samad, a U.S.-based former Afghan diplomat who has actively supported the anti-Hekmatyar group Jamiat-Islami, is skeptical about a positive outcome of the peace deal. Like Semple, he argues that Hekmatyars next move could have an impact on the viability of broader peace efforts.

"His [Hekmatyar] background is known as a fundamentalist, leading a faction during the Soviet occupation. Then [he] became embroiled in domestic warfare, and then somehow defeated by new forces and became less relevant. This time, there are some indications that he may be more inclined to his ethnic identity to pursue politics," Samad told VOA.

He said in the coming weeks and months, Hekmatyar will show whether he follows his fundamentalist stance or he is reformed and willing to play by the new rules.

Among other western nations, the United States welcomed the peace agreement with Hekmatyar.

"We applaud both parties for seeking a peaceful resolution through political dialogue and negotiation, and we commend the agreement as an important demonstration of the Afghan governments commitment to restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan," the White House said in a statement.

For now, analysts point to the deal as removing one militant group that had been working against the internationally-backed Afghan government.

"The more conspirators, the more people resorting to force, the more difficult it is to maintain stability in Afghanistan," said Michael Semple.
As authorities and fishermen drag bodies  many badly decayed  from the sea, the death toll from a migrant boat that capsized off Egypt's shores this week continues to rise.



More than 145 bodies have been pulled from the water, according to Egyptian state media, and many are women and children. At least one infant is among the dead, according to the International Organization for Migration.

On the beach where the dead lay before being transported to the morgue, distraught families searched Friday for their loved ones.



I knew he was dead and was just looking for the body, Saman, the father of one young man killed in the wreck, tells VOA by phone, weeping. People were congratulating me for finding his body. That is the most hope we have here.



Some rescued, many missing



On Wednesday, more than 160 people were rescued in the hours after the vessel, an old fishing boat, overturned not far from Rosetta, or Rashid, a port city where the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea.



The boat was believed to be carrying between 450 and 600 people, and the search for victims is ongoing.



They were Africans, Syrians and Egyptians, explains Atef Badr, a reporter with the newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm, who is on the scene. Many were teenagers.



Minors have a better chance of achieving legal status in Europe, he says, so many families send their sons before they are 18 years old. Passengers paid local smugglers about $4,500 for a spot on the boat bound for Italy, which was intended to hold only about 300 people, according to Badr.



Other families are still unable to locate or identify the bodies of their loved ones, adds Saman, and there are not enough plastic bags to cover the bodies.



Hospital officials believe at least one smuggler is among the victims and four people were arrested Thursday in connection with the wreck.



My son was supposed to travel to find his future, says Saman.

Migrant deaths at sea



More than 3,500 people have died in the Mediterranean Sea this year alone, not including about 100 of the bodies still being counted here in Egypt, according to the IOM.



Despite the danger at sea and increasing hostility towards migrants in Europe, people continue to flee wars, terrorism and crushing poverty in the Middle East and Africa. More than 300,000 people have made the journey this year, the IOM says.



The Egyptian government has recently cracked down on smuggling operations, arresting more than 4,500 foreign nationals this year for attempting to depart Egypts northern coast. However, migrants seeking refuge in Europe continue to leave Egypt at increasing rates, rising from 4 to 9 percent of arrivals in Italy as of July 2016, according to the U.N. refugee agency.



Most of those arrested are freed within two weeks, and "many attempt to depart again shortly after their release, the agency said in a Friday statement.



Potential travelers in the region say their situation is dire enough that they will attempt to cross the sea, despite Wednesdays wreck.



"It's harder than ever to find a smuggler, says Maher, a Syrian tailor who is seeking a boat out of the same town the doomed vessel departed from this week. But I'm still planning to travel as soon as possible."

Hamada Elrasam contributed to this report.

.
The police chief of the southeastern U.S. city of Charlotte, North Carolina said Friday the video recorded by police of Tuesday's shooting of an African American man will eventually be released.

"Its a matter of when and its a matter of sequence," Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference Friday. "I want to be more thoughtful and deliberate in delivering the whole story."

Separately, the family of the man, Keith Lamont Scott, released cellphone video footage that Scott's wife recorded in the moments leading up to Tuesday's fatal shooting.

The cellphone video does not show whether Scott was brandishing a gun when he was being confronted by officers; however, his wife can be heard pleading with officers not to shoot him, and for her husband to get out of his vehicle. As the standoff continues, she is heard insisting he is unarmed, as police demand Scott "drop the gun." Gunshots then ring out, and Scott can be seen lying prone in the street.

Chief Putney said the case has been turned over to the State Bureau of Investigation to ensure an independent inquiry and that an arrest has been made in connection to the fatal Wednesday night shooting of a demonstrator.

Putney's remarks are consistent with Mayor Jennifer Roberts' stated desire to release to the public the police video. Roberts said earlier that she and other city officials were having discussions with the FBI and state investigators "about how soon we can release" the footage.

In Washington, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, G.K. Butterfield, continued to call for its release, telling CNN, "The public has a right to know what happened on that fateful night.

A third night of demonstrations against the police shooting in Charlotte was largely peaceful. Hundreds of people defied a midnight curfew, marching without incident in the early hours of Friday. Authorities said they had no plans to enforce the curfew as long as the protests remained peaceful.

Video showed some protesters shaking hands with smiling National Guard personnel in the early morning darkness. Tear gas was used against demonstrators at one location in Charlotte, the state's largest city, but such incidents were rare.

Police in riot gear were dispersed throughout the city.

WATCH: Live video from Friday night march

Governor Pat McCrory, a former Charlotte mayor, had earlier declared a state of emergency, and said police would arrest lawbreakers. "We cannot tolerate any type of violence...or destruction of property," McCrory said.

People from all around North Carolina joined the protests. Cherrell Brown, a Black Lives Matter activist and community organizer who goes by "Carolina Bama" on Twitter, drove from nearby Greensboro to participate in solidarity with Charlotte and the African-American community.

"This isn't new," she told VOA, referring to the protests in Charlotte and the Black Lives Matter movement in general. "This is an iteration of a movement that's been going on for 500 years - since the slaves got off the boat."

Many clergy were present at the rallies, urging calm and peace for all present. Other protesters, however, were seen arguing with preachers, claiming they didn't understand the pain Charlotte residents had suffered and that the demonstrators could not be expected to stay calm.

Protester shot Wednesday dies

A young protester who was shot Wednesday died Thursday. Justin Carr, 26, had been struck by a bullet as he stood outside a hotel in the neighborhood where the disturbances took place. Police announced they have arrested a suspect in his shooting.

The shooting of Carr 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. More than 30 people were injured after protests turned violent.

Carr's death was the first fatality recorded since Scott was shot.

Police said Scott was holding a gun when they shot him. His family said Scott may have been simply carrying a book he was reading. Police said they found no book at the scene. A photo taken from some distance appears to show a gun on the ground not far from the car. It was not clear whose gun it was.

Police said officers were looking for someone else when they saw Scott get out of the car with a gun, and that an officer fired after Scott ignored warnings to drop the weapon.

Video reportedly unclear

Police refused to release to the public any video recordings of the shooting, but they screened the images Thursday for family members who said it was unclear what, if anything, was in Scott's hands.

Comments by Charlotte's police chief also indicated it was difficult to establish exactly what happened from the police video, since it came from a camera in a cruiser some distance from the confrontation between Scott and the officers who stopped him.

Attorney Justin Bamberg, representing the Scott family, told reporters late Thursday that the family wants the video released to the public immediately. Police Chief Putney said earlier that he would not release the recording unless he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so.

The North Carolina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union also has called for the swift release of any and 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."

Corine Mack, president of the NAACPs Charlotte-Mecklenburg branch, said the video's release would bring transparency to the investigation .

It really doesnt matter if he had a gun, Mack said. Showing he had a gun doesnt prove he was guilty of anything. It is legal to openly carry guns in North Carolina.

The U.S. Justice Department is sending a group of trained peacekeepers to Charlotte to help resolve any conflicts. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the chief U.S. law enforcement officer, urged citizens Thursday to choose a path of reconciliation.

"Too many times weve 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.
For days after police fatally shot a man in Charlotte, North Carolina, the community took to the streets in protest. Clashes turned violent with at least one person dead Wednesday, but Thursday was a new day with a new outlook and new hope. Arash Arabasadi reports.
Long a Rival, Ted Cruz Endorses Trump in US Presidential Race

In an abrupt shift, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz endorsed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday, saying he is the only candidate who can stop Democrat Hillary Clinton from winning the White House on Nov. 8.

"A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you don't want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him," the former Republican presidential candidate said in a lengthy statement.

Cruz, a senator from Texas who is a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement, was one of Trump's last challengers for the Republican presidential nomination to drop out of the race.

When Cruz addressed the Republican National Convention in July in Cleveland, where Trump accepted the nomination, he declined to endorse Trump and was essentially booed off stage by the New York businessman's supporters.

During the heated primary battle, Trump had insulted Cruz's wife, Heidi, for her physical appearance and suggested that the senator's father was linked to President John F. Kennedy's assassin.

"Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way," Cruz said.
Syria announced a fresh, major offensive against besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Thursday, as foreign ministers met and failed again in New York to agree on any diplomatic plan to try to stop the war.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry emerged from the meeting, held in a Manhattan hotel, saying he was "frustrated," but that he did not want to close the door on the cease-fire plan for Syria he brokered earlier this month in Geneva with his Russian counterpart.

"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's the only way to ease the suffering and it's the only way to make possible the restoration of a united Syria," Kerry said. If the process fails, he warned, "this catastrophic situation is going to get even worse."

Kerry made his comments to reporters, from whom he took no questions, after the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) convened for a second time this week in New York City amid increasing pessimism about the fate of Syria.

'Only path forward'

The U.S. secretary of state said there was near unanimity in the ISSG meeting "that this process is the only viable path forward."

U.S. officials who were in the room, speaking on condition they not be named, described Thursday's 2-hour meeting as "pretty contentious." And the United Nations' Syria mediator, Staffan de Mistura, said it was "long, painful and disappointing."

Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, emerging from the multinational discussion, said "nothing happened" in the talks.

Kerry said the U.S. "exchanged ideas with the Russians, and we plan to consult [Friday] with respect to those ideas"; if the Russians come back with constructive proposals, he added, "We will listen." But a senior U.S. official said no meeting is scheduled for Friday and "the ball is very much in the Russians' court."

Discord over airstrikes

Another senior American official characterized the diplomacy as now approaching "a climactic stage" and declined to speculate on what would happen if there is no meeting of minds between U.S. and Russian diplomats.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault demanded that planes attacking Syrian civilians be grounded. He said the response from Damascus' top ally, Russia, "was not satisfying."

Iran, another strategic ally of Syria, also opposes a cessation of airstrikes.

"If you ground flights, you are aiding the terrorists," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told reporters at a hotel across the street from the United Nations.

Analysts' pessimism deepens

Hours earlier, at a congressional hearing in Washington, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain said sarcastically that President Barack Obama had sent his "intrepid but delusional secretary of state to tilt yet again at the windmill of cooperating with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin."

But U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter defended Kerry before the committee for "working so tirelessly to see an arrangement which, if implemented, would ease the suffering."

Analysts are increasingly pessimistic.

"As conditions on the ground in Syria take another downward turn and as diplomatic attempts to rescue the U.S.-Russia agreement take an increasingly strained stance, I've chosen to take a critical look back," Middle East Institute senior fellow Charles Lister told VOA.

"The U.S. approach to tackling the Syrian crisis has resolutely failed, and our insistence on working with troublesome actors while focusing on symptoms rather than root causes is leading us further down a dangerous path," Lister said.

Debate over aid convoy attack

The ISSG is led by Russia and the United States, whose top diplomats on Wednesday presented sharply contrasting views at the United Nations about Monday's lethal attack on a 31-truck aid convoy into Syria from Turkey.

The attack, which one U.N. official said could be considered a "war crime," prompted a temporary suspension of aid shipments into Syria and threatened to destroy the tenuous cease-fire devised by Moscow and Washington.

The United States says Russian or Syrian Su-24 planes hit the U.N. convoy as it was unloading supplies at a warehouse west of Aleppo. The Russians have denied any responsibility, while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in an interview with The Associated Press, blamed "militants" and "terrorists."

Attempts to deliver aid resumed Thursday with U.N. trucks carrying food, medicine and other supplies for 35,000 people arriving in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus.

U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland is appealing to Assad to "do your bit to enable us to get to eastern Aleppo and also the other besieged areas."

Egeland noted that the U.N. also must obtain "assurances in the east Aleppo case from the armed opposition groups" fighting against Assad.

Risks from all sides

U.N. aid coordinators hope to deliver relief soon to the rebel-besieged towns of Foua and Kufreya in the Idlib governorate and government-blockaded Madaya and Zabadani, near the Lebanese border, Egeland said.

Under the Geneva cease-fire agreement, if there are seven days of relative calm and aid is able to reach critical communities, then the U.S. and Russian militaries are to begin coordinating separate but synchronized air attacks against Islamic State and Nusra rebels. It would be the first time the two countries have worked together in a military conflict since World War II.

U.S. military officials have been reluctant to cooperate with the Russians because of their crude bombing techniques, which result in significant civilian casualties.

"I do not believe it would be a good idea to share intelligence with the Russians," Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, indicating any U.S.-Russian coordination would be very limited.

The United States and many other countries assert there is not a military solution to the conflict and that Assad cannot stay in power. Russia is a longtime and staunch supporter of Assad, as is Iran.

The ISSG, composed of 23 nations plus the Arab League, European Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, is dedicated to finding a diplomatic solution to the civil war in Syria, which began almost six years ago. However, a peaceful resolution is looking increasingly dubious, and the world's worst refugee crisis in 75 years  spawned by the civil war  is now predicted to become an even greater problem.
By PTI: Bhubaneswar, Sep 22 (PTI) Ruling BJD MLA Byamakesh Ray today regretted over his conduct during recital of the national anthem in Odisha Assembly yesterday.

"I regret for raising slogan during recital of the national anthem. It has been done out of emotion in the Mahanadi and Polavaram issues," Ray said in a statement in the Assembly after being criticised by different quarters, including his own party.

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Stating that his conduct was not intended to disrespect the national anthem, Ray claimed he has maximum respect for the anthem.

Earlier, ruling BJD spokesman Samir Ranjan Dash had tendered apology outside the Assembly for Rays conduct.

While members of the House including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Speaker Niranjan Pujari were standing in respect to the national anthem, Ray was yesterday found shouting slogan opposing Chhattisgarh governments construction of projects on upstream of river Mahanadi.

While speaking in the House, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of the Congress targeted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the conduct of the BJD member.

"Though Patnaik was present in the House, he did not ask his party member to shun from shouting slogan during recital of the national anthem," Mishra said. PTI AAM DKB

--- ENDS ---
Morning sunlight bounces off wedges of cantal and fat rounds of Camembert at the renowned Androuet cheese store in southern Paris.

The shop sells products from all parts of the world - even a Wisconsin cheddar with a coffee-scrubbed rind and a nutty flavor - but its specialty is French cheese, and the variety available is widely considered the finest in the country.

People love that cheese, manager Emmanuel Monnoyeur says of the Wisconsin cheddar. Theyre laughing of course, because its American cheese. But when they taste it, they find its very interesting.

Married to an American, Monnoyeur can gently poke fun at cheese tastes on both sides of the Atlantic. But when it comes to free-trade talks, the stakes are no laughing matter.

Were afraid of an accord with America, he says. We have to protect our French products.

Feelings of dismay and outright revolt have spilled onto European streets in recent days, ahead of key European Union trade talks Friday in Slovakia.

March against TTIP

In Germany, Austria and in Brussels, where the EU is headquartered, hundreds of thousands of people have marched against the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between Europe and the United States that would create the worlds largest free-trade zone, with 850 million customers.

People are afraid of the consequences, says Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, head of the Paris office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, an independent think tank. They know there will be losers, and theyre afraid theyll be on the losing side, and not on the winning side.

The trade deal aims to end restrictive tariffs and regulatory barriers on a raft of goods and services, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and grow economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

For supporters, the windfall would be a boon for European economies still struggling to emerge from a decade of financial crisis.

As a European, I could have good reason to oppose the TTIP, Laurence Parisot, former head of Frances MEDEF employers union, wrote in an editorial. But ... I observe with concern the stagnation of our economy, the difficulty to create employment, the incapacity to achieve a single market, the delays in innovation.

Critics contend the price is too high. As negotiations stand, they argue, a deal with the U.S. would erode European health and environmental standards and attack the very identity of specialized European products such as Parma ham, feta cheese and French Champagne.

The divisions are felt not only in French shops, but also in many other EU member states ahead of the new round of trade talks with Washington.

'No political support'

While more than a dozen EU countries are pushing for a deal before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office next January, France is calling for a halt in negotiations.

There is no political support from France for those negotiations, French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl said in a radio interview last month. He complained that U.S. negotiators give nothing, or just crumbs, and called for a fresh start to talks.

In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel has backed the talks. But Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, whose center-left Social Democratic Party is part of the coalition government, has called the talks a failure.

One of the key questions for European governments is not whether they should do free trade or not, says Lafont Rapnouil of the European Council. Rather the challenge is how do they prepare best for that more open economy? How do they prepare their economy to make the most out of the new commercial ties?

For the toughest critics, there is little to discuss. Naysayers fear the U.S. trade deal and a similar pact with Canada will lower wages and put currently banned genetically modified foods on European dinner plates.

We dont want to develop our economy if this growth puts our environment and our health in danger, says Jean-Francois Julliard, executive director of Greenpeace France. We have to keep a balance.

Leaked documents

Earlier in the year, Greenpeace claimed that leaked documents from the talks suggest the U.S. is trying to water down standards for potentially risky products. The European Commission, the EU executive arm charged with negotiating a deal, denies any effort to lower the blocs standards.

Linked to those concerns are another set of worries: that specialized foods and spirits will lose protective labeling. Known in France as AOP (Protected Appellation of Origin), the designation defines standards of origin and fabrication for products such as Roquefort cheese, whose origins stretch back centuries.

Its a very dangerous treaty for our cheeses, says Veronique Richez-Lerouge, president of Fromages de Terroirs, an association that lobbies on behalf of small cheese producers. AOP is about tradition, history, testing, quality  everything about the cheese.

European critics also point to other problems. They claim, for example, that the talks dont address vast sectors of the American market, such as construction, transportation and energy, which largely remain closed to European competition.

Time is running out to strike a deal by years end.

The U.S. argument is to have a deal now, because later may be never, Lafont Rapnouil says, noting a deal may have less chances of passage under the next American president and Congress.

But some European governments are sending a counter-message.

We want a good deal, he says, summing up their argument. And if we dont get a good deal, we wont take it.
U.S. military and intelligence officials are questioning whether Russia has the will or the capability to do anything about the growing crisis in Syria, accusing Moscow of perpetuating a humanitarian catastrophe.

The allegations came as the Syrian army announced a new campaign Thursday to retake rebel-held areas of Aleppo, crushing hopes of reestablishing a cease-fire and getting aid to civilians already ravaged by the five-year-long civil war.

Russia can redeem itself by acting in good faith to implement a political process, a U.S. intelligence official told VOA. But there are few indications Russia has the wisdom to do that.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, emphasized the only acceptable outcome of any political process would be the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

But there are also doubts as to whether Moscow could even deliver on such a plan, no matter what the eventual costs might be for Russia or the region.

Assad lives under the delusion that he can one day rule a united Syria, another intelligence officials said, also requesting anonymity.

Unfortunately, no one will dispel him [Assad] of this notion, the official added. And in the meantime, thousands more people will die.

Skepticism

Along with heightened skepticism about the intentions of Russia and the Assad government to seek a peaceful, political resolution there are also fears the Syrian regimes latest assault on rebel-held Aleppo will not do much to change the balance of power on the ground.

Despite continuing their airstrikes on Aleppo as the cessation of hostilities fell apart, officials say there is not much to suggest Syria and Russia were able to sufficiently soften up opposition forces for a successful assault.

Nor does it appear that Syrias ground forces were able to bolster their numbers or capabilities in a way that would give them any particular advantage.

Instead, officials say, the outcome will likely be another bloody stalemate.

U.S. officials warn the prospects of the regime being able to assert substantial control in other areas it has lost are also grim.

The armed opposition to Assad numbers over 100,000 and will not disappear anytime soon," one of the U.S. intelligence officials said.

And, at least for now, more Russian military help for the regime does not appear to be in the offing.

Symbolic action

Russias announcement Wednesday it was sending its lone aircraft carrier to the Syrian coast has been dismissed as mostly symbolic. And U.S. officials say most of the Russian military hardware that has been sent into Syria seems to be more in line with protecting Russian bases or for the purpose of boosting Russian military sales.

While some in the intelligence community warn Syria will turn into an albatross ((a burden)) that could weigh down Russia for a generation, the highest-ranking U.S. military officer said Thursday Moscow is not there yet.

Its not clear to me that Russia is in a quagmire at this time in Syria, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Service Committee under heavy questioning.

But while he said the U.S. has a wide range of military options that could potentially help change Russias calculation on Syria, other military officials indicate the U.S. seems resigned to keep trying negotiations.

Its important to continue to try, however difficult," a U.S. official told VOA. They [the Russians] are in a situation where they are backing a regime that has no prospect of military success.
The former chief of staff of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was granted immunity from prosecution for cooperating with the FBI probe into Clinton's use of a private email server for government business while she was secretary of state.

Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Friday that Cheryl Mills was granted immunity after giving investigators access to Clinton's laptop computer on the condition that any findings could not be used against her.

Two other Clinton staff members were also given immunity, to the dismay of Congressman Chaffetz, who said he was "absolutely stunned" the FBI would reach an agreement with someone as close to the investigation as Mills.

"No wonder they couldn't prosecute a case. They were handing out immunity deals like candy," he said.

The FBI closed the year-old case in July after director James Comey said investigators did not uncover evidence to support a criminal charge or evidence that Clinton's server had been hacked.

Information about the immunity was disclosed by the FBI on Friday to Chaffetz and fellow oversight committee member Jim Jordan.

Upcoming debate

The Clinton campaign maintains the disclosure was intentionally made three days before the presidential debate between Clinton and Republican opponent Donald Trump.

The two candidates are temporarily winding down their activities on the campaign trail in order to prepare for Monday's debate. Trump is scheduled to make one campaign appearance Saturday in Virginia, while Clinton is not scheduled to appear at a campaign event until Oct. 5.

Monday's presidential debate, the first of three, will show both Clinton and Trump on the same stage together for the first time.

The televised debate will be watched by tens of millions of viewers who will scrutinize both candidates for strengths and weaknesses.

Clinton and Trump are taking much different approaches to their preparations for the debate, which may be the most widely watched since Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan squared off in 1980.

Clinton is cramming on a thick portfolio of information that has been compiled after months of research on Trump.

Trump is taking the non-traditional approach, shunning briefing materials in favor of viewing Clinton videos and honing ideas into short responses.

With his theme of making America great again, Trump hopes to seize an opportunity to further narrow the polling gap with Clinton.

Clinton would consider the debate a success if she can reassure her supporters she is the best candidate by emphasizing the need for a more inclusive economy.
With tensions between India and Pakistan running high over an attack on an Indian air base, New Delhi has alluded to the possibility of revisiting a crucial water agreement with Pakistan, but a high-ranking U.N. official cautioned against getting caught up in water-war rhetoric.

Under the 1960 treaty, Pakistan has the right to use water from three Himalayan rivers in the west that flow from the Indian side, while India has access to three rivers in the east. The western rivers - Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - are an important source of irrigation and drinking water in Pakistan.

Amid calls for India to scrap the arrangement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said, For such a treaty to work, it is important that there must be mutual trust and mutual cooperation between both the sides. It cant be a one-sided affair."

Hours after the comment to reporters, U.N. Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson pointed out that the Indus water treaty has survived two wars between the rivals.

Speaking at an event on water as a source of peace on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, he said water represents a source of cooperation, a source of growth and a source of mutual positive dependence.

Analysts do not expect India to disturb the treaty, but see the Foreign Ministry comment as a message that New Delhi is weighing all options as it considers how to deal with the latest attack.

The assault, the worst in nearly two decades on an army facility in Kashmir, left 18 Indian soldiers dead and has put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modis government to retaliate against Islamabad in some way.

New Delhi has accused the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group of mounting the assault. Islamabad has denied any involvement.

While India appears to have backed off any military escalation, officials have said they are considering a range of measures, including economic and regional isolation.

For the time being, New Delhi is gathering diplomatic support to put pressure on Pakistan. We hope that increasingly the international community will see the validity of ensuring that Pakistan is made to stop its state sponsorship of terrorism, Swarup said.

Even before the latest attack, the Indus water treaty was a source of friction between the two countries, with Pakistan saying the construction of dams and barrages by India deprives it of water, and New Delhi saying they are being built within the scope of the treaty.
India, which has emerged as the world's largest arms importer in the last five years, signed an $8.7 billion deal to buy 36 fighter jets from France - one of the biggest defense deals in recent years.



The high-tech Rafale jets will modernize the air force of the South Asian country that faces rivals Pakistan in the west and China in the north and east.



Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian signed the pact on Friday in New Delhi.



Parrikar tweeted that Rafale (jets) will significantly improve India's strike & defense capabilities.





Aging fleet

The first of the jets will arrive in 2019 and all 36 will be delivered in six years. Indias air force has been in urgent need of an overhaul as its aging Russian-made fleet of MiG-21s has been dwindling.



Pointing out that the jets in Indias air force date back to the 1970s and 1980s, defense analyst Gulshan Luthra in New Delhi says this gives them (the air force) a cutting edge technology, and although the number of aircraft is small, it will be their spearhead.



The deal with France went through several ups and downs. While New Delhi decided to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets in 2012, it later scaled down its initial plans to acquire only 36, apparently because the jets were too expensive.



But although the Rafales will help plug the gap in the air force capabilities, the air force will still not match Chinas, says Luthra. With China we are very weak, because China has been doing a lot of military buildup. We dont have the kind of capability, he points out.



Seeking to boost regional status

India is in the midst of a major modernization of equipment for its armed forces, partly with an eye on China and partly due to its ambitions to be counted as a major regional or even global power.



Defense experts estimate that India will spend nearly $100 billion over the next decade on buying new weapons systems.



According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India accounted for 14 percent of the total global arms imports between 2011 and 2015 - three times greater than that of its rivals China and Pakistan.



Indias huge arms imports are partly due to its failure to build a local industry to produce weapons. Unfortunately we do not make critical technologies in India says Luthra.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hopes to increase domestic production of defense equipment under a "Make in India" program, but that could take years.



Indias biggest military suppliers are the United States, Russia, France and Israel.



While many of the deals involve joint production, India decided to buy the jets outright because the needs of the air force were seen as urgent.
Less than a week after Indonesia faced its third round of deadly landslides and flash floods this year, some local environmental advocates are saying the sheer impact of the natural disasters is the result of more than just bad weather.

At least 26 people, including an 8-month-old baby and eight children, were left dead as torrential downpours pounded the vast tropical archipelago on Wednesday. A National Disaster Management Mitigation Agency spokesperson was quick to warn of increasingly heavy rains through January, partly because of La Nina, the opposite of El Nino, which has a general cooling effect.

In the Garut district of West Java, among the hardest hit areas, where 18 people remain missing, Abetnego Tarigan, director of Friends of the Earth Indonesia, the country's largest environmental organization, says man-made factors are also putting lives at risk.

The function of this catchment area has changed," he told VOA's Indonesia Service, describing a natural watershed area that has been subject to commercial development in recent years.

On many Indonesian islands, forested catchment areas naturally absorb rainfall and guide surface runoff toward surrounding river and shoreline areas. But when paved development projects eat up the natural landscape, Tarigan said, the water can't be absorbed as efficiently, exacerbating the impact of floods and landslides.

"It was conservation forestry, so why did it become tourist facilities, where 10 percent of its area are allowed to be developed in concrete?" he said. "For sure, all these have influenced the disaster.

In an archipelago nation where millions of people live in mountainous areas or on flood plains near rivers, landslides and flooding are common. But so long as heavy rains persist amid unchecked development, he said, resulting death tolls are likely to increase.

The primary culprit is what Tarigan calls "nature parks for tourism," a program that pairs private companies with government agencies to build tourism facilities in dedicated conservation areas, sometimes to support commercial interests.

Agung Ganthar Kusumanto, a West Java-based environmental activist, said the entrepreneurs who pair with government agencies to conduct conservation efforts aren't assuming responsibility for the consequences of developing watershed areas.

"Where is the role of Perhutani, in protecting the forestry?" he said, referring to Perum Perhutani, a state owned enterprise that is tasked with managing national forests in Java and Madura, and oversees some national development directives.

"If we look closer, the protected forestry area has become a vegetable farm, he said.

Dedy Kurniawan, chairman of Indonesia Conservation Cadre Communication Forum, said development directives can't simply be issued from Jakarta, but must done in concert with provincial officials if the impact of heavy rains is to be kept in check.

Spatial planning of Garut District area must be in accordance with the policies of the province," he said. "At issue is the infrastructure development and tourism facilities, such as road openings, hotels, etc, that are being built without prioritizing environmental preservation.

"In many cases," he added, "regulations made by the provincial government are not in accordance with the program of district government and the central government institute in charge of such an area.

If tourism development continues to disregard preservation of the natural environment, he said, officials will have no way to attract tourists in the first place.

In June, heavy rains caused massive destruction when flood waters carried mud and rocks into Central Java province, the most populous region on the island, killing almost 50 people.

In May, 15 students on holiday at a popular tourist spot in western Indonesia were killed when a landslide swept through their campground.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the U.N.General Assembly on Thursday that Israel's ongoing settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank was destroying any hope of a two-state solution to the long-running dispute between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors.

"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.

WATCH: Palestinian Authority's Abbas Speaks to U.N. General Assembly

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Abbas' claims and said: "I am ready to negotiate all final-status [details], but one thing I will never negotiate is the right to a one and only Jewish state."

Netanyahu invited Abbas to address Israel's parliament, the Knesset, and said that, in return, he would like to speak directly to the Palestinian Legislative Council.

The Palestinians have rebuffed Netanyahu's past offers for such meetings, saying his hard-line position on all core issues made dialogue impossible.

WATCH: Israel's Netanyahu Speaks at U.N. General Assembly

Netanyahu rejects a "freeze" on further Jewish settlements on Arab land in the West Bank. He also rejects Israel's borders prior to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war as a starting point for negotiations, since that would mean sharing control of Jerusalem with the Palestinians and other significant territorial adjustments.

The Israeli prime minister says any division of Jerusalem is unacceptable, and he has refused to consider uprooting any of the existing Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory.

Outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Barack Obama both cited Israeli settlement-building as a threat to a two-state solution in their own speeches to the assembly this week.

A "two-state solution" is diplomatic shorthand for an elusive goal: a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in such a way that Israeli and Palestinian states could live and work side by side in peace.

Talks between the two sides last collapsed in 2014, and there are few hopes for a resumption anytime soon, in part because of Israel's anger at Palestinian violence and Palestinian criticism of settlements constructed on occupied land where it wishes to establish a state.
The widow of a radical Muslim preacher was charged on Friday of helping three other women attack a Kenyan police station.

In what is the first incident in Kenya to be claimed by Islamic State, the women entered Mombasa's central police station on Sept. 11 under the pretext of reporting a stolen phone. They stabbed one officer and set fire to the building with a petrol bomb before they were all shot dead.

A Kenyan court charged Hania Said Sagar, widow of sheikh Aboud Rogo  a preacher accused of supporting and recruiting for Somali Islamist group al-Shabab  with withholding information that could have prevented the attack.

Rogo was killed by gunmen in 2012, sparking days of riots in Mombasa by supporters who accused the police of gunning him down, something the police denied.

Police said they had evidence that Sagar had communicated with the three women before they launched the attack. They also had evidence of a mobile phone money transfer between her and one of the attackers.

"You knew Tasmin Yakoub [one of the three attackers] who was the mastermind of a terror attack at central police station, you failed to disclose information which could have prevented a terror attack," the charge sheet read.

Sagar denied the charge and the court ordered she be held until Monday when it will rule on a bail application.

She faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

Kenya has been cracking down on people they accuse of promoting militant ideas or planning and carrying out attacks, particularly in the coast region, where many Muslims live in the majority Christian African nation.

Before the police station attack, Islamist attacks in Kenya have usually been claimed by Somalia's al-Shabab,
A harsh 12-year sentence handed down Thursday by a Chinese court against prominent civil rights lawyer Xia Lin is stirring a heated debate online about the rule of law in China, and whether the case shows an abuse of legal procedure.

Xia, whose clients included dissident artist Ai Weiwei, was found guilty of defrauding several people out of at least 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) to pay off gambling debts. He is the latest of several rights activists, particularly defense lawyers, to be sentenced under the administration of President Xi Jinping, who has justified the crackdown on civil society as part of a broader campaign to boost security and stability.

Many netizens vented their frustration on Sina Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like microblogging platform, over what they consider fabricated charges by the Beijing court against Xia. The disgusting ruling lays bare the true meaning of so called rule of law, wrote a Wei user who posted under the name What Happens to the Society, while another user commented, guilty or not, the authorities have the final say, nothing to do with law.



Rule of law?

Under one Weibo posting, at least ten users responded with the same comment, he who sets his mind to beat his dog will easily find his stick, to satirize the countrys police state apparatus.

Another user lamented that the countrys prosecutors should have been more aggressive in pursuing real fraudsters.



Prior to Thursdays ruling, a group of seven legal experts, including law professors He Weifang of Peking University and Tong Zongjin of Chinese University of Political Science and Law, had strongly argued against Xias alleged fraud charges.



In a written statement submitted in June, they petitioned that Xias private debt issues with four acquaintances posed no danger to society and thus, Chinas criminal law isnt applicable. In other words, they argued, civil procedure is only lawful if any of Xias creditors have filed a lawsuit against him. Yet, the court found Xia guilty of fraud on Thursday and handed him a 12-year jail term, in lieu of any complaints from his creditors.

Unlawful criminal procedure

According to Xias counselor Wang Zhenyu, only two of four loans Xia owed to his creditors were overdue by 22 days and three months respectively before he was arrested in November 2014.



At that time, his creditors had also agreed to grant a payment extension, having faith in Xias ability to repay debts, Wang said, adding that Xia has decided to appeal.

His creditors' rights are now completely comprised after the court ruled to put Xia behind bars, which will completely deprive him of chances to work and repay his debts.

Zhang Ming, a professor of political science at Renmin University of China, also found Xias verdict mistaken, but with a political message. This is a case without victims. No one has ever sued him. Taking a loan isnt a scam, Zhang said.

The verdict aims to send a warning to dissidents: dont fail to submit to me [the authorities]. The [verdict] is in serious defiance of law and it has become a political persecution, he added.

The professor, however, is pessimistic that any appeal will succeed in overturning the verdict.



Rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang, who was given a suspended jail sentence, also called the verdict political retaliation.

Equally pessimistic, Su Tienfu, lead pastor of Huoshi Church, the largest unregistered church in Guiyang, Guizhou province, said the recent crackdown on rights defenders has proved repeatedly that China is on the opposite path of the governments oft-repeated commitments to rule by law.

True rule of power

"[Its] rule of power. The talk of rule by law [in China] is nothing but a joke. Were still ruled by power. Those in power have the final say. If they say were guilty, they will find ways to incriminate us, even if they have to pull ridiculous and groundless evidence," Su said.



Su said he understands what it is like to be wronged as he faces a possible indictment soon simply because he forwarded a prayer to his WeChat friends in December. The prayer was found to have attached an international media report on the governments classified documents, detailing its approaches toward shutting down family churches.

Four of Sus colleagues have been kept in detention in December after authorities shut down their family church.

Many rights groups have denounced the Chinese authorities persecution of Xia and demanded his immediate release.

In a statement released Friday, the rights group Chinese Human Rights Defenders called on the international legal community, rights groups and governments to join forces and exert pressure on the Chinese government to release all imprisoned lawyers in China, including Xia.
German security officials say a cyberattack believed to be directed by Russia targeted journalists and lawmakers in recent weeks.

The domestic intelligence agency BfV says the German Parliament, at least two political parties and an unidentified media company were targeted in a sophisticated email phishing attempt between August 15 and September 15.

A warning bulletin provided Friday to The Associated Press says the attacker used a fake email address purportedly belonging to an individual at the NATO military alliance, of which Germany is a member.

The BfV said its cyberdefense unit determined that clicking an attachment in the email could result in the installation of malicious software.

It attributed the attack to the hacking group APT28, noting "there are indications this campaign is directed by Russian government entities."
By PTI: Panaji, Sep 22 (PTI) While BJP legislators in Goa today unanimously favoured continuance of alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party for the next years Goa Assembly polls, the latter said it will go it alone if not offered "satisfactory" terms. "Till now there have been no talks of alliance with BJP. When talks start, we will not compromise on the number of seats and the constituencies which we would like to contest. If required we are ready to go it alone," said the working president of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Narayan Sawant. The statement came hours after Goa BJP legislators told senior leader Nitin Gadkari that they favoured alliance with MGP. Talking to reporters, Sawant said MGP will demand Dabolim and Bicholim seats, amongst others.

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"MGP was winning in Bicholim till 1999. BJP won in that constituency only two times. It is our bastion, so we should be given the seat," he said while referring to recent statement by Bicholim BJP leaders that they will not cede the constituency to MGP. MGP had contested from Dabolim in 2012 and it should continue to be an MGP seat, he added. MGP had fought 2012 Goa polls in alliance with BJP and had won three seats. Earlier in the day, BJP legislators unanimously resolved to continue the alliance with MGP. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and other MLAs met the state desk-incharge Nitin Gadkari here and conveyed their views to him. "For last five years we are in alliance with them and it should be continued," Parsekar told reporters later. BJP had earlier said the formal talks with MGP would begin after October 2. MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar also met Gadkari today, but said they did not discuss the issue of alliance. PTI RPS DK KRK SRY SRE

--- ENDS ---
Not to be confused with the august Nobel Prize, Thursday night saw the awarding of this years Ig Nobel Awards, which are given to scientific studies that make people laugh, and then think.

While the studies are certainly offbeat, the science is real, but the awards are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative  and spur people's interest in science, medicine, and technology.

Here are the 2016 winners, awarded Thursday at Harvard Universitys Sanders Theater:

The Reproduction Prize went to the late Ahmed Shafik of Egypt, for studying the effects of wearing polyester, cotton, or wool trousers on the sex life of rats, and for conducting similar tests with human males. His 1993 paper documented that rats who wore polyester or polyester-cotton blend pants were less sexually active than those who wore cotton or wool pants or conformed to rat norms and wore no garments of any kind. The paper suggested that "electrostatic fields" created by polyester pants could play a role in impotence.

The Economics Prize went to the British and New Zealand team of Mark Avis, Sarah Forbes, and Shelagh Ferguson, for assessing the perceived personalities of rocks, from a sales and marketing perspective.

The Physics Prize went to an international team (Gabor Horvath, Miklos Blaho, Gyorgy Kriska, Ramon Hegedus, Balazs Gerics, Robert Farkas, Susanne Akesson, Peter Malik, and Hansruedi Wildermuth), for discovering why white-haired horses are the most horsefly-proof horses, and for discovering why dragonflies are fatally attracted to black tombstones.

German company Volkswagen took the Chemistry Prize for solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions by automatically, electromechanically producing fewer emissions... whenever the cars are being tested.

The Medicine Prize went to Germanys Christoph Helmchen, Carina Palzer, Thomas Munte, Silke Anders, and Andreas Sprenger, for discovering that if you have an itch on the left side of your body, you can relieve it by looking into a mirror and scratching the right side of your body (and vice versa).

The international team of Evelyne Debey, Maarten De Schryver, Gordon Logan, Kristina Suchotzki, and Bruno Verschuere won the Psychology Prize for asking a thousand liars how often they lie, and for deciding whether to believe those answers.

The American-Canadian team of Gordon Pennycook, James Allan Cheyne, Nathaniel Barr, Derek Koehler, and Jonathan Fugelsang took the Peace Prize for their scholarly study called "On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bulls--t".

Two Brits shared the Biology Prize. Charles Foster was honored for living in the wild as, at different times, a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox, and a bird; and Thomas Thwaites, for creating prosthetic extensions of his limbs that allowed him to move in the manner of goats, and spend three days roaming hills in the company of a herd.

Swedens Fredrik Sjoberg took the Literature Prize for his three-volume autobiographical work about the pleasures of collecting flies that are dead, and flies that are not yet dead.

Japans Atsuki Higashiyama and Kohei Adachi won the Perception Prize for investigating whether things look different when you bend over and view them between your legs.

The Ig Nobel prizes were first awarded in 1991 to highlight bad science, but evolved into their current form over time.

Winners reportedly win $10 trillion in cash, paid out in a Zimbabwean currency that was abandoned in 2009.
Nationalists in France are the latest group to get a boost from anti-immigrant sentiment seen rising across the Europe.

Like the famed stained glass in Chartres ancient cathedral, the population of France has many facets.

Away from the city center, this is the newer face of France. Immigrant workers, many from Muslim countries, whose parents the country once welcomed as cheap labor, now speak of discomfort and rejection, after a series of Islamist terror attacks.

We are afraid that the angry, extreme right wing will hit us. Now, I go into a cafe and people look at me strangely. For example, I am the son of Kurds, nothing to do with religion. I am Muslim but not observant. But in France because of the news, of TV, politics, there are so many things that have changed against foreigners, totally," said Polat Mansur, a Kurdish immigrant.

In the wake of the attacks, a backlash against immigrants, especially those who are Muslim, can be seen in growing support for the National Front, the party of immigration critic Marine Le Pen.

"Marine Le Pen has had a constant message that one cannot say has been anything but clear: Immigration must be severely regulated. We must regain control of our borders and abandon the Schengen zone which has been very catastrophic, said the National Fronts Francis Nadizi.

In its stance against porous borders, in Europe's case, Schengen, and immigration, the National Front finds common ground with other nationalists on the continent - and across the sea.

Not only in Chartres, but elsewhere in France, Muslim immigrants interviewed believe a victory by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump could further encourage French voters to support anti-immigrant populists.

It will create more racism and it will create problems in America and in France as well. The National Front will gain support in France. Why? Because the French will see that if he wins, he will cause the French to change their way of thinking and say why should we not do the same as the Americans?'" said Ahmed Loutfy, a French Muslim.

Some, but not all Muslim immigrants here in Chartres agree.

As in other parts of France, here the topic of Muslim immigrants and their families is a touchy one. Chartres was the hometown one of the attackers last November in Paris.

Some longtime residents, like Patrick Laurens, say they choose not to let that or other events change the way they see their Muslim neighbors.

Me, I am not a racist. A Muslim is a Muslim. A Christian is a Christian. We do not have the same point of view, but everyone should respect the other and everything will go better in the world. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like I do, said Laurens.

While we found no one who supports Trump among French Muslims here, there was little love for his opponent. Many blame Hillary Clinton for the Middle East policies of the current US administration, of which she was a part, arguing intervention in the region helped give rise to the new terrorists -- with whom ordinary Muslims are sometimes conflated.
Native American tribes took their fight to Washington on Thursday to stop development of a $3.7 billion oil pipeline, as Democrats in Congress urged the federal government to scrap construction permits and reconsider the project.

Representative Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the senior Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, called on the U.S. Army Corps 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 Corps 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-kilometer) 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 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.

Treaty signed

In yet another fight, aboriginal tribes from Canada and the northern United States signed a treaty 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 September 9, the administration temporarily blocked construction of the project to deliver transport oil.
The Nigerian Human Rights Commission has accused the military of using disproportionate force in Zaria, in the country's north, where at least 380 Shiite Muslims were killed in 2015.

In a report released Thursday in the capital, Abuja, the human rights organization said the victims were members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria sect, led by Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who is now in prison.

The country's director of defense information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, told VOA he expects the charges to be deemed false. The accusations, he said, are unfair and regrettable.

"It's unfortunate that they could come up with this kind of [accusation]. ... The last time they made similar allegations against the Nigerian armed forces, eventually turned to be false, he said.

Nigeria's armed forces are responsible for ensuring "peaceful coexistence" and national stability, Abubakar said in an interview, and also ensuring that their actions are "enshrined" in the constitution.

"Whatever we do is for the best interest of this country," the general said.

"We are constitutionally empowered to ensure total peace and security in our country, he added, and whatever actions that may have been exhibited by the force, I believe, is something which should be commended, not condemned.

"We don't have any issue with the human-rights group here in Nigeria," he said, but claimed that the commission has never condemned the Boko Haram group's repeated killing of innocent civilians.

"The small action we take for self-defense and to protect the people," the defense official said, has been "exaggerated" by the rights commission.

Past disputes

The criticism of the armed forces action against Islamic sect members traces back to an incident last December, when soldiers accompanying the army's chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, broke up a procession that had blocked a major road and prevented the senior army official's passage.

The army disputes the commission's account that the confrontation left about 380 sect members dead.

A judicial commission appointed by the Kaduna state government has released a list of names of those killed in December, and some civil society groups have demanded an independent investigation of the incident.

Human rights groups have previously accused the military of flagrant violation of citizens' rights during its continuing fight against armed groups, including the Islamist militants of Boko Haram. They contend the military flouts internationally accepted rules of engagement in the fight against terrorism, and they have called for the prosecution of soldiers involved in illegal killings and other rights violations.

Military applauded

Abubakar denies all such accusations and says the Nigerian military has shown it is able to respect the rights of citizens  to such an extent that Nigeria has been invited to participate in numerous international peacekeeping missions. He also noted the Nigerian military has an office of human rights that trains soldiers to respect the rights of citizens.

"We have cooperated with independent organizations that come to this country to assist us in moving forward," Abubakar said. "No organization that is based here has negative opinions about the military."

He complained that the government human rights commission "doesn't see anything good in the Nigerian armed forces even when we are applauded outside the country."

Abubajar added: "I hope that the Nigerian citizens, for whom we are doing all this, appreciate what we are doing and are seeing what we are doing positively in order to get rid of any form of criminality and extremism in our country."

Minor incidents occur

The defense official said the army has "rules of engagement and operational procedures, and these are our guidelines in the conduct of our operations at all levels."

As for the alleged killing of hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Abubakar said: "We cannot 100 percent rule out the possibility of minor incidents, but ... we are always try to rid our nation of any form of hooliganism, militancy and terrorism. And I believe the world at large appreciates what we are doing to keep the world free of terrorism.

"The Nigerian armed forces of yesterday are not the Nigerian armed forces of today," he continued. "We are refining, we are reforming and we have taken steps in line with the current administration's policy of protecting human rights at all levels of our operations.

"We have internal mechanisms to check human-rights violations," Abubakar told VOA. "Right now we have some officers who are facing trial on charges of human-rights abuse. This shows that the armed forces of Nigeria are very mindful and ready to protect the people and their assets according to very decent and very acceptable and globally recognized rules of engagement."
U.S. President Barack Obama has vetoed legislation that would have allowed the families of 9/11 terror attack victims to sue Saudi Arabia over its alleged ties to the hijackers involved in those crimes 15 years ago.

However, Obama's veto Friday may delay the bill only temporarily. Congress could override the president's action, and many Washington observers feel that such a rebuff to Obama is likely.

An override in this case would mark the first time in Obama's two terms that one of his vetoes was rejected.

In a letter to the Senate, the president said that the bill, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, would "neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks."

Furthermore, he argued, the measure would be "detrimental to U.S. national interests more broadly."

The legislation would have allowed families to sue Saudi Arabia over its alleged ties to the 2001 terror attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, by authorizing U.S. courts to waive any claim of foreign sovereign immunity in cases involving terrorism on U.S. soil.

The White House has argued the bill would undermine the longstanding practice of sovereign immunity and expose U.S. diplomats, service members and, in some cases, businesses to "spurious" lawsuits around the world.

Pressure to let veto stand

Lawmakers can override the president's veto with a two-thirds vote by each chamber of Congress. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are led by the opposition Republican Party, and its leaders have indicated they are confident they have enough votes to overturn Obama's veto.

No schedule for an override vote has yet been set.

Even before the president announced his veto, White House officials held a series of urgent meetings on Capitol Hill, trying to persuade senators and members of Congress to allow the president's decision to stand.

The number of lawmakers who plan to vote against the veto and reinstate Saudi Arabia's exposure to legal action is difficult to tally, according to the White House deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest, because of "the frequency with which we hear private concerns expressed that don't match the public votes that are cast [later]."

Confidence in override

Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act by an overwhelming margin earlier this year after intense lobbying by 9/11 victims' families and groups who support them.

Earnest said administration officials have tried "to make a forceful case to members of Congress that overriding the president's veto means that this country will start pursuing a less forceful approach in dealing with state sponsors of terrorism."

Republican leaders in Congress expect the override to pass.

"There will be a roll call vote on the veto override," Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday. "Our assumption is that the veto will be overridden."

House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday he believes there are enough votes to override the bill, though he also expressed reservations about the legislation.

"I worry about legal matters," Ryan said. "I worry about trial lawyers trying to get rich off of this. And I do worry about the precedents. At the same time, these victims do need to have their day in court."

Earnest argued the Obama administration is concerned about the impact on U.S. relations with countries around the world, not just with Saudi Arabia.

Fifteen of the 19 airline hijackers who commandeered four passenger jets in the terror attacks were citizens of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has denied any involvement in the attacks.

Obama expressed "deep sympathy" for the families of 9/11 victims and a "deep appreciation" for their desire to pursue justice. He said his administration remains "strongly committed" to helping them find justice and preventing further terrorist attacks against America.
Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday charged a police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man.

Officer Betty Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher, 40, on September 16.

Video recorded by a dashboard camera and a police helicopter shows Crutcher with his hands up, appearing to comply with police officers and leaning against his car. He is then shot once by Shelby and falls to the ground.

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 feared for her life and opened fire when the man began to reach into a window in his car.

But the victim's family has 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 closed. And police said Crutcher did not have gun on him or in his vehicle.

Among the definitions in Oklahoma of 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.''

If convicted, Shelby could face a minimum of four years in prison.
A court in Beijing on Thursday sentenced prominent civil rights lawyer Xia Lin to 12 years in prison on fraud charges, in what some human rights advocates called retaliation for his defense of high-profile clients such as dissident artist Ai Weiwei, who challenged the government.

From uniformed officers to plainclothes police, security outside the courthouse was heavy as friends, family and supporters gathered to await the verdict for Xia, who was detained by Beijing police in late 2014. International human rights observers from Germany, France, Denmark and Norway were kept in a secure area, separated from the public.

Xia was the latest of several rights activists, particularly defense attorneys, to be sentenced under the administration of President Xi Jinping, who has justified the crackdown on civil society as part of a broader campaign to boost security and stability.

Only Xia's brother and wife were allowed to attend the sentencing, which lasted less than 30 minutes. After the sentencing, the judge asked Xia whether he had heard it clearly, according to Xia's attorney, Ding Xikui. The attorney said police then forcibly removed his client from the courtroom before he could respond to the judge or say a single word to family members.

Ding told VOA's Mandarin service that Xia was heard shouting in the corridors as he was dragged out, "You won't let me speak. It's retaliation against me for representing the cases."

Fraud or loan dispute?

"It is regular procedure that the judge should ask him if he would plead guilty and accept the sentencing, but they canceled the procedure," the defense attorney said, explaining that Xia planned to appeal.

Prosecutors said Xia defrauded several people out of at least 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) to pay off gambling debts.

Ding, however, said there was not enough evidence to prove Xia guilty, and that the loans, which were being repaid, were private. Ding reiterated the position long held by Xia supporters that the government never provided any evidence of gambling debt, and that its claims regarding the amount of the purported debt were wildly inconsistent.

"During the court trials before the sentencing Thursday, the court accused Xia Lin of defrauding four people out of more than 10 million China yuan," Ding said, "but the verdict on Thursday listed only two people, and the amount of money was reduced to 5.9 million."

Under China's Criminal Law, fraud crimes involving "especially large" sums, such as those alleged in Xia's case, are punishable by 10 years to life in prison, though official guidelines recommend 10 to 12 years.

Scholars support Xia

Beyond prominent artist Ai Weiwei, the defendants Xia represented included one of China's best-known human rights attorneys, Pu Zhiqiang, who received a suspended three-year prison term last year, and Guo Yushan, who was arrested for supporting Hong Kong student protesters.

On June 23, several prominent Chinese legal scholars issued a legal opinion in support of Xia, stating that his case involved a loan dispute, not fraud, and that he was innocent.

One of the authors of the opinion, Peking University Law School professor Zhang Qian, said the fraud charge was "totally concocted."

"I think this is a miscarriage of justice, and we still insist he is innocent," he told VOA. "He is not guilty. However, the court has other purposes; they concocted such a crime to retaliate."

Zhang is a strong advocate of rule of law and constitutionalism. Although Chinese officials stress the need to establish the rule of law in the country, he said, even well-trained lawyers such as Xia can fall victim to officials who manipulate the legal system.

'Abuse of legal system'

"The rule of law can be used to curb official corruption. It can also be used to abuse and punish innocent people, even human rights lawyers who try to safeguard the interests of the people," he said. "Xia Lin has become a victim of such abuse of the legal system."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang declined to discuss the case, saying it was a domestic matter and would be handled according to the law.

Reuters reported that telephone inquiries to the Beijing court were not answered. The court's website and official microblog did not mention the case Thursday.
Greater support from the public, governments and investors is needed to boost the work of entrepreneurs using business for social good, said industry activists and organizers after a Thomson Reuters Foundation poll highlighted these as key issues.

While progress overcoming those obstacles is healthy and growing, they said at SOCAP - the largest annual conference of social entrepreneurs and investors - that more could be done to support what is seen as a new way of doing business.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation poll of almost 900 social enterprise experts in the world's 45 biggest economies released this week found the vast majority - 85 percent - said the sector was growing.

But nearly 60 percent of experts cited a lack of public understanding, access to investment and selling to governments as the biggest challenges that could hamper growth.

"There's very limited awareness of what social entrepreneurship is," said Dr. Asher Hasan, whose Pakistani-based company Docthers works with corporations in Mexico and Chile to provide insurance to suppliers, factory workers and others in their supply chains.

"They understand traditional philanthropy. They understand capitalism. They don't understand the blend. There's a lot of market development that needs to be done to help the mainstream understand."

A social entrepreneur is typically someone who uses commercial strategies to tackle social and environmental problems, combining social good and financial gain.

Attendees at SOCAP said governments are promoting social entrepreneurship and schools are teaching it, while enterprises are finding fresh, creative ways to obtain credit and financing.

Jennifer Kushell, founder of Your Success Now (YSN), which connects youth with educational and career opportunities, said U.S. President Barack Obama had been supportive, promoting so-called entrepreneurship diplomacy, a strategy to find common goals in conflict areas.

YSN is designing a social entrepreneurship curriculum for business schools, she said.

Dont miss the next Thomas Edison

"You have a billion-and-a-half young people, and they don't even realize they can be entrepreneurs or realize they can work for entrepreneurial companies," she said. "It does need a lot more people to stand up and try to get the word out much more aggressively, like any movement."

Seeking to support social entrepreneurs, Autodesk, a maker of software for architecture, engineering and other industries, provides free software and licenses, said Pam Hochman, who manages the entrepreneur impact program at the Mill Valley, California company.

"I definitely hear about finance and access to capital being a real problem," she said. "We don't want the next Thomas Edison to walk by, and he didn't get the software that he needed because he didn't have enough money to buy a license."

Banks are training loan officers on the risks involved in lending to social entrepreneurs, said Marina Leytes, a consultant with Impact Alpha, an online media site covering social and environmental business.

"More and more local banks are entering this sector, providing loans to smaller enterprises," she said. "It's a way for them to gain more clients and expand their operations."

The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves recently worked with the government of Kenya to eliminate a tax on cookstoves going to women in poor regions, said Stevie Valdez, manager of the Washington-based group's impact investing and market development.

The Alliance aims to provide cleaner cookstoves and fuel to the 40 percent of the world's population that uses solid fuel and cooks over open fires, creating severe environmental and health problems, Valdez said.

"We need the entrepreneurs really getting out there with great products, and we need the governments really making an effort to say, 'You know what? We want healthier products," she said.

Representatives of YSN, Autodesk and the Alliance were among 2,500 people attending SOCAP last week in San Francisco. The conference brings together investors and entrepreneurs to address issues such as poverty, climate change, job creation and food supplies.
Despite a Turkish-led assault to uproot Islamic State fighters from northern Syria, rockets launched Thursday from remaining IS-held areas hit a Turkish border town, wounding at least eight people, including children, near a busy market, Turkish officials said.

It was the first major attack on the town of Kilis since Turkish troops crossed into Syria last month with Turkish-backed rebels in an offensive to push IS from border areas.

Until the Euphrates Shield operation, as Turkey calls it, Kilis was under a daily barrage of shelling from IS positions that in recent months killed at least 21 people, wounded 80, destroyed neighborhoods and sent residents fleeing for safe havens.

"We entered Syria because these rockets are damaging property and human life," Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters in Ankara. "We want to establish security."

The Turkish military said in a statement that at least three rockets were fired on Kilis on Thursday.

Turkish forces tracked the source of the attacks and returned fire, the military said. Turkish jets were also dispatched to bomb IS-held positions.

Later, U.S.-led coalition planes conducted 20 airstrikes against IS in Syria, "neutralizing" 40 militants, the Turkish military said.

"Clashes were continuing between [Syrian] rebels ... and IS terror group elements who carried out a broad attack to take back areas they had lost," the military said in a statement. "Many [IS] targets were neutralized."

A terror alert over a possible attack by militants on the regional capital, Gaziantep, which is near Kilis, has put southeastern Turkey on high alert.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara warned businesses with Western ties in Gaziantep to be vigilant. After the warning, some shopping centers closed and shoppers vacated malls.

Police were stationed outside major shopping areas.

"There are reports of a police investigation into a terror cell in Gaziantep," the embassy said in a statement. "The information suggests the terrorists are possibly targeting shopping centers, Starbucks, Big Chef Restaurants and/or other businesses catering to Western customers."

Residents riled

The renewed attacks on Kilis angered some residents. People in Kilis protested for months about what they said was the government's lack of an adequate response to the aerial attacks before the Turkish incursion into Syria.

"The Turkish military keeps announcing that they have been able to take control of a considerable portion of IS-controlled Syrian lands near the Turkish border," Adem Canozer, a journalist with the local newspaper, Gazete Kilis, told VOA. "But many locals in the city, including myself, do not find those official statements convincing. If they are cleansing Syria of the IS, why are we still attacked by the terror group?"

Thursday's attack will most likely give Turkey added urgency to drive deeper militarily into Syria with Turkish-backed rebels. Turkish troops have yet to gain a foothold deep enough into Syria to push IS out of rocket-range capability, analysts say.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this week that a Turkish-backed force could push farther south into Syria toward the IS-held town of al-Bab.

"Turkey's official aim of expanding its military operation to the Syrian city of al-Bab or even farther to the south is to push IS out of an area of 50 kilometers and to take Kilis out of the [rocket] range," Burak Bekdil, an Ankara-based Defense News journalist, told VOA. "IS might be trying to show that they have the capacity to attack from the region where Turkey is carrying out a military operation."

Turkish officials have been pushing for a "safe zone" in northern Syria. But Turkey has received scant international support for the idea, saying it would require too much military manpower and hardware.
The Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing unnamed sources, reported this week that before the next presidential election, scheduled for March 2018, the Kremlin plans to create a gigantic new ministry that will absorb most of Russias existing security agencies.

According to Kommersants sources, this new security behemoth will be called the Ministry of State Security, with its Russian acronym MGB. That is the same name Soviet dictator Josef Stalin gave to his repressive apparatus which operated from 1946 until his death in 1953. After Stalins death, the MGB was reformatted as the KGB, the Committee for State Security.

The new MGB, the newspaper reported, will merge the existing Federal Security Service (FSB), currently Russias principal security agency, with the Federal Guard Service (FSO), which protects high-level officials and includes the Presidential Security Service (SPB), which guards the president.

The MGB will also absorb the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Russias external spy agency. The investigative arm of the MGB will deal with the countrys most important criminal cases, and MGB staff will oversee the work of many of Russias remaining law-enforcement bodies, including the Interior Ministry and the Investigative Committee.

Years of shifts

If the rumored restructuring plan indeed comes to pass, it would be just the latest major change that President Vladimir Putin has made to Russias security system. Earlier this year, he created the National Guard, which is charged with securing Russias borders, combating terrorism and organized crime, ensuring public order and guarding key state facilities.

The National Guard is directly subordinated to the president and headed by Viktor Zolotov, who served as Putins bodyguard in Saint Petersburg in the early 1990s. Zolotov headed the Presidential Security Service from 2000 to 2013, after which he served as commander of the Internal Troops, the Interior Ministrys paramilitary force, from 2014 to earlier this year, when he was picked to head the National Guard.

Is the Russian government really planning to revive a Stalin-era security behemoth? VOAs Russian Service spoke with several experts.

Boris Volodarsky, a former officer with the Russian militarys intelligence agency, the GRU, and an expert on Soviet and Russian intelligence agencies, said he believes there really is a plan to create such a state security structure. He also said the proposed use of the name Ministry of State Security is not coincidental.



Because the Kremlin has a clear tendency to refer to the good old Stalinist and post-Stalinist days, it is clear that they intend to create a ministry that will unite all the security structures under its own roof, he said. They have already created the National Guard, and are now recreating a ministry which earlier, under Stalin, consolidated foreign intelligence and internal security.

Volodarsky said he does not think that the FSB or its current top officials will play the dominant role in the new security ministry, adding that even now, the FSB is not the main player in Russias security system.

The main structure was and is the Federal Guard Service - and, within it, the Presidential Security Service, he said. In fact, people from the Presidential Security Service dominate all the other security bodies.



Viktor Zolotov, who heads the National Guard, was Putins personal bodyguard, and he was made head of the Presidential Security Service. And, from that post, Putin sent him first to the Interior Ministry to get everything there under control, and then put practically all of the power structures under his control, Volodarsky said.

Reflection of Kremlins fear

Andrei Soldatov, an expert on Russias security services and chief editor of the Agentura.ru website, said Russias current main security body, the Federal Security Service, has already acquired the characteristics of the Soviet KGB.

The FSB has been involved in a lot of things over the last 16 years (time since Putin assumed power), but it has been obvious since last year that two functions, two directions, have intensified  the hunt for spies and targeted repression, he said.



These are functions of the KGB, if you think about it: it was precisely through these [functions] that the system of KGB control over Soviet society was maintained: keeping the population in the grip of spy mania, and gathering material on the elite and using [that material] if so ordered. Putin is changing the functions of the FSB closer to what the KGB did. From that point of view, the new name [MGB], is quite logical, said Soldatov.

Still, Soldatov said the FSB no longer has the same influence it had 10 years ago. The FSB suddenly stopped being the new nobility  it is no longer the supplier of personnel [for other government and state bodies]; cadres are now chosen from among the Federal Guard Service and technocrats.

Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior associate at the Carnegie Moscow Center, said the desire to create a single powerful national security ministry is a sign of the Kremlins fear of the future.

It's a reflection of the power elites fear of what can happen with the country in the coming years, he said. Moreover, this fear has various characteristics  foreign policy and domestic policy [fears]; fear of the people; economic fear, that the crisis could drag on and cause some social turbulence, and this turbulence will have to be extinguished somehow."
Police said the BSF troops posted in the upper bore area of the LoC in Keran sector noticed some suspicious movement after which they fired.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Border Security Force (BSF) troopers opened fire following suspicious movement along the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Police said the BSF troops posted in the upper bore area of the LoC in Keran sector noticed some suspicious movement after which they fired.

"Searches have been started in the area now," police said.

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The army said on Thursday that it had foiled two infiltration bids on the LoC.

--- ENDS ---
Russia's foreign minister said Friday that Syria's moderate opposition must separate from certain terrorist groups before there can be a real cessation of hostilities.

"So we are all in favor of a cease-fire, but without separation of the opposition from Nusra, the cease-fire is meaningless," Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

"Unfortunately, the coalition, led by the United States, which committed itself to make sure that this separation happens, has not been able to do this," he added.

In July, the group known as Jabhat al-Nusra said it was severing ties with al-Qaida and rebranding itself as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham.

Lavrov complained that since the United States and Russia, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, agreed on the truce and it went into effect September 12, there have been by his count almost 350 opposition-led attacks in Aleppo alone.

'Unholy alliance'

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier this week that some elements of the Syrian opposition have relied for too long "on an unholy alliance" with Nusra, and that "we cannot look the other way" if they are fighting on the ground with them.

Kerry also called for grounding all aircraft in key parts of Syria to de-escalate the situation and allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered. He said if that happened, the fraying cease-fire might be revived.

Russia's deputy foreign minister dismissed Kerry's proposal as unworkable.

Lavrov defends violence

In his address Friday to the U.N. General Assembly, Lavrov said Russia's military assistance prevented the collapse of Syria and the disintegration of that country "under the onslaught of terrorists."

"The Syrian crisis would not be resolved and the appalling humanitarian situation would not be rectified without suppressing ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and their associate extremist groups," Lavrov said, using an acronym for Islamic State. "This is a key condition for strengthening the cessation-of-hostilities regime and overall national truce."

The top American and Russian diplomats have been meeting daily this week in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. annual meetings, but they have failed to make any significant progress on Syria.
More than 70 Russian army commandos have arrived in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever joint military exercises between the two countries, officials announced Friday.

A Pakistani army spokesman said the two-week-long drill is scheduled to begin on Saturday and conclude on October 10.

The exercises, called Friendship 2016, will involve around 200 military personnel of both the countries and take place in Cherat, a security official told VOA.

The northwestern mountainous region is the headquarters of the Pakistani commando forces, or Special Services Group. The drills are expected to focus on "high altitude warfare."

India, which enjoys close ties with Russia, had conveyed its concerns to Moscow that part of the military exercises will be conducted in the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, which is part of the divided region of Kashmir, where Indian and Pakistani troops face off along mountain peaks on the Line of Control.

Russian officials, however, are reported as saying they have informed New Delhi the drill will be conducted far from the disputed territories.

The joint exercises are yet another sign of warming of ties between Islamabad and Moscow.

This [military drill] obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defense and military-technical cooperation, Pakistan's ambassador to Moscow, Qazi Khalilullah, told Russias TASS news agency.

Both of the countries were on opposing sides during the Cold War era. Russia severed all ties with Pakistan because of Pakistan's involvement in the U.S.-funded Afghan insurgency against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

The two countries are now trying to overcome those tensions and signed a military cooperation agreement in 2014, lifting a years-long ban on the sale of Russian arms to Pakistan. It also paved the way for concluding another deal for the sale of four Russian Mi-35M attack helicopters to Pakistan.

The military exercises come as tensions between Pakistan and India have escalated after a September 18 militant attack on an Indian military base, in the disputed Kashmir region, that killed 18 soldiers.

Islamabad has denied Indian allegations it was linked to the deadly raid. The tensions have fueled speculations of another war between the nuclear-armed rival nations.
The U.S.-supported, Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces this week suffered a series of military setbacks to the Islamic State group in northern Syria, rekindling concerns over the effectiveness of the troops and whether that could force Ankara to deploy more of its own troops into Syria.

Since the start of its joint operation with Turkey, the FSA initially made sweeping gains against Islamic State (IS); but, this week, the terrorist group struck back, launching a counterattack.

Local media reports say IS captured as many as 20 villages from FSA forces and inflicted heavy casualties. The FSA claims it managed to retake some of the villages.

Turkish political columnist Semih Idiz of the Al-Monitor website says the setback will resurrect concerns over the FSA's fighting ability.

Whether it can deliver

"There are many doubts as to whether it can actually deliver in the end. As of yet we don't have proof that the Free Syrian Army is that effective of a force," Idiz said. "We also have to remember previously we had situations where elements operating under the FSA banner flag that were trained in Turkey, went into northern Syria and were routed almost immediately.

"So the bottom line is the FSA still has not fully proven its mettle," he said.

Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik stood fast in his belief in the FSA, declaring they will continue to lead military operations against IS and that there are no plans to increase Turkeys military presence in Syria.

Columnist Kadri Gursel of Turkeys Cumhuriyet newspaper believes such a commitment will be difficult to keep, arguing Ankaras hand will be forced.

They (FSA) cannot sustain without constant armor provided from Turkey, without constant help and defenses provided by Turkey. And will drag Turkey deeper into Syria. And will make closer into contact with Syrian [regime] armed forces, with Russian interests, with Hezbollah. So this is a dangerous situation, Gursel said.

There are some reports that Turkey's military is already making moves to shore up support for the FSA.

Turkish forces on standby

Yeni Safak, a leading pro-government newspaper, citing Turkish military sources, said that as many as 41,000 soldiers are being put on standby on the Syrian border ahead of an expected operation to retake the key IS-controlled town of Al Bab.

The paper said the forces would only be deployed if the FSA ran into trouble.

The Turkish army has already started to deploy its heavy armored tanks into Syria after four light tanks were destroyed, but any greater role for the military will likely bring a change in tactics.

You also have to bombard heavily by air and land, says senior Turkish diplomat Aydin Selcen, who served widely in the region. However, he warns that carries risks, and that also brings into picture the loss of civilian life and the collateral damage issue, which will create a huge diplomatic headache.

Local Syrian and international human rights groups blamed Turkish jets for killing dozens of civilians in northern Syria. Ankara disputed the number of dead and said all who died were enemy combatants.

Escalation in airstrikes

Turkish forces, however, appear to be preparing for an escalation in airstrikes, with local media citing government sources saying Ankara has reached what it called a gentlemans agreement with Moscow on Turkish jets carrying out operations deeper into Syria.

Until now, Turkish forces have played a support role, minimizing casualties, but a larger deployment would increase risks.

As the military stages of an operation unfold, insurgency would be a major danger, warns retired Turkish Brigadier Haldun Solmazturk, a veteran of cross-border operations.

In an operational environment like Syria, it would be grave challenge and it would cause casualties no doubt, Solmazturk said.

That prospect brings not only military but political risks for Ankara, argues columnist Idiz, especially as there does not appear to be any clear exit strategy.

Well, the risks are getting bogged down in a quagmire  although IS has the appearance of having an army at the moment, because of the weaponry it seized. It ultimately relies on terrorist tactics, so Turkey could face hit-and-run attacks and retaliatory attacks in Turkey, with increasing losses and this is what the public is concerned about, Idiz said.
A U.N. aviation agency has not invited Taiwan to its September conference in Canada, the latest sign that China is putting more pressure on Taiwan's new government.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday that it had not received invitations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as Taipei officials had hoped.

"For such a result, our government expressed strong regret and dissatisfaction," said Taiwanese Foreign Minister David Lee, whose government wanted officials to participate in the September 27 ICAO Conference in Montreal, Quebec.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen condemned the decision as "extremely unfair for Taiwan, and a major loss of international aviation safety."

Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, which recognizes Beijing's one-China policy.

"ICAO follows the United Nations' one-China policy," the agency's communications chief, Anthony Philbin, told Reuters via email.

ICAO officials say they invited Taiwan to their last conference in 2013, only because China had asked Taiwan to be invited.

"While arrangements had been made for their attendance at the last [38th] session of the assembly, there are no such arrangements for this one," an ICAO spokesperson said.

Taiwan inseparable part of China

Since Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party took power in Taiwan, mainland China has increasingly pressured Taiwan to concede to Beijing's interpretation of the one-China principle, which includes Taiwan as part of China.

As an "inseparable part of China," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, Taiwan has no right to participate in the assembly, and Taipei's attendance in the past was based on "temporary arrangements."

"At present, our position is extremely clear," Lu told a regular news briefing. "The prerequisite for Taiwan to participate in any international activity is for it to agree to the one-China policy and for this to be resolved through consultation."

Taiwans president slammed Beijing for, as she put it, placing geopolitics ahead of the basic human right of aviation safety.

"People should not be deprived of rights because they have refused to accept the limits of a certain non-democratic framework," she said.

Lee also said that Taiwan's participation in ICAO "should not be subjected to the restrictions of any political framework," calling ICAO's decision damaging to its own neutrality and integrity as an international organization.
A white Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer was booked on a first-degree manslaughter charge and released on $50,000 bond on Friday, online jail records showed, after shooting dead an unarmed black man whose car had

broken down and blocked a road.

Officer Betty Shelby, 42, was charged on Thursday for killing Terence Crutcher, 40, and faces at least four years in prison if she is convicted in the case that has stoked simmering anger among those who see racial bias in U.S. policing.

Crutcher died of a penetrating gunshot wound to the chest, Oklahoma medical examiners said, adding that a toxicology report has not yet been completed.

Shelby is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Sept. 30. Her attorney told local media she is receiving death threats.

In a separate incident, Charlotte, North Carolina, has seen three nights of protests, some of them violent, after the fatal shooting Tuesday of a black man by police. Police videos have not been released in this case so as not to compromise the investigation, authorities said.

The incidents are the latest to stir passions over the police use of force against black men. It has provoked broad debate on race and justice in the United States and given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.

In two videos provided by Tulsa police on Monday, Crutcher can be seen with his hands in the air shortly before he was shot last Friday.

According to an arrest affidavit, Shelby escalated the situation and overreacted. She was responding to a separate call for a domestic disturbance when she came upon Crutcher in the road.

Shelby told investigators Crutcher did not comply with her instructions and "that she was in fear for her life and thought Crutcher was going to kill her," according to the arrest affidavit.

According to Tulsa police, Crutcher was unarmed and there was no weapon in the vehicle. In a bid for transparency, they released the videos, one of which was taken from a police helicopter and the other from a dashboard camera in a patrol car.

"She became emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted," the affidavit said.

In Kansas City, Missouri, a police officer was being investigated for potential misconduct after a message appeared on his Facebook page praising Shelby for her "good shot," the department said on Twitter, without identifying the officer.
Loosening the European Union's economic sanctions on Russia would wreck the cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, because the measures are the West's only leverage over Moscow, Kyiv's deputy foreign minister said on Friday.

Next month, EU leaders are set to discuss the sanctions on Russia's energy, financial and defense sectors, which were imposed after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. Countries with closer ties to Russia, including Cyprus, Italy and Hungary, are pushing to lift some measures or even allow them to expire in January.

"The Minsk peace deal is under threat. If there are no sanctions, there is no way to pressure Russia to respect the process in any way," Vadym Prystaiko said of the accord sealed in 2015 in the capital of Belarus.

The Minsk peace agreement, brokered by France and Germany and signed by Russia and Ukraine in February 2015, calls for a cease-fire between Ukrainian forces and separatists backed by Russia, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy.

"For now, Russian-backed separatists have agreed to a cease-fire. But with one telephone call, Moscow can reverse the situation," Prystaiko told Reuters.



A September truce in eastern Ukraine has raised hopes for peace, although it failed to stem all the violence in the region. Shellings in the east of the country dropped to 246 in the first two weeks of September from more than 2,000 in August, Prystaiko said.

The conflict has killed over 9,600 soldiers, civilians and pro-Russian rebels since April 2014.

"There is no mechanism to prove that this peace process is working. The only way is for the EU to stick to what it has said: we lift the sanctions when Minsk is fully implemented," said Prystaiko, who met NATO envoys during a visit to Brussels.



Moscow's allies in Europe, including Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, say Russia is doing more than Ukraine to meet its obligations under the Minsk agreement. Fico told Reuters this month that the sanctions had not changed Russian policy in the east.

Prystaiko said that was because Russia was determined to hold sway over Ukraine by pressuring Kyiv to adopt a federal system, in which each state would have a veto over Ukraine's hopes to join NATO and the EU.

Reforms tied to the Minsk accord include changing Ukraine's constitution to decentralize government. Prystaiko said that Russia was seeking to distort that to achieve its own ends.

"The Russians want a new constitution, they want to embed a foreign body in Ukraine," he said. "But we can only have elections when the separatists stop shooting.
The United States remains committed to supporting Taiwan's bid to take part in an international aviation organization, which could raise tensions with China.

"In keeping with our one-China policy, we support Taiwan's membership in international organizations that do not require statehood. In organizations that require statehood for membership, the United States supports Taiwan's meaningful participation," State Department East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau spokesperson Grace Choi said Thursday.

Delegates and observers from about 200 countries and international organizations will meet next week to discuss aviation safety issues at a gathering of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada.

Taiwan is not officially recognized as a country by the United Nations because of longstanding objections from China. Beijing routinely tries to block Taiwan's attempts to join international organizations, believing that such actions could build support for its aspirations as a state. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China.

The U.S. State Department said aviation safety, security and efficiency are matters of global importance, and all interested stakeholders can play a positive role in ensuring those standards.

Lawmakers voice support

ICAO was established in 1944 with a mission to set international standards for air navigation safety and to improve global air transport. China and the U.S. are members.

Some U.S. lawmakers had voiced strong support for Taiwan's participation in ICAO.

"As East Asia's busiest airspace, it is without question that Taiwan should have access to the latest technologies and standards in civil aviation safety. It is in the best interest of public safety," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, a Republican from California, in a recent statement.

Congressman Royce and Democratic Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sponsored legislation three years ago that "directs the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan" at the ICAO Assembly.

That legislation became public law in 2013.

Complaints from China

Taiwanese officials said Taipei has not received the invitation from ICAO.

Analysts said it represents another form of pressure that China is trying to exert on Taiwan's public and democratically-elected leaders.

While Washington has welcomed Taipei's "meaningful participation" in international organizations where statehood is not a requirement, that support is drawing complaints from Beijing.

Chinese officials said the precondition for Taiwan's participation in international organizations is to "recognize one China principle."

"It certainly hurts the perception of some Taiwan people about China. It will be a delicate decision for Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen," said Richard Bush, director of the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution.

"As far as the bigger picture is concerned, what is needed now is an incremental and reciprocal process of trust-building in which both sides make efforts and avoid moves that undermine trust," Bush told VOA on Thursday.

Responsible global citizen

Li Kexin, Chinese minister to the U.S., was quoted by media at an Embassy event earlier in September as saying "we really care about the fortunes of the Taiwanese people." He said Beijing had "opened several channels to let the Taiwanese people be made aware of information that they should have in order to protect their interests."

State Department Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary Kurt Tong said Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization has "helped make the world a safer place."

"Taiwan is a responsible global citizen whose capabilities can have a major impact on the region," said Tong in a Washington event in March. "Even when Taiwan is barred from international organizations, it often voluntarily adheres to international laws and standards. The United States seeks to support Taiwan's membership in international organizations where statehood is not a requirement."

Taiwan is responsible for the airspace known as Taipei Flight Information Region (Taipei FIR), which covers 180,000 square nautical miles and provides services for nearly 1.53 million controlled flights carrying 58 million travelers annually.
North Korea recently celebrated its 68th anniversary and leader Kim Jong Un test-fired the countrys latest submarine-based missile, detonated a fifth nuclear bomb, and conducted a rocket-engine test. The world condemned the provocative actions of the defiant nation.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry, South Koreas Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, and Japans Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met ahead of the United Nations General Assembly this week to discuss the situation on the Korean peninsula.

Kerry said the U.S. remained deeply committed to its treaty and defense obligations, as well as to rolling back the provocative, reckless behavior of the DPRK.



The secretary continued, "We have said many times that we are prepared to sit down with the DPRK to deal with the issues of non-aggression and peace on the Korean peninsula, of joining the international community, of attracting assistance and economic development, providing North Korea's prepared to talk to the rest of the world about responsible approaches to the question of nuclear weaponry and the nuclear program."



Aggressive program

North Korea doesnt appear to want to sit down and roll back anything, but rather seems to be accelerating their activity.

Speaking on VOAs Asia Weekly podcast, Harry Kazianis, Director of Defense Studies at the Center for the National Interest has a simple theory as to why North Korea has stepped up its testing schedule.

I think the technology basically is maturing and the only way to ensure that this technology works is to test it and to test it rigorously, he said.

Kazianis notes that revisiting history, one will see similar paths taken by the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 60s.

"The only way to make sure that stuff basically works is to continually test it  to make sure that it's accurate," said Kazianis.

Continued international condemnation

The nuclear test in January earned the North Korean leader a strong rebuke from the international community, with the United Nations passing what is typically referred to as the strongest sanctions against the regime.

Many look to China to rein in Kim Jong Uns provocative behavior, but is that something thats even possible?

Kazianis says China definitely can exert pressure, but the question is will they? And the answer is of course, they will not.

Two days before North Koreas latest nuclear test, Choe Son Hui, the DPRKs top nuclear envoy was in Beijing. Adam Cathcart, lecturer in Chinese history at the University of Leeds and editor at SinoNK.com, says the world saw how the dynamics unfolded.

Judging from the fact that Beijing didn't absolutely explode with anger on the day of the test, I would assume that the North Koreans probably explained the rationale andexplained that it was coming, he said. The Korean War itself was unleashed by Kim Il Sung without warning so this is kind of an ongoing issue between the two sides with North Korea doing things by surprise.

Nonetheless, Cathcart said, This test appears to have been much better [received by Beijing] than the previous test.

Kims goals

Who knows what Kim Jong Un wants? asked Cathcart. Some people think that maybe he wants this ultimately as a bargaining chip. He basically said this nuclear program is part of constitution. So why would you accrue all of this power and prestige?

Since 2012, leader Kim has personally presided over nearly every test, essentially becoming the face or brand name of the program. For him to suddenly say, Well, you know, yeah it was all just kind of a game so that we can make some kind of a deal I don't see that happening, said Cathcart.

With Kim not entertaining the thought of giving up his programs, what options remain?

If you look at all of the available policy options in front of us, an isolation-and-containment strategy really is only the viable alternative, said Kazianis. I think we all know the United States and South Korea and Japan are not going to institute regime change, citing not only the DPRKs possession of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, but the ensuing problems that would create.

In terms of of sanctions, Kazianis said, there is only so much that we can do.
The hack of 500 million Yahoo user accounts is far and away the largest corporate breach ever reported, ahead of the 2013 MySpace hack that compromised over 300 million user accounts.

Yahoo blames the breach on a "state-sponsored actor," though exactly which state has still to be answered.

The whole affair brings to mind the infamous 2014 quote from FBI director James Comey. "There are two kinds of big companies in the United States," he said. "There are those who've been hacked by the Chinese and those who don't know they've been hacked by the Chinese."

While nobody is linking this hack to the Chinese, Comey's point is that every Internet user should assume their information is compromised, always.

Internet security expert Dan Kamisky, quoted in Reuters, says the same thing: "Five hundred of the Fortune 500 have been hacked. If anything has changed, it's that these attacks are getting publicly disclosed."

Huge hack

Armed with that knowledge, it's the size of this attack that makes it such a big deal.

The hack predominantly affects U.S. users, but according to Pingdom, an Internet security firm, Yahoo also has a large presence in Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and users there should be particularly vigilant in protecting their information.

But 500 million accounts is fully half of all the people who visit Yahoo every month. According to the website Pocket-lint, "Yahoo has 1 billion users around the globe. About 250 million use Yahoo Mail, while [Yahoo owned businesses] Flickr has 113 million, and several hundred million use Tumblr. About 81 million use Yahoo Finance, and tens of millions use Yahoo Fantasy Sports."

Yahoo has said in a statement that no Tumblr accounts were compromised, but if you use Flickr, you should definitely be changing your passwords and looking for trouble.

What was taken and what to do

Here is the account information that Yahoo says may have been compromised: "names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords (the vast majority with bcrypt) and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers."

If you were affected, Yahoo will be sending you an email letting you know, so keep an eye on your inbox.

But even if you don't get an email and you're a Yahoo user, you should consider taking some basic steps to protect yourself. First, change your security questions, so they can't be used to get into your accounts. Also, Yahoo recommends that "users who havent changed their passwords since 2014" go ahead and do that.

Also: "...avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails" and watch out for "unsolicited communications that ask for personal information."

These kinds of recommendations are pretty much standard all the time but they become even more important if you've been hacked.

Finally, as an intial layer of protection, Yahoo suggests setting up something called a Yahoo Account Key, which is a way to bypass passwords altogether. This works by sending you a code by text anytime you try to log into your email account. You'll have to keep your phone with you if you're logging in from a laptop or PC, so it's a bit more complicated but much safer.

Unless of course, someone steals and hacks your phone. To protect against that, and if your phone has the technology, enable your thumbprint password as a way to keep your phone bad-guy free.

It's a lot to think about and a lot to worry about, but the Internet isn't a safe place, and it never has been. Even way back in 2002, Richard Clarke, who was the special advisor on cybersecurity to U.S. President George W. Bush, famously said: "If you spend more on coffee than on IT security, you will be hacked. What's more, you deserve to be hacked."

And as the U.S. government later discovered through massive breaches in its own personnel office, even spending millions of dollars on security is no guarantee of protection.
The police chief of the southeastern U.S. city of Charlotte, North Carolina said Friday the video recorded by police of Tuesday's shooting of an African American man will eventually be released.

"Its a matter of when and its a matter of sequence," Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference Friday. "I want to be more thoughtful and deliberate in delivering the whole story."

Separately, the family of the man, Keith Lamont Scott, released cellphone video footage that Scott's wife recorded in the moments leading up to Tuesday's fatal shooting.

The cellphone video does not show whether Scott was brandishing a gun when he was being confronted by officers; however, his wife can be heard pleading with officers not to shoot him, and for her husband to get out of his vehicle. As the standoff continues, she is heard insisting he is unarmed, as police demand Scott "drop the gun." Gunshots then ring out, and Scott can be seen lying prone in the street.

Chief Putney said the case has been turned over to the State Bureau of Investigation to ensure an independent inquiry and that an arrest has been made in connection to the fatal Wednesday night shooting of a demonstrator.

Putney's remarks are consistent with Mayor Jennifer Roberts' stated desire to release to the public the police video. Roberts said earlier that she and other city officials were having discussions with the FBI and state investigators "about how soon we can release" the footage.

In Washington, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, G.K. Butterfield, continued to call for its release, telling CNN, "The public has a right to know what happened on that fateful night.

A third night of demonstrations against the police shooting in Charlotte was largely peaceful. Hundreds of people defied a midnight curfew, marching without incident in the early hours of Friday. Authorities said they had no plans to enforce the curfew as long as the protests remained peaceful.

Video showed some protesters shaking hands with smiling National Guard personnel in the early morning darkness. Tear gas was used against demonstrators at one location in Charlotte, the state's largest city, but such incidents were rare.

Police in riot gear were dispersed throughout the city.

State of emergency declared

Governor Pat McCrory, a former Charlotte mayor, had earlier declared a state of emergency, and said police would arrest lawbreakers. "We cannot tolerate any type of violence...or destruction of property," McCrory said.

People from all around North Carolina joined the protests. Cherrell Brown, a Black Lives Matter activist and community organizer who goes by "Carolina Bama" on Twitter, drove from nearby Greensboro to participate in solidarity with Charlotte and the African-American community.

"This isn't new," she told VOA, referring to the protests in Charlotte and the Black Lives Matter movement in general. "This is an iteration of a movement that's been going on for 500 years - since the slaves got off the boat."

Many clergy were present at the rallies, urging calm and peace for all present. Other protesters, however, were seen arguing with preachers, claiming they didn't understand the pain Charlotte residents had suffered and that the demonstrators could not be expected to stay calm.

Protester shot Wednesday dies

A young protester who was shot Wednesday died Thursday. Justin Carr, 26, had been struck by a bullet as he stood outside a hotel in the neighborhood where the disturbances took place. Police announced they have arrested a suspect in his shooting.

The shooting of Carr 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. More than 30 people were injured after protests turned violent.

Carr's death was the first fatality recorded since Scott was shot.

Police said Scott was holding a gun when they shot him. His family said Scott may have been simply carrying a book he was reading. Police said they found no book at the scene. A photo taken from some distance appears to show a gun on the ground not far from the car. It was not clear whose gun it was.

Police said officers were looking for someone else when they saw Scott get out of the car with a gun, and that an officer fired after Scott ignored warnings to drop the weapon.

Video reportedly unclear

Police refused to release to the public any video recordings of the shooting, but they screened the images Thursday for family members who said it was unclear what, if anything, was in Scott's hands.

Comments by Charlotte's police chief also indicated it was difficult to establish exactly what happened from the police video, since it came from a camera in a cruiser some distance from the confrontation between Scott and the officers who stopped him.

Attorney Justin Bamberg, representing the Scott family, told reporters late Thursday that the family wants the video released to the public immediately. Police Chief Putney said earlier that he would not release the recording unless he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so.

The North Carolina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union also has called for the swift release of any and 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."

Corine Mack, president of the NAACPs Charlotte-Mecklenburg branch, said the video's release would bring transparency to the investigation .

It really doesnt matter if he had a gun, Mack said. Showing he had a gun doesnt prove he was guilty of anything. It is legal to openly carry guns in North Carolina.

The U.S. Justice Department is sending a group of trained peacekeepers to Charlotte to help resolve any conflicts. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the chief U.S. law enforcement officer, urged citizens Thursday to choose a path of reconciliation.

"Too many times weve 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.
Keeling, 15, was sexually assaulted and left to die at Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008, by two beach shack hands, who had also spiked her drinks.

By Mayuresh Ganapatye: A Goa court has acquitted both the accused in the sensational 2008 rape and murder of British national Scarlett Keeling, shocking the teenager's mother Fiona MacKeown who had waited eight years for justice in the case.

In its shocking verdict, the Goa Children's Court cleared the two men, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, of rape and culpable homicide charges in the case.

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Scarlett Keeling, 15, was sexually assaulted and left to die at Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008, by two beach shack hands, who had also spiked her drinks. Her bruised, semi-nude body was found on the beach the next day.

Scarlet's mother expressed her disappointment over the judgement and said that India's judicial system has let her down.

READ| Scarlett Keeling's mother on Goa court acquitting the accused: No faith in Indian justice system



" I am reeling.It's been eight years of agony. I feel devastated and will definitely be challenging the verdict.We had been waiting all this time and it's just rubbish.India's whole judicial system has totally let me down," she said.



She further noted that she would be moving to higher court to seek justice.

"I am disappointed with the verdict and I will definitely move a higher court," she said. She is expected to make a detailed statement soon.



The trial into the Keeling case started in 2010 and nearly 70 witnesses were examined over the past six years.

MacKeown has often alleged a police-government nexus in Goa, which tried to hush up her daughter's murder. She 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.

Keeling's brutal death had put the spotlight on the issue of safety of Goa's beaches, which attracts nearly four million tourists every year.



--- ENDS ---
A Zanu PF lawmaker and member of the partys powerful Central Committee, Joseph Tshuma, has dismissed as extremely undiplomatic calls by president Ian Khama of Botswana for President Robert Mugabe to step down for the benefit of Zimbabwe, which is currently facing serious social, economic and political problems.

In a VOA Studio 7 panel pitting him with political activist Vusumuzi Ncube of the Movement for Democratic Change led by former prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Tshuma said Khama should stop poking his nose on political processes in Zimbabwe where President Mugabes government is clamping down on street protesters, who want him to step down for allegedly failing to properly run the country.

I learnt with great disappointment to see how some people can behave in a rogue manner and yet they are supposed to be statesmen. What President Khama just did is abhorrent  He knows that in the diplomacy sector you cannot cross over to another state, another country to dictate who should rule that particular state. He should have left to our people to be judges and selectors on who should led us as a nation.

So, what President Khama did boggles my mind and  Is he also being used by other forces? Is he thinking on his own? What is really happening? Honestly speaking, a level of diplomacy here is definitely zero. He has failed in diplomacy. He cannot talk about another president who was just elected as he was also elected as well. Our president has never talked about him or whatever status he has. We have heard stories about him and stuff like that but our president has never opened his mouth and said Khama is wrong this way 

But Ncube dismissed Tshumas remarks saying President Mugabe has failed to properly run Zimbabwe resulting in a sharp rebuke from President Khama.

The economy speaks for itself. The countrys economy is on its knees. Zimbabweans are running out of the country seeking help, seeking refuge in South Africa, Botswana, U.K, you name it. I welcome President Khamas comments regarding (his call for) President Mugabe to step down due to the fact that its (refugee and Zimbabwes economic crisis) now affecting the people of Botswana. Remember these countries have been dealing with Zimbabwe for a very long time.

I am not surprised (to hear) Khama coming out in public saying this. He has possibly tried to diplomatically talk to President Mugabe and obviously he hasnt listened. Zimbabwe needs a new leader who can take Zimbabwe forward.

Khama told Reuters that Zimbabwe's 92-year-old should step aside without delay and allow new leadership of a country whose political and economic implosion since 2000 is dragging down the whole of southern Africa.

Asked by Reuters if Mugabe, who came to power after independence from Britain in 1980, should accept the reality of his advancing years and retire, 63-year-old Khama responded: "Without doubt. He should have done it years ago."

"They have got plenty of people there who have got good leadership qualities who could take over," Khama, the UK-born son of Botswana's first president, Seretse Khama, and his British wife, Ruth, continued.

"It is obvious that at his age and the state Zimbabwe is in, he's not really able to provide the leadership that could get it out of its predicament," Khama said, in comments that breach an African diplomatic taboo banning criticism of fellow leaders.

Despite his reputation as one of Africa's most outspoken figures, Khama's remarks are certain to raise hackles in Harare, where factions of Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party are locked in a bitter struggle to succeed the only leader Zimbabwe has known.
The Boss has spoken. Photo: ANDER GILLENEA/AFP/Getty Images

Bruce Springsteen was born in the USA (though Donald Trump may disagree) and he will not let his country be under siege by a moron on his watch. Nope, not today, which just so happens to also be his 67th birthday! In a new Rolling Stone cover story, the Boss has broken his uncharacteristic silence on the presidential election  save for one in-concert jab  and rest assured, hes got a lot to say about a certain Republican candidate:

The republic is under siege by a moron, basically. The whole thing is tragic. Without overstating it, its a tragedy for our democracy. When you start talking about elections being rigged, youre pushing people beyond democratic governance. And its a very, very dangerous thing to do. Once you let those genies out of the bottle, they dont go back in so easy, if they go back in at all. The ideas hes moving to the mainstream are all very dangerous ideas  white nationalism and the alt-right movement. The outrageous things that hes done  not immediately disavowing David Duke? These are things that are obviously beyond the pale for any previous political candidate. It would sink your candidacy immediately.

Except they havent, which might explain Springsteens need to finally speak out. But for anyone wondering why he hasnt yet endorsed a candidate like he did for Obama in 2008 and 2012, apparently its just because no ones asked. I dont know if weve been approached or not to do anything at the moment. If so, I would take it into consideration and see where it goes, he says. As for Hillary Clinton, Springsteen has a lot fewer words, but at least he agrees she was born to run: I like Hillary. I think she would be a very, very good president.


Photo: Tidal

In the wake of the deaths of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott, T.I. is the latest artist to speak out against police brutality. On Thursday, the artist dropped Us or Else, his latest EP, as a Tidal exclusive. The six-song effort, whose release T.I. announced on Twitter with the hashtag  # RIPTerenceCrutcher, deals heavily with police brutality and the conditions of being black in America. Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T., Killer Mike, and Quavo all feature on the EP. Give Us or Else a listen below.
By PTI: Jammu, Sep 23 (PTI) Border Security Force (BSF) troops along the 198 km long International Border in Jammu region are on high alert following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Uri terror attack.

"Jawans guarding the border are keeping a hawk eye on the activities across the border and are alert round the clock. Patrolling is going on," a senior BSF officer said.

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Amid thick vegetation and treacherous terrain, Jawans armed with thermal imagers and surveillance equipment are maintaining constant vigil along the border where three-tier fencing and flood lights are installed.

The officer, however, played down reports of high intensity militant activities across the border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua and ruled out any air space violation by Pakistan.

The officer said, "20 to 30 militants are always at launching pads to infiltrate into this side of the border. There is no serious activity or any concern."

"The militants are shifted from one area to another along the Indo-Pak border to be push them into Jammu and Kashmir to engineer terror acts here," he said.

Over 450 villages and hamlets with a population of over 4.50 lakh are located along the IB and LoC in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts. PTI AB BSA RG BSA

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By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) The Urban Development Ministry is looking into the issue related to allowing the Congress use Akbar Road bungalows as its headquarters because the party has been allotted land in 2010 to construct its office building.

According to officials, the Modi government had nearly two years ago issued a notice to vacate 24 and 26 Akbar Road bungalows as the party had been allotted land in June 2010 for building an office on 9-A Rouse Avenue.

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According to rules, three-year period is allowed to political parties to build their offices on the allotted land, therefore, there was a view that Congress should vacate Akbar Road and some other bungalows.

Congress functionaries replied that though they had been allotted the land in 2010, their building plan was not approved, an official said, adding the Urban Development Ministry then took up the matter with civic officials concerned.

"The building plan was approved in February 2015. Congress has sought it be allowed to use the bungalows till February 2018. The ministry is looking into the matter and a decision in this regard will be taken at the highest level," a senior official said.

Meanwhile, sources said the Urban Development Ministry officials are also looking whether the Congress should be made to pay penal rent for staying on in these premises beyond the expiry of the lease.

"The ministry is looking into the issue and a decision will be taken in the coming days," a senior official said when asked about reports that a proposal to evict Congress from these premises is under consideration.

It is learnt that apart from the bungalows 24 and 26 at Akbar road, 5 Raisina Road and another residential house in Chankyapuri, are among premises which the Congress has used for its office purposes. PTI ADS TIR ZMN TIR

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Steven Moss, co-author of We Could Not Fail: The First African-Americans in the Space Program will speak at 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco-McLennan County Central Library, 1717 Austin Ave.

The event is a part of the librarys fall series.

Moss will have books available to purchase and sign.

For more information, call 750-5941 or visit www.wacolibrary.org.

Cotton Pickin Fair

The 25th annual Cotton Pickin Fair will be Friday and Saturday in Historic Downtown Hillsboro near the intersection of Elm and North Waco streets.

The fair will open with a street dance featuring live music from The Tejas Brothers at 9 p.m. Friday.

Saturday activities will include performances by childrens entertainers Joe McDermott and The Magik Theatre at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., more than 100 food and craft vendors, live music, a barbecue cook-off, and an inflatables area for children.

Saturday performers will include Conjunto Baraja de Oro at 1:30 p.m., JLD at 3 p.m., Meagan Burkhart Vaughan at 3:45 p.m., The Gimbles at 4:30 p.m., The Morticians at 6 p.m., and Mike Morgan and the Crawl at 8 p.m.

For more information, visit www.hillsboro mainstreet.org.

Iris rhizome sale

Waco Iris Society will have its annual iris rhizome sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of GreenLife Nursery, 1312 N. New Road.

The irises will be ready to plant.

For more information, call 854-2558.

Lake Waco cleanup

In conjunction with National Public Lands Day, Keep Waco Beauitful and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a Lake Waco beautification and cleanup event, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. at Twin Bridges Park.

Volunteers should wear suitable garments such as closed-toe shoes and jeans.

In an effort to stay green, KWB will provide reusable water jugs that can be filled on-site.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/1182766211781548.

Thrift store bag sale

Second Chance Thrift Store, 1412 Sunset Drive, will have a bag sale from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

For $6, customers can fill a bag with clothing. All other items in the store will be sold at a 50 percent discount.

Store proceeds benefit the Family Abuse Center.

For more information, call 753-6469.

Submit items for Briefly in printed or typed form to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco 76702-2588; fax to 757-0302; or email to goingson@wacotrib.com at least one week before an event.
Hewitt police have arrested two of three suspects in the Aug. 19 burglary of Hewitt Elementary School, and police continue to search for the third suspect, Hewitt Police Chief Jim Devlin announced Friday.

Police arrested Christopher Mark Anderson, 19, on an engaging in organized criminal activity charge Sept. 9 after identifying him as a suspect. They arrested Andersons girlfriend, Thera Lynn Morrow, 24, about a week later on the same charge after she tried to sell a Dell projector at a Waco pawn shop, according to the pairs arrest affidavits.

Police have issued a felony engaging in organized criminal activity warrant for Jaleel Sheehy, 19, who had not been arrested by Friday, Devlin said.

Midway ISD spokeswoman Traci Marlin said the district is grateful for the work of the Hewitt police and their ability to allow teachers to keep classes running smoothly while the investigation was ongoing.

Police released information and photos from the schools security cameras shortly after the burglary showing two masked men in the school and eventually identified them as Anderson and Sheehy, Devlin said.

Police believe they broke in through a classroom window and left with several items, including an Apple iPad, several Apple TVs and the Dell projector, Devlin said.

The public responded quickly with information after police released the images from security cameras, he said.

Right after we put information out, we instantly started getting information from he public, Devlin said. One of detectives believed we knew who one of suspects was, and that ended up being Mr. Anderson, because we had prior contact with Mr. Anderson on a separate call weeks before.

Anderson, a registered sex offender from El Paso, was living in Hewitt with several people in a home in the 400 block of Texas Avenue and was arrested for failure to register, according to a separate arrest affidavit. Registered sex offenders are not permitted to live in Hewitt city limits, according to a Hewitt city ordinance.

Anderson was arrested on the charge of failure to register as a sex offender, and investigators spoke with him about the reported burglary while holding him on that charge, Devlin said. They added the organized criminal activity charge about three days after the first arrest.

After officers arrested Anderson, they located Morrow when she tried to pawn the stolen projector, Devlin said.

After speaking with Thera several times, she later confessed that her boyfriend, identified as Christopher Anderson, was one of the two suspects on the video footage from the Hewitt Elementary School burglary, an affidavit states.

Morrow said Anderson and Sheehy planned to commit the burglary to come up with money to get gas and travel for a planned move to Houston to start over, according to the arrest affidavit.

Devlin said Morrow and Anderson both gave false information to police before officers were able to travel to Houston and speak with Sheehy in an attempt to find probable cause for his arrest.

Both Morrow and Anderson were charged with felony engaging in organized crime and were taken to McLennan County Jail. Both have since posted bond and been released.

Devlin said the Dell projector is the only property that has been recovered.
A woman was freed from a late-model Cadillac after she struck a tree, splitting the vehicle in two before it struck a home in East Waco on Thursday afternoon.

Shortly after 3 p.m., emergency responders were called to the intersection of Evans and Mahalia drives after neighbors reported a vehicle had crashed into the front of a home.

At the home, fire crews found a white Cadillac that had been split in half, causing the passenger side of the vehicle to fold back around the car and create an envelope around the driver, firefighters on scene said.

It was extremely lucky that there was only one occupant in the car, because if there had been another passenger, there is no telling how bad they may have been hurt, Waco Assistant Fire Chief Don Yeager said. We had to use two sets of Jaws of Life to cut the driver free from the car, because of the amount of damage.

After striking the tree, the mangled vehicle continued through the yard and hit the front of the home, firefighters said. Police said no one was in the home at the time of the crash.

Neighbors from the area gathered at the home, shocked by the damage. Area resident Beverly Johnson said she knows the driver, who lives in a nearby neighborhood, and decided to rush down to the wreck.

She has to be serving an awesome God to see a car split in half and go into a house and knock a hole in the house. You cant even tell its a car. Its in pieces, and I have never seen anything like that, Johnson said. (The driver) is an older, wonderful lady, a retired teacher . . . and I cant believe this.

The name and condition of the driver were not available. Police said the driver was conscious and talking when emergency medical personnel transported her to an area hospital for treatment.

The crash remained under investigation Thursday evening.
Since the fall of Communism in 1989, Ive been to dozens of cities  most in the former Eastern Bloc  where statues of Lenin have been taken down. I never thought Id count New York among them, but as of Monday night, the city no longer has a statue of the man who led Russias 1917 revolution.

New Yorks sole Lenin is a special case: Its privately owned by Michael Rosen, a former NYU professor, developer and investor, and his erstwhile partner Michael Shaoul. The two ran a small trading company, Oscar Gruss & Son. They werent typical Wall Streeters, though. They installed the Lenin statue in 1994 on top of a red-brick doorman building in the East Village known as Red Square, the Soviet leaders outstretched hand pointed toward the financial district.

The Lower East Side had been for many decades a place of true political thought, Rosen explained. So we hoisted Lenin to the top to wave to Wall Street.

Rosen, who now lives in Hanoi, Vietnam, told me the statues story in an e-mail:

Long ago, there were three guys in New York doing work in Soviet Union art. I wanted a Lenin, and they had access to one. They sold me a brass sculpture of a somewhat grandfatherly Lenin sitting on a park bench, from the same sculptor. They also told me a story of a supposed Kandinsky they had uncovered, all that wonderful stuff of novels. I financed the overall process. The monumental Lenin cost little to nothing to purchase. The Kandinsky disappeared if it ever existed. The grandfatherly Lenin is in storage somewhere.

The Lenin wasnt particularly famous; not even in New York. Thats unusual with Lenin statues: In former Communist countries, they occupied cities central squares. When the Baltic states got rid of their statues, the large spaces felt empty. One after another, almost all the former Eastern Bloc nations removed their Lenins. Most recently, Ukraine enacted a desovietization law similar to Germanys denazification legislation, and massive Lenins have been removed in what was dubbed a Leninfall, in most cases leaving empty pedestals.

Russia, with its undying Soviet nostalgia that reaches all the way up to the Kremlin, still has its statues. Its probably too late to remove them: Generations of post-Soviet children have grown up without reading or hearing much about Lenin, and few people would have celebrated their disappearance as a symbol of shedding the Communist past.

New York held out along with Moscow, though the symbolism was different here. Rosen and Shaoul cared nothing about the Soviet state Lenin built on the blood of his enemies. They rescued their Lenin from the ruins of the Soviet empire as a recognizable counterweight to the power of money, a monument to the East Villages anarchic, revolutionary spirit. Even though Rosen has at times been portrayed as an agent of the areas gentrification, he has described himself as a little fish in the East Village.

The Red Square building at 250 E. Houston Street has apparently been acquired by a real estate conglomerate. As Rosen, who still owns the statue, told me, the new owner might or might not want it there, and I guess taking it off seemed an appropriate move. Lenin went down in an operation reminiscent of scenes in Eastern Europe, lowered by a crane and loaded on a truck bed.

It might be put elsewhere on display in New York, but I dont know more than that, Rosen wrote me. It would be good to have the statue on display in the Lower East Side, where it has been for twenty-plus years and has a certain symbolism, I believe, of the history of the neighborhood.

There would be nothing wrong with that. Berlin, which not only took down its giant Lenin statue in 1991 but buried it in the woods so it would never re-emerge, recently disinterred its 4-ton head to put on display. Theres no reason that New York shouldnt find a new place for its own reminder that poor people can rise up and do ugly things when led by a charismatic individual.

As for Rosen, his current hometown still features a Lenin statue. We have a quite big Lenin statue on a street called Dien Bien Phu, commemorating a place and a time where the Vietnamese figured out how to send the French home, he wrote. It reminds me of our New York Lenin. Different, but the same.

Im not nostalgic at all for Communism and for my ugly Soviet childhood. I understand the different shades of symbolism, though. I will come see Lenin again if he resurfaces in New York.

Leonid Bershidsky is a Bloomberg View columnist.
The film Sully directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks sparked a lot of conversation on a Facebook page devoted to promoting the film with comments from those who have seen it. Much debate arose over the plot device of National Transportation Safety Board bureaucrats trying to blame heroic pilot Chesley B. Sully Sullenberger and his decision to save lives by landing in the Hudson River. The airliner was incapacitated by some unlucky Canadian geese mid-air.

Steve Hoyt: I highly recommend this film as it is a classical Clint Eastwood film that is exceptionally well made. Not only was Sully very professional in the cockpit, he demonstrated an even higher level of professionalism when he was literally being tried by the NTSB hearings and he very ably confronted their initial findings when the investigation tried to claim he could have landed at Teterboro or La Guardia. I actually met Sully a few years ago at a conference and he is every bit the professional, outstanding individual. Eastwood is highly qualified to speak about the subject of crash landing in the water  while serving with the U.S. Army, the transport plane he was riding in crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Two very interesting gentlemen  sure beats the other characters out there.

Kathy Miller: Not a good movie, an amazing movie.

Jill Levine: It was a great movie. Tom Hanks was amazing as was the actor who played his co-pilot. Too bad the NTSB and all of the other agencies who participate in these investigations put them through so much. They were heroes who saved 155 lives.

Brooke Beron Pekkala: According to Sullys memoir, the NTSB agreed with every decision he and his co-pilot made. That part in the movie was fictionalized to provide a counterpoint.

Ron Giordan: And to make a 45-minute movie two hours.

Nick Cristiano: As a retired airline pilot with 45 years experience, I will tell you one political fact: Its always cheaper to blame the pilots!

Sid Gillman: The NTSB didnt question him the way the movie portrayed it. When the NTSB challenged Eastwood, he said he was aware of this but put that in the script to add drama.

T.W. Hanson Fisher: Will not watch this movie because Clinty directed it and filled it with his anti-government agitprop. The NTSB is the only reason planes arent continuously dropping out of the sky.

Vicki Moore Russell: The film was based on a real event, but it didnt claim it would be completely factual. It is a movie, not a documentary.

Marion Visel: Clint used his own agenda to alter the plotline. The NTSB did not go after Sully, they commended him.

Nicholas Kieft: The NTSB are not happy with the way they were portrayed. They were looking for facts, not apportioning blame, unless you happened to be a goose.

Ken Buzelle: If I ever see Tom Hanks on my flight, Ill just wait for the next one. (Castaway, Apollo 13 and this one.)
The Karnataka government has been stating that the combined storage in the four reservoir has only a total water level of 27.6 TMC of waters. The low rainfall in Karnataka has been attributed as the reason for this situation.

By Akshaya Nath: The Karnataka legislature has passed a resolution that there is no water to share with Tamil Nadu, going against the Supreme Court order of releasing 6000 cusecs of water everyday. The government in its resolution said, "It is now resolved to direct that in this state of acute distress it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storage be drawn or saved except for meeting drinking water requirements."

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The Karnataka government has been stating that the combined storage in the four reservoir has only a total water level of 27.6 TMC of waters. The low rainfall in Karnataka has been attributed as the reason for this situation.

READ| Cauvery dispute: Political parties accuse government of inaction

The farmers along the Cauvery delta region in Tamil Nadu have been protesting on this step taken by the Karnataka government. The farmers have been complaining that this has been a constant attitude that the Karnataka government has been throwing at the farmers of Tamil Nadu.

"The Supreme Court has ordered them to release water and still they are refusing. This is unconstitutional. Our farmers will only die if this continues. All our crops will fail due to lack of water, what will we do?" questioned AyyaKannu, a farmer from Trichy.

"Political parties in the state of Tamil Nadu have also been showcasing their disappointment. "This is contempt of court by Karnataka government. If the government won't follow the court's order, what will happen in the future?" AIADMK spokesperson, CR Saraswati said.

ALSO READ:



Karnataka defers release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 23 Cauvery row: Siddaramaiah heads to Delhi after decision to defer release of water to Tamil Nadu



--- ENDS ---
Mentioning that there is acute water crisis in the state, the Karnataka Legislative Council has passed a resolution refusing water to Tamil Nadu from its reservoirs, state assembly to follow suit.

By Rohini Swamy: The Karnataka assembly will shortly pass a resolution stating that given the condition of acute distress the state govt finds itself in, it is imperative that no water is given to Tamil Nadu from any of its storages or reservoirs, except to towns and villages of the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru city for drinking purposes.

Also read: Cauvery row: Pro-Kannada groups to intensify agitation, raise slogans slamming SC order



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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MOVES RESOLUTION

This resolution has already been passed unanimously in the legislative council. The resolution was moved by the Congress.



NO CONTEMPT OF COURT



Former Karnataka Law Minister Suresh Kumar has said that it is a plea to the Supreme Court to reconsider the decision, does not lead to contempt of court as of now.

Also read: Cauvery row: BPAC files petition in Supreme Court



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 22 (PTI) A new study today said the number of childhood diarrhoea cases has been "substantially underestimated" and it may be nearly twice as high as the previous analysis in seven countries of Asia and Africa, including India, where it kills 13 children under the age of 5 every hour.

"The number of cases of childhood diarrhoea attributable to pathogens like bacteria, parasites, viruses or other infections have been substantially underestimated and may be nearly twice as high as previous analysis suggests.

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"The analysis of over 10,000 samples from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, The Gambia, Kenya, Mali and Mozambique finds that Shigella and rotavirus were the most common infections among children aged under five, followed by adenovirus, enterotoxin-producing E coli (ETEC), Cryptosporidium, and Campylobacter," a new research published in The Lancet said.

The findings come from a re-analysis of samples from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS).

Previous estimates of the infectious causes of diarrhoea were based on a variety of different detection methods, but this study, for the first time, uses a molecular diagnostic testing method called quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to test for 32 pathogens.

Researchers re-analysed stool samples from 10,608 children with and without diarrhoea obtained from regions in seven countries in Asia (Bangladesh, India and Pakistan) and Africa (The Gambia, Kenya, Mali, and Mozambique).

"The original GEMS study published in 2013 estimated that 51.5 per cent of childhood diarrhoea cases could be attributed to pathogens but the new re-analysis finds the proportion is much higher at 89.3 per cent.

"The original study identified four major pathogens - rotavirus, shigella spp, cryptosporidium spp and heat-stable enterotoxin-producing E coli (ST-ETEC). This re-analysis reaffirmed these four and added two others - adenovirus 40/41 and campylobacter jejuni/coli.

"Together, these six pathogens accounted for 77.8 per cent of all diarrhoea. Among the children who had a diarrhoea- causing pathogen, about half had more than one infection, highlighting the challenges of treating multiple infections," the study said.

According to Health Ministry figures, in India, 1.2 lakh children under the age of five succumb to diarrhoea every year. This translates to 328 diarrhoeal deaths every day and 13 every hour. (MORE) PTI TDS AAR RT AAR

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Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Credit:Getty Aniston and Pitt announced their split in January 2005. She filed for divorce three months later citing "irreconcilable differences". Aniston unwillingly became a symbol for women who have experienced the trauma of a relationship breakdown, infidelity, heartbreak, divorce and embarrassment. Hollywood dream couple: Pitt was previously married to Aniston. Credit:AP Even though she is hardly a figure to be pitied  starring in hit movies, becoming one of the highest-paid celebrities in Hollywood, marrying actor Justin Theroux  she has not been able to shake the public's perception of her as a woman who has been treated badly. For all those years, Team Aniston supporters felt compelled to take her side in an imaginary feud with Jolie.

This identification with Aniston's predicament, which could only have happened in the age of celebrity, explains the extraordinary outpouring of schadenfreude at Pitt and Jolie's relationship demise. Call it perverse, but they were finally vindicated. Brangelina got its just desserts. The New York Post caused outrage by putting a laughing Aniston on their front cover on Wednesday. "People who have been cheated on can identify with Jennifer because she has become a symbol of the jilted lover," said psychologist Melanie Schilling. "Now, 12 years later, people are feeling like this is relationship karma." The actor herself, so annoyed at the pitiable stereotype she has come to embody in the public eye, took the unusual step of penning a piece denouncing the relentless coverage of her private life this year. The tabloids have spent more than a decade speculating on whether she will have children; obviously comparing her to the fecund Jolie-Pitts who had six children between them. "I am not pregnant. What I am is fed up," Aniston wrote in the Huffington Post.

"The sheer amount of resources being spent right now by press trying to simply uncover whether or not I am pregnant (for the bajillionth time  but who's counting) points to the perpetuation of this notion that women are somehow incomplete, unsuccessful, or unhappy if they're not married with children." But the "poor Jen" narrative has continued on regardless of her protest, because as Schilling points out, it has become less about the key figures and more about what they have come to represent. "That alleged infidelity was so high-profile it might be triggering people's own memories and triggering the pain they might have experienced in the past in their relationships," Schilling said. "It is less about the 'Brangelina and Jennifer love triangle' and more about people's own memory and own pain and that's why it might be causing such a powerful and even celebratory reaction from people." The triumph showed by others shows just how deep the knife of heartbreak can cut.

"This level of pain never really goes and something that you will never forget because it is such an emotional memory. When it is triggered it can be very strong and it can feel very immediate and real," Schilling added. There have been calls for the festivities to come to a halt and to show sympathy for the pair at the centre of the story. Also, won't somebody think of the six kids  three biological children  Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, eight, and their three adopted children  Maddox, 15, from Cambodia; Pax, 12, from Vietnam; and Zahara, 11, from Ethiopia? Also, there have been calls to end the concocted feud. "Can the petty Aniston-Jolie 'catfight' please stop?" Fairfax's Josephine Tovey asked on Wednesday. "The obsession with this imagined contest, with someone 'winning', has always been and remains petty as hell, and pretty gross as yet another messy divorce unfolds, this time involving six young children. It's also a reminder that relationships and marriage are still talked about like a sporting rivalry for women, something at which they can win or lose, and something they are in direct competition with other women for," Tovey added.

As Schilling said, the Jolie-Pitt marriage was not necessarily a failure. "It was a positive and successful relationship and marriage. It produced children and brought about a positive change in the world, but now it has run its course," she said. "There will be pain for both parties so it is not something to rejoice about, but something to reflect on. People should have empathy for them. Loading "If you are noticing that this is bringing up something in you  talk to someone you trust in a judgement free zone or find a good pyschologist. Finding glee in this situation could be a sign that maybe you need to do more work and you have not resolved your issue."
he Congress alleged that there are no referral linkages to dispensaries or hospitals for those who cannot be attended to at the mohalla clinics

By Mail Today Bureau: For the second consecutive day on Thursday, the Congress stepped up attacks on Mohalla clinics, alleging that some of them run side businesses such as grocery stores.

EXPOSE ANOMALIES

The party released a report 'exposing the anomalies' in 105 Mohalla clinics. It said that the report is based on surveys of all the 105 clinics conducted by 217 Jan Sarvekshaks that it had appointed. The report highlighted 'serious violations of public health and financial propriety by the AAP government'.

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"Mohalla clinics were opened without carrying out a detailed gap analysis and study. These clinics are opened only for four hours in a day," alleged Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Ajay Maken.

Last year, as part of a pilot project, the AAP government had opened 105 mohalla clinics across Delhi and promised 1,000 clinics, boasting innovative diagnostic technology. The Congress also alleged that doctors and staff have been shifted from polyclinics and dispensaries, thereby hampering existing healthcare services. Quoting the report, it alleged that in the absence of doctors in these places, other staff attend the patients for which they are not trained. There are no name plates mentioning doctors and their degrees.

HIGH IRREGULARITIES

"Official records available with Mohalla clinics show high irregularities. Most information regarding patients are being tampered with," alleged Maken. On Wednesday, the Delhi government extended the pilot project for another year. With mounting cases of dengue and chikungunya, the administration has also issued orders to all Mohalla clinics, polyclinics and dis-pensaries to remain open on all days, including Sundays and gazetted holidays, till October 30.

Data released by the Delhi government in August said that nearly eight lakh patients were treated in five months at the 105 Mohalla clinics, which provide consultation, 110 free essential drugs, immunisation for children, 212 basic tests and counseling.

IT FRIENDLY

Results of most of the tests are known within two minutes and uploaded onto an IT cloud for access by patients and their doctors on their smart phones and the health centres' Swasthya tablets.

"The operation of Mohalla clinics and dispensaries should be expanded to at least 12 hours a day and they should have emergency services for 24 hours. Vacancies should be filled on a permanent basis instead of outsourcing healthcare to private doctors. Fair Price Shops having generic medicines should be set up as a large number of patients continue to visit private doctors," added Maken.

Also Read:



AAP MLA Somnath Bharti gets bail hours after arrest

Sexual harassment case: AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan granted bail by Delhi court



--- ENDS ---
The 1st Meeting of the WCO Technical Working Group on Non-Intrusive Inspection (TEG-NII) was held on 21-22 September 2016 in the Russian Customs Academy, St. Petersburg Branch. The meeting brought together more than 50 participants from WCO Member Administrations and NII Industry members. The meeting was opened by the Rector of the Russian Customs Academy Professor V. B. Mantusov, who welcomed the participants to St. Petersburg and highlighted the importance of the NII images issues that the Group was mandated to discuss. The Meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Joris Groeneveld from Dutch Customs and Mr. Timothy Norton from Smiths Detection.

During the Meeting, the document outlining the Terms of Reference of the TEG-NII was amended to include a new phase  Phase 3 of the programme aimed at developing a standard NII data format, to extend the scope to other NII technical issues as proposed by members of the Group and to open the membership in the Group to all WCO Members and relevant NII Industry members.

The members of the TEG-NII were informed about the results of Phase 1 of the Unified File Format (UFF) Development Programme, as well as the current situation and achievements in the field of NII equipment interoperability in the Customs Administrations of the Russian Federation, Colombia and China. The Meeting concluded that Phase 1 of the UFF Development Programme was successfully completed and outlined the way forward for phase 2 of the Programme. The WCO Secretariat encouraged Members from all 6 WCO regions to join the Phase 2 Pilots.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Indian democracy is "little noisy" but it always pays rich dividends if the country engages with issues confronting it, President Pranab Mukherjee said today.

The President said there was a need to nurture diversity of Indian pluralistic society where people of different sections live under one flag and one Constitution, a view echoed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said people should be proud of this diversity and respect everyones contribution.

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The two leaders were speaking after the release of a book Citizen and Society, written by Vice-President Hamid Ansari, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The President emphasised that without effective engagements, democracy cant be protected.

"Democracy is always noisy. Perhaps our democracy is little more noisy. But it always pays if we engage ourselves with the issues. It has always paid rich dividend," he said, after releasing the book.

Citing Indias diversity with 128 crore people, 1,800 dialects, more than 6.5 lakh villages, all three major ethnicities, Mongoloids, Caucasians and Dravidians, he said yet they live under one system, one flag, one Constitution and this marvel of Indian democracy is to be nurtured.

"It cannot be preserved, protected and advanced automatically," Mukherjee said.

Speaking at the function, the Prime Minister said in India there is a unit called family between citizen and society, which has been our biggest strength.

Underlining that India should be proud to be a country of so many dialects and languages, and so many different faiths, living in harmony, Modi said, "All citizens have made a contribution to make this happen."

He said the country has power to show way to the society which is moving through difficulties and challenges.

"Its terminology may not be global or come under constitutional definition, but its tradition and rule should be sarvajan hityaye, sarvajan sukhaye (welfare, happiness of people)," he said.

Author of the book, the Vice President said an open society needs more debates.

"There is no pretence of certitude. An open society like us needs more debates, greater elbow room for unorthodox views. A plural society like us needs to develop a mindset to move beyond intolerance to acceptance of diversity," Ansari said.

The book is collection of Ansaris lectures on diverse themes.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion included former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani. PTI AKV PMS RT PMS

--- ENDS ---
The British Council has joined hands with two Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata to offer visitors a glimpse into the life of William Shakespeare.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Denizens of Kolkata will soak in the Durga Puja festivities in October by celebrating William Shakespeare's life, work and legacy on the occasion of the bard's 400th death anniversary.

The British Council has tied up with two community puja organisers--Ahiritola Sarbojanin Durgotsab in north Kolkata, and Ballygunge Cultural Durgotsab Samity in the south of the metropolis -- to add a dash of Shakespeare to the biggest festival in this part of the world.

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A unique audio-visual experience is in store for visitors to the two marquees, where The Globe Theatre's Complete Walk--an immersive, multi-screen experience with 37 shorts of Shakespeare's 37 plays--will be shown, British Council officials said here on Wednesday.

The 37 specially made ten-minute films have been screened along the iconic 2.5-mile stretch between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge in London.

Also Read: Delhi's popular Durga Puja pandal to promote peace with French-themed festivities

Each film explores one of Shakespeare's plays and includes scenes shot in the locations Shakespeare imagined when he wrote them--Cleopatra in front of the Pyramids, Shylock in Venice's former Jewish Ghetto, Hamlet on the rocks of Elsinore, and so on.

"The Complete Walk is an accessible, interactive way to celebrate Shakespeare's life, work and legacy and is part of the British Council's global programme, Shakespeare Lives, celebrating William Shakespeare's work on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of his death in 2016," said Alan Gemmell, Director British Council India.

Gemmell, who will be in Kolkata during the Puja and inaugurate The Complete Walk, said: "We hope that Kolkatans, enjoying the bright lights and high spirits of the festival, will enjoy the experience of the films being shown at two very different but equally renowned festivals."

"By partnering with these two very noted Durga Puja organisations of Kolkata, we are also connecting the cultures of North and South Kolkata through a shared appreciation of Shakespeare, who is perhaps as much an icon of Bengali literature as Rabindranath Tagore."

The British Council will also offer free public access to the library to everyone all of October.

The five-day Durga puja carnival, beginning on October 6, celebrates the annual descent of Goddess Durga on earth to visit her parents, according to Hindu mythology.



--- ENDS ---
India Inc has joined the chorus to launch an economic offensive against Pakistan in view of the recent Uri attacks.

By Parvina Purkayastha, Devina Gupta: With Pakistan continuing to dare India, pressure is mounting on the Indian government to give a befitting reply. India Inc has joined the chorus to launch an all out economic offensive against Pakistan.

"Absolutely economic sanctions are the first sanctions which are required to be done before you take any offensive measures across the borders as a reply to their attack. That's the first thing which needs to be cut off," said Mahesh Gupta, President, PHD Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

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Also read: MNS at it again; gives 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artists to leave India



Currently, Indo-Pak trade stands at estimated $4 billion, where Pakistan enjoys the most favoured nation status while trading with India. So when Pakistan exports goods like leather, cement, chemicals, fruits and vegetables to India, it enjoys lower trade barriers.



STATUS OF MOST FAVOURED NATION



Speaking to India Today, Arjun Meghwal, MoS Finance confirmed that the government is reviewing the most favoured nation status given to Pakistan that was given twenty years back.

Also read: Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan



"Conditions were different then, now status is different. It (MFN status to Pakistan) is under serious review now," said Meghwal.



BUILDING UP PRESSURE



With global support rallying for India, the economic isolation of Pakistan is another strategy in the works. But with China sharing a cosy relationship with Pakistan, India is making all efforts to get a united front to counter the dragon influence.

"On what Pakistanis are doing, the world knows that their territory is being used for terrorism activities. It was proved during the 9/11 attack too. I think we need to build up pressure to bring out this fact to the world and economic sanctions could be placed in this nation. That will build up pressure and China will have to follow the same strategy," said Gupta.

Also read: Rafale to give Indian Air Force edge over Pakistan

--- ENDS ---
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MSCI Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides investment decision support tools for the clients to manage their investment processes worldwide. It operates through four segments: Index, Analytics, ESG and Climate, and All Other - Private Assets. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed product creation, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct. The Analytics segment offers risk management, performance attribution and portfolio management content, application, and service that provides an integrated view of risk and return, and an analysis of market, credit, liquidity, and counterparty risk across asset classes; managed services, including consolidation of client portfolio data from various sources, review and reconciliation of input data and results, and customized reporting; and HedgePlatform to measure, evaluate, and monitor the risk of hedge fund investments. The ESG and Climate segment provides products and services that help institutional investors understand how ESG factors impact the long-term risk and return of their portfolio and individual security-level investments; and data, ratings, research, and tools to help investors navigate increasing regulation. The All Other - Private Assets segment includes real estate market and transaction data, benchmarks, return-analytics, climate assessments and market insights for funds, investors, and managers; business intelligence to real estate owners, managers, developers, and brokers; and offers investment decision support tools for private capital. It serves asset owners and managers, financial intermediaries, wealth managers, real estate professionals, and corporates. MSCI Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 23 (PTI) A senior Ugandan diplomat today extolled the virtue of educating the girl child and said a nation will be ruined if girls were not educated.

"If girls are educated and exposed to the world, they can handle any hard situation they will come across," High Commissioner of the Republic of Uganda in India, Elizabeth Paula Napeyok, said.

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She was speaking at the seventh Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Awards ceremony held at the India International Centre here.

"Whole nation will be ruined if girls are not educated. With education, girls will not only lead a better life for themselves, but for the whole family and the nation. Empowering them is empowering the nation," she said.

Talking about former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, former Union minister Kumari Selja said, "He was a strong voice. He fought against all sorts of discrimination in the society like caste, gender and even colour. He was way ahead of his time."

National Secretary of AICC Major Dalbir Singh said, "The technology we enjoy today is only because of Rajiv Gandhis vision."

The social reformer award was won by artist Nishi Singh whereas SUIT received the prize for the best NGO in rural area. The best award for tourism was bagged by Kerala. PTI NKS KND SRY ZMN SRY NTR

--- ENDS ---
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Sep. 23, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 23, 2016 | 03:53 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Police have arrested an Indiana man in connection with the theft of flags from several locations in Paducah last week.



The Paducah Police Department says a driver called 911 and reported a black pickup truck being driven recklessly. A check of the vehicles license plate revealed it was registered to a truck matching the description of one used in the theft of flags from Paducah Power Systems, the Paducah Police Department and other locations on Sept. 15.



Officers found the truck on Circle Lake Drive and made contact with the owner, 43-year-old Andy Sneed of Indianapolis, IN.



Police said Sneed told them he had acquired several flags, or they had been given to him. They reportedly found 19 U.S. flags, a Paducah city flag, a Kentucky state flag and a flag belonging to a local church in the bed of his truck.



Sneed was arrested on a charge of felony theft by unlawful taking and booked into McCracken County Regional Jail.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff Sep. 23, 2016 | 06:32 AM | MAYFIELD, KY

Saturday is the 11th annual community Mayfield-Graves County Needline & Food Pantry mammoth yard and bake sale.

The sale will be held in the old Gotham City building in the Mayfield Shopping Plaza behind the Princess Theater from 7 am to 3 pm.

Last year the sale raised more than $21,000 for the Needline & Food Pantry that provides emergency food and help with utilities for local needy residents, according to Event Chairman, Tyler Goodman.

We are very excited about our upcoming yard sale on September 24, Goodman said. The people of Mayfield and Graves County are always so generous and supportive of the Needline-Food Pantry and this year is no exception. We are looking forward to a huge turnout and want to thank all the people, businesses, churches and groups that have donated their time, services, and goods to the yard sale.

This sale was started 10 years ago by First Christian Church as a small parking lot venture but it has grown into a huge community event. The sale area looks like a mini Wal-Mart, which actually used to be at the sale location years ago. The sale is so large it is spread over four rooms. One room contains just books, CDs, and DVDs and another has holiday decorations of all kinds. The largest room contains appliances, household goods, tools, furniture, electronics and a little bit of everything. The checkout room has more furniture, collectibles and a large bake sale with all kinds of homemade goodies.

Shoppers will be able to identify workers this year by their red and white caps donated by one of the business sponsors, H&R Agri Power.

Other business sponsors this year are: Ace Compressors, Animal Medical Center, Dairymans Supply, Driver Motors, Falconite Properties, Falders, Gilliam Thompson, Greer Neon, Lovely Nails, Mayfield Water & Electric Co., Purchase Ford, Republic Services, Rent One, T.V.A., and West Kentucky Rural Electric.

Church sponsors this year are Calvary United Methodist Church, Elders Wingo Old Cumberland Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, First United Methodist Church, Pilot Oak Baptist Church, and Spence Chapel Methodist Church.

Volunteers are needed to help before, during and after the sale with cleanup. Contact Tina Schlosser at 270-519-0783 if you can help. If you can donate items for the bake sale, contact Clarissa Yarber at 270-705-9167, or bring them to the sale.

Leftovers from the sale will be donated to JU Kevil Center and other local charities.
'High Mark' is the Pakistan Air Force's largest and most comprehensive exercise and is held every five years. The last exercise lasted for 40 days and covered air defences across the entire country. It recently included Army and Naval units.

By India Today Web Desk: Late on Thursday night, F-16 fighter jets flying low over Islamabad created panic among the people and raised concern in India amid strained ties with Pakistan. It seems that all the hullaballoo was actually part of an Air Force exercise called High Mark -- Pakistan's largest so far.

A Pakistani journalist had tweeted about five-six fighter jets flying over Islamabad. The tweet came after Pakistan had cleared its highways and air space. Considering the tensions between the two countries after the Uri attack, the news had sent many into a tizzy.

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Also read:

F-16 fighter jets flying over Islamabad spread panic

Nervous Pakistan braces for 'Indian response'; many flights cancelled, highways shut for fighter jets

Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK?



ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIGH MARK-2016 'High Mark' is the Pakistan Air Force's largest and most comprehensive exercise and is held every five years. The last exercise lasted for 40 days and covered air defences across the entire country. It recently included Army and Naval units. The aircraft that featured in the drill included JF-17s, F-16s, F-7s and Mirages. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Thursday carried out sorties and landings as part of its routine 'High Mark' exercise. This involved landing F-16 aircraft on the motorway near Lahore. According to reports, the closure of the M1 and M2 motorways at multiple points between Kala Shah Kaku and Sheikhupura/Gujranwala and near Peshawar-Nowshera was announced for the war drills by National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) through a press release a day earlier. The air exercise led to the closure of commercial airspace over several regions of the country. PAF fighter jets took off and landed on the motorway safely and successfully. F-16 and Mirage jets took part in these exercises in which pilots practiced emergency landings for extraordinary situation. High Mark has traditionally been a wide-scale exercise involving systems from most units in the PAF. Two sides are formed - Blue Force and Red Land - to simulate wartime conditions between two rival states.

Also read:

Uri attack: India to respond at multiple levels, but will the stand be aggressive?

Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhar among 3 Pakistanis India believes are behind the Uri attack

Uri attack: Pakistan can't go unpunished, PM Modi has approved effective retaliation

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History has sidelined black stories. Writers can restore them. Just as August Wilson's Century Cycle testified to black lives over the course of the 20th Century, Suzan-Lori Parks gives voice to the slaves that came before them. Father Comes Home from the Wars is a narrative epic of nine short plays  the first three are presented here  that reframes the story of slavery as a core cultural myth like any other. The gesture says it simply: Black Lives Matter. They always have.

Borrowing as much from Brecht as the Ancient Greeks, Parks gives us a hero: a slave named Hero (Steve Toussaint), striving to secure his freedom against the backdrop of America's Civil War. His Texan owner has offered him a deal: fight alongside him with the Confederate army and he can go free. It's a rum deal  to risk death for freedom  but better a shot at life than a life of stoic submission.

Part One builds to a show-down. Years before, bidding to reap the rewards of loyalty, Hero ratted out a runaway, Homer (Jimmy Akingbola). Retribution was swift and harsh: Homer lost his left foot for his efforts, curtailing future attempts, and his every step still rankles as much as Hero's betrayal.

Part Two  best by far  jumps ahead. Hero's owner, the Colonel (John Stahl), has taken a Unionist captain prisoner. Parks sets up a shifting hierarchy: the caged captive freer than the slave; two sworn enemies more united than those fighting side-by-side. Cynically, it's like the classic Frost Report sketch  "I'm a Unionist. I look down on him"  but Parks gradually, cleverly, complicates the picture. Tom Bateman's Smith isn't all he seems: a private in a captain's coat, a white man with black blood. Statuses slip and allegiances form.

By Part Three, Hero returns home; a free man with a new name, Ulysses  not just a Greek hero, but an American General who would become President. His dog Odyssey  Odd-See' on account of cross eyes  precedes him like a Greek messenger. His wife is waiting. So too, is Homer.

Here, as ever, Parks turns over the notions of freedom and subjugation, ownership and obligation. It's in marriage ("my wife") and in old debts. Panting through the poetry, Dex Lee's Odyssey offers a treatise on his various masters, from Hero to God, finding animal freedoms in deferent friendship.

Parks writes with a plainsong poetry; straight-laced statements spoken aloud. It makes for moments of crystalline articulacy, elegant testimonies to the lived experience of slavery, but at the same time, her play lacks dramatic clout. Though Toussaint stares blankly ahead  privately, he might be defiant, broken or daydreaming  almost everything's on the surface. On this side of the Atlantic, removed from ancestral history, Parks words don't reverberate as they might. For all the plays' purpose, their sage, sangfroid manner, they are fables stretched thin over an hour. Three in a row grows mighty tedious.

Jo Bonney's production, transferred intact with a cast of Brits and South Africans, doesn't help a bit. Plays that are all talk, no action need to find charge by other means. They need some shot of reality onstage, so that their words count, here and now. Though Emilio Sosa's contemporary costumes pull slavery into the present, Neil Patel's design is dated and distancing: fake rocks on a fake desert floor, fake rabbits on fake fires. The result is a tableaux vivant: theatre as tapestry. That fits Parks' play in theory, but in practice, deflates it and tedium is the surest way to stop stories counting.

Father Comes Home from the Wars runs at the Royal Court until 22 October.
An Australian man created and patented a cross between the hamburger and the hotdog, and it's a monstrosity of a dish.

By Shreya Goswami: All you non-vegetarians out there can stop rubbing your eyes in wonder and disbelief. Your ultimate dream has come true--Hamdog is real!

Yes, an Australian man finally made this perfect cross between the hamburger and the hotdog, patented it, and is now selling it at fairs and markets in Western Australia.

Mark Murray first pitched the idea of the Hamdog to the judges on Shark Tank, an American reality show where aspiring entrepreneurs present their business ideas and models to a panel of investors to get funding. Last year, Murray's idea was turned down for funding by the Shark Tank team.

The Hamdog was invented by an Australian entrepreneur, Mark Murray, in 2009. Picture courtesy: Instagram/yowpeter

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But instead of taking a back seat or getting depressed, he decided to start a small production system in Australia. According to a BBC report, Murray had patented the Hamdog back in 2009 itself, so he was good to go.

So what's so unique about the Hamdog?

The unique, handcrafted bun makes it possible to fit in both a burger patty and hotdog in the Hamdog. Picture courtesy: Instagram/magistudios

Also read: Pokemon Go fan? You've got to get some Pokeburgers!



It's all in the bun, which is handmade, instead of the machine-made burger and hotdog buns sold across the globe. It's the shape of the bun that makes it possible to fit in both a burger patty and a hotdog in the same Hamdog. In fact, the bun itself looks like a burger bun mated with a hotdog bun to give it its shape.

The burger patty is first placed on the bun, and the hotdog or sausage is placed right in the middle. Then the delicious toppings on lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheese, mustard, tomato sauce and mayonnaise are added. The top of the bun is placed on top of all this, and there! You have a giant hybrid dish which is the stuff of every non-vegetarians dream!

Hamdogs are huge, and filled with double the amount of meat--just what non-vegetarians love. Picture courtesy: Instagram/tinileak92

This briliant innovation is making huge waves all over the world, and Murray wants to take his Hamdog all the way to the US (because, let's admit it, everybody there loves their burgers and hotdogs). He is also looking for a huge franchise to sell the Hamdog to. This is just the sort of thing that can be an everyday favourite, and we hope we in India can get a taste of the Hamdog soon!

Watch Mark Murray's team assemble Hamdogs at a fair in Australia, here:

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By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 23 (PTI) Fourteen Chief Justices and 34 new judges will be appointed to various high courts in the country as the Centre has cleared proposals in this regard.

Files pertaining to these appointments have been cleared at the highest level in the government and a notification making these appointments in various high courts is under process and will be issued soon, highly-placed sources said.

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These include appointment of four judges from the resevred category, they said.

Proposals with regard to confirming 11 additional judges as permanent in high courts and transfer of 30 judges have also been cleared by the government.

This comes after seniormost judges of the high courts of Calcutta, Sikkim, Tripura, Manipur and Kerala were elevated on September 16 as chief justices of the respective high courts, days after the Supreme Court told the government that there should be no delay in filling up of the vacancies of judges.

These are in addition to the 53 fresh appointment of high court judges, besides 110 confirmations of additional judges as permanent, they said.

Nearly 74 recommendations of the collegium are under process at the governments end. Most recommendations are likely to fructify with appointments made by the end of September, barring "few cases" where the executive and the judiciary have "difference of opinion", sources said.

The process of appointing judges usually takes between 60 and 75 days.

The judiciary and the executive have been at variance over appointment of judges in the recent past.

Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, who held a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad recently, had said that most of the issues with the government over appointment of judges to the higher judiciary have been "sorted out".

"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 would be sorted out. Efforts are on," the CJI had said.

He also said that the long-pending Memorandum of Procedure (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 (NJAC) and upholding the collegium system of appointments to higher judiciary. PTI SKC SMJ ZMN SMJ

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Hindu Munnani leaders alleged an intelligence failure and blamed the state for not anticipating the situation. They claimed Hindu leaders were being repeatedly targeted.

Sasikumar, the Hindu Munnani spokesperson who was hacked to death last night.

By Pramod Madhav: Sasikumar, a 36-year-old Hindu Munnani spokesperson, was on his way back home on his motorbike when four men chased him down and hacked him to death around 11pm on Thursday night. He sustained several injuries and was rushed to hospital but succumbed to injuries.

REACTION OF HINDU MUNNANI

Following Sasikuamar's death, the Hindu Munnani called for a total bandh. Most shops remained shut in Coimbatore on Friday. Heavy police presence was seen across Coimbatore as miscreants damaged buses and public properties.

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A few Hindu Munnani activists blamed members of other religions for Sasikumar's death which caused a lot of panic on the ground. Police have initiated an investigation and are hoping to identify and nab the perpetrator soon.

HINDU LEADERS TARGETED?

Hindu Munnani leaders alleged an intelligence failure and blamed the state for not anticipating the situation. They claimed Hindu leaders were being repeatedly targeted.

Miscreants threw petrol bombs at mosques causing panic following which police protection has been provided to all places of worship.



ALSO READ:

Coimbatore: ABVP cadres burn Pakistan's national flag to protest Uri attack

Petrol bomb attack on Hindu Munnani leaders house





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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Twenty years ago, three ambitious Winnipeggers looked around at what other literary communities in Canada were doing, put their heads together and created the Winnipeg International Writers Festival.

It was a pretty skeleton crew when I came along in 2003, says director Charlene Diehl. In the 14 years shes been involved in the fest, Thin Air (as the festivals also known) has grown and evolved into one of Canadas most respected annual literary events.

This years lineup for Thin Air, which begins today and runs until Oct. 1 at venues throughout the city, features a strong slate of writers anchored by a wide range of local authors. About one-third of the lineup is local, with authors such as Sally Ito, David Alexander Robertson, Angeline Schellenberg, Allan Levine, Leonard Flett and Duncan Mercredi set to read and speak about their work.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS David Bergen

Many others have local connections, including the Manitoba-raised, B.C.-based Kevin Patterson, who appears in support of his new novel News From the Red Desert, as well as Montreal-based, Manitoba-born neurologist Liam Durcan, whose novel The Measure of Darkness depicts the effects of a hemispatial brain injury from the patients perspective.

Two of the festivals biggest names are not only from Winnipeg, theyre also up for some literary hardware in the next couple of months. David Bergens new novel Stranger landed on the 12-book long list for the Giller Prize earlier this month, while Katherena Vermettes debut novel The Break was recently announced as a finalist for the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize.

Davids been a great festival supporter in every possible way. Hes performed for us several times, and hes also advocated for us, Diehl says.

Vermettes novel follows a cast of characters (mostly extended family) as they deal with a sexual assault in Winnipegs North End, and the fallout from the crime. Shes so unflinching. Shes talked about how hard it was to write it, but how important it was to write it.

The local writing and reading communities have been essential in making Thin Air the success it is today. The people who are integral to the writing community have been very supportive of the festival  they really want it to succeed. Their presence and the quality of their work goes a long way in turn for us to be representing what we stand for here, Diehl says.

LISA DELORME MEILER Katherena Vermette

The festivals opening weekend includes a celebration of Manitoba writers past and present at the Manitoba Theatre for Young Peoples Shaw Performing Arts Centre. The gala will feature 10 local writers reading from their own work as well as from Manitoba authors of the past such as Carol Shields, Louis Riel and Wayne Tefs.

It was really gratifying to approach these writers  they were all thrilled, and the writer we paired them with to honour was just perfect in every case, Diehl says. Itll be an interesting combination of serious work, but also a party spirit. It says something about the maturity of the festival and the writing community here. We have a deep history of writing here  its time we celebrate that.

Indigenous issues and themes are also strong through this years festival. Saturday afternoons Talking Reconciliation reading and discussion at MTYP begins with a reading by local poet Rosanna Deerchild, followed by a dialogue between Shelagh Rogers, host of CBCs The Next Chapter, and Senator Murray Sinclair, who was the chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that investigated Canadas residential school history.

Along with the regular events  the haiku death match, classroom series, afternoon book chats, a strong contingent of French writers and programming as well as the nightly mainstage events  there are also a few new bits of programming this year. Saturdays Poetry Walkabout with Kevin Spenst, for example, begins at 1:30 p.m. at Strong Badger Coffeehouse (679 Sargent Ave.) and will see the poet wander the street while reading his poems to passersby. The final destination? Wherever his feet take him.

Looking ahead, Diehl sees no cause for alarm as far as both books and book festivals are concerned. I think the reports of the death of the book are vastly exaggerated. I think were going to be reading and wondering for a long time. The writers are the canaries  theyre going to tell us where were going. If weve pulled up our socks and not completely boiled ourselves off the planet in 40 years, people will still be making books and trying to figure out how to do what we do better.

Leonard Flett

For details on all the authors appearing at the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, as well as a complete schedule and ticket information, visit thinairwinnipeg.ca.

books@freepress.mb.ca

If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more.

Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WORLD Trade Centre Winnipeg has chosen a couple of prominent veterans to co-chair its new board of directors.

Diane Gray, the founding president and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc. and a former provincial deputy minister, and David Angus, the longtime president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and now vice-president of chamber affairs for the Johnston Group are new co-chairman and co-chairwoman.

They replace Raymond Lafond, who had been the centres chairman since its inception.

BORIS MINKEVICH / FREE PRESS FILES Dave Angus

Im very enthusiastic about the powerhouse team that was elected on Monday, said WTC Winnipeg president and CEO Mariette Mulaire. The WTC Winnipeg is in expert hands as Diane and David both embody the vision of WTC Winnipeg, believe in the economic significance of growing trade in Manitoba and have proven business-leadership expertise. We established a solid organization under the leadership of our outgoing chair Raymond Lafond and look forward to growing and strengthening it further with our new dynamic duo.

WTC Winnipeg supports Manitoba-based companies looking to grow their business and provides services to international companies interested in doing business with Manitoba companies.

 Murray McNeill
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies will start manufacturing handsets in India from next month, joining compatriots like Xiaomi and Lenovo to set up factories in the worlds fastest growing smartphone market. The worlds third largest smartphone maker has joined hands with contract manufacturer Flextronics International to produce handsets at a facility in Chennai. The facility will make three million units initially and provide 10,500 jobs, Huawei announced today. Targeting a 10 per cent share in Indian smartphone market, Huawei also plans to expand its Indian retail network by raising the number of outlets it partners to more than 50,000 by the end of the year.

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While inaugurating the Chennai facility from here, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The investment in electronics manufacturing, which was around Rs 11,000 crore, has risen to Rs 1.24 lakh crore. It is a great sense of satisfaction, as indicated to me, this (Huawei) will be 40th manufacturing unit in the country."

Huawei will start production of its Honor series phones at the plant from October 1. Chinese telecom companies have been setting shops in India after a slump in growth at home market. Recently, LeEco announced contract manufacturing facility with a capacity of 60,000 phones a month, rising eventually to 200,000.

"Today, we announce the start of manufacturing of our Honor phones in India with Flextronics. This underlines our long term commitment for India. Spectrum auction is coming and we will like to commit to Indian industry that we will make available all out latest technology product including 4G, 4G plus and 5G products," Huawei India Chief Executive Officer Jay Chen said.

He said that Huawei is the third-largest smartphone maker after Apple and Samsung.

"We have partnered with Flextronics who work with us globally to make our Honor series smartphones in the country. Initially we have tied up for 3 million units and will scale up as per demand. This project will create 3,000 direct employment opportunity at Huawei and 6,000 indirect jobs," P Sanjeev, Vice President -Sales (India Business Head for Huawei & honor Consumer Business). He said that hiring of 3,000 people will be completed by the end of this year, taking Huaweis direct workforce to around 12,000 in India.

Flextronics will hire an additional 1,500 people to work on the Huawei project.

"We have capacity to make 10 million phones in India. We will scale up production as per requirement of Huawei. Flextronics will hire 1,500 people dedicated for servicing Huawei smartphones," Jeff Reece, President, Networking Solutions, Flextronics said. (MORE) PTI PRS MR

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the fire that destroyed the band office and only store in the remote northern Manitoba First Nation of Shamattawa, RCMP said Friday.

The boy was released on a promise to appear in court. Five other children under the age of 12 were believed to be involved in setting the fire, which began around 3 p.m. Thursday, but they are too young to be charged.

Shamattawa is starting the process of rebuilding the heart of its community, with help from the Canadian Red Cross, which is on contract with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to aid Manitoba First Nations during an emergency.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Grand Chief Derek Nepinak (from left), Shamattawa Coun. Liberty Redhead and Sheila North Wilson, grand chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, talk about the fire (above) that destroyed Shamattawas band office, radio station and only store.

The loss of the band office and food store hurts the community of 1,500, which has high levels of poverty and addiction. In 2015, it faced a suicide crisis after four young people took their own lives in a matter of weeks.

Shamattawa Chief Jeff Napoakesik was told by the RCMP that the children got into the band office and lit the office equipment on fire, he told The Canadian Press Friday.

Band officials and other community members were at a funeral at the time.

Firefighters battled the blaze using water from three nearby hydrants and a truck normally used to distribute water to homes, he said.

The communitys fire truck, less than two years old, was not functional. It had a mechanical issue that prevented it from starting, and attempts to solve the problem in recent months were unsuccessful, Napoakesik said.

We had a mechanic from the manufacturer come in and look at it, and it still didnt work. As a matter of fact, the mechanic was supposed to come in this Sunday.

A 2012 report done by the Manitoba fire commissioners office and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs pointed to inadequate fire protection in indigenous communities.

Of 61 Manitoba reserves surveyed for the report, almost one-third did not have a fire truck, and 39 per cent did not have a fire hall.

Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak told reporters at a Winnipeg news conference Friday he doesnt believe RCMP should charge a 12-year-old boy in connection with the arson.

He said he doesnt know if anyone in Winnipeg could relate to how children in Shamattawa live.

A broader community of people here in Manitoba need to recognize that the situation and circumstance for young people in our remote communities is far different than the opportunities that young people have here in the city and even in some of the rural communities, Nepinak said.

He listed an array of issues plaguing the community such as Child and Family Services involvement and unequal access to education.

I think its a mistake to attempt to criminalize or further institutionalize the children in the community by providing an RCMP response, he said.

I think that the onus is on the families in the community and the leadership to ensure that the RCMP are not trying to criminalize young people.

Officials from the Office of the Fire Commissioner flew to the community Friday to begin investigating. The community confirmed Friday the only fire truck on the reserve was not working and hasnt since it arrived in Shamattawa from Winnipeg last winter.

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Sheila North Wilson said Friday Ottawa needs to spend more on firefighting equipment and training.

(In Shamattawa), theyre forced to live under these conditions where they have to manage with what they have, which is usually the bare minimum. And in this case, it didnt work at all, she said. Thank goodness nobody lost their lives because of it, but now theyre in a state of crisis.

Because the community is only accessible by air, with the exception of a 190-kilometre winter road thats only open for a few months, rebuilding could be expensive and time-consuming, she said.

Theyll have to ship supplies and materials in through the airlines, otherwise wait for the winter road, North Wilson said.

SUBMITTED The fire destroyed the Shamattawa band office.

And even with that (winter road), building material wont get up there until, at the earliest, mid-February. Building cant start until the ground has thawed out a bit.

A spokeswoman for federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said the Liberal government is saddened to learn of the fire.

Minister Bennett has spoken with Chief Jeff Napaokesik to offer any support necessary and assured him securing food supply for residents of the community is our top priority, Carolyn Campbell wrote in an email.

A federal representative is set to visit Shamattawa Tuesday. Insurance agents were inspecting the damage Friday and expected to have an estimate by Monday.

The fire, which began around 4 p.m. Thursday and burned through the night, also damaged the pharmacy and post office.

Shawn Feely, the vice-president of the Canadian Red Cross for Manitoba and Nunavut said Friday a planeload of supplies was sent to Shamattawa Friday. The plane was loaded with five days worth of necessities, including diapers and formula, hygiene kits and bottled water. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada will pay for the shipment.

Feely said nobody from the Red Cross had travelled to the community and the plane would be met by Shamattawa officials who will oversee the distribution of supplies. He said if the community requests more help, the Red Cross can send someone north. Shamattawa is about a two-hour flight from Winnipeg.

Feely said the agency is coordinating shipments with the Northern Store to ensure there is no duplication.

The North West Company said Friday it is donating an emergency supply of staple food products that will be distributed to community members by store employees and volunteers. Although a final decision has not been made on the location of a temporary store, community members can be assured that a Northern Store will open in Shamattawa within a few days, the company said in a statement.

Perimeter Aviation is accepting donations of food and baby supplies for Shamattawa at its Winnipeg and Thompson locations. The donations will be flown to the community as soon as possible.

On Friday night, community members gathered around the Bell Tower on Selkirk Avenue to collect goods.

Ninoondawah Richard, one of the organizers, was near tears as he watched a steady stream of people drop off bottled water, baby formula, diapers, soup, cereal, potatoes and more. Preschoolers, pre-teens, adults and seniors walked up with rolls of toilet paper and overflowing grocery bags in their arms while television news crews broadcast live from the scene.

I really feel so emotional, but in a way its excitement, he said. Its important because I dont want any of our people to go through something like that (fire).

Its important that the Shamattawa community doesnt feel like theyre in it alone, he added.

 with files from Carol Sanders and The Canadian Press

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.

Theres nowhere for residents of a northern Manitoba First Nation to buy food after a fire ripped through Shamattawas only store and band office Thursday.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said he was on his way to the store shortly after 3 p.m. when he saw the fire. The fire burned for hours into the evening as emergency crews worked to put it out. The man said the communitys only fire truck has been unserviceable for around two months.

Unconfirmed reports indicate a child intentionally set the fire at the community hub.

A fire ripped through the band office and store in Shamattawa First Nation Thursday.

There were no reports of injuries.

The resident said he heard Chief Jeff Napaokesik is looking to the Canadian Red Cross for assistance. The man also said hes been messaging friends in Thompson asking them to buy him food and send it on a cargo plane to the fly-in community.

Shamattawa, a fly-in Cree community with an ice road, is 720 kilometres, or a two-hour flight, northeast of Winnipeg.

It has a population about 1,100 people and is served by a Northern Store.

Media reports said much of the First Nations Internet service was damaged by the fire and some phone lines were down.

Located on the north shore of Gods River where it meets the Echoing River, south of Hudson Bay and close to the Ontario border, Shamattawa is the site of a former trading post for the Hudsons Bay Company. The First Nation was established as a permanent Cree community in 1950.

A fire ripped through the band office and store in Shamattawa First Nation Thursday.

The First Nation has a volunteer fire department and fire hall and is governed by a chief and four councillors.

It has an RCMP detachment and nursing station, plus a school for nursery to Grade 10 students.

Cree is widely spoken as a first language in Shamattawa.

In 2011, the B.C. community of Creston sent a few dozen boxes of Christmas gifts to Shamattawa along with hundreds of apples.

The RCMP detachment helped with transportation costs.

This is our second year in partnership with the kind folks in Creston, B.C., said Sgt. Shayne Smith, who was posted to Shamattawa at the time.

A fire ripped through the band office and store in Shamattawa First Nation Thursday.

This was an initiative borne simply out of the goodness of their hearts. This wasnt something that we approached them on, Smith said in 2011.

One of the previous Shamattawa detachment members was actually visiting family, and had the opportunity to share some of the stories of Shamattawa, outlining the social and economic hardships that are specific to many of the First Nations communities. And having heard this, some of the citizens in Creston got together and discussed how they could help the community, and one of the ways was with their fall harvest, and it just went from there.

There are the obvious social and economic issues that are faced by the community
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Police have arrested one of two men suspected of robbing people in Winnipeg and Brandon by pretending to be a police officer.

The males would represent themselves as undercover officers and indicate that they are involved in an investigation and/or advise the victim that they are a potential suspect, Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release on Friday. The males would then proceed to seize valuables such as wallets, cash and credit cards.

William Edward Thomas, 36, of Thunder Bay was arrested in Brandon and is charged with 43 offences including impersonating a peace officer.

A second man, Matthew Adam Bartel, 34, is currently wanted by police. Hes described as 511 tall and 325 pounds with red hair.

The frauds happened between Sept. 14 and 18.

Police urge the public to confirm credentials if they are suspicious about people claiming to be peace officers.

All sworn officers are required to carry a badge and a warrant card to identify themselves as police officers. Officers working, but not in uniform (plain clothes capacity) will have a Winnipeg Police Service badge affixed to their belt directly in front of their sidearm.

Police vehicles that would be involved in traffic stops will have a combination of red and blue coloured flashing lights. These will be located either on the roof of the vehicle, or mounted behind the front windshield by the rear-view mirror. In addition, flashing white lights may be located within the front grille.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Winnipeg women joined the Order of Canada Friday.

Odette Heyn and Faye Thomson, co-directors of the School of Contemporary Dancers, were in Ottawa for the investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall presided over by Gov. Gen. David Johnston.

For more than 30 years, Heyn and Thomson have nurtured the development of many of Canadas best contemporary dancers, choreographers and artistic directors, a news release from the Governor General said.

Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press Gov. Gen. David Johnston invests Odette Heyn (left) and Faye Thomson of Winnipeg as members of the Order of Canada during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa Friday.

The two creators of the School of Contemporary Dancers professional program are highly regarded for establishing a training ground that is recognized for its technical and artistic excellence, it said. Moreover, they established a concurrent degree program with the University of Winnipeg that has broadened career options for dancers and that has since been used as a model by others.

The Order of Canada was created in 1967, Canadas centennial year, to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. Since its creation, more than 6,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At the beginning, the old soldier wasnt that interested in answering a reporters questions, much less having his picture taken.

I dont like the publicity stuff, Emil Gillies said, waving his hand across his face.

Gillies is a 95-year-old man sitting in the living room of a 101-year-old house with his 87-year-old wife, Evelyn, and six-year-old cat, Tooney.

Their marriage turned 62 this year.

The quaint, two-storey home on Banning Street, is the only house where Gillies has ever lived. It was built by his uncle in 1915.

His life is rather uneventful these days. He loves to read and reread James Boswells Life of Samuel Johnson or the works of Shakespeare. There are visits from his two sons, Stephen and Christopher, and the grandchildren. Every so often, one of his buddies from the legion will pop by.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Veteran Emil August Gillies, 95, who served in the Second World War, recently received the Legion of Hoonour award from the French Republic.

But last Christmas, something arrived in the mail that took Gillies aback.

Enclosed in a small red case marked RF was a French Legion of Honour medal from the Republic of France. Gillies was confused.

You dont get medals in the mail every day, he said.

Heres what happened: Last year, the French government contacted the Canadian government looking to honour any Canadian veterans who helped liberate France during the Second World War. Veterans Affairs publicized the request.

Gillies was a flying officer with the RCAF during the war, part of the 644 Squadron that took part in 16 operations in France in 1944. Only 23, Gillies was a bomb aimer, although most of his crews forays into occupied France were solo missions to drop supplies and agents behind enemy lines.

Sometimes, their Halifax bomber would tow and release Horsa or Halicar gliders filled with everything from small tanks to 30 to 35 troops.

Unlike the air force of today, these were four engine bombers often flown by men in their early 20s, with a year of training, flying at tree top height to avoid radar detection. They would navigate visually using maps and, if fortunate, the light of the moon.

Gillies crew was also involved in D-Day, part of the small group that towed gliders with commandoes, to capture the Pegasus Bridge near Caen, on the night before the invasion.

The application for the medal (unknown to Gillies) was made by John Edwards, the honour and awards chairman of the Duke of Kent Memorial Legion on McDermot Avenue.

He (Gillies) isnt one to play up what his role was or what he did, Edwards said.

On Sunday, Gillies will officially be presented with the medal by French honorary consul Bruno Burnichon during a ceremony at the legion at 2 p.m. Also in attendance will be Col. Andrew Cook, the commander of 17 Wing Winnipeg and Chief Warrant Officer Michael Robertson.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The medal of honour.

It will be a small ceremony, Edwards said, because its a small club, with a capacity of about 30.

Its been 72 years since Gillies was in the nose of a bomber plane flying in the dead of night trying to find drop locations while watching for enemy fighters. He has grey hair now, slicked back, and a full grey beard  a lifetime away from the photo of the young trainee airman that appeared in the Free Press in 1943.

I was in the war but I didnt win it, you know, Gillies said. There were all kinds of people. There are so many people that deserve all kinds of medals. I dont think Im anything special. We did our job and that was part of it.

Still, the old veteran admitted to being very tickled to receive the honour. He was reluctant to talk about himself or the time his plane was ambushed by the German anti-aircraft guns over Holland, and the bomber barely limped back over the English Channel to crash land at an emergency airfield. Gillies broke his arm on the landing.

He would only say of fighting a war, It wasnt recommended.

But when the conversation turned to his crew, it was another story entirely. Suddenly, the words and memories began to flow.

There was Jason Smitty Smith, the tail gunner, from Camrose, Alta. He was a prize. He could smell a ME 109 (Messerschmitt German fighter).

William Deacon operated the wireless, was from Vancouver, along with navigator Frank Darling. He (Darling) was very religious, Gillies quipped, dry humour still intact. He would say, For Chrissake, give me a pinpoint!

The pilot, Vincent Blake, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, was from St. James.

We were very proud, not only that we were Canadians, we were western Canadians, Gillies said.

When they were crewed up in 1944, they were strangers. When their 30-plus missions were finished over France, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Holland and Denmark, they were brothers.

Total friends, Gillies said. We had to depend on each other.

Where are those young soldiers now?

Theyve all been promoted to glory, he said. Im the only one left of those wonderful people.

After the war, they scattered back to their homes out west. They stayed in touch; wrote a few letters, paid each other a few visits, which grew fewer as time passed.

Someone asked Gillies if he thought about the men on his crew often. He paused.

All the time, he replied.

It was only then you could see his pale blue eyes begin to moisten.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @randyturner15

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gillies' log book on June 1944 -- D Day.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Liberal government of Justin Trudeau has, so far at least, talked a good game about rebuilding goodwill between Ottawa and Canadas First Peoples. He has said publicly on more than one occasion he wants to re-establish a nation-to-nation relationship with aboriginal communities.

Trudeau has promised to end decades-old boil-water advisories on countless reserves in Canada within five years, earmarking roughly $1.8 billion to the task. Additionally, he has acknowledged the need to develop a mental health or suicide strategy for dealing with unconscionable rates of suicide among aboriginals.

Most significantly, he has launched a wide-ranging inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and children. He also pledged to not move forward on major resource development projects in Canada that dont have sufficient social licence  especially from indigenous communities.

ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde. Trudeau has made promises to First Nations, but little concrete action has been taken.

The government has also indicated its intention to follow through on the 94 calls to action of the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. It has been silent recently on how that objective will be accomplished and how much money will be allocated for doing so.

First Nations leaders, then, have reason to be skeptical at worst and cautiously optimistic at best. They know, of course, just about anything is better than the way things were when Stephen Harpers Conservatives were in power. They are also starting to have doubts about the precise intentions of the Trudeau Liberals.

Toward the end of July, the Liberal government granted approval permits for work to begin on the Site C dam in northern British Columbia, which First Nations have been vigorously opposing for environmental and cultural reasons. Im sure this decision came as bit of a shock to the aboriginal leadership in B.C. and undoubtedly sent an unwelcome message to those bands hoping to stop the project.

That move could also have important implications for the impending Kinder-Morgan and Energy East pipeline projects. First Nations communities in B.C. will have to keep reminding the 17 Liberal MPs in that province of their promises and positive overtures toward aboriginal communities. Furthermore, both the Mikmaq and the Maliseet in New Brunswick may wish to brace themselves for future direct political engagement and court action.

On the thorny question of implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ottawa has waffled more than it has clarified its true position on free, prior and informed consent.

At this point, it doesnt look as if the Liberal government is going to allow aboriginals to have veto power over natural resource development on ancestral lands.

Even on the very painful issues around the Sixties Scoop  during which some 20,000 aboriginal children were forcibly removed from First Nations reserves in Canada and sent abroad for purposes of adoptionthe federal government has looked tone-deaf and hard-hearted. It continues to drag its feet on negotiating an out-of-court settlement with the survivors (many of whom struggle today with issues around identity, loss and depression) for proper and respectful financial compensation.

Most citizens of this country have little understanding of the endless indignities that were (and continue to this day) visited upon the First Peoples by European settlers and then by Canadians themselves. Aboriginals have not  and they have long memories.

They know better than anyone else in this country that words are cheap. So they have every right to expect this Liberal government will translate its encouraging words into concrete action. The problem is taking action means taking political risks and thus creates problems for the governments re-election in 2019.

Still, it is true indigenous peoples are patient, resilient and slow to anger. Their patience is surely wearing thin by now. They are not going to wait much longer to take their rightful place in Canada.

First Nations people comprise a very young, growing and educated demographic. More to the point, they are most assuredly not going to go away.

The last thing we want to see in this country is anything resembling the violent standoff at Oka, Que., in 1990.

If governments at all levels have been paying any attention to indigenous issues in Canada, they will know the Supreme Court has been rendering decisions lately in favour of aboriginal communities.

So, if not the Trudeau government, then the next government after that, sooner or later, Canadians will need to establish a respectful, collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership with Canadas First Peoples.

Peter McKenna is professor and chair of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 23 (PTI) Indian Air Force today successfully fired recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a manoeuvring target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft.

With the success of this mission by Tigers, the first squadron of the force, IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world with the capability of such beyond visual range air-to-air missile, a Defence Ministry release said.

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The missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at a low altitude, it said.

The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile, it said.

The operational success of this mission confirms a critical capability of IAF, it added. PTI SAP IAS SC

--- ENDS ---
The man accused of pulling the trigger on the shot that killed a Winona man last fall has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Lonnie Lavonte Keymone Hudson, 24, is charged with first- and second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated robbery, three counts of second-degree assault, and illegal possession of a firearm. Hudson is accused of going to Adam Forts apartment on Oct. 18, 2015, on the pretense of buying marijuana, then shooting him in the course of what court documents describe as a robbery gone wrong.

Hudson entered a request for a speedy trial at his Thursday afternoon hearing. No trial date was immediately set as court administrators need to clear schedules to accommodate a jury trial expected to last several days. Meanwhile, Hudson remains in custody in lieu of $5 million bond.

Hudson is the last of the seven individuals indicted by a Winona County grand jury in connection with Forts murder to enter a plea. Five of the individuals pleaded guilty to a variety of charges and have been sentenced.

Most recently, Richard Gordon Deppe pleaded guilty and was sentenced in late August to a single count of aiding and abetting an offender after the fact in connection with the case. He received 20 years of probation.

Three other defendants in the case  Kayla Mae Clay, Cornelius Dunnigan and Ashleigh Ann Bye  have pleaded guilty to various charges and have been sentenced.

Charges were dismissed against a 24-year-old La Crosse woman who had been indicted on three counts of aiding an offender after the fact.

Reginald Alexander Burnett, who entered the apartment with Hudson and participated in the robbery, pleaded guilty in July to a single count of aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

According to the agreement struck with prosecutors, the 19-year-old Burnett faces a prison sentence of 21 years and nine months. He also will be required to testify against Hudson at trial. Burnett is scheduled for sentencing Oct. 20
Allamakee County emergency services coordinator Corey Snitker said Wednesday's runoff accumulated in low-lying spots and ran over some streets in the northeast corner of the county, especially in Lansing.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Stangeland said a frontal boundary stalled over the Coulee Region is responsible for the repeated heavy storms. Moist air is seeping up from Iowa, where 90-degree temperatures and high humidity triggered heat advisories Wednesday.

There's a 50 percent chance of showers and storms through today, according to the NWS.

Bliss Road, the main route to Grandad Bluff in La Crosse, which has been prone to washouts in severe weather, was open as of Thursday evening.
On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Mississippi River Revival, an organization of people concerned with keeping the river environment free of trash, carried out the 32nd river cleanup. With a few exceptions, this has been an annual event. Under the leadership of Sol Simon and Polly Gower, it was planned and organized by a core group of people that have worked together for several years, including Julia Crozier, David Seaman, Liz Reach and Dave White.

Volunteers were recruited from the general public, Winona State University and Saint Marys University. Saint Marys provided a pontoon boat piloted by Josh Lallaman, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided two boats piloted by Mary Stefanski and Michelle Barrett. Polly Gower also donated the use of her houseboat. Miller Scrap Co. donated a large dumpster and disposal fees. Winona National Bank, Affinity Credit Union and Dicks Marine made a financial contribution. Bluff View Co-op, Bloedow Bakery, Midtown Grocery, Hy-Vee, and Blue Heron Coffeehouse contributed food for the after cleanup picnic. These people and organizations were a great help in making this effort successful.

The event was held at Latsch Beach, where boats departed and returned with collected trash. Most items were small, but a large TV, a bicycle frame, mattress, tires and many plastic barrels were also collected. The riverbanks and nearby woodlands were the focus of the cleanup.

The Mississippi River Revival Committee wishes to thank all those who contributed to the success of this years cleanup. Keeping the river environment clean and natural is important to the many people who use it for recreation, and to the uniqueness of this area.

Dave White,

Winona
A new committee is working to put Baraboos long-dormant train depot back on track.

Mayor Mike Palm has formed an ad hoc committee to identify options for the building, which is owned by Sally Glorch. Her familys business, Servo Instruments, used it for storage for decades, but has cleared it out in hopes of redevelopment.

Options include the city taking ownership of the building and stabilizing it before turning it over to a developer for commercial or residential use.

I think this really is a unique opportunity for the city, said Alderman Tom Kolb.

Hes one of five appointees to the committee, which met for the first time Monday. The committee decided to bring in an engineering firm to analyze the buildings structural integrity. An engineering report commissioned in the 1990s found no fatal flaws.

I think we have to find out if its structurally sound, Kolb said.

City Administrator Ed Geick presented videos and photographs of the building that showed a hole in the roof, a caved-in portion of floor and cracked walls. I think it goes without saying theres significant problems with the building in some areas, said Alderman Dennis Thurow.

The 1902 depot played an integral role in Baraboos early history. Its second floor was home to the Chicago & North Western Railroads division headquarters offices, and the depot saw up to 18 passenger trains  and another 50 freight trains  daily in its heyday. In 1903, 388 men worked there. A lot of people dont realize what an important rail center Baraboo had in the early 1900s, Geick said.

I would like to see something done with that building because it was so important at one time, Thurow said.

The division headquarters left Baraboo in 1933, and the last passenger train departed 30 years later. The Glorch family, which owns Servo next door, bought the depot in 1978. Sally Glorch told the committee Monday that her father Gordon felt an attachment to the depot, as he held a railroad job as a young man. He and wife Ann died last year. I think my dad had a hard time giving up the depot, Sally Glorch said.

Shes willing to have the roof repairedat an estimated cost of $100,000  as a gift in memory of her parents.

City leaders said such a gift would help prevent further interior decay and buy time to stabilize the structure. The committee agreed its next step should be to get an estimate on how much it might cost to stabilize the building.

If you shore it up and put the roof on before winter, that would help it out substantially, Glorch said.

Sauk County Historical Society Executive Director Paul Wolter will be asked to consult the group about potential grants to help pay for restoration work. Baraboo leaders may seek historical landmark status for the building.

The committee has no operating budget, and with the citys 2017 budget nearing completion, its unlikely funds will be earmarked for a depot study this year. The committee will proceed once it has an estimate in hand, and more information about historical restoration grants. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Historical Society informed Wolter the depot is eligible for the state and national Registers of Historic Places, making it eligible for 20 percent credits on state and federal taxes for preservation work.

Id like to see the building salvaged and used for something, said committee member Aural Umhoefer.
The Beaver Dam Unified School District will honor the 2016 Outstanding Alumnus Harlowe Randall Hoyt and Friend of Education Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation at the 19th annual Wall of Fame Banquet Nov. 13 at Beaver Dam High School.

The Outstanding Alumni Award is given annually to a graduate of Beaver Dam High School in recognition of the honorees exceptional accomplishments. Friends of Education Awards are given to individuals or organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the district and its students. The nominators provided the following information about the award recipients.

Hoyt graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1899. He began his writing career as a police reporter for the Milwaukee Free Press. He was recognized nationally for his short stories, poems and historical perspectives which appeared in national magazines and were syndicated nationally in newspapers. His love of theater led him to a career as a drama critic that spanned 60 years. He was known as the nations dean of American theater critics.

Hoyt was a successful playwright, writing several plays that toured successfully across the Midwest. He received national acclaim for his local true story, The Defender of the Cameron Dam. The success of this play led him to the job of an editor for the Cleveland Leader, later the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hopeful Broadway productions tested in Cleveland, and Hoyts reviews often determined if a play would proceed to Broadway.

Hoyt became acquaintances with Thomas Edison, which led him to write screenplays for the first silent movies in the nation for Edisons movie studio. He was familiar with the actors breaking into silent pictures, which led him to become the first nationally syndicated Hollywood gossip columnist. He was also the first internationally syndicated cartoonist with his cartoon strip called Dramatic Events in Bible History.

Hoyt received greatest acclaim from his book, Town Hall Tonight. It chronicles his fond memories of growing up in Beaver Dam and his brief encounters with Mark Twain, Harry Houdini, P.T. Barnum, Col. Tom Thumb and the Ringling Brothers. The book is still used by universities nationwide in classes focused on the early days of theater. Two plays have been written based on Town Hall Tonight, as well as a thesis biography of Harlowe Randall Hoyts life. Hoyt retired as a drama critic at the age of 80 as the oldest living critic in the world.

Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation has been the leader in the Beaver Dam Unified School District career and technical education efforts. They have worked with and led other manufacturers in Beaver Dam and Dodge County to create the Dodge County Manufactures Alliance, which is a group organized to support career and technical education in Beaver Dam and greater Dodge County.

Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation has been a great resource for district students and teaching staff.

They host tours each year for Manufacturing Day, and they have been instrumental in spreading the message of the Business Education Partnership. Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation has been a strong advocate for career and technical education in the community. They have been involved for a number of years in the high schools career day. Apache Stainless Equipment Corporation donates all the stainless steel used in the classroom labs, as well as guidance from welders and managers. They also are part of the youth apprentice program, which provides on-the-job training for students. They are committed to providing opportunities to students to expand their education beyond the classroom.
Joseph H. Bump

Joseph (Joe) Harold Bump, 89, Randolph, died peacefully on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, at his home in Randolph.

Joseph was born in Milwaukee, on Dec. 29, 1926, the only child of Harold and Lorraine (Weckerle) Bump and was later lovingly adopted by his step-mother Estelle (Mummert) Bump. At 17 he volunteered for the U.S. Navy to fight in World War II and was a Seaman First Class in the Amphibious Forces in the Caribbean. He served on LST 664, re-fitted as a Submarine Hunter, which protected Allied shipping from German U-Boats. Joe was the radarman for the entire flotilla.

He married Jeannette McFarland on Nov. 15, 1947, who became his lifelong best friend. In 1951, they moved to Randolph. Joe covered Wisconsin as a toy salesman for Marcus Mercantile of Milwaukee. In 1956 he purchased the Bohlings Department Store and renamed it The New Bohlings Inc., which he operated for 50 years with Jeannette. Joe was known for his friendliness, humor, willingness to help others, and his stories. Joe frequented the local restaurant for coffee and always had a joke to share with others. He enjoyed reading, movies and family. Joe was an active member of the Randolph Chamber of Commerce, VFW Post 9510, St. Gabriels Catholic Church and served on the church council as treasurer for many years.

Joe was a devoted son, husband, and father, survived by seven children, Jeffrey (Nancy) Bump, Johnnette Bump, Joel Bump, Jaclyn Meyer, Jerome (Cheri) Bump, Jorey (Julie) Bump, and Joette (Brad) Bump; 30 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years Jeannette; parents Lorraine and Harold Bump; Adoptive mother Estelle Bump; son-in-law Joe Meyer; daughter-in-law Susan Bump and great-great grandchild Faith Bump.

A celebration of Josephs life will be held Friday, Sept. 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Randolph Community Funeral Home, 208 S. High St., Randolph, and on Saturday, Oct. 1 at church from 10 to 11 a.m. He was loved by many and will be missed by us all.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m. at Annunciation Catholic Church, 305 W. Green St., Fox Lake. The family will receive visitors an hour prior to the service. Randolph Community Funeral Home, Randolph, is serving the family.

The family gives thanks to: the priests and parishioners of Annunciation Catholic Church for their prayers, Arnie Bashinski for bringing weekly Holy Communion, the loving caregivers from Hillside Hospice of Beaver Dam for the extra care assistance during the last few months of his life, and all who remember Joseph in their prayers.

A memorial fund has been established in Josephs name.

Randolph Community Funeral Home is assisting the family. www.randolphfh.com
The two voyageurs  French Canadians who engaged in the transporting of furs  set up their teepee and their canoe in front of the school, and students had the chance to visit them throughout the day with their classes. During their visit, students learned about life during the fur trade, from the perspective of rich European investors, the natives and the trappers. They also had the chance to get an up-close look at some of the pelts that were commonly transported and traded during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
By PTI: Colombo, Sept 23 (PTI) The IMF today asked the Sri Lankan government to expedite the legislative process of implementing the VAT amendments to meet obligations under the three year extended fund facility (EFF) by the global lender.

"It is important that the government expedites the legislative process of implementing the VAT amendments that are needed to support revenue targets for 2016 and 2017", Jaewoo Lee, the head of the IMF mission, which concluded a 10- day visit tot the country told reporters.

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The governments increased VAT proposals met with resistance from the unity government partner, Sri Lanka Freedom Party of the President Maithripala Sirisena.

The opposition and businesses also took to the streets to oppose the move.

The move to affect a 4 per cent increase from 11 to 15 per cent which was to come into force in May this year had to be shelved as the Supreme Court ruled that the law had not been presented in parliament with due procedure being followed.

The IMF mission refuted the governments claim that the VAT hike was a temporary measure.

"It will be a source to support revenue targets and we do not see it as a temporary measure," Lee said.

In June the IMF approved a 1.5 billion dollar extended finance facility for 3 years to support the balance of payments and in support of the governments reform agenda. PTI Corr NSA

--- ENDS ---
With election season in full force, the Juneau County Democratic Party made a significant push to rally voters on Tuesday.

The local party opened what is believed to be the first Democratic Party headquarters in the county, located at 101 E. State Street in Mauston. Tuesdays kickoff party featured Art Shrader, candidate for the 50th State Assembly District and Martha Laning, chair of the states Democratic Party.

Democratic voters from across Juneau County attended Tuesdays rally. Judy Spring, from the county Democratic Party, opened the event asking where each attendee was from. The event featured many rural voters from the county.

Spring talked about how important the November election will be, not just nationally, but statewide and locally.

The party is heavily supporting Russ Feingolds bid to retake his old U.S. Senate seat from incumbent Ron Johnson and Hillary Clintons bid for the White House.

She emphasized the vitality of Shraders attempt to unseat Republican incumbent Ed Brooks in the 50th District. The district covers all of Juneau County, along with Richland Center and Reedsburg. However, Brooks has served as a state representative since 2009 and defeating him wont come easy.

Juneau County is like the pivot point for so many things that are going on in elections, especially for the 50th Assembly District where Art Shrader is running a very vigorous campaign and is very close, and with your help, were going to make it, Spring said. In Juneau County, each one of you here represents the power of Democratic voters and we need to replicate ourselves and get out so on Election Day we have a good turnout.

Spring said the party is making a coordinated effort to win as many races as possible on Nov. 8. Spring believes Shrader has run a strong campaign and continues to build momentum.

Shrader, a community banker from Reedsburg, is running as a Democrat, but vows to not toe the party line if he makes it to Madison. Shrader believes Brooks has done that several times since taking office and its been a detriment to voters in Wisconsin.

The controversial Act 10 bill, signed by Gov. Scott Walker in 2011, is a major issue in Shraders campaign, along with cuts to public education and support for middle class families.

I want to represent the people, not the party line. I will step across any line to represent the people of the 50th, Shrader said. My wife is a social worker, so we certainly have been impacted by Act 10, personally. The services that people rely on and really deserve are in jeopardy.

Shrader thinks Brooks hasnt represented the districts best interests.

If Ed Brooks wins in seven weeks youre going to get the same exact thing youve gotten in the last eight years and its not working for the district, Shrader said. If you honor me with your vote, and your support, Ill tell you what youll get: someone who will listen to you, go to Madison, represent you and show up. When I come back here and you argue with me because of something I didnt do, Ill sit and listen to you and well work it out.

I need to get your help and let people know there is an alternative to the do nothing weve had in office for the last eight years, Shrader said. If you can just give one hour a week to help get the word out, that would be amazing.

Laning talked about the effects of school budget cuts, rising healthcare costs for seniors, and the need for money to fix the states ailing roads. The states Democratic Party chair also discussed the need for strong communities, a living wage, and the push to stop large corporations from receiving tax breaks.

My parents taught me from an early age, education was the best way to get out of poverty  dont let any door shut, Laning said. Scott Walker is closing doors all over the state of Wisconsin. He is taking away the opportunity for people to climb up. There is no hand out to this. If you work hard in school, you should be able to get into college and not be settled with so much debt that you cant contribute to the economy.

Laning also answered a few questions from the crowd on Tuesday. One of the voters asked if the party was grooming a challenger to Walker. While the governor is not up for reelection this year, Laning said the party is looking at some prospects, but wouldnt divulge a name.

Laning was also asked how the party can draw more young people into election campaigns. Both Laning and Spring said progress is being made, citing Shraders campaign manager Robin Logsdon and field organizer Jason King as two young people striving to make a difference among Democrats in the state.
MADISON (AP)  Republican senators will not pass a budget that raises taxes and fees to pay for roads without corresponding cuts elsewhere because it would almost certainly be vetoed by Gov. Scott Walker, the chambers GOP leader said Thursday.

Walker and Republican lawmakers who control the Legislature are split on how best to pay for roads, a conflict thats likely to be one of the biggest issues in the state budget debate next year.

The transportation budget faces a nearly $1 billion shortfall, which Walker has said will be fixed by delaying projects and borrowing money. Assembly Republican leaders call that an irresponsible political fix that will unnecessarily delay mega-projects in southeastern Wisconsin and some senators have publicly called for raising taxes to pay for road repairs.

The rare intraparty spat over roads has been playing out in public, with Walker and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos trading letters Wednesday reiterating their positions. Walker has said he would entertain a tax increase only if theres an equal cut someplace else in the budget. Vos said Assembly Republicans were coming up with an alternative plan and would be holding public hearings.

Fitzgerald, speaking Thursday to reporters in the halls of the Capitol, acknowledged that the issue has divided his caucus. But he ruled out passing a budget that raises taxes for roads because Walker would veto it.

How is that productive? Fitzgerald said. Youre going to have to work with the governor.

During a stop in Milwaukee on Thursday, Walker said occasional differences, even within his party, are OK.

Were open to having a good debate and discussion about it, Walker said. I would imagine even between now and the time the budget that we present comes to the Legislature in February, theyll be an audit that will come out, theyll be some other suggestions and well look for ways working with the Legislature and both parties on ways to improve that budget request.

The budget proposal put forward last week by the Department of Transportation calls for borrowing $500 million and cutting $447 million by delaying a number of major projects, including work on the final phase of Milwaukees Zoo Interchange rebuild and Madisons Beltline.

The plan would devote no money toward a plan to reconstruct Interstate 94 from Milwaukee south to Illinois, leaving the project half-finished. Work on expanding Interstate 39/90 between Madison and Illinois would remain on pace, as would work on Highway 110/441 in the Fox Valley.

Walker will formally introduce his two-year state spending plan early next year and the Legislature will work on changes to it for months. A final vote is likely in June or July.

Fitzgerald said he would oppose breaking transportation spending out of the rest of the budget to debate on its own, calling that a heavy lift times two.

Though Republicans control both chambers, Democrats are hopeful they can win the three seats required in November to control the Senate.
Wisconsin Highway 23 between I-39 and Highway 13/16/23 in the Dells is closed due to flooding, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Marquette County Sheriffs office.

The waters of Neenah Creek have risen as high as the bottom of the bridge that crosses it along Highway 23 in the town of Douglas east of Briggsville during this weeks torrential rains, confirmed Tory Wolfram, New Haven town board chairman and a resident of the area.

Lake Mason also has risen to the upper edge of its banks this week, Wolfram said. Wolfram said the situation at Lake Mason Dam got a little tenuous Thursday in the aftermath of the rain storms, but that I think its fine now.

It was dicey for a while, he said, reporting that from the lake was flowing through a nearby parking lot.

The Briggsville Fire Department and community members worked together to add sandbags to the dam and removed a "stop log" from it to prevent a possible breach, Wolfram said. "They did a wonderful job," he said.

The State Patrols 511 travelers information line is instructing eastbound drivers on Highway 23 to take to take Wisconsin 13 north to Wisconsin 82 east to I-39 and then south back to 23, and for westbound travelers to reverse these directions.

Highway 23 will be re-opened as soon as the water recedes, according to a dispatcher with the Marquette County Sheriff's Department. When that might happen, the dispatcher said he did not know.
Cris Custer is a proud University of Wisconsin graduate, but also a dedicated nurse practitioner at Mile Bluff Clinic.

The UW recently recognized Custer and several other distinguished alumni as part of its Project 72 initiative, highlighting the work of graduates and those partnering on work with the university in every county of the state. Since December of 1994, Custer has helped hundreds of patients at Mile Bluff through personalized care.

Wisconsin alumni are doing great things around the state, Custer said. I was honored to be selected to represent Juneau County. I have received a lot of positive feedback regarding this project.

Across Juneau County, the UW has 27 students, 252 alumni and 17 university employees. Kevin Check of the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, said Project 72 is an initiative of the alumni association and the UW that helps reinforce the positive nature of the long-standing partnership between the university and Wisconsin.

The objective of Project 72 is to demonstrate the importance and impact of the partnership, showing that we are stronger when we work together, Check said.

The process of choosing alums from each county was multifaceted. The alumni association examined feature stories on several of the universitys school, college and department websites; looked through newsletters with articles on graduates making a difference in their communities in the state; sought recommendations from alumni and university partners and friends in specific counties and searched local media.

Cris was selected as part of that process and because she is a Badger who is making a positive impact in her community, Check said.

When she was a student at the UW, Custer became interested in the care of older adults and patients with chronic illnesses.

Her professors at the university encouraged her to focus on gerontology, which is the study of aging. At Mile Bluff Clinic, Custer primarily treats patients age 65 and older.

Through the past 21 years, I have been able to focus on the promotion of health as well as the prevention, early detection and optimal management of diseases, Custer said. Ive enjoyed working at Mile Bluff. We have excellent healthcare providers and wonderful staff members here.

In the past two decades, Custer has strived to build personal relationships with her patients and their families.

Patients need to be informed and encouraged to manage their health to achieve a higher level of wellness, Custer said. By collaborating with other members of the health care team, we are able to help patients obtain good health outcomes.

Custer said her education at the UW helped her prepare for a very rewarding career.

I am very grateful that I began working in Juneau County more than two decades ago, she said. I look forward to continuing to see patients at Mile Bluff in the years to come.

Custer lives in Wisconsin Dells with her husband, Brent, and son, Drew.

Custer, who grew up near Pardeeville, enjoys the small town atmosphere Mauston provides. Through the years, Custer has seen grandchildren of patients reach adulthood, providing care for seniors in their golden years.
Donors, vendors make Boxer Bash a success

The 16th Annual Green Acres Boxer Rescue Boxer Bash was held on Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Columbus Firemans Park. Thank you to everyone who attended this event! On behalf of the board of directors, wed like to thank the volunteers that spent countless hours organizing the Bash and everyone who worked Saturday during the Bash. Without volunteers, GABR would not exist.

We also want to thank those individuals who donated items for the silent auction and goodie bags, baked items for the bake sale, and the vendors who had booths at The Bash. A full list of donors and vendors can be found on our website, www.greenacresboxerrescue.com.

We want to especially acknowledge the local businesses and organizations who made donations and helped make this event a success: A Moment In Time Photography, Best Buddy Canine, Chipped and Cracked Nail Salon, Chippys Popcorn Creations, City of Columbus, Dodge County Canine, Earthshine Candles, French Real Estate, Glenns Market and Catering, Johnnies 66, Just Like Home Doggie Motel, Kwik Trip of Beaver Dam and Columbus, LuLaRoe/Cheri Gessner, LeRoy Meats of Horicon, Marsh Haven Nature Center, Marshall Pet Care, Mounds Pet Food Warehouse, Stick, Stitch and Print, Tricia Hooper Photography and Wyllow Pet Hospital.

The 2017 Boxer Bash will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017. Mark your calendars and well see you then!

Sincerely,

Kimberly Waugus, Treasurer
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Thursday he wasnt aware that a lead industry magnate had given $750,000 to help Republicans win recall elections in 2011 and 2012 before voting to extend protections to the industry.

Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, also told reporters the Committee to Elect a Republican Senate is not coordinating with third-party groups on electioneering, a practice the Legislature legalized last year after the Wisconsin Supreme Court halted an investigation into whether Gov. Scott Walkers campaign broke the law by coordinating with the Wisconsin Club for Growth during the recalls.

In a 4-2 decision the court said the coordination was legal so long as the group is engaged in so-called issue advocacy, which stops just short of urging voters to vote for or against a particular candidate. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider taking up an appeal of that case on Monday.

Fitzgerald said the way candidates are raising money under the new campaign finance system varies. But he said hes not aware of any coordination with third-party groups.

Its hard to characterize because there are a lot of third-party organizations that would never function that way and dont operate that way, so why would that happen? Fitzgerald said Thursday.

Fitzgerald said he never solicited money for the Wisconsin Club for Growth during the 2011 and 2012 recalls.

Our whole process throughout the recall election was to raise dollars for candidates to kind of reiterate and underscore the idea of, This is why we supported Act 10. I didnt have any discussions about any third-party organization at all, Fitzgerald said.

Records released last week by the Guardian US showed in detail how Walker raised millions of dollars for the group from some of the countrys wealthiest people. Walkers top adviser, R.J. Johnson, then coordinated the spending of that money on advertising and other electioneering efforts among a dozen groups.

The records showed lead industry billionaire Harold Simmons and his holding company gave $750,000 to the group before the Legislature voted as part of the 2013-15 budget to retroactively exempt the lead paint industry from lawsuits. A federal court struck that provision down as unconstitutional.

Fitzgerald said Thursday the provision was never characterized to him as unconstitutional, even though the Legislative Council had raised constitutional concerns.

Industry lobbyist Eric Petersen had characterized the provision to Fitzgerald as a major priority, according to an April 2013 memo obtained by Peter Earle, a lawyer representing lead poisoning victims who challenged the retroactive provision in federal court.

On Thursday, Fitzgerald dismissed Petersens role in influencing the decision to adopt the provision, and instead framed the reason for passing it as an attempt to block trial attorneys from filing lawsuits.

There was clearly a rush by the trial attorneys to get under the wire with some cases, Fitzgerald told reporters.

However, at the time the provision passed, lawsuits had already been filed on behalf of dozens of people who had been sickened by lead paint as children. The retroactive provision, slipped anonymously into a Joint Finance Committee catch-all budget motion, would have protected lead paint manufacturers from those lawsuits.

In 2011, the Legislature passed a law protecting lead paint manufacturers from liability, but it didnt apply retroactively. The law was a top priority for the states business lobby after a 2005 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that opened up manufacturers to liability for making the type of product that caused an injury, as opposed to the specific product.

Fitzgerald declined to answer further questions about the vote.

I know that many members had questions about that issue and I dont want to revisit it, I guess, Fitzgerald said.
The Reedsburg Revitalization Organization hosted guest Jason Scott on Sept. 22.

Scott, community development director with the Wisconsin Main Street Program, is part of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. He met with RRO members to discuss the benefits of being part of the Connect Communities program, which supports healthy downtowns and other business climates.

Reedsburg was one of 15 community groups to join Connect Communities this year. There are about 70 entities in the program statewide.

Scott said Connect Communities brings people together to share ideas and discuss challenges. Very few problems are unique, he said. Solutions that work for one community will likely work in another area.

Theres a certain approach thats kind of tried and true, he said.

Connect Communities has its roots in the Main Street Program, which started in the 70s when downtowns were losing ground to malls and big-box stores.

Since then countless downtowns have not only struggled to maintain their historic buildings but also compete in the modern business climate.

Reedsburg is fortunate because its downtown sits along a major highway. Scott said many cities would be jealous to have such a presence.

He noted that Reedsburg is under no obligation to join the Main Street Program; it can stay a Connect Community for as long as it desires.

The Main Street Program is more rigorous than Connect Communities, requiring members to maintain an active presence within the group. This may include sending representatives to conferences and round-table discussions.

Regardless of what RRO decides Reedsburg will benefit from working with WEDC. Scott said member groups are eager to share what works and what doesnt.

Stealing ideas is encouraged, he said. Why re-create the wheel sometimes?

RRO has been an official entity in Reedsburg for five years, said Chair Kari Walker. The group has been meeting for longer but didnt seek a non-profit designation until it wanted to obtain Christmas lights for downtown decorating. Walker said there was no money available at the time so RRO members banded together to collect funds.

There is no membership fee to join Connect Communities but groups do pay a one-time $200 application charge.
What Kids Ranch does in helping children read is critical, said Wisconsin author and musician Michael Perry, who will give a benefit concert for the Rock Springs-based program Oct. 7 at the CAL Center in Reedsburg.

Kids Ranch helps children, ages 6 to 10, improve their literacy and self-esteem by providing each child with a caring volunteer during the school year. The program serves children in the Baraboo, Sauk Prairie, Reedsburg and Wisconsin Dells school districts. It also provides two-week camps during the summer.

Perry had no idea he would one day be writing books when his mother taught him to read at age 4, but learning to read was the basis for what came later, he said. The writing of books came after he had earned a nursing degree, returned to his hometown of New Auburn and been a volunteer firefighter and EMT.

Perry said he admires what Kids Ranch does because it is critical to adult life. His willingness to bring his band, the Long Beds, he said traces back to his mom and the head start she gave him. I admire the mission of the organization, and Im grateful for the opportunity and grateful to play at the event. Reading is the basis of everything, he said.

The New York Times bestselling author of Population 485 has now written 11 books including childrens books and writes a column for the Wisconsin State Journal. He is also a musician and the leader of the band, The Long Beds.

Perry and the band do between 10 and 20 concerts a year. In between songs he tells stories and shares humorous anecdotes with the audience.

The mainstays of the band are Billy Krause on guitar and Chuck Roll on bass.

The band also has other rotating cast members, Perry said. Those rotating members include Mary Cutrufello, who plays lead guitar and who has played all around the world, and Evan Middlesworth.

Perry in describing the bands style favored a quote from a fan who came up after a show and told him they sounded like Gordon Lightfoot only zippier.

Albums by Michael Perry and the Long Beds include Tiny Pilot, and Headwinded. Perry also will have a CD out in December, Bootlegged at Big Top from appearances at Tent Show Radio, Live from the Big Top Chautauqua, on the shores of Lake Superior near Bayfield. The show airs Saturdays at 7 p.m. on Wisconsin Public Radios Ideas Network. Perry has been host of the show this season, although he said, I consider myself a guest. He introduces guests and gives a monologue during the intermission.

Tickets for Rockin for the Ranch with Michael Perry and the Long Beds at the CAL Center in Reedsburg are $15 and are available at Recycled Sallys on the Square in Baraboo; at the Reedsburg Chamber of Commerce and at Viking Village in Reedsburg. Tickets are also available online at www.midwestix.com.

The fund-raiser concert at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 is part of Fermentation Fest.
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Sep 23 (PTI) Pakistans Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan today accused India of blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack without having any concrete evidence and ruled out any immediate cooperation with India in probing the incident.

"India itself does not have any evidence about the (Uri) attack so how will Pakistan help in carrying out any investigation," Khan said while talking to the media.

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He also accused India of hurling baseless allegations against Pakistan after the attack at the army camp in Uri.

"India is responsible for levelling false accusations on us when the investigations are not even completed," he said.

Khan also ruled out any immediate cooperation with India over the attack and accused the Indian government of launching a malicious campaign to defame Pakistan by prematurely blaming it for the Uri attack.

He said India imposed censorship on its media when it questioned its allegation about Pakistan.

"We did not impose any censorship on the media but they did because their propaganda was earlier exposed by their own news channels," he said.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Nafees Zakaria in an interview with state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) today said India has the habit of blaming Pakistan for any untoward incident particularly in Kashmir.

"Kashmir is the main bone of contention between Pakistan-India relations. We have always tried to resolve the issues with India through dialogue," he said.

Zakaria said India has always blamed Pakistan but could not provide evidence, Radio Pakistan reported.

He alleged that India was involved in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi and is financing terrorists to destabilise Pakistan.

He said India wants to divert the attention of the world from its brutal activities in Kashmir by levelling allegations against Pakistan.

He said the OIC has also strongly condemned the Indian atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris.

To a question, he said Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism.

He said seventy thousand civilians and seven thousand security personnel have been martyred in the war against terrorism. PTI SH NSA

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By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) India and France today signed the Euro 7.87-billion (Rs 59,000 crore approx) deal for Rafale fighter jets, equipped with latest missiles and weapon system besides multiple India-specific modifications that will give the IAF greater "potency" over arch rival Pakistan.

The Inter Governmental Agreement was signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian 16-months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Indias plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly away condition during his trip to France.

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The contracts for the deal was also signed earlier today. The vanila price (just the aircraft alone) will cost about 91 million Euros each for a single seater and about 94 million Euros for a two seater trainer aircraft.

"Pleased to inform that India has signed an agreement for procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft with weapon systems, five years complete spares and maintenance, performance based logistics, India specific special provisions. This is an achievement which will give the IAF the required potency in terms of penetration and capability," Parrikar told reporters at the South Block.

The deal, first fighter plane contract in 20 years, comes with a saving of nearly 750 million Euros, gained through hard negotiations by the Indian side, over the one struck during the previous UPA government, which was scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, besides a 50 per cent offset clause.

The 50 per cent offset clause means that Indian businesses, both big and small, will gain work to the tune of over three billion Euros.

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, comes equipped with state-of-the-art missiles weaponry 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 include 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 Indias 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 Indias 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. Both missiles have a 2 metres precision which means that a target can be hit with high precision.

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Defence Ministry sources said the Rafale, which has a range of 780 to 1055 km, depending on mission role, as compared to 400-450 of the Su30, will be better than what even the French uses as it will have numerous India specific additions. MORE PTI SAP RG

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India is placed below Comoros and Ghana in the first annual assessment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) health performance published in The Lancet. The study was released at an event at the UN General Assembly in New York.

By Neetu Chandra Sharma: India is hurtling ahead in a lot of spheres, but when it comes to health the country is not performing well. Despite all the hoopla, India is at the bottom quarter among 188 countries in health performance, standing at 143. India's poor rating has been revealed in a study published by 'The Lancet'. India is placed below Comoros and Ghana in the first annual assessment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) health performance published in The Lancet. The study was released at an event at the UN General Assembly in New York.



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ONLY PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN WORSE THAN US



The major challenges identified were related to childhood mortality rates, HIV and tuberculosis levels, air pollution and providing access to clean water. Only 45 countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea performed worse.

The SDGs are 17 universal goals, 169 targets, and 230 indicators set by the United Nations in 2015 to guide a range of pressing problems including food and water security, poverty and climate change up to 2030. The SDGs are an offshoot of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were launched in 2000 with a target year of 2015. Health is at the core of the SDG with the third SDG aiming to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all across ages. The data focused on 33 health-related indicators to measure progress and created the SDG index with a rating from 0-100. India scored 42, whilst Iceland was at the top with a rating of 85.

INDIA MUST IMPROVE HEALTH

Professor Stephen Lim from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington led the research with the help of 1,870 collaborators in 124 countries. "India must gear up its response to improve the health and well-being of its people.

MEET CHALLENGES IF ACTION PLAN DEVELOPED

The current review shows that we have done well in the area of providing access to skilled birth care and therefore it is possible for us to meet the challenges identified if we are able to develop a plan of action around it," Jha said.

Also Read: Remove Gandhi statue from campus: Demanded Ghana university students, teachers

7 Nawaz Sharif statements at UNGA discredited with pictures and videos



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CarMax, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. The company operates through two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. It offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions. The company also provides reconditioning and vehicle repair services; and financing alternatives for retail customers across a range of credit spectrum through its CarMax Auto Finance and arrangements with various financial institutions. As of February 28, 2022, it operated approximately 230 used car stores. CarMax, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.
The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California Inc., AHN Accountable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS  Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASC Operators-East Bay LLC, ASC Operators-San Francisco LLC, ASC Operators-San Luis Obispo LLC, ASC Operators-Santa Rosa LLC, ASC Operators-South Bay LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Cornerstone LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Florida LLC, AbleTo Behavioral Health Services P.C., AbleTo Inc., Accurate Rx Pharmacy Consulting LLC, Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A.S., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Center LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Allina Health Heart and Vascular Surgery Center LLC, Allina Health Surgery Center-Brooklyn Park LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Holdings Inc., AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Kentucky LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, American Physicians Inc., Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Angiografia e Hemodinamica Madre Theodora Ltda., Anne Arundel-SCA Holdings LLC, Anne Arundel-SCA Surgicenter LLC, Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arcadia JV Holdings LLC, Arcadia Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., ArchWell Health LLC, ArchWell Health MSO LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services Holding Co., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Alabama LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services of North Carolina P.C., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Oklahoma LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Arizona LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Nebraska LLC, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., Arlington Surgery Center LLC, Aspectus Inc., Associacao Lusiadas Knowledge Center  Health Education and Research, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Aurora Hospitalist P.C., Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Aventura Medical Tower Surgery Center LLC, Avery Parent Holdings Inc., Aveta Inc., AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, BOSC Holdings LLC, BSC Holdings LLC, Ball Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Banmedica Colombia S.A.S., Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Barranca Surgery Center LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings II LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings LLC, Beaver Medical Group P.C., Bedford Physicians Risk Retention Group Inc., Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Beltway Surgery Centers L.L.C., Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Bergan Mercy Surgery Center LLC, Bergen-Passaic Cataract Laser and Surgery Center LLC, Bessler MD PLLC, Bind Benefits Inc., Bind LH Holdings Inc., Bind Re Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Bloomfield ASC LLC, Blue Ridge Day Surgery Center L.P., Blue Ridge GP LLC, Blue Ridge Properties LLC, Boca Raton Outpatient Surgery & Laser Center LTD., Bordeaux Barbados Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings III S.r.l., Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, CCEC Anesthesia Management LLC, CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA  Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO  Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS  Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos Ltda., COI  Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill Ambulatory Centers, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardinal Holding Company LLC, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Care Logistics LLC, CareMount Dental Member LLC, CareMount Health Solutions ACO LLC, CareMount Health Solutions Employer LLC, CareMount Health Solutions LLC, CareMount Holding LLC, CareMount Medical Foundation Inc., CareMount Value Partners IPA LLC, Carr PLLC, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Castle Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran 2 Unlimited Company, Catamaran Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Cedar Park JV Partners LLC, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care  Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Center for Quality Improvement LLC, Center for Restorative Surgery at Maple Grove LLC, Center for Surgery of North Coast L.P., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, CentriHealth Corporation, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro de Entrenamiento Capacitacion en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada, Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica SpA, Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centura-SCA Holdings LLC, Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Surgery Properties LTD., Charlotte-SC LLC, Chatham Orthopaedic ASC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Claims Management Systems Inc., Cleburne Surgical Center LLC, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinton Partners LLC, Clinica Alameda SpA, Clinica Bio Bio SpA, Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.p.A., Clinica Iquique S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica Portoazul S.A., Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.p.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A.S., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Cobranzas Banmedica SpA, Cogent Healthcare IPA of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare Inc., Cogent Healthcare Management of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Arizona P.C., Cogent Healthcare of California Prof. Corp., Cogent Healthcare of Georgia P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Illinois LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Iowa P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Jackson MS LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Jacksonville LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Missouri Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Montana P.C., Cogent Healthcare of New Jersey P.C., Cogent Healthcare of North Carolina P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Oregon P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Pensacola L.L.C., Cogent Healthcare of Tennessee P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Washington P.C., Cogent Medical Care P.C., Cogent Patient Safety Organization Inc., Cogent/Endion Medical Care of New York P.C., Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada S.A., Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Comprehensive Hospital Physicians of Florida Inc., ConnectYourCare Inc., ConnectYourCare LLC, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Consorcio Regenero S.A., Constructora Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Continuum Physicians Group Inc., Continuum Physicians Group of Washington PLLC, Cornell Surgicenter LLC, Cornerstone Surgery Center LLC, Cornerstone Surgicare LLC, Corpus Christi Endoscopy Center L.L.P., Country Scan Ltda., Critical Care Physician of New York P.C., Critical Care Physicians of Illinois LLC, Critical Care Physicians of New Jersey PC, Critical Care Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Cross Timbers Surgery Center LLC, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DSP Flint Real Estate LLC, DSP-Building C LLC, DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., Dallas Inpatient Specialist PLLC, Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Denton Endoscopy Surgery Center LLC, Denton Surgery Center LLC, Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Digestive Disease Center L.P., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Blocker LLC, Diplomat Corporate Properties LLC, Diplomat Pharmacy, Diplomat Pharmacy Inc., Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Great Lakes Distribution Center LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Chicago LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Los Angeles County LLC, Distance Learning Network Inc., Divisadero Holdings LLC, DocASAP Inc., DocASAP India Technologies Private Limited, DocASAP US LLC, Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duluth Surgical Suites LLC, Durable Medical Equipment Inc., E Street Endoscopy LLC, EM Orange Tree LLC, EP Campus I LLC, EPIC Health Plan, EPIC Management Services LLC, East Bay Endoscopy Center L.P., East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Echo Locum Tenens Inc., Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Emerald Coast Surgery Center L.P., Emisar Pharma Services LLC, Emmaus Holdings LLC, Emmaus Surgical Center LLC, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Empremedica S. A., Endion Hospitalist North P.C., Endion Hospitalist of Western New York P.C., Endion Medical Healthcare P.C., Endion Medical Services P.C., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho  Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Everett MSO Inc., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center L.L.C., Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., Eye Specialists Surgery Centers LLC, FMG Holdings LLC, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice Inc., Ferrell Physician Services P.C., Fideicomiso Clinica Barranquilla Portoazul FA-517, First Coast Orthopedic Center LLC, First Family Insurance LLC, Florence Surgery Center L.P., For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fort Sutter Medical Building a California Limited Partnership, Fort Worth Endoscopy Centers LLC, Fortified Provider Network Inc., Foundation Surgery Affiliate General of Huntingdon Valley LLC, Foundation Surgery Affiliate of Huntingdon Valley L.P., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GLBESC LLC, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology Canada Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Gladiolus Surgery Center L.L.C., Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Global One Ventures LLC, Golden Gate Endoscopy Center LLC, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grandview Surgery Center LTD., Greater New Haven ASC LLC, Greensboro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Greenville Surgery Center LLC, Greenway Surgical Suites LLC, Grossmont Surgery Center L.P., Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., H&W Indemnity SPC Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HFHS-SCA Holdings LLC, HMG Holding Corporation, HMG Holdings LLC, HMP of Baltimore  USH P.C., Harken Health Insurance Company, Harrison Endo Surgical Center LLC, Hawthorn Place Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hays JV Partners LLC, Hays Surgery Center LLC, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthEast Surgery Center-Maplewood LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Healthplex America LLC, Healthplex Dental Services Inc., Healthplex I.P.A. Inc., Healthplex Inc., Healthplex Insurance Company, Healthplex of CT Inc., Healthplex of DC Inc., Healthplex of MD Inc., Healthplex of ME Inc., Healthplex of NC Inc., Healthplex of NJ Inc., Healthplex of TX Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help Seguros de Vida S.A., Help Service S.A., Help SpA, Hemonefro  Hemodialise e Nefrologia Ltda, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Medical S.A., Honodav SpA, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of Broome County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Binghamton P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Buffalo P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Newburgh P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Nyack P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Patchogue P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Goodyear Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Nogales Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Sierra Vista Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Buncombe County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Apple Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Bakersfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Camarillo PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Crescent City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fairfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fremont PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Grass Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Jackson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oceanside PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oxnard PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Salinas PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Leandro PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Sonoma PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Thousand Oaks PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Vacaville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Brighton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Denver PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Manchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Rockville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Wallingford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Palm Coast LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Fredericksburg LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Atlanta PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - East Point PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Lavonia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Savannah PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii - Kealakekua Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho - Nampa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Downers Grove LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Elmhurst LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Rockford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Winfield LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Clinton LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Mishawaka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Terre Haute LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Cedar Rapids PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Mason City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Topeka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Alexandria Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Bossier City Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Lake Charles Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Shreveport Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Bangor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Lewiston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cheverly PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cumberland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Frederick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Laurel PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Rockville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Brockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Dorchester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Framingham PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Holyoke PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Natick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Norwood PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Springfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Stoughton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Taunton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Worcester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Alpena PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Dowagiac PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Escanaba PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grand Blanc PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grayling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Kalamazoo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Plainwell PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Port Huron PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Saginaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Tawas City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Bridgeton Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Richmond Heights Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Billings PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Butte PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Miles City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Missoula PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Multiple Practice Sites LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada  TCG Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada  TCS Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Hackensack PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Paterson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Clovis LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Rio Rancho LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New York PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Burlington PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Clyde PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Elizabeth City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Jacksonville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - New Bern PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Rocky Mount PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Akron Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Batavia Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Canton Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati III Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Circleville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Dover Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - East Liverpool Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Fairfield Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Martins Ferry Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Westerville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Youngstown Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio  TCG Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio  TCS Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma - Oklahoma City LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon - Portland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Rhode Island  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Rhode Island  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Richland County Ltd., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of San Luis Obispo County Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina - Aiken LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina - Rock Hill LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Dakota  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Dakota  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  Columbia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  Franklin PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Amarillo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Atlanta PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Austin II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Austin PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Bryan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Burnet PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Corpus Christi II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Corpus Christi PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Cypress PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Dallas PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fort Worth II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fort Worth PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fredericksburg PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Houston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Humble PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Kerrville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Kyle PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Livingston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Lubbock PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Lufkin PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Mount Pleasant PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Plainview PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Rockwall PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Round Rock PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio IV PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio V PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio VI PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio VII PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Marcos PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Texarkana PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Tyler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Utah  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Utah  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Vermont  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Vermont  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Alexandria LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Mechanicsville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Midlothian LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Winchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Arlington PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Auburn PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bellingham PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bremerton PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Burien PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Coupeville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Enumclaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Federal Way PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Gig Harbor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Lakewood PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Mount Vernon PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Puyallup PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Vancouver PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington County LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  Martinsburg PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  South Charleston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  Wheeling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wisconsin Ltd., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming - Casper LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming  TCS LLC, Hospitalists Management Group LLC, Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation Ontario, IEC Holdings LLC, IHD Holdings LLC, INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, Illinois Independent Care Network LLC, Imagen Technologies Inc., Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., InTouch Pharmacy LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Indiana Endoscopy Centers LLC, Inland Surgery Center L.P., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inpatient Services P.C., Inpatient Specialists of California P.C., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Instituto Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, Inter-Hospital Physicians Association Inc., International Healthcare Services Inc., Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria SpA, Ironman Holdco Inc., Ironman Intermediate Holdco LLC, Isapre Banmedica S.A., JPM Healthcare LLC, Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Jordan Ridge Family Medicine LLC, Joyable Inc., Kansal Inc. A Professional Corporation, Knox Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Kokomo Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, LDI Holding Company LLC, LDI Management Services LLC, LGH-A/Golf ASTC L.L.C., LHC Group, La Esperanza del Peru S.A., Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Landmark Group Holdings LLC, Landmark Health Holdings LLC, Landmark Health LLC, Landmark Health NY IPA LLC, Landmark Health NY PO LLC, Landmark Health Technologies Private Limited, Landmark Health of California LLC, Landmark Health of Massachusetts LLC, Landmark Health of North Carolina LLC, Landmark Health of Oregon LLC, Landmark Health of Pennsylvania LLC, Landmark Health of Washington LLC, Landmark India LLC, Landmark Intermediate Holdings LLC, Landmark MSO LLC, Landmark Medical of Idaho PC, Landmark Medical of Massachusetts PLLC, Landmark Medical of Tennessee PC, Landmark Primary Care LLC, Laser Acquisition Holdings III LLC, Leehar Distributors LLC, Lemhi Ventures Fund I LP, Lemhi Ventures Fund II LP, Level2 Medical Services P.C. Alaska, Lexington Surgery Center Ltd., Liberty Anesthesia Services LLC, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeWell. Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Limestone Medical Center LLC, Litomedica S.A., Logan Surgical Suites LLC, Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook L.P., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas Algarve S.A., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., Lutheran Campus ASC LLC, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MCNA Health Care Holdings LLC, MCNA Insurance Company, MCNA Systems Corp., MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, Main Line Spine Surgery Center LLC, Managed Care of North America Inc., Managed Physical Network Inc., Mansfield Endoscopy Center LLC, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care IPA Inc., March Vision Care Inc., March Vision Care of Texas Inc., Marin Health Ventures LLC, Marin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Marlin Holding Company LLC, Maryland Ambulatory Centers LLC, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, McKenzie Surgery Center L.P., MedExpress Primary Care West Virginia Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services LLC, Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memorial Houston Surgery Center LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Orange Coast LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Saddleback LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management Ltd., Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midlands Orthopaedics Surgery Center LLC, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Medical Plaza L.C., Mobile Medical Services of New Jersey PC, Mobile-SC LTD., Modality Accountable Care Organisation Limited, Moen M.D. P.C., Mohawk Surgery Center LLC, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Monument Health LLC, Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Morris County Surgical Center LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Murrells Inlet ASC LLC, Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings Inc., NPN IPA Washington PLLC, NSC Channel Islands LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Greensboro West LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Naperville Surgical Centre LLC, National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Navigator Health Inc., Nebraska Spine Hospital LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., New York Proton Management LLC, Newton Holdings LLC, Niagara Hospitalist P.C., Nomad Buyer Inc., North American Medical Management California Inc., North Coast Surgery Center Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, North Dallas Surgical Center LLC, North Kitsap Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgery Center L.P., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northern Utah Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Hills JV Partners LLC, Northwest Medical Group Alliance LLC, Northwest Spine and Laser Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OCC MSO LLC, OSB  Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Lda., Omesa SpA, OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., One World Surgery, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Dallas LLC, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Networks Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Care of New York Management Inc., Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Compounding Services LLC, Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Direct To Consumer Inc., Optum Financial Inc., Optum Frontier Therapies Holdings LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies II LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies LLC, Optum Genomics Inc., Optum Global Solutions Colombia S.A.S., Optum Global Solutions India Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Global Solutions Philippines Inc., Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners Holdings Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings US Inc., Optum Health & Technology Hong Kong Limited, Optum Health & Technology India Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health & Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology US LLC, Optum Health Plan of California, Optum Health Services Canada Ltd., Optum Health Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions UK Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 200 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 204 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 209 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 305 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 402 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 500 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 550 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 551 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 553 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 554 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs LLC, Optum Life Sciences Canada Inc., Optum Management Consulting Shanghai Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Operations Ireland Unlimited Company, Optum Oregon MSO LLC, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharma Services Holdings Inc., Optum Pharmacy 601 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 700 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 704 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 706 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 707 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 800 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 803 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 805 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 806 Inc., Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket LLC, Optum SCA CS JV Holdings LLC, Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Services Ireland Limited, Optum Services Puerto Rico LLC, Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Venture Global Partners II LP, Optum Venture Global Partners LP, Optum Venture Partners II LP, Optum Venture Partners III LP, Optum Venture Partners LP, Optum Washington Network LLC, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare ACO West LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare Portland LLC, OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumCare Specialty Practices LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Oregon Healthcare Resources LLC, Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the South Inc., OrthoWest MSO LLC, Orthology Inc., Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopedic Surgery Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopro Management LLC, Ovations Inc., Owensboro Ambulatory Surgical Facility Ltd., Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans CT Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, Oxford Health Plans NJ Inc., Oxford Health Plans NY Inc., P2P Link LLC, PCCCV Inc., PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PPH Management Company L.L.C., PPH-Columbia Inc., PPH-Gardendale Inc., PS Center LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Panama City Surgery Center LLC, Park Hill Surgery Center LLC, Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Patient Care Associates L.L.C., PatientsLikeMe, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peninsula Eye Surgery Center LLC, Penzo Enterprises LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Perham Physical Therapy LTD, Perimeter Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Pharmaceutical Technologies LLC, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians' Surgery Center of Downey LLC, Pinnacle III LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings Inc., Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center Limited, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Post-Acute Care Center for Research LLC, Practice Partners in Healthcare LLC, Preferred Care Network Inc., Preferred Care Network of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., PreferredOne, PreferredOne Administrative Services Inc., PreferredOne Insurance Company, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Premiere Medical Resources LLC, Presidio Surgery Center LLC, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., PrimeDoc St. Francis P.C., PrimeDoc of Richmond P.C., ProHEALTH Care Associates L.L.P., ProHEALTH Care Associates of New Jersey LLP, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, ProHealth/CareMount Dental Management LLC, Procura Management Inc., Professional Coverage Services PLLC, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical LLC, Promotora Country S.A., Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Benefits Management LLC, Prospero Care Management LLC, Prospero Management Services LLC, Providence & SCA Development LLC, Providence & SCA Off-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA On-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA Outreach Markets Holdings LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., R Cubed Inc., RABessler M.D. P.C., ROC Surgery LLC, ROCS Holdings LLC, RX Ricardo Campos Ltda., Rally Health Inc., ReMedics LLC, Real Appeal Inc., Redding Surgery Center LLC, Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Reliant Medical Group Inc., Reliant Medical Group The Endoscopy Center LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, Resonancia Magnetica de Colombia Ltda., Resonancia Magnetica del Country S.A., RightCare Solutions Inc., River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Corporate Wellness LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Robert A. Bessler MD PLLC, Rockville Eye Surgery Center LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center LLC, SC Affiliates LLC, SCA AHN JV Holdings LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA Austin Medical Center Holdings LLC, SCA Aventura Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA Bloomfield Holdings LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Colorado Springs Holdings LLC, SCA Community Service Foundation, SCA Cottonwood Holdings LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Denver Holdings LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA Duluth Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville MSO LLC, SCA ESSC Holdings LLC, SCA Englewood Holdings LLC, SCA Global One Holdings LLC, SCA Greenway Holdings LLC, SCA Grove Creek Holdings LLC, SCA Guilford Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Health Value Enterprise LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA High Point Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Lutheran Holdings LLC, SCA Maple Grove Holdings LLC, SCA Mohawk Holdings LLC, SCA Murrells Inlet LLC, SCA Northern Utah Holdings LLC, SCA Northwest Holdings LLC, SCA Outside New Jersey LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pacific Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Palisades Holdings LLC, SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Pinnacle Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA Providence Holdings LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA Rush Oak Brook Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA San Diego Holdings LLC, SCA Skyway Holdings LLC, SCA South Ogden Holdings LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Specialty Holdings of Connecticut LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA West Health Holdings LLC, SCA Westgreen Holdings LLC, SCA Woodbury Holdings LLC, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colonial Partners LLC, SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Glenwood Holdings LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Memorial LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Morris Avenue LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Panama City Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-VLR Holdings Company LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCLHS-SCA Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SJ East Campus ASC LLC, SRPS LLC, SSSC Holdings LLC, SVHS-SCA Florida JV LLC, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Sage Medical Prof. LLC, Salem JV Holdings LLC, Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., San Diego Endoscopy Center, San Diego Sports and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center LLC, San Francisco Endoscopy Center LLC, San Luis Obispo Surgery Center a California Limited Partnership, Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Barbara Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santa Rosa Surgery Center L.P., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Sanvello Health Holdings LLC, Sanvello Health Inc., Sanvello Health Limited, Scanner Centromed S.A., Seashore Surgical Institute L.L.C., Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Serquinox Holdings LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Ltda., Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Ltda., Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., Serviclinica Inmobiliaria S.A., Serviclinica S.A. Ex Los Leones La Calera, Servisalud Inmobiliaria S.A., Servisalud S.A. Ex Los Carrera Quilpue, Shark Holdings P.C., Sierra Dental Plan Inc., Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam  Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria SpA, Solstice Administration Services Inc., Solstice Administrators Inc., Solstice Administrators of Alabama Inc., Solstice Administrators of Arizona Inc., Solstice Administrators of Missouri Inc., Solstice Administrators of North Carolina Inc., Solstice Administrators of Texas Inc., Solstice Benefit Services Inc., Solstice Benefits Inc., Solstice Health Insurance Company, Solstice Healthplans Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Arizona Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Colorado Inc., Solstice Healthplans of New Jersey Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Ohio Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Tennessee Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Texas Inc., Solstice of Illinois Inc., Solstice of Minnesota Inc., Solstice of New York Inc., Solutran LLC, Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Sound Inpatient Physicians Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Medical Group Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians of Ohio LLC, Sound Inpatient Physicians of Texas I Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians  Michigan PLLC, Sound Intensivists of Nevada RBessler M.D. PLLC, Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati Inc., Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati LLC, Sound Physicians Advisory Services Inc., Sound Physicians Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, Sound Physicians Anesthesiology of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Georgia P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kansas LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kentucky PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Louisiana Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Michigan PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Nevada Bessler PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Southern California P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of West Virginia PLLC, Sound Physicians Holdings LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Intensivists of Georgia PC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Virginia LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Palliative Care of Maryland P.C., Sound Physicians Telemedicine Inc., Sound Physicians of Florida IV LLC, Sound Physicians of Georgia III P.C., Sound Physicians of Hawaii Inc., Sound Physicians of Idaho PLLC, Sound Physicians of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Indiana LLC, Sound Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Sound Physicians of Kankakee Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Massachusetts II P.C., Sound Physicians of Massachusetts Inc., Sound Physicians of New Jersey LLC, Sound Physicians of New York PLLC, Sound Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Sound Physicians of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians of Wyoming LLC, South Arlington Surgical Providers LLC, South County Surgical Center LLC, South Sound Inpatient Physicians PLLC, Southern California Medical Practice Concepts LLC, Southland Hospitalists P.C., Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center LLC, Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Spartanburg Surgery Center LLC, Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits LLC, Specialty Billing Solutions LLC, Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Sports and Spinal Physical Therapy Inc., St. Cloud Outpatient Surgery Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Cardiovascular Institute LLC, St. Louis Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Stonegate JV Partners LLC, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Summer Street ASC LLC, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Cottonwood LLC, Surgery Center at Grove Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center at South Ogden LLC, Surgery Center at St. Vincent LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Fairfield County LLC, Surgery Center of Fort Collins LLC, Surgery Center of Lexington LLC, Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Mt. Scott LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Caregivers of Fort Worth LLC, Surgical Center of Greensboro LLC, Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Eye Experts LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgical Management Solutions LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Central Jersey LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Jackson Ltd. a Mississippi Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Minneapolis Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Mobile Ltd., Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, T.M. Carr M.D. P.C., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., THR-SCA Holdings LLC, TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologia de Informacion en Salud S.A., Texas Health Craig Ranch Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Flower Mound Orthopedic Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Bedford LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Chisholm Trail LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Irving LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Preston Plaza LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Rockwall LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Southwest Fort Worth LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Waxahachie LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Willow Park LLC, The Advisory Board Company, The Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Eye Surgery Center of the Carolinas L.P., The Intensivist Group of Langhorne LLC, The Lewin Group Inc., The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, The Surgery Center of Easton L.P., The Surgical Center of Connecticut LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Trauma Surgery Affiliates LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, Treasure Valley Emerald Properties LLC, Treasure Valley Hospital Limited Partnership, Tri-City Medical Center ASC Operators LLC, Tri-County Surgery Center LLC, Trinity Cardiovascular Care PLLC, Tufts Health Freedom Insurance Company, Tufts Health Freedom Plans Inc., Tuscaloosa Surgical Center L.P., U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UCSD Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, UCSD Center for Surgery of Encinitas L.P., UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings I LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings II LLC, UHC Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings Ireland Limited, UHCG Services Ireland Limited, UHCG  FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHG Holdings UK IV Limited, UHG Holdings UK V Limited, UHG Holdings UK VI Limited, UHIC Holdings Inc., UMR Inc., UPHT-SCA Holdings LLC, USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors LLC, USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD ASC IV1 LLC, USMD ASC IV2 LLC, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Hospital at Arlington L.P., USMD Hospital at Fort Worth L.P., USMD Inc., USMD PPM LLC, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Medical Park ASC LLC, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., United in Advancing Health Equity Foundation, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Employee Assistance Fund, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group International Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service Beijing Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Medical UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Parekh Insurance TPA Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Rockies Inc., Unity Health Network LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, VPay Benefits Corporation, VPay Inc., VPay Intermediate Holdings LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vascular Labs of the Rockies ASC LLC, Vascular Labs of the Rockies PLLC, Via Vitae MSO LLC, Vida Integra S.p.A., Vida Tres S.A., Virtua-SCA Holdings II LLC, Virtua-SCA Holdings LLC, Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wake Forest Ambulatory Ventures LLC, Walnut Creek Endoscopy Center LLC, Walnut Hill Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center LLC, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., Waypoint Minnesota PC, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, WestHealth JV Holdings LLC, WestHealth Surgery Center LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, Westgreen Surgical Center LLC, Wilson Creek Surgical Center LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, Winter Park Surgery Center L.P., Woodbury Surgery Center LLC, XAS Infusion Suites Inc., XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, divvyDOSE, divvyMED LLC, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative Inc., naviHealth Care at Home LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care SC P.C., naviHealth Holdings LLC, naviHealth Inc., naviHealth Michigan HBPC P.C., and naviHealth SM Holdings Inc..

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The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Limited, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Limited, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AFD.TECH, AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, AIG Shared Services Business Processing Inc, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co. Ltd., Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. 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Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, ClearEdge Partners, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. 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The attack on army base in Uri has left India exploring its options on how to make Pakistan mend their ways. Talks about scrapping the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty has cropped up. Here are 11 things you need to know about the Treaty and why it is important.

By India Today Web Desk: To put pressure on Pakistan after the audacious Uri terror attack, there is talk about scrapping the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty signed between the two countries.

During a press briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that any cooperative arrangement requires goodwill and cooperation from both sides. "For any such treaty to work, it is important for mutual trust and cooperation. It cannot be a one-sided affair", Swarup said.

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Here are 11 things you need to know about the treaty:

The Indus Water Treaty is a water distribution agreement that was signed on September, 1960 in Karachi between then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan. It was the World Bank that orchestrated the pact under which control over six north Indian rivers was divided between India and Pakistan. While India got control over Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, Pakistan was given Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The Treaty is considered to be one of the most successful watersharing arrangements in the world. The rivers controlled by Pakistan actually do not originate there. Instead, they enter the country through India. Indus originates in China while the Chenab and Jhelum originate in India. According to the Treaty, India is allowed to use only 20% of the total water carried by the Indus river. Pakistan is highly dependent on the three rivers for its water supply. There is a restriction on India in terms of water usage of Pakistan-controlled rivers. Since the three rivers originate in India, Pakistan feared the threat of drought and famine. However, the treaty clearly spells out the dos and don'ts for both the countries. Pakistan has, however, often complained of not receiving enough water. According to the United Nations, the 1960 Indus Water Treaty has survived three wars and is a source of cooperation, not just conflict.

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Calix, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides cloud and software platforms, and systems and services in the United States, rest of Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company's cloud and software platforms, and systems and services enable broadband service providers (BSPs) to provide a range of services. It provides Calix Cloud platform, a role-based analytics platform comprising Calix Marketing Cloud, Calix Support Cloud, and Calix Operations Cloud, which are configurable to display role-based insights and enable BSPs to anticipate and target new revenue-generating services and applications through mobile application. The company also offers EXOS, a carrier class premises operating system and fully integrated with its GigaSpire family of systems to be ready for deployment as a complete subscriber experience solutions for BSP's residential and business subscribers; and AXOS, a software platform to access edge of the network by its architecture and operations. It offers its products through its direct sales force and resellers. Calix, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.
B&G Foods, Inc. manufactures, sells, and distributes a portfolio of shelf-stable and frozen foods, and household products in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The company's products include frozen and canned vegetables, vegetables, canola and other cooking oils, vegetable shortening, cooking sprays, oatmeal and other hot cereals, fruit spreads, canned meats and beans, bagel chips, spices, seasonings, hot sauces, wine vinegar, maple syrups, molasses, salad dressings, pizza crusts, Mexican-style sauces, dry soups, taco shells and kits, salsas, pickles, peppers, tomato-based products, baking powder and soda, corn starch, cookies and crackers, nut clusters, and other specialty products. It markets its products under various brands, including Ac'cent, B&G, B&M, Back to Nature, Baker's Joy, Bear Creek Country Kitchens, Brer Rabbit, Canoleo, Cary's, Clabber Girl, Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat, Crisco, Dash, Davis, Devonsheer, Don Pepino, Durkee, Emeril's, Grandma's Molasses, Green Giant, Joan of Arc, Las Palmas, Le Sueur, MacDonald's, Mama Mary's, Maple Grove Farms of Vermont, McCann's, Molly McButter, New York Flatbreads, New York Style, Old London, Ortega, Polaner, Red Devil, Regina, Rumford, Sa-son, Sclafani, Spice Islands, Spring Tree, Sugar Twin, Tone's, Trappey's, TrueNorth, Underwood, Vermont Maid, Victoria, and Weber and Wright's. The company also sells, markets, and distributes household products under the Static Guard brand. It sells and distributes its products directly, as well as through a network of independent brokers and distributors to supermarket chains, foodservice outlets, mass merchants, warehouse clubs, non-food outlets, and specialty distributors. The company was formerly known as B&G Foods Holdings Corp. and changed its name to B&G Foods, Inc. in October 2004. B&G Foods, Inc. was founded in 1822 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.
The Boeing Company is the worlds largest manufacturer of airplanes and commands more than 50% of the market in some channels and categories. The company and its family of subsidiaries design, develops, manufacture, sell, service, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight, and related services worldwide. The company operates through four segments including Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital providing products and services to end-users in 150 countries.

Boeing got its start in 1910 when William E. Boeing developed a love for aircraft. Soon after he takes his first plane ride which leads him to build a hangar and begin construction of his first plane. The onset of WWI helped spur the companys growth but business was cut drastically in its wake. The start of WWII was another milestone for the company and one that led to its current position of dominance. The company was incorporated in 1916 and is based in Chicago, Illinois. Boeing employs over 140,000 people in 65 countries making it one of the most diverse employers on the planet.

The Commercial Airplanes segment is built around the iconic 7-series which includes the 737, 747, and 787. The segment provides commercial jet aircraft for passenger and cargo requirements, as well as fleet support services for regional, national, and international air carriers and logistics and freight companies. In terms of global volume, the company estimates about 90% of all air freight is carried aboard one of its jets. This segment also includes the Dreamliner family of planes. The Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane for many carriers as it opens up the potential for new one-stop destinations because of its capacity and range.

The Defense, Space & Security segment develops and manufactures a range of systems including manned and unmanned aircraft, missiles, missile defense systems, satellites, communications equipment, and intelligence systems for governments. Among the many iconic brands within this segment are the AH-64 Apache, Air Force One, B-52, C-17 Globemaster, Chinook, F/A-18, and the V-22 Osprey VTOL aircraft used by the Marines.

The Global Services segment offers a range of products and services that include supply chain and logistics management, engineering, maintenance, upgrades, conversions, spare parts, pilot and maintenance training, technical and maintenance documents, and data analytics to its commercial and defense customers.

Boeing is also a leader in innovation, leveraging its many decades and avenues of experience to further aerospace and defense technology. Among the many innovations is the MQ-25 Stingray which will be the worlds first autonomous aircraft. The Stingray is only one of many areas of research that also include drones and undersea vehicles.
Most people in Chennai were caught unaware when the roads leading to the hospital chief minister J Jayalalithaa was admitted were blocked

By Akshaya Nath: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was admitted in a private hospital in Chennai, late last night

According to the press release by Apollo Hospital read, "The Honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu was admitted to Apollo hospital, Chennai with fever and dehydration. The honourable madam is stable and under observation."

Within the next few hours there was large number of party cadres who gathered near the hospital who were requested to leave. Though the party cadres had dispersed, it is reported that large number of the AIADMK party workers have been moving to Chennai from various districts of the state.

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Also read: TN CM Jayalalithaa admitted to hospital, suffers from fever, dehydration

RESIDENTS FACE DISCOMFORT

For the residents of Chennai who commute through Greams road, one of the arterial roads in the city, witnessed heavy traffic. The roads leading to the hospital have been blocked and most of the people have been walking the distance.

"Mount Road is completely filled with traffic, and so is the old commissioner office road. The 1.5km distance which can be covered in five minutes took more than 20 minutes to cover," said Jamal, a regular commuter through the area.

Most people in the city were caught unaware due to lack of information about the CM's hospitalisation. It was reported that many patients had to be wheeled in to the area as the roads were blocked by officials.

JAYALALITHAA'S HEALTH A CONCERN

CM Jayalalithaa's health condition has been the subject of discussion for a long time now. Opposition party - DMK chief M Karunanidhi had earlier written a letter asking Jayalalithaa to reveal information on her health condition.

According to official sources, Jayalalithaa will soon be discharged and has been admitted in the hospital only for observation. They also assured that her condition is stable.

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Six Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militants have been neutralised so far in the operation carried out by Army. Two rifles, three pistols and two grenades have been recovered from the slain militants.

By Indrajit Kundu: The Army has neutralised at least six Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militants in an encounter in Assam's East Karbi Anglong district on Friday.

Those killed in the joint operation conducted by army and Assam police in the early hours of Friday morning also include two top KPLT leaders.

OPERATION

"Based on specific information, the joint forces launched an operation at Banipathar area under the Bokajan police station when the militants exchanged fire with the security forces inside a forest," informed district Superintendent of Police Debojit Deuri.

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"Six KPLT cadres were neutralised in the encounter, while an army jawan was injured," he added. Three pistols, one SLR rifle and Insas rifle and two grenades were recovered from the slain rebels.

The Karbi People's Liberation Tiger (KPLT) a breakaway faction of the Karbi National Liberation Front after it declared ceasefireand was formed in January 2011.

PROGRESS

Six Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militants have been neutralised so far in the operation carried out by Army. Two rifles, three pistols and two grenades have been recovered from the slain militants

The operation currently still in progress.

ALSO READ:

Army foils 2 more infiltration bids in J-K's Nowgam sector

Uri attack: Pakistan lands jets on highways, denies reports of war readiness

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BOV hears progress on engineering & design program initiative

The makerspace culture Members of William & Marys 2016 iGEM team work in the Biological Sciences Makerspace in the newly built ISC 3. The universitys incipient Engineering & Design Program developed in part out of the makerspace culture that has permeated campus. Photo by Joseph McClain Photo - of - Hide Caption

Vice Provost for Research Dennis Manos and two faculty members updated William & Marys Board of Visitors on progress on its initiative in engineering and design.

Manos and Professor of Business James R. Bradley were co-chairs of a committee charged by Provost Michael Halleran with recommending ways to incorporate design thinking into the universitys curriculum. The committee delivered its 125-page report in June, along with a synopsis.

Manos cautioned the Board at Thursdays meeting that the intent of the initiative was not to form an engineering school or even to offer degrees in engineering.

Our intent is to leverage our strengths by blending two great complementary forces at William & Mary, Manos said, namely, faculty expertise with liberal arts education and student desire to use technology to change and to improve the world.

Manos told the board that his committee is beginning work on three first fruits tasks  infrastructure, data science and engineering physics & applied design.

Manos addressed the infrastructure aspect, which builds on the maker ethos that has permeated William & Mary. Manos notes there are makerspaces in a number of locations: Small Hall, the School of Education, Swem Librarys Reeder Media Center, the Integrated Science Center, the Mason School of Business, Morton Hall, Andrews Hall and the Applied Research Center.

The count is not easy to do. There are now 15 distinct areas that we call makerspaces  located in rooms in seven different buildings in Williamsburg and Newport News, and another space at VIMS, he said. I just learned that in room 220 and 221 of Andrews, acoustic and electronic sensors will be developed, along with autonomous vehicles.

These community DIY labs are filled with tools such as laser cutters, 3-D printers, computer-controlled devices, virtual reality equipment  and people who know how to use them. Theyve become natural incubators of collaboration and creativity.

The briefing was part of the Provosts Report segment of the Boards Sept. 22 meeting. Two members of the committee, Dan Miller Runfola, AidData geospatial scientist, and Bill Cooke, professor of physics, outlined proposed additions to the curriculum.

Runfola outlined proposals for new engineering-oriented curricular offerings, including a minor, and eventually a major program, in data science. These new fields of concentration would open up access to computational-analytical skills and techniques to a wider group of William & Mary students.

He told the Board of the challenges met by students who tried to craft independent majors that would give them solid data science backgrounds. He presented a slide that showed a student who wanted to take Introduction to Simulation, a necessary data-science course, would have to wade through seven prerequisites.

It would be a natural progression for a math or computer science major, he said, but a data science track would smooth out such curricular bumps in the road.

Cooke told the Board about a proposal for a new engineering-oriented track to the B.S. in physics. He said the proposed Engineering Physics and Applied Design curriculum would benefit the large proportion of physics graduates who go directly into industryabout 30 percent of William & Mary graduates, but 40 percent nationally. The new track would keep a deep background in science, while adding courses in practical areas such as design, simulation and business.

This puts us directly at the intersection of technology and humanities, William & Mary Rector Todd A. Stottlemyer 85 said following the presentation. Thats exciting.

Speaking in advance of the presentation to the Board of Visitors, Manos pointed out that engineering is a William & Mary tradition. The committees written report outlines the institutions engineering history. In 1930, William & Mary offered a complete line of engineering education. The legislature even appended Virginia Polytechnic Institute to William & Marys title. W&Ms engineering programs migrated to a satellite campus in Norfolk, a school that later became the independent Old Dominion University. The Virginia Polytechnic Institute appellation, of course, transferred to the land-grant school in Blacksburg.

The engineering tradition is alive and well at the university today, Manos said. Much of William & Marys research could be legitimately classified as engineering, and Manos points out there are at least a dozen terminal engineering degrees among the faculty.

The developing program is being tailored to be relevant to William & Marys undergraduate curriculum, adding aspects of practical competence to any major. With a commitment to resources, some courses in an engineering and design program could be available by fall 2017, members of the committee said. The provost has asked the relevant deans and vice provost Manos to submit specific plans, with budgets, for these two programs by the end of the semester so that they can be evaluated and considered in the budget development.

This is incredibly important work, commented President Taylor Reveley. And you all are doing a marvelous job of getting into it. This really, really matters to the future of William & Mary. Deliver quickly!
Integrated Science Center: Phase 3 set to stun

Science, integrated and unveiled A plaque dedicating the opening of William & Marys Integrated Science Center, Phase 3, was uncovered at the Sept. 22 dedication of the building. Doing the honors are (from left) Provost Michael Halleran, Chair of the Department of Biology Eric Bradley, President Taylor Reveley, Rector Todd A. Stottlemyer 85. Photo by Stephen Salpukas

Dedicating the building President Taylor Reveley (center) addresses the universitys Board of Visitors and other guests at the dedication of ISC 3. Other speakers were Chair of the Department of Biology Eric Bradley (left) and Rector Todd A. Stottlemyer 85. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

Hannes Schniepp uses atomic force microscopy to examine the molecular structure of complex materials such as silk and spider webs. Its a sensitive technique, and one that just doesnt do well with vibration.

So, Schniepp installed his AFM lab on the ground floor of McGlothlin-Street Hall, the most vibration-free place available. Even working this low in the building, the lab staff is so vibration-averse that no one talks while an atomic force microscope is being used. Breathing is permissible, as long as it is kept low and regular.

And it worked  until the geologists next door fire up their rock saw.

Those were the old days. (And courteous collegial coordination with the Department of Geology forged a schedule that allowed the use of both instruments.) Since August, Schniepp, an associate professor in William & Marys Department of Applied Science, has been using his atomic force microscopes in his solid, new lab in the universitys brand-new science building, known as the Integrated Science Center, phase 3.

113,000 square feet of badly needed, really attractive, new space

ISC 3 came on line for the beginning of the semester and was dedicated at a Sept. 22 ceremony held in conjunction with the fall meeting of the universitys Board of Visitors. University President Taylor Reveley, welcomed the audience, which included Virginias Attorney General Mark R. Herring, to latest, glorious manifestation of the physical transformation of William & Marys science facilities.

Were now here to dedicate its 113,000 square feet of badly needed, really attractive, new space, Reveley said. ISC phases 1, 2 and 3 now total more than 230,000 square feet added to our science facilities in the last decade, creating a really state-of-the-art integrated, interdisciplinary science center.

Reveley introduced Rector Todd A. Stottlemyer 85, who praised the architecture of the ISC 3 as well as the integrated-science concept. Stottlemyer also expressed the universitys gratitude for the states fiscal support of William & Mary scientists.

ISC represents a sustained, decade-long investment in the sciences at William & Mary. $77.9 million for Phase 3 and a total of $142.8 million across all three phases, Stottlemyer said. And we are very, very grateful to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the support and investment that the Commonwealth has made in William & Mary.

William & Mary is a great STEM university, he continued. And this is evidence of our commitment to science and technology  and engineering at some point, as well.

The new construction collects the departments of applied science, biology, chemistry, high performance computing and psychology  as well as major elements of the universitys programs in environmental science and neuroscience  in a set of interconnected buildings. ISC 3 also includes William & Marys High Performance Computing team, attesting to the importance of computational power to science in the 21st century.

The key to the building is the integration concept, Eric Bradley said in his remarks at the ISC 3 dedication.

This is truly a beautiful building, but its more than that. Its very specifically designed for interdisciplinary research, as well as the traditional programmed research. We deliberately designed and built in places to meet, to interact  some in a semi-private way with rooms and a door, but also in these wide-open spaces, he said.

This allows people from different disciplines to get together to share their expertise on a common question or a common problem, Bradley added. The building is built clearly in support of interdisciplinary science, teaching and research.

Better facilities = more science, better science

Bradley has a dual role in the ISC. He is chair of the Department of Biology and also is emergency and planning coordinator for Arts & Sciences. He and the William & Mary scientists working in their new ISC 3 labs believe the new facilities will advance the research footprint of the university in a number of ways.

My speculation is that its going to be twice as productive, said Christopher Del Negro shortly before moving his lab into the ISC 3 in August. An associate professor and chair of the applied science department, Del Negro is a member of William & Marys neuroscience program. His lab explores the neural control of respiration and he says that doubling in productivity could come in output and/or in quality of research.

Once were under the same roof as biology and chemistry  and with many of my neuroscience colleagues  I think were going to have twice as many opportunities for collaboration, Del Negro added.

The neuroscience program involves faculty from five departments: applied science, biology, chemistry, kinesiology & health sciences and psychology. Until ISC 3 opened, William & Marys neuroscientists were located in four different buildings. Now, the neuroscience faculty are housed in the Integrated Science Center complex  all of them but two, one of whom happens to be Robin Looft-Wilson, the neuroscience program director.

Looft-Wilson, who is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, will remain in Adair Hall, as will Michael Deschenes, a professor and chair of the same department. Looft-Wilson points out that the neuroscience program, which now involves 167 undergraduate majors and 20 participating faculty, finally has its own central base.

We have three rooms in ISC 3, Looft-Wilson explained. Our coordinator, Christy Porter, will have her office there. She is often the first contact for students. We have a meeting room and we have a shared lab space for microscopy and behavioral neuroscience.

Cabell Challenge helps with new lab instruments

Not only is the building purpose-built for research and designed for collaboration among researchers, but the ISC 3 also is being equipped with a wide range of new lab instruments, much of it through a matching initiative known as the Cabell Challenge.

In his remarks, Stottlemyer recognized the Cabell Foundation, which put up $500,000 for new instrumentation, that sum to be matched by $1 million raised by William & Mary.

Its not just the physical structure that makes a great science building, he said. You have to have state-of-the-art equipment, so were very thankful to the Cabell Foundation.

Another William & Mary neuroscientist, Joshua Burk, is chair of the psychology department. He believes the new facilities and influx of up-to-date instrumentation will enhance researchers efforts to secure grants in an era of tight budgets.

It has become increasingly competitive to receive extramural funding, Burk said. I believe that some of the equipment that weve gotten as part of the ISC project is going to make our department more competitive for grants.

For example, Burk said the department is replacing its shared electroencephalogram (EEG) system, an instrument nearing the end of its life expectancy, with a new, better EEG system.

It will allow us to measure EEG activity in two individuals at the same time, he said. That opens up a whole new set of questions about social interactions and synchrony between individuals neural activity while theyre engaged in a conversation or a cognitive task that theyre engaged in.

Thats the kind of cutting-edge technology that you need in order to become more competitive in grants, Burk said.

Windows on the scientific process

The dedication was held in the ISCs atrium, an airy common space that holds a coffee shop and seating. The atrium is fronted by four display labs, each of which features large glass windows, inviting people to look in and see science being done.

At present, the display labs include a team of chemists who are working on ways to make radiation-shielding bricks out of the regolith of Mars, a non-destructive evaluation laboratory, a spectroscopy lab and the Biological Sciences Makerspace  the new home of William & Marys defending world champion undergraduate iGEM synthetic biology team.

Visitors looking into the lab windows are almost certain to see students at work, as its quite common for William & Mary undergraduates to join graduate students and faculty in research. But the new facilities of the ISC 3 are not just for research. The 294-seat lecture hall, ISC 1221, replaces the venerable, dingy Millington 150 as the largest auditorium on campus and will be the venue for many of the universitys large-enrollment classes.

The facilities in the new building include a number of teaching labs as well. Laurie Sanderson says the new ISC 3 teaching labs enhance the concept of collaboration.

The students love the teaching labs. Theyre much more open in their organization, so the students can sit around the tables as they need to work on various experiments or projects, she said. Collaboration is encouraged by the arrangement of the tables and the stools.

Sanderson, a professor of biology, moved her labs and offices from Millington, as did other members of her department. She noted that the teaching labs feature the large windows that grace the research labs.

Its bright and airy. And its incredibly open, she said. Students working inside can look outside; students walking by outside can see all the activity and the intellectual conversation going on inside the lab. Its all very conducive to interaction and conversation. The AV is beautiful: the audio-visual facilities, screens, lights, boards, everywhere!

Atrium and study spaces make an instant student magnet

The ISC 3 atrium began attracting William & Mary students immediately. Mark Hinders is a professor of applied science and the proprietor of one of the display labs looking out on the atrium. He said he was pleased at the popularity of the atrium among students.

Eight oclock, Saturday morning. The place is full of students! he said. Theyre studying. Even on Labor Day weekend, they were out there.

Reveley complimented the ISC 3 architectural firm of Einhorn Yaffee and Prescott as well as the construction team of Whiting-Turner Contractor. They deserve our praise for their excellent work, he said.

The Integrated Science Center concept will continue with the development of ISC 4, another phase that will bring in faculty from William & Marys Department of Computer Science and Department of Mathematics. ISC 4 is planned for construction on the site now occupied by Millington Hall, which opened in 1968.

With the advent of ISC 3, Millington can now rest from its labors, Reveley said. It can go to its reward. It can die an unmourned death. And I sense the Grim Reaper is approaching.

Dennis Manos, William & Marys vice provost for research, did not speak at the dedication, but pronounced himself delighted at the opening of ISC 3.

I couldnt be happier, he said. Oh, yeah I could. ISC 4, attached later, will make me even happier. 125 percent, 133 percent happier. Depending.
By Akshaya Nath: The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa was rushed to Apollo Hospital late last night after she complained of high fever and dehydration. The hospital officials yesterday had sent out a mail stating that she was recovering and is in stable condition and that she is kept in the hospital for observation.

The news of the leaders health spread like wildfire and hundreds of people started gathering in and around the hospital premises in Chennai. "Amma is our God, nothing will happen to her. We will stand here till she gets back to her normal condition," said a tear eyed cadre outside the hospital.

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"She has only done good to the people of Tamil Nadu, nothing will go wrong. She will live till hundred years and she will serve us all till then," said another cadre who was breaking coconuts outside the hospital praying that Jaya should return to her residence healthy.

While the Opposition parties in the state have been continuously questioning the chief minister's health condition even before the state election, now it has only led to a louder outcry.

OPPOSITION WISHES SPEEDY RECOVERY



But respecting the CM of the state is something even the opposition party knows and it was seen that DMK chief M Karunanidhi had put up a Facebook post that read, "Jayalalithaa and I have ideological differences, but I sincerely wish that she has a speedy recovery, and gets back to work."

MDMK leader Vaiko said, "I pray to mother nature that she has a speedy recovery." Opposition leader in the state Assembly M K Stalin also sent his prayers to the chief minister.

At the time of Cauvery water issue and political tension between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka it was seen that Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah was one of the first to wish Jaya a speedy recovery.

As the day came to an end with a messages from politicians, actors and people from the film fraternity, hundreds of AIADMK cadres are still waiting for a news from the hospital authorities that Jaya can return home.

Also read:

Jayalalithaa's condition stable reveal Chennai hospital authorities

How Chennai came to a standstill when CM Jayalalithaa was admitted in hospital







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China News on Women





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By Shuja-ul-Haq : As the unrest continues, Kashmir remained shut for the 77th day today.

The authorities imposed restrictions in Srinagar city to prevent protest marches. Educational institutions, main markets, public transport and other commercial establishments remained shut today.

Also read:

Kashmir unrest has delayed key road projects in Valley, claims Border Roads Organisation

Kashmir sees surge in youths joining terror outfits after Burhan Wani's death



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Restrictions have been placed in three police station areas in Srinagar, parts of Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama. Ever since the unrest began on July 9, clashes have erupted in different parts of the Valley.

The Valley has been under the grip of tension for more than two and a half months now. It started with the killing of Hizbul Mujaheddin commander Burhan Wani in an encounter in south Kashmir. 85 people have lost their lives in clashes and more than 10,000 have been injured.

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Canada and China team up on AFCR

23 September 2016

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An agreement in principle to form a new joint venture to develop, market and construct the Advanced Fuel Candu Reactor (AFCR) has been signed by Canada's SNC-Lavalin, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Shanghai Electric. The reactor reuses used fuel from light water reactors.

The agreement was signed yesterday in Ottawa in the presence of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese premier Li Keqiang (Image: CNNC)

The agreement follows the signing of a framework agreement in November 2014 between CNNC and SNC-Lavalin's parent company, Candu Energy. The latest agreement is subject to all government and regulatory approvals, SNC-Lavalin noted.

The joint venture company is expected to be registered in mid-2017. This would be followed by the formation of two design centres - one in Canada and the other in China - to complete the AFCR technology. SNC-Lavalin said this could lead to the construction of the world's first two ACFR units in China and "possible subsequent builds in China and around the world".

The AFCR is described as "a 700 MW 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." The reactor features a heavy-water moderator and heavy-water coolant in a pressure tube design and can use both recycled uranium and thorium as fuel. Candu reactors can be refuelled online.

Units 1 and 2 of the Qinshan Phase III nuclear power plant in China use the Candu 6 pressurised heavy water reactor technology, with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) being the main contractor of the project on a turnkey basis. Construction began in 1997 and unit 1 started up in September 2002 and unit 2 in April 2003.

In September 2005, AECL signed a technology development agreement with CNNC which opened the possibility of it supplying further Candu-6 reactors and undertaking fuel cycle developments based on them. This agreement with CNNC was passed to its subsidiary, the Nuclear Power Institute of China. From 2008, it has focused on joint development of the AFCR.

SNC-Lavalin said it considers the market potential for AFCR technology in China to be "considerable". It noted each AFCR unit can use recycled fuel from four light water reactors to generate some six million MWh of additional carbon-free electricity - sufficient to power four million Chinese homes - without needing any new natural uranium fuel. This, it claims, will avoid the emission of six million tonnes of carbon per year, compared with coal-fired plants.

Mainland China has 35 nuclear power reactors in operation, 20 under construction, and more about to start construction. Additional reactors are planned, to give a doubling of nuclear capacity to at least 58 GWe by 2020-21, then up to 150 GWe by 2030, and much more by 2050.

SNC-Lavalin president for power Sandy Taylor said, "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." He added, "Each new build in China, and anywhere in the world, will benefit Canada in terms of job creation, innovation and nuclear R&D, environmental stewardship, and will contribute to reduce global carbon emissions."

Preston Swafford, chief nuclear officer and executive vice-president for nuclear at SNC-Lavalin, said: "Recognized globally to deliver safe, reliable, affordable and low-carbon energy, each AFCR would contribute to Canada's commitments within COP21: to increase accessibility, efficiency and affordability of clean nuclear energy."

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
Vietnam, once isolated from the majority of the world, now has improved diplomatic relations with every major nation on the globe. Consequently, Vietnamese tourism is booming, with almost eight million international visitors in 2015. The country itself has become known for its impressive mountain ranges, with many climbers making the journey to the small nation to participate in mountaineering activities.

Geography Of Vietnam

Vietnam has a humid, subtropical climate with humidity averaging 84% a year. This humidity varies from region to region. The country itself is divided into the highlands of northern Vietnam and the low, coastal lands of southern Vietnam. There is also dense forest highlands within Vietnam which are well known internationally. Vietnam is a country of challenging terrain and level land only covers 20% of the entire country!

Significant Peaks In Vietnam

Fansipan

Located in the northwest region of Vietnam and standing at 10,312 feet, Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam. Fansipan is often referred to as the "roof of Indochina" (including Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam), due to the mountain having the highest summit of the entire region. It usually takes two to three days to finish a journey to the peak of Fansipan and return. There is a small village as well as camping grounds on the mountain for visitors to utilize. The mountain is a great source of pride for the northern Vietnamese tourism board, as many travellers fall in love with adventure tourism once they climb this peak. Fansipan is also known for having very diverse flora and fauna, with over 2,000 floral varieties and 300 types of animals living on this impressive mountain. In February 2016, a cable car was constructed and takes visitors most of the way up Fansipan.

Nui Ba Den (Black Lady or Black Virgin)

This mountain played a huge role during the Vietnam War due to the fact that it overlooks a flat area of Vietnam. During this time, this mountain was of great strategic importance, housing intricate Vietcong tunnel systems as well as weapons caches. Once the American soldiers had captured the mountain, they created their own base there until 1973 when they were overrun by Vietcong troops. In contrast to the recent history of the mountain, Nui Ba Den is now known as a tourist site, housing a theme park as well as stunning temples and even fruit orchards. Nui Ba Den is located 60 miles northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Nui Ba Den is the tenth highest mountain in the country at 3,268 feet.

Ngu Hanh Son

Ngu Hanh Son which is also referred to as the Marble Mountains is a group of 5 mountains located south of Da Nang city. These mountains are named after the 5 elements; Kim (metal), Thuy (water), Moc (wood), Hoa (fire) and Tho (earth). All of these peaks have tunnels below and through them as well as a network of intricate cave systems. These mountains have become a famous tourist attraction due to the Buddhist temples and stone sculptures. Only 1 of these mountains is accessible to visitors and that is the mountain of Thuy. This peak can be reached by a staircase that contains over 150 steps and provides tourists with excellent panoramic views of the surroundings as well as the other mountains.

As mentioned earlier, tourism in Vietnam is booming due to the fact Vietnam is now considered an open country rather than a closed, communist state. This beautiful country boasts amazing mountains for climbing tourists as well as mountains and terrain that cater to beginners. Vietnam should be considered a hot-spot for tourism in the 21st Century.
Switzerland is a multilingual country with four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. The predominant language varies by regions of the country, called cantons. German is the most spoken language in the country, and is widely spoken in the central region of the country. French is more predominant in the west near the French border, while Italian is more common in the south near the Italian border. Romansh is mainly spoken in the canton of Graubunden in southeast Switzerland.

A map showing where languages are spoken in Switzerland.

German

German is the official language of 17 Swiss cantons, and the population of the speakers is about 4,348,289 accounting for around 63% of the country's total population. The majority of the Swiss population speaks German. A dialect of German called Swiss German is most common in communication, and is further divided into regional dialects. Despite the many German dialects that are used in verbal communication, the Swiss use the standard or High German in writing. In fact, Standard German is the first foreign language Swiss Germans learn when starting school.

The reformation of the 15th century brought about the need to have a uniformly written German. The reform was necessary as it enabled the translation of the Bible into a language understood by many. Likewise, newspapers, schoolbooks, literature, and political statements needed a common base that everyone could understand. From there, it became the norm for the Swiss dialect to be used in communication and for High German to be used in writing. In Bern, the capital city of Switzerland, and Zurich, the largest city, the Swiss dialect is the most dominant language. However, French is the official language in the canton of Bern, which is the de facto capital of the country.

French

Romandy is the French Speaking region of Switzerland. The area covers the cantons of Geneva, Jura, Vaud, and Neuchatel, parts of Bern, and in Valais and Fribourg. In Switzerland, about 1,525,003 people speak French accounting for around 22.7% of the population. Unlike the Swiss German which has many dialects, the standard Swiss French and the France French are similar with minor differences. The Swiss dialect has a slower pace, a unique antique quality, different accent and some variations in words and phrases.

Historically, Franco-Provencal or Arpitan was the native language of the inhabitants of Romandy. Arpitan is a language that uses some dialects of the Langue d'oil of northern and ancient France and langue d'oc of southern France. Today, Arpitan is used by the most senior citizens. In actual sense, Romandy is not a political term, but a unification system that unites French-speaking citizens of Switzerland. It is important to note also that French of France is both the spoken and the written form of French in Switzerland. On March 20, the Francophone Festival celebrates the French population in the country.

Italian

561,857 people in Switzerland speak Italian, which is about 8.4% of the population in the country. Italian-speaking Swiss areas include the canton of Tinico, Gondo valley in Valais, and the southern region of the Graubunden. The linguistic regions cover an area of about 3,500 km. About 20% of Tinico population is Italian by descent. The Swiss dialect of Italian differs somewhat from that spoken in Italy. However, the Standard Italian is the formal written language.

Romansh

Approximately 35,753 people use the ancient tongue called Romansh. This population accounts for 0.60% total population. However, the Romansh language is officially spoken only in the trilingual Graubunden. The majority of speakers live in Surselva, the lower Engadin, Val Mustair, and Surses/Oberhalbstein valley. Outside these lingual regions, Zurich has the largest population of Rumantsch-speaking people. It is thought that the dialect evolved from a native language of a migratory people who moved into the region around 500 B.C. the Latinos from the Roman Empire influenced these people, and soon dialects emerged. In 1982 only five dialects existed but a standardized written version of the dialects, Rumantsch Grischun, was adopted and assimilated. However, thanks to Microsoft adding the dialect as an option in the desktop languages, the language that was facing extinction is somehow preserved.

English

These languages are the formal languages spoken in Switzerland. However, the English language is spoken by many Swiss people. The language has no formal status in the country, but its importance as the international language of communication makes it the second language learned in schools. Business Switzerland also uses English. Today, English is the Lingua Franca of German and French-speaking Swiss in the Business world. Thus, though a foreign language, it finds its place in the fourth position among the most popular languages spoken in Switzerland.

Switzerland has no common Language. All Swiss must learn a minimum of two languages in school. The constitution protects the different language used in the country. Unlike many nations in Europe, Switzerland tolerates almost every language spoken by people in the country.
The majority religions in Vietnam are unique to the country and include Vietnamese folk religion, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism, Caodaism, and Christian Protestantism. An overview of these religions is available below.

Vietnamese Folk Religion - 73.2%

Vietnamese folk religion is the dominant religion in Vietnam. Some of these most common folk religions include:

ao Buu Son Ky Huong

ao Buu Son Ky Huong is an organized folk religion in Vietnam that takes some of its religious traditions from elements of Buddhism. That religion was started by a Vietnamese mystic named oan Minh Huyen (18071856) who while living in the That Son mountains claimed to be a living embodiment of Buddha. Currently, there are around 15,000 followers of the religion throughout Vietnam.

Minh ao

Minh ao is a religion that has its roots from the Xiantiandao (Tien Thien ao) religion of China. That religion started to emerge in Vietnam around the city of Saigon in the 17th Century just as the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) of China declined and lost influence in Vietnam. For most of its history the religion focused in literature, helping the poor and worship but took on a more nationalistic tone at the beginning of the 20th Century.

ao Tu An Hieu Nghia

ao Tu An Hieu Nghia is an organized folk religion in Vietnam that was founded at some point towards the end of the 19th Century. The religion currently has around 80,000 practitioners, mostly farmers throughout out the south of Vietnam, with most of them located in the Tri Ton district of the country.

ao Mau

This Vietnamese folk religion worships the various mother goddesses of Vietnam, a practice that has gone on in Vietnam since its prehistory. These include, but are not limited to, the worshiping of such goddesses as Ba Chua Xu (The Lady of the Realm) and Ba Chua Kho (The Lady of the Storehouse), as well as actual people, including the female warrior Lady Trieu (225-248 AD) and the Trung Sisters, who were female military leaders.

Buddhism - 12.2%

Buddhism is believed to have arrived in Vietnam from China at some point starting in the 2nd Century. Buddhism in Vietnam does not have any institutional structures, hierarchy, or sanghas that most traditional Buddhists follow, since it has grown in isolation in a symbiotic way with Taoism and other native religions in Vietnam.

Catholicism - 6.8%

Roman Catholic Christianity first came into contact with Vietnam in the 16th Century via Portuguese Catholic missionaries who first came to the country shortly after the Portuguese made contact and starting trading. The Portuguese had mild success, but it was not until Vietnam became a French colony (French Indochina 1887-1954) that Catholicism made a definitive dent in the country. In 1933 John Baptist Nguyen Ba Tong was made the first Vietnamese bishop and by 1976 the first Vietnamese cardinal, Archbishop Joseph Mary Trinh Nhu Khue was ordained.

Caodaism - 6.8%

Caodaism, also known as the Cao ai faith, is an organized monotheistic folk religion that is unique to Vietnam. That religion started was officially established in 1926 in the the city of Tay Ninh where the Declaration of the Founding of the Cao ai Religion was signed and shown to the French Governor for approval. The religion quickly grew rapidly popular with its appeal towards nationalist spirit, message of universal salvation and its ability to bring together underground sects in Vietnam.

Protestantism - 1.5%

Protestant Christianity first came to Vietnam in the early 20th Century when the Canadian Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) missionary Robert A. Jaffray (1873-1954) visited the city of Da Nang in 1911. In 1963 the Evangelical Church of Vietnam North (ECVN) was officially recognized by the government. However, it was not until 2001 that another Protestant church, the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam (SECV), was officially recognized. Since then more Protestant churches have been recognized by the government.

Hoahaoism - 1.4%

Hoa Hao is a religious based on Buddhism that was established in 1939 by Huynh Phu So (1920-47). Followers of Hoa Hao consider Huynh Phu So to be a prophet and that the religion is the continuation of the ao Buu Son Ky Huong folk religion foundered by oan Minh Huyen. Both So and Huyen are also believed to have been living Buddhas and that they are destined to protect the country. The religion places a strong emphasis on temple worship, ordination and stress aid to the poor and helping peasant farmers. Both Buddhism and Hoa Hao are is recognized as one of the six state religions of Vietnam.

Other - 0.1%

Other religions in Vietnam include Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Orthodox Christianity, and irreligion.
By Atir Khan: Who is responsible for present state of police in India? Is it politicians, judiciary or the police as an institution? Ten years after Supreme Court gave its verdict on police reforms, Indian police is to go a long way to shed its colonial past.

Speaking in a discussion on police reforms, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home, said accountability in police should be absolute. Leadership in police should understand police have to reform within, they have to be accessible and adopt to changing situations.

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Often IPS officers are seen reappearing for UPSC exams so that they could enter IFS or IAS. "There is something wrong in the way police service is perceived,'' he said, this is not a good scenario, there is a need to bring credibility and respect in the uniform. He said there is a need for holistic reform including political and administrative reforms and not just reform in the police.



SELF GOVERNED SYSTEM



"We have to put in place a system which governs itself," he said. Often it is seen chief minister of a state is held responsible for a mistake of a policeman. He is even asked to resign. Politicians or police do not have their own character, they derive their character from the society they live in.

Central government has to play a big role in police reforms which cannot happen unless states come along. "But we cannot run away from the responsibility of police reforms. Indian police system is colonial era system," he added. Nowhere in the world police, are as hard working as Indian police. They are always on duty to ensure people enjoy life and festivals.

Legal luminary Fali S Nariman came up with a constitutional amendment formula. He said at present police is in State list and in order to bring about improvement in police, it should be brought under concurrent list. Like legislation in forest was brought under concurrent list under Indira Gandhi's regime. Centre should take charge and move in whenever states are found to be tardy.

JUDICIARY LED REFORMS MOST SUCCESSFUL



Congress leader and former Union law minister Verappa Moily said, judiciary led reforms are most successful. In 1990s reforms in Singapore were led by judiciary. "Judiciary has to take a step forward and not just give instructions to administrators," he added.

Maja Daruwala, director Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative said, we have to ask ourselves whether police is helping the economy and the democracy. Police should be fair, efficient and law abiding. They should be no more than a citizen in uniform creating an environment for safety and security. Former Chief Justice of India R.C. Lahoti, Chairman Indian Police Foundation, Prakash Singh and top police officials of country also attended the discussion.

Also read:

How Tamil Nadu police escorted Bengaluru man 350 km to the border for his safety



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According to the MIAMI Association of Realtors, the Miami single-family home market enjoyed its best August in history, breaking a 22-year record for the most ever August single-family home sales as dollar transaction volume and median prices posted double-digit gains.Miami-Dade County set an all-time August record with 1,239 single-family home sales, eclipsing the previous August record of 1,232 set in 1994. Last month's sales total is an 8.7 percent increase from the 1,140 single-family homes sold a year ago. Total single-family dollar sales volume soared 16 percent to $569 million as median prices jumped 14.5 percent to $300,000. Home prices have risen for 57 consecutive months, a streak spanning nearly five years."With a lack of local buildable land, purchasing a Miami single-family home is one of the wisest investments you can make," said Mark Sadek, the 2016 MIAMI chairman of the board. "Home buyers are increasingly focusing on mid-market priced Miami homes. A significant growth in mid-market sales coupled with increased non-distressed or traditional home purchases catapulted Miami real estate to a historic month."Historic low mortgage rates and Miami's growing population also fueled the sales activity. According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.44 percent in August.Total sales volume surged to $954.4 million last month, a 3.6 percent increase from the $920.8 million volume a year ago. The sales do not include Miami's multi-billion dollar new construction condo market.Total existing Miami-Dade County residential sales -- which posted a record year in 2013 and near record years in 2014 and 2015 -- decreased 3.3 percent year-over-year from 2,471 to 2,389.Existing condo sales -- which are competing with a robust new construction market -- decreased 13.6 percent year-over-year, from 1,331 transactions to 1,150.Inventory shortage for properties priced below $300,000 continues to impact sales. Inventory has dropped 30.6 percent year-over-year for single-family homes priced below $300,000, from 1,861 listings to 1,292.Distressed sales comprise a smaller part of today's market. Total Miami distressed sales have declined 39.9 percent year-over-year, from 637 transactions in August 2015 to 383 last months. Only 16 percent of all closed residential sales in Miami were distressed last month, including REO (bank-owned properties) and short sales, compared to 25.8 percent in August 2015. In 2009, distressed sales comprised nearly 70 percent of Miami sales.Short sales and REOs accounted for 3.0 and 13.1 percent, respectively, of total Miami sales in August 2016. Short sale transactions dropped 49.0 percent year-over-year while REOs fell 37.3 percent.Nationally, distressed sales were 5 percent of sales in August (lowest since NAR began tracking in October 2008) and down from 7 percent a year agoMedian sale prices for single-family homes jumped 14.5 percent, increasing from $262,000 to $300,000. Existing condos experienced 5.7 percent price growth, climbing from $203,500 to $215,000.Miami real estate home prices have risen for 57 consecutive months, a streak spanning nearly five years. Condo prices have increased in 61 of the last 63 months.Despite the increased prices, Miami properties remain at 2004 pricing levels and at a major bargain compared to other global cities. A 120-square meter condo in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach cost $149,900 on average, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). London ($960,840), Hong Kong ($776,280), and New York ($1.6 million) prices are at least five times higher.Sales for Miami single-family homes priced between $200,000 and $600,000 jumped 33.6 percent year-over-year in August, increasing from 633 to 846. The $200K to $600K sector represented 68.3 percent of total Miami single-family home sales in August 2016.The $300,000 to $399,999 sector was particularly popular in August 2016, posting 284 transactions for a 50.3 percent increase vs. the previous year.Non-distressed or traditional single-family home purchases posted sizable growth, increasing 26.7 percent from 813 sales to 1,030. Non-distressed sales are a sign of a healthy market.In the existing condominium sector, luxury sales posted moderate gains. Miami real estate sold 57 existing condominiums priced at $1 million or above in August, which was a 3.6 percent increase from the 55 sold last year.The median number of days between listing and contract dates for Miami single-family home sales fell 10.4 percent year-over-year to 43 days. The median number of days between the listing date and closing date for single-family properties dropped 1.0 percent to 101 days.For condos, the median time to contract decreased 12.2 percent year-over-year to 72 days. The median number of days between the listing date and closing date decreased 0.8 percent to 126 days.The median percent of original list price received for single-family homes was 96.0 percent in August 2016, a decrease of 0.1 percent. The median percent of original list price received for existing condominiums was 93.9 percent, a decrease of 0.2 percent.In addition to competing sales from new construction units, the lack of access to mortgage loans is also impacting existing condominiums. Of the 9,307 condominium buildings in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, only 13 are approved for Federal Housing Administration loans, down from 29 last year, according to statistics from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and FHA.Nationally, total existing-home sales declined 0.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.33 million in August from a downwardly revised 5.38 million in July.Statewide, closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 25,070 last month, up 8.2 percent from August 2015, according to Florida Realtors. Florida's condominium sales totaled 9,484 last month, up 3.3 percent compared to August 2015.The national median existing-home price for all housing types in August was $240,200, up 5.1 percent from August 2015 ($228,500). August's price increase marks the 54th consecutive month of year-over-year gains.The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $225,000, up 12.6 percent from the previous year, according to Florida Realtors. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in August was $160,000, up 6.7 percent over the year-ago figure. Statewide median sales prices for single-family homes and condos have risen for 57 consecutive months.Miami cash transactions comprised 40.7 percent of August total closed sales, compared to 49.6 percent last year. Miami cash transactions are nearly double the national average of 22 percent. Miami's high percentage of cash sales reflects South Florida's ability to attract a diverse number of international home buyers, who tend to purchase properties in all cash.Condominiums comprise a large portion of Miami's cash purchases as 56.8 percent of condo closings were made in cash in August compared to 25.7 percent of single-family home sales.Inventory of single-family homes increased 9.8 percent in August from 5,777 active listings last year to 6,346 last month. Inventory has dropped 30.6 percent year-over-year for single-family homes priced below $300,000, from 1,861 listings to 1,292. Condominium inventory increased 20.1 percent to 14,055 from 11,703 listings during the same period in 2015.Single-family homes have a 5.7-month supply, which indicates a sellers' market. Existing condominiums have an 11.7-month supply, which indicates a buyers' market. A balanced market between buyers and sellers offers between six and nine months supply of inventory.Total active listings at the end of August increased 16.7 percent year-over-year, from 17,480 to 20,401. Active listings remain about 60 percent below 2008 levels when sales bottomed. New listings of Miami single-family homes increased 5.1 percent from 1,697 in August of last year to 1,784 last month. New listings of condominiums increased 3.0 percent, from 2,203 to 2,693.Nationally, total housing inventory at the end of August fell 3.3 percent to 2.04 million existing homes available for sale, and is now 10.1 percent lower than a year ago (2.27 million) and has declined year-over-year for 15 straight months. Unsold inventory is at a 4.6-month supply at the current sales pace, which is down from 4.7 months in July.Most Miami preconstruction condo developers require a 50-percent cash deposit on new units. The deposit is not only one of the highest in the United States but is significantly higher than the 20 percent required during the last real estate cycle. The large cash deposits show how committed Miami's preconstruction condo buyers are to the local market.Fifty-six condo towers with 5,720 units have been completed in Miami-Dade County east of I-95 since the start of 2011, according to a Sept. 20 report from preconstruction condo projects website Cranespotters.com and MIAMI.There are 75 towers with 11,736 units under construction in Miami-Dade County east of I-95. About 55 towers with 7,026 units are planned, but have not begun development. About 73 towers with 9,891 units are proposed in Miami-Dade County east of I-95.
Philip Joseph Spear

By: Mahesh Sarin

(Scroll down for video) A man was arrested on a charge of child pornography after allegedly recording himself having sex with young children, according to police in Mississippi.

Ocean Springs police said that they have arrested 59-year-old Philip Joseph Spear, after allegedly admitting to police to having sex with children since he was 12 years old.

He was booked into her Stone County Jail, where he is being held without bail.

According to police, officers raided Spearas home on Thursday, and found videos showing the suspect and other men having sex with children.

During questioning, Spear admitted that he had downloaded child pornography and has had a sexual interest in children since he was 12 years old.

In one video, a 15-year-old girl can be seen performing a sex act on Spear. Investigators said that Spear had access to multiple children.
The Big Bang Theory stars are really killing the Forbes' annual list of highest paid TV actors.

By India Today Web Desk: The annual Forbes list of highest paid TV actors is out, and The Big Bang Theory cast is leading the said list with their earnings.

Sheldon Cooper aka Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory is the richest television actor with an earning of 25.5 million USD. The actor earned the aforementioned amount between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016.

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Another Big Bang star, Johnny Galecki with his 24 million USD is the second highest paid TV actor.

Also read:Katey Sagal joins The Big Bang Theory team, to play Kaley Cuoco's mother



The other two male members of the show's cast, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar stole the third and fourth spot respectively with their earnings (22.5 million USD and 22 million USD).

NCIS' Mark Harmon, who made a total sum of 20 million USD this year, stood at the fifth spot on the rich list.



A still from the show. Picture courtesy: Instagram/bigbangtheory_cbs A still from the show. Picture courtesy: Instagram/bigbangtheory_cbs

The Indian origin actors seemed to have made quite a mark in the American television industry. Bollywood's Priyanka Chopra and Indian-American actress Mindy Kaling were the eighth and third richest TV actresses in the world according to the annual Forbes list of highest paid TV actresses, which was released last week.

The highest paid TV actress is the Modern Family star Sofia Vergara.

Apparently, the richest actress on the list, Vergara, took home more money than any of her male colleagues. The second highest paid TV actress is The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco, who shot to fame with her portrayal of Penny on the dramedy.



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Friday, Sept. 23, 2016

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- A man accused in the killings of two people back in 2010 was set to appear in court for a status hearing Friday.

Marcus "Mookie" Tyler appeared at 9 a.m. for a status conference on his case at the Augusta Judicial Center.

Tyler along with Andre "Poncho" Jackson were are accused in the 2010 stabbing death of J'Quanda Johnson and L.V. Wilson III. The men each had extensive histories, charges ranging from theft and drugs to armed robbery.

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW)  Two men, already incarcerated, have been charged for two separate murders in Richmond County.

According to investigators, Andre Maurice Jackson and Marcus Demitrius Tyler have been charged with the murders of L.V. Wilson III and Janee J'Quanda Johnson.

L.V. Wilson was found at his home on Haynie Drive on June 28. Wilson was stabbed to death. J'Quanda Johnsons body was found, also stabbed, inside her apartment on Spruce Street on July 2.

Jackson and Tyler have been in custody at the Richmond County Jail on unrelated offenses but were suspects from early on. Both are charged with two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.

After the charges were filed, News 12 spoke with Patrice Knox, J'Quanda Johnson's mother about the developments in the case.

"You know you want to think you'll go first before your children and it's just a hurting thing," said Patrice Knox.

Knox says her daughter J'Quanda Johnson was her best friend and confidante. The mother and daughter relationship was so deep they shared same likes and interests. They were even in the military at the same time. J'Quanda deployed to Iraq first and then her mother.

"When she deployed, I watched her kids and when she got back then I deployed to Iraq,"added Knox.

Knox is now planning to help keep her daughter's children permanently by moving to Augusta. Knox was in Virginia on July 2nd when she got the horrible news that her daughter had been stabbed to death. Her body was found in an apartment on Spruce Street.

"The bigger picture is the children,"said Knox. "I want to be able to step in where my daughter left off. So, I'm going to be moving to Augusta,so I'll be right here in their lives 100 percent."

Knox says she is primarily focusing on her two small grandchildren who have been left without a mother. She says she's determined not to let them forget the woman who gave birth to them.

"The pain is still there, going to be a long journey but, we're not going to forget but we'll get through it, said Knox. "I'll see these guys in court to the very end."

More arrests are possible since the investigation is still ongoing.
Love to travel and explore local food and drinks? Then you must try these regional drinks when you are in any of these states next.

By Samonway Duttagupta: Being passionate about exploring and learning about new places in the world, we travel far distances. In the process, we get to know about so many different ways of life, varied cultures, eating habits and so on.

In a country like India, where you see a socio-cultural change almost every 100 kilometres, there's a greater scope of learning new things. One of the reasons why travellers from all parts of the world are attracted to this place.

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Having known that, one of the things every traveller must try when he travels to the different destinations of the country is the local drink. Each of them is unique in its flavours and trust you, when you love them, you would want to travel to that place again and again just to have that drink once more.

Here are a few places in this country that are worth travelling to just for their local drinks.

Goa (Feni)

By now, your friends must have told you how much they have enjoyed this drink when they were in Goa. Then let us also join the chorus and say it's worth the try. So, whenever you plan a trip to Goa, don't forget to include this drink in the list of must-haves. Feni is the local liquor of Goa and is made out of either coconut or the cashew apple juice, thus making it available in two different variants, namely Cashew Feni and Toddy Palm Feni.

Feni being prepared. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Anuradha Sengupta/Creative Commons

Ladakh (Chhaang)

Apart from enjoying the geographical highs of Ladakh, Chhaang is one drink which will also add an interesting twist to your travel tale from the mountains. But trust us, you won't get tipsy even after having a couple of rounds of this drink. All we can say is that don't even dare to miss this local barley-based beer which will also help you in fighting the biting cold of the place, or simply rejuvenate.

Sikkim (Tongba)

While you are enjoying the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas and exploring the depths of Sikkim's lush green slopes, don't make the mistake of coming back from those heights without trying the Tongba. Having its origins in Nepal, the drink is usually known by the vessel in which it is fermented. It is an alcoholic drink and the actual name is Jaand. Jaand is prepared by cooking and fermenting whole grain millet followed by multiple process that take 15 days. After this the drink is stored for six months before consumption. Sounds like a drink worth travelling for, doesn't it?

Picture courtesy: Instagram/shyam_pillai

Himachal Pradesh (Chulli)

Belonging to the breathtaking slopes of the Kinnaur region in Himachal Pradesh, Chulli is an alcoholic drink that also comes with some healing properties. Made from a combination of apples and apricots, this drink is smooth and has the texture of cognac. Well, it is quite a drink to heal both body and soul, in company of the beautiful mountains around.



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Kerala (Hot Toddy)

When you are done sailing on the backwaters of Kerala and exploring the verdant charms of the landscape, go ahead and have the famous Hot Toddy drink. This drink offers a very interesting blend of spices, herbs, honey, water and liquor. The alcoholic mixtures include whiskey and rum or brandy, while the spices used are cloves, cinnamon and lemons.

Picture courtesy: Wikimedia/Jewatherley/Creative Commons

Gujarat is one of those places where you can learn a lot about the country's history through its various heritage destinations. Well, the place has a historical drink as well. Known as Sosyo, this pre-Independence aerated drink which was launched to compete with a UK- based drink called Vinto. In fact, this drink was also used as a part of the country's Swadeshi movement. Sosyo is basically a fine blend of grape and apple cider with some add on ingredients usually imported from Germany and Italy. Now that's a drink totally worth travelling for.

Picture courtesy: Wikimedia/KartikMistry/Creative Commons

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Former Labour Party leader and current defence spokesman Phil Goff is widely expected to become the mayor of New Zealands most populous city, Auckland, after voting finishes on October 8. According to a September 14 poll by the Spinoff web site, Goff leads the race with 38 percent support, compared with 11 percent for Vic Crone, the candidate aligned with the National Party government.

Goffs election campaign has a right-wing, pro-business character, virtually indistinguishable from the other main candidates. These include Crone, who has had managerial roles in large IT and telecommunications companies, restaurateur John Palino, and business executive Mark Thomas.

City Vision, an Auckland-based group of Labour and Green Party politicians, along with like-minded independents, endorsed Goffs campaign last month. The National Party government gave tacit support, when Prime Minister John Key said he would happily work with Goff, describing him as a very effective minister in the previous Labour government.

The endorsement of Goff by the government and opposition parties reflects their shared support for austerity, job cuts and policies aimed at expanding the wealth of the countrys ruling elite.

Participation in Auckland council elections has fallen drastically, reflecting the hostility of large portions of the working population to the entire political establishment. Voter turnout plummeted from 51 percent in 2010 to 35 percent in 2013. Recent polling suggests this years election will be similar.

Current mayor Len Brown was elected in 2010 with the support of City Vision, which claimed he can be trusted to make decisions based on what is right for the community, not big business, and Maritime Union and Unite Union leaders. Brown began his tenure by overseeing an amalgamation of councils in Auckland, which eliminated over 1,200 jobs.

Unemployment in the first quarter of 2016 was at 6.6 percent in Auckland (compared to 5.7 nationally) and hundreds of jobs continue to be slashed, including at the Unitec polytechnic and the council-owned Ports of Auckland.

Browns administration has presided over a near-doubling of average house prices, from $524,000 in October 2010 to over $1 million by September 2016. Rents have increased 21 percent over the past five years, according the web site Trade Me, and now average $510 a week, almost equal to the full-time minimum wage.

The council has worked with the National government to assist property speculators to drive up prices. Under a 2013 agreement, the council and government established 154 Special Housing Areas (SHAs), ostensibly to increase the supply of affordable housing. In the SHAs, however, property developers are only required to sell one in 10 houses at affordable prices. The definition of affordable agreed by the council is absurd, at 75 percent of the median house price, i.e. currently about $630,000.

The council has a vested interest in soaring property prices. Brown has revealed that parkland and other council-owned property deemed surplus to requirements has been sold to private investors to raise around $100 million per year.

Auckland has an estimated shortage of 40,000 houses and requires 13,000 new houses per year just to keep up with population growth. The council has signed approximately 9,600 residential building consents annually.

Homelessness is soaring. Auckland City Mission reported in June that since 2013 the number of people sleeping rough in the city centre has increased from 68 to 228. Nationwide, 42,000 people, one in 100, are homeless.

None of the parliamentary parties or the mayoral candidates has announced a policy to address the crisis. Goff has suggested turning the disused Mt Eden Prison building into a temporary homeless shelter.

Goff has called for more job cuts at the council and pledged to cut council spending by up to 6 percent. In a debate on August 14 on TV3s the Nation, he lamented that theres 130 people in the councils communication unit. Now I cant, for the life of me, understand why youd need 130 people in that area.

Goff has also urged the government to introduce a 10 cents per litre regional petrol tax, and has suggested other possible charges for road users.

A major aspect of Goffs campaign is his attack on immigrants. His web site blames the housing crisis on record migration levels. Nationally, Labour and the Greens increasingly line up with the xenophobic New Zealand First Party, which campaigns against immigrants from China, India, the Middle East and the Pacific.

Goff has blamed overseas-based investors for forcing up property prices. In fact, Land Information New Zealand data released earlier this year showed that only 4 percent of houses in Auckland were purchased from overseas. The real source of the crisis is rampant speculation by local investors, which has created a property bubble. Neither Goff nor any other candidate has any intention of cutting into profits from property speculation and other forms of financial parasitism .

Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel offers Aucklanders an example of what they can expect from Goffs mayoral leadership. She served in the previous Labour government, as commerce minister between 2002 and 2008.

Since becoming mayor in 2013, Dalziel has collaborated fully with the National governments pro-business rebuild scheme following the 2011 earthquake. This has been carried out as cheaply as possible, in the interests of insurance companies and the construction company Fletcher Building. Thousands of people have waited more than five years for insurance settlements or rebuilding. Dalziel funded the councils share of the rebuild by cutting staff and selling assets.

Goff has promised not to sell key strategic assets, specifically the councils shareholding in Auckland International Airport, Watercare and Auckland Ports. However, Goffs web site states that funding may come in part from the sale of non-strategic surplus assets. He has not specified whether libraries, sporting facilities, transport infrastructure or other assets could be privatised.

While advocating spending cuts and asset sales, Goff is running a law-and-order campaign, demanding more government funding and recruitment for the citys police force.

As part of the 1984-1990 Labour government, Goff supported sweeping pro-business economic restructuring and attacks on the working class. This included the introduction of the regressive Goods and Services Tax and the sale of public assets, including telecommunications, railways, banks, forestry and a steel mill, that led to a surge in unemployment.

Goff worked with the Service and Food Workers Union to convince workers that a consumption tax on food and other items was needed to fund health and education. As education minister in 1989, Goff introduced the first university fees, ending free tertiary education.

During Helen Clarks government from 1999-2008, Goff was foreign affairs minister, then defence minister. He ardently supported New Zealands participation in the fraudulent war on terror, which included sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq. Labour and the Greens both back the current governments strengthening of the alliance with the US, including a US naval visit to Auckland planned for November, the first such visit in 33 years.

If elected as Auckland mayor, Goff will be part of the intensifying assault on the social position of the working class by successive National and Labour governments.
Following the announcement of Unifors phony tentative agreement early Tuesday with General Motors Canada, union head Jerry Dias has boasted about the support received from the federal and Ontario provincial Liberal governments.

The agreement, the terms of which remain entirely concealed and may still not be finalized, was aimed above all at blocking strike action by 4,000 GM workers at the companys Oshawa, St. Catherines and Woodstock facilities. Although Dias enthused over investment commitments from GM, there is no confirmation about the products that will be allocated to the Oshawa plant, where the union has accepted the destruction of close to 800 full-time jobs with the closure of the consolidated line in 2017.

Unifor has also acceded to a massive attack on workers pension rights, with new hires starting on a defined contribution scheme, and done nothing to overturn the hated two-tier wage system. Not only is this pattern expected to be followed at Ford and Fiat Chrysler, but right-wing publications like the National Post are now urging that defined benefit pension plans be eliminated throughout the public sector.

Dias touts this rotten deal, which he hopes to ram down the throats of workers with promises of a signing bonus and retirement packages for older workers, for bringing investment to Canada. Speaking like a cheap labour contractor, he hailed GMs facilities for their profitability at his Tuesday press conference.

The Ontario Liberals responded swiftly. Premier Kathleen Wynne welcomed the tentative agreement and made clear the government would be involved, i.e., by providing cash grants and other incentives to boost corporate profits at GM. Were very much involved and Im thrilled that theres a tentative agreement, Wynne said.

I look forward to the vote on Sunday and Im very, very pleased that we see a bright future for the auto industry in Oshawa and across the province.

The federal government has remained tight-lipped on its role, but it has leaked plans to convert a low-interest loan scheme available to the automakers into a grant program that will see millions in public money handed to the corporate giants.

The mutual backslapping between Unifor and the Liberals over the latest sell-out deal must be taken as a warning by workers. It comes just weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has vastly expanded Canadas involvement in US-led wars around the world and laid the groundwork for a massive assault on the working class with his appointment of a team of economic advisers to draw up plans to improve innovation, received a heros welcome at Unifors national convention.

Unifor, and the union bureaucracy more broadly, has embraced the Canadian ruling elites preferred party of government over the past two decades in a close working relationship that has been aimed at systematically suppressing the class struggle, facilitating the decimation of public services and an assault on wages and working conditions.

Following the last major upsurge of the working class in Ontario, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets to oppose the Common Sense Revolution of Progressive Conservative Premier Mike Harrisa Thatcher-inspired program that launched attacks on welfare and social spending as well as sweeping tax cuts for big business and the richthe unions worked tirelessly to demobilize the workers, including by sabotaging a militant teachers strike in the fall of 1997 that was winning mass support. Terrified at the prospect of the anti-Tory upsurge getting out of control and undermining its privileged position, the bureaucracy made a deliberate turn to deepen relations with the Ontario Liberals through the launching of the Ontario Working Families Coalition.

With millions in union funding, Liberal leader Dalton McGinty was elected premier in 2003, heading an administration that maintained the key tenets of Harris Common Sense Revolution. Over the next dozen years, the Ontario Liberals slashed social spending, privatized public utilities like Hydro One, outlawed teachers strikes and cut taxes for big business and the wealthy.

The unions newfound alliance with the Liberals was consummated precisely at the point when the federal Liberals were imposing the greatest social spending cuts in Canadian history under the governments of Jean Chretien and Paul Martin.

The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW), Unifors predecessor, used its close ties to the Liberals to enforce brutal attacks on autoworkers as part of the bailout organized by the provincial Liberals and federal Conservative governments during the global financial crisis of 2008. The principal goal of the bailout was to make GM, Ford and Chrysler profitable for the wealthy elite by overturning gains won in bitter struggles by autoworkers over decades.

The CAW reopened concessions contracts signed in 2008 and imposed wage and benefit cuts amounting to $19 per worker, including wage and cost of living freezes, health and insurance premium hikes, the relinquishing of a weeks holiday and the acceptance of a speed-up.

The CAW continued its pro-corporate assault in the 2012 round of bargaining, cutting new hire wages by 20 percent, lengthening the period of time workers required to reach full seniority from six to 10 years, and introducing the hybrid pension scheme for new hires which, as now can be clearly seen, served as the first step in the all-out abolition of guaranteed pensions for retiring autoworkers.

Unifor and the rest of the union top brass intensified their efforts to give the right-wing, big business Liberals a progressive face. In 2014, they backed the reelection of the provincial Liberal government committed to further social spending cuts and privatizations on the basis that it was necessary to block the coming to power of Progressive Conservative Tim Hudak.

The 2014 campaign served as a template for the Anybody but Harper initiative spearheaded by Unifor in 2015, which urged Canadians to vote for the Trudeau Liberals as the best means of putting an end to close to a decade of rule by Stephen Harpers Conservatives.

Having hailed Trudeaus election victory as a triumph, the unions have remained completely silent on the Liberal governments war plans, including the deployment of 450 troops to Eastern Europe, hundreds to the Middle East and 600 to Africamissions which will be paid for by imposing deep attacks on public services at home.

The integration of Unifor and the union bureaucracy as a whole into corporate management and the state takes place in the context of deepening class tensions. Less than a month prior to Unifors blocking of a strike by GM workers, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers imposed a similar betrayal at Canada Post. Under conditions where the 50,000-strong union membership voted overwhelmingly for strike action to win back concessions given up in one contract after another, the CUPW leadership encouraged the most fatal illusions in the big business Liberals and their public consultation on Canada Post and argued that a strike had to be avoided at all costs to allow the consultation to proceed. In the event, the consultation committee solidarized itself entirely with the demands of Canada Post management for further attacks on workers and the ending of home delivery services.

Unifors reactionary record in enforcing managements demands against autoworkers over decades and cementing ties with the big business Liberals is the product of its nationalist and pro-capitalist orientation. Ever since the CAW split with the United Auto Workers (UAW) in 1985, it has worked with the UAW and auto bosses to systematically stoke divisions between working people on both sides of the border, pitting US, Canadian and Mexican autoworkers in a race to the bottom. In the name of saving Canadian jobs, it has enforced round after round of pay cuts and other concessions.

As the latest tentative agreement only underscores, the consequences of this perspective, while consolidating the privileges of a tiny, self-satisfied elite in the union bureaucracy, has been devastating for tens of thousands of autoworkers and their families. Since 2000, employment in Canadas auto sector has been halved, long-standing protections have been gutted and real wages slashed.

GM workers should reject the sell-out deal being presented by Unifor for ratification on Sunday. But defeating the calls for more concessions and overturning the givebacks of the past two decades requires the adoption of a new political strategy and the formation of rank-and-file action committees to take the conduct of the struggle out of the hands of the union bureaucrats.

This struggle must be guided by a new political perspective, one which rejects the nationalist and pro-corporatist poison peddled by Unifor and adopts a socialist and internationalist program to unite autoworkers with their brothers and sisters throughout North America and internationally. As the Socialist Equality Party argued in its statement to autoworkers on the current contract dispute, To defeat big business, workers need their own partynot a sham labour party like the pro-capitalist NDPbut a socialist party that has as its aim the establishment of a workers government. Such a government would place basic industry and the banks under public ownership and the democratic control of the working class so as to guarantee for all secure and well-paying jobs, quality healthcare, education, a comfortable retirement, and a future for the next generation free from poverty and war.
Police in riot gear confronted angry residents of Charlotte, North Carolina Thursday, during a third night of protests against the police killing of Keith Scott earlier this week. Police are refusing to release video of the fatal shooting, with family members who have seen it saying that it shows no sign of aggression by Scott.

North Carolinas National Guard deployed on the streets of Charlotte Thursday morning after the states Republican Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in response to protests. Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts ordered a midnight curfew beginning last night.

To safeguard businesses, 367 National Guardsmen have so far been deployed to the city for installation security. In anticipation of more protests, Wells Fargo, the citys largest corporate employer, told its 12,000 employees that non-essential personnel should work from home.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney declared on Thursday that he would not display a victims worst day for consumption by releasing the video. The police claim that Scott was only shot by plainclothes officer Brentley Vinson after Scott pointed a gun at officers. Scotts family asserts that he was holding a book, and other witnesses state that Scott was complying with officers orders.

Family members were allowed to view the video on Thursday. Family lawyer Justin Bamberg released a statement: When told by police to exit his vehicle, Mr. Scott did so in a very calm, nonaggressive manner. 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. Just before he was shot and killed, Mr. Scotts hands were by his side, and he was slowly walking backwards.

Taheshia Williams, whose apartment overlooks the parking lot where Scott was killed, told CBS News, He got out of his car, he walked back to comply, and all his compliance did was get him murdered.

Chief Putney admitted in a press conference that the police video does not have definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun.

The family has called for the public release of the video evidence.

To better obscure police activity from the public, Governor McCrory signed a bill going into effect in October that removes police footage from the public record. Unless the police departments choose to release the footage, only a person whose image or voice is captured is allowed to view the recording. If that person is deceased, a relative can request to view it, and no copies can be made without a court order. In Orwellian language, McCrory claimed the law would promote clarity and transparency.

The police killing of Scott and the eruption of protests casts a harsh light on the immense social inequality in Charlotte, which parallels conditions throughout the country.

Charlotte was named one of the best places to live by US News & World Report in March. While one-fifth of Mecklenburg County residents make over $115,000 a year, 13.6 percent of Charlottes residents live below the official poverty line. In the part of the city where police killed Scott, nearly one-third of the population lives in poverty.

A 2014 study conducted by UC Berkeley and Harvard found that poor residents in Charlotte had less social mobility than in any other big city. A child born in poverty there had only a 4.4 percent chance of earning an income in the top fifth of the population.

While the citys financial center has rebounded from the 2008 financial collapse, poorer workers are forced to contend with unemployment and low-wage jobs. The official unemployment rate among African Americans in the city is 11.6 percent.

Whatever role racism plays in particular police killings, the fundamental issue is class. In this regard it is significant that while Scott was African American, so was the police officer who reportedly killed him, Vinson; as is the police chief in Charlotte, Kerr Putney.

So far this year, police have killed 844 people according to killedbypolice.net. According to statistics maintained by the Guardian, African Americans have been killed this year at a rate of 4.86 per million, surpassed only by Native Americans at 5.49. Although whites are killed at a lower rate, they make up roughly half of those killed by police.

The promotion of racial politics is aimed at obscuring the basic class questions involved in the epidemic of police violence, which is a response by the ruling class to growing social anger and inequality.

Nervous about the possibility of widespread social unrest, the New York Times published an editorial on Thursday calling for the release of the video in Charlotte, warning that keeping the public in the dark heightens tension and undermines trust in law enforcement.

The Times cited approvingly the decision by prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma to charge Betty Shelby, the officer involved in the killing of Terence Crutcher on September 16, with first degree manslaughter. Even if she is convicted, Shelby would face a minimum of four years in prison.

These various efforts at damage control are aimed at diffusing anger while doing nothing to address the unending string of police killings. Since the August 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri sparked mass protests, police nationwide have killed well over 2,000 people. Hardly any officers are charged, and those who are charged are rarely if ever convicted.

The Obama administration, meanwhile, while presiding over the funneling of military weaponry to local police forces throughout the country, has used federal investigations to whitewash police killings and has repeatedly refused to bring federal charges against any of the police officers involved in the murder of unarmed civilians.
Balloting in the Labour Party leadership contest closed Wednesday. The victor will be announced at Labours special conference tomorrow.

Jeremy Corbyn is expected to win comfortably against his challenger, Owen Smith. This is despite the vicious campaign, initiated by the Blairite right wing, to depose the Labour leader.

The vote in favour of the UK quitting the European Union in June was the trigger for the long-planned coup. There followed a wave of resignations from the shadow cabinet and a no-confidence motion signed by 172 members of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) in an attempt to force Corbyn to resign. When that was unsuccessful, the right wing barred 130,000 members from voting under a spurious time rule. Just how much of an impact this will have on the size of Corbyns expected majorityhe won with 59.5 percent last yearis unclear.

The failure of the attempted putsch necessitated a meeting of the National Executive Committee on Tuesday. Presented as an attempt to agree a truce and unify the party, the proposalsdrawn up by the PLPshow that the right wing are preparing a war of attrition until their aims are realised.

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson, a key player in the coup, proposed a return to the electoral college systemabolished in 2011 under Ed Milibandwhereby members of the shadow cabinet are elected by the PLP. He claimed this would enable Labour to put the band back together in time for a possible early election. In reality, it would guarantee a Blairite majority on the shadow cabinet.

Watson also proposed that party leadership voting rules be reversed, with the decision being made one-third by the PLP, a third by the unions and the remaining third by party members. This would exclude registered supporters who pay a one-off fee to vote, 84 percent of whom backed Corbyn last September. That is why the right wing hiked the fee up from 3 to 25 in the latest contest. Nonetheless, almost 130,000 people successfully signed up.

Watsons efforts to secure agreement on the proposals before the conference were defeated by 16 to 15, with Corbyn voting against. Nevertheless Corbyn has agreed to talks on the measures on Saturday evening and to report back to the NEC. As far as he is concerned, the slate will be wiped clean this weekend, he said.

Details of the additional 22 changes to party rules agreed by the NEC are sketchy, but they include expanding the NEC to include representatives from the Scottish and Welsh Labour parties. These will be nominated by the Scottish and Welsh Labour leadersKezia Dugdale and Carwyn Jonesboth Corbyn opponents.

Several Corbyn supporters successfully won elections to the NEC last month and, effective from October, this would have overturned the right-wing majority on the NEC. The inclusion of Scottish and Welsh representatives will enable the right wing to regain the initiative.

All members are to be required to sign a pledge to act within the spirit and rules of the Labour party in my conduct both on and offline, with members and non-members. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. This will be used to legitimise the draconian methods used to bar anyone suspected of left-wing sympathies from party membership.

Using overwhelmingly trumped-up charges of anti-Semitism, misogyny and intimidation, 3,107 people have been suspended from membership as Labours Orwellian Compliance Unit has trawled through Internet postings to target anyone critical of the Blairites.

Stoke-on-Trent Labour MP Ruth Smeeth welcomed the move. Smeeth, who is Jewish, has been at the centre of the witch-hunt alleging rampant anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. She announced she would be taking a minder with her as a security precaution to the special conference.

Smeeth cited as proof of the unwarranted abusive messages she received, those denouncing her as a CIA/MI5/Mossad informant. But the lady doth protest too much. Smeeth, one of the 60 plus anti-Corbyn resignations from the shadow cabinet, formerly held a post with the lobby group, Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM). In 2009, WikiLeaks released a US embassy diplomatic cable identifying her as a strictly protect US informant. She is married to Michael Smeeth, a member of the executive of the British-American Project (BAP)an outpost of the US/UK military intelligence apparatus that grooms political figures.

The coup has not ended, only moved to a different stage. Several MPs have already said they intend to form an alternative shadow cabinet on the backbenches if Corbyn is returned, while former Home Secretary Alan Johnson urged a relentless campaign to undermine Corbyns leadership year after year.

Others, such as former party leader Neil Kinnock, have made no secret of their satisfaction that the party crisis will hit Labour at the polls, which will in turn be used to justify further moves against Corbyn. On Tuesday, the Liberal Democrats gained a seat on Cardiff council from Labour, following a Liberal Democrat gain at Labours expense earlier this month in the Mosborough ward of Sheffield. In Bristol, the suspension of three pro-Corbyn councillors by the NEC has seen Labour lose overall control of the local authority.

Writing in the Telegraph, John McTernan, former political adviser to Tony Blair, set out the right wings strategy. Significantly, he pinned his hopes for overturning Corbyns stated opposition to austerity and war on the trade unions.

McTernan derided Corbyn as a pacifist on [Britains nuclear weapons programme] Trident, soft on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, opposed to business, growth and wealth, committed to tax and spend.

The affiliated trade unions are central to how the next year unfolds for Labour, he wrote, arguing that the trade unions would veto Corbyns opposition to renewing Trident.

Central to Labours recovery as a viable political party in Britain is back to the future, he continued. Labours great successes were achieved in its early days, before 1918, when it consisted solely of affiliated unions and the PLP. The rot had set in when it decided to open the door to individual members who had to be brought back in line by the unions. That was what happened in the 1980s [at the time of the witch-hunt against the Militant tendency] and it will be necessary again.

McTernan noted that this is why Blair had protected the role of the unions in party policy making. The moves that are most likely to succeed in isolating Corbyn are ones which involve the trade unions, he stressedhence the proposed return to the electoral college system.

It is important to remember that Labour is not now and has never been a socialist party The virus of socialism is alien to the Labour Partyit is killing the party now, but the cure will be, as always, the unions, he wrote.

It should be recalled that it was the trade unions that forced the resignation of George Lansbury, Labour leader between 1932 and 1935. A Christian pacifist, it was under his office that the 1933 Labour conference supported unilateral disarmament and pledged not to participate in any wars. For this he was denounced by the Trades Union Congress, which used its weight to overturn the policy in 1935with Transport and General Workers Union leader, Ernest Bevin, leading the attack. Bevin went on to become Minister of Labour in the wartime national unity government1940-1945and a prime mover in the creation of NATO as a military alliance against the Soviet Union after the war.

Today, the world again stands on the brink of a military catastrophethis time fought with nuclear weapons. Britain is playing an active role in US military provocations against Russia, including participating in last weekends deliberate bombing of the Syrian army near Deir ez-Zor.

McTernans comments give added importance to events at last weeks TUC conference. Corbyn was not invited to address the gathering, while TUC General Secretary Frances OGrady made no mention of the crisis in the Labour Party in her opening remarks.

The TUC is split over the Corbyn leadership, with the Unite union, led by Len McCluskey, acting as the Labour leaders key supporter. But McTernan noted that McCluskey is up for election next year. Given the centrality of Unites role in the defence industry, he suggested, this could change.
On Wednesday, the CEO of EpiPen maker Mylan, Heather Bresch, testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The congressional hearing was called after Mylan acquired the EpiPen from another company and then hiked the price by more than 500 percent.

The EpiPen is the most widely used device to treat anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction to food or insect bites.

Representative Elijah Cummings, D-Md., compared Mylans practices to those of Valeant and Turing, stating that Mylan was yet another drug company that had jacked up the price of a lifesaving product for no discernable reason.

They use the simple, but corrupt business model that other drug companies have repeatedly used: find an older, cheap drug that has virtually no competition, and then raise the price over and over and over again, said Cummings

In her prepared remarks, Bresch, who became the companys CEO in 2012, played up certain figures about Mylanthe number of employees, manufacturing facilities, doses produced annually, etc.but was silent on the figures that had been specifically requested by the committee: how much the company profited from selling the EpiPen.

After being peppered by questions from Cummings, Bresch revealed that in 2015 the company sold roughly 4 million two-packs of EpiPen, with $100 for each two-pack being pure profit. In other words, the EpiPen, the companys biggest product, brought in $400 million in profits to the company in 2015 alone.

Bresch claimed that out of the $600 sticker-price for the EpiPen two-pack, Mylan receives only $274, the rest going to pharmacy benefits managers and other middle-men. This would give the company an average profit margin of nearly 40 percent on each EpiPen sold.

According to Reuters, the EpiPen accounted for about 20 percent of the companys overall profits in 2015, making up $1 billion of the companys $9.45 billion in overall sales.

After the public backlash against the price hikes, Mylan stated that it would now offer a generic version of the EpiPen for $300 instead of $600, raising the question of why it wasnt priced at this level to begin with.

Suddenly, feeling the heat, Mylan has offered a generic version and cut the price in half, said Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, Republican of Utah, at the hearing, So that does beg the question, what was happening with that other $300?

In her written testimony, Bresch lamented the fact that so much attention was now being paid to the high price of the EpiPen. With the current focus on pricing, Im very concerned that the access part of the equation is being minimized, she wrote, apparently oblivious to the fact that the high price has put the EpiPen out of reach for many workers and their families.

Bresch also emphasized the work the company had done to spread awareness of anaphylaxis, bragging that the company had now reached 80 percent more patients. This act was far from altruistic. The awareness campaign was part of the companys marketing strategy to increase the sales of the exorbitantly priced EpiPen. The company spent $97 million on marketing the device in 2015 alone.

Her boast that the company had given 700,000 EpiPens to 66,000 schools with no strings attached was particularly disingenuous. Mylan launched its EpiPen4Schools program in 2012, which, contrary to Breschs written testimony, required schools to purchase EpiPens rather than competing brands if the schools wanted to receive discounted versions, only later changing this policy. The program currently faces an anti-trust probe by the New York attorney general.

According to an article published Wednesday in USA Today, when Breschs mother, Gayle Manchin, took over the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) in 2012, she led the charge to get EpiPens into school nurses offices and directed the NASBE to develop a policy to address food allergies.

The NASBE had previously sought to avoid corporate influence when making policy decisions. However, according to the previous president, Brenda Welburn, Manchin stopped by her office during the transition period in 2011 and stated that her daughters company could donate to the organization. A year later, Mylan contributed $25,000.

It just looked so bad to me, Welbern told USA Today. She [Manchin] becomes president and all of a sudden NASBE is saying EpiPens are a good thing for schools.

Manchin had been appointed by the governor of West Virginia in 2007 to serve a nine-year term on the states board of education before becoming the president of the NASBE in 2012. The governor at the time happened to be Gayle Manchins husband, Joe Manchin, who is now a Democratic senator representing West Virginia.

After a period of intense lobbying of lawmakers by Mylan, federal legislation was passed in 2013 that gave financial incentives for schools to stock epinephrine auto-injectors, which is now a requirement in 47 states. The dominant market position of EpiPen, capturing nearly 90 percent of all epinephrine auto-injector sales, meant that Mylan would be the primary beneficiary. Thus, when Obama signed the law, the White House announcement referred to the legislation as the EpiPen law.

That was a Trojan horse, David Maris, a Wells Fargo analyst, told news outlets last month. That was, Lets get it in schools to help people, but it helps market EpiPen and promote it as the trusted product in schools.

At the hearing, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, Republican of South Carolina, who called himself a free-market Republican, told Bresch that you asked for it.

If you want to come to Washington, if you want to come to the state capital 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, he said.

Bresch attempted to deflect attention away from the difficulty patients have with accessing the EpiPen by noting that 85 percent of patients pay less than $100, and a majority pay less than $50. That is, the costs were passed on to private insurers, who pass the costs along to patients through higher deductibles and premiums, and to Medicare.

According to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation released on Tuesday, Medicare Part D spending on the EpiPen increased by 1,151 percent between 2007 and 2014, from $7 million to $87.9 million. The increase was due primarily to price hikes. Thus, while the number of enrollees using the EpiPen rose by only 164 percent (from nearly 80,000 to over 211,000), the total spending per prescription increased nearly fivefold, from $71 in 2007 to $344 in 2014.

Over the past decade, as the price of the EpiPen increased by more than 500 percent, Breschs compensation increased by nearly 700 percent, from $2.4 million to $18.9 million a year. In response to questioning from Rep. John Mica, Republican of Florida, Bresch claimed that her current compensation was in the middle range of compensations for pharmaceutical company CEOs. A 2014 survey of total CEO compensation conducted by FiercePharma, however, placed her as the sixth highest paid CEO in the industry.

Mylan has significantly hiked the prices of many of its other drugs as well. According to an analyst report released in June, the company had raised the price of 24 of its products by more than 20 percent, and 7 by more than 100 percent.

For example, it raised the price of its treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, dicylcomine, by 400 percent. Metoclopramide, its generic treatment for gastroesophageal reflux, went up in price by 444 percent. And the company hiked the price of its generic treatment for gallstones, ursodiol, by 542 percent.

Mylan has carried out similar price hikes in the past. For example, in 1998, after the company cornered the market for the raw materials needed to manufacture two anti-anxiety drugs widely used in nursing homes and among Alzheimers patients, it jacked up the prices despite there being no significant increase in costs. Mylan raised the price of clorazepate from $11.36 a bottle to $377.00 (3,300 percent increase), and of lorazepam from $7.00 a bottle to $190.00 (2,700 percent increase). The company paid $147 million in 2000 to settle charges with the Federal Trade Commission that Mylan had illegally restricted trade.

Last year, in a bid to cut its tax rate, Mylan shifted its company address to the Netherlands as part of its tax inversion strategy.

In a major understatement, Bresch acknowledged in her written testimony that Mylans record isnt perfect.

Like the earlier Senate hearing in December of last year, and the House hearing in February of this year, both of which focused on the price-gouging practices of Turing Pharmaceuticals and Valeant Pharmaceuticals, the overriding concern of this hearing was to safeguard the profits of the pharmaceutical industry as a whole by reining in the industrys worst offenders. The same goes for the investigations that have been called for by members of the Senate, and the toothless proposals made by the Democratic presidential candidate, Hilary Clinton.

The purpose of the hearing was to bring in the CEO, give her a verbal lambasting in an attempt to soothe public anger, and then let the industry get back to its normal practice of price-gouging the public, but hopefully in a less flagrant and unashamed fashion.

The inconsequential nature of the proceedings was even noted by Rep. Cummings. After Mylan takes our punches theyll fly back to their mansions in their private jets and laugh all the way to the bank, he said.
The German Ministry of Defence has released the joint military policy paper of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, which was earlier quoted in the European press in the run-up to the European Union (EU) summit in Bratislava. It underscores how Paris and Berlin are using the withdrawal of Britain from the EU to push forward the development of an independent European military and great power policy.

The title of the six-page document says it all: Renewing the GSVP [Joint Security and Defence Policy]: Toward a comprehensive, realistic and reliable defence in the EU. From the very beginning, von der Leyen and Le Drian refer to the new EU global strategy for foreign and security policy (EUGS), submitted by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini at the first EU summit after the Brexit referendum in July.

At the centre of Mogherinis paper, which was written parallel to the German White Paper and bears the fingerprints of Berlin, is the transformation of the EU into a military union capable of military interventions worldwide and independent of the United States. While NATO is certainly there to protect its members from enemy attacks, says the papers section on global strategy, Europe must be better equipped, trained and organised to contribute decisively to such collective efforts, as well as to act autonomously if and when necessary.

Von der Leyen and Le Drian now call for quickly implementing this strategy in concrete plans of action, especially in the area of security and defence. These include the support of GSVP military missions, the development of military capability and European defence cooperation as well as the concrete support of the European defence industry. On this basis, a strategic autonomy is ensured and a strong, competitive and innovative European defence industry will be built.

In addition, the German-French paper calls for a permanent EU HQ [headquarters] for military and civilian missions and operations and a permanent military EU planning and implementation capability. To increase the effectiveness of the GSVP, von der Leyen and Le Drian further propose the building of a European medical command, additional improvements in the operability of EU battle groups, and an improvement of the troop contingent process for EU missions and operations.

In addition, it is proposed the EU develop strategic transport capabilities (land/air/sea) and connect to a European logistics hub. Further plans include the development of a maritime EU security strategy (EUMSS) and the joint training of officers to improve the existing European officer network and to promote a genuine European spirit among our officers.

Under conditions of a deep social and political crisis in Europe and growing conflict between the major powers internationally, Berlin and Paris are rapidly pushing forward the militarisation of the continent. Von der Leyen and Le Drian intend to present a timetable during the informal meeting of defence ministers on September 26 and 27. Their goal is a favourable decision by the next meeting of EU defence ministers on November 15. The European Council should then adopt additional comprehensive political guidelines in the area of security and defence in December.

Von der Leyen and Le Drian refer to a joint EU-NATO statement from the beginning of July and emphasise that a stronger, more capable European defence also represents a strengthening of NATO at the same time. But there is no doubt that the building of an independent European military structure challenges the transatlantic alliance of the post-war period and would reproduce the same conflicts that led to two world wars in the twentieth century.

London, which repeatedly blocked the development of a joint European military policyat the behest of Washingtonin the past heavily criticised the latest German-French attempt.

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon assured the Financial Times that as long as Britain was a formal member of the EU, it would vote against plans for a European army. That is not going to happen, said Fallon of the EU plans discussed in Bratislava. We are full members of the EU and we will go on resisting any attempt to set up a rival to NATO. Menzies Campbell, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, declared: Even as a fervent European, I regard the creation of a European army as a deeply damaging, long-term threat to NATO.

The British ruling class is reacting to the militarisation of the EU with its own massive campaign of military build-up. In a 10-page private memorandum to Fallon, made available to the Financial Times, General Sir Richard Barrons complained about the insufficient combat readiness of the British armed forces and called for the acquisition of new weapons systems. Barrons warned against not being prepared to some extent for a war with Russia. Capability that is foundational to all major armed forces has been withered by design, he complained, adding, There is a sense that modern conflict is ordained to be only as small and as short term as we want to afford, and that is absurd.

In June, Malcolm Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank, said that if it were to leave the EU, Britain would come under considerable pressure to retain, and perhaps even increase, its commitment to NATO collective defence in Europe. Since then, the British government has increased its military budget extending through 2020/2021 to almost 5 billion pounds to meet the NATO goal of devoting 2 percent of GDP of each member state to defence each year.

On the continent, the EU militarisation plans are also aggravating divisions between the powers. In Bratislava, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi refused to participate in the closing press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande. Just a few weeks before, Renzi met with Merkel and Hollande on an aircraft carrier off the Italian island of Ventotene to revive the reactionary vision of a European military union following the Brexit referendum.

For the moment, Germany, France and Italy are (still) working closely together, but they are pursuing different national agendas. While Berlin wants to assume leadership of Europe, including militarily, to assert its geostrategic and economic interests worldwide, France and Italy themselves seek to play the most dominant role possible and to keep German hegemony under control.

In an article featured in the latest edition of the Italian political magazine Eastwest, the former adviser to the Italian Foreign Ministry, Gerardo Pelosi, writes: Renzi in the directorate [at Ventotene] also means that in the Mediterranean region, the leading role in Europes southern flank falls to Italy. The stabilisation of Libya and the creation of a large energy interface for countries in the region, Italy itself and the rest of Europe in the eastern Mediterranean is the Italian answer to Nord Stream 2 and would balance Germanys dominance in the north of the European Union.
After the initial proposal by US Secretary of State John Kerry, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Social Democrats, SPD) joined calls Wednesday evening for a no-fly zone over Syria. The situation today in Syria is on a knife edge, an official statement on the Foreign Ministrys web site declared. If the ceasefire is to have any chance whatsoever, the only way is to have a time-limited but complete ban of all military aircraft movements over Syria, at least for three, or even better, seven days.

Like Kerry, Steinmeier justified his demand with humanitarian phrases. With a no-fly zone, the United Nations had the possibility of reestablishing their humanitarian aid shipments to the suffering and besieged people. At the same time, it would create space for precise agreements in the Syrian support group on coordinated action against IS and al-Qaida and a path back to negotiations on a transitional government for Syria.

In reality, a no-fly zone imposed by the US, Germany, or other NATO members would not be a peace initiative but rather a massive escalation of the more than five-year-old war for regime change in Syria incited by the Western powers. In March 2011, the establishment of a no-fly zone in Libya, justified on the same humanitarian grounds, was the prelude to a NATO-led air war against the oil-rich country. It reached its brutal climax several months later with the murder of Gaddafi by Western-backed Islamist rebels.

Steinmeier speaks of coordinated action against IS and al-Qaida. With this transparent pretext, Germany and the Western powers routinely seek to legitimise their military operations in Syria and Iraq. In fact, the imperialist powers continue to collaborate with al-Qaida and even the IS militias to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad and install a pro-Western puppet regime in Damascus. Just a few days ago, German weekly magazine Die Zeit defended the Syrian al-Qaida forces as the life insurance for many moderate rebel groups.

On Saturday, American, British and Australian planes bombarded an outpost of the Syrian army near the Deir ez-Zor airbase, killing or injuring close to 200 soldiers in the process. In parallel with this, IS fighters began an offensive on the Syrian army airbase. Reports indicate that the German army (Bundeswehr) provided images of the area under attack. A spokesman for the Defence Ministry stated on Monday in Berlin that he did not want to talk about operational details which are subject to secrecy.

Steinmeiers Syrian support group, with which Berlin and the other imperialist powers are closely collaboratingthe so-called High Negotiations Commission (HNC)is chiefly financed by Saudi Arabia, supports armed Islamist militias in Syria and has long demanded the removal of the Assad government. When Steinmeier, Kerry or the general coordinator of the HNC, Riad Hijab, speak of a transitional government or a transitional process in Syria, they mean the installation of a pro-Western puppet government in Damascus.

The demand for a no-fly zone in Syria increases the danger of a direct clash with nuclear-armed Russia, the main backer of the Assad regime. Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, described this initiative, according to Russian news agency Interfax, as at least for the moment impossible to implement. First, the US and its allies had to apply pressure on those forces who think that only war can solve the problem.

If Steinmeier is currently supporting the US initiative, he is not doing so as a follower of US war policy, but rather as a representative of the interests of German imperialism. In June this year, he authored an article in the Foreign Affairs journal titled Germanys new global role, which not only described Berlin as a significant European power, but also called US predominance into question. The German Foreign Ministry is now exploiting the escalation of the war in Syria to expand German influence in the Middle East and internationally.

We want to stand up and assume responsibility, contribute to justice and peace, Steinmeier also said on Wednesday at the launch event for Germanys campaign to secure a seat on the UN Security Council in 2019-20. Germany was one of the most active players, when overcoming conflict, stabilization and crisis management were involved. We show engagement, we show responsibility, and we find good will and support for that, Steinmeier proclaimed. During the UN General Assembly this week, he held numerous discussions with colleagues and believed that Germany will find a lot of support for its candidacy.

Anybody who needs convincing of the rapacious interests that lie behind Steinmeiers verbal euphemisms and the German UN campaign should examine the German armys new white paper. There it is stated in section 3 under the heading Germanys strategic priorities that German business is equally as dependent upon guaranteed supplies of raw materials and secure international transportation routes as it is on functioning information and communications systems.

The nominal opposition Left Party and Greens, which are preparing for a so-called red-red-green coalition in the state of Berlin with Steinmeiers SPD, are playing a key role in encouraging German imperialism back onto the world stage and concealing its insatiable appetite for export markets and raw materials with humanitarian arguments.

On Thursday, Left Party foreign policy spokesman Jan van Aken accused the Syrian regime on Deutschlandfunk of waging an extremely brutal war of starvation against Aleppo  They want to starve the population there to force them to leave their homes so they can assume control of Aleppo at some point. Germany had to step up pressure now so that the foreign powers bring their partners under controlthat applies to Russia and the Syrian regime, but also the US and their partner Saudi Arabia, van Aken said in summing up his position.

Jurgen Trittin, who was a member of the SPD/Green cabinet of Hartz IV social welfare reforms and war between 1998 and 2005 under Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, appealed in Die Zeit on Thursday for a left military and great power policy. We see what is expected from Europe and therefore from Germany. Europe should guard against globalisation. And Europe should provide citizens with security. That includes us dealing with the instability in our neighbourhoodespecially when it is provoked by mistaken interventions like Libya. Now, anyone who is politically left [must] assume responsibility, Trittin wrote.
Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has reiterated that New Delhi intends to demonstrably punish Pakistan for the attack mounted last Sunday by Islamist Kashmiri insurgents on the Uri military base in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Parrikar told a press conference Wednesday he is confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modis vow that those responsible for this will not go unpunished will not remain a mere statement.

How to punish, continued Parrikar, we have to work out. We are quite serious about it.

Parrikar was seeking to counteract Indian media reports that had suggested the Modi government is unlikely to order air or cruise missile strikes or cross-border raids because of concerns the military cannot guarantee their success and is insufficiently prepared to repel a Pakistani counterstrike.

In a statement that was meant to convey the governments resolve, but in fact revealed its colossal and criminal recklessness and stupidity, Indias Defence Minister pooh-poohed Pakistans oft-repeated threats to use its recently deployed tactical nuclear weapons should Indian surgical strikes or raids precipitate a rapid escalation to all-out war. The person who has strength, said Parrikar, usually makes less noise. Empty vessels make more noise.

Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)a virulently right-wing, Hindu supremacist party that prior to the 1990s was largely confined to the margins of Indian politicswere brought to power in 2014, by an Indian bourgeoisie rattled by the world economic crisis, in order to intensify the exploitation of the working class and more aggressively pursue its great-power ambitions.

According to reports in Indias leading dailies, there is mounting pressure within the government to take military action against Pakistan.

The BJP top leadership, reported yesterdays Indian Express, is of the view that on Uri, it needs to demonstrate that it can walk its tough talk on Pakistan and terror and show a discernible difference vis a vis the UPA.

During the 2014 election campaign, Modi and his BJP denounced the Congress Party-led UPA government for appeasing Pakistan and failing to boldly respond to Pakistan-backed terrorist attacks.

The Indian Express report went on to say, As the government weighs its options, there is also a realisation within that it needs to address the call for action, especially from within its core constituency.

By core constituency the Express means the hawkish anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim Hindu right, including the fascistic RSS, which supplies a large part of the BJP cadre. Modi is himself a life-long RSS member.

The Express report added that the government will turn the heat on Pakistan with a mix of military, political and diplomatic responses. Some of these will be covert, or to use the words of the Express, will by their very naturealso need deniability. In recent days, it has been reported that the government and national security apparatus are considering assassinations of Pakistani intelligence officials whom it believes liaise with Kashmiri insurgent groups and the provision of logistical support to ethno-separatist insurgents in Baluchistan, Pakistans southwestern and by territory largest province.

Further evidence of the belligerent mood in BJP circles was provided by a comment written by Yashwant Sinha, a foreign and finance minister in the 1998-2004 BJP-led government. Under the title The Limits of Restraint, Sinha argued that the government must be ready to run the risk of war.

Many Indians, wrote Sinha, including me, want an appropriate military response from India; not a rash, ill-considered or a hasty one but a cool, well-planned and well-timed response, which will fetch us the desired results. Acknowledging that such action could lead to rapid escalation, Sinha urged the government to anticipate the likely Pakistani reaction and prepare its response for the next ten stepsin case the situation deteriorates further and results in full-scale war with Pakistan.

We must remember, he concluded, that sometimes the road to peace passes through war.

In a further sign of how close South Asias rival nuclear-armed states are to war, Islamabad closed parts of Pakistans airspace Wednesday, forcing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to cancel all flights to northern Chitral, Gilgit and Skardu. Chitral is in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and the other two cities are in Gilgit-Baltistan, an area of historic Kashmir that India claims is rightfully hers and where anti-Indian Islamist Kashmiri separatists reportedly have bases.

The Pakistani government has refused to provide any explanation for the restrictions. But the Pakistan-based Express Tribune reported that the airspace over Gilgit-Baltistan was closed to enable Pakistani warplanes to engage in takeoff and landing rehearsals.

Also, Wednesday Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and met with a host of world leaders including the prime ministers of Japan, Britain, Turkey and China in an attempt to counter the Indian governments campaign to have Pakistan labelled a terrorist state.

In his speech to the UNGA, Sharif said Pakistan wants peace with India. But, he claimed, India has posed unacceptable preconditions to engage in a dialogue and has rebuffed Islamabads insistence that resolving their dispute over Kashmir is key to the normalization of relations.

Sharif, the scion of one of Pakistans richest families and a former protege of the dictator and avid proponent of Islamization General Zia-ul-Haq, sought to portray himself and the venal Pakistani bourgeoisie as advocates for the oppressed Kashmiris of Indiaof the mothers, wives, sisters, and fathers of the innocent Kashmiri children, women and men who have been killed, blinded and injured . 

Referring to the mass protests that have convulsed Indian-held Kashmir since the July 8 killing of Burhan Wani, a young leader of a Pakistan-supported Islamist Kashmir insurgent group, Sharif declared,  A new generation of Kashmiris has risen spontaneously against Indias illegal occupationdemanding freedom from occupation.

Sharif denounced the presence of more than a half-million Indian security forces in Kashmir and promised to submit to the UN a dossier cataloguing Indias gross and systematic violations of human rights.

Sharifs claim to speak on behalf of the Kashmiri people and attempt to exploit their legitimate grievances with the repressive state of the Indian bourgeoisie is both preposterous and utterly reactionary.

Terrified of social opposition from the impoverished workers and toilers of Pakistan, the Pakistani bourgeoisie has denied them their basic democratic rights, ruling the country for much of its existence as a military dictatorship.

Significantly, in an appeal to Washington, the traditional patron of the Pakistani bourgeoisie and military, Sharif touted the brutal war the Pakistani Army has waged in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in support of the US occupation of Afghanistan as the largest, most robust and most successful antiterrorism campaign anywhere in the world, deploying 200,000 of our security forces.

Islamabad oppresses the population of Azad or Pakistan Occupied Kashmirthe portion of the former British Indian Empire princely state of Jammu and Kashmir that it captured in the 1947-48 Indo-Pakistani Warand has systematically manipulated and sought to communalize the opposition in Indian-held Kashmir.

The Kashmir conflict is the outcome of the bloody 1947 communal Partition of South Asia, into an expressly Muslim Pakistan and a predominantly Hindu India, and the state has become a key prize in the reactionary strategic rivalry that the Indian and Pakistani bourgeoisies have waged ever since.

This rivalry has led to three declared wars and numerous war crises, caused untold death and suffering, squandered resources, has been utilized by the ruling classes of both countries as a key mechanism for promoting communal reaction and dividing the working class, and today threatens the masses of South Asia with nuclear war,

Washington is calling for both India and Pakistan to step back from confrontation, fearing its impact on its drive to reassert its dominance over Eurasia, including the Afghan War and its military-strategic offensives against Russia and China.

Nonetheless, US imperialism bears enormous responsibility for the current war crisis in South Asia. During the Cold War when Pakistan was its principal ally in the region, it encouraged Islamabad in pursuing its rivalry with India. Since the beginning of this century, it has been working systematically to build up India as a counterweight to China. Toward that end, Washington has showered New Delhi with strategic favours, including ending the embargo on Indias nuclear program and giving it access to the Pentagons most advanced weaponsall the while blithely ignoring Pakistans warnings that the US has overturned the balance of power in the region, encouraging Indian belligerence and stoking an arms and nuclear arms race.
Among the first bills to be tabled in the Australian parliament after the Liberal-National Coalition government barely survived the July 2 election are two anti-terrorism laws that contain serious attacks on fundamental democratic and legal rights. Significantly, both bills have bipartisan support, with the Labor Party already pledging in-principle backing.

The political establishment is moving, as a matter of high priority, to bolster the repressive police-intelligence apparatus with measures that can be used to target political opponents, not just a relatively small number of Islamic extremists. This is under conditions of mounting war in the Middle East, growing tensions with China and a deepening domestic offensive against welfare, essential social programs and the living standards of the working class.

Both bills go well beyond what the government has publicly acknowledged. In a media release, Attorney-General George Brandis presented the bills as providing for the ongoing detention of high risk terrorist offenders and reducing the age from 16 to 14 for control orders to be imposed on teenagers.

But the details of the first bill show that the convictions for which prisoners could be detained indefinitely, even after serving their sentences, extend beyond terrorist-related offences to others that could be used against opponents of the government and its escalating involvement in US-led wars, including the air force bombings in Syria.

The Criminal Code Amendment (High Risk Offenders) Bill violates the core principle of habeas corpusno detention without a criminal trial. It allows for prisoners to be incarcerated indefinitely, using renewable three-year detention orders. This means locking prisoners away for life, regardless of their original terms of imprisonment.

Such orders require no proof of any intent to commit a further offencejust a high degree of probability that a crime could occur. This standard of proof is much lower than the criminal one of beyond a reasonable doubt of guilt.

In deciding to issue orders, the courts are instructed to consider reports provided by relevant experts on the unacceptable risk of the prisoner committing a terrorist-related offence if released. The prisoners criminal history can be taken into accountreversing the legal principle of excluding prior convictions from decisions about guilt.

The relevant experts must say whether the prisoner has actively participated in any rehabilitation or treatment programs. Any prisoner who refuses to cooperate with the authorities, such as by becoming an informer or undercover agent, is likely to remain incarcerated.

The bill has been approved unanimously by the state and territory governments, Coalition and Labor alike, which will adopt matching legislation. Such state laws are being used to evade the Australian Constitution, which has no bill of rights but does effectively prohibit punishment, including detention, by the federal government except via conviction by a court.

Brandis described the bill as dealing with terrorist offenders who pose an unacceptably high risk to the community if released. But, firstly, the official definition of terrorism is wide enough to cover political acts of protest that cause any injury or property damage.

Secondly, the crimes for which prisoners can be incarcerated include many loosely-defined offences, such as providing or receiving training or possessing things connected with terrorist acts, or collecting or making documents likely to facilitate terrorist acts. On the list as well is membership of, or raising funds for, an organisation declared by decree to be terrorist, and providing support to such a terrorist organisation.

Also covered are prisoners convicted of treason or foreign incursions. Treason includes assisting enemies at war with the Commonwealth and assisting countries or forces engaged in armed hostilities against the Australian Defence Forcewhich could mean opposing wars and other military interventions.

Foreign incursions include entering areas declared by the government, such as Syria, or preparing to engage in hostile activities (including damaging government property) in a foreign country. The bill extends to allowing the use of a building to facilitate recruitment to serve in or with an armed force in a foreign country.

The second bill, the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill, not only allows 14-year-olds to be placed under control ordersa form of house arrest, or curfew and tracking. It also targets supposed hate preachers, who could be jailed for seven years for a vague new crime of advocating genocide.

Advocating genocide is a deceptive term. It can be committed by counselling, promoting, encouraging or urging a broad range of conduct, such as inflicting destructive conditions of life. A person can be convicted simply on the basis of comments they make, publicly or privately, that are deemed to be reckless as to whether another person will engage in genocide.

The bills explanatory memorandum states that the offence is directed against the use of social media by hate preachers who supposedly choose their words carefully so that there is insufficient evidence of incitement, urging or intention to cause harm.

The 142-page bill boosts an entire range of police and intelligence powers of entry, search, surveillance and electronic tracking. It also extends the use of preventative detention orders beyond alleged imminent threats of terrorism to where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a terrorist act could occur within 14 days.

As well, there are wider powers to close court proceedings and prevent disclosure of national security information, including in control-order hearings. Jail terms of up to 10 years can be imposed for disclosing, even recklessly, information about Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) activities, if that disclosure endangers the health or safety of any person or prejudices the effective conduct of a special intelligence operation.

The two bills add to the more than 60 laws introduced under the banner of the war on terrorism by Coalition and Labor governments over the past 15 years. Sweeping precedents have been set, such as detention without trial, that erode essential legal and democratic rights. This barrage is accelerating. The latest bills constitute the sixth major tranche of such laws since the Coalition took office in 2013.

US-led invasions and wars, in which Australia has participated, have devastated the Middle East, killing hundreds of thousands of people and sending millions fleeing their homes.

Now, with Labors backing, and assisted by the corporate media, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls unstable government is seizing upon overseas terrorist attacks and whipping up local terrorism scares to justify erecting a police-state framework in the face of rising social and class tensions. Two recent terrorism arrests, one against a right-wing activist and the other against a Kurdish journalist, highlight the capacity of the laws to be used against political opponents, particularly anti-war and socialist organisations.

These measures, accompanied by intensifying witch-hunting of Muslims, seek to divide the working class along communal and ethnic lines, and create the ideological conditions for escalating Australian participation in the widening war provoked by the US in the Middle East.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Hitting back at her predecessor Barkha Shukla Singh, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal today filed a complaint of financial bunglings against her with the Anti-Corruption Branch demanding strong action.

In her complaint, she also accused former DCW chief Kiran Walia of misappropriation of funds and alleged that the fraud took place within the knowledge of then Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit.

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"The commission while pursuing the files of the previous commission has discovered instances of gross financial irregularities and high misappropriation of government funds done by previous chairpersons, namely Barkha Shukla Singh and Kiran Walia, with some instances prima facie being carried out under directions of then Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit," Maliwal alleged in the complaint.

While the ACB officials maintained that the complaint is being looked into, Shukla rejected the allegations terming them as "politically motivated".

Maliwals complaint comes days after the ACB registered an FIR against her in connection with alleged illegal recruitments in the womens panel based on a complaint filed by Shukla.

The allegations in the complaint include financial fraud of over Rs 50 lakhs in name of Nirbhaya and a silent march for her on January 2, 2013, appointment of a sitting MLA as DCW chief providing opportunities for misuse of office, diversion of funds for political gains and personal glorification, paid interviews and irregularities in celebration of International Womens day over the years.

"While holding the post of Chairperson her (Shuklas ) conduct amounted to misusing of public office with aim to benefit certain individuals. Every year, a majority of the budget of the commission was spent only on organising such functions and giving out advertisements which has been criticised by audit reports time and again," the complaint said.

Shukla rejected the allegations against her and further alleged that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had asked her to go slow on cases against his party leaders Kumar Vishwas and Somnath Bharti.

"The complaint against me is a politically motivated move coming at a time when Maliwal and DCW are being investigated on my complaint and evidence provided by me. ACB should conduct appropriate inquiry and the truth should surface," she said. More PTI GJS SLB RG

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By Tatsam Mukherjee: The latest in the list of 'issues' irking the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Because it has Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in it. It's funny how MNS always manages to wake up before a Karan Johar release. Before we analyse this further, let's put down a few facts.



ALSO WATCH: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil trailer review



ALSO READ: To Pak or not to Pak? Fawad Khan-Atif Aslam can stay, Abhijeet should shut up

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Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is a tiny speck of a political party. Let's establish that the party which was formed after breaking away from the late Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena, holds only one seat. A single seat. That's the same number of seats held by CPI(M) which has close to no presence in the state of Maharashtra, two less than Peasants and Workers Party of India (another small Marxist party), and about 62 less than their supposed 'direct competition' Shiv Sena.

This proves hardly anyone loves MNS within the city of Mumbai. Let alone Maharashtra. So what makes them take charge of the entire state and threaten 'outsiders'? Who appointed them as representatives to threaten anyone on our behalf? How does the party supposedly putting up a fight for the son of the soil is nowhere to be seen at the time of severe water crisis or farmer suicides?

It all began with Karan Johar's Wake Up Sid in 2008. The film called the city of Mumbai by its old name, Bombay, three or four times. This enraged the MNS activists to such an extent that they threatrened to vanadalise the theatres showing the movie. They ordered the word Bombay be beeped out from the film. Of course, nevermind the umpteen sequences showing women gyrate to lyrics along the lines of 'Tandoori ki tarah chabaa jaa mujhe' in supposed 'family entertainers'. The issue to go to war over is HOW can you call a city by its old name?

History repeated itself in 2010, when My Name Is Khan was awaiting release and both the MNS and Shiv Sena turned up to protest against Shah Rukh Khan's stand to include Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). How can they support the inclusion of players from the country of Pakistan? They threatened to vandalise theatres again unless Shah Rukh apologised. Director Karan Johar, who was cowering in fear during Wake Up Sid, didn't budge this time. Neither did Shah Rukh. Amid tight security and arrests of more then a thousand Shiv Sainiks, the film was released. They did create nuisance, but couldn't stop the release of My Name Is Khan.

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And now it is just another Karan Johar movie, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which is facing the wrath of the MNS for including Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the lead cast. They are now threatening Fawad to leave the state within 48 hours or bear the consequences. What good will that do to the state of Maharashtra? Or to the son of the soil who is nowhere in the picture? It will have absolutely no bearing. Then how can we allow ourselves to be held ransom to an establishment which incites violence at the drop of a hat? How can we allow ourselves to be held ransom because an establishment doesn't like a particular someone?

This political party is nowhere to be seen when the sons of the soil are deeply affected by REAL issues like farmers' debt, water scarcity. But always turns up to hog some airtime, column-inches by attacking soft-targets like film personalities. If this is Raj Thackeray's way of fighting for the common man, then he might as well forget that single seat during the next round of elections. Are we going to bow down to this coward who surrounds himself with hooligans? We can't. The state government has to stand up for the people. Will they? That remains to be seen, come Diwali, when Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is scheduled to hit the screens.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida Supreme Court ruling is good news for felons who like to hunt, bad news for deer.

The court ruled Thursday that an appeals court was correct in overturning Christopher Douglas Weeks' conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm because the rifle he was hunting deer with was replica antique weapon.

Weeks and his wife researched the law banning felons from possessing guns and found an exception for antique guns and their replicas. The Pensacola man had a replica of a 1918 .50 caliber, black powder muzzleloader rifle when he was arrested in 2012 by a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer.

The high court noted an appeals court judge's comment that Weeks would have been in a "world of hurt" if he had to reload the weapon if a bear charged him.

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
MIAMI (AP) - Authorities say a Florida International University student was found dead in his dorm room on the school's main campus.

The Miami-Herald (https://goo.gl/kkeZIe ) reports that Miami-Dade police are investigating the death, but there was no immediate evidence of foul play.

The student, who wasn't immediately named, was found dead Thursday, and his body was removed by late afternoon.

Larry Lunsford, the FIU's vice president for student affairs, released a statement saying school will provide counselors to students or anyone else needing assistance.

___

Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - The Florida Department of Corrections has rolled out a new program designed to help convicted felons who've served their sentences re-enter society.

The program is called Spectrum and it allows people who go to prison to make a plan to keep them from ending up in prison again. Spectrum evaluates the offender in 7 areas and lets them know what areas to improve upon.

After that, the program puts together a plan for re-entry into society and provides information like where to go for jobs, education, and mental health treatment. The program gives felons access to a wealth of resources to help lessen the likelihood of re-offending.

FDC said they have planned to deploy Spectrum statewide.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Deputies arrested and charged a 24-year-old for downloading files of child pornography.

Joel Jacobsen II was arrested on Thursday after the Leon County Sheriff's Office searched his parents' home. In a probable cause document, investigators detailed that they had tracked down Jacobsen by his device that they believed was accessing child pornography.

Investigators said they were able to find several files and sent a request to the internet provider associated with the device. The investigation revealed that the internet account belonged to Jacobsen's mother.

Once they were able to pinpoint a location for Jacobsen, members from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Sheriff's Office searched the residence on Thursday around 10:30 p.m.

They found Jacobsen inside the home and interviewed him. Investigators said that he admitted to downloading hundreds of files of child pornography. They said he told them he was addicted and has tried to stop viewing it on a number of occasions and failed.

Jacobsen was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. His bond was set at $3,000 though he is still in jail.
By Vidya : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) today issued letters to producers and institutions asking them to withdraw artists and crew members from their films and serials. The producers have also been 'ordered' to show the door to Pakistani actors or else there will be action against them.

The open letter has been signed by MNS general secretary Shalini Thackeray and MNS Cine Association president Amey Khopkar .

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"They earn here and pay tax in Pakistan which is a big income to that country and then they celebrate after terror attacks on our country," the letter read.

This is the reason stated along with the fact that both the leaders questioned if there are no artists in India that film producers like Karan Johar and Shahrukh Khan had to look for them in the neighbouring country.



WHY CAN'T THEY FIND ARTISTS HERE?

Though both the leaders were addressing the press conference at the residence of their party leader Raj Thackeray who was around as well but did not address the reporters. Shalini when asked as to why this threat seemed more like a fight for job rather than patriotism she said, "that is also our issue. Why can't these producers find talent from here and why do they have to look for it in Pakistan?"

Also read: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Pakistani Fawad? Won't let film release, threatens MNS



She affirmed that this was "not a veiled threat but an open threat to Johar and Khan whose films will be releasing shortly with Pakistani artists."

On being asked what will producers of film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in which Pakistan actor Fawad Khan is playing an important role, do when the film is almost ready for release in theatres, she said, "it's their problem. But we will not let these films be released with these actors."

ISSUE HAS BEEN THERE FOR 11 YEARS

When asked as to why it was only after every two or attack when soldiers die in huge number that the party wakes up with such sloganeering, Khopkar said that the issue has been there for 11 years but it is just that they, "still keep hoping that Pakistan will accept the hand of friendship. But now no more."

Also read: MNS at it again; gives 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artists to leave India



According to Khopkar the 48 hours ultimatum given to the Pakistani actors has already started ticking and "there will be repercussions that will be seen in 48 hours if they are still around". On being asked what will be the plan of action, Khopkar said, "We will find out wherever these people are and will teach them a lesson." Khopkar questioned before trailing off, "Why do we need Pakistani actors here? What if they do recce here and go back?"

--- ENDS ---

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The supreme court on Friday issued notices to RJD strongman Mohd Shahabuddin and Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav in connection with journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case.

Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, who was killed in May and RJD leader Mohd Shahabuddin, who is accused of plotting the murder.

By India Today Web Desk: The supreme court on Friday issued notices to RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin and Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who is the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case.



The supreme court also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to proceed with the probe in Rajdeo Ranjan murder case. Ranjan was allegedly killed by sharp shooter Mohammad Kaif and Mohammad Javed in Siwan district of Bihar on May 13.

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While Shahabuddin has been made an accused in the case, Tej Pratap was issued notice for allegedly protecting prime accused in the case, Kaif. The Bihar minister was recently seen in a photograph with the sharp shooter, who is understood to be Shahabuddin's henchman.

READ: CBI registers case in Rajdeo Ranjan murder case

SC TO MONITOR PROBE

Hearing a plea filed by Ranjan's wife, Asha Ranjan, the apex court agreed to monitor the CBI probe into the murder case. The court directed the CBI to submit a status report by October, 17.

The SC also gave two weeks' time to Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap to file their responses before it.

The main accused in the journalist murder case, Kaif and Javed remained at large before being seen with Shahabuddin, when he was released from Bhagalpur jail after spending 11 years behind the bars in multiple cases. At present, Kaif is in judicial custody in Siwan.

SUSHIL MODI SEEKS ACTION

Meanwhile, BJP leader Sushil Modi sought action against Shahabuddin. He asked RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to remove Shahabuddin from party.

"Main accused in Rajdeo Ranjan murder, Mohammad Kaif is the shooter of Shahabuddin, who is an RJD leader. Kaif has links with RJD and that's why he was not arrested (earlier)," Modi alleged, adding, "Why Shahbuddin was not removed from the party?"

TEJ PRATAP COUNTERS BJP



On the other hand, Tej Pratap slammed the BJP for alleging his links with murder case accused, Kaif on the basis of a photograph. "So many people take pictures with me, we don't know everyone. Do we? They don't have it written on their faces," Bihar health minister said.

Responding to the SC notice to him, Tej Pratap said, "BJP leaders, who have a picture with him (Kaif), should also be sent out a notice."



ALSO READ:



Ready to go back to jail, says Siwan strongman Shahabuddin



Man wanted for journalist's murder received Shahabuddin when the don came out of jail









--- ENDS ---
The Turks are deceiving Israel, the Iranians are deceiving the world powers, and everyone is keeping quiet because it's convenient to keep quiet now. In the past, when terror initiated by Hamas from Turkey and the enrichment of the Iranian nuclear program were the most important issues to Israeli policymakers, the government did not hesitate manipulate, incite, and provoke public opinion. Today, it prefers to turn a blind eye. The silence of the lambs is an obligation.

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Despite the understandings between Israel and Turkey  which ended the Marmara affair and led to renewed relations between the two countries  Hamas' military wing is still operating from Istanbul, with the knowledge that it is under the protection of the Turkish security organizations. Israel asked Turkey to close Hamas' office in Istanbul during negotiations between the two countries. The Turks refused, but clarified that the Hamas office would only deal with political issues.

The US administration is afraid that any pressure on Iran will harm the current regime led by Hassan Rouhani and affect his chances to be reelected in April (Photo: AP)

Indeed, Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas' senior representative in Istanbul and a member of the military wing, did move to Qatar, but those operating Hamas' branch in Istanbul instead of him are members of the military wing who were released in the Shalit deal.

The office in Istanbul keeps trying to build Hamas infrastructure in the West Bank, continues to collect money and send it to the West Bank for terror purposes, and is still recruiting volunteers  mostly Palestinian students studying in Europe  to establish terror cells in the West Bank. The initial screening of volunteers, their security clearance tests, and their basic training all takes place on Turkish soil, in buildings owned by Hamas. The attempted attack outside the Israeli Embassy in Ankara on Wednesday may have been an indication of Hamas' presence in the area.

Hamas is operating on Turkish soil cautiously and under a veil of secrecy. At the same time, Turkish organizations such as IHH, which was behind the Marmara sail, themselves have offices in Jerusalem. The representatives of these Turkish organizations are not only supporting religious and charity institutions in Jerusalem and dealing with Muslim tourism from Turkey; they are also involved in political Islamic movements in Jerusalem in a bid to increase Turkey's influence in the Israeli capital.

This bothers not only the local security forces, but also other countries in the area with clear interests at the Temple Mount. These countries have asked the Israeli government to put an end to this activity, but Israel is turning a blind eye so as not to jeopardize the agreement with Turkey.

The United States, which signed the nuclear agreement with Iran, is turning a blind eye as well, although it knows for certain that Iran is violating the agreement. Iran is allowed to produce 300 kilograms of enriched uranium to 3.6%, while UN inspections have revealed that it has already produced 330 kilograms without offering any explanation for the additional 10%. This isn't a dramatic deviation from the agreement, but well-informed sources say that Iran's mistake was intentional and done to examine global response to a violation.

Indeed, a report issued about two weeks ago by inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that Iran is meeting the full requirements of the agreement. It appears that even the UN is showing leniency towards Iran  likely due to American pressure.

The violations don't just have to do with uranium. According to the Associated Press, European powers which were part of the agreement with Iran have delivered information to IAEA's Council of Governors that Iran is producing parts for advanced centrifuges, in violation of the agreement. It has barely been half a year, and the Iranians are already testing the limits.

The Institute for Science and International Security, led by former inspector of Iraq's nuclear program, David Albright, revealed about a month ago that Iran was evading some of the agreement's restrictions and reported that Congress had already received information from the American administration in January pointing out the violations. The administration is afraid, however, that any pressure on Iran will harm the current regime led by Hassan Rouhani and affect his chances of being reelected in April. Therefore, Washington is not just keeping quiet; it is also pressuring Israel and other countries in order to silence any complaint against the Iranian violations.
This incident has been haunting Staff Sgt. Rachel Selfin's dreams for almost a year now. Over and over again she sees the knife raised, hears the gunfire, sees the burst of blood, and relives the incredible level-headedness she demonstrated in those moments. With stabbing attacks once more on the rise , these moments keep coming back to the forefront of her mind. The bravery of womenjust out of girlhoodon the battlefield.

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On October 21, 2015, while Selfin's battalion was deployed in the Binyamin region, one of her soldiers, Cpl. Dikla Megidish, was stabbed in the neck by a terrorist. Cpl. Lihi Malka made headlines that day when she shot and neutralized the attacker, but it was Selfin who saved Dikla's life by stopping the bleeding from the soldier's neck with her hands until rescue forces arrived at the scene.

"I was really really scared," Selfin admits in her first interview. "But I knew that if I panic, Dikla might panic too. Despite what is normally said about wounded people, she was incredible. She didn't scream, didn't thrash around. She was calm."

Staff Sgt. Rachel Selfin (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

Have you been reliving the incident in your head since?

"Yes, all the time. To this day, I keep reliving it. I have flashbacks and when I tell the story, all of a sudden I'd remember something I had forgotten before. It's not that I'm experiencing PTSD, it doesn't haunt me on a daily basis, but it's just there."

A new family

The stabbing attack is surprisingly not the most dramatic event in Rachel Selfin's life. The 22 year old from Haifa is considered a lone soldier. When she was three, she lost her mother to cancer, and when she was five, her father died of internal organ failure as a result of his diabetes. Consequently, Rachel and her older brother moved in with their aunt and her four daughters.

"They might be technically my cousins, but they've been my sisters since I was five," she says. "I was living with them even before my dad passed away, because of (my aunt's) desire to help him as he was alone with small children. So it was a natural sort of process, we just stayed with them."

You're talking about this as if this just happens to everyone.

"Of course this isn't the sort of thing that happens to everyone. On the other hand, in hindsight, I couldn't have asked for anything better than staying with my family, and to have me and my brother staying together and not be separated and adopted by different families, as sometimes happens."

Was it obvious for your aunt as well?

"I don't know if it was obvious, but it just happened. My mom and dad passed away, it's not something we were prepared for, and my aunt deserves a lot of credit for adjusting to the situation. She always told us that she had a dream in which she adopted two children, and looking back she finds it funny that life led her to adopt."

Today, Rachel is the youngest of six siblings. "They're my family, for all intents and purposes," she says. "I still have memories of my parents, mostly of my dadbut this is my family, and they feel the same."

Because of the cards life had dealt her, Rachel had to become independent early on. She's been supporting herself financially since the age of 15, and even now, while serving in the IDF, she takes on the odd job.

Despite these difficulties, she was determined to become a combat soldierand later a commander as well.

"When I got old enough to enlist, I was already very much in the mindset of having a meaningful service, the kind I wouldn't be able to do elsewhere," she says. "At first, I got into the Naval Academy. I was there for four months before flunking out. The sorting officer asked me what I wanted to do, and I said it didn't matter where he put meas long as I remain in combat. That's how I got to my unitthe Search and Rescue Unit, where I'm a commander."

Emotional meeting at the hospital

A little over a year ago, when the wave of violence had just begun, Rachel and her soldiers were pulled out of training to help with security at the Binyamin Territorial Brigade.

"We got to the Anatot (Almon) area, and one of our assignments was at Kikar Adamprotecting the road, seeing who passes by, and keeping an eye on the residents and the vehicles. There were several stone-throwing incidents and other terror attacks in the area, which meant we had to remain vigilant."

Kikar Adam (Photo: Reuters)

Was anything different about that day?

"That day I started a 12-hour mission with two of my female soldiers and one male soldier. I divided the force: Two to conduct security checks of each vehicle passing by and the people who approach the forceso no one could pose a threat; and twomyself and another soldierto watch over the other team and the nearby village of Jaba' and make sure no one was coming from there."

"About half an hour or an hour into the mission, I called the two soldiers who were on the second team over so we can switch posts. I wanted to maintain operational vigilance and interest, to keep alert. They were coming toward me, and when we were a about a 100 meters away from each other, I started moving towards them. This led to a situation in which, for about a minute, we had our backs to each other. Unfortunately, a terrorist was watching the force and used that opportunity to stab Dikla."

Lihi, who was standing next to Dikla, heard the terrorist shout "Allahu Akbar," cocked her weapon, and started shooting. She managed to take the safety off of her rifle and kill the terrorist, who was trying to escape towards Ramallah.

Lihi Malka, who shot the terrorist (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

Meanwhile, Rachel got to Dikla, made sure the terrorist was indeed no longer a threat, and immediately turned to help her soldier.

"As soon as I saw the threat had been eliminated, I approached (Dikla) and immediately saw a spurt of blood pouring out of her neck," Rachel remembers. "Out of instinct, I put my hands on (the wound) on what's called a 'pressure point.' Every soldierand indeed every personshould know how to do this, since it saves lives. It's said that the first few seconds (after this kind of injury) are the most critical, so I worked to stop the bleeding, one way or another."

The terrorist, who was shot dead after stabbing Dikla Megidish (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)

For several minuteswhich felt more like eternityDikla's life was literally in her commander's hands.

"It took a few minutes until the ambulance arrived," Rachel says. "During that time, I provided her with initial medical treatment. All the while I kept talking to her so she wouldn't lose consciousness. She told me she was cold and that she couldn't breathe, so I knew I had to keep her awake. I asked her what she liked to eat, I asked her to tell me her name and age, I asked what the first thing she wanted to do when she got home was. She was amazing and managed to stay conscious, she just needed my help and support. It also helped me know how to command my soldiers. One soldier reported the attack on the radio, and Lihi did everything that needed to be done in this kind of situation. They each performed amazingly. I'm proud of each and every one of them."

IDF, police, and rescue forces at the scene of the attack (Photo: TPS)

You saved her life.

"I don't want to take credit that I don't deserve. I did my job, but the credit should go to the military medical teams and the doctors at the hospital."

Rachel was not allowed to ride the ambulance, "even though I wanted to," and despite the attack, she and her soldiers resumed their assignment.

"It's part of the process," she says. "They didn't want any of us to go into shock, so we didn't leave. We kept talking about what happened. I remember all that came out of me were tears of joy. You always think of the worst things that could've happened, and I was thanking God for giving me this amazing strength to keep my cool in that moment and give it my all."

When did you see Dikla again?

"As soon as she was awake, Lihi, Almog (the other soldier) and I went to visit her. It was a very emotional meeting. Now she's in rehabilitation, and she's doing fine, and we of course keep in touch. She's doing everything right, thank God."

Lihi Malka, who shot the terrorist, visits Dikla Megidish, who was stabbed, at the hospital (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

'Don't take these attacks for granted'

The recent resurge of violence, which has so far mainly been attempts to stab soldiers and police officers, is another reminder of the dangers Rachel and soldiers like her face every day. It reminds her of other things, too. Things many of us take for granted, like how fast we as a society move on or don't give enough attention to incidents that fortunately end without casualties.

"Even as a soldier, when you hear about an attack, you obviously get stressed out and you make sure, first and foremost, that it's not your friends (who were involved in the attack)," she says. "It's hard to understand such a situation if you don't experience it yourself. In our country, it's easy to take it for granted, to say that 'there were only (a few) injuries,' or that someone 'was only lightly wounded.' But every incident like that changes someone's entire world in a moment. We carry it with us for the rest of our lives, for good and for bad. But this is our job, we need to be prepared for it."

How did your family react to this incident?

"My family was, of course, proud of me. But to me, there was more to this incident. The public always has a hard time accepting that women can be combat soldiers. To me, this is proof for all female combat soldiers. There are a lot of combat soldiers, (including) men, who would have run away in such a scenario, but us girls dealt with it. So who's to say that we can't?"

And what's next?

"Today I'm finishing my time as a platoon sergeant. I'll complete my three years of service soon, and be released (from the IDF). Then I plan to take the university entry exams, do the Israel Trail, and after thatonly God knows."
Minister without a Portfolio Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud), who headed the Israeli delegation to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, presented a list of steps that Israel is supposedly seeking to implement to improve the Palestinians' economic reality during the agency's annual meeting at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

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However, several of these planned steps are not pursued, either because they are blocked by Israel's security-based limitations that it places on the Palestinians, or due to the Palestinians' mishandling of such initiatives.

Dozens of foreign affairs ministers took part in the meeting, among them US Secretary of State John Kerry, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Tunisia and more.

A truck of humanitarian aid arrives at Gaza from Turkey at Gaza

Hanegbi mentioned several items describing Israel's intent to improve the life of the Palestinian population, including providing electricity to the West Bank following the settlement of the Palestinian Authority's debt to the Israel Electric Corporation, mail services and an agreement that will allow Israeli banks to conduct business with Palestinian banks. These initiatives were led by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Yoav (Poli) Mordechai.

A gas pipe (Photo: Shutterstock)

In addition, Hanegbi mentioned that Israel is planning on supplying the Palestinian Authority with six million cubic meters of water. Currently, the Palestinian population is suffering from a water shortage, since the PA has not been granted approval to draw water from the Mountain Aquifer, and since many of the meetings set up to find a solution to this problem are boycotted by the Palestinian representatives.

Israel has also committed itself to connecting the PA to Israel's natural gas pipeline, a long-term project that is far from being implemented. The same goes for erecting a hospital near the town of Beit Sahour in Area C, where Israel normally refrains from approving PA initiatives. Hanegbi additionally mentioned a plan to improve the passageways between Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

Roughly one year ago, Israel signed an agreement meant to set up a cellular network in Judea and Samaria and Gaza. Hanegbi mentioned this, as well, despite the fact that the project does not seem to have begun.

Another Israeli project aimed to benefit the Palestinians is the erection of a power line meant to supply Gaza with a 100 megawatt voltage of electricity, which has also not yet been approved. An additional project that is currently halted is the connection of a waste management facility in northern Gaza to the electric company, due to a disagreement between the World Bank, Hamas and Israel.

It should also be noted that other countries within the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine that pledged to donate money have yet to do so, mainly due to the influx of refugees within their own borders, or, in the case of Arab countries such as Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, fending off ISIS. As a result, donations have gone down from $800 million to $450  500 million, while the PA continues to amass an ever-growing debt.

The World Bank reported that out of all the promises of the donating countries, only 16% of the total Gaza rehabilitation plan following Operation Protective Edge have actually been transferred. A major hindrance to its rehabilitation has been the continued limitations Israel places on Gaza due to security concerns, which keeps private investments in the PA at one of the lowest in the world.

The World Bank furthermore found that despite having the ability to alleviate some of the financial standstill in Gaza, Israeli limitations continue to act as the primary obstruction to creating real market competition within the Palestinian economy. A report on the matter, published just before the agency's convening, mentioned that removing these limitations from Area C alone could increase the Palestinian Gross Domestic (GDP) by 35%, bringing about a similar increase in employment.

Israeli officials emphasized that while Israel does not provide Palestinians with aid, it has been working to remove bureaucratic roadblocks and issue approvals that have yet to be handed out regarding larger infrastructure projects. Hanegbi updated that "In a very successful meeting with the Palestinian Treasury minister, we agreed to reconvene the joint water committee, which hasn't met in seven years. We also agreed to promote issues that have been stuck in limbo for years and it is high-time that they be implemented."

The UN Relief and Works Agency agreed to reconvene in six months in Brussels, to follow up on all the projects.
Taiwan has not been invited to the assembly meeting of a United Nations aviation agency, the latest sign of the pressure China is bringing to bear on the new independence-leaning government of the self-ruled island it views as a renegade province.

Diplomatically-isolated Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, which recognizes China. China, in turn, sees wayward Taiwan as fit to be taken back by force if necessary, particularly if it makes moves toward independence.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said arrangements for the assembly, scheduled from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7 in Montreal, did not follow the pattern ahead of a previous such meeting in 2013, when China had asked for Taiwan to be invited. "ICAO follows the United Nations' 'One China' policy," the agency's communications chief, Anthony Philbin, told Reuters in an email. "While arrangements had been made for their (Taiwan's) attendance at the last (38th) session of the assembly, there are no such arrangements for this one."
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 neighborhoods, blaming the US for the collapse of a cease-fire many had hoped would bring relief to the war-ravaged country.

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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.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his interview

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Assad, who inherited power from his father and is now in his 16th year in office, cut a confident figure during the interviewa 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 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, the 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 cease-fire ended this week , due to attacks such as the airstrike on the aid convoy outside Aleppo that took place Monday night, which hit a warehouse and triggered huge explosions as aid workers unloaded cargo. Footage filmed by rescuers showed torn flesh being picked from the wreckage . Witnesses described a sustained, two-hour barrage that included barrel bombscrude, 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 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 September 17 US airstrike last week that hit Syrian troops in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour. US officials said the attackits first direct hit on Syrian forces since the civil war beganwas accidental and that the warplanes thought they were targeting ISIS positions. Russia said the strikes killed more than 60 Syrian troops, and afterward, ISIS 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 (ISIS) 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 US-Russian agreement to jointly target militants in the country.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his interview (Photo: AP)

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 UN 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 worldwidebut Assad, while acknowledging that the war had been "savage, " said eyewitness accounts should not be automatically believed.

L: Bashar al-Assad sits down for an interview with AP (Photo: AP)

"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 defiancemight 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. "
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, though the government continually vows to toughen regulations.
A man was arrested by Delhi police for stabbing an 18-year-old girl in Mangolpuri locality of east Delhi.

By Tanseem Haider: A stabbing incident was reported on Friday morning in T-block near Mangolpuri locality of east Delhi. Local police reached at the spot and found that 18-year-old Pooja (name changed) was shifted to SGM Hospital with severe injuries on her neck.

At SGM Hospital, doctors on duty immediately shifted her to the operation theatre for surgery. On the basis of the account of an eyewitness, a case for attempt to murder was registered and investigation was initiated.

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Investigations revealed that a person identified as Rahul, a resident of Sultanpur Majra, was seen fleeing from the spot soon after the incident. The victim, who is a student of class 12, has been known to be a close friend of Rahul.

MAN ADMITS THE CRIME



Based on a tip off, the police arrested Rahul from a fish market near U-Block, Mangolpuri at about 1 pm. Upon interrogation he admitted his involvement in the crime.

Police said that Rahul was in a relationship with Pooja since 2014 and that she was persuading him to marry her. However, Rahul did not want to marry Pooja. In order to shut her up, he took a knife and slit her throat and fled from the spot.

The police have recovered the knife and the clothes worn by the accused. Sources said that Rahul, is unemployed and that he was the son of a constable with the Delhi police.

Also read:

Delhi woman stabbed 22 times: Congress complains to NCW, targets Delhi Police



Woman stabbed by stalker for over 30 times in Burari

Murshidabad: Woman stabbed to death for protesting daughter's rape



Teenage boy stabs father to death in fit of rage

--- ENDS ---
The Palestinian Authority dismissed Thursday night the invitation extended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his UN General Assembly speech to PA President Mahmoud Abbas to partake in a reciprocal visit to the two sides respective seats of parliament in Jerusalem and Ramallah.

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"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 said during his speech.

Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly 2016

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A senior Palestinian official told Ynet however, that he believed Netanyahus speech was little more than a repetition of points made in the past which were merely intended for Israeli domestic consumption and Jewish people around the world.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during UN General Assembly speech 2016 (Photo: AFP)

This was an expected speech, especially the invitation to the Knesset. This invitation is not only not serious but is also not sophisticated. It is a bluff, the official concluded. We know exactly what his plan is and it doesnt include the establishment of a sovereign state of Palestine. For this reason, we cant take the invitation seriously.

Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Benjamin Netanyahu (R) (Photo: AFP)

The official went on to say that while Netanyahu repeated what he described as the same statements indicating his interest in a two-state solution, the prime minister was not prepared to define what kind of Palestinian state or elaborate on its borders. Netanyahu is committed to a one state solution rather than a two-state solution, the official continued.

Moreover, he refused to draw parallels between Netanyahus invitation to Abbas to the visit paid former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at the invitation of former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. You cant compare the situation of Egyptian, of which only a part was occupied, and the situation of the Palestinian Authority which is completely occupied by Israel. The official also highlighted that just as the Palestinians were not prepared to engage in negotiations just for the sake of negotiations, they were also not willing to coordinate a visit by Abbas to the Knesset purely for the sake of visiting the Knesset.
Hussein Dawabsheh, the grandfather of Ahmed Dawabshehwho sustained serious burns after Jewish extremists killed his parents along with their 18-month-old child in an arson attack last Junerefuted Prime Minister Netanyahu's portrayal of the support Israel supposedly offered Ahmed and his extended family in the aftermath of the attack.

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During his speech before the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Netanyahu spoke about the profound difference he sees between Israeli and Palestinian societies, citing Israel's response to the attack which included the arrest and arraignment of the suspects.

Take the tragic case of Ahmed Dawabsheh. Said Netanyahu. Ill never forget visiting Ahmed in the hospital just hours after he was attacked. A little boy, really a baby, he was badly burned. Ahmed was the victim of a horrible terrorist act perpetrated by Jews. He lay bandaged and unconscious as Israeli doctors worked around the clock to save him.

Netanyah talks about the Dawabsheh case before the UN

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No words can bring comfort to this boy or to his family, continued Netanyahu. Still, as I stood by his bedside I told his uncle, This is not our people. This is not our way. I then ordered extraordinary measures to bring Ahmeds assailants to justice and today the Jewish citizens of Israel accused of attacking the Dawabsheh family are in jail awaiting trial.

Now, for some, this story shows that both sides have their extremists and both sides are equally responsible for this seemingly endless conflict. But what Ahmeds story actually proves is the very opposite. It illustrates the profound difference between our two societies, because while Israeli leaders condemn terrorists, all terrorists, Arabs and Jews alike, Palestinian leaders celebrate terrorists. While Israel jails the handful of Jewish terrorists among us, the Palestinians pay thousands of terrorists among them.

L to R: the deceased Dawabsheh family members, Sa'ed, Ali and Riham (Photo: Hassan Shaalan)

While not denying that Netanyahu did indeed visit the victim, Hussein Dawabsheh rejected the notion that Israel provided assistance: Netanyahu did visit our family in the hospital, but it was the doctors and hospital that took care of him, and it certainly wasnt the Israeli government, Hussein insisted.

The grandfather, Hussein Dawabsheh (Photo: Avi Moalem)

He also rejected Netanyahus view of a fundamental difference between both societies. I dont agree with his statements on the difference between our cultures, about how Jewish leaders come out against terrorism and Arabs dont. Moreover, his statement about how the State of Israel allocated resources to punish the murderers is absolutely untrue. Its been a year and three months, and the trial is not yet finished. We havent seen the accused being punished and there has been a general foot-dragging, Hussein contended.

Netanyahu visits Ahmed Dawabsheh in the hospital (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Earlier in his speech, Netanyahu stated that the Palestinian leadership and society both work to indoctrinate its young population to hate Israel.

Imagine your child undergoing this brainwashing. Imagine what it takes for a young boy or girl to break free out of this culture of hate. Some do, but far too many dont. How can any of us expect young Palestinians to support peace when their leaders poison their minds against peace?

Dawabsheh was also quoted as saying, They claim the accused in the murders is not yet an adult and that he wasnt responsible for his actions. When we come to court, his friends taunt us by asking, Wheres Ali? Wheres Riham? With a Palestinian terrorist, they manage to achieve justice much quicker.
India signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France on Friday for around $8.7 billion, the country's first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades and a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to rebuild an ageing fleet.

The air force is down to 33 squadrons, against its requirement of 45 to face both China, with which it has a festering border dispute, and nuclear-armed rival Pakistan.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the agreement with his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar, in New Delhi, ending almost 18 months of wrangling over terms between New Delhi and manufacturer Dassault Aviation. Parrikar said the deal, which a defence ministry official said was valued at 7.8 billion euros ($8.7 billion), would "significantly improve India's strike and defence capabilities".
A 14-year-old terrorist was neutralized by Israeli security forces Friday afternoon after attempting to carry out a stabbing attack at the Elias junction in Kiryat Arba. The terrorist, who was left in serious condition, tried to sneak up on the security force stationed in the area and produced a knife.

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The terrorist was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem in serious condition after being shot in the leg and the chest.

Scene of attempted stabbing (Photo: Medabrim Tikshoret)

Elias Junctionthe entrance to Kiryat Arbabecame a flashpoint of terror attacks during Israels wave of terror between 2015 and mid-2016. Only last Friday a vehicular attack attempt also took place, when two terroristsa man and a womantried to run over three Israeli teenagers near Kiryat Arba. The man was shot to death and the woman was severely injured during the incident, while the three boys were slightly wounded. The female terrorist's sister had reportedy tried in the past to carry out her own vehicular terrorist attack near Kiryat Arba.

The attack was the fourth to have taken place in just one day, among them an attempted stabbing by a Jordanian national at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City.

Scene of attempted stabbing (Photo: Medabrim Tikshoret)

Earlier in the day last Friday, a soldier was lightly wounded in a stabbing attack at the Gilbert Checkpoint in Hebron before the terrorist was neutralized by security forces. The incident marked the first act of terrorism at the Gilbert Checkpoint since Sgt. Elor Azaria shot and killed an already the neutralized terrorist Abed al Fatah a-Sharif. The attacks continued into Saturday, with an IDF soldier being stabbed by a terrorist before shooting him.

The following morning, a reserve officer was left in moderate condition after being stabbed in Efrat after a terrorist emerged from the bushes with a knife.

The latest attack comes amid a series of other attempts in recent weeks which have shattered Israeli hope that the recent cycle of violence had dissipated and aroused the security establishment's fears that the wave has been newly reinvigorated.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus speech before the UN General Assembly on Thursday left me in awe of what I had just witnessed. Before we go any further, though, I need you to know that I am not a Bibi fan. I dont like his slight-of-hand mentality when it comes to civil rights or an endless list of additional causes that affect the people living in Israel, such as civil marriage and an engorged education system that leaves its students lacking in basic knowledge. I cannot understand how, as a sitting prime minister, he felt it legitimate to incite panic by pushing the idea that Arabs exercising their right to vote are a threat to Israel. And I find it genuinely alarming that he has managed to convince my homeland that it wont survive without him. Our existence does not depend on any one man, and it is this kind of mindset that scares people again and again into choosing the status quo.

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Benjamin Netanyahu speaking before the UN General Assembly (Photo:AFP)

And yet. Netanyahus speech mirrored what he has already shown in the past: namely, that he is an oratory genius. In point after point, Netanyahu hammered home the idea that the UN systematically attempts to discredit Israels actions, which while some may be reprehensible , are certainly not exclusive to Israel

Shining a light on the bias and hypocrisy that the UN has shown toward Israel, though, was only the beginning for him. After flatly rejecting the UNs criticism of Israel, Netanyahu began weaving together three extremely powerful narratives that helped shape Jewish history, American history and humanity at large.

Netanyahu has made Judaism his most defining feature, particularly stopping on the many hardships and traumas that are folded into Jewish identity. Despite being the handsome, charismatic and brilliant son of a family of warriors and scholars, he is quick to describe in visceral detail the feeling of persecution that is familiar to every Jew on the planet. For even if our adult selves have chosen to turn away from this narrative, we were still raised on the notion that other people innately hate us. While such an outlook is not exclusively Jewish, the difference between the Jewish people and most other minorities is that Jews were sometimes, temporarily, allowed to work really hard, beat out their competition, and make it based on merit. Jews, in short, are the quintessential underdog, and in a certain waythe embodiment of the American Dream.

Netanyahu not only recognizes this link between the self-identified Chosen People and the Greatest Country on Earth, its his siren song. Channeling both the Jewish need for survival and Americas hope for a better tomorrow, Netanyahu stated that Israel was not going anywhere, refused to cower before the big bad UN, and ushered in a new narrative, of a future worthy of todays struggles. He did this during the last part of his speech, making sure to be lockstep with some of the most iconic speeches, mantras and moments in US history: his words and imagery conjured up Martin Luther King, Jr.s I Have a Dream speech, President Barack Obamas Yes We Can campaign motto and both the Civil Rights Movement and its current reincarnation, Black Lives Matter.

The concepts and leaders that Netanyahu drew from have managed to inspire Americans into action, and in doing so change the course of their nation. They are also all the products and children of the African American community, whose own take on the idea of a cast-out underdog was forged from the trauma of slavery and being othered due to the color of their skin. Back in 2008, it was Obamas embodiment of rising to the highest position in the land that inspired America to emerge from the conservative rut it was stuck in with George W. Bush and make history. It is this form of zero-sum salvation that allows Netanyahu to insist that we, too, shall overcome.

Swept up in his dream of making the world a better place, Netanyahus words managed to gloss over the fact that this time, a key factor in all of his speeches was missing. Hearing him elaborate on how Israel will finally be invited to sit with the other nations acted only as a distraction from the fact that it is almost inconceivable for Netanyahu to give a talk without referring to the Holocaust. But thats exactly what he did. He couldnt point to the absurdity he found in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbass demand that the UK apologize for issuing the Balfour Declaration almost 100 years ago while going back to the tragedy that preceded Israels own fight for recognition. By deciding not to raise the memory of the Holocaust, he signaled, perhaps more to himself than anyone else, that a change was coming.

As fundamental as the narratives of hope and overcoming adversity are to both the US and Israel, in addition to Netanyahus personal life story, they are both familiar to his audience. It is only by eloquently shifting the perspective through which he presented themwalking us through the day in the life of a brainwashed Palestinian teenager, labeling it child abuse and listing the myriad of Israeli accomplishmentsthat he managed to keep people interested and intrigued.

The truly subversive part of his speech, though, was nestled in between his opening strike against the UNs anti-Israeli tradition and the finishing touch of hope for a brighter future. Describing a world where Israel is respected by its many allies, Netanyahu cast the widest possible net, throwing it over almost the entire world; he stopped short of the European Union, and for the time being also refrained from mentioning the US. Instead, he turned to Africa, Asia and ultimately, the Arab World, describing how he is actively working to strengthen Israels ties with all of them. Telling them they are the future.

These regions all share a painful commonality: colonialism. From the Far East to the Fertile Crescent to the land of the Sahara, the nations and countries within them have been gutted by the West, which showed no remorse when it was pillaging their resources and enslaving their people.

In the face of such a compelling call to arms, it seems almost inappropriate to dwell on the fact that Israel has also supplied guns to African leaders in order to unload itself of African refugees, or that it created a reality so ironic only a Jew could write it by paying the road-less-traveled-by country of Uganda, which Herzl famously rejected, to take in the refugees that Israel did not want

But Africa, Asia and yes, even the Arab World, dont view Israel as the main threat to their well-being or way of life. The nations that abused and continue to take advantage of them dont speak Hebrew, and as idyllic as the idea of the United Nations is, in reality these regions have not forgotten the atrocities they have endured. By speaking to them and only them, Netanyahu tapped into what might turn out to be the greatest force this generation has yet to see, which, even dormant, left a sizable impression on the dynamics in this summit.

After Netanyahu was finished speaking, I kept the television on and watched as each and every commentator chuckled at what he had said, dismissing it as one of his weaker performances. It was a familiar image, of the satiated elite laughing off something that didnt quite fit with their own convenient gospel.

But I was also reminded of something else: a long time ago, long before the internet began storing every sentence and exchange, I read a quote about how in the future, after the Third World will finally cast off the shackles put in place by those who never stopped exploiting it, Bob Marley will be considered a prophet before his time.

I cant imagine any two people more diametrically opposed than Benjamin Netanyahu and Bob Marley. But maybe none of thats important: this moment isnt about what the old guard heard in Netanyahus speech, or how I interpreted it. Because the Third World was listening, and though Netanyahu is not their champion, his recognition of their poweran acknowledgement they never really neededmay signal the subtle awakening that will turn our world on its head.
THESSALONIKI- Greek police say they arrested a 19-year-old Afghan on suspicion of attempting to smuggle five Iraqis out of the country to Bulgaria.

A police statement Friday said he was arrested while allegedly guiding the Iraqis on foot toward the Bulgarian border.

A Greek official says authorities caught 107 people, mainly Syrian families, entering Greece across the Evros river forming the border with Turkey.
SANAA- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed "deep concern" over increasing attacks against civilians in Yemen with a total of 180 civilians killed in one month, raising the death toll to nearly 4000 since March 2015.

Cecile Pouilly at the UN agency said on Friday that August also marked an increase in the number of attacks against civilian facilities including hospitals, markets, and places of worship.

Her statement came only two days after airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition bombed houses in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, killing at least 32 civilians.
BEIRUT - Warplanes launched some of the heaviest air strikes yet on rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Friday after the Russian-backed Syrian army declared an offensive to fully capture Syria's biggest city, killing off any hope of reviving a ceasefire.

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Reports indicate that 91 have been killed in over 150 air raids over the past 24 hours. Approximately 40 buildings have been completely destroyed.

Residents said the streets were deserted as the 250,000 people still trapped in the besieged opposition-held sector of Aleppo sought shelter from jets. The army said the operation would include a ground attack, and could last "for some time".

Destruction caused by an Assad regime airstrike in Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

The rebels and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring body described raids by warplanes they said must belong to Russia. Residents also spoke of attacks by helicopters using bombs made from oil drums, a tactic usually attributed to the Syrian army.

"Can you hear it? The neighborhood is getting hit right now by missiles. We can hear the planes right now," Mohammad Abu Rajab, a radiologist, told Reuters. "The planes are not leaving the sky, helicopters, barrel bombs, warplanes."

The intense bombardment left no doubt that the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad and its Russian allies had spurned a plea from US Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights to resurrect the ceasefire, which lasted a week before collapsing on Monday.

A rebel commander said the blasts were the fiercest the city had faced.

A man finds a child in rubble caused by a regime airstrike on Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

"I woke up to a powerful earthquake though I was in a place far away from where the missile landed," he said in a voice recording sent to Reuters. His group had "martyrs under the rubble" in three locations.

In a late night announcement on Thursday, the Syrian military announced "the start of its operations in the eastern districts of Aleppo", and warned people to stay away from "the headquarters and positions of the armed terrorist gangs".

Elaborating on this on Friday, a military source said the offensive would be a "comprehensive one", with a ground assault following air and artillery bombardment. "With respect to the air or artillery strikes, they may continue for some time," it said.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian or Syrian militaries detailing Friday's air strikes.

The Syrian army's declaration of the offensive coincided with international meetings on Syria in New York, the latest diplomatic efforts officially intended to revive the truce, which was brokered by the United States and Russia.

Its collapse, the same fate as all previous efforts to halt a 5-1/2-year-old war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians, has doomed what may be the final bid for a peace breakthrough before President Barack Obama leaves office.

"ANNIHILATION"

The Syrian government, strengthened by Russian air power and Iranian-backed Shia militias such as Hezbollah, has been tightening its grip on rebel-held districts of Aleppo this year, and this summer achieved a long-held goal of fully encircling the area.

The government already controls the city's western half, where fewer people have fled. Before the war, the city held nearly 3 million people and was Syria's economic hub.

Destruction caused by a regime airstrike in Aleppo (Photo: AP)

Recovering full control of Aleppo would be the most important victory of the war so far for Assad, who has sought to consolidate his grip over the western cities where the overwhelming majority of Syrians lived before fighting drove half of the nation from their homes.

Ammar al Selmo, the head of civil defense rescue service in opposition-held Aleppo, said three of its four centers in Aleppo had been hit. "What's happening now is annihilation in every sense of the word," he told Reuters. "Today the bombardment is more violent, with a larger number of planes."

The US-Russian agreement marked their second attempt this year to halt the war. It was supposed to bring about a nationwide ceasefire, improved humanitarian aid access, and a joint US-Russian effort against jihadist groups including ISIS and Jabhat Fatah al-Shams formerly known as al-Nusra Front.

"LONG, PAINFUL, DIFFICULT"

But the ceasefire collapsed into renewed bombardments on Monday, including an attack on an aid convoy that Washington has blamed on Moscow, which denies involvement.

Assad remains defiant, saying on Thursday he expected the conflict to "drag on" as long as it is part of a global conflict in which the groups fighting him are backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United States.

On Thursday at the United Nations, the United States and Russia failed to agree on how to revive the ceasefire during what UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura called a "long, painful, difficult and disappointing" meeting.

Destruction caused by a regime airstrike in Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

The International Syria Support Group, including Moscow, Washington and other major powers, met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders in New York.

"We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow with respect to those ideas," Kerry said, expressing concern at the reports of the planned new Syrian offensive. "I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated."

Western states have backed Kerry's call to ground warplanes to create the right conditions for the truce. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's response to that proposal as "not satisfying."
ADDIS ABABA- The African Union says Morocco has officially submitted a request to join the continental body again after more than four decades.

An AU statement Friday says a Moroccan foreign affairs adviser handed a copy of the request to African Union Commission Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Thursday.

The statement says Dlamini- Zuma said member states will be informed and Morocco's king will be notified of the outcome.

Morocco quit the AU in 1975 after disagreements over Western Sahara, which the AU recognizes as an independent state. Morocco annexed the mineral-rich Western Sahara in a move not recognized internationally, and considers the region to be its "southern provinces."
LONDON - The number of refugees fleeing violence, abductions and torture in Burundi has passed 300,000, the United Nations said on Friday, raising fears neighbouring countries will struggle to cope with the influx amid rising political instability.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) urged the international community to "step up" efforts to curtail political unrest in the central African nation, and increase donations for basic services like food, medical aid and shelter.

In July and August alone, more than 20,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Uganda and Zambia.

"We expect the number of arrivals will continue to rise in the remaining months of this year," UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said in a statement.
With no attacks 25 hours later in Navi Mumbai, security agencies are looking at all the possible angles in the case.

The sketch released by Maharashtra Police of one of the five suspected Uran terrorists, in Navi Mumbai on Friday.

By Sahil Joshi: After an extensive combing operation by elite security agencies in Uran, the agencies investigation it have started looking at other angles also.

The sources in the investigating agencies said that if the attackers were with full backpacks and arms, they would have attacked by now. They would not wait for more than 25 hours to attack.

The school students who had alerted the police had even heard that the suspects talking about attacking ONGC and other establishments, early morning yesterday.

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Also read: Mumbai on high alert, NSG commandos carry out door-to-door searches in Uran; terror suspects' sketches released

The sources also said that the two students are also giving two different versions. The girl has said that she saw four suspects while the boy informed of only two. Both the students are being questioned.

SOMETHING MORE TO THE STORY?

A Navi Mumbai police officer said, "As per the statement of the girl, we took this input very seriously as the girl didn't change her statement. So along with the combing operation, we started asking other people who passed by the same street around the same time but not a single person saw any such person. Also there are CCTV cameras put up by shops in the lane where the said suspects were spotted but nothing has been captured."

The police along with quick response teams searched the entire coastal area, all the residential buildings, Elphanta Caves, questioned the local fishermen also but nothing could be found.

FIRM ON STATEMENT

The girl, who is student of class 10 in the statement to the police said, "I saw five people who were saying that they will first target the ONGC and then split into two groups. All were in black Pathani suits and masked. They were carrying big luggage on back and it seems that they were carrying arms and ammunition." She then informed her teacher and then the information reached Navi Mumbai from the school.

Also read: Uri terror attack was planned for August 15, say top Army sources

According to the school authorities, the girl is of sound mind and sincere in the studies. She also said in her statement that she used to watch news channels till 3 am during the Uri attacks.

Meanwhile, DG Police, Maharashtra has submitted his report regarding the combing operation to additional the Chief Secretary Home but the police is yet to reach a final conclusion in the case.

--- ENDS ---
UNITED NATIONS- The UN Security Council has approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of nuclear weapons.

US Secretary of State John Kerry invoked North Korea's latest nuclear explosion In urging ratification of the treaty for "a safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet."

But the US has not yet done so. Anti-treaty minded Republicans rejected it under President Bill Clinton and congressional opposition remains strong today.

The UN's Comprehensive Test Ban Organization already has a network of monitoring stations. But it still cannot go on site to inspect for tests until the treaty enters into force. For that, the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated "nuclear capable" -- the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan -- ratify.
NEW YORK - The "Quartet" of Middle East peace mediators said on Friday it was strongly opposed to Israel's ongoing settlement activity, warning that it risked ending the chance of a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

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Peace talks, envisaging a Palestinian state in territory Israel captured in a 1967 war, collapsed two years ago after nine months of largely fruitless discussions sponsored by the United States.

The acid political climate between Israelis and Palestinians makes progress unlikely. Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas showed no signs of a rapprochement during their speeches at the annual UN gathering of world leaders.

"The Quartet emphasized its strong opposition to ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace, and expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion ... (is) steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution," the Quartet said in a statement after meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Settelments being built in the West Bank (Photo: Reuters)

The group, which comprises the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, issued a report in July calling on Israel to stop its policy of building settlements on occupied land and restricting Palestinian development, but the activity has shown no signs of abating.

The Quartet also condemned a resurgence of violence. It urged both sides to de-escalate tensions and show restraint.

With US efforts to broker a deal frozen, France and Egypt have tried to revive interest, warning that letting the matter drift even during a US election year was counterproductive.

After outlining for the Quartet efforts to bring the two sides back to the table by year-end, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said that while the path to peace was narrowing, it still existed.

"It's true that listening to Abbas and Netanyahu's speeches at the UN, you can't say their views are converging ... but we can't accept the fait accompli. That would lead to despair and violence," he said.

Israel has demanded tighter security measures from the Palestinians and a crackdown on militants responsible for a string of stabbings and shootings against Israelis. Palestinians say Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territory is dimming any prospect for the viable state they seek.
UNITED NATIONS- In his first major United Nations speech eight years ago, President Barack Obama said he would not give up on Israeli-Palestinian peace.

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In likely his last UN speech on Tuesday, he spoke little about the conflict beyond voicing the unsurprising sentiment that matters would improve if Israel let go of Palestinian land and if the Palestinians rejected incitement and embraced Israel's legitimacy.

While US officials have said Obama could lay out the rough outlines of a deal - "parameters" in diplomatic parlance - after the Nov. 8 presidential election and before he departs on Jan. 20, many Middle East analysts doubt this will have much effect.

US President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu meet in New York (Photo: AP)

The result, they say, is likely to be a legacy of failure on an issue Obama made a priority when he came into office in 2009 and declared in his first UN General Assembly address: "I will not waver in my pursuit of peace."

Obama has little to show for his two efforts - one spearheaded by George Mitchell in his first term and another by US Secretary of State John Kerry in his second.

"He has not made an impact on this issue, at all, and he wants to," said Elliott Abrams, a Middle East adviser to former President George W. Bush, a Republican. "So I think the question that he is asking is really a legacy question, rather than asking a pragmatic question of what will really help the parties."

Obama raised concerns about Israeli settlements in the West Bank when he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on Wednesday. A senior US official told reporters afterwards those concerns included the "corrosive effect" settlement activity during 50 years of occupation had had on prospects for negotiating peace based on two states, Israeli and Palestinian.

AFTER NOV. 8

White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said earlier that Obama had no plans to pursue a new Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative before leaving office, though he could take unspecified steps.

A US official who tracks the issue said he does not expect the White House to decide whether Obama might make a speech on the issue or seek to pass a new UN Security Council resolution, until Americans elect his successor.

"They are waiting to see what they can get the boss to do after the election pressure is over," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They have been toying with the idea for months."

The US presidential election pits Democrat Hillary Clinton, Obama's former secretary of state and his choice for the top job, against Republican businessman Donald Trump. Several analysts believe Obama will consult Clinton if she wins.

US President Obama speaking at the UN (Photo: AP)

It would not be the first time a US president took action on the Middle East at the end of a term.

In December 1988, weeks before leaving office, President Ronald Reagan broke with Israel to authorize the start of talks with the Palestine Liberation Organization. George Bush, his vice president and the president-elect, backed the dialogue.

Then in January 2001, just before leaving office, Bill Clinton brought together Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in a failed bid to make peace and laid down his own "parameters" for a solution.

PROGRESS UNLIKELY

The acid political climate between Israelis and Palestinians makes progress unlikely. Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have no plans to meet this week at the annual UN gathering of world leaders.

PM Netanyahu and UN Sec. Gen. Ban Ki-Moon (Photo: Kobi Gideon)

"We don't expect much from Abu Mazen," Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told reporters on Monday, referring to the Palestinian leader by his nom de guerre.

Israel has demanded tighter security measures from the Palestinians and a crackdown on militants responsible for a string of stabbings and shootings against Israelis in recent months. It also says Jerusalem is Israel's indivisible capital.

Palestinians say Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territory is dimming any prospect for the viable state they seek, with a capital in Arab East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu speeks at the UN (Photo: AFP)

With US efforts to broker a deal on a Palestinian state on Israel-occupied land in deep freeze for two years, France has tried to revive interest in the issue, with one senior French diplomat arguing that letting matters drift even during a US election year is like "waiting for a powder keg to explode."

'IN YOUR DREAMS'

In his eighth speech before the UN General Assembly, Obama gave little time to the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

"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," Obama said in his lone direct reference to the conflict during the 48-minute speech.

The lack of progress has frustrated Arab and Western officials, some of whom were not shy about voicing their dismay.

Mahmoud Abbas speaks at the UN (Photo: AFP)

"On this issue, you hear everything and nothing from the Americans. One says Obama is ready to do something, another says 'no way'; one says a resolution is the way forward, another says 'in your dreams,'" said a senior Western diplomat.

Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington said Obama tends to act as a "mandarin" who offers rational solutions rather than as a politician who moves public opinion.

As a result, merely sketching out the contours of a deal would do little to change the political realities on the ground.

"What the United States thinks has never been the missing link," he said. "The weak link has often been a question of implementation. The White House hasn't been very good at persuading people to see things their way and act accordingly."
UNITED NATIONS- North Korea vowed on Friday to further strengthen its nuclear weapons capability, in spite of UN condemnation and sanctions, and said it would never abandon its deterrence while it was threatened by nuclear-armed states.

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho described his country's nuclear weapons as "a righteous self-defense measure" against "constant nuclear threats of the United States."

"Going nuclear-armed is the policy of our state," he said. "As long as there exists a nuclear-weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK, our national security and peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence," he said, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
Members of the 926th Wing traveled to National Harbor, Maryland, to accept Air Force Association awards during a ceremony Monday that kicked off the Air, Space and Cyberspace Conference.

The wing was named the Outstanding Air Force Reserve Command Unit of the Year and Lt. Col. Michael Bess, 84th Test and Evaluation Squadron, received the AFAs Presidents Award.

Were so honored to be recognized at this level, said Col. Ross Anderson, 926th Wing Commander. The award represents a culmination of all our heavy lifting that went into supporting the mission of the United States Air Force Warfare Center and the Remotely Piloted enterprise this past year.

Our Airmen work side-by-side their Regular Air Force counterparts to accomplish training and real-world operations on a daily basis. The relationship we have with the RegAF is Total Force Integration at its finest, and were proud to see that highlighted in a forum of our peers.

The wing was selected as the top Reserve unit for, among other things, flying more than 17,000 combat sorties in support of 10th Air Forces Remotely Piloted Aircraft mission and undermanned RegAF units, leading an integrated adversary force for Red Flag exercises that trained more than 9,000 Airmen from eight nations, and providing satellite communications environment training and forward-deployment preparation for U.S. Navy ships and exercises.

Bess was recognized for directing the effectiveness evaluation of all F-15E air-to-ground munitions in the Air Force inventory. Additionally, he designed and led numerous evaluations of Air Force assets in the protection of naval carrier group elements, and innovatively tested the effectiveness of air-to-air missiles against ground targets.

The AFA recognizes achievements annually by Air Force, government, academia and aerospace industry professionals. The 926th Wing was honored with two of the three Reserve category awards.

This was an amazing opportunity for our personnel to listen to and meet leaders at the most senior levels of the Air Force, said Anderson. As our diverse mission set continues to grow, we look forward to coming back to this conference and engaging with the entire community.

The three-day conference featured guest speakers, technology expositions, and roundtable discussions on cyber warfare and the way ahead for the field. It invites members from all levels of the Air Force, as well as public and private industry partners to share their experiences.

The AFA is a non-profit military education association that serves to promote a public understanding of the importance of aerospace power. It directly supports Air Force members and their families through legislation, augmenting the Wounded Warrior program, transition support, professional development and grants.

Its leadership is made up of volunteers at local, state and national levels. The organization was born from the legacy of Gen. Billy Mitchell, who fought for a strong national defense through airpower during World War I. His efforts were carried on by Gen. Hap Arnold, who introduced the concept of having a civilian organization advocate for airpower.

The AFA formalized in 1946, and named Gen. Jimmy Doolittle as its first president. During the conferences opening ceremony, it was announced that the Air Forces newest bomber was officially named the B-21 Raider, after the Doolittle Raiders. Lt. Col. (retired) Richard Cole, the last living Doolittle Raider at 101 years old, was present to help make the announcement.
Commandos from NSG and state police's specialised Force One have been roped in and multi-agency search operations have been initiated. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has ended its search operations.

The sketch released by Maharashtra Police of one of the five suspected Uran terrorists, in Navi Mumbai on Friday.

By India Today Web Desk: The Mumbai Police have issued sketches of two armed suspects spotted moving suspiciously near a Naval base at Uran in neighbouring Raigad district. More sketches of the terror suspects are being prepared.

As far as Indian Navy is concerned, operations based on yesterday's sightings of suspected terrorists are concerned are over. Sanitisation of naval areas has been undertaken.

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Navy is maintaining close liaison with local police and other agencies for further developments. Insofar as the state of alertness is concerned, IN maintains a high state of alert and tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances.

Meanwhile, NSG officials and Navi-Mumbai cops have held a meeting to discuss the risks involved. The elite commandos from NSG and state police's specialised Force One have also been roped in, police said. Multi-agency search operations are also on to trace the suspected persons a day after a high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas.

ALSO READ: From India Today magazine | How to punish Pakistan



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. Security agencies are carrying out door to door searches to track down suspected armed men who were spotted near the fishing town.



SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES IN URAN CLOSED

The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut today. Armed policemen are guarding the schools.

"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.

Today at 7 am 5 suspects carrying arms wearing Pathani dress & covering their faces were sighted in Uran by 2 witnesses.; Navi Mumbai Police (@Navimumpolice) September 22, 2016

Police & security agencies launched operation,no version of witnesses confirmed till now.Efforts are on.

Hemant Nagrale

CP Navi mumbai.; Navi Mumbai Police (@Navimumpolice) September 22, 2016

Some reports said they were in military uniform.

MUMBAI ON HIGH ALERT, SEARCH OPERATION ON

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.

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.

In view of #securityalert adequate arrangements are in place. #Mumbaikar s need not panic & start their day tomorrow as any normal day.; Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) September 22, 2016

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A high alert was yesterday sounded 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.

NSG commandos in Navi-Mumbai.

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.

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.

Click here to Enlarge A look at how hard it is to guard the coastline (source: Newsflicks)

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UNPROTECTED KARANJA COAST

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.

ALSO READ:

Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK?



--- ENDS ---
As the security has been beefed up in Mumbai, the locals said that there is no permanent security for the coasts.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: As massive search and combing operations continue in Uran, locals and fishermen are complaining about the sorry state of affairs of the coastal security.

Security was beefed up in the area after two school children claimed to have seen 4-5 armed men moving suspiciously yesterday.

Even as a very high alert was sounded at the coastal area off Karanja, when India Today team visited the coast there was no security seen at the jetty.

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Also read: Navi Mumbai: Indian Navy ends search operation, maintains high state of alert

"Some 10 years ago we used to regulaly see patrolling vessels at the sea, but for many years now we have hardly seen them doing the rounds," complained Ravi Koli, a local ferry operator. "Once in a while, the patrolling boats from Mumbai come close to our shores but that is very rare. We have important installations like ONGC and a navy station around. We fishermen do not need police for our problems, we are capable of solving them on our own. But we need experts to secure our coasts," added Koli.

SECURITY NOT ENOUGH

This is not the only beat chowky at the Karanja coast that is in a pathetic condition. The police outpost too is rarely visited by cops. "Most of the time, it is locked. Even if the cops come, they do a round and disappear. We have to go all the way to Uran police station in case of an emergency," complained Parshuram Masan, a local shop owner from Karanja.

Also read: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Pakistani Fawad? Won't let film release, threatens MNS

"We have written to the police station several times to give us a full time police outpost. We have even requested our village panchayat for the same, but all our requests have fallen on deaf ears," added Masan.

Two of the most dreaded attacks that Mumbai saw were carried out through the sea route. After the 26/11 terror attacks, questions were raised about the coastal security. After suspicious movements reported by school children yesterday, locals in Karanja are alleging that lessons have still not been learnt.

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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.
Nestle on Thursday said it is in the process of taking steps to destroy all the 38,550 tonnes of its 'two-minute' Maggi noodles.

By Harish V Nair: Nestle on Thursday said it is in the process of taking steps to destroy all the 38,550 tonnes of its "two-minute" Maggi noodles -which comes to approximately 54 crore packets - earlier recalled after the country's food regulator banned it alleging it was unfit for human consumption due to presence of lead and taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) beyond permissible limits.

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BURN MAGGI BURN: NESTLE



Making a statement before the Supreme Court, Nestle informed the court that it had already destroyed 38,000 tonnes and sought permission to burn remaining 550 tonnes of it. The company also spent Rs 30 crore for the destruction process.

They are sent to cement factories and burned in their incinerators. The company said the recalled goods worth a total of Rs 420 crores. The recalled stocks are lying in over 30 locations across the country.





HEALTH HAZARD

Appearing for Nestle, senior lawyer Harish Salve said it wanted to take the permission of the court as the matter was sub judice (whole matter was before the SC). He said such stocks were well past their shelf life and that its storage would give rise to conditions that may lead to health hazard at various locations.

Also read: Nestle seeks SC nod to destroy 550 tonnes of Maggi Noodles



But the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) lawyer contended that it was not being destroyed as per specification and all the more, the company should not be allowed to destroy the entire stock as it would amount to "destruction of evidence".





NESTLE ACCUSED OF UNFAIR PRACTICES

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra then said: "They (Nestle) may hold back some packets for the purpose of evidence. Ultimately what could be done with the old stock." But the court deferred the matter till September 30 after FSSAI's junior lawyer said it would like Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to argue on behalf of it. In June 2015, the Central government had moved the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission against Nestle, alleging unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements by the firm. It has sought `640 crore in compensation.

On 16 December, the SC barred the consumer forum from proceeding with the matter and summoned all case files before it.Also read: Maggi row: Delhi pulls off noodle brand from Kendriya Bhandars



NESTLE CLEARED TESTS

Subsequently, Nestle cleared tests conducted by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), under the apex court's orders and were back in the market.

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All tests conducted on 29 samples failed to find any excess lead or artificial monosodium glutamate (MSG) in it. Every single sample was found compliant.

The CFTRI (the central government's laboratory) clarified that glutamic acid can be due to presence of ingredients like tomatoes, cheese, hydrolysed plant protein, hydrolysed vegetable protein, etc.

--- ENDS ---
Latest News

Washington, DC - Secretary Kerry met with President Sirisena to discuss our strong, bilateral partnership and to build upon the first U.S.-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue. The Secretary commended President Sirisenas leadership in guiding his government in pursuing meaningful reconciliation and justice in Sri Lanka, and expressed confidence that the Government of Sri Lanka will fulfill its international commitments.

The United States stands with Sri Lanka on strengthening its economy, advancing good governance, and ensuring human rights and democratic participation for all of its citizens.

Both welcomed the opportunity for candid and constructive discussion to advance our common agenda and opportunities for cooperation across the full range of bilateral and regional issues.
Latest News

Washington, DC - Ambassador Arnold A. Chacon, the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources at the Department of State, will travel to San Antonio, Texas, October 68, to talk to students at University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), St. Marys University, and Texas A & M University about career opportunities at the Department of State.

The Director General will also speak at the San Antonio World Affairs Council on Thursday, October 6 and at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 30th Annual Conference on Saturday, October 8.

Director General Chacon is a career diplomat with 35 years of experience in the Foreign Service. Prior to his current assignment, he was the U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) The Delhi government today resolved to ensure foolproof implementation of the ban on Chinese firecrackers this festive season admitting their sale and use continued in the city despite restrictions.

Kapil Mishra, soon after taking interim charge of the environment department, directed its Secretary to devise a plan and issue an advisory in this regard. Minister Imran Hussain is on Haj pilgrimage.

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"Have instructed the Secretary of Environment to ensure a complete ban on Chinese crackers across Delhi. The Chinese firecrackers are said to be unsafe, hazardous to use and have detrimental effects on peoples health. Last years experience says it is in use and available everywhere," Mishra said in a series of twwets.

He said teams will be formed to check Chinese firecrackers illegal trade and keep a tab. The teams will also conduct raids, he said.

"The government will issue an advisory. RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations) and civil society organisations will be assisting the teams during the drives," he said.

Last year, the government had written to the Customs Department to continue to enforce the ban on such firecrackers.

The Centre had issued a public notification in 2014 warning importers and public of the legal consequences if they used such crackers.

Centre had also said it was "illegal" to sell imported crackers (including Chinese crackers) in retail, since there had been no permit given to anyone to import such crackers. PTI SBR TIR ZMN TIR

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Sep 23 (PTI) Army chief General Raheel Sharif today said Pakistans armed forces were capable of countering any threat to the countrys security at any cost, amid an intensifying war of words with India over the Kashmir issue.

"The army chief while speaking to officers and men said that let there be no doubt that our valiant armed forces have the capability to counter complete threat spectrum and Inshaallah with the backing of entire nation we will defend each and every inch of our beloved country, no matter what the cost," the army said.

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Sharif was visiting the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) located near Kharian in Punjab and inaugurated state of the art features to upgrade its infrastructure to accommodate foreign armies and Pakistani security forces growing demand for training.

He claimed that Pakistan has been victim of terrorism for over a decade and sacrificed a lot but "we have turned the tide against terrorism primarily due to resilience displayed by the whole nation and professionalism of our security forces".

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault even as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif again raked up the Kashmir issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly session yesterday.

Hours after Sharifs speech, India described Pakistan as a "terrorist state" and accused it of carrying out "war crimes" against Indians through its "long-standing policy" of sponsoring terrorism, saying the country is now host to the "Ivy League of terrorism". PTI SH KUN AKJ KUN

--- ENDS ---
Islamabad: Russian forces arrived in Pakistan on Friday for its first ever joint military drill that begins on Saturday, a military spokesperson said.

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pakistan for first ever Pak- Russian joint exercise," tweeted Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

The military exercise in which around 200 Russian army men are participating, was earlier reported to have been cancelled in the wake of the killing of 18 soldiers in the September 18 terror attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two-week military drill named `Friendship 2016` is the first between the two former Cold War rivals. It will continue till October 7, according to the Pakistan media.

Militaries of the two countries have not revealed much about the drill. But it is said to take place in "mountainous areas".

The exercise is a signal that Moscow and Islamabad are deepening their military cooperation.

"This obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defense and military-technical cooperation," Pakistan`s ambassador to Russia, Qazi Khalilullah, told a Russian news agency last week.
New Delhi: Russia on Friday categorically stated that the reports saying that Russia-Pakistan anti terror exercise is being held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are completely false.

Russia officially announced that its first ever joint military drill with Pakistan will be held only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and not in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit-Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir

All reports alleging the drills will be taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous, Russia stated.

"The only venue of the exercise is Cherat," said a statement by the Russian Embassy in New Delhi, referring to a place in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. Cherat lies 34 miles south east from Peshawar.

"All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," the Russian Embassy said.

Earlier, media reports from Islamabad said the exercises will take place at Pakistan Army's High Altitude School in Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Russian forces arrived in Pakistan today for its first ever joint military drill that begins on Saturday.

The military exercise in which around 200 Russian army men are participating, was earlier reported to have been cancelled in the wake of the killing of 18 soldiers in the September 18 terror attack on an Indian Army base in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two-week military drill named `Friendship 2016` is the first between the two former Cold War rivals. It will continue till October 7, according to the Pakistan media.

Militaries of the two countries have not revealed much about the drill. But it is said to take place in "mountainous areas".

The exercise is a signal that Moscow and Islamabad are deepening their military cooperation.
Geneva: Author and columnist Tarek Fatah on Friday voiced concern over Balochistan issue saying, Pakistan is sanctioning the genocide of Balochi people to make way for the territory to be sold to Chinese imperialism.

Slamming Pakistan for the atrocities committed by the forces on Baloch locals, Fatah said, It is a ultimate war crimes that Pakistani forces have committed, adding that they have spilled blood of its own citizens.

Baloch Representative at UNHRC Mehran Marri said the various Pakistan military Generals who were behind massacres in Balochistan should be hanged. He said the Pakistan Army personnel should be tried in International Criminal Court.

Marri who paid homage to Baloch people killed by Pakistani forces, said, We are here to pay homage to the victims of Kill & dump policy of Pakistani establishment.

Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti tool slammed Islamabad saying, it's high time and the world should know about Pakistan's barbaric acts.

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the human rights violations in Balochistan, several Baloch leaders living in exile have been aggressively advocating for freedom of the restive region from the clutches of Pakistan.

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.
Diphu: At least six Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militants, including two of its top leaders, were killed and an army man was injured in an encounter with security forces in the early hours in Karbi Anglong district of Assam today.

On specific information, the joint police and army team launched an operation at Banipathar area under Bokajan police station and at around 1 AM the militants exchanged fire with the security forces inside a forest, Superintendent of Police Debojit Deuri told PTI.

Six KPLT were neutralised in the encounter, while an army man was injured, the SP said.

Two top leaders of the underground outfit were suspected to have been killed in the encounter, the SP said, adding, the identification process was on.

The injured army man was taken to hospital, he said.

One SLR rifle, one Insas rifle, three pistols and two grenades were recovered from the slain ultras, he said.

KPLT, formed in 2010-11 by a breakaway faction of the Karbi National Liberation Front after the KLNF declared ceasefire, is active in the remote areas of Bokajan.
New Delhi:The Supreme Court today directed CBI to proceed with the investigation in slain journalist Rajdev Ranjan's murder case and directed the Bihar police to provide protection to his family.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also issued notices and sought response from RJD leader Shahabuddin, Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, the son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Bihar government on the plea of Ranjan's wife seeking transfer of the case from Siwan in Bihar to Delhi.

The apex court directed the CBI to file a status report of its investigation before it on October 17, the next date of hearing.

The bench directed the Superintendent of Police, Siwan to provide police protection to the Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan and their family.

Asha had moved Supreme Court seeking transfer of probe and trial in the case to Delhi alleging that media reports had shown two absconding killers of her husband in the company of recently-released RJD leader Shahabuddin and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav.

She had sought reliefs including a direction to CBI to take up the investigation forthwith in view of the fact that the proclaimed offenders, Mohd Kaif and Mohd Javed, have been spotted with Shahabuddin and the state Health Minister, where several cops were also present. Kaif surrendered in a Siwan district court of Siwan on Septmeber 21.

The scribe, working with a vernacular daily, was shot dead on the evening of May 13 in Siwan town by some sharp- shooters allegedly at the instance of then jailed RJD leader, the plea alleged, adding that despite being named by the family of the journalist, Siwan police did not name Shahabuddin in the FIR as a key conspirator.

It also alleged that the RJD leader was irked over some reports by the slain journalist on the issue of murder of three sons of Chandrakeshwar Prasad. Shahabuddin has been convicted and awarded life term in one of the cases.

Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him.
New Delhi: In remarks that could cause a controversy, Congress on Friday said that it "perhaps made a mistake" by alloting land to Ramdev for his food park while it was in power.

"We perhaps made a mistake (by alloting the land) but we did not give him the status that he enjoys. When we make a mistake, we admit the mistake. We do not cover-up," party spokesman Tom Vadakkan said at a briefing today.

His remark came in the wake of a question over the yoga guru's close associate Acharya Balkrishna entering the annual Forbes list of India's 100 Richest People at the 48th position with a net worth of USD 2.5 billion, owing to his 97 per cent holding in Patanjali Ayurved.

"You ask Forbes on which basis...You also ask the government about the manufacturing licence...About noodles", he said.

To a question that Ramdev was given land during the Congress-led UPA regime when Subodh Kant Sahay was the Minister concerned, he said "we perhaps made a mistake."

Ramdev is a known detractor of Congress and is considered close to the Modi government.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sept 23 (PTI) Union minister Kiren Rijiju today said the police action can be tough in exceptional cases where citizens do not abide by the rule of law, even as he highlighted the need for reforms in the force.

"Here in India, there is a fashion to say that the whole police are corrupt, politicians are corrupt, system is corrupt and even judges are corrupt. It is easy to blame each other but there is need for reform in peoples mindset also," the Minister of State for Home Affairs said.

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"India must be governed by the rule of law," Rijiju said at a conference here organised by Indian Police Foundation on the occasion of 10 years of the Supreme Court judgment on police reforms.

"When citizens are not behaving according to the rule of law, in those circumstances, the police must be tough. But that toughness in the police action must be exceptional. It must be the exception and not the common practice," he said.

Rijiju said there is a need for reform in every sector, including the police, the judiciary and the administration as well as the society.

"When people say that all politicians are thieves, I say politicians do not have their specific character, as they derive their character from the society. So, the mindset of the people and the society has to be reformed," he said.

He said those who serve in the police must realise that they have a responsibility towards the society and remarked that theirs is "not a job, but a service to the people".

Noting that there is something wrong in the way many look at the police service, he said, "I feel that we must develop credibility. Satisfaction will only come when we have respect for the service and for these, reform is required in police."

Lauding the Police for its diligence, Rijiju said nowhere in the world is there a police which works as hard as the Indian Police does. "They are on duty round-the-clock. They sacrifice their own leaves, their festivals to make sure that the people enjoy their life and festivals. Their hard work is not recognised by people," he said.

The MoS remarked that he was "very unpopular" among his colleagues in Parliament because he does not heed to their "requests" seeking transfer of policemen.

"There are 543 Members of Parliament and people make their request for transfer through their MPs. Since I do not heed to their demands, I have become very unpopular," Rijiju said.

He said that apart from the reforms in the police, the force must act according to the elected government. "Since the leaders are answerable to the people, the police should pay heed to the instructions of the elected representatives, so that the citizens can be served," he said.

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Calling for "reforms within the police", Rijiju said the force needs to be adaptive of the local conditions and work in coordination with the locals.

"We talk about the police reform, within the police also there has to be reform. Police must have public coordination. Some people from the northeastern region say that when they visit police stations, police do not take their complaints. So there must be reform at the ground level within the police and they must be adaptive and according to the society. (MORE) PTI CPS KIS SC KIS

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday urged Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to "reconsider" his order removing Krishna Saini as Chairperson of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC).

Declaring his appointment as void `ab initio` after a period of six months may lead to serious setbacks as all DERC decisions taken during this period will also become "null and void", the Chief Minister said in a letter to Jung.

Former Chief Income Tax Commissioner Krishna Saini was on March 5 appointed the new DERC chief succeeding PD Sudhakar, who retired on January 29.

The Chief Minister said that since his appointment, Saini -- a 1981-batch Indian Revenue Service officer -- had taken various measures in the interest of consumers, including making provision for compensation by discoms for unscheduled power cuts, allowing individual metering in group cooperative societies and imposing penalities on discoms for various lapses.

Kejriwal said the entire selection process (for DERC chief) was conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

"The Selection Committee was headed by a retired High Court judge and included the Chairman, CERC (Central Electricity Regulatory Commission), and the Chief Secretary as members... The only infirmity observed by the Lt. Governor is the lack of approval by him," Kejriwal wrote in the 29-page missive.

Calling it a "curable defect", he requested the Lt. Governor to review his order.

Referring to the High Court order that held that the Lt. Governor was the administrative head of the Delhi government, Kejriwal said the judgement has since been challenged in the Supreme Court.

"Since the matter is sub judice, it would only be appropriate that we await the final orders of the Supreme Court," he said.

Jung had on Wednesday scrapped the appointment of Saini as DERC chief and asked the Delhi government to start the selection process afresh as per law.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Friday hear an appeal filed by December 16 gang-rape convicts - Akshay, Vinay Sharma, Pawan and Mukesh.

They had challenged their death sentence awarded by the Delhi High Court in the apex court.

The top court had on April 4 begun final hearing of the convicts' appeal almost two years after staying their execution.

Two of the four death-row convicts had written to Chief Justice TS Thakur and Justice Deepak Misra, stating that they do not approve of the defence counsel appointed by the court to argue their case before the top court as they had given statements against them to the media in the past.

The trial court had in September 2013 awarded death sentences to the convicts.

Six months later, the Delhi High Court upheld their conviction and sentence. All the convicts moved the apex court in 2014, which stayed their execution.

Six people, including a juvenile, had assaulted the woman in a moving bus in South Delhi.

Later, the accused threw out the victim and her male friend at an isolated spot.

She died in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012, triggering nation-wide protests that resulted in giving more teeth to laws related to rape and other formes of sexual harassment.
Chandigarh: Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday stressed on the importance of research and innovation and said the Centre wants to give more autonomy to premier institutes of higher learning where the government's role will be that of a facilitator, not controller.

Stressing on more autonomy to premier institutions of higher learning, based on their performance, the Union HRD minister said, "We want to give more autonomy to all institutes of higher learning, which are Centres of Excellence and the government's role will be that of facilitator."

"We don't want to control institutes, we want to promote them to choose their own path to become real research and innovation centres," he said at a press conference in Mohali.

"Those institutes which are doing a good job, will get more autonomy and those which are not doing a good job or about whom we receive negative feedback, will have be more regulations," Javadekar said.

He chaired the review meeting at IISER, here with the Directors of five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research in Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

The Union Minister said the Prime Minister's scholarship for research is being envisaged for IISERs on the same lines as for the IITs and IIMs.

"We have also decided to ensure a joint effort of all IISERs, IITs and IIMs so that the real strength of our institutes gets reflected in the international ranking," he said.

Although many Indian institutes have more quality, it doesn't get reflected in the international ranking because the feedback mechanism and the perception issues were not addressed earlier. But we have decided to do it jointly with all these institutes of higher learning, Javadekar said.

Asserting that the Narendra Modi government wants to give more stress on research and innovation, which are key to its 'Make in India' scheme, he said, as sustainable progress is achieved only by those nations which innovate.

"Sustainable progress happens in those countries which innovate and India wants to be an innovative nation. We have talent, we have ability, we have good institutes, we have good infrastructure, we want to strengthen it further give more impetus to this," the Union Minister said.

Javadekar also interacted with the students and faculty of IISER, Mohali and got feedback on improving the performance of these institutions. He was accompanied by the Union Minister of State for HRD Mahendra Nath Pandey. IISER Mohali's Director N Sathyamurthy was also present on the occasion.

We need to be cost effective for which we need to be more productive, which can happen only when we innovate, Javadekar said, adding, "Now more companies are focusing on research, I hope that these firms promote research and innovation not just for their own benefit, but for the country's benefit also."

About his interaction with students, he said, "They gave so many ideas about their research, passion. Their intent was very visible. Therefore, we will continue our dialogue with students and teachers and the education community."

The Union Minister is also scheduled to meet the Vice Chancellors of 41 Central Universities at Banaras Hindu University on October 6.

The meeting will focus on actions taken and proposed for improvement of quality of education, research, internal resource generation, infrastructure, student-centric initiatives, and e-governance initiatives.

About private educational institutions mushrooming in various parts of the country, with some allegedly compromising on the quality of education, Javadekar said, "We are going to hold a meeting of education ministers of the states and this is going to be a big issue."

"Only a few indulge in malpractices, but most provide quality education. We remain committed to improve the quality of education and check any malpractice," he said.

On the proposal to make NCERT books online, Javadekar said, "I have assured that I will look into it, and after reviewing, I will take a call."

About scholarships granted to students from Jammu and Kashmir this year, he said, "Under the Prime Minister's scholarship Yojana, 3,800 scholarships have been granted this year."

"We have increased number of engineering colleges. Around 1,800 students of J&K got admissions in engineering colleges with this scholarship. Students have also gone in medical, hotel management, nursing and general education stream," Javadekar said.

About the New Education Policy, he said, "Suggestions will come till September 30 and then we will have a one-day workshop of the MPs, where they will give their suggestions. We will scan all these and come up with a formal draft."

"I hope within the next three to four months, the main draft will be ready," he said.

About the fund crunch in Punjab University, the Union Minister said, "If the Centre has to play a role in this, we will see."
London: Divisions in Prime Minister Theresa May`s cabinet generated confusion over Brexit Friday after a series of mixed messages on how and when Britain will leave the European Union.

Following an interview with Sky News in which he said Britain planned to begin formal Brexit talks early next year, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was quickly put in his place by May`s office on Thursday.

"The government`s position has not changed -- we will not trigger Article 50 before the end of 2016," a Downing Street spokesman said, referring to the EU treaty article outlining how a member state leaves.

May has kept the public message vague, saying only that "Brexit means Brexit" and that she is aiming for the "best deal", and refusing to provide any further commentary before Britain triggers the exit procedure.

But it is clear there are differences of opinion in her government between those who favour "hard" Brexit -- quickly severing all links with EU institutions -- and "soft" Brexit -- which could retain access to the single market.

Speaking Friday at the end of a two-day visit to Britain, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said: "Honestly, I leave London with the feeling that the government is undecided on how and when they should trigger Article 50".

Many British commentators share that view.

"Day after day after day, the differences and the nuances of difference between those who are at the top of the party and different ministers, and the prime minister, have become very, very clear," London School of Economics professor Tony Travers said.

The Spectator magazine`s Tom Goodenough wrote: "By keeping shtum (quiet) about Brexit and pledging that there will be `no running commentary` on Article 50, the prime minister may have saved herself the trouble of worrying about having to go back on her words.

"But she has also created a Brexit vacuum. And it`s no surprise that the likes of Boris are trying to fill the gap," he added.

Former London mayor Johnson, once seen as a top contender to be prime minister, had already ruffled feathers in Downing Street when he appeared in a video by eurosceptic pressure group "Change Britain".

"Brexit means Brexit and that means delivering on their instructions and restoring UK control over our laws, borders, money and trade," he said in the message.

Brexit minister David Davis was also rebuked this month for saying it was "very improbable" Britain would stay in the single market.

"He`s setting out his view that it`s improbable," May`s spokeswoman said afterwards, adding that the premier "recognises that people have their differing views".The three ministers with the biggest role to play in getting Britain out of the EU -- Johnson, Davis and international trade minister Liam Fox -- all favour a "hard" Brexit.

This could see Britain leaving the single market and operate on World Trade Organisation rules internationally, while also imposing strict curbs on immigration from the EU.

The trio all campaigned for Britain to leave the EU in June`s referendum and are regularly referred to by the British tabloids as the "Three Brexiteers".

In his interview on Thursday, Johnson dismissed as "baloney" the notion that Britain would have to continue to allow free movement of people within the EU if it wanted access to the single market.

European leaders have insisted that the two must go hand-in-hand.

"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," Johnson said.

On the other side, finance minister Philip Hammond is among those reportedly backing a less hardline approach that would retain more ties with the EU, particularly for the economically crucial City of London financial hub.

George Osborne -- finance minister under David Cameron, who resigned after the Brexit vote -- signalled in a Financial Times interview on Friday that he too wanted a "soft" Brexit.

The FT has reported that the "turf war" in the government was unsettling business leaders and that Hammond had told business chiefs in a recent meeting that it was "all very difficult at the moment".
Panaji: A Goa court on Friday acquitted two men accused of raping and killing British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling in 2008.

The alleged rape and murder of the British teenager had then triggered an outrage that put a global spotlight on the dark underbelly of the countrys tourism industry.

I find them not guilty of all charges, Judge Vandana Tendulkar said after the trial of Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho in the state capital Panaji.

Fifteen-year-old Keelings bruised and half-naked body was found on popular Anjuna beach eight years ago. Her death triggered a debate on how unsafe the popular tourist destination was for foreigners, especially women.

Goa Police initially dismissed the teenagers death as an accident but opened a murder probe after Keelings mother, Fiona MacKeown, pushed for a second autopsy, which proved she had been drugged and raped.

Im devasatated, Mackeown told a news channel amid criticism about the sluggish pace of the case.

MacKeown also accused local authorities of trying to cover up the death to protect drug gangs operating in Goa.

Several weeks after the attack, local men DSouza and Carvalho were arrested.
Panaji: A children's court here on Friday acquitted two beach shack workers accused of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving UK teenager Scarlett Keeling on a Goa beach in 2008 to die on the shore.

Goa Children's Court president Vandana Tendulkar acquitted Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho of all the charges in the high profile case, which had cast a shadow on the coastal resort.

Expressing deep disappointment over the verdict, Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown said, "I am devastated, I am shocked."

A dejected Fiona said that medical evidence appeared to suggest that her daughter had been drugged, raped and murdered, but blamed the local police as well as the CBI for the acquittal of the two accused. She said that international tourists were not safe in Goa.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the judgement as "unfortunate", but said it will not hamper the image of the coastal state.

"It is a heartbreaking judgement...I feel that such a outcome of the case needs to be challenged in the higher court," he said.

The 15-year-old's half-naked body was found at Anjuna beach in February 2008. While the police initially tried to pass off the incident as a suicide, a second autopsy revealed 52 injury marks on her body as well as traces of a cocktail of drugs in her system.

The police had initially dismissed it as a case of drowning, but later registered it as culpable homicide, after Fiona pressed for a second autopsy, which found that the girl was drugged and raped.

CBI, to which the probe was handed over later following repeated pleas made by Scarlett's family, had filed its chargesheet in the case in 2009.

At the time of incident, Fiona and her family were on a holiday in India. Fiona and her other children had gone to the neighbouring state of Karnataka, leaving the 15-year-old Scarlett to the care of a Goan family.

The police investigation had revealed that the girl who had arrived on the shack in the midnight, was allegedly offered the drugs and later sexually abused before leaving her to die on the beach. On March 31, 2008 her body was flown to UK and was kept at a morgue till June 16, 2012 when it was finally buried at her home in Davon.

The CBI had charged Samson of sexually abusing the girl and leaving her to die on Anjuna coast, while Placido was accused of providing narcotics to her on the fateful day.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Durgadas Kamat said the judgment is "unfortunate."

"This incident has brought shame to Goa at international level. I do not expect from the Chief Minister to say that Goa's name didn't get tarnished. It did get tarnished. We appeal to the CM that all possible legal help is given to the victim's family, so that justice is delivered," Kamat said.
Kozhikode: Accusing Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of "misusing" the UN platform, BJP today asked the neighbouring country to stop dreaming of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hitting out at Sharif for raising at the UN General Assembly session the Kashmir issue and killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain also urged Pakistan to concentrate on their internal affairs.

"Pakistan has raised the Kashmir issue at the UN. They have revealed their true colours. Nawaz Sharif has misused the UN platform. He was speaking like LeT chief Hafiz Sayeed. Pakistan should stop dreaming of Kashmir and think of saving Balochistan and Sindh," Hussain told reporters here.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to this coastal city for attending the BJP national council meeting where he is expected to speak on Uri terror attack, the BJP said Pakistan is the root cause of terrorism and it should change its name to "Athankisthan".

Raking up Kashmir, Sharif had glorified 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.

Slamming the Pakistani Prime Minister, Hussain said "every terrorists in Nawaz Sharif's dictionary is young and revolutionary leader".

The BJP also accused Congress of indulging in petty politics on the Kashmir issue and asked the opposition to believe in Modi, his government and the Indian Army.
Islamabad: After India claimed diplomatic victory over Pakistan at the United Nations amid deteriorating bilateral ties following the killing of 18 soldiers in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif`s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said that Islamabad is ready for unconditional talks with New Delhi to resolve all issues, including Kashmir.

While talking to a television channel, Aziz, however, said that any talks between the two countries cannot succeed till the resolution of the Kashmir issue, reports Radio Pakistan.

He insisted that Sharif had forcefully raised the Kashmir issue at the United Nations.

Asserting that the international community has accepted that Kashmir is a "disputed territory", he said that the pressure is now mounting on India.

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 and called on the UN Security Council to hold a free and fair plebiscite.

On Thursday, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters that India was "sensitising 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 Sunday's 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 percent of his time to," Swarup said.

He said that, on the contrary, virtually every country has referred to terrorism as the main threat to international peace and security, a fact that Pakistan still remains in denial of.

(With Agency inputs)
Islamabad: Apparently under pressure in view of growing international support to India in the aftermath of Uri attack, a rattled and jittery Pakistan is reportedly bracing for an offensive.

A senior Pakistani journalist and author on Thursday night tweeted about the presence of a group of fighter jets in the sky of Islamabad.

Several residents of the Pakistani capital city seconded Hamid Mir's tweet, saying that they heard F-16 fighter jets too.

F-16 planes flying at 10:20 pm over Islamabad  Hamid Mir (@HamidMirGEO) September 22, 2016

War is not good for the poor people of South Asia who are in majority let the majority unite and stop this war mongering  Hamid Mir (@HamidMirGEO) September 22, 2016

I heard many of them aloud. https://t.co/bxUVkQGsSZ  Rana Muhammad Usman (@rana_usman) 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

@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

@salmanbelieve @HamidMirGEO @OfficialMqm doston its all political game, who will get killed we mango ppl. so don't fight.  Ganesh Uniyal (@ganeshuniyal) September 23, 2016

@hamidmirgeo Yes poor people's of south Asia is against war.. We want peace in our region. We are proud south Asian.. Long live S A  Aninda Sarkar (@AnindaSarkar15) September 23, 2016

India on Thursday claimed diplomatic victory 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 here that India was "sensitising the world" about how Pakistan was sponsoring terrorism.

The spokesperson said most countries have condemned Sunday's terror attack at Uri near the Line of Control (LoC) -- the de facto border between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi: Indian and France on Friday signed militarily significant deal for the supply of 36 Rafale fighter jets.

The deal was signed by French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, who arrived in New Delhi late last night to sign the Euro 7.8 billion deal, and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets between India and France signed. pic.twitter.com/0Gu1YrUMl5  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

As part of the deal, 36 Rafale jets will come equipped with latest missiles and weapon system, giving the Indian Air Force (IAF) a cutting edge over arch rival Pakistan.

Also present during the signing of the deal were 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 Modi government, besides a 50 per cent 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 only has 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.

The agreement is a major vote of confidence in the Rafale, which had long struggled to find buyers overseas, despite heavy lobbying efforts by the administration of French President Francois Hollande.

Hollande hailed the deal as recognition of France`s aviation industry.

It was first mooted in 2012 but faced major delays and obstacles over the last four years.

India entered exclusive negotiations on buying 126 Rafale jets four years ago, but the number of planes was scaled back in talks over the cost and assembly of the planes in India.

Modi announced on a visit to Paris last year that his government had agreed in principle to buy the jets as India looks to modernise its Soviet-era military.

But it continued to be held back by disagreements such as Delhi`s insistence that arms makers invest a percentage of the value of any major deal in India, known as the offset clause.

Hollande again pushed the deal on a visit to India in January, when he was Modi`s guest for Republic Day celebrations, but officials privately acknowledged that price had become a sticking point.

It is the biggest order for the Rafale after Egypt agreed to buy 24 of the jets in 2015 and Qatar purchased the same amount later that year.

The highly versatile Rafale is currently being used for bombing missions over Syria and Iraq as part of an international campaign against the self-styled Islamic State jihadist group.

It has also been deployed in the past for air strikes in Libya and Afghanistan.
By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: The Maharashtra State Election Commission today derecognised Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)as a political party in Maharashtra along with other four parties.

Apart from the RJD, Janata Dal (secular), All India Forward block, All India United Democratic Front and Indian Union Muslim league were derecognised by the Commission.

Also read: Navi Mumbai: Indian Navy ends search operation, maintains high state of alert



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TAX RETURNS NOT FURNISHED



The action was taken after these parties failed to furnish their income tax returns and audit reports to the State Election Commission.

"Inspite of regular reminders amd requests, these parties failed to furnish the documents of their Income Tax returns and Audit reports, hence we have taken this action," informed JS Sahariya, State Election Commissioner.

Also read: Shahabuddin, Tej Pratap under SC watch in journalist Rajdeo murder case

A notice was issued on August 26, 2016, to these five parties along with a few others registered parties asking them to submit these documents. This was over and above the earlier communications made to them but these parties failed to do so.

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi, Pakistan's armed forces have chosen targets in India in the case of any strike, a report said on Friday.

As per a Geo TV report, the Pakistani military has prepared an operational plan to retaliate against any possible offensive from across the border.

The report has quoted a defence source as saying that targets in 'war-mongering' India have been selected in case of 'aggression or surgical strikes from the enemy'.

"Pakistan is fully prepared to meet any military challenge from India. Our operational plan is ready, quid pro quo targets are finalised and forces have been dedicated."

The report has quoted another source as saying that Pakistan forces will remain on high alert, no matter how developments take place in the time to come.

"Whether it is a Cold Start or hot pursuit, we are ready. India is well aware of our capabilities and also knows the fact that despite the Pakistan Army's participation in internal security issues, a military balance is well maintained to meet any challenge from across the border."

The source added that 'in case of surgical attack from India, Pakistan would immediately respond for which targets had already been set.'

On Thursday night, senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir tweeted about the presence of a group of fighter jets in the sky of Islamabad.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified since the terror attack on an Indian Army base in Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, which left 18 soldiers dead and much more injured. Four terrorists were also gunned down in the attack.

India has strongly condemned the incident and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured the nation that the people behind the Uri attack would be punished.

The Indian government is contemplating possible strategies to deal with the fresh challenges arising out of the terror attack in Uri.

Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack that has pushed India-Pakistan relations to a new low.
New Delhi: Indian Air Force on Friday successfully fired recently acquired long range air-to-air MICA missile on a maneuvering target from Mirage-2000 Upgrade combat aircraft.

With the success of this mission by 'Tigers', the first squadron of the force, IAF has become one of the few air forces in the world with the capability of such beyond visual range air-to-air missile, a Defence Ministry release said.

The missile achieved a direct hit on a target which was much smaller than an actual aircraft and flying at a low altitude, it said.

The target was destroyed on missile impact validating the launch envelope of the missile, it said.

The operational success of this mission confirms a critical capability of IAF, it added.
Geneva: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to corner Pakistan over the Balochistan issue seem to be yielding a positive outcome.

In a major development, Ryszard Czarnecki, the vice president of the European Parliament, on Friday had some strong words for Pakistan on the Balochistan issue.

While paying tribute to those killed in Balochistan, Czarnecki warned Islamabad of imposing economic and political sanctions on Pakistan if it fails to stop the atrocities on Baloch people.

I told the European Union during our human rights debate that if our partner countries do not accept human rights and standards, in this situation we should react and seek sanctions like some moves in economic fields, Czarnecki told ANI.

The EU's statement comes after Balochis and Indians held protests against Pakistan on Wednesday near the office of the United Nations in New York city.

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the human rights violations in Balochistan, several Baloch leaders living in exile have been aggressively advocating for freedom of the restive region from the clutches of Pakistan.

Khan of Kalat Amir Ahmed Suleman Daud (Balochistan leader in exile) on Wednesday called Pakistan a rogue state.

Also in a controversial move, Baloch nationalist leader Brahumdagh Bugti, president of Baloch Republican Party (BRP), which is seeking the independence of Balochistan, 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 in the Pakistani province.

Houses burned by paki forces in Sui area of Dera Bugti @UN've to take act to stop.Dera Bugti Operation by Paki 4s pic.twitter.com/40OBmF0BOc  Banuk Shirin Baloch (@Shirin_Baloch) September 21, 2016

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.

Recently, a Baloch woman, who refused to be identified exposed Pakistan's atrocities in the restive area, claimed that the Pak forces have rape cell, where women are confined and subjected to brutal sexual assault.

The woman said Pakistan uses tanks and fighter jets to silence their call for freedom.

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.
New Delhi: India on Friday signed a 7.8 billion deal with France to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets, and the delivery of which will start in 36 months.

This significant deal was signed by French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, who arrived in New Delhi late last night and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon is its Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Meteor air-to-air missile with a range in excess of 150 km.

Here is a comparative study of the features between Rafale and the US-made F-16 in possession of Pakistan. (With inputs from quora.com)

Rafale:

- Rafale can fly up to 2,000 nautical miles at a stretch.

- The maximum cruise altitude is 50,000 feet.

- The rate of climb is 60,000 feet per minute.

- Cruise speed long range is 1,032 knots.

- Cruise speed normal range 750 knots.

- Max speed winner is Rafale 579 knots.

The Rafale reaches a maximum speed that is 410 knots faster than the F-16.

- Maximum thrust is 34,000 (lbf / pound-force)

Rafale produces 5,000 more pound-forces of thrust than the F-16.

- Take-off Weight for Rafale is 54,000 (lbs)

- Exterior Dimensions: Height 17.52 feet., wingspan 35.43 feet, total length 50.10 feet.

Rafale is 0.79 feet longer than the F-16.

Rafale has a 2.62 foot wider wingspan than the F-16.

Rafale is 0.82 feet taller than the F-16.

Avionics make & model: Thales RBE2-AA AESA radar Thales SPECTRA Electronic Warfare system. Thales/SAGEM-OSF Optronique Sec

Armament: Guns: 1 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30/M791 autocannon with 125 rounds

Hardpoints: 14 for Air Force versions (Rafale B/C), 13 for Navy version (Rafale M) with a capacity of 9,500 kg (20,900 lb) external fuel and ordnance and provisions to carry combinations of:

Missiles:

Air-to-air:

MBDA MICA IR or EM or Magic II and

MBDA Meteor in the future

Air-to-ground:

MBDA Apache or

MBDA Storm Shadow-SCALP EG or

AASM-Hammer or

GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-22 Paveway III or GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II

GBU-24 Paveway III

AS-30L

Air-to-surface:

MBDA AM 39-Exocet anti-ship missile

MBDA CVS401-Perseus in the future

Deterrence:

ASMP-A nuclear missile

Other:

Thales Damocles targeting pod

Thales AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System) reconnaissance pod

Thales TALIOS multi-function targeting pod in the future (F3R Standard)[citation needed]

Up to 5 drop tanks

Buddy-buddy refuelling pod



Pakistan's F-16:

- US F-16 can fly 2,280 nautical miles.

- The maximum cruise altitude is 50,000 feet.

- The rate of climb is 60,000 feet per minute.

- Cruise speed long range is 1,303 knots.

- Cruise speed normal range is 330 knots.

- Maximum thrust is 29,000 (lbf / pound-force)

- Take-off Weight for F-16 is 54,000 (lbs)

- The F-16 weights 6,000 pounds less than the Rafale.

- Exterior Dimensions: Height 16.70 feet., wingspan 32.83 feet, total length 49.31 feet.

- Avionics make & model: Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems

Armament:

Guns: 1  20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barrel Gatling cannon, 511 rounds

Hardpoints: 2  wing-tip Air-to-air missile launch rails, 6  under-wing, and 3  under-fuselage pylon (2 of 3 for sensors) stations with a capacity of Up to 17,000 lb (7,700 kg) of stores

Rockets:

4  LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19/7  Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively)

4  LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19  CRV7 70 mm rockets)

4  LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4  Zuni 127 mm rockets)

Missiles:

Air-to-air missiles:

2  AIM-7 Sparrow

6  AIM-9 Sidewinder

6  AIM-120 AMRAAM

6  IRIS-T

6  Python-4

Air-to-ground missiles:

6  AGM-65 Maverick

4  AGM-88 HARM

AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)

Anti-ship missiles:

2  AGM-84 Harpoon

4  AGM-119 Penguin

Bombs:

8  CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition

8  CBU-89 Gator mine

8  CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon

4  Mark 84 general-purpose bombs

8  Mark 83 GP bombs

12  Mark 82 GP bombs

8  GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)

4  GBU-10 Paveway II

6  GBU-12 Paveway II

4  GBU-24 Paveway III

4  GBU-27 Paveway III

4  Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) series

4  AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)

Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD)

B61 nuclear bomb

B83 nuclear bomb

Others:

SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod or

AN/ALQ-131 & AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or

LANTIRN, Lockheed Martin Sniper XR & LITENING targeting pods or

Up to 3  300/330/370/600 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight/extended range/loitering time or

UTC Aerospace DB-110 long range EO/IR sensor pod on centerline
New Delhi: Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan, India on Thursday did not rule out revisiting the Indus Waters Treaty that was signed with Islamabad in 1960.

"I am sure you are aware that there are differences between India and Pakistan on the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in reply to a question at a media briefing here on Thursday.

"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," Swarup said.

"For any such treaty to work, it is important there must be mutual trust and cooperation. It can't be a one-sided affair."

Meanwhile, a high-level UN official said the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived "two wars".

UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson made the remark at a General Assembly high-level side event on "water as a source of peace".

India has already launched a diplomatic blitz against Islamabad following Sunday's cross-border terror attack on an Army base in Kashmir.

The water distribution treaty brokered by the World Bank was signed between the two countries in 1960 after Pakistan's fear that since the source rivers of the Indus basin are in India, it could potentially create droughts and famines in Pakistan during times of war.

According to the agreement, India has control over three eastern rivers -- Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej -- all flowing from Punjab.

Pakistan, as per the treaty, controls the western rivers of the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum that flow from Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir has been demanding a review of the treaty as it robs the state of its rights to use the water of the rivers.

India and Pakistan are currently locked in a diplomatic war after the killing of 18 Indian soldiers in Uri, close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him various issues, including situation in Jammu and Kashmir and security for BRICS Summit to be held in Goa next month.

During the half-an-hour long meeting, the two senior ministers discussed the prevailing situation in Kashmir Valley as well as steps taken to check infiltration from across the border, official sources said.

The reports of suspicious movement of some unidentified persons along the Maharashtra coast, also figured in the meeting.

Singh and Parrikar, who hails from Goa and is a former Chief Minister of the state, discussed the security preparation for the BRICS Summit to be held in Panaji on October 15-16, the sources said.

Presidents of Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, besides Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the BRICS meeting.

Normal life remained affected in the Valley for the 77th straight day due to restrictions and separatist sponsored strike.

Curfew was imposed in parts of Srinagar in view of apprehensions of law and order problems after Friday prayers.

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.
Panaji: Taking a dig at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said he was working towards realising Mahatma Gandhi's "intention to dissolve" the grand old party after attaining Independence.

AAP's work in Goa will "benefit" BJP during the upcoming Goa elections as they will eat into the vote bank of Congress, he said.

"Mahatma Gandhi had a dream that the Congress should be dissolved after independence. He wanted Congress-Mukt Bharat. There are several of his disciples including Rahul Gandhi and other Congressmen who are now busy fulfilling his dream. The Congressmen in Goa by fighting amongst themselves are also contributing to it," Gadkari said.

The beginning of fulfilment of the Mahatma's dream will happen from Goa during the 2017 Assembly polls (when Congress would be wiped out from the state), he said in presence of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.

Gadkari, who held a series of meeting with BJP MLAs and workers in Goa, said the emergence of AAP on political scene is going to benefit BJP.

"I wish AAP all the best. If AAP gets ten votes, they will eat into only two votes of us while eight would be that of Congress. I wish them (AAP) all the possible growth in the state," he said.

Gadkari claimed that several Congress leaders in Goa are desperately trying to join BJP.

"There is large scale unhappiness in Congress. Some Goa leaders are trying to get in touch with me," he said.

"(Defence Minister) Manohar Parrikar and Parsekar will take decision on their proposal to join the party," he added.

Over the alliance with MGP, Gadkari said the party is all set to renew its alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (for the next Goa assembly polls), which is a like-minded party and has been a BJP's partner for the last five years.

"We (BJP-MGP) have such a great relation. They are very positive towards forming an alliance. Their ideology is matching ours. The alliance will benefit both the parties," he said.

Gadkari said there is no difference of opinion between the BJP and MGP.

"Even if there are small differences, they would be sorted out during the talks," he said, adding Parrikar and Parsekar will further hold talks with MGP leaders to iron out any issues.
Washington: The US Friday asked India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through diplomacy and not through violence.

"We have long urged India and Pakistan to find ways to resolve their differences, not through violence, but through diplomacy," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference.

He was responding to a question on the death of 18 Indian soldiers at an army camp in Uri.

"I've seen some of the public reports about this incident. You know, obviously, the United States strongly condemns acts of terrorism around the world," he said.

Earnest said over the years, India and Pakistan made some important progress in that pursuit of resolving differences through diplomacy.

"And you know, we're hopeful that they'll be able to continue to make the kind of progress that will bring greater stability to what is a rather volatile region of the world," he said.
New Delhi: Two Indians, who were rescued after over a year of captivity in war-torn Libya, will return to India on Friday.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said C BalaramKishan from Telangana and T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh will arrive in New Delhi 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 kidnapped by ISIS terrorists in July last year.
By PTI: New Delhi/Islamabad, Sep 23 (PTI) Russia tonight rubbished media reports that its troops will be holding joint military exercises with Pakistani forces in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and said the anti-terror drills will take place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

The denial came as Russian troops arrived in Islamabad today for the first-ever joint exercises with Pakistani forces from tomorrow under the name Friendship-2016, reflecting growing military ties between the two countries.

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"Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called Azad Kashmir or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan," said a statement by the Russian Embassy in New Delhi.

"The only venue of the exercise is Cherat," the statement added, referring to a place in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. Cherat lies 34 miles south east from Peshawar.

"All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," the Russian Embassy said.

Earlier, media reports from Islamabad said the exercises will take place at Pakistan Armys High Altitude School in Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan.

About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills called as Friendship 2016, which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era. "A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10," army spokesman Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted along with some photographs of the Russian and Pakistan troops.

A statement by Russias Southern Military Command said the drills will involve over 70 servicemen of the Southern Military Command, including the Mountain Mobile Brigades personnel deployed to the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic (North Caucasus), and also officers from the headquarters? staff.

"The Southern Military Commands mechanised infantry servicemen are fully equipped and have their mountain gear with them, as well as ammunition for their standard weapons," Russias Itar-Tass news agency reported, citing the statement.

The two militaries will share their experience and employ teamwork in fighting in mountainous areas, particularly destroying illegal armed groups, it said.

"The joint military drills are aimed at bolstering and building up military cooperation between the two countries," it said.

The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades. PTI AKK SH ZH AKJ AKK

--- ENDS ---
Jammu: Border Security Force (BSF) troopers on Friday apprehended a Pakistani national after he crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu region`s Akhnoor sector.

Police said the intruder, identified as Abdul Qayum was arrested in the Pargwal area.

"A mobile phone with a SIM card was also recovered from him," they said.

"He is being questioned about his motive for entering Indian territory," the police said.

Some sources also said that the intruder appeared to be mentally challenged.
Srinagar: Border Security Force (BSF) troopers opened fire following suspicious movement along the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday in north Kashmir`s Kupwara district.

Police said the BSF troops posted in the upper bore area of the LoC in Keran sector noticed some suspicious movement after which they fired.

"Searches have been started in the area now," police said.

The army said on Thursday that it had foiled two infiltration bids on the LoC.
Jammu: A Pakistani national was today nabbed by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border (IB) in Pargwal sector of the district.

BSF troops during patrolling captured a Pakistani national who had infiltrated into this side of the IB at around 5 AM, a BSF officer said.

A mobile phone and a sim card were recovered from him, the officer said, adding, he is being questioned.

The arrested person has been identified as Abdul Qayoom of Sialkote sector, he said.
New Delhi: West Pakistani refugees on Friday urged the Centre to grant them domicile right in Jammu and Kashmir, and sought a special package for rehabilitation in the state besides a host of other benefits.

The demands were placed by a delegation of West Pakistani Refugees during their meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh here.

The charter of demands included citizenship right in Jammu and Kashmir, special package for rehabilitation in the state, right to vote and contest state Assembly elections, among others.

Allotment of land, special recruitment, right to education in technical/professional institutions, issuance of SC/OBC certificates are the other key demands of the team, an official release said.

The delegation also sought the appointment of a Relief Commissioner for West Pakistani Refugees to look into and redress their grievances.

While appreciating the sentiments of the members of the delegation, the Home Minister assured them that he will look into the matter and take necessary action.

Singh said the Home Ministry has appointed a nodal officer to exclusively coordinate with the refugee community for redressal of their day to day issues.

The Home Ministry is working on a suitable provision to overcome the problems faced by the West Pakistani refugees in terms of non-issuance of SC/ST/ OBC certificates by the state government, he said.

The West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India and they have the right to vote in Parliamentary elections.

However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the state Assembly and local bodies.

The conferment of permanent resident status to the West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir falls within the purview of the state Constitution, which will enable them for jobs under state government, for admission into the state technical/professional institutions and the right to purchase/ acquire land/immovable properties in the state, the release said.

No separate proposal is under consideration of the

government to recruit the children of West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) in paramilitary forces, the Home Ministry release said.

However, these children were allowed to be recruited in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) without the condition of having domicile certificate from the designated authority of the state.

Other proof such as names in the Parliamentary voter list, are to be taken as evidence of their being refugees from West Pakistan and the certificate issued by the village Numberdar/ Sarpanch can be accepted and taken into account for the purpose of recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles against the quota of Jammu and Kashmir.

The children of these refugees are eligible to apply against the vacancies in paramilitary forces earmarked for the state, it said.

In the wake of the Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, about 5,764 families who migrated from the then West Pakistan are residing mainly in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts of Jammu division.

The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region and Personnel Jitendra Singh and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi were present when the delegation met the Home Minister.
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 today 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 top 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 Ms 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 top 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 Thursday also met Governor Vajubhai Vala and former Chief Minister SM Krishna ahead of his visit to Delhi.

With ANI inputs
Mangaluru: A 52-year-old Congress leader was allegedly hacked to death by unidentified miscreants in broad daylight in Sullia near here today, police said.

The deceased, Ismail Nelyamajalu, was the Congress Minority Wing local Karavali Valaya (coastal unit) President.

Police said Ismail was about to reach his car after completing his Friday prayers at a mosque at Irvanadu in Sullia when miscreants attacked him with machetes. He died on the spot.

Two years ago, Ismail and his wife Waheeda Ismail, who was the president of Bellare Grama Panchayat were attacked by miscreants. The latest attack could be a sequel to it, police said, adding that it could be personal and no communal angle had been revealed yet.

Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, ASP Dushanth and other officials visited the spot.
Thiruvananthapuram: A Special Vigilance Court in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday ordered a probe against former vigilance director N Shankar Reddy and Superintendent of Police R Sukesan, the investigation officer, in the bar bribery case.

The order follows a complaint alleging that the bar bribery case has been sabotaged by the duo.

Earlier in 2014, Kerala Congress(M) chief KM Mani was booked by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) for allegedly taking a huge amount as bribe from bar owners in the month of March and April that year on the promise of helping them re-open the closed bars.

In the factual report prepared by investigating officer after the probe and submitted to VACB director, the Superintendent of Police admits there is no evidence for demand.

The vigilance court rejected the final report on October 29, 2015, and directed for further investigation.

The same officer (Sukesan) conducted further investigation and submitted a factual report to the then director N Shanker Reddy, stating that there is no evidence to prove demand and acceptance of bribe.

In June this year, Jacob Thomas took over the charge of the VACB and on August 25, the investigating officer filed a petition before the vigilance court seeking permission for further investigation.

Later, the court issued an order allowing further investigation in the matter.

The petition filed by Thiruvananthapuram native Payichira Navas alleged that both officials (N Shankar Reddy and R Sukesan) had tampered the case diary.
Kozhikode: BJP on Friday said it was keen to expand the party-led National Democratic Alliance in Kerala and prepared to coordinate and accept any political party into its fold.

The remarks assume significance in the wake of reports that the party was eyeing Kerala Congress (M), led by former Finance Minister K M Mani, which snapped its over three decade old ties with the UDF recently following differences with Congress over bar bribery scam.

KC(M), which enjoyed a strong support base among Christian

community in central Travancore, has six MLAs in the present state Assembly and one MP.

After its fallout with Congress-led UDF, KC(M) recently decided to sit as a separate bloc in the state Assembly, keeping an equi-distance to both UDF and LDF.

However, former BJP state president, P S Sreedharan Pillai told PTI here that so far no talks had been held with the Kerala Congress (M) on the matter.

"But the party was interested in expanding NDA by taking more parties in its fold," he said.

Pillai also rejected reports that fissures have erupted between BJP and its key partner in Kerala Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), floated by Sree Narayana Dharam Paripalana Yogam, (SNDP) General Secretary Vellapally Natesan.

SDNP is a powerful social organisation of backward Ezhava

community in the state.

"It was a frivolous story. Because of the enthusiasm generated over the party's national council here, some efforts are being made by anti-BJP forces to dampen it," he said.

Meanwhile, indicating that party was not averse to have KC(M) in its fold, BJP spokesperson in Kerala J R Padmakukar told PTI "we have made our stand clear that no party,including KC-M, is untouchable to us. We are planning to expand our base. All parties are welcome to NDA."

BJP, which had garnered about 16 per cent vote share in the May 16 polls, is upbeat that it has succeeded in opening its account in Kerala Assembly with the victory of former Union minister O Rajagopal.

"We are planning to expand our base in the state. All parties are welcome to NDA. If they express their wish, we will discuss in the NDA and take a decision," he said.

On BJP eyeing KC(M), Padmakukar said, "let them take a decision. If they express a desire to join NDA or support or work along with BJP, we will take a decision. Our basic idea is to strengthen our vote share in Kerala to become a ruling party in the state".
New Delhi: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill is not likely to get ratified during the upcoming session of the Kerala legislative assembly but would come up for discussion only during the budget session which is due in April next year, Kerala finance minister T M Thomas Isaac said today.

"Consensus is yet to be arrived at between the Centre and states regarding the fixation of GST rate and hence the ratification of the GST bill will only happen during the budget session," minister told reporters after the GST Council meet here.

The Goods and Services Tax Council, in its second day of meeting, has struck political consensus on the GST threshold limit.

"The Council today fixed the turnover-based exemption limit from such levies at Rs 20 lakh, but left the decision on fixing the actual tax rates and the finalisation of draft rules for later," the minister said.

Meanwhile, the council has agreed on fixing a tax rate of 1 per cent for turnover of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, he said.

The issue of dual control over small traders was also resolved with states getting exclusive control over all dealers up to a revenue threshold of Rs 1.5 crore.

"The Centre will collect service tax of up to for turnover of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore," Isaac said.

The revenue exemption limit will be Rs 20 lakh for all states with the exception of northeastern and the hill states where the limit will be Rs 10 lakh, he said.

He also said that the base year for calculating compensation would be 2015-16 and the formula for payment of compensation would be deliberated between the state and Central authorities.

The Finance Minister will conduct a seminar on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and its implications for Kerala on September 29 during the Assembly session which is scheduled to begin on September 26.
Mumbai: In a gruesome incident, a pregnant woman has alleged assault by her husband for denying unnatural sex.

The 29-year-old has filed a complaint against her husband, with whom she has been living at Raghavnagar in Kalyan East since 2012.

The lady has filed a complaint at Kolshewadi police station.

According to DNA, when the lady conceived, her husband, Gajanan Bangar, started seeking unnatural sex.

When she refused, the accused, including his sister-in-law Bhagyashri Dhabadgar and brother-in-law Omprakash Bangar, assaulted her, reported DNA.

"The husband banged her head on the wall after she refused to have unnatural sex with him and later, in a fit of rage, assaulted her brutally leading to severe injuries on her head and nose," said a Kolshewadi police officer, adding: "The woman continued to suffer pain for a long time and even informed her relatives about the abuse."

"Because of her refusal, her husband and relatives threatened to get him married to another girl if she failed to satisfy his sexual demands," said the officer.

"The three accused have been booked. We are investigating if they too sexually assaulted the woman which was so brutal it could have led to the miscarriage of her baby," the officer said.

"We have registered a case under Section 498(A)(husband or relative of husband subjecting a woman to cruelty), 377 (unnatural sex), 324(causing grievous hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code," said Manisha Mane, investigation officer, Kolshewadi police station.
Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application of the controversial Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh, facing allegations of rape and corruption.

By Manjeet Sehgal: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application moved by the controversial Punjab Police officer Salwinder Singh.

With the court rejecting his bail application, the senior cop may soon be arrested by the Punjab police. He was earlier booked in a rape case which was registered in August this year on the basis of a complaint filed by rape victim's husband sent to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

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READ: Controversial Punjab SP Salwinder Singh booked for rape, police form teams to nab him



Salwinder Singh was found guilty of misconduct in a departmental probe. The complainant had told the police that the accused Salwinder Singh had sought sexual favours besides a bribe of Rs 50,000 from his wife when he was investigating a criminal case registered against Singh.

The senior cop is also facing a sexual harassment case filed by Gurdaspur based women police constables.

Salwinder Singh had shot to infamy after he was kidnapped by the Jaish terrorists who later attacked the Pathankot air force base.

Also read:Controversial Punjab SP booked for sexual harassment

--- ENDS ---
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Police on Thursday night issued sketches of suspects spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in neighbouring Raigad district.

The information by some local students led to a multi-agency search operation.

Based on the description given by some school children at Uran who spotted the armed suspects, their sketches were issued late last night, police said on Friday.

Meanwhile, National Security Guard and Navi Mumbai Police today questioned the girl who claimed to have seen the suspected gunmen.

Reports say that the girl has told the officials that she saw four-five men dressed in Pathani suits and a few of them were wearing masks. "They (suspected gunmen) were talking that we will target ONGC and split into two groups," added the girl.

The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut today.

"As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathani 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.

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, Anti-Terrorist Squad, Maharashtra Police, Navi Mumbai police, Mumbai police, and other agencies being roped in for the search and security.

Despite carrying out a massive combing operation in Uran and Karanja areas, police are yet to trace the suspects.

Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police monitored the situation throughout the night along with other top officials.

A strict vigil by police and other security agencies is being maintained in the area.

A high alert was yesterday sounded 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.

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.

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.

The fishing town of Uran is located across the eastern waterfront of the financial capital. The base located close to the town also houses units of MARCOS, the Navy's elite strike force.

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.

(With Agency inputs)
Agartala: Trinamool Congress and Congress MLAs today staged a noisy walkout from the Tripura Assembly separately on different issues today. TMC members walked out when Speaker Ramendra Debnath refused to admit an adjournment over Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's alleged anti-national remarks.

During the Zero Hour, TMC leader Sudip Roy Barman stood up and pressed for an adjournment to discuss Sarkar's comment made at a business seminar here yesterday.

Barman said the Chief Minister's comment that India always showed "big brotherly attitude" towards its neighbouring countries was "inimical to national interest".

A heated exchange of words between the Treasury and the TMC benches followed and the Chief Minister himself said he had not said anything inimical to national interest.

"I have said our External Affairs ministry should have such an attitude that we can maintain a good relation with our neighbouring countries. We want good neighbours. As an Indian, it is my right," Sarkar said.

But the barbs continued to fly as TMC members called the Treasury bench "agents of China and Pakistan", while the Left MLAs described Trinamool Congress as "agent of BJP".

As Speaker Ramendra Debnath did not adjourn the House, all six members of Trinamool Legislature Party (TLP) staged a noisy walkout and did not return to the House for the rest of the day.

Similarly, the three Congress MLAs also walked out in protest against the Speaker's refusal to allow a discussion on the events that led to violence on January 23 at Agartala after the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) brought out a procession.

The Speaker cited rules and business of the House to reject the demand.

Congress leader Ratanlal Nath said the party's demand for a CBI inquiry into the incident and discussion in the House was rejected in a "very undemocratic manner" and the party members staged a walkout.
Bhubaneswar: Congress today said it would support the Odisha government to protect the state's interest in the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh but blamed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the situation.

"We are ready to accompany the Chief Minister and meet the Prime Minister for resolving the Mahanadi issue," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said in the Assembly during a special discussion on the dispute.

Slamming Chhattisgarh for unilaterally building projects on the upstream of the river, Mishra said, "Odisha should approach the Centre for setting up a tribunal to solve the matter. "We also ask the state government to publish a white paper on the issue enabling people to know how they will be hit by projects in upstream of the river," he said.

Claiming that the Mahanadi issue has exposed the state government and the Chief Minister, the Congress leader alleged that Patnaik wanted the issue to linger for his political gains.

"Therefore, the ruling party avoids taking opposition parties along with it to oppose the Chhattisgarh government's activities," he alleged.

Asserting that a tribunal is the only alternative left with the state, Mishra said a meeting with the Prime Minister could also help resolve issue. Two meets with the Chhattisgarh government have failed to yield any result.

The Congress leader said the Chief Minister must win confidence of all political parties to jointly fight for the state's interest.

Rejecting the government's argument that it was not aware of Chhattisgarh's activities, he said, Patnaik in 2001 had assured this House that Chhattisgarh would not be allowed to proceed with construction activities on upstream of Mahanadi.

"Then Patnaik had said water inflow to down stream of the Mahanadi would decline if Chhattishgarh constructed dams upstream," Mishra said.

In 2003, the state government had claimed that water flow will not be affected even if Chhattishgarh built dams in the upper portion of the river. It even said that the opposition was making unnecessary hue and cry over the matter, he claimed.
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail application of former Gurdaspur SP Salwinder Singh, who was in the news during the January terror attack at Pathankot air base.

Salwinder's plea was rejected in a case of alleged sexual harassment and corruption.

The bail plea of Salwinder has been rejected by Justice MMS Bedi, said complainant's counsel Rajesh Kapila.

The case was filed by an accused in a rape case, alleging that Salwinder had sexually harassed his wife and demanded Rs 50,000 for dropping the case against him.

The counsel said the bail plea was rejected by the court on various grounds, including that Salwinder could tamper with the investigation.

On August 22, the high court had given Salwinder relief by restraining Punjab Police from arresting him in the case.

He is at present posted as assistant commandant of 75th battalion of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP). Salwinder was earlier refused bail by a court in Gurdaspur, following which he had moved the high court.

The complaint was made by the woman's husband during Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's Sangat Darshan programme.

Salwinder was booked by Punjab police on August 3.

The former Gurdaspur SP had been in the headlines during and in the aftermath of the Pathankot attack for claiming that he was abducted by the terrorists on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 before they attacked the Indian Air Force Base.
Chandigarh: An Akali Dal sarpanch and his son politician was caught slapping a five-month pregnant nurse at a hospital in a town in Punjab. The altercation between the two sides broke out when Paramjeet Singh and his son Gurjeet Singh were asked to wait.

Check the video:
Moga: A politician affiliated with Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and his son have been caught on camera slapping a five-month pregnant nurse at a hospital in Mogas Bagha Purana town.

According to reports, the altercation between the two sides broke out when Paramjeet Singh and his son Gurjeet Singh were asked to wait.

The father-son duo had visited Gupta hospital to get a patient discharged but got angry when they were asked to sit outside and wait for their turn.

The duo has been booked under Sections 451 (house trespass to commit an offence), 323 (punishment for causing hurt voluntarily), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intent in crime) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Baghapurana in Moga district.

Notably, Paramjit Singh's wife Daljit Kaur is a sarpanch.

"I only had asked them to wait outside as they were sitting on seats meant for staff. They could not take it and began to abuse me... to which I objected but they slapped me and pushed me to the floor, they hit me even though I said requested them to spare me because of my condition," NDTV quoted nurse Ramandeep as saying.

The video has gone viral.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was admitted to a private hospital here after she complained of "fever and dehydration".

The 68-year-old AIADMK chief was taken to Apollo Hospitals here late Thursday night and her condition is stated to be "stable" now, the hospital said, adding she is "under observation".

"The honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu was admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai with fever and dehydration," the hospital's Chief Operating Officer Subbiah Viswanathan said in a release circulated to media by the state government in the wee hours today.

He said the chief minister's condition is now stable and under observation. PTI SA VSTamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa hospitalised

Chennai, Sep 23 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was admitted to a private hospital here after she complained of "fever and dehydration".

The 68-year-old AIADMK chief was taken to Apollo Hospitals here late last night and her condition is stated to be "stable" now, the hospital said, adding she is "under observation".

"The honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu was admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai with fever and dehydration," the hospital's Chief Operating Officer Subbiah Viswanathan said in a release circulated to media by the state government in the wee hours today.

He said the chief minister's condition is now stable and under observation.
Coimbatore: In a shocking incident, a Hindu Munnani spokesperson was hacked to death by four men at Subramaniyampalayam on Thursday night.

The incident led to tension in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts of Tamil Nadu on Friday morning.

Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara Subramaniam called for a state-wide bandh today.

The Times of India has reported that the 36-year-old C Sasikumar, hailing from Subramaniyampalayam in Coimbatore district, was on his way to home on a two-wheeler when the men chased him on bikes and attacked him with sickles. The assailants escaped after attacking Sasikumar.

Sasikumar, who suffered 11 cut injuries, was rushed to a private hospital, where he succumbed to injuries.

In the wake of the attack, shops in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts were shut today, and buses remained off the road since morning. Over 500 policemen were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

A group of men pelted stones at the buses parked on the roadside and broke window screens. A driver of a private bus sustained injuries on his hand in the stone pelting, police said.

Six special police teams have been formed to nab the culprits, police said.

Some schools in the city declared holiday today in view of the tense situation.

On Monday night, another Hindu Munnani member was attacked with lethal weapons in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
Rae Bareli: In what is sure to bring in huge embarrassment for Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, several party workers were captured on camera thrashing some youths, who were protesting against the Gandhi scion in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli district on Friday.

The incident happened when Rahul was leading a roadshow in Rae Bareli district, which is Congress president Sonia Gandhi's constituency.

While the Amethi MP was appealing to people to vote for Congress in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Elections, some youths staged a peaceful protest with black flags in their hands. When the Congress members saw the bunch of youths raising slogans against their leader Rahul Gandhi, they rushed to attack them.

However, when the Congress members saw the camera recording their 'goondaism', they silently came back to take part in the roadshow.

Interestingly, during his roadshows, Rahul is urging people to vote for Congress and get rid of Samajwadi Party, which advocates 'goondaraj'.

Speaking to the media, one of the youth claimed that they were peacefully protesting against the Gandhi scion with black flags. However, this infuriated the Congress supporters, who eventually beat them up, he added.

The youth alleged that despite Rae Bareli being a Congress bastion, no development had taken place in the area. Hitting out at Rahul, he said the Congress leader is only visible during election time.

Rahul has undertaken 'Kisan Mahayatra' across Uttar Pradesh to reach out to the masses ahaed of high-voltage UP polls.

On a daily basis, the Gandhi scion, is holding a roadshow, interacting with people and repeatedly attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his UP tour.
By Anindya Banerjee: A Samsung Note 2 created a massive security scare in a mid-air Chennai bound IndiGo international flight with more than 180 passengers on board.

Passengers witnessed smoke coming out from the overhead cabin after which a half burnt handset was discovered. IndiGo in a statement said: IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning (September 23, 2016) and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board. The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23 C and simultaneously informed the Pilot-in-Command who further alerted the ATC of the situation on board. Taking the precautionary measure, the cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung Note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin. The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per the Standard Operating Procedures prescribed by the aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung Note 2 into a container filled with water in lavatory. The aircraft made a normal landing at Chennai airport, and all passengers were deplaned as per normal procedure.

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All passengers were safe and no one suffered any injury. The handset has been submitted to aviation regulator DGCA who has summoned Samsung officials in Delhi.

This is not the first time that a Samsung product has led to security scare. Earlier DGCA issued a specific circular for Samsung Note 7 preventing passengers from carrying it in check-in baggage or carrying it in switched on mode in hand baggage.

--- ENDS ---
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will expand his cabinet on September 26 in perhaps the last reshuffle of his council of ministers ahead of the Assembly election in early 2017.

Governor Ram Naik will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at Raj Bhawan on Monday, a Raj Bhawan release said here tonight.

This will be the eighth expansion of the Akhilesh Yadav government since it assumed office in 2012.

The UP council of ministers can have 60 ministers and there are three vacancies at present.

Sacked Mines Minister Gayatri Prajapati is all set to be inducted as a cabinet minister as part of a compromise formula to end the recent family feud in the Yadav clan, but he may get a different portfoilo, sources said.
Cairo: Rescuers recovered at least 162 bodies from a migrant shipwreck off Egypt's coast by Friday evening, as the search for victims entered its third day.

Survivors have said up to 450 migrants were on board the overcrowded fishing vessel that was heading to Italy from Egypt when it keeled over off the port city of Rosetta on Wednesday.

"The death toll from the illegal migrant boat that capsized off the coast of Rosetta... has risen to 162," the health ministry said in a statement.

The military said it had rescued 163 survivors and recovery attempts were continuing.

Rescuers had said search operations would focus on the boat`s hold where witnesses said around 100 people had been when the vessel flipped over.

Authorities have arrested four suspected people traffickers over the tragedy, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean.

The accident comes months after the EU border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound migrants were using Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous voyage.

Traffickers often use barely seaworthy vessels and overload them to extract the maximum money in fares from desperate migrants.

The International Organization for Migration said most of those rescued were Egyptians but they also included Sudanese, Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian.

After Balkan countries closed the popular overland route in March and the European Union 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 crossing from Egypt to Italy, which often takes more than 10 days, was becoming increasingly popular.

The UN refugee agency said on Friday that more than 4,600 non-Egyptians, many of them Sudanese and Ethiopians, had been arrested this year trying to depart from Egypt`s northern coast.

More than 10,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, according to the United Nations.

At least 300,000 migrants have crossed the sea 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 crossing, fatality rates have risen, with 2016 on track to be "the deadliest year on record in the Mediterranean Sea," said the UNHCR.

The European Union launched "Operation Sophia" last year to destroy smuggler boats that could be used to ferry migrants across the Mediterranean.
Washington: President Barack Obama on Friday had a bit of advice for Hillary Clinton, his Democratic Party's White House nominee, who soon faces Republican rival Donald Trump in the first presidential debate.

Asked what suggestions he might offer Clinton ahead of the debate Monday, the president told ABC News: "Be yourself and explain what motivates you."

He added that Clinton "is motivated by a deep desire to make things better for people."

The nationally televised debate Monday, pitting the two major-party presidential candidates in a tight race just six weeks ahead of the November 8 election, is expected to smash audience records.

Each word, gesture and look will be parsed minutely.

In the ABC interview, Obama praised Clinton, a veteran politician who has so far failed to inspire much voter enthusiasm.

"I've gotten to know Hillary and seen her work and seen her in tough times and in good times," he said of his former secretary of state. "She is in this for the right reasons."

No woman has ever been elected US president, Obama noted, "so she is having to break down some barriers."

"There is a level of mistrust and a caricature of her," he added, "that doesn't jibe with who I know, this person that cares deeply about kids."
Washington: Islamist identity of states like Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is the "underbelly" inspiring terror outfits like ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hezbollah, US lawmakers have been told by a American Islamic forum leader.

"Political movements and the Islamist identity of states like the Islamic Republic of Iran or the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or the Wahabism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the underbelly inspiring the militant movements like ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hizballah," M Zuhdi Jasser, president of Phoenix-based American Islamic Forum For Democracy, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.

Jasser said it is as "equally foolhardy" in counter- terrorism and counter-radicalisation work to refuse to acknowledge the role of political Islam in the threat as it is to "villainise" the whole of Islam and all Muslims.counter-radicalisation work to refuse to acknowledge the role of political Islam in the threat as it is to "villainise" the whole of Islam and all Muslims.

"However, those Islamist governments exploit the militancy of jihadists in order to dictate the ruling form of Islam," he said yesterday in his testimony before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, which organised a hearing on radical Islamist terror.

The lawmakers expressed concern over the mushrooming growth of terrorist organisations.

Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the Congressional subcommittee said events of the past few days remind how threat from radical Islamic terrorism is changing and how difficult it is to detect it and prevent it as well.

"In my view, we still have not dealt effectively with some of the root causes. We have not effectively dealt with the ideology that radicalises people here and around the world.

"It is essential, moving forward, that we not just try to muddle through, contain, try to prevent a catastrophe, but that we have a strategy that will be successful in dealing with the threat as it is evolving," he said.

Ranking Member Adam Smith said post 9/11, America pulled together all the different elements of US power, and allies, with the intelligence, law enforcement, military and built a very sophisticated operations centre and tracked al-Qaeda, first, of course, in Afghanistan, then into Pakistan, and Yemen, and elsewhere and has done a successful job of taking out their leadership and then minimising their ability to move forward.

"What we have not been successful at is turning back the ideology. And that is where other groups have popped up, and whether it's al-Qaeda or ISIL or Ansar al-Sharia, or any of... Boko Haram, dozens of different groups that adhere to this nihilistic, violent death ideology. That ideology has, quite honestly, spread since 9/11. There are more people adhering to it now than there were then," he said.

"And that is the great threat, and that is what we have seen in Europe and here as people not directly affiliated with al-Qaeda or ISIL or any of these other groups, by simply pledging allegiance and going off and committing violent acts in their name," Smith said.

Asking how to turn back that ideology, Smith said this is particularly important for America to work with the Muslim world on ways to promote the more peaceful brand of Islam that the overwhelming majority of people in that religion adhere to and work with them to defeat the ideology.

"That is a challenge because this is what (al-Qaeda founder) Osama bin Laden wanted. He wanted a war of civilisations. He wanted the West versus Islam. And every time we take a look at this, and cast a broad net and cast aspersions against the entire Islamic religion, we only empower al-Qaeda and ISIL and their message," he said, using another acronym for the ISIS.
New York: More than half the country fears a Trump presidency. And only about a third of Americans believe he is at least somewhat qualified to serve in the White House.

In the final sprint to Election Day, a new poll underscores those daunting roadblocks for Donald Trump as he tries to overtake Hillary Clinton.

Moreover, most voters of the Associated Press-GfK poll oppose the hard-line approach to immigration that is a centerpiece of the billionaire businessman's campaign. They are more likely to trust Clinton to handle a variety of issues facing the country, and Trump has no advantage on the national security topics also at the forefront of his bid.

Trump undoubtedly has a passionate base of support, seen clearly among the thousands of backers who fill the stands at his signature rallies. But most people don't share that fervor. Only 29 percent of registered voters would be excited and just 24 percent would be proud should Trump prevail in November.

Only one in four voters find him even somewhat civil or compassionate, and just a third say he's not at all racist. "We as Americans should be embarrassed about Donald Trump," said Michael DeLuise, 66, a retired university vice president and registered Republican who lives in Eugene, Oregon. "We as Americans have always been able to look at the wacky leaders of other countries and say 'Phew, that's not us.' We couldn't if Trump wins. It's like putting PT Barnum in charge. And it's getting dangerous."

To be sure, the nation is sour on Clinton, too. Only 39 percent of voters have a favorable view of the Democratic nominee, compared to the 56 percent who view her unfavorably. Less than a third say they would be excited or proud should she move into the White House.

"I think she's an extremely dishonest person and have extreme disdain for her and her husband," said one registered Republican, Denise Pettitte, 36, from Watertown, Wisconsin. "I think it would be wonderful to elect a woman, but a different woman."

But as poorly as voters may view Clinton, they think even less of Trump.

Forty-four percent say they would be afraid if Clinton, the former secretary of state, is elected, far less than say the same of Trump. He's viewed more unfavorably than favorably by a 61 percent to 34 percent margin, and more say their unfavorable opinion of the New Yorker is a strong one than say the same of Clinton, 50 percent to 44 percent.
Moscow/Islamabad: Even as Russian troops arrived in Pakistan for the first-ever joint military exercise by the Cold War rivals, Moscow has said it sees no reason for India to be concerned about the drill.

"We were informed by the Russian Defense Ministry that these exercises will not be carried out in [disputed] areas, and a place was chosen that has nothing to do with this. Hence there is no reason for India to worry about it," Sputnik reported quoting Zamir Kabulov, the Russian Foreign Ministry`s Director of the Second Asian Department`s comments to RIA Novosti on Friday.

However, Pakistan media said that the tactical drills will be held from September 24 to October 7 in the Army High Altitude School in northern Pakistan`s Rattu -- which is in Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan that is claimed by India -- and at a special forces training center in Cherat, in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Russian statement came soon after its military personnel taking part in the drill arrived in Pakistan, belying earlier media reports that Moscow had cancelled the exercise in the wake of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers at an army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 18.

About 200 servicemen from both sides will be participating in the exercise, called Druzhba-2016 (Friendship-2016).

"The objectives of the joint exercise include developing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, improving tactical abilities of the participating military personnel and developing a foundation for future interactions," the Pakistan embassy in Moscow said in a statement.

It said the exercises were a "manifestation of the desire" of Islamabad and Moscow "to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest including defence".

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise," tweeted Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

"This obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defence and military-technical cooperation," Pakistan`s ambassador to Russia, Qazi Khalilullah, told a Russian news agency last week.

Analysts have noted a warming of Pakistan`s ties with Russia, even as its ties with its long-term ally the US seem to be cooling.

Pakistan is particularly looking to Russian for arms. Reports said Moscow recently secured a deal for four Mi-35 attack helicopters, even as Islamabad is also exploring the possibilities of buying Su-35 fighter jets.

The two countries signed a military cooperation agreement in 2014 to enhance defence cooperation.
Seoul: After the United States sent two bombers to South Korea, North Korea on Friday accused it of pushing the tense situation in the region towards a nuclear war.

A message from the Korean People`s Army said the imperialist US is guilty of pushing the situation towards an imminent nuclear war by bringing strategic nuclear bombers to the Korean peninsula, Efe news agency reported.

On Wednesday, the US sent two supersonic bombers from Guam to South Korea. While one of them landed at the Osan Air base in Pyeongtaek, about 43 miles south of Seoul, the second one returned to its base after flying over the country.

US Air Force said that sending the bombers was a show of strength to counter North Korea`s aggressive behaviour.

On September 9, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test which raised tensions in the region and was strongly condemned by the international community.

Since the 1950 Korean War, the US maintains a military alliance with South Korea and is committed to defend it against any possible conflict with North Korea.
Washington: President Barack Obama is set on Friday to veto legislation allowing families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia: a move that could prompt the U.S. Congress to overturn his decision with a rare veto override.

Congress overwhelmingly passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act earlier this month in reaction to long-running suspicions, denied by Saudi Arabia, that hijackers of the four U.S. jetliners that attacked the United States in 2001 were backed by the Saudi government.

The White House has said Obama will veto the bill on the grounds that other countries could use the law as an excuse to sue U.S. diplomats, service members or companies. Obama has until midnight to do so.

But if two-thirds of the lawmakers in each of the Senate and House of Representatives vote to overturn Obama`s veto, the law would stand, and would be the first such override of his presidency.

It was not immediately clear when Congress would vote on the measure. Lawmakers most pressing business is to come up with a spending bill to keep the government open beyond Sept. 30.

A group of survivors and families have pressed Congress to uphold the legislation.

"Fifteen years has passed without answers or accountability for the most horrific attack on America - we are angry, frustrated and tired, said Terry Strada, whose husband was killed at the World Trade Center.

White House officials have been pressing their arguments with lawmakers in hopes of averting an override.

But some prominent Democrats in Congress have said they will stand by the legislation.

"Ive worked with these families for a very long time, and I think they should have their day in court," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Thursday.

The Saudi government has lobbied heavily to stop the bill, as has the European Union.

Major U.S. corporations like General Electric and Dow Chemical have also pressed lawmakers to reconsider.

"The bill is not balanced, sets a dangerous precedent, and has real potential to destabilize vital bilateral relationships and the global economy," GE Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who backs the legislation.
Washington: Pakistan is not putting enough pressure on the Haqqani terror network and this is the reason that the US Defence Secretary not giving the necessary certification for release of USD 300 million in coalition support funds to it, a top American general has said.

"As far the strength of the Haqqanis, the Secretary of Defence in August in his response to Congress as a result of the National Defence Act and Authorization Act of 2015, he was required to respond to Congress on whether there was adequate pressure being placed on the Haqqanis by the Pakistan government," Gen John Nicholson, Commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan said.

"And he said he was unable to certify that there was sufficient pressure being placed on them to justify additional coalition support funds to Pakistan. Kind of a lengthy explanation, but it was his way of saying that there's not, not adequate pressure being put on the Haqqanis," Nicholson told Pentagon reporters during a news conference here.

"I concur and with the Secretary's assessment on that. Then we, that the Haqqanis operationally have been able to conduct operations inside Afghanistan -- they constitute the primary threat to Americans, to coalition members, and to Afghans especially in and around Kabul," he said in response to a question.

General Nicholson said US troops in Afghanistan has been authorised by President Barack Obama to take any measures necessary to defend against the Haqqani threat.

"We have authorities into terms of force protection, so we can act against them when we identify them. We track their actions very closely. Especially as relates to the Kabul threat streams. I have the authorities I need to defend us against that threat," he said.
By PTI: New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) A high-end Samsung smartphone caught fire inside a Chennai-bound IndiGo aircraft today, creating a scare among over 175 passengers on-board but the plane made a safe landing.

Following the incident, concerning Samsung Galaxy Note 2 device, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked all airlines to ban use of this series of smartphones inside planes and the company officials have been summoned by the aviation regulator on Monday over the issue.

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Samsung said it is looking into the matter and is in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information.

The fire was reported inside the IndiGo aircraft coming from Singapore while landing at the Chennai airport. A senior DGCA official said a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 caught fire on an aircraft landing at Chennai airport at 0745 hours today.

The crew had to use fire extinguisher to put off the smoke and following the incident, the DGCA has asked Samsung executives to meet on September 26, the official said.

IndiGo said passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board.

The crew found the smoke to be coming from the hat-rack of seat 23C after which the pilot alerted the ATC of the situation.

"Taking the precautionary measure, the cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin.

"The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per Standard Operating Procedures prescribed by aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung Note 2 into a container filled with water in lavatory," the airline said. Earlier this month, the DGCA banned use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on board an aircraft following a series of incidents of the smartphones battery exploding in various countries. However, this is the first incident of the Samsung device catching fire on board in India. MORE PTI IAS RAM MKJ

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: In a hard-hitting statement, Chairman of the US House sub-committee on terrorism Ted Poe said that Pakistan is a "source of international terrorism" and America should rethink its engagement with Islamabad as it proved to be an "unreliable partner".

Pakistan is a terrorist state, and the reason for moving my bill (to declare Pakistan as a terrorist state) is because it is an unreliable partner.

We will have to see how much support this bill will get in the current Congress, Poe said to news18.com.

Asked why the United States continued to provide military and non-military aid to Pakistan despite strong evidence of its complicity in international terrorism, Poe said There is now a mountain of evidence against Pakistan. The reason is that Pakistan plays both sides.

It takes money from the United States and some of that money lands up in the hands of the ISI, which then uses that to fund international terrorism, Poe said.

Asked if it would be accurate to describe Pakistan as an Ivy League of Terrorism, he said, Yes, it will be a fair description of what Pakistan has become.

On the question of whether India should militarily respond to the Uri attack, which is the popular mood in the country, he said, I shouldn't advise what the Indian government should be doing but it is well within its rights to decide what it wants to do.

Ted Poe along with fellow Congress member Dana Rohrabacher have recently moved a bill to declare Pakistan a terror state.
New York: The Syrian army has announced a major new offensive on rebel-held eastern Aleppo after international powers with a stake in country`s civil war failed to revive a collapsed ceasefire during diplomatic talks in New York.

The offensive was announced as the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and other foreign ministers on the margins of a United Nations summit in New York.

Kerry declared "we cannot continue on the same path any longer" but said he had given Russia another chance to come up with "immediate and significant steps" to stop violence, including the end of Russian and Syrian government bombing of opposition areas.

The announcement was made by the Syrian army.

"The high command announces the start of operations in the east of Aleppo and calls for brothers and citizens to stay away from areas where terrorists are operating, " the Guardian quoted the statement of the army declaring the offensive as saying.

The statement also called for civilians to head to Syrian regime checkpoints "to be escorted to safety".

The Syrian air force, since Monday has stepped up its bombing of rebel-held areas, and both Russia and Syria have been implicated in the attack on the relief convoy which has been deemed a potential war crime by the UN.
United Nations: The UN Security Council has approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of nuclear weapons.

US Secretary of State John Kerry invoked North Korea's latest nuclear explosion in urging ratification of the treaty for "a safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet."

But the US has not yet done so. Anti-treaty minded Republicans rejected it under President Bill Clinton and congressional opposition remains strong today.

The UN's Comprehensive Test Ban Organization already has a network of monitoring stations. But it still cannot go on site to inspect for tests until the treaty enters into force. For that, the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated "nuclear capable" the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan must ratify.
United Nations: 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 has said.

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.

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 yesterday 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.

The JIM is to report on chemical attacks in three towns: Zafr Zita, in Hama province, on April 28, 2014, and on two villages in Idlib: Qmenas on March 16, 2015 and Binnish on March 24, 2015.
Washington: The top US 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 the 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.

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.

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.
New York: The planned US deployment of a THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea is not negotiable as part of efforts to agree new United Nations sanctions on North Korea after its latest nuclear test, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.

China, whose full backing is widely seen as crucial for sanctions on North Korea to be effective, is strongly opposed to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and some experts have argued it should be part of talks on new U.N. measures.

But asked whether THAAD was negotiable, Daniel Russel, the senior U.S. diplomat for East Asia, referred to an agreement by the United States and South Korea on the deployment.

"No. The two countries have made a decision," he told Reuters.

Discussions are already under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution on North Korea after it conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9. Analysts and diplomats say much depends on China`s attitude.

South Korea`s Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Thursday told the U.N. General Assembly that North Korea`s nuclear and missile programs presented "a direct existential threat" to the survival of his country.

Yun also accused North Korea of "totally ridiculing" the authority of the United Nations through its nuclear and missile tests and said it was time to reconsider whether it was even qualified for U.N. membership.

Russel, who spoke at an event on the sidelines of the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders in New York, declined to comment when asked if the United States supported such a step.

Two experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology`s Center for International Studies last week argued that if China were to agree to serious graduated sanctions on North Korea, the United States could agree to freeze the number of ground-based missile interceptors on the Korean Peninsula.

In an article in The National Interest magazine, Eric Heginbotham and Richard Samuels said that as part of a set of incentives to China, Washington "might also agree, after consulting South Korea, to withdraw THAAD from the peninsula when North Korean nuclear weapons no longer pose a threat."

China is North Korea`s main ally, but has been angered by its repeated missile and nuclear tests and backed tough U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang in March.

Beijing has also said it will work within the United Nations to formulate a necessary response to the latest nuclear test, but questions remain as to whether it is willing agree on tough enough steps to force North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program.

Publicly, China has not linked the THAAD deployment with whether it will support such sanctions, but it says the system compromises its own security and that North Korea`s recent belligerence is due to the deployment plan.

However, last month the U.N. Security Council was unable to condemn the launch of a missile by North Korea that landed near Japan because China wanted the statement to oppose the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile defense system in South Korea.
Washington: The United States has lauded the peace agreement signed between Afghanistan and Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin, appreciating the step to seek a peaceful resolution through political dialogue and negotiation.

"We applaud both parties for seeking a peaceful resolution through political dialogue and negotiation, we commend the agreement as an important demonstration of the Afghan government's commitment to restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan," Spokesman of the National Security Council, the White House, Ned Price said Thursday.

These steps towards seeking a peaceful resolution to decades of conflict can only benefit the people of Afghanistan, he said.

The deal with Hizb-e Islami, 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.

"The US continues to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process in which armed groups cease violence, break ties with international terrorist groups and accept the Constitution, including protections for women and minorities," Price said.

In another statement, the State Department Spokesman John Kirby commended Afghanistan for its achievement in forging an accord with Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG).

"We look forward to supporting steps towards a comprehensive resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan," he said.
'I don't have any faith in the justice system here to give us justice anymore. I had some hope in the CBI, but it is clear that either they are incompetent or corrupt, and I believe they are not incompetent," Fiona MacKeown said.

By India Today Web Desk: The "shocked and disappointed" mother of British teen Scarlett Keeling, who was raped and killed in 2008, today said she has no faith in the Indian justice system after a Goa court cleared the two accused of all charges today.

"I don't have any faith in the justice system here to give us justice anymore. I had some hope in the CBI, but it is clear that either they are incompetent or corrupt, and I believe they are not incompetent," Fiona MacKeown told reporters.

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READ| Scarlett Keeling's rape and murder: Both accused acquitted by Goa court



Earlier today, the Goa Children's Court Judge Vandana Tendulkar acquitted Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho of rape, drugging and culpable homicide in the eight-year-long high profile death case.

"If international tourists come to Goa and get murdered, they have no hope for any justice in this system," the British national, who had waited eight years for justice in her daughter's killing, said.

Keeling, 15, was sexually assaulted and left to die at Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008, by two beach shack hands, who according to the police had also spiked her drinks. Her bruised, semi-nude body was found on the beach the next day.

Police originally said Keeling had drowned after taking drugs but changed their story after Keeling's mother complained, and a second autopsy concluded she had been raped and murdered.

"I am shocked. I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order," MacKeown told reporters outside the court in Goa today.

The Keeling case had raised questions about the safety of tourists in the coastal resort and claims of police negligence. Her death on popular Anjuna beach captured the attention of the Indian and British media, and even inspired a Bollywood film.

Watch video here:



--- ENDS ---
Eight years after the rape and murder of British teenager Scarlett Keeling, a Goa court acquitted both the accused of rape and culpable homicide charges today. Here is all you need to know about the infamous case.

Scarlett Keeling was raped and left to die in Goa's Anjuna beach. Photo: Facebook\Scarlett Keeling.

By India Today Web Desk: Scarlett Keeling, a 15-year-old British girl, was on a six month family holiday to Goa with her mother, mother's boyfriend and siblings.

She was raped and left to die at Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008 by two beach shack hands who allegedly also spiked her drinks. Her bruised body was found on the beach the next day.

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Today, after eight years, a Goa court has acquitted both the accused, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, of rape and culpable homicide.



Here's all you need to know about the Scarlett Keeling case Scarlett travelled to India for a 6-month-long vacation with her family. Her mother, mother's boyfriend and siblings were holidaying in Goa. Scarlett who had been to Goa the previous year, convinced her family to let her stay alone at Anjuna beach. Family travelled to Karnataka leaving her behind. Keeling stayed back, helped a local tour guide, and even served food at some shacks. Family learned later than she had a sexual relationship with one of the locals, says a Telegraph report. In early February, Scarlett joined her family in Gokarna, but briefly returned to Goa to celebrate Valentine's Day. On February 17, Scarlett was seen at Anjuna beach bar called Luis' Shack at 3 am, say many eyewitnesses. Bar owner said she was already inebriated when she arrived and was trying to get a lift to go home. Instead of returning home, she was seen taking cocaine with the two accused, in the bar's kitchen. However, the accused denied compelling Keeling to take drugs. A British national, Michael Mannion, said he saw Keeling last with Murali Sagar, a man who turned eyewitness after admitting to taking drugs with Keeling and the two accused, around 5 am. But 15 minutes later, one of the accused Samson was found lying on top of Scarlett in the bar's parking lot and Sagar was nowhere to be seen. Mannion confessed he fled the scene on witnessing this. Sagar also confessed later than Samson came out of the bar, grabbed Scarlett from behind and asked him to leave. Hours later, police spotted Scarlett's semi-naked body lying face down at Anjuna beach. After first autopsy, police said Scarlett's death was a case of accidental drowning, despite the pathologist who carried out the autopsy hinting at a fair chance of this being a homicidal drowning. Keeling's mother found her daughter's torn bikini and shorts lying at the beach, untouched by the police and insisted on a second autopsy. After getting the autopsy done a second time, Keeling's mother and lawyer said they counted at least 52 wounds on her body as opposed to five wounds reported by the police. After the second autopsy, the case was treated as a homicide. By March end, Samson and Carvalho were arrested. Sagar and Mannion agreed to testify as witnesses. The case was transferred to the CBI on June 5, 2008. Scarlett's diary, however, had a different story to tell. Her personal diary revealed that she was deeply upset and had written "I'm stuck" and "I want to go home". She had also doodled a hangman, hinting she might have considered committing suicide. It is believed that the defenders won the case after the prosecution failed to prove their involvement with material evidence as well as eyewitnesses who could vouch for the final moments of Keeling.

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By PTI: Nashik (Maha), Sep 23 (PTI) After holding protests in several districts across Maharashtra, members of the Maratha community will take out a silent kranti morcha here tomorrow demanding reservations in educational institutes and government jobs.

The community, pre-dominant in Maharashtra politics, has been taking out silent marches in various towns of the state over last one month, following the rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district two months back. The victim girl was a Maratha, while the culprits were Dalits.

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According to the organisers, nearly 15-20 lakh people are expected to take part in the morcha that will begin at 10 AM from Tapovan here tomorrow and traverse through Panchavati karanja, Victoria bridge, Ravivar Peth, Tilak road, M G road and end at the District Collectorate office.

City police has already made arrangements for diverting vehicular traffic using ring routes and are also sealing some routes by created "no vehicle zones" in view of the massive morcha. Also, adequate police force has been deployed for the purpose.

Earlier, the Maratha rallies in Navi Mumbai, Akola, Latur and Nanded drew huge crowds.

The community leaders have been demanding scrapping of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act), saying that it is grossly misused, and also reservations for Marathas in educational institutes and government jobs. PTI CORR DK BSA RYS

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Former European Commission President and former Prime Minister of Portugal, Jose Manuel Barroso speaks during 2016 Concordia Summit Awards Dinner at Grand Hyatt New York

Former European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday hit back at those who attacked him for taking a job at Goldman Sachs, saying with an ironic swipe that the US bank "is not a drug cartel."

"Why don't I have the right to work where I want, if it's a legal entity? It's not a drug cartel," Barroso told journalists on the sidelines at a conference at Estoril, Portugal.

"I don't accept attempts to discriminate against a financial business operating in the marketplace... and I don't accept being discriminated against myself, which is contrary to European rules."

Since Goldman announced on July 8 that Barroso would be non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs International, the former Portuguese prime minister has faced withering criticism.

Leading the charge was French President Francois Hollande, who branded Barroso's recruitment "morally unacceptable."

Questioned about this on Friday, Barroso said Hollande had "yielded to pressure" and his remarks "did nothing to honour his office."

Barroso headed the executive arm of the 28-nation EU from 2004 to 2014.

He oversaw membership for several former communist states in Eastern Europe and steered the Commission's response to the global financial crash and eurozone debt crisis.

Critics say his inside knowledge of EU affairs, especially in the light of Britain's shock vote to break with the Union, could lead to potential conflicts of interest.

Current Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker launched an ethics probe into the appointment earlier this month.

He said Barroso would be now treated at the Commission as a simple lobbyist rather than with the pomp and protocol typically afforded to a former president.

Detractors of Goldman Sachs say the bank was heavily involved in selling complex financial products, including high-risk sub-prime mortgages -- an instrument that many blame for stoking the 2008 financial crash.

Critics contend the company was also key to the complex finance mechanisms that helped Greece hide the true state of its public finances in the lead-up to the debt crisis.

Barroso was prime minister of Portugal from 2002-4.

He has a supporter in the current Portuguese premier, Antonio Costa, who on September 16 called for "clarifications" from Juncker that there would be no "discriminatory treatment" of Barroso.
The IMF has cut its growth forecast for the United States but upgraded those for Japan and the eurozone

French growth suffered a downward revision on Friday, just days before the government puts together its final budget ahead of presidential elections next year.

France's economy contracted by 0.1 percent in the second quarter, the Insee statistics agency said, revising an initial estimate of zero growth.

This adds a layer of uncertainty to ambitious growth and deficit targets that President Francois Hollande's team reaffirmed only on Tuesday as campaigning for 2017 presidential elections gets under way.

The revision, which shows both consumers and businesses held back spending in April through June, highlights France's difficulties in combining spending boosts in the run-up to the presidential vote with the need to bring the French deficit in line with eurozone rules.

Hollande has not said whether he is seeking re-election, but if he does, his economic record will be key, including France's stubbornly high unemployment rate.

- France sticks to forecasts -

Finance Minister Michel Sapin, reacting to Friday's revision, said he stood by his 1.5 percent growth forecast for this year and next.

"All of this does absolutely not put in question the growth forecasts of around 1.5 percent for 2016 and 2017," he told a news conference in Berlin.

Growth of that size is instrumental for the government's tax and spending plans as well as honouring the promise to Brussels to bring the public deficit back under the EU limit of 3.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

The French economy grew by 0.7 percent in the first three months of the year.

However Insee's revised data Friday showed households trimmed spending by 0.1 percent in the second quarter, after having spent 1.1 percent more in the first quarter.

Investment by businesses fell 0.2 percent after a 1.3 percent rise in the first quarter.

- 'Relatively mediocre' -

"Taking into consideration public spending, overall domestic demand (excluding stocks) provided no contribution to GDP growth in the second quarter of 2016," said Insee, noting it had provided a 0.9 percent boost at the start of the year.

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A source at the finance ministry told AFP that GDP growth in the first two quarters meant that 1.1 percent annual growth was already in the bag.

But economists expressed doubts whether the remaining 0.4 points can be found easily in the remaining two quarters.

Early indications for France's third-quarter performance are "relatively mediocre", said Alexandre Mirlicourtois, director at economic think tank Xerfi.

"After all is said is done, it's hard to imagine 1.5 percent growth for this year," he said.

The French economy appears set to post slight growth in the third quarter, with the Banque de France saying earlier this month it expects a 0.3 percent expansion.

But Ludovic Subran, chief economist at Euler Hermes, said France will need 0.4 percent growth in the current quarter and the next to reach the government's full-year objective, above the current Bank of France forecast.

- Bright spot -

But there was a bright spot on Friday, contained in a key survey by data monitoring company IHS Markit.

While Markit's preliminary September Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) report was disappointing for the eurozone as a whole, France came out well compared to its peers.

The PMI index for France came in at a 15-month high at 53.3 points after 51.9 in August.

"The data raise hopes of a firmer GDP print for the third quarter after growth ground to a halt in Q2," Jack Kennedy, Senior Economist at IHS Markit, said in the statement.
Jerome Kerviel was sentenced to five years in prison over a series of risky trades which nearly bankrupted Societe Generale in 2008, though in total he actually spent only 150 days in prison

A French appeals court on Friday ordered "rogue trader" Jerome Kerviel to pay a million euros to Societe Generale over the nearly five billion euros he squandered through his reckless risk-taking.

But the court in Versailles, outside Paris, laid the lion's share of the blame for the 4.9 billion euro ($5.5 billion) loss at the feet of the French banking giant, citing its "woefully inadequate" internal checks.

Kerviel, 39, was "partially responsible for the loss" that brought Societe Generale to the brink of bankruptcy in 2008, the court said.

But "regardless of (Kerviel's) wiles and determination, or the sophistication of the procedures he used, such a loss could not have been incurred without the woefully inadequate oversight systems at Societe Generale," the court said.

The deficiencies and "managerial choices... gave an ill-intentioned employee such as Jerome Kerviel a wide scope of action," it added.

In a civil case, Kerviel was first ordered to repay the entirety of the enormous losses but that was quashed on appeal.

- 'I owe nothing' -

Despite Friday's verdict that he must now pay a million euros, Kerviel said: "I still believe I owe nothing to Societe Generale."

He said the decision gave him the "energy to continue the struggle" and would go on fighting for a retrial.

His lawyer David Koubbi, while trumpeting that the Versailles court "wiped out 99.98 percent of the sum" hanging over his client, said he would oppose "any effort to recover" the one million euros.

Jean Veil, a lawyer for Societe Generale, had called the ruling "completely satisfactory".

Koubbi said Friday's decision would be "excellent fodder" for three lawsuits that are pending against the bank as well as the bid for a retrial.

The decision did not bear directly on a 2.2 billion euro tax break that the French state awarded to the bank in compensation for the losses -- a protection that is available in fraud cases.

But the government said it would review Societe Generale's tax situation in view of the ruling that the bank was overwhelmingly responsible.

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Kerviel, who was convicted of breach of trust, forgery and entering false data for the trades, was sentenced to five years in prison, two of which were suspended.

In total he actually spent only 150 days in prison.

- 'Crook, fraudster, terrorist' -

Kerviel has always maintained that his bosses turned a blind eye as long as the profits kept rolling in.

His colleagues said he was generally well thought of by his bosses, but Societe Generale's then CEO described Kerviel as a "crook, fraudster and terrorist" after the scam fell apart.

Friday's verdict follows hearings at the Versailles appeal court in June in which lawyers for Societe Generale made a fresh attempt to claw back the cash.

The bank said it had "always recognised the weaknesses and faults in its system of checks", but that Kerviel was responsible for the trades.

In June, a Paris labour tribunal ordered Societe Generale to pay him 450,000 euros in damages, saying he had been fired "without genuine or serious cause". The bank has appealed.

Kerviel, the son of a village blacksmith from the far west of rural Brittany, divides opinion in France.

Many believe he is a scapegoat while others think he should pay the price for his actions.

He has never denied taking risks -- at one point staking 50 billion euros of the bank's money -- but maintains that his bosses were just as much at fault as he was.

Although his annual salary of some 100,000 euros was modest compared with that of some of his fellow traders, Kerviel reportedly generated 1.9 billion euros for the bank before the financial crisis accelerated his losses.

Since his release from prison, Kerviel has reinvented himself as a computer security consultant and a trenchant critic of "casino capitalism", even meeting Pope Francis after making a pilgrimage to Rome to protest against the "tyranny of the markets".
The images seen on Google Earth show four 3-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.

By Reuters: Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it was 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 disclosure 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.

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WHAT GOOGLE EARTH SHOWS

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.

Also read:

China says Japan trying to 'confuse' South China Sea situation

China says should maintain South China Sea peace with Vietnam



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 airfields and port facilities.

A spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department, Commander Gary Ross, said the Pentagon was aware of the reports of the military-related construction and encouraged all claimants to take steps to lower tensions.

"We believe a reciprocal halt among all claimants, including Taiwan, on any further land reclamation, construction, and militarization of land features would lower tensions," he said.

"DETAILS ABOUT STRUCTURES CONFIDENTIAL"



Taiwan's Defence Ministry and coast guard, which directly oversees Itu Aba, said details about the structures were confidential and have not commented on their nature.

Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, said it was reviewing the request from Taiwan, but that such requests to date had 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 adviser who has regularly visited Itu Aba.

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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 swathe of the disputed maritime area. Both China and Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province, vehemently rejected the court ruling.

Also read:

Barack Obama puts South China Sea back on agenda at ASEAN Summit



--- ENDS ---
People hold balloons reading "Stop TTIP" during a demonstration outside the European Union headquarters in Brussels on September 20, 2016

A last-gasp push to seal a landmark free trade deal between the European Union and the United States before the end of Barack Obama's presidency has failed, EU ministers agreed on Friday.

"It is not realistic to reach the final agreement by the end of the Obama administration," said Peter Ziga, the trade minister of Slovakia which currently holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency.

The decision puts the fate of the trade deal on the US side in the hands of Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump, who are both running their presidential campaigns on anti-trade deal platforms.

The highly ambitious Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (or TTIP) would create the world's biggest market of 850 million consumers stretching from Hawaii to Lithuania.

But with talks dragging on since 2013, opposition to the deal in Europe has grown, most dangerously in key member states France and Germany amid fears that TTIP will undermine European standards on health and the environment.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem, who leads the talks with the US, said it takes five or six months for a new American administration to be fully in place and that effectively puts the negotiations on pause.

"When we can restart, (that) is a bit too early to speculate until we know what the administration would look like," she said after EU trade ministers met in the Slovak capital.
After a first term hailed by some World Bank member states but marked by internal discord, the way is now clear for a second term as bank president for Jim Yong Kim

The way is now clear for a second term for the American president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim.

After a first term hailed by some Bank member states but marked by internal discord, Kim this month became the only candidate running for his own succession.

In keeping with an unbroken tradition, the US nominee will again fill the presidency at the World Bank, while the International Monetary Fund remains in European hands as Christine Lagarde, also unopposed, began a second term as managing director in July.

After nominations opened, no other country took the risk of trying to upset this established order -- unlike in 2012, when the Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala threw her hat in the ring to be leader of the development behemoth, which comprises 189 member states and employs 15,000 people.

Still, Kim's record since taking office that year is not spotless.

A medical doctor and former president of Dartmouth College, Kim won plaudits for mobilizing the Bank against the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa and taking action against climate change, as well as for setting a goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 all while expanding World Bank lending.

But he also had to contend with a high degree of internal dissent, stemming from an unpopular reorganization and a controversy in 2014 over bonuses granted to senior Bank officials.

The World Bank Staff Association last month denounced what it called a "crisis of leadership," and in an open letter several former officials lamented what they said was the lack of a clear strategy. The Economist and Financial Times opposed automatically reappointing Kim and called for a more open process.

- 'Show of force' -

Despite all this, poor and developing countries still chose to support a second term for Kim, 56, who will sit for interviews with the Bank's board before being formally crowned next month. His second five-year term is due to begin in July next year.

An informal leader of the emerging markets, China has praised Kim's "impressive achievement and leadership" even if Beijing set about creating its own development bank to counter the Western hegemony of the World Bank and IMF.

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"It reveals the power of incumbency. Kim has spent more than four years forming close relations with key actors in the emerging-market countries," said Scott Morris of the Center for Global Development. "The staff are not in the position of reelecting him. It's up to the shareholders."

Other more critical observers say the selection process was biased, hurriedly begun in the dead of summer and locked down by the United States, the Bank's largest shareholder.

Almost immediately after the window for nominations opened, the US Treasury offered its support for a second term for Kim, helping to discourage any other candidacy.

"The US show of force has cooled off any serious candidate who might have been thinking of applying for the job," said Paul Cadario, a former Bank official and now a distinguished fellow at the University of Toronto.

By taking charge, the United States also doubtless sought to nip in the bud any potential World Bank leadership contest ahead of the US presidential election, which is scheduled for November 8.

Bank officials say the calendar for the selection process was set by the executive board and is in keeping with past practices at the Bank.

"The member states are happy with the overall picture of the World Bank and they don't want to change its leadership at this time even if there are management challenges inside and if the morale is very low," said Ian Solomon, a former US executive director at the Bank and chief executive of consulting firm SolomonGlobal.

Kim's critics hope the member states will at least be aware of the discontent in the air.

"There's been enough questions raised about Dr Kim that the board could make clear that there are certain things they expect him to do and certain things they expect him to stop doing," said Cadario.
An Airbus A380 aircraft performs during a flying display at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, on July 14, 2016

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.

"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.

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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."
[BERLIN, GERMANY  APRIL 13: Activists wearing suits throw fake money into the air while demanding greater trasparency in new legislation following the ongoing Panama Papers affair on April 13, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)]

Big Canadian banks are once again in the spotlight for their involvement with tax havens, this time in the Bahamas, an island nation synonymous with offshore banking secrecy.

According to a cache of leaked internal documents from the corporate registry in the Bahamas, since 1990, RBC, CIBC and Scotiabank have provided services to nearly 2,000 offshore bank accounts, trusts and foundations throughout the database of 175,500.

While the data doesnt indicate any wrongdoing from the banks, RBC registered 847 companies, CIBC registered 632 and Scotiabank registered 481 on the island nation between 1990 and May 2016. The findings were leaked through Germanys Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper  the first outlet to release the Panama Papers  and the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which includes CBC and the Toronto Star.

Canadian lawyer Martin Kenney, one of the worlds leading authorities on international fraud and asset recovery, told Yahoo Canada Finance that when contrasted with the Panama papers, which included 11.5 million documents, the leak is minor both in scope and information.

The data on the corporate registry is already publicly available, he says, adding that they typically consist of ground-level data, names of the companies, creation dates, addresses and in some cases theyll have director or owner names. The documents can be accessed for a $10 fee per document but the ICIJ released the documents en masse for free.

Kenney points out that only a small percentage of those companies may be involved in criminal activities.

There are situations like a husband trying to hide money from his wife in a divorce or something like a wealthy family trying to protect their wealth in trusts in the case of a kidnapping, he says, adding that there are also lots of legitimate reasons for setting up a bank account in the Bahamas.

Dennis Howlett, executive director of Canadians for Tax Fairness  an organization that frequently lobbies the government around policies to close the loopholes that make places like the Bahamas attractive to wealthy individuals and corporations, says that although the volume of findings in the Bahamas leak is smaller than the Panama Papers, it has more relevancy to Canadians.

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The Bahamas is a much more (prominent) Canadian destination of investment then Panama, he says. Whats most striking is the huge involvement of federal Canadian banks thats what jumps out at me.

Howlett told Yahoo Canada Finance that the CTF estimates one third of the offshore investments are wealthy individuals.

Which is, for the most part, completely illegal tax evasion and most of that is totally secret its unreported, he says. Two thirds of the offshore activity is corporate and a lot of it was able to be done legally although there is the problem of companies crossing the line knowing they can get away with it.

Bahamas ranks sixth on the list of destinations for Canadians money legally going abroad. According to Stats Canadas latest numbers, Canadians have more than $33 billion parked there.

It continues to go up every year, says Howlett. And thats just the officially reported amount.

He points out that the growing amount of data leaks in the past few years have spurred a crackdown on tax evasion. In July both RBC and Citibank agreed to hand over account information between Canadian residents and the Cayman National Bank.

There is a lot more pressure on policymakers to do something, says Howlett. It does give pause to some of the companies and wealthy individuals and make them think twice but its still a huge problem.
By Ankur Banerjee (Reuters) - Endo International Plc said Chief Executive Rajiv De Silva had stepped down and would be replaced by generics division head Paul Campanelli, as the drugmaker grapples with a large debt load and mounting pressure on some of its drug prices. Endo's shares rose as much as 18 percent to $23.98 on Friday as the company also maintained its full-year profit and revenue forecasts. Campanelli joined Endo in 2015 following the company's $8-billion acquisition of generic drugs maker Par Pharmaceutical, where he was CEO since 2012. At Endo, Campanelli headed the generic and OTC drugs business, which accounted for about 60 percent of the company's total revenue through the first half of 2016. Under De Silva, a former senior executive at Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc , Endo embarked on a strategy of acquisition-fueled growth, drawing comparisons with the Canadian drugmaker. Valeant became a poster child for perceived flaws in the business model of specialty pharmaceutical companies as it came under intense scrutiny from politicians and regulators for its reliance on acquisitions and price hikes to juice growth. Analysts said Campanelli's appointment underscores the growing importance of Endo's generics business, adding that the transition could mark a shift in focus to operational execution from acquisition-led growth. "The news doesn't come as a surprise given Endo's stock performance and strategic shift toward a generic-focused portfolio," Leerink Partners analyst Jason Gerberry wrote in a client note. Up to Thursday's close of $20.26, Endo's shares had lost about 67 percent this year - the worst performer on the S&P 500 healthcare index <.SPXHC>. Reuters reported in June that Endo had held discussions with private equity firms about potential asset sales to reduce its more than $8 billion debt pile. Mizuho analyst Irina Koffler said the management's increased focus on differentiated assets rather than on growing scale is likely to make Endo more attractive to strategic buyers and could result in additional divestitures. "We continue to believe that Endo may be restructured and eventually sold to a larger generic player, which may be easier to achieve under new management," Koffler said. Endo, which offers a suite of specialty, generic and over-the-counter medical products, is also being investigated for its relationships with pharmacy benefit managers and marketing of its opioid painkiller Opana ER. The company agreed in March to stop marketing Opana ER pill as crush-resistant and stop downplaying the risks of addiction associated with the narcotic. Endo's shares were up 15.3 percent at $23.35 on Friday. (Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Shounak Dasgupta)
By Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the first Japanese leader to visit Communist-ruled Cuba, called for a strong and unified international response to North Korea's nuclear program in rare talks with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Thursday. Cuba is one of North Korea's few diplomatic allies, along with China, and a fellow member of the non-aligned movement formed in 1961 by states wanting to avoid siding with the United States or the Soviet Union. North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate this year and claims it has mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile, a worrying prospect for neighbors South Korea and Japan. "The PM pointed out the necessity (for) the international community to respond to this rigorously in unity," Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Yasuhisa Kawamura told reporters after Abe's 70-minute meeting with Fidel Castro, the predecessor and elder brother of Cuban President Raul Castro. Fidel Castro visited the site of the world's first atomic bombing Hiroshima in 2003 and left a message in the guestbook saying "May such barbarity never happen again. He told Abe the issue of Pyongyang's nuclear program should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, Kawamura said. 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. However, it is unusual for a Western leader to meet Fidel Castro, who usually only sees close allies. The Japanese Prime Minister met Raul Castro later in the evening to discuss how Japan and Cuba could deepen bilateral relations, in particular in the commercial and economic spheres, Cuban state media reported. Japan has a long history of trade with Cuba, importing seafood, tobacco and coffee while exporting machinery. Abe said in an interview published in Cuba's Communist Party newspaper Granma on Thursday 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 toward Japan, signed this week, should help toward that goal, he said, with some of it now assigned towards development projects. 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 <8058.T> opened a Havana office in July, telling Reuters it was keen to establish some infrastructure projects in Cuba that 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. 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. (Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta; additional writing by Linda Sieg in Tokyo; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Michael Perry)
A woman who applied to work part time at the Body Shop to help cover her grad school costs is instead calling out the company for hypocrisy after she was instructed to wear a full face of makeup for her job interview at the store.

We believe true beauty comes from the heart, reads the mission statement of the Body Shop, founded in England in 1976 by Anita Roddick. For us, beauty is much more than a pretty face. Its about feeling good and doing good, too.

Nevertheless, after Brenna MacPhee, 23, of Toronto, applied to work at the store, she 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 dresscode in the store.

MacPhee was so stunned, she decided to skip the appointment altogether and email the Body Shop on the matter. She shared her note in a Facebook post. I chose not to come as I was deeply turned off by the prospect of working for your company The fact that you require female interview candidates, not even employees, to wear a full face of makeup is very problematic, she wrote (sending it, unfortunately, to a do-not-reply-email address). The implication behind such a requirement is that women look best with full makeup, and that it is a necessity. If I do not own makeup and cannot afford to invest time and money into the products you deem essential; if I choose not to wear makeup, or wear a lot, it should not have an impact upon my ability to work. After all, I was under the impression that I would be hired based upon my qualifications, not based upon my looks.

Her Facebook post has been shared more than 175 times and has generated both critical and supportive commentary. From someone who wears NO makeup (me!), I find this very upsetting!! one person angrily shared. They are saying Im not fit to go outside unless I transform my face?? Since when is makeup an essential part of life? Wrote another, Remembering when Body Shop first opened in the U.K., it was all about natural products and cruelty free, Anita Roddick would probably turn in her grave hearing that.

Story continues

Another commenter offered a different view: Pushing makeup on employees isnt nice, however if you willingly apply to jobs, each place will have its own dress code. She chose to apply to a beauty store, of course the employees will have to wear their products to help sell themNot saying its right, its just thats a part of working sales.

The Body Shop has not responded to a request for comment from Yahoo Beauty. But the Body Shop Canadas vice president of marketing and corporate responsibility told CBC News that the company would investigate the situation. The company also tweeted these responses:

We are sorry to hear of Brennas experience. Our Customer Consultants are at the heart of The Body Shop. As brand ambassadors(1)  The Body Shop Canada (@TheBodyShopCA) September 20, 2016

they need a passion for our products so they can speak about them enthusiastically and knowledgeably to our customers. (2)  The Body Shop Canada (@TheBodyShopCA) September 20, 2016

Unfair as it may be, the Body Shop, at least in the U.S., may be well within its rights to require specific appearance codes for both interviewees and employees. While it is not legal to have dress codes for only one sex but not the other, so far the law seems to allow different dress codes for women and men, as long as they do not put an unfair burden on one gender more than the other, notes the dress codes and grooming section of the website for the nonprofit organization Workplace Fairness.

An organization spokesperson, Paula Brantner, tells Yahoo Beauty, Its probably not that different when [enforced] during an interview, as the law that is going to be applicable when you are working allows it. Its a screening device. And theres no real difference between what they can do in an interview and what they can do on the job.

Even though a required full face of makeup does seem like a clear unfair burden on women compared with the standard male requirement to groom facial hair, Brantner cites several cases as unfortunate precedents to MacPhees experience with the Body Shop.

The clearest parallel is from a decade ago, when Harrahs casino implemented a dress code requiring female bartenders to wear extensive makeup and styled hair. They had this whole process where they did a makeover, then expected you to emulate that look every day, Brantner says. Men, meanwhile, only had to maintain trimmed hair and nails. A beloved, longtime employee who protested the new rule, saying it made her very uncomfortable, wound up fighting it in court, and losing, with a ruling that the company had the right to invoke its appearance standards.

Just last week, an appeals court upheld an Alabama insurance companys right to ban a woman from wearing dreadlocks at work, despite the racial and cultural implications as argued on behalf of the employee by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

How are companies allowed to enforce such rules? Throughout the U.S., we have employment-at-will, meaning a company can hire and fire for any reason, as long as its not illegal, Brantner explains. So the question is, what would make it illegal? Obvious racism and discrimination based on sexual orientation are examples, as is clear gender bias  but proving it effectively in a court of law can be difficult. Companies can require a professional appearance, she says, and they can define it differently for women and for men.

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Learning Resources

Turnitin Releases New iPad App

Turnitin, the writing feedback and plagiarism checking service, has released a new iPad app. Feedback Studio for iPad gives students full access through a mobile device to Turnitins Feedback Studio program.

Students can submit papers, analyze similarity reports to check for originality and review instructor feedback on the go. An enhanced interface for instructors offers streamlined grading on and offline.

Feedback Studio app for iPad. Image: Business Wire.

With the Feedback Studio app, institutions can ensure that students are not only able to complete and submit assignments on their iPads, but they also have immediate access to their instructors comments, feedback and grades whenever they need them, according to a news release. Such access may help students develop their writing skills.

College instructors and secondary grade teachers can use the app to provide feedback and make comments on student papers while they are out and about, the release said. The interface is cleaner, with clutter-free screens, and the process to view accounts and classes is simplified.

More information and a live demo of Feedback Studio for iPad will be presented during a free, 45-minute webcast Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. PST. To register for No Feedback Left Behind: Feedback Studio for iPad, visit the companys website.

Users with an active Turnitin Classic or Feedback Studio account can download the iPad app from the App Store. More information on the app is on Turintins site.
By India Today Web Desk: Shortly after it refused to extend Subrata Roy's parole and ordered he be taken back into custody, the Supreme Court today gave the beleaguered Sahara chief time till September 30 to surrender.

The bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur also said that they will hear an application moved by Sahara on September 28. The apex court had this morning recalled its interim order granting the 68-year-old businessman parole.

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READ: Sahara chief Subrata Roy is going back to Tihar jail, says Supreme Court



The apex court earlier had told Roy he is going back to jail after market regulator SEBI's counsel Pratap Venugopal told the bench that all the properties given by Sahara to the market regulator were already under attachment by Income Tax authorities.

Apparently annoyed over this, the Chief Justice had ordered the cancellation of parole and directed Roy and the two other directors to be taken into custody.

Last week, the apex court had extended the businessman's parole by a week. He was released on May 6 this year to attend the last rites of his mother who had passed away a day before.

Roy and two other directors of Sahara were sent to Tihar jail in New Delhi on March 4, 2014 over their failure to comply with the Supreme Court's August 31, 2012 order asking the company to return to investors the money the two companies had raised with 15 per cent interest.

Sahara had raised Rs 24,000 crore through its two group companies in 2008-09 through optionally fully convertible debentures (OFCDs).

The Supreme Court is hearing a contempt plea by SEBI against the two companies - Sahara India Real Estate Corp Ltd (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Finance Corp Ltd (SHICL) - for not complying with its order directing the companies to return investors Rs 17,600 crore.

ALSO READ:

Supreme Court extends Subrata Roy's parole till September 23



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Facilities

Bay Area Research Universities Partner on Chan Zuckerberg Biohub

Image Credit: UCSF, Drew Altizer Photography.

University of California San Francisco (UCSF), University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and Stanford University will work together on a new biomedical science research center funded by a $600 million commitment from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Aimed at advancing human potential and promoting equality, the center has already initiated two ambitious projects  one of which involves a $3 billion investment over the next 10 years to cure, prevent or manage all diseases.

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is designed to create synergy among the three research universities. The facility will bring scientists and engineers together to develop new tools and technology and fuel a research movement, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at an event unveiling the center.

Most science funding today goes to individuals working separately, said Zuckerberg. Theres a big opportunity for us to invest in projects that help to bring people together.

The Biohub will be the sinew that ties together these three institutions in the Bay Area like never before, said Stephen Quake, a professor of bioengineering and applied physics at Stanford who will co-lead the Biohub. Quake will work alongside Joseph DeRisi, a professor and chair of biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF.

The first project the Biohub will undertake involves creating a map of the human bodys cells. The Cell Atlas will depict the internal components of cells, providing scientists with unprecedented detail and an advantage in research.

A second project called the Infectious Disease Initiative plans to create new tools, tests and strategies for fighting diseases  such as vaccines for Ebola and Zika.

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is the first philanthropic effort made by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Its headquarters will be next to UCSFs Mission Bay campus with a satellite site at Stanford.

To learn more about the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, watch the Facebook Live video announcement or visit the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative site.
FRIDAY, Sept. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers in Denmark have identified a new form of the superbug known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) that they suspect may be spread through eating contaminated poultry.

People who raise livestock are known to face a higher risk for MRSA, the researchers said. But, the new strain infected 10 urban-dwelling people who hadn't been working on a farm and had no direct contact with live farm animals.

Instead, the researchers believe the MRSA patients were infected after eating or handling poultry that had been imported from other European countries.

"This is one of the first studies providing compelling evidence that everyday consumers are also potentially at risk," study author Lance Price said in a news release from George Washington University (GWU), in Washington, D.C.

Price serves as director of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center based at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at GWU, one of 25 institutions that participated in the current study. Price is also director of the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Flagstaff, Ariz., another institution involved in the study.

MRSA is a bacteria resistant to many antibiotics. MRSA can cause a host of health problems ranging from skin infections and sepsis to pneumonia to bloodstream infections, according to U.S. health officials.

Investigators said the new strain of MRSA isn't found in Danish livestock.

Nevertheless, all 10 Danish patients ended up with the same virtually identical strain. That strongly suggests a common source of infection imported from outside the country, the researchers said.

That source, the study team said, is likely poultry that has been raised on low doses of antibiotics, a common practice used to encourage animal growth and minimize their risk of disease when kept in unsanitary crowded conditions.

"Our findings implicate poultry meat as a source for these infections," said study leader Dr. Robert Skov from the Statens Serum Institut -- a Danish agency similar to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"At present, meat products represent only a minor transmission route for MRSA to humans," Skov said. He added that these findings underscore the importance of reducing the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals.

Skov's work was funded in part by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The findings were published online in the Sept. 21 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

More information

There's more on MRSA at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"We urge all civilians to stay away from the places with high concentration of militants and command posts of terrorist groups."

Earlier on Thursday, the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to begin its second meeting to discuss the ceasefire agreement reached between the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this month.
English Danish

Company announcement

No. 11/2016







Nets A/S

Lautrupbjerg 10

DK-2750 Ballerup







www.nets.eu

Company Registration no. 37427497







23 September 2016

Major shareholder announcement

With reference to company announcement no. 5/2016 dated 23 September 2016 regarding the result of the initial public offering of shares in Nets A/S (the "Offering or "IPO") and implementation of a reorganisation in connection with the IPO (the "IPO Reorganisation"), Nets A/S ("Nets") hereby announces the following notifications received pursuant to section 29 of the Danish Securities Trading Act regarding the existing major shareholders' direct and indirect holdings of shares in Nets.

Prior to completion of the Offering and after the completion of the IPO Reorganisation described in the offering circular published by Nets on 13 September 2016 (the "Offering Circular"), the major shareholders of Nets were certain Advent Funds (as defined below) and Bain Capital Funds (as defined below) through a joint holding company established for the IPO, AB Toscana (Luxembourg) Investment S.a r.l. (the "Significant Shareholder") (85.9%), Arbejdsmarkedets Tillgspension ("ATP") through ATP Private Equity Partners IV K/S and Via Venture Partners Fond II K/S (together the "ATP Investment Vehicles") (5.0%) and eInvestments af 23. marts 2014 ApS owned by members of Nets' management and employees ("eInvestments") (7.8%).

As selling shareholders in the Offering, the Significant Shareholder, the ATP Investment Vehicles and eInvestments have reduced their respective shareholdings in Nets as a consequence of the following transactions, which are further described in the Offering Circular:

the sale of 68,333,333 existing shares in Nets of a nominal value of DKK 1 each by the selling shareholders as part of the Offering; the dilution resulting from the issue of 36,666,667 new shares in Nets of a nominal value of DKK 1 each in connection with the Offering; and the lending of 15,750,000 shares in Nets of a nominal value of DKK 1 each by the Significant Shareholder (14,821,628 shares), the ATP Investment Vehicles (863,441 shares) and NH Fintech ApS (64,931 shares) to Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, on behalf of the managers under the stock lending agreement for the purposes of delivery of shares to investors as a result of the overallotment option in connection with the Offering (the "Overallotment Option"). If the Overallotment Option is not exercised in full, shares corresponding to the unexercised part of the Overallotment Option will be redelivered to each of the Significant Shareholder, the ATP Investment Vehicles and NH Fintech ApS on a pro rata basis to their lending of shares.

The Advent Funds and the Bain Capital Funds

Following completion and settlement of the above transactions in connection with the Offering, which are expected to take place on 27 September 2016, the Advent Funds and Bain Capital Funds' indirect holding of shares in Nets through the Significant Shareholder will be a total of 65,194,556 shares of a nominal value of DKK 1 each, corresponding to 32.6% of the total share capital and voting rights.

The Significant Shareholder is a limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee) organised under the laws of Luxembourg with registration number B 204169 with its registered office at 2-4 rue Beck, L-1222 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The Significant Shareholder is wholly owned by AB Toscana (Luxembourg) Holding S.a r.l. ("AB Toscana Holding"), which is a limited liability company (societe a responsabilite limitee) organised under the laws of Luxembourg with registration number B 204128 with its registered office at 2-4 rue Beck, L-1222 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. AB Toscana Holding is jointly controlled by the Advent Funds (50%) and the Bain Capital Funds (50%).

The Advent Funds are comprised by Advent International GPE VII L.P., Advent International GPE VII-A L.P., Advent International GPE VII-B L.P., Advent International GPE VII-C L.P., Advent International GPE VII-D L.P., Advent International GPE VII-E L.P., Advent International GPE VII-F L.P., Advent International GPE VII-G L.P., Advent International GPE VII-H L.P., Advent Partners GPE VII-A Cayman L.P., Advent Partners GPE VII-A L.P., Advent Partners GPE VII-B Cayman L.P., Advent Partners GPE VII Cayman L.P. and Advent Partners GPE VII L.P. managed by Advent International Corporation (the "Advent Funds").

The Bain Capital Funds are comprised by Bain Capital Europe Fund III, L.P., BCIP Associates IV, L.P., BCIP Associates IV-B, L.P., BCIP Trust Associates IV, L.P. and BCIP Trust Associates IV-B, L.P., which are funds advised by Bain Capital Private Equity (Europe) L.L.P, and Randolph Street Investment Partners, L.P. (the "Bain Capital Funds").

ATP

Following completion and settlement of the above transactions in connection with the Offering, ATP's indirect holding of shares in Nets through the ATP Investment Vehicles (ATP Private Equity Partners IV K/S and Via Venture Partners Fond II K/S) will be below 5% of the total share capital and voting rights. Accordingly, ATP will no longer indirectly be a major shareholder of Nets pursuant to section 29 of the Danish Securities Trading Act regarding direct and indirect major shareholders.

ATP is an independent self-governing regulated pension fund organised under the laws of Denmark under registration (CVR) no. 43405810 with its registered office at Kongens Vnge 8, DK-3400 Hillerd, Denmark.

eInvestments

Following completion and settlement of the Offering, eInvestments' holding of shares in Nets will be below 5% of the total share capital and voting rights. Accordingly, eInvestments will no longer indirectly be a major shareholder of Nets pursuant to section 29 of the Danish Securities Trading Act regarding direct and indirect major shareholders.

eInvestments is a private limited company organised under the laws of Denmark under registration (CVR) no. 36712783 with its registered office on Lautrupbjerg 10, DK-2750 Ballerup, Denmark. eInvestments is the holding company through which certain members of the Board of Directors, Executive Management and certain other employees invested in Nets prior to the IPO.

- Ends -

For additional information, please contact
The Tata group has told the Delhi High Court that they have invested 21 times more than the New Delhi Municipal Corporation.

By Anusha Soni: The battle over the iconic Taj Mahal Hotel on Mansingh Road has now intensified at the Delhi High Court with Tata mounting its defence by asserting its "right" for lease renewal. The Tata group has told the Delhi High Court that they have invested 21 times more than the New Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Senior advocate Harish Salve for representing Taj told Delhi HC that NDMC has invested merely Rs 6 crore while, Taj pumped in over 129cr with a paid license fee of over Rs 400 crore. The legacy of Taj has been built by the company as the hotel played host to the most prestigious events in the country. The company further said that Tatas have contractual right of renewal and NDMC must renegotiate with Taj.

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In its defence the company pointed out that Taj is not a mere lease holder, Taj collaborated, partnered with NDMC in building the brand and it can't be expected to bid for value that the Taj indigenously created.

Earlier the single judge bench of Del High Court had allowed NDMC to proceed with Taj Man Singh Auction. Taj has challenged single judge order before division bench of Del HC. Indian Hotel Company Limited has been operating the hotel since 1978.



The company had been allowed a 33 year lease which expired in 2011. On Sep 5, Single Judge Bench of Delhi HC cleared decks for NDMC auctioning the property.

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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
"Supreme Court should issue notices to BJP leaders also with whom sharp shooter Md. Kaif's pictures have gone viral. We respect Supreme Court but it's a fact that thousands of people meet us and click pictures with us and its not written on their forehead whether they are gentlemen or criminals," Bihar's health minister Tej Pratap Yadav said.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Bihar's health minister Tej Pratap Yadav has reacted to the notice issued by Supreme Court against him for being spotted with Mohammad Kaifi, alleged sharp shooter of RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin.

Hitting out at court's notice Yadav said that the Supreme Court instead of issuing notice to him should first issue notices to BJP leaders who have pictures with Kaifi.

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Also Read: SC notices to Shahabuddin, Tej Pratap in Rajdeo murder case; court to monitor CBI probe

"Supreme Court should issue notices to BJP leaders also with whom sharp shooter Md. Kaifi's pictures have gone viral. We respect Supreme Court but it's a fact that thousands of people meet us and click pictures with us and its not written on their forehead whether they are gentlemen or criminals," he said.



WHAT HAPPENED



It may be noted that last week there was a series of pictures of Kaifi, alleged sharp shooter of Md. Shahbuddin, which went viral and triggered a war of words between the ruling party and the opposition. First it was pictures of Kaif with Md. Shahabuddin himself that created a flutter and soon Kaif's pictures with the Tej Pratap were also seen. Thereafter pictures of Kaif with Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also went viral.

Also Read: Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan shot dead in Bihar's Siwan

NOTICE ISSUED

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Tej Pratap and Shahabuddin over their pictures with sharp shooter and asked a reply within 14 days.

Kaifi presently is lodged in Siwan jail after he surrendered before the CJM court in connection with journalist Rajdev Ranjan murder case. He was absconding after his pictures with Shahabuddin went viral and police also attacked his property. Later he surrendered and has been sent to 14 days judicial custody.

The Apex Court was hearing a petition filed by Rajdev Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan who had demanded a SC monitored probe in her husband's killing case.

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Tejaswi expressed concern over the misuse of social media in building tension between communities and said there was a concerted effort going on in the country of communalizing the people.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav has said terror must not be linked to any religion or caste. Speaking at a conference on the theme of "State of Muslims Youths in Bihar", Tejaswi expressed concern over the misuse of social media in building tension between communities and said there was a concerted effort going on in the country of communalizing the people.

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Also read: Bihar floods: 23 districts, 65 lakh people affected, says Tejaswi Yadav



"Communalization of the people through social media is taking place now a days. This is not a right thing. People post hate comments on social media and without verifying, these posts are going in public domain. Terror should not be linked to any religion or any caste", said Tejaswi Yadav.

NON-PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE EFFECTING YOUTHS

Tejaswi maintained that riots and non-peaceful atmosphere was hurting the youths of the state and the country the most. In a veiled attack at the Centre, Tejaswi appealed that persons holding top positions in the country should not speak irresponsibly.

"Every community has contributed in the building the country. I appeal people who are holding responsible position, they should refrain from making irresponsible statements", said the deputy CM.

Also read: Nitish is better PM material than Rahul or Modi, says Tejaswi Yadav

Speaking at the conference, Tejaswi said that Bihar was unnecessarily being insulted by branding the law and order in the state as a state of jungle raj.

"There is a conspiracy which is going on to tarnish the image of Bihar. What is the parameter of jungleraj, this has to be defined first. Bihar ranks no. 1 in GDP and no. 22 in crime", said Tejaswi Yadav.



--- ENDS ---
From karela to milk, we all had to swallow down certain things our mothers said were good for our health.

By Shreya Goswami: We have all been through this. Those tantrums we used to throw when our mothers put unappealing food on the table, or the scolding we used to get for not finishing the karela sabji or the glass of milk!

We were told repeatedly that these food items are very good for our health, they'll make us grow up faster, and sometimes, we'd even get rewarded for polishing our plates off. But those were the very last things we'd ever want on our plates to begin with, especially when our moms could cook such amazing dishes like koftas, biryanis, pulaos, and those delicious potato curries.

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So let's take a trip down memory lane, and see what it feels like to relive the experience of putting those disgusting dishes into our mouths, and swallowing them painfully, and quite often, with tears.

Karela

Also known as bitter gourd, every kid was made to eat it as a kid. Now don't just deny it, or say that you always loved it. The fact is, whether made in the form of bhajis or sabjis, we just hated karelas. Yes, we knew (thanks to our parents' constant lectures) that it's rich in iron and minerals.

We were repeatedly told that karela is good for health, but how do you eat something that bitter? Picture courtesy: Instagram/mocha.minimalist

But, it's bitter for God's sake! How do you expect kids to eat bitter stuff and keep it down? Here's a heartfelt round of applause for those lucky few who had siblings who actually did love karela, and you could smuggle it off to their plates!

Also read:10 goodies from your childhood that you wish were still the same



Lauki

Gourds of any kind seemed to be our least favourite while growing up. But lauki, or bottle gourd, wins hands down thanks to its bland taste and squishy texture. We might love some lauki chana or stuffed gourd now, but as kids, we were repulsed by the translucent green veggie on our plates.

Bottle gourd tasted bland and felt squishy to touch. Picture courtesy: Instagram/spankiet

Even when it was turned into a nice, yellow, and masaledar curry, we knew just what we were eating. And let's give it to our parents--very few of them had any idea how to make it any more appealing, but they nevertheless insisted that we finish the sabji!

Milk

There are very few of us who could drink a whole glass of plain and simple milk, and keep it down. Of course we could swallow it, even enjoy it if there was some Horlicks or chocolate in it. But even that trick didn't always work, especially if there was even a bit of malai or cream in the milk.

Our parents really insisted on finishing that whole glass of milk every day. Picture courtesy: Instagram/the.future.farm Our parents really insisted on finishing that whole glass of milk every day. Picture courtesy: Instagram/the.future.farm

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You felt a bit of cream passing your tongue, and going down your throat, and the whole thing just came back to the light the same way it went in! And let's not even get started about the times we caught a cold, and had to drink haldi doodh or turmeric milk!

Cabbage

Are there times even now when you smell a cabbage, and are immediately taken back to the times when you couldn't stand it even one bit? Welcome to the club! This veggie looked so good from afar, and then it came close and you got the intolerable stench of fart!

Cabbage really stank a lot like fart, and no amount of haldi or masala could mask it completely. Picture courtesy: Instagram/scrumptious_indian_recipes

Yes, patta gobhi was all about the smell that could follow you around, especially while it was being cooked. And no matter how good it looked later on, we couldn't get that smell off of our little minds. But of course, mothers put a lot of effort into cooking a perfectly good and healthy veggie for you, and you had to eat it.

Also read: These super-easy recipes will help you stick to your diet resolutions this monsoon



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Eggs

Maybe this one sounds strange, but can you imagine just how boring eating boiled eggs was? They gave us a lot of energy, and all the protein we needed to grow up to be healthy adults. But no amount of salt and pepper could make the understated boiled egg any better.

There was rarely anything boring as boiled eggs in our diets as kids. Picture courtesy: Instagram/beelitenutrition

Some of us did enjoy soft-boiled eggs, but how then you had the smell of raw-ish eggs on your hands for the rest of the day. No wonder most of us still love omlettes more than boiled eggs.

No amount of begging or crying could disengage our parents from continuously serving these things to us. Most of us were also told that they (the parents) never threw such tantrums as kids, and instead they respected the food put in front of them. Do you repeat the same words to your kids now?

If you do, just try to remember how much you hated eating these things. Of course kids need all the nutrition they can get from food, whether it's bitter, squishy, or stinky. But how about making the same food a little more interesting for them? Try some bharwa karelas, stuffed laukis, and poached eggs slathered with cheese instead, and just see your kids enjoy the same food more than you did!



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At the National Council meet being held in Kerala's Kozhikode, Kerala BJP goofed up big time but quickly rectified it.

By India Today Web Desk: Kerala's Kozhikode is hosting over 1,700 BJP leaders this weekend as the BJP National Council meet is being held there to discuss what India's response should be to the terror attack on the army base in Uri.

But the meet witnessed a major goof up.



An exhibition on the life and work of Deendayal Upadhyaya, one of the founding fathers of the saffron movement, and the history of Jan Sangh and the BJP is being held as part of the National Council meeting.

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But Twitter user, DK Singh, who is also a journalist, tweeted an image of a poster in which Rajnath Singh was written beneath Deendayal Upadhyaya's photo.





The mistake was quickly fixed by the Kerala BJP but couldn't be fast enough to avoid someone capturing it.

A mistake quickly fixed by the Kerala BJP at the party's national council meet at Kozhikode. pic.twitter.com/1TprjYbquv DK Singh (@dksingh73) September 23, 2016

The National Council meeting stared today with a meeting of national office bearers. On September 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public gathering there.

Two short films on Deendayal Upadhyaya's life will also be released during the event. September 25 is the 100th birth anniversary of Upadhyaya who was appointed president of Bharatiya Jan Sangh in December 1967 in Kozhikode.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Aditi Khanna

London, Sep 23 (PTI) British Prime Minister Theresa Mays government today suffered its first major jolt when Treasury Minister Lord Jim ONeill resigned amid speculation that he was unhappy with her policies on China.

ONeill, a former Goldman Sachs chief economist who was brought in by former prime minister David Cameron, also resigned as the Conservative party whip. He did not give a reason for his departure but UK media reports indicate it was a result of growing tensions with Mays approach.

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There had been growing speculation over Lord ONeills resignation following a report in the Financial Times in July that cited his unhappiness after May announced a shock review into the 18-billion-pound Hinkley Point project involving China.

"I primarily joined, however, for the specific purpose of helping deliver the northern powerhouse, and to help boost our economic ties with key growing economies around the world, especially China and India, and other rapidly emerging economies," 59-year-old Lord ONeill wrote in his resignation letter.

"The case for both to be at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention. I am leaving knowing that I can play some role supporting these critical initiatives as a non-governmental person," he adds.

ONeill is best known for coining the phrase "BRICS", an acronym for the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and was a close aide to Cameron.

He will now sit on the cross-benches of the House of Lords.

May said she was sorry about ONeills resignation and thanked him for his service.

"You have made a significant contribution to driving forward the governments work on delivering growth beyond the south-east through the northern powerhouse and on promoting stronger economic links with emerging economies, including China and India. You have laid important foundations in these areas, and the government will build on them," she wrote.

"I would particularly like to pay tribute to your ground-breaking work on antimicrobial resistance.

You should take great pride in seeing your review culminate this week in the UN high level agreement.

"You have played a vital role in building global consensus on this important issue, which will have long-lasting benefits."

Downing Street announced that Lord Young of Cookham will become the new Treasury spokesman in the House of Lords. PTI AK AMS AKJ AMS

--- ENDS ---
In the aftermath of the Uri attack, the government faces a clamour of heated opinion, demanding retribution for Pakistan's most recent transgression. India is not without the means to answer its neighbour's provocations. But it also has much more at stake. We weigh the options.

In his hour of crisis, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi decides what 'punishment' Pakistan deserves for crossing the threshold of Indian tolerance with the Uri attack-in which 19 army personnel were killed-he could do with some age-old wisdom that would also sit well with his party's Hindutva moorings.

Some 2,500 years ago, ancient India's foremost strategist, Kautilya, in his seminal treatise, the Arthashastra or the science of politics, discussed in detail how to deal with enemy nations. Like his predecessor Sun Tzu, Kautilya was not an advocate of rushing into war but of weighing all options carefully before proceeding. Kautilya declared: "If there is equal advancement in peace or war, one should resort to peace."

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Like the Prussian general Carl von Clausewitz centuries later, Kautilya believed war was only a continuation of politics by other means and considered it the last option. According to him, the key to winning was not military might alone but perspicacious judgement, comprehensive intelligence and a deep grasp of politics.

As Modi confronts his defining moment as prime minister, just like his predecessors did - Atal Behari Vajpayee during the 1999 Kargil intrusions and 2001 Parliament attack, and Manmohan Singh during the 2008 Mumbai attacks - he would be wise to heed such sagacious advice and learn from history.

The course Modi decides to take in the coming weeks and months will not only decide whether the prime minister emerges as the statesman he so wishes to be seen as, but will also affect 1.4 billion Indians, if not the world.

REVENGE MANTRA

Seen in the light of cold logic, Uri 2016 is not the kind of threat to the nation that Kargil or the Parliament assault or the Mumbai attacks were. In Kargil, India's territorial integrity was directly challenged. In the Parliament terror strike, the country's political power centre was under dire threat. And the Mumbai mayhem had paralysed the commercial capital of the country.

In Uri, the toll of 19 army personnel may be the highest in recent times for a single attack, but such reverses can be expected while defending India's most sensitive state. Many more security personnel have been killed in single attacks by Maoists in other states. In 2010, for instance, 75 policemen lost their lives in an ambush by left-wing insurgents in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

Why then the cry for blood and retribution? Why the war hysteria across the nation? It's partly being fuelled by hawkish rants by members of the ruling party. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav tweeted: "The days of so-called strategic restraint are over... for one tooth, the complete jaw." And Jitendra Singh, minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office, stated: "Those who put India's confidence to test will be given a befitting response. Not responding will be an act of cowardice."

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Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, then jumped into the fray, egging the prime minister on by reminding him of his tough but indiscreet comments about India's posture towards Pakistan when he was Gujarat chief minister and Manmohan Singh was at the helm. Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari rubbed it in, reminding BJP president Amit Shah of his statement that "not even a rat would be allowed to cross the LoC if Modi becomes PM".

There is certainly cause for anger and angst over the attack in Uri. A senior government official pointed out that the Uri attack shouldn't be seen in isolation. Since Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani was killed by security forces in early July, there have been close to 19 attempts by terrorists to strike army camps, most of them thwarted with minimal damage.

Meanwhile, the Valley has seen its fiercest uprising in recent times, one that has already resulted in 80 civilian deaths. The curfew, imposed after Wani's death, has now crossed 80 days. While both the Central and state governments are on the mat for allowing the situation in the Valley to deteriorate, there is evidence that Pakistan has been stoking the fire with men, material and money.

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The situation has been compounded by the breakdown of relations between Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. After a brief bout of bonhomie, when the two leaders agreed to restart the stalled dialogue process and Modi even made an impromptu stopover at Lahore to wish Sharif at a family wedding, relations went downhill after the attack on the Pathankot air base this January. In recent months, relations between the two leaders have touched a nadir, with Sharif going all-out to embarrass India on Kashmir and trying to get major powers involved in a bid to internationalise the issue.

The PM's ear: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval

Pakistani leaders may have reasons for their dangerous brinkmanship. Since the Panama Papers expose, Sharif has been under pressure to quit, and desperately needs a diversion to restore his credibility. Embracing the Kashmir cause with renewed vigour is a way out. Pakistan army chief Raheel Sharif, who has overtaken Nawaz in both domestic popularity and clout, is due to retire in November but is possibly looking for an extension. When Modi upped the ante by raising the Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan regions in his Independence Day address, the Pakistan army hit back by stepping up infiltration attempts and backing fidayeen strikes. The Uri attack and the attempts that preceded it in the past month are seen as a direct response to Modi for having thrown down the gauntlet. The space for reconciliation between the two countries has considerably narrowed as they weigh their options, including waging a war.

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HYBRID WARFARE

India has a whole range of options available to bring Pakistan to heel, including diplomatic and economic measures, as well as using military force, covert or overt. Says retired Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, who has served in Kashmir: "Naming and shaming doesn't seem to work. We are suffering from the impact of a hybrid warfare launched by Pakistan. Our response has to be both diplomatic and military but we should weigh each option carefully and not get caught in Pakistan's trap."

The first effort was to thwart the diplomatic blitzkrieg that Pakistan had launched in a bid to focus world attention on the trouble in Kashmir. India moved fast, with Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and other external affairs ministry officials contacting major powers such as the US, Russia, France, Germany, Japan and the UK, and getting them to come out strongly against Pakistan for the Uri attacks.

At the United Nations, despite Nawaz Sharif writing three letters whining about the situation in Kashmir, neither Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon nor the Security Council took it up. It was clear that the world was tired of Pakistan and its shenanigans in Kashmir. While round one of the diplomatic war was won, India still had to deal with a recalcitrant Pakistan. As a senior official says, "the diplomatic challenge is over, the counter-terrorism one remains-that still has to be tackled." Inevitably, international pressure has fallen short on this score and it is clear to India that it will have to fight its own battle.

Economic sanctions, which usually top the list of any country's 'options other than war' list, are also unlikely to work against Pakistan. The last time India attempted to squeeze Pakistan economically was after the 2001 attack on Parliament, by halting air and land trade.

Since these sanctions, trade between the two countries has grown, but in unusual ways. The direct overland trade stood at $2.6 billion in 2013, heavily loaded in India's favour with $2 billion in exports from India. Meanwhile, the indirect trade-via third countries such as Dubai-has shot up and is now estimated to be at $4.7 billion. The existence of third-country trade routes is the reason why formal sanctions will not work. "The trade will merely shift to other channels, like sea channels or via Dubai, which is a free port," says Nisha Taneja of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). This is one reason why Modi and India are now confronted with using hard options, including a limited war.

DEFINE OBJECTIVES

Military strategists rightly argue that war is only a means to an end, not an end in itself. As retired Air Vice-Marshal Kapil Kak of the Centre for Air Power Studies in New Delhi points out, "war cannot be an option to satisfy electoral demands, anger, hurt sentiments or revenge. War must always be an endpoint to achieve political and strategic objectives." If India decides to use force against Pakistan, there has to be a clear objective in what it hopes to achieve and an assessment of whether using force is the best way to get there.

In 1999, when Vajpayee was confronted with the Kargil crisis, he was under tremendous pressure to widen and expand the conflict right across the border so India could gain a tactical advantage elsewhere and use it to force Pakistan to vacate the hilly regions it occupied. Vajpayee deliberately refrained from telling Indian forces to cross the LoC or expand the conflict to other theatres. Instead, he got them to focus on using both ground and air power to evict Pakistani troops while maintaining the sanctity of the LoC.

Simultaneously, Vajpayee worked on bringing international pressure to bear on Pakistan by telling the US he would be forced to go for a full conflict if Islamabad wasn't told to pull back. There was also concern that if an all-out war broke out, it would escalate to a nuclear one as both countries had made their capabilities apparent the previous year. The pressure worked and Pakistan was forced into a humiliating withdrawal.

In 2001, after the attack on India's Parliament, Vajpayee contemplated war again. He ordered a massive mobilisation of troops along the border, called Operation Parakram, to threaten Pakistan if it continued with terror strikes. But Vajpayee did not give the order to attack despite a 2002 fidayeen strike on an army base at Kaluchak in Kashmir resulting in the death of 31 people, including 17 civilians. Meanwhile, the US had mounted pressure on General Pervez Musharraf to come out with a statement committing to cut off state support to terrorists. India finally pulled back its troops, but only after Musharraf agreed to observe a ceasefire on the LoC and strengthened his promise to rein in terrorist groups.

In 2008, Manmohan Singh faced a similar dilemma after the brazen Mumbai attacks, in which India's premier metro was held hostage by a handful of heavily armed terrorists. Manmohan Singh was presented with a range of options, including going to war, but he exercised restraint and chose to mount diplomatic pressure to isolate Pakistan internationally. After that, every time there was a violation of the LoC or a terror strike, the Indian army was ordered to retaliate in equal measure without too much chest thumping.

In his account of the reasoning behind the UPA government's strategy, M.K. Narayanan, who was then the national security advisor, writing in The Hindu, stated, "it was not pusillanimity but mature judgement, based on a cost-effective analysis, that led to the withholding of direct action in the form of an overt attack on Pakistani targets. A mature nation like India could hardly afford to function like a rogue state viz. Pakistan."

Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to significantly ratchet up India's diplomatic offensive against Pakistan at her UN General Assembly address on September 26

As Modi takes on Pakistan, he has to be clear about the objectives and make an honest assessment of the wherewithal he has to achieve them. If India didn't go to war when there were major terror attacks, how would he justify to India and the world that the killing of 19 military personnel deserved a massive retaliation?

It is important to consider the objectives of a military offensive of any kind. Does India want to dismember Pakistan as it did in 1971, and hence develop Modi's Balochistan gambit? Does it want to regain PoK, which India rightfully claims Pakistan took by force? Does India want to neutralise terrorist hideouts and camps and kill the leaders? Or does India want to deliver a tit-for-tat response by killing a similar number of Pakistani soldiers across the border to assuage domestic anger?

RATIONAL CHOICE

When faced with daunting objectives such as these, Kautilya advocated a rational choice, pointing out that it was important that a ruler and his advisors engage in a dispassionate review of their own country's capabilities and those of the rival. Kautilya asserted: "The attacker should know the comparative strengths and weaknesses of himself and of the enemy, and having ascertained the time of marching, the consequences, the loss of men and money, and profits and danger, he should march with his full force; otherwise he should keep quiet."

The objective of dismembering Pakistan and wresting PoK by force is likely to escalate into a nuclear war, making the cost extremely high for India. Pakistan has already enunciated the red lines, which, if crossed, would trigger their nuclear response. These include: losing substantial chunks of territory, their armed forces facing decimation, or a debilitating economic blockade.

Pakistan has recently added tactical nukes to its nuclear arsenal. These have a shorter range and can be deployed in battlefield formations. India may emerge the winner in such a nuclear conflict, but apart from taking enormous civilian casualties, many of our major cities would be devastated in this scenario. A nuclear war is something India does not want to get into; its possible consequences beggar description.

Can India dismember Pakistan through covert means, including employing the same tactics that Islamabad uses in Kashmir by fostering insurgents and sending across militants? Modi hinted at moving in that direction by uttering the 'B' word during his August 15 speech, and also talking about human rights violations in PoK. However, as a senior J&K leader is said to have bluntly told Modi, "India may have 100 people to help them in Balochistan, but in Kashmir, Pakistan has 10,000."

India's ability to launch covert subversion remains in doubt. In the early '70s, it did foment insurgencies in what was then East Pakistan and in the '80s in Sri Lanka. Intelligence agencies of many countries have wings dedicated to handling outfits that carry out deniable operations. The ISI's 'S' branch, for instance, is known to handle terrorist groups like the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in India. Iran's Revolutionary Guard arms, trains and funds a powerful non-state actor, the Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Shia groups like the Houthis in Yemen.

Such capabilities existed within India's R&AW in the '70s through the '90s, on the orders of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. An operation called Counter Intelligence Team-X (cit-x) operated through the '80s and '90s, aimed at tit-for-tat operations against Pakistan's role in fomenting terrorism in Punjab. CIT-X was wound down by former prime minister I.K. Gujral in 1997 as part of his outreach to Pakistan.

Successive prime ministers are believed to have resisted requests to restart this option. But it is learned that after the Mumbai attacks in 2008, a range of options, including covert operations, was developed. George Perkovich, vice-president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), who recently co-authored a book on India-Pakistan relations, No War, No Peace, points out, "covert action is the most plausible course of action in the current situation and the least risky." Yet, this is not an easy option for civilian politicians to resort to, nor one that brings swift results. Intelligence officers say it takes years to build assets, and to recruit and train personnel.

One of India's covert plans, reportedly, is to use precise guided munitions, such as the BrahMos cruise missile, to hit the LeT headquarters in Muridke and nail its former chief Hafiz Saeed. But such a surgical strike is risky as the LeT headquarters is surrounded by hospitals and schools and the collateral damage would likely be high. It could lead to rapid military escalation, with Pakistan also retaliating by launching missiles to hit targets in India. It might also provoke terrorist groups to seek revenge by launching a flurry of terror strikes. Military experts believe that the consequences of surgical strikes often end up being bloodier than intended.

In 2009, India's security establishment briefly contemplated a 'cyber terrorism' response to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It put together an extensive cyber warfare plan, targeting facilities in Pakistan. National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) cyber warriors prepared a list of over 2,000 commercial targets inside Pakistan-airlines, electricity and gas grids, the stock exchange, and internet service providers-and targeted them for defacement and disruption. The project mapped vulnerabilities of these computer-based networks that could be targeted in a retaliatory strike. The classified programme, the first exercise of its kind, was called off on the 11th day after it began, even though its planners were confident of its execution. This is one option that is definitely on the table as a plausibly deniable operation.

LINE OF NO CONTROL

Perhaps the most feasible option is to make a strike across the LoC, the likely international reaction to which is expected to be muted. The battle for moral ascendancy is a continuous struggle along the severely contested 700 km LoC, where the Indian and Pakistani armies eyeball each other. Pakistan is able to utilise an advantage India lacks-non-state actors such as the LeT and JeM, which allows them to deny outrageous terror strikes such as the Uri attack and the January 8, 2013, beheadings of Indian soldiers. A general mentions how the 2013 incident was avenged a few months later. The army struck at a time and place of its choosing and a strong message went across the border that such incidents wouldn't go unpunished.

Messrs Sharif and Sharif: Nawaz Sharif meets General Raheel Sharif on September 16 in Islamabad

The Indian army usually responds to each such incident on the ground in kind. Calibrated retaliatory options still exist-cross-border raids by para-commandos, mortar shelling, L-70 anti-aircraft guns in direct fire mode and, as a last resort, heavy artillery. One option being considered is a covert raid on Forward Defended Localities (FDLs) in Pakistan, which house terrorists for cross-border infiltration. This may have already happened. On September 21, there were unconfirmed reports that at least "20 terrorists had been neutralised" in a cross-LoC strike by the elite 2 Paras unit of the Indian army. The defence ministry, though, had not confirmed this at the time of going to press.

The Modi government could employ such strikes to prove a point that it will make Pakistan pay for its adventurism, as well as to assuage domestic anger. But it is not going to put an end to Pakistan's capability of doing mischief.

THE CHINA FACTOR

As India weighs its options in punishing Pakistan, a looming consideration in its calculus is China, with Beijing playing an increasingly prominent role in backing its 'all-weather ally' to the hilt. China is today more economically invested in Pakistan's fate than ever before, which is why Beijing ensures it has its ally's back diplomatically-even if this means damaging India's interests. Gone is the 'neutrality' that Beijing's mandarins would routinely stress when assuaging Indian concerns.

China's dealings with Pakistan, analysts say, have been driven more by cautious self-interest than romanticism or largesse. Militarily, both countries have deep army-to-army ties, but this doesn't mean China is likely to intervene in Pakistan's wars, as history has shown. Chinese officials often point to 1971, when the US was encouraging its intervention but Beijing declined. They insist this logic of non-intervention hasn't changed, and even that it is a fundamental pillar upon which the country's entire foreign policy rests. So India may have little reason to worry, at least for the time being, about the prospects of a two-front war and Chinese military intervention.

On the economic front, things are changing rapidly. Andrew Small of German Marshall Fund says that China places "a far greater premium on ensuring that Pakistan isn't economically weakened" in the wake of the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) plan launched last year. The corridor, which envisages highways and railway lines as well as energy projects estimated at a cost of approximately $46 billion, is being seen by many as a game-changer in altering the delicate balance that has so far dictated China's diplomacy with Pakistan and India.

"Frankly speaking," says Hu Shisheng, a leading expert at the influential China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations in Beijing, "with the progress of the CPEC, China will input more and more resources into Pakistan. China's interests in Pakistan will be massive and more pervasive. To some extent, the two countries will become mutual stakeholders of each other, a genuine community of shared destiny. This means any disturbance in Pakistan could get Chinese interests disturbed."

However, India could use this as an advantage to get China to control Pakistan by threatening to destabilise PoK if Islamabad continues to abet cross-border terrorism. As Small says, "the CPEC does make it even more important to China that Pakistan is able to mitigate tensions with its neighbours, in order to reduce threats to the project." The current trajectory, he notes, is not one they will be happy about.

Also, terrorism has become an increasingly sensitive issue for China in the wake of a string of attacks in Xinjiang since 2008 and the emergence of hundreds of Uighur jehadists in Syria. "The stance they take has clear ramifications for their own interests, and they can't afford purely to politicise it," notes Small. India will have to contend with the dragon in the room and use it to its advantage.

WHAT INDIA MUST DO

While it may look like India has a wide variety of options, it also suffers from severe constraints. As Ashley Tellis, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP), who has written several seminal books on India's security, points out, "the key question is not the entry cost of these options but what is the exit cost. Successive Indian prime ministers have kept the long-term interests in mind and concluded it was cheaper to bear the cost of a terror attack than go in for a provocative response."

India has been a far more successful state than Pakistan despite having weathered three decades of intense cross-border terrorism. Tackling Pakistan is no longer a major electoral issue. UPA-I, despite having come in for severe criticism for its lack of preparedness in preventing the Mumbai 2008 attacks, won the general elections the following year. It is bread-and-butter issues that seem to matter to the electorate, not macho posturing. Tellis believes the most effective way to counter Pakistan is for "India to focus on economic reform as part of a grand strategy, running so far ahead of Pakistan that it leaves it behind in the dust".

The other way of taming Pakistan is to build an effective homeland security structure. As the attacks in Uri and Pathankot have shown, India is still not able to secure its armed forces bases, leave alone civilian establishments. Even if India retaliates strongly, it remains vulnerable to a counter-attack by terrorists. India needs to beef up its surveillance and intelligence systems as well as its perimeter defence to ensure that it can frustrate Pakistan's gameplan. A prerequisite to this is to ensure that peace and stability return to Jammu and Kashmir.

There may even be some space for (very) cautious optimism: war-like situations in the past have led to reconciliation, notably in the aftermath of the 2002 crisis. For five years, India and Pakistan entered into sustained back-channel talks that almost produced a resolution on how to handle the Kashmir dispute. And the LoC remained relatively tranquil right through that period. Even today, the international community should make Pakistan see the sense of getting into a constructive dialogue instead of perpetuating senseless violence. As Sun Tzu said, "victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."

-with Ananth Krishnan in Beijing



Follow the writer on Twitter @rajchengappa

--- ENDS ---
Siddharth Nath Singh said, "Pakistan should now realise that India has other options besides military action. India is moving forward with a diplomatic strategy."

By India Today Web Desk: BJP national secretary Sidharth Nath Singh has said the Modi government is considering the kind of relationship India should maintain with Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack in Uri.



RELATIONSHIP REVIEWED

Talking to India Today today, Singh said, "We maintained friendship with Pakistan but they always ditched us."

"Hence, the government is deciding the kind of relationship to maintain with Pakistan. Be it the Indus Water Treaty or any other type of help being extended to Pakistan from India, all are being reviewed", he said.

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Singh said, "Pakistan should now realise that India has other options besides military action. India is moving forward with a diplomatic strategy."

BEFITTING REPLY

The BJP leader said the government is aware of the voices of people being raised against Pakistan. He said either a water treaty is likely to be scrapped or the Most Favored Nation status granted to Pakistan is likely to be withdrawn. He reiterated that the government will take a considered decision. "It is for certain that Pakistan will not be spared," he said.

Singh noted that India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan on all fronts and this will continue in future.

ALSO READ:

How to punish Pakistan

Pakistan terror heats up India's war room





--- ENDS ---
The nation has been assured in no uncertain terms by the government that the supreme sacrifice of 19 brave soldiers, who were martyred on September 18, 2016, in the Uri sector, will not go in vain. The prime minister, while condemning the dastardly terror attack warned that those behind it shall not go unpunished. While almost all cabinet ministers echoed these sentiments, Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised the need for action against the perpetrators and said that inaction would be tantamount to cowardice. It is evident the Uri attack has finally breached the threshold of India's tolerance.

It seems that the Pakistani authorities, especially the army, have failed to take note of the changing political and strategic climate in India. The idealistic approach of yesteryear is slowly but surely being replaced by a more realistic and robust policy vis--vis Pakistan. The government, having exhausted all possible friendly options, is finally prepared to pay Pakistan back in its own coin, and speak in the language it understands. The prime minister had given enough indicators of this emerging shift in our policy during his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, and even during the recent 2016 G20 Hangzhou summit and the Vientiane East Asia Summit.

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Any military response against Pakistan should be part of a well-chalked-out strategy, and not just an anger-driven retaliatory action. The lessons of Operation Parakram-undertaken in the aftermath of the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack on our Parliament in December 2001-must be factored into the current strategy, so that the national initiative does not peter out without giving us the desired political and military dividends. The most important lesson from Parakram was that any application of military force at the national level must be in concert with the diplomatic, economic and informational Elements of National Power (EsNP). A standalone military application is inadequate to assert our national will. To coerce Pakistan to desist from nurturing and exporting terror, not just to India, but even to other countries in the region, our national strategy has to be all-encompassing and multi-pronged. It must bring on board all nations that have been bled by terror attacks.

Conceptually, the use of military force should be able to withstand jus ad bellum scrutiny. This means that 'hard power' must always be applied as a last resort. This has been aptly demonstrated by the government. The prime minister has left no stone unturned in reaching out to his counterpart in Pakistan, to strengthen bilateral relations. Moreover, the force being used should be measured and applied in a manner that allows for the attainment of our political objective(s). Once the political go-ahead has been given, the military aspect-including 'when, where and how', should be left entirely to military commanders.

We are justified in finally adopting an aggressive national policy, one that will inflict excruciating pain on Pakistan, through a comprehensive initiative entailing a coordinated employment of all EsNP. Diplomatic isolation, the use of economic pressure points, enhancing the Pakistani army's commitments in its internal security, staking claim to own areas, highlighting the atrocities of the Pakistani army against the Balochis, and calibrated, overt and covert military operations to cause attrition on the Pakistani army and its asymmetric capabilities are some of the prongs of this strategy.

Pakistan's nuclear sabre-rattling should not deter us from implementing our strategy in earnest. However, a detailed analysis of the risks and our ability to effectively deal with any escalation must be factored into the military operational art. Hardening of civil areas, along with sprucing up of civil defence mechanisms, is imperative to ensure that our populace is insulated from the spillover effects of any conflict. Also, to neutralise the rhetoric from Pakistan about its irrational nuclear intent, we need to evolve and implement an enduring public information and perception management plan that gives a strong message to Pakistani decision-makers that any nuclear misadventure would invite a massive retaliation, the consequences of which will be horrendous for Pakistan.

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Logically, the nation, fatigued by our traditional laissez faire policy of inaction and passivity, expected a post-haste retribution from the present government. However, it must be noted that the Pakistani military, while launching terrorist strikes, always adopts precautionary defensive measures, fearing an immediate retaliation. Therefore, the timing of our response assumes importance, along with the selection of the target, which when hit must inflict agonising effects on the adversary. Suffice it to say that our military has comprehensive plans for all possible contingencies; however, the adoption of any plan requires political approval. Given the government's decisiveness and resolve, it is evident that Pakistan shall not go unpunished. Let the time and place of our response take the Pakistani military by surprise.

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For any security strategy to succeed, national unity is vital, as 'one national voice' helps in attaining optimal multi-agency and multi-stakeholder synergy. Let us, as a great nation, stand united for a righteous cause.

General Bikram Singh is the former Chief of the Indian Army and Chairman Chiefs of Staff



--- ENDS ---
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 ...

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India's offer to Pakistan to verify involvement of its nationals in the Uri attack will be limited to providing finger prints and DNA samples of terrorists.

By Press Trust of India: 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.

IRREFUTABLE EVIDENCE SHOWN TO PAK ENVOY: MEA



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.

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Also read:

Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan

Has India already avenged Uri by killing 20 Pakistani terrorists in PoK?

Uri attack: Terrorists deleted GPS logs, used matrix codes to evade location



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.

WHAT JAISHANKAR SAID

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.

Also read:

Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists

Avenge Uri attack, all-religion group urges PM Modi in letter with blood

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.

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"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".

PAKISTAN MUST ACT SWIFTLY AGAINST TERRORISTS: MEA

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.

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Also read:



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 ---
Alstom Unveils Zero-Emission Train

Unveiled at InnoTrans 2016, the company's Coradia iLint is a CO2-emission-free regional train powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

Alstom unveiled a zero-emissions train at InnoTrans 2016, a major transportation trade show taking palce Sept. 20-23 in Berlin, Germany. The company's Coradia iLint is a CO2-emission-free regional train powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Developed as an alternative to diesel-powered rail equipment, it uses a propulsion system that emits only steam and condensed water and produces a low level of noise while in operation.

Alstom, based in France, is a leading producer of railway systems and a promoter of sustainable mobility. The company said it is among the first railway manufacturers in the world to develop a passenger train based on this technology and offers "a complete package, consisting of the train and maintenance, as well as also the whole hydrogen infrastructure."

The train was developed after letters of intent were signed in 2014 with the German Landers of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Wurttemberg, and the Public Transportation Authorities of Hesse for a new generation, emission-free train equipped with fuel cell drive.

"Alstom is proud to launch a breakthrough innovation in the field of clean transportation which will complete its Coradia range of regional trains. It shows our ability to work in close collaboration with our customers and develop a train in only two years," said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom's chairman and CEO.

The company's announcement said a significant portion of Europe's rail network will remain non-electrified in the long term, and so the number of diesel trains in circulation is still high, with more than 4,000 cars in Germany, for example. Alstom has sold more than 2,400 trains from its Coradia line of regional trains around the world; the Coradia iLint is based on the diesel-powered Coradia Lint 54 and will be manufactured in Salzgitter, Alstom's largest site.
StellaService Acquires ICC/Decision Services

Extends StellaService into In-Store, Creates Omnichannel Solution for Measuring and Optimizing Service Performance

New York  September 22, 2016  StellaService, the leader in helping companies grow through better customer service, today announced the acquisition of ICC/Decision Services (ICC), a leader in highly successful in-store customer experience management programs including mystery shopping, customer intercepts and customer satisfaction surveys. The acquisition extends StellaService solutions and capabilities into in-store environments for the first time.

As part of the agreement, ICC president and chief executive officer David Rich will join the combined companys management team as Global Head of Stella Metrics, reporting to StellaService co-founder and chief executive officer, Jordy Leiser. Wayne, New Jersey-based ICC will relocate the companys staff to StellaService headquarters in New York City. Further terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Brands have been searching for an omnichannel solution that connects the dots between in-store and ecommerce environments and enables them to deliver consistent, high-level service for consumers wherever they shop, said Jordy Leiser, StellaServices co-founder and chief executive officer. By acquiring ICC, we can combine StellaServices ecommerce platforms with ICCs in-store expertise to create entirely new omnichannel solutions that drive team engagement, operational improvements, revenue growth and profitability in a way thats never been done before.

Through the acquisition, StellaService will offer a new omnichannel product suite which will enable companies to measure and improve operational performance across digital and in-store customer service channels, and to motivate and reward front-line staff.

StellaService has revolutionized the way online businesses measure and optimize their service experience, said Rich. The in-store environment is ripe for this same level of disruption, which is what makes this combination so exciting. Executives at every company are now managing their businesses through an omnichannel environment, so by combining our resources and technologies we can support their omnichannel strategies more effectively, helping them drive revenue and efficiencies across channels as a result.

About StellaService

StellaService helps companies grow through better service across their stores, contact centers and ecommerce fulfillment. Through a combination of software and proprietary data and insights, StellaService helps companies improve their operational and front-line team performance. The company offers solutions including employee engagement tools, real-time customer feedback surveys and objective performance measurement across online and in-store channels. Together, these solutions enable companies to build brand equity, increase customer advocacy and drive sales. For more information, visit www.stellaservice.com.

About ICC/Decision Services

ICC/Decision Services is a privately held company headquartered in Wayne New Jersey serving customers around the world. ICC/Decision Services offers more than 37 years of hands-on experience designing and executing highly successful in-store customer experience management programs, including mystery shopping, customer intercepts and customer satisfaction surveys. Beyond data collection, the company provides strategies for improvement.



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In James Tohs office on the attic level of a conserved shophouse on Mosque Street in Chinatown sits a fish tank for a coffee table. It was installed several years ago. I dont have a view from my office, explains Toh, managing director of ACT Holdings. So, I thought I should introduce some indoor live greenery and fish.

When Toh purchased the goldfish several years ago, they were only the size of his thumb. Now, theyve grown so much that even the aquarium maintenance guy is surprised that they can grow so well in a fish tank of this size, he says.

The rate of growth of the fish rivals that of his property portfolio. Over the past two decades, ACT has developed 25 residential projects in Singapore, many of which are conventional landed and strata landed housing projects in both the prime districts and the suburbs. These include several waterfront bungalows at Sentosa Cove and a row of terraces called Villas at Sentosa Cove; Ventura Heights, a strata housing project with eight bungalows and 32 semi-detached houses at Astrid Hill; One Mount Rosie, a strata landed development with 12 units; and the 59-unit strata landed project Watten Residences.

ACTs last major site acquisition was the former Singapore Crocodile Farm at 1 Surin Avenue/ 709 Upper Serangoon Road. ACT, along with its partners Nobel Design Holdings and Pinnacle Assets Group, purchased the two adjoining sites with a combined site area of 42,851 sq ft for $37.5 million, according to a caveat lodged in September 2012.

Relaunch of One Surin

The site has since been redeveloped into One Surin, a strata landed housing project with 27 units. The freehold project is scheduled to be completed by year-end, and ACT Holdings intends to relaunch the project then. Home buyers will be able to appreciate the project better when its completed, says Toh.

This was evident when another strata landed housing project by ACT Holdings was completed in March this year. Only seven strata terraced units in the project, called Charlton 27, remain unsold. Most of the units were sold when the project was launched in May 2013, just a month before the introduction of the total debt servicing ratio (TDSR) loan framework at end-June that year, which caused home sales across the island to wither.

Story continues

Sales picked up after the completion of Charlton 27. Three units with built-up areas of 4,758 to 5,952 sq ft have been sold for $3.08 million ($647 psf) to $3.54 million ($595 psf), according to caveats lodged with URA Realis from April to June. All the strata terraced houses at Charlton 27 come with five en suite bedrooms, a lift, fully fitted kitchen and private basement parking for two cars.

The units at One Surin, which were launched in July 2014, have slightly smaller built-up areas, generally ranging between 3,789 and 4,166 sq ft, with four bedrooms. The houses are also priced lower, at under $3 million. Two units with strata areas of 3,789 to 3,821 sq ft were sold recently for $2.6 million ($705 psf) and $2.67 million ($680 psf) respectively, according to caveats lodged in June and September.

Restrictions in strata housing development

A month after One Surin was launched, the government introduced new regulations for strata housing development in August 2014. They included a recalibration of the formulae used to calculate the maximum number of dwelling units allowed in a strata landed housing development  using only 40% of the total land area to be divided by the typical footprint of a conventional landed housing unit. The minimum communal open space within a development was also increased from 30% to 45% with immediate effect, with at least 25% to be set aside for on-ground greenery. This basically reduces the number of units a developer can build in a strata housing project. On the other hand, it will further enhance the quality of the living environment for residents, said URA.

This revision comes on the back of an earlier change in guidelines in February 2009, which had already capped the number of units that can be built on a development site. It required that dwelling units have a minimum plot size of 150 sq m for terraced units, 200 sq m for semi-detached and 400 sq m for detached houses. The maximum number of units to be built cannot exceed the development site area. That had already reduced the number of strata housing units that a developer can build on a site.

Both Charlton 27 and One Surin were launched before the new guidelines announced in August 2014 kicked in. Yet, these two projects are what we consider the fourth-generation strata landed housing projects by the developer, says Thomas Ang, associate director of OrangeTee, who is marketing Charlton 27. Potential buyers will be able to appreciate the difference between these two projects and the other strata landed housing projects in the same neighbourhood. He reckons the strata terraced units will appeal to those who want freehold tenure, a new property that they can move into immediately, and five bedrooms.

ACT is no stranger to the Kovan neighbourhood, located just off Upper Serangoon Road, having launched a handful of residential projects there over the past five years. Three are fully sold and completed: 21-unit strata landed housing development Charlton Residences, a joint venture with SingHaiYi Group that was completed in 2014; 198-unit Casa Cambio, a private condo also completed in 2014; and neighbouring 53-unit Cambio Suites, a private condo that was completed earlier this year.

--thisisapagebreak

Targeting growth areas

We target areas where we see growth, says Toh. Property values go up where theres improvement in infrastructure, good schools and job growth  and that will lead to population growth.

Besides the Kovan area, ACT has also developed many strata landed housing projects in the Braddell Heights neighbourhood, for instance Dunsfold Residences, a six-unit strata- titled bungalow development; Matlock Residences, a six strata bungalow development; and Muswell Hill, a bungalow development with three houses.

Toh: We target areas where we see growth

Tohs interest in property development that began 20 years ago was initially driven by a desire for adaptive reuse. That led to his first project, Gambier Court on Kim Yam Road, which was the building of a 12-storey extension with 23 apartments behind a row of conserved shophouses. The 99-year leasehold development was completed in 1999 and won the URA Heritage Award.

ACTs second project was the acquisition of a row of dilapidated shophouses at 42 to 45 Mosque Street in Chinatown in 2002 from URA. They were built in the 1930s by the Singapore Improvement Trust to house customs officers during the colonial era. They have since been restored and converted into Empire Lofts, a residential project for long-term lease. Completed in 2004, it also won the URA Heritage Award. The apartments at Empire Loft are a mix of one- and two-bedroom units, which are leased at $3,000 to about $6,000 a month. They continue to be popular with expatriates, says Toh. It is also where ACT has its Singapore headquarters.

This year, the company completed two pairs of semi-detached houses called Greenview Residences at Greenview Crescent, off Bukit Timah. All four semi-detached houses have been sold at $5 million to $6 million each.

Following the relaunch of One Surin and the sale of the remaining units at Charlton 27, ACT will have no other new developments in the pipeline. Were not planning to invest in any large deals in Singapore in the next year, says Toh. This is contrary to many investors who believe that the time is ripe to return to the prime residential market as bargains have started to emerge. Even though prime condo prices in Singapore have corrected, gross yields are still sub 3%, which makes the investment case difficult, points out Toh.

Empire Lofts, apartments on long-term lease, is located within a row of three adjoining conserved shophouses built in the 1930s

--thisisapagebreak

Looking abroad

ACT has turned its attention to the overseas markets instead, primarily in the US and Indonesia. Its maiden development in Indonesia is a condominium project in Alam Sutera Township, an emerging area in Greater Jakarta. It is a joint venture project with several partners and will be launched in Jakarta later this year. If the rules regarding foreign home ownership become clearer, we may consider bringing the project to Singapore, says Toh.

In the US, ACT established its head office in Atlanta, Georgia in the early 1980s. Tohs father, entrepreneur Toh Aik Choon (A C), founded ACT Enterprises in 1969. He was also an early investor in the US real estate market, with a development on industrial land in Dekalb County, Georgia through Atlanta International Industrial Park Inc. In 1987, A C started ACT Investments with Peter E Chang, and the companys first project was the development of a 36-storey luxury apartment tower, the Grandview in Buckhead, Atlanta.

A C passed away in 1990 at 63, when Toh was only 25 and working at his first job in consulting firm Booz Allen. There was not enough time for my father to pass on a lot of his experience, says Toh, a father of three boys aged six to 14. He was also more of an industrialist and entrepreneur than a property developer. Having attended school in the US, Toh was well acquainted with the country. In 1982, he entered the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta as a freshman and subsequently obtained his bachelors degree at MIT and an MBA at Wharton Business School in Boston.

Focus on rental apartments

Just as he did in Singapore, Toh focused on residential developments, particularly in the southeast region of the US, in cities such as Atlanta; Jacksonville, Florida; Charlotte and Durham in North Carolina; and Nashville, Tennessee. These cities are probably not on the radar of most Asian investors, says Toh. However, they have enjoyed strong job and population growth over the last five to 10 years. The cap rates are reasonable. And as long as they continue to attract the millennials to move there for better quality of life and job opportunities, these markets will continue to expand.

Many of the projects developed by ACT in the US are apartments for rent rather than condo blocks for sale. They include Bluwater in Jacksonville, Florida, a project completed 1 years ago; Canton Mill Lofts, a collection of historic mill buildings located about a mile from downtown Canton, Georgia; and Inman Quarter Apartments at Atlantas Inman Park. The only project that ACT currently has for sale in the US is 1065 Midtown in Atlanta. A luxury condo with 52 units span the 27th to 38th floors of the high-rise tower. The lower floors are occupied by the Loews Atlanta Hotel, and the residents will be able to enjoy the amenities and services of the hotel. The units at 1065 Midtown were launched for sale last year, and half have already been taken up. The units  a mix of one- to three-bedroom apartments  are priced from US$1 million to US$2 million each, or US$600 to US$700 psf. This is expensive by Atlanta standards, although in Singapore, its considered mid-market because prices here are so high, says Toh.

About five years ago, ACT invested in TriBridge Residential, a multi-family investment, development and management company. Founded in 1998 in Atlanta, it manages more than 10,000 residential units in properties across Georgia, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Toh intends to continue investing in the US. Comparing asset prices and growth opportunities globally, the US is still a relatively attractive market, he says.

Bluwater in Jacksonville, Florida is one of the properties developed with apartments for rent

Source: ACT Holdings

Canton Mill Lofts is a collection of historic mill buildings located about a mile from downtown Canton, Georgia

Source: ACT Holdings

Continued investment in the US

Toh had stepped up his investments in the US since 2009, following the global financial crisis. Prices have recovered from the lowest points of the financial crisis in 2009, says Toh. Were no longer looking at distressed deals. I think everything is at fair value today. Where we buy depends on where we perceive growth. Were looking for superior growth rather than distressed valuations.

It is more important to invest based on fundamentals, which means looking at yield-based valuation of assets, adds Toh. For him, the US multi-family assets in ACTs core markets such as Atlanta continue to yield 8% gross a year, with positive earnings growth momentum. So, thats where we will continue to allocate our capital, he says.

At 1065 Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, the 52 luxury apartments are perched on the 27th to 38th floors of the tower

Source: ACT Holdings

Rents of apartments in Atlanta and Nashville are about half the rate in the gateway cities of Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Many average Americans cant afford to live in these gateway cities, says Toh. While salaries in these big cities may be higher, the rents may take up half their pay. This has led to more Americans moving south to Atlanta, Nashville and Charlotte to enjoy a lower cost of living, he adds.

In Singapore, the homeownership rate was 90.8% in 2015, according to the Department of Statistics. Meanwhile, in the US, it was 62.9% in 2Q2016, according to the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.

Over the past five years, the recovery in the US market has been driven mainly by rental apartments more so than condos for sale. That trend could reverse, with more condos built for sale again. If more people decide to buy their own condo unit rather than rent, theres an opportunity to do a conversion, that is, to strata title the units for sale, says Toh. Thats a potential exit for some of our properties. In the US, it is just a matter of changing the legal use of the property, he adds.

Toh visits the US at least three times a year and has a home in Atlanta, as it is where the head office is. Like everyone else, he is monitoring the US presidential election closely. He is not deterred from continuing to invest in the country, regardless of the outcome of the election, he says.

This article appeared in The Edge Property Pullout, Issue 747 (Sep 26, 2016) of The Edge Singapore.

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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)
You may remember us sharing a story last year about the Caverna Skate House  a Brazilian house in Itanhaem inherited by Anselmo Arruda and subsequently transformed into a massive DIY skatepark/house project. Now a short documentary A Obra da Minha Vida sees Anselmo tell the story of how it all came about as well as a demonstration from the crew of how to skate the building. Raise your beers to a true skateboarding visionary!

More than Concrete  Adelaide City Park documentary This is from last year and has somehow only found its way into your consciousness this morning but...

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By PTI: Mumbai, Sep 23 (PTI) Amid tension in the wake of Uri terror attack, the Raj Thackeray-led MNS today asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India immediately, failing which the shooting of their movies will be stalled.

The party wrote an open letter to Bollywood producers and production houses, asking them why they need to rope in actors from the neighbouring country when enough talent is available in India.

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Actors like Mahira Khan (featuring in Shah Rukh Khan- starrer Raees) and "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" star Fawad are hijacking the opportunities of Indian artistes, MNS General Secretary Shalini Thackeray told a press conference here.

In Karan Johars "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", slated to release next month, Fawad is in a supporting role, while Mahira essays the lead role opposite SRK in "Raees", which will mark her Bollywood debut.

Mumbai Police, however, assured the actors they need not worry as they will be given protection.

"They (Pakistanis) dont give our people any respect in their country. Pakistani artists dont earn anything in their country but in India they get name, fame and money. After all this, their government funds terror activities in India, this is completely unacceptable," Thackeray said.

Thackeray, along with President of the partys cinema wing, Amay Khopkar, released copies of the open letter to the media. The letter questions Indian producers "love" for Pakistani artistes.

"In a country of 1.25 billion people, where lakhs and crores struggle for an opportunity to be launched in movies, why you have so much affection for the Pakistani artistes? Do you want to say that our actors do not have requisite talent? This is akin to insulting our country," the letter read.

Thackeray lambasted the NDA government for not dealing with Pakistan in a "stern" manner.

Speaking to PTI, she said, "The current government has been only giving assurances that they will deal sternly with Pakistan, but unfortunately nothing has happened so far."

"All foreign nationals who land in the country with valid documents issued by Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra need not worry," Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Deven Bharti said.

Johars Dharma Productions, which has produced "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", said it has to understand the issue before commenting on it.

"We have not come across anything yet. If there is an issue, we need to understand the matter first, so we cannot comment anything," an official from Dharma Productions said.

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The calls and messages to the makers of "Raees" did not elicit any response.

Heavily armed militants stormed the headquarters of the Army in North Kashmirs Uri town in the wee hours of September 18, killing 18 jawans and injuring 19 other personnel in the terror strike in which four ultras were neutralised. PTI APM DC KKP GK RSY PSH ZMN PSH

--- ENDS ---
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik)Eight US airstrikes in support of Libya's national unity government hit eight Daesh fighting positions and a vehicle borne improvised explosive device near the city of Sirte on Thursday, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a press release.

"This brings the total number of airstrikes in support of Operation Odyssey Lightning, which began Aug. 1, to 169," the release stated on Friday.

AFRICOM explained that the airstrikes, conducted in support of the Libyan Government of National Accord, will help deny Islamic State a safe haven in Libya from which it could attack the United States and its allies.
Fardous el-Sakka had been doing shift work at a school in Helsingborg in southern Sweden, since August after graduating there. In accordance with her beliefs, the Muslim woman chose specifically not to shake hands with her male colleagues, preferring a modest bow instead.Some of the male staff members took offence over her overt refusal to shake hands and took the matter to the school principal, who subsequently explained to el-Sakka that all staff members were required to respect the institution's values, including gender equality, if they wanted to keep their job.

"The man felt tremendously discriminated against by her," Helsingborg school principal Lidija Munchmeyer told the Swedish tabloid newspaper Expressen. "If there is anyone who has been discriminated against and mistreated here, it is the male employee," she insisted. "The school doesn't differentiate between people or treat them differently. That's what we anticipate from our students, which is why the staff is expected to do likewise," she added.

El-Sakka quit her school job in protest and proceeded to report the matter to Sweden's Equality Ombudsman.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, the US Pacific Command (PACOM) reported that a US B-1B strategic bomber flew from the military base located in Guam and landed at the Osan airbase in South Korea for the first time since 1996. The US military reported that the move aimed to show the US readiness to "defend and to preserve the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region."

A representative from the North Korean General Staff said that the activities of the United States and South Korea dragged the Korean Peninsula toward potential nuclear war, as cited by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) Friday.

According to the statement, Pyongyang's warheads would destroy Seoul, as well as the US base if the US bombers continued their flights.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The NHK broadcaster reported on Thursday that Abe arrived in Cuba for summit talks with President Raul Castro to seek Havana's assistance in responding to Pyongyang's nuclear activities.

The leader of Japan, which did not have diplomatic relations, asked his Cuban counterpart to use Cuba's ties with North Korea to respond to the issue, the broadcaster added.

According to the media outlet, Abe and Castro discussed Chinese maritime activities, as well as promotion of Japanese investment in the Caribbean country.
Mohammad Shafiq Hamdam, writer, political activist and head of the Afghan Anti-Corruption Network, told Radio Sputnik that the amount of corruption in Afghanistan has actually increased over the last 15 years.

"The level of corruption in Afghanistan is very high. There are many reasons, but the principal reason is a lack of political will to tackle corruption within the government and within the international community which is backing the Afghan government," Hamdam said.

Hamdam said that despite a series of international conferences on the development of Afghanistan, the country is still lacking a framework of accountability which could be used to hold the Afghan government to account.

"Afghan development has not met any of the benchmarks or tasks set by the international community to fight corruption and promote transparency," he said.
According to plans, up to 6 million passengers will take the ropeway each year.

The project is likely to be a huge boost for tourism in the area.
New Delhi (Sputnik)  India admits that infrastructure developments are adversely affected due to ongoing unrest while its crippled local intelligence makes India more vulnerable to militant attacks.

The Border Road Organisation has suffered losses of more than three months work during the summer. Many vehicles and equipment have been damaged, which will directly affect the work efficiency. The most affected locations where delays have been seen are Tangdhar, Anantnag, Kupwara and Bandipur Sectors, reads a statement released by Indias Ministry of Defense.

Laborers are major source of intelligence in these highly sensitive and militancy prone areas. Local officials have reported to the Ministry of Defense about the unavailability of laborers.
New Delhi (Sputnik)  All foreign nationals, who are in Mumbai on valid documents provided by the government of India, need not worry. We will provide adequate protection as and when required, Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police told reporters.

In the aftermath of the terror attack in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, a Hindu right wing political party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) demanded that actors and artists from Pakistan to leave India as a mark of protest against Pakistan on Friday.

We give a 48-hours deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or MNS will push them out, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Amey Khopkar said in a statement.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The roll out of the first Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35 jet took place during a ceremony at a Lockheed Martin production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, the defense giant said in a press release on Friday.

"Senior Japanese and US government officials joined Lockheed Martin to celebrate the roll out of the first Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II," the release stated.

JASDF Chief of Air Staff Gen. Yoshiyuki Sugiyama said the F-35A has remarkably advanced system and the highly sophisticated fifth generation fighter will bring a great development to air operations as a "game changer."
While pledging support to the Centre in exposing Pakistan on the international stage as an exporter of terror, Congress has slammed the Modi govt for not consulting Opposition parties to formulate a feasible policy.

By Kumar Shakti Shekhar: India has never seethed with as much anger as it has in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack. The social media is furious with the Modi government's ineffectiveness both in terms of stopping terror attacks and replying to Pakistan 'in the same language which it understands'.

On the other hand, the main opposition party Congress has pledged its full support to the Centre in whatever it does to isolate and expose Pakistan. However, it has hit out at the Modi government for neither having a clear-cut Pakistan policy nor consulting the Opposition parties to find out a solution to the problem.

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Also read: Top security officials brief Modi on how to tackle Pakistan post Uri attacks



The outrage coming from the social media and the Opposition parties is fairly justified. Not because they disapprove of the Modi government's action. But because of its inaction not just post-Uri, but also after similar terror attacks in Udhampur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Pampore in the last couple of years.

SOCIAL MEDIA SLAMS GOVT's PAK POLICY

The social media has pulled out all the old statements Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj issued as the then Gujarat chief minister and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha respectively. They had come down heavily on the Manmohan Singh government in the wake of terror attacks, accusing it of inaction. They had also promised to reverse the situation if the BJP came to power.

However, after every terror attack in the last two years, Modi and his Cabinet colleagues are merely seen "strongly condemning" the act. They are being mocked for issuing hollow threats to Pakistan, warning it of dire consequences and a befitting reply. Closed-door meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security are held after every such attack, but the final outcome has remained a cipher.

Also read: Uri effect: India may withdraw Most Favoured Nation status accorded to Pakistan



The Congress has ridiculed the BJP government's Pakistan policy or the lack of it. Simultaneously, however, it expects the Centre to "start doing what needs to be done" and "stop being social media warriors".

CONSULT PREDECESSORS, SUGGESTS CONG



Talking to India Today Digital, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari questioned the Centre's approach in dealing with the situation arising out of the Uri incident. "What stops Modi from talking to his predecessor Manmohan Singh, what stops External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj from calling her predecessors, what stops Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar from sitting and discussing with AK Antony or what stops National Security Advisor Ajit Doval from consulting MK Narayanan?"

He criticised the Government for not calling an all-party meeting to discuss the situation.

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Also read: Isolated Pakistan gets an earful from US: Act on Uri terrorists



Asked why the Congress was just critiquing the Centre but not advising it on what to do and what not to, Tewari said, "We are not giving any unsolicited advice to the Government. We do not favour giving suggestions till formally sought. The Government can at least call an all-party meeting. It can act upon the suggestions if they are worth it."

Another Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed echoed Tewari's views. "It is for the Centre to come up with proposals and subsequently formalise a concrete Pakistan policy. In this hour of political crisis, the Congress does not want to politicise the issue," he said.

'BACK GOVT ON ACTION AGAINST PAK'

"I am of the view that the Congress will stand by the Modi govt in whatever it does to isolate Pakistan. The Congress will support all actions of the government to put pressure on the neighbouring country to desist from carrying out nefarious activities," he said.

Ahmed sought to remind that after the 26/11 terror attack of 2008 in Mumbai, the Congress-led UPA government acted in such a way that Pakistan did not dare to indulge in any attack on Indian soldiers or installations. It is only because of PM Modi's haphazard policy that Pakistan has started striking at will, he said.

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Also read: Uri attack: Radio sets, GPS devices recovered from terrorists may hold key to investigations



"First Modi invited Nawaz Sharif at his government's swearing-in ceremony, subsequently he indulged in saree-shawl diplomacy followed by visiting Karachi to cut cake on his Pakistani counterpart's birthday. These activities emboldened Pakistan to perpetrate terror on Indian soil," he said.

Ahmed feels PM Modi has let Pakistan off the hook due to his bonhomie and 'over-indulgence' with Sharif. "But the Congress is still committed to backing the Government in whatever measures it takes to isolate and expose Pakistan," he said.

--- ENDS ---
The announcement comes as the relations between the allies have become strained in recent weeks.

In early September, US President Barack Obama canceled his meeting with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum, as the latter had publicly called the US leader a son of a whore. Obama had criticized Dutertes ongoing war on drugs, and its use of unregulated public militias.

Duterte then called on US Special Forces to withdraw from the Philippines southern island of Mindanao, where they have been deployed since 2002.

The Special Forces, they have to go, the Philippine Star cited Duterte as saying on September 12. I could not speak then out of respect and I do not want a rift with America. But they have to go.
US Air Force pilots began virtual training on the F-35 in 2015.

"The F-35 is going to be an incredible advancement in our capability as an Air Force, and the Full Mission Simulators present an environment to adequately challenge our pilots as they prepare for combat," the 34th Fighter Squadron Commander, Lt. Col. George Watkins, told Lockheed Martin at the time.

"Looking at my own air force and the way I think that we will be employing this new weapon system, I think we will need to use virtual means of training a lot more than we have until now with the F-16, and I know for the average fighter pilot, and I think both of my neighbors will probably acknowledge this, this is usually not the most fun thing to do  stepping into a simulator to fly a mission," Luyt said.

Three variations of the F-35 will replace legacy fighters in 11 countries. The stealthy fifth-generation fighter is equipped with advanced networked sensors.
Conservative populist political party Alternative for Germany (Afd) has also seen an increase in support. DW columnist Christoph Hasselbach writes that much of the issue stems from German citizens feeling left out of the political process by politicians like Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"On a moralistic whim, Merkel has turned Germany into an experiment that will affect generations to come  for the worse," he wrote. "Germans were never asked if they wanted this or were prepared to make the necessary sacrifices, both financial and cultural. There is a difficult-to-pinpoint sense of no longer feeling at home in your own country. In response, many politicians have rejected this feeling of discomfort, or at least advocated to keep it to one's self, but certainly not make a political issue out of it."

Acts of terrorism also serve as justification for attacks on immigrants. Fifteen people were killed in Germany in five attacks between July 18 and July 2, with dozens wounded. Daesh took responsibility for two of the attacks, and two of the attackers were asylum seekers.
"The negotiations on the Transatlantic agreement on free trade with the United States led to mistrust. An impression that European legal norms were ignored and standards undermined had prevailed at the talks. But also there is a common fear of increasing international competition," the vice-chancellor said.

The TTIP seeks to establish a free trade zone between the United States and Europe. The US government started discussions on the draft deal with the European Union in 2013. The details of TTIP, including specific rules of market access, have not been released to the public.

The TTIP agreement has drawn severe criticism for the lack of transparency in the negotiations as well as for the tremendous power it would potentially give to international corporations.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The UK public inquiry into the death of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko is an example of how serious damage can be inflicted on the interstate investigative cooperation "for the sake of current nonlegal considerations," the head of Division for International Cooperation of the Russian Investigative Committee, Pyotr Litvishko, said.

Litvishko reminded that in 2006, Russia and London conducted a joint probe into the death of Litvinenko, which was a good example of international legal cooperation.

"Regrettably, the public inquiry which replaced that inquest was devoid of an adversarial nature and closed to the public, ignored significant evidence and breached some rules of international cooperation, and after proceeding in closed sessions, came to the contradictory and legally untenable conclusions. This is a stark illustration of how serious damage can be inflicted on the anti-crime cooperation efforts of states for the sake of current nonlegal considerations," Litvishko told RIA Novosti.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  Monaco's Minister of State Serge Telle told Sputnik that he would accompany Prince Albert II of Monaco on the October visit to Moscow, during which a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the country's officials are planned.

"I will accompany the prince to Russia on the 6th of October in order to open a big event at the Tretyakov gallery about the history between the Romanovs and Grimaldi, a Monaco royal family. We have worked quite hard on the history of the two royal families," Telle said on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "We will see President Putin and many officials."
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  Monaco is accepting refugees but in limited numbers due to the small size of the country, Monaco's Minister of State Serge Telle told Sputnik on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"Yes, we take refugees," Telle said. "Very few, we are a very small country of 40,000 people so we can not take 40,000 refugees so we have a very limited number of people."


GENEVA (Sputnik)Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said last month that 13 people had been released from a secret Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) facility in Kharkiv. In a published letter addressed to Ukraine's military prosecutor, the watchdogs urged him to address the issue of secret detention units where at least five other people, including two Russians, continue to be detained.

"Law enforcement agencies in Ukraine deny the existence of these institutions. Nonetheless, I have received the relatives of these citizens who told me credible information that these people are indeed held in closed institutions that can be called prisons," Moskalkova told RIA Novosti.

The ombudswoman quoted a letter received from her Ukrainian counterpart Valeriya Lutkovska claiming that the Russian citizens "are not held in any of the detention centers and jails in Ukraine."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed with his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva bilateral cooperation and the ministers confirmed commitment to regular political dialogue on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.

"The heads of the foreign ministries exchanged their opinions on the current state and perspectives of the Russian-Portuguese cooperation, discussed the key international and regional problems. Both sides confirmed their interest in the continuation of political dialogue on the regular basis and in strengthening interaction on the international arena," the ministry said in a statement.

Former UN High Commissioner for Refugees and current UN Secretary-General candidate Antonio Guterres was present at the meeting of the foreign ministers.
Campaign group Global Justice Now say Britain's exit from the EU should be used to reject all three trade deals. In a statement, it said there should be: "no toxic trade deals. The UK must reject TTIP, CETA and TiSA, deals that threaten our public services and lock in privatization while handing unprecedented power to corporations."

"Britain's constitution is being rewritten under our noses, without public debate, without an election. Even more worrying, is the damage being done to our values by a referendum that has divided the nation and stoked fear and hatred. This will have a profound effect on how our country behaves towards the rest of the world  on trade, on aid policies, on climate change," Nick Dearden, the director of Global Justice Now told Sputnik.

Protests against European Trade Ministers summit in Bratislava. First a lively picket. "Hop hop hop! CETA Stop!" pic.twitter.com/AcxMicPnZC  Global Justice Now (@GlobalJusticeUK) September 22, 2016

'Disastrous'

Central to the trade agreements is the principle that, if EU states' regulatory policies preclude non-EU countries from selling their goods or services, the company can sue for loss of earnings under the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system, which is a trade tribunal separate form member states' judiciaries.

Dearden's comments were echoed by lawmakers in the European Parliament.

"The truth is the only beneficiaries of these deals will be the foreign investors who will gain the right to sue governments for enacting legitimate and democratic legislation. For citizens, our public services and our climate, these deals will be disastrous," Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Trade and Green trade spokesperson Yannick Jadot said.

"Both the French Trade Minister and German Economy Minister have spoken out against TTIP and they must hold true to these statements and call for an end to negotiations. It simply does not make sense to denounce TTIP while still pushing ahead with a similar deal with Canada: CETA and TTIP are two sides of the same coin, and we must reject both."

European United Left/Nordic Green Left MEP Anne-Marie Mineur, called on finance ministers meeting Friday, September 23, to discuss CETA to reject the agreement saying: "CETA will endanger the environment and give undue power to Canadian and US companies to sue governments and local authorities for adopting social and environmental regulations. To even consider provisional application of the agreement before national parliaments have had the chance to discuss this highly controversial agreement is outrageous."
Mohan spent a major part of his life in villages near Lucknow where he was used as a begging elephant outside temples or hired out to be used at weddings.

Fifty-five year old Mohan will now be living with 22 other rescued elephants at the care centre in Mathura.

By Seemi Pasha: A 55-year-old elephant named Mohan was successfully rescued by animal rights activists on Thursday after the intervention of the Lucknow High Court. The jumbo had been poached from the wild as a calf and separated from his herd and family. Reports say he was tied up and beaten regularly, to break his spirit after which he was sold off. Mohan spent a major part of his life in villages near Lucknow where he was used as a begging elephant outside temples or hired out to be used at weddings.

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Wildlife SOS, an animal rights NGO, had been trying to rescue this elephant since July 2014. Activists claim there are severe scars and puncture wounds on Mohan's body that confirm years of brutal torture and neglect.

'The elephant is severely emaciated due to severe malnutrition and neglect. His digestive system has been severely compromised by worm infestation. His body is covered in wounds and his liver functioning is severely affected' said Dr. Yaduraj Khadpekar, Elephant Veterinarian at Wildlife SOS.

Mohan is severely emaciated due to severe malnutrition and neglect.

Repeated attempts by law enforcement agencies including the forest department and the Police to rescue the elephant were met with a hostile and violent backlash from locals.

The Lucknow High Court finally took note of Mohan's deteriorating health condition and years of unimaginable cruelty that he had suffered. The court issued a directive that the elephant be shifted to the Elephant Care Center in Mathura run by Wildlife SOS.

'The Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura has necessary facilities and a dedicated team of veterinarians and elephant care staff who can provide this elephant the care that he deserves. In addition to veterinary care, Mohan will also have the freedom to roam free in a large spacious enclosure and be fed healthy and nutritious fodder, fruits and vegetables and also have other elephants to socialise with to ensure his overall physical and psychological recovery in his new home' said Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder Wildlife SOS.

'It is with immense joy that we welcome Mohan to the Elephant Care Center. His freedom has been a long-time coming, and we are so grateful to everyone who stood strong through this long and often disheartening and dangerous fight for his freedom. This day really validates all the hard work that went in to his rescue,' said Geeta Seshamani, Co-founder Wildlife SoS.

Fifty-five year old Mohan will now be living with 22 other rescued elephants at the care centre in Mathura.

--- ENDS ---
In the first nine months of 2015 more than 710,000 migrants entered Europe across the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas. Countries in Europe's south and east struggled to cope with the flow of migrants, and on August 31 Chancellor Merkel decided to open Germany's borders to asylum seekers waiting to travel to Western Europe.

As a result, the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Germany daily increased to a record 10,000 per day in September, and by the end of 2015 a record 1.1 million refugees and migrants had arrived in Germany.

Krah told Sputnik that he is concerned about Germany's ability to integrate the arrivals into its society.

"The same thing will happen, as in France and Belgium. We will have ethnically isolated residential districts, where a parallel society develops. These parallel societies are havens for organized crime and Islamic extremism," he said.

The final straw for the politician was the Chancellor's reaction to the party's recent election defeat in regional elections in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where Merkel's own constituency is located.

Today I had the chance to explain my standpoint on RT International: https://t.co/NPlettOmDF  Dr. Maximilian Krah (@KrahMax) September 22, 2016

The CDU gained just 19 percent of the vote, coming in third place after the SPD (30.6 percent) and newcomers Alternative for Germany (20.8 percent).

As Chancellor and party leader, Merkel said she took responsibility for the disastrous result. However, she added that "I still think we took the right decisions."

On September 19 Merkel's party suffered another blow in regional elections in Berlin. The center-left SPD received the largest share of the vote, 21.6 percent, followed by the CDU (17.6 percent), Die Linke (15.6 percent), the Greens (15.2 percent) and AfD (14.2 percent).
"The truth is that Remain voters do feel regret about the outcome, and they are reflecting that feeling among themselves, that this is an enormous mistake. They find it remarkable that the UK should collectively make that decision. But of course Remain voters tend to talk to Remain voters and therefore, are not aware that those who have made the decision to Leave don't necessarily share their views," Professor Curtice told Sputnik.

"There is a pretty big social division underlying the Brexit vote. Young university graduates think we should Remain, but they tend to talk to other young university graduates. It's older people who voted to Leave and they tend to talk to each other as well. So therefore, we shouldn't be surprised that the country as a whole doesn't necessarily share their views."

However, could regret seep in once Article 50 is invoked? Triggering this could mean that many voters who wanted to leave the EU are left red-faced if things do not go there way during negotiations with the EU.

"There is no doubt that if you ask the Leave camp what they are hoping for and expecting from Brexit, it looks as though they would like to see some compromise between free trade and freedom of movement. There is hope and expectation that we will be able to limit immigration from the EU, but still have [access], at least, to the free market," Professor Curtice told Sputnik.

"Now of course, the 64,000 dollar question is whether the European Union will be able to play ball sufficiently that we might end up with some degree of compromise between those two objectives that might be acceptable to the EU and the UK government."

Professor Curtice believes that the UK has always been a reluctant member of the EU, who gave Britain lots of opt-outs and exceptions if they decided to stay. However, whether this kindness is transferred now that Brits have decided to leave, remains to be seen.

"Some Leave voters who were hoping that the consequences are not going to be too bad, may change their mind. So far, at least, the world has not fallen in. At least the economy has not suffered. Now that may not remain true, but if indeed at the end, the consequences are not as deleterious as the Remain side argued, maybe some Remain voters will change their mind," Professor Curtice told Sputnik.

"There is no doubt that the UK conservative government does face a difficult task. In the same way we was divided 50/50 as to whether we should stay in the EU or not and we was divided 50/50 about what we want out of those Brexit negotiations. Half of us think that its immigration and we stick to immigration as a priority and the other half say free trade," Professor Curtice told Sputnik.

"What the UK government needs to satisfy Leave voters is that somewhere, somehow along the line the UK is able to say in at least some circumstances that immigration from the EU has to stop. It's the sense of control that seems to be crucial, the questions is whether or not achieving that in some way or another can be done while at the same time maintain access to free trade."
"Today more than ever, we need a strong international initiative that will establish a new global framework for refugee management, undercutting the xenophobic migration agenda," the Greek prime minister added.

According to Tsipras, the countries, which host refugees, must be supported in a number of ways. It includes enhancement of protection and resettlement options for refugees, cooperation against illegal migration, in particular, elaboration of procedures for returning undocumented immigrants.

After the 2008 financial crisis, Greece, being the most indebted countries of the eurozone, entered the strongest recession, the debt reached the point where the government was unable to repay it and had to appeal to European countries and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance.

Cyprus has been split into two since 1974 when Turkey invaded its northern part after a Greek coup. UN-brokered talks on reunification have been going on for years and were resumed last May.
The WTO said the EU, as well as Britain, France, Germany and Spain, had failed to comply with earlier rulings against all but two of 36 contested measures, including billions of dollars of European government loans to Airbus.

The European Commission has said it will appeal the ruling.

#Boeing, US welcome WTO report slamming EU's #Airbus loans  South China Morning Post: https://t.co/IMxIb1eVh7  Boeing News (@NewsBoeing) September 23, 2016

'Sweeping Victory'

US Trade Representative Michael Froman said: "This report is a sweeping victory for the United States and its aerospace workers. 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.

"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. 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."
In countries outside of the UK in wider Europe, Italy is said to have implemented a series of incentives to encourage less food waste, such as tax breaks to the businesses that sign up to the scheme. Rather than throw away food, local businesses benefit by donating unwanted food to local charities and this has encouraged many business owners to come on board.

The approach in France is less about incentives, but more about coercing businesses to donate unwanted food items through fear of being fined. The European Commission provides a set of guidelines and helpful resources for businesses based in the EU to help make a difference in their communities.

In addition to the pressure exerted on the major supermarkets in the UK to donate more of their food for local services that require them, there are also a number of food businesses that have been doing this for many years.

Major food retailer Pret-A-Manger have incorporated food donation into their business model. For year now they have been encouraging a number of local charities to follow their policy of making fresh food daily and giving away everything that gets leftover.

The first donation of fresh food from Pret a Manger has arrived at our Alabare Place Drop in Centre, Salisbury! @Pret pic.twitter.com/apZscLJCyY  Alabare (@AlabareUK) September 17, 2015

But giving away free and unwanted food may just be the starting point when it comes to ensuring food poverty is tackled effectively as a result.

Sputnik spoke to a large housing services provider based in Hampshire, who have been receiving donations from local supermarkets in their area.

"As much as our service users benefitted from a regular supply of free food provided by local schemes, we found that often there would just be too much food given to us and that much could well have been worth distributing wider to other services in our area," a support worker from the service told Sputnik.

"The importance of managing exactly where the food goes is a missing link for many schemes in our local area, and many charities unfortunately do not have the resource to distribute wider than our own projects. All we can do is provide our clients with info on the food available and hope that it all gets utilized efficiently," she added.

The fact that more food providers across the UK and wider are taking positive action to fight food poverty is certainly a great start, but good coordination and a more structured food waste management policy would certainly make the process a whole lot more efficient.
Speaking before Lithuania's parliament, the Seimas, during a security conference, Vosylius warned that Vilnius would not be able to prepare the planned 30,000-40,000-strong army reserve by 2021, as earlier planned. The officer emphasized that it would be impossible to build up the country's military if Lithuanians continue to immigrate en masse to Western Europe, without any plans to return.

Emphasizing that Lithuania must always be "mindful of the threat of Russian military intervention in our region," Vosylius suggested that the Kremlin is doing everything in its power to prevent Lithuanian nationals from returning home. This is being done to make it very easy for an "aggressive Moscow" to seize the Baltic states, he said. "Trust me, Russia is using every means imaginable to prevent them from returning from the UK or Norway."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On September 13, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia offered to develop parallel roadmaps on ensuring security in Eastern Ukraine, so that the political settlement of the issue could keep pace with ensuring the full silence regime, a stance Kiev disagreed with. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin proposed instead that an agreed unified roadmap to implement the Minsk deal was necessary.

We have, of course, our vision of a road map and we actively try to advance our interests. Indeed, all partners have their own vision [of a roadmap], so we will be looking for compromise. Under no circumstances are we talking about concessions to be made on issues related to sovereignty and territorial integrity of [the Ukrainian] state, Eliseev said.
Gibraltar King Felipe VI's has called for Britain to release Gibraltar back to the Spanish people now that Britain has opted to leave the EU.

Video of King Felipe VI of Spain's UN address (English translation): https://t.co/fG1OlK0mvq  Cinderella (@worldofroyalty) September 22, 2016

King Felipe delivered his scathing message at the UN General Assembly in New York.

"I invite the UK, on this first occasion at the UN after Brexit, to end the colonial anachronism of Gibraltar with an agreed solution between both countries to restore the territorial integrity of Spain and bring benefits to the people of Gibraltar and the Spanish area of Campo de Gibraltar," he said.
KIEV (Sputnik)  Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is going to pay an official visit to Brussels in October to discuss ratification of the association agreement with the European Union, the deputy head of Ukraine's presidential administration said Friday.

We are now preparing presidents visit to Brussels, which is to be made in the second half of October, Konstantin Eliseev told reporters.

The visit would focus on discussions on seeking mutually acceptable compromise on ratification of the association agreement with both the EU and the partners from the Netherlands, he added.
"It is an outrage to insinuate that Bavarian Premier Horst Seehofer is against the dignified treatment of refugees."

Schauble's intervention is significant, in that he is a long-standing CDU politician defending the leader of the CSU who has been so critical of Merkel that he has threatened to stand against her in the 2017 federal elections. Schauble himself could even stand, although he has so far denied he will.

No Upper Limit

Merkel has drawn strong criticism over her "open doors" policy over refugees. In the summer of 2015, she made clear Syrian refugees would be welcome in Germany, precipitating a huge movement of migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq  among other nations  fleeing warzones.
S Ramalingam, cinematographer of the National Award-winning Visaaranai, which has been selected as the official Indian entry to the 2017 Oscars, speaks about his experience working on the Vetri Maaran masterpiece.

By Akshaya Nath: We feel what we see and cinema is a very powerful medium only because of the depth that it can provide through its visuals. Most of the time, we appreciate the actors and directors for the brilliant films that we are offered, but at many a times, we forget the person who brings to us what we see and feel.



A film is as good as its cinematographer and Visaarani, India's official Oscars entry to the 2017 Academy Awards, has a perfect combination of a good director, an amazing caste and a brilliant cinematographer.

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ALSO READ: Vetri Maaran's Visaaranai, produced by Dhanush, is India's official Oscars entry for 2017

ALSO READ: To know that Visaaranai is India's official Oscars entry is amazing, says Visaaranai's National Award-winning actor Samuthirakani

ALSO READ: Entry to Oscars is a proud moment for us, says Vetri Maaran

Though this is the first independent venture for S Ramalingam as a cinematographer, he has showcased exceptional work in the film. Here is a brief transcript of an exclusive interview with India Today

How was the experience working for Visaaranai?



The movie required a lot of hard work and a lot of day and night shoots. But to have got the opportunity to work with Vetri Maaran sir was the most enjoyable part. Also, it was a great learning experience. He always has something new to offer.



Which was the most difficult scene in the film?

The climax scene. It was shot in stagnated sewage water and for three days we were standing there, including the director and actors. The three nights in which it was shot were one of the toughest shoots that we did for the entire film.

Which is your favourite scene in the film?



Personally, my favourite scene is the scene where a staircase will be shown and the lights will be turned on and off alternatively. That scene looked particularly good.



There are many brutal and gory scenes in the film. How was it shooting them?

It was quite an experience to shoot such scenes. You would constantly wonder if it is possible for something like this to happen ever. I was trembling and my hands were shaking while shooting those scenes.



How are you feeling after hearing that Visaaranai is the official Indian Oscars entry for the 2017 Academy Awards?

We are very happy and we were very hopeful. It was selected in Venice and has got many international nominations and being selected for Oscars is a very proud moment for our team. I am sure we will win the Oscar.



--- ENDS ---
LONDON (Sputnik)  Foot-dragging in the process of the UK withdrawal from the European Union might lead to increasing instability, European Parliament President Martin Schultz said Friday.

"We accept that time is needed, but we should not lose too much time to avoid increasing uncertainty in the markets and for citizens about their future is not healthy," Schultz told ITV News after his meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May.

May has repeatedly insisted the United Kingdom needed some extra time to get prepared for Brexit, because Britain wants to get the best from the deal.
On Thursday the Independent newspaper reported that volunteers working at the so-called " Jungle" camp of migrants and refugees in Calais have been accused of "sexually exploiting" refugees living there.

According to the report, a male volunteer raised the alarm in a Facebook group, where volunteers discuss their work. He claimed to have heard of female volunteers having sex with adult male refugees and even boys under the age of consent. He also heard stories of male volunteers using prostitutes at the camp.

Charities working in the area told the Independent that they are aware of the problem, which is difficult for them to control. While they can fire a volunteer from their organization, they don't have the power to expel somebody from the camp. One-fifth of volunteers at the Jungle are not working for a charity.
KIEV (Sputnik)  The US House of Representatives approved on Thursday the draft law "On support of stability and democracy in Ukraine," stipulating enhancement of sanctions against Russia and allowing supplies of lethal defensive weapons to the country.

"We sincerely welcome it [the draft law], and I think this is one of the results of the negotiations that President [Petro] Poroshenko held in New York [on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly]," Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Konstantin Eliseev said.

The Ukrainian government has been conducting a military operation in the country's eastern regions since April 2014. In February, 2015 Kiev and the southeastern militia signed a deal on Ukrainian reconciliation in Minsk, including a ceasefire, its monitoring and verification, and the withdrawal of weapons from the line of contact, among other points.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)Greek authorities have made an impressive adjustment and managed to reduce account deficits, but the countrys economy is not experiencing much growth, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a release on Friday.

"Greece has made significant progress in unwinding its macroeconomic imbalances, but growth has remained elusive and risks are high," the release stated.

While growth prospects remain weak and face high downside risks, unemployment will likely be in the double digits until the middle of the century, according to the release.
The Republika Srpska is one of the two autonomous entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the other is the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their relations are largely affected by the civil war among Serbs, Bosnian Muslims and Croatians in 1992-1995.

The tensions in the country have been rising, ahead of the referendum, set to be held on Sunday. The residents of Srpska Republika will be offered to approve or refuse the proposal to hold annual celebrations of the nations' Independence Day on January 9.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Operation Taula, targeting local governments of Valencia, Alicante and Castellon, began in 2014 after the United Left Party of Valencia demanded that the government investigate the activities of Imelsa. The company was suspected of creating a front company Berceo Mantenimientos, through which transactions were carried out to five other firms.

They were aware of a lot of things. They could not be so stupid, Benavent said as quoted by the 24 Horas television channel, before presenting evidence in court.

To obtain contracts, the companies had to pay kickbacks to local authorities  3 percent of the amount of a contract, he said.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  On Wednesday, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group Darya Olifer announced that the sides to the conflict in eastern Ukraine signed a framework agreement on the withdrawal of forces at three locations along the line of contact.

When asked if the OSCE has plans to add more lines of disengagement, Apakan said on Friday, "We will look at it, we are working on them. Let's implement and look for the others."

Apakan noted that the agreement is already in force but the implementation has not started yet. He added that the implementation would be carried out in stages.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  At a special meeting of the republic's parliament, 36 out of the 116 lawmakers voted in support of Fico's removal from his post, the Teraz online publication reported Friday.

At least 76 votes were necessary to enact the dismissal.

Fico, who lives in an apartment complex owned by entrepreneur Ladislav Basternak, has been accused by the opposition of paying an estimated 4,450 euros ($5,000) less than other residents. The opposition has called this a bribe from Basternak.
LONDON (Sputnik)  The UK government still has no clear plan for the procedure of the divorce with the European Union, European Parliament's President Martin Schulz said Friday.

"Honestly, I leave London with a feeling that the Government is undecided about how and when they should trigger Article 50, also with the feeling that they perceive, more and more, the European side  the 27 institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg  can't wait too long," Schulz said, as quoted by The Independent newspaper, in his speech at the London School of Economics.

On Thursday, Schulz met with UK Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
LONDON (Sputnik)  British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has stressed the importance of all sides to the Ukrainian conflict striving to achieve a ceasefire after an agreement on the withdrawal of forces in Ukraines southeast (Donbass).

"I welcome the signing of a framework agreement on the disengagement of forces in eastern Ukraine. This is a good start but all sides now need to meet their commitments so that a full, comprehensive and sustained ceasefire is realised. This is fundamental to any further progress towards peace in eastern Ukraine. The UK will work hard with all parties to help turn this into a reality," Johnson said as quoted by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Friday.

On Wednesday, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine, Darya Olifer, announced that the sides to the conflict in eastern Ukraine had signed a framework agreement on the withdrawal of forces at three locations along the line of contact in Donbass.
By Indrajit Kundu: In an apparent case of witch-hunting, a tribal woman in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district have killed her own brother on suspicion of practising witchcraft. Raju Minj (55) was drowned by her younger sister in the local Kathiya River on Thursday.



The deceased's wife informed the local police after noticing her husband's dead body near the river following which Raju's sister Chandmuni was detained.

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"My sister-in-law killed my husband with the help of four other villagers. I want justice and plea for punishment for the accused," said Raju's wife Lakshmi Minj.



The accused, Chandmuni Minj (35) when interrogated by the officials of Nagraghata police station confessed to killing her brother with the help of four other villagers. The accused alleged that her brother could predict future and whatever he had predicted had come out to be true.

BROTHER PREDICTED FUTURE

"Whatever my brother spoke became a reality the very next day. My brother was practising witchcraft," Chandmuni Minj alleged after confessing to her crime. The other four villagers who accompanied Chandmuni in the crime are absconding.



Despite stringent laws against such medieval practices, branding and killing people as witches remain an ugly truth of rural India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau statistics, more than 2000 deaths have been recorded from across the country between 2000 and 2012 due to witch hunting.

Also read:

Over 2000 women killed in India for practising 'black magic' in 14 years

--- ENDS ---
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein  In a late August meeting between KRG President Masoud Barzani and Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the two discussed the unequal status of the federated region of Kurdistan, Bakir noted in a Thursday interview.

"[Barzani] very clearly raised the issue of self-determination and we want to raise that, to discuss that in a serious and meaningful discussion and dialogue with Baghdad, because we want to achieve our objectives peacefully," Bakir said.

The KRG has long sought independence from the central government in Baghdad, and reports suggest that the people of Kurdistan could vote on an independence referendum in late 2016.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein  The Kurdish Peshmerga forces are certain to participate in the military operation to drive the Islamic State out of the Iraqi city of Mosul, Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir told Sputnik.

"We are ready to play a role as we have done, because we are proud to be the front-line partners in this fight," Bakir said on Thursday.

The KRG forces are currently encircling Mosul from the west, north east, along with Iraqi and US-led coalition allies.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The United States has delivered more armaments to Kurds in the northern Syrian city of Kobani, with part of it being captured by the militants of the Daesh terrorist group, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

"Three days ago three aircraft with US armaments for Syrian Kurds' forces landed in the Syrian Kobani," Erdogan said Thursday, as quoted by the Turkish Anadolu news agency.

He added that at the same time, almost half of the military aid delivered by the United States fell into the hands of the Daesh.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State also made a statement after the meeting where he claimed that he and his team "have exchanged ideas with the Russians and plan to consult on Friday with respect to those ideas."

The Washington's foreign policy on Syria seems to look like "if the Russians come back to us with constructive proposals, we will listen."

"If Russia demonstrates that it is serious, we will work with the opposition to reciprocate and to pull back from this cycle of escalation, because the opposition also has a responsibility to observe the cessation of hostilities if the government does and to disassociate from al-Nusra."

In his statement however John Kerry attempted once again to push for what amounts to a 'no-fly zone'  the grounding of all Russian and Syrian aircraft.

"The only way to achieve that [cessation of hostilities and violence] is if the ones who have the air power in this part of the conflict simply stop using it  not for one day or two, but for as long as possible so that everyone can see that they are serious."
ANKARA (Sputnik)  On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of the Daesh terrorist group.

"Ankara expends its efforts to create a safety zone at the Syrian territory. If we succeed, then the residents of the tent camps could be resettled back to the Syrian land," Erdogan said Thursday, as quoted by the Turkish Anadolu news agency.
Meanwhile, until now Turkey has failed to demonstrate its eagerness to set up contact with the central Syrian leadership for further settlement of the crisis in the country.

"This causes serious concerns amongst Russia and Iran who expected a more active approach from Turkey in the setting up of a direct dialogue with Damascus," Yuva told Sputnik.

"Taking into account all the above, Ankara should not forget that its military presence in Syria is possible only thanks to Moscow in the first place, which did not impede its Euphrates Shield operation," he said.

The expert noted that the political and military presence of Turkish armed forces on the territory from the western Euphrates towards the city of Azaz, including the city of al-Bab, does not trigger Moscow's concern.

However Russia, he added, firmly insists that it is the Syrian government army which should control the line from Aleppo and Idlib to the north of Lattakia.

"This is the red line for Russia. In case the Turkish troops cross this line, it could drastically alter the situation in the region and trigger the process of turning the "proxy hybrid wars" into direct military actions between foreign forces in Syria  and this means a new world war," warned the political analyst.


BERLIN (Sputnik)On September 9, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov brokered a ceasefire 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. On Monday, the Syrian army declared the end of ceasefire regime blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable.

"Today, we have been searching for the ways to resume the agreed cease-fire, to give it at least a chance. So far, we have failed, whether or no, there is no final [agreement]," Steinmeier said following an ISSG ministerial meeting that wrapped up in the early hours of Friday, as quoted by the German Foreign Ministry.

On Thursday, Steinmeier proposed to introduce a non-fly zone over Syria in order to save the ceasefire regime in the war-torn country.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Tackling the migration crisis is impossible without the political settlement of the Syrian conflict, EU Ambassador to Russia Vygaudas Usackas said Friday.

"EU leadership and member states are convinced that a long-term settlement of the migration problem is impossible without removing prerequisites  solving the Syrian crisis and other international crises, as well as strengthening political stability," Usackas said at a press conference in Moscow.

Europe is struggling to find a solution to a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The EU border agency Frontex detected over 1.83 million illegal border crossings into the bloc in 2015, in contrast to some 283,000 in 2014.
"They may think they have some sort of control but in practice it is not," the former MI6 agent said.

All of the groups, he noted, have already denied the ceasefire from the outset: they wont participate because, they are not part of it.

"Theyve recently been rearmed, regrouped and had more forces added to them. So, what we can expect from a no-fly zone is renewed ground fighting," he told RT.

Similar view was earlier expressed by Jim Jatras, a former US diplomat and foreign policy adviser to the Senate GOP leadership, who called it opportunism.

"How does grounding the Syrian Air Force and Russian Air Forcedefeat ISIS, defeat Al-Qaeda? It doesnt. In effect, they would be the beneficiaries of these policies," Jatras said in his interview with RT.

Alastair Crooke however explained why then the US is not interested in any objections.

"It is a geopolitical war. It is not a war about Syria or in Syria; this has become a geopolitical conflict between two opposing sides," he said.

"This is just the war of narratives that the West is very good at because it controls completely the mainstream media," he finally stated.


GENEVA (Sputnik)Nearly 4,000 civilians were killed during one and a half years of the armed conflict in Yemen, a spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Friday.

"We note with deep concern the sharp increase in civilian casualties since the suspension of peace talks, with 180 people killed and 268 injured in August In total, 3,980 civilians have been killed and 6,909 injured between 26 March 2015 and 22 September 2016," Cecile Pouilly said at a press briefing.

The August figures represent a 40-percent increase compared to the civilian casualties the previous month, with 60 killed and 123 injured, she noted.
8282-year-old mother of Havildar Madan Lal Sharma shouldered the coffin of her son, walking 3km from her house to the cremation ground.

By India Today Web Desk: It was a scene that brought tears to the eyes of many. An 82-year-old woman shared the weight of the casket of Havildar Madan Lal Sharma, who was killed in an encounter in Nowgam, Kashmir on September 21, on its way to the cremation ground.

Havildar Sharma was cremated yesterday with full military honours in his native Gharota village of Pathankot, with thousands of people witnessing the funeral.

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Emotions ran high when two-and-a-half-year-old Kanav and his 6- year-old sister Shavita gave their last salute to their father. As the children bid a final farewell, tears rolled down the cheeks of their kith and kin.

Also read: Uri terror attack was planned for August 15, say top Army sources



MOTHER SHOULDERED COFFIN



Among the pallbearers was Havildar Sharma's mother, Dharmo Devi (82), who walked almost 3 km with the coffin from her house to the cremation ground.



# Ma Tujhe Salaam!

pic.twitter.com/fSqbh9QUZC; Lt Gen K J Singh (@kayjay34350) September 23, 2016



Although senior army officers tried to discourage her from helping in carrying the coffin of her son, considering her age and distance, she was adamant.

Dharmo Devi said the country needed more soldiers like her son who could rise to the occasion.

Also read: Designed to provoke

"I talked to him (Sharma) a few days ago. I was planning a mundan (tonsuring ritual) of our son in the coming Navratras. So I requested him to take leave and participate in the function," the martyr's wife Bhavana Sharma said.

Madan Lal Sharma, who was the youngest of three brothers and two sons, lost his father few years ago. People praised him for making the entire hamlet proud by foiling infiltration bids in Kashmir LoC and making the supreme sacrifice for the country.

Also read: Fawad Khan to Ali Zafar: Pakistani artistes who could face the heat for Uri attacks

--- ENDS ---
Meanwhile RIA Novosti has discussed the leak with the deputies of the new convocation of Russia's State Duma, the lower chamber of the country's parliament.

Leonid Kalashnikov, first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs said that the release was unfavorable for the US and the Syrian opposition while it might be to the benefit of President Assad who "might have got tired coping with the US double standards: on the one hand, the US had signed it, on the other, refused to release it."

"I don't think that the US was interested in this release," Kalashnikov told RIA Novosti.

"It might have been more of an interest to President Assad to be able either to urge to stick to the signed accords and fully implement them or put a full stop there and fight further," he added.

First deputy chairman of the state Duma Committee on Defense Andrei Krasov suggested that the release was of benefit to the Americans to be able to accuse Russia and save their face before the Syrian opposition.
However, if you refuse to comply then you will be fined approximately US$33,000, according to reports in the Kuwait Times.

"Compelling every citizen, resident, and visitor to submit a DNA sample to the government is similar to forcing house searches without a warrant," Adel Abdulhadi, the attorney, told New Scientist.

"The body is more sacred than houses."

The Kuwaiti lawyer also said in a statement that the DNA collection breaches Sharia Law, and could be used as a weapon to determine paternity, in a country where adultery is illegal.

The Kuwaiti Times also said that citizens are panicking and some may even decide to leave the country.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The Iraqi Baghdadi island west of the Anbar province was fully liberated from the Daesh fighters on Friday, local media reported Friday, citing a joint statement by the Iraqi army and militia.

"Another victory was achieved in western Iraq, where Al jazeera operations command was able to free Baghdadi island completely from Daesh scum and was able to inflict severe losses in their ranks", The Joint Operations' statement said, as cited by Shafaq news.

The statement added that the Iraqi army's seventh division, the 27th and 28th brigades, Al jazeera commandos brigade and tribesmen have fought together on this battle, they used swift and quality tactics and received air support from army and the US-led coalition.


DAMASCUS (Sputnik)The Syria army denied on Friday reports about alleged airstrikes on civilian targets in eastern Aleppo that killed dozens of people.

"Our air force did not attack any civilian target or infrastructure that could be used by civilians," Brigadier General Samir Suleiman, head of the Syrian Army information department, told Sputnik.

"We attack only military targets and large groups of terrorists conducting thorough reconnaissance prior to the strikes," Suleiman stressed.
"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," Kalin said.

Political analyst Serhat Erkmen, director of the Center of Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) at Istanbul-based 21st Century Turkey Institute, told Sputnik Turkiye that the conflict between the US and Turkey on the Kurdish issue threatens to undermine the operation.

"The Americans have been trying for a long time to persuade Turkey to work with Kurdish forces in the operation to liberate Raqqa. However, it's impossible. Turkey won't agree to that, given that Ankara regularly calls the Syrian Kurdish PYD 'an offshoot of the PKK,'" Erkmen said.

Last month the US cooperated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of militias led by the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the armed wing of the PYD, to liberate the town of Manbij from Daesh.


NEW YORK (Sputnik)Earlier in the day, representatives of the Quartet  including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini  met to discuss a path forward on the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

"The Quartet stressed the growing urgency of taking affirmative steps to reverse these trends in order to prevent entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples," the statement, issued by the US Department of State, said.

The Quartet cited Israeli settlement activity, illicit arms-build up in Gaza along with resurgence in violence from both sides, as factors hindering the path to any possible solution.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)The Daesh has been fortifying its positions in the Iraqi city of Mosul ahead of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) offensive to liberate it, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. John Dorrian told reporters on Friday.

"Theyve built intricate defenses there," Dorrian said. "Essentially, theyve built a hell on Earth around themselves, and they are going to be in that whenever the Iraqi Security Forces come in there and push them out."

Dorrian noted that the terrorists have dug tunnels and placed explosive devices around the city, while also putting up barriers to stop people from coming in.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein  Establishing a cessation of hostilities in Syria remains a chief objective for France despite recent challenges, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told Sputnik on Friday.

France, first, does not renounce to find conditions for a ceasefire. It is our priority, Ayrault said, adding that France will stay mobilized to find a solution.

I think the proposal of France must be studied  a mechanism to observe the conditions on the ground of a ceasefire, Ayrault said of the shaky ceasefire in Syria. France made a proposal to define confidence. It is a problem, the problem of confidence.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  Moscow is ready to help mediate any talks on the resolution of Israeli-Palestinian conflict if the proposed initiatives satisfy both countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

"We support anything which brings us closer to the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks. For this to happen, any initiative must be acceptable to both, and when it is acceptable to both parties, they must agree on what will be the added value," Lavrov said at a press conference following his address to the UN General Assembly.

"So far, it doesn't seem that the parties are equally eager to consider it. But we are working with both Israel and Palestine. We have to resume negotiations anyway, and there might be some meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas that might be helpful," Lavrov added.
NEW YORK (Sputnik)  Syrian Envoy to UN Bashar Jaafari expressed doubts on Friday over the possibility of holding a fresh round of intra-Syrian talks in October.

"No. There is nothing that could confirm such a possibility [of the talks resumption in October]," Jaafari told RIA Novosti on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly answering a question whether new round of intra-Syria talks will be held next month.

The latest round of intra-Syrian talks collapsed in April in Geneva when members of the Syrian High Negotiations Committee walked away from negotiations, citing the failure of the Syrian government to commit to reconciliation process.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Syrian militant groups have carried out 350 attacks against the government troops since the proclamation of the ceasefire regime in the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday.

What happened after September 12, when the document entered into force? 350 attacks from the opposition side have been carried out by the Nusra Front against the government forces, Lavrov said at a press conference following his address to the UN General Assembly.

Such situation and the failure to meet troop withdrawal obligations make any truce meaningless, the minister added.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Iran will not be ready to agree for oil output freeze at the upcoming meeting of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries member states in Algiers due to pressure coming from inside the country, an Iranian official was cited by media on Friday.

"The pressure in the country is too high over reaching presanctions level. And we wont have reached it next week, an Iranian official told Wall Street Journal on condition of anonymity.

According to the official, a deal would limit Iran's output to 3.6 million barrels a day, which contradicts Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's pledge to increase oil output up to 4 million barrels a day.
Zarif stressed that Iran and Russia are both focused on the common objective of defeating terrorists in Syria.

"But as far as Iran and Russia are concerned, we are not competing to play a military role in Syria, obviously nobody wants to do this," Zarif said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups, such as Daesh and Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as al-Nusra Front, or Jabhat al-Nusra), both of which are banned in Russia and a range of other countries.

On September 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry presented a new plan to regulate the conflict in Syria, which included a new ceasefire that came into force on September 12. However, because of repeated violations of the ceasefire, it was declared ineffective earlier this week.

Iran is participating in the work of the joint Moscow-Baghdad anti-Daesh information center, which is tasked with the collection and analysis of data on the situation in the Middle East, particularly on the situation with jihadists in the region.

An international US-led coalition of more than 60 nations has been conducting anti-Daesh airstrikes in Syria and Iraq since 2014.
Both incidents overshadowed a recent ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and the US, bringing the viability of the truce into doubt.

Even after long talks between Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry in New York earlier this week, the situation remained uncertain.

Lavrov also met with the Middle East Quartet, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, and had bilateral talks with foreign ministers of Hungary, Slovenia, Bangladesh, Hungary, Macedonia, Suriname and other states.

On Friday, Lavrov addressed the 71st UN General Assembly, stating that all nations now live in a multipolar world, in which no one country can dictate its rules to other nations.

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov @ UN General Assembly: Some western elites still driven by ideas of exceptionalism, instead of equity and balance.  Denis Bolotsky (@BolotskySputnik) 23  2016 .

Terrorism, Lavrov stated, requires a global approach, and the spread of terrorist ideology must be stopped.

Russian FM Lavrov: we are working on a UN resolution to stop the spread of terrorist ideology among youth worldwide.  Denis Bolotsky (@BolotskySputnik) 23  2016 .

On Friday the Russian delegation concluded its visit to the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.

The General Assembly is one of UN's principal organs, and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation.

The general debate at the 71st UN General Assembly will continue until September 26.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian troops with the Southern Military District have arrived in Pakistan for the first Druzhba-2016 ("Friendship-2016") exercises in the country, the district's press service said Friday.

"The Southern Military District troops arrived in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan aboard an Il-76 military transport aircraft today to participate in the first joint Russian-Pakistani 'Druzhba-2016' tactical exercises," the district said.

The tactical drills will be held on September 24-October 7 in the Army High Altitude School in northern Pakistans Rattu and at a special forces training center in Cherat. The exercises aim to strengthen and develop cooperation between the countries armed forces.
GELENDZHIK (Russia) (Sputnik)  Southeast Asian countries are interested in Russia's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Deputy Director of Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Sergey Goreslavsky said Friday.

"We currently see sustained interest in technology including the Orlan UAV. Fruitful talks on this subject took place during the recent Army-2016 forum. We had a delegation from Thailand the same subject is discussed with Vietnam," Goreslavsky said at the Gidroaviasalon 2016 international exhibition in Russia's Black Sea town of Gelendzhik.

The Orlan-10 UAVs could be used in adverse terrain, including mountainous areas. A command point for such drones can control four vehicles simultaneously.
The report, which focuses on Russia's hostile takeover of Gotland, was penned by eight experts and edited by military expert Karlis Neretnieks, who was the commander of the Gotland military brigade in 1992-1995.

According to Neretnieks, the capture of Gotland would only take Russia a matter of hours. The island's recent reinforcement of 150 troops, which was said to have been justified via anti-US rhetoric, would, according to Neretnieks, be unable to scare off anyone.

"Without artillery and air defense systems, it is impossible to prevent the capture of the island. It is only possible keep fighting for some time and keep individual objects in possession while waiting for reinforcements," Neretnieks said, as quoted by the Swedish tabloid newspaper Expressen.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Earlier in the day, Russian military personnel taking part in the drills that will last till October 10 at a special forces training center in Pakistan's Cherat area, arrived in the country. About 200 servicemen from both sides will be participating in the exercise.

"The objectives of the joint exercise include developing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, improving tactical abilities of the participating military personnel and developing a foundation for future interactions," the Embassy stated in a press release.

According to the Pakistani diplomatic mission, the Druzhba-2016 exercises represent a manifestation of the desire of Islamabad and Moscow "to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest including defense."
PARIS (Sputnik)  The signing of a contract on the purchase of 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets with India on Friday is a perfect confirmation of the competitiveness of the French aviation industry, French President Francois Hollande said.

"This agreement, signed by [French] Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian today in New Delhi, marks recognition by the great strategic and military power [India] of the operational performance, technological quality and competitiveness of the French aviation industry," the president said in a statement issued by the Elysee Palace.

Earlier in the day, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar sealed a 7.8-billion euro deal ($8.8 billion) on 36 fighter aircraft Rafale with his counterpart Le Drian.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that a naval aircraft carrier group led by Admiral Kuznetsov will be deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in order to bolster the Russian naval capabilities in the region. While en route to the Syrian coast, the group, which will also include a nuclear submarine, is expected to hold a military exercise involving Tu-160 long-range strategic bomber aircraft.

"The entire spectrum of aircraft and helicopters stipulated by the ministers decision will be deployed on it (the carrier)," Maj. General Igor Kozhin, chief of the Russian Naval Aviation, said.
New Delhi (Sputnik)  During Indra-2016, troops of both countries get the chance to practice working with each other over the course of eleven days.

The troops of the Indian Army marched alongside the Russian Army in the impressive opening ceremony of Indra-2016. Both contingents marched in unison, past the saluting dais, exhibiting their resolve to further the Indo-Russian friendship," says a statement from the Indian Ministry of Defense.

The Indian contingent is commanded by Brigadier Sukrit Chadah.
New Delhi (Sputnik)  Israel has proposed strengthening the Indian border with its state of the art technology.

Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon says, Israel has the expertise (border fencing), because it has been under threat. We (India and Israel) do share similar challenges. We have the solutions. We can work together on the solution. We have shown in other areas that we can cooperate and this might and should be the case here as well.
The ship will carry a full complement and aircraft onboard, including Su-33 air superiority fighters and Ka-52K reconnaissance and combat helicopters, originally designed for operations aboard the French-built Mistral-class amphibious assault ships. The ship's armaments include 12 Granit anti-ship cruise missile launchers, Kortik and Kinzhal air defense systems and depth charge launchers.

The Admiral Kuznetsov's refit has been characterized as a 'mid-life modernization'. But what about Russia's newer ships? In the 1990s, the Navy faced tough times, along with the rest of the armed forces and the country as a whole. However, beginning in the 2000s, things gradually began to change for the better, and the Navy began receiving new vessels again.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) does not want any conflict with Russia, the alliances Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said and tweeted in remarks at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University on Friday.

"NATO does not seek confrontation with Russia," Stoltenberg, a former prime minister of Denmark, stated and tweeted. "NATO has to remain strong not to provoke a war, to prevent a war. That has been our main principle for 70 years."

However, in June this year, NATO completed its largest military exercises in eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War.
The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act passed through Congress with ease earlier in September, and would permit lawsuits against Riyadh in connection with the September 11 attacks.

Though the Saudi government denies any involvement in the 2001 massacre that left nearly 3,000 people dead, many have long suspected that the hijackers of four planes that crashed into targets in New York, Washington DC and rural Pennsylvania were backed by Riyadh.

The White House says the veto is necessary to prevent precedent that would allow other countries' citizens to sue the US, its diplomats and servicemen.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  Havana will continue to propose a draft UN resolution calling for the termination of the US-imposed embargo that has been deleterious to the islands economy, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said in an address at the UN General Assembly.

"We will continue to present to this assembly the draft resolution titled Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States," Parrilla stated on Thursday.

The US blockade on Cuba, Parrilla explained, has led to great hardship among Cuban citizens and has hindered the functioning of the countrys economy.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  "It [the agreement] will promote private business contacts," Lavrov said after his Thursday meeting with Mahmud of the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Lavrov also met with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva in New York on Thursday, as well as with Portugals former prime minister Antonio Guterres, who is one of the candidates for the post of UN secretary-general who could succeed Ban Ki-moon next year.

The 71st United Nations General Assembly started at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The exchange of information between Russia and the European Union on the migration issue continues, although in a limited capacity, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said.

"The migration dialogue between Russia and the EU is one the formats that have not been fully frozen. It is more alive than dead, so to say. But there is no notable activity in that direction, unfortunately. Meetings are being held mainly on the expert level and not on the high political one," Chizhov said in an interview with the Russian Izvestia newspaper.

The Russian envoy stressed that due to its geography and history Russia has a lot of experience as a migrant transit country.
Turkesh pointed out that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is a direct result of an aggressive strategy employed by the United States in order to gain a foothold in the Black Sea region.

"Russia is on the defensive here, while the US openly acts as an aggressor towards the region, using historical anti-Russian rhetoric prevalent in Eastern Europe. Countries like Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia thought that joining NATO would improve their ability to resist the threat they think Russia poses. However, after a while they began to feel the burden they now have to bear as NATO members," he said.

He also noted that certain Eastern European countries are trying to fan the anti-Russian rhetoric in the EU and in the US, but at the same time live in fear of a war breaking out in the region  a risk which, ironically, is being exacerbated by their own actions.

At the same time, NATOs policies in the region are unlikely bring any positive results, and instead threaten to trigger a large-scale conflict.

"Every one of the alliances intervention in the region creates new hotbeds of instability. Instead of resolving problems, NATO only creates more of them. If the information about Polish special forces deployment to Ukraine turns out to be true, it may instigate a new round of the Ukrainian crisis, effectively bringing it into a deadlock. This move will only increase tensions in an already volatile region," Turkesh declared.

He also remarked that the Warsaws decision to send military personnel to Ukraine may be related to the ongoing crisis in Syria, and that Polands attempt to play the role of a provocateur may have dire and unpredictable consequences for both the Ukrainian and Syrian conflicts.

"This Polish special forces deployment to Ukraine is merely a singular instance, part of a chain of events which reveal the dire situation the international legal system is currently in. The NATO invasion of Yugoslavia in 1999 still remains the most graphic example of this trend, as after the Kosovo operation, which was conducted in violation of all existing international rules, the system was never able to recover. As a result, all discussions about international law now seem pointless," Turkesh concluded.
Alexandrov explained that Russian authorities continue to hope that Minsk II could at least temporarily de-escalate the conflict, "freezing it for a certain period of time until the overall geopolitical situation in the world changes."

"However, I am convinced that Western countries will continue to play on Kiev's side, helping to keep the regime afloat via all sorts of handoutsAnd the small amounts of money required can always be found  it's not a problem."

Suggesting that much is riding on the November elections in the US, Alexandrov noted that "perhaps some new arrangements can be made if [Donald] Trump makes it into the White House. Otherwise, it will be necessary to take some radical decisions  to prevent any further attempts to use Ukraine as a strike force against Russia."

The analyst noted that if Washington does decide to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine, it will be a violation of the Minsk agreements, "since it will factually encourage Kiev to conduct combat operations. It would be the type of escalation against which Western countries have so strongly advocated against, at least verbally."

As for the bill's proposal to effectively sanction Russia indefinitely over Crimea, the analyst suggested that he can only welcome such measures. "I think that the more sanctions Western countries place on us, the better, since this cuts off the ability of any pro-Western elites in Russia to take the country in the wrong direction." Continued sanctions "would allow us to develop independently, and to build relationships with those countries which truly want to work with us"

Sergei Markov, the director of the Moscow-based Institute of Political Studies, emphasized that Congress's decision was extremely dangerous, since it puts tens of thousands of lives at risk. "We shouldn't forget that lethal weapons have that name for a reason  their main purpose is to kill. For this reason, this is really a law promoting mass war crimes" in eastern Ukraine.
"We've already seen with Obama's past actions that the globalists are willing to shoot themselves in the foot before they allow China or Russia to rise in global power. Well if that's what they want, let Washington do it. Beijing will adapt and find new ways to form partnerships with other countries," he stressed.

"There's a famous saying in China," McGregor continued, "'If you see your enemy acting stupid, don't try to stop him.'"

"Washington's counter-productive actions against China and Russia will only harm the US in the long-term, not Beijing or Moscow," he highlighted.

Trump to Treat China Tough But Fair and Honest if Elected

Is it possible that the Sino-American relationship will improve if Donald Trump wins the November elections?

"In regards to GOP nominee for President Donald Trump, I've had numerous discussions with my Chinese media colleagues about him," McGregor answered.

He noted that initially the Chinese used to say: "Trump is a clown, he talks crazy and he's dangerous."

"But I respond that Trump is a brilliant businessman and one of the toughest negotiators. He's a fighter and a true patriot for his country. He wants America first, so if he negotiates with China as President, he will be tough but fair and honest. 'Just look at Trump as a businessman, not a politician, and you can understand him better'," the CNTV editor underscored.
"The most powerful force driving Europe's secret hopes for a Trump victory is simple schadenfreude. Most Europeans never bought the US's 'city on a hill' claims of exceptionalism President Trump would prove that the US is really no different than the Continent: just as dysfunctional, just as vulnerable to its basest instincts and just as susceptible to the false promises of a demagogue," Karnitschnig emphasizes.

According to Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of the Russia in Global Affairs magazine, Donald Trump's foreign policy stance is a reflection of America's old tradition of "isolationism."

Regardless of the fact, who will win the election, the US' "transition" period, which began under US President Obama, will continue.

"Whoever will win [the US presidential election] the transition period that started under Barack Obama will continue. The first African-American president began drifting away from the dogma of the "indispensable nation" (as Madeleine Albright formulated it) toward a more restrained behavior. In the event of Hillary [Clinton's] victory there could be a short relapse of "post-Cold War" thinking, however, without a chance [for the US] to restore its former status. Trump's success is likely to 'shake the foundations' and trigger a political crisis in the US," Lukyanov wrote in his opinion piece for Forbes.ru, adding that in 2020 a new generation of American politicians is likely to occupy the Oval Office.

America's role of a global hegemon is waning, and it presents a unique opportunity to the EU's nation states to regain their "independence" from Washington.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  The 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly kicked off on September 13 in New York to last through Monday, September 26.

"According to the statements of [US Vice President] Biden, there are five [EU member states, expressing disapproval of sanctions]. But many more EU members told us about their criticism of the sanctions on the margins. It is easier to list the small group of those who opt for prolongation of sanctions," Meshkov told reporters.

On Thursday, US Vice President Joe Biden in his speech at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) warned Ukraine of the fact that at least five European states were willing to lift the anti-Russia sanctions.
European Union trade ministers continue meeting in Bratislava today to discuss trade liberalization including the TTIP. But as Obama used his UN speech earlier this week as a rallying cry for free trade, does the agreement actually have any chance of passing. Worldwide opposition is growing against the corporate takeover of the world.

Powerful US B1-B Lancer hypersonic bombers flew across South Korea earlier this week, landing just minutes away from the 38th parallel that has divided the country since the end of the Second World War. Brian is joined by Christine Ahn, co-founder of the Korea Policy Institute and Executive Director of Women Cross DMZ.

The U.S. presidential election results wont be in until November 8th, but voting begins today in Minnesota. How is it possible that ballots can be cast before the two major candidates even debate each other? And how much do election laws differ from state to state? Brian discusses these issues and more with Richard Winger, publisher and editor of Ballot Access News.
President Obama has sold more arms to Saudi Arabia than any other president in US history. But some lawmakers are growing wary of the weapons shipments  particularly in light of alleged war crimes being carried out by the Saudi military in Yemen.

Also, Charlotte is just the latest city on edge following the shooting death of another black man at the hands of police. But we take a look at a new effort launched this week to keep the police in check by requiring the communitys approval before certain surveillance technologies are deployed. We speak to the ACLUs Chad Marlow on the initiative.

And finally, its Friday, which means someone is going in our damn disgusting garbage candidates. We got seven nominees for you. Find out who gets punished for delivering the worst take of the week.
Opponents of Venezuela's embattled President Nicolas Maduro, were dealt a blow this week, when the country's National Electoral Council announced that a referendum on his leadership could be held in the first quarter of 2017. January 10th marks a significant date in Venezuela's recall process, in that any vote against President Maduro before that date would automatically trigger a new election. After that date however, the Presidency would simply pass over to Maduro's Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz. We speak to Francisco Dominguez, Head of the Latin American Studies Research Group at Middlesex University.

The White House have confirmed that President Obama will veto a bill, which was passed unanimously by congress, which would allow the victims of the nine eleven attacks in New York, to sue Saudi Arabia. The veto of the bill deals a blow to the families of victims who have campaigned for the law, believing that the Saudi Government was involved in the attacks. But does this also raise questions over the legitimacy of George W. Bushs so-called War on Terror. We speak to Jim Jatras, Former US diplomat and Senate foreign policy advisor for several republican lawmakers.

You can find previous editions of World in Focus here.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russia is refusing methods of fighting terrorism that include providing other countries with access to own computer systems and databases, as Moscow deems such methods intrusive in respect of foreign sovereign territories, the head of Division for International Cooperation of the Russian Investigative Committee, Pyotr Litvishko, said.

"The fact is that many forms of international cooperation in fighting crime are rather intrusive in respect of foreign sovereign territory and to some extent fraught with voluntary sovereignty concessions," Litvishko told RIA Novosti.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Russian Finance Ministry will submit to lawmakers the country's 2017-19 draft budget in late October without serious changes to tax and monetary policy, Minister Anton Siluanov said Friday.

"The Ministry of Finance will submit the budget for government consideration in the near future, while in late October it will be submitted to the State Duma [lower house of parliament] without major changes in taxation, without major changes in financial policy," Siluanov said.

Speaking at a financial forum in Moscow, Siluanov said his ministry is not proposing to raise taxes in the 2017-19 period, but continuing oil and gas sector "maneuvering."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday the candidacy of his aide Vyacheslav Volodin as the next State Duma speaker, as he has necessary experience for this job.

On Thursday, Putin appointed former State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin as the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service.

"In this connection, the question of the election of the new chairman of the State Duma is raised. This, of course, is the issue for lawmakers alone. But [Prime Minister] Dmitry Anatolyevich [Medvedev] and I will ask United Russia to support the candidacy of Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin," Putin said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Soviet leadership should have carried out democratic reforms in the country without letting the Soviet Union to collapse, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

"You know my attitude toward the fall of the Soviet Union. It was totally unnecessary. The reforms, including the ones of democratic nature, could had been carried out without it," Putin said at a meeting with party leaders.

On December 8, 1991, the leaders of Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian Socialist Republics signed an agreement in the governmental residence of Viskuli in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Belarus. This agreement declared the Soviet Union to be dissolved and terminated the work of the Soviet Union government from that moment forward, ending the possibility of a confederation agreement and proclaiming the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The tactics used by Aum Shinrikyo appear strikingly similar to those employed by the Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorist group: both organizations tend to brainwash their new recruits, strictly regulate the day-to-day activities of their members, while the will of the supreme leader of each movement is absolute.

Aum Shinrikyo first managed to establish its presence in Russia in 1992. The groups leader, Shoko Asahara, spared no expenses in promoting his cause, spending up to $5 million on advertising Aum Shinrikyo in Russia.

Asahara and his cohorts actively met with Russian politicians, government officials and religious leaders, and established ties with scientific and education centers.

In the meantime, however, other Aum Shinrikyo members were quietly trying to bond with Russian military-industrial companies and displayed a somewhat peculiar interest in purchasing weapons.

By 1995 Aum Shinrkiyo had established 7 centers and commanded a virtual army of at least 30,000 adepts (though according to some estimated the total number of followers was as high as 50,000).

Then, on March 20, 1995 the cult members carried out the deadly Tokyo subway sarin attack, and everything came crashing down.

The Russian authorities, suddenly aware what kind of threat was lurking right in the heart of the country, came down on Aum Shinrikyo with a vengeance. However, the cult appeared to have been prepared for that contingency: even as police started carrying out searches at properties linked to Aum Shinrikyo, the Japanese members of the organization quickly fled the country, and a fire that suddenly broke out in the building of the Russian-Japanese foundation established by Asahara in Moscow destroyed the documents that would have shed light on the cults inner workings.

Due to this development, the court deemed the available evidence as insufficient, and despite a considerable number of testimonies condemning the activities of Aum Shinrikyo, chose not to officially ban the cult in Russia.

Alexander Dvorkin, president of the Association of Centres for the Study of Religions and Sects, told Sputnik that its far too early to claim that Aum Shinrikyo is finished, as blind faith and indoctrination can easily silence the voice of reason.

"No matter how culturally and economically advanced a country is, people are still people. When a person is stressed, he or she becomes more prone to suggestion. Sects prey on this, using various manipulation techniques to lure new acolytes," he remarked.

In July 2000, a group of young adherents to Asahara were arrested in Vladivostok. The suspects, who were in possession of weapons, explosive device components and a considerable sum of money, were allegedly plotting to commit terrorist attacks in Japan in order to liberate the incarcerated leader of Aum Shinrikyo. All of them were subsequently tried, found guilty and sent to prison.

And in 2003, Moscow was visited by none other than Fumihiro Joyu  one of the few senior members of Aum Shinrikyo who didnt face serious charges, and who assumed the leadership of the organization and rebranded it as Aleph.

According to eyewitness reports, the Aleph leader visited one of the ATMAN yoga and Eastern esoteric practice centers and held a lengthy discussion, claiming that neither organization poses a threat to society.

However, Marina Zubritskaya, head of the ATMAN center in Moscow, told Sputnik that she can neither confirm nor deny any claims regarding possible ties between ATMAN and Aleph, as she has no knowledge of this issue.
On Wednesday, NASA stated its intention to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s. To fulfill their mission with minimal risk to the astronauts, the agency is seeking support from government agencies, academia, industry and the general public.

The iTech initiative, a yearlong campaign launched by the space agency, seeks ideas pertaining to five focus areas, including radiation protection, life support systems, astronaut health, in-space propulsion, and the ability to achieve high-resolution measurement of key greenhouse gases.
Canyonvilles city council meeting on Monday night focused on fears of satanism, after Elona Wong, owner of Elonas Circle of Healing Arts, suggested that she could offer classes on astrology and tarot card reading at her business.

A local ordinance in the town of roughly 1,800 prohibits fortunetelling, astrology, phrenology, palmistry, clairvoyance, mesmerism and spiritualism, the News-Review reports. Wong brought the prohibitions to the attention of the city council in an effort to have them repealed.

It seems a little antiquated, Wong said of the ordinance. It seems like all other cities in this county dont have an ordinance like this.
Demonstrators have taken to the streets of the North Carolina city for the third night to protest the police shooting death of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Police have refused to release video of that incident to the public, though they have allowed Scotts family to view the tapes.

Protests turned violent on Wednesday night after gunshots were reported and one individual was rushed to the hospital. He died of his injuries. Police say the shooting was a "civilian-on-civilian" crime. The victim has been identified as 26-year-old Justin Carr.

Charlotte mayor has signed order establishing a midnight curfew.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  "Honest and trustworthy" was one of 11 characteristics of the presidential candidate assessed by Gallup. Clinton's achieved her highest rating of 69 percent for having "the experience it takes to be president," in which her opponent Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump achieved only 29 percent, according to the poll.

Trump was believed to be "honest and trustworthy" by 35 percent of voters.

Clinton achieved better results than Trump in five categories out of the 11 tested. Her perceived advantages include being likable, displaying good judgment in a crisis, managing the government effectively and caring about the needs of people.
It will take at least ten days to repair the US stealth robotic destroyer Zumwalt, which broke down while undergoing sea trials, less than a month before it is slated to be commissioned on October 15, the website USNI News reported.

The website quoted a US Naval Surface Forces statement which explained that "the crew discovered the casualty after detecting a seawater leak in the propulsion motor drive lube oil auxiliary system for one of the ship's shafts."

"The built-in redundancy of the ship's propulsion plant allows this first-in-class ship to operate with multiple engine configurations. However, it was determined that the repairs should be completed in port prior to the ship transiting to sea," the statement said.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)Registered voters in the United States believe there is a 46 percent chance Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump would use a nuclear weapon if elected, a new poll revealed on Friday.

"[R]espondents said if Trump is elected president there would be a 46 percent chance that Trump would authorize the use of a nuclear device against ISIS or another foreign enemy," a press release on the new SurveyMonkey poll on behalf of the Lincoln Leadership Initiative stated.

The release also noted that even Trump supporters think there is a 22 percent chance that as US president he would authorize use of a nuclear weapon.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik), Leandra Bernstein  US lawmakers will likely not be able to carry out their threat of cutting funds for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO) on the basis of US support for the latest UN Security Council resolution banning explosive nuclear tests, CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo told Sputnik on Friday.

"They say the resolution cannot substitute the process for Senate advise and consent for ratification, which it does not, and that was reaffirmed by Secretary [of State John] Kerry," Zerbo said.

On Friday, all but one member of the UN Security Council approved a resolution reaffirming existing national moratoria on explosive nuclear tests. The resolution was intended to further promote progress on the CTBTs full entry into force on the 20th anniversary of the Treaty being opened for signatures.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)The US Department of Commerce has awarded General Dynamics a five-year, $430 million contract to help operate the agencys questionnaire-assistance program for the 2020 census in the United States, the company announced in a press release on Friday.

"General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded a contract to provide contact-center systems and operations support for the US Census Bureau's 2020 Census Questionnaire Assistance (CQA) program," the release stated.

The contract calls for General Dynamics to "deliver its Customer Experience Platform solution, hire and train new staff, provide equipment and facilities, perform technology integration and deliver a multi-channel, multi-lingual contact center," the release added.
"We're not allowed to question people once they've signed the oath," Lehrke told Sputnik News when asked how they plan to prevent voter fraud.

Employees of residential facilities may vouch for an unlimited amount of residents who live at their workplace.

"The employee must show the election judge their facility employee ID badge, a statement on facility letterhead signed and dated by a manager or equivalent officer of the facility, or their name must be present on a certified list of employees provided to the facility prior to Election Day," the rules state.

You also do not need an ID if you were previously registered in the same precinct with a former name or address appearing on the roster.

Interestingly, completed ballots will be kept sealed until they are submitted for processing, one week prior to the election. Voters who change their minds about who they are voting for will be able to do so an unlimited number of times until then.

"What happens is, after a person completes their ballot it is placed in a vault," Lehrke explained. Only election judges have access to the vault where the paper ballots are stored. "If they come in and wish to change their vote, the previous ballot is removed from the vault and they are given a new ballot to fill out."

We asked how fraud could be prevented, or if there is independent oversight, and she reiterated that the ballots are kept under lock and key and only election officials have access to them. Previous ballots are reportedly destroyed before the replacement is issued.

Wayne Spar, a Minneapolis resident who registered and voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein on Friday, acknowledged that abuse of the relaxed identification laws can occur, but believes making it easier for people to vote is ultimately a good thing.

 Wayne Spar (@waynespar) September 23, 2016

"I could see the flaws in both arguments," he told Sputnik News. "I suppose that for the most part though, an issued ID would prove your residency and that's a positive."

Sarah Reynolds, a St. Paul resident and former Bernie Sanders supporter who has boarded the "Trump Train" since Hillary Clinton's nomination, was planning to vote early, but decided that she did not trust the system to properly process her ballot.

"The reason I hesitate to vote early is that in Minnesota, your paper ballot isn't immediately deposited into a voting box and counted. In fact, state law prohibits it. So then I have to wonder, where is my ballot kept? Who's guarding it? Call me old school, but I want to watch my paper ballot slide into the voting machine as soon as I've cast my vote," Reynolds told Sputnik News. "That is not the case if I drop it off at an early-voting polling place more than seven days prior to the election."

Minnesota Republican Party chair Keith Downey told the Star Tribune that the practice opens the possibility of faulty registrations.

"But you play within the rules that you're given and you compete as hard as you can," he said. "What used to, in the old days, be a 72-hour get-out-the-vote operation is now effectively a 60-day get-out-the-vote program."

Despite the concerns, there are no federal or party officials present for oversight. The election committee is the last word, as there is no other independent entity to track evidence of voting problems.

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch has warned that without independent observers, voter rights are endangered in the upcoming election. The 1965 Voting Rights Act that had placed federal observers in 16 states was overturned in 2013 in the Supreme Court case Shelby County v. Holder.

Speaking on that decision, during a speech to the League of United Latin American Citizens, Lynch said that the Supreme Court limited the number of observers we can send into the field to watch the election process, to collect evidence, to deter wrongdoing, to defuse tension and to promote compliance.

For the 2016 election, federal observers can only be sent to five states, marking one of the smallest deployments since the Voting Rights Act was passed.

Federal observers can still be sent to monitor elections, but only when authorized by federal court rulings, Reuters reported in July. Currently, only Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana, and New York, courts have done so.

Minnesota early voting offices will stay open through Election Day in November.

We reached out to the Republican Party of Minnesota for comment, as they have been vocally critical of the early voting system, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The authorities are probing reports that Trumps foreign policy adviser Carter Page is engaged in private talks with Russian officials, particularly on possible lifting of sanctions against Moscow, Yahoo News reported citing sources familiar with the issue.

The sanctions, imposed by Washington over Russias alleged involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, could be lifted, if Trump wins the race for the White House, according to the report.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  "I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz," Trump said in a statement issued after the Texas lawmaker publicly pledged support for Trump.

Despite Trumps reference to an "endorsement," Cruz said only that he would vote for the real estate mogul in the November 8 election.

Still, Trump was effusive in praising his former rival, who during the primary campaign sought to present himself to Republicans as the ideological heir to the late Ronald Reagan.
In a segment on who won the week in politics, comparing and contrasting the two campaigns, the network listed bombings and police protests fit campaign narrative in the win column for both candidates.

 Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 23, 2016

 Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) September 23, 2016

Two bombs exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, and New York Citys Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday. No one was hurt in Seaside Park, but the Chelsea blast injured 29 people. On Monday morning, a third device found near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was detonated while a bomb squad was attempting to defuse it.

 Julian Sanchez (@normative) September 23, 2016

Ahmad Rahami, a New Jersey resident originally from Afghanistan, was arrested on Monday in connection to the bombings. A massive manhunt ended with Rahami engaging in a shootout with police. Two officers were shot and injured, and Rahami remains hospitalized after being shot multiple times.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev has arrived in Moscow for medical treatment, the presidents press service informed on Friday on the official presidential website.

"On the recommendation of specialists and at the invitation of the Russian side, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev has arrived at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation in the city of Moscow today, September 23, to continue treatment with doctors who had previously conducted an examination and treated him for heart disease," the Friday statement says.

On Monday, a statement on the president's official website said the Kyrgyz leader would not attend the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York due to health problems.
"For me it is important that Days of Dusseldorf will contribute more to our partnership relations with Moscow, which went through a decline in recent years. But now we want to refresh and maintain bilateral ties in the future. In this vein, I did my best to bring to representatives of [German] culture, music and art to Moscow," he said.

Geisel also emphasized the significance of bolstering economic relations between Russia and Dusseldorf.

"These ties are of importance to a number of companies in our city, including E.ON and SMS Siemag. Additionally, we, along with the management of the Dusseldorf Fair and the Chamber of Commerce organized the Center of Competence in Russia," he said.

Touching upon the sensitive issue of the anti-Russian sanctions, Geisel stressed that he is giving his thoughts on the matter "as a person rather than a mayor."

"I'm a local-level politician and as for the sanctions, they are a matter for high diplomacy. In any case, it is important that we maintain cultural relations between our people and between our cities. If you ask me, I believe that Russia has a lot of common interests with Europe and America, such as the fight against terrorism and Daesh, as well as the Syrian settlement," he said.

Separately, Geisel heaped praise on the "fabulous hospitality" which he said he sees each time he visits Moscow and throughout Russia.

"I cannot but admire every time I'm on my way from the airport to Moscow's Belorussky railway station, Tverskaya Street and Red Square. I have always appreciated contacting my colleagues from the Moscow Government, their openness and interest in boosting their partnership with Dusseldorf," he said.

The United States, the European Union and some of their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea reunified with Russia in 2014; they have accused Moscow of meddling in Ukraines ongoing internal conflict.

Russia has repeatedly refuted the accusations and warned that the sanctions are counterproductive and undermine regional and global stability.
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  When asked on the role of Russia and the United States in the Syrian peace process, Telle said, "It would be great if they were capable of stopping the war. They would be acclaimed by the whole world and certainly by Monaco, I hope they can do it."

Monaco believes that the deadly conflict in Syria should stop, he added.

"We are not part of any negotiation or coalition, we can just see the tragedy of people, dead people, millions of refugees, displaced persons," Telle said.
According to him, one of Russian's fundamental problems is that it lacks a network of modern manufacturing enterprises related to small- and medium-sized businesses.

"And now the most important thing is to restart the production of a final product in Russiaby means of developing small- and medium-sized businesses which specifically deal with introducing modern technologies," Alessandrello pointed out.

He said that "Russians have always been great in research and the invention of new technologies, but when they start resolving the task of organizing industrial production, they face a lack of necessary experience and entrepreneurial culture."

"In Europe, Italy is widely known for its well-developed network of small- and medium-sized businesses, which is why its experience is of paramount importance to Russia. It's necessary to combine the experience of Italian entrepreneurs with Russia's advantages, including natural resources, low labor cost and production, which are competitive because of the ruble exchange rate and the huge sales market," Alessandrello said.

He added that "it's possible to create a very profitable bilateral partnership thanks to high-quality Italian technology."

As for Italys small and medium-sized enterprises, there are very much interested in developing such cooperation due to the economic crisis in Europe, according to him.

"To promote the made-in-Italy principle in Russia, the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce have been selecting Russian regions for three years in terms of their attractiveness for Italian business," he said, referring to infrastructure, natural resources, industrial base and government support.


BERLIN (Sputnik)An EU-Canada Summit, scheduled for October 27-28, is expected to see the CETA signed. It will still need to be ratified by some 40 national and regional EU parliaments. Fears remain that the transatlantic trade deal will water down EU standards on environment, health and food safety.

"Globalization needs fair rules, and this is exactly what we want to achieve with the help of CETA, since CETA is a good and modern arrangement, which offers us a great opportunity, together with G7 member Canada, to shape globalization, in accordance with the European values We must now initiate the new steps in the framework of CETA and pave the way for parliamentary debates. I am convinced that we can today lay a solid foundation for this," Gabriel said while heading for an informal a meeting of EU economic ministers in Bratislava, as quoted by his ministry.

In particular, Gabriel offered to agree on a legal statement which would include the "mutually binding clarifications on sensitive issues," such as investment protection, public services and workers' rights.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (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.

"It is difficult to predict if it would be possible to reach such an agreement, every country has its own interests. Nevertheless, there is a chance, we will see how the situation develops," Dvorkovich said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 broadcaster.

He said Energy Minister Alexander Novak would represent Russia in Algiers looking to reach an agreement.
"The EU and Russia, as immediate neighbors, should cooperate constructively in the interest of their citizens," Castaldo said, pledging "to continue to work in this direction."

Some French representatives are also calling for the lifting of anti-Russian sanctions. Earlier, France's lower house of parliament voted in favor of a resolution stipulating the abolition of economic restrictions against Russia.

In an interview with Izvestia, French MP Thierry Mariani said that this position was dictated by Ukraine's reluctance to stick to the Minsk-2 peace agreements.

"The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) has failed to implement any reforms in line with the Minsk-2 peace agreements, which is why we stand for the abolition of anti-Russian sanctions," he said.

In addition, a number of other countries, including Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Cyprus called for the abolition or easing of the sanctions, but this is not the case with the US and its Asian allies.

Meanwhile, Slovakian Foreign Ministry spokesman Peter Stano told Izvestia about the EU's tendency related to a permanent discussion of the problem of anti-Russian sanctions and ways to break the deadlock.

"As an EU neighbor, Russia is one of the largest trade and investment partners of the EU, as well as an active player in the international arena. So Slovakia consistently calls for a direct diplomatic dialogue with Moscow aimed at an intensive search for mutually acceptable solutions to topical issues of regional and global agenda," he said.

Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations think tank in New York earlier this week, Biden, for his part, said that Ukraine should hasten its implementation of the political and economic reforms it had promised to carry out, because some EU member states are seeking ways to suspend sanctions imposed 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," he said referring the sanctions against Russia.
The company said it hoped to receive the second license allowing it to sell the remaining planes to Iran soon.

Though based abroad, Airbus needed the approval of the US Treasury for the deal because at least 10 percent of the manufacturer's components are of American origin.

Another major aircraft producer  Boeing  has also received a license to sell eighty planes to Iran, with a total list price of $17.6 billion, with deliveries beginning in 2017 and running until 2025, according to the manufacturers statement issued later on Wednesday.

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.

The move follows last years deal between Iran and the world's powers which allowed easing economic sanctions on the Middle East state in exchange for Tehran promising to curb its nuclear activities.

Also on Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed willingness to visit Iran and boost economic ties with the country.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Energy Minister Alexander Novak is expected to lead the Russian delegation at the September 26-28 International Energy Forum (IEF) in Algiers, Algeria, where OPEC and non-OPEC countries will renew talks on a possible oil output freeze.

"There is the possibility that there'll be an increase in oil production as a result of shale oil and then the prices will fall again," Siluanov said in an interview with CNBC, a US cable business news broadcaster.

The minister called Russia's budgeted $40 per barrel oil price estimate for 2017-19 "conservative."


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The European Union is satisfied with the level of cooperation with Russia on the issue of readmitting migrants and is interested in "exchange of good practices" in the field with Moscow, EU Ambassador to Russia Vygaudas Usackas said Friday.

"We are rather satisfied with the level of cooperation with Russia on the issue of readmission. Russia and the EU have been cooperating on the legal issues and on domestic affairs for many years, with a particular attention on immigration topics and asylum providing," Usackas told a conference.

According to the official, the bloc is "interested in the exchange of good practices" with Russia and is ready to share its experience on the issue of refugees.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The world's use of nuclear power is set to rise despite slower post-Fukushima growth and competition from other energy sources, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in its latest forecast on Friday.

"Nuclear power is projected to continue expanding globally in the coming years, even as the pace of growth slows amid competition from low fossil fuel prices and renewable energy sources," the IAEA said in a press statement following the release of its 36th Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050 forecast.

The forecast was revised downward due to the slowing trend caused by the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident, with the power capacity growth range expected at between 1.9 and 56 percent, down from last year's 2.4 and 68 percent. The highest increase would see capacity rise from some 382 GWe last year to over 598 GWe by 2030, according to the forecast.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)Warships from NATO countries are conducting massive two-week anti-submarine warfare drills led by the Canadian armed forces, Royal Canadian Navy said in a press release on Friday.

"Cutlass Fury contributes to the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces by enhancing cooperation and interoperability as well as strengthening the combat effectiveness between Canadas military and its allies in the North Atlantic," the release stated.

Eleven ships, three submarines and some 25 aircraft participated in the drill, according to the Canadian Navy.
Asked about the reason for Seoul's unexpected about-face and the current bellicose rhetoric, Yevseyev pointed out a whole array of major factors, including the fact that the United States has significant influence on South Korea, as compared to Japan, for example.

"Seoul's readiness to deploy the US missile defense shows that it is more and more involved in the implementation of US policy in the Asia-Pacific region. As for Han Min-goo's statement, I don't rule out that it was made under American pressure, which may mean that the US will support South Korea's sanctions against Pyongyang in exchange for its anti-Russian rhetoric," he said.

Yevseyev also suggested that Han Min-goo's bellicose rhetoric can be explained by what he described as "an active rapprochement between Russia and China which comes amid deteriorating relations between Seoul and Beijing".

Last but not least is "a very unstable position of President Park Geun-hye, who is now being pressurized by conservative politicians and whose current policy starts to resemble right-wing political moves by the former South Korean President, according to Yevseyev.

"In any case, it is safe to say that the South Korean Defense Minister's retaliatory rhetoric is unlikely to improve the current situation on the Korean Peninsula," Yevseyev concluded.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)Recent nuclear tests by North Korea have stressed the importance of adopting the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty resolution, US Secretary of State John Kerry stated at the United Nations Security Council Meeting on Friday.

"This entire episode [with North Korean tests] has offered a stark reminder of why the infrastructure of this treaty is so vital and why adopting this resolution is so important," Kerry stated.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty provides for a legally binding global prohibition against nuclear explosive tests or any other nuclear explosions.
GENEVA (Sputnik)  The candidates' profiles were submitted by the governments of Ethiopia, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Pakistan and Hungary.

"On 1-2 November, a forum will be held for candidates to present their visions to WHO Member States, and the public, and answer questions from Member States on their candidacy," the UN agency said in a statement.

Between April 22 and September 22, WHO members were able to propose their candidates. Current WHO Director-General Margaret Chan is due to complete her term June 30, 2017, after nearly 11 years in office. The WHO head will be elected at the World Health Assembly, the WHO decision-making body in May, 2017, and will take office on July 1.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Russia hopes that the next US president will be more committed to ratification by his country of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which Moscow has already ratified, Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vitaliy Churkin said Friday.

"We hope that the next president of the United States will be more strident in his commitment to [CTBT] ratification," Churkin said at the UN General Assembly noting that Washington failed to ratify the treaty under the administration of President Barack Obama.

Earlier in the day, UN Security Council has adopted a resolution in support of the early enforcement of the CTBT.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)Indian tribes in Canada have formally joined with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in the US states of North Dakota and South Dakota in agreeing to fight construction of oil pipelines across North America, Canadian media reported on Friday.

"They should know that we never hesitated to taking our fight to the streets," Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador chief Ghislain Picard told reporters on Thursday, as quoted by the Canadian Press news agency.

Native tribes in Canada, known as First Nations, are targeting TransCanada, the company behind three pipelines intended to cross the country.
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There we were, gathered in the Plaza du Zuloaga in front of the Cinema Principe, in the shadow of the 16th century Basilica San Vicente church an hour after nightfall. A smattering of surf luminaries and storied folk assembled. Among them, your regular coterie of Basque Country pros and cohorts but also rarer fruits like surf photo/journo demigods Art Brewer and Craig Stecyk III. Well, not like them but actual them.

Yikes!

Also, Japanese women in traditional dress (with the little backpack thingy), American film festival-y type people, couple surf industry bods, etc. And me. And, apparently, two of the founding members of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, the 60-70s Laguna Beach-based LSD manufacturers who tried to start a psychedelic revolution, stopping all wars by making millions of dollars of acid and giving it away for free.

A tall man, long, bony face, wearing a grey beard and grey ponytail, large belt buckle, was chatting with a small group juste a cote . He offers up the end of what I assume was just a reefer, although really, who knows?

Anyone? he said in deep voice, thrusting it towards me.

Unthinking, since my tooting days are behind me, I politely waved him away. And just like that, I robbed future generations of Evanses the chance to say, (great) Grandad got high with Michael Randall and Carol Griggs from The Brotherhood of Eternal Love!

We went inside in the cinema. As yet, no sign of Oli stone, Ewan McG, Sigourney, much less lefty iconoclast Ken Loach. Some say Loach hasnt made a decent film since Kes in 1969.

Some say surfing hasnt either.

Alas, Bunker 77, the film we were there to see, did precious little towards breaking that duck.

The film was pretty well made, I guess. If attending film fests is your thing you might, in effort not to sound like an impossible-to-please grump, rummage around for platitudes like, The post production was really well done. (The post-prod was pretty good). But my principal gripes are:

Bunker is not his real name. Bit of a let down its Adolph (!) Bernard.

He was the step son of Clark Gable, and heir to a sugar empire. The thing is, he just didnt seem very interesting. I mean, the most interesting thing about him was perhaps the Clark Gable step-son thing.. but even that Is Clark Gable interesting? Dude from 1950s Hollywood when the male leads looked like the female leads dads? Kinda semi notable-ish that he married this guys mum or?

Bunker inherited loads of money. Did drugs, shagged a lot, went surfing Well it was the 1970s was it not? Stan-dard!

My main gripe, despite him being described the most radical surfer on the North Shore, a Backdoor pioneer etc, and the fact that scored some epic J-Bay, he appeared to not actually at any point get barrelled. At all.

Then he died of an overdose.

How did Bunker 77 stack up, compared with other films in the Savage Cinema division of the 64th International San Sebastian Film Festival?

It wasnt that good, but it was better than Orange Sunshine said Billy Wilson (former SE.com scribe and current San Sebastian Film Festival pamphlet translator), begrudgingly.

Orange Sunshine is the film about the folk I didnt get high with. Other surf fareon show include Lets Be Frank, a kinda funny, kinda enjoyable although trifle annoying and semi pointless showreel-resembling indulgence about South African charger Frank Solomon. Watch it here.

Have you ever just said no to the Brotherhood?

Have you you ever been chased around a stately home by vixens? More like this in Lets Be Frank.
STEM

Boeing Giving $6 Million in Grants for STEM

Aerospace giant Boeing is awarding $6 million in grants to more than 50 nonprofit organizations and educational institutions across Washington state to help train the next generation of aerospace, science and technology workers, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The Mukilteo, WA-based company announced this week that the grants are geared toward programs that enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well as workforce training and educational and career opportunities for students.

Boeing said $1 million is included in the grants to further support students seeking a STEM education and enhanced learning opportunities at local universities.

In a statement, the company said it expects many of its workers in Washington to retire soon, and it wants to make sure students have the skills to fill future openings.
Slight decline in attendance at Premiere Vision Paris

France

The international trade show aimed at the leather, textile, yarns, and accessories sectors registered a lower number of visitors compared to the September 2015 edition, but confirms its importance in the global market of professional fashion-industry events.

Premiere Vision Paris welcomed a total of 56,475 visitors and 1,898 exhibiting companies in September 2016, representing an improvement over the February 2016 edition, but a slight reduction in exhibitor participation (-1.3%) and visitor attendance (-8.8%) compared with the same edition the previous year.

Figures reflect a market heavily impacted and threatened by political tensions, security threats, weaker growth in emerging countries (China) or countries in real difficulty (Brazil, Russia...), as well as a downturn in global textile-clothing leather consumption (- 0.3% in 2015), said the organisers in a statement.

The visitor profile remains highly international as 73% visitors came from 126 different countries. The UK continues to head the top four European visitor countries, followed by Spain, Italy and France.

According to the organisers, Germany, which has been overtaken by China, showed a slight in decline in visitors compared with September 2015, but a steady attendance compared with February 2016. However, a higher number of U.S visitors was registered in this edition compared with September 2015, and the U.S remains the 7th largest visitor country followed by Turkey, which registered a drop in attendance  partly attributed to the Eid holiday falling on the same dates as the show, and to recent political tensions. A drop in Japanese visitors was also registered.

Launched in January 2016, the first Premiere Vision Barometer studied "the economy of creative materials for fashion; an innovative approach and a new index whose unique methodology offers a quantified way of measuring the 2015 business activity of leathers and textiles targeting creative fashion.

According to the Premiere Vision Leather Index, the creative fur and leather materials market recorded a 3.9% increase in volume compared with 2014, which corresponds to a more sustained growth than that observed by the global production index, which reported a slight increase of +0.9%. The index is compared to the global indexes of the textile and leather markets as registered by the United Nations (UNIDO index).

Next edition of Premiere Vision Leather: 7-9 February 2017, Hall 3, Paris Nord Villepinte, Paris, France.
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The logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is pictured at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, May 30, 2016. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader/File Photo

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.

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)
Global Poker Index: Eli Elezra Rejoins Rankings After Hot Month; Fedor Still First

September 23 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.

Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!

Sharelines A win and a runner-up over recent weeks help @EliElezra1 jump back into the @GPI rankings.

Fedor @CrownUpGuy Holz tops both the @GPI overall list and 2016 POY race for a 15th week running.
Obviousness in patent law is measured relative to a person having ordinary skill in the art (sometimes designated PHOSITA).Of the law:35 U.S.C. 103 Conditions for patentability; non-obvious subject matterA patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains.The CRISPR patent battles will, in part, turn on the level of skill.* Nature wrote of the Doudna (Berkeley) vs. Zhang (Broad) patent dispute:A position of "anything but obvious" would seem to support Broad.Within the Nature article is a quote: What is really behind this is not the academic institutions, it is the commercial interests. One recalls the Merck kGa v. Integra case, wherein the named parties were the commercial interests but the actual inventive entities were academics. [See for example the IPBiz post:link to Nature: http://www.nature.com/news/titanic-clash-over-crispr-patents-turns-ugly-1.20631Some previous IPBiz posts on the CRISPR patent battle:http://ipbiz.blogspot.com/2015/03/crispr-is-high-profile-in-science.htmlhttp://ipbiz.blogspot.com/2016/08/more-on-crispr-patent-wars.htmlhttp://ipbiz.blogspot.de/2016/03/first-salvos-in-crispr-patent.html
TUCSON, Ariz.  A federal judge in Tucson has sentenced a drug trafficker whos a five-time convicted felon to 50  years in prison.

The Arizona Attorney Generals Office worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to prosecute Thaddaeus Sanchez Ruelas.

Ruelas was accused of selling more than 600 grams of methamphetamine to police informants and undercover agents between December 2014 and April 2015.

A jury in June found Ruelas guilty of 19 felony counts including conspiracy, transportation for sale of methamphetamine, possession of heroin and cocaine, use of wire communications in drug transactions and misconduct involving weapons.
AUSTIN, Texas  A suspect in a series of Interstate 35 rock-throwing incidents in Central Texas has been sentenced to 99 years in prison after his conviction of sexual abuse in an unrelated case.

The Austin American-Statesman (http://atxne.ws/2d4afCb) reports a Travis County jury sentenced Patrick Eugene Johnson on Thursday after finding him guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. Johnson, who is 60, wont be eligible for parole for 30 years.

Authorities say Johnson, who was arrested in June, was charged with molesting a boy numerous times since 2012.

Johnson still faces multiple aggravated assault counts in a series of I-35 rock-throwing incidents in the Austin area.

Three motorists were injured, including a person who suffered brain damage after the rock crashed through his windshield in 2014.

___

Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com
TULSA, Okla.  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 Shelbys surrender.

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 Crutchers 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 Crutchers 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 Crutchers 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 drivers side front of Crutchers vehicle before she began interacting with Crutcher, suggesting she may have known there was no gun on the drivers 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.

Crutchers 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. Were going to break the chains of injustice. Were 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 Attorneys 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 Crutchers vehicle abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line. Shelby did not activate her patrol cars dashboard camera, so no footage exists of what first happened between the two before other officers arrived.

The police footage shows Crutcher approaching the drivers 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 Crutchers vehicle. Shelbys 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 Crutchers family said the family didnt know whether drugs were found in the SUV, but that even if they were, it wouldnt 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. Its 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 wasnt charged with first-degree murder, but others considered Thursdays 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 Sheriffs 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.
BEIRUT  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.

The announcement 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 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 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.

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.

syria
CHICAGO  Mayor Rahm Emanuel appealed to Chicago residents Thursday for help fighting the troubling rise in city violence, announcing $36 million in youth mentoring efforts, policing strategies and gun legislation as his plan to fight and prevent crime.

He used the invitation-only speech to cap off announcements in recent days that the city will add nearly 1,000 police officers, expand the use of body cameras and require de-escalation training, reforms in the wake of an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation of the police department.

The former White House chief of staff highlighted a new public-private mentoring partnership thatll help over 7,000 youths over the next three years, veering from prepared remarks when describing the struggles young people face in neighborhoods tormented by gangs and violence.

The deck has been stacked against the kids, he said. Its time we reshuffle the deck and put our kids on the top of that deck.

Inside the Malcolm X College gym on Chicagos near West Side, security was tight and the reception was friendly with the audience of aldermen, community leaders and Emanuel administration members applauding at least a dozen times during the 40-minute speech. Outside, there were a few protesters calling for scrutiny of police misconduct investigations, a theme thats rippled for months.

Emanuel, in his second term as mayor, has been trying to rebuild trust in his leadership, particularly after the 2014 death of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager shot 16 times by a white police officer. The officer was charged with murder, but only after a judge ordered the public release of the graphic squad car video last year. Circulation of the video prompted frequent protests, allegations of a cover-up and repeated calls for Emanuel to step down.

The Justice Department has since launched a systemic probe of department practices. And Emanuel, who initially opposed the idea of a federal probe, said Thursday that the city should work with federal agencies to improve.

Fighting crime requires a partnership between the police and the community. And we all know that this partnership has been tested in Chicago, he said. It is a problem that has festered in this city for decades. The shooting of Laquan McDonald brought it to a breaking point.

His speech also touched on new technology, including gunshot-tracing cameras; gun shop legislation; and the need for more neighborhood resources.

He bluntly asked Chicagoans for assistance. Calling respect a two-way street, he said theres no pass for people to taunt police or for officers belittling citizens who need help.

Every one of us has a role to play in rebuilding the vital partnership between our police and the community. We all have to hold ourselves, and each other, to a higher standard, he said. So today I am calling on all Chicagoans to join in a comprehensive plan  a blueprint  to confront gun violence.

Emanuel recapped changes instituted by his administration, including abolishing the agency that handles police investigations and pitching a new system for reviewing police misconduct and department audits.

Chicago has seen a dramatic rise in the number of shootings and homicides this year. In August alone, there were 90 homicides, marking the first time in two decades there have been that many in a single month. Overall, the city has recorded more than 500 homicides this year  higher than all of 2015  and is on pace to climb past the 600-homicide mark for the first time since 2003.

The citys image has also come up on the presidential campaign trail with Republican nominee Donald Trump suggesting Thursday that Chicago is more violent than Afghanistan. Trump also endorsed a stop-and-frisk policing method for the city, which a federal judge said New York City used unconstitutionally because of its overwhelming impact on minority residents.

During the speech he described several high-profile cases, his voice cracking when noting the shooting death of the 19-year-old son of a Chicago police officer.

Emanuel didnt specify how the city would pay for the new efforts in his speech, including the addition of the new officers, which is expected to cost about $134 million.

The addition of police has prompted criticism from groups including Black Lives Matter, who say resources should be spent on schools, health care and affordable housing.

Alderman Willie Cochran said he was encouraged by Emanuels efforts, but said more could have been done sooner.

He knew all along there was a need, he said. The proof is in the pudding.

___

Follow Sophia Tareen at http://twitter.com/sophiatareen .

___

Associated Press writer Don Babwin contributed to this report.
UNITED NATIONS  Just as Secretary of State John 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 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 Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in congressional testimony on 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.

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 in the future.

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-Qaidas 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 Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said that Dunford and Defense Secretary Ashton 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, D.C., contributed to this report.

syria-nations-3rdld-writethru
SALT LAKE CITY  On the southern shore of Utahs Great Salt Lake, more than 100 boats are sitting high and dry in a parking lot, unable to sail the shallow, drought-stricken sea.

North of the nearly empty marina, salt-loving bacteria thriving in the low water has turned the liquid pink.

The massive lake, key to the states economy and identity, is skirting record-low levels after years of below-average precipitation and record heat. A few dozen lawmakers took a road trip Thursday to see the problems firsthand and learn how they can help  besides praying for more rain and snow this winter.

The lake, about 75 miles long (120 kilometers) and 30 miles wide (50 kilometers), is Americas largest outside the Great Lakes. Water levels have always fluctuated, but they have been dropping steadily since 2011.

If this continues  the ecosystem as a whole is under a pretty significant threat, said Jason Curry, a spokesman for Utahs Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.

The state estimates that the Great Salt Lakes ecosystem has a $1.32 billion economic effect. It is a home or major resting place for more than 250 species of birds. Salt and other minerals are mined from the lake and used for fertilizer, melting snow on roadways and other products. Its waters are credited with helping produce dry, powdery snow that attracts skiers worldwide to the nearby mountains.

Its generally three to five times saltier than the ocean, allowing swimmers to float easily. The lake is an unforgiving environment for most creatures, but a prime habitat for brine flies and brine shrimp  tiny, clear crustaceans once sold as sea monkeys in the back of comic books, whose eggs are harvested and sold worldwide as food for other shrimp, crab and fish.

As lake levels drop and the water becomes saltier, even those creatures are threatened.

Brine shrimp are very resilient to salt but even they have a limit, and were reaching that limit, said Don Leonard, CEO of the Great Salt Lake Brine Shrimp Cooperative, a group of companies that harvest and sell the eggs.

The low water levels stress the shrimp in a way that produces fewer eggs, Leonard said. Last year, the cooperative had a below-average harvest and had to pay to dredge its harbor just to get its boats on the water.

He declined to say how much it affected the industry but said dredging has become a yearly, expensive endeavor to dig out a deeper path for boats.

Lawmakers on Thursday took a quick tour of a storage area at a factory that harvests the eggs and visited a plant that extracts minerals from the lake.

Joe Havasi of Compass Minerals said the company had to extend its canals that pull brine from the water by about 2 miles because the shoreline has receded by 6 miles.

He said the company is eager for a planned breach of a railroad causeway later this year thats expected to allow some water from the southern half of the lake to flow north, where its operations are.

Pouring rain caused lawmakers to scrap much of their tour, which will pick up Friday. Legislative staffer Ivan Djambov joked that it was the downpour they hoped for all summer.

Its the wrong day for us, but were grateful its coming, right? he said.

Last year, legislators approved spending $1.5 million to dredge the lake, which will add an additional 6 to 8 feet (1.83 to 2.44 meters) and create a passable channel for boats. Officials said they hope to start that project early next year.

Republican state Rep. Mike McKell said lawmakers also will be looking at whether Utah should step up efforts to remove an invasive weed that sucks up tens of thousands of acre-feet of water every year.

Lynn de Freitas, executive director of the conservation group Friends of Great Salt Lake, said Utah needs to look at how major water pipeline projects may divert fresh water from rivers that normally flow into the lake.

Its dire, she said. We all have a stewardship responsibility for the lake and should honestly and actively own up to that.
* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati received the 2022 Adepi Award

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020.

* PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018.

* IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013.

* Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011.

2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100.

* Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010.

* Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010.

* Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010.

* Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll.

Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008.
Although new to the neighborhood, Kyanas Kitchen Vietnamese Cuisine is already permeated with the complex anise aroma of Vietnamese cooking. The moment you cross the threshold of the unvarnished Downtown cafe is filled with promise  of long-simmered pho, fresh spring rolls and banh mi.

Here the vivacious Kyana darts between kitchen and front of the house like a hummingbird, bringing the panoply of authentic Vietnamese flavor to life and placing it before you.

In Seattle, Denver or any other reasonable citys downtown, you could expect to find dozens of inexpensive, unpretentious ethnic eateries like Kyanas. But in Albuquerque, where many restaurants have struggled to survive Downtown, Kyanas is something special, adding an exotic flower to the small bouquet of dining options.

Judging from a dinner crowd on a recent evening, Kyanas has already been discovered by hipsters, millennials, gymgoers and others unafraid to walk the streets after dark. You can be as comfortable there dining with a crowd of friends as when you are solitary with a book as your companion.

While I would not presume to rank the quality of pho among the many places in the city that serve the traditional noodle-filled broth, Kyanas version may be judged on its merits as sweet and deep, with rich flavor achieved by lengthy patient simmering.

The No. 1 Special Combo ($8.50)  containing steak, flank, brisket and more  is expertly prepared and more than enough to make a hearty and delicious meal. Although not on the menu of eight soup varieties, a vegetarian version of pho is served on request.

Spring rolls (two for $4) are always a good way to begin. Here the barbecue version is especially appetizing, but someone forgot the fresh mint that makes the flavor pop.

The No. 21 rice with spicy chicken lemon grass ($7.75) was infused with subtle flavor. The menu is loaded with both rice and noodle dishes embellished with a rainbow of combinations of barbecue pork, veggies, shrimp, egg cake and more, in the $8-$10 range. A lively, abundant choice of stir-fries may be ordered, but the menu mixes hot pots with the listings, so ask the good-natured waiter to clarify if necessary.

Vegetarians will delight in the veggie hot pot, not on the menu, but loaded with a steamy delectable mixture of tofu, mushrooms and lemon grass.

Now lets get to the classic  the banh mi sandwich. Kyana makes her own pate. I am not capable of judging the best, even if I sampled every banh mi in the city.

However, this version is very satisfying, a rounded and spicy flavor festival, with layers of pate, ham and roasted ground pork on a fresh roll that wants to crumble in your hands, slathered with mayonnaise and butter, then amplified with fresh cucumber, carrots, daikon and cilantro.

At $8, it qualifies as a bargain lunch or late-night snack, best enjoyed with a potent sweet Vietnamese coffee ($2.50). If you crave more heat on your sandwich, theres a jar of Kyanas housemade red chile sauce on the table. Help yourself.

Kyanas Kitchen Vietnamese Cuisine

LOCATION: 315 Gold SW, 503-8899

HOURS: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday;

4 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

NO ALCOHOL
SANTA FE  A woman with her newborn baby in a maternity ward bed was battered by her angry boyfriend at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos late Wednesday, resulting in a lockdown at the hospital all day Thursday, according to a Taos police sergeant.

The boyfriend, Rafael Orozco, 22, escaped after being tackled by hospital security personnel following the disturbance in the ward. The guards backed off after Orozco fought with them and then claimed he had a gun, said Sgt. David Trujillo of the Taos Police Department.

Trujillo said Orozco has a long criminal record. Hes does have an active warrant out for his arrest, Trujillo said. Hes known to us.

Orozcos 23-year-old girlfriend and her baby girl were not seriously hurt, although the mother had a minor slap mark on her face and the infant was either intentionally or accidentally slapped on the head by Orozco, said Trujillo. Orozco is said to be the babys father, according to Trujillo. While Trujillo identified Orozco as the womans boyfriend, one media report quoted the Taos police chief as saying Orozco is the mothers husband.

Trujillo said Orozco faces charges of battery on a household member and battery on a health care professional for the hospital assault.

A statement from Holy Cross said the hospital instituted emergency protocols at 11:46 p.m. Wednesday after the incident. Visitors were not allowed to enter, although Holy Cross continued to take scheduled appointments and was conducting business as usual in providing clinical services for patients, the statement said.

Patients and employees were being directed to the emergency room entrance, and were being signed in and out at a reception desk.

All of our clinical operations are open, Steve Rozenboom, the hospital chief financial officer, said in the Holy Cross news release. We are taking necessary precautions to protect the safety and privacy of our patients and employees. That is always our main concern. The hospital leadership hopes to have doors open at 6 a.m. today, the release said.

Sgt. Trujillo said that, during the maternity ward incident, Orozco grabbed the woman by her throat and punched her in the mouth while the baby was beside her in bed. The baby was slapped while in her mothers arms, Trujillo said.

He said the woman was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon and was going to a safe place.

New Mexico Corrections Department records show that a Rafael Orozco with the same birth year as the man now being sought for the maternity ward assault  1994  was released from state prison on May 25 and then from the Taos County jail on June 23, according to a Corrections spokeswoman.

The Corrections records indicate he goes by the nickname of Little Scrappy and has served prison time for receiving a stolen firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery of a police officer.

State court records available online show that a man with the same name and birth year has convictions in Taos for battery on a police officer in 2014, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, receiving a deadly weapon and driving without a license in 2015. He has also faced charges of resisting arrest, criminal damage to property, aggravated battery and marijuana possession.
Theres really no mystery involved in getting rid of drought. All youve got to do is add water.

An August that turned out to be the eighth-wettest in New Mexico history and a September that continues to have better-than-average rain pushed back moderate drought in the state from 26.6 percent a month ago to less than 4 percent now.

Thats the lowest it has been since an unusually wet 2015 eliminated short-term drought in New Mexico in December of last year. The state was drought-free until March, when moderate drought crawled over 18.5 percent of the state.

Certainly we got some precip back, said Royce Fontenot, senior hydrologist in the Albuquerque office of the National Weather Service. We had a really nice August, well over normal precipitation in the southeast part of the state.

The statewide rainfall average for the state last month was 3.65 inches. Average rainfall for New Mexico in August is 2.47 inches.

September continues to see those above-normal rainfall totals, particularly in the southeast, Fontenot said during Thursdays meeting of the New Mexico Drought Monitoring Workgroup. The group is made up of members of the National Weather Service and representatives of state and federal agencies.

Fontenot said there have also been impressive rainfall totals over the past 60 days in Catron County in west-central New Mexico.

New Mexico has moistened up nicely, he said.

A month ago, moderate drought formed a crescent that stained portions of the southeastern and east-central counties of Otero, Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Roosevelt, Curry, De Baca, Quay and Guadalupe. Last month, moderate drought also stretched up the western edge of the state from Hidalgo through Grant, Catron, Cibola, McKinley and San Juan counties.

Now, however, moderate drought is restricted to much more limited portions of Guadalupe, Quay, Curry and Roosevelt counties on the eastern side of the state and Catron, Cibola, McKinely and San Juan counties out west.

Last month, there was a spot of severe drought in Lea County, just north of Hobbs. Thats gone now. In fact, there is no severe drought anywhere in the state.

A month ago, 87 percent of the state was abnormally dry. Now, less than 47 percent has that ranking.

Fontenot said remnants of Hurricane Newton and other tropical storms helped clear up moderate drought in New Mexico.

Two-thirds of the state is doing pretty well, Fontenot said.
Yes, a request by a state senator for an independent investigation into whether the state agency tasked with protecting children did all it was supposed to do in the case of Victoria Martens looks a lot like political grandstanding and would not appear to have any basis in law.

But its not a bad idea.

The death of the 10-year-old Albuquerque girl, allegedly at the hands of a boyfriend of her mother and his cousin while the mother watched, has horrified the people of this state.

Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, asked the Attorney Generals Office to appoint an independent non-partisan blue ribbon commission to investigate the state Children, Youth and Families Department, the Department of Corrections and any touch points that Victoria Martens had with any government agency, including referrals from Albuquerque Public Schools.

In response to Padilla, Attorney General Hector Balderas agreed there were unacceptable gaps in the system. Balderas did not say what they were or whether he would or could appoint such an investigatory commission. He said staffers are looking at issues surrounding possible points of intervention.

While the Governors Office fired back at Padilla and cited his own high-profile history of sexual harassment  taxpayers shelled out $251,200 and he lost his job as director of the ABQ 311 center in 2007  it should look at his request as an opportunity to review its own procedures.

Padilla says its his understanding that APS had contacted CYFD at least twice with concerns about Victoria and/or her younger brother. A CYFD spokesman did not confirm that because of the Childrens Code, but said the agency has never done an investigation into anything of a violent or sexual nature regarding the Martens children.

In recent years, CYFD has attempted to be more responsive to child abuse concerns, beefing up hiring of case workers and embarking on a statewide campaign to improve the quality of life for children.

Part of that effort is its #SAFE program that encourages people to report suspected abuse and neglect. It was established in 2011 and, on average, receives 35,000 reports a year. That is an astounding number and, of course, means attention gets paid to calls that are more serious on their face.

It would show good leadership on the part of Gov. Susana Martinez and CYFD Secretary Monique Jacobson to name their own independent panel to review this case and make the findings public to the extent possible.

Lawmakers bear some of the responsibility for the lack of public accountability because they have made the Childrens Code so opaque.

Victoria is dead. Her privacy can no longer be invaded. And if the state agency charged with protecting children can learn from this tragedy, it would be best to do so.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Death by Exasperation, 2010, is an oil on canvas by Robert Williams. Robert Williams, who painted this oil on canvas, The Fraught Proposal, 2014, helped bring lowbrow art to the fine art world. Adobes Implications Beyond Just Mud, 2016, is an oil on canvas by Robert Williams, who was born and raised in Albuquerque. This oil on canvas, painted by Robert Williams in 2015, is titled A Farce on an Extravagant Scale. Prev 1 of 4 Next

Lowbrow art will fill the galleries at the Center for Contemporary Arts with two new exhibits opening there today.

Get ready for the style of art you might have seen on album covers, underground comics or zines during the two-month run of Robt. Williams: Slang Aesthetics! and New Imagists of the Southwest.

Meg Linton, curator for the shows and former CCA director, said the shows had their genesis when artist Robert Williams contacted her and said he had a body of work in his possession that was available for display. That was a switch from 2005, when she helped put together a major exhibition of his work elsewhere and had to borrow artworks from more than 50 collectors, she said.

He had done a version of this exhibition in Los Angeles recently and (the pieces) ended up staying together, she said in a telephone interview.

Although he was born and raised in Albuquerque, she said, he has never really shown (his work) in New Mexico. He left the Duke City to pursue his art career in Los Angeles, she said.

Some 60 drawings and paintings from 1995 to the present will be included in his exhibit.

To complement that show, which will be in the main Munoz Waxman Gallery, the spector ripps gallery will be decked out with pieces from 13 artists selected from an open call throughout the Southwest region. We wanted to show a lot of people working with figurative imagery in an interesting kind of way, she said of the show, New Imagists of the Southwest, whose works were selected by Linton and current CCA curator Angie Rizzo.

Noting that an open call produces a wide range of submissions, Linton added, We got to see things weve never seen before and artists wed never heard of before. She estimated that 90 percent of the artists participating in the show were new to her.

I love it every time I get to jury something, she said. Almost every time, theres always one artist I end up working with again at some point.

Off the top of her head, she said artist Roxana Tuff of Texas stood out to her for the ways she combined historic, finely drawn images with graphic designs reminiscent of wallpaper.

Magazine co-founder

Williams was a seminal figure in helping so-called lowbrow art penetrate the fine art world, according to Linton. People of Bobs generation were ignored by the art world, she said.

He co-founded Juxtapoz Art & Culture Magazine in 1994 to give exposure to artists in that generation who shared his aesthetic, offering four to eight pages of six to 12 high-quality reproductions of an artists work, according to Linton. That magazine had a huge influence, she said. It was a vehicle for a generation of artists to have their work recognized.

His art career had its start when, as a member of the Richshaw Car Club in Albuquerque, he worked on designing and customizing hot rods. As a matter of fact, its possible that some hot rodders might bring their cars up to the CCA for tonights opening, Linton said.

He worked in the studio of Ed Big Daddy Roth, an artist, illustrator and custom car designer who created the Rat Fink icon in the 1960s. Williams also helped bring widespread recognition of the lowbrow designation with his publication The Lowbrow Art of Robt. Williams. His work ignited protests when it was shown in the Helter Skelter exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 1992.

He is pretty provocative. A lot of feminists were protesting his work, Linton said. His earlier work especially has a lot of sexual imagery.

His work over the years has morphed, though, developing more subtlety than he showed as a young man, she said. I often say it takes twenty years for painters to really develop their techniques, so they actually can do exactly what they want to do, she said.

And his works tended to become a little more issue-oriented over the years, often focusing on greed and challenges to power, she added.

But one thing may have remained the same. Hes always been kind of an outlaw, Linton said.

If you go

WHAT: Robt. Williams: Slang Aesthetics!

WHERE: Munoz Waxman Gallery

WHAT: New Imagists of the Southwest

WHERE: spector ripps gallery

Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail

WHEN: Opening reception for both, 6-8 p.m. today; on view through Nov. 27

Related events:

From 2-3 p.m. Saturday, artist Robert Williams and curator Meg Linton will lead a gallery walk-through.

At 1 p.m. Sunday, the CCA Cinematheque will screen the documentary Robt. Williams: Mr. Bitchin.
The executive director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency has raised questions about how thoroughly Albuquerque police investigate officers who possibly misuse a federal law-enforcement database.

Edward Harness, the director, said at a recent public meeting that he reviewed a case in which an officer accused of misusing the database in a civilian complaint was cleared of wrongdoing. The case marked the third time that Albuquerque polices use of the National Crime Information Center database has been the subject of a complaint against an officer.

There is a pattern of this being taken lightly when its actually a violation of law, Harness said.

Celina Espinoza, a police spokeswoman, said Albuquerque police internal affairs unit or the Civilian Police Oversight Agency will investigate possible misuse of the NCIC database, depending on how the incident was reported to the department. She said the departments NCIC use is audited each year by the Department of Public Safety.

She said the department takes the database seriously, and she provided the Journal with a memo that Chief Gorden Eden sent all officers in March 2015 telling officers to only use the database for proper purposes.

Officers can be charged with a federal crime for using the database without the proper authorization. And police departments have been suspended from using the database for patterns of misuse. The database contains confidential information that is not available to the public.

The case in question started when Robert Tyler, the husband of Albuquerque Police Department Maj. Jessica Tyler, filed a complaint against Sgt. Adam Anaya that alleged that the sergeant had used the database to get personal information on him.

Jessica Tyler leads the Albuquerque Police Academy.

Harness told board members during a public meeting last week that it was determined that Robert Tylers name had been run through the database. He said there were questionable reasons for doing the search, but Albuquerque police didnt contact DPS.

Robert Tyler said he was at a restaurant and overheard officers talking about the Albuquerque Police Academy. He said an officer then followed him outside and appeared to take his license plate, Harness said.

Overhearing officers discussing something in a public place doesnt give police the authorization to use the law enforcement database, he said.

Tom Grover, Anayas attorney, said Anaya only checked Tylers plate because it appeared Tyler was filming Anaya and several other officers. Grover said New Mexico law allows people to record a conversation only if they are a part of that conversation.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

More Albuquerque students will get to dance, sing, paint and explore other creative outlets thanks to a new partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Albuquerque Public Schools is the first New Mexico district to join Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child, a program that creates a tailored long-term arts education plan for grades K-8.

Twenty-one other communities across the country are already participating, from Juneau, Alaska, to Houston, and Fresno, Calif., to Trenton, N.J.

It is not an easy thing to get to be selected  it is a long, hard, drawn-out process, said Superintendent Raquel Reedy on Thursday during a news conference at Coronado Elementary.

We are thrilled to death that we have this opportunity to work with the Kennedy Center and bring fine arts to our kids even more than we are already doing.

Over the next nine months, Kennedy Center staff will meet with APS and community leaders seven times to assess the current arts curriculum and chart a plan for the future. The implementation stage will take three more years.

Barbara Shepherd, director of national partnerships for the Kennedy Center, explained that center staff take their lead from the district.

We come and we facilitate the meetings, but we dont make any of the decisions  they are all locally made because we cant know your community the way locals do, she said.

To participate, APS provided $25,000 to help cover expenses such as travel time and materials; in return, it will receive a series of consultations, workshops, professional development and other assistance worth $125,000.

Mayor Richard Berry said he is thrilled to see Albuquerque take part because art and music made him excited to come to school. Albuquerques inaugural poet laureate Hakim Bellamy will work with APS on the initiative and report back to Berry.

The arts are so important to our youths development and I am excited to see how Albuquerques students thrive with this creative approach to education, Berry said.

Research reinforces the value of arts education, particularly for at-risk kids.

A 2012 study from the National Endowment for the Arts found that students from low-income homes were 10 percent more likely to finish a calculus class if they were exposed to arts. And students who had access to arts in high school were three times more likely to earn a bachelors degree, according to the NEA data.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

Lawyers representing alleged victims of clerical sexual abuse told a judge last week that the Archdiocese of Santa Fe is liable for the actions of its priests because it provides them with extraordinary power over parishioners, comparable to that of police and corrections officers.

The legal theory, called aided-in-agency, is becoming more common in civil cases and gives attorneys a potent new tool in clerical abuse cases, attorneys in the case said.

Second Judicial District Judge Denise Barela Shepherd agreed and ruled Sept. 14 that a San Miguel County man who alleges he was raped by a Las Vegas priest in the late 1970s can use the aided-in-agency theory in his lawsuit against the archdiocese.

The judge also urged the archdiocese to appeal her ruling to an appellate court. Barela Shepherd said in the hearing that the issue needs the clarity that an appellate court can provide.

The order marks the second time in two months that a District Court judge has ruled against the archdiocese on the issue.

Last month, District Judge Alan Malott rejected a motion from the archdiocese in another clerical abuse lawsuit that had asked Malott to prohibit use of the aided-in-agency theory in that case. In his Aug. 11 order, Malott ruled that it is undisputed those priests were cloaked with considerable power by their employer, making the archdiocese liable for the priests sexual abuse of children.

The two cases are among more than 60 lawsuits Albuquerque attorney Brad Hall has filed against the archdiocese since 2011. Most of those cases have been settled for undisclosed amounts.

An attorney for the archdiocese told Barela Shepherd that the theory should not apply in clerical abuse cases because a priests relationship with parishioners, including children, more closely resembles a doctor-patient relationship than that of a prison guard with an inmate or a police officer with a citizen.

Attorney Luis Stelzner also said that the aided-in-agency argument violates the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment protection of religion because it requires the court to delve into the churchs relationship with its priests, and that of priests to parishioners.

The New Mexico Supreme Court cited the aided-in-agency theory earlier this year when it ruled that a private prison company was liable for the rapes of three inmates by a former prison guard.

Employers typically are not liable for an employees misdeeds if they fall outside the scope of the employees usual duties, justices wrote in their March ruling. The aided-in-agency theory extends liability to an employer in cases where the employee has substantial power or authority to control important elements of a vulnerable victims life, justices wrote.

Lisa Ford, an Albuquerque attorney representing the alleged victim, said in the hearing that the aided-in-agency theory does not violate constitutional religious protections because a jury would be asked only to recognize priests as authority figures.

Priests in the 70s and 80s were regarded as people of substantial power and authority in the community, Ford said. It is a sociological statement.

Stelzner responded that a priests relationship with parishioners goes right to the essence of church authority, and involves the theology and teachings of the church.
LAS CRUCES  The city of Las Cruces violated the Inspection of Public Records Act, or IPRA, by failing to properly and timely respond to a request last year, the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office ruled on Wednesday.

John Wenke filed an IPRA complaint against the city after he claimed the city failed to provide a written response to his records request, which he sent to the city via email on Nov. 17, 2015, according to a letter from the Attorney Generals Office.

Wenke requested (a)ny job applications, resumes and cover letters submitted by a certain person over a two-year period.

Two days after submitting the request, Wenke received a phone call from a city employee who said his request was being denied. Wenke then asked for the city to provide him with a written response denying his request. But the city did not send him a written response until Jan. 19, 2016, more than four months after he made his original request.

The City violated IPRA by failing to properly and timely respond to Mr. Wenkes IPRA request, and by refusing to provide responsive records subject to inspection, Assitant Attorney General Joseph M. Dworak wrote in a letter sent to the city Attorneys Office on Wednesday. The City was obligated to respond to Mr. Wenke in writing, via e-mail, and also provide the requested records.

Dworak urged the city to review its practices and procedures for receiving, reviewing, and responding to IPRA request to prevent future violations. He also requested that proper training be provided to the citys records custodians.

In order to cure this violation, Dworak wrote, the City should immediately provide Mr. Wenke with records responsive to his IPRA request.



2016 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

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_____
SHIPROCK, N.M.  After spending years navigating the process to obtain a birth certificate in New Mexico, Betty Largos efforts came to fruition today, thanks to a collaboration between tribal and state vital records offices.

Finally, I got it, Largo said. She received the delayed birth certificate from the New Mexico Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics after paying an application fee and submitting the necessary documentation to prove she was born 67 years ago near Albuquerque.

Largo is part of a group of Navajos who do not have a birth certificate because they were born at home, which was a common practice before hospitals were established on the reservation.

Largo traveled from Blanding, Utah, to attend the event at the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Shiprock because she needed the birth certificate to apply for a drivers license.

She worked with personnel from the state Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics and the Navajo Nation Office of Vital Records to complete the process and will receive her certificate within a week.

The effort was spearheaded by New Mexico Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage, R-Kirtland, who requested the two offices work together to help tribal members obtain delayed birth certificates.

There were a number of constituents who were having difficulty acquiring birth certificates, and they go to Santa Fe, only having to return numerous times because they didnt have the right documents, Clahchischilliage said.

Due to the high number of people seeking certificates, many of whom had difficulty covering travel expenses, the state lawmaker said it was beneficial to hold the event in Shiprock.

Nancy Joe, a vital statistics technician for the tribes vital records office in Shiprock, said the collaboration also reduced correspondence time between the two entities.

We never get to work together side by side, and Sharon (Clahchischilliage) made it possible for us to work side by side and coordinate our office information and coordinate their documentation requests, Joe said.

Many older Navajos face challenges in proving their birth date and birth location, especially those born before the 1950s because of the likelihood they were delivered by a family member, she said.

A lot of those elders are gone, so they cant provide  documentation of any sort, Joe said.

The state recognizes that issue and allows individuals to submit documentation such as church records, elementary school enrollment, military service or discharge records, or medical records that show the persons date of birth and parents names.

Mark Kassouf, bureau chief for the states vital records and health statistics, said in a telephone interview that the number of people born at home in the early 20th century was high in rural areas and among tribes.

Today, when a child is born in a hospital, medical personnel are responsible for entering the birth information into the states electronic system, which results in a birth certificate being issued, Kassouf said.

He added the information submitted at todays event will be reviewed by department personnel, who will copy the information, then create a new record of birth. Since these are delayed birth certificates, the record will show the date the information was entered, rather than a date of birth, Kassouf said.

Those who paid a $10 registration fee and a $10 fee to receive a certified copy will receive a certificate and their submitted documents within a week, he said.

Kassouf said this is the second time the offices have worked together on this issue. An earlier event was held on Aug. 23, and he remembered an 85-year-old Navajo woman who cried because she was receiving her first birth certificate.

It was so heartwarming and really, really neat. Thats something they can hold onto, and it recognizes them for being born in New Mexico, he said.

Joe, the tribes vital statistics technician, reiterated that sentiment.

When you see an elder thats 60, 70, 80 years old coming back in with that birth certificate, you see the big smile on their faces, she said.

As of 2 p.m. today, 15 people had applied for certificates, including Nenahnezad Chapter resident Thomas Dobey.

Dobey, 58, never thought about applying for a certificate, but changed his mind after regulations became tighter to apply for drivers licenses and passports.

Being born at home, its like you dont exist, he said.

Fortunately, he was told by his late mother that he was born on family land near Navajo Mine, and he was 1 year old when he first visited a hospital.

Dobey used that information to prove his birth date and location. He also submitted copies of his Certificate of Indian Blood, hospital records and voter registration.

Its an accomplishment. I will have this document to show proof, if Im asked for it again. It gives you a good feeling of self-identity about where youre from, he said.

Noel Lyn Smith covers the Navajo Nation for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4636.



2016 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.)

Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com

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_____
Eastern New Mexico Universitys student government called an emergency meeting for students Tuesday night as a means to curb sexual assaults on campus.

The Associated Students of ENMU Senate hosted the meeting with ENMU Senate Vice President Joshua Alvarez Favela saying the purpose of the meeting was to improve educational awareness for sexual assault.

The number of cases each school year are increasing in New Mexico, said Favela. Our message tonight is to show the state of New Mexico that the student body of Eastern New Mexico University is and will take a stand against sexual assault on college campuses.

Sens. Anne Harding and Kris-Ann Walters spoke during the meeting about the importance of using the BlueLight telephone system.

I think they would be a symbol and a sign of the university proactively taking a stand for promoting student safety, Harding said.

The issue of sexual assault is an absolutely important aspect within college campuses, Walters said. I believe you are dealing with students who are away from home where there is to some extent limited protection, and I believe that this is something that needs to be addressed more.

Walters said she hopes for more efforts to go into advertising resources for sexual assault victims that are readily available to them, while making sure cases are treated individually instead of approaching each case in a similar way.

Students who have been victims of sexual assaults also spoke about their experiences at the meeting.

I never knew how real this was until it was me, Rhiannon Barela said. Im here tonight to let you know that it can happen anywhere to anyone at anytime, and I thought I could do it on my own. I dont want your sympathy. I dont want your pity. I want your support. Youre not a statistic. Were not a statistic. Dont call me a victim. Dont call me a survivor. Im an initiator of change, and I will do everything that I have to do to make sure that I see that.

Barela praised ENMUs efforts to raise the issue at a student senate meeting.

With this (meeting), theyre taking the steps necessary to do the right thing, she said. If I have to carry the burden so someone else wont have to then I will. People need to know that it is a very real thing. Its important to speak out and show support.

ENMU student Marina Merritt also spoke to the senate about supporting sexual assault survivors.

I stand here with these survivors and I stand up to my attacker and I stand up here for those unable to stand up for themselves, Merritt said. Look at all these survivors here.

You are not alone. You are not a victim; you are a survivor. It doesnt matter what you were wearing or if you were drinking or if you said yes before. No still means no. I dont care if I have to tell my story to the entire country. I will not stop until no actually means no.

In a Portales News-Tribune story on sexual assault published in April, ENMU Police Department Chief Brad Mauldin and Uniform Crime Report (UCR) records said that ENMU has only had one to two sexual assaults reported per year the last few years, but Mauldin also stated he believes many of them are not reported.



2016 The Portales News-Tribune (Clovis, N.M.)

Visit The Portales News-Tribune (Clovis, N.M.) at www.pntonline.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
UNITED NATIONS  Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Thursday joined in opposing a call by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to halt all flights over Syria in efforts to get relief shipments through, saying that would only help Islamic radicals gain ground.

Rouhani also alleged Washington was sowing fear among financial institutions wanting to do business with his country as part of the sanctions relief due Tehran under a deal with six powers in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

He spoke on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly a day after the U.S. government gave aviation giants Airbus and Boeing Co. the go-ahead to sell aircraft to Iran as part of the landmark deals under the nuclear pact potentially worth some $50 billion.

The outgoing administration of President Barack Obama is keen to show that it is honoring the economic terms of the nuclear pact. But Rouhani said permission should have been granted months earlier under terms of the nuclear pact and criticized the severe delay.

Coming during heated Security Council debate Tuesday, Kerrys proposal to halt all flights was met with disagreement both in Moscow and even in Washington. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress any grounding of war planes should exclude American aircraft, and Russias deputy foreign minister said grounding flights would make matters worse, a view echoed Thursday by Rouhani.

Kerry called for a stop to all flights after an airstrike on a humanitarian aid convoy this week that killed 20 civilians. But Rouhani suggested air strikes remain the best way of attack on Islamic radicals.

If you ground flights, he said, you are aiding the terrorists whether you like it or not because the terrorists  are well equipped except for an air force.

Iran strongly backs Assads 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

Iran complains that international financial sanctions are not being lifted quickly enough under the agreement that stipulates a removal of these and other penalties imposed over Tehrans nuclear program in exchange for Tehrans agreement to curb atomic activities that could be used to make a bomb. Tehran says America is to blame, a theme Rouhani sounded both in an earlier speech to the General Assembly and in his comments to reporters.

While U.S. financial institutions remain under tight restrictions as part of non-nuclear related sanctions, Rouhani said that other banks complain about confusing signals from the U.S. Treasury Department that create a lot of doubt about the legality of doing business with Tehran.

As one thing they tell them you are free to engage with Iran in banking activity,' he said. At other times, they  enter the arena with threats.

They frighten the big banks, he said.

He said restrictions on U.S. companies doing business in Iran as part of sanctions that remain in place outside the nuclear deal were Americas problem. For Tehrans part, said Rouhani, we have no issues for traders, technicians business owners, company representatives to come to Iran.

Addressing a series of recent encounters between Iranian and American forces raising tensions in and around the Persian Gulf, Rouhani denied that his countrys military was to blame, while questioning the need for the U.S. naval build up in the Persian Gulf.

Our armed forces dont have a mission to be adventurous, he said. Their only mission is to defend their territorial borders.

On U.S. elections, Rouhani said its not important who wins but whether the winner is willing to respect the rights and dignities of nations, especially Iran.

Generally moderate in tone, his comments to reporters were in contrast to his speech which pulled few punches.

Alluding to Washington, he placed the blame for the spread of extremism on the responses by great powers to the Sept. 11 attacks. Rouhani said these led to a more insecure world by advancing different methods of repression and military intervention under the pretext of creating a secure environment for their citizens.

He also was critical of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this year allowing families of victims of bombing attacks that Washington says were linked to Iran to allow monetary damages from that country. At risk for Tehran is $1.75 billion in bonds, plus accumulating interest.

But he was most tough on Saudi Arabia. Bitter rivals, Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran are on different sides in the Syrian conflict as well as fighting proxy wars in Yemen where Houthi rebels are battling government forces. Traditional tensions have been exacerbated by last years crush and stampede during the annual pilgrimage to Sunni holy sites. Thousands of Iranian pilgrims died and Tehran says poor organization of the event by the desert kingdom is to blame.

Rouhani urged the Saudis to compensate for past mistakes. Riyadh, he said, must cease and desist from divisive policies, spread of hate ideology and trampling upon the rights of neighbors, while accepting responsibility for the protection of the lives and dignity of pilgrims. 

___

Associated Press writer Edith Lederer contributed to this report.
HoneyMoon Brewery, a Santa Fe startup that developed a new kombucha beer, won the first place $200,000 prize this week at Miller Lites national Tap the Future competition in Chicago.

It was one of six finalists at the competition, which looks for new companies that can have a big impact on the brewing industry.

The competing companies presented their business plans in a closed session to a national panel of judges on Thursday.

HoneyMoon emerged as the winner, said Marie Longserre, president and CEO of the Santa Fe Business Incubator, where HoneyMoon is a client.

Were over the moon about HoneyMoon, Longserre said in a statement. Were so proud of them.

HoneyMoon originally faced15,000 entrants in the annual national competition, now in its fourth year. It was one of just 30 competitors nationwide to make the semi-final cut. Those companies then went on to compete in six regional events.

HoneyMoon won the regional in Houston in July, earning it a spot at the nationals in Chicago on Sept. 22 against five other regional winners from around the country.

HoneyMoon developed a process with help from Los Alamos National Laboratory that combines kombucha and beer fermentation to create a tasty new beer with potential health benefits.

It graduated from the ABQids business accelerator program in Santa Fe early this year.

Company CEO Ayla Bystrom-Williams told the Journal in August that if HoneyMoon won the nationals, it would use the $200,000 grand prize, plus $20,000 it won at the Houston regional, to put a fully equipped facility in place and then seek clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA process cant begin until the facility is set up. Once thats accomplished, HoneyMoons brew will face close FDA scrutiny because of the kombucha, a fermented tea made with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast that provide potential health benefits with antioxidants, probiotics, organic acids, minerals and enzymes.
The real Hillary Clinton  the funny, kind, passionate woman her friends and colleagues insist actually exists  has been missing from public view for so long that even some of her most admiring defenders wonder whether she will ever emerge again.

On the eve of the first presidential debate, Clintons campaign is launching a drive to convince voters that she is, well, human. The move, coming just six weeks before the election, is a frank admission that whether it traces to her embarrassingly public marital traumas, or to the arrows aimed at her during the White House years by conservative activists and news reports, or to a lifetime playing the role of the serious, responsible daughter, sister and wife, Hillary Clinton still struggles to be even likable enough, as candidate Barack Obama put it during the 2008 campaign.

It is something that were aware of, and its a gap that we are seeking to eliminate at all times, said Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon. Every week, we are rolling out a new video introducing people to somebody thats gotten to know Hillary Clinton in a personal capacity.

There will be stories about a supporter in Iowa who, despite being weakened by chemotherapy, came to see Clinton, who then privately kept in touch with her; and about a young girl who wrote Clinton letters when she was first lady, starting a pen-pal relationship that continues to this day. And one about a connection with a Bronx girl that became so close that Clinton attended her junior high and high school graduations.

Whats not in those videos is Clinton talking about herself. Nor would Clinton agree to be interviewed for this article. Although her campaign is intent on showing voters that she is more than just a policy wonk, her friends and former staffers arent sure it can happen this late in the campaign. They say the woman being presented this fall seems more wooden, distant and disconnected than ever before.

In a rare presidential campaign in which large majorities of voters say they dislike both major-party nominees, sharply different kinds of criticism rain down on the candidates: Donald Trump is often accused of being obsessed with himself and lacking in impulse control whereas Clinton is widely viewed as hiding her true personality behind a hard, defensive shell of anodyne comments and legalistic language. In the most recent Washington Post-ABC News survey, 34 percent of voters called Clinton honest and trustworthy. Trump fared no better.

The publics perception of Clinton is off, sometimes dramatically so, according to friends, colleagues, staffers and the candidate herself. Sometimes its Clintons humor  which can be biting  that her friends say the public is missing. Sometimes its her kindness, especially her quiet acts of generosity, the videos she sends to ailing staffers or the times she shows up unannounced to visit someone shes met only in passing. And sometimes its the passion  the enduring belief that she can make a difference, that intractable problems can be solved no matter how paralyzed government may be.

For decades, Clinton has occasionally promised to do something about the problem, to shrink her zone of privacy and show some of the emotion and vulnerability that many aides believe would make Americans like her more. More than a dozen former aides and close friends said they have told Clinton that voters like her more when they see her, for example, hug an immigrant child worried about being deported, or get teary answering a voter who wants to know How do you do it?

But close friends and supporters say Clinton is skeptical of such emotional appeals, even if they are pure gold to most politicians. Theres no point in exposing her feelings to the public, Clinton argues, because shell only be attacked with greater fervor.

As early as 1993, Clinton gave two long interviews to Michael Kelly for a profile in the New York Times Magazine. She thought she had bared her heart about her struggle to find a path in politics that might break down barriers between liberals and conservatives. The article, headlined Saint Hillary, won much praise, but Clinton read it as a caricature that only solidified her public image as a moralistic, know-it-all crusader.

Clintons caution stems in part from her conclusion that the public would believe almost anything derogatory about her, friends and aides agreed. As first lady, according to a close friend, Clinton was on a small plane with a staffer who was reading aloud a magazine story that repeated an accusation that Clinton had had sex with a colleague.

Clintons eyes filled with tears and she said, It really says I had sex with a collie?

The staffer quickly corrected her boss: No, a colleague!

Thats how far down her expectations had gone of what people thought she was capable of, the friend said.

  

Clinton is keenly aware of what people think of her.

In 1996, Clinton said, I apparently remind some people of their mother-in-law or their boss, or something.

Clintons explanation for her lousy likability numbers usually focuses on her vocal defense of her decision to eschew the traditional role of a political wife. I do make some people uncomfortable, which Im well aware of, she said in 2009, but thats just part of coming to grips with what I believe is still one of the most important pieces of unfinished business in human history  empowering women to be able to stand up for themselves.

She has often told staffers that no matter what face she presents to the public, her political opponents and the news media will portray her as deceitful, cold and distant. I dont think you can ever know anybody else, she told the New Yorker in 1996, and certainly not through the crude instruments available to us of exposing bits and pieces of somebodys life.

Aides and friends have tried for years to convince Clinton that the public would probably embrace the woman who connects easily in off-camera, one-on-one encounters. Friends say the Clinton presented in this years campaign has grown ever more distant from the caring, even warm person they know.

She seems remote and not forthcoming to a lot of people, said Melanne Verveer, Clintons chief of staff when she was first lady and U.S. ambassador for global womens issues while Clinton was secretary of state. And she is extremely cautious. Over the years, that perception has just snowballed.

Everybody whos worked with her talks about it, said Christy Macy, a speechwriter for Clinton during the White House years. How she could do it better, how she could get people to see what we see, the constant commitment to improving peoples lives, the passion we know she has underneath that reticence to make yourself vulnerable.

Clinton herself has joked about the barriers shes built around her personality. In a rare appearance before an audience of journalists last year, she flashed an impish smile as she promised a new relationship with the press  no more secrecy, no more zone of privacy. After all, what good did that do for me? She added, with a laugh: If you look under your chairs, youll find a simple non-disclosure agreement. My attorneys drew it up. Old habits last.

This year, Clinton has only in recent days confronted the fact that many voters  even in her own party  dont like her. Her friends believe that she indeed has her share of poetry, places where people can really fall in love with her, in the words of Linda Bloodworth Thomason, who got to know her in Arkansas and stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom on the Clintons first night in the White House. Thomason wishes the campaign would focus on winning aspects of her friends personality, such as her relationship with her mother, the deep bond between them. Her quiet work around the world saving womens lives.

Clintons reticence, Thomason said, creates an opening for others to caricature her: If you have a natural reluctance to talk about yourself, it can create a vacuum that people are all too happy to fill.

Campaign spokesman Fallon acknowledged the problem: The ball tends to bounce in a tricky way for her, and her motives get judged in a different way. When youre in public life this long, a narrative cements itself.

  

In January 2008, at a coffeehouse in New Hampshire, Clinton took a question from a woman with a sympathetic tone. My question is very personal, Marianne Young said. How do you do it  how do you keep upbeat and so wonderful?

Clinton nodded, smiled, nodded harder, and her smile was softer than usual  knowing, even tender. She sighed. Her voice grew smaller and sweeter, no longer the deeper, resonant tone she assumes when shes talking policy.

Its not easy, its not easy, she said. She shook her head twice and made eye contact with Young. And I couldnt do it if I just didnt, you know, passionately believe it was the right thing to do. You know, I have so many opportunities from this country. She rested her head in her hand, swallowed, and her voice became tiny and strained. Just dont want to see us fall backwards. She squeezed out the words as her eyes welled, her voice cracked, and the crowd, looking to help, broke into applause.

The next day, asked on CNN about that moment, Clinton said, Well, you know, I actually have emotions . . . you know, Im not good about talking about myself.

Where exactly that reticence came from is the subject of much debate. Some of Clintons longtime aides believe she became especially cautious after the traumas of the White House years, starting with the bimbo eruptions of the 1992 campaign, when news reports about Bill Clintons extra-marital relationships led his wife to take a stand  Im not sitting here, some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette  that played to some as supportive and to others as defiant.

Clinton has often told friends that the public was just never going to be comfortable with her role as a driven, talented woman who was determined to make a difference. In this view, in the 1980s and 90s, some Americans would see any outspoken career woman as a Lady Macbeth  cold and calculating. Add in the many investigations and allegations that peppered the Clinton years in the White House, and that image  and Clintons caution  hardened.

Others say the zone of privacy tightened as the first lady methodically built a wall around Chelsea, seeking to shield her daughter from cameras and public attention.

But some longtime associates say the bottled-up Hillary traces back well before any clashes with conservatives or news reporters. They point to Clintons childhood with a difficult father and rambunctious brothers as the period when Hillary took on the burden of being the mature, responsible one.

It was Dorothy Rodham, Hillarys mother, who put the steel rod in her daughters spine  no whining, no self-pity, Thomason said. Always maintain your dignity, mind your own counsel.

Still others say the sharp distinction in how the Clintons present themselves derives from their religious upbringings.

Shes a buttoned-up Methodist with a more traditional, private faith, said a former staffer who worked closely with both husband and wife, and he is a Southern Baptist, a much more outwardly expressive faith. Hes out there spreading the good gospel news, while she carries her scars and develops a kind of fatalism, that it doesnt matter what she does, theyre still going to attack her.

Other friends saw Clintons caution emerge in Arkansas, where she was first exposed to insistent questioning by reporters. From then on into the White House years, a sense of siege developed as she was being pummeled with one supposed scandal after another, said Verveer, who recalled riding in a car with Clinton as the first lady read a story about herself. She put the paper down and said, I wouldnt like that person either.'

The reticence that developed after the 1992 campaign is a reflection of how normal a person she is, rather than how abnormal, said Don Baer, who worked with the first lady when he was White House communications director in the 90s. Its an unnatural act to feel comfortable with that level of scrutiny and intrusiveness.

  

From the White House years through Clintons Senate campaign and on to her two presidential campaigns, Verveer saw the strategists around Clinton grow flummoxed about how to move the needle.

A pollster told me when she was running for Senate, this doesnt require focus groups. It requires a shrink,' Verveer said. In the first campaign, she had a very difficult time initially talking about I and me. She was much more comfortable talking about issues. At some of the toughest times in the White House, she would say to us, Stop and think, why are we here? How can we make a difference for people? It sounds trite, especially in our political culture of suspicion, but thats how she really is. But if she talks this kind of talk, youre back to Saint Hillary. Damned if you do, damned if you dont.

If Clinton has become even more guarded in this campaign, thats the result of decades of harsh criticism  and, some say, of a campaign staff that has not pushed her to open up.

Hillary is a Rorschach test for how people feel about a powerful woman, said Thomason. She can exhilarate, irritate, threaten or terrify, according to who you are. When she said she couldve stayed home and baked cookies, people were cheering, people were outraged, but she was showing everyone who she really is.

Thomason and some other friends believe Clintons caution has been reinforced by a staff that hesitates to let her speak off the cuff and by strategists whose response to low likability numbers is to rely on appearances in friendly, easily managed settings, such as late-night comedy shows and local TV newscasts. On Thursday, she played straight woman to comedian Zach Galifianakis on his online show, Between Two Ferns, showing that she can take zesty barbs and even be a bit silly  but giving away little about herself.

Why not just let Hillary be herself and allow the chips to fall where they may? Thomason said. The Clintons marriage is the number one thing people ask me about. The campaign never addresses this. Why not just tell the truth? Has their marriage had challenges? Yes. But its also a kind of love story. Its not just about what has been enjoyed, but also what has had to be forgiven Its clear to all who know them well that they would be lost without each other.

Thomason, who has produced four films about the Clintons for Democratic conventions, said campaign managers told her that her documentary about Clintons historic achievement as the first woman nominated to run for the presidency was scrapped at the last minute in July because it might make women who only have sons feel left out. Hillarys life story provides a lot of poetic opportunity, but an in-depth, epic, Cinderella story of her mother was rejected. Clinton campaign officials said the movie was not shown only because Bill Clintons speech ran long.

  

As she traveled the world as secretary of state, Clinton scheduled private meetings with women from all walks of life. The idea was to give her a window onto the lives of women who were neither diplomats nor politicians, and to show ordinary women Clintons passion to solve their problems.

Shed much rather go down some dusty road for an hour and visit a school to find out why girls arent going there than stand up in any formal meeting, said Macy. These are really, really emotional sessions. That is her authenticity. And she feels freer there than back home, where I think of her as having gotten burned on so many levels that theres a defensiveness that I can understand.

On at least one occasion, Clinton invited reporters who covered her to join her  off the record  on an informal visit to a Mongolian village. The journalists were so surprised, a former staffer said. Shes so funny and good to be with, they said. And then they turn on the TV and see this totally stilted person that doesnt square with the person theyd just met.

The gap between Clintons public persona and what only friends, co-workers and well-to-do donors get to see in closed-door sessions is just too great for any stories about her concerned and caring side to break through, said a longtime friend, who declined to be named because Clinton did not grant permission to discuss personal matters.

I know shed be a great president, the friend said, but she has this weird stubbornness that borders on self-righteousness. You can explain to her that she needs to let people see her at her best, and she gets it, but she still resists. Its like shes insulted because she believes we should always be talking about something bigger than yourself. The problem is, I dont recognize her now. The Hillary I know and love, who can riff off the cuff and have people teary and laughing  I just dont see her now. Shes beaten up and exhausted and weirdly defiant. Shes  shes joyless.

Earlier this month, Clinton took a stab at confronting the problem. She told the Humans of New York website that I know that I can be perceived as aloof or cold or unemotional. But I had to learn as a young woman to control my emotions. And thats a hard path to walk. Because you need to protect yourself, you need to keep steady, but at the same time you dont want to seem walled off. And sometimes I think I come across more in the walled off arena.

She said she is not Barack Obama or Bill Clinton, whose naturalness can be more difficult for a woman. When she sees male politicians pounding the message, and screaming about how we need to win the election, I want to do the same thing. Because I care about this stuff. But Ive learned that I cant be quite so passionate in my presentation. I love to wave my arms, but apparently thats a little bit scary to people. And I cant yell too much. It comes across as too loud or too shrill or too this or too that.'

clinton-personality-repeat
NEW YORK  After a yearlong renovation, an iron-hulled sailing ship built in 1885 is returning to New York Citys seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback after having the wind knocked out of its sails after Superstorm Sandy.

The Wavertree, one of the last large sailing ships made of wrought-iron and the largest still afloat, is scheduled to be moved Saturday to a South Street Seaport Museum berth at the southern tip of Manhattan.

Its return marks a major step in the recovery of the museum, a 49-year-old institution that interprets New York Citys maritime history through exhibitions and a fleet of historic ships. The museum is set in an 11-block historic district of former mercantile buildings.

The museum was already on shaky financial ground when tourism in the seaport was hit by three consecutive blows: the 9/11 attacks, the 2008 Recession and major flooding when Sandy hit in 2012.

Sandy was just a devastating body blow just as we were already beginning to recover from the other two. So that were even alive is really miraculous, said the museums executive director, Jonathan Boulware, a lifelong sailor and historic ship expert.

The museums struggles parallel the seaport districts attempts to revive itself after the hurricane. While its brick and cobblestone bones survived the flooding, the district largely became a flooded-out shell. A shopping mall that drew tourist traffic, situated on a pier below the Brooklyn Bridge, was demolished.

Now the area, too, is getting back on track.

A new 300,000-square-foot retail center is under construction to replace the torn-down mall on Pier 17. A multiplex theater is set to open. Other projects include conversion of the historic Tin Building into a fish hall. Outdoor cafes have opened and a pair of acclaimed chefs, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and David Chang, have plans to open restaurants.

The Wavertrees return comes just weeks after the other flagship in the Seaport Museums fleet, a huge 1911 four-mast sailing ship called the Peking, departed Manhattan for good. The museum couldnt afford to keep the ship and it is being given to an organization in Hamburg, Germany, where it was manufactured, Boulware said.

Even before Sandy, the museum had an operating deficit. At the citys request, the Museum of the City of New York, with a $2 million grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, took over management from 2011 to 2013. Boulware took the helm in 2015 after previously serving as its interim president.

While the seaport museums fleet of ships and collections were largely undamaged in Sandys flooding, the salt water damaged the museum buildings electrical, heating, cooling and fire safety systems. State and federal grant money helped rebuild the infrastructure.

Since the storm, the museum has increased membership and attendance, rebuilt its education and public programming and reactivated an 1893 schooner as a sailing school vessel. In March, it opened its first exhibition since Sandy that examines the seaports role in securing New Yorks place as Americas largest city and its rise to become the worlds busiest port by the early 20th century.

Boulware estimates it will take five to seven years before the museum is where I want us to be in terms of attendance, programmatic diversity and institutional stability.

Amid the changes, the Wavertree will stand as the type of merchant ship that would have dominated the seaport in the 19th century. It plied the seas for 25 years carrying cargo to ports all over the world.

In 1910, a Cape Horn gale tore off its masts and the windjammer was sold and used as a floating warehouse in Chile and decades later as a sand barge in Argentina. The museum acquired it in 1968.

Over the last 16 months, the 325-foot ship got a mast-to-hull, city-funded restoration that included a steel deck to keep water out of the vessel.

Now that its shipshape, visitors will be able to go aboard and actually work the gear of the ship, said Boulware.

Steve White, the president of Mystic Seaport museum in Mystic, Connecticut, said it is important to protect and preserve these vessels that are as iconic to American history as a Monet would be to the period of impressionism.

These are our Monets, our Mona Lisas, he said. Theyre very big and much more difficult to conserve but in our minds just as important.
As murky rumors continue to swirl around the sudden split of Hollywood A-listers Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the FBI has confirmed that it is gathering information surrounding an alleged incident involving Pitt and his children aboard a private plane Sept. 14  the day before the couple officially separated.

The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued, FBI spokesperson Laura Eimiller told The Washington Post. She declined to comment on how the FBI was notified of the alleged incident  because it occurred on a plane, it falls under the FBIs special aircraft jurisdiction.

But beyond this confirmation, the details about what  if anything  happened seem far from clear. In her divorce filing Monday, Jolie Pitt cited only irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split, and listed Sept. 15 as the date of the couples separation. Her attorney later said in a statement that her decision to divorce was made for the health of the family.

TMZ was first to report on the episode that allegedly occurred during a private flight last week  offering vivid details and citing anonymous sources. TMZ stated that the incident was reported anonymously to authorities by a witness who was either on the plane or at the airport where it landed in Minnesota.

But those allegations have not been confirmed by any official on the record. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times cited an unnamed law enforcement source who claimed the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Families was investigating Pitt; but the department itself has consistently declined to confirm whether or not an investigation is underway, citing confidentiality protocols.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department has forcefully denied claims that it was investigating any complaint against Pitt: LAPD is not handling any reports or allegations into child abuse for Mr. Pitt, spokeswoman Jenny Houser told the Los Angeles Times.

Authorities in Minnesota confirmed that Pitt was on a plane that landed in International Falls, but said that law enforcement was not notified of any problem on the flight and was not called to the airport.

Theres no incident whatsoever reported to law enforcement, Koochiching County, Minnesota, Sheriff Perryn Hedlund told The Associated Press.

In her divorce filing, Jolie is seeking sole physical custody and joint legal custody of the couples six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. Jolie and Pitt, who first became a couple in 2005, were married at a French chateau in 2014.

In brief public statements, both actors have said that their primary concern is for their children, and have asked for privacy as their divorce unfolds.

fbi-pitt
WASHINGTON  Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will join President Barack Obama and 7,000 special guests at the formal dedication of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Saturday morning, according to Smithsonian officials.

The officials said that Hillary Clinton was invited as a former first lady, but not as the Democratic nominee for president, and that Republican nominee Donald Trump was not invited. The Smithsonian doesnt do politics, Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St. Thomas said in an email. It remains unclear whether Hillary Clinton will attend.

Former first lady Laura Bush will join Michelle Obama for the long-awaited opening of the 19th Smithsonian museum, a $540 million building on Constitution Avenue between 14th and 15th streets.

Obama will speak, as will George and Laura Bush. President Bush signed the bill authorizing the museum in 2003, and Laura Bush attended the groundbreaking in 2012.

Former presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush declined their invitations, along with their wives.

Members of Congress, Smithsonian regents and museum donors and supporters will be among the thousands on the museum grounds for the outdoor ceremony Saturday. The public can watch the ceremony on Jumbotrons from the grounds of the Washington Monument, where a three-day festival celebrates the opening. The ceremony also will be broadcast on C-Span and BET.

The event begins with an hour of musical performances at 9 a.m. In addition to Obama and the Bushes, the speakers include Smithsonian Secretary David J. Skorton, Rep. John Lewis, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, museum founding director Lonnie Bunch and Shirley Ann Jackson, president of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Patti LaBelle and Denyce Graves will perform.

After the ceremony, the special guests will be able to tour the museum. Timed passes for the public begin at 2 p.m. The museum remains open until 8 p.m., while the Freedom Sounds festival continues until 10.

Because of the ceremony, the National Museum of American History will not open until the afternoon.

The opening celebration  and the National Book Festival, being held in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday  is bringing many guests into town. DC Destination president and chief executive Elliott Ferguson said most of the citys 30,000-plus hotel rooms have been booked.

We anticipate a large presence from the African American community nationwide, he said. We know theres a lot of global excitement.

Ferguson advised people who are planning to attend to research traffic and parking changes and learn what not to bring to the event. He also cautioned that admission to the museum will be limited, but many other museums have events to celebrate the occasion.

This is icing on top of the cake in terms of business, he said. It is a festive time in the city.

museum
President Barack Obama took direct aim at GOP nominee Donald Trumps assertion that conditions for African-Americans now are worse than they have been at any time in U.S. history, saying in an interview aired Friday that even young children know better than that.

You know, I think even most 8-year-olds will tell you that whole slavery thing wasnt very good for black people, Obama said in an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC News that was taped Thursday in the new National Museum of African American History and Culture ahead of its opening. Jim Crow wasnt very good for black people.

Trump has suggested repeatedly that black Americans should vote for him because of the dire circumstances they now face, saying in August in Michigan, What the hell do you have to lose?

Our African-American communities are absolutely in the worst shape theyve ever been in before, Trump said during a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday. Ever, ever, ever.

Speaking Friday evening at a White House reception celebrating the museums opening, Obama said, the timing of this is fascinating. Because in so many ways, it is the best of times, but in many ways these are also troubled times. History doesnt always move in a straight line. And without vigilance, we can go backwards as well as forwards.

Referring to the current protests in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the president added that the museum allows all of us as Americans to put our current circumstances in a historical context.

My hope is that, as people are seeing whats happened in Tulsa or Charlotte on television, and perhaps are less familiar with not only the history of the African American experience but also how recent some of these challenges have been, upon visiting the museum, may step back and say, I understand, he continued, I sympathize. I empathize. I can see why folks might feel angry and I want to be part of the solution as opposed to resisting change.

The president first questioned Trumps assessment that blacks status in the United States is at a low point last Saturday, telling the Congressional Black Caucus, You may have heard Hillarys opponent in this election say that theres never been a worse time to be a black person. I mean, he missed that whole civics lesson about slavery and Jim Crow  but weve got a museum for him to visit. So he can tune in. We will educate him.

But his latest remarks, which aired on ABCs Good Morning America as part of a joint interview with his wife, Michelle, were even sharper. Obama, who will speak at the museums opening Saturday, emphasized that Americans need to understand that the impact of discrimination will take decades to undo.

Its unrealistic to think that somehow that all just completely went away, because the Civil Rights Act was passed or because Oprahs making a lot of money or because I was elected president, he said. You know, thats not how society works. And if you have hundreds of years of racial discrimination its likely that the vestiges of that discrimination linger on. And we should acknowledge that and own that.

Michelle Obama said the museums collection highlighted Americans ability to rise above past wrongs.

Weve been through so much. And weve overcome so much, she said. After you see what weve been through, theres nothing we cant handle as a community and as a nation.

Addressing the ongoing and sometimes violent protests in Charlotte in the wake of this weeks fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, Obama said the fact that so many people of color see racial bias in the system should prompt Americans to ask themselves tough questions. Are we teaching our kids to see people for their character and not for their color?

If you have repeated instances in which the perception is at least that this might not have been handled the same way were it not for the element of race, even if its unconscious, he said, then I think its important for all of us to say, We want to get this right. We want to do something about it. 

trump-obama-1stld-writethru
Theoretically, Democrats could take back control of the House of Representatives. But right now, it doesnt look likely.

Thats had less to do with how the House races are shaping up  aside from a few shuffles here and there, our top 10 races most likely to flip parties havent changed much since we visited them in March  and more to do with the tightening of the presidential race.

Republican-held seats still make up eight of our 10 seats most likely to flip parties. But to win the House, Democrats need Hillary Clinton to win by a fairly big margin if they want to end Republicans historically large majority. To do that, they need Donald Trump to tank. And as Washington Post columnist Stu Rothenberg accurately points out: Trump is not at this point the down-ballot disaster that some speculated he would be.

(The current breakdown in the House is 246 Republicans to 188 Democrats, meaning Democrats need to turn 30 GOP seats blue.)

One thing we need to note about the latest rankings: The top three races most likely to flip are actually not on this list. Thats because Floridas 2nd (D), Floridas 10th (R) and Virginia 4th (R) are all open seats that almost everyone agrees will flip parties, thanks to redistricting that have made these seats downright hostile for the party of the lawmaker currently representing it. (For more on those races and the impacts of redistricting on the 2016 elections, you can read up here and here.)

That opens us up to talk about a wider array of races, which are ranked in order of least to most likely to flip parties. And before we get to the line, we have a special treat for you: The Fixs inaugural House race ratings, at the top of this post.

To the line!

10. Nebraska 2nd, Rep. Brad Ashford (D): Democrats say this race is pulling away for them, with a recent poll showing Ashford up over his Republican challenger, retired one-star Air Force general Don Bacon, by double digits. But Republicans arent giving up on this takeover opportunity; they think Ashfords win in 2014 was because of a weak incumbent rather than his strength as a candidate. (Previous ranking: 10)

9. Florida 18th, OPEN (D): This might be the most competitive Democratic-held seat on the map. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D) is trying to unseat Sen. Marco Rubio, leaving his swingy Palm Beach-area seat for the taking. Businessman Randy Perkins (D) and Afghanistan War veteran Brian Mast (R) are going after each other  Republicans say they have enough opposition to turn voters off of Perkins. (He ecently told Mast, who is a war double amputee, to be a man and stand behind your own ads.) Democrats say their guy has enough money to withstand any Republican attacks. (Previous ranking: None)

8. New Hampshire 1st, Rep. Frank Guinta (R): Guinta is badly weakened by admitting last year he took illegal campaign contributions from his parents, but he somehow made it through the primary. Now hes facing his fourth-straight matchup against former Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D), who isnt necessarily loved by voters either. Its an open question which candidate a majority of voters in this swingy-district choose. Right now, the edge goes to Shea-Porter given Clinton is leading the state by an average of 5 points, according to RealClearPolitics. (The Democratic group House Majority PAC just put out a poll showing her up 10 points.) (Previous ranking: None.)

7. Florida 26th, Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R): Now we approach the first of the redistricted seats to come into play. A court-ordered redrawing of eight of Floridas gerrymandered congressional districts has tilted the overall map slightly toward Democrats. Thats true for Curbelos new Miami area district, which is Democratic-leaning and majority-Hispanic. As such, Curbelo is one of the few House Republicans who has said he wont support Trump. But Republicans thanked the campaign gods when former Rep. Joe Garcia (D) won the Democratic primary. In 2014 an investigation accused his office of creating hundreds of fake absentee ballots. More recently, Garcia apologized for making a comment that Clinton is under no illusions that you want to have sex with her. (Previous ranking: 8)

6. Texas 23rd, Rep. Will Hurd (R): This perpetually competitive district has the longest stretch of U.S.-Mexico border of any district. Its high Latino population makes Hurd one of Republicans most endangered Republicans, especially in the Year of Trump. Former Rep. Pete Gallego (D) is trying to take advantage of the presidential dynamics to win this vast San Antonio and El Paso-area seat. Both candidates are competent, organized and well-funded, meaning this race will probably be a nail-biter to the very end. Like it often is. (Previous ranking: None)

5. Illinois 10th, Rep. Bob Dold (R): Dold is in the category of Republicans who could do everything right but still lose. His seat in the northern Chicago suburbs is one of the most Democratic districts Republicans hold this cycle. (Thus Dold has also said hed never support Trump.) Former Rep. Brad Schneider (D), whom Dold knocked off in 2014, wants his seat back. Given the districts dynamics combined with the states heavy lean for Clinton, he has a decent shot. (Previous ranking: 7)

4. Minnesota 2nd, OPEN (R): Rep. John Kline (R) is retiring after more than a decade representing this Twin Cities suburban seat. And Kline is ostensibly not happy with his potential successor, outspoken talk radio host Jason Lewis, who won his primary after calling young, single women not-thinking, questioning the need to have fought the Civil War and saying the white population has been committing political suicide and cultural suicide. Democrats say hospital executive Angela Craig (D) is raising the money she needs to take this slightly Republican-leaning district. (Previous ranking: None.)

3. Nevada 4th, Rep. Cresent Hardy (R): The moment Hardy, a political novice, won a surprise victory in 2014, Democrats started counting down to November 2016 for the chance to kick him out. But Republicans say not so fast: A RealClearPolitics average of polls show Trump is slightly up in this purple, libertarian-leaning state. Democrats nominated one of the most polished candidates this cycle, state Sen. Ruben Kihuen (D), to knock him off. But thanks to Trumps surprisingly strong performance in Nevada, if we kept the top three most-likely-to-flip states on this list, this races ranking wouldnt have budged from March. (Previous ranking: 6)

2. Iowa 1st, Rep. Rod Blum (R): The district most likely to flip without the interference of redrawn borders is still Blums. Blum was a somewhat surprising surfer on the GOPs 2014 wave (Obama won the district by a 14-point margin in 2012). And Blum has voted as if he were representing a district Mitt Romney won by 14 points. He faces former Cedar Rapids city councilwoman Monica Vernon. (Previous ranking: 5)

1. Florida 13th, Rep. David Jolly (R): First Jolly wasnt running for reelection, betting his political fortunes on the Senate seat instead. Now hes back. But hes facing one of the most recognizable faces in Florida politics: former governor Charlie Crist, a Republican-turned-independent-turned Democrat who has run two failed statewide races in the past four years and is now running in his hometown district, newly redrawn to favor Democrats. This race could be a nail biter. Republicans say Crist isnt well liked, but its notable Jolly cant count on a lot of outside help  hes burned bridges with the establishment after criticizing the party for its fundraising demands during a 60 Minutes segment. (Previous ranking: 2)

dems-house
Gov. Susana Martinez says she wants 66 percent of working-age New Mexicans to have a degree or post-high-school credential of some kind by 2030  a challenge she called the Route to 66.

She outlined the goal on Friday during a speech to regents, faculty, students and others who gathered in Albuquerque for a statewide summit on higher education.

The governor estimated that about 43 percent of working-age New Mexicans now hold a post-secondary credential. Pushing that rate up to 66 percent would help provide the educated, prepared workforce that employers demand, she said.

Weve already come so far, but we cannot stop reaching, she said. Lets all get on the Route to 66. 

New Mexico colleges and universities are already moving toward a requirement of only 120 credit hours for students to graduate with a bachelors degree  a change that makes it easier for people to finish their work in four years, Martinez said. The University of New Mexico, for example, reduced its requirement from 128 hours to 120 in 2014, a move that supporters said brings it in line with the national standard.

The governor said requirements for extra, frivolous courses put an extra financial burden on students.

She joked about how she, as a college student, had to take a weather class that wasnt particularly relevant to her pursuit of a career in criminal justice.

Martinez, of course, is a former district attorney. But she knows how to identify a nimbus cloud, she said.

The governor said shes proud of other initiatives aimed at preparing college students for jobs.

She praised Central New Mexico Community College students who built a website with information on internships.

The site will go up next month. Itll be a portal that connects students and employers, she said, and help push the community toward the Route to 66 goal.
Bologna Business School

It was on the bus to the villa on the second day that it clicked - why there were only two faces I recognised at the conference. The European Association of Law & Economics (EALE), whose annual conference I attended in Bologna, looks at law, and IP, from a different approach than the economics-of-innovation-based arguments that dominate UK IP policy debates. Presentations emphasised theoretical constructs of law and offered insights into potential policy impacts and IP strategies used by firms.It will come as no surprise to readers that we (and I include lawyers) tend to self-separate into silos by discipline. Amongst economist studying IP, there are two main camps - those that stem from a Law & Economics approach, and those that start from an innovation perspective. There are very few Law & Economics scholars based in the UK, while the discipline is very popular in the U.S. Both camps are dominated by microeconomics , and often use industrial organisation (economic analysis of market structure and firms) theories to bolster their arguments. Law & Economics largely comes from the Chicago School of economic thought (think free trade and rational choice theory - essentially that all choices are a rational weighing up of costs and benefits.) On the other hand, approaching law and policy from an Innovation Economics perspective (where your Katonomist sits) is also law and economics (lower case), but focuses more on innovation and entrepreneurship impacts of law. The two meet in subject, and frankly the differences are subtle, but the underlying methodological and theoretical differences maintain a distance between the two. Hence IP scholars often attend only one of these conference circuits.A hot topic at EALE was understanding "Pay for Delay," aka a reverse payment patent settlement . It's the bizarre phenomena in the US where patent holders pay potential competitors not to challenge their patent or enter the market. This is most common in the pharmaceutical industry when companies seeking to keep generics out of their market. Ramsi Woodcock , in a presentation entitled, "Innovation, Litigation and New Drugs" looked at the consumer welfare impact of these payments. Using a theoretical model in combination with empirical data, he estimates that payments which delay the entry of a generic drug by more than 15 months result in consumer harm.Another paper, by Daniel Pi et al, looked at the fascinating world of Blackstonian ratios. These ratios stem from William Blackstone's premise that, "It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer." This is a ratio of 1/10; other philosophers argue for smaller or larger ratios. Pi estimates that the US is 1/12.5, meaning 12.5 criminals go free for every one innocent. It's an interesting argument that will be of more interest in the future as IP infringement becomes increasingly criminalised. Bryan Khan , ( Bologna ) one of the few economists looking at copyright, presented on broadcasting rights. He modelled the decisions to infringe, license and enforce broadcasting rights. He argued that there should be a means to pool the copyright claims of infringed parties - so that a single action can be taken when a broadcasting right is infringed - both the broadcast and any underlying copyright - in order to reduce transaction costs. He essentially argued for a "copyright system tiered by subject matter," in order to increase efficiency in the system. Paul Heald looked at testing theories of tarnishment in trade and copyright law. He argues for lumping the two together as, in the US, they stem from the same theoretical starting point. Tarnishment Theory argues that ownership of trade marks and copyrights allows owners to control their uses and protect their value. Owners are permitted to "shepherd" their work. However, tarnishment is largely concerned with sexual connotations. The theory "rests on an empirical assertion about how people think, but it has never really been tested and is rarely questioned." He runs an experiment where he attempts to tarnish famous movies to measure the impact on consumer's perceptions. He find that movies he attempted to tarnish benefitted from increases (or at least not decrease) in consumer interest. He noted that this is well established in the marketing literature. It looks as though sexual imagery in tarnishment cases is simply about regulating sex. (Covered previously here .)Next year's conference is in London, from September 14 to 16.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

Bob Frank wont serve another term as president of the University of New Mexico, but he would stay on as a $350,000-a-year tenured faculty member at the Health Sciences Center beginning next June under terms of an exit agreement.

Frank said Friday that he would not seek a second five-year term as president.

By announcing my decision now, we can gear up to move vigorously ahead to finish what weve started, he said in a statement to the Journal. It will allow for a thoughtful, well-planned transition that will keep UNM making steady progress. I am pleased with what we have accomplished during my presidency, and it will be with great pride that I hand over the reins to the next president, who can build upon our successes.

Frank would become the director of the Center of Innovation in Health and Education, a position in the Health Sciences Center, at an annual salary of $350,000, in addition to standard university benefits.

The position is a new one and regents said Health Sciences Chancellor Paul Roth would determine the responsibilities of Franks position.

The regents, in their own statement to the Journal, praised Franks time as the leader of New Mexicos largest university.

The UNM Board of Regents is grateful to President Frank for the work he has done to move the university forward over the past four years, board President Rob Doughty said.

The Board of Regents will now have eight months to choose the 22nd president of UNM and Doughty said the search should start no later than spring of 2017. The Board of Regents will conduct a strategic review of the roles and responsibilities of the position, in order to refine the expectations that will be set for the University of New Mexicos next president, Doughty said in a statement.

An interim president would be appointed if a new president isnt found in a timely manner, he said.

The board of regents met at 4 p.m. Friday and immediately voted to go into closed session. Five regents, Ryan Berryman, Tom Clifford, Doughty, Brad Hosmer and Marron Lee, attended the meeting in person, while regents Jack Fortner and Suzanne Quillen called in.

At about 4:30 p.m. Friday, the regents returned to public session. Doughty then signed the exit agreement. Frank did not attend, but signed the exit agreement on Monday.

Frank declined to comment beyond his statement.

UNM employs about 1,250 full-time faculty and about 3,000 staff members, serving about 27,150 students on its main campus. In its entirety, UNM employs a combination of roughly 10,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff members, serving about 34,440 on the main and branch campuses, and has a budget of about $2.8 billion.

Unfinished agenda

Frank said he still has plenty to do in his remaining months as president. He outlined five goals, which included moving forward as one university, which likely is a reference to recent efforts to align the Health Sciences Center, home to the hospital and medical school, and the main campus.

In a bit of irony, one of the most intensely criticized initiatives of Franks tenure has been the move to bring Health Sciences and Roth under the presidents office. In the face of bitter opposition from many in Health Sciences, regents approved the move on a vote of 4-2. Doughty was a leading architect of the change.

In the new arrangement, it would be Frank reporting to Roth.

We are pleased that President Frank will be able to apply his unique combination of executive skills in clinical health care and innovative applications to advance the mission of the HSC and the University of New Mexico, the Board of Regents said in a statement to the Journal.

Other goals include financial responsibility for the university  the school is anticipating a $22.5 million cut in the current budget, tied to the state of New Mexicos budget woes. On Thursday, Frank announced a hiring freeze for staff positions and a university-wide review in an attempt to reduce the universitys financial footprint, which could mean program cuts.

Frank also mentioned a focus on campus climate and safety, likely tied to a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that found UNM failed to fully comply with federal anti-discrimination gender laws. An agreement between those two agencies is pending.

Franks impending departure also makes him the sixth consecutive president who has served five years or less as the head of UNM. The last president to serve longer was Richard Peck, who was UNMs president from 1990 to 1998.

The board selected Frank as the universitys 21st president in January 2012 following the sometimes contentious presidency of David Schimdly, whose five-year presidency was marked by faculty vote of no confidence in 2009.

Frank, then the provost of Kent State, assumed the UNM presidency in January 2012, with a contract that entitled him to salary of $355,000 and $100,000 in deferred compensation for retirement. His current annual salary is $362,136.

Frank, who earned three degrees from UNM, including a doctorate in clinical psychology, said in his statement he looks forward to his future opportunities as a faculty member at the school.

Frank will also be entitled to six months paid leave for professional development. Hell be free of teaching and administrative duties at that time. Hell get to keep his university computers and the university will pay for Frank to move from his home at University House.
LOS LUNAS  Andrew Romero was stoic as the guilty verdict was read, a conviction that guarantees he will spend the rest of his life behind bars for gunning down Rio Rancho police officer Gregg Nigel Benner.

New Mexico State Police officer Steve Montano, one of the lead investigators in the case, buried his face in his hands and wept as he was consoled by a Rio Rancho police officer.

Julie Benner, the widow, was hugged by supporters, prosecutors and her late husbands fellow officers.

A jury of nine women and three men on Friday found Romero guilty of first-degree murder of a police officer and other lesser offenses for shooting and killing Benner during a traffic stop on Memorial Day last year.

Thirteenth Judicial District Judge George Eichwald said a sentencing hearing would be held within two weeks, giving time for the officers friends and family to prepare to address the court.

But that hearing will be a formality.

The murder charge mandates that Romero be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole  the states harshest penalty since the death penalty was repealed.

It took the jury just about three hours to decide Romeros guilt or innocence. It was a relatively short amount of time to deliberate, given that the trial against Romero began Sept. 8, said Tom Clark, Romeros attorney.

It never bodes well for the defense, Clark said of the length of time the jury deliberated.

The verdict will be automatically appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court, he said.

Just moments before the jury entered to announce the verdict, corrections officers brought Romero into the courtroom, which was filled with police officers and Benners supporters.

Romero spent most of the trial sitting calmly, dressed in shirts and ties from a department store and taking notes. Before the verdict was read he fidgeted back and forth, rubbed his hands together and stared at the ceiling.

Emotional reaction

The verdict led to a quiet but emotional moment for Benners family and friends. Hugs were exchanged, tears were wiped away and many of them met privately before leaving the courthouse. Julie Benner didnt speak with the Journal.

Friday began with closing arguments. Prosecutors painted Romero as a callous cop killer and Clark tried to discredit the police investigation.

Deputy District Attorney Barbara Romo walked jurors through the evidence that was presented at trial. DNA linked Romero to the gun that was used in the homicide and the vehicle Benner stopped before he was fatally shot.

Romo pointed fingers at Romero and told the jury he opened fire on Benner and then left him to die in the street. She talked about how nonchalant he sounded on a jailhouse phone call he made to his aunt, in which he chuckled at one point.

You want to talk about callous, hows that for callous, she said.

His former girlfriend, Tabitha Littles, testified that she was driving Romero to a fast-food restaurant that night to commit a robbery to fuel drug habits. She said they had been in a meth-fueled, two-month-long relationship during which they robbed about 10 fast food restaurants and used drugs daily.

Littles said Romero shot Benner after he pulled them over for having a questionable license plate near Southern and Pinetree in Rio Rancho.

Clark argued that the DNA doesnt prove that Romero pulled the trigger and that Littles wasnt a credible witness. He suggested that it was perhaps Littles, not Romero, who shot Benner. Or that another of Littles friends was in the car and shot the officer.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Lopez compared the defense to a magic trick to try to get the jury to look away from facts rooted in common sense.

He closed the trial by pointing out that Benner was a military veteran who died on Memorial Day.

Its a holiday that we the United States have  to honor those who have died in service of our country. Gregg Benner served our country, Lopez said as he showed the jury a picture of Benner serving in the military, and then replaced it with a picture of his dead and bloodied body.

But his family will remember him on Memorial Day like this.
Police shut down Interstate 40 Friday afternoon to arrest a man who was endangering himself and others by running in and out of traffic, according to a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Police Department.

Officer Tasia Sullivan said police and paramedics called to I 40 at 6th street around 2:30 p.m. found 33-year-old Joseph Grubb, also known as Superman Amir, running around. One vehicle had crashed trying to avoid him but there were no injuries, she said.

Police shut down all westbound lanes of I 40 at 4th and advised drivers to avoid the interstate near the Big-I all together.

Once officers were able to stop traffic flow on the freeway, Mr. Grubb then walked to the ledge of the overpass above 4th Street and with his legs hanging over the ledge, Sullivan said. Responding personnel were concerned that he was going to jump off.

He didnt jump and was taken into custody.

Mr. Grubb was assessed by medical personnel on scene, medically cleared and transported to jail to be booked on charges related to obstructing traffic, Sullivan said.

The interstate was reopened around 3:30.
The Federal Council

Bern, 23.09.2016 - Today, the Federal Council initiated the consultation procedure on an amendment to the Withholding Tax Ordinance. The proposal should strengthen financing activities of groups in Switzerland.

At present, groups established in Switzerland often carry out targeted financing activities abroad. In this way, they avoid withholding tax, which would be due in certain situations were they to conduct the financing via group companies established in Switzerland. The Swiss economy thereby misses out on some of the added value in this sector.

For this added value to be retained in Switzerland, the Federal Council is proposing an amendment to the Withholding Tax Ordinance. This amendment concerns those groups in which a Swiss group company (guarantor) provides a guarantee for a bond of a foreign group company (issuer) belonging to the same group. With the proposed amendment, intra-group interest payments of the Swiss guarantor are no longer to be subject to withholding tax in all cases. Forwarding of funds from the foreign issuer to a group company established in Switzerland should still be possible up to the maximum amount of the equity capital of the issuer.

The reform of the Withholding Tax Act proposed by the Federal Council (switchover to the paying agent principle), as indicated on 18 December 2014 in the consultation, would sustainably resolve the current problems in principle. However, the reform has been suspended for the time being (awaiting the outcome of the vote on the popular initiative "Yes to protecting privacy"), and the subsequent timetable is unknown. Against this backdrop, the Federal Council is proposing this amendment of the Withholding Tax Ordinance to enhance the appeal of Switzerland as a business location.

Address for enquiries

Patrick Teuscher, Head of Communications, Federal Tax Administration FTA

Tel. 058 464 90 00, media@estv.admin.ch

Publisher

The Federal Council

https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html



Federal Department of Finance

https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html




Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 23.09.2016 - This week a delegation from the Tunisian parliament has been finding out first-hand about federalism and parliamentary processes in Switzerland. Members of the delegation met with representatives of the Federal Assembly and specialists from the Federal Administration, Parliamentary Services, the canton of Fribourg and its communes. The study trip is part of Switzerland's broader commitment to democratisation in Tunisia.

The eight MPs and officials of the Tunisian parliament, led by the President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People Mohamed Ennaceur, were given an insight into Swiss federal and cantonal parliamentary procedures and Switzerland's brand of federalism during their four-day stay in Bern and Fribourg. The study trip focused on consensus-building, the separation of powers, legislative processes and monitoring. The Tunisian delegation paid an official visit to the Federal Assembly and held meetings with President of the National Council Christa Markwalder, President of the Council of States Raphael Comte, and members of the Foreign Affairs and Political Institutions Committees. They also met with the Parliamentary Services to discuss the role and duties of Parliament and organisational issues concerning the functioning of Parliament. Representatives from the Federal Office of Justice explained the role of the administration in the legislative process. The canton of Fribourg was used as an example of the cantonal and communal status in Switzerland's federalist system.

The study trip is part of Switzerland's broader commitment to democratisation in Tunisia, which it has been supporting since 2011. It was organised by the Human Security Division (HSD) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in close cooperation with the Parliamentary Services, who provided expertise concerning parliamentary work.

First steps towards democratisation completed

In 2011, political events in Tunisia led to the overthrow of President Ben Ali and also impacted on the region. The Federal Council responded to these events with Switzerland's North Africa programme for 2011-16. The aim of this programme was to help the process of democratisation specifically, and to promote economic development  particularly by creating jobs. Switzerland's engagement in Tunisia also prioritises migration and the protection of particularly vulnerable groups.

Tunisia adopted its new democratic constitution in January 2014, with parliamentary and presidential elections being held at the end of the year. While the country has successfully completed these key stages on its path to democratisation, there are still vital steps to be taken in order to implement the constitution, such as in relation to decentralisation. Switzerland is continuing to assist the responsible Tunisian authorities with expertise and know-how from its own and international experiences, e.g. by holding seminars and round tables. This includes the current Tunisian delegation's study trip to Bern and Fribourg.

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.
He writes in part of his report:

They ruthlessly subjected me to beating with cables on the head and face and back such that after nearly one and half years the signs of the flogging with cables can be seen on my body.

In the first 20 days of arrest, every day a number of officers with guns hung me and at the same time beat me (with cable and rifle butts) for several hours. The beatings with rifle butts resulted in fracture of tibia in my legs and created a hole in it to an extent that a finger can be placed inside it. The traces of fractures are still present in my legs.

They brutally stabbed me on the soles of my feet and left side of the abdomen, near the bladder, and severely wounded me such that the signs of the wounds on my body are still present and obvious.

They would torture me to force me take the responsibility for a murder which I did not know anything about.

One of the tortures they used was to staple my ears. They stapled my both ears which caused bleeding from both ears and blood would run down my shoulders towards my chest. I could not do anything except moaning and screaming.

When they got no results from all these tortures, they took my clothes off and while I was completely naked they started mocking me.

They burned sensitive parts of my body in 21 areas with lighters such that a lot of pus still comes out of the wounds.

I lost consciousness under the tortures several times and each time they would bring an ambulance to bring me back to consciousness and then the torturers would start to torture me again.

When I did not confess, they transferred me from the intelligence office in Iranshahr to the intelligence office in Zahedan where I was beaten and tortured again on the same wounds by judiciary agents and their head Mollashahi.

They would hang me every day under the scorching sun from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and these tortures continued for one week.

Ajab Gol Nour Zehi concluded by naming some of his torturers. They include:

 Pasdar Akbari, Revolutionary Guard and head of the Intelligence Office in Iranshahr,

 Basiji, member of mobilization force

 Omid Siah Khani

 Basiji Kalak

And others, he said.

Ajab Gol Nour Zehi called for the a public trial to be attended by representatives of the worlds independent human rights organizations and international media.

He also requested a meeting with the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, where he could reveal all that has happened to him, and display the signs of the tortures he suffered.
Following is the English translation of this article.

A recording of Hossein Ali Montazeri, the designated successor of Ayatollah Khomeini, sheds new light on the event

This is the conversation that might have changed the course of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Although it is old almost three decades, recording this tense dialogue  whose protagonist is Hossein Ali Montazeri, the designated successor of Ayatollah Khomeini  comes to surface.

In Geneva, a committee plans to seize in order to trigger an inquiry mechanism which would aim current Iranian authorities.

The recording was unveiled last month by the family of Montazeri, undoubtedly a proof of its authenticity. facing judges and perpetrators, Montazeri who should eventually occupy the position of Supreme Leader is strongly opposed to the application of a fatwa issued by Khomeini. What will you say to the families? he asks promising them that the crimes, that you made with your own hands will rank them among worst criminals of the history.

Between 5000 and 30,000 deaths

To be little known in the West, the fatwa of Khomeini, which takes a few sentences, is a scathing call to wipe out political prisoners, sympathizers of MEK/PMOI. The religious decree will soon be taken into effects: at least 5,000 people (30,000 according to the opposition in exile) will be systematically killed and buried in mass graves across the country.

Montazeris refusal to condone the killing earned him to be sidelined until his death in 2009. Like a ghost voice, he returned today to haunt Tehran. This record gets people talking, says the Colombian Ingrid Betancourt. Iranian society was not necessarily aware of the magnitude of what really happened, said the former candidate for the Colombian presidency, who was held hostage for six years and, together with other personalities, announced Wednesday the formation of the Committee Justice for the victims of the 1988 massacre in Iran.

UN investigation?

For this committee, which includes lawyers and other political figures, it is essential that the UN launches an investigation in Geneva, noted the lawyer Azadeh Zabeti, because some of the performers of the fatwa today remain close to power. As such, human rights organizations have often spoken in the past about the current Justice Minister, Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi.

Following this sudden revelation, families of victims began to disclose information about the location of several mass graves in addition to others, updated in recent years by construction sites or by rains the new graves which were hidden by the authorities.

In the recording of his conversation, Montazeri mentions in particular the case of a young 15-year-old girl and a pregnant woman called to be executed. some of these people hardly knew Mojahedin the committee members noted the magnitude of the crimes.
This blog generally follows traditional journalistic standards. It's not about opinions, though you may read one here occasionally. It's about facts that we think will be useful to rural journalists, non-rural journalists who do rural stories, and others interested in rural issues. We don't try to be provocative, so we don't generate as many comments as most blogs with the level of traffic we have, but we certainly invite comments -- and contributions, to

.

REPUBLICATION
Irelands first and only dedicated business tourism showcase, Connect16, will take place at the RDS next Wednesday, 28 September.



The day-long showcase and experiential event will be officially opened by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, with more than 2,000 event professionals including international event, corporate, agency and association delegations from Canada, France, Germany, North America, the United Kingdom and other European locations expected to attend.



A key focus of the inaugural Connect16 showcase will be how we best leverage the intellectual capital we have around Ireland to attract international conferences to our shores. This includes looking at the supports that are currently available through Failte Ireland and professional conference organisers to help successfully bid to bring international congresses to our shores.



There will also be 30 educational seminars on innovative meeting design, sales techniques, mindfulness, team building and more.



Business tourism is an increasingly lucrative sector in Ireland. The sector is worth 669m to the Irish economy and growing by an average of 7% year-on-year. The sector is expected to exceed over 700m in 2017.

In 2015, 227,000 international delegates attended conferences and meetings in Ireland. Business tourism also accounted for 1,273m tourists, a 15% increase on 2014. The business tourist is also worth 1,500 to the economy  three times that of a leisure traveller.



Connect16 is the brainchild of Nicola McGrane, Managing Director of leading Irish event specialists, Conference Partners. Nicola says, "Our goal for Connect16 is to underpin Irelands position as the go-to destination for national and international congresses and events, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase our country to some of the leading international events professionals as part of it."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Modified On Sep 23, 2016 06:04 PM By Alshaar for Audi Q3 2015-2020

German luxury car manufacturer, Audi announced special festive period offers on one of its best-selling products in India, the Q3 on Friday. This bunch of customer advantages will span across major cities in the country, including Mumbai and Delhi.

The offers, being presented by dealers across India, will make joining the exclusive Audi Q-Life easier for the customers who aspire to Stay Young while Living Big, said the brand with four rings in a statement.

In the National Capital, the Audi Q3 will be offered at a down payment of Rs 5,99,000, followed by EMIs worth Rs 48,888; whereas in Mumbai, the car, starting at Rs 30.78 lakh, will be available at an EMI of as low as Rs 26,999.

In Bengaluru, the Audi Q3 will come with financing schemes at a lucrative zero per cent conditional rate of interest, while customers in Chennai will be able to enjoy offers like four years warranty, four-year service plan, four years buyback at 45 per cent and a four per cent rate of interest on the SUV.

The company has positioned the Q range of cars as the sporty, sophisticated and the progressive lot of the brand  underscoring the Vorsprung durch Technik virtues. In this line-up, the Audi Q3 has been the most successful car since its launch in 2012.

The current-gen Audi Q3, launched last year with a refreshed design and technical updates, is powered by a 2.0-litre TDI turbocharged diesel mill. The engine is available with two output ratings: 140PS (30 TDI S Edition) and 176PS (35 TDI quattro). Power is transmitted by the 7-speed S Tronic automatic transmission.

In terms of competition, the car locks horns with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA-class and the BMW X1 in this segment.

City-wise details of offers

City Offers* Delhi/ NCR EMI  48,888, DP  599,000 Mumbai Starting Price  30.78 Lacs and Low EMI  26,999/- Bangalore 0% rate of interest Chennai 4 years warranty, 4 year service plan, 4 years buyback at 45%, 4% rate of interest

*terms and conditions as per Audi India; text only for information purposes

Read More on : Audi Q3
Published On Sep 23, 2016 07:15 PM By Khan Mohd.

Indias largest passenger car maker Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has registered a cumulative exports sales figure of 15 lakh units (1.5 million). The carmaker has shipped cars to as many as 100 countries, including Africa, Europe and Latin America.

The carmakers latest offering, the Baleno, has become the first Made-in-India car to be exported to its homeland, Japan. In India, the premium hatchback calls for a long waiting period, and to reduce that Maruti has upped the plant capacity of the Baleno and simultaneously halted the production of lesser-selling car models like the Ritz.

Managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, Kenichi Ayukawa said, We are happy to reach the 1.5 million milestone for our exports. Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries. Our products like Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe.

Our premium hatchback Baleno, made exclusively in India, is the first car to be exported from India to Japan. It has become a symbol of the Make in India mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and taken Indias exports story to a new level, he added.

It was the year 1987-88, when Maruti Suzuki started exporting to Europe; Hungary became the first country to receive the first shipment of some cars. From thereon, there has been steady rise in exports with new car models and countries added from time to time. However, it was the Zen in the 1990s that helped the company establish its brand name globally.

Speaking of the top models shipped in 2015-16, the carmaker exported the Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and the Ciaz. And as far as best faring foreign markets are concerned, it includes Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia.

Lets see how Maruti Suzuki is able to keep a balance between exports and domestic demands for other models and the Baleno in particular.
Oil prices fell 4 percent on Friday, paring weekly gains, on a report that Saudi Arabia did not expect an agreement at talks next week among major crude exporters aimed at freezing production.

Crude futures slumped after Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia did not expect a decision at Algiers, the capital of Algeria where the biggest oil producers are expected to convene next week for talks, traders said. Bloomberg cited a "delegate" as source, said traders who saw the report.

U.S. oil drilling rig count was up on Friday by 2 to 418, according to Baker Hughes.
After five senators called for his removal.

Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf is no longer an advisor to the Federal Reserve.

On Thursday, Stumpf handed his resignation into the Federal Advisory Council, a group of 12 bank executives that advise the Fed board, according to a statement from a San Francisco Fed spokesperson. The CEO was appointed his role by the San Francisco Fed in 2014, though he didnt assume his responsibilities until 2015.

The council members meet with the Feds Board of Governors four times a year in Washington D.C. to discuss economic and banking matters.
A new system of calculating agricultural rents, based on the productivity of land, will be introduced in Scotland within the next two years as part of plans to assist the tenanted farming sector.

Scottish rural economy minister Fergus Ewing has laid out a process for the introduction of the new mandatory system of rent reviews, to be in place by 2018.

Targeted at so-called secure tenancies agreed under the 1991 Agricultural Holdings Act, it will involve rent for farmland being based on productivity rather than what the open market will support.

See also: Scottish land reform  what farmers need to know

In a letter to the Scottish parliaments rural economy committee, Mr Ewing said: The overall aim of the rent review provisions are to enable the levels of rent calculated under the new system to be more open, transparent and fair.

The new rent review system moves away from one based on the test of an open market rent to one based on a fair rent, taking into account the productivity of a holding.

NFU Scotland policy manager Gemma Cooper said a system that places both landlords and tenants on an equal footing is a key component of greater industry confidence going forward.

The current system, using open market comparables (what other similar tenancies are worth), has led to inflated rents, given the shortage of land becoming available and the fact landowners typically employ agents to secure the best deal.

The proposed change to a more formulaic system has been triggered by this years Land Reform Act, which is seeking more transparency.

Reaction

David Johnstone, chairman of Scottish Land and Estates, said: Discussion is already under way on how a move towards basing rent on productive capacity will work.

Given how complex this issue is, it is important that any new regime is robust and fair to all for the long term. We support the work of the Scottish government in ensuring the new system is thoroughly tested prior to implementation.

He said it was vital that the entire process was conducted in an atmosphere of collaboration.

It is clear that the last thing the industry needs is ongoing disquiet about rents at a time when we are looking to move the sector forward for the benefit of future generations, he said.
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 wouldnt find instances when a known enemy torments an entire people so many times and they dont 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 books 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 enemys 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. Niazis strategy and the jihadist mindset of the Pakistani army is detailed by C Christine Fair in her book, Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Armys 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, Indias 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 Pakistans religious identity. The Kalima, or the words proclaiming ones 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 Pakistans 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 Indias 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.

Source : Firstpost
New Delhi : Somnath Bharti, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)s most controversial lawmaker, who was arrested today over charges of assault and inciting a crowd to damage property, has got bail. He is the second AAP leader to be arrested in two days.

Another lawmaker, Amanatullah Khan, was arrested yesterday on a sexual assault complaint by his relative. He was released on bail hours after Mr Bhartis arrest for allegedly misbehaving with security guards at Delhis AIIMS hospital earlier this month.

The 42-year-old legislator tweeted about his own arrest.

The police had asked for 14 days of judicial custody, but the judge said Mr Bharti being a lawmaker, the chances of his fleeing were remote.

Mr Bharti is also out on bail in a case of domestic violence filed by his wife last year.

AIIMS or the All India Institute of Medical Sciences had filed a complaint alleging that he and 27 of his supporters of misbehaved with guards on September 6.

Bharti provoked the mob to damage the fence of the hospital to give access to unauthorised persons inside AIIMS property and also misbehaved with security personnel, said the complaint.

In court, the police played a video that showed Mr Bharti was present at the spot when part of the AIIMS wall was being broken. The court said prima facie it did not look like a case of obstructing public servant, since guards employed by AIIMS were private people, not government servants.

Mr Bharti has called the charges false and has said that AIIMS had denied legitimate access to people. The wall will have to go in larger interest of residents, come what may, the legislator tweeted later.

Mr Bharti was law minister in AAPs previous 49-day government and left the party facing ridicule and criticism with his vigilantism; he was accused of leading a midnight raid in which Nigerian women were attacked by a mob on the suspicion that they were linked to a sex and drugs racket.

Last year, he was arrested after his wife accused him of abuse.

Mr Bharti is the 13th AAP leader to be arrested since the party came to power last year, and this is the 15th arrest.

The other AAP leader in jail is former minister Sandeep Kumar, who has been accused of rape by a woman who featured in a sex tape with him.

Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister, has accused the central government of gunning for his lawmakers.

Source : NDTV
Benecia, CA, September 21, 2016 -- Late yesterday evening, Benecia, CA voted unanimously to deny Valeros proposed crude by rail facility in the city. The now rejected facility would have brought two trains of 50 oil tankers carrying 3 million gallons of volatile Bakken and tar sands crude into the city every day. This decision follows years of organized opposition to the facility.

The vote was preceded by the Surface Transportation Boards ruling, which rejected Valeros claim that the City didnt have the authority to say no to this dangerous facility. The Sierra Club had intervened in this proceeding in support of Benecia.The Club also engaged several local governments who stood with us to oppose Valero and other proposed crude rail facilities that, if built, would place thousands of communities across California and the nation directly in harm's way.In response, Director of Sierra Clubs Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign Lena Moffitt released the following statement:This is a historic victory for the people of Benecia and people throughout the country who are saddled with the threat of oil trains.From Lac-Megantic, Quebec to Lynchburg, VA, to Mosier, OR, the threat posed by exploding oil trains is far too real for so many people, but yesterdays victory shows that people will no longer allow oil companies to force these dirty and dangerous projects on them or their communities. This victory is part of a growing wave of communities standing up and demanding better protections for their people and their environment. We applaud the City Council of Benicia for siding with the people against Big Oil in this important victory.
Leonard Peltier on Solidarity with Standing Rock by Leonard Peltier

Greeting Sisters and Brothers: I have been asked to write a SOLIDARITY statement to everyone about the Camp of the Sacred Stones on Standing Rock. Thank you for this great honor. I must admit it is very difficult for me to even begin this statement as my eyes get so blurred from tears and my heart swells with pride, as chills run up and down my neck and back. Im so proud of all of you young people and others there.

I am grateful to have survived to see the rebirth of the united and undefeated Sioux Nation at Standing Rock in the resistance to the poisonous pipeline that threatens the life source of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. It is an honor to have been alive to see this happen with you young people. You are nothing but awesome in my eyes.



It has been a long, hard road these 40 years of being caged by an inhuman system for a crime I did not commit. I could not have survived physically or mentally without your support, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul for encouraging me to endure and maintain a spiritual and legal resistance.



We are now coming to the end of that road, soon arriving at a destination which will at least in part be determined by you. Along the lines of what Martin Luther King said shortly before his death, I may not get there with you, but I only hope and pray that my life, and if necessary, my death, will lead my Native peoples closer to the Promise Land.



I refer here not to the Promise Land of the Christian bible, but to the modest promises of the Treaties our ancestors secured from enemies bent on their destruction; in order to enable us to survive as distinct peoples and live in a dignified manner. Our elders knew the value of written words and laws to the white man, even as they knew the lengths the invaders would go to try to get around them.



Our ancestors did not benefit from these Treaties, but they shrewdly and persistently negotiated the best terms they could get, to protect us from wars which could only end in our destruction, no matter how courageously and effectively we fought. No, the Treaties were to the benefit of the Americans, this upstart nation needed the Treaties to put a veneer of legitimacy on its conquest of the land and its rebellion against its own countrymen and king.



It should be remembered that Standing Rock was the site of the 1974 conference of the international indigenous movement that spread throughout the Americas and beyond, the starting point for the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The UNDRIP was resisted by the United States for three decades until its adoption by the UN in 2007. The US was one of just four nations to vote against ratification, with President Obama acknowledging the Declaration as an aspirational document without binding force under international law.



While some of the leaders of this movement are veterans of the 1970s resistance at Pine Ridge; they share the wisdom of our past elders in perceiving the moral and political symbolism of peaceful protest today is as necessary for us as was necessary for the people of Pine Ridge in the 1970s. The 71-day occupation of Wounded Knee ended with an agreement to investigate human rights and treaty abuses; that inquiry and promise were never implemented nor honored by the United States. The Wounded Knee Agreement should be honored with a Truth and Reconciliation Commission established to thoroughly examine the US governments role in the Reign of Terror on Pine Ridge in the 1970s. This project should be coordinated with the cooperation of the many international human rights organizations that have called for my immediate and unconditional release for more than four decades.



I have to caution you young people to be careful, for you are up against a very evil group of people whose only concern is to fill their pockets with even more gold and wealth. They could not care less how many of you they have to kill or bury in a prison cell. They dont care if you are a young child or an old grandmother, and you better believe they are and have been recruiting our own people to be snitches and traitors. They will look to the drunks, the addicts, and child molesters, those who prey on our old and our children; they look for the weak-minded individuals. You must remember to be very cautious about falsely accusing people based more on personal opinion than on evidence. Be smart.



I call on all my supporters and allies to join the struggle at Standing Rock in the spirit of peaceful spiritual resistance and to work together to protect Unci Maka, Grandmother Earth. I also call upon my supporters and all people who share this Earth to join together to insist that the US complies with and honors the provisions of international law as expressed in the UNDRIP, International Human Rights Treaties and the long-neglected Treaties and trust agreements with the Sioux Nation. I particularly appeal to Jill Stein and the Green Parties of the US and the world to join this struggle by calling for my release and adopting the UNDRIP as the new legal framework for relations with indigenous peoples.



Finally, I also urge my supporters to immediately and urgently call upon President Obama to grant my petition for clemency, to permit me to live my final years on the Turtle Mountain Reservation. Scholars, political grassroots leaders, humanitarians and Nobel Peace Laureates have demanded my release for more than four decades. My Clemency Petition asks President Obama to commute, or end, my prison term now in order for our nation to make progress healing its fractured relations with Native communities. By facing and addressing the injustices of the past, together we can build a better future for our children and our childrens children.



Again, my heartfelt thanks to all of you for working together to protect the water. Water is Life.



In the Spirit of Crazy Horse



Doksha,



Leonard Peltier
Official statements of Marie Harf, Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. State Department, and Federica Mogherini, High Representative for the EU Foreign Affairs, concerning non-recognition of Russian parliamentary elections' results in the Crimea make us take a fresh look at understanding of territorial problems from the parties to such conflicts.

Ukraine's claims against Russia in connection with Kiev's de facto loss of the Crimean territory and its entire infrastructure are quite understandable, but they can also be challenged with reference to so inconvenient (to use to date) Kosovo's precedent. What is involved in this case is not only a territorial dispute. It is the right of Crimean inhabitants to express their opinions freely and democratically. For Kiev and its political allies, the awkward truth is that only a few inhabitants of the Crimean Peninsula have unwished to get Russian passports. By the way, an analysis of Russian law easily shows that there are no fundamental juridical obstacles for granting of Russian citizenship to everyone, who simply would like to obtain it and have no legal problems; without even taking into account the place of residence. Almost (!) 100 percent of Crimean inhabitants wished to obtain Russian citizenship long ago. Now they have realized their intentions, and done so before Ukrainian authorities reacted, prohibiting them from having a double nationality (true, Ukrainian oligarchs may still have dual and even triple nationalities, but to all seeming it is okay for them). And there is a question, related not only to international jurisprudence, but also to just common sense. How could one fail to appreciate Russian citizens' participation in elections of deputies to their home Parliament? What if all these people went to the neighboring province of Russia with the aim to vote? Does it fit in best with international norms? There is no doubt that Kiev can believe one took not only the land, but also two and a half million its serfs, attached to that land. But what world's apologists for human rights and freedoms can associate themselves with such medieval point of view is, at least, puzzling. It is not even the notorious 'double standards'. This is just blatant persecution of Russian citizens, that's all. So what are we saying here? Let us imagine a hypothetical and highly improbable situation concerning the return of the Crimea to Ukraine. Will it lead to revival of two and a half million citizens who will be denied any rights? Or does it mean that the present-day population of the Crimea, which generational basis is linked directly to the fate of this peninsula, will be forcibly deported to Russia? Wondering whether such 'triumph of democracy' will be supported by the USA and the EU? We have to recognize: chances were that it would have happened like this.
Eckhardt Receives Emerging Nurse Leader Award

Ann Eckhardt

Sept. 23, 2016

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Illinois Wesleyan University Assistant Professor of Nursing Ann Eckhardt has been selected as a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award. Sponsored by the Illinois Nurses Foundation, the award honors 40 Illinois nurses under the age of 40 on the basis of their achievements in the profession, leadership and community and association involvement.

Eckhardt is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She earned a Ph.D. in 2012 from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Her dissertation research on fatigue as a symptom of coronary heart disease was funded by Sigma Theta Tau International and the Midwest Nursing Research Society. She has also published several journal articles on coronary artery bypass surgery and heart disease symptomatology.

Prior to joining the faculty at Illinois Wesleyan, Eckhardt served as a teaching assistant at UIC. She continues to work at Carle Foundation Hospital where she began her nursing career in 2003. Eckhardt is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Midwest Nursing Research Society, Phi Kappa Phi honor society, Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science, American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the American Heart Association.

This is the second year the Illinois Nurses Foundation has sponsored the 40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leaders Award. Illinois Wesleyan Assistant Professor of Nursing Amanda Hopkins was honored with the award last year.
In this retro series, Legit.ng examines the mysterious tradition that surrounds the burial of a Yoruba king after he dies.

The life of a Yoruba king from the period he ascends the throne to his passage to the spiritual realm is shrouded in mystery as he is not just the traditional head but the spiritual and religious leader. Thus, his rise to the position is accompanied and guided by several rites one of which is considered the process of Ije Oba (eating the king).

Ile-Ife is considered the cradle of Yorubaland and Oduduwa was its first king. Like every other Yoruba Oba, he was considered a deified human being or better, a representative of the gods on earth. Sango was the third Alaafin of Oyo and every Oyo monarch is considered his descendant. While some consider Sango as a king who was deified after he passed away, others hold the belief that he was a god who was humanised. Regardless of the belief it is widely accepted that the physical and spiritual realm is transcended by Obas and this brings to focus the issue of the unification of the souls.

READ ALSO: Buhari's first War against Indiscipline

A king does not die in Yorubaland, instead, he is transposed to the spiritual realm while the new king is put through a rite that makes him a continuation of the dead king. According to Abiyamo, the Ajes or Awon Iyami Oshoronga (the Great Mothers of the Occult) and the Ogbonis are the first to be informed following the demise of the king. Iyalashe who is the highest priestess of the Gelede shrine and the most powerful of the Ajes is saddled with the responsibility of initiating the new Oba into the cult and unify his soul so as to continue the lineage.

The role of the Ajes cannot be overemphasized as without them, a new king cannot ascend the throne. The Iyalashe cuts the heart of the dead king and gives his heart to the next king who ingests it. As other kings before him have gone through this process, the ingestion of the dead kings heart signifies the unification of the new kings soul with his predecessors.

Members of Ogboni cult

The Ogboni priests have a part in the ceremonies following the death of a king and during the installation of his successor. In Oyo they are summoned to the palace as soon as an Alaafin has died and attend while the corpse is washed, then they cut off its head and take it to clean all the flesh from the skull. A palace official removes the heart and puts it in charge of the Otun Efa, the titled eunuch responsible for the Sango cult. During his installation, the succeeding Alaafin is taken by the Otun Efa to make a sacrifice to Sango and while with him is given a dish containing the heart of his predecessor, which he must eat. Later, he is taken to the Ogboni shrine where the Oluwo hands him the skull of his predecessor, which has been filled with a corn gruel which he must drink. This rite is said to enable his ears always to discriminate between the true and the false, and to give compelling power to his words. Thus, the death of an Alaafin cannot be concealed from the Ogboni, and his successor cannot be properly installed without their acceptance and collaboration.

Honourable Alderman Erelu Ayorinde wrote a detailed account of what happened to happened to the corpse of the late king, His Royal Highness, Oba Sunday Funsho Adeolu Sataloye who was the Alaye Ode Remo of Ogun State.

He wrote: My late Kabiyesi was a distinguished Elder Statesman who like many monarchs, responded to the call of Almighty God and his ancestors through Ifa (eefah) / the Oracle of Orunmila - a spiritual ancient Yoruba method used to confirm heirs to the thrones in Yoruba Land. He wholeheartedly served his communities, state, nation, and country, yet when he joined his ancestors/died, instead of a befitting burial, the whereabouts of his remains is still unknown. What we know is that the body was brutalised, treated like that of a criminal, dragged around on the streets of the town, his head left hanging for many weeks until the neck was rotten to allow the neck to come off naturally without the use of a sharp knife. Once the head came off, the body was cut into pieces, his heart removed to be eaten by his successor. His head is still in captivity somewhere in Ode Remo, Ogun State. He has no grave.

Oba Sunday Funsho Adeolu Sataloye

We are told the Kings of of Remo-land (Ogun State, Nigeria) are not entitled to an identifiable final place of rest, so do not have graves - a tradition which is not in accordance with the practice in ILE IFE or in OYO, the historical origin and source of all Yorubas including those from Remo-land.

He also made reference to Oba Oyebade Lipede who had requested for a Christian burial but after his death, attempt by his wife to fulfil this request was thwarted.

Following the death of the immediate predecessor of current Alake of Egbaland, late HRH Oba Oyebade Lipede, who had an expressed wish for a Christian burial, his loyal and dutiful wife - Olori Bimpe placed his body in the boot of a car fled to Lagos, in order to facilitate a Christian burial rite for her late husband. Unfortunately she failed, the body was removed from her and handed to the ritualists of Egba-land

Abiyamo quoted Chief Alani Bankole, the Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland and the Oluwo of Iporo Sodeke/Iporo Ake condemned the action of the Olori and said in the past, her action would not have been possible.

He said: In the days of old, nobody would dare make such move. Traditionally, as soon as an Oba joins his ancestors, his family ceases to have control. So, the Olori or family, does not have the authority to go near his remains, let alone take them away. The impasse was resolved when the kingmakers found the Obas remains in one of the rooms in the palace, but that was not without a thorough search. If such thing occurred, I would not blame the Olori or whoever was involved in such abomination because, as it is popularly said, if you give a hoe to a mad person, he will till the soil to his side. I think that, we, kingmakers, should take full responsibility for all the drama that happened. I make this statement on the grounds that we should have been more proactive in our responsibility for all the drama that happened. Ideally, the moment we begin to sense that the health of an Alake is deteriorating, all the occupants of the palace are supposed to be sent packing and the palace taken over by the Omo-Iya-Marun.

READ ALSO: Philip Effiong, the Biafra hero who has been forgotten

Perhaps, I should state here that the palace does not belong to the Alake because it is actually owned by the entire sons and daughters of Egbaland and kept under the care of the Omo-Iya-Marun. Aside the fact that we did not act according to the dictates of our culture and tradition, most of us arrived the palace late. So we provided the grounds for those traditionally ignorant individuals to violate the tradition or, mildly put, make attempts to do the unexpected. In the process of searching for the remains of the Oba, we were shuttling between the palace and the Government House for consultation because the Alake is not an ordinary Oba.

A lot of the things that happen between the death of a Yoruba king and the installation of another are shrouded in mystery any fully known to members of the cult. However, there is a an attempt to establish a link between the departed and the continuer, the past and the present, the old and the new, the dead spiritual and the physical ream and the continuation of royal lineage.

Thus many kings are buried in unmarked graves or guarded tombs with vital parts of their bodies removed to serve as a royal link.

Source: Legit.ng
The selling off of Nigeria's national assets has been in many discussions over the past few days with many arguing in favor and others arguing against the idea.

The chairman of the Dangote group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is one of the voices in support of the selling of some of the national assets to tackle the recession, especially Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

He said: The only way for us to get out of this recession is to make sure we move into action quickly; by diversifying the economy quickly.

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 organisation.

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.

READ ALSO: Dont mind Dangote, we cant sell NLNG  Shettima Gana tells Buhari

While, popular lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), is against the sale for reasons he pointed out, he said:

"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 nations wealth in the hands of a few people or a group.

"Indeed, by section 44 of the Constitution the nations natural resources shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people by the federal government."

However if the president is going to consider selling some national assets to help salvage the economy, there are some things he must never sell:

3. NLNG

The sale of NLNG might lead to loss of jobs

According to Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the sale of NLNG is not the best option:

"It is the considered view of the Commission that Nigerias assets like NLNG and other strategic national resources should not be sold to meet short-term financial obligation."

NLNG is one of Nigeria's biggest oil companies, employing a large workforce of Nigerians. Like Femi Falana rightly pointed out, most buyers engage in asset-stripping, the sale of NLNG will definitely result in loss of jobs and the placing of one of Nigeria's prime assets in private hands who may not have the same goals.

2. Refineries

The sale of refineries might lead to increase in fuel price

The refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna are among the national assets the President is asked to consider selling. This however might be a bad idea because, the loss of thousand of jobs that might be an unintended consequence.

The sale of refineries might also lead to an increase in fuel price. Given the current state of the Nigerian economy, a hike in fuel price is the last thing the country needs.

Speaking on the proposed sale, NLC made the following statement:

"A sensible nation does not go on chest-thumping trying to sell its cash-cows or its performing assets in times of difficulties.

"These assets guarantees the nations present and future as it provides the much needed resources to continue running the nation. In Nigeria, we seem to have perfected the act of the absurd putting common sense and logic on its head all the time to our eternal detriment."

READ ALSO: Recession: Federal government to sell 6 of its famous assets [LIST]

1. NNPC

Privatization of NNPC is viewed as a bad idea by NLC

Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is another of the nation's assets that the president is being encouraged to sell. However this might be a bad idea because privatization exercises have not had a good success rate in Nigeria.

Speaking through the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Joe Ajaero, warned that any attempt to sell the assets would be resisted as previous privatization exercises only made few privileged individuals to appropriate national assets to the detriment of the general masses.

We assert that this call is contemptuous of the Nigerian nation and its suffering masses. To seek to sell our remaining national patrimony is to say the least an attempt to mortgage our collective future in favour of a few economic cannibals and Buccaneers who unconscionably have commandeered the Nigerian state and its levers of power with the hope of using it to hijack our national patrimony," they said.

Source: Legit.ng
Legit.ng is #1 online trusted source of the latest news in Nigeria. We are covering Nigeria news, Niger delta, world updates, and Nigerian newspaper reviews. We guide our readers to the world of politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion, lifestyle and human interest stories.
Several centuries ago, a noted reformer, Dean Jonathan Swift, wrote a state paper titled A Modest Proposal, full of sound wisdom and sage advice for the salvation of Ireland. As we have seen, his counsel was both useful and serious.

The fatal shooting of Keith Scott by the police in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the subsequent refusal of Mecklenberg PD Chief Putney to release the dash-cam video troubles us all. Naturally, because such a video could only annoy the citizens of the Republic, Putney, thinking only of our feelings, has declined to show us what happened to Mr. Scott.

The examples of Dean Swift and Chief Putney inspire me. Full of humble duty to my country, and in the same mode as the profound thinkers of our commonwealthWonkette, Bill Kristol, Jonah GoldbergI have put together some petty but helpful thoughts towards the redemption of our blessed Republic.

I realize that in the great light of such admirable philosophers such as David French, my small taper may not amount to much, but if nothing else, my argument may serve to make their dazzling gifts shine all the brighter by comparison. Much as it pains me to step away from my habit of hymn-makingchief source of all my fameI shall do so.

Reformers are upset by the killing of Mr. Scott, one of a series of state-sanctioned shootings that has gone on before and will continue afterwards. Although it shocks me to report this, not everybody in our shining city agrees on this issue.

Critics responded that the officer in question and Putney were both African-American, thinking this refuted the argument, perhaps not realizing that racism in America is systemic. Old people reply that reformers are an insensitive lot  can liberals not see that this is one of our precious traditions, the oppression and degradation of millions of our fellow human beings?

For the self-esteem of many white Americans is built upon this pillar. It seems that opponents of Black Lives Matter contradict themselves. They tell us all that the black men in question came from a broken culture, and then they declare that racial oppression is now over.

Although these two statements may seem in oppositioneven, to use a snarl world, illogicalI ask you, of what use is white privilege unless whites are privileged to embrace contradiction?

Indeed, contradiction is the sweetest prize of white supremacy. Even when an African-American millionaire gets on his knees, old white people whine about it, even though keeping Black people on their knees is what they would prefer.

I am told, by the great geniuses of our national media, that the truth always lies in the middle. For example, some people say the earth is round. Others suggest it is flat. Ergo, it must be a curved sheet.

Much in the same manner, since our traditional values of armed paranoia cannot be challenged, how might we find a path out of this mess? Friends, I have found a way.

Since the media and mainstream opinion are terrified of confronting white privilege and systemic racism, I suggest the government arm the African-American community with small thermonuclear devices. These can be carried in their vehicles.

As of 2016, the United States held an estimated 4,500 warheads. There are 42,020,743 African-American citizens. According to Wikipedia, the smallest nuclear device ever produced by the U.S. was:

The W54, which was used in both the Davy Crockett 120 mm recoilless rifle-launched warhead and the backpack-carried version called the Mk-54 SADM (Special Atomic Demolition Munition). The bare warhead package was an 11 in by 16 in (28 cm by 41 cm) cylinder that weighed 51 lbs (23 kg). It was, however, small enough to fit in a footlocker-sized container.

Fifty-one pounds is quite a lot of weight. However, I am told by Graham Allison that as little as 35 pounds of uranium-235 or nine pounds of plutonium-239 is required to make a working nuclear bomb. Moreover, the same source explains that

There are about 40 states with approximately 2,070 tons of weapons-usable fissile material, enough to make more than 130,000 nuclear weapons.

If we dismantle the current ICBMs, and develop all of our fissile material, we will have 134,500 warheads. Spread between 42 million people, that is roughly equivalent to one bomb for every 323 African-Americans in this country.

How shall these warheads be distributed? Eighty-three percent of African-Americans are religiously affiliated. The church has long been recognized as the center of Black American life. There are 69,738 African-American churches in the United States. Two warheads, given to every church, works out to 139,476 weapons. Including the current nuclear stockpile, we will be roughly 5000 warheads short, but some of the smaller centers of worship will only receive one.

We shall give portable nukes to the African-American churches of these United States. They, in turn, will distribute, by lottery, the warheads. This will change every week, achieving a random distribution. That means every single time an African-American driver is pulled over, there is approximately a one in three hundred chance that they will have unimaginable destructive power in their trunk, or in the back seat.

Chris Rock put it well:

If you saw Tina Turner and Ike having a lovely breakfast over there, would you say their relationships improved? Some people would. But a smart person would go, Oh, he stopped punching her in the face. Its not up to her. Ike and Tina Turners relationship has nothing to do with Tina Turner. Nothing. It just doesnt. The question is, you know, my kids are smart, educated, beautiful, polite children. There have been smart, educated, beautiful, polite black children for hundreds of years. The advantage that my children have is that my children are encountering the nicest white people that America has ever produced. Lets hope America keeps producing nicer white people.

Perhaps America will not produce nicer white people. What is the quickest way to get Ike to stop punching Tina in the face? Give Tina the power to end the world.

I can state with full confidence this plan of action is certain to make all Americans happy.

If the police are going to presume guns anyway, why not give African-Americans the edge? The police will see their assumptions confirmed, always deeply gratifying.

Consider all of the thoughtful people on Facebook who are only mourning the destruction of property during these riots. If property is the only thing they respect, will they not come to think better of their fellow citizens who now have the ultimate property destruction devicethe full brunt of nuclear powerbehind their backs?

Consider every sell-out, like Cosby and Ben Carson, who claim that Black Americans need to pull up their pants and take responsibility. What is a greater responsibility than the nuclear button?

Consider America as a whole, and our responsibility to African-Americans. We broke our promise of equality in the Declaration. We freed slaves, and delivered them into sharecropping. We promised Reconstruction, and constructed nothing. We claimed fair play, and delivered the minstrel show. We desegregated, but not really. We put a million Black men in prison. Again, and again, and again, we have broken our word.

But there is a way out of our shame. Since we have not delivered forty acres and a mule, or reparations, or even the basic, ground-level requirements of citizenshipthe state protects your lifelet us, as the right-wingers say, give a hand-up rather than a hand-out. And what hand is higher than nuclear power? We will make up for our centuries of crime in one single gesture.

Ladies and gentlemen, we can divide our nuclear arsenal today. It is the only reasonable response, especially since we are apparently unwilling to consider any others. If America continues to see every black person as a dangerous criminal, and refuses to do otherwise, why not, as Sheryl Sandberg said, lean in?

These shootings will only stop when America confronts white supremacy or delivers world-ending devices, and since the latter is much more likely than the former, let us make Black America a nuclear power.
You wont get a buzz from this craft beer news roundup but what about from your beer? Cannabis-infused beer comes to Colorado while people just say no to pumpkin beers. Rwanda looks to jump on the craft beer bandwagon and in New Mexico and Michigan theyre brooding about proposed alcohol tax increases.

Aurora, Coloroado-based brewery Dad and Dudes Breweria will debut the first federally approved cannabis-infused beer (canna-beer?) at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival. The beer, General Washingtons Secret Stash, contains 0% THC and will not get you stoned. Instead, it contains high levels of non-psychoactive cannabinoids and was brewed to challenge, the status quo that has unfairly demonized cannabis, according to the brewerys Kickstarter page. Having been approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the beer can be packaged and distributed to all 50 states.

A proposal submitted by the candidly named Alcohol Taxes Save Lives and Money group in New Mexico asks lawmakers to raise the alcohol excise tax by roughly $0.25 per drink. If enacted, the increase would give the state the highest alcohol excise tax in the country, more than 2 times the second-highest (Tennessee). The Albuquerque Journal calculates that a brewery currently selling 4,000 barrels would see taxes increase prohibitively from $9,920 to $341,000. Local breweries were understandably peeved by the proposal, with La Cumbre Brewing Co. founder and president, Jeffrey S. Erway, calling it, exorbitant and neo-prohibitionist, in an op-ed.

Similarly in Michigan, a proposed excise hike looks to up the current tax from $6.30 to $21.70 per barrel in an attempt to increase funding for alcohol treatment and rehabilitation services. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has labeled the proposal, a bad idea from a lame duck lawmaker; the lame duck lawmaker in this case being third-term State Rep. Tom Hooker. If passed, consumers could face the prospect of paying $2 more per six-pack. But, dont start relocating yet, Michigan craft beer fans. The legislation currently has zero co-signers and its doubtful that it would come before the House of Regulatory Reform Committee before years end.

Seeing less pumpkin beers on the shelves this year? Its a sign of changing tastes and blowback from an oversaturated market. Forbes reports that normally pumpkin-friendly purveyors like Harpoon Brewery, Southern Tier Brewing and Shipyard Brewing brewed fewer barrels this year and Samuel Adams  whose pumpkin beer typically hits the shelves around the Fourth of July  rolled out only one pumpkin offering this year. The consumer trend, according to Brewers Association economist, Bart Watson, is toward other fall-friendly brews such as specialty releases and stouts. For fans of jack-o-lantern infused beers that dont mind drinking them out of season, this means deep discounts on previously sought after selections as winter progresses.

Successful Rwandan restaurateur, Josephine Uwineza, is hoping to open the first woman-owned craft brewery in her homeland with the help of Ontarios Beaus All Natural Brewing Co. Beaus will, be providing financing, expertise, and hands-on employee training to the start-up brewery, according to a Kickstarter project this week and British Columbia-based Newlands Systems Inc. has pledged an entire brewhouse to the endeavor. Next up, the Rwanda Craft Brewery Project is looking to raise $95,000 for a bottling line.
Tulsa PD officer Betty Shelby has been charged with first-degree manslaughter over the shooting of Terence Crutcher, a 40-year old black man from Oklahoma.

Crutcher was standing next to his broken down car in Tulsa last week, and was fatally shot by Shelby while peacefully co-operating.

The officer claims he didnt follow commands, and says she opened fire because Crutcher began to reach into his car window.

Aerial and dashcam footage shows the man peacefully walking away with his hands clearly in the air and leaning on his vehicle as commanded.

During a press conference, Crutchers family provided an enlarged image of the SUV; you can see what looks like a trickle of blood running down the window and side of the car, which the family says proves the window was rolled up.

This is the press conference:

Police have confirmed there was no gun on Crutchers person, or inside the car.

Shelbys lawyer has told press that his client believed Crutcher was on the synthetic drug PCP. Police confirmed a small vial was found inside the car, but autopsy results have not been released to confirm if he had been under the influence at the time.

District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said a warrant has been issued for Shelbys arrest, and arrangements were being made with her lawyer for her surrender.

Although she is charged, she is presumed innocent until a judge or jury determines otherwise. I dont know why things happen in this world the way they do. We need to pray for wisdom and guidance.

The US Justice Department has opened a separate case in order to determine if Crutchers civil rights were violated.

If found guilty, Shelby faces a minimum of four years in prison. In the meantime, she has been placed on administrative leave with pay.

Source: BBC.

Photo: Police Handout / Crutcher Family.
RMI Corporation is excited to unveil their brand new release at the National Trailer Dealers Association's 26th annual convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

A365 Trailer Square - small

Contact

RMI Corporation

***@rmiusa.com

800-252-5011 RMI Corporation800-252-5011

End

-- "We can't wait to show ADVANTAGE 365 to the trailer industry." said Vice President, David G. Richards, referring to RMI's planned attendance at the NTDA's annual trade show. On October 12-14th, RMI will be presenting their premier business solution, ADVANTAGE 365, at the 26th annual NTDA Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.Just this past season, RMI released a brand new version of their end-to-end software solution, previously known as ADVANTAGE. This new release, now called ADVANTAGE 365, will be making its trailer industry debut at this year's show.It is more mobile and inclusive than ever before. Proudly built on Office 365 and updated with a new user interface, this system is a must-see. Adam Siegle, Senior Product Specialist at RMI, says that this "new version of ADVANTAGE does an incredible job of putting the most relevant information into the user's hands, allowing them to work faster and smarter."Despite the numerous changes that came with ADVANTGE 365's release, RMI's mantra and belief in revolutionizing software remains consistent: No license fees. No professional services fees. No upgrade fees. No maintenance fees. No worries!Attendees will get to see RMI's new system in action at the NTDA, Table 57.
By: Panhandle Import Reduction Initiative

Contact

Dr. Daniel Fine

***@nmt.edu Dr. Daniel Fine

End

-- Mr. Drangmeister of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association is invited to debate us (Panhandle Import Reduction Initiative) on OPEC , free trade and the price war against in the American Southwest. Apparently, he missed our presentation at the Independent Producers Association of New Mexico (IPANM) Convention recently in Santa Fe. This OP-ED is a response to his comments in a news article in this newspaper by Maddy HaydenIt is not too late for him to learn that as a communications officer in an oil and gas trade association he should support an open forum of all ideas and proposals for the permanent prosperity of the industry, oil and gas communities and workers along with their families.We can explain to him that "sticking to the principles of free trade" not only puts the interest of oil exploration and production in New Mexico and the Southwest in utopia (nowhere) but it asks a question: free trade with who? OPEC determines our price of oil as a cartel. A cartel itself is a rejection of the principles of free trade. For the last 43 years the world price oil has nothing do with free trade of free markets.Another policy tool to defend New Mexico and Texas oil and gas against a OPEC price war for market share to slow or shut it down is the reduction of its exports to the United States. Mr. Drangmeister misleads himself: import quotas do not "stop" or ban imports -- they offer a measure of control in the interest of a "healthy" American petroleum industry and national security.We ask : why are we buying Saudi Arabian light oil which is the same grade of oil we produce while thousands are out of work and drilling rigs are idle here?Mr. Drangmeister has no answer but his belief in"free trade." However, we can inform him through petroleum economics and history that the ability to export oil does not conflict with the industry's second policy tool of control of the volume of imported oil.This appears to be his telling point as an opinion. We will offer analysis to him on how to sort this out. At the same time, having lifted the ban on exporting oil does the industry stop at the water's edge with nothing more to defend itself from more downturns? He should look at his opposition: when the environmental organizations won a "historic' and "lasting" agreement with the chemical industry, they signed off saying "it is a step in the right direction and there is more work to be done." Ditto: oil industry on the lifting the ban on exporting.Dr. Daniel Fine, speaker at the September 27th conference in Carlsbad at the Pecos River Village Center.(Mr. Drangmeister's full comments referred to in the OP-ED by Dr. Daniel Fine can be found here-> http://www.currentargus.com// panhandle-initiativ/ 90... http://www.currentargus.com/% E2%80%A6/panhandle- initiativ... )"
By: National Marine Life Center

Contact

Kathy Zagzebski

***@nmlc.org Kathy Zagzebski

End

-- The National Marine Life Center (NMLC) in Buzzards Bay has been awarded a $69,361 thousand dollar grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program.Executive Director Kathy Zagzebski made the announcement after she and the staff returned from a marine animal stranding conference in West Virginia."Our grant allows us to purchase a digital x-ray processor as well as support marine mammal rehabilitation supplies, medication, and professional staffing", Zagzebski said. "This allows us to improve both the clinical diagnosis and treatment of each individual animal as well as the scientific information learned from each case."NMLC is the only seal rehabilitation center located along the eastern seaboard between Massachusetts and the Canadian border.Kate Shaffer, Director of Marine Animal Rehabilitation, stated that "Marine mammals are sentinels of the ocean ecosystem. What we learn from them can help us understand more about what's going on in the ocean ecosystem upon which we all depend."The Center has been rehabilitating turtles and seals, conducting educational programs for students, and contributing to the database of information on these marine animals for over a decade.Through the http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/health/prescott ), this year NOAA awarded 32 grants to nonprofit organizations, aquariums, universities, and coastal state, local and tribal governments that are members of theZagzebski expressed her gratitude to NOAA and the John H. Prescott Rescue Assistance Grant Program for this award. "We are especially grateful to Representative Bill Keating as well as Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey for supporting the Prescott grant program and the critical marine science and environmental services it supports in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts", she stated.
Le Basour, the Italian rock band, after it's succes in Ukraine and Belarus, will now land in Russia!

Le Basour, concerto

End

-- Le Basour is an Italian Electro Rock band, founded in Treviso by Allen Plaze (vocals, guitar, sound synthesizer), Skylle Mora (bass), Marnia Boll (drums, percussion) and Knk (guitar).Always attentive to new means of communication, they have a strong relevance in social networks, especially on Facebook and YouTube. Their song Pray to Stay has already been broadcast by more then 60 radio (Virgin Radio, Caterpillar from Radio Rai 2..), Repubblica.it and chosen as the Video of the Week by Italy Rock Tv.You might think: "One of the many bands that rock's in Italy..."It's not actually difficult to explain how they achieved an incredible success both in Ukraine and Belarus and who are about to get in Russia.After they conquered the public as the main support of Three Days Grace and Thousand Foot Krutch, they nailed the stage with a huge crowd on the Ukrainian National Festival, are now preparing to replicate such succes in Russia as a direct support of the canadian band The Birthday Massacre in two important shows: on September 26 in Club Zal (Saint Petersburg) and September 28 in Yota Space (Moscow)."Everything still seems unreal..." said Allen, "...since I was a little boy I used to sing imagining an enchanted crowd and that dream has now come true.""Our music like, people are involved, they sing our songs and we do our best to involve them and convey them our energy".LE BASOURhttps://www.facebook.com/lebasourhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOJvojm4ExxsRuQyxMS8z8g
The Text Blast platform is helping SMEs across the United Kingdom to target mobile marketing campaigns to customers across the globe and boost their profits.

By: Text Blast

Media Contact

Mr. Swadhin Dikpati

***@textblast.co.uk

0121 285 9672 Mr. Swadhin Dikpati0121 285 9672

End

--: An SMS marketing company based in Birmingham, UK, Text Blast has become one of the most preferred SMS marketing services provider for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Most of these companies make use of SMS marketing for the announcement of new services and products, to attract leads and customers.Text Blast also offers business-centric features such as getting instant replies, designating opt-out keywords, scheduling SMS and creating multiple marketing lists. Companies, especially small businesses, which attempt to reach target audience through SMS, find the services of Text Blast to be useful.The company has designed a number of features to assist businesses to attain their marketing goals. SMEs can use its gateway firms to send bulk messages instantly. Text Blast is continuously evolving itself as per the requirements of the market. It has a team consisting of highly skilled experts and professionals who design solutions that can increase company profitability and revenues multiple times.Text Blast is getting a lot of acclaim from SME clients as well as big businesses due to the ability to send bulk SMS without any setup expenses. It has intuitive software that can let business owners engage customers, track them and market products and services to them at low expenses.The company is also an expert at CRM software-integration, for engaging customers and improving the flow of information. Text Blast is always trying to find ways that can update and enhance its platform, and load it with more features. It has kept its rates reasonable, keeping the budget of SMEs in consideration.The ability to use the Text Blast proprietary platform is very easy. It has user-friendly platform and services for businesses, which can be operated by even people without any technical knowhow. SMEs find it easy to use the platform and operate it for the growth of their business for everything from appointment reminders, sending bulk promotional messages, receiving replies, scheduling short messages and more.Text Blast is an SMS marketing company that helps small and medium sized enterprises in the United Kingdom and across the world to send SMS to customers. The company provides affordable mobile marketing services and even offers custom solutions to help businesses raise response rates.For further information and enquiries, you can visit http://textblast.co.uk/ Mr. Swadhin DikpatiLanchester House, Montgomery Street, Birmingham, B11 1DTPhone no: 0121 285 9672Email id: help@textblast.co.uk
Viddyad Founder, Grainne Barron, takes grand prize at L'Oreal's global 'Women in Digital' competition - joining the ranks of past winners who have raised over $250m in funding.

Contact

Viddyad

Padraig O'Shea

***@viddyad.com

+353876661712 ViddyadPadraig O'Shea+353876661712

End

-- NEW YORK - L'Oreal has announced the winner of The L'Oreal Women in Digital Award 2016. Grainne Barron, CEO, and Founder of Viddyad pioneered technology in automated video ad creation and real-time distribution. Barron is recognized with the Women in Digital Award for her technological innovation and vision. Barron joins the ranks of past Women in Digital Winners such as Victoria Eisner, Co-Founder of Glamsquad and Kelsey Falter, Former Founder and CEO of Poptip, which was acquired by Palantir in 2014 and who themselves have raised US$2 billion. Past Women in Digital winners have raised over US$300 million in funding.Barron was one of three finalists invited to present at L'Oreal's Inspiration Day on Sept. 16 in front of more than 500 L'Oreal Senior Marketing Executive. Judges included Arianna Huffington, Founder of The Huffington Post and Frederic Roze, L'Oreal USA CEO. Other finalists were Morgan DeBaun, founder of Blavity; and Grace Woo, founder of Pixels.IO. At 5pm EST, Barron was announced as winner for 2016."The 2016 Next Generation finalists are an impressive group of women who embody the spirit of the Women in Digital program and have created innovative business solutions with the potential to revolutionize the beauty industry," announced Rachel Weiss in a L'Oreal press release. Weiss is the VP of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at L'Oreal USA."These women will enrich the community of visionary female entrepreneurs we have assembled with the ability to scale their cutting-edge ideas into transformative technologies."said Frederic Roze, L'Oreal CEO.Barron, who previously won the WEB Summit Spark of Genius Award and the PWC Most Innovative Startup award, is ready to collaborate with the L'Oreal brand on a global scale."This is a great opportunity for Viddyad. We are honored to be welcomed into the L'Oreal family and look forward to a close partnership with them," said Barron.Barron's winning company, Viddyad, is a real-time video creation & advertising platform that allows businesses to create, edit, publish and distribute their own video advertisements & branded content in minutes. Viddyad users have access to millions of video clips and images through Viddyad's partnership with Getty Images."Our underlying technology enables brands to centrally create, control and customize branded HD video content quickly and easily and dynamically push it out online to social media, digital signage and mobile in minutes," said Barron. "Video is the future of advertising, and brands need more access and control over automated video content creation in a twitter and facebook world so they're not always depending on high agency fees to make dynamic changes and innovate faster."According to eMarketer, ( http://www.emarketer.com/ Article/Digital- Ad-Spending- Surp... ) digital ad spend will surpass that of TV advertisements in 2017 for the first time ever. Next year, digital ad spend will be $77.37 billion, or 38.4% of total advertising spending."We're excited to open up the world of digital advertising to more and more businesses in the coming year. L'Oreal is our next step in reaching more global brands with our technology."Ends.Links:L'Oreal Press Contacts/Info ( http://www.lorealusa.com/ media/press- releases/2016/ sep/wo... Viddyad Website (http://www.viddyad.com/)Please LinkIn with Grainne Here. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/grainnebarron)Grainne Barron Bio (http://bit.ly/2ckHVqH)Link to Viddyad Winning Video (:30 seconds) (https://vimeo.com/183331986)Link to High Res Images (Emailed on request)Additional Media Contacts:Hadley Stecker, Brew PRHadley@brewpr.com+ 1 978 473 1754 (tel:%2B%201%20978%20473%201754)Grainne BarronViddyad CEO & Foundergrainne@viddyad.com+1 415-889-9598.
[September 22, 2016] Shanhai Capital to Acquire Analogix Semiconductor

Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. and Beijing Shanhai Capital Management Co, Ltd. (Shanhai Capital), today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which a consortium led by Shanhai Capital will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Analogix for over $500 million. China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund Co., Ltd. (China IC Fund) also joined Shanhai Capital's fund as one of the limited partners. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in late 2016. Analogix's high-speed, mixed-signal semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) for high-performance display applications are used in mobile devices, virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR), and other high-performance electronic products from leading electronics brands including Apple (News - Alert), Samsung, LG, Microsoft, Google, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus, and HTC. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and the majority of its engineering operations are located in Beijing, China. Current investors include leading venture capital firms: DCM (News - Alert) Ventures, Globespan Capital Partners, Keytone Ventures, and the Woodside Fund. "We are very happy to have reached this agreement, which provides significant value to our shareholders," said Dr. Kewei Yang, Analogix Semiconductor's chairman and CEO. "The financial support of Shanhai Capital propels our growth while maintaining the direction, organization, and determination to serve our customers. I am especially excited that we all share the same vision of building Analogix into a much broader and more capable global semiconductor leader." "We are pleased to establish our relationship with Analogix, a compny whose technology leadership is recognized by the world's leading OEMs, and we look forward to facilitating Analogix's continued growth," said Mr. Xianfeng Zhao, Chairman of Beijing Shanhai Capital Management Co, Ltd. "With the added investment, we can leverage the strength of the company's core technology and business expertise, extend our business into adjacent high-growth markets, and build a world-leading semiconductor company. We expect an IPO in China in the near future."



About Analogix Semiconductor Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. designs and manufactures semiconductors for the digital multimedia market, from portable devices such as smartphones to high-end graphics cards and large, high-definition displays. Analogix is the market leader in providing end-to-end interface connectivity semiconductor solutions for DisplayPort, including the SlimPort family of products, and an industry leader in mobile display controllers, such as low-power, high-speed timing controller solutions. The DisplayPort standard is an innovative, packetized digital interface for high-resolution video and audio that was developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). SlimPort branded products are compliant with DisplayPort, Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP), and DisplayPort Alternate Mode over the USB Type-C connector.

For more information visit www.analogix.com and www.slimport.com, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @Analogix and @SlimPortConnect, or connect with us on LinkedIn. About Beijing Shanhai Capital Management Co, Ltd. Headquartered in Beijing, China, Shanhai Capital is a pioneer buyout fund in healthcare and technology managing RMB-denominated funds. Its investment professionals have deep industry knowledge and are dedicated to a long-term investment horizon portfolio. By leveraging its resources and expertise, Shanhai Capital brings value-added services and accelerates the growth of its portfolio companies. Analogix and SlimPort are trademarks or registered trademarks of Analogix Semiconductor, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922005385/en/

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Contact

Umesh Bhatia

Sakshi Mittal

***@edelevate.com Umesh BhatiaSakshi Mittal

End

-- Today, hundreds of Indian students are aspiring to get into Ivy Leagues and Top global Universities, but sadly most of them are not aware of what exactly does it take to do so. The highly competitive and demanding regime of the Indian Education System makes them believe that all it takes is to have a perfect test score (GMAT OR GRE) to get into the Ivy Leagues. This is not true. There is a lot more than just good test scores, that's where EdElevate helps you.Having had dealt with students for over 15 years, EdElevate was incorporated to provide value based consulting for students aspiring to go to Ivy League Universities for higher education. The team comprises of education enthusiasts who are fresh and innovative in their approach and mentor students towards achieving their goal of getting into an Ivy League,Edelevate is a one stop education consultancy company in Delhi. We offer personalised admission consulting, training and online psychometric tests for the ones seeking admission abroad, especially in countries such as United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and France.As one of the top overseas education consultants in Delhi, Edelevate is the apt platform for the ones looking for admissions in Undergraduate (UG), Master's in Business Administration (MBA), Master's of Science (degree), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and more.We conduct a wide range of in depth Psychometric tests which helps students discover their own potential and area of interest. When their goals and ideas are clear and unambiguous, making decisions becomes easier. Edelevate understands that without caring there can be no quality. So we endeavor to provide our students with superior quality of information, guidance the required impetus.Our students have gained admission in some of the esteemed universities such as : Harvard Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) University of California at Berkeley UCLA Stanford University Carnegie Mellon University London School of Economics University of Melbourne University of Toronto HEC Paris University College DublinTo know more visit our website : www.edelevate.com or call 9899101239
By: USS Missouri

Contact

Sabrina K. Carpenter

***@gmail.com Sabrina K. Carpenter

End

-- I came to visit Hawaii by invitation and to attend the 71st Anniversary of the end of World War II aboard the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor. My writing career has taken me many places and afforded me many opportunities but this, by far, was the most memorable. It was historic in my list of life experiences.Art Albert, WWII, Korean and Vietnam War veteran, served aboard the USS Missouri from 1944-1947 and was in attendance on September 2, 1945, the day the Japanese came aboard and signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, subsequently ending World War II. He has attended the anniversary ceremony every year since the Missouri came to Pearl Harbor 17 years ago. This year, he was one of two of the original members of the Missouri from that date, in attendance.Over the years, there have been countless articles written about Art and his experiences, and he is a well-known and highly-respected "regular" to the area. From a writer's perspective, I wondered how I could create an article about such an incredible man and prolific moment in our country's history, without re-iterating what every other publication has contributed.When I began writing this, I fully intended to focus on Art's stories aboard the Missouri as a young man. But, in corresponding with Neil Yamamoto, School Programs Coordinator aboard the ship, about his thoughts and experiences with Art, it became clear the direction I felt was most important to cover. Art Albert, the man."I think the most important thing that people need to know about Art, and the men of his generation, is that they are ordinary men who accomplished extraordinary things," Neil expressed.Art's smile is infectious and his passion for sharing his stories is humbling. He possesses a zest for life often missing in many people these days. His sweet demeanor and warm hugs were comforting and I swear the man has never met a stranger in his life.He tells stories of his experiences on the Missouri (or "home" as he calls it) and you're instantly drawn into a world that seems almost surreal, especially if you've never been privy to the reality of war.In my short week and a half of interacting with Art, there were so many LIFE stories that tugged at my heartstrings. His step-son, Shane Johnson, told me that since he was a little boy, Art would always hand him a peppermint candy in church. Something so simple, but a tradition that has lasted decades and still makes them both smile.While in Hawaii, I attended Art's church and sure enough, about 15 minutes in, he leans over and hands Shane a couple of peppermint candies with a huge grin on his face. Two men, ages 89 and 44, shared one of the sweetest moments I've witnessed in quite some time.You see, Art's service to our country in the Navy was just the beginning of the many contributions he bestows upon others."I've now known Art for 9 years, and I look forward to seeing him every year, and hearing how he's doing, and how his grandchildren are doing. They've become family to me, and that is the greatest gift he's ever given me," Neil shared with me.At 89 years young, Art walks around with an obvious limp, but one that does not limit him when he is determined to do something. While it was an injury that was the result of a kamikaze plane hitting the side of the USS Missouri in 1945, and subsequently resulted in over a dozen surgeries, Art maintains a level of positivity and reflection of his experiences that is inspiring.Neil Yamamoto confirmed, "Art may be 89 years old, but when he comes aboard, he changes back into that spry 17 year old sailor he was back in 1944. He's a hero. In my eyes, he's larger than life."Art is a dedicated family-man, a genuinely amazing human being and especially among all the chaos in our society, is a breath of fresh air. I was fortunate to experience the actual man behind the stories; he is so much more than just the Art of war.
By: Patriot Angels

Patriot Angels 2016 Care Package Drive

Contact

Popular Press Media Group (PPMG)

***@ppmg.info Popular Press Media Group (PPMG)

End

-- Patriot Angels will be hosting their 6Annual Military Care Package Drive Saturday September 24, 2016 at the USS Iowa, 250 S Harbor Blvd, San Pedro, CA 90731 from 11am to 3pm.Patriot Angels was started to support deployed military troops by packing and shipping boxes monthly of necessities, food, snacks, goodies, along with letters, magazines, newspapers and a few comforts from home.The annual care package drive is a free event and open to all to celebrate service men and women as well as give thanks to donators who come by to drop off a care package. It is a day of good food, music, face painting featuring special VIP guests; MC and Guest of Honor Purple Heart Recipient Jack Pharris, CA Senator Isadore Hall III, Assembly member Mike Gipson, Annette McDonald & Ivan Sulic from Congresswoman Janice Hahn's office and Manny Lopez, Veteran Affairs Manager from Mayor Eric Garcetti's Office and musical guests include; DJ Fonzo, Rachele Royale and Tres Hombres.The event will feature different fun activity stations where supporters can actually box up their donation, or drop off their donation, and a letter writing station for anyone who wants to write a letter to a deployed soldier can do so. Patriot Angels goal is to include a letter or two in each package.Often troops find themselves in remote locations with little or no room for much more than their equipment. Even a place to buy some of basic everyday things is not possible to many troops in the field. At times soldiers are not able to take a shower for weeks at a time, or they are not at a place where they can prepare a full meal or have access to personal comforts.PatriotAngels.org suggests the follow items for care packages; Baby Wipes Foot Powder Sunblock Deodorant Dental Floss Toothbrushes Disposable Multi-Blade Razors Insect Repellent Lip Balm Dry Eye Moisture Drops White Crew Socks Travel-Size Toiletries Shaving Cream Liquid Soap Unscented Lotions Tissues Body Wash Coffee Drink Mixes Creamers Ground Coffee Bottled Water Beef Jerky Lunch Size Cookies Fruit Cups Pudding Cups Tuna Lunch Kits Pop-Top Canned Ready-to-Eat Meals Cheese / Bean Dips Salsa Nuts Seeds Mints Dried Fruit Trail Mix Pop Tarts Cereal Bars Granola Bars Hard Candy Canned Chips Popcorn Gum Hard Candy Seasoned Salts Hot Sauce Small Puzzle Books Cards Hacky sacks Playing Cards Dice DominoesDonators are asked that items be in non-aerosol containers and non-pump style dispensers, Glass containers are not permitted, and instant beverages and sweeteners should be single servings or instant single servings.For more information please visit www.PatriotAngels.org Be Connected: https://www.facebook.com/ PatriotAngelsLA For Media interviews please email PatriotAngeles@ppmg.info
By: Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida

Donald C. Fletcher, M.D.

Contact

Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C.

***@susanbennett.biz Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C.

End

-- Dr. Donald C. Fletcher of Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida has been honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Alberta Alumni Association in Canada.Dr. Fletcher, who is the director of the Low Vision Rehabilitation Center at Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida, was selected because of his work with low-vision patients and as an advocate for inclusive membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments of living University of Alberta alumni who have earned national or international prominence as a result of their professional achievements and service to society.The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) considers Dr. Fletcher to be one of the world's leading authorities on low vision rehabilitation and has awarded him one of its highest honors, the Secretariat Award, for his volunteer service helping others learn techniques to live with low vision.Dr. Fletcher has worked with more than 25,000 patients to help them see their best with technologies that he has helped to develop. He also has helped establish low vision rehabilitation clinics in the Philippines, Zimbabwe, China and North and South America.He said one of his proudest contributions was to incorporate a team approach that included occupational therapists in low-vision care. It took him 15 years to get blanket approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to include rehabilitation with vision improvement.Dr. Fletcher routinely sees patients who have given up on life. Yet, after a few months of rehabilitation, they are doing things they had thought were impossible. For example, a woman who had stopped cooking prepared Thanksgiving dinner for 25 family members. Some patients also are able to move out of nursing homes.Dr. Fletcher launched the Low Vision Rehabilitation Center at Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida in 1994 and is a Senior Clinical Research Scientist at the National Ophthalmic Research Institute (NORI), the Director of the Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation at the California Pacific Medical Center, and is the past Helen Keller Research Chair at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.Dr. Fletcher also is the past chairman of the AAO's Low Vision Committee and recipient of its 1995 Honor Award for outstanding contributions to ophthalmology.Dr. Fletcher received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Alberta (Canada) and completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University Hospital in Saskatchewan, Canada. After residency, he completed fellowships at Presbyterian Medical Center in Denver, Colo., and Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, Calif.is the most experienced team of retina specialists in Southwest Florida with combined experience of more than 125 years. Offices are conveniently located in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Naples and Port Charlotte.Doctors with Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida are Fellows of the American College of Surgeons, members of the American Society of Retina Specialists, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association.Retina Consultants of Southwest Florida offers all FDA-approved therapies for retina eye disease and is a leader in clinical research through the National Ophthalmic Research Institute (NORI), including clinical trials funded by the National Eye Institute and other public and private medical research foundations. For more information, visit http://eye.md
A dance party Riddim that will keep the summer going every where worldwide not just in the Caribbean.

Rich Prince TMZ-Summer Vibes Feat. Young Don & Young Kimekal

Contact

GI Records LLC

Andrew Knibbs

girecordmusicpromtion@ gmail.com

7656062548 GI Records LLCAndrew Knibbs7656062548

End

-- Raggae music lovers worldwide are in for a treat from a young man with articulate musical skills. Rich Prince has a way with bringing out the party vibes in people every where he goes, even if you think you are too nice to get jiggy with it, let Rich Prince be the one to make you pop.Summer is about to come to a close very soon for the rest of the world, but not so for this musical dance hall Prince of Reggae Music, and for his Jamaican people. For Rich Prince and his reggae music fans, Summer is a state of mind, and when you write Summer Club Bangers like this artist, it's going to last you all year round.Rich Prince is one of several new upcoming emerging Reggae Dance Hall artist from Ocho Riois, Jamaica to recently signed a Distribution Deal with Indie Label from Muncie, Indiana; GI Records LLC. At 20 years old, Rich Prince goal is to be one of the Greatest from a line up of other greats before him. His reason for doing music is to inspire the world by writng and creating the best music that the whole world can enjoy. He hopes that other artists everywhere including his home Island of Jamaica will be inspired from his talent and release their inner artistic talent for the rest of the world to see and hear. Drawing inspiration from artists that he admires like Christ Brown, LIL Wayne, and his fellow Yardie, Vybz Kartel, Rich Prince hope that his talent for creating music for the world could eventually be considered as good, better and best.On October 3, 2016 Rich Prince will release worldwide for the first time his first Solo project, "TMZ-Summer Vibes" Feat. Young Don & Young Kemekal.This SIngle is sure to be a hot one for the Dance Halls, Strip Clubs, Bashment Parties, and every Private Parties you can think of. Be sure to download yourself a copy when it rolls out, because this is one Riddim Vibes that is going to hold you and carry you for any occasion, both young and old. Radio DJ's get ready! Magazines get ready! Blogs get ready! Every body get ready! The new Raggae Dance Hall Prince is here, Rich Prince, that is.
By: GDC IT Solutions

Mike Coons, VP Business Development, Accepts #3 Ranking at Top 50 Awards

Contact

Christopher Hann, GDC IT Solutions

***@gdcit.com Christopher Hann, GDC IT Solutions

End

-- Information Technology Service Provider, Global Data Consultants, LLC (GDC), headquartered in Chambersburg, PA, announced today it was ranked 3# in the Central Penn Business Journal Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies in Pennsylvania with a growth percentage of 152.33%."We are very honored and excited to be ranked #3 on Central Penn Business Journal's Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies List for 2016," said Michael Coons, VP of Business Development. "We are thrilled to share this recognition with our customers, partners and employees. We owe our success to our dedicated employees and to our many customers who have chosen GDC to provide technology services and solutions for their business."The Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies program identifies the region's most dynamic companies that have made significant contributions to the strength of our local economy. Nominated companies are ranked according to revenue growth over a three-year period, with both dollar and percentage increases taken into consideration. This ranking formula leads to recognition of both large and small companies. The Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies were recognized at a breakfast held on September 12, 2016 at the Hilton Harrisburg and profiled in a special publication inserted in the September 23, 2016 issue of the Central Penn Business Journal.About Central Penn Business JournalThe Central Penn Business Journal is the award-winning business newspaper of record for Central Pennsylvania, providing more information, more analysis and more advice pertinent to business than any other local media outlet. As the most widely read local business publication in Central Pennsylvania, the Journal reaches entrepreneurs, corporate directors, middle managers and CEOs. For more information, visit http://www.cpbj.com About Global Data Consultants, LLC (GDC)Headquartered in Chambersburg, PA, GDC is a leading Information Technology services provider with experienced and certified professionals delivering services in the areas of application development, networking and infrastructure, desktop support, telephony and cabling, hardware sales and deployment, 24/7 technical service desk, project management, staffing, and business process consulting. These services are provided to companies of all sizes both locally and nationally within the education, manufacturing, distribution, dealership, healthcare, insurance, retail and finance vertical markets. For more information, visit http://www.gdcITsolutions.com
By: GZA

End

-- GZA, a leading environmental and geotechnical consulting firm, proudly announces that Lawrence F. Johnsen, P.E. has been named the 2016 recipient of the Benjamin Wright Award, an honor given annually by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers Section to a Connecticut Civil Engineer who has demonstrated outstanding practice throughout his career.Johnsen, a Senior Consultant with GZA, received the award during the recent ASCE  Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers Annual Achievement in Civil Engineering Awards Dinner.In addition to the Benjamin Wright Award, Johnsen, whose experience as a civil engineer spans 40 years, also received a Life Member Award.Johnsen is a licensed Professional Engineer in 20 states and the District of Columbia. His professional affiliations include membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers; the National Society of Professional Engineers; the Connecticut Society of Professional Engineers; the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering;and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.He has authored, contributed to and edited numerous industry articles throughout his career."It is with great pride that we announce Larry Johnsen as recipient of this year's Benjamin Wright Award," said William Hadge President and CEO of GZA. "It's an honor to have Larry as a member of the GZA family and it is fitting he has been recognized for his accomplishments."Founded in 1964, GZA is a multi-disciplinary firm providing Environmental, Geotechnical, Ecological, Water, and Construction Management services. GZA maintains corporate offices at 249 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood, MA 02062. The firm has over 550 employees and operates 27 offices in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes and Appalachian Regions of the United States. For additional information, please call William Hadge, CEO at 781-278-3801 or visit the company's website at www.gza.com
Whales are the biggest animals to ever have existed on Earth, and yet some subsist on creatures the size of a paper clip. It's a relatively common factoid, but, in truth, how they do this is only just being uncovered, thanks to new technologies.

What scientists do know is that a 160-ton blue whale's method for scooping krill is a tremendous endeavor. Swimming around 4 meters per second, it opens its triple-hinged jaws and takes in a gulp equal to about 140 percent of its mass, slowing back down to filter its snack and prepare for the next one. Blue whales feed nearly continuously when prey conditions are good during the feeding season, but for biologists, the exact mechanism remains a confounding feat of gigantic proportions.

By attaching new sensor technology to whales just before they dive, researchers from Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station have captured this energetically expensive activity in more detail than ever before, which they report now in Current Biology.

Lunging for dinner

This type of feeding, called lunge feeding, is unique to rorquals, a family of baleen whales that includes blue whales, humpbacks and minke whales. Having a precise understanding of this process gives us some clues as to how these massive animals survive on such tiny prey, which in turn will help biologists develop more effective conservation efforts.

"This feeding process is facilitated by a complex suite of biomechanical and anatomical adaptations that together allow the whales to engulf a volume of water and prey that is larger than their own body," said co-author Jeremy Goldbogen, assistant professor of biology at Stanford. "For a large blue whale, this represents a volume of water and prey that is approximately the size of a large swimming pool or a school bus, and this is engulfed in a matter of seconds."

To gulp down a mouthful of krill or fish, rorquals have to time their lunge just right. The enormous intake slows them down rapidly due to the drag caused by opening their mouths and the added burden of the water they take in.

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Performing this behavior at deep depths can make it even more energetically costly.

"When these animals dive down to 300 meters, holding their breath for 12 minutes or more, they had better be sure it's worth the cost," said David Cade, lead author and PhD student in biology at Stanford. "To regain the energy lost, the prediction is that they are foraging on a pretty dense, rich resource."

New whale-top view

Sensors that record multiple facets of whale life have been around for about 15 years. Goldbogen has used them to study the reactions of blue whales to cargo ships and the lunge frequency of minke whales. These suction cup sensors can include a combination of accelerometers, magnetometers, and pressure and sound recorders.

With this equipment, researchers can tell how the whales move in three dimensions but finer details are lost. For example, in 2006 research, Goldbogen hypothesized that whales open their mouths at peak speed when lunge feeding. A competing theory later said their mouths open several seconds before the peak in speed, yet neither theory could be tested with the sensors available at the time.

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To figure out which model of feeding was more accurate, Stanford researchers worked with other whale researchers and engineers to develop a sensor package that housed miniaturized versions of typical movement technology plus new video recording capabilities. They attached these tags to whales in South Africa, Patagonia, and off the west and east coasts of the United States. The resulting video is what you would see if you were riding on the whale's back.

"Combining these two modalities is really eye-opening," said Cade. "Every time we do a deployment, we get something back that's new and interesting."

The researchers found that whales that fed on krill followed a distinct pattern of activity. As Goldbogen hypothesized, they opened their mouth at peak speed and closed it around the time they were back to normal speed. Humpbacks that fed on fish, however, varied their timing. This is likely in response to the more advanced escape abilities of fish compared to krill; the whales may be performing lunge feeding that is less energetically ideal when the trade-off is eating prey that can supply them with more energy.

Save the whales  and the fish

Effective Oct. 11, most populations of humpback whales will be removed from the endangered species list. Even accounting for that change, three of the eight species of rorquals are endangered. There is insufficient data to determine the status for three other species in this family. Any attempt to ensure the survival of these giants will require us to know much more about them, including the particulars of their mealtime activities.

"Because they operate on an energetic knife-edge, any changes in the environment related to their food supply could have profound impacts on individual and population health," said Goldbogen.

This research could also help us better determine the impact whales have on our ocean resources. Whales have previously been blamed for reduction in fish populations but, although there are estimates, we don't actually know how much a whale eats, said Cade.

These predators have played important roles in our ecosystem for millions of years, and the mass removal of them has had a poorly understood effect on ocean ecology as a whole. Learning more about rorqual feeding habits can support conservation efforts while also furthering insights into ecosystem processes that have direct effects on human fisheries. As for their part, the Hopkins researchers hope to dive deeper into whale feeding studies, including figuring out the fluid mechanics of their iconic baleen, which acts as a high-throughput filter to process the vast amounts of small prey.

Additional authors on this paper include Ari S. Friedlaender of Oregon State University and John Calambokidis of Cascadia Research Collective. The study, titled "Kinematic Diversity in Rorqual Whale Feeding Mechanisms," is published in Current Biology.
For children with speech and language disorders, early-childhood intervention can make a great difference in their later academic and social success. But many such children -- one study estimates 60 percent -- go undiagnosed until kindergarten or even later.

Researchers at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital's Institute of Health Professions hope to change that, with a computer system that can automatically screen young children for speech and language disorders and, potentially, even provide specific diagnoses.

This week, at the Interspeech conference on speech processing, the researchers reported on an initial set of experiments with their system, which yielded promising results. "We're nowhere near finished with this work," says John Guttag, the Dugald C. Jackson Professor in Electrical Engineering and senior author on the new paper. "This is sort of a preliminary study. But I think it's a pretty convincing feasibility study."

The system analyzes audio recordings of children's performances on a standardized storytelling test, in which they are presented with a series of images and an accompanying narrative, and then asked to retell the story in their own words.

"The really exciting idea here is to be able to do screening in a fully automated way using very simplistic tools," Guttag says. "You could imagine the storytelling task being totally done with a tablet or a phone. I think this opens up the possibility of low-cost screening for large numbers of children, and I think that if we could do that, it would be a great boon to society."

Subtle signals

The researchers evaluated the system's performance using a standard measure called area under the curve, which describes the tradeoff between exhaustively identifying members of a population who have a particular disorder, and limiting false positives. (Modifying the system to limit false positives generally results in limiting true positives, too.) In the medical literature, a diagnostic test with an area under the curve of about 0.7 is generally considered accurate enough to be useful; on three distinct clinically useful tasks, the researchers' system ranged between 0.74 and 0.86.

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To build the new system, Guttag and Jen Gong, a graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science and first author on the new paper, used machine learning, in which a computer searches large sets of training data for patterns that correspond to particular classifications -- in this case, diagnoses of speech and language disorders.

The training data had been amassed by Jordan Green and Tiffany Hogan, researchers at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, who were interested in developing more objective methods for assessing results of the storytelling test. "Better diagnostic tools are needed to help clinicians with their assessments," says Green, himself a speech-language pathologist. "Assessing children's speech is particularly challenging because of high levels of variation even among typically developing children. You get five clinicians in the room and you might get five different answers."

Unlike speech impediments that result from anatomical characteristics such as cleft palates, speech disorders and language disorders both have neurological bases. But, Green explains, they affect different neural pathways: Speech disorders affect the motor pathways, while language disorders affect the cognitive and linguistic pathways.

Telltale pauses

Green and Hogan had hypothesized that pauses in children's speech, as they struggled to either find a word or string together the motor controls required to produce it, were a source of useful diagnostic data. So that's what Gong and Guttag concentrated on. They identified a set of 13 acoustic features of children's speech that their machine-learning system could search, seeking patterns that correlated with particular diagnoses. These were things like the number of short and long pauses, the average length of the pauses, the variability of their length, and similar statistics on uninterrupted utterances.

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The children whose performances on the storytelling task were recorded in the data set had been classified as typically developing, as suffering from a language impairment, or as suffering from a speech impairment. The machine-learning system was trained on three different tasks: identifying any impairment, whether speech or language; identifying language impairments; and identifying speech impairments.

One obstacle the researchers had to confront was that the age range of the typically developing children in the data set was narrower than that of the children with impairments: Because impairments are comparatively rare, the researchers had to venture outside their target age range to collect data.

Gong addressed this problem using a statistical technique called residual analysis. First, she identified correlations between subjects' age and gender and the acoustic features of their speech; then, for every feature, she corrected for those correlations before feeding the data to the machine-learning algorithm.

"The need for reliable measures for screening young children at high risk for speech and language disorders has been discussed by early educators for decades," says Thomas Campbell, a professor of behavioral and brain sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas and executive director of the university's Callier Center for Communication Disorders. "The researchers' automated approach to screening provides an exciting technological advancement that could prove to be a breakthrough in speech and language screening of thousands of young children across the United States."
The copper used to make Otzi's axe blade did not come from the Alpine region as had previously been supposed, but from ore mined in southern Tuscany. Otzi was probably not involved in working the metal himself, as the high levels of arsenic and copper found in his hair had, until now, led us to assume. His murder over 5,000 years ago seems to have been brought about due to a personal conflict a few days before his demise, and the man from the ice, despite his normal weight and active life-style, suffered from extensive vascular calcification. Scientists from all over the world presented these and other new insights, at the recent International Mummy Congress in Bozen-Bolzano. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Otzi's discovery, the three days of the Congress, from 19th to 21st September, are all dedicated to the man from the ice.

Since the man from the ice came on the scene on 19th September 1991, he has not ceased to fascinate scientists from all over the world. No corpse has been more thoroughly investigated. "In terms of his significance for science, Otzi is not simply an isolated mummy discovery. He could be seen as a typical European from earlier times and is precious for this reason alone," explained the anthropologist Albert Zink from EURAC Research, the scientific leader of the congress. "Otzi is so well preserved as a glacier mummy and through this alone, he serves us researchers as a model for developing scientific methods which can then be used on other mummies," said Zink. "What concerns us most these days is to know who the man from the ice was, what role he played in society and what happened to him in the last days of his life. Sophisticated procedures, now available to scientists, are continually supplying us with new evidence," said Angelika Fleckinger, Director of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology which helped to organise the Congress.

Links to Central Italy

One surprising new fact has been unearthed which concerns the most extraordinary item amongst Otzi's equipment -- the valuable copper axe. In contrast to what had previously been presumed, the copper used in the blade does not derive from the Alpine region (researchers had suggested East or North Tyrol as the most likely provenance) but from Central Italy. Professor Gilberto Artioli's archaeometallurgy research group at the University of Padua has discovered that the metal had been obtained from ore mined in South Tuscany. In order to determine its origin, Italian scientists took a tiny sample from the blade and compared the proportion of lead isotope -- a kind of "finger print" of the ore deposits which remains unchanged in any objects subsequently made from the ore -- with the corresponding data from numerous mineral deposits in Europe and the entire Mediterranean region.

The result pointed unequivocally to South Tuscany. "No one was prepared for this finding. We will commission further analyses in order to double-check these first results" stressed Angelika Fleckinger. If the original results are confirmed, this new evidence will give researchers some interesting food for thought. Was Otzi as a trader travelling possibly as far as the area around today's Florence? What was the nature of the trading and cultural links with the south in those days? Did the exchange of goods also involve movements of the population? That is to say, did people from the south venture into the Alpine region and vice versa? "This is a particularly exciting insight especially with respect to questions about population development," explained Albert Zink.

Was he or was he not involved in smelting copper?

Another question long debated amongst the scientific community, is whether Otzi was perhaps involved himself in the process of copper smelting. Scientists have advocated this thesis because raised arsenic and copper levels have been measured in the mummy's hair, a fact which might possibly be explained, for example, by breathing in the smoke which is released when melting and pouring metal. Geochemist Wolfgang Muller of Royal Holloway, University of London, who had already used isotope analysis to establish Otzi's South Tyrol origins, has now turned to this question once more.

Using highly developed methods of analysis such as laser mass spectrometry and speciation analysis, Muller's team examined not just hairs but also samples from Otzi's nails, skin and organs for possible heavy metal contamination. His, so far still provisional, findings suggest that the hypothesis that Otzi was involved in processing metal was premature. Muller did indeed find slightly raised arsenic values in the nail sample, but not in other tissue samples. Raised copper levels were only present at the extremities and this correlates with other change indicators, and thus it is doubtful if one can establish a heavy metal contamination for Otzi's actual life time: raised values might also be due to environmental influences over the 5,000 years since his death.

Radiological investigations with the latest CT equipment

A new computer tomography (CT) scan of the man from the ice was undertaken by radiologists Paul Gostner and Patrizia Pernter in January 2013 in the Department of Radiology of Bozen-Bolzano Hospital. To do this they used a CT-scanner of the latest generation which, thanks to its large opening, allowed the doctors to run Otzi rapidly through the machine from head to toe despite the way his arm is angled. In addition to the vascular calcification in the arteries of his stomach and legs which had already been known about, the superior image allowed doctors to spot three small areas of calcification near to the outflow tracts of the heart which had hitherto escaped their notice. This substantiates the earlier finding made by molecular biologists in EURAC that Otzi had a strong genetic predisposition to cardiovascular diseases and that this was probably also the main reason for his general arteriosclerosis.

Investigations of a "profiler"

Otzi was murdered. The arrow head discovered in 2001 in his left shoulder suggests this. But what were the circumstances surrounding the crime? In 2014 the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology commissioned Chief Inspector Alexander Horn of the Munich Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the "Otzi Murder Case" using the latest criminological methods. Horn interrogated various "acquaintances" of the murder victim such as archaeologists from the museum who had been looking after Otzi for years, or experts from forensic medicine, radiology and anthropology. Members of the project team also took part in an on-site inspection of the location in Schnals where the body was found. The results of this investigation were that Otzi probably did not feel threatened shortly before his murder, because the situation at the Tisenjoch location where he was found indicates that he had been resting while enjoying a hearty meal. In the days prior to the murder he had incurred an injury to his right hand, probably as a result of defensive action during the course of a physical altercation. No further injuries could be found, and this might serve to indicate that he had not been defeated in this particular conflict. The arrow shot, which was probably fatal, seems to have been launched from a great distance and took the victim by surprise, from which we may infer that it was an act of treachery. Further medical findings suggest that the victim fell and that the perpetrator used no further violence. The perpetrator probably did not wish to risk a physical altercation, but instead chose a long distance attack to kill the man from the ice. As valuable objects such as the copper axe remained at the crime scene, theft can be excluded as the motive. The reason for the offence is more likely to be found in some sort of personal conflict situation, in a previous hostile encounter -- "a behavioural pattern which is prevalent even today in the bulk of murder crimes," as Alexander Horn explained.
[September 22, 2016] Palo Alto Networks and Singtel Team Up to Help Organizations Prevent Cyber Breaches in Asia Pacific with New Managed Security Service

SINGAPORE, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Palo Alto Networks (NYSE: PANW), the next-generation security company, and Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (Singtel) today announced availability of the Singtel Managed Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP), a unique managed security service that harnesses the expertise of Singtel Managed Security Service (MSS) and the technology of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Security Platform to protect organizations against sophisticated cyberthreats. This Singtel service aims to keep cyberthreats at bay by monitoring, isolating and preventing any suspicious applications from breaching an organization's networks or endpoint devices. In addition, the ATP's advance threat intelligence capability provides organizations with insights on cyberthreats, allowing them to take necessary security measures. This collaborative effort expands Palo Alto Networks existing activities with Singtel's managed security services business unit, Trustwave, to bring next-generation managed security services to global multi-national businesses and government agencies. The Singtel MSS provides organizations with real-time, round-the-clock managed security services through Singtel's global network of eight Security Operations Centres (SOCs). As the SOCs are integrated with Singtel Global Threat Intelligence, they are constantly updated with information from Trustwave's sensors and SpiderLabs malware research laboratory as well as Singtel's extensive network of security intelligence partners. By complementing the Singtel Global Threat Intelligence with Palo Alto Networks AutoFocus threat intelligence, Singtel MSS can provide even faster response to cyberattacks. The Managed ATP operates on the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Security Platform, comprising Next-Generation Firewall, Threat Intelligence Cloud and Advanced Endpoint Protection. This platform protects organizations by allowing safe applications to pass through networks, cloud and endpoint devices but blocks both known as well as unknown threats and suspicious applications. In Singapore/span>, the Managed ATP service is delivered through Singtel's Singapore Advanced Security Operations Centre (ASOC), which monitors advanced cyberthreats globally and helps protect organizations against sophisticated malicious cyberattacks. Singtel's cyber security expertise is bolstered by 2,000 security professionals worldwide, including its elite SpiderLabs cyber response team.



Mr. Bill Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Group Enterprise at Singtel said, "As a leading global Managed Security Services Provider, we are committed to strengthening our capabilities to protect organizations against sophisticated, evolving cyberthreats. Through our collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, we have developed an innovative cyber security service which takes a holistic and preventive approach towards cyberthreats." "Together with our Trustwave managed security service, the trained cyber security experts at our Advanced Security Operations Centre can forestall cyberattacks and use the information of any neutralized malware to update our global threat intelligence to benefit other regions. In the long run, our Managed Security Service will strengthen organizations' cyber defense and reinforce Singapore as a safe and vibrant business hub," he added.

"We are delighted to join forces with Singtel  one of Asia Pacific's most respected, progressive and leading managed security services providers  to deliver unparalleled next-generation, breach-prevention security capabilities to its customers," said Mr. Mark McLaughlin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Palo Alto Networks. "Our collaboration gives organizations the peace of mind to implement key technology initiatives within their cloud and mobile networks and maintain complete visibility and control as their most valued data assets and critical control systems will be protected." For additional information about the new service offering, visit:

http://info.singtel.com/business/sites/business/files/managed_security/Singtel%20Managed%20Advanced%20Threat%20Prevention.pdf For additional information on Palo Alto Networks AutoFocus, visit:

https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/secure-the-network/subscriptions/autofocus About Singtel Singtel is Asia's leading communications and ICT solutions group, providing a portfolio of services from next-generation communication, technology services to infotainment to both consumers and businesses. For consumers, Singtel delivers a complete and integrated suite of services, including mobile, broadband and TV. For businesses, Singtel offers a complementary array of workforce mobility solutions, data hosting, cloud, network infrastructure, analytics and cyber-security capabilities. The Group has presence in Asia, Australia and Africa and reaches over 600 million mobile customers in 23 countries. Its infrastructure and technology services for businesses span 21 countries, with more than 370 direct points of presence in 325 cities. For more information, visit www.singtel.com Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/SingtelNews About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is the next-generation security company, leading a new era in cybersecurity by safely enabling applications and preventing cyber breaches for tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. Built with an innovative approach and highly differentiated cyberthreat prevention capabilities, our game-changing security platform delivers security far superior to legacy or point products, safely enables daily business operations, and protects an organization's most valuable assets. Find out more at www.paloaltonetworks.com. Palo Alto Networks and the Palo Alto Networks logo are trademarks of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160824/401061LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/palo-alto-networks-and-singtel-team-up-to-help-organizations-prevent-cyber-breaches-in-asia-pacific-with-new-managed-security-service-300333111.html SOURCE Palo Alto Networks

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September 30 is the deadline for Gov. Jerry Brown to sign into law or veto legislation that the California Legislature sent to his desk last month. One significant piece of legislation currently on the governor's desk is SB 654, a bill opposed by SHRM and the California State Council of SHRM (CalSHRM) that would add to the confusing nature of the current state and federal leave laws employers in California must navigate.

Current federal and state laws require employers with 50 or more employees to allow employees to take up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave during a 12-month period for specified family and medical reasons, including time to bond with a new child through birth, adoption or foster care placement. SB 654 would add a new requirement that employers with 20 or more employees must allow employees to take up to six weeks of unpaid parental leave to bond with a new child within one year of the child's birth, adoption or foster care placement.

SHRM has submitted a veto request to Brown arguing, among other things, that SB 654 creates added complexity for small businesses in planning their staffing needs and that the legislature should consider fostering flexibility in the workplace and encourage employers to craft leave packages that work best for their employees. Read the veto letter.

Once the September 30 deadline has passed, we will be providing our readers with a more detailed legislative report with a complete summary of the actions taken by Brown on all workplace legislation. For questions on any piece of California legislation, please contact SHRM's California State Government Relations Advisor Jason Gabhart at Jason.Gabhart@shrm.org or 916-403-3465.
Thursday, 22 September 2016 17:44:17 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

In July this year, Turkey's coking coal imports totaled 583,952 mt, rising by 269 percent compared to the same month of the previous year and up 44.6 percent month on month, according to the data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). Meanwhile, the value of these imports was $44.2 million, up 33.5 percent compared to June and rising by 139 percent year on year.





In the first seven months, Turkey's coking coal imports decreased by 10.8 percent to 3.14 million mt, while the value of these imports decreased by 14.5 percent to $278.3 million, both year on year.



In the given period, Turkey's coking coal imports from Australia amounted to 1,404,457 mt, while coking coal imports from US totaled 802,774 mt.



Turkey's coking coal import sources in the January-July period of this year:

Country Amount (mt) Jan-Jul 2016 Jan-Jul 2015 Y-o-y change (%) July 2016 July 2015 Y-o-y change (%) Australia 1,404,457 832,929 68.62 261,567 158,150 65.39 USA 802,774 1,283,415 -37.45 277,384 - - Canada 723,987 333,378 117.17 - - - Russia 112,814 129,480 -12.87 - - -

Turkey's main coking coal import destinations on country basis in the first seven months of the current year are presented in the chart below:
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.
When Samuel celebrated his third birthday last month, friends threw him the kind of party most cows could only dream about.

This browser does not support the video tag. Santuario Gaia

Mounds of melons studded with edible candles. Well-wishers throwing glitter dust into the air. And scores of people lined up to pat him on the head.

This browser does not support the video tag. Santuario Gaia

But then again, Samuel deserves to live this dream. Because before he arrived at Santuario Gaia, an animal sanctuary in Spain, his life was the stuff of nightmares.

Dodo Shows Adoption Day Hairless German Shepherd Puppies Find The Perfect Families

Back in 2013, Samuel just a newborn - and already a dairy farm reject.

The farmer who separated him from his mother when he was 6 days old wouldn't be able to get any milk from Samuel or his twin brother, since they were both males. Sadly, Samuel's brother was killed.

But Santuario Gaia stepped in to offer a home to Samuel; they took the sick calf back to their refuge in Girona.

The day sanctuary co-founder Ismael Lopez lifted Samuel from his kennel, a lifelong bond was forged.

At the refuge, it would take a while for Samuel to get his bearings. "He reached the sanctuary very sick," Lopez tells The Dodo. "And for about a month seemed about to die."

But Samuel would soon finds friends to lean on among the rescued dogs, cows and goats.

And the one friend he leaned on the most.

When the dogs would come inside the house, Samuel would slip in with them - and head straight for Lopez.

In the days ahead, Samuel would grow in confidence. Every birthday was a celebration of a bigger, stronger, happy cow.

Happy belated, Samuel. And congratulations on finding a life that's worth savoring.

This browser does not support the video tag. Santuario Gaia
<p>Julie Henry </p>

I dashed down the sidewalk as the taxi pulled over on the Manhattan street. The back door opened and my breath caught - this was the moment I'd been waiting for. I reached my hands out as my friends passed me a black and white bundle of fur. The kitten - named Indah - snuggled into my neck, meowing her head off.

Helen Feeney

But Feeney was set to leave Indonesia in a few weeks, and she didn't know what would happen to Indah. When I met Feeney and Indah in Medan, I offered to adopt Indah and bring her to the U.S.

Helen with Indah in North Sumatra | Helen Feeney

When I made that offer, I had no idea just how difficult it would be to import Indah into the country. It's probably a good thing - if I had known, I might not have offered to adopt her at all. In the weeks that followed, my friends and I had to organize plane tickets, export permits and health certificates. We wrote countless emails and spent hours listening to hold music while waiting to speak to airlines.

Dodo Shows Adopt Me! Scared Little Dog Is So Full Of Joy Now  And Looking For A Family

Elizabeth and Indah in North Sumatra | Elizabeth Claire Alberts

Indah's rescue was particularly difficult because there was so much red tape to get her out of Indonesia, but getting her into the U.S. was the easy part. There are actually no restrictions on bringing domestic cats into the U.S., and it's also pretty straightforward bringing a dog into the country. If you're thinking about taking a companion animal across international borders - either because you're moving countries yourself, or working to rescue animals from high-risk situations - here are a few tips. 1. Do your research Gather as much information as you can before you start the process. A great place to start is ex-pat websites as they often provide basic information about moving internationally with pets. Make sure you also go to governing bodies' websites to find official information about import and export requirements for domestic animals. And always get the real scoop from local rescue groups in the country of origin - they'll often have useful information not listed on official government websites.

Julie Henry and Indah at the Singapore Airport | Julie Henry / Tod Emko

In Indah's case, she needed a letter of recommendation from the government authority in Medan, an Indonesian export permit, a rabies vaccination certificate, microchip and health certificate to leave Indonesia. Everything needed to be prepared at least 30 days in advance, so we needed to get on the case ASAP. My friend Tod Emko, co-founder of Darwin Animal Doctors, the only veterinary clinic in the Galapagos Islands, traveled to Indonesia to pick Indah up. Emko has also transported dozens of animals in need from Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. "In Ecuador, we went through a similar routine as we did in Indonesia," Emko tells The Dodo. "Then we found out at the airport that the government vet needed us to leave the airport and make a deposit for the exit permit at an outside bank - right before our flight. Only the cuteness of our puppy convinced the vet to help us get on the flight."

Two doggies ready to leave Ecuador | Tod Emko / Darwin Animal Doctors

2. Choose your airline carefully Before I started organizing Indah's rescue, I believed that airlines only allowed pets to travel in the cabin on domestic flights. So I was pleasantly surprised to learn that many airlines allow cats and small dogs to ride with passengers on their international flights. When Emko and his friend Julie Henry flew to Indonesia to get Indah, they flew United because of their awesome in-cabin pet policy. Indah was able to snooze at their feet as they flew from Singapore to New York City. Or ...

Julie Henry / Tod Emko

... on Henry's lap when the flight attendants weren't watching.

Julie Henry / Tod Emko

If your pet has to fly cargo (as Indah did between Medan and Singapore), make sure you choose a reputable airline with good pet safety ratings. It doesn't hurt to remind the flight staff to pressurize and temperature-control the cargo hold. Another great thing to do is to ask the flight staff if you can personally watch your pet board the plane - that means that the cargo staff will bring the carrier to you while you're on the jet bridge, and you can make sure your pet is OK.

Julie Henry / Tod Emko

When Emko transported two kittens from the Galapagos Islands, he chose to fly with LATAM Airlines. "Not only was LATAM Airlines prepared to transport cats in the cabin," says Emko, "they also gave us separate boarding passes for the kittens!" 3. Hire professionals Sometimes it's safer and easier to get help from professionals, especially when you're dealing with a language barrier. We hired a pet transport company in Indonesia to organize Indah's Indonesian export permit, and Jason's Pet Relocation to help us with Indah's Singapore stopover, which required Indah to get a transit permit and clearance from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

Julie Henry / Tod Emko

"When you are thousands of miles from home, and facing all kinds of last- minute surprises in isolated airports," says Emko, "you can't put a price on a local agency fighting for you at your side to get your companion through!"

Make sure you shop around. Wine writer Christina Pickard moved her dog Mela from Perth, Australia, to the Hudson Valley in New York. "We did a lot of research and found that not all pet agencies are created equal," Pickard tells The Dodo. "Some of the bigger companies seemed like factories, transporting tons of animals all together in vans every day. We found a lovely little company called Petraveller and got a really personal experience. They were also cheaper than the big guys! We received videos and photos of Mela along the way until she boarded the plane, and they were very communicative when we landed in Los Angeles." 4. Expect the unexpected Believe in Murphy's Law: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. At least that's what happened to us. Flights needed be changed and re-booked. Documents we'd never heard of were demanded at the eleventh hour. Confusion transpired at the airport. Be prepared for this.

Julie Henry / Tod Emko

"Probably the biggest hassle transporting animals through developing countries is facing flight staff, airport security staff, and customs officials who have often never dealt with an animal coming through their station," says Emko. "When I brought my cat Simon through security at an airport in Colombia, they had no idea what to do about him. They wanted to put him through the baggage X-ray, and I had to explain to them why they shouldn't. Finally, we compromised, and I held my hands out to my sides, with Simon the kitten in one of my hands, and they wanded both of us simultaneously." Whatever you do, don't panic. We always found a solution for every issue we encountered, and got Indah through any obstacles. You will too. 5. Keep calm and pet your kitten Or dog. Or rabbit. Or whatever companion animal you're transporting across international borders. Remember why you're doing this.

Julie Henry / Tod Emko

Trust me - it will be worth it.

Indah and her mom Elizabeth at the vet in New York City | Elizabeth Claire Alberts

Indah is worth it.

Julie Henry / Tod Emko

Indah has now safely arrived in New York City, but her human posse is still trying to pay the bills she wracked up from all her international globetrotting and her medical treatments. If you'd like to help Indah start her new life in the U.S. debt-free, you can donate here. You can also follow Indah's adventures on her instagram page.
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sugarshinesanctuary/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Sugarshine Sanctuary</a></p>

From the moment Willy-Joel the pig arrived at the sanctuary, nothing was ever the same. Kelly Nelder, founder of Sugarshine Sanctuary in New South Wales, Australia, wandered outside one morning to see an agitated pig pacing along the outside of the sanctuary's gate. At first, she thought one of her rescued female pigs had gotten out - Patchy or Charlotte. But when Nelder dashed to the gate, she realized she'd never seen this pig before.

Willy-Joel was a fully-grown adult male with white skin and hair, and a fear of people. He also wasn't neutered. No one else in the area kept pigs, and when Nelder asked the council ranger and her neighbors about the pig's mysterious arrival, no one had any information to share. She came to the conclusion that someone had deliberately dropped Willy-Joel off at the gate, probably because they couldn't - or didn't want to - care for him anymore. Nelder and the sanctuary volunteers put him in a separate gated enclosure until the veterinarian could come over to neuter him. But Willy-Joel had different ideas. "That night he broke into the main pig pen and he and Patchy Pig fell instantly in love," Nelder tells The Dodo. "They spooned and went on romantic moonlit walks together and snuggles together at night. We separated them, but the next two nights we found them snuggled up again. We were worried, but we knew that Patchy was very old so we hoped she wouldn't get pregnant."

Then the real scandal began. On the fourth night, instead of breaking into Patchy's enclosure again, Willy-Joel decided to shack up with the other female - a rescue pig named Charlotte, who'd previously been used in pig races at carnivals and fairs. When Willy-Joel tried to reunite with his former girlfriend, Patchy protested. "Patchy chased him round the pen," says Nelder. "She would have nothing to do with him." Willy-Joel and Charlotte's night of passion resulted in an unexpected situation - Charlotte was knocked up. "We were shocked and read up everything we could so we could be prepared for the birth," Nelder says. "We visited the vet and organized a roster so someone was always home. We scrubbed out and disinfected the barn and bought a heat lamp. But we're a no-breed sanctuary, so this wasn't something we had ever planned for."

Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Wild Horse Loves To Play With A Little Donkey

When the big day came, Nelder and the Sugarshine volunteers helped Charlotte give birth to 11 piglets - 6 girls and 5 boys. One of the piglets wasn't breathing when Charlotte delivered him, so Nelder performed mouth-to-snout resuscitation to save his life.

Charlotte was an excellent mother - gentle, loving, attentive.

Patchy might have her issues with Willy-Joel, but she held no grudge against the babies. In fact, according to Nelder, she became the piglets' honorary aunt and helped Charlotte raise her family. "Patchy was amazing," says Nelder. "She slept near the piglets every night and would babysit them when Charlotte needed a break and went for a walk by herself. Patchy would curl around the piglets in a C shape and let them climb all over her. They still come up and snuggle up to her and nap. They give her a very loving and respectful greeting of gentle snout kisses. If the piglets were distressed about something, Patchy would make loud warning noises and come up and investigate."

Patchy helping Charlotte with the piglets. | Sugarshine Sanctuary

Local families adopted seven of the piglets. The other four - Bliss, Puppy, Leopardio and Cecil - remain at Sugarshine Sanctuary with their mom, dad and Aunt Patchy.

The now-grown-up piglets like to roam around in a pack and beg for belly rubs. They also like squirming under the fence and greeting visitors, rubbing mud all over the volunteers and sneaking into the house to steal ice cream from the freezer. (Nelder's had to put a lock on the freezer door.)

Willy-Joel - once terrified of people - will now approach visitors for pats, too.

"Very few pigs get to spend their lives safe and loved with their mother and father and loving aunty," Nelder says. "My heart swells up with love when I see how close they are and what a happy family they are. Pigs are curious, playful, smart and cheeky, and watching them grow up is a joy. I would never promote breeding when there are so many pigs needing rescue. However, watching the piglets tumble and cuddle together has been one of the most beautiful experiences of my life."
<p><a href="http://www.antler-ridge.com/" target="_blank">Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary</a></p>

A woman was walking her dog around her apartment complex when she spotted something small and alive by some rocks. It was some kind of animal, but she wasn't sure what. She took her dog home and alerted her neighbor, Nan Davis, who worked in wildlife rescue. The two of them returned to the rocks and found a tiny baby skunk squirming next to the rocks. There was no sign - or scent - of the mother.

Davis phoned Kelly Simonetti, owner and director of Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary in Warren County, New Jersey, and asked if she could drive to the rehabilitation center to drop off the baby skunk. Before Davis left, however, she went back to the rocks for another look. Good thing she did, as she found five more baby skunks! "The babies must have crawled into the rocks one or two at a time," Davis tells The Dodo. "They were definitely not there the first time."

Dodo Shows Comeback Kids Family Stops At Nothing To Help Their Great Dane Run

The babies' eyes weren't open yet, which meant they were probably about a week old.

"At the sanctuary, Kelly and I immediately started evaluating the condition of the skunks," says Davis. "They were covered in fly eggs, so they had to be shaved and cleaned and given fluids."

The babies were bottle-fed a special formula used for baby squirrels, skunks and oppossums. The Antler Ridge team also cleaned and combed the babies' fur, which is something their mother would have done for them in the wild.

When the Antler Ridge team left the rehabilitation center for any length of time, they tucked toy animals into the skunks' enclosures to keep them company, including a stuffed skunk toy. "We often give wildlife babies toy animals," Linda DeLorenzo of Antler Ridge Wildlife Sanctuary tells The Dodo. "This is so the babies have a surrogate mother. It's a natural instinct to cuddle for warmth. Even human babies do this."

Even with the best possible care, orphaned wildlife babies often have a slim chance of survival. Sadly, three of the baby skunks passed away. The other three, however, became healthy young adults. When they demonstrated that they could forage for food, the three skunks were released into a safe area of woods.

"The best part of wildlife rehabilitation is the time when we can load the animals into crates, drive them into a safe woodsy area and open the crate doors," says Davis. "Watching them begin to explore their natural environment is the best part of rehab."
[September 23, 2016] LANDESK Enters into an OEM Agreement with Software License Optimization Expert Concorde Solutions

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LANDESK, a global leader in user-centered IT solutions, today announced that it has entered into an OEM agreement with Concorde, a recognized leader in software license optimization. This will complement LANDESK's IT asset management (ITAM) suite. The agreement extends LANDESK's endpoint software asset management to encompass complicated server license models that run in the data center. The combined solution will empower asset managers to more effectively manage their entire asset estate. "Concorde's license optimization technology will extend the capabilities of the LANDESK ITAM suite by providing additional entitlement management and decision modeling to help our customers better determine their effective license position," said Steve Workman, vice prsident of corporate strategy at LANDESK. "This partnership joins Concorde's software licensing expertise to LANDESK's proven discovery and endpoint asset management capabilities, a collaboration that will deliver industry-leading IT and software asset management."



The addition of Concorde technology to LANDESK's ITAM suite will help customers better understand complex, server-based enterprise products like those offered by Oracle, Microsoft, VMware and IBM. These kinds of products can be difficult to track due to the transitory nature of virtual machines, the complexity of vendors' license agreements and the frequency of changes to license terms and conditions. In combination with LANDESK ITAM suite, Concorde's technology will provide transformational insights into server-side applications, which helps organizations optimize spend across client and data center applications, minimize the impact of audits and make budget cycles more predictable. "Concorde's proven SaaS platform complements LANDESK's comprehensive approach to IT asset management," said Phil Merson, CEO of Concorde. "Our OEM agreement with LANDESK provides a new opportunity to bring a world-class approach to SAM, expanding the LANDESK product suite. We recognize that enterprise organizations are looking for solutions, not just point tools. Our agreement extends both offerings to give customers better visibility and control to manage their software investments."

For more information, please visit www.landesk.com. About LANDESK

LANDESK is the global authority on user-centered IT. By integrating and automating IT tasks, LANDESK helps organizations balance rapidly-evolving user requirements with the need to secure critical assets and data. LANDESK is headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, and has offices all over the world. To learn more, visit www.landesk.com. Copyright  2016, LANDESK. All rights reserved. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160906/404418LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landesk-enters-into-an-oem-agreement-with-software-license-optimization-expert-concorde-solutions-300333330.html SOURCE LANDESK

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<p><em>Ricki Beason</em><span></span></p>

After adopting two rescue dogs, named Blue and Birdie, who changed her life forever, Ricki Beason decided she wanted to give back to the rescue community somehow. "I literally couldn't imagine my life without them - they have brought so much love and happiness into my life," Beason told The Dodo. "I wanted other people to experience this kind of love and loyalty that only a rescue dog can provide."

Ricki Beason

As a way of giving back, Beason decided to take up photography. Being a physical therapist, Beason knew very little about the art, but slowly taught herself everything she would need to know in order to give back. She began photographing dogs at rural shelters who wouldn't otherwise get a lot of attention to help them get adopted and bring more attention to those shelters in general.

Dodo Shows Adopt Me! Scared Little Dog Is So Full Of Joy Now  And Looking For A Family

Ricki Beason

"Creating these pictures and showcasing these beautiful rescue dogs has made a huge impact on their adoption rate," Beason said. "It's hard to say no to a crazy cute pup staring back at you through a picture - if I could I would take them all home." In 2014, Beason decided she wanted to give back even more. She wanted to help raise money for the shelters she photographed - and so she teamed up with a bunch of attractive men.

Ricki Beason

Beason created Heartthrobs and Hound Dogs, a yearly calendar that features men of service posing with adorable rescue dogs. For the first year, the calendar featured firemen, and the second year, it featured military veterans. For the 2017 calendar, military veterans from Dallas, police officers from Austin and firefighters from Houston will all be featured with dogs from six different rescue groups.

Ricki Beason

"I hope with this project I am able to change people's perceptions of rescue dogs and build an admiration for our servicemen who not only keep our cities and country safe, but also volunteer their time to help these rescue dogs," Beason said. "These aren't male models, these aren't actors; these men are real-life heroes."

Ricki Beason

The photoshoots for the calendar give the servicemen a chance to relax and spend time with adorable dogs, and give the dogs a chance to get out of the shelters and spend time with new people in new places.

Ricki Beason

The photos produced for this incredible project are absolutely perfect ...

Ricki Beason

... and so much fun to look at, for SO many reasons.

Ricki Beason

"Too often we look over the shelter dog because they aren't deemed as 'glamourous' as a breeder dog, but these dogs, if given the chance, are the most beautiful and loving dogs a person could ask for," Beason said.
Inuit artist Annie Pootoogook has been identified as the woman found dead Monday in Ottawas Rideau River.

The body of Pootoogook, 46, was spotted in the water around 8:50 a.m. Monday near Bordeleau Park in Lowertown, near the Ontario-Quebec border. An autopsy was performed later in the week to confirm her identity; Ottawa police identified Pootoogook in a news release Friday.

Pootoogook, born in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, was an acclaimed, award-winning contemporary Inuit artist best known for her frank, ink-and-crayon drawings of contemporary northern life. Her work was reflective of her own life and community, at times chronicling her experience of physical and sexual abuse and living with relatives suffering from alcoholism.

In 2006, Pootoogook won the Sobey Art Award, beating out four other shortlisted artists from across Canada for the $50,000 prize. The same year, her work was exhibited at a landmark show at Torontos Power Plant Gallery, the first time Canadas pre-eminent contemporary art venue had held a major show by an Inuit. In 2007 she took part in Documenta 12 in Kassel, Germany, a prestigious, invitation-only art exhibition  held once every five years  that defines the current state of contemporary and modern art. Pootoogooks Toronto dealer, Pat Feheley, said at the time that it was the first time that an Inuit artist had been invited to participate.

Nunavut Premier Peter Taptuna offered his condolences to Pootoogooks family Friday afternoon on Twitter.

And Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo tweeted that Canada had lost great artist & great woman.

The Sobey Art Foundation issued a statement late Friday that said Annies spirit shone through her work and she has left a tremendous legacy to the Canadian cultural fabric.

Police say foul play is not suspected in Pootoogooks death but are asking anyone who may have seen her leading up to Sept. 19 to contact the Major Crime Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493.

Correction - September 26, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said the body was found in the Rideau Canal.



With files from The Canadian Press

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Theyre women whove had three kids before age 30, whose family photos look straight out of a J Crew catalogue, whove never had a sip of coffee or beer.

Theyre Mormon mommy bloggers.

For the past decade, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have taken the blogosphere by storm, documenting their daily lives and amassing huge followings of Mormons and non-Mormons in the process. Atheist followers say the attraction is the escapism of picture-perfect lives filled with wholesome values and DIY crafts, while scholars say various tenets of Mormonism  sharing the faith, the value of creativity and the importance of family  make the religion a perfect fit for the blogging medium.

Utah mom Meredith Ethington, 38, saw blogging as a way to exercise her writing skills while maintaining her commitment to motherhood.

I think a lot of (Mormon) women seek out blogging because we have talents and passions of our own and its a way to express those, but still be able to stay true to those core values and stay home with our kids, said Ethington, who said the LDS church encourages women to stay home and raise children if theyre able to.

Ethingtons blog, Perfection Pending, focuses more on parenting than it does on Mormonism  she estimates only one in 10 of her readers are Mormon  but she understands certain mysteries shrouding her religion could be drawing in readers.

We dont drink, we dont smoke, we dont swear. Those sort of things make us stand out naturally, said Ethington. "But we also struggle with the same things that other people struggle with. . . I would like people to see that Im normal and real and not perfect by any means.

Like other Mormon bloggers, Ethington doesnt bombard her readers with her faith, but tucks her religious disclosure into the About Me section. Others have We Believe sidebars with links to the LDS church.

Some are even more discreet.

It took Torontonian Eva Voinigescu months to realize one of her favourite bloggers, Sydney Poulton of The Daybook, was Mormon.

Id always been curious because she looked very young and yet she was married and had a child, said the writer.

Voinigescu, 27, admits she initially judged Poulton after finding out she was Mormon. She herself is agnostic, skeptical of organized religion, career-focused and a feminist. She isnt married and doesnt know if she wants kids. She started questioning aspects of Poultons life, including why she seemed to make so many sacrifices for her husbands career.

But the blogs appeal endured.

Its weird to see a parallel lifestyle thats so different from my own but has so many desirable aspects to it, said Voinigescu, who comes from a small family, spread out across the globe. A lot of the values that come out in the blog are family, creativity, closeness. It definitely appeals to me, those values.

Sentiments like these are music to Mormon ears.

Mormonism is a missionary religion. Members of the church are encouraged to share their faith with others, said Patrick Mason, a historian and the Howard W. Hunter chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University in Southern California. Blogs have become a really popular way for them to do that, often times in a really low key way.

Bloggers may choose to emphasize Mormon values of family, child rearing, the domestic sphere and the sacred calling of motherhood, as opposed to an overt focus on faith because they dont want to be seen as preachy, he said.

As for why the blogs are so plentiful, Mason points to the Latter-day Saints storied history.

The church was founded in 1830, and throughout the remainder of the 1800s, the federal government persecuted members because of their illegal practice of polygamy and for other reasons including their political power, said Mason. By the turn of the 20th century, the church dropped objectionable aspects of their religion, including polygamy, and sought to become more mainstream  a sentiment still held by Mormons today, he said.

Mormons want nothing more than to be liked and respected and mainstream, said Mason, giving the example of Mitt Romney, a Mormon and the 2012 Republican presidential nominee. They want to be just like everyone else but they want to be better at it."

American Mormons  typically members of the middle class or upwardly-mobile middle class  value personal growth and humility and reject ostentatiousness, he said. These values have a wide appeal.

Mormons also have a strong tradition of journaling  believing that documenting their life is of great importance  and blogs could be seen as the 21st century outgrowth of this tradition, he said. The church also encourages members to spread their message using social media and the Mormon blogging community even has a name: Bloggernacle, a play on the word tabernacle, the Mormon public meeting hall.

Mason thinks Mormon mommy bloggers have struck a sweet spot: theyre encouraged to stay at home and raise children, but now, they can do so while also sharing their values, exercising creativity and even bringing in income.

For Jenny Evans, a Massachusetts-based Mormon and stay-at-home mom, making money off her blog is a happy side benefit. Shes proud of the family values she shares on her blog, the Unremarkable Files.

I love my family and I love my kids and I love to share the humorous and silly side of that, while still being really positive about being a mom and being a wife, said Evans, 34, a mom to six children. Mormon belief is just to look for the positive in things.

Evans estimates one third of her blogs content focuses on Mormonism.

She likes that her meditations on faith open up a dialogue amongst readers, even if they dont always agree with her. One memorable comment she received: Well I disagree with a lot of these points 100 per cent, but I appreciate you putting them forth with such clarity and helping me learn something new.

I just really thought that was neat because thats kind of what its all about, she said. I dont feel like everyone has to agree with me or that Im necessarily trying to teach everybody something.

But non-Mormon readers seem less interested in faith than they are in the glossy images of happy, perfect families  however illusory they may be.

I know you cant take it too literally. Of course her kids will drive her crazy, said Christine Realubit, a Toronto travel blogger in her early 30s and avid reader of the Love Taza blog. But. . . there are too many bad things in the world. A little positivity or a ray of sunshine in a blog is a nice break.

A roundup of Mormon lifestyle bloggers

Love Taza

Link: http://lovetaza.com/www.lovetaza.com

Who: Naomi Davis (nickname Taza), 30, husband Josh, and children Eleanor, 5, Samson, 4, and Conrad, 1.

What: Davis, a former Juilliard dancer, and her growing family live in Manhattan. Her blog is filled with bright clothing, ice cream, trips to the park and family globe-trotting.

In her words: I love celebrating motherhood, family, travel, good food, and lifes simple joys. Life is beautiful!

Popularity: 400,000 Instagram followers

The Daybook

Link: http://www.thedaybookblog.comwww.thedaybookblog.com

Who: Sydney Poulton, 27, husband Tyson, and children Everett, 4, and Isla, nearly 2.

What: Poulton met her husband on their first day at school at Brigham Young University, a private university in Utah, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has a degree in graphic design and blogs about her family, clothes, workouts and travels. Posts are usually accompanied by carefully curated family photos.

In her words: I am compassionate, and cheerful, and sarcastic, and transparent, and my heart fills up and breaks almost every day watching my children interact with each other.

Popularity: 51,000 Instagram followers

Say Yes

Link: http://www.sayyes.comwww.sayyes.com

Who: Liz Stanley, 36, husband Jared, and children Henry, 8, Edie, 2, and Dot, 6 weeks.

What: Stanley lives in San Francisco. Her blog is family- and design-focused, with a mix of posts about affordable fashion and healthy recipes.

In her words: This lifestyle site is a collection of pretty, creative, and budget-friendly ideas to Say Yes to a more crafty, stylish, and family-focused life.

Popularity: 34,000 Instagram followers

Nie Nie Dialogues

Link: http://www.nieniedialogues.comwww.nieniedialogues.com

Who: Stephanie Nielson, 35, husband Christian, and children Claire, 14, Jane, 13, Oliver, 11, Nicholas, 9 and Charlotte, 4.

What: Stephanie Nielson is a Utah-based blogger who, along with her husband, survived a horrific plane crash in 2008 that left her with burns over 80 per cent of her body. Nielson blogs about her family, her home and her faith.

In her words: I write daily about whatever I am doing, mostly about my five children; Claire, Jane, Oliver, Nicholas, and Charlotte. I also write about my husband Christian (Mr. Nielson), my struggles, my blessings and my strong Mormon faith. . . I am living a beautiful life despite pain and challenges.

Popularity: 89,000 Instagram followers

Correction  September 26, 2016: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said the tabernacle is the Mormon temple.

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Stop for a moment and think about your first job interview. Can you remember it? Now, try to remember your first day of kindergarten. Or where you were on 9/11. Or the day of your wedding.

Those thoughts, those memories, popping into your head  theyre probably flawed. And you mightve even made some of them up.

So says Julia Shaw, a Canadian researcher and memory hacker.

As a forensic psychologist and memory expert, Shaw is capable of creating false memories in the minds of average people about events that never actually happened, be it that they committed a terrible crime or were attacked by a dog. Horrifying? Yup. Totally fascinating? That too.

Normally, you do this unintentionally, Shaw tells me. Youre talking to family and friends, sharing memories, picking up details. But researchers like me, we hijack that process.

Shaws eyes light up as she explains her thought-provoking memory research at a recent pit-stop in Toronto to promote her new book, The Memory Illusion, which explores the science behind false memories, self-deception and how our memory system really works.

Your brain is incredibly malleable and adaptive, according to Shaw, a senior lecturer in criminology at London South Bank University.

Neurons  cells in our brain  connect with one another to develop meaningful networks, which change according to our experiences, Shaw writes.

She likens it to a Wikipedia page, where you can modify things  and so can other people. Its fluid, with all sorts of inputs, where memories can be readily deleted, Shaw says.

Imagine being at a dinner party where friends are all recounting a high school memory. Everyone offers a tidbit, which reshapes your recollection of the event  and, in the end, its impossible to know which parts are your memories or those of other people, and if certain parts of the story even happened at all.

Our attention span also comes into play in memory formation, since we can only truly focus on one thing at a time, Shaw notes. Its like what happens at speed dating or a networking event: Despite your best efforts, youre likely going to forget peoples names as your brain filters through information about their appearance, their voice, their personality.

We often dont process someones name because were so busy processing them as a whole, says Shaw.

The neuronal plasticity of our brains is the reason were able to form memories, but it also means were capable of these memory mistakes.

And theres where memory hacking comes in.

I get people to confuse their imagination with their memory, by getting them to repeatedly picture an event happening, and adding multi-sensory details like what theyre hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, Shaw tells me. Over time, that can become indistinguishable in the brain from a real memory.

In other words: Shaw can make you truly believe you did something that never actually happened.

Think you wouldnt be fooled? Dont bet on it. In Shaws research, 70 per cent of individuals were classified as having these false memories.

Her work, and that of other researchers in the memory field, offers a wake-up call to the justice system, highlighting how law enforcement agencies can be capable of eliciting false confessions.

Its something fans of the popular Netflix true-crime show Making a Murderer are familiar with. A major plot point in the first season involved an elaborate confession from 16-year-old Brendan Dassey, who admitted to raping and killing a 25-year-old woman with his uncle, Steven Avery  a Wisconsin man who previously served jail time for a crime he didnt commit.

Recently, Dasseys conviction was overturned, with a judge saying his confession was coerced by investigators.

Its so obvious to people watching it that something went wrong with the case, says Shaw, who wrote about the show for Scientific American back in January.

The viewer only has the information presented by the documentary crew, but even just that small piece, combined with the new ruling, strongly points to police conduct, and leading questions, and taking advantage of a vulnerable individual who didnt have the intellectual capacity to say no, she adds.

Shaw says Dassey is a classic case of a coerced compliant false confession, where someone is telling police what they want to hear. Her own research goes one step further by getting people to truly believe their false memories.

Brendan Dassey retracted his confession  other people dont, she says. And thats when it gets really messy. Its terrifying.

But Shaws ultimate message isnt one of fear. Our brains are wired this way for a reason, and false memories are just the byproduct of how our malleable minds work.

Our reality is a personal construction, and the flexibility of our memories allows us to learn, update information and make connections. Without that, we would have nothing, Shaw says.

We wouldnt be able to think, we wouldnt be able to behave. Im okay with it  it makes us human.

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Well, better late than never.

Late Thursday, after Justin Trudeau and every other Liberal in Ottawa had spent two days insisting the moving expenses of the prime ministers top advisers were just fine, those same advisers, Gerald Butts and Katie Telford, agreed to pay back about $65,000 of the more than $200,000 tab. Supporters of the Liberals across the land had spent the week making excuses, eager to enable a serious blunder. Fortunately the Liberal palace guard retains some political instincts, even if their fans dont.

Butts is the principal secretary to Prime Minister Trudeau. Telford is his chief of staff. Earlier this week, it was revealed that his original moving bill was a little short of $127,000, hers a little more than $80,000.

A lot of people found themselves wondering how its possible to spend the median Canadian family income on a single move along five hours of highway, unless you go so far as to nestle each individual molecule of your knick-knacks and heirlooms in a bed of Styrofoam peanuts.

Finally, Butts and Telford engaged in substantial damage control by announcing they will repay an entire category of expenses.

In a lengthy Facebook statement, they noted that while they followed rules in place for decades, they were repaying $44,172.81 in personal cash payouts and incidentals. In addition, Butts will reimburse some of the $25,141 land transfer tax associated with the cost of his new Ottawa home.

We know that some people will think that any amount for relocation is unreasonable, and that there never should have been such a policy in the first place, Butts and Telford wrote in the joint statement.

We take full responsibility for this having happened and because of that we are sorry.

There will, for all that, be no need to hold bake sales for them. They are still being reimbursed for lawyers and real-estate fees associated with their home sales. Its a pretty good deal. Youre off to the greatest few years of your life, helping a new prime minister implement an ambitious agenda. The cost of selling your house is taken care of. Toronto and Ottawa housing markets being what they are, you pocket a cool half a million on your way to a job that will, what, triple your lifetime earning capacity.

Onward to reconciliation with Canadas First Nations! Onward to a better deal for Canadas forgotten middle class!

I have known both Butts and Telford for something close to a decade. There is no reason to doubt that they followed every applicable rule. Applicable rules in Ottawa  as we saw when general-turned-Liberal Andrew Leslie billed the government $72,000 for moving expenses within the capital in 2013  can be an excellent deal.

But the rules in this case gave the prime minister discretion to set reimbursement at any level. The instinct to claim every available dollar was not required. And the first answers to the House of Commons from Bardish Chagger on the moving-expense matter really werent great.

As government House leader, Chagger is supposed to be the new face of a government rededicating itself to openness and collaboration in the Commons. But on Tuesday, reading from a prepared text, she said this about the moving expenses: We have built a diverse team of passionate, hard-working, and extremely qualified Canadians to deliver the change people voted for. The team in Ottawa came from coast to coast to coast to serve Canadians and deliver on our promise to grow the middle class and those working hard to join it. This meant that many people had to move to Ottawa, with their families and children, across the country to serve in Ottawa. As part of this process, some employees received assistance in relocating.

Come on. The team in Ottawa to which Chagger referred was diverse in that it had representation from two of our major genders and . . . thats about it, actually. They did not come from coast to coast to coast. They came from Toronto. They did not come across the country. They did not even come across Ontario.

Transparency is needed, Chagger read from her notes, just before delivering the heart-tugging ode I have just quoted. By that standard, her answer was pathetic. It took two days for the government to produce some of the transparency she claimed to value.

I am left to repeat a warning I have made a few times already. This government plans to spend more than $100 billion on construction over the next decade, if it lasts that long. Spending on that scale drastically increases the likelihood of two general classes of catastrophe on a scale that routinely sinks governments. There is the danger of white elephants, as government spends before thinking. And there is the danger of corruption, as opportunistic swindlers make a beeline for the money hose.

We can now add a third danger: That this government will no longer seem populated by the sort of people most Canadian voters ever get to meet or know.

Paul Wells is a national affairs writer. His column appears Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

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MONTREALA Quebec judge has ruled turban-wearing Sikh truck drivers must wear hard hats in the workplace when safety standards require them.

Three Sikh men who drove container trucks at the Port of Montreal had argued they had a right to wear a turban instead of a helmet based on Quebec and Canadian charter rights protecting freedom of religion.

In a ruling released Wednesday, Quebec Superior Court Justice Andre Prevost recognized that the requirement to wear helmets violated the men's charter rights but ruled that safety should trump religion in this case.

He ruled the ports rules were justified because they protect workers against head injuries.

The risks are not lower because the claimants are Sikh and wear turbans, he wrote in his decision.

The safety obligations of the defendants are not less stringent, either, towards the claimants than towards other workers.

In a case dating back to 2006, the men had argued they were victims of religious discrimination after they were no longer allowed to enter the ports terminals without protective headgear.

The safety measures were put in place in 2005.

Originally an accommodation was put in place allowing the drivers to stay in their trucks while containers were loaded, but that was eventually deemed not commercially viable because it increased the loading time.

A lawyer representing the three men said he was disappointed by the decision but was encouraged that the judge recognized his clients charter rights had been violated.

Julius Grey said he would meet with his clients next week to decide whether to appeal the decision.

I personally believe its a case that can be very easily and effectively appealed, so I hope thats what theyll do, he said.

Read more about:

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VANCOUVERA payment processing company in Vancouver has been accused of being a significant transnational criminal organization by the United States Treasury Department.

In a news release Thursday, the department alleges the PacNet Group has a 20-year history of laundering cash raised through what it calls fraudulent solicitation schemes involving lotteries and mail fraud.

It alleges that PacNet has accepted and deposited millions of dollars in cash from U.S. victims, taken a cut and then returned the rest to the scammers via wire transfers from a holding account, which the department says obscures the money trail.

The Treasury Department says PacNets operations are conducted through a global network run by 12 people, through 24 businesses in 18 countries.

In Canada, the department says it has offices in Vancouver and Ottawa, while two of 12 people named in the documents are also linked to separate properties in Vancouver and West Vancouver.

Three people listed as principals of PacNet could not be reached for comment.

In declaring PacNet a transnational criminal group, Treasury Department official John Smith says all PacNet property or interests subject to U.S. jurisdiction have been blocked, while the Department of Justice conducts searches and proceeds with criminal actions.

PacNet has knowingly facilitated the fraudulent activities of its customers for many years, and (these) designations are aimed at shielding Americans ... from the large-scale, illicit money flows that are generated by these scams against vulnerable individuals, Smith said in the release.

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Passenger assistance workers at Canadas busiest airport warned its chief executive this summer that understaffing, poor pay and inadequate training was jeopardizing the help given to passengers in wheelchairs, the Star has learned.

News of the workers concerns comes after revelations that the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) is now the subject of multiple lawsuits alleging that poor service at Pearson led to severe accidents affecting vulnerable and often elderly travellersincluding the death of an 82-year-old woman.

In a letter dated July 18 and obtained by the Star, workers told GTAA president Howard Eng that there were not enough passenger assistance agents and that existing agents were overworked, abused and underpaid.

To make matters worse, most of the agents are not properly trained and are hired on a part-time basis only. This results in very poor customer service, the letter says.

Responding to questions from the Star, GTAA spokesperson Erin Kennedy said in an emailed statement that Canadian travel regulations make airlines responsible for assisting passengers with disabilities as they travel through an airport. This includes check-in, moving to and from the aircraft and while collecting luggage, she said.

The GTAA, however, is responsible for ensuring that the airport is accessible and also licenses the businesses allowed to work inside Pearson, Kennedy said.

We recognize that theres more that can be done, she continued. Thats why were working with the Canadian Transportation Agency to think about better ways to serve these passengers and would welcome input from organizations for people with disabilities about our operations at Toronto Pearson.

The GTAA did not address the Star's questions about the workers' letter to Eng.

The CBC published an investigation Thursday that revealed eight lawsuits against the GTAA, various airlines and companies providing passenger assistance services at Pearson, all of which related to the alleged neglect of passengers that needed or asked for wheelchairs to move through the airport. The Star was able to independently confirm two of those lawsuits, including a $1.2-million claim against the GTAA, Air Transat, five flight attendants, a ground transportation company operating at Pearson, the Municipality of Peel, local paramedics and a subsidiary of Air Transat that offered passenger assistance services. The suit relates to the death of 82-year-old Antonia Becchetti after a fall at the airport in October 2011.

Her sons, John and Mauro, filed the lawsuit last year. The brothers allege their mother asked for a wheelchair before boarding a flight from Italy to Toronto. But she wasnt given one when she landed at Pearsons Terminal 3, and began to walk to the immigration area on her own, the statement of claim says. She fell backwards on an escalator, struck her head and died the next day, the familys lawyer, Joe Falconeri, told the Star on Thursday.

The statement of defence denies all allegations of negligence and claims Becchetti failed to proceed with due care and attention, did not hold the escalator handrails and continued to walk without waiting for assistance.

The GTAA also filed a cross-claim lawsuit against the other defendants in the case, alleging they are responsible if any damages and losses occurred.

None of the allegations has been tested in court.

A second lawsuit against the GTAA and WestJet, which was filed in 2013, alleges Manitoba resident Isabell Mackie asked for a wheelchair to board a flight at Pearson in June 2012. The lawsuit alleges she was never given one, and she tripped as she walked down the inclined causeway to the plane, stumbling forward and incurring serious and permanent injuries.

According to their statements of defence, the GTAA and WestJet argue there was no negligence and Mackie is at fault for her injuries.

None of the allegations has been tested in court.

Mackies lawyer, Sandra Zisckind, told the Star Thursday that the litigation for her clients suit and others involving similar issues are being held up by arguments about who is responsible for wheelchair services at the airport.

What does it say about us as a society when individuals fail to properly accommodate the most vulnerable? Zisckind asked. It is my hope that lawsuits such as these will place pressure on these organizations to become more accommodating for those requiring extra assistance.

Michael Schmidt, a lawyer representing the GTAA in both lawsuits, did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

As previously highlighted by the Star, the contract to provide passenger assistance services at Pearson has changed hands four times since 2004. Critics say the practice, known as contract flipping, creates widespread job insecurity at the airport and sometimes negatively impacts workers wages and benefit entitlements.

This spring, hundreds of wheelchair workers were forced to re-apply for their own jobs after a company called Toronto Ground Airport Services lost its exclusive contract with the airport after less than a year.

The letter to Eng, understood to be from a significant number of non-unionized passenger assistance agents, said contract flipping had become a vicious cycle at Pearson and was undercutting customer service.

These workers truly need protection from contract flipping, said Sean Smith of the Toronto Airport Workers Council. You cannot have a billion dollar airport run off the backs of precarious, minimum wage, part-time workers. Its that simple.

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In factual terms, terrorism is not the existential threat people think. It creates the temptation to compromise on values and processes that are integral to what we do. Jennifer Welsh

Jennifer Welsh has had a meteoric career, launched from a deeply Canadian background as the child of Metis and Romanian parents in Regina.

She has shot to international prominence as a Rhodes Scholar, Oxford fellow, adviser to Ottawa and the UN Secretary General on the Responsibility to Protect.

Now a professor at the European University Institute in Florence, she was chosen to deliver the 2016 Massey Lectures, an annual cross-country speaking tour, broadcast by the CBC.

Welshs new book, The Return of History, examines how Western liberal democracy has failed to fulfil its promise of peace, human rights and social and economic equality. And why it remains an ideal worth fighting for today.

Your book is an answer to Francis Fukuyamas famous essay The End of History, about the victory of liberal democracy after the demise of Soviet communism. A quarter-century later, how wrong was he?

It depends on your perspective. He maintains his position that we need to look at the longue duree (long-term cycles of change, rather than events). Even if liberal democracy is facing challenges, the key point is that there is no rival aspiration.

I think he is wrong about that. My own preference is for liberal democracy, but it is experiencing cracks that are leading others to question it as a successful model. Liberal democracies have themselves created the situation through their specific policy decisions or the way they managed relations at the end of the Cold War.

Human rights and the rule of law, hallmarks of liberal democracy, have rolled back in recent years. Is this a turning of the tide, or just a passing wave?

We had a democracy wave, but now we see a recession. Will it be a temporary blip, and will the power of political opposition, which is still strong, correct it? Hard to predict.

What I am questioning is the linear view that it all comes right in the end. Its bred a great deal of complacency about the durability of liberal democracy. A good example is the Brexit debate and referendum. Theres an overconfidence about how much turmoil our systems can withstand.

You talk about the return of barbarism  the brutal violence that overtook the Middle East with groups like Daesh. Is there any hope for liberal democracy there, or even an end to the war in Syria?

Theres a narrative about the intractability of the war in Syria. But I dont buy it. There are solutions to the conflict, hard as they are. To see it as intractable is to abdicate responsibility.

Are state-sponsored proxy wars a part of the problem?

Theres an argument in the West that we shouldnt intervene. But when you step back and look at it, there have been heaps of interventions by all parties. Regional players are heavily involved. From the perspective of negotiations, its difficult to resolve a regional conflict with players who are behaving so irresponsibly.

The sheer brutality of the war has crossed the line of humanitarian law repeatedly. Has that law now failed?

I dont think so. We need two sets of responses. One is to understand the philosophy that underpins it: the sense of fairness and reciprocity between those engaged in conflict. At the heart of international humanitarian law is a balance between military necessity and the minimization of suffering.

It requires continued belief in the concept of fairness, which involves restraint on your own side. And now it also requires a much more active campaign to heighten respect for it. Its time for a serious recommitment.

The international refugee crisis is vast. But how does it differ from the crisis at the end of the Second World War?

It is bigger in scale, which people are just beginning to get their heads around. Its more protracted in terms of length of time. The diversity of places from which people flee is much greater. I also think there are now wider motives of people engaged in mass flight. But our refugee system was designed in the early 1950s to respond to certain types of refugee crisis  political persecution or war-induced displacement.

Now there is also less willingness of host countries to take on refugees en masse. World War II was a global war, and citizens of Western countries died. We see ourselves separated from these causes (now). We call it a crisis, which suggests something temporary, as opposed to something systemic. We have states and societies that are crumbling. We need to think longer term.

What needs to change in our treatment of refugees?

Having the courage to re-look at the (international refugee) convention and see if we could think about additional obligations and categories. The key principle of non-refoulment (not returning refugees to unsafe countries) isnt the only thing. Weve forgotten that the idea of burden sharing has been critical to refugee management. That is where weve really fallen down.

Another part is changing our very image of a refugee. One in 122 people is now a migrant. Its a global problem that requires every society to be involved in its evolution. We must also recognize another problem that is tricky from a legal point of view, that of safe third countries. It is a dilemma for the UNHCR. What should they do when refugees reach a safe third country but theres somewhere else they want to go?

The other piece is attitudinal change through leadership. The five top recipient countries for refugees are non-Western. Thats the first thing we have to acknowledge. It is not us who are bearing the burden.

Has the threat of terrorism broken down the principles of liberal democracy?

In factual terms, terrorism is not the existential threat people think. It creates the temptation to compromise on values and processes that are integral to what we do. Its linked to the refugee crisis because there is an overwhelming suspicion in some countries about the kinds of people arriving. It is very corrosive of the central notion of the need to provide asylum.

I also worry about the tendency to assume (terrorism) is inevitable, and taking over. We need to think about managing the threat instead of eliminating it, because it will not be eliminated. We need to think about what is driving acts of radicalization. I saw in my UN work on preventing violent extremism that there was a willingness on the part of states to acknowledge that there were issues and trends in their own states that could be fostering radicalism, and a need for them to be taken seriously.

When you say that history has returned, does that mean the Cold War is back?

There are eerie similarities and theyre not to be minimized. But I think there are two differences. First, this is not a global competition with two ways of life pitted against each other, and every last peck of territory or conflict seen through a prism of superpower confrontation. Russia and the West are pitted in quite confined geopolitical spaces.

The second difference is the superpowers themselves are held in less esteem. The admiration for Russia is probably not what it was. And when you look at the U.S., it cant bring states into line in the same way. Its not Cold War 2.0  more like old-fashioned geopolitics.

Inequality is entrenched in the liberal democracies. Are they doomed to more and greater disparity of wealth and opportunity?

Im not that deterministic. You could devise public policies to address it. Economists of the last five years have been laying out the landscape of inequality. They are not afraid to say its not going to be solved by tinkering in the mushy middle. It requires bold policies which will be easier in some societies than others.

I worry about the U.K.  Ive lived there. The level of inequality is profound and not getting better. Its also profound in the U.S. The whole American Dream of equal opportunity is going to be very difficult to resurrect, but not impossible. That is the task right now. If people want liberal democracy to survive they must tackle inequality. Liberal democracy ultimately rests on the concept of fairness. And that is what we are losing.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Return of History, by Jennifer Welsh, House of Anansi Press, $24.95

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Saying he wants to lead a fiscally conservative, socially liberal party, PC Leader Patrick Brown now admits it was a mistake to court social conservatives.

Brown acknowledged for the first time Thursday that his office held secret negotiations with opponents of the updated sex-education curriculum before the Sept. 1 Scarborough-Rouge River byelection.

I think it was a mistake to even have talks, he told reporters at Queens Park.

The Progressive Conservative leader said he didnt feel comfortable with a strategy that ultimately led to the Tories distributing 13,000 letters in Scarborough promising to scrap the sex-ed curriculum if elected in 2018.

Clearly, I thought it was a mistake and thats why I made my opinions unequivocally clear  prior to the byelection  in the op-ed in the Toronto Star, he said, referring to his Aug. 29 article renouncing the letter and pledging to keep the updated lesson plan that teaches about gender expression and same-sex relationships.

While Tory Raymond Cho won the riding, the political fallout over the hush-hush talks between Browns office and social conservatives has lingered for three weeks.

Sources say there was a deep divide in his camp last month about making the move to appease the religious right with the letter signed by the leader.

Patrick got cold feet. He was getting calls from his family, his downtown friends. They were telling him not to reopen this and that that isnt who he is, one PC insider told the Star.

But others felt the letter would help them to finally win a Toronto seat and send a positive signal to opponents of the curriculum, same-sex marriage and abortion, who had backed Brown in last years Tory leadership.

The leader declined to discuss the machinations.

Im not going to comment on internal team discussions, he said.

However, Brown was not shy about blasting the social conservatives who backed him in the May 2015 leadership contest.

Frankly, Im very comfortable with the fact theres been a falling out. I dont lose any sleep over the fact that Charles McVety and Campaign Life are upset, the PC leader said, adding he now regrets voting against same-sex marriage and abortion when he was a Conservative MP.

If Charles McVety wants his ten bucks back for membership, he can have it. If he wants to vote for someone else, he can vote for someone else, so be it, he said.

Frankly, I think they take more credit for any part of my leadership campaign than is merited. I went out and signed up 45,000 members.

McVety, president of Canada Christian College, on Thursday countered that Brown knows that he won the leadership underhandedly.

We all know that Patrick campaigned for the leadership on the issue of opposing the radical sex-education curriculum. Patrick focused his membership drive on those who oppose the sex-ed, new Canadians and discontented parents, the evangelist said.

He spoke at our rally, sent out a letter and passionately argued against the curriculum on the Steve Paikin leadership debate program. He castigated Christine Elliott for supporting it, he said.

Poor Patrick. He cant remember what he has promised and to whom, so he cant keep his stories straight.

In the Legislatures daily question period, Liberals taunted Brown as he pressed Deputy Premier Deb Matthews on hydro rates, repeatedly chanting: who wrote the letter? as the flummoxed Tory chief stewed in his seat.

Matthews mocked him for a historic flip-flop  four different positions  on a pretty important issue.

I think that is begging the question. What other secret promises have been made in the back rooms? Who know what deals have been made? Its clear that the leader of the opposition is being kept in the dark  or so he claims, she said.

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The Ontario police oversight body will hold a sweeping review of Thunder Bay Polices conduct in the investigations in the deaths of indigenous people.

The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) will conduct their systemic review this fall. They will drill down on the deaths of Stacey DeBungee, 41, whose body was found in a Thunder Bay river on Oct. 19, 2015, and on information and evidence surrounding the deaths of seven students who attended a Thunder Bay high school from 2000 to 2011.

DeBungees body was found in the McIntyre River. Within three hours of the discovery, the Thunder Bay Police issued a statement that a body was found and that an initial investigation does not indicate a suspicious death. A post mortem examination will be conducted to determine an exact cause of death.

In a second press release on Oct. 20, 25 hours after the discovery, the police identified DeBungee and said DeBungees death has been deemed as non-criminal.

There is a systemic treatment of indigenous deaths that is not lost on any of my clients, said Julian Falconer, the DeBungee family lawyer who also acted for Nishnawbe Aski Nation at the inquest into the seven students deaths.

The police put both the releases out before a post mortem occurred, Falconer said.

They are less than worthy victims. This is simply a more acute example, a very clear example, of what is sadly being experienced in the murdered and missing indigenous women and girls scenario. The quality of the investigations are in my decades of practice, well below the standard of anything I have ever seen, Falconer said.

The OIPRD will investigate if there is a pattern by Thunder Bay Police to competently investigate aboriginal deaths, Falconer said. There are too many cases of aboriginal deaths that simply go uninvestigated or incompetently investigated.

The Thunder Bay Police would not comment on details because of the upcoming reviews.

The OIPRD is investigating a complaint in regards to our investigation of the death of Mr. DeBungee, therefore we cannot comment on this matter. In regards to a systemic review of our service by the OIPRD, we have not been provided details from the Director as to scope or parameters, wrote Thunder Bay Police executive officer Chris Adams in an email.

Bradley DeBungee, Staceys brother, said he was denied access to seeing his brothers body and that the police didnt answer his calls or his questions. DeBungee said he felt disrespected.

I asked them how they found him in the river and who found them and they wouldnt explain that. They were (dodging) all the questions I would ask, DeBungee said Thursday in a teleconference call.

This is blatant disregard of one human being over another based on lifestyle and background, DeBungee said.

At his brothers funeral, DeBungee expressed his concerns to Chief James Leonard of Rainy River First Nations and began to look for lawyers for help. None of the lawyers he contacted in Thunder Bay would agree to take the case until he found Falconer, who has recently set up a Thunder Bay branch of his Toronto practice.

Similar police releases were issued in at least two of the deaths of the indigenous students  Jethro Anderson and Reggie Bushie.

The DeBungee family and Leonard asked Falconer to file a complaint to the police oversight body. They also asked that an outside police force reinvestigate the death of DeBungee.

Sonny McGinnis, DeBungees cousin, said he wants the police to show accountability to all citizens, regardless of race.

First Nations lives matter. We cant be looked upon as second-class citizens, said McGinnis.

However, the Thunder Bay Police is refusing to reassign the investigation.

In a letter to Falconer dated Sept., 9, 2016, Thunder Bay Police Chief J.P. Levesque said that while it is not unusual for a municipal police service to make such a request of the OPP, Commissoner (Vince) Hawkes clearly expressed to me that he would not entertain such a request during the course of an outstanding OIPRD investigation. As such, I will not be making a request of the OPP for investigative assistance into the matter at this time.

Levesque added he would review the situation at the end of the external review.

Falconer called this a stonewall by police. This smacks purely of reprisal, he said.

What we are now hearing is that the service that is most acutely being investigated cant assign out its homicide investigations because it is being investigated. This is Alice in Wonderland, Falconer said.

During the joint inquest into the deaths of the seven students, the jury examined the conduct of the Thunder Bay Police, said Falconer. The inquest had more than 145 recommendations aimed at all levels of government, educators and law enforcement.

The OIPRD outlined their intentions in a July 4 letter to Falconers lawyer Meaghan Daniel. The OIPRD could not be reached for comment.

In terms of the complaints made by Mr. Brad DeBungee and Chief Jim Leonard, these complaints will be investigated by the OIPRD with the purpose of determining the facts surrounding the death of Stacey DeBungee and whether the investigation carried out by members of the Thunder Bay Police Service gives rise to a finding that reasonable grounds exist that misconduct under the Police Services Act occurred, the letter said.

The investigation will probe the approach taken generally to such or similar cases as well as drawing on information and evidence from the current inquest into the deaths of aboriginal youths, the letter said.

The above will not only inform the outcome of the conduct investigation but will also lead to Director (Gerry) McNeillys determination as to how a broader systemic review into these issues will be conducted in the fall and in conjunction with the conclusion of the conduct investigation, the letter said.

At the conclusion of oversight investigations, the chiefs of police and the OPP Commissioner are responsible for disciplining officers and holding hearings.

It is now time to appeal to a higher ground, said Leonard.

We need to go further up the chain and get the attorney general, the province involved, the premier, the MPPs, legislators, he said.

Philip Klassen, a spokesman for Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi, said they cannot comment on specific complaints made to the OIPRD or about their investigations.

The Ontario government is fully committed to effective and fair civilian oversight of police. The OIPRD is an independent agency responsible for receiving and dealing with public complaints about police in Ontario. The OIPRD makes decisions independent of government, police and the community, Klassen said.

This is not the first time the DeBungee family has suffered miscarriages of justice.

Brad and Stacey DeBungees three aunts  Edith Quagon, Kathleen McGinnis and Sarah Mason  all were brutally killed and their story was featured in the Star series Gone on murdered and missing indigenous women and girls.

One of the sisters was run over on a highway in Alberta, her body parts strewn across the road. Police said an investigation was not needed. The other two sisters were killed  one man was charged in the death of Edith Quagon and found not guilty; another man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Sarah Mason and was sentenced to five years in prison but he only served three years before being placed on early parole.

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PITTSBURGHLamenting a lack of spirit between whites and blacks, Donald Trump encouraged racial unity on 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.

The Republican presidential contender, eager to blunt criticism that his campaign inspires racism, confronted racial tensions after police-involved shootings of black men in Oklahoma and North Carolina. The North Carolina governor activated the National Guard overnight after another night of violent protests.

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.

The comments come as both Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton court 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 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, after spending much of the past 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.

Clinton has come under fire for saying half of Trumps supporters belong in a basket of deplorables because they are racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic.

She has made curbing gun violence and police brutality a central plank of her candidacy.

On Wednesday, 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.

She has campaigned alongside a group of black women called the Mothers of the Movement, who advocate 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 had no public events planned Thursday as she focuses on preparing for next weeks opening debate. But her campaign unveiled plans to spend $30 million (U.S.) on digital advertising as she seeks to connect with young voters, including young African-Americans and Latinos, who increasingly get their news online instead of from live television.

She addressed racial tensions, albeit in a humorous way, in an interview released Thursday on comic Zach Galifianakis web program, Between Two Ferns.

When you see how well it works for Donald Trump, do you ever think to yourself, Oh maybe I should be more racist? Galifianakis asked her.

Clinton smiled and shook her head, but did not answer.

Meanwhile, Trump faces new scrutiny for his comments about racial tensions.

While he is right that roughly 3,000 people have been shot in Chicago this year, his suggestion that the citys violence is worse than that of Afghanistan is incorrect. 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.

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ROSETTA, EGYPTThe bodies of 162 people had been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast by Friday, two days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to head to Europe.

Dozens more are feared dead, said Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira, who provided the latest figures. He also said that the search operation is still ongoing. Many of them are believed to be children and women who were unable to swim away when the boat sank.

Wahdan el-Sayyed, the spokesman of the Nile Delta province of Beheira, said the search operation was ongoing.

An Associated Press reporter near the Nile Delta city of Rosetta saw between 20 to 30 bodies brought in by coast guards in grey inflatable boats and fishermen in wooden boats early Friday morning and delivered to ambulances at the coast guard pier. Pictures posted on social networking sites showed dozens of bodies lined up in black plastic bags, and others floating near wooden fishing boats. Videos showed that some fishermen were using nets to bring up the bodies.

In one video, a fisherman was heard shouting into his mobile phone that, the sea is littered with bodies.

Many of those gathered at the shore where the bodies arrived appeared to be wearing surgical masks to protect them from the smell of decaying bodies. Some brought chunks of ice to be placed on the bodies to prevent them from decomposing.

Authorities have struggled to give accurate figures for the number of people on board the capsized vessel. The UN Refugee Agency, 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.

The boat was located nearly 12 kilometres from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta when it sank. It had waited at sea for many hours  perhaps days  for smaller wooden boats carrying migrants to arrive from different points along the Egyptian coastline.

Survivors said that overcrowding caused the boat to capsize.

Egyptian officials said that over 160 people were rescued and that the majority are Egyptians, while the others are Sudanese and other nationalities, including Somalians and Eritreans.

The head of the local council in the area, Ali Abdel-Sattar, said that the currents have carried the bodies of the victims many kilometres away from the site of the sinking. Today, four bodies, including two Egyptian children, were found 20 kilometres to the east, he said.

He added that many of the migrants are believed to have been stored in the bottom of the boat, in the fridge.

Those are the ones who drowned first, most probably stuck, and their bodies might not be retrieved anytime soon, he said, adding, those we found are the ones liberated from the boat. I believe many are stuck and now laying in the bottom of the sea. He said the boat may now have sunk to 16 metres below sea level.

The EU border agency, Frontex, recently said more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September this year, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year. Yet UNHCR says that since 2014 there has been a steady increase in the number of people intercepted while trying to leave Egypt, with 4,600 people arrested this year, a 28-per cent increase compared to the previous year.

On Thursday, four people described as members of the vessels crew were arrested over charges of human trafficking and manslaughter.

At a small pier called el-Borg, hundreds of families had gathered Friday, hoping to identify the bodies of their loved ones. Women screamed and relatives pushed and shoved while swarming the ambulances heading to the hospital.

Fishermen said that they had difficulty collecting the badly decomposed bodies, with one saying, we didnt know how to pull them out.

Survivors and relatives said that the boat sank around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, and that it took coast guards around six hours to come to the rescue. Fishing boats in the vicinity were the first to provide help.

I have never seen such a large number of people drowning in the waters as I saw that day, a 42-year-old fisherman said.

He said he arrived at 11 a.m. in the morning and helped the survivors. We threw the ropes, we pulled them in, and many were unconscious. The strong majority are youngsters, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security fears.

Many of the survivors were briefly detained by police. Some of those rescued were taken to hospitals, where they lay handcuffed to beds and under police guard.

The Egyptian news portal, Al-Youm al-Sabei, published interviews with several survivors who said that before their journey the migrants had been stored for several days in chicken farms by the traffickers to evade police. Some of the interviewees said the traffickers asked for $8200 per family, to be given on arrival in Italy.

After his release, survivor Ahmed Darwish said, my advice is that no one should undertake this risk, and especially anyone who saw these things, they will never do it again.

The International Organization for Migration has said that this year over 3,500 have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, with this number rapidly approaching the record death toll set last year.

Those who chose to risk the dangerous journey are often fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere.

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On a quiet night in 1991, Detroit police answered an unnerving call.

A man told them he had just repeatedly stabbed his wife.

She had been six-months pregnant.

Now, she was dead.

When the officers arrived at the house, Gregory Green was calmly waiting. He didnt place the call to get involved in a fiery shootout. It was not a trap. He placed it for one simple, chilling reason: he had just murdered his pregnant wife, and he was ready to be arrested and pay for his crimes.

After Green pleaded no contest to second-degree murder, he spent 16 generally uneventful years in prison  only once, in 2002, did he present any disciplinary issues when he fought another inmate.

He was denied parole four times for various reasons, but they all centred around the main idea that he had not shown remorse for his crime, had not gained adequate insight, and had a lack of empathy, Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections, told the Detroit Free Press.

Finally in 2008, after completing cognitive-based rehabilitation programs, he was deemed ready to re-enter society and released into the world.

Once free, he began a new life.

In 2010, he married a woman named Faith, who had two children. With her, he quickly fathered two of his own  one was five years old, and the other turned four just two weeks ago. Green and his wife held a birthday party for her at their house on Hipp Street in the Dearborn Heights suburb of Detroit.

All the relatives were here, their neighbour Ronnie Jones, who witnessed the party, told WWJ. Theyve had two or three parties this summer where they had get-togethers. I just figured they were a regular family.

On Sept. 1, he was issued a learners permit in preparation for a commercial drivers license.

But not all was well.

His history seemed doomed to repeat itself.

Faith had filed for divorce in August, according to The Associated Press. And on Wednesday, WDIV reported, she served him with divorce papers.

On Wednesday night, police received another unnerving call.

Green told them he had killed his entire family.

When the officers arrived at the house, Gregory Green was sitting on the front porch, calmly waiting. He didnt place the call to get involved in a fiery shootout. He was ready once again to be arrested and pay for his crimes.

The horrible scenes were almost identical, but Wednesdays body count was quadruple that of 1991. All four children were dead, and his wife was suffering from gunshot wounds. Slash marks covered her face and throat.

The two young girls  5-year-old Koi and 4-year-old Kaleigh  he had allegedly placed in a car. A hose Green snaked through the window attached to the tailpipe of his car, carrying carbon monoxide into the vehicle.

He waited for them to die  the colourless, odourless gas causes flu-like symptoms such as headache, confusion and dizziness, before those afflicted drift off into unconsciousness and eventually death, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Then, police say, he carried their small corpses upstairs to the bedroom and placed them in their beds, as if they were simply sleeping. When police found them, according to the Detroit Free Press, they had no visible wounds.

They were just still.

His wife he allegedly tied up in the basement before cutting her face and throat. Then, he shot her in the foot, and left her there to bleed out.

First, though, police say he made her watch as he took his two stepchildren  17-year-old Kara, who WDIV reported was a cheerleader and a National Honor Society member, and Karas 19-year-old brother Chadney  and shot them both execution-style.

Police took Green into custody without incident. Faith was rushed to the hospital and is in fair condition.

On Thursday, Green was charged with four counts of first-degree murder in their deaths, a count of torture and one count of unlawful imprisonment for tying his wife up in the basement. He is also charged with three other felonies, including assault and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He has not entered a plea, and he is being held without bond. It is unclear if he has an attorney, but the Associated Press reported he didnt have one with him in court on Thursday.

There arent many details as to Greens potential motive.

The call was made by the suspect himself, Capt. Michael Petri told reporters in a press conference, according to People. All of this seemed to have stemmed from a domestic violence-related incident.

Domestic violence was allegedly an issue in the couples past. In 2013, Faith applied for a personal protection order. In the report, she wrote:

He is trying to make me leave our home. Were filing for divorce. Hes being belligerent, kicking things. He kicked the couch while the baby was sleeping on it. Hes just kicking things, threatening me and saying if I dont leave, things are going to get ugly. He jumped at me like he was going to attack. This went on for four hours.

That request for a protection order was denied due to what WDIV reported as insufficient allegations.

One neighbour hinted at such abuse, as well. Michelle Carson said Green was kind to the kids but not his wife.

He kept her confined, Michelle Carson told WDIV. (She) couldnt socialize, like a prisoner.

Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy also blamed domestic violence.

According to WWXY, she said:

There is nothing that better illustrates the silence of violence than this case. A confluence of events led to the deaths of four beautiful children. The alleged evidence in this case will show an appalling level of domestic violence that was cataclysmic. We must push the issue of domestic violence back to the forefront and be constantly educated about it.

But much of the Dearborn Heights community seemed shocked.

The older teenagers father, Chadney Allen, Sr., was caught completely off-guard.

They didnt give me any red flags, he told WXYZ.

It just shows you never know whats going on behind closed doors, one neighbour told WDIV. Its sad. Its a horrible thing that happened.

Nothing we can do about it, just keep them in our prayers and do the best for the mother, said another. I really feel bad for the mom. You know, Id rather die if my four children were dead.

They were just quiet, you know, kids seemed always happy. The guy seemed really good, too, Terry Strickland, another neighbour, told WWJ. I mean, the time when he accidentally hit my car, he was polite, he came and knocked on my door and told me what happened and we worked things out. He seemed like a very good guy.

Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko said, Its a very well-kept house. Theres no reason that you would ordinarily think that theres something unusual. Nice pool, extra yard, the house is landscaped nicely. It looks like a nice home that a family was living in.

Since the slayings, the community has reached out in various ways, according to WXYZ. A memorial of flowers and teddy bears has appeared on the homes front steps and continues to grow. The Pye Funeral Home donated caskets to the family. Finally, a vigil for the family members was held Thursday night.

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This week, scientists, writers and other thinkers gathered to celebrate the act of discovery. Awards were handed out. There was a podium. Nobel Prize winners were in attendance.

And that was about as closely as the Ig Nobel Prizes, awarded annually in a ceremony at Harvard University, approximated their far less-silly inspiration, the Nobel Prizes.

Each autumn since 1991, the Ig Nobel ceremony has dished out accolades for studies and findings that make people laugh, and then think. And the 2016 crop of odd-yet-provoking discoveries did not deviate from the norm (except, perhaps, to mock Volkswagens diesel-gate scandal as solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions). Among the winners was Thomas Thwaites, who recently published a book, GoatMan: How I Took a Holiday from Being Human, about living as a goat for three days in Switzerland.

The point of the Ig Nobels is a total lack of gravitas. But the science, for the most part, is legitimate. The awards have been given in the past for discovering the way a vortex of body hair causes belly button lint to accumulate in the navel, or how mosquitoes are attracted to the scent of Limburger cheese. (The cheese study led to a prototype trap for malaria mosquitoes, baited with cheese.)

No one can say Thwaites did not embrace the goat premise as fully as possible. Thwaites told The Washington Post in May that during his three-day stint as a goat, he wore a custom prosthetic. Akin to a goat exoskeleton, the device let him walk on all fours, like a goat. He slept in a barn with the other goats in the herd. He even grazed on the Alps hillside in the manner of a goat.

Although, like every other human, Thwaites lacked the organ, called a rumen, that goats use to digest grass. I had to use a pressure cooker at night to cook the grass Id chewed up during the day, and spat into my not-quite artificial rumen, he said.

To inhibit his ability to speak  goats cant talk, after all  he sought out a neuroscientist willing to zap a specific area of his brain with a magnet. At least temporarily, Thwaites was at a magnetically induced loss for words.

The official award winners, via Ig Nobels announcement:

Reproduction Prize (Egypt)  The late Ahmed Shafik, for studying the effects of wearing polyester, cotton, or wool trousers on the sex life of rats, and for conducting similar tests with human males.

Economics Prize (New Zealand, U.K.)  Mark Avis, Sarah Forbes and Shelagh Ferguson, for assessing the perceived personalities of rocks, from a sales and marketing perspective.

Physics Prize (Hungary, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland)  Gabor Horvath, Miklos Blaho, Gyorgy Kriska, Ramon Hegedus, Balazs Gerics, Robert Farkas, Susanne Akesson, Peter Malik and Hansruedi Wildermuth, for discovering why white-haired horses are the most horsefly-proof horses, and for discovering why dragonflies are fatally attracted to black tombstones.

Chemistry Prize (Germany)  Volkswagen, for solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions by automatically, electromechanically producing fewer emissions whenever the cars are being tested.

Medicine Prize (Germany)  Christoph Helmchen, Carina Palzer, Thomas Munte, Silke Anders and Andreas Sprenger, for discovering that if you have an itch on the left side of your body, you can relieve it by looking into a mirror and scratching the right side of your body (and vice versa).

Psychology Prize (Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Canada, U.S.)  Evelyne Debey, Maarten De Schryver, Gordon Logan, Kristina Suchotzki and Bruno Verschuere, for asking a thousand liars how often they lie, and for deciding whether to believe those answers.

Peace Prize (Canada, U.S.)  Gordon Pennycook, James Allan Cheyne, Nathaniel Barr, Derek Koehler and Jonathan Fugelsang for their scholarly study called On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bt.

Biology Prize (U.K.)  Awarded jointly to: Charles Foster, for living in the wild as, at different times, a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox and a bird; and to Thomas Thwaites, for creating prosthetic extensions of his limbs that allowed him to move in the manner of, and spend time roaming hills in the company of, goats.

Literature Prize (Sweden)  Fredrik Sjoberg, for his three-volume autobiographical work about the pleasures of collecting flies that are dead, and flies that are not yet dead.

Perception Prize (Japan)  Atsuki Higashiyama and Kohei Adachi, for investigating whether things look different when you bend over and view them between your legs.

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ALEXANDRIA, VA.A computer hacker who helped Daesh, also known as Islamic State or ISIS, by providing names of more than 1,000 U.S. government and military workers as potential targets was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison.

The sentence was much higher than the six-year term sought by defence lawyers, who argued that their client, Ardit Ferizi, meant no real harm and is not a true supporter of Daesh.

He was a nonsensical, misguided teenager who did not know what he was doing, said public defender Elizabeth Mullin. He has never embraced ISILs ideology.

Ferizi, 20, a native of Kosovo who was arrested last year in Malaysia, is the first person convicted in the U.S. of both computer hacking and terrorism charges. He admitted hacking a private company and pulling out the names, email passwords and phone numbers of about 1,300 people with .gov and .mil addresses. Daesh published the names with a threat to attack.

At Fridays sentencing hearing, Ferizi struggled to explain why he did it, when asked directly by U.S. District judge Leonie Brinkema for an explanation. He said that it all happened very quickly.

I feel so bad for what I did, he said in Albanian-accented English. I am very sorry for what I did, making people feel scared.

Prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence of 25 years.

The defendants conduct has indefinitely put the lives of 1,300 military members and government workers at risk, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Van Grack.

He disputed the idea that Ferizis crime was a whim.

Before turning over the names to the Islamic State Hacking Division last year, Ferizi operated a website devoted to propagating Daeshs propaganda.

In online conversations, Ferizi defended Daesh, and when he gave the 1,300 identities to the organization, he knew he was putting them in would-be terrorists crosshairs, Van Grack said.

This was a hit list. The point was to find these individuals and hit them, to strike at their necks,  Van Grack said, mimicking the language Daesh used when it published the names.

Van Grack quoted a letter from one of the victims, who said she has an easily identifiable name and is now nervous when she interacts with Muslims, something she feels guilty about.

Van Grack cited another terror case in northern Virginia, in which the defendant, Haris Qamar, allegedly staked out two of the addresses of people in the list who lived near him in the town of Burke.

Mullin countered that nobody on the list has actually been harmed, and said that much of the information Ferizi helped disseminate was publicly available anyway.

Court papers describe a difficult life for Ferizi, who was nominally raised as a Muslim and was just 4 years old when NATO airstrikes forced Serbian forces to withdraw from the territory, which subsequently became independent.

Ferizis uncle was murdered and his father was kidnapped during the war, according to letters written by Ferizis family.

As a teenager, Ferizi got in trouble for hacking into Kosovar government databases, but he avoided jail.

Ferizi went to Malaysia to study cybersecurity, but continued his hacking activities and developed worsening mental health problems, defence lawyers said.

He met a Daesh recruiter over the Internet while he was trying to expose online pedophiles, his lawyers said.

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NEW DELHIAn Indian court on Friday acquitted two suspects in the death of a British teenager whose body was found on a popular beach in western India in 2008.

Fiona MacKeown, the mother of 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling, said she was shocked by the verdict. Keelings bruised and partially clothed body was discovered on a Goa beach.

Goa states top elected official, Laxmikant Parsekar, said prosecutors would study the judgment. We should go for an appeal, he told reporters.

Police initially said Keeling drowned because she was drunk, but pressure from her family forced a second autopsy that indicated she was likely killed and may also have been raped.

Mackeown testified during the trial that she did not believe her daughter drowned because she was a good swimmer.

Two men who were allegedly seen drinking at a bar with Keeling the night she died were arrested and charged with culpable homicide and sexual assault.

Keelings family comes from Bideford in southwest England. She had been on vacation in India with her mother, her mothers boyfriend, and her six siblings. Her family was travelling elsewhere in India when she died.

Indias legal system is notoriously slow and cases routinely drag on for years. The trial in Keelings death began in 2010 and took six years to complete.

Goa is a former Portuguese colony and a popular backpacking destination. Millions of tourists visit its numerous beach resorts every year.

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NEW YORKMore than half the country fears a Trump presidency. And only about a third of Americans believe he is at least somewhat qualified to serve in the White House.

In the final sprint to Election Day, a new Associated Press-GfK poll underscores those daunting roadblocks for Donald Trump as he tries to overtake Hillary Clinton.

Moreover, most voters oppose the hard-line approach to immigration that is a centrepiece of the billionaire businessmans campaign. They are more likely to trust Clinton to handle a variety of issues facing the country, and Trump has no advantage on the national security topics also at the forefront of his bid.

Trump undoubtedly has a passionate base of support, seen clearly among the thousands of backers who fill the stands at his signature rallies. But most people dont share that fervour. Only 29 per cent of registered voters would be excited and just 24 per cent would be proud should Trump prevail in November.

Only one in four voters find him even somewhat civil or compassionate, and just a third say hes not at all racist.

We as Americans should be embarrassed about Donald Trump, said Michael DeLuise, 66, a retired university vice-president and registered Republican who lives in Eugene, Ore. We as Americans have always been able to look at the wacky leaders of other countries and say Phew, thats not us. We couldnt if Trump wins. Its like putting P.T. Barnum in charge. And its getting dangerous.

To be sure, the nation is sour on Clinton, too. Only 39 per cent of voters have a favourable view of the Democratic nominee, compared to the 56 per cent who view her unfavourably. Less than a third say they would be excited or proud should she move into the White House.

I think shes an extremely dishonest person and have extreme disdain for her and her husband, said one registered Republican, Denise Pettitte, 36, from Watertown, Wis. I think it would be wonderful to elect a woman, but a different woman.

But as poorly as voters may view Clinton, they think even less of Trump.

Forty-four per cent say they would be afraid if Clinton, the former secretary of state, is elected, far less than say the same of Trump. Hes viewed more unfavourably than favourably by a 61 per cent to 34 per cent margin, and more say their unfavourable opinion of the New Yorker is a strong one than say the same of Clinton, 50 per cent to 44 per cent.

That deep distain for both candidates prompts three-quarters of voters to say that a big reason theyll be casting their ballot is to stop someone, rather than elect someone.

Its not really a vote for her as its a vote against Trump, said Mark Corbin, 59, a business administrator and registered Democrat from Media, Pennsylvania.

Roughly half of voters see Clinton at least somewhat qualified, while just 30 per cent say Trump is.

Even when it comes to what may be Clintons greatest weakness, the perception that she is dishonest, Trump fails to perform much better: 71 per cent say shes only slightly or not at all honest, while 66 per cent say the same of Trump. Forty-nine per cent say Clinton is at least somewhat corrupt, but 43 per cent say that of Trump.

Whatever her problems are, they dont even come close to him, said JoAnn Dinkelman, 66, a Republican from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who will cross party lines and vote for Clinton. Everything that comes out of his mouth that is fact-checked turns out to be a lie.

Trump finds no respite with voters when it comes to what he vows to do as president, either.

Nearly 6 in 10 oppose his promise to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, and only 21 per cent of his supporters and 9 per cent of registered voters overall are very confident he would succeed at fulfilling his promise that Mexico would pay for the construction.

Six in 10 believe there should be a way for immigrants living in the country illegally to become U.S. citizens  a view that Trump opposes.

The wall isnt the answer. Its not feasible and Mexico wont pay for it, said Timothy Seitz, 26, a graduate student at the Ohio State University and a Republican. We should be leaders. We shouldnt cower from others and cut ourselves off in the world.

Beyond immigration, voters say they trust Clinton over Trump by wide margins when it comes to health care, race relations and negotiations with Russia. She also narrowly tops Trump when it comes to filling Supreme Court vacancies, as well as another of the billionaires signature issues: handling international trade.

Trump is narrowly favoured on creating jobs, 39 per cent to 35 per cent, while in general, voters are about equally split on which candidate would better handle the economy. Voters are slightly more likely to trust Trump than Clinton on handling gun laws, 39 per cent to 35 per cent.

Voters are closely split on which candidate would better handle protecting the country and evenly divided on which would better handle the threat posed by Daesh, also known as ISIS or ISIL. And Americans are much more likely to say they trust Clinton than Trump to do a better job handling the U.S. image abroad.

The AP-GfK Poll of 1,694 adults, including 1,476 registered voters, was conducted online Sept. 15-19, using a sample drawn from GfKs 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 plus or minus 2.7 points.

Respondents were first selected randomly using telephone or mail survey methods and later interviewed online. People selected for KnowledgePanel who didnt have access to the internet were provided access for free.

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For 10 years, Jason Adams taught eighth grade science at a middle school just a couple miles from Sandy Hook Elementary, the site of one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history.

A Newtown, Conn., native, Adams attended Sandy Hook as a boy. So did his son, who was in first grade and was not injured on the day a gunman wielding assault weapons shot and killed 20 children and six adults at the school.

So in April, when Adams brought a loaded .45 calibre pistol to his middle school, parents, teachers and administrators were alarmed and confused. A school employee told security he believed Adams, 46, was carrying a gun under his clothes. He was  and police arrested him for it.

Adams pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of possession of a weapon on school property and later resigned. For months, his reasons for bringing the pistol to the middle school were a mystery.

But on Thursday, Adams made himself clear.

During his sentencing hearing on the gun charge, Adams, who had a permit to carry the weapon, said he showed up armed because he and his family had received a barrage of threatening messages from Sandy Hook conspiracy theorists, ABC7 reported.

Id move if I were you, you dont want me anywhere near your town, Im bad for peoples health, those are the types of threats that prompted him to renew his pistol permit, his defence attorney John Maxwell said.

The judge seemed sympathetic, ABC7 reported, saying he believed that Adams never intended to hurt anyone and that he would be unlikely to reoffend.

Adams, who admitted in the hearing to carrying the gun, was sentenced to accelerated rehabilitation, meaning the charge could be scrubbed from his record in a matter of months, according to the News-Times.

Almost four years have passed since 20-year-old Adam Lanzas rampage through the Connecticut elementary school, but the Sandy Hook hoaxers still havent gone away.

Its a small group of people who offer up a bevy of conspiracy theories about the mass shooting. The most prominent of their claims: that the December 2012 massacre was a false flag orchestrated by government officials to build support for gun control.

No credible evidence supports that theory  nor any of the others that have been peddled on message boards in dark corners of the internet since the attack.

But that didnt matter to the people who purportedly threatened Adams.

According to the News-Times, Adams began carrying a pistol when he started receiving dozens of threatening messages by phone and on social media from people claiming the shooting was staged.

Adamss wife Geri Adams told the News-Times that many of the threats came from a New York man who created multiple social media profiles to continue the harassment.

In one message, the man told them to leave their home, she said. And in another, the man sent a picture of Geri Adams reading to a kindergarten class, along with the words, Have fun reading to the dead children.

We did a background check and discovered the identity of the man, she told the News-Times. We brought all the information to the authorities, but the police never filed a report.

Maxwell, Adamss attorney, said Adams would keep the gun locked in his car during work. But on the day of his arrest, he was rushing to a staff meeting and he inadvertently brought it with him, he said.

Colleagues came to his defence when they heard the full story, Maxwell told ABC7.

Hes a great guy, he said. Good teacher, devoted, good family man, done right by everybody.

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BAGHDADThe graffiti that appeared on a wall near the mosque in Mosul, Iraq, where the Daesh leader declared his caliphate two years ago was a small but symbolic act of rebellion.

The spray-painted letter m  for the Arabic word mukawama, meaning resistance  was part of a campaign by Kitaeb al-Mosul, an underground opposition group in the northern Iraqi city that released a video detailing their efforts this month.

Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, reacted with swift brutality, executing three young men it accused of being involved. The militants released their own video showing the men kneeling in orange jumpsuits before being shot in the head. The letter m was sprayed on the wall behind them, a reference to their alleged crime. A spray can lay on the ground beside them, surrounded by blood.

In recent months, Daesh has carried out more arrests and executions such as these in a sign of desperation as it faces the prospect of losing Mosul, according to reports from inside the city.

Mosul is the largest city under Daesh control and is central to its narrative of having restored the Islamic caliphate. It was less than a month after Mosul fell in June 2014 that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appeared in the mosque there and called on Muslims to follow him.

The recapture of the city would be a significant step toward depriving Daesh of its territory and forcing the group back into an insurgency, U.S. and Iraqi officials say. That is only a matter of time, they add.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has pledged to retake Mosul by the end of the year, and the Iraqi air force dropped seven million leaflets on the city last week telling residents to prepare for the zero hour.

As Iraqi forces  and the U.S. troops advising them  move closer, making the recently recaptured Qayyarah Air Base, 40 kilometres south of Mosul, a logistical hub for the impending battle, Daesh has also been making preparations.

Daesh is weaker in Mosul, but it is using methods of oppression like random arrests to try and show it is still in control, said a representative of Kitaeb al-Mosul who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons. He described the atmosphere in the city as tense and said the militants were in a state of confusion.

Daesh began carrying out mass arrests after the group began its graffiti campaign two months ago, he said.

The militants have constructed new berms around neighbourhoods on the north, east and south sides of the city, he said. In some neighbourhoods, concrete barricades have been erected, he said, speculating that the militants are trying to isolate neighbourhoods because they are concerned that residents may turn against them if Iraqi forces draw near.

Right now they are making arrests with no investigation, in a way they didnt before, said Sheikh Mohammed al-Jarba, a tribal leader from the city, who said he is regularly in touch with people there.

I know they are digging new trenches around the city, he said. Theyve never stopped digging them.

Internet connections to homes in Mosul have been banned over the past two months, as Daesh attempts to prevent information on its positions from leaking out. Cell networks have been largely cut for more than a year and a half.

However, some patches of phone network remain, and those with relatives in Mosul occasionally receive updates from their loved ones, allowing some glimpses of life in the city.

There are no accurate estimates of the number of civilians that remain in the city, but the United Nations has said more than a million people could flee Mosul and its surroundings during the offensive. Some Iraqi officials and relatives of residents say that figure could be even higher because thousands of people have arrived in Mosul after offensives in other Daesh areas.

Atheel al-Nujaifi, the former governor of the province, who is now based in the northern city of Irbil, said the displaced had come from areas including Qayyarah, which was retaken by Iraqi forces this month. Some civilians from largely Sunni areas fear how they will be treated by security forces after an area is retaken; others may have sympathies or allegiances to the group or have simply been fleeing the fighting in any direction they could.

Nujaifi said people had arrived from as far away as Manbij in Syria, which was retaken by U.S.-backed rebel forces a month ago.

The presence of a large number of civilians complicates the offensive, which is expected to rely heavily on coalition air support. The Iraqi government and humanitarian aid agencies are also attempting to prepare for a huge exodus but have warned they lack resources.

One former Mosul resident said Daesh has been seizing empty homes to house those displaced, including the house of her grandmother who had left the city.

The number of people has increased a lot, she said, adding that her friends and relatives had said there had been searching campaigns on houses.

They are paranoid, and the number of searches is way more than before, said the woman, who now lives in the Iraqi city of Dahuk and whose name has been withheld for safety reasons.

In the same Daesh video that shows the execution of the alleged spray-painters, the group also executed three men it accused of spying.

Send your agents and spies; our swords are ready for them and are thirsty for their blood, a militant said, accusing the men of being the eyes of America.

The U.S. military estimates that around 3,000 to 4,500 militants remain in Mosul. Over the past two months, U.S.-led airstrikes have killed 12 Daesh leaders in Mosul alone, Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said in a recent briefing.

These strikes have a disruptive effect on the enemy command and control, which is important in setting conditions for Mosuls liberation, he said.

Some officials said people who have collaborated with Daesh are attempting to switch sides.

Their own members are trying to deny them, said Abubaker Kbi, the head of the Sunni Awqaf for Mosul  the official representatives for its mosques. Despite the mosques now being Daesh controlled, he said he is still in contact with people in the city and has heard from Daesh members who want to leave.

The former resident said that arrests have also singled out former officers who served in the military under Saddam Hussein.

They know that they still might have connections to some people in the military, and they are afraid that they will co-operate with the army or turn against them, she said.

Another resident who fled Mosul but is still in touch with his brother in the city said former officers had been targeted.

One of his distant relatives  a direct relation of a former army officer  had been randomly arrested five days ago, he said.

All the old officers  they are targeting them and their families, he said.

Nujaifi said there are also signs of disarray among Daesh ranks, with increasing corruption inside the group. Despite a ban on leaving the city, some residents have been able to escape by paying large bribes.

However, many dont have the means to do so. For them, it is a waiting game.

They say even if it means their houses are destroyed, it will be worth it in the end, the woman in Dahuk said. They might be weaker, but Islamic State have a strong fist and they are being harsher than you can imagine.

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With Chinese Premier Li Keqiangs visit to Canada closely following Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus first official trip to China, human rights issues have once again come to command much attention on the discussion of Canadas relations with China.

While raising human rights concerns with the Chinese government is important to Canada as a vocal proponent of freedom of expression and rule of law on the global stage, we must do so in a sober evaluation of the historical context, Chinese realities, and Canadas capabilities and limitations.

First, we need to look at the historical progress China has made in improving human rights in all aspects. When Pierre Trudeaus government recognized the Peoples Republic of China in 1970, most Chinese were living in poverty, the violent Cultural Revolution was still going on and the country was a totalitarian state. Today, China has lifted 700 million of its citizens out of poverty, contributing 70 per cent to the UNs global poverty elimination targets. Chinese people today enjoy unprecedented freedom in all areas, including a wide range of political and social rights.

Yes, China remains a one-party state. Attempts to overthrow the government are met with an iron fist. The state controls the press and censors the media and communications. Goggle, Facebook and other sites are blocked.

But the country also has the largest number of Internet users on Earth, and WeChat, the Chinese version of Twitter, Facebook and FaceTime combined, has more than 700 million users. It is impossible to exercise effective censorship over fast-growing open technologies and social media. At the same time, China has become the largest tourist superpower, taking top spot in both outgoing and inflow of tourists. Such interactions with the rest of the world make China more and more open by the day.

For those who take a static view of Chinas human rights conditions, or use simplistic terms to describe a dynamic and complex issue, they need to be reminded that Pierre Trudeau chose to engage China not because it had a good human rights records, but because of its strategic importance for Canada and the rest of the world.

Second, we need to stop treating our pursuit of human rights and our quest for closer economic ties with China as mutually exclusive objectives. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper reinforced such a false dichotomy by famously claiming that we dont want to sell out Canadian values to that almighty dollar. No wonder Mr. Harpers cabinet struggled to get its China policy right for a decade. A key element in Prime Minister Trudeaus resetting of Canada-China relations is not to treat the two issues as a trade-off, or something needing a balance.

For those who insist that trade with China must come with human rights conditions, they should be reminded that Canada did not reconsider NAFTA when the United States violated international law in invading other countries, conducting torture in secret CIA facilities around the world, or illegally monitoring hundreds of millions of people globally.

Third, we need to accept the reality that no external forces can impose human rights changes in China. The improvement in human rights, rule of law and democracy in China is ultimately a fight by the Chinese citizens themselves. And our efforts in this area should be limited.

For those who think Canada should impose Canadian values on China out of principle, they should be reminded that U.S.-led colour revolutions, projects of exporting democracy and regime changes, have led to disastrous outcomes in many parts of the world, regardless of how genuine the motive might be.

Realizing our limitations does not mean Canada cannot contribute to positive changes in China in the human rights area. To the contrary, it helps us move forward with well-identified priorities in engaging China on human rights.

For example, an extradition treaty, if negotiated with strong Canadian standards, will return Chinese financial criminals currently hiding in Canada to China, stop Canada from being a haven for Chinese corrupt officials, and contribute to Chinas efforts in establishing the rule of law.

A set of bilateral human rights programs, if established, will introduce a Canadian voice and presence in Chinas road to better human rights protection, although the road may be difficult and long. And the increase in people-to-people exchanges, including extensive economic and trade activities, will certainly help China move in the direction Canada wants to see.

A proactive engagement with China on human rights means going beyond periodic rhetoric and moving forward on implementing a few workable programs that can be measured in their deliverables.

Wenran Jiang, a political science professor at the University of Alberta, is a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Centre for International Scholars.

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You can say a lot of things about Ottawa, but you cant say its known for its architectural splendour. Its a mostly hum-drum city, with a few notable exceptions  including the splendid and iconic Chateau Laurier hotel.

The view along the Rideau Canal to the turreted Chateau is quite lovely, and the hotel occupies one of the most treasured pieces of real estate in the national capital, just a stones throw from Parliament Hill.

Is it possible to despoil this gem, beloved by both the people of Ottawa and tourists who flock to the capital from all over the country? Unfortunately, it is.

The owners of the century-old Chateau, Larco Investments, want to build an addition onto the back of the hotel and recently unveiled their proposed design. It is, in a word, dreadful.

Public reaction has been almost uniformly negative. Some described the design as horrible and gaudy. Others said the renderings appeared to have been inspired by Lego, the online cubist construction game Minecraft, or the Gates of Mordor in The Lord of the Rings. One person summed it up with this tweet: Thats one of the ugliest things Ive seen outside of Stalingrad.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson bluntly advised the architects: Back to the drawing board.

Unfortunately, the owners appear to be sticking with the design that they call a modern interpretation of the heritage character of the Chateau with a vocabulary of Indiana Limestone, glass and copper.

Anyone who cares about our capital city should hope they change their minds. If they dont, the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission, which both have a role to play in the approval process for the design, should make clear they wont stand to see one of the citys architectural gems defaced.

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Shares in France's No. 2 bank, Societe Generale, (SCGLY) could tumble if a court rules that ex-trader Jerome Kerviel doesn't have to repay 4.9 billion ($5.5 billion) of trading losses amassed in 2008, exposing the bank to the repayment of a 2.2 billion tax break.

On Friday France's junior budget minister said the state could seek repayment of the tax exemptions handed to the bank under a tax statute reserved for businesses that are victims of fraud.

"We will act on the court's judgment," Christian Eckert told French radio station Europe 1.

The repayments would reduce SocGen's tier one capital ratio, a key measure of bank strength, by about 60 basis points to 11.1%, Goldman Sachs warned in a note published in June. Kepler Chevreux, a French broker, said a loss for SocGen would threaten the banks 2016 dividend.

SocGen shares were already under pressure ahead of the announcement, which is expected late Friday European time. They had fallen 1.4% to 31.93 by early afternoon, outpacing falls among its major rivals BNP Paribas (BNPQF) , down 0.6%, and Credit Agricole (CRARF) , down 1%.

The case against Kerviel dates back to 2008 when the trader amassed about 50 billion of alleged unauthorized positions in European index futures, betting wrongly that the market would fall. SocGen lost 4.9 billion when it unwound the position and briefly teetered on the brink of collapse as a result of the trades and the wider global credit crisis.

Kerviel in 2010 was found guilty of fraud, ordered to repay the losses and sentenced to three years in prison. The ex-trader was never expected to repay the cash, but the legal victory enabled SocGen to reduce its taxes by 2.2 billion during 2009 and 2010.

Kerviel and his layers have always maintained that the bank encouraged traders to take unauthorized positions and turned a blind eye so long as they made money. That position gained credence in June this year when the prosecutor in the current case suggested that Kerviel shouldn't have to pay damages to SocGen. In a separate case, concluded in July last year, a judge ruled that SocGen was aware of Kerviel's trading activity and had dismissed him without cause. Kerviel was awarded 455,000 in damages, unpaid bonuses and salary following that ruling.
The weakness seen this week and generally speaking in shares of some healthcare services companies may be overplayed, especially in light of uncertainty around Community Health Systems (CYH) after the company went public with its plans to explore options.

Certain namesTenet Healthcare (THC) and Surgical Care Affiliates (SCAI) have been disproportionately impacted, and following further drops amid media reports around Community, both stocks present an opportune time for investors to buy, wrote Joshua Raskin of Barclays in a Friday report.

Shares of healthcare services company Tenet have retreated about 6% since last Friday as of Thursday's close, the last trading session before debt ridden Community publicly said it was working with advisers and weighing alternatives. Tenet shares are down a little more than 25% year-to-date.

While Barclays' Raskin couldn't be reached on Friday, in his note he argued that the operational underperformance seen by Community Health is a result of company specific issues: "We believe that THC has been (unfairly) most impacted by some of the CYH specific media reports," the analyst noted.

The analyst went on to say he believes Dallas-headquarted Tenet is not exploring further asset sales, having already completed divestitures in Georgia and North Carolina.

While sources of volatility in Tenet shares include its diversification into high-growth, high margin business, its levarage ratio and ability to service debt, Raskin indicated the company's strong free cash flow generation is likely to offset those concerns.

Raskin also identified Surgical Care, a Deerfield, Ill.-based outpatient surgical care company that has significantly underperformed peers this year in the facilities sector, as a buying opportunity. The company has continued to post strong earnings in the wake of the stock's decline, he noted.

With the ASC industry poised for strong growth, he wrote that Surgical is "in the position of reducing medical cost trend while improving outcomes and enhancing the consumer (not just the patient) experience."

Besides Community Health, other rural hospital operators to keep an eye on include Quorum Health (QHC) and LifePoint Health (LPNT) , which have also gotten beaten down in the equity markets this year.

With Community Health already working with bankers to weigh possible transactions, all three may find themselves at a crossroads that could draw the attention of an activist investor, TheDeal, a sister publication of TheStreet reported Friday.

Besides trying to maneuver a transaction of some type, an investor might also be inclined to push for a change in the C-suite as Community Health as CEO Wayne Smith and CFO W. Larry Cash are 71 and 68, respectively.
Expect Alaska Air Group (ALK) and Virgin America (VA) to reach their destination. But there will be turbulence before they get there.

A Sept. 30 deadline is approaching for the Department of Justice to act on Alaska's planned $4 billion purchase of Virgin America, and as the date draws closer investors are getting nervous about the transaction. Shares of Virgin America are now trading about 6% below Alaska's offer price, a spread that has widened significantly in the last two weeks.

While a DOJ lawsuit to block the deal as of now is unlikely, a source close to the deal predicted the companies will likely agree to extend the deadline to allow for more talks with the regulator. Representatives from the airlines have reportedly held a series of face to face meetings with DOJ antitrust officials in recent weeks seeking a compromise to address potential concerns and allow the merger to proceed.

In theory, approval for Alaska and Virgin America should come easy, especially considering that since 2008 the DOJ has given its blessings to a series of transactions involving Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and Continental, Southwest Airlines and AirTran and most recently American Airlines and US Airways that have led to a "Big Four" controlling nearly 80% of domestic capacity.

This deal involves two minnows and would arguably create an entity better-able to compete with the giants, a scenario that should help consumers. But the DOJ has shown remorse over allowing those deals to proceed, launching multiple investigations into airline pricing in recent years and pushing back on smaller deals between airlines to swap assets at certain airports, and is seemingly currently suspicious about any and all airline deal-making.

Despite the concern, most in the industry still believe the deal will get done. Raymond James analyst Savanthi Syth, in a note, called the merger skepticism "largely unwarranted," saying she expects a concession agreement to be reached and the deal to close as early as late this year.

"While any airline consolidation would likely be scrutinized heavily following the legacy consolidation phase, we believe that due to limited overlap and relatively small market share that does not significantly alter control of the industry, the merger should still close accordingly," Syth wrote. Virgin America overlaps on just six of Alaska's 220 routes, she noted, and even combined the two airlines' would rank fifth in market share at crowded Los Angeles International Airport.

Alaska/Virgin would control about 22% of seats on domestic West Coast flights, in line with Southwest's 26% share and 17% share held by United Continental. Alaska's current pre-merger share is 18%.

There appears room for compromise. At airports including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle, Alaska might be asked to give up gates or agree to at least temporarily trim service. The combination could also be forced to either commit to or sell Virgin America's slots at Dallas' Love Field, a capacity-restrained airport. Southwest and Delta are currently in court fighting over access to that in-town airport, and other airlines have been turned away.

Virgin America acquired the Love Field presence thanks to divestitures required as part of another deal, the 2014 merger between American Airlines and US Airways.

Morgan Stanley's Rajeev Lalwani also believes the deal will get done, and said Alaska is well-positioned even if it does not. The airline pre-merger traded at a premium to its peers and some investors at the time of the deal announcement criticized the merger as expensive and adding significant integration risk.

Virgin, however, could see its shares fall more than 40% in the event of a deal collapse should the market restore its stand-alone valuation to the low-end of its peers.
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of Whiting Petroleum (WLL) were dropping 5.88% to $7.44 on heavy trading volume mid-afternoon on Friday as oil prices retreated.

Crude oil (WTI) was down 4.04% to $44.45 per barrel while Brent crude was falling 3.63% to $45.92 per barrel this afternoon.

Earlier today oil reversed gains from earlier this week after reports that Saudi Arabia did not expect OPEC and other producers to reach an agreement about output levels next week, Bloomberg notes, citing sources.

OPEC countries and other major producers will meet on September 28 at the International Energy Forum in Algeria.

Officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran also met in Vienna this week to discuss production figures but reached no breakthrough, sources told Reuters.

Additionally, the Baker Hughes (BHI) weekly rig count released earlier today reported that U.S. drillers added 2 rigs this week to total 418 active units.

More than 24.07 million shares of Whiting Petroleum, a Denver-based independent oil and gas company, have traded so far today vs. the 30-day average volume of 22.65 million shares.

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 rated this stock as a "sell" with a ratings score of D.

The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, generally high debt management risk, disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself.

You can view the full analysis from the report here: WLL
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of AT&T (T) were increasing in late-afternoon trading on Friday as the telecommunications giant is looking into making investments in Argentina as the country launches telecom reforms, according to Reuters.

Argentina's Communications Minister Oscar Aguad said AT&T and telecommunications company Motorola Solutions (MSI) have expressed interest in investing in Argentina. The government expects to draw $20 billion in investments over four years.

The telecom reform would allow phone companies to offer paid television services, a move that Argentina's President Mauricio Macri is making as he tries to generate new investments in the country's economy.

The new rules will take effect in 2018.

Macri also plans to sponsor an updated communications law in 2017 that would encourage technological innovation and competition, Reuters reports.

(AT&T is a holding in David Peltier's Dividend Stock Advisor.)



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 AT&T as a Buy with a ratings score of A+. This is based on the convergence of positive investment measures, which should help this stock outperform the majority of stocks that it rates. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, increase in net income, good cash flow from operations, expanding profit margins and solid stock price performance. The team feels its strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that it evaluated.

You can view the full analysis from the report here:

T

T data by YCharts
The Republican Attorneys General Association had raised $15.7 million by early May, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, well ahead of the $5.7 million collected by its Democratic counterpart. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Conservative organizations are pouring money into the coffers of the Republican Attorneys General Association, which is far outpacing its Democratic rival in fundraising to elect candidates who will stand up to what they see as an activist Democratic agenda.

The Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA) had raised $15.7 million by early May, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a campaign finance watchdog, well ahead of the $5.7 million collected by the Democratic Attorneys General Association.

Founded in 1999, RAGA has recently ramped up its fundraising efforts; in 2014, it brought in $16 million, up from $470,000 in 2002, and it claims credit for helping to increase the number of Republican attorneys general elected by half a dozen or more. Recently GOP attorneys general have cast themselves as the last bulwark against federal government encroachment and have thrown themselves against President Obamas policies on immigration, health-care reform, climate change and Labor Department overtime rules.

RAGA has tapped into the fossil-fuel industry, health insurers and ideological donors from the right wing of the political spectrum for large infusions of cash.

The top contributions, as of early May, included $1,445,000 from the Judicial Crisis Network, devoted to blocking the appointment of liberal judges; $1,180,000 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Institute for Legal Reform; $500,000 from Republican casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson; and $451,100 from Blue Cross Blue Shield, a large health insurance company that has been struggling to provide plans under the Affordable Care Act.

The Judicial Crisis Network is backed by multimillion-dollar contributions from the Wellspring Committee; both are 501(c)(4) organizations, which do not have to divulge their donors.

The amount of money is staggering, said James Tierney, a former Maine attorney general and an adjunct professor at Harvard Law School who blames the Citizens United ruling, which lifted limits on corporate political contributions. But thats because its legal, and its legal because the Supreme Court said it was legal.

Democrats have belatedly tried to duplicate the Republican model. Founded in 2002, the Democratic Attorneys General Association has recently added offices in San Francisco and Washington, and in May hired its first full-time executive director, veteran political strategist Sean Rankin. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, its top donor this year is Pfizer, with $125,000; eight others gave $100,000 each, including CVS Pharmacy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Home Depot and Walmart, which also gave to RAGA. In 2014, the Democratic groups largest contribution, $380,000, came from the Teamsters union.

Rankin said his goals are to close the fundraising gap by relying more on small donors and to help Democrats get in office, stay in office and do a better job while in office.

On the Republican side, energy companies have donated much of the money that has flowed into the groups coffers. RAGA members have filed suit to block the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan, intended to slash carbon dioxide emissions from oil, natural gas and, above all, coal. The GOP attorneys general, who have already secured an unusual stay from the Supreme Court, are set to argue Tuesday before the full bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

During the 2016 election cycle, according to OpenSecrets.org, run by the Center for Responsive Politics, RAGA has received $400,000 from Ariel, a maker of natural-gas compressors; $353,250 from Koch Industries, the energy firm owned by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch; and $250,000 from Murray Energy, a coal-mining company whose chief executive has sharply attacked Obama. The American Petroleum Institute gave $50,000 in each of the past two years.

Democrat Terry Goddard, a former Arizona attorney general, former Phoenix mayor and now senior counsel at the law firm Dentons, said he deplores the increase in campaign money to attorneys general, even though he believes that the legal officers are operating ethically. Probably the worst thing is that it raises the idea in the minds of people that this is a pay-to-play operation, he said.

The Republican state attorneys general have attacked Democratic AGs over an investigation into whether ExxonMobil knew about the threat of climate change as early as the 1970s and whether the oil giant violated securities law by misleading the public and investors about the potential consequences.

The New York and Massachusetts attorneys general have issued broad subpoenas in the matter, but Exxon, which says it has already provided New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman about 1 million documents, has complained that Schneiderman is violating the companys freedom of speech.

Republicans have accused Schneiderman of colluding with environmental groups and liberal nonprofits to come up with a plan to use the same strategy against the oil industry that was used against the tobacco industry.

The flap was at the top of the agenda when RAGA held its summer meeting at the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs on July 11. The first panel, attended by hundreds of corporate executives, was titled Climate Change Debate  How Speech Is Being Stifled.

The meeting did not include any scientific experts on climate change. Instead the panel included a longtime denier of climate change, Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Chet M. Thompson, president of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, whose plants are major emitters of greenhouse gases. The AFPM gave RAGA $50,900 last year and has given $135,000 so far in 2016.

Weve got reality on our side, Ebell said. He called the investigation of Exxon an inquisition. Ebells group received about $2 million from Exxon in the 2000s before the company switched direction and stopped funding the small group.

Challenging the overwhelming consensus among scientists that climate change is real, Ebell said that the first thing they try to do is try to change reality. They try to change the facts. He added, The next thing they try to do is exaggerate the impacts.

This is not about climate change, and its not about fraud, Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange interjected, according to a recording of the event provided by the Center for Media and Democracy. Its about if elected officials should be able to turn the prosecutorial power of their states against their political opponents in contradiction of our First Amendment and our basic speech rights in this country.

Strange, who becomes RAGA chairman in November, told the group that he had never received a penny from Exxon in any campaign Ive run. The oil giant, however, gave $50,000 to RAGA in 2015 and another $50,000 this year, according to filings by RAGA to the Treasury.

Environmental groups say the RAGA meeting in July was no different from their own efforts; the Republican attorneys general plotted strategy with like-minded groups. The environmentalists say that they are exercising the free speech RAGA claims to be protecting and that they also have the right to petition government officials and to consult experts. Their meetings were not secret, they add.

This is much more like collusion, said Nick Surgey, research director at the Center for Media and Democracy. These corporations have leverage because they pay into RAGA. And most of their money goes to elections.

Much of RAGAs strategy will revolve around television ads in states where the group hopes to make a difference.

The group has booked $3.8 million in broadcast and cable TV advertising time for the final five weeks of the state attorney general campaign in North Carolina, where the Republican nominee, state Sen. Buck Newton, is in a tough race against Democratic state Sen. Josh Stein.

The association has already spent, through its Mountaineers Are Always Free PAC, nearly $2 million on four rounds of ads in West Virginia, where it is highlighting the fight against the Clean Power Plan, which would hurt the states coal industry. And it has sent $2 million to Josh Hawleys campaign for attorney general in Missouri, which allows direct contributions. RAGA plans further spending in those states as well as in Pennsylvania and Indiana.


From the new documentary Command and Control. (American Experience Films/PBS)

It didnt take much to nearly annihilate Arkansas. In 1980, a young repairman, who was standing on a platform working on a missile in the town of Damascus dropped a socket from his wrench. It fell 70 feet, took a bounce and pierced the fuel tank of the missile, which was armed with a nuclear warhead three times more powerful than the bombs that leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Over the next 10 hours, as the fuel leak created a series of other chemical reactions, the Air Force scrambled to figure out what to do with a ticking time bomb, and the fixes werent entirely successful. There was a deadly explosion, in the end  it just wasnt a catastrophic one.

At the time, the United States was still in the thick of the Cold War. Duck-and-cover drills were a memory, but the threat of nuclear attack was still very real. Since 1991, those fears have disappeared; the bombs, however, havent.

Thats one eye-opening reminder in Command and Control, a documentary by Robert Kenner based on the book by Eric Schlosser, whos famous for writing Fast Food Nation.

Theres sort of this amnesia thats washed over all of us to the point where weve stopped being concerned that the planet could end because of a mistake, Kenner said during a recent visit to Washington with Schlosser. That complacency makes it more dangerous.

These kinds of near-misses  32 documented ones, but probably many more  are called broken arrows, and the stories are startling both because of their frequency and because Americans assume that the greatest threats to our safety will come from afar.

[Nervous about nukes again? Heres what you need to know about The Button. (There is no button.)]

The movies second thread is a more comprehensive examination of the way the United States kept upping the ante on arming itself during the Cold War. The more weapons we had, the more safe we presumably were  except when we werent. Like the time a plane broke apart over North Carolina and dropped a hydrogen bomb that inadvertently went through nearly all of its steps to detonate. A last-ditch precaution  a part of the bomb that looked a lot like an on-off light switch  prevented catastrophe.



Inside the Titan Missile Complex, in Command and Control. (American Experience Films/PBS)

We can blame some of the broken arrows on a culture of secrecy at the time. As an example, during the Cold War, one of the people in charge of weapons safety wasnt privy to the accidents that were happening in the field.

The good news is, thats changed.

The warheads and bombs are much safer today than they were in 1980, Schlosser said. There was such a denial there was a problem, because once you admit theres a problem, you have to admit that all of your weapons are potentially unsafe and that was too much to deal with.

The bad news is, we have new threats that werent around 35 years ago, like cyberattacks on nuclear command systems.

That sounds like the plot of WarGames,  Schlosser admitted. But its real. If terrorists wanted to do extensive damage, what better way than to get the nuclear codes? In 2012, the National Security Agency acknowledged that the computer systems that control Americas nuclear weapons are under constant attack from hackers.

The point of writing the book and making the movie wasnt to lobby for certain policy changes. Schlosser and Kenner simply want to call attention to the thousands of very powerful bombs stashed around the country in places like the Nevada National Security Site near Las Vegas or the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Tex. They arent apocalyptic doomsayers.

I dont lie in bed at night thinking that a nuclear warhead is going to go off, Schlosser said. But its concerning, and its definitely a problem that can be addressed. The consequences of one weapon going off anywhere is going to be unimaginable.

The two have a history of spurring change with their work. Schlossers influential Fast Food Nation was the inspiration for Kenners Oscar-nominated Food, Inc. Since the book and movie, farmers markets have multiplied and consumers have increasingly rejected processed food, leading even fast-food chains to embrace healthier fare.

They received a lot more pushback on that book and movie than on Command and Control. When he was gathering research on nukes, Schlosser worried that the government would come knocking. Instead, after the release of his book, he was invited to talk about the issues with people who were running our nuclear weapons complex.

Fast Food Nation and Food, Inc., by contrast, prompted threats, lawsuits, disruptive bookstore appearances and the need for security.

Its scarier to criticize these big corporations than it is to be critical of national security policy, Schlosser said. Whats interesting is in the 70s, the CIA and all these government agencies were going after journalists and critics of the Vietnam War, and now its critics of Ronald McDonald that have to worry.

As the United States continues to figure out what to do with its most powerful weapons, Schlosser and Kenner hope to raise awareness and get people talking.

Congress over the next couple years will be discussing modernizing our whole arsenal, and we need a real discussion of, how many do we need? What kind do we need? Schlosser said.

In the meantime, were still living among deadly technology thats run by humans, who, as we know, make mistakes.

The fact of something going wrong is low probability, but the consequences of something going wrong are tremendous, Kenner said. Think what would happen if a very small bit of that warhead goes off. Everyone will say, Why havent we been dealing with this? This is the most important issue that were not thinking about.

Command and Control At Landmarks E Street Cinema. Contains some coarse language. 92 minutes.
The statue of Joan of Arc is shown after her sword was stolen by a late-night vandal in Meridian Hill Park in the District. (Allie Ghaman/TWP)

Kyle Hamblett, cappuccino in hand, had just stepped into Meridian Hill Park on Friday morning when he began to explain to his companion the troubling act of violence committed here a few days ago.

Joan of Arc had gotten mugged in the nations capital.

Someone had stolen the French warrior-saints cast-bronze, 3 -foot sword, Hamblett told his friend, Tegan Campia, as they strolled south along the sidewalk. They walked closer and squinted up at the statue, now sitting atop the galloping steed with only a bladeless handle in her right fist.

Bummer, Campia said, succinctly summarizing how the Northwest Washington parks legion of devotees have felt since the theft was first noticed earlier this week.

[Is a people-watching paradise in peril?]

An armed Joan of Arc before the French warrior-saints sword was stolen. (April Greer/For The Washington post)

This isnt the first time vandals have targeted the parks half-dozen inanimate figures, a tradition that dates back even further than its famed drum circle. Serenity, the white marble maiden reclining along 16th Street, has lost her nose and left hand, and the James Buchanan memorial is often marred by graffiti. On Friday, a seated female statue known as Law had a red third eye painted onto her forehead.

None of them, though, has been victimized more than Joan, who overlooks the cascading fountain and resides in perhaps the parks most prominent position. She has been climbed upon, covered in a sweater, adorned with a pumpkin head and repeatedly disarmed since she began living in Meridian Hill Park 94 years ago.

The most recent assault has left her admirers dismayed and bewildered: Who did it? And how? And, above all, why?

Statues and memorials all over Washington get defaced. The Grant Memorial, just west of the Capitol, had 60 swords, scabbards and other pilfered items replaced during a major restoration last year.

Stealing Joans sword, though, was no easy heist. The statue is 9 feet high and rests atop a 6-foot granite pedestal, according to park officials. A threaded rod attached the blade to the hilt, which had been welded in place.

The U.S. Park Police investigated the theft, said to have occurred last weekend, but have no leads.

There really arent any details, Sgt. Anna Rose said in an email. We took a report after searching the area for evidence [none found], and that was all.

The clue shortage hasnt dissuaded park regulars from developing their own theories.

My guess would be some kids, David Buskell, a UPS driver, theorized as he and his poodle, Tuli, played a game of fetch just beyond Joans now slightly diminished shadow.

Whats somebody doing with it? wondered Campia, 25, who works with Hamblett, 27, at a tech company. Is it ha, ha, ha, I have a sword? Is it a statement?

Maybe to use it on somebody? asked one regular park walker, who would not give her full name but has lived in the neighborhood for 25 years.

Maybe the robber was a Trump voter, offered Steve Coleman, only sort of joking as he pondered whether the pilferer might oppose feminism and Joans 15th-century battlefield exploits.

Coleman heads the nonprofit organization Washington Parks & People, which has offered to host a celebratory reception in honor of anyone who finds the sword.

A century ago, the theft might have qualified as an international incident.

The statue of Joan was a gift from the Ladies of France in Exile in New York, according to the park service. Historic video of her unveiling on a blustery day in January 1922 looked more like an inauguration than a ribbon cutting. Both President Warren G. Harding, who wore a top hat, and his wife, who wore a thick fur coat, were in attendance. Hundreds of people listened to men in ornate uniforms give speeches before an American and a French flag were pulled away to reveal the sculpture.

The vandalism seems to have begun decades later.

In 1980, the Washington Star quoted parks employee Burnice T. Kearny as saying that the sword had been broken off maybe a dozen times.

We put a new sword up, Kearny said, and every time it was there less than a month.

In 1992, for Joans 580th birthday, Coleman and others held a rally as part of their campaign to have the statue refurbished and moved to its originally intended location along 16th Street, a spot in such regular public view that any mischief-makers would be easy to spot.

The event, Coleman recalled, included the French ambassadors wife, a brass quintet and a woman in actual armor riding an actual horse.

Their effort failed, and the statue stayed in place. For more than two decades, Joan also had no sword until, in 2011, she was rearmed.

As the park service prepares to replace the blade yet again, people have begun to suggest ideas, with varying degrees of seriousness, on how to prevent another theft.

Maybe light it on fire? Campia said.

Two Washington Post commenters requested that she be given a light saber, and another recommended that the entire statue be electrified like a cattle fence.

Coleman has long argued that it be made of rubber.

On Friday, down a long line of steps from Joan, an anonymous authors suggestion remained scrawled in black on a wall behind the disfigured Law statue.

Report vandlism, the spelling-impaired vandal wrote. US Park Police.

Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report.
Improper coding was the reason that Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchots office sent $8.7 million in local income tax revenue to the wrong Montgomery County municipalities between 2010 and 2014, state auditors reported Thursday.

The Office of Legislative Audits, the auditing arm of the General Assembly, said the mistake affected 14,000 tax returns.

The findings essentially confirm problems county and municipal officials identified late last year, when income tax revenue appeared significantly out of line with projections.

Franchot (D) acknowledged the misallocations in December.

The audit by Legislative Auditor Thomas J. Barnickel III said the comptrollers Revenue Administration Division has not determined the underlying causes of the erroneous subdivision codes assigned to thousands of households in the county.

Barnickel also said proper controls and policies were not in place to prevent such mistakes.

[Comptroller acknowledges mistaken funds for Montgomery towns]

Montgomerys 19 municipalities are supposed to receive 17 percent of local income tax revenue collected by the state. The rest goes to the county government.

Last year, some localities got more than they were due, while others  and the county government  received less.

County officials identified Chevy Chase, Rockville and Gaithersburg as towns that were overpaid.

State officials have devised an arrangement to correct the improper distributions.

Peter Hamm, a spokesman for Franchot, said the audit findings were helpful and professional.

We were working on this very difficult challenge as soon as we realized the problem existed, Hamm said. Enormous staff work has gone into making things better.

The legislative audit quickly became part of a wider political tit-for-tat between Franchot and legislative leaders.

Franchot and Gov. Larry Hogan (R), two of the three members of the states Board of Public Works, voted in May to withhold $15 million in construction funds for Baltimore City and Baltimore County until those jurisdictions produced plans to use window-box air conditioning or found some other temporary solution to the lack of cooling systems in their schools.

The third board member, state Treasurer Nancy Kopp (D), opposed their decision.

[A power struggle over air conditioning in Baltimore schools]

The decision to withhold funds angered Democratic lawmakers and local officials, who also opposed a move by Hogan  supported by Franchot  to order a post-Labor Day start to the school year.

On Thursday, lawmakers seized on the new audit to criticize Franchot, saying he should devote more time to his duties and less to politics.

Theres a need for renewed focus on the backbone of the comptrollers office, state Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery) told the Baltimore Sun, which first reported on the audit Wednesday. The comptrollers public persona seems to suggest he hasnt been working as much on the backbone.

Hamm said Franchots office spends an enormous amount of time on our core missions here.

The issue of air conditioning is related to a core function, Hamm said. Were sorry its inconvenient for them that he brings it up.
Correction: Correction: Earlier versions of this article included incomplete information about what Maryland Del. Dan K. Morhaim (D-Baltimore County) reported on financial disclosure forms. While Morhaim did not report that he had been hired as a consultant to be the clinical director of the prospective medical cannabis company Doctor's Orders, he did disclose that he might work as a consultant in the medical cannabis field and had received income as a consultant. Maryland law requires lawmakers to disclose sources of income but does not require those who work as consultants or lawyers to reveal their clients. A July 14 letter from Dea Daly, ethics counsel to the General Assembly, said Morhaim was not required to disclose his consulting clients on the form.

Maryland Del. Dan K. Morhaim helped shape the rules on medical marijuana and had direct access to its regulators even while he was involved with a company seeking licenses to grow, process and sell the drug, according to emails obtained by The Washington Post.

Among other things, Morhaim (D-Baltimore County) pushed the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission to encourage localities to welcome prospective marijuana businesses and asked regulators to reconsider their cap on the number of businesses licensed to process medical marijuana.

His dual roles  lawmaker-advocate and medical consultant to a prospective business  are the subject of a legislative ethics probe, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

[Lawmaker who pushed medical pot is part of team applying to sell the drug]

A company called Doctors Orders recruited Morhaim as the licensing process was getting underway.

Morhaim, a physician who has been a delegate for 21 years, said that in fall 2015, before the panel started accepting applications, he notified Hannah Byron  then the commissions executive director  of his work with a cannabis company. Byron, who resigned her post in January, says she also expected a formal notification to commissioners, which never came.

Before The Post reported Morhaims role in Doctors Orders in July, the commissions chairman, vice chairman and new executive director said through a spokeswoman that they were unaware of it. All names were redacted from application materials reviewed by commissioners.

[Morhaim says he regrets not disclosing marijuana business ties]

Staff members of the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics are conducting a preliminary review concerning Morhaim ahead of an Oct. 19 meeting, at which lawmakers will vote on whether to authorize a full investigation, according to the two individuals, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The co-chairs of the committee declined to comment.

On disclosure forms required of state lawmakers, Morhaim wrote that he might work as a consultant in the medical cannabis field and had received income as a consultant. Maryland law requires lawmakers to disclose sources of income, but does not require those who work as consultants or lawyers to reveal their clients. A July 14 letter from Dea Daly, ethics counsel to the General Assembly, said Morhaim was not required to disclose his consulting clients on the form.

Morhaim, who said he will fully cooperate with the committee, added that he followed all ethics rules and regulations. He told the Baltimore Suns editorial board that he received a modest paycheck at the beginning of his association with Doctors Orders but was not a paid employee at that time. He has repeatedly said he has no ownership interest in the company.

[Losing medical marijuana grower applicant sues the state]

Although lawmakers are allowed to vote on bills broadly affecting industries in which they work, a full ethics probe could examine whether Morhaim violated an ethics provision that bars officials from using the prestige of office . . . for that officials or employees private gain or that of another.

Del. Cheryl D. Glenn (D-Baltimore), another lawmaker who played a key role in the legalization of medical marijuana, called Morhaims dual roles unethical and immoral.

If this is okay, then where do we draw the line as legislators? Glenn asked.

The commissions emails, obtained through a public-records request, show that Morhaim had an open line to marijuana regulators, who favored his advice.

Without your dedication and commitment, we wouldnt be so close to an operational medical cannabis program, Paul Davies, the commissions chairman, wrote on Sept. 5, 2015. We all look forward to working closely with you through anticipated cultural, legislative and regulatory changes to develop the best best medical cannabis program in The United States.

And they did work closely together.

In July 2015, in an email summarizing a meeting with commissioners, Morhaim pushed for a letter to local governments encouraging them to welcome prospective marijuana businesses just as they would any other legal enterprise. He also offered to carry legislation on the commissions behalf if it didnt want to sponsor a particular bill, as government agencies sometimes do.

In May, while applications for licenses were being evaluated, Morhaim called the commissions executive director to ask regulators to reconsider a decision to cap the number of businesses allowed to process medical marijuana, according to the email. The director, Patrick Jameson, responded by saying that the change would not be permanent and said Morhaims views would be shared with other commissioners and be conveyed to an upcoming work group of commissioners.

At one point, Morhaim sent Davies, the commission chair, an email introduction to a doctor who had researched the effects of cannabis on treating seizures. In a follow-up email, that doctor told Davies that he was a medical consultant to a company vying for cannabis licenses, in the interest of disclosure and transparency.

Morhaim has said his advocacy is driven by a desire to make medical cannabis available to patients, not to benefit the company.

After The Post reported Morhaims connection to Doctors Orders, Commissioner Robert Lavin emailed the panels chair, executive director and legal counsel, asking whether the revelation would complicate plans to award preliminary licenses.

Will there need to be a hold placed on our reviews because of additional legal/fairness issues that need to be addressed at this time? Lavin wrote July 21.

A spokeswoman for the commission said there was no emailed response to this question. The first batch of licenses  15 for growing and 15 for processing  were awarded Aug. 5. Doctors Orders was one of seven entities to win approval to both grow and process the drug.
The Obamas at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse in 2013. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Christmas is still three months away, but the lottery for tickets to the lighting of the National Christmas Tree opens next week.

The tickets are free, but viewers must enter a lottery to get them. The National Park Foundation and the National Park Service said the lottery will open at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 and run until 10 a.m. Oct. 10.

The tree lighting ceremony will take place Dec. 1 at the White House Ellipse in Presidents Park. Winners of tickets in the lottery will be contacted Oct. 27.

The park service also announced that performers for the ceremony will include Chance the Rapper, Kelly Clarkson and Yolanda Adams. It will be the 94th lighting of the tree. And this years lighting will also cap the centennial celebration for the National Park Service.

The tradition began when President Calvin Coolidge lit a 48-foot fir tree in 1923. It was decorated with 2,500 red, white and green electric bulbs.

[The 1923 National Christmas Tree Lighting was quite a modest shindig #TBT]

Over the years, the tradition continued with memorable moments. In 1934, two Fraser fir trees were planted in Lafayette Park near the statue of Andrew Jackson in hopes that they would be used as the National Christmas Tree.

When President Harry S. Truman lit the tree in 1945 after the end of World War II, he said, This is the Christmas that a war-weary world has prayed for through long and awful years.

With peace come joy and gladness, he said. The gloom of the war years fades as once more we light the National Christmas Tree.

Since 1954, the National Christmas Tree has been decorated by Hargrove, the professional event decorating company in Lanham. Hargrove was known for manually installing every socket and testing every bulb to make sure they worked.

[The national yule log blazes no more]

In the 1970s, the two live trees planted on the Ellipse died, and, over the years, trees have been brought in from elsewhere for the tradition. Over the past few years, the tree has had LED lights to make the decorations more energy efficient.

For information, go to thenationaltree.org.
A 16-year-old Bladensburg High School student was fatally shot Thursday evening.

Bladensburg police responded to a report of an accidental shooting about 8 p.m. in the 4200 block of 58th Avenue, said Bladensburg Police Chief Tracy Stone. When officers arrived, they found Diego Gomez-Martinez suffering from a gunshot wound in an apartment.

Gomez-Martinez was taken to a hospital, where he died overnight, police said.

The case is being handled by Prince Georges County police detectives, who are investigating the circumstances of the shooting to determine whether it was accidental, Stone said.

Raven Hill, a spokeswoman for Prince Georges County Public Schools, said the teen was in the 10th grade at Bladensburg High. School officials had grief counseling available on campus today for students, Hill said, and planned to send a letter home to parents.

When reached at their home a few buildings away from the scene of the shooting, family for the teen declined to comment.

Jerry Jordan, who lives in the same building as Gomez-Martinez, said the teen was new to the area he'd often see him coming too and from school located down the road.

Jordan said Gomez-Martinez would often stop and chat and was "a good dude."

"Even though this happened down the road, his is a very quiet neighborhood," Jordan said. "It's tragic."
Jared Kline, the Washington nurse convicted of sexually assaulting three patients. (Courtesy of Prince Georges County States Attorneys Office )

A former emergency room nurse who was convicted of sexually assaulting his patients was sentenced to nearly four years in prison Friday.

In June, a D.C. Superior Court jury found Jared Kline, 39, of Springfield, Va., guilty of assaulting three patients when he worked in the emergency rooms of George Washington University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center between 2013 and 2014.

Klines attorney argued Kline did not assault the patients, but accidentally touched them while performing his nursing duties.

The jury rejected the argument but was unable to come to unanimous verdicts on three charges. Prosecutors decided to dismiss those counts rather than retry him.

[Former male emergency room nurse convicted of sexually assaulting patients]

Judge Michael Ryan sentenced Kline to 45 months in prison. Ryan also put Kline on 10 years of supervised probation during which he is prohibited from working in any field where he would come in contact with patients. Kline must also register as a sex offender.

After the sentencing, Kline, who was allowed to live at home as the case made its way through court, was immediately taken into custody.
On Aug. 3, police search the home of Metro Transit police officer Nicholas Young, 36, of Fairfax, who has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. (Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

A former Metro police officer accused of aiding the Islamic State is challenging his solitary confinement in an Alexandria jail, saying he has experienced severe mental and physical trauma.

Jail officials said Nicholas Young, 36, has been held apart from other inmates for his own safety.

Young has been held since his Aug. 3 arrest. Within a week, according to his filing in federal court in Alexandria, he was moved to an 8-by-8-foot cell where he spends 22 hours a day in isolation.

While there, defense attorneys David and Nicholas Smith wrote, Young has lost seven to 10 pounds and bit off part of a tooth from stress. He told his attorneys that he could see himself dying soon in isolation. Youngs lawyers said the his distress has made it difficult to prepare for court.

Amy Bertsch, a spokeswoman for the Alexandria Sheriffs Office, said in a statement that Young has been held in administrative segregation, meaning he does not have contact with other inmates, which is for his own protection. She said Alexandria Sheriff Dana A. Lawhorne, whose office runs the jail, has been in touch with Youngs family and attorneys.

The petition by Youngs attorneys also provides new details about the terrorist suspect and his possible defense.

Young has suffered for years from depression and insomnia, his attorneys said. A clinical psychologist is examining him to record that history and perhaps other mental illness, according to the filing.

Violent threats the FBI catalogued Young making  including saying that his enemies would be found at the bottom of Lake Braddock  were in context clearly spoken in a tongue-in-cheek, black humor style, his attorneys argue in the petition. While authorities said in a criminal complaint that Young admitted to torturing animals as a child, this filing says he merely described killing ants by focusing light through a magnifying glass.

Other allegations from the criminal complaint  including that Young admitted to traveling to Libya and collecting Nazi memorabilia  are not addressed in the filing.

The government has accused Young of buying mobile messaging cards and providing the activation codes to a man he believed was fighting overseas with the Islamic State. The defense said in the filing that Young bought the Google Play cards only after a two-year friendship with the undercover informant who asked for them.

Young has no criminal history, according to the court filing, and is the only prisoner in solitary confinement in Alexandria who does not have a history of violence. His defense said that Young was allowed to remain as a Metro police officer for the seven years he spent under FBI investigation  which suggests, in the attorneys view, that he poses no threat to others.

The defense wrote that Lawhorne initially told Youngs family that the detainee had been segregated for his own protection as a former police officer and because he faces terrorism charges. The defense said Lawhorne later clarified that Young would not be moved because of the publicity regarding his case. The U.S. Marshals Service told Youngs attorneys their client was segregated because he might pose a risk to other inmates, according to the filing.

Segregated prisoners in Alexandria do have access to the book cart and visitation rights, as well as interaction with staff members.

The court filing says that Youngs treatment is unconstitutional and asks for him to be moved to the general population. It also demands that Young be given his insomnia medication and be allowed to participate in inmate programs, including those based on religious observance.

Josh Stueve, spokesman for the U.S. attorney for Eastern District of Alexandria, said the office takes no position on Mr. Youngs condition of detainment, noting it is decided by the U.S. Marshals Service and jail officials.
Ardit Ferizi was angry that he had been falsely accused of joining the Islamic State. The hackers response: He stole the personal information of U.S. service members and handed it over to the terrorist group.

Stupidly I was annoyed that the U.S. Embassy would not defend me, Ferizi, a 20-year-old citizen of Kosovo, wrote in a letter to a federal judge in Virginia. I dont know why I thought the U.S. Embassy would get involved. I was doing a lot of drugs now and spending all the day online.

U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema on Friday showed little sympathy for an explanation that even Ferizis defense attorney called nonsensical. While acknowledging that Ferizi is young and has mental-health problems, Brinkema sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

I want to send a message, Brinkema said. Playing around with computers is not a game.

As the result of Ferizis hack of a retail company server, names, email addresses, passwords and other data of 1,351 military members and other government employees were published on an Islamic State kill list last year. In court Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Van Grack said one woman named on the list has begun fearing all Muslims might attack her.

The case is the first to combine charges of hacking and terrorism, a confluence that national security officials say represents the increasing prominence of cyberwarfare.

This case represents the first time we have seen the very real and dangerous national security cyber threat that results from the combination of terrorism and hacking, John P. Carlin, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement. This was a wake-up call not only to those of us in law enforcement, but also to those in private industry.

Ferizi was extradited last fall from Malaysia, where he had been studying computer science.

Defense attorney Elizabeth Mullin said that while Ferizi was in Malaysia, a journalist in Kosovo wrote last year that he had gone to Syria to fight with the Islamic State. Both Ferizi and his mother said the article caused him to lash out.

We know that the article . . . worsened Ardits health situation, his mother wrote in a letter to the court, referring to his psychological problems.

Van Grack called that explanation a nonsensical story, and Mullin agreed.

It was a completely nonsensical, juvenile response because he was a nonsensical, misguided teenager who really didnt know what he was doing, Mullin said.

Ferizi began communicating online with Junaid Hussain, an Islamic State recruiter and hacker killed in a drone strike in August 2015. Before distributing the personal information of U.S. government employees, Ferizi hosted a pro-Islamic State website and argued in favor of the group online.

In the name of the Islamic State Hacking Division, Hussain tweeted out the list, along with a statement declaring, We are in your emails and computer systems, watching and recording your every move, we have your names and addresses, we are in your emails and social media accounts, we are extracting confidential data and passing on your personal information to the soldiers of the khilafah, who soon with the permission of Allah will strike at your necks in your own lands!

Mullin argued that the kill list was merely propaganda, noting that personal and work addresses were not included. The information [Ferizi] sent . . . could not assist in a specific attack against any individual, she said.

Brinkema said that just having your name on a list, knowing that youve been identified by a terrorist group, is terrorizing, even if the information does not include specific locations.

Ferizi said in court Friday: I feel so bad that what I did made people scared. Im so sorry. In his letter to the court, he said he had never been loyal to the Islamic State and denounced the group completely. On the contrary, he said, he has always been grateful to the United States for intervening in the war in Kosovo in 1999. Family members said they all feel warmly toward the United States and have several relatives here.

His mother also suggested in her letter to the court that the war left her son with some psychological damage.

On the second night of the NATO airstrikes, Ardit was in the fourth year of his life, she wrote. The street was full of Serbian army and people wearing black uniforms and masks. They came screaming, shouting and shooting, burning houses and killing people.

Ferizi has agreed to be deported to Kosovo after serving his prison sentence, and he will not be allowed to return to the United States.
Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, is "arrested" by police in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, as part of a sting on child sex traffickers there in November 2014. (Operation Underground Railroad)

The American men walked into the darkened brothel in Bangkok and were soon offered a variety of prostitutes, young and old, male and female. You go in and try to look like a john as much as possible, one of the Americans said later of his undercover role. Try to act like them, talk like them. You dont go in and order a glass of milk.

The men moved from brothel to brothel, each packed with foreigners, the American said. Youre sitting next to these perverts, not only having to interact with them but become one of them. Its common to go shop around. You sit there, get a price, he said. It was probably the darkest underworld playground of the devil that Ive ever been in.

The American was former Washington Nationals baseball player Adam LaRoche, and he described participating in a rescue operation last year with the Exodus Road, one of a number of American nonprofit groups that are fighting human trafficking in a new way: by luring pimps into the open, and then working with local law enforcement to arrest the traffickers and free the victims.

Members of the groups, often former U.S. service members or law enforcement officers, pose as American tourists looking to party with groups of underage sex workers. Some groups, such as the Exodus Road and Operation Underground Railroad, invite supporters or television crews to come along to spread word about the horrors and to witness the thrilling moments when sex traffickers are handcuffed and terrorized children are rescued.

We believe the problem will never go away unless everybody knows about it and does something, said Tim Ballard, a former investigator with the Department of Homeland Security who started Operation Underground Railroad, based in Anaheim, Calif.

Tim Ballard is "arrested" by police in Santo Domingo as part of a 2014 sting on child sex traffickers. The face of the second man has been blurred to protect the identity of an undercover office. (Operation Underground Railroad)

But this high-profile approach is attracting skepticism from some respected workers who have fought human trafficking for decades by working with local police and prosecutors to attack the problem and rid their ranks of corruption. They question whether the American groups spend the time and effort needed to ensure that victims arent returned to the same cycles of degrading violence. They also raise concerns about entrapment and safety for the civilians such as LaRoche who participate.

The trouble is, its really risky to the victims, said Anne Gallagher, founding chair of the U.N. Inter-Agency Group on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, and cited by the State Department as the leading global expert on the international law on human trafficking. She said that the civilian groups can cause problems for prosecutions and that they often are unprepared to help victims.

Its also misleading, Gallagher said, and deflects attention and resources and energy away from the hard stuff that needs to be done. . . . Theyre in and out. No way they can follow up a victims case. No way theyre evaluating the impact of what theyve done.

Gallagher and Cees de Rover, executive director of Equity International, wrote an article for the Huffington Post last year criticizing Operation Underground Railroad from a law enforcement perspective. The groups approach, the pair said, targets low-level recruiters and pimps but doesnt dismantle the leadership of sophisticated trafficking networks.

Gallagher said Americans entranced by the promise of quick rescues dont want to hear the news that its a hard slog. Youve got to keep doing it for years and years.

But groups such as Operation Underground Railroad and International Justice Mission, often mentioned as the preeminent rescue group, say that they do plan for the care of rescued victims and that their work is having a measurable effect on human trafficking and sex tourism in countries such as Cambodia, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and Thailand. The rescue organizations are funded entirely by private donations, government and private grants, and in-kind offers of goods and services, their officials said.

Holly Burkhalter, the senior adviser for justice-system transformation at the International Justice Mission, based in Washington, said that her group establishes permanent staffs in the countries where it works and that it creates lasting relationships with social service providers and law enforcement.

Ballard is seen with a rescued child in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2014. The face of the child is blurred to protect the childs identity. (Operation Underground Railroad)

We stay there for the long term, she said. If children coming out of a criminal sexual situation are not given care and schooling and economic aid, they will almost certainly be retrafficked. We are absolutely involved every step of the way.

The rescue groups work closely with law enforcement in the host country to oversee their rescue missions and handle the prosecutions of the traffickers. Gallagher said that can be problematic in many countries where law enforcement is already deeply involved with the traffickers.

The most widely accepted analysis of human trafficking worldwide, by the International Labor Organization in 2012, estimated that 4.5 million people are being forced to work in the sex trade, out of 20.9 million in all manner of forced labor. The State Departments Trafficking in Persons report for 2016 said there had been nearly 19,000 prosecutions worldwide for human trafficking last year, an 88 percent increase from the previous year.

When American rescue groups offer their help, its generally appreciated by the United States and host governments, even if it isnt always comprehensive, said Ransom J. Avilla, a Department of Homeland Security Investigations attache based in Manila. Avilla said that American officials in the Philippines had worked closely with the International Justice Mission and that they do provide a full service, working with police, prosecutors and social service agencies throughout cases that can last many years.

He said it is possible that child victims sometimes fall through the cracks but that, in general, I think any group that wants to be here combating these cases is helping the country.

Ballard, who became frustrated with his Homeland Security job when the U.S. government said children from other countries couldnt be rescued, started Operation Underground Railroad in 2013. With former Navy SEALs, CIA agents and other experienced operatives, he trains foreign law enforcement agencies and then acts as one of the American lures to bring traffickers out of the shadows, as a presumed tourist in bars or on beaches. Some of the organizations exploits are featured in a recently released movie, The Abolitionists, documenting the preparations, the contacts and the takedowns of sex traffickers.

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes took a trip to Colombia with Operation Underground Railroad in 2014, and because he spoke Spanish played the role of the muscle in a group of undercover Americans claiming to want dozens of child prostitutes for a permanent sex tourism hotel. The traffickers brought more than 50 children. It was so fulfilling, Reyes said, to see their faces when we liberated them. They were all singing and crying. That changed my life.

Ballard said that Operation Underground Railroad works with U.S. embassies in host countries to find reliable law enforcement and that it will not enter a country until it knows the victims will have follow-up care. Jessica Mass, the director of aftercare for Operation Underground Railroad, said she had just returned from vetting five aftercare homes in a country that her group is targeting for a raid.

Im talking with the directors of aftercare homes, Mass said, seeing how the girls are doing. We look for mental health services, education and vocational training. The organization also provides financial help, hires social workers and pays them fair wages, and buys supplies, beds and even roofing for homes that will take in underage sex workers, Mass said.

Aftercare begins at the moment of rescue, Burkhalter said. The social worker goes with the police and investigators of the mission.

Matt Parker, founder of the Exodus Road in Colorado Springs, said that his group does try to help victims after raids but that were not an aftercare organization. Theres many more aftercare nonprofits in the countries where the group works, he said, that have more expertise.

Parker and Burkhalter noted that local governments have the first say on where and how freed victims are treated.

Parker said that Exodus Road has aftercare staffs in two countries but that its core competency is in investigating and arresting traffickers. Weve freed 736 men, women and children, and arrested 256 traffickers, Parker said. The most powerful thing to do to fight trafficking is to make trafficking a dangerous thing to do.

Burkhalter seconded that. You dont have to prosecute everybody, she said. Prosecute a few and it really does start to lower the prevalence. She said the International Justice Mission began working with the Cambodian government in 2003 and that after 10 years, less than 1 percent of the victims were minors and none were younger than 14. IJM has since disengaged from combating sex trafficking in Cambodia, she said, confident that authorities there really began to own it.

Paul Holmes, a former Scotland Yard detective who trains police forces worldwide in human trafficking investigations, said he had no objection to any organization entering the fray against trafficking.

But he questioned including untrained participants, such as LaRoche and Reyes, in rescue missions.

None of these people can be described as appropriately trained professionals, Holmes said, and should not be anywhere near a professionally managed undercover sting operation. Holmes added that concerns also arise around the risk of entrapment on the part of the undercover operatives posing as sex tourists and that seeking to buy the services of child victims of sexual exploitation would likely run into serious admissibility difficulties in many countries.

Convictions of human traffickers in other countries are hard to obtain as it is. In 2015, according to the State Department, only about one-third of the nearly 19,000 prosecutions worldwide resulted in convictions.

Ballard, who is going to stop acting as a lure himself, plans to stay in the rescue business. Burkhalter acknowledged that it takes a long time for the process to effect change.

It took years to develop that core of professionalism in Cambodian police, she said. There were some good ones. There were some really bad apples. But they are professionally handling this issue. Thats what 10 years of companionship can bring you.
Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell, in her courtroom in Washington in May. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

In ordering the first-ever release by a full federal district court of a years worth of secret government surveillance requests, U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of Washington added to a decades-long career spent charting the frontier of technology and the law in the nations capital.

Howell on Wednesday stepped into the fierce debate over the limits of secrecy and law enforcement searches in a digital age by releasing a list of more than 200 cases in which U.S. prosecutors in the District sought court orders for data about individuals phone, email or online communications. Nationwide, more than 20,000 such orders were approved in 2013 alone; almost none are ever unsealed.

The release came in response to a journalists request for records and was heard by Howell in her relatively new capacity as chief judge, a seniority-based post.

Howell became chief judge of the District Court for the District of Columbia in March, five years after her appointment to the bench by President Obama  the shortest tenure since the 1940s of anyone who went into the role.

But she brings to the job exceptional grounding in technology policy from more than 33 years spent in the private sector and across three branches of government.

Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

[In first, U.S. judge to list one years government electronic surveillance requests in D.C.]

There are few judges with the breadth of experience and the intellectual heft of Chief Judge Howell, said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee and a mentor to Howell, who served the committee for a decade as a senior staffer and general counsel. She has steely conviction, and no one is a quicker study.

She came from an Army family, and shes Jewish, which is a very rare combination, added Washington power lawyer Beth Wilkinson, a former decorated federal and Army prosecutor herself who has known Howell since they served as assistant U.S. attorneys in Brooklyn in the early 1990s, along with Loretta E. Lynch, now the U.S. attorney general.

Howells background doesnt make her conservative, Wilkinson said, but on Capitol Hill and as a federal prosecutor, people did not think she is predisposed to an outcome, no matter what the issues were.

Howell, 59, has long been a study in contrasts, friends and professional colleagues said.

After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, she helped Senate Democrats navigate shifting legal ground, assisting in drafting the USA Patriot Act and overhauls of federal wiretapping and surveillance laws that law enforcement sought and technology companies warily watched. She also had a hand in crafting broadband-era updates to federal copyright, trademark and public records laws.

Through it all, Howell showed a knack for hearing out all sides. She won a place in the National Freedom of Information Act Hall of Fame and on the board of the online civil liberties group Center for Democracy and Technology. Beside her desk in her office in the courthouse, she keeps a signed gift from Leahy: a photograph he shot of a woman in Nepal separating wheat from chaff.

Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell talks with court staff. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

Its a useful skill to have, Howell has quipped to visitors.

On leaving the legislative branch in 2003, Howell became executive managing director and general counsel of Stroz Friedberg, a firm started by a former FBI agent specializing in cybersecurity and digital forensics. She registered as a lobbyist from 2004 to 2008 for the Recording Industry Association of America, a client of the firm.

Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit civil liberties group that is active in online privacy and intellectual property debates, called Howell an interesting judge who really doesnt map cleanly on our side or not, depending on the issue.

While Howell undoubtedly holds some different views as a judge than those she advanced as a Senate staffer, Orin S. Kerr, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department attorney specializing in computer crimes, said her role as a major player in surveillance debates gives her insight in the area few judges can match.

Born at Fort Benning, Ga., Howell was the daughter of an Army officer and attended public school in six states and Germany before graduating from Bryn Mawr College with a philosophy degree and from Columbia Law School with honors.

She clerked in 1983 for Dickinson R. Debevoise of New Jersey, a jurist who established Newark Legal Aid for the poor and wrote the states ethics rules for prosecutors. Howell has called him one of her models because his respectfulness and willingness to listen brought the best out of all the lawyers.

At the prosecutors office in the Eastern District of New York from 1987 to 1993, Howell handled narcotics cases that read like crime novels, Leahy said, working with a group of women now in senior Justice Department posts who call themselves the EDNY chicks, including Lynch, assistant attorney general Leslie R. Caldwell and appellate lawyer Kirby A. Heller.

She taught me how to try a case, Lynch said after being introduced by Howell at a June speech at the launch of a reentry court at the Washington courthouse  part of a criminal justice reform effort to help ex-offenders stay out of prison. More than that, she taught me that justice requires that we seek out fairness for everyone who comes through the system at every stage.

Prominent New York defense attorney Gerald L. Shargel recalled how Howell in her prosecutor days wrapped up a high-profile trial of one of his clients, a Chinatown gangster convicted of heroin trafficking  then skipped closing arguments to deliver the second of her three children.

She is smart and very capable, Shargel said.

Howell runs her courtroom with a blunt, no-nonsense style and confident manner.

She can flash a sharp edge, as she did last year during a trial in a lawsuit involving MSNBC host Ed Schultz, as reported by The Daily Caller. Your client may be a star in some circles. He is not a star in this courtroom, Howell told an attorney for Schultz, according to a court transcript, adding that his arrogance is noticed by the jury. Its certainly noticed by my staff and it is unacceptable when it comes to my staff.

But the self-described former PTA mom, who lives in Northwest Washington, in a recent case also hurried down from the bench to drape her black judicial robe around an attorney who had collapsed during an appearance before her and was waiting for medical attention. All warmed up for you, she said.

Among her more wide-reaching rulings, Howell barred the Army from singling out Sikh soldiers to test if their hair or turbans interfered with protective gear; hiked attorneys fees paid by the government in complex public interest cases in Washington; and, on First Amendment grounds, struck down a long-standing ban on protests on the U.S. Supreme Court plaza  a bold 68-page opinion that was overturned on appeal.

[Protesters have no free-speech rights on Supreme Courts front porch]

The chief judges duties are mainly administrative, but they include overseeing grand jury matters, a politically sensitive task in a jurisdiction that includes the White House and Congress.

They also include responsibility for managing a catchall docket of miscellaneous cases, which is where Vice News investigative journalist Jason Leopolds petition for the electronic surveillance records was filed in 2013.

Leopold is a prolific filer of public information requests, and his attorney, Jeffrey Louis Light, said that it would have been very easy for Howell to set aside the petition asking to unseal records in all closed surveillance cases to throw a rare light on law enforcement activities.

Instead, Howell has chosen to take it seriously and really grapple with it, Light said, working along with U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillipss office in what could set a model for other courts for disclosures.

She defies easy characterization, Light said. Among federal judges on issues of transparency, he said, I find her to be the most perplexing, and its probably because she has such a deep understanding that her views are much more nuanced than others.

Correction: A Sept. 26 Metro article about U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell misstated the year she tried a case involving MSNBC host Ed Schultz. The trial was in 2015, not 2014. A quote attributed to Howell also was incomplete. A review of the court transcript in the case shows a courtroom exchange between Howell and an attorney should have said: Your client may be a star in some circles. He is not a star in this courtroom, Howell told an attorney for Schultz, adding that his arrogance is noticed by the jury. Its certainly noticed by my staff and it is unacceptable when it comes to my staff. This article has been updated with the corrections.
For years, Boise, Idaho, has welcomed large numbers of refugees from strife-torn countries, in the past year accepting twice as many Syrians as New York City and Los Angeles combined. And so Jodi Larson-Farrow of Boises Agency for New Americans holds a cultural orientation for about 30 new arrivals about every two weeks, and she asks them what comes to mind when they think of the police.

Fear, was a frequent response, Larson-Farrow said. Rapist. Power. No trust. Corruption. Intimidation. Run from them.

Then she introduces them to a police officer, Dustin Robinson, assigned full time to the Boise refugee communities, which include numerous Somali, Congolese and Burmese natives. And Robinson resumes a task now becoming commonplace in police departments across the United States, reaching out directly to burgeoning refugee populations to establish trust  and reduce fear  before crime or terrorism can take root.

Terrorism is the white elephant in the room, said Lt. Sasha Larkin of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, speaking Wednesday in Washington at a national gathering of police and immigrant community leaders brought together to share ideas about integrating refugees into American cities. In many cases, Larkin said, refugees are isolated, so radicalization is the easy path.

Police are also concerned about refugees reluctance to report crime, because of their mistrust of police, and the possibility of gangs evolving out of refugee communities where young people seek a sense of belonging. Police leaders talked about mentoring refugee teenagers, hiring them as interns and simply spending time in their neighborhoods to understand their hopes as well as their fears.

[Police in Las Vegas forge close ties to the citys Muslim community]

With the United States admitting more than 70,000 refugees a year, including more than 10,000 this year from Syria, American police are not only responding to the needs of brand-new residents but also addressing the fears of long-term residents. We need to learn to dispel some of the bad news about refugees, said Assistant Chief Scott Hoffman of Missoula, Mont., which has been receiving immigrants from Russia and Vietnam since the 1980s. If theres fear among the community, were not doing our job. We need to help them understand that they are vetted, they go through a process. Were there as an educator.

The word outreach was tossed around a lot at the seminar, organized by the Police Executive Research Forum and the Carnegie Corp., as police commanders shared their most-effective strategies for building relationships with refugees who may have spent years in dehumanizing camps and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Trust is a main issue, said Christopher Coen, head of Friends of Refugees, a nonpartisan watchdog group that monitors refugee admissions. Police need to explain the system, let them know theyre wanted here. He said the recent stabbings by a Somali man in St. Cloud, Minn., may have been motivated by harassment. Thats how these young men get disaffected, Coen said. They have a hostile relationship with the authorities.

So police forces are trying to be proactive. In San Diego, a unit of specially trained patrol officers is assigned to one small area with large groups of Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai refugees, and a Multi-Cultural Community Relations storefront is staffed by nine bilingual police service officers 12 hours a day during the week. Within a 3.4-square-mile area, 102 languages are spoken, acting lieutenant Paul Yang said.

There are citizens groups for each nationality, Yang said, and they all meet regularly with San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman. Abraham To, chairman of an Indochinese community advisory board, said Zimmerman attends community meetings and festivals each week, often speaking a few words of greeting in Hmong or Vietnamese to break the ice. Her interest in refugees has filtered down to better service from the officers on the street, To said.

Officers in Portland, Ore., and Las Vegas have launched programs for refugee women, who are often deferential and unwilling to call police. Officer Natasha Haunsperger of the Portland police said she tells women: You didnt survive 10 years of atrocities to have your sons or daughters come here to join ISIS. Right now, we are in this together.

The Las Vegas departments Female Engagement Team does things such as show women what happens, or doesnt, when they call 911. We need to create the environment that theyre comfortable to tell us things they truly need, said Sgt. Ivan Chatman.

In Boise, having someone they trust is huge as the trust is built, said Robinson, the full-time refugee liaison officer. We get a lot of information about potential crime and terrorism threats, he said.

Police acknowledged that things are not perfect. In San Diego, refugee support groups pointed to officer-involved shootings, sometimes involving refugees with mental health issues and a lack of available translators. Wendy Gelernter, an advocate for the San Diego Burmese community, noted that the American Civil Liberties Union has requested an investigation into San Diego police shootings. The police will tell you that they are overwhelmed with the number of languages, cultures and mental health problems presented by refugees, and no one can dispute the difficulties they face, Gelernter said. But the SDPD has also shown no interest in improving police training, inviting community input or changing the culture that produces such unnecessarily rapid, violent responses.

Yang said San Diego police are increasing their mental health training for street officers and trying to use more interpreters, though the number of languages they face is daunting.

Local attitudes toward the new arrivals remain a concern for police. Over the last year, the climate in refugee resettlement has changed, Boises Larson-Farrow said. Ive had Syrian clients ask, Am I safe here?  she said, because of a rock thrown at a Muslim woman or a finger pointed like a gun. Ive never been asked that before. And that has broken my heart.
Nicolas Dunne, 7, joins his father, Matthew Dunne, to seek support for a meal tax in Fairfax County that officials say would help generate as much as $96 million extra per year for schools and services. Matthew Dunne is talking with Natalia Cespedes. (Antonio Olivo/The Washington Post)

Nine-year-old Nicolas Dunne trudged after his father one recent Saturday, knocking on doors of likely voters and seeking support for what his dad considers a crucial cause.

The issue: Whether diners in Fairfax County should pay four cents extra for every dollar spent on restaurant meals to raise money for county schools, parks and other services.

Are you familiar with the meals tax? Matthew Dunne asked one resident, as Nicolas, whose civic efforts were stalling a trip to a youth soccer match, stood glumly behind him. He had a sign pinned to his T-shirt urging people to vote yes in the Nov. 8 county referendum.

The child was just one ploy to win support in a political battle that is intensifying in Virginias largest jurisdiction, where a lukewarm regional economy has made it harder to fund the needs of an increasingly elderly and economically diverse population.

[This model of wealthy suburban living is starting to fray]

Lynne Cramer, 70, checks in for lunch at the Coastal Flats restaurant in Fairfax Station and is greeted by a sign urging customers to vote against a proposed meal tax in Fairfax County. (Antonio Olivo/The Washington Post)

County officials estimate that a 4 percent meals tax would generate $96 million in extra tax revenue per year, which supporters say would help avoid large property taxes increases while keeping up with the demands of an aging infrastructure and a growing school system of 186,000 students.

Opponents say that the new tax  which would also apply to food purchased at convenience stores  would drive business away from this wealthy suburb, impose a new burden on financially stretched consumers and cost some restaurant workers their jobs.

Both sides have launched campaigns to win over county voters that rely on public relations strategists, grass-roots messaging and political spin.

For the local unions, school board members and PTA groups who support the meals tax, that has meant including students among the ranks of volunteers knocking on voters doors to talk about crowded classrooms and teachers leaving for higher-paying districts. The measures advocates also have organized Dine Out trips to restaurants whose owners support the proposed tax.

Meanwhile, the restaurant groups and chambers of commerce who oppose the measure call themselves Fairfax Families Against the Meals Tax, in an attempt to portray the issue as one that could hurt working-class families and blue-collar employees.

Inside restaurants, owners have posted large signs that characterize the measure as a 10 percent Food Tax  counting both the existing 6 percent state and local sales tax and the proposed levy of 4 percent.

We dont think that its fair that its targeting one specific industry, and we know that it negatively affects the families and the people that work in the industry, said Jon Norton, chief executive of the Great American Restaurants chain in Northern Virginia. People are already frustrated with the amount of taxes that theyre paying in this county.

[Fairfax residents voice frustrations over countys financial health]

Supporters say the price increase will be minimal  an extra dollar on a $25 meal, or 40 cents on a $10 purchase. Neighboring Arlington County and Alexandria already have a 4 percent meals tax, and Herndon, Falls Church and Fairfax City  all in Fairfax County  have meal taxes ranging from 2.5 percent to 4 percent. Loudoun and Prince William counties, which also border Fairfax, do not have a meals tax.

Among the greatest challenges for both proponents and opponents of a meals tax is to make voters aware of the ballot question in Fairfax during what has been a volatile presidential election year.

In addition to the open campaigning, there is quiet lobbying from both camps: school board members and PTA leaders pitching parents as they drop off their children at school, and restaurant workers leaning over to customers to confide how a meals tax could hurt them by lower tips or layoffs.

I survive off this job; this pays all of my bills, said Michelle Quiroga, 22, a bartender at the Coastal Flats restaurant in Fairfax Station. It affects me personally.

Often, these efforts are met with apathy.

Matthew Dunne said hes passionate about a meals tax because it could determine whether the county continues to fund some specialty programs in his three childrens schools, such as Spanish-language immersion classes.

For some children and families, thats the make-or-break difference, he said.

Yet, on the morning when he and about 20 other volunteers spread through the Falls Church section of the county in search of support, Dunne and his son encountered several residents who had no idea what they were talking about. Others appeared only mildly interested.

Its something Ive heard about, but I havent given it much thought, said Natalia Cespedes, a mother of four who was approached by the Dunnes on her front lawn.

Smiling, she glanced at Nicolas and promised: Ill think about it more.

On another block, Alexandra Lyalikov, 16 and Owen Williams, 15  members of the Young Democrats club at their high school who were recruited to participate in the effort  waited about five minutes for one man to emerge from a basement he and some friends were digging beneath his house. Ultimately, he told them he wasnt interested in hearing what they had to say.

That was so awkward, Lyalikov said.

Henry Crowder, who helps run a catering company that does business in Fairfax County, initially thought the teenagers were seeking votes against the measure, which pleased him.

Its just going to hurt  especially small businesses, he said.

But, after realizing they wanted him to support the meals tax, he added that his wife is a former teacher and he understands that local governments need to raise taxes to invest in schools. As long as they spend it in the right place, I guess Im okay with it, he said.

Doug Dillard halfheartedly said sure he supports the idea, even though his 8-year-old sons elementary school in the Falls Church area seems to be in good shape.

I dont know a whole lot about it, Dillard said. But I will probably read up on it more now.

Asked by Lyalikov if hed be willing to volunteer to garner more support, Dillard grinned and said, No, thanks.
By now, it has become almost routine  the police shooting, the outrage, the protests.

And the decisions.

Do you release the footage? Do you deploy riot gear? Do you call in the National Guard?

For city leaders across the country, this is their new reality, in which a tragically common incident  the shooting of a black man by police  has the potential to unleash chaos upon their communities, in which the wrong decision can set a city afire.

On Thursday, it was Charlottes turn to struggle through those decisions. As they did, Mayor Jennifer Roberts (D) and her police chief were drawing on the painful lessons learned in places such as Ferguson, Mo., Baton Rouge, Baltimore, Chicago and Minneapolis.

1 of 70 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Protests against police continue in Charlotte View Photos Authorities facing some of the most intense reactions seen in more than two years of protests over policing nationwide vowed a strong law enforcement response to the unrest. Caption In September 2016, authorities faced some of the most intense reactions seen in more than two years of protests over policing nationwide vowed a strong law enforcement response to the unrest. Sept. 25, 2016 People gather outside the football stadium as the Carolina Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings, to protest the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, in Charlotte. Mike Blake/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

But even with so much history as a guide, Roberts and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney have been unable to prevent violent clashes between protesters and police. Even now  more than two years after riots in Ferguson rocked the nation, after countless after-action reports, investigations and panel discussions by mayors who have weathered their own cities protests  it remains extraordinarily difficult to de-escalate public anger when the local police shoot and kill another black man.

In Charlotte, the most heated debate has centered on how transparent authorities should be about their investigation into Tuesdays fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Scotts family and police have given starkly different accounts of the shooting. Relatives say he was holding a book. Police say he was holding a gun.

At a news conference Thursday, reporters shouted repeated questions about whether police would release video footage of the incident recorded by officers body cameras. Putney said he had no plans to release the video, citing the departments policy not to do so until a shooting investigation is complete and unless there is a compelling reason.

Putney said that he had seen the video and that it does not give me absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun. Even if he released the video, he said, he doubted whether it would help to calm things down.

I can tell you this, Putney said. Theres your truth, my truth and the truth. . . . Some people have already made up their minds. He added that police have presented some evidence already. That still didnt change the mind-set and perspective of some who wanted to break the law and tear down our city, he said.

In stark contrast to Charlotte, officials in Tulsa this week waited just two days before releasing multiple videos and recordings documenting the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old black man in that city.

A news release sent to journalists Monday included links to the videos and said in the first sentence that Tulsa police were releasing the information in an effort to collaborate and show transparency. At a news conference later that day, Police Chief Chuck Jordan assured reporters, We will do the right thing.

1 of 21 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  The scene after an unarmed black man was fatally shot by a Tulsa police officer View Photos An unarmed black man was fatally shot by a white police officer responding to a stalled vehicle. Caption The man was fatally shot by a white police officer responding to a stalled vehicle. Sept. 22, 2016 Protesters holds signs in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Steve Sisney/Oklahoman via AP Wait 1 second to continue.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett (R) was also on message.

It was something that we talked about over the years, that if something of this magnitude were to happen, being transparent, giving out information as quickly and as complete as possible, Bartlett told local news station KOTV. That was our desire and our decision. We dont want to be perceived as trying to cover something up.

Other cities have also moved aggressively to release videos of officer-involved shootings as soon as possible in an effort to avoid becoming the next Ferguson.

Im not trying to second-guess any mayor . . . and every situation is different, said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D), vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. But what weve seen is the faster you release that kind of information and the more the public knows about it, more often than not, its better.

Still, to pin everything on the decision about whether to release video is simplistic, said Darrel Stephens, who served for years as Charlottes police chief and now serves as executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association.

Over three days, Stephens said, he watched in anguish as his former exploded in violence. He said he feels deep empathy for Putney and other city officials.

There are good reasons why you wouldnt necessarily release video, Stephens said, to avoid tainting the accounts of people who claim to be eyewitnesses, for example, or to avoid tainting potential jurors.

What is missed amid the controversy and hand-wringing over best practices to defuse anger on the streets, he said, is the fact that these incidents continue to evolve.

Just last year, for example, Stephens said Putney found himself in an almost identical situation in Charlotte. Many African Americans were angry when a jury deadlocked and did not convict a white officer who had shot and killed a black man in 2013.

Back then, Putney and Roberts took many of the same steps they are taking now to reach out to the community. Then, they managed to calm that anger and channel it into improvements in police-community relations.

Putney did an admirable job. And it was the same moves as hes doing now, Stephens said. Whats changed is everything else.

For example, the amplifying effect of social media continues to grow, he said. As does the level of national anger over such shootings, each of which draws more media attention and more national activists rushing to the scene. Its a whole new world, and it keeps changing, he said.

It is a world that Charlottes mayor is trying desperately to navigate. On Wednesday night, just hours before Charlotte erupted in a second night of violence, Roberts spoke about steps she is taking to meet with community activists, position officers to prevent more violence and defuse the underlying anger.

I understand the anger, she said in a telephone interview between meetings, her voice cracking at times with weariness. A family is now missing a brother, son, a dad.

She said she was trying to find a compromise on the video, asking to see it herself and asking that police also show it to a handful of leaders from groups such as the local NAACP.

Roberts said she believes the anger on her citys streets  the bloody clashes, looting and street bonfires  is being driven by this nationwide outrage over repeated shootings of black men by police. But the anger has local roots as well, she acknowledged.

As mayor of a city that remains starkly segregated by wealth and race, Roberts said she has tried to narrow those gaps and bridge the resentment and distrust built up over years of disparate policing and economic inequalities.

We still have discrimination in our society. We still have disparity. Were working really hard to ameliorate that, Roberts said. We have many different groups working on closing the economic gap in Charlotte, people working on the gap in schools and education.

Like so many mayors in the same situation these past two years, Roberts said she has tried to remain optimistic. She continues to search for answers.

On her wall, she said, hangs a quote that she has considered frequently in the past week. One of the best ways to get me to achieve something is to tell me I cant, it reads.

Its been a tough year for me, Roberts said. But if I can help, I will feel like my life has had a purpose.

Wesley Lowery in Charlotte contributed to this report.
Edward Lofgren, a physicist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who helped build a key tool for studying the universe and played a role in the project that created the first atomic bomb, died Sept. 6 in Oakland, Calif. He was 102.

Lab spokesman Glenn Roberts Jr. confirmed the death but did not provide the cause.

Dr. Lofgren led the development, construction and operation of the Bevatron, an early particle accelerator at the lab. A giant machine that smashes atoms, it was used to find the antiproton, a discovery which led to a Nobel Prize. This research helped scientists study how todays universe was created and grew.

Before his retirement in 1979, he also served as associate laboratory director, and he was the first director of the newly formed accelerator division.

Edward Joseph Lofgren, the youngest of seven in a family of Swedish immigrants, was born in Chicago on Jan. 18, 1914. He was in his teens when his family moved to Los Angeles.

Edward Lofgren in 1957. (AP)

After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley, arriving by bus with two suitcases and $200. He had read about and become increasingly interested in its Radiation Laboratory and the cyclotron developments there.

He earned an undergraduate degree in 1938 and then enrolled as a graduate student. In 1940, he joined the Radiation Laboratorys staff as a research assistant. One of his duties was assisting in the development of techniques for medical isotope production.

Dr. Lofgren left his graduate studies to become a full-time employee of the Radiation Lab and led development of the ion sources for the Calutron. He spent much of the early war years in Oak Ridge, Tenn., assisting in the development of the Calutron farm there to enrich uranium-235 for the Manhattan Project, which built the first atomic bomb, according to friend and former colleague Jose Alonso.

Dr. Lofgren moved in fall 1944 to Los Alamos, N.M., where he joined a group working on detonators for the atomic bomb. Two years later, he received his doctorate from Berkeley.

His first wife, Lenore, and his second, Selma, predeceased him. Survivors include three daughters from his first marriage; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

 Associated Press
Jon Kuhn, a team member at the Virginia Farm Market in Winchester, Va., catches one of the 1,000 pumpkins he was helping unload from a delivery truck on Friday. (Jeff Taylor/Winchester Star via AP)

KANSAS

Solitary confinement for Chelsea Manning

A transgender soldier imprisoned in Kansas for leaking classified information to the WikiLeaks website faces up to two weeks in solitary confinement in part for attempting suicide, according to a nonprofit group that has been supporting her.

Chelsea Manning was sentenced late Thursday to 14 days in solitary confinement for a July suicide attempt and for having a prohibited book, Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy, by Gabriella Coleman, according to a statement from Fight for the Future. The statement was backed by one of Mannings attorneys.

Seven of the 14 days were suspended, but could be added to the sentence if Manning gets in trouble in the next six months, according to comments from Manning in the statement. She also said she can appeal the sentence and no date has been set for when the discipline would begin.

Manning is serving a 35-year sentence at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth. She was arrested in 2010 as Bradley Manning and was convicted in 2013 in military court of leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents to WikiLeaks.

 Associated Press

TENNESSEE

Worker fatally shoots two, commits suicide

A man who fatally shot two supervisors and then killed himself at an electrical components plant in eastern Tennessee had a state-issued permit to carry handguns in public, law enforcement officials said Friday.

Ricky Swafford, who had worked at the Thomas & Betts plant for more than 15 years, walked out of a meeting with the supervisors and returned with a pistol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Susan Niland said. Swafford then shot supervisors Sandra Cooley and James Zotter before apparently turning the gun on himself in a restroom, she said.

Under a state law enacted in 2013, workers with carry permits are allowed to store firearms in vehicles parked at work regardless of their employers wishes. A manager at Thomas & Betts, which designs and makes electrical components, said the company has an employee policy concerning firearms but declined to elaborate.

Niland said Swafford had no apparent criminal record. Other employees either fled the building or locked themselves inside of rooms, Niland said.

The shooting was reported about 4:15 p.m. Thursday. About 350 people work at the factory, which is about 55 miles northeast of Chattanooga.

 Associated Press

Muslim trooper awarded $100,000

A federal judge has ordered Tennessee to pay $100,000 in damages to a Muslim state trooper fired after a military liaison falsely accused him of terrorist sympathies.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell issued the order this week.

Last year, Campbell ruled the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security discriminated against DeOssie Dingus because of his religion. Campbell said testimony showed Dingus had been a target of religious discrimination from the start of his career as a Tennessee trooper in 2000.

Campbell initially awarded Dingus a symbolic $1 in damages, chiefly because Dingus didnt seek counseling or other psychological treatment. Then a federal appeals court in April declared the award wholly inadequate, leading Campbell to award a higher amount.

 Associated Press
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A white police officer in Tulsa who was shown on video fatally shooting an unarmed black man has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, authorities said on Thursday. Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed a heat-of-passion manslaughter charge against officer Betty Shelby, nearly a week after cameras filmed her shooting 40-year-old Terence Crutcher as he stood beside his stalled SUV.

Shelby reacted unreasonably and became emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted, the prosecutors office said in an affidavit.

She was formally arrested and booked into the Tulsa Jail at 1 a.m. Friday, according to county records. She posted a $50,000 bond and was released from jail 20 minutes after she was booked.

Moments before they captured footage of Crutchers death, police cameras recorded the father of four walking toward his car with his hands above his head while several officers followed closely behind with weapons raised. He lingered at his vehicles drivers side window, his body facing the SUV, before slumping to the ground a second later.

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Shots fired! a female voice can be heard yelling in video footage released Monday, three days after the deadly encounter.

Tulsa police say Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle.

The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the shot that killed Crutcher. Her attorney, Scott Wood, has said Crutcher was not following police commands and that Shelby opened fire when the man began to reach through his window.

Wood told the Tulsa World that Shelby opened fire and that another officer used a stun gun when Crutchers left hand goes through the car window.

Shelby is one of only a few female officers to be charged in a fatal shooting in the past decade. If convicted, she could face a minimum of four years in prison.

In a statement, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) said she hopes the decision provides some peace to the Crutcher family and urged people to be patient as the case unfolds.

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No matter how you feel about the prosecutors decision in this case, I hope Oklahomans will respect the views of your friends and neighbors because we still have to live peacefully together as we try to make sense of the circumstances that led to Mr. Crutchers death, Fallin said.

The fatal Sept. 16 shooting, already one of the nations dominant news stories, gained an even higher profile after police shot and killed a black man in Charlotte Tuesday afternoon, sparking violent protests.

Crutcher and Scott are two of at least 707 people  164 of them black men  who have been fatally shot by police officers this year, according to a Washington Post database tracking police shootings.

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said the two shootings  four days and 1,000 miles apart  again laid bare friction between law enforcement officials and the communities they police.

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These tragic incidents have once again left Americans with feelings of sorrow, anger and uncertainty, Lynch said Wednesday. They have once again highlighted  in the most vivid and painful terms  the real divisions that still persist in this nation between law enforcement and communities of color.

The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into Crutchers death.

Shelby thought Crutcher was behaving like someone under the possible influence of the drug phencyclidine (PCP), Wood told the World, noting that Crutcher ignored the officers commands to stop reaching into his pockets. Shelby feared Crutcher might have a gun, he said. A police official told the World that PCP was found in Crutchers vehicle; an attorney for Crutchers family has said reports linking Crutcher to drugs were attempts to intellectually justify his death.

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Make no mistake, it was clear from the beginning that charges were necessary in this case. The officer responsible for the death of Terence Crutcher had to be brought to justice to be held accountable for her actions, Crutcher family attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement Thursday. We remain optimistic that the State Attorney will now do his job, and vigorously prosecute the officer to the fullest extent of the law, bringing some form of justice to the Crutcher family.

Video: Does the helicopter video prove Crutcher's window was closed? (Video: Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Shelby is a five-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department. Wood, who did not return a request for comment, told the World that Shelby is very distraught over the shooting and that she has received death threats.

According to reports, Shelby is married to fellow officer David Shelby, who was in a helicopter that recorded the fatal shooting and was recorded talking with a fellow officer about how they believed Crutcher should be shot with a stun gun. One of them said he looked like a bad dude.

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He was my compassionate son, the slain mans mother, Leanna Crutcher, said in an interview with CNN. No one could ever do anything that would turn him away from being their friend. He loved people.

That big, bad dude mattered, his twin sister Tiffany said.

Betty Shelby worked at the Tulsa Sheriffs Department from June 2007 to November 2011, according to Deputy Justin Green, a department spokesman. Shelby was involved in a use-of-force incident at the department for firearms presentation, Green said. Shelby and other officers entered a home with their firearms drawn as they were trying to serve warrants.

According to her 2007 application to the sheriffs office, Shelby said she had been married twice before and was on track to receive a biology degree from Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, Okla. She had previously worked as a convenience store manager, teacher assistant and trainee in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Shelby wrote that she sprained her knee during basic training and that the Guard did not want to take care of my rehabilitation, so she was discharged.

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On the application, which was obtained by NBC affiliate KJRH, Shelby answered yes to questions about whether she had used drugs and whether she had a victim protection order filed against her. Shelby said she had used marijuana twice as an 18-year-old.

The scene after an unarmed black man was fatally shot by a Tulsa police officer Share Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on LinkedIn MailSolid Email this link View Photos View Photos Next Image Protesters fill the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP)

In an expanded answer, Shelby wrote that in 1993, she and a boyfriend had an argument where they ended their relationship. She said the boyfriend hit her car with a shovel and that she did the same to his vehicle. The two filed orders against each other and asked a judge to dismiss them, she wrote.

In 2000, Shelby and an ex-husband were in a custody battle that was appealed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In 2002, she wrote that her ex-husbands wife filed a protective order against Shelby, alleging she made harassing phone calls. Shelby wrote the order was denied.

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In 2004, Shelby spoke at a rally attended by about 6,000 people, including members of Congress and Tulsas mayor, that showed support for deployed U.S. troops. David Shelby was stationed overseas with the Army; according to the World he was a reservist who volunteered for duty.

I knew there was always a possibility he was going to be deployed sometime, Betty Shelby said at the rally. He knows this is his duty, and hes proud to serve his country.

In a Facebook posting from Aug. 28, Shelby is pictured standing with a black couple and holding a bouquet of flowers. The couple, identified as the Joneses, were robbed, and Shelby found their property and returned it to them.

Well done, Officer Shelby and thanks to the Joneses for making her day, the post read.

Kimberly Kindy contributed to this report.

This article, originally published on Sept. 22, has been updated.

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Most Americans get their ideas about the Middle Ages from popular culture, like Game of Thrones, or from the inevitable rigmarole after a politician refers to a crusade. In other words, its all dragons, dastardly politics and religion-inspired violence. Yet, the European Middle Ages  a period spanning more than 1,000 years  was much richer (and weirder) than even some of the best fiction or political spin.

Myth No. 1

Christianity and Islam were constantly in conict.

In 638 A.D., the Caliph Umar took the city of Jerusalem and pushed the boundaries of Byzantium back toward whats now modern Turkey. This militant expansion, some scholars and pundits say, was the beginning of a centuries-long, still-ongoing clash of civilizations between Christianity and Islam. For centuries, the Daily Mail claimed in a November 2015 article about the Islamic State , Islam and Christianity were locked in a brutal conflict most have forgotten. The horror . . . is that for jihadis its as real today as it was in the Middle Ages. Indeed, the Islamic State is often accused of attempting to re-create a medieval society.

But theres evidence that, at the outset of Islams spread, Christians and Muslims worshipped together. Then, throughout the Middle Ages, from Iberia to North Africa to the Middle East, Christians and Muslims behaved like the neighbors they were. Sometimes they feuded, sometimes they ignored one another, and sometimes they helped each other. Certainly there were episodes of horrific violence between them, such as the sack of Jerusalem in 1099 , but there were plenty of other instances of Christian kings hiring Muslim mercenaries against their Christian rivals, or Islamic merchants trading freely with both Muslims and Christians, even while the Third Crusade raged. As late as the 16th century, France had no problem making an alliance with the Ottoman Empire against their common foe, the Holy Roman Empire. We should always be aware of the long, deep historical roots of religious violence, but we also have to be aware that, just like other kinds of violence, it has specific historical circumstances that create it.

Myth No. 2

Everyone deferred to religious authority.

Those pious denizens of the Middle Ages: They would believe what they were told against the evidence of their own eyes, as the BBC put it, and were deferential at all times to authority. The words of the 19th-century historian Jacob Burckhardt capture their zeal best: In the Middle Ages, human consciousness . . . lay dreaming or half awake beneath a common veil. The veil was woven of faith, illusion, and childish prepossession, through which the world and history were seen clad in strange hues. In other words, it was a period of mystics , charlatans and the naive.

But not everyone spent all their time thinking about God, and some were critical of religious authority. After all, people are people, and they naturally had many interests  including sex, which people in the Middle Ages spent plenty of time thinking, writing and joking about. Sometimes, they worried about avoiding sin. Sometimes, they used sex to strike back against that fear, using comic set-pieces to critique the virtue of their clergy; the punch line of one 13th-century poem about a lascivious priest was one hole satisfies many fools.

Even in the midst of a Crusade, an anonymous Christian writer could strongly criticize the worldly corruption of its participants and question whether the Crusade should have ever been called.

Myth No. 3

Europeans in the Middle Ages were white and Christian.

Over the past few years, critics have asked why Game of Thrones, set in a medieval milieu, is so white. Author George R.R. Martin has explained that Westeros is the fantasy analogue of the British Isles in its world and thus appropriately white.

In fact, although nowhere near as diverse as any modern metropolis, medieval Europe pulsed with difference, both racial and religious. Jews and Christians lived together in most major cities. Large portions of Iberia were under Islamic control (Arabs and Berbers, primarily) for nearly 800 years, from 711 to 1492. Recent archeological findings (along with textual sources) in England and France have shown that people originating from North Africa and the Middle East lived in Europe from the 8th century onward; that evidence is now overwhelming.

Race was something that people in the Middle Ages thought about (though in different ways than we do), and it was something that they had no problem depicting as part of their shared history  for instance, the late-11th-century statue of black Saint Maurice in Germanys Magdeburg Cathedral or heroic Feirefiz (literally half-white and half-black) in Wolfram von Eschenbachs early-13th-century romance Parzival.

Myth No. 4

Everyone thought the Earth was at.

In 2012, President Obama addressed a Maryland audience on the subject of climate change and its deniers. Weve heard this kind of thinking before, he said. Let me tell you something. If some of these folks were around when Columbus set sail, they must have been founding members of the Flat Earth Society. They would not have believed that the world was round. Bristling at similar flat-Earth jabs, pundit Glenn Beck likewise declared on his television show that it was Italian scientist Galileo Galilei who fought against the power structure of his own time to enlighten mankind that the Earth wasnt flat. But did people before the age of discovery really believe the world was flat?

No. This ones a zombie myth. Its been debunked so many times, its hard to keep track. Yet, it probably persists because of how tied we are today to misconceptions about the Middle Ages  anti-science, technologically backward, and (maybe most important) having lost Greek and Roman learning. In other words, it has everything to do with our notions about the Dark Ages.

Christopher Columbus wasn't Italian? Kris Lane, professor of colonial Latin American history at Tulane University, busts five myths about the explorer. (The Washington Post)

To be clear, the idea that the Earth was flat was a pre-Christian Nordic one that didnt survive much longer than the Christianization of Scandinavia in the 9th through 12th centuries. Throughout the rest of Europe and the Mediterranean world, throughout the entire Middle Ages, people knew exactly what the Romans and the Greeks did: that the world is a sphere. This is extraordinarily clear from the large number of surviving medieval maps, such as the wonderful map of the world in Britains Hereford Cathedral , and from references in various texts like those written in the early 8th century by the Venerable Bede .

Myth No. 5

These were the Dark Ages.

Thank the preservation group English Heritage, the History Channel or even Harvard professor Stephen Greenblatt for propagating the idea that the Middle Ages placed harsh constraints on curiosity, desire, individuality, sustained attention to the material world and the claims of the body, in Grenblatts words. Many interpret the Middle Ages as a period when intellectual inquiry went dormant and the dominance of religion either stopped the progress of mankind or actively worked against those few brave souls trying to lift humanity up.

In reality, the conception of the Middle Ages as the Dark Ages began with the Enlightenment. These 17th- and 18th-century thinkers started considering how adherence to religion defined the ages of history. Before Christianity was antiquity (for them, good). The spread of Christianity was the middle age (bad). Then came the Renaissance revival of classical learning, when religion was cast off, beginning the modern world (good). Anything that held back that modern world was regressive, therefore medieval. Aristocracy held back equality, while the church held back science, and so on.

True, the Middle Ages contained violence, repression and terror. But those years also saw the creation of artistic marvels, the birth of the university, breakthroughs in the natural sciences and literature that still moves the soul. Modernity is no different.

Twitter: @prof_gabriele

Five myths is a weekly feature challenging everything you think you know. You can check out previous myths, read more from Outlook or follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter.
One couldnt ask for a better icon for the small railroad town of Ashland, Va., than Tiny Tims Toys and Trains on South Railroad Avenue. The cramped hobby store boasts of model trains with such colorful liveries as those of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway; the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad; and the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

Outside the shop, two tracks run straight down the main drag, neatly bisecting the quaint downtown with its stores, an Amtrak station, Randolph-Macon College and historic Victorian houses with spacious porches. Theres even a webcam thats on 24/7 so that global rail fans can watch the 40 to 60 trains that pass daily.

Railroading has built Ashland, 15 miles north of Richmond, dating to the 1840s. But now it threatens to destroy it.

Ashland is one of several Virginia towns struggling with the proposed Southeast High Speed Rail corridor that would speed rail travel from Washington to Florida. Impressed by the glamour of far-faster bullet trains in Europe and Asia, U.S. planners have been pushing high-speed rail for years. Fast passenger trains pollute less than automobiles, dont create huge highway traffic jams and could spur new connections and development in urban areas.

Many Washingtonians take rail convenience for granted since they tend to travel Amtraks busy Northeast corridor to New York and Boston. Their routes are dedicated to passenger travel, and many of the problems of grade crossings and rights of way were solved more than a century ago.

Not so for southbound rail travelers. Decent and timely service tends to come to an abrupt stop at Union Station. From there, the rails are owned by CSX, whose freight trains have priority. Functioning gear such as switches can be more problematic.

That could change because a program to boost passenger train service to about 90 miles per hour is now gaining speed. Called DC2RVA and run by the Federal Railroad Administration and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the program is expected to unveil its next step, a draft environmental impact statement covering a 123-mile route, in the next month or two.

Some might think that folks in Ashland and other towns would find this great news. Instead, they fear that their lives and property could be forever diminished. This is coming on faster than expected, says Kathy Abbott, a member of Ashlands Town Council. It seems to be in such a rush.

One proposal would add a third track right through Ashlands downtown where theres hardly room. Grade crossings in the area may be closed. Shop customers and residents wouldnt have the same freedom to walk across the tracks they do now. Some of Ashlands finest homes face the tracks and would be endangered.

Downtowners are rallying to protect central Ashland. But that means the high-speed rail line might bypass downtown and run a half-mile to the west, pitting downtown people against residents who live near the western route.

Officially, all the town is saying is that we are not for a third rail, says Ashland resident Dan Bartges, an artist and former advertising executive. But players are lining up muscle.

Ashland is hiring Williams Mullen, an influential Richmond law firm, to fight the third rail. Randolph-Macon College, whose leafy campus would be split by two 850-foot-long elevated passenger stands and a parking lot, has signed up McGuire Woods, another blue-chip Richmond law firm. It isnt known yet if the western bypass players will follow suit.

Some feel squeezed by big inside players such as CSX, Amtrak and state and federal bureaucrats. They control the bureaucratic process in which the 17-member Commonwealth Transportation Board will make a final recommendation after state and federal officials complete their assessments, including routes and costs.

One option that would let many off the hook is using a short-line railroad trunk line to bypass Ashland to the east. But in 2002, bureaucrats took that off the table, saying it was too disruptive and expensive. Still, some Ashland residents see it as a solution to ease community tensions.

Ashland isnt the only city to be put in such a squeeze. In Fredericksburg, there are similar controversies about putting an extra line at the downtown Amtrak station or going with an eastern bypass that critics say would destroy homes, farms and Civil War battlegrounds. In Richmond, theres a dispute over whether to shut down Main Street Station, a newly renovated Italianate structure built in 1901, in favor of a brand-new one near Boulevard and Interstate 95.

Back at Tiny Tims Toys and Trains in Ashland, the manager is wistful as she views the double tracks just outside her shops front door and ponders a third rail. It would destroy us, she says. Our business would be done.
James Mann, a resident fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, is the author of Rise of the Vulcans and George W. Bush, a volume for the American Presidents series.

It is no small irony that the new memoir by Alberto Gonzales, formerly President George W. Bushs attorney general, has come out in the current election season.

It does not seem that he or his publishers planned for this coincidence. The press release for the book instead links the timing to the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, emphasizing that Gonzales was a participant in the Bush administrations decisions about what to do afterward. (More about that later.)

Yet Gonzaless book and his life story serve as a reminder of how recently the Republican Party  or at least some of its leaders  seemed to be moving toward more inclusive policies, and was more tolerant of diversity, than it is now in the age of Donald Trump.

Gonzaless roots were in impoverished communities in northern Mexico. Three of his four grandparents were born there. They crossed the border into the United States  possibly legally, though probably not, at times, in search of a better life, Gonzales writes. As a young man, Gonzales rose from a brief stint in the Air Force to Rice University, Harvard Law School and a partnership in a leading Texas law firm.

"True Faith and Allegiance: A Story of Service and Sacrifice in War and Peace" by Alberto R. Gonzales (Thomas Nelson )

When Bush became governor of Texas, he brought Gonzales onto his team, and six years later, Gonzales moved with Bush from Austin into the White House. As a candidate for governor and president, Bush tried, with considerable success, to win more support from Latinos at the polls than Republicans had previously obtained.

Gonzales recalls proudly how Bush spoke of the value of immigration. Fearful people build walls; confident people tear them down, Bush declared in a speech in 2001. He could not have imagined then, nor could Gonzales have known as he was writing his book, how those words would stand as a rebuke to the Republican presidential candidate of 2016, who has built his entire candidacy around a proposal for a wall.

Gonzaless experience in Washington turned out to be, in the end, not a happy one. Serving as Bushs White House counsel and then as attorney general, he played a willing, active role in many of the most controversial decisions of the administration. Among them were massive new electronic surveillance, the establishment of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and the use of techniques that the Bush administration chose to call not torture (a word to which it gave an extremely limited, legalistic definition) but enhanced interrogation.

In one of the most notorious episodes of the era, Gonzales was one of two Bush administration officials who paid a nighttime visit to the hospital bed of the ailing Attorney General John Ashcroft at George Washington University Hospital in a hurried, unsuccessful attempt to persuade him to sign documents authorizing electronic surveillance that the Justice Departments own lawyers had decided was unconstitutional. Ashcroft refused.

Much of Gonzaless book is devoted to a detailed account of the leading Bush-era events and policies. The tone is often defensive and sometimes bitter. In Gonzaless pejorative descriptions, critics squawked or howled, and lawyers who chose to oppose the Bush policies were merely ambitious.

The arguments Gonzales makes on behalf of the Bush programs are ones that have been made countless times before. He repeatedly returns to the claim that the interrogation and detention policies saved lives and prevented attacks, never acknowledging that this assertion has been challenged, most notably by a Senate Intelligence Committee report in 2014.

Despite these defects, the book will have considerable value for historians  not because of Gonzaless arguments or insights, but simply because of what he heard, witnessed and then set down in his narrative. As Bushs counsel, Gonzales sat in on the National Security Council meetings leading up to the war in Iraq. There is more specificity in his book than in most of the other memoirs by Bush administration officials. Apparently quoting directly from the minutes of council meetings, he records the administrations debates through 2002 and 2003 on issues such as the rationale for the war and the expectations for what would happen afterward.

One frequent criticism of the Bush administration is that its officials went to war without thinking things through. The impression one gets from Gonzaless account is that they did weigh issues, week after week  but ultimately acted on the basis of fallacious assumptions, faulty intelligence and false hopes. We have to win quickly, or that will be the end of this administration, Bush told Gonzales in one Oval Office meeting.

Gonzaless portrait of Bush is almost worshipful. And yet his account is at times unflattering to the former president, even if unintentionally so. On the subject of treatment of prisoners, for example, Gonzaless book makes clear that Bush was regularly kept up to date on what was being done, up to and including the use of waterboarding.

One of the few administration officials Gonzales singles out for criticism is James Comey, who served as deputy attorney general for Bush and is now the FBI director. In 2004, Comey supported the Justice Department lawyers who argued that a part of the Bush administrations electronic surveillance program was illegal, and it was Comey who rushed to Ashcrofts bedside urging him to turn down Gonzaless urgent nighttime search for a signature of approval.

Gonzales belittles Comey as having the limited mentality of a prosecutor. For some prosecutors, there is no gray area, only black and white, he writes. It is a telling comment: When it came to interpreting what the law said and what the president was authorized to do, Gonzales saw only permissive shades of gray. He was flexible  to a fault. Eventually, as he acknowledges, it cost him. He continued to enjoy a close personal relationship with Bush, who appointed him attorney general at the start of his second term, but had ever less support in Congress and elsewhere.

When Gonzales arrived in Washington, he harbored hopes of being appointed to the Supreme Court, where he would have become the first justice of Hispanic descent. Indeed, Gonzaless ambitions for a court appointment are a leitmotif in the book, a subject that he thought about and that the press speculated about during the administrations early years.

But whatever chances he may have had gradually faded. In July 2005, after Justice Sandra Day OConnor resigned, Bush pulled Gonzales aside after a larger White House meeting to discuss possible nominees and told him, Im not going to put you on the court. Gonzales says the news was bittersweet, no doubt an understatement.

His problems continued to mount. Congress investigated his personal role in the firing of U.S attorneys around the nation. He felt that he had been abandoned by everyone except the president. But on Aug. 24, 2007, Bush asked for his resignation.

Gonzales went back to Texas, disillusioned by the treachery of Washington politics and the subtle prejudices against outsiders. For a long time, he couldnt find any job at all and had to leave his home town of Houston. Finally, he landed a position as dean of Belmont University College of Law in Nashville.

Gonzaless dream of a Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court was ultimately realized  not by himself but by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, appointed by President Obama in 2009. Gonzales, it turned out, was the wrong person in the wrong political party.
Its the annual gathering of world leaders in New York this week, and for most of them, its time for group therapy. Around the globe, leaders of all stripes seem afflicted with the same malady: low approval ratings. Morgan Stanleys Ruchir Sharma has pointed out that the median approval rating for the leaders of the top 20 emerging and developed economies has dropped by 17 points over the past decade. What is going on?

Sharma argues that the cause is economic. Global growth has slowed from a post-World War II average of 3.5 percent to 2 percent since 2008. There is no region of the world that is growing faster today than it was before the global financial crisis. And yet, the very rich continue to prosper. Sharma notes that the number of billionaires globally has doubled, to more than 1,800. Seventy of them live in one city, London.

But, in fact, the problem is deeper than simply a slowdown. There is a wider sense of political paralysis, which leads to public frustration. The underlying causes for this anger are even more fundamental in many Western countries. Growth in the West has been falling since the 1970s, including in the United States. Productivity growth has never returned to postwar levels, except for a brief period in the 1990s.

As I argue in a forthcoming Foreign Affairs essay, Western countries face four structural challenges  demography, globalization, automation and increasing debt burdens. The demographic challenge might be the most fundamental. In almost every advanced economy, fertility has dropped sharply, from Japan to South Korea, Germany to Italy. The number of centenarians in Japan is more than twice what it was a decade ago, with 32,000 people in the country expected to turn 100 just this year.

Globalization and the information revolution boost growth overall, but they concentrate the costs on skilled and semiskilled workers, particularly in basic manufacturing industries that once provided large numbers of stable, high-paying jobs.

As a response to the global financial crisis, governments have taken on huge debts. In addition, the aging population means that spending on the elderly is crowding out the investment needed for growth  in infrastructure, education, science and technology.

Facing these forces, leaders have no easy path to restore growth and revive their countries. Deep, radical reforms are unpopular and in this climate do not seem to lead to roaring growth. Ireland, Portugal and Mexico have all enacted broad market reforms, and yet, growth has not come booming back. Japan has spent hundreds of billions on stimulus plans and yet it is just muddling along. Thus, even the leaders who come to office with strong public approval and much promise find themselves trapped by the same forces. Very quickly their approval ratings begin to drop and new populist anger grows. Italys reformist prime minister, Matteo Renzi, has seen his numbers fall below 30 percent. The populist Greek leader, Alexis Tsipras, is down to 19 percent.

President Obama outlined many solutions to the problems of growth and inequality in his speech Tuesday to the United Nations. He explained how the United States has focused its reform and recovery efforts on helping the middle class gain better access to jobs, health care, training and housing. He argued that furthering these efforts  with new investments in child care, infrastructure and basic research  would keep this momentum going. He pointed out that immigration and assimilation can work for all of society.

But the policy solutions he put forth and the ones that other countries are adopting are all small-bore, specific and incremental. They are wonky efforts to nudge the market, government and people in ways that will work gradually. Meanwhile, the populists promise dramatic, bold solutions that sound much more satisfying. Donald Trump tells Americans that their lives are hard and there is a simple reason for it: foreigners. They steal American jobs, burden the United States welfare state and make Americans less safe. His solution is to get tough on them. That will make the country great again, he promises.

Its not hard to understand the appeal of simplicity in a complex world. There is little drama in plans to expand early-childhood education  and yet they work. The persistent and energetic efforts at reform do pay off. Sensible, fact-based, market-friendly government policy makes a difference. A recent Census Bureau report, showing the biggest one-year drop in poverty in the United States in almost 50 years, highlights that these efforts are working. To the United States north, Canada is handling a slowdown in growth, welcoming thousands of refugees and celebrating diversity. And the two major leaders in the Western world with the highest approval ratings today are Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau. The center can hold.

Read more from Fareed Zakarias archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Michael McFaul is director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and a Hoover fellow at Stanford University, and a contributing columnist to The Post. He was previously special assistant to President Obama at the National Security Council from 2009-2012 and former U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2012-2014.

Earlier this month, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence made a pilgrimage to the Reagan library, where he tried to make the case that his running mate, Donald Trump, shared many ideas and traits with former president Ronald Reagan. Im not a psychologist, so I dont feel qualified to assess the extent of their shared optimism, and will leave it to economists to discuss overlap in their domestic agendas. But on foreign policy, there are almost no parallels whatsoever. Aside from a pledge to increase military spending, Trumps national security policies have nothing in common with Ronald Reagans.

First, Trumps approach to dealing with Moscow radically diverges from Reagans strategy. Trumps advisers argue that Reagan befriended Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, so whats the harm in Trump doing the same with Russian President Vladimir Putin? The answer is that Putin is no Gorbachev, as the Russian president would passionately explain to you. As the last leader of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev sought to democratize the Soviet political system and move his country closer to the West. Reagan rightly assessed Gorbachevs commitment to these laudable goals and worked with him to achieve these objectives. Putin has the opposite agenda  greater autocracy at home and less cooperation with the West, and the United States, in particular.

Before Gorbachev, Reagan agreed to realistic reengagement with the Soviets, as his Secretary of State George Shultz called it in his memoir, Turmoil and Triumph. As Shultz wrote, realistic engagement meant talking to the Kremlin while also committing to counter Soviet expansionism and to do whatever we could to encourage greater liberalization and pluralism within the Soviet Union. Trump seems distinctly disinterested in either of these central tenets of Reagans approach to Moscow.

Reagan believed in supporting our allies in Europe and Asia. Trump does not. He has raised serious doubts about his commitment to defending our allies. As Shultz wrote, The United States, I knew had no hope of dealing successfully with the Soviet Union, and the turmoil around the world unless there was solidarity in the NATO alliance. Most dramatically, Reagan pushed for the deployment of nuclear missiles in Europe to strengthen NATOs deterrent capabilities against the Soviet Union. This decision was criticized widely by those in the United States and Europe seeking to get along with Moscow, but Reagans controversial policy eventually created conditions ripe for the signing in 1987 of the Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, or INF, Treaty between the Soviet Union and the United States, which prohibited the deployment of such weapons in Europe. To obtain this historic agreement, Reagan did not appease his Soviet counterparts because they said nice things about him. His strategy was the exact opposite  peace through strength.

Reagan believed in free trade. Trump does not. On the benefits of free trade, Reagan could not have been clearer: Our trade policy rests firmly on the foundation of free and open markets. . . . I . . . recognize the inescapable conclusion that all of history has taught: The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides for human progress and peace among nations. In 1986, the Reagan administration initiated the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which eventually created the World Trade Organization. Reagan also signed into law the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement in 1988, the precursor to the North American Free Trade Agreement. Reagans actual trade decisions varied  sometimes vetoing protectionist legislation, sometimes acting to protect American industries. But his general philosophy regarding trade could not be more in opposition to Trumps ideas.

Reagan believed passionately in promoting liberty around the world. Trump does not. In his speech to the British parliament in June 1982, Reagan stated emphatically, We must be staunch in our conviction that freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few, but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings. In this speech, Reagan proposed the creation of what eventually became the National Endowment for Democracy, to foster the infrastructure of democracy, the system of a free press, unions, political parties, universities, which allows a people to choose their own way to develop their own culture, to reconcile their own differences through peaceful means. Trump has made clear that he sees no value in promoting democracy or human rights, the exact opposite of Reagan.

Reagan believed in American exceptionalism. Trump does not. Reagan saw strength from our unique history and democratic values. He contrasted our moral goodness with that of the Soviet Union, which he referred to as the Evil Empire. In dramatic contrast, Trump thinks that the United States is no different from Putins Russia. When asked by MSNBCs Joe Scarborough in December 2015 about new evils in Russia, Trump replied, well our country does plenty of killing also, Joe, so, you know. . . . Theres a lot of stupidity going on in the world right now, Joe. A lot of killing going on. It is unimaginable that Reagan would have compared the brave efforts of our soldiers abroad to what the Kremlin is doing around the world and at home.

In the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections, Reagan won electoral support from Reagan Democrats. Though difficult to generalize about the reasons for their affinity for Reagan, one segment of this voting bloc  blue-collar workers of Eastern European heritage  did not allow traditional class affinities to determine their votes, but instead were attracted to Reagan in large measure because of his national security agenda. A vital question in the current presidential election is whether these Reagan Democrats will support Trump. If foreign policy still matters to them, the answer should be no.
What do the presidents of Egypt and Iran, two countries across the Sunni-Shiite chasm in the Middle East, have in common? A lot, it turns out, including preoccupation with their internal stability and hunger for economic growth.

Both talk about moderation, and the deep resources of their ancient cultures, even as the regions sectarian war rages. They claim to want greater human rights but insist that their systems can change only gradually. They seem to worry most about security  the specter of terrorism and turmoil that lies just across their borders.

The annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly offers a chance to meet these visiting leaders as if it were a neighborhood stroll. I interviewed Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi for an hour at his hotel and then joined a group meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani a half-dozen blocks away. Sissis comments were on the record; Rouhani spoke off the record but he expressed similar views in public comments.

One takeaway is the central role the United States still plays in global affairs, whatever its domestic political problems or its foreign rivals. The world has only one superpower, and Sissi and Rouhani, along with dozens of other leaders, come to New York in September to engage a U.S.-led global system. Also whirling through New York this week was Americas tireless secretary of state, John F. Kerry. His recent frustrations in negotiating a Syria peace deal are a reminder that even for a superpower, diplomacy alone doesnt suffice.

The conversation with Sissi was a chance to assess a leader who has been something of a mystery, even to his closest Arab allies. He talks about reforming Egypt but describes the morass of subsidies, bureaucracy and political inertia that has blocked previous Egyptian leaders. Sissi was soft-spoken, dignified  and prickly on questions of human rights. He was most animated in talking about the fragility of the Egyptian state, which clearly preoccupies him.

What we are living in is a pseudo-state, a shadow of a state, he said, echoing comments he made in Egypt in May. His goal is a competent and capable country with a modern infrastructure, faster economic growth and, eventually, broader human rights. He described an Egypt still dizzy from the 2011 revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak. A country like Egypt needs stability, it needs security, he said. He warned that collapse of the state could turn Egypt into a nation of refugees like nearby Syria.

Internal stability is the rationale that authoritarian leaders often use for curtailing rights. When I asked why Egypt couldnt be like India and Brazil, two developing nations that have experienced rapid growth and also growing democracy and human rights, Sissi answered that a country like India has had decades of political stability on which to build, while his reform efforts are only two years old.

Sissi expressed frustration with the state subsidies that economists for decades have criticized. He said Egypt has 7 million public-sector employees performing work that could be done by just 1 million, and that public-sector salaries had more than doubled since the 2011 revolution and its demand for social justice. Critics might focus on Egypts human rights record, Sissi said, but he worries about jobs, food and housing.

You would be unfair to me and Egypts circumstances if you keep looking at us through an American lens, he argued. Point taken. But if Sissi really wants to energize Egypt, he surely needs to revive its political and economic dynamism  in a freer and more open country.

Rouhanis public statements here were sharp-edged. In his Thursday U.N. speech, he told regional rival Saudi Arabia to cease and desist from divisive policies and criticized U.S. lack of compliance with promises in last years nuclear deal to open trade to Iran.

But Rouhani is a subtle politician. He knows that his moderate approach, which led to the nuclear deal, is still popular with Iranian voters. And he sees Iranian military involvement in Syria and Iraq as a necessary buffer against the Islamic State, which might otherwise have captured Damascus and Baghdad.

For Rouhani and Sissi both, foreign policy begins with the imperative of domestic security. Iran had its revolution 37 years ago; Egypts is just five years past. Neither country will grow and prosper without more freedom to empower its citizens. Thats why American pressure on human rights, no matter how much it annoys these two leaders, is ultimately in their countries interest.

Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Lally Weymouth is a senior associate editor at The Post.

Will Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi be the next David Cameron? Renzi has called for a referendum, to be held in November or December, on constitutional reform aimed at reducing political gridlock. Originally Renzi said that he would resign if it failed . But with polls indicating an uncertain outcome, Renzi has tried to distance himself from that statement. Renzi was in New York this week for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly, and he sat down to talk with The Posts Lally Weymouth . Edited excerpts:

Q: You have a problem with refugees streaming into your country?

A: Ninety percent of refugees arriving in Italy come from Libya. The question is: What is going to happen in Libya? The situation there is moving in the right direction but we need stability to give to Libya a future.

Is there a possibility of a Libyan government strong enough to control the refugee outflow?

The number-one priority in Libya is to block the frontier of the sea. But the second point [for Italy] is to return immigrants who have arrived without permission to their countries of origin. I am speaking of economic refugees, obviously. The refugees who escaped from war have the right to be welcomed in Europe.

Isnt the flow of refugees a problem particularly for Italy because Austria is putting up fences and Switzerland is, too?

Yes, but the numbers are not dramatic. Last year, 155,000 refugees [came to Italy]. It is also important for Europe to invest a lot of money in Africa.

Are your friends in Europe willing to do this?

In theory, they agree with me. The problem is the lack of strategy after Brexit. If we consider Brexit only as a bureaucratic problem, I think we have lost the message that comes from the British people, which is, Hey! We want a different Europe, not focused on the bureaucrats but on ideals, on dreams and on the hopes of the next generation.

Dont you think the cause of Brexit was the United Kingdoms fear of mass immigration?

The problem is not the immigrants. The problem is the lack of reaction of Europe. The [European Union] is without vision. We need a strategy for the next year and the next decade. I think we have to change the narrative.

What should the new narrative be?

The changed narrative means Europe becoming a place of dynamism, energy, a place where it is possible to experiment and create hope, not only to discuss austerity. Today we have the Europe of austerity. We need the Europe of hope.

Italy has serious economic problems today. Your banking system has problems  there are a lot of nonperforming loans. Italy has not enjoyed much growth for 20 years, right? So you blame this all on austerity?

For many years Italy wasnt able to criticize Europe because a European could say, Please achieve the result of your reforms, and then you can speak. With my government, we achieved the results of the reforms  labor reforms, constitutional reforms, and now we have the referendum.

So you have done enough reforms?

We achieved the results of reforms, and now we can speak about Europe.

Your growth rate is 1 percent, correct?

One percent growth. I am not happy with 1 percent growth but last year it was 0.8 percent growth. Three years ago, it was minus 1.9 percent. We changed direction, but the velocity is not the velocity of my dreams.

What about the upcoming referendum? You said originally you were going to resign if it didnt pass and now you seem to have backed away from that position?

Six months ago I delivered a message of responsibility. Italian politicians decided to focus on me rather than the referendum.

But you spoke about yourself.

At first I spoke about myself. Now I have stopped this discussion. This referendum is not about my career or my resignation. It is about the power of the regions, the number of politicians and reducing the red tape of bureaucracy in Italy.

But originally you did say that you would quit if it didnt pass.

Yes, I made a mistake because I shifted the discussion to my life and my career. . . . No country in the Western community has changed its government as often as Italy has  63 governments in 70 years. Instability is a problem in my country. So this referendum could finally give stability to the country.

What do you think Brexit means for the future of Europe?

It is worse for the U.K. than it is for the E.U. The problem will be very serious for the U.K. If we dont change Europe, the risk to the unity of the E.U. will be greater than it is now.

Because more countries will withdraw?

Maybe, because this was the first referendum and the first opens every possibility. I think if [the E.U.] shows a very strong reaction in terms of new energy, we can block the exodus of other countries.

Should Italy take the place of Great Britain in the E.U. today? Should the core players be France, Germany and Italy?

The problem is whether or not Germany will accept this. I have a great respect for Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande, but we cannot lose momentum. Carpe diem.

You want to copy President Obama and have a stimulus program in Italy?

Obama is a model for me for a lot of reasons  for the quality of his political discussions and for his political vision. He achieved concrete results in terms of creating new jobs.

And you want to do the same thing for your country?

Not only for my country  for my continent. Because the European Union decided on a different strategy  it focused on austerity, which was a crucial mistake for Europe.
BOTH HILLARY CLINTON and Donald Trump met at the United Nations this week with Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, the general who led the military coup against Egypts elected government in 2013 and has since overseen the harshest repression the country has known in a half-century. The candidates face time with him was unmerited and ill-advised, considering that Mr. Sissi, in addition to overseeing the extrajudicial killing or disappearance of thousands of Egyptians and the imprisonment of tens of thousands, has directed a vicious campaign against U.S. influence in his country.

There was, however, a notable difference in the way that Mr. Trump and Ms. Clinton handled the strongman  one that reveals a substantive and important divide on foreign policy. Mr. Trumps post-meeting statement heaped uncritical praise on Mr. Sissi, thanking him and the Egyptian people for what they have done in defense of their country and promising to invite the coup-maker for an official visit to Washington.

In contrast, Ms. Clinton, while paying tribute to U.S.-Egyptian cooperation on counterterrorism, emphasized the importance of respect for rule of law and human rights to Egypts future progress, according to her statement. She also raised concerns about prosecution of Egyptian human rights organizations and activists. In other words, while Mr. Trump handed a pass to this deeply problematic U.S. ally, Ms. Clinton put him on notice that his abuses will not be ignored if she becomes president.

[On foreign policy, Trump is the worst of all worlds]

That is important, for two reasons. First, Mr. Sissis repression  which has included imprisoning or forcing into exile the countrys most prominent secular liberal leaders and human rights activists  is, as Ms. Clinton hinted, destroying his countrys prospects. Egypt will never recover economically, or regain political stability, while Mr. Sissi stifles open debate and free assembly and employs torture and assassination against Islamist opponents, including those affiliated with the nonviolent Muslim Brotherhood. A failure of the Egyptian state would be a disaster for U.S. interests in the Middle East  and yet that is where Mr. Sissis policies are leading.

Then there is Mr. Sissis fervent anti-Americanism. Its not surprising that Mr. Trump would fail to grasp the strategic implications of the regimes disregard for human rights, given his own contempt for liberal values. But its striking that a candidate who claims to put America first would overlook Mr. Sissis practice of systematically targeting American interests and American citizens even while pocketing $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid.

The general and his propagandists rant on state television about what they say are U.S. plots to divide and destroy Egypt, using media and civil society groups. The regime meanwhile wages war against American-backed nongovernmental organizations, seizing their assets and charging their leaders with crimes. A U.S. citizen who founded an organization to help street children, Aya Hijazi of Falls Church, has been jailed without trial for more than two years  in violation of Egypts own laws  on charges Egyptian and international human rights groups unanimously say are fabricated.

Ms. Clinton, to her credit, raised Ms. Hijazis case with Mr. Sissi and called for her release, according to the campaigns statement. Mr. Trump had nothing to say about her. Will a Trump administration be ready to defend Americans who are persecuted by foreign dictatorships? Evidently not, if the dictator is Mr. Sissi.
Jason Furman is chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Everyone talks about income inequality these days. President Obama has actually done something about it.

In terms of the talk, the broad outlines of the story are familiar: In 1979, the top 1 percent of U.S. families received 7 percent of all after-tax income. By 2007, that share had more than doubled to nearly 17 percent. The falling share of income going to everybody else, together with slower productivity, led to disappointing income growth for working- and middle-class families.

The Obama administrations success in undoing some of this inequality, although reflected in the recent, welcome census report, is less well-known. Most notably, tax changes enacted during this administration have increased the share of income going to the bottom 99 percent of families by more than the tax changes in any administration since at least 1960.

Under Obamas leadership, Congress expanded the earned-income tax credit, increased the child tax credit for working families, and created a new tax credit for students and families paying for college  steps that together benefit 24 million households annually. At the same time, Congress reinstated Clinton-era tax rates for high-income Americans, restored the estate tax and applied Medicare taxes to the investment income of high-income households, putting unearned income on greater parity with earned income. All of these changes have increased the tax codes progressivity.

The Affordable Care Act has also had a significant impact on inequality. Because of the law, 20 million more Americans have health insurance, gains that have reduced the uninsured rate to the lowest level on record. The law has sharply reduced inequality in health insurance coverage by age, race and income. The financial assistance that made this coverage expansion possible has also reduced inequality in after-tax incomes.

Taken together, these policies will boost incomes for families in the bottom fifth of the income distribution next year by 18 percent, or $2,200, equivalent to more than a decade of average income gains, according to a new report by the Council of Economic Advisers. Partly as a result of these policy changes, the top 1 percents share of income after taxes was 12 percent in 2013 (the most recent year for which data are available), well below its 2007 peak and roughly equal to its share in 1997.

The distribution of income before taxes also matters. The 2009 Recovery Act and other fiscal stimulus measures, along with a forceful response to stabilize financial and housing markets, prevented a deep recession from turning into another Great Depression. Without the preexisting social safety net and expansions of it in the Recovery Act, the poverty rate would have increased during the recession by about nine times as much as it actually did.

Much current commentary takes as a given that wages in the United States remain stagnant. And given that average annual wage growth was only 0.1 percent annually from 1980 to 2007, that sentiment is understandable. However, a recent but unambiguous uptick in wages has shown that stagnation in workers pay is anything but inevitable. Average real wages for production workers have grown by nearly 6 percent since the end of 2012, more than all the wage growth from 1973 to 2007. And the Census Bureau reported that in 2015 the typical household saw its income grow by $2,800, or 5.2 percent, the fastest rate on record. Last year also saw the largest single-year reduction in poverty since the 1960s.

Moreover, these wage increases have been broadly shared. In fact, workers at the 10th percentile (who earn about $20,000 a year) have seen the strongest wage growth, in part because millions of workers have gotten a raise in the 18 states and the District  as well as the more than 50 cities and other local governments  that have raised the minimum wage. This is in part why households toward the bottom of the income distribution had record income gains last year that exceeded the gains by any other income group.

Nevertheless, the sheer size of the increase in inequality since the 1970s means that substantial work remains, both to address inequality and strengthen real wage growth. A number of proposals  including raising the federal minimum wage, expanding the earned-income tax credit for workers without dependent children, expanding access to high-quality child care and early education, limiting tax breaks for high-income households, and increasing investments in research and infrastructure  would further reduce inequality and boost real wage growth.

The president has described reducing inequality as the defining challenge of our time. Our success to date should embolden us to help ensure that it will not be the defining challenge of the next generation, too.
If you are a black man in America, exercising your constitutional right to keep and bear arms can be fatal. You might think the National Rifle Association and its amen chorus would be outraged, but apparently they believe Second Amendment rights are for whites only.

In reaching that conclusion I am accepting, for the sake of argument, the account given by the Charlotte police of how they came to fatally shoot Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday. Scotts killing prompted two nights of violent protests that led North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) to declare a state of emergency. Last Friday, police in Tulsa shot and killed Terence Crutcher  an unarmed black man  and the two incidents gave tragic new impetus to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Scotts relatives claim he was unarmed as well. But lets assume that police are telling the truth and he had a handgun. What reason was there for officers to confront him?

North Carolina, after all, is an open-carry state. A citizen has the right to walk around armed if he or she chooses to do so. The mere fact that someone has a firearm is no reason for police to take action.

This is crazy, in my humble opinion. I believe that we should try to save some of the 30,000-plus lives lost each year to gun violence by enacting sensible firearms restrictions  and that the more people who walk around packing heat like Wild West desperados, the more deaths we will inevitably have to mourn. In its wisdom, however, the state of North Carolina disagrees.

Protesters flooded out to surround police cars and officers in Charlotte on Sept. 20, after a cop shot and killed 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. Looting broke out on a nearby highway and officers in riot gear shot tear gas into the crowds. Authorities reported that 12 officers were injured. (Jenny Starrs,Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

[Colbert King: The key reason why racism remains alive and well in America]

We should continue to lobby for tighter gun laws and hope that someday the voices of reason are heard. But at the same time, we should demand that current laws be enforced fairly even if we dont like them. Scotts death is the second recent police slaying to suggest that laws permitting people to carry handguns apparently do not apply to African Americans.

In July, police killed a black man named Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minn., after pulling him over for a traffic stop. When officers approached the car, Castile told them he was licensed to carry a handgun. I can only assume that Castile made this declaration so that the officers would not be surprised upon seeing the gun. But rather than assure them that he was a law-abiding citizen exercising his constitutional right, Castiles announcement had the opposite effect.

The horror that ensued was live-streamed on Facebook by Castiles girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds. Her cellphone video and calm, composed narration were chilling, especially to those of us who frequently commit the offense of driving while black. One of the officers shot Castile several times, and Reynolds watched as Castile slumped next to her, his life bleeding away.

Did Castile reach for the gun? Reynolds maintains he was merely reaching for his wallet to get his drivers license, as the officer had ordered. But we have seen many times, including in the recent Crutcher case, that any perceived sudden movement by a black man under arrest, even if he is not known to have a weapon, can be seen by police as a deadly threat. Disclosure of the gun, meant to avert potential tragedy, seems to have invited it.

[Editorial: The NRA is wrong: This is exactly the right time to talk about guns]

Afterward, it was confirmed that Castile did indeed have a legal permit to carry a gun. He was not guilty of any crime. He was just 32  and, incredibly, had in his brief life been stopped a total of 52 times for nickel-and-dime traffic violations.

1 of 70 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Protests against police continue in Charlotte View Photos Authorities facing some of the most intense reactions seen in more than two years of protests over policing nationwide vowed a strong law enforcement response to the unrest. Caption In September 2016, authorities faced some of the most intense reactions seen in more than two years of protests over policing nationwide vowed a strong law enforcement response to the unrest. Sept. 25, 2016 People gather outside the football stadium as the Carolina Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings, to protest the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, in Charlotte. Mike Blake/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

That qualifies as harassment. I know many black men who have been pulled over for some trumped-up excuse and felt threatened by police. This has happened to me.

In the Scott case, according to a Charlotte police department statement, officers said they went to a neighborhood looking for someone else and saw Scott inside a vehicle in the apartment complex. The subject exited the vehicle armed with a handgun. Officers observed the subject get back into the vehicle at which time they began to approach the subject.

If all they saw was a man with a gun who got out of a car and back in, what illegal activity did they observe? Why did they approach the subject instead of going about their business? Did they have any reason to suspect it was an illegal gun? Are all men carrying guns believed to be carrying guns illegally, or just black men?

Our gun laws should be changed. Until then, however, they must be enforced equally. Does the NRA disagree?

Read more from Eugene Robinsons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. You can also join him Tuesdays at 1 p.m. for a live Q&A.
The Sept. 20 front-page article As Trump plays up profiling, Clinton says rhetoric aids ISIS reported that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump blames President Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for the Islamic State, although theres reasonable argument that its leaders are Iraqi generals displaced when the United States invaded in 2003.

The Islamic State will fade into history just as the Nazis did seven decades ago. Winston Churchill did not attack his predecessor (the easy target Neville Chamberlain) or paint a landscape of fear in which he alone had some magical quick fix.

Indeed, as Churchill took over as British prime minister in the spring of 1940, Hitler was plowing through opposition in France and formulating the plans for a cross-Channel assault on a woefully unprepared England. Churchill quickly gave multiple speeches. The first was the blood, toil, tears and sweat speech of May 13, 1940: no quick fixes, only a difficult, step-by-step mobilization against tough odds. The last was his finest hour speech on June 18, just as France was surrendering to Germany, calling for all British (not him alone) to rise to greatness: The battle of France is over. The battle of Britain is about to begin. . . . [Let us] so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, This was their finest hour. 

Through all this, the calls were many for profiling and acting against the 80,000 German and Austrian citizens in Britain. Sound familiar? But Churchill wouldnt hear of it, and only a few hundred known Nazis were interned.

Walter J. Culver, Reston
Donald Trump supporters may be passionate, but theyre a bit irony-challenged.

In the days since I wrote that Hillary Clinton wasnt necessarily wrong to say that half of Trumps supporters are racists and other deplorables, the response has been, well, deplorable. A sampling of the thousands of emails and social media replies:

Please do not tell me you think we whites are just as violent, nasty, and/or Godless as the other races.

You call it racism, I call it concern that in time foreign folks will have the voting power to make the USA another Muslim state.

Another writer informed me that blacks are the most violent population in America, that blacks work the least of any race in America and that black women have the lowest moral standards of all women in America, concluding: The biggest problem for blacks is blacks.

Speaking in Pittsburgh, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said because of the violent protests in North Carolina spurred by a fatal police shooting, the United States "looks bad to the world." (The Washington Post)

Many others suggested I perform an impossible sex act on myself and another sex act on male genitals, called me a scumbag and far worse, and suggested I eat feces. Some took the opportunity to inform me that my fellow Jews and I are the most racist people on the Earth, that I worship Satan, and that my children and I will be boiled in oil.

Then this simple note was sent to me: I hope you outlive your children.

I reprint this small sample of the nastygrams not to ruin your next meal but because the half of Trump supporters who arent motivated by prejudice, and the few voters who remain genuinely undecided, should be aware of the bigotry that Trump has brought into the open  and that those who vote for Trump are condoning.

This week, police shootings of African Americans in Tulsa and Charlotte provoked more racial strife  and Trump apparently couldnt help but stir the pot. He said he was troubled by the shooting of the unarmed motorist in Tulsa, and he delivered a speech that was, in the prepared text, balanced: We all have to walk a mile in someone elses shoes.

But even as he tried to pull back from the flagrant and well-documented bigotry that has characterized his campaign  coziness with white supremacists, scapegoating of Latinos and Muslims, anti-Semitic imagery  Trump couldnt resist going off script and announcing, without proof, that if youre not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in the Charlotte protests. He told a questioner in Cleveland that he would reduce violence in black communities with the stop-and-frisk policy that has produced discriminatory treatment of African Americans; he later said he would do that only in Chicago.

And Trump stood grinning as Don King, a prominent African American supporter, introduced Trump at a Cleveland church with reference to the dancing and sliding and gliding n-----. I mean Negro.

As this was happening, Trumps campaign chair in Mahoning County in eastern Ohio resigned after she told the Guardian in a video interview that there wasnt any racism until Obama got elected.

If youre black and you havent been successful in the last 50 years, its your own fault, the official, Kathy Miller, said. 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 in Charlotte, Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-N.C.), an enthusiastic Trump backer who claimed he had Trumps support in his primary, told the BBC that the Charlotte protesters hate white people because white people are successful and theyre not. He apologized.

Are Pittenger and Miller and those who send vile emails representative of Trump supporters? Or are they more like the way Donald Trump Jr. describes refugees: a few bad ones in a bowl of Skittles?

Thats what I tried to answer in my column analyzing Clintons claim that half of Trump supporters are racist, anti-Muslim and the like. I cited data from the American National Election Studies, the gold standard of public opinion research for seven decades. It showed a big recent jump in prejudicial sentiment, to the point where 62 percent of white people believe black people are either lazier or less intelligent than white people, or both. The study further finds that such people disproportionately favor Republicans. Extrapolating, you can calculate that a solid majority of Mitt Romneys voters in 2012 were white people who thought black people lazier and/or less intelligent than white people. The proportion will likely grow for Trump.

This doesnt mean most Trump supporters are running around wearing sheets and burning crosses. But it does indicate racist sentiment is more widespread than commonly thought. Whats truly deplorable is that Trump  unlike Romney and others who carried the Republican banner before  is encouraging the sentiment.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Michael Gersons description in his Sept. 20 op-ed, If Trump wins, blame Obamacare, of Obamacare as a dramatic failure of liberal governance missed half the picture. After refusing to participate in any constructive way in the creation of the Affordable Care Act, Republicans should not have been surprised when a bill containing mostly liberal priorities was passed by a majority-Democratic Congress. Then, from Day One, they set out to do everything in their power, at both the state and federal levels, to ensure its failure. Mission accomplished.

As Mr. Gerson asserted, in the current poisoned legislative atmosphere, there is no prospect of legislative fixes. Republicans must share the blame for this as well. A Democratic majority would surely have addressed some of the most glaring shortcomings of the program by now. The failures of the ACA are the result of both Democratic overreach and Republican scorched-earth obstructionism.

Mark von Keszycki, Great Falls

Michael Gerson made clever use of statistics in his op-ed on the Affordable Care Act. To wit: Only 18 percent of Americans believe the Affordable Care Act has helped their families; 80 percent say it has hurt or had no effect. Now why would he have grouped those who say it has hurt them with those who say it had no effect?

Mr. Gerson obviously does not like the Affordable Care Act. The only explanation for that grouping is that the percentage of those who said it hurt them is small and he is trying to hide that fact by putting it together with those who were not affected and therefore are not upset by it the way he is.

I was not affected by the ACA, but my daughter would have been unable to get health insurance when she turned 22 without great cost (if at all) if not for the law. Because of the ACA, we were able to keep her on our insurance until she turned 26 and was able to get it on her own through her school or job. Therefore, I would be part of that 80 percent, but I think the only thing wrong with the ACA is that it didnt go far enough.

Melissa Yorks, Gaithersburg

Michael Gerson, who rarely misses the mark, lamented the increasing costs of insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act. But three pages earlier in the same Sept. 20 Post was the article Study: Obamacare premiums lower than employer plans.

There are now fewer adult Americans without health insurance than ever recorded. And there would be millions more with health insurance if Republicans did not block Medicaid expansion, as has happened in Virginia, among several other states.

Certainly, problems exist with Obamacare, but the biggest problem is that we have failed to develop a health-care system that is cost-efficient while able to deliver high-quality care. Obamacare is an improvement to a broken health-care system, but certainly not a fix.

Wayland Marks, Fredericksburg
Of all the absurdities in Donald Trumps rapid political rise, none is more puzzling than his reputation for toughness in the war against terrorism.

Trump is a real-estate developer who takes any domestic terrorist attack  whatever the actual circumstances  as confirmation of his views on a lax immigration system, as evidence of a law-enforcement system hobbled by political correctness and as cause for more aggressive profiling of Muslims, Arabs or whomever he is currently defining as the threat. Some of his followers seem particularly pleased when he edges toward declaring Islam itself to be the enemy. Frankly, Trump has said, were having problems with the Muslims.

This is complete madness. No serious counterterrorism expert (Trump may have unearthed some unserious ones to provide cover) believes that the task of confronting domestic radicalization  of working with communities to identify threats and prevent attacks  is helped by declaring a war on Islam. Those who regard Trumps use of the words radical Islamic terrorism as a counterterrorism victory are engaged in magical foreign-policy thinking  the deployment of incantations in a global conflict.

Trump has hardly distinguished himself in reacting to that conflict, fed by the radiating disorders of the Middle East. As the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) rose, the GOP nominee said, Thats not our fight. And: Let Syria and ISIS fight. Why do we care? And: Let Russia fight ISIS, if they want to fight em. But also: Bomb the oil and take the oil  which would seem to require a choice between the two. Incantations are preferable to such gibberish.

Trumps instinct is to lead from behind  the intensification, not repudiation, of Obama-era policy in the Middle East. But one of the leading critics of this policy is also Donald Trump. If [Obama] had gone in with tremendous force, he has argued, you wouldnt have millions of people displaced all over the world.

Those who believe that preening bluster makes up for willful ignorance and dangerously poor policy judgment have found their man. But this is not the worst of it. Anyone who has spent time working in the White House would attest that the single most important presidential attribute is leadership in times of crisis. We have no idea what challenges the next president may face  an outbreak of deadly pandemic flu, the collapse of order in nuclear Pakistan, a cyberattack on the U.S. electrical grid. All we know  or try our best to know  is the character, stability and credibility of the president himself (or herself).

On current and consistent evidence, Trump would jump to conclusions, entertain conspiracy theories and lash out in rhetoric that seems tough but actually complicates the task of leadership. Conservatives trying to justify a vote for Trump argue that the presidency itself would somehow mature him. Yet the Republican nominee has provided little reason to believe he is truly capable of learning or benefiting from good counsel. My primary consultant is myself and I have a good instinct for this stuff, Trump has said.

When I asked a former official of George W. Bushs administration (who wanted to be unnamed in order to speak more freely) about the requirements of presidential leadership in a time of national testing, the list was not a match with the GOP nominee. It is really important to project a sense of calm, the official said. A leader understands that people feed off his emotions in a moment of crisis. If he uses wild or frantic rhetoric, it will risk creating a psychological tsunami.

The president may face simultaneous crises, the official went on, forcing him to rely on others in the team to give good advice. And: If the ego is central to a leader and a crisis occurs, it could lead to rash decision-making. And: One cannot solve a crisis by blaming other people. This tone makes it harder to rally the whole nation. A leader has to articulate a credible strategy and honor the American values that unite us.

By all of these measures, Trump represents an extraordinary risk to the nation. On foreign policy, he is the worst of all worlds  extreme and alienating in his rhetoric, confused, erratic and weak on matters of policy. When some of us talk about presidential temperament, this is what we mean. Trump has not shown the stability, prudence and judgment the presidency requires in moments of national testing. This is not only disturbing; it is disqualifying.

Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook .
Sherrilyn Ifill is the president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

That looks like a bad dude. This was the assessment of a Tulsa police officer of motorist Terence Crutcher as he walked toward his stalled vehicle. It was made from a police helicopter hundreds of feet in the air. All that could be seen clearly was that Crutcher was an African American man with his hands in the air. Seconds later, officers used a Taser on Crutcher; less than five seconds later, an officer shot and killed him. As he lay on the pavement bleeding, the officers backed away, offering no medical assistance. Crutchers hands were still up  raised on both sides of his head.

As we struggled to absorb these images, Keith Lamont Scott was shot in Charlotte . Scott was waiting in his car to meet his sons school bus when police officers, including the plainclothes officer who shot him, pulled up across the road in an unmarked car. According to police, Scott exited the car carrying a gun. While it remains unclear how events unfolded, even if this is an accurate description, North Carolina is an open-carry state. Seeing men emerge from a car across the road from your childs bus stop is precisely the kind of potential threat that open-carry proponents would suggest justifies the need for an armed citizenry. But Scott was black. And so he was unlikely to be regarded by the officers who confronted him as a citizen exercising his Second Amendment rights. He was assumed to be a bad dude.

A man was shot as crowds gathered in Charlotte for a second night to protest the fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. A debate is brewing over how the shooting occurred, with city officials saying he was shot by another civilian. (The Washington Post)

Once again, we have been plunged into the nightmare of videos of police killings of African Americans. And the narration of the officer in the helicopter in Tulsa  specifically his split-second assessment of Crutcher  is a revealing and important window into the precise way in which bias, whether explicit or implicit, plays a powerful role in how police view African Americans. All too often, this bias has fatal consequences.

Communities fear that the officers who killed these men will suffer no punishment, a familiar outcome in almost every recent high-profile police-involved killing. Accountability is critical. The public is fast losing confidence in the integrity of the rule of law as applied to police who kill. The swift indictment of the officer in Tulsa who killed Crutcher may signal the beginning of an important shift in what has been a tradition of impunity for police-involved killings.

But it is also critical that we tackle racial profiling and bias in law enforcement at the root. Thats why we must immediately take steps to demand that local police participate in a national regime of mandatory training  including proper supervision and assessment of bias among police officers and, where necessary, discipline and removal of officers from patrol who demonstrate strong and unmanageable indicators of bias.

While policing is largely a state and local function, the federal government has the power and obligation to impose this nationwide solution. Annually, it confers at least $2 billion in federal grants to police departments around the country. Tulsa has received $14 million since 2010; Charlotte has gotten $4 million. Larger jurisdictions receive considerably greater amounts. The Chicago Police Department has received $40 million since 2010.

Thats why the federal role is the most efficient way to change policing practices in the more than 18,000 jurisdictions around the country. Federal grant money should be cut off for jurisdictions that refuse to adopt serious and sustained anti-bias training, while those that take the imperative seriously and show improvement should be rewarded.

Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal government has an obligation to ensure that federal funds are not conferred on programs that engage in discrimination. Title VI of the act was instrumental in compelling school districts to begin desegregation, especially in the North, where desegregation was largely driven by the fear that districts would become ineligible for critical government funds. Unfortunately, federal legislation creating police grant programs includes language purporting to exempt them from obligations that might threaten funding. This loophole should be closed immediately. No state or local agency should be allowed to make an end run around the obligations against racial inequality in our hard-won federal civil rights laws.

The federal government should compel police departments to keep data regarding stops, arrests and use of force, disaggregated by race. It should also compel them to carry out anti-bias training, as well as training in deescalation and managing encounters with the mentally ill, the disabled, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the young.

And jurisdictions that refuse to engage in these efforts or show consistent lack of progress in measures of bias, racial profiling and disparate policing practices should expect to lose federal funds.

Terence Crutcher was a citizen having car trouble. Keith Lamont Scott was a dad waiting at a bus stop for his son. There was no reason for anyone to look at them and think: Bad dudes. And yet theyre dead. They join Eric Garner, Walter Scott, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and, even more tragically, 12-year-old Tamir Rice, all of whom were judged and killed in seconds by officers whose work we all support with our tax dollars.

Its time for the federal government to meet its obligations and ensure that the billions we give to those entrusted with public safety and the power to take human life are not entangled with discrimination.
Orlando Letelier and Ronne Karpen Moffitt were killed by a car bomb on Embassy Row in Washington on Sept. 21, 1976. (Associated Press)

Regarding the Sept. 21 front-page article 40 years later: The murder of Orlando Letelier:

Many Americans would be puzzled to understand that the man who committed this crime served less than five years in jail and until recently lived under the protection of the Justice Department as a private citizen.

For the past 14 years, Michael Tigar and I and the UNROW legal clinic have challenged the U.S. government in the federal courts to deal with an effort to bring Michael Townley to justice for his alleged crimes elsewhere. Since early 2013, Spain and Chile have petitioned the United States for the extradition of Mr. Townley to stand trial for the kidnapping, torture and disappearance of Carmelo Soria Espinoza, a Spanish diplomat and an adviser to Salvador Allende. Chile recently hardened its request into a demand.

One would assume that, given the horrendous acts alleged, the State Department would be happy to comply with these requests. Instead, it has jeopardized its friendly diplomatic relations with Spain and Chile by refusing to fulfill these extradition requests for Mr. Townley.

Ali Beydoun, Washington

The writer is a lawyer with the UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic.
Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) rally in New York City's Washington Square Park in April. His spirited presidential campaign resonated with young and liberal voters. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Millennials are souring on Hillary Clinton. Again.

Not that they were ever so sweet on her to begin with, at least relative to how they swooned over other Democrats. Both Bernie Sanders in the recent primary campaign, and Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 general elections, received far more love from young voters. But in any case, Clintons already weak millennial support has gotten much weaker in the past month.

Still, theres good reason to believe theyll come around, even if they do so grudgingly.

First, the data. Several new polls suggest young voters  a low-turnout but nonetheless key component of the Democratic coalition  are abandoning Clinton in droves.

Quinnipiac, for example, found last month that Clinton had a big fat 24-point lead over Donald Trump among 18-to-34-year-old voters (48 percent to 24 percent). Now that margin has shriveled to just five percentage points (with Clinton at 31 percent, Trump at 26 percent).

Nationwide Fox News polls of registered voters also found that Clintons lead has narrowed to nine points, from 27 points in late July and early August. And a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times national poll has Clintons August lead not only disappearing but reversing, with Trump now ahead among millennials by six points. There were outliers, but the trend was clear.

Polls in battleground states have likewise shown Clintons lead among millennial voters shrinking. In Michigan, for example, Clintons 24-point August lead among young voters has shriveled to just seven points. Clinton has just 31 percent of the youth vote there, compared with Trumps 24 percent.

In most of these polls, the young supporters ditching Clinton seem to be shifting not to Trump but to third-party candidates, particularly Libertarian Gary Johnson. The Michigan poll has Johnson tied with Trump; the national Quinnipiac poll actually has Johnson slightly ahead of Trump among under-35 voters.

These trends have been met with liberal teeth-gnashing and garment-rending, plus a lot of sanctimonious scolding of Kids These Days. How dare these ungrateful young hooligans turn their backs on the only serious candidate who actually cares about their issues! Are they really too young to remember the horrors that resulted when Ralph Nader played the spoiler in 2000? Quoth one columnist, I know youre young, but grow up!

The Clinton campaign seems to have gone into emergency millennial mollification mode, too.

That means a flurry of college visits, including from progressive heartthrobs such as Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Michelle Obama. The Clinton campaign explicitly advertised these events as an appeal to prodigal young voters.

The surrogate speeches havent always gone according to plan, though. Obamas speech at George Mason University was at one point met with chants of four more years; her stumping apparently got the crowd pumped for the wrong politician.

The Clinton campaign has thus also been desperately seeking coverage in millennial-tailored media. She whipped up an inane essay for Mic titled Hillary Clinton: Heres What Millennials Have Taught Me. (The tl;dr lesson: Millennials are totes awesome.) And she sat for an awkward, if amusing, interview on Between Two Ferns with actor Zach Galifianakis.

In my view, all the kvetching, cajoling and clowning around in the world are unlikely to move young voters. But you know what might? Numbers.

Several recent polls, anyway, suggest that younger voters are much more likely to see a Clinton presidency as a fait accompli. Per Quinnipiac, 71 percent of voters younger than 35 believe Clinton will win in November; just 49 percent of voters older than 65 believe the same. YouGov also finds that 58 percent of voters under 30 expect a Clinton victory, versus 47 percent of those over 65.

If you believe a Clinton presidency is inevitable, then casting a ballot for a third-party candidate probably doesnt feel like it has much consequence. Its a mere protest vote, a victimless expressive gesture, like angrily tweeting into the void, kneeling during the national anthem or, I dont know, sending unhinged hate mail to unsuspecting columnists.

But a tighter race  one, ironically, made tighter largely because of millennial defections from the Clinton camp  changes the calculus. Its riskier to throw away your vote, either by supporting someone who has no chance of winning or by abstaining from the polls altogether.

See, millennials may not adore Clinton, but they really, really hate Trump. Six in 10 young voters view him strongly unfavorably, and the same share describe him as racist. Dont be surprised if their third-party crushes start to fade as the prospect of President Trump begins to feel all too terrifyingly real.
Corey Lewandowski, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, speaks with delegates on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Corey Lewandowski is set to be paid nearly half a million dollars by Donald Trumps presidential campaign by the end of the year, with almost a quarter of his compensation coming after the controversial political operative was ousted in June as campaign manager.

Lewandowski, who is now a paid commentator on CNN, collected at least $415,000 in salary, bonuses and severance from the Trump campaign between April 2015 and August of this year, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal campaign finance filings. Campaign officials said he will continue receiving his $20,000 monthly pay as severance until the end of the year, which would give him a total of $495,000 over two years.

His compensation appears to be higher than that of his counterparts, though a direct comparison is difficult because Lewandowski is paid a flat fee through a limited-liability company rather than a campaign paycheck.

After taxes and deductions, Robby Mook, Hillary Clintons campaign manager, has earned between $7,000 and $11,000 a month this cycle, according to federal filings. He has been paid a total of $141,704 in salary from April 2015 through August of this year.

In the 2012 presidential race, Matt Rhoades, who ran GOP nominee Mitt Romneys campaign, earned between $12,050 and $13,750 a month after deductions, for a total of $312,884 in salary and bonuses, campaign finance reports show. President Obamas campaign manager, Jim Messina, was paid about $10,000 a month after deductions, earning $280,331 by the end of the cycle.

1 of 12 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Who is former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski? View Photos The presidential candidate has fired Lewandowski, who was connected to several controversies during his tenure. Caption The presidential candidate has fired Lewandowski, who was connected to several controversies during his tenure. Corey Lewandowski, an unknown political operative before signing on with Trump, saw his star rise with his candidates. Charlie Neibergall/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

In an interview, Lewandowski defended his compensation, saying he had effectively been managing a $60 million corporation. Unlike many political consultants, he said, he never sought to get paid a commission on the money the campaign spent on media or mail.

That pales in comparison to what everyone else is making, he said. I dont take a percentage of anything. I get a flat fee.

CNN has faced criticism for giving Lewandowski a regular platform while he is drawing large severance from the Trump campaign. Network officials have said his payments are publicly disclosed when he appears on the air.

Lewandowski said the severance does not conflict with his role at CNN, saying the arrangement has been widely known.

[Donald Trump finally ramped up his campaign spending. So where did the money go?]

It is difficult to measure Lewandowskis pay against that of his counterparts in the GOP primary contest  such as Jeff Roe, Sen. Ted Cruzs campaign manager, and Danny Diaz, who led former Florida governor Jeb Bushs campaign  because they were paid through consulting firms that provided other services such as ad placement and voter outreach. But he appears to be making roughly the middle six figures that Mike Murphy, a GOP strategist who led a pro-Bush super PAC, told The Post he earned during the primaries.

In an interview in March, when he was still campaign manager, Lewandowski said he negotiated a set salary with Trump so his pay would be transparent.

Donald Trumps campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, listens at left as Trump speaks in Palm Beach, Fla., on March 15. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

From the beginning, my philosophy was, I dont want to do it the same way its always been done, he said.

He recalled, What I said was: There are other people out there who will make a lot more money off of this campaign. If you want to hire somebody else who is going to take two points off the back end of every media buy, theyll make millions of dollars potentially off of you. I said, I dont think thats fair. 

Lewandowskis large salary spotlights the unorthodox operation of the Trump campaign, which was riven for much of the year by a power struggle between the hard-charging Lewandowski and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who left in August.

One lingering mystery is why several Manafort allies did not appear to receive any pay from the campaign, based on Federal Election Commission filings. They include pollster Tony Fabrizio; Rick Gates, who served as a deputy to Manafort; and Michael Caputo, a former communications adviser. Rick Wiley, who briefly served as political director in the spring and is now a consultant for the Republican National Committee, was not paid by the campaign until last month.

Trump campaign officials did not respond to requests for comment.

In a brief interview Friday, Manafort said he did not know why some top aides such as Gates were not compensated.

I think they were paid  at least they were supposed to be, he said. Manafort, a longtime lobbyist who resigned amid controversy over his work in Ukraine, said he did not personally cover their salaries.

[Paul Manaforts complicated ties to Ukraine, explained]

Fabrizios polling firm did receive $273,378 in July, federal filings show, but not from the campaign. Instead, the payment came from the Committee on Arrangements for the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Fabrizio did not respond to requests for comment about what services he provided the convention committee.

Overall, Trumps operation is much leaner than Clintons, with 131 staff members on the payroll in August compared with her 789, FEC reports show.

But the payroll figures do not provide the full scope of the size of his staff. At least 10 of the campaigns state directors are being paid through their personal consulting firms, rather than as full-time employees, an examination of the filings shows.

In addition, two top Trump campaign officials are being compensated through their firms, which have recently emerged as top vendors to the campaign.

Giles-Parscale, a San Antonio-based firm whose president, Brad Parscale, serves as the Trump campaigns digital director, has received $23.6 million for Web development, digital consulting and online ads, including $11.1 million in August alone.

The Trump campaign also paid $830,651 last month for media production, ad placement and communications consulting to Jamestown Associates, the Washington-based media firm of Jason Miller, a senior communications adviser.

Karen Tumulty contributed to this report.
A federal appeals court ruled Friday against Ohios procedure for removing voters from state rolls, dealing a blow to Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted and handing a victory to voting rights advocates in a key presidential swing state.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit overruled a U.S. district court judges decision that Husted was not violating any laws with the process he was using to take inactive voters off the rolls if they did not confirm their status. By a 2-to-1 vote, the court of appeals sent the case back to the district court.

The dispute centers on Ohios removal of possibly tens of thousands of voters from registration lists because they did not respond to letters seeking to confirm their addresses and have not cast a ballot since 2008, in what is being criticized as a use it or lose it rule for voting.

The appeals court ruled that Ohios practices could unjustifiably remove some eligible voters and are not in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.

A state cannot avoid the conclusion that its process results in removal solely by reason of a failure to vote . . . by providing that the confirmation notice procedure is triggered by a registrants failure either to vote or to climb Mt. Everest or to hit a hole-in-one, said the ruling.

In a statement, Husted said the courts decision will effectively force us to put voters back on the voter rolls who have died or long since moved to another address. He said that if the final resolution requires us to reinstate voting eligibility to individuals who have died or moved out of Ohio, we will appeal.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper called Fridays decision a huge win for Ohio voters.

The courts decision reaffirms a basic principle: voters shouldnt lose their right to vote simply because they vote infrequently, he said in a statement.

Both Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump are heavily contesting Ohio. Polls show a close contest in the state, where 18 electoral votes are up for grabs. Trump campaigned in the state this week.

The current policy of mandating that inactive voters effectively prove that they still belong on the voter rolls appears to be aiding Republicans in Ohios largest metropolitan areas, according to a recent Reuters study. The study found that in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, voters have been taken off the rolls in Democratic-leaning areas at about twice the rate as in GOP-heavy areas.

The Ohio chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and Demos, filed suit challenging the law in federal court.

In July, the Justice Department joined the court fight when it and the groups appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit after the district court upheld Husteds decision.

Voting rights advocates have expressed deep concern about the policy. Some cite the 2000 election in Florida, when the state incorrectly stated that about 12,000 registered voters were ex-cons and then purged them from the rolls.

Republicans have expressed concern that changing the policy could lead to voter fraud. However, documented instances of fraud are rare. A 2014 study by Loyola Law School professor Justin Levitt found 31 incidents of voter impersonation out of more than a billion ballots cast.

Along with the dispute over the voter rolls, the Supreme Court this month rejected a request from Democrats in Ohio to restore an extra week of early voting. After voters faced long lines in 2004, the state had added the additional week, known as the Golden Week, because the days overlapped with the period for voter registration.

In 2013, a Republican-controlled legislature repealed the law. A federal judge found that action unconstitutional, but his decision was overturned by an appeals court, and the Supreme Court declined to intervene.

Judge Eric L. Clay, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, delivered the Friday opinion. He was joined by Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, an appointee of President George W. Bush.

Judge Eugene E. Siler Jr. dissented in part and concurred in part. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush.
Residents walk alongside a higher new metal wall installed by U.S. workers to replace fencing along the border between Juarez, Mexico, and Sunland Park, N.M., on Sept. 12. (Herika Martinez/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

The Obama administrations efforts to stem the flow of Central American migrants illegally crossing into the United States have largely failed two years after a border crisis prompted President Obama to order an emergency response.

The number of families and unaccompanied minors arriving in 2016 is on pace to exceed the total in 2014, when U.S. Border Patrol stations were overwhelmed along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. They are coming primarily from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, an area sometimes called the Northern Triangle.

Vice President Biden is expected to tout progress on strengthening border security and deepening economic ties when he meets Friday with the leaders of the Northern Triangle nations at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington.

But human rights advocates said the continued influx from the region has demonstrated that the administrations deterrence policy has misdiagnosed the root causes and failed to adequately address the humanitarian needs.

Overall, 122,132 families and children, mostly from Central America, have been apprehended at the U.S. border with Mexico with a month remaining in fiscal 2016. That compares with a total of 132,259 in fiscal 2014, according to statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The renewed surge this year comes after a significant drop in 2015.

Clearly, at this point, the deterrence strategy has failed, said Kevin Appleby, director of international migration policy at the Center for Migration Studies. There needs to be a paradigm shift here, with more of a focus on protection and less on the enforcement side. They need to treat this as a real refugee crisis. Theyve been in self-denial for a year or two on this issue.

Unlike the situation in Syria, where millions have been displaced by a devastating civil war, the Obama administration has been reluctant to label the Central American exodus a refugee crisis. Under international legal standards, refugees are defined as those who flee government persecution. U.S. officials said the Central American migrants are primarily escaping economic hardship in societies with rampant violence and crime perpetrated by drug cartels and organized gangs.

In the aftermath of the 2014 border crisis, Obama initiated a government-wide response that included additional temporary shelter space and $750 million in economic development aid for the migrants home countries. Most of those funds, however, have not been delivered to the region.

Under mounting pressure from advocates, the administration announced plans this summer to expand a State Department program launched in 2014 that allows Central Americans to apply for refugee status in the United States from within their home countries.

The administration also won a commitment from Costa Rica to accept 200 gravely endangered Central American minors while U.S. officials examine their cases.

So far, only a few thousand children have won refugee status under the new programs.

We are committed to protecting Central Americans at risk and expanding resettlement opportunities in the region, White House spokesman Peter Boogaard said in a statement. The steps taken over the past year are another example of the creative solutions being taken across the federal government to make progress on this issue, consistent with existing statutory law, which limits who is admissible and eligible for humanitarian relief. While these efforts will not solve this challenge alone, they are a further example of the United States continued commitment.

But the administrations central focus has been on deterring Central Americans from attempting what Obama called a dangerous journey north under the guidance of human smugglers. The administration ramped up the number of immigration judges to adjudicate asylum requests and made clear, in advertisements in the Northern Triangle countries, that migrants who lose in court can be returned to their home countries.

Obama and Biden also pressured Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to tighten his countrys borders with its southern neighbors and intercept migrants attempting the journey to the United States. In January, as the numbers of Central American migrants surged again, the Department of Homeland Security conducted raids to round up several dozen of those who had outstanding deportation orders.

The federal government has really tried to push the story in Central America that its just criminal gangs and general violence, but the evidence on the ground, if you look at news reports, is that gangs have gained a huge political dimension, said Bryan S. Johnson, a New York-based immigration lawyer who has represented hundreds of Central Americans in court.

At a special U.N. refugee summit this week, Obama announced plans for the United States and 18 other countries to increase the number of refugees they will accept next year from across the world. The president specifically thanked Mexico for absorbing a great number of refugees from Central America.

But advocates emphasized that Mexico has deported many and granted refugee status to relatively few. In 2015, for example, Mexico granted refugee status to 1,013 migrants from the Northern Triangle, including 57 children, while deporting 175,000.

Appleby said the Obama administrations strategy of enlisting Mexico to block the Central Americans is part of the things were seeing around the world  externalizing the border. Extend the border, but dont extend the protections.
The real Hillary Clinton  the funny, kind, passionate woman her friends and colleagues insist actually exists  has been missing from public view for so long that even some of her most admiring defenders wonder whether she will ever emerge again.

On the eve of the first presidential debate, Clintons campaign is launching a drive to convince voters that she is, well, human. The move, coming just six weeks before the election, is a frank admission that whether it traces to her embarrassingly public marital traumas, or to the arrows aimed at her during the White House years by conservative activists and news reports, or to a lifetime playing the role of the serious, responsible daughter, sister and wife, Hillary Clinton still struggles to be even likable enough, as candidate Barack Obama put it during the 2008 campaign.

It is something that were aware of, and its a gap that we are seeking to eliminate at all times, Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said. Every week, we are rolling out a new video introducing people to somebody thats gotten to know Hillary Clinton in a personal capacity.

There will be stories about a supporter in Iowa who, despite being weakened by chemotherapy, came to see Clinton, who then privately kept in touch with her; and about a young girl who wrote Clinton letters when she was first lady, starting a pen pal relationship that continues to this day. And one about a connection with a Bronx girl that became so close that Clinton attended her junior high and high school graduations.

Whats not in those videos is Clinton talking about herself. Nor would Clinton agree to be interviewed for this article. Although her campaign is intent on showing voters that she is more than just a policy wonk, her friends and former staffers arent sure it can happen this late in the campaign. They say the woman being presented this fall seems more wooden, distant and disconnected than ever before.

After Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton spoke at a national security forum Sept. 7, RNC Chair Reince Priebus criticized her in a tweet for having "no smile" and looking "uncomfortable." Here's how she responded. (The Washington Post)

In a rare presidential campaign in which a majority of voters say they dislike both major-party nominees, sharply different kinds of criticism rain down on the candidates: Donald Trump is often accused of being obsessed with himself and lacking in impulse control, whereas Clinton is widely viewed as hiding her true personality behind a hard, defensive shell of anodyne comments and legalistic language. In the most recent Washington Post-ABC News survey, 34 percent of polled voters said that Clinton is honest and trustworthy. Trump fared no better.

[What Clinton and Trump must worry about in the first debate]

The publics perception of Clinton is off, sometimes dramatically so, according to friends, colleagues, staffers and the candidate herself. Sometimes its Clintons humor  which can be biting  that her friends say the public is missing. Sometimes its her kindness, especially her quiet acts of generosity, the videos she sends to ailing staffers or the times she shows up unannounced to visit someone shes met only in passing. And sometimes its the passion  the enduring belief that she can make a difference, that intractable problems can be solved no matter how paralyzed government may be.

For decades, Clinton has occasionally promised to do something about the problem, to shrink her zone of privacy and show some of the emotion and vulnerability that many aides believe would make Americans like her more. More than a dozen former aides and close friends said they have told Clinton that voters like her more when they see her, for example, hug an immigrant child worried about being deported, or get teary answering a voter who wants to know, How do you do it?

But close friends and supporters say Clinton is skeptical of such emotional appeals, even if they are pure gold to most politicians. Theres no point in exposing her feelings to the public, Clinton argues, because she will only be attacked with greater fervor.

As early as 1993, Clinton gave two long interviews to Michael Kelly for a profile in the New York Times Magazine. She thought she had bared her heart about her struggle to find a path in politics that might break down barriers between liberals and conservatives. The article, headlined Saint Hillary, won much praise, but Clinton read it as a caricature that only solidified her public image as a moralistic, know-it-all crusader.

Clintons caution stems in part from her conclusion that the public would believe almost anything derogatory about her, friends and aides agreed. As first lady, according to a close friend, Clinton was on a small plane with a staffer who was reading aloud a magazine story that repeated an accusation that Clinton had had sex with a colleague.

From "Between Two Ferns" to "Broad City," here's a look at Hillary Clinton's comedic appearances while on the campaign trail. (The Washington Post)

Clintons eyes filled with tears and she said, It really says I had sex with a collie?

The staffer quickly corrected her boss: No, a colleague!

Thats how far down her expectations had gone of what people thought she was capable of, the friend said.

Dislike, even in her own party

Clinton is keenly aware of what people think of her.

In 1996, Clinton said, I apparently remind some people of their mother-in-law or their boss, or something.

Clintons explanation for her lousy likability numbers usually focuses on her vocal defense of her decision to eschew the traditional role of a political wife. I do make some people uncomfortable, which Im well aware of, she said in 2009, but thats just part of coming to grips with what I believe is still one of the most important pieces of unfinished business in human history  empowering women to be able to stand up for themselves.

She has often told staffers that no matter which face she presents to the public, her political opponents and the news media will portray her as deceitful, cold and distant. I dont think you can ever know anybody else, she told the New Yorker in 1996, and certainly not through the crude instruments available to us of exposing bits and pieces of somebodys life.

Aides and friends have tried for years to convince Clinton that the public probably would embrace the woman who connects easily in off-camera, one-on-one encounters. Friends say that the Clinton presented in this years campaign has grown ever more distant from the caring, even warm person they know.

She seems remote and not forthcoming to a lot of people, said Melanne Verveer, Clintons chief of staff when she was first lady and U.S. ambassador for global womens issues while Clinton was secretary of state. And she is extremely cautious. Over the years, that perception has just snowballed.

Everybody whos worked with her talks about it, said Christy Macy, a speechwriter for Clinton during the White House years. How she could do it better, how she could get people to see what we see, the constant commitment to improving peoples lives, the passion we know she has underneath that reticence to make yourself vulnerable.

Clinton herself has joked about the barriers she has built around her personality. In a rare appearance before an audience of journalists last year, she flashed an impish smile as she promised a new relationship with the press  no more secrecy, no more zone of privacy. After all, what good did that do for me? She added, with a laugh: If you look under your chairs, youll find a simple nondisclosure agreement. My attorneys drew it up. Old habits last.

This year, Clinton has only in recent days confronted the fact that many voters  even in her own party  dont like her. Her friends say that she indeed has her share of poetry, places where people can really fall in love with her, in the words of Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, who got to know her in Arkansas and stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom on the Clintons first night in the White House. Bloodworth-Thomason wishes that the campaign would focus on winning aspects of her friends personality, such as her relationship with her mother, the deep bond between them. Her quiet work around the world saving womens lives.

[For Clinton, attacking Trump may not be enough]

Clintons reticence, Bloodworth-Thomason said, creates an opening for others to caricature her: If you have a natural reluctance to talk about yourself, it can create a vacuum that people are all too happy to fill.

Campaign spokesman Fallon acknowledged the problem: The ball tends to bounce in a tricky way for her, and her motives get judged in a different way. When youre in public life this long, a narrative cements itself.

The origins of her reticence

In January 2008, at a coffeehouse in New Hampshire, Clinton took a question from a woman with a sympathetic tone. My question is very personal, Marianne Young said. How do you do it  how do you keep upbeat and so wonderful?

Clinton nodded, smiled, nodded harder, and her smile was softer than usual  knowing, even tender. She sighed. Her voice grew smaller and sweeter, no longer the deeper, resonant tone she assumes when she is talking policy.

Its not easy. Its not easy, she said. She shook her head twice and made eye contact with Young. And I couldnt do it if I just didnt, you know, passionately believe it was the right thing to do. You know, I have so many opportunities from this country. She rested her head in her hand and swallowed, and her voice became tiny and strained. Just dont want to see us fall backward. She squeezed out the words as her eyes welled, her voice cracked and the crowd, looking to help, broke into applause.

The next day, asked on CNN about that moment, Clinton said: Well, you know, I actually have emotions. . . . You know, Im not good about talking about myself.

Where exactly that reticence came from is the subject of much debate. Some of Clintons longtime aides say she became especially cautious after the traumas of the White House years, starting with the bimbo eruptions of the 1992 campaign, when news reports about Bill Clintons extramarital relationships led his wife to take a stand  Im not sitting here, some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette  that played to some as supportive and to others as defiant.

Clinton has often told friends that the public was never going to be comfortable with her role as a driven, talented woman who was determined to make a difference. In this view, in the 1980s and 90s, some Americans would see any outspoken career woman as a Lady Macbeth: cold and calculating. Add in the many investigations and allegations that peppered the Clinton years in the White House, and that image  and her caution  hardened.

About the same time, Clinton sought to shield her daughter from the media and public attention. A lot of this emanated from maintaining a zone of privacy around Chelsea, said Lisa Caputo, the first ladys press secretary during Bill Clintons first term.

Some longtime associates say the bottled-up Hillary dates to well before any clashes with conservatives or news reporters. They point to Clintons childhood with a difficult father and rambunctious brothers as the period when she took on the burden of being the mature, responsible one. It was Dorothy Rodham, Clintons mother, who put the steel rod in her daughters spine  no whining, no self-pity, Bloodworth-Thomason said. Always maintain your dignity, mind your own counsel.

Still others say the sharp distinction in how the Clintons present themselves derives from their religious upbringings.

Shes a buttoned-up Methodist with a more traditional, private faith, said a former staffer who worked closely with both Bill and Hillary Clinton. And he is a Southern Baptist, a much more outwardly expressive faith. Hes out there spreading the good gospel news, while she carries her scars and develops a kind of fatalism, that it doesnt matter what she does, theyre still going to attack her.

Other friends saw Clintons caution emerge in Arkansas, where she was first exposed to insistent questioning by reporters. From then into the White House years, a sense of siege developed as she was being pummeled with one supposed scandal after another, said Verveer, who recalled riding in a car with Clinton as the first lady read a story about herself. She put the paper down and said, I wouldnt like that person, either. 

The reticence that developed after the 1992 campaign is a reflection of how normal a person she is, rather than how abnormal, said Don Baer, who worked with the first lady when he was White House communications director in the 90s. Its an unnatural act to feel comfortable with that level of scrutiny and intrusiveness.

Flummoxed advisers on how to change her

From the White House years through Clintons Senate campaign and on to two presidential campaigns, Verveer saw the strategists around Clinton grow flummoxed about how to move the needle.

A pollster told me when she was running for Senate: This doesnt require focus groups. It requires a shrink,  Verveer said. In the first campaign, she had a very difficult time, initially, talking about I and me. She was much more comfortable talking about issues. At some of the toughest times in the White House, she would say to us: Stop and think, why are we here? How can we make a difference for people? It sounds trite, especially in our political culture of suspicion, but thats how she really is. But if she talks this kind of talk, youre back to Saint Hillary. Damned if you do, damned if you dont.

If Clinton has become even more guarded during this campaign, thats the result of decades of harsh criticism  and, some say, of a campaign staff that has not pushed her to open up.

Hillary is a Rorschach test for how people feel about a powerful woman, Bloodworth-Thomason said. She can exhilarate, irritate, threaten or terrify, according to who you are. When she said she couldve stayed home and baked cookies, people were cheering, people were outraged, but she was showing everyone who she really is.

Bloodworth-Thomason and some other friends say Clintons caution has been reinforced by a staff that hesitates to let her speak off the cuff and by strategists whose response to low likability numbers is to rely on appearances in friendly, easily managed settings, such as late-night comedy shows and local TV newscasts. On Thursday, she played straight woman to comedian Zach Galifianakis on his online show, Between Two Ferns, showing that she can take zesty barbs and even be a bit silly  but giving away little about herself.

Why not just let Hillary be herself and allow the chips to fall where they may? Bloodworth-Thomason said. The Clintons marriage is the number one thing people ask me about. The campaign never addresses this. Why not just tell the truth? Has their marriage had challenges? Yes. But its also a kind of love story. Its not just about what has been enjoyed, but also what has had to be forgiven. . . . Its clear to all who know them well that they would be lost without each other.

Bloodworth-Thomason, who has produced four films about the Clintons for Democratic conventions, said campaign managers told her that her documentary about Clintons historic achievement as the first woman nominated to run for the presidency was scrapped at the last minute in July because it might make women who only have sons feel left out. Hillarys life story provides a lot of poetic opportunity, but an in-depth, epic, Cinderella story of her mother was rejected. Clinton campaign officials said the movie was not shown only because Bill Clintons speech at the Democratic convention ran long.

Clintons persona gap

As she traveled the world as secretary of state, Clinton scheduled private meetings with women from all walks of life. The idea was to give her a window onto the lives of women who were neither diplomats nor politicians, and to show ordinary women Clintons passion to solve their problems.

Shed much rather go down some dusty road for an hour and visit a school to find out why girls arent going there than stand up in any formal meeting, Macy said. These are really, really emotional sessions. That is her authenticity. And she feels freer there than back home, where I think of her as having gotten burned on so many levels that theres a defensiveness that I can understand.

On at least one occasion, Clinton invited reporters who covered her to join her  off the record  on an informal visit to a Mongolian village. The journalists were so surprised, a former staffer said.  Shes so funny and good to be with, they said. And then they turn on the TV and see this totally stilted person that doesnt square with the person theyd just met.

The gap between Clintons public persona and what only friends, co-workers and well-to-do donors get to see in closed-door sessions is just too great for any stories about her concerned and caring side to break through, said a longtime friend, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Clinton did not grant permission to discuss personal matters.

I know shed be a great president, the friend said, but she has this weird stubbornness that borders on self-righteousness. You can explain to her that she needs to let people see her at her best, and she gets it, but she still resists. Its like shes insulted because she believes we should always be talking about something bigger than yourself. The problem is, I dont recognize her now. The Hillary I know and love, who can riff off the cuff and have people teary and laughing  I just dont see her now. Shes beaten up and exhausted and weirdly defiant. Shes  shes joyless.

This month, Clinton took a stab at confronting the problem. She told the Humans of New York website that I know that I can be perceived as aloof or cold or unemotional. But I had to learn as a young woman to control my emotions. And thats a hard path to walk. Because you need to protect yourself, you need to keep steady, but at the same time you dont want to seem walled off. And sometimes I think I come across more in the walled off arena.

She said she is not Barack Obama or Bill Clinton, whose naturalness . . . can be more difficult for a woman. When she sees male politicians pounding the message, and screaming about how we need to win the election . . . I want to do the same thing. Because I care about this stuff. But Ive learned that I cant be quite so passionate in my presentation. I love to wave my arms, but apparently thats a little bit scary to people. And I cant yell too much. It comes across as too loud or too shrill or too this or too that. 
People look at Godzilla at an exhibition in Yokohama, a suburb of Tokyo, to promote the latest in a half-century of movies about the monster. (Toru Yamanaka/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

 Even after 62 years and 31 ways of destroying cities, it seems Japanese people still cant get enough of Godzilla and his catastrophic ways.

This is my fifth time to see it, Iori Yanagi, a 30-something woman, said before a special screening of the latest Godzilla movie, released here as New or Real Godzilla.

Since it opened at the end of July, the film  directed by Hideaki Anno, the renowned creator of Evangelion, an anime TV series  has crashed through the box office like, well, like a monster through a metropolis. The film has sold almost 5 million tickets since it was released in Japan and has made $70 million

at the box office, making it the highest-grossing live-action film here this year. It will be distributed in the United States starting next month as Godzilla Resurgence.

I love Annos anime, especially Evangelion, and I was moved to see how he created this Godzilla movie, said Yanagi, who recently attended an utterance allowed screening of the film, during which members of the audience were allowed to make as much noise as they wanted.

Be careful! they yelled as the monster raged toward the Japanese capital. Prime minister, prime minister! they shouted as the leader convened emergency meetings of bureaucrats to deal with the threat. And, perhaps in a uniquely Japanese moment (after all, this is a country where fax machines are still in widespread use), they cheered as a convoy of photocopiers was wheeled into a task-force center.

The poster of "Shin Godzilla," or "New Godzilla," is displayed under the monster's head at a movie theater in Tokyo. (Koji Sasahara/Associated Press)

Yanagi was wearing strings of toy train cars around her neck and carrying a bottle of water, props to wave at the appropriate moment. Her friend was dressed as the lunch lady who appears for perhaps five seconds, bringing rice balls to the civil servants working around-the-clock.

Elsewhere in the movie house, people wore homemade Godzilla heads and waved signs, while four men caused an eruption when they showed up in hazardous-waste coveralls and gas masks. Everyone waved glow-sticks as if at a rock concert.

[Japans cabinet approves bills to loosen post-war military restrictions]

This iteration has Godzilla, a monster created out of nuclear waste, emerging from Tokyo Bay and cutting a path of radioactive destruction around the capital, then into the heart of the worlds biggest city itself.

The movie franchise was first conceived with Godzilla as a metaphor for the atomic bomb as a defeated Japan got back on its feet after the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II.

Now, in the wake of the 2011 triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the theme takes on a different meaning. It is impossible to watch the flummoxed bureaucrats, the scenes of the boats being washed ashore and the fears of radiation without thinking of the tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan five years ago.

When the United States suggests a nuclear strike on the monster, people object, saying that Tokyo will become a zone that is difficult to return to  using the same phrase applied to the area around Fukushima.

Kenji Tamaki, a journalist for the Mainichi newspaper, wrote that the film portrayed the deep anxieties of modern Japan and parodied a political elite in crisis.

Interminable meetings, bureaucrats reports read in somnolent monotones, an emergency that just seems to go on and on and on, he wrote in the left-leaning paper. Echoes of real-life Japan circa spring 2011, when the government descended into chaos in the face of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

But the film also portrays a militarily stronger, more confident Japan. The prime minister, putting down the phone after speaking to the American president, mutters about how the United States is always giving orders.

[Japans leader stops short of WWII apology]

Last year, the Japanese government reinterpreted the pacifist constitution to allow its military to come to the defense of its allies, slightly loosening the postwar shackles that the United States placed on Japan. As a next step, the real-life prime minister, Shinzo Abe, wants to revise the constitution.

While these changes have been controversial in Japan, there was no reticence during this shout-out Godzilla screening. The audience broke out in loud cheers when Japanese fighter jets, Apache helicopters and the new Type 10 tanks let fire at Godzilla. Use all the weapons you need! the prime minister in the movie declared.

The film has a soft nationalism at its core, said Mark Schilling, a film critic for the Japan Times newspaper. Theres a sense that We Japanese have to do this ourselves; we cant rely on the Americans to help us,  he said.

Abe has endorsed the film. I heard that the chairman of the Joint Staff Council and members of the Self-Defense Forces appear in the film and are depicted as being very heroic, Abe told a military gathering this month. I think that [Godzillas] popularity is rooted in the unwavering support that the public has for the Self-Defense Forces.

The film can be seen as marking something of a new level in Japans postwar recovery, 71 years after its surrender, analysts say. Japanese people can come out of the movie theater and feel proud to be Japanese.

[With WWII statement, Japans Abe tried to offer something for everyone]

The United States does not come off particularly well in the film. The president sends an impossibly young and glamorous national security aide to help Japan  a Japanese American named Kayoko Ann Patterson who wants to go shopping at Zara before getting to work.

But, eventually, she comes around to the Japanese point of view. I wont go back because I dont want my country to make the third mistake in the country of my grandmother, the character says when the Pentagon, promoting a nuclear strike, advises Americans to leave. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki appear on the screen.

The arrogant American comes around to the side of the good guys, Schilling said, not because she sees the light as an American, but because she has Japanese blood in her.

For some of the moviegoers at the shout-out screening, though, the latest Godzilla was not about politics or military revival but about banding together.

When you see other audience members engaged, it feels like youre all rooting for the characters, said Yanagi, wearing the train necklace. I feel a sense of unity among the audience.

Read more:

Japans prime minister-in-waiting to make her debut in Washington

Shes a renegade conservative. Now shes running Tokyo.

Do Japanese really work themselves to death? In some cases, yes.

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The death toll from a migrant boat disaster off Egypt's coast climbed as rescuers recovered more bodies from the Mediterranean. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

The bodies of 162 people had been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast by Friday, two days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to make it to Europe.

Dozens more are feared dead, said Mohammed Sultan, governor of Beheira province, who provided the figures to the Associated Press. Many of the victims are believed to be children and women who were unable to swim away when the boat sank.

Wahdan el-Sayyed, a spokesman for the northern province, said the search was ongoing.

An AP reporter near the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta saw 20 to 30 bodies brought in by coast-guard personnel and fishermen early Friday and delivered to ambulances.

Pictures posted on social media showed dozens of bodies lined up in black plastic bags and others floating near fishing boats. Videos showed that some fishermen were using nets to bring up the bodies.

Authorities have struggled to give accurate figures for the number of people aboard the capsized vessel. The U.N.s refugee agency, UNHCR, estimated that the boat was packed with around 450 people, while the state news agency MENA said that the number might have been as high as 600.

The boat was nearly eight miles from Rosetta when it sank. It had waited at sea for many hours  perhaps days  as smaller wooden boats carrying migrants arrived from points along the Egyptian coastline.

Survivors said that overcrowding caused the boat to capsize.

Egyptian officials said that more than 160 people were rescued. The majority are Egyptians, although other survivors include Sudanese, Somalis and Eritreans, the officials said.

The head of the local council in the area, Ali Abdel-Sattar, said that the currents have carried the bodies of victims miles away from the site of the sinking. Today, four bodies, including two Egyptian children, were found 20 kilometers to the east, he said, a distance of more than 12 miles.

He added that many of the migrants are believed to have been stored in the bottom of the boat, in the fridge.

On Thursday, four people described as members of the vessels crew were arrested on charges of human trafficking and manslaughter.

The European Union border agency Frontex recently said that more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September this year, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year. Yet UNHCR says that since 2014, there has been a steady increase in the number of people intercepted while trying to leave Egypt, with 4,600 people arrested this year, a 28 percent increase compared to the previous year.

At a small pier called Borg, hundreds of families had gathered Friday, hoping to identify the bodies of loved ones. Women screamed and relatives pushed and shoved while swarming ambulances heading to the hospital.

Survivors and relatives had said earlier that the boat sank around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday and that it took coast-guard crews about six hours to come to the rescue. Fishing boats in the vicinity were the first to provide help.

I have never seen such a large number of people drowning in the waters as I saw that day, said a 42-year-old fisherman.

He said he arrived at 11 a.m. and helped survivors. We threw the ropes, we pulled them in, and many were unconscious. The strong majority are youngsters, he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of security fears.

Many of the survivors were briefly detained by police. Some of those rescued were taken to hospitals, where they lay handcuffed to beds and under police guard.

The Egyptian news portal al-Youm al-Sabea published interviews with several survivors who said that before their journey, the migrants had been stored for several days in chicken farms by traffickers to evade police. Some of the interviewees said the traffickers asked for $6,250 per family, to be paid on arrival in Italy.

After his release, survivor Ahmed Darwish said, my advice is that no one should undertake this risk, and especially anyone who saw these things, they will never do it again.

More than 3,500 people have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, according to the International Organization for Migration, with the number rapidly approaching the record death toll set last year.

Those who chose to risk the dangerous journey often are fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere.
Last year during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, this stunning Red Sea resort town was crowded with tourists from all around the world. During the same festival season last week, the beaches were half-filled, and hotel occupancy rates were low. At night, on the seaside promenade, restaurants and bars were largely empty. Some were closed.

The ghost of Metrojet Flight 9268 still haunts Sharm el-Sheikh.

Its bad, said Mohammed Adam, who scours the beaches looking for customers to sign up for snorkeling trips and other activities. Last Eid, this place was packed. But since the bombing, there have been a lot less people.

Its been nearly a year since the Russian passenger plane was brought down by a bomb, killing all 224 people aboard, shortly after it left Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport.

The attack, claimed by the Islamic States affiliate in Egypts Sinai Peninsula, raised questions about Egypts security at its airports. It prompted Moscow to halt all civilian flights to Egypt, while Britain and other nations stopped their airlines from operating routes to Sharm el-Sheikh, which accounts for a third of Egypts annual tourism revenue.





[Hijacking rekindles concerns about Egyptian airport security]

Since then, the Egyptian government has tried to regain the worlds confidence. It hired consultants to audit security at its airports, and has campaigned hard in Russia, Ukraine and other countries to woo back the hundreds of thousands of tourists who once flowed to Egypts resorts.

But with few signs of that strategy working, a sense of collective anger and frustration has built up among the tens of thousands of Egyptians whose livelihoods depend on tourism. They blame Western embassies for travel bans and the international media for damaging stories about terrorism in Egypt, insisting that their town is safe.

Some blame President Abdel Fatah al-Sissis government for its deteriorating relationships with some European nations  the source of many tourists  over human rights and other concerns, adding grist to the mounting criticism of Sissis handling of the countrys troubled economy.

Before the Russian airplane fell down, everything was perfect, said Mohammed Gamal, 32, the owner of two tourist shops on the promenade. The town was full, the hotels were full. Bars, discos, restaurants and coffee shops  they were all full.

Now, we have a lot of problems because we dont have Western tourists, he said.

Those problems are visible in Gamals shops. Last Eid, he was selling about $400 a day worth of locally made perfumes, spices and papyrus paper emblazoned with portraits of pyramids and the sphinx. This year, he was lucky if he made $20 a day. He has laid off all five of his employees.

Camels that used to give tourist rides are fed out of dumpsters in the Old Market district on April 3 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Many of the hotels and restaurants also have reduced staffing, an impact reaching far beyond the town. Workers here, from hotel receptionists to taxi drivers, hail from all over Egypt, often sending money back to their families. Tourism is an important source of foreign currency.

To be sure, thousands of Egyptians and Arabs from around the region still come to Sharm el-Sheikh, though in lower numbers than last year. But for tourism operators, Westerners are the real prize because they spend more money at hotels, restaurants and shops, and hand out bigger tips.

We wish to see more Russians, English and other Europeans, said Mina Nasiif, an employee at Trips House, which sells boat and desert excursions, not hiding his disappointment

His boss, Ahmed Ibrahim, said that terrorism is everywhere, in England, France, everywhere, but tourists are still going to London and Paris, adding that his business had shrunk by 70 percent since the plane bombing. It is because of politics, he said.

One glaring example is Italy. This year, bookings by Italians planning vacations in Egypt have dropped 90 percent compared with the summer of 2015, according to a report released by the market research firm Reportlinker, citing Mohamed Abdel Gabbar, head of Foreign Tourism at the Egyptian Tourism Authority. The report offered three reasons: the plane bombing; the torture and murder of an Italian student, Giulio Regeni, in Cairo this year, which human rights activists say bore the hallmarks of Egyptian security services; and an incident in which Egyptian security forces mistakenly killed Mexican tourists in September 2015.

[Italy recalls ambassador to Egypt to seek the truth about students slaying]

Whats most frustrating, according to people who work in the towns tourism sector, is that security is stronger than it has ever been in Sharm el-Sheikh. There are more than a dozen checkpoints along roads leading into the city where police look at identification cards. In the town, local and tourism police patrol the streets.

History, though, inspires confidence. Sharm el-Sheikh recovered from previous shocks to its economy, including several deadly militant attacks along the Red Sea coast between 2004 and 2006.

There are small signs of a turnaround emerging. Egypts tourism promotion authority is sponsoring a concert by well-known Ukrainian artists to attract Ukrainian tourists, according to local media reports. Turkish Airlines recently resumed flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, and some smaller European carriers are planning to follow suit this year.

I hope the Russians, the British and other Westerners return by the end of the year, Gamal said. Or else youll see a lot more places close down.

Read more:

Five years after Egypts Arab Spring: We didnt need a revolution

Egyptian writer caught up in governments expanding crackdown

In new Egyptian textbooks, its like the revolution didnt happen

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Airstrikes pounded rebel-held areas in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo on Friday, hitting centers for a volunteer civil defense group in a sharp escalation by government forces after the collapse of cease-fire plans that raised fleeting hopes of peace.

The intensifying offensive on Aleppo  a critical foothold for rebel groups  came amid signals of an all-out push by President Bashar al-Assad to reclaim full control over the northern city, which remains virtually cut off from medical and food supplies.

Activists claim the latest air attacks have tried to further cripple the limited resources in the rebel zones. Among the targets, they say, have been the operational hubs for the civil defense group known as the White Helmets, whose teams rush to bombing sites to aid survivors.

At least three centers had been hit by airstrikes, and fire trucks and ambulances have been damaged, Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the group, told the Associated Press.

I have not seen in my life such bombardment. It is very, very intense, he said.

The latest cease-fire in Syria lasted six days before the warplanes returned to Aleppo. Eyewitness accounts claim white phosphorus munitions were dropped on the city on Sept. 20. The incendiary weapon burns at extreme temperatures. (TWP)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said the Syrian troops had pushed back rebel lines in a southern district of Aleppo. More than 70 airstrikes have hammered parts of Aleppo since Wednesday, the group said.

[U.S., Russia continue to exchange charges amid effort to salvage cease-fire]

For Assad, the city represents an important prize that would expand government control in the north and deprive opposition groups of one of its last main strongholds.

In a possible hint of the looming showdown in Aleppo, Syrian state media said a ground offensive would eventually be launched, citing a Syrian military official whose name was not given.

On Thursday, the White Helmets rescue service said three of its four centers had been hit by bombs, knocking two of out commission.

The announcement of the Syrian 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.

The cease-fire plan, brokered by the United States and Russia, sought to open routes for humanitarian aid into besieged areas such as Aleppo. It brought a lull in fighting for several days last week, but aid convoys never reached the needy amid hold-up for clearance from Assads government.

In an interview with the Associated Press in Damascus, a defiant 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.

Scores of people have been killed in the airstrikes since the cease-fire collapsed on Monday, including at least 30 in Aleppo, activists said. The reports could not be independently verified, but images on social media chronicled the extent of the latest air attacks.

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 on Thursday 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  which are backing Assad  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.

Murphy reported from Washington. Liz Sly in Beirut contributed to this report.

Read more:

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani leaves the podium after speaking during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York on Sept. 22, 2016. (Seth Wenig/AP)

A year ago, Iran seemed on the verge of a new relationship with the United States and the world.

In his address to the United Nations last fall, President Hassan Rouhani said the nuclear deal just signed, lifting sanctions and setting limits on Irans nuclear program, was a foundation for change.

We were not solely seeking a nuclear deal, he said. We want to suggest a new and constructive way to re-create the international order.

Flash forward a year, and Rouhanis optimism has been replaced by disappointment and finger-pointing.

In his U.N. speech and a wide-ranging news conference this week, Rouhani bitterly accused the United States of failing to live up to its obligations under the nuclear deal. In the eight months since the deal was implemented, he said, Washington had delayed licenses for business transactions and blocked Irans access to banks.

The lack of compliance . . . on the part of the United States in the past several months represents a flawed approach that should be rectified forthwith, he said Thursday.

He also kept up the war of words with regional rival Saudi Arabia, accusing it of spreading hatred and trampling on the rights of neighboring countries. And he steadfastly maintained support for the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad, which has dropped barrel bombs and chlorine gas on its own people. Irans support for Syria was not based on one man, Rouhani said.

Some of the difference in tone can be chalked up to Rouhanis facing reelection in six months. He is in campaign mode, and his reproachful public stance reflects the letdown felt by many Iranians who believe the economic benefits from the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions have been meager so far.

Hes under attack in Iran for a variety of things, said Gary Sick, a Columbia University scholar who served on the National Security Council under three U.S presidents. The principal one is that he sold out Irans interests, that he gave away too much, that hes too cozy with the Americans. The idea of spending a lot of time here did not play well at home. He had to protect his flank.

It was always clear that any rapprochement between Washington and Tehran would come slowly. Last year, a handshake between President Obama and Irans foreign minister during a chance encounter at the United Nations made news in Iran, where officials described it as accidental to appease unhappy hard-liners.

So there was little chance that Rouhani and Obama would encounter each other this year during Rouhanis 48-hour stay.

He cant seem too solicitous toward the United States, said Barbara Slavin, acting director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council. He has to see the glass half-empty, so as not to look like hes soft on Washington.

Slavin said it would have taken guts for Rouhani to meet Obama and shake hands, given Irans domestic politics.

Probably he is the right man at the right time, and the best we can hope for, she said. But hes a cautious bureaucrat. He knows exactly how far he can go without riling up the supreme leader and other hard-line elements of the country. And maybe this sort of cautious policy will lead to improved U.S. relations. But not anytime soon.

In the United States, Iran and Rouhani remain highly unpopular.

While Rouhani was in New York, Rep. Edward R. Royce (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a bill named the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act. It was a response to the revelation that the United States paid $1.3 billion in cash to Iran as part of a settlement from a fund that was Irans money but that Washington had held on to since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iranian Americans staged a large demonstration outside the United Nations during Rouhanis speech, protesting the holding of political prisoners in Iran. Relatives of some dual nationals convicted on espionage charges they consider political, not substantive, tried to deliver letters to Rouhani pleading for his intervention.

Security was tight when Rouhani held a private, off-the-record meeting Wednesday night with scholars and opinion-makers, and during a news conference Thursday. Journalists had to show invitations to the news conference a block away from the hotel site and were given security codes to gain entry.

Rouhani spent more than an hour fielding questions, largely repeating what he had already said in every venue. He defended the nuclear deal as a victory, allowing Iran to continue enriching limited levels of uranium for peaceful purposes such as generating energy. He boasted that economic growth was approaching 5 percent this year. He said he was watching the U.S. presidential campaign with interest, but ultimately, he sounded pessimistic about the possible results.

Over 38 years, almost four decades, we have seen many different presidents, he said. Some were a bit better than others.

But, he added, pointedly using the plural tense, The people of Iran have not been happy with the comportment and actions of U.S. governments.
Europe

Strike of oil workers in Norway

Over 300 Norwegian oil service workers came out on strike Wednesday after talks over pay broke down. They are members of the Industri Energi union employed by the oil servicing companies Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Oceaneering and Oceaneering Asset Integrity. The servicing companies are contracted by the oil production companies.

In total, the union has some 6,500 members working for around 30 oil servicing companies and has threatened to escalate the strike if the companies refuse to negotiate a new pay deal. The oil servicing companies say they are being squeezed by the big oil production companies as a result of the fall in the price of oil.

UK air pilots vote to strike

Pilots working for Easy Jet have voted by a 96 percent majority with an 88 percent turnout to strike. They are members of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA).

The pilots are concerned that current working patterns are leading to fatigue and safety concerns. In spite of the overwhelming vote, BALPA is keen to reach a settlement with Easy Jet and reported it has been made a last-minute offer from the company to resolve the issue.

Strike by underground rail workers in UK capital

Rail staff working on the Hammersmith & City and the Circle lines held a one-day strike last Friday. They are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT). The strike was in response to managements breaking of agreements on working practices and their heavy-handed attitude.

UK rail freight drivers strike

Train drivers employed by the heavy freight transport company Freightliner Heavy Haul (FLHH) came out on a 24-hour strike on Thursday. FLHH is one of the largest UK freight companies. The drivers, members of the RMT, voted by a 75 percent margin for the strike in pursuit of a pay rise in line with the cost of living.

FLHH reports that since last year it has seen a drop in its coal carrying business and as a result has made some drivers and ground staff redundant.

Planned protest by Irish nurses

Irish nurses represented by the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) and the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are to hold a protest outside the Irish Dail (parliament) in Dublin on September 27.

It is to oppose the reneging on an agreement over the payment of incremental credit to graduating nurses. Incremental credit is paid in recognition for previous relevant work experience. Last December, the three unions reached an agreement with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health. The agreement was to restore incremental credit to nurses completing the 36-week Nursing Internship from 2011 onwards. However, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) then ruled it would only apply to nurses who graduated in 2016 onwards.

Striking Italian logistics worker killed on picket line

Abdelssalam Eldanf, an Egyptian-born 53-year-old, was killed while on the picket line at the GLS logistic plant in Piacenza last week. He was one of two pickets hit by a truck trying to leave the plant. He was picketing against the SEAM Company, which fired 37 temporary staff and some permanent staff after they raised issues at the plant. SEAM had been contracted to run the GLS plant. Initially, SEAM agreed to rehire 13 of the sacked employees, but then reneged on the agreement. The workers came out on strike in protest. Eldanf was a permanent worker at the plant for 14 years.

According to the pickets, the chief of staff at the plant instructed the truck driver to drive at the picket line at speed. Following the death, demonstrations were held in several cities including Naples and workers occupied the railway station in Piacenza.

Strike threat by Dutch rail staff

Railworkers employed by the Dutch passenger operator NS, members of the FNV union, have given the company an ultimatum due to expire today over the companys plans to get rid of the second rail conductor on double-decker trains. Single-conductor trains have been timetabled to begin operation next year.

Spanish orchestra members strike

Members of the Filarmonica de Gran Canarias walked out on strike last Friday following a 68 to 14 vote. The action is not supported by the CCOO union. The orchestra is under threat of closure by the local government.

Middle East

Strike by Middle East UNRWA staff

The union representing United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff employed in the Gaza strip, occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan went on strike for several hours Monday. The strike affected the UNRWA main office in Gaza strip as well as health centres, environmental health offices and UNRWA-affiliated schools. They were protesting low wages and staff shortages.

Tunisian hotel staff strike

Hotel workers held a strike last week to demand a 6 percent pay increase in face of rises in the cost of living. The Tunisian Hotel Trade Federation representing hotel owners complained the strike would have a negative impact on the tourist industry, coming on top of a fall in tourists following the beach massacre at Sousse last year.

Ongoing strike at Saudi hospital

Hundreds of staff including surgeons, doctors, nurses and admin staff and comprising Saudi, Asian and Western employees at a prestigious private hospital in the Saudi Eastern province have been on strike since Sunday. Union activity is banned in Saudi Arabia, and the strike was organised using social media including Facebook and Twitter. On Monday, more than 100 staff picketed outside the hospital.

The staff have not been paid for more than three months. The hospital is part of the Saad group, whose main interests are in the construction business.

Africa

Ghanaian rail staff fight salary arrears

Rail workers organised by the Ghana Railway Workers Union (GRWU) are determined to fight for salary arrears they are owed.

They pledged to go on an indefinite strike from September 12 until the arrears were paid by the Ministry of Finance. The National Labour Commission (NLC) intervened and ordered the ministers of transport and finance and the chief of staff at the rail company to hold a meeting on September 15 to resolve the issue. However, the minister of finance failed to turn up to the meeting. Rail workers are now resolved to defy the NLC and go ahead with the strike.

Strike by Kenyan water workers

Staff working for the Kilifi-Mariakani Water and Sewerage Company in the town of Kilifi walked out on strike Tuesday. More than 100 strikers blockaded the companys office in the town. The Kenya Food and Alliance Workers Union is calling for the companys board to be overhauled, accusing it of financial mismanagement and of harassing junior staff.

Strike of Kenyan medics

This week, nearly 500 doctors in the cities of Nairobi, Migori and Nakuru came out on strike. Their list of demands includes a salary increase, better working conditions, more scope for promotion and paying wage arrears. They are represented by the Kenya Medical Practioners and Dentists Union.

Around 250 of the doctors who went on strike in Nairobi are six months in arrears of wages. In addition, they have not been paid car and mortgage allowances due to them. They suspended their strike following a court order to return to work.

Strike of Nigerian academics

Academics at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, came out on indefinite strike Monday. Among their demands are the payment of five months salary arrears and allowance, a retirement pension and a review of conditions of service

Iron ore miners in Sierra Leone walk out

Hundreds of miners employed at the Chinese-owned Shandong Steel iron ore mine in Tonokolili District walked off the job last Saturday. Among their grievances are the low level of severance packages offered by the company. According to the workers, social security benefit deductions had not been passed on to the authorities.

South African wine workers continue their strike

More than 200 workers at the Robertson Winery Company in Western Cape province have been on strike for a month. The Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union is seeking a wage increase. They are currently paid between R2,400 (US$180) and R3,000 (US$220) a month but are seeking a R8,500 (US$625)-a-month living wage and for the company to be more amenable to the union.

The striking workers are employed in the winerys production plant, not in the vineyards. The company has been able to maintain production using scab labour and drafting temporary employees.
American families are losing money because of a lack of access to affordable childcare. (Photo: Getty Images)

A new report out by the progressive think tank the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows that America cant afford to continue its abysmal lack of paid leave policies for working families  literally.

As the report points out, the only current federal law pertaining to leave-taking is the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993. FMLA guarantees certain workers at certain-size companies unpaid leave (up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period). The FMLA was a big step forward in ensuring that people didnt lose their jobs if they needed to take off work due to an illness, welcoming a new child, or caring for an aging relative. Still, there is a lot left to be desired when it comes to shoring up the security of the American economy via steady wages for the workforce, regardless of the circumstances that people face in their lifetime. About a quarter of American workers who take FMLA do so because of the arrival of a new child, and another 18 percent do so to care for a parent, spouse, or child. Nearly 92 percent of all workers who take family and medical leave ultimately return to work.

According to the CAP report, working families in the U.S. lost out on at least $28.9 billion in wages due to lack of access to affordable childcare (which would allow parents to remain in the workforce instead of being forced out due to their wages not being able to cover their childcare costs) as well as paid family and medical leave.

In most American families, all the adults in the household work, and most children live in homes with working parents. Two-thirds of all children who are younger than kindergarten age live in households where all available parents work. Most families dont have an adult available to provide constant care for young children and aging parents, and are also coming up short when it comes to making the realities of modern life add up at the end of the month.

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Plus, childcare costs are only growing, despite wages staying the same. The average annual cost of center-based care for an infant in the U.S. is $10,000, and families that have both an infant and preschool age child in a childcare center pay more for childcare than the median rent in every single state in the country. So American families are losing no matter how you cut it: Either one adult in the household drops out of the workforce  thus facing diminished lifetime potential earnings  to care for children because of these staggering costs, or, as is more often the case for many low-income families, all available parents remain in the workforce and face huge costs as a result. They wind up losing even more of their wages should they need to take time off to take care of a sick child or parent.

CAP developed an interactive calculator that lets workers see the lifetime wages lost due to time out of the workforce because of childcare needs and expenses. The calculator figures that the average 26-year-old first-time mother who first joined the workforce upon graduating from college at the age of 22, earning $40,000 annually at the time of giving birth, will lose out on approximately $642,000 over the course of her career thanks to lost wages, depressed future wage growth, and lost retirement savings if she takes five years off to care for her child, as opposed to paying someone else to do it. CAP also calculates that American workers between the ages of 18 and 64 lose out on $8.2 billion in wages annually due to a lack of affordable childcare and paid family leave. Even families who see a parent take on part-time work to help lessen the cost of childcare lose out on $522 million annually, the group says. And 96 percent of those who work part-time due to childcare, unsurprisingly, are women.

But wait, theres more  American families also lose out on $1.7 billion in wages annually because of unpaid parental leave and $3.8 billion in partially paid wages as a result of only 13 percent of all American workers having access to paid family leave. And the lost wages of parents who become unemployed as a result of a lack of paid parental leave is a staggering $73 million each year.

But of course, caring for children isnt the only reason that American workers need time off from work. Thanks to the large population of aging baby boomers, the amount of adults needing long-term care services is expected to double from 12 million Americans in 2010 to 27 million Americans in 2050. Yet the number of available adult caregivers is expected to decrease by more than half in that same period, from seven adults between the ages of 45 to 64 for every adult over the age of 80 in 2010 to three adults between the ages of 45 to 64 for every adult over the age of 80 in 2040. All of this translates into more adults in the workforce needing to care for aging parents.

And it isnt just women who are impacted by these wage losses, especially since the majority of workers who take unpaid leave to care for a parent or ill family member are men. The lost wages of men alone needing to take just 1.2 weeks of leave to care for an ailing family member amounts to close to $552 million in lost wages each year. For both men and women workers, the U.S. sees more than $1.7 billion in lost wages each year because of those needing time off to care for a family member like a sick parent or spouse.

In other words, most Americans who need time to care for a child or other relative are also Americans who work  and want and do continue to work after taking time off. According to the CAP report, people of color, workers in the service industry, low-wage workers, and young workers are all less likely to have access to any form of paid leave or job flexibility that allows them to stay employed while juggling care-taking responsibilities for their families. And so without a real plan for paid family leave in place  and one that accounts for all workers, and not just women in need of maternity leave after physically giving birth to a child  the American economy will only be stifled. Bringing more people more paid leave, however, will only unlock huge economic opportunity and stimulus, better benefiting us all.

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From Esquire

Lost in all the noise and heartbreak down in Charlotte on Tuesday night, the Supreme Judicial Court up here in the Commonwealth (God save it!) handed down a decision which should have resonated through the day's events more loudly than it did.

(Brief Historical Note: The highest court in Massachusetts is called the Supreme Judicial Court to distinguish it from the state legislature, which is called The General Court. Aren't we just adorable? Have you seen our pilgrim hats? Now let me tell you about the Governor's Council.)

On Tuesday, the SJC ruled on the case of a guy named Jimmy Warren, who'd been convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon back in 2011. Warren had been arrested when Boston police tried to stop him and a friend near the site of a burglary, and Warren and his companion took off running. Eventually, they were caught and searched. No weapon was found on Warren, but a .22 was discovered in a nearby yard. That led to Warren's conviction on the gun charge.

The SJC threw out the conviction. It said that the police had had no right to stop Warren in the first place. And then the court went further than that. Per WBUR:

On the second point, the court noted that state law gives individuals the right to not speak to police and even walk away if they aren't charged with anything. The court said when an individual does flee, the action doesn't necessarily mean the person is guilty. And when it comes to black men, the BPD and ACLU reports "documenting a pattern of racial profiling of black males in the city of Boston" must be taken into consideration, the court said. "We do not eliminate flight as a factor in the reasonable suspicion analysis whenever a black male is the subject of an investigatory stop. However, in such circumstances, flight is not necessarily probative of a suspect's state of mind or consciousness of guilt. 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. 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."

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The SJC then went into a deep dive into the data that proved that minority residents of the city were far more likely to be profiled without cause. In other words, Black Lives Matter, at least as far as the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts is concerned.

The police shootings in Tulsa and in Charlotte were bad ones. The killing of Terence Crutcher in Oklahoma seems particularly egregious; it seems to have been based on the unreasoning fear of a single police officer, who doesn't seem especially stable herself. Via ABC:

Crutcher did not respond, Wood said, so Shelby ordered him again to get his hand out of his pocket. He then pulled his hand away and put his hands up in the air, even though he was not instructed to do so, which Shelby found strange, Wood said.

The hell? Having your hands up while black is now a signal that you're up to no good? That you need to be tased and shot? I mean, seriously, what the hell is the problem with this cop?

The case of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte seems more ambiguous, but not by much. Again, we hear that Scott "refused to comply" with orders. The police then claimed that Scott came after them with a gun. His family said it was a book. The police said they'd found a gun at the scene but no book. The footage from the officers' respective body-cameras might clear that all up but, as NBC News reminds us, a recently passed law in the newly-insane state of North Carolina has made it more difficult to get access to such footage.

The new state law signed in July no longer classifies bodycam and dashcam video as police personnel - but it also doesn't consider it public record. Once the legislation goes into effect next month, that means only a judge can decide to make the video available publicly. Otherwise, a person who appears or is heard in the footage can request to view it with police consent - but not make personal copies. If they are denied, they can get permission from a court. A judge could permit people who aren't in the video to watch the footage, although it can't violate seven conditions under the law, such as that doing so would put people at risk.

To the surprise of approximately nobody, the law was the brainchild of Governor Pat McCrory and his Art Pope sublets in the North Carolina legislature, all of whom have worked assiduously to demolish whatever once made North Carolina different from much of the South. Most recently, of course, McCrory has blown up the state's tourist economy by gluing his head to North Carolina's anti-trans law.

As the demand for police body-cams rose in the aftermath of other controversial police killings, McCrory threw himself into the task of defanging the law in North Carolina.

Gov. Pat McCrory, however, argued that it would better protect public safety officials, particularly after a string of high-profile shootings involving law enforcement. "It's better to have rules and guidelines with all this technology than no rules and guidelines whatsoever," McCrory said at the time.

So, over the past couple of nights, Charlotte has exploded the way that several other cities have exploded in the wake of similar incidents. McCrory, who is facing a tough re-election battle in November, has declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard. There is now the usual debate about the sources of anger and about how violence is never the answer and everyone's retreated behind their familiar battlements. But we should look for a moment at the original incident that has touched off the events of the past two nights, as described by CBS News.

On Tuesday, Putney said officers were executing a search for a man with outstanding warrants when they witnessed Scott get into a car with a handgun. Scott was not the man they were looking for, but police engaged him when he then got out of and back into the car with the gun, Putney said. Officers approached Scott and gave him multiple warnings to drop the weapon, Putney said. Scott then attempted to get out of the vehicle with the gun in his hand, which is when he was shot by Officer Brentley Vinson, who is black and has been placed on administrative leave, as is standard procedure in such cases. Vinson has been with the department for two years.

OK, so the police knew that Scott wasn't the man whom they'd come to arrest. He was just a citizen of North Carolina who was getting in and out of his car with a gun. Now, North Carolina is an open-carry state. So, under the law, at the time the police confronted him, Scott had broken no law whatsoever, and he wasn't the person the police were looking for. In theory, anyway, under the doctrine of equal protection, the police should have looked at Scott and been on their way. For example, here's some video of guys from Asheville who need to be packing because it is cold and windy outside. There also is a police officer interviewed. He does not appear to be frightened. He does not shoot any of them.

The riposte of the gun-fondling community to people who point out that Scott had broken no law at the time he was confronted by police is to accuse Scott of "brandishing" his weapon. No, really. That's the argument. Again, the body-camera footage might give us a definitive answer to that question but, of course, we can't see that footage at the moment. But it does give us an indication of the dilemma faced by open-carry zealots. So much of the political appeal of these laws is based on an unreasoning fear of The Other that guaranteeing all citizens the equal protection of open-carry laws doubles the perceived threat. If all of this absurdity reminds you of how, back in 1967, everybody in California loved their Second Amendment freedoms until the Black Panthers showed up in Sacramento to exercise theirs, then you're not alone.

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="I%20Dread%20What's%20Coming.%20Truly,%20I%20Do." customimages="" content="article.46545"]

Even Donald Trump, who once stupidly contended that Hillary Rodham Clinton would abolish the Second Amendment but who now stupidly contends that she will "virtually" do it, seems unable to think his way out of this particular paper bag. Recently, he mused that he might be in favor of adopting a national stop-and-frisk policy. He thereupon explained his quasi-thought process to his favorite finger-puppet, Sean Hannity. On Wednesday, he said he meant that the policy should only apply in Chicago. This is what he said:

"You know, [the police are] proactive and 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," Trump said.

Gun-grabbing bastard! Liberty or death! Molon labe, vulgar talking yam!

In sum, then, Terence Clutcher is dead because he put up his hands in a way that a police officer thought "odd," and Keith Scott is dead because police say he had a gun in his hand in a way that police say they thought threatening. Pending release of the body-cam videos in Charlotte, equal protection of the laws is an incoherent farce in both cases. And people are in the streets being angry and violent, which is almost never productive and which is presented to the nation devoid of context as just another exciting installment of the ongoing miniseries called Cable News.

But if justice is rendered a farce, an empty promise, another worthless promissory note, then what is there to do? The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts tried to find a way, but then everything went to hell on TV again.

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Mia Farrow has broken her silence following the death of her son. In a statement on her Twitter, the veteran actress took the time to thank fans. "We're devastated by the loss of Thaddeus, our beloved son and brother," the message posted on Thursday read. "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."

CLICK FOR FULL GALLERY



Mia adopted Thaddeus in 1994 Photo: Getty Images



Thaddeus, 27, was found by police in his car at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday "suffering from life-threatening injuries." He was rushed to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Connecticut ruled his death a suicide as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the torso. Mia's post continued with a link to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website: "If you or someone you love needs help, or if you want to support a group doing life saving work, please visit https://afsp.org/."

ALL THE STARS WE LOST IN 2016

Thaddeus, who was a paraplegic after suffering from polio, was adopted by the actress from an orphanage in Calcutta, India in 1994. As one of Mia's ten adopted children and 14 kids in total, the late 27-year-old had previously spoken about his adoption in an interview with Vanity Fairin 2013. "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."

Thaddeus passed away at 27 Photo: Getty Images

The Rosemary's Baby actress, who adopted Thaddeus shortly after her split from Woody Allen in 1994, led a campaign to end polio following the adoption, telling the New York Post: "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. 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."

The 71-year-old has tragically lost three of her adopted children. Her daughter Tam Farrow died aged 19 in 2000 after a long illness and daughter Lark Previn passed away in 2008.
While he's played a fantasy creature and a Victorian-era doctor-turned-sleuth in The Hobbit and Sherlock, respectively, upcoming Australia thriller Cargo is the first time Martin Freeman has starred in a genre film.

Based on the hit Australian short film of the same name by Yolanda Ramke and Ben Howling, Freeman stars as Andy, a father infected with a killer virus in the aftermath of a zombie pandemic. Stranded in rural Australia he has a desperate 48 hours to find a new guardian for his infant daughter and a means to protect her from his own changing nature. Salvation may lie with an isolated Aboriginal tribe, but to gain access he must first earn the allegiance of a young Indigenous girl on a tragic quest of her own.

Producer Sam Jennings of Causeway Films told THR that while Freeman's agent initially said that "genre's not really his thing," on reading Ramke's script the British actor was impacted by the story, finding it "unexpectedly powerful."

Currently in production in South Australia, Cargo also stars legendary Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil (Charlie's Country), Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom, The Light Between Oceans, upcoming War Machine), Caren Pistorius (The Light Between Oceans), Susie Porter (Puberty Blues) and newcomer Simone Landers.

Ramke and Howling are co-directing their debut feature. Causeway Films producers Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton (The Babadook) are working alongside Addictive Pictures' Russell Ackermann and John Schoenfelder, with Mark Patterson attached as South Australian producer.

The film is being financed with the assistance of Screen Australia, the South Australian Film Corporation, Screen NSW, White Hot Productions and The Gingerbread Man.

Bankside Films is handling international sales, with Umbrella distributing in Australia and New Zealand and Icon Film Distribution distributing in the U.K. Bankside Film's sister company, Head Gear Films, also provided production finance, with Phil Hunt and Compton Ross acting as executive producers for Head Gear Films.

Read more: Cannes: Martin Freeman Boards Zombie Apocalypse Thriller 'Cargo'
From a historic dockyard, oceanic islands to fossil-filled cliffs, here are 10 newly minted UNESCO World Heritage sites (as of July 2016) to inspire that wanderlust in you.



Nelsons Dockyard, Antigua and Barbuda



Image: @antiguaandbarbuda/ Instagram



Feel like youve stepped back in time at this historical site. First built in the 18th century, the dockyard is also the most famous attraction on the island. It served as a base for the BRitish Navy and is named after naval commander Horatio Nelson. Today, youll still get to see structures dating from the Georgian period which makes this site like no other.

The Architectural work of Le Corbusier, multiple locations

Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France. Image: @benjiq15/ Instagram

Architectural buffs should add this group of 17 sites to their bucket list. Youll find these architectural projects by the Swiss-born French architect situated all around the world, with locations spanning from the Complexe du Capitole in India, the National Museum of Western Art in Japan to the House of Dr Curutchet in Argentina. If a round-the-world trip isnt doable for you, head to France where 10 sites including Le Corbusiers Notre Dame du Haut can be found.

Mistaken Point, Canada

Image: @travelingjones/ Instagram

Theres more to the cliffs of Mistaken Point, beyond just their rugged beauty. These cliffs in the ecological park date as far back as over 500 million years ago and feature some of the worlds oldest known and most varied collection of large fossils. The fossils of these deep sea creatures were first discovered in 1967. To visit the site, youll have to join a guided tour for a 30-minute hike around the craggy terrain.

Hubei Shennongjia, China

Image: @imaxweller/ Instagram

Wildlife and nature lovers should flock to this site. The lush forests of this newly minted UNESCO World Heritage site is celebrated for its biodiversity; its home to more than 5,000 species of animal and plants, including rare and endangered animal species such as the clouded leopard, Chinese giant salamander, Asian black bear and the golden snub-nosed monkey.

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Khangchendzonga National Park, India

Image: @jogfornature/ Instagram

Prior to being recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage site, this national park may be among the lesser known destinations. But its gorgeous landscape has long made it a popular hiking spot. Think striking sights as diverse as waterfalls, snow capped mountain peaks, glaciers, ancient forests and cold deserts. Here, youll find the worlds third highest peak (Mount Khangchendzonga), as well as animals such as the red panda, musk deer and Tibetan sheep.

Archipielago de Revillagigedo, Mexico

Image: @espressonoticia/ Instagram

This cluster of four oceanic islands and their surrounding waters are a divers dream destination. Located in the east of Mexico, the Revillagigedo islands are rife with wildlife and a veritable magnet for the large marine creatures such as whales, sharks, dolphins and manta rays. There are also as many as 133 species of birds to be found in the area, as well as over 320 species of fish, 156 species of mollusks and 92 species of crustaceans.

Antequera Dolmens Site, Spain

Image: @ca_dolmenesatq/ Instagram

These tombs hark back to a time of long before, which date as far back as the third millennium BC. Hidden within the Andalusian mountains, this site consists of three prehistoric burial mounds, which are among the largest and most well-preserved megalithic structures in Europe. The geographical location of the dolmens is as significant; its positioned such that on the day of the summer solstice, the sun will shine along its entrance corridor.

Gorhams Cave, British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar

Image: @timocanessa/ Instagram

Visit a site lived by Neanderthals, located at the base of steep limestone cliffs. Said to be the last known dwelling of Neanderthals, this network of four coastal caves is like no other. It contains a rich collection of plant and animal fossils, as well as rock engravings and stone tools that offer a peek at their cultural traditions, plus how they lived and hunted for food.

Philippi, Greece

Image: @kickiheds/ Instagram

See the remains of this ancient city, which was built in fourth century BC and was once the administrative centre of the Roman Empire. Today, some structures such as the fortified walls, theatre, amphitheatre and a large temple complex still stand at the archaeological site. The first Christian church in Europe was also founded in Philippi in 49-50 AD.

Nalanda Mahavihara, India

Image: @svenpunt/ Instagram

Visit one of the worlds oldest university grounds. First constructed in the fifth century, the ruins of the Nalanda university and monastery consist of shrines, stupas, residential and educational buildings, as well as artworks in stone, metal and stucco. It was a seat of knowledge for over 800 years, before it was destroyed by an army led by Bakhtiyar Khilji.
Experience the best of Alaska's charming towns, diverse landscapes, the aurora borealis and more.

Dubbed as the Last Frontier, Alaska's landscapes stretch from sea to sea, with staggering mountain ranges, rare wildlife, old mining towns, bustling cities and striking natural attractions. From May to September, Alaska fills with heavy crowds, as tourists and cruise ships flock to the seaside harbors and snow-capped peaks that make the state famous, making it hard to take in the area's national beauty. But in the shoulder season (from mid-September to October), you can embrace chillier nights and dazzling foliage displays. If you're ready to explore epic landscapes in peace and serenity, read on to discover why fall might be the best season to visit Alaska.

You can dodge crowds.

Thanks to its dramatic vistas, staggering glaciers and historical towns, Alaska's population swells during the warm summer months. However, the same incredible views of the Mendenhall Glacier outside of Juneau, the tall, snow-capped peaks of Denali National Park and the whale-filled waters near Anchorage can be enjoyed in autumn -- without heavy crowds and with the addition of radiant fall leaves. Most tourists only flock to America's northernmost state from May to early September, leaving the entire month of October free from an influx of visitors.

You can admire breathtaking fall colors.

From mid-August to mid-October, you'll find bright yellow, gold, red and purple hues blanketing Alaska's majestic mountains and lush evergreen forests. For the best leaf-peeping, head to favorite foliage spots to enjoy unrivaled vistas. In Denali National Park, the bright leaves contrast against the mountains' white, snow-topped peaks and the fields of lush evergreen -- providing ample photo opportunities. In Anchorage, many trees that surround downtown's main thoroughfare turn in mid-September, affording striking views.

You can enjoy plenty of wildlife sightings.

Enjoy the chance to spot some of the state's most famed wildlife such as caribou, moose, grizzly bears and black bears with ease in fall. Not only are there less crowds to bypass, but the animals use this time to gorge themselves on berries and other bites before retreating for winter. Head to Kenai Fjords National Park for a chance to watch the whales before they migrate and Denali National Park for the best opportunities to spot bears.

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You can explore small seaside towns.

Most visitors come to Alaska via cruise or land tour, hitting specific landmarks along the way such as the Inside Passage, Denali, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Skagway. This leaves little time on their itinerary to check out the other lesser-known towns. Spend some time exploring some of Alaska's other charming areas, including Haines (in the southeast), Talkeetna (outside of Denali National Park), Gustavus (near Juneau) and Girdwood (near Anchorage) for unspoiled fall views and a chance to mingle with locals.

You may see the northern lights.

Alaska's darker skies and earlier sunsets -- the sun sets around 7 p.m. on average in October -- can up your chances of spotting the aurora borealis during a fall visit. For the best viewing opportunities, plan to be outside from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and head north to cities such as Fairbanks or Barrow (the northernmost town in Alaska). Experts recommend at least three nights in the north for the best chance of watching green, blue, yellow, pink and orange streaks color the dark night sky in autumn.

You can hit the trails in peace.

Fall is the ultimate time to channel your inner adventurer and hike Alaska's trails in tranquility. With temperatures around the 40s and 50s, autumn is the perfect time for hiking through Alaska's wilderness. If you're in Anchorage, hit the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which spans 11 miles from Kincaid Park; and in Seward, park your car and take the peaceful 30-minute hike to the Exit Glacier. Known the world over for its hikes, an autumn hike in Denali can be tricky, so stay close to your accommodations and bring warm layers. In Fairbanks, the Chena Riverwalk boasts stunning foliage in late September and prime photo ops of the scenic riverwalk.

It's an ideal time for salmon fishing.

Bears aren't the only residents looking to catch salmon before hibernation. Autumn is one of the prime times for avid salmon fishing fans to take part in the sport. In September, you can find silver salmon running upstream from Kenai River up to Sitka. There's a decent chance for fishing in mid- to late-October, but September is the best time to rake in a great silver salmon catch thanks to abundant populations of the species at this time of year.

You can embrace long days and cool temperatures.

With longer days in autumn, Alaska's natural beauty shines at this time of year. From Anchorage all the way to Fairbanks, the sun doesn't set until around 7 p.m. in October, giving you plenty of time to fish, hike, mountain bike, walk, sightsee or hop on the Alaska Railroad. The temperatures dip into the low 30s in some areas, but highs still hover around the mid- to high-50s, offering comfortable conditions for walking and hiking.

You can check out the emerging distillery scene.

In fall, you'll only find locals in Alaska's gin and vodka tasting rooms, giving you a chance to enjoy a more authentic experience. The state's craft gin, vodka and rye whiskey production is all handcrafted by local artisans. The spruce tips used in the gin are gathered from the forests. If Haines is on your itinerary, head straight to Port Chilkoot Distillery, which makes some of the state's most awarded gins. And in Anchorage, the namesake Anchorage Distillery produces a variety of housemade vodkas infused with fresh berries, hot chili peppers and other local ingredients.

You can stroll through the State Capitol.

In the summer, Juneau's population fills with tourists disembarking from cruise ships docked in the center of town. During the popular cruising season, daytime passengers crowd the city's narrow streets. But in fall, fewer ships visit Juneau, giving you the chance to stroll the streets of Alaska's State Capitol without thick crowds at your side. Stop by the Mendenhall Glacier, just a quick jaunt from Juneau, to enjoy picturesque views and perfect photo ops. In town, check out the haunted Alaskan Hotel and Bar, and to tap into the local brew, head to the Alaskan Brewing Company, the state's largest beer producer, for a sip of autumn lager.
MATTOON (JG-TC) -- Police have arrested a local man on an armed robbery charge in connection with an incident at a hotel in Mattoon.

A Mattoon Police Department press release reported that officers were dispatched at 3:25 a.m. Thursday to Suite Dreams Hotel room 147, 300 Broadway Ave. East, regarding an armed robbery that had just occurred.

Upon their arrival, the officers spoke with the victim who stated that an unauthorized person entered into his room, displayed a weapon and stole his money. The victim was treated by emergency medical technicians for minor injuries.

Officers arrested Adrian L. Vasquez, 33, of Mattoon at 9:45 a.m. Thursday on charges of armed robbery and aggravated battery with a weapon in connection with this incident. The charges allege that Vasquez entered into the hotel room of the victim, brandished a weapon there and took the victim's money.

The press release reported that investigators have discovered that the suspect knew his victim and that the alleged armed robbery was not a random act.

Vasquez was taken into custody in the 900 block of Piatt Avenue without incident, according to the press release. Vasquez was transported to the Coles County jail pending the filling of formal charges by the Coles County States Attorney's Office.
Vanity Fair published a close look at Roger Ailes' final days as the head of Fox News in the wake of Gretchen Carlson's sexual harassment lawsuit.

The magazine details the important role Rupert Murdoch's sons Lachlan and James played in how 21st Century Fox handled the Ailes crisis and also takes a look at how Ailes reacted throughout the process.

Here are 10 takeaways from the Vanity Fair article (which can be read in full here):

1. Gretchen Carlson had been planning the suit for almost a year.

Carlson had been working with her attorney to gather evidence for a possible lawsuit against Ailes since fall of 2015. She had recorded a number of conversations with Ailes and had planned to file the suit in September 2016 but the process was sped up when Fox didn't renew her contract.

2. Lachlan and James Murdoch played a key role in the decision to investigate Ailes.

Rupert Murdoch was unavailable to weigh in when the Carlson news first unfolded because he was on a plane. His sons Lachlan, executive co-chairman of Fox and co-chairman of News Corp., and James, CEO of 21st Century Fox, both made the decision to conduct an internal investigation into Ailes rather than automatically defend him. This was on the suggestion of 21st Century Fox's general counsel, Gerson Zweifach.

3. Ailes and his wife wanted to harshly criticize Megyn Kelly for not defending him.

Beth Ailes personally reached out to Kelly twice to ask her to issue a statement in support of Roger. Kelly said she had been advised not to speak publicly about the matter, and Beth reportedly called the anchor "cold." Kelly had reportedly already spoken to Lachlan Murdoch about "the general dismay among some staff, which she shared, about the pressure to come to Ailes' aid and paint him as a white knight."

Read more: Roger Ailes' Lawyer on His Exit Negotiations, Possible Fox News Future and If He Feels Betrayed by Megyn Kelly (Q&A)

Later, Ailes wanted Fox News spokesperson Irena Briganti to issue a comment that "Everyone has the right to remain silent" but Briganti refused. Beth Ailes reportedly "advocated attacking Kelly through friendly media outlets, such as Breitbart News" and asked conservative Fox News radio host Todd Starnes to write a blog post about Kelly's silence, which he declined to do.

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4. The internal investigation revealed multiple women had complaints about Ailes.

The Paul Weiss legal firm interviewed at least 24 women from Fox News about sexual harassment complaints involving Ailes, and some of the highest-profile anchors were involved. Many of the accounts shared a "distinct similarity," and "oral sex was mentioned frequently." Several women reportedly recorded conversations with Ailes.

Read more: Fox News' First Day Without Roger Ailes: Rupert Murdoch's Meeting, Employee Morale Issues

5. Ailes kept two guns in his office and a camera outside.

The magazine reports some of Ailes' colleagues described him as acting "more paranoid" and "secretive" in recent years. He reportedly had a Glock handgun and a Smith & Wesson handgun in his office, and had a camera outside of his door because he was afraid for his personal safety.

6. Ailes consulted Donald Trump for legal advice.

Ailes reportedly consulted with Trump about what he should do following Carlson's lawsuit, and Trump suggested Ailes hire an attorney who specialized in bankruptcy and commercial litigation. Another person Ailes consulted with, attorney Arthur Aidala, told Ailes to avoid hiring anyone connected to Trump since being associated with him was "too unpredictable."

Part of Ailes' separation agreement with Fox News was a noncompete clause that would prohibit him from working with a rival network or starting his own, but allowed him to work on a presidential campaign.

7. Rudy Giuliani tried to participate in the internal investigation.

Giuliani reportedly asked to actively take part in Paul Weiss' investigation and 21st Century Fox's general counsel refused to let him.

8. Ailes' lawyer said she accidentally leaked the news of Ailes' payout to Matt Drudge.

Lead defense attorney Susan Estrich said she was trying to send a story to Matt Drudge with a file containing positive comments Megyn Kelly had made about Ailes in the past, when she sent the wrong attachment. That attachment was a draft of Ailes' separation agreement and $40 million payout. Some people claim that Estrich did this on purpose to make Ailes' exit seem triumphant, but she says it was a mistake.

Read more: Michael Wolff: Roger Ailes' Next Moves May Determine the Future of Fox News

9. Fox cut off Ailes' access to the office building.

Rupert reportedly asked Ailes to resign on July 18. On July 20, 21st Century Fox's head of security asked Ailes' driver to delay his arrival at the office building so the team could disconnect his phone and email and deprogram his access cards.

10. Murdoch's sons compiled a dossier on Wendi Deng's alleged infidelity.

In an aside in the story, the reporter talks about another time Lachlan and James intervened with their father's relationship with someone. They reportedly confronted Rupert with a "dossier they had compiled" on Rupert's third wife Deng, and talked about the suspicions they had about her infidelity, including a possible affair with Tony Blair (an allegation he denies.) Rupert has since moved on to his fourth wife, Jerry Hall.

Read more: Samantha Bee Rips Donald Trump's "Secret Weapon" Roger Ailes
Mark Zuckerberg question mark

Good morning. Here's everything you need to know in the world of advertising today.

1. Facebook admitted it artificially inflated its average video view time metric. It's embarrassing for Facebook, but probably not as bad as it seems.

2. Yahoo has confirmed a major data breach. It could be the largest hack of all time  and it poses some serious questions about the Verizon deal.

3. The Guardian's US operation reportedly slashed its revenue forecasts. Politico reported the US reported a loss of $15.85 million on revenue of $15.5 million in the year to April 2016.

4. Dentsu is facing a huge over-billing scandal. The holding company is in emergency talks with "more than 100 clients" in Japan who have questioned a possible 160 incidents of over-charging.

5. GroupM has promoted its North America chief Kelly Clark to the global CEO role. WPP's media investment management arm also announced its global president Dominic Proctor is stepping down from the role but will continue working at the holding company on "strategic projects."

AD WEEK ATTENDEES: Join Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget on Tuesday, September 27, for a discussion on using storytelling to build brands in the digital age with senior marketers from IBM, Microsoft, and MasterCard. Register to attend now.

6. A Yelp defamation case could change the way we view free speech on the internet. On Wednesday, the California Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by Yelp.com, after a lower court judge ordered the review site to remove a defamatory user-published comment.

7. Google pumped a bunch of money into Airbnb. Airbnb raised $555 million at a $30 billion valuation, with Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures leading the financing round.

8. Chipotle spent millions launching a rewards program for customers  but nobody cared. Chiptopia has more than 3.1 million users, but it has failed to address the brand's customer perception.

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9. LinkedIn launched LinkedIn Learning, its first major product news since Microsoft announced it would be acquiring the company. LinkedIn Learning provides online skills training classes.

10. Adidas and Under Armour are challenging Nike like never before. Morgan Stanley said Nike is facing unprecedented headwinds, spurred by competition from its rivals.

NOW WATCH: Scientists discovered something 'shocking' that could rewrite a key part of human evolution





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While this weekend's upcoming Canada tour (which Prince George and Princess Charlotte are coming along for!) won't be Princess Kate and Prince William's first visit to the country, it will be their first with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in office.



And just like Kate, the Canadian PM's wife, former television presenter Sophie Gregoire Trudeau has quite the sartorial streak herself. Actually, Sophie, 41, and Kate's, 34, style sense seems to check off a lot of the same boxes  here's the evidence.



1. They both know the importance of a great fascinator.

Sophie may not be a royal, but that doesn't stop her from rocking the royal accessory. And just like Princess Kate, she's paired one with a full lace frock.





14 Outfits That Prove Princess Kate and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Are Style Sisters| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton









2. They both go for Asian-inspired style.

Sophie sported a kimono-like frock while on an official visit to Japan, while Kate wore a printed and embroidered ensemble that mirrored the Queen of Bhutan's while visiting the country.





14 Outfits That Prove Princess Kate and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Are Style Sisters| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton





3. They both love blush.

If their past outfit choices are any indication, both trendsetting ladies have a penchant for the pale pink hue.





14 Outfits That Prove Princess Kate and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Are Style Sisters| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton





4. They both can appreciate an open back at a movie premiere.

When you're married to a prince or a prime minister, attending glamorous events (like film screenings and premieres), is, well, just another Wednesday. But Kate and Sophie know how to inject a little excitement into the occasion with an open-backed dress for the red carpet.





14 Outfits That Prove Princess Kate and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Are Style Sisters| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton





 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.



5. They both wore dresses with a V-neck on their wedding day.

Though the two gowns were fairly different in execution  Kate's had long sleeves and lace, Sophie's had cap sleeves and gold details  they share the same neckline.





14 Outfits That Prove Princess Kate and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Are Style Sisters| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton





6. They both have a knack for looking super stylish when getting off planes.

It's a skill only first ladies and princesses seem to be able to master. (The whole private jet thing may be a reason why.)





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14 Outfits That Prove Princess Kate and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Are Style Sisters| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton





7. They've both rocked a high neck and cap sleeves to a state dinner.

Meeting dignitaries is a part of the job for both Kate and Sophie  and they both have reached for similar dresses to do it in.





14 Outfits That Prove Princess Kate and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau Are Style Sisters| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton





Stay tuned to see if they break out coordinating ensembles on Will and Kate's visit!
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed Donald Trump on Friday, just a couple months after he reinforced their bitter rivalry by declining to back Trump in a speech at the Republican National Convention.

Long before Cruz credited Trump with being the only thing standing in [Hillary Clintons] way, the two spent months slinging insults back and forth.

Here are some of the most memorable.

Trump: Cruz is worse than Hillary



He said with the being a Canadian citizen, he said, Oh I didnt know that. How did he not know that? Then he said with the loans, Oh, I didnt know that, Smart guy. He doesnt know that? Yeah, thats worse than Hillary when you think about it, Trump said of Cruz on Jan. 20.

Trump: How can Ted Cruz be an Evangelical Christian



How can Ted Cruz be an Evangelical Christian when he lies so much and is so dishonest? Trump tweeted on Feb. 12.

Trump: You are the single biggest liar'

You are the single biggest liar. You probably are worse than Jeb Bush, Trump told Cruz at a primary debate on Feb. 13. Nasty guy. Now I know why he doesnt have one endorsement from any of his colleagues.

Trump: I will spill the beans on your wife!

Lyin Ted Cruz just used a picture of Melania from a G.Q. shoot in his ad. Be careful, Lyin Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife! Trump tweeted on March 22.

As PolitiFact has noted, Trump had no evidence that Cruz was responsible for the ad that used a scantily clad picture of Melania Trump; the ad actually came from an anti-Trump super PAC.

Cruz: Real men dont attack women

Donald, real men dont attack women. Your wife is lovely, and Heidi is the love of my life, Cruz tweeted on March 24, after Trump shared an unflattering comparison of Melania Trump and Heidi Cruz.

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Cruz: Donald, youre a sniveling coward

It is not acceptable for a big, loud New York bully to attack my wife. It is not acceptable for him to make insults, to send nasty tweetsand I dont know what he does late at night, but he tends to do these at about 11:30 at night, I assume when his fear is at the highest point, Cruz said on March 24. I dont get angry often. But you mess with my wife, you mess with my kids, thatll do it every time. Donald, youre a sniveling coward. Leave Heidi the hell alone.

Cruz: Consistently disgraceful

Donald Trumps consistently disgraceful behavior is beneath the office we are seeking and we are not going to follow, Cruz tweeted on March 25.

Cruz: Nominating Donald Trump would be a train wreck

Nominating Donald Trump would be a train wreck. It would be handing the White House over to Hillary Clinton, Cruz tweeted on March 29.

Cruz: Big government liberal

This race is simple. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are both big government liberals, Cruz tweeted on April 26.

Trump: Cruzs father was somehow involved with JFKs assassin

His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswalds beingyou know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous, Trump said about Cruzs father, Rafael, in an interview on May 3. What was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death? Before the shooting? Its horrible.

Cruz: This man is a pathological liar

This man is a pathological liar. He doesnt know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth, and in a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology text book, his response is to accuse everybody else of lying, Cruz told reporters on May 3. The man cannot tell the truth, but he combines it with being a narcissista narcissist at a level I dont think this countrys ever seen. Donald Trump is such a narcissist that Barack Obama looks at him and goes, Dude, whats your problem?'

The man is utterly amoral. Morality does not exist for him, Cruz added. Donald is a bully.  Bullies come from a deep, yawning cavern of insecurity.

Cruz: Vote your conscience



And to those listening, please, dont stay home in November, Cruz said on July 20 in his speech at the Republican National Convention, declining to endorse Trump. If you love our country, and love your children as much as I know that you do, stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.

Cruz: I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father

I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father, Cruz said on July 21, after declining to endorse Trump in his convention speech.

What does it say when you stand up and say, Vote your conscience, and rabid supporters of our nominee begin screaming, What a horrible thing to say,' Cruz said. If we cant make the case for the American people that voting for our partys nominee is consistent with voting your conscience, is consistent with defending freedom and being faithful to the Constitution, then we are not going to win and we dont deserve to win.

Trump: He may have ruined his political career

Honestly, he may have ruined his political career. I feel so badly. I feel so badly. And you know, hell come and endorse over the next little while. Hellbecause he has no choice. But I dont want his endorsement. What difference does it make? I dont want his endorsement. I have such greatI dont want his endorsement. Ted, stay home, relax, enjoy yourself, Trump said at a press conference on July 22.
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
For more than a year, federal, state and local officials have struggled to properly respond to the crisis in Flint, Michigan, where lead contamination of the citys drinking water has threatened the health of 8,000 children and forced residents to use bottled water to drink and bathe. Even now, Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill are fighting over whether to include $100 million to assist that beleaguered community as part of a major year-end spending bill.

Lead contamination of municipal water systems, sadly, is a relatively widespread problem in this country and would require massive resources at the federal and local level to adequately address the problem. CNBC reported recently that data it obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that 41 states have reported higher-than-acceptable levels of lead in drinking water during the past three years.

Related: Outraged Americans Want Immediate Action on Flint Water Crisis

Now comes a troubling report from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an activist research organization, that chromium-6, a carcinogenic chemical compound, has contaminated water supplies for more than 200 million Americans in all 50 states. The tests conducted by utilities across the country and supervised by the EPA found chromium-6 in almost 90 percent of the water systems sampled.

The study found that levels of chromium-6 are at or exceed 0.03 parts per billion in three-quarters of the samples that were tested between 2013 and 2015. Roughly seven million people received or consumed tap water with levels of the compound higher than the 10-parts-per-billion legal limit set by California the only state that currently imposes a maximum contaminant level.

Arizona, California and Oklahoma had the highest average statewide levels, according to the report. Phoenix by far had the highest average level among major cities while Houston and St. Louis also registered comparatively high levels.

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Hexavalent chromium or chromium-6 is a chemical compound commonly used in industry for a number of purposes, including electroplating and manufacturing stainless steel and textiles. Chromium-6 is also used as a coolant in power plant towers and is found in the ash of coal burned by utilities. While scientists may differ on the degree of public health risks that it poses, research has shown that exposure to small quantities of chromium-6 in drinking water can produce cancer in humans and animals.

Related: Congress Fumbles Again on Funding for the Flint Water Crisis

A two-year study released in 2008 by the National Toxicology Program found that drinking water with chromium-6 caused cancer in laboratory rats and mice. Subsequently, research scientists at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded in 2011 that ingestion of even tiny amounts of chromium-6 could cause cancer in people. That finding was later confirmed by scientists in New Jersey and North Carolina, according to EWG.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers all chromium compounds to be occupational carcinogens that are closely connected with lung, nasal and sinus cancer, according to a government website.

The chemical industry has long opposed tough regulation of chromium-6, arguing that additional research was needed. The EPA has never set a specific limit on chromium-6 in drinking water, although the environmental agency has established a drinking water standard of 100 parts per billion for all forms of chromium, which is a natural occurring element.

Environmental activists say a national standard for chromium-6 in drinking water is long overdue.

Related: After Flint, Here's How to Test Your Water for Lead

The standoff is the latest round in a tug-of-war between scientists and advocates who want regulations based strictly on the chemicals health hazards and industry, political and economic interests who want more relaxed rules based on the cost and feasibility of cleanup, according to the EWG report. If the industry challenge prevails, it will also extend the Environmental Protection Agencys record, since the 1996 landmark amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, of failing to use its authority to set a national tap water safety standard for any previously unregulated chemical.

If chromium-6 sounds familiar, thats probably because of the notoriety it gained from the film "Erin Brockovich" released in 2000. Thats the movie in which an environmental crusader, played by actress Julia Roberts, confronted the lawyer of a power company that had polluted the tap water of Hinkley, California, with chromium-6. She dared her to drink a glass of the water that she said was brought in specially for you folks.

The lawyer responded: I think this meeting is over.

In a written statement earlier this week, Brockovich declared, "Whether it is chromium-6, PFOA [Perfluorooctanoic acid] or lead, the public is looking down the barrel of a serious water crisis across the country that has been building for decades," according to CNN. She blamed the public health crisis on "corruption, complacency and utter incompetence."

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Usually most investors put stress on fundamental factors like price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-book (P/B) and the PEG ratio to value a company. But they sometimes ignore cash flow measures. As we know that cash cushion is always needed in a rough market, one can easily take a look at the indicators related to cash flows to measure the performance of a company (read: Inside Pacer's Planned Cash Cow ETF Pack of Three).

This being said, we would like to note that cash conditions of U.S. companies havent been too good lately. Burdened by a year-and-a-half of flagging profitsand expenses on activities like buybacks and dividends,U.S. companies have now started to see leakage in its huge cash loads, as per Bloomberg. Cash and equivalents dropped to a median $860 million for the S&P 500 Index members in Q2, reflecting a three-year low level.

In fact, half of the total cash is sitting with the top 50 wealthiest companies on the index. But the rest are seeing cash gushing out at the fastest rate since the start of the bull market. Earnings recession for six quarters in a row was responsible for this cash exhaustion. Bloomberg noted that earnings before interest and taxes at S&P 500 companies were $1.1 trillion in the fiscal year ended last quarter, which represented the lowest level since 2011.

But this does not mean there are no stocks that have a huge cash pileup. There are still plenty of such in the universe; its just that investors have to find them out. For them, we have highlighted four ETFs and stocks that focus on cash flow (read: Invest in These ETFs to Capitalize on Cash Strength).

ETF Picks

TrimTabs International Free-Cash-Flow ETF FCFI



While this fund does not directly deal with stocks with low P/CF ratios, it has an indirect approach to the same objective. The fund looks to track 100 international companies with the highest free cash flow yields in 10 international markets, namely Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, South Korea and Australia. The fund charges 69 bps in fees.

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Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF (SYLD)



The fund is based on the research that free cash flow is a key predictor of a companys strength. This product invests in companies that show strong characteristics in returning free cash flow to their shareholders by way of cash dividends, share repurchases or by reducing their leverage. It charges 59 bps in fees.

Pacer Global High Dividend ETF PGHD

The ETF looks to provide a steady stream of income and capital appreciation by picking companies with a high free cash flow (FCF) yield and an impressive dividend yield. The fund accomplishes its objective by tracking the Pacer Global Cash Cows Dividends 100 Index.

Stock Picks

We picked three stocks on the basis of factors mentioned below:

Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Most recent cash ratio, which measures the companys cash and cash equivalents to its current liabilities greater than one.

Price-to-Cash Flow less than the median price-to-cash flow of the S&P 500 index.

Our chosen stocks are:

Sanderson Farms Inc. SAFM: The company is a fully integrated poultry processing company. It has a VGM score of A.

The Children's Place Inc. PLCE: This is a specialty retailer of apparel and accessories for newborn to 12-year-old children. It has a VGM score of A (read: 3 Retail ETFs & Stocks Can Defy Soft Data).

Newmont Mining Corporation NEM: The company is into the production and exploration of gold. It has a VGM score of C.

Want more information on the world of ETFs? Make sure to check out the podcast below where we discuss the investing landscape with Kevin OLeary and Connor OBrien of OShares Investments:

Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?

Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get 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



SANDERSON FARMS (SAFM): Free Stock Analysis Report



NEWMONT MINING (NEM): Free Stock Analysis Report



CHILDRENS PLACE (PLCE): Free Stock Analysis Report



TRIMT-INT FCF (FCFI): ETF Research Reports



PACR-GL HI DIV (PGHD): ETF Research Reports



CAMBRIA SH YLD (SYLD): ETF Research Reports



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



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Three police officers in Arizona have resigned after they allegedly forced a motorist to eat marijuana during a traffic stop, authorities said Thursday.

Phoenix Police Chief Joe Yahner announced the resignations of the officers, who all have served less than a year on the police force, and condemned their actions as appalling and unacceptable during a news conference. The conduct alleged by our resident is contrary to everything we stand for as community servants, Yahner said.

The officers found about a gram of marijuana inside the car of a 19-year-old driver whom they pulled over last week. They allegedly told the motorist to eat the drugs to avoid going to jail, the police chief said. The driver, who said he fell ill afterwards, filed a complaint with the police department, which prompted an internal investigation.

The officers involved were identified as Richard Pina, Jason McFadden and Michael Carnicle, according to ABC 15.

Yahner said the officers were wearing body cameras but that they had turned the cameras off before the incident.
Buttne is no fun, but there are ways to handle this form of acne. (Photo: Gallery Stock)

Theres no good place to get a zit. But there are some places that are particularly horrifying to experience a breakout. For instance, inside an ear or the crease of the buttocks. Not only can it be super sensitive and painful, but it is almost impossible to reach for treatment.

Traumatized by our own zit experiences, Yahoo Beauty interviewed Dennis Gross, a Manhattan-based dermatologist and the creator of Dr. Dennis Gross Skin Care, to find out how to handle acne in weird places. In his 25 years of practice, Gross says he has seen acne everywhere but the hands and feet, and also, the face, back, and groin are the most painful places to experience acne.

Heres how to deal.

Related: Why Are We So Obsessed With Pimple Popping?

So youve got a zit in your ear:

Remember the ear area overlaps face and scalp, so those areas form acne due to blocked oil glands, says Gross. Basically, the skin in your ears is just like the skin on your face and can suffer from the same issues.



Since clogged pores are the main cause of ear acne, Gross would prescribe a retinol or retinoid to unclog them. If you dont plan to visit the dermatologist, however, you can try dabbing on an acne medication like Mario Bedescu Drying Lotion and then leaving it alone. Poking and prodding will only congest the pores further. Prevent ear acne in the first place by cleaning your ears regularly.

Related: The Best Face Masks to Tackle Your Acne

Gross also recommends acne medication pads, such as his One Step Acne Eliminating Pads, for applying medication in hard-to-reach areas.

So youve got a zit in your nose:

A nose zit really sucks because your nose is full of nerve endings, making the area extra sensitive. Gross says an in-the-nose zit is similar to in-the-ear zit as far as cause. The nose is part of T-zone and is an area of excess oil production. Blocked oil glands very often occur there as well.

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Related: Kate Bosworth on Adult Acne: It Sucks

He recommends a sulfur mask like the Clarifying Collodial Sulfur Mask to help dry out pores and reduce the quantity of sebum, leading to fewer breakouts.

You can also try boiling water and holding your face over the steam for 10 minutes before applying a small amount of topical antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin with a Q-tip. This will soften the skin so the medicine can penetrate the blemish and may also provide some relief if your pimple is inflamed and painful.

If a pimple inside your nose doesnt go away or is accompanied by symptoms like fever or weakness, see a doctor immediately.

Related: This Girls Before-and-After Acne Photos Are Pretty Crazy

So youve got a zit on your butt:

Since youre constantly sitting on and sweating into the skin on your cheeks, this area is particularly prone to breakouts. Exfoliate the booty regularly in the shower, and try a product that contains beta hydroxy acids, which are great for decongesting pores while exfoliating. We recommend Paulas Choice Skin Perfecting Liquid Exfoliant. Other good products for body acne of any kind are Peter Thomas Roth Blemish Buffing Beads and Murad Clarifying Body Spray. Or you can buy a soap that contains salicylic acid like this one.



Also try not to sit around in moist or dirty clothes, like, say, those yoga pants you wore out of the gym instead of showering. This can lead to the buildup of bacteria, which can cause breakouts.

Related: This Is What Happens to Your Skin When You Pop a Pimple

So youve got a zit near your groin:

If you thought butt acne was embarrassing, try getting a groin breakout. Dont feel too bad, though. Gross says hormones and genetics play a huge role in this type of acne.

He also says that exercise can lead to breakouts in the groin area, especially biking or spinning. So now you have one reason to feel superior to people who go to SoulCycle regularly.

If you do get breakouts in your vagina area, the same general rules apply as acne anywhere else on your body: Try not to touch it with your fingers, and keep the area clean. You can try a warm compress to draw out bacteria, but you dont want to use harsh medications down there. Bikini Bump Blaster pads are specifically designed for your lady area, or you can try Neosporin. If your zit is actually an ingrown hair, the treatment is basically the same. Either way, youve got a clogged, infected pore.

Related: Acne Treatments for Sensitive Skin

If the blemish doesnt go away within a week, or if it burns, itches, swells, or has discharge, visit a doctor for an STD checkup.

Wearing cotton underwear and breathable fabrics can also help keep the area in your pants zit-free.

Ultimately, its hard to follow, but Gross says the golden rule of acne applies wherever you get it: Do not touch or pop pimple! Apply medicine and leave it alone  you do not want to irritate the area further.

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
MATTOON -- Ulysses S. Grant did not let a bad decision and setbacks in life define him, students at Mattoon High School heard Friday morning.

Ken Serfass, who portrays Grant, told the assembled students that Grant was determined to overcome these misfortunes. He said Grant, a veteran officer, rejoined the Army at the start of the Civil War and subsequently won decisive victories that propelled him through the ranks to become the commander all U.S. armies.

Serfass gave a presentation at the high school to kickoff General Grant Days in Coles County. This new event is celebrating Grant's ties to Mattoon, where he commanded the regional muster camp for Illinois infantry recruits in May 1861.

Event coordinator Steve Thompson said Grant's service in Mattoon was one of the first official duties in his Civil War career. He said this career culminated in Grant accepting the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert Lee on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House, Va., effectively ending the war.

Serfass said some of the approximately 5,000 soldiers who enlisted at the Mattoon site, which was eventually named Camp Grant, were likely ancestors of today's students at Mattoon High School.

"You have a unique opportunity to explore your history during this coming weekend," Serfass said of General Grant Days.

Serfass, a Marine veteran who now lives in Gettysburg, Penn., asked for a show of hands for how many of the assembled boys were 16 and older, explaining that 16 was the legal minimum enlistment age for infantry recruits. He said a large percentage of those recruits would ultimately die in combat or from their wounds or diseases.

"War is not glorious," Serfass said. He added that recruits signed up with a lot of fanfare at the outset of the Civil War and the anticipation that the conflict would be over within a few months. Serfass said modern scholars have estimated that approximately 800,000 service members, totaled from both sides, died in the war.

Serfass said Grant initially served in the Army from 1843 to 1854, which included service in the Mexican War. He said this service placed Grant at a remote outpost on the frontier in California, far from his family.

Grant's loneliness led him to give into the temptation to drink alcohol on duty during a payroll call, Serfass said. This bad decision got Grant in trouble with his superiors and gave him the incorrect reputation of being a drunk, Serfass said. Grant opted to resign from the Army rather than face court martial proceedings.

At the start of the Civil War, Grant returned to the Army and initially served in the western theater of operations. Serfass said Grant rose through the ranks and won unconditional surrenders of Confederate armies, something that no other Union general had accomplished, first at Fort Donelson and then at Vicksburg.

Serfass said Grant achieved success on the battlefield through his determination to not quit and his tenet of "Hit them hard, hit them fast and keep moving."

The Mattoon Civil War Memorial Ellipse contains stone markers for Grant and the regiments that were mustered at the camp in Mattoon. The General Grant Days events are being held to bring attention to the ongoing development of this memorial and to plan for a Camp Grant Municipal Park.

General Grant Days will include a Civil War camp re-enactment from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the ellipse site at North First Division Street and Shelby Avenue, with Serfass in attendance as Grant. Serfass also will portray Grant during presentations at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday at Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site.
Kashmir is on fire again, after militants killed 18 Indian soldiers in an early morning raid on Sept. 18. These five facts explain why the conflict over this long-disputed region between India and Pakistan is such a deep-seated problem, and why its likely to get worse before it gets better.

1. Clashes Over Kashmir

A large part of the India-Pakistan rivalry centers on competing claims over the Kashmir region. This relatively small piece of land in the Himalayas has been disputed since 1947, the year the modern state of Pakistan was created. Pakistan claims the land because its majority Muslim like itself; India claims the land because Kashmirs Maharajah once pledged loyalty to India (albeit under duress). India doesnt want to give the region up for fear of setting a dangerous precedent for Indias other regions that are agitating for independence. While both countries claim all of Kashmir, each of them controls only part of it.

Two of the three wars fought by India and Pakistan have been over Kashmir (1947 and 1965). Its bad when a collective population of 1.5 billion goes to war repeatedly over a sliver of land; it would be worse today, since both sides now have nuclear weapons. More than 47,000 people have been killed in Kashmir flare-ups to dateand there are human rights groups who argue the real figure is twice that amount.

(CNN, World Bank (a), World Bank (b))

Read More: Another Season of Unrest Brings Darkness for Ordinary Kashmiris

2. Bloody Weekend

Besides the 18 soldiers who died in the Sept. 18 raid, four of the militants were killed in the subsequent shootout. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refrained from pointing the finger directly at Pakistan, other senior Indian military officials werent nearly as diplomatic, accusing a Pakistan-backed group of the mayhem.

But the violence in Indian-administered Kashmir doesnt always originate from Pakistan. Thats because there are plenty of locals with grievances against Indias stewardship. While the Hindu Jammu section of Kashmir seems to be content with remaining a part of India, the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley favors independence from anywhere between 75 to 95 percent, according to a 2010 study. A prominent Kashmiri militant was killed by Indian forces in July, touching off mass protests and a wave of violence that left nearly 90 people dead. But Indian officials seem fixated on Pakistan for the moment.

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(BBC, Chatham House)

3. Stalling Reforms

That makes sense from a political perspective. Modi rose to power as a pragmatic business reformerhe still enjoys a Putin-like 81 percent favorability rating, and 65 percent of Indians believe the country is headed in the right direction. Just 29 percent said that in 2013. But it getting harder to buoy those numbers as the low-hanging reform fruit gets picked off the tree.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Modi began his term in 2014 with an ambitious list of at least 30 major, much-needed reforms in the areas of taxation, government regulation, and foreign investment among others. Of those 30, seven have been completed and 14 are in progress or partially successful; nine remain outstanding. The reforms that have been implemented are a big reason why India is now the fastest-growing major economy in the world.

Read More: These 5 Facts Explain the Biggest Political Risks Facing Europe

But Modi doesnt have the leverage in parliament to deliver any more significant reforms as the country gears up for regional elections. And he cant look weak when Indian soldiers are killedparticularly after winning an election with charges that the previous government was soft on terrorism and weak on Pakistan. His government needs to adopt a tougher line to keep core supporters on board ahead of coming provincial elections and the next national elections in a couple of years.

(Pew Center, Center for Strategic and International Studies)

4. Fragile Pakistan

Pakistan, meanwhile, continues to deny involvement in the weekends violence. Pakistan knows that its in a weakened position compared to India. Pakistan may have the 11th-strongest military in the world, according to an analysis conducted by Credit Suisse, but that same ranking has the Indian military in 5th place. 66-year old Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is in poor health, and the country ranks as the 14th most fragile country (an aggregate measure of political, social and economic stability) for 2015. India ranks 70th.

Sharif has spent UN General Assembly week trying to rally world leaders to Pakistans side and internationalize the conflict, reaching out to the U.S., U.K., Japan and Turkey, but early returns have not been promising. In Ban Ki Moons farewell address, Kashmir didnt even get a mention among the worlds largest geopolitical challenges. Pakistan cannot afford to take on India over Kashmir, and it knows it.

(Business Insider, Foreign Policy)

Read More: These 5 Facts Show Things in the U.S. Arent as Bad as They Seem

5. Chinas Shadow

Which is why Pakistan is angling itself toward China, the only country on the continent with a population, economy, and military that top Indias. China has agreed to spend $46 billion in investment in Pakistan, which is also the worlds largest recipient of weapons from China. China also builds Pakistans nuclear reactors. These are ties that bind.

China remains an important trade partner to India, too. But Indians are wary of China and seeking partners to balance Chinas growing clout. Some 48 percent of Indians say that Chinas relationship with Pakistan is a very serious problem; another 21 percent of Indians say its somewhat serious. Chinas growing military power elicits roughly the same response from Indians, as well. Wariness of China has led India to strengthen ties with the U.S. and other Asian countries.

The bottom-line: Until recent weeks, relations between India and Pakistan seemed to be warming. Recent events in Kashmir, and the search for new allies, reveal that theyre as chilly as ever.

(CNN, Hindustan Times, Pew Center)
This week brought us two notable hearings on Capitol Hill as Mylan MYL CEO Heather Bresch faced questions from a House committee regarding her companys price hikes on EpiPens, and Wells Fargo WFC CEO John Stumpf testified in front of a Senate panel about his companys fraudulent account-opening scandal.

Both testimonies brought us a considerable amount of drama. Stumpf faced off against several heated senators, including Rep. Elizabeth Warren (D-VT), who suggested that he and Wells Fargo should be criminally investigated. Breschs testimony was also criticized from both sides of the aisle, and several representatives were openly skeptical of her logic.

Despite the drama, this weeks hearings were nothing new for Congress, which routinely invites the subjects of its investigations to publicly answer questions. While congressional witnesses are often other governmental officials or relevant experts, corporate executives are certainly no strangers to Capitol Hill.

Throughout the years, weve seen a number of CEOs and company chairmen swear an oath and answer questions regarding scandals that their companies are involved in. Some choose to plead the fifth; others choose to say outrageous things. Check out five of the most shocking congressional testimonies from CEOs:

1. Do you understand how isolated you are in the belief from the entire scientific community?

In 1994, top executives from the seven largest American tobacco companies were called into a House hearing on the regulation of the tobacco industry. In one of the most appalling moments in congressional history, all seven executives claimed that smoking was not addictive.

Then-CEO of R.J. Reynolds RAI James Johnston compared the addictive qualities of cigarettes to that of a Twinkies snack, while Lorillard Tobacco Company (which was purchased by R.J. Reynolds) chairman Andrew Tisch claimed he did not believe smoking caused cancer.

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When Rep. Henry Waxon (D-CA) asked Tisch, Do you understand how isolated you are in the belief from the entire scientific community?, Tisch simply responded with, I do, sir.

2. Im just really concerned about their safety

After a number of top AIG AIG executives received performance bonuses despite the company needing a $180 billion bailout from the government, a House panel in 2009 called AIG CEO Edward Liddy in for questioning. When Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) asked Liddy for a list of the executives who received a bonus, few were prepared for what was about to happen.

Instead of providing Frank with that list, Liddy began reading off a death threat that had been sent to AIG: All the executives and their families should be executed with piano wire around their necks. Im looking for all the CEOs names, kids, where they live.

Liddy would remain steadfast in his refusal to publicly announce a list of those who received bonuses and justified his actions by saying, Im just really concerned about their safety.

3. It was installed for this purpose, yes

When a foreign company derives methods to cheat U.S. regulations, you can bet that Congress will have something to say about it. That was exactly the case in 2015, when Volkswagen VLKAY was caught using software in its diesel vehicles to rig emissions tests.

Michael Horn, the CEO of Volkswagens U.S. business, was called to testify in front of the House Committee on Energy. Some representatives, including Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), questioned the legitimacy of Horns claims that the software cheat was created by a few programmers with no knowledge from top executives.

I agree, its very hard to believe, Horn said. The chief executive would later clarify, It was installed for this purpose, yes, when asked whether or not the software was designed to intentionally cheat the emissions test.

4. I think thats very unfortunate to have on email

There were a number of hearings and investigations after the 2008 economic collapse. The American public demanded answers from the countrys biggest banking executives, and congressional questioning was one way to get those answers.

In 2010, Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs GS testified about why his company continued to market mortgage investments even as the housing market collapsed. The company seemingly knew they were giving out bad loans, and it was a topic of discussion in employee emails.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) questioned Blankfein about these emails: When you heard that your employees, in these emails, said, God, what a shty deal; God, what a piece of crap; do you feel anything?

I think thats very unfortunate to have on email, Blankfein responded. Gee ya think?

5. We dont depend on tax gimmicks

Under the control of Steve Jobs, Apple AAPL avoided Capitol Hill like the plaque. Jobs kept the companys lobbying budget low, and he never once testified in front of Congress. For whatever reason, Apple steered clear of D.C. politics.

The company has become a bit more politically active under CEO Tim Cook, and that was best exemplified in 2013 when Cook appeared for questioning regarding Apples tax avoidance.

When pressed about Apples off-shore banking activities, including its decision to move hundreds of millions in profits to Ireland, Cook snapped back: We pay all the taxes we oweevery single dollar.

We dont depend on tax gimmicks, he would later add.

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As exciting and seductive as a move abroad can be, its also complicatedwith a seemingly endless number of curveballs thrown at you as you make your way from Point A to Point B across the globe. Sure, you already know about the visas you need to arrange, the vaccinations you need to schedule, the new language you need to mangle. But what are some of the home pitfalls you might encounter?

We asked experts and expats to share some of the most misleading or downright dangerous assumptions you can make as you move to your new exotic home. Prepare accordingly!

Mistake No. 1: Assume your furniture will fit in your new digs

If youre headed to Hong Kong, youll probably be in a small apartment, says Elaine Phipps, a vice president at MSI Mobility, a global relocation services company. You cant bring American-sized furniture; it just wont fit.

Climate is another factor. If youre moving from Arizona to a humid environment in Latin America, your prized Persian rug and expensive painting could end up ruined from mold.

The golden rule of packing for an international move: If in doubt, leave it out.

Mistake No. 2: Assume all your electronics will work

Laptops and mobile phones plug right in with a converter, but do that with a desktop computer without flipping the voltage switch and you risk blowing the power supply, notes Jane Hurchalla, who just moved to London from Nashville, TN. And yes, we did, she admits with a sigh.

Some electronics, such as desktops, will let you switch the voltage from 110-120V to 220-240V, but many others, such as hair dryers and appliances, wont work at alland trying to plug them in anyway could ruin your device or even start a fire. Before you take anything electronic, look for input or power source on the back. If it doesnt list 220-240 and youre moving to another country other than Canada, leave it behind.

Mistake No. 3: Assume everyone will speak English

When Kayt Sukel from Houston, TX, to Hanau, Germany, she hired moversand at first all went fine. Except when I had questions once my stuff was en route, my German moving company told me to contact the subcontractor. When I called them, it was hard to find someone who spoke English! So I got a lot of runaround.

Story continues

Sukel had similar issues with transporting her dog. I had to try to figure out where to pick her up at the airport, but no one knew because they hadnt heard of my U.S. shipper. So I called the U.S. company, which was, of course, closed, since it was the middle of the night in the U.S. I was running around the airports cargo village begging people to help me.

Go over all the details with your movers ahead of time to avoid the same fate. Your pet will thank you. And while were on the topic

Mistake No. 4: Assume you can just bring your pets with you

If you try to take your pets with you to a new country, it might not fly Jodi Jacobson/iStock

Youll want to take into account the pets age and health and how it will do on the journey, especially since it may need to be quarantined for as long as six months going into a foreign countryand may need to be quarantined again upon your return to the U.S. And then theres the price: Quarantines, vaccinations, special equipment to transport your pet, and the cost of transporting the pet itself can add up.

Ive seen costs of up to $20,000, cautions Phipps. If you decide to bring Fido along anyway, consider hiring a pet relocation service to help with the often arcane logistics.

Mistake No. 5: Assume the stuff you leave behind will be fine

Act as if the worst will happen, and youll be fine, suggests Tanya Accuro, who now lives in Bangkok and has also lived in South Africa and Uganda. Digital copies of everything are a must, just in case that secure location in your mother-in-laws basement suffers a catastrophic incident.

Accuro speaks from experience: When I retrieved a cardboard box of thesis materials from the safety of a friends attic, I found it had become a home for chipmunks that chewed up the papers in the bottom to make a cozy nest.

Mistake No. 6: Assume your new digs will look as great as they did online

Ive witnessed situations where people have found a place online and even seen a show house when they get to their destination, but its all a scam, warns Phipps. Her advice? Purchase housing assistance from a destination services provider to help with legal issues and make sure everything is aboveboard.

The post 6 Dumb Mistakes People Make When They Move Abroad appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.
Ted Cruz

Editor's note: A bit more than two months ago, Sen. Ted Cruz shocked the political world by refusing to endorse the Republican Party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump, at the GOP convention.

He abruptly reversed course on Friday, saying he would vote for Trump.

What follows is a story from July 21, the day after Cruz's RNC speech, when he defended his decision at the time to tell his supporters to "vote your conscience" in November.

CLEVELAND  Ted Cruz on Thursday delivered an impassioned defense of his Wednesday-night speech that prompted loud boos and jeers from the Republican National Convention audience.

During a breakfast with the Texas delegation, Cruz took questions  many of which were heated  from his home-state delegates looking for answers on why he not only refused to endorse nominee Donald Trump but actively encouraged people not to vote for the billionaire if doing so would violate their conscience.

In a particularly emotionally charged exchange, a woman in the Texas delegation asked Cruz about the pledge he agreed to earlier in the year stipulating that he would support the party's nominee at the end of the primary season. She said Cruz lied to her by abdicating the pledge.

"I will tell you when I stood on that debate stage and they asked every candidate will you support the nominee, I raised my hand and I raised it enthusiastically," Cruz said. "With the full intention of doing exactly that."

"And I'll tell you the day that pledge was abdicated," he continued. "The day that pledge was abdicated was the day this became personal."

Ted Cruz says he won't back Trump "like a servile puppy dog" after Trump attacked his family https://t.co/HqOPJ9a8IP https://t.co/dOqd6c838e  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 21, 2016

Insisting that he was not trying to attack Trump, Cruz said he was "not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father," referring to an attack Trump made on the appearance of Cruz's wife, Heidi, and to a conspiracy theory promoted by Trump that Cruz's father, Rafael, was somehow involved in the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy.

Story continues

"And that pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go and slander and attack Heidi, that I'm going to nonetheless come like a servile puppy dog and say thank-you very much for maligning my wife and my father," he said.

The Texas senator then addressed a man in the back of the room rubbing his hands under his eyes to mimic crying.

"You might have a similar view if someone was attacking your wife," Cruz said. "In fact, I hope you would. I hope you would."

The man told Cruz to "get over it" because "this is politics."

"No, no, this is not politics," Cruz fired back. "I will tell the truth. I will not malign. I will not insult. I will not attack. I will tell the truth. This is not a game. This is not politics. Right and wrong matter. We have not abandoned who we are in this country."

The cowboy-hat-clad crowd erupted in a roaring cheer.

Ted Cruz says he won't get over Donald Trump's personal attacks: "Right and wrong matters" https://t.co/HqOPJ9a8IP https://t.co/xJcrSA7od6  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 21, 2016

During his speech Wednesday night, Cruz told delegates and viewers that they should "vote your conscience" in November, leading to loud boos as Trump was entering the Quicken Loans Arena.

"And to those listening, please, don't stay home in November," Cruz said. "Stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution."

Cruz added Thursday that he wasn't "eager" to speak at the convention.

"What does this say when you stand up and say 'vote your conscience' and rabid supporters of our nominee begin screaming, 'What a horrible thing to say!'" Cruz said.

He said that if Republicans can't make a case to America that voting for Trump is consistent with voting their conscience, they don't deserve to win.

"It is not simply blindly chanting a name and yelling down dissenters," he said, alluding to Trump's popular "Trump! Trump! Trump!" chant.

"Can anyone imagine our nominee standing in front of voters answering questions like this?" Cruz said. "I owe this to you  I owe this to you every day."

He said the Republican Party "isn't a social club."

"We either stand for shared principles or we're not worth anything," he said before making a reference to butting heads with former House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Let me ask folks here a related question: How many of y'all here would like to see more leaders stand up to John Boehner and Mitch McConnell?" he said. "I want to point out to folks here, you're sitting and you saw last night why so few elected leaders do. Because when you do stand up, leadership screams, 'Support the team. You're a Republican. We're the leadership. Sit down. Shut up. Support the team.'"

"If that's the price, I ain't gonna do it," Cruz said. "I'm going to honor the commitments I made to the voters in the state."

Cruz said he went to Twitter after his speech to read through various articles. He said one had a word cloud from each night of the convention.

"You look at my word cloud, and the word that's about 50 times bigger than any other word is freedom," Cruz said. "The prior night's word cloud, the dominant word, anybody guess what it was?

Multiple people shouted out "Hillary!"

"Trump," Cruz said. "You know what, if we go to November and the dominant word voters hear is 'Trump,' or for that matter, if the dominant word is 'Hillary' or 'email server,' we're gonna lose."

"I wasn't elected to do the convenient thing," he said before exiting the event. "I was elected to stand up and do what was right."

NOW WATCH: TED CRUZ: Heres why I didnt endorse Donald Trump at the RNC





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From Cosmopolitan

I sat in that relatively nondescript hotel ballroom, shuffling my notes, and it suddenly struck me: I was about to make history. I was about to testify before the Democratic National Committee Campaign Committee, to urge them that their platform should oppose the Hyde Amendment - a federal policy, originally passed in 1976, that denies abortion coverage to women enrolled in Medicaid. I was asking a powerful political body to demand the end of a 40-year-old policy that targets poor women and denies needed health care.



The room was filled with Democratic leaders and advocates from many walks of life. As a granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, I was honored to represent my community and give voice to the more than 4 of 5 Americans who agree that however we feel about abortion, we shouldnt be allowed to deny a womans health coverage for it just because shes poor. I was speaking in my role of co-director of the All* Above All Action Fund, but I was speaking from experience as well: Ive seen firsthand what women go through when they have decided to end a pregnancy but dont have the money to pay for it.

As a teenager, I helped a close friend navigate her decision about an unintended pregnancy. She was afraid to talk to her other friends and family, and had heard judgmental talk about women whove had an abortion. As she struggled to figure out where and how to get an abortion, I was by her side to provide support and information, so she could make the best decision for herself and her future. The stigma and hurdles she faced, within her own family and as a result of being low-income, left me determined to take down those barriers.

While not everyone in my family agrees with my work, and Ive had to face down bully protesters more than once, I know fighting for womens health and rights is my calling. When I ran ACCESS Womens Health Justice, an abortion fund that raises money to provide assistance to people who cant afford their abortion care, I saw the pain of families pushed to the financial brink, women trying to figure out what they might sell, which bills could go unpaid, how to make sure they still had money for the kids schoolbooks and clothes. Transportation was a huge issue: Through my work at the fund, we once provided a couple with gas money so they could get home from their procedure. Another time, a young woman had to travel 440 miles round trip for her procedure, but had no reliable transportation and no money for a bus ticket; our fund was able to help her. These stories, and others, stick with me. Every day, the Hyde Amendment causes irrevocable harm to women and families in this country.

Story continues

The Hyde Amendment has been around for so long that many politicians view it as intractable, as though it is nothing more than ugly wallpaper thats too much of a hassle to replace. Even the Obama administration has indicated as much, calling Hyde a longstanding federal statutory restriction and reinforcing Hyde when the Affordable Care Act was passed. But its not an acceptable political compromise to force women struggling financially out of safe abortion care. Nor is it acceptable that the Hyde Amendment forces 1 in 4 poor women seeking an abortion to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term.

When Hyde was first passed, black women community leaders and policymakers opposed it, and in the ensuing years, women of color maintained that opposition. Yet we didnt reach a critical mass until about five years ago, when, building on the groundwork laid by women of color, a determined and vocal group came together with a bold vision and what was perceived then as a radical agenda: We decided to make lifting abortion coverage bans a priority. More than that, we decided to transform the political landscape to make it a reality.

We went on to create All* Above All - the first national united campaign to end Hyde - and its political arm, the All* Above All Action Fund. Initially, this work consisted of a handful of people - mostly women of color - strategizing in small rooms about the seemingly impossible. As our movement grew, the rooms got bigger, and the impossible now seems possible. In 2013, cities began introducing and passing resolutions opposing Hyde in places like Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Then, in 2015, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., introduced the EACH Woman Act - groundbreaking legislation to end the Hyde Amendment. At the same time, a nationwide poll, conducted on behalf of our organization, showed voters supported such a bill by a margin of 56 percent to 40 percent.

But still it wasnt quite enough to tip the scales.

It wasnt until this year that a major-party candidate for the highest political office in the United States made the Hyde Amendment a campaign issue. Not only did Secretary Hillary Clinton make clear her opposition to the restriction, she made it a centerpiece of her womens health agenda. Contrast that with Donald Trumps jumbled rhetoric about punishing women who terminate a pregnancy if abortion were illegal, and the distinctions between the candidates couldnt be clearer. Trump later walked back these comments, saying instead that doctors should be punished. But then he doubled down on his support for the Hyde Amendment.

When I testified before the committee, I thought about how far wed come. I thought about all the women of color, all the young people, whove called or written their legislators, whove led end Hyde bike rides, whove chalked sidewalks and created art and raised the alarm on college campuses. I considered that, with the ongoing support of advocates, leaders, and the public, it just may be the first woman president who puts an end to Hyde once and for all.

Ending Hyde is about restoring dignity and fair treatment to poor women and women of color. Its about making sure a woman whos made the profound decision to end her pregnancy gets the care she needs without having to turn her life upside down. Its about compassion and respect.

This month, the Hyde Amendment turns 40. And while four decades is a long time for injustice to endure, I am more certain than ever that its days of harming women are numbered.

I look forward to telling my daughter about the time a group of women who look like her went up against politicians who wanted to control womens decisions. Ill tell her about how we stuck together, built power, and grew a movement that eventually witnessed a presidential candidate speaking out on our side. And Ill tell her about the day we won, and about the terrible policy we defeated, and how its no longer around to harm her or the people she loves.

Destiny Lopez is the co-director of the All* Above All Fund.

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Continuing with its strategy of growing through acquisitions, Accenture Plc ACN recently announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Kurt Salmon  a strategy consulting firm  that mainly focuses on the retail industry. However, the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

About Kurt Salmon

Founded in 1935, Kurt Salmon specializes in providing operational strategy consulting, which includes merchandising, logistic and supply chain operations, product development, omni-channel retail strategy, corporate strategy and due diligence. The company has a total employee strength of over 260 which serves at its offices in the U.S., Germany, UK, Japan and China.

Accenture intends to integrate Kurt Salmons business into its Accenture Strategy division and expects the target companys employees to join the integrating division upon successful completion of the acquisition.

Accenture Enhancing Retail Consulting Capabilities

By integrating Kurt Salmon, Accenture will not only get a large talent pool but will also gain a huge customer base. Therefore, we believe that this acquisition will strengthen Accentures presence in the retail consulting market, as well as help in gaining more market share.

Per the company, the buyout is likely to expand its capabilities in providing end-to-end strategy consulting services to top retailers and private equity firms in a world disrupted by digital.

Mark Knickrehm, chief executive officer of Accenture Strategy said that 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,. He further added that 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.

Story continues

We have noticed that Accenture has been trying to expand its retail consulting business through acquisitions. Most recently, the company acquired a German-based consultancy company  dgroup, which delivers end-to-end management consulting services to help companies achieve digital transformation across the nation.

Furthermore, last year, it acquired Axia Limited, which specializes in providing strategic consulting services and implementation support to help clients manage costs, and thereby gain a competitive advantage. Its consulting services were used to address a number of areas including growth, operational excellence, go-to-market models, performance management and M&A strategies. Most importantly, the company had a diverse client base, ranging from life sciences and healthcare to consumer goods sectors.

ACCENTURE PLC Price

ACCENTURE PLC Price | ACCENTURE PLC Quote

Bottom Line

Considering the growing need for strategy consulting, we expect that Accentures investments in consulting capabilities will boost long-term growth. This will also enable the company to effectively compete with other consulting service providers such as CBIZ Inc. CBZ, CoreLogic, Inc. CLGX and Navigant Consulting Inc. NCI.

Accentures long-term prospect looks promising due to sustained focus on new and innovative product launches, continuous investments in enhancing digital and marketing capabilities as well as major acquisitions. However, we are cautious about its near-term performance given the strained IT spending scenario. As per a research report of Gartner, the worldwide IT spending to remain flat year over year in 2016 at $3.41 trillion, due to currency fluctuations triggered by the Brexit episode.

Currently, Accenture carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Activist groups are challenging a plan by South Africa's government to expand the country's nuclear power generation capacity on the grounds that the process was unconstitutional, they said on Thursday. Africa's most industrialised country has earmarked nuclear expansion as a key part of increasing its power generation but the price tag of up to 1 trillion rand ($74 billion) for 9.6 gigawatts of nuclear power expected to be operational by 2030 has raised concerns over whether the plan is affordable. Fears the nuclear project could be the most expensive procurement in South Africa's history, and that decisions could be made behind closed doors without the necessary public scrutiny, have been raised by opposition parties and environmentalists. Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute said in a statement that the High Court in Cape Town would hear their case on Dec. 13 and 14 this year to block the nuclear power expansion. "We are very pleased that the court understands the urgency of this matter at a critical stage in South Africa's energy decision-making process," said Liz McDaid, a spokeswoman for the activists. Communications officials at the energy department were not available to comment. The energy minister has said the government will issue requests for proposals on the new nuclear fleet on Sept. 30, amid concerns the costs will be prohibitive as the country tries to cut its heavy dependence on coal-fired plants. ($1 = 13.5915 rand) (Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by James Macharia)
Afghan security forces have reached something of an impasse with the Taliban, which has been unable to expand its grip on Afghanistan but still holds large parts of the country, a US general said Friday.

Army General John Nicholson, the US commander in Afghanistan, said local forces during the summer fighting season had thwarted a Taliban attempt to take over Kunduz province, and had improved security in Helmand, western Kandahar and Uruzgan.

Afghan forces currently control or "heavily influence" 65 to 70 percent of the population, the Taliban controls about 10 percent in mainly rural areas, and the rest is contested, Nicholson told reporters.

The top US military officer, General Joe Dunford, told lawmakers Thursday that the situation in Afghanistan was "roughly a stalemate."

"The Taliban have not been successful in achieving the goals that were outlined in their campaign plan, which they typically make public in the spring of each year, and on balance the Afghan forces are holding," said Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Nicholson said another way to "think about stalemate is you've reached some sort of equilibrium."

A resurgent Taliban dealt Afghan security forces serious blows in 2015, the first year the local forces led security operations in Afghanistan, taking over from NATO.

More than 5,000 Afghan police and troops died last year alone, and they have confronted multiple challenges apart from just the Taliban -- including attacks from the Islamic State group (IS) and Al-Qaeda.

The Taliban even managed to briefly capture the major city of Kunduz last year, jolting confidence Afghan government forces could hold their own.

The Taliban threat forced President Barack Obama to slow plans to draw down US troop numbers at the end of this year. Some 8,400 will remain in the war-torn country in 2017, compared with 5,500 initially planned.

Most US forces in Afghanistan operate under the NATO banner and work as trainers or advisers to Afghan forces.

Story continues

Around 40 NATO members and partner countries currently contribute to the overall force of nearly 13,000.

The Obama administration also announced looser rules making it easier for US troops to proactively target the Taliban and assist Afghan forces, instead of waiting to respond to an attack.

Nicholson also described the current situation with IS, which is trying to expand its self-declared "caliphate" in Khorasan Province, with Jalalabad as the capital.

"They've been frustrated in that by us, and the operations in July have pushed them down into the mountains of southern Nangarhar," Nicholson said.

He estimated IS numbers to be between 1,200 to 1,300, and said the jihadists in Afghanistan were getting financial and leadership help from fighters in Syria.
Washington (AFP) - A century after the project was conceived in the throes of racial segregation, and a few months before the first black US president leaves office, the African American Museum in Washington opens Saturday.

Here are key facts about the first national museum devoted entirely to showcasing African Americans' life, history and culture.

- 1915: A project 101 years old

The effort to open, in the US capital, a museum dedicated to the history of the black community "began more than 100 years ago," said the Smithsonian Institution, a public-private complex that runs most of the museums in Washington.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will be the Smithsonian's 19th and newest museum.

Former African American soldiers, civil-war veterans of the US Colored Troops and subjugated to racial discrimination, formed in 1915 a "Committee of Colored Citizens of the Grand Army of the Republic" to create a monument that would celebrate their community's contribution to US history.

"This joyous day was born out of a century of fitful and frustrated efforts to commemorate African American history in the nation's capital," said Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the new museum, at a news conference.

- 2003: George W. Bush signs project

After years of false starts and political warfare, legislation co-sponsored by John Lewis, a major leader of the civil rights movement and US congressman representing the southern state of Georgia, finally was approved by Congress, paving the way for the museum.

The bill was signed into law by Republican President George W. Bush in 2003.

"Opening the museum has involved the efforts of presidents and members of Congress," the Smithsonian noted.

In 2006, the institution allocated a building site on the National Mall, the grassy esplanade -- home to major museums and monuments -- stretching from the US Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial.

Story continues

- 2012: Ground is broken

Ground was broken for the 400,000-square-foot (37,000-square-meter) building in February 2012. In November 2013, the first two objects -- among the most powerful -- were installed in the partially constructed building: a restored railway car from around 1920, used during the segregation era, and a tower from a prison in the southern state of Louisiana.

In October 2014, the last structural piece was installed, and three months later the work on the exterior, featuring lacy, bronze-colored panels made of cast aluminum, was finished.

- 2015: Opening announced

The September 24, 2016 opening date was announced on February 2, 2015, even before the installation of the windows and the 3,600 exterior panels weighing 230 tons.

- September 24, 2016: Dedication

President Barack Obama, who leaves office in January, will attend the dedication ceremony and is expected to deliver a speech.

His predecessor, George W. Bush, also will attend.

"Now at last, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is open for every American and the world to better understand the African American journey and how it shaped America," Bunch, the museum director, told reporters.

The historic dedication "honors the dreams of many generations and thousands of people who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make this dream a reality," he said.

- Half a billion dollars

The museum cost $540 million. Half of the funds, or $270 million, were provided by US taxpayers, while the remainder was raised from private donations.

- 34,000 objects to view

The museum has more than 34,000 objects -- nearly half of which were donated -- that it will selectively display on its seven levels and in its 12 galleries. Only about 10 percent of the objects will be on permanent display.

According to the Smithsonian, the museum has built "a collection designed to illustrate the major periods of African American history, beginning with the origins in Africa and continuing through slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights era, the Harlem Renaissance and into the 21st century."
By Mfuneko Toyana JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's power utility Eskom estimates it would have 150 billion rand ($11 billion) within the next decade to help fund a nuclear expansion programme planned by the government, a senior executive said. Africa's most industrialised country, which has the continent's only nuclear power station, has earmarked atomic expansion as the centrepiece of a plan to raise power generation to ease its reliance on an ageing fleet of coal-fired plants. In a column in the BusinessDay newspaper, Eskom's group executive for generation, Matshela Koko, said under the utility's 2016/17 business plan, the firm would raise significant funds to help build the proposed nuclear plants. "These cash resources could be deployed to fund the new nuclear build programme," Koko said. The plan for nuclear expansion has become controversial, with critics saying that it would be unaffordable. With a price tag of up to 1 trillion rand for an additional 9.6 gigawatts of nuclear power due to be operational by 2030, the proposal has drawn criticism from the opposition and civil society. The main opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), has described Eskom's plan to use its earnings on the project as "wishful thinking", saying the utility should rather spend its cash reserves to pay its liabilities and use cheaper and more sustainable renewable and gas projects for power generation. "The validity of their projections notwithstanding, spending any cash reserves on a nuclear build programme would be financially irresponsible," the DA's shadow minister of public enterprises Natasha Mazzone said in statement. Eskom's aim to build three new power plants by 2018 have been hamstrung by delays and cost overruns, casting doubt on its ability to deliver on its expansion plans. Independent energy analyst Chris Yelland said he was uncertain how Eskom could make revenue predictions so far into the future while its sales volumes were declining and its cost of borrowing was likely to increase. S&P Global Ratings downgraded Eskom's debt to subinvestment status in March last year. Moody's already has some of the utility's debt in junk territory. "What we are seeing is a very determined propaganda exercise to sell the idea of nuclear to the public," Yelland said. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has said the treasury would only support the nuclear expansion if it was affordable. The energy ministry has said the government would issue requests for proposals on the new nuclear fleet on Sept. 30. ($1 = 13.6120 rand) (Editing by James Macharia)
Swansea (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Pep Guardiola's perfect start at Manchester City suffered a rare setback when Vincent Kompany was injured midweek, but prolific Sergio Aguero returns for the Premier League leaders at Swansea on Saturday.

Club captain Kompany has had a litany of injury problems over the last two years and was playing his first game in six months on Wednesday, having recovered from groin surgery, as City won 2-1 at Swansea in the League Cup third round.

The Belgium centre-back appeared to be fine until the second minute of second-half stoppage time, when he ran straight down the tunnel after Gylfi Sigurdsson scored Swansea's consolation goal, even though there were a few moments of the match still to play.

Kompany's fitness is Guardiola's main concern as he prepares City to face Francesco Guidolin's team for the second time in four days at the Liberty Stadium.

It seems unlikely Kompany will be able to play any part but, significantly, one player who will be available for City is Aguero.

The Argentina forward has completed a three-match suspension imposed retrospectively after television cameras caught him elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid during a league fixture last month.

With Aguero certain to return, the impressive Kelechi Iheanacho, who has deputised for City's star striker, may be forced to return to the sidelines.

Aguero, as with all the players in contention for Saturday, has spent much of the week in south Wales already, with City choosing to stay at Celtic Manor, the 2010 Ryder Cup venue near Newport, between the two Swansea games.

"If we had come back to Manchester on the Thursday for rest and recovery, then on the Friday morning, we would have to come back again," Guardiola said.

"I would prefer to be there for the regeneration because this week is so important for us. We have two Premier League away games. We have a crucial game in the Champions League in Glasgow at Celtic.

Story continues

"I want us to recover well, and train well, prepare as well as possible for our two games in Swansea, for our game in the Champions League and for Tottenham away."

Guardiola has delved deep into his squad over the last few days, making nine changes for Wednesday's game, but most of those who figured in last Saturday's 4-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth are likely to be restored.

There remains no place in the match-day squad for Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure, who has been told he will not play for the club again until Dimitri Seluk, his agent, apologises for criticism made of Guardiola.

- Guidolin under pressure -

Guidolin is under significant pressure after his team extended their winless run to four matches on Wednesday.

Former Manchester United winger and assistant manager Ryan Giggs has been suggested as a possible candidate to replace Guidolin should results fail to improve fast.

However, the Italian is understood to retain the support of Swansea's American owners.

"We just have to look forward," Guidolin said. "If we play well and work hard, I think we are going to have some better moments."

Swansea made eight changes for the League Cup game against City, with Guidolin having to decide how many of those players to retain as he seeks a significant improvement on last weekend's poor display in a 1-0 defeat at Southampton.

"At Southampton, we deserved to lose. But against Manchester City, we started very well, with focus, aggression, intensity and good ball possession," the Italian said.

"Saturday's game will be more difficult. They had a very good team, even if they played without some players, but on Saturday there will be new important players here."
Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - Syrian and Russian aircraft pounded rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Friday, a monitor said, after the army announced a new offensive aimed at retaking all of the divided second city.

An AFP correspondent in the opposition-held east of the city reported intense bombardment both from the air and by ground artillery.

It came after the Syrian army announced late on Thursday that it was launching a new offensive to retake rebel-held parts of the city.

A military source said the bombardment was in preparation for a ground operation.

"We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment," he told AFP.

"This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground."

An army officer in Aleppo confirmed that the ground assault had yet to begin.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 30 strikes on rebel-held districts during the night and early on Friday.

The Britain-based monitoring group said at least 10 people had been killed, among them two children, and dozens wounded.

It said more dead were feared buried under the rubble.

The AFP correspondent said the scale of the destruction was the heaviest he had seen in years of fighting in the city and was overwhelming rescue teams.

He said two civil defence centres were among the buildings hit in the bombardment, reporting artillery barrages, barrel bombings by helicopters and strikes by fighter jets in quick succession.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said Russian warplanes were taking part in the strikes alongside Syrian aircraft.

"The Syrians are dropping barrel bombs and the Russian planes are launching strikes," he told AFP.

He said it was the prelude to "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."

Story continues

A truce deal hammered out between Russia and the United States briefly halted the violence earlier this month, but it collapsed after just a week without any of the promised deliveries of desperately needed relief supplies.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura warned: "What is happening is Aleppo is under attack and everyone is going back to the conflict."

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial and industrial hub but has been ravaged by fighting and roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012.

Rebel districts have been under siege by the army for most of the past two months after troops overran the last supply lines.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Air strikes hit three of four civil defense centers in rebel-held Aleppo on Friday, halting the rescue service's work, the head of civil defense in the east of the Syrian city said. The bombardment leveled one center, put another out of service and also destroyed a fuel store belonging to the civil defense, Ammar al Selmo told Reuters. "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," he said. Warplanes targeted rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo on Friday in a second day of heavy bombardment, hours after the Syrian army announced the start of a military operation there. (Reporting by Ellen Francis; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Home and apartment rental startup Airbnb has just raised $555 million in a new round of funding, confirming rumors the company was seeking to raise a total of $850 million in equity funding and boosting its valuation to roughly $30 billion.

Bloomberg was the first to report the new funding last month, while Fortune and The Wall Street Journal broke the news on Thursday. The San Francisco-based company is expected to file an SEC Form D document describing the funding later today.

According to Fortune, Sources say that Airbnb already had plenty of cash on hand, but views the new money as insurance in case of new capital requirements or an even longer wait for an IPO. For more information on Airbnbs potential IPO, check out the Zacks article Airbnb Could Be the Biggest IPO of 2017.

And the WSJ also reported that Google Capital, a division of Alphabet Inc. GOOGL, as well as investment firm Technology Crossover Ventures, co-led Airbnbs latest funding round. Both are new investors in the tech start-up.

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Alison Parker's parents still have not seen the footage of their daughter's death  a shooting on live TV  and they tell PEOPLE they'll never look at it.



"And we don't want to," says Alison's dad, Andy Parker. "We want gun violence to stop. We don't need this many guns in America. To the people that drink the NRA Kool-Aid, we're not trying to take your guns away. We want to make sure the wrong people can't get guns and we want to close some of those gun show loopholes."



Little more than a year ago, as they scarfed down their breakfasts or prepared for the coming day, thousands of startled Virginians watched Alison's final moments unfold on live television.



While conducting an on-air interview in August 2015, the promising young TV journalist and her cameraman, Adam Ward, were ambushed by a disgruntled former colleague, Vester Flanagan.







Flanagan opened fire as he approached Parker and Ward. They both died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, becoming only the seventh and eighth journalists since 1992 to be killed on the job in the United States.





How Alison Parker's Parents Are Fighting to End Gun Violence 1 Year After Her Death on Live TV| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime



Since Alison's horrifying death, her parents have committed themselves to ending the gun violence that impacts American families every day.



To that end, Andy and wife Barbara Parker say they have spent the last year connecting with other gun violence victims ("We don't like to call ourselves 'survivors,' " Barbara says) and reaching out to national lawmakers about gun legislation.



They have also teamed up with Donna Dees-Thomases  a well-known gun control advocate who organized 2000's Million Mom March  for The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, a nationwide event being staged Sunday that aims to raise awareness and support for the cause.



"Donna told us she started organizing this concert as a reaction to Alison's death," Andy explains. "She touched a lot of people's lives and she was the kindest soul I have ever encountered."



 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.



The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence will feature more than 350 live music events in many states, including a star-studded concert at New York City's Beacon Theatre featuring Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Vy Higginsen's Gospel Choir of Harlem, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Marc Cohn  himself a gun violence survivor.



"One night 11 years ago, a man high on crystal meth with a pistol shot through the windshield of my band's van as we were heading back to our hotel after a show," Cohn tells PEOPLE. "I ended up with a bullet in my left temple. The only reason I'm alive today is that the windshield sufficiently slowed the bullet enough, preventing it from entering my brain. I had three children at that point and all of them could easily have been left fatherless that night. One more centimeter and my fourth child never would have been born."



Cohn continues: "How did a man with a long and troubled history, and high as a freaking kite, end up with a .22 in his hand? How could I not raise my voice to at least try and draw attention to this crucial and deadly issue? How can anyone with any common sense not raise their voice, too?



"Add your voice to save other fathers, other mothers, other children. Maybe your own."



Cohn and the Parkers have become friendly in the last year, after the musician learned one of Alison's favorite songs was his signature track "Walking In Memphis." She even danced to the 1991 song during a 2008 recital performance.





Story continues





"We raised our kids to stand up for what's important, so I think she would be proud of us and the work we've been doing the last year," Barbara says.





For Alison

For the Parkers, it is important for people to remember how Alison lived, not just how she died. As part of that mission, they've launched For Alison, a not-for-profit foundation that creates opportunities for students in southern Virginia to experience the arts.



The Parkers also tend to avoid "anything online that could be hurtful," Barbara says, noting there are dozens of website perpetuating conspiracy theories that Alison is alive and well, and that her televised killing was just a well-crafted hoax.



"Someone contacted me on Facebook not long ago and asked, 'How does Alison like living in Israel?' " Barbara says. "I responded that we'd scattered her ashes near a river in North Carolina, and asked, 'How do you like living in your grandmother's basement?' You just avoid people and sites like that."





How Alison Parker's Parents Are Fighting to End Gun Violence 1 Year After Her Death on Live TV| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime



The Parkers tell PEOPLE they still talk to Alison's boyfriend, Chris Hurst, every day, and see him almost every weekend. Hurst is still a news anchor at the station where Alison  who knew at age 10 she wanted to be a journalist, according to her parents  was working when she was gunned down.



"He's like our second son," Barbara says of Hurst, before Andy interjects, "Their relationship was cut short. They had only moved in with each other a month before she was killed. They were made for each other."



And while the Parkers have dedicated their lives to stemming the tide of gun violence, they're struggling to accept they'll never see their daughter again.



Andy says, "It's still hard to come to grips with the fact that she's gone."
In an unusual break from tradition, AMC Theatres president and CEO Adam Aron is blasting his own trade organization for comments made about 21st Century Fox CEO James Murdoch.

Earlier this week, National Association of Theater Owners president John Fithian took Murdoch to task after Murdoch suggested during an investor's conference that theatrical windows imposed by cinema owners can be "crazy" in terms of a movie's delay in being available for home viewing. AMC, along with thousands of other theater circuits, is a NATO member.

"Fox and its distribution team have long been and continue to be trusted and valued partners for exhibitors. Mr. Murdoch should be careful he doesn't undermine that trust," Fithian said in a statement sent to Deadline. "Welcome to the movie industry Mr. Murdoch. We hope you'll take some time to learn how it works."

Aron says NATO's words to Murdoch were "condescending and gratuitous" and that AMC is disassociating itself from the NATO statement, which it didn't know about prior to its release.

"The unnecessary tone of NATO's response is not consistent with AMC's view about how business should be conducted. In the clearest possible language, all of us at AMC have nothing but the most profound respect and appreciation for all that James Murdoch, members of his family and his colleagues at Fox have done over decades to delight moviegoers the world over. May our partnership continue in this spirit for decades to come," Aron said.

Below is Aron's own statement in full.

The theatrical window is a longstanding industry practice that has benefited studios, theaters and moviegoers. We all should tread lightly and be mindful that over the years, the film industry's success is a direct result of a highly successful collaboration between film makers, distributors and exhibitors. Change should be taken only wisely. Even so, carefully considered reform is always worth evaluating in any number of areas. Accordingly, AMC is willing to work with Fox and our other studio partners to intelligently do what we can to help improve studio profitability and ensure that filmmakers continue to have the freedom to captivate moviegoers, all the while ensuring that the enormous investment by theater operators can continue to be prudently made and rewarded. This approach benefits studios, exhibitors and most importantly movie fans who delight in watching film as it was meant to be seen -- on the big screen. Our aim is clear: Theaters across the continent continue to be superb guest-pleasing vehicles that incomparably showcase movie-making magic.

We wish NATO had said only that in its statement, which we saw only after its public issuance. Instead, however, NATO's statement was condescending and gratuitous in its affronts aimed at the CEO of 21st Century Fox. The unnecessary tone of NATO's response is not consistent with AMC's view about how business should be conducted. In the clearest possible language, all of us at AMC have nothing but the most profound respect and appreciation for all that James Murdoch, members of his family and his colleagues at Fox have done over decades to delight moviegoers the world over. May our partnership continue in this spirit for decades to come.

Read more: AMC Theatres Brings Reserved Seating to All New York City Manhattan Locations
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  September 23, 2016  Zacks Equity Research highlights American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) as the Bull of the Day and Deutsche Bank (DB) as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis Apple (AAPL).

Here is a synopsis of all three stocks:

Bull of the Day :

Based in Pittsburgh, PA, American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) is a specialty retailer of casual apparel, accessories and footwear. Their target consumers are 1525 years old men and women. They currently operate under the AE Brand, Aerie by American Eagle and an online retailing channel  AEO Direct.



The company operates more than 1,000 stores in the US, Canada, Mexico, China, Hong Kong and the UK. Some of their merchandise is also available at international stores operated by licensees in 22 countries.



Solid Quarterly Results and Strong Guidance



The company reported excellent results for the second quarter. Quarterly earnings of $0.23 per share surged 35.3% from the same quarter last year and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.21 per share.



Revenues increased 3.2% year over year to $822.6 million, also beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $818.7 million. Same store sales grew 3% during the quarterthe sixth consecutive quarter of growthbut below 6% growth recorded in the previous quarter. Performance of Aerie brand was particularly strong, where sales surged 24%.



Jay Schottenstein, the CEO said: For the past few years, we have worked hard to lift our brands through merchandise leadership and innovation, strengthen our customer focus and invest in technology. Our efforts around these priorities are clearly paying off, as again evidenced by our strong earnings growth in the second quarter.



The management expressed optimism about back-to-school sales, which should support Q3 results.



Rising Estimates



Analysts have been raising their estimates for the company after robust results and better-than-expected guidance. Zacks Consensus Estimates for the current and next year are now $1.31 per share and $1.43 per share, up from $1.27 and $1.36, before the results. Rising estimates sent the stock back to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).



The company has an excellent track record of beating estimates, with not a single miss in the last twenty quarters.

Bear of the Day:

Headquartered in Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank ( DB) is the largest bank in Germany and one of the largest financial institutions in Europe and the world, with assets totaling 1.74 trillion as of Mar 31, 2016. It offers a wide variety of investment, financial and related products and services to private individuals, corporate entities and institutional clients around the world.



$14 Billion Penalty for Mortgage Practices



Last week, it was reported that the US Department of Justice had proposed a $14 billion settlement to resolve claims related to the German banks dealings in mortgage-backed securities prior to the financial crisis.



While the bank confirmed the report, they said the Bank has no intent to settle these potential civil claims anywhere near the number cited, according to a WSJ report. While it is unclear as of now as to how much fine will eventually be paid by the bank, analysts say even a settlement half the proposed amount would strain the banks capital cushion.



The bank has a litigation reserve of only about $6.2 billion and may be forced to raise fresh capital. Shares plunged more than 8% after the report.



Disappointing Second Quarter Results



Deutsche Bank reported net income of 20 million ($22.6 million) for Q2, while income before income taxes was 408 million ($460.7 million), down 66.8% year over year.



Lower revenues and higher provisions hurt the results, partly offset by the reduction in non-interest expenses.



Falling Estimates



Germanys flagship bank has seen a sharp plunge in earnings estimates as a result of weak performance and continued woes.



Zacks Consensus Estimates for the current and next year EPS are now $0.40 and $2.03 respectively down from $1.38 and $2.21, just 60 days ago.

Additional content:

What Is McLaren and Why Is Apple Thinking of Buying It?

Yesterday news broke that Apple (AAPL) may be interested in acquiring hyper car manufacturer and Formula One team McLaren. When Apple bought Beats Headphones it made sense. But Apple looking at McLaren? On the surface its a bit of a head-scratcher. Lets dig in a little bit to explore why on Earth Apple would want to do this.

First, a little about McLaren. Founder Bruce McLaren was a race car driver and engineer who developed his own Formula One car in May 1966. It wasnt until 1993 that McLaren made its first road car, the iconic McLaren F1. In 2004 the McLaren Technology Center was built in Surrey, England and since then the company has gone on to build some of the fastest, most beautiful super cars in the world, beginning with the MP4-12C in 2009.

They also happen to be one of the most successful marques in Formula One racing history. McLaren knows how to build cars. Their engineers have found unique ways to put mind-boggling capabilities in the hands of regular car owners while saving them from killing themselves. Try giving a suburban dentist 616 hp and setting him loose on the street without driver assists like traction and stability control. Itd be like watching mustangs leave car shows.

Then theres the McLaren factory itself. Its less an auto plant and more a biotech manufacturing facility. Youd think they were making surgical grade implants there. Every room is set to a precise 21 degrees Celsius and every screw is vertical so the heads wont collect dust. Its a white-glove, sterile, automated operation with advanced technologies found nowhere else in the world. J

ust listen to how McLaren describes its own factory. Conventional architecture was unable to find an elegant solution capable of supporting the MTCs magnificent glass facade. Thats a pickup line right there if I ever heard one. Girl, conventional fashion was unable to find an elegant solution capable of supporting that...As for the potential deal with Apple there are plenty of synergies, both business-wise and culturally.

The automation, the engineering, not to mention a potential tax advantage for Apple with McLaren being headquartered overseas. The company makes phones and tablets. Creating a car is an entirely different animal. By acquiring a company like McLaren Apple could solidify itself as a major player in the autonomous car space.

Better move fast as self-driving vehicles are already being tested on the streets of Pittsburg. So is the iMacLaren right around the corner? Apple is sitting on $200 billion in cash while McLaren is valued at around $2 billion. Meaning Apple has enough money to buy McLaren 100 times over right now. The deal makes sense, just as long as Apple doesnt change the special sauce at McLaren.

Theyve got to do something to find growth. Weve got them as a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now because analysts havent been able to make up their minds. Nine analysts have upped their estimates for how much money they think Apple is going to make this year, while six analysts have dropped their numbers. The result is our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year is the same as it was 60 days ago, stuck on $8.28.

The stocks been on a run along with the rest of the market though. Today its trading near $115 after dipping to the low $90s during the summer. The huge move in early September broke out through resistance at $112.

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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.



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AMER EAGLE OUTF (AEO): Free Stock Analysis Report



DEUTSCHE BK AG (DB): Free Stock Analysis Report



APPLE INC (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report



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Without question one of the best movies, for me at least, to have premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May was American Honey, Andrea Arnolds searing story of a new generation of drifting youth that won the British director the Jury Prize (essentially third place). At 162 minutes, it is an ambitious but wildly satisfying road picture centering on Star (Sasha Lane), an 18-year-old trailer-park resident who hooks up with a traveling band of young people on the backroads of America who sell magazine subscriptions door to door.

They are a party-hearty collection of misfits, somewhat lost but perhaps looking to be found. For Star, it is an exciting and exotic new world, particularly the groups leader and most charismatic salesman Jake (Shia LaBeouf), the crown jewel in this gang that reports to the sleazy, motel room-dwelling Krystal (Riley Keough). She is the puppeteer controlling the strings of this low-rent operation and pockets most of the profits. Jakes growing relationship with Star gets in the way of all that and causes friction.

But the point of Arnolds leisurely trip through the Midwest with these teens is not to concentrate heavily on plot but rather give way to a rambling, improvisational, at times poetic kaleidoscopic portrait of a faction of the United States filtered through the eyes of an English filmmaker moving from her own comfort zone to zero in on disaffected American youth. Perhaps disaffected isnt even the right word, since we would have to be convinced they were affected by anything in the first place. Its a patch quilt road movie that offers snapshots of humanity and a fascinating view of Arnolds perspective on a generation adrift (at least in this movie).

Oddly, American Honey might have some of its roots in Arnolds own country, by way of Charles Dickens and his Oliver Twist. That classic novel  about a young orphan boy who falls in with the crafty and persuasive Artful Dodger and a gang of pickpockets controlled by the manipulative Fagin who sends them out on the streets  seems to be a template here, with Star representing the innocent Oliver, Jake as the Artful Dodger and Krystal taking on the guise of Fagin. Much more than that, though, American Honey reminded me of the great, socially conscious movies so prevalent in the early 70s and late 60s, tales of memorable characters on the fringe of society. This is every bit in the league of such films as Easy Rider, The Last Picture Show and Midnight Cowboy. You could even go back further to movies like Rebel Without a Cause. Arnold might have had some influences, but American Honey is a true original with gorgeous cinematography of the Midwestern landscape by Robbie Ryan. The song-filled soundtrack is second to none, lifting the spirit of this trip enormously. Hopefully there is a double CD coming out.

Story continues

In her first role, Lane  having been discovered on a beach by Arnold  is simply luminous and a startling new screen presence. She is a natural who, more important, knows how to be natural in front of a camera. LaBeouf, who like Jake has seemed to be searching, sometimes adrift in his own personal and professional life, finds his footing as a conflicted, dangerous charmer; its his best screen role to date. The chemistry between LaBeouf and Lane is palpable. Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, certainly belongs in the family business. Shes a riveting performer here. The rest of the cast, nearly all unknowns, is equally impressive.

Although American Honey seems to amble along from time to time, Arnold knows how to stage individual sequences with suspense and power. One scene in which a group of beer-guzzling older men fall prey to the wiles of Star is an example of the kind of riveting cinema this filmmaker effortlessly spins. There are many such moments along the way, adding to a much bigger whole in this honey of a great American movie. Its one of the years best.

Producers are Thomas Benski, Lars Knudsen, Lucas Ochoa, Jay Van Hoy, Pouya Shahbazian and Alice Weinberg. A24 releases the film September 30 in select cities, following its North American premiere last week at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Do you plan to see American Honey? Let us know what you think.

Related stories

Breakout 'American Honey' Star Sasha Lane On Her Chance Encounter With Andrea Arnold - Toronto Studio

A24 Sets Dates For 'Moonlight' & Cannes Jury Prize Winner 'American Honey'

'American Honey' Trailer: Shia LaBeouf & Sasha Lane Party Through The Heartland
Almost from the day her husband, Felix Vail, reported that his wife fell overboard and drowned 54 years ago  during a nighttime trotline fishing trip on the Calcasieu River near their home in Lake Charles, Louisiana  Mary Horton Vail's family was suspicious.



"I never believed it was an accident," her younger brother Will tells PEOPLE in this week's issue, on newsstands now.



Lending more mystery were the bruises on Mary's head and neck, a scarf in her mouth and a double-indemnity insurance policy that Felix recently had taken out on the 22-year-old mother of the couple's 3-month-old son. But although Felix, now 77, was questioned, authorities at the time ruled the death an accident.



He returned with his son, Bill, to his hometown of Montpelier, Mississippi, then grew itinerant as he drifted through jobs and women, two more of whom later disappeared  Sharon Hensley in 1973, and another he married, Annette Craver, in 1984  after last being seen with him.







To read more about the mysteries surrounding Felix Vail, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.





America's Oldest Serial Killer? Mississippi Man, 77, Convicted of Wife's Death Is Tied to Disappearance of Two Other Women| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime, Real People Stories



All three women's families thought Vail a possible killer. But not until they were united and learned about each other's losses, and a possible pattern emerged, did they believe Vail might be caught.



Indeed, alerted by the work of Jackson, Mississippi, Clarion-Ledger/USA Today investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell  who jumped on the sleuthing begun by Craver's mother, Mary Rose, and then dug deeper  prosecutors in Louisiana charged Vail in 2013 with Mary's Oct. 28, 1962, murder.



 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.



He pleaded not guilty, but jurors disagreed. Vail was convicted last month and faces life in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 26.



The fates of Craver and Hensley, however, are still unknown.





America's Oldest Serial Killer? Mississippi Man, 77, Convicted of Wife's Death Is Tied to Disappearance of Two Other Women| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime, Real People Stories



Vail told the families of each woman that they left him on their own: Craver reportedly after boarding a bus to Mexico, and Hensley allegedly with an impromptu decision to join a mysterious couple's sailing trip.



No more charges are pending against him.



But the facts of their disappearances followed by Vail's questionable explanations were presented at trial, allowing prosecutors to portray Vail as perhaps the nation's oldest serial killer.



"This is not a choirboy we're talking about," says Calcasieu Parish District Attorney John DeRosier. "I'm convinced that there are other victims somewhere."
Lisbon (AFP) - Former European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday hit back at those who attacked him for taking a job at Goldman Sachs, saying with an ironic swipe that the US bank "is not a drug cartel."

"Why don't I have the right to work where I want, if it's a legal entity? It's not a drug cartel," Barroso told journalists on the sidelines at a conference at Estoril, Portugal.

"I don't accept attempts to discriminate against a financial business operating in the marketplace... and I don't accept being discriminated against myself, which is contrary to European rules."

Since Goldman announced on July 8 that Barroso would be non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs International, the former Portuguese prime minister has faced withering criticism.

Leading the charge was French President Francois Hollande, who branded Barroso's recruitment "morally unacceptable."

Questioned about this on Friday, Barroso said Hollande had "yielded to pressure" and his remarks "did nothing to honour his office."

Barroso headed the executive arm of the 28-nation EU from 2004 to 2014.

He oversaw membership for several former communist states in Eastern Europe and steered the Commission's response to the global financial crash and eurozone debt crisis.

Critics say his inside knowledge of EU affairs, especially in the light of Britain's shock vote to break with the Union, could lead to potential conflicts of interest.

Current Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker launched an ethics probe into the appointment earlier this month.

He said Barroso would be now treated at the Commission as a simple lobbyist rather than with the pomp and protocol typically afforded to a former president.

Detractors of Goldman Sachs say the bank was heavily involved in selling complex financial products, including high-risk sub-prime mortgages -- an instrument that many blame for stoking the 2008 financial crash.

Story continues

Critics contend the company was also key to the complex finance mechanisms that helped Greece hide the true state of its public finances in the lead-up to the debt crisis.

Barroso was prime minister of Portugal from 2002-4.

He has a supporter in the current Portuguese premier, Antonio Costa, who on September 16 called for "clarifications" from Juncker that there would be no "discriminatory treatment" of Barroso.
Taiwan said Friday China had blocked it from attending a major United Nations aviation meeting, the latest setback to its troubled campaign for international recognition.

Beijing hit back at the criticism, saying the island had "no right" to be invited.

Self-ruling Taiwan is routinely prevented from attending global forums by Beijing, which still sees it as part of its territory requiring reunification.

But the island had been hoping to attend the triennial meeting of the UN aviation agency in Montreal later this month, after it was admitted in 2013 in a major breakthrough.

That invite came under previous Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou.

But ties with China have rapidly turned frosty under new leader Tsai Ing-wen, who took office in May.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which handles relations with Beijing, said Friday the island had not been admitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting "due to political interference from China".

"(It) is a great loss for international aviation safety and the public's right to welfare protection," the MAC said in a statement.

Beijing said the move reflected the fact that Taiwan was not a sovereign state.

"The ICAO is a special agency of the UN, and only sovereign countries can take part in it," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular briefing Friday.

"Taiwan is part of China, so it has no right to participate in this organisation meeting."

Lu said that past arrangements had been made thanks to a "consensus" between Beijing and Taipei, referring to former president Ma's willingness to concede that there was only "one China", with each side allowed its own interpretation.

Tsai has never backed that concept, angering Beijing.

"For Taiwan's participation in any international organisation, the prerequisite is the 'one China' principle," Lu said.

Story continues

Taiwan was a founding member of the ICAO but was thrown out in 1971 when it lost its UN seat to China.

The agency appointed China's Fang Liu as secretary-general last year.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said the ICAO had made the "wrong decision".

"The government expresses strong regret and dissatisfaction," Foreign Minister David Lee told reporters.

Beijing has cut off all official communication with Taiwan since the new government took office.

In another diplomatic snub in July, Taiwanese officials were barred from a UN Food and Agriculture Organization meeting, allegedly due to pressure from China.

The island is one of Asia's busiest aviation hubs, ranking 11th in the world in terms of passenger traffic and sixth for cargo in 2015, according to government figures.
Anna Kendricks celebration of Gigi Hadids fierce self-defense is a hilarious example of girl power

Anna Kendricks celebration of Gigi Hadids fierce self-defense is a hilarious example of girl power

Yesterday, Gigi Hadid was an incredible example of self-defense in the face of physical assault when she was harassed after leaving a fashion show in Milan. Gigi was walking with her sister, Bella, when a man grabbed her and lifted her in the air  until she flawlessly elbowed the harasser in his face.

GIRLS, prepare yourselves so that, if you ever feel in danger, MUSCLE MEMORY can fight back for you. Thank you all so much for ur support.  Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) September 22, 2016

In a disgusting display of misogyny and victim blaming, tabloids began describing Gigis swift and powerful response to the attack as the model lashing out at some innocent fan. (BTW, this was no fan  he has a history of harassing celebs in Europe.)

#GigiHadid defended herself after the man grabbed her :( A video posted by Hadid News (@hadidnews) on Sep 22, 2016 at 5:09am PDT

Thankfully, lots of folks on the internet  and the model herself  spoke out against this horrific media coverage.

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

Celebrities like Bella Thorne and Cheryl Lloyd shared their support of Gigis superheroine abilities  and Anna Kendrick is the latest famous woman to celebrate Gigis self-defense  while making us laugh, too.

Story continues

I tend to dislike naturally beautiful people (because I'm petty) but @GiGiHadid with the elbow? Come through!! pic.twitter.com/AHF0UOZWK9  Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) September 23, 2016

Women supporting women as we take down the patriarchy is everything.

The post Anna Kendricks celebration of Gigi Hadids fierce self-defense is a hilarious example of girl power appeared first on HelloGiggles.
BERLIN (Reuters) - Activists from the online campaign group Avaaz tore down a cardboard wall near the site of the former Berlin Wall on Friday to urge American expats in Germany to vote against Republican nominee Donald Trump in the U.S. election on Nov. 8. Many identify Trump with his proposal to build a huge border wall between the United States and Mexico to keep migrants out; moreover, the event was staged in front of the Brandenburg Gate, near the place where U.S. president Ronald Reagan publicly urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987 to "tear down this wall". Holding red and blue placards saying "Stop Trump" and "Tear Down Trump's Wall", dozens of cheering activists toppled the 2.5 meter (8.2 foot) structure, emblazoned with a picture of Trump, with their hands and rubber mallets. Many of the 150 or so onlookers chanted "The wall must come down!" as it was knocked over. Around 8 million Americans live abroad but only 12 percent of them voted in the 2012 election, Avaaz said in a statement. "Americans abroad are the 'Swing State' that nobody knows about, who could, however, decide the vote this year. A large number of them live in Germany," said Emma Ruby-Sachs, deputy director of Avaaz. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll published last week, 42 percent of likely voters supported Clinton, a former secretary of state, and 38 percent backed the Republican real estate tycoon. (Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Caroline Copley; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
By Bernie Woodall

DETROIT (Reuters) - A worker group created as an alternative to the United Auto Workers union at Volkswagen AG's (VOWG_p.DE) plant in Tennessee has failed to meet minimum membership requirements under the German automaker's labor policy, VW said on Thursday.

The UAW has been verified as representing at least 45 percent of workers at the plant, allowing the union members to meet regularly with management.

The American Council of Employees (ACE) was formed on the heels of a February 2014 election in which the UAW lost the right to represent all of the plant's 1,500 workers. Emboldened by the UAW's loss, a nucleus of anti-UAW workers who founded ACE had visions of becoming the dominant worker representation group at the plant.

On Thursday, VW announced that the ACE's membership among the plant's workers had fallen below 15 percent, the threshold for recognition by VW.

After the UAW loss in 2014, VW set up an unconventional policy that would allow more than one worker group to represent workers in plant affairs. This does not include the right to collective bargaining for worker wages and benefits, as the UAW has at U.S. plants of General Motors Co (GM.N), Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCHA.MI) (FCAU.N).

The VW policy allows increasing levels of access to plant management based on a group's support level.

The UAW first was recognized by VW in December 2014. ACE won its recognition in February 2015.

Efforts to reach an attorney who has represented ACE workers were not successful. The group's founding members are no longer employed at the VW plant.

The UAW claims that it has support of a majority of VW Chattanooga hourly plant workers. It has not attempted another plant vote because, its leaders have said, it does not believe a fair election could occur because of strong anti-union Tennessee politicians and national lobbying groups that it says influenced the February 2014 vote.

VW's Thursday announcement does not affect the UAW's effort to represent a subset of about 165 workers at the Chattanooga plant, including the right to collective bargaining.

Story continues

In December 2015, that subset of skilled trades workers who maintain plant machinery voted to join the UAW, but VW has refused to bargain with them.

The National Labor Relations Board has sided with the UAW several times and ordered VW to the negotiating table. Having lost at the NLRB, VW earlier this month filed an appeal in federal court.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Leslie Adler)
From Esquire

Alcohol-induced headaches and nausea could finally be a thing of the past, thanks to the discovery of a new type of synthetic booze. Mmm, fake booze. As fun as that sounds, a professor from Imperial College London says he is well on his way to creating the healthier alcohol alternative known as "alcosynth."

Professor David Nutt told The Independent he has already patented 90 "alcosynth" compounds and is currently testing two of them for public use. If the development goes well, he aims to replace normal alcohol with his substitute by 2050.

"It will be there alongside the scotch and the gin, they'll dispense the alcosynth into your cocktail, and then you'll have the pleasure without damaging your liver and your heart," he said. It might be a good few years before this invention gets to us, however.

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="6%20of%20the%20Best%20Oktoberfest%20Beers%20for%20Fall" customimages="" content="gallery.2973"]

"People want healthier drinks," Nutt added. "The drinks industry knows that by 2050 alcohol will be gone. They know that and have been planning for this for at least 10 years. But they don't want to rush into it, because they're making so much money from conventional alcohol."

The prospect of regular alcohol disappearing forever does sound far-fetched, however intriguing the idea of life without self-inflicted tiredness and dehydration might be. And while the professor has said his formula is top secret, this isn't the first time hangover-free alcohol has made headlines. In January, The Guardian reported a North Korean food manufacturer had amended its ginseng liquor recipe to improve the flavor and eliminate the chance of suffering the morning after.

"There are some high quality liquors made in North Korea, though in my experience there is no such thing as hangover-free booze anywhere in the world," Andray Abrahamian, a director of research from Singapore's Choson Exchange, told the Korean Central News Agency.

Story continues

Guess by 2050, we'll know either way.

[contentlinks align="center" textonly="false" numbered="false" headline="Related%20Story" customtitles="Here's%20Why%20Your%20Friend%20Is%20a%20Lightweight%20at%20the%20Bar" customimages="" content="article.48210"]

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By Timothy Mclaughlin

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A federal appeals court overturned the triple-murder conviction of an Indiana death row inmate on Friday and granted him a new trial due to key evidence that was withheld in earlier trials, the man's attorney and court documents said.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago voted 6-3 to overturn the conviction of Wayne Kubsch for the 1988 murders of his wife Beth Kubsch, her ex-husband Rick Milewski and his son Aaron Milewski.

A videotaped police interview with neighbor Amanda Buck, who was then 9, could have helped challenge the prosecution's timeline of events if it had been introduced as evidence, the court said.

The tape was never shown to a jury because Buck was later unable to retell the events she described to police during the interview.

"Amanda's statement was exculpatory. If the statement were factually accurate, then Kubsch would be innocent," court documents said.

The documents added that while the state was not wrong in its decision to exclude the tape from earlier trials, a precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court made clear that it must now be entered.

The interview is "the only available information tending to corroborate Kubsch's claim of innocence," court documents said.

Alan Freedman, Kubsch's attorney, said by telephone he was relieved by the decision. Freedman said he spoke to his client earlier in the day to tell him the news.

Kubsch was tried twice for the murders. He was convicted both times and also recommended for the death penalty both times.

Beth Kubsch was found in September 1988 stabbed to death and wrapped in duct tape in the basement of a home in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Rick and Aaron Milewski were found in the same basement stabbed multiple times and shot in the mouth, according to court documents.

Wayne Kubsch was in severe debt, and two months before the murders had taken out a $575,000 life insurance policy on his wife, court documents said.

During his first trial, prosecutors argued that he killed his wife to collect the money from the policy.

(Editing by Matthew Lewis)
EXCLUSIVE: Kris Thykiers Archery Pictures has acquired book and life rights to Four Mums In A Boat, a true story of four working mothers from Yorkshire, England, who battled the Atlantic in the worlds toughest row  the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

The book will be published by HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers in March 2017, with Archery taking film and television rights to the title. Archerys Pip Williams will develop and ultimately produce the property alongside Thykier.

HQ executive publisher Lisa Milton acquired the world rights for the project from Eugenie Furniss at Furniss Lawton.

Story sees four women  Janette, Helen, Niki and Frances  row across the Atlantic over the course of two months, fuelled by dried food packs, chocolate bars and pure will and stamina. They lost power, water, steering and went without washing and wearing clothes before crossing the finish line on the morning of February 25, 2016. Dubbed the Yorkshire Rows, the team officially became Guinness World Record holders as the oldest all-female crew to row across any ocean.

I was truly inspired by the story of these women who prove that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it, said Williams. Their positive outlook and humour brings warmth to what is ultimately a hugely formidable challenge and achievement.

The Yorkshire Rows team said: We are very excited to be partnering with Kris and Pip at Archery Pictures. When we set out to row our ocean one of our main aims was to inspire others, proving that we are all capable of so much more than we imagine is possible.

Archery is currently in post on John Maddens Miss Sloane, starring Jessica Chastain, which EuropaCorp is releasing in the US on December 9. The company is also producing Sky Atlantic Cote dAzur crime series Riviera, written by Neil Jordan, and Peter Kosminskys new four-part drama for Channel 4 and National Geographic about four British men and women who join ISIS in Syria.

Story continues

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By Eliana Raszewski

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Even though new rules have not yet been implemented, telecom companies in Argentina are preparing for a more competitive market as the government expects reforms to attract $20 billion in investments over four years.

Telecom Argentina and Telefonica de Argentina have announced investments in recent months, while Argentina's largest media conglomerate, Grupo Clarin, is spinning off subsidiary Cablevision SA, saying in August it could better face competition as a stand-alone unit.

Communications Minister Oscar Aguad told Reuters companies, including Motorola and AT&T Inc, have expressed interest in investing in Argentina, which would mean better services and lower costs for consumers.

"As long as we are able to dictate a norm with clear rules, I think the figure of $5 billion a year is possible," Aguad told Reuters, adding that the investment level should continue for four years. The new rules take effect in 2018.

AT&T declined to comment while Motorola Mobility said Argentina is an important market and it continues to look for opportunities here.

The telecom reform is one of many changes on President Mauricio Macri's agenda as he tries to drive investment into an economy that was highly regulated, cut off from capital markets and therefore largely ignored by investors for a decade.

Shortly after taking office, Macri signed a decree to allow phone companies to offer paid television services, an area that has long been dominated by Cablevision, Groupo Clarin's internet, cable TV and data transmission subsidiary.

In addition to allowing telephone companies to enter the cable TV market, Macri's government plans to sponsor a new communications law next year that would encourage technological development and competition, according to Silvana Giudici, head of Argentina's telecom regulator.

Telecom Argentina, acquired in March by investment group Fintech, said in July it would invest some $2.6 billion through 2018, while a representative for Telefonica's local branch said it already invested $330 million in the first six months of this year. Fintech is owned by David Martinez, a Mexican financier.

Story continues

Analysts said mobile brand Claro, owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, could also benefit from the changes.

"The audiovisual service will allow the company to improve its average revenue per user," said a Telefonica executive in Argentina who asked not to be identified.

The executive said the company is seeking more clarity on the reforms before investing in a fiber optic network that would deliver media content to households, however.

CHALLENGES

Telecom and Telefonica both remain at a disadvantage to Cablevision and other cable operators, which can offer internet and television through the same fiber optic cable.

Telephone companies would need to improve their network cables in order to deliver television.

In addition to Cablevision, telephone companies have to compete with satellite distributor DirecTV, Supercanal and some 1,000 small cable channels.

"It is very expensive to build a network, and to do it the companies need to know they will recover this cost," said Enrique Carrier, a specialist in communications technology with Carrier Asociados.

One result of the reforms could be more mergers and acquisitions. Local media and analysts have speculated that once the spin-off of Cablevision from Clarin is complete, it could merge with Telecom and offer a service known as "quadruple play" fixed-line and mobile phones, internet and television.

Spain's Telefonica SA, which owns Telefonica Argentina, has expressed interest in buying pay TV assets in Latin America, sources have told Reuters.

Telecom and Clarin both denied a merger was in the works.

Staying out of the cable market is likely not an option for phone companies wishing to remain competitive.

"If they do not include the television package, businesses could be left behind," said Martin Becerra, a telecommunications specialist at the University of Buenos Aires.

(Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Liege (Belgium) (AFP) - Legendary French art dealer Paul Rosenberg, who championed names such as Matisse, Picasso and Braque before being forced to flee Paris during the Second World War, is honoured in a new exhibition in Belgium.

The exhibition is based on a book written by Rosenberg's grand daughter, the renowned French political journalist Anne Sinclair, telling the story of his gallery and the iconic artworks that passed through it.

"My grandfather found himself at the crossroads of history," Sinclair told a press conference at the opening of the exhibition in the town of Liege on Wednesday.

Rosenberg opened his gallery in Paris at 21 rue La Boetie in 1910. He was a great proponent of the avant-garde movement and signed exclusive contracts with many of the era's rising stars.

But history saw Rosenberg, who was Jewish, forced to flee Paris with his family during the Second World War. He moved to New York, where he set up another gallery.

Returning to Paris after the war, Rosenberg attempted to track down the many paintings that had been stolen, destroyed or sold on by the Nazis.

The exhibition traces several, including a Matisse of a sitting woman taken by Hermann Goering. It later found its way to New York and Oslo, finally turning up in Paris again in an exhibition at the Centre Pompidou.

Every painting exhibited passed through Rosenberg's gallery at one point and the curators have taken pains to emphasise the historical context of the works.

- World War II -

His gallery was a hub for some of the era's most famous names and the exhibition includes correspondence between Rosenberg and his stable of artists, posters for exhibitions at the gallery, sales receipts and contracts.

One contract with Matisse signed on July 16 1939 stipulates: "In case of war, this contract becomes null and void" -- which would be the case fewer than two months later.

Another message shows Rosenberg's response to the 1939 European art fair at Lucerne, where the Nazis sold what they considered to be 'degenerate' artworks at low prices.

Story continues

Many European galleries bought up the pieces in order to save them, but Rosenberg refused to follow suit, saying: "Not a sou from our gallery-owners or dealers should go to the Nazis, because it will fall back on our heads in the form of bombs."

In the centre of the exhibition, the 'degenerate' art of Rosenberg's gallery is paired with a Nazi counterpart to highlight the vast aesthetic gulf between the Nazis' drab realism and modernism's colourful lavishness.

Rosenberg was close friends with the painters, and saw himself as a "purveyor, a matchmaker, a midwife" to the works of art he helped bring into the world, Sinclair said.

"21 rue La Boetie" is showing until January 29 in La Boverie, Liege's fine art museum.
By Hilary Russ

NEWARK, N.J., Sept 23 (Reuters) - Atlantic City, the fiscally distressed New Jersey gambling hub, has until Oct. 3 to correct its breach of a $73 million bridge loan from the state, according to a statement from the state on Friday.

If the city does not fix the problem, the state can demand full repayment, withhold state aid or seize some city assets.

At issue is the city's water utility, which was used as collateral for the state loan. The city council was supposed to begin dissolving the quasi-independent utility by last Thursday so it could be brought under full city control and used to generate more money for the city.

But local officials failed to do that by the deadline, which is considered a breach of the loan terms.

The city is in the midst of crafting a recovery plan, but if it is not done in time or the state does not approve it, the state could move to a full city takeover.

Chris Filiciello, chief of staff to Mayor Don Guardian, said in a statement on Friday that city officials were continuing to focus on putting the plan together.

"If we are given the time to complete and present it, we know it will be the best plan to move Atlantic City forward while still maintaining our local sovereignty," he said.

The city's inability to meet its loan covenants is "indicative of the city's severe fiscal distress," Moody's Investors Service analyst Doug Goldmacher said in a commentary. "It also brings the city closer to a potential state takeover." (Reporting by Hilary Russ; Editing by Dan Grebler)
Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. AFH recently saw its long-term issuer credit ratings (ICR) of b- reiterated by A.M. Best. The rating giant also retained the financial strength rating (FSR) of B (Fair) and the long-term ICR of bb of American Service Insurance Company, Inc., American Country Insurance Company Gateway Insurance Company  the subsidiaries of Atlas Financial. The outlook for the ratings is stable.



Subsequently, A.M. Best reiterated the FSR of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of bbb- of Global Liberty Insurance Company of New York. The outlook of the rating is negative.



The rating affirmations indicate the insurers soft risk-adjusted capital position, risks related to acquisitions and the below average investment yields and returns on its investment portfolio. Nonetheless, a substantial improvement in underwriting and operating results over the last five years as well as managements experience and expertise in its niche for hire auto market helped to partially offset the negatives.



Atlas Financial, in its attempt to ramp up premium growth, acquired Gateway Insurance in 2013. Though the buyout heightened integration risks, the companys focus on profitable operations, divestment of non-core lines and books of business and other strategic initiatves helped it consistently deliver favorable results.



A.M. Best is likely to upgrade the ratings assigned if the company continues to deliver better operating performance or improves its risk-adjusted capitalization. However, the ratings may be subject to downgrade if the insurers underwriting or operating performance worsens, in case of adverse loss development or if risk adjusted capitalization erodes.

ATLAS FINL HLDG Price

ATLAS FINL HLDG Price | ATLAS FINL HLDG Quote

Rating affirmations or upgrades from credit rating agencies play an important role in retaining investor confidence as well as in maintaining credit worthiness of a stock. On the other hand, rating downgrades not only damage business but also increase the cost of future debt issuances. We believe that the ratings will help Atlas Financial to retain investor confidence and in writing more businesses, going forward.



Atlas Financial presently carries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Stocks to Consider



Some better-ranked property and casualty insurers are National Interstate Corporation NATL, NMI Holdings, Inc. NMIH and Cincinnati Financial Corp. CINF. While National Interstate and NMI Holdings sport Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Cincinnati Financial carries Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



NMI Holdings, a provider of private mortgage guaranty insurance services in the United States, has witnessed upward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 60 days for 2016.



National Interstate, a specialty property and casualty insurance, has witnessed upward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 60 days for both 2016 and 2017.



Cincinnati Financial, a property casualty insurer, has witnessed upward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 60 days for both 2016 and 2017.

Story continues

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BERLIN (Reuters) - Austria and France will on Friday propose ending the current round of trade talks between the United States and the European Union, and starting fresh talks under a new name, Austrian Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner said.

"The free trade talks with the USA should begin again under a new title and with different substantive headings," including greater transparency, Mitterlehner told Germany's Die Welt newspaper.

He said he and French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl would push for a new start to the WTO's Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) at a meeting of EU trade ministers in the Slovakian capital Bratislava.

He said the talks should resume after the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8.

Washington and Brussels are officially committed to sealing the free trade deal before President Barack Obama leaves office in January, but their chances of doing so are being eroded by approaching elections on both sides of the Atlantic and Britain's vote in June to leave the European Union.

Fekl last month said he would request a halt to TTIP talks at the ministerial meeting after German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel declared that they were "de facto dead".

The French minister told the Handeslblatt newspaper that the United States had demanded too much and not compromised enough.

"A crazy machine is moving here, the negotiations are a failure, nobody believes that they will come to a successful conclusion," he was quoted as saying.

French business lobbies called on Thursday for the TTIP talks to be extended.

Mitterlehner said officials needed to ensure that investment protections modelled on the European system were included in the future free trade pact, and that it would not have a negative impact on standards, pensions or the healthcare system.

"TTIP has become a metaphor for the exuberant dealings of big corporations. That has a negative connotation. We hope for a good deal, but it has to be approached differently," Mitterlehner told the Welt newspaper.

Story continues

He said he saw growing support for a new start.

"We don't have the backing of everyone, but many colleagues are supporting us privately," he said.

Ending the TTIP talks for now could also help ensure passage of a separate free trade deal with Canada, he said.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Backstreet's back... again!

Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean and Kevin Richardson are officially headed to Planet Hollywood's The Axis Theater in Las Vegas for a residency, kicking off in March and June of 2017.

"We're going to call the show Larger Than Life, and we're taking that theme and we're going to run with it," Richardson said in a statement issued Friday.

PIC: Nick Carter's Son Gets a First Listen to New BSB Album



"If you've ever been to a Backstreet Boys show," Littrell added, "it's going to be that on steroids."

Tickets for Larger Than Life go on sale beginning Oct. 1, with the first shows slated for March and June 2017. You can see a complete list of dates here.



"We're excited to bring our experience from being a touring act with all of our hits to Vegas, so that it becomes something that you'll never forget," Carter also said in the statement.

The hitmakers are in good company! The Axis Theater currently plays host to Britney Spears' hit Piece of Me show. In fact, Richardson recently told ET that all of BSB had the chance to take in one of Spears' performances at the venue and chat with their longtime colleague about the experience.

"It seemed really convenient for the family!" he said in April. "A Vegas residency, now that we're all fathers, could be very convenient for us We won't have to travel so much."

For more from the group -- including details on their next album -- watch the interview below.

WATCH: Nick Carter Confirms Las Vegas Residency, Spills Details on New Album



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(Adds details, background on companies)

By Tatiana Bautzer

SAO PAULO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Brazil's NotreDame Intermedica Saude SA, a healthcare provider owned by U.S. investment firm Bain Capital LP, has reached an agreement to buy the operations of rival Unimed ABC, the companies said on Friday in a statement to Reuters.

Unimed ABC, a doctor-owned cooperative, agreed to sell all of its assets, including a hospital, seven healthcare centers and health insurance contracts with more than 70,000 clients, they said without disclosing the value of the deal.

The acquisition will be submitted to Brazil's antitrust and private healthcare watchdogs later on Friday. Banco Santander Brasil SA advised Unimed ABC in the deal.

Unimed ABC, which is based in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo, is one of 350 regional cooperatives that make up the Unimed Brasil network, the largest healthcare provider in Brazil, with 19 million customers nationwide.

Bain Capital paid 2 billion reais ($620 million) in 2014 to acquire Notredame Intermedica, which serves 3.6 million clients, mainly in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, among the richest in the country.

Since then, Sao Paulo-based Intermedica has acquired Grupo Santamalia Saude, which owned two hospitals and 22 healthcare centers, last November, and the Hospital Family, in December. The company had net income of 236 million reais last year.

($1 = 3.23 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Phil Berlowitz)
LISBON (Reuters) - Former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday put up a spirited defense of his right to work for U.S. bank Goldman Sachs, after the commission opened an ethics probe into his move, and he accused it of acting arbitrarily.

"Why would I not have the right to work where I choose, if it is a legal entity, obviously, not a drug cartel?" a visibly agitated Barroso, who is a former Portuguese prime minister, said in his first public comments to reporters at an event in Cascais near Lisbon.

Goldman appointed Barroso as non-executive chairman of its international arm in London two weeks after Britons voted for Brexit in June and he said he would advise it on issues arising from the negotiations for Britain to leave the European Union.

Many ex-commissioners have taken roles with private firms. But EU officials say the view of Goldman Sachs in European public opinion after the 2008 financial meltdown has made Barroso's move damaging to EU institutions. Many Europeans hold the U.S. institution partly responsible for the crisis, which nearly broke the euro.

Barroso's successor Jean-Claude Juncker asked the Commission's ethics panel earlier this month to look into whether Barroso had breached a requirement to act with integrity.

But Barroso, who has previously sent a letter to Juncker calling the claims baseless and discriminatory against him and Goldman Sachs, said he did not regret his decision and again attacked his critics.

"Who defines what banks one can work at? This is arbitrary, discretionary treatment for political purposes."

He lauded Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa for requesting explanations from Juncker last week "on the differentiated treatment of Barroso compared to other people in apparently identical situations".

"The prime minister may agree or not with my attitude and my choice, but he is defending me as a Portuguese," Barroso said.

"As a Portuguese and European citizen I do not accept being limited in my rights. I have done everything transparently, scrupulously following the rules," he said, referring to a code of conduct requiring former commissioners to seek permission before taking jobs for up to 18 months after stepping down.

(Reporting by Andrei Khalip Editing by Axel Bugge; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
By Karolin Schaps

LONDON (Reuters) - Germany's BASF, the world's largest chemicals maker by sales, will continue to invest in Asia, albeit at a slower rate, as it weighs a recent slowdown against long-term growth prospects that remain well above the global average.

"Planned investments of around 3.5 billion euros ($3.9 billion) between 2016 and 2020 will focus on areas where BASF is technologically leading, has a competitive advantage and expects robust market growth," BASF said in a statement on Friday.

The 700 million euros to be invested on average per year are less than the 750 million euros spent per year over the 2012-to-2015 period, presentation slides posted on BASF's website showed.

"We have competition everywhere. We are under attack all the time. Are we worried about this? No," Sanjeev Gandhi, executive board member in charge of Asia, told journalists in London.

He added that BASF had to be selective about picking market segments to invest in and would consider seeking partners in areas where BASF has a weaker market position.

Growth in the region has slowed recently, the company cautioned.

"China did not grow as fast as we had assumed. We saw low growth in mature Asian markets. India and South East Asia are picking up slightly. Overcapacities in some commodity product lines have contributed to a changing business environment," the company statement said.

In a sign of how burgeoning Chinese rivals can become a drag on BASF's home markets, the company last week said it would trim European production capacity for a key precursor material for engineering plastics by 20 percent.

($1 = 0.8917 euros)

(Writing by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Tina Bellon and Adrian Croft)
The BBC may lose ratings hit The Great British Bake Off to Channel 4 after the current season, but it is looking to serve fans a rival baking or cooking show, according to a Friday report in The Telegraph.

Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood is sticking with the show when it moves to Channel 4, but fellow judge Mary Berry said she would not be on board out of loyalty to the BBC. Co-hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins have also said they wouldn't appear on the Channel 4 show.

Berry would lead a new BBC bakery or cooking show, the newspaper reported, citing BBC sources. It added that she was likely to reunite with Giedroyc and Perkins. "It won't be announced soon, but a new baking or cookery show with them is almost certainly going to happen," a source told the Telegraph.

BBC content boss Charlotte Moore this week said the U.K. public broadcaster hopes to "cook up more unmissable shows with [Berry] in the future," but didn't provide details on what kind of shows.

A BBC representative declined to comment on the report.

Channel 4 had announced a three-year deal for the show, estimated by some to be worth 75 million pounds ($99 million). It said the first Bake Off content planned is a celebrity version of the show in 2017.

But the departure of a big part of the on-air team raises major questions about the future of the franchise.

A modest hit when it premiered in 2010 on BBC Two, the show was later moved to flagship channel BBC One and now ranks among the biggest shows in U.K. history.

Read more: 'Great British Bake Off' Judge Mary Berry to Quit, Paul Hollywood to Continue When Show Leaves BBC
Bella Hadid and her sister, Gigi, may be ruling the runways, but they're making the real fashion statements on the street.



While in Italy for Milan Fashion Week on Thursday, the 19-year-old model rocked one of the tiniest black tube tops we've ever seen. From the distressed Canadian tuxedo to the thick denim choker she paired with it, this look screamed '90s, right down to showing off her rock hard abs.

Splash News

WATCH: Gigi Hadid Speaks Out After Getting 'Man-Handled' in the Streets of Italy

The ensemble is right in line with Bella's signature style, as she's a big fan of belly-baring crop tops, sheer shirts, or, well, nothing covering her chest at all.

She and Gigi were both crazy busy on Thursday, walking in shows for Max Mara, Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, and Fendi, with Bella opening the latter.

In fact, the tube top made an appearance in an Instagram video Bella took with Gigi backstage at Moschino.

But I luh my baby... A video posted by Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) on Sep 22, 2016 at 4:33pm PDT

MORE: Bella Hadid Stuns in Plunging Gown at GQ Men of the Year Awards

The ladies looked quite retro at the show. Both wore wigs and bold throwback dresses and, well, a couple other interesting looks to look like paper dolls. Beach bod dress, anyone?



Getty Images

Even the Hadids' fellow models are fully aware of how hard the sisters work. Coco Rocha praised them in a sweet tweet, writing, "I've been doing this modeling thing for a minute and I want to say, for the record, @GiGiHadid & @BellaHadid are the REAL DEAL. #supermodels."

I've been doing this modeling thing for a minute and I want to say, for the record, @GiGiHadid & @BellaHadid are the REAL DEAL. #supermodels  Coco Rocha (@cocorocha) September 23, 2016

RELATED: Bella Hadid Defends Sister Gigi and Kendall Jenner's Modeling Careers

Story continues

The ladies quickly voiced their appreciation. "@cocorocha thank you so much for your warmth and support always COCO! Means a lot," Gigi wrote, adding three heart emojis, while Bella responded, "@cocorocha @GiGiHadid coco!!!! Thank you! Means so much coming from u."

@cocorocha thank you so much for your warmth and support always COCO! Means a lot. X  Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) September 23, 2016

@cocorocha @GiGiHadid coco!!!! Thank you! Means so much coming from u.   Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) September 23, 2016

Bella was wearing that ab-tastic outfit when Gigi got accosted by a fan who was supposedly "pranking" her by lifting her up in the air out of nowhere. Find out more about the creepy incident -- and how the 21-year-model defended herself -- in the video below.



Related Articles
Ben Kingsley is behind a TV adaptation of the classic Portuguese female adultery novel Cousin Bazilio.

The Gandhi and Tut star will appear in and produce the TV miniseries through his and Daniela Lavender's indie shingle, Lavender Pictures, along with co-developer Nevision. Cousin Bazilio is based on a novel written by Jose Maria de Eca de Queiroz in 1878 about a battle between two women: Juliana, an embittered maid, and her employer, Luisa, who is in a volatile affair with her cousin, Bazilio.

Kingsley will play the role of a counselor to Luisa as the book is turned into two 90-minute episodes as part of an event miniseries to be penned by McLevy writer David Ashton. "Lavender Pictures is excited to be joining forces with Nevision to bring this unique erotic thriller to life on screen," Kingsley said in a statement.

"Cousin Bazilio is a great story and David's adaptation promises to be as explosive as the novel," James Cabourne, executive chairman of Nevision, added in his own statement. Kingsley's recent credits include Robert Zemeckis' The Walk and An Ordinary Man, and he voiced The Jungle Book's panther, Bagheera, in Jon Favreau's recent reboot of the classic children's tale.

Read more: AFM: Ben Kingsley to Play War Criminal in 'An Ordinary Man' (Exclusive)
Police swarmed the neighborhood of Canon Dr. and Olympic Blvd. in Beverly Hills Friday morning in pursuit of a stolen vehicle suspect, a kerfuffle that rattled local residents and business owners.

"They were saying stuff on loudspeakers," Katie Chau, who works in the corporate office of the Four Seasons on S. Beverly Dr., told The Hollywood Reporter. "I think it was coming from the helicopters. I don't know if they were talking to the general public or the perpetrator."

Officers confirmed that the suspect was hiding in the neighborhood before they were able to apprehend him. A perimeter was set up while the search was underway, which rerouted traffic off Olympic Blvd. and obstructed pedestrians. Police advised residents to stay out the area.

The pursuit concluded around 9:15 AM when police took the suspect into custody. Residents reported hearing helicopters in the area as early as 8:15 AM.

The commotion began when an officer spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen, which prompted "a short vehicle pursuit," watch commander Sgt. Max Subin told THR.

"He crashed the car and then he took of on foot," Subin said, though he could not confirm the location of the accident. "He was hiding before we apprehended him."
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Bharti Airtel Ltd, India's biggest mobile phone carrier, will offer its prepaid customers three months of unlimited data for 1,494 rupees ($22), escalating a price war after the entry of a new player.

The company will offer up to 30 gigabytes of data at 4G speeds and then slower speeds thereafter.

Carriers such as Bharti and Vodafone India are reducing prices after Reliance Jio Infocomm, a 4G telecoms venture backed by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, launched commercial operations this month, offering all services free until the end of the year.

Currently, one gigabyte of 4G data valid for about a month is priced at about 250 rupees or more. Most Indian cellphone users are prepaid, or without a monthly contract with their carrier.

($1 = 66.6600 rupees)

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Rafael Nam and Amrutha Gayathri)
From Esquire

Since I suspect a lot of us will be talking about the inequities of the American criminal justice system (again) on Thursday-those of us who do not teach a section of Law 301: Elements of Vigilantism at respected law schools, anyway-it's a good time to drop by the good folks at The Marshall Project to see what they've been up to these days.

First, though, let's revisit Gideon v. Wainwright, the 1963 landmark case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment requires the states to provide counsel to indigent defendants regardless of the offense for which those defendants have been charged. Along with Miranda, which was decided three years later, Gideon was part of a pronounced legal shift in which the Sixth Amendment rights of poor defendants were strengthened against deliberate sabotage at the state level.

Naturally, local prosecutors and ambitious law 'n order politicians hate them to this day, and further despise one of Gideon's most conspicuous progeny, the office of the public defender. The backlash began almost immediately, and it has been sadly successful, as Andrew Cohen pointed out in piece for The Atlantic three years ago.

Today, sadly, the Gideon ruling amounts to another unfunded mandate -- the right to a lawyer for those who need one most is a constitutional aspiration as much as anything else. And the reasons are no mystery. Over the intervening half-century, Congress and state lawmakers consistently have refused to fund public defenders' offices adequately. And, as it has become more conservative since 1963, the United States Supreme Court has refused to force legislators to do so. "I think the Court doesn't have the initiative to get involved in improving the administration of justice in every state," former Justice John Paul Stevens told me in late January. "The Court's really not the institution to get involved in that." So today, the justices won't secure the basic fair trial rights they themselves recognized in Gideon. And today, elected officials see no political value in spending the money it would take to ensure that every American has an opportunity for equal justice. It's not that there aren't solutions to the problem of securing a meaningful right to counsel for all litigants. There are plenty of solutions floating around. The problem is the political and legal will to implement those policy choices -- to make good on the promise the Supreme Court made to America 50 years ago amid such hope and fanfare.

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Which brings us back to The Marshall Project, and to a woman named Rhonda Covington. Ms. Covington is a lawyer and a public defender. In fact, she is the only public defender in the entire 20th Judicial District of Louisiana. She is, to say the least, overworked.

"There are days," she says, "when I feel that I could literally scream to the top of my lungs for 10 minutes." Every Wednesday, she makes an all-day trip to the infamous Angola prison to meet with clients. Every other night, she visits inmates at the local jail. Every weekend, she works. She also appears in court almost daily, where she handles all types of cases - juvenile and adult, misdemeanor and felony.

Louisiana wasn't the most honestly and sensibly managed state even in its best days, which might have been when a virtual dictator named Huey Long was running things. However, between the horrific ongoing after-effects of Hurricane Katrina and the presidential aspirations of its departed governor, "Bobby" Jindal, the services available to the state's poor have taken a terrible beating, even as the current governor, John Bel Edwards, tries to pull the state's finances out of the morass into which Jindal's supply-side mumbo-jumbo sank them.

The state's public defenders, like Rhonda Covington, have taken it in the teeth.

In the 16th Judicial District, for example, a single public defender stands by as groups of up to 50 mostly black, poor defendants are convicted of and sentenced to major felonies - all at once, all together - in a hearing that lasts a few hours or less. And in the 20th, exactly one woman, Covington, is employed full-time to represent poor people accused of crimes. Because her district initially received only $34,086 in assistance from the state last year to run a public defender's office that covers more than 900 cases across two parishes, East Feliciana and West Feliciana, Covington has been forced to cut just about everything but herself. She recently dismissed an attorney (savings: $38,400 a year), reduced her secretary to part-time ($7,194 a year), canceled the office's cell phone plan ($1,829.28), and discontinued housekeeping services ($2,400). She saves another $1,000 a year by having an inmate work crew mow the yard outside her office. Covington, whose clients call her "Ms. Rhonda," wears a medical boot on her right foot because she tore a ligament a few months ago while running to the courthouse. She no longer has any health insurance, let alone worker's' compensation, for the injury.

What results makes a mockery of what is supposed to be a model for the rest of the world as regards a criminal justice system. It more closely represents the canning line at a non-union meat packing plant.

Here in the 16th Judicial District, at the St. Martinville courthouse, it is "felony plea day," with Judge Gregory Aucoin presiding. Many of these defendants have not discussed their cases with their public defender yet and will have about 30 seconds to speak with him this morning. Then the judge, with a cigar dangling from his mouth, will ask, "Are you satisfied with the advice your attorney has given you in this matter?" "Yes sir." "Yes sir." "Yes sir," they will all say, down the row. Okay, I accept your plea agreement." And just like that, with no time for arguments to be heard in each of their separate cases, they will have all pleaded guilty together and will be headed to prison for years, sometimes decades.

You read that and you think about what Abraham Lincoln once wrote in a letter regarding the Know-Nothing Party. It was in a different context, but not in an altogether different one.

Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we begin by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty-to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy (sic).

I think Rhonda Covington and those like her are heroes. I think that without people like her there would be nothing left of the Bill of Rights except the base alloy of which Lincoln wrote. I think that when her clients and their families look at the criminal justice system they see nothing but that same base alloy. I think word gets around and, pretty soon, the law, which is supposed to protect us all, starts to look like a farce and an enemy. And then, I think, things begin to happen outside the courtrooms. And they spiral and feed off themselves until a respected law professor suggests that your fellow citizens kill you with their automobiles.

And where are we then, anyway?

Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page.

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BANGKOK (Reuters) - Three Thai policemen were killed and two wounded on Friday in a bomb and gun attack in the southern province of Yala where Muslim separatists have been waging a simmering insurgency against the state. The attack came just over a month after a series of bombs in three of Thailand's main tourist towns killed four people and wounding dozens and raised fears the insurgents were expanding their fight to tourist targets. Police were traveling in two pick-up trucks when the first vehicle was blown up by a road-side bomb, police Lieutenant Colonel Chamnan Bhutpakdee told Reuters. "The assailants detonated the bomb when the truck was passing over, instantly killing the three officers," he said. Insurgents then opened fire on the second vehicle, wounding two officers, Chamnan said. One of them was in critical condition. Yala, along with Pattani and Narathiwat, are Muslim-majority provinces in mostly Buddhist Thailand's deep south. Insurgency has plagued the ethnic Malay region for decades but it intensified in 2004. Since then, more than 6,500 people have been killed, according to the Deep South Watch monitoring group. The International Crisis Group (ICG) think-tank warned in a report this week that the August attacks showed "a clear shift, and apparent decision to expand the conflict" that has been largely confined to the three southern-most provinces. Talks with the insurgents began in 2013 under then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra but stalled after the military overthrew her government in 2014. But early this month, another round was held in Malaysia between a separatist umbrella group and the Thai government but achieved no breakthrough. The ICG said the government was only interested in a "semblance of dialogue" and opposed any devolution of power while the insurgents had not put forward a platform for talks. The result was stalemate that neither side felt sufficient urgency to overcome, even after last month's bombs highlighted the militants' capacity to inflict damage to lives and the economy, it said. Thailand has proposed building a wall along its 640-km (398-mile) southern border to stop the insurgents slipping back and forth into Malaysia, which analysts say they use as a safe area to plan attacks. (Reporting by Surapan Boonthanom and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Cod Satrusayang; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Sarajevo (AFP) - Despite a constitutional court veto and criticism from the West, Serbs in Bosnia will vote Sunday on whether to celebrate their "national holiday", ramping up tensions in the fragile country.

For a long time, Bosnians wondered if this referendum was just another empty threat from Milorad Dodik, the defiant nationalist leader of the Bosnian Serb-run entity Republika Srpska (RS).

But this time he decided to go all the way, despite the reservations of big brother Belgrade and disapproval from Washington and Brussels.

Some 1.2 million voters are entitled to vote on whether they want their "national holiday" to continue to be celebrated on January 9.

The date is controversial as it marks the proclamation of a "Republic of Serb people" in Bosnia three months before the inter-ethnic 1992-1995 war that claimed 100,000 lives.

Among the founders of that "republic" was Radovan Karadzic, who was sentenced in March to 40 years in prison for genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the war that also displaced more than two million people.

Bosnia's constitutional court ruled that the holiday is illegal for discriminating against non-Serbs and cancelled the referendum, but Dodik has pressed ahead regardless.

- Weakening institutions -

The Dayton peace agreement that ended Bosnia's war split the country into two semi-independent entities -- the RS and a Muslim-Croat Federation.

As illustrated by Dodik's snub, they are linked by ever more fragile institutions, which have existed for 20 years only thanks to the will and insistence of the international community on respecting the Dayton accord -- named after the US military base where it was negotiated.

Three days before the referendum Dodik was received in Moscow by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who "expressed his support for stability in the region and the Dayton peace agreement," Dodik said after the meeting, according to public broadcaster RTRS.

Story continues

"Regarding the referendum, it was not specifically discussed, except to note that it is a right of the people."

Analyst Srecko Latal from Bosnian think-tank SOS warned against a "failure of the protection mechanisms of the Dayton peace agreement" and "serious destabilisation" of the situation in Bosnia.

He holds Washington and the European Union responsible for having "long ignored the constant deepening of the crisis" and the "collapse of institutions".

There are also fears that Dodik is warming up for a referendum on the independence of RS -- something he has repeatedly threatened.

"It was a good opportunity to train our teams for this kind of situation," he said Wednesday.

- 'Important for identity' -

It seems that he has the support of his people for Sunday's vote.

"The referendum will show the will of Serb people to keep this holiday, which is important for our identity," said Serb student Zorica Trivunovic in Pale, Karadzic's wartime stronghold near Sarajevo.

And as the referendum gets closer, each camp has upped their rhetoric.

Bosnian Muslim leader Bakir Izetbegovic has accused Dodik of "playing with fire", while a wartime commander of Bosnian Muslim forces, Sefer Halilovic, accused him of "crossing the red line."

Halilovic also warned that "in the case of a conflict, the RS would not hold longer than 10 to 15 days".

Dodik replied to him that the RS was "ready and capable to defend itself" if it was attacked. "Such a scenario would only accelerate our march toward independence," he said.

In Belgrade, Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that Serbia "will not allow the destruction of Republika Srpska."

Some analysts say a conflict is not likely and that the crisis is only aimed at boosting nationalists' chances on both sides at upcoming local elections.

But Latal warned that an "amicable split of Bosnia, which some politicians in Republika Srpska think they could make, is a very dangerous illusion."
If you only read one thing: Its silly season on the campaign trail, as operatives on both sides of aisle argue their preferred candidate is a terrible debater and set to be trounced in Mondays first presidential debate. Its the expectations gamein some ways as important as the debate itself. The frantic effort to adjust the baseline by which the candidates will be judged will continue right up until the debate. From team Trump youll hear how Clinton has debated more times than anyone running for office and is a lifelong politician. From team Clinton youll be told about how charismatic Trump is off-the-cuff, while she is uncomfortable on stage. Theres truth to both viewpoints, but heres why you shouldnt buy it: theyre each the nominee of a major political party for the role of President of the United States. By definition they are both good at this. In a way, 2016 will be the most evenly matched debating yeara test of which of two radically different styles, strategies, and perspectives voters want. Dont forget to get the popcorn.

Donald Trump is still trying to bring together the conservative wing of the GOP, releasing additional names he would consider for Supreme Court vacancies Friday. Like the first list which included conservative legal darlings who are Trump critics, the new one is striking for the inclusion of Sen. Mike Lee, the Utah lawmaker who has thus far refused to endorse Trump. Lee, a close friend of Sen. Ted Cruz, who has also withheld his support, is revered in conservative intellectual circles, even if his tactics often cause consternation from the moderate wing of the GOP. Trumps decision to put him on the list is a clear signal to a party that hasnt fully unified behind him, but it may be too little, too late.

Hillary Clinton released a new ad Friday featuring young women and girls listening to Donald Trumps comments critical of women. She also invited noted Trump critic Mark Cuban to attend the first debate in the front row.

Story continues

Trumps English-only campaign. Obamas veto. And Frank Luntzs advice to the candidates.

Here are your must reads:

Must Reads

President Obama Set To Veto Bill Allowing 9/11 Families to Sue Saudi Arabia

He says the bill would make U.S. diplomats and service members vulnerable to lawsuits [TIME]

Donald Trumps Crime Policies Might Hit Minorities Harder, Experts Say

The racial and ethnic focus troubles some [New York Times]

Donald Trump Steps Deeper Into the U.S. Race Debate

Criticizing protestors for causing violence in their communities [Associated Press]

Key Lawmakers Accuse Russia of Campaign to Disrupt U.S. Election

Claims Putin is out to help Trump [Washington Post]

Debates are About the Voter, Not Moderators

Longtime moderator Jim Lehrer gives his advice to the 2016ers [NBC]

Sound Off

Even an eight year old could tell you that whole slavery thing wasnt good for black people.  President Obama on ABC responding to Trumps comments that its the wort time ever for the African American community

You have 46 days to make possible every dream you ever dreamed for your country and your state Donald Trump in Pennsylvania Thursday.

Bits and Bites

Frank Luntz: How Hillary Clinton Can Defeat Donald Trump in the First Debate [TIME]

Frank Luntz: How Donald Trump Can Defeat Hillary Clinton in the First Debate [TIME]

For sale: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Never used. [Yahoo]

Lester Holt takes the spotlight as moderator of first debate [CNN]

North Carolina Lawmaker Sorry for Saying Charlotte Protesters Hate White People [TIME]

The day I became an American citizen [CNN]

Obama Puts Syria at Arms Length as Carnage Drags On [New York Times]

Ohio county chair for Trump campaign resigns after Obama remarks [Fox]

Trumps English-only campaign [Politico]
With Milan Fashion Week in full swing, the Italian label -- known for its leatherwork skills -- is set to unveil its spring/summer 2017 collection at a fashion show event. As well as marking the brand's 50th anniversary, it celebrates 15 years with creative director Tomas Maier at the helm.

Founded in 1966 by Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro, then bought by the Gucci Group in 2001, Bottega Veneta is celebrating five decades of existence, of luxury goods and of savoir-faire in 2016. The brand's discreet success hails from its standout leatherwork skills -- fostered since its creation -- and has been buoyed by creative director Tomas Maier, who has headed the fashion house since 2001.

A strong identity

Since its creation in 1966, Bottega Veneta -- which means "Venetian Workshop" -- has specialized in artisan-crafted leather goods. The firm even developed its own artisanal leather-weaving process, called Intrecciato, which became one of the brand's emblematic signatures over the years. This woven finish helps make its handbags particularly supple.

On his arrival in 2001, Tomas Maier used the technique to craft his first handbag as creative director of the label, the Cabat, made from thin strips of double-sided leather woven by hand. This exceptional piece requires no less than two days' work, modernizing the woven-leather look and promoting the skills on which the label's reputation was built.

Bottega Veneta has, in fact, always kept the focus on craftsmanship and expertise, turning its back on the kind of tricks used by other major fashion houses. Visible logos, for example, were purposely removed from the brand's products.

Another striking fact about the label is the length of Tomas Maier's reign as creative director. The designer has been a faithful guiding creative to Bottega Veneta for 15 years, at a time when designers frequently flit from one brand to the next.

A special event

To celebrate these two anniversaries, the Italian brand is holding a fashion show event in Milan, Saturday, September 24, during Fashion Week. This will see men's and women's collections presented together at an event held in the prestigious Brera Academy. It promises to be a spectacular runway show that's sure to make an impression.

Reissues, iconic pieces or collaborations? For the moment, the label hasn't said what to expect from this eagerly awaited mixed collection.
By Brad Haynes and Brad Brooks SAO PAULO (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 on 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. 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. The Globo TV networks Jornal Nacional nightly newscast quoted Batista's lawyer as saying the payment from Batista had nothing to do with any contracts between his company and the government or Petrobras and that negotiations related to OSX with Petrobras were done by a consortium led by Mendes Junior, not OSX. A lawyer for Mendes Junior could not immediately be reached for comment. (Additional reporting by Patricia Duarte, Alexandre Caverni, Eduardo Simoes and Nacho Doce in Sao Paulo, and Pedro Fonseca and Jeb Blount in Rio da Janeiro; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler)
By Hilary Russ NEWARK, N.J. (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's office turned a regional transportation agency into a "goodie bag" from which to dole out favors and funds to Democrats who might endorse the Republican during his 2013 re-election campaign, according to prosecutors' star witness in the so-called Bridgegate trial on Friday. David Wildstein, a former executive at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who pleaded guilty and is testifying for the prosecution, described how requests from state officials went first to a top Christie aide for approval - for everything from patronage jobs at the agency to tours of the World Trade Center site, which the Port Authority owns. The aide, Christie's then-deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly, and William Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, are on trial for wire fraud and civil rights deprivation. Kelly and Baroni are accused of arranging in September 2013 to close traffic lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge in order to cause gridlock in Fort Lee, New Jersey, as retribution after the municipality's Democratic mayor did not endorse Christie's successful re-election bid. The scandal helped torpedo Christie's bid for the Republican presidential nomination. At the start of the trial, federal prosecutors claimed for the first time that Christie knew his two close associates were involved in the shutdown. Christie has denied any knowledge of the plot. Wildstein said the "goodie bag" scheme allowed Christie's office to take credit for items given by the Port Authority, a bi-state agency run jointly with New York. "That was the system that was established. All use of Port Authority resources had to be approved by the governor's office," Wildstein, 55, testified. "The governor's office was always to be the deliverer of good news." In one case, Wildstein had the 100 flags flown over the World Trade Center site on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks shipped to the governor's office after the ceremony to be distributed to local officials as it saw fit. The office considered whether officials were willing to endorse Christie when deciding how to hand out the flags, surplus equipment, and even local grant money, he said. Baroni, whom Wildstein described as "one of the closest friends I've ever had," hired Wildstein to be the "bad cop" in pushing Christie's agenda at the authority, Wildstein said. "If it was good for Christie then it was good for us," Wildstein said. Wildstein's testimony continues on Monday. (Editing by Matthew Lewis)
(Adds industry comment, details of Petrobras asset sales)

By Jeb Blount

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-owned oil producer Petrobras agreed to sell 90 percent of a natural gas pipeline unit to a group led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc for $5.2 billion, the companies said Friday.

The move is part of an asset-sale program at financially troubled Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as Petrobras is formally known, designed to reduce the company's $125 billion of debt, the largest in the global oil industry.

The Brookfield-led consortium agreed to pay $4.34 billion for Nova Transportadora do Sul SA, or NTS, when the deal closes and $850 million in five years, according to Brookfield and Petrobras.

The investor group includes two sovereign wealth funds, China's CIC Capital Corp and Singapore's GIC Private Ltd.

For Ricardo Pinto, chief executive of natural gas consultancy Gas Energy in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the sale represents an important step in opening up a Brazilian gas market that has stalled despite increasing gas production.

"Brazil's gas market has been held back by government regulation and Petrobras' dominance of the transportation market," he said. "While the sale will have little immediate impact on gas volumes, it opens the market and Petrobras up to competition."

Reuters reported the main terms of the deal between Petrobras and Brookfield, including the sale price, on Sept. 6, citing sources with direct knowledge of the transaction.

The sale, which is still subject to approval by shareholders and Brazilian regulators, expands Petrobras' asset sale plans.

On Tuesday Petrobras added a program to sell $19.5 billion of assets and partnerships between 2017 and 2018 to an existing plan to sell $15.1 billion of assets in 2015 and 2016.

Petrobras' preferred shares, the company's most-traded class of stock, fell 2.21 percent to 13.69 reais in Sao Paulo, as world oil prices slumped on reports Saudi Arabia does not expect the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, to cut output at a meeting next week.

Story continues

Under the accord, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Ltd will invest at least 20 percent of value of the deal, while Brookfield Asset Management has an initial investment of about 30 percent.

NTS transports natural gas in south-central Brazil and provides the country's most populous and industrialized states - Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro - with natural gas from Bolivia and Brazil's offshore oil and gas fields.

Rodrigo Costa, Petrobras' general manager for natural gas, told reporters the sale of NTS would not affect existing natural gas contracts, which expire between 2025 and 2031.

He said transport prices for that gas will be set by the contractual terms.

Petrobras, though, will not have exclusivity in pipeline usage, Costa noted, though at the moment the company has contracted 100 percent of NTS capacity.

Its Transpetro shipping and pipeline company has a management and maintenance contract with NTS that will continue in effect, he added.

He also said Petrobras is doing everything it can to make sure the deal closes by the end of this year.

(Reporting by Jeb Blount in Rio de Janeiro, Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru, Brad Haynes in Sao Paulo; Editing by W Simon and Chizu Nomiyama)
Bruce Springsteen celebrates his 67th birthday Friday with the release of Chapter and Verse, the companion album preceding his forthcoming memoir, Born to Run.

As an artist, Springsteen always let his songs do the talking, but in this 18-track, career-spanning compilation, fans will get to hear his musical evolution from a scruffy teen to a major-label recording artist, Grammy Award winner, Oscar winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

The songs -- each selected by Springsteen -- begin to tell the story, returning to Springsteen's earliest-known recording with his Freehold-based group, The Castiles. While Springsteen didn't take the lead on the single, "Baby I," (that was band leader and song co-writer George Theiss), sharp ears can detect traces of his vocals in the background, as well as his Kinks-like work on guitar. In a video on his Facebook page, Springsteen described the recording of the song as "very primitive" and the engineer had a hard time "handling any volume, whatsoever."

The second track, a cover of Willie Dixon's "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover," continues the narrative of the band's garage-rock roots with a live performance of the group at Left Foot, a teen club located in the recreation center in Freehold, N.J.

The third offering -- "He's Guilty (The Judge Song)" -- offers a glimpse into the New Jersey native's journey into California with his band Steel Mill. The group featured future E Streeters Danny Federici on keyboards and Vini Lopez on drums. The song -- which includes the lyrics "Send that boy to jail" -- was recorded as a demo at Pacific Recording Studio in San Mateo, Calif., for Bill Graham, who offered the group a record deal at Fillmore Records, which they rejected. Federici's organ and Springsteen's guitar are in the forefront. While the song owes more to the jam bands of the '60s, Springsteen's forays into storytelling comes more into focus between musical interludes.

Story continues

Steel Mill gave way to The Bruce Springsteen Band -- featuring Federici, Lopez and now Steve Van Zandt -- and "The Ballad of Jesse James." It features a guitar line more indicative of The Band and The Allman Brothers (listen closely and you can almost hear "The Weight" mixed in with the slide guitar), but the lyrics, "Don't you want to be an outlaw?/ Don't you want to ride the rain?" draw you into the tale. The guitar playing -- forceful and clean -- foreshadows the fury of later arena-rock anthems, and a wail at the end echoes "Backstreets."

"Henry Boy," which describes "being new in town," is an important addition, as the melody is exactly the same as future anthem "Rosalita," except the lyrics aren't about a "pretty little place in Southern California," but rather the Jersey Shore landscape and New York City, where "the West Side is for debutantes."

It is here where Springsteen's selections tell the rest of the story we think we already know, beginning with his initial 1972 audition for Columbia Records, through The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle's "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)." He declares, "This boardwalk life for me is through" and breaks from being a regional act to superstar status, landing on the covers of Time and Newsweek after hitting the big time with "Born to Run."

The sequencing of the rest of the record clearly spells out the story Springsteen wants to tell -- from Darkness on the Edge of Town's defiantly hopeful "Badlands" (and the first attempts at defining his characters in a more succinct manner) through the story of his sister and brother-in-law's struggles in The River and the crucial inclusion of "My Father's House," a look into one of the center themes of Springsteen's relationship with his father, Doug.

While "Born in the U.S.A." serves as a reminder of the album and mammoth tour that propelled Springsteen into mega-stardom, "Brilliant Disguise" exposes the inner insecurities of a man struggling to learn how to be married. Interestingly, he jettisons the Human Touch album for Lucky Town's "Living Proof," a song about embracing fatherhood and the responsibility that comes with it.

Cuts like "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "The Rising" -- written after the 9/11 attacks -- further illuminate Springsteen's strength as an observer, lending a voice to those without a microphone.

The record concludes with "Long Time Coming" off Devils and Dust and the humorous "Wrecking Ball," written as a humorous goodbye to the old Giants Stadium, but perhaps chosen as a suggestion that the ghosts of the past will pave way to a new future. After all, Springsteen said his next album -- a solo one -- will be released in the future.

Clearly, the story isn't over, and a new one is yet to be told.

Chapter and Verse is available as a single CD and a double LP, with bonus lyrics and rare photos.

Born to Run arrives in stores Tuesday.

Chapter and Verse song titles:

1. "Baby I" - The Castiles (recorded May 2, 1966, at Mr. Music, Bricktown, NJ; written by Bruce Springsteen and George Theiss; previously unreleased)

2. "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" - The Castiles (recorded Sept. 16, 1967, at The Left Foot, Freehold, NJ; written by Willie Dixon; previously unreleased)

3. "He's Guilty (The Judge Song)" - Steel Mill (recorded Feb. 22, 1970, at Pacific Recording Studio, San Mateo, CA; previously unreleased)

4. "Ballad of Jesse James" - The Bruce Springsteen Band (recorded March 14, 1972, at Challenger Eastern Surfboards, Highland, NJ; previously unreleased)

5. "Henry Boy" (recorded June 1972, at Mediasound Studios, New York, NY; previously unreleased)

6. "Growin' Up" (recorded May 3, 1972, at Columbia Records Recordings Studios, New York, NY; previously appeared on Tracks)

7. "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" (1973, The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle)

8. "Born to Run" (1975, Born to Run)

9. "Badlands" (1977, Darkness on the Edge of Town)

10. "The River" (1980, The River)

11. "My Father's House" (1982, Nebraska)

12. "Born in the U.S.A." (1984, Born in the U.S.A.)

13. "Brilliant Disguise" (1987, Tunnel of Love)

14. "Living Proof" (1992, Lucky Town)

15. "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (1995, The Ghost of Tom Joad)

16. "The Rising" (2002, The Rising)

17. "Long Time Comin'" (2005, Devils & Dust)

18. "Wrecking Ball" (2012, Wrecking Ball)

Watch Springsteen describe "Baby I":

Bruce Springsteen discusses his first recordings

Listen as Bruce discusses his first recording session with The Castiles in 1966, including a clip of their track "Baby I" featured on 'Chapter and Verse,' out tomorrow.

Posted by Bruce Springsteen on Thursday, September 22, 2016
A new study has found that 80% of Clinton and Trump support comes down to personal admiration. The thing is, people on average don't admire them very much at all.

Fidelum Partners asked more than a thousand people to rate the presidential candidates and other famous people on qualities related to warmth and competence. Those traits have been shown by Princeton University social psychologist Susan Fiske and others to underlie many of our preferences. We feel admiration and loyalty towards those we consider both warm and competent, and have feelings of contempt and rejection for those we consider cold and incompetent.

The results:

trump clinton brand perception

Bill Gates and Ellen DeGeneres won this popularity contest, with Barack Obama, LeBron James, Mark Zuckerberg, and Warren Buffett all in the right quadrant too.

Clinton and Trump landed in the same quadrant as Bill Cosby, Vladimir Putin, Ted Cruz, and Charlie Sheen.

Of course, Clinton voters have a higher opinion of their candidate  and a lower one of Trump:

trump clinton brand perception

Trump supporters feel the opposite:

trump clinton brand perception

NOW WATCH: 'My friend died': Watch this emotional exchange between Joe Biden and a protester





More From Business Insider


At 37 weeks pregnant and thriving, Andrea Grant is proving doctors very wrong. (Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/chillonmill)

Once you build up your confidence, nobody else can take it down, says beaming mom-to-be Andrea Grant of Jacksonville, Fla. Despite the fact that doctors told her shed never be able to carry a baby past four months, due to horrific injuries she endured as a child, Grant is 37 weeks pregnant and counting.

I learned to love myself unconditionally, Because I am a queen #BurnSurvivor photo by : @Terrence_Armand A photo posted by Expecting ???????? (@chillonmill) on Sep 14, 2016 at 5:01pm PDT

To commemorate her victory against the odds, Grant hired a photographer, Terrence Armand, to capture images of her pregnancy. In just 24 hours, photos from the maternity shoot, which Grant shared on social media, went viral  and even she was shocked. I really didnt think that was the response that was going to happen, but Im honored, she told CBS in a video.

When she was just 8 years old, Grant and her brother were trapped in a house fire caused by a gas explosion, according to her story on the website of the Burn Survivor Resource Community. We left Shriners [hospital] with every limb on our body and a joyful and thankful spirit, she says, according to the site. But her burns cover much of her body, including her abdomen.

Thank You Lord For All Your Blessings & Thank You For Favoring Me ????????????????. ???? Baby Marcus Jackson Jr ???? photographer @terrence_armand Dress By: @whyboutique Hair By : @stylesbytaylor A photo posted by Expecting ???????? (@chillonmill) on Sep 16, 2016 at 9:07am PDT

Doctors believed the scorched skin on her stomach would not adequately stretch to accommodate a growing fetus. But Grant continues to prove them wrong, as her pregnancy is thriving. To keep her skin supple so it can do its job growing as her baby does, Grant moisturizes twice a day. Her story  along with her poise and her positive outlook  have been an inspiration to many.

Related: 4 Weird Places You Can Get a Zit and What to Do About It

Story continues

One particular photo of Grant wearing a tiara and cradling her bulging belly has more than 20,000 likes and 508 comments, including I have stretchmarks almost everywhere  and your videos and photos have inspired me to love myself for the things I couldnt control, So Im scrolling through instagram with my son looking over my shoulder and we get to this pic and he says OMG mom, is that your friend? Shes so pretty like a queen, and Congrats on your bundle of joy. Beautyqueen.

I learned to love myself unconditionally, because I am a queen, Grant captioned her own photo. Her photographer, Armand, is also stunned that his photo has become a viral sensation. It was just like  1,000, 2,000, 10,000. 100 shares. This celebrity posting it and that celebrity posting it, Armand said of the photos meteoric rise. Among those celebrities: Steve Harvey, Meagan Good, and Morris Chestnut.

Wow this is amazing I am so overwhelmed @iamsteveharveytv shared an article on me ???????????????????????????????? God is good A photo posted by Expecting ???????? (@chillonmill) on Sep 21, 2016 at 1:46pm PDT

Grant is not just a beacon of hope, but shes also an advocate for other victims of burn-related tragedies. Shes even formed a group called Beyond Scars to help other burn victims. According to its Instagram page, the groups mission is to focus on self-esteem, confidence & perseverance and includes monthly support meetings for burn survivors, disfigurement & visible loss survivors. To promote her nonprofit, Grant is also a motivational speaker, according to CBS.

Related: Should New Moms Be Running Less Than 2 Weeks After Giving Birth?

According to her site, this year Andrea was asked to speak at Lighthouse Christian School at their Dove Conference to a group young girls. She left them with this: look in the mirror, find that one thing you love about yourself and build confidence around it. Grant has since had actual mirrors made with that phrase printed on the back to promote self love.

As Grant says on her site, she is no longer a burn victim  but a burn survivor. (And a thriver.)

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's annual inflation rate in August dipped to a 10-month low and retail sales unexpectedly fell in July, disappointing markets and reviving talk that the Bank of Canada was more inclined to ease monetary policy than tighten. The data, which reflect the impact of low prices for oil - a key Canadian export - underscore the increasing economic divergence with the United States. The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates by the end of the year. Statscan said on Friday that the annual inflation rate in August dropped to 1.1 percent, the seventh consecutive month it has stayed below the Bank of Canada's 2.0 percent target. Analysts in a Reuters poll forecast the rate would rise to 1.4 percent from 1.3 percent in July. The closely-watched core rate, which strips out the price of some volatile items, fell to 1.8 percent from 2.1 percent, its lowest level for two years. The Bank of Canada, which last year cut rates twice to counter the effect of low crude prices, said earlier this month that risks to the profile for inflation had tilted somewhat to the downside in recent months. Derek Holt, head of capital markets economics at Scotiabank, said the central bank's concerns appeared to be materializing. "The market will interpret this as keeping a greater risk of a cut than a hike alive over the course of the next year," he said by phone, noting the drop in the core rate. Indeed, the implied probability of a Bank of Canada rate cut by mid-2017 jumped to nearly 40 percent after the reports, from less than 20 percent before, overnight index swaps showed. "There's a possibility that we've got a bit of a crack, at long last, in core inflation," said Doug Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets. The August inflation rate was the lowest since the 1.0 percent recorded in October 2015. Food prices exerted the main drag, rising 1.1 percent in the 12 months to August compared to a 1.6 percent year-on-year-increase in July. The Canadian dollar weakened, hitting $1.3160 to the U.S. dollar, or 75.99 U.S. cents, at one point. [CAD/] RETAIL SALES WEAK Canada's economy depends heavily on domestic spending, but in another sign of trouble for policymakers, household debt as a share of income hit a record high in the second quarter. That suggested consumers are feeling strain. The Bank of Canada, which markets do not expect to start raising rates until 2018, will release its latest economic forecasts on Oct. 19. [CA/POLL] Although the central bank expects an outsized recovery in the third quarter after a wildfire in Alberta caused a second quarter contraction, the retail sales figures showed little sign of immediate take-off. Sales fell by 0.1 percent from June on weak gas prices. Analysts had predicted a 0.1 percent increase. Canadians also do not appear to have spent much of their increased child benefit checks, which arrived in households in July. The Bank of Canada had predicted the money should help boost consumer spending. (Additional reporting by Fergal Smith, Ethan Lou and Susan Taylor in Toronto; Editing by Paul Simao)
By Maiya Keidan LONDON (Reuters) - Canada's third-largest public pension plan has halved the number of computer-driven hedge funds in its investment portfolio and put more money into the funds its sticking with, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan this summer pulled cash from 10 of the 20 hedge funds in its portfolio which use computer algorithms to choose when to buy and sell, two of the sources said. Ontario Teachers' allocates $11.4 billion to hedge funds, making it the fourth-largest North American investor in the industry, data from research house Preqin showed. Hedge funds worldwide are under increasing pressure in the wake of poor or flat returns as well as investors' efforts to cut costs. Data from industry tracker Eurekahedge showed that investors have pulled money from hedge funds globally every month in the four months to end-August. One of the hedge funds that received more funds from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan said it had told them it was looking for funds which offered a different strategy from other funds. "They expressed that a lot of strategies today you can mimic with a few exchange-traded funds or create synthetic products and there is no reason to pay management or performance fees," the source said. Another hedge fund which the Canada fund dropped said the pension scheme had said it wanted to avoid funds invested in similar underlying assets. Some of the computer-driven hedge funds the Ontario Teachers' pulled money from followed market trends, such as Paris-based KeyQuant, which has more than $200 million in assets under management, according to its website. The Ontario scheme also withdrew $65 million in June from trend-follower Cardwell Investment Technologies, a move which ultimately led to it shutting its doors this summer, one of the sources said. Those funds to receive a boost offered a more specialist set of skills, such as London-based computer-driven currency hedge fund Sequoia Capital Fund Management, in which the pension fund doubled its investment, a second source said. (Editing by Jane Merriman)
By David Ljunggren

OTTAWA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A Canadian review of a proposed Petronas-led liquefied natural gas plant has found the project would have a significant environmental impact that requires major remedial measures, two sources briefed on the report said.

The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has until Oct. 2 to decide whether to approve the Pacific NorthWest LNG export terminal in northern British Columbia.

Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas and its partners have been waiting about three years for a permit for the C$11 billion ($8.35 billion), which depends on the review by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), an independent body.

The CEAA has no veto rights. Instead, it decides whether a project would have minor or significant adverse environmental impact, and what measures must be taken to allow it to go ahead.

The agency has concluded the project - opposed by local environmental and aboriginal groups - needs significant remedial work to counter the environmental impact before it can be built, said the sources.

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna must now present the report to the full cabinet with her recommendation as to whether it should go ahead.

Caitlin Workman, a spokeswoman for McKenna, said the cabinet would make a final decision. She declined to comment further.

Spencer Sproule, a spokesman for the Petronas-led project, declined to comment. The CEAA said it was not in a position to comment immediately.

The decision is a potentially fraught one for the Liberals, who must balance the needs of an energy industry suffering from job losses as well as the concerns of environmentalists, who Trudeau courted in his successful 2015 election campaign.

Even if Petronas is granted permission for the plant, it may decide not to proceed. The firm has seen a global slump in crude prices squeeze finances, which make up a third of Malaysia's oil and gas revenue.

In August, the firm said it would conduct a total review of the project in Canada before committing to a final investment decision. ($1 = 1.3170 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Diane Craft)
For anyone looking to escapebe it from unfortunate election results or just the humdrum of daily lifethis Canadian business will be happy to convince you to move north.

The Farmers Daughter Country Market, located in a small village called Whycocomagh on the island of Cape Breton, is looking for new employees to move to the remote area and work at the market.

The new employee gets access to two acres of land on which to put a home, and if she or he stays at the market for five years, the land will be officially granted to that employee.

According to the businesss Facebook advertisement, while the company cant offer the employee big money, they can offer an awesome life, and lots of landas well as the opportunity to live in a pristine setting.

Known for being quite remote but spectacularly beautiful, Cape Breton is an ideal location for the adventure-seeker. The village is nestled among sweeping mountain ranges and lies in close proximity to the Bras dOr Lake.

So why the sudden push to get people to move to this island in Nova Scotia? Because Cape Bretons population is decreasing, the market is hoping to bring in more workers to encourage sustainable business while increasing the population.

Before you start packing your bags, know there's one very important requirement: You must be able to legally work in Canada to apply for this job.
(Adds details of release, background)

OTTAWA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The value of Canadian retail trade unexpectedly fell in July, dipping by 0.1 percent from June as gas station sales dropped for the first time in four months, Statistics Canada data indicated on Friday.

Analysts in a Reuters poll had predicted sales would increase by 0.1 percent. Statscan revised June's data to show no change from May after initially saying sales had fallen by 0.1 percent.

Sales decreased in five of 11 subsectors while in volume terms, sales grew by 0.3 percent. Gas station sales fell by 3.0 percent, pulled down by weaker pump prices.

Motor vehicle and parts dealers, the largest subsector, posted a 0.2 percent drop in sales, the fourth decline in five months. Food and beverages stores, the second-largest subsector, saw sales edge down by 0.1 percent.

Sales at furnishing and home furnishing stores decreased by 1.4 percent, while sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores rose by 1.6 percent.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
No Michelle? How rude! Candace Cameron Bure took to Instagram on Thursday to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the show that started her career  Full House.

"29 years ago today, Full House premiered on ABC. September 22, 1987. Full(er) circle. #HappyBirthdayFullHouse," Bure captioned the pic she stole from real-life bestie Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler).

29 years ago today, Full House premiered on ABC.  September 22, 1987. Full(er) circle. #HappyBirthdayFullHouse Repost: @andreabarber A photo posted by Candace Cameron Bure (@candacecbure) on Sep 22, 2016 at 4:09pm PDT

MORE: John Stamos Shares Ultimate Flashback Photo as 'Fuller House' Reveals Season 2 Premiere Date

Co-star John Stamos also paid tribute to the special anniversary, sharing a photo of himself and Bob Saget on set and in bed together.

"29 years of #FullHouse. 29 years with this guy. 29 more please. @bobsaget @fullerhouse," he captioned the photo.

Of course, Saget reposted the pic, writing, "I wish for the same thing my dear dear friend."

29 years of #FullHouse. 29 years with this guy. 29 more please. @bobsaget @fullerhouse A photo posted by John Stamos (@johnstamos) on Sep 22, 2016 at 11:32am PDT

WATCH: New Kids on the Block to Appear on 'Fuller House,' Cast Adorably Geeks Out

The cast of the Netflix revival, Fuller House, recently announced the show's Season 2 premiere date as December 9. In the promotional photo, some of the stars are sitting outside in front of the iconic San Francisco homes.

For more on Season 2 of Fuller House, watch the video below!

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As soon as he knew he'd be attending the U.S. Air Force Academy, Christopher Steele began rigorous workouts to ease acclimatization to life at 7,000 feet. Still, he found the transition challenging. So too was the pounding on the door at 0400 to roust him for basic training.

At the U.S. Air Force Academy , cadets can choose from 31 academic majors ranging from English to aeronautics engineering, but the core curriculum skews technical. Everyone has to take astronautics, for example, as well as computer science.

While your major obviously influences your career path, an aeronautical engineering degree is no guarantee that you'll be selected for flight training. Other factors include medical qualifications, class ranking and demand.

Summer opportunities are wide-ranging. Steele has spent his summers learning to fly a glider and a T-53 (a militarized version of a Cessna), shadowing officers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and attending a language immersion program in France.

After graduation in 2017, he plans to train as a pilot, which obligates him to an extra five years of active duty on top of the standard commitment. But he hopes to spend his career in the Air Force.

Read on to find out what life is like at the rest of the five.

-- U.S. Naval Academy

-- U.S. Military Academy

-- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

-- U.S. Coast Guard Academy

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Colleges 2017" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.
Cruise and vacation company Carnival Corporation CCL is slated to release third-quarter fiscal 2016 results on Sep 26, before market opens. We expect the company to surpass expectations.



Last quarter, Carnival had posted a positive earnings surprise of 25.64%. In fact, the companys earnings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 20.19%.



Why a Likely Positive Surprise?



Our proven model shows that Carnival is likely to beat on earnings because it has the perfect combination of the two key ingredients.



Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP for Carnival stands at +2.13% because the Most Accurate estimate is $1.92 while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $1.88. This is a meaningful indicator of a likely positive earnings surprise.



Zacks Rank: Carnival currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Note that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 have a significantly higher chance of beating earnings estimates. Conversely, Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) should never be considered going into an earnings announcement.



The combination of Carnivals favorable Zacks Rank and positive Earnings ESP makes us reasonably confident of an earnings beat.



What is Driving the Better-than-Expected Earnings?



Along with the fiscal second-quarter report, the company had issued a guidance range of $1.83 to $1.87 for adjusted earnings per share in the fiscal third quarter. The company had factored in year-over-year revenue growth of 23% and a 67% increase in net cruise costs, in its earnings per share projection.



Carnival expects revenue yields to continue improving on the back of marketing initiatives and a better booking environment. Moreover, its brand-strengthening initiatives via documentaries, television programs and other digital initiatives, are likely to boost the revenue stream.



Moreover, Carnivals strategy to grow beyond its familiar itineraries and capitalize on new markets bodes well. The company is also confident that its fiscal third-quarter results will reflect growth in the Asian and Australian markets.



Booking volumes have been substantial this fiscal year and the trend is expected to continue in the quarter to be reported. Sales to comparatively untapped markets like Cuba, Bermuda and Mexico are also expected to favor the company.



Carnival has been reducing fuel consumption over the past few quarters and the fiscal third quarter is likely to be no exception.



However, negative currency translation, macroeconomic issues like geopolitical uncertainties and the Chinese slowdown, as well as increased marketing expenses may hamper the quarters performance.



CARNIVAL CORP Price and EPS Surprise

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CARNIVAL CORP Price and EPS Surprise | CARNIVAL CORP Quote

Other Stocks to Consider



Carnival is not the only company looking up this earnings season. Here are some other companies to consider as our model shows they also have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:



Boyd Gaming Corporation BYD has an earnings ESP of +15.38% and a Zacks Rank #3.



Wynn Resorts Ltd. WYNN has an earnings ESP of +14.61% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.



MGM Resorts International MGM has an earnings ESP of +10% and a Zacks Rank #3.



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The big showdown is just around the corner. On Monday, September 26th, Clinton and Trump will square off in the highly anticipated first presidential debate. As the Democratic and Republican nominees get ready to battle it out, we caught up with Neil Cavuto, host of FOX Business Cavuto: Coast to Coast, as he prepares to head out to Hofstra University for live coverage of the action.

Its a tryout for the highest office in the land, Cavuto tells FOXBusiness.com. Debates make an impression, you dont get a second chance to make a good first one.

As riots rip through Charlotte, North Carolina in the wake of the fatal shooting of Keith Scott, the country is still on edge from the recent terror attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota. Voters have a lot on their minds, and Cavuto believes security will be front and center in this debate.

I always look at debates sort of crystallizing around the issue of security. Your economic security, life and death security. In this age of terror, just general military security. I think we are all human beings instinctively looking at our own survival and who can assure that in the best way possible, he says.

So what do voters want to see from Trump and Clinton?

They dont want the insults, they dont want the cheap shots on either campaignSo I think what they want to see is, can I picture this person being President?

On Monday Cavuto: Coast to Coast will air at 12 p.m. ET, and Neil will be live from Hofstra with pre- and post-debate expert analysis beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Heres what you can look forward to from FOX Business during the first presidential debate of 2016.

I think the big differentiator with FOX Business coverage is we cover the best of both worlds. Whats at stake in the political world and marry it with whats at stake in the financial world. I always like to say we are about the intersection of capitalism and the capital.

As for Cavuto himself? He is looking forward to a very busy election season, getting the best guests, the best shots and covering all the news as it breaks.

Story continues

I was out a little bit this summer, so Im going to be making up for lost time.

Related Articles
According to recent media reports, CBOE Holdings Inc. CBOE is contemplating the acquisition of Bats Global Markets BATS. Though the takeover is yet to be officially announced, shares of Bats Global have already surged about 24% in the after-market trading session on Sep 23, amid the buyout rumors. Notably, Bats Global went public just five months ago, in April this year.



CBOE Holdings has been facing intense competition due to increased market consolidation that tends to reduce market share and leverage of business. Hence, strategic acquisitions like this are expected to help the securities exchange retain its market share. Also, the industry is trying to counter soft trading volumes and contracting margins with more consolidations. CBOE Holdings, the largest U.S. options exchange and creator of listed options, is following suit. The securities exchanges August results saw the average daily volume declining 31% in spite of two more trading days than the year-ago period.



CBOE Holdings eyes strategic acquisitions to gain a competitive edge by diversifying as well as adding capabilities to its portfolio. This May, the securities exchange purchased stakes in Eris Exchange Holdings, LLC, a U.S.-based futures exchange group offering swap futures as a capital-efficient alternative to over-the-counter swaps.



If the deal materializes, we expect the acquisition to be supported by CBOE Holdings strong liquidity and steady capital position. Strong liquidity not only mitigates balance sheet risks but also paves the way for accelerated capital deployment by undertaking strategic acquisitions, shareholders friendly moves and growth initiatives.

CBOE HOLDINGS Price

CBOE HOLDINGS Price | CBOE HOLDINGS Quote

CBOE Holdings is currently carrying Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). With optimism over the recently proposed acquisition we expect analysts to raise their estimates, in turn, leading to a possible rank upgrade. Bats Global carries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Stocks to Consider



Some better-ranked stocks from the finance sector includes MarketAxess Holdings Inc. MKTX and Cincinnati Financial Corp CINF carrying Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



MarketAxess is a leading multi-dealer trading platform that offers institutional investors access to global liquidity in products like U.S. high-grade corporate bonds, emerging markets and high-yield bonds, European bonds, U.S. agency bonds, credit derivatives and other fixed-income securities. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2016 and 2017 has witnessed upward estimate revision over the last 60 days



Cincinnati Financial, a property casualty insurer has witnessed upward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 60 days for both 2016 and 2017.

Story continues

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By Liana B. Baker and Lauren Hirsch

Sept 23 (Reuters) - CBS Radio Inc, which CBS Corp is planning to shed, is preparing to take on about $1.5 billion in debt ahead of its initial public offering and use most of the proceeds to pay its parent in cash, according to people familiar with the matter.

The IPO for the subsidiary, which owns 117 U.S. radio stations, including in top markets such as New York and Los Angeles, was registered in July with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. CBS has not publicly disclosed how much debt the unit plans to issue.

CBS Radio stated in its IPO registration statement that it would distribute some proceeds from the debt offering to its parent, while keeping some money for general corporate purposes.

CBS's debt offering will be split between bonds and loans, and could come before the end of the year, the sources said this week.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Wells Fargo & Co, Bank of America Corp and Credit Suisse Group AG are underwriters on the IPO, while JPMorgan Chase & Co is leading the bank financing, and Deutsche Bank AG is running the bond financing, the sources added.

The sources asked not to be identified because the details of the offering were not yet public. Representatives of CBS and all of the banks declined to comment.

CBS will use capital from the radio deal for buybacks and investing in the business, CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves told the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference this week. Moonves had said that private equity firms, radio rivals and international groups have expressed interest in buying CBS Radio.

An IPO, however, is viewed as the most likely option, according to the sources.

Speculation has grown among media industry insiders that CBS Corp may merge with Viacom, which has the same controlling shareholder in Sumner Redstone, although CBS CEO Moonves has said that no talks are underway.

CBS Radio is profitable and its sports, news and music stations are in top markets such as New York and Los Angeles. But a radio company IPO may be a tough sale as new digital competitors have emerged and depressed advertising sales for the medium for years.

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Internet radio company Pandora Media Inc is taking a small but growing share of the $15 billion to $17 billion in local ad dollars from FM radio per year, Macquarie analyst Amy Yong said in a research note in August.

CBS Radio generated revenue of $1.23 billion last year, down from $1.3 billion a year ago, according to the IPO registration.

(Reporting by Liana B. Baker in San Francisco and Lauren Hirsch in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
* Polish PM flags personnel changes, fin. min. may be included * Warsaw bourse index underperforms region, falling over 1 pct * Zloty, forint retreat from highs By Sandor Peto and Jakub Iglewski BUDAPEST/WARSAW, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Warsaw stocks led a retreat of Central European equities on Friday, after Poland's Prime Minister flagged a government reshuffle which may include the finance minister.

The Polish government's unorthodox economic policies and constitutional court changes have often caused market jitters in the past year.

Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said she would announce the personnel changes next week and that they could also affect the management of state-run companies.

Before Szydlo spoke, the Fakt tabloid said, quoting unnamed sources from the ruling Law and Justice party, that finance minister Pawel Szalamacha may be dismissed in a few weeks.

The Warsaw bourse's bluechip index , which has been one of the region's worst performer with 5.5 percent loss since 2015, fell one percent, leading equities losses in the region.

The upcoming personnel changes add to risks after Thursday's plunge in the stocks of utilities companies, said Mateusz Namysl, analyst at Raiffeisen Brokers in Warsaw.

Energy Minister Krzysztof Tchorzewski was quoted as saying on Thursday that he planned to lift the nominal value of shares in state-run firms by 50 billion zlotys in the coming years. Analysts said that would boost the companies' tax costs.

"Investor sentiment regarding state-controlled firms is negative and these companies have a large share in WIG20 index and hence this weakness," Namysl added.

The zloty weakened by a third of a percent to 4.293 against the euro by 0912 GMT, retreating from a 5-week high reached before Szydlo's comments.

The forint has also retreated from Thursday's 16-month highs, easing 0.2 percent to 316.30.

Hungary said it posted a current account surplus of 1.767 billion euros in the second quarter. The figure was lower than analysts forecast for 1.959 billion euros but the country still has robust current account and trade surpluses.

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Hungarian assets are also buoyed by a credit rating upgrade from Standard & Poor's a weeks ago, less political risk than in Poland, higher debt yields than in the euro zone and the prospect of slower than expected Federal Reserve rate increases.

The forint is also helped by a temporary liquidity shortage after banks scrambled to place funds with the central bank on Wednesday at its last monthly 3-month deposit tender where it accepts an unlimited amount, analysts said.

"We estimate EUR/HUF to move back into the old trading range of 310-315 in the coming weeks and would expect EUR/PLN to soon drop back above 4.30 again," Raiffeisen analysts said in a note.
John Coltrane, the legendary saxophone player and composer whose innovations haven't stopped changing music since his first professional gigs as a teenager in Philadelphia, would have turned 90 years old today.

Born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, N.C., Coltrane played with Miles Davis (whose 90th birthday also would have been this year) and Thelonious Monk during their late-'50s heydays, before quickly moving into more angular experiments that Downbeat described, at the time, as "anti-jazz." Before his untimely death at age 40 (on July 17, 1967), the prolific innovator would release a whopping 38 records, including the eternally popular A Love Supreme LP (798,000 copies sold since Nielsen began tracking sales in 1991, 26 years after its release), and standards like "Giant Steps" and "Equinox" (among many, many others).

John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme' at 50: Saxophonists Ravi Coltrane & Archie Shepp Look Back

To commemorate his 90th birthday beyond just throwing one of those many classics on your turntable (or play queue) -- certainly a respectable celebration in its own right -- Billboard has compiled some of the events happening around the country (and online), so you can ride the Blue Train wherever you are.

Online

Sept. 23: Columbia University's WKCR is playing nothing but 'Trane, all day and commercial free. You can stream the station here.

Sept. 25: In Coltrane's native North Carolina, WCOM will air a three-hour tribute at 9 p.m. EST, including an audio documentary called "John Coltrane: The Great North Carolina Jazz Intellectual." You can stream the station here. Listen to an additional tribute from local musicians on North Carolina's WFDD here.

The new authorized Coltrane documentary Chasing Trane, directed by John Scheinfeld, hasn't found distribution just yet -- but you can watch the first trailer (released in time for recent screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival) below.

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Or just watch the legend perform a 20-minute version of one of the songs he turned into a jazz classic, "My Favorite Things" (yes, like The Sound Of Music):

New York

Sept. 23: At Brooklyn's Littlefield, the Brooklyn Raga Massive -- along with pianist Marc Cary -- will perform a tribute to Coltrane, who incorporated many East Indian influences into his later work.

Sept. 23 and 24: Former Coltrane sideman Steve Kuhn assembles a band at Birdland for two nights of tribute concerts entitled Coltrane, Revisited.

Philadelphia

Sept. 24: As part of a nine-day series of celebrations entitled Coltrane At 90, the Philadelphia Jazz Project is presenting an outdoor concert called A Jam Supreme, featuring jazz musicians performing alongside DJs of all stripes.

Baltimore

Sept. 24: The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center is hosting a Coltrane-themed concert featuring local stalwarts the Carl Grubbs Ensemble and Rene McLean.

Washington D.C.

Sept. 23: The Thad Wilson Big Band plays Coltrane as part of the Westminster Church's Jazz Night In Southwest series.

Hamlet, N.C.

Oct. 1: Coltrane's hometown hosts its annual "edu-tainment" festival to honor the legend, featuring performances from local acts.

Akron

Sept. 23: The BLU Jazz+ club celebrates Coltrane with help from Bobby Selvaggio and Theron Brown, among others.

Seattle

Sept. 23 and 24: At Tula's, the Richard Cole Quartet leads a two-night tribute to the jazz giant.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Reuters) - Police in Charlotte, North Carolina have arrested a suspect in the murder of a civilian protester on Wednesday night, Charlotte Mecklenberg Police Department Chief Kerr Putney said at a news conference on Friday.

The protester, who died of his wounds on Thursday, was shot as residents protested the killing of a black man, Keith Scott, by police on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone)
On Friday, Sept. 23, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., Police Chief Kerr Putney once again refused to release to the public video of the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott. The video, captured on bodycams worn by Charlotte police officers, was shown on Thursday to Scott's family, who then asked that it be released to the public. Putney said that would not happen, and that the matter was now in the hands of investigators from the state of North Carolina.
(CHARLOTTE, N.C.)  A third night of protests over a fatal police shooting in Charlotte gave way to quiet streets early Friday after the citys mayor enacted a curfew and rifle-toting members of the National Guard arrived to guard the citys business district.

The largely peaceful Thursday night demonstrations called on police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting this week of a black man. 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 a midnight curfew enacted by the mayor encouraged a stopping point. Local officers ranks were augmented by members of the National Guard carrying rifles and guarding office buildings against the threat of property damage.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents Thursday night for the citywide curfew that runs from midnight to 6 a.m. 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 Scotts death earlier this week. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Thursday 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.

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You shouldnt expect it to be released, Putney said. Im 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 citys bustling business district.

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 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 Scotts family, watched the video with the slain mans 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 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.

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 Mitch Weiss, Meg Kinnard, Seanna Adcox, Jeffrey Collins, Jack Jones and Gary Robertson contributed to this report.
A British researcher says he has discovered a synthetic alcohol which allows drinkers to enjoy the sensation of being drunk without the negative side effects that usually follow.

David Nutt, a professor at Imperial College in London and former drugs advisor to the British government, says the non-toxic alcosynth could completely replace normal alcohol by 2050, the U.K.s Independent reports.

Alcosynth affects the brain in a similar way to alcohol, Nutt says, but doesnt cause mouth dryness, nausea, headaches or other long lasting health issues. We know where the good effects of alcohol are mediated in the brain, and can mimic them. And by not touching the bad areas, we dont have the bad effects, Mr Nutt, who is currently testing two versions of the drink for widespread use, told the newspaper.

If alcosynth does what Nutt says it does, it could relieve public health services from the burden of alcohol-related issues. The cost of excessive alcohol consumption in the U.S. was as high as $223.5 billion in 2006, according to CDC figures, which researchers estimated worked out as $746 for every individual U.S. citizen that same year.

[Independent]
Chelsea Manning, the transgender U.S. soldier serving 35 years in Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas for leaking classified information to Wikileaks, says she has been sentenced to 14 days in solitary confinement following an attempt to kill herself in July.

In a statement following her disciplinary hearing Wednesday, where she was charged with interfering with the good order of the military prison, Manning wrote that she was found guilty of the conduct which threatens charge for her suicide attempt and of the prohibited property charge for having a contraband book (Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy by Gabriella Coleman).

I was convicted of "Conduct Which Threatens" for my suicide attempt. ='(https://t.co/rKJ4xMJdn9 #solitaryconfinement  Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) September 23, 2016

She said that seven of her 14 days of punishment are suspended, explaining if I get in trouble in the next six months, those seven days will come back.

I am feeling hurt, she added. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I dont know how to explain it.

Manning wrote that she has 15 days to appeal the sentence, but did not indicate whether she will do so.

The Department of Defense referred questions to the U.S. Army, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this week, Manning said the military is moving forward with her request for gender reassignment surgery.
Greve in Chianti (Italy) (AFP) - The winemakers of Chianti knew they were on to something good when rivals started copying them.

By the early 18th century, the sale of counterfeit bottles to ever-thirsty England had become so rife that the local merchant nobles felt compelled to act.

Three hundred years ago on Saturday, Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued a decree declaring that Chianti wine could only be produced within a designated area between the Renaissance powerhouses of Florence and Siena.

The world's first legally enforceable wine appellation had been born.

The Medici duke's decree defined an area of 70,000 hectares (175,000 acres) that now produces 35 million bottles a year of chianti classico.

Eighty percent of them are exported to some 100 countries and the region's reputation has been on an upward curve since the 1980s, making it a magnet for wine pilgrims.

Sipping from a glass of classico riserva in the Enoteca Falorni wine bar and merchant in Greve in Chianti, Diya Khanna says her trip has been an eye-opener.

"In Canada you think of chianti as one type of wine, but if you come here you learn what it's really all about. There is such a variety of styles," the Berlin-based Canadian tells AFP.

"All of the classicos we have tried have had this soft velvety finish, like a smooth song that finishes off at the end really, really nicely."

- Brand confusion -

Chianti classico producers have long battled confusion among consumers about the difference between their sought-after, geographically restricted wine and the less distinguished simple chianti made in other parts of Tuscany.

Up to 2010, a producer in the heartland area defined by the 1716 decree could produce both. But that practice was banned as part of measures to strengthen the classico brand and its trademark black rooster logo.

Generally lighter and less expensive, ordinary chianti remains associated for many with the staple candle-holder of 1970s Italian trattorias - a bottle half-wrapped in a straw basket known as a 'fiasco'.

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It was from a fiasco that the popes of the 16th century enjoyed their chianti.

But the rounded vessel was to become a symbol of the damage done to the region's international image by an export-driven boom in which quality was sometimes sacrificed for quantity.

- Rugby-loving winemaker -

The idea underlying the 1716 decree was that Tuscany's land and climate had combined serendipitously over centuries with local know-how to guarantee that a wine from chianti would be of a certain style and quality.

Three centuries later, that idea still prevails among the eclectic bunch of characters now producing chianti classico.

But there is also a new emphasis on variations created by particular soils, exposure and altitude -- something wine experts refer to as the "terroir" of a particular site.

With his trim beard, gilet and smart suede boots, Marco Mazzoni looks like a gentleman farmer dressed by Giorgio Armani.

But the owner of the small Corte di Valle estate outside Greve insists turning sangiovese grapes into attractive wine is no job for city dilettantes.

"The ground is full of stones and rocks," he says. "The vines have to suffer to grow and thrive. It makes you sweat."

At Querciabella on the other side of the valley, rugby-loving winemaker Manfred Ing's style is more shorts and walking boots as he oversees the harvest of encouragingly plump sangiovese berries: 2016 could be a vintage to remember, he says.

Querciabella is in the vanguard of a push for a shake-up in the rules that would allow classico producers to label their single-vineyard wines as coming from specific micro-zones on the model of Burgundy in France.

Like many of the top Burgundies, Querciabella is farmed organically and according to bio-dynamic principles. Even the use of manure is now eschewed at a property owned by vegan Sebastiano Castiglioni.

"If we want to be still producing chianti here in another 300 years, this is the way to go," says South African-born Ing as he explains how winter crops such as rocket and wild mustard are used to replenish the vineyard soil in the absence of artificial fertilizers.

- Pregnant patience -

Once the preserve of men, another thing that has changed in 300 years is that some acclaimed chianti classicos are now made by women.

"We are a small but growing club," says Susanna Grassi, who gave up the underwear business for wine in 2000 in order to revitalise the family farm.

Grassi's nine-hectare estate, "I Fabbri" ("The Blacksmiths"), goes up to 680 metres (2,230 feet) altitude, close to the limit of where the heat-loving sangiovese will ripen.

Grassi does not have the option of making powerful, structured wine. Instead the emphasis is on elegance and finesse -- a trend towards the expression of pure sangiovese that she thinks Tuscany's female winemakers are helping to drive.

"I think women do have a different sensibility when it comes to wine," she tells AFP. "Maybe it is because pregnancy teaches us to wait, knowing that the final result will be "bello" (beautiful)."
By Timothy Mclaughlin

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled an expanded student mentorship program on Thursday with the aim of keeping at-risk youth off the streets and away from gangs in a city that is struggling against a wave of violence.

Over 500 people have been killed so far this year in the United States' third-largest city, more than in New York and Los Angeles combined. The police department is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice as a result of numerous high-profile incidents including the killing of a black teenager by a white police officer in 2014.

The mentorship program, building on Emanuel's past efforts, will target some 7,200 middle school and high school students from 20 of the city's most violent neighborhoods.

"They are on the doorstep of adulthood, and they are among the most at-risk of becoming crime victims or perpetrators," Emanuel said in a speech at Malcolm X College.

Speaking to politicians, community leaders and activists, he said the plan would cost $36 million over three years. Half of the money will come from the city of Chicago, the other half from donors, companies and philanthropies, he said.

Emanuel said half of the private-sector money has already been raised through donations from companies including energy firm Exelon Corp and Bank of America Corp.

Student mentors will be drawn from across Chicago and Emanuel said he plans to call on private companies to encourage their employees to participate.

His remarks came as the city and its police are struggling to rebuild community relations.

On Wednesday, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said another 970 police officers would be hired over the next two years.

"They want more police on the street who know and respect the residents of their neighborhoods," Emanuel said on Thursday.

(Editing by Matthew Lewis)
From Popular Mechanics

Beijing's state media has made the bold claim that a Chinese defense contractor successfully developed the world's first quantum radar system. The radar can allegedly detect objects at range of up to 62 miles. If true, this would greatly diminish the value of so-called "stealth" aircraft, including the B-2 and F-22 Raptor fighter. But it's a pretty far-out claim.

Quantum radar is based on the theory of quantum entanglement and the idea that two different particles can share a relationship with one another to the point that, by studying one particle, you can learn things about the other particle-which could be miles away. These two particles are said to be "entangled".

In quantum radars, a photon is split by a crystal into two entangled photons, a process known as "parametric down-conversion." The radar splits multiple photons into entangled pairs-and A and a B, so to speak. The radar systems sends one half of the pairs-the As-via microwave beam into the air. The other set, the Bs, remains at the radar base. By studying the photons retained at the radar base, the radar operators can tell what happens to the photons broadcast outward. Did they run into an object? How large was it? How fast was it traveling and in what direction? What does it look like?

Quantum radars defeat stealth by using subatomic particles, not radio waves. Subatomic particles don't care if an object's shape was designed to reduce a traditional, radio wave-based radar signature. Quantum radar would also ignore traditional radar jamming and spoofing methods such as radio-wave radar jammers and chaff.

According to Global Times, the 14th Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) developed the radar system last month. The subdivision website describes the "14th Institute" as "the birthplace of Radar industry (sic) in China", employing 9,000 workers on a 2,000-acre research campus.

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China isn't the only country working on quantum radar: Lockheed Martin was granted a patent on a theoretical design 2008. Lockheed's plans were more far-reaching, including the ability to "visualize useful target details through background and/or camouflaging clutter, through plasma shrouds around hypersonic air vehicles, through the layers of concealment hiding underground facilities, IEDs, mines, and other threats." In many ways, Lockheed's concept of quantum radar resembles the spaceship and handheld sensors on "Star Trek."

Since the 2008 patent, Lockheed's been silent on the subject of quantum radars. Given what a technological leap such a system would be, it's quite possible the research has gone "black"-highly classified and subject to a high level of secrecy.

So did China really do it? A quantum radar system sounds staggeringly complicated. One Ars Technica writer has said he would be "very skeptical that this will ever see the light of day outside of the lab". A physicist at China's Nanjing University (coincidentally, where the 14th Institute is located) was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying "serious technical challenges had long confined quantum radar technology to the laboratory."

There are more reasons to be skeptical. China's Global Times newspaper, which ran the story, is a state media organization and arm of the Chinese government. It in turn sourced the story to the Mingpao Dailywhich is also described by critics as an arm of the Chinese government. Of course, China wouldn't actually show off this revolutionary military technology if it did work, so proof is not forthcoming. For now, it's good to be skeptical. But you can be sure the Beijing is looking into it. There's no way China wouldn't research a technology that would negate the hundreds of billions of dollars Washington has invested in stealth aircraft.

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BEIJING (Reuters) - China's state planner has rejected a request by steelmakers for coal mines to ramp up coking coal production to bring down prices that have rallied in the face of tight supply, sources said on Friday.

China is trying to cut inefficient coal production as part of efforts to reduce pollution and trim excess capacity but tighter supplies and increased consumption during the summer have pushed up prices.

Domestic prices of coking coal, a key ingredient in steelmaking, have more than doubled to 900 yuan per tonne in 2016, as years of oversupply came to an end.

At a hastily-called meeting on Friday in Beijing, the National Development and Reform Commission gave the green light for 74 major miners to increase output of thermal coal, two sources familiar with the meeting said, but rejected the request made by steelmakers earlier this month.

"The NDRC has decided not to interfere with the (coking coal) market," said an executive with a coking coal producer.

That increase in thermal coal production could unleash as much as 15 million tonnes a month of new capacity.

The NDRC said after the meeting that the coal price rally was not sustainable and the government had "plenty of measures and room" to manage prices, state television reported on its official microblog.

In a statement posted on its official website, the NDRC also said it would allow efficient coal mines to operate between 276 to 330 working days per year.

Traders were split on where the prices could go from here, though steel mills will not find any relief from domestic coking coal suppliers.

"We are close to an upper end of the price rally," said the coking coal executive, who declined to be named because he is not authorised to speak to media.

(Reporting by Kathy Chen and Josephine Mason; editing by Tom Hogue and David Clarke)
By Allison Lampert

MONTREAL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Canada's Bombardier Inc and the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) , longstanding partners in the Chinese domestic rail market, said on Friday they had expanded their relationship to join forces on international bids.

"The agreement sets the stage for us to win more joint bids, both in China and worldwide," said Mike Nadolski, a spokesman for Montreal-headquartered Bombardier.

Nadolski could not specify a time frame when the two would bid together for a project.

Encouraged by Beijing, China's railway firms are now aggressively bidding for contracts in overseas markets, with CRRC winning a $1.3 billion bid in March to build rail cars for the city of Chicago.

Foreign participation in China's rail market has for the last decade been limited to minority stakes in joint ventures or as sub-suppliers of domestic players, often with the condition that they transfer technology to local partners.

The Canadian plane-and-train maker has operated in China for years through joint ventures and helped build the world's biggest railway network by both length and revenue.

For Bombardier, being able to bid with CRRC on international deals is an "interesting development," one transportation analyst said on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity. But without a specific project to bid on, the announcement is not material for Bombardier, he said.

Both companies have recently faced manufacturing headaches.

In July, CRRC said it would step up quality checks on its products after Singapore shipped 26 of its metro trains back for repair just three years after they were delivered.

Also in July, the provincial agency in charge of transportation in and around Toronto said it had filed a notice of default against Bombardier Inc for delayed delivery of a fleet of light-rail vehicles.

(Reporting By Allison Lampert; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
By Allison Lampert MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canada's Bombardier Inc and the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) <601766.SS>, longstanding partners in the Chinese domestic rail market, said on Friday they had expanded their relationship to join forces on international bids. "The agreement sets the stage for us to win more joint bids, both in China and worldwide," said Mike Nadolski, a spokesman for Montreal-headquartered Bombardier. Nadolski could not specify a time frame when the two would bid together for a project. Encouraged by Beijing, China's railway firms are now aggressively bidding for contracts in overseas markets, with CRRC winning a $1.3 billion bid in March to build rail cars for the city of Chicago. [nL4N16I3J4] Foreign participation in China's rail market has for the last decade been limited to minority stakes in joint ventures or as sub-suppliers of domestic players, often with the condition that they transfer technology to local partners. The Canadian plane-and-train maker has operated in China for years through joint ventures and helped build the world's biggest railway network by both length and revenue. For Bombardier, being able to bid with CRRC on international deals is an "interesting development," one transportation analyst said on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity. But without a specific project to bid on, the announcement is not material for Bombardier, he said. Both companies have recently faced manufacturing headaches. In July, CRRC said it would step up quality checks on its products after Singapore shipped 26 of its metro trains back for repair just three years after they were delivered. [nL4N19S214] Also in July, the provincial agency in charge of transportation in and around Toronto said it had filed a notice of default against Bombardier Inc for delayed delivery of a fleet of light-rail vehicles. [nL1N1A61HK] (Reporting By Allison Lampert; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
(Updates with details, background)

By Swati Bhat and Paul Carsten

MUMBAI/BEJING, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd will start making smartphones in India next month, the company said on Friday, joining a wave of compatriots setting up plants in the world's third-biggest mobile market.

The plant will be operated with the Indian arm of electronics manufacturer Flextronics International Ltd in the southern Indian city of Chennai, Huawei said.

India is trying to attract manufacturing into the country as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative.

Huawei got the green light from the government in July to set up the manufacturing plant in India, 19 months after applying for a license.

"We are convinced about the growth potential and future of India and we'll keep looking for opportunities to increase our presence here," Jay Chen, CEO, Huawei India said in a statement.

India is the world's fastest growing smartphone market and an attractive country for phone makers given growth in China is stagnating.

The number of smartphone users in India is expected to reach 990 million by 2020 from 798.4 million in 2015, according to a study by Cisco.

But so far a lack of good suppliers and infrastructure have hampered efforts to manufacture phones in the country, forcing most of India's more than 100 different phone companies to import from China and Taiwan, though the Modi government is making efforts to make it easier for manufacturers.

"The vendor ecosystem in India is not as strong as it is in China. A lot of things still need to be imported from China when it comes to things like electronic components, batteries, display or others, but I am sure as the market progresses, we will start to see true manufacturing happening here in India," said Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner.

The devices made by Huawei in India are likely to hit the Indian market as early as October, the statement said, with the company looking to manufacture 3 million units by the end of 2017.

Story continues

The company will also strengthen its after-sales services in India with over 200 service centres, including more than 30 exclusive Huawei service centres in the country.

Huawei will also expand its Indian retail network, increasing to more than 50,000 the number of outlets it partners with by the end of the year.

Other manufacturers from China are also setting up in India. In 2015 China's Xiaomi Inc joined forces with Taiwan-based electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn to assemble phones in India.

(Editing by Rafael Nam and Adrian Croft)
Over 300 smart city initiatives have been launched.

China's IoT sector will grow robustly over the next five years on the back of financial and policy support from the government, said BMI Research.

In particular, the research firm which is a FitchGroup Company explains that the manufacturing and agricultural sectors take the front seat due to their importance in the economy, and industrial IoT adoption in these sectors are set to outperform.

"Consumer IoT has lagged due to this focus, but we see it picking up speed with China Mobile's push into the fixed-mobile converged market," it said in a report.

The government has highlighted the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a key theme in its 13th five-year plan and we believe this national-level push will be the key factor driving the development of the IoT in China (see '13th Five-Year Plan To Provide Boost To Domestic IT, CE Sectors', March 22 2016).

Already, BMI notes that the city have already seen the government's IoT movement start to take shape.

State-owned operators China Mobile and China Telecom have set plans to roll out nationwide narrowband (NB)-IoT networks by 2018, while more than 300 smart city initiatives have been launched.





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Montreal (AFP) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called Friday for strong relations with Canada as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the important trading partner.

"We have no excuses," Li told a Canadian-Chinese business council in Montreal. "China and Canada must have win-win cooperation."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Li announced Thursday an agreement to begin talks aimed at reaching a free-trade agreement. They set a target of doubling trade 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).

Li highlighted the reboot in bilateral relations after a decade of cooling under the previous Canadian administration, calling for "a new golden decade" between the two countries.

Li's visit to Canada came a month after Trudeau made a trip to Beijing looking to "renew and deepen" Sino-Canadian 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 on Thursday.

Trudeau echoed that optimism Friday.

"This last month of strong collaborative engagement represents a new era in the China-Canada relationship," the Canadian premier said.

"I'm excited to develop and maintain a real partnership that will benefit all our peoples for generations to come."

Li, who arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday, is due to leave Montreal on Saturday for Cuba. It will be the first visit by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic relations 56 years ago.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Six Chinese agencies announced a coordinated effort to tackle internet and telecoms fraud on Friday, the government's latest bid to get to grips with an explosion of such crimes it says have led to huge financial losses. Police registered 590,000 telecoms fraud cases in 2015, up from about 100,000 in 2011, leading to losses of 22.2 billion yuan ($3.3 billion), state media said. Callers often impersonate officials or authority figures and prey on the elderly, students or the unemployed. The fraud has spread overseas, with Chinese speakers recruited in neighboring self-ruled Taiwan increasingly setting up operations in East Africa or Southeast Asia. Taipei has accused Beijing of kidnapping when such countries have deported Taiwanese people to China. This week, Cambodia deported 13 Taiwanese suspects to the mainland, ignoring protests from Taiwan, which China considers a breakaway province. Kenya has also returned dozens of suspects to China this year. China's supreme court, its top prosecutor, the Ministry of Public Security, the central bank, the Ministry of Industry of Information Technology and the China Banking Regulatory Commission issued a joint statement vowing to crack down on the scams. "Telecom and internet fraud crimes seriously impact the people's legal interests, destroy social harmony and stability, and must be resolutely punished under law," the agencies said in a joint statement on the public security ministry's website. By the end of October, the agencies must enforce real-name registration for all phone accounts, the agencies said. Renting, lending or selling bank or payment accounts would be a crime, the statement said. China has long advanced real-named registration on many forms of digital communications in an effort to combat crime and suppress the spread of rumors, prompting critics to accuse the government of trying to muzzle online dissent. The announcement comes after China's top prosecutor on Tuesday issued a regulation stipulating that digital information, including online posts, pictures, social networks, cloud storage, phone records, text messages, electronic payment records and computer processing files can be used as evidence in court. "The data covered in the regulations goes beyond just social media posts or the content of friend circles on WeChat," said Mareike Ohlberg, a research associate at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin. "This looks like an attempt to regulate the collection of electronic data in much more detail." (Reporting by Michael Martina; Additional reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Nick Macfie)
By Madeline Kennedy (Reuters Health)  In adults of all ages, chronic sleep problems were linked with a greater risk of trouble with activities of daily living later in life, in a recent study. Although disability rates have been falling, up to one in five seniors have at least one limitation in their ability to perform tasks, the researchers write in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Most people dont get sufficient sleep - as a culture we tend to devalue sleep - and we tend to underestimate the potential impact of not getting adequate sleep, lead author Elliot Friedman told Reuters Health by email. Research has linked poor sleep to poor health, but little is known about how sleep affects daily functioning, said Friedman, a gerontologist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. For the new study, Friedman analyzed survey data collected in 1995-1996 and then again in 2004-2006 from 3,620 people between the ages of 24 and 75 at the outset. Participants answered questions about any sleep issues they had in the past year and their ability to complete daily living tasks such as bathing, dressing, and walking one block. They also reported on their ability to complete more difficult instrumental tasks such as bending over, vacuuming, carrying groceries, climbing stairs, walking a mile, or running. At both surveys, about 11 percent of participants reported chronic sleep issues. Compared to people who slept well, those with poor sleep at the first survey were 55 percent more likely to report greater limits on their activities of daily living a decade later, and 28 percent more likely to have increased difficulty with instrumental tasks. Among participants who were disability-free at the first survey, those who had sleep problems were twice as likely to be having trouble with daily living tasks 10 years later and 70 percent more likely to develop trouble with instrumental tasks. The researchers also looked at other potential influences on disability such as demographic factors, health conditions, obesity, and smoking, to ensure that these were not causing the issues. Age had no effect on the changes in daily living tasks between the two surveys. However, for the more advanced instrumental tasks, younger and middle aged people with sleep issues saw greater declines. Friedman offered a possible explanation for the findings, noting, If sleep is not restful, people are less likely to be physically active, and both low physical activity and sedentary behavior are risk factors for disability. Friedman added that trouble with sleep is also linked to obesity and inflammation, which both increase the risk of disability. Dr. Andrew Lim of the University of Toronto, who studies sleep and health effects, pointed out that the study did not look at which aspects of poor sleep are linked to disability. Being able to target a specific issue like snoring, insomnia, or restless legs might be helpful, he said. Lim, who was not involved in the study, also noted that poor sleep can be related to other issues like joint pain, mental illness or heart disease, and these conditions might be the true cause of the disability seen at the later follow-up. Lim advises people to develop healthy sleep routines, including keeping regular hours and avoiding coffee and alcohol. Sleep long enough that one is not sleepy during the day, he added. Sleep in a quiet, dark environment, and keep a quiet, dark environment in the hours before bed. Greater focus on adequate sleep could have broad health benefits, including reducing peoples risk of disability as they age into their later years, Friedman said. SOURCE: bit.ly/2cVGteU Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, online September 14, 2016.
KINSHASA (Reuters) - At least 13 people have died in two days of clashes in a city in central Democratic Republic of Congo that pitted security forces against militia fighters seeking to avenge the death of their leader, witnesses and local media said on Friday. Fighters loyal to a traditional chief named Kamwina Nsapu, who was killed in a clash with police last month, first entered the city of Kananga on Thursday morning. Eight militia members were killed by security forces before the group fled, according to national broadcaster Radio Okapi. Three schoolchildren were trampled to death, and one unidentified man also died. Fighters returned again on Friday and attacked the city's airport, killing a worker for a local airline, one witness said. "From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. there was heavy fighting with small arms and heavy weapons," said Killy Ilunga, who saw the body of the dead flight attendant. "They burst into the hall of the airport. One of them beat her with a club." Another town resident said he saw the bodies of several militia members at the airport. "The situation is under our control. The airport has been under the control of our forces since this afternoon," said government spokesman Lambert Mende. "We don't have a death toll at the moment. But yes, there were deaths." Kamwina Nsapu vowed three months ago to rid his home province of Kasai-Central of all state security forces, accusing them of abusing the local population. The conflict between the local authorities and his fighters, who are often armed with little more than clubs and magic amulets, has erupted into deadly violence on several occasions. (Reporting by Amedee Mwarabu; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban will have one heck of a view during Monday night's opening presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The Clinton campaign provided a front-row seat to the billionaire businessman at the Hofstra University debate on Long Island, a campaign aide told Business Insider on Friday.

"He has the best seat we have access to," an aide told CNN.

The Dallas Mavericks owner first announced on Twitter on Thursday night that he had "got a front row seat" to watch Clinton "overwhelm" Trump at the debate. Cuban referred to the looming political slugfest as the "Humbling at Hofstra."

The star of ABC's "Shark Tank" has been very critical of Trump both in interviews and on social media, attacking the Republican nominee's level of preparation and refusal to release his taxes. In a recent interview with Business Insider he called Trump the most "dangerous" potential president he could think of.

Cuban endorsed Clinton at a July rally in Pittsburgh, his hometown.

Earlier in the cycle, Cuban was more enthralled with the idea of a Trump presidency and had expressed interest in serving as either Trump or Clinton's vice president before eventually souring on the Republican nominee's candidacy.

"I mean you guys have been covering me for a long time," Cuban told Business Insider in that recent interview. "I mean, I've historically been apolitical. You've never heard me talk about politics all that much. And it's just, I can't think of anybody more dangerous as president than Donald Trump."

"I can't think of anything worse than with him not having a clue," he continued. "I mean, could you imagine somebody who doesn't read and doesn't learn trying to deal with the day-to-day changes and challenges of that job?"

Business Insider reached out to Cuban and Trump's campaign for comment, but neither immediately provided a response.

NOW WATCH: DAVID CAY JOHNSTON: 'Donald Trump is literally making a profit off of his campaign'





More From Business Insider


By Chris Kahn NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democrat Hillary Clinton had a four-percentage point advantage in support over Republican Donald Trump ahead of their first U.S. presidential debate, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos national tracking poll released on Friday. The Sept. 16-22 opinion poll showed that 41 percent of likely voters supported Clinton, while 37 percent supported Trump. Clinton has mostly led Trump in the poll during the 2016 campaign, though her advantage has narrowed since the end of the Democratic and Republican national conventions in July. With just six weeks before the Nov. 8 election, Mondays debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York will be the first of three between the White House rivals. It presents a major opportunity for them to appeal to voters who have yet to commit to a candidate after a mostly negative race in which Clinton and Trump have sought to brand each other as untrustworthy and dangerous for the country. The live, televised matchup is expected to draw a Super Bowl-sized television audience of 100 million Americans, according to some commentators. Among those watching will be people who so far remain on the fence. This could be a sizable group: Some 22 percent of likely voters said in the latest poll that they do not support either major-party candidate. That was more than twice the proportion of uncommitted voters at the same point in the 2012 election between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney. These uncommitted voters appear to be leaning more toward Trump than Clinton, according to the latest poll, though they have not been convinced enough to say they will vote for him in November. It was also possible that some of these voters would pick an alternative-party candidate like Libertarian Gary Johnson or the Green Partys Jill Stein. Clinton led a separate four-way poll that included Trump, Johnson and Stein. Among likely voters, 39 percent supported Clinton, 37 percent favored Trump, 7 percent picked Johnson and 2 percent supported Stein. The Reuters/Ipsos poll is conducted online in English in the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. It included 1,559 respondents who were considered to be likely voters given their voting history, registration status and stated intention to show up on Election Day. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points, meaning results could vary by that much either way. National polls have produced varying measurements of support for Clinton and Trump during the 2016 campaign. The differences are partly due to the fact that some polls, like Reuters/Ipsos, try to include only likely voters, while others include all registered voters. The Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll gathers responses every day and reports results twice a week, so it often detects trends in sentiment before most other polls. Polling aggregators, which calculate averages of major polls, have shown that Clintons lead over Trump has been shrinking this month. The most recent individual polls put her advantage at 3 percentage points. (Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Jonathan Oatis)
Washington (AFP) - Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton will travel Sunday to Charlotte, North Carolina, which has been rocked by violent protests following the fatal police shooting of a black man, her campaign said Friday.

Clinton called earlier for the release of police video from the Tuesday shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across America.
Nebraska farm leaders hailed a Friday ruling from D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that rejected efforts by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to apply stricter handling rules to retailers of anhydrous ammonia without first going through a formal rule-making process.

Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson called it a mark on the win column for Nebraska farmers and fertilizer suppliers.

Nebraska Farm Bureau and others have challenged the flawed logic OSHA used to justify additional regulations on fertilizer suppliers which ultimately would drive up fertilizer costs for Nebraska farmers and could possibly limit access to anhydrous ammonia fertilizer product, Nelson said in a news release.

OSHA began to tighten anhydrous ammonia handling requirements for retail facilities that were exempt following an April 2013 explosion of 40 to 60 tons of fertilizer at a plant in West Texas. Caused by a fire, the explosion killed 15 people, injured 160 and damaged or destroyed 160 buildings.

While anhydrous ammonia was present at the facility, its presence was not a contributing factor to the explosion and investigators later found the explosion was the result of an intentional criminal act, Nelson said.

Before OSHA began changing the rules in 2015, retailers that earned half their income from selling to end users got an exemption from requirements known as the Process Safety Management Standard.

When OSHA dropped the retail sales exemption, it didnt first request public comment, which the Agricultural Retailers Association and the Fertilizer Institute used as a lever for their lawsuit seeking to roll back the regulations.

The ruling Friday orders OSHA to reinstate the exemption for retailers because the federal agency failed to provide notice and offer comment periods as required by law. Experts say going through the rule making process could take years.

This administration has broadly and unjustly avoided proper procedure to construct and reinterpret myriad federal regulations without public input, Daren Coppock, president and chief executive officer of the Agricultural Retailers Association, said in a news release.

The courts decision in this case affirms the importance of regulatory agencies following proper notice and comment rulemaking procedure.

Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer teamed up with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota earlier this year to introduce bipartisan legislation known as the FARM Act in an attempt to stop OSHAs implementation of the standards.

Fischer said Friday's ruling affirmed her efforts.

We came together to provide some relief for ag producers and force the administration to follow the law," she said in a statement. "Todays ruling by the federal court reinforces the provisions in our bill and sets an important precedent for other harmful regulations. Now, our ag producers will face one less hardship so they can focus on feeding the world and providing for their families.

Sen. Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said: Nebraska farmers and ranchers didnt elect any of the bureaucrats at OSHA. Thats why this ruling is an encouraging step to restore common sense and the separation of powers.
NEW YORK  While world leaders gathered for the annual United Nations General Assembly this week, Congolese President Joseph Kabila was busy at home, urging for calm in the capital of Kinshasa.

Dozens of people were killed during two days of violent riots there this week after Kabila missed his own deadline to announce a date for the countrys indefinitely postponed presidential election. And on Thursday, U.N. human rights chief Zeid Raad al Hussein condemned the governments harsh response to the protests, saying that government forces had taken an extremely confrontational position.

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, Hussein said.

Kabila has served as president since 2001, when his father, Laurent-Desire, was assassinated by his own bodyguard. Kabilas inner circle insists he doesnt plan to violate constitutional term limits by running for president again, but his camp has also refused to announce a date for elections that would presumably shift him out of his seat.

In multiple conversations with FP, Kabilas top aide, Barnabe Kikaya-bin-Karubi, has cited the governments 2012-2013 fight against M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congos east as the reason for the delay. He said so much time and so many resources were allocated to fighting the Rwandan-backed rebellion in the countrys unstable eastern region that it became impossible to register voters and get organized in time for this years election. Critics say that is just an excuse to cover up Kabilas attempts to stay in power.

This month, Kabilas administration announced its plan for a power-sharing transitional government that will run the country between the end of his mandate and whenever the elections eventually take place. The catch? Kabila will still be president of the interim administration.

Story continues

Kikaya said if Kabila hands the transitional government off to someone else, he would be violating the Congolese constitution, which requires him to stay in place until a new leader has been elected.

The airplane Congo needs a pilot, and there will continue to be a pilot until the new pilot is found, and the new pilot can only be found through the ballot box, he told FP in an interview in Washington last week. To have Kabila step down, he added, would spark a power vacuum and lead to instability and chaos in the Congo.

Kikaya visited Washington and New York this past week in part to try to sell the plan to senior U.S. officials in the National Security Council, the State Department, and on Capitol Hill  and with regional partners at the U.N. General Assembly.

He said officials in the United States have come to understand that President Kabila is still a key player in terms of assuring that the Congo remains stable.

Tensions over the elections have grown since American officials began threatening sanctions against anyone who stands in the way of the democratic process in Congo. This week, State Department officials expressed concern over the Congolese governments unwillingness to stick to a date for its elections: State spokesman John Kirby said in a statement that the United States is disappointed by the delay and deeply alarmed by reports of violence that occurred alongside civic protests in Kinshasa. Kirby said the violence only solidified the governments need to organize elections as soon as technically feasible, and guaranteeing the countrys first democratic transition of power.

In his conversation with FP, Kikaya said thats what Kabila wants too.

It will be a novelty to have a change of leadership through elections, unlike what happened in the Congo in the past, which was always through civil war or through revolutions or through chaos or through bloodshed, he said.

But according to the countrys term limits, Kabila should be prepared to step down as soon as Dec. 19, 2016  prompting suspicion that the long-serving president is purposely stalling the elections as his camp announced he would also head the newly suggested transitional body.

In the meantime, human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have accused Kinshasa of cracking down on activist networks to silence opponents complaints about the slow electoral process. HRW has also pointed to Congos expulsion of Ida Sawyer, the watchdog groups American researcher who spent more than eight years working in Congo, as evidence that the Congolese government is trying to avoid reporting on human rights violations.

Kikaya initially said Sawyer was only asked to leave because she was found carrying two work permits in her passport at the same time. He accused Sawyer of doing so to ensure that when her first permit expired, the next one would immediately kick in. Instead, Congolese officials took away the second permit and forced her to leave the country a month later, when the older one expired.

It has nothing to do with politics or anything, she just had an immigration problem, Kikaya said in Washington. But when pushed to explain why her work permit was not renewed, the top Kabila aide admitted Sawyers work permit was just the drop that made the vase overflow and that the Congolese government believes she was no longer objective in her work at Human Rights Watch.

If you stay in a place too long, you start developing acquaintances, he said, comparing Sawyers position to that of a diplomats, and saying she should be transferred elsewhere but will not be welcome to work in Congo again. Whether you like it or not, we are still human beings. It affects your work and its affects your capacity to have an objective point of view on a situation.

Kikaya went on to say there are plenty of other people qualified to take over Sawyers job, and she should instead consider a career teaching or researching somewhere else, like in Rwanda.

We are a sovereign nation, we have made a decision, please respect it, he said. What does it cost Human Rights Watch to appoint someone else?

Sawyer told FP that over her lengthy tenure in Congo, she has researched abuses carried out both by the government and by rebel groups operating in Congolese territory, and is deeply disappointed that certain officials refused to allow her work in Congo to continue. Her expulsion, she said, is a step that we see in the context of broader government repression against human rights activists and independent observers.

Photo credit: EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP/Getty Images
(Adds analyst and shareholder quote, changes dateline)

By Chine Labbe and Maya Nikolaeva

VERSAILLES, France, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Former Societe Generale trader Jerome Kerviel is liable for only 1 million euros of the 4.9 billion euros in losses he racked up at the bank, and not the whole amount, a French court ruled on Friday.

The ruling by the Versailles Court of Appeals, the latest in a series of judgments on a case dating back to 2008, leaves a question mark hanging over whether the government can reclaim the 2.2 billion euros of tax reliefs which SocGen obtained against the losses if Kerviel was not held wholly liable.

Industry analysts have said that would put its dividend at risk and affect its capital adequacy ratios.

Kerviel was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted by a Paris court in October 2010 for breach of trust and fraud over the losses caused by diastrous trades in equity derivatives.

Initially he was ordered to repay the total amount of losses incurred by SocGen, but subsequent rulings struck down that decision, and in June a public prosecutor said the bank "had left the door open" for Kerviel to act illegally.

The Versailles court, charged with deciding how much Kerviel should actually be liable for, agreed broadly with that view.

Kerviel did indeed commit fraud, it said. But it added: "Multiple errors committed by the bank played a major and determining role in the causal processes behind the very significant harm that was done to it.

"Therefore, reparations for Societ Generale attributable to Jerome Kerviel should only amount to 1 million euros."

The liability issue potentially put the tax deductibility of the loss at risk, according to the government and Kerviel's legal team.

Junior Budget Minister Christian Eckert reiterated that the government would be interested in recovering the tax and said that he, along with Finance Minister Michel Sapin had asked the French tax authorities to look into Friday's court judgment.

Story continues

Kerviel's lawyer David Koubbi said "someone at Societe Generale should prepare to have a pen and chequebook" ready to pay back the money.

However, SocGen lawyer Jean Veil said the bank had "no worries" it could lose the right to the tax break.

"There would have to be a deliberate error, an excessive error (by the bank) and that is not what is in the ruling," he said.

A statement from the bank later said the ruling would have no impact on its tax situation.

The trader has never denied building up trading positions amounting to 50 billion euros, but contends his managers should have been aware of his actions, something the bank has always denied.

Either side could send Friday's ruling to a higher court, which would not judge on the facts but would decide whether the appeal court's decision conforms to the law.

Separately, in June, a French labour court ordered SocGen to pay Kerviel 455,000 euros for wrongful dismissal, arguing the bank took too long to fire him after it knew of his misconduct. SocGen has said it will appeal against that ruling.

Friday's ruling "gives me the energy to keep fighting and bring the indemnity down to zero," Kerviel told reporters. "I believe I owe Societe Generale nothing."

DRAGGING ON

Banks are struggling to keep their investors happy against a backdrop of increasing pressure on profitability from low interest rates, a weak economic outlook, and tighter regulation and compliance procedures.

Some SocGen shareholders have expressed exasperation that on top of these troubles, the Kerviel affair is still dragging on, but the money at stake could mean it will continue to do so for some time yet.

"A payment of 2.2 billion euros is in our view a loss of value of 2.2 billion euros for shareholders; there is no nicer way to present it," an analyst based on London said in an email to clients on Thursday.

SocGen, whose shares ended down 1.5 percent at 31.89 euros on Friday in line with a weaker European banking sector, has a market value of about 26 billion euros. ($1=0.8924 euros) (Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon and Jean-Baptiste-Vey; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Andrew Callus, Greg Mahlich)
Tidjane Thiam

Credit Suisse has been firing staff in New York over the past few weeks.

Guy Cirillo, a veteran trading executive at Credit Suisse known for his expertise in electronic trading, is among those to have left the Swiss bank, according to people familiar with the matter.

Cirillo was most recently the global head of business development for electronic products. He left this week.

Cirillo is a big name in electronic trading. He is at least partly famous for organizing a Miami conference that's featured in Scott Patterson's book "Dark Pools: The Rise of the Machine Traders and the Rigging of the US Stock Market." He was also one of the key executives behind Credit Suisse's Advanced Execution Services business.

The latest job cuts are part of part of an ongoing downsizing at Credit Suisse's investment bank. The bank laid out plans in October 2015 to cut thousands of jobs, and then said in March it would cut deeper still.

The markets business, which houses fixed income and equities and has been a source of pain for many Wall Street banks, has been a particular focus. That unit generated a $23 million loss in the second quarter.

There have also been changes at the top of the markets business, with Brian Chin succeeding Timothy O'Hara as chief executive of global markets. Earlier in the year, the bank named Mike Paliotta to run the equities business globally, while Steven Garnett, who had been cohead of equities in the Americas, retired.

Screen Shot 2016 09 23 at 11.06.20 AM

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DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / This week, in a federal court in New Jersey, two former assistants to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are on trial on federal criminal charges for causing a traffic jam that shut down parts of the George Washington Bridge, which connects New Jersey to New York City, reports John Helms a criminal defense attorney in Dallas. The shutdown caused massive problems in Fort Lee, New Jersey, including delaying emergency responders and children in school buses. The defendants allegedly caused the traffic jam to punish the mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, who had refused to support Chris Christie's campaign for governor of New Jersey.

A lot of juicy details are coming out about when Governor Christie knew about this, and the text and email messages between the defendants and others are damning. All of this obscures a very basic issue: How is it a federal crime to cause a traffic jam, asks top criminal defense lawyer Helms?

According to the federal prosecutors, the answer begins with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (the "Port Authority"). The Port Authority is like a joint venture between New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority owns and operates the George Washington Bridge. And importantly, the Port Authority receives a lot of federal money to promote transportation between the two states.

In order to protect federal money spent on projects like this, Congress made it a federal crime to steal, embezzle, or misapply money or property from entities that receive at least $10,000 of federal funds annually. See 18 USC section 666(a). The Port Authority received far more than this amount.

So how does causing a traffic jam count as embezzling, stealing, or misapplying money or property from the Port Authority? First of all, Governor Christie had appointed loyalists to key positions in the Port Authority. They allegedly told Port Authority personnel to shut down traffic lanes and toll booths by telling them that this was part of a traffic study to see what would happen if the lanes and booths were suddenly shut down.

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The prosecutors argue that the defendants wrongfully took and misapplied the services of Port Authority employees and Port Authority property, like the traffic lanes and tollbooths, in order to carry out a scheme for political retribution.

This is, to be sure, a broad application of the law. The trial judge has allowed the case to go forward, though. If the defendants are convicted at trial, we will have to see whether the United Stated Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upholds this use of the law.

One thing is clear, though: Federal prosecutors often use aggressive interpretations of federal criminal laws in ways that expand their reach into areas that people might not normally expect. Sometimes, aggressive interpretations of the law succeed, and sometimes they don't. As a former federal prosecutor, I drafted a lot of federal criminal indictments, and I have a very good sense of when a prosecutor is stretching a charge. Anyone charged with a federal crime should consult with an experienced federal criminal lawyer quickly. Among other things, a good federal criminal defense lawyer should analyze whether there are good reasons to challenge the scope of an indictment before trial and how to preserve such a challenge for appeal.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a federal offense or are facing other criminal charges, contact John Helms criminal defense attorney in Dallas immediately. Call 214-666-8010.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-helms-69172699

source: http://johnhelms.attorney/criminal-defense-attorney-dallas-weighs-federal-traffic-jam/

SOURCE: John Helms Law Firm via Submit Press Release 123
When They Can't Pay, They are Stuck in Jail Until Their Case Moves Forward. In the Meantime, Their Job, Their Children, and Their Other Responsibilities Exist in a Sort of Limbo

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / No one should be punished for being poor says Texas criminal defense lawyers Broden & Mickelsen.

In many parts of the country, being too poor to make bail leaves criminal defendants with just one option: Sit in jail while their case is pending. It's a scenario that happens over and over again. An individual gets arrested and charged with a crime - usually something relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. At their bail hearing, the judge sets bail, sometimes in the hundreds, sometimes in the thousands. When they can't pay, they are stuck in jail until their case moves forward. In the meantime, their job, their children, and their other responsibilities exist in a sort of limbo.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, and reported by NBC News, it's a practice that has gone on for far too long. Recently, the Justice Department claimed that incarcerating the indigent due to an inability to pay is unconstitutional.

If you have been charged with a crime and held in jail because you could not make bail, contact a Texas criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. You have important rights. If your rights have been violated, the criminal defense lawyers at Broden & Mickelsen can help you defend them.

A Texas-Sized Problem

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Unfortunately, it's not always a good thing. In Harris County, reports have surfaced of individuals being incarcerated on minor charges, simply because they could not afford the bail set in their case.

According to several sources, many criminal defendants in Harris County have suffered harsh consequences due to a lack of funds. One 22-year-old woman nearly lost her job after she was kept in jail for two days for driving without a license. She could not afford the $2,500 bail set in her case. In another case, a young, pregnant mother with two older children, including a child with a disability, was told to come up with $5,000 bail money or remain in jail.

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The jail in Harris County is the largest in Texas and the third-largest in the United States. One source claims that an overwhelming 77 percent of all inmates in the jail are there because they could not afford to pay bail. Out of 8,600 individuals processed into the jail in any given month, 6,800 are detained because they can't pay.

Justice Department Says Enough Is Enough

The indigent bail problem extends far beyond Texas. The Justice Department set forth its opinion on the issue in a case pending in Georgia. In that case, Maurice Walker was incarcerated for six nights after he could not pay $160 bail for a misdemeanor offense of being a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol.

According to the Justice Department, Walker's incarceration was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and reminiscent of the debtors' prisons commonly described in Charles Dickens novels written in the Nineteenth Century.

The Justice Department also said there are other methods to guarantee a person's appearance in court, especially when the individual has been charged with a minor, non-violent offense.

Jailed Because You Could Not Pay Bail? Call a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer

No one should be punished for being poor. It's not a crime to struggle to make ends meet. At Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer Broden & Mickelsen, we defend the rights of people who have suffered at the hands of a justice system that does not always treat everyone fairly. If you have been the victim of unjust bail practices, we can help. Contact us or call 214-720-9552 to discuss your case with a Texas criminal defense lawyer today.

source: http://www.brodenmickelsen.com/blog/dallas-criminal-defense-lawyer-asks-should-being-poor-mean-you-have-to-stay-in-jail/

SOURCE: Broden & Mickelsen, LLP via Submit Press Release 123
Public, academic and private laboratories that work with deadly diseases have mistakenly transferred highly contagious viruses and bacteria to unsecure locations at least twenty-one times in the past 13 years, a frequency more than double what the officials overseeing such work previously said their data showed, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

In each case, the scientists and officials involved wrongly concluded that the deadly pathogens had been inactivated and thus were safe to transport elsewhere. One of the incidents, involving mistaken shipments by a Defense Department laboratory of live anthrax bacteria, attracted wide notice in 2015. But the GAO report said key government agencies have been slow to fix managerial and policy lapses that contributed to that event and might provoke additional errors.

No government-wide standards exist for ensuring that pathogens have been inactivated  either by chemicals, radiation, heat or filtration -- prior to their shipment via public channels, the GAO report said. No firm requirements exist for reporting mistakes, a circumstance that means the real number of improper shipments could be even greater than 21. And no clear policies have been set on how lapses are to be punished.

The Departments of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, two of the principal oversight agencies, do not know the extent to which incomplete inactivation occurs and whether incidents are being properly identified, analyzed, and addressed, the GAO said.

The auditors report focused on the governments Select Agents Program, which regulates the use of bacteria, toxins, and viruses  including anthrax, Ebola, Marburg, and others -- that have the capacity to pose a severe threat to humans, livestock, and crops, because the pathogens are deadly and no treatments may be available. As of May, 286 research facilities around the country were enrolled in the program, which allows them to conduct scientific experiments with such pathogens in laboratories outfitted with special gear to ensure the materials cannot leak.

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They are all obliged to inactivate the pathogens before removing them from these laboratories, and in fact useful scientific work frequently occurs with inactivated as well as live pathogens. But government oversight of these labs is notoriously weak; in 2013, the GAO called it fragmented and too reliant on self-policing.

In the new report, the auditors lamented that the government is still without a national strategy for ensuring that the associated risks are minimized, and also complained that no single person or governmental organization is responsible for fixing problems.

The principal message of the report, which was requested by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and produced in consultation with the National Academy of Science and top biology experts, was that the government as a result lacks accurate knowledge of how often live pathogens have been wrongly circulated and why; it also is generally unaware of how inconsistently the rules have been enforced.

Top officials of the Select Agents Program, for example, told GAO 10 improper shipments had occurred since the beginning of 2004, mostly involving anthrax but also including equine encephalitis virus  an agent once used in the U.S. biowarfare program  as well as Ebola and botulinum toxin.

After the GAO dug more carefully through the programs own records, as well as a separate database at the National Institutes of Health, however, it found evidence of another 11 improper shipments of live select pathogens as well as at least four improper shipments of pathogens formed through artificial (or recombinant) engineering of such pathogens, typically to produce vaccines. In two instances involving the select agent shipments  from a university and from a private laboratory  those involved refused to talk to the GAOs auditors.

The auditors noted that additional mistaken shipments of dangerous  but less deadly  pathogens such as West Nile virus and a bacterium that causes tuberculosis might also have occurred, but that no requirement exists to report these to oversight authorities. Experts have said such reporting should be required, the GAO said.

High-containment laboratories we visited did not consistently apply safeguards when conducting inactivation, and there is limited guidance on doing so, the GAO report said. Even the Centers for Disease Control, which is supposed to help oversee such work, failed to properly inactivate a sample of the Ebola virus before moving it from a high-security lab to another one in December 2014, the report noted.

This story is part of Up in Arms. National security-related events, reports and findings that deserve more attention. Click here to read more stories in this series.

Don't miss another National Security investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

The potential for public harm is substantial. In the incidents involving the Defense Department, a military laboratory in Utah was discovered to have wrongly shipped live anthrax to dozens of labs and nine foreign countries. Those labs, in turn, sent the samples  which they believed were safe -- to other locations, according to the GAO report. An Army investigation into the Dugway shipments revealed senior management allowed a culture of complacency to flourish at the facility, resulting in laboratory personnel who did not always follow rules, regulations, and procedures.

Even though pertinent rules call for fines of up to $500,000 and even criminal charges for safety breaches in the Select Agents Program, just one fine has been imposed for any of these shipments  a $150,000 penalty against a private lab in 2004, causing GAO investigators to raise a concern that federal labs are receiving more lenient treatment. Thisraises questions about the appearance of a lack of independence in the regulation of these laboratories, the report said. It said some of the enforcement agencies could not supply documents justifying their decisions to forego penalties.

The auditors recommended establishing a formal tracking system for shipments of active pathogens, and a more reliable, uniform system for assuring diseases are inactivated before theyre shipped.

Officials involved in the Select Agent Program at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Agriculture Department said in written responses to the report that they concurred with these recommendations, and promised to issue new rules this year meant to ensure that pathogens are inactivated before they are shipped. The Defense Department said it had no comment but added that the report would inform efforts to improve oversight.

This story is part of Up in Arms. National security-related events, reports and findings that deserve more attention. Click here to read more stories in this series.

Related stories

Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
London (AFP) - England international defender Kyle Walker has become the latest Tottenham star to sign a new contract with the Premier League high-flyers, the club said on Friday.

The 26-year-old right-back put pen to paper on a new five-year deal to join Christian Eriksen, Harry Winks, Tom Carroll, Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Dele Alli in extending his stay at White Hart Lane.

Walker, who joined Spurs in 2009 and has made 155 Premier League appearances for the London side, is now contracted to 2021.

"It's a great honour," Walker told Spurs TV. "I want to say a big thank you to the chairman and the manager for putting their faith in me.

"It's been a long stay here but a very enjoyable one. I'm fully enjoying it. It's like my second home now and I'm happy to commit my future to Tottenham Hotspur."

Spurs have announced a spate of new contracts this month and are expected to confirm more in the coming weeks, with Jan Vertonghen and Erik Lamela both in talks over new deals.

The pacey Walker has established himself as one of Tottenham's most consistent performers under Mauricio Pochettino and was an integral part of the team qualifying for the Champions League last season.

He has made a strong start to the current campaign too with two assists in Spurs' opening five league games and helping Pochettino's men record three clean sheets.

Walker's performances also earned him a regular spot for England and he started Sam Allardyce's first game in charge, against Slovakia three weeks ago.
tadashi ishii

Dentsu, Japan's largest advertising company and the fifth largest advertising group in the world, has issued an apology and fuller explanation about the over-billing scandal that has embroiled the firm in its home market.

AdNews first reported on Wednesday that Dentsu Japan admitted its Japanese performance marketing subsidiary had over-billed Toyota Japan at least five years. The Financial Times followed that up with a report saying Dentsu was in crisis talks with "more than 100 clients" over 160 possible incidents of over-charging.

Dentsu released a full statement on the matter on Friday.

633 transactions, affecting 111 advertisers, and $2.29 million in fees

In it, the Dentsu's president and CEO Tadashi Ishii reiterated the company's previous statement, that the issue only affects its Japanese unit, but it also laid bare just how bad the issue is.

Ishii says Dentsu uncovered 633 suspicious transactions affecting 111 advertisers. Those suspicious transactions amount to approximately 230 million Japanese Yen ($2.29 million).

"Types of irregularities involve inappropriate operations which we have detected to date include discrepancies in advertising placement periods either made consciously or by human error, failure of placement, and false reporting regarding results or achievements," the statement reads.

"Additionally, it has been detected that there were incidents where our invoices did not reflect the actual results, resulting in unjust overcharged billing," it continued.

Among the suspicious transactions, Dentsu believes there were 14 times it charged a client when no ad placement had been made at all.

Dentsu says it is continuing to investigate the matter and, as an interim measure, has created an independent group responsible to verify ad placements and billings. All affected clients have been informed.

"We sincerely apologize to our esteemed advertisers, the parties concerned and our shareholders from the bottom of our hearts for causing concern and trouble," the statement says. However, Dentsu points out that it does not believe its business results will be materially effected as a result of the issue.

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While the matter is only thought to affect Dentsu's Japanese business, it threatens to seriously damage its reputation. The company controls 25% of Japan's $61 billion annual ad spend, it is the sole firm responsible for negotiating sponsorships for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and it has offices worldwide.

In the US, the advertising agency sector has been rocked by a high-profile report published in June that alleged non-transparent business practices were "pervasive" in the ad-buying market. Agency groups denied the report's claims, but that hasn't stopped several high-profile advertisers including JP Morgan Chase, Sears, Nationwide, and General Electric auditing their agency relationships as a result of its findings, as The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week.

Here is Dentsu's statement in full:

"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.

In relation to a part of our digital advertising services for advertisers (including performance-based digital advertising services) provided by our company and some of our group companies in Japan, it has been found that there were multiple incidents where services were provided inappropriately. Types of irregularities involving inappropriate operations which we have detected to date include discrepancies in advertising placement periods either made consciously or by human error, failure of placement, and false reporting regarding performance results or achievements. Additionally, it has been detected that there were incidents where our invoices did not reflect actual results, resulting in unjust overcharged billing.

We take this matter seriously and immediately after finding out about the incidents, we organized an internal investigation team in the middle of August. We have initiated extensive investigations to grasp and verify the actual situations, including the root causes leading to the inappropriate operations, and we are vigorously continuing our investigations. More specifically, our investigations cover those digital advertising services rendered after November 2012 to date in Japan, during which time period billing data and other relevant data, which would be required to grasp the actual situations and for clarifying the root causes leading to the inappropriate operations, have been saved. We have been pursuing investigations through verifying and comparing various data and documents, conducting interviews of employees who were involved in the operations, verifying business flows related to the digital advertising services, and employing other feasible means.

For those transactions which we have found in the course of our investigations that might have been conducted inappropriately, irrespective of the details thereof, we have reported to the advertisers concerned the factual backgrounds which we have found to date. We also have reported to relevant associations and organizations the aforesaid situations. While we are still in the process of pursuing our investigations, if we confirm new facts, we will deal with such new findings in the same manner.

As to the scale of transactions that might have been conducted inappropriately, the following outlines the specifics thereof which we have confirmed as of September 22: there are 633 suspicious transactions and the number of advertisers concerned is 111; the transactions corresponding to inappropriate operations amount to approximately JPY 230 million. Among those transactions, the number of cases where fees were charged while no placement had been made was found to be around 14.

As an interim measure, in order to ensure that human errors or inappropriate operations in digital advertising will be prevented and detected, in early September we transferred operations to verify the specifics of advertising placements, publications and billing to a separate section which is independent from the section previously responsible for such operations, and we have endeavored to strengthen our business system for such verifying operations.

Our company is determined to clarify the causes leading to the impropriate operations and to establish further requisite measures for resolving the situations and fundamental preventive measures, and to implement such steps faithfully and steadily in order to restore confidence in our company. Following the taking of such steps, we plan to report the progress of our efforts to our clients and business partners including advertisers, related associations and organizations and all other stakeholders. At this stage, we are aiming at doing so by the end of this year.

We sincerely apologize to our esteemed advertisers, the parties concerned and our shareholders from the bottom of our hearts for causing concern and trouble.

At this moment, we do not believe that our business results would be materially affected. However, if we find any new matter which would materially affect our business results in the future, we will disclose such new matter promptly, as soon as it comes to our attention."

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Derek Theler appears to be a model of health, but the Baby Daddy star has been dealing with a serious medical issue since he was just 3-years-old.

The actor joins The Doctors to open up about how he has managed his Type I diabetes while working in Hollywood.

Growing up, Derek missed out on pretty much anything with sugar, like birthday cakes, soda and most cereals due to his need to keep his blood-sugar levels in check. His constant monitoring of his levels even continues today.

Watch: What are the signs of diabetes?

Its hard. Its 24-7. You have to be responsible and no matter what happens, youre going to have mishaps, he says of managing his blood-sugar. Ive had some scares in the past, but my message is to try and live life normally and just be responsible with your disease and you can achieve all your goals.

Derek tells The Doctors that hes happy to be someone that kids with Type I diabetes can look up to because when he was little, he was not aware of any actors with the disease.

He recommends that people with the disease be aware of all the latest technological advances in combating it. Derek uses an insulin pump along with a continuous glucose monitoring, which he credits for helping him to maintain his disease.

Watch: Do-It-Yourself Diabetes Test?

A lot of times in medicine, we talk about your illness and it either defines you, or your define it. It sounds like you have done the latter, ER physician Dr. Travis Stork tells Derek.

Catch Derek on Baby Daddy on Freeform on Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c or on the Freeform app!
When tech is one-size-fits-all, easy to use and overly digital, it can cause us to lose touch with our humanity.

NewDealDesign, the studio that helped to develop the Fitbit, aims to simplify our devices. Gadi Amit, the companys principal designer and president, encourages his team to think differently about product design. However, he and his designers know that counterintuitive ideas, while important to consider, are not always the best ideas. Rather, theyre often a springboard for further innovation.

Thats part of the spirit behind Scrip, a concept device that NewDealDesign announced yesterday. Its an idea for a new way to conduct peer-to-peer payments -- and make transactions tangible and tactile in an increasingly cashless society.

Image credit: NewDealDesign

Related: 8 Companies Making Payment Handling Easy

Throughout his career, Amit and his team have led the design for the Lytro camera, the recently suspended Google modular smartphone moonshot Project Ara, hardware for Intel, connected home devices and more. Not to mention, NewDealDesign is responsible for giving wearables a name with the Fitbit. A decade ago, pedometers were cumbersome and uncool. Now theyre sleek and trendy.

NewDealDesign prioritizes a patience for the process of iterating and reiterating, and Amit values people who are driven to devise surprising solutions. This, of course, is at the expense of speed and expansive growth, some of the primary virtues of tech entrepreneurs. In Amits view, a 40-person team in San Francisco can compete with a multi-office global design firm, in terms of the opportunities for interpersonal connections and collaboration.

Theres an element of serendipity in design, Amit tells Entrepreneur. "You throw three designers into a room, and they came each with one idea. Its not that one of these will be the right [idea], its that fourth and fifth and sixth and 10th idea that they brought after they interacted.

The intimate size of the team has helped the studio differentiate itself and stay true to its contrarian ideals. About six years ago, NewDealDesign introduced what Amit calls a dark horse theory to its creative process, which involves asking What is the opposite? among a sea of intuitive proposed solutions. This led the first Fitbit to be concealed in a womans bra rather than proudly displayed, and it carried over to later models, which still refrain from the macho flaunting of personal health stats. Project Ara rejected the monolith smartphone in favor of an adaptable, buildable one.

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In addition to providing technology companies with simple and emotionally engaging design solutions, NewDeal has begun rolling out concept projects that seek to further advance tech while addressing human needs. The first of these, inspired by a Fast Company inquiry into the future of wearables, was Project Underskin. NewDealDesign explored the potential for an sensor implant that could monitor your health, perform tasks such as unlocking doors and trade information via near-field communication (NFC)

Scrip, this years project, is a copper-colored handheld object meant to store money. The idea is that, rather than paying with a credit or debit card or a service such as PayPal or Venmo, you would load some allotment of money from your bank account to your Scrip at an ATM, a bank or using your smartphone. You could then pay a friend across the table -- or make a purchase at an NFC terminal.

Video credit: NewDealDesign

But Scrip is more than just another way to beam your funds. Its tactile surface serves to make its hypothetical users more mindful of the money theyre exchanging. For example, if you were paying $31 for something, you could swipe the Scrip to simulate handing over a $20 bill, a $10 and a $1. The device would become heavier for higher payments, a Braille-like pattern on its exterior would change to reflect each denomination of currency and the amount would be displayed on a tiny screen.

What the Designer of Fitbit Wants to Revolutionize Next

Image credit: NewDealDesign

The project is about this worldview that we are moving into a cashless society, and all transactions are going to be in some kind of an ether or a few bits of energy moving around between servers, Amit says. Thats already been proven to be fallacy. For the last 30 years, people have been trying to get rid of cash, and cash is still holding very true to our life.

Cash prevails because its anonymous, untraceable and universal, Amit explains, but thats only part of the picture. When the NewDealDesign team decided to reinvent digital payments, they didnt intend to add friction for the sake of adding friction. They did their research.

Different payment methods inspire different neurological and behavioral reactions. The exchange of paper money, which is a social interaction, triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin, according to one study. Paying with cash inspires greater feelings of pain and loss than paying virtually, other research has found. And its no surprise, given that so many people accumulate credit card debt, that people tend to be less financially responsible when paying in the abstract.

Its very contrary to, if were really trying to solve transactions, the evolutionary path is like, make them easier, make them faster, make them less painful, says Jaeha Yoo, director of experience design at NewDeal. But wed hit this point: Is that really the right way to do this? We never questioned it before.

Related: Leverage Emotion to Design a Product They Can't Live Without

As of now, Scrip is not functional, but the team has built three models to showcase various possible physical states for the device. They provide the look and feel of money, from the shiny penny-colored exterior, to the round shape, to an engraved signature on the back that reflects the markings and sovereignty of banknotes.

We want people to appreciate it, says Yoo, who compares Scrip to a loadable transit MetroCard. This holds value. Its not just a blank, anonymous stone. Its actually designed and makes reference to money, but its not literally a coin anymore.

Amit and Yoo acknowledge that Scrip may never become a consumer product, but they hope to apply their findings about tactile interactions to future designs. From generating an abundance of ideas for each project to presenting a more deliberate way of exchanging money with Scrip, patience and thoughtfulness permeate NewDealDesigns work.

Its the whole process and the way we actually train ourselves to think outside proverbial technology world boxes, Amit says. Sometimes, were removing features or removing functions, but making it more appealing to the emotions or to the feel of the tactile. This is the way to actually crack a problem.
Algeria is North Africas oil superpower, but its years of steady production havent brought prosperity or development. Instead, the country is facing mounting economic, social, and political pressures. The quality of its public services, especially in such critical areas as education, healthcare, and housing, is in decline. The workings of the government in Algiers are opaque, and the country is perceived to be among the worlds 10 most corrupt. Unemployment, particularly among younger Algerians, remains at well over 20 percent. Many of the countrys educated youth say they would leave if they could.

In other countries in the region, similar challenges led to the fall of regime after regime during the tumultuous Arab Spring in 2011. That the Algerian government was able to escape a similar fate was due largely to widespread fears that a major political and economic upheaval would trigger a civil war similar to the one that ravaged the country during the Black Decade of the 1990s. The government was also able to placate its restive population with subsidies, government jobs, and public sector pay increases  all financed, of course, by oil.

After oil prices collapsed in 2014-15, however, everything changed. Oil revenues have fallen by more than 50 percent. Fiscal and trade deficits have shot up, international reserves are falling rapidly, and the currency has been devalued by nearly 30 percent. At the same time, the defense budget has more than doubled since 2004, ballooning to over $10 billion to counter instability stemming from the Libyan conflict in the east and terrorist incursions from Mali in the south. On top of all this, since the 1990s, more than 270,000 of the countrys best-educated workers have sought their fortunes abroad.

Desperate to create jobs and maintain GDP growth, which is forecasted to fall from 3.7 percent in 2015 to 1.9 percent this year, the countrys authoritarian government has proposed a new development strategy to replace its oil-based system of patronage. The plan  called the New Economic Growth Model  was launched in July. Its overriding goal is to diversify the countrys economy away from its overreliance on hydrocarbons, which accounted for about one-third of GDP, over two-thirds of government revenues, and over 95 percent of exports as of late last year. Unfortunately  thanks to a rumored power struggle in the inner circles of the government of the aging and seriously ill President Bouteflika  the plans precise details are still unavailable.

Among the main components of the new strategy is a law meant to incentivize investment in the non-oil sector by introducing tax breaks and loosening regulations. The hope is that high value added sectors such as agribusiness, renewable energy, and information and communication technology will be able to attract significant foreign direct investment. These investments, it is hoped, will generate enough tax revenue to offset what has been lost to the oil price drop. To reduce another costly drain on its budget, the government has also begun raising fuel and electricity prices for the first time in over a decade.

Will the new strategy be the stabilizing force the government needs? If Algerian history and international experience are any indication, the answer is no.

The fundamental problem is that  in a chronically misgoverned country  the new plan takes a highly centralized, bureaucratic approach to economic development, one that leaves no room for participatory methods that would let citizens ensure government accountability.

Development plans similar to the one being proposed, and which were successfully implemented in other countries (notably in Japan and Korea, but also in Ethiopia and Rwanda), were drawn up by highly competent technocrats with no vested interest in the envisioned investments. That doesnt appear to be the case in Algeria. In fact, in Algeria, its not even clear whos in charge of the plan  or, for that matter, of the country. While President Bouteflika is the official head of government, real power appears to lie behind the scenes with what Algerians call le pouvoir, an inner circle composed of the countrys military and security forces and supported by insider businessmen who are set to profit immensely from the plans investments.

Algeria is at the stage of development where the quality of governance begins to play a major role in determining economic success. Judged by that standard, though, it still has a long way to go. Of the North African countries, it consistently ranks below Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia in most of the World Banks Governance Indicators. In fact, in terms of overall governance, it ranks in the bottom 25 percent of all the countries the World Bank assesses.

Algeria is particularly weak in rule of law, control of corruption, government effectiveness, and regulatory quality  all areas critical to successful economic development. These measures showed marked improvement from the late 1990s to about 2004, but since then they have largely remained stagnant or declined. Algerias score for regulatory quality, which includes such measures as unfair competitive practices, has declined so much since 2004 that it now ranks below Haitis. And there is no indication that the government has any plans to address these deficiencies, the results of which are all too evident. Algerias poor governance has made for inefficient and uncompetitive markets in labor, goods, and finance. This, of course, is mainly linked to the countrys all-pervasive corruption, where patronage jobs result in overstaffing so severe it exerts a drag on national growth.

Economic development plans are only as good as their assumptions, and one of the New Economic Growth Models major assumptions is that it will be able to attract enough investment from abroad. This would be a sharp break with past patterns, which show Algeria lagging considerably behind its neighbors, Morocco and Tunisia. According to the World Banks Ease of Doing Business rankings, foreign investors generally perceive the country to have an unfavorable business climate. This perception is reinforced by recent investment reforms that left unchanged a rule requiring majority national ownership and prohibiting formal foreign control of any enterprise or project. Furthermore, international experience shows that foreign direct investment tends to be more profitable as economic freedom increases. At present, the Heritage Institutes Index of Economic Freedom characterized Algeria as mostly unfree, and the proposed reform plan contains no provisions for improvements in this area.

Poor security is another major factor discouraging investment. Algerias energy sector has been the target of several terrorist attacks, leading foreign companies to transfer their staff out of the country. Tourism has also been targeted, dampening interest in this ordinarily attractive sector. In addition, the development of the countrys shale resources has sparked protests, leaving few companies willing to risk investment in this area.

By attempting to boost economic growth while avoiding reforms that could lead the country down a more democratic path, the Algerian government is taking a major gamble. Without the necessary reforms to boost foreign investment, the new plans success ironically depends on oil  the very dependency the plan was intended to break. Unless oil prices recover in the next several years to facilitate the massive increase in domestic investment required to get the plan off the ground, Algerias current growth rate of 2.7 percent per year  the bare minimum required to maintain stability  will not be sustainable.

As in many other oil-based economies, Algerias hydrocarbon sector has facilitated the creation and maintenance of an authoritarian and patronage-based political system. Once oil-producing countries become authoritarian, as in Algerias case, it is very difficult to steer them back toward democracy, as too many vested interests with a stake in blocking economic, social and political reforms have been created. Since it appears that the new reform plan was designed precisely by such vested interests in the corrupt government inner circle, it is unrealistic to expect the plan to set off a virtuous circle of reforms.

If oil prices stay low, the Algerian government will, at some point, no longer have the resources to support its patronage schemes, which will likely lead to increasing instability, potentially ending in an Arab Spring-type uprising. The governments only realistic option to guarantee the countrys stability and its own survival is to replace the New Economic Growth Model with a broad-based, community-oriented development plan subject to public oversightperhaps along the lines of the plan successfully implemented in Morocco. Such a plan would not produce the economic windfalls previously provided by oil, but it could potentially set Algeria on a virtuous circle of growth and reform, rather than sinking it further. Due to its unrealistic assumptions, the current plan is a losing proposition that may soon leave Algeria with no option but to accept an International IMF austerity program similar to or harsher than the one recently imposed on Egypt. Should this occur, it is likely that another Black Decade will lie ahead.

In the photo, a demonstrator sits in the Sahara desert village of In-Salah, south Algeria, during a protest against the exploration of shale gas, on March 4, 2015.

Photo credit: FAROUK BATICHE/AFP/Getty Images
Donald Trump released more potential Supreme Court picks on Friday, adding to the list of 11 names hes already put out.

Here are the new names Trump announced Friday:

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah

Neil Gorsuch, judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Margaret Ryan, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Edward Mansfield, justice of the Iowa Supreme Court

Keith Blackwell, justice of the Georgia Supreme Court

Charles Canady, justice of the Florida Supreme Court

Timothy Tymkovich, chief judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Amul Thapar, judge of the U.S. District Court

Frederico Moreno, a judge of the U.S. District Court

Robert Young, chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court

Lee, however, has been a vocal opponent of Trump during the election, and said Friday that he would not accept Trumps hypothetical nomination to the Supreme Court. Sen. Lee already has the job he wants which is why he is campaigning to represent the great people of Utah again this year, Lee spokesman Conn Carroll told Politico.
Donald Trump on Friday announced new additions to his list of possible Supreme Court justices he would nominate should he become president.

The news was first reported on Twitter by an NBC News reporter:

Donald Trump will release an expanded list of potential SCOTUS picks later today, @chucktodd reportshere are the new additions: pic.twitter.com/P7TdYwUYSb  Alexandra Jaffe (@ajjaffe) September 23, 2016

Perhaps most notable on the new list of 10 individuals was Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a Tea Party favorite who previously served as an assistant US attorney and clerked for Justice Samuel Alito, one of the high court's conservative members.

A spokesman for Lee told Politico that it would be unlikely the senator would accept such a nomination.

"Sen. Lee already has the job he wants which is why he is campaigning to represent the great people of Utah again this year," spokesman Conn Carroll said.

Trump, seeking to appease conservatives worried he would nominate a liberal to the Supreme Court, released a list of 11 individuals in May that he would consider to fill the vacancy left behind by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

A key argument being made to the Never Trump faction of the Republican Party has been that Trump will appoint conservative justices to the court while his opponent, Hillary Clinton, would almost certainly appoint liberals.

NOW WATCH: DAVID CAY JOHNSTON: 'Donald Trump is literally making a profit off of his campaign'





More From Business Insider


(PITTSBURGH)  Stepping deeper into Americas 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.

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 youre not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what youre watching on television at night.

Trumps 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. Its 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.

Story continues

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 Mondays debate.

I assume hell wear that red power tie, Clinton said. Galifianakis responded, Or maybe like a white power tie.

Thats 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 elses 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 dont 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 theyre 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. Its 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.
On many subjects, Donald Trump has given no indication of what hed do if elected, but he has fleshed out at least two specific elements of his domestic agenda:

Asked what he would do about black-on-black crime, Trump called for the broad use of the contentious stop-and-frisk policing strategy in Americas cities. As Trump himself put it, I would do stop-and-frisk. I think you have to. At multiple campaign rallies, he has suggested that he would round up and deport the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. And in his formal speech on immigration policy, he listed various types of people he would round up and deport that total at least half that number: criminals, visa overstays, recent arrivals, and anyone receiving public benefits.

The press has yet to clarify what this would mean in practice.

To make good on these pledges to stop and frisk millions of black people and to round up and deport millions of Hispanics who are in the U.S. without permission, Trump would have to transform America into something so like a police state that it should scare even those who abhor crime and favor many deportations.

Recommended: Taking Trump Seriously, Not Literally

Frisking Innocent Black Bodies

In New York City, where Michael Bloomberg presided over most Stop and Frisk policing, the approach involved 4.4 million stopsthat is to say, armed agents of the state forced New Yorkers to stop on the street 4.4 million times between 2002 and 2015.

And 88 percent of those stops resulted in no further action!

Put another way, millions who did nothing wrong were needlessly stopped and harassed by police. It could not be more plain that huge numbers of them, the vast majority of whom were black and brown, gave no probable cause to justify a search.

As the New York Times reported in August 2013, Stop and Frisk did not just harass masses of innocents, it violated their constitutional rights: Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin concluded that the stops, which soared in number over the last decade as crime continued to decline, demonstrated a widespread disregard for the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government, as well as the 14th Amendments equal protection clause.

Story continues

Trump proposes to impose Stop and Frisk upon communities nationwidehe evidently has as little regard for the Tenth Amendment as he does for the Fourth and Fourteenth.

This would be a civil-liberties nightmare of epic proportions.

Rounding Up and Deport Millions

Unlike deporting unauthorized immigrants who have served time for crimes rather than releasing them back into American communities, or greater enforcement against businesses that hire undocumented labor, the approach of rounding up and deporting many millions more people would require a massive force of armed agents roaming American communities, and would inevitably affect a large number of Hispanics who are legal citizens.

Recommended: Hillary Clintons Appearance on 'Between Two Ferns' Wasnt Brave

Many legal residents will suffer harassment, as happened in Maricopa County, Arizona, under Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a perpetrator of racial profiling and an ally of Trump.

Tens of thousands of new state agents would be required to carry out such roundups. What percentage of Trumps newly hired roundup force would be hostile to Hispanics? Would they be armed? How would they be trained? Would they be about as competent at their jobs as TSA agents? Would they knock on doors of Hispanic family homes? Burst into small businesses of people who look illegal? How many Americans would be forced to show their papers like bygone East Germans? Would the Birther-in-Chief start demanding birth certificates?

This, too, would be a civil liberties nightmare.

Civil-Rights Violations

Donald Trump has a lot of proposals that are constitutionally and logistically suspect. Its possible that he would never succeed in implementing some of them. But if he does what he says, Trumps domestic policy would be the worst Republicans have offered blacks and Hispanics since Nixon or even Eisenhower. Millions of innocent, law-abiding blacks and Hispanics would have their rights violated.

Review what Trump is offering by his own account: Stop-and-Frisk for black people, and aggressive roundups of millions of Hispanics. And we havent even talked about the many reasons that law-abiding Muslims have to fear a Trump presidency. In past elections, Republicans have complained with some justice that Democrats cry wolf about racism. Now the GOP has gone and nominated the wolf.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Schiphol (Netherlands) (AFP) - Lawyers for Dutch far-right MP Geert Wilders on Friday urged judges to drop an upcoming hate speech case against the controversial politician, slamming it as a "political trial".

Wilders was appearing again before a top security court ahead of his trial, planned for next month, on charges of inciting racial hatred after statements he made about Moroccans in the Netherlands.

"I have no idea what I am doing here," Wilders told the court.

"What I said has nothing to do with racism or hate speech, but merely stating what millions of Dutch citizens think," he said, repeating he "had no regrets".

The case focuses on comments made at a March 2014 election rally, when Wilders asked supporters whether they wanted "fewer or more Moroccans in your city and in the Netherlands?"

When the crowd shouted back "Fewer! Fewer!" a smiling Wilders answered: "We're going to organise that."

His lawyer argued Wilders had merely "put forward his party's political programme", adding he had a fundamental right to freedom of speech.

And lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops accused the prosecution of asking the three-judge bench "to hand down a political verdict" which he said would be "unacceptable and irresponsible".

Such a ruling could "have far-reaching consequences for democracy in the Netherlands," Knoops argued at the hearing in a fortress-like courthouse near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

Knoops drew on a US legal principle from 1803 called the "political question doctrine", which states judges should not rule in political cases.

But state prosecutors denied it was a political trial urging judges to proceed.

"No politician stands above the law," said Sabine van der Kallen.

Wilders was not being prosecuted because of his political party's policies, but specifically because of his statements at the rally, she said.

Story continues

"There is only one institution that can give a decisive answer whether the law has been broken in this case and that's you," she said.

- 'Close mosques' -

Wilders's remark triggered 6,400 complaints, and criticism from within his own Freedom Party (PVV).

Some 56 people and five organisations have registered as victims of the comments and at least 34 witnesses have come forward, judges said.

A decision on whether to continue the case is now due on October 14, with a trial date already provisionally set for October 31.

Wilders is described as the "most heavily guarded man" in the Netherlands. And since the 2004 assassination of anti-Islam director Theo van Gogh, he has had around-the-clock protection.

But he has drawn heavy flack from fellow MPs after saying he would close all mosques and confiscate Korans -- which he famously compares to Hitler's "Mein Kampf" -- should he win the elections.

Late last year, his party was riding high in opinion polls as the migrant crisis polarised the country. But in recent months, it has dropped back again ahead of general elections in March.

If found guilty, Wilders could face up to two years in jail or a fine of more than 20,000 euros ($22,000).

In an earlier 2011 hate trial Wilders was acquitted when judges ruled his remarks targeted a religion and not a specific group of people.
Frankfurt (AFP) - German carrier TUIfly on Friday sent a letter to its employees denying any plans for a takeover by EasyJet, hours after a board member said talks were ongoing about a possible sale to the British airline.

"A cooperation with EasyJet or its participation in TUIfly is neither being prepared nor sought after," said the letter seen by AFP.

The denial came after Martin Locher, an employee representative on TUIfly's supervisory board, told reporters in Frankfurt that talks between the airlines had been going on "for some time".

All eyes were already on the two companies after German business weekly Manager Magazin on Thursday said EasyJet was eyeing TUIfly as it seeks ways to keep flying freely within the European Union following Britain's decision to quit the bloc.

EasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall had ruled out takeovers just a few months ago, the magazine reported, but had apparently changed her mind following the Brexit vote.

"The speculation in Manager Magazin and in the market is unfounded," TUIfly chairman Henrik Homann and managing director Jochen Buentgen stressed in their letter.

An EasyJet spokeswoman told AFP that the company does not comment on speculation.

Shares in EasyJet closed down 1.2 percent at 1,034 pence in London.

Acquiring an airline like TUIfly could allow EasyJet to secure a foothold in the EU and escape ill effects as Britain quits the economic bloc.

As an EU member, British airlines have until now been covered by the EU's Single European Sky system, which lifts trade restrictions on airlines with their headquarters inside the 28-member union.
By TJ Strydom JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Tasked with turning around South African retailer Edcon, which had been on the verge of collapse just a few months ago, its management thinks it can apply simple fixes after Bain Capital walked away with nothing from its African venture. The team led by Bernie Brookes, an Australian appointed in September last year, have much working to their advantage at Edcon, whose owner Bain Capital handed control to creditors in this week's $1.5 billion debt to equity swap deal that slashed its heavy debt-load by nearly 80 percent to 6 billion rand ($450 million). In South Africa's largest ever private equity deal at the time, Bain took Edcon private in a 25 billion rand, (then $3.5 billion) highly leveraged buyout in 2007 but slower earnings growth and a weaker rand made the euro-denominated bond repayments unaffordable. Under Brookes the company has trimmed its head office and plans to grow profit by boosting in-store credit sales and pushing its own clothing brands, while cutting back on pricy international labels. "At least now they have the cash flow to enable them to do something because up until now they have been so starved of cash they couldn't do anything," Wayne McCurrie, a portfolio manager at Momentum Asset Management. Edcon, which vies for market share with The Foschini Group, Truworths and international chains such as Inditex's Zara, H&M and Cotton On, suspended interest payments on two euro and dollar-denominated bonds in April to boost liquidity. A 425 million euro bond - originally pitched in late 2013 as a bridge to an initial public offering - was written down last year in a distressed exchange offer. 'A LOT TO FIX' For Brookes, who spent nearly a decade at Australia's biggest department store chain Myer taking it from a buyout to a listing, overhauling Edcon's capital structure would free him up to focus on dressing up the 87-year-old company for a stock market floatation in three to four years. "The interest burden of the company went as high as 4.2 billion rand a year, now our interest payment is roughly half a billion rand," Brookes said. And importantly, around 70 percent of Edcon's debt is now in the local currency, compared to only 30 percent before the swap, making the retailer much less vulnerable to the volatile rand, and no debt repayments are due until 2019. Speaking at the Edcon's headquarters, whose foyer had stacks of discounted duvets and sets of cheese knives, Brookes said a three to four years of hard work lay ahead. "There is a lot to fix," said Brookes, pointing at Edcon's waning credit sales. Getting customers to buy on in-store credit is vital for Brookes' stated goal of growing the company's annual sales by at least 2 percent until its heads back to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Up to two thirds of South African fashion retailers' sales are on in-store credit cards, but tighter lending criteria by Barclays Africa, which bought Edcon's debtors book for $1 billion in 2012, choked off growth. Barclays declined to comment, but Brookes said Edcon would now grant credit to customers who might have been too risky for the bank. "Our credit book has declined by nearly 30 percent over the last four to five years," he said. He declined to give the size of the book but said it was "only a few hundred million (rand)". PRIVATE LABELS Another key area for Brookes will be building up sales of labels owned by Edcon, which had taken a back seat under former chief executive Jurgen Schreiber, who brought in a range of global brands such as Tom Tailor to fend off competition from international retailers such as Gap and Zara With the rand falling by about 60 percent since 2013, imported brands have become too expensive for Edcon to pass on costs to consumers in a fiercely competitive market. Brookes said his company would cut imported labels to 12 from 37, replacing them with its own private brands such as Kelso and J-Exchange. "We are moving our own labels like Kelso to the front of the store," said Brookes. The company will keep River Island, TopShop, Accessorize and TM Lewin. COST CUTS An immediate focus area has been to clear old stock after suppliers in recent months became reluctant to do business with Edcon on grounds that it might not be in a position to pay, Brookes said. Edcon, which sold its fast fashion Legit chain for 637 million rand, also plans to cut the number of advertising agencies it uses from to three from 192. It has already reduced head office staff by 35 percent. But the owner of the Edgars, Jet and Boardmans stores needs to arrest a decline in sales - down 1.3 percent to 27 billion rand last year. "Trading should be incrementally better as a result of this restructure, but there is no magic bullet and they will have to fix multiple issues," said Investec Asset Management's analyst Unathi Loos. "All things that the competition has had a head start on." (Writing by Tiisetso Motsoeneng; editing by Giles Elgood)
Cairo (AFP) - Rescuers recovered 24 bodies on Friday from a boat crowded with migrants that capsized off the Egyptian coast, bringing the death toll from the disaster to at least 79.

Survivors have said up to 450 migrants were on board the fishing vessel that was heading to Italy from Egypt when it keeled over off the port of Rosetta on Wednesday.

The military said it had rescued 163 survivors.

"There were 24 bodies recovered on Friday," health ministry official Alaa Osman told AFP. Another 55 were brought to shore on Thursday.

Authorities have arrested four suspected people traffickers over the tragedy, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean.

The accident comes months after the EU border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound migrants were using Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous voyage.

Traffickers often use barely seaworthy vessels and overload them to extract the maximum money in fares from desperate migrants.

The International Organization for Migration said those rescued included 111 Egyptians, 26 Sudanese, 13 Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian.

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.
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced five juveniles to five years in prison and a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($11,000) for protesting against a decision to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, a judicial source and state media said. More than 200 people were arrested in connection with protests over the islands in April and more than 150 have received jail sentences or fines. Many were later acquitted. A judicial source told Reuters late on Thursday that the accusations against the juveniles, all under 18, included protesting without permission and disrupting traffic. "The ruling was made in absentia and they can appeal it," the source said. The protest, which took place on April 25, was against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's decision to hand over Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia. Saudi and Egyptian officials say the islands belong to the kingdom and were only under Egyptian control because Riyadh had asked Cairo in 1950 to protect them. A court ruled in June, however, that Egyptian sovereignty over the islands held and could not be given up. Egyptians are eager for economic revival after years of political upheaval. But the islands issue hurt national pride, prompting thousands of protesters to take to the streets in April chanting "people want the fall of the regime", a slogan from the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. ($1 = 8.8799 Egyptian pounds) (Reporting by Asma Alsharif; editing by Ralph Boulton)
Moscow (AFP) - Eight Russian firefighters were killed as they battled a blaze at a warehouse in eastern Moscow, authorities said Friday, in the latest deadly fire to hit the capital.

Their bodies were discovered after contact was lost as they fought to extinguish a huge blaze that started Thursday evening at a plastics depot, the emergency services ministry said in a statement.

"The corpses of eight colleagues have been found in the main area where the search was located," the statement said.

"Until the end there was hope that they would be alive. But due to the intense fire, the high temperatures and the thick smoke the firefighters were unable to get out."

The emergency workers were among the first to arrive on the scene and helped evacuate 100 workers from the warehouse located towards the eastern edge of the Russian capital, officials said.

They were battling flames on the roof of the building when it collapsed, the emergency services said.

"The firefighters died doing their duty like heroes," Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Twitter.

"I send my condolences to their loved ones. The city will give all necessary aid to the families of those who died."

Officials said the blaze -- which tore across an area of some 4,000 square metres (430,000 square feet) -- was eventually extinguished at 0744 local time (0444 GMT) on Friday.

Investigators announced that they had launched a criminal probe into possible "fire safety violations" and were conducting tests at the scene to determine the cause of the blaze.

Firetrucks still surrounded the site on Friday morning and firefighters had set up a makeshift memorial to their dead comrades, lighting candles and placing red carnations on a table.

An AFP correspondent said that the acrid smell of burning could be felt across areas of eastern Moscow close to the blaze.

The fire is the latest deadly inferno to claim lives in the Russian capital, where safety standards are often lax.

Story continues

Last month 16 migrant workers mostly from Central Asian Kyrgyzstan died in a fire at a print warehouse where they worked in the city.

Millions of labourers from the former Soviet republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus come to Russia each year to earn much-needed cash given the lack of employment in their impoverished homelands.

The workers are often housed in the warehouses and factories where they work in cramped or unsafe conditions.

Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov said in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin that the warehouse had been checked by fire safety administrators who fined its owners for a lack of a fire sprinkler system and other infractions.

Russian agencies said Friday, quoting warehouse workers, that the burned building was empty when the fire started and the cause could be a short circuit.

A criminal investigation was launched to determine whether the blaze erupted due to arson or negligence and the owner of the warehouse eventually handed himself in to the authorities.
The Muslim Community Center of Union County on Friday. (Photo: Caitlin Dickson/Yahoo News)

ELIZABETH, N.J.  Nearly 200 people gathered at the Muslim Community Center of Union County Friday afternoon for the first jumah prayer  Islams largest weekly gathering  since Elizabeth resident Ahmad Khan Rahami was arrested in connection to mostly unsuccessful bomb attacks in New York and New Jersey last weekend.

I was shocked, said a man named Faisal, reflecting on the incidents that rocked his community just days earlier before heading inside for Friday prayer. This is a peaceful masjid.

Like Faisal, the suspects father, Mohammad Rahami, is a longtime member of MCCUC, and is known to pray regularly at the red brick mosque, which sits on the leafy corner of a charming, residential enclave less than two miles from Elizabeths gritty downtown.

The elder Rahami reportedly came to pray at the mosque earlier this week, but today he was nowhere to be seen. His son was charged Tuesday in connection to a bomb that injured 29 in Manhattan, another that went off before a Jersey Shore charity race took off and two other attempted bombings. He was arrested Monday after a shootout with Linden, N.J., police officers.

And while Fridays jumah prayer also coincided with the funeral service of an MCCUC member, it was clear that Imam Syed Fakhruddin Alvis sermon was inspired by the younger Rahamis alleged crimes.

What is Islam? Alvi asked, a small microphone on his lapel carrying his deep voice over the sound of ceiling fans attempting to cool the mosques sun-soaked second floor. It was an exceptionally warm day in late September, summers last gasp before giving into autumn. One congregant, seated with his back to an open window, lightly wiped sweat from his neck as he listened to the imam outline the tenets of Islam.

If you want to be a Muslim, take care of those who are needy, deprived of basic necessities, Alvi said, adding that hunger has no religion.

About 35 men were seated on their knees on the mosques red and gold patterned carpet when the imam began speaking. The men appeared to be in their late 20s and older, with just a few younger ones mixed in. Their attire was just as varied, with some dressed in traditional Muslim robes but many more sporting jeans and button-downs, flannels and polo shirts. A few wore sweatpants.

Story continues

People continued to trickle in throughout the service, and by the time it ended, the room was filled with more than 100 men. More women were located behind the partition that separates the sexes.

For each hadith, or Islamic scripture, he referenced, Alvi provided the name of the book, chapter and page number. I know after this, many people will do Google, he said.

The Elizabeth, N.J., First American Fried Chicken restaurant and the apartment above are tied to the Rahami family. (Photo: Julio Cortez/AP)

After going through the basics of what it means to be a Muslim, Alvi asked, What does the Quran say about those who are not Muslim? He transitioned seamlessly to the subject of terrorism without ever directly referring to the previous weekends bombing incidents, or the fact that the man authorities believe is responsible is the son of a longtime congregant.

If anyone kills a non-Muslim citizen, almighty Allah will make paradise forbidden from him, he said, his voice growing louder as he sternly urged those listening: Write this down.

No one has any right to kill any non-Muslim, he said. We are living here as citizens. It is our job, our duty, to respect the law of the land.

Islam has no justification for terrorism or extremism, he continued, arguing that those who carry out barbaric actions like suicide bombings and other violence in the name of Islam, are motivated by misinformation found on the Internet in the form of Imam Google or Shiekh YouTube.

Not only is it our civic and religious duty to support law enforcement, Alvi argued, but as parents, its your job to take care of your children and to keep children from evil activities.

Not long after law enforcement officials named Rahami as the main suspect in last weekends bombing incidents, MCCUC released a statement on its website denouncing the acts of this misguided individual whose action does not represent law abiding peaceful Muslims of our area congregations.

On Tuesday, MCCUC President Nawaz Sheikh joined fellow New Jersey Muslim leaders at a press conference in Elizabeth to reiterate this message. Sheikh read from the statement once more on Friday following the imams sermon, emphasizing that the mosque would continue to be open as usual for all five daily prayers as well as Sunday school for the children.

Please, we need your support in this rough and tough time, Sheikh said, asking the congregation to pray for this center, pray for our young brothers and sisters who are misguided, to get them on the right path.

This is a test for us in our community, he added.

Outside, as congregants made their way to a nearby cemetery to complete the funeral service, MCCUC trustee Naqeeb Rana talked about how the recent bombing was a shock to all of the community and said that young peoples ability to access potentially dangerous information about Islam on the Internet is a general concern for all the parents.

We have to especially educate our younger kids on what the Islamic teachings are, he said, as a little girl in a purple flowery dress  the youngest of his three children  tugged impatiently at his leg. We emphasize in our family and to our kids, you should come to imam because he is [knowledgeable]  because some things could be misleading.

Im sure all these terrorists are likely picking up information from wrong places and misusing them, he said.

Asked how hes personally broached the most recent incident with his eldest son, who is in high school, Rana replied: He hasnt brought it up to me yet. We were so busy with all the media, we havent had a time to really sit down and talk.
Ellen DeGeneres has become obsessed with a television infomercial featuring a hygiene product that targets a particular area of the human anatomy not discussed in polite society. We strive to be only the classiest here at SuperFan, so well just say that My Shiney Hiney tidies up the hole found near your butt.

As the infomercial for My Shiney Hiney explains, Are you really as clean as you should be? Not unless youve taken care of a very personal area that requires special attention.  Now theres a solution. Its called My Shiney Hiney, a speciality cleansing brush with an ergonomically designed handle to access that difficult-to-reach spot.  The form bristle-brush is especially designed to reach every fold and wrinkle. Plus theres a soft-silicone brush for fingertip control.

DeGeneres shared her obsession with some celebrity pals. Kate Hudson promised to buy some of the products as stocking stuffers. Kristen Bell, meanwhile, had thoughts about that finger brush element, but its best that we not describe her hand motion.

Thanks to all this unexpected attention, DeGeneres was soon contacted by the actress featured on the infomercial, Sarah Pribis, who was invited to the show to add her two cents. Miss Shiney Hiney explained that the casting notice was a little confusing. The ad itself said it was casting for Shinney Hinney. It was spelled incorrectly and it was [described as a] cleaning product.  I got there and found out what the product really was, and I tried to get out of it.  They promised me they would do it tastefully. Do you think they did? asked DeGeneres. I do, said Miss Shiney Hiney.

Kristen Bell and Ellen Release Spice Girls Audition Tape:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below.
Nebraska's largest health insurer plans to exit the individual Affordable Care Act market.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska on Friday announced it will stop selling ACA-compliant individual health insurance policies through the federal marketplace exchange.

CEO Steve Martin said the insurer has been "agonizing over the past several weeks" trying to figure out a way to make its continued participation work but couldn't come up with a solution.

"This was not an easy decision," he said.

Martin said Blue Cross and Blue Shield has lost $140 million on its individual exchange business since inception and expects to lose another $20 million to $40 million this year.

As a mutual insurer owned by members, he said the company operates on 1 percent margins, aiming to pay out 99 cents or less for every dollar of premiums it brings in. On the exchange policies, it has averaged a payout of $1.56 for every $1 brought in.

Another year of those kinds of losses, and "we would be digging a hole we will never get out of."

Blue Cross had sought and received rate increases of more than 30 percent for 2017 rates, but Martin said those increases turned out not to be high enough to cover losses.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield becomes the second major health insurer to stop selling individual exchange policies in the state.

UnitedHealth Group, which is the second-largest health insurer in Nebraska, announced earlier this year it would stop selling such policies in the state next year.

Those defections leave only two insurers, Aetna and Medica, serving people seeking individual policies on the exchange.

Blue Cross's move affects only the 20,000 or so of its customers who have individual policies bought on the federal marketplace exchange. The insurer will continue to offer small-group plans on the exchange as well as off-exchange individual plans that were grandfathered in before the law took effect in 2014.

And Blue Cross officials did leave the door open to possibly returning to the exchange if some fixes to the ACA are made.

Lew Trowbridge, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, said the federal government has to close some of the loopholes that allow people to enroll during so-called special enrollment periods. Trowbridge said too many people are gaming the system, getting coverage when they are sick or injured and then dropping it after receiving treatment.

Another issue that needs to be fixed are the risk pools. There are too many old and sick people getting coverage and not enough young and healthy ones.

And Trowbridge said the states need to have more control over the design of health plans, rather than the federal government dictating a one-size-fits-all approach.

Martin said the federal government is trying to respond to insurers' concerns, "but it's too little, too late when we are on the razor's edge."

"We believe the law can be fixed," he said.

And if changes are made in the next year, Blue Cross will seek to re-enter the market in 2018, Martin said.

The state's Republican politicians said Blue Cross's decision is further evidence that the law isn't working. Various statements from members of the state's congressional delegation described the law as "unsustainable," "failing" and "deeply broken."

"When solid companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield pull out of the market, something is structurally wrong with the system, Gov. Pete Ricketts said in a statement.
By Ronnie Cohen (Reuters Health) - Emergency room patients needing mental health care were transferred to other facilities six times more often than patients needing other services, and they waited longer to be treated or moved, a new study found. This study provides data showing that ERs are the de facto dumping ground for psychiatric patients, senior author Dr. Renee Hsia told Reuters Health. Our goal in reporting this is to provide data to the public and policymakers so that they look at it squarely in the face and decide if its acceptable or if its something that needs to be changed, said Hsia, who is a professor of emergency medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Although one-eighth of hospital emergency visits results in mental health diagnoses, most ERs offer no psychiatric services. Youre talking about an eighth of all your patients have this medical condition, and youre not set up to work with them. Its like not having someone to deal with chest pain in patients, said Dr. Scott Zeller, a professor at the University of California in Riverside. Zeller, a psychiatrist who spent more than 20 years in Oakland, California running an emergency department dedicated to treating psychiatric patients, calls for change. We need to fund and expand services or build new ones, he said in a telephone interview. Psychiatric emergencies are the only emergencies in the ER they dont try to treat in the ER. The new findings, published in Health Affairs, highlight the strain on hospital emergency departments struggling to meet the needs of a swelling psychiatric patient population competing for a shrinking number of hospital beds, Hsia and her colleagues write. Prior research found that the number of inpatient psychiatric beds dropped from about 500,000 in the 1970s to 113,569 in 2010. Hsia, an emergency room physician at San Francisco General, a county hospital, observed a growing number of patients waiting long periods to be treated for psychiatric conditions. She and her team examined nearly 235,000 records collected between 2002 and 2011 from a national U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hospital survey. When they compared the longest waits for treatment among psychiatric patients to the longest waits of patients with other conditions, they found psychiatric patients who were admitted to hospitals waited up to 23 hours, almost 14 hours longer than other patients, in 2011. In nearly every year for which the researchers examined records, psychiatric patients who were discharged or transferred waited longer than other patients. The analysis also found that the number of adults who visited emergency rooms increased by about 30 percent from 2002 to 2011. At the same time, the number of psychiatric patient visits increased far more  by 55 percent, from 4.4 million to 6.8 million. There have been significant strides made in crowding in ERs in recent years, but psychiatric patients have not benefited as much as the non-psychiatric patients, Hsia said. Its hard to get psychiatric patients accepted to other places. There are fewer places that are able to take them, she said. Zeller believes psychiatric patients are waiting long periods in emergency rooms because so few ERs employ practitioners who are trained to treat them. Prior research shows that patients who wait prolonged periods for treatment are more likely to be hospitalized and to die, the authors write. In general, we think if the emergency room is seeing higher volumes of people, everyone should be waiting longer, lead author Dr. Jane Zhu said in a telephone interview. She is a research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. But our study shows that psychiatric patients wait disproportionately longer than other patients  sometimes for several hours  only to ultimately be discharged or transferred elsewhere, she said. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2dfdQuo Health Affairs, online September 7, 2016.
A Jetstar pilot shut down an engine and diverted to Brisbane as smoked filled the cabin on a passenger flight from Sydney to Cairns in an incident passengers said was "terrifying".

The Airbus A320 was en route to the northern Queensland city on Thursday evening when the pilot took action to deal with what the carrier said was "a technical issue with one of its engines".

"The captain decided to shut down one of the engines as a precaution and divert the aircraft to Brisbane," a spokesman for the Australian budget airline said. "Engineers are looking into the cause.

"While it's rare for something like this to happen, our crew are trained to deal with these type of situations and they handled the situation very professionally."

Video taken on board the plane, shot by a passenger and broadcast by the ABC, showed smoke in the cabin.

"The most terrifying moment of my life," passenger Aundra Thompson wrote on Facebook.

"I was just on the flight that caught fire and filled the cabin with smoke."

Another passenger Wendy Perkins told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation she heard a loud explosion, and smoke came into the cabin about an hour into what was supposed to be a three-hour flight.

"Within seconds smoke came up under my seat under my legs and up into my face and the man who was next to me," she said.

"We both said that stinks, that absolutely stinks and then we lost pressure in the plane."

Jetstar, which is owned by Qantas, disputed this, claiming smoked only appeared after the plane landed safely in Brisbane.

"The hazy smoke seen in the video happened when the aircraft had landed safely in Brisbane and shortly before the passengers disembarked," it said.

"The smoke would have entered the cabin through the air conditioning unit, which runs via air from the engines."

No-one needed medical attention with passengers transferred to another flight later Thursday evening.
Ankara (Turkey) (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States of sending more weapons to a Syrian Kurdish militia in defiance of Ankara's repeated insistence it is a "terrorist" organisation.

Although the US views the the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as its most significant ground ally against jihadists, Ankara says the fighters are "terrorists" linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which for decades has waged an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Erdogan said late Thursday that three days earlier the US sent "two planes with weapons" to Kobane in northern Syria for the YPG and its Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing.

In a speech in New York after attending the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said Washington was mistaken in using the YPG as an ally in the fight against IS.

"If you think you can finish Daesh (IS) off with the PYD and YPG, you cannot, because they are terrorist groups as well," he said in remarks posted on the presidential website.

He added he had raised the issue of the alleged weapons delivery in talks with US Vice President Joe Biden but said Biden insisted he had no information.

Erdogan added the US sent arms to Kurdish militia during the battle for Kobane, a Kurdish-majority town, between IS and the YPG in 2014, saying half of the weapons fell into the hands of IS extremists.

The president's accusations risk causing further tension between the NATO allies over Washington's support for the YPG in its fight against IS.

Previously, the US has insisted that any military equipment provided to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the past has gone only to Arab fighters.

There are about 30,000 fighters in the SDF which is made up largely of Kurds, but also has a significant Syrian Arab component.

General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that the US was considering arming the SDF who would join the offensive to retake the IS stronghold of Raqa.

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But Dunford said that the US would work "very closely with our Turkish allies" to assuage Ankara's concerns over the Syrian Kurds' long-term political prospects.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Thursday it was "out of the question" for Ankara to join any operation to take Raqa if it included the YPG or PYD.

Turkey has over the last month sent dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops into Syria to back pro-Ankara Syrian rebels fighting IS and the YPG.
By David Brunnstrom UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The European Union praised Myanmar's progress on human rights under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday and said that it would not be introducing a resolution at the United Nations condemning the country's record for the first time in 15 years. Addressing the Partnership Group on Myanmar at the United Nations General Assembly, EU Foreign Policy chief Federica Mogherini called Suu Kyi's progress from political prisoner to government "powerful testimony to the incredible change Myanmar is going through." "The government has taken bold measures to improve human rights and re-invigorate the peace process. Political prisoners have been released," she said. Mogherini said steps had also "been taken against those who incite hatred" and a commission established under former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to address violence between majority Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar's state of Rakhine. In recognition of the progress, for the first time in fifteen years, the European Union would not table a human rights resolution on Myanmar at the U.N. assembly, she said. Addressing Suu Kyi, Mogherini said: "Fifteen years is the measure of the incredible distance Myanmar has walked, the measure of how much your country has changed." Mogherini said the European Union understood the "complexity" of the situation in Rakhine and told Suu Kyi: "I know that you area working hard to find a sustainable solution for both communities." Suu Kyi has been criticized for doing too little to address the plight of the Rohingya Muslims. In her first address to the General Assembly as national leader on Wednesday, she defended her government's efforts to resolve the crisis there and asked for "understanding" and "the constructive contribution" of other countries. She said the government would persevere in its efforts to achieve peace in Rakhine and stand firm "against the forces of prejudice and intolerance." The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told the same session that Suu Kyi's commitment to stand firm against intolerance and her pledge in Washington last week that all those entitled to citizenship would be granted it were "powerful and important." However, she and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said significant problems remained and both reiterated calls for the government to allow the establishment of an office of the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights with a full mandate. Increased freedom of speech since the military stepped back from direct rule in Myanmar in 2011 has allowed for the unleashing of long-held anti-Muslim sentiment. 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 been seen by much of the 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. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; editing by Grant McCool)
Bratislava (AFP) - European trade ministers scramble Friday to salvage talks on a massive free trade deal with the US amid growing calls in key powers France and Germany to abandon negotiations.

Ministers from the EU's 28 member states meeting in Bratislava will attempt to patch over deep differences after tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged European cities this week angrily calling for the EU to walk away from the US accord.

Defending free trade deals has become increasingly fraught for leaders, with the rise of populists such as US presidential candidate Donald Trump blaming globalisation for stolen jobs and falling wages.

Also under fire in the Slovak capital is a trade deal with Canada that opponents say is an attempt to set a dangerous precedent before completing the much bigger accord with the US.

On its last gasp is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (or TTIP)-- a free trade deal between the European Union and United States which would create the world's biggest market of 850 million consumers stretching from Hawaii to Lithuania.

But the deal, under negotiation since 2013, has become a hot potato as key elections approach in the United States, France and Germany, with the goal of sealing the agreement by the end of the Obama administration all but abandoned.

TTIP "becomes less and less likely as time goes on," said Cecilia Malmstroem, the EU commissioner for trade who will be in Bratislava.

"There will a treaty with the US but maybe after a natural pause to give time to a new administration," Malmstroem told RTBF radio in Belgium.

There are deep-seated fears in Europe that the deal would undercut the 28-nation bloc's standards in key areas such as health and welfare.

TTIP is most firmly opposed by France, where Trade Minister Matthias Fekl said the socialist government no longer supports continuing negotiations and urges Europe to walk away.

Fekl complains that the US side has failed to offer anything "serious," especially on sensitive issues such as protecting geographical labelling for renowned farm products, including Champagne or Roquefort cheese.

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- 'Credibility challenge' -

In Germany, TTIP has split the ruling coalition, with Chancellor Angela Merkel still the treaty's biggest backer in Europe but her socialist partners, led by Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, dead set against it.

Hopes remain for CETA, however, the deal with Canada that has already been negotiated, but it has had to overcome unexpected hurdles in Germany, where Gabriel's socialists put up last minute resistance.

Similar opposition has flared up in Austria and Belgium, but ministers backing the deal hope to greenlight the treaty so that it can be signed with Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau at an EU-Canada summit on October 27.

CETA would then go on for ratification in national and regional parliaments across the EU, a tricky and likely time consuming process.

"The failure of CETA would be a huge challenge to our credibility in the world," said Markus Beyer, head of the EU's most powerful lobby, BusinessEurope.

"You simply will not find another place in the world that shares the same values to this degree," he added.

Fears of a failure of CETA have waned since German socialists narrowly backed the deal at a party conference last week.

This despite more than 160,000 demonstrators thronging seven major cities across Germany on Saturday. Thousands more protested outside EU headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
By Philip Blenkinsop and Tatiana Jancarikova

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - EU ministers took steps on Friday to approve a contentious free trade deal with Canada, while France and Austria demanded that talks towards a similar agreement with the United States should stop.

Both deals have triggered demonstrations by unions and protest groups who say they will spark a 'race to the bottom' in labor, environmental and public health standards and allow big business to challenge governments across Europe.

After a first session devoted to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) struck with Canada two years ago but still awaiting approval, ministers agreed the two sides would produce a binding declaration that spelt out the limits of the pact to dispel public concerns.

The ministers are expected to convene an extraordinary meeting on Oct. 18, allowing the deal to be signed during the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Brussels on Oct. 27. It could provisionally enter force early next year.

"There was a great willingness to sign the agreement in October," Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's economy minister and vice-chancellor, told reporters.

Gabriel on Monday overcame left-wing resistance to the deal within his Social Democrats, the junior coalition partners in government.

However, lingering doubts remain elsewhere, notably in Austria, where Chancellor Christian Kern's Social Democrats have grave concern, and Belgium, where not all regions back the deal.

Reinhold Mitterlehner, Austria's Christian Democrat vice chancellor, said a declaration making clear that standards were not under threat and that a special court would not allow big business to dictate public policy would help.

NO TTIP?

By contrast, Mitterlehner and his French counterpart argued that the EU-U.S. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks, which have been going on for the past three-and-a-half years should be halted.

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The Austrian told reporters they should be relaunched after the U.S. presidential elections with greater transparency, clearer goals and a different name. The current process, he said, was doomed.

Luxembourg and Slovenia also expressed strong reservations.

Washington and Brussels are officially committed to sealing this deal before President Barack Obama leaves office in January.

But their chances of doing so are remote given approaching elections on both sides of the Atlantic, with trade not a vote-winner, Britain's June vote to leave the European Union and the calls for a fresh start.

EU trade chief Cecelia Malmstrom said all ministers had expressed doubts a deal could be struck before Obama's departure, adding it was "increasingly unlikely".

A next round of talks would go ahead in October and Malmstrom said talks could continue after the November election.

"If we do not conclude TTIP before January 19, then there will be a natural pause," she said, adding it was hard to say when they might restart.

Some ministers spelt out the difference between concessions granted by Canada and what they said was U.S. intransigence.

"If the Americans are not ready to meet at least the standard of CETA, with Canada, then there will be no chance of a deal," said Gabriel.

Finnish trade minister Kai Mykkanen said most of his peers preferred to let the Commission push on with talks, with an assessment of progress in November. He said a possible relaunch under a new president might need a new name.

"There are so many unreasonable fears and maybe they are tied to the name TTIP," he said. The name has become synonymous in many people's mind with the evils of globalization and big business.

Outside the ministers' meeting in Bratislava, around 100 local trade unions and Friends of the Earth activists held banners, mostly in English and German, denouncing CETA and TTIP. On the other side of the Danube river, Greenpeace unveiled a large banner on the top of a tower reading "No TTIP".

(Additional reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; Writing by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal and state prosecutors on Thursday announced charges against 10 men, including two onetime senior advisers to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in corruption and fraud cases involving state contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The charges followed a federal investigation into Buffalo Billion, a signature $1 billion economic development project of Cuomo aimed at revitalizing the area around the city of Buffalo, once an upstate industrial powerhouse. Joseph Percoco, a former executive deputy secretary to the governor; Alain Kaloyeros, president of the State University of New York's Polytechnic Institute; and six others were charged in a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan. Todd Howe, a lobbyist and an ex-adviser to Cuomo when he led the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, pleaded guilty to federal charges and is cooperating. Richard Morvillo, his lawyer, said Howe "will testify truthfully if called upon." Prosecutors said in one scheme, Percoco, whom they called Cuomo's "right-hand-man," sought $315,000 in bribes in exchange for offering help to two of Howe's corporate clients, an energy company and a Syracuse real estate developer. In an overlapping scheme, they said, Kaloyeros, who oversaw a grant application process for Buffalo Billion and similar programs, and Howe, whom he hired to help develop projects, conspired to rig bids for contracts favoring two developers. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced separate state charges against Kaloyeros and a real estate executive, Joseph Nicolla, over alleged bid-rigging involving three multimillion-dollar contracts. ALBANY CORRUPTION The cases were the latest to focus on Albany, New York's capital, following last year's convictions of the leaders of the state legislature's two houses, Democrat Sheldon Silver and Republican Dean Skelos. "Today's complaint shines a light on yet another sordid side of the show-me-the-money culture that has so plagued the government," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. Cuomo was not accused of wrongdoing. In a statement, Cuomo said he was "saddened and profoundly disappointed" by the allegations involving Percoco, who previously worked for and was a close friend of Cuomo's late father, former Governor Mario Cuomo. "Like my father before me, I believe public integrity is paramount," Cuomo said. "This sort of breach, if true, should be and will be punished." Percoco, 47, and Kaloyeros, 60, self-surrendered on Thursday morning and were later granted bail at a court hearing. In response to the charges, SUNY suspended Kaloyeros without pay. EXECUTIVES CHARGED Barry Bohrer, Percoco's lawyer, called the prosecution "an overreach of classic proportions." Kaloyeros' lawyer, Michael Miller, said his client was innocent. Nicolla's company, Columbia Development, did not respond to a request for comment. Some of the bribes paid to Percoco were arranged by Peter Galbraith Kelly, a senior vice president at Competitive Power Ventures, which obtained a $100 million contract that would help finance a $900 million power plant, prosecutors said. In the Buffalo Billion-related scheme, prosecutors said Howe received bribes from Syracuse's COR Development Co, run by Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, and Buffalo's LPCiminelli, run by Louis Ciminelli, Michael Laipple and Kevin Schuler. Prosecutors said executives at both companies were major donors to Cuomo's election campaigns, with COR becoming its top upstate donor after ramping up contributions beginning in December 2011. Daniel Gitner, Kelly's lawyer, said his client was innocent. Lawyers for Aiello, Gerardi, Ciminelli, Laipple and Schuler either declined comment or did not respond to requests for comment. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)
I have been out of work for nearly a year and have lately been thinking about starting my own business. Through my initial research, I am coming across the term LLC. It seems many established small businesses have these letters. What does this mean and how does it relate to a small business? -- Lincoln

LLC stands for limited liability company. This term is used for legal purposes to separate your personal assets from those of your established business. Depending on your business and its related activities, this legal step may be a good idea. For example, lets say you start a pool care business and you are NOT an LLC. You have employees and some of the daily activities require employees to drive around town to fix and service pools. One of your employees decides to drive recklessly and some pool supplies come off the truck and seriously injures a person walking nearby. In theory, that person could hold you, the owner, responsible or liable for any damages associated with the incident, but since you are not an LLC, not only are your business assets at risk, but your personal assets may be at risk as well. Creating an LLC separates those two categories into separate entities and allows your liability or responsibility to be limited to that of only your small business. Each state has different procedures and fees associated with filing an LLC. The Nebraska Secretary of States office has detailed filing procedures listed on its website.

I want to start my own bakery, but I am thinking about purchasing an existing bakery and then introducing my items and making changes. There are two businesses I would consider purchasing, but to my knowledge they are not currently for sale. How do approach the owners? -- Grand Island

Before you approach the owners, ask yourself some questions. Are these businesses similar to what you were thinking your business would look like? Have these businesses been successful? If so, why would you change things? Are these businesses serving the customers you would want to serve? I would sit and research both locations, sit there and watch the daily activities. Watch the employees, the customers, the orders, eavesdrop on customer conversations, strike up an opened-ended conversation with the employees concerning the food, drinks and suppliers. This will provide you a better idea of whether this business is the type of business you may someday want to purchase. If this business is successful, take the ideas you like and apply them to your business concept. Approaching the business owner is a small concern compared to specifically identifying the successful qualities of that business. What is it about that bakery that you think will make it a success or valuable?" How can you explain this success in specific terms? If the current ownership has developed a valuable business, I would suspect it is more than just a place that has good muffins. Changes may not be necessary, unless you are supporting them with trustworthy data.
By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors and New York police are investigating former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner following a media report that he engaged in sexually-explicit cellphone and online messages with a 15-year-old girl, officials said on Thursday.

The probes came after DailyMail.com, the online version of a British newspaper, on Wednesday published an interview with the unnamed girl, who described months of online and text exchanges with Weiner in which she said he asked her to undress and touch herself.

Weiner, 52, did not respond to requests for comment. He told the Associated Press on Wednesday that he had "likely been the subject of a hoax."

A New York Police Department spokesman said the police are "looking into the allegations and are investigating."

The office of U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose in Charlotte is "reviewing all materials relevant to the matter," spokeswoman Lia Bantavani said.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and the FBI are also investigating, according to a law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The investigations mark the latest in a series of scandals involving Weiner, a Democrat who represented a New York City district in Congress but resigned in 2011.

Last month, Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, one of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's top aides, said she was separating from her husband following another scandal.

Her announcement followed a New York Post report that Weiner had sent lewd photos of his bulging underwear -- one while he was in bed with their toddler son -- via Twitter to another woman.

His resignation in 2011 came in the wake of a scandal that arose from him accidentally posting a close-up of his underpants on Twitter.

Weiner denied for more than a week that he had sent the photo and intended it for a young woman, claiming instead that his Twitter account had been hacked.

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After several women came forward to say they too had shared sexually charged exchanges with the married congressman, Weiner admitted he lied.

When Weiner later made an unsuccessful run for New York City mayor, explicit photos surfaced in July 2013 that he had sent under the pseudonym "Carlos Danger" to a young woman in Indiana.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
On Saturday, at the 2016 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, Danai Gurira will appear onstage to introduce a video that follows the lives of children living in the Nyumbani Village, a sustainable AIDS community in Nairobi, Kenya.

Born in the United States, the Walking Dead actress moved to Zimbabwe with her family after the country gained its independence. "I grew up in the '80s and '90s in one of the hardest-hit countries," Gurira tells ET, explaining why it was important for her to co-write and narrate the video in partnership with Johnson & Johnson. "It really shaped my upbringing. Witnessing something like that as a young child definitely shaped how I saw the world and how I knew that ultimately one day, I would try to contribute."

For Gurira, that meant bringing a face and life to an issue that she saw "presented largely as statistics," she says, "but I knew it was something far more alive and connected to human beings." Her first play, In the Continuum, about two women navigating the world after contracting AIDS, directly addressed the stories she saw firsthand. "From then on, my goal was always to support this issue in every way I could."

In the years since, Gurira has made a career of telling African stories onstage and onscreen. Her Tony-nominated Broadway play Eclipsed, starring Lupita Nyong'o, told the story of Liberian women struggling to survive the Second Liberian Civil War, while she's starred in films like Mother of George and Restless City. "I probably look like a one-trick pony, but that really is my thing," she says. "I want to give face and voice to the African story. When I came to the U.S., I couldn't find it. And so, creating plays like Eclipsed or In the Continuum, they're all about truly eradicating the concept of the other."

While Gurira's enjoyed mainstream success as Michonne on AMC's The Walking Dead, that mission continues on in the upcoming Tupac biopic All Eyez on Me, in which she'll portray Afeni Shakur, and Marvel's Black Panther. Growing up listening to the rapper's music in Zimbabwe, Gurira says she was very affected by his death. "It was deeply heartbreaking," she says. "He was a very complex man  I found it a deep honor and deeply surreal to step into his life and portray the person who was probably the most important to him, his mother."

Story continues

WATCH: Lupita Nyong'o Brings the True Story of 'Queen of Katwe' to Life on Screen

Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa and directed by Ryan Coogler, represents a significant moment for superhero films. Not only is Black Panther the first major black superhero to get his own film, but his story will shift the narrative to Africa, albeit in a fictionalized country. "I grew up seeing a lot of superheroes and they didn't look like me and they certainly weren't in Africa," Gurira, who plays Okoye, head of bodyguards to Black Panther, says of the film. "I think that it is something great for girls who are like me growing up. Growing up in Africa, we were looking for images we couldn't always find."

And maintaining these strong images requires continued work. "I want to see stories coming from the black female perspective," Gurira says, taking on the responsibility to put those out there, while calling on Hollywood "to make sure they're paying attention. We're at a far better moment than we were at in the past, but there's a lot of work to be done."

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By Pamela Barbaglia

LONDON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N) is cutting almost 30 percent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan in response to a slowdown in activity in the region, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The Wall Street bank is reducing the number of bankers working on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and equity and debt capital markets deals, the sources said. It will be left with slightly more than 200 bankers across Asia.

Most of the jobs cuts are likely to take place in Hong Kong, Singapore and China, where Goldman's main Asian offices are located, according to the sources, who said the process was underway.

A Goldman Sachs spokesman declined to comment.

The company, whose investment banking revenue fell 11 percent to $1.79 billion in the second quarter, has been hit by a lacklustre environment for deals across Asia.

The total value of M&A deals across the Asia-Pacific region has dropped to $572.9 billion so far this year, from $745.7 billion in the same period of 2015, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Goldman said in July it had embarked on a cost-cutting plan that would save $700 million a year in response to a "challenging backdrop" for revenue.

It still tops the Asia-Pacific M&A league tables but in the first half of the year it came third after JPMorgan (JPM.N) and Citi (C.N) as the biggest bank by revenue in Asia, according to data published on Friday by industry analytics firm Coalition.

One of the sources said no managing directors in Asia were in the running to be made partners this year while three existing partners in the region had been stripped of their titles.

RETRENCHMENT

Goldman and other big investment banks are grappling with a harsh environment after the region's economies and markets failed to deliver sustained growth after the 2008 financial crisis. The banks' business has also been eroded by local competitors.

In 2015 Goldman reduced the number of its investment bankers in Singapore - a hub for Southeast Asia - to about 35 from 50, several sources said.

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There have been further departures this year, including its Southeast Asia chairman Tim Leissner.

Many of Goldman's European rivals have announced plans to scale down their operations in Asia.

Barclays (BARC.L) said in January that it would cut about 1,000 staff in its investment bank operations worldwide, with the bulk happening in Asia, while Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) decided to close its equities research desk in India.

Other European banks including BNP Paribas (BNPP.PA) and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) are expected to scale back operations in non-core Asian markets while last year Asia-focused Standard Chartered (STAN.L) shut down its equities franchise.

Goldman employs just over 100 bankers in China, where it was one of the first foreign investment banks to start operations. But like other banks it has been hit by a drop in Chinese trading volumes and competition from local banks.

(Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Singapore and Sumeet Chatterjee in Hong Kong; Editing by Pravin Char)
By Pamela Barbaglia LONDON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs is cutting almost 30 percent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan in response to a slowdown in activity in the region, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The Wall Street bank is reducing the number of bankers working on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and equity and debt capital markets deals, the sources said. It will be left with slightly more than 200 bankers across Asia. Most of the jobs cuts are likely to take place in Hong Kong, Singapore and China, where Goldman's main Asian offices are located, according to the sources, who said the process was underway. A Goldman Sachs spokesman declined to comment. The company, whose investment banking revenue fell 11 percent to $1.79 billion in the second quarter, has been hit by a lacklustre environment for deals across Asia. The total value of M&A deals across the Asia-Pacific region has dropped to $572.9 billion so far this year, from $745.7 billion in the same period of 2015, according to Thomson Reuters data. Goldman said in July it had embarked on a cost-cutting plan that would save $700 million a year in response to a "challenging backdrop" for revenue. It still tops the Asia-Pacific M&A league tables but in the first half of the year it came third after JPMorgan and Citi as the biggest bank by revenue in Asia, according to data published on Friday by industry analytics firm Coalition. One of the sources said no managing directors in Asia were in the running to be made partners this year while three existing partners in the region had been stripped of their titles. RETRENCHMENT Goldman and other big investment banks are grappling with a harsh environment after the region's economies and markets failed to deliver sustained growth after the 2008 financial crisis. The banks' business has also been eroded by local competitors. In 2015 Goldman reduced the number of its investment bankers in Singapore - a hub for Southeast Asia - to about 35 from 50, several sources said. There have been further departures this year, including its Southeast Asia chairman Tim Leissner. Many of Goldman's European rivals have announced plans to scale down their operations in Asia. Barclays said in January that it would cut about 1,000 staff in its investment bank operations worldwide, with the bulk happening in Asia, while Societe Generale decided to close its equities research desk in India. Other European banks including BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank are expected to scale back operations in non-core Asian markets while last year Asia-focused Standard Chartered shut down its equities franchise. Goldman employs just over 100 bankers in China, where it was one of the first foreign investment banks to start operations. But like other banks it has been hit by a drop in Chinese trading volumes and competition from local banks. (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar in Singapore and Sumeet Chatterjee in Hong Kong; Editing by Pravin Char)
Music is a crucial part of nearly everyone's life in one or or another. Because of that, various businesses are constantly looking for beneficial ways to incorporate music into their new strategic plansespecially social media companies. While different companies continue to work on ways to capitalize off of users sharing their favorite music, it appears that Facebook might be the next of the bunch to make some serious changes to their own music strategy.

A new discovery from Hypebot shows that Facebook is definitely serious about making these changes sooner than later. A recent job ad posted by Facebook is seeking for a Director of Global Music Licensing Partnerships. Although music has been a big part of Facebook users interaction for years now, the company is now looking to finally directly license music. It doesn't seem likely that Facebook would want to get into the already heated music streaming wars, but whatever Mark Zuckerberg and his team have planned is sure to be a huge step forward.

The new, yet-to-be-filled position calls for someone "who is passionate about the changing music ecosystem." They will be responsible for leading Facebook's negotiations with various music labels and organizations. It will be a full-time position located in their Menlo Park offices in California.

If this position sounds like the job for you, or someone you know, applications can be sent directly through Facebook.

Continue Reading On Complex
It didnt take long for the breakdown in cease-fire talks between the United States and Russia to affect the situation on the ground in Syria. Early Friday, Damascus heavily bombarded rebel-held neighborhoods in eastern Aleppo in a bid to retake the divided city.

But the Wests failure to silence the guns of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could also have a more insidious effect over time: the merger of mainstream rebel groups in Aleppo with Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (JFS), an al Qaeda-affiliated group formerly known as the Nusra Front.

Were seeing everything being done to force together all the groups inside Aleppo today, Bassma Kodmani, a senior member of the Syrian oppositions High Negotiations Committee, told Foreign Policy. Thats a deadly direction for everyone.

For weeks, mainstream rebel groups resisted efforts to merge with JFS, fearing that it would expose them to American airstrikes. And on Sept. 9, the United States and Russia brokered a cease-fire that promised to halt the Assad regimes barrel bomb attacks and provide urgently needed humanitarian aid to besieged rebel-held areas  as long as the rebels dissociated from hard-line Islamists.

But on Thursday night, Moscow and Washington failed to find a way to revive the short-lived cease-fire during what U.N. special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura called a long, painful, difficult, and disappointing meeting.

The gathering of the International Syria Support Group, which includes the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and several other countries, occurred on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly. In the middle of the meeting, the Syrian government announced the beginning of a new military operation in eastern Aleppo, blowing up any possibility of resuscitating the cease-fire accord.

A senior U.S. official described the meeting as contentious in a conference call with reporters, and said it would take extraordinary steps by the Russians and the regime to restore the cease-fire.

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The ball is very much in the Russians court to come back to us with some ideas that are serious, the official said. That would be above and beyond the types of things they have been willing to agree to in the past with regard to air activities over large parts of Syria.

A visibly frustrated Secretary of State John Kerry left the gathering, saying he would meet again with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, but expressed concern about reports of the Assad regimes new offensive.

I am no less determined today than I was yesterday, but I am even more frustrated, Kerry said.

Now that the cease-fire is officially dead and the Assad regime is waging a new offensive in Aleppo, Syria experts say mainstream rebels may find themselves forced into closer military ties with al Qaeda-aligned Islamists in order to stand a better chance against Assads military.

The only carrot was the aid and access Kerry supposedly secured from Moscow, said Andrew Tabler, a Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. That didnt happen.

Opposition forces are unlikely to separate from extremist elements if Washington cant get Russia to rein in Assad, another analyst said.

From the armed opposition perspective, the cessation of hostilities process cannot proceed without first achieving civilian protection, said Nicholas Heras, a Syria expert at the Center for a New American Security. U.S.-backed armed opposition groups simply wont even begin to roll back the influence of extremist groups with ties to al Qaeda like Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham within the rebel movement without more forceful U.S. action.

Kodmani, whose group has long sought to distinguish members of the mainstream opposition from Islamists, said the absence of diplomatic progress makes it difficult for the political arm of the Syrian opposition to maintain credibility with Syrians on the ground.

We are here as the moderate opposition, she said. If this opposition does not deliver anything to the people and the moderate groups on the ground, where are the alternatives? What is it?

Any further cohesion between the rebels and hard-line Islamists could spell trouble for efforts to revive a cease-fire agreement, as well as other U.S. efforts to arm Syrian opposition forces to defeat the Islamic State. It would also fuel Moscows longstanding complaint that Washington and its Sunni allies have failed to separate legitimate members of the Syrian opposition from radical Islamic groups.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, Assad said the five-and-a-half-year war in Syria would drag on for as long as the United States and its allies support militants he called terrorists in Syria. The defiant strongman said he gives little credence to what U.S. 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.
On September 23, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made his famous Fala speech, which became a defining moment in his fourth presidential campaign. So who was the Terrier that helped FDR win his closest race and which Hollywood star inspired Roosevelt?

Fala was born in April 1940 and he was an early holiday gift for President Roosevelt from Margaret Daisy Suckley, a distant relative and friend of the presidents. Suckley raised Terriers and she hand-picked a Terrier named Big Boy to go to the White House. Roosevelt renamed the dog Murray the Outlaw of Falahill after a Scottish ancestor and the name was quickly shortened to Fala.

Fala soon became the most-famous dog in the Free World, after he was seen in newsreels and photographs accompanying President Roosevelt on his official duties. Fala was also seen riding along with President Roosevelt in a special car that Roosevelt operated using hand controls.

The First Dog also sailed with Roosevelt to summit meetings and inspection tours, and it was at the height of Roosevelt and Falas fame in 1944 that the canine companion made political headlines. Roosevelt had made the controversial decision to run for a fourth term in 1944, and there were public concerns about the Presidents health, especially after a photo was published that depicted a tired, haggard Roosevelt.

Then some Republicans started repeating a story that President Roosevelt had left Fala behind by accident on a tour of the Aleutian Islands during a trip, and he sent a Navy destroyer to retrieve Fala at great expense to taxpayers. Roosevelt had also struggled with GOP opponent Thomas Dewey, and he was still dogged by rumors about his health. So Roosevelt jumped on the chance to use his famous pet to turn the tables on his opponents.

On September 23, 1944, President Roosevelt started his re-election campaign in a nationally broadcast speech from a dinner in Washington hosted by the Teamsters. Reportedly, the dinner guests had several drinks during the event and were a very receptive audience for the President.

Story continues

Roosevelt drew huge laughs from the audience when he attacked the Republicans for bringing his dog into the political muck. These Republican leaders have not been content with the attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog. Fala, Roosevelt said.

Author Barbara Leaming, in her biography of actor-director Orson Welles, claimed that Welles told a joke about Fala and his Scottish heritage to Roosevelt, who found a way to work it in into his Teamsters speech. Well, of course, I dont resent attacks, and my family doesnt resent attacks, but Fala does resent them. You know, Fala is Scotch, and being a Scottie, as soon as he learned that the Republican fiction writers in Congress and out had concocted a story that I had left him behind on the Aleutian Islands and had sent a destroyer back to find him  at a cost to the taxpayers of two or three, or eight or twenty million dollars- his Scotch soul was furious. He has not been the same dog since.

Link: Read The Full Speech

The Fala speech served the purpose of presenting to voters a Roosevelt they were familiar with from his various Fireside charts. Photos from the event published in Time magazine showed a healthy-looking President Roosevelt at the Teamsters dinner.

In November, Roosevelt won a fourth term in office, defeating Dewey in the Electoral College with 432 votes, compared with 99 for Dewey. But the President had on-going health problems and he died from a massive stroke on April 12, 1945.

Fala attended the funeral in Washington and went off to live with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt at Hyde Park, N.Y. On April 5, 1952, Fala passed away there just two days shy of his 12th birthday. He received a full obituary in the New York Times.

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David Ortiz received a surprising  and apparently unwanted  gift from the Orioles before his final regular-season game at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

In a ceremony before the Red Sox faced the Orioles on Thursday night, Ortiz received the phone box he destroyed inside the visitor's dugout during a tirade on July 27, 2013.

Wearing a huge grin, Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones handed Ortiz the shattered phone box, which was mounted to a wooden case.

The 40-year-old Ortiz will retire after this season. His 30 home runs at Camden Yards are second among visiting players behind Alex Rodriguez (34).

Before giving Ortiz the phone, Baltimore played a montage of his notable home runs against the Yankees  a sight to be enjoyed by fans of the Orioles and the Red Sox.

At the end of the ceremony, the Orioles gave Ortiz an oversized $10,000 check to be used as a donation in his name to the World Pediatric Project, which benefits ill children in Ortiz's native Dominican Republic.

Ortiz walked off with the check but left the phone. Jones kiddingly gestured to the slugger that he'd forgotten his gift.

Tanaka to miss Monday start: New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka will miss his scheduled start Monday at Toronto because of what manager Joe Girardi called a slight lower right forearm strain.

Girardi announced Tanaka's injury before Thursday night's game at Tampa Bay. He said Tanaka won't throw for five days but could start again before the regular season is scheduled to end Oct. 2.

Tanaka had an MRI exam Thursday, one day after he gained up his 14th win despite allowing four homers in the third inning of a 11-5 win over the Rays.

Marte suffers back tightness: Starling Marte left with back tightness during his first start since returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates following a 16-game absence caused by lower back discomfort.

Marte immediately grabbed his lower back after fouling off a pitch from Brewers starter Chase Anderson in the third inning Thursday night. Manager Clint Hurdle and trainer Todd Tomczyk stood with Marte near home plate as he slowly walked in a circle. After a few moments, the trio headed to the Pirates' dugout, and the Pirates later announced his injury.
The FBI is "continuing to gather facts" about the reported child abuse allegations against Brad Pitt.

The Los Angeles office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation released a statement to ET on Thursday, saying, "In response to [ET's] 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."

WATCH: Report Claims Brad Pitt Is Under Investigation for Alleged Incident Involving His Child

According to People, on a flight from France to the U.S. Wednesday, Pitt was allegedly being physically and verbally abusive with one of the six children he shares with Angelina Jolie and an anonymous caller reported an alleged altercation to the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services. The publication later cited a source saying that Pitt "did not hit" his child during a verbal altercation with Jolie that turned into a "parent-child argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should have."

The L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services told ET that they are "never allowed to comment" on matters that involve minors. "We have very strict confidentiality laws and the laws do not allow us to confirm or deny the subjects of our investigations," Children and Family Services said in a statement.

The LAPD told ET earlier today they are "not handling any reports or allegations into child abuse for Mr. Brad Pitt."

ET has reached out to Pitt and Jolie's reps.

WATCH: How Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Custody Negotiations Could Turn Ugly

Jolie, 41, filed for divorce from Pitt on Monday. Her attorney, Robert Offer, released a statement on Tuesday, saying her decision "was made for the health of the family." Meanwhile, Pitt said he was "saddened" by the split in his own statement to People, and asked the press to respect the privacy of their children.

Story continues

Jolie is requesting physical custody of the children -- 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 is asking for shared legal custody.

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The FBI said it is continuing to gather facts about allegations against Brad Pitt regarding his children while aboard a private jet.

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, the FBI said in a statement Thursday evening to Variety.

According to the LA Times, the FBI was informed of a child welfare incident. According to the report, citing a law enforcement official, the incident involved unruly behavior by Pitt while his children were present. The source also told the LA Times that the Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services is conducting an investigation into Pitts behavior. The DCFS told Variety earlier on Thursday that it was not able to comment on the reports.

Earlier on Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Department denied that it was conducting an investigation into Pitt. The alleged incident took place on Sept. 14 on a private jet flying from France to Los Angeles, with a stop in Minnesota.

A source close to the situation told Variety that the FBI received a complaint from state officials. While the FBI might not usually look into such a case, the source said that because the alleged incident happened while in the air, it moves to the FBI to gather evidence to determine whether or not a federal investigation is necessary.

News broke on Tuesday that Angelina Jolie filed from divorce from Pitt. According to court documents, Jolie is requesting full custody of their six children. The grounds for divorce are listed as irreconcilable differences.

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, Pitt said in a statement to People on Tuesday.

Story continues

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Getty Images brad pitt child abuse allegations fbi

The FBI is now handling allegations that Brad Pitt committed child abuse on a private jet last week.

"The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement late on Thursday night.

Because the incident being investigated took place on a flight from France to the US, the charges fall under the special aircraft jurisdiction of the US.

Earlier on Thursday, representatives for the Los Angeles Police Department and the LA County Department of Children and Family Services denied there was any investigation underway on Pitt.

Following their denials, TMZ was the first to report that because the investigation centers on activity during a flight, the accusations were out of the departments' jurisdiction and referred to the FBI.

Citing anonymous sources, TMZ had reported on Thursday morning that Pitt was suspected of being "verbally abusive and physical with his children" during a trip last Wednesday on the family private jet. The actor was supposedly intoxicated. The news site said the incident prompted Angelina Jolie to file for divorce the following Tuesday.

Both TMZ and People magazine's anonymous sources said an anonymous tip from a witness on the airport tarmac prompted the investigation.

TMZ's sources said Jolie and the couple's children were on the jet with Pitt and that he attempted to exit the scene in an airport fuel truck.

According to the divorce filing, Jolie cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the filing, and she is reportedly seeking sole custody of the couple's six children, requesting that a judge grant Pitt visitation rights as opposed to joint custody. Robert Offer, an attorney for the family, said Jolie's decision was made "for the health of the family," according to an Associated Press report.

Business Insider has reached out to the attorneys for both Jolie and Pitt for comment.

Story continues

Steven Tweedie contributed to this report.

NOW WATCH: Brad Pitt praised Angelina Jolie for her 'no vanity' approach to cancer





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By Ellen Francis and Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) - Warplanes bombed Aleppo on Friday with what residents described as unprecedented ferocity after the Russian-backed Syrian army announced an offensive to fully capture Syria's biggest city, killing off any hope of reviving a ceasefire. Video images filmed by residents showed a young girl screaming as rescuers frantically dug her out of rubble, pulling her out alive. Another showed rescuers digging out a toddler with their bare hands, shouting "God is Great" as they lifted him from the debris. The boy showed no signs of life as he was rushed off in a rescuer's arms. The apparent collapse of U.S.-backed peacemaking may mark a turning point in the 5-1/2-year-old war, with the government and its Russian and Iranian allies now seemingly determined to crush the rebellion in its biggest urban stronghold. "Can you hear it? The neighborhood is getting hit right now by missiles. We can hear the planes right now," Mohammad Abu Rajab, a radiologist, told Reuters. "The planes are not leaving the sky, helicopters, barrel bombs, warplanes." Hamza al-Khatib, head of a hospital in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, said that 91 people had been killed in Friday's bombardment while the Civil Defence rescue group that operates in opposition areas said 40 buildings were destroyed. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring body gave an initial death toll of 27. Ammar al Selmo, the head of Civil Defence, said the rescuers themselves were targeted, with three of their four centers in Aleppo hit. "What's happening now is annihilation in every sense of the word," he told Reuters. "Today the bombardment is more violent, with a larger number of planes." Water has been cut off to nearly two million people in Aleppo as a result of the attacks on Thursday and Friday, the U.N. children's agency UNICEF said. The Syrian army announced overnight that it was launching an operation to recapture the rebel-held sector of the city. On Friday a Syrian military source denied the army was targeting civilians, saying it was accurately targeting "terrorist positions" in Aleppo. Western diplomats fear a bloodbath if the government unleashes a full-blown assault to capture the besieged opposition-held zone, where 250,000 civilians still are trapped. "The only way to take eastern Aleppo is by such a monstrous atrocity that it would resonate for generations. It would be the stuff of history," one Western diplomat said. The assault left no doubt that the government of President Bashar al-Assad and its Russian allies had spurned a plea from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights to resurrect the ceasefire, which collapsed on Monday after a week. At the United Nations, diplomatic efforts to revive the truce made no tangible progress. "My fear is that the bombings of the last few hours in Aleppo show that the regime is actually playing the card of partitioning Syria and its backers are letting it happen," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayraud told reporters. Recovering full control of the rebels' last significant urban area would be the most important victory of the war so far for Assad, strengthening his control over Syria's most populous and strategically important regions. COMPREHENSIVE OFFENSIVE In its late-night announcement on Thursday, the Syrian military announced "the start of its operations in the eastern districts of Aleppo". It warned residents to stay away from "the headquarters and positions of the armed terrorist gangs". An army source said on Friday that the offensive would be "comprehensive", with a ground assault following air and artillery bombardment. "With respect to the air or artillery strikes, they may continue for some time," he said. Several residents said explosions had struck with far greater force than anything that had hit the city in the past, making bigger craters and bringing entire buildings down. "I woke up to a powerful earthquake though I was in a place far away from where the missile landed," said a rebel commander in a voice recording sent to Reuters. His group had "martyrs under the rubble" in three locations. The offensive coincided with international meetings on Syria in New York, ostensibly intended to revive the truce announced jointly by the United States and Russia on Sept. 9. The collapse of the ceasefire - the same fate as that of all previous efforts to halt a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians - appeared to have doomed the peace bid, probably the last chance for a settlement before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office in January. The Syrian government, strengthened by Russian air power and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias, has been tightening its grip on rebel-held districts of Aleppo this year, and this summer achieved a long-held goal of fully encircling the area. Syrian state television reported late on Friday that the army had managed to advance and secure control over a road near Ramousah in southwest Aleppo, but this was denied by rebels. They said several attempts by the army to advance had failed. On Thursday in New York, the United States and Russia failed to agree on how to revive the ceasefire during what U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura called a "long, painful, difficult and disappointing" meeting. Kerry said he had made "a little progress" in talks on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who cited no progress and accused the United States of failing to honor the latest ceasefire deal. (Additional reporting by Laila Bassam and Angus McDowall and Yara Bayoumy, Denis Dyomkin, John Irish, Michelle Nichols, Arshad Mohammed and Lesley Wroughton at the UNITED NATIONS; Writing by Tom Perry, Angus McDowall and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Pravin Char and Howard Goller)
Kinshasa (AFP) - Heavy fighting in the city of Kananga in central Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed many lives, sources said.

The violence erupted on Thursday and continued into Friday, with attacks on the city's airport by supporters of a tribal chief, Kamwena Nsapu, who was killed in August by the military, they said.

"There was a bust-up in Kananga but calm returned in the late afternoon," DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP.

"We are having a meeting to assess the situation," he said.

At least 10 people were killed, according to an incomplete AFP toll compiled from various sources. A Western military source put the number of fatalities between 10 and 20.

"We have recorded seven military dead and 40 dead among the attackers," an aide to the governor of Kasai-Central province, of which Kananga is the capital, said on condition of anonymity.

Two journalists and an NGO official, reached by phone from the DRC capital Kinshasa, said that the rebels had taken the airport and were surrounded by troops.

The airport is a vital facility, providing the only reliable access to a remote location where roads are few and decrepit.

Mende added that a female flight attendant with the national airline, Congo Airways, was among the dead.

The vast central African country, a former Belgian colony, is chronically unstable and is the theatre of conflict between many rival groups.

Nsapu, from the Luba ethnic group of central Africa, had returned to the DRC in April after living for a while in South Africa, and began opposing the central government and its representatives, according to reports.

The government in Kinshasa is also in the grip of a political crisis.

Rioting and protests against President Joseph Kabila on Monday and Tuesday claimed at least 50 lives, according to the UN.
So much lies under the surface of Guilty Men that its often difficult for non-natives of Colombia to figure out all the forces at work. Ivan D. Gaonas handsome, occasionally suspenseful tale of a trucker/DJ in the countrys rural Santander province playing cat-and-mouse with paramilitary groups while trying to win back his love relies a great deal on things that are neither said nor shown, such as a knowledge of the extent to which paramilitary forces had the country in their grip as late as 2005 (when the film takes place), and the governments willingness to challenge that power. Gaona populates his feature debut with non-professional locals, foregrounding a tangible sense of realism, plus his use of Edson Velandias music adds a great deal to atmosphere and character, yet the often opaque narration means audience attention too easily drifts. Outside festivals, its difficult to imagine Guilty Men playing much away from home.

What makes the film memorable are a few set-pieces, including the tense opening when four men in a truck at night wait for a rendezvous that subsequently goes awry. Theyre meant to hand over protection money the town pays to the local paramilitary forces, but things dont go as planned, and theyre left holding the dough. For those in the know, the timing is crucial: In 2005, the Colombian government was negotiating to demobilize the paramilitary groups, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty regarding their disbandment as well as the governments shadowy relationship with these forces.

Much more straightforward is the relationship between trucker Willington (Willington Gordillo) and Mariana (Leidy Herrera), his ex-girlfriend now pregnant and engaged to his cousin Rene (Rene Diaz Calderon). Willington isnt willing to accept that hes lost Mariana, and while she still harbors feelings for the guy, shes made her decision to stick with Rene. One of the most appealing elements of the film is the way director Gaona largely refrains from painting anyone as black and white, and the deeper one gets into the story, the more shading is revealed. It doesnt help to clear up the ambiguities, but ensuring that most characters are neither all-good nor all-bad means Guilty Men is a much more human film than other dramas basing themselves on often clear-cut Westerns.

Tellingly, that genre too usually combines love story elements with grittier plotlines. Willingtons conflict with Rene becomes even more acute, as no one is clear what to do with the money which is meant to go to the paramilitary, though Rene could certainly use the cash to help offset his upcoming wedding, not to mention the costs of the baby on the way. In addition, various people around town are reporting thefts, and no one knows whom to blame.

Besides the opening scene, theres another memorable sequence in which Willington and Rene are chased through fields of sugar cane by a menacing motorcyclist in a darkened helmet. Shot and edited with a fine sense of rhythm that milks the maximum amount of tension, this is unquestionably the films highlight and comes exactly when viewer concentration might be lagging given the often unclear circumstances.

Gaonas talents appear to lie mainly in the directing rather than scripting departments, and hes done an impressive job working with the amateur actors, all locals from the small town of Guepsa, where Gaona also shot his shorts. His previous collaborations with cinematographer Juan Camilo Paredes have also served him well, as Guilty Men mines a great deal of its power from a precocious visual language that contrasts sunshine with darkness for added effect. While the soundscape at times seems to control the film more than the action on screen, the music itself, with an evocative blend of songs, adds considerably to an understanding of the people and their place in the society. The Spanish language title, Pariente, translates as Kinsmen, which plays in much more interesting ways with the various relationships on screen than Guilty Men.

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The Metro Fugitive Task Force arrested a 27-year-old man at gunpoint in downtown Lincoln Thursday evening on a warrant out of Cass County.

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said the task force was asked to be on the lookout for Michael Scott Osborn, 6602 Pheasant Run Lane, in Lincoln.

They arrested him without incident at 6:05 p.m. after spotting him in his pickup in the 1200 block of P Street. Officers found a loaded Walther PPQ 9-mm handgun and 27 rounds of ammunition in the truck, Wagner said.

Osborn was booked into jail on suspicion of possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, as well as the Cass County warrant.

On Thursday, prosecutors there charged him with terroristic threats and possession of a firearm while committing a felony for an incident at a home in Eagle the day before.

Capt. Dave Lamprecht of the Cass County Sheriffs Office said Osborn and a 25-year-old woman got into an argument Wednesday morning and he threatened to kill himself with a pistol.

The woman got the gun away from him and he then assaulted her, Lamprecht said.

He said Osborn ultimately left and later called the woman saying he was going to "destroy everything and everyone she valued."
Four years after ICM's partnership bought back the firm from private-equity player Rizvi Traverse Management, it also has purchased a grand new perspective by relocating in late August to the top five floors of its Century City skyscraper. The 112,000-square-foot space houses more than 200 agents and executives and row upon row of cubicled assistants (well supplied with a rainbow of LaCroix sparkling water that shares fridge space with boomer brand New York Seltzer). Unobstructed 360-degree views reach across the L.A. basin - and far beyond it on a clear day, from Catalina Island to the San Gabriel Mountains. "It's a fresh start, more symbolic than actual," says partner Chris Silbermann. "[The Sufi mystic] Rumi spoke of unfolding your own myth. That's what we're doing here."

That myth imminently will include its own confident new beacon: an illuminated logo, in 15-foot-tall letters, affixed just above the 35th story and staring down - way down - at immediate neighbors 20th Century Fox Studios and larger agency rival CAA. Such clients as recent Emmy winners Tatiana Maslany and Regina King as well as Shonda Rhimes, Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen DeGeneres enter via a two-floor sky lobby, then take meetings with their teams in corner conference rooms with all of the latest A/V trimmings. (The music department's conference room on the 32nd floor was billed as soundproof; impromptu listening parties during visits by clients Kendrick Lamar and Fetty Wap have proved otherwise.) The office will be christened formally with a grand-opening shindig in October featuring jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington, a composer and Lamar collaborator. It's part of a series of performances and discussions planned to continually activate the space.

While the windowed panoramas are breathtaking, the agency has opted for visuals across its sweeping interiors that are just as arresting. In a collaboration with polarizing L.A. dealer Stefan Simchowitz, who has shaken up the market with his aggressive advocacy for emerging talent (The New York Times called him "the art world's patron Satan"; ArtReview, the art world's "Ari Gold"), ICM has installed 330 works by more than 80 contemporary artists on its walls, floors and ceilings. It's the latest salvo in the top agencies' fine-art wars: UTA plastered its Beverly Hills office with CEO Jeremy Zimmer's personal collection of blue-chip works (then launched a Fine Arts division and opened a downtown space that debuted its first exhibition, Larry Clark's "DTLA," on Sept. 17), WME-IMG has invested in the edgy international art-fair concern Frieze, and CAA has teamed with the conceptual periodical Visionaire.

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Simchowitz will provide ICM with a rotating display that includes pieces by critics' darlings and auction house passions, their work typically grouped in clusters: "This is like having 45 gallery shows in one go," he says. Participants include Oscar Murillo, Petra Cortright, Walead Beshty and Trevor Paglen, whose work on mass surveillance has included serving as cinematographer on the Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour. None of the works is for sale.

Read more: Executive Suite: Inside ICM Publishing Partners' Sloan Harris and Esther Newberg's Office (Photos)

"Outside of New York City, there's not an environment where you can see this sheer volume of emerging art on display under one roof," says Simchowitz. "And for it to be in an active office space, it's unique. We've got [acclaimed L.A. multimedia artist] Sterling Ruby's 'Trans Compositional' in one kitchen! That's some heavy content right here." Says Katie Holmes, one of the first clients to see the new space, "I feel inspired walking in - the incredible art is a beautiful reflection of the respect for artists that I feel ICM embodies."

The collaboration with Simchowitz is a result of his two-decade friendship with agency partner Ted Chervin, who spearheaded the office move. He first met the dealer when Simchowitz was a producer partnered with Beau Flynn (their films included Requiem for a Dream). "When we were doing the build-out on the space, I went to [Stefan] for advice more than anything else: 'What do you recommend we do? What are our options?' " recalls Chervin. "When you make this kind of investment, it speaks to where we think we're headed and how confident we are in the path we're taking."

This story first appeared in the Sept. 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
Bratislava (AFP) - The European Union and United States are struggling to complete talks on a vast free-trade zone that would simplify rules and slash tariffs in a market of 850 million people.

Here are five key questions:

- What's the goal? -

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is meant to boost trade to the benefit of business and, in theory, workers and the broader economy.

Trade flows are already huge, with US exports to Europe amounting to more than $730 million (636 million euros) every day.

"TTIP is an immensely important agreement, with huge potential to create jobs and growth and to set standards," EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem says.

If the two sides reach an ambitious and comprehensive deal, it could give an economic boost of 120 billion euros to the EU and 95 billion euros to the United States by 2027, according to EU figures.

- How are talks taking place? -

Trade negotiators from both sides have been holding regular five-day sessions behind closed doors to hammer out the details. The next session on October 15 is in New York.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has tried to mute criticism about a lack of transparency by holding press conferences after each session and publishing information. But critics say many details remain confidential.

That has led to charges that the officials are haggling in secret over matters of public importance such as the environment, health and consumer rights.

After the last session in Brussels, negotiators said they were determined to reach an ambitious deal despite opposition reaching a fever-pitch in key European powers France and Germany.

- What would be the global impact? -

The rules agreed for a future US-EU trading zone -- covering everything from labels to hygiene or safety standards -- would likely be adopted by companies around the world that want to secure easier access to the lucrative EU-US trading bloc.

"If we do it, we become the masters of the world standard," said former World Trade Organization director general Pascal Lamy. "The Koreans, the Japanese, the Chinese will have to adjust to a European-American norm."

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President Barack Obama is attempting to push through US Congress a similar Trans-Pacific Partnership accord in Asia but it notably excludes China, the world's second largest economy.

- What are the key parts of the pact? -

The EU-US trade pact would cover a vast array of commerce but can be broken down into three main areas, each of which has a significant impact on business and people's lives:

The first area is "market access". This means eliminating or reducing tariffs on imports or other obstacles that restrict trade, as well as making it simpler for US and European firms to bid for public tenders in each other's home markets.

This would, for example, resolve the problem of US olive oil exporters who have to pay $1,680 in customs duties per tonne sent to the EU, whereas Europeans only pay $34.

The second area is "regulatory cooperation". This means agreeing uniform rules so that exporters only have to worry about one set of regulations, from labels to product tests or health and safety. This has an impact on deeply sensitive issues such as the use of pesticides on food or whether to allow the sale of beef grown with hormones.

The third area is "rules", covering topics such as protection for geographic names like champagne, intellectual property rights, and how to settle disputes between companies and national authorities.

- Will efforts fail? -

Negotiations are moving slowly because the accord is so far-reaching, prompting deep concerns and outright opposition. Obama had pressed for a deal by the end of 2016 but this seems almost certainly unachievable.

On both sides of the Atlantic, support seems to be dwindling.

With US elections looming in November this year, Donald Trump and even Hillary Clinton have criticised the talks. Germany and France each face elections next year.

French President Francois Hollande has warned that the deal would fail if the United States refused to make concessions, notably on issues of European access to lucrative US public procurement contracts.

Issues of concern range from food safety to environmental protection, intellectual property rights, the protection of farmers, or the sovereignty of governmental decisions when they are challenged by foreign businesses.
Beirut (AFP) - Once an economic powerhouse, Aleppo and its surrounding countryside have suffered some of the bloodiest violence in Syria's five-year conflict that has cost more than 300,000 lives.

Here are five facts about the northern city, which has been roughly divided into a regime-controlled west and a rebel-held east since July 2012 and where the government said Thursday it had launched a new offensive.

- War comes to Aleppo in July 2012 -

In April-May 2011, thousands of students demonstrated in Aleppo, which had so far been spared the unrest in Syria since mid-March.

While the student protests were brutally crushed, rebels took control of several parts of Aleppo province which they would later use as launchpads for a massive July 2012 offensive on the city.

The army fought back with tanks, leaving Aleppo divided into east and west.

The first air strikes in Syria's war followed.

Since then, Aleppo has been split between zones controlled by the rebels and those by the regime, with its province divided up between regime, rebels, jihadists and Kurds.

- Major stake in conflict -

Aleppo, Syria's second city, is strategically vital to all sides in the conflict and the army has made its conquest one of its priorities.

Aleppo's fate is seen as key to the outcome of the war and a possible Russian-backed ground offensive against the rebel-Islamist alliance which controls the east of the city could be a potential turning point.

- A devastated city -

The once-flourishing city with its globally renowned old town and souk markets has been reduced to a site of devastation.

Since December 2013, the army has been using brutal barrel bomb strikes from helicopters and military planes, targeting opposition-held residential neighbourhoods, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activists.

Use of this particularly destructive weapon has been denounced by the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations.

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Rebels have retaliated with deadly rocket fire on regime-held neighbourhoods.

Medics say health conditions in the rebel part of the city, where several hospitals have been hit, are alarming and that medical staff are falling victim to the regular bombardments.

- Last supply route severed -

Since July 17, Aleppo's rebel neighbourhoods, home to around 250,000 people, have been totally under siege, after regime forces cut off the last supply route.

The noose has since tightened for the inhabitants, faced with food and petrol shortages as well as soaring prices.

Following a September 12-19 ceasefire which failed to allow the delivery of humanitarian supplies, missiles rained down on rebel-held areas on Friday as the army prepared a ground offensive to retake the city.

The UN's humanitarian chief, Stephen O'Brien, said Monday he was "pained" that aid convoys had not deployed to eastern Aleppo.

According to the Observatory, at least 130 civilians were killed between July 31 and September 8, while more than 700 fighters also died.

- Ancient city -

Provincial capital Aleppo is one of the world's oldest cities to have been constantly inhabited since at least 4,000 BC, thanks to its strategic position between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq.

The manufacturing centre, renowned for its textiles, is situated at the crossroads of major trading routes, and numerous civilisations succeeded each other on its soil.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986, Aleppo's citadel, a jewel of Islamic military architecture in the Middle Ages, was built in stages over three centuries from the 10th century.

It was damaged by a blast in July 2015. Two years earlier, fighting destroyed the minaret of the Ummayad mosque and before that a fire ripped through the ancient souk, partially destroying it.
On Sept. 18, officials in the central Chinese city of Yichang sent an open letter urging Communist Party members to have a second child and help replenish the citys falling birth rates. This follows a nationwide move to a two-child policy in early 2016, prompted by fears the countrys shrinking worker base could act as a continuing drag on economic growth.

In short, Chinas unpopular and controversial system of population control known as one-child policy is becoming have one more child policy. But the move may be too little and too late for a country that has become synonymous with the most restrictive birth policies in the world.

The volte-face is electrifying, generating incredulity among Chinas netizens. The letter appeared, of all places, on the website of Yichangs local family planning commission, an organization historically tasked with enforcing stringent birth quotas by measures including compulsory sterilizations and abortions. Yet now that same organization exhorts the citys civil servants of childbearing age to lead by example, peddling the slogan, Doing it starts with me. (At the time this article was written, the letter had been taken down; it now appears to be available.)

As a policy matter, Chinas switch to the beginnings of a pronatalist policy is sensible. As with many other modern societies, family sizes in China have shrunk due to the combined forces of urbanization and female empowerment, which has created more opportunities for women.

Several countries have tried to stem the downturn in their own birth rates by offering financial incentives  cash payments called baby bonuses, as well as tax breaks. Others have been more blatant in telling their citizens to, quite simply, do it for their country. Italy just launched its first annual Fertility Day, a much criticized campaign that follows on the heels of similar movements in Denmark, South Korea, and Turkey. In 2010, South Koreas Ministry of Health and Welfare designated days when it turned off office lights early as family days in hopes its workers would go home and make babies.

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What sets China apart, of course, is that decades ago the country launched, and then persisted in, the worlds longest-running anti-natal campaign. In the 1970s, the world was awash in fears that population growth would far outstrip the planets resources, prompting books such as The Limits to Growth, commissioned by the Club of Rome, and Paul Ehrlichs The Population Bomb. In 1980, still in that milieu, China introduced harsh regulations that became known as the one-child policy and ended up putting about one-third of Chinese households  90 percent in cities  under a one-child limit. Now, that vision seems outdated, and China recognizes it needs the birth of new workers to sustain growth. But the course of population decline, once set, is hard to reverse.

The Yichang open letter makes explicit the changes authorities have quietly been making to address Chinas demographic decline. Beijing has been sending messages for some time now that Chinese women should reproduce more, using propaganda to stigmatize college-educated women who delay marriage as unappetizing leftovers, or sheng nu. A number of government-backed adult education seminars, called Confucian workshops, have sprung up across the country promoting traditional values, such as deference to men; Ding Xuan, a popular speaker, tells attendees at these workshops that strong women run the risk of cancer melting off unwomanly parts. Sexist movements aimed at shaming women into marriage are not new  witness Japanese medias labeling of single women as parasites and insistence that wedding cake is bad after 25. But no state power has at its disposal as formidable an apparatus to control, disseminate, and accentuate its messages as China.

Grandparents are another weapon in Chinas arsenal. The countrys so-called Little Emperor generation  spoiled only children being another side effect of the one-child policy  has elevated helicopter parenting to stratospheric heights. Parents in China meddle in their childrens decisions on where to work and whom to marry to a degree unheard of in the West. With only one offspring to minister to the needs of parents and grandparents  a phenomenon known in China as 4-2-1  anxiety over the fragility of the urban Chinese family structure is high. With retirement ages among the earliest in the world (as early as 45 for some women), Chinas seniors will at least have a lot of time to chivy their offspring into generating yet more offspring.

Such measures may not be enough to address the countrys dwindling numbers. For the past 20 years, China has seen birthrates below replacement level. If the trend continues, in one of the most dire estimates, Chinas population could eventually decline close to its 1950 levels of about 500 million  a startling reversal for the worlds most populous nation.

Because it has sharply limited family size, China now faces a declining population at a far earlier stage of its economic growth than most European countries, which took about 50 years  twice as long as China  to arrive at a stage where their retirees outweigh their worker base. A declining, aging population is a first-world problem, but China hasnt yet achieved first-world prosperity: It may be the worlds second-largest economy by size, but its per capita GDP is just one-sixth of South Koreas and one-ninth of the United States. Scandinavian countries have had the most (albeit limited) success bringing birthrates up by spending heavily on measures like generous parental leave and subsidized education. Political will aside, Beijing simply doesnt have that kind of money.

China also has a distorted gender mix, another legacy of its planned birth policies. By limiting family size in a culture that has historically venerated sons, the one-child policy has caused, by some estimates, more than 60 million missing girls in China  those daughters who were never born, or were killed, or were given away. That means there are fewer women to have the babies Beijing suddenly wants.

In addition, Beijing must now fight to dislodge the effects of 30-plus years of propaganda pushing the one-child family as ideal. For years, the government has been educating its people that birth planning is the best family style, a young Chinese friend told me. It means wealth, happiness, and a less crowded society. For me, brought up in a one-child family, it seems natural to bear only one child.

If its somehow possible to nag people into having more children, then China will have an edge. But its unlikely that the Chinese Communist Party can employ the same kind of abusive tactics it used to reduce the population in order to accomplish the reverse. Its far simpler to drag someone in for an abortion than to force someone to reproduce and rear children. Beijing may be taking a new tack in its birth policies, but the shadow of coercion still lingers.

Mei Fong is the author of One Child: The Story of Chinas Most Radical Experiment.

Photo credit: Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images

Correction, Sept. 26, 2016: The open letter posted by the Yichang family planning commission appeared on Sept. 17, not Sept. 18, as stated in a previous version of this article.

Update, Sept. 26, 2016: The open letter, earlier reportedly taken down, is again available online. This article has been updated to reflect that.
Paris (AFP) - The French military is to buy German assault rifles to replace its venerable French-made service weapon, the FAMAS, the government's military procurement agency announced on Friday.

Heckler und Koch will provide French troops with its HK 416 F model from 2017 under a 10-year supply contract, the DGA said.

Press reports put the value of the deal at around 300 million euros ($337 million).

"The contract contributes to the further strengthening of the solid ties between Germany and France in defence and in the armaments industry in particular," the DGA said.

The HK 416 F won against four other proposals after bidding was opened across Europe, it said.

The contract provides for the supply of 100,000 weapons, accessories and ammunition, as well as training.

Heckler und Koch have already manufactured 60,000 of the weapons, mainly for the Norwegian armed forces.

The model, which has a rate of fire of up to 900 rounds per minute and an effective firing range of 300 metres (1,000 feet), is already in use with the French air force and special forces.

The FAMAS -- the acronym for 'Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Etienne' -- was designed more than four decades ago.

The four other assault rifles competing with the HK 416 F were the ARX160, made by Beretta of Italy; the MCX, manufactured by the German-Swiss firm Sig Sauer; the VHS2, made by the Croatian firm HS Produkt; and the SCAR, manufactured by Belgium's FN Herstal.
Paris (AFP) - French growth suffered a downward revision on Friday, just days before the government puts together its final budget ahead of presidential elections next year.

France's economy contracted by 0.1 percent in the second quarter, the Insee statistics agency said, revising an initial estimate of zero growth.

This adds a layer of uncertainty to ambitious growth and deficit targets that President Francois Hollande's team reaffirmed only on Tuesday as campaigning for 2017 presidential elections gets under way.

The revision, which shows both consumers and businesses held back spending in April through June, highlights France's difficulties in combining spending boosts in the run-up to the presidential vote with the need to bring the French deficit in line with eurozone rules.

Hollande has not said whether he is seeking re-election, but if he does, his economic record will be key, including France's stubbornly high unemployment rate.

- France sticks to forecasts -

Finance Minister Michel Sapin, reacting to Friday's revision, said he stood by his 1.5 percent growth forecast for this year and next.

"All of this does absolutely not put in question the growth forecasts of around 1.5 percent for 2016 and 2017," he told a news conference in Berlin.

Growth of that size is instrumental for the government's tax and spending plans as well as honouring the promise to Brussels to bring the public deficit back under the EU limit of 3.0 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

The French economy grew by 0.7 percent in the first three months of the year.

However Insee's revised data Friday showed households trimmed spending by 0.1 percent in the second quarter, after having spent 1.1 percent more in the first quarter.

Investment by businesses fell 0.2 percent after a 1.3 percent rise in the first quarter.

- 'Relatively mediocre' -

"Taking into consideration public spending, overall domestic demand (excluding stocks) provided no contribution to GDP growth in the second quarter of 2016," said Insee, noting it had provided a 0.9 percent boost at the start of the year.

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A source at the finance ministry told AFP that GDP growth in the first two quarters meant that 1.1 percent annual growth was already in the bag.

But economists expressed doubts whether the remaining 0.4 points can be found easily in the remaining two quarters.

Early indications for France's third-quarter performance are "relatively mediocre", said Alexandre Mirlicourtois, director at economic think tank Xerfi.

"After all is said is done, it's hard to imagine 1.5 percent growth for this year," he said.

The French economy appears set to post slight growth in the third quarter, with the Banque de France saying earlier this month it expects a 0.3 percent expansion.

But Ludovic Subran, chief economist at Euler Hermes, said France will need 0.4 percent growth in the current quarter and the next to reach the government's full-year objective, above the current Bank of France forecast.

- Bright spot -

But there was a bright spot on Friday, contained in a key survey by data monitoring company IHS Markit.

While Markit's preliminary September Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) report was disappointing for the eurozone as a whole, France came out well compared to its peers.

The PMI index for France came in at a 15-month high at 53.3 points after 51.9 in August.

"The data raise hopes of a firmer GDP print for the third quarter after growth ground to a halt in Q2," Jack Kennedy, Senior Economist at IHS Markit, said in the statement.
Paris (AFP) - A French appeal court on Friday ordered "rogue trader" Jerome Kerviel to pay one million euros ($1.2 million) to his former employer, Societe Generale, one of France's top three banks.

It was just the latest step in an eight-year saga in which Societe Generale pulled itself back from the brink of bankruptcy and Kerviel spent nearly five months behind bars after his trades cost the bank 4.9 billion euros.

Following is a recap of the story so far:

- 2008 -

January 24: Societe Generale claims it is a victim of "fraud" to the tune of 4.9 billion euros at the hands of Kerviel, then aged 31.

It suspends the trader and files a complaint accusing him of "hiding his positions on 50 billion euros through an elaborate construction of fake transactions."

January 28: Kerviel is charged with breach of trust, forgery and entering false data but prosecutors stop short of charging him with attempted fraud, a decision that his lawyers hail as a "victory".

February 8: Kerviel is taken into custody and held until March 18.

July 4: France's banking commission fines Societe Generale 4 million euros for "serious deficiences in its internal control system".

- 2010 -

October 5: Convicted for breach of trust, forgery and entering false data, Kerviel is sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended, and ordered to pay Societe Generale 4.9 billion euros in damages and interest.

- 2012 -

October 24: The conviction is upheld on appeal.

- 2014 -

March 19: The court of cassation upholds the criminal conviction but cancels the 4.9 billion euros that Kerviel had been ordered to pay back, referring the issue of damages to another court for a fresh decision.

April 22: Kerviel lodges a complaint against Societe Generale for interfering with a witness. He says his immediate superior Eric Cordelle was bribed one million euros to testify in the bank's favour.

May 19: Kerviel begins a three-year prison term, but is released on September 8.

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- 2016 -

January 17: In a bombshell revelation, Nathalie Le Roy, a top detective in the case, presented recordings of a former deputy prosecutor, Chantal de Leiris, saying it was "obvious" that the bank was aware of Kerviel's shady dealings.

Three days later, De Leiris denied being manipulated by the bank.

June 7: France's labour relations court orders Societe Generale to pay 455,000 euros to Kerviel for unfair dismissal.

June 17: The Versailles appeals court rules that Societe Generale should not receive any compensation because of its own mistakes.

July 1: Finance Minister Michel Sapin states that if the appeals court finds responsibility on the part of the bank, the state will review its decision to provide 2.2 billion euros in compensation to the bank as a victim of fraud.

September 23: The Versailles appeals court orders Kerviel to pay one million euros to Societe Generale.
ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos will lead its coverage of the first presidential debate on Monday. Stephanopoulos will be based in New York during the 9-11 PM ET debate being held at Hofstra University. Among those participating in the networks coverage from New York, Washington, D.C. and at the university are World News Tonight anchor David Muir, This Week with George Stephanopoulos co-anchor Martha Raddatz, chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl, World News Tonight Saturday Anchor/senior national correspondent Cecilia Vega, World News Tonight Sunday anchor and correspondent Tom Llamas, Nightline co-anchor Byron Pitts, political analyst Cokie Roberts and special correspondent Matthew Dowd.

Following the debate, on Nightline, co-anchor Dan Harris will recap and cover reaction from the spin room.

ABC News Digital will have live coverage throughout the day from anchors and correspondents at Hofstra University, inside the spin room, as well as watch parties across the country. As part of a partnership announced earlier this week, ABC News digital coverage of the debates will be streamed live on Facebook and will incorporate viewers comments, questions and conversations in the Facebook Live coverage. ABC News Radio will provide extensive coverage of the first Presidential debate with ABC News Radio correspondent Aaron Katersky anchoring from Hofstra University and reporting from ABC News Brad Mielke.

ABC NewsOne, the affiliate news service for ABC News, will provide live reports from the debate site from correspondents Marci Gonzalez and Stephanie Ramos as well as analysis from Cokie Roberts for more than 200 ABC affiliates and partners.

Marc Burstein is the senior executive producer of ABC News Special Events.

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Questions loomed Friday as Nebraska State Patrol investigators continued to probe the fatal encounter between a Cass County Sheriff's deputy and a 23-year-old Louisville man Wednesday evening.

Why did Austin Baier get out of his Buick Century?

Was he armed when he confronted Deputy Tyler Reiff?

What exactly happened in the altercation?

Answers to those questions and others were scarce.

It appears Reiff and Baier were the only people near First and Cherry streets in the town of 1,100 just after 7 Wednesday evening when authorities say the encounter began.

According to Cass County radio dispatches, a back-up deputy headed to the scene moments after the shooting told Reiff to ensure it was secure before rendering first aid.

"Were the only ones out here, Reiff responded.

It's unclear whether the shooting was recorded, and Cass County Attorney Nathan Cox on Friday wouldn't say whether a video from a dashboard or body camera captured it.

In an email on Friday, Cox also declined to answer questions or provide more detail about the shooting.

"The press release provided yesterday is all that has been released," he wrote. "This is still under investigation and will be proceeding to a grand jury."

Nebraska law requires a grand jury to investigate any death that happens in police custody or while a person is being apprehended.

Reiff has said he pulled Baier over near the high school Wednesday evening because Baier's maroon 1992 Buick Century matched the description of a car that was reportedly driving recklessly earlier Wednesday, a patrol spokesman said Thursday.

About 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 the 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. He and medical personnel tried to revive Baier, but he died at the scene, Cox said.

An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday; no findings were released Friday.

Reached late Thursday night, a relative of Baier's said the family had "decided not to comment on the tragedy regarding a close loved one."

Baier lived behind the dental office near Third and Main streets, was a cook at the Main Street Cafe a year ago and most recently worked at a gas station, according to Louisville residents who described him as a nice guy who kept to himself.

Baier went to Weeping Water High School, where he was on the wrestling team, according to newspaper files.

His death appears to be the first fatal shooting involving a Cass County deputy since William Brueggemann became sheriff in 1991, according to newspaper records.

In 2004, an Avoca man was killed after a standoff with authorities including Cass County deputies, but state troopers fired the shots that killed Mahlon Wolfe, who was suicidal and had barricaded himself in his home, authorities said.

The details of Baier's death may remain under wraps until after a grand jury has concluded its review of the case.

Under a new law passed by Nebraska lawmakers in April, a report on the grand jury's findings will be made public if they clear police of criminal wrongdoing.
By Matthias Sobolewski

BERLIN (Reuters) - German governing parties have agreed to tighten up tax breaks for people who inherit firms in a reform to a law that also aims to protect jobs, officials said on Thursday, ending a bitter dispute that has lasted nearly two years.

The parliamentary mediation committee, representing the lower and upper houses, 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 will be stricter.

The reform to "Mittelstand" firms - medium-sized, often family owned businesses that form the backbone of Europe's largest economy - was needed after the Constitutional Court ruled the system breached the principle of equal tax treatment.

In December 2014, it demanded tighter restrictions for firms to qualify for tax breaks.

A 2009 law allows ownership of firms to be passed from one generation to the next tax-free as long as heirs keep them going for seven years and maintain employment levels.

A dispute between Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative allies in Bavaria, who had pushed for preferential treatment for heirs, and the Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens had delayed an agreement which missed the mid-2016 deadline set by the court.

The deal is likely to be passed by the Bundestag lower house, probably on Sept. 29 according to party sources. It had originally been expected to go to a vote on Thursday.

It may, however, encounter more problems in the Bundesrat upper house if the Greens, many of whom oppose the reform, vote against it in mid-October.

RESERVATIONS

The 16 members of the committee agreed on details including a formula to value firms to calculate their tax liability.

Exemptions for businesses worth more than 90 million euros will be abolished while preferential treatment for those worth more than 26 million euros (22.31 million pounds) will be reduced. In some cases, heirs will be allowed to pay taxes with private assets.

Story continues

In addition, it will not be possible to use tax breaks on private wealth, such as art collections.

Germany's DIHK Chambers of Commerce hailed the deal, saying it would give family firms security as they made investment and hiring decisions.

The Foundation for Family Companies welcomed the certainty but expressed reservations.

"The tax burden for many big family firms may rise significantly and the new rules will require a lot more intensive planning and consultation," said foundation chief Rainer Kirchdoerfer.

The head of the Ifo economic think tank, Clemens Fuest, condemned the deal, describing it as an "employment programme for tax consultants."

Fuest told the Passauer Neuen Presse newspaper that he fully expected the plan to be challenged in the Constitutional Court, and that a flat-rate with no exceptions would be the only fair solution.

Around 90 percent of German companies are family run and they employ around half of the country's working population.

In 2015, revenues from inheritance tax hit a record high of 6.3 billion euros, up 15.4 percent from the previous year, data from the Federal Statistics Office showed.

(Writing by Michelle Martin and Madeline Chambers; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Toby Chopra)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany and France brushed aside comments from British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson suggesting there was no link between the EU's principle of free movement and access to its single market, saying they could send Johnson a copy of the Lisbon Treaty and even travel to London to explain it to him in English. Johnson, a leading Brexit advocate who is known for his colorful language, told Sky News television on Thursday that the EU's position that there was an automatic trade-off between what access to the single market and free movement was "complete baloney." Asked about the remarks at a news conference in Berlin, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and his French counterpart Michel Sapin shot glances at each other before the German host responded. "We just looked at each other because we're used to respecting foreign ministers a lot," Schaeuble said. "If we need to do more, we will gladly send her majesty's foreign minister a copy of the Lisbon Treaty. Then he can read that there is a certain link between the single market and the four core principles in Europe," he added. "I can also say it in English. So if clarification is necessary we can pay a visit and explain this to him in good English," Schaeuble said. Sapin, in a French twist on Johnson's "baloney" jibe, said: "There are four freedoms and they cannot be separated. So if we want to make good European pate then there are four freedoms that together make up the pate in question." (Reporting by Noah Barkin)
Berlin (AFP) - Germany has halted a three-decade-long decline in its birth rate, with data showing that the trend has started to reverse, statisticians said Friday.

Over the last 35 years Europe's biggest economy had recorded a steady fall in birth rate, which reached a low of 1.49 child for each woman born in the year 1968, said the Federal Institute for Population Research.

But women born in the subsequent years are having more children, bringing the birth rate to 1.56 for mothers born in 1973.

"The decline in birth rate has stopped," said Martin Bujard, a researcher at the institute.

"On the basis of these numbers, one can even speak of a turning point," he said, noting that improved childcare options likely contributed to the upswing.

Despite the turnaround, Germany's birth rate remains below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman.

The country's low birth rate has contributed to shaping much of the European economic giant's policies, including questions surrounding state indebtedness and pensions.

The government has always preached austerity as politicians argue that it would be irresponsible to leave shrinking future generations to shoulder ever-rising burdens of debt.

In recent years, Germany has also rolled out new policies to reverse the low birth trend, including expanding nursery spots and creating incentives for fathers to take parental leave.

Germany's population is set to decline by about 10 million people by 2060, according to projections published last April. Federal statistics office Destatis said Germany was expected to have between 68 and 73 million inhabitants by 2060, compared to its current 81 million.
* Gibraltar home to large financial centre

* "The Rock" now springboard to Europe

* Minister says could be gateway to UK after Brexit

By Angus Berwick and Carolyn Cohn

GIBRALTAR/LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Gibraltar, a rocky British enclave on Spain's southern tip that has positioned itself as a springboard for finance to the European Union, may have to reinvent itself after Britain voted to split from the bloc.

Fund managers and insurers have been drawn to "the Rock" because of an attractive tax and regulatory regime, location in mainland Europe and proximity to the European market. Financial services account for about a third of the economy.

But Gibraltar is now considering refocusing on the British market in case London fails to secure financial access to the EU in talks with Brussels about its EU exit.

Fund lawyers in Gibraltar say they have not seen a drop off in client queries since the June vote to leave the EU, which 98 percent of residents opposed, but Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, has warned of an "existential threat" to the economy. The government is now preparing a plan B for its financial centre.

Albert Isola, Gibraltar's financial services and gaming minister, says the territory would re-invent itself as an entry point for EU firms wanting to access a cut-off British market via Gibraltar's attractive tax and regulatory regime.

"Being outside the EU is an opportunity not a threat," said Isola in an interview in his office that looks out across the bay to the Spanish port of Algeciras.

There is little alternative. A "hard" Brexit, in which Britain loses automatic access to Europe's single market, would prevent financial firms based in Britain and Gibraltar from offering their services in other EU countries.

This would abruptly end Gibraltar's efforts to lure firms looking to Europe, with the promise of corporate tax of 10 percent, easy-to-access regulators, and Mediterranean lifestyle.

The British overseas territory, which Spain ceded in 1713 but would now like to reclaim, is home to over 100 regulated funds, which manage assets worth around 3 billion pounds ($3.91 billion). It is also an important cog in Britain's insurance industry, with 20 percent of motor insurance being underwritten there.

Story continues

Isola said that even if Britain loses its right to a "passport" allowing it to sell financial products into the EU, the British market will remain one of the largest in Europe. Any firms wanting to do British business would need to set up subsidiaries in Britain - or Gibraltar.

GIBRALTAR TO MALTA?

Gibraltar's financial district has grown rapidly along the narrow strip of land between the sea and the towering limestone rock, famous for its monkeys and views out across the narrow strait to Morocco.

Some of Britain's biggest motor insurers, such as Admiral and Hastings, have Gibraltar subsidiaries, and although the bulk of their business is in the British market, some insurers and other finance firms are making inroads into mainland Europe.

Firms that are there now have to decide whether to stay.

"There obviously are a lot of exploratory talks with countries like Malta to keep, if and when needed, access to the continental European market," said Ron Westdorp, managing director of Taler Asset Management, a fund in which the majority of investors come from EU countries other than Britain.

One British general insurer with a Gibraltar operation, Elite Insurance, has already decided to set up a subsidiary in Luxembourg.

"The issue for us is that we cannot afford to let our customers just wait and see what happens between the British government and the rest of Europe, we do not feel that is fair," Elite's Chief Executive Jason Smart told Reuters.

HEAD IN THE SAND

Gibraltar has a history of adapting to adverse circumstances, particularly on its border with Spain, which was closed by former dictator Francisco Franco in 1969 and only reopened in the 1980s.

Gibraltarians say it can re-position itself far faster than Britain. "Because we are such a small jurisdiction we are able to adapt very quickly," said Joey Garcia, a lawyer at family law firm Isolas.

Garcia said his pitch to clients would have to change in the worst case scenario of a loss of EU passporting rights: he would be selling them access to Britain, not to the EU.

Isola said Gibraltar's government would help its licensed businesses to make arrangements with other jurisdictions that would allow them to maintain access to the single market.

One option on the table, he said, would be to set up a dual-legislative regime comparable to arrangements in British overseas territory Guernsey. One regime would be in line with European standards to allow Gibraltar to be included in EU passporting and the other regime would have its own domestic standards.

A further option under consideration, according to local lawyers, is an agreement with an EU jurisdiction that would allow Gibraltar to passport into the EU through that territory. In return, businesses in the other jurisdiction would be able to set up in Gibraltar on a fast-track basis.

But Isola concedes that Brexit will hurt, as firms that rely on business with the EU move elsewhere.

"Anyone who doesn't know that is digging their head into the sand," he said. ($1 = 0.7665 pounds) (Writing by Angus Berwick, additional reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain; Editing by John O'Donnell and Anna Willard)
By Angus Berwick and Carolyn Cohn

GIBRALTAR/LONDON (Reuters) - Gibraltar, a rocky British enclave on Spain's southern tip that has positioned itself as a springboard for finance to the European Union, may have to reinvent itself after Britain voted to split from the bloc.

Fund managers and insurers have been drawn to "the Rock" because of an attractive tax and regulatory regime, location in mainland Europe and proximity to the European market. Financial services account for about a third of the economy.

But Gibraltar is now considering refocusing on the British market in case London fails to secure financial access to the EU in talks with Brussels about its EU exit.

Fund lawyers in Gibraltar say they have not seen a drop off in client queries since the June vote to leave the EU, which 98 percent of residents opposed, but Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, has warned of an "existential threat" to the economy. The government is now preparing a plan B for its financial center.

Albert Isola, Gibraltar's financial services and gaming minister, says the territory would re-invent itself as an entry point for EU firms wanting to access a cut-off British market via Gibraltar's attractive tax and regulatory regime.

"Being outside the EU is an opportunity not a threat," said Isola in an interview in his office that looks out across the bay to the Spanish port of Algeciras.

There is little alternative. A "hard" Brexit, in which Britain loses automatic access to Europe's single market, would prevent financial firms based in Britain and Gibraltar from offering their services in other EU countries.

This would abruptly end Gibraltar's efforts to lure firms looking to Europe, with the promise of corporate tax of 10 percent, easy-to-access regulators, and Mediterranean lifestyle.

The British overseas territory, which Spain ceded in 1713 but would now like to reclaim, is home to over 100 regulated funds, which manage assets worth around 3 billion pounds ($3.91 billion). It is also an important cog in Britain's insurance industry, with 20 percent of motor insurance being underwritten there.

Story continues

Isola said that even if Britain loses its right to a "passport" allowing it to sell financial products into the EU, the British market will remain one of the largest in Europe.

Any firms wanting to do British business would need to set up subsidiaries in Britain - or Gibraltar.

GIBRALTAR TO MALTA?

Gibraltar's financial district has grown rapidly along the narrow strip of land between the sea and the towering limestone rock, famous for its monkeys and views out across the narrow strait to Morocco. Some of Britain's biggest motor insurers, such as Admiral <ADML.L> and Hastings <HSTG.L>, have Gibraltar subsidiaries, and although the bulk of their business is in the British market, some insurers and other finance firms are making inroads into mainland Europe.

Firms that are there now have to decide whether to stay.

"There obviously are a lot of exploratory talks with countries like Malta to keep, if and when needed, access to the continental European market," said Ron Westdorp, managing director of Taler Asset Management, a fund in which the majority of investors come from EU countries other than Britain.

One British general insurer with a Gibraltar operation, Elite Insurance, has already decided to set up a subsidiary in Luxembourg.

"The issue for us is that we cannot afford to let our customers just wait and see what happens between the British government and the rest of Europe, we do not feel that is fair, "Elite's Chief Executive Jason Smart told Reuters.

HEAD IN THE SAND

Gibraltar has a history of adapting to adverse circumstances, particularly on its border with Spain, which was closed by former dictator Francisco Franco in 1969 and only reopened in the 1980s.

Gibraltarians say it can re-position itself far faster than Britain. "Because we are such a small jurisdiction we are able to adapt very quickly," said Joey Garcia, a lawyer at family law firm Isolas.

Garcia said his pitch to clients would have to change in the worst case scenario of a loss of EU passporting rights: he would be selling them access to Britain, not to the EU.

Isola said Gibraltar's government would help its licensed businesses to make arrangements with other jurisdictions that would allow them to maintain access to the single market.

One option on the table, he said, would be to set up a dual-legislative regime comparable to arrangements in British overseas territory Guernsey. One regime would be in line with European standards to allow Gibraltar to be included in EU passporting and the other regime would have its own domestic standards.

A further option under consideration, according to local lawyers, is an agreement with an EU jurisdiction that would allow Gibraltar to passport into the EU through that territory. In return, businesses in the other jurisdiction would be able to set up in Gibraltar on a fast-track basis.

But Isola concedes that Brexit will hurt, as firms that rely on business with the EU move elsewhere.

"Anyone who doesn't know that is digging their head into the sand," he said.

(Writing by Angus Berwick, additional reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain; Editing by John O'Donnell and Anna Willard)
By Lidia Kelly

MOSCOW (Reuters) - International tax cooperation will be in focus alongside the global economy a meeting of finance ministers from the Group of 20 developed and developing nations in Washington next month, Russia's top financial diplomat said on Friday.

The G20 ministers meet in Washington on Oct. 6, on the eve of the World Bank/IMF annual meetings, weeks after a G20 summit pledged to increase macroeconomic policy coordination without issuing any concrete proposals other than agreeing to oppose protectionism.

"(The agenda) will be very simple this time: global economy, which is traditional," Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak told Reuters in an interview.

"The ministers also need to talk, develop the theme of taxes, tax cooperation at the international level, at the multilateral level, Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), information sharing and so on."

At their summit in Hangzhou, China, the G20 leaders pledged tax cooperation to "achieve a globally fair and modern international tax system" and asked the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) to report by June 2017 on the progress made by jurisdictions on tax transparency.

A particular focus of the OECD efforts is BEPS, in which multinational companies move profits out of the countries where money is earned and into jurisdictions that do not tax them.

Storchak also said that he expected Germany to announce in Washington that it would prioritise the G20's sustainable development goals during its presidency of the group next year.

"It's their choice," Storchak said. "In principle, for the Group of 20 finance ministers and central banks, this is never considered a priority as, in many G20 countries, the ministry of finance does not play a big role in promoting sustainable development."

He added that there would be no meeting of the finance ministers from the BRICS developing countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund meeting.

A BRICS summit will be held in Panaji in the Indian state of Goa on Oct. 15-16.

(Additional reporting by Lena Fabrichnaya; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
DailyFX.com -

Talking Points:

Gold prices fail to find follow-through on largest rally in two weeks

Crude oil prices rise as hopes for OPEC output freeze deal resurface

Hawkish Fed commentary may mark reversal for commodity prices

Gold prices struggled to find follow-through after posting the largest daily gain in two weeks following the FOMC rate decision (as expected). Initial elation at the flattening of the central banks projected rate hike path in the immediate aftermath of the policy announcement may be giving way to the realization that Chair Yellen seemed to all but promise a rate hike in December.

Crude oil prices rose as hopes for a coordinated output freeze to be agreed this month resurfaced. Representatives from Saudi Arabia and Iran met for a second day at OPEC headquarters in Vienna ahead of the cartels informal gathering in Algiers next week. Securing agreement between the rivals  currently on opposite sides of two wars (in Syria and Yemen)  is a prerequisite to any serious discussion of an accord.

Fed-speak re-enters the spotlight from here. Commentary from Patrick Harker, Loretta Mester and Dennis Lockhart  Presidents of the US central banks Philadelphia, Cleveland and Atlanta branches respectively  is set to cross the wires. Rhetoric reinforcing Chair Yellens hawkish posture may weigh on gold prices and boost the US Dollar, applying de-facto selling pressure to the USD-denominated WTI crude oil benchmark.

What do gold and crude oil trading patterns hint about on-coming trends? Find out here!

GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS  Gold prices stalled below resistance at a falling trend line set from early July after rising to a two-week high. A daily close above this threshold  now at 1346.51  exposes a double top at 1367.15. Alternatively, a reversal back below the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement at 1333.62 targets the 1303.62-08.00 area (May 2 high, 38.2% level).

Gold Prices Lose Steam After Post-FOMC Rally, May Turn Lower

CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS  Crude oil prices extended their recovery for a third consecutive day, making for the longest winning streak in a month. From here, a daily close above the 38.2% Fibonacci expansionat 46.46 targets the 47.06-61 area (trend line, 50% level). Alternatively, a move back below the 23.6% Fib at 45.03 exposes the 14.6% expansion at 44.15.

Story continues

Gold Prices Lose Steam After Post-FOMC Rally, May Turn Lower

--- Written by Ilya Spivak, Currency Strategist for DailyFX.com

To receive Ilya's analysis directly via email, please SIGN UP HERE

Contact and follow Ilya on Twitter: @IlyaSpivak



original source

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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Months before he was named the 20th chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Ronnie Green imagined what his first State of the University address would sound like.

It would address the universitys sweeping history from its 1869 charter to its progress and achievements in 2016, while also giving a glimpse into what UNL will look like by 2025, the quarter-century mark of the new millennium.

On Thursday, from center stage at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, Green outlined publicly what course he wants the university to chart over the next decade or so.

We have a responsibility to lead and we have a responsibility to move to higher levels as we move forward, he said in his inaugural address.

UNL must continue to grow intelligently, he said, past the goal of 30,000 students set by former Chancellor Harvey Perlman to 35,000 students from increasingly diverse geographic locations, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The university must also add some 3,500 faculty members, researchers and staff capable of serving its mission of educating students, conducting research and sharing that research across the state and around the world, Green said.

And UNL must continue the work started by the late Prem Paul, vice chancellor for research and economic development who helped the university grow its research portfolio to $285 million this year. It must double that amount to $600 million by 2025, he said.

The lofty goals Green described to faculty and staff on Thursday are not hard-and-fast benchmarks -- at least not yet.

Beginning in 2017, UNL will develop a plan guiding its efforts in growing enrollment and improving student success rates, adding faculty and staff within a constrained fiscal environment, and finding new resources for campus infrastructure and research initiatives.

I think the time is right for us as we move forward to develop a living, breathing, working strategic plan, he said. I believe (it is) valuable and important to achieve these goals we have ahead, and 2017 will be a seminal year for us to do that.

Waiting to begin an official strategic planning process until next year will allow UNL to seat two senior administrative positions  executive vice chancellor and the vice chancellor of UNLs Institute of Agriculture and Natural resources  who each are key to the future, Green said.

The ongoing planning process will also allow new administrators to join in as roughly half of UNLs vice chancellors, deans and department heads transition into retirement or to other universities.

But work to gather data and information that will inform the strategic planning process has already begun, Green said, much of it seeking to build on strategies that have helped UNL get to the record-breaking enrollment and research funding it has been celebrating recently.

If it sounds like there is a lot on the new chancellors plate, he takes it in stride.

Drawing from his experience in Memorial Stadium last Saturday, when the Huskers defeated the University of Oregon in front of a record 350th sell-out crowd, Green said he wants that kind of energy and buzz to spur UNL to new heights.

Ladies and gentlemen, thats the way I feel every day when I get up about the University of Nebraska and about the future we have ahead here at UNL.
It will cater to more users and areas.

Grab is jumping on the driverless bandwagon, as the ride-hailing app today announced that it is teaming up with self-driving vehicle (SDV) developer nuTonomy to expand the latters ongoing trial of autonomous cars in Singapore.

According to a media release by Grab, select Grab users will be able to use the Grab app to book a ride in a nuTonomy SDV through a robo-car fleet icon. All rides are free-of-charge and customers may travel within the the one-north business district and to adjacent neighbourhoods.

A nuTonomy safety driver and support engineer will ride in each nuTonomy SDV to observe system performance and ensure passenger comfort and safety. The safety driver will take control of the vehicle should the user decide to travel outside one-north.

The public trial will last two months, though it may be extended if it continues to yield useful data for the companies.

Grab noted Singapore drivers are less likely to take on a passenger book request from or to remote areas, hence the need to expand the city-states transport capabilities.

For example, in the more remote areas of Singapore like Jurong Island, Lim Chu Kang and Tuas, passengers are four times less likely to get a successful ride booking on their first try. These findings illustrate the transportation need in the nations underserved remote locations that robo-cars can help meet, revealed Grab.

Meanwhile, nuTonomy expects to use the data from the trial to commercially launch in 2018.







More From Singapore Business Review


Cacheu (Guinea-Bissau) (AFP) - The museum's first display spares little: a naked slave kneels with her hands tied, right shoulder freshly branded with her owner's mark by a white man with sleeves rolled to his biceps.

The town of Cacheu on the coast of Guinea-Bissau was a Portuguese trading post where millions of slaves saw west Africa for the last time, bound, branded and shipped off to the Americas.

A new memorial has opened to commemorate the exiled sons and daughters of this impoverished nation, not only to recall Portugal's brutal venture into Africa but also to establish itself on the historical tourism circuit.

"The idea is to show that Cacheu was the first place where Europeans practised transatlantic slavery on an industrial scale," said Alfredo Caldeira, who heads the archives of the Mario Soares foundation -- named after the late Portuguese president -- which helped create the memorial.

Among the items on display are wooden collars that slaves were bolted into two by two and a huge, rusty pot where slaves' rations were cooked.

"Despite its size, it wasn't enough to feed everyone. The portions were very small and the dishes quite basic. It was all cooked quickly so they could get back to work," said tour guide Joachim Lopes.

After taking in the horrors, retail therapy is at hand, with t-shirts and caps splashed with a chain logo available from the shop.

"The tourist aspect is important," said Caldeira. "But the main thing is to allow these people to rediscover a collective memory and dignity."

- Cultural potential -

Cacheu is home to fewer than 10,000 people today, but was the capital of Portugal's former colony from the 16th century onwards, trading in people until the late 19th century.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Africa in exploratory missions dispatched in the early 15th century. They would go on to trade, with Brazil's help, an estimated five million of the 11 million humans believed to have traversed the Atlantic, according to historians.

Story continues

The idea for the memorial came in November 2010 when the first "Quilombola" festival was held in Cacheu, a name that refers to communities in Brazil formed by escaped slaves.

Their descendants from Brazil and the Caribbean had made an emotional pilgrimage to the land of their ancestors after identifying their roots through their DNA.

"They told us their stories. A lot of people cried that day. Some of them asked themselves if they were kin. We danced, we hugged, we shook hands," said high school teacher Augusto Joao Correia.

The Cacheu memorial's founders now hope for success akin to neighbouring Senegal's celebrated Goree island, another Atlantic "point of no return" for slaves that has become a must-see for visiting heads of state and celebrities.

"Despite its contested position as a hub for the slave trade, Goree is key for tourism in Senegal, visited by several US presidents," said Djiguatte Amede Bassene of the African Research Centre for the Slave Trade (CARTE) based in Dakar.

"Elsewhere in Africa, other countries are asking: 'why not us'?"

Cacheu may also have in its sights a UNESCO project linking and promoting sites of historical interest and research into the slave trade, in which Goree is already involved.

The European Union donated 519,000 euros ($579,000) to the Cacheu project, 90 percent of its total cost, with the specific aim of increasing the cultural potential of such sites as a source of sustainable income for the country.

- Rare hope -

Lined with palm trees and painted a brilliant white, the three years of work by Portuguese architects have culminated in an impressive structure that stands out in a quiet, crumbling town that suffers in the rainy season.

The edifice was once the headquarters of the Casa Gouveia, the name of the Portuguese colonial-era firm that traded all kinds of goods, including people.

"In this building, local and European products were exchanged for men. Several of the objects testify to that," said the memorial's coordinator Cambraima Alanso Cassama.

Development of the site has not been without controversy.

A four-storey salmon-pink hotel has sprung up a few hundred metres (yards) away, but developers are accused of destroying human bones buried where the foundations were laid.

Other marks of the past are left to rot: the "bridge of no return" -- the slaves' final boarding point -- has partially collapsed and flounders among the rigging and nets of fishermen.

Regardless, the memorial is a rare spark of hope for Cacheu's residents: the World Bank describes Guinea-Bissau as one of the world's "poorest and most fragile countries". A series of coups and economic crises have also left it vulnerable to drug smugglers.

And the country's slave-trade story remains largely untold. One of the last traces was a 500-peso bank note that showed slaves lining up to board two vessels on the beach.

The bank note, however, dropped out of circulation when Guinea-Bissau joined the CFA-franc zone in 1997.
(Reuters) - A gunman opened fire on his co-workers at a manufacturing plant in eastern Tennessee on Thursday, killing two people before taking his own life, police said.

Officers responding to reports of a shooting shortly after 4 p.m. CDT at Thomas & Betts Corp in Athens, Tennessee, found employees running from the building and three people dead inside, Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler told a press conference.

"Our officers did find 3 deceased individuals, one of whom is we believe the shooter, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound," Ziegler said.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel newspaper reported that the gunman was an employee of the factory and that the two victims were his co-workers.

The paper said that the shooter's body was found in a bathroom of the plant alongside a semi-automatic pistol that was used in the attack.

Authorities did not identify the victims or the gunman on Thursday."All you can say is, people are in shock," Zeigler told the News-Sentinel. "I had several personal longtime friends in there when the shooting was going on."

Athens is about 50 miles southwest of Knoxville, near the state's borders with Georgia and North Carolina.

Representatives for Thomas & Betts, which manufactures electrical and electronic components, could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday evening.

The News-Sentinel said the 118-year-old company is a unit of Swiss conglomerate ABB and employs more than 1,300 people in Tennessee.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis, Cynthia Osterman and Michael Perry)
Everyday basic apparel retailer Hanesbrands Inc.s HBI two renowned brands  Hanes Hosiery and Maidenform  will showcase their fall collection at the College Fashion Week 2016, hosted by Her Campus. The company informed that the fall collections are available at Macys Inc.s M stores as well as online at the companys website.

Among the products on display, Hanes Hosiery Cool Comfort and Maidenform Sleek Smoothers are worth mentioning.

Hanes Hosiery Cool Comfort was well received by college going students as per Hanesbrands consumer insights research. Hanes Hosiery will also launch Comfort Flex wide waistband on Seasonless tights with X-Temp technology. It will also be inaugurating new fashion styles which include shimmering Lurex tights, Mod Geo, Chevron and Dot tights in the fashion week.

HANESBRANDS INC Price

HANESBRANDS INC Price | HANESBRANDS INC Quote

The X-Temp tights from Hanesbrands adapts to the wearers body temperature making them feel comfortable throughout the day. The tights come in a variety of styles from core opaques to boot liners, convertibles and smoothing leggings.

Maidenform will also showcase products like Bodybriefers, Waistsnippers, Hi-Waist Boyshorts, Fat Free Dressing Camisoles and Sleek Smoother Tanks to be featured on the runway during College Fashion Week.

Innovation has traditionally been a strong suit for Hanesbrands helping it to deliver better-than-expected sales over the recent quarters. The Innovate-to-Elevate strategy (focused on value-added, higher-priced and high-margin items that can be supplied at lower costs) has aided the company to increase its adjusted operating profit margin and generate significant cumulative cash from operations.

Hanesbrands currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Key Picks in the Sector

Some better-ranked stocks in the same sector are Delta Apparel Inc. DLA and Duluth Holdings Inc. DLTH.

Delta Apparel carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and boasts a long-term earnings growth of 15%. The company has seen solid upward earnings estimate in the last 60 days. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here.

Story continues

Duluth Holdings Inc. (DLTH) also carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has a long-term growth rate of 25%.

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By Tom Hals

WILMINGTON, Del, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Failed South Korean container carrier Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd told a U.S. judge on Friday that cargo owners were withholding up to $80 million in payments for completed shipments, complicating the company's ability to move stranded freight.

"Hanjin is not the only bad guy here," Ilana Volkov, an attorney for the shipping company, said at a status hearing at a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newark, New Jersey.

Hanjin lawyers said that many cargo owners had received their goods on credit but have yet to pay the shipping company.

Hanjin, the world's seventh-largest container carrier, filed for bankruptcy in August, stranding $14 billion worth of cargo at sea as the company lacked cash to pay cargo handlers, tug operators or ports.

South Korea's government said on Friday that enough money had been pledged to unload Hanjin ships by the end of October.

An attorney for Ashley Furniture Industries, a Wisconsin-based furniture maker, told Friday's hearing the company anticipated that costs related to Hanjin's failure would eventually exceed what it owed for past shipments.

"To hold onto this money is important," said Jeremy Ryan, the attorney for Ashley.

Like many retailers and other cargo owners, Ashley has been stuck paying to get its cargo from the dockside, even though Hanjin had been paid to deliver it to an inland destination.

In addition, many retailers and other cargo owners have complained they have been stuck with empty Hanjin containers that ports have been unwilling to take back.

Ryan said Ashley was paying up to $7,000 daily related to storage and other fees for the empty containers and the only way to recoup those costs was to refuse to pay Hanjin what was owed for completed deliveries.

Judge John Sherwood said he understood the need to "minimize the pain" of Hanjin's collapse.

The judge told Hanjin's attorneys the company was right in trying to get cargo moving "but there has to be some recognition you might be able to deliver on the terms you promised to deliver on."

Story continues

Rail operators and other cargo handlers defended themselves at Friday's hearing against allegations they were price-gouging freight owners.

Hanjin had said in a court filing it was told that cargo handlers such as rail operators were charging more than what those handlers charged Hanjin.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Richard Chang)
A Lincoln college student has accused a local debt collection company and its lawyers of violating federal and state collection practices when they went after him over an unpaid $2,800 bill.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court this month, Austin Bauer is seeking actual damages plus up to $1,000 from Professional Choice Recovery and attorneys James Cada, Edward Hoffman and Linda Jewson.

His attorney, Lea Wroblewski of Legal Aid of Nebraska, said while the case is filed against one particular agency, what happened isn't unique to this collection agency or even this county.

"This is the way it's been done in Lancaster County for years," she said.

Cada said Friday by email that he was limited in his ability to discuss the issues fully, given the lawsuit.

"However, I can unequivocally state that our office complies with all requirements established by the various courts in Nebraska for conducting debtor's exams," he said.

It all started in April when another of Professional Choice Recovery's attorneys, Edward Hoffman, filed a complaint in Lancaster County Court against Bauer over a $2,879 medical bill. He was served notice from the court five days later and didn't contest it, so a month later the court found that Bauer owed the money.

Bauer was ordered to appear for a debtor's examination hearing July 22 to give the court information about what property he has.

When Bauer showed up, he said, a woman with a clipboard outside the courtroom who he believes worked for the debt collection company asked if he was there for court, then asked him about his income, assets and where he banked.

After Bauer told her he rides a bike and is a full-time student whose only income is state and federal student aid, she told him he could leave. He never went into the courtroom or before a judge.

A few weeks later, Bauer said, "I checked my bank account, and it was zero."

Cada had filed an affidavit asking the court to garnish money from Bauer's bank account, and the bank froze his account, charged him a $50 processing fee and sent the balance of $103.79 to the county court to go toward the judgment.

The 28-year-old mechanical engineering student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln said he needed the money to eat.

Wroblewski said that money was from an educational grant, and Professional Choice Recovery should have known it was exempt from garnishment.

Now she is asking the court to determine if the company's actions violated state and federal debt collection laws and to order it to stop doing things as it has.

In the lawsuit, she said state law allows creditors to require debtors to appear and answer questions about their property before a judge or referee. That didn't happen here, Wroblewski said. The questioning was done by a legal assistant after Bauer was warned that if he failed to appear a warrant could go out for his arrest.

In other hearings where people face the possibility of going to jail, they can get a court-appointed attorney, she said.

In the suit, Wroblewski said the company improperly used the legal process to coerce Bauer into agreeing to a repayment plan and to find out where he banked to get his money.

She wants the court to make it clear what procedures creditors should follow and what rights debtors, like Bauer, have, because most people who end up in his position don't have money for an attorney. But, as the saying goes, you can't get blood from a turnip.

"Unfortunately some of these procedures make it very hard for turnips," Wroblewski said.

Cada said before debtor's exam hearings they give individuals an opportunity to provide the financial information to them informally.

"We have found that most people would rather provide that financial information more discreetly, as opposed to during an open courtroom setting," he said.

But, individuals always have the option to appear before a judge for a formal debtor's exam, Cada said.

In general, he said, they have no way of knowing if funds are protected without a court making that determination. But it's his understanding that financial institutions are directed not to attach protected funds when money is being garnished.

"Again, we always comply with the court's instruction in this regard. We respectfully disagree with the legal assertions stated in the lawsuit, and intend to vigorously defend against those claims," Cada said.
By Tom Hals

WILMINGTON, Del (Reuters) - Failed South Korean container carrier Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd told a U.S. judge on Friday that cargo owners were withholding up to $80 million (62 million pounds) in payments for completed shipments, complicating the company's ability to move stranded freight.

"Hanjin is not the only bad guy here," Ilana Volkov, an attorney for the shipping company, said at a status hearing at a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newark, New Jersey.

Hanjin lawyers said that many cargo owners had received their goods on credit but have yet to pay the shipping company.

Hanjin, the world's seventh-largest container carrier, filed for bankruptcy in August, stranding $14 billion worth of cargo at sea as the company lacked cash to pay cargo handlers, tug operators or ports.

South Korea's government said on Friday that enough money had been pledged to unload Hanjin ships by the end of October.

An attorney for Ashley Furniture Industries, a Wisconsin-based furniture maker, told Friday's hearing the company anticipated that costs related to Hanjin's failure would eventually exceed what it owed for past shipments.

"To hold onto this money is important," said Jeremy Ryan, the attorney for Ashley.

Like many retailers and other cargo owners, Ashley has been stuck paying to get its cargo from the dockside, even though Hanjin had been paid to deliver it to an inland destination.

In addition, many retailers and other cargo owners have complained they have been stuck with empty Hanjin containers that ports have been unwilling to take back.

Ryan said Ashley was paying up to $7,000 daily related to storage and other fees for the empty containers and the only way to recoup those costs was to refuse to pay Hanjin what was owed for completed deliveries.

Judge John Sherwood said he understood the need to "minimize the pain" of Hanjin's collapse.

The judge told Hanjin's attorneys the company was right in trying to get cargo moving "but there has to be some recognition you might be able to deliver on the terms you promised to deliver on."

Story continues

Rail operators and other cargo handlers defended themselves at Friday's hearing against allegations they were price-gouging freight owners.

Hanjin had said in a court filing it was told that cargo handlers such as rail operators were charging more than what those handlers charged Hanjin.

(Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Richard Chang)
By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Del (Reuters) - Failed South Korean container carrier Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd <117930.KS> told a U.S. judge on Friday that cargo owners were withholding up to $80 million in payments for completed shipments, complicating the company's ability to move stranded freight. "Hanjin is not the only bad guy here," Ilana Volkov, an attorney for the shipping company, said at a status hearing at a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Newark, New Jersey. Hanjin lawyers said that many cargo owners had received their goods on credit but have yet to pay the shipping company. Hanjin, the world's seventh-largest container carrier, filed for bankruptcy in August, stranding $14 billion worth of cargo at sea as the company lacked cash to pay cargo handlers, tug operators or ports. South Korea's government said on Friday that enough money had been pledged to unload Hanjin ships by the end of October. An attorney for Ashley Furniture Industries, a Wisconsin-based furniture maker, told Friday's hearing the company anticipated that costs related to Hanjin's failure would eventually exceed what it owed for past shipments. "To hold onto this money is important," said Jeremy Ryan, the attorney for Ashley. Like many retailers and other cargo owners, Ashley has been stuck paying to get its cargo from the dockside, even though Hanjin had been paid to deliver it to an inland destination. In addition, many retailers and other cargo owners have complained they have been stuck with empty Hanjin containers that ports have been unwilling to take back. Ryan said Ashley was paying up to $7,000 daily related to storage and other fees for the empty containers and the only way to recoup those costs was to refuse to pay Hanjin what was owed for completed deliveries. Judge John Sherwood said he understood the need to "minimize the pain" of Hanjin's collapse. The judge told Hanjin's attorneys the company was right in trying to get cargo moving "but there has to be some recognition you might be able to deliver on the terms you promised to deliver on." Rail operators and other cargo handlers defended themselves at Friday's hearing against allegations they were price-gouging freight owners. Hanjin had said in a court filing it was told that cargo handlers such as rail operators were charging more than what those handlers charged Hanjin. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Richard Chang)
Federal authorities are weighing an investigation into reports of actor Brad Pitts actions toward his children while on board a private plane, raising some interesting questions about aviation law. Specifically: Which country gets jurisdiction when a crime occurs, or is suspected to have occurred, aboard an airplane flying over the sea and outside any one countrys airspace, as it reportedly was in Pitts case?

To answer that question, TIME turned to Brian F. Havel, Associate Dean for International Affairs at DePaul University College of Law and director of the International Aviation Law Institute. Havel pointed us to the Convention on Offences and Certain Other Acts Committed on Board Aircraft, more commonly known as the Tokyo Convention. First entering into force in 1963, the Tokyo Convention in part governs questions of jurisdiction regarding crimes committed on board aircraft flying internationally.

Jurisdiction is explicitly provided to the state in which the aircraft is registered, Havel wrote in an email. He added that the Convention also allows countries to claim jurisdiction in a broad range of other scenarios, including when a crime has been committed by or against a citizen of a given country.

The simplest take-away is that the state of [the aircrafts] registration, the state of the offender, and the state of the victim are the likeliest players for on-board crimes such as thefts or assaults, Havel said. Though crimes with broader consequences for the safety of the flight or national security may authorize jurisdiction by other targeted or affected states.

Havel added: As you can see, the available states which can claim jurisdiction is actually quite broad. So what happens if one country claims jurisdiction and another wants to do the same? Extradition treaties will be in play if other states want to assert their right of jurisdiction, he said.

In Pitts case, were not sure where the aircraft was registered. A search of Federal Aviation Administration records for potential aircraft came up emptythe aircraft may have been chartered, or is registered to an unknown owner. But Pitts American citizenship would appear to give U.S. authorities jurisdiction instead of, say, the French, despite the planes origin point of Paris.
toby the office michael scott boss

Even if you get along with your boss, your relationship is most likely not always going to be sunshine and flowers. Tension has a way of arising in any office relationship  especially if you're both passionate about your work.

However, most of the time, those conflicts are temporary and relatively minor.

But what if your boss really just doesn't like you? Some managers are obvious about which workers they're not crazy about. But others are more subtle.

How can you tell if you're permanently on the outs?

Ceros CEO and founder Simon Berg notes that if your boss stops being open with you, that's a bad sign.

There are a few ways this can happen. For example, your boss may stop joking around with you and suddenly becomes all business, all the time. Or, they may stop sharing important information with you or inviting you to team meetings.

If you notice that your boss is fairly open with your colleagues, but seems closed off in his or her interactions with you, there's a good chance they don't like you.

"If there's a personality conflict between you and your boss, the best solution is usually to part ways," Berg says. "While it's possible to adjust certain behaviors that may annoy your boss, you can't change who you are  nor should you."

NOW WATCH: A CEO reveals 3 mistakes that could ruin your chances in a job interview





More From Business Insider


Hilarious and clever Halloween costume ideas for the person who hates wearing costumes

Hilarious and clever Halloween costume ideas for the person who hates wearing costumes

We get it: not all of us love Halloween. For some, Halloween is just another headache. You have to dress up and pass out candy to kids who usually forget to say thank you? Pass.

Never fear, weve got you covered. If you still want to attend a costume-required party but dont want to put in any real effort or money, below are ten Halloween costumes that even the biggest Halloween scrooge can appreciate:

1. Stick Figure

The less artistic among us claim we can only draw stick figures. Well, this stick figure costume (made easily with the help of black tape and white clothes) is a work of art.

2. Pumpkin Pi

Love Susan Jordan's "Pumpkin Pi" costume! Perfect costume for an elementary math resource teacher @MobilePublicSch pic.twitter.com/DDq0PGALa2  Joy McGough (@JoyMcGough) October 31, 2014

Who doesnt love a good pun? You can be clever and festive with this costume. Similar to the punctuation mark costume above, all this requires is a shirt of a certain orange shade and the symbol for pi. (Those of you who want to spend a tad more effort can add some vines for effect.) Math nerds will particularly appreciate this pun.

3. Bulletin board

pin

All this requires is a shirt with a bunch of post-it notes stuck all over it! You can even write fun things on the post-it notes for added humor and commentary.

4. Tourist

@CoachK_DHS rocking the tacky tourist costume today! Well done! pic.twitter.com/bA6GoYFYMd  Doherty High School (@DohertySpartans) September 30, 2015

Happy Halloween from the "Tacky Tourist Sisters"-- 'American Tourists in Paris' A photo posted by Cherie LeRoy Zygaczenko (@cherecherie) on Oct 31, 2013 at 7:41pm PDT

All this costume requires is a camera, a fanny pack, and shorts. Maybe a map or a Hawaiian shirt if you really want to commit (and we hope you do).

5. 404 Error

pin

This is perhaps the most relatable costume, as all of us have seen this error at one point or another and shrieked in annoyance.

5. Facebook

Facebook #halloween #facebook A photo posted by Alex (@alex.0318) on Oct 31, 2014 at 3:53am PDT

This one doesnt even require certain clothingjust the willingness to write on your face.

6. Risky Business

This classic Tom Cruise movie can easily get a rerun as an easy Halloween costume: Only shades and a long sleeved white dress shirt (and an excellent sense of humor) needed.

7. Punctuation mark

This one is so easyall it requires is your ability to draw an exclamation mark or some quotation marks on a white t-shirt. For extra bonus points, try cutting the punctuation mark out of black felt and gluing it on your shirt. Plus, it makes you look like youre a fan of grammar, which, if youre wearing this shirt, you likely are.

8. Nickelback

Nickelback #nickelback #trendsetter #tequila #rehearsal? A photo posted by Miss Tallulah Creant (@misstallulahcreant) on Jul 12, 2016 at 5:20pm PDT

Only music aficionados will get this pun. But maybe thats exactly the way you want it.

9. Ghost

An oldie and a goodie. You just have to be willing to dirty a white sheet.

10. Rosie the Riveter

This one goes out to all my ladies in da club #aahalloween A photo posted by Ruby James (@rubyjaames) on Oct 31, 2014 at 12:17am PDT

All you need is a chambray shirt (sleeves rolled up), bright red lipstick and maching red head scarf and you can be this famous symbol of patriotism.

The post Hilarious and clever Halloween costume ideas for the person who hates wearing costumes appeared first on HelloGiggles.
By Maytaal Angel

LONDON (Reuters) - UK steelmakers are likely to win deals to supply the 18 billion pound ($23 billion) nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, although that may not be enough to bolster Britain's troubled steel sector, industry experts say.

Helped rising steel prices and a falling pound making exports more competitive, UK steel firms are emerging from a crisis that has cost around 5,000 jobs, or a fifth of the workforce, since last October. Britain approved the China-backed Hinkley Point project last Thursday.

But Britain's steel industry says it needs more infrastructure projects, 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," said Ben Orhan, senior economist at consultants His.

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 say they might given that 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.

Story continues

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 pounds of manufacturing contracts ... and 64 percent of the (Hinkley Point) construction value is expected to come from British companies.

EDF has said the largest forgings, used in the nuclear reactors, will be procured overseas because UK steelmakers do not produce them.

French nuclear group Areva told Reuters it will supply forgings for Hinkley Point. In July, EDF signed a memorandum of understanding with Areva about acquiring a controlling stake in the group's reactor business.[nFWN1BR046]

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)
Hollywood has already given Hillary Clinton money, but now it hopes to deliver her votes.

A number of actors have taken to the campaign trail and the Internet to give the in-kind donation of their fame to get out the vote for the Democratic nominee. Actors who have appeared on politically-themed shows are especially popular in election season, in part because they seem more credible, like those TV doctors in the ad campaign for Cigna.

Members of the cast of The West Wing, which went off the air in 2006, will campaign together in Ohio this weekend, while Scandal stars Bellamy Young and Tony Goldwyn have hit the trail in Virginia. Tim Daly, who plays the husband of a fictional Secretary of State on Madam Secretary, one of Clintons favorite shows, stumped in Ohio, as will Sally Field, who won an Oscar portraying a union organizer.

Not every actor has an obvious political tie-in, though. Molly Ringwald stumped in New Hampshire, Don Cheadle headed to Colorado, John Lithgow went to Ohio, Sean Astin campaigned in Maine.

Others have contributed without leaving home. Comedian Zach Galifianakis hosted Clinton on his popular online show Between Two Ferns, while director Joss Whedon assembled a group of political avengers, including Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr. and perennial get-out-the-vote champion Scarlett Johansson for a web video. (TV impresario Shonda Rhimes pulled together a similar all-star lineup for a video earlier this year.)

Republican nominee Donald Trump does not have a similar celebrity surrogate effort in place, though as a former star of The Apprentice and various national commercials over the years, he is a media celebrity in his own right.

Researchers at Washington State University found that celebrity endorsements can help engage younger voters, who tend to vote at lower rates. They also help get local news coverage, which is a valuable way to keep the campaign in front of swing-state voters who might not be paying attention.
Paris (AFP) - Pulitzer prize-winning historian Saul Friedlander, a world authority on the Holocaust, said Friday he would leave the United States if Donald Trump was elected president.

The 83-year-old Israeli-American writer, who escaped the Nazis by being hidden in a Catholic boarding school in France, described Trump as a "dangerous crazy".

He said the controversial Republican candidate could win November's election because of Hillary Clinton's "tendency to lie and to hide things".

"One cannot exclude Donald Trump winning even though he is a dangerous crazy," he told AFP.

"He says whatever comes into his mind."

Friedlander's magisterial two-volume history of Nazi Germany and the Jews charts Adolf Hitler's rise to power in a period where populism was rising across the world as it is today.

"We don't know what (Trump) thinks," said the writer, whose parents perished in Auschwitz after being handed over to the Germans by French police as they tried to escape to neutral Switzerland.

"At the same time, there is a huge swathe of Americans, mostly poor, angry whites, who dream of having him in the White House.

"He is kind of a release valve for their anger against the 'establishment' represented by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"Because she has, unfortunately, a tendency to lie and to hide things," he said, referring to her recent bout of pneumonia, which her campaign was only forced to disclose after she was seen stumbling into her car.

- Rising anti-Semitism -

"Trump, by comparison, seems totally open and frank, even if he has not published his income tax returns."

Friedlander, who is based in Los Angeles, also warned of the rise of anti-Semitism and of Holocaust denial.

"Negationists are, in general, anti-Semites, and I am utterly opposed to debating with them. It gets you nowhere, they will always find a so-called detail showing that all these stories of gas chambers were a joke.

Story continues

"They are obsessed by the idea that Jews could have invented the story of their extermination," said the author, whose new books, "Reflections on Nazism" and "Where Memory Leads", have just been published in France.

The historian -- who left France for Israel after World War II and worked as an assistant to former president Shimon Peres -- has been very critical of the Jewish state's treatment of the Palestinians.

"But I am also worried about the rising movement, particularly on US university campuses, questioning Israel's right to exist."

- Build peace not settlements -

He said extremism on both sides had done "profound damage" to the chances of a Middle East peace settlement.

"I remain a supporter of a two-state solution, but my friends in Israel say that if a Palestinian state is created on the West Bank, it will be in the hands of Hamas, like Gaza. Then Israel will be surrounded by people determined to destroy it, they say.

"However, if we want to build peace, we have to halt settlement building, destroy wildcat settlements and abandon others," Friedlander said of Israeli construction on land seized during the 1967 Six Day War that the Palestinians want for a future state.

"We have to do that at least to show good faith.

"If not, we risk losing the values of justice and equality that were once at the heart of Israel and Zionism," he added.
Fifteen years ago this October, Antoine Fuquas blistering, gritty good cop-bad cop thriller Training Day hit theaters. The film became a box-office success, but more significantly earned a first acting Oscar nomination for Ethan Hawke and a first Best Actor win for Denzel Washington.

The trio reteams in the new Western The Magnificent Seven, and Hawke says he had to go rogue to plan the reunion. Hawke and Washington had both worked with Fuqua separately in the decade-and-a-half since Training Day, the former in 2009s Brooklyns Finest and the latter in 2014s The Equalizer. But they hadnt all been in the same place together until Hawke was asked to host the premiere screening of The Equalizer.

Related: Whos the Best Gunslinger in Magnificent Seven Cast? We Asked Them

Thats when I heard they were doing [The Magnificent Seven], Hawke told Yahoo Movies at the films press junket at the Toronto International Film Festival (watch the video above). I told Antoine, I said, Look, if you dont cast me, we wont be friends anymore.

Hawke might have been bluffing, but Fuqua confirmed how the actor forced his way into the developing project. Pretty much, the filmmaker laughed. He said, I know Denzel is doing the lead, so theres six other roles. I want one of them, I dont care which one. You make the choice.'

Related: 10 Things You Didnt Know About Training Day

Hawke was ultimately cast as the sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux, one of six gunslingers recruited by Washingtons bounty hunter Chisolm to help save a mining village from the clutches of a tyrannical industrialist.

Though its never fully divulged on screen, the film makes clear Hawke and Washingtons Magnificent characters share some history together. Maybe they were time-traveling cops.

The Magnificent Seven is now in theaters.

Watch Ethan Hawke share Training Day stories in our Role Recall interview:
Cherish Bahr was visibly shaken when she slipped into a hearing room Thursday at the Nebraska State Penitentiary.

She was there to testify at the hearing of the man convicted of killing her mother, Sharon DeSantiago, 10 years ago. As far as the services daughters can perform for their mothers, this was a particularly tough one.

Gerald Soundsleeper was facing three members of the Nebraska Board of Parole to hear what they thought about the possibility of giving him an early pass out of the prison.

Soundsleeper is serving 12 to 20 years for manslaughter for beating DeSantiago to death on Aug. 4, 2006, in her apartment at 1344 D St. The apartment showed signs of a struggle, and a claw hammer was found.

Soundsleeper lived in the apartment house and spent a lot of time at DeSantiago's.

He got the benefit of a plea agreement, Parole Board member Randall Rehmeier said, which reduced his charge of second-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Soundsleeper has been in protective custody at the penitentiary since July, and he has a mandatory release date of April 16, 2017, seven months from now.

He was scheduled for the hearing based upon whether he could successfully complete a violence reduction program that provides instruction and practice on basic anger control strategies.

He entered it in July but said it didn't work out too well for him, and he dropped out.

"Why are you interested in parole?" asked Board Chairwoman Rosalyn Cotton.

"'Cause it's worth a shot, to see what happens," Soundsleeper replied.

He was sent to the back of the room when Bahr was called to speak with the board.

Soundsleeper had been on parole for another crime for just 218 days when he killed her mother, she said.

"I still don't know why he did it," Bahr said through tears. "He was at my house with my mom. He met my dad and my sister. He sat in my living room."

And after her mother was so badly injured, she said, Soundsleeper didn't try to help her.

"Going through all the court proceedings, and then being here today just brings up everything that I had to go through over 10 years ago," Bahr said.

It's not fair to her mother for him to be out, she said. It's hard for her to think about him walking around, never admitting his crime or saying why he did it.

And, Bahr said, Soundsleeper should not have been allowed to plead down to manslaughter.

It breaks her heart that DeSantiago has four grandkids she'll never see, three she got to know only for a short time.

Cotton thanked Bahr for coming and told her the board always takes victims' testimony seriously.

When Soundsleeper was called back to the table, Cotton noted that he has been refusing programming since 2012 and refusing to work with Parole Board staff. He did complete mental health programming, she said, and she complimented him for that.

Rehmeier pointed to the 20 or so assault convictions on Soundsleeper's record.

He, Cotton and board member Virgil Patlan voted to deny parole.
Warning: This recap for the Were Good People Now episode of How To Get Away With Murder contains spoilers.

Confession: Were now three seasons in and I STILL dont know how to get away with murder! I was never a great student, and my learning capacity remains subpar at best, but youd think that after watching about 30 hours of a show called How To Get Away With Murder, Id at least know the basics of getting away with murder. Nope! It all just seems hard and stressful and will lead to me hating my friends and mentors so much. When it comes to getting away with murder, count me out.

Fortunately the cuties and misanthropes of How To Get Away With Murder are back for a new round of getting away with murder, and I can continue to live vicariously through them. Were Good People Now was the hilariously titled third-season premiere, and I dont know if Id just forgotten about this show since it last aired, but this episode was very good  somehow both dense and breezy. I have zero complains about this premiere, with its hilarious dialogue and a new emphasis on mutual affection between the characters. Also, every male character appeared half-naked, so that helped. Lets talk about this episode!

HTGAWM-logo

We began with a little bit of clarification on what exactly went down in last seasons cliffhanger. Like, we already knew that Wes ended up wearing his biological fathers brain matter on his face, head, and body. But who shot him? According to this premiere, it was Frank!

Apparently Frank was the one who had urged Wes to meet his dad, and then he felt that their first meeting was a good time to explode Wess dads head via a gunshot. We didnt see Frank pull the trigger, but everyone on the show firmly believed Frank had done it, so case closed? What we DID get to see, however, was dazzling by any standard.

We saw Frank go on the run, but not before shaving his beard and head in a bus stop bathroom. I dont know if you were prepared for this, because I sure wasnt

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Franks naked face! Holy moly. This was a revelation.

Anyway, it was Annalise who had picked up Wes from the crime scene, and she took him to some dark woods for a good, old-fashioned scream into the void. Yes, theyd both just had a very terrible year, but it was nothing a few primal shrieks couldnt fix!

Then it was suddenly four months later and it was time for a new semester! The Keating Five reunited for their new class, also taught by Annalise. They hadnt really been in touch all summer, and thats probably why everyone looked fresh and well-rested, with some new hairdos and wigs in the mix as well.

One thing I enjoyed was the reveal that our suspicions were true: The Keating Five were bad students! Among their peers theyd become known as underachievers who were skating by on Annalises good graces. And now she had this new class devoted to doing pro bono legal work (which Im guessing will place an emphasis on nonwealthy murderers this season) for which theyd have to fight to sit beside her during trials. But just as every new school year comes with new stresses, Annalise was going to have to deal with the fact that someone had been papering the classrooms and quad with flyers labeling her a Killer! Very rude. Accurate, but rude.

In her spare time, Annalise had taken to playing Snake on her secret flip-phone that she kept in her jewelry box. Fair enough!

This episode also filled in some of the gaps about what everyone had been up to over the summer. For the most part, everyone needed time to heal from all the murderous shenanigans of the previous spring. But what was touching was how these flashbacks re-established the motherly affection Annalise still held for each of them. I liked when she showed up to soak her feet in a kiddie pool with Connor. He made her promise never to hire his boyfriend, Oliver, to work for her since he was too pure for that life. Never! Dont worry, she responded, perhaps too quickly.

Then Nate took off his shirt and gave Annalise a foot rub. No big deal, nothing to see here. (Everything to see here.)

In another of the flashbacks, Asher begged Annalise for a loan on account of his rich daddy being in heaven now, but Annalise just laughed in his face for 15 minutes straight. Very humiliating!

For that reason, Asher now lives in a college dorm and works as an R.A. to the undergrads. Michaela would show up to do sex sometimes, but it was clear she was over it. Dorm life was really killing her boner.

For her part, over the summer Michaela had taken the various murders and suicides of last season very hard and, in one dark moment, almost got arrested for DUI. Annalise showed up to get her off. (If Annalise is your emergency contact, you know youre in a bad place.) But I loved how, despite Michaelas hatred for Annalise, Annalise still insisted on being Michaelas drinking buddy in the future, and then she said they were starting to look like hookers standing on that street corner for so long. Love these two.

The trial of the week involved defending an Iraqi refugee from deportation, but despite a valiant effort on the part of the students, the man was deported. Annalise shrugged and said to Wes: Justice is the exception. You should know that by now. Just a very great and sad line of dialogue.

Speaking of great and sad! Obviously, Annalise ended up hiring Oliver to be her resident hacker but only after he admitted hed hacked Stanford and deleted Connors transfer application. Annalise told Connor about this, which led to a tough conversation in which Connor forgave Oliver and Oliver couldnt believe it. He was so frazzled by his lack of punishment that he dumped Connor in response?

Just a very painful scene all around. But it had to happen. These guys make a great couple, but single Connor is a fun Connor. What was unclear was whether Oliver would still be working for Annalise, despite the breakup. If so, that would make me feel even worse for Connor. Ugh, relationships.

Lieutenant LaGuerta from Dexter was the new college president, and her first order of business had been to kinda-sorta fire Annalise! More specifically, she took away Annalises most famous class (on getting away with murder) and for a very hilarious reason: Annalises interns were failing their classes! So thats how Annalise came to head up this new pro bono class.

Oh, another reveal was that Wes now has a serious girlfriend named Meggie. (Her name being the true shocker.) Hed been ignoring Laurel a lot, mostly because she was Franks ex and he was still ticked about Frank murdering his biological father before they could have so much as a handshake. Anyway, Meggie seems nice and is definitely not here for any love triangle purposes.

We then discovered what else Annalise was using her flip-phone for between games of Snake: Shed been contacting a private investigator (and hitman?) whod been tracking down Frank  just in time for Frank to attack him and probably murder him while still on the phone with Annalise!

So yeah, its not 100 percent clear what was going on here, just that Frank now knew Annalise had sent someone after him, and that was something Annalise would have preferred to stay secret. Whoops!

And then we were treated to a patented HTGAWM green-hued flash-forward  Annalise discovering that a person from her inner circle was now dead on a stretcher! Also, her house was burning down.

Its not clear what exactly was going on here, but about two months from now, it looks like bad times are coming. And possibly a vodka fire.

Were Good People Now was a great episode. It reminded me why this show is so much fun, and it somehow kept things light before plunging us back into darkness. The dialogue, the editing, the music cues were all impeccable, and I found myself caring about the interpersonal relationships more than I expected to! This show might continue to be a lurid, frenetic array of edgy plot points and dizzying storytelling, but now more than ever it feels human. Now if only I could learn how to get away with murder  finally.

What did you think of Were Good People Now?

How to Get Away With Murder airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC.
* HSBC has up to $10 billion 'trapped' in U.S. - analysts

* Repatriation needs goodwill of U.S. regulators

* Banks' foreign businesses pushed to hold more capital

By Lawrence White

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Britain's HSBC is seeking to release billions of dollars of capital tied up in the United States without upsetting the country's politicians and regulators, senior sources at the bank said.

HSBC, which has been in the sights of U.S. regulators over breaching anti-money laundering rules, has more than $20 billion of capital in the United States earning a slim 1 percent return, of which up to half could be returned to the holding company via asset sales, analysts and investors say.

The bank's investors are currently missing out on higher profits and more secure dividends as a result of this hefty U.S. balance sheet. The bank earns a return on equity of just 1.4 percent on this, compared with 5 percent for HSBC globally and 13 percent for major U.S. commercial bank rivals, according to Deutsche Bank research.

"The issue is a valid one, as it appears that the capital in the USA is earning low returns," said Richard Marwood, Senior Fund Manager at Royal London Asset Management, which owns HSBC shares. "As shareholders we are concerned about where companies deploy capital and what the long term returns on that capital are."

HSBC holds so much capital in the United States, in part, because after the 2008 financial crash and the collapse of Lehman Brothers, U.S. regulators and others around the world made foreign banks operating on their soil boost capital to bolster their strength.

This trend has forced banks, including Barclays, Deutsche Bank and HSBC, to hold billions of dollars more in their U.S. businesses, putting pressure on profitability.

It also partly relates to a drawn-out sale process for Household, the consumer lending business HSBC bought in 2003 in an ill-fated $16 billion deal.

The bank's ability to take capital out of the United States is subject to it submitting plans to do so to the Federal Reserve.

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HSBC passed an annual U.S. stress test in July, paving the way for the bank to remit a maximum of $2.5 billion of excess cash in 2017 to its holding company in Britain with the full approval of the Fed.

"Any return of capital would always be subject to receiving a non-objection from the Federal Reserve," HSBC chief financial officer Iain Mackay told Reuters in a telephone interview.

POLITICAL CLIMATE

The U.S. authorities have a track record for being tough on European banks and have imposed big financial penalties on some for past misdeeds.

HSBC struck a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in 2012 with the U.S. Department of Justice under which it would not be heavily punished for failures in anti-money laundering efforts, subject to the bank committing to improve controls.

"The DPA, which could drag out, and outstanding investigations probably mean the U.S. authorities would be more comfortable that capital stayed within the U.S.," another major HSBC investor said.

The Federal Reserve Board and the Department of Justice declined to comment.

Some of the HSBC sources, who declined to be identified, said taking more capital home would also prove a challenge when the political climate in the United States is hostile to banks, and there is the added uncertainty of the Nov. 8 presidential election.

HSBC has $33 billion dollars of capital allocated to its North American businesses, according to a Deutsche Bank analysis on Aug. 30, of which just $6 billion, mainly the Canada business, is making a healthy return of 9 percent.

"...the scope and scale of capital HSBC has allocated to North America is sub-optimal for shareholders and needs to be revisited," Deutsche analysts wrote.

Analysts and investors have different views on how much capital the bank could free up while still keeping a viable U.S. business, but they put the range at $5-10 billion dollars.

HSBC pays dividends to investors from its holding company HSBC Holdings Plc, whose ability to pay out has come under pressure partly as a result of weaker revenues and also regulatory demands to retain capital.

"While we would like to see returns increase, or failing that redeployment of capital into markets outside the U.S., it is for the company to best decide how to achieve this and how to manage its relationship with local regulators," Marwood of RLAM said.

(Reporting By Lawrence White, additional reporting by Sinead Cruise and Suzanne Barlyn in New York; Editing by John O'Donnell and Jane Merriman)
Image: Marly Gallardo for Yahoo Beauty



Leading up to the Nov. 8 presidential election, Yahoo Beauty is letting people across America people tell their stories  good and bad  of taking family leave in America. As the U.S. is the only country in the developed world without guaranteed paid family leave  maternity, paternity, and elder care  we wanted to put a spotlight on real Americans issues that will be affected by the next administration.

When this fashion industry employee got pregnant, she was completely unprepared for her bosss negative reaction. And then it happened again.

As told to Korin Miller

I was on a business trip with my boss when I first realized I might be pregnant. My husband and I had just started trying for a baby  and all of the sudden, I was having morning sickness.

When my boss realized I was sick, she put things together  and her reaction wasnt nice. F*** me, youre pregnant, she said. I know you are. What a nightmare. She said it in kind of a ha ha joking way, but the girl who was hired before me had gotten pregnant and left right after she had a baby, thanks to my bosss behavior, so I knew she wasnt thrilled about the idea of pregnancy.

However, it seemed like she had learned her lesson, and she pretty much kept her mouth shut, other than those early comments  for a while. My work life went back to normal, but things got weird when I got into my third trimester. At that point, my boss sat me down and said, Im legally required to give you six weeks leave, so Im going to. I dont have to pay you, but Im going to because Im a good person. (New York state, where I lived at the time, doesnt have a maternity leave law, but male and female workers are entitled to request up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for a newborn. However, the Family and Medical Leave Act, FMLA, says employers must hold your job for six weeks.)





I thought that was an odd thing to say, but I was happy Id be getting paid.

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I also got really big in my third trimester, and thats when the atmosphere at work became horrible. I was still physically able to do the same things as before, but my boss wouldnt let me  and two weeks before my due date, she became downright mean. I came in one day and she said, Youre so big, its gross. I didnt know how to react, so I just said OK and got to work. Then, she started talking about how freaked out she was by the idea that my water might break at work and asked me how I would clean it up if it did.

Prior to my pregnancy, I had a great relationship with this woman, so it really took me aback. The next day, she said my pregnancy was making her uncomfortable and I needed to go home  she didnt want anything to do with any of the actual baby business. When it became an inconvenience that she couldnt ignore, she wanted me away from her.

I didnt know what to do, so I went home. I knew that she felt like she was doing me this huge favor by still paying me, and obviously I wanted to keep my job, so I did it. I tried to work from home but she pretty much shut me off, and I ended up having the baby about a week and a half later.

I was gone for six weeks of maternity leave, and when I came back, my bosss attitude toward me was incredibly negative. She had also altered the business so that my work was minimized  a girl who had been hired at a level below me was suddenly my superior. I worked on commission and suddenly didnt have opportunities to generate revenue. My boss had taken it out of my hands.

I stayed for another seven months to try to make it work. My husband had been laid off around the time I went back, so I couldnt afford to just leave. But eventually, I handed in my resignation. My boss was grateful  she thanked me.

I left for another job and eventually got pregnant again. I was a little bit nervous to tell my boss my news, but I was also more prepared than last time because I knew what could and couldnt happen from a legal standpoint. My boss was pretty cool about it. No one else in the office really knew how to do my job, so I felt confident that I wouldnt be replaced.

But in the third trimester, my boss called me into his office and said, I looked it up and I know I have to give you six weeks off, but I dont have to pay you so Im not going to. He also said I would have to pay him for my insurance if I wanted to continue to be covered while I was out. I was shocked.

Luckily, soon after, the accounts payable woman in the office pulled me aside and said she was going to pay me and cover my insurance anyway  she knew our boss would never notice.

I had a lot of pain and difficulty late in my third trimester and ended up leaving work two weeks before my baby was born. My boss called four weeks later and said, Your six weeks is up. Why arent you at work? I was shocked but wasnt going to budge. I ended up agreeing to work from home and he let that be. When I came back to work, it went straight back to business as usual.

When it comes to maternity leave as a whole, I think its messed up that companies dont have to pay you. I get that business owners dont want to pay you when youre not working, but in both situations, I was a really dedicated, successful employee who had leadership roles and generated revenue.

Ive always been liberal, and I think, in general, Democrats tend to be more in favor of rights in the workplace. But I think being a mom impacted my politics even more. There are rights that I require to live my life  and the same is true for other parents. Its a shame that were not currently granted them.

Things would be different  or the same  for this mom under leave policies proposed by Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. If Trumps plan calls for six weeks of paid maternity leave for mothers who dont already receive paid leave from their employer. Under Clinton, however, she would receive 12 weeks of paid leave  and her husband would, too  at a minimum of two-thirds of their salaries.



Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.


(Story corrects name of IATA official to Cerda from Cerba in paragraphs 4, 11, 13)

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 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)
Athens (AFP) - The International Monetary Fund on Friday called on the European Union to grant Greece additional debt relief and soften its demands for budgetary efforts.

Even if Athens fully respects a prescribed programme of austerity and reforms, the IMF said in an annual report on the Greek economy, the government will still require a reduction of its debt mountain.

"Even with full implementation of this demanding policy agenda, Greece requires substantial debt relief calibrated on credible fiscal and growth targets," the IMF said.

"The authorities' current targets remain unrealistic," it said, referring to an objective set by the EU that Greece must generate a budgetary surplus of 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), excluding debt servicing, by 2018.

Double-digit unemployment rates projected to last until the middle of the century mean Greece cannot be expected to achieve high growth rates and a budgetary surplus of this magnitude at the same time, it said.

"In this context, it cannot be assumed that Greece can simply grow out of its debt problem. Further debt relief will be required to restore sustainability, going well beyond what is currently under consideration, and it should be calibrated on realistic assumptions about Greece's ability to generate sustained surpluses and long-term growth," the report said.

Cash-strapped Greece will adopt before month's end a new package of measures designed to mollify EU and IMF creditors, Athens' finance ministry said last Friday.

The ministry said a government bill would identify 15 reforms including better transparency for electronic transactions as well as new means of restructuring company debt.

Greece's creditors last week resumed an audit of the country's finances after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said an EU-IMF rift was delaying progress on attempts to unlock 2.8 billion euros ($3 billion) of bailout loans pending since June.

Tspiras has made debt solution a top priority.
By Manoj Kumar

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Union and state officials have resolved key issues on enforcing a planned sales tax, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday, and will meet next month to decide the main tax rate and those for different sectors.

Implementation of the long-awaited goods and services tax (GST), planned for April 2017, is expected to boost revenue through better compliance while making life simpler for businesses that now pay a host of federal and state levies.

The GST Council, comprising federal and state finance ministers, agreed at its first meeting that all businesses with annual turnover of 15 million rupees ($225,000) or more would be chiefly administered either by central or state tax officials, depending on risk parameters.

"All decisions have been taken without a vote," Jaitley told reporters after the two-day meeting, adding the council would meet again on Oct. 17-19 to finalise rates under the new tax law.

The meeting's upshot failed, however, to fully address the concerns of companies and their tax advisers about so-called "dual control" in which both federal and state tax inspectors would oversee compliance.

Jaitley said businesses with annual turnover of less than 15 million rupees would be responsible towards state authorities only.

For businesses with higher turnover, one authority - either state or federal - would have primary but not exclusive responsibility for assessing a company's tax liability. "There will be some dual control," Jaitley said.

Industry and tax experts were concerned that their demand for single control was not fully accepted. "It is not in the best interest of industry," said Rajeev Dimri, a tax expert with consultancy BMR & Associates LLP.

More than 1.1 million existing service companies will come under the single control of the federal tax authorities, providing important relief for sectors like telecoms and giving regional tax inspectorates time to get up to speed on the GST.

Story continues

Firms with annual turnover below 10 million rupees ($150,000) in eight northeastern states and 20 million rupees in other parts of the country would be exempted from the tax, Jaitley said.

Tough bargaining on the rate and scope of the tax continues as many states want an average tax rate of 22-23 percent compared with the federal government suggestion of 18-19 percent.

Both the union and state legislatures must pass three laws setting the rate and scope of the GST before the tax comes into effect. Jaitley hopes for passage in the winter session of parliament scheduled for November.

($1 = 66.7 rupees)

(Reporting by Manoj Kumar; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Nick Macfie)
Two Indian men charged with raping and causing the death of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling on a Goa beach in 2008 will finally hear the verdicts against them later Friday.

Fifteen-year-old Keeling's bruised and semi-nude body was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state, popular with Western hippies, eight years ago.

Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho were 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 culpable homicide charge is the most important charge because I believe that she was murdered," Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown told AFP ahead of the verdict.

The teenager's death became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system.

Police initially dismissed Keeling's death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped.

It showed that Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but has been dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as "Masala Mike", also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case.

He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party.

Her body was found on the morning of February 18, 2008.

Police allege that 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.

They deny all of the charges, claiming that the teenager died an accidental death after taking drugs of her own volition.

The verdict is due to be delivered at the children's court in Goa's state capital Panaji at 02:30pm (0900 GMT).
Panaji (India) (AFP) - Two Indian men were cleared Friday of the rape and homicide of 15-year-old British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling whose bruised and semi-naked body was found on a Goa beach eight years ago.

Friends and relatives of the two accused, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, cheered as the verdict was read out in a packed courtroom in the state capital Panaji.

Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown said she was devastated by the outcome and promised to fight to overturn the verdict.

"I am reeling. It's been eight years of agony. I feel devastated and will definitely be challenging the verdict," McKeown, who looked shell-shocked as the ruling was delivered, said outside the court.

D'Souza and Carvalho had been 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.

They both broke into smiles as Judge Vandana Tendulkar told the packed courtroom: "I find them not guilty of all charges."

MacKeown told AFP she was aghast that they had also been let off the lesser charges, saying she had no faith in the Indian legal system.

"The judicial system will support the criminals, not the tourists or victims. It seems that guys here can operate above the law and get away with murder," she said.

The softly-spoken judge's verdict was barely audible over the din of journalists and ceiling fans in the tiny courtroom which was painted pink.

The pony-tailed D'Souza was sitting just yards away from MacKeown when the verdict was read while Carvalho sat behind her at the back of the courtroom.

A stunned MacKeown had trouble leaving the courthouse as she had to cope with a media scrum as she was escorted out by her lawyer and an aide from the British High Commission.

Scarlett's body was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state, popular with Western hippies.

Story continues

- 'Get on with my life' -

The teenager's death became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system.

Police initially dismissed her death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped.

It showed that Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but was dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as "Masala Mike", also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case.

He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

An angry MacKeown told reporters after the verdict that his decision not to testify had swung the culpable homicide verdict, branding him a "despicable coward".

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party.

Her body was found on the morning of February 18, 2008.

Police alleged that 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.

They denied all the charges, claiming that the teenager died an accidental death after taking drugs of her own volition.

India's Central Bureau of Investigation brought the case so it will now be up to them to decide whether to appeal the verdicts to the Goa bench of Mumbai's Bombay High Court.

MacKeown said she would come back to India for any appeal but wondered "if it was worth it".

"I just want to go home and be with my kids really and get back to my life," she told AFP.
Indian security forces killed six suspected separatist militants in a gun battle in the country's restive northeast on Friday, police said.

Security forces launched a raid on a suspected hideout in a remote part of Assam state, home to myriad separatist insurgent groups.

"Based on specific information we raided the KPLT hideout and a firefight broke out in which we managed to neutralise six militants, including two of their top leaders," local police chief Debajit Deori told AFP by telephone.

The Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT) is fighting for an independent homeland for the Karbi tribe.

Deori said automatic weapons and ammunition, including one rifle, grenades, and "incriminating documents from the dead rebels" had been found at the scene.

One soldier was injured and was being treated in hospital.

Northeast India, linked to the rest of the country by a narrow land corridor, has seen decades of unrest among ethnic and separatist groups.

The region is home to dozens of tribal groups and small guerrilla armies that resist rule from New Delhi.

Many are fighting for independent homelands for their tribes, and often compete against each other.

In August six gunmen of Assam's National Democratic Front of Bodoland opened fire on a busy market, killing 15 people and wounding several others.
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.

But give them some respect. With national polls and some crucial battleground states tightening up 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 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-Americans. Ten said they voted for President Barack Obama twice, 15 voted against him twice, 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 like 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 journos 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 they know over the flawed newcomer they dont.
Electronics production grew 8.3% year-to-date.

The Singapore Economic Development Board will release August industrial production (IP) data on 26 September. Standard Chartered forecast that August IP rose by 2.7% y/y after slumping 3.6% in July, thanks to electronics production

According to Standard Chartered, electronics production has been performing positively,growing 8.3% YTD and increasing strongly in the past two months.

Furthermore, the August electronics PMI new export orders were a robust 50.8 versus 49.5 in the prior month.

The research firm however notes that beyond the electronics segment, it maintains a cautious outlook.

"Biomedical manufacturing has contracted sharply in the past two months, despite strong YTD growth of 8.9%. Chemicals production, transport engineering and general manufacturing may have remained weak in the month," it said in a report

Although it expects a positive y/y print, Standard Chartered believes that IP growth is likely to have remained subdued amid weak global demand.





More From Singapore Business Review


Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena at a presentation of his book Time of the Octopus. (Source: Sputnik)

Oliver Stones blockbuster biopic about former NSA contractor Edward Snowden owes its existence to Snowdens Russian lawyer and his strange novel.

In January 2014, Russian lawyer Anatoly Kucherena proposed that Stone make a Hollywood film based on Time of the Octopus, which is based on discussions with Snowden at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport. Kucherena invited Stone to Russia and provided him with an English translation.

I once heard [Stones] stance on Snowden and realized that if someone is able to adequately tell the story and film the book, he is the only one, Kucherena said last year. Thats how the idea was born to show him the manuscript.

In June 2014, Stone bought the rights to Time of the Octopus for $1,000,000. (He also paid $700,000 for the rights to The Snowden Files by Guardian journalist Luke Harding.)

Anatoly has written a grand inquisitor style Russian novel weighing the soul of his fictional whistleblower, Joshua Cold, against the gravity of a 1984 tyranny that has achieved global proportions, Stone said of the book. His meditations on the meaning of totalitarian power in the 21st century make for a chilling, prescient horror story.

Despite the praise, Stone bought Time of the Octopus only to reach Snowden. The American director told the New York Times Magazine that he optioned the book so the Russian lawyer would provide regular access to his client. We bought it because we did get good access to Ed, Stone said. He had to be brought along.

Part of the cover of Time of the Octopus by Anatoly Kucherena. (Photo: Eksmo)

Although Stone didnt end up using Kucherenas material  he asserts that Snowden is as close to reality as possible  the novel demonstrates the bizarre origins of Stones biopic.

Yahoo News has obtained translated excerpts to convey the absurdity and significance of the novel offered by Snowdens Russian lawyer. The following passages track both Kucherenas alternate reality and what is known about Snowdens entrance into Russia.

The elevator sank downwards as if to the netherworld

Time of the Octopus tells the story of a Snowden character named Joshua Cold arriving in Moscow and recalling his life story to a Kucherena character called the Attorney.

Story continues

Upon arriving at Sheremetyevo airport, Cold is immediately taken to a bunker more than 30 meters underground that was built to protect Soviet leaders in the event of a nuclear war. The Attorney, who through happenstance had wound up as the mediator between the Russian authorities and Joshua Cold, meets him after passing through several corridors in the airport and underground.

Opening an unremarkable brown door, the Attorney disappeared behind it and found himself in a little room in the middle of which stood a huge desk, the book reads, according to translated excerpts by journalist and Russia researcher Catherine Fitzpatrick.

After showing ID to a security guard at the desk, the Attorney enters a secret part of the airport and shows his credentials to a member of the Federal Protection Service, a Russian federal agency that protects high-level Russian officials, including the president. He then enters an elevator in which everything was also preserved from the Soviet era  the elevator sank downwards as if to the netherworld.

The Capsule Hotel Air Express at the transit area of Moscows Sheremetyevo airport. (Photo: Reuters/Tatyana Makeyeva)

The Attorney explains why he had to traverse a secret part of the airport to find his new client: Of course, it would be strange to suppose that such an important person as Joshua Cold, valuable in the global geopolitical game which from time immemorial had been waged between the two largest states of the world, would be left to the whim of fate in the transit zone of the Sheremetyevo Airport, to be torn to bits by journalists  and most importantly, by agents of interested intelligence services who could have done anything with him from a banal liquidation (no one has hurried to turn the poisoned-tip umbrella over to the museum) to an even more banal kidnapping (the very same Mossad had enormous experience in that area), Fitzpatricks translation reads.

Therefore, no sooner had Cold come out of the plane landing from Hong Kong than he was immediately taken, if not under guard, then at least under entirely close care, and gently but firmly escorted to that very oaken hall with the lamps from which the elevator carried him down into one of the secret facilities  Bunker A.

The connection between Russian propaganda and Snowden is very clear

The book is obviously a play on Snowdens landing in Moscow on June 23, 2013, after spending about a month in Hong Kong. Russian officials knew he was coming: Snowden had visited the building housing the Russian Consulate in Hong Kong three times, and Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the early contact.

The point at which he put his first foot on Russian soil  at that point, he was bought and paid for, Russia security expert Mark Galeotti told NPR in June.

Without a passport or valid travel documents when he landed, Snowden and his travel companion, Sarah Harrison of WikiLeaks, reportedly lived somewhere in the airports transit zone for 39 days. Their only public appearance occurred at a tightly controlled press conference on July 12, 2013, where Snowden announced to Russian activists that he would seek asylum in Russia and appeal for safe passage to Latin America.

Police guard a door where human rights groups were taken to meet Snowden at Sheremetyevo airport on July 12, 2013. (Photo: Reuters/Grigory Dukor)

Did the Russian authorities stage a meeting so the human rights groups would endorse Snowdens appeal for asylum, just as Putin wanted? Russian investigative journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan wrote in their book The Red Web, adding that the meeting was a sign that Putin was not going to keep his distance from Snowden but rather would attempt to co-opt him for his own purposes.

Enter Kucherena. The attorney, now 56, attended the press conference and became Snowdens pro bono lawyer a few days afterward. He subsequently explained why Snowden couldnt leave Russia.

He cant go anywhere, even if he gets a valid passport, Kucherena, who does not speak English fluently, told reporters a week after the press conference. As for Snowdens supposed application to other countries for asylum, Kucherena shot down the idea, saying, He can only file an asylum application in the place where he is currently located.

Kucherena is a Kremlin loyalist and campaigned for Putins reelection in 2012. He sits on the Civic Chamber, a government oversight body created by Putin in 2005, as well as the Public Council, a board created by Putin in 2006 that oversees the countrys post-Soviet security service, the FSB.

Hes so close to the FSB, Soldatov, a Russian security services expert, told me in January 2014. I think his goal is always to explain to Snowden that he should be in Moscow for security reasons. Soldatov added that Kucherena serves as the chairman of the Institute for Democracy and Cooperation (IDC), a pro-Kremlin think tank created after a speech by Putin in 2007.

Its quite obvious, Soldatov explained. The Russian authorities formed a special institute to criticize American authorities, especially about surveillance. Kucherena is the chairman of the institute. And he also happens to be the main Russian lawyer of Snowden. So the connection between Russian propaganda and Snowden is very clear.

Kucherena, left, accompanies Edward Snowdens father, Lon, while he speaks outside Moscows Sheremetyevo airport on Oct. 10, 2013. (Source: Rossiya 24 TV)

The Lounge

Time of the Octopus mixes fact with fiction to the point that the reader has no way to determine what, if anything, is based in real-world experiences.

Arriving in the bunker, the Attorney enters the Lounge, a fairly expansive room with a sofa, several chairs, a small billiard table, where the sound of a wooden-framed wall clock emphasized the silence reigning in the bunker. When he finds Cold, the Attorney notes that the room smelled not like the rest of the bunker, where there was a faint, barely sensed but persistent aroma of the Cold War  the smell of damp, rusty metal and overheated electrical wires. Here it smelled quite civilized  coffee, fine perfume and toast.

The Attorney asks Cold how hes doing. The American replies, Alright, before requesting that Miss Morrison meet with me no more than once a day, and let that happen in the briefing room, and not here.

Miss Morrison is the character for Harrison, the WikiLeaks legal researcher who accompanied Snowden as he left Hong Kong and settled in Russia. The Attorney notes that Cold clearly doesnt like Morrison. Cold then begins telling the Attorney about himself.

Sarah Harrison, a legal researcher for WikiLeaks, Snowden, Kucherena, and his assistant Valentina at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport on Aug. 1, 2013. (Source: Rossiya 24 TV)

Its all written in this kind of potboiler, almost kitschy, Soviet-Russian style with a lot of propagandist bombast along the way, and a lot of the middle is in the first person with Josh telling his life story and key vignettes from his life, Fitzpatrick observed over email about the 350-page book.

The odd vignettes include how Cold used a telescope given to him as a birthday present from his father to spy on people (which included videotaping them); cried after reenacting the brutal World War II battle of Peleliu between U.S. Marines and Japanese forces; dealt with bullying by whiggers (white kids who emulate black rappers); and denounced a teacher after feeling betrayed by his portrayal of early American settlers and Native Americans. At one point Cold tells the Attorney about the night he became a man after impressing a girl at community college with his hacking skills, joining a secret computer society, and licking powdered drugs off her as she strip-teased for him.

The whole device of having Snowden tell all to the Lawyer, who is recording him, while spending weeks in a bunker under the Sheremetyevo airport is of course bizarre itself, Fitzpatrick said. None of it really tells you anything about the main story of his stealing the NSA documents, although some of the stories seem to be like metaphors for things really in his hacking career.

Some of Colds details match Snowdens life. Cold dropped out of high school in 10th grade and subsequently went to Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, as Snowden did. Other parts are slightly altered. Cold says his parents divorced while he was still in high school, while Snowdens parents divorced three years after he dropped out. Cold also says his mother was a workaholic and remote, adding that he had no real relationship with her. After the divorce, Cold retreated into video games while he and his father lived together in the ruins of his family. In real life, Snowden shared several addresses with his mother for years after the divorce, while his father moved to Pennsylvania.

It strikes me that all this might send journalists on wild-goose chases that would come to nothing, as they arent based in reality, Fitzpatrick observed. But because there is so much that is thinly disguised in the book, like the figure Cassangi ([WikiLeaks founder Julian] Assange) or Michael Whyden ([ex-CIA Director] Michael Hayden), not to mention Josh Cold as Edward Snowden himself, then you have to wonder.

A television screen shows Snowden during a news bulletin at a cafe at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport, June 26, 2013.

(Photo: Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin)

I did not expect  Oliver Stone would pay attention to my book

Its unclear if Snowden, who met with Stone several times to help with the film, has read the thinly veiled novel with his face on the cover. Kucherena said Snowden had read an English translation of Time of the Octopus and liked it. However, Snowdens U.S. lawyer Ben Wizner said his client had never read it.

In any case, Kucherena was apparently involved in the filmmaking process. He told RT that Stone visited him eight times in Russia to discuss the script and encouraged him to get fully engaged in the filmmaking process and speak up every time he disagreed with what was happening on the film set. The filming of Snowdens cameo at the end of the movie took place at Kucherenas dacha.

Kucherena also makes an appearance in Snowden as a random diplomat or banker whom Snowdens character tries to schmooze with at a party while under CIA diplomatic cover in Geneva. This man is either a fool or a spy, Kucherena tells his assistant in Russian as he walks away.

And despite what Stone says about not using the material, the book is being touted as the basis of the film.

Time of the Octopus is a fiction, but it is based on Kucherenas own interviews with Snowden at Sheremetyevo, and provides the basis for Oliver Stones major Hollywood movie Snowden starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, one of the movie events of 2016, the publisher of the novels upcoming English translation states.

Director Oliver Stone at the premiere of the film Snowden in New York on Sept. 13, 2016. (Photo: Reuters/Andrew Kelly)

After seeing the film, Kucherena himself said that he was really impressed because I did not expect that such a great artist like Oliver Stone would pay attention to my book, and would make a quality movie based on the book. Not just a movie, not just some blockbuster, but a movie that makes you think.

Incidentally, the film and the novel have almost nothing in common besides Snowden and Kucherena. The works even cover different time frames: Snowden is about the Americans life up to his exile in Russia, while Time of the Octopus is based on what happened once he got there.

No person, no problem

Ultimately, Kucherenas book tells the reader more about the author than about Stones movie.

At one point, while Cold and the Attorney watch a late show on TV in the bunker, Spetsnaz special forces commandos burst into the Lounge. A commando tells Cold and the Attorney that there was an emergency involving an unsanctioned penetration of the facility. The Attorney posits that someone was trying to assassinate Cold.

If nothing threatened this young mans life, he would not have been hidden away from journalists, diplomats and the rest of the public from the outset. Of course, he had taken some insurance and had hidden away his compromising materials safely, taking care that it would be publicized in the event something happened to him. But even so, no one had ever abolished the sentiment, ancient as the world, ascribed to Stalin in Anatoly Rybakovs Children of the Arbat: No person, no problem.

The Attorney, like Kucherena, had been in the Soviet rocket forces. The Attorney notes that when he served in the Soviet Armys Strategic Rocket Forces, he had been put through exercises to simulate an attempt by saboteurs of a likely enemy to seize command bunkers. After minutes of tense silence, during which Cold nervously handles baoding balls, something happens: Heavy steps thundered along the corridor, and it seemed to the Attorney that he heard somebodys muffled cry, and at that moment one of the commandos, listening to his earpiece, announces: Thats it, all clear!

Again musing about geopolitical espionage, the Attorney subsequently decides that it is no accident that I am sitting here, and it is quite possible that my influence in this bunker was also predetermined long before Cold disembarked from the Hong Kong plane and stepped on to Russian soil.

Kucherena holds up Snowdens passport to show journalists the asylum stamp granted by Russia on Aug. 1, 2013. (Photo: APTV via AP)

Cold, meanwhile, gets up and grabs a bottle of Irish whisky. The Attorney is surprised, noting that in the background file on Cold, which he had read before his first meeting, it was noted in particular that Cold almost never drank liquor. The Attorney and Cold share a drink while Cold laments over the U.S.s apparent attempt to kill him.

Dont hurry events, the Attorney tell him. If you dont chase yourself into a corner, a way out can always be found. Sometimes I am asked why I take up hopeless cases. But I always reply that there are no hopeless cases. In any event, my experience confirms this truth.

Our contract gives priority rights to Stone on the following books

Nowadays, more than three years after becoming Snowdens lawyer, Kucherena continues to churn out fan fiction.

Time of the Octopus is part of a Jason Bourne-style trilogy. The sequel, Children of Cain, features the NSA sending another assassin to kill Joshua Cold. The third book, Judas Kiss, involves Cold operating as an NSA systems administrator in North Africa while the U.S. tries to overthrow the countrys president.

The second and third books in Kucherenas Snowden trilogy. (Source: eksmo.ru/book/vremya-spruta-ITD593502)

Kucherena told Russian propaganda outlet Sputnik that Stone can turn the second and third books into movies if he wants.

Our contract gives priority rights to Stone on the following books, Kucherena said. If he doesnt want to film the sequels, then I can offer the [books] to someone else, but he has the priority.

Read more:

Fact check: 5 key parts of Oliver Stones Snowden biopic that dont match reality

In exile, Edward Snowden rakes in speaking fees while hoping for a pardon
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / Today, Stephan Bogner from Rockstone Research published an initiating coverage on Intact Gold Corp. (TSX.V: ITG; market capitalization: $6 Mio. CAD) as the company has announced the acquisition of the Sheep Creek Property (1,740 hectares) located in the Kootenay Land District 12 km southeast from Samo in British Columbia, Canada. Historic reported production on the property constitutes approximately 85% of the whole camp: 632,590 ounces ("oz") of gold averaging 15 g/t gold from the Reno, Queen, Goldbelt, Nugget and Motherlode Mines, along with 250,000 oz silver.

A (historic) gold resource was estimated in 1988:

40,114 t @ 12 g/t (~15,600 oz proven)

35,172 t @ 16.5 g/t (~18,700 oz probable)

126,294 t @ 8.8 g/t (~35,700 oz possible)

27,561 t @ 4.8 g/t (~4,250 oz marginal).

The resource was calculated at 1 m mining width on 16 veins. As this resource estimate is historic, and thus non-compliant with NI43-101, Intact's mission now is to confirm and expand the resource with drilling. With almost 75,000 oz of gold in historic resources, at grades between 5 and 17 g/t, Intact may have acquired a deposit rich enough for more high-grade material in proximity to historic resources, mine workings and the surrounding land package. Modern exploration techniques make this underexplored project even more attractive.

The full report can be accessed with the following links:

English (PDF):

http://rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/Intact1en.pdf

English (web version):

http://rockstone-research.com/index.php/en/research-reports/1637-Intact-Gold-acquires-historic-high-grade-gold-project-with-75000-oz-in-BC

German (PDF):

http://rockstone-research.com/images/PDF/Intact1de.pdf

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

Story continues

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
By Claire Milhench

LONDON (Reuters) - Global investors pulled $7.4 billion (5.69 billion) from equity funds in the week to Wednesday, the largest outflow in around three months, as uncertainty over U.S. and Japanese monetary policy unnerved stocks, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) said on Friday.

A spike higher in longer-dated bond yields had caused yield curves in the United States, Japan and Germany to steepen over the past two weeks, prompting the redemptions from European, U.S. and emerging markets stocks funds.

Although there was little expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise rates at its Sept. 20-21 meeting, investors erred on the side of caution and parked $15.6 billion in money market funds in the run up to the Fed decision.

Investors were also wary ahead of the Bank of Japan's Sept. 21 meeting at which it made an abrupt shift in policy, saying it would buy government bonds when necessary to keep 10-year yields at their current levels of around zero percent.

The BOJ reassured markets that it would continue to buy riskier assets, but some analysts suggested it had overhauled its stimulus policy so it would be easier to exit in future.

"BoJ and Fed 'taper-tantrum' fears may have sparked redemptions in emerging market equity funds and in high yield bond funds," BAML analysts wrote in a note.

A steeper U.S. yield curve strengthens the appeal of risk-free bonds such as U.S. Treasuries over lower quality assets in emerging markets.

Emerging market equities saw their first outflows in 12 weeks, albeit a small $100 million, whilst some $1.2 billion was redeemed from high yield bond funds.

U.S. equity funds lost $7.7 billion, their largest outflows in 12 weeks, whilst European equity funds lost $1.8 billion in a record 33rd straight week of redemptions.

"Europe continues to be the 'vacant' trade (with) no interest since the February 2016 market lows," BAML said. European stocks (.FTEU3) have fallen 5.3 percent so far this year.

Japanese equities bucked the trend, attracting $2.4 billion. The Nikkei (.N225) was up around 7.6 percent in the third quarter, but is still down almost 12 percent so far this year.

Overall, bond funds attracted some $3.8 billion, with emerging market debt funds pulling in $1.5 billion in their 12th straight week of inflows. Investment grade bonds attracted some $2.8 billion.
By Claire Milhench

LONDON (Reuters) - Global investors pulled $7.4 billion from equity funds in the week to Wednesday, the largest outflow in around three months, as uncertainty over U.S. and Japanese monetary policy unnerved stocks, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) said on Friday.

A spike higher in longer-dated bond yields had caused yield curves in the United States, Japan and Germany to steepen over the past two weeks, prompting the redemptions from European, U.S. and emerging markets stocks funds.

Although there was little expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise rates at its Sept. 20-21 meeting, investors erred on the side of caution and parked $15.6 billion in money market funds in the run up to the Fed decision.

Investors were also wary ahead of the Bank of Japan's Sept. 21 meeting at which it made an abrupt shift in policy, saying it would buy government bonds when necessary to keep 10-year yields at their current levels of around zero percent.

The BOJ reassured markets that it would continue to buy riskier assets, but some analysts suggested it had overhauled its stimulus policy so it would be easier to exit in future.

"BoJ and Fed 'taper-tantrum' fears may have sparked redemptions in emerging market equity funds and in high yield bond funds," BAML analysts wrote in a note.

A steeper U.S. yield curve strengthens the appeal of risk-free bonds such as U.S. Treasuries over lower quality assets in emerging markets.

Emerging market equities saw their first outflows in 12 weeks, albeit a small $100 million, whilst some $1.2 billion was redeemed from high yield bond funds.

U.S. equity funds lost $7.7 billion, their largest outflows in 12 weeks, whilst European equity funds lost $1.8 billion in a record 33rd straight week of redemptions.

"Europe continues to be the 'vacant' trade (with) no interest since the February 2016 market lows," BAML said. European stocks have fallen 5.3 percent so far this year.

Japanese equities bucked the trend, attracting $2.4 billion. The Nikkei was up around 7.6 percent in the third quarter, but is still down almost 12 percent so far this year.

Overall, bond funds attracted some $3.8 billion, with emerging market debt funds pulling in $1.5 billion in their 12th straight week of inflows. Investment grade bonds attracted some $2.8 billion.
By Claire Milhench

LONDON (Reuters) - Global investors pulled $7.4 billion from equity funds in the week to Wednesday, the largest outflow in around three months, as uncertainty over U.S. and Japanese monetary policy unnerved stocks, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) said on Friday.

A spike higher in longer-dated bond yields had caused yield curves in the United States, Japan and Germany to steepen over the past two weeks, prompting the redemptions from European, U.S. and emerging markets stocks funds.

Although there was little expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise rates at its Sept. 20-21 meeting, investors erred on the side of caution and parked $15.6 billion in money market funds in the run up to the Fed decision.

Investors were also wary ahead of the Bank of Japan's Sept. 21 meeting at which it made an abrupt shift in policy, saying it would buy government bonds when necessary to keep 10-year yields at their current levels of around zero percent.

The BOJ reassured markets that it would continue to buy riskier assets, but some analysts suggested it had overhauled its stimulus policy so it would be easier to exit in future.

"BoJ and Fed 'taper-tantrum' fears may have sparked redemptions in emerging market equity funds and in high yield bond funds," BAML analysts wrote in a note.

A steeper U.S. yield curve strengthens the appeal of risk-free bonds such as U.S. Treasuries over lower quality assets in emerging markets.

Emerging market equities saw their first outflows in 12 weeks, albeit a small $100 million, whilst some $1.2 billion was redeemed from high yield bond funds.

U.S. equity funds lost $7.7 billion, their largest outflows in 12 weeks, whilst European equity funds lost $1.8 billion in a record 33rd straight week of redemptions.

"Europe continues to be the 'vacant' trade (with) no interest since the February 2016 market lows," BAML said. European stocks <.FTEU3> have fallen 5.3 percent so far this year.

Japanese equities bucked the trend, attracting $2.4 billion. The Nikkei <.N225> was up around 7.6 percent in the third quarter, but is still down almost 12 percent so far this year.

Overall, bond funds attracted some $3.8 billion, with emerging market debt funds pulling in $1.5 billion in their 12th straight week of inflows. Investment grade bonds attracted some $2.8 billion.
By Claire Milhench

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Global investors pulled $7.4 billion from equity funds in the week to Wednesday, the largest outflow in around three months, as uncertainty over U.S. and Japanese monetary policy unnerved stocks, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) said on Friday.

A spike higher in longer-dated bond yields had caused yield curves in the United States, Japan and Germany to steepen over the past two weeks, prompting the redemptions from European, U.S. and emerging markets stocks funds.

Although there was little expectation that the U.S. Federal Reserve would raise rates at its Sept. 20-21 meeting, investors erred on the side of caution and parked $15.6 billion in money market funds in the run up to the Fed decision.

Investors were also wary ahead of the Bank of Japan's Sept. 21 meeting at which it made an abrupt shift in policy, saying it would buy government bonds when necessary to keep 10-year yields at their current levels of around zero percent.

The BOJ reassured markets that it would continue to buy riskier assets, but some analysts suggested it had overhauled its stimulus policy so it would be easier to exit in future.

"BoJ and Fed 'taper-tantrum' fears may have sparked redemptions in emerging market equity funds and in high yield bond funds," BAML analysts wrote in a note.

A steeper U.S. yield curve strengthens the appeal of risk-free bonds such as U.S. Treasuries over lower quality assets in emerging markets.

Emerging market equities saw their first outflows in 12 weeks, albeit a small $100 million, whilst some $1.2 billion was redeemed from high yield bond funds.

U.S. equity funds lost $7.7 billion, their largest outflows in 12 weeks, whilst European equity funds lost $1.8 billion in a record 33rd straight week of redemptions.

"Europe continues to be the 'vacant' trade (with) no interest since the February 2016 market lows," BAML said. European stocks have fallen 5.3 percent so far this year.

Japanese equities bucked the trend, attracting $2.4 billion. The Nikkei was up around 7.6 percent in the third quarter, but is still down almost 12 percent so far this year.

Overall, bond funds attracted some $3.8 billion, with emerging market debt funds pulling in $1.5 billion in their 12th straight week of inflows. Investment grade bonds attracted some $2.8 billion.
By Mahdi Talat ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Deposed Iraqi Finance Minister Hoshiyar Zebari on Thursday accused former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of orchestrating his removal from office, publicly exposing rifts within an increasingly unstable government. Parliament dismissed Zebari, the top Kurdish official in the Baghdad government, on Wednesday after questioning him last month over alleged corruption and mishandling of public funds, which he denies. Zebari, who served for more than a decade as Iraq's foreign minister including under Maliki, is a leader in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the uncle of the Kurdistan region's President Massoud Barzani. He has recently led negotiations with international lenders to improve Iraq's troubled public finances. "The side that is behind the questioning and withdrawal of confidence is the State of Law and its head Nuri al-Maliki in collusion unfortunately with the speaker of parliament Saleem al-Jabouri," Zebari told reporters at a hotel in the Kurdish capital Erbil. Maliki, who was replaced in 2014 by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi after Islamic State seized a third of Iraq's territory, remains one of the country's most dominant figures and in a July television interview left open the possibility of a return to its top office. Zebari, who called his questioning by parliament "vengeful, politicized and short-sighted", claimed the aim was ultimately to bring down Abadi. "The target of these political interrogations is not specific ministers. The goal is to reach the head of executive authority, bring down the government and confuse the political situation, to bring the temple down on those inside because of very clear grudges, malice and hatred," Zebari said. Maliki does not hold a seat in parliament but leads the Dawa Party, of which Abadi is a member. Dawa is the leading faction in the dominant State of Law coalition. A Maliki spokesman denied the allegations, saying many lawmakers from outside Dawa had voted to sack Zebari: "Mr Maliki did not support the questioning but he gave the members of his State of Law bloc the liberty to practice their constitutional right of oversight." A spokesman for speaker Jabouri said: "This is what Zebari thinks and we respect what he thinks. Dr Jabouri thinks Zebari deserves a better situation than this but at the end it is parliament's call, not the speaker's." In a press conference that lasted over an hour, Zebari defended himself, criticized parliament's use of a secret ballot in the no-confidence vote that toppled him, and said he was appealing to the constitutional court. He warned the row could hurt Erbil's relationship with Baghdad, which has been strained most recently by a dispute over oil revenues. "There will be a pause and a review of this partnership and participation. Not that we will not support this government ... but without a doubt we will review the source of the issue," he said. "It is an attempt to topple and obstruct and exclude a principal party and a fundamental partner in the political process." Zebari said thought had not yet been given to a successor. Ministerial posts in Iraq are distributed along ethnic, sectarian and party lines in keeping with a quota-based system set up after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein. (Corrects title of Massoud Barzani in third paragraph) (Additional reporting and writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Toby Chopra)
The dominant face of whats most exciting in the beauty world is, in fact, an actual face  or rather a big group of them. Women founders, entrepreneurs, and CEOs are helming interesting new brands in the industry, carving out a substantial role for the presence of independent product lines in a world long dominated by large corporate conglomerates.

All of our vendors, on the whole, are women and women-owned businesses, Kerrilynn Pamer and Cindy DiPrima, the owners of the luxury boutique for all things natural beauty and wellness CAP Beauty, tells Yahoo Beauty. They know what women want. And the two also note that the women and brands they work with, and with whom they say they have really cultivated partnerships with, are more than just vendors but rather those who share their outlook on what the business of beauty really is and really can be.

I always go back to the fact that I believe what were doing benefits other, Pamer says. It is transformative, and it makes people feel good in a way that is not just topical. It may be perceived as topical, but this idea of beauty is really engaged with your whole self  this is not just skin or makeup. Its larger than that. And I think that is a common sentiment in the beauty industry right now.

And while independent brands focused on clean beauty seems to be the most compelling, and seemingly thriving, sector of the beauty industry at present, the emotional and financial realities of the women thought leaders who choose to strike out on their own tell a more nuanced story, one that shows a deep and holistic understanding of risk, opportunity, and success far richer than any balance sheet can even begin to disclose.

The entrepreneurial itch

Stowaway Cosmetics co-founder and CEO Julie Fredrickson. (Photo: Stowaway Cosmetics)

Julie Fredrickson, the co-founder and CEO of Stowaway Cosmetics, tells Yahoo Beauty her business was born out of her being tired of lugging around a bag of [makeup] samples from brands I didnt love because the products I loved didnt come in sample sizes. She says that after she started researching the economics and logistics behind what the manufacturing and cost structures would be for her favorite brands to make smaller (and more woman-on-the-go, purse-friendly) sizes of her makeup go-tos, she quickly realized why none of the big brands were ever going to take this route.

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Entrepreneurship is if you have an itch, you absolutely have to scratch it. I knew I had to move forward, she says of her drive to make her beauty routine more conducive to her busy life. Which explains just how she now helms a company that makes high-quality cosmetics scaled in a size designed for modern women. Stowaway also labels its products as 100% safe, as in the products are EU-compliant, and thus free of the 1,300 ingredients that Europe bans in its cosmetics. (By comparison, the U.S. bans only 11 ingredients.)

Fredrickson says that entrepreneurs, in any industry, see and identify needs in the market that other people may not see. In economics terms, she says, this phenomenon is known as the inefficient market paradox.

She gives this analogy to explain: Lets say there is a $20 bill just lying on the ground. What were seeing now is that there are lots of women who see that $20 bill on the ground and start to see different opportunities with it. Someone says, Thats $20 for treating skin conditions. And someone else says, Thats $20 for making products with smaller packaging. You see what you see as a hole in the market  and how you can deal with that.

Lipsticks so small they can fit inside your hand by Stowaway Cosmetics. (Photo: Stowaway Cosmetics)

The challenge for entrepreneurs seeing and seeking to address these problems outside the structure of a large corporate entity  like the brands highlighted in this story  is trying to explain a problem you experience to someone who doesnt. The hole you are trying to fill may not be obvious to others, she says.

Identifying problems and creating solutions

April Gargiulo of Vintners Daughter. (Photo: Vintners Daughter)

April Gargiulo, the founder of Vintners Daughter, tells Yahoo Beauty that after 10 years in the wine industry working for her familys winery, she found herself unable to find an effective treatment for her skin problems that she also felt was safe.

Everything I ate was organic and locally sourced, everything I cleaned my house with was thoughtful. I had a lot of skin issues  I couldnt just put coconut oil on my face and wake up the next day. Looking at skin care products and reading labels, there was so much filler, and so much was toxic. Stuff I wouldnt let in my house to clean my house was stuff I didnt want to put on my face, Gargiulo says. I needed performance-based products, but when I went looking in the natural world, everything smelled nice and looked nice, but wasnt performing. Vintners Daughter is about being uncompromising  in performance, and being nontoxic. I wasnt willing to compromise one for the other.

And when it came to launching her business, Gargiulo says, I was sourcing the finest ingredients in the world, and what was driving everything was being passionate about the product. It was about making one of the finest and most safe products in the world, no shortcuts.

Gargiulo says that by flipping the script  and investing in the product over marketing  her companys growth has all been, as she says, G2G  girlfriend to girlfriend. We grew because of word of mouth about our product.

Stefani Padilla founded her very own luxury all-natural hair care line called La Tierra Sagrada. (Photo: La Tierra Sagrada)

Stefani Padilla, the founder of La Tierra Sagrada, a luxury all-natural hair care line, has a similar story. After a decade of living in New York City and working as an on-set hair stylist for commercial and editorial shoots, Padilla says she was tired of using garbage on peoples hair on set  there are so many products out there that are completely toxic and not good for people at all. There are so many chemicals in hair products.

Meanwhile in her personal life, she was not only beginning to explore the world of plant medicine and herbalism but also dealing with an autoimmune disorder that caused her to begin a heavy course of steroids  and lose her hair as a side effect.

So I created a hair medicine line, Padilla says. To get my hair to stop falling out, yes, but more than that, to actually heal. I would share it with friends and then clients  I never considered turning it into a business at all. I just did it to help people in life. I had friends who had lost hair after having a baby, friends who had fought cancer, were dealing with autoimmune disorders. I was like, This is my gift from me to you, and I hope it works for you.

Shampoo and conditioner from the La Tierra Sagrada Hair Ritual line. (Photo: La Tierra Sagrada)

Taking risks and managing costs to preserve integrity

Angela Shore, the founder of Jiva-Apoha, says she was guided into the healing for myself, a personal spiritual growth, and seeking truth, leading her to found her line of body oils that are developed from Ayurvedic and Native American plant medicine traditions. But creating products that embody the healing principles Shore seeks to share with others doesnt come cheaply.

Economically, the sources can be high in cost. Organic goods  and working with premium essentials  fluctuate in dollars. The quality is always my No. 1 priority, she says.

Angela Shore, the woman behind Jiva-Apoha. (Photo: Angela Shore)

And so Shore started first working out of her Brooklyn Heights kitchen during nights and weekends, using the healing therapies work she performed during the day to help fund her ability to research and develop her line.

I have always taken personal financial risk using my own credit in building her business, Shore says. Maybe not so wise at times  but it was definitely a starter with Jiva-Apoha. It requires more money than one thinks in creating vendor relationships, studies, and research. It soon became a reality that there is only one way and that is to keep moving forward with focus.

Jiva-Apoha body oils. (Photo: Jiva-Apoha)

Financially, it takes time to see a real profit, says Shore about her experience building Jiva-Apoha. It takes money to make money. Its a cycle. You have to keep one foot ahead in multitasking.

Shore also says that the first piece of advice she would give to another woman looking to launch a beauty or wellness line of her own would be to do a financial forecast and have a business plan projection in seeking capital funding  especially since there are concrete costs associated with beauty, and especially green beauty, that are unavoidable.

Fredrickson says, In beauty, you have to deal with minimum-order quantities.  The inventory minimums are often tens of thousands. You cant order a run of 100 lipsticks and be confident in the quality control.

Gargiulo says she was turned away by lab after lab that refused to make her product. They wanted to use less expensive extracts and products versus starting with whole plants, which is much more costly. I was really passionate about the process and how ingredients are put together  its my background in fine winemaking  and understanding that the process is as important as ingredients themselves. So I knocked on a lot of doors.

Chase Polan of Kypris. (Photo: Kypris)

Chase Polan, the founder of Kypris, tells Yahoo Beauty, that sourcing her ingredients in a way that made ethical sense was a choice she hopes to see have a larger economic impact on the industry.

My hope is that because we took the time to source green actives and botanicals from biodynamic, fair-trade, co-op-run, organic, woman-owned, family-owned farms that there is greater fairness and health in the supply chain, Polan says. We are not able to definitively measure anything yet, but this seems like the general right direction.

Supply, demand, and self

Vintners Daughter Active Botanical Serum. (Photo: Vintners Daughter)

Out of Gargiulos commitment to produce her serum the way she wants and with the ingredients she wants comes the reality that sometimes we sell out. We go at the speed of our quality  you cant just throw things in a bowl, mix it in a jar, and then there it goes. It takes a lot of time  and so sometimes we sell out. But we have a group of customers who understand that quality takes time and that something like this goes at the speed of quality.

And Fredrickson says, One of the most common misconceptions is that were capable of solving customer demands and problems at pace. But beauty has really long lead times. You cant turn around a new product without first designing and manufacturing the packaging for it. It all takes time.

May Lindstrom, the founder of eponymous skin care line called May Lindstrom Skin. (Photo: May Lindstrom Skin)

May Lindstrom, the founder of eponymous skin care line May Lindstrom Skin, says that this challenge is why she made a promise to myself to only release a new product if I knew that it was truly special, a remarkable formula that wasnt already on the market. And then I promised to package it beautifully and to provide the most over-the-top personal customer service that I could  exactly what I think my clients deserve. I have so many dreams of what is ahead. We are growing quickly, but my foundation and core philosophy stand so firmly on the grounds of intimacy, on being special.

Creating and managing thoughtful growth

This kind of thoughtful growth is something that so many independent beauty brand founders say has been so essential to their success  and preserving the sense of self that fuels their brands to begin with.

Its a challenge to balance the responsibility of nourishing a quickly growing baby of a business while simultaneously giving what is needed of myself and my time to my own family  my dear husband, sweet daughter, and all our animals  we have chickens, a pig, a dog, and a cat! Im pregnant now with my second child and know that the challenge will continue as even more is put on my plate. Its vital for me to remember that I chose this and that I keep choosing it every day. If I need something to shift, its my responsibility to determine what that is, and how to do that in a way that is still true to my company, my family, and myself, Lindstrom says.

Gargiulo found one solution to the balancing act of startup-founder life by bringing on her husband as her co-CEO.

Were trying to find a work-life balance by sharing responsibilities, she says. We complement each other very much in life and business. And this way, both of us are able to spend time with each other and with our kids. Its worked so well for us.

Kypris Deep Forest Clay Mask. (Photo: Kypris)

Polan notes that the work of launching a beauty brand is never done. She says that when she first launched Kypris, I thought that once I manufactured an item, once the website was up, once our education materials were made, that each of these things would need to be a platonic version of itself, perfect and not needing to ever be changed. Everything has to be in its best, most polished form now  yet now its created with the full knowledge that in six months, a year, a few years it will need to be updated and evolved.

Women founders: High tides lift all

Gargiulo also is quick to mention the community of women entrepreneurs she is in. The community of women in this industry  all these smart, entrepreneurial women  I have never been a part of a business community like this before. Its so supportive. Its so gratifying. You know what they say: High tides rise all  and that is so true in this space. This group of women is, for me, endlessly inspiring. I have two little girls at home and for them to have all of these incredible role models, for me to show them that you can have an idea and a dream and make it happen and go for it is so important to me. To have all these other women in this ecosystem is an incredible sense of support.

May Lindstrom Skin Main Collection. (Photo: May Lindstrom Skin)

Lindstrom agrees and says, Indie beauty definitely has a strong core of women founders and creators, and thats incredibly exciting. There is lots of opportunity here  financial and otherwise  and its great to be in a space where my gender has a voice and relevance, and where we arent put in a position to need to fight for or defend any bit of it. In this space, its easy to celebrate being a woman. I certainly do!

Polan takes things one step further, citing writer Roxane Gay in explaining the way that creating, and leading, in this field bolsters her sense of identity as a woman and leader, even if it makes her a bad feminist: Im a woman. I love being a woman. Thats not going to change. I approach it from the perspective that different people value different things.  If people have a lack of respect for beauty as a business, my guess is theyre not interested in it or do not understand it. As someone with an interest in beauty, making stuff, geopolitics, feminism, wellness, sustainability, science, story-telling, pleasure, data analysis, and social justice, I cannot think of a better industry or outlet. 

Helping women care for themselves

And despite the countless hours and the immense financial risk, these founders all speak to their desire to truly help other women through their product offerings.

Lindstrom explains that her brand is an invitation for you to create the time and space for the personal connection you deserve with yourself. This action alone will transform you. What I want to do is get this message out there, to start a shift in how we care for ourselves, starting with the most basic and intimate of rituals  how we cleanse.

What I love and what my whole company is based on is the act of ritual and self-care, says Padilla. Taking the time each day to use the products in a ritual sense  I see that in so many other small beauty brands and their focus on self-care. Beauty is fundamentally about self-care.

For Stowaway, Fredrickson says, Were about making women feel beautiful, no matter where they are, no matter what situation they find themselves in. We make products that fit into life.  We made a decision to make our customers lives easier. Will she feel better at the end of the day for using this? If the answer is yes, then weve managed our risk. You will never go wrong if you go in the best interest of your customer. You may fail, but you will never do wrong.

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
I spent my professional life in law enforcement and was fortunate to serve as the Lincoln police chief and director of the Nebraska Crime Commission. I believe I understand public safety.

For many years I supported the death penalty. There were times I felt I could inflict the death penalty on some of our murderers myself, but thats just an angry and emotional reaction. Such emotion is common, but its neither thoughtful nor wise. Today it is clear to me the death penalty is no longer good policy.

In November we vote on the death penalty. I feel obligated to speak up about the ineffectiveness of the death penalty and its inability to keep us safe. The most effective punishments are those that are guaranteed. You may occasionally drive over the speed limit, but you dont when you see a police cruiser behind you. Its the certainty of punishment compelling us.

Theres no certainty with the death penalty today. Weve not had an execution in this state in nearly 20 years. Essentially, it is not deterrence.

Perhaps an even greater reason the death penalty isnt a deterrent is that people who commit murder rarely think about consequences. Most murderers are acting out of anger, under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, are mentally ill, emotionally out of control or a mix of these. There are many law enforcement professionals who agree theres no public safety benefit to the death penalty.

In 1995 and 2008, 500 police chiefs across the country were asked to rank the tools they found most effective in preventing violent crime. In these surveys the death penalty was ranked absolutely last. Chiefs recognized more officers on the street, reducing drug abuse or having effective programs for the mentally ill were much more likely to reduce crime than having or increasing the use of the death penalty.

In a 2009 poll, 61 percent of chiefs said death penalty cases were hard to close and take up a lot of police time. This is another problem with the death penalty: It requires a great deal of time and resources not only for police but also for prosecutors and courts. Even if we are comforted by the symbolism of having a death penalty, it has unintended negative consequences for the resources available to protect society.

A recent study by Creighton economist Dr. Ernie Goss says Nebraskas death penalty costs an average of $14.6 million every year because of the additional investigations, extra trials, decades of appeal and other mandated processes making death penalty cases different than life without parole.

Given the complexity of capital cases and the U.S Supreme Courts strict guidelines for how they must be handled, its no surprise we have this enormous price tag.

I would prefer these resources be used more wisely to help law enforcement and other parts of the criminal justice and mental health systems. Nebraska has quality men and women in law enforcement, as well as competent professionals throughout the system of justice.

I would like to see the $14.6 million now spent on a symbolic, unused death penalty invested in programs professionals consider effective in preventing violent crime. An urgent and current example of this need is the struggling Department of Correctional Services with its understaffed and overcrowded correctional facilities.

Its a shame and dangerous that we are failing to provide our corrections officers the support they need to do their jobs. With proper staffing and tools, our correctional facilities can be a secure place for inmates, guards and the public.

Voters have an important opportunity in November to make a wise choice, not an emotional one, about where to put our resources. Choosing to retain the decision of the Legislature to end Nebraskas symbolic death penalty demonstrates Nebraskans arent interested in emotional symbols, but want to invest in real solutions to violent crime and smart public safety policy.
By Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday that his visit to Communist-ruled Cuba, the first ever by a Japanese leader, had turned a new page in bilateral relations and the two countries would now deepen their economic relationship. Abe, who met on Thursday with Cuban President Raul Castro and his predecessor and older brother Fidel Castro, said the issue of unpaid debt had long constrained this relationship. Yet this was no longer an obstacle, he told a news conference in Havana, as the two countries had agreed on a plan to reorganize that debt. Some will become financing for development projects that could involve Japanese companies. "This visit has turned a new page in 400 years of Japan-Cuba friendship," Abe said. "I met with Raul Castro and agreed to intensify our economic cooperation". Many of Cuba's long-term trading partners are using debt forgiveness, swaps and new financing to try to win investment opportunities on the island ahead of their U.S. competitors in the wake of the detente between Havana and Washington. "Cuba is an extremely attractive investment destination for Japan," Abe said. "As the U.S. has eased sanctions, Cuba has made efforts to improve its investment environment." "I believe that this will prompt both trade and investment by Japanese firms," he added. Cuba boasts a highly educated workforce, security and a strategic geographic position, he said. There was also a "huge demand for infrastructure" on the Caribbean island that could become a hub between Asia, the Americas and Europe. Trading house Mitsubishi Corp told Reuters in July it was scouting for infrastructure projects at Cuba's Mariel special development zone, which stands to benefit from increased traffic through the renovated Panama Canal. Abe said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would also be establishing a permanent office in Cuba and Japan would be donating 1.27 billion yen ($12.58 million) of medical equipment to the country. The Japanese leader said he had agreed with Raul Castro to cooperate on various challenges in the international community, and had raised the issue of North Korea's nuclear program. Cuba is one of North Korea's few diplomatic allies, along with China, and a fellow member of the non-aligned movement formed in 1961 by states wanting to avoid siding with the United States or the Soviet Union. "The international community has to respond in a united way to this new stage of threat which is a blatant provocation by North Korea," Abe said, adding that the Chinese role was "extremely important". "With North Korea there is no point in having dialogue for the sake of dialogue alone. We need to apply tough pressure to North Korea," he said. The words Fidel Castro wrote in the guestbook at Hiroshima's site of the world's first atomic bombing when he visited in 2003, "May such barbarity never happen again, were deeply engrained in the hearts of the Japanese, Abe said. The prime minister had also expressed his gratitude to Raul Castro for Cuba's support for Japan's candidature as permanent member of UN Security Council, his office said. Abe's visit to Cuba is one of a slew by Western leaders since it began normalizing ties with the United States nearly two years ago. However, it is unusual for a Western leader to meet Fidel Castro, who usually only sees close allies. U.S. President Barack Obama visited Cuba in March and met with Raul but not Fidel Castro. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh in Havana and Elaine Lies in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard and Chizu Nomiyama)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded a visit to Cuba Friday with condemnation of North Korea's nuclear "provocations" and a request for help from Pyongyang's ally Havana to pursue a "world without nuclear weapons."

Abe, the first Japanese premier to visit Cuba, discussed the nuclear question in meetings with both Fidel and Raul Castro, the brothers who have ruled the communist island since 1959.

"Japan, the only country to suffer a nuclear attack in war, is determined to continue working to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, with the help of Cuba and the rest of the international community," he told a press conference, speaking through a translator.

The comment came after Abe condemned North Korea's recent nuclear weapons tests in his meeting Thursday with President Raul Castro.

"North Korea continues provocations including nuclear tests and the launch of ballistic missiles, which is posing a different level of threat to the region and Japan," he told the president, according to a readout of their conversation from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

"I know Cuba has had a friendly relationship with North Korea. Having said this, I would point out that the peace and stability of East Asia is crucially important for Japan."

He invited Castro to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese cities leveled by US atomic bombs at the end of World War II, to witness firsthand the destruction of nuclear weapons.

The Cuban leader said he "strongly wished" to accept the invitation before stepping down in 2018, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Abe also pressed for new efforts on nuclear disarmament in his meeting with former president Fidel Castro, Cuban state media reports said.

Japan said Abe had also asked for the Cuban government's "understanding and cooperation" on the sensitive issue of Japanese citizens believed to have been kidnapped by North Korea to train spies for the reclusive communist state.

Story continues

North Korea caused outrage in Japan when it admitted in 2002 that it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 80s to train agents in the country's language and customs.

Five of those were allowed to return home but Pyongyang has insisted, without producing solid evidence, that the eight others died.

- Baseball diplomacy -

Abe arrived in Cuba Thursday, a day after addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

There, he also hammered home Japan's concern over North Korea's test earlier this month of what Pyongyang called a miniaturized nuclear bomb suited to a long-range warhead.

Abe told leaders gathered at the UN that the world has to find "new means" to stop North Korea's nuclear program.

"The threat has now reached a dimension altogether different from what has transpired until now," he said.

Arriving in Havana, Abe said he wants to "open a new page" in Japanese-Cuban relations, after the historic rapprochement between Havana and Washington, Tokyo's close ally.

To that end, he announced a new sports exchange program in which Japan will send coaches to train Cuban baseball players -- a shared passion -- and invite Cuban gymnastics coaches to Japan.

He also broached Japan's call for UN reform, thanking President Castro for his "renewed support" for Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council.

Turning to China -- another Cuban ally with problematic relations with Japan -- Abe told Castro he was "seriously concerned" with Beijing's actions in the East and South China Seas, which include building artificial islands capable of hosting military airbases.
LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Japan Tobacco is aiming to start rolling out its Ploom Tech tobacco-based e-cigarette in cities across Japan next year, a senior executive said on Friday, as it fights to catch up to larger rival Philip Morris.

Japan Tobacco, the world's third-largest tobacco company, has invested heavily in expanding its manufacturing capacity of tobacco capsules used with the Ploom Tech, after it hit supply constraints in March after a test launch in the southern city of Fukuoka.

The company will launch Ploom Tech in select major cities in early 2017, Kiyohide Hirowatari, head of tobacco business planning, said at an investor meeting on Friday in London. He said the company will have increased its capacity by four times by the end of this year and ten times by the end of next year.

Japan Tobacco, whose cigarettes include Benson & Hedges and Mevius, said its international tobacco business was well positioned to achieve its forecast for full-year growth of 11.4 percent in profit. It also expects growth of 8.1 percent in revenue and 2 percent in sales volume.

(Reporting by Martinne Geller; editing by Susan Thomas)
(changes wording in 11th paragraph to make clear company already selling product)

* Ploom Tech to launch in other cities in early 2017

* Company to pursue diversity strategy for vaping

* Company affirms 2016 forecast

By Martinne Geller

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Japan Tobacco aims to start selling its Ploom Tech tobacco-based electronic cigarette in cities across Japan next year, it said on Friday, as it fights to catch up with bigger rival Philip Morris in meeting the growing demand for "vaping" products.

Japan Tobacco, the world's third-largest tobacco company whose top brands include Winston, Mevius and Benson & Hedges, has invested heavily in expanding its production capacity for Ploom Tech tobacco capsules after it hit supply constraints in March following a test launch in the southern city of Fukuoka.

"Though we are not able to comment on the exact timing of the national launch in Japan due to the fast-changing demand, our intention is to expand, starting from the urban areas, step by step, from early next year," Yasuhiro Nakajima, vice president of emerging products, said on the sidelines of an investor meeting in London on Friday.

The company will have increased its capacity by four times by the end of this year and 10 times by the end of next year.

In August Marlboro maker Philip Morris International said its "heat not burn" tobacco product called iQOS had captured close to 3 percent of the Japanese tobacco market, making inroads in a country where Japan Tobacco makes 40 percent of its profits.

All tobacco companies face falling volumes in developed markets due to higher taxes and growing health concerns. Yet Japan Tobacco's near-term growth prospects are even more limited, Jefferies analysts said earlier this week, by its large exposure to Japan and Russia, where there is less scope for the regular price increases that attract profit-hungry investors.

"We own tobacco stocks because they are high-quality, high-margin businesses that generate a lot of cash flow and the profit pool is still growing," said Jonathan Fell, portfolio manager of Ash Park Capital, which owns shares in Japan Tobacco.

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E-cigarettes could accelerate that growth in the long term but the global picture is as yet unclear as regulations differ in various countries.

"It's a real wait-and-see thing at the moment," he said.

The global market for "vaping" products was worth about $8 billion in 2015 and many public health specialists think e-cigarettes are a lower-risk alternative to smoking, but some question their long-term safety.

E-cigarettes made with tobacco are still a tiny portion of the market, and as such, Japan Tobacco executives said they could not predict their ultimate potential. The company has also introduced liquid-based e-cigarettes in markets like the United States and Britain, which together account for more than half the global e-cigarette market.

"We believe that addressing e-vapour and t-vapour at the same time is very, very important to be the winner in this entire emerging category," Nakajima told Reuters.

The company also said on Friday its international business was well positioned to meet its forecast for full-year growth of 11.4 percent in profits, 8.1 percent in revenues and 2 percent in volumes.

(Editing by Greg Mahlich)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Cuba for the first visit to the country by a Japanese premier, saying he wants to "open a new page" in relations.

Abe met with Cuban President Raul Castro during 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 also met Raul's brother and former Cuban leader Fidel Castro to discuss nuclear proliferation.

The two men "discussed the complexities and hazards affecting the world and the need to strengthen efforts toward the elimination of nuclear weapons and preservation of peace," an official statement read on television said.

Cuba is one of the few countries that maintains relationships with North Korea, whose nuclear ambitions are considered one of Japan's biggest security threats.

Abe also called for "open dialogue" to stimulate trade and investment, development cooperation and tourism.

The head of the world's third-largest economy was received with military honors at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, where he had a private meeting with Castro. Later, he placed a floral tribute at the monument to the Cuban hero Jose Marti.

The Japanese premier is scheduled to hold a news conference Friday morning before departing the Caribbean island.

Japan was Cuba's second-largest trading partner between 1970 and 1985, but the relationship deteriorated drastically as the Cuban economy took a hit from the breakup of the Soviet Union, the country's key ally, in the early 1990s. Trade totaled about $35 million in 2014.

On Monday, Cuba signed a debt restructuring deal with Japan according to which Tokyo will forgive part of Cuba's debt, leaving it to pay $606 million. Of that, $249 million is set to be deposited in an investment fund for Japanese businesses on the island, the Japanese government said.
Hosain Rahman Jawbone

Jawbone, the richly valued maker of wearable gadgets and wireless speakers, appears to be on increasingly shaky financial footing as it struggles to pay vendors and keep inventory in stock.

Jawbone abruptly ended its relationship with the customer-service agency NexRep earlier this month after Jawbone failed to make payments, according to an internal NexRep email viewed by Business Insider.

The email, written to NexRep employees by a NexRep executive, claimed Jawbone was "struggling financially" and couldn't pay NexRep for its services. It also said Jawbone was "fighting hard" to raise more funding.

"Jawbone is not able to pay us for past services, and their ability to pay us in the future is uncertain at this point," the NexRep email said.

Jawbone also quietly sold part of its speaker business recently, a company representative confirmed to Business Insider.

Jawbone's failure to pay NexRep had nothing to do with the quality of the firm's services, the email said. NexRep stopped working for Jawbone on September 9.

The move affected 93 jobs at NexRep, with many staffers being laid off. Some NexRep employees were transferred to work with other clients, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A Jawbone representative said the company was reviewing its bills for NexRep and "restructuring" its customer service. The representative denied to Business Insider that the company is struggling financially and was unable to pay NexRep, and said NexRep had "no basis" or knowledge on which to make the statement.

The NexRep vice president who wrote the email declined to comment when contacted by Business Insider. Multiple messages left for NexRep's CEO went unreturned.

Inventory turbulence

Jawbone also appears to be having inventory problems, a person familiar with NexRep and Jawbone's relationship said. NexRep previously had access to Jawbone product inventory that it relied on to replace the defective or damaged devices that customers returned, but shipments slowed practically to a halt in recent weeks, according to this person. This made it nearly impossible for NexRep to send replacement units to customers.

Story continues

Another curious sign: All of Jawbone's products are listed as "sold out" on the company's website as of this writing. There appears to be limited availability of some Jawbone products on Amazon. Jawbone hasn't released a new product since the spring of 2015, but the company has said it is developing a "clinical grade" fitness tracker.

jawbone products sold out

Jawbone's Facebook page is littered with complaints from customers saying they have been unable to get in touch with a customer-service representative to help with defective products. The Jawbone Facebook account has been responding to these issues, blaming a backup of complaints for the delays. A Jawbone representative said the complaints were because of Jawbone's customer-service restructuring and the issue has been "addressed." However, there are still complaints on Jawbone's Facebook Page as recently as Thursday.

Running out of options

Another person close to Jawbone told Business Insider there was almost no inventory left and the company was running out of options to generate revenue. The company has sold its customer-service inventory to a third-party based in New Zealand, the same party that previously purchased inventory earlier this year, this source says. A Jawbone representative disputed this claim, saying the company did sell some inventory to a distributor in New Zealand but still had some inventory left to handle customer-service requests.

The Information reported in August that Jawbone was having difficulty paying vendors and that it was considering a sale of the company. The speculation among some Jawbone employees now is that the company might sell to a private-equity firm if it can't raise more money, the person close to the company said.

"There are no current plans to sell the company," a Jawbone spokesperson told Business Insider.

Jawbone also declined to explain why its inventory had sold out. A company representative said "they have sold through what they have to sell." The company, however, said it was not because it couldn't pay vendors. It would not provide any estimate on when products would be available for sale on its website again, but it did say it planned to make more products.

Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman is seeking investment from an Asian company to keep the company going as it targets a mid-2017 release date for its next product, the person close to the company said. In the meantime, the company is essentially operating week-to-week, according to the source. Jawbone declined to comment on its cash position and its product road map.

Several people are leaving the company each week, according to multiple sources. This summer, the company lost its head of product Travis Bogard, The Verge's Lauren Goode first reported. Bogard is now working at Uber, according to his LinkedIn page.

Jawbone has also been trying to sell its Jambox Bluetooth speaker business since early this year. A Jawbone representative said "part" of the Jambox business had been sold but did not elaborate.

Jawbone raised $165 million in January at a $1.5 billion valuation, according to Kara Swisher of Recode. That valuation was down from its peak valuation of about $3 billion, Swisher reported. A Jawbone representative told Business Insider in August that those valuation numbers were incorrect but did not provide an alternative.

Jawbone has raised about $983 million in total, according to Crunchbase, which tracks funding for private companies.

NOW WATCH: Fitbit Is Going Into Nike Territory With This Inspiring Ad





More From Business Insider


Deer in headlights Jennifer Aniston on Thursday night in NYC. (Photo: Splash News)

If Jennifer Aniston has any celebratory feelings about the epic blowup of Brangelina, shes not sharing them publicly.

The 47-year-old actress was photographed for the first time since her ex-husband Brad Pitts divorce was announced and quickly turned into a dirty, nasty battle royale. All those hilarious Aniston memes mistakenly led us to think the Friends alum would be doing backflips down the street, fist pumps, or laughing like a hyena. The truth is, she looked mostly startled.

Aniston was snapped arriving in NYC Thursday night, after taking a private flight from Los Angeles. She was dressed in her best travel cazh  ripped jeans, a flower-covered T-shirt, shiny black coat, and white sneakers. Accessories included a tan hat, perhaps borrowed from Pharrell, and her wedding ring  cause the explosion of her marriage aint front-page news right now.

Aniston is likely meeting hubby Justin Theroux in the Big Apple. On Thursday, he wrapped Season 3 of The Leftovers, which was shooting in Australia. So hes footloose and fancy free to return to the States, and, once he recovers from killer jet lag, reunite with his wife of one year.

While were hoping Anistons reaction would be a little like this:

Today's cover: Jennifer Aniston knew Brangelina would end one day https://t.co/JvMlGzXP0A pic.twitter.com/uwVam0Glr1  New York Post (@nypost) September 21, 2016

Or this:

With a hint of this:

Story continues

However, the truth is, beyond perhaps a personal snicker with pals Courteney Cox and Chelsea Handler, the Huvane brothers, hairstylist Chris McMillan, her trainer Mandy Ingber, her dogs Sophie and Dolly, all the chickens in her coop, and maybe a few neighbors on her block in her Bel Air nabe, wed guess she mostly doesnt care. Well, other than the fact that shes now going to be hounded 24/7, so we can all see the expression on her face.

Sorry for playing into it, Jen, but after following this saga for 12 years, it was impossible to resist.




Senator Deb Fischer appears to put her party before her country and any sense of logic. She disagrees with Donald Trump's stance on NATO, yet supports him. She disagrees with Trump's praise for Putin, yet supports him. She disagrees with Trump's remarks regarding sexual assault in the military, yet supports him (" Fischer disagrees with Trump's Putin, sex assault remarks ," Sept. 9).

It makes me wonder whether Senator Fischer agrees or disagrees with Trump's comments and stance on other issues. Does she agree with him that the National Enquirer is a "respected" news source? Does she agree with him when he disrespects women and belittles the handicapped? Does she agree with him that global warming is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese? Does she agree with him when he says he wants to bring jobs back to the U.S. yet has his goods manufactured in foreign countries? Does she agree that it is OK for him not to release his tax records? Does she agree with him that the minimum wage should be lowered or eliminated and that U.S. wages are too high?
London (AFP) - Opposed by most of his own MPs but lionised by grassroots activists, socialist Jeremy Corbyn is tipped to fight off a leadership challenge while pitching the Labour Party into an increasingly uncertain future.

The 67-year-old is set to be re-elected on Saturday as leader thanks to support from party members and supporters, even though most MPs want him gone.

His anti-establishment, left-wing credentials have endeared him to voters disillusioned with mainstream politics, as has his image as a man of principle standing up for ordinary people.

But centrist MPs argue that his policies -- which include scrapping nuclear weapons and opposing austerity measures -- will never draw enough support from voters to win a general election.

Corbyn spent decades on the backbenches of parliament, where his left-wing views have long been out of fashion, before his surprise election as Labour leader last September.

Rumbling criticism of his leadership style turned into open rebellion after June's referendum vote to leave the European Union, which critics say Corbyn did not do enough to prevent, but he refused to stand aside.

The row over the direction of the 116-year-old party has only deepened since the relatively unknown MP Owen Smith launched a leadership challenge against him in July.

Corbyn seems to have relished the contest, holding rallies around the country, and looks likely to win an even larger mandate than last year.

While he has promised to "wipe the slate clean" and move on following the fight, some commentators believe that his opponents could still split off and form a rival party.

- Trade union background -

Born into a political family -- his parents met as activists in Britain during the Spanish Civil War -- Corbyn worked for trade unions before being elected to the House of Commons in 1983.

Prior to becoming leader, he had never held major office and was a serial backbench rebel, voting against his party's line repeatedly and championing human rights and policies to help the poor.

Story continues

So committed is he to socialism that his second marriage reportedly broke up over his opposition to sending his son to an academically selective school, rather than one open to all.

He is currently married to Laura Alvarez, who runs a company importing coffee from her native Mexico, and they have a cat named El Gato -- Spanish for "the cat".

Corbyn does not have a car, instead riding a bicycle around his north London constituency in Islington, where some of the poorest and richest people in Britain live side-by-side.

With hobbies including making jam and spotting manhole covers, he says he has a normal life and is "not wealthy", although he earns A138,000 (160,000 euros, $180,000) a year.

- 'Incompetent and self-righteous' -

Labour's polling numbers are weak, suggesting that if Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May called an early general election, the opposition would suffer a crushing defeat.

An Ipsos MORI poll released on September 15 gave the Conservatives 40 percent support compared with 34 percent for Labour.

Critics blame Corbyn, saying that his anti-war, anti-nuclear, high-tax, high-spending views are rooted in a different age.

Supporters say he has often been on the right side of history, citing his campaigning against apartheid in South Africa and Britain's involvement in the 2003 Iraq war.

His opposition to austerity has struck a chord among many people and Labour party membership has more than doubled to half a million since he stood for the leadership.

"People see in Corbyn a new form of politics, where people care for the poor and downtrodden," said Philip John Rosser, a 61-year-old party member.

Colleagues in parliament complain that he is uncooperative, however, and accuse some of his supporters of trying to bully and intimidate those who oppose him.

Veteran centrist Labour lawmaker Alan Johnson described Corbyn in a recent interview as "totally incompetent" and "self-righteous".
London (AFP) - Opposed by most of his own MPs but lionised by grassroots activists, socialist Jeremy Corbyn is tipped to fight off a leadership challenge while pitching Britain's Labour Party into an increasingly uncertain future.

The 67-year-old is set to be re-elected on Saturday as leader of the main opposition party thanks to support from party members and supporters, even though most lawmakers want him gone.

His anti-establishment, left-wing credentials have endeared him to voters disillusioned with mainstream politics, as has his image as a man of principle standing up for ordinary people.

But centrist MPs argue that his policies -- which include scrapping nuclear weapons and opposing austerity measures -- will never draw enough support from voters to win a general election.

Corbyn spent decades on the backbenches of parliament, where his left-wing views have long been out of fashion, before his surprise election as Labour leader last September.

Rumbling criticism of his leadership style turned into open rebellion after June's referendum vote to leave the European Union, which critics say Corbyn did not do enough to prevent, but he refused to stand aside.

The row over the direction of the 116-year-old party has only deepened since the relatively unknown MP Owen Smith launched a leadership challenge against him in July.

Corbyn seems to have relished the contest, holding rallies around the country, and looks likely to win an even larger mandate than last year.

While he has promised to "wipe the slate clean" and move on following the fight, some commentators believe that his opponents could still split off and form a rival party.

- Trade union background -

Born into a political family -- his parents met as activists in Britain during the Spanish Civil War -- Corbyn worked for trade unions before being elected to the House of Commons in 1983.

Prior to becoming leader, he had never held major office and was a serial backbench rebel, voting against his party's line repeatedly and championing human rights and policies to help the poor.

Story continues

So committed is he to socialism that his second marriage reportedly broke up over his opposition to sending his son to an academically selective school, rather than one open to all.

He is currently married to Laura Alvarez, who runs a company importing coffee from her native Mexico, and they have a cat named El Gato -- Spanish for "the cat".

Corbyn does not have a car, instead riding a bicycle around his north London constituency in Islington, where some of the poorest and richest people in Britain live side-by-side.

With hobbies including making jam and spotting manhole covers, he says he has a normal life and is "not wealthy", although he earns 138,000 (160,000 euros, $180,000) a year.

- 'Incompetent and self-righteous' -

Labour's polling numbers are weak, suggesting that if Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May called an early general election, the opposition would suffer a crushing defeat.

An Ipsos MORI poll released on September 15 gave the Conservatives 40 percent support compared with 34 percent for Labour.

Critics blame Corbyn, saying that his anti-war, anti-nuclear, high-tax, high-spending views are rooted in a different age.

Supporters say he has often been on the right side of history, citing his campaigning against apartheid in South Africa and Britain's involvement in the 2003 Iraq war.

His opposition to austerity has struck a chord among many people and Labour party membership has more than doubled to half a million since he stood for the leadership.

"People see in Corbyn a new form of politics, where people care for the poor and downtrodden," said Philip John Rosser, a 61-year-old party member.

Colleagues in parliament complain that he is uncooperative, however, and accuse some of his supporters of trying to bully and intimidate those who oppose him.

Veteran centrist Labour lawmaker Alan Johnson described Corbyn in a recent interview as "totally incompetent" and "self-righteous".
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Warplanes targeted rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo on Friday in a second day of heavy bombardment hours after the army announced the start of a military operation there, rescue workers and activists said. The Syrian military, which is backed by the Russian air force, said late on Thursday it was starting a new operation against the rebel-held east, which is home to at least 250,000 people and was also targeted in heavy air strikes on Thursday. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday, and there was no word on casualties. Ammar al Selmo, the head of the civil defense rescue service in eastern Aleppo, told Reuters a squadron of five warplanes was in the skies over the city, identifying them as Russian. A fresh wave of bombing had started at from 6 a.m. (11:00 p.m. EDT), after heavy overnight attacks, he said. "What's happening now is annihilation," he said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 30 air strikes had targeted different areas of Aleppo from midnight. (Reporting by Ellen Francis and Tom Perry; Editing by Nick Macfie and Ralph Boulton)
Few people on earth can be called a legendary investor, but Jim Rogers certainly fits the bill.

The chairman of Rogers Holdings was the co-founder of Quantum Fund along with George Soros in the 1970s. He now lives in Singapore and is a heavy investor in emerging markets. Rogers also holds two world records for going around the globe twiceonce by motorcycle and once by car.

The world Rogers sees now is not so bright and sunny, at least economically. He holds steadfastly to his prediction three months ago on Yahoo Finance that Brexit would lead to something worse than any bear market youve seen in your lifetime.

Im not a very good market timer, admit Rogers. I dont mean it is going to happen next week, but you will see in the next couple of years the worst bear market in your lifetime. Its going to be very, very bad so I hope that youre worried.

He doesnt expect Europes economy to get out of its tepid growth any time soon.

Europe has problems, Rogers said. They have, just like we in America, very high debts, and the debts are getting higher and higher. And theyre not doing anything to solve their trade problems. Its a mess. And now of course the U.K. is leaving. Thats going to cause more disruptions all over the world, especially in Europe. As I say, you should be worried. Im worried, anyway.

Rogers anticipates even China will see some trouble. The Bank of International Settlements recently warned about Chinas credit-to-GDP gap. Loans in the country are at about $28 trillion dollars, larger than the U.S. and Japan combined.

Chinas increasing use of leverage came about in the wake of the global financial crisis of the past decade, notes Rogers. That could have dire consequences in the event of another economic crisis.

In 2008, the Chinese had a lot of money saved for a rainy day, and they spent it and helped bail out the world, he said. Since 2008, even China has debt. Its amazing. For decades, they didnt have debt for many historic reasons. Now they have debt. So the next time around, youre going to see bankruptcies in China which is going to shock a lot of peopleincluding the Chineseand theyre not going to be able to help us like they did before.

Story continues

Rogers is long Chinese equities despite having dire expectations. There are going to be bankruptcies, he added. Many companies that do business with the West and have leverage are going to suffer.

Yet there are segments of the Chinese market that are inoculated from turmoil in the rest of the world, he maintains. One industry is environmental cleanup.

China is filthy, but now China is spending a lot of money trying to clean it up, Rogers said. If youre in the pollution business in China, you dont care if Europe disappears. You dont care if America goes bankrupt, because youre too busy trying to clean up China.

He is also investing in the countrys health care sector. If youre in the health care business in China, youre in good shape, he said.

Russia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria and Rwanda are other countries where Rogers is either invested in or plans to put money to work in the near future.

On the commodities front, investors may have taken a shine to golds (GC=F) glittering 26% year-to-date rise, but Rogers is sweet on sugar (SB=F). The agricultural product is up 49% since the start of 2016 and has just about doubled in the past 12 months after spending years on the downtrend.

There are securities Rogers is not bullish on. He is short US equities, particularly large names like Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN) and Netflix (NFLX)a position he said has turned out poorly for him thus far. They are the basic stocks which never go down and go higher and higher at my expense all the time, he said.

But the US political situation may cause Rogers bearish bets to pan out.

If Mr. Trump winswhich I would suspect he willand does what he saysthese are his words, not mineit will lead to bankruptcy and war, predicted Rogers, who said he will likely vote for Libertarian candidates Gary Johnson and Bill Weld. As history shows, serious trade wars with everybody has always led to bankruptcy and that has often led to war. If Mrs. Clinton wins, same thingits just going to take longer. Shes just as bad. She has no clue about world economics, and she has no is no clue about American economics.

I have said, you should be worried.
The investigation surrounding JPMorgan Chase & Co.s JPM hiring of relatives and children of Chinese government officials has extended further. Since Aug 2013, the bank has been facing a federal bribery scrutiny. Moreover, just as it was about to settle with the Justice Department and the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), another round of enquiry has emerged.

Heightened Investigations & the Charges Ahead

The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) have now joined the investigations and are seeking to impose their own penalties, according to people familiar with the matter. The bank has been slapped with charges of inappropriately hiring the children of Chinese officials in order to secure business with Chinese government-run companies. While the Fed is seeking a fine of $62 million from the bank, the OCC is also expected to seek damages for the same.

The question that arises is whether hiring relatives of influential Chinese officials was equivalent to bribing a foreign official to secure business with a government entity. Such malpractice is clearly prohibited under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 1977.

On the other hand, the banking regulators are currently focusing on the breakdown in controls and practices, which made way for the improper hiring. Further, JPMorgan is likely to pay a fine of $200 million to the federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and the SEC, the majority of which is anticipated to go to the SEC.

Nonetheless, JPMorgan has achieved a moral victory by escaping the criminal charges and negotiating a rare prosecution agreement with the prosecutors. However, involvement of the Fed and the OCC has complicated the cases outcome. It has also raised uncertainties over timing of the settlement.

Regulatory Concerns

Since the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis, regulators have been demanding a tightened control system for the big banks. They further want the banks to increase the oversight over their employees. Banks that have failed to do so have paid tens of billions of dollars in fines. Notably, JPMorgans China hiring case represents one of the top settlements being negotiated with the SEC and the federal prosecutors.

Story continues

Also, it is one of the first major crackdowns on a big bank for violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. However, JPMorgan is not the only bank charged with such accusations. Last year, The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation BK paid $14.8 million to the SEC for settling similar accusations.

While the Justice Departments probe is initially focused on JPMorgan, it is expected to extend further to the hiring practices of other banks, including HSBC Holdings plc HSBC and Deutsche Bank AG DB, which have publicly disclosed the existence of such investigations.

Currently, JPMorgan holds a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). If you want to have a look at some of our better-ranked stocks, you can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - High-profile British Treasury Minister Jim O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs chief economist, has resigned from his role at the country's finance ministry, the government said on Friday.

O'Neill is a member of the unelected upper house of parliament and worked in the finance ministry as Commercial Secretary, with responsibilities including infrastructure policy and promoting Britain as a source of foreign direct investment.

The Financial Times reported in July that O'Neill could quit his post over new Prime Minister Theresa May's approach to Chinese investment which appeared less welcoming than that of her predecessor David Cameron.

One of the areas that O'Neill worked on was the Northern Powerhouse project to improve infrastructure in northern England and which was aimed at attracting investment from China.

In his resignation letter to May, O'Neill said the case for the project to be "at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention." (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by Stephen Addison)
LONDON (Reuters) - Former Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill resigned from the Treasury on Friday after he reportedly clashed with new Prime Minister Theresa May over Chinese investment in the country. O'Neill, who coined the BRICS acronym to group the world's largest emerging economies while at Goldman Sachs, worked in the Treasury as a junior secretary overseeing infrastructure policy and promoting Britain as a source of foreign direct investment. The Financial Times said in July that O'Neill could quit his post over May's approach to Chinese investment which appeared less welcoming than that of her predecessor David Cameron. Shortly after becoming prime minister, May ordered a last-minute review into an 18 billion-pound nuclear power plant project at Hinkley Point which was backed by Chinese funding. The project was given the green light earlier this month but the review alarmed officials in China. One of the areas that Manchester-born O'Neill worked on was the Northern Powerhouse project to improve infrastructure in northern England and which aimed to attract investment from China. In his resignation letter to May, O'Neill said the case for the project was even stronger after June's decision by voters to leave the European Union, and he was pleased that "despite speculation to the contrary" it appeared to be "commanding your personal attention." In her reply, May thanked O'Neill for his work on the Northern Powerhouse and on promoting stronger economic links with emerging economies, including China and India. "You have laid important foundations in these areas, and the Government will build on them," she said. O'Neill also led a push by the government to encourage the development of new drugs against drug-resistant infections. (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by Stephen Addison)
By Amy Sullivan

Expectations for Hillary Clinton heading into the first presidential debate with Donald Trump may be unfairly high, Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine said on Thursday.

Im worried about that, he told Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric. Donalds been able to get away with some things that Hillary couldnt, and frankly nobody could.

Both candidates ought to be really challenged, and challenged the same way, said Kaine, expressing hope that debate moderators would not shy away from tough questions.

The Virginia senator cited Trumps refusal to release his tax returns. Hes asking us to trust him: I dont have to give you my tax returns  just trust me, he continued, impersonating Trumps affect as he did during the Democratic convention. Dont get tricked by him.

Kaine spoke with Couric on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno, following a rally the Clinton-Kaine campaign held there as part of an ongoing effort to energize young voters on behalf of the Democratic ticket.

Couric, citing recent polls that show Clinton barely running ahead of Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson among millennial voters, asked Kaine what case he would make those who are considering putting their support behind Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld.

The argument against the [third-party] ticket is, I think everybody knows theyre not going to win, Kaine responded. And the argument is the Al Gore-George W. Bush race in 2000. The third-party candidacy of Ralph Nader cost Gore electoral votes in New Hampshire and Florida, and if Gore had been president, we probably wouldnt have had a war in Iraq.

It can be tempting for dissatisfied voters to vote for an outside candidate as a way of making a statement, Kaine argued. But casting a protest vote for a third-party candidate thats going to lose may well affect the outcome and may well lead to a consequence that is deeply, deeply troubling, he said. Thats not speculation  weve seen it in our countrys history.

Story continues

(Cover photo above: Renee C. Byer for Yahoo News)

Slideshow: Katie Couric interview with Tim Kaine  Behind the scenes >>>

The potential for troubling consequences is something that weighs on Kaine for personal reasons as he works to defeat Trump in November. Ive got a boy deployed overseas. I care so personally about who the next commander-in-chief is, he told Couric. I trust Hillary Clinton with my own sons life.

And Donald Trump? Couric asked.

Kaine turned to the Clinton camps case against Trump on national security issues. He pointed to Trumps frequent praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the moguls openness to expanding the number of nuclear states.

His divisive language, bromance with Vladimir Putin, thinks more nations should get nuclear weapons  Donald Trump scares me to death as a blue star family, as a military family, said Kaine.
The royal family's big Canada tour kicks off Saturday  and for the first time, Prince George and Princess Charlotte are on duty too!



Of course, their parents Prince William and Princess Kate will have carefully prepared them for the big trip  as much as a 3-year-old and a 17-month-old can be prepared.



"Taking a child out of their routine can have quite an impact, such as disturbed sleep and a change of usual behavior," Sarah Dixon, a maternity nurse who has worked with friends of the couple, tells PEOPLE. "But unlike in Australia, George has Charlotte  they have each other's company to enjoy."



Of course, as any mom knows, traveling with two small children is no easy task, let alone with half the world watching. "Going overseas can be very stressful for some children  not all children think of it as an adventure," says Dixon. "They like their home comforts. But George does seem to take all the attention in his stride."







With eight days of jam-packed engagements, it's clear that events have been tightly squeezed into either mornings or afternoons  with time allocated for them to spend privately as a family. (There are very few evening galas.)



"They will want to spend as much time with the children as possible," says Dixon. During the couple's kid-free tour of India in the spring, "Kate clearly missed the children, and they missed her  being away from your children at that age is extremely hard," she adds.



Of course, the children will have their constant and much-loved travel companion, nanny Maria Turrion Borrallo, by their side.





All You Need to Know About Prince William and Princess Kate's Canadian Tour!





"Maria will have ensured that the children's favorite food items and toys are packed or there waiting for them at their Canadian residence," says Dixon. "She will have prepared the kids their own little itinerary, and she will have been busy in recent weeks packing everything, from clothes to Charlotte's favorite teddy."



 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.



While Kate and her personal assistant/stylist Natasha Archer have been meticulously planning her tour wardrobe for months, Maria will have been on hand to help with the style needs of the little ones, stocking up on suitable clothes from Kate's favorite boutiques  including Amaia, Pepa & Co. and Trotters.



"They will be dressed in very similar styles to what we have seen them in previously," notes Amaia Arrieta, co-owner of one of Kate's favorite children's boutiques, Amaia in Chelsea. "Pastel colors for Charlotte definitely and for George, nothing too smart because he is still so young and Canada is quite a casual country."



Can we expect to see the siblings in matching knee socks or his- and-hers smocking? "I donat think so! Their styles are very different but both classic, understated and elegant."
MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - The widow of a radical Muslim preacher was charged on Friday of helping three other women attack a Kenyan police station. In what the first incident in Kenya to be claimed by Islamic State, the women entered Mombasa's central police station on Sept. 11 under the pretext of reporting a stolen phone. They stabbed one officer and set fire to the building with a petrol bomb before they were all shot dead. A Kenyan court charged Hania Said Sagar, widow of sheikh Aboud Rogo - a preacher accused of supporting and recruiting for Somali Islamist group al Shabaab - with withholding information that could have prevented the attack. Rogo was killed by gunmen in 2012, sparking days of riots in Mombasa by supporters who accused the police of gunning him down, something the police denied. Police said they had evidence that Sagar had communicated with the three women before they launched the attack. They also had evidence of a mobile phone money transfer between her and one of the attackers. "You knew Tasmin Yakoub (one of the three attackers) who was the mastermind of a terror attack at central police station, you failed to disclose information which could have prevented a terror attack," the charge sheet read. Sagar denied the charge and the court ordered she be held until Monday when it will rule on a bail application. She faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted. Kenya has been cracking down on people they accuse of promoting militant ideas or planning and carrying out attacks, particularly in the coast region, where many Muslims live in the majority Christian African nation. Before the police station attack, Islamist attacks in Kenya have usually been claimed by Somalia's al Shabaab. (Reporting by Joseph Akwiri; Editing by Duncan Miriri and Robin Pomeroy)
Making a country great," or "great again is probably one of the oldest, most frequently used campaign refrains for every political despot that came to rule since the pharaohs of Egypt, and, perhaps, even before, to the emperors of the Roman Empire, the kings of England, Napoleon Bonaparte of France and Adolph Hitler of Germany. Of course, the goal of each and every one, was imperial ambition personified in their leadership. How many lives and livelihoods had to be ruined and destroyed in the pursuit of fulfilling their self-glorified, imperial ambitions? How much human sacrifice and misery had to be endured and how many human rights had to be trashed to satisfy their egotistical desires?

A troubling proportion of the American people have been searching for an imperial ruler to take them into a version of the past that they once imagined and perhaps, they have finally found the person they have been searching for. However, if history should teach us anything, it should reveal that imperial powers are usually short-lived, albeit some far longer than others, but none proves eternal. All eventually fall victim to withering decay, decline and diminishment and in the process, who but the people have to bear the costs and suffering as the dreams of their rulers confront the reality of their becoming the pariahs of the world?

The options are to either walk as one together or die alone.

Stu Luttich, Geneva
By Yara Bayoumy and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and Russia sent mixed signals on whether any headway was made on reviving a moribund Syria truce amid intense bombardment of Aleppo on Friday suggesting the effort was dead. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he made "a little progress" on halting the violence in talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who cited no progress and accused the United States of failing to honor the latest ceasefire deal. "I met with the foreign minister, we exchanged some ideas and we had a little bit of progress. We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way," Kerry said on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. At a news briefing a short time later, Lavrov said little to suggest there had been any forward movement. Instead, he reiterated Moscow's view that Washington was failing to keep its end of a Sept. 9 ceasefire agreement, one element of which was to separate fighters of al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front from Western-backed opposition rebels. The ceasefire collapsed on Monday with an attack on a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo that killed about 20 people. The United States said Russian aircraft made the attack, while Russia denied involvement and the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, whom Russia supports, blamed "terrorists." On Thursday, the Syrian army declared an offensive to fully capture Aleppo and warplanes bombed the city, Syria's largest, with what residents described as unprecedented ferocity on Friday. At his briefing, Lavrov accused the opposition of having violated the truce hundreds of times while Western officials have blamed Russia and Syria for its collapse. "We want to see any signs which would prove that the coalition has influence on those who are on the ground facing the government," Lavrov said. "Any truce, seven days, three days would be senseless," he said, adding that in any case the U.S.-led coalition had proved its inability to control rebels. In veiled criticism during his U.N. General Assembly speech earlier, Lavrov quoted George Orwell's book "Animal Farm" to accuse Washington of saying all animals are equal but acting as if some are "more equal" than others. The United States and Russia are on opposite sides of the 5-1/2-year-old Syrian civil war in which more than 400,000 people have died and 11 million displaced. Diplomats have said that much of the focus of an international meeting on Thursday to break the U.S.-Russian impasse was to persuade Russia to renew a seven-day ceasefire, but that Lavrov had shown no inclination to accept it. Lavrov said the U.S. had originally asked for three days on Wednesday, which Moscow had accepted, before on Thursday asking for a seven-day ceasefire. "My fear is that the bombings of the last few hours in Aleppo show that the regime is actually playing the card of partitioning Syria and its backers are letting it happen," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayraud told reporters. A member of the Syrian opposition voiced frustration at U.S. efforts to revive the ceasefire. "Kerry and Obamas administration are going in circles ... talking to the Russians, thinking that Russians will have any solutions and can contribute to the ceasefire," said Mutasem Alsyofi of the Syrian Civil Society Declaration Initiative. "It's clear that the Russians will not do this," he added. (Reporting by Denis Dyomkin, John Irish, Lesley Wroughton, Arshad Mohammed; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Grant McCool and Howard Goller)
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on September 22 that the Syrian governments offensive against rebel-held parts of Aleppo on the day was exactly the kind of regime action that has done so much damage to [the peace process in the country] and to the credibility of the concept of restraint or ceasefire.

Speaking after a meeting of the Syria Support Group, Kerry reiterated his view that plans agreed in Vienna were the best way forward.

He said a political solution was the only way peace would be reached and admitted disappointment at the failure of an agreed ceasefire this week.

No one can possibly be satisfied with the events that have unfolded in the last few days, Kerry said.

He said significant action was needed to restore the credibility of the peace process, achieved through a genuine and sustained reduction in violence and well as an unfettered humanitarian access that is unmistakable to everyone. Credit: YouTube/U.S. Department of State
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie sent shock waves throughout the celebrity-watching world earlier this week when the Hollywood power couple announced that their 12-year, headline-grabbing romance had come to an end.

The married couple, lovingly known as Brangelina, confirmed their breakup in separate statements after news broke Tuesday that Jolie had filed for divorce. Jolie, 41, cited irreconcilable difference in divorce papers, while Pitt, 52, said in a statement to People that he is very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the wellbeing of our kids.

The couples split was quickly complicated by emerging details about a confrontation on a private plane that ended with child abuse allegations against Pitt. Heres what you need to know:

What happened?

Pitt is accused of verbally and physically abusing his oldest child, 15-year-old Maddox, while the family was on a private plane last week, sources tell People. Pitt was apparently drunk and had been arguing with his wife aboard the flight when Maddox stepped in, the magazine reports. There was a parent-child argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should have, the source said.

But Pitt did not hurt his son, according to the source. He put his hands on him, yes, because the confrontation was spiraling out of control, the source said.

Neither Pitt nor Jolie have commented on the abuse allegations.

What happens to the kids?

Pitt and Joliewho met in 2003 on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smithtied the knot in 2014. They now have six children together, including Maddox, 12-year-old Pax, 11-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh, and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. Jolie is seeking physical custody of all of them but would allow visitation rights for Pitt, according to the Associated Press.

How did the custody battle get more complicated?

A source told People that the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services is investigating the allegations after the incident was anonymously reported. The department has interviewed Pitt, who is cooperating fully, a source told the magazine. And the FBI is gathering facts and evaluating whether to open an investigation into the allegations, it said in a statement to the BBC.

Story continues

Why is the FBI involved?

The case falls under the FBIs jurisdiction because the alleged incident happened on an in-air flight from France to the U.S., according to ABC News.

What happens next?

The Children and Family Services investigation is ongoing, and the FBI has yet to say whether it will pursue a probe.
Saturday marks the start of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges eight-day trip to British Columbia and Yukon  their first tour of Canada with both Prince George, 3, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte in tow.

The Royal Family visit Canada fairly regularly; Prince Harry flew to Toronto in May to promote the third Invictus Games, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla were there for a brief visit in 2014 and the Queens daughter, Princess Anne, has been three times in three years. Even Prince William and Kate Middleton were in Canada fairly recently; they visited Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Ontario on their first overseas tour as husband and wife, just two months after their 2011 wedding.

The Duke & Duchess, Prince George & Princess Charlotte will arrive into Victoria Canada on 24 Sept #RoyalVisitCanada pic.twitter.com/u713RQPbQy  Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 12, 2016

Behind all of those visits is a special  yet tumultuous  relationship between the two countries, which are 3,000 miles apart but closely connected by history.

The British Empire

Throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries and around the time of the American War of Independence, huge numbers of British and Irish settlers emigrated to British North America, as the precursor to Canada was known back then. They created many geographically, politically and economically separate provinces, and displaced large numbers of indigenous people, many of whom died of European diseases for which they lacked immunity.

After a century of ruling Canada from Westminster, the authority of the British Parliament was eventually transferred to the independent Canadian Parliament under the British North America Act of 1867, signed on July 1. That date has since been celebrated annually as Canadas Independence Day.

Story continues

As part of that act, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec merged to become the Dominion of Canada, a confederation enjoying full self-government with the exception of international relations. (The 1923 Imperial Conference later affirmed that dominions had the right to pursue their own foreign policy autonomously from Britain and the Empire.)

The constitutional ties between the United Kingdom and Canada officially ended as late as 1982, with the passing of the Canada Act. Queen Elizabeth II stood on a wooden platform on Ottawas Parliament Hill and proclaimed Canada wholly independent, giving it the power at last to amend all of its own constitution, 115 years after it was granted self-rule.

Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter

Support in wartime

Canadians have a strong tradition of supporting Britain in war. In 1914, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Canadian Prime Minister, declared: It is our duty to let Great Britain know and to let the friends and foes of Great Britain know that there is in Canada but one mind and one heart and that all Canadians are behind the Mother Country.

And yet, the enormous sacrifices made by Canadians during World War I (close to 61,000 were killed) led to increased nationalist tendencies among citizens who felt that Canada should look out for Canadians first.

However, when the Second World War arrived, Canadians remained loyal and at times the country was Britains principal North Atlantic ally, as well as a major weapons and food source. Some 81 members of the Canadian military have been awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded to members of the British and Canadian Armed Forces.

A Commonwealth of Nations is born

As the British Empire began decolonizing, a Commonwealth of Nations was founded in 1931, made up of recently-independent countries that were formerly part of the empire. The five initial members were the U.K., Canada, Ireland, Newfoundland (which became part of Canada in 1949) and South Africa.

Today, the Commonwealth consists of 53 member states, constituting about 30% of the worlds population. It remains a voluntary association in the business of promoting democracy, good government, human rights, and economic development. South Africa was forced out in 1962 over apartheid and didnt rejoin until that policy was ended, in 1994.

Sharing a Royal Family

Despite Canada gaining parliamentary independence in 1867, at Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation in 1953, she became not just the British sovereign but also Queen of Canada (as well as Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa and other regions).

Even today, the British Queen remains an important (if largely symbolic) part of official Canadian protocol; new sessions in Canadian Parliament begin with a speech from the throne, those applying to become Canadian citizens swear their allegiance to the Queen and theres a national holiday on May 19th to celebrate the royals official birthday.

The Queen meets @JustinTrudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, for a private audience at Buckingham Palace pic.twitter.com/h5EFcU7oPB  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 25, 2015

However, support for the Royal Family in Canada is fading: a poll conducted in 2014 revealed that just under four in ten Canadians favor abolishing the monarchy in Canada after the current Queens death, and the upcoming visit by Prince William and Kate Middleton will see calls for the royals to acknowledge the harms done by the colonial system to indigenous populations in Canada.

But regardless of this flailing support and well founded criticism for the British Royals, theres already no doubt that the movements of William, Kate, George and Charlotte during their time in Canada will be of interest to thousands of citizens from the moment they touch down in Victoria Airport.
Heres what you need to know about the Terence Crutcher shooting and why its important

Heres what you need to know about the Terence Crutcher shooting and why its important

The police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black man in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter.

Terence Crutcher, 40, was shot dead by police officer, Betty Shelby, last Friday (September 16th) after his car stalled in the middle of the street. While initial police briefings claimed that Crutcher was being unresponsive with officers and had refused to put his hands up before leaning into his vehicle to reach for something, later video footage showed that he did indeed have his hands up and was obeying police instructions.

In the footage, Crutcher can be seen walking away from two police officers, Betty Shelby and Tyler Turnbough, with his hands raised before stopping at the door of his car. He then drops to the floor after being shocked by a stun gun and then fatally shot but Shelby.

Helicopter footage of the incident reveals someone saying, Time for a Taser. He then says, That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something.

It was reported by The Guardian that following the fatal shot officers left Crutcher on the ground bleeding for two minutes before responding. When quizzed about why no one offered assistance, a spokesperson for Tulsa police department, Jeanne MacKenzie, said that, I dont know that we have protocol on how to render aid to people.

Following the incident, police chief Chuck Jordan announced that no weapons were found on Crutchers person or in his vehicle.

"He looks like a bad dude." #TerenceCrutcher was just heading home from class. He should be alive today. pic.twitter.com/s9nXZdSwlf  Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 20, 2016

On Monday (September 19th), Crutchers sister,Tiffany Crutcher, requested that charges were brought towards offending officer, Betty Shelby.

Story continues

Watch the moving speech below.

While Officer Shelby was placed on paid leave, Tulsa Countys district attorney, Steve Kunzweiler, yesterday (September 22nd) stated that he had filed a first-degree manslaughter charge against her.

#Breaking: officer Betty Shelby charged with first-degree manslaughter of #TerenceCrutcher A photo posted by HOT 97 (@hot97) on Sep 22, 2016 at 2:02pm PDT

The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Crutcher are on the hearts and minds of many people in this community, Kunzweiler said before announcing the charges. Despite the heightened tensions felt by all  which seemingly beg for an emotional response and reaction  our community has consistently demonstrated a willingness to respect the judicial process.

Continuing, Kunzweiler expressed that he felt the charges were warranted.

In the matter of the death of Terence Crutcher, I determined that the filing of the felony crime of manslaughter in the first degree against Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby is warranted. Officer Shelby, although now charged, is presumed to be innocent until a judge or a jury determines otherwise, he said.

As The Guardian reports, a court filing by Doug Campbell, Kunzweilers chief investigator, by prosecutors declared that Shelby had acted unlawfully and unreasonably.

This isnt the first time that a police officer has been charged with manslaughter in Tulsa.

Last year, a 73-year-old reserve sheriff, Robert Bates, was charged with second-degree manslaughter after killing Eric Harris, an unarmed black man. At the time, Bates claimed that he mistook his taser for a firearm.

Even presidential hopeful, Donald Trump, a staunch opposer of the Black Lives Matter movement, and a supporter of police and the right to carry arms, said he was troubled by the incident.

.@realDonaldTrump "very troubled" by Tulsa police shooting: Did cop "get scared? Was she choking? What happened?" https://t.co/a7DMQjdUm8  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 21, 2016

Im very, very troubled. Im very, very troubled. And we have to be very we have to be very careful. So, these things are terrible. In my opinion, that was a terrible situation, he said. Did she get scared? Was she choking? What happened? But maybe people like that  people that choke  people that do that  maybe they cant be doing what theyre doing.

Whats good to see is that theres going to be a full criminal investigation into the killing of Crutcher. It is a step in the right direction.

Despite the high number of fatal shootings by police officers in America, very few result in murder or manslaughter charges being brought against officers. As Jody David Armour told the L.A. Times, its very hard to convict a police officer and jurors are often reluctant to convict.

Most notably, six Baltimore police officers were charged with the death of Freddy Gray, who died in April last year. Despite prosecutors maintaining that they had strong evidence against the officers, following a hung jury and a not-guilty verdict, all charges of manslaughter and second-degree murder were withdrawn.

So far this year, police in the United States of America have killed roughly 791 people, 194 of whom have been African American.

In comparison, in the same space of time police in the United Kingdom have killed two people. Last year, The Guardian introduced The Counted, a dedicated page that detailed that US police kill more in days than most countries do in years.

So what happens now?

Well, Betty Shelby was booked into the Tulsa County Jail this morning (September 23rd), before being released after posting a $50,000 bond. A date for trial is yet to be set. If convicted, she could face 4 years in prison.

The post Heres what you need to know about the Terence Crutcher shooting and why its important appeared first on HelloGiggles.
SEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - South Korea said cash withheld by Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd and support from its parent group should roughly meet funding needed for unloading cargo from vessels operated by the troubled container line.

In a statement prepared for a briefing on the collapse of the nation's biggest container mover, the government said the 60 billion won ($54 million) loan pledged by Korean Air Lines Co , the largest shareholder, and additional support promised by executives associated with the firm should cover the costs related to all offloading.

The nation's maritime ministry will work with shipowners and unions to help more than 1,200 crew members on vessels Hanjin is responsible for.

An estimated $14 billion of cargo was trapped on ships operated by Hanjin, which filed for receivership in August.

($1 = 1,102.1000 won) (Reporting by Cynthia Kim and Christine Kim; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
* Cash from top shareholder, executives should cover offload costs

* Govt to announce new shipping measures in Oct

* Singapore court approves discharge of cargo on seized vessel

* Crews on Hanjin ships complain of poor living conditions (Adds quotes from officials, detail on Singapore court approval, crew comments)

By Christine Kim and Cynthia Kim

SEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - South Korea's government said cash held by Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd and funds pledged by its parent group should meet the costs of unloading some $14 billion in cargo stranded on vessels operated by the troubled container line.

The collapse of South Korea's biggest shipping operator late last month has plunged the shipping industry into chaos ahead of the crucial year-end holiday shopping season as dozens of vessels and their crews wait for money needed to pay for port and handling fees.

The government said a 60 billion won ($54 million) loan pledged by Korean Air Lines Co, Hanjin's largest shareholder, and additional support promised by executives associated with the firm should cover the costs related to the offloading of all Hanjin ships.

"We've calculated the costs that will be needed to offload the cargo, and this can be covered roughly with the funds that have been pledged," Vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok told reporters on Friday.

South Korea will also announce new measures to bolster the shipping industry in October, which will include advice on how other shipping companies can avoid Hanjin's problems in the future.

Ninety percent of Hanjin's 97 container ships should have completed offloading by the end of October, the government said. Hanjin has begun returning leased ships to their owners, and some vessels have been sold.

On Friday, the Singapore high court approved the discharge of cargo controlled by five container shipping companies on the Hanjin Rome, one of the several seized ships owned or leased by Hanjin.

The Hanjin Rome was arrested in a dispute over unpaid rental payments totalling more than $2.4 million owed to German shipowner Rickmers Holding, court documents show.

Story continues

There are 24 crew members stuck on board the Hanjin Rome, 11 South Koreans and 13 Indonesians who are not allowed to use an port facilities, the ship's captain told Reuters.

Food supplies were limited and crew members must ration carefully, Moon Kwon-do added.

"To maintain water, we distribute water once a week on Wednesday for personal use such as laundry", he told Reuters.

South Korea's maritime ministry said it would work with shipowners and unions to help more than 1,200 crew members stranded on vessels Hanjin is responsible for.

Video footage provided by shipping unions broadcast on South Korean television this week showed some crews fishing for food and complaining of inadequate water supplies.

The video had been "edited to exaggerate" conditions on vessels, the maritime ministry said.

"Seafarers will be very anxious and their families at home will be concerned and distressed," said Ken Peters, Director of Justice and Public Affair at maritime welfare charity, The Mission to Seafarers.

"The Mission to Seafarers has now issued a global alert to all our 200 port welfare teams to be ready to assist Hanjin seafarers when they come into port."

($1 = 1,102.1000 won) (Additional reporting by Fathin Ungku, Jong Woo Cheon and Keith Wallis in Singapore; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will announce new measures to bolster the shipping industry in October, finance minister Yoo Il-ho said on Friday, urging the swift unloading of cargo trapped on Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd's <117030.KS> ships. Around 90 percent of Hanjin's container ships are expected to finish offloading cargo by the end of October, with vessels in close vicinity of Korea returning to ports here, Yoo said during a visit to a port in Busan to assess the Hanjin situation. "The government will provide help through related ministries and offshore offices while it will also ask the court to help allow Hanjin to use the funds necessary for cargo offloading and to pay offloading fees for ships returning to Korea as a priority," Yoo said. Some 35 vessels have offloaded cargo as of today, out of a total of 97 Hanjin owned and leased container ships, he added. (Reporting by Christine Kim and Cynthia Kim; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Kosovo citizen was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday for hacking the personal data of more than 1,000 U.S. military and government personnel and passing the information to Islamic State militants, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Ardit Ferizi, 20, who was also known as Th3Dir3ctorY, was arrested in Malaysia last year and extradited to the United States, where he pleaded guilty in a Virginia federal court in June.

"This case represents the first time we have seen the very real and dangerous national security cyber threat that results from the combination of terrorism and hacking, Assistant Attorney General Carlin said in a Justice Department statement.

Ferizi hacked the computer server of a U.S. online retailer last year and stole the personal and contact details of about 1,300 U.S. military personnel and federal officials, according to court documents.

He provided the list to British hacker Junaid Hussain, "a now-deceased ISIL recruiter and attack facilitator," the Justice Department said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

In August last year, the statement said, Hussain posted a tweet that contained the information about the military and government personnel and said: "We are in your emails and computer systems, watching and recording your every move, we have your names and addresses."

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
HASTINGS  A January trial has been scheduled for a former Hastings police detective accused of running a fraudulent fundraising site to enrich himself.

Jerry Esch, 46, pleaded not guilty Thursday to a felony charge of theft by deception. His trial is set to begin Jan. 9.

Investigators sais Esch set up a GoFundMe online page, raising more than $30,000 he had said was needed to cover medical expenses for cancer treatments not covered by his insurance provider. But Hastings officials told investigators that Esch's story didn't square with the city's insurance policy for police.

Esch had worked for the Hastings Police Department until February.
Kristen Stewart debuted a new look on the first day of fall.

The 26-year-old actress stepped out on Thursday night for the Chanel Dinner Celebrating N 5 L'Eau event in Hollywood, California, rocking a noticeably blonder hair color. Stewart -- who has modeled for Chanel -- paired her lighter, wet hairstyle with black high-waisted trousers and a crop top.

WATCH: Kristen Stewart on Where Robert Pattinson Romance Went Wrong -- 'Our Relationship Was Made Into a Product'

Hair color isn't the only change we've seen in Stewart. In a recent interview with Elle UK, the Twilight star was surprisingly candid about being head over heels for her girlfriend and former personal assistant, Alicia Cargile.

Getty Images

Getty Images

"I think also right now I'm just really in love with my girlfriend," Stewart said bluntly. "We've broken up a couple of times and gotten back together, and this time I was like, 'Finally, I can feel again.'"

EXCLUSIVE: Kristen Stewart Recalls First Love -- 'It's the Most Intense, Overwhelming Feeling'

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BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev arrived in Moscow on Friday to continue his treatment for suspected heart problems, his office said in a statement. Atambayev, 60, canceled a visit to the United Nations General Assembly this week after suffering chest pains during the first leg of his flight and had stayed in Turkey before flying to Russia. A cardiologist from a hospital servicing Atambayev's office has also arrived in Moscow, according to the statement. Atambayev, who has run the formerly Soviet Central Asian republic since 2011, had previously displayed no obvious signs of poor health. Kyrgyzstan, an impoverished, mostly Muslim nation of 6 million, has been politically volatile for more than a decade. Violent protests in 2005 and 2010 toppled two successive presidents. Atambayev has pledged to step down when his term ends in December 2017, but proposed constitutional reforms this year boosting the powers of the cabinet - led and dominated by his allies - at the expense of parliament. His Social Democratic party leads a coalition in parliament but does not have a majority. (Reporting by Olga Dzyubenko; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Paul Tait)
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) - Kyrgyzstan's President Almazbek Atambayev has been transferred to Russia for treatment after suffering suspected heart trouble, his office said Friday, several days after he was reported hospitalised in Turkey.

Atambayev arrived in Moscow and was admitted to the city's presidential hospital "on the recommendation of specialists", the statement from the presidential administration noted.

Atambayev, 60, was stopping off in Istanbul en route to the United Nations General Assembly in New York when he was hospitalised following complaints of "chest pains", officials said Monday.

Turkish news agencies showed dramatic footage of the Central Asian country's leader lying prone on a stretcher but his office later said his health was "satisfactory" in a statement.

Atambayev has taken time off since the health scare but released a statement Wednesday calling on MPs to pass a law to allow a referendum on controversial constitutional changes to take place in the near future.

Impoverished Kyrgyzstan is commonly viewed as the most democratic country in ex-Soviet Central Asia, an authoritarian former communist region that gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Atambayev -- viewed as a close ally of Russia -- was elected to power for a single six-year term in 2011 and is due to leave power next year.

But his political opponents, including predecessor Roza Otunbayeva, have raised concerns the changes are an attempt to "usurp power" in a country prone to political upheaval.
By Allison Lampert and Valerie Volcovici MONTREAL/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The world's first deal to curb pollution from commercial flights is expected after United Nations-led talks kick off next week in Montreal, although European lawmakers remain skeptical that it would be tough enough. The agreement, backed by the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates, aims to limit rising airline pollution to 2020 levels after it takes effect in 2021, but has been watered down by being made voluntary for the first five years. It only becomes mandatory from 2027 for the world's largest emitters, and would cost airlines less than 2 percent of industry revenue. Although they have the option of later opting out, 55 countries now say they will join the first phase of the deal under discussion at the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) assembly from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7. While the European Commission supports the deal, European lawmakers are torn between backing the diluted version, or imposing their own tougher emissions trading scheme on foreign carriers and risking a trade war with China and India. "We would like a very ambitious (deal)," said European Union Climate Action Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete in New York. "The proposal on the table is not as ambitious as we would like but if there are sufficient numbers of countries participating in the beginning, we can work on ambition." Airlines support a global agreement because a patchwork of national and regional deals would be more costly, with the European one sparking a trade row in 2012 when it was temporarily imposed on foreign carriers. "In order for the Parliament to be satisfied that aviation does not need to be brought back under the scope of the (European scheme), ICAO will need to address these concerns (about the deal not being effective) in the coming days," said Seb Dance, a member of the European Parliament's Socialists party, in Brussels on Friday. Commercial aircraft emit 11 percent of carbon emissions produced from transportation. But aviation was excluded from December's climate accord in Paris when countries agreed to limit the rise in global temperatures to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The ICAO deal would require airlines to limit their emissions or offset them by buying carbon credits from designated environmental projects around the world. By 2035, ICAO estimates the deal will cost airlines between $5.3 billion and $23.9 billion, depending on the future price of those projects. According to ICAO data, airlines would pay between $2,542 and $6,585 in 2030 to offset emissions from a flight between Dubai to Sydney aboard an A380, compared with $83,248 in jet fuel, based on oil prices this summer. While a simple majority of ICAO's 191 member countries could approve an agreement, the agency prefers to operate by consensus, with most states supporting a deal, said Annie Petsonk, international counsel for the green group Environmental Defense Fund. "What is at stake is the aviation sector's commitment to deal with its climate impact," Petsonk said. "It would be a very big precedent for other industries like shipping." (Additional reporting by Julia Fioretti in Brussels; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Bangkok (AFP) - The illegal trade in pangolins, helmeted hornbills and other wildlife products is thriving in Laos, a monitoring group said Friday, urging the Southeast Asian nation to crack down on a lucrative commerce largely fuelled by demand in neighbouring China.

The authoritarian country has long been top transit hub for the smuggling of wildlife products, with widespread corruption and weak law enforcement allowing the criminal activity to flourish.

Wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC said Friday that endangered species such as pangolins and helmeted hornbills were being openly sold in Laos and that law enforcement against the illegal trade remained threadbare.

"Lao PDR clearly needs to address these issues as a matter of urgency or risk becoming dubbed the wildlife smuggling capital of Asia," TRAFFIC's Southeast Asia senior programme officer Kanitha Krishnasamy said in a statement.

Elusive and scaly ant-eating pangolins are critically endangered and ranked as the most trafficked mammal on Earth with more than a million traded in the past decade, according to conservation groups.

They are sought after in China and other parts of Asia for their meat, skin and scales.

The meat is considered a delicacy while the skin and scales are used in traditional medicine and to make fashion items like boots and shoes.

TRAFFIC researchers said they found thousands of scales for sale in northern Laos during a survey earlier this year and that more than 5,600 pangolins linked to Laos have been seized between 2010 and 2015.

Many of those animals were smuggled in from Thailand and taken into China or Vietnam.

Products from the critically endangered helmeted hornbill are also widely available in Laos, according to TRAFFIC.

Many shops selling the precious animal parts were operated or staffed by ethnic Chinese employees and prices were often listed in yuan or dollars, the group said.

The statement comes after a mission by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to Laos in July which also raised alarm bells about illegal trade in rhinoceros horn, elephant ivory and other wildlife products.

It said no arrests or prosecutions over wildlife products have occurred since 2012, adding that there are "significant loopholes" in national laws.

The reports come ahead of a 12-day CITES meeting that opens Saturday in South Africa aimed at curbing the rampant wildlife trafficking threatening to drive some species to extinction.
By Sophie Sassard and Karolin Schaps

Reuters, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing is likely to face significant regulatory hurdles if he bids for a stake in National Grid's British gas networks, banking and industry sources said, because of similar assets he already owns.

Li's Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd is preparing a bid for a majority stake in National Grid's four gas distribution networks, whose overall value is up to 11 billion pounds ($14 billion), the Financial Times said.

But bankers and industry sources close to the deal strongly questioned CKI's ability to acquire these assets, because the conglomerate already owns stakes in two networks in the U.K. Gaining more control over gas distribution could damage competition, they said.

"Everyone has done a lot of work on this (competition issues) and as a result, we all know it would be incredibly difficult for CKI to buy more networks in the UK," said one of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because the matter is private.

There are eight main gas distribution networks (GDN) in Britain, covering different regions. National Grid Gas operates networks in East Midlands, West Midlands, northwest England and east England.

CKI became one of the major sector players by acquiring EDF's electricity distribution network in 2010 for 5.7 billion pounds. The group now controls gas distribution in North East England, including Yorkshire and northern Cumbria, as well as Wales and southwest England.

Another major player is SGN, which operates in Scotland and southern England. SGN shareholder SSE has also put up to a third of its 50 percent stake up for sale.

Li Ka-Shing entering the race would be good news for the National Grid as the seller as increased competition could lead to a higher price for what is excepted to be one of the largest infrastructure transaction in the UK this year.

So far, two consortia of investors are seen as the main contenders and are expected to submit non-binding bids ahead of a Friday deadline. One consortium is led by Australian fund Macquarie and includes German insurer Allianz, Dalmore Capital and China's CIC; the other is led by Canada's Pension Plan (CPPIB) and comprises sovereign wealth funds from Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

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The sale is expected to conclude in the first quarter of next year.

A way for the Hong Kong investor to overcome regulatory hurdles would have been to bid only for selected assets, but National Grid has made clear it wants to sell a majority stake of the business in one chunk, the sources said.

CKI, one of the country's largest investors with assets across mobile telecommunication, ports and power, is a well-known figure in the UK and would not face scrutiny from the government, the sources said.

"The politics would be OK but they is no way regulators would clear that deal," said another source involved in the deal and who's worked with Li Ka-Shing on UK deals in the past.

"We have stated in the past that we would advise government and merger authorities if we were concerned that a merger could reduce our ability to regulate effectively," said a spokesman for energy regulator Ofgem, which does not have any powers to intervene in the sale directly.

National Grid declined to comment. CKI did not immediately reply to a request for comment. ($1 = 0.7707 pounds) (Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
By Sophie Sassard and Karolin Schaps

Reuters (Reuters) - Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing is likely to face significant regulatory hurdles if he bids for a stake in National Grid's (NG.L) British gas networks, banking and industry sources said, because of similar assets he already owns.

Li's Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd is preparing a bid for a majority stake in National Grid's four gas distribution networks, whose overall value is up to 11 billion pounds, the Financial Times said.

But bankers and industry sources close to the deal strongly questioned CKI's ability to acquire these assets, because the conglomerate already owns stakes in two networks in the U.K. Gaining more control over gas distribution could damage competition, they said.

"Everyone has done a lot of work on this (competition issues) and as a result, we all know it would be incredibly difficult for CKI to buy more networks in the UK," said one of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because the matter is private.

There are eight main gas distribution networks (GDN) in Britain, covering different regions. National Grid Gas operates networks in East Midlands, West Midlands, northwest England and east England.

CKI became one of the major sector players by acquiring EDF's electricity distribution network in 2010 for 5.7 billion pounds. The group now controls gas distribution in North East England, including Yorkshire and northern Cumbria, as well as Wales and southwest England.

Another major player is SGN, which operates in Scotland and southern England. SGN shareholder SSE (SSE.L) has also put up to a third of its 50 percent stake up for sale.

Li Ka-Shing entering the race would be good news for the National Grid as the seller as increased competition could lead to a higher price for what is excepted to be one of the largest infrastructure transaction in the UK this year.

So far, two consortia of investors are seen as the main contenders and are expected to submit non-binding bids ahead of a Friday deadline. One consortium is led by Australian fund Macquarie and includes German insurer Allianz, Dalmore Capital and China's CIC; the other is led by Canada's Pension Plan (CPPIB) and comprises sovereign wealth funds from Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

Story continues

The sale is expected to conclude in the first quarter of next year.

A way for the Hong Kong investor to overcome regulatory hurdles would have been to bid only for selected assets, but National Grid has made clear it wants to sell a majority stake of the business in one chunk, the sources said.

CKI, one of the country's largest investors with assets across mobile telecommunication, ports and power, is a well-known figure in the UK and would not face scrutiny from the government, the sources said.

"The politics would be OK but they is no way regulators would clear that deal," said another source involved in the deal and who's worked with Li Ka-Shing on UK deals in the past.

"We have stated in the past that we would advise government and merger authorities if we were concerned that a merger could reduce our ability to regulate effectively," said a spokesman for energy regulator Ofgem, which does not have any powers to intervene in the sale directly.

National Grid declined to comment. CKI did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
By Aidan Lewis TUNIS (Reuters) - Less than a fortnight after forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar swept into four of Libya's oil ports, tankers are loading, production has jumped, and momentum has shifted firmly in the divisive former general's favor. For Haftar's opponents, and for Western powers, the move on the ports was alarming. Haftar and his backers in eastern Libya have been in a stand-off for months with a unity government in Tripoli, blocking any parliamentary vote to endorse it and challenging the U.N.-mediated deal to unify Libya. How Haftar and his allies will use control of the country's major oil exports  whether to leverage political advantage under that U.N. deal, or to extend military control across Libya  is still uncertain. But risks to stability are clear. "I think we have to regard [Haftar's] motives with a high degree of scepticism," said a senior Western diplomat. "I think there are significant risks to both the [unity government] and the whole political agreement if this is allowed to drift in the wrong direction." For now, the West may be forced to accept Haftar's move. After initially condemning the attack on the ports and calling on Haftar's forces to withdraw, the United States and European powers joined other countries on Thursday to "welcome the recent transfer of the oil facilities in the oil crescent to the National Oil Corporation (NOC) as well as the plans to increase oil production and exports". Some even see a chance for a breakthrough between loosely aligned pro- and anti-Haftar camps that have battled each other since 2014, setting up rival institutions in eastern and western Libya and deepening the turmoil that has plagued the country since late dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. After Haftar's forces swiftly handed operational control of the ports to the NOC, the NOC's early work to restore production has been only briefly disturbed by a counter attack that was repelled within the day. NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said he hoped the concession of control would lead to "a new phase of cooperation and coexistence" between factions that have shut down most of Libya's oil output as they competed for power. Haftar himself, whose stature has gradually risen as his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) has waged a long, bloody campaign in eastern Libya against Islamists and other opponents, has softened his tone. The move on the ports was aimed at "protecting national resources" and ending a blockade that was starving Libya of revenue and causing a financial crisis, he said in comments posted online by the LNA. Western powers can "rest assured that this operation is neither against reconciliation, nor does it have any political goals". Two weeks before the ports were seized, a Haftar ally suspended his boycott of the unity government's leadership, or Presidential Council, proposing a joint military council as a way of breaking a deadlock over the future leadership of the armed forces. The Council meanwhile is working to present a new list of ministers, as requested by Haftar's allies in the eastern parliament. The Council's leader, Prime Minister Fayez Seraj, has said he is ready to meet Haftar. Analysts and diplomats also say Haftar's forces are thinly stretched, still struggling to secure parts of the eastern city of Benghazi where they have continued to suffer heavy losses. The seizure of the ports was largely achieved through tribal negotiations and timing, the operation launched on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. GENERAL'S LONG HISTORY But none of this has reassured Haftar's opponents, who see the one-time Gaddafi ally, freshly promoted by the parliament based in the east to the rank of marshal from general, as a new military autocrat in the making. His history in Libyan politics worries critics. A one-time ally of Gaddafi, he fell out with the dictator when he was sent to lead a war in Chad, only to be captured and end up in exile in the United States. He spent decades living in Virginia. Haftar returned to help in the uprising against Gaddafi, then reappeared again in 2014 on television in uniform to present what he said was a plan to save the country. Later, he launched an operation against Islamist militants and others in Benghazi. He has gained support in the east, where he is seen by some as a savior. But he is far from fully supported there. In the west, particularly the port of Misrata, many Libyans despise him as a remnant of the old regime and a would-be strongman. Opponents now point to recent moves to extend control in the east by replacing mayors with military men and cracking down on dissent, and say they need to protect the revolution of 2011, if necessary with force. After taking the oil ports, Haftar's forces advanced to within 150 km (95 miles) of Sirte, where rival brigades from Misrata that are aligned with the unity government are nearing the end of a campaign to capture the city from Islamic State. Opponents fear Haftar allies in the west are laying the ground for a move on Tripoli. On Wednesday the Misratan head of a State Council, an advisory chamber that was set up in Tripoli under the U.N. deal, issued a statement condemning Haftar's oil port move and claiming to assume legislative power from the parliament in the east. The statement appealed to "all honorable people of Libya and its revolutionaries  to resist the military coup" by Haftar. It called on the unity government's defense minister, a Haftar rival, "to secure areas under its control, especially the capital, Tripoli, and respond firmly to any attempt to undermine security and stability". But with Misrata's own factions divided and the unity government still struggling to impose its authority on armed groups that control the capital, there may be little scope for them to push back. "I don't think the Presidential Council has many alternatives or much margin for maneuver," said a North African diplomatic source. "It seems to me that they are in a position where they have to move towards a negotiated, peaceful solution that brings an answer for a population that unfortunately has lost all its patience  If not, a counter action could just serve to make the opposing party even more popular." (Editing by Patrick Markey and Peter Graff)
LONDON (Reuters) - Libya's $67 billion (51.6 billion) sovereign wealth fund has recovered $73 million from the bankrupt Lehman Brothers and $53.8 million from Cornhill Capital after lengthy legal battles, the fund said in a statement.

The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) is involved in a number of disputes with Western firms, not least its $3.3 billion claims against investment banks Goldman Sachs and Societe Generale, which are being pursued in London courts.

The dispute with Lehman stems from the collapse of the Wall Street giant in 2008. The LIA invested at least $200 million in a Lehman structured product at a time when the country was still ruled by Muammar Gaddafi. After Lehman filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, the LIA attempted to recover as much as possible of its investment.

As part of the process of receiving funds back from the administrators, some $73 million has now been recovered, paid in instalments to an LIA account. Lehman's administrators attempt to make payouts to different tranches of Lehman creditors via applications to the courts.

The LIA has also recovered $53.8 million after a three-year battle with UK-based Cornhill Capital over an investment in the latter's Bermuda-domiciled Cornhill Natural Resources Fund.

In October 2013, the LIA tried to withdraw what remained from an initial investment of $100 million, a person with knowledge of the situation said.

However, Cornhill Capital delayed making a redemption on the grounds that to do so would violate international sanctions, the LIA said in a statement. The United Nations Security Council had imposed an asset freeze on the LIA in 2011 to prevent the country's wealth being spirited away after the fall of Gaddafi.

A substantial portion of the LIA's assets remain frozen, but the redemption proceeds from Cornhill have now been paid into a sanctioned account, the LIA said in the statement.

Cornhill Capital declined to comment.

The leadership of the LIA is contested by multiple individuals. One of these, AbdulMagid Breish, who was appointed LIA chairman in June 2013, said the decision in the Cornhill case was "an encouraging result".

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He added that the LIA would continue to press for greater recoveries from Lehman.

The LIA is awaiting a judgement in its case against Goldman Sachs, which ran for seven weeks in June and July.

The trial date for the lawsuit against Societe Generale was pushed back until April 2017 under a judge's ruling in July.

(Reporting by Claire Milhench; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Every weekend, Longform highlights its favorite international articles of the week. For daily picks of new and classic nonfiction, check out Longform or follow @longform on Twitter. Have an iPad? Download Longforms new app and read all of the latest in-depth stories from dozens of magazines, includingForeign Policy.

Barack Obama and Doris Kearns Goodwin: The Ultimate Exit Interview, Vanity Fair

As his two-term presidency draws to a close, Barack Obama is looking back  at the legacies of his predecessors, as well as his own  and forward, to the freedom of life after the White House. In a wide-ranging conversation with one of the nations foremost presidential historians, he talks about his ambitions, frustrations, and the decisions that still haunt him.

His presidency is winding down. A contentious election  fought largely over his record and legacy  is about to be decided. With that in mind, Barack Obama recently invited the presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to the White House for a long, personal, open-ended conversation. The meeting, arranged by Vanity Fair, took place in the presidents private dining room, just off the Oval Office.

Man V Rat: Could the Long War Soon Be Over? by Jordan Kisner, the Guardian

Rats spread disease, decimate crops and very occasionally eat people alive. For centuries, we have struggled to find an effective way of controlling their numbers. Until now

First, the myths. There are no super rats. Apart from a specific subtropical breed, they do not get much bigger than 20 inches long, including the tail. They are not blind, nor are they afraid of cats. They do not carry rabies. They do not, as was reported in 1969 regarding an island in Indonesia, fall from the sky. Their communities are not led by elusive, giant king rats. Rat skeletons cannot liquefy and reconstitute at will. (For some otherwise rational people, this is a genuine concern.) They are not indestructible, and there are not as many of them as we think. The one-rat-per-human in New York City estimate is pure fiction. Consider this the good news.

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In most other respects, the rat problem, as it has come to be known, is a perfect nightmare. Wherever humans go, rats follow, forming shadow cities under our metropolises and hollows beneath our farmlands. They thrive in our squalor, making homes of our sewers, abandoned alleys, and neglected parks. They poison food, bite babies, undermine buildings, spread disease, decimate crop yields, and very occasionally eat people alive. A male and female left to their own devices for one year  the average lifespan of a city rat  can beget 15,000 descendants.

Women of the CIA: The Hidden History of American Spycraft, by Abigail Jones, Newsweek

There are more women in the CIA than ever before, operating on every floor of its headquarters and across its far-flung global outposts. Yet they remain underrepresented in executive-level jobs and the clandestine service.

My first son was my 1993 World Trade Center bombing baby, says Gina Bennett, a veteran CIA analyst who has spent her career tracking down the perpetrators behind some of the worst international crises in recent memory. Bennett, a divorced mother of five, can match the birthdate of each child by the bad guys she was pursuing at the time. She calls her second son her Khobar Towers baby (born shortly after the 1996 bombing of a military housing complex in Saudi Arabia); her third child, a daughter, her African embassy bombing baby (she arrived a few weeks before the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania); and her fourth, another son, her 9/11 baby.

Bennett was in the early stages of her pregnancy during that attack, and despite all of her morning sickness, most people didnt know I was pregnant, she says. Her fifth child, a girl, was her Fallujah baby.

How Washington Blew Its Best Chance to Fix Immigration, by Alec MacGillis, ProPublica

Three years ago, the Republican-led House was close to reaching a compromise on immigration. This is the inside story of what went wrong.

In June, not long after Donald Trump attacked an Indiana-born judge because he was Mexican, I went to go see Representative Raul Labrador in the Longworth Office Building on Capitol Hill. Labrador, an Idaho Republican, cuts an unusual profile in Washington. Born in Puerto Rico, he was raised Mormon by a single mother in Las Vegas and now, as he told me, represents one of the most conservative districts in the United States, one of the whitest districts in the United States. Labrador came to Congress as part of the Tea Party wave of 2010 and later helped found the Freedom Caucus, the Houses conservative vanguard. He was also a pivotal member of a bipartisan group of eight House members who, in early 2013, came together in hopes of producing comprehensive legislation to fix the nations immigration system.

First Helmand, Then Afghanistan, by Sune Engel Rasmussen, with photographs by Andrew Quilty, Foreign Policy

A trip through the countrys beleaguered south reveals demoralized soldiers, corrupt local officials, and sweeping Taliban gains in previously peaceful towns. How did Obamas good war go so wrong?

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan  Abdul Hakim seems to have just vanished. The 15-year-old boy left his madrasa across the Pakistani border to visit relatives in Afghanistan. But since crossing into Helmand province on his way to meet his parents in Bolan, a suburb of bustling shops outside the provincial capital, nobody has heard from him.

The list of evils that could have befallen Abdul Hakim on his way home is long. In late July, the Taliban launched a series of attacks in Helmand and have since gobbled up territory across Afghanistans beleaguered southern province. Districts that for years were safe have now been seized by militants or are being ravaged in front-line fighting. Roaring airplanes, Afghan and American, drop bombs almost every night, causing casualties that are rarely publicized.

There is no security. Our children are being killed, says Habibullah, an elder from Abdul Hakims family.

Photo credits: AFP/Getty Images; CHIP SOMODEVILLA/Getty Images; AFP/Getty Images; MARK WILSON/Getty Images; JUSTIN SULLIVAN/Getty Images; ANDREW QUILTY/Foreign Policy
Holiday weight gain isn't unique to the United States: A new analysis finds that people in Germany and Japan also pack on pounds during festive seasons.

But unlike Americans, who gain a lot of weight during Thanksgiving, people in other countries put on pounds at other "celebratory" times of the year, according to the study.

In the study, which was published today (Sept. 21) in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers gave wireless digital scales to nearly 3,000 participants in Germany, Japan and the United States. [11 Surprising Things That Can Make Us Gain Weight]

Over 12 months starting on Aug. 1, 2012, the people in the study weighed themselves each day. At the end of the study period, the researchers used the scale data to calculate how each participant's weight changed over the course of the year, compared to their starting weights.

People in all three countries gained weight, on average, around Christmas, according to the study. Specifically, people's weight went up in the 10 days after Christmas compared to the 10 days before Christmas, the researchers found.

People's average weights also increased around national holidays in their countries. In Japan, for example, there was an increase in weight during a holiday period called Golden Week, which takes place around the beginning of May.

In addition, Germans saw a sharp uptick in weight around Easter, and Americans around Thanksgiving, the researchers found.

But the largest gains were over the Christmas-New Year holiday season, according to the study. During this time, the Germans in the study gained an average of 1.8 lbs. (0.8 kilograms); the Americans gained an average of 1.3 lbs. (0.6 kg); and the Japanese gained an average of 1.1 lbs. (0.5 kg).

The investigators, led by Elina Helander, a personal health informatics researcher at Tampere University of Technology in Finland, noted that shortly after the holidays, people shed about half of their holiday weight gain; however, the other half appears to remain until the summer or beyond.

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To help people avoid gaining weight during this time of year, one approach is to advise patients to have better self-control over the holidays, the researchers wrote. "The less one gains, the less one then has to worry about trying to lose it," they wrote.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian toddler who went missing in the Siberian taiga was found three days later, alive and healthy, Russian media and the emergencies ministry reported. Three-year-old Tserin disappeared from his home in a remote village in Tyva in southern Siberia last weekend. Left unattended, he had chased after his dogs, who led him into the taiga - a forest between the tundra and the steppes populated by wild animals ranging from bears and wolves to lynx and foxes. Three days of searches by more than 100 police and rescue workers, sniffer dogs and a helicopter yielded no result. Eventually, the boy heard his uncle calling and replied. He was just a few kilometers from his house. The first thing the little boy asked for was his toy car, a rescue worker said, according to local media. Tserin probably survived because he didn't panic, a local emergency worker was quoted as saying. The first thing he did after he got lost was finish some chocolate in one of his pockets. Then he laid down in a dry spot under a larch tree and fell asleep. Quite predictably, he has already been nicknamed Mowgli. (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov, editing by Larry King)
"The world is ready for a bulletproof black man."

The words that Luke Cage executive producer Cheo Coker said during the Netflix series' Comic-Con panel this past summer ring all the more true months later, as more and more reports of unarmed black citizens being shot by police surface. Although Coker admits to The Hollywood Reporter that he first began developing Netflix's third Marvel show about an indestructible black superhero long before this disturbing issue became a national epidemic, he is still all the more proud to be able to give a voice to those who may be afraid to stand up in protest of these injustices.

"The show is really about what happens when, in this world where people are afraid to speak out because if you look at what's happening in real life in any community of color that are facing these issues, when you have people that break the law and the whole thing of not snitching which is true of any community that deals with this, how does that change when you introduce a bulletproof element?" Coker says. "How do both police enforcement and criminal enforcement change when you introduce a character who can't be swayed by normal means? How does that affect everything and what is the ripple effect of that?"

And that's why Luke Cage is must-see TV, even for those who haven't read the comic books, or even for those who haven't tuned in to watch Netflix's first two Marvel shows, Daredevil (seasons one and two) and Jessica Jones. Although Netflix is creating their own shared Marvel Universe on TV with connected stories and characters crossing over between all the series, Luke Cage stands out on its own and can be viewed without watching the previous Netflix series.

To make that a more digestible possibility, The Hollywood Reporter rounded up everything you need to know before streaming Luke Cage so you don't have to consult the comic books or spend roughly 40 hours binge-watching the other Marvel series.

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Read more: Alfre Woodard Gets Political in 'Luke Cage' Poster (Exclusive)

Who is Luke Cage?

Luke (Mike Colter) first appeared in the first season of Jessica Jones. Introduced as merely a love interest for Jessica (Krysten Ritter), the super-strong and indestructible Luke is the owner of eponymous bar Luke's. One night he sees Jessica looking through the window of the bar and invites her in. Although the two are both cagey about their pasts, they end up sleeping together that same night. Since Luke has superhuman strength, he worries about hurting Jessica, but she tells him she's fine.

After getting questioned by the police (which Luke always tries to avoid by keeping himself out of trouble) about Jessica, Luke confronts her and find out she had been hired as a private investigator by the jealous husband of a woman he had slept with. That husband then comes to his bar later that night with a group of friends and tries to attack Luke, and Jessica intervenes, believing that he needs her help. During the (really unfair) fight, they both realize that the other has superhuman strength, and Jessica sees a blade shatter against Luke's neck. Afterwards, they continue to test each other's strength sexually, excited to find another enhanced human out in the world.

Jessica later finds a photo of Luke's late wife, Reva Connors (Parisa Fitz-Henley), in his medicine cabinet, and he tells her she died in a bus crash years ago, but Jessica gets upset and leaves. She comes back to his bar the next day, and they sleep together again. Afterwards, they discuss the case that Luke had been questioned about by the police, and Jessica confesses that she's investigating another enhanced human, a man with mind-control powers. But then she breaks things off with him, claiming he has already suffered enough because of her. Luke assumes she can't deal with his dead wife, and so he lets her go.

While investigating his wife's death, Luke hires Jessica to help find someone who has information about it. Luke also finds out from someone else that Jessica has spent months under the influence of a man named Kilgrave (David Tennant), the same enhanced human Jessica had told him about. After learning she had been continuously raped and psychologically tortured, Luke confronts Jessica and apologizes. They then find the person Luke is looking for, and he learns that the bus driver who hit his wife was drunk during the accident buts is nonetheless still working as a bus driver.

Read more: Could Netflix's 'Luke Cage' Deliver a Misty Knight Spinoff Series?

Furious, Luke tracks down the driver and angrily throws him through the windshield of a bus. Jessica shows up to stop him, and as Luke is about to kill the driver she confesses she was the one who killed his wife. Kilgrave had forced her to. Luke tries to confront Jessica the next day, but instead finds Kilgrave. He tries to kill the man who ordered his wife's death, but Kilgrave uses his mind-control powers to stop Luke and instead gets answers about why he's being attacked by a stranger.

While under Kilgrave's control, Luke learns that his wife had actually discovered the origins of Kilgrave's power and obtained video footage of him as a child being experimented on by his own parents, and that's why he had her killed. When Kilgrave learns that Luke and Jessica have been in a relationship, he grows jealous and orders Luke to blow up his bar while inside of it. Since he's indestructible, he survives the explosion, and Jessica helps him escape. She tells him to move away, open a new bar and forget all about her now that Kilgrave knows who he is, but he tells her that he needs to help her stop Kilgrave for what he did to both of them and his wife. However, unbeknownst to Jessica, Luke is still under Kilgrave's control. He follows orders to tell Jessica that he gorgives her for killing his wife, and the two keep searching for Kilgrave.

They track Kilgrave to an empty venue, onstage, calling for Jessica. That's when Kilgrave gleefully tells Jessica that Luke is still under his control, and he makes the two fight in front of him. During the fight, Luke tells Jessica the truth: He could never forgive her for killing his wife. During the fight, Luke knocks out two police officers before Jessica can knock him out with a shotgun blast to his chin. She takes him to the hospital where Daredevil doctor Claire Temple (Rosario Dawson) agrees to help him while protecting his secret.

While Jessica deals with and eventually kills Kilgrave, Claire waits by Luke's side until he wakes up. She informs him that Jessica is being arrested for Kilgrave's murder. Although Luke wants to turn himself in, Claire tells him that would only result in his own arrest. He disappears when she goes to get him a glass of water. And that's where Luke's story will pick up in Luke Cage.

Read more: Comic-Con: Marvel's 'Luke Cage' Debuts First Official Trailer

Jessica Jones ends, Luke Cage begins

Now it's time to get to know the man behind the strength and bulletproof skin. Luke Cage will delve into who Luke is as a man, his values, his past (including how he became a convict) and his potential to become a hero to his community in his own right. But it will also explore the question of what it means to become a hero, and if he has an obligation to become one for Harlem or if he has a right to keep his head down and live his life for himself.

The show will pick up months after Jessica Jones ends, with Luke finding himself up against political corruption and the criminal underworld in Harlem as well as "his own demons." The drama also stars Mahershala Ali as crime boss Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes, Alfre Woodard as his politician cousin Mariah Dillard, Simone Missick as Harlem police Det. Misty Knight, Frank Whaley as Misty's partner Scarfe, and Theo Rossi as "Shades" Alvarez, a smart and manipulative criminal with ties to Luke's past.

Read more: 'Luke Cage's' Mike Colter: "I Hope the Black Community Can Feel Good About It"

Luke's comic book history

So where does Luke come from in the comics? Also known as Power Man, the character was first introduced in 1972's Luke Cage, Hero for Hire No. 1. Created by Archie Goodwin, John Romita Sr. and George Tuska, Luke was strongly inspired by the Blaxpoitation film trend of the '70s. While Luke wasn't the first black superhero published in comic books (that honor goes to Black Panther), he was the first one of his kind: a street-level hero who showed that superheroes can also be flawed, suffering from the same human issues as those without powers. He also paved the way for more relatable black comic book characters to come onto the scene, like Misty Knight and Storm, the first two black female superheroes.

When the Blaxpoitation trend faded, Luke was then paired up with Marvel character (and Netflix's next major series star) Iron Fist (although the martial arts trend that influenced that character's creator was also fading). In an effort to keep Luke Cage from cancellation, the character was moved away from his Blaxpoitation roots by saying his catchphrase "Sweet Christmas" less, expanding his vocabulary and having the character destroy his own superhero costume for an upgraded version.

In the comics, Luke Cage's real name is Carl Lucas and he spents his youth running with a gang. He dreams of becoming a crime boss when he's older until he realizes how much his crimes were hurting his family. He goes legitimate, but his continued friendship with Willis Stryker drags him down. When Willis' girlfriend, Reva Connors, breaks up with him, he believes Carl is to blame and plants heroin in his apartment, leading Carl to get arrested and sent to prison. Sentenced to Seagate Prison in Georgia, Carl becomes a target for a sadistic guard.

When Carl is recruited for an experimental program by a doctor in the prison, the guard sabotages the experiment, hoping to kill Carl in the process. Instead, Carl becomes super-strong and indestructible. He escapes prison and returns to his hometown of Harlem to use his newfound powers for financial gain. He adopts the name Luke Cage and goes up against his former friend Willis who has become a crime boss named Diamondback.

In addition to Iron Fist, Luke has also worked with other superheroes like Black Panther, the Defenders team-up, the Thunderbolts, the Avengers, and even Jessica Jones, with whom he has a daughter.

Luke Cage season one begins streaming on Friday, Sept. 30, on Netflix.
Hollywood has a long history of films set on the continent of Africa  yet the overwhelming majority of have been told through the perspective of a white character. The African Queen, Out of Africa, Gorillas in the Mist, Blood Diamond, Tarzan, The Last King of Scotland, we could go on and on.

We are exhausted by it, Lupita Nyongo told Yahoo Movies (watch above) at the Toronto press day for her new drama, Queen of Katwe. As Africans, its exhausting to see stories told with you in the background.

Its part of the reason Nyongo (12 Years a Slave, The Force Awakens) and co-star David Oyelowo (Selma) were excited about the Disney-released Katwe, which tells the inspiring and riveting true-life tale of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi (Madina Nalwanga). Finally this film comes along with a major studio, and we are front and center, Nyongo said.

Related: From La La Land to Katwe, the Best of the Toronto International Film Festival

The English-born Oyelowo, who also plays African prince Seretse Khama in another Toronto premiere, United Kingdom, said that they were in a state of shock that a film with almost an entirely black cast was green-lighted by a major studio like Disney. You cannot but hope its the start of a sea-change, he said. Its something Ive wanted to see for a while as a person of African descent.

Katwe was directed by Indian filmmaker Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake), who has lived in Uganda for 20 years and was specifically approached by Disney with the project.

I would argue that if a white guy had directed this film, the whole story would get transposed to Idaho, Oyelowo said.

History says hes right, but the future looks more promising.

Queen of Katwe is in select theaters now and opens everywhere Sept. 30. Watch the trailer:
Summertime for teens sometimes is staying up late and getting up after noon. It can be seeking extra hours of work to save for their futures. Some young people will take summer school to get ahead with their credits.

But for two students from Lincolns Career Academy upped their game by traveling across the country to be the first Nebraskan teens to attend the prestigious Econ for Leaders Camps. Gau Ayaj, from the Engineering Pathway and Kessa Rogers, from the Health Sciences-Certified Nursing Assistant Pathway were selected from international applications with essays to get the chance to spend a week at major colleges, get to experience lectures in economic issues, participate in economic simulations, and learn leadership skills from corporate experts in team building.

Kessa Rogers just returned from the University of Floridas session where with thirty teens she had the chance to experience college life in the dormitories, classrooms, and learn more about herself, her skills, abilities, and how to connect people together to work for a common goal.

Gau Ayaj in June boarded a plane to go to UCLA where he was amazed at the world beyond Lincoln. He stepped outside of his comfort zone to realize abilities he didnt know that he had and that he had been taught good study skills at TCA that showed him that he has the abilities to understand and participate in college lectures. The activities has made him think about new opportunities for his future.

Since returning to Lincoln, both have commented that their families find that they grew up when they were away. They are anxious to bring the leadership skills they attained to students at their school to create more interactions between pathways at The Career Academy. They feel more prepared for college and new people, places, and opportunities that are going to be happening as they enter their senior year of high school.

Gaus family members are from Egypt and Sudan. He came to this country with his family when he was 4. Kessa is going to be a first generation college student.
Parent with Child on Shoulders

Becoming a new parent is a huge undertaking, and the situation becomes infinitely more challenging for parents who are forced to take unpaid family leave.

What's perhaps most frustrating is how often the world ignores research illustrating how beneficial paid parental leave can be not just for parents but also for children, society, and companies.

Some companies are taking note, including Netflix, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Etsy, which offer generous paid parental-leave policies.

But while extended paid leave for new parents is a hot trend for major companies, most people don't work in these companies or at the executive level, and only about 21% of American companies offer paid maternity leave, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, qualifying American parents are guaranteed 12 weeks of family leave to care for a new child.

While the law requires companies with 50 or more employees to provide new parents with 12 weeks of leave, it doesn't require this leave to be paid. In fact, the US is one of just two countries that doesn't ensure any paid time off for new moms, according to a report from the International Labor Organization. The other: Papua New Guinea.

The US's unpaid family leave is also restricted to full-time employees who have been with the company for more than a year, which, applies to only about 60% of workers in the US.

As a new study from the Center for American Progress illustrates, the lack of support for new parents in the US is costing families significantly.

According to the progressive research organization's most recent analysis, working families in the US lose out on $20.6 billion a year in potential wages because of a lack of access to paid family and medical leave. This is in addition to the $8.3 billion a year in lost wages stemming from a lack of access to affordable childcare.

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The report says the lost wages "occur when individuals are forced to take unpaid leave, quit working, or reduce their work hours because they cannot access childcare or paid leave." The lost wages are not just harming American families  they also take money away from local communities and the businesses that rely on consumer spending, the report says.

The US Department of Agriculture finds that new parents spend, on average, about $70 a month for baby clothes and diapers and more than $120 a month on baby food and formula. And big-ticket items like furniture and medical expenses add up quickly. Without the guarantee of paid leave while caring for a child, many new parents are faced with the choice between economic hardship and returning to work prematurely.

Pampers diapers, a product distributed by Procter & Gamble, is pictured on sale at a Ralphs grocery store in Pasadena, California January 21, 2014. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

According to a 2012 report from the US Department of Labor on family and medical leave, about 15% of people who were not paid or who received partial pay while on leave turned to public assistance for help. About 60% of workers who took this leave reported it was difficult making ends meet, and almost half reported they would have taken longer leave if more pay had been available.

"Support for motherhood shouldn't be a matter of luck; it should be a matter of course," YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki wrote in an op-ed article for The Wall Street Journal. "Paid maternity leave is good for mothers, families, and business. America should have the good sense to join nearly every other country in providing it."

Wojcicki said the rate at which new moms left Google fell by 50% when in 2007 the company increased paid maternity leave to 18 weeks from 12 weeks. "Mothers were able to take the time they needed to bond with their babies and return to their jobs feeling confident and ready," she wrote. "And it's much better for Google's bottom line  to avoid costly turnover, and to retain the valued expertise, skills, and perspective of our employees who are mothers."

Andrew Bosworth, Facebook's vice president of the 600-person ads and pages team who welcomed his son Archer Americus in November 2014, previously told Business Insider that people often feared being away and losing traction, but in his experience the opposite effect happened after returning from parental leave.

"I'm probably doing better work in less time," he says. "I hear that repeated often among my peers and among my reports, which is nice. And I think there's some value there that's hard to capture."

In 2004, California became the first state to implement a paid-family-leave policy that enables most Californians to receive 55% of their usual salary (up to $1,104 a week) for a maximum of six weeks.

Since then, New Jersey and Rhode Island have actualized similar programs. The law enacting New York's family-leave program will be phased in come January 2018.

mom working from home

According to a report from the President's Council of Economic Advisers, more than 90% of employers affected by California's paid family-leave initiative reported either positive or no noticeable effect on profitability, turnover, and morale.

Another study, from the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University, found that women who had taken advantage of New Jersey's paid-family-leave policy were far more likely than mothers who hadn't to be working nine to 12 months after the birth of their child.

The study also found these women to be 39% less likely to receive public assistance and 40% less likely to receive food stamps in the year after a child's birth compared with those who didn't take any leave.

A study of European leave policies by the University of North Carolina found that paid-leave programs could substantially reduce infant mortality rates and better a child's overall health.

And research out of The Institute for the Study of Labor in Bonn, Germany, indicates higher education, IQ, and income levels in adulthood for children of mothers who used maternity leave  the biggest effect comes for children from lower-educated households. The researchers cited this as a significant discussion for policymakers to have, as it could reduce the existing gap in education and income in the US.

newborn baby

There's plenty of evidence that supports the effectiveness of paid paternity leave, too.

A study by Boston College's Center for Work & Family found that 86% of men surveyed said they wouldn't use paternity leave or parental leave unless they were paid at least 70% of their normal salaries.

But research out of Israel shows the more leave men take to care for children when they're young, the more the fathers undergo changes in the brain that make them better suited to parenting. And a study by two Columbia University Social Work professors found that fathers who take two or more weeks off after their child is born are more involved in their child's care nine months later. Simply put, paid paternity leave can help foster better father-child relationships.

And the more leave fathers take, the more mothers' incomes increase. In Sweden, where fathers must take at least two months off before the child is 8 years old to receive the government benefits, researchers saw mothers' incomes increase almost 7% for every month of paternity leave their husbands took.

As President Barack Obama said during one of his weekly addresses in 2014: "Family leave, childcare, flexibility  these aren't frills. They're basic needs. They shouldn't be bonuses  they should be the bottom line."

NOW WATCH: Ivanka Trump says working women are punished for having kids, and her father has a plan to fix it





More From Business Insider


By John Irish UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita warned the United Nations on Friday that the failure to fully implement a nationwide peace accord was helping al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated groups spread their influence in the country. U.N. peacekeepers are deployed across northern Mali to try to stabilize the vast region, which was occupied by separatist Tuareg rebels and al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants in 2012 before France intervened in 2013. Tit-for-tat violence between rival armed groups has distracted Mali from fighting Islamist militants and the country has become the deadliest place for U.N. peacekeepers to serve. "We have to admit that several factors are contradicting our will and effort," Keita told a high-level meeting on Mali at the annual United Nations General Assembly. "In particular the extension of terrorism and banditry in the center of our country which is even putting into question the stability and security of neighboring countries because of the desire of terrorist groups affiliated to al-Qaeda and Islamic State seeking to expand." Keita said Islamist militants were using the slow implementation of peace accords to "manipulate" and "destroy" links between different ethnic groups in Mali. A clash in the north this week between pro-government Gatia militia and the Tuareg separatist Coordination of Azawad Movements highlighted the fragility of a U.N.-backed deal signed last year between the government and northern armed groups meant to end a cycle of uprisings. "We must redouble our efforts," Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, whose country leads mediation efforts in Mali, told the meeting. "It's terrible that signatories of the accord are involved in the fratricidal killings." French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, whose country has thousands of troops spread across West Africa to hunt down militants, said the security situation was "in general satisfying despite asymmetric attacks." On Thursday the international mediation team, which includes the U.N., European Union, African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS said it believed the situation could not continue without compromising the agreement. It threatened international sanctions on those responsible for blocking the deal's implementation. (Reporting By John Irish; editing by Grant McCool)
Suzy Campbell, a long-time Lincoln community volunteer championing the needs of family caregivers, has received AARP Nebraskas highest volunteer award. She is the 15th volunteer to receive the AARP Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service, presented annually since 2002.

Campbells charity, Lincoln Community Foundation, is a big winner, too. 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.

In addition, Lincoln Community Foundation matched the $2,500, resulting in $5,000 being placed in the Caregiver Relief Fund, administered by the Lincoln Community Foundation.

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.

In 2007, Campbell was 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.

Founded group

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.

New state law

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.

The AARP Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service was presented Sept. 16.
By John Irish UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita warned the United Nations on Friday that the failure to fully implement a nationwide peace accord was helping al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated groups spread their influence in the country. U.N. peacekeepers are deployed across northern Mali to try to stabilize the vast region, which was occupied by separatist Tuareg rebels and al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants in 2012 before France intervened in 2013. Tit-for-tat violence between rival armed groups has distracted Mali from fighting Islamist militants and the country has become the deadliest place for U.N. peacekeepers to serve. "We have to admit that several factors are contradicting our will and effort," Keita told a high-level meeting on Mali at the annual United Nations General Assembly. "In particular the extension of terrorism and banditry in the centre of our country which is even putting into question the stability and security of neighbouring countries because of the desire of terrorist groups affiliated to al-Qaeda and Islamic State seeking to expand." Keita said Islamist militants were using the slow implementation of peace accords to "manipulate" and "destroy" links between different ethnic groups in Mali. A clash in the north this week between pro-government Gatia militia and the Tuareg separatist Coordination of Azawad Movements highlighted the fragility of a U.N.-backed deal signed last year between the government and northern armed groups meant to end a cycle of uprisings. "We must redouble our efforts," Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, whose country leads mediation efforts in Mali, told the meeting. "It's terrible that signatories of the accord are involved in the fratricidal killings." French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, whose country has thousands of troops spread across West Africa to hunt down militants, said the security situation was "in general satisfying despite asymmetric attacks." On Thursday the international mediation team, which includes the U.N., European Union, African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS said it believed the situation could not continue without compromising the agreement. It threatened international sanctions on those responsible for blocking the deal's implementation. (Reporting By John Irish; editing by Grant McCool)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Malian President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita told the United Nations on Friday that "extremist and terrorist" groups were growing in his war-torn country where increased clashes were slowing peace efforts.

"Tangible progress has been achieved" since peace accords were signed in 2015, Keita told the opening of an international meeting on Mali on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

But the "growth of terrorist acts and banditry" in the center of the country" and "the growth of extremist and terrorist groups" affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group are undermining peace efforts, he said.

The president also spoke about increased trafficking in weapons, drugs and migrants and "clashes between signatory members of the accord."

Clashes between Malian armed groups in defiance of the peace deal killed at least a dozen people on September 16 in the restive Kidal region of northern Mali, sources on both sides of the violence have said.

"All these factors create a harmful environment," Keita said, despite stressing his commitment to the peace accord.

The country will convene a national conference of understanding later this year to "bring about a common vision," he told the meeting.

"It is vital, essential to accelerate implementation of the agreement," said French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, hailing the progress made since 2013.

Northern Mali fell into the hands of jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda in early 2012.

A French military intervention in 2013 drove Islamist fighters away from major urban centers.

But despite the 2015 deal aimed at ending years of fighting in the north and turning the page on the Islamist takeover, large tracts of the sub-Saharan country are still not controlled by Malian troops.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f220966%2fgoatman

LONDON  Remember that guy that decided being a human is overrated and created special prostheses that allowed him to live among mountain goats in the Alps for three days?

Absolute legend, right?

Well, this hero is finally receiving the acclaim that he deserves.

SEE ALSO: The special friendship between goats and rhinos will give you squad goals

In September 2014, UK-based designer Thomas Thwaites decided to forego his bipedal existence in order to fully immerse himself in both the cognitive and physical aspects of a goat's life. He has written about his experiences in a novel: GoatMan: How I took a Holiday from Being Human.

Image: tim Bowditch

In recognition of his accomplishments, Thwaites was jointly awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in biology along with naturalist and fellow Briton Charles Foster to recognize both mens' work living among members of the animal kingdom.

Thwaites told Mashable, "Its an honour, genuinely, to get an Ig Nobel.

Image: tim bowditch

The Ig Nobel Prizes are a spoof awards institution housed at Harvard University in the U.S., and they "honor achievements that makes people laugh, and then think".

Image: tim bowditch

Other 2016 Ig Nobel laureates include characters that have made similarly wonky contributions to science:

The late Ahmed Shafik of Egypt won the reproduction prize for his work to understand the effects of wearing polyester, cotton, or wool trousers on the sex life of rats.

The peace prize was awarded to a group of U.S. and Canadian scholars who conducted a study entitled: "On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bullshit".

Swede Fredrik Sjoberg took home the literature prize for his three-volume autobiographical work about the pleasures of collecting flies that are dead, and flies that are not yet dead.

You can read the full list of this year's winners and past recipients here.
A man identified as Canadian actor Richard Hong was found murdered early Friday morning at the Hollywood Hills home of former CNN host and Canadian TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos.

Los Angeles Police Department media spokesman Drake Madison told Variety that a Hollywood-area officer responded to a burglary call at 2:17 a.m. in the 6700 block of Milner Road. He found a male, apparently victim of a homicide, at the scene. Madison said witnesses saw a black man  described as thin, 58, sporting short hair, and wearing a dark jacket  fleeing west on Milner Road, south on Las Palmas Avenue. The crime occurred in Whitley Heights near Franklin and Highland avenues.

Stroumboulopoulos tweeted on Friday afternoon that he was in New York City when the crime occurred at his rental home, and that 41-year old Hong was a dear friend of his.

Many of you have seen the reports of a homicide which occurred early this morning in the home I rent in Los Angeles, he wrote. I only have a few details but it seems like it was the result of a break in. The victim was a dear friend of mine, who was staying at my place while I was away. I am heartbroken.

I am writing this on a plane en route to Los Angeles from New York, so I can be with my friends there, who are also devastated, he added. Theres so much to say but Im at a loss for words so just love your people and I will have more to say when we know more about what happened.

TV and radio personality Stroumboulopoulos is best known as a former VJ for the Canadian music TV channel MuchMusic and host of the CBC Television show George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight. He also hosted a short-lived, hour-long CNN talk series called Stroumboulopoulos in 2013.

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A Minneapolis police officers body camera caught a water rescue in the early hours of Thursday, September 22, after heavy rain fell in the area. A man was overcome by the rain-swollen Mississippi River near the I-35 bridge while exploring a storm drain that empties into the river, according to local reports. The man, in his early 20s, was holding onto a rope when first responders arrived.

Multiple inches of rain fell in the Minneapolis area over several days, triggering flash flooding that closed roads. The rain caused a manhole to explode. Credit: YouTube/Minneapolis Police Department
As chaos breaks out in North Carolina, one man is spreading peace by offering free hugs.

Read: TV Hosts Like Whoopi Goldberg and Presidential Candidates Rip New Wave of Police Shootings of Black Men

Following the fatal police shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, protesters flooded the streets of Charlotte wielding signs that read "Black Lives Matter," and chanting phrases like "Stop killing us."

The tension was heightened between protesters and police officers wearing riot gear, but Ken Nwadike Jr., founder of the Free Hugs Project, decided to try to mediate between the two sides.

Warning: Graphic content

"Just because he's wearing a uniform, doesn't mean he doesn't feel the pains our people feel," Nwadike told the protestors about a black officer in riot gear.

As he reaches out to hug and greet different officers, derogatory slurs were yelled to him from among the protestors.

"It's not like that, it's about staying neutral," Nwadike can be heard in his video posted to Free Hugs Project Facebook page. "We're all human. Just because they're wearing a uniform doesn't make him a robot. Just like your skin color doesn't make you a criminal. That's what I want people to understand."

The scene followed with a third night of violent protests, where crowds were sprayed with tear gas in an attempt to end the demonstration.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state-of-emergency late Wednesday after a man, 26-year-old Justin Carr was shot.

Carr was placed on life support, but died Thursday.

Fellow protestor Rayquan Borum, 26, was arrested and charged Friday morning in the shooting of Carr during the protests.

Read: White Tulsa Cop Who Shot and Killed Unarmed Black Motorist Charged with First-Degree Manslaughter

Amid protests, several grisly videos displaying violence from both sides have surfaced, including one poignant video of a man being kicked and dragged in a parking garage by a group of men.

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Some efforts of easing the tension have arisen, including musicians that performed on the streets during a moment of slight calm.

Watch: Only in America: Don King Spews N-Word in Bizarre Speech as Trump Smiles

Related Articles:
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. I've built a very strong network of friends, who 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 that's 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 say, 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

Dear Estranged: Being related to someone often requires a level of tolerance you wouldn't 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 don't 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 father's 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 don't 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 isn't 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 don't have a best friend, only the wives of my husband's friends, and we are not close like that.

I see a counselor, but you can't talk to them about personal things. What do you suggest?

-- Lonely

Dear Lonely: Your counselor's 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 daughter's 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 wasn't until the birth of our daughter that I realized what I had wasn't love at all.

-- Survived

Dear Survived: Thank goodness you got out. Thank you for writing.
Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby, who on Friday shot and killed Terence Crutcher, has been charged with felony first-degree manslaughter, the Tulsa County district attorney announced Thursday afternoon.

If convicted, Shelby would face a minimum of four years in prison, and a maximum of life. Oklahoma law differentiates between murder and manslaughter largely on the matter of intent; manslaughter in most cases is homicide committed without the design to kill. In an affidavit, District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler wrote:

Your affiant feels that 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 over reacted.

Kunzweiler said a warrant had been issued for Shelbys arrest, and that negotiations were under way for her to surrender to the Tulsa County Sheriff.

Recommended: Shattering Charlotte's Myth of Racial Harmony

Crutcher, who was black, was unarmed and had his hands up when he was shot. Shelby, who is white, gave a statement after the shooting saying that she feared for her life. She was placed on paid leave after the shooting. Shelby has worked for the Tulsa Police since 2011. Before that, she was a county sheriffs deputy.

The charges against Shelby come unusually quicklyjust six days after the shooting. Prosecutors tend to move particularly deliberately in cases involving police officers. In several high-profile deaths at the hands of police, prosecutors have opted to take cases to grand juries rather than to bring charges themselves. But Kunzweiler said he had made his determination after reviewing video from dashboard cameras and a helicopter as well as 911 calls.

Tulsa Police on Monday released footage of the shooting, which was captured by a police cars dash cam and which showed Crutcher walking away from officers with his arms raised over his head. His death, paired with the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, has returned the matter of police killings of black people and particularly black men to the headlines. Tulsa has a long history of racial tensions, including one of the largest race riots in the nation, in 1921. In that incident, a white mob descended on the citys black quarter, killing hundreds and destroying the neighborhood.

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Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
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Mark Cuban embraces the role of troll when it comes to Donald Trump, and considering how Trump has so many trolls on his side, this seems fair. The Dallas Mavericks owner has enthusiastically endorsed Hillary Clinton while labeling Trump as a jagoff. He regularly tweets his disapproval of the real estate mogul, but Cuban upped his game a few weeks ago while delightedly fact-checking Eric Trump when he tried to pass off a fake rally photo.

Cuban also recently made Trump an irresistible offer, which arrived shortly after Trump insulted his intelligence when it comes to the stock market: Hes really not smart enough. Cuban also followed up by telling CNNs New Day, I think Donald Trump is an immediate and present threat to the security of this country. Hes not messing around, either.

Cubans now pulling out a major troll move to break Trumps game. He scored a front row seat at the first presidential debate, which will be held on Monday, September 26. The event will be moderated by Lester Holt and held at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. Cuban didnt stumble onto this seat by accident but, instead, received an invitation from Hillary Clinton, as revealed by an aide: He has the best seat we have access to. The campaign is making no secret of their strategy: He has proven to be singularly effective in making the case against Trump and for Clinton. That is why we invited him.

Naturally, Cuban was absolutely thrilled to announce his Monday plans at what hes calling the Humbling at Hofstra.

Just got a front row seat to watch @HillaryClinton overwhelm @realDonaldTrump at the "Humbling at Hofstra" on Monday. It Is On !  Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 23, 2016

Will NBC cut to Cuban during the debate? Will there be a split screen featuring a stare down? Theres so much potential here for debate drama already, but with Cuban aiming to intimidate Trump from the front row, this could be amazing.

(Via CNN & Mark Cuban on Twitter)
From Town & Country

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, want to rid the world of all disease by the end of this century-and they're pledging $3 billion of their fortune to the ambitious goal.

Over the next 10 years, the Facebook CEO and his pediatrician wife will donate about six percent of their net worth of $55.2 billion toward advancing scientific research to "cure, prevent or manage all disease" in the next 80 years, the couple announced yesterday at an event in San Francisco for the Chan Zuckerberg initiative.

The money will be specifically used to create 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.

At current rates of progress, Zuckerberg reckons, it will be possible to solve most of these problems "by the end of this century." Zuckerberg and Chan have spent the past two years speaking to scientists and other experts to plan the endeavor. In an interview, Zuckerberg emphasized "that this isn't something where we just read a book and decided we're going to do."

"This is a big goal and we thought this was really aggressive when we got started," Zuckerberg said. "But when you get into it, one of the first things that strikes you is medicine has only been a modern science for about a century." After speaking with experts, the couple believes it's possible, he said.

Through their philanthropic organization, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the commitment includes $600 million to fund a new research center in San Francisco where scientific and medical researchers will work alongside engineers on 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.

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Chan's work as a pediatrician seems to be a big driver in the 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," Chan said. "I've had to tell families devastating diagnoses of leukemia, or that we just weren't able to resuscitate their child."

Zuckerberg and 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," Zuckerberg said.

Eric Lander, a professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said he's had some 20 conversations with Zuckerberg and Chan over the past year about the initiative and called it "the right kind of goal for thinking about that kind of timeframe." He is not involved with the project itself, but expressed confidence in it.

Nobel laureate David Baltimore wrote in the journal Science that private efforts such as Zuckerberg and Chan's could help supplement government funding and "initiate research thrusts into unproven directions, which generally do not draw government funding."

Their new center, Biohub, will run as an independent research center at the University of California, San Francisco in collaboration with UC Berkeley and Stanford University.

Zuckerberg and Chan had previously committed to donating 99 percent of their wealth , stressed that they believe that their goal can be accomplished, if not in their lifetime, then in their child's lifetime. It was their daughter Max's birth last November that inspired the billionaire couple to give away nearly all their money to help solve the world's problems.

With reporting from the Associated Press

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On Friday, Marriott International (MAR) completed its $13 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels.

Beating out Chinas Anbang group in March of this year, the company is now poised to integrate Starwood brands like the Sheraton, Westin and W into the companys 17 chains that span from Courtyard to Ritz Carlton.

CEO Arne Sorenson sat down with Yahoo Finance in an interview at the W hotel in Times Square to explain the importance of the companys new, enlarged scale.

Its breathtaking in many respects, Sorenson said. Its transformative for the company. We are excited to be welcoming the Starwood Hotels and Starwood associates into our system.

Now the largest hotel company in the world, Marriott operates or franchises more than 5,700 properties and 1.1 million rooms in over 110 countries (1 in every 15 hotel rooms across the globe), well ahead of global peers like Hilton (HLT).

Good for consumer, says CEO

Key in focus as a result of the consolidation has been what this means for the consumer, especially given potential pricing power for the conglomerate.

Sorenson explained that choice and loyalty programs were a big motivation for the deal.

The most exciting [thing] for us is to be able to offer our customers more choice, Sorenson said.

Starting Friday, members of Starwood and Marriotts loyalty programs will be able to link their accounts together (each Starwood point will be worth three Marriott Rewards points).

One of the things that makes these loyalty programs so strong is you can stay wherever you want to go, Sorenson said. One of the most exciting things today is for us to be able to say to folks, you can today link your accounts between SPG and Marriott rewards.'

Meanwhile, Sorenson explained that while online travel sites like Expedia (EXPE) and Priceline (PCLN) are important partners, for a company as large as his, having a separate, loyal base of guests that book directly is key.

They are good partners of ours, especially when theyre delivering that occasionally leisure traveler That could be good incremental business to us and wed love to have it, Sorenson said. At the same time, we want to make sure that weve got an ecosystem of loyal, regular travelers who weve got a relationship with directly so we can know you, market to you, and obviously have you book directly with us.

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The consumer is stronger in the US than the business traveler

The consumer is stronger in the US than the business traveler is, Sorenson said. Job growth is happening, modest wage growth, stability  and so we see vacation travel do quite well.

Business conditions on the other hand are quite anemic. You look at GDP growth in the US first two quarters of the year at 1%, Sorenson said. Demand for hotel roomslike demand for much of the economyis driven by GDP growth, particularly when it comes to business travel.

Trumps nationalist rhetoric bad for travel industry

Sorenson, a registered Democrat, said he would not endorse a particular candidate, but explained that the nationalist and protectionist rhetoric dominating the campaign could be destructive to the travel business.

I am a student of politics, Sorenson said. We dont seem to be trying to find a way to resolve issues as opposed to demonize issues.

I do worry from a travel perspective about tone in the US and in other countries around the world which is increasingly nationalistic, which is stressing closing borders, Sorenson said. Weve gotta be really careful about that, because the world creates opportunitiesnot just in travel but in commercewhen people move around, when trade occurs, when we welcome each other.
Pres. Obama awards the 2015 National Medal of Arts to Mel Brooks "for a lifetime of making the world laugh." https://t.co/bGsVe1NLg6  ABC News (@ABC) September 22, 2016

Wait, did Mel Brooks just do what we think he may have just done? It sure seems like he may have tried to take the presidents pants off. Normally, that would be a weird thing to say, but as per usual in the case of Mel Brooks, its hilarious.

The iconic writer, actor, director, and musician visited the White House today to meet President Obama and accept the 2015 National Medal of Arts award. According to a White House statement, the award was being given to Brooks for for a lifetime of making the world laugh.

As President Obama laid the medal attached to a purple ribbon over Brooks neck, the frisky 90-year-old made a sudden movement that seemed as if he might be pretending to pants the leader of the free world.

.@MelBrooks pretends to pull President Obamas pants down after he receives National Medal of Arts at White House. pic.twitter.com/tT6YFuokb3  Dan Linden (@DanLinden) September 22, 2016

The moment drew laughter and applause from those in attendance and reminded us why Mel Brooks is considered one of the greatest entertainers to ever live. Nine decades on this earth and Brooks is still trying to draw laughter out of others. Ill be happy just to pull my own pants down at 90 years old, not to mention the president of the United States of Americas. Brooks is quick like a dang cat, too; its pretty impressive.

The White House also honored music producer and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, choreographer Ralph Lemon, writer and actor Luis Valdez, the Eugene ONeill Theater Center in Connecticut, and actor Morgan Freeman at this years reception.

(Via ABC News)
A man in Spain may have passed the Zika virus to his wife through sex, even though he'd previously had a vasectomy, according to a new report of the case.

The 53-year-old man and his 51-year-old wife had gone on vacation to the Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean in early February this year, the report said. They spent 10 days on the islands, and returned to Madrid in mid-February. They both got mosquito bites on the trip.

A few days after their return, the man developed symptoms of Zika infection, including a fever, rash, headache and joint pain, which went away after about a week. When the man had nearly completely recovered from the infection, the couple had unprotected sexual intercourse.

In men who've undergone a vasectomy, sperm from the testes cannot make their way into semen. These men still ejaculate semen during sex, but the semen contains no sperm. (Sperm are men's reproductive cells, whereas semen is usually a mixture of sperm and other fluids.)

A week later, (which was two weeks after the man first showed symptoms), the woman also developed symptoms of Zika.

Doctors tested blood and urine samples from the husband and wife, as well as the husband's semen. The woman's urine sample tested positive for Zika virus, as did the man's semen sample. [Zika Virus News: Complete Coverage of the Outbreak]

It's likely that the man became infected from a mosquito bite he got when the couple was in the Maldives. Zika is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, and mosquitoes infected with Zika are known to be present in the Maldives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the woman didn't develop symptoms until 18 days after she returned from the trip. For a Zika virus infection, this incubation period (or the time it takes a person to show symptoms after he or she is infected) would be "exceptionally long," the researchers said. It's thought that the incubation period for Zika is between three and 12 days, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Story continues

It's unlikely that the woman was infected by a mosquito bite she got in the Maldives, and this means that sexual transmission "is definitely a possibility" in the woman's case, the report said. It's the first time that possible sexual transmission of Zika virus from a man with a vasectomy has been reported, the report said.

Doctors were able to detect infectious Zika virus in the man's semen up to 69 days after he first showed symptoms. This is the longest time period that infectious Zika virus has been detected in semen, the report said.

This case suggests that, rather than hiding exclusively in sperm, the Zika virus may be present in other fluids that make up semen, such as fluid from male reproductive glands, or pre-ejaculate secretions, the report said.

"Public health recommendations to prevent sexual transmission of Zika virus should take these data into consideration," and should recommend use of protection during sex after travel to an area with Zika, even if a man has had a vasectomy, the report said.

The World Health Organization currently recommends that men and women returning from areas with Zika transmission should use protection for at least six months after their return.

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.
The Hillary Clinton campaign will have a secret weapon at the first presidential debate on Monday  noted Trump critic and rival billionaire Mark Cuban.



The famous entrepreneur who has taken up the cause of taking down Donald Trump revealed in a tweet on Friday that he'll be sitting front and center when the two nominees face off for the first time.



"Just got a front row seat to watch @HillaryClinton overwhelm @realDonaldTrump at the 'Humbling at Hofstra' on Monday," Cuban tweeted. "It Is On !"



Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank star, was invited by the Clinton campaign to sit in the front row, a Clinton aide confirmed to CNN. "He has the best seat we have access to," the aide said, adding, "He has proven to be singularly effective in making the case against Trump and for Clinton. That is why we invited him."







Cuban amped up his Trump-trolling last week when he offered to give $10 million to the charity of the GOP nominee's choice if he would sit down for a four-hour grilling session on his policy plans.





.1) @realDonaldTrump $10mm to the charity of YOUR choice if you let ME interview you for 4 hrs on YOUR policies and their substance. a Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 16, 2016







2) @realDonaldTrump groundrules are that you cant mention the Clintons or discuss anything other than the details and facts of yr plans and a Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 16, 2016







3) @realDonaldTrump and no one else is in the room to help. Just me, you and a broadcast crew.



Deal ? a Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 16, 2016







4) @realDonaldTrump I'll add an option.If you need it, I'll write you the check and you can keep the money rather than give it to charity a Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 16, 2016





"In the immortal words of YOU, 'What do you have to lose?' " Cuban taunted Trump.



Cuban, who endorsed Clinton in July, has also put public pressure on Trump to release his taxes and questioned whether Trump is really as wealthy as he claims to be.



"If @realDonaldTrump were fractionally as rich as he says he is, he would write a $200mm check to propel his campaign. He doesn't have the cash," Cuban tweeted in June, after an FEC report revealed Trump's campaign had just $1.3 million in the bank.





Does Donald Trump Rattle You?





Cuban seems to have a knack for getting under Trump's skin. CNN argues it's thanks in part to "Cuban's status as a fellow billionaire and his public persona as a similarly brash businessman."



In an interview with MSNBC's Morning Joe earlier this month, Cuban explained how he would go about interviewing Trump if given the opportunity. "[I would say] 'You don't understand the question, do you?' " Cuban said. "I know you guys have tried to reassert him back on the topic often, but I would get to the heart of the matter. 'Do you understand this question?' And then I would ask a follow up question: 'Do you know where Aleppo is? Do you know what the issues are? Do you know what's the history of this city and the conflict?' "



"If you stay with it, he will crumble," Cuban added.



 Are you voting? Not voting? How do you really feel about the candidates? PEOPLE wants to know! Take our brief survey about the 2016 election now, and receive 20% off in the PEOPLE Shop as a thank you for your time.



Cuban's technique could be a valuable tool for Clinton as well. In an article for TIME called " How Hillary Clinton Can Defeat Donald Trump in the First Debate," news analyst Frank Lutz, addressing the Democratic nominee, writes: "Your mission is to demonstrate that every time he talks on the global stage, his words could defile the office, embarrass the country and, yes, even provoke a war. Our polling couldn't be clearer: If the election is a referendum on Trump, you win ... Put him on trial. Rattle him. When he is challenged, he hits back. He loses control. He says dumb stuff. So push his buttons and compel him to reveal to the world that he is not qualified for the job."
SIMCOE, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2016 / On March 7, 2016, a senior compliance officer of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) notified METALORE RESOURCES LIMITED (MET/TSX) that the company was the subject of a delisting review, due to the company's failure to comply with certain TSX continued listing requirements. Section 710(c)(i) of the TSX Company Manual specifies that resource companies spend a minimum of $350,000 on "exploration", that is acceptable to TSX, each and every year. Section 712 requires that issuers have a minimum public float of $2,000,000, which the Company had fallen below. However, the company regained compliance with Section 712 during the delisting review.

After Metalore obtained its original listing on Tier One of the TSX in 1981, we discovered the deep, high grade, NI 43-101 Gold resource at Brookbank and subsequently three more satellite deposits. We spent an average of over $500,000 annually on exploration from 1981 through 2014. By 2012, however, natural gas prices were consistently at very depressed levels, and we did not have sufficient surplus cash flow to sponsor further work on extensive mining projects that required multi-year lead times for production. In 2015, we spent only $311,000 on "Exploration", primarily related to our "core" gas production business, which IFRS Accounting Standards classify as expenditures related to "Exploration". It should be noted that the IFRS definition of acceptable exploration expenses do not necessarily coincide with the definition of TSX regulations. Nevertheless, we will admit, after doing it abundantly well for a whole generation of 35 years, we may have fallen a little short in 2015, according to TSX interpretation.

It is quite apparent that the TSX, Tier One, big money Bureaucracy does not want to have smaller companies in their stable. Accordingly, we have notified the TSX "Venture" Exchange that we are preparing our application material for submission within the next several days. We expect a smooth transition in share trading under the same "MET" symbol to be resumed shortly thereafter. It should also be noted that there are specific advantages of being listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Story continues

We apologize to all of our Faithful Shareholders for any inconvenience caused by the transition and appreciate your Gracious Support over the years.

For further information please contact:

George Chilian

(519) 428 - 2464

info@metalorereources.com

SOURCE: Metalore Resources Limited
Snow Tha Product's politically driven track "Despierta (Wake Up)" is the official theme song for Voto Latino's new campaign "27 million," aimed towards Latino voters.

Along with influencers and activists including Dolores Huerta, Snow (real name Claudia Feliciano) appears in the organization's new video, which premiered today (Sept. 23), urging the 27 million eligible Latino voters in the U.S. to get registered and make their vote count in the upcoming November elections.

"For me, it's important to be part of this campaign because young people need to wake up and worry about the future of our country," Snow told Billboard exclusively. "People have been messing it up for years and it's time for young people to fix it. Vote now, don't complain later,"

Meet Snow Tha Product, Latina MC Making a Name for Herself in the Rap World

Check out the "27 Million" PSA below:

In her original "Despierta" music video, Snow -- whose parents are Mexican immigrants -- appears in a replica of the oval office at the YouTube headquarters, where she blasts the Republican candidate Donald Trump, urging the Latino community to take action against his racist rhetoric.

The Latina MC kicks off her U.S. Been Woke Tour on Nov. 2 in Tucson, Arizona. The fall trek will take Snow to such major cities as Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver and San Francisco.

Complete Been Woke Tour dates:

11/02 - Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole

11/03 - Tempe, AZ @ Club Red

11/04 - Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater

11/05 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater

11/06 - Lubbock, TX @ Jake's Backroom

11/09 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse (Studio)

11/10 - San Antonio, TX @ Alamo City Music Hall

11/11 - Dallas, TX @ Trees

11/12 - Austin, TX @ Grizzly Hall

11/13 - Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom

11/15 - St Louis, MO @ Old Rock House

11/16 - Louisville, KY @ Diamond Pub Concert Hall

11/17 - Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge

11/18 - Indianapolis, IN @ Emerson Theater

Story continues

11/20 - Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Hall

11/22 - Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's

11/23 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown

11/25 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

11/26 - Denver, CO @ Cervantes' Masterpiece

11/30 - San Francisco, CA @ Social Hall SF

12/01 - Fresno, CA @ Strummers

12/02 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex
When police responded to a Detroit-area home on Wednesday morning, they found a horrific scene.



Four young people  ranging from ages 4 to 19  were dead, police tell PEOPLE. The two older victims  identified as Kara Allen and Chadney Allen  had been shot execution style. Kaleigh and Koi Green, ages 4 and 5, had been asphyxiated in a car using exhaust from a hose hooked up to the tailpipe and routed into the car. Then, police say, the girls' bodies had been moved into their beds.



Also at the scene, a woman had been shot and stabbed; she was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. She was later upgraded to stable condition.



Police arrested Gregory V. Green, a 49-year-old man who had spent time in prison before  for the 1991 stabbing death of his pregnant wife. Back then, he had pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. Court records obtained by PEOPLE indicate that Green was released from prison in 2008.



In Wednesday's incident, the two young girls were Green's daughters with Faith Green, his current wife, the only victim to survive. The two older teens were Faith Green's children from a previous relationship.



 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.



According to court records obtained by PEOPLE, Faith Green had filed for divorce last month after six years of marriage. The petition cited a "breakdown in the marriage relationship."



Police say they first learned about the killings after a 911 call  from Gregory Green. "The call was made by the suspect himself," Captain Michael Petri told reporters in a press conference. "All of this seemed to have stemmed from a domestic violence-related incident."



In a statement to ABC News, Mayor Dan Paletko called the killings "a tragedy in every sense of the word."



Green is currently being held at the Dearborn Heights Police Department. He has not yet entered a plea and it was not immediately clear if he's retained an attorney.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The diplomatic "Quartet" piloting efforts to nudge Israel and the Palestinians towards a negotiated solution to their conflict on Friday heard from France and Egypt on their parallel peacemaking efforts.

The Quartet -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- is tasked with overseeing international peace efforts, but both France and Egypt have expressed an interest in helping out.

Washington, in particular, has been hesitant to endorse a French role on what has traditionally been US diplomatic turf. But with the conflict on the ground only getting worse, the US has agreed to welcome fresh ideas.

"Our goal is still the same: It's to organize an international conference before the end of the year with both parties present," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini met at the United Nations in New York to review their efforts.

They were joined for the latter part of their discussion by Ayrault and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

"All agreed on the importance of close and continuing coordination of all efforts to achieve the common goal of the two-state solution," the Quartet said in a statement released after the talks.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has offered to play a greater mediating role in the conflict and to seek a solution under a revived version of a 2002 plan that would see more Arab countries recognize Israel in exchange for it ceding occupied Palestinian land.
It seems that natural and man-made disasters are increasingly frequent phenomena capable of striking at any time, irrespective of local, regional or international boundaries.

The role and the extent of participation that governments should have mitigating the effects of disasters are subjects for legitimate debate; but one constant in disaster preparedness and response is the involvement of trained volunteers supplementing and enhancing the work of emergency officials.

Disaster Services is one of six volunteer Focus Areas that the Corporation for National and Community Service endorses for its Retired & Senior Volunteer Program grantees throughout the United States.

RSVP-Racine County offers senior volunteer opportunities at seven Disaster Services volunteer stations including four complementary amateur (ham) organizations: Amateur Radio Emergency Service-Racine/Kenosha County, Racine Megacycle Club, Lakeshore Repeater Association and Quarter Century Wireless Association (Chapter 162).

Collectively, these organizations operate several amateur radio stations housed at the Volunteer Center of Racine County where an auxiliary generator system stands by, ready to power amateur communications equipment during emergency simulations and actual situations when cell phones and computer networks can be rendered unusable.

Still relevant

Amateur radio, indeed, is a 100-year-old technology still relevant in the 21st century. During an emergency, ham radio has the capability to provide wireless service locally and regionally through repeater systems as well as nationally and internationally.

All volunteers operating ham radio equipment are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as amateur radio operators after passing qualifying examinations on electronic theory and amateur radio protocol.

ARES-Racine/Kenosha County is a field arm of the Amateur Radio Relay League, which specifically deals with emergencies, facilitating communications.

ARES also operates a communications trailer with emergency power backup based at the Volunteer Center of Racine County. During the third quarter of 2016, ARES members have met with officials of the National Weather Service and Kenosha County Emergency Management to coordinate disaster preparedness exercises.

Organized in 1927, the Racine Megacycle Club is one of the oldest amateur radio clubs in Wisconsin. The club was first affiliated with the ARRL in 1948. In 1976 the club also became associated with the American Red Cross. Every summer, the Racine Megacycle Club sponsors its annual Field Day, a test of hams abilities to fine-tune emergency communications skills, use alternative power sources, and to set up field antennae.

The Lakeshore Repeater Association recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. It operates two repeaters in Racine County, one from the South Shore Fire Station (147.27 MHz) on Old Green Bay Road, and another from the communications tower at the intersection of Wood Rood and Highway KR (442.00 MHz).

The South Shore Repeater hosts the weekly ARES network for area ham radio operators exchanging ideas and information and a twice monthly weather net to practice communication with the National Weather Service in Sullivan.

QCWA is an international club for amateur radio operators who have been licensed for 25 years. Racine Chapter #162 also engages in a series of emergency communications exercises throughout the year.

Amateur radio operators hope that their emergency communications expertise is never needed.

However, a cursory scan of the amateur radio bands in the aftermath of hazardous weather emphasizes the randomness of disasters and the consistency of the human response: ham radio operators, operating on portable power supplies, are a steady source of comfort and assistance relaying messages to and from emergency authorities.
By John Irish NEW YORK (Reuters) - The "Quartet" of Middle East peace mediators said on Friday it was strongly opposed to Israel's ongoing settlement activity, warning that it risked ending the chance of a two-state solution with the Palestinians. Peace talks, envisaging a Palestinian state in territory Israel captured in a 1967 war, collapsed two years ago after nine months of largely fruitless discussions sponsored by the United States. The acid political climate between Israelis and Palestinians makes progress unlikely. Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas showed no signs of a rapprochement during their speeches at the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. "The Quartet emphasized its strong opposition to ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace, and expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion ... (is) steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution," the Quartet said in a statement after meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The group, which comprises the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, issued a report in July calling on Israel to stop its policy of building settlements on occupied land and restricting Palestinian development, but the activity has shown no signs of abating. The Quartet also condemned a resurgence of violence. It urged both sides to de-escalate tensions and show restraint. With U.S. efforts to broker a deal frozen, France and Egypt have tried to revive interest, warning that letting the matter drift even during a U.S. election year was counterproductive. After outlining for the Quartet efforts to bring the two sides back to the table by year-end, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said that while the path to peace was narrowing, it still existed. "It's true that listening to Abbas and Netanyahu's speeches at the U.N., you can't say their views are converging ... but we can't accept the fait accompli. That would lead to despair and violence," he said. Palestinians say Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territory is dimming any prospect for the viable state they seek. Israel has demanded tighter security measures from the Palestinians and a crackdown on militants responsible for a string of stabbings and shootings against Israelis. The CIA Factbook online says about 371,000 Israelis live in settlements scattered among an estimated 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 war. The figures exclude East Jerusalem, which both sides claim. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Howard Goller)
Cairo (AFP) - The migrant disaster off Egypt this week adds to a relentless loss of life in the Mediterranean, where a single catastrophe killed some 800 people in April 2015.

Following are despairing milestones in the ongoing migrant crisis.

More than 10,000 dead in three years

Since 2014, more than 10,000 migrants have died at sea, mainly in the central Mediterranean, according to United Nations refugee agency the UNHCR.

The total includes 3,211 deaths so far this year, 3,771 in 2015 and around 3,500 in 2014.

Meanwhile, more than 300,000 people have made it across the Mediterranean this year, after 970,000 in 2015 and 216,000 in 2014.

September 21, 2016: at least 162 die

Rescuers have so far recovered at least 162 bodies from a September 21 shipwreck off Egypt. Survivors said up to 450 migrants had been on board heading for Italy when it capsized.

June 3, 2016: 320 dead

At least 320 people out of some 650 on board a boat die when it capsizes while trying to reach Crete from the coast of North Africa.

April 20, 2016: 500 dead

Around 500 people die in the south Mediterranean when their boat from Libya sinks, according to the witness accounts of some 40 people who escaped, quoted by the UNHCR.

August 5, 2015: 225 dead

More than 225 migrants from Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent drown when a fishing boat carrying more than 600 people capsizes off Libya. The tragedy happened when the migrants rushed to one side as an Irish ship drew near to pick them up. Rescuers managed to save 360 people.

April 19, 2015: 800 dead

Up to 800 people mainly from the Gambia, Senegal and Mali feared dead after their crammed fishing boat capsizes in Libyan waters. Just 28 people survive the worst Mediterranean disaster in decades.

April 12, 2015: 400 dead

Up to 400 migrants drown after their vessel capsizes off Libya, according to survivors who reach southern Italy.

February 11, 2015: 300 dead

More than 300 migrants from Africa drown after their overcrowded boats sail from Libya in atrocious weather. Twenty-nine rescued people die of exposure before the Italian coastguard can get them to hospital.

Story continues

September 10, 2014: 500 dead

Up to 500 migrants drown off Malta after people smugglers ram their boat to force them onto a smaller vessel.

October 3, 2013: 366 dead

At least 366 die when a ship carrying 500 migrants from the Horn of Africa begins to sink and then catches fire off the Italian island of Lampedusa. Many people trapped in the hold die from asphyxiation. The tragedy alerts the world to the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
From Good Housekeeping

Autumn Tolliver Safley is 30 weeks pregnant. This would undoubtedly be an exciting time in any woman's life, but for Safley, it's especially meaningful: She and her husband lost two pregnancies to back-to-back miscarriages in late 2015 and early 2016, and this is their first pregnancy since.

In celebration of the healthy baby on the way, Safley, a 30-year-old occupational therapist, wore a special maternity T-shirt while shopping at her local craft store two weeks ago, TODAY reports. While browsing the aisles at the Hobby Lobby in North Little Rock, Arkansas, a fellow shopper caught Safley's attention and appeared visibly moved by the simple shirt. The woman had "tears in her eyes," Safley said, and seemed especially touched by the sentiment written across her belly: "You're looking at a rainbow!"

The rainbow symbolism is meant to honor a baby born after a miscarriage, still birth or infant loss - a child known as a "rainbow baby." The woman, who Safley now knows as Courtney Mixon, approached her and said, "I know what your shirt means  My husband and I lost our baby last year, and we've been trying to conceive."

The two women ended up standing in the store and chatting for quite some time, sharing their miscarriage stories with one another. Inspired by Safley's shirt, Mixon asked to take a picture of it.

Later that day, Mixon posted the photo on Facebook with an emotional message about what it meant to her to have met another woman who had also struggled with having a miscarriage and her joy at her rainbow baby. Little did she know that her post would soon start an important - and viral - conversation about the issue of pregnancy loss.

Mixon left the store only knowing Safley's first name, but when her post went viral, Safley eventually caught wind of it. The two women became friends on Facebook, and Mixon quickly tagged Safley in the photo. Mixon told TODAY that she's still amazed by how popular the post has become (as of this afternoon, it's been shared more than 34,000 times), and the reactions to her words have helped her realize she's not alone.

Story continues

Today, Mixon and her husband are still trying to conceive, while Safley's son (who is to be named James Addison Safley III after her husband) is due in December. Even at the 30-week mark, however, Safley still feels nervous about her pregnancy from time to time.

"Naturally, [these feelings are] going to happen, but I feel more confident as every day passes," she told TODAY, echoing the sentiment of many other women who have also conceived rainbow babies after pregnancy losses. "The more I'm feeling [the baby moving], I feel more and more confident that this is going to be the perfect little pregnancy, and I am going to get my son here in a few weeks."

[h/t TODAY]

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RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco has applied to rejoin the African Union 32 years after it left, the bloc said on Friday, as the North African kingdom seeks support for its plan to end a decades-old row over Western Sahara. Morocco, which claims the sparsely populated stretch of desert, left the African Union in 1984 when the bloc recognized a republic covering part of the territory declared by Polisario Front independence fighters. Morocco submitted its letter of intention to rejoin the union on Thursday, the AU said in a statement, without giving details of any reasons. But Morocco has stepped up lobbying efforts across the continent its bid to offer Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Moroccan officials have recently made visits to Algiers, Abuja and Nairobi. Rabat says at least 36 of the 54 AU member states do not acknowledge the Polisario Front's breakaway territory, and wants the bloc to withdraw support. Morocco has controlled most of the territory, which is rich in phosphates and has seen some initial oil exploration efforts, since 1975. A ceasefire in 1991 called for a referendum on self-determination for Western Sahara, but the vote has never taken place. Tensions have been rising between Morocco and Polisario after a standoff between their forces in a U.N.-mandated buffer zone near the Mauritania frontier in the Guerguerat area. U.N. peacekeepers have intervened between the Moroccan gendarmerie and a Polisario brigade in the area. (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
A California driver thought he could beat the traffic with a mannequin as his passenger, but he could not beat the ticket he was given when he was caught.

View: The Craziest HOV Lane Stunts

The driver's scheme ended in Orange County when he was pulled over after cutting off an officer in the HOV lane. The officer quickly noticed something odd about his passenger, who was dressed up as a female passenger with red lipstick and a hoodie.

The officer snapped a photo of the mannequin and it was posted on Twitter by the Brea Police Department.

Motor officer stopped Veh for unsafe lane change in carpool lane 57 Fwy. Look at pic of passenger. Nice try. pic.twitter.com/M1ijtwtEjC  Brea Police Dept (@BreaPD) September 22, 2016

The driver apologized to the officer and said he would never do it again but was still given a $490 ticket. Police say the fine increases for repeat offenders.

CBSLAs Stacey Butler spoke to other motorists about the incident in Los Angeles and one said: It is not exactly the most intelligent way to cheat the carpool lane. The amount of cops I see on the carpool lane... that is the most likely place you are going to get caught.

Another person told CBSLA, that the stunt was perfect.

This was not the first time that a driver thought they were being clever and cheating the system by using a doll as a faux passenger.

In July, a Long Island woman was fined after she used bags and clothes to make a dummy to get into the HOV lane on the Long Island Expressway.

Also in July, a Virginia woman was caught using a life-like mannequin to fool officers and other drivers as she used the carpool lane.

Read: Driver Caught Using 'Most Interesting Man in the World' Cutout in Car Pool Lane

The Fairfax County Police posted the image on Facebook and said: Our Fairfax County Police Department spotted a dummy aiding an HOV violator. Officers report the hair gave it away."

Story continues





Watch: A Real-Life Star Trek? Strange Video of UFO Has Internet Buzzing

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(Adds details, background)

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Former Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill resigned from Britain's finance ministry on Friday after he reportedly clashed with new Prime Minister Theresa May over Chinese investment in the country.

O'Neill, who coined the BRICS acronym to group the world's largest emerging economies while at Goldman Sachs, worked in the Treasury as a junior minister overseeing infrastructure policy and promoting Britain as a source of foreign direct investment.

The Financial Times said in July that O'Neill could quit his post over May's approach to Chinese investment which appeared less welcoming than that of her predecessor David Cameron.

Shortly after becoming prime minister, May ordered a last-minute review into an 18 billion-pound nuclear power plant project at Hinkley Point which was backed by Chinese funding. The project was given the green light earlier this month but the review alarmed officials in China.

One of the areas that Manchester-born O'Neill worked on was the Northern Powerhouse project to improve infrastructure in northern England and which aimed to attract investment from China.

In his resignation letter to May, O'Neill said the case for the project was even stronger after June's decision by voters to leave the European Union, and he was pleased that "despite speculation to the contrary" it appeared to be "commanding your personal attention."

In her reply, May thanked O'Neill for his work on the Northern Powerhouse and on promoting stronger economic links with emerging economies, including China and India. "You have laid important foundations in these areas, and the Government will build on them," she said.

O'Neill also led a push by Britain's government to encourage the development of new drugs against drug-resistant infections.

(Writing by William Schomberg; editing by Stephen Addison)
LAGOS (Reuters) - South Africa's MTN denied it paid a bribe to Nigerian officials to reduce its fine to 330 billion naira ($1.05 billion) as part of settling a dispute over disconnecting unregistered SIM cards in the West African country. MTN said in a statement on Friday there had been allegations that a top official in the Nigerian presidency took a payment towards reducing the fine. The telecom group was initially fined $5.2 billion last October for failing to deactivate more than five million unregistered SIM cards. In June, MTN agreed to pay a reduced fine of 330 billion in a settlement with the Nigerian government and said the fine will be paid by MTN Nigeria over three years. ($1 = 314.5000 naira) (Reporting by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Ulf Laessing)
RACINE  A Racine woman is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 6 after she was charged with 10 felonies and one misdemeanor.

Shanicka S. Harris, 28, of the 1600 block of Edgewood Avenue, had a search warrant served by the Racine County Metro Drug Unit at her residence in May 2015, according to the criminal complaint.

Harris was located in the residence along with multiple children, the complaint said.

Law enforcement discovered 15 small bags of cocaine, marijuana plant materials, a pipe, a hookah, a digital scale and sandwich bags with the corners missing found in the children's bedroom, according to the complaint.

Harris reportedly gave a statement regarding sales of cocaine base to support her family, the complaint said.

Harris faces seven felony charges for second degree recklessly endangering safety, three other felony charges for possession with intent to deliver cocaine, maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession of marijuana, and a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia.

She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.
I should not be here.

By the cold universal logic of statistics, none of us should; each of the near-7-billion lives on Earth is a mathematical fluke. But as an American black person, albeit as a free person with a fairly full complement of civil rights, Ive always been aware of the especially immense unlikelihood of my own existence. For four centuries, most people who look like me and the vast majority of the people who gave rise to my own flesh and blood have been killed, crushed, or disenfranchised under the torture rack of white supremacy and racial injustice. As police violence, voting rights, and Donald Trumps promises of Big Racism dominate our political conversations, and as protests and riots roil the streets of my birthplace of Charlotte, Im reminded that I may be thanking my lucky stars a bit too soon.

Black history is usually portrayed as the opposite of unlikely. Even the most well-meaning and well-sourced books and films that make up most of Americas black history canon tend toward a view of an inevitable journey to progress that is all swelling strings and sepia photographs: a series of still images from slavery to marches on Washington to freezing inaugural processions down the National Mall. The problem with that approach is that its hard to reconcile the musculature and endurance of the racism that black people still endure with the idea that freedom is their destiny.

A trip through the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which will be unveiled this weekend to the public in a suitable pageant of pomp and circumstance, should disabuse visitors of that notion. The British architect David Adjaye and museum director Lonnie Bunch, along with a small army of curators and contributors, attempted a monumental task. The history exhibit of the Smithsonians new memorial of blackness is triumphant and crushing at once, both a celebration of how far black people have come in an ongoing struggle for equality, and a reminder of the near impossibility of that struggle. The structure of the exhibit is described by the Washington Post art and architecture critic Philip Kennicott:

History has been mostly relegated to a large, subterranean chamber, where small galleries are connected by ramps leading up from the lowest level, devoted to the origins of the Atlantic slave trade, the Colonial era, the antebellum South, the Civil War and its immediate aftermath.

The underground placement of the history exhibit is probably better described as a purposefully subversive use of space, rather than relegation. After an initial walk down a stairwell framed by a mural of the triumphs of black historythe photos of Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr. that most people expectviewers are essentially deposited into the bowels of the slave ships that stole so many souls from the African coasts. Hushed, claustrophobic halls display the worst of the bloody origins of slavery and detail how the slaves who were luckyor unluckyenough to survive the trip below the decks could only expect to live an average of seven years after being sold into plantations.

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The resulting climb up through history is a barrage of information and an assault on the senses, an intentional juxtaposition of promise with sorrow. At one point, after walking past a proud depiction of a black Revolutionary Patriot, viewers encounter an huge multi-story exhibit embossed with the most famous words of the Declaration of Independence: All men are created equal. Standing underneath those words like Damocles under his sword is a statue of the framer Thomas Jefferson. Beside him is a pile of bricks representing the Monticello, with each brick representing one enslaved human that built it.

The Washington Monument rises behind the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

The descent and ascent achieve an effect similar to Dantes harrowing journey in Inferno, and the walk upwards through Reconstruction, Redemption, the civil-rights movement, and into the present day is a reminder of the constant push and pull of horror and protest. Black towns that dont exist anymore and black neighborhoods that were burned down are memorialized alongside the works of Ida B. Wells and W.E.B. DuBois. One exhibit features the names of lynching victims, a soul-rending litany that feels even more awful because of the names themselves. How many freedmen renamed themselves as Freemans or after Founding Fathers in aspiration only to be killed? At least a few George Washingtons show up on the list.

One item on view at the new Smithsonian

museum: a U.S. passport belonging to the

writer James Baldwin. Douglas Remley /

Smithsonian

In his review, Kennicott found this setup at times overwhelming and criticized the density of information on display and the tendency toward front-loading visual images near the present-day exhibits. My experience was that these are necessary features, rather than shortcomings of the museum. Many viewerseven those of us who are blackknow less about the truth of black history than they do natural history or even how airplanes work. Any amount of information beyond the textbook cliches will probably overwhelm. The mission of the exhibits seems not to always be to clarify and teach, as Kennicott hopes, but to impress upon viewers just how much they dont know, and how deeply the grand conspiracy of white supremacy runs. That explains the emphasis on media-heavy exhibits for episodes nearer the present: So much black history has been systematically destroyed and denied chronicle by that conspiracy, that the curators emphasize its richness where they can.

The phrase that black history is American history could be interpreted as a pleaor as a declaration of ownership.

The walk up through history doesnt end with the election of President Barack Obama, which is usually seen as a kind of bookend on a tidy narrative of black American progress, but with interactives showing the rise of Black Lives Matter and the injustices that movement now faces. Given the structure of the exhibits below, that arrangement is predictable. Revolutions are displayed beside counter-revolutions, and protests beside the atrocities that sparked them. Even if the museum does take the civil-rights movements core mantra of We shall overcome seriously, the exhibits appear to interpret that song as a call to action instead of as pure prophecy.

To me, the museums subversion of the inevitability of progress complicates the critique of respectability politics leveled by the Guardian columnist Steven Thrasher. He characterized the museum as a project of U.S. Nationalism that is at odds with modern black activist sensibilities of blackness on its own terms. To (perhaps unfairly) condense Thrashers points, he wonders why such a big project on the National Mall to be scrutinized under the white gaze is even necessary, and if it will advance an unquestioning view of American nationalism and patriotism that has often shortchanged black people even as it claimed to help them.

Slave shackles are seen in a display case at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

My sense is that the National Museum of African American History of Culture actually muddles and undermines the interracial narrative of progress that undergirds the American nationalist project. Placement on the National Mall could be fairly read as begging for a seat at the masters table, as Thrasher seems to believe. Or it could be a statement that the table is ours because we built it. The oft-quoted phrase used in museum opening events that black history is American history could be interpreted as a pleaor as a declaration of ownership.

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That declaration is to me another reinforcement of just how unlikely blackness is, and of how much pain has been inflicted to keep Americas racial order and wipe out the resistance that persists. And its also a reminder of just what U.S. history is: not just a long march toward progress, but also a constant war against it. Thrasher asks, What good to African Americans, I have to wonder, is a museum dedicated to us, when we are getting shot in the street daily? The NMAAHCs answer is probably best summed by Public Enemy, who is featured in the history exhibit and will participate in opening ceremonies: to show that it takes a nation of millions to hold us back.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Myanmar's president Friday ordered an investigation into how authorities handled the case of two girls who say they were enslaved and tortured for years by the owners of a tailor shop.

The teenagers were rescued this month and their story has gripped a country appalled by the abuse they suffered and the police's failure to intervene earlier.

The girls, aged 16 and 17, said they spent five years working as housemaids at the shop in downtown Yangon where they were beaten, burnt and deprived of sleep and food.

Their families said police refused to help them free the girls on multiple occasions.

They were rescued this month after a local journalist alerted the human rights commission.

On Friday, Myanmar's president Htin Kyaw ordered a report on how authorities had handled the case.

"The President's office has instructed the home affairs ministry to report in detail on how Kyauktada police station officials took action," his office said in a statement.

"The President's office has... been studying the performance of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission," it added.

The girls were just 11 and 12 when a friend took them to Myanmar's bustling commercial capital with the promise of good jobs as housemaids.

AFP reporters who visited them in their tiny village this week saw evidence of horrific wounds on their bodies, including scars from where they say they were stabbed with scissors and branded with a hot iron.

One of the girls' fingers were twisted at strange angles -- she says they were broken as a punishment by her captors.

The head of their village told AFP they are now under police protection at a Yangon police station.

Their family has been paid around $4,000 in compensation by the shop owners, who were arrested on human trafficking charges this week.

The girls are among tens of thousands of children from poor rural areas sent to work as domestic helpers for Myanmar's growing pool of wealthier, urban middle-class households.

The impoverished country is the world's seventh-worst for child labour, according to risk analysts Verisk Maplecroft, just ahead of India and Liberia.
From Popular Mechanics

The USS Zumwalt, the Navy's new high-tech stealth destroyer, appears to have suffered an engineering malfunction ahead of its first at-sea trials. The destroyer will remain in port for up to two weeks while repairs are made.

The USS Zumwalt is the Navy's next-generation destroyer and boasts a number of advanced technologies, including a striking, radar-minimizing shape and a rocket-powered gun system that can fire shells 70 miles away.

The Zumwalt was on its way to perform at-sea tests when the crew discovered a seawater leak in the ship's auxiliary motor drive oil system. The ship is currently undergoing repairs in port, which are expected to take between ten days and two weeks.

Once the repairs are completed, the Zumwalt will travel from its current location in Norfolk to Baltimore for its commissioning. It will then travel to its homeport in San Diego.

Source: UNSI News

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Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) - Missiles rained down on rebel-held areas of Syria's Aleppo on Friday, causing widespread destruction that overwhelmed rescue teams, as the army prepared a ground offensive to retake the city.

Forty-five civilians including several children were killed and dozens wounded in the raids on eastern Aleppo by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group.

The intensity of the bombardment, which included artillery barrages and barrel bombings by helicopters, brought new misery to the estimated 250,000 civilians besieged by the army.

The escalation came after US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to reach an agreement with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Thursday on terms to salvage a failed ceasefire.

The two met again on Friday at the United Nations and made what Kerry said was "a little bit of progress" on resolving their differences on Syria.

"We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period," Kerry told reporters.

Asked at the UN earlier whether the truce could be reinstated, Lavrov simply said: "You should ask the Americans."

He later told the UN General Assembly that US-Russian agreements aimed at ending the Syria conflict must be salvaged, saying there was "no alternative" to the process.

"Now it is essential to prevent a disruption of these agreements," Lavrov said.

Thursday's Kerry-Lavrov talks in New York broke up after Russia refused US demands that it promise to immediately ground the Syrian regime's air force.

- 'Partition card' -

Also in New York, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "playing the card of a partition" of his country with the Aleppo offensive.

The Syrian opposition coalition, meanwhile, condemned what it termed the regime's Russian-backed "criminal campaign... targeting the besieged residential districts of Aleppo".

Story continues

An AFP journalist in rebel-held east Aleppo reported relentless air raids and artillery fire overnight and Friday morning.

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which supports hospitals in Aleppo, said the city's residents "already suffocating under the effects of the siege, have yet again come under horrific attack".

"In many areas, the wounded and sick have nowhere to go at all - they are simply left to die," said Carlos Francisco, the MSF head of mission in Syria.

An AFP correspondent inside the city said the barrage had flattened entire apartment blocks, overwhelming rescue teams from the White Helmets civil defence organisation.

In the Al-Kalasseh district, three buildings were levelled by a single strike, and rescue workers tried frantically to reach survivors using a single bulldozer and their bare hands.

The White Helmets' headquarters in the Ansari district was badly damaged and a second centre operated by the group was also hit.

Rescue workers told AFP their stock of diesel was down to 2,000 litres (530 gallons), forcing them to ration fuel and make choices on when to intervene.

Also in Aleppo province, the Observatory reported 15 deaths including 11 children in a Russian raid on the rebel-held town of Beshkatine and 11 killed in raids by unidentified aircraft on Islamic State group stronghold Al-Bal.

- Ground assault -

The bombardment came a day after the Syrian army announced an offensive to recapture east Aleppo, which has been held by the rebels since mid-2012 but has been surrounded by government forces since July.

The army urged civilians to distance themselves from "the positions of terrorist groups" and pledged that fleeing residents would not be detained.

A high-ranking military source confirmed that the bombardment was preparation for a ground assault.

"We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment," he told AFP.

"This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground."

The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives and displaced over half the country's population since March 2011.

In a bid to relaunch peace talks, Kerry and Lavrov announced a ceasefire on September 9, with Moscow responsible for forcing government troops to stand down and allow in UN aid convoys.

Washington was supposed to pressure rebel forces to respect the truce and distance themselves from jihadists, but the ceasefire fell apart acrimoniously and the Syrian army declared it over on Monday.

UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said Thursday's failed talks were "long, painful and disappointing" and warned of escalating violence.

In Geneva, the UN said Friday it was considering a different route to send desperately needed aid to east Aleppo to circumvent the blocked main supply route.

But Lavrov said in New York: "We will not be able to improve the humanitarian situation without the rooting out of the terrorist groups."
A conversation between Neil Cavuto and Rev. Jesse Jackson on Fox Business Networks Cavuto: Coast to Coast took an ugly turn on Thursday when the host asked the civil rights activist if he was deviating from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s peaceful message by supporting the protests in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Can you imagine for a moment if you had this many black police shooting white folks in the back? Jackson said. What would your response be?

I wouldnt break into Macys. I wouldnt break into any store, Cavuto said. I would peacefully protest my rage, as is my right as an American.

Also Read: Richard Sherman: 'People Are Still Missing the Point' of NFL Players' National Anthem Protest (Video)

During the interview, Cavuto referenced instances where demonstrators damaged property and broke into stores during the second night of protests in Charlotte over the police shooting of an African-American man, Keith L. Scott.

Jackson continued, asking Cavuto what his response would be if black cops shot a lot of white people.

The same. But peaceful, Cavuto answered.

Also Read: Steve Harvey on Terence Crutcher Shooting: 'This is Crazy, This Country Losing It'

Watch the video above. The interview begins at the nine-minute mark.

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Cam Newton Speaks Out on Police Shootings: 'People Need to Be Held Accountable'
ROME  As it rolls out in Turkey, Netflix has struck a substantial deal with Eccho Rights for global distribution of more than 450 hours of mostly Turkish TV drama content, including many of the countrys top-rated shows, such as The End, Kurt Seyit & Sura, and Winter Sun.

The volume deal was announced Friday, a day after Netflix launched its subscription service in Turkey. The country is still considered a fast-growing TV market, both in terms of consumption and production, despite political turbulence.

Netflix said Thursday that more than 80% of content offered by its Turkish service, including House of Cards, Narcos, and Jessica Jones, would be available dubbed or subtitled in Turkish. The rest of its offerings in Turkish represent the cream of the local TV crop.

The Netflix Turkish service is being operated in partnership with telco operator Vodafone.

Eccho, which is based in Stockholm, Istanbul and Hong Kong, said its Netflix deal is for worldwide licenses but is not exclusive.

Turkish titles include crime series Ezel; historical romancer Kurt Seyit & Sura, which is aired in the U.S. on MundoFox; and psychological thriller series The End. These all come from Turkeys leading TV drama production company, Ay Yapim, which recently struck an exclusive partnership with Eccho on its five new upcoming shows.

Other Turkish series set to expand their global reach via Netflix include romancer Cant Run From Love, from Erler Film; mob drama Kacak, from Surec Film; and revenge drama Winter Sun (pictured), from Endemol Shine Turkey.

Ecchos volume deal with Netflix also includes some non-Turkish shows. The standouts among these, which attest to the increasing vibrancy of the TV industries in former Soviet bloc countries, include sitcom Servant of the People, about a history teacher who becomes the president of Ukraine, from Studio Kvartal 95 in Ukraine; and Russian cop show Silver Spoon, from Sreda production, which has been a big hit in Russia. Servant of the People has been optioned for remake by Fox Television Studios in the U.S.

Story continues

We are happy to deepen our co-operation with Netflix for worldwide launch of the titles that we represent, said Fredrik af Malmborg, managing director of Eccho Rights. To be on the Netflix platform is a mark of quality and gives us the chance to reach new target groups.

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ELMWOOD PARK  It may be a small village, but that doesnt mean Elmwood Park doesnt deal with a lot of the same issues larger municipalities do.

Case in point: The Village Board plans to add an ordinance to regulate the location of residence of sex offenders in proximity to the villages two school buildings, church and park.

We have no sex offender ordinance right now, said Village President Ellis Steiner. The ordinance were looking at right now is similar to the ones in many of the villages and cities in the state of Wisconsin.

The village first broached the idea back in 2014, but brought the proposal back at Sept. 15s board meeting. The ordinance will be modeled after Racines and Kenoshas and will be drafted prior to a public hearing at the next board meeting on Oct. 13.

It goes back to the desire of the board to do something along those lines because it seemed like something thats occurring as a concern more and more for villages and cities, Steiner said. It wasnt completed, so were just wrapping up what was started.

Steiner said the village currently houses two sex offenders and that they wouldnt be forced to move after the establishment of the ordinance.

The ordinance will have a few differences from Racines sex offender residence ordinance. The Racine ordinance regulates sex offenders near buildings such as libraries and public swimming pools, things Elmwood Park does not have.

Some of the language were not going to be using, Steiner said.

The locations that will have relevance in the new ordinance are both Evergreen Academy buildings, 3131 Taylor Ave. and 3554 Taylor Ave.; Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3350 Lathrop Ave.; and Beebe Park, 3554 Lathrop Ave.

Another difference from Racines ordinance could be the distance from those four location an offender would have to live. Racine stipulates 1,000 feet, and while Steiner said Elmwood Park is considering somewhere between 500 and 1,000 feet; he said that the larger extreme could prove extremely restrictive.

If we go with 1,000 feet were covering ostensibly all of (the village), he said.

Steiner added that the ordinance needs to be drafted two weeks in advance of the next meeting and that the village is moving forward with its plan to put the ordinance in place after that.

Im proceeding with putting it on the table for a public hearing, he said.
After a film festival screening earlier this year of Netflix's new documentary Audrie & Daisy, its star, Daisy Coleman, learned just how much it resonates with teenagers.



The screening was for an audience of 600 high school students in Toronto, she says. Afterward: There was a line of boys and girls out the door of the theater, wanting to talk about it.



"And it was just so powerful knowing that so many people were affected by this," Coleman tells PEOPLE, "and so many people actually took this home with them and learned from this."



That's the kind of conversation starter that Audrie & Daisy  a film about sexual assault and an Internet culture that amplifies the trauma of victims  has already been, its filmmakers tell PEOPLE. And that's the kind of conversation they hope to keep going after the documentary debuted Friday.







The film follows several teenage girls, but twines itself around two: Coleman, whose 2012 alleged sexual assault in Maryville, Missouri, made national news when it was not prosecuted; and Audrie Pott, who killed herself after pictures from her 2012 assault were spread online.



"We're at a tipping point," says Bonni Cohen, who directed Audrie & Daisy with husband Jon Shenk, spending more than a year with Coleman in 2014 and 2015.



Cohen says there are solutions for the problems highlighted in the documentary  and for the particular behaviors, and perspectives, that feed them.



For example, the documentary takes an exacting look at the way communities are fractured by sexual assault allegations; and how, with the aid of the Internet and social media, those communities can turn on the victims and their families. (Both Pott's assault and Coleman's alleged assault were captured on film or in photos and later viewed by others.)



"I'm hoping, we're both hoping, that the film can be a catalyst for that kind of change and those kinds of conversations," Cohen says. "We've seen it in our own living room when our kids and their friends watch the film and the discussions that ensued were just incredible."



 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.





Netflix's Audrie & Daisy Tackles Sexual Assault  and Surviving Assault  in the Age of Social Media| Netflix, Crime & Courts, True Crime



"They're all really kind of desperate for what the parameters are for the use of social media and the way they want to treat each other," she says. "We're actually pretty optimistic that change is around the corner."



Cohen says she and Shenk were drawn to the stories of Coleman and Pott: Even though the two lived across the country form each other, their assault cases had many similarities and occurred within eight months of each other.



Coleman also tried to kill herself after her alleged assault, like Pott, but was unsuccessful. She tells PEOPLE that the chance to be a voice for Pott's story was a key reason she participated in the documentary. Shenk says Pott's death "haunts" the story, and the filmmakers spent time with her family and friends to capture who she was.



The film treats its subject matter directly, using police interrogation footage as well as interviews with many of the people involved in each case, but is not graphic, often making thoughtful elisions around the trauma. In one notable example, it uses animation to depict Pott's sexual assailants, who were required to be anonymously interviewed for the film as part of their settlement with her family in a civil case.



The film also recreates real-time social media and text exchanges, to evoke the perspective of the teenagers at the time.



"We found that even though it's really difficult viewing, that the kids really appreciate that they recognize their culture in this film and the way that social media's portrayed," Cohen says. "The way the conversation's happening is very frank, it's very direct, and it's very emotional. The storytelling for them is very important."



Shenk says the filmmakers hope they can "help provide a framework" for conversation and education on sexual assault.



To that end, he and Cohen have partnered with multiple organizations including the non-profit Futures Without Violence, which developed discussion guides for the film. Netflix, in conjunction with distributor Film Sprout, is also hosting hundreds of community screenings around the country this fall and winter.



Coleman  when she isn't taking classes as a college sophomore or working on her tattoo apprenticeship  is also working in advocacy. She says that whatever pain she experienced as a result of social media, it has also helped connect her with other assault survivors.



"It's almost as if we have this whole little army of people just working together," she says.



Shenk says he's seen powerful reactions from the boys and men who view the film as well: "I get a lot of, 'This is the last film i wanted to see today but now that I've seen it, I cannot wait to have everybody I know see it. ' "



Audrie & Daisy is out now on Netflix.
MANAGUA (Reuters) - Nicaragua on Thursday criticized a proposal by U.S. lawmakers that would require the Central American country, which will hold elections in November, to make political changes in order to receive international loans. "We reject as a violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, the proposals and initiatives presented in the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States," the government said in a statement. The Nicaraguan government was responding to the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act, a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. A version was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate earlier this month. The bill proposes blocking Nicaragua from obtaining loans from international financial institutions unless the country "is taking effective steps to hold free, fair, and transparent elections." On Nov. 6, Nicaraguans will vote for president and 90 members of the National Assembly. President Daniel Ortega is the favorite as he seeks his third consecutive term. He has selected his wife as his vice presidential candidate. (Reporting by Ivan Castro; Writing by Joanna Zuckerman Bernstein; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Hollywood just finished celebrating television's best and brightest at the Emmys, and now they're gearing up to celebrate style.

The second annual InStyle Awards will be held on Oct. 24 at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, honoring Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and Priyanka Chopra.

WATCH: Nicole Kidman Rocks Gray Hair and Looks Absolutely Fabulous -- See the Pic!

Kidman will be honored with the Style Icon Award, while Woodley will receive the Advocate Award, and Chopra will claim Breakthrough Style Star.

Other honorees include Tom Ford, for designing, Leslie Fremar for styling, Sir John for makeup, and Danilo for hairstyling.

"InStyle represents the confluence of fashion and the red carpet. At the InStyle Awards, we recognize the impact these two worlds have on each other," Laura Brown, Editor-in-Chief of InStyle, said in a statement. "Inspired by our annual 'Hollywood's 50 Best Dressed' list, the awards spotlight the power of fashion and celebrity, as well as that of stylists. I'm thrilled to be joining InStyle at such an exciting time, and to host our signature event."

WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Priyanka Chopra Says She's Cruel to 'Baywatch' Co-Stars: 'Everyone's Going to Hate Me'

Kidman is clearly deserving of her Style Icon title -- check out her latest show-stopping look in the video below

Related Articles
Bratislava (AFP) - A last-gasp push to seal a landmark free trade deal between the European Union and the United States before the end of Barack Obama's presidency has failed, EU ministers agreed on Friday.

"It is not realistic to reach the final agreement by the end of the Obama administration," said Peter Ziga, the trade minister of Slovakia which currently holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency.

The decision puts the fate of the accord on the US side in the hands of Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, who are both running their presidential campaigns on anti-trade deal platforms.

The highly ambitious Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (or TTIP) would create the world's biggest market of 850 million consumers stretching from Hawaii to Lithuania.

But with talks dragging on since 2013, opposition has grown, most dangerously in key member states France and Germany amid fears that TTIP will undermine European standards on health and the environment.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem, who leads the talks with the US, said it takes five or six months for a new American administration to be fully in place and that effectively puts the negotiations on hold.

"When we can restart, (that) is a bit too early to speculate until we know what the administration would look like," she said after EU trade ministers met in the Slovak capital.

The ministers met hoping to patch up deep differences after tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged European cities in recent days demanding the EU walk away from the deal.

"From our point of view, the (TTIP) talks are effectively suspended because meaningful negotiations are no longer taking place," said Reinhold Mitterlehner, the economy minister from Austria where opposition to the deal is fierce.

"It would be wise to put on mute something that is perceived so negatively," he added, confirming a position Austria shares with France.

Story continues

- 'Restart' TTIP -

Critics complain that the US side has failed to offer any serious proposals, especially on sensitive issues such as protecting geographical labelling for renowned farm products such as Champagne or Roquefort cheese.

"I am convinced that we must restart on totally new grounds," said French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl, one of TTIP's loudest critics, adding that more and more member states were coming round to his view.

In Germany, TTIP has split the ruling coalition, with Chancellor Angela Merkel still its biggest backer but her socialist partners, led by Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, dead set against it.

Hopes were strong meanwhile for CETA, a similar deal with Canada that has already been negotiated but which had to overcome unexpected hurdles in Austria and Germany.

Fears of a failure of CETA have waned since Gabriel's socialists narrowly backed the deal at a party conference last week.

Last-minute opposition also flared up in Austria and Belgium but the ministers now expect to approve the agreement next month so that it can be signed with Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau at an EU-Canada summit on October 27.

CETA would then go on for ratification in national and regional parliaments across the EU, a tricky and time consuming process, though most of the terms will be able to be implemented provisionally.

Opponents believe CETA is an attempt to set a dangerous precedent before completing the much bigger accord with the US.

More than 160,000 demonstrators thronged major cities across Germany on Saturday in opposition to both trade deals. Thousands more protested outside EU headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.
North Carolina Rep. Robert Pittenger has issued an apology after saying protesters in Charlotte "hate white people" for being successful.



"I apologize to those I offended and hope we can bring peace and calm to Charlotte," Pittenger, 68, wrote in a string of tweets on Thursday.



The tweets come after Pittenger spoke out about the protests that have erupted in Charlotte following the shooting of an African-American man, Keith Lamont Scott, in an interview with BBC.



"The grievance in the [protesters'] mind  the animus, the anger  they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not," he told the publication.



He also mentioned the state's welfare system that, he said, puts "people in bondage."





I apologize to those I offended and hope we can bring peace and calm to Charlotte. a Rep Robert Pittenger (@reppittenger) September 22, 2016







My intent was to discuss the lack of economic mobility for African Americans because of failed policies. a Rep Robert Pittenger (@reppittenger) September 22, 2016







My answer to BBC doesn't reflect who I am. I was quoting statements made by angry protesters last night on national TV. Not my intent a Rep Robert Pittenger (@reppittenger) September 22, 2016





However, Pittenger later told CNN that he was simply repeating statements he heard from protesters.



"Frankly, I was quoting what they were saying last night on what I observed on your network," he said. "And their hatred for white people. And that saddens me greatly."



He echoed his statements on Twitter, writing, "My answer to BBC doesn't reflect who I am. I was quoting statements made by angry protesters last night on national TV. Not my intent."









He added: "My intent was to discuss the lack of economic mobility for African-Americans because of failed policies."



Still, the politician's comments didn't sit well with many social media users, some of whom took to Twitter to call Pittenger racist and compare him to white supremacists.



"Congressman @reppittenger went full racist," one tweeter wrote. "Come on out the closet and live your trutha"





Thank you congressman Robert Pittenger for at least not using a sheet to cover your face when speaking from your heart. a Vince Morris (@vincemorris) September 23, 2016





Another person tweeted: "Thank you congressman Robert Pittenger for at least not using a sheet to cover your face when speaking from your heart."





NC Rep Robert Pittenger is on #CNN right now trying to apologize for his racist comments towards Blacks,and he is digging a bigger hole a Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) September 23, 2016





Violent protests broke out on the city's northeast side on Tuesday after Officer Brentley Vinson fatally shot 43-year-old Scott.



Police said they were responding to an unrelated call at an apartment complex when they saw Scott get out of a vehicle with a gun.



Authorities said Scott "posed an imminent deadly threat to officers" before he was fatally shot.
A North Carolina congressman has apologized after saying the Charlotte protesters hate white people.

Rep. Robert Pittenger, who is white, was asked in an interview with the BBC on Thursday about the unrest roiling his home state. The grievance in their mind is the animus, the anger, he said, Politico reports. They hate white people because white people are successful and theyre not.

We have spent trillions of dollars on welfare, where we put people in bondage so they cant be all that theyre capable of being, he continued.

The Republican congressman later said sorry and expressed regret for his remarks. What is taking place in my hometown right now breaks my heart, Pittenger said in a statement released Thursday. My anguish led me to respond to a reporters question in a way that I regret. The answer doesnt reflect who I am. I was quoting statements made by angry protestors last night on national TV. My intent was to discuss the lack of economic mobility for African-Americans because of failed policies. I apologize to those I offended and hope we can bring peace and calm to Charlotte.

Thursday night marked an evening of peace after days of riots following the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man, Keith Lamont Scott.
(Reuters) - A Paris exhibition of Belgian artist Rene Magritte's works hopes to explore the surrealist painter's interest in philosophy and how he translated it into his art. "Rene Magritte, The Treachery of Images (La Trahison des Images)" at Centre Georges Pompidou museum in Paris, opened on Wednesday and features more than 100 paintings, drawings and documents by the artist, who died in 1967 at age 68. The exhibition, which runs through January 2017, features one of Magritte's most famous paintings, 1929's "The Treachery of Images," which features an image of a tobacco pipe with the words "This is not a pipe" underneath it, undermining the connection between words and objects. "Philosophical tradition, obviously, always rejected or had contempt for images because images belong to a sensual universe, and words belong to an intellectual universe," Didier Ottinger, curator at the Centre Pompidou, told Reuters. The painter's dialogue with philosophers such as Michel Foucault focused heavily on the relationship between words and images. "Magritte wanted to cross swords, meaning to engage in a theoretical combat with the philosophers, to prove to them that images can express thoughts in the same way that words can," Ottinger said. Aside from words juxtaposed with images, certain objects recur in Magritte's body of work - the candle or fire, the shadow, the silhouette, the body in pieces. He used such imagery, normally seen as representations of desire, to question art's capacity to render reality. One room is dedicated to the recurrent theme of curtains and trompe l'oeil (illusions). In 1960's "Memories of a Saint," an enclosed curtain's other side is a sky. In his 1938 self-portrait "Clairvoyance," a painter looks at an egg as a model, but draws a bird on the canvas. In "Hegel's Holiday," a painting of a glass of water balanced atop an umbrella, Magritte pays tribute to German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's concept of dualism - of mind and nature, subject and object. Alejandra Rossetti, a visitor from New York, said she was drawn to Magritte's exploration of what is real and unreal. "It's the power of dreams, and the way that words are almost more important than the image itself and the mix of the words with the image, and the phenomenal imagery that he recreates," Rossetti said. (Reporting by Reuters TV in Paris; Writing by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Peter Cooney)
RACINE  Recent federal funding cuts have forced the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO) to close its transitional housing program  a program that helps those who need assistance over an extended period of time.

The thinking in the government is these people arent as vulnerable because they dont have a disability or major mental health issues, HALO Executive Director Kevin Cookman said. The cut totaled approximately $250,000, Cookman said.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the funding cuts in May and, as a result, HALO hasnt added anyone new to the transitional housing program since July 1.

HALO announced the programs closing in a release Thursday and also called for an increase in community support. The call for additional support comes just a week after the Hospitality Center, which also serves Racines homeless, cited a need for more community donations.

HALO needs additional community support if we are going to continue helping the most vulnerable persons in our community reach self-sufficiency in this current landscape of decreased public support and increased service related challenges, the release states.

According to the release, the program has helped 293 individuals, including 160 children to transition from homelessness to self-sufficient apartment living. Cookman estimated the program regularly makes up 5 percent of the total population HALO assists, but nearly 15 percent of the children, including many single-parent families.

Its a population that is kind of difficult, Cookman said. What we dont want to be doing is putting single-parent households in peril.

HALO still enjoys strong financial support from the community. Andy Koetz, HALOs community outreach and development manager, said in an email that HALOs donations have nearly tripled since the 2008-09 fiscal year, from $209,057 to $581,480 in 2015-16.

Still, without the funding for the transitional housing, Cookman anticipates HALO will have a $30,000 to $40,000 programming hole and will need that community support number to keep rising.

The closing of the program, which still includes four households that have at most maybe another month left, according to Cookman, also will alter plans at HALOs newest apartment complex at 2005 Washington Ave. The eight-unit building was slated to serve roughly four HALO households and four other general low-income tenants.

We may use a little less than half of that now, but well still be using it, Cookman said.

Broader mission

For prospective donors looking to help HALO possibly revive the transitional housing program, Cookman said its important to realize that HALO works on the entire process of transitioning people out of homelessness, beyond just giving people shelter.

A large portion of our community think HALO, because its still called a shelter, is nothing more than a bed and a meal, he said. To combine all of those together and to move people back into a place where theyre taking care of themselves is what we do.
(Corrects date of Roche Alecensa data release to next year)

By John Miller

ZURICH, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Novartis's Zykadia drug performed well against a rare form of lung cancer, the Swiss company said on Friday, citing a study it hopes will help it win expanded regulatory approval for the use of the drug.

But it faces competition from a medicine produced by rival Roche that some analysts say may already have the upper hand.

Novartis released results of a phase III clinical trial of Zykadia, or ceritinib, on previously untreated patients with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer.

Patients treated with Zykadia showed a significant improvement in their chances of surviving without the cancer spreading compared with standard chemotherapy, the firm said.

"We are pleased to see these topline results show promise in untreated patients with advanced disease, and look forward to sharing these data with regulatory authorities in the coming months," said Alessandro Riva, a global head in Novartis's oncology unit.

In May, Roche released study results showing its Alecensa drug demonstrated a 66 percent reduction in risk of progression of ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer compared with Pfizer's crizotinib that is now the standard initial treatment for the disease.

Consequently, Alecensa may already have an advantage over Zykadia in taking market share from Pfizer if both drugs win regulatory approval for first-line treatment.

One analyst faulted the Novartis study for comparing the results of its drug with chemotherapy rather than testing its performance against Pfizer's crizotinib.

"It's better to design something against the standard of care," Stefan Schneider, an analyst at Bank Vontobel, told Reuters. "Taken from the current data, we assume that Alecensa will be superior to Zykadia from an efficacy and safety perspective in the first line ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer."

Schneider said in a separate note to investors that the bank believed revenue potential for Novartis's drug as a first-line treatment was "limited."

Story continues

Roche plans to release more Alecensa data next year, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

Zykadia and Alecensa already have U.S. approval to be used as an alternative or second-line treatment in patients who did not tolerate Pfizer's crizotinib, whose brand name is Xalkori.

Zykadia also has the green light for second-line treatment in Europe.

Some analysts have trimmed forecasts for Zykadia in recent months to $320 million in sales in 2020, according to an average of estimates collected by Thomson Reuters.

Alecensa is seen bringing in about 680 million Swiss francs ($700 million) in 2020, the data shows.

ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer affects between 2 and 7 percent of roughly 1.8 million new lung cancer cases reported annually.

($1 = 0.9708 Swiss francs) (Reporting by John Miller and Michael Shields; Editing by Adrian Croft)
Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama had a bit of advice Friday for Hillary Clinton, his Democratic Partys White House nominee, who soon faces Republican rival Donald Trump in the first presidential debate.

Asked what suggestions he might offer Clinton ahead of the debate Monday, the president told ABC News: Be yourself and explain what motivates you.

He added that Clinton is motivated by a deep desire to make things better for people.

The nationally televised debate Monday, pitting the two major-party presidential candidates in a tight race just six weeks ahead of the November 8 election, is expected to smash audience records.

Each word, gesture and look will be parsed minutely.

In the ABC interview, Obama praised Clinton, a veteran politician who has so far failed to inspire much voter enthusiasm.

Ive gotten to know Hillary and seen her work and seen her in tough times and in good times, he said of his former secretary of state. She is in this for the right reasons.

No woman has ever been elected US president, Obama noted, so she is having to break down some barriers.

There is a level of mistrust and a caricature of her, he added, that doesnt jibe with who I know, this person that cares deeply about kids.
By Patricia Zengerle and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed legislation allowing families of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia, which could prompt Congress to overturn his decision with a rare veto override, the first of his presidency. Obama said the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act would hurt U.S. national security and harm important alliances, while shifting crucial terrorism-related issues from policy officials into the hands of the courts. The bill passed the Senate and House of Representatives in reaction to long-running suspicions, denied by Saudi Arabia, that hijackers of the four U.S. jetliners that attacked the United States in 2001 were backed by the Saudi government. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Obama said other countries could use the law, known as JASTA, as an excuse to sue U.S. diplomats, members of the military or companies - even for actions of foreign organizations that had received U.S. aid, equipment or training. "Removing sovereign immunity in U.S. courts from foreign governments that are not designated as state sponsors of terrorism, based solely on allegations that such foreign governments' actions abroad had a connection to terrorism-related injuries on U.S. soil, threatens to undermine these longstanding principles that protect the United States, our forces, and our personnel," Obama said in a statement. Senator Chuck Schumer, who co-wrote the legislation and has championed it, immediately made clear how difficult it will be for Obama to sustain the veto. Schumer, the No. 3 Democrat in the Senate, issued a statement within moments of receiving the veto, promising that it would be swiftly and soundly overturned. He represents New York, home of most of the Sept. 11 victims. Both the Democratic and Republican candidates for president, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, said they would have signed the bill into law if they were in the White House. SOME DOUBTS If two-thirds of the lawmakers in both the Senate and House vote to override, the law would stand, the first such override since he became president in 2009, and possibly the last. Obama leaves office in January. Friday's veto was the twelfth of his presidency. An override has been expected, despite some lawmakers saying they had doubts about the measure. In a letter seen by Reuters on Friday, Republican Representative Mac Thornberry, chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee, said he would oppose the override. "My primary concern is that this bill increases the risk posed to American military and intelligence personnel, diplomats and others serving our country around the world," Thornberry wrote in a letter encouraging his fellow Republicans to sustain the veto. House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday he thought there were enough votes to override a veto, but had concerns. "I worry about trial lawyers trying to get rich off of this. And I do worry about the precedent," he told reporters. The "9/11 Families & Survivors United for Justice Against Terrorism" group, which has pressed Congress to uphold the legislation, called Obama's veto explanation "unconvincing and unsupportable." The Saudi government has lobbied heavily to stop the bill, the European Union has formally opposed it and Gulf States have condemned it. Major U.S. corporations such as General Electric and Dow Chemical have also pressed lawmakers to reconsider. "The bill is not balanced, sets a dangerous precedent, and has real potential to destabilize vital bilateral relationships and the global economy," GE Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who supports the bill. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Grant McCool)
Risking an election-year public backlash, President Obama on Friday vetoed popular but controversial legislation allowing the relatives of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts. Obamas rejection of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) sets up what seems likely to be the first-ever successful congressional vote to override his veto.

Enacting JASTA into law, Obama warned in a lengthy veto statement, would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks.

Hours before Obama rejected the measure, his former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, broke sharply with his position. She would sign this legislation if it came to her desk, Clinton campaign spokesman Jesse Lehrich told Yahoo News by email. She had previously staked out ambiguous turf, applauding congressional efforts to get justice for 9/11 families without explicitly supporting the legislation.

Donald Trumps campaign did not return requests for the Republican presidential nominees position. But after Obamas veto, he released a statement saying it was shameful and will go down as one of the low points of his presidency.

If elected president, I would sign such legislation should it reach my desk, the GOP nominee vowed.

Obamas veto sets up a congressional battle that pits the White House and its allies against supporters of the bill, who need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override Obama. The fight takes place against the backdrop of an election season in which candidates facing the voters surely dread the prospect of explaining why they sided against a measure strongly supported by the relatives of people killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

The legislation never explicitly mentions Saudi Arabia, which was home to most of the 9/11 hijackers, but that American ally is widely understood to be the main target. The bill would change federal law to allow lawsuits against foreign governments or officials for injuries, death or damages stemming from an act of international terrorism. Current law recognizes sovereign immunity, which protects governments and government officials from civil cases.

Story continues

Representatives of 9/11 families denounced the veto, saying they were outraged and dismayed by Obamas decision and urging Congress to do right by them by quickly overriding this veto.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a leading author of the bill, branded Obamas decision disappointing and said an override vote would give 9/11 families the chance to seek the justice they deserve, and send a clear message that we will not tolerate those who finance terrorism in the United States.

The Obama administration and a bipartisan group of former senior foreign policy, intelligence and military officials have warned that the legislation could lead other countries to change their laws to strip U.S. officials and armed forces personnel of legal protections.

Were another country to behave reciprocally towards the United States, that could be a problem for some of our service members, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee at a Thursday hearing.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, backed the bill but has recently indicated shes rethinking her position. And some Republican senators worry about the potential affect on U.S. troops deployed overseas.

A congressional source, speaking to Yahoo News on condition of anonymity, suggested that one possible compromise would be to let the veto stand but pass modified legislation that the White House could accept. Another possibility, some argue, would be for Saudi Arabia to reach some kind of voluntary accommodation with the 9/11 families.

The reason that were having conversations is to try to find an approach that would satisfy the concerns and the desire of some members of Congress to want to address the requests of the 9/11 families, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily briefing on Friday. Were hopeful that they can find a way to do that that doesnt carve out the kinds of exceptions that put our diplomats and servicemembers at risk around the world.

How about a path forward for the 9/11 families thats done in a fashion that will not be seen as a hostile act towards Saudi Arabia? Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said recently. It may wind up that if nobodys trying to accommodate this problem, were just going to vote. And if I have to vote, Im going to vote to override the veto.

The terror-lawsuit measure previously sailed through Congress: The Senate passed it without objection and the House approved it by voice vote. But while its congressional backing suggests a broad base of support for the legislation, the voting process did not put any individual on the record as backing or opposing the bill. Democratic congressional aides say they expect the White House to try to corral enough lawmakers to try to sustain Obamas veto. They say Democrats who did not heed the administrations initial arguments may come around when the issue is whether or not to override the president.

But Clintons last-minute support for the measure may complicate the White Houses efforts by letting congressional Democrats side with their presidential nominee over their president.
Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed a bill allowing 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia, risking a fierce public backlash and rare congressional rebuke.

While expressing "deep sympathy" for the families of the victims, Obama said the law would be "detrimental to US national interests."

The White House tried and failed to have the legislation -- which was unanimously passed by Congress -- scrapped or substantially revised.

Terry Strada, whose husband Tom was killed in World Trade Center Tower One, told AFP the 9/11 "families are outraged and very disappointed" by Obama's decision.

She vowed that the group would now lobby "just as hard as we possibly can" to have Congress overturn the decision.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has already painted Obama and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton as weak on terrorism, described the decision as "shameful."

"That President Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace."

"If elected president, I would sign such legislation should it reach my desk."

On that point at least Trump was in agreement with Clinton, who, according to her campaign spokesman Jesse Lehrich, would also sign the bill.

Obama now faces the very real prospect of Republican and Democratic lawmakers joining forces to override his veto for the first time in his presidency.

Such a rebuke -- which Congressional sources say could come as early as next Tuesday -- would mark Obama's last months in office and show the White House to be much weakened.

Obama has issued 12 vetoes during his presidency and none have yet been revoked.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer -- a Democrat with close ties to Obama and who cosponsored the bill -- insisted that is about to change.

"This is a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress," he said.

Story continues

"If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable."

- Lobbying furiously -

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.

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.

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.

- Sovereign immunity -

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 involvement in the attacks.

The White House insists Obama did not veto because of concerns over ties with Saudi Arabia, saying it is worried the bill would set a dangerous legal precedent, undermining the principle of sovereign immunity.

The European Union and a host of countries have expressed similar concerns.

But that technical legal argument will struggle to be heard over emotive accusations that Obama is putting relations with Saudi Arabia before 9/11 victims.

The White House will now hold out hope that the override could be delayed until after the November 8 election, when the politics may be less toxic and minds may be changed.

Congressional sources said White House appeals to security-minded senators like Dianne Feinstein may yet be enough to avoid the rebuke.
Four months after US President Barack Obama plonked down on a plastic stool at Bun Cha Huong Lien for a bowl of Hanoi's signature pork noodles, the restaurant is cashing in on customers eager to taste what all the fuss is about.

Previously a mainstay among a mostly local customer base, hungry foreigners are now coming in droves to the restaurant dubbed "Obama bun cha" for the Hanoi lunch staple: grilled pork patty and bacon in a sweet broth with rice noodles.

"People come here because they are curious about why Obama chose my restaurant," said owner Nguyen Thi Lien, who has been running the eatery for 23 years.

Eager to tap the star power of her recent VIP diner, Lien has introduced a $4 "Combo Obama" lunch special of noodles, a side of deep fried spring rolls and a Hanoi beer -- but swears she has kept her prices the same.

"So many have come and we cannot serve them all," she said at the two-storey restaurant, which is now plastered with photos of Obama and his dinner guest, globetrotting US chef Anthony Bourdain.

The pair stopped by during Obama's May trip to Vietnam -- the third by a sitting president since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 -- to film a scene for Bourdain's CNN show "Parts Unknown" which airs Sunday.

In a teaser for the episode, Bourdain lauded the US leader for his chopstick skills as he expertly scooped up a mouth of noodles during an evening off from his diplomatic duties.

Obama seemed impressed with the local fare.

"This is killer, this is outstanding," he said.

The pork pit stop has seen the number of customers double, according to Lien, and the restaurant appears set to become a fixture on Hanoi's tourist trail.

"I saw that Obama had been here, saw that Anthony Bourdain had been here, and I generally follow their advice, figured they'd have good taste, came here and found it to be true," American tourist Andrew Lala told AFP.
Those looking for certain decorations from Wind Point resident Nick Comandes now-retired Halloween display, Hollows Way, will need to head over to Mount Pleasant instead. Comande passed down the torch  and some of his decor  to his first cousin twice removed, Brayden LoPiccolo, after last years holiday was Hollows Ways 50th and final year.
(Adds details, background)

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Office Depot Inc said on Friday it would sell its European operations to investment company Aurelius Group, four months after the office supplies retailer said it would explore strategic alternatives for the business.

The company, which did not disclose a deal value, said the deal would be structured as an equity sale for "nominal consideration."

Office Depot's European business brings in annual sales of about 2 billion euros ($2.25 billion), the company said in a statement.

The deal is subject to consultation with the central works council, which represents employees in France, besides regulatory clearances.

Office Depot will have to pay 5 million euros ($5.62 million) to Aurelius if it doesn't exercise its option to sell after consultations within the prescribed time or if it fails to participate in the consultation process, according to a regulatory filing. (http://bit.ly/2cX4wh4)

The second-largest office supplies retailer said in May that it was considering selling some of its European Operations after calling off a merger with larger rival Staples Inc due to antitrust concerns.

Shares of Office Depot were up 1.1 percent at $3.67 in afternoon trade. The stock has lost about half its value in the last 12 months. ($1 = 0.8902 euros) (Reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
By Barani Krishnan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices tumbled 4 percent on Friday on signs Saudi Arabia and arch rival Iran were making little progress in achieving preliminary agreement ahead of talks by major crude exporters next week aimed at freezing production.

Also weighing on sentiment was data showing the United States was on track to add the most number of oil rigs in a quarter since the crude price crash began two years ago. Lower equity prices on Wall Street and other world stock markets was another bearish factor.

Brent crude futures (LCOc1) settled down $1.76, or 3.7 percent, at $45.89 a barrel. For the week, it rose 0.3 percent, accounting for gains in the past two sessions.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures (CLc1) fell $1.84, or 4 percent, to settle at $44.48. On the week, WTI gained 3 percent.

Crude futures slumped after sources said Saudi Arabia did not expect a decision in Algeria where the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other big oil producers were to convene for Sept 26-28 talks.

"The Algeria meeting is not a decision making meeting. It is for consultations," a source familiar with Saudi oil officials' thinking told Reuters.

Earlier in the day, the market rallied when Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce production if Iran caps its own output this year.

Oil prices are typically volatile before OPEC talks and Friday's session was tempered with caution despite market sentiment on a high this week after the U.S. government reported on Wednesday a third straight weekly drop in crude stockpiles.[EIA/S]

"A 'No Deal' result in our definition will be one where OPEC not only failed to get an explicit deal out of the meetings, but also failed to develop a forward plan," Macquarie Capital said in a note, referring to the Algeria talks. "This would be another epic fail by OPEC."

The Alegria talks are OPEC's second attempt for an agreement on production curbs, after a failed effort in May. The market has been skeptical of OPEC's commitment, though, as key members of the group, led by Saudi Arabia and Iran have been pumping at optimum levels to protect market share.

Story continues

Non-OPEC member Russia, the world's largest oil exporter, also hit record highs in production this week.

The production spike, rhetoric from OPEC and recent declines in U.S. stocks have kept crude in a $40-$50 range after 12-year lows of around $26 set in the first quarter.

"Let us reiterate that we still don't expect that a fundamentals driven rally will be strong enough to drive prices above $50 per barrel until Q1 or Q2 of next year," Credit Suisse said in a note. "Equally, however, we don't see a good fundamentals-based case for prices to collapse and set new cycle-lows all over again."

(Additional reporting by Sabina Zawadzki and Libby George in LONDON and Henning Gloystein; in SINGAPORE; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Cynthia Osterman)
By Barani Krishnan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices tumbled 4 percent on Friday on signs Saudi Arabia and arch rival Iran were making little progress in achieving preliminary agreement ahead of talks by major crude exporters next week aimed at freezing production.

Also weighing on sentiment was data showing the United States was on track to add the most number of oil rigs in a quarter since the crude price crash began two years ago. Lower equity prices on Wall Street and other world stock markets was another bearish factor. [RIG/U] [.N] [MKTS/GLOB]

Brent crude futures (LCOc1) settled down $1.76, or 3.7 percent, at $45.89 a barrel. For the week, it rose 0.3 percent, accounting for gains in the past two sessions.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures (CLc1) fell $1.84, or 4 percent, to settle at $44.48. On the week, WTI gained 3 percent.

Crude futures slumped after sources said Saudi Arabia did not expect a decision in Algeria where the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other big oil producers were to convene for Sept 26-28 talks.

"The Algeria meeting is not a decision making meeting. It is for consultations," a source familiar with Saudi oil officials' thinking told Reuters.

Earlier in the day, the market rallied when Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce production if Iran caps its own output this year.

Oil prices are typically volatile before OPEC talks and Friday's session was tempered with caution despite market sentiment on a high this week after the U.S. government reported on Wednesday a third straight weekly drop in crude stockpiles.[EIA/S]

"A 'No Deal' result in our definition will be one where OPEC not only failed to get an explicit deal out of the meetings, but also failed to develop a forward plan," Macquarie Capital said in a note, referring to the Algeria talks. "This would be another epic fail by OPEC."

The Alegria talks are OPEC's second attempt for an agreement on production curbs, after a failed effort in May. The market has been skeptical of OPEC's commitment, though, as key members of the group, led by Saudi Arabia and Iran have been pumping at optimum levels to protect market share. [OPEC/M]

Story continues

Non-OPEC member Russia, the world's largest oil exporter, also hit record highs in production this week.

The production spike, rhetoric from OPEC and recent declines in U.S. stocks have kept crude in a $40-$50 range after 12-year lows of around $26 set in the first quarter.

"Let us reiterate that we still don't expect that a fundamentals driven rally will be strong enough to drive prices above $50 per barrel until Q1 or Q2 of next year," Credit Suisse said in a note. "Equally, however, we don't see a good fundamentals-based case for prices to collapse and set new cycle-lows all over again."

(Additional reporting by Sabina Zawadzki and Libby George in LONDON and Henning Gloystein; in SINGAPORE; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Cynthia Osterman)
By Barani Krishnan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices tumbled 4 percent on Friday on signs Saudi Arabia and arch rival Iran were making little progress in achieving preliminary agreement ahead of talks by major crude exporters next week aimed at freezing production.

Also weighing on sentiment was data showing the United States was on track to add the most number of oil rigs in a quarter since the crude price crash began two years ago. Lower equity prices on Wall Street and other world stock markets was another bearish factor.

Brent crude futures <LCOc1> settled down $1.76, or 3.7 percent, at $45.89 a barrel. For the week, it rose 0.3 percent, accounting for gains in the past two sessions.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures <CLc1> fell $1.84, or 4 percent, to settle at $44.48. On the week, WTI gained 3 percent.

Crude futures slumped after sources said Saudi Arabia did not expect a decision in Algeria where the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other big oil producers were to convene for Sept 26-28 talks.

"The Algeria meeting is not a decision making meeting. It is for consultations," a source familiar with Saudi oil officials' thinking told Reuters.

Earlier in the day, the market rallied when Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce production if Iran caps its own output this year.

Oil prices are typically volatile before OPEC talks and Friday's session was tempered with caution despite market sentiment on a high this week after the U.S. government reported on Wednesday a third straight weekly drop in crude stockpiles.[EIA/S]

"A 'No Deal' result in our definition will be one where OPEC not only failed to get an explicit deal out of the meetings, but also failed to develop a forward plan," Macquarie Capital said in a note, referring to the Algeria talks. "This would be another epic fail by OPEC."

The Alegria talks are OPEC's second attempt for an agreement on production curbs, after a failed effort in May. The market has been skeptical of OPEC's commitment, though, as key members of the group, led by Saudi Arabia and Iran have been pumping at optimum levels to protect market share.

Story continues

Non-OPEC member Russia, the world's largest oil exporter, also hit record highs in production this week.

The production spike, rhetoric from OPEC and recent declines in U.S. stocks have kept crude in a $40-$50 range after 12-year lows of around $26 set in the first quarter.

"Let us reiterate that we still don't expect that a fundamentals driven rally will be strong enough to drive prices above $50 per barrel until Q1 or Q2 of next year," Credit Suisse said in a note. "Equally, however, we don't see a good fundamentals-based case for prices to collapse and set new cycle-lows all over again."

(Additional reporting by Sabina Zawadzki and Libby George in LONDON and Henning Gloystein; in SINGAPORE; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Cynthia Osterman)
By Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton TULSA, Okla. (Reuters) - A white Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer was booked on a first-degree manslaughter charge and released on $50,000 bond on Friday, online jail records showed, after shooting dead an unarmed black man whose car had broken down and blocked a road. Officer Betty Shelby, 42, was charged on Thursday for killing Terence Crutcher, 40, and faces at least four years in prison if she is convicted in the case that has stoked simmering anger among those who see racial bias in U.S. policing. Crutcher died of a penetrating gunshot wound to the chest, Oklahoma medical examiners said, adding that a toxicology report has not yet been completed. Shelby is scheduled for an initial court appearance on Sept. 30. Her attorney told local media she is receiving death threats. In a separate incident, Charlotte, North Carolina has seen three nights of protests, some of them violent, after the fatal shooting of a black man by police on Tuesday. Police videos have not been released in this case so as not to compromise the investigation, authorities said. The incidents are the latest to stir passions over the police use of force against black men. It has stirred broad debate on race and justice in the United States and given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement. In two videos provided by Tulsa police on Monday, Crutcher can be seen with his hands in the air shortly before he was shot last Friday. According to an arrest affidavit, Shelby escalated the situation and overreacted. She was responding to a separate call for a domestic disturbance when she came upon Crutcher in the road. Shelby told investigators Crutcher did not comply with her instructions and "that she was in fear for her life and thought Crutcher was going to kill her," according to the arrest affidavit. According to Tulsa police, Crutcher was unarmed and there was no weapon in the vehicle. In a bid for transparency, they released the videos, one of which was taken from a police helicopter and the other from a dashboard camera in a patrol car. "She became emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted," the affidavit said. In Kansas City, Missouri, a police officer was being investigated for potential misconduct after a message appeared on his Facebook page praising Shelby for her good shot, the department said on Twitter, without identifying the officer. (Additional reporting by Laila Kearney in New York aznd Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Grant McCool and Jeffrey Benkoe)
PBSs Frontline on Tuesday presents The Choice 2016, its quadrennial profile of the two major party presidential contenders, and the latest one may surprise viewers who think they know everything that there is to know about Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Omarosa Manigault, a contestant on The Apprentice who is director of African-American outreach for Trumps campaign, explains what she sees as Trumps motivations for running for president. Among them: resentments.

Every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump, she 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.

Specifically, she is referring to the 2011 White House Correspondents Assn. dinner, in which President Obama mocked Trump, then in the midst of his birther campaign and considering a run for the presidency.

The Choice 2016 is an unvarnished look at Trump and Clinton  relying on extensive archival footage, interviews with friends and biographers and a brisk style of storytelling. Its director, Michael Kirk, was a guest on Varietys PopPolitics on Thursday, and his interview is here.

Heres a clip from The Choice.



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'Frontline,' '60 Minutes' Dominate News and Documentary Emmy Awards (FULL LIST)
BOSTON (Reuters) - One person was injured in an explosion at a power plant north of Boston, local media reported on Friday, with a fire official in the town of Taunton confirming only that an incident had occurred.

The condition of the person injured in the blast was not immediately clear, Fox 25 television reported.

A dispatcher at Taunton's Fire Department confirmed that officials were on the scene but could not provide immediate details.

"There is an incident going on, not sure of the severity," the dispatcher said.

Taunton is located about 33 miles (53 km) north of Boston.

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Washington (AFP) - Oxfam International on Friday called for prudence following the World Bank's announcement that it would tap capital markets for funds to support development work in the world's poorest countries.

The International Development Association, a World Bank arm which offers concessional loans and grants to support poverty alleviation in 77 countries, has received its first credit rating and will soon borrow on capital markets, according to a World Bank announcement on Thursday.

That would be a break from its traditional reliance only on funding from World Bank member countries.

"The Bank also needs to walk with extreme caution if it is going to start using IDA funds to back private sector investments which come with their own set of risks," Nadia Daar, head of Oxfam International's Washington office, told AFP in an email.

"It must ensure that pro-poor development impacts are prioritized above financial returns as investment choices are made."

The IDA is currently negotiating its latest three-year package of donor cash contributions and World Bank officials say that issuing bonds could add as much as 50 percent to the resources available to support clean water and energy development as well as poverty alleviation.

"We hope this financing model doesn't result in donors being let off the hook for committing strong concessional financing towards IDA," Daar told AFP.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli troops on Friday shot and wounded a Palestinian teenager who the army said was attempting to stab Israelis at a bus stop in the occupied West Bank.

"An assailant attempted to carry out a stabbing attack at the Elias junction, near the community of Kiryat Arba," a military statement said.

"Forces at the scene shot the assailant, who is receiving medical treatment."

Palestinian security sources said he was aged 14.

Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek hospital, where the Palestinian was receiving treatment, said in a statement that he arrived "with gunshot wounds to the chest and leg" and was in serious condition, sedated and on a respirator.

An army spokeswoman told AFP that Israeli civilians had been waiting at the stop with soldiers standing guard nearby and it was not known who was the intended target.

Kiryat Arba is an Israeli settlement in the southern West Bank close to the flashpoint Palestinian city of Hebron.

The incident occurred at the same spot where a week ago two Palestinians rammed a car into the bus stop, lightly injuring three civilians before troops killed one of the assailants.

His female companion was shot in the stomach and taken to a Jerusalem hospital in serious condition.

The latest incident was the 10th since September 16, when 28-year-old Jordanian citizen Saeed Amro tried to stab police officers in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and was killed by a policewoman on the spot.

The Elias junction car ramming followed later the same day.

The upsurge of the past seven days has shattered several weeks of relative calm.

Elsewhere Friday, soldiers opened fire on the "main instigators among dozens of Palestinians throwing stones and rolling burning tyres towards the security fence" between Israel and the Gaza Strip, a military spokeswoman told AFP.

The army said one Palestinian was hit, but Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said six were wounded, one of them gravely.

Story continues

Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

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 the 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.
Is the old Paris Hilton back?

The 35-year-old socialite returned to her runway days, walking in Philipp Plein's show during Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday.

WATCH: Gigi Hadid Speaks Out After Getting 'Man-Handled' in the Streets of Italy

Hilton hit the catwalk in a black strapless, cut-out gown that featured an intricate bodychain, which was paired with thigh-high gladiator sandals and metallic aviators.

REX/Shutterstock

Apparently the former reality star's life is so bright, she has to wear shades indoors. Not only that, but she was a clear fan of the rock star ensemble, captioning an Instagram collage on Thursday, "Last night was so much fun! Loved walking in@PhilippPleinInternational's runway show. His new collection is sick!! Those gladiator boots are everything! ."

Hilton's outfit wasn't even the craziest in Plein's Spring/Summer '17 collection, however -- her fellow models, including Karolina Kurkova, also rocked some bold black numbers.

Backstage at @PhilippPleinInternational about to #Rock the #Runway with @SaraSampaio @KarolinaKurkova @GeorgiaFowler  #AliceInGhettoLand #PleinSquad A photo posted by Paris Hilton (@parishilton) on Sep 21, 2016 at 2:22pm PDT

The show was a straight-up party and the place to be in Milan. Not only did Hilton get back to her modeling roots, Fergie and Fat Joe performed.

@fergie #PhilippPlein #SS17 #AliceInGhettoLand A photo posted by PHILIPP PLEIN (@philipppleininternational) on Sep 21, 2016 at 4:28pm PDT

@fatjoe at the #PhilippPlein #AliceInGhettoLand #SS17 fashion show #allthewayup A photo posted by PHILIPP PLEIN (@philipppleininternational) on Sep 21, 2016 at 4:12pm PDT

WATCH: Fergie and Josh Duhamel Take Son Axl to His First Baseball Game

Plein titled his show Alice in Ghetttoland, and the stage truly was a wonderland of fantasy. Pink and blue lighting lined the platform, which was decorated with toy houses, white picket fences, carnival rides, ice cream trucks, and a giant gnome wearing a T-shirt that said "pimp."

Story continues

#PhilippPlein #SS17 #aliceinghettolandettoland A photo posted by PHILIPP PLEIN (@philipppleininternational) on Sep 21, 2016 at 12:32pm PDT

Welcome to #AliceInGhettoLand #PhilippPlein #SS17 A photo posted by PHILIPP PLEIN (@philipppleininternational) on Sep 21, 2016 at 12:40pm PDT

Ice cream!  #PhilippPlein #SS17 #AliceInGhettoLand #FashionShow #AllTheWayUp #pponair #Milan #Milanfashionweek A video posted by PHILIPP PLEIN (@philipppleininternational) on Sep 21, 2016 at 1:55pm PDT

Welcome to #AliceInGhettoLand world #PhilippPlein #SS17 A photo posted by PHILIPP PLEIN (@philipppleininternational) on Sep 21, 2016 at 12:41pm PDT

MORE: Paris and Nicky Hilton Look Adorable in First Big Post-Baby Outing at NYFW

Seriously, this stage was ah-may-zing.

Fergie walked the runway herself, then posed for photos onstage with Plein and after the show with Hilton.

Walk with me into the #PhilippPlein SS17 runway show... #MFW A photo posted by Fergie (@fergie) on Sep 21, 2016 at 12:42pm PDT

REX/Shutterstock

REWIND: Paris Hilton Shows Major Cleavage at Milan's Men's Fashion Week

It's been 10 years since Hilton walked at a fashion week show. Though she's modeled her own line and appeared at smaller fashion events, her last major runway was the Heatherette Spring 2007 show in September 2006, which her sister, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, was also in.

Getty Images for IMG

It's been a very busy month for the jet-setting blonde. She celebrated New York Fashion Week with her younger sister and partied at Burning Man. Find out more about her festival fun in the video below.

Related Articles
By Joseph Ax and Chris Prentice

(Reuters) - Within five days, black men were shot dead by police in two major U.S. cities, with the incidents captured on video. But the reaction on the streets in each was vastly different.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, demonstrators marched peacefully following the killing of Terence Crutcher, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting. In Charlotte, North Carolina, two nights of riots followed the death of Keith Scott, 43, on Tuesday, who refused orders to drop a gun he was holding, according to police. His family says he was holding a book, not a firearm.

The response in each city may be related to how quickly officials released information in the case, policing experts said.

The Charlotte police chief has so far chosen not to release the video publicly despite calls for transparency in the wake of controversial police shootings across the United States.

"The more information that is released, the less opportunity for rumors to spread," said Eric Schneider, an urban and crime historian at the University of Pennsylvania.

The list of U.S. cities that have struggled with racial tensions following police killings has grown as social media has made footage of incidents readily available.

And although broader social issues like anger over income inequality and mistrust of law enforcement contribute to the tension, experts agree the speed with which authorities react is crucial to containing violence.

Following killings in New York City and Charleston, South Carolina, for instance, protests were largely peaceful.

In other cities, including Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, demonstrations turned dangerously violent.

"(In Ferguson) they just weren't prepared. It was almost like they didn't know how to respond. It never crossed their minds that anything like that would happen," said David Carter, a Michigan State University professor who authored a critical U.S. Justice Department review of that city's response to the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager.

Story continues

Experts in policing tactics say the varied responses offer crucial lessons for cities like Charlotte, including the need to communicate quickly with the public and use force sparingly in response to protests.

'GET OUT IN FRONT'

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said again on Friday he would not release any footage at this time.

Later, a lawyer for Scott's family said relatives had viewed two videos of the incident, but that they left them with "more questions than answers."

The family asked officials to allow the public to see the videos "as a matter of the greater good and transparency."

Robert Taylor, a professor of criminology at the University of Texas and an expert in community policing, urged the chief to release the footage.

"It's going to come out no matter what," he said. "If it's highly inflammatory, the chief has an opportunity to explain what it shows and to say, 'You have to give me a chance to investigate.'"

Some experts warned that videos do not always have all the answers. The Tulsa video, for instance, does not show whether Crutcher was reaching into his car at the time, as the officer who shot him has said.

But they also stressed that in the absence of video evidence, people might simply adopt whatever narrative fits their perception of the truth.

Max Geron, a major with the Dallas police department who has studied police responses to protests, said officials should generally release as much information as possible.

"I think you've seen problems across the country with departments that have been slow to adapt with the demand for increased transparency," he said.

The exploding use of social media has made it imperative for officials to communicate with the public right after a police shooting, experts said, especially if it erupts into a national controversy.

"You need to get out in front," Carter said. "Acknowledge the incident."

In North Charleston, for example, officials immediately charged an officer with murder after a released video showed him shooting an unarmed black man in the back.

By contrast, Chicago authorities refused requests to release footage showing the police killing of Laquan McDonald for more than a year until a judge ordered it. Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with murder on the same day the video was made public.

In Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was criticized for what was seen as a slow response after the death of Freddie Gray, prompting riots in the city. Gray suffered a fatal neck injury while handcuffed in the back of a police transport van.

Experts also said police must avoid overreacting to protests with an unnecessary show of force.

"It's almost the first response to call out the guys with the heavy-duty weapons," the University of Pennsylvania's Schneider said. "That should, in fact, be the last response. The most egregious example was, of course, in Ferguson, where police showed up in military gear."

The decision was widely seen as inflaming tensions, as police snipers were stationed atop military vehicles even before demonstrations turned violent.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts announced a midnight curfew on Thursday evening, hoping to stem the violence. The curfew was generally not enforced, with officers watching as peaceful protests dwindled by early Friday.

Many in Charlotte may still remember the 2013 fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man seeking help from police after a car crash. Jonathan Ferrell was shot 10 times by Officer Randall Kerrick, whose trial resulted in a deadlocked jury in 2015.

In the end, experts agreed the best way to prevent violence is to improve police-community relations.

"It's really hard to try to alleviate distrust and problems after an incident," the University of Texas' Taylor said. "What police departments need are years and years of building trust with their communities."

(Reporting by Joseph Ax and Chris Prentice in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
One of Moschinos latest offerings from their capsule collection. (Photo: Moschino)

The see-now buy-now capsule items from this seasons Moschino show are setting social media abuzz as usual, but this time, the Italian label is facing critics who say the swag is in poor taste.

For its latest offering, the label played off a Valley of the Dolls theme and the term capsule collection with pieces inspired by prescription drugs. There is an iPhone case in the shape of a pill bottle, a shoulder bag made to look like the inside of a box of pills, and T-shirt reading, Just say MoschiNO, to name a few. Even the invitation for the show was a pill bottle and a handwritten prescription. While some took the theme as lighthearted fun, others took issue with its motifs, voicing their disapproval on social media.

Moschino is tacky and distasteful. Why are they glamorising pills?  Maximilian Kilworth (@Max_Kilworth) September 23, 2016

Wow the moschino motif of painkillers/pills this season is really gross  Blasty McSplode (@meevist) September 22, 2016

SO MOSCHINO OUT HERE PROMOTING PILLS &DRUG ABUSE .. SOOO NOT COOL.. STOP TRYIN TO GET COIN AND COOL POINTS OFF THIS GENERATIONS BAD HABIT  JERSEYCLUBKWEEN (@UNIIQU3) September 22, 2016

moschino is doing a collection based off of prescription pills pic.twitter.com/JysHMPmr5u  Jared (@bbspiice) September 21, 2016

According to a 2014 presentation from Nora D. Volkow, MD, to the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, It is estimated that between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in 2012 and an estimated 467,000 addicted to heroin. So its easy to see why some people would be upset or feel that Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott is trivializing an important issue.

But, Scott doesnt see it that way. As he told Yahoo Style, Its literally a collection of capsules! And when Jacqueline Susann wrote Valley of the Dolls, she called capsule [pills] dolls. So its a roller coaster of themes, and they can exist separately  the capsule collection and the paper dolls  but they can also reference each other. The designer then went on to say that he hopes the joy he put into this collection comes across to the public. I always say, fashion is the only drug I do. It keeps me going  and if my shows can give you that feeling of awe and joy again, thats my gift. Thats what Im passing on to you.

A pair of pill-printed mens pants from an old Moschino Cheap and Chic collection. (Photo: Nothing Special)

This Rx motif isnt unique to this Moschino collection. The label used a pill print years ago for its Cheap and Chic range, so in a way, theyre breathing new life into an old concept. There are also plenty of fashion labels that have used pills in their pieces. For example, the Row collaborated with Damien Hirst on a backpack covered in pills.

Still, we had to ask Dr. Indra Cidambi, Medical Director at the Center for Network Therapy, in Middlesex, N.J., if this particular instance is a negative glamorization of addiction. According to her, its not as much of a disaster as some are making it out to be. While we want to move away from addiction as a stigma within our society, this reversal of acceptance is going too far, she said. We cant take lightly the fact that people are dealing with serious addictions to prescription painkillers, often turning to heroin for a cheaper fix, and our country is seeing a sharp spike in drug overdoses. But she understands how people could be offended and notes that this sort of collection could be something of an issue for those actually struggling with and trying to get over their addiction. For those fighting addiction, cravings can easily be triggered by anything that conjures up thoughts and feelings of that substance  even a tongue-in-cheek fashion design. Those who are dealing with the grips of addiction or who have lost someone to the disease might not think that it is harmless fun.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
transformers 4 paramount pictures final

On Wednesday, the production for "Transformers: The Last Knight," the fifth movie in the profitable "Transformers" franchise from Paramount, set up shop at the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Blenheim Palace.

A common setting for Hollywood movies  recent titles like 2015's "Cinderella" and "Spectre" have shot there  "The Last Knight" had a different idea for the use of the palace as it became the setting of a Nazi headquarters for the film.

According to The Sun, actors dressed in SS stormtrooper costumes walked the grounds and giant swastika flags huge outside of the building.

Here's how Blenheim Palace typically looks:

Blenheim_Palace_wikipedia

And here's how it looked while "The Last Knight" was filming there:

BLOODY AWFUL

All in the name of making money, #Churchill's home gets a #Nazi makeover for new #Transformers5 movie.https://t.co/Sh95mjWs9r  Jim Walters (@LordOfWalteria) September 23, 2016

I know its a film, but its symbolically disrespectful to Churchill. He will be turning in his grave, Col. Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the Sun.

Churchill is buried a mile from Blenheim Palace, an estate located 60 miles northwest of London, in Oxfordshire. The current resident is the 12th Duke of Marlborough Jamie Spencer-Churchill, who was not at the palace at the time of filming, according to The Sun.

churchill

The plot is currently unknown for "Transformers: The Last Knight," which is directed by Michael Bay and stars Mark Wahlberg and Anthony Hopkins, but should we assume that there is a time travel aspect to this one? Are they going back to World War II? Time travel was featured in the "Transformers" cartoons, but not in the movies yet. Or maybe it's a prequel?

Story continues

Still, wouldn't it have been a better idea to shoot this sequence in a different location and not the birthplace of the British Prime Minister who helped defeat the Nazis?

Business Insider contacted Paramount for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

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A Madison man was charged Thursday with hit-and-run resulting in death following a Sept. 2 crash in Maple Bluff in which the driver of a minivan didnt stop after striking a pedestrian, who later died, at the corner of North Sherman Avenue and Commercial Avenue.

Douglas R. Waldschmidt, 61, faces up to 25 years of prison and extended supervision if he is convicted of the felony. He also would have his drivers license revoked for five years, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dane County Circuit Court.

An autopsy found Jesse Morales, 53, of Madison, died Sept. 4 at UW Hospital as a result of injuries from the crash.

Investigators used witness descriptions and serial numbers from car parts left at the scene to track down a gold Mazda MPV van registered to Waldschmidt as the suspected vehicle in the crash. When police arrived at Waldschmidts home in the 100 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue on Sept. 4 and asked if hed been in a crash recently, he said he had been in a crash and led them to the van, covered by a camouflage tarp, at the end of his driveway next to the backyard of his house.

When the tarp was removed, severe damage was evident on the vans right front headlight assembly, with a large dent directly above it on the hood, the complaint said.

Waldschmidt told police he thought he had hit a deer and didnt stop because he was angry about what it would cost him to repair the van. He said he also didnt stop because he hoped to avoid possible detection of marijuana in his system by police, according to the complaint.

Prior to the crash, which occurred around 11 p.m. on Sept. 2, a Friday, Waldschmidt told police he had spent the evening listening to live music at Memorial Union, where he told police he drank one small beer that he estimated to be 12 ounces, the complaint said.

During the interview, which took place at the Dane County Jail after hed been arrested Sept. 4, Waldschmidt also said he was on his way to a friends house at the time of the crash and was looking straight when his vehicle struck what he thought was a deer.

However, when Maple Bluff police Officer Kyle Dabbs then asked Waldschmidt if he covered the van with a tarp because he thought it could have been a person he hit and he thought people would come looking for the van, Waldschmidt replied, Thats what I said after I got home, according to the criminal complaint.

Waldschmidt is free on $10,000 cash bond with conditions including that he not consume alcohol or possess controlled substances or drive a vehicle.

A status hearing is scheduled for Oct. 17 before Judge Stephen Ehlke.
Once again, acquisitions and deals were in focus in the pharma sector with Allergan AGN announcing a couple of back-to-back deals including one worth up to $1.695 billion. Meanwhile, industry bellwether Johnson & Johnson JNJ signed an agreement to acquire Abbotts ABT eye care segment.



Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories



Allergan Announces Two NASH Focused Acquisition Deals: Less than a week after announcing its intention to acquire clinical-stage biotech company, Vitae, for approximately $639 million, Allergan announced a couple of acquisition deals targeting the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH market. Allergan intends to acquire clinical-stage biopharma company, Tobira, for up to $1.695 billion and privately-held biopharma company Akarna for an up-front payment of $50 million plus additional payments on the achievement of certain milestones (Read more: Allergan Buys NASH Therapy Maker Tobira at Huge Premium).



J&J to Strengthen Eye Care Presence with AMO Buy: Johnson & Johnson is planning to acquire Abbotts Abbott Medical Optics (AMO) for $4.325 billion in cash. With this acquisition, slated to close in the first quarter of 2017, J&J is looking to strengthen its eye care segment -- AMO, which reported $1.1 billion of sales last year, has a presence in cataract surgery, laser refractive surgery and consumer eye health. The AMO deal will give J&J the opportunity to enter cataract surgery (Read more: J&J to Buy Abbott's Vision Care Unit for $4.3 Billion). Abbott is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Meanwhile, J&J gained FDA approval for its type II diabetes drug, Invokamet XR, a once-daily, fixed-dose combination of Invokana and metformin XR.

Sanofi Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit for Diabetes Drug: French drugmaker Sanofi SNY has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Merck which is seeking FDA approval for an insulin glargine drug product. According to Sanofi, Mercks product infringes ten patents covering Lantus and Lantus SoloStar.

Story continues

Sanofis diabetes segment is under immense pressure with Lantus facing increasing competitive pressure at the payor level and the presence of biosimilar competition in several European markets. Moreover, Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim are expected to launch their insulin glargine product, Basaglar, in mid-December. Additionally, UnitedHealth announced that Basaglar will be covered on Tier 1 while Lantus, which was on Tier 3, will be excluded from formulary coverage in 2017. Another health care company, CVS Health, had announced in August that follow-on product Basaglar (approved in Europe as a biosimilar) will replace Lantus for the treatment of diabetes in its formulary list for 2017.



Pfizer, Lilly & Novo Nordisk Drugs Get CHMP Backing: Lilly LLY, Novo Nordisk and Pfizer got positive opinions for their respective drugs from the European Medicine Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP). The CHMP issued a positive opinion for the conditional approval of Lillys olaratumab  the company is seeking EU approval for the use of olaratumab plus doxorubicin for the treatment of adults with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) not amenable to curative treatment with radiotherapy or surgery and who have not been previously treated with doxorubicin. Olaratumab has orphan drug status in the EU for STS, a rare and difficult to treat disease. Lilly is seeking FDA approval as well (Read more: Eli Lilly Gets Favorable CHMP Opinion for Olaratumab).



Meanwhile, Pfizer got a positive opinion for Ibrance for the treatment of women with HR+/HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Pfizer also announced positive top-line results on its biosimilar version of Remicade (Read more: Pfizer Breast Cancer Drug Ibrance Wins CHMP Backing).



Novo Nordisk got a positive CHMP opinion to extend the use of NovoRapid in diabetic children as young as one year old.



AstraZeneca Decides to Withdraw Cediranib EU Application: AstraZeneca AZN announced the withdrawal of its regulatory application in the EU for its experimental ovarian cancer treatment, cediranib. The company decided to withdraw the application due to health authority questions that remained outstanding at a late stage of the review process (Read more: AstraZeneca Withdraws Cediranib Marketing Application in EU).



Meanwhile, the company presented positive results from a late-stage study evaluating a combination of Bydureon (GLP-1 receptor agonist) and Forxiga (SGLT-2 inhibitor) in type II diabetes patients. Results showed that the combination significantly reduced blood sugar, weight and systolic blood pressure compared to either medicine alone (Read more: AstraZeneca Diabetes Drug Combination Positive in Phase III).



Performance

LARGE CAP PHARMA Industry Price Index

LARGE CAP PHARMA Industry Price Index

All major pharma stocks were up over the last five trading days with the NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index gaining almost 1%. Lilly gained 3.1% during this period. Over the last six months, Bristol-Myers BMY declined 10.2% while AstraZeneca was up 21.7% (See the last pharma stock roundup here: Acquisitions & Deals Pick Up Pace, Aerie Up on Positive Data).

What's Next in the Pharma World?



Watch out for the usual pipeline and regulatory updates as well as deals and collaborations.

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By Kwiyeon Ha TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese pop girl group Pottya, who describe themselves as "chubby", performed their hits while eleven plus size amateur models strutted along the catwalk at a new men's fashion show in Tokyo aimed at breaking down obesity taboos. The Tokyo Pochari (plump) Collection, jointly organized by a plus-size clothing brand Sakazen Shoji Co and fashion magazine, Mr Babe, featured models weighing more than 100 kg (220 pounds) walking, twirling and posing on the catwalk. Thursday's event attracted more than 100 people, who were invited to disclose their weight for a discount on a new range of ready-to-wear plus size clothing items, but organizers said the event wasn't just about sales. They hoped to change attitudes towards plus-size people in Japan, where obesity levels are among the lowest in the developed world and large people - sumo wrestlers aside - are often depicted as figures of fun on television. "I wanted to spread a notion that big and tall men, who have trouble finding clothes to wear, can actually choose from a wider varieties of outfits and enjoy being fashionable," said Li Tianwei, Sakazen Shoji sales manager. This year's event was so successful that organizers hope to run a bigger show in 2017 with both male and female models, they told Reuters. "As a fatso or big woman, I want more of these kind of events. Even this one is still small-scaled, I want it bigger," said 37-year-old Momoko Kashiwazaki. (Reporting by Kwiyeon Ha. Editing by Patrick Johnston)
Warsaw (AFP) - Rightwing lawmakers on Friday pushed ahead with a near-total ban on abortion in devoutly Catholic Poland, while rejecting a rival bid to liberalise the existing law already among the most restrictive in Europe.

The governing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which controls parliament, sent to committee a bill that would allow terminations only if the mother's life is at risk and increase the maximum jail term for practitioners from two years to five.

The citizen's initiative tabled in parliament by the Stop Abortion coalition 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 opposed jailing women.

Head of Poland's KAI Catholic information agency Marcin Przeciszewski told AFP he expected the PiS would axe the provision on jailing women during legislative work.

The proposal, which the Council of Europe called a "serious backsliding on women's rights", inspired several large pro-choice marches and a rival drive to liberalise the law that lawmakers struck down on Friday in its first reading.

Tabled by the "Save Women" pro-choice coalition it would have allowed abortion until the 12th week of pregnancy.

"Save Women" activist Barbara Nowacka vowed Friday to try again.

"Parliament doesn't want to talk about women's rights, dignity, a decent life, sex education or birth control, but that doesn't mean that we'll give up," she said.

Although the PiS generally favours banning abortion, its leaders are well aware that most Poles support the 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.

Story continues

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.

Lawmakers also sent to committee a PiS-proposed bill 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 its proponents say are human beings from the moment of fertilisation.

It would also only allow women to fertilise one egg at a time, thus considerably reducing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
By Agnieszka Barteczko WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's president will sign off on the Paris climate deal to curb global warming within days, the country's environment minister said on Friday, boosting an EU push for its adoption ahead of U.N. climate talks in November. EU officials have long worried about Poland dragging its feet, with Warsaw having said it wanted to see how much of the burden of reducing the 28-member bloc's emissions would fall to its coal-powered economy before ratifying the accord. [8N1BI1MN] Warsaw's backing could now allow the European Union to overcome an embarrassing delay and accelerate the bloc's own ratification of the pact that Europe has long championed. In Poland, "the process has started", Environment Minister Jan Szyszko was quoted by the state-run news agency PAP as saying. "In a few days we will be able to send the document to the president of Poland for signing." EU environment ministers will meet on Sept. 30 to seek consensus on a proposal to fast-track the bloc's ratification of the deal without waiting for each member state to first do so individually. To win the symbolic honor of triggering the Paris accord's entry into force ahead of the next round of climate talks, EU-level ratification would then have to be signed off on by European Parliament and member states before Oct. 7. The deal on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which has the backing of nearly 200 countries, takes effect once it is ratified by at least 55 nations that make up at least 55 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The total number of ratifications has reached 60 - including the world's two biggest emitters, the United States and China - but still falls short of the 55 percent mark on emissions. The EU, the world's third-largest emitter, could help push the accord over the line, and this would preserve its leadership on a dossier it sees as a rare bright spot amid divisions over migration and Britain's vote to leave the bloc. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker last week described the EU's slow ratification of the climate deal as "ridiculous" and damaging to the bloc's credibility. (Writing by Alissa de Carbonnel; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Police in Maryland released body-camera footage of an officer pepper-spraying a handcuffed 15-year-old girl who they say refused to cooperate after her bike collided with a car, saying it was a last resort action to de-escalate a potentially dangerous situation.

Officers with the Hagerstown Police Department responded to a reported collision involving a car and a bicycle at Randolph and N. Locust Streets at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, where the driver of the car told police that a teenage girl hit his car and attempted to leave, refusing medical attention at the scene.

He told police that she rode through a red light and shows cops the damage on his car.

The 15-year-old bicyclist allegedly refuses to answer any of the officers' questions, repeatedly saying, Dont f****** touch me, police body-cam video released Wednesday shows.

The girl tries to ride away on her bike but is stopped by police, who struggle to handcuff her as she screams for them to "get the f*** off of me."

Cops eventually handcuff the girl and carry her to a nearby police cruiser, where they said she refused to put her feet into the car.

Read: Watch Musicians Ease Tensions in Charlotte Moments After Cops Fired Tear Gas

After one officer appears to be unsuccessful in persuading her to do as they say, another officer tells her that she is going to get pepper sprayed if she doesnt put her feet into the squad car.

Apparently handcuffed at the time, the girl screams and a coughs after an officer sprays the chemical at her through the cars open window, yelling I cant breathe before she was driven to the police station.

Hagerstown Police Chief Victor Brito defended his officers and their actions, telling reporters that using pepper spray on the girl was a last resort in bringing what could have become a dangerous situation to an end.

The girl was charged as a juvenile with assault, disorderly conduct, failure to obey a traffic device and marijuana possession, police said.

Story continues

Police released the body-cam footage after Robin Ficker, an attorney for the girls family, posted a bystanders video of the incident on Facebook.

Our officers act and react in the interest of public safety in the midst of many difficult situations on a regular basis. We wanted to share this perspective with you to provide a better understanding of the full incident, police said when they released the footage.

But Flicker said the officers displayed aggression from the get-go.

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!" Ficker wrote.

Read: Man Promotes Peace as He Offers Free Hugs to Black Lives Matter Activists and Cops in Riot Gear

Police said it was the girl who had hit the car, and contend they never slammed the girl against a wall.

A bystanders cell phone video appears to show an officer swinging the girl by her handcuffed arm toward a building and then later shows the girl pressed face-first against a wall.

Flicker said the girl was briefly knocked unconscious in the collision with the car and that she was later taken to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a possible concussion.

I was confused what was going on, the girl said to reporters outside Hagerstown police headquarters on Thursday, as about 100 people protested nearby about the incident.

Viewers of the videos were left divided about what happened and who should be held accountable.

I cant believe this happened in my town. Disgusting, one person commented on Facebook.

She showed disrespect from the beginning ... police officers were just doing their job  she refused to follow their orders  had she done so all of it could have been avoided, another person argued.

Watch: Mother of 19-Year-Old Shot To Death By Police Hasn't Seen Body Cam Footage

Related Articles:
Charlotte (AFP) - Investigators in Charlotte faced mounting pressure Friday to release footage of the fatal police shooting of an African-American man, after protesters defied a curfew and marched through the North Carolina city's streets for a third straight night.

The death Tuesday of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was the latest in a seemingly steady string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across America.

The victim's family -- who like many in Charlotte dispute the police assertion that Scott was armed -- have viewed police video of his shooting and are leading calls for it to be made public.

"I do believe the video should be released," Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said at a press conference. But she stressed it should not be immediate, and that the timing of the release would be crucial.

"When there are key pieces of evidence still being gathered, if one piece is released early it can jeopardize the integrity of that investigation," she added.

Police here are refusing so far to release the body-cam and dash-mounted video, arguing among things that this might interfere with a parallel state probe into the incident.

"If I were to put it out indiscriminately and it doesn't give you good context, it can inflame the situation and make it even worse," argued Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney.

"It will exacerbate the backlash. It will increase the distrust," he added.

- No 'panacea' -

"I know the expectation that video footage can be the panacea, and I can tell you that is not quite the case."

Charlotte's handling of the case stands in stark contrast to a similar police shooting last Friday involving an African-American man in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

There, the video has been released and the white officer involved has already been charged with first degree manslaughter.

In Charlotte, the officer identified as having shot Scott, Brentley Vinson, is black.

Story continues

Hundreds of people gathered on Charlotte's streets Thursday night for passionate but largely peaceful protests. Several times the crowd broke into chants of "Release the tapes!"

North Carolina's longtime attorney general, Roy Cooper, came out Friday in favor of just that, saying it was important to "continue in the pursuit of the truth" and in building trust, while improving transparency.

"One step toward meeting both goals is for the videos in this case to be released to the public."

One risk, the mayor said, is that if witnesses to the shooting see the video they might change their account of what happened.

City hall is in talks with investigators and "I think it is only a matter of time" before the video is released, Roberts told CNN.

Joining the appeal for the release were the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, the US black community's main civil rights organization.

Scott was shot and killed in an apartment complex parking lot during an encounter with police officers searching for another person wanted for arrest.

Police say Scott was armed with a handgun. His family says he was holding a book.

No gun is visible in the video, which shows Scott stepping backward when he was shot, one of the family lawyers told CNN.

"His hands are down by his side. He is acting calm," Justin Bamberg said. "You do see something in his hand, but it's impossible to make out from the video what it is."

The mayor said she has seen two videos of the incident and agreed there was something in Scott's hand.

Asked if it was a gun, Roberts said "the visual clarity made those videos inconclusive."

Police chief Putney has said a handgun was recovered at the scene, and that no book was found, contradicting the family's assertion.

He said the video footage does not provide "absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun," but he stressed that the footage indicates the officer was justified in shooting Scott.

"The officer perceived his failure to comply with commands, failure to drop the weapon and facing the officers as an imminent threat," Putney said on Fox News.

- Curfew -

North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, and several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers were deployed to reinforce local police protecting city infrastructure and businesses.

Roberts said a midnight curfew in Charlotte will remain in effect Friday night.

In Thursday's protests, hundreds of people marched to the city police station carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful." But the atmosphere was far calmer than the previous two nights.

Several hundred protesters remained on the street after curfew, but security forces took a hands off approach and did not enforce the restriction.

Meanwhile Putney said police have arrested a suspect in the killing of protester Justin Carr, who was shot during Wednesday night's unrest in Charlotte.
VIENNA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Polish Economy Minister Mateusz Morawiecki appeared to play down his party's tough rhetoric against foreign investors in an interview published in the Austrian newspaper Die Presse on Friday.

Morawiecki's conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) has long said it wanted more control of the economy.

When asked about his party's critique of the role foreigners play in Poland's economy, he said some statements were made in the heat of election campaigns.

"Please don't mistake rhetoric with our true intentions. We invite foreign capital  There's big potential for back-office operations of financial firms which move away from London after Brexit. But it's true: foreign capital should not be preferred."

He added that Poland was in no hurry to adopt the euro.

(Reporting By Shadia Nasralla, editing by Larry King)
Brussels (AFP) - European Union leaders will meet in Malta in February to help prepare for a summit the following month in Rome aimed at revitalising a bloc without Britain, an EU source said Friday.

"I can confirm that the Malta Summit at EU 27 will take place on the 3rd of February," an EU source who asked not to be named told AFP.

The 27 leaders met without British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this month in Bratislava, promising to forge a new vision for a bloc rocked by Brexit, the worst migrant crisis since World War II, terrorist attacks and a stuttering economy.

Valletta will play host as it assumes the rotating six-month presidency of the EU in January after Slovakia.

The EU source said the agenda of the Malta meeting is still to be determined but it will be "basically a follow-up to Bratislava and preparation for the Rome Summit in March," which marks the 60th anniversary of the bloc's founding treaty signed in the Italian capital.

May has said Britain will not trigger Article 50, which sets the two-year Brexit talks in motion, before the end of this year.

Her EU peers have repeatedly called on her to move quickly so as to end the uncertainty over Britain's future relations with the bloc.

A regular EU summit is also scheduled for the end of October in Brussels, leading up to another in December.
President Obama is set to veto legislation on Friday that would allow 9/11 victims families to sue Saudi Arabia.

Obama has until midnight to veto the bill, which he thinks undermines sovereign immunity and will make U.S. diplomats and service members vulnerable to lawsuits. The White House confirmed Thursday that a veto will come before the deadline: We believe this is a bad bill, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, Yahoo News reports. Its why the presidents going to veto it.

But Congress will likely try to override the presidents veto, which would mark the first veto override of his presidency. A veto override requires two-thirds opposition.

If this bill were to enter into force, if the Presidents veto were overridden, the United States government, U.S. service members, U.S. diplomats, and even, potentially, U.S. companies are at risk of being hauled into court in countries all around the world, Earnest said Thursday.

But Congressional leadership has signaled they believe they have the support they need for an override. Our assumption is that the veto will be overridden, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday, CNN reports. Then House Speaker Paul Ryan said Wednesday, I do think the votes are there for the override.
In an interview with Robin Roberts for ABC News' Good Morning America, President Barack Obama urged protesters to pursue a "peaceful" approach to police reforms after two days of violent protests in Charlotte, North Carolina.



"I think it's important to separate out the pervasive sense of frustration among a lot of African-Americans about shootings of people and the sense that justice is not always color blind," he told Roberts.



Obama also noted the difference between those who have been protesting peacefully and those who have engaged in violence after the police-involved shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.



"The way we change the system requires to be able to reach out and engage the broader American community," he continued. "That requires being peaceful, that requires being thoughtful about what are the specific reforms you're looking for."







With the first presidential debate on Monday, the president offered his former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, some advice.



"Be yourself and explain what motivates you," he said. "I've gotten to know Hillary and seen her work and seen her in tough times and in good times. She is in this for the right reasons. She is motivated by a deep desire to make things better for people."



Obama continued by saying Clinton would be an "outstanding president."



"There is a level of mistrust and a caricature of her that doesn't jibe with who I know," he revealed. "This person that cares deeply about kids and wants to make sure they get a good education."



The first presidential debate will be Monday at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. NBC's Lester Holt will moderate the event.
Sept 23 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

** SNC-Lavalin Group Inc is closing in on its goal of becoming a major player in China's thriving nuclear-energy industry with an agreement for the development of the next generation of Candu reactors. The Montreal-based engineering giant said on Thursday it has an agreement in principle for a joint venture with state-owned atomic-power and weapons company China National Nuclear Corp and manufacturing conglomerate Shanghai Electric Group Co Ltd to design, market and build the Advanced Fuel Candu Reactor. http://bit.ly/2doLeBY

** Toronto would be on the hook for a hefty provincial tax bill if the city council moves forward with a plan to privatize Toronto Hydro - giving Queen's Park a key role in deciding how lucrative the selloff would be for the city. Under current rules, any municipality that wants to sell more than 10 per cent of a local distribution company must pay a "departure tax" to the province. The tax could be around $200 million in the case of Toronto Hydro, estimated one energy industry source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The sum could sway council support for a sale. http://bit.ly/2cyvBq1

** Tanzanian police have killed 65 people and injured 270 during years of sporadic clashes with villagers at a controversial Canadian-owned gold mine, according to evidence heard by a Tanzanian government inquiry. The number of fatalities, based on complaints given to the inquiry by local communities, is the first official estimate of the scale of reported violence at the North Mara gold mine, operated by the African subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corp. http://bit.ly/2cqoz3b

NATIONAL POST

** With the resolution of key trade disputes, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and China's Premier Li Keqiang signalled deepening economic ties between the two countries, opening the door to the possibility of a free trade agreement. At a joint press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, the two leaders said they aim to double trade by 2025 and had resolved longstanding issues of access for Canadian beef and canola to China, while several companies signed commercial deals. They also announced talks aimed at an eventual free trade agreement. http://bit.ly/2d2FqtM

** Unifor will invite Fiat Chrysler to the negotiating table next, announcing Thursday that it will sit down with FCA Canada Inc as soon as its members have ratified a tentative agreement with General Motors of Canada Ltd. "If members support the recommendation and approve the new four-year collective agreement (with GM), we will shift our focus and immediately resume negotiations with FCA," Unifor president Jerry Dias said. "Unifor will be seeking a pattern settlement that includes our top priority: investment." http://bit.ly/2csM3tn (Compiled by Rama Venkat Raman in Bengaluru)
Donald Trump

A professor who has accurately predicted the outcome of every presidential election since 1984 told The Washington Post that 2016 was the hardest election to predict yet.

But he has come to a conclusion about who is most likely to win  Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Professor Allan Lichtman, who wrote the book "Predicting the Next President: The Keys to the White House," uses a series of true/false statements to determine his predictions. He considers things like incumbency, the economy, social unrest, scandals, and charisma to figure out which way the election is likely to go.

Lichtman told The Post how the system works:

"The keys are 13 true/false questions, where an answer of 'true' always favors the reelection of the party holding the White House, in this case the Democrats. And the keys are phrased to reflect the basic theory that elections are primarily judgments on the performance of the party holding the White House. And if six or more of the 13 keys are false  that is, they go against the party in power  they lose. If fewer than six are false, the party in power gets four more years."

Still, Trump is such an unusual candidate that he might break the American political mold that has held for decades.

"We've never before seen a candidate who's spent his life enriching himself at the expense of others," Lichtman said. "He's the first candidate in our history to be a serial fabricator, making up things as he goes along."

He noted that Trump has also taken other questionable steps, like embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin, inviting Russian hackers to meddle in the US election, and threatening to blow Iranian ships out of the water if they came too close to US vessels.

"Given all of these exceptions that Donald Trump represents, he may well shatter patterns of history that have held for more than 150 years, lose this election even if the historical circumstances favor it," Lichtman said.

Story continues

It looks like a narrow victory for Trump, Lichtman said, and the key is Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson, who is polling in double-digits now. But that might shift by Election Day.

"As people realize the choice is not Gary Johnson, the only choice is between Trump and Clinton, those Gary Johnson supporters may move away from Johnson and toward Clinton, particularly those millennials," Lichtman said.

Trump has been surging lately in the polls, but last month his Democratic challenger, Hillary Clinton, was far ahead.

Other less fickle measures of predicting the election put Clinton out in front. An Electoral College map released last month from the University of Virginia Center for Politics projected Clinton to win the election by a landslide.

NOW WATCH: 'They have done so much for the African Americans': Listen to Trump praise the Clintons in 2011





More From Business Insider


Academics and students at the University of Ghana are calling for the removal of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi from their campus citing his allegedly racist attitudes toward black people during his time in South Africa.

An online petition  which began circulating two weeks ago and has gained more than 1,300 supporters  lists Gandhis use of the pejorative term kaffir, as well as letters written by the Indian independence leader during his time in South Africa as indicative of his racist identity.

The petition quotes Gandhis open letter to the Natal parliament in 1893 as evidence of his racist beliefs. In it, he wrote: 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 statue was gifted to the university by the Indian embassy in June during a visit to the county by Indias President Pranab Mukherjee. Petitioners say academic staff were not consulted before the figure was erected on campus.

It is better to stand up for our dignity than to kowtow to the wishes of a burgeoning Eurasian super-power, they wrote.

We ask why should we be critical of others to establish our own stature. There can be no justification for that, said Ela Gandhi, the independence leaders granddaughter and former MP for the African National Congress in South Africa, to al-Jazeera. By all means remove it, she continued while urging students not to discard the notion of nonviolence, of compassion  [and] Ubuntu that her grandfather stood for.

Critics have also cited the lack of statues of African heroes and heroines on campus as a further reason to remove the statue of Gandhi, and point to movements in universities such as Yale and Oxford to remove racist symbols.

Story continues

Last year, a protester in Johannesburg vandalized a Gandhi statue after similar demonstrations against his racist attitudes. In August, protests in Davis, Calif., halted the installation of a Gandhi statue in the citys central park.

Criticism of Gandhis discriminatory attitudes is not new.

In 2014 novelist and essayist Arundhati Roy accused Gandhi of accepting the caste system, what she called the most brutal social hierarchy ever known.

However, despite Gandhis initial views, some argue that he began to engage with the black freedom movement toward the end of his tenure in South Africa.

In his book Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India, journalist Joseph Lelyveld cites Gandhis response to a 1913 law that made it illegal for black South Africans to own 92% percent of the countrys land.

Every other question, not excluding the Indian question pales into insignificance before the great Native question, wrote Gandhi in the Indian Opinion. This land is theirs by birth and this Act of confiscation  is likely to give rise to serious consequences unless the Government takes care.
GettyImages 609664264

As public defender Toussaint Romain walked through the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday night, protesters came up to him, clasping hands and thanking him for his leadership  though he humbly refuses to describe his actions as such.

It was the third night of protests in the city after the police on Tuesday fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott, a black man who the police said was armed but whose family has said was holding only a book when he died.

Demonstrations had turned violent Wednesday night as some protesters looted and clashed with police officers in riot gear who deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Romain, clad in a dress shirt and tie, came between the police and the protesters, calling for peace and telling those pushing for violence to go home.

"We can't lose any more lives, man. I'm a public defender. I can't represent any more people," he told CNN's Boris Sanchez on Wednesday night. "We need to take a stand and do it the right way. People are hurting, man. People are upset. People are frustrated. People need leaders. I'm not trying to be that leader. I'm trying to prevent people from being hurt."

GettyImages 609664252

As he walked the more peaceful streets with Sanchez again on Thursday night, Romain said he was encouraged by the fact that there weren't any incidents of violence so far.

"When I went home last night, I kissed my kids and I told them I loved them, because I didn't know if I was going to make it home last night," he said. "But I have hope that we gotta make it better. Tomorrow's going to be a better day. This protest right now is much better. The clergy is here, adults are here  black and white."

Romain has been a public defender in Charlotte for the past eight years and an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for the past six, according to his LinkedIn page. He also volunteers with several nonprofit organizations in the city.

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"This is what happens when leaders show up," Romain said on CNN on Thursday night. "This is what happens when we come together as a nation.

"You have to realize, man, we're in this together. And we have to come back every day. I'll come back every day, and I'll come back each day after that until we make sure that we make it better for my kids  if you have kids, for yours  and for our nation. We have to get better. And I have every hope, and every reason to believe that we will."

People seem to be responding to Romain's inspirational words.

Way to go Toussaint Romain !!! Stepping up for our city! Peacemaker representing #charlotte on cnn & on our streets.  patrickmitchell (@patrickmitchell) September 23, 2016

Toussaint Romain is the best of us all  Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) September 23, 2016

Toussaint Romain run for mayor Bruh . So I can vote for you   TTimeNumba9  (@Ayo_TTime9) September 23, 2016

Toussaint Romain to CNN, his voice cracking: "We're here to say enough is enough."  Theoden Janes (@theodenjanes) September 22, 2016

Toussaint Romain is a true hero. Thank you for being a mediator, a peaceful voice. A true servant.  Clif Dixon (@CDixonDesign) September 22, 2016

He's Toussaint Romain. Public Defender. Charlotte hero for a long time, including tonight. CNN interviewing him in just a few minutes. https://t.co/oNQpo1UUhW  Brian Baute (@BrianBaute) September 22, 2016

Watch Romain's inspirational message below:

Charlotte public defender Toussaint Romain: "We have to get better" and I believe we will https://t.co/nOLHGbnAhp https://t.co/XgPM7HuOke  Jake Cornwall (@JakeM_1998) September 23, 2016

NOW WATCH: Donald Trump supports a controversial police policy that was ruled unconstitutional





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What this publication said about Emma Watson is totally not okay

What this publication said about Emma Watson is totally not okay

I hope youre sitting down right now because your rage levels are about to fly off the charts.

Emma Watson  you remember her: talented, once played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies, is a badass feminist activist  recently spoke before the United Nations in New York about gender equality and campus sexual assault as part of her role as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador a founder of the HeForShe campaign.

 NEW Emma speaking at the HeForShe IMPACT University Champions Launch in New York City [September 20, 2016] {part 1} @EmmaWatson #EmmaWatson A video posted by Emma Watson News  (@emmacwatsons) on Sep 20, 2016 at 9:53am PDT

So far so good, right?

Well, apparently a writer in the U.K.  one Rod Liddle  took umbrage with Watsons speech and shared some less-than-savory words about her in a recent column in The Sun.

Hermione Granger has been addressing the United Nations General Assembly. Nope, not kidding, he wrote. Instead of telling them all the rules of quidditch or how to turn someone into a frog, she bored them all rigid with whining, leftie, PC crap.

Did we say less-than-savory? We meant totally and completely appalling.

But wait! Hold onto your hats, friends, because Liddles column gets worse:

Just like all actresses do if people are stupid enough to give them the chance. Why do we indulge these luvvie slebs, most of whom know nowt? I dont object to them having views and expressing them. I just dont understand why we take them seriously. I suppose they got Emma in because Angelina Jolie is a bit tied up with other stuff at the moment.

You can read the column in full below if you want the full rage-inducing effect.

Offered without comment - The Sun's response to Emma Watson addressing the UN about gender equality and sexual assault pic.twitter.com/KQ0MPSJGbL  Louise Ridley (@LouiseRidley) September 23, 2016

So, while Watson was at the U.N. delivering a powerful speech on campus rape  it was riveting, by the way, and you should really check it out  Liddle was spewing sexist, disgusting nonsense from behind his computer screen. Another day, another troll.

Story continues

Unfortunately, online harassment  especially of young women  has become far too common. In fact, according to a 2016 survey, 76 percent of women under 30 have been harassed online. That statistic that should be startling to anyone who has ever known a young woman because, as Watson said in her speech, when one persons safety is violated, the safety of everyone should feel violated. And shes absolutely right.

Were standing by you, Emma!

The post What this publication said about Emma Watson is totally not okay appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Looking for a stock that might be in a good position to beat earnings at its next report? Consider PulteGroup, Inc. PHM, a firm in the Building-Residential/Commercial industry, which could be a great candidate for another beat.

This company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. In fact, in these reports, PHM has beaten estimates by at least 10% in both cases, suggesting it has a nice short-term history of crushing expectations.

Earnings in Focus

Two quarters ago, PHM expected to post earnings of 19 cents per share, while it actually produced earnings of 24 cents per share, a beat of 26.3%. Meanwhile, for the most recent quarter, the company looked to deliver earnings of 33 cents per share, when it actually produced earnings of 37 cents per share instead, representing a 12.1% surprise.

PULTE GROUP ONC Price and EPS Surprise

PULTE GROUP ONC Price and EPS Surprise | PULTE GROUP ONC Quote

Thanks in part to this history, recent estimates have been moving higher for PulteGroup. In fact, the Earnings ESPfor PHM is positive, which is a great sign of a coming beat.

After all, the Zacks Earnings ESP compares the most accurate estimate to the broad consensus, looking to find stocks that have seen big revisions as of late, suggesting that analysts have recently become more bullish on the companys earnings prospects. This is the case for PHM as the firm currently has a Zacks Earnings ESP of 11.63%, so another beat could be around the corner.

This is particularly true when you consider that PHM has a great Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) which can be a harbinger of outperformance and a signal for a strong earnings profile. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

When you add this solid Zacks Rank to a positive Earnings ESP, a positive earnings surprise happens nearly 70%of the time, so it seems pretty likely that PHM could see another beat at its next report, especially if recent trends are any guide.

Story continues

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London (AFP) - An offensive to encircle Iraq's second city of Mosul should begin "in the next few weeks", Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Friday, after a visit to the country.

Mosul has been held by Islamic State jihadists since June 2014 and British jets are part of a US-led coalition flying missions against them in Iraq and Syria.

"Though Mosul is a large and complex city, it will fall and will fall soon. I expect the operation for its encirclement to begin in the next few weeks," Fallon said in London following a three-day trip to Iraq.

He added that Iraqi forces were moving into a tactical assembly area in preparation for the assault.

"We ought to be able to get Daesh (another term for the IS group) out of Iraq over the next few months -- the remaining months of this year and next year," Fallon added.

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.

The drive will involve Iraqi soldiers and police, pro-government paramilitaries and Kurdish peshmerga fighters -- forces that in some cases have not operated together before and do not have unified command structures.

The United Nations says that up to one million people may be displaced by the fighting.
Bukavu (DR Congo) (AFP) - Two people were killed on Friday when a mild earthquake shook a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to an early toll, a regional official said.

The quake, whose epicentre was in neighbouring Rwanda, had a magnitude of 4.8, monitors said.

It rattled homes in Bukavu, the main town in South Kivu province.

"The provisional toll is two dead, both of them men... and five injured -- three girls and two men," the provincial minister for health, Nash Mwanza Nangunia, told AFP.

Two homes collapsed and others suffered cracks, he added.

The quake struck at 1510 GMT, according to the Natural Science Research Centre in Lwiro, west of Bukavu.

On September 11, at least 16 people died and more than 250 were injured in a 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck northwest Tanzania, adjoining DR Congo.

The shock was felt throughout the Great Lakes region, including South Kivu.
Blair Underwood joins Quantico (Credit: Jonathan Wenk/ABC)

No twist here: any primetime TV schedule that prominently features Blair Underwood is a better primetime TV schedule. There are plenty of twists ahead for Season 2 of Quantico, however, and they will certainly include Underwoods Owen Hall, the CIA trainer who will actually, we cant tell you much more than that.

But read on, as recent Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. alum Underwood spills a few hints about his character and Season 2s darker, edgier storyline. The L.A. Law alum also talks about whether he plans on joining that classic series upcoming reboot, his historical connection to President Obama, and the very special documentary thats sending him to the White House.

Are you having fun playing this years Quantico instructor?

Im having a ball. I really am. Its the kind of show that I was looking to do next. Its fast-paced, its got great character development, great relationships, a lot of mystery. Josh Safran, the creator of the show, said to me, Being the FBI, at least within our show [in Season 1], was all about finding truth and justice and working together as a team, whereas in our CIA [in Season 2], its all about deceit, how well you can lie, how well you can keep a lie, how well you can keep a cover. Its all about espionage and being a spy. Its about the mission, not the individual or the team, necessarily. Its a very different path that theyre taking this season. Its a little edgier, a little darker than last year, but its good. I saw the first episode last night, and we created some good stuff.

I just saw the first episode today, and, first of all, quite a shocking ending. Definitely darker.

Right? Im glad you saw it.

And Im sure there are many surprises to come about Owen.

Yes, there are. A lot of the elements that the audience loved last season, youll still have, primarily Priyanka [Chopra] and her character and the relationships, the relationship with Alex and Ryan. I think thats important. People are used to a certain tone or style and certain characters, and its important to keep that while the world around Alex may change and morph. Yeah, there are going to be a lot of twists. Already the show is known for the twists and turns and the cliffhangers before every commercial break. Youll have that in general, and youll definitely have that with Owens character. Hes got a lot going on, a lot of mystery in terms of who he is, where hes from, what hes doing, what hes attempting to do, why hes so hard on Alex, what he sees in her. A lot of layers to uncover, which is great fun for me to play.

Story continues

Russell Tovey, Underwood, and Priyanka Chopra (Credit: Jonathan Wenk/ABC)

Because Owen is an instructor, people are going to immediately think hes this years Liam, who did not make it out of Season 1 alive. Should that worry us for Owens future?

I dont know if its worry so much but who knows? They want to keep you guessing, as opposed to doing the obvious.

We shouldnt assume hes ultimately a bad guy then?

I dont know. What I can tell you is I think everybodys hands are a little bit dirty in this world. What I can do is tease a little bit. The way [the premiere] ends, I dropped my script when I read it. I said, I cant believe we are going to do that! But its such a great way to end an episode and leave you hanging. Those last 30 seconds are shocking.

It sets a new tone right away. The stakes seem higher this season. Is that part of what drew you to the show? When we talked to Josh earlier this summer, he said hed wanted to work with you for a long time, and you were his first choice for the role of Owen.

I have to tell you, Josh had said all those things to me about the direction of the show, and Im so glad to hear you feel that from watching the first episode. He said thats what he wanted to do this season, and thats why I signed on. He said this season is the show he wanted to create. Its always challenging when youre creating a show from scratch, finding all the right tones and [establishing] what that world is going to be. I think this is more in line with what he was hoping to create, or definitely the next evolution. I was a fan of the first season. I saw where he wanted to take it. Were shooting Episode 7 now, and I continue to be excited about where the show, and [my] character, is going. You see even in the first episode they establish a very strong relationship between Owen and Lydia [played by Tracy Ifeachor]. That carries on and goes much deeper and becomes more interesting and more complex.

Related: Fall TV Preview: The Scoop on 58 Returning Shows

You have another new show coming up  Give  on NBCs Saturday morning schedule. I got teary just watching the sizzle reel of the series, which will help viewers get to know a lot of smaller charities that make huge impacts in their communities. How did the series come about?

I am so excited about this show. It premieres October 1, and we will do 26 episodes. This was an idea that was brought to me by my business partner, Gary Reeves. We went to Anthony Melikhov, who founded an organization called Unite4:Good. Hes a phenomenal philanthropist, and he said, Yeah, I love this, Ill finance this. I want you to produce it. I said, Okay. Its about getting a team together: 30 minutes, one celebrity  like Derek Hough  two charities. We see the work the charities are doing, where they may have a need, and by the end of the show we give them some assistance. Jenna Bush Hager is hosting it for us. Shes in every episode. Ill do at least three episodes as a celebrity ambassador, and Ill come back and do some deliberations. I tell you, we pitched the show around Hollywood and people said, Its a good idea, but how do you make it interesting? How do you make it engaging and compelling and entertaining? You dont want to make charity competitive. Our thing is, every foundation is almost a business unto itself. Some work and operate more efficiently than others. Some can use help, whether its financial, maybe they need assistance in guidance, how to build and scale a foundation. Theyre all doing good work, theyre all helping people. Anyway, its one of those projects that is a win-win-win situation for everybody involved. At the very least, they all get some financial benefit, and the exposure is a win for the foundation and the charities.

I have to ask you about L.A. Law. Steven Bochco has confirmed hes working on a reboot. Would you be a part of that?

I heard that recently, but I havent talked to Steven. I dont know if I could now, because of my ABC contract. It was challenging enough dealing with that [issue] to do Give on NBC. So I dont know, but I think its exciting that hes doing that. Its fun. Listen, Steven Bochco and the decision to put me on the show changed my life and my career, and I will be forever indebted to him for that.

Many people think President Obama, and his role as the first black president of the Harvad Law Review, was the inspiration for your character, Jonathan Rollins. But Jonathan was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review in TV land, before President Obama was in real life, right?

Thats true, thats very true. I had met [Barack Obama] because the law school at Harvard had invited some of the producers from L.A. Law and myself to come to Harvard to speak to the law school students.

Had you followed his political career after Harvard, before he became a presidential candidate?

No, I had no idea. He made a comment in The New York Times [about the similarities between him and Jonathan Rollins], and The Times called my manager and relayed the story, and it hit me then. I said, Thats that guy with the big ears, thats the same guy from back in the day. Who knew?

Have you had a chance to spend time with him since he became president?

Yeah, I went to his first state dinner in January 2009, which was with the Prime Minister of India. Its interesting now Im finally getting to know about India and the Indian culture while working with Priyanka Chopra.

Im going to the White House, actually, next week if all goes well. Theres a film I executive-produced called Olympic Pride, American Prejudice. We all know about Jesse Owens in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, that he won four gold medals, but there were 18 African-American athletes total there, and nobody knows about these other people. I was able to narrate and executive produce with Deborah Riley Draper, who wrote, directed, and produced this incredible documentary. Long story short, those African-American athletes were never invited to Franklin Delano Roosevelts White House. Olympians are always invited to the White House. So President Obama, next Thursday, is going to honor those athletes posthumously. They have all passed away, but hes going to honor their families. Its extraordinary. All 500 Olympians from this year will be there, too, and hes going to do a special honor for these [1936 Olympics] athletes. I think theres a new award called the Jesse Owens Spirit Award. To see these family members, watching their fathers and grandfathers on the screen when they see this documentary a lot of that footage they had never seen before. Its profound what Deborah Riley Draper has done in dusting off these individuals stories. So I will be there for that, and I will see [President Obama] again.

Quantico Season 2 premieres Sept. 25 at 10 p.m. on ABC. Give premieres Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. on NBC.
Reed Hastings

Netflix stock could double to $200 over the next three years, according to Mark Mahaney, the lead internet analyst at RBC Capital Markets.

"Amongst the FANG names, this is the one that's most underperformed," he told CNBC on Thursday, referring to Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google.

Why is Mahaney so bullish on Netflix?

The increase in stock price would roughly correlate to subscriber growth, Mahaney said. "We think it's going to double to be 150 to 160 million [global] subscribers in a couple of years."

Wall Street has been split on Netflix. Much of the controversy revolves around subscriber growth, both in the US and internationally. Netflix missed badly on Wall Street expectations for the second quarter, but boosters like RBC argue that this is a hiccup and that Netflix's potential is still intact.

The future of TV is Netflix

Mahaney says TV will evolve dramatically over the next decade. He told CNBC he thought the big bundle of channels, a staple of cable and satellite, will move toward a series of "mini-bundles" that people will buy for lower prices. Think a handful of Netflix-like $9.99 services instead of a $100-plus cable package.

"I think one of those five mini-bundles in the future will be Netflix," he said. That's a recipe for big subscriber growth.

And beyond subscriber numbers, RBC also thinks Netflix's international profitability is coming along nicely. Earlier this month, RBC analysts pointed out something they thought many investors were missing about Netflix: Its international ramp-up was, in profitability, looking similar to Netflix's rise in the US in 2012 and 2013.

Not everyone agrees

Other analysts are less sure about Netflixs international future. Macquarie hit Netflix with a "Sell" rating earlier this month.

"We believe success will require partnering with local content providers and/or investing in more local content, or in content that will travel," the analysts wrote. "This will be expensive  indeed, Netflix's total content obligations have ballooned to $16-18 billion including 'unknown' off-balance sheet commitments, and could well rise further."

Story continues

Macquarie thinks Netflix will still be a success but might be even more expensive than anticipated.

Still, Mahaney thinks Netflix can "generate $10 in earnings [per share], GAAP earnings, by 2020." In 2015, Netflix's earnings per share totaled $0.28.

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Katie Prager and Dalton Prager had been in love for years.

Unfortunately, however, both Pragers struggled with cystic fibrosis. Doctors had forced them to live apart, concerned that Dalton would pass on an infection to Katie. Then on Thursday, Katie, 26, died five days after her husband, who passed away at 25 years old.

SEE ALSO: Mum raises awareness for childhood cancer with heartbreaking school photo

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, Katies mother, Debra Donovan, wrote on Facebook.

I know Dalton was waiting with open arms, as well as both her grandmothers and a host of family and friends that have gone before her.

The couple had been living in separate states for years: Katie in Kentucky, and Dalton in Missouri. They were last together in January for their fifth anniversary.

Image: youcaring

Cystic fibrosis clogs lungs with mucus and affects the digestive system and other organs. Both Katie and Dalton received lung transplants, which failed.

He has tried so many times and he has tried so hard, Daltons mother, Renee Prager, told The St Louis Dispatch. Unfortunately his body is not agreeing with what he wants to do.

Image: youcaring

The couple wrote about their experiences online and raised over $32,000 for their treatments.

Katie and Dalton even compared themselves to the couple in the book The Fault in Our Stars. Now, her mother is paying tribute to the daughter she lost.

The days to follow will not be easy but I find comfort in knowing that my girl lived, she really lived, Katies mother wrote on Facebook. If there is something you want to do, dont wait. Life is short, love as hard as you can.

Related:

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS.
From Popular Mechanics

The only clinic in one of the nation's busiest commercial fishing ports is so remote that even conventional telemedicine for emergencies has been impossible for its limited staff-until this week.

Starting Thursday, a new partnership with an Anchorage hospital will virtually beam critical care doctors 800 miles away to the emergency room on Unalaska Island, home to Dutch Harbor.

But instead of transmissions with fiber-optics, which are nowhere near the isolated Alaska island, the team putting together the system is relying on satellite technology in what is believed to be a first in the country for telemedicine.

The clinic, Iliuliuk Family and Health Services, brings to nine the number of providers served by the electronic intensive care unit at Anchorage's Providence Alaska Medical Center.

"We are kind of mix-mashing everything together to try to make this work," Sharon Compton, services manager of the hospital's eICU office, said after a recent demonstration of the Dutch Harbor link.

The new system will provide real-time camera links between emergency doctors and clinic staffers during medical emergencies, such as injuries among the Bering Sea crabbing fleet made famous by the Discovery Channel show "Deadliest Catch."

The idea is to help stabilize patients before transporting them out of town and to help with triage during major events like a ship sinking.

From afar, doctors will be able to view X-rays and patient charts and talk directly with patients on camera instead of consulting with medics by phone and email.

Photo credit: Rachel D'Oro

There are some unknowns about how the system will work, with likely slowdowns in satellite reception because of the region's notoriously bad weather.

During the recent demonstration, pre-launch kinks prevented the rolling-cart-mounted camera in Dutch Harbor from being pivoted remotely. But the camera otherwise performed impressively, sending back crystal-clear video of clinic staffers as they chatted with a critical care doctor.

Story continues

The new service was lauded by Seattle-based crabbing boat owner by Lance Farr, who has been badly hurt twice in his decades of working in the Bering Sea.

Several years ago, he almost severed a finger in a dockside engine accident. He was stabilized at the clinic before being flown to Anchorage for further treatment. In 1996, Farr broke his foot at Dutch Harbor after dropping an engine on it. He spent the night at the clinic under the care of nurses before being flown out the next day.

In hindsight, having his care visually monitored by emergency room specialists would have provided a morale boost, as well as invaluable expertise, Farr said.

"It would be a good thing, I would think, to have a real physician being able to advise the people out there," he said.

The city of Unalaska has just 4,600 year-round residents, but the population swells to 16,000 or more during the region's two main fishing seasons, when boat crews and processing workers flood the town with dozens of languages and cultures. That means more potential for patients, including people who don't speak English.

The clinic averages more than 300 after-hours emergency room visits a year, with about a third of those patients flown elsewhere, often to Anchorage, for more complete treatment.

Fishing-industry emergencies at sea can mean significant delays to appropriate medical treatments when the injured must first be carried by rescue helicopter to Dutch Harbor. Injuries can range from deep cuts and broken bones to back injuries and amputations.

"These guys are pretty tough out here, and they will, you know, continue to fish until they can't get out of bed anymore," said James Novotny, nurse practitioner at the clinic.

The drastically shifting population can put a strain on clinic staffing in this rural setting. So can the inability to afford emergency specialists or much in the way of diagnostic equipment.

Then there's the challenge of living in such a far-flung spot, which makes finding and keeping medical staff difficult, according to clinic medical director, Ann Nora Ehret, an osteopathic doctor who has wanted to tap into telemedicine since joining the staff in 2013. Only recently did the clinic hire a second doctor after the position was vacant for nearly a year.

Adding the long-distance help will be invaluable, Ehret said.

"I think it could be a game changer for recruiting, retention and for the care of the patients," she said. "We are getting the support we need in an austere environment."

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Bruce Springsteen's passion for storytelling has taken countless forms over the years  he called his early songs "twisted autobiographies." Chapter and Verse is the companion album to his memoir Born to Run, following the tale from his garage-band youth to his current glory days, with five tunes he's never released before. For Chapter and Verse he's chosen a revelatory mix of classics and obscurities  he leans hard on the hard-luck tales in his songbook, as the Jersey romance of "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" gives way to the dashed dreams of "The River" or "Brilliant Disguise." You can hear how the scared kid who sings the Nebraska nightmare ballad "My Father's House" isn't so far from the hungry-hearted husband and dad of "Wrecking Ball" or the Nineties deep cut "Living Proof."

For the previously unheard gems, he reaches all the way back to 1966, to his teen garage band the Castiles, with the original "Baby I" and the Willie Dixon blues standard "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover." He goes back to his pre-E Street group Steel Mill, with the guitar-and-cowbell 1970 stomp "He's Guilty (Judge Song)," drenched in Danny Frederici's organ. The acoustic demo "Henry Boy" is a witty rough draft for "Rosalita," though it has its own story to tell: "They had the gall/To write your name up on the girls' room wall." But the prize is "Ballad of Jesse James," a March 1972 outlaw lament in the style of Van Morrison or the Band, with a dash of Gregg Allman in Springsteen's drawl. You can hear it in his voice already  he's a 22-year-old kid restless to wear a man's shoes, taking on the myths of the Old West when he's still stuck playing bars in Jersey. He's fired up about the territory he wants to explore. And over the course of Chapter and Verse, you can hear him get there.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / REVOLVER RESOURCES INC. (RZ.V) (the "Company" or "Revolver") is pleased to announce that Matt Noel, C.E.O. of Pure Focus Capital, has been retained for Investor Relations.

Matt has over 10 years of brokerage experience, with the last eight years as an investment advisor for five different investment banks including: BMO Nesbitt Burns, Macquarie Private Wealth, Richardson GMP, Wolverton Securities, and briefly with PI Financial. Matt began focusing on the resource space early in his career and has built up a large network of industry experts while assisting in raising capital for public and private resource companies. Matt graduated with his Economics degree from SFU in 2005, and has completed levels 1 and 2 of the CFA Program.

"We are fortunate at Revolver Resources to be attracting high quality talent such as Matt Noel. Having Matt join our company is another sign that we are firmly on the right track," stated President, C.E.O & Director Dan Stuart.

Pure Focus Capital will be paid $5000 CAD on a monthly basis. Revolver Resources looks forward to announcing further developments in the near future.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Dan Stuart, President, CEO & Director

604 488 3900

This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the acquisition of certain mineral claims. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and Revolver undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.

Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Company operates, including that: the current price of and demand for minerals being targeted by the Company will be sustained or will improve; the Company will be able to obtain required exploration licences and other permits; general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; financing will be available if and when needed on reasonable terms; the Company will not experience any material accident; and the Company will be able to identify and acquire additional mineral interests on reasonable terms or at all. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: that resource exploration and development is a speculative business; that environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous; that the Company may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; fluctuating prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition; potential inability to find suitable acquisition opportunities and/or complete the same; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the Company's public filings. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.

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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: Revolver Resources Inc.
Rock your body right, the Backstreet Boys are getting their own show in Vegas

Rock your body right, the Backstreet Boys are getting their own show in Vegas

Vegas is about to become an absolute NOSTALGIA MECCA, guys. Start saving your pennies so you can make the pilgrimage to worship at the altar of not only Britney Spears who will be in Vegas through 2017, but now, officially

The Backstreet Boys will begin a residency performing in Vegas on March 1, 2017!

Youre definitely not dreaming. This is real life, according to E!, and in 2017, you will be able to go to Vegas and see Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys perform. If you werent able to make it to see your favorite bands in person in the early 2000s, youre finally going to be able to make up for your horribly deprived childhood.

The show is called Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life, and it will obviously star Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ McLean, and Kevin Richardson.

You can see the show inside The Axis at Planet Hollywood. So if youre super keen for the holidays and are already making up your Christmas list, you should probably put a flight (or gas money!), a hotel room, and some spending money for Vegas on your list.

giphy

While youre at it, you maybe should spend some time while youre home for the holidays digging through your attic looking for that choker necklace you got out of a gumball machine in 2004 and to borrow a relatives tie so you can go full Avril Lavigne and live up to your highest aughts potential. We definitely will be.

The post Rock your body right, the Backstreet Boys are getting their own show in Vegas appeared first on HelloGiggles.
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - A Romanian politician who escaped a potential manslaughter investigation due to his parliamentary immunity said on Friday he would resign from the senate to allow the probe to go ahead. Thousands of Romanians took to the streets in protest at the Senate's decision to shut down the investigation - a case they say is a symptom of wider corruption in the political system that is under scrutiny from the European Union. In late 2015, Gabriel Oprea, then deputy prime minister, was traveling in a motorcade to which he was not entitled when Bogdan Gigina, one of his police escorts, died after his motorbike 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, but they declined, sparking the street protests that were due to continue later on Friday. "I am not hiding behind any immunity and, like the Gigina family, I want the truth about the accident," Oprea said on his Facebook account. He has denied wrongdoing. On Thursday, he said he would ask the senate to repeat the vote and approve the inquiry this time around, but it was unclear whether procedures allowed it. "To disperse all doubt, I am announcing that I will resign from the senate," Oprea said. Once his resignation becomes official, prosecutors need approval for the inquiry from the president, a legal requirement for all former cabinet ministers. President Klaus Iohannis had criticized the senate vote to stop the investigation and is likely to greenlight it. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Geneva (AFP) - Russia on Friday lodged an appeal against a ruling that its import ban on pork products from the European Union is illegitimate, the World Trade Organization said.

The WTO ruling, handed down last month, concerns a ban imposed by Russia in early 2014, which Moscow said was necessary to protect its consumers following a small flare up of African Swine Fever in some EU states.

Russia widened its ban against EU products later in 2014, a move many saw as retaliation against EU sanctions imposed on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine.

Experts at the Geneva-based WTO ruled in August that Russia's stated concerns over EU pork did not meet the requirements needed to justify such a sweeping ban.

"The Russian Federation filed a notice of appeal today," a WTO spokesman said Friday.

The WTO's decision on the appeal should be announced within three months, according to the body's rules.

In 2013, EU pork exports to Russia were estimated at 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion dollars).

Since joining the WTO in 2012, Russia has imposed bans on dairy products, chocolates, wine and meat from countries including Lithuania, Poland, Moldova and Ukraine.

When the WTO's initial ruling in the case was announced on August 19, the EU said in a statement that the decision "confirms that the measures taken by Russia against the EU have little to do with any real sanitary or health risks".
Russia and Pakistan will carry out their first joint military exercise this weekend, the Pakistani military said Friday, at a time of heightened tensions between Islamabad and nuclear-armed rival India.

The exercise is being seen as a demonstration of closer defence ties between the two countries after they signed a military cooperation pact in 2014.

It comes after intense drills by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) earlier this week that officials said had been long-planned, including landing combat aircraft on the Islamabad to Lahore motorway.

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak(istan) for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise from 24 September to 10 October 2016," military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa tweeted Friday, without giving further details.

Pakistani defence and security analyst Hasan Askari said the exercise "signifies Russian desire to expand their options in South Asia", adding it was the "natural" result of closer Indian ties with the US.

Islamabad has also been negotiating with Moscow a deal to buy combat helicopters. "These helicopters were to be supplied this year but now they are likely to arrive in 2017," Askari said.

On Thursday the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched Highmark Exercise, shutting down sections of the motorway leading out of the capital to land "several" combat aircraft for the first time in six years, a senior security source told AFP.

The drill came as India and Pakistan traded angry words over an attack on an Indian army base in disputed Kashmir that Delhi has blamed on Islamabad.

But Pakistani officials said Highmark is a routine exercise, with a senior security official telling AFP that preparations -- including setting the dates it would take place -- had begun around one year ago.

The drill is aimed an enhancing "operational preparedness", the official said, and will continue for several weeks followed by months of evaluation.

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Earlier in the week the Pakistani military briefly closed airspace above the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region neighbouring Kashmir.

Foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakariya said in Islamabad Thursday the moves were regular and routine.

Eighteen soldiers were killed in last Sunday's attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir, which was the worst of its kind to hit the divided Himalayan region in more than a decade, increasing hostility between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Former Cold War-era rivals Pakistan and Russia are due to hold their first ever military exercise this month, Pakistan's military said on Friday, in another sign of shifting alliances in South Asia. During the Cold War, Pakistan spent a decade helping the United States funnel arms and fighters into neighboring Afghanistan to help insurgent groups fight Soviet soldiers following their 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. At the time, the communist Soviet Union was closely aligned with Pakistan's arch-enemy India, while the United States was a staunch supporter of Pakistan. Pakistan's top military spokesman, Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, said a "contingent of Russian ground forces" arrived in Pakistan for a two-week exercise beginning on Saturday. About 200 military personnel from both sides would be involved in the exercises, Pakistan's Tribune Express newspaper said, citing military sources. Pakistani media last year reported Islamabad had bought four Mi-35 attack helicopters from Russia in a first military deal of its kind between them. While ties between Russia and Pakistan are growing closer, Pakistan's relations with the United States have cooled. Washington accused Islamabad of harboring Afghan Taliban fighters, something that Pakistan denies. The United States has also improved ties with India, which Pakistan views warily. Pakistan's relations with its steadfast, "all-weather" ally China have developed over the past year or so with a plan for $46 billion in Chinese investment in a road and rail energy corridor linking western China with Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast. (Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Additional reporting by Syed Raza Hassan; Editing by Robert Birsel)
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday he wanted to see signs that the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has influence over opposition groups on the ground in Syria to ensure that any ceasefire could succeed. "We want to see any sign which would prove that the coalition has influence on those who are on the ground facing the government," he said, adding that any truce would be senseless if opposition groups were not separated from the Islamist militants of the Nusra Front group. He made no reference to possible progress after talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier in the day. (Reporting By Michelle Nicholls, John Irish and Arshad Mohammed; editing by Grant McCool)
The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is honoring Robin Williams by naming its screening room and educational space in New York City after the late actor.

The Robin Williams Center for Actors, Broadcasters and Recording Artists will be opened on Oct. 5 with a celebration of Williams work, featuring a conversation with Robin Williams that took place at the Foundation in Los Angeles in 2003.

Following the screening, a panel of friends and colleagues including Hank Azaria, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Bonnie Hunt and writer-director Barry Levinson will discuss collaborating with Williams.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a national organization and weve been serving union performers all over the country with our free programs and resources for more than 30 years. However, with the opening of the incredible Robin Williams Center, we now have two permanent and state-of-the-art homes for actors, broadcasters and recording artists on both coasts, said JoBeth Williams, president of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The opening of this Center is truly the culmination of a dream.

The foundation will also present a career retrospective with broadcaster Tom Brokaw in the following weeks. The Robin Williams Center, located at 247 West 54th street, will offer free educational programming to more than 40,000 actors, broadcasters and recording artists in the New York metro area and serve as the permanent home to the conversations and the business programs.

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation will open a new screening room and educational space in New York City on October 5 that will be named the Robin Williams Center for Actors, Broadcasters and Recording Artists in honor of the late actor-comedian.

The space, located at 247 W. 54th St. between 8th Avenue and Broadway, will offer free educational programming to more than 40,000 actors, broadcasters and recording artists in the New York metro area. It will be the permanent home of the foundations Conversations and The Business programs and will extend resources of the EIF Voiceover Lab, an on-camera lab, a computer lab and classroom already housed at its 1900 Broadway offices.

A 154-seat, 4000-square-foot theater will feature a 4K HD Christie Digital Cinema projection system and surround sound and a 25-foot-wide screen. It also boasts multi-camera live stream broadcast and recording capabilities. When the foundation is not programming in the space, the center will be made available for rental.

The opening on October 5 will feature a celebration of Williams work, including a screening of a 2013 Conversation with him. A panel will follow with Hank Azaria, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Bonnie Hunt and Barry Levinson.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a national organization and weve been serving union performers all over the country with our free programs and resources for more than 30 years, said foundation president JoBeth Williams. However, with the opening of the incredible Robin Williams Center, we now have two permanent and state-of-the-art homes for actors, broadcasters and recording artists on both coasts.

The opening of this Center is truly the culmination of a dream. The other part of that dream is to be able to name our new home in honor of Robin Williams, a brilliant artist and compassionate man, who represented the very best in all of us as a performer and as a person.

The foundation has begun a capital campaign to fund the building and operations costs for the duration of the 20-year lease.

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By Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A Samsung Electronics smartphone sent smoke from an overhead baggage compartment on an Indian commercial plane during a flight on Friday, India's aviation regulator said, but there was no damage and the aircraft landed safely.

Passengers on board an IndiGo flight spotted smoke filtering from the baggage bin and alerted the cabin crew which saw sparks and smoke coming from a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone, the airline, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, confirmed in an emailed statement.

The IndiGo flight was on its way to Chennai from Singapore, the airline said.

The incident comes after Samsung recalled its new Note 7 phones across the globe due to faulty batteries causing the devices to catch fire while charging or in normal use.

The problems knocked billions of dollars off the market value of Samsung Electronics, which had tried to pre-empt rival Apple by launching the almost $900 Note 7 on Aug. 19, about a month ahead of the latest iPhone release.

There have been no previous reports of similar problems with the Note 2 model, first released in 2012.

A spokesperson for India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said it will send out an advisory to airlines warning passengers to keep all Samsung Note smartphones switched off during the flight or avoid carrying the phones on commercial jets altogether.

The DGCA has called Samsung representatives to its office in New Delhi on Monday. A Samsung spokesman in India had no immediate comment but said the company would issue a statement soon.

(Writing by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Adrian Croft)
(Updates with comment from Samsung, adds context)

By Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A Samsung Electronics smartphone stored in an overhead baggage compartment on an Indian plane emitted smoke in mid-flight on Friday, India's aviation regulator said, but there was no damage and the aircraft landed safely.

Passengers on board an IndiGo flight smelled smoke coming from the baggage bin and alerted cabin crew who saw sparks and smoke coming from a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone, the airline, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, said in an emailed statement.

Flight crew used a fire extinguisher on the phone and put it in a container filled with water, the airline said.

The IndiGo flight was on its way to Chennai from Singapore.

The regulator described the incident as a suspected fire but the airline said there had been no fire.

Samsung recalled its new Note 7 phones across the globe this month due to faulty batteries causing the devices to catch fire while charging or in normal use, raising fears for the future of the flagship device.

There have been no previous reports of similar problems with the Note 2 model, first released in 2012.

Samsung is looking into Friday's incident, a company spokesman said in an emailed statement. "We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information," he said.

Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, did not confirm if the device is a Note 2.

India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), will send an advisory to airlines warning passengers to keep all Samsung Note smartphones switched off during flights or avoid carrying the phones on commercial jets altogether, a spokesman said.

The DGCA has called Samsung representatives to its office in New Delhi on Monday to discuss the incident.

Regulators and airlines in several countries, including the United States and China, have issued warnings to air travelers to keep Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones turned off and unplugged during flights.

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The problems with the Note 7 knocked billions of dollars off the market value of Samsung Electronics, which had tried to pre-empt rival Apple Inc by launching the almost $900 Note 7 on Aug. 19, about a month ahead of the latest iPhone release.

Asked about the incident in India, a spokesman for Europe's air safety regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency, referred to previous guidance stating passengers should inform cabin crew if any electronic device is damaged, hot, produces smoke, is lost, or falls into the seats.

It has advised airlines to tell passengers not to turn on or charge their Galaxy Note 7s when on board.

(Additional reporting by Victoria Bryan in Berlin; Writing by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Adrian Croft)
SAN SEBASTIAN  At this years Sundance, 23-year-old Miles Joris-Peyrafitte became one of the festivals youngest-ever filmmakers to have a film in competition with As You Are, his first feature, which he directed, co-wrote, co-scored and acted in. It won a Special Jury Award.

Signed up by WME by early March, Joris-Peyrafitte hit San Sebastian earlier this week for the movies European premiere. As You Are riffs on the Nirvana song not only in its title but its vision of the loneliness, angst and confusion of youth as it portrays the friendship between three high school students, two boys and a girl. Its mobile camera work, which toys with different film genres, plus use of a faux procedural structure, also typifies the style of many new and highly cine-literate filmmakers.

In the run-up to San Sebastian, Joris-Peyrafitte spoke about the films openness to interpretation, trusting ones instincts and his changed perception of the film business.

The first scene, I think, says a lot about the whole movie. Jack skateboards out of school coolly, goes to a local skateboard park without any friendsthen catches a bus to go home, which is a long trek. Bnd by the time he gets home, its night and his mother is asleep waiting for him.

Youre definitely not off track! With the opening of the film, we really wanted to set the tone of Jacks life pre-Mark. We wanted to show the world hes in and the loneliness he feels within it. Given the severity of what we see immediately before, I knew that whatever we saw next would be affected.

Since we know that the story is being told in retrospect, it was important that we also capture that kind of warmth youre talking about. I think in retrospect you cant help but see a certain comfort in his solitude.

When youre making a film which is a mix of subjective memories, where what we see may not be what quite happened, where what exactly happened may not be clear, you risk being misunderstood. How would you judge the reactions so far? Have you been understood?

Its interesting because I never really feared being misunderstood with the film. From the beginning of the writing process (even of the short film I made first), I knew that for the film to work, not only did we have to lean into the possibility of people seeing it in different ways, but, in fact, with a film thats so much about interpretation and memory, we would be doing ourselves a disservice to not give the audience ample space to interpret any way they want.

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Seeing the way people react to it has certainly been a highlight of my life. Since this was my first feature, I had never gone through that part of the film-making process  i.e., people actually seeing it. Which is interesting because I think that impulse of sharing is at the heart of what makes me want to make films. Ive talked to so many people about it, and had so many vastly different reads on it, which is amazing, especially because the one common thread seems to be that everyone seems certain about their way of reading it, which is so cool. It makes me feel really good that anyone would watch the film and feel compelled enough to develop theories and ideas surrounding it.

Again, some of the most tender moments are love scenes between Jack and Mark. But this isnt really an LGBT movie. I feel that just as the characters are exploring a more fluid sexuality, your film is fluid in its use of genre: a procedural without a sense of an investigation closure, a film about two boys love for each other, a coming-of-age film where two of the three characters dont have the emotional support to really come of age.

Great! That was certainly an intention. My sort of guiding idea for most of the choices in the film was that I wanted to make a movie about teenagers that didnt talk down or belittle, something that dealt with the severity of their issues the way a film about adults would. The film does try and move through different genres  or, maybe more specifically, it tries to avoid most. Its not a coming-of-age film, or a procedural, or a specifically LGBT film, or anything else. Its a movie about kids going through a lot of things that belong to a lot of different genres.

In terms of the film-making, that idea of not belonging to any one thing specifically became really freeing because we could build our world on what the emotional truths of the characters were, instead of on a genre. This, as you alluded to, is an attempt to mimic or represent the fluidity that characters feel and are trying to justify.

The film has its European premiere at San Sebastian. What would you like the audience to take away from As You Are?



Im really excited (and nervous) about San Sebastian because for some, potentially misguided, reason, Ive always kind of seen As You Are as a European film. But maybe thats just pretentious. Ha. Either way, regarding what I hope they take away, I think my answer is always the same: literally anything. I feel like my job is to present a bunch of ideas and stuff that is meaningful to me, and the audiences job is to see if they find anything in common. If they do, regardless of what that is, I feel like I did my job. That said, I also just hope they like it. Thatd be nice.

Youre making your second film. What would you like to carry over from the first? And what do you want to break with?

I want to carry over the feeling of doing something really fun with a bunch of friends. I think thats what made me fall in love with the process when I was six years old and my co-writer Madison and I would make films, and I think its what will keep me in love with it. I hope that I never get used to how insane of a job I have. Or at least I never take it for granted. When we were shooting As You Are, Id have multiple moments a day where Id look around and be terrified and elated, not understanding how this was happening to me, how I was so lucky. I want to carry that feeling with me because it keeps everything in perspective and makes me really grateful, which in turn, I think, makes me better.

In terms of things to get rid of, theres a lot. I think the most apparent is insecurity. For all the gratefulness I felt, I also felt really scared that, given my age and lack of experience, I wasnt going to be able to deliver. That feeling is like kryptonite to a director, because it makes you question your instincts. And my instincts are literally all I have out there.

Did you have any industry expectations at all for the film, and have they been satisfied?

I had no expectations when I was making the film. I never thought it would go where its gone. So, by that token, I cant believe that the industry even knows it exists.

Everyone Ive worked with has been really amazing and really excited about the project. Its definitely not an easy sell for most, but the people who are, and have been, championing it really believe in it and are working their asses off. I had a lot of ideas about the film industry before Id gotten a glimpse [of] it, most of which were pretty unflattering. My tune has changed for the most part. Not everyone is a money-sucking vampire-worshiper. Which is great! That said, things take a very long time, Ive discovered, which can be frustrating. But luckily, I have a great team which indulges my rants and nods and agrees when I tell them Im gonna start putting a juicing clause in all my contracts to promote punctuality.

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SAN SEBASTIAN  William A. Kirkley (Excavating Taylor Mead) is preparing a still-to-be-titled follow-up to Orange Sunshine, whose international premiere took place Wednesday Sept. 21 at the San Sebastian Festivals Savage Cinema sidebar. Orange Sunshine work premiered at SXSW, then segued to the Newport Beach Fest. It is produced by Andrew Fuller at Orange Sunshine Productions.

The new Kirkley documentary portrays Michael Kennedy, attorney to the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, a shadowy LSD-worshipping organisation featured in Orange Sunshine and Timothy Leary.

Kennedy also represented the Weathermen, the Black Panthers, the Chicago 7, Jerry Rubin and the Yippies, Native Americans at the protests at Wounded Knee, Cesar Chavez and migrant workers, the list goes on and on, Kirkley told Variety at San Sebastian.

Kirkley added that the film will be a somewhat true-crime documentary of all of these monumental cases and their impact on law and culture, and the love story between him and his wife and partner Eleanora, who were together for 50 years,

Orange Sunshine does feature surfing action. But it is part of a larger mix. In a memorable archive footage scene, surfing star Mike Hynson, star of Bruce Browns The Endless Summer, is filmed smoking a roach on the beach, surveying the waves. Hynsons friend asks for the roach. Hanson stands up, gets the surfboard, and goes surfing, without removing the roach from his lips, comes back and gives the roach to his friend.

Orange chronicles with neither nostalgia nor prejudice the birth and history of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, a church founded in the early 60s by family members, friends and surfers with the mission of changing the world, via the popularisation of LSD and hash. The church members moved quickly from personal consumption to become the largest distributors of hash and LSD in the world for a decade.

I grew up in Orange County where much of the story takes place and the impact that the Brotherhood had on OC, and the rest of the world was monumental. I felt it has gone largely unnoticed, Kirkley told Variety.

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In the end, it was about a group of families and friends that were truly revolutionaries and held true to their beliefs even to this day fifty years later. It wasnt about money or fame, it was about turning on the world. I think thats fascinating, he added.

Distribber.com is handling the distribution for Orange Sunshine on various digital platforms. Release date will be announced in the coming weeks. Led by CEO Nick Soares, distribber.com is one out of three branches of GoDigital, along with Amplify Releasing and GoDigital Worldwide.

International sales are handled by Kevin Iwashinas Preferred Content, whose slate includes So Yong Kims Lovesong and Diego Lunas Mr. Pig.

The heads of the Brotherhood of Eternal Love, Michael and Carol Randall, attended the San Sebastian premiere alongside the film team. They had never shared their story before this feature.

Kirkley is represented by @view-finder International Director and DoP Agency.

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By Ted Siefer

SALEM, Mass. (Reuters) - The new international headquarters for the Satanic Temple, which says its mission is to promote separation of church and state not devil worship, opened to the public 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 Satanic Temple, that 20 people were executed in the notorious witch trials in the 1690s, an important event in the history of colonial America.

At its opening event on Thursday evening, the Temple, which also bills itself as an art gallery, more than a dozen visitors perused rooms full of art in which ghastly figures and pentagrams figured prominently.

The center's most arresting artwork is a 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.

There were also historical exhibits at the Temple, including a documentary chronicling incidents of people being persecuted throughout the ages as alleged devil worshippers.

The Satanic Temple does not promote devil worship as described in the Bible, and says its mission is to reinforce the separation of church and state, encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, and promote "practical common sense and justice."

Nera Specter, the director of the center, said the group has been in Salem for several months working to set up its headquarters.

She said people in the city had so far been largely welcoming. She noted that at public events, activists and community members had invoked the violence of Salem's past to express solidarity with gays, who commonly face intolerance, threats and violence over their sexuality.

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"Everything that has been reiterated is learning from our mistakes and not pointing and screaming 'witch' or 'devil'," she said.

Officials and residents in Salem had so far expressed few objections to the Satanic Temple 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. Its downtown has the Salem Witch Museum and occult shops, which draw tourists ahead of Halloween on Oct. 31.

(Editing by Scott Malone and Cynthia Osterman)
(Adds quotes, background)

DOHA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will acquire 63 aircraft as part of a fleet modernisation programme, a top executive was quoted as saying on Friday by state news agency SPA.

The airline will acquire 15 Boeing B777-300ER, 13 Boeing B787 Dreamliners and 35 Airbus A320 and A321-neo, said Director-general Saleh bin Nasser al-Jasser.

Saudi Arabia's air travel industry is benefiting from strong population growth and rising incomes since the country announced in 2012 that it would liberalise its domestic aviation market.

At present the state-owned carrier's only domestic competitor is budget carrier flynas.

In 2015 Saudia said it would raise the number of its planes to 200 from 119 and add new international and domestic routes.

(Reporting by Mohamed el Sharif; Writing by Tom Finn)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations are looking at various scenarios in an effort to find common ground by November to stabilize the oil market, a Gulf OPEC source familiar with Saudi thinking said on Friday.

"Our goal is to reach a consensus and look at different scenarios for the production levels of the OPEC countries," the source told Reuters.

"The technical meeting in Vienna and the ministerial meeting in Algeria will be to build consensus for the official OPEC meeting at the end of November," the source said.

OPEC countries will meet informally on Sept. 28 in Algeria, where they are widely expected to discuss a potential production freeze. Russia, which is not a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is likely to attend.

"We are looking forward to a credible and transparent solution which would lead to market stability," the source said.

Saudi, Iranian, Qatari and Algerian OPEC experts held a two-day technical meeting in Vienna this week to look at production levels. No agreement has been reached yet on possible levels for a production cap.

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Dale Hudson)
By Rania El Gamal and Dmitry Zhdannikov

DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce oil production if rival Iran caps its own output this year, four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters, as Riyadh tries to strike an elusive OPEC deal to curtail supply and boost prices.

The offer, which has yet to be accepted or rejected by Tehran, was made this month, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

OPEC holds an informal meeting next week in Algiers, which non-OPEC Russia will also join. The group, which produces a third of the world's oil, will also have a formal gathering in Vienna at the end of November.

"The Algeria meeting is not a decision making meeting. It is for consultations," said a source familiar with the Saudi oil thinking.

Riyadh is ready to cut output to levels seen early this year in exchange for Iran freezing production at the current level, which is 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd), the sources said.

"They (the Saudis) are ready for a cut but Iran has to agree to freeze," one source said. Three more sources confirmed the offer was presented to Tehran.

A source familiar with Saudi oil thinking said: "Our goal is to reach a consensus and look at different scenarios for the production levels of the OPEC countries. We are looking forward to a credible and transparent solution which would lead to market stability".

A source familiar with Iranian thinking declined to comment on details of the proposal but did not rule out a compromise next week: "Let them all talk face to face."

There was no official comment from Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Oil prices rose on the news that Saudis were offering a deal to Iran but later pared gains to trade 4 percent lower by 1700 GMT as hopes of an agreement next week faded.

At $46 (35.4) per barrel, prices are well below the budget needs of most OPEC countries and a fraction of the 2014 peak above $115 per barrel.

SEEKING CONSENSUS

Saudi output usually drops in winter and spikes during hot summer months, hence Iran could dismiss the proposed reduction as an attempt by Riyadh to present a natural decline as a cut.

Story continues

Iran has been promising to boost output to 4 million bpd, although production has stagnated in the past three months at around 3.6 million bpd, indicating the new push might be difficult without additional investments.

The first source did not say by how much Riyadh would cut if Iran agreed to a freeze. The Algerian oil minister said this month that OPEC would need to reduce supply by around 1 million barrels per day to help rebalance the market.

Riyadh's production has spiked since June due to summer demand, reaching a record high in July of 10.67 million bpd and edging down to 10.63 million bpd in August. From January to May, Saudi Arabia produced around 10.2 million bpd.

Previously, the Saudis have refused to discuss a production cut.

OPEC officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran met this week in Vienna. According to sources, they did not discuss the Saudi proposal, focusing instead on baseline production figures.

The meeting produced no breakthrough, the sources said. The source familiar with Saudi thinking said it would nevertheless help build consensus.

Two sources said Saudi Arabia's Gulf OPEC allies the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait were expected to contribute to any output reduction.

Saudi Arabia, by far the largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will shoulder the biggest cut, the sources said.

The proposal can be seen as a shift by Riyadh, which orchestrated the current OPEC policy in 2014 by refusing to cut output alone to support prices and chose to defend market share against rivals, particularly high-cost producers.

A fall in oil prices to $30-$50 per barrel from levels as high as $115 seen in June 2014 led to a boost in global oil demand and a decline in high-cost supplies such as those from the United States.

But the Saudi strategy caused a rift in OPEC, whose poorer members have faced a budget crisis and unrest. Riyadh and its Gulf allies also had to tighten their belts after a decade of generous public spending.

As the pain of cheap oil grew and pressures on Saudi finances increased, Riyadh and Tehran signalled they were willing to show more flexibility to prop up prices.

However, the first attempt at a global production pact collapsed in April when Riyadh insisted Tehran participate. Iran has said it will not join any such agreement until it boosts output to pre-sanctions levels.

(Additional reporting by Alex Lawler; editing by Dale Hudson and David Clarke)
By Rania El Gamal and Dmitry Zhdannikov

DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce oil production if rival Iran caps its own output this year, four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters, as Riyadh tries to strike an elusive OPEC deal to curtail supply and boost prices.

The offer, which has yet to be accepted or rejected by Tehran, was made this month, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

OPEC holds an informal meeting next week in Algiers, which non-OPEC Russia will also join. The group, which produces a third of the world's oil, will also have a formal gathering in Vienna at the end of November.

"The Algeria meeting is not a decision making meeting. It is for consultations," said a source familiar with the Saudi oil thinking.

Riyadh is ready to cut output to levels seen early this year in exchange for Iran freezing production at the current level, which is 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd), the sources said.

"They (the Saudis) are ready for a cut but Iran has to agree to freeze," one source said. Three more sources confirmed the offer was presented to Tehran.

A source familiar with Saudi oil thinking said: "Our goal is to reach a consensus and look at different scenarios for the production levels of the OPEC countries. We are looking forward to a credible and transparent solution which would lead to market stability".

A source familiar with Iranian thinking declined to comment on details of the proposal but did not rule out a compromise next week: "Let them all talk face to face."

There was no official comment from Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Oil prices rose on the news that Saudis were offering a deal to Iran but later pared gains to trade 4 percent lower by 1700 GMT as hopes of an agreement next week faded.

At $46 per barrel, prices are well below the budget needs of most OPEC countries and a fraction of the 2014 peak above $115 per barrel.

SEEKING CONSENSUS

Story continues

Saudi output usually drops in winter and spikes during hot summer months, hence Iran could dismiss the proposed reduction as an attempt by Riyadh to present a natural decline as a cut.

Iran has been promising to boost output to 4 million bpd, although production has stagnated in the past three months at around 3.6 million bpd, indicating the new push might be difficult without additional investments.

The first source did not say by how much Riyadh would cut if Iran agreed to a freeze. The Algerian oil minister said this month that OPEC would need to reduce supply by around 1 million barrels per day to help rebalance the market.

Riyadh's production has spiked since June due to summer demand, reaching a record high in July of 10.67 million bpd and edging down to 10.63 million bpd in August. From January to May, Saudi Arabia produced around 10.2 million bpd.

Previously, the Saudis have refused to discuss a production cut.

OPEC officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran met this week in Vienna. According to sources, they did not discuss the Saudi proposal, focusing instead on baseline production figures.

The meeting produced no breakthrough, the sources said. The source familiar with Saudi thinking said it would nevertheless help build consensus.

Two sources said Saudi Arabia's Gulf OPEC allies the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait were expected to contribute to any output reduction.

Saudi Arabia, by far the largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will shoulder the biggest cut, the sources said.

The proposal can be seen as a shift by Riyadh, which orchestrated the current OPEC policy in 2014 by refusing to cut output alone to support prices and chose to defend market share against rivals, particularly high-cost producers.

A fall in oil prices to $30-$50 per barrel from levels as high as $115 seen in June 2014 led to a boost in global oil demand and a decline in high-cost supplies such as those from the United States.

But the Saudi strategy caused a rift in OPEC, whose poorer members have faced a budget crisis and unrest. Riyadh and its Gulf allies also had to tighten their belts after a decade of generous public spending.

As the pain of cheap oil grew and pressures on Saudi finances increased, Riyadh and Tehran signaled they were willing to show more flexibility to prop up prices.

However, the first attempt at a global production pact collapsed in April when Riyadh insisted Tehran participate. Iran has said it will not join any such agreement until it boosts output to pre-sanctions levels.

(Additional reporting by Alex Lawler; editing by Dale Hudson and David Clarke)
By Paul Carrel BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's veteran finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, jumped to the defense of her conservatives' Bavarian sister party in the latest twist in a row over migrants that is damaging her re-election prospects. Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) have spent the last year locked in the dispute, which now centers on the latter's demand to cap the number of migrants coming into Germany at 200,000 a year. Merkel, whose CDU suffered a drubbing in a state election in Berlin on Sunday, has refused to agree to such a limit. But the allies know they must reach a compromise soon that allows them both to save face and focus on next year's federal election. Schaeuble defended CSU leader Horst Seehofer, a significant intervention from a senior conservative after other Merkel allies blamed the Bavarians' relentless attacks on her open-door refugee policy for the CDU's poor showing in the Berlin vote. "It is an outrage to insinuate that Bavarian premier Horst Seehofer is against the dignified treatment of refugees," the finance minister told weekly magazine Wirtschaftswoche in comments released on Thursday. "In Bavaria, there are fewer far-right attacks on refugees than elsewhere," added Schaeuble, who is not close to Merkel but used his popularity in their party to help her win backing for financial aid to Greece during the euro zone crisis. Merkel, Seehofer and senior figures from their parties had a "constructive" meeting in Berlin on Thursday evening to try to narrow their differences, according to sources familiar with the meeting. No decisions had been expected on the migrant cap. The conservatives did agree to tackle a new distribution of finances between the federal government and the states, a topic that has proven divisive in the past. Schaeuble could be a CDU candidate for chancellor should Merkel not seek re-election next year, though he brushed off questions about whether he could seek the office or even the German presidency in a television interview last week. "Why don't you ask me if I want to be Pope?" he responded. Wheelchair-bound since a deranged man shot and crippled him in 1990, Schaeuble turned 74 on Sunday and cast himself as a loyal minister in the Wirtschaftswoche interview. "I am fulfilling my duty as finance minister," he said. Merkel, 62, said on Monday she would turn back time if she could to better prepare Germany for last year's migrant influx, when some one million migrants entered the country. Her uncharacteristically contrite remarks were a clear attempt to mend fences with the CSU, though Seehofer is keeping up pressure on her to compromise on the migrant cap. Jens Spahn, deputy finance minister and a senior member of Merkel's conservatives, told the Rheinische Post newspaper that the CSU proposed cap could even be too high, citing the failed integration in the past of some migrants with Arabic or north African backgrounds. He also urged the EU to conclude an agreement with north African nations to ease the repatriation of those rescued at sea who fled for financial reasons and were later denied asylum. CDU officials have played down any prospect of an immediate breakthrough, but the parties want to resolve the migrant row before a CDU congress in early December at which Merkel could announce she will run for a fourth term. The CSU accounts for roughly 20 percent of the conservative bloc of votes in the federal parliament and she needs its support to stand again. Asked on Monday whether she will run in 2017, Merkel declined to comment. (Writing by Paul Carrel, Additional reporting by Andreas Rinke; Editing by Catherine Evans and Diane Craft)
London (AFP) - Britain should be out of the European Union before the next European Parliament elections in 2019 but the government appears "undecided" over how to proceed, the parliament's president said on Friday.

"I called on Prime Minister (Theresa) May to notify the UK's departure from the EU as soon as possible," Martin Schulz said in a speech at the London School of Economics after talks with May on Thursday.

"If Article 50 is triggered too late, we run the risk of facing European elections in the UK in 2019 at the very same time as it is leaving the EU.

"That would be a very difficult thing to explain to UK and to European citizens," Schulz said.

European Parliament elections are due to be held in May or June 2019.

May has said she is not planning to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty -- the formal procedure for leaving -- before the end of the year.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and other officials have suggested it will happen early next year.

"Honestly, I leave London with a feeling that the government is undecided about how and when they should trigger Article 50," Schulz said.

"It is absolutely clear, and it became for me every day clearer -- the complexity of the whole exercise is enormous," he said, calling the vote to leave the EU a "disaster" for both Britain and the European Union.

Asked by AFP about the possibility of his leaving the presidency of the European Parliament in January, Schulz said: "I'll decide later about my own career".

Socialist Schulz has completed a first mandate and was re-elected for a second following the 2014 European elections after a promise to centre-right lawmakers that he would step down in January 2017.
Although boredom is as familiar a feeling as excitement or fear, science has only begun to understand what makes people bored. Recently, six scientists who emerged after living for a year in isolation on the Mauna Loa volcano as part of the HI-SEAS (Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) experiment, which simulated the isolation that future space travelers might experience traveling to and living on Mars, said that boredom was their biggest challenge.

Boredom "has been understudied until fairly recently, but its [worth studying] because human experience has consequences for how we interact with each our and our environment," said James Danckert, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Waterloo in Ontario in an interview with Live Science.

It's easy to think of examples of mind-numbing situations, such as waiting in line at the DMV, listening to a monotonous lecture or being stuck in traffic. It's much more difficult to define boredom.

A 2012 review of boredom research that was conducted in educational settings suggested that boredom is some combination of an objective lack of neurological excitement and a subjective psychological state of dissatisfaction, frustration or disinterest, all of which result from a lack of stimulation.

The one aspect about which most people seem to agree is that boredom is unpleasant. "I describe it as an aggressively dissatisfying state," Danckert said. In this way, boredom is not the same as apathy, because bored people are in some way motivated to end their boredom. [10 Things That Make Humans Special]

Boredom is also distinct from hopelessness and depression. Compared to hopelessness, "boredom may involve feeling stuck in a dissatisfying current situation, but it does not involve believing that success is impossible or that engaging in satisfying activity is unattainable in the future," said Taylor Acee, assistant professor of developmental education at Texas State University, San Marcos, in an email interview with Live Science.

Story continues

And although boredom is similar to depression, in that both are unpleasant states of low-arousal, Acee and Danckert agreed that depression tends to involve negative, inward-looking focus, whereas boredom relates to a negative feeling that arises from lack of stimulation from the outside world.

Who gets bored more often?

Research has shown that some people are more prone to boredom than others. A 2012 paper looked at the psychological attributes that could make a person more susceptible to boredom, and it found that people who have conditions that affect their attention, such as ADHD, may get bored easily. Also, people who are over- or undersensitive to stimulation, and those who are unable to express what activities might be engaging enough to combat their boredom, are more likely to get bored.

In his own research, Danckert has found that people who are reaching the end of their young adulthood years, around age 22, may be less likely than those in their late teens to get bored. The reason may hint at a larger cause of boredom, he said. "In that age range, the frontal cortex is in the final stages of maturation," and this part of the brain helps with self-control and self-regulation, Danckert said.

People who have experienced traumatic brain injury may also be more prone to boredom, which can affect their recovery, he said. It's possible that this relates to injury to the frontal cortex. [10 Things You Didn't Know About the Brain]

The bright side of boredom

The key to avoiding boredom, for those both inside and outside of the groups of people most prone to boredom, is self-control, Danckert said. "Those with a higher capacity for self-control are less likely to experience boredom," he said.

Recent research has linked boredom to increased creativity. Danckert said that in studies that he has done, he has found that boredom tends to inspire creativity only in people with high levels of self-control.

So far, there's no tidy, evolutionary reasoning to explain why we get bored. But that doesn't mean that boredom can't do us some good. "The positive side of boredom is that, if responded to in an adaptive way, it is this signal to explore, [to] do something else. That what you're doing now isn't working," said Danckert, noting that he was explaining the philosophical reasoning of University of Louisville professor of philosophy Andreas Elpidorou, who defends the value of boredom his is own work.

How to stop being bored

Research on boredom isn't far enough along to reveal ways to fight it. There are, however, some hints as to what might make a task boring or not. "Boredom is often experienced when an individual perceives themselves as being temporarily confined to a situation or activity that lacks value for one reason or another," Acee said.

Tasks could lack value because they are unenjoyable, uninteresting, too easy or too difficult, or because we consider them unimportant on a personal level, he said. [So Bored! 8 Facts from the Science of Boredom]

One way to keep a tedious task from being boring might be to think about it differently. "Reflecting about the potential usefulness, relevance or meaningfulness of an activity can help individuals increase the value they assign to the activity," said Acee. Although it hasn't been tested, Danckert similarly suggested that mindfulness training or meditation might help ward off ennui.

It's important to note that, unless you find Candy Crush particularly meaningful, turning to technology is not the likeliest boredom cure. It may provide an increased level of engagement, but probably little else, said Danckert, emphasizing that there isn't really any way to say for sure whether what we're experiencing in our plugged-in present is any less boring to us than what preceding, smartphoneless generations have experienced.

Why boredom matters

Both Acee and Danckert said that boredom is something we need to know more about. Boredom has been associated with plenty of negative outcomes, including low academic performance, high dropout rates, mistakes on the job, depression, anxiety and a lowered sense of life purpose, Acee said.

Even if it doesn't lead to these problems in most people, boredom plays a major role in our lives, particularly if we find that our work or time in the classroom is snooze-inducing. "Generating knowledge about boredom through research can help inform us about how to design educational programs, structure work environments, advise patients and clients and manage our day-to-day lives," Acee 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.
BERLIN (Reuters) - TUIfly has denied suggestions that the German airline is planning to link up with Britain's easyJet (EZJ.L) but declined to comment directly on a report that another European airline was interested in buying the airline.

A German magazine report said on Thursday that easyJet was close to taking a stake in TUIfly, part of travel and tourism group TUI (TUIT.L), as a way to secure flying rights within the European Union should Britain leave the EU and not agree access to the bloc's single aviation market.

But a TUIFly board member representing the labour force said on Friday a second European carrier could be interested in buying the airline, part of travel and tourism group TUI (TUIT.L).

"There's another European airline to whom TUIfly could be sold," Martin Locher, a TUIfly pilot and supervisory board member told Reuters on Friday.

He declined to name the airline, but said it was a non-EU carrier. He also said it was not clear if talks with easyJet were continuing.

In response TUIfly management said in a letter to employees, "A partnership or easyJet taking a stake in TUIfly is not being prepared, nor is this planned".

EasyJet declined to comment while a TUI spokesman declined to comment directly on the second European airline.

TUIfly has 41 planes, 14 of which are currently operated by loss-making Air Berlin (AB1.DE). Sources have told Reuters that Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) and Air Berlin (AB1.DE) are in talks over Lufthansa renting around 40 Air Berlin planes and crews for use by its Eurowings subsidiary, with a decision expected next week.

"Given the difficult financial situation at Air Berlin, we are regularly in contact with Air Berlin, plus with other airlines and partners and exploring opportunities for cooperation," TUIfly added.

Both Locher and Andreas Barczewski, a member of the TUI Group and TUIfly supervisory boards, said any sale of TUIfly against the wishes of employees and unions would be resisted.

Management at TUI is reshaping the travel group, which was created in 2014 by the merger of London-listed TUI Travel and German majority owner TUI AG and is focusing on its tour operations, hotels and cruises.

Story continues

Along with TUIfly, the TUI Group also includes airlines Thomson Airways, TUIfly Nordic, ArkeFly and JetairFly. TUI has said it is targeting 50 million euros (43.33 million) in operational improvements at its airlines by the 2018/19 financial year.

Chief Executive Fritz Joussen said in August TUI was seeing pressure at the German airline due to overcapacity in the market.

(Reporting by Peter Maushagen; Additional reporting by Victoria Bryan, Arno Schuetze and Sarah Young; editing by Susan Thomas, Greg Mahlich)
2nd Death Anniv of Nanda Prasad: Rights defenders press for swift justice

Rights defenders observed the second death anniversary of Nanda Prasad Adhikari on Thursday, calling for a swift delivery of justice to retain the trust of victims in judiciary.
Did you know that if you gaze up at a clear evening sky, you're actually looking into the past? Even with the naked eye, you can see starlight that was emitted years  or even centuries  ago. And if you know where to look, you can see galaxies so far away that their light has been traveling since before humans walked the Earth. Add the magnifying power of a telescope, and you'll journey to the time when dinosaurs lived. In this edition of Mobile Astronomy, we'll travel the celestial and see ancient starlight with our own two eyes.

The speed of light

Starlight is the visible part of an electromagnetic spectrum of radiation that our eyes have evolved to detect. Beyond the visible range are radio waves, X-rays and infrared. In the vacuum of space, electromagnetic radiation travels at a speed of 186,282 miles per second (or 299,792 km/s), usually denoted with a "c." Albert Einstein showed that the speed of light is the top speed possible in the universe. Because of this, light from distant objects takes a long time to reach our eyes.

Space is so vast that distances soon become cumbersome to convey using everyday units. To write out the distance in miles to a nearby galaxy, you would need 19 zeros! As such, astronomers have adopted the term "light-year"  the distance light travels in a vacuum in one year. It's 5,878,625,541,248 miles (9,460,730,743,054 km), or almost 6 trillion miles (more than 9 trillion km)! See what I mean? [Einstein's Theory of General Relativity Explained (Infographic)]

We can measure the distance to closer objects using light-minutes and light-seconds. For example, if a person in Los Angeles could see it, the light from a lamp switched on in New York City would cross the country to arrive 13 milliseconds later, after traveling 0.013 light-seconds. Moonlight takes 1.3 seconds to reach us on the ground. During the Apollo missions, the radio signals experienced the same delay, causing two-way conversations to be choppy. The light from the sun takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel to Earth, so we can say that it's 8.3 light-minutes away.

Story continues

Our planetary neighbors are far, but not too far. Right now, Venus and Mars are about 10 light-minutes away from Earth. At times of superior conjunction, when Mars is on the far side of the sun, the Red Planet can be as many as 22 light-minutes away. The resulting 44-minute round-trip for radio signals presents serious challenges for future Mars explorers! We typically see Jupiter and Saturn as they were more than an hour ago. As a rule, using a telescope makes an object's light brighter and its image larger, but it doesn't shorten the light's travel time at all.

Looking into the past

The stars we can see  besides the sun  are much farther away than the planets, but every one of them is still a "neighbor" in our Milky Way galaxy. You might think that the brightest stars in the sky are the closest ones, and sometimes that's true. Vega, which shines overhead this month, is the fifth-brightest star in the heavens, and it's only 25 light-years away. Even closer is the winter star Sirius, the brightest star in the nighttime sky. Its light has been traveling for only 8.6 years.

Using your favorite astronomy app, you can sample some very old starlight with your naked eyes. Looking north, the star Mizar  which marks the bend in the handle of the Big Dipper  is 85.8 light-years away. The light we see from Polaris tonight began its journey in 1586, when Shakespeare and Galileo were living. High in the eastern evening sky, the constellation Cygnus (the swan) includes two bright and distant stars. Deneb, at the great bird's tail, is at least 1,550 light-years away. The light from the bright star Sadr, located only six degrees to the southwest, has traveled for approximately 1,800 years. These two stars are much more luminous than the sun, allowing them to shine so brightly even at those enormous distances.

If a celestial object is big enough, it can be much farther away and still be visible to the naked eye. The Wild Duck Cluster (also known as Messier 11) is a bright concentration of stars in one of the galaxy's spiral arms that you can see with naked eyes under dark skies. Your sky charting app will point you to where it sits in the evening sky, about midway between the bright star Altair and Saturn. The cluster contains about 2,900 stars at a distance of more than 6,000 light-years! Use binoculars or a small telescope to get a better look. Use low magnification, though  it's about one-third of the moon's diameter across. [Stunning Photo Captures 'Wild Duck' Star Cluster in Flight]

Outside our neighborhood, there are globular star clusters  spherical concentrations of densely packed stars that orbit just outside our galaxy. The brightest one for skywatchers in North America is Messier 13, the Great Globular Cluster, located in the constellation Hercules. Its ancient, 23,000-year-old starlight appears as a dim, fuzzy patch to unaided eyes, and becomes a spectacular sight under magnification. Lucky observers in the Southern Hemisphere can also see Omega Centauri, the brightest globular cluster in the sky. At a "mere" 17,000 light-years away, it's worth a trip south of the equator.

Your astronomy app should list the distance to all of the prominent stars and deeper-sky objects. The SkySafari 5 search menu lets you search for the nearest or brightest star, as well as deep-sky objects, and includes the option to sort the lists and highlight the objects on the sky.

How far can you see?

Nearby galaxies are the farthest objects visible with unaided human eyes, and you can see them for yourself during the Northern Hemisphere's fall and winter months. The Andromeda galaxy (Messier 31) is a large, spiral galaxy nicely placed in the eastern evening sky. It's tilted obliquely in the sky so it forms a dim, elongated oval that brightens toward the core. A darker sky will show its true size  it's more than six full moon diameters across! And here's the amazing part: It is 2.5 million light-years away! When that light began its trip to Earth, Homo habilis (an early human species) was roaming Tanzania.

People have claimed to be able to see several other more distant galaxies under extremely dark skies, as well. Adding a telescope, you can see much further back in time. Here are a few suggestions for you to try with a backyard telescope. Your astronomy app will list many more. The objects with smaller visual magnitude values will be brighter and easier to see. None of them will appear very bright in the eyepiece, but you'll be exploring the universe in space and time.

Messier 51 Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici magnitude 8.0 28 million light-years

Messier 84 Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo magnitude 9.0 67 million light-years

Messier 109 Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major magnitude 9.7 82 million light-years

Going beyond

With a very large telescope, astronomers can reach deeper into the distant past, nearly to the beginning of time. Over the course of a decade, NASA directed the Hubble Space Telescope to image a small, seemingly empty patch of sky in the constellation Fornax. By accumulating more than 2 million seconds of exposure time, in visible and other wavelengths of light, the telescope captured a scene containing thousands of galaxies, some of which are so distant that their light shows as they existed 13.2 billion years ago  only 500 million years after the Big Bang. The image, known as the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field, is only the beginning of this exploration. Its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope  scheduled to launch in 2018  should see hundreds of millions of years farther back than that!

In future mobile astronomy columns, we'll look at how astronomers measure the distances to objects, review some new apps and gadgets, and more. Send me your suggestions! In the meantime, keep looking up!

Editor's note: Chris Vaughan is an astronomy public outreach and education specialist, and operator of the historic 1.88-meter David Dunlap Observatory telescope. You can reach him via email, and follow him on Twitter as @astrogeoguy, as well as on Facebook and Tumblr.

This article was provided by Simulation Curriculum, the leader in space science curriculum solutions and the makers of the SkySafari app for Android and iOS. Follow SkySafari on Twitter @SkySafariAstro. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f21955%2fa0990553599c4b79b57e6026c95e7f3a

A Tennessee church group has recycled tens of thousands discarded plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless  and they don't plan on stopping there.

The group of women, many of whom are elderly, call themselves the "bag ladies," and they meet every Thursday at Second Baptist Church in Union City, Tennessee.

"This is not young ladies doing this. This is older ladies with the arthritis," volunteer Janice Akin told WGN TV in Chicago.

SEE ALSO: Compassionate kid donates piggy bank money to mom's charity fundraiser

To make each mat, volunteers cut and roll the bags into strips they have dubbed "plarn" (plastic yarn), then crochet the strips into large rectangles.

Each mat takes about two weeks to complete, according to local reports, Akin said.

"I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's a good feeling to know you're helping someone  even if just a little bit," she told ABC News.

Some of the mats are locally distributed, while others have been sent to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to help those displaced by the recent floods.
Seth Rogen, Jordan Peele and Thomas Middleditch are among the actors set to take part in Young Storytellers annual fundraising event.

The Biggest Show will feature readings of short screenplays written by students in public elementary and middle schools in Los Angeles and New York. The 13th annual event, set for Oct. 20 at Novo by Microsoft at L.A. Live, will again be hosted by Jason and Randy Sklar.

Other thesps on board to bring the students works to life include Nasim Pedrad, Tony Hale, Charlie Day, Max Greenfield, Danny Pudi, Busy Philipps, John Cho and Natasha Rothwell.

The L.A.-based non-profit Young Storytellers org sends volunteers into dozens of schools to work with students on developing short screenplays.

Over the course of eight weeks, the students learn the basics of crafting a dramatic narrative by working one on one with mentors, many of them industry writers. At the end of the program, each students screenplay is brought to life at an evening event for family and friends with a group of volunteer actors.

The Biggest Show event draws on selected screenplays from throughout the previous school year. The event is the orgs biggest annual fundraiser.

Young Storytellers was formed in 1997 by a group of film students that included future Glee and American Horror Story co-creator Brad Falchuk. Tickets are available on the organizations website.

(Pictured: Seth Rogen, Jordan Peele, Thomas Middleditch)

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Ed Helms Plays Bruce Willis? Mindy Kaling as Lil Wayne? Only for Young Storytellers Foundation's 'Biggest Show'

Young Storytellers Foundation Helps Kids Bring Out Their Inner Writer
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NBY) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty by the board of directors of the company. To obtain additional information, go to:

http://zlk.9nl.com/novabay-nby

or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Eduard Korsinsky, Esq.

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New York, NY 10004

Tel: (212) 363-7500

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SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Washington (AFP) - The way is now clear for a second term for the American president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim.

After a first term hailed by some Bank member states but marked by internal discord, Kim this month became the only candidate running for his own succession.

In keeping with an unbroken tradition, the US nominee will again fill the presidency at the World Bank, while the International Monetary Fund remains in European hands as Christine Lagarde, also unopposed, began a second term as managing director in July.

After nominations opened, no other country took the risk of trying to upset this established order -- unlike in 2012, when the Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala threw her hat in the ring to be leader of the development behemoth, which comprises 189 member states and employs 15,000 people.

Still, Kim's record since taking office that year is not spotless.

A medical doctor and former president of Dartmouth College, Kim won plaudits for mobilizing the Bank against the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa and taking action against climate change, as well as for setting a goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 all while expanding World Bank lending.

But he also had to contend with a high degree of internal dissent, stemming from an unpopular reorganization and a controversy in 2014 over bonuses granted to senior Bank officials.

The World Bank Staff Association last month denounced what it called a "crisis of leadership," and in an open letter several former officials lamented what they said was the lack of a clear strategy. The Economist and Financial Times opposed automatically reappointing Kim and called for a more open process.

- 'Show of force' -

Despite all this, poor and developing countries still chose to support a second term for Kim, 56, who will sit for interviews with the Bank's board before being formally crowned next month. His second five-year term is due to begin in July next year.

Story continues

An informal leader of the emerging markets, China has praised Kim's "impressive achievement and leadership" even if Beijing set about creating its own development bank to counter the Western hegemony of the World Bank and IMF.

"It reveals the power of incumbency. Kim has spent more than four years forming close relations with key actors in the emerging-market countries," said Scott Morris of the Center for Global Development. "The staff are not in the position of reelecting him. It's up to the shareholders."

Other more critical observers say the selection process was biased, hurriedly begun in the dead of summer and locked down by the United States, the Bank's largest shareholder.

Almost immediately after the window for nominations opened, the US Treasury offered its support for a second term for Kim, helping to discourage any other candidacy.

"The US show of force has cooled off any serious candidate who might have been thinking of applying for the job," said Paul Cadario, a former Bank official and now a distinguished fellow at the University of Toronto.

By taking charge, the United States also doubtless sought to nip in the bud any potential World Bank leadership contest ahead of the US presidential election, which is scheduled for November 8.

Bank officials say the calendar for the selection process was set by the executive board and is in keeping with past practices at the Bank.

"The member states are happy with the overall picture of the World Bank and they don't want to change its leadership at this time even if there are management challenges inside and if the morale is very low," said Ian Solomon, a former US executive director at the Bank and chief executive of consulting firm SolomonGlobal.

Kim's critics hope the member states will at least be aware of the discontent in the air.

"There's been enough questions raised about Dr Kim that the board could make clear that there are certain things they expect him to do and certain things they expect him to stop doing," said Cadario.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / Sienna Resources Inc (SIE.V) (FSE:A1XCQ0) (SNNAF) wishes to announce that representatives of the company will be presenting at the MINExpo in Las Vegas, September 26-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. The show is held every four years and is one of the largest mining shows in the world, with attendance expected over 25,000. Management welcomes all shareholders to come and speak with President Jason Gigliotti in person at the show.

Sienna Resources has also recently been cleared by FINRA and is now fully quoted on the OTC Markets under the new symbol SNNAF.

Jason Gigliotti, President of Sienna Resources Inc. stated, "We are pleased to be presenting at one of the largest single concentrations of mining industry experts and investors in the world. We are excited to present our Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project at this show, especially in light of the show being in the direct vicinity of our property and Tesla's Gigafactory. We are also very pleased to have heard that our neighbour, Pure Energy has had more success on their recent deep drill program. The most significant aspect being that this was Pure's deepest drilling to date and ended in brine at depth. Considering Sienna's property is located in the deepest sections of this basin, we are very optimistic about our planned future work program and that our premise of the brine sinking to the bottom of the basin is receiving more positive evidence."

The President adds, "We are also very fortunate to be able to engage GeoXplor, who have the most intimate knowledge of Clayton Valley. The GeoXplor team have been instrumental with the development and discovery regarding the lithium brine deposit that Pure Energy Minerals Limited has, and we look forward to utilizing their experience and expertise to develop our Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project. GeoXplor has proven to be the preeminent Clayton Valley lithium brine discovery team. We are very excited to start up our program as Sienna is located in the deepest sections of the basin that holds the only lithium development in Nevada."

Sienna's "Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project" is located directly between and bordering Pure Energy Minerals Limited and Lithium X Energy Corp. The "Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project" is located in parts of the deepest sections (refer to the map) of the only lithium brine basin with a producing operation in North America (Albemarle's Silver Peak Mine).





To view an enhanced version of the Clayton Valley Depth of Basin Map, please visit: http://www.accesswire.com/uploads/22713_a1474633213482_74.jpg

John Rud M.Sc. Geologist and a Principal of GeoXplor Corp states that, "We look forward to working with the Sienna team as their project is located in the deepest sections of the Clayton Valley Basin, the only producing lithium brine basin in North America, with no company to date, testing these deeper sections. Their (Sienna's) efforts in this regard is something we are very excited about."

If you would like to be added to Sienna's email list please send an email to info@siennaresources.com or our twitter account at @SiennaResources.

Contact Information

Tel: 1.604.646.6900

Fax: 1.604.689.1733

www.siennaresources.com

info@siennaresources.com

"Jason Gigliotti"

President, Director

Sienna Resources Inc.

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 press release.

SOURCE: Sienna Resources Inc
Passenger traffic posted a steep decline of 6.8%.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) operating results for the financial period Aug 2016 indicates a weakening demand amid intensifying competitive environment, said OCBC Investment Research.

SIA saw passenger capacity growth outpace passenger traffic growth across all its passenger airlines. Overall passenger load factor (PLF) for Aug 16 fell 5.2ppt YoY to 79.7% as capacity grew 3.6% while passenger traffic declined 2.9%.

For the parent airline, passenger traffic posted a steep decline of 6.8% YoY on softer demand across all regions against a 0.3% decrease in capacity, resulting in 5.6ppt fall in PLF to 80.0%, the lowest for the month of Aug since 2012.

SilkAirs numbers were disappointing as traffic decreased 2.0% YoY against a 5.3% expansion in capacity, which led to a 5.2ppt drop in PLF to 71.0%.

For Scoot, capacity growth of 61.8% YoY outpaced traffic growth of 52.8%, resulting in a 4.8ppt fall in PLF to 80.4%.

SIA Cargo, however, was the only one that posted positive growth in PLF as demand outpaced capacity changes, across all regions except for West Asia and Africa.

That said, OCBC Investment Research believes SIA Cargo sacrificed

cargo yield for PLF growth.

Coupled with competition from the Gulf and Chinese carriers, OCBC said passenger yields will continue to be under pressure in the

near to medium term.

Furthermore, it thinks SIAs Aug 16 operating results have yet to register any possible impact from rise in Zika virus cases in Singapore, which only made news in late-Aug.

"Note that numerous countries (e.g. Australia, U.K. etc.) that SIA has

strong presence in have also issued travel warnings on Singapore," the research firm said.







More From Singapore Business Review


SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore is exploring plans to establish a national surveillance program to monitor the development of babies born to pregnant women infected with the Zika virus, the state-owned Channel NewsAsia (CNA) said on Friday. Sixteen pregnant women have been confirmed to have the virus in Singapore, CNA said, quoting the Ministry of Health - a doubling of the eight cases reported on Sept. 11. CNA said the ministry was keeping close tabs on the women. While most people experience mild symptoms, Zika infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause microcephaly, a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized. In adults, it can cause a rare neurological syndrome called Guillain-Barre. Island city-state Singapore reported its first locally infected Zika patient on Aug. 27, and since then the number of reported infections has risen to 387 as of Friday. The virus is currently affecting large parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil the hardest hit. It has also spread in other parts of Southeast Asia. (Reporting by Saeed Azhar; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
3 bodies recovered, 1 still missing from landslide in Manaslu

Three bodies of the four people who were killed in a landslide near a bridge connecting Uiya-Kerauja along the Manaslu trekking route in Gorkha district on Thursday have been recovered.
Its over. In the middle of a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday, an aide leaned in and told Secretary of State John Kerry about a massive new Syrian offensive in Aleppo, quite literally blowing up any hope of maintaining a ceasefire deal between Moscow and Washington. But by time the assault kicked off, it was clear that the deal was already in shambles.

We cant go out to the world and say we have an agreement when we dont, Kerry said after meeting with diplomats from over a dozen European and Middle Eastern countries on Thursday. Speaking with reporters late Thursday night, one administration official said the meeting was pretty contentious, and given the barrel bombs falling on Aleppo and the attack on a U.N. aid convoy Monday, I want to stress at this point that its going to require something extraordinary from the Russians to get the deal back on track.

FPs Colum Lynch tracks the charges, counter-charges, and accusations of bad faith that Russian and American officials have been trading in New York all week.

Overnight, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Aleppo was hit with at least 30 air strikes, one targeting the citys water pumping station while government troops assaulted the rebel front line in the divided city. Ammar al Selmo, the head of the civil defense rescue service in eastern Aleppo, told Reuters early Friday that whats happening now is annihilation.

Blame. American diplomats and White House officials havent been shy about blaming the Russians for Mondays deadly strike on a U.N. aid convoy, which killed 20 civilians. And now President Barack Obamas top military advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, backs up those charges. Theres no doubt in my mind that Russians are responsible, he told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. Two Russian aircraft were in the area at that timeMy judgment would be that they did [it].

Story continues

The day after in Raqqa. Dunford also told the panel that while U.S.-backed Kurdish rebels will play a big role in pushing the Islamic State out of its de facto Syrian capital of Raqqa, the Kurds wont hold the city. There are plenty of reasons why, most importantly Turkish sensitivities over Kurds gobbling up more territory on Turkeys southern flank, FPs Paul McLeary reports. The role of holding Raqqa would likely be played by some of the roughly 14,000 Syrian Arabs in the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces, he added. But, the general admitted, when it comes to the day after in Raqqa, we have a plan but it is not resourced.

Hillary and Putin and Trump. When leaving the State Department in 2013, Hillary Clinton advised President Barack Obama to take a hard stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin, a posture she hasnt changed in the ensuing three years. Clintons aggressive approach to Moscow  that Putin cannot be trusted and must be met with force  diverts sharply from Trumps cozy take, writes FPs Molly OToole in a new look at Clintons history of warnings about the Russian leader.

But the Democratic candidates views 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. In many ways, Russia also remains central to the argument the Democratic nominee has embraced in the tough fight against her Republican rival: Experience trumps instinct.

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

Philippines

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been on a smack-talking tear lately about Manilas military relationship with Washington, but the two countries will be carrying out joint exercises in early October nonetheless. Twice in the past few weeks, Duterte has said that the Philippines shouldnt carry out exercises with the U.S. Navy in the South China Sea because it could provoke a confrontation with China. The exercises, scheduled to begin the first week of October, will take place at a Philippine gunnery range.

Cybersecurity

The FBI now believes that a mysterious hacking organization calling itself the Shadow Brokers managed to obtain a set of classified NSA hacking tools through a mistake made by an NSA employee, rather than an inside leaker. Reuters spoke to a handful of officials familiar with the Bureaus investigation of the incident, which was triggered by the publication of the tools on a website. The FBI is reportedly working on the assumption, thus far unproven, that Russia is behind the Shadow Brokers hack and publication of the software.

The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees, however, are more pointed about whos behind the series of recent hacks targeting Democratic party organizations and state electoral databases. Two California Democrats, Rep. Adam Schiff and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, released a joint statement stating that, 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 say the hacks are intended to undermine the public credibility of Americas electoral system.

Brexiting

The U.K. may be on its way out the door of the European Union (EU), but that wont stop it from throwing a wrench into the EUs defense plans before it leaves. Reuters reports that France and Germany are pushing for EU countries to approve a plan for a joint security and defense headquarters in Brussels at an upcoming summit in December. But U.K. Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon says his country will block any attempts to create a rival to NATO for as long the country can vote in the European Council.

Iran

The Iranian president says Washington isnt keeping up its end of the nuclear deal. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took the occasion of the U.N. General Assembly meeting on Thursday to complain about a lack of compliance with the deal. Specifically, Rouhani is upset over the recent Supreme Court decision that will give families of the victims of Iranian terrorism first dibs on $2 billion worth of frozen Iranian assets before the larger pile of money is handed back to Tehran.

Afghanistan

One of Afghanistans most notorious insurgent leaders just signed a peace deal with the Afghan government. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the head of Hezb-i-Islami whos known as the butcher of Kabul for his rocket attacks on civilians, signed a deal with Afghan officials to lay down his arms in exchange for government recognition of his party and the removal of U.S. and U.N. sanctions on him. The peace deal, however, is still just a draft and its unclear whether the Afghans can successfully pressure the U.S. government to lift sanctions against Hekmatyar.

Air Force

The Air Force Association threw its big annual industry exhibition this week, but as National Defense magazine reports, startups were noticeably absent from the trade show. The absence comes amidst a push by Defense Secretary Ash Carter for the Pentagon to reach out to startups through the recently-created Defense Innovation Unit (Experimental) offices. Nonetheless, Air Force officials shrugged off the absence, with Air Force Materiel Commands Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski saying that the defense expo format isnt a format that startups are traditionally interested in and that parallel outreach efforts are already underway.

Marines

The Washington Post reports that a Marine Corps Harrier crashed in the sea off Okinawa on Thursday, marking the third crash of a Marine aircraft in two months. Fortunately, the Harrier pilot managed to eject and was brought to safety by an Air Force search and rescue crew. The incident follows the lethal crash of a Marine Corps F/A-18C in July and the crash of another Hornet in Nevada in August where the pilot again managed to safely eject. Marine Corps leaders and some lawmakers blame shortages in spare parts due to years of flat budgets for the recent spate of accidents.

Photo Credit: AMEER ALHALBI/AFP/Getty Images
Slovakia and Montenegro are the latest countries to submit films for consideration for the foreign-language Oscar.

Marko Skops Eva Nova (pictured) has been selected by the Slovak Television and Film Academy as the countrys entrant. Eva Nova premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015, where it won the International Critics (FIPRESCI) Discovery Award. It then went on to win five awards, including best film, at the Slovak Film Awards in April. It was selected for Oscar submission from a long list of 14 films.

Written and directed by Skop, the film tells the story of a recovering alcoholic, formerly a famous actress, who will do anything to regain the love of the person she hurt the most, her estranged son. It marks Skops move into fictional drama from his work as a documentary filmmaker.

Montenegro has selected Ivan Marinovics debut feature The Black Pin as its Oscar contender. Written and directed by Marinovic, the comedy drama centers on a misanthropic Orthodox priest who returns home to nurse his dementia-afflicted mother but finds himself in conflict with the superstitious villagers who want to chase him away. The film premiered at the Sarajevo International Film Festival in August.

The Black Pin marks the fourth year that Montenegro has entered a film into the Oscars foreign language race. The country has yet to receive a nomination.

Slovakias neighbor, the Czech Republic, announced late last week that its entry for the foreign-language Oscar would be Petr Zelenkas dark comedy Lost in Munich. Written and directed by Zelenka, the film tells the story of a 90-year-old parrot that once belonged to the French prime minister responsible for signing the 1938 Munich Treaty, returning to Prague to give its account of historic events only to be kidnapped by a journalist in the midst of a midlife crisis, setting off a diplomatic scandal.

Lost in Munich saw its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival last year. It lost out in the best film category at the local Czech Lion Awards, in March, to Jan Prusinovskys The Snake Brothers, but claimed the prize for best screenplay.

Story continues

The Czech Republic has seen a flurry of new state and local funding activity this week. Pragues city council approved the establishment of a new film fund to support feature films intended for international distribution and television movies and series intended for broadcast in foreign markets that use the Czech capital as a location in its own right rather than as a stand-in for another city. The intention of the CZK 10 million ($412,500) film fund is to support positive representations of the city.

Prague has always attracted foreign production for its ability to stand in for more expensive sister cities such as Paris or London. The good news is thatmore often she is playing herself, says Ludmila Claussova, head of the Czech Film Commission, citing the recent production of the citys use in Bollywood road movie The Ring starring Shah Rukh Khan, which is set for release in summer 2017.

The Czech State Cinematography Fund announced Wednesday that it would provide grants to nine minority co-productions at a total value of CZK 19.95 million ($823,000). Co-productions with France, Russia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Romania and Slovakia were among the recipients, which were chosen from 18 submitted projects. It also announced CZK 7.71 million ($318,100) in development support for 15 local projects considered to have international potential.

Related stories

Greece, Iceland, Slovenia Enter Foreign-Language Oscar Race

Russia Pins Oscar Nomination Hopes on 'Paradise'

Spain Picks Almodovar's 'Julieta' for Foreign-Language Oscar Race
After 18 years and three iterations, Daimler's latest Smart cars look to be living up to their name as the intelligent choice for environmentally conscious commuters that live and work in cities.

The new Smart Electric Drive range will consist of three models -- a two seater, a convertible and a four-seat, four-door version when it goes on sale this spring.

So in other words, there will be a battery-powered equivalent of every gas-powered Smart currently on sale. This makes Smart the first company in the world to offer an EV alternative of every one of its vehicles and it is something the firm's leaning on heavily in the accompanying publicity.

"The smart is the perfect city car, and with electric drive it becomes a little bit more perfect," said Annette Winkler, Head of smart. "This is why we will soon be offering our entire range -- smart fortwo, smart cabrio and even our smart forfour -- as all-electric versions."

When Mercedes and Swiss fashion watch maker Swatch first came together to create the Smart car, Mercedes envisioned and designed it as an electric car -- hence its high seating position (to make room for a battery pack). But battery technology was so poor back in 1998 that the first-gen Smart debuted with a petrol engine.

Battery versions did eventually follow but it's taken until 2016 for the technology to meet the average city driver's requirements. And according to Smart, those requirements are a range of 160km (100 miles) between recharges and a recharging time of two-to-three hours with a dedicated wall box.

Considering the compact dimensions of even the ForFour, plus the fact that the motor offers 80hp and a 0-100km/h time of 11.5 seconds (12.7 for the four seater) -- in other words, almost identical to the gasoline models -- the figures are genuinely impressive.

The car's battery and charging status can be monitored via a smartphone app and from summer 2017 when the car rolls out globally, a 22kW fast charger -- that could recharge the batteries in just 45 minutes -- will be available as an option.

The Smart Electric Drive range will make its global debut at the Paris motor show from October 1. Smart is yet to confirm US pricing but has said that the four-seat, four-door ForFour won't be coming to North America. In Europe, where all three cars will be available, prices will start at 27,839.
A smoking Samsung phone sparked alarm on an Indian flight on Friday, the airline said, weeks after the manufacturer recalled 2.5-million units of its latest model when batteries began catching fire while charging.

Airline IndiGo said it had dealt with an incident involving "minor smoke" coming from a Samsung Note 2 device in a passenger's hand luggage on a flight from Singapore to the southern Indian city of Chennai.

The phone was not the same model as that involved in the recall.

"IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board," the airline said in a statement.

"(The crew) observed smoke being emitted from Samsung Note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in overhead bin."

Crew used a fire extinguisher before submerging the phone in water and the plane made a normal landing.

The world's largest maker of mobile phones recalled 2.5-million units of its top-of-the-range model, Note 7 after its batteries began catching fire while charging.

The recall has put fresh pressure on Samsung, which is already squeezed by competition from Apple in the high-end market and Chinese rivals in the low-and mid-end segment.
Podgorica (Montenegro) (AFP) - A sniper has shot dead a prisoner in broad daylight in a yard at Montenegro's highest security jail, officials in the Balkan country said Friday.

The victim, named only by the initials D.Dj, was shot in the chest on Thursday while walking in the grounds of the main jail in the capital Podgorica, prison authorities said in a statement.

The prisoner died of his injuries later on Thursday, the statement said, adding that he had been jailed for extortion in 2014.

"Clearly this is a clash of criminal groups and this brutal murder requires the maximum engagement of all institutions involved in implementing justice," the statement said.

Local media identified the victim as Dalibor Djuric, saying he was the tenth victim of feuds between Montenegro's drugs gangs in the last two years.

Earlier this month, police arrested nine men suspected of belonging to a drugs gang responsible for a surge in violence in Montenegro's top tourist destination, Kotor, a coastal UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Summer isn't over yet for Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello!



The couple jetted off to Turks and Caicos Thursday after spending a few days in New York City.



The Modern Family actress, 44, took to Instagram to share a sweet picture of herself cuddling her hubby at lunch  and enjoying a giant coconut!



"Breakfast in NY, lunch in Turks & Caicos," she captioned the shot.









Breakfast in NY lunch in Turks & Caicos A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Sep 22, 2016 at 11:36am PDT



She also shared an aerial shot of the ocean, captioning it with a series of palm tree emojis.





A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Sep 22, 2016 at 11:51am PDT



The happy couple also enjoyed a boat ride with two pals.





@realrobertearl @dakohtes @joemanganiello A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Sep 22, 2016 at 8:52pm PDT



During an appearance on Harry Connick Jr.'s talk show Harry airing Friday, Vergara opened up about how her now-husband of almost one year had to "convince" her to say yes to a date.



"You are married to perhaps, seriously, arguably the most attractive man that ever lived  not that's just alive," Connick Jr.



But according to Vergara, that's exactly why she didn't want to date the 39-year-old Magic Mike star!



"When he started trying to convince me to go out with him, I didn't want to go out with him because of that," she confessed. "I don't want to deal with that, I'm too old now to be with a guy that all the girls are like, after him."



" 'You're too hot, this is going to be so much work. I'm not kidding,' " she explained. "I didn't want to go out with him because of how hot he was!"



Harry airs weekdays (check your local listings).
By Ziyanda Yono MARBLE HALL, South Africa (Reuters) - Almost 40 years after the first human test-tube baby was born, South African scientists have produced something bulkier: the first Cape buffalo brought into the world by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Pumelelo the buffalo bull calf was born on June 28 and was unveiled to the world this week at a game farm north of Johannesburg in South Africa's Limpopo province. The technique holds hope for far bigger and more endangered species such as the northern white rhino - only three of them are left on the planet. "This success is of major importance for the prospective breeding of endangered species, and that is the reason why we are undertaking this work," said Morne de la Rey, a veterinarian and the managing director of Embryo Plus, which specializes in bovine embryo transfers and semen collection, mostly for the cattle industry. Proud parents are biological mother and egg donor "Vasti" and sperm donor "Goliat", which is Afrikaans for Goliath - in his bulky case, no misnomer. The baby bull has a surrogate mother which has taken to him. He could grow to 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) or more. Cape buffalos are notoriously bad-tempered and dangerous animals and Vasti was sedated when her oocytes, or egg cells, were extracted using a technique similar to that used on human donors. Game farming is big business in South Africa but those involved in the project said the main concern was conservation. "The object is certainly not to reproduce buffalo of superior genetics ... the goal is the conservation of species," said Frans Stapelberg, the owner of the farm where Pumelelo was born. The project will now focus on the northern white rhino and the trio who remain on the planet on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The San Diego Zoo is partnering with that effort. There are around 18,000 to 20,000 southern white rhinos left, mostly in South Africa, but they are being relentlessly poached for their horns to feed illicit demand in Asian countries such as Vietnam, where they are a prized ingredient in traditional medicine. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are around 900,000 Cape buffalo, also called African buffalo, on the continent but they are now mostly confined to protected areas. (Writing by Ed Stoddard; Editing by James Macharia and Andrew Heavens)
By David Brunnstrom UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se accused North Korea on Thursday of "totally ridiculing" the authority of the United Nations through its nuclear and missile tests and said it was time to reconsider whether it was qualified for U.N. membership. In an address to the annual United Nations General Assembly, Yun said the U.N. security Council should adopt "stronger, comprehensive" sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9 and close loopholes in existing measures. "North Korea's repeated violations and non-compliance of Security Council resolutions and international norms is unprecedented and has no parallel in the history of the U.N.," Yun said. "North Korea is totally ridiculing the authority of the General Assembly and the Security Council," he said. "Therefore, 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." Yun said North Korea had not only advanced its nuclear and missile capacity, but publicly threatened to use those weapons preemptively. He said it was the "last chance" to put a brake on its nuclear ambitions. Yun also called for action against North Korea's violations of the rights of its own people, and said there should be greater focus on North Korean workers abroad and the possible diversion of their wages to weapons programs. Discussions are already under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution on North Korea after its latest nuclear test. Analysts and diplomats say much depends on China's attitude. China is North Korea's main ally, but has been angered by its repeated missile and nuclear tests and backed tough U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang in March. At the same time, it has repeatedly called for a return to international talks to resolve the issue, in spite of the skepticism of other world powers. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the General Assembly on Wednesday countries must remain committed to denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, while seeking a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue. The United States said Li and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed in New York on Monday to step up cooperation in the U.N. Security Council and in law enforcement channels Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday the threat posed by North Korea was "substantially more serious" than in the past and demanded an "entirely distinct" response. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; editing by Stuart Grudgings)
4 killed, 14 hurt in landslide in Manaslu region

At least four persons, including a Spanish national, were killed and 14 others injured in a landslide near a bridge connecting Uiya-Kerauja along the Manaslu trekking route in Gorkha district on Thursday morning.
SpaceX blast scene

SpaceX says an investigation into the launch pad explosion that destroyed a Falcon 9 rocket and its satellite payload has turned up evidence of a large breach in the supercooled helium system for the oxygen tank on the rockets second stage.

Todays update made clear that the root cause of the Sept. 1 blast at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida has not yet been identified. Nevertheless, SpaceX said it anticipated to return to flight as early as November, pending the results of the investigation.

SpaceX is leading the investigation, just as it did last year when a Falcon 9 broke apart shortly after liftoff. That mishap involved a component inside the second-stage oxygen tank, but today the company said its ruled out a connection between the two blasts.

All plausible causes are being tracked in an extensive fault tree and carefully investigated, SpaceX said.

The accident investigation team includes representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, the U.S. Air Force as well as industry experts. SpaceX said the team was scouring through 3,000 channels of engineering data along with video, audio and imagery. Blast debris is sitting in a hangar, available for inspection and analysis.

The timeline of the event is extremely short  from first signs of an anomaly to loss of data is about 93 milliseconds or less than one-tenth of a second, SpaceX said.

The company said substantial areas of Cape Canaverals Launch Complex 40 were affected by the blast, but other facilities were in relatively good condition. In November, SpaceX plans to have the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center ready for use.

This months blast took place during the buildup to a static fire test in preparation for the scheduled Sept. 3 launch of the Israeli-made Amos 6 telecommunications satellite. Facebook had been planning to use the satellite to provide low-cost Internet access to Africa. After the explosion, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said he was deeply disappointed by the loss.

Story continues

The mishap and investigation have added an element of uncertainty for SpaceXs ambitious launch schedule. The company had planned to conduct the first launch of Iridium Next communication satellites this month, followed by the first launch of a previously flown Falcon 9 booster and a cargo resupply launch to the International Space Station.

SpaceX says it can send up rockets from Launch Complex 39A as well as Vandenberg Air Force Base in California while repairs are being made to Launch Complex 40. However, the company will have to determine the cause of the anomaly and make any required design changes before those rockets are cleared for flight.

More from GeekWire:
SpaceX's planned 2018 Mars mission could pave the way for a few different types of boot prints on the Red Planet.

The California-based company aims to launch one of its uncrewed Dragon capsules toward the Red Planet in May 2018, to test out some of the technologies needed to make SpaceX's ambitious Mars-colonization goal a reality.

One of those technologies is "supersonic retropropulsion." Dragon will hit the Martian atmosphere going far faster than the speed of sound; the capsule will use its onboard SuperDraco thrusters, rather than parachutes, to slow down enough to land. [SpaceX's Red Dragon Mars Mission in Images]

No Red Planet effort has ever relied upon supersonic retropropulsion. But NASA views the strategy as key to enabling human Mars missions, which will require putting extremely heavy payloads such as habitat modules down on the planet's surface. (NASA's 1-ton Curiosity rover, which touched down in August 2012, pretty much maxed out the agency's daring parachute-sky-crane landing system, agency officials have said.)

"Every single candidate EDL [entry, descent and landing] architecture we have for Mars human exploration relies to some extent on supersonic retropropulsion," Phil McAlister, director of the Commercial Spaceflight Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday during a presentation with the agency's Future In-Space Operations (FISO) working group.

So NASA is keen to see how Dragon's ride through the Red Planet's skies goes. That helps explain why the space agency is providing technical support to the 2018 "Red Dragon" mission in a range of areas, from deep-space communication to the drafting of "planetary protection" protocols designed to reduce the risk of contaminating Mars with Earth microbes. (NASA's support does not include funding, as SpaceX is paying for the mission.)

In return for this help, NASA will receive "most of SpaceX's entry, descent and landing flight data," McAlister said. "This is a critical, critical technology for us, and this is flight data that would not be available to us [by] any other means.

Story continues

"So this was a unique opportunity for NASA to partner on a mission that we could not otherwise do," he added, referring to the collaboration as a "win-win" for SpaceX and NASA. "Could we do one like this in the future? Sure, but we don't have one on the books right now. It's not funded and, to my knowledge, hasn't even been proposed."

NASA aims to get astronauts to the vicinity of Mars before the end of the 2030s. SpaceX is working on a more aggressive time line; if all goes according to plan, the company hopes to launch the first Red Planet pioneers in 2024, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has said.

Musk has stressed repeatedly that he started SpaceX back in 2002 primarily to help colonize Mars, thereby making humanity less vulnerable to asteroid strikes and other calamities that could wipe out the species.

Whereas the 2018 mission will rely on Dragon and SpaceX's in-development Falcon Heavy rocket, SpaceX's crewed Mars efforts will employ an entirely different architecture, known as the "Interplanetary Transport System" (IST).

Musk has said he will unveil details of the still-mysterious IST, and the company's broad humans-to-Mars ambitions, next Tuesday (Sept. 27) during a presentation at the International Astronautical Congress meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.

Editor's Recommendations

Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
By Kate Kelland GENEVA (Reuters) - The view outside the office of the head of the World Health Organization dazzles, stretching across Lake Geneva to Alpine peaks. The view inside is less inspiring: dated furniture and listless pot plants dot the seventh-floor office of Margaret Chan, the WHO's director general. Understated decor suits her style. "I am an international civil servant," she told Reuters in an interview. "I am here to facilitate countries to discuss and find solutions." Chan's low-key, consensual approach has held sway at the organization for nearly a decade. A Chinese former teacher and doctor, she says it has brought lasting results  such as progress towards universal health coverage and improved pandemic preparedness. "If you want to be successful in global public health ... you need to bring all partners together," she said. Quoting what she said is an African proverb, she added: "If you want to go fast, you go alone. If you want to go far, you go together." But as her second five-year spell at the top heads towards a close, numerous public health experts say consensus is no longer enough. In May, 10 influential global health specialists wrote to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), saying of the WHO: "Business as usual cannot continue; transformative leadership is called for." The UN agency requires strategic reform, they said, and needs a bold new director general who can command the world stage. Reuters has spoken to eight more specialists who voiced similar views. Jeremy Farrar, director of global health charity the Wellcome Trust, says whoever takes over from Chan has to "inspire a sense that the organization knows what it's doing, inspire confidence in the member states, and inspire the best people to want to work there." In their view, the WHO is losing influence, and at risk of losing more. Despite being a global body, the WHO's spending power is relatively modest: $4.3 billion over two years compared to almost three times that at the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. Other organizations are attracting big funding from global health philanthropists and making strides in key fields outside the WHO. They include GAVI, the alliance created to improve access to vaccines for children in poor countries, and the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. More recently, the task of tackling antimicrobial resistance  the global spread of superbugs that are not susceptible to antibiotics  is being led not by the WHO but by an independent team headed by Jim O'Neill, a well-connected former Goldman Sachs economist. Much will depend on the WHO's next leader. Richard Horton, editor of the influential medical journal The Lancet, said: "The WHO needs a director general who can speak truth to power." He said he is "very optimistic" about what could be done at the WHO by the right sort of personality at the top. "If you have the right person, it's a fantastic opportunity," he said. "If you have the wrong person, then it's paralysis and failure." Chan said it was necessary to "listen and reflect" on what the WHO's critics say, but that "it doesn't mean I agree with all the criticism." She added: "In any job there are barriers to what you can do. Having worked in the WHO now for 13 or 14 years, I understand what you can do and what you can't." RISK AVERSE Changing the WHO, which has 7,000 staff spread across 150 offices worldwide, won't be easy. Some member states, such as those in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, have vastly different health systems to those in richer Western countries. The result: Local political interests can get in the way of global health priorities. Against that background, the WHO has gained a reputation for electing directors general who are risk-averse. Talk WHO history with senior figures in global health, however, and the name of one leader stands out: Gro Harlem Brundtland. A former prime minister of Norway, Brundtland was elected WHO director general in 1998. Chris Murray, a professor of global health at the University of Washington and director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, said of Brundtland: "She was the sort of visionary, highly-principled leader who always did what she thought was needed for the world, whether or not that was politically convenient." David Heymann, who was previously executive director of communicable diseases at the WHO, describes how he awoke to a phone call on March 15, 2003, from the WHO's infectious disease duty officer. It was to alert him to an outbreak of what later became known as SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Within hours, Heymann's team had gathered evidence of cases in Canada, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore. They assessed it and informed Brundtland. This prompted Bruntland, who declined to be interviewed for this article, to issue a global outbreak alert the same day and a call for authorities worldwide to work together to halt the disease's spread. In contrast, in 2014 the WHO watched for eight months as Ebola infections and deaths in West Africa rose before declaring the outbreak a global health emergency. The deadly viral disease raged for over a year and a half, claiming lives in six countries, and was only narrowly stopped from taking hold in Lagos, Africa's largest city. Chan said there was no doubt that during the Ebola crisis "we all could have done better," though she gave no specifics. She pointed out that the two outbreaks occurred in different contexts: SARS in developed countries with good health systems, and Ebola in poverty-stricken countries with poor health surveillance. Nevertheless, some experts were critical of the WHO's handling of the epidemic. They noted that the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders warned early on that the epidemic was "unprecedented" and "exceptional", but that the WHO failed to recognize the seriousness of the outbreak, describing it as "relatively small still." When the Harvard Global Health Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine reviewed the response to Ebola, their report found the disease had "exposed WHO as unable to meet its responsibility for responding to such situations." Its report set out 10 recommendations for reform, including developing a strategy to monitor national capabilities, strengthening incentives to report outbreaks of disease and ensuring the next director general has "proven high-level political leadership." To be sure, the WHO has already made some changes since Ebola. Chan has established a new program to manage health emergencies, with surveillance and preparedness at its core. When the Zika virus emerged as a threat in early 2016, the WHO responded more swiftly, and won plaudits for doing so. But some experts believe more could and should be done to improve the WHO's performance. WINNING INFLUENCE Peter Sands, a former chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bank and now a senior fellow at Harvard with an interest in health, argues that more attention should be paid to the economic impacts of global health. The WHO and its leader would gain clout if they better highlighted the economic costs of poor health systems and infectious diseases, he said. Sands is chairman of the Commission on a Global Health Risk Framework for the Future, which estimates that pandemics have the potential to inflict economic losses of more than $60 billion a year. He suggests one way to get government ministers to take more notice of the WHO would be to publish objective assessments of each country's "public health core capabilities"  things such as disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and research capacity. Just as countries are influenced by reports on their economies by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, WHO rankings could spur countries to improve their health systems, Sands said. Chan disagrees, saying her job is to help countries, not judge or rank them. She likened her style to a parent seeking the best from her children: "When you encourage and motivate then, they do better. But when you keep hammering them, they get down and withdrawn." IN THE FRAME In a bid to be more transparent about how it chooses its director general, the WHO has introduced a new selection system. Previously, the 34 members of the WHO's Executive Board considered various candidates and chose one. That candidate was then rubber-stamped by the 194 member states that make up the World Health Assembly (WHA). The system lent itself to horse-trading between blocks of countries who would band together behind a series of promised deals to push their preferred candidate to the front. This time, the Executive Board will select three candidates to go forward to the full WHA, which will vote on the final choice. The three shortlisted candidates will work alongside Chan from January 2017, with the final selection made by the WHA in May 2017. When nominations closed this week, six candidates had been put forward to succeed Chan. They were Ethiopia's foreign minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; Flavia Bustreo of Italy, an assistant director general at the WHO; Philippe Douste-Blazy, a French former minister of health; Sania Nishtar, a former minister of education and training in Pakistan; Miklos Szocska, a former health minister for Hungary; and David Nabarro, a British public health and nutrition expert with long experience of working at the WHO and the United Nations. He was appointed the U.N. secretary general's special envoy on Ebola in the midst of the Ebola crisis. Derek Yach, head of the Vitality Institute health research group in the United States and a former WHO official, is another who is eager to see a new leadership formula, one that focuses less on experience in national public health policy and more on delivering global influence. With the right leader and right reform, he said, "this is an organization with massive global potential." (Editing By Richard Woods and Simon Robinson)
stephen colbert donald trump stop and frisk late show cbs

After recent shootings in Oklahoma and Charlotte, Stephen Colbert took a look at Donald Trump's visits to black churches for an indication of how he'd handle the rising racial tension in the country.

"In the face of continued, heartbreaking racial strife, all eyes turn to civil rights icon, the Reverend Doctor Donald Trump," the host said sarcastically.

With Trump's poll numbers showing that his bid for US president has almost no support from black voters, he has been campaigning a lot in black communities. Earlier this week, Trump held campaign events at black churches in Ohio.

"Well, one was technically a black church, but it was filled with white people," Colbert joked. "I haven't seen so many white people replacing black people since Brooklyn."

At one event, a man asked Trump how he would reduce black-on-black violence. The real estate mogul said he would advocate for "stop-and-frisk."

"That's a bad idea, OK," Colbert said. "Stop-and-Frisk is a bad idea. Not only has it been found unconstitutional, but it would take him hours with those tiny little hands of his."

Watch the video below:

NOW WATCH: Donald Trump supports a controversial police policy that was ruled unconstitutional





More From Business Insider


From Popular Mechanics

Geophysicsts saw in a new study that a 2012 earthquake in East Texas was caused by wastewater injection, a waste product practice by the fracking industry.

Registering 4.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake was the strongest in the recorded history of the region. At the time, scientists told CNN they suspected nearby injection wells were responsible. A new study in Science, "Surface uplift and time-dependent seismic hazard due to fluid injection in eastern Texas," backs up that hypothesis using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR).

InSAR is a "technique for mapping ground deformation using radar images of the Earth's surface that are collected from orbiting satellites," according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It's regularly used to monitor volcanoes. In East Texas, it could detect changes in the of Earth's surface at the scale of centimeters.

Setting InSAR's eye on four high-volume wells used for wastewater disposal, the researchers began to track the changes in the Earth. Wastewater injection wells handle a byproduct of fracking, which study co-author William Ellsworth compares to "ancient ocean water" in that it is "too salty and too contaminated with other chemicals to treat economically, so the only viable solution at present is to put it back underground." The wells then push that wastewater thousands of feet underground, although distances vary per well.

Looking at wells close to the earthquake's epicenter determined that wastewater injection from shallow wells resulted in detectable ground uplift at distances up to 5 miles. The deeper wells affected pore pressure, which refers to "the pressure exerted by a column of water from the formation's depth to sea level." By creating an impasse in the rock, the injection well forced the pore pressure downwards until it hit an ancient fault line.

There was only one injury in the 2012 quake, which destroyed a few TVs and chimneys. But, Ellison notes, the "recent upturn in seismicity in Oklahoma and Kansas commonly happens where injection occurs close to the crystalline basement, so we're getting lots of earthquakes in those places." Where there are injection wells, it seems, earthquakes have the potential to follow.

Story continues

Source: Stanford

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By Liz Hampton

HOUSTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Sunoco Logistics, the future operator of the oil pipeline delayed this month after Native American protests in North Dakota, spills crude more often than any of its competitors with more than 200 leaks since 2010, according to a Reuters analysis of government data.

The lands of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sit a half mile south of the proposed route of the Dakota Access pipeline. The tribe fears the line could destroy sacred sites during construction and that a future oil spill might pollute its drinking water.

A tribal protest over the $3.7 billion project drew broad support from other Native American tribes, domestic and international environmental groups and Hollywood celebrities.

In response to the tribe's objections, the U.S. government earlier this month called for a temporary halt to construction along a section of the 1,100 mile line in North Dakota near the Missouri River.

While environmental concerns are at the heart of the Standing Rock Sioux protest, there is no reference to the frequency of leaks by Sunoco or its parent Energy Transfer Partners in a legal complaint filed by the tribe, nor has Sunoco's spill record informed the public debate on the line.

Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II told Reuters the tribe was aware of the safety record of Energy Transfer, but declined to elaborate.

Sunoco Logistics is one of the largest pipeline operators in the United States. Energy Transfer is constructing the Dakota Access pipeline to pump crude produced at North Dakota's Bakken shale fields to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Once completed, it will hand over the pipeline's operation to Sunoco.

Sunoco acknowledged the data and told Reuters it had taken measures to reduce its spill rate.

"Since the current leadership team took over in 2012, Sunoco Pipeline has enhanced and improved our integrity management program," Sunoco spokesman Jeffrey Shields told Reuters by email.

This significantly cut the amount of barrels lost during incidents, he said.

Story continues

The U.S. Department of Justice did not make any reference to the company's spill rate when it decided to stall the project. It highlighted the need for reform in the way companies building infrastructure consult with Native American tribes.

Spokespeople for the Departments of Justice and the Interior, and the Army Corps declined to comment to Reuters on whether they were aware of Energy Transfer's leak statistics when they jointly decided to halt construction of the line.

HIGH SPILL RATE

Reuters analyzed data that companies are obliged to disclose to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) when they suffer spills and found that Sunoco leaked crude from onshore pipelines at least 203 times over the last six years.

PHMSA data became more detailed in 2010. In its examination, Reuters tallied leaks in the past six years along dedicated onshore crude oil lines and excluded systems that carry natural gas and refined products. The Sunoco data include two of its pipeline units, the West Texas Gulf and Mid-Valley Pipeline.

That made it the operator with the highest number of crude leak incidents, ahead of at least 190 recorded by Enterprise Products Partners and 167 by Plains All American Pipeline, according to the spill data reported to PHMSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Enterprise said it has comprehensive safety and integrity programs in place and that many spills happened at its terminals.

Sunoco and Enterprise both said most leaks take place within company facilities and are therefore contained.

Plains All American did not respond to a request for comment.

Sunoco's spill rate shows protestors may have reason to be concerned about potential leaks.

The main option that was considered for routing the line away from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation was previously discarded because it would involve crossing more water-sensitive areas north of the capital Bismarck, according to the project's environmental assessment.

To be sure, most pipeline spills are small and pipelines are widely seen as a safer way to move fuel than alternatives such as rail.

Sunoco and its units leaked a total of 3,406 net barrels of crude in all the leaks over the last six years, only a fraction of the more than 3 million barrels lost in the largest spill in U.S. history, BP Plc's Macondo well disaster in 2010.

Sunoco said it found that crude lines not in constant use were a significant source of leaks, so it had shut or repaired some of those arteries.

In 2015, 71 percent of pipeline incidents were contained within the operator's facility, according to a report by the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, a trade group.

While total pipeline incidents have increased by 31 percent in the last five years, large spills of 500 barrels or more are down by 32 percent over the same time, the report said.

Sunoco accounted for about 8 percent of the more than 2,600 reported liquids pipeline leaks in the past six years in the United States.

SAFETY OVERHAUL

The company has made previous efforts to improve safety, a former Sunoco employee who declined to be identified said. It overhauled safety culture after a spill in 2000, and did so again another in 2005 that dumped some 6,000 barrels of crude into the Kentucky River from its Mid-Valley Pipeline.

Sunoco acknowledged that some of its pipeline equipment dates back to the 1950s.

A 2014 corrective measure regulators issued for Sunoco's Mid-Valley Pipeline cited "some history of internal corrosion failures" as a potential factor in a leak that sent crude into a Louisiana bayou near an area used for drinking water.

Crude spills on Sunoco's lines in 2009 and 2011 drew a rebuke from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a settlement announced this year.

The EPA said the settlement aimed to "improve the safety of Sunoco's practices and to enhance its oil spill preparedness and response."

In September, Sunoco received another corrective measure for its newly constructed Permian Express II line in Texas, which leaked 800 barrels of oil earlier this month. The company is already contesting a proposed $1.3 million fine from regulators for violations related to welding on that line.

(Additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing By Terry Wade, Simon Webb and Edward Tobin)
By Liz Hampton

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Sunoco Logistics (SXL.N), the future operator of the oil pipeline delayed this month after Native American protests in North Dakota, spills crude more often than any of its competitors with more than 200 leaks since 2010, according to a Reuters analysis of government data.

The lands of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sit a half mile south of the proposed route of the Dakota Access pipeline. The tribe fears the line could destroy sacred sites during construction and that a future oil spill might pollute its drinking water.

A tribal protest over the $3.7 billion project drew broad support from other Native American tribes, domestic and international environmental groups and Hollywood celebrities.

In response to the tribe's objections, the U.S. government earlier this month called for a temporary halt to construction along a section of the 1,100 mile line in North Dakota near the Missouri River.

While environmental concerns are at the heart of the Standing Rock Sioux protest, there is no reference to the frequency of leaks by Sunoco or its parent Energy Transfer Partners (ETP.N) in a legal complaint filed by the tribe, nor has Sunoco's spill record informed the public debate on the line.

Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II told Reuters the tribe was aware of the safety record of Energy Transfer, but declined to elaborate.

Sunoco Logistics is one of the largest pipeline operators in the United States. Energy Transfer is constructing the Dakota Access pipeline to pump crude produced at North Dakota's Bakken shale fields to the U.S. Gulf Coast. Once completed, it will hand over the pipeline's operation to Sunoco.

Sunoco acknowledged the data and told Reuters it had taken measures to reduce its spill rate.

"Since the current leadership team took over in 2012, Sunoco Pipeline has enhanced and improved our integrity management program," Sunoco spokesman Jeffrey Shields told Reuters by email.

Story continues

This significantly cut the amount of barrels lost during incidents, he said.

The U.S. Department of Justice did not make any reference to the company's spill rate when it decided to stall the project. It highlighted the need for reform in the way companies building infrastructure consult with Native American tribes.

Spokespeople for the Departments of Justice and the Interior, and the Army Corps declined to comment to Reuters on whether they were aware of Energy Transfer's leak statistics when they jointly decided to halt construction of the line.

HIGH SPILL RATE

Reuters analyzed data that companies are obliged to disclose to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) when they suffer spills and found that Sunoco leaked crude from onshore pipelines at least 203 times over the last six years.

PHMSA data became more detailed in 2010. In its examination, Reuters tallied leaks in the past six years along dedicated onshore crude oil lines and excluded systems that carry natural gas and refined products. The Sunoco data include two of its pipeline units, the West Texas Gulf and Mid-Valley Pipeline.

That made it the operator with the highest number of crude leak incidents, ahead of at least 190 recorded by Enterprise Products Partners (EPD.N) and 167 by Plains All American Pipeline (PAA.N), according to the spill data reported to PHMSA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Enterprise said it has comprehensive safety and integrity programs in place and that many spills happened at its terminals.

Sunoco and Enterprise both said most leaks take place within company facilities and are therefore contained.

Plains All American did not respond to a request for comment.

Sunoco's spill rate shows protestors may have reason to be concerned about potential leaks.

The main option that was considered for routing the line away from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation was previously discarded because it would involve crossing more water-sensitive areas north of the capital Bismarck, according to the project's environmental assessment.

To be sure, most pipeline spills are small and pipelines are widely seen as a safer way to move fuel than alternatives such as rail.

Sunoco and its units leaked a total of 3,406 net barrels of crude in all the leaks over the last six years, only a fraction of the more than 3 million barrels lost in the largest spill in U.S. history, BP Plc's (BP.L) Macondo well disaster in 2010.

Sunoco said it found that crude lines not in constant use were a significant source of leaks, so it had shut or repaired some of those arteries.

In 2015, 71 percent of pipeline incidents were contained within the operator's facility, according to a report by the Association of Oil Pipe Lines, a trade group.

While total pipeline incidents have increased by 31 percent in the last five years, large spills of 500 barrels or more are down by 32 percent over the same time, the report said.

Sunoco accounted for about 8 percent of the more than 2,600 reported liquids pipeline leaks in the past six years in the United States.

SAFETY OVERHAUL

The company has made previous efforts to improve safety, a former Sunoco employee who declined to be identified said. It overhauled safety culture after a spill in 2000, and did so again another in 2005 that dumped some 6,000 barrels of crude into the Kentucky River from its Mid-Valley Pipeline.

Sunoco acknowledged that some of its pipeline equipment dates back to the 1950s.

A 2014 corrective measure regulators issued for Sunoco's Mid-Valley Pipeline cited "some history of internal corrosion failures" as a potential factor in a leak that sent crude into a Louisiana bayou near an area used for drinking water.

Crude spills on Sunoco's lines in 2009 and 2011 drew a rebuke from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a settlement announced this year.

The EPA said the settlement aimed to "improve the safety of Sunoco's practices and to enhance its oil spill preparedness and response."

In September, Sunoco received another corrective measure for its newly constructed Permian Express II line in Texas, which leaked 800 barrels of oil earlier this month. The company is already contesting a proposed $1.3 million fine from regulators for violations related to welding on that line.

(Additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing By Terry Wade, Simon Webb and Edward Tobin)
One of the more interesting cases upcoming at the Supreme Court this term involves the legacy of the controversial Blaine amendments, which many states use to restrict public financial aid to religious-affiliated institutions.

Image: Missouri Dept. Of Natural Resources

In Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Pauley, the eight Justices on the Court will try to answer the question of whether religiously affiliated schools can be constitutionally denied equal access to a government benefit, even if the benefit has nothing to do directly with matters of faith.

The benefit is a program in Missouri that provides rubberized material for school playgrounds made out of old tires. Missouris constitution bars parochial schools from receiving such public benefits.

That provision in Missouris constitution is one of the so-called Blaine amendments. The controversy over Blaine amendments has its origins in the presidential campaign of 1876. At the time, Republican candidate James G. Blaine sought anti-Catholic voters in his quest for the White House.

Blaine proposed a federal constitutional amendment that stated in part that no money raised by taxation in any State for the support of public schools, or derived from any public fund therefor, nor any public lands devoted thereto, shall ever be under the control of any religious sect.

Blaines effort for a national constitutional amendment failed in Congress (as did his 1876 presidential campaign), but many states over the years adopted their own Blaine amendments in their own constitutions. About 35 states now have some form of a Blaine amendment on the books.

In recent years, the United States Supreme Court has made it clear that states can relax some of their Blaine amendment provisions, and they can provide some forms of neutral aid to religious institutions.

Trinity Lutheran Church Of Columbia, Missouri, as a 501c3 non-profit, wants the Justices to answer the following question: Whether the exclusion of churches from an otherwise neutral and secular aid program violates the Free Exercise and Equal Protection Clauses when the state has no valid Establishment Clause concern.

Story continues

Link: Read About the First Amendment in our Interactive Constitution

The Trinity Lutheran congregation operates a daycare learning center, and it maintains a playground used by the pupils as well as by neighbors in town after school and on weekends.

Its playground is currently surfaced with gravel, which can be abrasive. Trinity Lutheran applied for a state grant that provides rubber surfacing material for playgrounds made from recycled tires. The state imposes a fee on the sale of new tires to pay for the program.

Trinity Lutheran finished fifth among 44 grant applicants, but it was denied the materials because of Missouris Blaine amendment. The state did award grants to 14 other applicants. In May 2015, a divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled for the state of Missouri after Trinity Lutheran claimed it was unjustly denied the grant.

In its 2-1 decision, the Eighth Circuit majority cited Locke v. Davey (2004), a decision from the Rehnquist Court that said Washington state could exclude students pursuing a degree in devotional theology from a publicly funded scholarship program.

Link: Read The Eight Circuits Ruling

Judge James B. Loken, writing for the majority, said that he believed that despite its assertions, Trinity Lutherans claims are plainly facial attacks on Article I,  7, of the Missouri Constitution, which provides that no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, and which was cited by [the state] as the sole basis for its denial.

Viewed in this light, it is apparent that Trinity Church seeks an unprecedented ruling  that a state constitution violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause if it bars the grant of public funds to a church, Loken said.

Judge Raymond Gruender didnt agree with the majority that Trinity Lutheran was seeking to overturn the states Blaine amendment. Trinity Lutheran does not contend that Article I,  7 of the Missouri Constitution is unconstitutional in all of its applications, Gruender wrote.

The substantial anti-establishment interest identified in Locke is not present here, Gruender added. Unlike a student preparing for the ministry, which is an essentially religious endeavor, schoolchildren playing on a safer rubber surface made from environmentally-friendly recycled tires has nothing to do with religion.

The full Eighth Circuit Court of 10 judges split on reconsidering the panel ruling, and Trinity Lutherans case was accepted by the Supreme Court in January 2016, before the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

Judge Loken, in his opinion, cited Scalias dissent in the 2004 Locke case.

When the State makes a public benefit generally available, that benefit becomes part of the baseline against which burdens on religion are measured; and when the State withholds that benefit from some individuals solely on the basis of religion, it violates the Free Exercise Clause no less than if it had imposed a special tax, Scalia wrote in 2004.

If the Court were to adopt this view, and if Justice Scalias reference to withholding benefits to individuals were held to include direct public benefits to churches, then Article I,  7, of the Missouri Constitution could not be validly applied to deny church participation in a host of publicly-funded programs. That may be a logical constitutional leap in the direction the Court recently seems to be going, but it is a leap of great magnitude, Loken said. In our view, only the Supreme Court can make that leap.

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The fact that parties have different views on foreign policy makes Nepal more prone to international influence
By Ellen Francis and Tom Perry

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Warplanes launched some of the heaviest air strikes yet on rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Friday after the Russian-backed Syrian army declared an offensive to fully capture Syrias biggest city, killing off any hope of reviving a ceasefire.

Residents said the streets were deserted as the 250,000 people still trapped in the besieged opposition-held sector of Aleppo sought shelter from jets. The army said the operation would include a ground attack, and could last for some time.

The rebels and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring body described raids by warplanes they said must belong to Russia. Residents also spoke of attacks by helicopters using bombs made from oil drums, a tactic usually attributed to the Syrian army.

Can you hear it? The neighbourhood is getting hit right now by missiles. We can hear the planes right now, Mohammad Abu Rajab, a radiologist, told Reuters. The planes are not leaving the sky, helicopters, barrel bombs, warplanes.

The intense bombardment left no doubt that the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad and its Russian allies had spurned a plea from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights to resurrect the ceasefire, which lasted a week before collapsing on Monday.

A rebel commander said the blasts were the fiercest the city had faced.

I woke up to a powerful earthquake though I was in a place far away from where the missile landed, he said in a voice recording sent to Reuters. His group had martyrs under the rubble in three locations.

In a late night announcement on Thursday, the Syrian military announced the start of its operations in the eastern districts of Aleppo, and warned people to stay away from the headquarters and positions of the armed terrorist gangs.

Elaborating on this on Friday, a military source said the offensive would be a comprehensive one, with a ground assault following air and artillery bombardment. With respect to the air or artillery strikes, they may continue for some time, it said.

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There was no immediate comment from the Russian or Syrian militaries detailing Fridays air strikes.

The Syrian armys declaration of the offensive coincided with international meetings on Syria in New York, the latest diplomatic efforts officially intended to revive the truce, which was brokered by the United States and Russia.

Its collapse, the same fate as all previous efforts to halt a 5--year-old war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians, has doomed what may be the final bid for a peace breakthrough before President Barack Obama leaves office.

ANNIHILATION

The Syrian government, strengthened by Russian air power and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias, has been tightening its grip on rebel-held districts of Aleppo this year, and this summer achieved a long-held goal of fully encircling the area.

The government already controls the citys western half, where fewer people have fled. Before the war, the city held nearly 3 million people and was Syrias economic hub.

Recovering full control of Aleppo would be the most important victory of the war so far for Assad, who has sought to consolidate his grip over the western cities where the overwhelming majority of Syrians lived before fighting drove half of the nation from their homes.

The Observatory said there were at least 40 air strikes since midnight.

Ammar al Selmo, the head of civil defence rescue service in opposition-held Aleppo, said three of its four centres in Aleppo had been hit. Whats happening now is annihilation in every sense of the word, he told Reuters. Today the bombardment is more violent, with a larger number of planes.

The U.S.-Russian agreement marked their second attempt this year to halt the war. It was supposed to bring about a nationwide ceasefire, improved humanitarian aid access, and a joint U.S.-Russian effort against jihadist groups including Islamic State and the Nusra Front, long al Qaedas Syrian wing.

LONG, PAINFUL, DIFFICULT

But the ceasefire collapsed into renewed bombardments on Monday, including an attack on an aid convoy that Washington has blamed on Moscow, which denies involvement.

Assad remains defiant, saying on Thursday he expected the conflict to drag on as long as it is part of a global conflict in which the groups fighting him are backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United States.

On Thursday at the United Nations, the United States and Russia failed to agree on how to revive the ceasefire during what U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura called a long, painful, difficult and disappointing meeting.

The International Syria Support Group, including Moscow, Washington and other major powers, met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders in New York.

We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow with respect to those ideas, Kerry said, expressing concern at the reports of the planned new Syrian offensive. I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated.

Western states have backed Kerrys call to ground warplanes to create the right conditions for the truce. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovs response to that proposal as not satisfying.

(Additional reporting by Laila Bassam; writing by Tom Perry; editing by Peter Graff and Peter Millership)
By Tom Perry and Lesley Wroughton BEIRUT/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Syria announced a new offensive against rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Thursday while diplomats failed to find a way in New York to revive a U.S. and Russian-brokered ceasefire that collapsed this week. Warplanes mounted the heaviest air strikes in months against rebel-held districts of Syria's commercial hub and largest city, dealing a fresh blow to efforts to end Syrian civil war that has raged since 2011. Rebel officials and rescue workers said incendiary bombs were among the weapons that rained down on Aleppo. Hamza al-Khatib, the director of a hospital in the rebel-held east, told Reuters 45 people were killed. "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 defense rescue service in opposition-held eastern Aleppo, told Reuters. Moscow and Washington announced the ceasefire on Sept. 9. But the agreement, possibly the final bid for a breakthrough on Syria before President Barack Obama leaves office in January, collapsed like all previous efforts to halt a 5-1/2-year-old war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and made half the nation homeless. Syrian state media announced the new offensive and quoted the army's military headquarters in Aleppo urging civilians in eastern parts of the city to avoid areas where "terrorists" were located and said it had prepared exit points for those who want to flee, including rebels. The Syrian army announcement did not say whether the campaign would also include a ground incursion. The aerial assault, by aircraft from the Syrian government, its Russian allies or both, signaled Moscow and Damascus had rejected a plea by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights so aid could be delivered and the 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". Syrian President Bashar al-Assad indicated he saw no quick end to the war, telling the Associated Press it would "drag on" as long as it is part of a global conflict in which terrorists are backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United States. HEAVIEST STRIKES FOR MONTHS Had the U.S.-Russian brokered truce, which took effect on Sept. 12, held, and had humanitarian aid consistently flowed to Syria, this could have led to intelligence-sharing by Moscow and Washington to go after Syrian militant groups they both oppose. The ceasefire deal suffered two blows in the last week. On Saturday, the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State militant group carried out a lethal air raid on Syrian government troops. Washington said it hit Syrian forces by mistake. Assad said in his interview he believed the strikes, which he said lasted over an hour, were deliberate. On Monday, the ceasefire foundered further with an attack on an aid convoy that killed around 20 people and that Washington blamed on Russian planes. Russia denied involvement. In another sign of the Syrian government's determination to gain 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 in ruins. LONG, PAINFUL, DISAPPOINTING MEETING Foreign ministers emerged from a meeting in New York having failed to find a way back to a ceasefire, though the United State's Kerry said he was willing to keep trying if Russia came back with new ideas. "I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated," Kerry told reporters after the session. "It was a long, painful, difficult and disappointing meeting," the U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters after the meeting of the International Syria Support Group, which includes about two dozen major and regional powers. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior U.S. official put the onus on Moscow to come up with ideas on how to ground the Syrian air force, a U.S. objective to reduce the violence. However, emerging from a meeting that he said was "intense," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's response to a proposal for grounding planes as "not satisfying." 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 the aid convoy near Aleppo. Assad has appeared as uncompromising as ever in recent weeks, reiterating his goal of taking back the whole country. 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. (Additional reporting by Lisa Barrington and Angus McDowall in Beirut, Marwan Makdesi in Homs, Michael Nienaber in Berlin, Stephanie Nebehay, Marina Depetris and Tom Miles in Geneva, Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman, and Denis Dyomkin, Parisa Hafezi, John Irish, Michelle Nichols and Lesley Wroughton in New York; Writing by Tom Perry and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Peter Graff and Howard Goller)
By Jonathan Landay and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States was relegated to the sidelines of the Syrian war on Friday as an all-out assault by Syrian government and Russian forces on opposition-held Aleppo threatened to unleash a new refugee wave and drive U.S.-backed rebels into the ranks of al Qaedas Syrian branch, U.S. officials and experts said. Moscows direct participation in the offensive left fading hope for U.S.-Russian peace efforts, raising the likelihood that U.S. President Barack Obamas successor will inherit a worsening conflict. Entering its sixth year, the Syrian civil war already has left some 250,000 people dead, uprooted more than 11 million and provided a base for Islamic State to launch and inspire attacks in the West. "For the next president on Day One, this becomes the problem from hell," said Frederic Hof, a former Obama adviser on Syria who is now at the Atlantic Council think tank. "Its a problem thats going to persist in one way or another throughout the first term of the next president and probably beyond." A U.S. official suggested White House plans to keep Syrian chaos under control as Obama leaves office have been upended. "It was hoped that they could turn over a simmering mess to the next president," said a U.S. official. "But what happened was that the simmering mess blew up and now they are going to have to figure out what to do." U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Russian aircraft, long-range artillery and special forces advisers were directly participating with Syrian government forces in the drive to conquer eastern Aleppo, the largest urban stronghold of the U.S.-backed moderate opposition. Shiite militiamen from Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan also were involved in the assault on the devastated enclave, where an estimated 250,000 civilians were suffering the most intense airstrikes of the war, they said. "The Russians are actively participating in the current offensive in Aleppo," said one U.S. official. "It appears to be a no-holds barred attempt to crush the opposition." Russian aircraft were flying sorties at the same rate  about 40 per day - as they were before Washington and Moscow negotiated a failed ceasefire between the Syria government and opposition forces in February, the officials said. Some U.S. intelligence officials believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is taking advantage of Obamas refusal to intervene militarily in Syria and his lame duck status to seize as much territory as possible before the new U.S. president takes office. These officials argue that Russia has not sincerely engaged in peace-making efforts and that Putin aims to weaken the opposition as rapidly as possible, a goal in which he is gradually succeeding. Damascus announced the offensive on Thursday as Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov failed to salvage a ceasefire that collapsed on Monday. The ceasefire was supposed to lead to U.S.-Russian cooperation on airstrikes against Islamic State and al Qaedas Syrian affiliate, formerly known as the Nusra Front. OBAMA'S OPTIONS What course Obama will now take remained unclear. "There doesnt seem to be a Plan B right now," Hof said. Obama has sought to restrict U.S. involvement in Syria, repeatedly rejecting proposals by advisers for actions such as establishing a no-fly zone or arming the moderate opposition fighting to topple President Bashar Assad. "One of the things that haunts me the most was our failure to ask ourselves about the consequences of inaction," said one former senior official involved in Syria policy. "We were always focused on the consequences of action ... But we should have also considered how doing nothing for several years might have an impact on U.S. credibility and the conflict more broadly." Obama has limited the U.S. role to supporting groups fighting Islamic State in northeastern Syria. He has pursued talks with Russia, which intervened on Assads behalf in September 2015, on a peace accord between U.S.-backed moderate rebels and Damascus. Obama, however, no longer can count on securing a ceasefire that will keep a lid on the crisis until his successor is sworn-in on Jan. 20, experts said. Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute think tank said he doubted that Obama would adopt a more robust policy. "Given the posture the Obama administration has developed with regards to how it faces the war in Syria, I dont see it shifting the strategy," he said. "That would be the most extraordinary foreign policy shift in the last eight years." Obama, however, faces the prospect of a deepening humanitarian disaster, officials and experts said. The fall of Aleppo could unleash a new wave of migrants fleeing toward Europe, which has been struggling since last year to accommodate more than 1 million refugees. Moreover, U.S.-backed rebels, dismayed over what they saw as Obamas abandonment of Aleppo, could begin joining al Qaedas Syrian branch. It is widely regarded as the most effective opposition group and has vehemently rejected a negotiated settlement with Assad, U.S. officials and experts said. Lister, who maintains contacts with rebels inside Syria, said opposition leaders are growing disillusioned with U.S. efforts to negotiate a diplomatic solution with Assad's main military backer. "Things are deteriorating so quickly now. The U.S. is losing leverage on the ground every week," he said. (Additional reporting by Phil Stewart and David Rohde. Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
By Yara Bayoumy NEW YORK (Reuters) - Syria's opposition and civil society members on Friday criticized what they viewed as Russian complicity in the bombardment of Aleppo, which has killed hope of reviving a ceasefire. Warplanes bombed Aleppo on Friday with what residents described as unprecedented ferocity after the Syrian army declared an offensive to fully capture Syria's biggest city. The war pits Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Arab Shi'ite militias, against Sunni rebel groups, including some supported by Washington, Turkey and Gulf Arab states. Asked about the Aleppo bombardment, Bassma Kodmani, a member of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, said it was a "demonstration of the implications of the failure of yesterday's meeting." The United States and Russia failed on Thursday at the United Nations to agree on how to revive a short-lived ceasefire. "We can only say that the world is watching passively at the death of the Syrian population in Aleppo and a new wave of refugees," Kodmani told Reuters in New York. "There's every indication that they (Russia) entirely condone the massive attack now on Aleppo and ... not only support it, they are part of it," Kodmani said. U.S. President Barack Obama has been deeply reluctant to use more military force in Syria, a policy that has been the source of exasperation among some European and Gulf allies. Kodmani said only a "credible threat of retaliation" would stop Assad's warplanes. Russia and the United States on Sept. 9 agreed to a deal aimed at putting Syria's peace process back on track. It included a nationwide truce, improved humanitarian aid access and the possibility of joint military operations against al Qaeda-lined Nusra Front and Islamic State. The truce effectively collapsed after a week when an aid convoy was bombed on Monday, killing some 20 people. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has tried to revive a deal with Russia, met with representatives of Syrian civil society groups on Thursday. They said the indiscriminate bombing of civilians must stop. "Kerry and Obama's administration are going in circles ... talking to the Russians, thinking that the Russians will have any solutions and can contribute to the ceasefire. It's clear that the Russians will not do this," Mutasem Alsyofi of the Syrian Civil Society Declaration Initiative told Reuters in New York. "And I don't know (how) someone keeps trying the same things and expecting different results," he said. Russia, which intervened last year to prop up Assad, fears turmoil in his absence and thinks his regime is too fragile for major change, say multiple Russian foreign policy sources. "We have to stop the regime from being able to use aircraft against civilians. This is a main part of any future policy," Seyoufi said. Kodmani added: "I think if we say it's a moment of truth, it's a moment of truth for the international community, the United States, its allies, the U.N. And it's a tragic moment for the population of Aleppo." (Reporting by Yara Bayoumy; editing by Grant McCool and Cynthia Osterman)
By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council has given an international inquiry five more weeks to complete its report on who is to blame for toxic gas attacks in Syria as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, France, Britain and others push for those responsible to be punished. The inquiry was due to submit its report this week, but Ban told the 15-member council in a letter, seen by Reuters on Thursday, that the inquiry needed extra time and wanted to delay its deadline until Oct. 21. The council has extended its mandate until Oct. 31. In its most recent report to the Security Council last month, the joint United Nations and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry said that Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks and Islamic State militants used sulfur mustard gas. France, Britain and other council members want the body to act after receiving the next report, the inquiry's fourth. "There have been two incidents documented by the UN/OPCW of the dropping of chlorine gas. How can we sit by and let that happen? Burning, blistering, barbaric chlorine gas being dropped on innocent people," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told a Security Council meeting on Syria on Wednesday. As the inquiry works to complete its report, it has identified two Syrian Air Force helicopter squadrons and two other military units it holds responsible for chlorine gas attacks, a Western diplomat told Reuters. Some diplomats worry that the council could respond weakly or that the issue could be sidelined as the United States and Russia try to salvage a truce deal in Syria. "Justice demands that no crime is left ignored even as an exchange for a truce," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the council meeting during the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders. "It is up to the Security Council to act under Chapter 7 to condemn these attacks and sanction perpetrators. It is a moral duty and an obligation for the international community which wanted to ban chemical weapons," he said. Chapter 7 deals with sanctions and authorization of military force by the Security Council. The body would need to adopt another resolution to impose targeted sanctions - a travel ban and asset freeze - on people or entities linked to the attacks Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington. The Security Council backed that deal with a resolution that said in the event of non-compliance, "including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone" in Syria, it would impose measures under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. Ban said that if the world did not pursue the perpetrators of brutal crimes in Syria it "would be a grave abdication of duty." (Additional reporting by John Irish; editing by Stuart Grudgings)
Legendary oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens singled out the trait that young people need in order to be successful.

Youve got to have a good work ethic if youre going to be successful, the 88-year-old investing legend said.

He added that you dont have to have a college education in order to be successful though. Theres alternative sources of training for a variety of good jobs.

[College] is not for everybody. But work ethic is. Youve got to have a good work ethic if youre going to make it.

His best piece of financial advice is to always make sure to save money and invest it.

Always, always, a part of what you make you save. You say, well, Im hand to mouth. You may be hand to mouth. But get started. Develop a savings for something. And put it in the market, but get some advice on where to put it in the market.

Pickens also offered some other thoughts on the younger generation.

The young people in the country  they are smart, no question, he said. [But] they spend too much time on their phones.

Pickens is a popular Twitter user with a following of more than 141,000, but he thinks face-to-face communication is imperative.

Its too much, he continued. You say, Well old man, you dont understand. I may not. I think you lose communication with your age group. I think you need to have face-to-face.

He said the younger generation will have to come up with the solutions for the countrys energy future.

Pickens has called Americas dependence on foreign oil the greatest threat to the US. Specifically, he has warned that Americas reliance on OPEC-imported oil threatens the countrys economy, environment, and national security. He told Yahoo Finance the US is better off than it was five or ten years ago because its currently importing less. Still, Pickens sees no reason for the US to use OPEC oil.

Your crowd is going to have to pay for this is, Pickens told Yahoo Finance, referring to the energy situation. When you see that youre paying, youll get a lot more interested in it. 

Story continues

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.

Theres no question that natural gas is cheaper than diesel. Its abundant. Why not use it. I can see the movement happening because I watch these markets closely. But natural gas is going to replace diesel.



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

Boone Pickens: Obama has been a complete loser for energy
(Adds comment from Pentagon spokesman, paragraphs 6-7)

By J.R. Wu

TAIPEI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it was 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 disclosure 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 airfields and port facilities.

A spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department, Commander Gary Ross, said the Pentagon was aware of the reports of the military-related construction and encouraged all claimants to take steps to lower tensions.

"We believe a reciprocal halt among all claimants, including Taiwan, on any further land reclamation, construction, and militarization of land features would lower tensions," he said.

Taiwan's Defence Ministry and coast guard, which directly oversees Itu Aba, said details about the structures were confidential and have not commented on their nature.

Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, said it was reviewing the request from Taiwan, but that such requests to date had 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.

Story continues

"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 adviser 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 swathe of the disputed maritime area. Both China and Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province, vehemently rejected the court ruling.

(Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in New York; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Peter Cooney)
By J.R. Wu TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Defence Ministry said it was 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 disclosure 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 militarization of the South China Sea, following the rapid land reclamation by China on several disputed reefs through dredging and building airfields and port facilities. A spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department, Commander Gary Ross, said the Pentagon was aware of the reports of the military-related construction and encouraged all claimants to take steps to lower tensions. "We believe a reciprocal halt among all claimants, including Taiwan, on any further land reclamation, construction, and militarization of land features would lower tensions," he said. Taiwan's Defence Ministry and coast guard, which directly oversees Itu Aba, said details about the structures were confidential and have not commented on their nature. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc, said it was reviewing the request from Taiwan, but that such requests to date had 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 defense 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 adviser 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 swathe of the disputed maritime area. Both China and Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province, vehemently rejected the court ruling. (Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in New York; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Peter Cooney)
From Popular Mechanics

Taiwan had good reason to want to hide a secret island base in the South China Sea. The country is building military fortifications on the island whose legal status is claimed or disputed by multiple countries. Taiwan asked Google to blur out the base on Google Maps, but that request has now backfired because was made public.

The location is Itu Aba or Taiping Island. It lies 763 miles south of Taiwan in the Spratly Islands. Taiwan has controlled Itu Aba since the 1950s, but China and Vietnam have openly claimed the islands, and the nearby Philippines contends this one is legally only a "rock" that does not qualify for full territorial rights.

The request seems to involve four new concrete structures that have popped up on the north side of the island in the last eight months. In January 2016, the director of the Center of Strategic and International Studies' Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative visited Itu Aba with Taiwanese officials. At the time, the structures were not present.

Right now, Google Maps shows a cluster of four Y-shaped concrete structures with what appears to be strua cture under construction in the center. This is consistent with an air defense battery made of either guns or missiles with search and tracking radars located in the center of the cluster. Here's a similar air defense facility protecting the Vietnamese Air Force base at Kep:

t's unknown exactly what air defense weapon the structures are meant for, but they could be meant for Skyguard radar-controlled air defense guns, which can engage aircraft at low to medium altitudes at ranges of up to 13,000 feet.

This is not the first time Taiwan has bungled a secret operation visible in Google Maps. In 2009, Taipei disguised HF-2E land attack cruise missile trucks as commercial delivery trucks, complete with a fake company name, "Red Bird Express." After rumors began to circulate about the mysterious vehicles, a roof suddenly appeared over the truck parking lot.

Story continues

Source: NBC News.

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Taiwan's tourism sector suffered the worst summer in 13 years due to a slump in Chinese visitors, officials said Friday, as ties with Beijing deteriorate.

It was the island's weakest August performance since an outbreak of the killer respiratory disease SARS in 2003.

Taiwan saw a boom in mainland tourists under former Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou, with Chinese visitors accounting for about 40 percent of the total 10 million visitors in 2015.

But since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen was elected in January, relations have turned frosty and the number of Chinese tourists coming to Taiwan has dropped, with speculation Beijing is turning off the taps as a means of pressuring Tsai.

Taiwan is self-ruling but China still sees it as part of its territory.

Beijing wants Tsai to acknowledge there is only "one China", as did her predecessor Ma, paving the way for eight years of rapprochement and trade deals.

In August, the total number of tourists to Taiwan fell 3.4 percent to 863,540 from last year, despite a 30-40 percent increase in Japanese and Korean tourists, the Tourism Bureau said.

"It was the first monthly decrease this year and the first decrease for August peak summer time since 2003, when Taiwan's tourism was hit by a SARS outbreak," said Lynn Lin, deputy director of the bureau's planning division.

Chinese visitors fell 32.4 percent to around 248,600 from August 2015, including a nearly 55 percent decline in group tourists, according to the bureau.

Local tourism operators have said the industry is in crisis, with hotels only half-full and thousands of tour buses sitting idle.

Observers believe the decline is due to China limiting tour groups to Taiwan amid rapidly cooling relations under Tsai's government.

The island's tourism sector was also badly hit when a deadly bus crash in July killed an entire tour group from China's northeastern city of Dalian.

More than 10,000 tourism industry workers took to the streets of Taipei earlier this month to demand the government address their woes, including offering tax reductions, extending loan deadlines and reducing or waiving visa fees for Chinese tourists.

The cabinet has announced Tw$30 billion ($955 million) in loans to the tourism industry, although it has denied it is a "rescue package" to offset the Chinese tourist slump, instead framing it as helping the industry upgrade.
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - A Tanzanian lecturer has been charged with insulting President John Magufuli in a WhatsApp message, a senior police official said on Friday, bringing the number of people charged under a tough new cybercrimes law to 10.

Magufuli, nicknamed "the bulldozer" for pushing through his policies, has won some praise from Western donors for anti-corruption drives and cutting wasteful government spending since coming to power in November.

But opponents accuse him of becoming increasingly authoritarian, undermining democracy by curbing political activity and restricting live television coverage of parliamentary sessions.

Insulting the president was made a criminal offense in Tanzania under a cybercrimes law passed last year, punishable by up to three years in jail, a fine of around $3,000, or both.

"The senior university lecturer was arraigned in court yesterday, and I think he was later released on bail," Julius Mjengi, police chief of the south-west Tanzanian town of Iringa told Reuters by telephone.

Police said the lecturer was charged with offenses under Tanzania's strict cybercrimes law. The lecturer denies the charges.

"The number of people who have been arrested across the country thus far for insulting the president has now risen to 10," Tanzanian newspaper Mwananchi said in an article on Friday.

Those who have faced trial for insulting Magufuli in recent months include students and opposition politicians.

A U.S. aid agency in March canceled nearly $500 million of funding for Tanzania partly on concerns over enforcement of the new cybercrimes law.

The U.S. government's Millennium Challenge Corporation said Tanzania has "engaged in a pattern of actions inconsistent with MCC's eligibility criteria" hence the decision to suspend its partnership with the East African nation.

(Reporting by Fumbuka Ng'wanakilala; Editing by Duncan Miriri and Hugh Lawson)
WESTMINSTER, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2016 / TechPrecision Corporation (TPCS) ("TechPrecision" or "the Company"), an industry leading manufacturer of precision, large-scale fabricated and machined metal components and tested systems with customers in the defense, energy and precision industrial sectors, today announced it has extended the deadline for stockholder proposals to Thursday, October 6, 2016.

In order to be considered at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Thursday, December 8, 2016, any and all stockholder proposals must be received at the principal executive offices of the Company, 1 Bella Drive, Westminster, MA 01473, c/o the Corporate Secretary, on or before the close of business on Thursday, October 6, 2016, and must be in compliance with the procedures regarding stockholder proposals set forth in the Company's bylaws.

The Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement describing the business to be conducted at the annual meeting will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission after our Board of Directors has had the opportunity to review any stockholder proposals it may receive.

About TechPrecision Corporation

TechPrecision Corporation, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Ranor, Inc., and Wuxi Critical Mechanical Components Co., Ltd., manufactures large-scale, metal fabricated and machined precision components and equipment. These products are used in a variety of markets including: defense, aerospace, nuclear, industrial, and medical. TechPrecision's goal is to be an end-to-end service provider to its customers by furnishing customized and integrated "turn-key" solutions for completed products requiring custom fabrication and machining, assembly, inspection and testing. To learn more about the Company, please visit the corporate website at http://www.techprecision.com. Information on the Company's website or any other website does not constitute a part of this press release.

Company Contact:

Mr. Thomas Sammons

Chief Financial Officer

TechPrecision Corporation

Tel: 978-883-5109

Email: sammonst@ranor.com

www.techprecision.com

Story continues

Investor Relations Contact:

Hayden IR

Brett Maas

Phone: 646-536-7331

Email: brett@haydenir.com

SOURCE: TechPrecision Corporation
Ted Cruz this afternoon endorsed the man he once called utterly amoral and a pathological liar who builds giant buildings on which to put his name because of a yawning cavern of insecurity.

That would be Donald Trump, per Cruzs description of the GOP candidate back in May. On Facebook today, the Texas senator explained his dramatic reversal:

First, last year I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word, Cruz said.

Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable  thats why I have always been #NeverHillary.

Until this moment, Cruz had made it clear he was not in the habit of supporting candidates who attack his wife and his father, no matter what pledge hed made last year to support the GOP nominee.

Trump had suggested Cruzs father might have been involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and compared the physical appearance of his wife, Heidi, unfavorably with his own wife, Melania, on Twitter.

Just two months ago, Cruz and his wife had to be escorted to safety at the end of his RNC speech, and a Trump delegate had to be restrained from getting too in the face of Cruz, after the senator from Texas declined to endorse Trump even after Trump had won the partys nomination.

Cruz had kicked off his speech on RNC Day 3, congratulating Trump on snagging the nom the previous night. It was the last time he mentioned Trump by name from the podium.

Like each of you, I want to see the principles that our party believes in prevail in November, Cruz pivoted, as Team Trump delegates grew restless. Were fighting, not for one particular candidate or campaign, but because each of you wants to be able to tell your kids that we did our best for their future and our country.

When Cruz got to the part of a political speech where the candidate says, If you love your country and love your children as much as I know you do, signaling the end of the chat was near, without having yet endorsed Trump, delegates began to holler:

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Endorse Trump! We Want Trump!

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Ted Cruz swallowed his pride and accepted political reality Friday, announcing on Facebook that he will vote for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Nov. 8.

Cruz stopped short of offering a full-throated endorsement. By releasing a written statement Friday afternoon he was able to parse the issue more than if he had made his announcement at a Saturday speaking engagement scheduled in his home state of Texas.

But Cruzs 733-word Facebook post is primarily relevant to the Republican senators reelection campaign in 2018 and to his second run for the presidency that many expect him to launch in 2020.

The crucial context, of course, is Cruzs controversial speech at the Republican convention in July, when he pointedly avoided endorsing Trump and was roundly booed by many of the delegates on the floor.

Cruz and his political operation were caught off guard by the intensity of the backlash, and in August, a poll showed Cruz would lose his Senate seat to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry if the election were held at that time.

Ted Cruz, right, speaks as Donald Trump looks on during a CNN primary debate. (Photo: John Locher/AP)

The pressure Cruz faced was real. It was severe. People smelled blood in the water and they piled on, said one Texas Republican operative who is not in the Cruz camp. Anybody whos looking at challenging him or wants to maybe run for president, they want to make sure Ted is not seen as a standard bearer of the party. They want to be on top of the Republican Party in Texas and nationally.

Trump issued a statement saying he was greatly honored by the endorsement. We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again, the mogul continued.

Cruz will continue to come under assault from his many adversaries  including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell  for the foreseeable future, the Texas operative said.

The Mitch McConnells of the world are probably chomping at the bit now. Now is the time to put the knife in his back and finish the job, the operative said.

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Sen. Ted Cruz addresses the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Cruz went out of his way in his statement Friday to repair some of the damage.

His use of the word conscience was what set off a revolt against him on the convention floor in Cleveland. It was interpreted then as a clear signal by Cruz that Republicans should vote against Trump.

Cruz quoted from that part of his speech at the very beginning of his Facebook post, and then made the argument that his conscience now compels him to vote for Trump.

After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, Cruz wrote.

He went on to list six reasons why he would oppose Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton: Supreme Court nominations, Trumps promise to sign legislation repealing Obamacare, energy policy, immigration policy, national security and Internet policy.

Cruz returned, after this, to his theme of conscience. If Clinton wins, we know  with 100% certainty  that she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country. My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that, he wrote.

He also stressed to voters that he was upholding his promise to support the Republican nominee.

A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment, Cruz said.

Cruz speaking at a rally at the Indiana State Fairgrounds during the GOP primary. (Photo: Michael Conroy/AP)

Of course, Cruz said the day after his speech at the convention  while fielding questions from angry members of the Texas delegation  that his pledge had been abrogated by Trumps slander of his father, giving credence to a ridiculous conspiracy theory about his fathers supposed connections with Lee Harvey Oswald, and by Trumps personal insults of his wife Heidis physical appearance.

That pledge was not a blanket commitment that if you go slander and attack Heidi, then Im not going to nonetheless come like a servile puppy dog and say thank you very much for maligning my wife and maligning my father, Cruz told the Texas delegation.

Cruz was forced by the political reality of his fallen standing among Republican voters to get over his personal anger at Trumps treatment of him and his family, and to offer support for Trump, no matter how tepid.

Cruz did hold out the possibility that a Trump presidency would require opposition from Republicans and Democrats.

If the next administration fails to honor the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then I hope that Republicans and Democrats will stand united in protecting our fundamental liberties, Cruz wrote.

As a top Republican National Committee official told me in Cleveland, If Trump wins, you better bet your ass Cruz is going to primary him.

But even if he does, he will need the support of the many Republican voters who have concluded that Cruzs speech in Cleveland was a black spot on his record and his character. That was the goal of his move Friday.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) talks to the media outside of his Senate office on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. May 10, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Donald Trump suggested Ted Cruz's father had conspired to kill John F. Kennedy.

He threatened to "spill the beans" on Cruz's wife, Heidi.

He sent a tweet suggesting Heidi was ugly, especially compared to Trump's third wife who, like Trump's first wife, was a model.

He argued Cruz was ineligible to be president on account of his birth in Canada, and questioned his religious faith, noting, "not too many Evangelicals come out of Cuba, OK?"

When the National Enquirer alleged that Cruz had had five extramarital affairs, Trump issued a written statement saying he had "no idea" whether the Enquirer story was true, then adding "they were right about O.J. Simpson, John Edwards, and many others."

After all this, Ted Cruz endorsed Donald Trump for president.

What a cuck.

Back in July, when Cruz took the stage at the Republican National Convention and pointedly refused to endorse Trump, I puzzled over Cruz's choice, which struck me as politically disadvantageous and therefore not in line with Cruz's reputation as a man who would say or do anything to become president.

I wrote:

"My first assumption about politicians, and especially about Ted Cruz, is that they act in their own cynical interest. But it is also possible that Cruz simply saw an opportunity to take revenge on Trump, and he took it."

As we now know, I was wrong. Crapping all over Ted Cruz's immediate family turns out not to be a hard limit for Ted Cruz.

The only explanation left is that Cruz thought refusing to endorse Trump was in his political interest, and now he has changed his mind. But if Cruz is a craven and soulless politician just trying to say whatever will help him advance, he is not even very good at it.

Ted Cruz was with Trump when he could've beaten him & against him when he couldn't. Then he non-endorsed with max damage, & caved for 0 gain  John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) September 23, 2016

In four years, Ted Cruz will be remembered as the guy who said Trump was "terrific" and "speaks the truth," and who then said he was "utterly amoral" and a "pathological liar," who knifed him at the back at the time when doing so did the most to harm the party's chances, and who then came back and endorsed him at the last minute, all without ever getting an apology for Trump's abuse of his family.

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This does not seem like a track record that is likely to please either Trump's fans or his detractors.

Of course, Cruz can say he extracted some promises from Trump, including a written statement promising only to nominate Supreme Court justices from a pre-determined list of 21 vetted conservatives. Such a promise would seem valuable unless, of course, you believe Trump to be "utterly amoral" and a "pathological liar."

Cruz should have listened to my advice from some months ago: Donald Trump may beat you, but he can only take away your dignity if you let him or if you are Jeb Bush.

This endorsement will not help Ted Cruz become president. But it has revealed him to be a ridiculous, unprincipled, undignified man who does not even care if another man calls his father a murderer and his wife ugly.

NOW WATCH: Watch Donald Trump attempt to explain why he thinks Hillary Clinton is a bigot





More From Business Insider


Washington (AFP) - Two months after his refusal to endorse Donald Trump's presidential candidacy prompted outrage at the Republican National Convention, Senator Ted Cruz said Friday that he would vote for his former bitter primary rival.

"After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," the Texas senator wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.

"A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment," he added. "And if you don't want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him."

Cruz's move represents a dramatic turnaround after a primary campaign during which the two candidates traded increasingly personal insults.

Dismissing Cruz's early overtures, Trump had attacked the Texas senator, dubbing him "Lyin' Ted" and suggesting he wasn't eligible to be president because he was born in Canada (most experts say that he was eligible since his mother was American).

Trump also speculated that Cruz's father had some connection to Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who killed former president John F. Kennedy, and insinuated that Cruz's wife Heidi was involved in corruption.

At the nadir of their confrontation, Trump tweeted an unflattering picture of Heidi Cruz next to a photo of his own former model wife Melania, along with the text, "The images are worth a thousand words."

Positioning himself as the true conservative alternative to Trump, Cruz responded by calling the real estate billionaire "utterly amoral," and "a narcissist at a level I don't think this country's ever seen."

He dropped out of the primary race in May.

During the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, when many expected Cruz to endorse Trump, he told delegates instead to "stand and speak and vote your conscience" amid boos from the convention floor.

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Cruz's backing now could help Trump shore up support from Republicans who have long suspected the candidate's conservative credentials, including the evangelical voters who form the core of Cruz's electorate.

Trump responded to Cruz's endorsement -- three days before Trump's crucial first debate with Democratic nominee Clinton -- saying he was "greatly honored."

"We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent," the Republican nominee said in a statement. "I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again."

Cruz's backing comes after the two camps showed some signs of reconciliation. Trump's running mate Mike Pence spoke with Cruz several times in recent weeks and Trump has hired several Cruz allies, including Kellyanne Conway to be his campaign manager.

The endorsement may also be calculated to help Cruz's chances for reelection in 2018. He faces a possible Senate primary challenge from Texas Representative Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.

The move might also backfire. Steve Deace, an influential conservative radio host, tweeted that Cruz's endorsement of Trump is "the worst political miscalculation of my lifetime. I hope I am wrong. The people will decide that."
Baba Ramdevs Nepali aide in Forbes rich list

Nepali-born Acharya Balkrishna, a key aide to yoga guru Baba Ramdev, has debuted in Forbes magazines list of richest Indians for 2016 in the 48th spot. Forbes India said the 44-year-old had a net worth of $2.5 billion as of September 2016.
CHICAGO (Reuters) - A man who killed his two supervisors at a manufacturing plant in eastern Tennessee before taking his own life did so after becoming upset during a meeting, authorities investigating the crime said on Friday.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said that Ricky Swafford, 45, killed two of his supervisors, James Zotter,44, and Sandra Cooley,68, at the Thomas & Betts Corp [TBCI.UL] in Athens, Tennessee on Thursday.

TBI said in a statement that Swafford, who the bureau described as "a long-time employee of the plant," had a meeting with Zotter and Cooley during which he became upset.

Swafford abruptly left the meeting, and the building, before returning to the plant to find the two supervisors.

"Swafford shot both of them and continued to walk through the plant," TBI said in the statement.

"Some employees were able to warn others of an active shooter, and employees evacuated the building. When responding officers arrived, they found Swafford's body in a bathroom of the plant, deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound."

No other employees were injured in the incident, the statement said.

Leslie Earhart, a spokeswoman for TBI, said that there was no further information on the shooting. The investigation is ongoing.

The TBI said that both victims were from Athens, Tennessee, located about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Knoxville, near the state's borders with Georgia and North Carolina.

Thomas & Betts Corp, a unit of Swiss conglomerate ABB Ltd., which manufactures electrical and electronic components, said in a statement that is was "deeply saddened" by the shooting.

(Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin; Editing by Alan Crosby)
From Road & Track

Earlier this month, we reported that the state of Michigan had officially denied Tesla's application for a dealership license. And while there was a chance Tesla might appeal the ruling, it instead sued the state of Michigan in federal court.

Automotive News reports that Tesla filed suit over Michigan's ban on the direct sale of vehicles. A previous version of Michigan's law had what appeared to be a loophole that would allow Tesla to establish its own dealerships in the state. But in 2014, Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill that changed the law that closed the loophole, effectively banning Tesla sales in the state.

The electric automaker isn't only suing the state, though. Governor Snyder, state Attorney General Bill Schuette and Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson have all been named in the suit, as well.

Considering that the Federal Trade Commission previously released a statement in support of direct-to-consumer auto sales, it will be fascinating to see how the court rules. Losing this lawsuit would be a huge step backwards for Tesla, but at the same time, a win could set a precedent that leads to other states overturning their own direct sales bans.

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Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. TEVA announced encouraging top-line data from the second phase III study (AIM-TD) on SD-809 (deutetrabenazine), which is being evaluated for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia (TD).

The randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed-dose study was conducted in patients with moderate-to-severe TD. Results revealed that all three doses (12 mg/day, 24 mg/day and 36 mg/day) of SD-809 demonstrated statistically significant improvement in Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale scores  the primary endpoint  compared to placebo. Moreover, the 24 mg and 36 mg dose groups showed a significant change from baseline, based on the modified intent-to-treat population at week 12. In addition, improvement was observed on the Clinical Global Impression of change, indicating a reduction in abnormal movements experienced by patients.

Also, SD-809 demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile over the course of the 12-week treatment. The company intends to present a complete analysis at a future medical meeting.

We are encouraged by the recently reported results from the phase III AIM-TD study, which followed positive data from the first phase III ARM-TD trial that were announced this June. Teva plans to file for FDA approval by the end of 2016.

TEVA PHARM ADR Price

TEVA PHARM ADR Price | TEVA PHARM ADR Quote

Per the company press release, TD affects approximately 500,000 people in the U.S. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for this debilitating hyperkinetic movement disorder, representing significant unmet medical need. Hence, there is ample market opportunity for SD-809, upon a potential approval. We note that SD-809 enjoys Breakthrough Therapy status in the U.S. for the treatment of TD.

Tevas efforts to gain approval for SD-809 for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington disease suffered a regulatory setback with the FDA issuing a complete response letter (CRL) in May 2016. Teva expects to submit a response to the CRL shortly.

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Meanwhile, Teva also plans to evaluate SD-809 for the treatment of tics associated with Tourette syndrome. SD-809 became part of the companys pipeline following the May 2015 acquisition of Auspex Pharmaceuticals.

Teva currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Stocks to Consider

Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated LGND, Geron Corporation GERN and VIVUS Inc. VVUS. All the three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

For 2016, Ligand witnessed a 12.13% increase in its earnings estimates over the past 60 days. The company has also posted an average positive earnings surprise of 36.66% over the last four trailing quarters.

In each of the last four trailing quarters, Geron has surpassed expectations, bringing the average positive surprise to 20.78%.

VIVUS has recorded an average positive surprise of 39.88% over the last four trailing quarters.

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Ever since the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, presidents have been judged on the successes they notch during their first 100 days. Now, as Barack Obama prepares to end his historic turn on the political stage, Yahoo News is running The Last 100 Days, a look at what Obama achieved during his consequential presidency, how he navigates the struggles of his last months in office and what lies ahead for him after eight years filled with firsts. We will also look at how the country bids farewell to its first African-American president.

Its not a literal 100 days  Obama leaves office in late January 2017.

And it wont all be about policy. As Obama himself is fond of noting, he also spent his two terms as father to daughters Malia and Sasha and husband to first lady Michelle Obama. And even without much input from the White House, the cultural landscape shifted dramatically over his two terms on issues such as gay rights.

And then theres the way the president sees the presidency  not just his tumultuous years at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., but also the institution and its relationships (for better or worse) with other branches of government and with the news media.

In this seventh installment, we look at how Obama is wrapping up his eight years in office with a lot of firsts.

_____

In 100 years, historians assessing Barack Obamas legacy probably wont linger too long on the fact that, this May, he became the first sitting president to speak at a Rutgers University graduation. They may take note in passing that in March 2009 he became the first commander in chief to appear on a late-night talk show. But they will probably evaluate the importance of his March 2016 trip to Cuba, the first by a sitting U.S. president since the 1959 revolution that swept Fidel Castro to power  the consummation of his landmark opening to that former Cold War foe.

Consequential and controversial achievements, like Obamacare or the nuclear deal with Iran, will surely shape how future generations of Americans see Obama. While firsts can matter  Obama will always be remembered for shattering barriers by becoming the first African-American U.S. president  they rarely overshadow major policies or momentous world events, both good and bad.

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Historians will definitely recall that George W. Bush took the United States to war in Iraq, but probably wont dwell too much on the fact that he was the first sitting U.S. president to visit that country. He was also the first to go to places like Sweden, Mongolia and Peru, and to break ground by giving the first State of the Union address to be streamed live over the Internet.

But for a second-term president holding tightly to diminishing relevance during an election cycle, these kinds of firsts can steal headlines from the campaign, bringing public attention back to the White House and its priorities, and help shore up a legacy. For the purposes of this article, I looked most closely at firsts from Obamas last 18 months or so in office. But Obamas legacy also includes becoming the first sitting president to back same-sex marriage, the first to get a Latina into the Supreme Court and the first to name two women justices.

Firsts fall broadly into three categories.

They can serve to draw attention to policy priorities, as Obama did in July 2015 when he became the first sitting president to visit a federal penitentiary. His tour of El Reno in Oklahoma helped highlight his push for criminal justice reform, a cause to which he plans to devote his post-presidency.

Firsts can be natural outgrowths of longstanding strategies, like this White Houses aggressive digital communication strategy, which led Obama to become the first president to be on Snapchat, have his own Facebook page, tweet from his own account, take an Instagram photo and film a virtual reality project.



And they can draw attention to presidential legacies. In September 2015, Obama traveled to Kotzebue, Alaska, to speak to the local high school there. Theres one thing no American president has done before  and thats travel above the Arctic Circle, he said. I couldnt be prouder to be the first, and to spend some time with all of you. The trip aimed to highlight Obamas efforts to battle climate change and his record on conservation.

Since taking office, Obama has created or expanded 27 national monuments, covering more than 550 million acres of land and water, more than any of his predecessors. Putting that in a press release might be a bit dry, so he applied the principle every cub reporter learns quickly: Show, dont tell.

Sometimes a first is a good way to be highlighting policy, and let him see something he normally wouldnt get to experience, an administration official told Yahoo News about the visit. But at no point are we expressly doing [something] just because it was a first.

In fact, sometimes the White House staff doesnt realize that its putting a first on the presidents schedule according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

For the federal penitentiary, we only realized that [it was a first] in the planning process, the official said. Bureau of Prisons personnel realized they had no road map for managing the complicated security procedures required for a presidential visit.

The list of firsts in Obamas last stretch is long, and on something like a monthly rhythm. In March, he went to Cuba. In May, he visited Hiroshima. In June, he declared himself a feminist. In July, he penned an academic journal article. In September, he went to Laos. And he guest edited the October issue of Wired.

In June 2015, he became the first president to be interviewed in a garage for a podcast, sitting down for questions from Marc Maron. And in November of last year, Obama became the first sitting president to be photographed for the cover of an LGBTQ outlet, the magazine Out.

The lists of first sitting president opportunities is both constantly shrinking (stuff being done) and always expanding (how long until first sitting president to walk on the moon?). What firsts will the next president pile up?

_____
Charlotte (AFP) - Protesters took to the streets for a third night in the US city of Charlotte on Thursday amid heavy security aimed at preventing more clashes over the fatal police shooting of a black man.

Hundreds marched to the city police station carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful," but the atmosphere was far calmer than the previous two nights.

Pressure was growing on police to release video of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American, whose killing on Tuesday sparked the unrest.

Scott's death was the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States.

North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, and several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers were deployed to reinforce local police protecting city infrastructure and businesses.

An overnight curfew was also in place.

"We are going to be a lot more proactive," Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney told a news conference. "We made 44 arrests last night because we are not going to tolerate the behavior."

A protestor shot by a civilian in Wednesday night's protests died in hospital on Thursday, local media reported.

- 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 refused to release police video of the incident.

However, members of Scott's family watched the footage on Thursday, raising "more questions than answers," their lawyers said.

No gun is visible in the video, which shows Scott stepping backward when he was shot, one of the lawyers told CNN.

Story continues

"His hands are down by his side. He is acting calm," Justin Bamberg said. "You do see something in his hand, but it's impossible to make out from the video what it is."

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.

But the footage indicates the officer identified as having shot Scott -- Brentley Vinson, who is also black -- was justified, he added.

"The officer perceived his failure to comply with commands, failure to drop the weapon and facing the officers as an imminent threat," he told Fox News on Thursday.

- Protesters 'seething' -

A handful of protesters confronted police on Thursday night. However, many marched past officers who posed a less intimidating presence on the streets despite their greater numbers.

"Black lives don't matter in this country," said a 34-year-old protester with a mask around his neck who identified himself only as "Amen-Ra."

"We're coming together to make them matter, to force America to make them matter -- either through violence or peacefully."

Scott's shooting came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday.

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 to the Charlotte mayor and US Congresswoman Alma Adams Thursday, 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.
Photo: Courtesy/Getty

While the rest of Brandon Valley High School wore flannel shirts and cowboy hats for Ranch Day, one girl interpreted the theme a little differently. Carson Haase showed up as a bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing during homecoming week, earning her the nickname Ranch Girl.

It was ranch day today pic.twitter.com/JvhEV02p16  cars (@CarsonHaase) September 20, 2016

Obviously the teenager has a great sense of humor, her inspiration for dressing like, well, salad dressing came from a pretty unfunny place. Haases friend Brittany Corcoran recently committed suicide, and the death taught the 17-year-old to live in the moment. She taught me a lot of things, the high school senior told the Argus Leader. How to be strong in bad situations [and] that it honestly doesnt matter what people thought because there will always be people that like you anyway.

Haases handmade costume was a hit at her South Dakota school, but when she posted photos from the day to social media, thats when the response got really overwhelming. Not only was a tweet with a photo of her in the cardboard look with some overall-clad friends liked nearly 3,000 times and retweeted by more than 800 users, it also got the meme treatment and was shared on sites including Reddit, Instagram, Imgur, and Facebook (one post by Mens Humor received more than 111,000 shares). Haases grandmother was even one of the commenters and wrote that Haase is charitable, participating in walks for suicide prevention and Alzheimers, and also does hands-on dog rescue, in addition to being an A student. So proud of her  everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like her!!! she shared. Gifted!!!

still cant believe I won homecoming queen because of a T-Rex costume ???????????? pic.twitter.com/2MQqz1L3Y8  Sarah (@sarahmac2859) September 10, 2016

Haase is just one of many young, confident women to wear unique costumes to much Internet  and real-life  acclaim. Sarah MacDonald wore an inflatable Tyrannosaurus rex costume to her Spirit Day assembly, where she was crowned homecoming queen. Then there was the little girl who showed up to Princess Day at dance class dressed as a hot dog.

Story continues

No parent is ready to learn that their daughter is trending #hotdogprincess Best part is it was all her idea! pic.twitter.com/YBmUkRoj4y  Brandon E Turner (@turnerbrandon) June 2, 2016

To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi: Be the ranch dressing, dinosaur, or hot dog princess you want to see in the world.

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The police force in Phoenix, Arizona, is smaller this week following the resignations of three officers who, according to authorities, allegedly gave a 19-year-old suspect two options during a recent traffic stop: Ingest a gram of marijuana or face criminal charges.



PEOPLE confirms that Michael Carnicle, Jason McFadden and Richard Pina have all tendered their resignations over the alleged incident, which took place last week.



A fourth officer, Jeff Farrior, was demoted from lieutenant to sergeant after it was learned he was aware of the incident but "did nothing about it," Phoenix Police Chief Joseph Yahner told reporters on Thursday.



"This is conduct that runs contrary to everything we stand for," Yahner said during a news conference. "It is unacceptable, appalling and extremely unprofessional."



Yahner said the incident is being investigated both internally and criminally but that only two officers are the subject of such probes. The third officer was merely a witness to the incident, he said.



Yahner did not specify which two officers are being investigated.



All three officers allegedly turned their body cameras off just prior to the traffic stop. PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach any of the officers involved for comment.



 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.



Yahner said that during the stop, the officers discovered a small amount of pot and told the man that if he ate it, he'd be released. Yahner said he did and he was.



The man then went to police and told them he had fallen ill after ingesting the marijuana, Yahner said. He did not seek medical treatment following his encounter with police.



The 19-year-old man, whose name was not released by police, was issued a citation and had his car towed.



Yahner on Thursday called the allegations "disturbing and upsetting" and said then he was going to fire the officers before they could resign.



None of the three former officers has been charged with a crime.
For those who want a truly immersive travel experience, submersible specialists DeepFlight and Rainbowfish Ocean Technology have collaborated to form DeepFlight Adventuresa guide service with depth. To facilitate the endeavor, DeepFlight has developed its latest aquatic explorer, the Super Falcon 3S. And though the official partnership announcement and vehicle debut will be made at the Monaco Yacht Show on September 28, RobbReport.com has been allowed to surface first with the details.

Teaming up with Rainbowfish will enable us to achieve our mutual goal of unlocking the oceans for human access, says Adam Wright, DeepFlights chief executive officer. We will be able to give individuals a level of exposure to the underwater realm that they may not otherwise be able to attain.

A key component to the plan is the Super Falcon 3S. A larger version of the original Super Falcon (introduced in 2009), it measures 25 feet in length, 10.8 feet in width, and 5.2 feet in height. Unlike the previous model, the new addition features three inline viewports (interconnected via a closed-circuit communications system) to accommodate a pilot and two passengers. Each person benefits from their own cast-acrylic hemispherical canopy that lets them take in the sights while descending to a maximum level of 400 feet.

Equipped with a fly-by-wire, three-axis flight control system, the winged wonder travels through liquid space much like an airplane and is even capable of hydrobatic maneuvers. Propulsion is provided by two pressure-compensated, direct-drive brushless DC thrusters and a large composite propeller that enables a top cruising speed of 6 knots. And a 14 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery (supported by two 120240 VAC charging systems) allows for up to 8 hours of autonomous travel under normal conditions. As with all of the companys conveyances, the form-fitted-composite craft is positively buoyant; in the highly unlikely case that any system failure occurs (there has never been one to date), the sub will naturally ascend due to the physics of its design and construction.

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We primarily developed the DeepFlight Super Falcon 3S so that people could share the experience with a friend or family member along with the dedicated pilot, explains Wright. There have also been a number of improvements incorporated from a comfort and maintenance perspective as these subs are going to be used all the time.

Frequency of deployment is certainly a factor considering the programs possible scope. There are over 700 five-star, seaside resorts around the worldmany with beautiful reefs on their front porch, says DeepFlights cofounder Karen Hawkes. We see a really big upside as far as potential in the new industry of underwater tourism. In addition, the team is also targeting cruise lines as prospects for implementation.

Such magnitude requires a substantial infrastructure, and that is where Rainbowfish factors in. Based in China, the firm is focused on deep-sea equipment fabrication and research, with much attention and assets going into the Rainbowfish 11000, a manned submarine intended to reach a depth of over 36,000 feet (11,000 meters). The latter is scheduled to make a roundtrip journey to the bottom of the western Pacific Oceans Mariana Trench (the deepest point on the planet) sometime in 2020. It is this very expertise that bolsters DeepFlight Adventures commercial viability.

Rainbowfish can provide all of the necessary technical support, says company chairman Dr. Xin Wu. And we are very interested in expanding our technology into tourism.

As preparation, both parties set off in July on a multi-purpose expedition to Papua New Guinea aboard Rainbowfishs new 4,800-ton ship, the MV Zhang Jian. In conjunction with using unmanned submersibles to conduct oceanic assessments of environmental impact due to mining, the crew hosted 12 guests who had a DeepFlight Dragon at their disposal. The tourists mixed with scientists and engineers and were given presentations in the evenings, says Wu. During the days, they dove to about 200 feet and discovered new perspectives on the region, including a close-up look at the Yokohama Maru wreck from World War IIeveryone wanted to stay longer.

Based on the successful trial run, the next phase for DeepFlight Adventures is moving full steam ahead with plans for initial operations in Hawaii, the Maldives, French Polynesia, and the Caribbean. The first resort outpost is scheduled to open in 2017 at a yet-to-be-announced location. (deepflight.com)

Let us know what you think of DeepFlight Adventures: Tweet to @RobbReport_Viju

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If you want to share a ticket with Hillary Clinton, you have to pass not only her test  but former President Bill Clinton's as well.



The Democratic nominee's running mate, Tim Kaine, found that out when he and his family met the Clintons at their Chappaqua, New York, home before the former secretary of state finalized her vice presidential pick.



"There was a moment where [Bill Clinton] said, 'Tim, I want to talk to you.' He kind of pulled me into the other room. I felt like a prospective son-in-law getting interviewed," Kaine says in a joint interview with Hillary Clinton for this week's issue of PEOPLE. "We were talking precinct politics and issues."



Apparently the former president was very thorough in the vetting session.







Kaine says, "At some point, [my wife], Anne  worried we might miss our plane  said to Hillary, 'Should I go interrupt them?' Hillary said, 'No, give them five more minutes.' I really felt like he had to kick the tires, too."





Tim Kaine on Passing Muster with Bill Clinton: 'I Felt Like a Prospective Son-in-Law'| 2016 Presidential Elections, politics, Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton







Hillary Clinton is just as tough  if not tougher  to impress. Kaine says talking with the Democratic nominee is "like a Ph.D. in political science."



For more from Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine on their historic team and facing down Donald Trump, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday





Tim Kaine on Passing Muster with Bill Clinton: 'I Felt Like a Prospective Son-in-Law'| 2016 Presidential Elections, politics, Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton



But she's not all business. The former secretary of state is just as engaged when it comes to getting to know Kaine on a personal level.



"We are very much focused on learning about each other, so that we know enough to not only have an even better relationship, but to kid each other," Hillary Clinton tells PEOPLE. "I've seen it up close and know how important it is. There's a lot of serious stuff to talk about, but kidding each other, getting some release from all of the constant stress, that's a big part of it, too."



 Are you voting? Not voting? How do you really feel about the candidates? PEOPLE wants to know! Take our brief survey about the 2016 election now, and receive 20% off in the PEOPLE Shop as a thank you for your time.



"So I'm storing up what I'm learning about him," she adds. "I tend to interrogate his three children when I get a chance, in order to get as much information as possible."





Did You Know Tim Kaine Is 'One Heck of a Harmonica Player?' He and Hillary Clinton Reveal All to PEOPLE





For more from Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, watch their full interview with PEOPLE above
Spencer Arnold, a 24-year-old Army veteran who came home from Iraq with chronic depression, decided on impulse last May that he'd had enough. After a phone argument with his girlfriend, he picked up one of the five loaded guns he'd recently purchased and kept on his nightstand, and shot himself in the head in his Iowa City, Iowa, apartment.



Now Spencer's uncle, actor and comedian Tom Arnold, is speaking out about the tragedy during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, hoping to rally people to get behind tighter gun control laws and prevent those with mental illness from purchasing firearms.



"My nephew was a sweet, good-hearted kid, but he was sad and angry after the Army sent him home early with an honorary discharge because of issues revolving around a suicide attempt," Arnold, 57, tells PEOPLE exclusively.



"Spencer wanted to be a part of something, so he got involved in the gun culture and joined a racist neo-Nazi group," he says. "Last fall, when I saw him posting some scary stuff on Facebook, I became concerned and begged his father to take away his guns."



When that didn't happen, Arnold says he flew to Iowa to talk to his nephew, but he had hidden his guns and refused his offer to help treat his depression.



"My whole family was furious and felt that I'd overreacted," Arnold tells PEOPLE. "They said he was an adult and it was none of my business  that it was Spencer's American right to keep his guns."



Spencer's family did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.





Tom Arnold Opens Up About Nephew's Tragic Suicide: 'People Who Are Suicidal Shouldn't Be Able to Buy a Gun'| Real People Stories, Tom Arnold



On May 2, after Spencer killed himself, Arnold knew he had to do something to prevent his nephew from becoming just another statistic among the country's 20,000 annual gun suicides. He joined the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and is now pushing Congress for stricter legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, violent felons, people on the terrorist watch list and military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).



"There should also be background checks for everybody," says Arnold, "and people who serve our country should get follow-up physical and mental health exams for the rest of their lives. I'm a gun owner and I'm in favor of the Second Amendment. But people who are suicidal shouldn't be able to buy a gun. It's just common sense."



Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign, welcomes Arnold's involvement at a time when there are more than 50 gun suicides every day (20 of that number are veterans) in the United States.



"We have a national tragedy of staggering proportions," Gross tells PEOPLE, "and we're now at a tipping point because the American public is finally starting to realize what's going on. Whether you love to hunt or are repulsed by the idea, you probably agree that an unsupervised child, a domestic abuser and a mentally ill person shouldn't have a gun. And when a person makes the decision to bring a gun into their home, they're increasing the dangers associated with it. We're grateful to Tom for helping to start a conversation about that."



Arnold, who grew up in rural Ottumwa, Iowa, where he frequently went hunting with his grandfather, was stunned to learn that his nephew was able to get a concealed weapon permit and buy five guns even though the Army had sent him home after a failed suicide attempt.



"How could that happen?" he tells PEOPLE. "He never should have been allowed to buy them. The thing with guns is, you don't get a second chance. If you have a gun, you can bet your kids know where it is. And who knows what a bad day is to a teenager? With my nephew, he had a bad moment, the guns were there, so he picked one up and used it  a permanent solution to a temporary problem."



Arnold says that when he asked his brother to take Spencer's guns to a police station and have them destroyed, he insisted that he would keep the weapons and use them in his son's memory.



Arnold's brother did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.



"He and the rest of my family are outraged at me for speaking out about this," Arnold tells PEOPLE, "because in their minds, suicide is something that you don't discuss publicly. Where I come from, mental illness is shameful and a choice. But if it saves even one life, I believe it's worth it to speak up. If my nephew hadn't had those guns, he'd have had his bad moment, then lived to see another day. In telling his story, maybe I can keep a tragedy from happening to somebody else."
hillary clinton

A top climate group is trying to reinvent the way campaigns use phone banking to motivate voters to turn out on Election Day.

NextGen Climate, one of the most well-funded super PACs dedicated to stopping climate change, is giving its staffers and volunteers a job: convincing potential millennials voters to text them, and personally responding to each text.

While many campaigns send text message blasts to supporters, NextGen strategists thought they could put an old-fashioned phone-banking spin on the text-message blasts by encouraging recipients to engage in a conversation about candidates.

The effort tasks campus organizers across the country with individually texting potential millennial supporters in six battleground states  Indiana, North Carolina, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Ohio. The group hopes the texts will remind voters of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's support for measures that would curb the effects of climate change, which contrasts with Donald Trump's skepticism about whether human activity is responsible.

Suzanne Henkels, NextGen's communications director, told Business Insider that the effort is aimed at engaging potential voters "in a meaningful one-on-one conversation about climate change and the upcoming election," inviting supporters to attend events and helping them locate and travel to their polling places.

Henkels told Business Insider that recipients are a little weirded out when they receive real responses from staffers and volunteers.

"We've found that many voters just assume it's an automated program and are quite surprised when we reply with personalized texts," Henkels said. "Our goal is to facilitate a genuine, authentic conversation with these voters on the issues they care about. And in this case, it means making jokes, using emojis, and texting slang."

NextGen, which joined other climate groups like the Sierra Club in sitting out the primary, has also hired several former staffers from Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign. Those staffers had helped to build the senator's digital outreach and organize programs that attempted to motivate youth voter turnout during the Democratic primaries and caucuses.

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The initiative is part of a $25 million ad buy NextGen has launched this cycle that's aimed solely at engaging millennial voters. More millennials back Clinton than Trump, according to polling data, but they are notably less enthused about the former secretary of state than her Democratic predecessor, President Barack Obama.

Clinton's campaign is well aware it has a problem with young voters  an important part of the so-called Obama coalition.

As The Atlantic pointed out, Clinton won even less support among young Democratic voters in 2016 in her primary against Sen. Bernie Sanders than she did in 2008 in her primary matchup against Obama.

Further, many millennials currently support third-party candidates like Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

A recent Washington Post/ABC national poll showed that among voters ages 18-39, Clinton garnered 44% support to Trump's 24%, Johnson received 20%, and Stein received 6%.

Clinton campaign allies recognize that millennials occupy a larger share of the electorate than in previous elections.

Speaking with Business Insider after a private roundtable hosted by the immigration advocacy group FWD.us, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who backs Clinton, said it's important that the former secretary of state continue to speak to millennial voters about issues they value.

"At the end of the day, millennial turnout and outreach will be incredibly important to Hillary Clinton's chances to prevail," Jeffries said. "I expect that she will continue to triple down on dealing with the issues that are important to millennials, so that they understand there is only one candidate in this race who they should be supporting in large numbers."

For NextGen, the initiative is a chance to improve on its record. The organization invested more than $60 million of its founder Tom Steyer's personal cash in 2014, the first election it was involved in. But most of its candidates lost  as The New York Times points out, only three of the seven candidates it backed in Senate and gubernatorial races won.

The organization believes it has the upper hand this time  general elections inherently draw a younger electorate, which it believes can benefit environmental organizations.

NOW WATCH: Watch Donald Trump attempt to explain why he thinks Hillary Clinton is a bigot





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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 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. 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 and Cynthia Osterman)
One stock that might be an intriguing choice for investors right now is The Toronto-Dominion Bank TD. This is because this security in the Banks Foreign space is seeing solid earnings estimate revision activity, and is in great company from a Zacks Industry Rank perspective.

This is important because, often times, a rising tide will lift all boats in an industry, as there can be broad trends taking place in a segment that are boosting securities across the board. This is arguably taking place in the Banks Foreign space as it currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 61 out of more than 250 industries, suggesting it is well-positioned from this perspective, especially when compared to other segments out there.

Meanwhile, The Toronto-Dominion Bank is actually looking pretty good on its own too. The firm has seen solid earnings estimate revision activity over the past month, suggesting analysts are becoming a bit more bullish on the firms prospects in both the short and long term.

TORONTO DOM BNK Price and Consensus

TORONTO DOM BNK Price and Consensus | TORONTO DOM BNK Quote

In fact, over the past month, current quarter estimates have risen from 90 cents per share to 92 cents per share, while current year estimates have risen from $3.63 per share to $3.70 per share. This has helped TD to earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), further underscoring the companys solid position. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

So, if you are looking for a decent pick in a strong industry, consider The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Not only is its industry currently in the top third, but it is seeing solid estimate revisions as of late, suggesting it could be a very interesting choice for investors seeking a name in this great industry segment.

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Central bank retirement provision: Wagle to make recommendation by next week

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It was The Last Knight versus a knight of the realm in Britain this week as the latest Transformers film sparked outrage for its use of Winston Churchills former home as a Nazi headquarters swathed in swastikas.

Images obtained by the Sun newspaper showed Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of the British prime minister who stood up to Hitler, draped with banners bearing the Nazi symbol. The newspaper reported that extras dressed as SS troops marched up the entrance steps of the palace Wednesday night, flanked by German vehicles and military equipment.

The move has roused the ire of British war veterans. Tony Hayes, head of the Veterans Association UK, told Variety that using Churchills home as the location for such a scene was particularly distressing.

Its a total disgrace. Blenheim is the ancestral home of our wartime leader, said Hayes. A lot of the older generation find it totally appalling. Its an insult.

Hayes suggested that the film could have added the banners and other Nazi imagery in post-production, using CGI, to cause less offense. Preferably, the producers of Transformers: The Last Knight would have chosen a different location altogether  really anywhere else in the country, except Buckingham Palace, Hayes said.

Bleinheim Palace is regularly used as a filming location  for example, in Kenneth Branaghs Cinderella and the James Bond movie SPECTRE.

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I know its a film, but its symbolically disrespectful to Churchill. He will be turning in his grave, Col. Richard Kemp, the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the Sun. Churchill is buried only a mile from Blenheim Palace, which sits on a sprawling estate about 60 miles northwest of London, in Oxfordshire.

Churchill was born there in 1874. The palace was built in the early 18th century as a gift for John Churchill, the 1st Earl of Marlborough, for whose father Winston Churchill was named. A designated World Heritage site, it is currently the home of Jamie Spencer-Churchill, the 12th Duke of Marlborough.

Transformers: The Last Knight is currently doing extensive location shooting around Britain. It is once again being directed by Michael Bay (pictured), with Mark Wahlberg, who joined the franchise in Transformers: Age of Extinction in 2014, back on board. The film also sees Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson, who sat out the last film after appearing in the first three, return to the franchise. Anthony Hopkins  another knight of the realm, like Churchill  joins the cast.

[Update, Sept. 24 at 12:45 p.m. PT: Speaking to the BBC from the films set, Bay addressed the controversy. People have not been fortunate enough to read the script and they dont know that Churchill in this movie is a big hero, the filmmaker said. Churchill would be smiling. When you see the movie youll understand.]

With a reported budget of $250 million, Transformers: The Last Knight is the fifth installment of the franchise, which has grossed nearly $3.8 billion to date for distributor Paramount and remains one of the studios key franchises. It is produced by Ian Bryce, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Don Murphy for Hasbro and Paramount. The film will be released worldwide in June 2017.

Related stories:

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The production of Transformers: The Last Knight is in hot water with veterans groups after dressing Winston Churchill's birthplace with Nazi iconography.

The Sun published photos of Blenheim Palace, where the former British Prime Minister was born in 1874, decorated with Swastikas for shooting. According to the publication, actors dressed in SS uniforms marched up to the palace with Nazi artillery on Wednesday evening while shooting the Michael Bay-directed film. Churchill is buried less than a mile away at St. Martin's Church, Bladon.

"I know its a film, but it's symbolically disrespectful to Churchill. He will be turning in his grave," Colonel Richard Kemp, the ex-commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told The Sun.

Distributor Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Bay addressed the controversy on Friday while speaking to the BBC.

"People have not been fortunate enough to read the script and they don't know that Churchill in this movie is a big hero," Bay said. "He would be smiling."

Bay added: "When you see the movie you'll understand. I for one, probably more than any director in the world, have shot more veterans and more active military men and women in my movies. You can actually look it up. I would do nothing to disrespect veterans."

Transformers: The Last Knight is the latest in a string of films to shoot at Blenheim Palace, which was built in the early 1700s and is among the most iconic houses in England. Recent productions shooting there include Spectre and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation.

Transformers: The Last Knight will be released June 23, 2017.

Read more: New Look at 'Transformers: The Last Knight' Shows Optimus Prime Wielding a Sword and Fighting Dragons

Sept. 23, 3:50 p.m. Updated with Bay's response.
U.S. intelligence officials are investigating whether Carter Page, a businessman described by Donald Trump as a foreign policy advisor, has been making backroom promises to Moscow to lift some sanctions against top Kremlin officials if Trump is elected.

In recent briefings with senior members of Congress about apparent attempts by Moscow to influence the presidential contest between Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, intelligence officials have raised concerns about Pages travels to Moscow, according to a Yahoo News report on Friday afternoon. Intelligence officials believe Page has had meetings with Russian officials currently sanctioned by the Treasury Department for involvement in Russias illegitimate and unlawful actions in the Ukraine. Many top Kremlin officials and business associates of President Vladimir Putin are in U.S. sanctions crosshairs.

The report is only the latest in a series to suggest that the Trump campaign, and especially his aides, have some bottom-line interest in boosting chummy ties with Moscow. But now, with an ongoing federal investigation, the Page revelations provide the strongest hint yet at negotiations with Russian officials, and drop a bombshell into the 2016 campaign just days ahead of the first presidential debate on Monday.

Trumps campaign did not respond to a request for comment Friday and Pages current role remains unclear.

On Thursday, the ranking members on the House and Senate intelligence committees, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D.-Calif.), sharply criticized Moscow for attempting to boost Trumps fortunes.

We have concluded that the Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election, they wrote. We believe that orders for the Russian intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government.

Their Republican counterparts in Congress have been far more quiet on Trumps friendly stance toward Russia, even as evidence has piled up that hackers working on behalf of Moscow are infiltrating American political groups and posting stolen material online.

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A spokesperson for Sen. Richard Burr, (R-N.C.), the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested in July that the intelligence community should be allowed to complete its investigations into these incidents before any conclusions be drawn.

Burr, who has endorsed Trump, is currently battling for reelection in one of the most competitive races in the country as the Republicans fight to keep their majority in the Senate. Burrs office did not respond to multiple requests for comment Friday.

House Intelligence Committee Chair David Nunes (R-Calif.), did not deny the Russian interference, but downplayed its significance.

Well I think Russias very good at influencing elections and they do it all over the world, he told CBS Face the Nation. It wouldnt surprise me that theyd try to do it here, it wouldnt surprise me that they tried to break into the DNC and RNC  and think we just shouldnt panic that the Russians would try to do this because they always try to do it.

Russia has carried information operations aimed at influencing elections in its more immediate sphere of influence, but recent breaches in the United States have expanded such operations to American shores.

While the motive of the U.S. breaches remains unclear, American intelligence officials are reportedly investigating the scope of Russian information operations against the United States, and whether Moscow is seeking to influence the outcome of Novembers election. Hackers linked to Russian intelligence have broken into the servers of the Demoractic National Committee, and emails from its servers later appeared on WikiLeaks.

Those emails revealed that party officials had attempted to undermine the candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders, (D-Vt.), and led to the resignation of DNC chief Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.).

Stolen material from other American political groups, non-profit organizations, and officials have also appeared online. The targets have included the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, former NATO commander Gen. Philip Breedlove, and the philanthropic organization of George Soros.

Throughout the campaign, Trump has raised alarm both among U.S. officials and American allies in Eastern Europe. He suggested he may pull the U.S. military out of NATO, or refuse to defend penny-pinching NATO allies against Russian invasion.

Trump aides intervened in the drafting of the GOPs policy platform this summer to minimize military assistance for Ukraine, pleasing Russia. And in the wake of the DNC leak in July, Trump asked Moscow to hack Clintons emails, a remark he later suggested was a joke.

Last month, Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort resigned after ledgers surfaced detailing that he had been paid millions in cash by pro-Russian Ukrainian politicos.

But Trump hasnt backed off, repeating time and again his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his leadership style, and suggesting the U.S. work more closely with Moscow.

Yet his coziness toward the Kremlin has split the party, already conflicted over his candidacy and concerned it could damage the chances of keeping control of the Senate.

Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker, (R-Tenn.), and Armed Service Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, (R-Ariz.), along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C.), who dropped out of the 2016 Republican primary, all recently expressed their concerns to Foreign Policy.

I think one needs to be careful about responding to flattery, Corker said of Trumps compliments for Putin. I mean, lets just be honest.

Photo credit: Mark Wilson / Staff
By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump on Friday named U.S. Senator Mike Lee as a potential Supreme Court nominee, turning to an ally of former rival Ted Cruz in an apparent gesture to conservative Republicans who have been wary of the Republican presidential candidate. Lee was included on a new list of 21 potential Supreme Court justices that Trump would consider for the high court if he is elected over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 election. "This list is definitive and I will choose only from it in picking future justices of the United States Supreme Court," Trump said in a statement. The announcement came out on a day in which neither candidate had a public event and were preparing for Monday's first presidential debate. The list Trump announced included 10 new names and 11 conservative jurists from a list the New York businessman had announced in May. Lee's brother, Thomas Lee, an associate justice of the Utah Supreme Court, was on the initial list and remains on Trump's expanded list. Trump's listing of Mike Lee amounted to a gesture to U.S. Senator Cruz of Texas, a conservative who fought Trump fiercely as a rival for the Republican presidential nomination and who has refused to endorse Trump. Trump's bombastic style and proposals breaking with some conservative orthodoxies such as support for free trade agreements have sparked unease among traditional conservative Republicans. Mike Lee, in a statement, said he appreciated being considered. "Right now I'm focused on my job in the Senate, where I'm in a good position to defend the Constitution by fighting against government overreach. Both lists that I've seen from the Trump campaign are fantastic. "While my brother and I might disagree as to which list is better, they're both great," he quipped. The death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia on Feb. 13 left the court with a four-to-four tie between right-leaning and left-leaning justices. Democratic President Barack Obama has nominated Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, but the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate has refused to consider confirming him. Trump said his list was based on who would follow constitutional principles on the high court. The possibility of Republicans ceding control of the court to the Democrats has been one of his main rallying cries at campaign events. Others on Trump's list include Keith Blackwell, a justice on the Supreme Court of Georgia; Charles Canady, a Florida Supreme Court justice; Neil Gorsuch, a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, and Edward Mansfield, an Iowa Supreme Court justice. Other names included Federico Moreno, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida; Margaret Ryan, a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; Amul Thapar, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Timothy Tymkovich, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit; and Robert Young, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan. (Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (Reuters) - Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said on Thursday he would work with U.S. lawmakers if elected to tie federal funding and tax breaks for colleges and universities to a "good faith" commitment by them to lower tuition costs for students. "If universities want access to all of these federal tax breaks and tax dollars paid for by you," Trump told a rally in a Philadelphia suburb, "they have to make good faith efforts to reduce the cost of college." Trump did not offer specifics on how he would tie federal funding to changes in college tuition. His Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, has proposed making in-state tuition for colleges and universities free immediately for families earning $85,000 or less, and free by 2021 for families making up to $125,000 a year. Trump, a New York businessman, has not said much about the cost of college while campaigning. But U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who competed against Clinton for the Democratic nomination, made government-funded college tuition central to his campaign platform. Sanders drew a great deal of support from the youngest group of American voters, and Trump, who needs to win over more women and young people before the Nov. 8 election, took up a similar theme in his proposal. U.S. student debt has surged about 24 percent to around $1.2 trillion since 2012, according to figures earlier this year from the New York Federal Reserve, leaving many graduates with mortgage-sized tabs before they enter the workforce. (Reporting by Emily Flitter; Editing by Sandra Maler and Peter Cooney)
A Tulsa, Oklahoma, police officer has been charged with manslaughter after authorities say she shot and killed an unarmed African-American man on Friday, PEOPLE confirms.



Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler announced Thursday night that officer Betty Shelby is accused of manslaughter in the first-degree for fatally shooting Terence Crutcher.



"In the matter of the death of Terence Crutcher, I determine that the filing of the felony crime of manslaughter in the first-degree against the Tulsa Police officer Betty Shelby is warranted," Kunzweiler said at a news conference.



Kunzweiler said a warrant has been issued for Shelby's arrest and she will surrender, according to the Tulsa World.



Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, could not immediately be reached by PEOPLE for comment. He has said Shelby feared for her life before the shooting, given Crutcher's behavior.



Though Kunzweiler's office noted that Shelby is presumed innocent under the law, officials allege she "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," according to the World.



Crutcher, 40, was shot and killed Friday night as he approached his SUV with his arms raised. The incident was caught on police helicopter video and a dashboard camera, and footage from the shooting was released Monday, triggering protests as the latest in a high-profile string of unarmed police shootings in recent years.



 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.



At a news conference Monday, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan said officer Tyler Turnbough Tasered Crutcher shortly before a second officer, Shelby, shot him. She told a dispatcher moments before that that Crutcher was not cooperating, Jordan said.



Jordan said Crutcher had no weapon on him or in his SUV. He called video footage of the incident "disturbing."



About a dozen protestors gathered outside a Tulsa courthouse Monday morning with signs reading "Black Lives Matter" and "Am I Next."



"I will make this promise to you, we will achieve justice," Jordan said Monday.



He said at the news conference that Shelby came across Crutcher while on her way to another call. She requested back up, saying that Crutcher was not cooperating, Jordan said.



In footage of the shooting, an officer aboard a helicopter above can be heard saying, "He's got his hands up there for her now. This guy is still walking and following commands."



(It's not clear from the released video what orders police may have given Crutcher before he was killed, or what the police overheard may have been able to hear from below.)



On Monday, Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, made a plea to press charges.



"The 'big bad dude' was my twin brother. That 'big bad dude' was a father," she said, according to the Associate Press.



"That 'big bad dude' was a son. That 'big bad dude' was enrolled at Tulsa Community College, just wanting to make us proud," Tiffany said. "That 'big bad dude' loved God. That 'big bad dude' was at church singing with all of his flaws, every week. That 'big bad dude,' that's who he was."
Colombian Foreign Minister Cuellar wishes to visit Nepal

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar has expressed her interest to make a visit to Nepal.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen has called for an international commission to investigate Turkey's charge that he orchestrated a failed coup last July, and said he would accept the findings if such a body found evidence of his guilt. Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania since 1999, told the German broadcaster ZDF in an interview broadcast on Friday that there was no evidence linking him to the thwarted putsch, which he has denounced. He accused Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan of using the coup to silence opponents. Turkey has dismissed or suspended more than 100,000 people in the military, civil service, police, judiciary and education system since a group of rogue soldiers tried to topple the government. "An international organization should examine the issue. If the charges are correct, I will gladly accept what they want. But they haven't proven anything or responded to my suggestions. It's all just pure conjecture," Gulen told ZDF. "If they can prove that I spoke personally or by telephone with those responsible for the attempted coup, I would be happy to bear the consequences," he said. Erdogan on Tuesday called on world leaders at the United Nations to take measures against what he called Gulen's "terrorist network", which he said threatened their security. Turkish authorities have accused Gulen of building up over decades a network of followers inside the armed forces and civil service that attempted to take control of the government. They have asked the United States to extradite or detain the cleric, who was once a close ally of Erdogan's. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden last month told Erdogan during a visit to Ankara that Washington was cooperating with the extradition request but needed evidence to meet U.S. legal standards. Gulen told ZDF that, if Washington approved the extradition request, he would comply. "If the U.S. says 'Yes', then I will go. Then I will spend the rest of my numbered days being tormented by them so that I can free myself even more from my sins and mistakes and reach God as a pure man." (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Twitter's stock skyrocketed Friday morning on new reports that the company is preparing for a sale.

The flagging social media site has been an acquisition target for some time, but a board meeting in early September has re-ignited speculation about who might buy the company.

Now, CNBC reports that Google and Salesforce are among the half-dozen or so companies that are interested in Twitter that might make a formal bid. A source tells The Hollywood Reporter that Verizon is also interested in Twitter, following an earlier report from TechCrunch that named Verizon and Microsoft as among the interested parties.

A spokeswoman for Salesforce declined to comment. A Verizon spokesman denied reports from late summer that the company has made a standing offer for Twitter but declined to comment further. Representatives for Twitter, Microsoft and Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to the CNBC report, a sale is not imminent but might occur before the end of the year.

Twitter has been an acquisition target over the last year as its stock has fallen on weak user growth. The company last year installed co-founder Jack Dorsey as its CEO to help re-ignite its growth. Dorsey has focused on new products, like Twitter Moments, and live streaming video deals designed to encourage people outside its core user base to use the service. Many of these new products and features encourage Twitter usage without requiring a person to log into an account.

In July, Twitter reported second quarter revenue of $602 million, up 20 percent year over year, and adjusted earnings of 13 cents per share. Meanwhile, the company grew its users by just 3 percent to 313 million.

Twitter's market cap is currently $15.5 billion, but it has been bolstered over the last few weeks by the speculation of a potential sale. The company's stock was trading up more than 20 percent on the sale reports during midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
By Rod Nickel

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A coalition of 75 U.S. and Canadian native groups that opposes expansion of North American oil production will join a U.S. tribe's fight against the Dakota Access pipeline if tensions escalate, a regional Canadian chief said on Friday.

The Standing Rock Sioux oppose the 1,100-mile (1,886-km) pipeline being developed by Energy Transfer Partners LP, which they say threatens water supply and sacred sites.

An encampment in North Dakota against the $3.7 billion Dakota Access pipeline represents the largest Native American protest in decades and included one violent confrontation this month between protesters and security guards.

"I can tell you with great certainty that in the event there's an escalation of aggression on the part of the state or (U.S.) federal government, there will certainly be a response on the Canadian side from indigenous peoples," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said in a phone interview from Vancouver.

Phillip compared the potential for escalation in North Dakota to the 1990 Oka crisis, a land dispute between a Quebec town and a group of Mohawks that turned violent.

Indigenous supporters from Canada are already bringing supplies and financial donations to Standing Rock Sioux, which Phillip said he recently visited.

The Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion, made up of North American native groups that signed the treaty on Thursday, also opposes tanker and rail projects over environmental concerns.

Treaty Alliance is "absolutely" willing to illegally block construction of any pipeline proposals that proceed, including TransCanada Corp's Energy East pipeline across much of Canada and Kinder Morgan Inc's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in Western Canada, he said.

There are no conditions under which the group would support a pipeline, Phillip said.

Canada is assessing pipeline proposals as the country's energy-rich province Alberta reels from a crash in prices, partly due to insufficient means of moving oil to lucrative international markets.

In Canada, native groups are divided over pipelines, with some opposing them while others, who are producers themselves, want the energy industry to develop, said Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, which takes no position.

(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Both of Aileen Fagan's parents attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Nonetheless, Fagan's transition to military life during the eight-week indoctrination before freshman year known as Swab Summer came as a bit of a shock. "One day you're a civilian and you just graduated from high school, and the next day you're doing pushups and getting yelled at," she says.

Like orientation at all service academies, that first summer is meant to instill core values in students and prepares them to enter the classroom and join the Corps of Cadets. But in some ways, the similarities to other military branches end there.

The biggest difference is the Coast Guard's mission, which covers three broad categories: maritime safety, maritime security and maritime stewardship. "We see ourselves as guardians, not warriors," explains Susan Bibeau, associate director of admissions for marketing.

[Check out the U.S. News Best Colleges for Veterans.]

Women make up more than one-third of the most recent class, the highest among the academies -- females make up 22 percent of West Point's Class of 2020, for example. And with a student population of about 900, the school vies annually with the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for the distinction of smallest service academy and boasts a student-faculty ratio of 8-1.

Academics are rigorous, with a heavy dose of science and math. Save for a government and a management major, most options are STEM-related, ranging from civil engineering to marine and environmental science.

Support is baked into the chain of command system, with the entire corps divided into companies, consisting of students from each year. Older students mentor and advocate for the younger ones in their companies, Fagan explains. "We're there for each other."

Summers bring opportunities for professional development and training programs, such as the required multiweek stint for sophomores sailing aboard the tall ship Eagle that serves as a seamanship training platform. The experience also helps build leadership skills and challenges cadets' physical limits -- climbing the rigging on a tall ship is no easy task.

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[Consider these tuition-free colleges.]

Depending on their year, cadets are required to participate in a mix of training, professional development and academic internships each summer. For instance, last summer, Fagan, a marine science major, did oceanic research in Iceland.

Graduates are obligated to five years of service. The majority are stationed on ships in the Coast Guard fleet, from polar ice breakers to national security cutters.

Most grads focus either on commanding the movements of a ship and what goes on "topside" or on engineering, maintaining the physical plant of the ship. The actual missions of these new ensigns depend on the functions of the teams they're assigned to, which range from drug interdiction to search and rescue.

Read on to find out what life is like at the rest of the five.

-- U.S. Naval Academy

-- U.S. Military Academy

-- U.S. Air Force Academy

-- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Colleges 2017" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.
By Nate Raymond

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to justify why a settlement with Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE) in a case over the bank's handling of swap reporting is fair and in the public interest.

U.S. District Judge William Pauley in Manhattan said in an order on Thursday that while regulatory agencies like the CFTC should be afforded deference in settling cases, a judge has a duty to not simply "rubber stamp" agreements.

Pauley said the CFTC's request for approval of a deal requiring a monitor's appointment to ensure that the bank reports swaps data properly was "bereft" of any details showing it was fair, reasonable, adequate and in the public interest.

The judge ordered the CFTC to provide reasons by Sept. 30 to justify the settlement, and to also include at least three recommendations for the appointment of an independent monitor. He scheduled a hearing for Oct. 6.

Deutsche Bank on Friday declined to comment on the order. A CFTC spokesman had no immediate comment.

The CFTC announced the proposed settlement on Aug. 18, the same day it filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank over its handling of an April 16 system outage that had not yet been fully addressed.

The CFTC said the bank was unable to report swaps data for multiple asset classes for five days after the outage, and that its efforts to restore the services exacerbated existing problems and created new ones.

At the time the lawsuit was filed, the CFTC said some of these problems persist, affecting market data made available to the public, and impeding the CFTC's ability to evaluate systemic risk in swaps markets.

The German bank's shortfalls reflected its failure to have adequate business continuity and disaster recovery plans in place, and violated a September 2015 CFTC order intended to prevent such shortfalls, the regulator added.

Deutsche Bank has said it is "committed to meeting all regulatory requirements."

Story continues

The ability of federal judges to block regulatory settlements was narrowed in 2014, when an appeals court voided a judge's rejection of a $285 million accord between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Citigroup Inc.

This is not the first time since then that Pauley has demanded more information before approving a settlement.

Last year, Pauley demanded more details about the fairness of a proposed $50 million settlement between the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Sprint Corp. Pauley later approved the deal.

The case is U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Deutsche Bank AG, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 16-06544.

(Editing by Bernadette Baum)
By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Senior Republican U.S. House of Representatives lawmakers made clear on Friday they will keep campaigning against Boeing and Airbus jetliner sales to Iran, despite the Treasury Department's announcement that it had begun issuing licenses for the exports.

Republican Representatives Pete Roskam and Jeb Hensarling wrote to Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which oversees sanctions, demanding more answers about any security implications of the delivery of aircraft to Iran.

"There is little evidence indicating that Iran Air has indeed stopped transporting weapons, troops, and cash to terrorist groups and rogue regimes," the congressmen wrote in a letter, dated Thursday, seen by Reuters.

Both congressmen hold influential financial positions in the House. Hensarling is chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. Roskam is chairman of the tax-writing Ways & Means Committee's Oversight subcommittee.

Airbus and Boeing said on Wednesday they had received U.S. Treasury approval to begin exporting over 200 jets to Iran, under a deal struck in January. The news is likely to ease complaints from Iran over implementation of last year's international nuclear agreement, in which Tehran agreed to curtail its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Some members of Congress have raised concerns that killing the deal could cost jobs at Boeing plants, but opponents of the deal argue that security concerns are more important.

The letter to Adam Szubin, acting under secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, asked for answers to several detailed questions on issues including Iran Air's leadership, the Treasury's ability to control transfers of aircraft or parts once they are in Iran's hands and the nuclear pact.

Foreign banks have been reluctant to finance the aircraft deals, fearing they could fall foul of remaining sanctions prohibiting the use of the U.S. financial system for Iranian business.

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With U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump strongly critical of the rapprochement, some banks fear they could be left with no insurance if Iran sanctions "snap back."

Republican members of Congress unanimously opposed the nuclear agreement, seen as one of Democratic President Barack Obama's foreign policy achievements.

Arguing that Obama was more concerned with enhancing his legacy than national security, they have pushed legislation and other measures seeking to overturn or undermine the agreement.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Dan Grebler)
SANAA (Reuters) - The United Nations has condemned airstrikes by an Arab coalition that killed 26 people in Western Yemen on Wednesday and said attacks on civilian facilities in the Arab World's poorest country have increased since July. Warplanes of the Saudi-led alliance launched missiles at a residential neighborhood in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Wednesday where Houthi leaders were staying, a resident and medics in the Houthi-controled area told Reuters. The raid hit a house in a neighborhood populated by workers. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement condemning the attack, said dozens of people, including children and women, had been killed and injured. Wednesday's raid, which the Arab alliance said it was investigating reports on, was the latest in a series of strikes that have hit schools, hospitals, markets and private homes. In August at least 41 attacks hit civilian facilities and killed 180 civilians, a 40 percent increase in casualties since July, said a U.N. human rights spokeswoman. "We note with deep concern the sharp increase in civilian casualties since the suspension of peace talks," said Cecile Pouilly in a statement. "We reiterate our call for the setting up of an international and independent investigative body." The coalition, which began operations in Yemen in March last year to try to reverse the rise to power of the Iran-allied Houthi group, has repeatedly said it does not target civilians. In a statement, the coalition said it was aware of reports alleging civilian casualties in Hodeidah city. "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. The deputy governor of Hodeidah province, Hashim Azazi said late on Wednesday 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 neighboring Saudi Arabia. Nearly half of Yemen's 22 provinces are on the verge of famine, according to the U.N. World Food Program, as a result of the war that has drawn in regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. (Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari, William Maclean Stephanie Ulmer-Nebehay; Writing by Tom Finn; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
By David Brunnstrom NEW YORK (Reuters) - The planned U.S. deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea is not negotiable as part of efforts to agree new U.N. sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test, but Washington is confident tougher steps will be agreed before long, the senior U.S. diplomat for Asia said on Friday. China, whose full backing is widely seen as crucial for sanctions on North Korea to be effective, is strongly opposed to the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and some experts have argued it should be part of talks on new U.N. measures. Asked whether THAAD was negotiable, Daniel Russel, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia, referred to a U.S.-South Korean agreement on the deployment. "No. The two countries have made a decision," he told Reuters. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, meeting Southeast Asian leaders in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, said the United States would "do whatever is necessary to defend our own citizens and to honor our security commitments to our allies." Discussions are under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution on North Korea after it conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on Sept. 9. Russel later told a news briefing discussions were still at an early stage, but he was confident that a new U.N. resolution would be agreed before long, imposing further sanctions and tightening existing ones. Among the aims, he said, would be to prevent North Korea's abuse of international infrastructure, including banking and shipping, to further its nuclear program. China is North Korea's main ally, but has been angered by its repeated missile and nuclear tests and backed tough U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang in March. QUESTIONS REMAIN Beijing has said it will work within the United Nations to formulate a necessary response to the latest nuclear test, but questions remain as to whether it is willing to agree tough enough steps to force North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons. Two experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Center for International Studies last week argued that if China were to agree to serious graduated sanctions on North Korea, the United States could agree to freeze the number of ground-based missile interceptors on the Korean Peninsula. Eric Heginbotham and Richard Samuels said that as part of a set of incentives to China, Washington "might also agree, after consulting South Korea, to withdraw THAAD from the peninsula when North Korean nuclear weapons no longer pose a threat." On Monday, Washington said U.S. President Barack Obama and China's Premier Li Keqiang agreed in a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. assembly to step up cooperation in the U.N. Security Council and in law enforcement channels. China's Foreign Ministry later said a Chinese conglomerate, the Liaoning Hongxiang Group was under investigation following the provisions of the sanctions agreed in March. In his General Assembly speech on Thursday, South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se accused North Korea of "totally ridiculing" the United Nations through its nuclear and missile tests and said it was time to reconsider whether it was qualified for U.N. membership. Russel said it was "not unnatural" that such questions should be raised. He stopped short of endorsing the call, but added: "The international system is being exploited by (North Korea) ... for the purpose of pursuing an illegal nuclear and missiles program that threatens both its neighbors and regional peace and security." North Korean Foreign minister Ri Yong Ho was defiant in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, vowing that the communist state would strengthen its nuclear weapons capability and never give it up while it was threatened by nuclear-armed states. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom, editing by G Crosse, Stuart Grudgings.)
Fighting Syndicate: Recruiters urged to stop sending workers to Msia

The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (Nafea) has urged the recruiting agencies to stop sending migrant workers to Malaysia to protest the labour receiving countrys syndicate over the over the paid services that Nepali migrants are supposed to get before leaving for the work destinations.
By Lesley Wroughton, John Irish and Denis Dyomkin NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United States and Russia failed to agree on how to revive a short-lived ceasefire in Syria during what the U.N. Syria mediator called a "long, painful, difficult and disappointing" meeting on Thursday. The International Syria Support Group, including the U.S., Russia and other major powers, met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders in New York as the Syrian army announced the start of a new military offensive in the rebel-held east of the city of Aleppo. "We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow with respect to those ideas," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, expressing concern at the reports of the planned new Syrian offensive. "I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated," said Kerry. Russia and the United States agreed on Sept. 9 a deal aimed at putting Syria's peace process back on track. It included a nationwide truce, improved humanitarian aid access and the possibility of joint military operations against al-Qaeda-linked groups and the banned Islamist groups. However, the truce effectively collapsed after a week when an aid convoy was bombed on Monday, killing some 20 people. "The good news is that Russia and the U.S. agreed to work intensely on a possible restoration of it," U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura told reporters. "It was a long, painful, difficult and disappointing meeting." "Meanwhile ... everyone is going back to the conflict. The next few hours, days maximum are crucial for making it or breaking it," de Mistura said. Kerry demanded on Wednesday that Russia and the Syrian government immediately halt flights over Syrian battle zones. "We have not succeeded so far, but there was a lot of support around the table for the proposal, a temporary ban for all flights in order to create the conditions for the truce," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's response to the proposal for grounding planes as "not satisfying." He described the meeting as "intense." "The offensive on Aleppo just shows why we need Syrian planes grounded, otherwise there will be no truce," Ayrault said. Lavrov said the Syrian opposition needed to take steps toward a compromise. Kerry said the United States and allies who supported opposition groups were prepared to reciprocate but only if Russia showed it was serious about implementing the ceasefire agreement. A senior U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters: "The ball is very much in the Russians' court to come back to us with some ideas that are serious, that would be above and beyond the types of things they have been willing to agree to in the past with regard to air activities over large parts of Syria." When asked what would happen next if the process completely collapsed, the official said it was something the United States was "giving a lot of thought to." "I don't think tonight and right now as we are approaching a climactic stage is a time to say where we will go from here," the official added. (Writing by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Stuart Grudgings)
Carter Page speaks at the graduation ceremony for the New Economic School in Moscow in July. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News, photos: Pavel Golovkin/AP, AP)

U.S. intelligence officials are seeking to determine whether an American businessman identified by Donald Trump as one of his foreign policy advisers has opened up private communications with senior Russian officials  including talks about the possible lifting of economic sanctions if the Republican nominee becomes president, according to multiple sources who have been briefed on the issue.

The activities of Trump adviser Carter Page, who has extensive business interests in Russia, have been discussed with senior members of Congress during recent briefings about suspected efforts by Moscow to influence the presidential election, the sources said. After one of those briefings, Senate minority leader Harry Reid wrote FBI Director James Comey, citing reports of meetings between a Trump adviser (a reference to Page) and high ranking sanctioned individuals in Moscow over the summer as evidence of significant and disturbing ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin that needed to be investigated by the bureau.

Some of those briefed were taken aback when they learned about Pages contacts in Moscow, viewing them as a possible back channel to the Russians that could undercut U.S. foreign policy, said a congressional source familiar with the briefings but who asked for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. The source added that U.S. officials in the briefings indicated that intelligence reports about the advisers talks with senior Russian officials close to President Vladimir Putin were being actively monitored and investigated.

A senior U.S. law enforcement official did not dispute that characterization when asked for comment by Yahoo News. Its on our radar screen, said the official about Pages contacts with Russian officials. Its being looked at.

Page is a former Merrill Lynch investment banker in Moscow who now runs a New York consulting firm, Global Energy Capital, located around the corner from Trump Tower, that specializes in oil and gas deals in Russia and other Central Asian countries. He declined repeated requests to comment for this story.

Story continues

Trump first mentioned Pages name when asked to identify his foreign policy team during an interview with the Washington Post editorial team last March. Describing him then only as a PhD, Trump named Page as among five advisers that we are dealing with. But his precise role in the campaign remains unclear; Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks last month called him an informal foreign adviser who does not speak for Mr. Trump or the campaign. Asked this week by Yahoo News, Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller said Page has no role and added: We are not aware of any of his activities, past or present. Miller did not respond when asked why Trump had previously described Page as one of his advisers.

Donald Trump (Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

The questions about Page come amid mounting concerns within the U.S. intelligence community about Russian cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee and state election databases in Arizona and Illinois. In a rare public talk this week, former undersecretary of defense for intelligence Mike Vickers said that the Russian cyberattacks constituted meddling in the U.S. election and were beyond the pale. Also, this week, two senior Democrats  Sen. Dianne Feinstein, ranking minority member on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking minority member on the House Intelligence Committee  released a joint statement that went further then what U.S. officials had publicly said about the matter.

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, they 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. They added that orders for the Russian intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government.

Page came to the attention of officials at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow several years ago when he showed up in the Russian capital during several business trips and made provocative public comments critical of U.S. policy and sympathetic to Putin. He was pretty much a brazen apologist for anything Moscow did, said one U.S. official who served in Russia at the time.

He hasnt been shy about expressing those views in the U.S. as well. Last March, shorty after he was named by Trump as one of his advisers, Page told Bloomberg News he had been an adviser to, and investor in, Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas company. He then blamed Obama administration sanctions  imposed as a response to the Russian annexation of Crimea  for driving down the companys stock. So many people who I know and have worked with have been so adversely affected by the sanctions policy, Page said in the interview. Theres a lot of excitement in terms of the possibilities for creating a better situation.

Page showed up again in Moscow in early July, just two weeks before the Republican National Convention formally nominated Trump for president, and once again criticized U.S. policy. Speaking at a commencement address for the New Economic School, an institution funded in part by major Russian oligarchs close to Putin, Page asserted that Washington and other West capitals had impeded progress in Russia through their often hypocritical focus on ideas such as democratization, inequality, corruption and regime change.

At the time, Page declined to say whether he was meeting with Russian officials during his trip, according to a Reuters report.

Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin with Vladimir Putin at a signing ceremony at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2014. (Photo: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters)

But U.S. officials have since received intelligence reports that during that same three-day trip, Page met with Igor Sechin, a longtime Putin associate and former Russian deputy prime minister who is now the executive chairman of Rosneft, Russians leading oil company, a well-placed Western intelligence source tells Yahoo News. That meeting, if confirmed, is viewed as especially problematic by U.S. officials because the Treasury Department in August 2014 named Sechin to a list of Russian officials and businessmen sanctioned over Russias illegitimate and unlawful actions in the Ukraine. (The Treasury announcement described Sechin as utterly loyal to Vladimir Putin  a key component to his current standing. At their alleged meeting, Sechin raised the issue of the lifting of sanctions with Page, the Western intelligence source said.

U.S. intelligence agencies have also received reports that Page met with another top Putin aide while in Moscow  Igor Diveykin. A former Russian security official, Diveykin now serves as deputy chief for internal policy and is believed by U.S. officials to have responsibility for intelligence collected by Russian agencies about the U.S. election, the Western intelligence source said.
(Adds comment from UAW president)

By Bernie Woodall

DETROIT, Sept 23 (Reuters) - United Auto Workers President Dennis Williams said on Friday that about one in four of the union's members favor Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, a lower level of support than the UAW gave his 2012 and 2008 predecessors, Mitt Romney and John McCain.

UAW member support was about 28 percent for Romney and just over 30 percent for McCain, Williams said at a press conference at the union's headquarters in Detroit.

A year or so ago, a UAW survey of its members showed 28 percent support for Trump.

"The more and more we educate our members the more they're understanding why we endorsed Hillary Clinton," Williams said of the Democratic presidential nominee.

"Hillary Clinton is way ahead with our membership," he said, without citing a level of support for her.

The union has about 400,000 active members, or more than 1 million members if retirees are included.

Williams also said the union would be able to take specific actions to support the Canadian union Unifor if it called for a strike on General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co or Fiat Chrysler Automobiles . He did not detail what those actions could be.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Richard Chang)
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)
By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Loosening the European Union's economic sanctions on Russia would wreck the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, because the measures are the West's only leverage over Moscow, Kiev's deputy foreign minister said on Friday. Next month, EU leaders are set to discuss the sanctions on Russia's energy, financial and defense sectors, which were imposed after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. Countries with closer ties to Russia, including Cyprus, Italy and Hungary, are pushing to lift some measures or even allow them to expire in January. "The Minsk peace deal is under threat. If there are no sanctions, there is no way to pressure Russia to respect the process in any way," Vadym Prystaiko said of the accord sealed in 2015 in the capital of Belarus. The Minsk peace agreement, brokered by France and Germany and signed by Russia and Ukraine in February 2015, calls for a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and separatists backed by Russia, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy. "For now, Russian-backed separatists have agreed to a ceasefire. But with one telephone call, Moscow can reverse the situation," Prystaiko told Reuters. A September truce in eastern Ukraine has raised hopes for peace, although it failed to stem all the violence in the region. Shellings in the east of the country dropped to 246 in the first two weeks of September from more than 2,000 in August, Prystaiko said. The conflict has killed over 9,600 soldiers, civilians and pro-Russian rebels since April 2014. "There is no mechanism to prove that this peace process is working. The only way is for the EU to stick to what it has said: we lift the sanctions when Minsk is fully implemented," said Prystaiko, who met NATO envoys during a visit to Brussels. Moscow's allies in Europe, including Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, say Russia is doing more than Ukraine to meet its obligations under the Minsk agreement. Fico told Reuters this month that the sanctions had not changed Russian policy in the east. Prystaiko said that was because Russia was determined to hold sway over Ukraine by pressuring Kiev to adopt a federal system, in which each state would have a veto over Ukraine's hopes to join NATO and the EU. Reforms tied to the Minsk accord include changing Ukraine's constitution to decentralize government. Prystaiko said that Russia was seeking to distort that to achieve its own ends. "The Russians want a new constitution, they want to embed a foreign body in Ukraine," he said. "But we can only have elections when the separatists stop shooting." (Reporting by Robin Emmott, editing by larry King)
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 said Friday it was considering a different route to send desperately needed aid to east Aleppo, to circumvent the blocked main supply route as new air raids pounded Syria's second city.

"We are trying to see by all means available how we can reach east Aleppo," Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, told reporters in Geneva.

He said the lack of access to the estimated 250,000 residents of rebel-held east Aleppo amid renewed air strikes and fighting was "tragic."

The UN had hoped to send aid from Turkey and along the key Castello Road into east Aleppo, militarily encircled since early July.

As part of the now broken ceasefire pact agreed between the US and Russia, the UN had expected assurances that the Castello Road would be clear and safe.

But those assurances have not come, and the Syrian army has announced a new offensive aimed at retaking all of the divided second city, with Syrian and Russian aircraft pounding the area on Friday.

"What has been happening in Aleppo is not a situation where you can confidently say, yes we can confidently drive a humanitarian aid convoy into that carnage," Laerke said, describing the situation as "grim."

The UN resumed deliveries on Thursday after a pause in the wake of a strike on a humanitarian aid convoy in Syria's north that killed 20 civilians and destroyed 18 aid trucks.

- Route via Damascus? -

Laerke explained that the UN was now considering sending aid along a much longer route through Damascus, but that when such a convoy could move would depend on the security situation on the ground.

"That is still being planned for. When that will happen, frankly that is out of our hands," he said.

In the meantime, 40 trucks are still sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border waiting to move if the situation improves.

The United Nations humanitarian taskforce for Syria, Jan Egeland, told reporters Thursday that the food in those trucks would go bad within days, but Laerke said that statement was incorrect.

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"The food in those 40 trucks is fit for consumption for several months," he said.

Laerke said that a convoy of 23 trucks had successfully delivered aid, including medical supplies, for 35,000 people to the besieged Damascus suburb of Moadamiyat al-Sham.

The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives since 2011, and forced more than half the population to flee their homes.
FM Mahat busy with UN session

Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, who is in New York leading the Nepali delegation to the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, attended the general debate on Thursday.
Geneva (AFP) - The UN rights chief on Friday voiced deep concern over Macedonia's "systematic policy" of detaining and expelling migrants, criticising especially the widespread detention of migrant children.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said that when his staff visited Macedonia earlier this month they had found 180 migrants -- around 80 of them children -- "who have been living in limbo since March in two transit centres".

"This is simply unacceptable, in particular when it comes to children," he insisted in a statement.

Macedonia lies on the so-called Balkan route crossed by hundreds of thousands of migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa since last summer on their way to western Europe.

Although the route was effectively shut down in March, migrants have continued to cross the region in smaller numbers, often with the help of smugglers.

Zeid pointed out that the 180 migrants stuck at the Tabanovce centre, near the border with Serbia in the north, and the Gevgelija centre near the Greek border, had entered Macedonia before the country closed its borders on March 8.

UN rights office spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly told AFP that one of the centres was "essentially a detention centre," decrying that the migrants were "in a high-stress situation and the children cannot go to school."

She warned that a recent amendment to Macedonia's asylum law meant that people who enter the country illegally have little chance of being allowed to stay.

Out of the some 600 asylum requests filed in Macedonia since 2015, only five people have been granted refugee status, according to the UN.

Zeid called for "urgent measures" to help the stranded migrants return to a normal life, and especially ensuring that children can pursue their educations.

Zeid also expressed alarm at reports that Macedonia was pushing migrants back into neighbouring countries, as well as carrying out "collective and arbitrary expulsions."

"I urge the government to put an end to these practices, which are in breach of international law," he said.

Zeid warned that the border closings throughout the region had boosted the presence of "abusive smuggling and trafficking industries, leaving migrants -- especially women and children -- in a deplorably vulnerable situation."
A union representing hotel workers at the Beverly Hilton has accused the Wanda Group, the Chinese multinational conglomerate that owns AMC, the worlds largest cinema chain, of using foreign money to influence the outcome of a local ballot initiative in Beverly Hills. Read the press release here.

The allegation is the latest development in a long-running dispute between Wanda and the Hilton over who should develop a piece of property next to the hotel. Hilton bypassed the Beverly Hills City Council and the planning commission and put a measure on the November ballot asking voters to approve its proposal to build a 37-story condo tower there. Wanda, which opposes the plan, wants to build a boutique 134-room hotel on the property.

The union, Unite Here Local 11, says it filed a complaint today with Californias Fair Political Practices Commission accusing Wanda of using foreign money to fight the ballot measure, which would violate state and federal election laws. Wanda flatly denies the claim, saying its campaign to defeat the initiative is funded solely by its American interests. (Read the full complaint sent to the FPPC here.)

A spokesman for the Fair Political Practices Commission, however, told Deadline that it has no record of the complaint having been filed. We dont have anything as of yet, said Jay Wierenga, the FPPCs communications director. A lot of times those who file will tell the media they have filed before we get the complaint itself.

Whether the complaint has been filed or not, Wanda called the allegation frivolous and unethical. 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 Wanda spokesman Adam Englander. This 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.

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Wanda officials are said to believe that Hilton is using the union as a stalking-horse against Wanda. Hilton officials, however, say they had nothing to do with the unions filing  or planned filing.

Related stories

Wall Street Doubts Payoff From Talks To Sell Paramount Stake To Wanda

Chinese Conglom Wanda Acquiring Majority Stake In Legendary Pictures

Golden Globes Caption Contest: Who Ordered The Mudslide At The Beverly Hilton?
Washington (AFP) - The United States on Friday gave Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declassified CIA documents confirming that former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet personally ordered the 1976 assassination of opposition leader Orlando Letelier.

US Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom presented the documents to Bachelet during a ceremony on the site of the killing in the American capital, two days after the 40th anniversary of the brazen attack.

Bachelet herself is a former opposition leader who was tortured under the military regime of General Pinochet, who ruled Chile with a dictatorial hand from 1974 to 1990.

The files include a 1987 CIA report in which the intelligence agency attests that Pinochet personally ordered his intelligence chief to plan the fatal attack.

Letelier had been a Chilean ambassador and foreign minister under the Socialist regime of Salvador Allende. After Pinochet seized power, Letelier was imprisoned and tortured before being exiled to the United States, where he became a fiercely outspoken opponent of the general's rule.

On September 21, 1976, as Letelier was driving along Washington's Embassy Row, a bomb ripped through his car, instantly killing him and his American assistant, Ronni Moffitt, and injuring her husband.

The bold assassination carried out by the secret police of a foreign power in the heart of Washington sparked a furious reaction.

The documents handed over Friday are the last of those linked to the assassination, the State Department said. Secretary of State John Kerry had turned over an earlier set to Bachelet when he visited Santiago last October.

It had long been known that Pinochet's secret police were behind the killing, but the new documents confirm the personal responsibility of the former Chilean leader, who died in 2006.

In 1995, the Chilean Supreme Court sentenced two generals implicated in the assassination to terms of six and seven years in prison.

The Pinochet regime killed an estimated 3,200 people and tortured 38,000 from the time the army commander seized power in 1973 to the return to democracy in 1990.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States and Russia failed Friday to renew their pact to impose a ceasefire in Syria after a week of bitter diplomatic battles at the UN General Assembly.

Despite the ferocity of the exchanges and the heavy fighting continuing on the ground, world powers at the meeting agreed the US-Russian talks must continue.

But, as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov prepared to leave New York, it was clear the sides remained far apart.

The Russian minister said it would be "senseless" to restore a truce because the United States has failed to separate moderate rebel groups from terrorists.

"We're all in favor of the ceasefire, but without the separation of Nusra, or rather the opposition from Nusra, the ceasefire is meaningless," Lavrov declared, referring to the jihadist group the Al-Nusra Front.

Russian-backed Syrian forces ended the week-old ceasefire on Monday and launched an offensive against Aleppo, where US-backed rebels mingle with Al-Nusra members.

The powerful Al-Nusra Front, which rebranded itself as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in July when it split from the Al-Qaeda movement, is not party to the ceasefire.

"Any truce, seven days, three days, would be senseless," Lavrov said, claiming that "groups close to Al-Nusra" had launched 350 attacks during the week-long ceasefire.

Lavrov also alleged that rebel forces had refused to retreat from the key Castello Road leading into Aleppo, as had been foreseen by the September 9 US-Russian plan.

He complained about Washington's "absolute inability" to make good on its promise to convince the opposition to obey the terms of the truce and separate from Al-Nusra.

"We understand that this is a difficult task, but everything is difficult in Syria," he said.

"We want to see any sign that the coalition has influence on those that are on the ground. I don't think it's asking for much," he added.

Story continues

And the Russian foreign minister slipped into conspiratorial territory, darkly suggesting the US side might be trying to protect Al-Nusra as a force against Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"I want to be mistaken," he told reporters innocently.

"But it seems that maybe some people want to spare Nusra and to keep it for a later stage, when the notorious 'Plan B' might be announced."

Earlier this year, Kerry briefed US lawmakers that if negotiations with Russia failed then he would suggest a "Plan B" -- reportedly tougher US military involvement.

Kerry, too, has not minced his words, suggesting this week at the UN Security Council that his long-term sparring partner Lavrov was speaking from a "parallel universe."

But on Friday, after they met for their latest fruitless encounter, he again tried to put an upbeat spin on the dialogue, suggesting there was room for maneuver.

"We have exchanged some ideas," he said. "I think we made a little bit of progress. We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period."

- Historic responsibility -

But the US position has also hardened, with Kerry declaring on Thursday that Moscow must force Assad to ground its air force if the truce is to be revived.

"Let me be clear: The United States makes absolutely no apology for going the extra mile to try to ease the suffering of the Syrian people," he said.

"But we can't be the only ones trying to hold this door open. Russia and the regime must do their part, or this will have no chance," he declared.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was not impressed by his colleagues' efforts, sharing his frustration at the failure of their secretive dialogue.

"The American-Russian cooperation has reached its limits. This method is not working. Discussions will continue but they seem interminable," he told reporters.

"The United States has a special responsibility, which has a historic dimension. We ask them to rise to it -- it's time to turn to a more collective approach."

Meanwhile, missiles rained down on Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 45 civilians were killed on Friday by Russian and regime air raids.
Gezhouba to resume work on Chamelia project by Sept-end

China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), the civil contractor for the 30MW Chameliya Hydroelectric Project, has agreed to resume construction works by September-end.
Viola Davis isnt above a little Facebook stalking.

The Emmy-winning star of How to Get Away With Murder and two-time Academy Award nominee didnt have the easiest time growing up in ole Central Falls, R.I., in the 70s. On Thursdays Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she talked about how she was bullied as a kid, and how that when those bullies friend her now on Facebook, she always accepts  so she can see how miserable their lives are. However, it doesnt always work out in her favor.

They all want to be my friend. I become their Facebook friends, and then I stalk their pages to see if theyve become just complete failures in life, the actress, 51, said with a roar of laughter.

Not all of them have. One of them has a boat, Davis shared. Im like, Oh, man! Kimmel quipped, Hopefully it will sink, which made her laugh some more.

Davis also talked about fighting back against bullies, calling herself a, punch, run, and chuck your finger kinda gal. Meaning? She fought back. I put my fists up, she said, getting into the right pose.

She also once brought a crochet needle to school, she said, as a weapon to stab a bully called Stanley. But I really didnt stab Stanley, she said. I just threatened to stab Stanley. It worked. I threatened him, and he never came back at me again.

Davis  who is married to the actor and producer Julius Tennon and has a daughter, Genesis, who is almost 5  kept it casual as she told the story, but it didnt sound easy. She told NPR that her family was the only black family in town when they moved to Rhode Island from South Carolina in 1965, and that they were on the periphery.

She elaborated in an interview with the New York Times, saying, Thered be eight or 10 boys, I would count them as I was running. Theyd pick up stones and sticks from the side of the road and yell, Ugly black n*****! Always those three words: Ugly black n*****. Will Smith said: Theres always one incident that defines you. I will always be the kid whose girlfriend broke up with him when I was 15. And I am always that 8-year-old girl, running and running and running. I wore a mask because I didnt want to show them that they hurt me. And I still do. I feel like the voice for all women of color sometimes. I dont want to let them down. Let them see I dont always feel attractive or strong.

Shes not just strong. Shes tough.
When Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico and the 2016 Libertarian candidate for president, was asked in an interview about getting onto the debate stage with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, he gave a pretty unorthodox response.

NBC Newss Kasie Hunt asked Johnson whether he thought he could pull even with the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates if he had the opportunity to debate them.

I do, he responded, adding, And it wouldnt have anything to do with my debate performance, either. It would just be that people would recognize that theres another choice and that there would be an examination of me and [Vice Presidential candidate] Bill Weld as who we are and what weve done and not based on that.

I interviewed Gary Johnson this week. We talked about Trump, Clinton, Syria  and the debates, to which he said:  https://t.co/W0VKER4FgY  Kasie Hunt (@kasie) September 23, 2016

Then Johnson bizarrely stuck his tongue between his teeth. I think I could stand up there for the whole debate and not say anything, he mumbled, before adding something incomprehensible.

The Libertarian candidate recently drew some bad headlines when he asked an interviewer, who had inquired about the crisis in the Syria city of Aleppo, And what is Aleppo? Soon after, #WhatisAleppo began trending on Twitter, with many users shocked by (or making fun of) the presidential candidates basic question.

Watch his latest viral performance here:
There seemed to be a slight calm on the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina, Wednesday after three days of unrest that followed the police shooting of a black man there.

Read: Charlotte Protests Get Nasty as Video Shows Man Being Dragged Along the Ground

A group of musicians were filmed singing Michael Jacksons Billie Jean to protesters who were being treated for tear gas that was fired into a crowd by cops.

It became a turning point Wednesday after three nights of violent protests in the city following the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer earlier in the week.

As clouds of tear gas filled the air, Inside Edition's Steven Fabian said it became hard to breathe. Fabian and his camera crew fled to an embankment for treatment.

There, they saw they saw others receiving treatment and musicians in an impromptu performance to ease tensions.

Wednesday night brought on flashpoints of drama as demonstrators blocked an interstate.

The riot police formed a line, pushing protesters off the highway.



A massive crowd outside the courthouse demanded the release of video showing the shooting of Scott, something cops have so far refused to do.

Read: North Carolina Declares State of Emergency Amid Protests; 1 in Critical Condition After Shooting

Protesters outside the courthouse chanted: We want the tape.

Lamont was shot earlier in the week after he got out of his vehicle. Police say he was holding a gun and they repeatedly told him to put down the weapon.

Lamonts family claims he did not have a weapon and was holding a book.

Watch: Protesters Swarm Charlotte Streets as Police Defend Fatal Shooting of Black Man

Related Articles:
(Reuters) - Wells Fargo & Co's board hired law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP to advise on executive compensation and potential clawbacks, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Robert Mundheim, a lawyer at the firm, is advising the bank's board on whether it should claw back pay of Chief Executive John Stumpf, Chief Operating Officer Timothy Sloan and former retail banking head Carrie Tolstedt, according to the WSJ report. Wells Fargo has come under fire for sales abuses at the bank where employees opened as many as 2 million accounts in customers' names without their authorization. The bank had said its board will assess whether to cancel or claw back any incentive compensation paid to Tolstedt, a now-retired executive at the center of the scandal. Wells Fargo and Mundheim declined to comment. (Reporting by Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru and David Henry in New York; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
If you ask average drivers the difference between premium and regular gas, chances are they wont be able to say much beyond higher octane  a well-advertised but nebulous concept that no one really can explain.

At least, such was the case around the Yahoo Finance newsroom.

However, that lack of understanding hasnt stopped 16.5 million US drivers from spending $2.1 billion last year on premium gas car manufacturers did not require, according to a report AAA released this week.

With a loaded name like premium, its not hard to see why people associate high-octane gas with quality and choose to treat their cars to top-shelf gas in search of better performance or longevity. But after a 12-month comprehensive study to see if high-octane gas benefited regular engines, AAA found absolutely no benefit in performance, fuel economy or emissions.

As John Nielsen, AAAs managing director of automotive engineering and retail, succinctly put it, Premium gasoline is higher octane, not higher quality.

Thats not to say it isnt important to use in some cases. In high-performance engines, the gas-air mixture gets massively compressed by the piston, and the higher octane prevents the fuel from igniting too early, when the piston isnt quite in the right place. When this happens, a frequent ping or a knock sound can occur.

But feeding premium high-octane fuel to a regular engine that doesnt have that massive compression of the gas-air mixture is like buying gluten-free bread when you dont have celiac disease. You may feel like youre doing your car a favor, but it doesnt notice or care.

AAA may counsel you against wasting your money on premium fuel for your regular car, but the automotive information site Edmunds takes it a step further and notes its possible your high-performance car may not even require the hydrocarbon cocktail. It might simply be recommendedwhich means you should feel comfortable experimenting with cheaper regular gas, according to Edmunds.

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If youre a premium fuel user, you can see whether you can experiment by checking your manuals for specific guidance. Or if your car is between the model years of 2011 and 2016, you can just look for it on Edmundss premium recommended list and its premium required lists.

So how much does all this matter really? Well if you drove 12,000 miles last year with a car that gets 25 miles per gallon, saving $0.40 on every gallon would have added up to a almost $200.

Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance focusing on consumerism, tech, and personal finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann.

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Wine lovers and budding enthusiasts eyeing a trip to Europe may want to consult a new list of the highest-ranked wine tours recommended by fellow travelers.

Online travel and booking site TripAdvisor has come up with a list of the most popular wine tours among its users to help travelers choose a package that comes with a stamp of a consumer approval.

Lovers of French wine, for instance, may want to sign up with Rustic Vines in Bordeaux which is the top-ranked wine tour in France on the TripAdvisor list, with a five out of five bubble rating among its 519 reviews.

Their Napoleon Tour takes guests out of Bordeaux to the wine-growing region of Medoc, where they'll visit two Chateaux for wine tastings and an outdoor picnic.

Their Famous Monk Tour also features visits to two Chateaux in another famous wine-growing region, Saint Emilion.

Many reviews complimented the outfit for informative, friendly guides, the leisurely pace and wine and cheese picnic amidst the French vineyards.

One of the more interesting wine tours highlighted outside of Europe is Cairn O'Mohr Fruit Wines in Scotland, a country known more for whiskies than wine.

But the tour also boasts a five out of five bubble rating among its 478 reviews.

The winery has been brewing fruit juice-based wines and ciders using local berries, wild flowers, fruits and leaves since 1987 and offers guided tours that include generous samples.

Here are a few other the top-rated wine circuits among TripAdvisor users:

The Gourmet Madrid Tour, Madrid, Spain

Tuscan Wine Tours by Grape Tours, Florence, Italy

Santorini Wine Adventure Tours, Santorini, Greece

Cooltour Oporto, Porto, Portugal

In France:

1. Rustic Vines, Bordeaux, Aquitaine

2. Provence Wine Tours, Marseille, Provence

3. Vin en Vacances - Day Tours, Carcassonne, Languedoc-Roussillon

4. Bourgogne Gold Tour, Beaune, Bourgogne

5. O'Vineyards, Villemoustaussou, Languedoc-Roussillon

6. Authentica Tours, Dijon, Bourgogne

7. Bordovino Wine Tasting Day Tours, Bordeaux, Aquitaine

8. Bordeaux with Elodie - Day Tours, Bordeaux, Aquitaine

9. Ophorus Bordeaux Wine Day Tours, Bordeaux, Aquitaine

10. Provence and Wine, Avignon, Provence


By

Pheba Mathew - The News Minute



In the wee hours of Monday morning, a speeding Porsche rammed a dozen autos parked at the Cathedral road in Chennai city. Twenty-nine-year-old Arugmugam, an auto driver who was sleeping inside his auto died, crushed by the impact.

Racing driver Vikash Anand, who was allegedly driving the car, was arrested by Chennai police on charges of killing one man and injuring 11 others while allegedly driving the Porsche car in a drunken state. The police also arrested Charan Kumar, a man running an automobile showroom in Chennai and the passenger in the car.

Vikash however claimed in his bail application in court in Chennai that he was not behind the wheels of the car.

In his bail petition submitted to the principal sessions court, Vikash states that the accident was purely mechanical and he was the only passenger in the car and was not driving the car and should therefore be charged under IPC sections 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304a (causing death by negligence).

Vikash in his bail petition does not mention who the driver was.

However, his friend Charan Kumar, in his bail plea submitted says that, he is innocent of the alleged offence and he had not driven the car. Contradicting Vikashs version, Charan says, The car was driven by Vikas Anand and he (Charan) was only the co-passenger.

B Kumar, senior lawyer who represented Charan told TNM that he was unaware of what Vikashs petition said. Kumar had been TN CM J Jayalalithaas lawyer in the disproportionate asset case in the special court and Karnataka High Court.

Vikashs petition also suggests that he has been charged under section 304(2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and section 308 (attempting to commit culpable homicide) as it is fashionable for the police to slap such charges in order to get media attention.



The 22-year-old law student says he is inside the prison and suffering a lot and with his examination commencing on October 20, his career would be ruined if he was not granted bail.

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Vikash went on to state that the accident took place on Cathedral Road at 3am on Monday when the driver in an attempt to avoid hitting a boulder, swerved the car to the left. In spite of this, the cars right wheel hit the boulder, and he lost control of the car, notes the petition. He also pointed out that the car tyre got punctured and the driver, thereby lost control.

Meanwhile, Chennai police have approached the Regional Transport Office for suspending Vikashs driving license. Anands competition license has been revoked by the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India and he was reportedly driving the Porsche at 140kmph according to TOI.

Meanwhile, TOI reports that on Wednesday, Vikash complained of stomach pain and the doctors at the prison hospital referred him to Royapettah General Hospital. He was admitted in the prisoners ward at the GH. Police said he might stay at the hospital for a couple of days.
One of my favorite parts of the epic Ramayana as a child was when Supranakhas nose was chopped off mercilessly, and how in a way her rejection and consequent insult led to the commencement of the Great War. Sitas subsequent shaming and how a woman scorned was at the center of this great battle between the forces of good and evil. I have always wondered what would happen if she could have been a good sport and not lusted after a man who she would realize had no interest in her  maybe turned off by her dark complexion or her features that werent text book perfect. Why was it so imperative that she should be attracted after equally.



In less than 24 hours, two women were brutally stabbed to death in Delhi, in front of a crowd, by men who had been stalking them for months. In both cases, their families had intervened to reach an understanding, which changed nothing except that it all ended in murder. Two more women were attacked by spurned lovers on Monday evening, by men who couldnt take no for an answer. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi is now also the stalking capital, and not just the rape capital. The number of stalking cases doubled in one year - from 541 in 2014 to 1,124 in 2015. The data also states that most victims were in the age group of 18-30, and in 90% of the cases, the accused were known to the victims.



As I write this, I also think of how women cant take No for an answer, at times. Going on pining away for men who have dumped them, and trying to reach out for answers, calling, texting, waiting for them to answer back as why they have been dumped, sometimes even going on to harm themselves, drinking acid or immolating themselves in the manner of jilted lovers. In March this year, second-year student of Kharghars National Institute of Fashion Technology, Rasika Gavali (21), committed suicide by jumping off the seventh floor of an eleven-storied Arham Arcade society in Sector 3, Kharghar. The police registered an accidental death case after a complaint was lodged by her friend, Kajol Desai (20), who stays in the building. Gavali, a resident of Ghatkopar, seems to have ended her life over a failed affair with a first-year student of the institute, the police claimed in news reports. However, the cops have not yet found a suicide note. The victim had come to stay with her college friends at the rental third floor flat in the building. She used to frequently stay away from home, said inspector Sunil Darekar, adding, She had attempted suicide in December 2015 by slitting her wrist with a blade.

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Around 7 pm, Gavali went to the refuge area on the seventh floor and jumped off. One hour before the incident, Gavali had sent a text to her friend, saying dreams are as bad as death now, which shows that she was depressed, stated Darekar.Why is it that unrequited love is always doomed, and leads to self-destruction?

How we as women also tend to ignore initial red flags, and dont share the truth about your lovers with our friends and families, forget about going to the cops to launch a complaint and hence secure their own personal safety. Also, how many times have we been stalked by men we have met at parties or social dos, who keep Watsapping and calling, trying to ask you out or want to get to know you better. How many times have we noticed a pattern in someones sexual and emotional responses, to know something is off and that this obsession and refusal to take no for an answer may later lead to a dangerous behavioral trend. How many times do we beg for a second chance and compromise just coz the thought of being a lonely single haunts us, because it is a tad unnerving to be constantly called for parties where you are the only single woman, and because its tiring to be constantly asked when we are planning to marry, why we havent found a man and being randomly hooked up. The way serials and films portray chasing a girl as a desirable and male pursuit, and how heroes follow girls on bikes singing songs, snatch away their dupattas in what is depicted as harmless cherrkhani, especially during festivals like Holi and how under the guise of innocent nok jhok, such heinous harassment and sexual harassment is deceptively packaged.

How outside every college in this country there a bevy of motorbikes and Majnus, whistling, letching, leering and humming the same item numbers that reduce women to the lowest common denominator, no better than a sex object to be used and discarded.

This morning, for instance, I advised a girlfriend to walk away from a man not worth her time, someone who treated her shabbily and abruptly cut off ties, who was asking her to back off as she couldnt take no for an answer, hellbent on knowing why she was being dumped so unceremoniously after so much initial excitement and the guy even asking her hand for marriage.

Its hard letting go, yes. Hard to know not every kind of affair must end up in fairytale romances and happy kids. While the difficulty of walking away involves swallowing your pride in many ways, perhaps its a lot harder to stay, and fight for your own self worth.





No, never a one way street.


Outspoken Libertarian John Stossel is moderating Fridays Green Party town hall, but the Fox Business host told TheWrap he is eager to take part in the event for a rival party because other opinions should be heard.

The Green Party is very far left, both on their views of the economy and the environment, Stossel said, before explaining that he feels Green Party supporters think the government is the solution to most every problem.

The Green Party did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment.

Also Read: What Is a Libertarian? Fox Business Host John Stossel Explains Ahead of Gary Johnson Town Hall

Stossel will host the Green Party town hall event with presidential candidate Jill Stein on Friday at 9 p.m. ET. They will discuss current economic and environmental issues, as well as military spending. The event will also feature questions from a studio audience, as well as incorporate topics proposed via social media.

Libertarians believe that free people and free markets allow all people to reach their potential, while the Green Party thinks the government can and should solve most problems, Stossel said, calling the Green Party Bernie Sanders on steroids.

The Green Party, founded in 1984, describes itself as an independent political party connected to American social movements with four key pillars: Peace and Non-Violence, Ecological Wisdom, Grassroots Democracy, and Social Justice.

Also Read: Libertarian Nominee Gary Johnson Answers Serious Question With Tongue Sticking Out (Video)

Stossel hopes that a candidate who doesnt represent the GOP or Democrats could have a legitimate shot at winning a presidential election under the right circumstances.

But he doesnt think Jill Stein has a shot this year, and believes his partys candidate, Gary Johnson, would make a far better President than anyone else running.

The Green Party website explains that it, like any third party, faces long odds.

Greens are aware that a Green campaign for the White House is an extreme long shot. But there are plenty of solid reasons to run a Green presidential campaign and to vote for a Green nominee  beginning with the democratic principle that one has the right to vote for the candidate that best represents ones interests and ideals without being told that only two parties are legitimate, the site explains. Every Green presidential campaign helps build the Green Party as an alternative to the two parties of war and Wall Street.

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Adds Stossel: That there are more than two sides to every issue. I dont agree with a lot of what Jill Stein says, but it is healthy for a democracy to hear how she would chance things, from environmental policy to the economy and personal freedoms, Stossel said. Let the best ideas win.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Fox Business Beats CNBC Over Full Week for First Time Ever

What Is a Libertarian? Fox Business Host John Stossel Explains Ahead of Gary Johnson Town Hall

Fox Business Network Thrives With RNC Coverage
Hotel group Marriott Internationals film production arm is looking to ramp up global content including reality shows and drama series in Asia Pacific following the success of its short films.

Tony Chow, Asia Pacific director of creative and content marketing at Marriott Content Studio, said while short films were initially conceived as a marketing tool for the hotels, its hoped that such content can be sold to other platforms.

Since the launch of Marriott Content Studio in 2014, five short films have been produced. Following Two Bellmen and Two Bellmen 2, which were set in Los Angeles and Dubai respectively, a third installment will travel to Seoul. It stars Jessica Jung, former member of K-pop group Girls Generation and actor Ki Hong Lee (The Maze Runner, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.) It is scheduled to be released in late October on platforms including YouTube, and Chinas Youku, as well as Marriotts in-room channels.

Chow, who picked up a Micro Movie Award from CCTV in Guangzhou, China on August 20 for Two Bellmen 2, said that the group will offer hotel packages in Asia tied with the launch of the third installment of Two Bellmen. The third installment is about romance and family conflict  a common theme in Asian dramas  revolving around a wedding, which is a significant component of hotel businesses in the region. Chow said that with the soaring popularity of Korean dramas and K-pop in the region, it was logical to set the Asian installment of the series in Seoul. Two Bellmen 3  or Two Bellmen Asia  has given inspiration for future productions.

Marriott Content Studio also produced French Kiss in 2015 and Business Unusual this year. Both films had an average 5 million views and were featured at film festivals. French Kiss and Two Bellmen won silver awards at the 37th Annual Telly Awards this year.

The shorts really brought in business, Chow said. A hotel package tied in with the launch of romantic short French Kiss delivered revenue of some $500,000. The studio is now also looking at developing unscripted shows. David Deebe, head of Marriott Content Studio, said the studio wants to tap the groups resources to produce unscripted shows set behind the scenes of new hotel openings. As Asia is a growth area for major hotel chains, the series is certain to include new Asian stories.

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Marriott, headquartered in Maryland, U.S., has 19 brands and 4,500 properties in 88 countries. China this week became the final country to approve the proposed merger of the Marriott and Starwood chains. It had already received clearance in 40 other territories.

Related stories

Marriott Tests In-Room Virtual Reality Service

Grace Helbig to Help Marriott Make Digital Pitch

Netflix, Marriott Pact to Stream In-Room Video to Hotel Guests
It might be Princess Charlotte's first-ever royal tour, but for mom Princess Kate, the upcoming tour of Canada will be her fifth overseas tour with Prince William.



And all eyes will be on Kate's travel style. So, what will the fashionable mom be packing in her monogrammed luggage this time?



 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.



Kate, who has mastered the art of diplomatic dressing over the years, will no doubt pay homage to the Canadian fashion industry by showcasing at least a few homegrown labels during the royal family's eight-day tour. Kate is a big fan of London-based, Canadian-born designer Erdem Moralioglu. She also often wears another Canadian brand, Smythe, the designer behind one of her favorite blazers.









Why You Won't See Princess Kate in a Tiara in Canada (and What She'll Wear Instead!)| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton



"I would love to see Kate in something by Lucian Matis  his elegant styles would be terrific on her," Susan Kelley of the popular fashion blog WhatKateWore tells PEOPLE, adding, "Another brand that would work well would be outerwear brand Mackage or maybe Pink Tartan, which has a preppy look."



Other contenders include New-York based, Canadian born Jason Wu, whose creations have been worn by First Lady Michelle Obama or Greta Constantine, a Canadian designer-duo whose fans include Angelina Jolie and Victoria Beckham.



Although it's worth noting that this tour  with its outdoorsy, mostly daytime-focused itinerary  will be noticeably less glam then previous tours. "There won't be as much 'oohing' and 'aahing' over pretty party frocks, but everyone will still enjoy seeing what Kate wears all the same," says Kelley.



Whether or not the royal mom recycles any of her outfits from her tour of Canada in 2011 remains to be seen, but no doubt she will follow in Queen Elizabeth's sartorial footsteps and wear the national color of Canada, at least once.





Story continues

All You Need to Know About Prince William and Princess Kate's Canadian Tour!





"I'm sure we will see her wearing red at some point and in true 'Duchess of Cambridge style,' she will look elegant, stylish and absolutely always appropriate," Kate's go-to jeweler Annoushka Ducas tells PEOPLE.





Why You Won't See Princess Kate in a Tiara in Canada (and What She'll Wear Instead!)| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton



As far as jewelry is concerned, there are no tiara moments expected, but Kate is sure to mix and match her favorite pieces  like her pearl drop earrings from Annoushka or her citrine pear drop earrings from Kiki McDonough  with some heritage pieces from the royal vaults. An obvious choice would be the Queen's diamond encrusted maple leaf brooch, which Kate wore three times on her first tour of Canada. Or she may choose a different heritage brooch, a corsage of six maple leaves in pink and green that's dipped in diamonds and once belonged to Queen Mary.





Why You Won't See Princess Kate in a Tiara in Canada (and What She'll Wear Instead!)| The British Royals, The Royals, Kate Middleton



One thing we can be sure of  no matter what they pack in their miniature suitcases, Princess Charlotte and Prince George will almost certainly steal the show.



"Between the two of them, we'll see the cute-o-meter peaking in the red zone, for sure!" says Kelley.
Man arrested on charge of murdering mother

Police arrested a man accused of murdering his elderly mother from Dibrung VDC-2 in Gulmi on Friday.
A video captured by the wife of Keith Scott depicts the moments before and after he was fatally shot by police officers in Charlotte this week.

The video, captured by Rakeyia Scott on her cell phone, was published Friday by NBC News and the New York Times, which obtained the video from attorneys representing the Scott family. The video does not show the shooting itself, because of the vantage point from which it was filmed.

Questions remain about whether Keith Scott had a gun during the encounter, leading to calls for police to release footage of the incident to the public. Police have said Scott pointed a gun at officers, but his family and neighbors have said he had no gun and was holding a book. City officials have declined to release the police video, arguing it would impede their investigation.

Protests over the shooting broke out in Charlotte and turned violent this week, prompting North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory to declare a state of emergency.

In the video released Friday, officers can be heard repeatedly yelling, Drop the gun.

He doesnt have a gun, Rakeyia Scott yells to officers, while imploring her husband to get out of the car. He is not going to do anything to you guys.

Scott had been parked in his car at the familys apartment complex, waiting for his children to return home from school. The police had arrived to serve a warrant on someone else.

Im not going to come near you. Im going to record, though, Rakeyia Scott says in the video, after shots were fired. These are the police officers that shot my husband, and he better live. He better live. Because he didnt do nothing to them.
With little more than skiffs, ladders, and Kalashnikovs, the pirates of Somalia once hijacked giant cargo ships, extracted millions of dollars in ransom, and forced the worlds navies to send warships steaming to the Gulf of Aden. They stole headlines and Hollywoods imagination as khat-chewing villains in the hit film Captain Phillips.

But after wreaking havoc in the sea lanes off the Horn of Africa, with more than 200 attacks every year at their peak, the once-notorious Somali pirates have virtually vanished. No cargo ship has been successfully hijacked off the coast of Somalia since the spring of 2012. This year, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported only three incidents.

Defeating Somalias scourge of piracy required unprecedented cooperation by different navies, efforts to boost stability ashore, and, perhaps most importantly, the use of armed guards on commercial vessels, a radical break with shipping practices and tradition.

The bad news is that while the counterpiracy recipe seems to have worked, shipping companies are already warning about complacency. Many fear that the United States and other navies operating in the area could declare victory and go home, potentially allowing pirates to return.

Whats more, for all its success in the Indian Ocean, the Somali playbook appears unsuited to fighting piracy in the two corners of the world where it is still raging: West Africa and Southeast Asia.

Piracy off Somalia rapidly became such a concern for shippers and sailors because of the scope of the pirates hijackings. Unlike pirates elsewhere in the world, the Somalis would seize an entire commercial vessel and crew and demand a ransom. Because of Somalias lawlessness, the armed gangs could moor cargo vessels along the coastline without having to worry about coast guards or police.

In November 2009, the pirates captured a Saudi supertanker, Sirius Star, and eventually released the ship for a ransom of $3 million, which was parachuted onto the deck. By 2012, ransoms hit an all-time high with the capture of a Greek tanker Smymi, which was released upon a payout of $9.5 million.

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The rapid decline in piracy off the coast of Somalia has taken the shipping industry and governments by surprise. And there is still debate about what caused Somali piracy to trail off.

A big part of the effort came on land. International efforts to roll back al-Shabab terrorists in Somalia, including U.S. airstrikes and an African Union military force on the ground, played an important role by bringing some order to the war-torn country, experts said.

As part of the African Union mission in Somalia, Kenyan troops in 2012 captured the port of Kismayo and chased out al-Shabab fighters. That removed an important stronghold where the pirates had been able to operate. At the same time, some Somali clans  conservative by nature  had come to resent the pirate criminal network that disrupted the traditional order with flashy cars, narcotics, and prostitutes.

All of a sudden you have authority  not based on tradition or religious learning but based on big guns and robbery on the high seas, said author J. Peter Pham of the Atlantic Council. That upset the other clans, he said, and power began to shift away from the pirates.

With al-Shabab on the retreat, regional armed forces on the ground, and a degree of stability emerging in Somalia, the pirate gangs could no longer operate with as much freedom or impunity, Pham said.

But the most visible effort against the Somali pirates came at sea. In 2009, the United States launched an international naval mission  Task Force 151  to fend off pirates along the busy sea lanes off the Horn of Africa. The European Union and NATO each set up counterpiracy flotillas. And China, Russia, and India sent warships in their own separate efforts.

The U.S. Navy famously captured and killed groups of pirates in a few cases and prosecuted a small number in American courts who had fired on U.S. warships. European naval forces also captured pirates and destroyed a number of warehouses along the coast that were being used by the armed gangs. The international naval forces, however, mostly served as a deterrent, and as a source of crucial information and surveillance that was shared with commercial ships plying the Gulf of Aden.

The role of U.S. and other foreign navies played a critical element in thwarting the pirates, said David McKeeby of the State Departments Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, which helped coordinate the U.S. role in counterpiracy efforts. Particularly telling was the degree of informal cooperation and information-sharing between the different navies and commercial shippers, with no central control. It was like something of a naval pickup game, McKeeby told Foreign Policy.

But the biggest difference may have come aboard those commercial ships. Burdened by rising insurance premiums, shippers began trying to ensure that their vessels were not sitting ducks. The vessels started cruising at higher speeds, installed barbed wire on the lower decks, built citadel safe rooms for crews, and toyed with foam machines, high-power water jets, and deafening sonic devices. Finally, and reluctantly, in a sharp break from decades of convention, major shipping companies also started sending out small teams of armed security guards on their vessels  usually former military troops  as a last line of defense.

Some government officials and industry experts said the armed guards, more than any other factor, were decisive in turning the tide against the pirates. Perched on a sprawling cargo ship high above the pirates speedboats, the armed guards could easily knock out a boats engine or kill gunmen long before they reached the vessel. Not a single commercial ship with armed guards on deck has been successfully hijacked off the coast of Somalia.

The deployment of armed teams aboard ships was a real game-changer, said Michael McNicholas, a former U.S. Army officer and now managing director of the Phoenix Group, a maritime security firm.

But it was a game-changer for shippers and insurers, too, prompting plenty of anxiety and forcing Britain and other European governments to waive prohibitions on domestic firms carrying military-style weapons on vessels. Armed guards also complicate life for the ship, since most countries impose restrictions or ban firearms aboard ships coming into port. And deadly force can turn, well, deadly.

In February 2012, two Italian marines guarding an Italian-flagged oil tanker allegedly shot and killed two Indian fishermen, whom they mistakenly took for pirates. The two marines have been charged with murder, and the legal battle over the case is still underway. Authorities in India want to prosecute the marines in an Indian court, but Rome has insisted that the case be tried in Italy because the incident occurred in international waters. Indian authorities also have charged a British security team accompanying a cargo ship with violating Indias weapons laws.

The anti-piracy campaign may have been too successful. With attacks virtually eradicated, many Western governments are questioning the need for keeping up a round-the-clock naval presence along strategic shipping routes off the Horn of Africa.

The NATO alliance has already announced it will end its counterpiracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, Operation Ocean Shield. But European governments will likely extend to December 2018 the mandate of the European Unions Operation Atalanta, which is due to expire by the end of the year.

The shipping industry wants the warships to stay and has warned of the dangers of complacency. The IMB, which tracks piracy as part of the International Chamber of Commerce, said it believes that a single successful hijacking of a merchant vessel will rekindle the Somali pirates passion to resume its piracy efforts.

The U.S. Navy has no plans to pull out of the 31-nation counterpiracy task force it set up seven years ago, despite the sharp drop in hijackings off the Horn of Africa, said Cmdr. Bill Urban, spokesman for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

Maintaining current U.S. and international community anti-piracy efforts is a proven and effective way to ensure the incidence of piracy in the region remains low, Urban told FP.

There is so much interest in understanding what overcame Somali piracy because high-seas larceny and kidnapping are spiking in other parts of the world, especially West Africa. The Gulf of Guinea, stretching from Senegal to Angola, represents a crucial gateway for oil shipments from Nigeria and Angola, two major oil exporters. But its increasingly a prized hunting ground for pirates looking to kidnap captains and crew from oil-industry vessels working close to shore.

The pirates around Nigeria have started to expand hostage-taking from offshore supply vessels to production storage and general cargo ships. There were 54 piracy incidents reported last year, with 37 crew members kidnapped off the Niger Delta, and 34 the previous year.

As a result, the area along Nigerias coast is now the most violent and dangerous area for shipping companies, according to Oceans Beyond Piracy, a Colorado-based nonprofit group that tracks piracy.

The problem could be even graver; the IMB estimates that only one-third of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea end up being reported. Shipping companies often would rather avoid having to inform insurers or endure a long investigation that often comes to nothing.

Youre not seeing the pirates and criminals captured and brought to account. Thats a risk-reward ratio that is pretty good for the pirates, said Ian Millen, chief operating officer for U.K.-based Dryad Maritime, a security firm.

The West African spike has prompted calls to employ similar methods, including armed guards, that wiped out piracy off Somalia. But the same playbook may not be applicable.

Unlike Somalia, the countries affected have functioning governments and militaries that are not ready to open the door to international naval forces or heavily armed foreign security guards sailing into their waters.

Dryads Millen said its highly unlikely that international armed guards will become a trend for commercial cargo vessels operating elsewhere, such as in West Africa. Thats because armed attacks there often happen in or near territorial waters. In that case, the only option is for locally sourced armed protection. British shipping companies deploying armed guards off the east coast of Africa, for example, have to operate with licenses issued in London that restrict their use outside the Gulf of Aden region.

The thing about Somali piracy was that the vast majority of it happened on international high seas and outside territorial waters, where international law applies, Millen told FP. Contrast that to the Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria; those areas are not failed states, and they do have their own sovereignty.

The U.N. Security Council, whose resolutions helped pave the way for an international response to the Somali piracy crisis, has urged international action to help Nigeria and other governments in West Africa contain the spreading threat of piracy, which is spooking shipping companies and further depressing coastal economies already hammered by cheap oil.

For crews laboring along the African coast, the hijacking epidemic represents a dangerous and growing reality. Hostages seized by the pirates are usually held on small islands in the Niger Delta and often beaten, subjected to mock executions, denied medical treatment, and fed limited rations, according to a report from Oceans Beyond Piracy.

The Polish skipper of MV Szafir, a Cyprus-flagged cargo ship, recounted an attack on his vessel last November that left him and his crew at the mercy of pirates, who kidnapped him and four others for ransom.

They were aiming at us with machine guns, said Capt. Krzystof Kozlowski. Right between the eyes. There was not any possibility to do anything. We had to adjust to them; it was the only chance to survive.

Photo credit: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Tsuta Singapore

Rejoice, all ye who crave for Japanese ramen. Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta, a new ramen joint with one Michelin star, is making its way to Singapore this October.

Founded by chef-owner Yuki Onishi in 2012, Tsuta became the first Japanese ramen eatery to receive the prestigious accolade in December 2015.

The original nine-seater establishment, located in Sugamo, a residential suburb in Tokyo, only serves 150 bowls of ramen daily.

Hundreds of hopeful diners start queuing from 6am, though doors do not open until 11am.

Tsutas famous ramen uses a broth that combines shoyu (soy sauce) and dashi (soup stock) made with beef, vegetables, clams and other ingredients, resulting in a dashi-joyu (mix of dashi and soyu).

Come October, Singaporeans will have an opportunity to try this at an 18-seater outlet in Pacific Plaza, Tsutas first and only overseas branch.

Patrons will get to choose three types of soup bases: shoyu soba; shio soba; and miso.

Chef Yuki Onishi has pledged to maintain the same high standards as the Japanese flagship outlet by keeping the quality of the ingredients consistent in the Singapore kitchens.

He also added, Its alright if Tsuta Singapore doesnt offer exactly the same flavours as my Tokyo shop, as long as I can offer the best ramen in Singapore.

All we can say is, ramen to that.
Wells Fargo was just slapped with the biggest fine in the history of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after employees routinely opened unauthorized accounts for existing customers. But that still doesnt make it the worst bank in the country, at least according to a new analysis of retail banks.

Factoring in complaints, penalties and responsiveness to customer problems, the worst bank is Bank of America, according to a report from consumer finance site ValuePenguin. B of A ranked No. 34 out of 50 in responsiveness, No. 44 in number of complaints per $100 million in assets, and No. 48 in the number and size of regulatory penalties it has received. Bank of America did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Over the past five years or so, there has been a tsunami of misconduct cases involving major banks, said Philip Mattera, the director of the corporate research project at Good Jobs First, in the report. The recently announced case against Wells Fargo for charging fees on accounts created without the customer's knowledge is the latest example.

Related: The Real Scandal at Wells Fargo: Execs Got Rich by Sandbagging Clients

Wells Fargo came in fifth among the 50 largest retail banks by asset size. Below is a chart that shows how the worst five shake out, with 1 being the best rank in a category and 50 being the worst:

Bank Responsiveness Rank Complaints Rank Regulatory Penalties Rank Bank of America 34 44 48 Barclays PLC 2 49 50 HSBC North America Holdings Inc. 47 38 47 EverBank 38 45 37 Wells Fargo & Company 41 42 41

The five best banks in the analysis are mostly regional banks: Frost Bank in Texas, East West Bank in California, Umpqua Holdings Corp. (branches in Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and Idaho), Union Bank (with offices nationwide) and New York Community Bank. The report used more than 600,000 complaints dating back to December 2011 from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to create the complaints and responsiveness rankings. It used the corporate violation database from Good Jobs First to create its regulatory penalties ranking.

Story continues

Related: US Banks Just Set a Record for Profits

ValuePenguin included complaints related to any financial product offered by the bank, such as credit cards, checking accounts and mortgages. These complaints are filed only after the customer has unsuccessfully tried to contact the bank to resolve a problem. The worst complaint offenders are below:

Bank Complaints Per $100 Million in Assets Total Complaints Synchrony Bank 12.9 10,665 Barclays 10.8 3,216 Discover 6.1 5,365 Capital One 5.1 17,177 Santander 3.6 4,524

The responsiveness ranking weighed timeliness, response type and consumer satisfaction. Overall, larger banks were more likely to offer refunds or other relief to customers. The worst banks regarding responsiveness are below:

Bank % Disputed Resolutions Responsiveness Score CIT Bank 24% 133 Whitney Bank 27% 132 E*Trade 25% 122 HSBC 23% 120 People's United Bank 23% 111

The regulatory ranking includes fines, settlements and other penalties the banks paid for issues such as mortgage abuse, credit card violations, toxic securities and other practices the government considers illegal. The worst five are below:

Bank Total Penalties Penalties Per Asset Barclays $3,371 M 114 Rabobank $800 M 32 Bank of America $56,690 M 26 HSBC $4,034 M 14 First Tennessee Bank $332 M 12

Americans who have a problem with their bank should first try to resolve it with the institution itself by going to a local branch or calling customer service. Keep detailed notes and copies of any statements or documents related to your issue and record the name of who you spoke to and their response, says Andrea Luquetta-Kern, the director of policy and research at the California Reinvestment Coalition. Social media can also be an effective way to catch the attention of a company, she said.

Related: Wells Fargo Told Staff to Keep Quiet About Missing Papers: Lawsuit

If that doesnt work, file an online complaint with the CFPB or call 855-411-2372 to submit a complaint over the phone. The bureau has handled more than 900,000 complaints from consumers so far and says 97 percent of consumers get timely replies after submitting a complaint.

Overall, the bureau has recovered $11.4 billion in relief through enforcement actions such as the latest one against Wells Fargo, helping more than 25 million consumers in the process.

The unresolved question is whether these larger fines are having the intended deterrent effect, Mattera said, or are regarded as a cost of doing business by financial institutions that go on breaking the rules.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Yahoo on Friday faced pointed questions about exactly when it knew about a cyber attack that exposed the email credentials of 500 million users, a critical issue for the company as it seeks to prevent the breach from affecting a pending takeover by Verizon Inc . The internet company has so far not provided a clear, detailed timeline about when it was made aware of the breach announced Thursday. Yahoo blamed the incident on a "state-sponsored actor" but has not provided any technical information supporting that claim. "We don't know a lot. We don't know how the bad guys broke in. We don't know when Yahoo first found out," said Jeremiah Grossman, chief of security strategy for SentinelOne and a former information security officer at Yahoo. In a Sept. 9 regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Yahoo stated it did not have knowledge of "any incidents of, or third party claims alleging ... unauthorized access" of personal data of its customers that could have a material adverse effect on Verizons acquisition. Verizon, which said Thursday it learned of the breach within the past two days, agreed in July to pay $4.83 billion for Yahoo's core business. If the hacking prompts customers to leave Yahoo, the company may see its value erode. Yahoo was sued Friday in a California federal court by a user who accused it of gross negligence in its handling of the massive hacking. The suit, filed on behalf of all Yahoo users in the United States who had their personal information compromised, sought class-action status and unspecified damages. Some lawmakers swiftly called for close scrutiny of what the company knew and when. As law enforcement and regulators examine this incident, they should investigate whether Yahoo may have concealed its knowledge of this breach in order to artificially bolster its valuation in its pending acquisition by Verizon, Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic senator from Connecticut, said. Verizon declined to comment on how the breach might affect the deal. Sources familiar with the transaction say Verizon and its advisers are still examining the situation before determining what actions if any might be taken. The Financial Times reported Thursday that embattled Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer knew of the breach in July, citing a person briefed on the matter. Yahoo declined to comment on Friday when asked about Mayers knowledge of the investigation. The FT article did not specify if Mayer was aware of the hack announced Thursday or of a separate incident, in which a hacker calling himself Peace took to the dark web this summer to claim he was selling hundreds of millions of Yahoo credentials. Sources familiar with the Yahoo investigation said that the company learned of the theft of data - which included encrypted passwords, names and emails but not banking information - only after probing the claims made by Peace, which Yahoo determined were meritless. Joseph Cox, a reporter with the technology news site Motherboard, said he emailed Yahoo on July 30 to ask if the company was aware that Peace was attempting to sell Yahoo data. Motherboard published a story on Aug. 1 stating Yahoo was aware of the hackers claims. (Reporting by Dustin Volz; additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York and Deborah Todd in California; Editing by Jonathan Weber and Cynthia Osterman)
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  September 23, 2016 - Stocks in this weeks article include: ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ANIP), Stoneridge Inc. (SRI), Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (CPS), Amkor Technology, Inc. ( AMKR) and Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (SBS).

Screen of the Week of Zacks Investment Research:

Stocks Near 52-Week Highs Worth Betting On

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.

Story continues

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.

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 5 of the 17 stocks that made it through the screen:

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 

Sign up now for your free trial today and start picking better stocks immediately. And with the backtesting feature, you can test your ideas to see how you can improve your trading in both up markets and down markets. Dont wait for the market to get better before you decide to do better. Start learning how to be a better trader today: https://at.zacks.com/?id=111

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.

About Screen of the Week

Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use. Each week, Zacks Profit from the Pros free email newsletter shares a new screening strategy. Learn more about it here https://at.zacks.com/?id=112

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.

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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.

Contact: Jim Giaquinto

Company: Zacks.com

Phone: 312-265-9268

Email: pr@zacks.com

Visit: https://www.zacks.com/performance

Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer .

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



ANI PHARMACEUT (ANIP): Free Stock Analysis Report



STONERIDGE INC (SRI): Free Stock Analysis Report



COOPER-STANDARD (CPS): Free Stock Analysis Report



AMKOR TECH INC (AMKR): Free Stock Analysis Report



SABESP -ADR (SBS): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Metal craft exports up on Chinese demand

Earnings from the export of metal craft surged almost fourfold in the last seven years as demand for Buddha statues swelled in Tibet and other parts of China.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  September 23, 2016 - Stocks in this weeks article include: Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (SWHC), Guess', Inc. (GES), Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), NTT DOCOMO, Inc. ( DCM) and Western Refining, Inc. (WNR).

Screen of the Week of Zacks Investment Research:

5 Stocks with Low PEG for Value-Seeking Investors

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.

Story continues

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)

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 

Sign up now for your free trial today and start picking better stocks immediately. And with the backtesting feature, you can test your ideas to see how you can improve your trading in both up markets and down markets. Dont wait for the market to get better before you decide to do better. Start learning how to be a better trader today: https://at.zacks.com/?id=111

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.

About Screen of the Week

Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use. Each week, Zacks Profit from the Pros free email newsletter shares a new screening strategy. Learn more about it here https://at.zacks.com/?id=112

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

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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.

Contact: Jim Giaquinto

Company: Zacks.com

Phone: 312-265-9268

Email: pr@zacks.com

Visit: https://www.zacks.com/performance

Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer .

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



SMITH & WESSON (SWHC): Free Stock Analysis Report



GUESS INC (GES): Free Stock Analysis Report



NIPPON TELE-ADR (NTT): Free Stock Analysis Report



NTT DOCOMO -ADR (DCM): Free Stock Analysis Report



WESTERN REFING (WNR): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, ILSeptember 23, 2016Zacks.com looks back on the hottest stories of the week featured in the Stocks in the News blog, where analysts and writers discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks, the financial markets, and the greater investing world.

Here are highlights from this weeks Stocks in the News blog:

Wells Fargo CEO Grilled By Congress, Denies Fraud Management

Tuesday wasnt a great day for Wells Fargo WFC CEO John Stumpf, the man whose company is at the center of a scandal involving fraudulent account-opening practices. The banking chief was called to a Congressional committee hearing to answer questions about the companys fraud, and several key U.S. senators held nothing back while grilling Stumpf.

Stumpfs most vocal critic was Elizabeth Warren, the senior senator from Massachusetts. The Democratic senator questioned Stumpfs accountability, demanded his resignation, and suggested that he be criminally investigated.

In Bloomberg Deal, Twitter Will Live Stream Presidential Debates

On Wednesday, social media company Twitter TWTRannounced that it has partnered with news and media company Bloomberg to live stream coverage of the upcoming presidential debates. The partnership is an expansion of its deal with Bloomberg Television, and it is also exclusive, meaning that no other networks will be live streaming the debates on Twitter.

In Shimmering IPO, e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) Soars 41%

On Thursday, low-priced cosmetics maker e.l.f. Beauty Inc. ELF opened up sharply higher on its first day of trading at $24, soaring 41% after pricing its IPO yesterday above the expected range. The company raised $141 million on Wednesday by pricing 8.3 million shares at $17 per share, above its indicated range of $14 to $16 per share.

e.l.f. Beauty said it would use the proceeds from its IPO to pay off its approximately $204 million worth of debt, and for general corporate purposes.

Story continues

Danish Oil Giant Maersk to Split in Two Separate Companies

On Thursday, Denmarks biggest company A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S AMKBY, an oil and shipping giant, announced that it will be splitting into two separate companies, one a transport division and the other an energy business.

Maersk plans to focus on its transport and logistics business, and any oil or oil related businesses will become a new energy unit; the oil businesses within the new unit may either remain part of the Maersk group or will become joint ventures, mergers, or a listing.

Learn More About Zacks Investment Ideas

You are welcome to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buy" stocks free of charge. There is no better place to start your own stock search. Plus, you can access the full list of must-avoid Zacks Rank #5 "Strong Sells" and other private research. See the stocks free >>

Interested in personal finance? Zacks Money Sense e-mail newsletter is designed to bring you strategies and valuable information that can help you take control of your personal finances, as well as how to get the most out of your money. It covers a range of topics, from retirement planning to money management solutions. Subscribe to the free newsletter today.

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Register for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.

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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



WELLS FARGO-NEW (WFC): Free Stock Analysis Report



TWITTER INC (TWTR): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Vitalii Sediuk Confirms Gigi Hadid Ambush: "She Has Nothing to Do With High Fashion"

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
By Swati Bhat and Paul Carsten MUMBAI/BEJING (Reuters) - Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] will start making smartphones in India next month, the company said on Friday, joining a wave of compatriots setting up plants in the world's third-biggest mobile market. The plant will be operated with the Indian arm of electronics manufacturer Flextronics International Ltd in the southern Indian city of Chennai, Huawei said. India is trying to attract manufacturing into the country as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Make in India" initiative. Huawei got the green light from the government in July to set up the manufacturing plant in India, 19 months after applying for a license. "We are convinced about the growth potential and future of India and we'll keep looking for opportunities to increase our presence here," Jay Chen, CEO, Huawei India said in a statement. India is the world's fastest growing smartphone market and an attractive country for phone makers given growth in China is stagnating. The number of smartphone users in India is expected to reach 990 million by 2020 from 798.4 million in 2015, according to a study by Cisco. But so far a lack of good suppliers and infrastructure have hampered efforts to manufacture phones in the country, forcing most of India's more than 100 different phone companies to import from China and Taiwan, though the Modi government is making efforts to make it easier for manufacturers. "The vendor ecosystem in India is not as strong as it is in China. A lot of things still need to be imported from China when it comes to things like electronic components, batteries, display or others, but I am sure as the market progresses, we will start to see true manufacturing happening here in India," said Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner. The devices made by Huawei in India are likely to hit the Indian market as early as October, the statement said, with the company looking to manufacture 3 million units by the end of 2017. The company will also strengthen its after-sales services in India with over 200 service centers, including more than 30 exclusive Huawei service centers in the country. Huawei will also expand its Indian retail network, increasing to more than 50,000 the number of outlets it partners with by the end of the year. Other manufacturers from China are also setting up in India. In 2015 China's Xiaomi Inc [XTC.UL] joined forces with Taiwan-based electronics contract manufacturer Foxconn to assemble phones in India. (Editing by Rafael Nam and Adrian Croft)
Disney has Star Wars movies coming out every year from now until 2020, including the remaining two episodes in the third trilogy and three anthology films. But the company is also developing Star Wars anthology stories that are supposed to bridge the gaps between regular movies. So what happens come 2021? Expect more Star Wars.

DONT MISS: iPhone 7 review

As Deadline reports, Disney CEO Bob Iger told investors earlier this week that theres long-term planning for its franchises including Star Wars.

We figured out  not perfect science, and weve made some mistakes  but we figured out the odds for making good films.We have a great system in place, the CEO said about Disneys recent movie-making strategy.

Iger also said theres a third Star Wars story to be told after Rogue One (2016) and the Han Solo project (2018), which will arrive in 2020. A writer for this third story was hired, but we have no idea what the story is. Meanwhile, Episodes VIII and IX are scheduled for 2017 and 2019.

Once these five movies are completed, its likely Disney will simply keep the ball rolling.

Iger has started talking with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy about plans for 2021 and beyond, Rolling Stone reports. Its not clear at this point whether a fourth Star Wars trilogy is in the works, once that will expand the story of Rey and Finn even further, or whether Disney will focus on other characters from the saga.

Rogue One will hit theaters this December, but dont expect Force Awakens-like numbers, Iger hinted. Interest is high, he said, and Disney loved what it has seen for the movie. Apparently, its a break from the past because it does not fit neatly into the Skywalker saga.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
The eighth episode of the Star Wars saga is just over one year away and principal photography for the movie has concluded, but theres still plenty of work left for the film, including shooting some of the characters. Yes, Maz Kanata has yet to make her appearance, as Lupita Nyongo has not shot her stop motion photography  and thats not necessarily a spoiler. However, there is one fresh Episode VIII spoiler you should be aware of, mainly because it doesnt spoil the actual plot: Were going to see more Leia in this one.

DONT MISS: 10 hidden gestures in iOS 10 to help you get the most out of your iPhone

The revelation comes from the New York Comic Con Instagram account that said Carrie Fisher would be filming for Star Wars, and thats why shes only attending NYCC on Sunday.

Star Wars fans obviously love Leia, and the princess didnt have that much screen time in The Force Awakens in the first place. That might change in Episode VIII, especially given that Han Solo is dead, her son is a terrifying villain, and her brother is still missing in action.

Before we get our hopes up, we should also keep in mind that Fisher might be simply reshooting for Star Wars. Dont freak out if thats indeed the case. Reshoots happen.

Either way, this spoiler doesnt spill the beans on anything that happens in the next Star Wars episode. We still have no idea why Luke left, who Reys parents are, or why Kylo Ren is such a huge pain in the ass. Were just going to have to get back to waiting!

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
If the Starwood hotel chain has its way, the hotel room of the future will be more of a customizable set of experiences that listens to you and stands ready to cater to your wishes  and thats less of, well, just a room.

The companys hotel brand Aloft in recent weeks started trialing voice-activated hotel rooms in its Boston Seaport and Santa Clara properties. The service, currently enabled in 10 rooms at each property, includes guests being greeted by a personalized welcome letter on the in-room TV when they check in.

They quickly learn that a branded iPad is ready to be set up with a Hey Siri to learn the sound of their voice so it can go on to control the guests room experience.

DON'T MISS: 10 hidden gestures in iOS 10 to help you get the most out of your iPhone

Once the iPad learns the guests voice, says Aloft Hotels general brand manager Eric Marlo, a menu will list all of the functions available - things like personalized streaming for Apple or Android devices, Netflix, mapping for local area attractions and a full integrated TV experience. The iPads present guests with a tutorial to guide them through the setup process, and the voice-activated hotel rooms work with Apple HomeKit to allow guests to control the temperature, the lights via preset lighting options, music, or browsing the Internet.

When the guest checks out, a message is sent to the app erasing all data so that the next guest walks into the room with a fresh app and no information stored from the previous occupant.

The world is constantly changing, especially in hospitality, and we need to adapt to it, Marlo tells BGR. Guests utilize similar innovations at home and may already be using Apple HomeKit in their personal lives, so we want them to have an integrated experience when they travel and stay at Aloft as well. Our guests want a level of personalization unlike ever before, which includes controlling their guest experience.

This experience is also the foundation of more to come, at both Aloft and elsewhere. This is actually the latest tech-focused offering from Aloft, which has previously introduced a robotic bellhop it calls Botlr (butler, get it?) that could accompany guests to their rooms. The chain rolled out a service that let guests use their smartphones as room keys and a service called RoomCast Powered by Chromecast, which lets guests stream content from their smart devices to guest room TVs minus passwords and logins (currently in the pilot phase at Aloft New Orleans.)

Story continues

Talking to the room, Marlo explained, seemed like the natural next step.

Whether these offerings seem gimmicky or point the way forward, they do underscore how much the hotel room experience is changing beyond the expectation of a TV, bed and an assortment of other basic conveniences.

Hilton recently rolled out a kind of concierge robot helper of its own  Connie  powered by IBMs Watson that can do things like make restaurant recommendations for guests in addition to greeting them and answering simple questions.

Its not all high-tech tweaks, to be sure. Hospitality improvements touch everything from healthier food to greener facilities to quality linens for bedding as well as the basic layout of the room itself.

But companies like Starwood-Aloft have started to think way beyond that. For example, Marlo said the chain has already gotten tons of calls from other properties looking to have the voice-activated offerings installed. Which is why he says hes confident this will make its way to more Aloft properties as well as across the Starwood portfolio.

In thinking of whats next for our voice-activated hotel rooms, were looking into the idea of room delivery on the app from our Re:Fuel lobby bars, Marlo says. This would bring the grab and go options from the main level straight to the guests door  and how cool would it be if it was a property with a Botlr delivering it. Were also exploring the idea of electronic drapes controlled by Hey Siri, and the addition of HomeKit triggers, meaning guest preferences would be integrated onto the (Starwood Preferred Guest) guest profile prior to his or her arrival. If they prefer the shades rise at 6 a.m., the room will know to do that. If the guest wants the room temperature lowered to 68 degrees at 10 p.m., the room will know to do that. Its pretty cool stuff.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Our live blog tracked reaction as CNBC's David Faber reported that Twitter has received expressions of interest from a number of technology companies.





Read below to see how the market day unfolded.

(App users please click here).





More From CNBC


Nepal, India set date for two crucial meets

Nepal and India are preparing to hold two crucial meetings to implement the agreements signed between the two countries during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahals visit to India last week.
Samsung's phones aren't normally short on power, but a new rumor is suggesting something quite special is going to be under the hood of the Galaxy S8.

According to a report from SamMobile, the Galaxy S8 may be packing a Samsung Exynos 8895 processor, with an ARM Mali-G71 GPU coming along for the ride. Samsung has traditionally used Exynos processors where possible, so the notable detail here is that GPU. Simply put, it's a monster.

DON'T MISS: iPhone 7 Review

The Mali-G71 is ARM's latest and greatest, built on a brand new Bifrost architecture that's claimed to be far better at VR and 4K applications (quite possibly both at the same time, too). Samsung has been pushing the strap-a-phone-to-your-face version of VR for quite some time now, and this GPU would theoretically let the company produce a phone with a 4K screen.

It's not all power either, as the G71 can scale from 1 to 32 cores on the fly, which should reduce power draw (and therefore increase battery life) when you're just refreshing Twitter.

Apart from the news about the chip, details on the S8 are still a little scarce. Some reports have suggested that Samsung will launch the phone as early as possible to make up for the Galaxy Note 7 disaster. Others have said that Samsung is only going to launch a curved screen phone, which would make sense given the runaway success of the S7 Edge.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
By Karen Freifeld NEW YORK (Reuters) - Trump International Hotels Management LLC agreed to pay $50,000 to settle with New York State over data breaches that exposed 70,000 credit card numbers and other personal information, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced on Friday. The company, which is led by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and three of his children, manages a number of hotels around the world under the Trump Hotel Collection name. According to Schneiderman, bank analyses of hundreds of fraudulent credit card transactions in May 2015 found Trump Hotels was the last merchant where a legitimate transaction took place. An investigation turned up malware in computer systems associated with Trump hotels in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago. Another breach was reported to Trump Hotels in March, Schneiderman said. Investigators found credit card malware had been put on 39 systems affecting five hotel properties, including Trump SoHo New York. Trump Hotels violated New York law by not providing notice of the breaches to consumers as soon as possible, Schneiderman said. After learning about malware in 2015, it took some four months for the company to put a notice about it on its website, he said. Aside from the $50,000 penalty, the settlement requires Trump Hotels to beef up its data security policies. "Unfortunately, cyber criminals seeking consumer data have recently infiltrated the systems of many organizations including almost every major hotel company," a Trump Hotels spokesperson said. "Safeguarding our customers' data is a top priority for the company and we will continue taking actions to do so." Schneiderman is also looking into other Trump activities. In 2013, he filed a fraud lawsuit against Trump over his Trump University series of real estate seminars. More recently, Schneiderman has announced a probe into whether Trump's charitable foundation abided by New York non-profit laws. Trump has claimed the moves by Schneiderman, a Democrat who is backing Hillary Clinton for president, are politically motivated. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld, additional reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Daniel Bases)
A visitor poses wearing a virtual-reality headset at the Southbank Centre in London experiencing a virtual view of the London Philharmonia Orchestra playing in the Royal Festival Hall (AFP Photo/Justin Tallis) (AFP)

London (AFP) - Music fans will be able to immerse themselves into the world of an orchestra thanks to a virtual reality experience launched in London on Friday.

Visitors to the Virtual Orchestra at the Southbank Centre can don virtual reality headsets and experience how it feels to be among the performers as Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra in Sibelius's Fifth Symphony.

With the headsets they are transported backstage at London's Royal Festival Hall and then into the centre of an orchestral performance conducted by the Finnish maestro.

"You are sitting in the front row of the orchestra with the principal conductor Salonen conducting you," Luke Ritchie, the Philharmonia Orchestra's head of digital, told AFP.

"We wanted you to hear what it's like to sit in the viola section in the front of an orchestra, (for) people to get an insight of the dynamics."

Gillian Moore, director of music at the Southbank Centre, said she hoped the pre-recorded footage would open up people's enjoyment of classical music.

"This is all part of Southbank Centre's belief that everybody should have access to art and culture," she said.

"We're constantly trying to find new ways to do that, including the use of the latest technology."

The free experience runs at the Southbank Centre until October 2.
This Writer is Super Pissed at Apple... For Maybe the Dumbest Reason You cannot just throw away an important part of a product and then complain that you don't have said important part.

I am pretty much agnostic when it comes to the raging debate over whether its a good or a bad thing that, with the iPhone 7, Apple has officially done away with the traditional headphone jack and is instead relying on the lightning port. There are positives, certainly, and probably some negatives. I dont know  as with most things, it feels like the initial transition will be mildly jarring, but then pretty soon well be like, Wait, remind me, what was a headphone jack again?

But, so, about those drawbacks. At first, some people wondered if all their old headphones  Apple-manufactured pieces of junk or otherwise  would be rendered obsolete. But no, of course thats not the case! As pretty much anyone with an internet connection could have told you ahead of time, the iPhone 7 would ship with a lightning-to-3.5mm adapter that would allow you to use literally any headphones on the planet Earth. Simple. No problem. Which is why its basically unfathomable that this article, titled I Went A Week Without a Headphone Jack, And It Was Not Good, was published over at Yahoo Finance.



You know why the writer's week wasnt good? Do you? Oh, Ill tell you: Its because he accidentally threw out the fucking adapter. He threw that shit right in the garbage along with the packaging. And then he has the gall to be like, Based on sheer principle, I refuse to fork over $9 for something Ive taken for granted on every single iPhone Ive owned since 2007. Oh ok! Cool principles! But how bout in light of all your principles you dont review a product thats missing an integral piece it was shipped with?



I am far from an Apple apologist or fanboy or whatever  if my iPhone 6's battery goes from 60 percent to 1 percent with no warning one more time, I'm going to smash it... uh, and then go buy an iPhone 7, probably  but my goodness, give me a break. Had the dude not thrown the adapter in the garbage, one of his main gripes would be a total non-issue. Instead, he's left whining that he has "four pairs of 'old-school' EarPods lying around that are semi-obsolete," which, is of course entirely his fault.

Now, to be fair, he also brings up a point that I believe is a legitimate: that you can't listen to music on wired headphones and charge your phone at the same time, which I guess does seem like a bummer even though it's not something I ever do. But fine, this is a perfectly acceptable gripe, mostly because it is not a direct result of ignorance or personal negligence. That's how gripes work.

Follow Mike Conklin on Twitter.








An analysis published by the security firm InfoArmor suggests that stolen data from Yahoo was sold to a state-sponsored group at one point (AFP Photo/Justin Sullivan)

Paris (AFP) - The massive hacking attack on Yahoo revealed Thursday is one of biggest thefts of online users' personal information ever, affecting some 500 million accounts.

For Tanguy de Coatpont, head of the French and North African divisions of Kaspersky Lab, a computer security company, it is "the biggest in history involving a single company".

Michael Bittan, a risk manager at Deloitte, cautioned that it was "the biggest to be made public. There have possibly been others that were bigger".

At any rate, it is far from the first, and here are other notable major corporate hacks of recent years:

- Taking aim at Target -

US retail giant Target was hit by a computer attack in December 2013 that affected 110 million clients. Seventy million might have lost personal data including names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail accounts, while 40 million bank accounts and credit cards were also put at risk.

- South Korea scramble -

- In January 2014, South Koreans scrambled to stop money being siphoned from their bank accounts after it emerged that data on 20 million credit cards had been stolen over several years.

The data was swiped by an employee from the personal credit ratings firm Korea Credit Bureau, who then sold it to telemarketing companies.

- Password plunder -

- In August 2014, online data protection firm Hold Security claimed that Russian hackers had accessed 1.2 billion passwords linked to 420,000 internet sites around the world, from corporate giants to individual accounts. Hold Security pointed to a group of hackers called "CyberVor", which it said had potentially gained access to 500 million e-mail accounts.

- Too hot to handle -

In August 2015, hackers calling themselves The Impact Team published nearly 30 gigabytes of files including the names and credit card data of people who had signed up with Ashley Madison, a website for those who wanted to have extra-marital affairs.

The company's boss stepped down as several suicides were linked to the revelations.

Story continues

Ashley Madison had earlier offered to delete users personal data for a modest fee, but did not, resulting in the launch of a class-action lawsuit estimated at Can$760 million (US$578 million).

- Apple in crosshairs -

In September 2015, computer security experts discovered a virus dubbed "KeyRaider" that targetted Apple iPhones and iPads, and which had already affected 225,000 Apple accounts.

The virus intercepted communications with Apple's iTunes music store, stealing information as purchases were made. Users in 18 countries were affected.
When you come to Accra fresh to hustle, it is almost like a new world.

The fast-paced nature of Ghana's capital might take some getting used to, especially for someone who is a "fresher" in Accra from the village.

Here are all the things we believe all "Johnny-Just-Comes" in Accra go through. You know it's true.

1. When you graduate from University of Ghana

...and you realise that the village is now too small for you. You have tasted the city and loved it.

READ ALSO: All the times youll wish you lived in Kumasi instead of Accra

2. So you pack your bags

...and move to Accra in search of greener pastures and better lifestyle.

3. But you mother raises a special prayer for you

...because the big city is a dangerous place, full of bright lights but dark corners.

4. And you finally arrive in Accra

...trying so hard to not look out of place so you smile at everyone sheepishly. "I have arrived!"

5. But you remember the "mate" who ran away with your "balance"

...after you were being all nice and courteous to him.

6. When you are seeking the cheapest accommodation

...and people introduce you to Nima or Bukom. "Mepawokyew take me back to my village."

READ ALSO: 6 local Ghanaian drinks to die for, especially number 1!

7. When you finally find a house you like

...and agents and landlords finish dealing with you, draining you of all your cash.

8. And then the actual price of food in Accra hit you

...way more expensive than what you're used to. You remember your mother asked you to pray. I like fasting anyway.

9. And you meet that guy from your village

...but he ends up cheating you and showing you the ultimate lesson - no loyalty in the jungle oh!

10. When you close your eye in a Madina-bound trotro

...and wake up in Dodowa.

11. And you take steps to avoid the people in the village anyway

...because you're not going back until you make it in Accra.

12. That's when you begin to understand the phrase, "Accra Stay By Plan"

If you want to take it up a notch, you should read our complete guide to passing as an Accra big boy.

What are some of your unique experiences in Accra?. Send us a message via Twitter or Facebook or even to our email address, info@yen.com.gh.

You can also read about the hottest footballers in Ghana that ladies will die for.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Pre-Dashain ticket bookings open today (Photo feature)

Advance bus ticket bookings for the upcoming Dashain festival are scheduled to open on Friday.
Tarai women celebrate Jitiya festival

Women in Tarai districts celebrated Jitiya festival on Friday by performing worship and observing a fast.
Torture in detention in Dipayal: Army offers mea culpa for barring NHRC from probe

The Nepal Army has admitted failure to comply with the constitutional norms by not letting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) enter its barracks in Dipayal last month, in rare mea culpa from the national defence force.
Trapped in geopolitics

India mounted the blockade after Nepal refused to give it a place in its policy-making process
UML-led govt toppled to destabilise country: Oli

Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli has said that toppling his government was part of a plot of the domestic and foreign power centres to push the nation towards instability, polarisation and conflict.
Unilever Nepal lifts lockout at its factory

Unilever Nepal Limited (UNL) on Thursday said it is lifting the lockout at its factory in Hetauda, Makwanpur. The factory has remained out of operation since August 7 due to a strike called by trade unions.
Victims of Ghunsa helicopter tragedy remembered

The 11th anniversary of Ghunsa helicopter crash in which a total of 24 individuals including the then Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopal Rai and prominent forest and environment conservationists had lost their lives, was observed Friday.
World Bank hails post-quake rebuilding aid distribution

The World Bank, a Washington, DC-based multilateral lending institution, has expressed commitment to provide additional assistance to support Nepals post-earthquake housing reconstruction grant distribution drive, if the government maintains the current momentum in distribution of aid to those whose houses were destroyed by last years devastating earthquakes.
These are the musings, ramblings, rantings and observations of Houston DWI Attorney Paul B. Kennedy on DWI defense, general criminal defense, philosophy and whatever else tickles his fancy.
Two unemployed youth who allegedly sneaked into Parliament with piglets early this month are expected to re-appear in court today for mention of the case.

The duo is to appear before Buganda road Court Grade One Magistrate Marion Mangeni to know the stage of investigations in their case and to argue out on their bail application.

Ruta Ferdinand and Joseph Lukwago currently on remand at Luzira Prison are charged with two offences of being a common nuisance and violating animal rights.

Prosecution states that the duo on 15th September 2016 sneaked into Parliamentary premises with piglets labeled with MPs names, protesting the alleged extravagant expenditure by the parliament.

The incident followed reports that about Sh 86bn is to be spent on purchase of MPs vehicles while another Sh1.9bn has already been spent on MPs Ipads.

There were also reports that parliament planned to spend Sh 600m on its forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebrations slated for September 26th, a claim the Speaker Rebbeca Kadaga has vehemently denied.

Story By Ruth Anderah
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- Moon has made a passionate plea to the international community to support efforts towards the South Sudanese Refugee crisis.

He made the call on Thursday while world leaders and humanitarians got together at the UN to discuss what next for South Sudan.

The UN Chief says help needs to be extended to the host countries, noting that they have so far only received less that 2% of the $7.2 million for humanitarian response in Africas youngest nation. He describes it as a nation Struggling for survival-

Uganda is one the host countries with the biggest number of South Sudan Refugees.

Almost three years of internal conflict, born out of a political row between two leaders serving in the same government, has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people and forced some 2.6 million to flee their homes.
The United States Government has announced a $ 133 million donation in humanitarian assistance to the people of South Sudan.

The package was unveiled yesterday by the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Gayle Smith, at what was described as a high level side event on South Sudan held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to a press statement issued this morning by the United States Mission in Kampala, the package is meant for the approximately 2.7 million people who were forced to become either refugees or internally following the outbreak of the recent civil war in Southern Sudan.

Forces loyal to President Salvar Kiir and his former Deputy, Dr Riek Machar, have been fighting in the country since December 2013 when a political power struggle broke out between the two.

The statement painted a dire picture of the situation in the Sudan, saying that 40 percent of the population of the country is in need of life-saving assistance, with some people on the brink of starvation.

The funding, according to the statement, will boost emergency health services, increase access to clean water and sanitation and provide support to survivors of gender-based violence and help increase access to emergency education for refugee children and build and expand new refugee camps in the region.

The funding is also expected to help feed the hungry, provide nutrition supplements for children suffering from malnutrition, and reunite families separated by the fighting.

The latest funding will bring to US$1.9billion the total that the United States government has committed to South Sudan since the conflict broke out.

Story By Isaac Mufumba
Thales Visionix is testing a new helmet joint terminal attack controllers could use to zero-in on their target and relay the same scene back to a pilot coming in for an airstrike.

The helmet technology, called Centaur, hopes to "replace a five minute radio conversation with instant visual communication of where the target is," said John Beck, Thales' senior manager for business development. Centaur stands for communication enabled networked tactical augmented reality.

"Now we can track people outside of vehicles, not just in 3-D space but also azimuth and elevation," Beck told Military.com this week during the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference outside of Washington, D.C. Azimuth is the angular distance along the horizon to the location of the object, according to a Cornell project.

"A JTAC can designate a target by just looking at it with this white crosshair," Beck continued. With a "laser range finder on the helmet boresided to the display ... now we can designate a point in space. [That] information goes through the radio, the LINK 16 to the jet. Pilot flying the jet can automatically slew his weapon system to that target, it's got a red kill symbol overlaid on it, sends that image [also visible in the pilot's helmet-mounted display] back down through the network, JTAC says, 'Yup, that's it,' because now he's seeing what the jet is seeing. And bombs away."

When the JTAC designated the target, it becomes a distinct GPS position, he said. The target becomes a red symbol on the pilot's HMCS signaling shoot, yellow if it's unidentifiable and blue for "keep out," Beck explained.

Air Force pilots flying the A-10 ground attack aircraft, F-16 fighter jet and AC-130W gunship use similar technologies in their helmet-mounted cueing system, called Scorpion, which also uses a full-color display. Thales also makes this helmet.

"The added dimension of full-color symbology and video imagery [in Scorpion] dramatically increases the user's ability to rapidly interpret and correlate vital [situational awareness] information," according to the Aurora, Illinois-based company.

For the JTAC component, Thales is still conducting tech events, Beck said. Centaur is likely a few years out from being deployed, he said.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy. High around 60F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Solar energy can work in Wisconsin, and the town of Holland is leading the effort to get more area property owners to tap into energy from the sun. A Clean Energy Technology study found that solar systems in Chicago can offset more energy than the same size system in a similar sized city located in southwestern United States.

To take advantage of solar energy, the town recently installed 64 solar panels on the town hall roof. The solar system is the result of two years of research to bring solar power to the town.

About two years ago, the towns solar committee looked at installing a solar farm on a south facing hill on the town hall property. However, those plans were put on hold when Dairyland Power decided to put up a larger solar farm at Riverland Energy Cooperatives headquarters in Arcadia. In learning of those plans, Riverland shelved the solar farm plans for Holland.

Because of the change in plans, the Holland Town Board approved the recommendation made by the solar committee to install solar panels on the town hall. The town recently installed a 16.96kW photovoltaic system which is anticipated to reduce energy costs at the town hall.

The solar system is designed to provide enough electricity to power the town hall, and the town board anticipates the system will save tax dollars in the years to come. The lower energy costs will allow tax revenues to be used for other expenditures while helping the environment.

The town is now hoping more of its residents and neighbors will get on board. Its partnering with H&H Electric Company, Inc. of Madison to offer a bulk buying program to any commercial, residential or agency in the Holmen Area Fire District.

The town held two informational meetings Sept. 12 for those interested in the solar bulk-buying program. Twenty-seven people attended the meetings.

Project manager with H&H, Kevin Quinn, presented information about the extent of his companys installation and monitoring services, as well as the benefits of installing solar systems.

If you can pool together, we can give can give a discount, Quinn said. The more people we can get, the better the deal. The bulk buying program offer is good for 12 months.

H&H Solar offers design/build services for solar energy installations and will assist with applying for incentives and filling out the utility paperwork. Their goal is to be a single source for design, installation and service for solar electric projects.

The company can install solar systems on awnings and lean-tos or carports, as well as on roofs and on the ground. The ground-mounted solar arrays can be dual tracking, which means the panels tracks the suns position up and down and east to west.

The typical house has the space capacity to install four to five kilowatt of solar on the roof, Quinn said. An average home uses 10,000kWh per year. A 15-panel 4kW system would offset approximately half of this energy.

Quinn assured informational meeting attendees the panels are durable.

The life expectancy of the panels is 20 to 30 years and rated to withstand quarter size hail at 100 mph, he said.

According to Quinn, the optimal location for a solar array is on a south facing hill set at a 43 degree tilt. When ground mounting a system, H&H assesses the location and takes into consideration any obstacles that could shade the panels such as buildings and trees.

In roof-mounted systems, the installers take into consideration the condition of the roof. Along with testing to see if the structure will be able to support the added weight of the panels, the age of the roofing material needs to be taken into account.

If your roof is between 15 to 20 year old, we recommend putting on a new roof before putting on the solar panels, Quinn said.

There are two systems buyers can install. One uses net metering, which sends excess power not used by the consumer on to the grid. The owner will then receive credit for that energy from the power company. The other system allows the owner to be disconnected from the grid with the energy produced by the solar panels stored in batteries on site.

The group buying program allows H&H to offer a discount to participating buyers. Along with the bulk-buying discount, those installing solar systems could also qualify for federal and other renewable energy credits.

For more information, go to the town of Hollands webpage located at www.townofhollandwi.org or the H&H Solar Energy Services webpage located at http://hhgroupholdings.com/solar/.
The La Crescent Fire Department and Neighbors in Action have been awarded a scholarship to attend the 2016 National Fire Protection Association Remembering When conference. The team will participate in training to deliver the educational fire and falls prevention program sponsored by the NFPA.

The conference, Remembering When: A fire and fall prevention program for older adults, will be held Nov. 14-16. NFPA has selected teams from 30 communities across the United States and Canada to travel to San Antonio for the training. Teams are composed of at least one member of the fire department partnered with an individual from an agency within the community that serves older adults. Sandy Graves, Director of Neighbors in Action, will be attending with Cassie Buehler, training officer from the La Crescent Fire Department.

Each award covers training, materials and travel expenses, and is valued at more than $4,000.

Following the conference, the team will return to La Crescent and conduct group presentations and training sessions to prepare additional facilitators. Team members will also bring the program to older adults during home visits where they will tailor the Remembering When messages and help older adults identify changes that will increase home safety.

We are excited to provide this important training to help fire departments and local agencies meet their goals related to older adult safety. Many communities are seeing dramatic increases in the numbers of older adult residents and are strengthening resources to meet the needs stemming from this growth. Reducing risks related to injury and death is key and the Remembering When program is a helpful tool in this endeavor, said Karen Berard-Reed, NFPA senior project manager. The data provides a crystal clear picture of the fire and falls problem for older adults across North America. Kudos to the professionals who are dedicated to the work of helping older adults live safely.

The Remembering When program has been implemented in communities throughout North America since 1999, to help thousands of older adults learn strategies to help them live safely at home for as long as possible. Program materials are available online at no cost.

For more information about Remembering When, go to www.nfpa.org/rememberingwhen.
The American Red Cross Wisconsin Region is proud to announce the September 2016 volunteer of the month is Marcia Griffin of Onalaska.

For more than 15 years, Griffin has been volunteering to support statewide military programs along with disaster preparedness and recovery across the nation.

During major disasters, like the recent flooding in Louisiana and California wildfires, Griffin plays a vital behind-the-scenes role to recruit and assign trained responders to disasters.

This includes verifying information and ensuring the person leaving for a 2-3 week deployment has the necessary information and even funding for food and lodging. This allows faster departures for people throughout Wisconsin to fly toward a disaster on short notice.

Wisconsin has nearly 3,000 registered Red Cross volunteers.

This statewide honor was earned, said Melisa Myers, the Workforce Engagement Manager who nominated Griffin for the award. Each and every new disaster services volunteer works with Marcia. She creates accounts with them, helps them register for initial courses and transitions them to a local point-of-contact around the state.

While Griffin works part-time as a switchboard operator for the Mayo Clinic, she shares sound advice.

Theres such a need out there. You have to start volunteering, she said.

In addition to her Red Cross volunteerism, she is an avid quilter and donates many pieces to hospitals, womens shelters  any group that needs one  through the La Crosse Area Quilt Guild. She is also the proud mother of two and grandmother of four children.

To learn more about volunteering with the American Red Cross, go to redcross.org/volunteer.
If you had pneumonia, youd take an antibiotic. Right?

If you had a broken wrist, youd get a cast or have surgery. Right?

If you had crushing chest pain that took your breath away, youd call 911. Right?

So I ask you why is it that if you have depression that is ruining your life, you dont take action?

Studies show that one out of 20 people have depression at one time or another. And its awful.

Yet according to new research we are vastly under-treating it. Not only are patients not seeking help, clinicians arent taking action either.

The US Preventative Services Task Force recommended in January that health professionals screen for depression regularly with a simple nine question form. (Google PHQ9 and you can take the questionnaire yourself.) Do doctors do this? Well Some of us do, some of the time.

But, frankly, if youre coming in with three things to discuss with me  how much time do I have to look at the questionnaire?

Heres where the electronic medical record would be most helpful. If you could take the PHQ9 by yourself and have the results on the chart when you came in to talk to your doctor then that might result in a meaningful conversation about therapy. At least it would be a start.

But there is one more fly in the ointment here. A recent study showed that even with the results of the questionnaire showing depression many clinicians are not taking action. They are not offering patients therapy. So why is this?

The study doesnt answer that but I have my thoughts. Too much stuff to do at the visit. The average patient might call with one question but when theyre there they have three questions. (We docs call it the but one more thing.)

Its part of the patient visit to try to get everything wrapped up but that also means theres no time to discuss the depression issue unless you  the patient  brings it up.

This is one reason that its so important for you to bring in a list of things you want to discuss with your clinician when youre at that visit. It helps you formulate what you want in a timely way so that you get the care you want and we stay on time. In the hurly burly world of medicine you dont have an hour with your doc  you have much less time. But as with so many things in life you can make the most of it by planning in advance.

My spin: Youre in the drivers seat here. Take the PHQ9 yourself and armed with that go see your doctor and discuss it. There are very effective treatments with medication, talk therapy or both that can put you on the right track. Depression is a risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. It can ruin your quality of life and it just plain stinks.
Mindoro Presbyterian Church celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 12 at the church. The days activities began with worship at 10 a.m. led by the Rev. Cindy Arndt and assisted by former pastor Ronald Gustafson. The Old Rugged Cross, the 100-year anniversary hymn was sung, among other well-known songs.

Following the service, a lunch was served to the 100 people in attendance. JB3 provided dinner music. A program followed lunch, where a number of people were honored, including oldest living member Margaret Frank. The churchs secretary, treasurer, Sunday School teacher and other lay members of the church were also recognized.

The congregation also dedicated a 100-year time capsule, including in it a guest book, program bulletin, pen, history book, cookbook and directory. Flowers were given in memory of several individuals, as other churches, such as Bells Coulee Lutheran, Mindoro Lutheran and Lewis Valley Lutheran also sent arrangements.

The life of the Presbyterians started in Lewis Valley in the early 1850s. They first worshipped in homes and the schoolhouse. They later built a church, which was later sold to area Lutherans.

By 1916, the Presbyterians decided to build a church again, the one now standing 100 years later. For 100 years, Mindoro Lutheran Church has been a strong congregation, built on the solid foundation of the Lord Jesus. In our centennial year of ministry, we continue to strive together, growing in faith, love and respect for each other and the communities in which we live.

Submitted by Linda Achterkirch
Torrential rains and devastating flooding Thursday unleashed a deadly mudslide, caused a train derailment near Ferryville, closed Hwy. 35 and damaged dozens of roads, bridges, dams and rails throughout western Wisconsin.

A man died when his house was washed down a hill in Victory. Some areas received upward of 6 inches of rain in 48 hours, and emergency management personnel in Crawford, Vernon and Jackson counties reported scores of road closures.

Mike Dagnon lives on Rush Creek Road just north of Ferryville, in Crawford County, near the trail derailment. He said the road 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.

Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau and Vernon counties.

In Jackson County, the Black River crested at 60.3 feet Thursday afternoon at Black River Falls, its third-highest crest there ever. Sheriffs authorities urged motorists and pedestrians to avoid flooded areas because of the danger of hidden hazards.

A 3.17-inch measurement was the third-highest 24-hour September rainfall ever recorded at the La Crosse Regional Airport.

The operator of the Lake Neshonoc dam near West Salem issued a yellow alert about 11 p.m. Wednesday before opening the dams flood gates wide. Keith Butler, La Crosse Countys emergency services coordinator, said such alerts are common during the spring thaw but rare during 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 maximum the dam operator aims for.

The release of water from the lake contributed to a 4-foot rise on the La Crosse River from Wednesday to Thursday.

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.

Butler said Bangors Veterans Memorial Park was hit hard by flooding.

The worry now, Butler said, was additional rain triggering mudslides. Im thinking that the slopes are still a little fragile right now, he said.

Even as storms subsided Thursday, the National Weather Service extended a flash flood watch through 1 p.m. today for La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford and Monroe counties in Wisconsin, Houston and Winona counties in Minnesota, and Allamakee County in Iowa.

Flooding closed Hwy. 108 between West Salem and Mindoro, and mudslides caused temporary road closures near Pickwick, Minn., and De Soto. Water was also reported over streets in Trempealeau.

Allamakee County emergency services coordinator Corey Snitker said Wednesdays runoff accumulated in low-lying spots and ran over some streets in the northeast corner of the county, especially in Lansing.

National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Stangeland said a frontal boundary stalled over the Coulee Region is responsible for the repeated heavy storms. Moist air is seeping up from Iowa, where 90-degree temperatures and high humidity triggered heat advisories Wednesday.

Theres a 50 percent chance of showers and storms through today, according to the NWS.

Bliss Road in La Crosse, which has been prone to washouts in severe weather, was open as of Thursday evening.

While the Wisconsin Department of Transportations 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 be finished early next week.

This is the second time this month that heavy rains have caused flash flooding. More than 5 inches of rain fell on some areas Sept. 7, forcing the evacuation of a campground in Vernon County and triggering a rock slide that damaged a home near Brownsville, Minn.

I saw a fish swimming down the road. Ive never seen anything like it. Mike Dagnon
A four-week study of immigration, "Becoming Welcoming Communities: Immigration in Light of Biblical Faith," will be held Sunday afternoons beginning Oct. 16 in the Community Room at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2503 Main St.

Each week will include a brief Bible study related to the topic of the session led by Tom Uphaus, followed by an exploration of historic and current immigration concerns by guests with expertise on local issues.
Criminal charges are pending against two 18-year-old Iowa men found with drugs behind the Waukon High School early Friday, according to Waukon police.

Police found Thadeus Campbell of Cedar Rapids and Christian Carstens of Waukon with marijuana, drug paraphernalia and brass knuckles and one of then tried to hide a gun under a squad car, police stated.

Campbell faces charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a firearm without a permit and while on school property, possession of a dangerous weapon, trespass, interference with official acts and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Carstens faces charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a firearm while on school property and trespass.
On the surface, we can all agree that censorship is bad.

I dont think youll find anyone in America who would say, Sure, sign me up for some censorship. Sounds great.

And yet I remember challenge after challenge to the Harry Potter books when I was growing up, with parents calling for schools and libraries to take the boy wizard off their shelves for promoting the occult. Somehow I dont think any of them considered themselves advocates of censorship, but thats exactly what banning a book does -- censor ideas that challenge peoples preconceived notions.

The idea of banning books is the antithesis of the librarys mission, according to Barry McKnight and Teri Holford-Talpe, librarians at the La Crosse Public Library and University of Wisconsin-La Crosses Murphy Library, respectively.

We stand for the free and open access to ideas and information, McKnight said.

Its pretty simple; when someone bans a book from the librarys shelves, they take that access away. While there has never been a successful book challenge at the La Crosse libraries, McKnight and Holford-Talpe are joining forces to celebrate Banned Books Week, raising awareness of the dangers of censorship and celebrating the free access of information.

The reason La Crosse Public Library and University of Wisconsin-La Crosses Murphy Library are celebrating Banned Books Week is because we can, said Holford-Talpe.

Theyll hold a series of events Wednesday, including a brown-bag lunch, read-out and read-in, where they will host a discussion about banned books and censorship and read excerpts of books that have been challenged.

I signed up to give them a hand, posing for a photo with The Awakening by Kate Chopin, a book previously banned for sexual themes as it explores Ednas rebellion against social norms and decision to abandon her family in exchange for self-fulfillment.

When it was released, The Awakening fell victim to accusations of vulgarity, one of the most prevalent reasons people call for removing books from the shelves. Books for and about teens in particular tend to raise hackles with parents for the inclusion of sexual situations, which is a little ridiculous if you ask me.

I realize parents (and older siblings in my case) really hate to think about their teenagers and sex, but with puberty, hormones, and the mental growing up teens still have to do, pretending they arent thinking about it at all is akin to pretending gravity isnt there because we cant actually see it.

Holford-Talpe dislikes the reasoning as well, pointing out books like Looking for Alaska by John Green, which was challenged last year due to the inclusion of a masturbation scene, might include some sexual themes, but they are about much more than that. However, she is a bit more forgiving than me.

Its complicated because people are complex, and we live in a pretty fear-driven world, Holford-Talpe said.

As a parent, its not that Holford-Talpe doesnt understand the urge to protect kids and raise them to share parental beliefs and values, but she says there are better ways than refusing to engage in uncomfortable topics.

If you want to protect your kids, why not have a discussion about these things, rather than try to put blinders on them? Holford-Talpe said.

She has a point. Just look at the success (or lack thereof) of abstinence-only education at curbing teen pregnancy if youd like an example of what pretending these types of things dont exist leads to.

Im not here to judge and tell a parent theyre close-minded, Holford-Talpe said, but shes a strong proponent of freedom of choice, allowing people their own opinions on whether they want to engage these books and the ideas within them.

One person cant decide for everybody, Holford-Talpe said.

McKnight agreed, saying, People have the right to choose for themselves and their kids, but they dont have the right to choose for other people.

Judging by how often people try, its awfully tempting though, no matter which side of the political aisle you sit on. People on the left have tried to ban Huckleberry Finn for its use of the n-word and Fifty Shades of Grey for its depiction of unhealthy relationship dynamics and crimes against the English language just as often as people on the right called for a ban on I Am Jazz for its exploration of gender expression and Heather Has Two Mommies for its depiction of a same-sex relationship.

Im not going say ideas arent powerful and can never be scary. They are and they can. The right idea at the right time can shake your whole belief system. However, beliefs arent worth much if they cant withstand a challenge.
The city of La Crosse has started evictions proceedings against the La Crosse Municipal Boat Harbor; however, the proceedings were stayed Friday after the corporation filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Longtime harbor operator Steve Mills, the president of the company that has operated the marina on Isle la Plume since 1977, is accused of defaulting on the terms of his lease agreement with the city by failing to pay a nonresident surcharge, noncompliance with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources orders and failure to have a valid sellers permit.

According to court documents filed by attorney Phillip Addis, representing the city, Mills company had its sellers permit revoked in April by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue after failing to pay thousands of dollars in sales tax to the state. The Department of Revenue issued tax warrants adding up to $6,600 against the company.

The agreement with the city called for the company to pay tax liens in full by July 11 and for the company to have a valid sellers permit.

The city also claims Mills failed to make corrections to the docks required by the DNR. The lease agreement puts sole responsibility for compliance with federal, state and municipal requirements on the corporation.

According to a May 12 DNR letter to Mills and the citys Parks and Recreation Department  which took on oversight of the marina last year  the harbor has a long history of noncompliance with state laws and failed to meet environmental standards and acquire the proper permits.

The DNR noncompliance notice said the Styrofoam used in the dock construction is not an appropriate material and called for the docks to be reconstructed out of material designed to resist deterioration after the Styrofoam broke apart into the Mississippi River. The state agency also called for the removal of grills, tables, chairs, storage units and other items placed on decks attached to the docks. The state requires deck-like structures to be located upland.

The city also claims the harbor company owes it $6,500 in nonresident surcharges and penalties from 2015. According to court documents, the city and Mills came to an agreement in July, with Mills agreeing to pay $3,400 in fees, plus a penalty of 10 percent and 10 percent interest, bringing the total owed to the city to $4,080.

Due to the alleged violations, the city filed eviction proceedings Aug. 17, and a hearing was scheduled for Friday morning. Had the eviction been granted, Mills would have immediately been removed from the property; however, immediately prior to the hearing, Mills filed paperwork seeking Chapter 11 protection, starting a restructuring process through federal bankruptcy court. La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge Elliot Levine stayed the alcourt proceedings until the Chapter 11 restructuring is complete.

La Crosse Municipal Boat Harbors attorney Galen Pittman of La Crosse denied the allegations, adding that the details of the disagreement with the city will now be worked out in federal court, trumping municipal and state concerns.

It holds this case in limbo while we cure the provisions of the alleged default, because theres no proof of any items yet, Pittman said. There may be some questions in the lease as to the aspects of it, but those will be handled in the bankruptcy court.

The citys attorneys in the matter, Addis and Stephen Matty, say the outcome of the hearing does not change the citys position.

He has the right to try to reorganize and work this out with the city, Addis said. The citys position is still that he is in default on his lease, that hes got violations that have not been cured, and the city will now work with the bankruptcy court to move forward.

Mills has operated the 184-slip marina at 1500 Joseph Houska Drive for almost 40 years. He signed a 25-year lease in 2002, which extends to 2027.

The proceedings mark the sixth time the city has found Mills in default of the lease since 2013, for reasons ranging from unlicensed or inoperable boats and unpaid bills to insufficient insurance and subleasing space to other businesses without first obtaining city approval.

The city has not yet made plans for the operation of the marina if Mills is removed.
SPARTA  A 27-year-old man faces life in prison after a Monroe County jury Thursday convicted him of killing a 43-year-old Tomah man last year.

The jury found Zachary Davis guilty of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Derek Magnuson after three hours of deliberations and a nine-day trial in Monroe County Circuit Court. He also was convicted of armed robbery and car theft, according to the Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

Croninger told jurors in his opening statement that Magnuson befriended Davis and his girlfriend, Sebastian Martinez, also known as Sabrina Martinez, and took pity on them. The couple left North Dakota after stealing a vehicle, pawning items for cash and stopping at a Cabelas store in Woodbury, Minn., where Davis bought a machete.

Magnuson invited Davis and Martinez to stay in his room at the EconoLodge in Tomah on March 11, when Davis stabbed an unarmed Magnuson several times with the 14-inch machete, stole his wallet and debit cards and left him for dead.

Defense attorney Kenneth Hamm told jurors that Martinez told Davis that Magnuson made sexual advances when the two were alone. Davis suggested leaving, but the pair stayed and Davis left to shower. After he discovered Magnuson attempting to sexually assault Martinez, Davis intervened, at which point Magnuson straddled Davis on the floor and delivered punch after punch and claimed Im going to (expletive) kill you.

Mr. Davis sees the machete still in that bag, hes struggling to get out and starts reaching for the machete, Hamm said. Davis swung several times, puncturing one of Magnusons lungs.

Hamm contends that Davis was terrified after the altercation and decided to flee, knowing he was already in trouble for stealing a car and believing others in the building would hear the commotion.

Davis admitted to stealing Magnusons wallet, but Hamm argues the robbery was not premeditated, as Davis had items from Cabelas to pawn and wasnt in desperate need of money. Hamm added that Martinez only changed his statement to depict armed robbery after being pressured by his family and the state.

There is no court date set in the case against Martinez, who is charged with felony murder, aiding a felon and car theft.

More court reports, B3
Good Steward Resale Store is expected to move in early May to a larger building that will be constructed at the site of Edwardos restaurant, which closed last December at 1930 Rose St. and is slated for demolition.

The new 10,000-square-foot building will be considerably larger than the stores current location at 2552 Rose St., which has slightly more than 6,000 square feet of space.

The nonprofit resale shop opened in 2002 in a former Rocky Rococo pizza building, and added on to the building in 2006. But the state of Wisconsin purchased that property this week for an upcoming overhaul of George Street as part of a revamping of Interstate 90 Exit 3.

As of this week the store is leasing its current location from the state. Under the lease, the store has until May 15 to move, said Roger Sachs, a pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in La Crosse.

The store is owned and operated by Wise Managers Inc., a nonprofit corporation formed in 2002 by nine individuals from area Lutheran churches. Sachs is Wise Managers board secretary.

The store accepts donations of clothing, housewares, toys, crafts and other items, and then sells them. Most of the proceeds go toward Luther High School in Onalaska, and the rest goes to other charitable organizations.

Wise Managers was scheduled to complete its purchase of the former Edwardos property Friday afternoon.

Demolition of the Edwardos building is expected to be in October, Sachs said earlier Friday. Construction of the new store probably will begin in early November, he said.

Facing a May 15 deadline to leave the current location, Sachs said he hopes the new store opens in early May.

Its very crowded in the current store, Sachs said. We need more space for expansion and hopefully well be able to offer more items for sale in the new building.

The Edwardos building is smaller than the resale stores current location, and renovating and expanding it would have cost almost as much as a new building, Sachs said. So the decision was made to construct a new building.

Officials of MBA Architects Inc. and Wieser Brothers General Contractor Inc. discussed preliminary plans for the new building with members of the citys Commercial/Multi-Family Design Review Committee at its meeting Friday morning.
MILWAUKEE  Gov. Scott Walker is taking additional steps to combat the rise of opioid abuse in Wisconsin by creating a task force aimed at stemming the misuse of the powerful painkillers, which officials say contributed to nearly half of the 843 drug overdose deaths in Wisconsin in 2014.

Walker on Thursday signed an executive order setting up the panel tasked with making recommendations on fighting abuse of pain relievers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. He named Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. John Nygren to lead the panel. Nygren, whose daughter has struggled with drug addiction, has been at the forefront of legislation to fight drug abuse in Wisconsin.

The task force includes the secretaries or designees from the state corrections, insurance, health services, safety and professional service departments as well as Attorney General Brad Schimel, several legislators, including state Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, law enforcement, health officials and citizens. They are expected to meet in the coming months to map strategies, the governor said.

Walker signed his order at a Milwaukee Walgreens drug store to highlight the chains drug take-back program. Walgreens has installed medication disposal kiosks at 18 stores around the state where citizens can drop off unused or expired medications, including controlled substances.

The more drugs we get out of peoples home and into places like this, the safer were all going to be, Walker said. Even if youre coming in for a soda and a bag of chips, its easy to drop it off.

The Walgreens stores with disposal bins are in Appleton, Brookfield, Greenfield, Janesville, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Marinette, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee, Oconomowoc, Racine, Sheboygan, and Wausau.

Walgreens has also made naloxone, an opiate antidote commonly called Narcan, available without an individual prescription at all of its pharmacies in the state.

Earlier this year, Walker signed a number of bills aimed at slowing opiate abuse by creating more guidelines on dispensing prescription opiates.

Nygren, a Marinette Republican, wrote the eight-bill package as part of his so-called Hope Agenda, a series of reforms to fight heroin and opiate abuse. He began the initiative after watching his daughter, Cassie, struggle with heroin addiction.
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 cash 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.

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.
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.
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.
Its a wall with over 58,000 names, but they all have their own unique  and ultimately tragic  stories to tell.

Two of those names carry special meaning for Bob and Lynda Smith of Sparta. They were among the visitors to The Moving Wall, a 250-foot long wall that bears the name of every American soldier who died in the Vietnam War. The wall was set up for five days at the Tomah Veterans Administration Hospital.

Lynda Smith found the name of Byron C. Tucker of Sparta, an Army warrant officer who died in an air crash at age 22 just one week after arriving in Vietnam in 1968. The couple had been married just eight months.

He was a my high school sweetheart, she said. He was a sweet, soft-spoken guy. We were just kids.

She later married Bob Smith, who also served in Vietnam. He found the name of his childhood friend Charles (Chuck) McLeish.

Bob Smith described McLeish as a young man who graduated number-one in his high school class in Monona and became an Air Force captain. He died at age 25 in 1970 while flying a combat mission.

He was a really nice guy, Bob Smith said. He had kind of a baby face, but as he got older, he looked like Rock Hudson, Bob Smith said.

He said McLeish married a woman who had been crowned Miss Philippines.

I didnt a meet her until the funeral, he said.

In addition to the Moving Wall, there was the indoor display of Wisconsin Remembers: A Face for Every Name. The exhibit has photos of the 1,161 Wisconsin soldiers who died in Vietnam. Wisconsin was the fifth state in the country to find a photo for every soldier listed on the wall.

The Moving Wall was intended to be the backdrop for the VAs annual POW/MIA ceremony, but the commemoration was moved indoors due to rain.

Lynda Smith said finding the names was a moving experience.

I look at those 58,000 names and think about how sad it is that theyre not with us, she said.
Dear reader, we're asking for your help to keep local reporting available for all today during our fall fundraiser. Your financial support keeps stories like this one free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood.

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An L.A. labor union representing hotel workers is accusing a Chinese mega-developer of illegally funneling foreign money to fight a Beverly Hills ballot measure, according to the L.A. Times.

Measure HHor "the Hilton Initiative," as it's known on the mean streets of Beverly Hillshas caused quite a stir in this relatively quiet, moneyed community.

If passed in November, Measure HH would allow Beverly Hilton owner Beny Alagem to skirt the usual public review process in order to merge two previously-approved condo towers and instead build a 26-story tower, according to The Real Deal. If constructed, Alagem's project would be the tallest building in Beverly Hills. It seems legit crazy that one guy can just bypass public review on a building and instead spend three million dollars trying to get the extra height approved via a ballot measure... But I guess they do things differently in Beverly Hills.

The Wanda Group, a Chinese multinational conglomerate run by China's richest man, has launched a vociferous campaign against the initiativeand the group just so happens to be working to erect their own $1.2-billion hotel-condominium project within spitting distance of Alagem's. And yes, the Hilton crowd has tried to block the Wanda project.

In a complaint filed Thursday, Unite Here Local 11, a hospitality union that represents 22,000 members in L.A. and Orange County, asked state and federal election officials to investigate whether China's Wanda Group had, through a domestic subsidiary, illegally funneled cash to a campaign committee working to oppose the November initiative. Unite Here Local 11 represents the workers at the Beverly Hilton, and has publicly supported the measure.

"We track new development pretty regularly, so we've been very much following and paying attention to what's been going on in Beverly Hills," Rachel Torres, a research analyst at Unite Here Local 11, told LAist.

"It's very important to us, in terms of how money is spent in the process of development, that the process should be transparent," Torres said, explaining that transparency should extend not just to how projects get built, but also "how they get denied or blocked."

Keeping the process transparent "affects our democracy, our community, and our members," Torres said. "We felt that there was a need to bring this to the public and to seek an investigation."

According to the Federal Election Commission, foreign nationals are "prohibited from making any contributions or expenditures in connection with any election in the U.S." The U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies can, however, form PACS, "so long as its American employees running the PAC and contributing the money, and so long as the PAC remains unfinanced by the foreign parent corporation," according to a WNYC report.

Adam Englander, a consultant for the No on HH campaign, said in a statement that although they had not been sent a copy of the complaints or been contacted by any agencies, they "were 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."

"This lawsuit," Englander said, "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."

In a separate, but not unrelated, controversy, the L.A. Times reports that former Beverly Hills mayor Barry Brucker was accused of illegally lobbying for the Wanda Group in violation of the city's "revolving door" policy, which prohibits former elected officials from taking paid lobby work on a project that he or she had voted on while in office.

Not one to be excluded from the action, current Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch has also gone full steam ahead on the No on HH campaign, launching himself on "a virtual public speaking tour," and "appearing at every HOA, PTA and Synagogue he can get into," according to the Beverly Hills Courier.

The mayor has been criticized for taking sides in the war between the two developers ("Our job is not to advocate for one project over another," Vice Mayor Nancy Krasne said at a meeting earlier this summer, according to the Times), and for being overly chummy with the Wanda team.

Perhaps the Courier put it best last week, when they wrote "The campaign against the Hilton has become dirty, indeed."

There were even reports that "people [were] trespassing on to private property and replacing Yes on HH signs with No on HH signs." Even worse, the No on HH signs were reportedly "oversized," violating Beverly Hills code and marring lawns the city over. According to Therese Kosterman, a spokesperson for the City of Beverly Hills, the city did get a report that some signs were oversized. However, after going to investigate, they found that all signs were, in fact, the correct size and in keeping with the City of Beverly Hills's 885-word policy on yard signs. The City of Beverly Hills adopted their very important yard size regulations because yard signs "tend to be impermanent, flimsy, and vulnerable to the elements," and have a tendency "to proliferate, creating litter, visual blight, and traffic safety hazards."

Related: Beverly Hills Hotel Wars: Beverly Hilton Doesn't Want A New Hotel Across The Street

Note: This was post was updated to clarify that although former Beverly Hills mayor Barry Brucker was accused of violating the city's revolving door policy, these accusations have not been confirmed. We've also added new information about those pesky lawn signs. Despite preliminary reports to the contrary, it looks like those potentially oversized" lawn signs were in fact sized to Beverly Hills code.
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.
Americans are preparing for the first of three debates involving the candidates for president.

The first debate takes place on September 26. It will be held at Hofstra University in the city of Hempstead, New York.

The first debate will include the candidates of the two main parties. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the nominee of the Democratic Party. The Republican candidate is businessman Donald Trump.

The other parties will not be represented at the first debate. The Libertarian Party, for example, has nominated former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson as its presidential candidate. The Green Party chose Jill Stein, who also served as its candidate in the 2012 elections.

The moderator of the first debate will be television news anchor Lester Holt.

The debate will be 90 minutes long. The three topics for debate will be Americas direction, achieving prosperity and securing America. Each topic will be debated for close to 30 minutes.

Holt will begin each topic with a question, and each candidate will have two minutes to respond. Candidates will also have the opportunity to respond to each other.

Many think the first debate could make history by drawing the largest audience ever to watch an American political event.

History of presidential debates

American presidential debates and the media have a 56-year history. In 1960, Republican Vice President Richard Nixon debated Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy.

The subject of the debate was domestic policy. The issues they discussed included education, health care, farming, the economy, labor and the Cold War.

But what the 1960 debates showed was how television was changing politics. In the first debate, radio listeners said Nixon won. Those who watched on television said Kennedy was the better debater.

The difference in the audiences perceptions had to do with the candidates appearances. Kennedy looked tanned and youthful on television. Nixon wore a gray suit that blended into the television studio background. Nixon  who was recovering from an illness -- also looked pale and thin.

A few months later, Kennedy won a narrow victory in the election.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter debated challenger Ronald Reagan. Carter led in the political polls before the debate.

But Reagan was a former actor and comfortable in front of a studio camera. Reagans relaxed performance during the debate helped secure him an easy victory.

The 1992 debates featured three candidates. President George H.W. Bush faced challengers Bill Clinton and Ross Perot.

During their conversation, Bush checked his watch. Some thought Bushs glance at his watch as a sign he was bored with the debate.

Bill Clinton went on to win that election.

Im Bruce Albe

Esha Sarai and Jim Malone this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

Democratic Party  n. one of the two major political parties in the United States

Republican  n. a member of the Republican party of the U.S.

Libertarian Party  n. a political party in the United States that promotes civil liberties

Green Party  n. a political party in the United States that promotes environmental issues and non-violence

moderator  n. someone who leads a discussion in a group and tells each person when to speak

news anchor  n. a person who presents news during a news program on television or on the radio

Cold War  n. the nonviolent conflict between the U.S. and the former U.S.S.R. after 1945

perception  n. the way you think about or understand someone or something

tanned  adj. having skin that has been made darker by the sun

bored  v. to make someone annoyed by being uninteresting
Sometimes a visit to a national park means hiking rugged trails and climbing high mountains. Other times it means crawling through caves or rafting down a wild river.

But this week we want to take it easier. So we head south to the state of Arkansas. It is home to a national park that is perfect for resting and renewing a tired body. Visitors treat themselves to one of its natural thermal baths. Humans have been enjoying the warm waters for thousands of years.

Welcome to Hot Springs National Park!

Most national parks are far from cities and industry. But Hot Springs is different. It covers more than 2,200 hectares in and around the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Congress approved special protection of the area in 1832. Known unofficially as Americas Spa, it became a national park in 1921.

The parks geothermal springs and other resources have long been used for therapeutic bathing. The average temperature of the hot springs is 61 degrees Celsius. The thermal mineral waters reportedly help ease many health problems, including arthritis and rheumatism.

The springs emerge along the western edge of Hot Springs Mountain. Scientists say the hot springs are made of rainwater that fell in the Hot Springs area thousands of years ago. The rainwater slowly dripped down to the earths crust. When water rises back up to the surface quickly, and does not have a chance to cool, hot springs form.

Hot Springs National Park's early bathhouses were simple structures. They were made of canvas and lumber. They were built right over some of the natural springs. Later, businessmen built more complex wooden structures. But, those structures were frequently damaged by fires and from exposure to water and steam.

Beginning in the early 1900s, stone, stucco and brick structures replaced the wooden bathhouse buildings. These large -- and much more elaborate -- structures still stand today along what is known as Bathhouse Row.

These bathhouses were built along the eastern bank of Hot Springs Creek. The hot water from the hillside springs flows down a system of wooden troughs and into the buildings.

Each spring was said to help cure different kinds of conditions. Some of the early names referred to their chemical properties. Others were named after the part of the body that its waters could best help. There once was a spring called Kidney, and another named Liver.

Eight bathhouse buildings line Bathhouse Row today. They are very large. Many of them are three levels. But most of them no longer offer therapeutic water treatments. Instead, they house park shops and the visitors center.

But one has remained open for more than 100 years. The Buckstaff Bathhouse has operated continuously since 1912. It is one of the best preserved bathhouses within Hot Springs National Park. Visitors today can enjoy traditional thermal mineral baths. The baths are different temperatures and have different properties.

Another bathhouse offers a more modern spa experience. Quapaw Baths and Spa also sits along Bathhouse Row. It was renovated and reopened in 2007, on Hot Springs 175th anniversary.

When you are done with your relaxing bath, there is still more to enjoy at Hot Springs National Park. Visitors can hike along the more than 43 kilometers of trails in the park. You will find unusual rock formations and views of the surrounding rolling hills.

The landscape also provides evidence of the areas hot spring history. On the Tufa Terrace Trail, you will see the huge deposits of tufa, created by the flowing springs over thousands of years. Tufa is a kind of rock shaped by water.

But you do not have to hike to see the sights. There are beautiful mountain roads to drive, as well. However you explore Hot Springs National Park, you can't help but relax.

I'm Caty Weaver.

And I'm Ashley Thompson.

Ashley Thompson wrote this report with materials from the National Park Service. Caty Weaver was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

rheumatism - n. a disease that causes stiffness and pain in the muscles and swelling and pain in the joints

emerge - v. to rise or appear from a hidden or unknown place or condition

lumber - n. wooden boards or logs that have been sawed and cut for use

exposure - n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something

elaborate - adj. made or done with great care or with much detail

creek - n. a small stream

trough - n. a long, shallow container
This is Whats Trending Today

Last month, images of a bloody, wounded 5-year-old Syrian boy in an ambulance captured the worlds attention. The boy had suffered head injuries when a bomb hit his familys apartment building in Aleppo. The boy was identified as Omran Daqneesh.

This week, another little boy has captured the world's attention. A 6-year-old American named Alex wrote about Omran in a letter to President Barack Obama.

Alex is from the state of New York. He wrote to the president after he saw the images of Omran. He wrote that his family would like to offer him a home here in the United States.

Alex opened his letter this way: 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 our home?

Alex wrote that that he would like to share his bicycle with Omran, and that his younger sister would share her toys, as well. He also wrote that he has a friend at school from Syria named Omar. I will introduce him to Omar.

President Obama posted a video on Facebook Wednesday of Alex reading his letter. It has been viewed almost 8 million times.

In the post, Obama described Alex as 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."

Imagine what the world would look like if we were, the president wrote. Imagine the suffering we could ease and the lives we could save."

The president also mentioned Alexs letter earlier this week at a United Nations meeting on the refugee crisis.

People have reacted to Alexs words on social media. One Facebook user wrote, A six year old who has more humanity, love and understanding than most adults.

Another said, I wish there were billions of kids that were raised just like this little boy.

And thats Whats Trending Today.

I'm Caty Weaver.

Ashley Thompson wrote this report. Caty Weaver was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

ambulance - n. a vehicle used for taking hurt or sick people to the hospital especially in emergencies

cynical - adj. believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest

suspicious - adj. causing a feeling that something is wrong or that someone is behaving wrongly

humanity - n. the quality or state of being kind to other people or to animals


The West African nation of Mali has experienced major changes since 2012.

The changes have included a military overthrow of the government, a presidential election and a foreign military operation against Islamist rebels in the countrys north.

A peace agreement designed to end the conflict in Mali was reached in 2015. But many young people there feel left out of the promised benefits of peace.

Protest and violence

Recently, demonstrations took place in northern cities such as Gao and Timbuktu. Protesters held signs saying trop cest trop -- the French expression for enough is enough. That saying has become the slogan of their movement.

In July, government security forces shot at protesters, killing three and wounding more than 30.

The detention of popular radio personality Mohamed Youssouf Bathily led to more protests. He was arrested for condemning corruption in the government.

Adboulaye Coulibaly Fama took part in the protests. He said that the demonstrations showed the deep dissatisfaction of young people in Mali.

There are many incidents lately which are a sign of a widespread malaise that characterizes the Malian population, he said. He [Bathily] should not have been arrested in the first place. His releaseshows a weak government - a government which cannot take responsibility - a government Malian people cannot trust.

Similarly, a young man from Gao criticized Malis president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. He told VOA Afrique it is a failure of the government that the city of Kidal is still not under their control.

The state does not want to take responsibility. I really think these three years have been wasted, the young man added.

Observers believe that the main concerns in Mali are linked to governance and dissatisfaction with the peace agreement.

Kamissa Camara is an expert on politics in West and Central Africa. She works for the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy.

Camara said that the young people in Malis North believe they were important during the crisis of 2012, but largely ignored during the peace process.

They were protecting communities from the rebels, from the jihadists, she said. And because they played such a huge role in stabilizing northern Mali, when the government of Mali signed a peace agreement with the rebels, the youth thought or felt that they were being put aside. They were sidelined by the agreement when they should have also been part of the peace benefits.

There is widespread anger among the youth that the former rebels were promised assistance for disarming and rejoining society. The former rebels received job training and stipends through an internationally-funded process, but non-fighters were largely left out of this process.

Kamissa Camara said the young people are also angry about former rebels being named to leadership positions in Gao.

The rebels, the people who picked up the arms and raped women in northern Mali defeated the Malian army - killed Malian soldiers - are the ones being rewarded when they, the youth, played a positive role in stabilizing northern Mali and didnt get the result and didnt get rewarded for that, she said.

Years of violence in the north have damaged an already weak economy. The World Bank says youth employment is only at 10.5% in Mali.

What the youth are looking for is to be reintegrated into the civil service, for example, and to actually get jobs the same way these rebels are being rewarded right now, Camara said.

Youth joining militant groups

The dissatisfaction among the youth in Malis north has led some to join militant groups. The militants offer them pay and a sense of community.

The Al-Qaida-linked group Ansar Dine and the Movement for Unity and Jihad and in West Africa (MUJAO) have repeatedly launched attacks in the north since 2012.

Lori-Anne Theroux-Benoni is a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) based in Dakar, Senegal. She and a research team from ISS prepared a report called Malis Young Jihadist." The report has testimony from 63 young Malians who are a part of extremist groups, including 19 who are in jail. Its aim was to examine the reasons young people join jihadist groups.

The researchers identified 15 factors that lead to youth involvement. Some of the reasons are emotional, historical or political. In addition, some young people are forced to join.

Theroux-Benoni said the popular belief is that youth often join extremist groups because of religion or money. But she says this is not true for many young people.

For some of the youth that we spoke with, the reason for joining was to protect cattle in the region of Mopti. For other young people, it was really the fact that the groups were actually providing security and rule of law, she said.

The report also found that there is a link between unemployment and extremism. But that link is not always so clear. One former extremist joined so he could pay for all the costs of getting married. Another said he joined because he was persuaded by jihadist propaganda videos.

Its important not to think of the factors as factors that work on their own. Most of the factors actually interact with each other, Theroux-Benoni said.

Im Patrick Merentie.

And I'm Alice Bryant.

Salem Solomon reported this story for VOANews.com. Patrick Merentie adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

How about the youth in your country? Are they part of your countrys progress or are they struggling? Write to us in the Comments Section.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

benefit  n. a good or helpful result or effect

slogan  n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used by a group or business to attract attention

malaise  n. a problem or condition that harms or weakens a group, society, etc.

characterize  n. to describe the character or special qualities of (someone or something)

stipend  n. a usually small amount of money that is paid regularly to someone

stabilize  v. to stop quickly changing, increasing or getting worse

testimony  n. something that someone says especially in court of law while formally promising to tell the truth

factor  n. something that someone says especially in a court of law while formally promising to tell the truth
An Albany company is helping the Benton County Sheriffs Office save big.

BCSO switched its fleet to run on propane autogas as well as gasoline, and that saved the agency nearly $24,000 in fuel costs in 2015, said Randy Camp, general manager of CoEnergy Propane.

Benton County decided in fall 2014 to install equipment that would allow the Sheriffs Offices cruisers, SUVs and pickups to use both gasoline and propane autogas. The work on the fleet was done at Linn-Benton Community Colleges new Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon  CoEnergy is a partner at the center for alternative fuel education.

Last month, CoEnergy Propane also presented a $6,700 check to Benton County during a Board of Commissioners meeting. The check was for a 50 cents per gallon federal rebate for propane autogas used by BSCO vehicles.

There are other entities now that are looking at (converting to propane autogas) all over the state, Camp said.

He added that theres been a mandate by the state of Oregon to move more of its vehicles to alternative fuels, and propane is the easiest switch at this point.

The infrastructure is already out there. There are places you can refuel all over Oregon, and thats not true with electric and natural gas, Camp said.

Part of Philomath School Districts bus fleet also runs on propane, Camp said.

In a January 2015 interview, Benton County Sheriff Scott Jackson said his agency spent nearly $350,000 a year on fuel.

Besides the cost savings, propane autogas allows BCSO to operate a much greener fleet by powering their vehicles on clean-burning fuel, Camp said.

Benton County also is looking at equipping other vehicles, such as Dial-A-Ride buses, to run on propane autogas, Camp said.

CoEnergy Propanes Albany office is at 2505 Pacific Blvd. S.E. The company also has an office in Redmond. For more information, call 800-510-5886 or go to coenergy.net.
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LINCOLN  Gov. Pete Ricketts involvement in a state legislative campaign in Kearney has become a big issue in a close race between two Republicans.

Bob Lammers, in his third term on the Kearney City Council, is squaring off with Kearney businessman John Lowe Sr., for the post being vacated by State Sen. Galen Hadley, the speaker of the Legislature, who is term-limited.

Ricketts has endorsed Lowe, a 57-year-old bar owner who owns several rental properties. The governor also is the top contributor to Lowes campaign, giving $5,000.

Lammers, a 61-year-old property appraiser, said he met with Ricketts several months prior to the primary and agreed with almost all of the positions taken by the first-term governor. Lammers said he also had received a $25 campaign contribution from his opponent, Lowe, before he got into the race.

The next I heard (the governor) was recruiting another candidate, Lammers said. He wants it 100 percent his way, or no way.

Lammers, who has been active in the Kearney Chamber of Commerce and the Buffalo County Economic Development Council, said he has been more involved in community affairs than Lowe, but a big difference is who he puts first.

Ill be looking for whats right for Kearney and the State of Nebraska and not necessarily whats right for an Omaha governor who is going to make decisions for my opponent, he said.

Lowe, who serves on the Kearney Planning Commission, said hes proud to have the support of Ricketts and believes he is the more conservative candidate.

The governor and I think alike because were businesspeople, said Lowe, who chaired Ricketts 2014 campaign in Buffalo County. He asked me to run, but so did Galen Hadley.

Ricketts, when asked earlier this week, said that he doesnt expect candidates to agree with him on every issue and that he hopes candidates he endorses use that support in their campaigns.

Hadley, who is finishing his second term in office, said he urged both candidates to run and considers both to be friends. He said hes not endorsing either candidate, because of his longtime belief that its improper to pick ones successor.

Its best to stay out of it, Hadley said. The 37th District will be in good hands no matter who wins.

District 37 includes the City of Kearney, home of the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and the communities of Gibbon and Shelton. One local issue has been management of the boys Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney, which has seen an increase in escapes and assaults.

Both candidates said the facility should be put back under the control of State Department of Corrections because the boys being sent there are more violent than in the past.

Both candidates also support the death penalty as a means to punish the most heinous murders.

Where they differ is in their backgrounds. Lammers has served in elective office, Lowe has not (the Planning Commission is an appointed post).

They also differ in a trio of issues that have been important to Ricketts: immigration, the increase in the state gas tax and charter schools.

Lowe, who finished 371 votes ahead of Lammers in the primary, said he would never support an increase in taxes if elected and said it was wrong to grant drivers licenses to young adults in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The states education system, Lowe said, doesnt always spend money wisely. For instance, he said that the building of a $74.5 million high school in Kearney went too far and that he supported renovating the existing high school.

He said he supports charter schools, as does Ricketts, and would seek efficiencies in government spending to cut taxes.

Im a true conservative, Lowe said. I believe that we need to cut spending to work on cutting taxes.

Lammers, who has been endorsed by the state teachers union and the Nebraska Farm Bureau, said he would have supported the hike in the states gas tax approved by the State Legislature in 2015 over Ricketts veto. He said fuel taxes are paid by thousands of non-Nebraskans who drive past Kearney on Interstate 80 every day and said good roads are key to attracting and keeping businesses.

Im really focused on creating jobs, Lammers said. Weve had great success in the Kearney area. There are businesses popping up in every corner of our town.

He said he supports granting drivers licenses to DACA participants  which state lawmakers also approved over the governors veto  because these young adults have already been deemed eligible for licenses and because 49 other states permit it.

Charter schools, Lammers said, are the wrong idea.

To lower property taxes, Lammers supports requiring the collection of sales taxes on Internet purchases and consolidating counties into eight or nine regional counties. He said he would also consider shifting taxes onto currently untaxed services.

Lowe said he also supports lowering property taxes but was less specific about how, other than to say reducing government spending is the key. We need to look at all of the agencies and see where we can save money, he said.

According to the most recent campaign finance reports, through mid-June, Lammers has slightly outspent Lowe, $25,770 to $22,844.

Ricketts contribution of $5,000 matches the amount Lowe loaned to his campaign. Lowes other top donors were the Nebraska Bankers Association ($1,500), Fort Theatre Dentistry ($1,070) and the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry ($1,000).

Lammers top donors were the Nebraska State Education Association ($2,500), the Bankers Association ($1,600) and state chiropractor and optometrist associations ($1,000 each).

The spending reports do not include money spent by a conservative group often linked with the Ricketts family and often supportive of Ricketts, Americans for Prosperity. The organization, which does not report campaign spending, mailed fliers to District 37 voters just prior to the May primary maintaining that Lammers voted to raise taxes.

Lammers called the allegation bogus. He said that as a member of the City Council, he voted to place an issue on the ballot to let voters decide whether to impose a 1-cent tax on restaurant sales to build new ballfields in Kearney.

Lammers said he ultimately voted for the tax at the polls because the city needed the fields and because the tax eventually sunsets. Lowe said he was not involved in the attack ads.

World-Herald staff writer Joe Duggan contributed to this report.
Requests for well testing have flooded in a week after Mosaic announced it had a 45-foot wide sinkhole on its property that was releasing 215 million gallons of contaminated water into the ground.

210 well tests scheduled so far

Early results indicate contaminated water did not reach wells

Mosaic reportedly paying $1,000 per well tested

As of 6:50 p.m. Thursday, Mosaic reported that 210 well tests had been scheduled. Amy Gibson is one of the homeowners who requested the test.

I can only hope that it comes back that theres nothing in it," said Gibson, who said she wanted to make sure her children had clean drinking water. "I cant guarantee that what they test today isnt going to be something in the water in a week or two.

Mosaic said it will continue to test neighbors wells and is developing a plan to do so.

Private testing company Environmental Consulting and Technology, Inc. reported it has completed 52 of the well tests and received partial results for 20 of them.

Gary Uebelhoer, an ECT senior executive, said the tests looked for higher than normal levels of minerals such as sodium, sulfate and fluoride and didnt find any, leading Uebelhoer to conclude the contaminated water didnt reach those 20 wells when they were tested Monday and Tuesday.

The pH is neutral, and the Mosaic water is acidic," Uebelhoer said. "If the Mosaic water had reached these wells, we would not be seeing neutral pH levels."

Uebelhoer said radioactivity testing results wont be in for another two weeks. According to him, Mosaic is paying $1,000 per well tested, and he wants homeowners to be confident in the results.

Mosaic is also giving bottled water to homeowners waiting for their wells to be tested.

If our company, which is employee-owned and has over 150 employees, were to be found on this project or on any project to be rigging tests, or falsifying data or not reporting poor results, we run the risk of losing this license, Uebelhoer said.

While ECT crews sampled the well water, a worker from the Department of Environmental Protection was there collecting samples as well.

Mosaic executives estimate it will cost $20 to $50 million to fill the sinkhole, and the company doesnt expect to begin that work for several months. It has to develop a remediation plan first.

Meanwhile, three Central Florida residents filed a federal lawsuit against Mosaic Thursday, accusing it of purposely disregarding health risks and the environment.
Protestors were back on the streets of Charlotte Thursday night, the third time in as many nights.

Protesters want release of dash cam video of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott

Police chief says that investigators are viewing the video

Related stories: CMPD: 7 officers hurt in second night of Charlotte protests Keith Scott's family: More questions than answers in video



But last night was a much different scene.

Protesters were peaceful, even though a midnight curfew was largely ignored.

Protesters are demanding the release of dash camera video. The state is now picking up the investigation into the death of black man Keith Lamont Scott, who was shot and killed outside his car Tuesday by black police officer Brently Vinson.

Police Chief Kerr Putney says investigators are still reviewing dash-cam video. It doesnt show the definitive evidence of Scott pointing a gun at officers, he says, but it does show Scott refusing to drop his weapon.

Neighbors have said that Scott was holding a book, not a gun.

Scotts family watched two videos of the shooting and say its impossible to discern if Scott had anything in his hands.

The family wants the video released publicly, but the police chief is resisting.

"I understand the whole dynamic and the definition of transparency," said Chief Putney. "Our sex assault victims, our domestic violence victims are going to have a lot less faith in us. So I would be losing a lot more than people currently are willing to acknowledge in the hope to gain additional knowledge, support and transparency."


Boulos Enterprises Ltd, authorised dealer of Suzuki products in Nigeria, said it will push a made-in-Nigeria Suzuki Super Carry to the Nigerian market next month. According to the organisation, the vehicle will launch with complete vehicle warranty and extended service intervals as the first of the vehicles are expected to be available to order from next month.

The organisation, which said in a release that it has completed the training course for dedicated Suzuki Super Carry technicians said the training, included all electrical, mechanical and diagnostic aspects of the new high lean burn 1.2 engine and associated ancillaries to the vehicle which will be assembled by the Nigerian workforce in Lagos.

"This is a motor industry first for Nigeria, as we will be producing a choice of 23 different rear units, or pods as we call them, such as a Van version, refrigerated van, pick up, six seater people carriers, mobile shop, tipper unit, hopper, dustbin/trash van and even an ice cream shop, ambulance or fire engine pod/unit. It really will offer a commercial vehicle for all users, created here in Lagos for distribution across Nigeria," head of the design team at the organisation, Olusegun Adekoya said.

Titi Olodun, the marketing manager for Boulos Enterprises Ltd said: "The assembly line is 1,132 square metres long, there is an additional 1,200 square metres where fabrication of a range of custom made bodies for the Suzuki will be manufactured, these include refrigerated units, vans, six seater people carriers, tippers, hoppers, pick-ups, mobile shops and many other body options. The new facilities will be equipped with state of the art modern manufacturing tools and equipment, with associated infrastructure built to the exacting standards of Suzuki Japan.
Imagine a night when writer Ravi Jadhav was watching a lot of Hindi movies with incredible plots, great performances and remarkable writing. He must have wanted to write something similar, and had all the inspiration, but didn't know how to.

Banjo is the story of a failure, I'm not talking about the plot of the movie. It's a story of the writer's failure in a putting a good film together.

Banjo, starring Riteish Deshmukh and Nargis Fakhri, is a wannabe 'musical' which has gotten all of its notes wrong. The entire story follows Riteish's character, who is a banjo player in a band. The band is worried about their chances of playing for Ganesh Chaturthi and Navrathri, given they don't play a mainstream instrument. But, they are the best Banjo band in their neighborhood.

The entire movie is set in Mumbai, and the drama begins when Christina, a character played by a pair of lips (also known as Nargis Fakhri) arrives. She is a musician and comes to Mumbai in search of Riteish's Banjo band whose audio she had listened to while in New York.

She roams around looking for them for a large part of the first half of the film. Don't worry though, the movie does feature all those cliched scenes of a naive NRI wearing tight revealing clothes roaming around in the slums of Mumbai, while the slum dwellers stare at her with their mouths wide open.

She finds them and obviously Riteish Deshmukh's character falls in love with her.

Christina wants to join the band and then shoot two songs with them to submit in a New York music festival. They start by playing at clubs in Mumbai.Cue more cliches: there's also parts where clubs don't allow them inside and treat them badly, because they are street artists but obviously all this rejection gives them ammunition to do more and rise from the ashes.

The concept of street stars becoming mainstream superstars stems heavily from the Step Up series. It has also been adapted and done to death in Bollywood. This film is nothing different.

Banjo does have a few catchy songs to which you can groove, but some parts of the plot are cliched and the others are too random. Don't be surprised if you switch your brain cells off in the first 30 minutes.

Had the movie concentrated more on the life of the character played by Riteish, and the musical instrument, there would have been more scope for an interesting movie. But the writer fails completely on that account by adding random layers of conflict, clashes and romance.

If you're going to watch Banjo, make sure that you do not buy a recliner seat, because you'll be signing up for a sleeping fest.
On Wednesday, 21 September, 2016, the Adani group launched the largest single location solar power project in the world. The group which has interests in ports, edible oil and energy entered the solar sector around two years ago. It began with what was then Indias largest solar power plant (located in Gujarat). It now boasts of having the largest single location solar power plant in the world.

The new project's operations is located in Kamuthi in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu. It is being undertaken by Adani Green Energy (Tamil Nadu), the renewable energy wing of the Adani Group. The new plant has a capacity of 648 megawatts (MW) and involves an investment of around Rs 4,550 crore.

A plant of this magnitude reinstates the countrys ambitions of becoming one of the leading green energy producers in the world, said Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group.

Around 8,500 personnel worked to achieve an average of around 11 MW of installation a day, to set up the plant in a record time of 8 months. The solar power plant is part of the state governments plans to generate 3 GW of solar power inline.

The India scene

The Adani group, according to a Mercom report, accounts for an 11 percent market share, with a cumulative solar power generation capacity of around 2 GW (see chart).

It is followed by ReNew Power (a wind and solar company backed by Goldman Sachs) with a 10 percent share.

Soon to be acquired SunEdison has around 8 percent of market shares, explains Priyadarshini Sanjay, managing director, Mercom Communications India. ACME has around 8 percent, Azure around 5 percent, Tata Power 3.8 percent, Suzlon and Hero Future Energies have 3.7 percent of the large-scale solar market each. Thus, the top 20 developers account for almost 80 percent of projects under development, he adds.

With India deciding to source 40 percent of the 100 GW of power through rooftop solar, this is another segment that is bound to be extremely interesting in the coming years. This is because rooftop solar involves almost no land acquisition cost, and little transmission cost (because the distance between the solar panels to the consumers is the shortest). Tata Power currently has the largest solar installed capacity in India with approximately 9 percent. It is followed by ACME with 7 percent and SunEdison with approximately 5.5 percent. The Adani group accounts for 5 percent.

Even globally, solar power has taken centre stage. This is underscored by by Michael Liebreichm, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), in his state of the clean energy industry keynote address at BNEFs Future of Energy Global Summit in New York, earlier this year.

The conferences underlying theme was stark and simple: Coal and gas to stay cheap. But renewables still win the race on costs. In fact, many countries the world-over will see the share of renewable energy (a bulk of which will be solar) rise over the next decade (see chart).

But solar will be the darling investment area for the world. This is because as Liebreichm reiterated at the conference, sustained long-term deployment programs had transformed the solar industry. Weve seen the costs come down by a factor of 150 since 1975. Weve seen volume up by 1,15,000 . . . . . How much more miracle-y do you need your miracles to be? (see chart). Solar is obviously the way to go in the near future.

Solar (and wind) power will be aided by one more factor  falling battery storage costs. Experts believe that battery costs could fall by 75 percent by the end of next year and by 90 percent by 2030.

The global scene

It is the falling cost of storage that takes away the uneven generation of power from wind and solar panels. A little change in the velocity of the breeze, or a cloud over the sun can disrupt power generation. Nobody likes depending on power that is unreliable, flaky and intermittent. Hence a storage device which takes in the power, and then releases it as a steady stream is absolutely essential. Falling battery costs could increase the pace at which renewable installations take place.

In fact, India has advantages that escape most other countries. If solar could work in Germany, surely it could work in India which has more sunlight. And since Germany had shown that solar could create many jobs (Germany today employs more people in the solar sector than in the automobile sector).

This author began championing the case for solar power as early as 2005 and wrote about it in 2009. That was when Germany had already startled the world with its foray into solar power in a very big way.

Then came Brightsource, which threatened to change the course of solar power using concentrated solar power (CSP) mirrors. Butr the technology was too expensive.

And finally, there was Desertec, which had great plans, but floundered mostly because of political factors. Desertec proclaimed on its website, around 2005 itself, that within six hours the deserts receive more energy from the sun than humankind consumes within a year. The plan was to harness the sun in the deserts and send the power all the way to Europe.

India began to embrace solar power with its Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in January 2010. The target was 20 GW by 2022. On 17 June 2015, the Modi government upped this target to 100 GW (by 2022). The markets gasped. Will it be possible, they asked. So, did this author. After all, even by May this year, the country had installed just 6.76 GW of solar power capacity, against the target of 100 GW. And who would meet the financing costs? Why was the government not moving in aggressively on the rooftop solar front, so that the cost of land acquisition could be eliminated?

Then came the announcements on 10 June 2015. Upendra Tripathy, secretary, ministry of non-conventional and renewable energy announced that the government would source at least 40 GW through rooftop solar. Factories, commercial establishments and government buildings would also be encouraged to set up rooftop solar power capacities.

Solar would be the route the government would adopt for rural power as well. After all, setting up transmission lines to remote villages can be prohibitively expensive. This then leads to three types of losses. First, there is the transmission loss. The longer the tramission line, the greater the loss. Then there is theft, often mis-declared as agricultural power consumption, or as losses. The third is theft of the copper cable itself.

Using decentralized, cluster, off-grid solar power generation stations could be the way to go, admit MNRE officials. The Adani project is thus a major landmark for solar power installation in India. But rooftop solar could be the way to go in the coming decade.
New Delhi: With Trai keeping a tab on the point of inter-connect (PoI) issue between incumbent operators and Reliance Jio, Idea Cellular today said it has agreed to provide 230 percent additional capacity to the new entrant.

Over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio allowing sufficient buffer for future, Idea said adding that it will "continue to engage and expand capacity for the new operator to allow seamless traffic flow between the networks".

Coming just days after Trai warned operators of action in case of service quality violation arising out of insufficient inter-connectivity points, the statement issued by Idea said quality of service for its customers is a "top priority".

"Idea Cellular recently invited Jio for a discussion to mutually resolve the traffic asymmetry. As quality of service for its customers is top priority, Idea has agreed to further enhance capacity in both access and long-distance inter-connection by providing over 230 per cent additional capacity, allowing for two-way calling between the networks," the Idea statement read.

Idea has now provisioned 1,865 ports for access, from 565 earlier -- a 230 per cent increase in capacity.

"Simultaneously, the NLD (national long distance) capacity is also being expanded by nearly 50 per cent. With this huge capacity expansion, over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio, allowing sufficient buffer for future," it said.

Reliance Jio -- which commercially launched its services on September 5 -- has accused the existing players of not releasing sufficient inter-connection points while the incumbents like Idea, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have blamed the new entrant for unleashing a "tsunami" of free traffic on their networks.

After Trai's nudge, the operators have agreed to augment capacity on their networks to accommodate more Jio traffic, but have been seeking regulatory intervention to address the issue of "induced asymmetry of traffic".

Jio argues that that benefits of superior voice technology is being denied to its customers due to the network congestion and has blamed the "anti-competitive behaviour of incumbent operators" for the "poor experience" on its services.

Jio has claimed that it has been witnessing 75-80 percent call failures over the last few weeks. It had said that over a period of 10 days alone, 52 crore calls failed cumulatively on the networks of the three incumbent operators Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.
Mumbai: A day after Fed-fuelled rally, stocks slipped back into the red today with the Sensex falling 105 points to 28,668.22, dragged down by investors booking profit in recent gainers, like banking stocks, amid weak global cues.

However, for the week, equities posted their third weekly gain in four as the Sensex and Nifty gained 69.19 points or 0.24 per cent and 51.70 points or 0.58 per cent, respectively.

Banking stocks, which had witnessed heavy buying yesterday came down sharply as investors cut down their exposure.

Private sector lender Axis Bank was the biggest loser on the day, plunging 5.84 per cent to Rs 557.40, while ICICI Bank lost 1.36 per cent to Rs 271.80 and SBI fell 1.15 per cent to Rs 254.40.

Shares of L&T Technology Services, an arm of engineering giant Larsen and Toubro, made a decent debut on the bourses and ended 0.59 per cent higher at 865.10 over the issue of price of Rs 860. Intra-day, it touched a high of Rs 931.

"With key event risks of FOMC-BoJ behind, derivatives' unwinding was seen in markets, especially with F&O expiry falling next week," said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services.

After opening a shade higher at 28,810.32, the 30-share Sensex touched a high of 28,825.09, but slipped later to 28,627.38 before ending down 104.91 points or 0.36 per cent at 28,668.22.

The index had risen 265.71 points yesterday, tracking upbeat global cues after the US Federal Reserve left rates unchanged.

The NSE Nifty after moving between 8,885.20 and 8,820.30, settled 35.90 points or 0.40 per cent lower at 8,831.55.

Overseas, Asian stocks edged lower amid a slew of economic data. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite settled 0.28 per cent lower, in Hong Kong, Hang Seng closed 0.31 per cent lower, while Japan's Nifty moved down by 0.32 per cent.

Indices in Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan moved up by 0.21 per cent to 0.53 per cent.

Europe was also down after the euro zone flash composite PMI fell to 52.6 in September, from August's reading of 52.9.

Key indices in France, Germany and the UK fell by up to 0.50 per cent.

Out of the 30-share Sensex pack, 17 scrips ended lower.

Major losers were Lupin (2.59 pc), Infy (1.46 pc), Power Grid (1.46 pc), Tata Steel (1.17 pc), Tata Motors (0.89 pc), GAIL (0.83 pc) and Sun Pharma (0.81 pc).

However, index heavyweight RIL was up 1.41 per cent at Rs 1,102.95 followed by Dr Reddy's 1.05 per cent, TCS 0.83 per cent, HDFC 0.54 per cent, HDFC Bank 0.42 per cent and ONGC 0.40 per cent.

In retail segment, the BSE mid-cap index rose 0.28 per cent while small-cap gained 0.08 per cent.

Among BSE sectoral indices, Bankex dropped 1.23 per cent, Utilities 0.67 per cent, Power 0.61 per cent, Telecom 0.43 per cent, Finance 0.41 per cent, Teck 0.37 per cent and Healthcare 0.36 per cent, while Realty rose 1.01 per cent followed by Energy 0.93 per cent and oil&gas 0.74 per cent.

The market breadth turned negative as 1,496 stocks ended in red, 1,168 closed in green while 252 ruled steady.

The total turnover on BSE rose to Rs 3,871.71 crore from Rs 3,311.63 yesterday.
New Delhi/Jammu: Border Security Forces (BSF) arrested a 30-year-old Pakistani intruder along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector on Friday, an official said.

Abdul Kayum, who claimed to be a resident of Pul Bhagawa area of Sialkot in Pakistan, was arrested between 4 am and 5 am in the Pargwal area.

"We arrested the intruder as soon as he reached near the fence in Akhnoor area. He was unarmed," a BSF officer told IANS on condition of anonymity.

He said a mobile was recovered from the intruder.

"We are yet to ascertain the purpose of the intruder of crossing the border and entering Indian territory as he is continuously changing his statement."

The officer said "this kind of incident generally happens on the IB and we take them seriously every time."

This incident comes in the wake of the September 18 cross-border terror attack on an army camp in Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir which left 18 soldiers dead and many more injured. Four terrorist were also gunned down in the attack.

The officer said a combing operation had begun along the Line of Control (LoC) near Keran village in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday morning after noticing some suspicious movement which also forced them to resort to firing.

The army said on Thursday that it had foiled two infiltration bids on the LoC.
The Karnataka legislature in the special session of both the Houses on Friday passed a resolution to only release water for the purpose of meeting basic concerns of Bengaluru and Cauvery basin.

K'taka's Legislative Council passes resolution to only release water for the purpose of meeting basic concerns of B'lore & Cauvery basin.  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

India Today reported that the resolution has no mention of Tamil Nadu. Government and the opposition were united in the resolution and it was passed unanimously.

The council also unanimously decided to not release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, saying the water was needed for drinking purposes in the state, IANS reported.

However, CNN-News18 reported that the Opposition tabled a resolution against the Supreme Court's order asking Karnataka to release more water to Tamil Nadu. It also reported that BJP will fully support Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

#UPDATE | Opposition tables resolution against SC order asking Karnataka to release more water to Tamil Nadu #CauveryWaterWar pic.twitter.com/ZcRrWfGrWl  News18 (@CNNnews18) September 23, 2016

Former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa also said that the Congress and BJP will back the resolution, according to News18.

"It is resolved that in this state of acute distress, it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storage be drawn, save and except for meeting (the) drinking water requirements of the villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru," asserted the resolution.

"The House seriously notes that the combined storage in the four reservoirs, viz., Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS), Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini, have reached alarmingly low levels with only 27.6 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water," the motion pointed out.

AIADMK however, said that the resolution is a contempt of court.

This is contempt of court by K'taka Govt. If the Govt won't follow the Court's order, what will happen in future?: CR Saraswathi (AIADMK) pic.twitter.com/K2u2UI5qJD  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

Ahead of the session, 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.

"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.

The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on 19 September asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs per day from 21 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.

With inputs from PTI and IANS.
Charlotte: Protesters took to the streets for a third night in the US city of Charlotte amid heavy security aimed at preventing more clashes over the fatal police shooting of a black man.

Hundreds marched to the city police station carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful," but the atmosphere was far calmer than the previous two nights. Pressure was growing on police to release video of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American, whose killing on Tuesday sparked the unrest.

Scott's death was the latest in a string of police- involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States.

North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, and several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers were deployed to reinforce local police protecting city infrastructure and businesses.

An overnight curfew was also in place. "We are going to be a lot more proactive," Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney told a news conference. "We made 44 arrests last night because we are not going to tolerate the behavior."

A protester shot by a civilian in Wednesday night's protests died in hospital on Thursday, local media reported. 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 refused to release police video of the incident.

However, members of Scott's family watched the footage on Thursday, raising "more questions than answers," their lawyers said.

No gun is visible in the video, which shows Scott stepping backward when he was shot, one of the lawyers told CNN.

"His hands are down by his side. He is acting calm," Justin Bamberg said. "You do see something in his hand, but it's impossible to make out from the video what it is." 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. But the footage indicates the officer identified as having shot Scott  Brentley Vinson, who is also black  was justified, he added.

A handful of protesters confronted police last night. However, many marched past officers who posed a less intimidating presence on the streets despite their greater numbers.
Bhubaneswar: Rejecting the allegation that Dana Majhi was denied a hearse by the authorities, forcing him to carry his wife's body on his shoulder for 10 km last month, Odisha government on Friday told the Assembly he had never sought any help, before leaving Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu S Nayak gave this information while replying to a written question by Congress member Prafulla Majhi.

"Holding a contractual staff nurse Rajendra Rana responsible for the incident, the government has dismissed him from the service. Similarly, the security agency guarding the hospital at Bhawanipatna has also been disengaged," Nayak said.

Majhi had never sought any help or assistance like dead body carrier to any of the hospital staff in the night of 23 August, Nayak said quoting the Chief District Medical Office (CDMO), Kalahandi's report to the government.

In case of poor patient, if approached, transportation arrangement is made from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund or Rogi Kalyan Samiti or Red Cross fund, he said.

The poor tribal from Melghar village, located 60 km from the Kalahandi district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna, had hogged headlines for carrying his wife's body on shoulder for 10 km before journalists informed the district authorities and a vehicle was arranged.

Majhi on 24 August had said he carried his wife's body on shoulder and walked 10 km after the hospital authorities refused to provide any assistance to transport the body.

"The staff nurse at the ward told me to take away the body as she has died. I also knocked the door of the doctor on the hospital premises on 23 August night to inform him about death of my wife. The doctor also told me from behind the door to take away the body," Dana Majhi had told reporters.

However, the minister said the hospital authorities came to know about the incident next day at 9 am (on 24 August) when the doctor came on ward visit.

"On 24.8.2016 in the morning round when the doctor found the patient absent in the ward, he mentioned in the bed head ticket- left against Medical Advice. He informed the matter to the ADMO (med) Kalahandi on 24.8.2016 at 9 am. The patient was not declared dead. The patient was given adequate medical treatment and there was no negligence in treatment," Nayak said quoting the CDMO's report.
Former Jammu and Kashmir state water resource minister and senior Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin on Friday said that there is a possibility of a war breaking out between India and Pakistan, if India violates the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between the two neighbouring countries.

Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said, It cannot be a one-sided affair, when asked about a possible rethink over the treaty. He also said that it was based on goodwill.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Mohiuddin said that the treaty between India and Pakistan, which was brokered by the World Bank in 1960, is being monitored and guaranteed by the international financial institution, and stopping water to Pakistan will mean a conventional war between the two countries.

Though people in Jammu and Kashmir will benefit by such a move, if the Indian government decides to abrogate the treaty, but the question, he said is what will we do with these rivers? If we try to divert this water, Kashmir will become a satisar (waters all around) and even in that case, the excess water will go to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir".

In 2012, the Jammu and Kashmir government had engaged the services of an international consultancy to assess the losses suffered by the state on account of the treaty. Once the report was ready, the then Omar Abdullah government, of which Mohiuddin was a minister, had decided to seek compensation from the Centre.

"No one knows the exact figures of the losses we had incurred because of the treaty. It ranges between Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 80,000 crore, which is why the state employed the services of the consultancy, Abdullah had said then.

On Friday, however, Abdullah tweeted, Will stick my neck out & say that nothing will happen to the Indus Water Treaty. It survived 4 wars & a J&K assembly unanimous resolution.

In another tweet he said, It was an abomination & should never have gone through. J&K has suffered long on its account but this government isn't going to scrap it.

It was an abomination & should never have gone through. J&K has suffered long on its account but this government isn't going to scrap it.  Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 23, 2016

This is impossible. It is a childish statement, Mohiuddin told Firstpost. Diverting a river would take at least 20 years. The waters of Chenab can go up to Rajasthan, but when we try to this, do you think our neighbouring country will stay silent?

You can't divert the waters of these rivers - Jhelum, Chenab, Neelum  and we don't have the authority to generate electricity and store waters of the rivers, he said.

Our projects are run of the river. We could have still generated 10,000 megawatts of electricity, Mohiuddin said.

New Delhi gave up its claim on the water of three rivers  Jhelum, Chenab and Indus  (all flowing from Jammu and Kashmir) to Pakistan in lieu of three eastern rivers  Satluj, Beas and Ravi  under the treaty.

Although these rivers flow through the state, the treaty prevents the storage of water otherwise owned by the state, which is why the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had moved a resolution seeking compensation for the losses.
Thirty-six-year-old C Sasikumar, a Hindu Munnani spokesperson was killed by a four-member gang at Subramaniyampalayam in Coimbatore, reported The Times of India. Sasikumar was hacked to death late on Thursday night.

The report claimed that the gang chased him on motorcycles and then attacked him using sickles. "He suffered from 11 cut injuries," said the report.

The Hindu reported that a number of activists from the Hindu group came to the hospital causing commotion. Hindu outfit's president, Subramaniam said that many party leaders were being attacked and that that they would observe a state-wide bandh on Friday, according to The Times of India.

Barely a few days earlier, on Monday night, another Munnani functionary was hacked to death by a gang in Dindigul, another town near Coimbatore. Thirty-year-old Shankar Ganesh was accosted by a gang armed with weapons.

On the same day, a member of another Hindu outfit was murdered in Hosur. On 12 September, a Hindu Munnani functionary's vehicle and house was splashed with kerosene.
Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, was suitably cryptic when he mentioned the Indus Waters Treaty on Thursday. Not everything is spelled out in diplomacy, he said replying to a question whether India would revisit the treaty to get even with Pakistan. That was cue enough for the war-mongering crowd to visualise a possible Indian post-Uri action on this front.

Swarup clarified later that the government was not contemplating any change in the status quo on the treaty. However, by then the earlier statement had worked up enough excitement to bury the import of the latter.

No soldiers, no gunfire, no crossing the border, no casualties on our side and no risk  isnt leaving Pakistan water-starved the best way to teach it a lesson? Thus went the argument. A parched Indus basin, accounting for more than half of the countrys productive area, means a disastrous blow to the countrys economy. Once the economy collapses, the rest will follow. Since we are the upstream country, we can easily stop some rivers in the Indus system from flowing into the neighbouring territory. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed way back in 1960 and not of any significant benefit to India so far, may well be scrapped.

With the government not willing to jump into any rash, poorly thought out move to please them, the desperation among the warmongers is understandable. Subtle diplomacy and silent manoeuvring to choke the enemy is not the style they subscribe to; revenge for them has to be violent, crude and quick. In the immediate absence of any such possibility, they would like India to go for the water treatment.

There are a few problems with this though. Indias battle is supposed to be with the political and military establishments of Pakistan and the network of terror operatives they back, not against the people of the country in general. A measure like stopping water for agriculture and other uses will hit ordinary people the most and trigger a humanitarian crisis. It might work as a strategy to bring Pakistan on its knees but it would take the moral sheen off India, particularly in the eyes of the international community which the government has managed to wean in its favour after the Uri attack.

Such a measure would amount to directly escalating tension between the countries and precipitate a full-fledged war. The trigger for war, from Pakistans perspective, would shift to water, an issue everyone would view with some sympathy unlike Kashmir. In any case, India is not keen on a war right now; it wants to exhaust other option first. If it is then it has a far more potent issue  killing of 18 of its soldiers in a terror attack  to launch an offensive across the border than water.

Its not easy to break the natural flow of rivers. Any effort towards this will also have consequences for India. The Indian Express quoted Shakil Ahmad Ramshoo, who is the head of Earth Sciences Department in Kashmir University in this context. Waters cannot be immediately stopped from flowing to Pakistan unless we are ready to inundate our own cities. Srinagar, Jammu and every other city in the state and Punjab would get flooded if we somehow were able to prevent waters from flowing into Pakistan, he told the paper. India has enough experience of the disaster that playing with the natural course of rivers can invite.

If the article so far makes one sound like a war-fearing, pre-Narendra Modi age animal, even maybe anti-national, heres an explanation. It is always better to tread on the side of caution rather than be impulsive and foolish. As Sun Tzu, one of the earliest exponents of the art of warfare, would say, To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill. To finish, one more from him: Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt. Put simply, dont make your plans a subject of ignorant public discourse. Even cryptic mentions are avoidable.
Efforts to free the Unesco-World Heritage Site Kaziranga National Park in Assam from encroachments has put the BJP-led state government on a collision course with its arch-rival Congress as the latter claims it was haphazardly done.

The Assam government was initially praised for its intent, which it displayed by choosing to go ahead with the eviction drive on Monday as ordered by the Gauhati High Court in October last year. After stiff resistance from the squatters which led to the death of two people, including a woman and leaving 19 injured, the political tension over the move is quietly brewing.

"The government of Assam is not serious about Kaziranga. They have acted against a very small portion of the area which is affected by encroachments while implementing the Gauhati High Court order. They have completely mismanaged the process of resettling the people living in these demolished villages who were actually willing to relocate against adequate compensation," Congress MP from Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency in Assam Gaurav Gogoi told Firstpost.

"There was no notice in writing prior to the eviction. Nobody from the government has visited the evicted people. So disproportionate was the use of force that a huge police force of 1,800 was used against 300-odd families," Gogoi said.

"Despite their huge numbers, why did the police have to fire directly at the civilians? This resulted in the loss of two lives. We condemn it. The eviction was carried out in a marginal area but the government did not act against the resorts and the well-connected influential people. They acted only against the poor," he said.

However, it is worth mentioning that the encroachers in the three villages refused the compensation that was offered by the Assam government.

Significantly, the high court order that was passed on 9 October 2015  when the Congress was in power in the state  had directed that the eviction had to happen within a month. The Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government came to power on 25 May this year.

"The Deputy Commissioners of Golaghat, Sonitpur and Nagaon are directed to take expeditious steps to evict the inhabitants in the second, third, fifth and the six additions of the Kaziranga National Park, including Deurchur Chang, Banderdubi and Palkhowa, within one month," the high court had said.

Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi tweeted, "The BJP-led State Government has failed to take necessary measures before carrying out the eviction drive at Kaziranga. Removing people from land by resorting to firing is condemnable. High Court had given a ruling but there is a process to ensure its adherence."

Pertinently, though, the former chief minister kept mum on why his government failed to prevent encroachment in its 15-year-long tenure.

Taking on the former chief minister, Assam Minister for Education, Health and Finance, Himanta Biswa Sarma rejected Gogoi's stance that they had plans to go to the Supreme Court to challenge the high court order.

"The apex court had already rejected the SLP (Single Leave Petition). Even the Gauhati High Court rejected the petition to review its order when the eviction drive was on. What Tarun Gogoi is saying is not correct. The previous government had actually not honoured both the Supreme Court and the high court. They even built a colony in the area where eviction was ordered," Sarma said in a press conference on Tuesday.

"What is shocking is that deep inside the park there was also the construction of a road going on under the PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana), an Anganwadi school was set up and even electricity was provided. The school was a voting centre in the last polls. Our government had stopped the construction of the road," the minister said.

Sarma pointed out that "demographic destabilisation is the larger plan to benefit those who want to win polls with their votes". The minister said the Congress was in the process of securing their voter base by increasing the population of a particular community right up to Upper Assam which is now a BJP stronghold.

"Vote bank politics is not a big thing. But this was in complete violation of court order," he said.

A total of 331 houses were demolished on Monday; around 35 families had pattas. Magicbricks.com explains patta as "a legal document that defines the ownership of a property".

Giving details of the eviction drive, the minister said, "Total of 175 families in Banderdubi, 115 in Deurchur Chang and 12 in Palkhowa were evicted. The swathes of land under encroachment was 2,244 bighas in Banderdubi, 126 bighas in Deurchur Chang and 42 bighas in Palkhowa."

As per the measuring system followed in Assam, one bigha is equal to 2,880 square feet.

The Congress MP, however, did not quite agree with Sarma.

"The boundary of Kaziranga National Park is periodically revived and expanded to accommodate the increasing animal population. These villages were initially outside the park before. So it is quite natural that they obviously had public infrastructure and facilities before. There are so many families who were living there for 50-60 years. And what about the infrastructure built there when Sarma was a Congress minister? Wasn't he the education and health minister?" the Kaliabor MP asked.

Although the Congress opposition to the eviction was a relatively muted one owing to the fact that it was a court order, Gaurav did raise the issue of pattas in a Facebook post.

"Kaziranga has a special place in everyone's hearts. Even in the hearts of the people who were evicted by the recent HC order. They were always willing to move even though many had legal papers dating to the old AGP government. The only request they made was that they are poor and hence needed financial aid from the government," Gaurav said.

The high court order had though dealt with the issue of patta-holders.

"The acquisition and eviction of human habitation is being done for protecting the wildlife which is exposed to rampant poaching. The authorities have complied with all the formalities.... In the face of the Constitutional obligations on the part of the State with a corresponding duty on the part of the citizens it would be highly untenable on the part of the petitioners to take technical pleas and expose the wild life to a great danger of extinction," the Gauhati High Court observed in its order.

The parliamentarian questioned Sarma's claim that it was no longer an issue of mere encroachment but something that had connection with jati (identity), maati (land) and bheti (base).

"The government's slogans of jaati, maati and bheti are questionable. When they have given away oil fields in auction where is the question of bheti? When their central government has given away land to Bangladesh then where is the question of maati?" Gaurav asked in his Facebook post.

However, it is instructive to note that the then Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi was also on board when the land swap issue had made progress. In April 2013, Gogoi had on record spoken in favour of the land swap with Bangladesh.

"As per the agreement, Bangladesh will retain possession of 267.5 hectares of the land while we will get the remaining 397.5 hectares. Assam will not lose anything. May be in map, we will lose but on the ground we will gain," Gogoi had said then.

While analysing the impediments affecting the eviction process, the CAG in a detailed report published in 2014 pointed out politicisation among others as one of the major hurdles. The reasons it cited are:

"(i) Protracted litigation due to cases filed by encroachers in various Courts, some of them are still pending; (ii) Strong resistance from the encroachers assisted by poachers and criminal elements taking shelter in the encroahed areas and chaporis; (iii) Indirect political interference during eviction drives."

The political mud-slinging or rather the blame game which has already started only adds weight to the CAG viewpoint.

"Right now the Kaziranga has gone to the background. The government is seeking publicity as it so far failed to manage the affairs in the state. This is a tactic to divert attention. Hasn't Australia and UK cautioned their citizens against travelling to Assam in an advisory over the prevailing situation?" Gaurav asked.

Questions are also being raised at some quarters that if the people evicted were of doubtful citizenship. The Gauhati High Court in a July 2015 order had directed that "The Superintendent of Police(Border), Nagaon shall also make verification of the Nationality of the encroachers in the 2nd, 3rd and 5th Additions. The compliance report to be submitted by 12-08-2015."

"If the government is doubtful about the citizenship why not identify the illegal ones and deport them?" Gaurav said.

With most of the evicted families belonging to a particular community, there was an undercurrent of tenseness although Sarma said that there was "no communal issue in Kaziranga".

The Lok Sabha MP did not deny that there is an underlying concern although it was largely a political take.

"BJP is a party that is run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The fear is that the affiliate organisations of the RSS might create a communal disharmony," Gaurav said, adding, "Had we been in power we would have prepared a much smoother way to implement the order. We won't have made people refugees in their own state."
A Goa court on Friday acquitted both the accused in the Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case, delivering a devastating blow to her mother, who has been hoping for justice ever since the death of the British schoolgirl in 2008.

The case lasted for eight years and the accused  Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho  were acquitted by the Goa Children's Court president Vandana Tendulkar at the end of a trial.

Friends and relatives of the two accused, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, cheered as the verdict was read out in the state capital Panaji.

But Keeling's mother said she was devastated by the outcome and promised to fight to overturn the verdict.

Fifteen-year-old Keeling was raped and murdered on the famous Anjuna beach in the north of Goa. Her body was found just after dawn on 18 February, 2008.

The police initially declared her death as an accidental drowning, but her mother pushed for a second autopsy.

The autopsy revealed 50 separate cuts and bruises, and too little water in her lungs for drowning. It also revealed that she had been drugged and raped.

Keeling was on a six-month-long family holiday with her mother, her mothers boyfriend and her seven siblings.

She had pleaded her mother to be allowed to remain on the hippy beach, while the rest of the family moved to Karnataka. At first her mother refused, but then a family friend Julio Lobo said that she could stay in his aunt's house near the beach and that he would look after her, according to BBC.

On the night of 17 February, she was seen entering an Anjuna beach bar called Luis Shack at around 3am, by eyewitnesses

The Telegraph quoted the bar owner as saying, She was already inebriated upon her arrival, and was seeking a lift home. A British eyewitness Michael Mannion, however, said that he saw DSouza "lying on top" of Keeling in the bars car park.

Both the accused are alleged to have plied the girl with drugs, raped her and then left her unconscious, The Guardian reported. They have, however, pleaded not guilty.

She was just having fun, helping out, serving food and drinks. She was pretty, and everyone liked her, The Telegraph quoted her mother as saying. However, it later emerged that she had a sexual relationship with one of the locals.

Her mothers unconventional lifestyle drew criticism and she had to fight to protect her reputation and that of her daughter. The BBC reported that Keelings mother recalled a newspaper describing her and her family as "soap-dodging pikeys".

Reporters also denounced Keelings lifestyle, which according to some included experimentation with sex, drugs and alcohol.

Keeling's case got weakened because Mannion could not provide any evidence, Express & Echo reported. Keeling's mother tried to contact him but "he did not answer any of the messages." She said that she has had to face a corrupt police system where bribes are taken. The entire case has been "like 'a game of snakes and ladders' with highs and lows" for her.

On Friday, she decried the Indian justice system and said that she has no faith in it anymore.

2008 Scarlett Keeling murder case: I don't have faith in the justice system here to give us justice, anymore: Scarlett Keeling's mother pic.twitter.com/TxxToyYjkz  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

ANI quoted her as saying that she had some hope from the Central Bureau of Investigation but they are either incompetent or corrupt.

If international tourist comes to Goa and gets murdered, they have no hope for justice in this system: Scarlett Keeling's mother pic.twitter.com/2reTrPOD6X  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

The case is still not closed, because Keelings mother has vowed to keep fighting after the disappointment delivered by the court to her on Friday.

With inputs from AFP.
In the Scarlett Keeling rape and murder case, a Goa court acquitted both the accused  Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho  on Friday. "Somebody murdered my daughter...I am devastated... I've been waiting all this time," said Scarlett's mother, Fiona MacKeown to NDTV.

Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar told CNN-News18 that he was annoyed and heartbroken by the verdict and that the acquittal should be challenged.

The two men, who were charged with raping and causing the death of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling on a Goa beach in 2008, were acquitted by the Goa Children's Court president Vandana Tendulkar at the end of a trial which lasted for eight years.

Fifteen-year-old Keeling's bruised and semi-naked body was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state, popular with Western hippies, eight years ago.

Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho were 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 culpable homicide charge is the most important charge because I believe that she was murdered," Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown told AFP ahead of the verdict.

The teenager's death became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system.

Police initially dismissed Keeling's death as an accidental drowning, but opened a murder investigation after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy, which proved she had been drugged and raped.

It showed that Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but has been dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as "Masala Mike", also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case.

He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party.

With inputs from agencies
United Nations: Underlining that the world cannot have prosperity without peace, India has told the UN member states that terrorism is the principal threat to peace and the poor are its most vulnerable victims.

"We cannot have prosperity without peace, and the principal threat to peace now is terrorism. The poor are the most vulnerable victims of terrorism, not least because conflict leads to devastation," Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said at the United Nations on Thursday.

Speaking at a high-level segment on Right to Development, he said the challenge of the 21st century is to seek peace in all its dimensions and there is no peace greater than peace of mind. "Food, shelter and an economic future are fundamental human rights. They must become the new normal in every corner of the globe," he said.

Akbar stressed that the developed world must help make global governance more democratic and equitable while nation states do all within their powers to bring education, healthcare, sanitation, housing, employment to their peoples, the international community, especially.

He said there is need for new mechanisms such as a Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development to strengthen the work of the Human Rights Council on the Right to Development particularly in the context of 2030 Agenda with a view to strengthening international cooperation on this issue.

Noting that while there has been a decline in the number of people living in extreme poverty, the pace of aspiration has also quickened in the 21st century and the hundreds of millions still trapped in dire poverty do not merely want progress but development also.

"They cannot eat statistics. Piety on paper is not much help to a child in desperate need of medicine in a village hundred miles outside the zone of medical care. The poor will not wait. Why should they? They are asking questions," he said.

He said while poverty has decreased by 3 percent in the last few years the world's wealth has risen by a multiple of that. The richest 1 per cent of the world's population now owns 50 percent of its total wealth. "While the poor have a little more bread; the rich have acquired castles," he added.

Stressing that the Right to Development is a noble and necessary objective, Akbar said the peoples right is a governments duty to esnure that the first and largest share of development must go to those who need it most.

"A world with islands of prosperity amidst a sea of want is not only morally untenable, it is also politically unsustainable. Development is the only guarantee of stability. Education is the cornerstone of development: we must maximize investment in the child, expand knowledge to fight superstition, prejudice and ignorance," he said.

He further noted that rapid globalization in the last two decades has brought forth a series of common global challenges such as accelerating climate change, pandemics, large refugee movements, financial crises, inter-linked markets, commodity rices among others.
The first war covered live on television in India was the Kargil conflict of 1999. The daily military briefings by the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) was a much-viewed event. But they were military operations, which according to the then Army Chief General VP Malik, were fought with 'what we have'. He was alluding to the critical shortages of weapons and ammunition and the unduly long process to modernise the armed forces. But, yet again the Indian forces pulled it off with 'what they had'.

The government was quick to appoint a committee of experts headed by the doyen of matters national security, K Subrahmanyam. Restructuring of the armed forces, revitalising border security and other critical matters were comprehensively addressed. The then deputy prime minister, as the head of a group of ministers, reviewed all the recommendations including one on defence management submitted by a task force headed by Arun Singh and constituted an implementation mechanism which functioned rather efficiently. Then, the government changed and the remaining points for implementations were confined to the proverbial dust bin.

The Mumbai attack of 2008 forced the government to once again review the existing weaknesses and take appropriate measures. Predictably, over time, they too were buried to be redusted during the next episode.

The point to note is that had the recommendations made post-Kargil been seriously and consistently addressed, perhaps the Mumbai attack may not have occurred. Extending the same logic, had we implemented many of the weaknesses rediscovered during the Mumbai attack along with the recommendations made by the group of interlocutors in 2011, we may not have had the situations in the Kashmir Valley, Pathankot or Uri, to worry about.

Much of our problems are linked to the improper functioning of Parliament and consequently poor formulation of effective legislations and laws to tackle the entire spectrum of economic, social and security related issues that confront us. In many ways, they are all interlinked.

While politicians bash each other up, at times physically as well, we the citizens fret and frown without ever acknowledging that we the people put them into Parliament in the first place; by casting our votes for the incompetent, ignoring elections or not participating in any process of cleaning up dirty politics. Electoral, police, judicial and administrative reforms are long overdue. Not much will change without these reforms.

Since the canvas of corrective measures is vast and long, let me focus on just one issue in this piece: Police reforms.

An ungainly and shameful sight on television is an inadequately equipped, physically unfit and apparently ill led police force in any part of the country. Just compare these pictures with not only the more advanced nations but also with our immediate neighbours. Without exception, the first line of defence or assistance to the citizen i.e. the policeman is the most unfortunate product of State politics. The very states who zealously protect their rights on law and order and object to any intervention by the Centre are guilty of politicising, under equipping, neglecting the welfare of the policemen and his family, and undermining the police leadership.

See the video clips of the Uran alert that occurred on 22 September. When the first reports of suspicious armed personnel in the sensitive location of Uran reached the police, cameras captured policemen with neither bulletproof jackets nor helmets, arriving in hoards with (mercifully) 7.62 mm caliber rifles and not the .303 caliber ones, on motorbikes and lining up on the streets.

You would never, on such occasions, see an officer of the force with them. Any uninitiated citizen would wonder what this ill-equipped band of rag-tag policemen would have done had they been attacked by well-trained AK-47 wielding terrorists. They would have been excellent cannon fodder, for, they neither had protection nor a clue on how to take offensive or defensive positions. After subjecting themselves to a photo opportunity, they climbed on their motorcycles and vanished. There were some who, due to their oversized bellies, could not even have dropped to the ground to take up a firing position.

Yes we have the police commandos, yes we have a quick reaction force, but who would authorise the low-end baton or stick-wielding policemen to counter a terrorist threat? Do we have well-trained adequately equipped rapid reaction capability to reach Uran at short notice? Perhaps not. Would it not have been the best option to seek the immediate assistance of the naval security force until the right-fighting element arrived on the scene?

This was only a random sighting reported by a shocked school girl and not a fire-fight with confirmed terrorists. What chance would these policemen have had to survive an attack? In the event, it might as well have been forest guards equipped with some firearms.

Even after repeated terrorist attacks, we are unable to provide the first sensible and rehearsed reaction as dictated by the threat. Is the police force equipped to tackle rampaging crowds on a short notice? Do they even have the basic attire and accessories for self-protection, counter-disturbances and law and order problems? If not, then why not?

Prakash Singh, who fought for police reforms 10 years ago and more importantly based on which the Supreme Court gave clear directions in 2006, have both witnessed the tenth anniversary go by with little or no action to modernise the force.

Let us at least address the reforms required to provide security at the citizens level at the first instance. The military would be happy to address their primary task  an external threat!
A day after a 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, the Defence PRO on Friday said that search operations are over and the naval areas have been sanitised.

Navi Mumbai: As far as Indian Navy is concerned, search ops based on y'day's sightings of suspected terrorists is over: Defence PRO #Uran  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

Sanitisation of naval areas has been undertaken. Navy is maintaining close liaison with local police/other agencies for updates: Defence PRO  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

Police said none of the men could be traced so far even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Pune, said the information about suspicious armed people being spotted in Uran was yet to be corroborated.

Talking to PTI, Satish Mathur, Director General of Police, said, "Search operations by police is still on in Uran area. But, so far, nothing significant has been come across."

He said police had also submitted a confidential report on the search operations to the government. A high-level meeting of Police officials and National Security Guard (NSG) unit commanders was also held at Uran in the morning.

"As the state of alertness is concerned, Indian Navy maintains a high state of alert and tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances," The Western Naval Command of Navy said.

Few children from Uran Education Society's school had reportedly spotted some armed men and their had teacher informed the police. After receiving the information, multiple agencies had launched a probe.

The Western Naval Command (WNC) had later issued a "highest state of alert" along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts where several sensitive establishments and assets are located.

The National Security Guard (NSG), state police's specialised commandos Force One and ATS, apart form the Mumbai police and Coast Guard were also roped in for the search operations.

The Navy had deployed its choppers for aerial surveillance and security was beefed up in parts of Mumbai.

A second battalion of the NSG was deployed on Friday. Schools in the region remained shut after the alert was issued. The Navi Mumbai police also released the sketch of one of the five suspects.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had appealed to citizens not to panic on Thursday and said all precautions are being taken. Gujarat coast was also put on high alert and security agencies were asked to keep a close vigil.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that in the last 36 hours, since the beginning of the massive manhunt, for four suspicious men, as claimed to be seen by two school students in Uran near Navi Mumbai has not yielded any positive result so far.

"The search operations will continue and I appeal to the people to not to believe in rumors and maintain calm," Fadnavis said in Pune.

Earlier, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Affairs Deepak Kesarkar, said that the state won't face a 26/11 type of situation as it is quite prepared to tackle any security situation that may arise due to the lookout for the suspicious men in and around Navi Mumbai.

"The cross-verification is still on. We are checking all CCTV footage gathered from different areas. We are also in touch with the fishing community for any information. The combing operations are still going on. Many state and Central agencies are involved in the process. There is complete coordination among all agencies be it the Force One, National Security Guard, Intelligence Bureau or the local police," Kesarkar said.

On Thursday, the Western Naval Command in Mumbai had issued a high alert along the Mumbai coast after four men in military uniform were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval facility in Uran, about 47 kms from the state capital.

The Western Naval Command (WNC) issued "the highest state of alert" along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad

coasts after suspicious movement of a group was reported in Uran.

According to initial information received by the authorities, four school students spotted a group of people dressed in uniform similar to that of Indian Army near Uran and Karanja area.

The DGP office immediately issued alerts to all police stations along the coast.

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.

With inputs from PTI
Guntur: His grit and determination to not leave the grip of the trunk of a tree for eight hours saved his life while three of his family members were washed away in floods in Andhra Pradesh.

It was not the administration but the villagers who showed the will to rescue the 14-year-old boy from the danger of the flood.

Heavy rains in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh saw flash floods which played havoc in the region.

A 14-year-old boy Venkateshwarulu was in shock when he saw water flooding everywhere and his family comprising father Ch. Kondalu (35), mother Subbulu (25) and sister Vanaja (10) were hit by flooding when water started to rise at the Ganganapalem lift irrigation site. They were washed away but only Venkateshwarulu managed to hold on to a palm tree.

When some people of Ameen sahib palem village saw him, they immediately informed the administration for help. But rescuers couldnt do much. Even police and NDRF tried but in vain as flood waters were flowing heavily.

The local villagers and Venkateshwarlus uncle Ch. Polaiah stood at the side motivating the boy not to leave the tree. He was seen climbing the tree when the water level was rising.

District administration sent a helicopter but it couldnt do much to save the boy. When in the late evening of Thursday, the water receded, the villagers, with the help of rope, got into the water and reached the palm tree and eventually rescued him.

More than 100 people gather at the site when the local level rescue operation was on. After being rescued Venkateshwarlu said that only villagers support gave him strength to hold on to the tree as he thought he will die soon.

He wished his family could have been rescued. However, he thanked the entire village for saving him.
#JohnnieWalkerTheJourney, brings to its audience The Storyline - A series of films that provide a platform to real tales of human triumph from around the world. These inspiring stories of positivity and progress talk of the invincible human spirit to encourage people to be more than what they are. Much like the new documentary film, Ode to Lesvos, released on World Peace Day.

This is an extraordinary story about how an island of 150 in Skala Sikamineas, Greece, exhibited an unbreakable spirit of generosity in spite of being in the middle of an economic crisis of their own.

These islanders of Lesvos not only rescued half a million refugees fleeing the Syrian war but also gave them hope for a better future. The elevating support of three such islanders has earned them a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Indeed, a true example of uncompromising positivity and humanity in the worst of conditions.

This time a year ago, fisherman Stratis Valamios life changed beyond recognition as he spent months on end rescuing men, women and children from the waters around his home. Can you really ignore whats 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, Stratis said.

His village, became the front line of the refugee crisis as hundreds and thousands of people came ashore, fleeing war and seeking for a better tomorrow.

Ode to Lesvos has been directed by Sundance Film Festival-winning director Talal Derki. He himself is a Syrian exile who was honored at Sundance for his documentary on the war in his homeland  Return to Homs. Derki said, This was a deeply personal project, influenced by my life experience of the Syrian and Greek cultures.

Through The Storyline initiative, Johnnie Walker The Journey wants to tell tales of courage shown by ordinary people who go on to do extraordinary work and set an example for people. Through a network of global storytellers (writers, directors & filmmakers), the brand offers real people a voice to tell their stories of uplifting progress.

Watch the heroic story of true valor, optimism and human spirit #KeepWalking. Ode to Lesvos brings to light a lesser told story  the stirring response of islanders who opened their hearts to the refugees rescuing them from the sea, providing shelter and food & water.

This is a sponsored post.
Panaji: Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday wished the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) well for the upcoming state assembly elections in Goa, claiming that AAP would ensure a "Congress-mukt" Goa, if it campaigns aggressively enough and ensures the BJP's victory.

Gadkari, addressing a press conference in Panaji after meeting BJP ministers, MLAs, office-bearers and party workers over the last two days, also sounded confident of resolving the differences in the Goa Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ranks, claiming the division would not impact BJP votes.

"I had decided to conduct a detailed survey when I was appointed as the in-charge of the Goa polls. I have got the preliminary report. AAP's entry is good and useful for us. Out of 10 votes, if they eat away two of our votes, they will claim 10 Congress votes. I wish them well, because they will help us win...it will help us indirectly," Gadkari said making a tongue-in-cheek remark.

Asked whether the Goa polls would further the BJP's dream of a 'Congress-mukt Bharat', Gadkari sarcastically said that 'Congress-mukt Bharat' was a dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress party was working overtime to fulfill it.

"It is moving in that direction. AAP will bring Congress down. It was Mahatma Gandhi's dream that Congress should leave politics and India should be Congress-mukt. The Congress appears to be saying, 'Bapu, we will fulfill your dream and we will start this dream from Goa'... Congress is working towards Bapu's dream and AAP also appears to be pushing them in that direction with all its vigour," Gadkari said sarcastically.

Asked if the split in the RSS camp, led by rebel Sangh leader Subhash Velingkar, and the latter's plan to float a political party with a specific motive to defeat the BJP, worried him, Gadkari said, "Sometimes some Sangh members have taken up such roles in the past, but history says that they eventually stick to the Sangh... I am confident that we will find a solution and that it will not affect the poll prospects."

Gadkari also expressed confidence of continuing with the current alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), adding that the BJP would on its own win 25 out of the 40 seats in the polls, which are likely to be held in early 2017.
In less than 24 hours, the broad contours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's thinking on India's response to Pakistan-sponsored Uri terror attack will be known to people in India and all across the world.

Modi is scheduled to address a public rally in Kozhikode, Kerala on Saturday afternoon. His first public meeting since Uri, so the build-up and hype around it is natural. The focus will be on him, what he thinks and how India's might should be displayed against a rogue neighbour.

For the next two days  till Sunday evening  the scene of action would shift from New Delhi to Kozhikode. From Modi to the central and chief ministers of BJP, MPs and leaders placed at intermediate tiers from across the country will attend the party's three-day conclave and office bearers meeting. It will be followed by a National Council meeting on Sunday, which will be attended by around 1,800 party leaders of varied hierarchy. BJP president Amit Shah landed there on Thursday, Modi will reach on Saturday and stay there till Sunday evening.

Modi has chosen to hold a public rally on the first day of his landing, breaking away from the usual practice where the supreme party leader would hold a public rally after the conclusion of the conclave. He will also speak at the BJP conclave on Sunday.

The ruling party's Kozhikode conclave has suddenly become very significant for multiple reasons  first, during the conclave and on the sidelines, Modi will have the opportunity to reassess the mood among his party leaders over Uri, vis-a-vis Pakistan. Every single party leader who has landed in Kozhikode and will be landing there by Saturday would remain gripped by an overpowering curiosity as to what their leader has to say about teaching a firm lesson to Pakistan. Nobody would really expect him to reveal the strategic details but at least get a hint as to how he proposes to do it.

After all, the basic faith, at least that's what the BJP would make people believe, on which this party was founded and survives, is robust nationalism. Modi is considered to be a living symbol of what the BJP stands for. The BJP's rank and file, as also those in Sangh Parivar, want strong military action against Pakistan. The day Uri terror attack took place, party general secretary Ram Madhav advocated "jaw for a teeth" philosophy, a day ago senior leader and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said, "We all want peace with Pakistan but we must remember that sometimes the road to peace passes through war."

Modi's challenge is how to contain that rising clamour for a firm and decisive military action against Pakistan. He can't afford to fail his people in the party and the parivar, and his electoral support base, yet contain that anger. As Prime Minister he has his options, but also some hard facts on his table, which nobody else would be aware of. He has to keep that anger going but also ensure that it is not hyped to the extent that it starts proving to be counterproductive. So far he has been able to balance it, but Kozhikode is different. He is going to be face to face with his own party men and women.

A decision to hold the BJP conclave in Kozhikode was taken much in advance, much before Uri happened, but after Pathankot. This is the same place where way back in 1967 Deen Dayal Upadhaya was elected as Jan Sangh (BJP's erstwhile avatar) president and it is the ideal place to announce re-affirmation to his ideas and party's year-long programmes on his birth centenary. For the first time, the BJP has opened its electoral account in Kerala and hope to be a formidable challenge to the ruling party in the next few years.

But post Uri attack, the popular attention would be restricted to Uri. So far, beyond Modi's Sunday tweet, "I assure the nation those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished," and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reiteration of it, there has been nothing more.

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

Since then, there have been a series of meetings held by Modi, but most importantly Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given a highly condemnable speech at the United Nations General Assembly.

India invoked the right to respond and gave a befitting rebuttal to Sharif. On Monday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to show her oratory skills to trounce Pakistan. But before that, the nation would like to hear from Modi and what he thinks of Sharif and his establishment, with whom he had been friends briefly; he had even gone to Lahore to attend a family wedding.

In his Independence Day speech, Modi had made a big bold shift in national policy by publicly talking about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Balochistan and Gilgit. An early hint to that had come in Home Minister Rajnath Singh's tough statement in Parliament and in Modi's opening remarks at an all party meet on Kashmir held on the conclusion of Monsoon Session. But nobody had really expected Modi to speak about this major foreign policy shift from the ramparts of Red Fort. That has been strongest policy statement ever made by an Indian Prime Minister  openly supporting Independence of Balochistan from Pakistan. Since then, Baloch people's struggle and the Pakistani army's atrocities against them have caught international attention.

When Modi had made the statement, Pathankot and the subsequent deceit was weighing heavily on the minds of people and the official New Delhi establishment.

He is well aware that Saturday afternoon's speech would have the whole nation glued to their television sets and his every single word would be weighed. Will he go a step ahead than what he had said on 15 August?
Why did BJP president Amit Shah choose Kozhikode to hold the party's crucial national meet? Kozhikode, unlike Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod, isnt a traditional stronghold of BJP in Kerala. But it is a strategically important district for the party in the Malabar region, where BJP has seen its presence growing steadily, albeit slowly, over the years. The decision to choose Kozhikode as the national-meet venue shows how Kerala is emerging as a potential stronghold in BJPs larger scheme of things. Shah is setting the tone for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections by paying more attention to the hitherto ignored state.

If anyone needs to worry, it is the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which has witnessed significant erosion in votes in the last round of Assembly polls. By choosing Kerala at this juncture, BJP wants to send a strong message on the importance it attaches to the southern state in its national roadmap.

According to local media reports, this is only the fourth time that BJP is holding its national meet in Kerala since the party's formation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to arrive for the meeting on Saturday, will make his first ever public speech here after the deadly Uri attacks, which has put terrorism back on the discussion table. Pressure is mounting on the NDA-government to exercise its options to give 'befitting' response to Pakistan that has been exporting terror across the border  both financially and by aiding terrorists with military resources. At the Kozhikode meet, the party is likely to deliberate on reworking nation's security policy in the backdrop of the Uri terror attacks. This means that the Kerala meet, especially PM Modis speech on Saturday, will have intense international media attention.

Within Kerala, party's decision to choose Kozhikode is interesting. Consider this: In the last state Assembly elections, BJP almost doubled its vote share in the district's thirteen constituencies taking the figure to close to 13 percent compared to the 2011 Assembly polls. Even in the local body elections in November last year, BJP made notable progress by wining 7 seats in the Kozhikode corporation. In the past, the party never crossed 2.

In the last Assembly elections, the party opened its account in the state with O Rajagopal winning Nemam, a suburb of Kerala's capital. The party has sensed an opportunity to build a strong battle zone for the party in the 2019 general elections here, crucial for its larger goal of putting up a third front in the traditionally bipolar political state dominated by the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Congress party-led UDF.

As Firstpost noted in an earlier article, 2016 has been a landmark year for BJP in Kerala. Withstanding the strong Left wave that swept through the state, the lone lotus bloomed in Nemam marking the first victory for the party in Kerala Assembly elections. The party has indeed begun to make strong inroads to the bipolar political landscape of the state.

In the Assembly elections this year, BJP's vote share rose to10.5 percent as compared to the 6 percent in 2011 Assembly elections, but it has remained flat when compared with the 10.2 percent it scored in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Seen together with its ambitious ally, Bhartiya Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), the vote share is about 14 percent as compared to the 16 percent the alliance clocked in local body polls last year. The BDJS contested in 37 seats and garnered 3.9 percent total vote share while BJP finished with 10.5 percent.

That was a less-than-expected progress though, considering the huge clout of Hindu Ezhavas in central Kerala (Alappuzha, Kollam districts where the BJP-BDJS combine didn't live upto the expectations) whose support BDJS chief, Vellappalli Natesan claims to enjoy. But, the BJP sent out the signal that in Kerala BJP is more than just a party-on-the-paper. Particularly, in a scenario, where the Congress-led UDF has weakened much on account of repeated corruption charges and policy flip-flops, the BJP senses a big opportunity to emerge as a third front.

BJP has been struggling hard to grow beyond its image of being a party of upper caste Hindus in Kerala and reach out to a wider section, by befriending the Ezhavas (lower cast Hindus) and even non-Hindus. But the party's efforts to create a wider appeal, beyond its Hindutva tag, has seemingly taken a beating because of the way a few issues, like ban on beef and cow politics, were handled. In other instances, Amit Shah's tweet wishing Vaman Jayanti on Onam was also seen as part of BJP's Hindutva agenda and the BJP chief was rebuked on social media. To further its vote bank in the state, the BDJS alliance will be key for the BJP.

Political analysts see the BJPs poll alliance with Hindu Ezhavas by tying up with Natesan's BDJS as a landmark move in the states political history since Ezhavas constitute a sizeable chunk of the Hindu population in the state, whose votes are traditionally divided between the Left and Right. As said earlier, it is also a marked shift in the perception of the BJP in the state where the party is typically associated with Hindu upper castes.

So far, the poll outcomes show that this strategy hasnt worked in such way which will make the BJP a deciding force in Kerala's power equation. The experimental alliance was expected to aid the party by a much bigger margin in central Kerala  something that has seemingly flopped. However, there has been progress for sure and Modi-Shah duo would want to build on this momentum and make a bigger wave in the 2019 polls.

The point here is choosing Kerala, Kozhikode in particular, for BJPs national meet at this point of time isnt a coincidence. The BJP is already making its moves keeping the year 2019 Kerala plan in mind.
Kozhikode: The three-day National Council meet of BJP began on Friday with general secretaries, office bearers and key state leaders holding discussions to give final shape to a comprehensive pro-poor agenda of the party and the future strategy to deal with Pakistan in the wake of Uri terror attack.

BJP President Amit Shah is chairing the meeting attended by top party leaders from across the country.

The leaders have insisted that their ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay's concept of 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last man) will be key to their deliberations which will also touch on the Uri terror attack, that left 18 Army men dead, the Kashmir unrest and other germane issues like state polls scheduled for next year and the GST.

The party is expected to articulate its 'garib kalyan' agenda to reach out to the mariginalised like Dalits and OBCs ahead of next year's crucial state polls, including in Uttar Pradesh.

This is Upadhyay's birth centenary year and his 100th birth anniversary falls on 25 September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also arrive here on Saturday and will address a public meeting, his first such address after the attack in Uri. He will address the party's National 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.

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.

In its bid to woo the poor, dalits and marginalised sections in society, the BJP is of the view that effective implementation of the agenda can help it reach out to them, as it is facing flak over dalit issues from Opposition parties.

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.

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.

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.

The meet will also focus on increased cases of violence against BJP cadres and those of its ideological mentor RSS in Left-ruled Kerala. BJP leadership has blamed CPM for these incidents.
On Monday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani hosted a 'Twitter townhall' where citizens asked him questions related to the state government. However, Twitterati was not very pleased with the initiative, and trolled him on the microblogging site.

Join Twitter Town Hall with Shri @vijayrupanibjp on 23 Sep from 10 am onward. Ask your questions at https://t.co/Xx0LE5avlu. #AskVijayRupani pic.twitter.com/o9AFc93Tcv  BJP (@BJP4India) September 22, 2016

"Happy to announce that I am hosting a Twitter townhall on 23 September," Rupani tweeted.

"People of the state can ask me any question related to the development or administrative work or any other issues regarding the state," Rupani said, in a video message posted on Twitter.

Early morning on 23 September, Rupani had tweeted with his official handle that questioning would start at 10 am.

But people soon realised that the time for response from the CM was missing. Soon people on Twitter started trolling Rupani. At 12.46 pm, the CM announced that the townhall was a "phenomenal success". Twitterati wondered 'where' it happened.

Received thousands of tweets @twitter Townhall. Overwhelmed by your response.My office will follow up on the questions asked. Thank you all.  Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) September 23, 2016

#SocialMedia manager of #CM forgot to ask Time so didn't mentioned in tweet so you can #AskVijayRupani & get reply in 2017 - Technical Error pic.twitter.com/rS9kYcIfcf  Divyesh Bhatt (@dnbhatt) September 23, 2016

#AskVijayRupani when and how will you give the answer?? Are you playing a game with public? waiting for your answer.. do the need full  komal patel (@komal2490) September 23, 2016

Why are you so scared of Arvind Kejriwal and AAP?#AskVijayRupani

/.  Rakesh K. (@AAPKA_RK) September 23, 2016

@vijayrupanibjp Sir, RUDA is not cooperating with us for water logging issues during monsoon. Needs Asphalt/concreet roads. #AskVijayRupani  Bhavin Joshi (@bhavinhjoshi) September 23, 2016

Rupani had hoped to address people's issues with the townhall. He had said that this would be an attempt to build a bridge between people and the government.

According to the Chief Minister, due to social media it has become easier to communicate with the people directly. However, we think that the attempt seemed to back-fire a little.

The Gujarat CM was also seen giving the same reply to a lot of questions on Twitter. The automated response went to a Twitter users irrespective of their questions. Moreover the responses were sent on Saturday, a day after the 'Twitter townhall' where the questions were posed.

@77ravipatel Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind.  CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016

@2aadhya Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind.  CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016

@snehparmar Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind.  CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016

@jitupatel91 Govt wants to examine fix pay policy with an open mind.  CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016

Several users asked multiple questions from single @twitter handle on #AskVijayRupani. Some have been answered, rest will be answered too.  CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 24, 2016

Maybe it's time for the CM to hire a new social media team?
Kozhikode: BJP on Friday said it was keen to expand the party-led National Democratic Alliance in Kerala and prepared to coordinate and accept any political party into its fold.

The remarks assume significance in the wake of reports that the party was eyeing Kerala Congress (M), led by former Finance Minister KM Mani, which snapped its over three decade old ties with the UDF recently following differences with Congress over bar bribery scam.

KC(M), which enjoyed a strong support base among Christian community in central Travancore, has six MLAs in the present state Assembly and one MP.

After its fallout with Congress-led UDF, KC(M) recently decided to sit as a separate bloc in the state Assembly, keeping an equi-distance to both UDF and LDF.

However, former BJP state president, PS Sreedharan Pillai told PTI here that so far no talks had been held with the Kerala Congress (M) on the matter.

"But the party was interested in expanding NDA by taking more parties in its fold," he said.

Pillai also rejected reports that fissures have erupted between BJP and its key partner in Kerala Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), floated by Sree Narayana Dharam Paripalana Yogam, (SNDP) General Secretary Vellapally Natesan.

SDNP is a powerful social organisation of backward Ezhava community in the state.

"It was a frivolous story. Because of the enthusiasm generated over the party's national council here, some efforts are being made by anti-BJP forces to dampen it," he said.

Meanwhile, indicating that party was not averse to have KC(M) in its fold, BJP spokesperson in Kerala JR Padmakukar told PTI "we have made our stand clear that no party, including KC-M, is untouchable to us. We are planning to expand our base. All parties are welcome to NDA."

BJP, which had garnered about 16 percent vote share in the 16 May polls, is upbeat that it has succeeded in opening its account in Kerala Assembly with the victory of former Union minister O Rajagopal.

"We are planning to expand our base in the state. All parties are welcome to NDA. If they express their wish, we will discuss in the NDA and take a decision," he said.

On BJP eyeing KC(M), Padmakukar said, "let them take a decision. If they express a desire to join NDA or support or work along with BJP, we will take a decision. Our basic idea is to strengthen our vote share in Kerala to become a ruling party in the state".
Srinagar: Tariq Hameed Karra, founder member of PDP, on Friday formally resigned from the Lok Sabha protesting against the "failure" of Parliament to make "any tangible moves" to end violence in Kashmir.

A week after he announced his decision to quit the party and Lok Sabha, Karra sent his resignation to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Friday.

The PDP MP from Srinagar parliamentary constituency said he was forced to take the extreme step to register his "strong protest" against the unabated killings, grievous injuries and "repression and suppression" let loose on the people of Kashmir and the "failure of Parliament", Centre and Jammu and Kashmir government "to find a way out of this painful situation".

"The prevailing situation in Kashmir is not only alarming but tragic as well. Every single day... the number of injured is out numbering hospital capacities and the number of arrested is out numbering the lock ups," he said.

"For the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, people of Kashmir were forced not to offer Eid prayers," he said in the letter in which he has asked the Lok Sabha Speaker to accept his resignation with effect from 15 September.

He said in the prevailing situations, "which is very critical", there is an urgency of responding to it beyond party politics.

"The present situation can't be allowed to dither any more as it could have dangerous consequences for the state and region," he said, adding "it has already threatened the gains of the peace process which were so painstakingly made earlier."

He said the need of hour is that the government must reinforce its resolve to work through peaceful means and through public participation towards restoration of peace.

"The views of the people of the state, cutting across the political divide, have to be respected and responded to for the permanent settlement of the issue instead of resorting to hegemonic mindset," he said.

He said in the prevailing situation, he has decided to stand by his people instead of continuing as a member of a forum "which is yet to make any tangible moves" to end the violence in Kashmir.

61-year-old Karra had announced his resignation on 16 September, blaming the PDP-BJP alliance for the current turmoil saying "the seeds of deceit, disillusionment and disenchantment were sown in the minds and hearts of people the day the PDP tied an alliance with the BJP ...it was an unnatural alliance."

A one time close confidant of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Karra, who had defeated National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in 2014 Lok Sabha polls by a margin of 40,000 votes, had also accused the PDP of "working on the RSS-agenda".
There has been an important shift in Indian politics recently. In the previous days, most of the political parties engaged openly in the politics of Muslim polarisation, before as well as after the elections. Names like Mulla Mulayam and Maulana Bahugana were seen by the leaders of these parties in the form of electoral dividend. Now and then, BJP has also talked about organising nationalist Muslims.

But in the current scenario, secular parties are afraid to openly pursue the politics of Muslim polarisation. As a result, these parties are adopting the politics of counter-polarisation as their campaign strategy.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh family's strategy of counter polarising Hindu votes versus the Muslim votes came to fruition in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. With this approach, they made the polarisation of Muslim votes almost irrelevant. They tried to implement this strategy in the previous Bihar Vidhan Sabha elections as well, but failed to succeed due to various reasons.

During the Assam Assembly elections as well, BJP and its alliance succeeded by employing non-Muslim counter polarisation. In the context of the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, all the secular parties are bound to showcase a soft Hindu identity in their posture as part of the counter polarisation approach.

The 2017 UP elections are being considered as the semi-finals to the grand finale that is the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Political actions implemented at the ground level as well as the statements made by political leaders reveal that the forthcoming elections will be fought through the efforts of polarisation of Hindutva politics and the fear that would emerge in this process.

The BJP and the Sangh family are working on their master strategy for polarising Hindu votes while keeping the focus on development and caste issues. Whereas, parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress are becoming victims of a double fear.

Their first fear is that the Muslim votes may get divided and become irrelevant just like it had happened in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Their second fear is that the BJP may portray them as a pro-Muslim party and in that case it may create a counter polarisation of Hindu votes against them.

Therefore parties like BSP, who have emerged as the strongest contender for the Muslim votes, are critiquing the Hindutva brand of politics without raising the issues related to Muslims in an assertive manner. These parties wish to bring the Muslims within their fold gradually, like it had happened in Bihar. They want to polarise the Muslim votes in a concealed manner which does not lead to the counter polarisation of Hindus against them.

It is known that BJP, by adopting Amit Shahs strategy, is aiming to create a strong counter polarisation just like it had done in the Assam elections. Shah elaborated his strategy in one of his statements that 'every polarisation produces counter polarisation and BJP will benefit from it'. Their strategy proved to be a success in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the recently held Assam elections but due to the conscious and active efforts of the grand alliance in Bihar, their strategy failed there.

In spite of aspiring for Muslim votes parties like BSP, SP and Congress adopt various political actions to appease the Hindus. For instance, SP in UP is taking Hindus on a pilgrimage under its policy, Shravan Teerth Yojana. This strategic policy, adopted earlier by BJP leader Sheoraj Singh in Madhya Pradesh, was beneficial in the association of Hindu votes.

The SP leaders and MLAs are providing financial assistance for the sculpting of idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. They are doing this not as voluntary social and religious work but because of the exposure on national media and the attention in the Lok Sabha that comes with it.

SP in recent years has been celebrating the Saifai Mahotsava in a huge campus of Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. This venue is used by SP every year to showcase its yearly accomplishments and organisational strength. These meetings are conducted by SP to connect with the common people, politically and culturally.

SP leader Dharmendra Yadav erected a 35-foot high idol of Lord Hanuman on this campus, amidst religious chants and hymns, in order to appease those Hindus who regard Lord Hanuman as their God. The imagination of Rama is also attached with the imagination of Hanuman; therefore, through the medium of idol-worship, the SP is trying to create a broader iconography of Hinduism.

The case of Kairana is also worth mentioning here. Kairana is not far from Muzaffarpur and is a small town of the newly established Shamli district, which has remained quite popular for its music. It has been said that the Hindus residing here fled from their homes due to the fear of Muslims. One of the BJP Parliamentarians had uploaded a list of such Hindus, which had created quite a few ripples in the media. The SP, in the meantime, established a committee of Hindu saints to set up an investigation into the incident.

On 20 June 2016, saints Acharya Pramod, Swami Kalyan, Narayan Giri, Swami Chinmayanad and Swami Chakrapaani visited Kairana and reported that the news about the Hindus fleeing from their homes was not true. The point to be noted in this is that the government  instead of relying on the Police, DM, commissioner and other officials  paid more heed to the words of the saints, thereby spreading a message to the press that many of the renowned Hindu saints were standing in their support. The SP, through its protective strategies, thus tried to provide an answer to BJPs aggressive brand of Hindutva politics.

If you look back into history, you will find that SP has also imbibed benefit from Ayodhyas political story. In the month of November each year, a 14 Kosi (roughly 50 km) Parikrama is organised in Ayodhya which is attended by followers from nearby areas as well as others from across the nation.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised one such Parikrama in the year 2013. VHP had a clash on this issue with the SP government in UP that year. In the years preceding this incident, the Hindu saints were provided hospitality by the SP at the CM's residence in Lucknow. This proves that SP on one hand, through its secular image, is trying to make their place among the Muslims and on the other hand also want to add an element of Hindu appeasement to its image.

Associating with Hindus as part of UP's electoral politics may not be on the BSP's priority list but it is still present. The BSP is not participating in the elections in as vocal a manner as the SP but one can see the hidden aspiration of the party for showcasing its Hindutva policy.

Mayawati herself is reluctant to participate in religious programmes of the Hindus, Muslims and the Buddhists. She, however, has been participating in programmes associated with the erection of idols of Kabir and Ravidas and all those associated with BR Ambedkar. Unlike Mayawati though, her party leaders participate in such religious programmes and festivals.

BSP leaders Swami Prasad Maurya and Nasimuddin Siddiqui have been participating in several Buddhist and Muslim programmes respectively. Siddiqui also participated in the Buddhist programme organised by the BSP as a part of its strategy for strengthening the Dalit-Muslim alliance for the 2017 elections.

Similarly, BSP MLA Ramashankar Singh of Ballia took about 5000 Hindu followers for a holy dip in the 2016 Sinhastha Kumbh at Ujjain on the occasion of Mohini Ekadashi via train. These activities of the party just before the commencement of the 2017 UP elections indicate that all these parties are fearful of the possibility of counter Hindu polarisation and want to create a space for themselves in the minds of people as a pro-Hindu party.

The Congress party, however, recently appointed Imran Masood as its vice-president and in doing so sent out a message for the mobilisation of Muslim votes. But the Congress leaders aspiring for MLA seats in the upcoming election are running towards the Hindu temples Vindhyachal Devi and Maihar Devi, reflecting the same fear of being seen as anti-Hindu.

Although it has been tested before, it remains to be seen how much the political parties gain or lose by adopting this new political posture.
With India-Pakistan relations touching an all-time low in the last decade, and the two nations indulging in mudslinging over the situation in Kashmir, terror group AQIS (Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent) has said that Pakistan has ditched the people of Kashmir and abetted their oppression for political gains.

According to a report in The Indian Express, AQIS has released an 11-page statement urging the people of Kashmir to distinguish between "sympathisers and selfish". The outfits spokesperson, Ustadh Usama Mahmood said, in a message titled 'Jihad of Kashmir: A Call to Reflection & Action' that waging a war under Pakistani supervision has been tantamount to "wasting the fruitage of jihad". It alleged that allowing the wounds of Kashmiris to fester was "a part of their politics".

Pakistan's link with the terror group goes back a long way as the group remains an active nuisance for the state and neighbouring Afghanistan; the group, thought to be uprooted has re-emerged as AQIS in Pakistan, according to a report in The Washington Post. "Initially, AQIS struggled to gain traction in Pakistan  it has been the principal target of President Obamas drone-strike strategy in the countrys northwestern tribal belt. But AQIS is now finding its footing in southern Pakistan, powered by fresh recruits and budding alliances with other militant organizations," the The Washigton Post report quotes.

Besides, Afghanistan has time and again blamed the former of harbouring terrorists and members of the group, openly and on international platforms. According to a report in The Dawn, a Pakistani news website, Afghanistan has alleged that terrorists wounded in Afghanistan are openly treated in Pakistani hospitals. The Afghan premier Ashraf Ghani said, according to the report, that Islamabad actively harbours and trains terrorists on its territory. Also recently, in the wake of the Uri terrorist attack (the deadliest attack on Indian Army in the past few years), Kabul reiterated its condemnation of Pakistan's inaction against terrorists. "The Taliban and affiliate groups are sustained with logistical, financial and material support from elements in Pakistan," Afghanistan's foreign minister said.

The US too, has time and again, vocalised its condemnation of the terrorism emanating from the Pakistani soil. The Washington Post article states, "US intelligence officials have worried for years about potential links between Al-Qaeda and rogue Pakistani military officials. That Osama bin Laden was found hiding near a Pakistan military training academy did little to allay their suspicions."

Another article in NBC News from 2008 reads "The reality is that Al-Qaeda has created a safe haven in Pakistan that in some respects is more effective than what they had in Afghanistan before 9/11".

More recently, after the Uri attack, US State Secretary John Kerry also took up the matter with Pakistan, clearly indicating that the US wants to see much more being done on the terror front in Pakistan.

But in the past few years, Pakistan had been clamping down at least on AQIS and Taliban. According to a report in The Dawn from May this year, 14 Al-Qaeda terrorists were killed by Pakistani forces, including AQIS leader Bilal Lateef alias Yasir Punjabi.

However, the action against comes most possibly under US pressure as this terror group directly conflicted with Washington's interest.

The amount of United States intervention in Pakistani action against AQIS is clear from the fact that in 2013, US conducted a drone strike in Pakistani territory to kill Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, who took over as the leader of the Al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban in 2009. The Pakistani government denounced Mehsud's killing as a US bid to derail peace talks and summoned the US ambassador on Saturday to complain. Some politicians called for blocking of US military supply lines into Afghanistan.

Besides this, a more popular and widely recalled US ambush strike on Pakistani territory was the one in which the notorious Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed, in a operation that was strategically kept a secret even from the Pakistani administration, as The Washington Post reports. The fact that the US didn't choose to take Pakistan into confidence before conducting the stealth raid on Laden's residence speaks volumes about the state's history in tackling terrorism.

Therefore, buckling down under US pressure or with its independent free will, Pakistan has clearly lost favours with the dreaded terror group, which has openly condemned its state policy of stoking unrest in Kashmir and then reaping political benefits out of it.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday warned India that by granting asylum to Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, it will become an "official sponsor of terrorism".

"India granting asylum to Bugti will amount to harbouring a terrorist by a state...thus (India) becoming official sponsor of terrorism," Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif tweeted.

Asif's remarks came after it emerged that Bugti's application seeking political asylum in India was yesterday received by the Home Ministry which is examining it.

Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi.

Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. The decision of seeking asylum was taken at a meeting of the Baloch Republican Party on Sunday in Geneva.

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.
New Delhi: With India saying that there have been differences over the implementation of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, a dispute that was referred to an international tribunal under the aegis of the World Bank, the issue has come back into focus because of the current tension with Pakistan following the 18 September cross-border terror attack on an army base at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed the lives of 18 Indian soldiers. On Thursday, India raised the issue saying a treaty could not be a "one-sided affair".

So, what is the treaty all about? Here is a primer:

What is the Indus Waters Treaty?

The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing arrangement signed by then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then President of Pakistan Ayub Khan on 19 September, 1960, in Karachi. It covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers  Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The agreement was brokered by the World Bank.

Why was the agreement signed?



The agreement was signed because the source of all the rivers of the Indus basin were in India (Indus and Sutlej, though, originate in China). It allowed India to use them for irrigation, transport and power generation, while laying down precise do's and don'ts for India on building projects along the way. Pakistan feared that India could potentially create droughts in case of a war between the two countries. A Permanent Indus Commission set up in this connection has gone through three wars between the two countries without disruption and provides a bilateral mechanism for consultation and conflict-resolution through inspections, exchange of data and visits.

What does the agreement entail?



The treaty gave the three "eastern rivers" of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej to India for use of water without restriction. The three "western rivers" of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum were allocated to Pakistan. India can construct storage facilities on "western rivers" of up to 3.6 million acre feet, which it has not done so far. India is also allowed agriculture use of 7 lakh acres above the irrigated cropped area as on 1 April, 1960.

Is there a dispute?

Although the two countries have been managing to share the waters without major dispute, experts say that the agreement is one of the most lop-sided with India being allowed to use only 20 percent of the six-river Indus water system. Pakistan itself in July this year sought an international arbitration if India sought to build hydro power projects on the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. Though the agreement has been seen as one of the most successful water-sharing pacts, the current tension between the two South Asian neighbours might well lead to a flashpoint. Strategic affairs and security experts say that future wars could well be fought over water.

Could India abrogate the agreement?



This is unlikely since the treaty has survived three wars between the two countries. Although on Thursday India raised the issue, saying that for a treaty to work there had to be "mutual cooperation and trust" between the two sides, this seems to be more pressure tactics than any real threat to review the bilateral agreement. And the idea that India can intimidate Pakistan by threatening to cut of river waters is nothing new. It has arisen before every major conflict. A unilateral abrogation would also attract criticism from world powers, as this is one arrangement which has stood the test of time.

Short of abrogation, can India do something?



Some experts have said that if India starts making provision for storage facility involving the "western rivers", which it is allowed under the treaty of up to 3.6 million acre feet, this may send a strong message to its neighbour. Pakistan has often sought arbitration proceedings just on mere impression that India may do so, seeking to dissuade its larger neighbour from tinkering with the status quo.
As far as lighthearted fluff interviews ahead of the 2016 United States presidential election candidates goes, the standards havent been particularly high.

But Hillary Clinton may have changed that with her delightfully deadpan interview on Funny or Dies show Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis. This satirical interview might be the anti-Trump card that Hillary was waiting for ahead of the first presidential debate on Monday.



Even though Hillary sarcastically states that, I really regret doing this, media houses are deeming it as one of her best interviews so far. Considering how the Democratic Party has been pulling out all the stops to humanise Hillary, her mercilessly poker-faced points may have finally hit the jackpot.

If youre wondering what hard hitting journalistic questions actor and stand-up comedian Zach Galifianakis asked, then heres a preview:

As Secretary, 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? Are we going to be stuck with Tim Kaine for 9 months? How does this work?

Rather than taking the bait of these silly questions; rather than exuding excitement or desperately laughing the jokes off, the presidential candidate went full-Hillary and gave curt, proper answers to the questions. Her brusque Don't tell me what to say is just waiting to become part of the gif hall of fame.



via GIPHY

If youre losing your patience and are wondering if there was some serious political and social issues discussed in the conversation as well, then youre in luck. Hillary said that it would be an extraordinary honor and responsibility to be the first girl President and discussed what that would mean for not just little girls but little boys too. She also bluntly stated that she was not down with TPP i.e. the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. She also said that the focus of her Presidency has to be the economy and that we need more good jobs with rising incomes. We gotta make the economy work for everybody, - not just those at the top, she added.

When Galifianakis asked if once Trump is elected President, and Kid Rock becomes Secretary of State, would she move to Canada or one of the Arctics, Hillarys answer was a winner. She said that, I would stay in the United States. I would try to prevent him destroying the United States. Not even the quip of having Donalds Make America great again advert phased Hillarys stoic resolve.

When asked whether Hillarys daughter Chelsea and Ivanka Trump talk about boys that might have crushers on them, like her dad? she just brushed it off with an I don't think so.

The cherry on the top of this hilarious interview was when Galifianakis told Hillary that, We should stay in touch. What's the best way to reach you? Email?

We dont think Hillary will be sending him an email anytime soon.
Washington: Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, "directly" shares the responsibility of the unrest afflicting the US following a series of shooting of black people by the police, her Republican rival Donald Trump has alleged.

"Those peddling the narrative of cops as a racist force in our society  a narrative supported with a nod by my opponent  share directly in the responsibility for the unrest that is afflicting our country and hurting those who have the very least," Trump said in a fiery speech in Pennsylvania.

Addressing an impressive rally in this key battleground State, Trump said the job of a leader is to stand in someone else's shoes and see things from their perspective.

"Hillary Clinton calls people who don't support her deplorable, and irredeemable. I call anyone who doesn't support me an American citizen who is entitled to equal representation under the law.

"The 70-year-old reality TV star said in order to make cities safer for citizens, we must work with our police  not against our police."

Trump said the rioting in streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens.

"It must be ended. The main victims of these violent demonstrations are law-abiding African-Americans who live in these communities and only want to raise their children in peace," he added.

Alleging that Clinton does not have to worry about the sirens and the gunshots at night, he said it is the poor family living in the inner city who feel like a "refugee in their own country".

Trump said Americans want a Commander-in-Chief that will defeat radical Islamist terrorism and protect the borders.

Taking a dig at Clinton, who has taken a couple of days off from her grilling campaign schedule ahead of three presidential debates beginning Monday, Trump said that one has to be oneself and he is "ready" for it.

American media says that the Monday debate is likely to attract a record number of viewership both inside and outside the US.

In US presidential election system, debates between the two major party candidates are considered to be crucial. Performance of the candidates are believed to be a determining factor in Americans making up their mind to vote in the presidential elections.

Clinton, the first woman presidential nominee of a major political party, has taken a couple of days off from campaigning, while Trump said he plans to campaign even tomorrow.

At an election rally in Philadelphia, Trump asked his audience where is Clinton.

"Where is Hillary today? Well they say she's practicing for the debate. Some people think she's sleeping," Trump said.

He told the crowd they had "46 days to change the world".
India's biggest enemies are the hyper-nationalists who roll out a new threat to our enemies everyday without considering its practicability or efficacy.

Their sheikhchilli-esque boasts and bluster, born out of 'Main ye kar doonga, Main woh kar doonga' syndrome, without follow-up action often turns embarrassing, signalling to our enemies that India is often all talk and no action.

So, it would indeed be a great service to India if the 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' brigade goes back to its cow vigilantism and Arvind Kejriwal or Kanhaiya Kumar bashing. For India's benefit, our armchair warlords should leave the job of defending our country and dealing with Pakistan to the Prime Minister and his team of experts.

For, many of their ideas are based on the notion that dealing with a nuclear-powered enemy with reasonable amount of arms parity is as easy as moving the joystick of a play station or moving pieces on a chessboard.

Consider, for instance, the suggestion that India should unilaterally abrogate the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. An agreement for sharing of water flowing in the three eastern rivers  Beas, Ravi and Sutlej  and the three western rivers  Indus, Chenab and Jhelum  was signed between the two countries way back in 1960.

Since then, the two countries have fought two full-scale wars, grappled over Kargil, mobilised their forces on the border at least thrice  1987, 1990 and 2001-02  and have returned from the precipice several times. Yet, not even once has India thought of annulling the treaty.

The reason is simple. (No, it is not because Jawaharlal Nehru ordained it). The idea is simply unviable and can establish a precedent that will give unprecedented leverage to every upper riparian (where a river originates) country.

As The Indian Express argues in this report, blocking the three western rivers that flow uninterrupted into Pakistan may actually lead to flooding of several Indian cities in north India. Experts quoted by the newspaper argue that impeding the flow of water could actually turn counter-productive for India.

Once India decides to exercise its upper riparian rights, it would expose itself to similar action in future by China. Just like the eastern and western rivers that flow into Pakistan from India, the Brahmaputra that feeds large swathes of India and Bangladesh originates in China. India and China already have major differences over the former's intentions to dam the flow of Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra or Tsangpo). Once India sets the precedent of unilateral action by an upper riparian state, what would stop China from emulating our philosophy in the future?

Obviously, blocking Indus water is a hare-brained idea. It could lead to both short-term flooding and long-term China consequences. And this is precisely why the treaty has survived more than five decades of hostilities and wars between India and Pakistan under governments of different hues and ideologies.

Hawks have also been demanding India to do a Myanmar on Pakistan, implying that our soldiers cross the LoC and hunt down militants holed up across Muzzafarabad. On paper, it sounds logical that if India can make punitive raids across the eastern border, the idea could be emulated in the north-west theatre too. But, proponents of this doctrine ignore the fact that Indian soldiers carry out incursions into Myanmar with the tacit support of its government. When Indian forces chase terrorists in Myanmar, its army doesn't offer resistance or put up blockades, either by design or because of lack of competence. But, similar raids across LoC, unless conducted with so much stealth that Pakistan won't even get to know of them, would definitely be resisted by Pakistani rangers and their defensive formations, making it a high-risk manoeuvre.



Unfortunately, those baying for quick punitive action against Pakistan ignore the basic objective of a diplomatic or military manoeuvre: It is executed with the specific purpose of bringing the enemy down to its knees and accepting the conditions imposed by the victor, which, in India's case is to stop Pakistan from sponsoring cross-border terrorism and interfering in Kashmir. India can achieve these objectives only by inflicting heavy costs on Pakistan without suffering equivalent damage, which is a realistic possibility because of the nuclear overhang and risks of escalation.

Pakistan is a rogue state overcome with deathwish because of its territorial ambitions, jihadist mindset and incurable jealousy of the neighbour's progress. It is boiling in its own stew of hatred, violence, fundamentalism and envy. Every decade since it came into existence, Pakistan has slipped further down the path of economic and political instability, foolishly pushing itself into a corner. Every time it strikes India through its jihadist infrastructure, Pakistan loses more credibility in the international fora and moves some more distance away from traditional benefactors like the US.

As columnist Pervez Hoodbhoy pointed out in a 2015 article for The Dawn, even nukes may not be able to save it. "Nukes may win a battle for us but at the cost of losing Pakistan. Instead our security lies in ensuring that Pakistans territory is not used for launching terror attacks upon our neighbours. We must explicitly renounce the use of covert war to liberate Kashmir  a fact hidden from none and recently admitted to by Gen Musharraf."

To bring Pakistan down to its knees, India needs to help the process of the enemy's slow demise. For this, Modi needs to be left alone to work out a cold, calculated strategy that involves both covert and overt interventions and diplomacy.

Forcing him to act under pressure from the impatient 'Jai Hind' brigade and their ideas could lead to a miscalculation that could bring India at par with Pakistan, a dream our enemies cherish.
United Nations: The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived "two wars", a high-level UN official said underlining water also represents a source of cooperation and not just conflict.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson's remarks at a General Assembly high-level side event on "water as a source of peace" even as the Treaty cropped up amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the terror attack on the Uri army base.

"In the second half of the 20th century, more than 200 water treaties were successfully negotiated. The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived two wars, and remains in force today," Eliasson said.

"In Africa, collaboration in the management of water resources has a long history," he said while mentioning other treaties.

India, on Thursday, made 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 the audacious Uri terror attack earlier this week.

"It cannot be a one-sided affair," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said 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".

Eliasson noted that by 2050, the world population could rise to nine billion, who will share the finite resource of water.

"Cooperation over water resources is an urgent and demanding challenge. Strains on water are rising in all regions," he said at the event in the UN on Thursday.

Eliasson underlined that the world has "repeatedly seen competition over this scarce resource be a major driver of discontent, turning into both internal and regional conflicts.

"While these risks are real, we must also recognise and build on the opportunities that water presents for international cooperation. It would be a mistake for us to get caught up in "water war" rhetoric.

"Water equally represents a source of cooperation, a source of growth and a source of mutual positive dependence," he said.
Over the past decade, a lot has been written about India's drift towards the United States. Although vehemently denied by Delhi, its larger and more varied arms purchases from the United States, growing economic relations, a greater frequency of official visits at several levels, and a higher tempo of military joint exercises have led many to believe that the United States is India's new preferred partner. The occasional disagreements, such as the one over the Logistics Support Agreement that was recently resolved, are dismissed as residual anti-Americanism in the political class and commentariat that spent the Cold War singing praises of the Soviet Union and China.

More importantly, this drift is believed to come at the expense of Russia, the successor state to India's Cold War patron, the Soviet Union. While there may be some truth to this view, it grossly underestimates the value of cooperation between the two countries in strategic areas  nuclear energy, the INS Arihant, fifth generation fighter aircraft, Brahmos  while exaggerating the zero-sum element of Delhi's relations with Moscow and Washington. Russia remains important to India, but admittedly, the relationship holds significantly greater potential than is being derived today.

One of the marked differences between India's relationship with Russia and the United States over the past 15 years has been the presence of a willing leader in the case of the latter, at times just on one side, to shepherd ties through the traditional hoops. At first, it was the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration and George W Bush White House that dared to imagine a different India-US dynamic than that during the Cold War. After the exit of the Bharatiya Janata Party from power in 2004, Manmohan Singh continued the trend for a while, though less support from his own political party tempered the bloom.

With Russia, there has existed no such leader either in Delhi or Moscow who was committed to building a new relationship for the 21st century. Despite the several arenas of cooperation between the two countries, initiatives have largely remained isolated and not part of any common plan to develop connections across the spectrum, and at multiple levels. For example, despite the nascence of Russia's relations with India's rival, Pakistan, there exists a strategic working group that oversees different areas of mutual interest and coordinates joint initiatives. There exists no such mechanism in Indian ventures with Russia.

As the sources of India's military hardware diversify, its joint military exercises with Russia have reduced and with it the familiarity between the two militaries. However, the Indian and Russian armed forces have, historically, not been close. It is rare to see officers in exchange programmes or taking professional courses at each other's military institutes. In all likelihood, there is little interaction between strategists of the two countries over key issues, such as nuclear strategy or counter-terrorism, as you see Indian scholars engage with US and other Western militaries and think tanks.

This lack of interest extends to other areas as well. For example, there are few Indian media outlets that have permanent correspondents in Russia and vice versa. Though there are a few Indian students in Russia, particularly for medicine, the vast majority head to universities in the Anglosphere. With limited people-to-people ties, interest in each other's countries is inevitably diminished. Indian soft power, in terms of yoga and butter chicken, have had more success in becoming mainstream features of Western societies as compared to Russia.

Cultural interest is usually bolstered when there are economic incentives. India's trade relations with Russia are staggeringly poor  less than $10 billion per annum  compared to the generally warm political ties. While investments may be encouraged, trade in goods is a little more difficult, despite the complementarity of the two economies in energy, engineering, heavy industry, and other fields. One reason is distance: the sea route between India and Russia is circuitous, while the present land route would presumably traverse through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and at least two other Central Asian republics. Besides the political instability of the region, the geopolitical realities of South Asia do not permit such a route.

An alternative route is the much touted international North-South Trade Corridor. Not only does this route connect the Iranian port of Chabahar to destinations in Afghanistan, Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Russia but, in its fully mature stage, also offer connectivity to European markets. According to engineers, the new route will be at least 30 percent cheaper and 40 percent shorter than the present route between India and Europe. While discussions regarding the INSTC have been going on since at least 2000, and the initial group of interested parties has swelled from Russia, Iran, and India to a dozen members now, little has been achieved on the ground. This is largely because of the sanctions that had been imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme but with that hurdle removed, there is little stopping the INSTC except political will.

It is important to address the misperceptions of India's drift because it could have consequences that fulfill the prophecy. For example, Russia has recently concluded arms deals with Pakistan, albeit minor ones, and even scheduled a joint military exercise with Pakistan. This is presumably to put India on notice that its dalliance with the United States would have repercussions. However, the fundamental difference between the two relations is that while all arms Pakistan acquires will be used against India, the United States' relations with India are not aimed against Russia. If anything, they are hoped to recruit India into an international order that would curb Chinese global ambitions. Moscow's tit-for-tat policy mistakes these dynamics and the damage it could cause relations with Delhi if continued.

Perhaps the crux of what ails closer India-Russia relations is that such an alliance has no visible enemy to focus against. India is primarily concerned with China and Pakistan, and to a lesser extent, Western structural power. Russia, on the other hand, is more concerned about the United States and Nato inching ever eastwards on its western flank. Following European and US sanctions on Russia after the Crimean reabsorption, Moscow is forced to play nice with Beijing though privately, it cannot be pleased with China's newfound assertiveness. The United States is important to India to balance China  even though Delhi publicly denies such realism  while China remains the lesser evil for Russia. Without an enemy, even a secret one, alliances take much more effort to come together.

It is in the interest of both countries to continue to work together and boost relations  four powers are always going to be better than two. The inspiration for this cannot come from nostalgia as India is often prone to imagine but from a pragmatic realisation that both countries have much to gain from greater connectivity, trade, and exchange with each other. As a third world country with 1.3 billion people, India's developmental needs are vast and beyond any one country. Russia must understand this when it views the frequent American visitors to Delhi. India must also allow room for Russia's close ties with China, understanding that the European and US squeeze on Moscow has left it with few alternatives.

What ails India-Russia relations is a certain lethargy to understand the context of their ties in a new world order. India is no longer satisfied in being a passive client and Russia can no longer afford to be the magnanimous patron. With changes in the global balance of power, both India and Russia must rediscover their worth to each other and avoid rancour in their mutual perceptions and dealings.
India must decide whether the Pakistan-backed terrorist assault on the army base in Uri  that killed 18 soldiers and is the biggest attack on Indian army since the 2002 Kaluchak massacre  merits a tough tangible response, or is rhetorical flourish and a pregnant promise enough deterrence against a rogue nation that has fought four full-scale wars against us since its inception and continues to beat us with the terrorism stick as part of an asymmetric, never-ending battle.

The answer to this question is important because between a government trapped within its hardline image and realpolitik compulsions, an angry republic which demands some sort of a denouement vis-a-vis Pakistan, and a liberal commentariat that considers bleeding to death by a thousand terrorist cuts some sort of an attainable moral nirvana, India comes across as a weak nation that cannot act in its self-defence.

The boundaries between "strategic restraint", "paralytic inaction" and "cowardice" are not that pronounced when it comes to a country's national interests faced with repeated and extreme provocation. Historically, India's every action in the geopolitical sphere and international relations has been guided not by strategic interests but the Nehruvian axiom of "non-alignment" and the higher Gandhian ideal of non-violence.

But in this hour of crisis, the Narendra Modi government would do well to remember that even the Mahatma did not offer unqualified adherence to non-violence. He perhaps understood better that statecraft cannot be guided by idealism.

In Gandhi's own words: "I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence... I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonor." And elsewhere: "My method of nonviolence can never lead toloss of strength, but it alone will make it possible, if the nation wills it, to offer disciplined and concerted violence in time of danger."

Let's come back to the original question posed at the beginning of the article. Is the government serious about a tough, tangible response? Going by the Prime Minister's own words, those responsible for the Uri assault "won't go unpunished."

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

What, then, would be the terms of "punishing Pakistan", whose hand in the incident has been proven in investigations?

Six days into the audacious attack, it seems pretty clear that Narendra Modi won't go for an armed retaliation because the cost of doing it against a nuclear-armed rogue state might be too high, or so what we have been led to believe.

That India has nothing to fear from Pakistan's nuclear bluff has been pointed out by many geostrategic thinkers including Professor C Christine Fair of Georgetown University, who told India Today recently that "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."

Firstpost has also argued in the past in favour of a surgical strike in defiance of Pakistan's nuclear pretense because giving in to this blackmail opens us up indefinitely to further attacks.

However, in defiance of his own pre-prime ministerial hardline position against Pakistan, and belying the overwhelming domestic expectations of a military strike, Modi has decided not to use the military offensive. At least for now.

India has been betting exclusively on a diplomatic offensive to counter Pakistan. However, while that may ensure some brownie points for India on global forums like the UN and maybe even a wink and a nod on Kashmir, nothing that our diplomatic corps can achieve will bleed Pakistan and force it to mend its ways. Also, only a fool will bet on US and China acting against Pakistan.

As R Jagannathan pointed out in his article for Swarajya recently, "Diplomatic isolation is not going to make any difference to Pakistans terror infrastructure targeted against us. In Pakistans case, neither the US nor China is ever going to abandon it or declare it a terrorist state."

What else, therefore, can India do? Will it cancel Most Favoured Nation status with Pakistan? Some media reports have pointed out that the government is considering that option but this may mean absolutely nothing since our trade volume with Pakistan isn't something to write home about.

We may keep sending dossiers to Pakistan, submit demarches, withdraw our envoy or send their diplomat home but if these are Modi's idea of a "tough response" to Pakistan-backed terrorists' roasting alive of 18 Indian soldiers, it sends a worrying message that we don't value the lives of our armed forces or the sentiments of our people. Also, it would be political suicide for him.

The Prime Minister must remember that any "tough action" against Pakistan even within the realms of economic or diplomatic spheres may result in some sort of an adverse impact for India. There can be no action without consequences. No effective steps without inherent risks. Modi's chair anyway is not meant for providing insurance policies to forces who want to harm us.

Therefore, if war is ruled out, controlled strikes are not viable, surgical strikes or hot pursuit are too risky then which set of actions would send across a message to Pakistan that "enough is enough"?

A new, promising front was opened on Thursday when India indicated that a 56-year-old water treaty with Pakistan that has survived multiple wars might be up for a review. The water-sharing agreement are one of the very few tools that India as an upper-riparian state has at its disposal that may cause serious pain to Pakistan without the firing of a single missile.

According to a PTI report, India has made it clear that "mutual trust and cooperation" was important for such a treaty to work.

"For any such treaty to work, it's important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters on Thursday. According to the report, he also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on goodwill.

Now while Swarup dropped nothing more than a hint, the very mention of it has sparked an interesting set of reactions. It has set alarm bells ringing at the UN (belying its pro-India pose on terrorism) and unleashed a volley of excuses from the usual suspects in India for whom a prospective pain for Pakistan is more unacceptable than watching India suffer under the yoke of terrorism instigated by the banana republic.

Two sets of arguments have been put forward by these apologoists on why India should not dishonor the treaty. One ethical, and the other technical. On the ethical front, it is being stated that India should maintain its bilateral commitment with Pakistan because that is what responsible nations do. It begs the question that what is more important? Upholding the sanctity of a treaty with a nation that repeatedly sends terrorists to kill our soldiers and civilians and encourages insurgency among our borders, or ensuring that they fall in line using the tools at our disposal.



Also, as strategic thinker and CPR professor Brahma Chellaney asks in an article for Livemint, "Pakistan has consistently backed away from bilateral agreements with Indiafrom the Simla Agreement, to the commitment not to allow its territory to be used for cross-border terrorism. So why should India honour the IWT?"

According to Chellaney, the treaty ranks among "worlds most lopsided and inequitable water pact". He points out that "the main Jammu and Kashmir rivers  the Chenab, Jhelum and Indusand their tributaries have been reserved for Pakistani use, with Indias sovereignty limited to the three rivers of the Indus basin flowing south of Jammu and Kashmir: the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. In effect, the IWT kept for India just 19.48% of the total waters of the six-river Indus system."

Yashwant Sinha, former finance minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet, wrote in a recent Indian Express column that: "Treaty terms are observed between friends, not enemies. Pakistan is an enemy state of India. It has said so repeatedly. The attacks on our military bases in Pathankot and Uri were not mere terrorist attacks; they were acts of war against the Indian state, sponsored by Pakistan. India will, therefore, be fully justified in abrogating the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan."

At the very least, India can explore multiple options related to the treaty stopping short of abrogation. It may renegotiate the terms of the agreement or take a leaf from China's book to build a few projects. A report carried last year in The Indian Express points out how China built a controversial Zangmu Hydropower station on the Yarlung Zangbo River  the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra  and managed to commission a gravity dam on the bend of the river in the Tibet Autonomous Region, just before it enters India via Arunachal Pradesh.

Water has long been a part of strategic warfare between countries. If India can use it to its advantage, not only would it send a message across to Pakistan, it would also right a historical wrong that the treaty imposed on us.
Moscow: A 3-year-old boy is being dubbed as 'Mowgli' after miraculously surviving three days in a remote

forest in Russia's Siberia, braving near-freezing temperatures and a woodland teaming with wolves and bears.

Tserin Dopchut survived by eating his own supply of chocolate and on his good sense after finding a dry makeshift bed under a larch tree. His rescue was personally announced by the head of Tuva Republic, Sholban Kara-Ool, who blogged: "Hurray! Little Tserin has been found alive!"

"They discovered him earlier this morning after a search in the taiga some 3 kilometres from the village of Khut," he was quoted as saying by the Siberian Times.

A huge search had been launched for the boy who disappeared after playing with dogs near his family home in the forests of Piy-Khemsky district. He may have followed a young puppy into the woodland despite the watchful eye of his great grandmother who was in-charge of him when he was lost. He was eventually found on Wednesday after 72 hours in the wilderness.

More than 100 people including Russian Emergency Ministry's rescuers, police, volunteers, as well as close and distant family members joined the frantic hunt. A helicopter also flew over a search area of some 120 square km.

Regional emergencies' chief Ayas Saryglar said, "Of course, the situation was very dangerous. The river Mynas is fast and cold. If a small child fell in, it would be certain death."

"There are wolves, and bears in the forest. The bears are now fattening for the winter. They can attack anything that moves. In addition, it is warm during the day, but at night there are even frosts. If we consider that the kid disappeared during the day, he was not properly dressed  only a shirt and shoes, no coat," he said.

Regional head Kara-Ool said, "He (the boy) recognised his uncle's voice calling his name, and called back. Once his uncle hugged him, the little boy asked if his toy car was okay. He said that he had some chocolate which he ate during the first day."

"Then he found a dry place under a larch tree and slept there between the roots. The whole village is throwing a party to celebrate his survival. He was given the second name of Mowgli," Kara-Ool said.

Searches had gone on day and night. His home village Khut has a population of around 400. There are 63 houses, and locals all joined together to hunt for the missing child. Doctors say he has suffered no serious damage from his ordeal.
Pakistan has done precious little to calm the situation after the Uri tragedy. Instead, it is going on a limb to ratchet up tensions and provoke India. Islamabad is calling it a routine air defense exercise, but the "thunderous spectacle of Pakistani fighter jets touching down on a major highway on Wednesday and Thursday, with commercial flights suspended and traffic blocked for hours, has fueled public speculation that something much more ominous is afoot," reported The Washington Post on Thursday.

"The display of military readiness, which included a late-night jet flyover Thursday above this capital city (Islamabad), has come amid an unusually tense showdown with India," the report added.

The blatant muscle flexing with Pakistani Mirage and F-16 fighter jets, closure of airspace over parts of Pakistan, and cancellation of at least 10 domestic flights spooked small investors on Wednesday. However, safety assurances by the military calmed Pakistani investors and the Karachi benchmark-100 index bounced back to 0.91 percent on Thursday.

Pakistani officials have described the air defense exercise, code-named High Mark as routine. However, security officials speaking on conditions of anonymity told the US media that the exercises were more than routine and part of a strategy to foil any possible Indian attack.

The Pakistani war games are ill timed. They come on the back of rising tensions after the Uri assault and a war of words in the UN General assembly in New York. It plays into the overcharged situation. As it is, Indian naval officials had issued a high alert on Thursday for coastal areas after some school children claimed to have seen four men moving suspiciously near a naval facility in Uran.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave a speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday which was incendiary and strident in tone. We just heard a speech full of threat bluster and rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts, India's Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar said, without mincing any words.

Akbar blasted Pakistan's feigned desire for talks; "Pakistan wants dialogue while holding a gun in its hand. Talks and guns don't go together."

"We haven't seen the first mile. Where is the question of the extra mile?" Akbar said in response to Sharif's hypocricy that Pakistan has "gone the extra mile and repeatedly offered dialogue."

Countries like the United States and Britain have unequivocally condemned the Uri terrorist attack but, unlike past years, haven't underlined their condemnation with appeals for a return to dialogue. The US has seen so much double-dealing by Pakistan in Afghanistan that it is now far more sympathetic to the Indian position, said Myra MacDonald.

After years of catering to its war on terror ally Pakistan, the US is batting for India providing greater security assistance to Afghanistan. Diplomats from Afghanistan, India, and the United States met in New York on the margins of the UN general assembly to discuss ways of side-stepping Pakistan's selective blockade of landlocked Afghanistan.

"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," said the US state department after the trilateral meeting.

Pakistan continues to be a fly in the ointment. According to reports, Islamabad has refused to allow Indian wheat supplies and other humanitarian aid overland to Afghanistan. Pakistan's pettiness in blocking humanitarian aid from India has naturally angered Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan is landlocked but thinks openly, Pakistan has access to the sea and thinks like a landlocked country," Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said last week in a talk at Delhi's Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, reported The Times of India.

"Why are we concerned that a country (Pakistan) can block two great nations (India and Afghanistan) from trading? With the Chabahar Port, (Pakistan's) monopoly will end," scoffed Ghani.

Washington broadly supports India signing a deal with Tehran for a transport corridor opening up a new route to Afghanistan via the Iranian port of Chabahar, as it outflanks the $46 billion China-Pakistan economic corridor project with Gwadar as its focal point.

Pakistans interests are completely different from those of India in Afghanistan. Islamabad wants the return of some variant of the Taliban so that they can again use Afghanistan as a launching pad for jihadi attacks against India, especially in Kashmir.

When the India-hating Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until December 2001, Pakistani militant groups based out of Afghanistan launched frequent cross-border attacks on Kashmir. India was in all kinds of trouble when Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Mujahideen terrorists hijacked an Indian Airlines flight on 24 December 1999 and took it to Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan. The eight day hijack drama ended only after India freed three high-profile Kashmiri separatist prisoners.

For the last 15 years, India has refrained from aggressive responses to Pakistan sponsored terrorism, which included the 2008 Mumbai attacks. With 18 soldiers now dead in Uri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should toughen Indias stance against Pakistan and its sponsorship of militancy in the Kashmir valley.

"Through every attack from across the border the government has flipped and flopped. Until India builds a coherence in its own strategy, it will continue to face such challenges from Pakistan," wrote Suhasini Haidar in The Hindu.
Islamabad: A Russian ground forces contingent on Friday arrived in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever joint military exercises starting from Saturday, reflecting growing military ties between the two former Cold War rivals.

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise," army spokesman Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa said.

A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6  Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 23, 2016

The Russian troops will be in the country for two weeks from 24 September to 10 October.

About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills called as 'Friendship 2016', which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era.

The move comes amidst increasing defence ties between Moscow and Islamabad as the latter was also thinking to buy advanced Russian warplanes.

The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades, local media reports said.

Pakistan decided to broaden its foreign policy options after its relations with the US deteriorated following secret CIA raid in Abbottabad that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Its relations with the US were soured recently when US lawmakers blocked funds for the sale of eight Lockheed Martin Corporations F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Pakistan decided to look at alternative sources to purchase the aircraft including from Jordan.

Over the last 15 months, the chiefs of Pakistan's Army, Navy and Air Force travelled to Russia. The flurry of high-level exchanges between the two nations resulted in the signing of a deal for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad.

The formal agreement, which was signed in Moscow in August 2015, was considered a major policy shift on part of Russia in the wake of growing strategic partnership between the US and India.

Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington, according to the Express Tribune.

After securing a deal of MI-35 helicopters, Pakistan is also exploring options to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, it said. For this purpose, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman visited Moscow in July.
Syria: 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."

An AFP correspondent in the rebel-held east of Aleppo witnessed a dozen families fleeing the Soukkari district for other rebel areas further north.

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 9 September, 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.

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.

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.
Bangkok: Three police officers were killed on Friday by a bomb buried beneath a road in Thailand's far south, authorities said, as peace talks appear to falter in the insurgency-plagued region.

The kingdom's Muslim-majority "deep south", an area bordering Malaysia, has seen near daily bombings and shootings since the most recent wave of rebellion erupted in 2004.

More than 6,600 people  mostly civilians  have died in an underreported conflict that pits ethnic Malay militants against security forces from Thailand's Buddhist-majority state.

On Friday, three police officers in their late 20s were killed after a bomb struck their car in Yala province.

"They were on a trip to gather intelligence," a police officer in Krongpinang district told AFP, without giving his name.

After detonating the bomb, which was buried underneath the road, the assailants fired on the police from the surrounding jungle, the officer added.

Staff at a provincial hospital confirmed the deaths and said one police officer was also wounded in the blast.

Remote and surrounded by densely forested hills, Krongpinang is an insurgency hot-spot where mistrust for Thai security forces runs high.

Thailand's ruling junta says it has tried to restart peace talks with the Muslim militants since it took power in 2014.

But the negotiations have failed to gain traction, as attacks continue to strike across the region.

The rebels are also widely believed to be behind an unprecedented string of bomb blasts on tourist towns outside their conflict zone in August, killing four people and wounding dozens, including foreigners.

But Thai authorities have avoided linking the August attacks to the southern militants.

Critics have accused the junta of professing support for a peace process but refusing to consider devolving any political power to the region  a key pillar of the rebels' demands.

The junta "appears interested primarily in mere semblance of dialogue," said a report published this week by International Crisis Group.

"An earnest attempt to decentralise power, the best hope for the resolution of the conflict, is unlikely to materialise under the current government," it said.

The talks have also been hampered by disunity among the shadowy insurgent network, the report said, stressing that rebels' negotiators have shown little ability to control fighters on the ground.
Since the Uri base attack that killed 18 Indian soldiers, the war of words and escalation rhetoric has reached a crescendo between India and Pakistan. On the issue, the Indian media is portraying Pakistan as expecting an imminent and swift cross-border retaliation from the Indian military. Some outlets have even reported that a cross-border operation has already taken place on Pakistani side in Kashmir.

Media outlets on the other side of the border are also reporting this, using Indian sources. However, the mood in Islamabad is nowhere near as hot as the reporting suggests. If anything, thus far it is mostly just an escalation of rhetoric rather than any actual military escalation on the border. A news item circulating rather erroneously is that the flights from Islamabad to the areas of Gilgit-Baltistan have been cancelled because of an impending Indian surgical strike in Pakistani territories. The actual reason for the restriction of airspace is because the PAF is conducting 'High Mark 2016'  its largest air exercise that was last conducted in 2010.

Such military exercises take years of administrative and logistical planning and so, its quite unlikely that the decision to undertake 'High Mark 2016' was taken post-Uri. It is however likely that the dates for the exercise were moved up a few days or weeks to signal intent and readiness in the face of potential hostilities. Sources in Islamabad have pointed out that no special or extraordinary military deployment on the eastern border is taking place except for the usual operational forward line deployment on the eastern front near the Line of Control. There have neither been any orders to mobilise, nor have any leaves of military personnel been cancelled.

This is because Islamabad feels that Indian military movement or lack thereof doesnt warrant any immediate response on the ground.

However, this doesnt mean the government in Islamabad is not prepared for any eventuality  as overall military alert levels are high and contingency planning is in place. This was seen at the recent corp commanders meeting on Monday, where the chief of army staff General Raheel Sharif expressed satisfaction at the overall operational preparedness of the forces. Also, Tuesdays phone call from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the general may also point in that direction.

Feelings in Islamabads strategic community are that attacking Pakistan doesnt bode well for India for three reasons.

First, even a limited surgical strike into Pakistan would cost India the moral high ground that it has played off at international fora and especially at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. Second, Indias policy objectives of compelling Pakistan to rein in actors hostile to it rely successfully on active international diplomacy to try to isolate Pakistan, while flogging the terrorism card. This doesnt require active military operations. This strategy was seen on Wednesday night when an Indian diplomat at the UNGA, in response to Nawaz's UN speech, did just that. Finally, fears of nuclear escalation, capabilities and doctrinal limitations and the resultant Pakistani response make punitive strikes an unattractive option for India.

This begs the question: Why is the bellicose rhetoric in the Indian media so loud? Apart from the usual hyper-nationalistic media sensationalism, there seem to be two primary reasons for the Narendra Modi government to take such a position. The first is the self-inflicted commitment trap in which Modi has found himself. Taking the hardest line on Pakistan before the elections and subsequent rhetoric post-Pathankot attacks has pushed the BJP government into a tight spot. From a Pakistani perspective, it seems that the media bluster is for domestic consumption, to appease the domestic audience that is critical of Modis Pakistan policy. As reported by the Pew Research Centre, only 22 percent of Indians endorse Modis handling of ties with Pakistan.

Diverting attention from the recent uprisings in Kashmir and the indiscriminate use of force on protesters by the Indian security forces seems to be another reason for beating the war drums. As anticipated, Nawaz raised the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir in his UNGA address to the world. India-controlled Kashmir  parts of which are still under curfew after 76 days  has seen 104 civilians dead and hundreds suffer blindness and eye injuries resulting from the use of pellet guns by Indian forces. This contradicts the image of India that Modi has sold to the world.

Sources in Islamabad have pointed out that no special or extraordinary military deployment on the eastern border is taking place except for the usual operational forward line deployment on the eastern front near the Line of Control

With limited international political capital at stake, the risk or an all-out war between two nuclear-armed states will take priority over human rights violations in India-controlled Kashmir at the international stage. Therefore, heavy war rhetoric makes sense for the Indian government at this moment.

The fog of disinformation and loud war rhetoric, however, makes for good trolling on both sides of the border on Twitter and Facebook. However, relying on such media reports can be dangerously misleading as it increases a false set of expectations from one's government based on bad information. In the event of governments failing those expectations, it feeds the frustration of the public while reducing the credibility of government. Such frustration can also increase hate and mistrust between the people of India and Pakistan, and can be counterproductive in the long run. One certainly hopes that the Indian leadership dials down the rhetoric and tries to resolve issues amicably.

The author is a research associate at the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore
As India considers a range of policy options for acting against Pakistan after the dastardly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri, it becomes even more important to talk about and discuss the elephant  actually the dragon  in the room: China.

As a country that illegally holds the strategically-important Aksai Chin  all 37,240 square kilometres of it  area of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, China is an equally important part of the Kashmir problem and its taller than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, stronger than steel, and sweeter than honey friendship with Pakistan plays an important role in complicating the security triangle in the Indian subcontinent.

In recent years, China has sought to further prop up Pakistan. Nothing demonstrates Beijings commitment to upholding the ties with Islamabad more than the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), connecting the Xinjiang province with the warm water, deep-sea port of Gwadar in Pakistans Balochistan province. As an ambitious and the flagship project of an even more ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative, it is anybodys guess why Beijing would pour $46 billion in the CPEC, which is slated to pass through one of the most conflict-prone regions of the world  second only to the Levant region consisting of Syria and Iraq. The Chinese side is hoping that it will be able to buy peace by throwing money at the discontented population of the Uighurs in Xinjiang, Pathans in Khyber-Paktunkhwa and the Mengal, Murri and Bugti tribes of Balochistan.

For all these plans to succeed, however, China would like to see peace and order  or at least some semblance of it  in those parts of Pakistan, which are traversed by the CPEC. Hence, logically speaking, as the country that invests a considerable amount of money in Pakistan, China should have been highly disapproving of Pakistani actions of supporting cross-border terrorism in India, which spark tensions between the two South Asian neighbours. Yet, geopolitics and statecraft are such strange things that China continues to turn a blind eye towards Pakistans active complicity in harbouring and encouraging the terrorist groups of all types  from the Al-Qaeda and Hizbul Mujahideen to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in its territory. Perhaps, in the thinking of the Chinese leadership, countering terrorism is secondary to its desire to contain Indias rise in the global power matrix.

In fact, over the years, China has increasingly taken a very limited view of the terrorism problem in Pakistan by making sure that Pakistan cracks down on the Uighur militants without paying attention to the surrounding environment, in which not only the Uighur militants but also other terrorists including anti-India terrorist groups thrive. Chinas repeated blocking of moves to designate the Pakistan-based terrorist leaders  Hafiz Saeed of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e-Mohammad  as 'terrorists' at the United Nations, despite India's reiteration of its concerns and sensitivities, is but one manifestation of that tendency.

Interestingly, Beijing has managed to carry on with this facade, even as it aligned its struggle against the Uighur separatism in the larger context of the Global War on Terror, which was launched after the 11 September, 2001 attacks in the United States. However, as India more forcefully highlights Pakistans persistently flagrant actions in supporting terrorism at the international level, and as the world opinion crystallises against the terrorist safe havens maintained by Pakistan, Beijing will find that its position on the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan is increasingly becoming untenable. For the sake of not jeopardising its investments in the CPEC and thereby endangering the One Belt, One Road initiative, it would do well for the leadership in Beijing to acknowledge the gravity of the problem and undertake course-correction.

Logically speaking, as the country that invests a considerable amount of money in Pakistan, China should have been highly disapproving of Pakistani actions of supporting cross-border terrorism in India, which spark tensions between the two South Asian neighbours

In the event of a conflict between India and Pakistan, arising out of the terrorist attack  Uri or any other subsequent terrorist attack, it is a foregone conclusion in New Delhis security establishment that China will muddy the waters at a minimum and at a maximum, extend wholehearted support to Pakistan by opening another front with India, so as to divert Indian militarys attention. What options has India has to counter China, notwithstanding the capability gap between the two countries?

To begin with, New Delhi will have to translate its willingness in talking about the Chinese threat in the security realm to the threat posed by China in the economic sphere. In the event of a potential conflict, creatively using the burgeoning trade deficit of $40 billion and more, which benefits China, to its advantage and impose costs on Beijing, could be one way in which India can pressure China.

Targeting Chinese companies that do business in Pakistan and making them ineligible to do business with India, can be another way that economic pressure could be applied on China. Upsetting trade relations with China will surely cause some pain in India in the short term and most likely invite opposition from the companies that source cheaper goods from China, however in the long term, if there is a change in Chinese behaviour with regard to Pakistan, it would certainly be beneficial for India. Another option could be to withdraw from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, of which India is the second largest stakeholder. The threat of a withdrawal by India will surely raise some concerns in Beijing, which is eager to showcase its power in creating non-western financial institutions.

India will have to stand up to the Chinese dragon, as it sorts out its problems with Pakistan. What is needed is the capacity to think creatively on managing relations with China. Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has demonstrated that capacity earlier by responding to Chinas repeated border incursions in Ladakh in a forceful manner, which has brought the problem to a manageable level.

Hopefully this time too, his government shows the same tenacity.
With the terror attack and death of 18 Indian soldiers in Uri on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government is facing its first major crisis. Public anger has reached a fever pitch with people demanding immediate retaliation. The 24x7 television channels are in the forefront of war mongering with retired officials, BJP leaders and those belonging to the larger Sangh Parivar family, thundering vengeance on various channels. One worthy predicted that Pakistan would not be in a position to celebrate its next independence day.

This kind of rhetoric helps no one and can only boomerang on the hard line support base of the Sangh Parivar by raising unrealistic expectations. Prime Minister Modi who had railed against his Congress predecessor is finding out that once in the hot seat, there are no easy options. In fact, retaliation can be the easy way out, but the cost could be high. The BJP is caught up in its past rhetoric and the need to reassure its supporters that the government at the Centre will not allow Pakistan to continue its terror attacks with impunity.

No knee-jerk reaction, no frozen ties

So far Prime Minister Modi has not gone in for a "Knee-jerk reaction", former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh said. "As the government has announced Indias response will be calibrated, at a time and place of its choosing. This is the right approach," he said.

He waved off the possibility of war but said: "We are in a phase of frozen relations with Pakistan. Talks now are completely out. Terror will be the one point agenda if talks are held in future. Without sorting this out talking is useless. At the same time, there will be a no-holds-barred promotion of the Baloch cause as well as Gilgit and Baltistan, to tell Pakistan that it is not a one way street."

Put your house in order

Thundering statements at the UNGA may win brownie points with the domestic audience but does not help to solve problems. Knowing full well that terror attacks continue to be launched from Pakistan, India should have by now ensured that its defences cannot be so easily breached. If the proper security protocol is followed terrorists would not so easily gain entry to the Uri camp or a front line air force base in Pathankot, or even the police station in Gurdaspur, leave alone several others down the years. Speeches in the UNGA, or briefing the international community about Pakistans perfidy is all very well. But India has to be responsible for its own security and make sure that its defence installations remain watertight. After major terror attacks, like Mumbai strike of 2008 and Parliament attack of 2001, much soul-searching is done and promises made to plug the loopholes. Yet we continue to remain vulnerable.

"The fact, that at a time when Kashmir is on the boil and India knows well that Pakistan is fuelling the fire, the army camp in Uri, in fact all defence installations in the state should have taken the necessary precautions. Unfortunately, we keep repeating our mistakes and expose our own vulnerability," former foreign secretary Shyam Saran said.

If the proper security drill was put in place, the terrorists could have been killed before inflicting such heavy casualties on the Indian army. terror strikes which could have easily been avoided.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that lapses as in Uri would never be allowed to happen again.

Prime Minister Modi has to keep in mind the cost and risk involved in whatever action he is contemplating. Indias most important strategic goal at the moment is uninterrupted economic development, providing jobs to millions of young people and infrastructure development. A war will divert much-needed resources and there will be an economic price to pay.

Immediate retaliation would have mean playing into the hands of the Pakistan Army and its spy agency the Inter-Services-Intelligence (ISI). The government has denied a web magazine report that Indian forces had crossed over the Line of Control in Uri and killed 20 terrorists at a camp across the border.

The terror strike was to provoke action from India, ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs address at the UNGA, to bring the Kashmir to the top of international consciousness. After the Uri terror attack, Pakistans chances of putting India on the mat on Kashmir receded. In fact, Pakistans image as a state which encourages terror has been reinforced over the last two decades. While at one time, New Delhi had found it difficult to convince the US and its allies about Pakistans sponsoring terror groups, after Afghanistan, when the West got a first-hand experience of the Pakistani Armys dubious deals with terror, no one needs much conviction. China, Pakistans long-term ally will be the only one of the five UN Security Council members who will go out on a limb for Pakistan. It has already done so when Beijing found technical grounds to hold up Jaish-e-Mohammed leader Masood Azhars name from the UN terror list, which India had moved.

Options for India

A quick strike inside Pakistan territory to send the message that Pakistan cannot keep bleeding India without paying a price. Not that the Pakistan Army is not prepared for such an eventuality. Reports that leave of the Pakistani rangers who are posted along the border have been cancelled, that Pakistan airlines flights to PoK have been stopped, is an indication that the army is well prepared for any eventuality. Another war between two nuclear-armed neighbours would alarm the world and the US and its allies would get busy trying to make peace.

Covert opertions

Covert operations at an appropriate time are also being mulled. But this will mean not declaring it from the roof top and the public mood being as it is at the moment, the government would like to show the public what it has done. This is one reason that a covert operation may not be the PMs choice at least for now.

MFN status and the Indus Waters Treaty

There is a talk of removing the Most Favoured Nation Status that was given to Pakistan by India in 2012 in keeping with its WTO and Saarc obligations. But as overland trade with Pakistan is at best minimal, just over two billion dollars, and mostly in Indias favour, it will have little significance. Trade through third countries is more robust and will not be affected.

Talk of revoking the India Waters Treaty is foolish, which has continued despite three wars between the two neighbours. Any attempt to block water will play out badly in the international community.

Indias priority is ramping up its own internal procedures to make it difficult for the terrorists to breach perimeter walls of sensitive installations.
There is a lot of frothy speculation in the Indian public about whether Washington took our side or the side of Pakistan after Uri and the media on both sides is bending over backwards to dredge for virtue and support.

Is it really that important for so many of us to seek US support or lack of it in this Big brother thank you kindly fashion? Hasnt it become passe by now. Sure, world opinion counts but we hold too much store by Washington's utterances. Old habits die hard.

The US foreign policy has always been a bit of a dogs breakfast and largely motivated by self-interest (which is okay) rather than the fairness of things for other parties.

These guys went into Abbottabad and found Osama bin Laden. Secretary of State John Kerry might nod wisely and look grim but honestly, does the Obama administration truly need evidence that the assault in Pathankot and Uri on India by terrorists does not have benediction from Pakistan.

That India didnt wake up to harsh reality after the Pathankot assault is a flaw. That it continued its slumber or state of indifference after Prime Minister Modi opened up the Baloch-Gilgit front and pushed Pakistan into a never before corner shows great shortsightedness. Retaliation by proxy was a no brainer. We ambled along enjoying the Modi gambit and not shoring up our forces.

Instead, we were scrapping about the 7th Pay Commission and the Chiefs of all three forces were pre-occupied with letters of intent to the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister.

Nor were we bringing to the front burner the shortage in War Wastage Materials and our lack of battle readiness knowing we had upped the ante?

But back to the point. Americas role is not central. There is no great comfort to be found in whether it supports India and lacerates Pakistan or vice versa.

The truth is Pakistan is integral to American foreign policy and the US, even when it makes the right sounds, will never let it disintegrate or be a total loser. Strategically, historically, geographically, it wants to exercise influence there.

Consequently, what India should be finding essential comfort in is the American track record currently and how her presence or absence makes little difference to the final outcome between India and her neighbour.

Look what is happening in Syria. This serves not only as a sterling example of ineptitude by the top two nations on the planet but also warns us not to allow them a tangible role in our fight.

Syria would be seen as an ongoing comedy of errors if it wasnt so tragic. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the destruction of a Red Crescent aid convoy into Aleppo two days ago a savage and deliberate attack.

He should, Any which way it is so bloody ironic. Protected under the umbrella of the UN of which both Russia and the US are Security Council members with veto powers makes a mockery of the whole international edifice and the search for world peace.

Last week the Americans attacked Syrian troops. Then said, sorry, my bad.

This week Russian planes targeted the UN aid caravan. So the Americans say.

The Russians say their planes did not attack the 31 vehicles strong convoy and it was a ground attack by rebels.

Moscow claims the damage in inconsistent with the air strikes.

Washington says there were two Russian fighters in that area at that time.

Russia says so what, they did not fire.

The Syrian air force doesnt have that capability.

Amid all this wrangling the fact is the aid blew up, 20 people died and the UN has stopped further transportation.

These two adversaries, at loggerheads over keeping Assad on as President or dumping him have managed to place the peace initiative started with a slim ceasefire last week on the edge of the cliffand then kick it over.

Think of it. The two most powerful entities entrusted in keeping the shot dove of peace from keeling over are actually de-feathering it.

Do you really think they are capable (or even interested) in resolving the Kashmir issue or spearheading the fight against terror per se unless it directly concerns them?

If these were rebels who had attacked the aid carrying vehicles and ransacked them one could have demanded higher security. But when politics is a barrier and even the UN is placed at risk by its own members and hi-tech communications cannot identify and offer cover to 31 vehicles in a convoy marked with Red Crescent logos do we need them to solve our problemsthey are often the problem.
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SILVER CITY  Are you hunting in Unit 40 this October? There may be more birds in the sky.

During October, the Idaho Army National Guard will conduct helicopter maneuvers and training in and around the mountains near Silver City and South Mountain in Owyhee County. These areas are within Idahos hunting Unit 40, and hunters may experience increased noise, traffic and disturbance, said a joint release from the Bureau of Land Management, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the National Guard.

From now through Nov. 8, helicopter maneuvers and training may occur at any time, night and day. Maneuvers will include eight landings each day and another eight each night among nine landing zones.

Specific times and locations of training activity were not released.
RUPERT  A jury has convicted a former Heyburn police officer of misdemeanor domestic battery or assault in the presence of a child.

Jeremiah Justesen, 36, is also charged with 27 misdemeanor counts of violation of a no-contact order. A jury trial is set in that case for November in Minidoka County Magistrate Court. Another pending charge of misdemeanor battery against Justesen is set for December in the same court.

Heyburn Police Chief Dan Bristol said Justesen is no longer employed with the department.

Justesen was charged after police say he grabbed a woman by the wrists, hitting her in the back of the head and pushing her on the throat in front of two children.

The no-contact order was put in place after that incident, but police say Justesen contacted the women through social media 27 times with some of the attempts resulting in conversations.

Police also say Justesen grabbed a boy by the throat and put him in a head lock when the boy refused to leave with him in January.

He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in state prison or a fine of up to $10,000 or both for misdemeanor battery. The penalty is doubled for misdemeanor domestic violence in the presence of a child.

The no-contact violation charges carry a penalty of up to one year in jail plus a fine.

A sentencing hearing for is set for Oct. 5 in Minidoka County Magistrate Court.
TWIN FALLS  The city of Twin Falls will close Hankins Road between Kimberly Road and Eldridge Avenue to traffic on Monday to allow contractors to conduct road maintenance.

The maintenance project will mill and resurface the roadway and is expected to be completed within a week. Eastland Avenue will be reopened to accommodate traffic detoured around the project area.

Local traffic and business access will be maintained for the duration of the project, but the city is encouraging drivers to use alternate routes.
TWIN FALLS  The Women in American Society Symposium is scheduled for Oct. 6 through Oct. 7 at the Herrett Center at the College of Southern Idaho.

The two-day conference will feature four keynote speakers: Dr. Laura Woodworth-Ney, the provost and vice president of academic affairs at Idaho State University; Dr. Caroline Heldman, associate professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles; Dr. David Adler of Boise, director of the Alturas Institute and Dr. Kandi Turley-Ames, dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Idaho State University.

Conference topics will include women and history, women and politics, women in crisis, and women in modern America. Community members who would like to register for the conference can pay $65 fee to attend or $100 to earn one continuing education credit in EDUC 199. CSI students can register for $25 or $60 to earn one credit in SOCS 199. For more information, call CSI student development coordinator Samra Culum at 208-732-6223.

A separate but related event called Conversations with Women in Politics, sponsored by CSI and the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, will be held at at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Turf Club in Twin Falls. Tickets are $30 for the event and dinner.

Moderators Melissa Davlin, from Idaho Public Television, and Perri Gardner, CSI political science instructor, will conduct a panel discussion with Idaho legislators.

More information: Tamara Harmon, CSI Foundation, 208-732-6249.
As the first of three scheduled presidential debates approaches, were about to go through whats 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.

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. (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 he 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 its 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 whats 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 real issues: 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 Reagans 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. Since 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 whomever won a non-debate makes a mockery of our democratic system and the gravity of the choice the voters face.
The parliamentary election partial results released by the Jordanian electoral committee have shown that the Muslim Brotherhood is returning to the parliament as a significant opposition force, after it boycotted elections since 2007.

The movements political arm, the Islamic Action Front party, won 13 of 130 seats, according to preliminary results.

The party has been boycotting the elections since 2007 to protest the electoral system that favors, it claims, tribal and other pro-government candidates.

Zaki Bani Rsheid, the Brotherhoods second in command, explained that the party decided to participate in the polls after the amendments introduced on the electoral law (in March) and also to respond to the Jordanian peoples wish to see the partys participation.

The Islamic Action Fronts return to the elections was marked by flexibility. The Islam is the Solution slogan was dropped to include Christians and prominent national figures to campaign for parliamentary seats under the newly created National Coalition for Reform (NCR.)

The brotherhoods party is the most organized in the country. It wants to be an effective opposition in parliament by forming alliances with other parties. Rsheid argued that the vast majority (of lawmakers) will be made up as usual of deputies already close to power and the presence of other parties will be very weak.

King Abdullah hailed Tuesdays elections as a real victory saying that it was challenging given the unrest in the region and the burden of refugees. The king will appoint the government as the kingdom has no ruling party. He also reserves the right to sack members of parliament.

Observers said the election was held in a largely peaceful atmosphere but European Unions chief observer, Jo Leinen, underlined that there is no equality of the vote. Under the current districting, large urban areas are under-represented, while sparsely populated or rural areas are considerably over-represented.

Only 37% of the 4.1million eligible voters participated in the elections and analysts claim participation could have been lower if the Muslim Brotherhood continued its boycott of the polls. The low turnout was also linked to the lack of enthusiasm of voters as the parliament is usually dominated by pro-government tribal leaders, businessmen and ex-security officials, and has limited power to affect government policy.
As Russia and the United States continue to disagree at the United Nations on the terms of extending the ceasefire, President Assad announced that the seven-day ceasefire, began on September 12, has ended and launched a new offensive on the rebel-held part of Aleppo.

The regimes bombings seemed to be intense as Ammar al-Selmo, the head of the civil defense rescue service in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, said its as if the planes are trying to compensate for all the days they didnt drop bombs during the ceasefire. The government has created exit points for civilians and rebels who want to flee the area.

Both Moscow and Washington are claiming that they want to reestablish the ceasefire but they are yet to reach an agreement. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State John Kerry had a heated exchange of words accusing each other of being uncompromising and unwilling to reach an agreement at the International Syria Support Group meeting. UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said the meeting was long, painful and disappointing as he looks forward to another round on Friday.

China attended the meeting and its Vice Foreign Minister, Li Baodong, said countries should focus on having a ceasefire at the same moment as political negotiations, humanitarian assistance and counter-terrorism. He urged countries to surpass national interests and geopolitical advantages to avoid greater global crises.

Recently, President Assad predicted that the war in his country would drag on because of its inclusiveness in a global conflict in which terror groups are backed by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States.

Meanwhile, the UN has announced that it was resuming aid deliveries to rebel-held areas after one of its convoys came under attack on Monday near Aleppo. No one has claimed responsibility.
The Tunisian governments spokesman Iyed Dahmeni announced that Petrofac, British oil and gas industry services company, has officially informed the government that they have started the process of closing down.

The government will do everything we can to convince them to stay if the young men who are protesting accept the agreements we are proposing, the spokesman said.

Petrofac has a 45% stake at the Chergui gas field located on the island of Kerkennah while a state-owned company controls the rest. Protests have been going on at the site since January as locals demand employment at the field. The army intervened to protect it as the protest became violent.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Mohammed Trabelsi, blamed the protesters for the companys decision stating that he was shocked by their refusal to dialogue for solutions to their demands. He is however optimistic that an agreement could be reached following the drafting of reasonable solutions that are backed by social partners. He believes that it answers the demands of the locals.

The departure of Petrofac will be a big blow to Prime Minister Youssef Chaheds government. He held an emergency meeting with his ministers to find a solution. It is reported that the protests have already cost around $100 million in importation of gas from Algeria. The 13% of national supply provided by the Chergui gas field continue to be disrupted. The British company has begun its procedures to leave the North African country and has already suspended wages of the employees and the activities in the oil field.

Tunisias state-run phosphate companies earlier this month announced an agreement to hire 2,800 new workers after protests over jobs halted production and threatened to stop exports. Disruptions in that industry have cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars in losses over the last five years.
The Nigerian business mogul and Africas richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named co-chair of the US-Africa Business Center on Wednesday.

According to the US Chamber of Commerce, Dangote will serve alongside Jay Ireland, President and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric Africa, as Presidents of the centers board of directors.

In a statement on the occasion of his nomination, Dangote said, taking on this role with the US Chamber sends a clear message across Africa. American companies no longer see Africa as a stepping stone to global trade, but rather, as the future of trade.

Africa has emerged as one of the most promising growth regions in the world thanks to its vast array of industries, natural resources, and services Dangote added.

A release from the chamber stated we are honored to have Aliko Dangote on board to help guide the business communities efforts in pursuit of a new era of unprecedented growth between the United States and Africa.

The future of job creation lies in the hearts and minds of business leaders and their enterprises across Africa. We are fortunate to have an opportunity to tap into the expertise of Dangote and our board to ensure that US companies have strong partners across Africa and can provide access to African companies interested in the US market, the statement added.
The latest assault in Sirte to dislodge the Islamic State (IS) left Thursday nine fighters of Tripoli-based unity forces dead,medical source told media.

Ten militants were also killed in Thursday clashes.

Misrata Hospital on its facebook page put dead toll on government side at nine. The medical center also indicated it received 40 fighters wounded in the clashes.

Forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA) have since May launched a military operation to expel IS from Sirte, captured by the terror group last year.

GNA forces with the support of the US aerial power have advanced inside Muammar Gaddafis hometown, taking major positions and cornering the militants in their final retreat.

Our forces are advancing on the last holdouts of Daesh in the only district of Sirte still held by ISIS, said the media office of the pro-government fighters.

The militants, losing terrain, have resorted to car bombings and use of snipers to hamper the regular forces advance.

GNA forces claimed they killed 10 militants in Thursday clashes and destroyed three car bombs driven by Islamists before they reach their targets.

Since the beginning of the campaign, close to 500 GNA fighters have been reportedly killed and more than 2,500 injured. Death toll on IS camp has been difficult to verify. Some experts say the militants deserted the town before the onset of the campaign.

Bringing support to the GNA, Washington through the voice of its Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, predicted IS will fall any time soon.

US-Africa Command providing aerial support has launched more than 100 airstrikes against the Jihadists
The Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalgen said former South Sudan first vice president and rebel leader, Riek Machar is only welcome to the country on a temporary basis because Ethiopia will not entertain anyone leading an armed group.

The Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalgen who was speaking to the US-based portal, Foreign Policy, said Machar who is now in DRC will be allowed to pass through Ethiopia in his travels but is not welcome to stay again long-term.

Ethiopia hosted the crucial talks that were supposed to end the brutal civil war in neighboring South Sudan. The peace deal to unite incumbent president Salva Kiir and Riek Machar was signed in Addis Ababa in August 2015.

Again, the peace deal collapsed in July this year when government troops started fighting Riek Machars fighters in Juba. Fighting soon spread into other parts of the country. Thousands of South Sudanese refugees have fled to neighboring countries. Riek Machar himself has fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but it was rocked by a civil war that began in December 2013 when government forces loyal to President Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, battled rebels led by Machar, his former deputy who is a Nuer.
The Algeria-led international mediation team on Thursday said it is deeply concerned by recent clashes in northern Mali.

The team believes that this situation cannot continue longer without compromising the essence of this peace agreement, concluded in May-June last year, according to a statement issued after a meeting of the committee monitoring the peace deal.

The committee urged all parties to fully respect their commitments and their responsibilities and demands, in particular, the government to take all necessary measures for a speedy implementation of the agreement.

The mediation group threatened sanctions by the international community against those found responsible individually or collectively for the persistent deadlock.

The UN also voiced concerns over the West African nations shaky peace deal after clashes last week left around a dozen fighters dead near the flashpoint northeastern town of Kidal.

These clashes, as well as the repeated violations of ceasefire accords, threaten the progress achieved up until now in the implementation of the peace agreement, the UNs mission in Mali, known by the acronym MINUSMA, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The mission expressed serious concern over the deterioration of the security situation and over reported allegations of human rights violations and complained the unrest was hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Fed court rules second amendment null and void for medical marijuana patients

The federal government believes patients using medical marijuana do not have a right to exercise the Second Amendment.

Earlier this week the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by the state of Nevada that it is illegal for medical marijuana card holders to own a firearm for self-defense, according to Fortune.

The 3-0 court decision is based on a federal law that classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Other drugs in the schedule include heroin, LSD, ecstasy, peyote, and methaqualone.

The court ruled the use of medical marijuana raises the risk of irrational or unpredictable behavior with which gun use should not be associated.

While a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration claims the use of marijuana increases the potential for violence, other studies contradict this conclusion.

A study published by the journal of Addictive Behaviors determined use of the drug is unrelated to IPV (intimate partner violence). Alcohol increased the odds of several types of aggression while marijuana did not appear to affect any, according to data. A scientific study in Spain found that found THC-like chemicals significantly decreased the aggression levels of mice, a conclusion suggesting the effect of marijuana may in fact be the exact opposite of alcohol.

Numerous studies have determined cannabis is beneficial for a wide variety of ailments, including cancer, Parkinsons Disease, PTSD, arthritis, Crohns Disease, and a number of other illnesses. Scientists at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute found cannabidiol inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells and other studies have concluded cannabis medicine helps relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Many oncologists agree medical marijuana alleviates the side effects of chemotherapy.

A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health found cannabis has medicinal properties beneficial for chronic pain, muscle spasms, involuntary movements, sleep disorders, HIV-related weight loss and Tourette syndrome, Reuters reported last year.

However, the federal government insists there is not sufficient evidence proving the medical value of cannabis. Earlier this month the Drug Enforcement Administration turned down requests to remove marijuana from Schedule I.

Right now, the science doesnt support it, the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chuck Rosenberg, said after the decision was made public. He said the governments decision is tethered to the science, The Washington Post reported.

On August 10 the Obama administration announced it plans to remove federal barriers prohibiting marijuana research. Currently the University of Mississippi is the only institution authorized to grow the drug for use in medical studies.

It will create a supply of research-grade marijuana that is diverse, but more importantly, it will be competitive and you will have growers motivated to meet the demand of researchers, John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told The New York Times.

Sources:

Fortune.com

ScienceDirect.com

Reuters.com

WashingtonPost.com

NYTimes.com
The use of a controversial pesticide, sprayed from overhead on a Miami neighborhood, was a "key driver" in ending the local spread of the Zika virus there, US health officials said Friday.

Aerial spraying with naled, which is banned in the European Union, and with a larvicide called Bti provided a "one-two punch" that helped wipe out Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, said Tom Frieden, chief of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wynwood was ground zero for the first US outbreak of locally transmitted Zika, a virus which can cause birth defects and has spread rapidly through Latin America and the Caribbean.

From June 30 to August 5, 2016, there were 29 people with Zika virus infection who were likely exposed within about six blocks of the hipster art district north of downtown Miami.

Ground-based applications of pesticide showed little effectiveness, and mosquito counts stayed high, raising concern that they might be difficult to kill.

But aerial spraying led to a "rapid dropoff in the mosquito count," Frieden said, describing the data as "really quite striking."

"At this point, aerial application appears to be our strongest tool," Frieden told reporters on a conference call.

"Aerial spraying appears to be aif not thekey driver in this progress."

Short-term health unharmed

A complete report on the situation was released in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"No increases in short-term health effects were associated with spraying," it said.

Calls to poison centers did not increase, nor did visits to emergency rooms compared with time periods before the spraying occurred.

The Zika outbreak is not over in Florida. Miami Beach continues to experience local spread of Zika, and aerial spraying has begun there, too.

The mainland United States has so far counted more than 3,300 travel-associated cases, meaning they involve people who were infected elsewhere.

Zika can be spread by the bite of an infected mosquito or by sexual contact.

Florida is so far the only US state with local transmission, and has 95 such cases and more than 680 travel-related infections. A total of 90 pregnant women in Florida have been diagnosed with Zika.

The virus is linked to the birth defect microcephaly, which causes newborns' heads to be abnormally small, and rare adult-onset neurological problems like Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

The US territory of Puerto Rico, which has seen more than 19,000 cases of Zika, recently decided not to pursue aerial spraying, Frieden said.

Controversial tool

Naled has been used in the United States since 1959 as a common tool for mosquito control, despite concerns about its risks for human and environmental health.

The European Union prohibited its use in 2012, but the US Environmental Protection Agency assures it is safe if sprayed sparingly.

Some Miami residents have protested the use of naled, citing concerns for human and animal health.

Reports also surfaced earlier this month in South Carolina that millions of bees were killed after an aerial spraying of naled, following the confirmation of four Zika cases there.

Frieden said he understood concerns about the potential risks, but said that officials used an "ultralow volume" of less than one ounce per acre, and sprayed early in the morning to minimize exposure to people and bees.

Since there is no vaccine to prevent Zika, the evidence that aerial spraying could work was a boon to public health efforts.

Such an approach "has never before been proven to stop the spread of human disease," Frieden said.

"This really does herald a new era for control of local transmission."

Explore further Millions of US bees die from spray to fight Zika mosquitoes (Update)

 2016 AFP
As in the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a subtle change can lead to a gross alteration in identity. The interplay between Notch and PRC2 defines cell fate: A good cell and stable cell fate (Dr. Jekyll), or perturbation of cell identity and oncogenic transformation (Mr. Hyde). Credit: Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

Rafal Ciosk and his group at the FMI have identified an important link between the Notch signaling pathway and PRC2-mediated gene silencing. They showed that a fine balance between epigenetic silencing and signaling is crucial for cell-fate decisions. While this study has important implications for normal development and tissue homeostasis, it also provides insights into the origin of certain diseases associated with abnormal Notch signaling, such as acute T cell leukemia.

A delicate balance between intracellular signaling and epigenetic regulation controls cell-fate decisions. Differentiation, proliferation and transformation are all influenced by signals from the extracellular environment. These signals eventually elicit the dynamic coiling or uncoiling of DNA, leading to either repression or expression of specific genes. But it remains largely unclear how these processes operate at the molecular level.

The coiling and uncoiling of DNA is controlled through a variety of modifications on the DNA itself and on histones  the spools around which it is wound. A protein assembly known as Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) adds methyl groups to histone H3, thus inactivating these stretches of the DNA.

FMI scientists led by Rafal Ciosk have now elucidated a mechanism whereby Notch signaling alleviates the repression mediated by PRC2.

In collaboration with scientists from the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin, the FMI team searched for factors altering the fate of germ cells in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Ciosk explains: "We can reprogram these cells so that they become neurons, and hoped to identify the proteins that facilitate this transition. To our surprise, we found that the Notch signaling pathway is crucially involved in this transition. This pathway is best known for maintaining undifferentiated germline stem cells."

The scientists then showed that Notch activates numerous genes normally repressed by PRC2, and that this function is independent of the function for which the pathway is best known. In addition, they dissected the mechanism whereby Notch counteracts the effects of PRC2  namely, transcriptional activation of a histone demethylase, UTX-1, which may then block the effects of PRC2 by removing the repressive histone marks.

Finally, the implications of Ciosk's findings extend well beyond roundworms and reprograming: Notch signaling is involved in many tissues and, most importantly, also in the development of malignancies. In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), for instance, malignancy is driven by the oncogenic activation of Notch signaling. In this disease, PRC2 acts as a tumor suppressor and Notch antagonizes the silencing of genes by PRC2. Ciosk comments: "With the identification of UTX-1, we have now established a link between these two agonistic actors. In addition, our insights may provide us with an entry point into other diseases involving a pathological increase in Notch signaling."

Explore further New culprit discovered in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

More information: Stefanie Seelk et al. Increasing Notch signaling antagonizes PRC2-mediated silencing to promote reprograming of germ cells into neurons, eLife (2016). Journal information: eLife Stefanie Seelk et al. Increasing Notch signaling antagonizes PRC2-mediated silencing to promote reprograming of germ cells into neurons,(2016). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.15477
Since the day they came home from the hospital in matching newborn monkey outfits, Zane and Zac Taylor have done everything together.

They shared a bedroom, learned to walk and talk in tandem, and started preschool in the same classroom.

Now, the identical 5-year-old twins are experiencing the unimaginable together.

They are both battling cancer.

Just 13 days apart in February, the brothers were each diagnosed with leukemia and have spent much of the last few months side by side at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital where they are receiving treatment.

"It doesn't even seem possible," dad Bob Taylor says. "It's so shocking to comprehend that both of your kids are fighting cancer at the same time. Even as I'm saying it right now, it doesn't seem like it could be true."

'The worst kind of deja vu'

When Zac came down with a rash, fever and extreme lethargy this winter, it appeared to be a bad case of hand-foot-and-mouth disease. But when symptoms persisted two weeks later, his doctor ordered blood tests.

Marty Taylor was in the middle of registering her sons for kindergarten when she got the call that the tests were back, and Zac needed to go to the ER

"When they said the test results confirmed it was cancer ... It just changes your whole world." Bob Taylor says.Then, less than two weeks later, came more shocking news.

The Taylors had taken Zane to the doctor for a low-grade fever because of concerns he may pose a threat to his brother's vulnerable immune system.

"Zane's fever was nothing you'd ever take child to the doctor for. It was barely over 99, and he was still playing like normal. We just took him to the doctor to protect Zac. We didn't want Zac to get sick," Bob remembers.

Just to be safe, their pediatrician ran the same blood tests Zac had gotten. Bob Taylor assured his wife that it was just out of cautionnot because the doctors thought Zane had the same disease.

But that night they got the dreaded call again, and Zane was taken to the hospital. Doctors were as stunned as the Taylors when they told them Zane had the same type of cancer as his brother.

"It was the worst kind of deja vu," Bob says. "It just didn't seem possible."

'Unbelievable' odds

The cancer risk for an identical twin of a child with leukemia is significantly higher than the risk for any other sibling or a fraternal twin, says Mott pediatric oncologist Rama Jasty Rao, M.D. Although this risk remains until age six, it decreases with age. The greatest risk is seen in the first year of life.

The risk of developing leukemia for the twin of a child with the disease is also higher for B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). For nearly 80 to 85 percent of children with ALL, the leukemia starts in B cells. Zane and Zac however have the rarer T-cell ALL.

That's why the double diagnoses shocked even Rao.

"The odds of both twins getting this type of cancer at age 5 are so small. It was very unexpected," she says. "Taking care of one child with leukemia is intense enough. To have two kids diagnosed at the same time, it's unbelievable."

Rao says the boys' care teams are continually amazed by how "phenomenal, patient and calm" the parents have been during the situation and both boys are responding very well to chemotherapy.

The Taylors have also donated some of their sons' cord blood for pediatric cancer research at Mott.

"Because they are twins, samples of their cord blood shed a lot of light on how genetic factors may contribute to cancer development," Rao says.

"We know these abnormalities started in utero but just now transformed to full blown leukemia, so we can study the pathways of how and why this happened."

Healing and hope

Treatment has been undeniably difficult for the Taylors, but they say their sons are mostly back to themselves during breaks in between chemotherapy.

Zane loves spending free time baking, watching food channels, hosting his own imaginary cooking show and even offering tips to the cook at his favorite pizza place. Zac, the more reserved of the two, loves Peppa Pig, playing with his brother and 4-year-old sister Zoe, and swimming. The boys are mostly inseparable, their parents say.

Marty Taylor says the boys just know they "have bad guys" in their bodies, and their time at Mott is necessary to get rid of them.

"I'm so amazed by how strong they are," Bob Taylor says. "They are such a strong example for us. No matter how bad they're feeling, they still shine with their great personalities. They are both so loving and courageous."

Daughter Zoe has also "been incredible during this difficult time."

"She is so loving towards her brothers and is always willing to help with whatever they may needs," Bob says.

The Taylors moved from Nebraska to South Lyon, Michigan, last September for Bob's job at Chevrolet. They said they are overwhelmed by the support from their family, church, Chevrolet, and their new community, along with support from people around the world who have followed Marty's blog posts on their journey.

"We have an amazing support team. We are just so grateful for friends and family and the nurses and doctors who have taken such good care of our children," Marty says. "You can't get through these things by yourself. We couldn't be more thankful."

The Taylors are sharing their story as part of September's Block Out Cancer month at Mott, which helps raise awareness and money for pediatric cancer research.

"As difficult as this is we've seen how many others are going through things just as tough or tougher. We want to do anything we can do to help shine a light on the need for cancer research," Bob says."As a friend recently told us 'when it's all said and done, your story is not going to be cancer. It's going to be about healing and hope.'"

Learn more about how you can play a role in the fight to #BlockOutCancer: mottchildren.org/blockoutcancer

Explore further Brain cancer now leading childhood cancer killer
Credit: University of Glasgow

The first Scottish Atlas of Palliative Care has been by University of Glasgow academics at a major palliative care conference in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Atlas of Palliative Care contains previously-unavailable data on the availability of palliative care services across Scotland. Until now, Scottish data has been encompassed within UK data.

It is the first example of a national atlas of palliative care to be produced anywhere in the world.

The Scottish Atlas of Palliative Care was produced by the Reverend Dr Hamilton Inbadas and Dr Michelle Gilles in a programme led by Professor David Clark of the Glasgow End of Life Studies Group, based at the University of Glasgow's Dumfries campus.

In a colourful and attractive design, the Atlas contains maps, tables, lists and diagrams, illustrating which services are available in Scotland, at what level, and where.

Reverend Dr Inbadas, Research Associate in the Glasgow End of Life Studies Group and lead author of the Atlas, said: "The Scottish Atlas of Palliative Care presents a picture of the levels of specialist palliative care provided through different types of services, categorised by each health board area. It also offers a useful list of key documents and milestones that capture the development of Scottish palliative care in the areas of policy, education and socio-cultural attitudes."

This document responds to a commitment in the Scottish Government's 2016 Strategic Framework for Action in Palliative and End of Life Care, which in turn was a response to the World Health Assembly resolution in 2014 which requires all governments to recognise palliative care and to make provision for it in their national health policies.

Craig White, Divisional Clinical Lead at the Scottish Government's Healthcare Quality and Strategy Directorate, said: "The Scottish Government has committed to support improvements in the collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data and evidence relating to needs, provision, activity, indicators and outcomes in respect of palliative and end of life care."

He added: "The Scottish Atlas of Palliative Care will support a range of work in progress to contribute towards our vision that by 2021, everyone in Scotland who needs palliative care will have access to it."

Definitions of the terms used and the layout of the document are based on those of the existing European Atlas of Palliative Care, making the Scottish data comparable with European data for the first time.

Professor Clark said: "Scotland is not visible in the European Atlas of Palliative Care, and this is something which we wanted to put right. We hope it will inspire other nations to do the same."

"The Scottish Atlas will be a vital resource for policy-makers, decision-makers and thought leaders across Scotland," he continued.

Mark Hazelwood, Chief Executive of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, welcomed the document: "The Atlas will be useful to anyone who wants to understand more about the pattern of services likely to be available to people who are faced with the reality of deteriorating health and death in Scotland today.

"It is nearly 10 years since the previous attempt to describe systematically specialist palliative care services in Scotland. The background sections, including historic and policy contexts, are a valuable synopsis."

Dr Gillies, Clinical Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Glasgow, managed the data collection which involved identifying and interviewing service providers and then extracting quantitative data from these narratives.

"This is an opportune moment to reflect on the challenges and opportunities in collecting, collating and disseminating timely, accurate, accessible data on palliative and end of life care provision in Scotland, and to develop a sustainable approach through co-production," she said.

The team will now analyse the Scottish data and compare it with data from the European Atlas of Palliative Care, to outline gaps and areas for improvement in Scotland's palliative care provision.

Explore further Some cancer center staff uncertain of services offered
THE TRUE COST OF ALL THAT 'CHEAP' LAOR THAT DESTROYED AMERICA THE BIG SECRET DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW: Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute has testified before a Congressional committee that in 2004, 95% of all outstanding warrants for murder in Los Angeles were for illegal aliens; in 2000, 23% of all Los Angeles County jail inmates were illegal aliens and that in 1995, 60% of Los Angeless largest street gang, the 18th Street gang, were illegal aliens.
For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page
A team of Missoula effects designers won an Emmy at the News and Documentary Awards at a ceremony held on Wednesday in New York City.

The group won the award for Outstanding Graphic Design and Art Direction for their work on "Valley Uprising," a documentary about the history of the boundary-pushing rock climbing scene in Yosemite that aired on the Discovery Channel.

"It was quite surprising. We were up against HBO, POV, NOVA/PBS, all these other fantastic graphic artists, and so it was definitely an honor," team leader Barry Thompson said in a phone interview from New York.

Thompson, an independent motion designer, shares the honor with a full team: assistant motion designer Sari Jones; assistant motion designer Greg Twigg, a media arts professor at the University of Montana; Eric Bucy, a motion designer; Wesley Meeks, a 3-D animator.

Rounding out the team were two members from outside Missoula: Mark Palkoski of New York and Marty Blumen of New Zealand.

The documentary was directed by Peter Mortimer and Nick Rosen of Sender Films and produced by Big Up Productions. Thompson worked with them on other projects and recruited him to help with a unique problem: The Yosemite climbing scene wasn't well documented on film, particularly in the high-altitude scenes that viewers expect of a climbing movie.

Thompson and company used historical photographs to create fly-through animations of the still images of death-defying climbs to help create drama. While the effects are quite complicated, he compared it creating a pop-up book that a virtual camera can move through to "film" a scene.

The effects took years to complete, a span of behind-the-scenes labor that was awarded on Wednesday.

Thompson, Twigg, Meeks and Polkoski attended the ceremony, held at Frederick P. Rose Hall in Jazz at Lincoln Center.

While they were hesitant to expect a win, on Tuesday night Twigg, Thompson and Thompson's wife Melissa wrote down some notes for an acceptance speech, just in case.

As presenter George Stephanopoulos listed off the nominees, Twigg handed his cellphone to another person at his table. "In the event we win, could you take some pictures?" he asked her before Stephanopoulos announced their win and Twigg headed to the stage, a experience he described as "euphoric."

He said it was an honor just to be nominated  Thompson pulled them together from various places, and they weren't even a fully fledged design shop. But there they were, three guys from Missoula, Montana, in mismatched suits holding a trophy among heavyweights in the news and documentary world.

The Emmy is also a win for UM. Five of the team members, Twigg, Thompson, Meeks, Jones and Bucy, are graduates of the School of Media Arts. "It's a great representation for us," Twigg said.

As a final thought, Twigg added that "the trophy is beautiful, it's heavy and it feels like a million dollars."

After the ceremony, they carried it to the hotel inside "a box inside of a pharmacy bag to hide it."
In "Toad to Nowhere," local filmmakers Andrew Rizzo and Marshall Granger go in search of bufo alvarius, a toad whose toxins, defensive in nature, have more mind-altering effects on humans.

While that might give the impression that there's a gonzo tale about to unfold, "Toad" is a muted and personal documentary about self-discovery.

Undergoing a midlife crisis after having a child and turning 40, Rizzo decided to embark on a trip to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and recruits Granger, a 20-something fellow filmmaker, along for the ride. While Rizzo has more experience with psychedelic drugs, Granger admits his previous dabbling has induced anxiety. Lured by the idea of an adventure, he agrees to sign on as a psychedelic padawan of sorts, and they undertake a few trials of various other mind-altering experiences.

The story is structured by the two sharing their thoughts in separate interviews, speaking directly with the camera, alternating with footage of their escapades shot by co-director and cinematographer Eddie Roqueta.

The film's most effective and emotional core is Rizzo, candidly discussing the refuge he found in hallucinogens dating back to his teenage years. He describes his childhood, the youngest of six in a Roman Catholic family in Queens. Granger, meanwhile, speaks to his nervousness about their various experiments, and in later segments about whatever insights he's gained.

Both employ the language of therapy, and whether they moved closer toward a sense of healing, the film is less of a true endorsement than an exploration of the topic.

The camera stays trained on these two almost the entire running time. More information about the therapeutic history of these undertakings would have added more weight to the documentary scenes of intake and aftermath.

With scenic shots around Montana and Arizona as they travel, buoyed by a melodic but atmospheric score, courtesy of Missoula composer John Sporman, it's a pretty variation on a buddy movie. But it's a trip that's often entirely internalized, en route to a destination that they can report back on but never truly film.
Here are some selected highlights for the 2016 Montana Book Festival. For complete listings, to montanabookfestival.org.

Important information about cost: To attend Friday and Saturday adult daytime and evening events, a festival button is required. Buttons cost $15, and include discounts and promotions at area businesses from Sept. 20-25. For more information, go to montanabookfestival.org/pricing/festival-button.

With the exception of Pie and Whiskey, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday programming is free. The fee to attend a single daytime adult festival event on Friday or Saturday will be $5. The Author Reception and Literary Death Match will each cost $10 at the door for non-button holders.

The book fair on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Holiday Inn will remain free and open to the public, as will the Top Hat Poetry Slam and Youth Festival at the Missoula Public Library.

Friday, Sept. 23

"Women Who Pitch" workshop

Women writers can learn how to pitch opinion pieces to national publications, where women's voices represent only 20 percent. The workshop leaders are Stephanie Land, a Missoula-based whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Guardian and more; and Leigh Stein, who's been published in the NYT, Washington Post, Salon, Slate and more.

$25 for students, $40 general. Pre-registration required.

9-11:30 a.m.

UM Liberal Arts Building, Room 337

"Beyond Brokeback: Writing Rural Queer Identities"

Local and visiting writers discuss writing rural queer identities for those who live, have lived or wish to live in the country. Panelists include Cody Rose, Rachel Harper, Julia Milan and Eileen Keown Vaux.

11-12:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23.

Shakespeare and Co.

Keynote reading with Eileen Myles and Gregory Pardlo

Two celebrated writers will share their work: Myles, who's written poetry, nonfiction and fiction; and Pardlo, whose 2015 collection "Digest" won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

7 p.m., Wilma.

Healing through Native and native Western Voices

The issues about depictions of Native characters in fiction will be covered in a discussion with two Montana Native writers, Adrian L. Jawort and Sterling HolyWhiteMountain; two lifelong Montana writers, Shann Ray and Russell Rowland, and Anne Hillerman, novelist and daughter of Tony Hillerman.

4 p.m., Dana Gallery

Author's Reception

Attend a party for readers and writers featuring your favorite authors, plus food and drinks. Festival button or $10 at the door includes one drink ticket and treats catered by the Good Food Store.

5 p.m., Florence Building

Literary Death Match

The national sensation comes to Missoula, pitting four readers vying for the good favor of three celebrity judges. See full article on E1 for more information.

Doors at 8:45 p.m., show at 9:15 sharp. Cost: $10 at door or free with a button.

Saturday, Sept. 24

Book Fair

The ever-popular Book Fair will be free and open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Holiday Inn, 200 S. Pattee St.

Literary Pitch Session

Hone your pitching skills with agent Julie Stevenson for a $15 fee to raise money for the festival. Stevenson, of Lippincott Massie McQuilkin in New York, will meet with aspiring writers for a one-on-one session, giving feedback and pointers on pitch letters and the industry. Registration required at montanabookfestival.org/pricing/literary-agent-pitch-session-with-julie-stevenson.

1-5 p.m. Holiday Inn, Yellowstone Room.

Author Luncheon with Paula McLain

McLain, the best-selling author of the novel "Circling the Sun," will have a conversation with Missoula-based novelist Richard Fifield, author of "The Flood Girls." Limited capacity. The $30 price tag includes lunch at the Top Hat and $10 off a purchased book. Tickets available at tophatlounge.com and Fact and Fiction.

12:30 p.m., Top Hat Lounge

Gala reading with Maile Meloy, Shobha Rao and Leigh Stein

7:30 p.m., Wilma Theatre

Poetry Slam

The eighth-annual Poetry Slam pits 16 poets against each other for four rounds.

7:30 p.m, Top Hat Lounge, free, all ages.

Sunday

"UM Press Presents"

The University of Montana Press has revived itself after several decades with Kathleen Snow's new book, "Searching for Bear Eyes"; Bill Knowles history of radio and television in Montana, "We Pause for Station Identification," and Eduardo Chirinos' bilingual volume of poetry, "The Tightrope Walker of Bayard Street." The first two writers will read and discuss their work, and lead a celebration of the late Chirinos' life and work.

11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Shakespeare and Co.

"How to Write A Novel in 30 Days"

National Write A Novel Day is coming up in November, and panelists Alex Alviar and Ari Laurel can help you get ready to crank out 50,000 words in a month.

3:30-4:30 p.m., Fact and Fiction

"Montana's Many Sides: Curiosities, Film and the Red Light District"

Ednor Therriault ("Montana Curiosities"), L. Allen Strate ("High Lights, Low Lights and Red Lights"), and Brian D'Ambrosio ("Shot in Montana: A History of Big Sky Cinema") take about their work.

2-3 p.m.

Fact & Fiction Bookstore
A 59-year-old Missoula man faces felony charges after allegedly threatening employees with a knife at a pair of businesses on North Reserve Street.

John Albert Mulligan was arrested Wednesday after police were called to Town Pump on the corner of Reserve Street and Mullan Road around 10 p.m. An employee said she told a man to leave when he became disruptive, and said he took out a knife and waved it at her while cursing.

A man matching witnesses' descriptions was spotted across the street near a Taco Bell and arrested. When he was searched, police found a folding knife with a roughly 4-inch-long blade.

During the interviews at the gas station, a waitress at Perkins next door approached police saying a crazy person with a knife had confronted her shortly before their arrival. She said the man allegedly harassed customers and when she told him to leave he pushed the closed folding knife toward her and said youre going to (expletive) die tonight, (expletive).

Mulligan is charged with two felony counts of assault with a weapon as well as two misdemeanors for trespassing and another two for disorderly conduct.

During his initial appearance Thursday, deputy county attorney Selene Koepke said Mulligan has a lengthy criminal history across four states dating back to the 1980s. She advised Justice of the Peace Landee Holloway that he has severe alcohol and drug issues that he has no interest in addressing.

This is a very dangerous individual and he needs to remain in custody, she said.

In March 2014, Mulligan was accused of assaulting a man at the homeless camp under the Reserve Street bridge. The felony assault with a weapon charge was later amended to misdemeanor negligent endangerment as part of a plea agreement, and Mulligan received a one-year suspended jail sentence.

In July 2014, he was arrested again and charged with stabbing a man on the Reserve Street bridge, although a jury acquitted him on the felony charge. He was found guilty at trial of spitting on an arresting officer in the case, and was put on 161 days of misdemeanor supervision in October 2015.

Holloway set Mulligans bail at $25,000 Thursday, half what Koepke requested, but would not allow him to be screened for pretrial supervision because he does not have a residence, one of the requirements of the program.
CORRECTED VERSION

There was an unusual sight on the University of Montana campus Thursday: a student rally.

Its not so much the rally that was unusual as its makeup  this one was diverse, in speakers, attendees and topic, a unique sight at a university with only 68 African-American students on its mountain campus, and whose student bodys main charges for change dont often include race-related issues.

Were trying to change that, UM Black Student Union President LeShawn George said.

He, along with Native Generational Change founder and director Dustin Monroe, organized the Voice4Justice rally, with a dual message of environmental justice and police accountability.

Standing on a small hill, flanked by a banner reading Black Lives Matter Native Lives Matter in black spray-painted block letters, George stalked back and forth in a Black Lives Matter shirt, a backward UM flat-bill hat and mismatched Nikes, one thumb in his pocket, the other hand holding a microphone plugged into a small amplifier.

In Missoula, we like to feel like were insulated, he said. But no longer can we stand by from issues in other communities.

Giving some background on the Black Student Union (first in the nation, he said, though that's disputed) and the African American Studies Program (third in the nation), George, a senior in the community health program, said that legacy informed Thursdays event.

He recited famous passages from the Declaration of Independence, to the first smatterings of applause that broke into cheers at George's insistence that those famous words  life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness  apply to every person, no matter their race.

Calling the rally a start of further dialogue, George encouraged the crowd to pay attention for more gatherings and events.

Lets stay in contact, lets create change, he said.

Then he introduced Monroe as his indigenous brother and co-freedom fighter, bringing the data analytics masters student from the Fort Belknap Reservation onto the hill.

Monroe said hes been to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation protest twice and is planning a third trip. He referenced arrests and attacks by dogs brought by private security firms at the camps, which he said belie the true, peaceful nature of the protests.

On one of his trips, an elder told him to bring this home with you, inspiring him to join George and the Black Student Unions rally.

Ive lived in Montana all my life and always wondered why people of color dont come together, Monroe said, pointing to George, saying they have similar problems dealing with systemic poverty, racism and crime.

Then Monroe gestured to the crowd, saying just being at the rally meant they cared about these problems too.

My issues are your issues, Monroe said. Even if youre not a minority.

More than 60 people watched, cheered and chanted with George, Monroe and a few other speakers during the hourlong rally, held in UMs free speech zone, a small section of walkways and grassy knolls between the library and University Center.

A student who identified himself as Mateo Mblem, a sustainable construction major and founder of 64 To Your Door music, spoke on police brutality, along with his friend John Ifejika, while Courtney Little Axe shared her experience visiting the Standing Rock camp.

George then led a call-and-response, reading out more than 30 names of people who died from police shootings while the crowd repeated each one after him, along with a few areas, including Flint, Michigan; Standing Rock; and Butte, experiencing water issues.

Around three-quarters of the crowd followed EMPower Montana members Alyx Steadman and Alston Crudup, who were holding the Black Lives Matter Native Lives Matter banner, on a march to the Madison Street Bridge, chanting Water is life!

George ordered right hands up! and fists and pointed fingers were raised as the group marched past traffic. One passer-by grinned and gave two thumbs up to the rally.

On the bridge, George organized the crowd to face Mount Sentinel, even as many held their signs toward traffic, and said a few words while the banner was draped over the side of the bridge.

The rally came together in just a few weeks, after shootings in Orlando and Dallas this summer, George said. Once the protest in Standing Rock gained steam and garnered more attention, Monroe joined the rally.

We didnt wait for our representatives, we didnt wait for our mayor, we didnt wait for anybody, Monroe told the crowd of how the event came together. These are things my children are gonna have to deal with and I say"  to the loudest cheers of the day "Not. No. More."

A previous version of this story contained the incorrect number of African American students at the UM's main campus.
HAMILTON  A Ravalli County district judge will hear arguments on a proposed default judgment against the former Ravalli County treasurer, Valerie Stamey, in October.

The county is seeking a total of $151,478.22 in fines and damages from Stamey.

The county filed the lawsuit against the former treasurer in June 2014 after suspending her from that position on charges of official misconduct.

It took the county six separate summonses and two years of looking before it finally tracked Stamey down in South Carolina, where she was served with legal papers last May.

Stamey told the Ravalli Republic one month later that she would not file a legal response to the countys civil lawsuit and promised a legal challenge of her own if the county opted to proceed with its legal action.

Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Howard Begin said Thursday that Stamey has not responded at all to the countys lawsuit.

Due to Stameys lack of response, the county is asking Ravalli County District Judge Jeffrey Langton for a default judgment that Begin said would normally conclude the matter.

The county asks Langton to rule that Stamey committed official misconduct for failing to complete her statutory duties as treasurer. It seeks a $29,000 penalty for her failure to provide reports to the county as required by law. And the county asks for $122,478.22 to reimburse it for the out-of-pocket costs it incurred to investigate Stameys misconduct and return the office to functioning status.

Stamey was appointed to fill the vacant office of treasurer on Sept. 9, 2013.

Within a short time, the county commission began receiving complaints from the public that checks written to the treasurers office werent clearing the bank, according to a court brief. At the same time, special districts in the county complained they werent receiving current account statements.

Stamey was placed on leave in January 2014 following an investigation that verified she was not performing the duties of her office.

When county representatives entered her locked office the next day, they discovered thousands of dollars in the form of checks and cash scattered about the office accompanied by half-completed paperwork.

To get the office functioning again, county employees worked overtime in a herculean effort to clear the backlog and the county brought in a retired treasurer from Beaverhead County to help. It also hired an auditing firm.

As a result of an investigation into Stameys mismanagement, the board held another meeting in February 2014. It found that Stamey had neglected or refused to generate reports on at least 55 occasions and failed to settle on three occasions.

The commission required Stamey to pay $500 for each instance, or a total of $29,000.

That Stamey owed plaintiffs a duty cannot be contested, Begin wrote in his brief to the court. The duties of a county treasurer are set forth in statute. When she took the oath of office, she pledged to discharge the duties of her office with fidelity.

The hearing is set for Wednesday, Oct. 5.
I am writing this to communicate with Gov. Steve Bullock. He is not inclined to reply to my emails to him, other than an occasional letter on the governors official stationery  perhaps written by his staff. He does seem to personally reply to my op-eds about him in newspapers though.

I have met with the governor twice in Whitefish and discussed highly toxic Canadian tar sands oil railroad cars traveling through the Flathead River Designated Scenic Corridor, the Glacier National Park perimeter, Coram, Martin City, Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls and Whitefish. There are no adequate preventative measures being taken to ensure no railroad car derailments that would destroy waterways, wildlife and humans, only reactive, after-the-fact clean-up training drills planning. Thats too late.

Also on my agenda with Bullock was the waterways toxicity left over from the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company's reckless polluting and the need for the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund cleanup solutions. I also pressed U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and he collaborated with Bullock to work on this problematic issue. The local business community, and Republican U.S. House member Ryan Zinke, opposed a Superfund solution, preferring the concealment from a bad pollution reputation in the business publics eyes on local property values to saving humans and wildlife.

A special committee, formed with local dignitaries and politicians and others wanting to pad their resumes with membership status, proved relatively worthless, but the free meals were very good. I was allowed to attend, but not allowed to speak, even though it was my public pollution alerts that prompted the forming of the committee.

Generally speaking, I believe Bullock appeared irritated with me for embarrassing him by criticizing him in a public forum. Too bad, so sad, but he needs to step up to the plate and be proactive about these vital issues instead of me goading him into it.

Now, as Bullock's name appears constantly in the public news media during his re-election campaign, I cannot help but notice he is not a proponent of coming to the rescue of wildlife by advocating for adding wilderness designations in the national forests to protect their very necessary habitat from the insatiable capitalistic timber industry and self-obsessed motorized/mechanized vehicle access wreckreationists and grizzly bear trophy hunters and inhumane trappers of fur-bearing animals.

In fact, Bullock is outspokenly an advocate and proponent for hunting, trapping, motorized/mechanized vehicle access and logging in wildlife habitat. This gets him crosswise with me. He probably will not add me to his appointees on his far-fetched, suggested Office of Outdoor Recreation housed in the Governors Office of Economic Development. Nor do I sound eligible for the appointment as public access specialist in the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Sounds like economics trumps the environment in a Bullock administration. Maybe he is really a secretive Republican "Democrat in name only?"

Gov. Steve Bullock is handicapped by not knowing what he does not know. He simply does not get it. He is all suits and ties and fundraising and politicking and vote gathering. Only humans can vote, not animals, so why bother worrying about them? Answer: They are the vital, essential part of the ecosystem, along with plant life, that keeps the planet going. As opposed to humans, who are the scourge of the earth and destroy the planet. Governor, now do you get it?
Every small-business owner has probably repeated the classic "Field of Dreams" quote in their minds from time to time: If you build it, they will come.

What we have found in Missoula is perhaps an even more inspiring mantra: If you invite others to join you, you will build it together; once you build it, it will become something more than any of us imagined.

For the fourth year in a row, The Kauffman Foundation ranked Montana No. 1 in the nation for entrepreneurship. Jonathan Ortmans, a Kauffman senior fellow, noted, While many rightly see Montana as barely a blip on the map in this regard compared to other places cranking out tech startups, state authorities have a chance to build on Montanas collaborative culture to create opportunities for connectivity.

Our own startup would not be heading toward our second annual community festival without the collective talents given so generously by the Missoula community to sustain the countrys first brewery and educational center. Whether hammering nails, landscaping, designing artwork, sharing music, brewing beer or helping us to connect more deeply with our guests and important local causes, so many individuals and groups have offered their time, advice and support; all of this makes it clear to us why Montana keeps winning national rankings for business startups.

Even in the midst of extreme national polarization, we believe Montana is tops for entrepreneurship because of a collaborative culture that brings people together, celebrates what connects us all, and offers pathways for people to share their talents and give back to something bigger than themselves.

It is in the spirit of collaboration and connectivity that we are thrilled to team up with the Zootown Arts Community Center for Imagine Fest 2016 on Sept. 24. A portion of the proceeds will support the ZACC as well as Playing for Changea nonprofit that develops opportunities for street musicians while building music and art schools for children around the world.

Imagine Fest is beyond beer. It is about carving out the space and time for good people to do good things. We invite you to join us and the ZACC to create something more than we all might imagine.
Huckleberries to the 1,952 voters who helped pass the Hellgate Elementary School bond in a special election that wrapped up last Tuesday. The $19.8 million bond will allow the Hellgate district to expand its campus to include a new middle school, additional parking and a road to ease traffic congestion, and new fields and recreation areas for the entire neighborhood to enjoy. Smart choice, voters!

Chokecherries to Blue Cross Blue Shields proposed rate increase of more than 58 percent for individual Affordable Care Act policies, an amount the state insurance commissioner considers unreasonable  and thats after the insurance company reduced its original increase proposal of 65.4 percent. By contrast, Montana Health Co-op proposed a 22 percent average increase, while PacificSource expected a 20 percent increase. The rate increases will affect about 35,000 Montanans who are covered by ACA policies but earn too much money to receive federal tax credits.

Huckleberries to Habitat for Humanity and the dozens of volunteers who are pitching in to build seven new homes in a two-block area of a central Missoula neighborhood. The new low-income housing is replacing one blighted empty lot, earning the appreciation of nearby neighbors, and ERA Lambros Real Estate helped the nonprofit organization score a great deal on another lot. Last week volunteers from the Washington Corporation were hard at work on the first two homes, which will soon be filled by two new families.

Chokecherries to the statewide shortage of emergency services volunteers. Emergency responders and fire departments across Montana are reporting a decrease in the number of volunteers, and in increase in the ages of the volunteers they do have. A report presented to a legislative interim committee earlier this year noted that volunteers cover about 75 percent of the population in Montana. Without sufficient numbers of volunteers, emergency calls in the rural parts of the state may go unanswered.

Huckleberries to Missoula in Motion, Mountain Line and dozens of local businesses and agencies for sponsoring the annual Bike Walk Bus Week Sept. 16-24. Organizers are marking the celebrations 25th year by launching Walk and Roll Missoula, a community-wide effort to encourage foot, bicycle and bus travel by offering walking tours, discounts, free goodies and more. Check out the complete list of events on Walk and Roll Missoulas Google Map.
The animal rights activists in the Missoula and Bitterroot areas dont ever want to talk about the trap-free areas around the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys, so I would like to take this opportunity to point them out.

In the Missoula Valley we have the Blue Mountain Recreation Area, Pattee Creek Recreation Areas and the Rattlesnake Recreation Area (the portion outside and excluding the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area).

In the Bitterroot Valley we have the Bass Creek Recreation Area and Lake Como Ski Area.

These trap-free areas can be verified in the 2016 Furbearers & Trapping Regulation Book located at any outdoor sporting goods store or at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and parks offices.

Initiative 177 will not only take away the rights of trappers, but will affect all outdoor enthusiasts and future outdoor sportsmen. It would bring a new cost to FWP with a conservative estimate of over $430,000. The majority of this cost would come from having to hire government trappers and more government biologists to do the trapping and data collecting that us trappers do for free now.

If it passes, I-177 will take away the way of life I personally like to pursue with my children, my friends and their children, and all future trappers.

Dont give up any more rights, my fellow Montanans.

John R. Wilson,

Missoula
KALISPELL  A private bridge to Dockstader Island from the north shore of Flathead Lake that was completed less than four months ago must be removed, a Flathead County judge ruled this week.

Judge Robert Allison said it was hard to see how the 2011 Flathead County commissioners maintained that what was originally planned as a 481-foot-long, 16-foot-wide bridge over Flathead Lake was not significant enough to require public comment before they issued a permit for its construction.

Allison ordered the bridge  which grew to 581 feet long during several subsequent permit revisions  be taken down, and the lakeshore restored to its natural condition.

As to the Flathead County Planning Boards assertion that the bridge is not a road or roadway per se, Allison termed the reasoning nonsensical.

The bridge is a vehicular bridge, the judge wrote in his decision. It is in essence an elevated roadway over water The misinterpretation of the definition of a road to not include a vehicular bridge is arbitrary and capricious.

The bridge and its construction on property west of Bigfork owned by Jolene Dugan have been a running controversy for five years now.

A local group called Community Association for North Shore Conservation, which includes many of Dugans neighbors, sued the county and its board of commissioners last year after several failed attempts to get the county to halt the project.

***

The north shore property is unusual, then-Flathead County Planning and Zoning director BJ Grieve told the Missoulian in an interview last year.

The island was once part of a peninsula, and the landowner still owns, and pays taxes on, property that has eroded away and is now underwater when Flathead Lake is at full pool. Property lines in this area of Flathead Lake can run a quarter of a mile out into the water when the lake is full, he said.

The water, only two to three feet deep, is too shallow for motorboats. Kayakers and canoeists can paddle through it because the water is public  but if they get out and stand in the water they are trespassing on private property.

Grieve said Dugan initially wanted to reclaim the land and turn the island back into a peninsula, but was told bringing in fill to restore historic access was illegal.

Her father, Roger Sortino, then applied for a permit to construct the access bridge.

There are regulations banning roadways and driveways in what is known as the Flathead Lake Protection Zone  but no mention of bridges, Grieve said.

Because the bridge would cross private property, among other reasons, the planning office considered the application under summary review provisions, an abbreviated permit review procedure.

We cant treat (Sortino) differently even though the property is unique, Grieve said in 2015. He has the same right to apply for things, same as lakeshore owners who want to put in retaining walls or docks.

The office also told the county commissioners it would be their responsibility to determine whether the proposed project would have a significant impact on the lake.

***

The commissioners stance that it would not was at the heart of the lawsuit.

The commissioners did not consider all of the necessary impacts of the project, Allison wrote in his decision. In particular there was no consideration of the visual impact of the project, which is required by state law.

The judge also noted that Dugan and Sortino at one point sought to amend the original permit and add cross-bracing, guardrails, decorative statues and lighting to the bridge.

Flathead commissioners denied those requests, writing that those additions would materially diminish water quality, materially diminish wildlife habitat, interfere with navigation or other lawful recreation, create a visual impact discordant with natural scenic values and alter the characteristics of the shoreline.

The court is at a loss, Allison wrote in his decision, how basically cosmetic additions to a 481-foot bridge can cause these impacts, but the bridge itself does not.

The 581-foot version of the bridge was declared essentially completed as proposed by a county inspector on June 1.
BILLINGS  Laurel Police Officer James Joseph Huertas has been fired from the Laurel Police Department, according to city officials.

Laurel Chief Administrative Officer Heidi Jensen confirmed Friday that Huertas was fired on Sept. 6, and referred all other questions about the matter to Laurel City Attorney Sam Painter. The department suspended Huertas after he was charged with misdemeanor partner or family member assault in July.

On Monday, Huertas' lawyer petitioned Billings Municipal Court Judge Sheila Kolar to dismiss the case because Billings police did not have a warrant for Huertas' arrest.

Huertas worked for the Laurel Police Department for about nine years prior to being suspended in July.
WASHINGTON  Sexual harassment, bullying and other misconduct is rampant among employees at national parks across the country, including at iconic sites such as Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, a congressional committee was told Thursday.

At Yellowstone, officials are investigating complaints of sexual exploitation, intimidation and retaliation.

At Yosemite, at least 18 employees have come forward with allegations of harassment or other misconduct so severe that a recent report labeled working conditions at the park "toxic."

The complaints follow a report by the Interior Department's inspector general that found male employees at the Grand Canyon preyed on female colleagues, demanded sex and retaliated against women who refused.

In a separate case, the park service has temporarily reassigned the superintendent of a Florida park where female employees long complained of sexual harassment and a hostile workplace.

"There seems to be some patterns here that are just not anything we should come close to tolerating," said Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Michael Reynolds, deputy director of operations for the National Park Service, acknowledged problems at many of the agency's 413 park sites, including the Grand Canyon and other parks visited by millions of people each year.

Problems at the Grand Canyon and the Canaveral National Seashore in Florida "were more than a wake-up call," Reynolds told lawmakers. "They presented us with clear and undeniable evidence that ... we must extend the same commitment to the employees of the National Park Service as we make to the protection of our nation's most extraordinary places."

Asked if he agreed the agency has a problem with harassment and hostile work environments, Reynolds said yes.

Kelly Martin, Yosemite's chief of fire and aviation management, told lawmakers that she has been sexually harassed throughout her 32-year career at the park service and U.S. Forest Service.

Early in her career, a Grand Canyon park ranger stood outside her bathroom window and watched her shower, Martin said. After she reported the incident, he apologized and no further action was taken. The ranger "was repeatedly caught engaging in voyeuristic behavior, all the while receiving promotions around the agency until his recent retirement as a deputy superintendent" at a national park, Martin said.

At Yosemite, dozens of people, mostly women, "are being bullied, belittled, disenfranchised and marginalized from their roles as dedicated professionals," Martin said. She and other employees said Park Superintendent Don Neubacher has "publicly humiliated" workers, intimidated them and questioned their professional credibility.

Yosemite employees described "horrific working conditions (that) lead us to believe that the environment is indeed toxic, hostile, repressive and harassing," the park service said in a preliminary report last month.

Chaffetz and other lawmakers said problems at Yosemite are exacerbated because Neubacher's wife, Patricia Neubacher, is deputy director for the Pacific region, which includes Yosemite.

Scott Gediman, a spokesman for Yosemite, declined to comment, referring questions to the agency's Washington headquarters

Spokesman Jeremy Barnum said the park service is implementing "a comprehensive plan to identify and stop harassment, educate our staff at all levels about their rights and responsibilities, and create a safe and respectful work environment for every employee."

The agency has set up a hotline for complaints, improved training and is conducting a survey of employees, Barnum said.

Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis "has made clear to all NPS employees that when incidents of harassment are reported, NPS managers must take the allegations seriously ... and act promptly to ensure the harassment ... does not continue," Barnum said.

If allegations are verified, "disciplinary action will follow," he said.

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland was dubious, noting that an agency task force reached many of the same conclusions 16 years ago.

"Sixteen years later, allegations have been made at Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks about possible harassment, hostile work environments and even sexual exploitation," Cummings said.
KALISPELL  A Bigfork man once described by a federal judge as dangerous to the money and property of others is being investigated for an alleged Ponzi scheme where the state says he may have defrauded 36 investors.

John Kevin Moore and his business, Big Sky Mineral Resources, sold more than $2.7 million in investments in oil leases without registering the securities with the state, and without registering as a securities broker, Montana deputy securities commissioner Lynne Egan said in court documents filed Tuesday.

The court documents allege that, while paying out $886,600 to investors, Moore also withdrew almost $800,000 for himself, and used even more of the money to purchase vehicles, fine art, an RV, an ATV and make mortgage payments on two Bigfork homes.

District Court Judge Robert Allison granted a temporary order the same day restraining Moore from selling more investments and disposing of any assets.

He set a Sept. 30 hearing in Kalispell for Moore to argue why his assets shouldnt be frozen.

No criminal charges have been filed.

***

Egan said four people complained they had made investments but received minimal or inaccurate information about Big Sky Mineral Resources. They also said they did not receive a prospectus and that Moore did not respond to requests for information about the companys corporate governance, corporate taxation, operating agreements, leases, assets and liabilities.

Securities officials allege the leases dont exist and Moore was operating a Ponzi scheme, using money from new investors to make payments to earlier investors.

Moore told the Associated Press on Thursday that he has oil leases registered in Lewis and Clark County.

The bank transactions listed in Egans affidavit include a $450,000 payment from Moores accounts to Summit Oil. The Big Sky Mineral Resources website includes documents showing Summit West Oil transferred interest in about 60,000 acres of oil leases to Big Sky Mineral Resources in September of 2014. Lewis and Clark County recorded the transfer in June of 2015, according to the county website.

The Big Sky Mineral Resources website includes a video entitled Why Big Sky Mineral Resources? in which the announcer says, One company, Big Sky Mineral Resources, has positioned themselves (sic) to be on the leading edge of mineral exploration in Montana for years to come. So whether its oil, natural gas or helium, Big Sky Mineral Resources is on the fast track to success.

In its photo gallery, the company website also shows a photograph of Moore standing between U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Zinkes press secretary, Heather Swift, did not immediately return a phone message to the Missoulian on Friday to describe what relationship, if any, the congressman has with Moore.

The Center for Responsive Politics shows a John K. Moore of Bigfork donated $2,500 to Zinke's campaign in 2014. His occupation was listed as "art dealer."

A search for donations from Kevin Moore of Bigfork, which the Big Sky Mineral Resources website indicates Moore also goes by, shows three more donations to Zinke, of $2,600 in 2014, and $500 and $100 in 2016.

Kevin Moore listed himself as a "martial arts instructor." A 2008 feature story about martial arts in the Flathead Beacon includes a photograph of a Kevin Moore, and calls him a "Brazilian jiu-jitsu master."

The photograph in the Beacon, and the one on the Big Sky Mineral Resources website, appear to be the same man.

***

Armed with an investigative subpoena, Egan said she found bank accounts connected to Moore at Glacier Bank, Stockman Bank and Wells Fargo. Invested money, she said, was deposited into accounts for John Kevin Moore, Kevin Moore, Big Sky Mineral Resources, Haystack Landmark Enterprises, USA Fightwear or Glacier Gala.

Upon receipt of investment proceeds from investors, Moore typically withdrew a portion of the proceeds from the local Rosauers supermarket in the form of ATM withdrawals and checks, the affidavit says. Another portion of that money went to pay previous investors. Still another portion of that money went to pay Moores own mortgages. Yet another portion went to purchase art for his homes and new vehicles for himself. Still another portion went to pay overdraft fees from his ATM and other cash withdrawals.

Court documents say cash out/withdrawals by Moore totaled more than $799,000.

He also used the funds, the documents allege, to pay for:

 Mortgage payments on a home on Black Bear Lane in Bigfork ($127,600).

 Mortgage payments on a home on Lindley Court in Bigfork ($116,950).

 Mortgage escrow services and to Snyder Law for the Black Bear Lane home ($163,500).

 Vehicles ($126,758).

 Fine art ($143,653).

 Milk River hunting trips ($13,746).

 An RV ($19,000).

 An ATV ($5,000).

 Overdraft fees ($16,214).

 Travel ($4,425).

 Uncategorized expenditures ($71,149).

Among the several more listings in the funds out from bank accounts is $36,400 to SK8XTC in Las Vegas, which was billed as the worlds largest skatepark when it was in planning stages two years ago.

***

Moores criminal record includes a May 2003 guilty plea to federal mail fraud charges for portraying himself as a licensed outfitter in mailing materials to potential clients. He was sentenced to the six months he had already served in prison and put on probation for three years.

However, he violated the terms of his probation, including passing $500,000 through two bank accounts and taking out a $29,000 loan without notifying his probation officer. His probation was revoked and U.S. District Court Judge Charles Lovell sentenced him to 12 months in prison.

The court finds that the defendant is dangerous to the money and property of others and that protection of the public requires that his probation be revoked, Lovell wrote.

Court records said Moore had previous convictions for defrauding a person of $75,000 in a gold coin scheme, defrauding someone else in the sale of a painting, and for writing bad checks.

Moore referred further questions to his attorney, Shawn Hinchey of Kalispell. Hinchey did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
HAMILTON  The Montana Secretary of State confirmed Thursday that Rick Breckenridge is the Libertarian Partys replacement for U.S. House candidate Mike Fellows, who died Monday in a car crash.

The decision followed confusion within the Libertarian Party on Thursday on who could make the decision on naming Fellows replacement.

The Ravalli County Libertarian Central Committee said Wednesday that as the only elected central Libertarian central committee in the state, it had the right to choose the states candidate.

Party spokesman Andrew Forcier said Thursday morning the party was still considering others.

There never should have been any confusion, said Dave Merrick of Corvallis. Thats America. Anyone can contest anything.

Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder Regina Plettenberg said Thursday that she had received notice from the Secretary of States office that Breckenridge would be the candidate.

Plettenberg said county election clerks are now just waiting to learn how Breckenridge wants his name to appear on the ballot.

Breckenridge will face incumbent Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican, and Denise Juneau, a Democrat, in the general election contest for Montanas only U.S. House seat.
The Christopher and Banks women's clothing store in the Butte Plaza Mall is closing Sunday, just as many have done across the country in recent years.

The Montana Standard left phone messages in recent days seeking comment from company officials in Minneapolis, where the store's corporate headquarters are located, but received no response.

A sign in the window of the store in Butte, which specializes in missy and petite sizes of women's apparel, simply says it is closing Sept. 25. But, it adds, "We are always open online."

The company closed about 100 of its stores in 2012 and since then has combined some with its plus-size stores carrying the CJ Banks brand. It used to operate more than 600 Christopher and Banks stores, but the latest count this month was 506, according to its website.

The company has cited declining mall traffic over the past decade and says the missy category has struggled. But the store in Butte outlasted one at the Gallatin Valley Mall in Bozeman, which closed about four years ago, according to that mall's office.

The Butte Plaza Mall lost one of its anchors, J.C. Penney, in 2014. It was one of 33 "underperforming" stores  including another in Cut Bank  the company closed nationwide that year. J.C. Penney had been in Butte since 1929, first on West Park Street, then Harrison Avenue, and later at the mall.

Alana Ferko, manager of the Butte Plaza Mall, said Christopher and Banks closing was disappointing, but it was a corporate decision.

"Retail goes in cycles, and here is the scary thing: A lot of the retailers are promoting online shopping," she said.

"When I go out to a store and I am purchasing something and they want my email, I tell them, 'It's better to see me nose-to-nose.' I am faceless on the internet," she said. "It really is affecting bricks and mortar."

On the bright side, the "It's Greek To Me" restaurant located on Grand Avenue for decades moved to the Butte Plaza Mall earlier this year.
A Butte man accused of having an explosive device pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Butte district court Thursday.

Spencer Thomas Landreth, 30, was found with a Molotov cocktail during a probation and parole search at his residence on the 2100 block of Aberdeen Street on July 29.

Police say the suspect reported its intended use was for intimidation. Landreth was charged Aug. 1 with felony possession of explosives.

Public Defender Ed Sheehys motion for a recognizance release from the county jail was objected to by Michael Clague, Butte-Silver Bow deputy county attorney, who cited the need for community protection.

The prosecutor agreed to reduce Landreths bond to $10,000, which Judge Brad Newman ordered.

A pretrial hearing was set for Oct. 27.
A trial for a 29-year-old felon facing a federal grand jury indictment on possession of a firearm has been set for Nov. 7 in Helena.

Terry Lynn Sturdevant Jr. of Butte is accused of having a J.P. Sauer & Sohn .22 caliber revolver in Whitehall on or about March 5, the indictment states.

Sturdevant pleaded not guilty Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch in Missoula.

Sturdevant was convicted on burglary charges in 2009 and served time in Chenango County in New York state.

If convicted of the offense, he faces 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Daredevil Robbie Knievel received a two-year deferred sentence in Butte district court Thursday in connection with a drunken driving incident in 2015.

Knievel, the son of the legendary Evel Knievel, stood before Judge Brad Newman and said he was definitely guilty of endangering the individuals who were involved in a four-car pileup after he ran a red light on April 21, 2015.

Before I plead guilty, I would like to say from the bottom of my heart I thank God nobody got hurt. I was definitely guilty, and I learned a lot from it, Knievel said.

The 54-year-old previously denied the felony charge of criminal endangerment in Butte district court.

Knievel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, a second offense, which was amended from a felony count by Butte-Silver Bow County prosecutors. He received a six-month sentence in city court with all but seven days suspended.

Knievel, who has been sober since his arrest last year, cited his drinking problems all my life and thanked God that none of the victims were hurt.

I dont even know who any of the people are to this day, and that accident just really woke me up in my life, he said.

Knievel was walking with a cane in court, having suffered a spinal injury in a "sober jump" exhibition in Palm Springs, California, several months after the Butte accident. He had surgery on his spine in February of this year.

Deputy County Attorney Ann Shea argued for a deferred sentence, saying it was the right amount of time for monitoring and rehabilitation. Two years of reporting to a probation officer would be the best for Knievel and the community, she said.

Insurance covered the property damage resulting from the crash, and no restitution would be required, Shea said.

Defense Attorney Walter Hennessey agreed with the prosecutor, adding that the deferred sentence would give his client a chance to prove to the court he had changed.

Newman said he had considered a custodial sentence for Knievel, but given his lack of a felony conviction, a deferred sentence should be our first line of attack.

Knievel was overcome with emotion, at times crying, as the two attorneys made their sentencing recommendations.

Newman reminded him how close he came to endangering the lives of the victims in the crash, and hurting himself.

Noting Knievels fame, Newman also ordered him to complete 40 hours of community service, specifically for educational purposes. Knievel had earlier said that he wanted to continue speaking about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Youre going to be a better messenger than the court can be  maybe change someones life, Newman said.
WASHINGTON  Impeachment is among the most severe and solemn powers Congress has, right up there with declaring war. Not since 1876 has an executive-branch appointee been impeached, and not in the history of the republic has Congress impeached an executive-branch official below the Cabinet level.

Now, Republicans in Congress would change that. On Wednesday, they wheeled out the sacred tool of impeachment  weeks before an election  for the purpose of smearing an honorable public servant, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, in service of a lie.

"The IRS has been abusing taxpayers and illegally targeting conservatives and getting away with it," Rep. John Fleming, a Republican Senate candidate in Louisiana and leader of the House effort to impeach Koskinen, says in a new radio ad. "The head of the IRS ordered 24,000 emails erased before Congress could review them. ... I'm fighting back with an impeachment vote against the head of the IRS."

There are just a few wee problems with the Republicans' logic. The targeting of conservative groups ended in 2013. The Treasury Department's inspector general, originally a Republican appointee, reported no evidence of political motivation in the targeting. The Justice Department, too, found "no evidence that any IRS official acted based on political, discriminatory, corrupt, or other inappropriate motives" and "no evidence that any official attempted to obstruct justice." The official responsible for the targeting resigned before Koskinen came to the IRS at the end of 2013. And the same IG said last year that "no evidence was uncovered that any IRS employees had been directed to destroy or hide information from Congress, the DOJ, or [the IG]."

House Speaker Paul Ryan, eager to avoid the spectacle of the House voting to impeach an innocent man based on false charges without a proper hearing, got impeachment advocates to settle for Wednesday's hearing in which Koskinen testified before the House Judiciary Committee. But that hardly improved matters: To say this impeachment inquiry is a kangaroo court would be an insult to marsupials.

The hearing was called without the usual protocol of a vote of the House authorizing an investigation. The accused was not represented by counsel or given the right to present evidence. He was even denied access to the "evidence" the House Oversight Committee amassed that forms the basis of the charges against him.

Even the kangaroos on the Judiciary court were denied the secret evidence behind the bogus charges. "Does the committee majority have access to the unedited transcripts of the interviews conducted by the Oversight Committee?" Democrat Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) asked the committee's chairman, Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).

"We do not think so," Goodlatte replied.

If they lacked evidence, Republicans on the panel compensated with hysteria.

"We expect this kind of behavior from dictatorships," announced Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.). "It represents a direct attack on freedom of religion -- excuse me. It represents a direct attack on freedom of speech and, thus, an attack on our Constitution and our democracy."

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) took the unusual tack of accusing Koskinen of refusing to testify even as he sat there testifying: "You circled the wagons and clammed up, and you took the Fifth, and you destroyed evidence and betrayed the country."

Rather than join in the wild accusations, several Democrats on the panel chose instead to ask Koskinen about Donald Trump's taxes -- a line of questioning that brought an objection from Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) because it was "outside the scope of this hearing."

The chairman let Issa know that he couldn't tell the Democrats which questions to ask; even a kangaroo court has some standards.

There's no dispute that Koskinen misinformed lawmakers in 2014 when he said that all evidence had been preserved relevant to the targeting. In fact, IRS workers a few months earlier had destroyed backup tapes that contained relevant emails. Koskinen says he didn't know that at the time. The IG spent a year investigating the matter and attributed the erasure to bureaucratic errors, finding "no evidence that the IRS and its employees purposely erased the tapes in order to conceal responsive e-mails from the Congress."

But Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), one of those leading the charge to impeach Koskinen, doesn't believe that.

"That's just a coincidence?" he asked Koskinen on Wednesday about the erasures. "That just happened by chance?"

Jordan is entitled to his beliefs and his conspiracy theories, even if they run contrary to the evidence. But when it comes to the awesome power of impeachment, the burden of proof should be higher than wild speculation.
As everyone prepares to head to the polls to choose our next Governor, take a minute to ponder these thoughts. The last Republican governor, of any merit, gave us deregulation. How has that worked out for you and thousands of Montana Power employees?

The current Republican candidate promises 500 high paying jobs for Bozeman, what becomes of the rest of the 500,000 men and women in the work force?

Lets consider voting for our current Governor and his fiscal prudence and think twice on the pipe dreams. There is nothing wrong with money in the bank.

 Jon Seaman, Great Falls
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
After reading "1984" years ago, it is amazing to see major themes of the book play out in reality. The various ministries of love, peace and plenty can certainly be addressed as we watch various aspects of the news propaganda. But the one that I really notice lately, is the Ministry of Truth.

We are witnessing George Orwell's Ministry of Truth every time we read a news article or watch a news station. The amount of Newspeak is flabbergasting. From the campaign to the refugee issue in Missoula and across this nation, the absolute one-sided reporting is a shame given journalism was once a respected, needed profession. I submit that truthful, unbiased journalism no longer exists in the mainstream press and TV.

The refugees seeding our area and nation desperately require intrepid journalists who are unafraid to dig up the truth and not capitulate to pressure. We do not want articles based on feelings or just the positive side. We want the truth; our future depends on the truth. Is there a single journalist left who has the desire and ability to present the good, bad and ugly of an issue? Or are we to succumb to Orwell's Newspeak?

Desperately waiting for one truthful journalist who gets published.

 Shelley Couturier, Hamilton
I ask other Montana voters to join me in supporting Judge Dirk Sandefur for the Montana Supreme Court.

Judge Sandefur has been endorsed by people across the political spectrum. Supporters include Republicans, Democrats and every living retired Supreme Court Justice -- conservatives, liberals and those in between.

Judge Sandefur has a deep knowledge of the court system from 25 years as a police officer, prosecutor, defense attorney and District Court Judge. Unlike his opponent, he comes without a partisan agenda. As a District Court Judge in Great Falls he decided some of the most serious and complex cases that come before our courts.

A vote for Judge Dirk Sandefur is a vote for fairness, non-partisanship and experience.

 Linda Gryczan, Helena
HELENA  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.
ORIGINAL NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association fka The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Trustee for Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates Series 2005-RS4

Plaintiff,

vs.

William R. Ramsdell; Tamara L. Ramsdell; Parties in Possession, et al.

Defendants.

You are notified that a petition has been filed in the office of this court naming you as a defendant in this action. The petition was filed on May 19, 2016, and prays for foreclosure of Plaintiffs mortgage in favor of the Plaintiff on the property described in this notice and judgment for the unpaid principal amount of $63,083.06, with 4.62% per annum interest thereon from June 1, 2015, together with late charges, advances and the costs of the action including (but not limited to) title costs and reasonable attorney's fees, as well as a request that said sums be declared a lien upon the following described premises from February 10, 2005, located in Muscatine county, Iowa:

Lot 20, in Block 4, of Brook Street Addition to the City of Muscatine, in Muscatine County, Iowa, commonly known as 112 Park Avenue, Muscatine, IA 52761 (the "Property")

The petition further prays that the mortgage on the above described real estate be foreclosed, that a special execution issue for the sale of as much of the mortgaged premises as is necessary to satisfy the judgment and for other relief as the Court deems just and equitable. For further details, please review the petition on file in the clerk's office. The Plaintiffs attorney is Emily Bartekoske, of SouthLaw, P.C.; whose address is 1401 50th Street, Suite 100, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

NOTICE

THE PLAINTIFF HAS ELECTED FORECLOSURE WITHOUT REDEMPTION. THIS MEANS THAT THE SALE OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY WILL OCCUR PROMPTLY AFTER ENTRY OF JUDGMENT UNLESS YOU FILE WITH THE COURT A WRITTEN DEMAND TO DELAY THE SALE. IF YOU FILE A WRITTEN DEMAND, THE SALE WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL TWELVE MONTHS (OR SIX MONTHS IF THE PETITION INCLUDES A WAIVER OF DEFICIENCY JUDGMENT) FROM THE ENTRY OF JUDGMENT IF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY IS YOUR RESIDENCE AND IS A ONE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY DWELLING OR UNTIL TWO MONTHS FROM ENTRY OF JUDGMENT IF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY IS NOT YOUR RESIDENCE OR IS YOUR RESIDENCE BUT NOT A ONE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY DWELLING. YOU WILL HAVE NO RIGHT OF REDEMPTION AFTER THE SALE. THE PURCHASER AT THE SALE WILL BE ENTITLED TO IMMEDIATE POSSESSION OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY. YOU MAY PURCHASE AT THE SALE.

You must serve a motion or answer on or before 21st day of October, 2016, and within a reasonable time thereafter file your motion or answer with the Clerk of Court for Muscatine County, at the county courthouse in Muscatine, Iowa. If you do not, judgment by default may be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

If you require the assistance of auxiliary aids or services to participate in a court action because of a disability, immediately call your District ADA Coordinator at 563-326-8783. If you are hearing impaired, call Relay Iowa TTY at 1-800-735-2942.

By: Jeff Tollenaer

CLERK OF THE ABOVE COURT

Muscatine County Courthouse

401 East 3rd Street,

Muscatine, IA 52761

IMPORTANT:

YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE AT ONCE TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS.
WEST LIBERTY, Iowa - Work is nearing completion on the first phase of West Liberty's Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project. The City Council Tuesday night approved Pay Estimate No. 9 of $394,982 to Ricklefs Excavating of Anamosa for the state mandated $3.1 million first phase.

City Engineer Leo Foley said the first phase is 75 percent complete.

"It's up. It's operating," Foley commented. "It's still got some tweaks, but it's running the way the state wants."

The project contract calls for Ricklefs to complete the project by Feb. of 2017.

"They should be done before that," Foley said.

Ricklefs is also the contractor for the Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project, which has been delayed, Foley said, until a crane being used for the Wastewater Plant project is available.

"Things are going to start to happen," Foley said.

Ricklefs is under contract to complete the Water Treatment Plant project by April of 2017.

Foley also reported design work is close to completion, but moving electrical poles will cost more than originally estimated.

Improving storm water drainage from Heritage Park will have to be part of a larger project, City Manager Lawrence McNaul told the council. McNaul said that's the conclusion he and Foley reached after they visited the area.

Heritage Park is privately owned by the West Liberty Heritage Foundation, which wants a culvert placed to facilitate drainage. Foley told the council drainage from high school property all the way to the park becomes an issue. He estimated the cost of an engineering study at $5,800.

"We need to do a quick drainage study to look at what we are improving," Foley said.

One solution might be a water detention basin, perhaps funded by an Iowa DNR Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) grant.

"I think the Heritage Foundation and school would be happy," said Foley. "I think it would be the kind of project REAP would jump all over."

No official decisions were made, but the consensus of council was to move forward.

In other business:

 The council approved payment of claims totaling $107,905.

 The council set an Oct. 18 public hearing for changing the zoning of 1105 North Columbus Street from C-1 Highway Commercial to R-3 Mixed Residential.

 The council heard a report from We Lead West Liberty Director Shannon McNaul about We Lead's May-Aug. activities.
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 []
Marian Shinn, the DAs Shadow Minister of Communications, recently said the ANC governments perpetual policy bungling is keeping data prices high in South Africa.

The lack of availability of spectrum for wireless broadband services is the major cause of high prices, said Shinn.

The unavailability of spectrum has created an artificial scarcity that has stifled competition needed to drive down prices.

She pointed out that the unavailability of spectrum has two causes:

The failure of the governments programme to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The failure of government policy on how to allocate high-demand spectrum.

When many people hear spectrum or Digital TV migration they switch off, thinking it is stuff for techies worry about.

However, spectrum affects something every citizen is aware of  mobile data prices.

Below is a summary of why you should care about the governments Digital TV and spectrum allocation delays.

The broadcasting digital migration process will free up valuable spectrum to roll out LTE and LTE-A networks.

The spectrum allocation process, including the freed up spectrum from the digital migration process, will provide operators with more spectrum.

The more spectrum operators have, the more capacity their networks have. They can then offer higher broadband speeds at lower prices.

The migration process should have been completed in 2011, but the Department of Communications messed things up .

. The spectrum allocation process is also a mess, and telecommunications minister Siyabonga Cwele has launched legal action against ICASA to stop its spectrum auction.

This means valuable spectrum remains unused.

To compensate for the lack of spectrum, Vodacom, MTN, and Cell C are building more towers to create more network capacity. This costs billions each year.

These companies must cover their costs, so prices remain relatively high.

This means you pay more for data than what you could if the government sorted itself out.

It is undeniable that valuable spectrum has been lying unused for years, costing the country billions each year.

The next time spectrum and the digital TV process are discussed, take note  they are costing you money each month.

More on Digital TV migration and spectrum

Parliament grills Muthambi over slow digital migration

Wireless broadband and digital TV mess in South Africa is embarrassing: Minister

Deadline schmeadline: Digital TV and the DoC
Oops... This is embarrassing...

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NEW YORK  More than half the country fears a Trump presidency. And only about a third of Americans believe he is at least somewhat qualified to serve in the White House.

In the final sprint to Election Day, a new Associated Press-GfK poll underscores those daunting roadblocks for Donald Trump as he tries to overtake Hillary Clinton.

Moreover, most voters oppose the hard-line approach to immigration that is a centerpiece of the billionaire businessmans campaign. They are more likely to trust Clinton to handle a variety of issues facing the country, and Trump has no advantage on the national security topics also at the forefront of his bid.

Trump undoubtedly has a passionate base of support, seen clearly among the thousands of backers who fill the stands at his signature rallies. But most people dont share that fervor. Only 29 percent of registered voters would be excited and just 24 percent would be proud should Trump prevail in November.

Only one in four voters find him even somewhat civil or compassionate, and just a third say hes not at all racist.

We as Americans should be embarrassed about Donald Trump, said Michael DeLuise, 66, a retired university vice president and registered Republican who lives in Eugene, Oregon. We as Americans have always been able to look at the wacky leaders of other countries and say Phew, thats not us. We couldnt if Trump wins. Its like putting P.T. Barnum in charge. And its getting dangerous.

To be sure, the nation is sour on Clinton, too. Only 39 percent of voters have a favorable view of the Democratic nominee, compared to the 56 percent who view her unfavorably. Less than a third say they would be excited or proud should she move into the White House.

I think shes an extremely dishonest person and have extreme disdain for her and her husband, said one registered Republican, Denise Pettitte, 36, from Watertown, Wisconsin. I think it would be wonderful to elect a woman, but a different woman.

But as poorly as voters may view Clinton, they think even less of Trump.

Forty-four percent say they would be afraid if Clinton, the former secretary of state, is elected, far less than say the same of Trump. Hes viewed more unfavorably than favorably by a 61 percent to 34 percent margin, and more say their unfavorable opinion of the New Yorker is a strong one than say the same of Clinton, 50 percent to 44 percent.

That deep distain for both candidates prompts three-quarters of voters to say that a big reason theyll be casting their ballot is to stop someone, rather than elect someone.

Its not really a vote for her as its a vote against Trump, said Mark Corbin, 59, a business administrator and registered Democrat from Media, Pennsylvania.

Roughly half of voters see Clinton at least somewhat qualified, while just 30 percent say Trump is.

Even when it comes to what may be Clintons greatest weakness, the perception that she is dishonest, Trump fails to perform much better: 71 percent say shes only slightly or not at all honest, while 66 percent say the same of Trump. Forty-nine percent say Clinton is at least somewhat corrupt, but 43 percent say that of Trump.

Whatever her problems are, they dont even come close to him, said JoAnn Dinkelman, 66, a Republican from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who will cross party lines and vote for Clinton. Everything that comes out of his mouth that is fact-checked turns out to be a lie.

Trump finds no respite with voters when it comes to what he vows to do as president, either.

Nearly 6 in 10 oppose his promise to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, and only 21 percent of his supporters and 9 percent of registered voters overall are very confident he would succeed at fulfilling his promise that Mexico would pay for the construction.

Six in 10 say there should be a way for immigrants living in the country illegally to become U.S. citizens  a view that Trump opposes.

The wall isnt the answer. Its not feasible and Mexico wont pay for it, said Timothy Seitz, 26, a graduate student at the Ohio State University and a Republican. We should be leaders. We shouldnt cower from others and cut ourselves off in the world.

Beyond immigration, voters say they trust Clinton over Trump by wide margins when it comes to percehealth care, race relations and negotiations with Russia. She also narrowly tops Trump when it comes to filling Supreme Court vacancies, as well as another of the billionaires signature issues: handling international trade.

Trump is narrowly favored on creating jobs, 39 percent to 35 percent, while in general, voters are about equally split on which candidate would better handle the economy. Voters are slightly more likely to trust Trump than Clinton on handling gun laws, 39 percent to 35 percent.

Voters are closely split on which candidate would better handle protecting the country and evenly divided on which would better handle the threat posed by the Islamic State group. And Americans are much more likely to say they trust Clinton than Trump to do a better job handling the U.S. image abroad.
SAN FRANCISCO  Federal housing officials approved a preference plan that advocates said Thursday will help low-income minorities stay in increasingly unaffordable San Francisco.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow San Francisco to set aside 40 percent of affordable units at a new senior complex for low-income applicants who live in certain districts. The agency informed the city of its decision on Wednesday.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and other city officials had sought permission to reserve 40 percent of the units for people in the neighborhood where the new complex is located, but HUD officials rejected the plan as limiting equal access to housing in violation of fair housing law.

The rejection disheartened city leaders struggling to keep San Francisco affordable for residents, especially for dwindling numbers of African Americans who have left historically black neighborhoods for lower-cost suburbs.

In 1970, there were 100,000 African Americans in San Francisco. There are fewer than half that today even as the population has increased.

Supervisor London Breed, who is president of the board and pushed for the preference, welcomed the change of heart.

"We've lost a large population of African Americans in San Francisco, but we've also lost a large number of middle-income San Franciscans," she said. "It has been really difficult for people who grew up here to find affordable places to live once they become adults."

The new plan gives preference to low-income people living in five rapidly gentrifying districts, including the Mission and Western Addition, where the new senior complex is located. The Western Addition once housed a thriving black community called the "Harlem of the West" before it was destroyed by redevelopment starting in the 1950s.

Still, the odds of scoring a spot in the federally subsidized complex remain daunting. For example, 6,000 people have applied for the 98-unit building.

HUD officials declined further comment Thursday. But in a letter to Lee, Gustavo Velasquez, the assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity wrote that HUD is "keenly aware of the larger challenges faced by lower income residents struggling to live in high-cost areas."
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  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 doesnt know yet whether shell 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 its off for at least a month.

Rubins and her two crewmates  a Russian and Japanese  cant come home until the next three-person crew arrives. NASA likes to have an overlap of several days, if not more.

Rubins, who grew up in Napa and graduated from Vintage High School, told The Associated Press she got an absentee ballot before she rocketed away in July, just in case. When shes not in space, home is Houston, Texas, but in this case, the absentee ballot lists her address as low-Earth orbit.

Its very incredible that were able to vote from up here, she said, and I think its 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 shes 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. Shes 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 wont 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.

Last week, Rubins participated in a virtual visit to Vintage High, appearing on live video from the International Space Station to answer students questions.

Orbital ATK, NASAs other station supplier, is targeting Oct. 9 or soon thereafter for its next shipment, after being grounded for two years by a launch explosion.
In a polite encounter that avoided barbed verbal exchanges, incumbent Supervisor Mark Luce and challenger Ryan Gregory gave their views on Highway 29 traffic, affordable housing and other topics during a candidates forum.

The two men are competing in the Nov. 8 election for the 2nd District Napa County Board of Supervisors seat. The Tuesday forum took place at Napa Valley College.

Luce, a chemical engineer, is retired from working at Chevron Research Co. and has been supervisor for 20 years. Gregory is a Napa native in his first local political race, a civil engineer and vice president of Napa-based RSA+, a Napa civil engineering firm.

The candidates were asked how to solve Highway 29 traffic, especially the rush-hour congestion along the stretch from Napa through American Canyon.

Gregory said he at one time favored making Highway 29 through American Canyon an elevated roadway with local circulation underneath. But American Canyon representatives want to keep Highway 29 as their Main Street, so he now supports the modified boulevard idea of a six-lane highway there.

The Napa Valley Transportation Authority is pursuing such Highway 29 congestion-easing ideas as building a flyover at Highway 221 and an interchange at Jameson Canyon. The flyover is first in line, but the needed $40 million has yet to be found.

These are things that are going to be very expensive, hard to pull off and frankly, when Im elected, after a couple of terms, I dont know if well see it done, Gregory said. There are so many other little things we can do to help.

For example, he said, several traffic signals cause problems on Highway 29 and elsewhere. In a separate interview, he said doing such things as working on the signal timing could help.

Luce, who is the countys representative on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, touched on several regional projects.

Highway 12 linking Napa with Fairfield in Solano County was widened through Jameson Canyon in 2014 and work is being done at the Highway 12 interchange at Interstate 80 near Fairfield. That creates a more efficient bypass for some people to avoid taking Highway 29 through American Canyon, he said.

Regional planning efforts are also underway to improve Highway 37 linking Vallejo and Novato. When Highway 37 isnt functioning, the North Bay becomes a parking lot, Luce said.

The Jameson Canyon widening and the Highway 29 underpass at Trancas Street are among the local transportation successes, Luce said. Napa County has a history of persevering to get such projects done, he added.

Candidates tackled the question of whether Napa should have rent control.

The issue there is Im running for county supervisor, Luce said. We have land use outside city limits  outside city limits is my priority and generally when you talk about rent control, youre talking about inside city limits.

Napa is a charter city and the charter forbids rent control, Luce said. It would take a vote of the people to change that, as he understands the issue, he said.

He then mentioned one of his favorite programs, the countys worker proximity housing program that provides loans for up to 10 percent of the down payments for local homes. The recipients repay 10 percent of the future value of the home when they sell. Ninety-five people have participated since the programs birth in 2010.

Thats one solution, Luce said.

Gregory said the county made a deal in 1968 when it created its agricultural preservethe cities provide the housing and urban development to support the preserve.

No longer can you talk about drawing a line at city limits and say, Thats not my issue, Gregory said. The county has as much responsibility on this issue.

Gregory didnt talk about rent control. Rather, he talked about the housing supply-and-demand problem and incentivizing the private development market. He mentioned using tools such as a density bonus.

A density bonus allows developers to have such benefits as more units in return for providing a percentage of affordable housing units.

Luce said the county already works with the city of Napa on housing and mentioned Napa Pipe as an example. The unincorporated land for the planned housing-and-business development is along the Napa River and is being annexed to the city in phases.

The candidates considered whether they would support a law limiting local campaign money. Neither would back the idea, at least not without seeing the details.

Unfortunately, it does cost money to get the word out, Luce said. I guess it depends on the form of campaign reform, if it didnt really squelch contributions, that would be important. Having said that, Ryans raised about three times the money I have, so I could probably take advantage of that.

Gregory said many of his supporters contribute $99 or less.

Unfortunately, you just hear about the business owners who give, Gregory said. And unfortunately, every now and then you will have a business owner (with a project) up in front of the body.

But he said he thinks the process governs itself. If youre taking money from someone and soon afterward vote on a project that they own, it comes back to bite you and you probably wont get re-elected, Gregory said.

The League of Women Voters Napa County and AAUW Napa Valley College Club sponsored the forum.

The 2nd District includes the northernmost part of the city of Napa and extends along the west side of the city to include a portion of Browns Valley. It also includes part of central Napa.
Advocates of more openness and transparency from Californias ethically-challenged regulatory agencies are still as stunned and frustrated today as they were in early September, when the years most important proposed government reforms died without so much as a state Senate vote.

Led by three-term Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gatto of the San Fernando Valley, 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 change 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.

I certainly did feel that that the Public Utilities Commission, the Brown administration, the (utility and consumer) lobbyists  essentially everyone in Sacramento with an interest in the issue  had agreed on this, said a chagrined Gatto, who will be termed out later this year with more than $2 million remaining in his campaign war chest.

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 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 business 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.

Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column.
Suspicious device on street below I-80 was rice cooker

The Napa County Sheriffs Office assisted law enforcement in Vacaville with a report of a suspicious device found on the sidewalk of a street under Interstate 80 on Thursday morning.

Capt. Keith Behlmer said that the device turned out to be a rice cooker.

Mason Street was shut down between Peabody Road and Depot Street after the device was reported between 10 and 10:30 a.m., Vacaville city spokesman Mark Mazzaferro said.

The Napa sheriffs explosive ordnance disposal team responded to the incident and X-rayed the device before deeming it harmless, Mazzaferro said. Mason Street reopened around noon, he said.

Solano County Sheriffs Office K-9 Grizz also assisted with the investigation, according to Vacaville Police.

The incident was the second in the Bay Area Thursday involving a suspicious device that turned out to be a rice cooker.

The other was found at a bus stop at the busy intersection of South Van Ness Avenue at Mission Street in San Francisco around 7:30 a.m. Police responded and determined it was safe shortly after 9 a.m.
The St. Helena Chamber of Commerce is supporting Measure D, the citys half-cent sales that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

In an email released Thursday morning, chamber officials stressed the half-cent sales tax is just the first step needed to make St. Helena financially sound. The other two steps are to increase revenue from the Transient Occupancy Tax and a long-term commitment to the creation and implementation of an economic sustainability plan that sets goals for the citys future, according to the release.

Our businesses recognize the harsh reality of the Citys financial situation and understand there is real need for immediate revenue. This was not an easy decision for us but we could not deny that the increase in the sales tax is something we can do now to improve the current situation, said Pam Simpson, CEO/president of the St. Helena Chamber.

There are four local measures on the Nov. 8 ballot, two of which are sales tax measures. Besides Measure D, the other, Measure Z, requests voters countywide to approve a quarter-cent sales tax to support the countys Parks and Open Space District.

Currently, the citys sales tax rate is 8 percent, but is scheduled to drop to 7.75 percent on Jan. 1. If Measure D passes, the rate would go to 8.25 percent; if both Measure D and Z pass, it would go to 8.5 percent.

The full text of Measure D is as follows:

To fund vital City Services such as local street maintenance, 911 emergency medical, police, and fire response, pedestrian/cyclist/traffic safety, park maintenance, library services, programs for youth and seniors, and to preserve the Citys long-term financial stability and small town character, shall the City of Saint Helena adopt a half-cent Transaction and Use Tax, generating approximately $1,400,000 annually with all revenues benefiting the City?

If passed, Measure D will raise about $1.4 million a year, according to city estimates. According to the city, the funds are needed to maintain daily operations so that the city can avoid reductions in non-essential services, especially the library and recreational programs, and are needed to address the most immediate and serious of the citys infrastructure needs, including roads, sidewalks, curbing, parks and municipal buildings.

The city will hold three community workshops on The State of the City and Measure D. They are 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 at the St. Helena firehouse; 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the St. Helena Public Library and 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13 at City Hall. Additionally, Mayor Alan Galbraith will discuss Measure D at the St. Helena Kiwanis Club at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the American Legion Hall, 1291 Madrona Ave.

Items exempt from the proposed sales tax include most groceries, sales of prescription drugs and items paid for with food stamps. Most everything else would be taxed, as it is now.

The chambers Pam Simpson said the second step in securing St. Helenas sustainable financial stability is a plan to increase revenue from the Transient Occupancy Tax. This can be accomplished through improvements to current lodging properties, continued marketing of St. Helena as a destination and by facilitating new, high-quality, low-impact hotel projects within the city limits.

She said the third step is a long-term commitment to the creation and implementation of an economic sustainability plan that sets goals for the citys future. This plan needs to support and enhance opportunities for local business, while considering business expansion and business development programs.

We encourage the Council to commit to a long range master plan to complement the new General Plan that seeks a balance between the revenue initiatives and the needs of the residents, creating a partnership for action in the community, Simpson said.

The St. Helena City Council created an Ad Hoc Revenue Source Task Force in September to address the citys financial challenges, and in February it returned with its six recommendations, which included the half-cent sales tax. Other recommendations include:

Increase the citys real estate transfer tax to 1 percent

Raise transient occupancy tax revenues by increasing the number of hotel rooms

Proceed with the RFP process for the sale of one or more city properties

Proceed toward annexation of contiguous unincorporated lands in cooperation with the Napa County Local Agency Formation Commission and Napa County

Create an economic development committee comprised of residents, businesses and appropriate city representatives

The St. Helena City Council will consider four conceptual designs in response to the citys Request for Proposals on the Adams Street and City Hall properties at Tuesdays meeting. It will begin at 6 p.m. in the board room at Vintage Hall, 465 Main St.

Galbraith has formed a Measure D Ballot Committee and has created a website, measure-d-sthelena-2016.net.
Japan to establish new unified command to manage operations of land, sea and air forces

French Foreign Minister calls on Russia to reconsider its decision on grain deal

Ferrari unveils 499P hypercar with all-wheel drive

Russian Foreign Ministry hopes that Putin, Pashinyan and Aliyev meeting will help conclude peace treaty

Pashinyan to meet with Putin in Sochi, followed by trilateral meeting of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani leaders

Reuters: Border Agency building set on fire in Britain

US recognized as most powerful country in world for seventh time

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

Dozens of female students protest in Afghanistan

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

France to plant 1 billion trees by 2030

Armenian FM meets participants of World Armenian Summit

The Swiss are going to set record for longest passenger train in the world

At least 146 people killed and 150 more injured in Seoul as they were crushed by crowd

Europeans frightened by growth of household appliances exports to Armenia, Kazakhstan

Russia requests UN Security Council meeting in connection with Ukraine's attack on Black Sea Fleet ships

Michel Aoun: Lebanon could slide into constitutional chaos

Zelensky intends to have Patriot SAMs, Abrams tanks and aircraft from US

President discusses latest foreign political developments around Artsakh

Azerbaijan officials considering opening embassy in Israel

Pashinyan receives Youri Djorkaeff

Thierry Breton talks Twitter purchase by Elon Musk: In Europe, the bird will fly by our rules

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

Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Garo Paylyan discuss prospects of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations

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

BloombergNEF: Gas reserves from the U.S. will not be enough to fill the gaping hole left by Russia in Europe

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

UK prime minister may freeze foreign aid for two more years

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

India's ruling party spokesman sues news portal

Archaeologists discover 240-year-old American camp for British prisoners of war

Subglacial river of 460 kilometers long discovered in Antarctica

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
The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs have proclaimed a rather civilized formula for the Karabakh settlement  ballots instead of bullets, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said in his address to the UN General Assembly in New York.

Mr.Presiden President,

Secretary General,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to congratulate and wish success to Peter Thomson, the President of this session and to thank his predecessor Mogens Lykketoft.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express our high appreciation to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his able leadership.

Mr. President,

Two days ago, Armenia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its independence. In this relatively short period of time much has been done to strengthen democratic institutions, rule of law, good governance, protect human rights and advance economic reforms.

We have been able to make a significant progress also with regard to the social and economic development agenda. However, challenges still remain. The needs of the most socially vulnerable groups have been placed in the center of Armenias Prospective Development Strategy for 2014-2025. Likewise, our Government has launched the Plan of Actions for its National Strategy on Human Rights Protection. In this regard, Armenia continues actively working with all UN human rights mechanisms, including special procedures and treaty bodies.

Our new constitutional reform, which followed an inclusive process of broad public discussions aimed at achieving a new and improved governance system with increased transparency and accountability, was approved at a nation-wide referendum last December and welcomed by relevant international bodies.

Mr. President,

The United Nations has a considerable role to play in changing the environment conducive to intolerance, racial discrimination, xenophobia, violent extremism and terrorism.

On numerous occasions Armenia has condemned the crimes committed by DAESH, other terrorist groups, which threaten the peoples of the region and beyond. The war in Syria has a devastating impact on its civilian population, including national and religious minorities who face existential threats due to identity based crimes. The violence has not bypassed Syrian-Armenians, many of whom lost their lives. The Armenian settlements, churches, schools and cultural institutions were destroyed. One hundred years ago Armenian refugees found shelter in many Arab countries after the Armenian Genocide. Today thousands of Armenians, together with other people of the Middle East, again are forced to flee their homes. From Syria alone more than 20 thousand found refuge in Armenia. Therefore, we know what it means to be a refugee and to host refugees.

The Government of Armenia has undertaken considerable efforts in assisting the refugees and facilitating their integration. We believe that wider international cooperation is needed to adequately address the challenges posed by massive displacement. The full implementation of the commitments of the New York Declaration on refugees and migrants adopted few days ago by this august body stands as an important milestone in this regard.

We would like to stress the significance of addressing the root causes of large movements of people through the prevention of crimes against humanity, peaceful settlement of disputes and achievement of lasting political solutions.

Mr. President,

Armenia has been continuously supporting and contributing to the elaboration of the mechanisms of prevention, in particular by regularly initiating Resolutions on the Prevention of Genocide in the Human Rights Council.

As a nation who experienced the first genocide of the 20th century and continues to face the denial of this horror, Armenia reaffirms its strong support to the fight against impunity for genocide. 2016 marks the first anniversary of the UN General Assembly Resolution initiated by Armenia, proclaiming December 9th as an International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide.

As the threat of violence continues to spread in different parts of the world it is crucial to make our joint efforts for peace and security more efficient. It is with this understanding that Armenia has participated in a number of UN and UN-mandated Peace Operations, thus actively contributing in the most direct way to the building of international peace and security. As the UN Assistant Secretary General noted Armenias support is important not only for its contribution but also for the Armenian history and the challenges overcome during it. Indeed, history teaches us that the security of one is closely connected to others.

Mr. President,

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. These major documents proclaim that All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. It is well known that the UN Charter underlines the respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as a purpose of this organization.

Aggressive military response of the state to the peaceful aspiration of people to exercise their right to self-determination only legitimizes such aspiration and deprives the aggressor of any claim to authority over such people. The UN Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order rightly stated that rather than perceiving self-determination as a source of conflict, armed conflict should be seen as a consequence of the violation of the right to self-determination.

Azerbaijan stubbornly refuses to recognize the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. As part of Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing and aggression, starting from the late 80s and beginning of 90s Armenians were massacred and expelled from their homes. Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov called it a threat of a new genocide of the Armenian people.

This year again, in early April in blatant violation of the cease-fire agreement, Azerbaijan unleashed another large scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructures and population. Among the victims were a 12 year old boy and 92 year old woman. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded in DAESH style, which was subsequently demonstrated in towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Furthermore, the leader of Azerbaijan publically decorated the perpetrators of this crime. During the exchange of bodies of the deceased between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, carried out through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, it was registered that the corpses transferred from the Azerbaijani side had undeniable signs of torture and were mutilated. Such despicable atrocities go beyond elementary norms of the civilized world and constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law.

The April aggression severely undermined the peace process. To restore the trust in peaceful resolution of the conflict measures should be taken to prevent the use of force and to create conditions conducive to the advancement of the peace process. This was the main aim of two Summits on Nagorno-Karabakh held in Vienna in May and in St. Petersburg in June. First of all, it is imperative to implement what was particularly emphasized and agreed upon at these Summits - first, the full adherence to the 1994-1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, which do not have time limitations; second, the creation of mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations; third, the expansion of the capacity of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Against all odds the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been able to defend themselves and create a free and democratic society.

Armenia, together with the mediator countries - Russia, the United States and France  the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, will continue its efforts towards exclusively peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Co-Chairs have proclaimed a rather civilized formula for the settlement  ballots instead of bullets. The proposal outlined by the presidents of the Co-Chair countries stipulates future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will of its population. The mentality that supports medieval barbarism, as witnessed in April, can hardly accept the civilized approaches of the modern world.

Mr. President,

Armenia welcomes the integration of the Vienna Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries into the Agenda 2030 as an important step to promote sustainable and inclusive development. To ensure the effective implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action and mainstream it into our policies, the Government of Armenia has recently adopted a national strategy for its implementation. We deplore policies that stipulate unilateral economic measures as an instrument of political pressure.

Agenda 2030 reconfirms once again that such measures are detrimental to sustainable development. The unilateral land blockade of Armenia by Turkey is a gross violation of international law. It continues to severely hamper regional transit communication routes, economic cooperation and integration.

Mr. President,

Armenia welcomes the central role of the United Nations in the implementation of the new and comprehensive Agenda. We do not underestimate the challenges facing all of us - equally we should not downplay the opportunities. More than seven decades on, we must show the same insight and vision to safeguard the future of this Organization and ensure the best possible future for the peoples of the United Nations. Armenia is fully committed to these goals.

Thank you.
The Move More Challenge is back! Designed to encourage Emory employees to add more movement to their daily routine, the physical activity challenge was so popular last fall that the Healthy Emory team has brought it back again this year. The eight-week challenge kicked off Monday and continues through Nov. 13.

The Move More Challenge uses Fitbits to allow participants to track their daily steps, set goals and compete with their co-workers. For this years challenge, employees had the opportunity to upgrade their Fitbits to a newer device, with Emory subsidizing part of the cost.

Approximately 9,200 employees from Emory University and Emory Healthcare have signed on to take the 2017 challenge, forming a total of 42 teams which are all competing for prizes and bragging rights.

A trophy will be awarded to the teams in each category (small, medium, and large) that have the highest average steps for the entire eight-week challenge period. There will also be recognition for teams that are the most improved from the 2015 program. Individual challenge participants who meet certain thresholds will be entered into a drawing to receive prizes at the end of weeks 4 and 8.

With this being the second year of the challenge, some departments are really stepping up their game, says Melissa Morgan, manager of wellness programs. Weve seen wellness champions, leaders and employees at all levels inspiring each other and coming up with creative ideas to encourage their employees to move more."

Campus Services is offering Walks with Matthew every Friday at lunch, led by Vice President of Campus Services Matthew Early.

Oxford College is leading a Move More Mondays program for their employees, giving them an opportunity to play the Just Dance Xbox game during lunch.

Emory Saint Josephs Hospital is offering free access to their cardiac rehab gym for participants (normally $25/month) and is also purchasing t-shirts for all of their participating employees.

The Goizueta Business School and Emory University Hospital are sponsoring Weekly Walks with a Leader.

A physician at Student Health Services is sponsoring a Zumba class for employees.

Human Resources is providing their employees a chance to win prizes if they achieve 10,000 steps at least three days per week.

The Blomeyer Health Fitness Center is offering a special $50 membership to all Move More participants during the eight-week program.

Many Move More participants have also formed teams to support the charitable walks that Emory has typically supported such as the American Heart Associations Heart Walk and Winships Win the Fight 5K, adds Morgan.

New for this year, participants can also earn a $100 incentive on the Emory medical plan in 2017 if they average 5,000 steps per day. Additionally, employees at Emory Healthcare can receive 100 E-Recognize points for averaging 5,000+ steps throughout the challenge, or 500 points for averaging 10,000+ steps.

Tips for Moving More

Moving throughout the day can be a challenge, particularly for those who have long commutes and typically sit at a computer most of the day, but Morgan says there are little things you can do each day to increase your steps:

Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Park your car farther away from the door.

Take two short breaks during the day and walk for 15 minutes each.

Take a 30-minute walk around your neighborhood.

Join an Emory walking group.

Walk to meetings rather than driving.

Carry groceries in one or two bags at a time to create more steps.

We also have many group walking activities planned across Emory throughout the challenge, Morgan adds. To get involved, participants can check out the online Activity Calendar. We also want to encourage everyone to share their pictures on social media at #MoveMoreEmory. Keep moving!
"The brain is in some ways one of the final frontiers of science," says Paul Garcia, MD, PhD, Laboratory Director and Principal Investigator of the Neuroanesthesia Laboratory at Emory University School of Medicine.

As both a practicing Emory neuroanesthesiologist and a scientist, Garcia has been focused on the pharmacology involved with sedation, sleep, coma, and anesthesia. "I do about one to two days a week, providing anesthesia care to patients that are undergoing neurosurgery or that have neurologic disease," he says. "The research I do also involves neuroscience and the brain, specifically the processing of electrical and chemical signals of the brain, and the way that our anesthetic drugs interact with the brain."

One of the specific areas Garcia has worked on in recent years is hypersomnia, a disorder in which patients experience an overwhelming need to sleep and may sleep 15, 30, or even 50 hours at a stretch. A few years ago, researchers at the Emory Sleep Center approached Garcia requesting some information about Flumazenil, a drug that seems to antagonize the main inhibitory chemical of the brain, called GABA. Sleep center researchers tested Flumazenil on a small group of patients suffering from severe hypersomnia and saw that it helped. This led to a whole new line of research. "I'm very interested in using drugs like this to reverse anesthesia, because most of our anesthetic drugs work through this same receptor," says Garcia.

Garcia credits his career in medicine and research to his father, a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States in the early 1960s. "My dad always encouraged me to take on science projects. And so I did a lot of science projects when I was a kid," Garcia recalls. He says he learned from his father's immigrant family not to take things for granted, always working hard and appreciating what he has. His wife, who came from India as a child and also has immigrant parents, shares a similar sentiment.

Garcia received his undergraduate degree (B.S., Computational Neuroscience) at the University of Florida and then earned a PhD in Bioengineering at Georgia Tech, a MD at Emory University then, also at Emory, an Anesthesiology residency followed by a postdoctoral fellowship. Although he's still early in his career, he hopes his work will have a lasting impact. "I would be really honored if people are still talking about my work in twenty years or twenty-five or thirty years. That would be fantastic. I hope to be able to achieve. I hope to be able to achieve that level of influence."
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Lewin to serve as interim associate chancellor for diversity

Interim Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor Brad Colwell today (Sept. 22) announced the appointment of Elizabeth Lewin to serve as interim associate chancellor for diversity.

The appointment is effective Oct. 1.

Lewin, a Carbondale native, holds bachelors and masters degrees from SIU Carbondale, as well as an educational specialist degree in education administration from SIU Edwardsville. She earned her doctorate from the University of Sarasota, Fla.

She was named as the first African American female superintendent of the Carbondale Elementary School District in 1995, retiring in 2005. Lewin then taught in SIU Carbondales College of Education and Human Services for a number of years, preparing future school administrators.

Lewin also was Edwardsvilles first African American school administrator, serving as assistant principal from 1988 to 1993, and then principal of Edwardsville High School from 1993 to 1995.

She has extensive experience with diversity and inclusivity. For example, in the Edwardsville school district, she resolved several race-related issues resulting from an annexation of a very rural community into the district.

When she became superintendent in Carbondale, Lewin started a program called Carbondale in Harmony that ran for two years. Southern Illinois Healthcare was a partner in that initiative.

Her extensive community involvement included serving on the Southern Illinois Healthcare Community Benefits Cultural Task Force from 1996 to 2008. Lewin also was a charter member of Leadership Carbondale, serving from 2002 to 2010.

I am delighted that Dr. Lewin will be sharing her passion for education and her leadership skills at this critical time and in this key position, Colwell said. She has been a trailblazer throughout her career, and the university will benefit from her expertise and commitment.

He added that the university plans a national search to fill the position on a permanent basis.
With an unrivalled track record in working with landowners, businesses, local communities and homeowners by helping them produce clean electricity, Lightsource Renewable Energy has secured the maiden solar project in India.

"We are delighted to be taking the first steps towards our ambitions for investment in India's solar PV market. The Indian Government has a huge appetite for solar energy and we believe that Lightsource will contribute significantly towards their targets," said Lightsource CEO, Nick Boyle.

India's total installed solar capacity has grown by over 80 percent in the last 12 months to reach 8.1 GW. However, the Indian government has announced its goal of achieving 100GW of solar capacity by 2022. (ANI)
Treebo Hotels today announced an initiative called Treebo Hangouts under which Treebo organizes interesting evening activities for its guests at the hotels. These hangouts, ranging from 'golgappas - on the house' to karaoke nights to tarot card readings, aim to provide a unique experience to the guests along with a chance to socialize with other guests and staff members. "It's one thing to give guests a satisfactory experience by ensuring that all essentials they expect at a hotel are of good quality. But offering guests something that they don't even expect is truly delight. And that's what Treebo Hangouts aims to do. Guests coming back after a long day at work or after a tiring sightseeing tour of the city are greeted by a relaxing yet fun-filled activity at their hotel," said Head of Guest Delight for Treebo, Anshuman Agrawal. India's top-rated hotel chain, Treebo has been running several guest delight activities during the past few months. These include arranging cakes for guests staying on their birthdays or anniversaries, room decorations for honeymoon couples, and surprise desserts for long staying guests. Now with Treebo Hangouts the company is adding group activities to their methods of giving guests a great experience. "Hangouts is yet another innovation that Treebo is introducing into the hospitality industry. Hotels in the budget or midscale segment have always been thought-of as boring pit stops. Whether it is a long staying corporate guest or a family on holiday in the city neither has had much to look forward to from their hotel. We are trying to change that with Hangouts," said Co-Founder of Treebo, Sidharth Gupta. Avdesh Sharma, a recurring guest and also a member of the Friends of Treebo community commented on this initiative and said, "Treebo is one of the best and fastest growing hotel chains to stay. Their service is impeccable and they always make you feel so welcome. Everyone from their front desk managers to staff to customer service desk adds a special touch by providing one with the service and an experience to remember. I commend them on their Treebo Hangouts initiative it will only make their already awesome product more amazing and guest-centric." Treebo Hotels has its branches spread in key tourist spots like Goa, Jaipur, Manali, Kodaikanal, Ooty, Kochi, Trivandrum, Shirdi, Amritsar etc. and is growing its network rapidly. Founded in 2015 by ex-McKinsey/Myntra colleagues Sidharth Gupta and Rahul Chaudhary, and their college-mate from IIT Roorkee, Kadam Jeet Jain, the startup has raised a capital of 150 crore till date, including their latest series-B round last month led by Bertelsmann India and participation from existing investors, SAIF Partners and Matrix Partners India. (ANI)
The Karnataka Legislative Council on Friday unanimously decided not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, saying the water was needed for drinking purposes in the state. A special session of the house was convened to discuss the impact of the Supreme Court's September 20 order to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water daily till September 27. After the subject was discussed, the Council passed an unanimous resolution that the water in the dams would be used for drinking purposes in the state and that the water can't be released to Tamil Nadu. --IANS vj/mr ( 106 Words) 2016-09-23-15:16:08 (IANS)
New Delhi [India], Sept.23 (ANI-Businesswire India): Following a rigorous due diligence process, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the sister organization of the World Economic Forum and the Jubilant Bhartia Foundation today announced the finalists of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY)- India 2016 Award. The finalist are: Shanti Raghavan and Dipesh Sutariya of EnAble India, Bengaluru Neichute Doulo of Entrepreneurs Associate, Kohima Vikas Shah of WaterHealth India Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad Mrinalini Kher of Yuva Parivartan/Kherwadi Social Welfare Association (KSWA), Mumbai Hilmi Quraishi and Subhi Quraishi of ZMQ, New Delhi The winner will be chosen by a distinguished jury and announced at an awards ceremony on October 6, 2016 in New Delhi. Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport, Highways and Shipping will be the Chief Guest and present the award. This year the SEOY award ceremony is part of the India Economic Summit organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the World Economic Forum (WEF). The finalists of the SEOY India - 2016 Awards are building vibrant eco-systems in the fields of disability; skilling, employment and entrepreneurship; health; water sanitation and hygiene; and technology for development. They are working to equip isolated and marginal communities & to change behaviours and take charge of their own lives. All five enterprises are working through government partnerships to bring fresh ideas in flagship initiatives of the country such as Smart City, Skill India, Start Up India and Digital India. According to Mrs. Hilde Schwab, Co-founder & Chairperson, Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, "We are delighted to see that this year's finalists are all strong contributors to the key social priorities of the Government of India. They are all operating at significant scale across regions including north eastern India, and supporting social and economic inclusion in many ways - by creating access to basic services, skills and digital connectivity." Congratulating the finalists, Mr. Shyam S Bhartia, Chairman & Founder and Mr. Hari S Bhartia, Co-Chairman & Founder, Jubilant Bhartia Group and Founder Directors of Jubilant Bhartia Foundation, said, "We are happy that over the last seven years we have been able to create an annual platform, where social entrepreneurs across the country are recognized. The winner gets a chance to join the world's largest network of social enterprises affiliated with The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. This enhances their professional linkages and offers them an opportunity to learn from peer groups. This year, the finalists have shown a dedication towards diverse social issues like inclusion of specially able people, mainstreaming of youths in conflict areas through Entrepreneurship, Technology for development, employability, drinking water etc. which require urgent attention." The SEOY Awards, India 2016 opened in March this year and received over 100 applications of exceptional quality. Through a five-stage selection process, the finalists were shortlisted after on-site visits, background research, reference checks and multiple rounds of deliberations.(ANI-Businesswire India)
Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Sept 23: India's resurgent seafood industry got a major impetus with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing a raft of measures, including setting up of agencies for aquaculture and fisheries in all coastal states and export incentives for marine products under Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), at a high-profile international seafood conference here today. Under the MEIS, the government currently allocates Rs 22,000 crore annually for exports. "From this financial year onwards, an additional Rs 1500 crore will be allocated under the scheme that will include certain marine and seafood items," Mrs Sitharaman said at the 20th edition of the three-day India International Seafood Show (IISS), which began here this morning at the Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium. The agencies for aquaculture and fisheries, under the guidance of the chief ministers and headed by their chief secretaries, will be under the aegis of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), the nodal body for marine exports under the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry. Voicing concern, she said that despite being a major producer, India's seafood industry has a long way to go in fully tapping the potential for value addition. "I held discussions with trade ministers from Japan and South Korea recently and they have expressed interest in collaborating with India for development of aquaculture," she added. Sitharman hoped that the MPEDA would play a key role in bringing in the best industry practices from around the globe to accelerate the growth of the seafood industry. Expressing his government's determination to make Andhra Pradesh the 'Aquaculture Hub' not only of India but also of the world, Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, said the state accounted for over 45 per cent of India's cultured shrimp exports during 2015-16. "We expect to touch a target of 70 per cent over the next few years," he added. Stressing the need for controlling diseases in farmed shrimps, Naidu said his government has set up a Task Force to set up state of the art laboratories in this regard. The IISS, with 'Safe and Sustainable Indian Aquaculture' as the central theme of the event, has been organised jointly by MPEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and Seafood Exporters' Association of India (SEAI), with Export Inspection Council (EIC) as its knowledge partner.(ANI)
The 73-year-old superstar, who plays a lawyer in the movie, said pink is no longer just a colour or connotes a young girl and her Barbie doll, reports filmfare.com.

"Pink means you have the freedom and liberty to walk at night. Women got the opportunity to speak out through this film," the actor said in a statement.

Bachchan pointed out the relevance of 'Pink' in tackling the situations and problems women face in India and the world at large.

Referring to his co-star Taapsee Pannu, he stated the "experiences" which she went through while travelling in DTC buses.

"The film will now teach girls like her to go to police station and lodge protest. This is the victory of Pink," he encouraged.

"Pink has given rise to such a movement," he added. (ANI)
"He (Prabhudheva) is a great guy. I have worked with him in two films...and I believe that he has got a great comic timing. He is a great director," Sonu told IANS over phone.

Directed by Vijay, "Tutak Tutak Tutiya" is Sonu's maiden home production with Prabhudeva and Tamannaah Bhatia in lead roles.

Sonu says as a producer he has tried taking care of everything.

"As a good producer I can give him all the things he demands...The best of scripts, dialogue, songs and music," added the 43-year-old.

The film, which is slated to release on October 7, features choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan in a special appearance.

--IANS dc/nv/bg

( 135 Words)

2016-09-23-16:06:08 (IANS)
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup has confirmed that C. Balaram Kishan from Telangana and T. Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh will arrive here this morning and subsequently will travel to their respective home towns.

"The two Indians were in captivity since July 29 and were released last week," he added.

The two Indians, who were teaching at Libya's Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year. (ANI)
The hospital management has clarified that the condition of the 68-year old leader is stable and under observation.

Many of the state ministers and party leaders are gathering at the hospital and hundreds of party cadres are also thronging the Greams Road main branch of the hospital where Jayalalithaa is admitted.

The police have tightened security near the premises and traffic is being regulated. The party functionaries are reassuring the cadres through media that the condition of the Chief Minister is improving. (ANI)
Tension prevails in the district since morning, following the murder of Hindu Munnani district spokesperson Sasikumar. Police said Sasikumar was murdered by two unidentified people using sickle, when he was on theway to his house in a two wheeler at Subramaniampalayam, Mettupalayam road in the district last night.The passerby immediately took him to the private hospital where he died in the wee hours today. After the news spread, the Hindu Munnani activists rushed to the hospital this morning and pelted stones on it. The body of Sasikumar was brought to the Coimbatore Medical College (CMC) hospital for postmortem.''Meanwhile, various Hindu organisations have declared bandh today. Police had made elaborate security arrangements in various places including CMC hospital, to prevent any untoward incidents,'' police added.UNI KS CJ PY 0913 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-946334.Xml
Seven militant belonging to Karbi Peoples Liberation Tiger (KPLT) insurgent group in Assam were killed in a joint operation by the Army and police in wee hours today. According to initial reports, CRPF, Assam police and Army carried out a massive operation in the Karbi Anglong district of the state where militants were hiding in dense forest area.A security force personnel was also injured in the operation. Massive arms and ammunitions were recovered from the militants.The KPLT is a breakaway faction of the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF), which had laid down arms on February 11, 2010. Since its formation, the rebel outfit has been involved in murder, kidnapping and extortion.UNI ABI CJ PY 1024 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-946362.Xml
Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang while addressing business summit on connectivity in the northeast here today, contemplated for facilitating easy access to neighbouring countries for better and strong bi-lateral relation with South East Asian nations.''Easy access among the countries and convenient trade relation with the neighbours would certainly help in better people-to-people relation and integration among the countries,'' Mr Zeiliang stated.He also firmly opposed the erection of barbed wire fencing along the Nagaland-Myanmar border as planned by the union home and defence ministries and said on security ground fencing is considered but there must be a thought of trade and commerce by strengthening people-to-people contact.''There is a gulf of difference between the Indo-Pak border and the Nagaland-Myanmar border; there is no problem of infiltration along the Nagaland-Myanmar border. Besides, the cultural affinity between the bordering people of Nagaland and Myanmar and the common landholding pattern will create serious problem for people living on both sides of the border. So the planned barbed wire fencing can't be a solution,'' he pointed out.He also called for withdrawal of restrictions on construction along Nagaland's border with Myanmar. The Union Home Ministry has imposed restrictions on pucca construction along Nagaland's border but this is creating lot of problems, so this must be withdrawn, the CM said.He has also called for implementation of 'Act East' policy in 'true spirit' through improved railway connectivity and construction of highways of international standard so that the states of northeast can have easy access to Southeast Asian countries. UNI BB PL CJ PY 1054 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0211-946383.Xml
A bulletin issued by Hospital COO Subbiah Viswanathan saidMs Jayalalitha's condition was stable and under observation.

The Chief Minister was admitted to the hospital late last night.

Meanwhile, scores of AIADMK cadres, right from early morning,thronged the hospital on hearing the news that she was hospitalised.

Police have made tight security arrangements at the hospitaland the area has been barricaded.

Only people with valid identity cards and the attendants ofpatients with valid passes were allowed entry into thehospital.

All those entering the hospital were thoroughly frisked before being allowed inside.

Almost all her Cabinet colleagues, including Finance MinisterO Panneerselvam, present and former MLAs, MPs, including Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai and senior party functionaries visited the hospital.

It was not known whether they were allowed to meet Ms Jayalalithaa,who has been monitored by a team of doctors. AIADMK spokespersons, quoting hospital authorities, said the condition of Ms Jayalalithaa was stable and that they were prayingthe almighty for her speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, scores of party cadres thronged the temples across the state and offered special prayers and pujas praying for speedy recovery of 'Amma', as Ms Jayalalithaa was affectionately called by the party workers.

Ardent AIADMK workers also broke pumpkins and coconuts near the hospital to ward of any evil threat to her.

BJP State Unit President Ms Tamizhisai Soundararajan wished the Chief Minister a speedy recovery.

In a brief chat with reporters at the airport here, she said shewould pray the almighty to wish her a speedy recovery.

Meanwhile, All India National League Party State President S J Inayathullah said the Muslims across the state would offer special prayers in the mosques to wish her a speedy recovery.

He said the Muslims would also pay the almighty that theChief Minister shoulD recover from the fever soon and returnhome to discharge her official duties.UNI GV CS 1200

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Security forces launched a massive search operation near the Line of Control (LoC) in the woods in Keran sector in north Kashmir district of Kupwara, after some suspicious movement was noticed early this morning.Meanwhile, search operations in the Uri and Naugam sectors were also going on since September 20 when troops foiled two infiltration bids from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). A soldier had lost his life in the Naugam encounter before the militants escaped.Official sources said security forces guarding LoC in Keran sector noticed some suspicious movement early this morning. Security forces opened fire towards the area but there was no return fire. Additional security forces were rushed from nearby camps and a massive search operation has been launched in the dense woods. However, Border Security Force (BSF) spokesman deployed in the area was not available to give details about the incident.Meanwhile, defence ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that search operation by troops was going on in Uri and Naugam sectors since September 20. However, so far no contact was made with the militants, he said. Troops guarding the LoC are already on high alert to foil any infiltration bid from POK, where more than 200 militants are waiting to sneak into this side before the higher reaches are closed due to snowfall. Eighteen soldiers were killed and as many were injured in a Fidayeen attack on Army Brigade headquarter at Uri. However, all the four militants who stormed into the headquarter were also killed in the encounter which ensued at 0500 hrs on September 18.UNI BAS PY 1139 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-946450.Xml
The book was released by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the Vice President for presenting his thoughts to the future generations through the book.

He said today technology has converted citizens to netizens, and traditional boundaries are being obliterated.

However, in India, he said, there is a unit called "Family" between citizen and society, which has been our biggest strength.

He said India should be proud to be a country of so many dialects and languages, and so many different faiths, living in harmony. He said all citizens have made a contribution to make this happen. (ANI)
Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar should engage in proactive policies for engagement with neighbours by building connectivity and harnessing economic complementariness and improving people-to-people contact said a senior Minister of Bangladesh speaking on the second day of three-day long North East Connectivity Summit. "Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) region is one of the richest in the world in terms of resources. This region covers 9 percent of the world's total area, 7.3 percent of the global domestic product and involves 440 million people. I believe that the proposed economic corridor of BCIM has huge prospects in the arena of trade, investment, energy, transport and tourism," said Bangladesh Minister of Industries, Amir Hossain Amu. He added, "I hope today's initiative will deepen friendly cooperation among the four member nations and connect South Asia with South-East and East Asia by building multi-modal connectivity, harnessing economic complementariness and boosting people to people relations among BCIM." Praising India for all help during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh from Pakistan the Minister viewed that Bangladesh as a close door neighbour of India and especially the north-eastern states, presents immense opportunity to improve business for reciprocal economic development and it is high time that steps should be taken for utilization of those opportunities for economic development through smooth business environment and proactive policy of engagement with neighbours. Adding to the Bangladesh Minister, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar viewed that at present India has all time good relation with its South East Asia neighbours especially Bangladesh and should utilize it for improving connectivity, trade and other relations. He said, "At present the relation (of India) with Bangladesh is very good and outstanding, it has to be utilized in a positive manner. In this regard government of India has to come forward with all seriousness. Of course our relation with other South East Asian countries is also good and improving, this situation was not like ten years back. Sarkar giving all credits to the present government in Delhi for improving the relation with it foreign neighbours in the South East Asia suggested that India's foreign policy should have any 'big brotherly' attitude especially towards its neighbouring which are small nations. Meantime, Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang who also took part in the summit suggested that considering the unique land holding system among the Nagas, the government of India should consider an unfenced border in the India-Myanmar border and instead of raising barbed wire fencing the policy makers should think of construction of roads and which will help in not only better connectivity and improved trade and relation but also in counter insurgency operations of the security forces and better trade prospect at the local level. He said, "I want the policy makers and planners to clearly understand the peculiar nature of Nagaland sector of Indo-Myanmar border. The situation is more or less similar in Manipur and Mizoram of Indo-Myanmar border. In fact what we need is not barbed wire fencing but construction of road along and across the border. In fact we should have proper communication instead of keeping this as wildlife sanctuary." The Nagaland Chief Minister viewed that taking advantage of the absence of the road communication and security movement the militants have turned this area as the hideout and training camp and which can only stop with construction of roads and development of the area. He asked the India government to start dialogue with its counterpart in Myanmar and come to a common conclusion for starting construction of roads and other developmental activities on both sides of the border within the 25 km aerial restriction area on both sides of the Indo-Myanmar border. Zeliang said, "So as to unlock the landlocked area and promote trade and development in this state it is the absence of road and communication that makes this area perfect hiding ground for various underground groups. Restriction on various constructions on the border areas need to e relaxed for Indo-Myanmar bordering area. The Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs have been imposing various restrictions on construction and other development activities in bordering areas due to security reasons. There is a restriction on construction of road within 25 km aerial distance from the international Indo-Myanmar border and which means a lot." The programme has been organized by FICCI at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala with support of Govt of Tripura, Ministry of DoNER, North East Council and DIPP to formulate policies regarding connectivity in the region. (ANI)
The delegation was led by Mr. Hiroyuki Hosoda, and included Mr. Katsuya Okada, Masaharu Nakagawa, Mr. Naokazu Takemoto and Mr. Yoshiaki Wada.

The JIPFL delegation conveyed their condolences for the victims of the cross-border terror attack in Uri, J&K on 18 September 2016.

The JIPFL delegation welcomed PM's call for greater international cooperation against the global menace of terrorism, and for coordinated efforts to isolate the State sponsors of terrorism.

The Prime Minister recalled his successful visit to Japan in 2014, during which he had interacted with JIPFL in Tokyo. The Prime Minister said that India and Japan have laid the foundations for strong cooperation in many areas for decades to come.

The JIPFL delegation conveyed that there is strong bipartisan support in Japan for strengthening relations between Japan and India, and welcomed the progress achieved in High Technology cooperation, especially in High Speed Railway.

The Prime Minister recalled that Prime Minister Abe's visit to India in 2015 was a landmark visit in the history of our bilateral relations, and said that he is looking forward to visiting Japan in the near future. (ANI)
The National Council meeting of BJP began today with the general secretaries of the party huddled in the Kadavu resort, near Kozhikode, discussing the agenda for the three day conclave. The meeting would be followed by other extended sessions which would be attended by state organising secretaries, state in charge leaders and presidents of the party state units along with national office bearers. The series of meetings would continue till tomorrow morning as well.This would be followed by Prime minister Narendra Modi's rally tomorrow evening at the Kozhikode Beach.The national council will meet at Swapnagari, a specially erected venue covering an area of 1.5 lakh sq ft. The meeting is expected to adopt political and economic resolutions and would come out with a special agenda for the welfare of the poor called "garib kalyan agenda", the document is prepared by a committee of three chief ministers headed by the Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It will have the best of social welfare schemes implemented by various states. The party is also likely to take a strong line against attack by Pakistan trained terrorist in Uri sector in which 18 jawans were killed.The party is likely to make it clear that any more negotiations with Pakistan will yield no result and also sent a warning signal for it. The national council meeting was dedicated to party veteran Deendayal Upadhyaya whose birth centenary is being celebrated this year. Kozhikode, formerly called Calicut, had been the venue of the Jansangh meeting at which Mr Upadhyaya was elected the party president in 1967. Veteran party leader Rajagopal who opened the innings for BJP in the recent assembly elections winning from Nemam told UNI that the national council meeting will be a booster to party's growth in Kerala. The party had put an impressive performance in the elections in which it had secured 15 per cent vote share as against 6.9 per cent bagged earlier in Kannur and had been resorting to offensive tactics and lure leaders of other parties too. UNI CNR CJ SS PY 1331 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-946539.Xml
India today signed a 7.878 billion Euro contract with France to acquire 36 Rafale fighter jets. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Yves Drian Jean, were present at the signing ceremony in South Block here.More UNI MK CJ PY 1310 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-946646.Xml
Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the country's leading passenger vehicle maker, has attained cumulative exports of 15 lakh vehicles.These vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa. Early this year, the Company's premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, became the first car to be exported from India to Japan. The Company started exports to Europe in 1987-88, when a small number of cars were sent to Hungary. Thereafter, exports have grown at a steady pace, as new models and markets were added from time to time. Although exports business is inherently subject to economic and policy changes in the destination countries, the Company has been able to maintain an upward trend in exports over the years.Maruti Suzuki's blockbuster hatch Zen, India's world car of the 1990s, took the Company to many new markets. Exports were bolstered also by the iconic Maruti 800 and later, A-Star. India's most popular car brand for over a decade, Alto, also has a sizeable presence in the export markets, having clocked over 3,90,000 sales cumulatively.Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, Mr Kenichi Ayukawa said: ''We are happy to reach the 1.5 million milestone for our exports.Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries. Our products like Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe''.''Our premium hatchback Baleno, made exclusively in India, is the first car to be exported from India to Japan. It has become a symbol of the Make in India mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and taken India's exports story to a new level''he added. In 2015-16, the top five exported models for the Company were: Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and Ciaz. Among destinations, Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia emerged as the top markets for Maruti Suzuki export models.The newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, is also exported to South Africa and Tanzania and will be exported to SAARC countries in the future.UNI JS NV VS1311 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-946649.Xml
The Minister visited the five primary health centres (PHCS) in the district and inspected the manner in which the malnourished children and mothers were being treated by the medical team.

The centers he visited include Shenva, Takipatar, Dolkhamb, Kasara and Khardi.

He directed the medical team to register the pregnant mothers on time, and provide them medicines and to keep the 108 Ambulance services available round the clock.

He also directed the team to start the VCDC and those needing further treatment to be sent to the Child Treatement Centre (CTC) and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRC).UNI XR NV PY 1324

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Even though only restrictions remained in force on assembly of people, barring in some areas in Srinagar, where curfew has been imposed, normal life remained crippled as shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads for the 77th day today in Kashmir. Police said curfew has been extended to more areas in the down town and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK), besides Batmaloo and Maisuma to foil pro-freedom protests after Friday prayers, while it has been lifted from Anantnag town in view of improvement of situation. Meanwhile, they said elsewhere in the Valley security forces remained deployed to strictly implement restrictions on assembly of people under Section 144 CrPC. However, the situation on the ground was entirely different as people from many important towns in the valley alleged that main roads were closed with barbed wire and security forces were directing them to remain indoors. Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), spearheading the present agitation since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag, have upped the ante in their latest protest calendar. The separatists have urged people to hold freedom marches today to Karnah, Uri, Gurez, Charar-e-Sharief, Kangan, SeK, Pampore, Devsar, Shopian and Kokernag, besides holding congregations at these places after Friday prayers. Even though curfew has been lifted from Anantnag, people living in Anantnag town and adjoining areas said that they were not being allowed to move out of their houses since yesterday. "Security forces since early morning were making announcements though loudspeakers, directing people to remain indoors in view of curfew," Javaid Hussain, a resident of Anantnag town, told UNI over the phone. People living in Pampore in Pulwama, Devsar in Kulgam, Shopian and Kokernag in Anantnag also alleged that they were not being allowed to move out of their houses since early this morning.MORE UNI ABS PY 1326 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-946676.Xml
After clinching a mega 7.87 billion Euro deal to supply 36 Rafale fighter jets to India, the French aircraft maker Dassualt today said it is prepared to develop wide-ranging cooperation under the "Make in India" policy. Welcoming the deal, the company said it represents a decisive step forward in achieving Dassault Aviation's goal of establishing itself in India. The conclusion of this contract comes after the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Paris in April 2015 of his desire to rapidly equip the Indian Air Force with 36 Rafale. The desire was reiterated during the visit to India by French President Franois Hollande in January this year. "Following on from the Mirage 2000, whose effective service with the Indian Air Force played a major role in establishing the reputation of Dassault aircraft, the Rafale was chosen by India in 2012 following a competitive bidding process initiated in 2007. The Rafale has been used by the French armed forces in combat operations for more than a decade now and has proven its operational excellence in various theatres around the world," the company said in a statement. ''I am honoured and delighted by the decision of the Indian Authorities which gives new impetus to our partnership for the coming decades and I thank them for their confidence. Together, Indian and French companies alike, we will endeavour to ensure ambitious industrial cooperation. I am certain that the Rafale and its performance will hold high the colours of the Indian Air Force. It will demonstrate unstinting efficiency in protecting the people of India and the sovereignty of the world's largest democracy,'' Chairman and CEO of Dassault Eric Trappier said. UNI MK AE 1421 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-946717.Xml
For the implementation of Ganga action plan under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), the Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry has released Rs 315 crore to the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. According to an official statement here today, the amount would be spent on the construction of toilets along the river Ganga. Notably, the Water Resources Ministry had released Rs 263 cr for this purpose to the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation during the last financial year. So far, 14,500 toilets have been constructed.UNI RBE AE 1500 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0427-946774.Xml
Special Session of the Karnataka Legislaturebegan at Vidhana Soudha today to discuss and pass a resolution aboutthe release of 6000 cusecs of water from river Cauvery to Tamil Nadu asdirected by the Supreme Court on September 20. Respective political parties, including rulingCongress, main opposition BJP and JD(S) have given whip asking their legislators to attend the session without fail. The members are expected to pass an unanimous resolutionexpressing the State government's inability to adhere to the ApexCourt direction due to lack of storage in the reservoirs of Cauvery basin. BJP legislators, who had boycotted the all party meeting convenedby Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on September 21, also attended thesession expressing their solidarity with the government. The resolution may lead to confrontation with the Judiciary asdenying to adhere to the Apex Court direction may lead to contempt, but Mr Siddaramaiah took the move very cautiously after consultinghis cabinet colleagues, members of the opposition parties and healso went to former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's residence andsought his advice also besides inviting him to participate in theall party meeting held on September 21. Agitations had become order of the day in the state following theSupreme Court direction to the State to release 15,000 cusecs of waterfor a week daily from September Two. Later the quantum was reducedto 3000 cusecs daily by the Consultative Committee after a week. However,the ruling Congress came under heavy pressure when the Apex Courtdirected to release 6,000 cusecs of water from September 21 to 27despite the State expressing its inability with statistics aboutstorage in the reservoirs. Another point which may or may not come up for discussion in theSession is about the Supreme Court's direction to the Centre to setup Cauvery Management Board within four weeks to monitor the release ofwater despite the fact that State's petition against the CauveryTribunal award is yet to be heard though it was filed about 9 years back.UNI RS MSP CS 1444 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0285-946705.Xml
Sub-Divisional Police Officer Panchamlal Raj said seven girls went to the dam for bath but three of them Sonam (12), Neha Agrawal (12) and Bhagbai (16) went deep into the water and met with the watery grave. While two girls were missing and two others managed to swam to safety.

Mr Raj said that the police team along with water resoures rushed to the spot on to locate the missing girls.

All the girls were the residents of Ghana village, Mr Raj added.UNI XC-BDG PS AE RAI1544

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"India and Israel are two nations which are fighting terror and will continue to fight together always," said Daniel Carmon.

Carmon said that both countries have witnessed a strong bond that exist way beyond and way before Indian and Israel entered formal and official diplomatic relations.

"We came here to speak about the present and the future of the relationship between the two countries. India and Israel are friend of all time, unconditional friends and this friendship is implemented day by day," he said. (ANI)
India and France on Friday signed the inter-governmental agreement for the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force at the cost of Euro 7.87 billion. Addressing the media post the deal, Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar hailed the agreement for fighter jets as unique in itself. "I want to give you this information that today India has entered into an inter-governmental agreement with France on Rafael. Post this, we will now have a potent, effective fighter jets which were the requirement of the Air Force. This is a first deal for fighter jets in 20 years which is uniqueness in itself," said Parikkar. The deal between the two sides was inked at the Hyderabad House here in the presence of Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian. The Rafale aircraft would be delivered from France in fly-away condition along with weapons, training simulator, associated equipment and Performance Based Logistics (PBL) support. The aircrafts will be delivered to the IAF within next 36 to 67 months. This schedule is better than the delivery schedule proposed earlier by the French side. Rafale is a multi-role fighter aircraft capable of undertaking all types of missions with a capability to simultaneously perform both air, defence and ground attack roles in a single mission. The induction of Rafale aircraft will enhance the IAF's strategic reach and provide technological edge. The version of Rafale aircraft supplied to India will have better operational capabilities than the Rafale aircraft being operated by all other Air Forces in terms of better radar, better detection and survival features and will have capabilities for operations from higher altitude airfields. The weapons package includes, amongst others, advanced Beyond Visual Range (BVR) METEOR missiles which is much better than the previous offer. In addition, other BVR missiles and latest precision guided Air to Ground weapons are included as earlier which will provide the IAF will strong capability for striking targets with precision from far off distances. The version of Rafale aircraft being supplied will thus have higher operational capability than the earlier offer and would significantly enhance the capability edge of the IAF. The maintenance support for 36 Rafale aircrafts will be provided through PBL. The PBL terms and conditions negotiated for the present procurement are better as compared to the previous French offer in terms of availability of aircraft and longer PBL duration. Unlike the previous French offer, the initial PBL support in the current procurement is of 5 years, with an option to extend by 2 more years for an amount already committed by the French side. In addition, Government of India will have the right to renew the first PBL period of 7 years for 5 more years under the same terms and conditions. India and France held several rounds of negotiations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision for direct purchase of 36 Rafale jets in fly away condition in April 2014. The deal includes the 36 aircraft, weapons, spares, support and maintenance and the jet will be customized as per the requirements of the Indian Air Force. The delivery of Rafale jets will be done by 2019. Under the terms of the contract, France has to ensure that 75 percent of the fleet i.e. 27 fighters are operationally available at any given time. There is a 50 percent offset clause under which the French industry will invest half the contract value back in the country which is expected to develop some expertise domestically in the aerospace sector. Like all defence deals, this deal too has a 50 percent optional clause under which India can procure 18 more jets at the same price but the government has so far stated that they would not order beyond 36. The Indian Air Force (IAF) currently has 32 fighter squadrons against an authorization of 42, and many of them, particularly the MiGs, are reaching the end of their service. (ANI)
US President Barack Obama shared a video of a young American boy who wrote asking to host Omran Daqneesh, a 5-year-old Syrian child who's picture went viral earlier this month. The image of five-year-old Omran sitting alone in an ambulance, covered in dust and blood, shocked the world and inspired six-year-old Alex, from Scarsdale, New York, to take action. On Thursday, President Obama posted a video of Alex reciting his letter, CBS News reported. "Dear President Obama, remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?" Alex asked in the video. "Can you please pick him up and bring him to our home?" Alex said he has a friend at school from Syria, and "we can all play together". In less than 10 hours, the video posted on Obama's Facebook page earned 106 thousand likes and was viewed more than 3 million times. "Alex told me that he wanted Omran to come live with him and his family. He wanted to share his bike, and teach him how to ride. He said his little sister would collect butterflies for him," Obama wrote on Facebook. It gives a tour of Alex's home as he reads about sharing his toys with Omaran, inviting him to birthday parties and hoping he will "teach us another language", ABC News reported "The humanity that a young child can display who hasn't learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of how they look or where they're from or how they pray," Obama says in the video, adding "We can all learn from Alex". --IANS ksk ( 280 Words) 2016-09-23-08:18:08 (IANS)
"We welcome today's accord negotiated and concluded by the Government of Afghanistan and Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) as a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end," the Khaama Press quoted a statement by the US Embassy as saying.

The statement added that Washington continues to support 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 draft peace agreement between the Afghan Government and Hezb-e-Islami party was signed yesterday.

Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar signed the agreement on behalf of the government while Mohammad Amin Karim signed the agreement on behalf of Hezb-e-Islami.

The agreement was signed after almost six months of continued negotiations between the two. (ANI)
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev arrived in Russia today to continue his treatment for suspected heart problems, his office said in a statement.Atambayev, 60, cancelled a visit to the United Nations General Assembly this week after suffering chest pains during the first leg of his flight and had stayed in Turkey before flying to Russia. REUTERS JW PR1049 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-946384.Xml
The family of the black North Carolina man whose shooting death by police triggered two nights of riots viewed videos of the episode and asked for them to be made public, stepping up the pressure for their release.The videos show Keith Scott was calm, acting in a non-aggressive way and walking slowly backward with hands by his sides when shot by police on Tuesday, the family's lawyer said in a statement, but it was unclear if he was holding a gun, as police say yesterday.The statement came as hundreds gathered for a third successive night of protests, some chanting, "Release the video." The crowd thinned a little after a midnight curfew began, but police and protesters stayed peacefully apart.Earlier, police had fired tear gas and non-lethal projectiles to break up crowds blocking traffic on a highway. National Guard troops backed up a robust police presence in the town center, helping to restrain protesters chanting "Whose streets? Our streets," as helicopters circled overhead.Scott's death is the latest to stir passions in the United States over the police use of deadly force against black men. Protests have asserted racial bias and excessive force by police and have given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.After reviewing the videos, Scott family attorney Justin Bamberg said, "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," he said in the statement.Police say Scott was carrying a gun when he approached officers and ignored repeated orders to drop it. His family previously said he was holding a book, not a firearm, and now says it has more questions than answers after viewing two videos recorded by police body cameras.Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney has said the video supported the police account of what happened but does not definitively show Scott pointing a gun at officers.PROTESTER DIES FROM GUNSHOTThe rioting that has engulfed the city claimed a victim yesterday, as city officials said a protester shot on Wednesday had died. Nine people were injured and 44 arrested in riots on Wednesday and yesterday morning, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency.The man critically wounded by a gunshot during the protests, Justin Carr, 26, died yesterday, but the circumstances of his shooting remained unclear.In contrast to the tension in Charlotte, calm reigned in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where police released a video of the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher, shot by police last week after his vehicle broke down on a highway. The officer who fired her gun was charged with first-degree manslaughter yesterday.US President Barack Obama called the mayors of both cities on Wednesday to offer condolences and assistance.Yesterday he urged protesters to maintain the peace, while still addressing concerns of racial inequality."(The) overwhelming majority of people who have been concerned about police-community relations (are) doing it the right way," Obama told ABC News. "Every once in a while you see folks doing it the wrong way."I think it's important to separate out the pervasive sense of frustration among a lot of African-Americans about shootings of people and the sense that justice is not always color blind," he said on the "Good Morning America" television program. REUTERS JW PR1055 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-946398.Xml
The wife of the Afghan-born US citizen charged in last weekend's bombings in New York City and New Jersey has returned to the United States, a law enforcement official said today, as a defense lawyer pressed to get access to the accused man.Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, has been held in a Newark, New Jersey, hospital since being arrested on Monday with wounds after a shootout with police. Rahami faces federal charges in both states stemming from a Saturday night bombing in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood that injured 31 people and explosives found in two New Jersey locations. No one was killed in the blasts.Rahami's wife, Asia Bibi Rahami, flew back to the United States overnight, a law enforcement official said. She had voluntarily met with US law enforcement authorities while in the United Arab Emirates this week and gave a statement.Two years ago when she was pregnant, Rahami had sought the assistance of a US congressman from New Jersey in getting her a visa to allow her to come to the United States from Pakistan.Rahami and another woman had a child together but had not seen each other in more than two years, the second woman said in a statement reported by ABC News today. Rahami had reached out to them just once in the past year, she said."I have cooperated with authorities and told them all I know about Ahmad Rahami," said the woman, who was not named in the statement. In court documents filed on Tuesday where she is seeking sole custody of their child, the woman identified herself as Maria Mena.Authorities have been trying to determine whether Rahami, a naturalized US citizen who emigrated from Afghanistan with his family at the age of 7 and lived in Elizabeth, New Jersey, had any assistance in planning the bombings or making the homemade devices.Rahami was motivated by militant Islamic views, prosecutors said, citing a journal he was carrying when captured in which he begged for martyrdom and expressed outrage at the US "slaughter" of Muslim fighters in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Palestine. The case is being treated by authorities as an act of terrorism.ACCESS TO A LAWYERProsecutors and New York's top federal public defender are squabbling over when Rahami will get a lawyer.David Patton, the head of the federal public defenders office in New York, asked on Wednesday to be appointed as Rahami's attorney and to be allowed to meet with him, saying the suspect has not had legal advice thus far.The FBI said Rahami was arrested by police in New Jersey and remained in the custody of that state, not the federal government. A US magistrate judge said late on Wednesday that he accepted that position."The Government asserts unequivocally that the defendant 'is not in federal custody,'" Judge Gabriel Gorenstein wrote in an order. "Whether there are federal authorities questioning defendant does not address the issue of custody."The judge said the timetable for when Rahami can meet with a public defender cannot be decided until the issue of custody is resolved.Normally, a US criminal defendant goes before a magistrate with little delay and, if too poor to afford a lawyer, is appointed a lawyer at that first appearance or soon afterward.The FBI also continued to search for two men who found a second, unexploded pressure-cooker device that prosecutors say Rahami left in a piece of luggage in Chelsea on Saturday night.The two men, who took the bag but left the device behind, are not suspects, officials said, but potential witnesses.REUTERS RSD 0021 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-946234.Xml
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on regional rival Saudi Arabia to "cease and desist" from "divisive policies" if it was serious about regional peace and security.Rouhani was addressing the United Nations General Assembly the day after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef suggested Iran should be a better neighbor in the region and not interfere in the affairs of other countries.The leading Shi'ite Muslim power, Iran and Sunni monarchy 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."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 yesterday.Saudi Arabia sees Iran as the paramount threat to the Middle East's stability, because of its support for Shi'ite militias that Riyadh says have inflamed sectarian violence.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.On Wednesday, the Saudi Crown Prince said Iranian authorities had "not lived up to their duty to provide adequate protection in accordance with the binding international agreements", according to the Saudi Press Agency.LACK OF COMPLIANCEIn his speech, Rouhani criticized the United States for its "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.Tehran has called on the United States to do more to remove obstacles to the banking sector so that businesses feel comfortable investing in Iran without fear of penalties.Following a meeting of the six world powers and Iran yesterday on the sidelines of the annual UN gathering of world leaders, the European Union's top diplomat Federica Mogherini said the common assessment was that the deal was being implemented.However, she said Rouhani's concerns were discussed and there was a strong commitment to "accelerate the pace of it and ... to go the extra mile to continue working for the Iranian people to feel the real benefits in their everyday life.""We have discussed the outreach we have done all of us collectively and individually to reach out to businesses, banks to encourage engagement in Iran," she told reporters. "It's a process that some of us might wish to see going a bit faster."Major foreign banks are wary of doing business with Iran 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.He added: "Any failure on the part of the United States in implementing it (the deal) would constitute an international wrongful act and would be objected to by the international community," Rouhani said.However, Rouhani said Iran had no problem with US companies investing in the Islamic Republic's economy"If American companies are willing to come and invest in Iran ... we have no problem with that. Iran has never had any problem with American companies to invest in Iran," Rouhani told a news conference later.Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ruled out any detente with Iran's arch foe the United States even after the lifting of economic sanctions in January. Washington severed relations with Tehran shortly after its 1979 Islamic revolution. REUTERS RSD 0432 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-946276.Xml
Syria announced a new offensive against rebel-held areas of Aleppo while diplomats failed to find a way in New York to revive a US and Russian-brokered ceasefire that collapsed this week.Warplanes mounted the heaviest air strikes in months against rebel-held districts of Syria's commercial hub and largest city, dealing a fresh blow to efforts to end Syrian civil war that has raged since 2011.Rebel officials and rescue workers said incendiary bombs were among the weapons that rained down on Aleppo. Hamza al-Khatib, the director of a hospital in the rebel-held east, told Reuters 45 people were killed."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 yesterday.Moscow and Washington announced the ceasefire with fanfare on September 9. But the agreement, possibly the final bid for a breakthrough on Syria before President Barack Obama leaves office in January, collapsed like all previous peace efforts in a 5-1/2-year-old war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and made half the nation homeless.Syrian state media announced the new offensive and quoted the army's military headquarters in Aleppo urging civilians in eastern parts of the city to avoid areas where "terrorists" were located and said it had prepared exit points for those who want to flee, including rebels.The Syrian army announcement did not say whether the campaign would also include a ground incursion.The aerial assault, by aircraft from the Syrian government, its Russian allies or both, signalled Moscow and Damascus had rejected a plea by US Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights so that aid could be delivered and the 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".Syrian President Bashar al-Assad indicated he saw no quick end to the war, telling the Associated Press it would "drag on" as long as it is part of a global conflict in which terrorists are backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United States.HEAVIEST STRIKES FOR MONTHSHad the US-Russian brokered truce, which took effect on September 12, held and had humanitarian aid consistently flowed to Syria, this could have led to intelligence-sharing by Moscow and Washington to go after Syrian militant groups they both oppose.The ceasefire deal suffered two blows in the last week. On Saturday, the US-led coalition against the Islamic State militant group carried out a lethal air raid on Syrian government troops. Washington said it hit Syrian forces by mistake. Assad said in his interview he believed the strikes, which he said lasted over an hour, were deliberate.On Monday, the ceasefire foundered further with an attack on an aid convoy that killed around 20 people and that Washington blamed on Russian planes. Russia denied involvement.In another sign of the Syrian government's determination to gain 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 in ruins.LONG, PAINFUL, DISAPPOINTING MEETINGForeign ministers emerged from a meeting in New York having failed to find a way back to a ceasefire, though the United State's Kerry said he was willing to keep trying if Russia came back with new ideas."It was a long, painful, difficult and disappointing meeting," the UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters after the meeting of the International Syria Support Group, which includes about two dozen major and regional powers.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 yesterday following a 48-hour suspension to review security guarantees after Monday's attack on the aid convoy near Aleppo.Assad has appeared as uncompromising as ever in recent weeks, reiterating his goal of taking back the whole country.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. REUTERS RSD 0435 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-946278.Xml
Brazilian police arrested former Finance Minister Guido Mantega 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 dollars 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, Jos Roberto Batochio, told reporters late yesterday 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.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 dollars 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 dollars, 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 yesterday's operation.The Globo TV networks Jornal Nacional nightly newscast quoted Batista's lawyer as saying the payment from Batista had nothing to do with any contracts between his company and the government or Petrobras and that negotiations related to OSX with Petrobras were done by a consortium led by Mendes Junior, not OSX.A lawyer for Mendes Junior could not immediately be reached for comment. REUTERS RSD 0656 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-946300.Xml
Rouhani also lauded Sharif's vision which he said has translated the CPEC into reality, reports Dawn.

While asserting that Iran considers Pakistan's economic development as its own development, the Iranian president said that there is a need for defence cooperation between the two countries.

He also said that Pakistan's security is the security of Iran.

Both sides discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, especially oil, gas and electricity.

They also noted that progress on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and electricity import from Iran would help Pakistan overcome its energy shortages in the coming years.

Sharif also apprised Rouhani on the Kashmir issue.

Meanwhile, Rouhani extended an invitation to Iran to Sharif. (ANI)
argely peaceful protests dwindled early today in Charlotte, North Carolina, as police chose not to enforce a curfew prompted by two nights of riots that engulfed the city after a black man was shot to death by a police officer.A crowd of hundreds gathered, chanted and marched for a third successive night in the state's largest city, demanding justice for Keith Scott, 43, who was shot dead by a black police officer in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Tuesday afternoon.Police fired tear gas and non-lethal projectiles to break up crowds blocking traffic on a highway. National Guard troops backed up a robust police presence in the town center, helping to restrain protesters chanting "Whose streets? Our streets," as helicopters circled overhead.The Charlotte Police Department said on Twitter that two officers were treated after they were sprayed with a chemical agent by demonstrators and that no civilians were injured yesterday.Despite the brief outbursts, the demonstrations were calmer than those on the previous two nights. Rioters had smashed storefront windows, looted businesses and thrown objects at police, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency and the city's mayor to enact a curfew.A protester shot on Wednesday died on Thursday, nine people were injured, and 44 were arrested in riots on Wednesday and Thursday morning.Scott's death is the latest to stir passions in the United States over the police use of deadly force against black men. Protests have asserted racial bias and excessive force by police and have given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement.His family viewed videos of the episode yesterday and asked for them to be made public, stepping up the pressure for their release.In an interview with Reuters early today, Justin Bamberg, one of the lawyers who is representing Scott's family, said the video shows that the 43-year-old did not make any aggressive moves towards police."There's nothing in that video that shows him acting aggressively, threatening or maybe dangerous," Bamberg said.Scott, who suffered head trauma in a bad car accident a year ago, was moving slowly as he got out of the car, he said."He's not an old man, but he's moving like an old man" in the video, Bamberg said.Earlier in the day, Bamberg said in a statement that it was "impossible to discern" from the videos what, if anything, Scott was holding in his hands.Police say Scott was carrying a gun when he approached officers and ignored repeated orders to drop it. His family previously said he was holding a book, not a firearm, and now says it has more questions than answers after viewing two videos recorded by police body cameras.Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney has said the video supported the police account of what happened but does not definitively show Scott pointing a gun at officers.In contrast to the tension in Charlotte, calm reigned in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where police released a video of the fatal shooting of Terence Crutcher, shot by police last week after his vehicle broke down on a highway. The officer who fired her gun was charged with first-degree manslaughter on Thursday .US President Barack Obama called the mayors of both cities on Wednesday to offer condolences and assistance. On Thursday, he urged protesters to maintain the peace, while still addressing concerns of racial inequality. REUTERS JW RK1328 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0364-946673.Xml
Mantega was arrested on Thursday but was released hours later due to his wife's illness.

Federal Judge Sergio Moro revoked the temporary arrest order, saying he was unaware that Mantega's wife was scheduled for surgery "due to a serious illness", Xinhua news agency reported.

All pertinent documents in his possession were seized by police during a search and seizure operation at his residence so he could not tamper with evidence, said Moro.

Prosecutors said Mantega asked for 5 million reais (about $1 million) to pay off the campaign debts of the Workers' Party, which was in power till May.

Mantega served as Finance Minister from March 2006 to December 2014, during ousted President Dilma Rousseff's second term.

--IANS sm/ksk/dg

( 156 Words)

2016-09-23-15:14:10 (IANS)
The activists have said that Pakistan's Operation "Zarb-e-Azb", which was against militant groups, has destroyed the homes of the locals instead of terrorists and has victimized the Pashtun community. The International Forum for Rights of Pakistan hosted a seminar at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva earlier this week on the human rights violations caused by the Pakistani Army under the garb of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Speakers at the conference included Afghani human rights activist Faiz Mohd Zaland, Member of the Senate of Polish Parliament Jacek Wlocowicz , Executive Director of South Asia Democratic Forum Paulo Casaca , Executive Director Baluchistan House Tarek Fateh and Baluch Representative at the UNHRC Mehran Marri. In his remarks at the conference, Zaland stated that the Pakistan Army and its intelligence agencies had victimized the Pashtuns, who were living in North and South Waziristan, adding that the military operation had only destroyed the homes of the local people and not the terrorists as claimed by the Pakistani Government. He pointed that with UN agencies and the world media denied access to the areas of the operation, the Pakistan Government had ensured that these atrocities did not come out in the open. Wlocowicz in his speech said that though the Pakistan 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 two million people leave 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 said that the Pakistan 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. Echoing similar sentiments, Mehran Marri said 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. (ANI)
The main focus of this edition of the joint exercise is on 'Counter-Terrorism Operations in semi mountainous and jungle terrain under United Nations Mandate'.

To achieve interoperability in joint operations, troops from both sides would acquaint themselves with the respective approach to such operations. A comprehensive training programme spanning eleven days has been drawn up for the purpose.

The troops of Indian Army marched smartly alongside the Russian Army in an impressive opening ceremony of Exercise Indra 2016. Both Contingents marched in unison, past the saluting dais, exhibiting their resolve to further the Indo-Russian friendship.

Brigadier Sukrit Chadah, Indian Contingent Commander addressed the two contingents and highlighted the need for jointness between the two nations to defeat terrorism. Mr Loz, Vice Governer Primosski krai Province and Maj Gen Andrei Ivanovich Sichevoe, COS 5th Army from the Russian Army also addressed the contingents.

About 250 soldiers of the Kumaon Regiment are representing India and the Russian army is being represented by 250 soldiers from the 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade.

The Indra series of bilateral exercises is one of the major bilateral defence cooperation initiatives between India and Russia since 2003.

The Indian contingent is scheduled to return to India on termination of the Exercise in the first week of October. (ANI)
LANZHOU, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Dunhuang Academy has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on the study and preservation of earthen relics in northwest China with three institutions from the United States and Britain.

According to the academy, which is responsible for the conservation, management and research of the Mogao Grottoes, an agreement was reached with the California-based Getty Conservation Institute, which will provide guidance for the establishment of research centers for wall paintings and earthen architectural sites.

The MOU also mentioned a possible collaboration between the two institutions on earthen architecture conservation, an evaluation and revision of the Mogao Grottoes master plan, and guidance and advice related to the conservation and management of other World Heritage sites on the Silk Road route under the academy's purview.

The academy also inked a two-year research project plan with the University of Oxford. The project, financed by the UK-based Royal Society, aims to develop new preservation methods for earthen relics in northwestern China and share knowledge among researchers of the two countries.

In addition, the academy and the British Library decided to expand the existing cooperation on the International Dunhuang Project to provide a free-to-access digitized catalogue for scholars worldwide.

The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand-Buddha Caves about 25 km southeast of Dunhuang, are one of the largest, best-preserved and richest sites of Buddhist art in the world.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A top UN official on Thursday called on the international community to further strengthen the cooperation on water resources in order to prevent water-related conflicts as water represents peace, life and dignity.

Jan Eliasson, the deputy UN secretary-general, made the remarks at an event of "waster as a source of peace," which was aimed at developing political momentum to advance water cooperation and prevent water-related conflicts.

The event was held on the sidelines of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened here Tuesday and runs through Sept. 26.

"Water is peace -- it is a central element to the security of communities and nations," he said. "Water is life -- it is indispensable to development, indeed to our survival on Earth. And water is dignity -- it is a human right, fundamental for justice and rule of law."

The focus of the Thursday meeting is on the first part of this equation: the linkage between water and peace, he noted.

"There is a growing recognition that natural resources frequently play a central role in conflicts and, at the same time, hold the key to their prevention," he said.

"In today's interconnected world, water availability is directly related to peace and security, but also to development and human rights," he said.

"Cooperation over water resources is an urgent and demanding challenge," he said. "Strains on water are rising in all regions. Climate change, pollution and growing demand for water are adding up to scarcity and ever greater risks."

"More frequent and more intense periods of drought are devastating communities, causing hunger and driving people from the countryside to cities, increasing pressures on water which can lead to instability," he said.

By 2050, the world population could rise to 9 billion -- 9 billion people sharing the finite resource of water, he said.

"We have repeatedly seen competition over this scarce resource be a major driver of discontent, turning into both internal and regional conflicts," he said. "I have personally witnessed this in Sudan, Iraq and elsewhere."

"While these risks are real, we must also recognize and build on the opportunities that water presents for international cooperation," he added.
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.
YINCHUAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao has called for efforts to strengthen and improve the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s leadership over the reform on the work involving mass organizations.

During a tour of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from Tuesday to Thursday, Li said Party committees at various levels should take a leading role in the reform.

Efforts should be made to solve existing problems in mass organizations and related work through the reform, and grassroots mass organizations should be strengthened to build closer ties with the broad masses, Li said.

Mass organizations represent people from different lines of work or age groups, such as trade unions, women's groups and youth leagues.
ABUJA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Six deaths have been recorded in an outbreak of cholera in Nigeria's economic hub, Lagos, a senior health official said on Thursday.

The deaths were recorded from 45 suspected cases of cholera earlier reported to health authorities, Jide Idris, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, told reporters at a news conference.

He said government had taken necessary measures to contain the outbreak in Isolo area of the state.

According to him, the main suspected source of infection is a staple food of local residents in the area.

A domestic well used by local residents in the area is also likely to have caused the outbreak, he added.

The official said samples of the local food and well water have been sent for laboratory analyses.

Cholera, an infectious disease, causes severe watery diarrhea and can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. Enditem
HANOVER, Germany, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The 66th International Motor Show (IAA), the world's leading exhibition for commercial vehicles, kicked off on Thursday in Germany's central north city Hanover.

With over 330 world premieres and over 100 European premieres, the trade show for transport, logistics, and mobility will present the future-oriented development of the commercial vehicle sector, which is highlighted by connected and automated driving, alternative powertrain, and urban logistics solutions.

The clear long-term goal of the commercial vehicle industry is accident-free driving due to automation, said Matthias Wissmann, the president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry(VDA), in his opening address. "Automated driving is a first, eminently important, focus of this IAA," he added.

As regards powertrains, diesel would remain in the first place in long-distance traffic. However, alternative trains like electricity, hybrid, biogas as well as natural gas are playing an increasingly important role in freight transportation, said Wissman.

In total, there are over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions taking part in the motor show. Among them, more than 200 exhibitors are Chinese companies including BYD, Foton and CRRC.
LISBON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Portugal will manage to bring its deficit down comfortably below 2.5 percent of its GDP, the country's Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Thursday.

"We are confident it will be below 2.5 percent (of GDP)," he said at the opening of the first quarterly debate in parliament.

"We promised an alternative that would respect our program, the positions of the majority that supports our government and the international commitments of our country, and that is what we are doing," Costa said.

Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa came into power in November last year and, together with the Left Bloc and Communist Party, whose parliamentary support he depends on, is preparing the state budget for next year.

Since taking power, he has promised to reverse austerity, increasing the minimum wage and restoring salaries and pensions.

Costa said on Thursday that while there was still a lot to be done, the priorities were now to fight social inequality and strengthen social welfare.

However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned in a report on Thursday that the country was facing a slow-down due to its anti-austerity approach.

The IMF said it forecast growth would reach 1.0 percent this year, down from last year last's 1.5 percent, and predicted the budget deficit would be 3.0 percent this year. Enditem
ISTANBUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A man was injured on Thursday evening when he jumped before an approaching train at an Istanbul metro station in a suicide attempt.

In its official Twitter account, Metro Istanbul confirmed the death attempt at Taksim station at the heart of the metropolis, saying the voyager was injured.

In a video clip posted online, a man was seen standing close to the side of the track beyond the security line and jumped off as a train approached.

In the video, passengers were heard saying the man was visually handicapped.

"Many people in the metro station went crazy like me, because the train was too close (to the man)," tweeted a woman named Elif.

The train was evacuated following the incident. The man was rushed to hospital, and the metro service was halted for at least half an hour, press reports said.

One report identified the man as a Turkish national.

The private Ihlas news agency said the man aged 23 attempted suicide after arguing with his girlfriend.
LONDON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called for his country and Britain to enhance mutual political trust and strengthen pragmatic cooperation to further promote bilateral relations.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, made the remarks when attending the ninth China-Britain Leadership Forum held on Wednesday and Thursday.

The official hailed the forum as an important platform where parties and statesmen of the two countries could have in-depth communication and learn from each other.

The relations between China and Britain were now at a critical moment in history, Du said.

He noted that he expected the two sides to strengthen their political mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation, and enrich the connotation of the China-Britain Global Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the 21st century through frank and in-depth dialogue.

Du added that the Communist Party of China was willing to engage in exchanges with the major British political parties in the parliament and learn from each other so as to promote bilateral relations.

Chinese and British leaders recently reaffirmed that Sino-British relations were in a "golden era."

The forum meets annually and alternates between the two countries. It aims to discuss, debate and establish respective positions on key issues both on a bilateral and international basis and build lasting relationships between statesmen in both countries. It also aims to contribute to the strengthening of the strategic relationship between China and Britain.
BEIRUT, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian factions in Lebanon underscored Thursday the necessity to boost the Lebanese-Palestinian relations, stressing that the security of camps is part of the Lebanese and Palestinian general security and a factor of stability and national peace, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The political command of the factions held a meeting at the Palestinian embassy in Beirut, focusing on the security condition of Palestinian camps, the report said.

The Palestinian command said in a statement that it has been decided to form a delegation to meet with the army intelligence director in south Lebanon in order to preserve security in the camps and neighboring regions and prevent the camps from becoming a channel to disturb the Lebanese Palestinian relations.

The command also tasked the higher security committee and joint security forces to follow up on the implementation of issued decisions serving security.
by Mahmoud Fouly, Ahmed Shafiq

CAIRO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has become a more common launching point for illegal immigration through its Mediterranean Sea shores to Europe after Libya and Turkey lost their importance for smugglers in favor of the most populous Arab country, said experts of Egyptian and Middle East affairs.

While the world leaders are gathering at the United Nations headquarters in New York to seek solutions for refugee and immigration problems, news splashed on an immigration boat carrying about 600 people which capsized off Egypt's northern coast Wednesday killing at least 51.

"The refugee-immigration portfolio between the EU and Turkey indicates how illegal immigration and human trafficking received a heavy blow in Turkey. The ongoing civil war and the expansion of the Islamic State (IS) made Libya unappealing for smugglers and even immigrants," said Fadi Elhusseini, researcher and expert in Middle East affairs.

The expert continued that the ongoing cooperation between Italy and Libya on fighting illegal immigration that was crowned in the counter-illegal immigration agreement earlier this month increased the challenges in the illegal industry in Libya.

"Therefore, Egypt became an appealing destination for smugglers and refugees as a reasonable alternative for its long coastline and being relatively stable, near Europe (mainly Italy, Greece and Cyprus) and open to African and Arab nations," Elhusseini said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said in a report in June that more than 10,000 people have died in attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe since 2014.

Elhusseini said that supporting Egypt in facing the dilemma of illegal immigration becomes a "must" and fighting the emergence of other refugee-exporting points should become a priority.

He stressed that the slower the international community deals with this dilemma, the more innocents will lose their lives seeking better future through illegal means.

Illegal immigration via Egyptian Mediterranean Sea shores rose over the past few years in attempts to reach Europe and flee difficult economic conditions in the financially-struggling Arab country, where unemployment rate hit 12.5 percent, according to official reports.

Egypt saw two uprisings that ousted two heads of the state over the past five years, which led to economic recession with increasing budget deficit, declining foreign investments, lowering foreign currency reserves and deteriorating tourism.

"The capsized vessel reflects the recent economic recession in Egypt that pushed hundreds of youths to risk their lives to flee the difficult conditions," said Mohamed Shehata, head of the Egyptian Transport Association.

"Europe should support Egypt and other Middle Eastern states to limit the influx of illegal immigrants who would cause trouble in European states," he said.

Shehata warned that the economic suffering of Egyptians may lead the country to become a main source of illegal immigration to the West, calling on the Egyptian government to announce scheduled programs to resolve the issues and "give people hope to continue working inside their country."

The Egyptian military has recurrently announced foiling illegal immigration attempts by mostly Egyptians via the Mediterranean to Europe and mostly Africans via the Sinai Peninsula to Israel.

On Wednesday, the military official spokesman said that besides rescuing 163 people from the capsized boat, the border guards foiled another illegal attempt by seizing a boat carrying 294 immigrants north of El Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea, some 300 km from the Egyptian capital Cairo.

A day later, the Egyptian authorities arrested four members of the capsized boat crew over human trafficking charges, while a senior official announced that an anti-illegal immigration bill has been presented by the government to the parliament for approval.

"Egypt has to set a program for fighting illegal immigration including a deterrent punishment for whomever proved to be involved in the crime," the Egyptian Transport Association chief added.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday met here with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and underlined the importance of the two-state solution in bringing lasting peace to the Middle East.

The meeting took place on the margins of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened here Tuesday and runs through Sept. 26.

Ban "also underlined the international community's reaffirmation of the two-state solution as the only way to a sustainable peace," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. "The secretary-general expressed concern over the continued settlement-related activity."

The two-state solution, widely backed by the international community, means a secure Israel to live in peace with an independent State of Palestine. The secretary-general and the UN Security Council both have reiterated that the Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal under international law.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general highlighted the growing cooperation with Israel during his tenure and the country's strengthened representation in different UN bodies, the spokesman added.
By Juhani Niinisto

HELSINKI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Following a lethal aggression by a extremist demonstrator against a passer-by here, Finland has witnessed heated debate over the legality of activities carried out by the radical right.

A 28-year-old man died in hospital last Friday, days after he was wounded by the attacker near the central railway station. He was said to have made negative remarks towards those demonstrating with the right-wing organization Finnish Resistance Movement (FRM).

While public exhibition of nazi-style symbols in continental Europe usually leads to speedy questions from law enforcement, Finland has not so far criminalized emblems of the far right.

Some leading politicians have now suggested the FRM should be officially discontinued.

The national police chief said on Tuesday the use of the symbols of the far right should be banned through legislation.

By Tuesday, some 26,000 people had signed a campaign appeal to change the Finnish criminal code so that "organizing racism" would also be a crime. The appeal had been launched before the recent violence but gained momentum thereafter.

Juha Lavapuro, professor of law in digital society at Turku University, was one of the first this week to point out the deficiency in the Finnish legal framework that organizing racism is not recognized as criminality.

Talking to Xinhua on Tuesday, Lavapuro saw the Finnish social values as among the underlying factors behind the so-far cautious approach to tackling racism. "Deep down, this is also about limits of freedom of speech and right to freedom of association and assembly."

"The Finnish government takes them quite seriously. This may explain why there has been a lack of political initiative and less willingness to work to decrease racism in Finland to an appreciable extent," he said.

Lavapuro said the current Finnish criminal legislation and the rules on registered associations insufficiently reflected the message against racism.

Many international agreements Finland has signed require that local laws unequivocally prohibit the kind of activities the Finnish Resistance Movement has been engaged in, said Lavapuro.

On the other hand, Timo Soikkanen, emeritus professor of political history at Turku University, cautioned against prohibiting organizations through legislation.

Allowing public presence improves the chances of the police observing any activities, Soikkanen said.

Newspaper Helsingin Sanomat quoted practicing lawyer Markku Fredman as saying that racist actions "should not have the protection of freedom of assembly and speech."

Fredman claimed even the police had exhibited "a vague concept of freedom of speech." He gave as an example a case where the police had suspended a criminal investigation on the grounds that "expressing an opinion -- even a racist one -- does not meet the criteria of a crime." The police was later admonished by the Chancellor of Justice office.

Helsingin Sanomat warned in its editorial on Tuesday that leading politicians could either nourish or repel political violence.

The newspaper said extremist associations try to create an impression that they represent a wider population base, and acceptance hidden between the lines by politicians is what the associations want.
MADRID, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Interior Ministry confirmed on Thursday that a 27-year-old secondary school teacher has been arrested in Madrid along with an 18-year-old person for glorifying terrorism and making threats.

The teacher who has been identified as Karim El Idrissi Soussi and the 18-year-old O.S.A.A, are both described as of "Spanish nationality."

El Idrissi Soussi had been under police observation after making a trip to Turkey. The ministry said that during a minute's silence for the victims of the Paris attack in November, 2015, he had "shouted several phrases justifying the attack in public, causing a great impact among his companions... He also publically justified on several occasions DAESH (also known as the Islamic State) attacks which caused victims."

"He also manifested to his companions that he intended to fight in the ranks of DAESH, and was also observed by teachers and students watching DAESH propaganda films in class."

El Idrissi Soussa is also accused of threatening his companions, saying he would "kill them all," as well as using the internet in a public library to view online extremist content and using social networking sites to praise the activity of extremist organizations.

Meanwhile, the 18-year-old has also been accused of "diverse" crimes of praising extremism. Both are currently in police custody.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday called upon the international community to strengthen the efforts to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, saying that the effective implementation of the global development goals is crucial to reducing poverty.

The international community should continue to work together to meet the challenge of hunger and malnutrition, Ban said at a high-level event on "Pathways to Zero Hunger" at UN Headquarters in New York.

The event was held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly.

The secretary-general noted some progress by the world community in combatting the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, but he said that the challenge of providing the fundamental right to adequate food to all people must remain a priority.

"It is unacceptable in a world of plenty that nearly 800 million people still suffer from hunger," he said. "This represents a collective moral and political failure."

The Zero Hunger Challenge reflects five elements from within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which, taken together, can end hunger, eliminate all forms of malnutrition, and build inclusive and sustainable food systems.

The SDGs, approved by world leaders in September 2015, serves as the blueprint for the global development efforts for the years leading up to 2030.

The anti-hunger event, co-organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP), seeks to galvanize momentum for the Zero Hunger Challenge launched by the Secretary-General in 2012.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The international community should cooperate to besiege terrorism, dry out its financial resources, and demolish its networks and recruitment hubs worldwide, said Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi on Thursday.

Abadi made the appeal while addressing the UN General Assembly (GA) annual debate, saying that without such cooperation, terrorism would reach everywhere and exacerbate the current refugee crisis across the world.

Calling the Islamic State (IS) an adversary to Islam, Abadi also noted that terrorism will not end until the problem of radical ideology of sectarian segregation is addressed.

"There is no choice but to cooperate to win the war against terrorism," he added.

Iraqi security forces and allied units have been battling IS militants for retaking large territories in northern and western Iraq that was seized by the IS since June 2014.

Abadi also called on the international community to end conflicts, prevent wars and refrain from policies that would intervene in internal affairs of other countries.

"Such policies lead to more suffering of people and deepened divisions in our region which still undergoes wars," he noted.

This year's high-level GA debate from Sept. 20-26 has gathered over 140 world leaders here in New York on a variety of issues, ranging from sustainable development, counter terrorism, and refugee and migrant crises.
A Yahoo logo is pictured in front of a building in Rolle, east of Geneva, Switzerland December 12, 2012. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo)

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Yahoo Inc. acknowledged on Thursday that information associated with at least 500 million user accounts, including names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and hashed passwords, was stolen from its network in late 2014.

The technology company headquartered in Sunnyvale, northern California, said in a website posting, titled "An Important Message About Yahoo User Security," that it believed a state-sponsored actor was behind the incident and that an investigation had found no evidence that the actor is currently in its network.

The information stolen, noted Yahoo's chief information security officer Bob Lord, included "in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers."

However, while the investigation is going on and Yahoo is working with law enforcement, Lord said that the stolen information did not include unprotected passwords, payment card data or bank account information, as "payment card data and bank account information are not stored in the system that the investigation has found to be affected."

The company, which once was a Silicon Valley legend and web pioneer in the 1990s but agreed to sell operating businesses to Verizon Communications Inc. in late July this year, said it is notifying potentially affected users via email and asking them change their passwords and adopt alternate means of account verification. The content of its message is available starting at 11:30 am Pacific daylight saving time (PDT) on its website.

It also warned against unsolicited communications that ask users for personal information or refer them to a web page asking for personal information, and ask them to avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.

Unconfirmed media reports said Yahoo was notified about the security breach two months ago.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) meets journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau (R) in Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

OTTAWA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Thursday that China and Canada have agreed to strengthen their ties in economic, trade and other fields, and to begin exploratory talks for a potential free trade agreement.

Li, who is on an official visit to the North American nation, made the remarks when meeting journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

"We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade area," said Li, adding that China is willing to import frozen beef from Canada and the two sides have reached an agreement on Canada's canola exports to China.

Li also said that the two sides discussed cooperation in finance, tourism, law enforcement, as well as between their local governments.

"The exchange of visits within one month showed that China-Canada relations are entering a new stage," said Li who referred to Trudeau's recent official visit to China, adding that "it's rare in the bilateral ties, and conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the expectations of the international community."

Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday. His visit to Canada is the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years.

The Chinese leader said the two sides agreed that they have broad common interests and sound cooperation. The development of the bilateral ties is in the interests of both Chinese and Canadian peoples as well as the world' s peace and stability.

"We have decided to strengthen exchanges in all levels and in multiple mechanisms. We have agreed to establish high-level financial dialogue mechanism," Li said.

The Chinese leader also noted that they have discussed their differences, saying that it is normal for China and Canada, two countries with different national conditions and in different development stages, to differ.

He added that what's more important is to manage their differences, knowing that their common interests far outweigh differences, Li said.

"We are very pleased about the nature and the stability we have been able to bring to the Canada-China relationship," said Trudeau at the joint press conference. Trudeau said the two sides agreed to double the bilateral trade volume by 2025, and the economic relations between the two countries have huge potential that can create decent salaries and jobs. Trudeau added that maintaining stable relations with China is in the interests of both countries. He is looking forward to bringing more opportunities for Canadians through relations with China.

Before the joint press conference, the two leaders also attended a signing ceremony for 14 bilateral cooperation documents.

The two countries signed an agreement on the sharing and return of forfeited assets, a joint statement on the cooperation in third-party market, a protocol for frozen beef to be exported from Canada to China, an arrangement in cooperation in combating crimes, an arrangement for enhanced cooperation in tourism, and others.

Earlier, Trudeau held a welcome ceremony for the Chinese premier, and held talks with Li, which represents the formal launch of an annual dialogue mechanism between the two heads of government established during Trudeau' s China trip.

Li on Thursday also met with Canada's Senate Speaker George Furey, Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan and the General Governor David Johnston.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the multiple airstrikes by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition on Sept. 21 in the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah, Yemen, which killed and injured dozens of people, including children and women.

The secretary-general said, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, "once again reminds all parties to the conflict that they must fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the fundamental rules of distinction, proportionality and precaution."

"He reiterates his call for urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure," the statement said.

At least 25 people have been killed and 70 others wounded in the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in the Yemeni port city, reports said. The raid took place late on Wednesday reportedly against a presidential palace used by the Houthi rebel movement, but missiles also hit neighboring houses.

"The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured," the statement said.

"The secretary-general also urges all parties to recommit to the terms and conditions of the 10 April cessation of hostilities," the statement said.

"Stressing that a negotiated political settlement that addresses the legitimate concerns of all parties remains the only viable solution to the conflict, he calls for a new round of peace negotiations facilitated by his Special Envoy for Yemen," the statement added.

Houthis seized al-Hodayda, the capital Sanaa and half of the north Yemen on Sept. 21, 2014, forcing internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile.

The move triggered a military airforce intervention by the Saudi-led coalition in March 2015, to fight back the rebels and restore Hadi and his government to the capital.

Houthis is still in full control of most northern cities despite intensified 18-month war to roll back their gains.

The outbreak of war prompted foreign countries to close their embassies and evacuate their staff.

The war has since killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, injured about 35,000 others and displaced over 3 million, according to statistics from humanitarian agencies.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses a High-level Event on the Entry into Force of the Paris Agreement at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday condemned the multiple airstrikes by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition on Sept. 21 in the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah, Yemen, which killed and injured dozens of people, including children and women.

The secretary-general said, in a statement issued here by his spokesman, "once again reminds all parties to the conflict that they must fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular the fundamental rules of distinction, proportionality and precaution."

"He reiterates his call for urgent measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure," the statement said.

At least 25 people have been killed and 70 others wounded in the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in the Yemeni port city, reports said. The raid took place late on Wednesday reportedly against a presidential palace used by the Houthi rebel movement, but missiles also hit neighboring houses.

"The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured," the statement said.

"The secretary-general also urges all parties to recommit to the terms and conditions of the 10 April cessation of hostilities," the statement said.

"Stressing that a negotiated political settlement that addresses the legitimate concerns of all parties remains the only viable solution to the conflict, he calls for a new round of peace negotiations facilitated by his Special Envoy for Yemen," the statement added.

Houthis seized al-Hodayda, the capital Sanaa and half of the north Yemen on Sept. 21, 2014, forcing internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile.

The move triggered a military airforce intervention by the Saudi-led coalition in March 2015, to fight back the rebels and restore Hadi and his government to the capital.

Houthis is still in full control of most northern cities despite intensified 18-month war to roll back their gains.

The outbreak of war prompted foreign countries to close their embassies and evacuate their staff.

The war has since killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, injured about 35,000 others and displaced over 3 million, according to statistics from humanitarian agencies.
Photo taken on Sept. 6, 2016 shows high-speed trains to be overhauled at a maintenance center in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province.China's high-speed railways now exceed 20,000 km in length with the opening of a line linking Zhengzhou in central China's Henan Province with Xuzhou in eastern Jiangsu Province on Sept. 10, 2016. The line connects the west with two major north-south lines, helping cut travel time between west and east in the country. (Xinhua/Li An)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Thursday underlined the importance of effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and efforts should be made to raise the voice of developing countries in the field of global governance.

Li Baodong, China's vice foreign minister, made the statement as he was taking the floor at a high-level event of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. The event took place on the sidelines of the high-level debate of the 71st session of the 193-member General Assembly.

Li said that in order to promote better development across the world, efforts should be made to ensure development in peace and stability and to respect all countries' choice of development path.

It is very important to promote innovative and inclusive development, he said, adding that efforts should be also made to raise the voice of developing countries in the global governance.

Thanks to painstaking efforts, China succeeded in feeding its 1.3 billion people, providing job opportunities to 770 million people, he said, adding that nobody was left behind in the nation's nine-year program of compulsory education.

China is very active in helping other countries in their development efforts while working very hard to promote its own advancement, he said.

The United Nations established the right to development as an inalienable human right in 1986. The declaration seeks to ensure people's right to personal and financial improvement and progress.

The Right to Development is based on human dignity and implies the right to self-determination and full sovereignty over wealth and natural resources.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- "Women hold up half the sky," according to a slogan first popularized by the former Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership.

The CPC has released a plan to reform the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), which has branches nationwide representing women from all walks of life, to strengthen leadership over women and better pool their strength for national development.

Detailed reform measures include increasing the proportion of outstanding women in the federation's leadership and among delegates to the National Women's Congress, streamlining operations and improving training and services for women, according to the plan released Wednesday by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.

Reform of the ACWF is a must to unite Chinese women, who number around 670 million, in building "a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way" and realizing the Chinese dream of rejuvenation, according to the plan.

The federation must ensure reform is conducted properly, "adhering to the CPC's leadership," the ACWF said in a statement released later explaining the reform.

The move is part of the CPC's efforts to optimize its affiliated mass organizations and improve leadership and governance, which is considered an "important reform mission" by the Party.

Last month, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee also published reform measures for the China Youth League, the younger preparatory force for the CPC, to "inject vigor" into the organization by improving personnel management and encouraging down-to-earth work styles.

The federation must undertake the task of guiding the women to "listen to the words of the Party and go with the Party," the statement said, adding it will reinforce publicity and education campaigns targeting women, their families and children, and encourage more women to participate in the ongoing supply-side reform, innovation and poverty relief causes.

It will also guide the women to keep their confidence in the socialist road, theories, system and culture with Chinese characteristics.

The ACWF was established in 1949 by the CPC and has played an important role in every stage of China's founding and development.

In 2015, more than 250,000 women joined organizations under the ACWF, according to figures cited in the plan.

The reform also addresses the federation's shortcomings, such as inadequate capabilities in mobilizing women, isolation from grassroots communities and failure to fully represent all women, according to an article carried by the People's Daily, the CPC's flagship newspaper, on Thursday.

Since the founding of new China in 1949, women's status and influence have continued to grow, with female billionaires and officials becoming more common in the past decades.

Women account for one quarter of the entrepreneurs in China, and about 55 percent of new Internet businesses are founded by women.

"As the Chinese people pursue a happy life, every Chinese woman has the opportunity to excel in life and make her dreams come true," President Xi Jinping said last year at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. He vowed to give more play to women's important role in holding up "half the sky."

Through the reform, the federation is expected to establish closer contact and to better serve, represent and protect women, as well as guide them in following the Party and consolidating and expanding the Party's popularity among the masses, the People's Daily said.

Without detailing the timetable for the reform, the ACWF said it will deliver satisfying answers to the central authorities.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat said here Thursday that China has been playing a constructive role in promoting the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, which was reached in July 2015 between Iran and six major powers, known as the P5+1.

Li Baodong, China's vice foreign minister, spoke at a meeting of foreign ministers of Iran and the P5+1, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany. The meeting was held at UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the ongoing annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly.

Li said the smooth implementation of the Iran nuclear deal -- the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- since its adoption more than one year ago, makes all the relevant parties more confident in its future implementation.

The six major countries and Iran should be firm in their political will, keep away outside interference, strengthen dialogue and consultation and properly solve any possible problems in the implementation process, he said.

China will maintain close contact with all parties concerned and continue to actively participate in the implementation of the nuclear deal, he said.

On July 14, 2015, the P5+1 and Iran reached the JCPOA to ensure Iran's nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful and to put Iran on the path of sanctions relief.

Endorsed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 on July 20, 2015,the deal has been formally implemented since Jan.16, 2016.
LONDON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Scholars and entrepreneurs in Britain are joining hands to find innovative ways to explore the huge Chinese market.

The Innovation Forum, held in Cambridge from Wednesday to Thursday, attracted industry, academic and government leaders to promote innovation and facilitate partnership between investors and researchers.

With a particular focus on dynamic innovation in a globalized world, business and academic leaders at the two-day conference agreed on the importance of helping Western startup technology companies to enter the Chinese market.

Simon Haworth, founder and CEO of Dynasty Biotechnology and the Sino-UK Fund, said there is an extraordinary opportunity for British technology startups to do business in China.

"Anyone looking at the market, the target of that interest in access to the market for you (entrepreneurs) is absolutely extraordinary," Haworth told the audience.

Yu Xiong, chair of Technology and Operations Management at Northumbria University, said a large proportion of British companies want to do business in China, but they need to familiarize themselves with China's recent policy initiatives to support innovation in the high-tech sector.

"The Chinese government is enacting more and more policies to help companies to grow in China, and investing billions and billions of money to support startups," he said.

He stressed that the policy support comes not only from a national level, but also from provincial and local governments as well.

Alan Barrell, entrepreneur in residence at Judge Business School of University of Cambridge, said innovation takes time, and anyone who wants to enter a foreign market needs to respect the local culture, study its history, and build trust and understanding.

More than 60 speakers and 600 delegates attended this year's Innovation Forum, which also featured a final of the 'IMAGINE IF!' competition, an accelerator program for technology startup ventures.

Up to 15 top startup companies presented their ideas to a panel of investors and specialists to compete internationally for a cash prize worth 30,000 pounds (about 39,221 U.S. dollars), as well as invaluable business partnerships and mentoring.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong (3rd R) attends an International Syria Support Group (ISSG) ministerial meeting in New York, the United States, on Sept. 22, 2016. All Syrian parties should return to the negotiation table to find solutions and make compromise to resolve the five-year-old Syrian crisis, said Li Baodong on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- All Syrian parties should return to the negation table to find solutions and make compromise to resolve the five-year-old Syrian crisis, said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong on Thursday.

Li spoke at an International Syria Support Group (ISSG) ministerial meeting held in New York. He noted that countries need to go beyond national interests and geopolitics, and exert joint efforts to avoid greater global crises.

Li said the international community should progress in parallel in terms of cease-fire, political negotiations, humanitarian assistance and counter-terrorism, give full play to the role of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, and re-launch a political process as soon as possible.

All parties should form synergy and make concerted efforts at national, regional and international levels on the Syria issue in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254, he added.

Li said China welcomes the fact that Russia and the United States have reached a cease-fire agreement on Syria and hopes that the new deal can inject fresh impetus into improving the situation in Syria.

China calls on relevant parties to make concrete efforts to properly deal with the current challenges, effectively implement and maintain the cease-fire agreement.
CARACAS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela's right-wing opposition coalition, the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), on Thursday accused the National Electoral Council (CNE) of trying to delay a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro.

MUD Secretary General Jesus Torrealba said that the conditions set by the CNE, a point of controversy between the MUD and the government, violated the Constitution.

The CNE announced that the phase for collecting 3,893,128 signatures, 20 percent of the Venezuelan electorate, is scheduled to take place on Oct. 26, 27 and 28.

Once those signatures are validated, the CNE is obligated to take no more than 72 hours to set a date for the referendum, which must take place within the next 90 days.

The CNE anticipates an eventual referendum will be held during the first quarter of 2017.

But Torrealba said the MUD "will increase its efforts" to ensure the recall referendum will be held during 2016.

The MUD is eager to hold the recall vote as soon as possible. If Maduro is voted out before Jan. 10, 2017, then new elections can be held to choose a successor, and the opposition is banking on a win after years of economic turmoil.

If the vote takes place after Jan. 10 and if Maduro is voted out, his vice president will succeed him and serve out his current term of office, which ends on Jan. 10, 2019.

Meanwhile, Diosdado Cabello, a deputy in the Venezuelan National Assembly for the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), said that the CNE is doing everything by the book whereas the MUD is not.

Cabello was referring to the PSUV's allegation that the MUD committed an "electoral fraud" in the first stage of the referendum process. The allegation has caught the attention of the electoral body and the Supreme Court of Justice.

The CNE detected, after an extensive validation process, that at least 605,000 signatures from the lists handed over by the opposition coalition supporting the referendum were irregular. Around 10,995 people who already deceased were included in the lists and therefore could not be classed as valid signatories.
WELLINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand might join an international agreement that aims to curb carbon emissions from aircraft, provided other states also join, Transport Minister Simon Bridges said Friday.

"International aviation is not included in the recent Paris Agreement, which is why New Zealand will join the voluntary global measure being developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)," Bridges said in a statement.

The ICAO was responsible for the regulation of international aviation, including measures for the reduction of emissions.

"New Zealand will support the ICAO Global Measure Resolution and participate from Phase I, which commences in 2021, provided other developed countries and the majority of major aviation states also agree to do so," said Bridges.

"A single, robust global market-based measure is likely to achieve a significantly better environmental outcome at a lower cost than a patchwork of national and regional measures."

The ICAO measure reflected the importance of a robust environmental outcome while being voluntary recognized the need to respect different countries' capabilities.
HANOI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Vietnamese student has won the first prize in the 2016 International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People held by Universal Postal Union (UPU).

Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, a student in Nam Sach High school in Vietnam's northern Hai Duong province, won the first prize of the 45th UPU competition under the theme of "Write a letter to your 45-year-old self," reported Vietnam's state-run radio VOV on Friday.

In her letter, Trang incarnated herself as the three-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi who was drowned in Turkey while trying to reach the Greek island of Kos earlier this year.

In May, Trang's letter won the first prize of the contest at the national level in Vietnam.

According to VOV, Trang is preparing to come to the award ceremony held in Turkey on Oct. 1.

For the competition at the international level, top compositions of UPU member states were sent to the UPU.

In 26 years of participation in the contest, Trang has been the second Vietnamese to become first prize winner.

The annual International Letter-Writing Competition for Young People has been launched at the national and international levels since 1971, drawing millions of young people up to age 15 all over the world.
People take part in a protest in Charlotte, North Carolina, the United States, Sept. 22, 2016. A curfew order was issued in the U.S. city of Charlotte Thursday night as hundreds of protesters marched relatively peacefully through downtown to protest the fatal police shooting of a black man for the third night. (Xinhua/Lu Jiafei)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A curfew order was issued in the U.S. city of Charlotte, North Carolina, Thursday night as hundreds of protesters marched relatively peacefully through downtown to protest the fatal police shooting of a black man for the third night.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts issued the curfew order, which will go into effect beginning midnight until 6 a.m. next morning, the City of Charlotte said in a tweet.

The curfew will be in effect each day until the end of the state of emergency is declared or until the official proclamation is revoked, it added.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in Charlotte on Wednesday night. He also ordered the deployment of the state's National Guard and State Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement forces in restoring order in the city.

A number of National Guard troops and riot police were monitoring closely the demonstration after two nights of violent unrest, in which 17 police officers were wounded and 44 protesters arrested.

During Thursday's march that started in a park, the protesters once blocked an intersection near the Bank of America headquarters in the business district, local media reports said.

TV video showed that some protesters held up posters saying "Stop killing us," "Resistance is Beautiful," and "Release the tapes."

A big crowd of protesters gathered before the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), chanting: "We want the tapes."

They demanded police release the video of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man, by a police officer Tuesday afternoon.

But CMPD chief Kerr Putney said he has no intention to release the dash cam video of the fatal shooting so that it would not impact the ongoing investigation.

"I'm not going to jeopardize the investigation," he told reporters.

Justin Bamberg, an attorney for Scott's family, said in a statement that the family members had watched the police videos.

"It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands," Bamberg said in a statement.

Police have insisted that Scott was holding a gun. The claim was strongly denied by his family which said Scott was holding a book instead of a gun.

Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg said, while calling on the police to released the police videos to the public.

In another development, a protester, identified as 26-year-old Justin Carr, who was shot in the head by another civilian during Wednesday night's unrest died Thursday. No suspect in the case has been arrested so far.

Related:

U.S. Charlotte police refuse to release shooting video despite days of violence

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. Full story

Contradictory accounts emerge on police shooting of U.S. black man

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Police in Charlotte, the U.S. state of North Carolina, said on Wednesday a black man, shot dead by a police on Tuesday, was armed and ignored multiple warnings to drop his gun.
URUMQI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A dozen Caribbean countries, including Jamaica and Haiti, participated in the 5th China-Eurasia Expo, for the first time in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Several African countries such as Angola and Zimbabwe, as well as industry and trade departments of various international organizations were also first-timers at this year's event, which was held from Tuesday to Sunday.

Eustace Lake, Minister of Works and Housing for Antigua and Barbuda, said he valued the opportunity to "build relationships and seek potential trade partners," and hoped to persuade participants that Antigua and Barbuda, located in the core of the Caribbean, was a perfect choice for investors.

The minister attended several trade meetings, discussing housing and infrastructure development in his country. He said that by establishing new business in Antigua and Barbuda, a company could gain greater influence in the United States, Latin America and the whole Caribbean area.

Peter Mathuki, a member of parliament for the East African Legislative Assembly, which also participated in the expo for the first time, outlined the broad prospects of investing in Africa's energy sector.

He said East Africa had vast renewable energy resources, but their potential was far from being fully tapped. He hoped to use the expo to bring back advanced clean energy technology to ensure a brighter future for the region.

Delegates from 57 countries and regions, and six global organizations were present at the event, alongside 3,500 professional purchasers, organizers said.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce has decided to impose anti-dumping duties on distiller's dried grains (DDGs) from the United States by requiring importers to pay a cash deposit on purchase.

The domestic industry has been "substantially" harmed by the dumping of DDGs, the ministry said in its preliminary ruling following an investigation launched earlier this year.

Starting on Friday, importers of the product must place deposits with Chinese customs at 33.8 percent of the import value.

DDGS are the nutrient rich byproduct of dry-milled ethanol production, which are used in animal feed. China is the world's biggest buyer of DDGS, with most imports coming from the United States.
JAKARTA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers have recovered 27 bodies and are searching for 22 missing persons after flashfloods and landslides struck West Java province in western Indonesia on Wednesday and Tuesday, a spokesman from the national disaster agency said Friday.

The flashfloods in Garut district have left 951 houses damaged, swept by currents of rivers, and submerged by mud and waters, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

A total of 1,600 personnel, comprising soldiers, police and those from local search and rescue office, disaster agency office and Red Cross are taking part in the search and rescue operation for affected-people, Sutopo told Xinhua via phone.

One helicopter is combing the areas along the two rivers, whose waters overflowed banks after heavy downpours earlier on Wednesday to find the victims, he added.

The natural disaster also injured 32 people and forced 433 people to take shelter at government office buildings and military stations, said Sutopo.

In Sumedang district, three people were killed and another was rescued alive after landslides hit the the area on Tuesday, Ridwan Sunaria, secretary at the provincial disaster agency, told Xinhua via phone.

Indonesia is frequently hit by floods and landslides during heavy rains.
VIENTIANE, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Laos has joined forces with other nations to promote low-carbon growth and a more sustainable future under the Paris Agreement, which is expected to enter into force at the end of 2016, Lao state-run daily Vientiane Times reported Friday.

"Since the Paris Agreement will serve as a legal instrument for countries to combat climate change, Laos is the first country among Southeast Asian nations to ratify the landmark deal," the report said.

Laos is not exempt from the impacts of climate change despite being a land-locked country. In recent years, Laos has experienced severe flooding and drought, affecting livelihoods and socio-economic development.

Lao government is working in cooperation with friendly nations and international organizations to respond to climate change and focusing on sustainable use of natural resources, said the Lao daily.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon convened a special high-level event on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York which was also attended by Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith.

At the event, 31 additional countries joined the agreement, bringing the total to 60 countries that together represent more than 47.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Among the 31 nations were three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states - Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and Thailand.

The Paris Agreement calls on countries to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low-carbon future, and to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.

Specifically, it seeks to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to a UN report.
TOKYO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Okinawa prefectural government on Friday lodged an appeal to a ruling made by the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court supporting the central government's controversial moves to relocate a U.S. base within Japan's southernmost prefecture.

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga was initially shot down by the high-court ruling made on Sept. 16, which found that Onaga's revocation of a landfill permit last October previously granted by his predecessor was "illegal."

The governor is a staunch advocate of blocking the central government's plans to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the crowded residential area of Ginowan to the less populated coastal area of Nago in Henoko, also on the island.

The court also found that Onaga's subsequent rejection of the government's calls to scrap the revocation were also against the law, stating that the authorization for the land reclamation by former Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima in 2013 was "legal."

The central and prefectural government have been locked in a fierce standoff over the issue, with both sides suing and counter suing each other over the matter, leading to a court mandated settlement in March this year.

As tension continues to mount between both sides, and anti-U.S. military sentiment continues to grow among locals on the island, the prefectural government lodged its appeal just one day after a U.S. fighter jet based in Okinawa crashed into waters off the island's coast.

The latest crash highlights the safety risks posed by the U.S. bases in Okinawa, as well as issues of noise, pollution and crime that have for decades plagued the residents of the tiny sub-tropical island.

Onaga was quick to express concern over the latest incident, telling a press conference on Thursday that the incident will "cause great fear among citizens," and expressed his "deepest regret."

He urged the U.S. military to suspend flights of all its Harrier jets until the cause of the accident is known.

Harrier jets, known colloquially as "Jump Jets" for their ability to take off and land vertically, have been involved in 18 accidents since Okinawa returned to Japanese rule in 1972.

Japan's Defense Minister Tomomi Inada also lambasted the U.S. military here and demanded that such an incident not be allowed to happen again.

"I want to call on the U.S. side to handle the operation of airplanes with the utmost consideration to citizens and our country. I will also like to call for thorough safety management," she said ahead of a trip to Okinawa from Friday through Saturday to hold talks with Onaga, which will be the first since assuming her current portfolio.

With the prefectural and central government at loggerheads over the base relocation issue, Onaga has said he will contest the high-court's decision in the Supreme Court, meaning a final ruling of the highest order may be made within the current fiscal year.

He said the high-court's ruling was unjust and excessively took the side of the central government. He added that the ruling had also trampled on Okinawan people's feelings.

The local people of Okinawa feel overburdened with being forced to host the bulk of U.S. military facilities on their tiny island.

The island, which comprises just a fraction of Japan's total landmass, has seen the locals enduring serious instances of ongoing noise and air pollution, as well as accidents and a consistent slew of violent crimes committed by U.S. military-linked personnel.

The central government inked an accord with the United States to relocate the Futenma base and return the land to Okinawa, but the building of a replacement facility has incensed the prefectural government and local citizens who want the base relocated outside the island or Japan altogether.

The landfill work necessary for the new base's construction will remain halted until the Supreme Court's ruling.
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian police on Friday unveiled eight suspects, including three women, in a Phnom Penh grenade blast on Sept. 6 that injured four people.

Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Gen. Chuon Sovann said the suspects, five Cambodians and three Vietnamese, have been arrested this week after a thorough investigation.

He said Cambodian woman Sok Kimly, 41, who was arrested Tuesday night, had masterminded the grenade attack in an attempt to kill a man who was identified as Ear Kimly.

"Personal revenge was the motive behind the grenade blast," Gen. Chuon Sovann said in a press conference here, adding that the explosion was not related to terrorism.

According to the police, four suspects are facing the charges of premeditated murder, as four others can be charged with conspiring to commit the murder.

Four people were injured and four cars were damaged when a grenade went off in the evening of Sept. 6 in Phnom Penh's Chamkar Mon district. Security footage shows the grenade was dropped from a passing motorbike and exploded on the driver's side of a white Lexus SUV as it passed by.
KATHMANDU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- For the first time in nearly two years, Nepal saw contraction in remittance inflow during the first month of the current fiscal year 2016-17 that began in mid-July and it could hit the Nepalese economy hard, Nepal's central bank has warned.

As the number of Nepalese leaving for foreign jobs decreased significantly over the last year, its impact has been clearly seen in remittance inflow whose size is around 30 percent of the national economy, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of the Himalayan country.

In its latest monthly Current Macro-economic and Financial Situation Report, released on Thursday, the NRB revealed that remittance inflow decreased by 6.8 percent to 484 million U.S. dollars in the first month of the new fiscal.

"The anemic growth in remittances is likely to pose downside risk to overall economic activities in general and service industry in particular," the report said. Earlier, Nepal had witnessed contraction of remittance inflow in October and November 2014.

Decreased remittance resulted in deficit in Nepal's balance of payment by 20 million U.S. dollars as of first month of the current fiscal year compared to surplus of 47 million U.S. dollars in the same period of last fiscal year, according to NRB.

Nara Bahadur Thapa, chief of research department at the NRB told Xinhua that the decrease in inflow of remittance was the direct impact of decreased outflow of Nepalese migrant workers in various countries, particularly in the Gulf countries and Malaysia. Nepalese workers departing for foreign employment slumped by 8.4 percent to 418,713 in fiscal 2015-16.

The departure to Malaysia, traditionally the largest work destination for Nepalese workers, slumped to 60,979 in fiscal 2015-16 against 202,828 in the previous fiscal. On the other hand, economic slowdown in Saudi Arabia as a result of decreased oil price has also been a cause of concern for Nepal because companies there have started to lay off foreign workers.

Amid decline in outflow of migrant workers, Nepal started to see decreasing growth rate of remittance since September 2015 and remittance contracted finally in August 2016. As Nepal is heavily import-driven economy, remittance has remained as the most important source for financing of imports. In the last fiscal year, Nepal's earning from exports stood at just 704 million U.S. dollars while the country imported goods worth 7.09 billion U.S. dollars. Nepal received a total of 6.25 billion U.S. dollars in remittance in the last fiscal year.

"If the current trend of decline in remittance continues in the next few months, it may have serious repercussion on the economy because it will decrease the economic activities in various sectors," said Bishwombhar Phyakuryal, a senior economist.

"The economy which has been suffering from weak expenditure of government resources, decreased remittance will bring down expenditure from non-government sector affecting economic performance."
SYDNEY, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Two of Australia's biggest infrastructure investors have made an unsolicited bid for the partial long-term lease of New South Wales's biggest electricity network, Ausgrid.

NSW Premier Mike Baird in a statement on Friday said an experienced cross-agency panel will assess the proposal from the AustralianSuper and IFM Investors, a global provider of investment services.

"The government can receive unsolicited proposals at any time and has a thorough process in place to assess such proposals," Baird said in a statement.

It comes after Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison last month rejected the Baird government's preferred bidders Chinese government-owned State Grid Corp and Hong Kong-listed Cheung Kong Infrastructure from buying the network due to "national security concerns".

The decision was seen as a major setback for the Baird government, who are hoping to reap more than 10 billion Australian dollars (7.65 U.S. billion dollars) for the asset to help raise funds for infrastructure projects.

NSW state treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said that while the government will give the new unsolicited bid its full consideration, preparations to re-launch the Ausgrid transaction were continuing.

"This unsolicited proposal is another indication of the strong market interest for Ausgrid," she said.

A final decision on the proposal is expected to be made later this year.

Ausgrid is a state owned electricity infrastructure company, which owns, maintains and operates the electrical distribution networks to 1.6 million customers in Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter Region and Newcastle areas of NSW.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (3rd L) meets with Canada's Governor General David Johnston (3rd R) in Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

OTTAWA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met here with Canadian Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall, the governor general's official residence.

Hailing the governor general's state visit to China in October, 2013 during which Johnston reached broad consensus with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Li said China appreciated the contribution the governor general has made to the bilateral ties.

Though far apart, China and Canada share deep friendship, said Li, adding that his current visit has deepened mutual political trust and pushed forward substantial cooperation.

During Li's visit, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, China and Canada have officially launched the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, reached agreement on the feasibility of a potential free trade agreement and signed a series of documents on economics and trade, agriculture, tourism, law-enforcement, aviation and other areas.

Li said he believes that China-Canada ties will develop rapidly thanks to the joint efforts of both countries and peoples.

Johnston spoke highly of the new progress made in bilateral cooperation during Li's visit, saying it helps open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

The launch of the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, the enhanced cooperation in extensive areas and the close people-to-people exchanges will bring substantial benefits to the two peoples, said the governor general.

He said he is confident in seeing a better future of bilateral ties.

Li's wife Cheng Hong and Johnston's wife Sharon Johnston were present at the meeting.

Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday from New York for a four-day official visit to Canada at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. Li will head to Cuba on Saturday to continue his America tour.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) meets journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau (R) in Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

OTTAWA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Thursday that China and Canada have agreed to strengthen their ties in economic, trade and other fields, and to begin exploratory talks for a free trade agreement.

Li, who is on an official visit to the North American nation, made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

"We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade areas," said Li, adding that China is willing to import frozen beef from Canada and the two sides have reached an agreement on Canada's canola exports to China.

Li also said that the two sides discussed cooperation in finance, tourism, law enforcement, as well as between their local governments.

"The exchange of visits within one month showed that China-Canada relations are entering a new stage," said Li who referred to Trudeau's recent official visit to China, adding that "it's rare in the bilateral ties, and conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the expectations of the international community."

Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday for a four-day official visit. It is the first visit by a Chinese premier in 13 years.

The Chinese leader said the two sides agreed that they have broad common interests and sound cooperation. The development of the bilateral ties is in the interests of Chinese and Canadian people as well as world peace and stability.

"We have decided to strengthen exchanges at all levels and through multiple mechanisms. We have agreed to establish a high-level financial dialogue mechanism," Li said.

The Chinese leader also noted that they have discussed their differences, saying that it is normal for the two countries with different national conditions and in different stages of development to have differences.

He added that what's more important is to manage their differences, knowing that their common interests far outweigh differences, Li said.

"We are very pleased about the nature and the stability we have been able to bring to the Canada-China relationship," Trudeau told reporters.

Trudeau said the two sides agreed to double bilateral trade volume by 2025 and bilateral economic relations have huge potential to create decent salaries and jobs.

Trudeau added that maintaining stable relations with China is in the interests of both countries and he looks forward to bringing more opportunities for Canadians through relations with China.

Before the joint press conference, the two leaders also attended a signing ceremony for a number of bilateral cooperation documents.

The two countries signed an agreement on the sharing and return of forfeited assets, a joint statement on cooperation in third-party markets, a protocol on exporting frozen beef from Canada to China, an arrangement about cooperation in combating crimes, an arrangement about enhanced tourism cooperation, and others.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau held a welcome ceremony for the Chinese premier, and held talks with Li, which represented the formal launch of an annual dialogue mechanism between the two heads of government established during Trudeau's China trip.

Li said during the talks that China is willing to strengthen mutual political trust and deepen practical cooperation in a bid to forge a "golden decade" for China-Canada ties.

Li called on Canada to loosen up restrictions on the export of high-tech products to China in a bid to tap potential for bilateral economic cooperation.

Trudeau told Li that Canada is willing to strengthen economic and trade ties with China, and hold exploratory talks for a free trade agreement in a constructive manner.

Canada also hopes to expand cooperation and exchanges with China in judicial, cultural and other sectors, said Trudeau, who added that Canada is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China at multilateral venues in a bid to jointly address global challenges.

Li on Thursday also met with Canada's Senate Speaker George Furey, Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan and Governor General David Johnston.

In his meeting with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Li appreciated Chretien's contributions to China-Canada relations, saying that with joint efforts of the two countries, China-Canada relations will be among the best of relations between China and Western countries again.

Chretien said the two sides should strengthen cooperation in nuclear energy, infrastructure construction, clean energy, finance and other fields.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Several leaders from Middle East countries on Wednesday expressed concerns over the security situation in the troubled region and called for greater cooperation on combating terrorism when they addressed the annual General Debate at UN headquarters.

"Millions of Syrians are stranded in deserts and high seas, and hundreds of thousands of them are subjected to violent deaths," said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. "Iraqis of every ethnic group are concerned about their territorial integrity and the future of their homeland."

The defenseless people of Yemen are subjected to daily aerial bombardment, and Afghanistan, following decades of occupation and atrocity, is yet to find comfort from suffering, violence and terror, Rouhani said, adding that the Palestinians are still afflicted with "apartheid policies and atrocities" of Israel.

"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," he said, in a clear reference to Shi'ite Iran's ideological rival, Sunni Saudi Arabia, and the conflict in Yemen.

"The future of our region rests on dealing with fundamental challenges such as security crises," he said. "We won't be able to combat criminal and terrorist networks without genuine democracy and without a real participatory approach at the national and transnational levels."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on this session of the General Assembly "to declare 2017 as the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people, as we approach in June 2017 a half century of this abhorrent Israeli occupation."

"Our hand remains outstretched for making peace," Abbas said. "But ... is there any leadership in Israel, the occupying power, that desires to make a true peace and that will abandon the mentality of hegemony, expansionism and colonization, and that will recognize the rights of our people and will end the historic injustice inflicted upon them?"

He said Israel's expansionist settlement policies risked destroying whatever possibility was left for a two-state solution on the 1967 borders. They were also undermining Palestinian efforts to develop their economy, which is a right of international priority under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In his address to the assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the conflict between Israel and Palestine had never been about Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land; it had always been about the existence of a Jewish state, a non-negotiable right.

The prime minister said that despite consistent bias against his country, Israel had a bright future at the United Nations. Governments around the world were rapidly changing the way they perceived his country, relying on Israel for its proven capabilities in the areas of terrorism, technology, cyber security and water, he added.

Netanyahu said he was ready to begin negotiations, inviting Abbas to speak to the Israeli people, and in turn, he would address the Palestinian people.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi told the assembly that "Iraq is being liberated and that Iraqis have been able to liberate most of their land and towns." He added that assisted by the international community, Iraq started to implement programs for the return of internally displaced people (IDPs) to their liberated areas.

"We call on the international community to maintain further their support for the sheltering and returning of IDPs, especially, with the forthcoming battle to fully liberate Nineveh and the anticipated increase of displaced persons," he said.

Calling for greater cooperation in the war on terrorism, Al-Abadi said he looked forward to the day when his country, and the entire Middle East, would be free of Islamic State.

"Our delight would come true only when the whole world becomes free from terrorism that threatens our peoples and nations," he said. "This requires serious collaboration to besiege terrorism, dry out its ideological and financial resources, and demolish its networks and recruitment hubs which are all over the world."
ISLAMABAD, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan on Friday for the first ever Pakistan-Russia joint exercise, the army said.

The two-week exercises will start on Sept. 24 and continue until Oct. 10, the army spokesman said.

The military exercises, named as "Friendship-2016" will be conducted in mountainous areas of northern areas and at a special forces training center in Cherat area of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province.

The joint exercises is seen important for the growing cooperation between the two armies.

Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier stated that exercises are aimed at strengthening and developing cooperation between the countriesarmed forces.

Section of the Pakistani media has reported around 200 military personnel from the two sides would take part in the exercises.

Pakistans Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah told local media that the development "reflected increased cooperation between the two countries. "

Russia agreed last year to sell four MI-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan that was considered as a sign of defence cooperation between the two countries.

Pakistan and Russia had struck a bilateral defence cooperation deal in November 2014 to boost military-to-military relationship.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's former Finance Minister Guido Mantega was arrested Thursday morning in connection with an ongoing investigation into a large corruption scheme at state oil giant Petrobras, but was released hours later due to his wife's illness.

Federal Judge Sergio Moro revoked the temporary arrest order, saying he had been unaware Mantega's wife was scheduled for surgery "due to a serious illness," said the national public news agency Agencia Brasil.

Moro found out about the wife's health condition when officials tracked Mantega down at a hospital in Sao Paulo after failing to arrest him at home.

Moro said there was no more need to arrest Mantega. All pertinent documents in his possession had been seized by police during a search and seizure of his residence, so he could not tamper with evidence, said the agency.

This phase of the investigation, called the X Files, is centered on possible kickbacks from Petrobras contracts granted to a construction consortium for the building of two oil platforms.

Prosecutors said Mantega asked for 5 million reals (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) in kickbacks to pay off the campaign debts of the Workers' Party (PT), which was in power up to May.

Eike Batista, a former executive at the consortium, has testified that Mantega, who was head of Petrobras' board of directors at the time, asked for the funds at a meeting in November 2012. But Batista denied it was a kickback for securing contracts.

The PT called the arrest "deplorable", and a "political spectacle" designed only "to attack the Workers' Party."

In the lead up to local elections on Oct. 2, prosecutors were going after party leaders, including former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva "with no evidence," the PT noted.

Mantega served as finance minister from March 2006, at the start of Lula's second term, to December 2014, during Former President Dilma Rousseff's second term.

Lula was accused of money laundering and corruption in connection with the Petrobras investigation, or Operation Car Wash.

Rousseff was impeached for breaking fiscal responsibility laws in her management of the federal budget, which was unrelated to Operation Car Wash.
By Abdul Haleem

KABUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- From his bed in the National Police Hospital in Kabul, Ahjazul Haq, 25, proclaimed that "insurgents and terrorists are the enemies of the world."

Having lost his foot after a mine exploded a month ago in the eastern Ghazni province, the wounded Haq explained that an explosive device planted by "Taliban rebels" on a road on the outskirts of the provincial capital of Ghazni city, was detonated and seriously injured him.

"I was on a routine patrol with colleagues from my unit when I heard a huge blast. The next thing I remember was waking up in hospital," Haq told Xinhua recently.

He went on to explain that he had experienced a number of "nightmares" while carrying out his duties as a police officer. He said that the Taliban insurgents used to attack security checkpoints and the police were forced to return fire to force them to retreat.

"In one of the clashes with Taliban fighters our team killed four armed militants and captured two others alive," Haq recalled.

The relatively volatile Ghazni province has been the scene of increasing Taliban-led insurgency over the past several years that have claimed countless lives including civilians, security personnel and militants.

While the Taliban's roadside bombing had deprived Haq of his foot, it would not deprive him of his spirit, Haq said resolutely, adding that although he hated war, he would be back fighting the insurgents as soon as he was fit.

"Yes, I undeniably hate this war, but the Taliban roadside bombing has strengthened my resolve to fight insurgent groups and as soon as I am discharged from hospital I will continue to do so until the country gets rid of these terrorist menaces."

"It's difficult to see the war in Afghanistan coming to an end in the near future, but I live in hope that one day I'll be a witness to the end of this war and see the return of lasting armistice to my country," the injured policeman said optimistically.

The National Police Hospital where Ahjazul Haq and his injured colleagues have been hospitalized is the only government-run health clinic that provides medical facilities to critically injured police personnel who have sustained serious injuries in the war against armed insurgents in the country.

In militancy-hit Afghanistan, police mostly bear the brunt of the war as the Taliban and associated armed groups usually attack "soft targets" including police checkpoints to gain media attention in their propaganda war.

Presently, around 150 police personnel from across the conflict-ridden country, according to Mohammad Fawad, an official at the hospital, have been admitted to the facility and are receiving medical treatment.

Mohammad Yusuf, echoing the sentiments of Haq, said he is also against war in his homeland, but told Xinhua recently that being injured as a result of insurgency had doubled his determination to fight tooth and nail against militants across the country.

Yusuf, 55, whose leg was broken in a fight against the Taliban in the northern Badakhshan province in early September declared that, "Using force is the only way to curb militancy and subversive activities in Afghanistan."
XINING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A movie base, the largest in the Tibetan areas of western China, was opened in Qinghai Province on Friday.

The Qiongqing Movie Base was established in Tongde County of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai. The base will provide settings for movies, organize training and offer services in production of films, particularly those with Tibetan themes, said Sonam Rinchenga, manager of the base.

Covering an area of 10,000 square meters, the movie base belongs to a private company, though the project was supported by the local county government.

Within a 100-kilometer radius, movie-makers can find the varied landscapes of Mount Anyemaqen, Tongde Prairie, Madoi wetland and desert parks, all pristine scenery for photographers, said Sonam Rinchenga.

"River," an award-winning movie by Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal in 2015, was shot on the Tongde Prairie.

Tibetan movie-making has developed rapidly in the past few years and a growing number of young people are becoming interested in the industry.

But most movie-making equipment needs to be brought in from Beijing or Shanghai, so base will help film-makers save costs, Sonam said.

"I hope more movies on Tibetan culture, lives and stories will be produced," he said.
HAVANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday started a two-day visit to Cuba in an attempt to expand economic ties.

Abe, the first Japanese premier to visit to Cuba, held talks on economic cooperation with Cuban President Raul Castro.

"Raul and Abe expressed their willingness to expand ties particularly in the economic and commercial fields," a government statement said.

Currently, economic cooperation between the two countries is limited. Havana exports seafood, tobacco and coffee to Japan while Japanese made machinery is imported to the island.

He also met with former Cuban President Fidel Castro, Raul's elder brother and leader of Cuba's 1959 revolution.
SYDNEY, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A panel of United Nation experts have urged Australia to amend its laws that lead to people with mental disabilities being detained indefinitely.

The suggestion comes after an Australian Aboriginal man with intellectual disability who was accused of a child sex abuse charge in 2001 was detained for the offence for more than 10 years without undergoing a proper trial for the offence.

The United Nation's Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in a statement on Friday said Marlon James Noble who was charged in Western Australia should not have gone through such an ordeal in the first place.

"Under Western Australia's Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act of 1996, once a person is found unfit to plead, he or she can be held in custody for an unlimited period," CRPD said.

"They have no possibility to go before the courts unless or until they are deemed able to understand the notion of criminal responsibility."

Noble, who denied the charges, was detained until his conditional release in November 2012.

He has now brought his complain to the Geneva-based committee who has assessed the matter and found that the Australian judiciary had committed much flaws in the handling of his case.

For a start, the committee noted that throughout Noble's detention, "the whole judicial procedure focused on his mental capacity to stand trial without giving him any possibility to plead not guilty and test the evidence submitted against him."

"He therefore never had the opportunity to have the criminal charges against him determined and his status as an alleged sexual offender cleared," the committee said while highlighting that the charges were never proven.

In addition, the authorities did not provide adequate support to enable him to stand trial and plead not guilty to the charges.

"Under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in which Australia has ratified, States are obliged to recognise that people with disabilities enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with all others in all aspects of life," CRPD said.

Noble was detained without knowing how long he would be in custody.

"Taking into account the irreparable psychological effects that indefinite detention may have on the detained person, the committee considers that the indefinite detention he was subjected to amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment," members wrote.

The CRPD has asked the Australian government to provide Noble with an effective remedy and immediately revoke the 10 conditions of his release, which members found also constituted a violation of the convention.

"Australia was also obliged to take measures to prevent similar violations, including making the necessary amendments to the Mentally Impaired Defendants Act in WA and all equivalent or related Federal or state laws," CRPD concluded in the statement.
MOSCOW, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Thursday's fire at a warehouse in Moscow has risen to eight, the Russian news agency TASS reported Friday.

Eight bodies were found on the roof, where the dead firemen were installing a water curtain to cool the gas cylinders and compressors, Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

"They were the first to arrive at the warehouse, they immediately conducted a reconnaissance and evacuated over 100 employees of the warehouse," said a spokesman for the ministry.

Over 160 people and about 50 pieces of equipment were involved in the blaze, which broke out on Thursday in the warehouse located on Amurskaya Street in eastern Moscow and burnt an area of approximately 4,000 square meters.

The fire was extinguished at 05:23 p.m. local time (1323 GMT) on Thursday, according to the ministry.
COLOMBO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Another group of 76 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees currently living in South India are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka under a UN facilitated voluntary repatriation program, the Sri Lankan government said on Friday.

The refugees will arrive in two batches on Thursday Sept. 29, one consisting 41 persons and the other 35 persons.

Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M.Swaminathan had a discussion with the UN refuges agency UNHCR and facilitated the process and increased the baggage allowance per person.

V. Sivagnanasothy, secretary to the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs said that of the 76 refugee returnees 41 are males and 35 are females. These refugee returnees will get back to Vavuniya, Mannar, Matale, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Jaffna.

Swaminathan initiated a cabinet paper recently on which livelihood assistance is provided to support the livelihood activities of the refugees.

Further, the provision of dry ration has already been approved for six months. Sivagnansothy said that the refugees who lost their houses will be provided with houses under the housing program of the ministry.

Sivagnanasothy said the government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Maithripala Sirisena has initiated action to encourage the voluntary refugee returnee program on a phased out basis and the current trend of increased refugee returnees is a sign of reconciliation and moving towards permanent peace.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Belt and Road Initiative is a "great" proposal, "aiming to bring common prosperity and peace to the world," chairman of Egyptian State Information Services told Xinhua in an interview in Beijing.

Salah A. El-Sadek made the statement on Thursday after his delegation attended the Media Forum held on Monday in the northwestern city of Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The forum, titled "Connectivity: New Opportunities for Media Cooperation," was attended by some 40 representatives, including media ministers, and governmental delegates, from countries like Egypt, Austria, Belarus, New Zealand, Switzerland, Mongolia and others.

The Egyptian official urged all countries that seek development to join China's efforts under the framework of the initiative to revive the ancient Silk Road, saying that the prospect is broad and "we have to contribute all ideas to realize what we hope and what is good to two peoples."

On bilateral relations, he said that Egypt-China relationship has entered into a fresh phase featuring strong political will and intensive high-level exchanges, which "is unprecedented."

Over the past two years, two heads of state met several times on different occasions. Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Egypt in January, and proposed the two countries work together to build the Arab nation into a pivot of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, at the invitation of the Chinese president, attended the just concluded G20 Summit held in China's eastern city of Hangzhou in September. He was also invited to attend China's V-Day celebrations last September.

On media cooperation, Salah A. El-Sadek said "it is time for us in the Middle East region and China to see each other directly through media exchanges, rather than the third party's eyes."

"Both Egypt and China are faced with serious challenges in media. It is difficult for us to transfer truth to the peoples and to the outsiders," the Egyptian official said, adding the two sides could further cooperate under the Belt and Road Initiative.

In his opinion, media cooperation should reflect positive political momentum, therefore, there is great potential for broader media cooperation and exchanges in the future.

China's official Xinhua News Agency and Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) signed a memorandum of understanding in January to step up cooperation. In May, China's Xinhua.net and the SIS website officially added each other's Internet links on their respective front-page.

Egypt has been turning east towards Asia over the past few years to build further ties, something seen by experts as a means to create economic, political and strategic balance so as not to be restricted to the United States and the West in general.

(Xinhua journalist Li Teng in Beijing contributed to the Story)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian government announced on Tuesday comprehensive educational reform at the secondary school level, which was criticized by experts nationwide.

The government proposed that all subjects but Portuguese and mathematics become optional, while in the current school system all subjects are mandatory. Students would choose a track, for example natural sciences or human sciences, and study only the subjects in those tracks.

High schools would no longer be obligated to offer physical education and art. The change was considered especially preposterous in the country which has just hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said the experts.

The plan to remove subjects that help critical thinking from the current mandatory curriculum, like history and sociology, was also criticized by experts.

Unpleased with the government's self-determined reform plan, teachers also complained on the Internet, accusing the government of trying to make Brazil's public education even worse by making schooling more technical and less comprehensive, and making students think less and repeat more.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- It is almost closing time at the China Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) and six-year-old Shi Jiajun is still standing in line, somewhat forlornly, in front of a "spacecraft," waiting for a "ride."

Jiajun is from Urumqi in China's far northwest. He and his mother have just arrived in Beijing for a brief visit. They have a tight schedule, but for Jiajun, this is an important stop.

Since Sept. 17, the CSTM has been hosting an aerospace exhibition as part of China's annual Science Day activities. With 2016 being the 60th year of China's aerospace endeavors, this exhibition is extra special.

The "spacecraft" is very popular with visitors. Mostly white, and composed of two bullet-like parts, it is nothing much to look at, despite the Chinese word -- "Shenzhou" -- emblazoned on one side of its body.

Shenzhou is the name of a series of manned spacecraft. The word holds the same place in the hearts of the Chinese people as "Apollo" does among Americans of a certain age. After China launched its first manned spacecraft "Shenzhou-5" with an astronaut on board in 2003, new generations have carried nine astronauts into space.

Later this year, "Shenzhou-11" manned spacecraft will carry astronauts into space to dock with "Tiangong-2", the space lab sent last week. As the first crew of the space lab, the astronauts will work in the lab for 30 days and carry out key experiments.

The "spacecraft" at the exhibition is a full-scale mock-up of a Shenzhou. Inside there are four seats for visitors to watch a VR film.

"The film is about the procedure for docking in space and the VR technology allows visitors experience it from an astronaut's point of view," said Wang Bing who works on the "spacecraft." On the first day of the exhibition about 200 visitors took the trip.

Jiajun's turn finally came and on his "return to Earth," he was more than a little excited: "It was like I was a real astronaut in real space!"

"The narration in the film is simple and clear so children can easily follow what's going on," said Yi Xiangling, Jiajun's mother. "It's a great way for children to learn about space."

INFORMATION THROUGH SIMULATION

In the square outside the museum, "Tiangong-2 " also awaits visitors. It is another full-scale replica with an interior almost identical to the real thing.

As the actual Tiangong-2 space lab took to the skies only last week, visitors flocked to the simulated capsule to explore inside and take selfies outside.

China's space program is an inspiration to many, emblematic of national technological prowess and creativity. Through exhibits like "Shenzhou" and "Tiangong-2," the organizers hope to feed the public's imagination with hard facts.

"We use these simulations and new technology like VR to make aerospace science more vivid and intelligible to lay people," said Zhou Wu, designer of the exhibition.

TEACHING THE "SPACE GENERATION"

Some, however, are not satisfied with simply watching or touching aerospace projects, but are driven to participate in aerospace development themselves.

Groups of university students were asked to participate in a "lunar exploration" competition, sponsored by several official organizations last year. The winners were invited to Beijing and their ideas are on show at the exhibition. Some may even become a reality and go to moon with the Chang'e-4 probe, set to head for the dark side of the moon around 2018.

"Our ideas may not sound feasible, but what's important is that we have creativity and originality,"said Li Lei, co-designer of one program and a master's candidate from Chongqing University.

"We want to know whether animals and plants living together in an enclosed space on the moon can form an ecological cycle that transforms the carbon dioxide breathed out by the animals into oxygen, through photosynthesis."

Li has been busy explaining the idea to exhibition visitors, over 100 of them on the first day.

For Ye Zhichao, whose exhibition booth is right next-door, 100 is not a big number. Employed by science technology education company "HwaSmart" as software engineer, Ye is working on a program of lessons about the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) for primary and middle school students.

"BeiDou" is a satellite navigation system independently developed by China, much like GPS. The lessons HwaSmart provide will tell kids how BDS functions. Ye and his colleagues already give lessons in several Beijing schools.

"For example, to prevent flooding, BDS can monitor water levels and, as soon as water rises above a certain point, there will be alert." He turned to a model of a lake and demonstrated how the system worked by pouring water into it.

At Ye's booth, there are several models of environments like mountains or farmland. These kind of models are taken into classrooms and enable students to learn about satellites through their own experiments.

"Our goal is to root science and technology deep into children's minds and school curricula as early as possible," Ye said.

"Maybe children can't fully understand everything at their current stage, but later, when they are older, interest accumulated now will drive them to learn and explore."
HANOI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently agreed to advance 2.04 trillion Vietnamese dong (88.7 million U.S. dollars) to help the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and localities implement projects to tackle droughts and saline intrusion.

The financial support will come from unused resources garnered from selling state shares in 2015, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA on Friday.

Plan on the use of the fund will be reported to the Standing Committee of Vietnam's National Assembly, said VNA.

In March 2016, Vietnamese government called for assistance as 18 out of its 63 provinces suffered from the most severe drought in the past few decades. The country's Mekong Delta, south central and Central Highland regions are the most affected by salt intrusion and water scarcity.
SHENYANG, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in northeast China's Liaoning Province on Friday began investigating controversial restoration work on the Great Wall that left a section of the famous landmark nearly unrecognizable.

Pictures of the paved-over stretch triggered widespread criticism, with many complaining the wall's historical quality was ruined by its new road-like appearance.

Sometimes called the "most beautiful wild Great Wall" by Chinese tourists, the section in Suizhong County boasts a history of more than 600 years. It stretches some nine kilometers and underwent reparation efforts from 2013 to 2014.

Microblogger "shenxinghuanjin" posted on Sina Weibo: "Leave it alone if you do not know how to restore it the right way. It is better to let it be eroded by time than destroyed by dishonorable people."

County cultural authorities told local media earlier this month that the restoration was approved by provincial and national departments and the whole project was both "legal and sensible."

Under the order of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, an investigation team from the Liaoning provincial cultural heritage bureau arrived at Suizhong on Thursday, and the investigation into the restored section began Friday.

According to a notice published by the administration on its official website, the repair plan for the wall section was approved by the administration in 2012.

Responding to doubts from the media and public, the administration is evaluating the project and its effects, and the results will be published in time.

If problems in construction management or project quality are discovered, relevant departments or people will be punished according to the law, the administration said.

The Great Wall was built between the 3rd century BC and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The existing sections mostly date from the Ming era, with the Ming wall measuring over 8,800 kilometers.

In 2006, a regulation on Great Wall protection was released, but the sheer size of the structure has posed a challenge to enforcement. Statistics show that less than 10 percent of the wall is considered well-preserved, while about 30 percent has disappeared.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage launched a Great Wall law enforcement supervision campaign on Sept. 20. Inspection teams will be sent to 15 provincial-level regions along the wall.
HANOI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A lively debate is being carried out across Vietnam as the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) recently proposed that the languages of Russian, Japanese and Chinese will be taught as the first foreign language to local students from grade three to grade 12 from 2017.

According to the MoET, in Vietnam, the "first foreign language" means a compulsory foreign language. Students can choose one of five languages of English, Russian, French, Chinese and Japanese to be the first foreign language.

Meanwhile, the MoET explained the "second foreign language" as an optional one which will be learned on demand of students and conditions of schools.

Students can make a choice out of the above-mentioned five languages together with German and Korean to be their second language.

The ministry said in its proposal on foreign language teaching and studying during 2016-2020 period that 10-year-long curriculums for Russian and Chinese will be built, as that of English, French and Japanese.

The proposal triggered discussions nationwide among teachers, students and parents. Some welcome the inclusion of new foreign languages to curriculum while others remain skeptical.

Nguyen Thi Linh Tu, deputy head of Chinese language faculty in Vietnam's central Hue University of Foreign Language, told local media on Friday that "Teaching Chinese as the first language at schools is good for Vietnamese students to better understand China."

"As a Chinese language teacher, I think that it will offer a great opportunity for local students to seek jobs in the future as there is need of Chinese-speaking employees currently in Vietnam," said Tu.

Despite agreeing that English is popular and considered as an official language in many countries, the teacher said "Chinese is spoken by the most people worldwide. China is the world's second largest economy. Learning Chinese, Vietnamese people can access a huge market in China and Chinese communities in other countries."

Besides, Tu said "We should also pay attention to Japanese and Russian. However, Chinese has most competitive advantage as China is a neighboring country to Vietnam."

Sharing the same view, Vu The Khoi, former dean of Russian, English, French, Chinese translation faculty under Vietnam's capital Hanoi University said on Friday that "I am happy to see that after a time of interruption, the studying of Chinese and Russian will be resumed. This is a good policy."

Nevertheless, the teacher proposed three to five years of preparation before officially teaching the languages.

"It takes time to train good teachers and good curriculums," said Khoi, adding that good preparation will ensure good results.

The proposal drew great attention by local netizens. It seems that most of them hold differents viewpoint with the language teachers and the ministry.

A reader called Truong Chung wrote on local VNExpress online newspaper on Friday that "The current curriculum of Vietnamese primary and secondary school is very heavy. The inclusion of more languages will put more burdens into the kids' shoulders. We should not pursue language-learning quantity while the quality goes down."

Echoing Chung, another reader called Tran Quang commented "I think we should focus on improving English teaching and learning quality. English has been taught for many years in Vietnam, but the quality has not met up with demand."
By Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to Cuba will help boost economic cooperation between Havana and Beijing, and promote the Cuba-China comprehensive strategic partnership, said a renowned Cuban expert.

"China is a strategic partner for Cuba," Ruben Zardoya, former rector of the University of Havana and expert on China issues, told Xinhua, adding that Li's visit "will be very important for our country and will help strengthen ties."

Economic relations between the two countries are in "crescendo" and Chinese investment in Cuba is "tangible," Zardoya said.

"There are protocols, agreements and accords of all kinds between the two countries to promote investment, banking development, transport, industry, defence, civil aviation, renewable energy, agriculture and biotechnology, among other areas," he said.

Li will arrive in Cuba following his participation in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and an official visit to Canada.

China is Cuba's second-largest trade partner and Beijing's participation in the development of multiple sectors of the economy has been vital to Havana's push to modernize the country's socialist model.

"Economic relations with China help Cuba obtain financial benefits and credits, and assimilate new modern technologies and the know-how for numerous industries from a very reliable partner," Zardoya said.

Cuba's tourism industry has witnessed increasing bilateral cooperation, not only because a growing number of Chinese visitors are traveling to the island country each year, but also because of Chinese investment in infrastructure development.

"Cuba has announced Chinese investment in the tourism sector with the construction of two luxury hotels in the outskirts of the capital," said Zardoya.

Cuba is also looking to increase its exports to China, particularly in the health sector.

"Biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry are important areas for cooperation due to the high scientific level of Cuban professionals and products the country manufactures, such as vaccines and innovative drugs against cancer and other diseases," he said.

Cuba began to modernize its socialist system about six years ago in order to trim the bloated public sector and increase productivity.

Cuban President Raul Castro approved a plan for 300 economic reforms in 2011 similar to the Chinese economic model, saying the experience of other socialist countries would be incorporated into the Cuban model.

"We must learn from their best practices. Chinese experience has been extraordinary and is an indisputable source of inspiration for Cuba," said Zardoya.

With "solid" political relations and many common grounds on global matters, the two countries can easily focus on boosting economic cooperation, he said.

"Havana and Beijing have common values such as the right of nations to self-determination, respect for sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries, and peace and stability as a condition for economic development," he said.

Strong ties with Cuba help bolster China's presence and enhance its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, which have grown substantially in the last few years, he added.

Li's trip to Havana will be the first official visit to Cuba by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago.

Li will be meeting with Raul Castro over strengthening China-Cuba cooperation and friendship, and preside over the signing of cooperation agreements in the fields of technology, renewable energy, industry and environmental protection.
By Xinhua writer Wen Chihua

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua ) -- Lung cancer has emerged as the leading killer in rural China, closing to the incidence and mortality of urban men and women stricken with the disease.

"The incidence and mortality of lung cancer has dramatically climbed in China's rural population over the past ten years," says surgical oncology professor Zhou Qinghua. "The rates for each have hit 47.6/100,000 and 39.1/100,000 respectively in 2015."

Lung cancer claimed 66,100 rural lives last year, overtaking breast cancer as the third leading cause of cancer deaths in women in 2015, which killed 25,700 women.

Speaking at the first West China International Conference on Lung Cancer recently held in Chengdu, Sichuan, Zhou noted that esophageal carcinoma that had been blamed for cancer deaths in rural China due to low fruit and fresh vegetable intake from the 1970s to the 1990s.

A well-established surgeon, Zhou receives as many as 1,000 lung cancer patients a year from all over the country, near 50 percent of them are farmers. "The youngest patient I saw was a 13 year old country girl from Sichuan, and a 14 country boy from Yunnan. The oldest one was a 91 year old rural grandpa . "

The old man had smoked most of his life, and his cancer was already in its late stages when detected. "But the 13 and 14 year old didn't smoke at all and had no family history of cancer. I deeply doubted that involuntary smoking and air pollution combined could be responsible," Zhou said.

In fact, Ge Jiu, the young boy's home county, is notorious for tin mining-related pollution that has brought about silicosis deaths affecting a huge number of people. Passive smoke and indoor air pollution are mainly responsible for the incidence of lung cancer in Chinese farmers, especially in those high-risk areas like Xuanwei county of Yunnan.

Dr. Qiao Youlin, an acclaimed epidemiologist of oncology noted that people of Xuanwei have lived in unhealthy conditions for generations. Most are still using firepits or coal ovens for cooking and heating. These release heavy PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) which creates indoor air pollution

The figures from the National Cancer Center suggested that the incidence and mortality rate of lung cancer in Xuanwei are two times higher than the country's average rate of 53.4/100,000 and 44.4/100,000 in 2015.

This disease is difficult to detect in its early stages, so most lung cancer cases are found during the late stages, said Zhou, who is also the director of Cancer Center & Institute of West China Hospital of Sichuan University.

According to Zhou, the overall 5-year survival rate for lung cancer as of 2015 stands at 16.7 %.

Unlike cervical cancer, caused by the HPV virus, the exact cause of lung cancer is yet unknown, making the disease difficult to curb.

However, certain risk factors for lung cancer, include smoking, exposure to air pollution, radon gas, and genetics, are scientifically known to play a part in causing cells to become cancerous.

About 75 percent of lung cancer cases in men in China are due to long-term tobacco smoking, while 25 percent occurs in men who have never smoked. While most of female lung cancer were not smoke.

In the case of rural China, second-hand smoking and indoor air pollution play a dominate role in lung cancer. In addition to that, Dr. Qiao thinks that a lack of awareness about the effects of tobacco smoking as a leading risk factor for lung cancer puts rural people's health in jeopardy.

He said some people may be nonsmokers, but under pressure of sharing smoking and gifting they become social smokers, joining in a gatherings.

In addition, smoke-free area legislation and policies are not in force in rural China.

In fact, the country does not have yet a national smoke-free law. So far only metropolitans like Beijing and Shanghai have banned smoking in public areas.

As of June 1, 2015, all indoor public places in Beijing are required by law to be 100 percent smoke-free, including indoor workplaces, restaurants and bars, hotels, airports, and public transport facilities.

Despite this, Dr. Qiao thinks that the country's constant promotion of urbanization and industrialization are responsible for increase in the number of farmers suffering lung cancer. He notes "these two ambitions have indeed brought heavy pollution to rural China."

In 2015, lung cancer occurred in 1.8 million people worldwide and claimed 1.6 million lives. And in China, there were 733,300 new cases and about 610, 200 people lost their battles with the disease.

Overall, about 19.5 percent of people in urban China with lung cancer survive five years after the diagnosis. Outcomes are depressingly lower in rural areas, where only about 11.2 percent survive for the same five years.

According to Dr. Qiao, a recent trend analysis shows the incidence of lung cancer in China has increased over the last 20 years and it is predicted that the disease burden will continue if no effective action taken to keep the disease at bay.
NEW DELHI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least six militants belonging to Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militant outfit were killed Friday in a gunfight with joint contingents of Indian army and police in India's northeastern state of Assam, officials said.

The gunfight broke out early Friday at Karbi Anglong district, about 250 km east of Dispur, the capital city of Assam.

"In Assam, security forces early today gunned down six KPLT militants in Karbi Anglong," an official said. "The Assam police, army and CRPF conducted the operation under Bokajan police station."

According to officials, the operation to hunt down militants was carried out at around 1:00 a.m. (local time) on specific intelligence inputs.

"The militants hiding in jungle area fired upon the joint contingents and were neutralized in the fierce exchange," the official said.

Reports said an Indian army trooper was wounded in the stand-off and he was immediately taken to hospital.

India's state-run broadcaster All India Radio said two assault rifles, three pistols and some ammunition was recovered from the gunfight site.

The identity of slain militants was being ascertained.

Last month gunmen opened fire in a busy marketplace killing at least 13 people in Kokrajhar district of the state.

An armed insurgency in going on in India's northeastern states. Some armed groups fighting Indian troops demand a separate homeland, while others seek regional autonomy.

KPLT fights for carving out an autonomous Karbi state out of Assam.
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The joint Russian-Indian Indra-2016 drills started Friday at the Sergeyevsky shooting range in Russia's Far Eastern Primorsky Territory, said Russian Eastern Military District (EMD).

Over 500 Russian and Indian members of the military, 50 units of infantry fighting vehicles, T-72 tanks, an unmanned aerial vehicle detachment, as well as EMD's attack and army aviation are involved in the drills, said the district's spokesperson Vladimir Matveev.

The joint military exercises will end on Oct. 2.

The two countries have been conducting anti-terror drills since 2003. Previous joint drills with EMD's participation were conducted in 2013 at the Mahajan shooting range in India.
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian government on Friday sought ratification from the National Assembly on the Paris agreement on climate change, according to a statement.

The Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, decided on Friday to send the agreement to the National Assembly for approval, the statement said.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Sept. 21 that Cambodia declared the ratification of the Paris agreement the top priority and has taken legal steps to become a state party to this important treaty.

"The Kingdom of Cambodia is firmly committed to ratifying the Paris agreement by the end of this year 2016," he said in a video clip posted online.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared on Sept. 21 that more than 55 countries have formally joined the Paris Agreement on climate change signed by world leaders this past April, according to a UN press release.

Adopted in Paris by the 195 Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at a conference known as COP21 this past December, the Agreement calls on countries to combat climate change and to accelerate and intensify the actions and investments needed for a sustainable low-carbon future, and to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.
A seminar on the first voyage of Chinese deep-sea explorer ship, Zhang Jian, is held on the ship at the Luchao Port in Shanghai, east China, Sept. 23, 2016. Zhang Jian on Friday returned to her home port in Shanghai after finishing a 74-day scientific research trip to the South Pacific. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

SHANGHAI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese deep-sea research ship Zhang Jian returned to her home port in Shanghai after finishing a 74-day scientific research trip to the Southern Pacific.

The vessel is the mothership for the Rainbow Fish, a manned submersible capable of diving to 11,000 meters.

During its 9,000 nautical-mile maiden voyage, the research vessel travelled across the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean to reach the New Britain Trench, which is more than 8,000 meters-deep in the Solomon Sea near Papua New Guinea.

Chinese scientists onboard the vessel carried out joint ocean environmental research with their counterparts in Papua New Guinea. Captain Zha Dawu said the vessel went through several typhoons, including Meranti and Malaka, and an earthquake, during the journey, which tested the ship's navigation performance and research facilities.

China began developing the Rainbow Fish in 2014. It can go much deeper than the previous submersible Jiaolong, which set a Chinese record for a manned submersible when it reached 7,062 meters in the Mariana Trench in June 2012.

Wu Xin, chairman of Shanghai Rainbow Fish Ocean Technology, said that Chinese researchers are preparing to send the explorer ship Zhang Jian to the Mariana Trench later this year, for an unmanned dive of over 10,000 meters.
ABUJA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Fifteen Boko Haram fighters were killed in a gun fight with Nigerian troops in the northeastern state of Borno on Thursday, an army spokesman has said.

The fighters launched the attack when the troops were carrying out a mop-up operation in a village near Abadam district of Borno State, Col. Sani Usman, the army spokesman, told Xinhua Friday.

Usman said while many of the Boko Haram fighters escaped with gunshot wound, four Nigerian soldiers also sustained injuries while another two were killed in the two-hour gun fight.

The army spokesman said the troops have intensified vigilance and high level of alertness in the mop-up operations of the remnants of the terrorists.

Boko Haram uses Nigeria's northeast region as its stronghold. Over the past months, the Nigerian government has launched several military operations to eliminate the terrorist threat.
KABUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- About 69 militants have been killed in fresh military operations across Afghanistan within one day, said the country's Defense Ministry on Friday.

"The Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) carried out operations to clean areas from terrorists and enemies of peace and stability over the past 24 hours, killing 69 insurgents, including 11 militants of Islamic State (IS) group," the ministry said in a statement.

The joint Afghan security forces backed by army's artillery and air power also injured 43 insurgents and captured two others, the statement noted.

In one operation, 11 Taliban militants were killed, 13 wounded and four militants' bunkers were destroyed in Dasht-i-Archi district of northern Kunduz province while 13 terrorists were killed and 21 wounded in neighboring Badakhshan province, according to the statement.

In eastern Wardak province, six Taliban militants died after a mortar round they tried to fire on a district exploded accidently, the statement said.

The security force killed 11 Taliban militants in Nirkh district of Wardak and confiscated 11 suicide bomb vests besides seizing 180 kg explosive materials.

Some four Afghan army soldiers also died in separate incidents over the same period of time, the statement added.

The Taliban-led violence continues in Afghanistan. Security forces have pressed on to clear the militants in restive provinces but the militants responded by armed attacks and bombings.

The Taliban and the IS militant group have yet to make comments.
MOSCOW, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The placement of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense systems in South Korea will affect China and Russia, a Russian official said here on Friday.

"The placement of these missile defense systems affects the interests of not only Pyongyang, but also China and, to a certain extent, Russia,"

said Mikhail Ulyanov, the director of the department for nonproliferation and arms control of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"We can see that the South Korean authorities, jointly with the United States, have been drastically escalating their military activities, which provokes Pyongyang," Ulyanov told a press conference in Moscow.

Russia and China will take into account the THAAD deployment in their military planning, Ulyanov added.

Meanwhile, the official said that sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea "are not always workable" and should be supplemented with diplomatic efforts.

Seoul and Washington agreed in July to install one THAAD battery by the end of next year despite strong opposition from almost half of South Koreans and neighboring countries, especially China and Russia.
GENEVA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 3,501 refugees and migrants have drowned this year crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said Friday.

The upsurge in fatalities followed the capsizing of a boat carrying between 400 and 450 migrants off the Egyptian coast on Wednesday.

IOM's estimated death toll of the tragedy stood between 285 and 300 individuals, with the Egyptian Coast Guard reporting that as many as 240 are unaccounted for, or presumed missing.

This brought fatality figures to over 3,500 deaths for this year, almost as many as the yearly count for 2015 and at least 200 more than were recorded in 2014.

Through mid-September this year, 2,765 people have lost their lives while crossing the central Mediterranean route linking North Africa with Italy.

More than 300,000 refugees and migrants have reached European shores since January 2016, nearly 50 percent fewer entries than were documented last year over the same period.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent headquarters of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was held on Friday in Beijing.

The headquarters will be located in the north of Beijing, between the Olympic Forest Park and the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2019, the bank said in an online statement.

Speaking at the ceremony, AIIB President Jin Liqun said,"This Bank sets out to be lean, clean and green, and there is no better site in Beijing to highlight our green commitment than alongside the beautiful Olympic Forest Park."

The AIIB has been using temporary offices on downtown Beijing's Financial Street since beginning operations in January.

Jin expects the headquarters to serve as a new city landmark and provide a solid foundation for the bank's development.

The first chairman of the AIIB board of governors and Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei and Mayor of Beijing Wang Anshun attended the ceremony.

The AIIB is a not-for-profit bank initiated by China and supported by a wide range of countries and regions. With authorized capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars, it aims to provide financing for infrastructure improvement in Asia.

In June, the bank approved its first four loans, totaling 509 million dollars, to fund power, housing and transportation projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
ANKARA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Friday tightened security measures in the southeastern border province of Gaziantep following intelligence that the Islamic state (IS) group may attack mosques during Friday prayers in the city, Dogan News Agency reported.

All mosques in the city were cordoned off and the roads to them were sealed off.

Turkish security forces were dispatched around the city to enhance security check.

On Thursday, Turkish F-16 jets destroyed at least five IS buildings in northern Syria, killing about 40 militants, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement.

The operation came hours after rockets from IS-controlled spots hit Turkey's Kilis.

On Aug. 20, a suicide bomber targeted a wedding in Gaziantep province, killing 56 people and injuring 66 others.
YANGON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 19 clashes between the Myanmar military and a splinter group of Klo Htoo Baw Karen Organization (KKO) have occurred in the areas of Myaing Gyi Ngu-Mae Thaw Waw in Kayin State, southeastern Myanmar, as of Wednesday but the stability has been restored at present,according to an announcement of the Defense Department Friday.

The clashes took place in the areas since Sept. 11 as the military combed the areas.

The military seized 609 mines, other weapons and vehicles in Wah Phoe Taung-KyoneHtaw and Mae ThawWaw areas, the announcement said.

Both sides suffered casualties in the battle, said the announcement.

Around 4,000 people from 22 villages fled the conflicted areas and stayed in monasteries, according to International Committee of the Red Cross in Yangon.
Security forces stand guard at an explosion site in Turkey's eastern province of Van on Monday, on Sept. 12, 2016. As many as 46 people were wounded in an explosion in Turkey's eastern province of Van on Monday, Dogan News Agency reported. (Xinhua/Mert Macit)

ANKARA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Friday tightened security measures in the southeastern border province of Gaziantep following intelligence that the Islamic state (IS) group may attack mosques during Friday prayers in the city, Dogan News Agency reported.

All mosques in the city were cordoned off and the roads to them were sealed off.

Turkish security forces were dispatched around the city to enhance security check.

On Thursday, Turkish F-16 jets destroyed at least five IS buildings in northern Syria, killing about 40 militants, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement.

The operation came hours after rockets from IS-controlled spots hit Turkey's Kilis.

On Aug. 20, a suicide bomber targeted a wedding in Gaziantep province, killing 56 people and injuring 66 others.
TIRANA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Albanian economy lacked about 3.2 billion leks (about 26 million U.S dollars) during the first eight months of the year as its capital spending plan wasn't realized, data published by the Albanian finance ministry showed Friday.

This amount of money should have been used for the construction of new roads, hospitals, schools, among others, but none of these happened.

Fiscal data of the Albanian finance ministry for the January-August period showed that the capital expenditures for this period were 28.8 billion leks (234 million U.S. dollar) down from 32 billion leks from the original plan for the year, or about 10 percent lower.

The failure to reach capital expenditures is generally due to delays in the disbursement of funds, ministry data showed.

In terms of investments for 2016, sources from this ministry said that 21 billion leks were planned for construction and reconstruction of roads, 5 billion leks were for investments in energy, and 10.5 billion leks for the Regional Development Fund.

On the other hand, economists see such a decline in two aspects. On one side they say that the government is being prudent with the use of funds, but on the other side they see fewer services for citizens.
Du Qinglin (L), vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, shakes hands with Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop, in Edinburgh, Britain, Sept. 23, 2016. Du is on a visit to Britain from Sept. 20 to 23. (Xinhua/Guo Chunju)

LONDON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has urged his country and Britain to further deepen their mutual political trust and boost exchanges in various areas.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, made the remarks while meeting with British political leaders during his four-day visit to Britain.

He said Sino-British relations had been generally stable and healthy in recent years.

China stands ready to work with Britain to deepen their political mutual trust, communication, and exchanges in various areas to advance the development of bilateral relations in a better and more stable manner, Du said.

The Chinese official also said the Communist Party of China is willing to further strengthen its friendly exchanges with major British political parties in parliament to inject fresh impetus into bilateral relations.

During his stay in Britain, Du met with officials including British Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt and Leader of the House of Lords Natalie Evans.

The British officials said they attach great importance to Britain-China relations and hoped to have closer high-level exchanges and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

They also said the two sides should enhance their pragmatic cooperation in various areas and promote coordination and communication in global affairs.

Du also attended the ninth China-UK Leadership Forum which he hailed as an important platform where parties and statesmen of the two countries could have in-depth communication and learn from each other.

The forum meets annually and alternates between the two countries. It aims to discuss, debate and establish positions on key issues both on a bilateral and international basis, and build lasting relationships between statesmen in both countries.

Chinese and British leaders have recently reaffirmed that Sino-British relations were in a "golden era."
CAIRO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of the capsized migrant boat near Egypt's northern coast rose to 112, Egypt's Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told Xinhua on Friday.

"The number of the death toll might rise because the rescue efforts are still going on," Megahed said.

The migrant boat that drowned on Wednesday near the coast of Egypt's northern Beheira province carried about 600 people onboard whose destination was supposed to be Italian shores.

Egyptian authorities have arrested four members of the capsized boat crew over human trafficking charges.

Smugglers often overload the boats with passengers who have paid for the journey.

The EU's border agency Frontex warned that a growing number of migrants bound for Europe is turning to Egypt as a departure point for the sea voyage.

Illegal migration via Egyptian Mediterranean Sea shores rose over the past few years in attempts to flee difficult economic conditions in the most populous Arab country.
LAGOS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government on Friday confirmed the return of 5,403 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) after their stay in several camps in restive northeast Borno State.

Abdulkadir Ibrahim, a regional spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told Xinhua that 1,517 people have returned to their homes in the state's Mafa, 750 in Konduga, and 1,200 in Ngamboru, while 1,936 are due to return to Dikwa.

Last month, the Nigerian government announced that it had reunited more than 200 children with their parents affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The children, mostly between the age of five and 12, were from Bama and Baga in Borno.

Boko Haram, which seeks to impose strict Islamic law in northern Nigeria, has been blamed for some 20,000 deaths and displacing of more than 2.6 million people since 2009.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A multi-department circular on fighting telecom and Internet fraud was issued on Friday, tightening preventive measures and ordering police to hunt down perpetrators.

The circular, jointly issued by the Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuratorate, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the People's Bank of China, and the China Banking Regulatory Commission, made it obligatory for telephone accounts to be registered using real identity information.

All telecom service providers must make sure that 100 percent of the country's telephone accounts are registered under real identities by the end of this year and suspend the use of accounts without real identity registration, it said.

In the banking sector, the circular prolongs the period of time needed for money to be transferred from an account holder to another via Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) to 24 hours. The new measure will go into effect on Dec. 1.

In telecom fraud, swindlers often trick victims into transferring money to their accounts via ATM. In some cases, money in transfer can be frozen if victims call the police in time.

The circular vowed to crack down on leaking and trade of personal information. It ordered law enforcement to delete, monitor and block Trojan horse and other malicious software and personal information disseminated online.

Websites or Internet accounts found to be at fault will be shut down, and perpetrators may be subject to criminal penalties, it added.

The circular also called for measures to sever distribution channels of software that alters caller ID display, often used in telecom scams, and urged timely interception of calls made using such software.

Police should launch an offensive against scammers and "destroy a number of criminal groups," as well as coordinate with courts and procuratorates to rein in the spread of telecom and Internet fraud, the circular said.

It also urged scammers to turn themselves in by Oct. 31, and said whoever fails to do so will be sternly punished.
By Yoo Seungki

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Samsung Electronics looked fast in responding to one of its biggest product quality crises at a glance, but the seemingly rapid response turned out to be a failure in terms of communicating with consumers and handling it fairly in every country.

When the South Korean tech behemoth announced a global recall of its new flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphones for a fire hazard of batteries on Sept. 2, it indicated the company takes back all of about 2.5 million Note 7 phones shipped until the previous day.

The first response from some of South Korean media outlets was that such a daring action of recalling all of products sold for two weeks in 10 countries would help Samsung limit possible negative effects and restore its credibility rapidly.

The assessment proved to be wrong soon afterwards. Samsung failed to advise Note 7 users to turn off the fire-prone phones, though the company gave the advice belatedly. The failure resulted in further reports of exploding while charging or even in normal use. Many airlines banned to use the phones on flights.

Confused messages were given to South Korean consumers as Samsung said a software patch was to be released to limit the maximum charging capacity of Note 7 to 60 percent. It hinted that users can charge the phones without danger of catching fire.

Wittingly or unwittingly, Samsung provided a missed estimation data as it said only 24 out of every 1 million Note 7 phones have battery problem. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 92 reports of battery overheating only in the United States until last week, including 26 cases of burns and 55 involving property damage.

DOUBLE STANDARD

Samsung treated consumers with a double standard. According to a statement for U.S. consumers on its website, the company said it will provide 25 U.S. dollars of gift card for customers who exchange a Note 7 device. Such compensation was not to be given to South Korean consumers.

"I didn't even hear that Samsung offers any gift card in South Korea," said Bin Woon-chul, a South Korean office worker, told Xinhua on Friday.

He said South Korean companies have campaigned for products made by local manufacturers, which he dubbed patriotism marketing, adding that consumers here will no longer be deceived into blindly purchasing domestic products.

Unfair treatment wasn't limited to South Korean consumers. The Note 7 was launched in China on Sept. 1, but China was excluded from the recall list. During its Sept. 2 announcement, Samsung claimed a recall was unnecessary as the phones sold in China use different batteries from those sold elsewhere.

Samsung's claim on no need for recall in China was reversed last week. The company announced a Chinese recall of 1,858 Note 7 phones, which Samsung said were distributed before the official launch.

"The recalled phones were test devices having different batteries from those used in Note 7 sold after the Sept. 1 launch," a Samsung official told Xinhua on the phone. He said there is no problem with the phones sold in China.

A South Korean netizen said in a popular blog here that he can understand angry reaction from Chinese consumers, noting he cannot understand why China was excluded from the recall list though Samsung decided on a global recall of all devices shipped.

"Though Samsung said there is no problem with products sold in China, could it be a potent reason if you are Chinese consumers? Follow-up measures went wrong. China should have been included in the recall list, and Samsung should have taken all responsibility for device flaw (instead of pointing fingers at battery makers)," said the netizen.

The first case of Note 7 phones catching fire was reported in China last week. The two accounts of charred phones emerged on Chinese social media over the weekend and widely covered on Sunday by Chinese and South Korea news outlets.

This time too, Samsung was fast in response. Citing unnamed Samsung officials, South Korean media reported Monday that the charred phones were possibly damaged by an induction oven or a fan heater.

Asked to explain the Note 7 overheating in China, one Samsung official referred Xinhua to Samsung Electronics China website, in which the company said the heating problem was caused by "an external factor."

Shortly after the global launch of Note 7 phones on Aug. 19, videos and photos of blackened phones appeared on social media, and it took at least a week until Samsung finds a battery problem and announces a global recall.

In China, however, Samsung's response came just a day after media reports, raising questions about whether the company conducted a full investigation into products in question.

ABSENCE OF PUNITIVE MEASURES

Failure to properly deal with faulty products is not a problem of Samsung alone. Absence of punitive measures in South Korea may have created a corporate culture in which companies are induced to address products detrimental to consumers at ease.

"Public opinion is not good here in (South) Korea (on Samsung's recall and exchange program)," Lee Jieun, a coordinator of public interest law center at People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), said in an interview on Thursday. She said there was a double standard in treating U.S. and South Korean consumers, angering Note 7 owners here.

Samsung failed to force mobile carriers and retail stores to stop selling Note 7 phones as its action was a voluntary recall. Consumers kept using their phones amid confused messages from Samsung.

It showed shortage of the company's recognition in the importance of product safety. What the company called a battery cell defect brought serious consequences such as burns and property damage. Photos in local media reports and social media showed blackened blanket and even a destroyed SUV caused by Note 7 fires.

"One of the reasons that companies here fail to protect consumers' safety is an absence of punitive tools like punitive damage and class action lawsuit systems," said Lee who described the systems as a tool to assign a clear, heavy responsibility to companies committing serious wrongdoings detrimental to consumers.

The punitive damage system allows courts to impose punitive damages far in excess of compensation on companies inflicting physical injury to consumers with defective products. The class action system enables the victory of legal action by some of victims to free the rest of the victims from filing a separate suit to receive equal damages.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Minjoo Party attempted to pass bills to severely punish companies for misconducts such as manufacturing error, sales malpractice, collusion and bombastic advertisements, but the attempt faced objections from the ruling Saenuri Party and business interest groups on concerns about increased burden on businesses.

The punitive damage system, Lee said, is urgently needed in South Korea as a preventive measure to stop catastrophic incidents involving hazardous consumer products from happening in the future, referring to humidifier disinfectants of Oxy Reckitt Benckiser.

Humidifier sterilizers, sold here by the Britain-based consumer goods company, claimed almost 800 lives and injured more than 3,000 consumers from the year of 2011 when the case began to come into focus to July 31 this year, according to Asian Citizen's Center for Environment and Health.

"It is more important to defend consumers' safety than to reduce corporate costs. All consumers have a basic right to be protected at least from hazardous products," said Lee.

Related:

Samsung to recall Galaxy Note 7 worldwide on faulty battery

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Samsung Electronics said Friday that it has decided to recall all of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones sold worldwide as some of the gadgets was founded faulty in battery.
WUHAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Millions of sturgeon that escaped in central China during this year's floods are not only a loss for the aquiculturalists who bred them, but are a serious threat to the local environment.

According to the National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association, about two million sturgeon with a total biomass over 12,000 tonnes escaped from the Qing River, a tributary of the Yangtze, and one of the biggest sturgeon-raising bases in China.

The clean river in the southwestern part of Hubei Province is the source of large quantities of sturgeon meat and caviar exported to the Middle East and Europe.

The Qing flooded from July 18 to 20, forcing authorities to open spillways to release water downstream. The increased flow damaged the net cages in fish farms along the river, allowing the fish to swim away.

The losses to fish farmers in Hubei were huge. Almost 600 of them lost a total of around 750 million yuan (115 million U.S. dollars).

Liao Fenglei is one of the fish farmers to have suffered. Around 100,000 kilograms of his fish, worth more than three million yuan made a break for freedom. "My father and I spent more than a decade building this business and now it's all gone," he said.

Beyond the human, financial cost, the escaped fish are a very severe environmental concern.

Downstream, and completely unprepared for such an alien invasion, lives the critically endangered Chinese sturgeon, a species which enjoys the highest level of national protection. Rapid economic development along the river, pollution and illegal fishing have driven these native sturgeon to the verge of extinction.

Their numbers in the Yangtze are estimated at around 100 adults, down from thousands in the 1980s, mainly due to human activity and pollution. China has been working to breed and preserve this endangered species, and now all that good work may have been in vain.

Ichthyologist Wei Qiwei, a sturgeon expert with the Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute (YRFRI), said that the runaway sturgeon include many different varieties, and could be a severe threat, not just to the native population, but to many other vulnerable species in the Yangtze.

"An escape on such a big scale is quite rare," Wei said. "Of the escapees, about 200,000 are at least six years old, with each weighing about 40 kg. These sturgeon have very strong reproductive capacity and could certainly threaten the already endangered local Chinese sturgeon, which has a very slow breeding cycle."

Du Hao, a YRFRI researcher, described many of the escaped sturgeon as "ferocious" and "competitive." If they survive and form shoals, they could rob food from local species, and eventually replace them, causing "irreversible damage to the ecological chain."

According to the YRFRI, the renegade sturgeon have been found swimming in large groups in the lower reaches of the Yangtze.

In the preservation area of the Chinese sturgeon, local fishermen recently captured more than 100 kg of the fugitive fish in just one day. Such is the amount caught since the big breakout that "all the refrigerators of restaurants along the Yangtze are stuffed," according to one fisherman.

Pressure is mounting on authorities to take action.

Wei Qiwei said that while it is necessary to assess the damage done to the ecosystem so far, "various departments should be working together to capture the escaped fish."

"We can mitigate the damage by catching the fish where they are found in large groups," he added.
A woman displays potatoes for sell at a market in Kirinyaga, central Kenya, June 14, 2014. The Kenyan government has emphasized on the need to increase agricultural produce in order to ensure food security in the country. (Xinhua/Allan Muturi)

NAIROBI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese businessman Frank Yang's sunny optimism about African market was reinforced during his recent visit to the Kenyan capital Nairobi, where an exhibition was held.

The vice general manager of a Chinese manufacturer of agrochemicals is upbeat that venturing into the Kenyan market promises huge rewards.

During an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of a China-Africa Agrochemical Exhibition on Tuesday, Yang said his company intended to expand its footprint in Kenya where demand for farm inputs is on the rise.

"Kenya is a very strategic market for us and we are in discussions with several local partners to facilitate our entry here," said Yang, adding that his company had already established a strong presence in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

Forty Chinese firms participated in the exhibition, which was established last year, to showcase their products and explore new business opportunities in Kenya and the larger eastern African region.

Yang said his conversation with Kenyan officials and business executives shone a spotlight on bright prospects for agro-chemical industry in the country as Kenya is fast-tracking the mechanization of agriculture.

"The use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in Kenya has grown at an annual average of 10 percent. A majority of farmers are convinced that managing crop pests and diseases alongside adding nutrients to the soils is key to higher productivity," Yang said.

He said that as Kenya and other African countries were adopting highly mechanized farming systems, demand for fertilizers and pesticides would increase.

"So far, consumption of agro-chemicals in Kenya may not be at par with global standards but it will increase tremendously in the near future," Yang added.

Dozens of Chinese businessmen who participated in the exhibition expressed their confidence in the Kenyan market and said they would fast-track negotiations with local partners to facilitate their entry.

James Zeng, the managing director of a Chinese manufacturer of products used in farming, said the Kenyan agro-chemicals industry remained attractive to Chinese investors despite several regulatory hurdles.

"We are already doing business in West Africa and Egypt. And Kenya presents new opportunities to manufacturers of agro-chemicals," Zeng said.

Zeng said his company was seeking a local partner in Kenya to facilitate export of compounds used in the manufacture of farm inputs.

These are signs that more Chinese firms are willing to be part of Kenya's agricultural development. And Kenya's stable food production to meet local and regional demand has led to an attractive market for products used in farming for Chinese businessmen.

Peter Li from another Chinese manufacturer of fertilizers said his company intended to venture into the Kenyan market where he expected good returns.

His company produces and exports water soluble fertilizer that has gained traction across Africa where governments are promoting soil regeneration using organic matter.

Li said water soluble fertilizers promise higher yields without compromising the health of soils, water sources and other vital ecosystems.

"The use of water soluble fertilizers by Kenyan farmers is a brilliant choice since it will reverse salinity in soils and boost crop yield," Li said.

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Willy Bett, who attended the exhibition, said Kenya had created a friendly policy and environment to attract Chinese investment in the agro-chemicals market.

"Kenya has been collaborating with China in the field of agriculture to enhance productivity of this sector. We encourage Chinese investors to explore our agro-chemical industry that has potential for growth," Bett said.

Kenya is a regional hub for manufacturing and exports of agro-chemicals thanks to its strategic position, supportive infrastructure like roads, seaports and power.

"China is a leading producer and exporter of fertilizers and chemicals for management of crop diseases and pests. The country can help us develop our own agro-chemicals industry," Bett said.

Ma Chunyan, an official from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, a trade body backed by the Chinese government, said that Kenya was among leading importers of products used in farming from China.

"In 2015, Kenya and Tanzania imported from China pesticides worth 900,000 U.S. dollars. This is a clear indication the local and regional market for agro-chemicals is yet to be tapped fully," Ma said.

She added that Chinese firms were ready to offer technical and financial support to catalyze agricultural transformation in Africa.
Local residents take part in a protest against the decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in Seoul, South Korea, July 8, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

MOSCOW, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The placement of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense systems in South Korea will affect China and Russia, a Russian official said here on Friday.

"The placement of these missile defense systems affects the interests of not only Pyongyang, but also China and, to a certain extent, Russia,"

said Mikhail Ulyanov, the director of the department for nonproliferation and arms control of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"We can see that the South Korean authorities, jointly with the United States, have been drastically escalating their military activities, which provokes Pyongyang," Ulyanov told a press conference in Moscow.

Russia and China will take into account the THAAD deployment in their military planning, Ulyanov added.

Meanwhile, the official said that sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea "are not always workable" and should be supplemented with diplomatic efforts.

Seoul and Washington agreed in July to install one THAAD battery by the end of next year despite strong opposition from almost half of South Koreans and neighboring countries, especially China and Russia.
NAIROBI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations announced this week that five million Somalis do not have enough food, with 1.1 million of these being internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are housed in various camps across the country.

It also reveals that the 5 million people include over 300,000 children under five who are acutely malnourished, and among them, more than 50,000 are severely malnourished.

Doctor Lul Mohamud Mohamed, who is a medical practitioner in the largest public hospital in Somalia, Banaadir Hospital, warned that the situation is getting worse for children who live in IDP camp.

Mohamed noted that the impact of the food crisis is seriously impeding the growth and development of children while at the same time denying them the chance to education.

"We are recording deaths and serious medical conditions as a result of malnutrition among children from displaced people's camps. For example, out of 600 children the hospital receives monthly, 25 percent of these are malnourished," Mohamed told Xinhua Thursday.

She said most of the children under the age of five are mostly affected, noting there was urgent need to protect the children from long-term conditions which could affect them much more in life.

Mohamed, who heads the children's department at the hospital, said lack of food denies most children access to education since most of them have to look for food at the expense of education.

A large number of children in the IDP camps do not attend school and are forced to work alongside their parents, a development which risks the lives of the children more, Mohamed added.

Maryam Kusow, a mother of five in one of the camps in Mogadishu, told Xinhua that the risk of her children facing medical conditions which can affect them into adulthood is worrying.

"My husband died three years ago while working as a porter in a bomb explosion. I am forced to bring up my children on my own. We used to receive sufficient food rations from aid agencies in the past, but now I am afraid my children are developing some medical conditions because of malnutrition," said Kusow.

The story is the same for Amina Abukar who lives with her nine children in a makeshift camp in Mogadishu.

"We depend on my daughter who works as a house maid in the city. My children do not go to school as I cannot afford to pay for their school fees," said the mother.
GENEVA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 180 people have died and a further 268 were injured in August after UN-mediated peace talks were put on hold last month, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned Friday.

"This represents a 40 percent increase compared to the civilian casualties the previous month, with 60 killed and 123 injured," OHCHR spokesperson Cecile Pouilly reported.

"There has been an increased number of attacks against protected civilian objects, with at least 41 incidents affecting educational and health facilities, markets, places of worship, airports and civilian homes in August," she added.

The statement follows a deadly airstrike on a residential area in the town of Hudaydah on Sept. 21 which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians and a further 24 sustaining injuries.

"The death toll could be much higher, as our team continues to collect information," said Pouilly.

Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Houthis seized power and overturned the Yemeni government in late 2014.

In March 2015, the Saudi-led coalition launched a bombing campaign to restore the legitimacy of the government. However, the military intervention has deepened the conflict and crises across the country.
ABUJA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday vowed to put an end to various kinds of violence experienced by children in Nigeria.

UNICEF said it is to launch a campaign "Priority Actions On Ending Violence Against Children" on Sept. 29 across the country, in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, to halt the trend of sexual and physical abuse of children in the West African country.

Ladi Alabi, a Child Protection Specialist with UNICEF, said a survey by the organization showed six out of every 10 Nigerian children experience some kind of violence.

"Half of all children in Nigeria experience physical violence, and one in four girls and one in 10 boys experiences sexual violence," Alabi told the News Agency of Nigeria.

Girls are most affected when it comes to sexual and physical violence than other combination of violence, while boys suffer emotional and physical violence most, the UNICEF official said.

Nigeria is the first in West Africa and the eighth in the world to launch the priority action plan, with a view to nip in the bud issues relating to violence against children, Sam Kaalu, a UNICEF Communication Officer, said.

He said ending violence against children needed a multi-sectoral action and urged all hands to be on deck to see that Nigerian children do not suffer any form of violence.
TAIPEI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of cartoons depicting the life of Liu Mingchuan, the first governor of Taiwan Province, opened to visitors in Taipei's Ming Chuan University on Friday, as part of the commemorations of the 180th anniversary of his birth.

The event consists of 87 works, curated by Yang Hsin-i, president of Taiwan's Chinese Cartoonists Union, and will be on display for about three months.

Born in Hefei in east Anhui Province, Liu (1836-1896) was a general during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). He led the successful resistance of invading French forces in 1884 when the Sino-French war broke out, and the following year was appointed the first governor of Taiwan Province.

During his term of office (1885-1891), Liu made great contributions to defense, improving administration, and developing the island's economy with railways, coal mines and schools.

"We hope the event will remind more people on the island of the part of history when the Chinese nation was humiliated by foreign powers," Shen Yongfeng, deputy secretary-general of the China Association for Promotion of Culture, said at the opening ceremony of the event.

Around 200 people, including teachers and students of the university, named after Liu, attended the event.

Also on Friday, a contest encouraged university students to create cartoon images of Liu opened to commemorate the governor. The winners will receive their prizes in Hefei City at the end of December, according to organizers.
MOSCOW, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia is concerned over the prospect of U.S. supplying Ukraine with lethal weapons, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official said Thursday.

U.S. House of Representatives, the lower house of the U.S. Congress, unanimously approved the Stability and Democracy for Ukraine Act on Wednesday, which provides the legal basis for granting lethal defensive weapons to Kiev.

"It cannot but cause concern, because how is it possible to combine work to restore lasting peace with lethal weapons supplies?" Mikhail Ulyanov, head of the ministry's Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control, was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti news agency.

The bill, which has yet to be passed by the U.S. Senate, the upper house, and signed into law by the U.S. president, contradicted several international agreements imposing restrictions on supplies of lethal weapons to conflict zones, said Ulyanov.

Steps taken by the U.S. Congress are contrary to the international obligations of the United States and hamper the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, he added.

The United States, the European Union and some of their allies has, since 2014, imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea and alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
MOGADISHU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has launched a national campaign for women in an effort to achieve a 30 percent quota of seats in both houses of the country's next federal parliament.

Mohamud, who presided over the launch of the "All Women's Campaign", said the move will help women shape the destiny of the Horn of Africa nation.

"We want a free and fair electoral process that earns the confidence and acceptance of the public. We want the public to be confident that they are represented by leaders of their choice," said Mohamud in a statement issued on Friday.

"Our country has unique challenges. We are not yet perfect, but we are on the right course to perfection," Mohamud said, adding that the campaign is aimed at realizing the 30-percent quota that guarantees women's seats are reserved in parliament.

Mohamud noted that 81 or more members in the next parliament will be women.

The campaign will mobilize women to register for elective positions and use lobbyists to sensitize clan elders on the critical role women play in decision-making.

In her remarks, Zahra Mohamed Ali Samatar, the Federal Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, urged women to mobilize more female candidates to run for parliamentary seats.

"In the coming years, women will be able to vie for the seat of Speaker of Parliament. The joy on our faces is a testimony to our satisfaction with the achievements made and a victory for the Somali women," Samatar said.

Somalia is poised to begin the 2016 electoral process, which will choose members of a new federal parliament who will in turn vote for presidential candidates in late October.
NEW DELHI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A local court in India's western state of Goa Friday acquitted two men accused of rape and murder of a British teenager, Scarlett Keeling, more than eight years ago, officials said.

The Goa court cleared the two men - Samson D'souza, 37, and Placido Carvalho, 48, of all charges including culpable homicide and rape of 15-year-old visiting tourist.

"I am devastated. The Indian judicial system has totally let me down," Keeling's mother, Fiona MacKeown told reporters after the verdict. "My daughter was murdered. Someone should be held responsible."

MacKeown has come to Goa, hoping her daughter would get justice. She is likely to challenge the verdict.

On morning of Feb. 19, 2008, Keeling's body was found on a Goan beach.

D'Souza and Carvalho, the two beach workers were accused of sexually assaulting Keeling after giving her a cocktail of drugs and leaving her unconscious in the shallow waters along the beach.

The teenager Keeling from Bideford in Devon, was in India on a six-month trip along with her family at the time of her death.

Her family had stated she had been at a Valentine's Day beach party while they had gone travelling.

The police in Goa initially dismissed the case as an "accidental suicide," but a vigorous campaign by her family forced authorities to hand over the case to India's premier investigating agency - Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The officials carried out a second post-mortem examination in March 2008, which revealed Keeling had been drugged and raped before drowning in seawater.
BUJUMBURA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Two policemen were Friday morning injured in a riot staged by inmates inside Muramvya prison, 48km east of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, reported Burundi National Radio.

The state-run radio reported that the riot broke out during a search of illicit objects inside the prison. It started after police agents had already searched three out of the 11 rooms hosting inmates.

According to the radio, the inmates stormed doors of rooms that had not been searched, shouted and stoned police agents who were doing the operation.

The radio reported that police agents had to fire into the air in order to restore order inside the prison.

The radio indicated that two policemen were injured during the clashes, adding that some police objects including boots, clothes, belts and mobile phones were seized from the three rooms that had been searched.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during the general debate of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

By Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to Cuba will help boost economic cooperation between Havana and Beijing, and promote the Cuba-China comprehensive strategic partnership, said a renowned Cuban expert.

"China is a strategic partner for Cuba," Ruben Zardoya, former rector of the University of Havana and expert on China issues, told Xinhua, adding that Li's visit "will be very important for our country and will help strengthen ties."

Economic relations between the two countries are in "crescendo" and Chinese investment in Cuba is "tangible," Zardoya said.

"There are protocols, agreements and accords of all kinds between the two countries to promote investment, banking development, transport, industry, defence, civil aviation, renewable energy, agriculture and biotechnology, among other areas," he said.

Li will arrive in Cuba following his participation in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and an official visit to Canada.

China is Cuba's second-largest trade partner and Beijing's participation in the development of multiple sectors of the economy has been vital to Havana's push to modernize the country's socialist model.

"Economic relations with China help Cuba obtain financial benefits and credits, and assimilate new modern technologies and the know-how for numerous industries from a very reliable partner," Zardoya said.

Cuba's tourism industry has witnessed increasing bilateral cooperation, not only because a growing number of Chinese visitors are traveling to the island country each year, but also because of Chinese investment in infrastructure development.

"Cuba has announced Chinese investment in the tourism sector with the construction of two luxury hotels in the outskirts of the capital," said Zardoya.

Cuba is also looking to increase its exports to China, particularly in the health sector.

"Biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry are important areas for cooperation due to the high scientific level of Cuban professionals and products the country manufactures, such as vaccines and innovative drugs against cancer and other diseases," he said.

Old cars pass in front of the capitol, in Havana, Cuba, on April 4, 2015. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez)

Cuba began to modernize its socialist system about six years ago in order to trim the bloated public sector and increase productivity.

Cuban President Raul Castro approved a plan for 300 economic reforms in 2011 similar to the Chinese economic model, saying the experience of other socialist countries would be incorporated into the Cuban model.

"We must learn from their best practices. Chinese experience has been extraordinary and is an indisputable source of inspiration for Cuba," said Zardoya.

With "solid" political relations and many common grounds on global matters, the two countries can easily focus on boosting economic cooperation, he said.

"Havana and Beijing have common values such as the right of nations to self-determination, respect for sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries, and peace and stability as a condition for economic development," he said.

Strong ties with Cuba help bolster China's presence and enhance its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, which have grown substantially in the last few years, he added.

Li's trip to Havana will be the first official visit to Cuba by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago.

Li will be meeting with Raul Castro over strengthening China-Cuba cooperation and friendship, and preside over the signing of cooperation agreements in the fields of technology, renewable energy, industry and environmental protection.
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. 23 (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.
DAMASCUS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 30 civilians were killed Friday by bombardment in Syria's northern city of Aleppo, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the shelling came from Syrian and Russian warplanes, which reportedly struck several districts in the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo city.

The incident came a day after the Syrian Defense Ministry announced the beginning of a new offensive on rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo.

The statement urged 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 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 cease-fire, without extending it, as part of the Syrian government's 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 districts after cutting the international road to Aleppo in 2014, a siege broken later by the Syrian army with the help of Hezbollah.
JAKARTA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government is set to provide new incentives to boost investment and exploration in oil and gas sector in the country.

Under the new incentives, the government will free import Value Added Tax (VAT), domestic VAT, property tax and import duties for oil and gas mining firms during exploration period, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani told a press conference in her office here on Friday.

Similar tax revocations will also be applied on mining firms during their production periods, highly expected to further improve the project's economical aspect.

The minister said the government will also free the income tax (PPh) on amount of cost sharing. The cost comes from the use of government's necessities in upstream oil and gas production by oil and gas firms.

The PPh elimination will also be applied on the mining firm's overhead cost allocation spent by their head office in Indonesia, she added.

"With this, we expect oil and gas sector would be more attractive and new investments would emerge in Indonesia," the minister said.
TIRANA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The hydropower plant (HPP) of Banja, the biggest power work ever built in Albania since Koman HPP which was set to operation three decades ago, officially started work on Friday, Albanian prime minister's press office announced.

This hydro power plant in Albania is an investment of the Norwegian company Statkraft which, apart from HPP construction, has also invested in infrastructure and improvement of living standards for Banja community.

Banja HPP, located in the city of Gramsh, central Albania, is part of "Devolli Hydropower" project, which also includes the construction of Moglica HPP.

Sources from Statkraft said Friday that Banja HPP is expected to increase Albania's domestic generation of energy from HPPs by at least 5 percent.

The process of construction has taken more than three years while the project which will be fully completed by 2019 is worth over 530 million euros and will create thousands of jobs for the locals, government sources said.

An inauguration ceremony was held Friday to switch on the new HPP of Banja.

Present at the ceremony was also the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama who considered the launch of operation of the new HPP of Banja a historical moment for entire zone of Gramshi and its residents but also for the country.

According to the premier, this moment is the result of an exemplary cooperation between Albanian government and one of the world's most prestigious companies in the energy sector development. Enditem
BRUSSELS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- NATO will hold Ramstein Alloy 3, a training event with participation of NATO allies and partner countries in the Baltic air space on Sept. 27-28, the security organization said Friday.

The tri-annual event uses training scenarios to enhance air policing procedures and Allied-Partner relationships by using NATO's Baltic Air Policing (BAP) assets and regional air forces.

Similar to previous Ramstein Alloys, the two-day schedule features the newest rotation of aircraft and personnel supporting NATO's BAP missions, which have been carried out since 2004.

At present, the French Air Force fighters were deployed to Siauliai, Lithuania as the lead BAP nation, with German Eurofighters augmenting the BAP mission in Amari, Estonia.

During Ramstein Alloy 3, Poland, along with Alliance partners Sweden and Finland, will join the French and German fighters to participate in air-to-air intercept, search and rescue and communication loss training.

The Lithuanian Air Force will provide the transport aircraft, while Latvia and Estonia will provide ground air controllers.
Postgraduate students attend the commencement ceremony at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

LONDON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A total of 52 universities from Chinese mainland are included in the 13th edition of World University Rankings published on Wednesday, with Peking University and Tsinghua University ranking 29th and 35th respectively.

Seven universities from Chinese mainland are included in the top 400 list and two universities from Hong Kong made into the top 50 list, namely, University of Hong Kong (joint 43th) and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (49th).

There is also a new number one for the first time in six years: UK's University of Oxford takes over the top spot from U.S. universities for the first time in the 13-year history of the rankings.

The World University Rankings, now in its 13th year, is an annual publication of university rankings by Times Higher Education magazine. The ranking includes top 980 universities in the world or 5 percent of the world's higher education institutions.

Chinese mainland's rise can be partly attributed to improved scores for academic reputation, research influence and attracting international talents, while Hong Kong's performance is largely owing to increased institutional and research income and greater research productivity, said Phil Baty, the editor of the ranking.

He told Xinhua in an interview that he attributes China's great success to one key factor - a government committed to generously funding and supporting the development of world-class universities.

"China's investment in excellence since the 1990s has been an example to the rest of the world, an extraordinary success story that demonstrated that with the right levels of financial support, and the political will to reform universities, outstanding results can be achieved. The most recent excellence drive, often referred to as "world class 2.0," is likely to see China's universities making even further progress in the future," he said.

No other Asian nation has made the development of world-class universities as high a priority as China, and the clear evidence from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings is that the policies are working well, he added.

Baty said China can still do more in future to further enhance the level of higher education

"After powerful levels of funding and a dramatic increase in the quantity of research coming from China, there should be further focus on the quality of research. A key element of this should come through greater international partnerships - where the best practices from the great Chinese scholarly traditions can be combined with good practice in the West," he said.

Baty said the notion of Asia as the "next higher education superpower" has become something of a cliche in recent years, but this year's rankings show that the continent's rise is real and growing.

Overall, 290 Asian universities from 24 countries are included in the list and 19 are among the top 200, up from 15 last year. The continent has two new entries in the top 100 and a further four institutions from Hong Kong, South Korea and China have joined the top 200.

China's Peking University climbed 13 places from 42th last year, while Tsinghua joins the top 40, up from a joint 47th last year. Five of Hong Kong's six representatives have entered the top 200 - more than any other Asian region, while South Korea has also made great strides. The National University of Singapore, Asia's top university, is at 24th - its highest ever rank.

"There is no doubt that more of Asia's leading universities will soar to join the world elite in the years to come," said Baty.
LUSAKA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to visit Zambia next month to begin talks on a planned rescue package for the southern African nation, state media reported on Friday.

The IMF plans to provide a monetary aid package of between 1.2 to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars to help revive the Zambian economy.

Minister of Finance Felix Mutati said that the government has since started working on modalities for engagement with the IMF.

"Our strategy is clear. First of all, we need to construct a home-grown recovery program with the key elements that are troubling the economy as a platform for engaging with IMF. The strategy is that we need to secure a stable recovery platform to grow the economy," he is quoted as saying by the Zambia Daily Mail.

The government, he said, plans to take the economy to sustainable levels, adding that reducing the fiscal deficit remains crucial to government plans to revive the economy.

The Finance Ministry announced in April that it would seek an aid program from the IMF that it hoped would be finalized by the end of the year.
ROME, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Using its successful experience in poverty and hunger eradication to help other developing countries, China's longstanding bilateral South-South cooperation program has been a remarkable example to follow, according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) expert.

"On the journey to food and nutrition security and sustainable agricultural and rural development, FAO and China share the same vision, determination and dedication," Liu Zhongwei, coordinator for the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme, told Xinhua.

"The programme today supports sustainable and innovative agricultural and rural development in 28 countries, most of them in Africa," he added.

Supported countries included Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria in Africa; Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan in Asia.

The joint program currently involves total investments worth 80 million U.S. dollars, and has allowed fielding over 1,000 experts in Africa, Asia, the Pacific region and Latin America.

Such efforts were helping increase food security and nutrition, and improving the livelihoods of over one million family farmers and small-scale producers, according to Liu.

The expert's remarks came shortly after the International South-South Cooperation Day, which the UN celebrates every year on Sept. 12 to mark the adoption of the Buenos Aires plan of action for promoting and implementing technical cooperation among developing countries in 1978.

The number of South-South Cooperation (SSC) projects, and the volume of resources mobilized, has been increasing steadily since 2012. Over 40 SSC projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean have been overall facilitated up to the end of 2015, FAO said.

Among major contributors were Brazil with 21.1 million U.S. dollars, Mexico with 15 million, Venezuela with 12 million, and China with 10.3 million.

Considered a major player in this kind of cooperation, and strongly engaged with FAO since the SSC Programme was established in 1996, China provided a further 50 million U.S. dollars contribution (included in the overall 80 million total investments).

Another proof of Beijing's steady commitment in this field was the renewal of its partnership with FAO through a new memorandum of understanding, which was signed alongside the G20 agricultural ministers meeting held in the Chinese northwest city of Xi'an in early June.

According to the FAO expert, the China-Nigeria SSC programme provided a successful example of such commitment.

"The impact of a major FAO initiative for food security can be seen throughout Nigeria, where a group of Chinese experts and technicians are working through the SSC arrangement launched by FAO," Liu said.

The project entailed two phases: the first phase saw some 500 Chinese technicians carry out over 3,700 field visits, with more than 500 demonstrations and 200 micro-projects launched.

New technologies were introduced, and Chinese experts exchanged best practices and shared knowledge with their Nigerian counterparts in technical areas such as irrigation, crop production, livestock production, aquaculture and apiculture, according to FAO.

"This has led not only to improved yields and livelihoods, but also to replication by farmers' organizations that had been supported by the initiative," Liu said.

A China-Uganda SSC project provided another example. "Some 31 Chinese experts and technicians have been sent to Uganda since 2012 to provide technical assistance in crop production, aquaculture, horticulture, livestock and agribusiness," Liu said.

"The team successfully transferred 25 new technologies, and introduced 17 new varieties such as hybrid rice, foxtail millet and maize, as well as four pieces of agricultural equipment and tools," he added.

According to FAO, the new technologies and varieties brought into the eastern African country were showing quick results in terms of improved food crops and increased income for farmers.

The first phase of the SSC project facilitated a Chinese investment worth 220 million U.S. dollars to Uganda, which was aimed at establishing an agricultural industry zone in rice production, poultry, horticulture cultivation, and aquaculture, FAO said.

Priority areas of phase two were identified in horticulture (the practice of growing plants), cereals production, aquaculture, livestock and agribusiness.

"All of them will be supported through sustainable business models," Liu said, adding that further resources would be needed to expand this experience, along with an increase of trade linkages.

Overall, more than 6.6 million U.S. dollars have been mobilized in SSC projects in the first half of 2016, according to FAO data. The figure was equivalent to 45 percent of the total mobilized in 2015.
CAPE TOWN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday urged university administrations and students to cooperate with Minister of Higher Education and Training, Blade Nzimande, to find solutions to the university funding challenge.

"We wish to remind all that education is a societal matter. We must all work together to find solutions to the higher education access challenge," said the president.

"From parents, business community, labour, religious leaders, traditional leaders, political parties and communities in general, let us find solutions together," he said.

"It is not a matter that must be resolved by government alone, or by the Department of Higher Education and Training alone," said the president.

This came as student protests against fee increase continuing unabated in several major universities.

Zuma expressed concern over the violence that has broken out following the announcement by Nzimande of government's position on fee increases next year.

Nzimande announced on Monday that universities can increase fees for 2017, provided that the increase will not exceed eight percent.

His announcement prompted student protests nationwide. Students have threatened to disrupt institutions of higher learning if their demand for zero fee increase is not met. The National Treasury has said a zero-percent fee increment for 2017 was not budgeted for.

Zuma pledged his full support and that of the cabinet, to Nzimande and the university community as they deal with this matter.

The president also emphasized the seriousness with which the government takes the issue of higher education funding.

"The funding base for higher education students has been expanding considerably over the years, although it has not yet entirely offset the financial challenges for many students. Government cares and will continue to search for ways of making access to higher education easier for students," said Zuma.

The president has established the Presidential Commission of Enquiry into Higher Education and Training Funding, which is still at work considering the issues of higher education funding in their entirety. Zuma urged student organizations to cooperate with the commission as it seeks solutions.

"We urge the students to explore peaceful avenues to engage on this issue constructively," Zuma said.

He warned that the destruction of property is a criminal offence and will be treated as such by the law enforcement authorities.

"We have directed the police to ensure that all such cases reach the courts and that those responsible answer for their actions. This infrastructure must be available for use by generations to come, and students should respect university property as leaders of the future," said the president.

South African universities were hit by widespread protests over fee increases last year. According to official figures, the unrest cost more than 145 million rand (about 10.8 million U.S. dollars) in damage.

The government then suspended fee increases for 2016 and provided universities with billions of rand for the shortfall. Enditem
A farmer reaps straw at fields in Wangyu Village of Zaozhuang, east China's Shandong Province, Sept. 7, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Qiang)

ROME, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Using its successful experience in poverty and hunger eradication to help other developing countries, China's longstanding bilateral South-South cooperation program has been a remarkable example to follow, according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) expert.

"On the journey to food and nutrition security and sustainable agricultural and rural development, FAO and China share the same vision, determination and dedication," Liu Zhongwei, coordinator for the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme, told Xinhua.

"The programme today supports sustainable and innovative agricultural and rural development in 28 countries, most of them in Africa," he added.

Supported countries included Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria in Africa; Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan in Asia.

The joint program currently involves total investments worth 80 million U.S. dollars, and has allowed fielding over 1,000 experts in Africa, Asia, the Pacific region and Latin America.

Such efforts were helping increase food security and nutrition, and improving the livelihoods of over one million family farmers and small-scale producers, according to Liu.

The expert's remarks came shortly after the International South-South Cooperation Day, which the UN celebrates every year on Sept. 12 to mark the adoption of the Buenos Aires plan of action for promoting and implementing technical cooperation among developing countries in 1978.

The number of South-South Cooperation (SSC) projects, and the volume of resources mobilized, has been increasing steadily since 2012. Over 40 SSC projects in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean have been overall facilitated up to the end of 2015, FAO said.

Among major contributors were Brazil with 21.1 million U.S. dollars, Mexico with 15 million, Venezuela with 12 million, and China with 10.3 million.

Considered a major player in this kind of cooperation, and strongly engaged with FAO since the SSC Programme was established in 1996, China provided a further 50 million U.S. dollars contribution (included in the overall 80 million total investments).

Another proof of Beijing's steady commitment in this field was the renewal of its partnership with FAO through a new memorandum of understanding, which was signed alongside the G20 agricultural ministers meeting held in the Chinese northwest city of Xi'an in early June.

According to the FAO expert, the China-Nigeria SSC programme provided a successful example of such commitment.

"The impact of a major FAO initiative for food security can be seen throughout Nigeria, where a group of Chinese experts and technicians are working through the SSC arrangement launched by FAO," Liu said.

The project entailed two phases: the first phase saw some 500 Chinese technicians carry out over 3,700 field visits, with more than 500 demonstrations and 200 micro-projects launched.

New technologies were introduced, and Chinese experts exchanged best practices and shared knowledge with their Nigerian counterparts in technical areas such as irrigation, crop production, livestock production, aquaculture and apiculture, according to FAO.

"This has led not only to improved yields and livelihoods, but also to replication by farmers' organizations that had been supported by the initiative," Liu said.

A China-Uganda SSC project provided another example. "Some 31 Chinese experts and technicians have been sent to Uganda since 2012 to provide technical assistance in crop production, aquaculture, horticulture, livestock and agribusiness," Liu said.

"The team successfully transferred 25 new technologies, and introduced 17 new varieties such as hybrid rice, foxtail millet and maize, as well as four pieces of agricultural equipment and tools," he added.

According to FAO, the new technologies and varieties brought into the eastern African country were showing quick results in terms of improved food crops and increased income for farmers.

The first phase of the SSC project facilitated a Chinese investment worth 220 million U.S. dollars to Uganda, which was aimed at establishing an agricultural industry zone in rice production, poultry, horticulture cultivation, and aquaculture, FAO said.

Priority areas of phase two were identified in horticulture (the practice of growing plants), cereals production, aquaculture, livestock and agribusiness.

"All of them will be supported through sustainable business models," Liu said, adding that further resources would be needed to expand this experience, along with an increase of trade linkages.

Overall, more than 6.6 million U.S. dollars have been mobilized in SSC projects in the first half of 2016, according to FAO data. The figure was equivalent to 45 percent of the total mobilized in 2015.
URUMQI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A number of agreements were signed halfway through the China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

A total of 15 telecom operators from eight countries signed a cooperation deal at the fifth China-Eurasia Expo, pledging to enhance interconnectivity in telecommunications and jointly build an "information expressway."

Chen Lidong, an official with China's Ministry of Information Technology, said that the "information expressway" will advance the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Also at the expo, lawyers from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong set up a legal service association.

A technology company from Xinjiang signed a deal with UnionPay International and a commercial bank in Kazakhstan for cross-border payment service.

Delegates from 57 countries and regions and six global organizations attended the expo, along with 3,500 professional purchasers, organizers said.

The expo will conclude on Sunday.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund said on Friday that Greece has made significant progress in unwinding its macro-economic imbalances, but growth remained elusive and risks are high.

"Recurrent political crises and confidence shocks associated with the inability to sustain the reform effort resulted in a high cost for society," said the IMF after concluding the 2016 Article IV mission.

The IMF expected the economic growth will remain weak and subject to high downside risks, and unemployment will likely stay in the double digits until the middle of the century.

The international lender urged Greece to continue to press reforms in key areas, including pension and taxation systems reforms, dealing with banking industry's bad loans, removing obstacles to investment and growth, in order to increase the economy's resilience.

Greece's debt continued to rise to unsustainable levels, despite debt relief from private and official creditors, said the IMF. It called for further debt relief to restore sustainability.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang on Friday called for efforts to develop the country's forestry industry with a scientific approach.

Wang told a national meeting on forestry development which opened on Friday that science and technology should play a key role in forestry development.

The forestry industry should be restructured. Basic research should be stepped up to ensure ecological and resource security, he said.

Efforts must be made to make breakthroughs in key technologies and spread research results to wider applications, he added.

Wang also urged research institutes and business communities to strengthen cooperation to better utilize the research results.
BISHKEK, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev Friday delivered a congratulatory speech to celebrate the national Kyrgyz Language Day.

The Kyrgyz president said "Language, as a means of communication, unites people and nations, strengthens friendship. Our common goal is to support the positive trends that contribute to the popularization of the state language."

Kyrgyzstan has two official languages: Kyrgyz and Russian.

The Kyrgyz Language Day is celebrated annually on Sept. 23 in honor of the adoption of a law which officially recognized the Kyrgyz language as the state language in 1989.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the two former Soviet republics in Central Asia that retain Russian as an official language. Kazakhstan is the other one.

Kyrgyz is a Turkic language. It was written in the Arabic alphabet until the 20th century. Latin script was introduced and adopted in 1928, and was subsequently replaced by Cyrillic script in 1941.

Out of 6 million people of Kyrgyzstan, nearly 4.1 million people speak Kyrgyz as native or second language and 2.5 million speak Russian as native or second language.
KHARTOUM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Friday announced that Chadian President Idriss Deby will participate in the general assembly of the National Dialogue Conference, slated for Oct. 10 in Sudan's capital Khartoum.

"Chadian President Idriss Deby has agreed to an invitation by President Omar al-Bashir to attend the sessions of the national dialogue," said Sudan's foreign ministry in a press release.

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour Thursday met the president Deby in New York on the sidelines of the meeting of the 71st session of UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the general secretariat of the Sudanese national dialogue has announced completion of all arrangements for the convocation of the general assembly of the national dialogue conference as scheduled.

In Jan. 2014, al-Bashir declared an initiative calling on the opposition parties and the armed groups to join a national dialogue to end the country's crises.

The sessions of the national dialogue conference kicked off in October 2015 with the aim to resolve the country's political and social issues.

The conference was launched with the participation of a number of Sudanese political parties, civil society organizations and some Darfur armed groups.

However, major political parties and armed movements have refused to participate in the conference, including the Revolutionary Front Alliance, which brings together the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector and the major Darfur armed movements.

The Darfur armed groups and the SPLM/northern sector insist that a preparatory conference should be held, according to decisions by the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council, to bring together all the Sudanese political forces to agree on procedures to initiate an equitable dialogue with the government, a demand that the Sudanese government rejects.
BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A prerequisite for Taiwan to participate in any international activity is adherence to the one-China policy, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Lu Kang's remarks came after the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN organization, decided not to invite Taiwan to its assembly in Canada.

Only sovereign states have the right to participate in institutions and activities within the UN framework, Lu said.

Taiwan, as an inalienable part of China, has no right to participate in the ICAO assembly, he added.

On the same day, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office Ma Xiaoguang said that Taiwan cannot participate in the ICAO assembly because the island's current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration refuses to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which lays out the one-China principle.

Ma said the mainland has a clear and consistent stance toward Taiwan's participation in activities held by international organizations: A proper arrangement based on the one-China principle must be made through cross-Strait consultation.

Taiwan's civil aviation authorities were invited to send staff as non-voting delegates to the ICAO Assembly's 38th session in 2013. Ma said that was a special arrangement, made through consultation, and against the backdrop of amicable development of cross-Strait relations on the understanding that both sides adhere to the 1992 Consensus.

Ma pointed out that the Taiwan side has always enjoyed access to data and information on international aviation security.

The spokesman went on to say, "The DPP administration bears full responsibility for this situation."

The DPP administration should reflect on why the Taiwan side was able to attend the 2013 ICAO Assembly and today cannot, rather than misleading the public by laying unwarranted blame on the mainland, Ma said.
A supporter carries a photo of Qatari Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President Omar Hassan Al Bashir during a rally to support the Peace Process in Darfur, in Al Fashir capital of North Darfur on September 7, 2016. (REUTERS Photo)

KHARTOUM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Friday announced that Chadian President Idriss Deby will participate in the general assembly of the National Dialogue Conference, slated for Oct. 10 in Sudan's capital Khartoum.

"Chadian President Idriss Deby has agreed to an invitation by President Omar al-Bashir to attend the sessions of the national dialogue," said Sudan's foreign ministry in a press release.

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour Thursday met the president Deby in New York on the sidelines of the meeting of the 71st session of UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, the general secretariat of the Sudanese national dialogue has announced completion of all arrangements for the convocation of the general assembly of the national dialogue conference as scheduled.

In Jan. 2014, al-Bashir declared an initiative calling on the opposition parties and the armed groups to join a national dialogue to end the country's crises.

The sessions of the national dialogue conference kicked off in October 2015 with the aim to resolve the country's political and social issues.

The conference was launched with the participation of a number of Sudanese political parties, civil society organizations and some Darfur armed groups.

However, major political parties and armed movements have refused to participate in the conference, including the Revolutionary Front Alliance, which brings together the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector and the major Darfur armed movements.

The Darfur armed groups and the SPLM/northern sector insist that a preparatory conference should be held, according to decisions by the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council, to bring together all the Sudanese political forces to agree on procedures to initiate an equitable dialogue with the government, a demand that the Sudanese government rejects.
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will never accept a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that would weaken EU standards and talks with Washington will resume probably after the U.S. presidential elections if the anti-trade rhetoric there dies down, EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan said on Friday.

"There will only be an agreement if we are satisfied with its content and if it does not sacrifice our standards on labor, the environment and food production," Hogan told reporters during a visit here to attend the shipment of Dutch meat to China and the United States.

"We want to see the U.S. making necessary concessions to meet our demands and requirements. But a lot depends on who wins the elections," he added, "Both candidates have expressed anti-trade sentiments. When this rhetoric dies down, we will resume talks."

U.S. Republican candidate Donald Trump has criticized the free trade deal, arguing that such agreements have taken jobs away from U.S. citizens, while Democrat Hillary Clinton has abandoned her support for a similar Pacific trade pact.

Brussels is trying to save talks on TTIP amid growing pressure from France and Germany to abandon the controversial negotiations. If agreed, the trade agreement would create the largest free trade area in the world with a consumer market of 850 million people.

Negotiations, which started as early as 2013, are unlikely to conclude this year, the EU official said.

Market access for agricultural products is a key point in the TTIP negotiations. The EU wants to ring-fence sensitive agricultural products, while the United States is pushing for a full liberalization of tariffs.

The EU commissioner, who is directly involved in the negotiations concerning the agri-sector, stressed, "We will have a deal only if it is good for our farmers and our producers."

Talks are tough over products with protected agricultural names, known as geographical indications, as the United States is reluctant to open its market to such imports, while losing the right to use such names for their own products.
FREETOWN, Sept. 23, (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and the Confucius Institute of the University of Sierra Leone held a ceremony on Thursday to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations.

The event was attended by the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Victor Foh, and cabinet ministers. It features performances by students and lecturers from China's Gannan Normal University and the Confucius Institute.

Chinese Ambassador Zhao Yanbo noted that though Sierra Leone and China are far apart geographically, that does not prevent them from sharing their experiences.

A highlight of the night's performances was a student group dance and the presentation of the calligraphic writing "long and lasting friendship between China and Sierra Leone", done by a lecturer from Gannan Normal University, to the Vice President.

Foh described the performance as a "remarkable symbol for cultural exchange between Sierra Leone and China".
SUVA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's friendship was unwavering during Fiji's "turbulent periods" and its support helped Fijians lay the foundation for the new Fiji that exists today, Fijian acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Friday.

Sayed-Khaiyum, who is also Fiji's attorney-general and minister for economy, public enterprises, civil service and communications, made the comments while attending a function held by the Chinese Embassy celebrating China's upcoming National Day on Oct. 1.

The occasion is significant for the government and people of Fiji due to the longstanding friendship between the two countries for the past 41 years, Sayed-Khaiyum said.

"What makes that friendship so important is that it has been consistent. During turbulent periods in our history, China's friendship was unwavering. And the support that was provided to Fiji by China helped us lay the foundation for the new Fiji that exists today," the acting prime minister underscored.

Fiji's current government was elected in 2014. Prior to the general election held in that year, the Pacific island nation saw three coups, the latest one occurring in 2006, after which a number of western countries slapped a series of sanctions against Fiji.

"We have put those years behind us, and we will never forget China's role in helping us preserve through, what were often, difficult times. Today, on the back of seven straight years of economic growth, it is clear that China's faith in Fiji was well-placed. So tonight, let's celebrate this milestone in China's history and the strong, lasting alliance that exists between our nations," Sayed-Khaiyum said.

China has emerged as an advanced, dynamic economic power with passionate, energetic and driven population, he said, adding that Fiji looks to China for leadership on the pressing challenges of our time in the global community.

"We wish to congratulate the government of the People's Republic of China for its commitment in ratifying the Paris agreement ... Thank you for your commitment in helping combat the ravages of climate change by supporting this agreement," Sayed-Khaiyum said, adding that he is confident that the two nations can find ways to continually improve and strengthen the partnership and deepen the ties.

Sayed-Khaiyum's comments were echoed by Zhang Ping, Chinese ambassador to Fiji who said the two nations share "profound traditional friendship" and are "not only good friends through thick and thin, but also good partners of win-win cooperation."

"Chinese people appreciate Fijian people's great achievements under the leadership of Hon. Prime Minister (Voreqe) Bainimarama, feel thrilled when Fiji Rugby sevens team brought back home the first ever Olympic medal in history and share the same happiness and pride when the first Fijian diplomat won the presidency of the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations, which enables Fiji to play a unique role on the world stage," Zhang said.

After Fiji was hit by Tropical Cyclone Winston in February this year, the ambassador said, the Chinese government took the lead in providing emergency humanitarian cash assistance and chartered eight cargo planes to fly over half of the Pacific to deliver disaster relief materials to the people in need, which once again reflected the true friendship between the two peoples.

"The Chinese government is committed to deepening the bilateral strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. We stand ready to work with our Fijian friends to enhance mutual political trust, promote cooperation of mutual benefits, advance people-to-people exchanges and maintain close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs so as to add more content to the strategic partnership," the Chinese ambassador underscored.
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A youth was killed and dozens were injured Friday after government forces fired tear smoke shells, pellets and warning shots to block protesters at several places in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The 22-year-old Waseem Ahmad Lone was killed at village Nadihal-Rafiabad of Baramulla district, about 60 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Police officials said Lone was killed after Indian army troopers fired on rock throwing protesters in the village. However, local residents contested the police claims and alleged army fired on without any provocation while the youth along with others was busy harvesting paddy.

"Men and women were busy in paddy fields and all of a sudden three vehicles belonging to Indian army passing through the village fired upon Lone directly," said Abdul Rashid, a local resident. "The bullet hit Lone and he fell down on ground. We immediately took him to Baramullah district hospital where doctors declared him brought dead."

The news of Lone's killing prompted thousands of people including women in the locality and adjoining villages to come on roads and stage demonstrations.

Elsewhere clashes between protesters and government forces left at least 30 people injured.

Authorities imposed curfew in Srinagar city and other sensitive areas in wake of Friday to prevent people from assembling at main mosques for congregational prayers.

Indian-controlled Kashmir has been witnessing the largest protests - in recent years- since July 8, following the killing of a popular militant commander in a gunfight with Indian troops.

Authorities have imposed curfew and restrictions to contain street protests, and the region is observing a complete shutdown for the 77th straight day demanding end to New Delhi's rule. Clashes between civilian protesters and government forces have so far resulted in killing of more than 80 people mostly young men and children, besides injuries to thousands of others. Enditem
MUNICH, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A man, arrested in the southern German state of Bavaria with weapons and explosives in his car last November, went on trial on Friday in a court in Munich.

The 51-year-old man, who was caught during a routine check in Bavaria a few days before the Paris attacks last November, admitted that he knew he had a large amount of Kalashnikovs, hand grenades and explosives in his car, but he denied helping to prepare a terror attack.

According to the defendant, he did not know what those weapons were intended for.

So far, there has been no direct evidence to prove that there is a link between the attacks and the defendant from Montenegro.

His trial will last a week. If convicted, he faces a sentence between three years and nine months and four years and three months in jail.

At least 129 people were killed and more than 300 others were injured in the Paris terror attacks on Nov. 13, 2015.
BAGHDAD, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Friday took full control of rural areas near the town of al-Baghdadi after four days of fierce clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in the country's western province of Anbar, the Iraqi military said.

The troops and allied Sunni tribal fighters managed to flush out the militants from the Jazirat al-Baghdadi, an agricultural area near the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, the Joint Operations Command said in a statement.

The statement did not give further details about the battles, but said that dozens of IS militants were killed and many others fled their positions to the desert.

The operation in Anbar came after the Iraqi security forces and allied units reclaimed key cities and towns, including Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad.

IS militants have been repeatedly attacking al-Baghdadi and the nearby Haditha since 2014, which were stubbornly repelled by local police, government troops and Sunni tribal fighters.

The liberation of al-Baghdadi rural area was part of two operations launched on Tuesday by Iraqi forces against IS militants in the provinces of Salahudin and Anbar, just hours after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launching of the operations in a televised message from New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly.

Iraqi security forces and allied units have been battling IS militants for retaking large territories in northern and western Iraq seized by the IS since June 2014.
Iraqi soldiers check a cemetary where jihadists of the Islamic State group were buried by the group, on September 4, 2016 in Fallujah.

Iraq's security forces have for months been battling IS fighters in Anbar province, notching up key victories in provincial Ramadi and jihadist bastion Fallujah earlier this year.(AFP Photo)

BAGHDAD, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Friday took full control of rural areas near the town of al-Baghdadi after four days of fierce clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants in the country's western province of Anbar, the Iraqi military said.

The troops and allied Sunni tribal fighters managed to flush out the militants from the Jazirat al-Baghdadi, an agricultural area near the town of al-Baghdadi, some 190 km northwest of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, the Joint Operations Command said in a statement.

The statement did not give further details about the battles, but said that dozens of IS militants were killed and many others fled their positions to the desert.

The operation in Anbar came after the Iraqi security forces and allied units reclaimed key cities and towns, including Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad.

IS militants have been repeatedly attacking al-Baghdadi and the nearby Haditha since 2014, which were stubbornly repelled by local police, government troops and Sunni tribal fighters.

The liberation of al-Baghdadi rural area was part of two operations launched on Tuesday by Iraqi forces against IS militants in the provinces of Salahudin and Anbar, just hours after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launching of the operations in a televised message from New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly.

Iraqi security forces and allied units have been battling IS militants for retaking large territories in northern and western Iraq seized by the IS since June 2014.
BRATISLAVA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada should be ready for inking by Oct. 27, Slovak Economy Minister Peter Ziga confirmed Friday.

Addressing a press conference following an informal meeting of EU trade ministers here on Friday, Ziga said CETA, as a modern trade agreement, has got a strong support of individual EU member countries.

"A few issues in CETA still remain to be finished, including the so-called provisional application. Nevertheless, we need to resolve this issue as soon as possible," he said.

"If we don't manage to reach an agreement with Canada, then I don't know any other country Europe we should agree with. Canada is close to us both in cultural terms and other values. I don't see any reason for CETA not to be finalized by late October," stressed Ziga, noting that Canada represents a market of 36 million people.

"We've concurred with the European Commission that there are some spheres in CETA that are being viewed particularly sensitively by the public. The European Commission will prepare, therefore, a joint declaration to explain the disputed points. This includes services, investment protection, international legal disputes, and labor and environmental standards," pointed out Ziga.

An extraordinary meeting of EU trade ministers has been convened for Oct. 18 to approve and sign CETA.

"I expect that the agreement will then be signed at a summit of representatives of the EU and Canada on Oct. 27," added Ziga.

More than three million Europeans have already signed a petition against CETA and tens of thousands of people are protesting against it in the streets of European cities.

The petition initiators claim that CETA would affect public policies via a mechanism for resolving investment disputes, it won't bring any benefits to Europeans and it'll threaten high-quality public services.

CETA would eliminate 98 percent of tariffs between Canada and the EU.
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Demand from China continues to drive European Union (EU) agri-food exports and in particular exports of pig meat which reached record high level this year, EU agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan said Friday.

"China is a growing market and Europe wants to be involved in this market," the EU official told Xinhua.

He is in Rotterdam attending a shipment of Dutch pig meat to China and the first shipment of Dutch veal meat to the United States.

Hogan noted that pig meat as a top EU export product to China has registered substantial increase in the Chinese market in 2016.

"The shipment of Dutch pig meat is another indication of the growing marketplace that China is offering to European farmers particularly this year," said Hogan.

Boosting agri-food exports to China and other parts in Asia has become top priority for the EU as the block seeks new markets to offset the loss of sales to Russia. Moscow banned EU food imports since August 2014 in response to Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

According to Hogan, 80 percent of the total value of exports to Russia have already been replaced by EU exports to Asian markets.

EU pork exports in the first half 2016 have increased by 44 percent in volume and 39 percent in value compared to the same period last year. The Chinese mainland stands as the first outlet with an increase of 115 percent in volume, followed by Japan (+22 percent) and China's Hong Kong (+55 percent), according to figures released by the European Commission.

Hogan visited China twice this year as part of a series of trade missions to open up new markets. Later this year he will visit Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore with a delegation of European agri-business people. In 2017, he plans to go to Nigeria, Canada and again China.

"There are considerable opportunities for the European producers of agricultural products in China," the commissioner said, citing as most important factor the growing Chinese middle class.

EU figures put China as the second biggest agricultural export market for the EU. In 2015, the EU exported 10.3 billion euros (about 11.5 billion U.S. dollars) of agri-food to China, 39 percent up from previous year and representing 8 percent of all EU agri-exports.

As the EU's leading producer and the world's second largest agri-food products exporter, the Netherlands exported 186 tons of pork to China in the first eight months of this year, noted Dutch minister for Agriculture Martijn Van Dam.
VIENNA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of attacks on asylum facilities in Austria has seen a significant increase in the first half of 2016, Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka confirmed Friday.

Austria Press Agency reported the figures, as given by Sobotka following a question from a Greens member in parliament, as 24 attacks that took place in the first six months of the year.

In 2015 only 25 such attacks took place during the entire year, representing close to a doubling for the current year.

The nature of the attacks have ranged from graffiti of a xenophobic or National Socialistic nature, stones thrown through windows, hate posts or threats made online, and arson attacks.

Sobotka said perpetrators have only been identified in three of the 24 attacks, down from the 28 percent of cases were perpetrators were identified last year.
ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia sees China as a serious development partner, says Ethiopian State Minister of Finance and Economic Cooperation Ahmed Shide.

The Ethiopian minister made the remarks at a reception co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia and the Mission to the African Union (AU) on Thursday to mark the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China,

The heroes and heroines of China, in the 1930s and 40s, made the historic long march to bring peace, equality, and justice to their great nation, which culminated in the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, he said.

"Ever since the succeeding generations, through relentless struggle, have not only pulled hundreds of millions of Chinese out of abject poverty, and enabled them to meet their dire needs, but also successfully put their great nation on irreversible development path," said the minister.

"Hence, this day is indeed, memorable for the Chinese people and the world at large," he noted.

Stating that Ethiopia and China enjoy a longstanding and wide-ranging strategic comprehensive partnership, Ahmed said China has played an exemplary role in supporting Ethiopia's relentless struggle to extricate its people out of poverty and to transform its economy.

"Ethiopia sees China as a serious development partner and has keen desire to strengthen and deepen the existing excellent relationship between our two countries, most importantly this partnership based on mutual respect and win-win benefit," said the minister.

He also stated that Ethiopia and China are supporting each other on regional and global matters of common interest and contribute immensely to world peace and equitable development.

With a photograph exhibition, the reception was attended by senior government officials of Ethiopia and the pan-Africa bloc as well as diplomats, heads and representatives of different organizations.

In his remarks during the event, Kuang Weilin, Head of Chinese Mission to AU, noted that the great strides China has made since its reform and opening up process have changed the destination of the Chinese people, and also significantly contributed to global peace and prosperity.

"Over the past 67 years, China has witnessed remarkable economic and social achievements. Gone are the days when China was poor, weak and divided," said the envoy.

Despite challenges at home and abroad, he said China remains committed to deepening reforms and opening up to ensure sound and sustainable economic growth.

He also reiterated that China is focusing on structural reforms, innovation, new technology, and new industries like the "Internet", among others, which has provided new driving forces for the country's sustainable development.

With economic growth of 6.7 percent during the first half of this year, which is not small accomplishment in light of the sheer size of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and the current global economy, China plays its role as a key engine of the world economy.

"China has contributed to the world economic growth by 30 percent last year. As the fundamentals of China's economy remain sound and the general trend is rather promising, we are confident that China can maintain medium-to-high growth rate in the years to come, which will undoubtedly boost recovery of the world economy," noted Kuang.
People buy pork at a supermarket in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 10, 2015. (Xinhua/Long Wei)

ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Demand from China continues to drive European Union (EU) agri-food exports and in particular exports of pig meat which reached record high level this year, EU agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan said Friday.

"China is a growing market and Europe wants to be involved in this market," the EU official told Xinhua.

He is in Rotterdam attending a shipment of Dutch pig meat to China and the first shipment of Dutch veal meat to the United States.

Hogan noted that pig meat as a top EU export product to China has registered substantial increase in the Chinese market in 2016.

"The shipment of Dutch pig meat is another indication of the growing marketplace that China is offering to European farmers particularly this year," said Hogan.

Boosting agri-food exports to China and other parts in Asia has become top priority for the EU as the block seeks new markets to offset the loss of sales to Russia. Moscow banned EU food imports since August 2014 in response to Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

According to Hogan, 80 percent of the total value of exports to Russia have already been replaced by EU exports to Asian markets.

EU pork exports in the first half 2016 have increased by 44 percent in volume and 39 percent in value compared to the same period last year. The Chinese mainland stands as the first outlet with an increase of 115 percent in volume, followed by Japan (+22 percent) and China's Hong Kong (+55 percent), according to figures released by the European Commission.

Hogan visited China twice this year as part of a series of trade missions to open up new markets. Later this year he will visit Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore with a delegation of European agri-business people. In 2017, he plans to go to Nigeria, Canada and again China.

"There are considerable opportunities for the European producers of agricultural products in China," the commissioner said, citing as most important factor the growing Chinese middle class.

EU figures put China as the second biggest agricultural export market for the EU. In 2015, the EU exported 10.3 billion euros (about 11.5 billion U.S. dollars) of agri-food to China, 39 percent up from previous year and representing 8 percent of all EU agri-exports.

As the EU's leading producer and the world's second largest agri-food products exporter, the Netherlands exported 186 tons of pork to China in the first eight months of this year, noted Dutch minister for Agriculture Martijn Van Dam.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday called for an early return to peace and security in Mali, saying that the promotion of peace and stability in the West African country is crucial to its people, the region and the world.

Speaking at a ministerial meeting here on the implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali, Ban also called on the relevant parties involved in the reconstruction of Mali to implement the foundations that have been laid out regarding the way forward.

"Mali needs our continued support," he said. "The Peace Agreement remains the framework that will give all Malians a chance for a better and safer life."

The ministerial meeting, which was co-chaired by the governments of Mali and Algeria, was held on the sidelines of the current annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened here Tuesday and runs through Monday.

Meanwhile, the UN chief highlighted that both the "historic" Peace Agreement as well as the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) -- currently in its third year -- have helped drive progress.

"Mali needs the unwavering and coherent support of its international partners," Ban said, recalling that the Security Council has strengthened MINUSMA to ensure it can support the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the restoration of State institutions, and protect civilians.

The Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali was signed in June 2015 by the Coordination des Mouvements de l'Azawad armed group, following its signature in May 2015 by the government and a third party, the Plateforme coalition of armed groups.

The Malian government has been seeking to restore stability and rebuild following a series of setbacks since early 2012, including a military coup d'etat, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the seizure of its northern territory by radical extremists.

The country has also been wrecked by a series of humanitarian crises.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Middle East Quartet on Friday called for an early resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians in order to bring peace and stability to the Middle East region on the basis of the two-state solution.

In a statement issued here, the Quartet reiterated its call on the parties to "create the conditions for the resumption of meaningful negotiations that will end the occupation that began in 1967 and resolve all final status issues."

"The Quartet emphasized its strong opposition to ongoing settlement activity, which is an obstacle to peace," the statement said.

The Quartet expressed its grave concern that the acceleration of settlement construction and expansion in Area C and East Jerusalem, including the retroactive "legalization" of existing units, and "the continued high rate of demolitions of Palestinian structures, are steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution," the statement said.

"The Quartet expressed serious concern for the continuing dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by the closures of the crossings as well as for the illicit arms build-up and activity by militant Palestinian groups, including rockets fired towards Israel, which increase the risk of renewed conflict," the statement said.

"The Quartet condemned the recent resurgence of violence and called on all sides to take all necessary steps to de-escalate tensions by exercising restraint, preventing incitement, refraining from provocative actions and rhetoric, and protecting the lives and property of all civilians," said the statement.

The statement was issued here at the end of a meeting of representatives of the Quartet -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.

The Quartet Principals were joined by the foreign ministers of Egypt and France during the second part of the meeting to brief on their work to support Middle East peace, the statement said.

"All agreed on the importance of close and continuing coordination of all efforts to achieve the common goal of the two-state solution."

The Quartet is a diplomatic group in search of the realization of the two-state solution, which means a secure Israel to live in peace with an independent State of Palestine.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23(Xinhua) -- Oil prices fell on Friday as Saudi Arabia was said to dismiss the prospects for a market support deal from OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) next week.

Saudi Arabia expects a meeting of key producers to be a chance to consult rather than take a decision on output levels, an OPEC delegate familiar with the nation' s oil policies said on Friday, according to local media.

OPEC members and Russia are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum in Algeria from Sept. 26 to 28.

It has been widely expected that the world major oil producers may reach an output-cut deal during the meeting to stabilize the market.

In the previous two sessions, the oil prices were supported by declining U.S. inventories.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its weekly report on Wednesday that U.S. oil inventories fell by 6.2 million barrels last week, beating market consensus of a 3.4-million barrels decrease.

The West Texas Intermediate for November delivery lost 1.84 U.S. dollars to settle at 44.48 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for November delivery erased 1.76 U.S. dollars to close at 45.89 U.S. dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. Enditem
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- One man was fatally shot and another suspect detained Friday by police in the U.S. city of Baltimore, Maryland, local media reported.

The shooting took place in the Brooklandville area in north of Baltimore, where police were responding to a robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank in the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road, the reports said.

The victim was shot while fleeing the scene in a car, and the second suspect, reportedly involved in multiple other recent bank robberies, was wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment, police spokesman John Wachter was quoted as saying.

Wachter said one of the police officers was wearing a body camera, but the police video was not reviewed yet. It remained unknown whether the officer with the camera was the one who fired the weapon.

The identities of the victim and the second suspect were not released.

Friday's shooting followed two other recent deaths of people engaged in some ways with county police, according to a report by The Baltimore Sun.

A 21-year-old man named Tawon Boyd died on Wednesday after he was wounded in a confrontation with police on Sunday in Essex.

The police have also been criticized for the death of Korryn Gaines, 23, who was fatally shot by an officer in her apartment last month. Police said she pointed a shotgun at the officers during the standoff.

The Friday shooting also came after three days of protests and violence in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, that were sparked by Tuesday's fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a black man, by a local police officer.
GENEVA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China and African countries on Friday co-hosted a meeting on "The realization of economic, social and cultural rights through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" in Geneva during the 33rd session of the Human Rights Council.

Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, stressed on the meeting that the international community should take the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as an opportunity to eliminate obstacles to development and provide the necessary condition and solid foundation for the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights for all.

Saying that eradication of poverty and hunger should be at the core of the agenda, Ma noted that China expect to lift all the remaining rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty by 2020.

"We will realize ahead of schedule sustainable development targets related to hunger and poverty eradication, women and children's health care, and housing security," he said.

Stressing that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlined a great vision for national development and international development cooperation, Ma added that efforts should be made to improve global economic governance and strengthen the representation and voice of developing countries in international economic governance.

"Development is vital to the promotion and protection of human rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights," he said.

Ambassador Jean-Marie Ehouzou, African Union permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko, permanent representative of South Africa to the UN in Geneva, as well as representatives from other countries and UN bodies were present as panelists at Friday's meeting, which was also attended by other diplomats, NGOs, experts and scholars.
This file photo taken on May 27, 2016 shows a woman walking into a Wells Fargo bank in Washington, DC. The powerful Financial Services Committee of the US House of Representatives announced September 16, 2016 they will investigate allegations that Wells Fargo fraudulently opened millions of unauthorized customer accounts. Wells Fargo, the second largest USbank by market value, this month paid $185 million in fines as it admitted that employees had boosted sales figures by opening some two million deposit and credit accounts in customers' names without their knowledge. (AFP PHOTO/Nicholas Kamm)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- One man was fatally shot and another suspect detained Friday by police in the U.S. city of Baltimore, Maryland, local media reported.

The shooting took place in the Brooklandville area in north of Baltimore, where police were responding to a robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank in the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road, the reports said.

The victim was shot while fleeing the scene in a car, and the second suspect, reportedly involved in multiple other recent bank robberies, was wounded and taken to a hospital for treatment, police spokesman John Wachter was quoted as saying.

Wachter said one of the police officers was wearing a body camera, but the police video was not reviewed yet. It remained unknown whether the officer with the camera was the one who fired the weapon.

The identities of the victim and the second suspect were not released.

Friday's shooting followed two other recent deaths of people engaged in some ways with county police, according to a report by The Baltimore Sun.

A 21-year-old man named Tawon Boyd died on Wednesday after he was wounded in a confrontation with police on Sunday in Essex.

The police have also been criticized for the death of Korryn Gaines, 23, who was fatally shot by an officer in her apartment last month. Police said she pointed a shotgun at the officers during the standoff.

The Friday shooting also came after three days of protests and violence in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, that were sparked by Tuesday's fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a black man, by a local police officer.
Liu Jieyi(C, front), China's permanent representative to the UN, votes in favor of a Security Council resolution at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 23, 2016. The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to call on all states to refrain from conducting any nuclear weapon test explosion, meanwhile commemorating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution to call on all states to refrain from conducting any nuclear weapon test explosion, meanwhile commemorating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Open for signature on Sept. 24, 1996, the legally binding CTBT is a multi-lateral treaty by which states agree to ban all nuclear explosions.

"Over the past 20 years, nuclear test ban has become a common understanding of the international community," said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, after the council voted on the resolution.

"The adoption by the council today of this resolution is of great significance for commemorating the opening for signature of the treaty, reaffirming the purpose of nuclear test ban and advance an early entry into force of the treaty," he added.

"China has consistently stood for complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons," said Liu, noting that China has made the commitment of no first use of nuclear weapons and has undertaken unconditionally not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states and nuclear-weapon-free zones.

"China was among the first countries that signed the CTBT," he said. "We have been steadfast in maintaining the object and purpose of the treaty and abiding by our nuclear test moratorium commitment."

"We will continue to work with all sides to push for early entry into force of the treaty and make unremitting effort for the realization of the comprehensive prohibition and total destruction of nuclear weapons," he added.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Global Pulse initiative on Friday announced a partnership with Twitter that will provide the United Nations with access to the platform's data tools to support efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in September last year.

"The Sustainable Development Goals are first and foremost about people, and Twitter's unique data stream can help us truly take a real-time pulse on priorities and concerns -- particularly in regions where social media use is common -- to strengthen decision-making," said Robert Kirkpatrick, the director of UN Global Pulse.

"Strong public-private partnerships like this show the vast potential of big data to serve the public good," he said.

UN Global Pulse is an innovation initiative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that harnesses data science and analytics for sustainable development and humanitarian action.

The initiative was launched in 2009 based on a recognition that digital data offers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of changes in human well-being, and to get real-time feedback on how well policy responses are working.

It tracks development progress and emerging vulnerabilities in real time by tapping into Big Data -- the enormous volumes of records that are automatically created by people's every interaction with the digital world.

The first anniversary of the SDGs was marked at the opening of annual high-level debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs -- comprising a set of 17 Goals -- are a bold new agenda aimed at eradicating poverty and tackling the world's most pressing challenges by 2030.

In its announcement, UN Global Pulse highlighted that every day, people around the world send hundreds of millions of Tweets in dozens of languages.

Such social conversations contain real-time information on many issues, including the cost of food, availability of jobs, access to health care, quality of education, and reports of natural disasters, and the partnership will allow UN development and humanitarian agencies to turn the public data into actionable information to aid communities around the globe.

The new collaboration builds on existing research and development that has shown the power of social media for social impact, such as measuring the impact of public health campaigns, tracking reports of rising food prices, or prioritizing needs after natural disasters, according to UN Global Pulse.

"We are incredibly proud to partner with the UN in support of the Sustainable Development Goals," said Chris Moody, Twitter's vice president of data strategy. "Twitter data provides a live window into the public conversations that communities around the world are having, and we believe that the increased potential for research and innovation through this partnership will further the UN's efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals."
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- As the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly entered its fourth day on Friday, the issues of environmental protection, terrorism, and refugees featured prominently in the speeches of world leaders who made a united call for tackling these multi-layered challenges.

Brazil's new president, Michel Temer, told the United Nations on Tuesday that his country will deposit instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change the next day.

"We live in the same Planet. There is no plan B. We must take ambitious measures under the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities," he said.

As the world's most biodiverse country and displaying one of the world's cleanest energy matrices, Brazil is an environment powerhouse with an uncompromising commitment to the environment, he said.

The Paris Agreement on climate change has moved closer towards entry into force as 31 more countries joined the agreement on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York.

Through videos, the European Union, Canada, Australia and some other countries have promised to join the agreement no later than this year.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said there are 60 parties representing over 47.5 percent greenhouse gas emissions have joined the agreement.

The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015, needs 55 nations that together account for 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions to ratify before it can formally enter into force.

To Fiji, a small island developing country, climate change has posed a real, existential threat as a warming globe brought about extreme weathers and rising sea levels.

"We are alarmed by scientific predictions that the 2 degree cap on global warming over pre-industrial levels agreed to in Paris is not enough to save us," said Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday, appealing for deeper cuts in carbon emission to reverse the current trend of global warming.

The prime minister urged the world to embrace the 1.5 degree cap so as to spare Small Island Developing States from the nightmare scenario in which a single event could wipe out our economy and set the country back for decades.

According to a monthly report released recently by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2016 will be hottest year on record, with each of the first seven months setting new temperature records.

Terrorism is another topic that touched repeatedly by world leaders.

Noting some new challenges such as global terrorism, climate change, and unprecedented mass movements of people, British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday called on the international community to adopt comprehensive national action plans to tackle both the causes and the symptoms of all extremism.

"These (terrorist) organizations are using our own modern banking networks against us," said May. "So we need to look at our regulations, our information sharing and using our technological capacities to get ahead of them."

"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," she added.

Speaking along similar lines, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Tuesday that the international community needs to take all possible measures to defeat terrorism and prevent it from exploiting advances in information technology.

"The world is at a crossroads; threats to international peace and security are no longer conventional, but have rather evolved to constitute a threat to the very tenets of human civilization," al-Sisi said.

As a regional power, al-Sisi said, Egypt has managed to preserve its stability in the Middle East, a region plagued by instability and bloody conflicts.

"Egypt may continue to act as an anchor of stability in the Middle East, sparing no efforts in carrying out its natural role by working with regional and international parties to restore security and stability in the region," he said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi said on Thursday that the international community should cooperate to besiege terrorism, dry out its financial resources, and demolish its networks and recruitment hubs.

Calling the Islamic State (IS) an adversary to Islam, Abadi also noted that terrorism will not end until the problem of radical ideology of sectarian segregation is addressed.

"There is no choice but to cooperate to win the war against terrorism," he added.

Iraqi security forces and allied units have been battling IS militants for retaking large territories in northern and western Iraq that was seized by the IS since June 2014.

The morass of the conflict in the Middle East and other areas not only fueled the rise of extremists, but spewed out a flood of refugees and migrants into neighboring countries.

On migration issue, May said the international community must ensure a managed and controlled international migration response and at the same time investing to tackle underlying drivers of displacement and migration at source.

She said 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."

Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said on Wednesday that lack of peace and lack of development are two main causes of the unprecedented scale of irregular migration in recent years.

Addressing the UN General Assembly high-level debate, Suu Kyi said by building peace and development, durable solutions to the migration issue can be found.

"We must not forget that migrants contribute to the economies of their host countries as well as to the global economy," she said.

This year's high-level General Assembly debate from Sept. 20-26 has gathered over 140 world leaders here in New York on a variety of issues, ranging from sustainable development, counter terrorism, and refugee and migrant crises.
PARIS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A woman was shot dead in the head on Friday night in Seine-Saint-Denis, a French department in the suburbs of Paris, French media reported.

She was apparently driving her car when she was hit by two bullets by a gunman on a scooter, the French daily newspaper Le Parisien reported, adding that several bullet casings were found at the scene.

Police and paramedics arrived at the site to handle the case.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged the Yemeni government to "engage constructively in peace talks," and to "do all it can to ensure humanitarian actors have access" to the people in need in the war-torn country.

During his meeting with Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi, Ban noted with concern "the continued absence of a negotiated settlement to the Yemen conflict," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

"He urged the Government of Yemen to engage constructively in peace talks mediated by his special envoy for Yemen."

Meanwhile, Ban expressed deep concern about the severe humanitarian crisis and dire economic situation in Yemen, the spokesman said. "He urged the government to do all it can to ensure humanitarian actors have access."

The secretary-general highlighted the terrible and tragic toll the conflict is taking on the civilian population, both in terms of casualties and damaged infrastructure, he said.

"He reminded the Government of its obligation to respect international humanitarian law, including as it relates to protecting civilians from harm and civilian infrastructure from damage."

Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Houthis seized power and overturned the Yemeni government in late 2014.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened to support the exiled Yemeni government in 2015, but failed to bring it back to power in the rebel-held capital Sanaa. The war and ensuing airstrikes have killed over 6,400 people, mostly civilians.
NICOSIA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The embassy of China in Cyprus and Cyprus' Paphos municipality marked 45 years of friendship and diplomatic relations between China and Cyprus with the Paphos China Cultural Night on Friday.

The cultural night, an annual event established many years ago, also marked the National Day of China and the Independence Day of Cyprus, celebrated by both countries on October 1.

Paphos Mayor Phedonas Phedonos, when welcoming Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Huang Xingyuan, said the city has every reason to upgrade the historic ties of friendship and brotherhood between Cyprus and China in all fields.

He mentioned that over the last few years, several Chinese chose Paphos to set up residence or make investment, which has contributed to the revival of local economy following the economic crisis that hit Cyprus in 2013.

Huang stressed that the exchanges and cooperation in the sectors of tourism and investment have become an important factor of bilateral relations.

He added that the annual cultural night has become a platform that contributed towards deepening the friendship between the people of the two countries.

Hundreds of Chinese living in Cyprus and local people enjoyed performance of Chinese and traditional Cypriot music, dancing and singing.


:    9         

         2013 .         9          .    .
by William M. Reilly

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- "The basis of world stability is being destroyed," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the UN General Assembly General Debate on Friday and blamed an unnamed "arrogant" super-power for "pushing forward unilateral hazardous solutions to the most complex conflicts and crises."

The outcome of such "feeling of their infallibility ... can be observed by the example of the bleeding Middle East and North Africa," he said in a thinly-veiled reference to the West and the United States in particular.

"It is high time to learn lessons and prevent a slide down to a catastrophe in Syria," Lavrov said. "Mainly thanks to Russia's military assistance to the Syrian legitimate government rendered at its request, it became possible to prevent the collapse of the state and disintegration of that country under the onslaught of terrorists."

Russia's engagement gave rise to the International Support Group (ISSG) encouraging a "political process so that the Syrians could determine the future of their country themselves," he said. "Hegemony has no place in the future if we want it to be a just future that gives peoples the opportunity to choose ways of their development."

Russia's commitment to that approach was reaffirmed in the Russia-China Declaration on Increasing the Role of International Law signed in June, he said.

Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) also laid verbal siege on the United States but with no hesitation about any name.

"As the international community witnesses every year, the situation on the Korean peninsula is often engulfed in a state that goes out of control, whose root-cause squarely lies in the United States which ... holds aggressive war exercises one after another in and around the Korean Peninsula," he said.

"These exercises are thoroughly offensive and aggressive nuclear war exercises in their nature ... aimed at 'decapitation' of the leadership of the DPRK and 'occupation of Pyongyang,'" Ri said without mentioning who he was quoting.

The foreign minister said Pyongyang "had no other choice but to go nuclear" after doing "everything possible to defend the national security from the constant nuclear threats from the United States."

But it wasn't all anti-United States, all the time in the assembly.

Countries, such as Mauritius concentrated on domestic goals.

"We have chosen to focus our first attention on the eradication of extreme forms of poverty, said Sir Aneroon Jugnauth, prime minister of the Indian Ocean island. "My Government has already undertaken, with the support of the UN Development Program (UNDP), to establish a social register of those living in dismal conditions and who require targeted measures and assistance.

"As a first unprecedented measure, we have introduced in this year's national budget a subsistence allowance for the extreme poor," he said, explaining it would be 40 percent higher than the World Bank's absolute poverty threshold of 3.10 U.S. dollars a day.

"The tourism industry of (Small Island Developing States) SIDS is particularly challenged by the negative effects of global warming," Jugnauth said. "Taking measures to reverse this trend is as essential to us as preserving marine and coastal ecosystems and biodiversity and making clean and sustainable use of oceans."

In taking steps to advance its ocean economy, he promised "Mauritius will ensure that these are in synergy with sustainability principles," enshrined in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be reached in 2030.

"Militias have no chance in succeeding," said President Bdrabuh Mansour of conflict-ridden Yemen, adding that the government would soon put an end to the ongoing war. He said comprehensive dialogue has been translated into a new civilian Constitution.

However, he said the Houthi militias continue to wage war and kill innocent people, expel civilians, blow up homes and control national assets.

"We are not advocates of revenge," Mansour said, adding that the government had chosen the path of peace in order to end the suffering of the Yemeni people and national dialogue was necessary to build a federal state based on equal rights.

"Militias and sectarian gangs, must withdraw and endorse the new Constitution," he said.

Vice President Mokgweetsie Masisi of drought-hit Botswana said his small country surrounded by South Africa is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary, rising up from one of the poorest country in the world to be a middle income country (MIC).

But, "Like many nations, Botswana is already feeling the adverse impact of climate change," he said. "Such impact manifests through decline in agricultural production, increasing food insecurity and increasing water stress."

"These are projected to worsen with time," Masisi said. "The threat posed by climate change must not be underestimated. Urgent and effective global action on climate change mitigation and adaptation is required to avoid the catastrophic consequences of global warming."

He called on this assembly session to provide "a strategic opportunity for injecting the much needed political momentum into the effective implementation of the Agenda 2030," the SDGs.

"Highly Indebted MICs like Jamaica, a group I call the "HIMIC" countries, are poised for economic transition with relatively high levels of health and education attainment," said Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, admitting his Caribbean isle has some problems.

"However, in a climate of historically low economic growth, this potential is gravely threatened, ironically, by having to choose between debt repayment and catalytic growth spending," he said. "For Jamaica, there is no choice. Jamaica must and we are repaying our debt."

"However the consequence of this is that there are no resources available for the government to make the kinds of public investment that can stimulate economic activity," Holness said. "In addition, spending on critical issues such as security, the absence of which negatively impacts growth, is compromised."
United States President Barack Obama holds a press conference about the recent bombing in the New York region at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York, New York, on September 19, 2016. On the evening of September 17, 2016, a bomb placed in a dumpster exploded in lower Manhattan injuring at least 29 people. (Photo Credit: Anthony Behar/CNP/AdMedia//ADMEDIA_adm_091916_Obama-Presser_CNP_007)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed a bill that would allow the families of the Sept. 11 terror attacks' victims to sue Saudi Arabia in U.S. courts.

The bill, named Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), would remove the sovereign immunity in U.S. courts from Saudi government, which is not designated state sponsor of terrorism by the United States.

In a letter of notice to the Senate, Obama said that he made the decision because the bill "would be detrimental to U.S. national interests."

"Enacting JASTA into law, however, would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks," Obama said.

Obama listed three reasons behind his decision to veto the bill that was passed by both chambers of U.S. Congress.

First, the bill threatens to reduce the effectiveness of U.S. response to a foreign government that supports terrorism, by taking such matters out of the hands of national security and foreign policy professionals who will designate a state sponsor of terrorism after careful reviews.

Second, the bill would upset longstanding international principles regarding sovereign immunity, putting in place rules that, if applied globally, could have serious implications for U.S. national interests as the U.S. has larger international presence than any other country.

Third, the bill threatens to create complications in U.S. relationships with even its closest partners, whose counterterrorism cooperation with the U.S. will be limited in future.

Families of the Sept. 11 victims have been trying to sue the Saudi royal family, Saudi banks and charities in U.S. courts, on ground that the Saudi government provided financial support for terrorism.

Bin Laden, the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington D.C. area and Pennsylvania, was a wealthy Saudi national.

But the families' efforts have largely been stymied, in part because of a 1976 law that gives foreign nations some immunity from lawsuits in American courts.

The JASTA has already drawn strong criticism from the Saudi government, a close U.S. partner in fighting terrorism in the Middle East, which has denied any role in the plot of the 2001 terror attacks.

Saudi Arabia has also threatened to sell off hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of American assets held by the kingdom if the U.S. passes and enacts the bill.

It requires votes from two-thirds of the members in the House and Senate to override a presidential veto.

The White House is working hard to prevent the Republican-controlled Congress from overriding the veto, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

"I can confirm for you that we continue to make a forceful case to members of Congress that overriding the president's veto means that this country will start pursuing a less forceful approach in dealing with state sponsors of terrorism and potentially opens up U.S. servicemembers and diplomats and even companies to spurious lawsuits in kangaroo courts around the world," Earnest told a news briefing Friday.
Schoolboy drowns at Balandra

Marcus Zephryn was having a sea bath when he began experiencing difficulties and called out for assistance. However, before relatives could render assistance, Zephryn disappeared underwater.

Relatives made several attempts to retrieve the body but were unsuccessful and called off the search at 5.30 pm due to poor lighting.

They will resume the search today with the Coast Guard, which was called in to assist in the search.

Weeping relatives vowed to keep vigil at Balandra, hoping the sea would purge the body of the teen.

This is the second drowning in the Eastern Division this week.

On Tuesday, 19-year-old San Fernando teenager Quintan Barnett drowned while bathing at Mermaid Pool in Mathura. His body was retrieved on Wednesday.

Sgt Vikash Ramkissoon of the Mathura police visited the scene and is continuing investigations.
Ambulance driver charged with moms murder

On Tuesday, the deceased woman was also expected to appear in the same court for a protection order case against a man.

The charge read to Ramdeo by the magistrate alleged that on a date unknown between September 12 and 16, 2016 at Gran Couva Main Road, he did murder Lisa Matagoolam.

The charge was laid indictably by Cpl Gordan and the accused man was not called upon to enter a plea. Police court prosecutor Sgt Lincoln Bonnett told the magistrate the deceased woman had filed for an application of a protection order against a man which was called for hearing on Tuesday.

He also told the magistrate that the accused man had also filed for a protection order case against Matagoolam, which was also due for hearing in the near future. Bonnett confirmed that the accused man provided his fingerprints and had to sign a document.

Defence attorney Selwyn Ramlal, who represented the accused man, said he intends to write the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to certain issues arising from the case. He further told the magistrate that in the past there has been pre-trial publicity with respect to cases and as result members of the public have linked information to such cases. Ramlal said there must be responsible reporting, as sometimes when situations are reported they come across as facts.

The magistrate however said everyone deserves a fair chance and a person before the court is innocent until proven guilty. She said anything reported must be measured and not appear as a decision made.

She sent a warning that all reports must also be fair. Ramdeo was remanded into police custody.

The case was adjourned to October 20.
Lack of toiletries not to blame

In a statement yesterday, senior communications officer Shelly Dolabaille said, The Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago wishes to correct the misinformation regarding the sitting of the Supreme Court in Port-of-Spain and San Fernando and the Judiciarys expenditure for the activities related to the opening of the 2016/2017 Law Term. Dolabaille went on to explain that on Monday, sitting of the criminal courts commenced and for those courts where a jury was empanelled and asked to return, it was because other matters were engaging the attention of the court or that attorneys were engaged in legal arguments which cannot be done in the presence of the jury.

Our criminal courts continue to sit and function and it was therefore erroneous to report that adjournments of sittings were due to the unavailability of refreshments or toiletries, she added.

Dolabaille did not confirm whether these items were indeed purchased and available for when jurors return to court.

On Wednesday, staff at the Judiciary said they were told there was no money to purchase basic items for jurors selected on panels for trials.
Tears at murdered mans funeral

Delivering the eulogy for his cousin, Jerome Marshall said, There is a verse that talks about how God blesses a man. The verse is Psalms 1:3, and every time I think about Raul, this verse comes to mind. Raul was a young man who was really happy and enthusiastic about life.

He always left you feeling relaxed and smiling and he would always let you know that he loved you. He had an energy that made everyone joyful.

If you do nothing else after today, remember the person that made you joyful. Remember that energy and try to emulate it, so that when we see him again, you could say, this is how you changed my life. Salvorys funeral was held at the Black Jack Marina in Chaguaramas, from about 11 am. Family members gathered to pay their final respects against the backdrop of the victims two yachts. Bishop Darrel Goodridge, in his sermon, appealed to the group of mourners to consider giving their lives to God by way of water baptism, so they could be with Him following the end times.

After the service, Goodridge performed final rites according to the Baptist faith and Salvorys body was committed to the earth at the Carenage Cemetery.

On Monday at about 3 am, Salvory was stabbed as he slept on a mattress in his living room.

About a month prior to this, Salvory and his wife Andrea Edwards were attacked in similar fashion with the latter being killed. The killer, to date, remains at large.
Shot man in stable condition

Yesterday, he remained warded in stable condition. A part of officers led by Woman Police Sergeant Lopez and including PC Ramnarine, Mootilal and Joseph visited the scene of the shooting and carried out enquiries.
Jailed Trini Muslims on hunger strike

According to reports out of Venezuela yesterday, the men have been going without food and water since Tuesday until they are freed or they die and be free in Gods world if they cannot be free on earth. The men were due to have had the decision on their case handed down on September 12, but the judge deferred the decision to September 14, and then to today.

Newsday understands that the men were told that the judge had taken leave of their case and they would not be taken to court today.

This prompted the men who were already locked up by Venezuelas intelligence service for over two and half years to embark on a hunger strike.

One of the men told Newsday yesterday that they were okay having been starved on many occasions. At present, he said, they were prepared to go to the Lord where we will be free. He said a nurse visited them yesterday morning, but he did not comment on their health status. Newsday yesterday attempted to contact Trinidad and Tobagos ambassador to Venezuela, but was unsuccessful.

The men who have not been charged for any terrorism activity or for espionage, told Newsday that they feel let down by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowleys Government, who during the visit of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro to Trinidad and Tobago in May discussed their repatriation and has done nothing since.
Rats chase away students

Responding to the closure of the school, an official from the Catholic Board confirmed to Newsday that students were sent home and rat bait is being put down to treat the problem. The issue is being dealt with at present. Workers are putting down heavy rat bait and they are fixing the problem. The students had to be evacuated this morning (yesterday) from Rosary Boys and the same process will be conducted next week Friday at St Roses Girls. The official continued, We cannot do the treatment this Friday because the daily paid people would not work. They have to put down rat bait that is very heavy, and the children have to be away from the school. Asked what was the cause of the rat infestation, the official noted that it was not the first time the school had experienced this problem. The official added that the school is in the heart of the city.

It is not the schools fault, we have a lot of restaurants around the area and we will always have that problem. This situation is something we have to be attending to all the time because of where the school is located and the build up of garbage in the city.

I think owners of the shops and food places in the city should pay more attention on how they dispose of their garbage especially unwanted food stuff, because this is what will encourage the rats. The official emphasised that they are working toward sanitising the school and indicated there will be no school at Rosary Boys today.
Minister: WASA workers not on strike

Antoine indicated that on Wednesday night there was a disruption in the water distribution system in certain parts of north and east Trinidad. He said this was the result of concerns raised by WASA workers about occupational health and safety (OSH) issues and security in high-risk areas. The minister said following a meeting between WASAs chairman and CEO with Public Services Association President Watson Duke, the plants were restarted and the distribution system is back up and running. Antoine explained there were quick fixes in terms of some of the OSH matters and a commitment by WASA to increase security patrols at its facilities. He said this was a situation which is not something to be continued because WASA is an essential service under the Industrial Relations Act. The minister said WASAs managers have put things in place to deal with the situation that occurred yesterday (Wednesday). He also said WASAs managers and workers are aware of the process to deal with OSH issues.

Antoine also listed the desilting of the Hillsborough Dam and the drilling of three new wells as some of the measures being taken to address water distribution issues in Tobago.
Govt hints at FATCA resolution

Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, Stuart Young, yesterday offered this hint, hours after six of the countrys business organisations called on both sides to stop politicking and ensure TT is FATCA compliant before the September 30 deadline set by the US.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert presents the 2016/2017 Budget in the House of Representatives on September 30.

Asked whether the Government and the Opposition would meet in Parliament to ensure the Bills passage before September 30, Young replied, Were going to Parliament tomorrow (today). Lets not preempt things that may or may not take place. On the Opposition saying it would sit with the Government over the weekend in a proposed joint select committee (JSC) to pass the Bill, Young said, The Opposition has said a lot of things.

Lets wait and see what happens tomorrow (today). He said the Government has indicated we have 23 votes in the Parliament.

Those 23 votes are there for the FATCA legislation. The Bill requires a three-fifths majority for passage in the House and Senate (25 and 19 votes, respectively).

Young said the Government told the six business groups months ago that you have the Governments support for the passage of the legislation and the signing of the agreement. Young said the inter- governmental agreement on FATCA which Imbert signed in August is the same agreement that was approved in 2013 by the then Peoples Partnership government.

He added that the agreement is non-negotiable and in it the Finance Minister is identified as the competent authority for FATCA.

The Tax Information Exchange Bill is one of three Bills listed on todays House Order Paper. Asked whether the Government would name its members for the proposed JSC to deal with the Bill, Young said the Government will be following what the Order Paper says is the business for today.

He was unaware as to whether the US Government has given TT an extension to next weeks FATCA deadline.

On whether failure to pass the Bill could have negative implications for the Budget and the measures it contains, Young replied, The Budget is in a weeks time. He reiterated the Government continues to be ready to do what needs to be done regarding FATCA legislation. He said the population expects the Opposition to be reasonable and ensure that TT does not face the negative implications of non-FATCA compliance.
UNC MPs: Uncertainty in TT

Tewarie expressed concern on Wednesday that many citizens are thinking about migrating to other countries.

He also said citizens are moving their money out of the country as well.

While acknowledging the drop in the countrys revenues is real and there is a requirement for citizens to live within their means until the economic conditions improve, Tewarie said the Government needed to be careful, especially on the maintenance of the countrys exchange rates. Rambachan said devaluation does not help the country. Saying this would raise the prices of imported goods and hurt people whose salaries will not be able to compensate, he said Government should explore other avenues to reduce the countrys dependence on foreign exchange.

Claiming the Government would have received $60 billion in revenue since last September, Rambachan said the Government needed to explain what was going on with borrowings.

He also claimed the countrys debt to GDP (gross domestic product) ratio had increased by 20 percent.

Opposition Senator Gerald Hadeed said the ruling Peoples National Movement (PNM) had failed the country and needed to seek a fresh mandate from the population.

Hadeed said the Opposition was prepared for any snap general election the PNM may call.
Moonilal links Al-Rawi, Garcia to Las Alturas

Moonilal sought to refute remarks by Finance Minister Colm Imbert at a Peoples National Movement (PNM) meeting on Tuesday in Mt DOr that only two apartment bocks were faulty and that these were built after the tenure of Garcia and Al-Rawi.

Moonilal said, The latest rant and blame game from a Government official does not alter the raw facts of a PNM regimes direct responsibility for the Las Alturas housing fiasco. He dubbed Imbert the Governments public defender, fault-finder and spin-doctor on the Las Alturas project, which cost taxpayers some $80 million. In characteristic fashion, Mr Imbert skewed the facts, pointed fingers and uttered reckless and slanderous allegations, said Moonilal, adding: But he was unable to debunk the truth borne out in the report of the commission of enquiry and the timeline of activities which I had earlier presented. The documented reality is that Faris Al-Rawi was a director and Noel Garcia was managing director of the Housing Development Corporation at the time of the decision to construct apartment buildings on volatile lands and without official approval. Dr Keith Rowley was Minister of Housing at the material time. Moonilal said that today Garcia and Al-Rawi hold top national posts, presiding over policies and budgets, shielded by their Government colleagues.

Of note, also, is that the Government had until March 2016  six months after it came into national office  to initiate legal action on the matter, Moonilal said. He urged Prime Minister Rowley to show good governance by dismissing Al-Rawi and Garcia.

Failing that, Dr Rowley would be guilty of complicity in the multi-million-dollar Las Alturas waste. He would also be responsible for endorsing and upholding two officials who were guilty of a breach of their fiduciary duties and who do not enjoy the publics trust, Moonilal said.
70% of European Jews not attending synagogue during holidays due to targeted terror

If one goal of terrorism is to deny a free people basic rights, then count it as successful, at least where European Jews are concerned.

As reported recently by the Jerusalem Post, some 70 percent of Jews  nearly three-quarters  are going to sit out attending synagogue during shul on High Holy Days over fears of possible terrorist attacks, and this despite increased security in Jewish communities.

A poll that was published online recently revealing the 70 percent figure has nonetheless been met with skepticism by prominent Jewish leaders, even though the continent has been rocked by terrorist attacks that have killed hundreds, especially in France.

The survey was conducted online by the European Jewish Association in conjuction with the Rabbinical Center of Europe. The 78 respondents, the EJA says, were a representative sampling of the 700 capital cities and communities throughout Europe, from Britain to Ukraine.

Pollsters claimed that while the number of respondents was far fewer than the number of communities represented, each one speaks for many communities. They compared the respondent rate with certain cities and regions that have many similarities with a number of similar communities.

The surveys margin of error was 4.9 percent.

In the poll, participants were queried as to whether there was an increase or decrease in the number of registered people in Jewish communities as compared with 2015. They were also asked if there was an increase or decrease in the number of Jewish adherents who were going to attend synagogue on the High Holy Days as compared to the previous year. The poll also asked them to gauge their level of concern about the increase in antisemitism in their communities and if security had been increased at Jewish centers and institutes in the community following a rise in terrorism across Europe over the past year.

The poll found:

About half of Jewish communities throughout the European continent said there had been a drop in the number of active members, while just 11 percent said they believe there had been an increase, and 39 percent reported no change;

Eight in 10 respondents said they are concerned about rising antisemitism in their home countries;

Three-quarters of respondents, or 75 percent, said they witnessed an increase in security in Jewish communities taken by their respective governments.

General director of the EJA and the Rabbinical Center of Europe, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, said the poll results came as antisemitism increased since High Holy Days were observed and celebrated last year. He added that the vast majority of community leaders have reported an increase in security consisting of military and police presence near Jewish schools, synagogues and other institutions.

He told The Jerusalem Post that while other factors do come into play, such as secularization, a comparison with previous years shows that security concerns were the primary reason, as attacks have increased.

Sources:

Jpost.com

Breitbart.com

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Clinton campaign manager cant answer basic questions

On Wednesdays broadcast of MSNBCs Morning Joe, Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook dodged questions about Clintons Syria policy, which prompted members of the panel to say, we may be tiptoeing into Gary Johnson territory here, and ask, you cant lay out your plan, how can you convince voters that Hillary Clinton is the better choice, Robby? And why do we have you here?

Article by Ian Hanchett

Mook was asked by co-host Willie Geist, Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State when this crisis began. Whats her biggest regret about the way Syrias been handled?

He answered, Well, I  obviously shes been out of office for some time now.  I think shes well regarded for her leadership as Secretary of State. She came out of that office with a 70% approval rating. She, in contrast to Donald Trump has released a clear and decisive plan to defeat ISIS. Donald Trump has said that he thinks he knows more about it than the generals and refuses to tell us what his secret plan is.

Geist responded, I understand, Robby. What about in Syria, though? She supported the drawing of the red line. Obviously, she was out of her office when Assad used chemical weapons. Was it a mistake to draw the red line if the president was not willing to go  to do something about it when it was crossed?

Mook stated, Well, as you pointed out, the decision regarding that was made after she was out of office so, I think youd have to ask President Obama.

followed up, Was she disappointed that the president didnt act when the line was crossed?

Mook said, I think youd have to ask her about that question, how she would characterize it.

Geist then asked, Well, youre here to speak for her, Robby. So, you havent discussed that all?

Mook responded, She  look, I  what matters is what she is going to do as president. And as I said, she has a clear plan to defeat ISIS. Donald Trump does not. Its a secret. He wont tell anybody what it is and he says he knows more than the generals. I think the choice for voters is clear.

Mook was then asked by Geist, So, day one in office then, Robby, what does she do in regards to Syria?

He stated, Well, first of all, she needs to  she has said that she will work with our allies to dismantle their safe harbor in Syria and Iraq. She will harden our defenses here at home, and she will dismantle their network around the world, and a lot of thats going to happen in the  in cyberspace, and through digital communications. So, you can go on our website and read the full plan there.

Columnist Mike Barnicle then asked, So, Robby, we do realize that you are not secretary of state, but in the debate, next Monday evening, how would Secretary Clinton respond to somewhat of a version of the following question: Weve had a relief convoy bombed, potentially a war crime, leading into Aleppo. What would you do, Secretary Clinton, about providing food, water, and medicine to the citizens of eastern Aleppo today, right now, differently than what the Obama administration is doing? What would she do differently?

Mook responded, I  again, I think youre going to have to ask her that question. Thats a matter of policy. Im going to leave it for her to determine that.

Co-host former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough then stated, [W]e love you, buddy, but what are you here for, if you cant answer basic questions?  I mean, were  we may be tiptoeing into Gary Johnson territory here, if you dont know the answer to that basic of a question, what is the response to Aleppo, then why do we have you here?

Mook stated, I think  look, youre asking new policy questions. You would have to ask the secretary.

Scarborough responded, New? Aleppos been around for  Syrias been around for some time. The red line being drawns been around for some time. Im not being difficult here at all, these are basic questions.

Mook answered, And Im not being difficult either. Im simply saying that she has laid out a plan to defeat ISIS, and if there are new questions pertaining to Aleppo, Im going to need to let her answer those, and she will answer those, in the debate, and we look forward to her having the opportunity to do that. And as I said, Donald Trump has been able  unable, rather, to release a plan, and we hope that he will reveal what his plans are in the debate.

After the discussion switched gears to the economy, Geist asked Mook, [O]ne aspect of the Syria policy for Secretary Clinton we do know is that she has supported no-fly zones in the country. Is that still her belief that no-fly zones are a good idea?

Mook answered, Im going to let her statements speak for themselves.

Geist countered, Robby, arent you here representing her point of view?

Mook said, I am, indeed, and Im going to let her language speak for itself.

Geist then told Mook, Well, youve been saying that Donald Trump wont tell us what the policy is, but here you are not telling us what the policy is.

Mook countered, [Y]ou are quoting Secretary Clintons plans as shes laid them out. Im going to let them speak for themselves. Donald Trump has not laid out a single plan.

NBC Foreign Correspondent Katy Tur then asked, But if Donald Trump doesnt have a plan, as youre saying he doesnt, and Ive been on the campaign trail with him, and you cant lay out your plan, how can you convince voters that Hillary Clinton is the better choice, Robby?

Mook answered, [A]gain, you all are quoting Secretary Clinton. She is out there speaking about these issues. Im going to let her words speak for themselves. The problem is, Donald Trump hasnt spoken on any of this. He says he knows more about ISIS than the generals, and I think that should be troubling.

Scarborough ended the interview by saying, My first question I think was the  probably the best, which was about Brangelina. We can get an answer on that.

Read more at Breitbart.com

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Harsh vardhan launches CSIR'S Integrated skill initiative program

New Delhi, Fri, 23 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Prime Minister to Inaugurate CSIR Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Union Minister of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Vice President, CSIR, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, at a press conference organized here today, made an announcement that the CSIR Platinum Jubilee Celebrations would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India and President CSIR, Shri Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 26th September, 2016. The Minister also launched CSIR's Integrated Skill Initiative Program during the press conference.

Further, Dr. Harsh Vardhan informed that on this occasion, the Prime Minister would release seven new plant varieties developed at CSIR laboratories to the farmers located at five different locations from across the Nation, in an interactive mode through video conferencing. The Prime Minister would also witness an exclusive CSIR Showcase on major technological contributions of CSIR, organized on the sidelines of the event, he added.

On this occasion, the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes would be given to eminent scientists. The CSIR Diamond Jubilee Technology Award, CSIR Award for Science & Technology Innovations for Rural Development, CSIR Technology awards, G.N Ramachandran Gold Medal for the year 2016, CSIR Young Scientist Award, CSIR Innovation Award for School Children are the other CSIR awards that would be presented on this occasion.

After the formal launch of a major program on CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative', Dr. Harsh Vardhan also elaborated on the range of special activities built around the CSIR Platinum Jubilee Celebrations during the ensuing year, including organization of unique CSIR showcases and holding of lecture series of eminent scientists and industry captains, in several cities across the country.

The Minister added that CSIR proposes to launch 30 integrated skill initiatives in diverse areas with varying duration that would be further expanded to 75, within next one year. All these training programs are interconnected and linked to industry requirements and thus would invariably contribute to the subsequent employment generation, including small-scale entrepreneurship, he emphasized.

Dr. Harsh Vardhan highlighted that CSIR, with its nearly 8000 highly talented S&T personnel, excellent inter-disciplinary expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and a Pan-India presence, it is in a unique position to contribute towards Government's enterprise- enhancing programs in Skill India and Stand up India. He informed that no other Nation in the World has a conversion rate of innovations into patents over an average of 3-4% except CSIR, which has 13-14% on an average.

While congratulating CSIR on its achievements during the 75-year long journey, the Minister mentioned about some of its path breaking societal interventions which have empowered the common man. Be it the creation of the unique indelible ink used by the voting millions during its initial years or India's first baby milk - Amul spray milk powder, derived from buffalo milk with excellent digestibility, or resurrecting the Indian leather industry from the verge of closure, due to pollutants contaminating water, thus saving the livelihood of thousands, CSIR has time and again proved itself relevant to the nation during its journey of its 75 years, he added.

On this occasion, in the presence of the Minister, the CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR-CLRI), Chennai and Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Cooperative Finance Corporation (APSCCFC) signed an agreement for skill training, upgradation and entrepreneurship development of 10000 underprivileged candidates who are below the double poverty line with an aim of creating income generation assets for their households enabling their socio-economic development.

Source: PIB
Karuna who was murdered 2 days ago in Burari and expressed his condolences to the family: BJP

New Delhi, Fri, 23 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Delhi BJP President Meets the Family Members of the Murdered in Burari and Assures Them of Protection and Impartial Investigation & Also Appeals the Women not to Conceal Their Harassment by Stalkers & Persons Staring at Women

New Delhi, 22nd Sept: Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay yesterday met the family members of Karuna who was murdered 2 days ago in Burari and expressed his condolences to the family. He also talked to the Police Commissioner and assured Karunas father Shri Naresh Kumar & family members of full protection and impartial investigation in the case.

Besides Upadhyay North East District President Shri Raj Kumar Ballan, Pradesh General Secretary Smt. Rekha Gupta, Pradesh Treasurer Shri Shyam Lal Garg, Mahila Morcha President Smt. Kamaljit Sehrawat, Councillors Shri Rajpal Rana & Shri Gulab Singh, BJP leaders Shri Gopal Jha and Shri Ajay Chauhan also met the grieving family.

Talking to the press person after meeting the bereaved family members Upadhyay said that he has asked the Delhi Police to publicise the Women Helpline Number to the maximum and he also appeals to the women that they should not conceal their harassment by stalkers & persons staring at women. They should immediately inform their family members or the Head of Office or Delhi Police Helpline.
"My journey in Bollywood has not been easy but a beautiful one!", expresses Manjari Fadnis

Bollywood, Fri, 23 Sep 2016 NI Wire

Manjari Fadnis, popularly known for her roles in Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Rok Sako Toh Rok Lo has a surprise for her audience. The actress is all geared up to play a Maharashtrian farmer's wife in her upcoming movie Wah Taj which is all set to release on the 23rd September. Manjrai has come a long way from playing a petite school girl in Rok Sako Toh Rok Lo to playing Sunanda Marathe in Wah Taj!

Manjari recalls her journey in Bollywood, I have learnt a lot through all these years. I got my first film just out of high school, so there was a lot to learn then. I hardly knew how to even present myself in meetings etc. I remember when I first went to audition for Rok Sako Toh Rok Lo, I was asked to go wash my face before the audition because of the bad makeup I had applied. The only thing I had faith in was my performance.

The actress learnt it eventually that the key to the journey in Bollywood was passion. She loves her job and loves the industry she belongs to. It is this passion for art that allows her to grow as an actor with very project she undertakes. Manjari adds, I realised I was missing out on the fun of the process, it is only when I started enjoying the process and started acting for the passion of it, rather than to prove a point, was when I started feeling more liberated as a performer! Since then I have enjoyed my work much more than ever before and that's when I believe I started improving as an actor!

Sunanda Marathe is a character that stands out from all the other characters that she has played so far. It was this challenger and the great opportunity of working with Shreyas Talpade that motivated Manjari to instantly say yes for Wah Taj.

The first narration of the movie blew my mind away and I jumped on the opportunity and grabbed the movie, explains an excited Manjari who is counting days for the release of Wah Taj!

Wah Taj starring Shreyas Talpade and Manjari Fadnis is presented by Jayantilal Gada (Pen) of Pen India Ltd and Directed by Ajit Sinha. The film is produced by Pawan Sharma (Pun films Pvt. Ltd.) , Abhinav Verma (Spyderwave films) and Dhaval Jayantilal Gada (Pen India Ltd.) and co- produced by Gopal Sharma, Naresh Sharma, Amitesh Kumar, Poonam Raikwar, Ravindra Choudhary, Aksshay Jayantilal Gada, Kushal Kantilal Gada & Reshmaa Kadakia. The movie is slated to release on September 23rd, 2016.

Wah Taj Trailer Shreyas Talpade, Manjari Fadnis, Ajit Sinha

View More : 'Wah Taj'
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Moroccos foreign minister Salaheddine Mezouar called for a genuine south-south cooperation in fostering the input of excellence centers about climate change capacity building.

We need to acquire the knowledge of the north and foster south-south cooperation said Mezouar at a meeting on the Moroccan initiative to reinforce the capacities of excellence centers and Think Tanks in the field of mitigating climate change impact.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly.

In this respect, the Moroccan minister, who chaired the meeting in his capacity as head of the COP22 steering committee, said Morocco is ready to share its experience in renewable energies and food security with developing countries.

He stressed the need for establishing platforms enabling the exchange of experience and expertise between these excellence centers in the field of climate change.

The Moroccan initiative, which will be launched during the Climate Summit (COP22) in November, aims at bolstering the capacities of excellence centers in developing countries through establishing a network with a shared climate database enabling the dissemination of data and tools on climate, providing risk funding and offering consultancy services to companies and governments.

The meeting was attended by several foreign ministers from Africa and the Arab world and raised a range of issues relating to excellence centers in developing countries and training in the field of capacity building.

Scheduled in Marrakech on November 8-18, the COP22 will discuss agreements on reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity, assess the evolution of their commitments and review the implementation of the Framework Convention and other legal instruments.
The United States, the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League and several countries Thursday voiced support for Libyas UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) at the time the unity government struggles to float.

The countries and international institutions involved in finding solutions to the Libyan crisis stood again by the GNA in a communique they signed and released at the end of a ministerial meeting held in New York.

The signatories among which Russia, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates distanced themselves from any institution not allowed by the Libyan Political Agreement signed in December in Morocco.

We reiterate our support for the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) of Skhirat, Morocco signed on December 17, 2015 and its fulfillment, and for the Government of National Accord (GNA) as the sole legitimate government of Libya, as endorsed in UN Security Council Resolutions 2259 and 2278, the communique reads.

The statement is coming as a bowl of oxygen for Prime Minister Serraj and his government after suffering a defeat materialized by the loss of the countrys oil crescent hijacked by armed forces aligned with rival government in the east.

Forces close to marshal Khalifa Haftar on September 11 announced takeover of Libyas main oil ports protected by forces aligned with the GNA. The move stirred fears in western capitals backing Serraj and his Presidency Council (PC).

The signatories also hailed the GNAs counter-offensive to dislodge the Islamic State group (IS) from Sirte and other parts of the country in order to restore security and stability.

The GNA has launched the offensive since May and by early August it received the support of US airpower.

In underlining their support for Serraj, the signatories also reiterated they will continue providing military support to the GNA while maintaining the arms embargo imposed on the country since 2011.

We fully support the PCs requests for security assistance to counter Daesh and other UN-designated terrorist groups for a united national security force. We remain committed to upholding the arms embargo, and commend EUNAVFOR Sophias efforts to prevent illicit weapons shipments on the high seas, the countries stressed.

The participating foreign ministers urged Serraj and the PC to quickly proceed to the appointment of a new a cabinet and called on the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) to facilitate the reconciliation process and allow all HoR members to exercise their voting right.

The HoR last month rejected Serrajs 18-member cabinet, judging it too large. The 101 lawmakers present at the session gave Serraj another chance to name a smaller cabinet.
Swiss justice authorities Thursday pinned down Merouane Benahmed, former member of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group, on the run from French authorities that had put him under house arrest.

The 43-years old man was arrested at Vallorbe, in the canton of Vaud as he showed up at a Swiss registration center to apply for political asylum, reports say.

The man has been on the run from France since September 8 after failing to turn up for his daily routine reports to security forces.

He has been living under house arrest at Evron (North-West of France) since 2011 after serving ten years in prison. The former Islamist was convicted for involvement with terrorist groups plotting terror attacks in France.

According to Swiss justice authorities, he faces deportation if French authorities filed any demand. Benahmed however can still oppose it, the Swiss authorities noted.

Benahmed left his country Algeria in 1999 and sought refuge in France. He has been tried in abstentia and handed death sentence in Algeria.
Hundreds of Sahrawis sequestered in Tindouf Camps (Southern Algeria) have staged Thursday a demonstration to voice their anger at the Polisario new chief Brahim Ghali and express their frustration over status quo, deteriorating living conditions, alienation and political exploitation.

This popular uprising, which reflects the deep cracks widening between the separatists leadership and grassroots, comes after Brahim Ghali reshuffled his teams and fired some members loyal to ex-polisario head who passed away in May.

The demonstration, organized by the wife of the late Mohamed Abdelaziz, Khadija Bent Hamdi, was held in so-called Laayoune camp. The demonstrators decried the delay of delivery of humanitarian aid to the sequestered Sahrawis and denounced the dismissal and exclusion of Sahrawis belonging to Abdelaziz tribe, giving way to the Polisario hawks and hardliners.

In his latest shake-up made on tribal basis, the new Polisario leader seems to prefer more the Rguibat Bouihate clan than the Fokra tribe whose members held key positions within the Polisario and its self-proclaimed SADR during Mohamed Abdelaziz era.

According to some press reports, Khalili Ould Mohamed Abdelaziz, son of the late Polisario chief, has left Tindouf camps to live in the southern Spanish city of Seville where his father has hidden his wealth.

Apparently, Khalili Ould Abdelaziz, unlike his father, does not want to leave money growing in dormant accounts but looks forward to investing his inherited assets for high returns.

A report by the EUs anti-fraud office (OLAF) had revealed last year the large-scale embezzlement by Polisario leaders of humanitarian aid destined to the Tindouf camps population. The EU has been extending financial support to the Tindouf camps since 1975.

The report documented the diversions committed under the watch of Algeria and how the diverted goods were sold in the black market in neighboring countries and even in Algeria.

OLAF report proved the embezzlement carried out by Polisario leaders whose names were cited by investigators. Algerian Secret services were also cited in the report for their involvement and role in the vast embezzlement operation.
Subversive. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

In 1976, future CIA director John Brennan was a college student disgusted by Watergate and the system that produced it. As the young Brennan surveyed the political landscape, only one candidate seemed to be speaking the truth about the need for real change (and/or the dictatorship of the proletariat)  Communist Party nominee Gus Hall.

But by 1980, Brennan grown out of Marxist-Leninism, realized American-style capitalism was the one true way, and decided to devote his life to Uncle Sams intelligence apparatus. Or so that former pinko now claims.

Last week, during a panel discussion on diversity in the intelligence community, Brennan revealed the unique background he brought with him to the CIA. He recalled the polygraph test he took when entering the agency  and the hair-raising moment when he was asked whether he had ever been associated with a group dedicated to overthrowing the United States.

I froze, Brennan said. This was back in 1980, and I thought back to a previous election where I voted, and I voted for the Communist Party candidate.

The CIA director continued:

I said I was neither Democratic or Republican, but it was my way, as I was going to college, of signaling my unhappiness with the system, and the need for change. I said Im not a member of the Communist Party, so the polygrapher looked at me and said, OK, and when I was finished with the polygraph and I left and said, Well, Im screwed.

But the CIA saw something special in this former dissident  or else his interviewer was also a crypto-Stalinist. Either way, he got his national-security clearance.

And Congress doesnt appear anxious to take it away now.

I really am not interested in how the CIA director voted decades ago, Oregon senator Ron Wyden told BuzzFeed, while leaving a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing Thursday.

New Mexico senator Martin Heinrich told the outlet, I think Im going to let that one go.

So no more worries, comrade Brennan! Youre off the hook. Time to kick back with your dog-eared copy of Das Kapital  or order a drone strike. You do you.
Least woke member of Congress. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.

Its commonly believed that protesters in Charlotte, North Carolina, are angry and upset about what they say is the wrongful shooting of a black man by police on Tuesday, and systemic racial injustice across the country. In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, U.S. representative Robert Pittenger, whose district includes parts of Charlotte, offered an alternate explanation.

The grievance in their minds  the animus, the anger  they hate white people because white people are successful and theyre not, Pittenger said. It is a welfare state. We have spent trillions of dollars on welfare, and weve put people in bondage, so they cant be all theyre capable of being.

Unsurprisingly, this analysis did not go over well. Within hours, Pittenger, who is up for reelection, issued an apology.



What is taking place in my hometown breaks my heart. Today, my anguish led me to respond to a reporter's question in a way that I regret  Congressman Robert Pittenger (@RepPittenger) September 22, 2016

My answer to BBC doesn't reflect who I am. I was quoting statements made by angry protesters last night on national TV. Not my intent  Congressman Robert Pittenger (@RepPittenger) September 22, 2016

My intent was to discuss the lack of economic mobility for African Americans because of failed policies.  Congressman Robert Pittenger (@RepPittenger) September 22, 2016

I apologize to those I offended and hope we can bring peace and calm to Charlotte.  Congressman Robert Pittenger (@RepPittenger) September 22, 2016

Pittenger could have avoided this unfortunate incident if hed followed Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pences advice regarding Charlotte: Just stand by police and stop talking about racism in America altogether. We ought to set aside this talk, this talk about institutional racism and institutional bias, Pence said, dismissing those complaints as the rhetoric of division.

Besides, as Donald Trump explained earlier on Thursday, police brutality in black communities isnt whats really fueling the unrest. If youre not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what youre watching on television, he said.


Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

On Friday, President Obama vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for any alleged role the Gulf State played in the attacks  a move that will likely trigger the first veto override of his presidency.

Long before the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act passed Congress, Obama made it clear that the bill would not receive his signature. In February, Secretary of State John Kerry warned the Senate that the bill would put America in legal jeopardy  if the U.S. weakens sovereign immunity provisions, other countries could do the same, opening the door to new lawsuits against Americas government, corporations, and citizens.

But future diplomatic headaches are less frightening to your average congressman or senator than future challengers attack ads. And in most congressional districts, 9/11 widows are more popular than the Saudi royal family. Thus, Capitol Hill approved the legislation unanimously.

I have deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, who have suffered grievously, Obama wrote in his three-page veto message. I also have a deep appreciation of these families desire to pursue justice and am strongly committed to assisting them in their efforts.

But this bill, he insisted, does not enhance the safety of Americans from terrorist attacks, and undermines core U.S. interests.

In July, Congress declassified the 28 pages of the of the 9/11 Commission Report that dealt with potential links to Saudi Arabia. The pages suggest that some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with men suspected of being Saudi intelligence officers.

Hillary Clinton came out in support of the bill, shortly before the New York primary last April.

On Friday, New Yorks Democratic senator Chuck Schemer promised Obamas veto would be swiftly and soundly overturned.

If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable, Schumer said. The families of the victims of 9/11 deserve their day in court, and justice for those families shouldnt be thrown overboard because of diplomatic concerns.
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

History will probably record the green-energy revolution as the Obama administrations most important accomplishment. The daisy chain of events began with $90 billion in green-energy subsidies in the stimulus; continued through a wide array of greenhouse-gas-reducing regulations of transportation, construction, and electric power; and culminated with international agreements with China and then the entire world. There are two potential threats to this legacy. The first is a federal lawsuit to block President Obamas Clean Power Plan, which will lock in and extend emissions reductions in the power sector. Without the plan, the United States would have difficulty meeting its emissions-reduction targets, a failure that could well kick the slats out beneath the Paris climate agreement.

But now that plan is almost certain to survive. The reasons for this are slightly byzantine. The legal challenge will be heard by the D.C. Circuit, a powerful federal court. Judge Nina Pillard, a Democratic appointee, has previously recused herself from a decision about whether the entire court would hear the case, throwing her participation into doubt. But the court announced today she would join the full ruling. Pillard would mean that five six Democratic appointees would sit on the ten-member panel. While judges do not always vote on party lines, Democratic appointees generally do not support activist conservative causes like overturning environmental regulations.

If every Republican judge on the D.C. Circuit votes to strike down the Clean Power plan and somehow persuade one Democratic appointee to join them, the case would go to the Supreme Court. But that court is also split 4-4, and a tie would mean the plan survives.

It is strange how little attention Obamas climate agenda receives given its global importance. The drama has played out in bureaucratic regulations, court rulings, and international negotiations  not the legislative fights that draw passionate floor speeches in Congress or angry town-hall meetings. Yet, here we are, in a world where zero-emission energy is plunging in cost, solar energy is cheaper than coal or natural gas in much of the developing world  far cheaper, in some places  and a wide array of green-energy technologies are advancing at a furious pace.

Meanwhile, the Republican view of energy policy remains locked in the past. The party refuses to acknowledge the findings of climate science and treats the restoration of the primacy of fossil fuels as its central energy goal. All of which underscores the one remaining threat to Obamas green-energy revolution: Trump might win.

Update: This post originally undercounted the Democratic appointees on the D.C. Circuit by one. The Courts Democratic majority makes it even less likely the Plan will be struck down.
Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

For female employees working in the U.S. National Park system, there are threats much greater than bears. Namely, their male co-workers. On Thursday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee heard testimony about rampant harassment among employees at some of the nations most famous park, including Yellowstone and Yosemite. The conditions at the California park, where 18 employees have complained about the work environment, were described as toxic, hostile, repressive and harassing.

One of the victims who spoke to the committee was Kelly Martin, a 32-year veteran of the park service who currently serves as Yosemites chief of fire and aviation management. She recounted one incident where a park ranger watched her shower and received no punishment when she reported him. In fact, he was promoted despite being repeatedly caught engaging in voyeuristic behavior. She also spoke of the time a male supervisor who kept her picture in his car tried to kiss her. And the time another supervisor ran his fingers through her hair during a meeting.

Martin said her experience was not unique and that many female employees at Yosemite are being bullied, belittled, disenfranchised and marginalized from their roles as dedicated professionals.

The allegations at Yosemite are little surprise to those who followed the stories of an abusive chief ranger at Canaveral National Seashore in Florida or the sexual misconduct reported at the Grand Canyon.

Lawmakers of both parties were angry about what they heard but had little faith much would be done to stop it. As Maryland representative Elijah Cummings mentioned, a park-service task force was convened in 2000 to find solutions to rampant harassment. None of its recommendations were implemented.
When Im right, Im right. Photo: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Donald Trump says that wealthy universities should use their endowments to provide students with a cheaper education  or else forfeit the tax exemption on those endowments.

What a lot of people dont know is that universities get massive tax breaks for their massive endowments, Trump said at a rally in Pennsylvania Thursday night. These huge, multi-billion-dollar endowments are tax-free, but too many of these universities dont use the money to help with the tuition and student debt.

Instead, Trump argued, these wealthy schools should spend their money on administrators and equity-fund managers. The Republican nominee promised to change this state of affairs, by crafting reforms that force colleges to make good faith efforts to reduce student debt. Attaining a higher education should be easier to access, pay for and finish, the mogul argued.

A broken clock is right twice a day. Donald Trump is correct far less often. But he does, on occasion, have himself a point.

Your average elite university has become an enormous hedge fund with a side business in research and education. Harvard spends roughly $800 million on research every year  and $4.2 billion in total operating expenses. As New Yorks Annie Lowrey notes, the university has used its wealth to buy up enormous amounts of land in Cambridge, driving up real-estate prices while contributing little, if anything, in property tax. Revoking its nonprofit status would provide the state of Massachusetts with an additional $80 million a year. Considering that Harvard recently spent a billion dollars renovating its student dorms, the Bay State can probably be trusted to find a more socially useful way to invest that $80 million.

To be sure, taxing the endowments of elite universities would not solve the student debt crisis, which has had some of its most devastating effects on low-income students who drop out of public colleges. But there are plenty of other reasons to start taxing these institutions. And if the government put a limit on how much wealth they could hoard, its possible theyd spend some of their excess capital on increasing financial aid.
The gender gap is exhausting. Photo: Thurston Hopkins/Getty Images

The average woman does four more years of labor in her lifetime than do her male counterparts, which equates to an extra month of work each year, according to a new report.

U.K.-based charity ActionAids report Not Ready, Still Waiting, which was presented at the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, revealed that women across the globe face an unfair burden of unpaid-care work, according to The Guardian. This limits womens ability to pursue income-generating work, take time off, or play a role in political activities, the report found.

As a result, ActionAid is urging governments to offer quality, public care options, promote equal pay, and pass legislation for acceptable minimum wages. However, the chief executive of ActionAid UK, Girish Menon, told The Guardian that the group doesnt mean to suggest that all unpaid work, including unpaid care work, should be remunerated. He went on to say that some aspects of unpaid care are intrinsically invaluable, including loving and nurturing family.

Rather, ActionAid believes womens unpaid work should be recognized, reduced and distributed  between women and men, and between the household and the state. Womens labor  in and outside of the home  is vital to sustainable development and for the wellbeing of society. Without the subsidy it provides, the world economy would not function. Yet it is undervalued and for the most part invisible.

The report also found that women will continue to experience inequality unless changes are made to recognize and redistribute womens unpaid care work. Otherwise, I guess well just have to wait until 2152 for equal pay.
Dont mess with Gigi. Photo: RobinoPhotografare/XPOSUREPHOTOS.COM

Gigi Hadid had herself quite a moment on Thursday when a random creep decided to literally grab her from behind and pick her up off the floor after the Max Mara show in Milan. (For the record, she fought back and cussed the man out after being let down.) Now we know the creepers name: Vitalii Sediuk.



He was initially suspected of being responsible for the stunt, since he has a reputation as an internet prankster whos fond of tracking down elite fashion insiders. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, where Sediuk confirmed his involvement, he also laid out his reasoning for the bizarre stunt. It was, he said, a form of protest, against what he claims is the tabloid nature of the fashion industry.



In the statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Sediuk said he considers Hadid and Kendall Jenner beautiful but that they have nothing to do with high fashion. He added, 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.

Hmm 



You can call it a manifest or a protest, he added. 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.

Okay, then. No word on whether Wintour or anyone else is listening to Sediuks recommendations, but its probably correct to assume Hadids definitely not sorry for giving him the elbow jab when she did.
The OECD Observer online archive takes you on a journey through half a century of public policy and world progress.

Since November 1962, the OECDs experts and leading guests offer insights on the questions facing our member countries with concise and authoritative analysis, and provide our audiences with an excellent opportunity to understand policy debates and consider solutions.

Each edition of the OECD Observer reports on a core theme of the OECDs on-going work, from economics and society through governance, finance, and the environment, and articles are bolstered by tables and graphs.
I mean I wouldn't say I'm "glad the wicked witch has lost her husband" but I still think she and brad did Jen soooooo dirty

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Brad did Brad & Jen so dirty.

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yeah IA...it's all on brad tbh. he was the married one, and they didn't actually hook up until brad and jen officially separated right?

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Yeah but Angelina was responsible for a lot of the nasty pr aimed at Jen after the breakup. That's when they fired their publicists and she likely planted the stories that made Jen look like a selfish wife who put her career first and refused to give him children.



Edited at 2016-09-23 08:14 pm (UTC)

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But weren't they technically broken up by the time he met Angelina? They went on that ~save the marriage~ vacatiion(I think with Courtney Cox and David Arquette lol) and then sort of faded away. I assume they separated months before it was actually announced.

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She was not the one married to Jen. Brad was the one who took the vow of commitment. He did his wife dirty more than anyone else.

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Cheating wives get full blame but cheating husbands share responsibility with the mistress.

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I don't really agree with that.



If you read the infamous VF interview, Jennifer herself admitted that her marriage had been dying since the end of Friends. Brad has also commented that he was unhappy he was towards the end of his marriage. So even before Angelina became a factor, they were already on the road to divorce. At worst, Brad and Angie falling in love precipitated the end of a relationship that had run its course.



Feelings arent something you can control. Whether you act on it is something you can control. If they fucked before Brad separated, then that was wrong of them. But they say they didnt and theres no proof that theyre lying.



So in the end, the only people who we know for sure did Jen wrong are the tabloid media who have pushed misogynistic narrative painting her as a perma-victim (and Angie as the Babylon whore, while Brad came out smelling like roses).

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a little

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I can only feel empathy for Jen in that it must be SO annoying to constantly be asked about an ex from nearly 20 years ago. Like, shut the fuck UP!

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I know I shouldn't be surprised that people are finding a way to blame Pitt's abuse on Angelina and yet I still am.



People are scum, I hope she and the kids are doing okay.

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But like most people are NOT assuming Angelina is to blame for his anger issues

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You must not have read the comment sections on popular gossip websites outside ONTD (the Daily Mail comments have been particularly horrifying) or looked at the twitter responses bellow the articles from People and Us Weekly.



It's been a deluge of misogyny poured on Angelina's head. The public is siding with Brad the same way they sided with Johnny Depp.

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he's right, especially considering the circumstances. angelina and the kids don't deserve it.

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LMAO That's so bad. :\

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LMAO

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Lolllll

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lmao

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yassss

Who is Brad dating next ?

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Given the circumstances I can't even find it entertaining like you do sometimes with other celeb divorces because of the abuse allegations/children involved. I'm glad she got them out of that situation.

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Is that what most people really think?



I think most everyone is over the Jennifer Anniston thing and can't believe people still ask her about it, and they feel bad about Brad and Angelina because they seemed so happy. Most everyone is just surprised that Brad might have anger issues imo

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There's been tons of Jen comments and gifs in the recent Brangelina posts, though I think here it's mostly in jest.



But I think it's pretty typical for people to think like that.

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Tumblr has been dragging Angelina left and right since the news broke. That's where I'm seeing more "RETRIBUTION AND VINDICATION FOR QUEEN JEN~" like she's even worried about that pot head and the mess he's in right now. If anything I'm sure she'd be feeling compassion for Angie and the kids, considering what she probably knows of Brad personally.

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nah there's plenty of people who are still legit into that #teamjen bs

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I don't know if it's because they're louder, but I've seen sooo many people talking about Aniston like she's finally vindicated, and most of them are serious. When the news broke on twitter, my timeline was full of memes about Aniston's reaction and "karma", plus the usual "I've always known Jolie is crazy!!" comments.



Maybe I feel like I see it often because I'm always following Angelina Jolie news, but I swear even my fb friends are liking & sharing "team aniston" stuff. I'm used to it but it still makes my eyes roll.

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Same like and it's so bizarre people are trying to pretend that Angie wasn't slut shamed back then and now for this whole relationship

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A *ton* of people were posting Friends gifs on Twitter, tumblr etc as soon as the news broke, it's absolutely still a popular narrative with a lot of the general public

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Everyone has been bringing up Jennifer Aniston. Even friends of mine on FB who don't follow gossip at all have mentioned "Jennifer's revenge" and "Karma". It's ridiculous.

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so many people i have talked to about it irl have immediately brought up 'karma' and how good this must be for Jen like it's actually so annoying lmao. some people are so fucking petty like i really doubt Jen cares as much as the general public do on her behalf

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mte

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it is not just about Jen, ppl remember what happened with Laura Dern and Billy Bob also Madonna and what happened with her first marriage to Jonny

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This. Angelina is known for going after married/taken men and I don't think she should be given a pass for Brad.

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Oh brother. Didn't Jen herself say that they no one did anything wrong? And that they were seperated anyway?



People are gross.

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Yes. Literally only five of us remember that fact.

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HE LEFT HIS WIFE! HE did it. The fact that HIS marriage to Aniston ended is HIS fault.



Edited at 2016-09-23 08:06 pm (UTC)

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It takes two to tango



Edited at 2016-09-24 12:18 pm (UTC)

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People are so childish. God bless.

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i'm dying at the fake jen statement people keep sharing on facebook and actually thinking she said it, even though there were no lies detected in it. i wish she had actually said it



F*ck society, you people make me sick, said Aniston on the Today show. While you idiots are talking about this Brangelina bullsh*t, youre ignoring what just happened yesterday with Terence Crutcher. An unarmed black father of four was driving home from college when his car broke down. The police showed up and shot him while both of his hands were in the air. This was all caught on video, which you can easily watch on the Internet. But instead, no, none of you will do that. You will instead focus on the fact that a celebrity couple is going through a divorce. F*ck you.



Aniston continued:



The same people that get super offended and lose their minds over whether or not an athlete takes a knee during the National Anthem dont give two sh*ts when an innocent person is executed with video evidence. They always say that it needs more investigation. What is the matter with people? Do they not have souls? This country needs to get its shit together, stop shooting its citizens, and stop focusing on stupid nonsense so much.

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lmao all this needs is a bunch of "fw:fw: FW: FW:" in front of it

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People actually think this is her? lmaooo It doesn't fit her at all, at least I never saw her speaking against police brutality or racism in general. Like other people said in another post: she's friends with super racist Chelsea, it makes you wonder if she's racist, too. Or maybe she's like Daniel Radcliffe and just keeps racists friends on the side. Gross.

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http://www.snopes.com/jennifer-aniston-delivers-angry-response-to-brangelina-breakup/ lmao she would never, people who think she would say anything like this publicly are delusional. good point re: chelsea too

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lmfaooo i am cackling b/c i canNOT imagine these words coming from her mouth

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Normally I'm too dense to notice something like this is fake but my God the second I saw it making the rounds on twitter I knew automatically it was fake just by how it was making Jen Aniston sound lol Christ people.....

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F*ck society, you people make me sick,



I think they may be confusing her with Elliot Alderson. Which, sure, understandable mistake.

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Lmao I can't even see her yelling like this, not even close to the level of Tyra's iconic bequiettiffany.gif

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LMFAOOOOO OMG

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What 14 year old wrote this? I'm crying.

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Oil prices fell fast on Friday afternoon after Saudi Arabia claimed that "doesn't expect any decision" next week at OPECs unofficial meeting in Algiers.

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Friday, September 23, 2016

Oil prices jumped in the second half of this week on larger-than-expected drawdowns in U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories. The record drawdown a few weeks ago because of storms in the Gulf of Mexico was thought to be a one-off. But last weeks drop adds more momentum to the narrative that the oil market is adjusting. Crude oil inventories are now at their lowest level since the beginning of 2016 and more declines are expected. Crude prices however crashed on Friday, aided by Saudi comments that a decision will not be forthcoming from next week's OPEC meeting in Algiers. And things got worse for crude after the Federal Reserve confirmed it is looking to restrict bank involvement in physical commodities...

Saudi Arabia offers to curb output if Iran accepts ceiling. The latest news on the Algeria meeting set to take place this weekend and into the early part of next week is that Saudi Arabia reportedly sent an offer to Iran, proposing a cut to its output if Iran agreed to limit production at its current level of 3.6 million barrels per day. "They (the Saudis) are ready for a cut but Iran has to agree to freeze," a source told Reuters. Discussion took place in Vienna at OPEC headquarters this past week, but so far reports suggest there has been no agreement. Bloomberg surveyed oil analysts and 21 out of 23 respondents said that there would be no agreement in Algeria.

Meanwhile, rising output in Nigeria and Libya make the production freeze negotiations look even less important. Several hundred thousand barrels per day from the two troubled OPEC members would more than outweigh any effect from an output cap.

Russia invests in brownfields, expects output to climb. The FT published a must-read article on Russias campaign to boost oil production from aging oil fields in Siberia. Ramping up drilling in existing brownfield sites, as opposed to drilling in frontier regions like the Arctic, is a shift of focus for Russias oil industry. But the more aggressive approach to maintaining and even increasing oil flows from some of Russias old but still massive oil fields could allow it to increase output in the next few years, defying expectations of steady declines. Rosneft will more than double its drilling rate from 750 wells in 2014 to 1,700 per year beginning in 2017. It is also improving its drilling techniques, incorporating fracking and horizontal drilling. But the quest also raises questions about the wisdom of elevating production at all costs, which could damage long-term output. In any event, Russias need for tax revenue has it going down this path, but that could also make it difficult for Russia to sign on to any OPEC production freeze agreement.

Total SA slashes spending. French oil giant Total (NYSE: TOT) outlined deeper cuts to spending on September 22, hoping to improve profitability. The moves call for sharper cuts to spending, boosting operational efficiency, and increase oil and gas production. Spending for 2017 will drop to between $15 billion and $17 billion, down from $18 billion to $19 billion this year. The adjustments will allow Total to cover capex, dividends, and resource renewal with cash flow, assuming an oil price of $55 per barrel in 2017. Totals share price jumped by 3.7 percent on the news. Related: Long Term Consequences Of The Oil Price Crash

SEC investigating ExxonMobil. The probe into ExxonMobils (NYSE: XOM) accounting practices is widening, and federal regulators from the SEC are now looking into the oil major to see if it is guilty of any wrongdoing. Exxon dismisses the investigation as politically-motivated, but the SEC inquiry mirrors investigations underway by several Attorneys General led by New York AG Eric Schneiderman. The question is whether or not Exxon is defrauding its investors by overstating the value of its assets. Exxon is probably not too worried about the direct investigation itself, but the probe illustrates the dangerous future for the oil major: governments and regulators are taking serious the possibility that the oil industry will be unable to produce all of the oil and gas reserves on their books, whether because of peak demand or because climate regulation will prohibit them from drilling.

Chinas renewables installations to fall next year. Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that Chinas pace of solar and wind installations will decline by 11 percent next year, which could be the first decline in the history of the business. To be fair, installations will fall to 41.8 GW from a peak of more than 46.9 GW this year, both of which are staggering figures. But Chinas central government is looking at paring back subsidies for renewables as the economy slows. Chinas demand for renewables, which is still the largest in the world, will have an enormous impact on the global solar and wind industries.

Maersk to split up, focus on North Sea. The Danish shipping company is set to split up its shipping interests from its energy business. The energy arm will rein in its global ambitions and focus its efforts on the North Sea. New investments going forward will also be limited. The move is a sign that Maersk has been hit hard by poor market conditions in both shipping and oil. Related: Ahead Of OPECs Meeting, Libya Ups Oil Output By 70%

Colonial pipeline restarts. The main gasoline line of the Colonial Pipeline has restarted, which should ease the sudden shortage of gasoline in the U.S. southeast. The pipeline suffered a leak two weeks ago, and the outage led to a spike in prices at the pump for the east coast and southeast.

Donald Trump promises to revive coal and eliminate regulations and taxes on the energy industry. The Republican nominee said he will unleash a treasure trove of coal, oil and natural gas by cutting regulations and taxes. "You will like me so much," Trump told natural gas executives at the Shale Insight 2016 conference in Pittsburgh on Thursday. His comments were characteristically short on details, but he did say he would cut corporate taxes to 15 percent and restrict the efforts of the EPA.

Exxon considers selling $1 billion in Norway assets. Bloomberg says that the oil major has had discussions on selling Norwegian oil fields that produce around 65,000 barrels per day, but the company has declined to confirm the news reports.

By Evan Kelly of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The richest man in Hong Kong, billionaire Li Ka-shing, has placed a bid for the gas distribution network of UKs National Grid. The utility is selling a 51-percent stake in its gas distribution business to focus on its local power business and U.S. operations, which have a better growth potential.

The majority stake in National Grids four gas distribution pipelines is estimated at around US$7.8 billion (GBP 6 bln). At that valuation, the entire network is worth some US$14.3 billion (GBP 11 bln). The network supplies fuel to 11 million household and business clients in the Midlands, Northwestern Britain and parts of London.

Ka-shing already has a solid presence in Europe and the UK in particular: he owns the port of Harwich, utility Northumbrian Water, and telecoms company Three. He is also a big shareholder in Canadas Husky Energy, which this year cost him quite a lot as the companys stock shed about half of its value. In the bid for National Grids network, Ka-shing will be up against bidders from mainland China, a U.S. private equity firm, and a German investment company.

The news of Li Ka-shings bid comes soon after British PM Theresa May pledged to limit foreign ownership of key British infrastructure. The pledge was made after the approval of the controversial Hinkley Point nuclear power plant, where Chinese investors have a stake. This raised the hackles of China skeptics who believe that companies from the Communist state are not the best co-owners of a nuclear power plant.

The Financial Times, in a not-so-subtly ironic analysis of anti-Chinese sentiments in Britain, suggests that if there should be any protectionism of local ownership over key infrastructure, then it might be fairer if it targets all foreign investors, not just the Chinese. Still, the flagman of British business journalism warns that there is a very real threat to foreign investors eyeing stakes in British infrastructure projects.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Maersk Oil is well-placed to not just survive but thrive after its split from its parent, Danish logistics conglomerate AP Moeller Maersk, according to analysts. The spin-off was announced yesterday and was prompted by Maersks strategy of maximizing shareholder value by focusing on its core transport and logistics business.

The Danish company said at the announcement of its plans that the split will take place over the next two years and might see its oil and gas, drilling, tanker, and supply vessel businesses split off either individually or all together, via joint ventures, mergers, or listings.

For Maersk Oil, a listing would certainly make sense, according to analysts, who note that its stake in the huge untapped Norwegian field Johan Sverdrup in the North Sea along with other high-quality assets in Qatar, the UK, Algeria, and Denmark.

The company produces around 330,000 barrels of crude daily, of which 40 percent come from the Qatar Al Shaheen field. Maersk Oil, however, just lost a bid to continue as operator of this field, so next year its output will be 40 percent lower, until production at Johan Sverdrup and UK North Sea condensate field Culzean starts, which is scheduled for 2019.

The company was earlier this week reported to be in talks with Shell about an acquisition of most of the Dutch-British North Sea assets, worth about US$2 billion. An acquisition of these assets, which Shell is divesting as part of US$30-billion asset sale plan to cut debt, would further strengthen Maersk Oils positions in the North Sea.

The region seems to be the core focus of operations for Maersks energy division, and analysts have praised it for it. Bloomberg quotes DNB ASA, the largest financial services company in Norway, as saying that Maersk Oil will create a strong North Sea-focused production and development company, with a robust balance sheet to support dividends.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele today announced that the County has received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to enter into the Project Development (PD) phase of the East-West Bus Rapid Transit Project, a critical next step in the process to modernize our transit system and drive economic activity in all corners of the County.

This key approval allows Milwaukee County and the Milwaukee County Transit System to begin environmental and engineering studies on the 9-mile BRT route. Further, by entering into the PD phase, any money spent on the studies can be applied as the local match of the project cost.

"This approval is more great news for Milwaukee County," said County Executive Chris Abele. "When I announced that we would pursue this project we made it clear the goal was to create a fast, modern and affordable way to connect people to jobs, school and economic opportunities. As we move into this next phase we will continue to work with the community, riders and our partners on the Milwaukee County Board and Milwaukee and Wauwatosa Common Councils to make this plan a reality."

The county executives upcoming budget, due Oct. 1, is expected to include funding to continue planning for the Bus Rapid Transit project as part of a broader commitment to ensuring a sustainable transit system for years to come. As the Public Policy Forum recently observed, Milwaukee County is at a fork in the road when it comes to transportation and infrastructure. In order to preserve the progress weve made and have the ability to make smart investments with an eye towards the future, like Bus Rapid Transit, we must also take steps to ensure the overall sustainability of our transit system with dedicated funding, like the vehicle registration fee.

The 9-mile BRT route would provide an improved transit connection to major employment and activity centers through downtown Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Milwaukees near west side, and Wauwatosa. With more frequent service and faster travel times, BRT will give riders more time to spend with their families, more time to study for a final exam, or simply more time to relax at home.

An analysis shows that in less than 20 years the BRT project will attract thousands of new riders every day and cut bus travel times on the route. The study team found the proposed BRT service would benefit drivers by taking more than 6,100 cars off the road and reduce the amount of miles people drive by up to 17 million miles a year. Fewer cars mean less congestion on local roads, and cleaner air for everyone.

In late August, Milwaukee County submitted an application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for grant funding for the BRT project. The FTA is expected to announce funding recipients in 2017.
A business and residential alliance looking to create more vibrant commercial corridors on West Burleigh Street and West Lisbon Avenue will hold its kickoff meeting early next week.

Alderman Jim Bohl said the Westown Crossing Association will meet at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Abigails Banquet Facility, 8401 W. Burleigh St. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. "Business owners and area residents alike are invited to attend this kickoff meeting, and the active participation of both will be vital to making this partnership organization successful," said Ald. Bohl, who will help host the meeting.

The Westown Crossing Association focus areas are North 68th to North 93rd Streets along West Burleigh and West Lisbon. Ald. Bohl said the Westown Crossing Association is modeled after the East Tosa Alliance, a not-for-profit group that has partnered with adjacent neighborhood associations while working to encourage and advocate for economic sustainability and growth in East Tosa. "The results in East Tosa (along the West North Avenue commercial corridor) have been steady and impressive, with residents of all ages eating at new restaurants and doing business at a range of small, locally-owned businesses," he said.

"The residents have shown a preference for shopping and buying locally in East Tosa, frequenting new and longtime shops and establishments they can easily walk or bike to," Ald. Bohl said. "We are very much looking to create that same vibe with Westown Crossing, along Burleigh and Lisbon."

"This initial meeting on Tuesday will allow us to lay out the initial goals of this new business-community partnership, which would help promote a buy local culture, among other ideas," Ald. Bohl said. "This is a unique opportunity to reimagine the Burleigh/Lisbon corridors and to lay out how we would like the revitalization to move forward."

The Burleigh/Lisbon corridors fall within Ald. Bohls 5th Aldermanic District and the 10th Alderman District, represented by Ald. Michael J. Murphy. The aldermen last year championed a citizen "needs" survey about area businesses that was conducted by the City of Milwaukee Department of City Development and later held a community meeting for discussion after more than 750 respondents filled out the survey.

Westown Crossing is the result of city leaders meeting with a steering group of local businesses and neighborhood association representatives over the last several months to lay out the parameters of a new business organization with the aim of addressing ongoing issues to revitalize the Burleigh and Lisbon commercial corridors.

Ald. Murphy said the success in East Tosa has been boosted by the input, participation and organization provided by its partner neighborhood associations. He said Westown Crossing features four partnering neighborhood associations  the Kops Park Neighborhood Association, the Enderis Park Neighborhood Association, Cooper Park Neighborhood Association and the Hartung Park Community Association.

"Lisbon and Burleigh are vital, busy commercial corridors, and I believe commercial corridors are windows to our adjacent neighborhoods," said Ald. Murphy, who will also attend Tuesdays kickoff meeting. "We believe this alliance will provide a means of fostering successful local businesses supported by local residents, and the end result will be a better sense of community and revitalized commercial corridors along Burleigh and Lisbon."
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" )

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There really can't be any doubt that war with Russia is on the horizon. As the article below makes clear, the Congressional testimony of Ash(es to ashes) Carter and Joint Chiefs Chair Dunford suggests they're willing to risk it all to initiate regime change in Syria - even though the reason Assad must go have never been disclosed by Obomba or his administration hacks. (To me, the reason for the "Assad Must Go" meme is clear: to hurt Russia's ability to defend itself and hurt it's economy).



I mean - get this from the link:

"The latest proposal by Secretary of State John Kerry involves grounding only Syrian and Russian airplanes, Carter told Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire).

'There can be no question of grounding US aircraft' over Syria, he said, adding that US jets conduct their strikes 'with exceptional precision" that no other country can match.'

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) asked about what it would take for the US to impose a no-fly zone over Syria, using the phrase 'control the airspace.'

'Right now" for us to control all of the airspace in Syria would require us to go to war against Syria and Russia,' Dunford replied, drawing a rebuke from committee chairman John McCain (R-Arizona), who argued a no-fly zone was possible without war."

McCain must be taking some strange meds to argue that a no-fly zone over Syria can be enforced against the Syrians and Russians "without war." But the most interesting statement is that our armed forces conduct "strikes with exceptional precision." So does that fly in the face of the claim by the USA that its air force MISTAKENLY launched the attacks against the Syrian army that killed and maimed 200 of their soldiers and scuttled a hard won negotiated ceasefire between Russia and the USA? And of course no one in Congress asked this obvious question.

I fear for the world should Hillary accede to the throne. The warlords appear ready to press the button and launch another war to end all wars.

click here


(Image by Egberto Willies) Details DMCA



The subject of this week's Politics Done Right (on Facebook) covered the systemic killing of black men by our police. I set the stage by reading the blog of the week where I wrote the following.

Police officers reflect society. They bring those prejudices into their job like anyone else. The difference is that those biases affect their judgment. Unless laws and rules are modified to jail them for instituting their prejudices, nothing will change. Nothing has changed because this is a problem deemed by the majority, not of their own. It is a national lack of empathy. When some people find excuses when videos show at best overreaction or at worse assassinations, they choose not to believe their own eyes. .. The lack of empathy by our society requires subjecting us all to some sort of discomfort. That is the importance of Black Lives Matter and other organizations bringing this issue to the forefront.

The police officer was initially concerned that the reaction to the Charlotte shooting was premature. I challenged him on that stance noting the city's response was pent up anger for years of police brutality unmitigated. He correctly pointed out that cops are asked to be social workers, psychiatrists and more. I concurred but then challenged him again. I suggested that police officers support politicians that vote against policies that would make their lives easier. We also discussed racism in the police department, the blue line of silence and more. Finally, I asked him to reassure the community that in fact here in Houston police officers are trying to work with the community.

Watch the entire show

PoliticsDoneRight.com

Youtube

(Article changed on September 23, 2016 at 10:19)

(Article changed on September 23, 2016 at 10:22)
Despondency, Cynicism, and Determination for "Full Return" mark Lebanon's Palestinian camps

Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp, Beirut Lebanon, September 15, 2016 by Franklin Lamb.

The intense summer heat was gone and the evening was breezy and cool on that fateful Thursday evening, September 15, 1982 according to survivors of the Sabra-Shatila Massacre. Now 34 years later the slaughter that happen that night and for the next three days still haunts them, as they recount the details of what happened.

It was the day after the 1982 assassination of President-elect Bachir Gemayel , the leader of the Lebanese Forces militia and a senior official of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, also known as Phalange Party. "Israel had hoped that Lebanon's newly elected president, Bashir Gemayel, would support an Israeli-Christian alliance [New York Times ]." But after Gemayel's assassination, Israel reacted by violating the agreement Israel had made with the Reagan Administration, which had opposed the Israeli invasion of Lebanon [Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State ].

The carnage was aided by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) which had surrounded Shatila refugee camp. The Christian Phalange militia penetrated the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp and conducted a frenzied, drug fueled killing spree, slaughtering an estimated 1800 to 3500 people. It was nearly three days of slaughter, rape and dismemberment of the civilian population; men, women and children.

The Israeli forces closed in with their tanks and blockaded the Shatila refugee camp and the adjacent Sabra neighborhood. The Phalange militia's intent was to slaughter Palestinians, but anyone they encountered became a target including some Lebanese among the victims.

The Israelis communicated with the Phalange terrorists and blocked the Palestinian refugees from fleeing Shatila camp, while at the same time they ushered in reinforcements of Phalange forces who then committed more carnage. The IDF lighted up the night in the Palestinian refugee camp with flares, turning night into day so that the Phalange forces could better find the victims of their killing spree. Later the IDF provided bulldozers and other heavy equipment to bury and hide the bodies.

Neither the Israeli organizers who facilitated the massacre, nor their Lebanese designates who carried out the massacre were ever held accountable. But Palestinians celebrated when Ariel Sharon died on January 11, 2014. Sarah Leah Whitson, the director of Human Rights Watch for the Middle East said on Sharon's death:

"His passing is another grim reminder that years of virtual impunity for rights abuses have done nothing to bring Israeli-Palestinian peace any closer. For the thousands of victims of abuses, Sharon's passing without facing justice magnifies their tragedy." [ Ariel Sharon, the "Butcher of Beirut," is Dead ]

In 1983 the Israeli Kahan Commission of Inquiry's conclusion said:

"Israel had been indirect responsibility for the massacre: Prime Minister Menachem Begin was found responsible for not exercising greater involvement in the matter; Defense Minister Ariel Sharon was found responsible for ignoring the danger of bloodshed when he approved the Phalangist's entry to the camp, as well as not taking appropriate measures to prevent bloodshed; IDF Chief of Staff Raful Eitan was found responsible for not giving the appropriate orders to prevent the massacre.

The Lebanese forces that carried out the bloody massacre in 1982 had been assured of amnesty. The corrupt and increasingly polarized sects in Lebanon have transformed many of the killers and warlords into "political lords", several of whom still hold political leadership positions in Lebanon. Some are vying to become Lebanon's next President. Their past crimes seemingly long forgotten.

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Reprinted from WSWS

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 Carolina's 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 Clinton's mouth.

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Reprinted from The Guardian

With the launch of Oliver Stone's Snowden film this past weekend came a renewed push for a pardon for Edward Snowden from the world's leading human rights organizations.

But predictably, not everyone agreed that he should be pardoned. On Saturday, the Washington Post editorial board deplorably editorialized against it despite its own paper winning the Pulitzer Prize for reporting on his leaked documents.

They joined many of his other detractors in making old and factually incorrect arguments about what Snowden actually did. As the movement demanding his exoneration grows nonetheless, here are five common misconceptions about the whistleblower -- and why they are wrong.

Snowden did not take 1.5m documents and dump them en masse on the internet

Snowden critics love to pretend that everything the public learned from his disclosures was solely because he chose to release the information. In reality, the number of documents that Snowden published himself is zero. Instead of dumping a mass of documents on the internet, he gave them to experienced national security reporters who worked at some of the most respected news outlets in the country. He relied on their judgments about what was in the public interest. And those reporters allowed the government to make objections (some of which they listened to) tied to national security concerns.

The Washington Post claimed, as others have in the past, that Snowden copied and kept 1.5m classified documents. Snowden's lawyer, Ben Wizner, has called that number "absurd" and "made up." Even the former NSA director himself admitted that the 1.5m number only represented the documents that Snowden "touched," and officials didn't know how many he actually took.

The real number is likely at least an order of magnitude lower, according to public comments by the journalists involved, which the Post editorial board could have found out if they had bothered to ask their own colleagues.

There's no evidence Snowden "harmed national security"

The House intelligence committee published an error-riddled report on Snowden last week, making vague claims about "damage" to national security in a naked attempt to counter the narrative in Oliver Stone's movie. Three-time Pulitzer prize winner Barton Gellman dismantled the whole report point-by-point on his blog.

Click Here to Read Whole Article
Thoughts about the narrative on the massive hack on Yahoo, and a huge tip on remembering and protecting your passwords



Yahoo

(Image by clasesdeperiodismo) Details DMCA



First, the Yahoo hack happened in 2014. They're just announcing it now.

They're saying it was... well, here's what Yahoo actually says:

"We have confirmed, based on a recent investigation, that a copy of certain user account information was stolen from our network in late 2014 by what we believe is a state-sponsored actor. The account information may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords (the vast majority with bcrypt) and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. The ongoing investigation suggests that stolen information did not include unprotected passwords, payment card data, or bank account information; payment card data and bank account information are not stored in the system that the investigation has found to be affected."

It's odd that the news hit big yesterday. It was reported by Clio.com in early August. They reported:

"On Monday, the hacker known as Peace, who had previously sold dumps of 117 million LinkedIn account details, 65 million Tumblr emails, and 360 million MySpace credentials , listed supposed credentials of Yahoo users on The Real Deal marketplace. The listed accounts --which are believed to be stolen back in 2012 -- contain usernames, passwords, and dates of birth, and appear to be hashed by the md5 algorithm -are up for sale for three Bitcoins i.e. around $1,860."

"This data is especially useful for phishers who look to monetize through illegitimate ways. If the hacker's claim is real, affected users can expect password reset links to be sent to them at some point."

Thanks for telling us six weeks later, as well as two years later, Yahoo.

Now, about the claim that the hack was by a state-sponsored actor. TV news is reporting that it was Russia. It's interesting timing, with the Clinton and Obama people seemingly creating a new red-scare, red-menace narrative. Maybe that's because Obama and Clinton have supported the nazi, fascist takeover of Ukraine, which Russia opposed. Maybe it's because Russia is actually fighting ISIS/Daesh, while Obama has it's resources directly or indirectly allying with them so as to fight the Assad government. Yahoo's blaming Russia taps the meme Clinton and Obama have promoted. What next? Senate hearings blaming Ed Snowden for the hacks? McCarthyesque hearings? If it wasn't so dangerous to ramp up Russia-phobia it would a hilarious joke. Too bad NSA and other spy agencies have lied to us so many times there's no way we should believe anything they say about Russia.

I logged into Yahoo, which I don't do very often, only to be informed that Yahoo would let me know if my account was hacked. I have not received the email notification they say I'll receive. I'm not worried. I primarily use Yahoo for their Flickr photo saving and sharing site. And, I use a different password for every site. The good thing is, I don't need to write them down. I use a formula to create a password specifically for each site. It's actually easy. Here's an example.





How to create an password algorithm, so you only have to remember one thing for every website, even though each one has a very strong password that's different.

Take the domain name, say, yahoo. Count the letters, in this case, 5.

Take a fixed number that you'll use for each website you create a password for-- like your mother's birth year. Say that was 1940. Take the 40 and subtract 5 from it. That gives us 35.

Then add a character, like a question mark, asterisk or dollar sign. (Not all sites allow them. They have idiot programmers who don't have a clue about programming and security.) Let's go with $.

So far, we have 35$

Next, take the domain name and change some things. Take the first letter or any other letter and make it upper case. Many sites require upper and lower case.

Y

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by Ronald A. Buel

Jeff Gudman is running against Tobias Read (Democrat) and Chris Telfer (Independent) for the Position of State Treasurer. Why would a long-time Democratic activist like me be supporting a Republican for this office? I am sure that Tobias Read agrees with more of my own policy positions than does Jeff Gudman, for example.

But State Treasurer is not your typical partisan office, nor is it a typical stepping-stone to Governor (such as Secretary of State, for example). In fact, Gudman openly declares that he is not going to run for Governor at any time  he wants only to be Treasurer  or I wouldnt be supporting him.

Simply put, Gudman is more qualified to be Treasurer than Tobias Read. He is currently the Treasurer of the Legacy Emanuel Foundation, and he has held the Treasurer positions for Hyster and for subsidiaries of Northwest Natural Gas. He is a graduate of Wharton School of Economics and holds an MBA in finance and business from that school. He serves as a City Councilor in Lake Oswego, where he is a leader on matters of budget and finance.

I asked Gudman what he thought of Ted Wheelers proposal, which I support, to bring much of the huge $68 billion PERS pension fund management through the State Treasurers office, instead of sending every nickel through Wall Street firms at high cost to the State. (I would also note that the return for the last two years on this Wall Street-managed money has been less than 3% and less than 2%, and that this is well behind standard market returns in those years, and far behind the 7-3/4% return that Tier One PERS pensioners are currently guaranteed, which causes problems for governments across the state). Gudman specifically supports the reform that Wheeler proposed. I believe that Gudman, with his solid financial background, is likely to be more successful in assuring legislators, that Wheeler could not get to come along, that this reform is a good one.

I have my own experience with State Rep. Tobias Read. As John Kitzhaber and House Speaker Tina Kotek pushed and pushed for the expensive and destructive $3 billion-plus Columbia River Crossing (CRC), hoping to satisfy those businesses who wanted to profit from the construction, and those building trades unions who wanted the jobs that the six-year construction project would provide, Read was their unwavering flunky . He was with them all the way to spending $200 million of Oregon and Washington taxpayer money on consultants, before Peter Courtney killed the Oregon Only version in late 2013, knowing the Oregon Senate wouldnt support the CRC.

I attended and testified at a dozen or more joint House-Senate and House Transportation hearings on the Columbia River Crossing over six years of consideration. Read was chair and co-chair of those committees. I never once heard him ask a question of the supporters or opponents to get more information. He clearly didnt want to know about the problems of the CRC, the 935 permanent jobs to be destroyed, or the environmental devastation that would be caused. He didnt want to hear that tolling the new bridge, while refusing to toll the Glenn Jackson Bridge, would send thousands of commuters to the Glenn Jackson and I-205, creating a massive traffic jam there instead of on I-5. When opponents of the project (including me) tried to talk to Read outside the committee hearings, he simply refused to sit down and talk, and he did that throughout the years of hearings. He didnt want to look at reasonable alternatives. He was intent on being Kitzhaber and Koteks flunky on the project, and pleasing Bill Wyatt and Tom Imeson from the Port of Portland for the political benefits their future support would bring. He was rewarded with the Majority Leader position in the House with Koteks support, undoubtedly in part because of his unthinking loyalty on the CRC.

Read does not have a real background in finance. He was a product developer at Nike. Hes your classic politician on the make, so far as I can tell. Hes the kind of politician I dont want to see in charge of safeguarding Oregons huge investments. Not a critical thinker. Not concerned with being fair, or avoiding conflicts of interest. Willing to go along to get along, to advance his own career.

I understand there are advantages to having a robust Democratic bench in the lower statewide offices. But there are serious problems in the State Treasurers arena that Ted Wheeler identified. I believe Jeff Gudman is significantly more qualified than Tobias Read to deal with those important difficulties. Jeff Gudman is going to be the very first Republican I can remember voting for in 47 years of watching Oregon and Portland politics closely. I urge other Democrats to join me.

Ronald A. Buel was a Staff Reporter and Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal, and was the founding Editor and Publisher of Willamette Week newspaper. He also served as Director of Business and Strategic Planning for Nike.
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 USD 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 USD 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."

Technology website Recode first reported Tuesday that Yahoo planned to disclose details about a data breach affecting hundreds of millions of users.


Anita Dongre, 52, House of Anita Dongre

SMART MOVE: Anita Dongre has not only made designer clothes accessible to the middle class, but has helped traditional artisans regain respectability

Twenty five years ago, Anita Dongre started out small, with two sewing machines. Today, she is one of India's foremost fashion designers who has been immensely successful in doing what she had set out to do - making designer clothes accessible to the middle class. The company's brands - And line of chic, contemporary western wear for women, Global Desi for a young, vibrant look, and luxury line Anita Dongre for bridal wear, occasion wear, pret and menswear - are available at over 700 outlets. In 2014/15, it earned a revenue of Rs 324 crore, 50 per cent more than in 2013/15. Profit after tax grew 61 per cent to Rs 34.5 crore. It is reportedly aiming for a Rs 700 crore top line in 2016/17.

The company went global in 2013 when it opened a Global Desi store in Mauritius. In 2013, General Atlantic acquired a stake in the company, which in 2015 was named as House of Anita Dongre from And Designs India. In August 2015, she launched Grassroot, an initiative to back traditional artisans. "I always wanted to do something with traditional Indian crafts, which are so real, earthy and rich. I wanted to restore the handicraft and heirloom tradition of India." She says among all her creations, Grassroot is the closest to her heart.



Arundhati Bhattacharya, 60, State Bank of India



SMART MOVE: Arundhati Bhattacharya has rolled out several digital banking initiatives to compete with private banks

Three years ago, when Arundhati Bhattacharya took over as the first woman chairperson of State Bank of India, she spelt out some strategic goals - taming asset quality deterioration, improving risk management framework, checking costs, improving delivery standards and non-interest income, and leveraging technology. She has made significant progress on all parameters except asset quality, where the clean-up is still on. She is now in the midst of another challenge - SBI's merger with five associate banks, which have 5 per cent market share in deposits and advances. This could be a test case for larger consolidation in the PSB space. "I do not know whether ours is a test case, but I do know that the government is keen to create a few large banks, which is the right thing to do," says Bhattacharya.

Pallavi Shroff, 60, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas

SMART MOVE: Competition Law practice is the only Band I practice in India rated by Chambers & Partners

From being the 'Queen of the Courts' to being at the helm of Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Pallavi Shroff's ascent in the world of law has been phenomenal. The Competition Law practice, a practice mentored by her, is the only Band I practice in India rated by Chambers & Partners. Her successful representation of Nestle in the Bombay High Court and getting the ban on Maggi noodles lifted is also noteworthy, besides successfully representing Coal India before the Competition Appellate Tribunal.

Nita Ambani, 52, Reliance Industries

SMART MOVE: Nita Ambani is behind the corporate social responsibility initiatives of Reliance industries

Reliance Industries Director Nita Ambani's tour de force lies in the detail, but her hands-on approach does not involve telling members of the 'Reliance family' what to do or how to do it. Instead, she encourages them to be aware of the challenges and empowers them to come up with the best possible solutions. She has been engaged in several initiatives that have strengthened RIL, but what, perhaps, defines her best is her relentless effort in driving its corporate social responsibility initiatives to new heights, and help run a business empire as the second most powerful individual after her husband, Mukesh Ambani. What's more, she is also the first Indian woman member of International Olympic Committee.

SMART MOVE: Priya Nair has consistently delivered, working up the ranks

Priya Nair began her innings with Hindustan Unilever in 1995 as a management trainee and has risen through the ranks to become Executive Director (Home Care Division). She has been a part of different divisions, including Consumer Insights, Customer Development and Marketing, and has also worked across various brands such as Dove, Axe, Rexona, Closeup and Pepsodent. As VP Laundry, Nair led the entire detergents portfolio and not only helped increase market share in the category but also penetrated emerging segments such as fabric conditioners and liquids. She has proved to be a good learner and has consistently delivered the goods for the company.

Radhika Piramal, 38, VIP Industries



SMART MOVE: Repositioning VIP as a lifestyle brand with a focus on youth has been Radhika Piramal's forte

Radhika Piramal has been busy giving a makeover to family-owned VIP Industries - repositioning it as a youth brand , introducing hip and fashionable luggage, backpacks, gym bags and duffle bags, and relaunching India's first strolley brand, Skybag. Since she took over the reins of the company as Managing Director in 2010, VIP has posted impressive financial results. In 2015/16, the company's total income grew by 16 per cent to Rs 1,216 crore while its profit after tax surged over 32 per cent to Rs 63 crore. The stock has gained over 25 per cent in the past one year. However, the tough competition from foreign players, such as Samsonite and Delsey, will keep her busy for a while.

Shanti Ekambaram, 54, Kotak Mahindra Bank

SMART MOVE: Shanti Ekambaram banking on tech the retail business new heights

Shanti Ekambaram, President, Consumer Banking at Kotak Mahindra Bank, has launched several digital products such as multi-lingual banking app, alpha saving accounts and apps for transfer of money through social media, since she took charge in 2014. Under her, the bank's consumer assets grew from Rs 21,113 crore in March 2015 to Rs 32,987 crore in March 2016, while loans grew 28.3 per cent. But her biggest challenge, perhaps, is the bank's retail push - a segment that has seen huge growth of late, and a business where technology is key. This is where Ekambaram is trying to make a mark.

Suneeta Reddy, 57, Apollo Hospitals Group

SMART MOVE: Suneeta Reddy is aggressively expanding Apollo's reach

Suneeta Reddy took over the reins at Apollo Hospitals in June 2014. Since then, the healthcare service provider has been on a growth and expansion spree. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise's total income increased from Rs 5,215.2 crore to Rs 6,112.28 crore in 2015/16 and PAT grew to Rs 316.15 crore. To strengthen its presence across India, it acquired a majority stake in Rajashree Hospitals of Indore, and in Guwahati-based Assam Hospitals, besides buying Bangalore-based Nova Specialties Hospitals. She led the Apollo Reach Hospitals model to take healthcare to villages, and has been a member of the Harvard Business School India Advisory Board.

Tanya Dubash, 49, Godrej Group

SMART MOVE: Tanya Dubash's sharp marketing mind and her capability to revive a brand are exemplary

Godrej was already a household name, with customers cutting across generations identifying themselves with the soaps and locks, personal care products and household appliances, when Tanya Dubash, the eldest daughter of Adi Godrej, took charge. But she was the first one to notice the early signs of a brand losing its lustre. Dubash wasted no time and took up a rebranding exercise, called Godrej Masterbrand Strategy. With the help of a UKbased brand valuation company, Interbrand, she created a strong brand franchise focused on building cutting-edge products and changing the retail strategy. Alongside, she also worked on attracting talent to further strengthen the base. Dubash is targeting a $20-billion brand by 2020.
Apple has acquired a new machine-learning company, Tuplejump, based in India/US. According to a report by TechCrunch, this is the third machine-learning company Apple has acquired within a window of two years.

Though there hasn't been any official confirmation by the Cupertino giant, their response to the queries regarding the acquisition gives a clear indication that the deal has happened.

The company responded to the questions saying, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans."

Though Tuplejump's website has been taken down after the acquisition, a Wayback Machine capture reveals this was the companies introduction:

"A few years ago people realised that the volume of data that businesses generate was becoming unwieldy. A new set of technologies to handle this huge amounts of data cropped up. We were one of the early adopters of these 'big-data' technologies. Having helped Fortune 500 companies adopt these technologies we quickly realised how complicated they were and how much simpler they could get.

Thus started our quest to simplify data management technologies and make them extremely simple to use. We are building technology that is simple to use, scalable and will allow people to ask difficult questions on huge datasets."





The reason a company like Tuplejump was able to gain Apple's attention was because of one of its open-source project, FiloDB. This project aims at using machine learning to analyse new, heavy and complex data on the internet.

It seems machine-learning is the next big thing in the tech industry and Apple is gearing up for something big. The company's current bid at artificial intelligence, Siri, hasn't been very successful with consumers and on the other hand, Google is busy introducing new AI features and apps for its consumer base.

Allo, Google's new instant messaging platform comes with a built-in assistant which claims to get better with every user-interaction. This new assistant uses machine-learning to provide better contextual-information to the user. Though in its nascent stage, the feature is so impactful that the messaging platform can become a major threat to giants like WhatsApp and Messenger.





ALSO READ: How Reliance Jio entry may benefit Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular
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
Afghanistan signed peace agreement with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar

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 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 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 Syed 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 countrys 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 countrys 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.
NCSE informs us that Cope vs. Kansas State Board of Education, which we reported on here and here, has been appealed to the US Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals had upheld the District Courts earlier dismissal of the case, largely on the basis of standing. Here, with permission, is NCSEs report on the appeal:

COPE et al. v. Kansas State Board of Education et al., the creationist lawsuit seeking to reverse Kansass 2013 decision to adopt the Next Generation Science Standards on the grounds that the state thereby establish[ed] and endorse[d] a non-theistic religious worldview, is now under appeal to the Supreme Court.

As NCSE previously reported, in December 2014 a district court dismissed the case, finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to assert any of their claims; in April 2016 the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district courts dismissal. In May 2016, the plaintiffs unsuccessfully asked the appeals court to review the case en banc.

Subsequently, in August 2016, COPE asked the Supreme Court to review the appeals courts decision and to address the question Do theistic parents and children have standing to complain if the goal of the state is to cause their children to embrace a nontheistic religious worldview that is materialistic/atheistic?

The lead plaintiff, COPE, Citizens for Objective Public Education, is a relatively new creationist organization, founded in 2012, but its leaders and attorneys include people familiar from previous attacks on evolution education across the country, such as John H. Calvert of the Intelligent Design Network.

The Next Generation Science Standards have so far been adopted in eighteen states and the District of Columbia, with similar standards adopted in a number of further states. The treatment of evolution and climate science in these standards occasionally provokes controversy, but COPE v. Kansas is the only lawsuit to have resulted.
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...
The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,
Bert Clark, President & CEO of IMCO and Rossitsa Stoyanova, Chief Investment Officer of IMCO published an IMCO Insight comment , Don't hit the panic button: How investors can manage (and even profit) from short-term volatilit y: How we think at IMCO At IMCO we believe that short-term volatility of returns is generally unavoidable for long-term investors. We think the key is not to try to alter asset mix to avoid it, but to have adequate liquidity to survive and, in some cases, profit from it. In retrospect, down markets may seem predictable and can cause investors to wonder whether they should stick with their long-term asset mix. Hindsight is 20-20, as they say. However, as painful as these periods of underperformance feel, we believe that investors should not attempt to tactically adjust their asset mix to avoid short-term weakness in returns. Instead, our view is that investors sho
An ocean drifter, used to track the transport of water in the East Australian Current. Credit: Iain Suthers, UNSW

Just like Nemo, Australia's blue water Research Vessel Investigator has spent three days drifting in the East Australian Current (EAC). Researchers on board have been investigating microscopic marine life that forms the base of the marine food web.

Normally hidden from view, these microbes are exceptionally diverse and play a critical role in the ocean, absorbing carbon dioxide, producing oxygen and breaking down organic matter, all of which influence the distribution and abundance of fish and other marine life.

The scientists' mission is to examine how the composition and activity of microbes change as they drift. Chief Scientist on the voyage was Associate Professor Martina Doblin, team leader of the Productive Coasts research program in the University of Technology Sydney's Climate Change Cluster (C3).

Capturing data at unprecedented resolution, researchers will compare the productivity of the EAC with waters all along the NSW coast.

"The EAC has a significant impact on the ecology of eastern Australia, and is well known for transporting organisms southward," says Dr Mark Brown, research fellow at the University of NSW.

However, Dr Brown says we know very little about how EAC microbial communities, adapted to warm tropical conditions, change in structure or function as they are carried into temperate regions.

An example of the diversity of ocean microbes. Credit: J. Ashworth and M. Lassudrie-Duchesne, UTS

Dr Martin Ostrowski, of Macquarie University, says the research team's use of novel sampling methods and molecular techniques will provide new insights into the dynamics of these critical microbial communities and better understand their impact on southern Tasman Sea waters.

Using satellite technology, the ship tracked neutrally buoyant "drifters" 15 metres deep, from the time of their release near Coffs Harbour. After three days the drifters had travelled about 300km south to Port Stephens, moving at more than a metre a second.

Experiments conducted along the way measured important biological processes such as mortality, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and changes in microbial composition in response to warming.

"With climate projections indicating the current will warm 2-3 degrees by 2070, our shipboard experiments will provide useful insight into how these communities will change in the longer term," says Associate Professor Doblin.

"Impacts seen at the base of the food web will have cascading effects on other parts of the marine food web, including commercial fisheries."

Investigator, with its team of CSIRO staff and marine researchers from UTS, UNSW and Macquarie University, is now in waters north of Byron Bay continuing research on the hidden diversity of microscopic marine life.

Explore further Well-travelled plankton could ride out global warming
Lake Victoria, Kenya. Credit: Sergei Kazakov / Shutterstock.com

Lake Victoria in East Africa will become a hotspot for hazardous thunderstorms due to climate change. This is shown by an international study published in Nature Communications on the 23rd of September. Stef Lhermitte (TU Delft) analysed the differences between storms during the day (which occur mainly over land) and during the night (occur mainly over the lake).

Lake Victoria is divided among Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. With a surface close to 70,000 km2, it is the biggest lake in Africa. The lake is also a notoriously dangerous place for the 200,000 people who go fishing there at night. The International Red Cross estimates that between 3,000 and 5,000 fishermen per year lose their lives in violent storms on the lake.

Difference between day and night

That Lake Victoria can be so stormy at night is related to the circulation in the atmosphere above the enormous water surface, explains Lhermitte, who was working for KU Leuven (Belgium) during the time of the research. During the day, a breeze develops that flows from the cool water towards the warm land. At night, the opposite occurs: the land breeze flows away from the cooling land towards the warmer lake. As the lake is shaped like a circle, these land breezes from all directions converge above the lake. Add evaporation to this cocktail and you get a lot of storms, rain, wind, and waves.

Satellite observations

The scientists were able to provide scientific evidence for this pattern in collaboration with American space agency NASA. Thanks to new NASA satellite products they were able to map the number of hazardous thunderstorms and their locations in East Africa  every 15 minutes for a period ranging from 2005 to 2013. During the day, most storms rage over the surrounding land, especially the typical afternoon thunderstorms that are caused by local upsurges of warm air. At night, these storms concentrate over Lake Victoria.

The new NASA satellite observations clearly show the day-and-night rhythm of the climate above and around Lake Victoria (day image on the left, night image on the right). The darker the image, the more storms were counted there between 2005 and 2013. Credit: Delft University of Technology

Hotspot for night-time storms

To predict the impact of climate change on this process, the team, led by Wim Thiery (KU Leuven and ETH Zurich) also ran climate simulations using an advanced computer model: "If we start from a business-as-usual scenario, whereby the emission of greenhouse gases continues to increase, the extreme amounts of rainfall over Lake Victoria will increase by twice as much as the rainfall over the surrounding land. As a result, the lake will become a hotspot for night-time storms. Superstorms that only occur once every 15 years today will occur almost every year by the end of the century."

Warning system

The scientists plan to do further research to optimize existing warning systems for local fishermen. The results make it possible to better predict extreme storms over the lake and to reduce the vulnerability of the local fishermen. In the meantime, a prototype of a new warning system has been developed.

More information: Wim Thiery et al. Hazardous thunderstorm intensification over Lake Victoria, Nature Communications (2016). Journal information: Nature Communications Wim Thiery et al. Hazardous thunderstorm intensification over Lake Victoria,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12786
The "most important Neolithic cup and ring marked rock art panel in Europe", which was unearthed for the first time in 50 years near a housing estate on the outskirts of Glasgow, has been reburied to protect the national treasure.

The Cochno Stone, dating back to 3000BC, is considered to be one of the best examples of Neolithic or Bronze Age cup and ring markings in Europe, and had been fully excavated for the first time since it was buried in 1965 to protect it from vandalism.

The stone, which lies on land next to a housing estate near Faifley, in West Dunbartonshire, is regarded as one of the United Kingdom's most important, but also one of its most neglected, prehistoric sites.

The two week excavation, lead by archaeologists from the University of Glasgow and digital scanning and mapping experts from the Factum Foundation, provided an opportunity to use cutting-edge 3-D imaging technology to make a detailed digital record of the site.

It is hoped the digital mapping and data of the Cochno Stone could shine more light on its history, its purpose and the people who created the artwork around 5,000 years ago.

Dr Kenny Brophy, from the University of Glasgow who specialises in urban archaeology, lead the excavation and described the experience of seeing the stone for the first time in 51 years as a "once in a life time opportunity".

"The Cochno Stone is something I had heard about as a boy, historically it is well documented, but I was not able to see it until now.

"It is emotional when you have worked on a project such as this, touched it, walked on it and closely examined it, to then rebury it but for now that is what we have to do to protect it from the elements. But there has been a lot of public interest in the stone throughout this project, many local people have come and visited it while we have been working here, and there does seem to be a strong opinion that this should be open for all to see and learn from.

"Perhaps in the future this site could be turned into a major tourist attraction in Scotland, with a visitor centre, who knows."

Explore further 5,000 year old Prehistoric art panel uncovered
A petri dish contains colonies of fungi grown from a sample collected aboard the International Space Station during Microbial Tracking-1, a research investigation that looks at the types of microbes present on the surfaces and in the air of the space station. Credit: NASA / JPL

More than 200 people have crossed the airlock threshold to the International Space Station to conduct research that benefits people on Earth and the agency's Journey to Mars. The microbes they brought with themand left behindare the focus of a new collaborative research opportunity from NASA and the non-profit Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Humans bring microbes everywhere they gosome of which reside inside the body, such as the intestinal tract. Others are outside the body on skin and clothes, for example. When these collective microbial communities enter a human-made environment like the International Space Station they create their own microbial ecosystem known as the Microbiome of Built Environments (MoBE).

NASA is seeking proposals from postdoctoral fellows to analyze the microbial communities inside the space station to determine how the communities colonize, adapt and evolve. The researchers will have access to a collection of space station microbial samples gathered over a decade or more, and archived at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"NASA is incredibly excited to partner with the Sloan Foundation through a Space Act Agreement to look at the microbiome of the space station to better understand how to control the microbial environment in future human exploration spacecraft," says David Tomko, Ph.D., space biology program scientist at NASA.

NASA and the Sloan Foundation have a shared interest in promoting microbiology research that will enhance scientific understanding of the microbiome of built environments. Sloan funds an extensive research program dedicated to the topic, and has established an online network where researchers in the field can share information, apply for grants and plan meetings and conferences.

Microbiome research on the space station is an important area of research for NASA as it prepares astronauts for future long duration spaceflight. The agency will upload resulting data and analysis onto the open science GeneLab platform to allow for further review from the research community. Sloan and NASA plan to use results in GeneLab to allow for further development of experiments by the research community.

"We are proud to be partnering with NASA to fund groundbreaking research on the microbial ecosystem of the space station," says Paula J. Olsiewski, Ph.D., director of Sloan's Microbiology of the Built Environment program. "The opportunities for discovery are truly unique."

Proposals are welcome from graduate students in the final year of a doctor of philosophy or equivalent doctoral degree program, from postdoctoral fellows or from applicants who received a doctoral degree within the past two years. The Sloan Foundation anticipates funding an additional two awards through a solicitation of its own with similar goals.

Explore further One billion base pairs sequenced on the space station
Artist's illustration of China's 8-ton Tiangong-1 space station, which is expected to fall to Earth in late 2017. Credit: CMSE

China's first space station, Tiangong-1, is expected to fall to Earth sometime in late 2017. We've known for several months that the orbital demise of the 8-metric ton space station was only a matter of time. But Chinese space agency officials recently confirmed that they have lost telemetry with the space station and can no longer control its orbit. This means its re-entry through Earth's atmosphere will be uncontrolled.

Despite sensational headlines this past week (and earlier this year) about Tiangong-1 exploding and raining down molten metal, the risk is quite low that people on Earth will be in danger. Any remaining debris that doesn't burn up in the atmosphere has a high chance of falling into an ocean, since two-thirds of Earth's surface is covered by water.

While NASA and other space agencies say it's very hard to compute the overall risk to any individual, it's been estimated that the odds that you, personally, will be hit by a specific piece of debris are about 1 in several trillion.

But numerically, the chance that one person anywhere in the world might be struck by a any piece of space debris comes out to a chance of 1-in-3,200, said Nick Johnson, chief scientist with NASA's Orbital Debris during a media teleconference in 2011 when the 6-ton UARS satellite was about to make an uncontrolled reentry.

Johnson also reminded everyone that throughout the entire history of the space age, there have been no reports of anybody in the world being injured or struck by any re-entering debris. Something of this size re-enters the atmosphere every few years, and many are uncontrolled entries. For example, there were the UARS and ROSAT satellites in 2011, GOCE in 2013 and Kosmos 1315 in 2015. All of those re-entered without incident, with some returning so remotely there was no visual evidence of their fall.

Artists illustration of Chinas 8-ton Tiangong-1 space space station. Credit: CMSE

Wu Ping, deputy director of China's Manned Space Engineering (CMSE) office, said at a press conference before the launch of the Tiangong-2 space station last week (September 15, 2016) that based on their calculations and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during its fall through the atmosphere. She added that China has always highly valued the management of space debris, and will continue to monitor Tiangong-1, and will release a forecast of its falling and report it internationally.

So all that can be done now is to monitor its position over time to be able to predict when and where it might come down.

Without telemetry, how can we monitor its orbital position?

"Although Tiangong-1 is no longer functioning, keeping track of where it is not a problem," said Chris Peat, who developed and maintains Heavens-Above.com, a site that provides orbital information to help people observe and track satellites orbiting the Earth.

First image of a solar transit of Tiangong-1, the first module of the Chinese space station, taken from Southern France on May 11th 2012. Credit: Thierry Legault. Used by permission

"Like all other satellites, it is being tracked by the world-wide network of radar installations operated by the US Department of Defense," Peat explained via email to Universe Today. "They make the orbital elements available to the public via the Space-Track web site and this is where we get the orbital data from in order to make our predictions."

Peat says they check for new data every 4 hours, and Space-Track updates the orbits of most large objects about once per day.

Since Tiangong-1 is such a large object, Peat said there is no chance that it will be lost by Space-Track before re-entry. Additionally, amateur/hobby observers also make observations of the position of some satellites and calculate their own orbits for them. This is mostly done for classified satellites for which Space-Track does not publish data, and is not really necessary in the case of Tiangong-1, Peat said.

But with uncertainties of when and where this 8-ton (7.3 metric tons) vehicle will come back to Earth, you can bet that the amateur observing community will keep an eye on it.

Graphic shows the procedure of Shenzhou-8 spacecraft docking with Tiangong-1 space lab module on Nov. 3, 2011. Credit: Xinhua/Lu Zhe

"As it gets lower and enters the denser atmosphere, it will be subject to greater perturbations, but I do not expect Space-Track to lose it because it is so large," Peat said. "It will actually become brighter and easier to see as it gets lower."

If you want to watch for it yourself, Heavens-Above provides tracking information anywhere around the world. Just input your specific location and click on "Tiangong-1," listed under "Satellites." Heavens-Above (they also have an app) is great for being able to see satellites like the International Space Station and Hubble, as well as seeing astronomical objects like planets and asteroids. Heavens-Above also has an interactive sky chart.

But despite being able to track Tiangong-1, as well as knowing its location and orbit is not the same as being able to say exactly when and where it will fall to Earth.

"This is a notoriously difficult task," Peat said and even a day before re-entry, the estimated re-entry point will still be uncertain by many thousands of kilometers. The Russian Mir space station was brought down in a controlled manner using its propulsion system to re-enter over the South Pacific, but Tiangong-1 is no longer functioning so the re-entry point cannot be influenced by ground controllers."

This plot shows the orbital height of the Chinese space station Tiangong-1 over the last year. Its orbit was boosted in mid-December 2015. Credit: Chris Peat/Heavens-Above.com

Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who also monitors objects in orbit, said via Twitter that Tiangong-1's reentry could be anywhere between the latitudes of 43 degrees North and 43 degrees South, which is a rather large area on our planet and are the latitudes where a majority of Earth's population resides. That's not especially comforting, but remember, the odds are in your favor.

Peat now has a page on Heavens-Above showing the orbital height of Tiangong-1 and you can see how the height is reducing as a function of time. It shows there was an orbital boost in December 2015.

Tiangong-1 was launched in September 2011 and ended its functional life in March this year, when it had "comprehensively fulfilled its historical mission," Chinese officials said. It was operational for four and a half years, which is two and a half years longer than its designed life. It was visited by the un-crewed Shenzhou-8 in 2011, and the crewed missions of Shenzhou-9 in 2012 and Shenzhou-10 in 2013. It also was used for Earth observation and studying the space environment, according to CMSE.

Explore further China launches second space station, Tiangong 2
In an April 21, 2010 photo, response crews battle the deadly Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. USU professor Joseph Tainter has written a book about the factors leading to the disaster, which claimed 11 lives and caused widespread environmental damage. Credit: Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard.

The soon-to-be-released thriller 'Deepwater Horizon,' which opens in theaters Sept. 30, promises moviegoers a chilling reenactment of one of history's worst oil rig disasters. Utah State University professor Joseph Tainter will be among those waiting in line to see the new flick, which offers a heart-rending restaging of oil rig workers making split-second decisions and fighting for their lives during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico catastrophe.

Like other fans, Tainter will be on the edge of his seat, but the renowned scholar of societal collapse will also enter the theater with a big-picture view of the perfect storm of factors that led to the explosion and oil spill that killed 11 people and sent more than 200 million gallons of crude oil spewing toward the nation's southern coastline for 87 days.

Tainter delved into the Deepwater Horizon disaster and, with colleague Tadeusz "Tad" Patzek of the University of Texas-Austin, published 'Drilling Down: The Gulf Oil Debacle and Our Energy Dilemma' in 2011. The book details specific causes of the Deepwater calamity, explores society's current energy crisis and calls for discussion on future energy solutions.

"It takes energy to find and produce energy and the world's remaining, untapped petroleum reserves are in deep, dark, cold, remote and dangerous locations," he says. "We need highly sophisticated technology and equipment to meet our energy demands."

Oil has fueled an unprecedented standard of living in the United States and many parts of the world, but it won't last forever, says the historian and anthropologist whose 1988 book, 'The Collapse of Complex Societies,' remains a definitive work on societal collapse. As societies grow more complex through the bounty of cheap energy, Tainter says, they also confront problems that seem to increase in number and severity.

Utah State University professor Joseph Tainter, a world-renowned scholar of societal collapse, is an author of 'Drilling Down: The Gulf Oil Debacle and Our Energy Dilemma.' His 1988 book, 'The Collapse of Complex Societies,' remains a definitive work on the rise and fall of civilizations. Credit: Donna Barry, Utah State University.

In the 1940s, when the U.S. petroleum industry hit its stride, the net cost to produce oil and gas was about 100 to one.

"It cost about one barrel of oil to produce 100 barrels of oil," Tainter says. "Today, that ratio is about 15 to one in the United States. Though it varies throughout the world and oil prices are currently depressed, the trend is clear. Energy is becoming very costly in terms of resources, safety and environmental health."

Alternative energy provides a possible solution, but is a challenge to implement, he says.

"We have some hurdles to clear with the infrastructure needed to make renewable energy a viable replacement for fossil fuels," Tainter says. "Alternatives such as biomass, solar and wind power require large land acquisitions and a distribution network that doesn't yet exist."

Looking into the past, we can see that cheap energy and increasing complexity have contributed to a mutually reinforcing spiral, he says. "We've become dependent on an energy source that can't sustain us indefinitely and we have to figure out what to do about it."

Explore further Norway opens new Arctic zones to oil exploration
Novartis announces positive top-line results from ASCEND-4, a Phase III trial of Zykadia in untreated adult ALK+ NSCLC patients

Details Category: Small Molecules Published on Friday, 23 September 2016 13:33 Hits: 1771

In a Phase III clinical study, Zykadia  extended progression-free survival (PFS) when compared with standard chemotherapy, including maintenance



extended progression-free survival (PFS) when compared with standard chemotherapy, including maintenance Novartis is moving forward with global regulatory submissions for this indication; full results will be presented at an upcoming medical congress

BASEL, Switzerland I September 23, 2016I Novartis today announced top-line results from its Phase III ASCEND-4 clinical study for Zykadia (ceritinib) in patients with advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The multicenter, randomized trial (NCT01828099), which assessed the efficacy and safety of Zykadia in previously untreated adult patients, met its primary endpoint, demonstrating clinically significant improvement in progression free survival (PFS) compared to standard chemotherapy, including maintenance.

In addition to PFS, clinically meaningful results were achieved across key secondary efficacy measures, including objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR). The adverse events observed were consistent with the previously known adverse event profile of Zykadia. A full analysis of ASCEND-4 data along with detailed efficacy and safety results will be submitted for presentation at a major medical congress.

"Zykadia has proven to be an important treatment option for ALK+ NSCLC patients who have progressed following treatment with crizotinib," said Alessandro Riva, Global Head, Oncology Development and Medical Affairs, Novartis Oncology. "We are pleased to see these topline results show promise in untreated patients with advanced disease, and look forward to sharing these data with regulatory authorities in the coming months."

Of more than 1.8 million lung cancer diagnoses each year, approximately 2-7% of cases have the ALK gene rearrangement[1],[2]. These patients are candidates for treatment with a targeted ALK inhibitor[2].

About ASCEND-4

ASCEND-4 was a Phase III randomized, open label, multicenter global clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Zykadia compared to standard chemotherapy, including maintenance, in adult patients with Stage IIIB or IV ALK+ NSCLC who received no prior therapy for their advanced disease.

The study was conducted at 203 clinical trial sites globally across 31 countries and randomized across 376 patients. Patients received Zykadia orally at 750 mg/daily or standard pemetrexed based platinum doublet chemotherapy per label (pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 5-6) including pemetrexed maintenance.

The primary endpoint of the trial was PFS by blinded independent review committee. Key secondary endpoints included: overall survival, PFS by investigator assessment, overall response rate, duration of response, disease control rate and time to response.

About Zykadia

Zykadia is an oral, selective inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), a gene that can fuse with others to form an abnormal "fusion protein" that promotes the development and growth of certain tumors in cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Zykadia was granted conditional approval in the EU for the treatment of adult patients with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC previously treated with crizotinib. In the US, Zykadia was granted accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib. Zykadia is currently approved in over 55 countries worldwide. Please visit www.NovartisOncology.com/news/product-portfolio/zykadia for additional information.

Zykadia Important Safety Information

Zykadia may cause serious side effects.

Zykadia may cause stomach upset and intestinal problems in most patients, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and stomach-area pain. These problems can be severe. Patients should follow their doctor's instructions about taking medicines to help these symptoms, and should call their doctor for advice if symptoms are severe or do not go away.

Zykadia may cause severe liver injury. Patients should have blood tests prior to the start of treatment with Zykadia, every two weeks for the first month of treatment and monthly thereafter, and should talk to their doctor right away if they experience any of the following symptoms: tiredness (fatigue), itchy skin, yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, nausea or vomiting, decreased appetite, pain on the right side of the abdomen, urine turns dark or brown, or bleeding or bruising more easily than normal.

Zykadia may cause severe or life-threatening swelling (inflammation) of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Symptoms may be similar to those symptoms from lung cancer. Patients should tell their doctor right away about any new or worsening symptoms, including trouble breathing or shortness of breath, fever, cough, with or without mucous, or chest pain.

Zykadia may cause very slow, very fast, or abnormal heartbeats. Doctors should check their patient's heart during treatment with Zykadia. Patients should tell their doctor right away if they feel new chest pain or discomfort, dizziness or lightheadedness, faint, or have abnormal heartbeats, blue discoloration of lips, shortness of breath, swelling of lower limbs or skin, or if they start to take or have any changes in heart or blood pressure medicines.

Zykadia may cause high levels of glucose in the blood. People who have diabetes or glucose intolerance, or who take a corticosteroid medicine have an increased risk of high blood sugar with Zykadia. Patients should have glucose blood tests prior to the start of treatment with Zykadia and during treatment. Patients should follow their doctor's instructions about blood sugar monitoring and call their doctor right away with any symptoms of high blood sugar, including increased thirst and/or urinating often.

Zykadia may cause high levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood and may cause pancreatitis. Patients should have blood tests prior to the start of treatment with Zykadia and as needed during their treatment with Zykadia. Patients should talk to their doctor if they experience signs and symptoms of pancreatitis which including upper abdominal pain that may spread to the back and get worse with eating.

Before patients take Zykadia, they should tell their doctor about all medical conditions, including liver problems; diabetes or high blood sugar; heart problems, including a condition called long QT syndrome; if they are pregnant, if they think they may be pregnant, or if they plan to become pregnant; are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Zykadia may harm unborn babies. Women who are able to become pregnant must use a highly effective method of birth control (contraception) during treatment with Zykadia and up to 3 months after stopping Zykadia. It is not known if Zykadia passes into breast milk. Patients and their doctor should decide whether to take Zykadia or breastfeed, but should not do both.

Patients should tell their doctor about medicines they take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. If they take Zykadia while using oral contraceptives, the oral contraceptives may become ineffective.

The most common adverse reactions with an incidence of >=10% were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, tiredness (fatigue), liver laboratory test abnormalities (requires blood test monitoring), abdominal pain, decreased appetite, constipation, rash, kidney laboratory test abnormalities (requires blood test monitoring), heartburn and anemia. Grade 3-4 adverse reactions with an incidence of >=5% were liver laboratory test abnormalities, tiredness (fatigue), diarrhea, nausea and hyperglycemia (requires blood test monitoring).

Patients should stop taking Zykadia and seek medical help immediately if they experience any of the following, which may be signs of an allergic reaction:

Difficulty in breathing or swallowing

Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat

Severe itching of the skin, with a red rash or raised bumps

Patients should tell their doctor of any side effect that bothers them or does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Zykadia. For more information, patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist.

Patients should take Zykadia exactly as their health care provider tells them. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking Zykadia unless their health care provider advises them to. Zykadia should be taken once a day on an empty stomach. Patients should not eat for at least 2 hours before and 2 hours after taking Zykadia. If a dose of Zykadia is missed, they should take it as soon as they remember. If their next dose is due within the next 12 hours, they should skip the missed dose and take the next dose at their regular time. They should not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Patients should not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during treatment with Zykadia, as it may make the amount of Zykadia in their blood increase to a harmful level. If patients have to vomit after swallowing Zykadia capsules, they should not take more capsules until their next scheduled dose.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Zykadia.



About Novartis

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care and cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2015, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.4 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 8.9 billion (USD 8.7 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges). Novartis Group companies employ approximately 118,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are available in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

References

[1] International Cancer Control: Global Cancer Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/international/statistics.htm. Last updated February 2015.

[2] National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. NCCN 2014 3:1-148.

SOURCE: Novartis


As I watched Thursday's news about New York's latest government corruption case unfold, I couldn't help but think about how ripe the world of government contracts is for fraud. Really, decades ago, I would hazard a guess that more contracts were gotten through payoffs than weren't. It was just how business was done.

Things have changed greatly, with bidding standards, regulations and requirements outlining what needs to be done. But the whole world of municipal contracts and jobs continues to be so murky, and there are so many ways to rig the system, anyone who thinks this is an isolated situation is kidding themselves.

The fact that the alleged bid-rigging uncovered in Albany seemed to be so brazen in such a major, high-profile project was what shocked me the most. What goes on with the smaller jobs where there are far fewer safeguards?

Having covered local government on-and-off for decades, I have seen plenty of connected people get jobs they didn't deserve, and companies get contracts that seem a bit malodorous.

Many of the people who have questioned the Siemens "energy performance contracts" that municipalities around New York and the country (including Warren and Saratoga counties) wound up with have publicly wondered how the company was able to finagle them with what appears to be little scrutiny.

Absent subpoena power, a motivated law enforcement agency and cooperating witnesses, it's tough to prove fraud. The Warren County Sheriff's Office flat-out accused two people of crimes in a local Siemens project last year, but no prosecutor would touch it.

Government jobs are a cash cow, there's no doubt about it. They support millions of people and millions of private sector businesses, directly and indirectly.

A project runs short of money? No problem, we'll just dip into the fund balance, borrow more and/or raise taxes to close that shortfall.

That doesn't happen in the private sector. You raise prices, and your customers just may go elsewhere.

When contractors have that motivation to grab a piece of the bottomless money pot, and elected/appointed government workers see a chance to fatten their wallets, bad things are going to continue to happen. It's just a matter of how many get caught.

-- Don Lehman
QUEENSBURY  A man from California was jailed Thursday afternoon after a two-vehicle collision on Upper Sherman Avenue, police said.

No injuries were reported in the 3:46 p.m. collision near the intersection with Algonquin Drive. Police said Matthew Ball, 27, was blamed for the crash, and officers found he was under the influence of drugs, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office.

Ball admitted using unspecified prescription drugs and THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, before the collision, police said.

Ball was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor, and ticketed for following too closely, according to the Sheriff's Office. He was sent to Warren County Jail for lack of bail.

The name of the other driver was not released.

Sheriff's officers Josh Grenier and John DeCristofaro made the arrest.
The 4-year-old Fort Edward girl who was seriously injured remained in critical condition at Albany Medical Center on Friday as police and prosecutors worked to build a case against the woman they believe hurt her.

Kaiden Starr Rice suffered life-threatening skull fractures and a brain injury Wednesday and has been on life support since she was taken to Glens Falls Hospital. She had surgery Wednesday in Albany.

A candlelight vigil was held in Kaidens honor in South Glens Falls on Wednesday night, with family members, friends and members of local child abuse awareness organizations coming together.

Rices stepmother, Marissa T. Bickford-Rice, 22, has been charged with reckless assault of a child, a felony, after she told police she threw the child, causing her to hit her head on a hard floor in the familys home at 603 Lower Wright St., officials said.

The child also has a broken arm and clavicle. Albany Medical Center would not release information about her condition Friday.

Police have said Bickford-Rice made admissions, but they have not said what led up to the attack. They have also questioned whether she was completely truthful, as the skull injury appeared more significant than would typically happen during a fall to a floor in a home.

Bickford-Rice is being held in Washington County Jail for lack of bail. She could face additional charges, and if Kaiden does not survive, would face a homicide prosecution and potential charges as weighty as second-degree murder.

Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan said no date has been set for a grand jury review of the case as the investigation continues. Authorities have subpoenaed medical records and also plan to review phone records and computer records, and interviews of potential witnesses were still being conducted as of Friday.

There are a lot of things that still have to be done, he said. We want to make sure everything is complete before we move forward.

Authorities said Bickford-Rice is seven months pregnant, which raises questions about what will happen if she gives birth while in Sheriffs Office custody at the county jail.

Female inmates who give birth are often allowed to stay with their children for the first few months of the babys life for mother-child bonding, but with Bickford-Rice accused of assault of a child, the county Department of Social Services may take issue with that potential contact.

Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy said his office will work with the Child Protective Services arm of the Department of Social Services to review the jail staffs options. He said he did not believe Bickford-Rice would be allowed to have custody of the child in light of the child assault charges.

We are not going to let her keep the baby here, he said.
FORT EDWARD  In the past four years, Washington County has participated in seizing $515,581 from people who were not charged with a crime.

The program, called civil forfeiture, allows law enforcement to seize cash from people who are believed to be using the money illegally, even though there isnt enough evidence to charge the person with a crime.

The procedure has been highly criticized after some high-profile cases in which law enforcement wrongly seized cash that had been earned legally. New Mexico banned the practice in 2015.

In Washington County, Hartford Supervisor Dana Haff began refusing this year to approve the monthly receipt of forfeiture money unless he was assured that it came only from criminal cases.

Washington County gets a share of the cash seized by the Capital Region Drug Enforcement task force, which generally seizes money that is believed to be used to buy and sell drugs. But task forces throughout the country have been under scrutiny in recent years for seizing cash from people who were never arrested. Those cases, called civil forfeiture, have been questioned by many politicians and activists.

Sheriff Jeff Murphy assured Haff that the office has never, during Murphys tenure, accepted money that was not tied to a criminal case. A spokeswoman for the Drug Enforcement Agency, which runs the task force that seizes cash for forfeiture cases, also said the DEA never engages in civil forfeitures.

But The Post-Star filed a Freedom of Information request with the federal government to get the details on every forfeiture for which some cash was shared with Washington County, from 2011 to 2014.

The Freedom of Information request showed that the county benefited financially from three civil forfeitures  in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Murphy acknowledged Friday that not all forfeitures involve an arrest. But, he said, they all involved criminal acts.

We have had cases where the task force has seized money or property and the person was not charged with a crime. They have made an agreement with the DEA to forfeit the money or property in lieu of being arrested, he said.

In total, Washington County received money from 34 forfeitures cases from 2011 to 2014. Washington County gets to keep only a tiny percentage of the total forfeited amount. In the three civil cases, out of the more than $500,000 seized, the county got to keep $5,242.21.

Haff was incensed by the information.

This runs counter to what I was led to believe, he said.

He is adamantly opposed to civil forfeiture, saying that every time law enforcement seizes property from someone, they should also charge that person with a crime.

I dont care if its one dollar, its not right, he said. I think its against the 4th, 5th and 8th Amendments. Charge em and let em have their day in court.

Board of Supervisors Chairman and Argyle Supervisor Bob Henke defended the idea of civil forfeiture, which he used during his career as a state environmental conservation officer, mainly in cases of hunters shooting or trapping animals out of season. Civil forfeiture isnt inherently wrong, he said, and can be used when its not clear who committed the crime.

It isnt necessarily indicative it was not criminal, he said. If you find a car full of heroin and cash, youre not necessarily going to have a bad guy to arrest. But youre not going to just leave it there.

Henke is concerned by cases in other parts of the state, however, in which police seized cash after routine traffic stops, despite finding no evidence of drugs or other criminal acts.

In a case where theres a criminal act, I have no problem with forfeiture, Henke said. I think each case bears looking at individually.

The Post-Star has filed a new Freedom of Information request with the DEA to get court documents on each civil forfeiture.

The Freedom of Information request already fulfilled by the DEA also showed that very few of Washington Countys forfeitures came from criminal forfeiture.

The vast majority were administrative forfeitures, a lesser-known program that allows law enforcement to quickly get approval to keep cash and other property that was seized. The approval comes within weeks, long before the owner faces his or her charges in court.

Owners cannot use a public defender to argue against the forfeiture of their cash. They must hire their own attorney, because property does not have the same rights as a person. Among the many legal rights that do not apply is the right to representation.

According to the federal government, any forfeiture of funds less than $500,000 in a criminal case should be seized as an administrative forfeiture.

If the person is later acquitted or a district attorney decides not to prosecute, the person can go back to court to try to get their property back. But the person must still prove that the property was obtained through legitimate means, according to the DEA.




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Twitter has suspended me. I don't know why.





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COMMENTS WELCOME unless they are anonymous.
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 

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Six steps by the Assad regime in the last few days, reported by DEBKA file s military sources, point to preparations for a massive Syrian army offensive, backed by Hizballah, pro-Iranian Shiite militias and Iranian Rev Guards officers, for clearing the strong rebel presence out of the Syrian Golan.:





1. The arrival in the Quneitra area of the armored brigades of the 4 th Division, which is the elite unit of President Bashar Assads armed forces and reserved strictly for battles of the highest strategic importance for the regime.





2. The Syrian brigades came with advanced Russian T-90 tanks that were detached from the Aleppo front in the north. Those tanks will be deployed for the first time just 8km from the Israeli border.





3. Hizballah too has contributed its elite fighting unit, the Radwan Force, which has arrived in Quneitra in the last few days to take part in the coming offensive.





4. Also concentrated there are pro-Iranian Shiite militia forces, under the direct command of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps.





5. The Syrian president Assad took the unusual step of appointing a senior Druze officer, Brig. Gen. Osama Zhar a-din, as the Golan fronts new commander. The motive behind this is an attempt to drive a wedge between the IDF troops posted on the Israeli Golan and the Druze inhabiting the local villages, while also sowing discord between the Druze serving in Israels armed forces and their Jewish brothers-in-arms.





According to our military sources, the current Syrian and allied lineup just across the border from Israel is not deployed this time to attack Israel, but for a clean sweep of all the Syrian rebel forces holding sectors of the Golan-Israeli border.



The pro-Assad forces are expected to weigh in with artillery shelling and heavy aerial bombing to force the local Syrian population of 140,000 to 160,000 to flee. This scenario would confront Israel and the IDF with the possibility of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees clamoring for sanctuary.





6. Our intelligence sources add that Iran, Hizballah and Syria have decided to henceforth hit back at any Israeli air or artillery strikes against a Syrian target on the Golan. This was decided at high-level three-way consultations in Damascus on Sept. 15, two days after Israeli aircraft attacked the headquarters of Syrias 90 th Brigade at al-Shaar, near Quneitra, in reprisal for the Syrian shells that strayed across the border.



Assad informed his allies that he will not put up with any more Israeli attacks on Syrian regional commands.





































Syrian government forces have launched a major operation against terrorists in the eastern outskirts of Aleppo.

"The Syrian Army launched an offensive in the easter parts of Aleppo," reads a statement from the Syrian Army.

"We urge all civilians to stay away from the places with high concentration of militants and command posts of terrorist groups."

Earlier on Thursday, the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to begin its second meeting to discuss the ceasefire agreement reached between the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this month.

That ceasefire has been at risk ever since US-led airstrikes struck a Syrian Army position over the weekend, killing 62 servicemen and injuring 100 more. US Central Command has admitted responsibility for the strike, claiming it mistook the Syrian forces for Daesh terrorists. In addition to American fighters, the UK, Australia, and Denmark were also involved in the incident.





































South Korea is developing a special military unit capable of unseating the North Korean leader, according to defense ministry officials.

The plan is known as Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR), local news agency News 1 reported.





According to UPI , defense minister Han Min-koo told lawmakers during South Koreas National Assembly that, in order to fend off an invasion from Pyongyang, 500,000 or more full time troops must be maintained. He claimed that the DPRK military has 1.2 million standing troops.





Han was quoted by South Korean news service YTN quoted as saying, "If it becomes clear the enemy intends to use nuclear-tipped missiles, in order to suppress its aims, the concept [of special forces] is to retaliate against key areas that include the North Korean leadership."





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.









































The US-Russia ceasefire agreement in Syria seemed near collapse late Saturday, when US airstrikes killed dozens of Syrian soldiers by mistake. According to US Defense Department officials the strike appears to be an intelligence failure.





As its been noted by the American Conservative, if we are to assume that this was done by mistake, it is a damaging and embarrassing error. It is even more embarrassing because the strike hit Syrian forces that were fighting ISIS. Because the error effectively benefited ISIS, the strike has provided Syria and Russia with a ready-made story to use as part of their propaganda that ISIS is either backed or created by the US. Coming on the heels of the ceasefire agreement with Moscow, the timing of this incident could not have been worse.





Immediately after this airstrike, Syrian officials announced the end of a seven-day ceasefire, without providing any information about its possible extension, Reuters reported . The army accused terrorist groups of having not fulfilled a single paragraph of the agreement reached during the negotiations held by the US State Department and Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and instead took advantage of them.









According to the Swiss Le Temps, Washington has suffered a major loss in credibility, and its attempts to apologize and put forward contradictory versions of the incident are not helping either.





The United States has itself trapped in Syria, with its credibility undermined at every turn and its officials taking a defensive footing in negotiations, the media source notes.





For Russia, the bombing was proof that the United States is unable to coordinate its actions with the opposition, therefore the agreement has little chance to succeed.
































































The Colleges of Education were given tertiary status in 2004 following the Anamuah-Mensah Committees recommendation.

Following that, the teachers have been pushing for the same salary structure with their colleagues in other tertiary institutions.

They claim multiple attempts to get authorities to address their concerns have proved futile.

But the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday, September 21 announced that it has approved for the migration of staff of the Colleges of Education (COE) from the Ghana Education Service (GES) payroll to that of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the payment of the new levels.

A letter signed by the Minister of Finance, Mr Seth Terkper (addressed to the Controller and Accountant-General and copied to all the relevant parties), stated, Following the attainment of tertiary status by the 37 colleges of education, approval is hereby given for staff of the colleges of education on the Ghana Education Service payroll to be migrated onto the NCTE payroll.

Per this approval, salaries, retention premium, critical support allowance and conversion difference are to be paid to eligible staff, the letter said.

Please note that the payment of all other allowances are to be made in accordance with the approved rates of the categories two and three allowances, it added.

The letter made it clear that not all the existing staff of the COE meet the minimum requirements of the new scheme of service for COE developed by the NCTE.

Thus not all staff of the COE are to be migrated onto the Single Spine Grade Structure of the COE. Staff who do not meet the minimum requirements are subsequently to be placed on the GES payroll, the letter stated.

It added that All such job holders are to receive conversion difference in line with the principles of the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) in order not to make them worse off. In the interim, retention premium and critical support of 15 per cent paid to the teaching and some selected non-teaching staff of the COE will continue to be paid until government directives on the payment of premiums and any other related allowance are reviewed.
This was revealed by the Rector of GIJ Dr Wilberforce Dzisah when the school held its matriculation for fresh students of the 2016/2017 academic year today (Friday).

Addressing the students and others gathered at the event, Dr Dzisah lamented the increase in the poor dress code of GIJ students to school.

he warned.

he threatened.

READ ALSO: Over 600 students graduate at the Ghana Institute of Journalism

Dr Dzisah said management has taken this decision because such indecent and provocative dressings sway the students from their main focus for coming to the school.

he said.

He said in the near future the students who dress poorly would be taking up leadership roles and would have to be groomed for that.
Nana Addo stated on his Facebook page that today he met the talented Ghanaian Gospel musician

Nana Akufo Addo said Cwesi Oteng was at his residence to formally introduce himself to me and endorse my candidature ahead of the conduct of this year's election.

READ ALSO: Kwaku Manu endorses Prez Mahama

The Gospel musician endorsed the candidature of Nana Addo on his Twitter handle few days back.

Cwesi Oteng is not the first celebrity to endorse a Presidential nominee in the upcoming elections. Other celebrities who have endorsed various Presidential nominees are John Dumelo, Mzbel, Kwaku Manu, Agya Koo and Dada KD.
According to the Heritage Foundation, the country has been consistent with its poor performance in stopping the unlawful acquisition of money and property by those whose mandate it is to serve the public.

The think tank presented its findings at the Institute of Economic Affairs in Accra; where James Robert, a fellow at the organisation spelt out why the country was losing the battle.

Robert called on Ghanaians to increase activism and conversation about corruption as a way of stamping it out of governance in the country. The findings are set to boost the campaign of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which has accused the government of corruption.

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is currently investigating the president after it emerged that he was given a Ford Expedition car as a gift by a contractor who has won some government contractors.

In December 2015, the Transport Minister was forced to resign following public outrage after it was revealed that the cost of branding government buses had been overblown.

The Heritage Foundation was founded in 1973, and its mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defence.
Road traffic accidents and the associated injuries and fatalities in Ghana during an election year, in particular, show a worrying trend.

NDPC TARGETS YOUTH IN LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in collaboration with National Youth Authority has launched a comprehensive programme to actively involve the youth in the 40-year Long Term Development Plan of the country.

I KILLED GIRL, 7 AND HAD SEX WITH HER BODY  MAN, 22, CONFESSES

A 22-year-old man yesterday confessed to the Accra Central District Magistrate Court to killing a seven-year-old girl at Ashaiman, near Tema, after which he had sex with the corpse.

NDC HAS BETTER ECONOMIC RECORD THAN NPP  FIFI KWETEY

The NDC has reiterated that it has a great track record of using foreign loans to invest in solid projects which have started bringing high returns to the country.

AVEYIME RICE PROJECT DEAD

IM NOT BRIBING VOTERS  MAHAMA

President John Mahama has denied reports suggesting he was bribing voters ahead of the December 2016 general elections.

GCB BOARD CHAIRMAN HOT

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Daniel Owuredu is struggling to parry allegation of playing double roles in the running of the bank, having appointed himself as Chairman of the Credit Sub-committee of the bank.

'Rape victim' arrested...for biting fire man's penis
So while delivering an address at the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr. Mahama felt the need to borrow a few words from music.

READ ALSO:UN General Assembly Mahama addresses 71st UN General Assembly on Wednesday

He found his thoughts captured perfectly by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson in the 1991 hit song Heal the World.

"Michael Jackson sang, 'heal the world. make the world a better place for you and for me... and the entire human race...What happened to that enthusiasm?" - he quizzed the worlds leaders.

This was a great line in a speech that focused on some of the major issues facing the world today including disease, governance, the world economy, and poverty.
Mike Oquaye Jnr clarified that EC chairperson and the commission are not expected to play any other role on the day of elections but to serve as calculators, calculating results and declaring the outcome of the elections.

Charlotte Osei is just a calculator . . . Madam Charlotte Osei of the EC is not a deliberator. She is a calculator. She just has to calculate who Ghanaians vote for. If Ghanaians say they want President John Mahama, we retain him. If they say that they want Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, he comes. If they want Dr. Mahama, he comes. If they want Paa Kwesi Nduom, he comes. If they want Ivor, he comes. Thats all.So, this election is about 'calculator' Charlotte Osei calculating our votes. Thats all. We dont want any long talk," he said on Accra-based Peace FM.

Many Ghanaians have cast doubt about the neutrality of the chairperson of the Electoral Commission Mrs. Charlotte Osei.
Head of Political and Economic Affairs at IMANI Ghana, Patrick Stephenson, told Accra-based Class FM that they have made it easier for the political parties to know what the electorates what them to do when they are voted into power. He said they must, therefore, incorporate them in their respective manifestos.

A survey by policy think tank IMANI Ghana has revealed that over 50 percent of Ghanaians are disillusioned with government and want resources lost through mismanagement and dubious deals retrieved.
But the President in times past had refuted such descriptions saying the NPP has no moral right to call him that.

The Minister of Tourism Fifi Kwetey has supported the President Mahama. He said it was the members of the NPP that were to be described as incompetent.

Explaining what incompetence means he said the NPP were the biggest incompetent group in the country since they have elected a party flagbearer who has lost at the general elections twice.

Fifi Kwetey was speaking at an event organised in Accra by the NDC dubbed Setting The Record Straight.

READ ALSO: NPP makes no apologies for calling Mahama incompetent

He said the NPP were so incompetent that if you want to continue with NPPs incompetence we will not leave here today.
The Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Accra-based Citi FM that the NDC is yet to determine the cost of all the promises in their 2016 manifesto.

The manifesto of the NDC has not yet been costed, he said.

He also denied that President Mahama had promised to give 1 student, 1 tablet computer. He said the statement made by President Mahama has been misinterpreted.
Dr Nduom was addressing a rally at Ejisu-Juaben in the Ashanti Region.

READ ALSO: Chinese woman destroying farmlands in Amansie with galamsey

As a result of the unregulated operations of the galamsey operators, the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has warned of a likely closure of three major water treatment dams.

The dams are the Barekese dam, the Kyebi Treatment plant and the Daboase water treatment plant.

READ ALSO: NPP blames Mahama for surge in galamsey

The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Abraham Otabil said as we speak now, Barekese in the Ashanti Region is being threatened seriously. We are looking at the Daboase Plant which is also seriously under siege by these galamsey operators.
He toured Sege, Ada, Prampram, among other communities on Thursday September 23, in the Greater Accra Region.

Everywhere I go, I have realised that people want a change of government. I believe Sege will be part of the change. I want the people of Sege and everybody to know that I have better policies to implement for Ghanas development. The NPP will develop Ghana and not steal from citizens like what the current government is doing. We want to improve the future of children in this country, he said.

As part of his campaign promises, Nana Akufo-Addo has stated he will construct a factory in each district as well as build an irrigation dam in every farming community in the North to support Ghana in becoming dependent in term of food production if he is elected as president in the December 7, presidential elections.

Background

The Presidential nominee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akuffo Addo will today (September 20, 2016) resume his campaign tour in the Greater Accra Region.

Nana Addo is expected to visit some constituencies in the region including Dodowa, Adentan amongst others.

Nana Addo has already toured all the ten regions. In the first phase of his campaign tour, he met chiefs and addressed rallies in various constituencies.

Some chiefs he met endorsed him while others admonished him to help Ghana out of its current economic crisis if he wins the 2016 elections.

Meanwhile, Nana Addo at every rally or courtesy call urged Ghanaian electorates to vote for change. He has also made some promises at various places.

Some of the promises he made during his regional tour include the creation of one more region from the Western Region, One village one dam in the Northern Region and one district, one factory.
One reason why I trust my president, not because I work for him but because of the principles he espoused. He is an epitome of hard work, honest, fair, God fearing, knowledgeable and above all his commitment to building a just and equitable society, Mr. Debrah stated.

He said: Having worked with him, if I look around and I see the developments that has taken place these few years under President Mahama in the area of education, health, first class roads which did not exist in the past among numerous others, 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 indicated that though Chiefs are not allowed to engage in active politics, the achievements of Mahama should be convincing enough for the Lawra Naa to appeal to his people to retain Mahama for a second term for accelerated development in the area and by extension Ghana.

He said chiefs could use the wisdom to decipher between a prank and reality and for that matter the need to proliferate the good works of the President to his followers.

On the issue of equitable distribution of the national cake, Mr. Debrah said the nation is huge and the demands are many, but at least I am happy you praised government for constructing the Lawra - Nandom road.

"This government under President Mahama is desirous to ensuring all the nooks and crannies in the country get their fair share of the national cake," he pointed out.
Addressing a press conference in Accra as part of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)s Setting the Records Straight series ahead of the December polls, Mr Kwetey said the NPP government had a lot of revenue from drug money but still found it difficult to transform 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.

Fifi Kwetey, however, argued that the cocaine cash flowing into the economy was curtailed by the Mahama-led administration when it took over power from the NPP.

Throughout the period of the eight years of the NDC from 2009 till now, Mr Mahama has competently ensured that we do not have any of the cocaine cash flowing into the economy, he said.

Mr Kweteys comments come on the back of accusations by the NPP that the current NDC administration led by President John Mahama is having enough revenue from foreign loans and oil, but has still not been able to transform the lives of Ghanaians.

But Fifi Kwetey disagrees, saying that the NDC government has managed the economy better than the NPP. In fact, this year, we anticipate that the total compensation package is going to hit about GHS12 billion plus and NDC has still been able to manage that and still keeps the economy well in spite of these very huge challenges, Mr Kwetey added.
The piece was put up for sale at an auction house in London. When Beth West, an art historian with Hampstead Auctions was researching the object, she became suspicious for several reasons.

She became curious after she discovered a museum registration number at the base of the artifact. She then contacted Art Recovery Group, a company in London that is concerned on art repatriation. They started the process of identifying the artifact.

According to Daniel Castro Benitez, Colombia National Museum director, the sculpture had truly been part of a collection displayed in the museum, although the museum has no record of how the artifact disappeared back in 1939.

According to Christopher Marinello, CEO, Art Recovery Group, the estimated worth of the piece is less than 13,000 dollars.

These kind of ceramic figures were made by the inhabitants of the areas around the Cauca River many centuries before the Spanish conquest of the area.
Africa's most industrialised country has earmarked nuclear expansion as a key part of increasing its power generation but the price tag of up to 1 trillion rand ($74 billion) for 9.6 gigawatts of nuclear power expected to be operational by 2030 has raised concerns over whether the plan is affordable.

Fears the nuclear project could be the most expensive procurement in South Africa's history, and that decisions could be made behind closed doors without the necessary public scrutiny, have been raised by opposition parties and environmentalists.

Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute said in a statement that the High Court in Cape Town would hear their case on Dec. 13 and 14 this year to block the nuclear power expansion.

"We are very pleased that the court understands the urgency of this matter at a critical stage in South Africa's energy decision-making process," said Liz McDaid, a spokeswoman for the activists.

Communications officials at the energy department were not available to comment.

The energy minister has said the government will issue requests for proposals on the new nuclear fleet on Sept. 30, amid concerns the costs will be prohibitive as the country tries to cut its heavy dependence on coal-fired plants.
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!
ALSO READ: Patience Jonathan accuses EFCC of stealing her money

The suspect identified as Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue was apprehended on Friday, September 23.

The Commissions Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, revealed this in a statement issued in Abuja, noting that the arrest was in line with the commission's resolve to expose corrupt operatives which would in turn uphold its integrity.

In furtherance of its avowed commitment to uphold the integrity of its officers, EFCC has arrested one of its operatives.

Uzodinma Kingsley Agbazue was arrested for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy and extortion, Uwujaren stated.

The suspect who was a Deputy Detective Superintendent (DSS) in the commission prior to his arrest, reportedly took a bribe of N15 million from a lawmaker.

Uwujaren noted that Agbazue was arrested following a complaint by a lawmaker currently under investigation by the commission, alleging that the operative collected N15 million from him and promised to give him (the lawmaker) soft landing.

The lawmaker is also reported to have told the commission that the suspect was unable to keep his promise as he could not get the bidding of the investigating officer in charge of the case.

Following the approach, the sum of N15 million was given to Agbazue, whose game plan collapsed after the investigating officer, who was ignorant of his scheme, refused to do his bidding.

And with the investigation gathering increased momentum after parting with the hefty sum, the complainant became uncomfortable and demanded refund.

The complainant stated that when he requested for the refund of his money, Agbazue only returned N5 million, claiming that the balance of N10million had been given to someone to kill the case from the top.

ALSO READ: Ministry of Environment officials arrested for fraud

The suspect is currently in the custody of the commission while further investigation is carried out into the case.
The 38-year-old fraudster was arrested after he reported his friend and partner in crime, Kenneth Okogba, also known as Biggie, to the police claiming he was a kidnapper and a fraudster but during investigations, the police discovered that Simon was actually a fraudster who was duped by Okogba, whose friend duped of money he in turn defrauded from an American.

Simon's complaint to the police led to the smashing of the scam syndicate and the arrest of seven suspects, including Simon himself.

According to the police, Simon was angry that his partner, Okogba, had duped him of the sum of $7090, (about of N2.3 million), he had defrauded an American named Mr. Sesebegude via the Internet.

Simon had allegedly instructed Okogba to go to the bank and pick the money with the agreement that they will share the money in the ratio of 70-30 with Simon, the 'catcher', getting the larger share while Okogba, the 'picker', was to get the lesser share.

But after picking the money, Okogba disappeared into thin air and after several frustrating attempts to get his share of the money failed, Simon went to the SCID to lodge the complaint against Okogba.

During his interrogation, Simon was said to have told the police:

"The police should release me; Im not a criminal and I shouldnt be treated as one. Yahoo-yahoo is just a creative means of making money.

I have been in this business since 2006. This is the only way I fend for my family. Its better than to engage in crimes like stealing or kidnapping.

Since I started, I have been getting few coins like $100 or $200, which I have been using to cloth myself. But this particular money which I got from my client, Mr. Sesebegude, an American citizen, was my ultimate breakthrough. The money was $7090, the equivalent of N2, 2546, 20.

Biggie was the picker; thats the person who gets the money from the bank. But since he picked the money, he has not given me my share, which was 70 percent of the total money.

I met Biggie several times to give me my share, but he always threatened me. I got frustrated and reported him to the police at SCID, Panti."

"I went with a copy of the payment slip, which affirmed that Biggie received the money. I told the police that Biggie was a kidnapper so that they would arrest him as soon as possible.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs M.I. Dan- Oni, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties should be gainfully employed and reside within the courts jurisdiction with an evidence of tax payment. Alaofin, a resident of No. 18, Fatoke White House Command, Abule Egba, a Lagos suburb, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of dangerous driving and driving without vehicle documents," Oni said.

But the prosecutor, Sgt. Christopher Okoliko, told the court that the accused, who drove a truck with registration no. EGE 508 XJ, committed the offence at about 12.35 a.m. on Lagos-Badagry Expressway by Doyin Bus Stop, Sari-Iganmu, Lagos, on August 25, 2016.

ALSO READ: Dog owner who named pet Buhari gets bail

He alleged that the accused damaged beyond repair a Volkswagen LT 28 bus marked LSR 651 XM, property of the complainant, Oliver Ukah  Alaofin was unable to produce the documents of the vehicle he drove.
The Upper Area court judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, ordered that the convicts should return the N10,000 to the complainant.

Onyekachi and Ododo, both students, had pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, impersonation and extortion.

Kagarko said he gave them light sentence following their plea for leniency and promise not to repeat the act.

The Prosecutor, Mr Donatus Abah had told the court that Ndubuisi Daniel reported the matter at Kubwa Police Station on Aug. 13.

He said that the convicts impersonated as members of the Nigerian Army with military uniforms and went to the shop of the complainant at Kubwa.

ALSO READ: Man to receive 3 strokes of cane for selling employer's puppy

They told him that one of his sales boy was a member of a cult group and demanded N10,000 from him, Abah said.

Abah also said that they threatened the complainant that they would take the boy to army barracks.

The prosecutor said that they extorted the money and returned a second time on Sept. 8, adding that it was at this point that the complainant alert the police and they were arrested.
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He appeared at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates Court.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Adebayo Oladele, told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 9.15 p.m. on Sept. 18 along Redemption Way, Ebute Meta, Lagos.

He said that Babangida broke the head of Umoru over an undisclosed amount of money.

Oladele said that the offence contravened Section 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to the one count-charge.

ALSO READ: House guard arrested after stabbing employer to death

The Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Ajibade, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
ALSO READ: Suspected kidnapper almost lynched by Lagos crowd

The incident took place in the morning on Thursday, September 22, at the SDP junction in the area.

According to an eyewitness, the man identified only as Daniel, trailed the unidentified victim who had a baby strapped to her back on a motorcycle after leaving the bank.

Immediately she got off the bike, Daniel snatched the handbag and took to his heels. Unfortunately for him, a group of motorcyclists chased him down and apprehended him, tearing off his clothes and giving him the beating of his life.

Some motorcyclists went after him, caught him and started beating him. They removed his clothes and left him on the ground," the eyewitness said.
The 40-year-old Ede told the police that he had given Igene, 38, the said sum to help him buy a property for him but she converted the money to other uses instead of doing what he told her to do.

But Igene, in her statement to the police, denied defrauding Ede, claiming that she actually used the money to buy the property just as he instructed her, and that they were lovers and that he had proposed marriage to her.

However, Ede denied being Igenes lover, stressing that there was only business transaction between them and at no time did he propose marriage to her. He also debunked claims by the suspect that he paid her flight to China to spend a romantic two weeks vacation with him, adding that she came to China with another guy, whom he presumed was her lover.

Ede who flew in from China to lodge the complaint told the police that Igene had fleeced him of the N40 million fraudulently. He narrated that Igene's elder brother, Kingsmate Igene, was introduced to him by a friend based in Holland, with the idea that Kingsmate had property for sale in Nigeria.

Ede said when he was finally linked up with Kingsmate, the latter told him that his sister living in Nigeria, was an estate agent and could get a good property for him.

A friend of mine who is based in Holland, introduced Kingsmate to me. He said that Kingsmate had landed property, which he wanted to sell in Lagos, Nigeria. My friend in Holland said he would have bought the property, but he didnt have money.

He persuaded me to buy it. He later introduced me to Kingsmate. I contacted a friend in Lagos, , and begged him to assist me by going over to inspect the said property. Chika later called to say the property was genuine. I immediately paid N6 million into Amakas account, through Kingsmate.

I then came to Nigeria to check out the property and after seeing the receipt of the first property, I was satisfied. But crisis started between us after they duped me through another property, which I bought for another purpose.

Amaka and her brother, Kingsmate, were able to dupe me because I believed in them. Were from the same Ebonyi State. The total money they collected from me was 40 million. This money is my sweat. I dont know where to start from now.

But the suspect had another story to tell.

She said:

After Chika introduced me to Ede, we started chatting. Ede then proposed to me. He asked me to send my pictures to him.

It was through our conversation that he told me he has a property he was working on in Ebonyi State. I used to assist him in paying the workers until the building was completed.

After assisting Ede to complete his house in Ebonyi State, he asked me to get him a property, where he could build a school. I consulted a lawyer who got four plots of land at Molete area of Ajah for N16m."

"When I bought the land which was meant for the school, I sent pictures of the land to him. But before then, we were already planning to wed in December. Ede later called me; he said that I should look for a land where we could build, so that after our wedding, we would have somewhere to live.
In a statement issued by Col. Sani Usman, acting Director Army Public Relations in Abuja, the army, however said it lost two soldiers during the fight.

Usman said the terrorists launched attacked on troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and Multinational Task Force at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, which lasted for two hours.

He said while many of the insurgents escaped with gunshot wound, four soldiers also sustained injuries.

The bodies of our late colleagues and the wounded have since been evacuated.

ALSO READ: Troops kill 16 terrorists

The troops have continued mop up and clearance operations of the remnants of the terrorists.

They have also intensified vigilance and high level of alertness, he said.
Despite huge allocation to security in the budget, the activities of the Nigerian Army and Civilian Joint Task Force, the war against insurgency has not been won.

Pulse lists seven reasons why the problem of insurgency still persists.

1. Almajiris: Originally, the Almajiri are Quranic students. But in recent times, these group of young boys have been seen begging in major streets, markets and motor parks, thereby neglecting their primary duty which is to learn how to recite the Holy Quran. With little or nothing to eat, drink and wear, these boys become extremely vulnerable and easily recruited by the Boko Haram sect.

2. Deception: Some Boko Haram members who were arrested have claimed ignorance of what they were going into. While it has been alleged that some were hypnotised, others said they were deceived into 'believing that they would be given 'virgins to marry in paradise.'

3. Poor maintenance: What most people do not know is that Sambisa (home of Boko Haram insurgent) used to be a games reserve. Yes! Due to poor maintenance, it became a forest. Just like Sambisa, there are different forest especially in the north which has continued to pose security challenge to the region. Birnin Gwari forest reserve, Kamaku national park, Ganjuwa, Lame-Burra, Falgore, Ajja and Yankari games reserve can become an easy hideout for terrorists if not well maintained.

4. Corruption: The former national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki was alleged to have shared funds meant for the purchase of arms to politicians during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The arms deal scandal contributed to the prolong war against insurgency in Nigeria.

5. Division among the sect: There has been leadership tussle within the Boko Haram sect since their leader, Abubakar Shekau was 'killed' by the Nigerian Army. This has lead to the creation factions operating independently.

6. Chibok girls: The abduction of over 200 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok has contributed to the prolong existence of Boko Haram terrorist group. Despite the attack on Boko Haram hideouts in the forest, security operatives have continued to exercise caution so as not to kill any of the girls.
According to President Buhari, We got into trouble as a country, because we did not save for the rainy day. For example, between 1999 and 2015, when we produced an average of 2.1 million barrels of oil per day, and oil prices stood at an average of $100 per barrel, we did not save, neither did we develop infrastructure. Suddenly, when we came in 2015, oil prices fell to about 30 dollars per barrel.

I asked; where are the savings? There were none. Where are the railways? The roads? Power? None. I further asked; what did we do with billions of dollars that we made over the years? They said we bought food. Food with billions of dollars? I did not believe, and still do not believe.

In most parts of Nigeria, we eat what we grow. People in the South eat tubers, those in the North eat grains, which they plant, and those constitute over 60 per cent of what we eat. So, where did the billions of dollars go? We did a lot of damage to ourselves by not developing infrastructure when we had the money.
Buhari said further that the failure to return the money would prevent Nigeria and other developing nations from meeting their needs.

The president made the comments while speaking at a high-level meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said:

Illicit financial assets stashed abroad deprive developing countries including Nigeria, and invariably deny people the enjoyment of their national wealth and resources needed for development.

The non-repatriation of illicit financial assets could impinge on the determination of states to achieve an all-inclusive 2030 sustainable development.

Buhari therefore urged the UN to remain vocal and active in addressing the negative impact of non-repatriation of illicit financial assets on their countries of origin, adding that as soon as stolen assets are legally established, they should swiftly be repatriated.

ALSO READ:Buhari arrives New York for UN event following Manhattan explosion
The resolution followed a motion moved by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) who relied on a point of order to make the allegations.

The Senate asked Melaye to present documents at the next legislative day showing evidence of the transfer for immediate investigation.

Melaye had alleged that the South Africa-owned company had taken away over 12 billion dollars from Nigeria in the last 10 years.

My respected colleagues, MTN Nigeria paid a sum of 284.9 million dollars on the 6th of February, 2001, to purchase their licence of operations in this country.

Between 2006 and 2016, through four Nigerian Banks and a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, MTN moved over 12 billion dollars out of Nigeria. That is about half of our external reserves.

ALSO READ: Senate questions N50bn paid by

If I get the nod of the Senate I will want to bring a substantive motion on the next legislative day with substantiated facts to buttress this position, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that MTN was involved in a dispute with the Federal Government over the non-registration of 5.2 million subscribers in 2015.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Muhammad Mustafa, said that the group had threatened to take over the streets of the FCT in the name of registering their grievances.

He warned that no individuals or group had the rights to protest in the territory without the permission of the command.

We will not condone any act of lawlessness in the territory in form of protest,he warned.

He advised any group which wants to protest to always seek the permission of the police.

ALSO READ: Police command warn violators of public peace

NAN reports that the protesters were demanding immediate release of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since December 2015.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr Muhammad Mustafa, told newsmen that the arrest followed a proactive crime fighting strategy adopted by the command.

Mustafa said items recovered from the suspects include; 11 fire arms, 15 rounds of ammunition and three expended ammunition, two trucks and four cars.

Others are; three plasma, two lap tops, seven cell phones, two master keys, five gas cylinders, two wraps of Indian hemps, among others.

He said that all the suspects would be arraigned in court after investigation.

The FCT police command under my watch in the last couple of weeks has recorded tremendous reduction in crime.

ALSO READ: Police IG bans use of mobile police by individuals

This is the outcome of the proactive crime fighting strategy introduced to make the FCT safe and secure for all,he said.

The commissioner said that the command had fortified security at all entry and exit points of the territory.
The police spokesman in Enugu State, Mr 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.

ALSO READ: Enugu kidnappers explain how they killed their victim

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.
On November 31, 2015, Abu Mansour, a Tunisian born in 1977, married a Nigerian called Miriam, in the presence of Sudanese and Malian witnesses.

Mansour, who was cash-trapped in Libya, reportedly vowed to pay compensation of one suicide belt in the event of his death or the marriage being dissolved.

ALSO READ: ISIS dowries revealed in Libya

In another news, Fatima, another Nigerian bride, was promised a Kalashnikov assault rifle in the case of divorce or if her husband, Malian Abu Said was to die.

Both grooms refused to pay dowries as stipulated in several African traditions but professed their love and promise to keep their words.
The suspect, identified as Abraham Suru, is said to be a leader of the NDAs strike force.

Details of the arrest were disclosed by the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship in the state, Commodore Joseph Dzunve.

As part of the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to stop crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the nations maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, being part of the Operation Delta Safe, has arrested a notorious gang leader who had been in this business since 2011, he said according to Punch.

He (Abraham Suru aka Gabon) is involved in pipeline vandalism, sea robbery, illegal bunkering and currently a suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers.

The Nigerian Navy remains committed to apprehending those behind all forms of criminal activities in the Nigerian maritime domain. Let me assure the general public that the navy component of ODS is resolute in curbing criminal activities in the nation maritime environment, he added.
The meeting was put together by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters and International Relations, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The presidential aide also described the professionals as the top 15 best people that God has ever created.

According to Femi Adesina, Buhari said Those who stole Nigeria dry are not happy. They recruited the militants against us in the Niger Delta, and began to sabotage oil infrastructure. We lose millions of barrels per day, at a time when every dollar we can earn, counts. It is a disgrace that a minimum of 27 states, out of 36 that we have in Nigeria, cant pay salaries.

The President also said I am very pleased with this meeting. Wherever you go in the world, you find highly competent and outstanding Nigerians. They not only make great impact on their host countries and communities, their financial remittances back home also help our economy, particularly at a time like this, when things are down.

We got into trouble as a country, because we did not save for the rainy day. For example, between 1999 and 2015, when we produced an average of 2.1 million barrels of oil per day, and oil prices stood at an average of $100 per barrel, we did not save, neither did we develop infrastructure. Suddenly, when we came in 2015, oil prices fell to about 30 dollars per barrel.

I asked; where are the savings? There were none. Where are the railways? The roads? Power? None. I further asked; what did we do with billions of dollars that we made over the years? They said we bought food. Food with billions of dollars? I did not believe, and still do not believe.

In most parts of Nigeria, we eat what we grow. People in the South eat tubers, those in the North eat grains, which they plant, and those constitute over 60 per cent of what we eat. So, where did the billions of dollars go? We did a lot of damage to ourselves by not developing infrastructure when we had the money.

Talking of our military, they earned respect serving in places like Burma, Zaire, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, and then, suddenly, that same military could no longer secure 14 out of 774 local governments in the country. Insurgents had seized them, calling them some sort of caliphate, and planting their flags there; till we came, and scattered them.

We raised the morale of our military, changed the leadership, re-equipped and retrained them; USA, Britain, and some other countries helped us, and today, the pride of our military is restored.

Boko Haram ran riot, killing innocent people in churches, mosques, markets, schools, motor parks, and so on. And they would then shout Allahu Akbar. But if they truly knew Allah, they would not do such evil. Neither Islam, nor any other religion I know of, advocates hurting the innocent. But they shed innocent blood, killed people in their thousands. Now, we have dealt with that insurgency, and subverted their recruitment base.
The group also claimed that Mrs. Jonathan made her money from gifts and gratifications while she was in office.

Spokesman of the Ijaw youths, Udengs Eradiri, also condemned what he described as the media trial of the former first lady.

He said 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.

Adding that 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.
For today, September 23 2016:

THE GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

National Assembly probes alleged $29b fraud cases

The National Assembly is set to probe two alleged fraud cases involving $29 billion, while the Senate yesterday resolved to investigate an alleged fraudulent movement of $12 billion from Nigeria by some key government officials.

Civilian JTF replaces troops to secure Bama

Member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and vigilance groups are to secure the recaptured Bama in Borno State while troops are deployed in the border communities of Banki and Gulumba.

Governors okay sale of government assets, concessioning to tackle recession

Governors of the 36 states have endorsed proposals of the Federal Government Economic Management Team (EMT) under President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle the economic recession.

THE VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

MAN, Bismarck, LCCI disagree over call for assets sale

The call for the sale of NiNigerias national assets to raise funds to plug the hole in the dwindling revenue of the country is generating divergent views with many saying no to the idea while some private sector operators are throwing their weight behind the sale.

Ondo 2016: APC submits Akeredolus name to INECThe All Progressives Congress APC Thursday in Abuja jettisoned the recommendations of its Appeal Committee on the conduct of the Primary Election for the Ondo State Gubernatorial election, and submitted name of the winner of the election, Rotimi Akeredolu to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.

Mediate in talks with Boko Haram to free Chibok girls, Buhari tells UN President 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 NATION NEWSPAPER

How Oyegun overruled NWC on Ondo Primary Appeal Panel report

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Chief John Odigie Oyegun, overruled the majority decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) for a fresh primary to pick the partys governorship candidate for the November 26 election in Ondo State.

FIRS targets additional 10 million new taxpayers by December

Nigeria plans to raise N5.2 billion from taxes next year, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Executive Chairman Babatunde Fowler, said yesterday.

Jonathans wifes $19.8m accounts: 13 witnesses set

A Banker, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and 11 others are to testify on how four slush accounts were opened for former First Lady Patience Jonathan, The Nation learnt yesterday.

THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Egbin power plant may be shut over rising debt

The nations electricity woes may worsen in the coming weeks as liquidity and gas supply issues are threatening the operation of its biggest power station, Egbin.

Senate to probe MTN over alleged $12bn capital flight

For allegedly repatriating $12bn dollar to its parent company in South Africa over a 10-year period, the Senate on Thursday ordered the investigation of MTN Nigeria.

Reps to investigate $17bn undeclared crude oil exports
The group also said the plan to sell such assets, means that the ruling party has gone against the change agenda which it promised Nigerians.

CACOL alleged that the Federal Government is using the recession to do the bidding of some global donor agencies.

The Executive Chairman of the group, Mr. Debo Adeniran also described the planned move as prodigal, irresponsible and unacceptable.

Adeniran said The reality is that the regime is hiding under the guise of recession to actualize the agreement it had made with the World Bank/IMF and the G-8 countries and this is the outcome of all the junketing around the World that President Muhmmadu Buhari had done since he was sworn in and even prior to his election into office.

Every reason been adduced for this decision is completely warped and very unintelligent. We had challenged the President to sell some of the aircrafts in the Presidential Fleet; we had called for the reduction of overseas travel, the slashing the humongous allowances and salaries of elected officials, etc. for the country to cut the cost of governance but government have remained adamant.

We condemn and reject this decision in its entirety. We call on Nigerians to act now by resisting this attempt to erase the historical achievements of our heroes past, we must not let this happen. The regime itself should be ashamed that it has no concrete achievement that can be pointed to, yet it wants to sell-off assets that were put in place by past leaders.

He also said We are telling the dishonourable members of the National Assembly in particular that, instead of selling-off our National assets, we would prefer to get rid of the countrys Parliament! If truly, Nigeria is in serious economic crisis, it is then the right time to cut the cost of governance at all levels. Government must demonstrate that; truly the interest of the poor masses is a priority beyond personal ostentatious living of a few amidst a vast majority who are living in penury.

We assert that all the promises the present government made have been betrayed and with bare-faced impunity. We recall clearly that the pledge made by the present government when campaigning was to revamp the refineries to boost local refining of crude oil, the sale of national was never on the plate!

Adeniran added that The present situation has vindicated CACOLs position when President Buhari was hunting for Ministers. Prior to the appointment of the Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, our group had advised to Federal government against it doing so based on our assessment.

We thus once again call for the removal of the Minister who is obviously overwhelmed with present the economic situation in the country. The whole Cabinet members performance should be assessed and the incompetent ones should be changed without further delay. These times require the very best hands, for the period is indeed a very challenging one, but the neo-liberal approach of voodoo economics will only keep our country in economic quagmire.
Ibrahim, who represents the Furore/Song Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, also blamed the recession on the insecurity in the country.

If a country is bedeviled by insecurity  Boko Haram in the North East; militants in the South South; kidnapping in other parts of the country; definitely it will experience economic recession, he said on the floor of the House on Thursday, September 22.

If a country is fantastically corrupt, why will it not fall into recession? We need to know what caused the recession so that we dont give it a wrong diagnosis, he added.

The term fantastically corrupt was coined by former British Prime Minister, David Cameron while speaking to Queen Elizabeth about Nigeria.

We had a very successful cabinet meeting this morning. We talked about our anti-corruption summit. We've got...leaders of some fantastically corrupt countries coming to Britain, Cameron said in May at an event held in Buckingham Palace to mark the queens 90th birthday.

Nigeria and Afghanistan are possibly two of the most corrupt countries in the world, he added.

ALSO READ: Pat Utomi blames Buhari administration for recession
Nine times out of ten, the suspect whose name is called out and who is asked what kind of water he prefers to drink, never returns to the overcrowded prison cell.

'Water' here is code for the canals of Ikorodu or Lagos Island--where bodies are disposed of after yet another extra-judicial killing by police officers.

Welcome to the world of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

'Torture is a lucrative business'

On Thursday, September 23, 2016, Pulse listened to a gentleman who made it out of the SARS detention facility in Ikeja, Lagos, alive, share his story through a cascade of tears. The venue was an eatery on Allen Avenue in Nigeria's commercial capital.

"Most of us can't afford legal representatives, so we are at the mercy of the SARS guys. We are mercilessly beaten. I can count how many persons never returned to the cell after their names were called out and after they were asked which water they'd prefer to drink.

"I knew someday I was going to be next, until luck smiled on me. I was let out of SARS after my lawyer came through for me. I had been wrongly charged..."

Our source would rather his name be left out of this story. But his tale of extra-judicial killings from a unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) resonates with a report from Amnesty International (AI), a Human Rights group, made public this week.

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A police unit created to protect the people has instead become a danger to society, torturing its victims with complete impunity while fomenting a toxic climate of fear and corruption, said Damian Ugwu, Amnesty Internationals Nigeria researcher.

Our research has uncovered a pattern of ruthless human rights violations where victims are arrested and tortured until they either make a confession or pay officers a bribe to be released.

SARS officers are getting rich through their brutality. In Nigeria, it seems that torture is a lucrative business.

SARS torture techniques have long been spoken of in hush tones. Three years ago however, political news site Ekekeee, ran a story on the brutality of SARS.

The Abattoir

AI said it had received reports from lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists, detailing how police officers in SARS regularly solicited bribes and extorted money from suspects and their families. Those who wouldn't co-operate, ended up gulping Ikorodu or Island water.

SARS detainees are held in a variety of locations, including a grim detention centre in Abuja known as the Abattoir, where AI said it had found 130 detainees living in overcrowded cells, according to the report.

According to AI, a 25-year-old petrol attendant was arrested by SARS after his employer had accused him of being responsible for a burglary at their business premises.

AFP

They left me hanging on a suspended iron rod. My body ceased to function. I lost consciousness. The policemen asked me to sign a plain sheet. When I signed it, they told me I had signed my death warrant. When I was about to die, they took me down and poured water on me to revive me, the victim told AI.

According to a story in TheCable, the officers reportedly denied the victim access to a lawyer, a doctor or his family during his two-week detention.

AI said when it inquired about why no police officers had been suspended or prosecuted for torture, the police simply denied that any torture had taken place. Instead, one senior officer disclosed that some 40 officers alleged to have carried out various acts of torture and ill-treatment of detainees were transferred to other stations in April 2016.

This lack of accountability breeds and perpetuates impunity, creating an environment where SARS officers believe they have carte blanche to carry out acts of torture, Ugwu said.

This is hardly surprising when many of these officers have bribed their way to SARS in the first place. The police chiefs in charge are themselves entwined in the corruption.

Chidi Oluchi, 32, told AI he was arrested in Enugu before being robbed of his belongings and then tortured in SARS custody.

They told me to slap myself and, when I refused, they started beating me with the side of their machetes and heavy sticks. My mouth was bleeding and my vision became blurred, said Chidi, who was released after he had parted with N25,500 to cruel SARS officials.

AI also told the story of how SARS raided and stole from a home in Nsukka.

"The police team from SARS forcefully broke into boxes, locked furniture and drawers. By the time they left, several items including watches, jewellery and shoes" would be missing.Victims were reportedly "too scared to report the incident, said AI.

ece-auto-gen

Our research has exposed the callous workings of a police squad operating outside of the law and inflicting daily brutality on Nigerians who are often legally powerless to defend themselves against criminal accusations, let alone from the torture meted out by SARS, the report from AI stated.

Police reacts

The Nigeria Police has slammed Amnesty International for its report, describing it as a fantasy.

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, said Don Awunah, Force Public Relations officer, in a statement sent to Pulse.

The researcher deliberately misconstrued the cautionary words, a prerequisite for suspects to sign before voluntary statement is taken from them as death warrant.

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.

Pulse Nigeria

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.

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 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.

The Nigeria Police is 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 SARS detention or any of its detention facility throughout the country.

The Nigeria Police performance in International organisations has been a source of pride to Africa and the United Nations.

The presidency attempts to reform SARS

Police brutality and killings are rife in Nigeria, Africas most populous nation, where young men are randomly stopped and harassed on the streets by police officers on suspicion of being internet fraudsters.

An intense 3-year social media campaign calling for the reform of notorious police unitSpecial Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)--has only led to mixed messages from the presidency.

On August 14, 2018, then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo ordered the Inspector General of Police to shut down SARS as reports of police brutality continued to emerge with regularity from across the country.

Pulse Nigeria

"Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, Acting-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, has directed the Inspector General of Police to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more, the statement from Osinbajo had read.

The Acting President also directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Committee that will conduct nation-wide investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress."
Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, Aliko Dangote, Senate President Bukola Saraki recently advised the federal government to sell off the countrys remaining asset like the multi-billion dollar Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Joint Ventures and use the proceeds to boost the economy.

But Sani in a statement on Friday, September 23, 2016, described those who proposed the sale of Nigeria's national assets to solve the country's economic crisis as 'economic predators and profiteers who want to take advantage of the situation in the country.'

There is currently nothing to show for the sale of government houses, (and) firms. The advocates of the sale of our collective national asset simply want to dispossess Nigerians and expand their business empire," Sani said in a statement made available to Premium Times.

They call themselves private sector and businessmen; they refused to invest in agriculture, solid minerals or science and technology, they simply want to buy off the profitable public asset.

There are no captains of industry in Nigeria other than crony businessmen, rent seekers, commission agents who depend on patronage from the government," he added.

The lawmaker urged Nigerians to rise up against any attempt to sell the countrys asset, saying Selling our national asset to stem recession is like selling one's lungs to buy food.

Recession should excite innovation and ideas and not justify roguery. Nigerias poor have always lived under systemic recession and depression and on the edge of extinction, he said.
It was revealed when the show returned for a third season that it was Rhonda who fell off the balcony during the cliffhanger fight.

ALSO READ: undefined

In an interview with Variety, showrunner llee Chaiken, spoke about the decision to kill Rhonda, who however came back in the episode in Andres hallucinations.

It was a really, really tough decision because it wasnt as if we had an agenda last season. We love the character and we love the actress and we didnt want to lose her from the show. It was really the story that led to the decision, Chaiken said."

That fight on the balcony, it just happened. It wasnt in the original finale script, and as Lee and I were working on it, we loved it and we said, we have to do it. And then I said, Lee, you realized that means one of these women will be killed off?! Lee and Danny both said, No! We love them both! They cant die! But after much anguishing, we came to the very, very tough conclusion.

She also spoke on Rhonda being a part of season three, appearing in hallucinations and flashbacks.

We could still see her. Rhonda is quite likely not out of our Empire world just yet. I dont want to say how long Andre will have this unusual relationship with his deceased wife, but theres a good chance that we will see more of her.
What better way to ease off the stress of the week than watch a good movie.

With that in mind, check out our list of movies currently showing in cinemas across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

Starring: Bovi Ugboma, Ini Dima-Okojie, Toni Tones Adefuye, Omoni Oboli, Shaffy Bello, Najite Dede, Amanda Ebeye, Adunni Ade, Gregory Ojefua, Thelma Ezeamaka.

Synopsis: when a man proposes to foot the bill for the wedding of his bride, little does he know that she will stop at nothing to have a fairytale wedding; even if it requires his funeral to achieve it.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 2:00pm, 6:40pm, 8:55pm

Friday - Thursday: 12:40PM, 5:25PM, 6:45PM

Friday - Thursday: 2:25PM, 4:40PM, 7:00PM

Daily: 2:55 PM, 6:10 PM, 8:30 PM

Starring: Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall, Romany Malco

Synopsis: A surrogate mom for a couple becomes dangerously obsessed with the soon-to-be father.

Showing:

Daily: 2:20 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:20 PM

VIP Shows

Daily: 5:55 PM

Friday - Thursday: 10:55PM, 3:20PM, 9:10PM

Friday - Thursday: 2:15pm, 4:15pm, 6:15pm, 8:15pm

Friday: 12:50PM, 4:40PM, 7:30PM.

Saturday - Thursday: 12:50PM, 4:40PM, 6:25PM, 8:40PM.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney

Synopsis: The story of Chesley Sullenberger, who became a hero after gliding his plane along the water in the Hudson River, saving all of the airplane flights 155 crew and passengers.

Showing:

Friday - 11:00AM, 2:40PM

Saturday - Thursday: 11:00AM, 2:40PM, 8:30PM

Tuesday: 2:40PM, 8:30PM

Friday - Thursday: 7:30PM

Friday - Thursday: 3:00pm, 4:50pm

Daily: 12:15 PM

4.

Starring: Jackie Chan, Johnny Knoxville, Bingbing Fan

Synopsis: A detective from Hong Kong teams up with an American gambler to battle against a notorious Chinese criminal.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 12:10pm, 4:45pm

Friday - Thursday: 1:00PM

Friday - Thursday: 2:50PM, 6:30PM

Thursday: 2:50PM

Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton

Synopsis: A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kindhearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 10:00am

Friday - Thursday: 11:10AM

Daily: 10:05 AM

6.

Starring: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones

Synopsis: Arthur Bishop thought he had put his murderous past behind him when his most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life. Now he is forced to travel the globe to complete three impossible assassinations, and do what he does best, make them look like accidents.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 2:20pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm

Friday - Thursday: 1:05PM, 7:15PM, 9:15PM

Friday - Thursday: 12:50PM, 4:30PM, 6:45PM, 9:00PM

Daily: 4:50 PM, 9:25 PM

VIP Shows

Daily: 1:15 PM

7.

Starring: Jason Statham, Jessica Alba, Tommy Lee Jones

Synopsis: Arthur Bishop thought he had put his murderous past behind him when his most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life. Now he is forced to travel the globe to complete three impossible assassinations, and do what he does best, make them look like accidents.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 10:15am

Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Robert Cardone, Neil deGrasse Tyson

Synopsis: Manny, Diego, and Sid join up with Buck to fend off a meteor strike that would destroy the world.

Showing:

Sat-Sun: 10:25am

Starring: Nse Ikpe-Etim, Anthony Monjaro, Seun Akindele

Synopsis: Arthur Bishop thought he had put his murderous past behind him when his most formidable foe kidnaps the love of his life. Now he is forced to travel the globe to complete three impossible assassinations, and do what he does best, make them look like accidents.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 3:20PM

Starring: Miles Teller, Bradley Cooper, Ana de Armas

Synopsis: Romance Is Overrated is a tapestry of 3 independent but mutually inclusive short films which reveal young individuals who are struggling with their illusions of the idea called love. This unfolds in 3 chapters. Slow Fade, Romance is still Overrated and Two Colors of Rainbow.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 1:00PM

Starring: Blake Lively, Oscar Jaenada, Brett Cullen

Synopsis: A mere 200 yards from shore, surfer Nancy is attacked by a great white shark, with her short journey to safety becoming the ultimate contest of wills.

Showing:

Fri-Thur: 9:15pm

Friday - Thursday: 2:45PM

Friday - Thursday: 10:55AM, 3:10PM

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon

Synopsis: 30 years after Ghostbusters took the world by storm, the beloved franchise makes its long-awaited return. Director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 10:40am

Starring:Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O'Neill

Synopsis: The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish begins a search for her long-lost parents, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.

Showing:

Friday - Thursday: 11:00AM

15.

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, Robbie Amell

Synopsis: A stuffy businessman finds himself trapped inside the body of his family's cat.

Showing:

Daily: 12:30 PM, 2:25 PM

Friday - Thursday: 12:50PM, 4:45PM

Friday - Thursday: 10:55AM, 5:10PM

Friday - Thursday: 10:15am, 12:00pm

Starring:Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Jared Leto

Synopsis: A secret government agency recruits imprisoned supervillains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency.

Showing:

Fri-Thur: 4:10pm

Friday - Thursday: 8:35PM

Friday - Thursday: 9:00PM

Starring:Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell

Synopsis: When three overworked and under-appreciated moms are pushed beyond their limits, they ditch their conventional responsibilities for a jolt of long overdue freedom, fun, and comedic self-indulgence

Showing:

Fri-Thur: 10:05am, 12:05pm

Friday - Thursday: 10:50AM

Starring:Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke

Synopsis: Seven gun men in the old west gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves.

Showing:

Fri-Thur: 12:45pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm, 6:50pm, 8:30pm

Daily: 4:25 PM, 7:10 PM, 10:15 PM

(--VIP SHOWS--)

Daily: 2:55 PM, 8:15 PM

Friday - Thursday: 12:50PM, 5:00PM, 6:50PM, 9:20PM

Starring: Bimbo Akintola, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Gideon Okeke

Synopsis: 93 Days is a historic gripping documentation of the deadly disease starting from the day the day the Ebola virus came into Nigeria to the day the country was declared Ebola-free.

Showing:

Daily: 2:25 PM, 7:00 PM

Fri-Thur: 2:20pm

Friday - Thursday: 2:35PM, 6:50PM.

Friday - Thursday: 3:05PM, 5:05PM

Starring:Dave Bautista, Alain Moussi, Gina Carano

Synopsis: A kick boxer is out to avenge his brother.

Showing:

Fri-Thur: 12:00pm, 1:40pm, 3:10pm, 5:00pm, 9:25pm

Daily: 12:55 PM

Friday - Thursday: 11:00AM, 7:20PM, 9:20PM

Starring:Salma Hayek, Adrien Brody, Shohreh Aghdashloo

Synopsis: Prior to the Iranian revolution it was a place where people of all religions were allowed to flourish. This is the story of a prosperous Jewish family who abandon everything before they are consumed by the passions of revolutionaries.

Showing:

Fri-Thur: 12:10pm, 4:20pm

Daily:12:00 PM, 4:40 PM

Friday - Thursday: 10:30AM, 4:30PM

Friday: 12:25PM, 4:45PM

Saturday - Thursday: : 12:25PM, 4:45PM, 9:05PM.

Starring: Alexander Skarsgard, Rory J. Saper, Christian Stevens

Synopsis: Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

Showing:
Imasuen made the observation during the endorsement of Obaseki by the state chapter of Pool Promoters and Agents in Benin.

He said what the state needed at this point of economy difficulties were persons like Obaseki because of his wealth of experience as an investment expert and chairman of the state economic team.

He said having been part of Oshiomholes government in this last seven years, Obaseki already knew what needed to be done to take the state to the next level.

Imasuen said that Oshiomhole had provided the basis for the growth of the state and what was left now was for Obaseki, who had been part of the government, to continue on the foundation that had been laid.

He expressed confidence that Obaseki would become the next governor of the state.

Edo is a sailing ship and the ship has been sailing well. The ship must not be disturbed or changed. It is only Obaseki that can repair the economy of the State.

Edo needs a governor who is an economic expert, particularly now that the Nigeria economy is going through trials.

Obaseki is a driver who has driven well and has served the state with all sincerity of purpose.As good spirited citizens of Edo, we need continuity of a government with the track record of performance.

The governorship candidate, who was represented by Mr John Osakue, the Deputy General of his campaign organisation, commended pool promoters and agents for the bold step of endorsing Obaseki.

He said Oshiomhole had laid the needed foundation for the development of the state and that the call for continuity was to sustain the tempo of development.
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.
Obaseki made the comment on Thursday, September 22, while speaking to journalists in Benin City, the state capital.

From all the feelers we are getting from across the state, the indications are that we will win by 75 per cent, he said according to Punch.

That is what the Gallup poll I monitored last night indicated. Particularly in Edo-South, things have improved quite significantly from the last poll that we received.

Edo-Central has been very interesting. The amount of defections from the PDP has, essentially, crumbled the opposition party in the centre and even their strongholds. They are becoming very jittery.

Edo-North is essentially open to us, apart from a few units in Akoko-Edo and one unit in Owan-East. So, from what we can see today, barring any unforeseen circumstances, barring violence that would scare people from the poll and barring any attempt by the opposition party to cause disruption in some highly populated voting units so that the results from those units would be inconclusive, we believe that we are very comfortable, he added.
The PDP candidate made the comment via a statement released by the Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organisation.

The statement reads:

The debt management office, Abuja has just stated that Edo State, with a total of $179.52 million as at June 30 this year, holds 4.91 per cent of the nations subnational foreign debts. And we know this is outside over N800 billion debt that Oshiomhole has created for Edo State.

"It is a shame that Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his puppet candidate, Godwin Obaseki still talk about corruption accusing innocent people of corruption, when their government stinks of corruption.

Ize-Iyamu is expected to contest against Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 28 elections in the state.
You've probably heard or used a Gandhi quote before, whether it's a "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" or "An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind" or even "A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."

But there are some quotes of the Indian Independence fighter that are not so famous, like this one from 1910;

Kaffirs are as a rule uncivilised  the convicts even more so. They are troublesome, very dirty and live almost like animals."

'Kaffir' was a derogatory term used to describe blacks, something Gandhi liked to use every time he got the chance, over and over, often associating blacks with animals, or lesser creatures.

A petition was started in the University of Ghana to have the Gandhi statue sitting pretty on the school campus, removed.

The online petition calling for the removal is only two weeks old, but it has already garnered over 1300 signatures. The statue, which is only a few months old, was gifted to the university by the Indian embassy during Indias President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Ghana.

The Petitioners said the academic staff weren't consulted before the statue was installed.

Ela Gandhi, who is the Gandhi's daughter, told Al-Jazeera;

"While this was within the context of an application to retain the qualified voting rights that Indians had, today, when we look at it indeed we feel disgust.

We ask why should we be critical of others to establish our own stature. There can be no justification for that. In later life, that was one of the ideals Gandhi propagated in respect of caste, class and race."

The petition read;

We can do the honourable thing by pulling down the statue. It is better to stand up for our dignity than to kowtow to the wishes of a burgeoning Eurasian super-power.
Speaking with Punch, the Public Relations Officer of the exams body, Demianus Ojijeogu, said that the council is currently caught in an intense battle aimed at reducing examination malpractice to its barest minimum.

We encounter malpractice during the examination and during marking. Some leave the expo in the answer booklets. We see that all the time. Others use other answer booklets different from the councils own. But, we discover these things during marking because the booklets do not have our serial numbers and they are not usually signed by the supervisors. Supervisors usually sign the booklets before they are given to the candidates.

We have been able to handle impersonation through our biometric process but there is still collusion where candidates will copy exactly the same answers usually dictated by a teacher. We have our invigilators but the number is limited. When you leave the centre or before we get there, they will do what they want, He said.

Ojijeogu also added that the council is still trying to handle cases of collusion where teachers aid candidates during examinations.

We no longer make noise about examination malpractice because examination supervision is a hazardous job. When candidates engage in malpractice, we just take their number and they fill a form. Some of our workers have been held hostage, female supervisors have been harassed. It is a hazardous job, he enthused.

ALSO READ: Examination malpractice worries body
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 thatYahoo'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 fromthe 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."
"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".

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.

Kinoti said all officers had been accounted for "except two".
Tunde Fowler, executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), said in a rare interview that he also expected 10 million individuals to be discovered by December and made to pay taxes for the first time.

The OPEC member slid into recession in the second quarter and militant attacks on oil facilities in its Niger Delta region have cut crude production, which provides 70 percent of government revenues, by around a third.

The government, struggling to fund a record 6.06 trillion naira ($18.6 billion) 2016 budget that aims to stimulate growth by tripling capital expenditure, set FIRS a target of raising 4.95 trillion naira in taxes, up from 3.73 trillion last year.

Persuading Nigerians to pay tax is no easy task. FIRS does not appear to be on track to meet its target for tax collection so far this year, but experts believe it can do better in future.

"We collected a little over 2.3 trillion, so far - from January to 31 August. It is almost at par with last year but take into consideration that the economy is going through a little slowdown," said Fowler.

He said revenue from value-added tax (VAT) had increased by 25 percent year-on-year and corporate income tax held steady over the same period but petroleum profit tax was expected to have halved, mainly due to low oil prices.

Fowler, appointed last year after a stint as tax chief in Lagos where monthly tax revenues surged by 70 percent in the four years to December 2012, said FIRS expects to generate 5.2 trillion naira in 2017.

HI-TECH INSPECTORS

The tax chief said a new unit created at the start of the year had deployed inspectors armed with laptops to update databases, registering businesses and individuals who are then tracked to check whether they have paid taxes -- business executives say they get "aggressive" visits from tax inspectors.

"We have been able to add about 700,000 companies and we expect to add about 10 million individuals across the nation (by December)," said Fowler, adding that this would bring the total of registered individuals to 20 million.

John Ashbourne, Africa analyst at Capital Economics, said Fowler's target of doubling the number of tax payers was "ambitious" and would be hard to achieve in a country where "paperwork is often lacking".

But he said the projections for 2017 were "quite achievable". "Revenue will almost certainly be much, much higher next year, but this is primarily due to the devaluation of the naira, which has boosted the local-terms value of each oil barrel that is exported," he said.

Even a doubling of the number of individuals paying taxes in Africa's most populous nation of 180 million inhabitants, where 80 percent of the workforce is employed in the informal sector, leaves FIRS with an uphill struggle.

"From our estimates, we expect that we have 60 million individuals who should pay some form or level of tax," said Fowler.

THREE-YEAR WAIVER

He said tougher enforcement would be combined with a planned waiver on interest and penalties covering the period from 2012 to 2015 under which people and businesses would only be asked to pay the principal amount of tax liabilities due.

"We will give them a 45-day window to come forward and register and that will make them eligible for that waiver," said Fowler of the proposal, which was submitted to the finance minister this week to check she was in agreement even though FIRS has the legal authority to enforce the change.

"A lot of people who are not in the tax net are a bit jittery or afraid to come and register thinking that we might go back two or three years and the amounts might be considerable," he said.

But he warned that those who failed to register for the scheme -- which he said could be rolled out as soon as October 3 -- would face stiff penalties.

People or businesses that did not come forward voluntarily would be asked to pay back taxes plus interest and penalties, he said.

"We will also consider criminal prosecution of chief executive officers or board members," Fowler said.

He was cautious on the idea of an increase in Nigeria's VAT rate which, at 5 percent, is among the lowest in the world.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde suggested a rate hike while visiting Nigeria in January and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo later said the government was considering tax regime changes to raise funds.

Fowler said it was part of the government's remit to "take a decision" on VAT but he thought "the economy is not ready for a VAT increase right now".

"The level of compliance was too low so that if we increased the rate of VAT it would be a punishment and unfair on those who are collecting and remitting VAT," he 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.
The attack came just over a month after a series of bombs in three of Thailand's main tourist towns killed four people and wounding dozens and raised fears the insurgents were expanding their fight to tourist targets.

Police were traveling in two pick-up trucks when the first vehicle was blown up by a road-side bomb, police Lieutenant Colonel Chamnan Bhutpakdee told Reuters.

"The assailants detonated the bomb when the truck was passing over, instantly killing the three officers," he said.

Yala, along with Pattani and Narathiwat, are Muslim-majority provinces in mostly Buddhist Thailand's deep south.

Insurgency has plagued the ethnic Malay region for decades but it intensified in 2004. Since then, more than 6,500 people have been killed, according to the Deep South Watch monitoring group.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) think-tank warned in a report this week that the August attacks showed "a clear shift, and apparent decision to expand the conflict" that has been largely confined to the three southern-most provinces.

Talks with the insurgents began in 2013 under then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra but stalled after the military overthrew her government in 2014.

But early this month, another round was held in Malaysia between a separatist umbrella group and the Thai government but achieved no breakthrough.

The ICG said the government was only interested in a "semblance of dialogue" and opposed any devolution of power while the insurgents had not put forward a platform for talks.

The result was stalemate that neither side felt sufficient urgency to overcome, even after last month's bombs highlighted the militants' capacity to inflict damage to lives and the economy, it said.
The probes came after DailyMail.com, the online version of a British newspaper, on Wednesday published an interview with the unnamed girl, who described months of online and text exchanges with Weiner in which she said he asked her to undress and touch herself.

A New York Police Department spokesman said the police are "looking into the allegations and are investigating."

The office of U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose in Charlotte is "reviewing all materials relevant to the matter," spokeswoman Lia Bantavani said.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and the FBI are also investigating, according to a law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The investigations mark the latest in a series of scandals involving Weiner, a Democrat who represented a New York City district in Congress but resigned in 2011.

Last month, Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, one of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's top aides, said she was separating from her husband following another scandal.

Her announcement followed a New York Post report that Weiner had sent lewd photos of his bulging underwear -- one while he was in bed with their toddler son -- via Twitter to another woman.

His resignation in 2011 came in the wake of a scandal that arose from him accidentally posting a close-up of his underpants on Twitter.

Weiner denied for more than a week that he had sent the photo and intended it for a young woman, claiming instead that his Twitter account had been hacked.

After several women came forward to say they too had shared sexually charged exchanges with the married congressman, Weiner admitted he lied.
Morocco, which claims the sparsely populated stretch of desert, left the African Union in 1984 when the bloc recognised a republic covering part of the territory declared by Polisario Front independence fighters.

But Morocco has stepped up lobbying efforts across the continent its bid to offer Western Sahara autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. Moroccan officials have recently made visits to Algiers, Abuja and Nairobi.

Rabat says at least 36 of the 54 AU member states do not acknowledge the Polisario Front's breakaway territory, and wants the bloc to withdraw support.

Morocco has controlled most of the territory, which is rich in phosphates and has seen some initial oil exploration efforts, since 1975. A ceasefire in 1991 called for a referendum on self-determination for Western Sahara, but the vote has never taken place.
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.

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.
Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg
L O U I S A C O U N T Y, I A MON., OCTOBER 24TH @ 5:00 P.M. Sale to be held at the Morning Sun Community Center, 106 N. Main St., Morning Sun, IA 52640 345 ACRES (SUBJECT TO SURVEY)  5 TRACTS The BCD Farm is located in Sections 14, 23 & 26, Morning Sun Township, Louisa County, Iowa, approximately 2 miles northwest of Morning Sun, Iowa. (Morning Sun, Iowa is located 11 miles southwest of Wapello, Iowa or 26 miles northwest of Burlington, Iowa.) Mark your calendars now for this upcoming Louisa County, Iowa land auction that offers productive income producing tillable farmland and features premier hunting and recreational acreage. This property also offers areas of marketable hardwood timber, rock bed creeks, potential new home building sites and much, much more! If you are a farmer or an investor looking to add to your row crop operation, or if you are a hunter or outdoor person, this farm has it all! All tracts sell free & clear for the 2017 crop year & there will be no hunting leases associated with this property. CALL FOR A DETAILED BROCHURE OR VISIT US ONLINE @: www.sullivanauctioneers.com BCD-LLLP  SELLER REPRESENTING ATTORNEY: Roger A. Huddle  Weaver & Huddle 327 N 2nd St.  Wapello, IA 52653  Phone: (319) 523-4221 FOR DETAILS, CONTACT: JIM HUFF (319) 931-9292 OR JEFF HOYER (319) 759-4320 SULLIVAN AUCTIONEERS, LLC  TOLL FREE (844) 847-2161 www.sullivanauctioneers.com  IL License #444000107
From 1,500 feet above Scott County and strapped into a seat on a Chinook CH-47F helicopter, a group of Quad-City employers got an up-close and personal view of the work their employees do when called to duty as citizen soldiers with the guard and reserve.

More than 40 employers and community leaders had the rare opportunity Thursday to fly with the Iowa National Guard. The experience was part of a Center of Influence event at the Davenport Army Aviation Support Facility hosted by the Iowa National Guard and Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR.

"I was going to chicken out," said Mary Essman, the member community relations business partner with HON, Muscatine. "I didn't sign the (release) paper right away. I was nervous."

But minutes after taking her first Chinook helicopter ride, she had a different tune. "That was awesome," she said. "When you're in it and up there, there's not a whole lot between you and what's going on."

While the 20-minute flight clearly was the event highlight, the employers also got schooled on the Guard's role in the military and in local communities. As they got to see various weapons and equipment up close, they also were learning more about the resources the ESGR offers employers who have citizen soldiers working for them.

"We've learned a ton about military veterans and how to support them," said Lainie Cooney, an assistant vice president of Hy-Vee, West Des Moines. With stores in eight states, she said there is a strong military presence in Hy-Vee's workforce. "We're looking to recruit and hire more military for our organization."

But this event was about understanding what those employees go through on their monthly weekend and yearly two-week trainings.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell Brush, the senior enlisted adviser for the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C., was on hand to show his appreciation for the employers who support the guard's mission.

In the war fight, he said "They wear the same uniform (as regular military). When we get in the theater we are identical."

But fighting a war is only part of their role today, he said. "Reliance on the guard is going through the roof."

Citizen soldiers, who during the week hold down regular civilian jobs, are the people who are brought in when state governors come calling in time of natural disasters or violent situations, such as the riots occurring now in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"I need them to work for you," Brush told the employers. "The things you're teaching these young men and women, I need you to do ..."

According to Brush, the guard has not done a good job of telling its story. "The guard is the community. We live here, we are you,'' he said.

Today's National Guard is made up of 453,000 citizens, including 348,000 Army National Guard and 105,000 Air National Guard, Brush added.

The Center of Influence event was designed to show employers intense training and that work that their military employees must endure as part of guard duty. Visitors also got a chance to see aircraft, weaponry and equipment such as night-vision goggles to better understand their employees' military life.

"If not for the employers like yourself, it would be impossible for the armed forces to do what we do," said Terry Dell, who became the incoming ESGR area co-chair during the meeting. He and Mike Allbee will share the post after Harry Cockrell retired Thursday after 10 years.

Thanking the group, Cockrell said "No employer has ever said 'no' to any of my people. That speaks highly of Iowa ... You employers are just outstanding."

Among the employers was Chris Bandy, district manager of Farmer's Insurance, Cedar Rapids, who joined his Davenport office manager and Coast Guard member Nick Grant. For Bandy, the experience was eye-opening. "I didn't know these guys train at the same level as active military. I have a new respect for what he (Nick) does."

Bandy, whose offices provide training and support for Farmer's agents, added that they are trying to actively recruit more military members to their operation. "Former military usually get done (serving) in their 40s and are looking for a mid-career profession. We like that."

Despite his military career, Petty Officer 1st Class Grant, of DeWitt, also had his first helicopter ride during the event. "I usually stay on water," he said, adding he loved the ride. "As the old saying goes there's more helicopters in the ocean than boats in the sky."
Mississippi River

Pool 13: Water level is near 12.4 feet at Bellevue which is similar to last week, but expect water to once again recede. The water temperature is around 71 degrees. Lots of debris was floating around this week. The Bellevue DNR ramp may have water and logs on it from the high water. Walleye - No Report: We have had three good year classes of walleyes in this reach of the Mississippi River and populations are very good. It has been a difficult year to find them with the river going up and down all the time. Largemouth Bass - Good: Go way back in large backwater complexes to find cleaner water; this is where the bass will be. Try along the eel grass. Use frog imitation lures or plastics. Freshwater Drum - Good: Loads of freshwater drum are available and good fishing should return. Use large crayfish to catch really large drum. Channel Catfish - Good: Try stink bait in flowing sloughs, especially above log jams or along rock piles. Fish are usually close to the shoreline. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Smallmouth bass are doing very well in the Mississippi River with numerous year classes present. The combination of rock and current are a must to find smallmouth bass. Smallies often hold very tight to the rocks. Stay away from the turbid tributary streams as smallmouth are sight feeders. Black Crappie - No Report: Before the latest water level rise, lots of 11 inch crappie were being seen in side channel sloughs. Flathead Catfish - Good: Ditty poles with live bait can be a good way to catch nice flathead catfish from the Mississippi River.

Pool 14: Water level is near 12.0 feet at Fulton, 14.5 feet at Camanche and 8.6 feet at Le Claire. Water is now receding, but may rise next week with additional rainfall. Some boat ramps may be out of operation, so plan ahead. The water temperature is near 72 degrees. Freshwater Drum - Fair: Use a simple sliding sinker and worm fished in current. Worms are the best bait. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish bite well in higher water. Try stink bait once the water levels return to near normal flows. Fish are located near the shoreline. Walleye - No Report: We expect good walleye fishing to return to the Mississippi once the water levels return to near normal seasonal flows. Smallmouth Bass - No Report: Smallmouth bass are doing very well in the Mississippi River with numerous year classes present. The combination of rock and current are a must to find smallmouth bass, which often hold very tight to the rocks. Flathead Catfish - Good: Ditty poles with live bait can be effective in catching nice flathead catfish. Largemouth Bass - Good: Go deep into the backwaters along vegetation lines using frog imitation lures.

Pool 15: Water level is 12.3 feet at Rock Island, which is up significantly from last week and may soon rise again. Water temperature is around 75 degrees in the main channel. Pigeon Creek and Crow Creek are turbid after nearly every rain. Some boat ramps may be out of operation, so plan ahead on a trip to Pool 15. Freshwater Drum - No Report: Freshwater drum are abundant in Pool 15 and can easily be caught from shore. Try fishing the eagles landing area a with worm and egg sinkers. Channel Catfish - No Report: Rising water levels usually trigger what has already been a good catfish bite. Lots of varieties of stink bait are being used. Move often if the fish do not bite in 15 minutes or so. Flathead Catfish - No Report: Ditty poles with live bait can be effective on catching nice flathead catfish this time of year.

Water temperatures are in lower 70's throughout the district. Water levels are steady but additional rainfall may cause more rising water. Lot of debris is floating in the water. Some ramps experienced flooding.

Southeast

Deep Lakes: The road (Pettibone Avenue) in front of the main boat ramp and beach by Lake Chester is being resurfaced. Expect delays in getting into that area. Largemouth Bass - Good: Start early in the morning and work the fallen trees and edges of the weed beds. Try fishing on an overcast day with a little wind blowing across the water. Bluegill - Fair: Work the weed beds with a small worm and bobbers or small jigs tipped with wax worms. Go small, the water is clear enough that the fish can see small baits from a long distance.

Iowa River (Columbus Junction to Mississippi River): The Iowa in this section is a couple of feet below bank full, but she's still moving pretty fast. The river is forecasted to stay about this level for the rest of the week before going into moderate flood stage next week from the rains in Northern Iowa.

Lake Belva Deer: The return of hot weather has slowed the fishing, except for the catfish. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Catfish continue to bite despite the rise in water temperature.

Lake Darling: Water temperature was going down until early this week when the air temperature went back into the 90's during the day. Water temperature is back into the upper 70's. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappies remain out in 4 to 5 feet of water with some out a little deeper. Most are in the 9 to 10 inch range. Light colored small jigs work best. Personal jig color of choice is yellow. Bluegill - Fair: Worm and bobber will catch you a good number. The bigger ones are around 8 inches. The original stocking is bigger than that but are hard to find. Channel Catfish - Good: Use a nightcrawler fished on the bottom to catch some nice one pound catfish. Try also a little chicken liver.

Lost Grove Lake: Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill fishing has slowed. Black Crappie - Good: Crappies have moved in shallow along the vegetation looking for little bluegills and crappies. Most are still on the smaller side (8-10 inches).

Coralville Reservoir: The lake level is at summer pool. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers should be able to drift/troll the channel with cut bait and find some fish. Black Crappie - Fair: Try jigs or minnows over brush piles. White Crappie - Fair: Try jigs or minnows over brush piles.

Diamond Lake: No minnows are allowed here. Bluegill  Slow. Black Crappie  Slow. Channel Catfish  Fair.

Iowa River (Coralville Lake to River Junction): Channel Catfish - Fair: Catfishing was picking up last weekend.

Kent Park Lake: Fishing is reported as slow; most fish being caught are deeper right now.

Lake Macbride: Any sized motor may be operated at no wake speed (5mph) now. Bluegill - Fair: Some fish can be caught around shallow structure. Catch slightly bigger fish on the rock reefs. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) - Slow: Some small fish are more willing to bite. Larger fish have been hit and miss. Evening has been the best bite by watching for surface activity. Black Crappie - Fair: Use jigs or minnows over/around brush piles. Walleye  Slow. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use plastics, crankbaits and topwaters around shallow rock and wood. Try also crankbaits and plastics on the offshore rock reefs. Channel Catfish - Fair: Drift cut bait in 10-15 of water. White Bass - Fair: Try crankbaits along windblown points and reefs.

Lake Wapello: Largemouth Bass - Good: Try jig and pig combos or rubber worms around structure such as the cedar tree piles. Some of the cedar trees can be seen at the waters surface but there are quite a few more that are totally submerged.

-- Iowa DNR
The Feb. 6 retrial for murder defendant Stanley Liggins has been postponed again in Scott County District Court.

The three-week murder trial now will begin May 22, according to an order filed Sept. 15 by Chief District Judge Marlita Greve.

Motion hearings that were scheduled to begin Tuesday also were postponed until Feb. 20, according to Greves order.

Greve said in her order that she granted a defense request to postpone the trial and motion hearing dates "in the interests of justice."

Liggins, 54, is charged with first-degree murder, willful injury causing serious injury, first-degree sexual abuse, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree arson.

Prosecutors say Liggins strangled Jennifer Ann Lewis, 9, of Rock Island, and burned her remains on a Davenport school playground in 1990.

Liggins was tried twice in the girl's death in the 1990s, once in Scott County and the second in Dubuque after he was granted a change of venue.
JOHNSTON, Iowa  Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday afternoon activated the Iowa National Guard and issued disaster declarations for 13 northern and eastern Iowa counties experiencing flooding.

The proclamation allows for state resources to be used toward flood mitigation efforts.

Heavy rains this week have caused rising levels on the Cedar River, causing flooding in some northern Iowa communities and the likelihood of flooding in more areas across eastern Iowa.

Officials expect the flooding to be significant, although not to the extent of the 2008 floods in eastern Iowa.

In a news conference held at Iowa National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters, Branstad said the river is expected to crest in Cedar Rapids on Monday night and in communities south of Cedar Rapids in the days that follow.

We just have to deal with whatever situation comes our way. We need to be as well-prepared as possible, Branstad said. In a situation like this, in major cities like Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, obviously, we have a little time to prepare, and we want to do everything we can for the state to assist the communities and do the best job we can to avoid and mitigate damage.

Branstad said the state already is working with communities to address flooding. He said the state has dispatched more than 120,000 sandbags and four dump truck loads of sand, deployed or staged 22 water pumps, placed or staged 48 pallets of flood barriers and placed 50 traffic barricades.

Adjutant General Tim Orr said the Iowa National Guard will begin its work by sending liaison teams to communities in the affected region to determine what other resources are necessary.

This is really to try and assess what the needs and requirements are, Orr said. Right now, we have no missions that have been tasked to the Guard for soldiers or equipment. This is really, I think, the key to any successful operation, is getting out in front of it. And thats what were really trying to do now, is identify potential needs so we have time to respond.

Branstad, Orr, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Mark Schouten on Saturday will tour flood-impacted areas in Clarksville, Shell Rock and Cedar Rapids. Reynolds said they likely will tour more areas in the coming days.

Branstad said it is the first time he has activated the National Guard since flooding on the Missouri River in 2011.

The disaster proclamation makes grant money available for low-income families affected by flooding. The grants are available through the state Department of Human Services.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the federal Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service also are involved in flood response efforts.
CEDAR RAPIDS  First impressions matter even  or especially  in presidential debates.

Although the 2016 presidential campaign has been under way in earnest for months, Monday nights debate between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump at Hofstra University will create a first impression for many voters, University of Iowa political science professor Cary Covington said.

Because its the first time they are face-to-face, it will shape everything that happens in the remaining 42 days before the Nov. 8 election, Covington said. The impression you create in the first round, you either have to overcome it or you can build on it, but it sets the stage for the next debate.

The stakes are high because debates really do have potential to change elections, and this election is very close, Iowa State University English professor Ben Crosby said.

Based on the number of people who watched debates during the primary campaign, Crosby expects a huge percentage of the voting population will be watching.

The big question is what will they be watching?

We dont know what to expect because we dont know what to expect from Donald Trump, Covington said. Will he behave in a more conventional style? Or will he behave more like he did in many of the Republican Party debates? Will he wait his turn to talk? Will he interrupt? Will he make derogatory comments towards Hillary Clinton or Lester Holt? Or will he be polite and respectful?

The cards are stacked against Trump, Crosby said, because his strategy in previous debates was to rely on his gut and ego and ridicule to win the day. That probably wont work in a high-profile debate against a female opponent.

Clinton has built a campaign on her experience as a senator and secretary of state. Thats her weakness, too, however, Crosby said, because Trump can question her record on Syria, Libya and her other supposed successes.

As hes pointed out, there have been all sorts of failures and oversights on her watch, he said.

Whichever Trump shows up for the debate, Chris Larimer, a University of Iowa political science professor, will be surprised if voters learn anything new.

Rather than lay out new policies or new approaches, Trump and Clinton are more likely to reassure some hesitant supporters, to focus less on policy details and more on the performance, to convey a sense of being presidential.

Both candidates will try to mobilize those voters who at this point are reluctant supporters. That would include Democrats for whom Clinton wasnt their first choice and establishment Republicans who have been slow to embrace Trump.

I dont think theres going to be any sort of persuasive effect, that is you wont see a Trump supporter say theyll vote for Hillary or vice versa, Larimer said.

Typically, its people who already have made up their minds who watch the presidential debates, and they filter what they hear through that partisan lens, Larimer said.

Whats different is that Trump may attract a wider audience of people who watch just to watch, he said.
Recent rainfall cleared thick layers of murky matter from the banks of the Rock River in Moline, but residents south of John Deere Expressway still are wondering what dirtied their shorelines earlier this month.

In response to various reports from residents on North Shore Drive, field staff from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency collected and tested samples of the material. Officials since have labeled it the product of a non-toxic algal bloom, a spokeswoman from the agency confirmed on Friday.

Although the EPA has not yet determined the cause of the bloom, agency spokeswoman Kim Biggs noted an uptick of similar outbreaks in recent years.

There is some indication the blooms tend to occur after periods of heavy rain that are followed by dry weather and warmer temperatures, she wrote in an email. Blooms can be the result of nutrients being deposited into the waterway from ground runoff."

However, "Without further data collection and analysis, we cannot provide a definite cause," Biggs said.

Steve Rogenski, who has called North Shore Drive home for the past 20 years, said the dark foam, which he likened to the surface of a Starbucks coffee, heavily clouded his riverfront property.

Weve had it before, but not at this magnitude, Rogenski said.

Mik Holgersson, a Quad-City based ecological consultant who spent most of Thursday harvesting seeds at Green Valley Nature Preserve  located just east of North Shore Drive  said he noticed a patch of the floating foam in the morning.

It was certainly coming upstream from Green Valley, but it dissipated as the day went on, he said.

Representatives of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources analyzed a photo of the material that accumulated earlier this month at a dock in the 3600 block of North Shore Drive. They said Friday they think it shows signs of Pithophora algae.

Often referred to as "horse hair" because of its coarse texture, Pithophora algae usually grows in dense mats on the surface of phosphorous-rich waters, according to George Bellovics, a Mount Morris-based landscape architect with the DNR. He consulted a DNR fisheries biologist, who helped classify the algae.

Bellovics said it's likely runoff water washed phosphorous-filled fertilizer from nearby farm fields into the Rock River and caused the bloom, which he called a natural occurrence that happens "once in a while."

Ive seen this before, and if it concentrates in one area, it stinks to high hell," Bellovics said. If it wasnt collecting in an area like this, they wouldnt have even noticed it.
Cattle manure caused the death of 17,522 fish in Upper Brush Creek in Jackson County, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported Friday.

The DNR said it traced high levels of ammonia to an open beef feedlot near Bellevue. DNR investigators contacted Justin Clasen Feedlot, and the owner immediately stopped the discharge into an unnamed tributary.

Fish were killed in a 3.5-mile stretch of Upper Brush Creek, a trout stream north of Andrew in Jackson County.

DNR fisheries staff found mostly dead minnows, suckers, chubs and dace. Stone rollers, suckers, largemouth bass and rainbow trout added to the total of 17,522 fish killed.

The DNR said it is considering enforcement action and may seek restitution of $4,044 for fish loss and investigation costs.

The fish kill was discovered during an attempt to stock trout in the stream on Sept. 9.

 Times staff
Scott County Director of Budget and Administrative Services David Farmer fielded questions at Thursdays Board of Supervisors meeting related to employee theft in the Sheriffs Office last fall.

Farmer confirmed that fiscal year-end fund transfers between county administration, kiosk and commissary accounts resulted from an insurance claim payout that covered more than $160,000 allegedly taken by a former employee. Farmer said the investigation of the incident improved cross-checking procedures between all county accounts.

The next step is a periodic check in the winter or next spring to make sure the accounts are being checked as planned, Farmer said.

County officials discovered the theft after a former sheriffs department employee was dismissed for performance reasons and a new employee filled the vacancy.

In other business, supervisors approved a resolution authorizing County Engineer Jon Burgstrum to sign an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for a 2017 Living Roadway Trust Fund grant. Funds will be used to pay for electronic equipment and expenses incurred to complete a survey of roadside vegetation in Scott County.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  People from the past and the present were on hand Thursday to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of MCSA. Hundreds of people came to take part in the festivities which included tours of the facility at 312 Iowa Avenue, a video presentation showing the history of the current building, refreshments, speeches, and a flash mob made up of the Muscatine High School chorus.

Residents and former residents joined together in the gymnasium with members of the community as members were exchanged of the 25 years the facility has been in existence. Key among them was Dick Maeglin who was the catalyst for the development of the property to become an institution that could make a difference to those in need.

Also in attendance was Mary Odell, the first executive director of MCSA, former executive directors Mark Patton and Sister Irma Ries, one of the original Board of Trustee members Jim Troson, Muscatine Superintendent of Schools Jerry Riibe, Muscatine County Community Services director Mike Johannsen, current director Charla Schafer, and longtime employees Maggie Curry and Ron Cunningham.

Riibe opened the program by speaking of Maeglin who brought together a group of private citizens to save the old YMCA building and the apartments where seven men lived.

I remember Mike (Johannsen) asking for help in saving this building where seven men lived, Maeglin said.

Johannsen credited Maeglin with being the founder, visionary, and perhaps a prophet for his foresight as to what the community could do to help those in need.

Not everyone has a home that they can come back to, Johanssen said. The shelter provides that for many.

He added that if there was one sign that could be placed by the front door it would be the Golden Rule because that is what the center is all about.

We had a lot of great ideas 25 years ago and the staff that made it happen but your investment started it all, Johannsen said to Maeglin.

Odell was the original executive director and remembers the first hire was Ron Cunningham who kept the building running for 17 years. Through his tireless efforts, Odell noted, the boiler kept working and the building kept being repaired along the help of residents. She also credited the community for stepping up and rising to the occasion of getting things done.

Memories also flowed from Sister Irma Ries and Mark Patton, both former executive directors.

People here grow to love each other, the staff, and the community, Sister Ries said. And I remember thinking as some would leave us that we were already missing them even before they went out the door.

Schafer rounded out the evening highlighting the inclusion of the dental, vision, and education services within the center while offering an insight that more programs may be added In the future.

We will serve where we serve well and we will evolve and change in the areas that we dont, Schafer said.
Who will win the first debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump?

That's easy.

Clinton should destroy him.

She'll take him into the deep waters of policy that he doesn't quite understand and she'll hold him under.

If you're a Trump fan upset with the horde of panic-stricken Hillary-lovers in the media these days, rest assured that I am no Hillary lover. As I've previously confessed, I'm something of a Clinton loather.

But I can't help calling things the way I think I'll 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? He'll 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, she's outraised and outspent him, yet her double-digit cushion is gone, and he's overtaking her in the battleground states.

So Trump has got the Big Mo, and recent events, like the terrorist bombings in New Jersey and New York, may work in his favor.

That said, she's 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.

That's what this election has become: an uprising of those so-called deplorables, who feel as betrayed by the establishment Republicans as they do by the Democrats.

That's 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 Mrs. Clinton won't panic.

She has spent a lifetime in politics and policy. Mr. Trump has not.

She will offer an image of stable leadership. And he can't 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 won't 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.

He's the slugger. She's the boxer.

The race is so close now that Trump's slightest gaffes will be exaggerated, and there will be great pressure on journalists to show him as temperamentally unfit for the office.

But I don't think he'll make slight gaffes. I think he'll make a huge one.

Why?

Because he's Trump. He doesn't peel a grape with an ax. He uses a chain saw. And she knows it.

He's 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 dog's 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 they're threatened. They're ingenious at defeating traps. They're also quite nimble, smart and tenacious, and so is she.

Fortunately, I've 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 won't spoil it for you, so I'll say no more.

So whether Trump will recover from this first (projected) debate drowning in this Twilight Zone election, I can't say.

But he won't be standing before a crowd of fans. He'll be standing before Hillary Clinton.

And she'll be ready for him on the edge of the deep water, daring him to lunge in after her.
SPRINGFIELD  Bloomington physician David Gill is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to restore his name to the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District.

Gills campaign announced Friday that it has appealed to the nations high court to reverse a decision from the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that ultimately removed the candidate from the ballot. The appeals court blocked an order from a lower court that would have guaranteed Gill a spot on the ballot, and the Illinois State Board of Elections voted unanimously Monday to remove him.

We live within a rigged political system, and our inability to obtain a fair hearing before the Court of Appeals is not surprising, Gill said Friday in a prepared statement. We turn now to the Supreme Court, with hopes that our case receives the same level of intellectual honesty that we received in U.S. District Court.

Gill, who ran for Congress four times previously as a Democrat, collected 8,491 of the 10,754 valid signatures he needed on his nominating petitions to earn a spot on the ballot alongside U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur.

After Wicklund and former Macon County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Stocks objected to his petitions at the elections board, Gill filed a federal lawsuit challenging the states signature requirement for independent congressional candidates. He argues that its unconstitutional because its out of line with the requirement for major party candidates. Davis and Wicklund each had to gather fewer than 740 signatures.

After hearing arguments last month in Springfield, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough didnt rule on the merits of Gills argument, but she ordered the elections board to allow him on the ballot because he and his supporters would suffer irreparable harm if he were excluded. She said the state failed to show that it would be harmed by allowing him to appear.

A three-judge panel of the Chicago-based appeals court blocked that order and denied Gills requests for a quick hearing so that a decision could be made before Election Day.

Sam Cahnman, the Springfield attorney representing Gill in the case, acknowledged that the chances of the Supreme Court stepping in are low.

Anytime you go to the Supreme Court, its a long shot, Cahnman said, but no other options remained after the appeals court refused to take up the matter swiftly.

They wont even give us an opportunity to have a decision on the merits, he said.

Gill has until a week before the election to notify local election authorities if he wishes to run as a write-in candidate.

The Illinois Attorney Generals Office, which is representing the elections board in the case, did not respond Friday to a request for comment.

Local election authorities had until Friday to prepare absentee ballots to mail to military and overseas voters.
DES MOINES  Another poll shows a double-digit lead for longtime incumbent Chuck Grassley in his bid for a seventh term in the U.S. Senate.

Grassley, a Republican, was chosen by 55 percent of likely voters, and 43 percent chose Democratic challenger Patty Judge in a Quinnipiac University Poll published Friday.

It is the third post-Labor Day poll to put Grassleys lead over Judge in double digits. An Iowa-based Simpson College/RABA Research poll showed Grassley with a 13-point lead, and a Monmouth University Poll showed Grassley with a 17-point lead.

In his six terms in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Grassley has become almost a family member across the Hawkeye State, Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a news release. He is a Republican who runs even with his Democratic challenger among women, something that Republicans rarely accomplish, and his 25-point edge among men is typical of his history with voters.

Quinnipiac University surveyed 612 likely Iowa voters from Sept. 13-21. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Women are split on the U.S. Senate race in Iowa, according to the Quinnipiac Poll: Grassley and Judge both were selected by 49 percent of women respondents. Men went for Grassley, 61 percent to 36 percent.

Grassleys overall 12-point lead over Judge in the Quinnipiac Poll is up slightly from August, when his lead was 9 percentage points.
DES MOINES  Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed consumer fraud lawsuits Thursday against two out-of-state mailing operations that his office alleges 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 AGs 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 actionsincluding criminal charges, economic sanctions, seizure of criminal proceeds, search warrants, and civil injunction lawsuitstargeting 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, N.Y.

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.
Dixon (Iowa) Fire Department Car Show

Downtown Dixon, Iowa. Featuring a top 50 show with breakfast at the fire station. Registration: $15 day of the show, $10 i advance. Free for spectators.

NAMIWalks

8 a.m. Modern Woodmen Park, 209 S. Gaines St., Davenport. This event will celebrate NAMIWalks' 14th Anniversary as well as promote mental health awareness and fundraising. The event will include children's activities, a dog station, music and Jim O'Hara from WLLR. Special events start at 8 a.m. with step off at 9:30 a.m. Donations accepted.

Our Savior Presbyterian Church: Church and Neighbor Parking Lot Sale

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our Savior Presbyterian Church, 22530 240th Ave., LeClaire. Many items will be available for purchase.

2016 Great River Quilt Show

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Through Sept. 24. Mississippi Valley Fair Grounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport. Featuring over 400 traditional and art quilts made by members of the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild. This judged show also includes a merchants mall, raffle quilt, raffle baskets, small quilts auction with proceeds going to charity, Quilters Boutique with handmade items, Secondhand Treasures, a garage sale of sewing related items and quilt appraisals (call for an appointment). Quilter Jane Becker will present Bed Turning/Quilt demonstrations. For more information, call 563-381-3605 or visit mvqg.org. $6 adults, free for youth 10 years and younger.

New Hope Presbyterian Church: Rummage Sale

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Through Sept. 24. New Hope Presbyterian Church, 4209 W. Locust St., Davenport. Featuring furniture, clothes (all sizes), jwelery, knick knacks and more. All proceeds will benefit the Deacon's Fund.

49th annual Tour of Historic Homes in Galena

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through Sept. 25. Galena and U.S. Grant Museum, 211 S. Bench St., Galena. To commemorate Elihu B. Washburne, Galena's incredible architecture and one of the most famous citizens, 200th birthday, this year's tour will feature several homes in the Washburne neighborhood. Held rain or shine. $20.

Agriculture Days: Jordbruksdagarna

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through Sept. 25. Bishop Hill Village Park. Participants can enjoy 19th century agricultural and artisan demonstrations, food, music, children's activities, Old Settler Colony Stew, Swedish hot dog lunch and baked goods. Free with charge for some activities.

The Art of Percussion Family Workshop

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport. This annual collaboration between the River Music Experience and the Figge Art Museum will start at the Figge with live music and a maker space for creating imaginative musical instruments out of recycled materials. Participants will then break for a quick lunch before continuing the workshop with a percussion circle at RME. For mnore information or to register, call 563-345-6635 or email lgtaylor@figgeartmuseum.org. $15 family of 4, $3 for each additional child.

Food Truck Frenzy

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Putnam Museum, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport. Participants can explore taste buds as local food trucks gather in the Putnam parking lot for this afternoon food frenzy. Donations for the River Bend Foodbank also will be collected. Free.

100,000 Poets for Change

Noon to 8 p.m. Western Illinois University, 3300 River Drive, Moline. The Quad-Cities will host a poetry crawl in conjunction with an international day of poetry and art. The crawl will begin with an open mic at Western Illinois University Q-C Riverfront from noon to 2 p.m. followed by a featured reading with Lucas Gindell, Kevin Mitola and Anthony Flanagan and an open mic from 3-5 p.m. at Connect Coffee House in NorthPark Mall, Davenport. The last event of the day will be an open mic from 5:30-8 p.m. at Theos Java Club, 213 17th St. in the Rock Island District. Free.

Voyage to Vietnam: Celebrating the Tet Festival

Noon to 5 p.m. Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf. Participants can delight in the opportunity to discover the beauty, sights and sounds of Vietnam while being immersed in Vietnamese culture and traditions through a giant lion dance mask, interactive family photos or by creating a fireworks display. Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $7 for ages 2-59 years, $4 for ages 60 years and older/children 1-year-old/active military and immediate family, free for children ages 1 year and younger/members.

Echoes from Riverside

1-3 p.m. Riverside Cemetery, 3400 5th Ave., Moline. Moline Parks and Recreation will host this leisurely stroll back in time to visit with Moline's early citizens, portrayed by local, costumed thespians. Walking tours last approximately 1-1.5 hours. Refreshments will be available. First tour leaves at 1 p.m. with groups leaving every 15 minutes. The rain date will be Sept. 25. For more information, call 309-524-2435. $4 per person, free for youth 12 years and younger.

Wizard of Oz Party

2 p.m. Davenport Public Library, 321 Main St., Davenport. Participants can celebrate the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz," with crafts, games and fun. Costumes are encouraged. Free.

Ghost Tales

5:30-8:30 p.m. Colonel Davenport House, 2284 Davenport Drive N, Rock Island Arsenal. The Colonel Davenport Histroical Foundation will kick off the Halloween season with this event featuring spooky stories told by local storytellers on the grounds of the Colonel Davenport House. There will be refreshments available for purchase and complimentary guided tours of the Colonel Davenport House beginning at 5:30 p.m. Participants should bring lawn chairs or blankets. $6 adults, $4 senior citizens, free for youth 12 years and younger/active military.

Smooth Groove

7-11 p.m. Jumers Casino, 777 Jumer Drive, Rock Island. Free.

Million Dollar Quartet

Through Nov. 5. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Ave., Rock Island. Performances at 7:45 p.m. $44.41 to $50.16.

An Evening with Paradise Waits

8 p.m. Redstone Room, 129 Main St., Davenport. $10.

Foxing with Mountain Swallower and Archeress

8 p.m. Daytrotter, 324 Brady St., Davenport. $15 at the door, $10 in advance.

Douglas and Tucker

8-11 p.m. The Grape Life, 3402 Elmore Ave., Davenport. $10 minimum purchase per person.

Wild Oatz

8 p.m. to midnight Len Brown's North Shore Inn, 700 N. Shore Drive, Moline. Free.

Knockoffs

Sept. 24, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Generations Bar and Grill, 4100 4th Ave., Moline. Free.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed the appeal of a Rapid City man who in July was sentenced to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for producing child pornography.

The court on Monday granted the South Dakota U.S. Attorneys request to dismiss Wallace Beanes appeal of his sentence since it was covered by a waiver he signed as part of his plea deal. Beane, 53, admitted to using his cell phone to take pornographic images of young girls at the Colonial Motel, on East North Street, between November 2014 and March 2015.

Investigators say Beane lured the children, ages 6 to 13, with candy, alcohol, cigarettes, clothing and money. His defense attorney asked the federal court for 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release, but the judge handed Beane the maximum penalties.

Beane is serving his sentence at a medium-security prison in Florence, Colo.
PIERRE | The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks will host the 51st annual Buffalo Roundup and 23rd annual Arts Festival in Custer State Park later this month.

The Buffalo Roundup begins at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 30. The Arts Festival will run from Thursday, Sept. 29, through Saturday, Oct. 1.

The parking areas for the Roundup, located near the corrals along the Wildlife Loop Road, open at 6:15 a.m. and close at 9 a.m. on Sept. 30. For safety reasons, spectators need to remain in the viewing areas until all the buffalo are corralled, which typically occurs around noon.

The annual Arts Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Arts Festival takes place near the State Game Lodge.

To learn more about the event, visit custerstatepark.com, call 605.255.4515 or email CusterStatePark@state.sd.us.
The U.S. Forest Service stated its opposition Thursday to a bill that would trigger a federal-state land swap and facilitate the creation of a state park in Spearfish Canyon.

The bill was introduced in July by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., at the request of his fellow Republican, South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources gave the bill a hearing Thursday along with 20 other bills, but did not take any action.

Leslie Weldon, the Forest Services deputy chief of the National Forest System, testified against Thunes bill and said in a written statement that the bill is unnecessary and contains provisions that raise concerns.

The statement additionally said that the Forest Service already has authority to exchange land without legislation, that the recreation goals in the bill are already met through services provided in the Black Hills National Forest, that the bill proposes land-management requirements that would interfere with the federal governments authority, and that the bills proposed agricultural appraisal of land values is inappropriate.

A spokesman for Thune, in response to Journal questions, said that while the Forest Service does have authority to transfer land administratively, it would be subject to the agencys own terms and process and could take many years with an uncertain outcome. The legislation was introduced to achieve a quicker means to a more certain end, said the spokesman, who added that Thune remains optimistic about the bill moving forward.

Tony Venhuizen, chief of staff to Gov. Daugaard, is also hopeful.

Weve discussed this with local Forest Service folks, and Senator Thune remains optimistic about passage, Venhuizen said.

The bill, known formally as the Spearfish Canyon and Bismarck Lake Land Exchange Act, would transfer two chunks of the federally owned Black Hills National Forest to state ownership: 1,468 acres in the Spearfish Canyon area of the northern Black Hills and 524 acres adjacent to Custer State Park in the central Black Hills, including Bismarck Lake and also Camp Bob Marshall. The camp is currently leased by the Forest Service to the Western Dakota 4-H Camp Association.

The state would use the land to expand and convert its Roughlock Falls Nature Area and other neighboring state-owned land in Spearfish Canyon into a full-fledged state park and to expand Custer State Parks boundaries around Bismarck Lake.

In return, the state would transfer four parcels totaling 1,954 acres to the federal government. Those parcels are comprised of 640 acres in Lyman County that would become part of the Fort Pierre National Grassland; 1,280 acres north of Badlands National Park in Pennington County that would become part of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland; and 34 acres in the Devils Bathtub area that would become part of the Black Hills National Forest, about five miles up Spearfish Canyon from the site of the proposed state park.

Weldons criticism of the bills agricultural basis for appraising all of the land echoes a concern of some observers that the Forest Service would not receive a fair deal. Critics of the proposal have said the federal land in Spearfish Canyon is worth more than an agricultural appraisal would indicate.

The bill has additional provisions to ensure an equal exchange of values. It says that if the federal land is appraised higher than the state land, the state would have to convey additional land or pay additional money, or a combination of both. If the state land is appraised higher than the federal land, the bill says, portions of the state land could be excluded from the swap to achieve an equal-value exchange.

In addition to Thunes Senate bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a House version of the bill has been introduced by Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D. That bill has been assigned to the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
SPEARFISH | The state Board of Water and Natural Resources approved six grants Friday to assist on waste management projects across South Dakota.

The Northwest Regional Landfill will receive a $315,200 loan and a $472,800 grant for building a new cell. The landfill southwest of Bison serves seven communities across the region.

Ecomaniacs, a non-profit based in Sioux Falls, will receive a $4,000 grant for its public awareness activities.

Madison will receive a $17,000 grant for its new cell planned at its restricted-use site at Junius.

Naples will receive a $23,840 grant to clean up its tree-dump facility where waste was illegally dumped during the past 23 years.

Seneca will receive a $23,900 grant to help permanently close its landfill site.

The Tri-County Landfill Association will receive a $3,630 grant to use geothermal heating for its storage building at Pukwana. The association received a grant in 2015 for the building.

The state board met in Spearfish so it could visit projects in the Spearfish and Belle Fourche areas on Thursday. The meeting Friday was held at Black Hills State University and connected with sites across South Dakota through a videoconference.
MOSCOW, September 23 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  Russias Investigative Committee has closed a criminal case against Domodedovo airport owner Dmitriy Kamenshchik over 2011 terrorist attack at the request of Prosecutor Generals Office, RAPSI learned in the Basmanny District Court of Moscow on Friday.

Earlier, prosecutors repeatedly called on the Investigative Committee to drop the case against Kamenshchik.

The Domodedovo airport owner Dmitriy Kamenshchik and several other ex-managers have been charged in the case over 2011 terrorist attack. According to investigators, they have not provided sufficient security level that let the suicide bomber freely enter the arrival lounge and set off an explosive.

A suicide bomber detonated a bomb in the Domodedovo Airports international arrivals hall, killing 37 people and injuring 172, on January 24, 2011.

Doku Umarov, Russias most wanted terrorist at the time, claimed responsibility for the attack. Altogether, 28 men connected with the terrorist organization called the Caucasus Emirate were linked to the attack, according to the investigators. Seventeen of them were killed in special operations in 2011, and four were detained.

In November 2013, a Moscow Region court sentenced three men to life in prison and a fourth man to 10 years for their role in the suicide bombing.
Russian technical university educator gets 7 years in prison for treason

MOSCOW, September 23 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court has sentenced the Moscow State Technical Universitys lecturer Vladimir Lapygin to 7 years in high-security prison for treason, RIA Novosti reported on Friday.

Case materials have not been disclosed because of secrecy.

The academic was arrested in May 2015. Reportedly, he was on the staff of the Central Research Institute for Engineering Technology (TsNIImash), the head research company of Russia's federal space agency (Roscosmos), and worked at the university concurrently.

According to investigation, Lapygin has conveyed certain technological information abroad.
Moscow court to examine legality of sentence imposed on Russian eccentric artist

MOSCOW, September 23 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  The Moscow City Court is to examine an appeal of defense against a sentence imposed on Russian performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky, who was found guilty of setting fire to the Moscow headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), on October 13, Kirill Ryabchikov, the interim press secretary of the court told RAPSI on Friday.

Pavlenskys lawyer noted that she filed the motion with a higher court seeking to reverse the guilty verdict and asking it to review the case.

On June 8, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow imposed a 500,000 ruble ($7,600) fine on performance Pavlensky and ruled in favor of this security agency, which sought 481 thousand rubles ($7,400) in the framework of a civil lawsuit.

The court imposed on Pavlensky a fine of 1.5 million rubles ($23,000); however, taking into account his detention during pretrial investigation, this amount was reduced to 500,000 rubles ($7,600). The artist was set free in the courtroom.

Additionally, Pavlensky was sentenced to pay a 480,000 ruble ($7,400) compensation to FSB for the damaged door of its Moscow headquarter.

The artist told a crowd of journalists gathering to report about the proceedings, that he was disinterested in the results of the lawsuit.

Eccentric artist Pavlensky was arrested on November 9, 2015, along with several other people who claim to be journalists that were invited to the artists performance. The next day Pavlensky was detained under a court decision.

Initially Pavlensky was accused of vandalism but later investigators reclassified charges against him to destruction of cultural heritage sites.

Pavlensky is known for a number of controversial performances.

In July 2012, he sewed up his mouth and stood at the Kazan Cathedral with a poster in support of Pussy Riot.

In May 2013, Pavlensky lay down on the ground in front of the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly naked with barbed wire around his body.

In November 2013, also naked, Pavlensky nailed his scrotum to the Red Square pavement near the Lenin Mausoleum.

In October 2014, he staged an eccentric stunt on the roof of the Serbsky Mental Institution in Moscow by cutting off one of his earlobes.

In February 2015, Pavlensky and his accomplices burned car tyres, waved Ukrainian flags and banged sheet metal with sticks in a show of solidarity with the anti-government protesters in Ukraine. The performance was held near the Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg.




POLSON  There will be no public dock built on Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake  not for at least four years, anyway.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Wednesday its proposal for such a dock on the 2,000-plus-acre primitive state park has been postponed, in the face of overwhelming opposition.

When it sought public comment on the proposal this spring, the state agency received 101 responses.

Eighty-one opposed the idea.

Now, FWP says it will postpone action on a dock until further analysis can be conducted.

Over the next four years, (Montana State Parks) will collect data regarding visitor impacts to the park, human-wildlife conflicts, trespass violations, and safety concerns, according to Pat Doyle and Betsy Kirkeby, spokespeople for Montana State Parks.

Officials will also analyze the recently completed Peer State Analysis Report, which explores how neighboring state park systems address similar water-based state park units.

Information gathered during this time, along with input from visitors and stakeholders, will determine if a subsequent proposal will be offered for public review, Doyle and Kirkeby said.

***

According to the decision notice, opponents had multiple concerns about the 8-by-60-foot floating dock that was proposed for Skeeko Bay, the islands most protected cove.

Most centered on beliefs that a public dock would increase visitors to the primitive park, which is accessible only by boat, and would increase adverse impacts on the island and its wildlife.

Others questioned FWPs position that the lack of a public dock is a safety concern. Some predicted conflicts between people arriving on sailboats and power boats, and others said it would require increased staffing on Wild Horse.

The island, which includes some private residences but is 99 percent public, is home to bighorn sheep, mule deer, bald eagles and a small herd of wild horses.

Currently, boaters much beach their watercraft to legally access the island, or anchor boats offshore and swim to it. The 33 docks that are already on Wild Horses shoreline are all private.

Some responders also said the dock would benefit commercial charters more than individual boaters.

***

The 16 people who commented in favor of the dock said it would provide easier and safer access, especially for the disabled, elderly and young children.

Three more expressed support, but with concerns that included that during the busy summer months, boats would only be allowed to drop off and pick up passengers at the dock, and drivers would still be beaching their watercraft on the shore.

In its responses, Montana State Parks said it generally promotes the use of state parks, and increased visitation is not necessarily a negative. Visitation to Wild Horse Island State Park, it noted, has leveled off at just over 17,000 people a year while visitation to all six state parks on Flathead Lake increased 23 percent between 2011 and 2015.

Given the distance from the mainland, the key factor determining visitation to the island appears to be more a function of ownership or access to a boat or commercial transport, the decision said.

The FWP division also reiterated its contention that safety concerns drive the need for a public dock on Wild Horse.

There is strong potential for injury when visitors must leap from a boat onto uneven and wet surfaces in order to visit this park, the decision said, and MSP believes it is appropriate and prudent to offer an alternative.

It is also dangerous for state workers, the decision said.

It is our belief that loading and off-loading staff, tools and materials without a dock unnecessarily puts park staff at risk of injury, it said in its responses to comments.
A Lolo woman was charged with two felony counts of criminal child endangerment after allegedly driving while under the influence with two children in the car.

Yevgeniya M. Chinikaylo, 30, appeared this week before Ravalli County Justice Jennifer Ray on the felony charges and misdemeanor counts of aggravated driving under the influence and unlawful possession of an open alcoholic beverage.

Chinikaylo was arrested on Sept. 20 after calls were made at 8 p.m. to the countys emergency dispatch center about a vehicle driving erratically on U.S. Highway 93 north of Stevensville. One of the people who called said they made contact with the female driver and she was slurring her words and appeared to be intoxicated.

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper arrived on the scene and determined that Chinikaylo had two girls in the car, ages one and 12.

According to an affidavit, the trooper immediately noticed the strong smell of alcohol coming from Chinikaylo and noticed the slurred speech and incoherent language.

Chinikaylo told the trooper that she was driving from her brothers home near Florence and allegedly admitted to consuming one pint of vodka, a beer at the Lolo Brewery, and an additional one-quarter of a bottle of Arrow vodka. She also allegedly admitted allowing her 12-year-old daughter to drive her car on the back roads after leaving her brothers residence.

Chinikaylo was unable to maintain her balance in the walk and turn maneuver, missed touching on the heel-to-toe, stepped off the line, raised her arms and made an improper turn. When she attempted the one-leg stand, she lost her balance and fell to the ground.

A preliminary breath sample resulted in a .343 breath alcohol concentration. In Montana, a person is considered impaired with .08 blood alcohol content.

The trooper was required to obtain a search warrant after Chinikaylo refused to submit a blood sample.

Chinikaylo had a prior aggravated DUI conviction in Missoula County in July 2012.

Ray set bail at $20,000, with a requirement that Chinikaylo be monitored for alcohol use if released from detention.
Extra safety vigilance can make a difference in the lives of children. On Saturday, parents can let an expert check to ensure their childs car seat is correctly installed and has not expired or been recalled.

The Ravalli Prevention Coalition is hosting a National Child Safety seat check in Hamilton at Mildenberger Motors on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Charmell Owens, director of the Ravalli Prevention Coalition, said the checks are to make sure children are safe.

This is a good chance for parents that think they are doing everything right to stop in and make sure, Owens said. There is a lot more to car seat installation than what parents realize. We have found that three out of four car seats are installed incorrectly. It is simple things sometimes.

Owens said the harness clip may be in the wrong place, the family may have the wrong seat for the age height and weight of the child or the car seat may be expired. Car seats are only good six years from their manufacture date.

Owens said over a million car seats have been recalled this year.

Parents are scrambling to figure out if they have a safe seat, she said. With the recall the manufacturers may send them a part, they may not receive that part or the whole seat may be recalled.

This year the Ravalli Prevention Coalition has four passenger child certified technicians. The safety checking process is quick.

The process takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of children and car seats, Owens said. We do need the children to come. Seats are based on height and weight requirements. If the parent doesnt bring the child we have to rely on numbers they remember.

The National Child Safety seat check will be a festive event for families with prizes, and food. There are also some car seats available for low-income families on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC), Medicaid or Temporary Authorization for Needy Families (TANF).

Owens said the Ravalli Prevention Coalition also does monthly programs for car seat safety, bicycle safety and other aspects of prevention.

Child passenger safety is the heart for us because nationwide car crashes are the leading cause of death for children, she said. It is a real pivotal thing for us to help these families keep their children protected. We do lots of work with teens but this is probably the number one most important thing when it comes to child safety because everyone is in their car these days.

Owens said Saturday is a national event to help protect families.

It has the national spotlight and is just a very busy day and we like that, she said. I think last year we did 18 kids. We refitted seats that were bought by parents but just not installed correctly. The remainder was free seats that we gave out.

Owens said the child safety seat check is one of her favorite events.

You get to help the brand new mom who is expecting a baby all the way up to 13 years of age. They are supposed to be in the back seat until they are 13, she said. The law says they are supposed to be in car seats until they are 6 years and 60 pounds but the recommendation is 8 years and 80 pounds. Other states have gone to this but Montana lags behind in child passenger safety and even occupant protection in general.

Owens said the Ravalli Prevention Coalitions safety seat check will happen rain or shine. It is co- sponsored by The Department of Transportation Buckle Up Montana program.

This is really to help parents find out if there is anything more they can do to protect their child better than they are, Owens said. We realize there are lots of great parents but there are tiny things that can make a difference, especially in a crash.
A Ravalli County district judge will hear arguments on a proposed default judgment against the former Ravalli County treasurer, Valerie Stamey, in October.

The county is seeking a total of $151,478.22 in fines and damages from Stamey.

The county filed the lawsuit against the former treasurer in June 2014 after suspending her from that position on charges of official misconduct.

It took the county six separate summonses and two years of looking before it finally tracked Stamey down in South Carolina, where she was served with legal papers last May.

Stamey told the Ravalli Republic one month later that she would not file a legal response to the countys civil lawsuit and promised a legal challenge of her own if the county opted to proceed with its legal action.

Ravalli County Deputy Attorney Howard Begin said Thursday that Stamey has not responded at all to the countys lawsuit.Due to Stameys lack of response, the county is asking Ravalli County District Judge Jeffrey Langton for a default judgment that Begin said would normally conclude the matter.

The county asks Langton to rule that Stamey committed official misconduct for failing to complete her statutory duties as treasurer. It seeks a $29,000 penalty for her failure to provide reports to the county as required by law. And the county asks for $122,478.22 to reimburse it for the out-of-pocket costs it incurred to investigate Stameys misconduct and return the office to functioning status.

Stamey was appointed to fill the vacant office of treasurer on Sept. 9, 2013.

Within a short time, the county commission began receiving complaints from the public that checks written to the treasurers office werent clearing the bank, according to a court brief. At the same time, special districts in the county complained they werent receiving current account statements.

Stamey was placed on leave in January, 2014 following an investigation that verified she was not performing the duties of her office.

When county representatives entered her locked office the next day, they discovered thousands of dollars in the form of checks and cash scattered about the office accompanied by half-completed paperwork.

To get the office functioning again, county employees worked overtime in a herculean effort to clear the backlog and the county brought in a retired treasurer from Beaverhead County to help. It also hired an auditing firm.

As a result of an investigation into Stameys mismanagement, the board held another meeting in February 2014. It found that Stamey had neglected or refused to generate reports on at least 55 occasions and failed to settle on three occasions.

The commission required Stamey to pay $500 for each instance, or a total of $29,000.

That Stamey owed plaintiffs a duty cannot be contested, Begin wrote in his brief to the court. The duties of a county treasurer are set forth in statute. When she took the oath of office, she pledged to discharge the duties of her office with fidelity.

The hearing is set for Wednesday, Oct. 5.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the first 200 apartments leased in Stapleton's Urby, the North Shore's largest luxury apartment complex is attracting residents from two major markets: Staten Island and lower Manhattan.

"We already have about 160 people living at Urby of the 200 leases signed. ...Urby has been received really well, and I think people are happy there," said Dave Barry, Urby CEO and principal of the Hoboken-based Ironstate Development, noting active leasing of the apartments started about three months ago.

He said about 60 percent of current Urby residents are from Staten Island, and about 30 percent are from Manhattan, particularly downtown, said Barry. The remaining 10 percent of residents are coming from Brooklyn, New Jersey and other "out-of-town" areas, he said.

"The two drivers of the project are Staten Island, particularly Mid-Island and North Shore, and the lower Manhattan market, particularly the financial district, which has gotten very expensive. If you're working down there this is a really easy commute," said Barry.

OLD SCHOOL VIBE

Residents who have moved in to Urby say one of the best parts of living there is the camaraderie among the residents.

"It feels like being a kid again in a sense. You actually go over to your friend's house for dinner. People knock on your door to see what you're doing," said Kate Rodel, 30, who moved in May 2, after leaving an apartment in Sunnyside.

"This brings you so far away from being attached to technology, and brings you back to a time I thought I could never go back to. It's a real old-school mentality and neighborhood feel," she added.

She said that while many young entrepreneurs in their 20s and 30s have already moved into Urby, there is a wide age demographic of residents.

"It'd a nice mix of people, from their late 20s to over 50," she said.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE

Already complete are the first 571 apartments and 30,000 square feet of retail, which was the first phase of the 900-unit complex. Several businesses are already open, such as Bodega, and Coffeed, with others on tap to move in over coming months.





"The retail stores are in the process of being constructed and built out. The full experience of the project won't be ready until after the new year," said Barry.

"Urby is a concept we have been working on for a long time and we put a lot of thought and inspiration into the project in terms of the public spaces and programing. It has the waterfront location with a connection to mass transit. I think all these things complement each other," he added.

PHASE II OF CONSTRUCTION

Two additional buildings will be constructed on the site that will house another 330 apartments and a parking garage. With a construction start slated for the spring, this phase of the project should take about 18 months to complete, said Barry.

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Joint Statement

Pakistan - India Peoplesa Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD)

September 23, 2016

PIPFPD expresses its concern over the growing tensions between India and Pakistan following militantsa attack on strategically important army base in Uri, Jammu & Kashmir. The leadership of both the countries needs to urgently act towards defusing the tense scenario rather than fuelling it.

We appeal to the saner voices of both the countries to play a pro-active role in bringing some sense to the rulers. There cannot be any other option to bring peace in the sub-continent but dialogue. Islamabad and New Delhi need to take some serious and sincere efforts to build an atmosphere of trust and initiate that process. While Pakistan needs to be more convincing in its fight against terrorism and terrorists operating from its soil, India needs to shun the policy of dealing with Kashmir militarily and brutally.

Indian government needs to begin dialogue with all the stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir to normalize the situation. To create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue, Indian government needs to end human rights violations in Kashmir, stop use of pellet guns and release all innocent prisoners including human rights defender, Khurram Parvez, who was re-arrested under PSA after High Court directed that he be released.

We strongly feel that a sectarian approach for the domestic consumption will harm everyone in the long run. Sentiment is running high in India since Uri was attacked. Rather than aexploitinga sentiments of the people, India and Pakistan should come forward and see that such dastardly attacks do not happen again.

Jatin Desai (General Secretary, PIPFPD India ),

Anuradha Bhasin & Asha Hans (Co-Chairpersons, PIPFPD India)

I.A Rehman (Chairperson, PIPFPD Pakistan)

For further details contact: 09869077718 | pipfpd.india@gmail.com
Los Angeles Times - 23 September 2016

In February this year the authorities in Bangladesh took Shamsuzzoha Manik, a 73-year-old publisher, into custody for publishing a book titled aIslam Bitorkoa (aDebate on Islama ). His arrest and the shutting down of his stall marked a sour moment in the nationas largest book fair, Ekushey Boi Mela, held annually at Bangla Academy in honor of the International Mother Language Day. While the book, deemed to be offensive to Islam, has been taken out of circulation, seven months later the publisher remains behind bars.

Manikas imprisonment adds to a series of recent attacks on freedom of expression in the country, which have included a number of killings perpetrated by extremist groups. There are laws that allow the government to ban or confiscate any publication that may be considered blasphemous. The law extends to any form of publication a in print or online a and led to the arrest of four bloggers in 2013 for ahurting religious sentimentsa with their blog posts. Self and state-censorship coupled with lack of protection for writers at risk have meant free speech and freedom to publish are in dire straits.

Bangladesh is not unique in facing the threat of terrorism, which is now a global issue, but it is sadly the only country where writers and publishers are specifically on the hit lists of the killers.

Free speech in the country, however, is not new to scrutiny and undermining. In 1973, poet Daud Haider was taken into aprotective custodya after one of his poems a critical of religious beliefs a brought him death threats. Two months later Haider was asked to leave the country and consequently became a stateless person in neighboring India, until he managed to leave for Germany where he resides to this day. During his exile, some of the great American writers, including Susan Sontag, Kurt Vonnegut and Sharon Olds, supported his case.
Seven years ago, when John Burnside saw the initial plans Caltrans had drawn up for the roundabout on Highway 246 just east of Lompoc, he said
I know I may have said this before but I used to think that a school was only as good as the three-legged stool that it is - parents, teachers/staff and principal. I soon learned that without a good principal, you might not ever want to sit on that stool. I have also often wondered if Seattle Schools had just bad luck/poor judgment about principals or if other districts have the same kind of churn. And principals aren't the same category as teachers. They don't have a union per se but in SPS, they have their own org, PASS (Principals Association of Seattle Schools). They oversee hundreds of students, not a single class. They have to juggle multiple balls of budget, discipline, curriculum and governance of a staff. That plus make parents and students feel good about the school. It was also an interesting fact for Seattle Schools that only until recently, they had three principals who had all graduated from the school that they now oversaw. That was Martin Floe at Ingraham High
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).
Today is a good day. We WON historic anti-displacement housing preference in SF! #fightingandwinning for our communities who need it most. pic.twitter.com/DCBi3betue  London Breed (@LondonBreed) September 22, 2016

Supervisor London Breed published an article in the Examiner this morning about her upbringing at Plaza East in the Western Addition and the need for San Francisco to preserve low-income housing for long-time neighborhood residents in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods. But she actually got much of her wish before the paper went to print last night, a fact that she appears to be celebrating with the above tweet: The Associated Press reports that a city plan to set aside 40 percent of affordable units in subsidized housing complexes for residents of neighborhoods experiencing rapid gentrification has been approved by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

That represents a reversal or refinement, because six weeks ago, HUD roundly rejected a version of the proposed neighborhood preference policy. Their reasoning: The plan would "perpetuate segregation" and be in violation of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. But after City Attorney Dennis Herrera and many more local officials urged HUD to reconsider  Mayor Lee sent representatives to meet with national officials on the subject.

Then, yesterday, federal officials told San Francisco officials they would in fact give the OK for the policy to take effect, with a change, first as it pertains to the Willie B. Kennedy senior apartment complex and its 98 units. As that center begins to take applications, officials may legally give preference to neighborhood residents who live in low-income area undergoing displacement  just not only from the same area where the Senior Center is located, in the Western Addition, but also from other neighborhoods such as the Mission.

The SF senior housing complex is what Mayor Lee calls a lifeline for many seniors in the Western Addition who were hoping to remain in the neighborhood, according to the Chronicle.

Previously: City Attorney: HUD Was Wrong To Reject SF Anti-Gentrification Plan


The year is 2020, say, and beloved English monarch Elizabeth II has just died  that's perhaps jumping the gun in terms of a prediction, though, given that she's only 90 this year and her mother lived to 101. Prince Charles is finally ready to ascend to the throne and England prepares for its first coronation since 1952. That is the premise of the Olivier Award-winning best new play of 2014, King Charles III, which was Tony-nominated in its Broadway production earlier this year and just made its West Coast premiere at ACT last night. What happens, then, if the never especially camera-loving Charles decides to upend a couple of centuries of tradition and begin meddling in affairs of state and the House of Commons, effectively deciding that, because it's legal to do so, he has the right of veto in house bills now  something his mother, and several generations of monarchs before her, never did? And what if you take Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, and Harry and imagine them as fictionalized figures in a Shakespearean tragedy/history play?

Playwright Mike Bartlett imagined this winning idea, and the new SF production executes it to great effect  lending to the contemporary royal family the gravitas and wit of Shakespeare's iambic pentameter, with occasional rhyming couplets as they close a monologue and exit stage right. Britons might not take the royals too seriously anymore  and in the last two decades, particularly after the spate of divorces in 1992, dubbed by the Queen her annus horribilis, not to mention the Las Vegas antics of Prince Harry, they seem much more common and relatable in their tabloid fodder. But in the universe of King Charles III, we're looking back on them as important figures in an important moment in England, just as Shakespeare did for two Richards, three Henrys, and King John  as well as the Scottish king Macbeth, and the Danish prince Hamlet.

Bartlett says he came up with the idea of a struggle over the national constitution, with five acts and Charles as a tragic central figure, and he knew that as an epic royal drama "the form had surely to be Shakespearean." Also, he figured Harry would come with his own comic subplot, a la Henry IV  in which Hal, the future Henry V, is a wastrel who spends his time in taverns with a charismatic drunk named Sir Jack Falstaff.

[SOME SPOILERS TO FOLLOW]

The Shakespeare models flew forth easily from there: Charles would be akin to Richard II, with nods to Hamlet, Lear, and Macbeth; Kate was obviously Lady Macbeth, pushing for her own husband to take power; William becomes a bit of a confused Hamlet, unsure who to trust; both Charles and William are visited at night by a ghost, Diana, who encourages each of them to seize power; and Camilla intercedes as a sort of impotent Gertrude, trying to keep the peace.





For fans and watchers of the royals themselves, the play is a funny imagined look inside one improbable version of their future, as well as an intriguing premise to consider: What if calm and civil England could descend into chaos, or even civil war, just via a few anti-democratic actions by a monarch?

As Charles, actor Robert Joy (whom some will recognize as Madonna's lost boyfriend in Desperately Seeking Susan, 30 years on) is funny and bumbling, though his stage voice is maybe the weakest of the cast in a play dense with talk. Ian Merrill Peakes is terrific as Prime Minister Evans, as is Harry Smith as Prince Harry, reprising the role from the Broadway cast. Also great is Michele Beck in the role of Harry's tabloid-fodder love interest, Jessica.

Direction by David Muse is swift throughout, while all of the cast get moments to shine and prove their mettle at iambic pentameter, with very few lines ever lost.

At two hours and forty minutes (including intermission) with all that semi-formal speech, this is no beginner's bit of theater, and requires some keen attention and stamina. But the payoff is more than satisfying come the second half, once you stick it out, and Bartlett's poetry and prose, replete with contemporary references to texting and tabloid TV, are lots of fun and go down very easy, if you're in the mood for a little soliloquy.

King Charles III plays through October 9 at ACT. Tickets here.




A man who was severely beaten in San Francisco's Mid-Market area has died, taking San Francisco's homicide count for 2016 to 33 deaths.

According to the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office, 52-year-old SF resident Evaristo Rocha died last week of injuries from an earlier assault.

The Ex reports that Rocha was the victim of physical assault in late August at Market and Jones Streets, which is between Sixth and Seventh Streets. As of Friday morning, no additional details were available on the attack.

Rocha never recovered from the beating, and died on September 13. His death has been ruled a homicide, the ME's office says, and will be investigated by the San Francisco Police Department.
As a fan of both Seven Samurai and its 1960 American remake, The Magnificent Seven, I was eager to see the third telling of the tale. Akira Kurosawa was a hard act to follow, but John Sturges did OK. Could director Antoine Fuqua hit the marks those two set? I regret to inform you that he did not, as while there are occasional bright spots, this year's model feels hollow and a bit cold.

Since Fuqua's The Equalizer, which also starred M7 frontman Denzel Washington, I've been dreaming of a Denzel western  though that film is based, improbably enough, on the 80s-era TV series, it played more like an urban-set Western to me, right down to Washington's John Wayneish characterization of the title character. And Washington doesn't disappoint here, as Chisolm the cool guy bounty hunter (seriously, is there an actor in Hollywood that's cooler that Denzel? No, there is not) occupying the opposite side of the coin from Sam Jackson's character in The Hateful Eight. He's got the moves, for sure, from the cockeyed gaze at the camera to a balletic grace in the action scenes that belies his 61 years.

But a movie needs more than Washington posing, Searchers-like, in a variety of doorways, and that's where the rest of the ensemble comes in: An unpleasantly smug Chris Pratt as lover and fighter Josh Faraday; a bizarrely squeaky-voiced Vincent D'Onofrio as a former pro scalper; Korean heartthrob Byung-hun Lee as a knifeman; and Martin Sensmeier and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as, respectively, the Native American and the Mexican members of the Seven. They're all fine.

The real standout is Ethan Hawke, playing former Confederate sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux, a man so wracked with PTSD that he initially runs from the fight. It's a standard character, I know  and it's a little weird, isn't it, when we're applauding a character arc in which someone starts out as too damaged/scared to fight, then gets over it and "yay he's killing people!" But, you guys, this might be the best performance Hawke has ever turned in (Fuqua, of course, also got great results from Hawke in Training Day, but that was the role of a boy, this one is of a man). It's a little bit battered homeless vet, it's a little bit your crazy friend from college, and a great mix of charm and steely resolve.

It's too bad that all these guys weren't in a better movie. But this version lacked spark and wit, and felt less like a dance toward the inevitable big confrontation than a trudge. You know the drill: An innocent (in this case, an oft inappropriately dressed Haley Bennett) begs the righteous man (Chisolm) for help to save her beleaguered town from the baddies. Chisolm assembles his team, they ride into town, confrontation ensues, credits roll.

In this version, the team assembly part (usually the lightest, funniest part of the construct) felt rushed and uneven, and other than a fantastically kinetic showdown when the guys first arrived in town (the shootout intended to signal that the final one will be REALLY good), things are pretty dull through the standard "train the inept townspeople" section through to the big ending.

It's just now that I realized that I had failed to mention the bad guy, which says something about how forgettable he is. A mining magnate played by Peter Sarsgaard (who seemed to be channeling how Kevin Spacey would have played that "I drink your milkshake" scene), despite a solid intro scene, he's next to irrelevant, and seems more laughable than imposing.

And then there's the big, final battle, which is pretty bloodless, all things considered. (Maybe that's because the film is PG-13?) Though the bodies mount, they do so drily. And, as opposed to the 1960 version, they mount without glee  say what you will about the correctness of this in These Violent Times, but that final shootout in the OGM7 was fun as fuck. This one steers away from reveling in violence, but it doesn't steer toward its ugliness (this is not the Omaha Beach scene in Saving Private Ryan, by any means). Instead, it chose a milquetoast middle ground, where people get shot and things blow up and it's just sort of there.

In fact, the movie occupies the middle ground throughout, which is really too bad. When confronted with period details troubling to the modern eye or ear  for example, casual racism or misogyny  the film doesn't seem quite sure what to do with them. Lean in and embrace the talk of the times? Make the racists pay? Avoid the issue completely? This film doesn't make a real decision on stuff like that, letting Washington's black character exist free from slurs (barring an 11th hour reveal), but allowing Pratt's character to do some bizarre riff on Mexican accents or something. It was inconsistent, weird, and a little jarring to never firmly know how retrospectively evolved this world might be.

I didn't think that The Magnificent Seven was a bad movie, per se, just a movie that wasn't very brave, and took the safe road where it should have taken the scarier, more dangerous pass. It's acceptable, a little dull in spots, and has some entertaining moments. But in no way, no how, is it even close to magnificent.






Earlier this month we heard that Twitter's board of directors was considering a potential sale of the company, and today the rumor is out that some buyout bids are in, including ones from Google and Salesforce, "among other technology companies," as CNBC is reporting. As a result, Twitter's stock price, which has hovered between $16 and $19 per share for several months, is trading at $21.80 per share as of this writing.

According to CNBC, "Suitors are said to be interested as much in the data that Twitter generates as its place as a media company," which may not be great news for some of the existing staff should a sale go through. But let's not jump the gun!

The Business Times notes that the company has had less demand from advertisers so far this year than it had hoped, and in late July "slowing advertiser demand and a weakened revenue forecast walloped Twitter... pushing its share price down as the company scrambled to reassure investors it was on the right path."

Like Facebook, Twitter is moving into the live video space hoping that that will lure ad dollars. But the company's profitability has remained a concern for investors, and clearly for the company's board.

Salesforce, meanwhile, lost out to Microsoft in a deal to acquire LinkedIn earlier this year, and now as CNBC points out, Salesforce's "chief digital evangelist" Vala Afshar was tweeting this at 6:30 this morning:

Why @twitter?



1 personal learning network

2 the best realtime, context rich news

3 democratize intelligence

4 great place to promote others  Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) September 23, 2016



Previously: Twitter Board To Mull Possible Buyout This Week, And More Layoffs May Be Looming


Ordination anniversary set for Sunday

SIOUX CITY | The members and friends of St. John Lutheran Church of Akron, St. John's Lutheran Church of Craig and Trinity Lutheran Church of Sioux City will hold the 40th anniversary celebration of the ordination of the Revs. R. Paul Johnston and Lilette Johnston from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1122 Jackson St.

For more information, contact 712-258-0519.

Greg Nooney to present sermon

SIOUX CITY | Greg Nooney will present a sermon titled "The Imagined Order: Myths that unite us -- Religion, Money, Individualism, Freedom, Law and Equality" at 11 a.m. Sunday at First Unitarian Church, 2508 Jackson St.

Appreciation service for Mother Anne Brown

SIOUX CITY | An appreciation service for Mother Anne Brown will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday at Tabernacle C.O.G.I.C, 610 Center St. Elder Jerron Taylor of Omaha, Nebraska, will be the guest speaker.

Book exchange is Saturday at Sunrise

SIOUX CITY | The Siouxland Church Libraries will hold a book exchange at 9 a.m. Saturday at Gerwulf Center, Sunrise Community, 5501 Gordon Drive.

Theological seminary classes resume

SIOUX CITY | Siouxland Christian College and Theological Seminary has resumed fall class from 6:30-9 p.m. every Thursday night at Word of Life Ministries, 1478 Buchanan Ave. Classes offered are "Ministry to the Hurting" and "Acts II."

For more information, contact Jane Greene at 712-258-0405 or 712-259-2863.

Community rummage and free lunch set

SIOUX CITY | The community is invited to attend St. John Lutheran's parking lot party from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday at 2801 Jackson St. The free event will include a community rummage beginning at 8 a.m. The Dakota Road Band will begin at 10 a.m. with lunch to follow.

Guest minister next week at Christian Fellowship

SIOUX CITY | Vonda Allen of Arthur, Illinois, will be the guest minister at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at Faith Christian Fellowship, 809 S. Alice St.

For more information, call Donna Rasmussen at 712-253-7159.

Haller elected as Iowa's Methodist bishop

DES MOINES, Iowa | Bishop Laurie Haller was elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church by the denomination's North Central Jurisdictional Conference on July 14. She was assigned to be the resident bishop of Iowa effective Sept. 1.

Prior to her election, Haller served as co-senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of Birmingham, Michigan. A graduate of Yale Divinity School and Yale Institute of Sacred Music, she has served several churches in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A 3:30 p.m. service will be held Sunday at First Unitarian Methodist, 1001 Pleasant St. in Des Moines, to celebrate her appointment.
SIOUX CITY | Leila Josefowicz has been playing the violin since she was 3 years old, thanks to the guidance of her father, a physicist, and her mother, a biologist.

Born in Ontario, Canada, she moved with her family to Los Angeles, California, as a young child.

Despite her parents' lack of artistic background, Josefowicz blossomed into a world-renowned concert violinist, beginning her professional career at age 13. Josefowicz will perform at the Orpheum Theatre for the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra's opening night.

Josefowicz learned to play violin using the Suzuki method, a common way of learning to play which involves learning by ear rather than beginning with reading notes.

"It wasnt that clear right at the beginning," Josefowicz said of her talent. "And I needed definite sorts of treats for practicing and little bribes, so it wasnt like it was an instant unbelievable explosion of talent per se.

"It's very hard to tell at that age what exactly is gonna happen; the only thing [my parents] could tell was that I enjoyed music."

As she grew, so did her talent and passion for music. Josefowicz was never particularly interested in other career options.

"By the time I was 13 and thinking about, 'Hey, what would it be like to be a dancer, or play another instrument?', I was so far ahead with violin that it wouldnt have made any sense to change or do something else," Josefowicz said.

Her hard work continued throughout her teens, and she ended up graduating from high school and with a bachelor's degree in music -- both within the same year. Josefowicz was 18 at the time.

"It was a bit of a strange," Josefowicz admitted, "because I was going to two different schools at one time. It was totally jam packed, and with practicing on top of that, it was crazy."

Over the years, the violinist has had plenty of time to develop her own style. Her uniqueness is what sets her apart as one of the most well-regarded violinists worldwide.

Of her personal style, Josefowicz said: "It's very energetic, it's very rhythmic. I like full extreme moods, so if the music is asking for a certain mood I want to do that really 100 percent, so hopefully, a very memorable performance is what you will hear, and what I will aim for."

Currently living with her family in New York, Josefowicz, 38, has three children of her own, none of whom she is pushing into music. Her oldest, Lukas, 16, is interested in theater. As for the other two -- almost 2 and 4 years old -- Josefowicz says she wants to let her kids be kids.

Nevertheless, Josefowicz has some sound advice for other young musicians who may choose to follow in her footsteps.

"Enjoying the music is really all 100 percent of the reason why we are all doing this," she said. "And never forget the joy of music, even when you need to practice, and when it's not going so well that one specific day."
Screenings

Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary.

Programs/Self-Help Groups

Al-Anon Information Center, call 712-255-6724.

Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 712-255-6724.

Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 712-252-1333.

Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons.

Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180.

Co-Dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room.

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.

Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512.

Children of Divorce, to help children cope with the challenges of parental separation or divorce. Call 712-279-2373 for more information.

Clinics

Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005.

Information

Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300.

Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa.

Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991.

Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733.

Overeaters Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays at Floyd Valley Hospital, Lower Level, 714 Lincoln St. NE, Le Mars, Iowa; 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees.

St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906.

Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715.

The Link-Recovery and Freedom, at PMA Building, 6000 Gordon Drive; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432.

Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623.

Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10-minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410.

Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public.

Support Groups

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935.

Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6:30 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Daycare provided. 712-490-3343.

PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116.

Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675.

HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965.

La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998.

Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441.

Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260.

Tri-State Sober Project, 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City.

Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050.

Divorce Care, noon Sundays starting Jan. 10; GriefShare, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 12; Single & Parenting, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays starting Jan. 14; all at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.

NAMI Siouxland, (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group meets 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month at Friendship House, 1101 Court St. For individuals and family members dealing with mental illness. 712-255-4209.

New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624.

Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213.

Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129.

Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential.

Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information.

Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December.

Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939.

Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927.

Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766.

Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151.

Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315.

Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453.

Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call Sally Reinert at 402-987-3516.

Sojourners, support group for families of persons with life-threatening illness, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Room 416. For more information, call Marjorie Jarvill at 402-241-8637.

South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133.

Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 712-255-1065.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS.

Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686.

Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential.

Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders.

Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page.

A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319.

Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St.

Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursdays at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church. 712-277-2901.

Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387.

After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370.

After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426.

Alzheimer's Association, Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802.

Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319.

Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260.

Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce St. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900.
SIOUX CITY | Two weeks after classes resumed, more than 100 students had been classified as homeless in the Sioux City Community School District, according to Jen Gomez, director of equity education and student services for the district.

This early in the academic year, Gomez said that number is a little higher than in years past. She said Irving, Liberty and Loess Hills have the most homeless students of the district's elementary schools.

The Sioux City chapter of Bright Futures, a non-profit organization and grassroots movement that originated in Joplin, Missouri, is helping theses children and other families in need by engaging businesses, human service agencies, faith-based organizations and parent groups within the community to meet the needs of children.

The program officially kicked off in the district last fall.

Gomez said needs for clothing, food and shelter have always been present in the community, but she said Bright Futures has made people more aware of those needs and given them an avenue to help meet them.

"Needs vary. It could be as little as school supplies, clothing, hygiene items, household items, all the way to furniture," she said.

Last November, Gomez said two families lost their belongings in house fires. Within 24 hours of posting a request for donations on Bright Futures Sioux City's Facebook page, she said the response had exceeded what the families needed.

Recently, Gomez said she posted a message asking for two beds and bedding for a family moving from a shelter into a home.

"Right now that post has reached 804 people," she said. "I had another post on there a couple weeks ago and it had reached almost 2,000 people."

Gomez said her office also refers people in need to local aid organizations such as the Community Action Agency of Siouxland, Center for Siouxland, Mission of the Messiah and other community service organizations.

"We try to fulfill the need but if we can't, direct them to where they can and help them make that connection," she said.

Gomez said she doesn't come across too many homeless families living in cars, parks or abandoned buildings. The majority, she said, are residing in shelters or living in a home with another family.

"We just had a family come in yesterday. A parent and their child moved back to Sioux City, so they're temporarily staying with somebody. They would be considered homeless," she said. "We call that doubled up. That's probably the most common."

Gomez said keeping a child in the school they were attending before they became homeless is a priority. Students classified as homeless receive transportation from the place they're currently living to their school of origin. They receive free breakfast and lunch at school, as well as school supplies, clothing and other basic necessities.

Gomez encourages everyone to "like" Bright Futures Sioux City on Facebook.

"People are not sitting around expecting a handout," she said. "They're working as hard as they can with what they have. It takes a community to help them through that process."
WASHINGTON  Parents know the frustration of trying to get that gunky pink antibiotic into a tot screaming from an ear infection. A one-time squirt of special ear drops one day might replace that ordeal.

It's only been tried in animals so far  chinchillas, to be exact. But researchers report that an antibiotic gel coated the animals' eardrums and slowly seeped inside to do its job for a week, clearing up an infection that usually requires a 10-day course of oral antibiotics.

"It's always a full-contact martial art" to get youngsters to swallow today's liquid antibiotic several times a day, said senior researcher Dr. Daniel Kohane of Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. A pediatrician and anesthesiologist, he studies novel ways to deliver drugs  and says when he describes the experimental ear gel, "people with kids get this right away."

Easier dosing is just one goal. And importantly, if the approach pans out when tested in children, it also could help prevent development of antibiotic-resistant infections. Too often, parents stop treatment once their youngster starts feeling better, allowing lingering bacteria to bounce back stronger.

"If we can deliver the right antibiotic directly to the middle ear using a one-time dose, it is likely that we will have more effective therapy, with fewer side effects," said Duke University pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Coleen Cunningham, who wasn't involved with the new research.

"Further studies need to be done before we know if that is a possibility but the reported study is very encouraging."

Middle ear infections  what doctors call otitis media  prompt at least 12 million visits to the doctor each year, and they're the most common reason for prescribing antibiotics to children.

Doctors have long sought a topical solution. Yet the eardrum has a tough outer layer that keeps drugs from penetrating. Until now, antibiotic ear drops have proved useful for middle ear infections only in children who have ear tubes that can route the drug past that barrier, Kohane said.

Now his team has packaged an antibiotic together with chemicals used in skin-penetrating drugs to temporarily open channels in the eardrum's outer surface so the germ-killing ingredient could get inside.

A doctor would squirt the drug deep into the ear canal, where it would harden into a gel, sort of like extra earwax, to stay in place as it slowly released the antibiotic. The experimental drug doesn't contain the antibiotic used in that common pink liquid but a newer one called ciprofloxacin.

Researchers gave the antibiotic gel to 10 chinchillas  they have a human-like ear structure and hearing range  infected with a common bacteria. All 10 animals had their ear infections cured within a week, compared to five of eight chinchillas given regular ciprofloxacin ear drops as a control, they reported in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Researchers couldn't detect the antibiotic in the animals' blood, suggesting it wouldn't cause typical antibiotic side effects such as diarrhea. Moreover, the gel melted away within three weeks, and the chinchillas' eardrums appeared normal afterward.

Kohane hopes to begin initial human studies in about a year.

Duke's Cunningham cautioned that researchers will need to study whether an antibiotic gel causes short-term hearing issues of its own.

Another question is whether the gel would make a thicker human eardrum as permeable as an animal's, and if there's any resulting toxicity, added otolaryngologist Dr. Diego Preciado of Children's National Health System, where researchers are working on a different approach for topical delivery of an ear-infection drug.

But "overall, incredibly promising work," Preciado concluded.
SIOUX CITY | Summer's here to stay for at least another day.

After a week of unseasonably warm and humid weather, Friday won't be much different.

High temperatures are expected to hit 87 degrees with humid conditions, although breezes picking up to 20-25 mph later in the day may help it feel a little less humid.

Chances of rain return to the forecast on Saturday, said Brad Adams, observing program leader at the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls. There is an 80 percent chance of rain for Siouxland in the afternoon and evening, and the Sioux City area could see up to half an inch of rain. Adams said severe weather is not forecast. Sioux City's high temperature is forecast at 81 degrees.

Temperatures finally return to more fall-like levels on Sunday with an expected high of 69. High temperatures for next week are forecast to be in the high 60s and lower 70s.

"I think we might be done with the 80s," Adams said.
SIOUX CITY | Ben and Carol Ploof of Coralville, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City and Early, Iowa respectively, married for more than 61 years and separated by only hours of each other's death, are together for eternity, dying on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, and Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Coralville United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 4 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, with Masonic memorial services at 7:30 p.m., at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, Iowa. To share a memory, thought or condolence, please go to the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.

Carol Jean Hanson was born on June 12, 1934, on the family farm near Early, Iowa. She attended school in Early until her senior year when she attended and graduated as class valedictorian of Cushing (Iowa) High School. She went on to attend Sioux City Methodist School of Nursing. The years that followed allowed her to practice nursing in hospitals, doctors offices, schools, and as an instructor at the University of Iowa School of Nursing before going on to help run the families businesses.

Ben Harvey Ploof was born on April 19, 1930, in Sioux City. Growing up in Sioux City, he graduated from Central High School. Following high school, Ben worked in Sioux City until deciding to further his education at Morningside College. Ben received his BS in education from Iowa State Teachers College, and in 1959 he earned his master's degree in school administration. Ben's professional life started in education as a teacher, high school principal and later as superintendent of schools. He moved on to work at the Iowa Department of Public Safety, then Aetna Life and Casualty as director of their Safety Education Department. He later worked at the University of Iowa Traffic Safety Center as community services director before going on to help run the families businesses.

Carol and Ben met at a Methodist Church Camp in Lake Okoboji as church camp chaperons. They were soon to discover that this was the beginning of a wonderful life together, marrying on June 4, 1955. In 1973, Ben, Carol and family moved to Twelfth Avenue in Coralville, commonly known as the Ploof homethe house with the big RV in the driveway. Ben and Carol did so much together, from raising their children, helping them through Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, functions at school, and activities in the community. They were a very active presence in their churches. They were also in business together. Their business, Triple T Enterprises, Inc. (Teaching, Testing and Training) produced driver's license tests for many states. They also owned and operated the Portrait Shop, capturing memories for many families. Both Carol and Ben lived their strong faith, supported many things that were important to them, including the Masonic Lodge, Order of Eastern Star, and the Chamber of Commerce.

Ben and Carol enjoyed traveling all over the United States and spent time abroad exploring 18 countries. They loved showing their pictures and telling stories of their adventures. The true joy in their lives was spending time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ben's story telling abilities were well known.

Their family includes their four children, Steven Ploof (Dyana), Cheryl McMann (Chris), David Ploof (Christine), and Janell Ploof Michel; grandchildren, Cassandra Rasmussan (Dave), Glynette Bennett (Chad), Pamela Kahlstrom (Doug), Nicholas Woodley (Alexis), Kathryn Gaunt (Jeremy), Amanda Ploof, Dalton Ploof, Julia Alvarez and Jessica Alvarez; and great-grandchildren, Michel, Rylee, Sean, Conner, Dustin, Lylith, Liam, Christopher, Atticus, Tyler, Kolton, Peyton, Gabriel, James, Daniel and Donyeal. Also surviving are Carol's brothers, Dean Hanson (Karen), and John Hanson (Renee); and their sister-in-law, Marjorie Ploof.

Carol and Ben were preceded in death by their parents, Clarence and Ruth Hanson and Ben and Amanda Ploof; a son-in-law, Don Woodley; Carol's brother, Kenneth Hanson' and Ben's brother, Marvin Ploof.

A memorial scholarship fund will be established in their memory.
SIOUX CITY | Since Dustin Wilder was shot and killed in the kitchen of his home, Nicki Gray said she and her family no longer feel safe.

Gray, who was dating Wilder at the time of his death, said she walks into the kitchen every day and thinks about how Wilder died there.

She hasn't had a good night's sleep since Wilder died, she said, and her children haven't been able to sleep in their own beds for 18 months since Timothy Schroeder killed Wilder on Jan. 9, 2015, in their Sloan, Iowa, home.

"Do you know what you took away from my children and I? Do you know what it's like to live in the house where your partner in life died? I hope one day you feel bad for what you have done and what you put our family through," Gray said to Schroeder Friday before the Sioux City man was sentenced to life in prison without parole as required by Iowa law.

A Woodbury County District Court jury found Schroeder, 31, guilty on July 22 of first-degree murder, going armed with intent and felon in possession of a firearm for killing Wilder.

District Judge Jeffrey Neary said that while presiding over the trial, the question of why Schroeder decided to shoot Wilder was never answered. It appeared as though Schroeder made a random decision in choosing a victim, Neary said.

"This whole thing seemed to have taken place in a way that's cold-blooded murder," Neary said.

Because of the circumstances of the crime, Neary sentenced Schroeder to life in prison plus 15 years, choosing to run the 15-year prison sentences for going armed with intent and being a felon in possession of a firearm consecutive to the life sentence.

Schroeder offered no explanations Friday. He stared straight ahead as Gray and other family members gave tearful victim impact statements. When Neary asked if he wished to say anything before receiving his sentence, Schroeder shook his head and simply said, "No."

Schroeder's wife, Amanda Schroeder, testified at trial that the two gave Wilder a ride home from the Sloan Tap early that morning. Amanda Schroeder said she was in another room when she heard a gunshot from the kitchen. When she looked into the room, she said that she saw her husband holding a handgun and Wilder lying on the floor.

Wilder was found unconscious later that morning by a dog sitter, and authorities declared him dead at the scene.

Neary on Friday denied a defense motion for a new trial. Public defender Jennifer Solberg had said that evidence at trial did not support a guilty verdict and that Neary's rulings on all pretrial motions and rulings during the trial were made in error and denied her client a fair trial.

Solberg declined to comment after Friday's hearing, but said she would appeal the verdict to the Iowa Supreme Court on the same grounds as her motion for a new trial.
Thumbs up

Daugaard ranks No. 1

Dennis Daugaard is the nation's most popular governor, according to a Morning Consult poll published on Tuesday. The South Dakota governor received an approval rating of 74 percent, according to a Wednesday story from The Journal's Des Moines bureau; his disapproval rating was 15 percent.

A creative solution

The Cedar Falls (Iowa) Police Department raised $30,000 in less than two months for the purchase of body cameras for officers, The Associated Press reported in Monday's Journal.

As a result, all officers on the force will be equipped with body cameras.

A $1,000 donation from the Cedar Falls Order of Eastern Star pushed the department over the total needed, according to the AP story.

Because we believe the technology is a useful, valuable tool of protection, for both the public and law enforcement, we support use of "on-officer recording systems," more commonly known as "body cams" or "cop cams."

State boost for local project

The Iowa Transportation Commission approved a $529,630 grant from the Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy Program to assist with $662,000 of improvements at the intersection of Harbor Drive and Murray Street in Sioux City's Bridgeport West Industrial Park, The Journal reported on Wednesday.

The intersection improvements are part of an overall three-phase Bridgeport road project designed to improve traffic flow due to a Cloverleaf Cold Storage expansion project and the Seaboard Triumph Foods pork plant project.

Nearly $7 million in Bridgeport road work is finished or planned; the state will pay for more than $5.3 million of the work.

Former school may get new life

Old School Properties LLC of Sioux City wants to renovate the former Whittier Elementary School, 4820 Fourth Ave., into a 30-unit apartment complex, The Journal reported on Sept. 14.

The city's Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 on Sept. 13 to approve rezoning the old school property from public institutional to general residential.

Whittier closed in 2015.

Old School Properties also is involved in renovation of the former Joy Elementary School, 3409 Indiana Ave., into apartment units.

Like the Joy project, we view the proposal for apartments in Whittier as a wonderful way to breathe new life into local property of sentimental, perhaps historic (Joy was built in 1912; Whittier in 1902) value and help meet local demand for housing.

The Whittier project will go before the City Council for consideration on Monday.

Responding to a need

A new program involving three Nebraska colleges and the University of Nebraska College of Law in Lincoln seeks to increase the number of lawyers who practice in rural parts of the state, The Journal's Nick Hytrek reported on Sunday.

The Rural Law Opportunities Program, or RLOP, guarantees selected high school students from rural Nebraska entrance into law school. The hope is these students will, in return, practice law in a rural area of Nebraska upon graduation.

The program is patterned after the Rural Health Opportunities Program through which the state seeks to meet a need for rural health care providers.

According to the Nebraska Bar Association, 31 of Nebraska's 93 counties had three or fewer attorneys in 2015; 11 of those 31 counties had no lawyers.
JOHNSTON, Iowa | Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday afternoon activated the Iowa National Guard and issued disaster declarations for 13 northern and eastern Iowa counties experiencing flooding.

The proclamation allows for state resources to be used toward flood mitigation efforts.

Heavy rains this week have caused rising levels on the Cedar River, causing flooding in some northern Iowa communities and the likelihood of flooding in more across eastern Iowa.

Officials expect the flooding to be significant, although not to the extent of the 2008 floods in eastern Iowa.

In a news conference held at Iowa National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters, Branstad said the river is expected to crest in Cedar Rapids on Monday night, and in communities south of Cedar Rapids in the days that follow.

We just have to deal with whatever situation comes our way. We need to be as well-prepared as possible, Branstad said. In a situation like this, in major cities like Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, obviously we have a little time to prepare and we want to do everything we can for the state to assist the communities and do the best job we can to avoid and mitigate damage.

Branstad said the state already is working with communities to address flooding. He said the state has dispatched more than 120,000 sandbags and four dump truck loads of sand, deployed or staged 22 water pumps, placed or staged 48 pallets of flood barriers, and placed 50 traffic barricades.

Adjutant General Tim Orr said the Iowa National Guard will begin its work by sending liaison teams to communities in the impacted region to determine what further resources are necessary.

This really to try and assess what the needs and requirements are, Orr said. Right now we have no missions that have been tasked to the Guard for soldiers or equipment. This is really, I think, the key to any successful operation, is getting out in front of it. And thats what were really trying to do now, is identify potential needs so we have time to respond.

Branstad, Orr, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Homeland Security and Emergency Management director Mark Schouten on Saturday will tour flood-impacted areas in Clarksville, Shell Rock and Cedar Rapids. Reynolds said they likely will tour more areas in the coming days.

Branstad said it is the first time he has activated the National Guard since flooding on the Missouri River in 2011.

The disaster proclamation makes grant money available for low-income families impacted by flooding. The grants are available through the state Department of Human Services.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, said the federal Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Weather Service also are involved in flood response efforts.
The predicament unfolding at Wells Fargo where 5,300 employees were fired due to phony bank accounts opened to boost their sales figures and make more money is not new in the financial world.

Unscrupulous practices have occurred for years in varying degrees.

In 1985, a just-fired employee at a New York-based commercial bank stood in front of his former co-workers to explain how he siphoned money from several bank accounts to which he had access.

The explanation was not to teach other employees how to do the same, but rather, done while the former employee was flanked on either side by his former supervisor and a security guard, it was a warning to workers that such theft would not go unpunished.

Working alongside those employees as a management assistant gave me front-seat access to a situation I did not know was possible until hearing the details.

Wells Fargos dilemma provides small business owners with vital lessons to keep financial accounts secure and relationships with clients strong.

Financial Fraud Protection Tips and Tricks

For You

1. Make time each month to reconcile your financial accounts. Even if an accountant is privy to your records, its imperative that you personally review statements in a timely manner.

2. Access your credit report every year through the free service, AnnualCreditReport.com or through another preference. Such review wont help you detect fraud that occurs between yearly audits. However, you will still see details that may negatively impact finances.

3. Set up alerts through mobile banking, and that includes a password on your cellphone that prohibits access to financial records if your phone is lost, misplaced or scanned.

4. Install Dasheroo on your cellphone to know whats coming in and going out of your bank accounts. Most apps are accessible on your computer and tablet so theres no excuse for not taking action at a moments notice.

For Clients

1. Send a letter of assurance by mail and email whenever mismanagement occurs in your industry. Youll receive praise for reaching out in times of crisis whether its stated verbally or acknowledged silently. Send the notice in both formats to ensure notification.

2. Call clients by phone to back up mail and email notices as additional security to strengthen client trust and value in your service.

3. Save notifications that you receive from other industries to re-structure alerts sent to clients. This is helpful if you have difficulty writing copy and do not have staff or an on-call writer to create the content.

4. Become an ally by notifying clients each time disruptions come to light in industries that impact them. For example, if you are not in the financial industry, notification about Wells Fargo and pointing clients to an online article that helps them detect fraud positions you as a valuable and reliable connection.

Which of these internal checks and client-based services will you pursue tomorrow?
Kaley Foster is a green business entrepreneur who runs an all-natural beeswax candle company, Urban Buzz, from her home in Akron, Ohio.

Like many in her generation, Foster, a Millennial, age 29, shares grave concerns about climate change and its impact on the environment.

When I founded my candle company, I focused on using beeswax, which is more environmentally-friendly than other types, Foster told Small Business Trends in a telephone interview. Im not the greenest person in the world but had the idea of sustainability in the back of my mind. My choice of wax brought it to the forefront and, from there, things began to snowball.

Foster combined her entrepreneurial talents and passion for sustainability to crowdsource the Akron Sustainer Project to teach area residents, small business owners and non-profit organizations about the many uses of environmentally-friendly construction. And shes doing it from inside a shipping container!

Foster recently started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money and awareness for the project, which utilizes an 8 by 20 shipping container built from reused and repurposed materials, to act as an educational hub where she and others conduct workshops and teach courses on sustainability and green practices. Her goal is to raise $10,000.

The idea for the project sprang from an experience Foster had using a shipping container to sell her products.

She had participated in a project run by The Better Block Foundation, which promotes the revitalization of blighted urban areas.

In this case, the foundation had invited local business owners and entrepreneurs to set up shop in one such neighborhood. Another participant moved a shipping container to an empty lot, from which Foster and others sold their wares.

I had heard of people turning shipping containers into homes, restaurants, art installations  all sorts of crazy things, Foster said. After conducting more research on their use, I applied for and received a grant from Torchbearers, a local activism organization I belong to, which enabled me to start.

Work began on the shipping container in January of this year. Since its completion, Foster, in concert with other organizations, has been able to educate more than 10,000 visitors on sustainability, as well as on the shipping container movement that promotes the reuse of recyclable materials.

Through the project, which is now in phase two, Foster plans to feature eco-friendly materials such as solar panels, vegetative roofs, rain barrels and rainwater catchment systems, to name a few.

She is also inviting other organizations to make use of the space, taking it over for a month at a time.

Visit Fosters GoFundMe page to learn more about the project or to donate.
Labour  September 23, 2016  Maxime Benatouil

The so-called Labour Law, passed en force by the French government on 20 July, is the most serious attack against the Code du Travail, already undermined for the past thirty years. A short historical overview is necessary to better grasp the destructive scope of this law, promoted and enforced by a socialist government  cruel irony!

The Labour Code is a compilation of regulations giving structures to the relationship between employees and employers at the national level. It emerged after the shock of the 1906 catastrophe of Courrieres, Northern France, where 1099 miners lost their lives.

The underlying idea was to adapt labour to people, and not people to labour. If the principle of 38 (8 hours of work, 8 hours of leisure and 8 hours of sleep) was acknowledged, it was not to please companies bosses but people themselves, so that they can live from and with their labour.

So when President Francois Hollande states that we need to adapt labour law to companies needs, this is a conceptual counter-revolution. Nothing is modern in this statement, and it has nothing to do with the crisis. He confessed it himself: (the labour law) will not produce effects in terms of employments for a few months. It is more about setting up a new social model. He made crystal clear that unemployment was a pretext, and that the objective was to break with the existing rationale of the labour code. The Labour Law should therefore be seen for what it really is: a neoliberal reconsideration of decades of struggles led by trade unions and the Left to protect workers. Even employers were surprised by the content of the Law, which goes much further that any right-wing previous attempts to change the labour code.

Equality or Balance of Power?

It is useful to stress (time and time again) that in a company, there is no such thing as equality between the two co-contracting parts: employers and employees. Labour laws are  and must remain  universal, whatever the companys size, its specificity, its branch. They must prevail over contracts, agreements, derogations, exceptions  and not otherwise. This is guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, as well as by several Conventions of the International Labour Organization.

During the four-month mobilization against the Law, trade unions reminded over and over again that the labour code is the historical expression of the social balance of power. One might even say that it is social public order and the rule of law within companies.

From article 1 of the preamble of the Labour Law, it is obvious that the aim is to change everything. It therefore states that liberties and fundamental rights of the people can be subjected to limitations if these are justified by the necessities of the companys good management. After imposing the state of emergency upon the public sphere, they want to impose it upon workers.

A few examples will illustrate the profound transformations entailed in the Law. It will alter the rules on working time by giving companies greater flexibility to exceed the legal cap on employee work hours. Currently, Frances statutory thirty-five-hour workweek permits overtime of up to ten hours a day and forty-eight hours a week for full-time workers. The governments proposal would raise the daily legal maximum to twelve hours in case of increased activity or for reasons related to the organization of the company.

The Labour Law would also allow the labour ministry to temporarily increase the weekly limit to as much as sixty hours if exceptional circumstances require it. Meanwhile, the legislation would considerably reduce the bonus paid to employees who work more than thirty-five hours in a week.

Of equal significance are provisions in the law that would lower the cap on legal damages for unfair dismissal. In France, workers who lose their job without just cause are eligible to seek compensation through the labour courts. That means that if you are laid off because your company isnt making money, your employer has to pay you a settlement commensurate with your length of employment. The Labour Law would lower the legal limit on damages, so that, for instance, a worker with twenty years of service could end up collecting just twelve months worth of salary.

The proposal would also change the rules on dismissals, making it easier for companies to lay off employees for economic reasons. French law requires that businesses that want to layoff employees without cause provide a valid justification  with the Labour Law a claim that it is economically necessary would be enough.

Perhaps most controversially, the proposal would permit firms to negotiate offensive agreements at the company level. These agreements will be allowed to undercut existing standards on pay rates, working hours, and other aspects of the employment contract. In the past, companies that wanted to negotiate these kinds of company agreements had to prove that they were necessary to prevent bankruptcy or avoid layoffs.

Now, companies that want to expand their operations or enter new markets could demand concessions from their workers, even if these givebacks would violate the terms of established collective bargaining agreements or existing labour laws. Furthermore, the law would make it easier for companies to negotiate agreements with employee representatives, as long as they were backed by 30 per cent of the workforce.

Businesss Assault on Employment Standards

All in all, these changes would be highly beneficial to employers.

From businesss perspective, French labour law is filled with rigid legal restrictions and costly regulatory requirements: from the statutes on dismissals and working time to the high minimum wage, business sees the labour code as an intolerable burden. The Labour Law would be a major step toward alleviating that burden.

Worst of all, the law would eviscerate the code du travail, by permitting employers to circumvent its statutory regulations through company-level agreements. For French labour organizations, this is the biggest problem with the proposal. As Philippe Martinez head of the CGT (Frances leading labour federation) notes, The main principle of our opposition to this law is that it allows each company to have its own labour code.

In this way, it would reverse the hierarchy of norms in the French labour market. Traditionally, employment regulations ran from the code du travail downward: labour law set the framework for the employment contract, which was further regulated by collective bargaining agreements negotiated at the sectoral level.

Now, that hierarchy would run in the opposite direction: company agreements, reached with workers who may or may not be represented by a union, would become the central terrain of collective negotiations. Decentralized bargaining would rule over legal regulation and sectoral negotiations. The bill would thus allow for a sustained assault on the employment standards established by the code du travail.

In general terms, the bill is not dissimilar to the various versions applied in other Southern European countries: it makes dismissal and mass redundancies easier, whether economically motivated or not, and it weakens collective agreements and employment law in favour of company agreements that damage working hours and in turn salaries. All this against a background of very high unemployment and where the expected growth is primarily due to the fall in the price of oil and in the euro. Other elements are being negotiated at the same time, such as unemployment insurance, for which the government is exploring degressive compensation once more. Again, this is no surprise as similar reforms exist elsewhere.

Trade Union Response?

Although joint responses were initially made, the trade union movement quickly found itself riven in two to form the new model that has been in place for a few years now. At least this initial response meant that the discussion among the unions of the complex issues of employment law were heard by employees and young people. The primary root of these divisions is because the more moderate segment of the trade union movement (said to be assisting the reforms) wants to be able to sign company agreements in a context where strong differences often prevent the majorities from forming groups.

It is worth noting that the movement was initiated by a handful of activists, far from trade unions directions, through the launch of an online petition. The petition against the new labour law gathered over a million signatures within a few days. It has lent credibility to those unions which most strongly oppose the new law (CGT, the FSU, FO, Solidaires and others) and which, in turn, have had the sense to view the labour law as an issue that goes beyond the realms of the unions and employees. We have witnessed the creation of a global broad front including unions, internet activists, people on the fringes of the socialist party and community activists. This unusual starting point made it possible to mobilize very significant sectors of young people in particular: university and college students, but also young employees in precarious positions or unemployed young workers, employees of small companies, some of whom first demonstrated 10 years ago during the movement that led to the contrat premiere embauche (first employment contract), a bill for low-cost contracts for young people, being thrown out. All these young people, generally not affected by unions came to swell the ranks of the demonstrators at the beginning of March. They are also the activists behind the Nuit Debout demonstrations, a combination of the ideas of intermittent artists, grassroots activists, non-professional journalists and the film Merci patron!, a sort of celebration of class warfare.

The unions that oppose the labour law have maintained their united front in spite of government manoeuvres, mainly targeting opposition from college and university students. Substantial concessions to young people have been made, but the core of the labour law remains unchanged. Unions were faced with a majority of the public that did not want the labour law and, at the same time, difficulties to organize a mass mobilization of employees to strike and bring about the final blow for the legislation. The unions bastions in the public sector were there, but their involvement was low as the reform does not affect them directly. A number of companies from the private sector joined the demonstrations, but that was not enough.

Rather than a central thread, woven by the inter-union space on its own, or a professional sector that could demonstrate the permanence of the movement by striking, the situation was one of constant resistance which can be seen in a number of movements.

The inter-union space united them by calling for inter-profession strikes and college and university student demonstration days were an additional tool. Some sectors are debating how better to combine their interests (the collective rail convention debate) and involvement in this movement by an extended strike, and the Nuit Debout demonstrations ensure the movement attracts attention in Paris and also in some suburbs and a number of towns in the region. These Nuit Debout demonstrations may address global issues that concern democracy and social change, but they were born from the movement opposing the labour law, making them a place for exchange, for encouragement and a place that unites struggles. These circumstances, when combined with the institutional problems facing a struggling minority government, leave open the possibility of a victory. They also mark the arrival of a new generation on the political and social scene, a promise of future engagement and new life for the trade union movement, if it can harness the power of this new generation and take into consideration its demands and the fact that it thinks and acts independently.

The inter-union coordination has called for another demonstration after the summer break, in September. Even if the government used the 49-3 article of the Constitution  providing it with right of bypassing any kind of parliamentary debate to enforce the Law in July  it is important for the unions to keep occupying public spaces  even if only punctually. It is too early to tell whether the movement will disappear. But one cannot deny that the trade union movement has suffered a serious blow. But regardless of the forthcoming demonstration  the first one after the Law was passed  trade unions have been reinvigorated. The relationship they established with new social movements such as Nuit Debout may produce fruits that yet have to be discovered  most notably in terms of better including demands of precarious workers, well represented on French squares. 
BALTIMORE (Sept. 22, 2016)Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and 35 other attorneys general today filed an antitrust lawsuit against the makers of Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction, alleging that the companies conspired to block generic competitors and cause purchasers to pay artificially high prices.



Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, now known as Indivior, is accused of illegally conspiring with MonoSol Rx to switch Suboxone from tablet form to a film version that dissolves in the mouth in order to prevent or delay competition from generic alternatives and maintain monopoly profits. The companies are accused of violating state and federal antitrust laws.



Suboxone is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat heroin addiction and other opioid addictions by easing addiction cravings. No generic alternative to the film version is currently available.



"The defendants in this case have preyed on a vulnerable populationmen and women trying overcome the scourge of opioid addiction," said Attorney General Frosh. "Free and fair competition is necessary to keep drug prices affordable and to keep much-needed prescription drugs accessible to those who rely on them for treatment."



According to the lawsuit, when Reckitt introduced Suboxone tablets in 2002, it had patent exclusivity protection that lasted for seven years, meaning no generic version could enter the market during that time. Before that period ended, however, Reckitt worked with MonoSol to create a new version of Suboxonea dissolvable film, similar in size to a breath strip. Over time, Reckitt allegedly converted the market away from the tablet to the film through marketing, price adjustments, and other methods. Ultimately, after the majority of Suboxone prescriptions were written for the film, Reckitt removed the tablet from the U.S. market.



The attorneys general allege that this conduct was illegal "product hopping," by which a company makes modest changes to its product to extend patent protections; other companies cannot then enter the market and offer cheaper generic alternatives. Reckitt also allegedly expressed unfounded safety concerns about the tablet version and intentionally delayed FDA approval of generic versions of Suboxone. In fact, according to the suit, the Suboxone film provided no real benefit over the tablet and Reckitt continued to sell the tablets in other countries even after removing them from the U.S. market.



As a result, the attorneys general allege, consumers and purchasers have paid artificially high monopoly prices since late 2009, when generic alternatives of Suboxone might otherwise have become available. During that time, annual sales of Suboxone topped $1 billion.



The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Pennsylvania, accuses the companies of violating the federal Sherman Act and state laws including the Maryland Antitrust Act. Counts include conspiracy to monopolize and illegal restraint of trade. In the suit, the attorneys general ask the court to stop the companies from engaging in anti-competitive conduct, to restore competition, and to order appropriate relief for consumers and the states, plus costs and fees.



In addition to Maryland, the following jurisdictions have joined in the lawsuit: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, D.C., Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.



Attorney General Frosh thanks Assistant Attorneys General Ellen Cooper and Gary Honick for their work on this case.
LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at so.md/expungeme.

(Sept. 23, 2016)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office Vice Narcotics Division released the following incident and arrest reports. The Division is an investigative team comprised of detectives from the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and Federal Drug Agents (HIDTA Group 34). The Division was established on September 1st, 2007.MARIJUANA, WEAPON:, was indicted on Sept. 8 and charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of a Handgun while Trafficking Narcotics. A criminal warrant was issued on Sept. 9. A trial has been scheduled for Dec. 13 and 14.COCAINE, WEAPON:, and, were indicted on Sept. 8 and charged for their criminal activity related to cocaine distribution. Suspect Ward was indicted and charged with Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute. Suspect Garrett was charged with Felon in Possession of a Handgun. An arrest warrant for Garrett was issued on Sept. 9 and he was subsequently denied bail. A criminal indictment summons for Ward was issued on Sept. 9 and an arraignment has been scheduled for Nov. 3.COCAINE:, was indicted on Nov. 5, 2015 and charged with Possession of Cocaine with the Intent to Distribute in connection with an incident on Sept. 1, 2015. He was arraigned on March 7, 2016. A jury trail scheduled for July 22 was vacated and sentencing was set for Oct. 11, 2016. On Sept. 10, Winder was charged with 2nd degree assault on a jail employee; a trail has been set for Oct. 20.
Social workers, clinicians and health care advocates took a cruise of the Intracoastal Waterway last Friday night to bring attention to a federal program considered vital for HIV/AIDS care.

Im an example of how you can live, said Irma Williams, a social worker from New York who has been HIV positive since 1989. For me its a chronic illness like diabetes. I take one pill every day and Im healthier than Ive ever been.

Williams was in South Florida last week to attend the United States Conference on AIDS. The Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood hosted the 20th annual conference which included panel discussions, presentations, movie screenings and various other activities and educational forums related to HIV/AIDS.

On Friday night, more than 300 people boarded The Biscayne Lady, a luxury party yacht for a dinner cruise. The cruise was designed to illuminate the importance of a coalition of HIV/AIDS medical providers receiving support under the Ryan White Care Act.

Jessica Reinhart is part of the coalition. Reinhart, an associate director of community outreach at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, spoke with SFGN about the Ryan White Care Act and in particular the 340B drug discount program.

Its a bloodline for keeping clinics alive, said Reinhart, who works out of the AHF office in Brooklyn, New York. 340B requires pharmaceutical companies to give discounts. If it wasnt for 340B the Ryan White program couldnt function  340B keeps it afloat.

Ryan White was an American teenager who, as a hemophiliac, contracted the HIV virus and eventually died in 1990 of complications from AIDS. A federal health care program was established in his name to provide life-saving treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Experts recognize that, to be successful in the fight against HIV/AIDS, persons living with the disease need more than medical care, said Andrea Jeria, spokesperson for the Washington, D.C. law firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter & Verville. Ryan White clinics often serve as a gateway to a broader range of services. The 340B program allows them to stretch their resources to support the full continuum of care that their patients need, from diagnosis, to linkage to care, to medication adherence and viral suppression.

Williams said she keeps the virus suppressed by taking one pill of Complera a day and avoiding stressful situations. In New York, that can be tough, which is why Williams said she enjoyed visiting Florida for the conference, relaxing on the beach and watching the waves roll in.

Stigma, Williams said, is one of the toughest battles with HIV.

Tamara Haught agrees. Haught, is one of the driving forces behind the Sero Project  an organization that seeks to change the way law enforcement agencies view HIV.

You cant defeat stigma until you stop criminalizing people with HIV, said Haught, who granted SFGN an interview on the rooftop of the Biscayne Lady.

A mother and HIV positive woman, Haught worked with legislators in Iowa to change outdated laws that require sex partners to disclose their HIV status.

These laws are actually barriers to people getting tested for HIV, Haught said. Theres no proof these laws reduce infections.

Haught handed out buttons with the message Undetectable = Untransmittable to passengers on the cruise. Her organization is one of many who benefit from the Ryan White 340B access. At the federal level, the program is administered by the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

The 340B program was born out of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 and is not funded by taxpayers. Drug manufacturers agree to provide discounts on the condition Medicaid covers their drugs.
Seven people in Hawaii felt the burn last too long.

On Wednesday, in a telebriefing with the media, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new information suggesting gonorrhea is getting harder to treat. Gonorrhea, also known as the clap, is a common bacterial infection, transmitted sexually, that affects women and men. Symptoms include a burning sensation in the genitals area when urinating.

More than 800,000 gonorrhea infections occur annually in the United States, the CDC reports. It can be cured and cleared up quickly with antibiotics, but a new strain has surfaced that has scientists worried.

A cluster of patients in Hawaii -- six men and one woman -- showed signs of gonorrhea infection that is resistant to the only U.S. recommended treatment.

Since 2005, we have seen four isolated cases that showed resistance to both drugs, but the Hawaii cases are the first cluster we have seen with reduced susceptibility to both drugs, said Paul Fulton, Jr., a CDC spokesman.

The seven were diagnosed in April and May and eventually cured by a two-drug regimen of ceftriaxone and azithromycin, but it took longer than normal for the infections to succumb to medicine. Ceftriaxone is a shot and azithromycin a pill.

We usually see emerging decreased susceptibility or resistance coming from the West, starting with Hawaii, and then we also see a higher proportion of isolates with decreased susceptibility in men who have sex with men, Dr. Gail Bolan, director of the division of STD Prevention at the CDC told CNN. This is a pattern weve seen with penicillin resistance and other antibiotics.

The CDC presented its findings at this years STD Prevention Conference in Atlanta. To combat a super gonorrhea outbreak, CDC officials recommend health care clinics push for increased STI screenings. Also, a new experimental drug is being developed at Louisiana State University under the direction of Dr. Stephanie Taylor.
For a Democrat, Clinton has low support among young voters

(WB) With polls showing a decline in support among Millennials, Hillary Clinton is underscoring LGBT rights to keep young voters from straying from the Democratic presidential ticket on Election Day.

Clinton referenced the importance of continuing the LGBT rights advancements seen under the Obama administration during a speech Monday intended to rally Millennials at Temple University.

Contrasting her views with Donald Trumps demonization of minority groups, Clinton offered a vision of America eliminating the barriers they face. Along with black people who think their lives are disposable, immigrants who fear deportation and young men and women sexually assaulted on college campuses, Clinton said there are too many young LGBT Americans bullied.

You arent and you shouldnt be satisfied with the progress weve made, Clinton said.

You should keep wanting to right wrongs and fight for justice and dignity for all.

Throughout her speech, Clinton articulated plans aimed at helping Millennials, including reforms allowing refinancing of student debt, making public college tuition free to those who cant afford it and debt free for everyone and investing in climate change technology.

Clinton also discussed her history at length. At the time Trumps real estate company was allegedly denying housing to black and Puerto Rican applicants, Clinton reminded the audience that as a young civil rights lawyer, she sought to make lives for minorities and children better as a law student, and then as a lawyer, under her mentor, Childrens Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman.

I learned that to drive real progress, you have to change both hearts and laws, so we gathered evidence, we built a coalition and our work helped convince Congress to ensure access to education for all students with disabilities, Clinton said. And that experience turned me into a lifelong advocate for children and families.

This work, Clinton said, made people surprised, and even threatened by the idea of an activist first lady when her husband was elected president, but she was undaunted and, after her unsuccessful attempt at passing universal health care, shepherded into law the Childrens Health Insurance Program.

Later in her speech, Clinton made a veiled reference to LGBT people when she presented a vision for the future and said theres no doubt in my mind that young people have more at stake in this election than any other age group.

We will say we build a future where all our children have the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential no matter who they are, where theyre from, what they look like or who they love, Clinton said.

The LGBT components of Clintons speech were similar to the reference to LGBT rights Tim Kaine made on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday when asked about the dwindling support for the Democratic presidential ticket among Millennials.

Do you believe in immigration reform or dont you? Kaine said. We do, Millennials do, Donald Trump doesnt. Do you believe in LGBT equality or dont you? We do, Millennials do, Donald Trump doesnt. And finally, do you have a plan to deal with college affordability? We have one. Millennials need one.

Clinton may need additional support from Millennials to pull off a win in the general election. Polls demonstrate many young voters are likely to support Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. (Although that might change as a result of his continued gaffes, such as saying he was glad nobody got hurt during attacks in New York City that injured 25 people and stabbings in Minnesota that injured eight.)

As reported by NBC News, a national Quinnipiac poll showed Clinton has 31 percent support among voters 18-to-34 years old, giving her a slim 5-point lead in this age group over Trump. Thats down from the support of 48 percent of youth and the 24-point lead over Trump she enjoyed last month.

The dip in support among Millennials should make Clinton nervous as the presidential nominee for a party that relies on youth to win at the polls. Her numbers are far different from those of President Obama. In 2012, Obama won voters below the of age 30 by 23 points nationally.

Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of Tisch Colleges Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning (CIRCLE), a non-partisan research center on youth engagement, said emphasis on LGBT rights is a good way for Clinton to shore up support among Millennials.

Acknowledging that Millennials are diverse in many ways  and developing policies and practices that communicate a culture of care for youth with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations  could appeal to a large number of young people who may feel that issues important to them are being neglected, Kawashima-Ginsberg said.

As Kawashima-Ginsberg pointed out, a Fusion poll last year found half of Millennials think of gender as a spectrum, not binary. Youths who are also white were most likely to support the idea of a non-binary gender system. Fifty-five percent of white Millennials said gender is on a spectrum, compared to 47 percent of Latinos and 32 percent of black youth.

Laura Epstein, press secretary for the People for the American Way, said the policies Clinton outlined during her Temple University speech demonstrate why shell be a strong advocate for Millennials in the White House.

While Trump has promised Supreme Court justices whod overturn abortion rights and reject LGBT rights, Hillary Clinton will appoint justices who will protect fundamental constitutional rights for all Americans, including protecting Americans right to vote over the right of billionaires to buy elections, Epstein said. The next president could nominate up to four Supreme Court justices, and that stark contrast between Clinton and Trump is a big reason why Millennials will reject Trumps campaign of hate and turn out to vote for Hillary Clinton.
(WB) LGBT activists around the world are increasingly concerned about the potential impact that a Donald Trump presidency could have overseas.

Ahmed Danny Ramadan, a gay Syrian man who received asylum in Canada in 2014, described Trump as a scary figure who started as a joke.

He is in a position to actually lead one of the most powerful countries in the world, Ramadan told the Washington Blade this week in an email from Vancouver. Donald Trump built his whole campaign on his attacks against immigrants like me, coming from the other side of the world and trying to build honest and beautiful lives for ourselves in the West.

Trump sparked outrage in June 2015 when he described Mexicans as rapists at his campaign announcement. LGBT advocacy groups sharply criticized the billionaire Republican a few months later when he proposed a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the U.S.

Trump made the announcement days after a couple who had pledged their allegiance to the so-called Islamic State killed 14 people and wounded 20 others at a social service center in San Bernardino, Calif. ISIS also claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks in Paris last November that left more than 100 people dead.

Trump reiterated his call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. in the wake of the June 12 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that left 49 people dead and 53 others injured. He also said his administration would suspend immigration when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe and our allies.

Trump announced last month that his administration would ban immigrants from some of the most dangerous and most volatile regions of the world that have a history of exporting terrorism. He also said potential immigrants to the U.S. would be required to pass an ideological test that would include LGBT-specific questions.

This guy plainly said hes going to put a cap on Muslims entering the United States, said Tarek Zeidan, a Lebanese LGBT activist who is currently studying at Harvard University.

Tommy Chen of Rainbow Action, an advocacy group in Hong Kong, told the Blade this week that the Obama administrations efforts to promote LGBT rights abroad have had a direct impact in the former British colony. He expressed doubts that these policies would continue if Trump were elected.

As a community we have strong doubts about Donald Trump's implementation of policies that will effect the LGBT community, in the U.S., and its effects around the world, said Chen.

Juana Mora, an independent Cuban LGBT activist, was far more blunt.

Donald Trump would be a disaster for the LGBTI community, she told the Blade this week from Havana.

Mora said a Trump presidency would also have an adverse impact on the normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba that Obama announced in 2014. Maykel Gonzalez, a journalist and independent LGBT activist who lives in the Cuban city of Sagua la Grande, agreed.

The process of normalizing relations began with the Democrats, Gonzalez told the Blade. We all believe on the island that this would continue better if the Democrats maintain the president.

An activist in Mauritania with whom the Blade spoke said Trump could bolster the countrys LGBT rights movement.

Mauritania is among the handful of countries in which homosexuality remains punishable by death. The activist with whom the Blade spoke said Trump could help address long-standing racial inequalities in the country.

Im with Trump, said the activist.

Clinton recognized for gay rights are human rights speech

Activists with whom the Blade has previously spoken have pointed out Clinton delivered her landmark gay rights are human rights speech in Geneva in 2011. The Obama administration on the same day directed government agencies that implement U.S. foreign policy to promote LGBT rights abroad.

Trumps running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, opposed these efforts when he was a member of the House of Representatives.

We, along with many other organizations, have welcomed the proactive and positive role taken by the current U.S. administration to advance LGBTI equality in the world, ILGA-Europe told the Blade this week in a statement. We can only hope that the next U.S. administration, whatever its make-up, continues to support LGBTI equality, both in word and deed.

Francisco Robledo, director of the Workplace Alliance for Diversity and Inclusion in Mexico City, said he remains confident the U.S. would continue to promote LGBT rights abroad if Clinton were elected. He told the Blade these efforts would have a positive impact around the world.

The dominoes would fall rapidly in Mexico and in other countries, said Robleado.

Mora agreed.

The LGBTI community would continue to have successes in its social struggles for the recognition of our rights, she said.

Erick Martinez, a Honduran LGBT rights activist, noted Clintons response to the 2009 coup that toppled then-President Manuel Zelaya has been criticized. He nevertheless said the former secretary of state would do more to promote global LGBT rights than Trump.

She would maintain the work that President Obama has developed, said Martinez.

Clinton continues to face criticism from Trump and Republican lawmakers over her handling of the 2012 raid on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that left U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead.

A gay activist in Benghazi told the Blade that many Libyans dont like Clinton because of the incident. Zeidan said many people in the Middle East also distrust the former secretary of state because of her hawkish foreign policy and her relationships with Egypt and other countries in which LGBT people continue to face persecution.

Clinton last week applauded the announcement that the U.S. would provide the Israeli military with $38 billion over the next decade.

Americas commitment to Israels security must always remain rock-solid and unwavering, she said in a statement.

Zeidan told the Blade that many people in the Middle East remain critical of U.S. involvement in human rights and other issues within the region.

With a Hillary win, the programs that we have seen set in place and the positions . . . will likely continue, he said.
It sounds like a crazy idea on paper, but the web series "Where the Bears Are" has taken off. Since it's debut in 2012, "Bears" episodes have amassed around twenty million views. The Bears have been flown to Mexico, Europe and Australia for personal appearances, according to their website.

The premise of "Where the Bears Are" is simple. Four lovably sweet but not too bright gay bear roommates in Los Angeles solve murders while they look for love in all the wrong places. For their fifth season, the Bears are being visited by a very special guest star: Chaz Bono, son of show business legends Sonny and Cher, has signed on for a recurring role.

Bono, a former musician and writer, is now pursuing a Hollywood acting career. He recently completed a short-term role on the popular daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful," where he played a pastor.

It's a far different life for the man who was once known as Chastity Bono  Bono's transition made headlines around five years ago. His battle with gender dysphoria and his struggle to find his true self were eloquently chronicled in the 2011 documentary "Becoming Chaz," which aired on the OWN Network.

As season five of "Where the Bears Are" began streaming, Bono spoke to SFGN from his home in Los Angeles. He told us that writing and music were in the past.

"I started off as an actor," he said. "I got into the NYU School of Drama, but you have to be comfortable in your body to pursue acting. I wasn't, but at the time I didn't know what the issue was."

Bono said he began to seriously pursue acting in 2012, which was soon after he transitioned. "I got great feedback at Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop," he recalled. With his confidence boosted, Bono began getting roles on television.



He said that he prefers playing "dark" characters and doing "edgy" dramas, citing shows like "Ray Donavan" and "Orphan Black" as the type of work he hopes to do. Bono had a nice part in "Dirty," an independent film--it was this production that brought him to the attention of "Bears'" producers.

"I had never heard of "Where the Bears Are" before," Bono said. "But it has good production values and good writing, so I thought it would be good for my reel. And the guys are cool."

Bono said that he had a lot of fun playing Gavin, his "Bears" role. "I'm in the security business," he said. "I basically get very irate because they're pretty stupid and I'm a professional  I got to show a different side of myself."

Since Bears' storylines involve murder mysteries, Bono was reticent about giving away too much. "As in every season the guys are bumbling around being stupid," he said. "I can say that I have a choreographed fight scene that's fun to see."

Bono added that issues relating to LGBT status have no bearing on whether or not he accepts a role. "I don't think about that," he said. "I'm just an actor now  I look at the role. I saw the show as funny, with a good character for me  it was something I hadn't done before. And I think its great that they tapped into a market that hasn't been served.

"Bears" producer/co-star Ben Zook told SFGN that the entire team was delighted with Bono. "After meeting Chaz I was very impressed by the fact that he is just like every other working actor in Hollywood," Zook said. "He takes his craft very seriously. He is in classes at a theater company and is auditioning just like the rest of us. There is no pretense. He is a great guy and talented actor. I think hes going to have an amazing career  hopefully he will come back if we do more seasons."

"The door is definitely wide open for next season," Bono said.

Information on watching Where the Bears Are can be found at the show's website: WhereTheBearsAre.tv/
Earth from Space: Alakol Lake, Kazakhstan. ESA

Large chunks of broken ice float in east-central Kazakhstans Alakol Lake in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image from 5 April 2016.

This salt lake usually freezes for about two months at the end of winter, and breaks up in early spring  as we can see happening here. The lakes mineral-rich water and mud is considered to be therapeutic, and tourists often visit the lakes northern shores to remedy skin ailments.

Alakol means multicoloured lake  and we can clearly see varying shades of green and blue depending on the depth, sediments flowing in from rivers and streams and phytoplankton. The two smaller, shallower lakes to the northwest are Kosharkol and Sasykkol.

The Alakol-Sasykkol lake system is both a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is an important migratory stop and nesting area for a variety of water birds, including the Dalmatian Pelican and Greater Flamingo.

In the lower-left corner of the image we can see agricultural structures in an alluvial fan. The triangular fan is formed when water runoff from the Dzungarian Alatau mountains (not pictured) hits the plain and spreads out, leaving behind fertile soil.

 Download the full high resolution image.
Space Plasma Hurricanes Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

A new study by researchers at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, funded by the National Science Foundation, has identified for the first time a process by which the solar wind is heated along extended regions of the Earths magnetic shield as it penetrates through this barrier.

The process may have parallels to the unsolved problem in astrophysics of how the solar corona is heated. It may also be helpful for understanding the cross-scale transport of energy in man-made plasma devices that may lead to the creation of practical fusion power.

In 2011, Ph.D. student Thomas W. Moore, at that time a masters student, began working with Dr. Katariina Nykyri, a Professor of Physics in the Physical Sciences Department and member of Embry-Riddles Center for Space and Atmospheric Research in Daytona Beach, analyzing data gathered from four European Space Agency Cluster spacecraft. The team, including post-doctoral researcher Andrew Dimmock, created numerical simulations that aid in understanding the signatures in the spacecraft data and utilized multi-spacecraft techniques for plasma wave mode identification. For 16 years, these four satellites have been investigating the Earths magnetic environment and its interaction with the solar wind in three dimensions.

In space, the fast streaming plasma (solar wind) originating from the Sun creates large space hurricanes, called Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) waves, at the boundary of Earths magnetic barrier, said Nykyri. The KH waves typically have wavelengths in range of 20,000-40,000 km and a 1-3 minute period, and as they steepen and roll-up like ocean waves they can transport solar wind plasma into the magnetosphere.

The KH waves are a direct result of the way our planet fits into the larger solar system. Planet Earth is a gigantic magnet and its magnetic influence extends outward in a large bubble called a magnetosphere. A constant flow of particles from the Sun (solar wind) blows by the magnetosphere  not unlike wind blowing over the surface of the ocean. During certain situations, particles and energy (plasma) from the Sun can breach the magnetosphere, crossing into near-Earth space (source: http://phys.org).

Within plasma physics, this is a significant discovery, said Moore. Our understanding of this cross-scale energy transfer process came together gradually. There was not really an aha moment, but the implications of our work became apparent when we realized how all the pieces of our research fit together.

We found that the giant KH waves can radiate ion-scale waves, or smaller space tornadoes, that have sufficient energy to heat the plasma to the energies we observed, said Nykyri. This process transfers the kinetic energy from the solar wind into the heat energy of magnetospheric ions, explaining the rapid temperature increase through Earths magnetic barrier. If we could utilize this mechanism effectively in the high density laboratory plasmas by constructing appropriate transport barriers, we could create energy from water.

Plasma is not a gas, liquid or solid, but the fourth state of matter  a gas that is so hot that some or all its constituent atoms are split up into electrons and ions (charged atoms or molecules), which can move independently of each other. It is estimated that 99.9 percent of the visible universe is made up of plasma.

Technically, the study shows that the Embry-Riddle researchers have described for the first time the process of how energy is transferred from magnetohydrodynamic scale Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) plasma waves (with a wavelength of 36,000 km) to ion-scale magnetosonic waves that has sufficient Poynting flux to explain the observed heating from magnetosheath (shocked solar wind) into the magnetosphere. Scaling of this mechanism to typical coronal parameters suggests that it may also help explain the heating of the solar corona as well as play role in other astrophysical and laboratory plasmas with a velocity shear.

Moore and Nykyri will be seeking funding to continue research into whether this cross-scale transport of energy continues all the way to the electron scales and how much energy can be transferred to the ion scales in laboratory plasmas.

Reference: Cross-scale Energy Transport in Space Plasmas, T. W. Moore, K. Nykyri & A. P. Dimmock, 2016 Sept. 5, Nature Physics [http://www.nature.com/nphys/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nphys3869.html].

National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Grant 0847120 supported the initial phase of Moores and K. Nykyris research, consisting of screening Cluster data for KH events and plasma heating regions. Later phases of work, consisting of data-simulation comparison, kinetic plasma wave mode identification and WHAMP calculations, was supported by the NSFs Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) grant 1502774. Dimmocks research was supported by Academy of Finland grants 288472 and 267073/2013.
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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

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New York, September 23, 2016 (SPS) - Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra stressed Thursday, in New York, the urgent need to settle the conflict in Western Sahara while denouncing the negative developments characterizing the peace process led by the United Nations (UN).

The peace process led by UN in Western Sahara has been characterized, this year, by several negative developments. The United Nations, and particularly the Council of Security, have lost their authority, and thus the settlement process has weakened, said Lamamra in a speech delivered on behalf of Algeria at the 71st UN General Assembly, taking place in New York.

These annoying circumstances underline the urgent need to settle this conflict, in accordance with the international law and the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination, he affirmed.

Lamamra, who broached the political instability and the challenges of sub-development which are taking larger dimensions notably in the Middle East and Africa, said that no one, anywhere, is spared by security risks.

Lamamra called to redouble efforts to bring peace to Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan and to Central African Republic. (SPS)

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Grand Circuit racing action will return to Hoosier Park for the second time this season and with it, bring some of the top rated horses in North America to Hoosier Park as they convene on the seven-eighths mile oval in search of the lucrative purses offered on the Saturday card beginning at 5:45 p.m.

With purses topping the $1 million mark, Hoosier Park will host a standout card that includes the $220,000 Centaur Trotting Classic, the $246,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes, the $170,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, the $140,000 Elevation Pace and the $100,000 Jennas Beach Boy Invitational Pace.

Millionairess and World Champion, Hannelore Hanover will make her return to her home state to headline the entrants in Hoosier Parks richest trotting event, the $220,000 Centaur Trotting Classic. The four-year-old Indiana-bred daughter of Swan For All was a supplemental entry to the race and has recently taken the harness racing world by storm after winning 14 of 16 starts this season with seasonal purse earnings approaching the $800,000 mark. Trained by Hoosier Parks leading trainer, Ron Burke, Hannelore Hanover is scheduled to tackle the boys once again; starting from post six with Yannick Gingras slated to drive.

The $170,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby will feature another stellar match-up between aged pacing stars Always B Miki and Freaky Feet Pete.

Always B Miki will start from the coveted rail position with David Miller in the bike for trainer Jimmy Takter. Freaky Feet Pete will look to score his second consecutive Hoosier Park victory from post three with Trace Tetrick handling the lines for trainer Larry Rheinheimer.

Being able to attract the true superstars of our sport, such as Always B Miki and Hannelore Hanover, among many others, to compete on the same stage on the same night, speaks volumes as to what we have been able to accomplish with our open stakes program at Hoosier Park, Hoosier Parks Vice President and General Manager, Rick Moore noted. Having the spotlight shine on Hoosier Park this Saturday evening gives the entire Hoosier Park team a deep sense of pride.

In a continued partnership with Hoosier Park, the local news station WISH TV Channel 8 out of Indianapolis will provide exclusive coverage for all the Grand Circuit racing action at Hoosier Park on Saturday. WISH-TV will be on property to provide racing fans with exclusive coverage of all the festivities happening on and off the race track. Racing fans can also catch exclusive interviews from drivers and trainers racing at Hoosier Park throughout the evening. WISH-TVs live coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24 and includes the live showing of the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and the Centaur Trotting Classic.

Also making a special appearance during the night will be three local WISH-TV celebrities as they race for charity in the second annual charity exhibition race. The local personalities will climb aboard a double-seated jog cart accompanied by one of Hoosier Parks drivers and compete against each other for a prize purse of $1,000 donated to their selected charities which include the Harness Horse Youth Foundation, Standardbred Retirement Foundation and Teachers Treasures. The celebrity exhibition race will take place before the start of live racing at approximately 5:30 p.m.

Along with the live racing action, guests can enter at Trackside Club Centaur from 6-9 p.m. for their chance to win $1,000. Additionally, the first 500 racing fans to visit Trackside Club Centaur on Saturday will receive a mystery voucher worth up to $500.

(Hoosier Park)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 / Standard 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.
Wisdom of the Crowd: 55 % of respondents said that the Trust Bak set up by Fairprice will not be profitable as there are already too many d...
ASTORIA  The factory sounds and briny scent of fish processing have returned to the Astoria Riverwalk at Ninth Street after a two-year lull.

SeaA Inc., a business that sorts, freezes and conveys anchovies wholesale to domestic and international markets, has reanimated the warehouse and processing plant once occupied by Astoria Holdings Inc.

From late afternoon until midnight, the workers take the days haul, separate the damaged fish and pack the rest into plastic-lined boxes.

The packages are frozen, loaded onto refrigerated trucks, transported to Tacoma, Washington, and shipped to markets in Japan, China and western European countries for use as food and bait.

In summer 2014, Astoria Holdings, a sardine-only business that opened in 1999, shuttered after the Pacific Fishery Management Council set unexpectedly low catch limits for the years sardine season.

Marine scientists had documented a plummeting sardine population, prompting the council to scale back traditional quotas.

That pretty much stopped us, said Rick Parker, a SeaA Inc. engineer who had worked for Astoria Holdings.

The council, which regulates Oregon, Washington state and California fisheries, shut down sardine fishing for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

The decision proved controversial, but Barry Schauff, SeaA Inc.s sole fish supplier this summer, takes a measured view.

It doesnt do you any good to kill them all cause then nobody gets to catch them later, he said.

Burgeoning business

Astoria Holdings machinery sat dormant until SeaA Inc. owner Tony Kim, who has spent decades in the fish business, arranged to take over the facilities last fall and convert them into an anchovy-based operation.

In early August, the first catch came in, courtesy of Schauff and his small crew. They try to take in about 85 tons of anchovies per day.

The burgeoning business employs roughly 40 people, some of whom are former Astoria Holdings workers, said Larry Normand, the chief engineer, who himself worked for the sardine plant.

A lot of people, they came back, Assistant Manager Gustavo Velasquez said.

The fishing business has been through hard times, Kim noted, especially because of the effects of the 2014-16 El Nino  the cyclical warming of Pacific Ocean waters  among the strongest such events on record.

Hopefully, next year we have a better chance at hiring more people, Kim said.

The owner said he plans to eventually turn the Astoria site into a year-round enterprise by branching out into other species like hake, shrimp and squid.

SeaA Inc., which has some plants in Mexico, has also done custom-freezing for an Ilwaco, Washington, company.

Still a fishing town

Schauff, a skipper from Kodiak, Alaska, observed that Astoria is still a fishing town, like where were from, it seems to us  still blue-collar, between the logging and the fishing.

Despite the tremors in the fishing industry, Schauff said being a fisherman is the best job in the world. He cannot imagine doing anything else, he said.

Its entirely up to you to make it work  and if you dont, you dont survive, he said. Its very competitive, and the people that I compete against are mostly friends. You gotta live by your wits. Its hard work, and a little luck, and taking care of your equipment, and getting good people to work for you.
Cowlitz County and state officials are launching a study to further examine potential health impacts of the proposed coal export dock in Longview.

The study  the first of its kind for a project in Cowlitz County  will be conducted by state Department of Health under the direction of a steering committee made up of citizens. The committee will meet for the first time from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Longview Public Library auditorium.

The committee members were invited to participate in the volunteer role after attending focus groups last year. The county declined to release the names of the people on the committee yet because that wont be finalized until next week.

The separate health study is not a legal requirement for the permitting process for Millennium Bulk Terminals $680 million project. However, state officials say the study will address other questions about health that will not be covered in the state environmental impact statement.

This is a project that will affect at least two generations of Cowlitz County residents. We want to make sure to look at the project from all angles, said Dr. Jennifer Vines, health officer with Cowlitz County Health & Human Services.

This is the first time the county will conduct a health assessment, but its not a new concept in the field of public health to enhance community engagement in the development projects.

We see this as the future of public health work, Vines said.

The state and county recently completed a draft environmental impact statement on the Millennium project and did not flag any major health risks posed by the terminal. However, that study is designed to examine the environmental affects of the project and does not answer some additional questions about health, Vines said.

The committee will first have to decide which questions should be addressed in the assessment, and will be tasked with approving the final health report and recommendations, she added. The final report is expected in fall 2017.

A common concern is that this will delay the project, but this is completely unrelated to the permitting process. This is purely a community-led process, Vine said.

The committee will make non-binding recommendations to Millennium and policymakers to help reduce any potential health risks. Although it is not a legal requirement, the document will serve to inform citizens, policymakers and Millennium about the health impacts of the coal terminal.

Millennium will pay an estimated $200,000 for the health assessment, according to the county.

Our performance record at Millennium on health, safety, and environment is a strong one. Any additional insight provided by the Health Impact Assessment will offer another valuable perspective into our job-creating project. Were confident additional study will further validate the health and safety focus of our world class terminal, Bill Chapman, President and CEO for Millennium Bulk Terminals, said in a prepared statement.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected release a separate federal study on the environmental effects of the coal dock next week.
The Ice Melt records above midwinter standard rate in the balance zone of the west-central Greenland Ice sheet, appears to speed up during the time of summer melting. The hastening of the ice as per the surface melting duration, preceded by deceleration after the melting stops, specifies that the glacial sliding is increased by the quick relocation of the surface melt-water to the ice-bedrock surface.

The variations of ice acceleration recorded between the years correlates with the changes in the intensity of the surface melting, associated with the mounting increase in summer melting. The evidence of the coupling between ice-sheet flow and surface melting give a mechanism of large-scale, fast, active responses of ice sheets to the climate temperature.

The detailed study gives evidence of Greenland loss of 2,7000 gigatons (2,700 billion metric tons) from 2003-2013 of ice when the estimated loss was likely 2,500 gigatones.

Ohio State University in the US, researchers that the hotspot that nosh Icelands active volcanoes has smoothened the mantle rock underneath Greenland in a way that has garbled the predicted calculations on the Greenland Ice sheet. The estimate, therefore, has turned wheels by about 20 billion metric tonnes or 20 gigatonnes per annum.

This makes it clear that the ice melt rate as predicted by the scientists from 2003-2013 is falsified. Greenland was expected to lose 2,500 gigatones but has lost nearly 7.6 per cent more, that is, 2,700 gigatonnes, claims Michael Bevis, professor of the Ohio State University.

He states, some 40 million years before, certain areas of Greenland crossed over an increasingly hot column of partly molten rock that is now placed underneath the Iceland. He further adds that the earths crust in the part of Greenland is gradually heading towards the northwest.

The hotspot smoothened the rock in its wake, reducing the thickness of the mantle rocks in the way sliding deep below the surface of east coast Greenland.

The heaviness of the ice sheet is deduced when the greater part of the ice sheet thawed at the end of the ice age, resulting in the recoiling of the crust. The mantle rock is still mounting to flow upwards and inwards below Greenland.

Bevis states the continuation of the mantle flow below the Greenland is not astonishing at all.

The difference of the ice mass and rock mass cannot be stated, GRACE estimates the mass, period. A model of mass run within the Earth is required to infer the ice mass change from the overall mass change. The model directly intends to the calculation of the ice mass change. If the model is not accurate, the ice mass change is also not accurate.

The assumed set model and the Greenland visuals seem to differ completely. The rock flow model relay on what the researchers can garner about the stickiness of the mantle. The imaginative model stated a comparatively specific mantle viscosity, but Greenland ice melt intensity has thoroughly changed the picture.

According to the researchers, = 7.6 per cent inconsistency of the total ice loss is surpassed by the truth of hidden areas of the ice sheets being influenced the climate alteration.
hidden

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 kilometers (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 Center in Darmstadt, Germany.

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. "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.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

LinkedIn, the social site for working professionals to stay connected, brings in some new refreshing changes. After the three-step strategy, here are a slew of other announcements from the company.

Firstly, it has launched a new site called LinkedIn Learning. Its an e-learning portal that has been tailored for individuals, however not limited to them, as it caters to businesses looking to train employees. LinkedIn Learning offers about 9000 courses, and major content seems from Lynda. Those not in the know, LinkedIn had acquired Lynda, an online education site last year.

"With more than 450 million member profiles and billions of engagements, we have a unique view of how jobs, industries, organizations and skills evolve over time. From this, we can identify the skills you need and deliver expert-led courses to help you obtain those skills. Were taking the guesswork out of learning," the company writes in a blogpost.

Some of the subjects include business, technology, and creative topics like programming, writing, accounting and so on. Recently, LinkedIn's announcements for India also revolved about bringing students onto the platform. The three initiatives were LinkedIn Lite, LinkedIn Placements and LinkedIn Starter Pack. You can read more about it here.

Well, this isn't the only announcement from the company. It also gives the desktop site a facelift. The new desktop experience will bring smarter content newsfeed, a refreshed UI experience and as expected  chatbots to the messaging service. These changes are expected to go live in the coming months.

"LinkedIn is also betting big on AI and bringing on virtual assistants to your conversation(a little bit like Google Assistant in Allo). But instead of helping you search jobs, the bot will be focused on suggested content delivery right into the messaging experience. For example, if youre conversing with an investor who wants to schedule a meeting, then the bot can pop-up, sync with your Google calendar and schedule the meet for you," points out TheTechPortal.

Earlier this year, Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for a jaw dropping $26.2 billion, and in cash. Whether it will help turn Microsofts fortune is debatable, but thats a calculated risk the software giant had to take.
tech2 News Staff

At the recent Microsoft media event that was held in Bangalore, it was cloud tech along with new emerging technologies that took the centre-stage. The event seemed all about the change and how it is no more simply a Windows-centric company. "I have been with Microsoft for 25 years, and there has always been change. But, clearly things have changed on a different scale in the past two years," Anil Bhansali, Managing Director, Microsoft India (R&D) said. His words were on similar lines as Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India (read more on it here).

Reiterating on how the focus will stay on the three cores  personal computing, intelligent cloud and business productivity  it said the focus will be on customers from productivity to providing the last mile connectivity. Whether a company is simply exploring cloud or otherwise, Bhansali adds, "Microsoft is the only company offering solutions, strategy and tech pyramid that spans across multiple clouds, be it private, hybrid or public."

Currently, the focus seems to be the three main sectors  education, agriculture and healthcare. The company already has some initiatives in the education and agricultural sector in partnership with the Indian government. For instance, the Andhra Pradesh government is using Microsofts Azure machine learning to predict dropouts across 10,000 schools.

Starting with education, Microsoft has basically used a machine leaning model to look at school dropouts. The school dropouts service went live for 6 lakh students across 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh for grade 10. When the new batch came in, the government now has about six predictions. There will be a structure for interventions, that's work in progress. However, it's the same data that can be used for various other insights like conditions at the school and so on.

"The usual immediate power of the cloud lies in unlimited computing and unlimited storage. It's what you can do with the data you store in there, that's where all the real power lies. We have a lot more technologies that can take the data you have and leverage the computing power, and truly bring out the power of cloud, depending upon the domain, be it education, agriculture or transportation," he explained.

The government plans to scale it, and is working with Microsoft to introduce it at lower grades. So, dropout predictions can begin at a much earlier stage.

However, these solutions are quite challenges. And, the challenges begin right at getting the data. "Think about public schools systems with the processes and infra, it is difficult for govt itself to to get all data. For instance, one of the parameters is attendance, which isn't digital and sitting in some school register in local language written by someone. So, it takes time. We need to put all these things in place," he explained.

Bhansali said that the school dropouts monitoring using cloud and AI has been getting a lot of interest from other governments, and there have been expressions of interest from Australia and Brazil.

Besides, in June, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Microsoft and the Andhra Pradesh government teamed up to build a sowing app for farmers. The app helps achieve optimal harvests by advising the best time to sow, taking under consideration factors like weather conditions, soil, and more. (You can know more about the app here).

"The Sowing App and Personalized Village Advisory Dashboard are developed to provide powerful cloud-based predictive analytics to empower farmers with crucial information and insights to help reduce crop failures and increase yield, in turn, reducing stress and generating better income. We firmly believe in the potential of Microsoft Azure Machine Learning and Power BI to bring efficiencies not only in agriculture, but also in healthcare, education, and beyond. This is a significant start for digital agriculture and can reap benefits in multiple ways as governments and stakeholders discover the potential for technology to unlock and offer multiple solutions for farmers," Bhansali said.

Microsoft reiterated that the focus is on customers. But, with cloud, what one sees is immense competition. "We don't necessarily look at others as competition. Each one has a unique perspective, and the way we look at it, there is a role for everyone," he added.
tech2 News Staff

A Samsung Galaxy Note 2 caught fire in an IndiGo flight that was inbound to Chennai mid-air. The cabin crew rushed to take the situation under control after trying noticing smoke coming out from the overhead baggage bin used to store luggage. They followed procedure by using the fire extinguishers to douse the fire and transferred the Samsung Note 2 to a container filled with water.

Samsung Note 2 catches fire on @IndiGo6E flight landing at Chennai, DGCA asks flyers to be careful with all #Note devices pic.twitter.com/1L6byxD7hZ  Soorej (@ImSoorej) September 23, 2016

Officials are not clear if the passenger had switched off the Note 2 during the flight but they have called Samsung officials for a meeting on Monday to discuss the matter. There was no damage to the plane or passengers according to a DGCA spokesperson. IndiGo issues a statement regarding the event adding IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning (September 23, 2016) and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board. The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23 C and simultaneously informed the Pilot-in-Command who further alerted the ATC of the situation on board, as reported by Hindustan Times.

According to the DGCA spokesperson, all airlines have been asked by the authority to instruct their passengers to turn off their Samsung Galaxy Note devices during flight. This has made things worse for the South Korean smartphone maker as the company is presently in the process of a global recalling and replacement of Samsung Galaxy Note 7. The company has started shipping the replacement units for the affected Note 7 devices, but this incident is serious as it puts the manufacturing process under scrutiny. Samsung has not issued any statement regarding the issue at the time of writing.
tech2 News Staff

Apple has said it will be buying Tuplejump, which is said to be an Indo-US based machine learning startup. The startup builds software that specialises in processing and analysing big sets of data quickly.

According to Bloomberg, it's a Hyderabad-based company that Apple acquired in June. It has about a dozen employees, according to report. And, further adds that the founder Rohit Rai started working for Apple in May and is based in Seattle.

According to Techcrunch, Apple stuck to its standard statement about how the company buys smaller companies from time to time. Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans, Apple spokesman Colin Johnson told the news site.

Apple is said to be particularly interested in an opensource project FiloDB that the startup is building to efficiently apply machine learning. "Tuplejump also built an open source search indexing system called Stargate that works with data stored in Cassandra and relies on the fundamentals of the Apache Lucene full-text search software," adds VentureBeat.

AI has become a key factor among the core technologies that companies have begun to focus on, be it Apple, Google, Facebook or Microsoft. In case of Apple, this is the third AI-related acquisition after Seatle-based Turi and Emotient.
Huawei and Flex tied up under Make In India initiative. Huaweis latest manufacturing initiative is part of Government of Indias Make in India vision by harnessing local talent, coupled with the infusion of hi-tech R&D expertise and knowledge into the country. Huawei announced it will start to manufacture smartphones in India in collaboration with leading Sketch-to-Scale solutions provider, Flex, in October. Starting from first week of October 2016, the Flex manufacturing plant in Chennai will manufacture one of the Honor smartphones models. The plant will have the capacity to make three million units by the end of 2017.

Announcing the manufacturing facility from Delhi, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Honble Union Minister, Information & Technology, Law and Justice said, I would like to congratulate Huawei on their commitment to pursue their Make in India vision. The Government of India is pleased to see so much enthusiasm for our Make in India initiative. We are working towards making India an electronic manufacturing hub. As India is set to become the second largest smartphone market, our government would like to invite even more businesses to come and manufacture in India. This is an opportune time to start manufacturing from India. The smartphone landscape in India is growing every day and such initiatives by technology leaders will help accelerate the growth of local manufacturing industry in India.



Mr. Jay Chen, CEO, Huawei India said, We have been present in India for the last 16 years and as part of our India focus, we have been consistently expanding our footprint in the market. This year especially has been of significance in our India journey. We recently launched our world class GSC in Bengaluru and the start of manufacturing in India is an affirmation of our commitment to India and supports the Make in India campaign. We are convinced about the growth potential and future of India and well keep looking for opportunities to increase our presence here.



Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Jeff Reece, Head of Flex Telecom segment said, We are thrilled to expand our global partnership with Huawei. Our alliance with Huawei in India is a testament of our commitment towards boosting local manufacturing. It also further demonstrates our commitment to bring innovative supply chain solutions, high-quality advanced manufacturing and after-market services to Huawei and ultimately the consumers. Mr. Reece further added, Flex has been in India over the last 16 years and has the right building blocks to help our customers who wish to design, build, distribute and service their products both domestically and globally.

@Technuter.com News Service
About me I'm Avi Green

From Jerusalem, Israel

I was born in Pennsylvania in 1974, and moved to Israel in 1983. I also enjoyed reading a lot of comics when I was young, the first being Fantastic Four. I maintain a strong belief in the public's right to knowledge and accuracy in facts. I like to think of myself as a conservative-style version of Clark Kent. I don't expect to be perfect at the job, but I do my best. My profile

Archives - Archives - July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022
ISIS used sulfur-mustard agent in Iraq : US

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on Thursday, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

AP, Washington :

The top U.S. general said Thursday that an Islamic State rocket that hit a military base used by hundreds of U.S. troops in northern Iraq contained chemical agents that cause human skin to blister.

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was asked at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday about the disclosure a day earlier that the Islamic State may have attacked Qayara West air base with chemical weapons.

U.S. officials had said Wednesday that an oily substance found on a fragment of the rocket that landed inside the security perimeter of the base initially tested positive for mustard agent, but that a second test was negative. They said further laboratory testing was scheduled.

"We assess it to be a sulfur-mustard blister agent," Dunford said, adding that no one was injured by it.

He called the incident a "concerning development."

Dunford made no mention of the U.S. presence on the Qayara West base, but an official on Wednesday said "hundreds" of U.S. troops are there helping the Iraq security forces prepare for a coming offensive in Mosul.

Dunford said that while the Islamic State has a "chemical warfare network," it has only limited means of making effective chemical weapons. He noted that last week the U.S. military attacked a former pharmaceutical plant near Mosul in northern Iraq that U.S. officials said the Islamic State was using to produce mustard agent and other chemicals for military use.

Another report adds: In the three days since the Iraqi city of Fallujah was reopened for residents following its recapture from the Islamic State group, just over 500 families have returned home, Maj. Gen. Saad al-Harbea, the head of west Baghdad operations, said.

Hundreds more have massed around the checkpoints that block the city's entrance to await the multiple security approvals required to re-enter Fallujah, which lies 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of the Iraqi capital. But the vast majority of the 300,000 people that made up the city's prewar population remain scattered across the country.

Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to IS, in January 2014. Its civilian population steadily declined after the militant takeover, with some families renting homes in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, or traveling further north to the country's semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Many more civilians were forced out of the city by Iraqi troops as they pushed through Fallujah, leaving a ghost town in their wake. Fallujah was declared "fully liberated" in June, following an operation that officially lasted just over a month and was assisted by U.S.-led airstrikes. The tens of thousands of people who left the city last summer often ended up in desert camps with little food or water.

Al-Harbea defended the security checks outside Fallujah as essential to preventing IS from regaining power in the city. "Of course we need to turn some people away," he said.

He said Iraqi intelligence agencies had drawn up lists of IS collaborators based on information from local leaders and informants within the extremist group. Ten families had been turned away so far because "they had sons or fathers with connections to Daesh," he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.




Afghanistan blames Pakistan for financing militants

PTI, United Nations :

Slamming Pakistan for sheltering terrorists, Afghanistan told world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly that Islamabad was waging an "undeclared war" on its people by plotting "merciless" terror attacks through groups like the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

Afghanistan Vice President Sarwar Danesh said despite repeatedly asking Pakistan to destroy known terrorist safe havens, there had been no change in the situation.

"Taliban and the 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".

Alleging that Islamabad was waging an "undeclared war" against the Afghan people Mr Danesh demanded that it stop the "merciless attacks of terrorist groups."

He also blamed the recent attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Pakistan saying it had "existing evidence" that these attacks were planned and organized from inside Pakistan's territory.

"We ask all of you, where were the previous leaders of the Taliban and the Al Qaeda residing, and where were they killed? At this very moment, where are the leaders of the Taliban and the Haqqani network located?" Mr Danesh asked the General Assembly.

He urged world leaders to ensure that no distinction be made between good and bad terrorists in the global fight against terrorism.

Despite security threats, Afghanistan has kept the doors of peace open for those Taliban elements and other armed opposition groups who are willing to give up violence and agree to live under the Afghan constitution, Mr Danesh said.

He added that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group composed of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and America 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.




Abbas urges UN to declare 2017 year to end Israeli occupation

Israel's settlement expansion destroys hopes of a two-state solution

Palestinian President Abbas addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

Agencies, United Nations :

President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the UN to declare 2017 the year "to end the Israeli occupation" of Palestinian land and people, saying that Israel's 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 Israel's "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.

Al Jazeera's Imran Khan, reporting from West Jerusalem, said Abbas used "much tougher" diplomatic language in his speech, compared to 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."

Earlier, Abbas, who has been Palestinian president for 11 years, had told representatives at the UN assembly in New York that Israel's 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 US said it was "deeply concerned" following an announcement that Israel had approved the construction 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.




Married men at lower risk of metabolic syndrome

Life Desk :



Married people are more likely to stay slim than those who remain single, says a study by Japanese researchers.

The study also found that married men were less likely to suffer metabolic syndrome-a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity which damages the blood vessels-although the same did not apply to women, Daily Mail reported.

'Type 2 Diabetes was 50% less prevalent in married men compared to singles.' "Our findings show that being married and living with one's spouse reduced the risk of being overweight by approximately 50 percent among patients with type two diabetes," lead study author Yoshinobu Kondo from Yokohama City University was quoted as saying.

"Men who were married and lived with their spouse also exhibited a risk reduction of 58 percent for metabolic syndrome," Kondo said.

The researchers believe that people in relationships are more likely to eat healthily and take their medication.

The study involved 270 people with Type-2 diabetes -- 180 married and 90 were single-with an average age of 65.

They calculated the body mass index of the participants and also measured the fat content of their body.

The married group were 50 percent less likely to be overweight when compared to the single group, the findings showed. The research was presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Munich, Germany. Source: IANS
Haiku : The three-line poetic wonder!

Life Desk :



While poetry is about expressing extravagantly, imagine condensing hundreds of words into few lines. Condensing emotions into just three lines that would otherwise require pages and maestros to be described is what a Haiku does.

Previously called hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki at the end of the 19th century.

It is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Consisting of 3 lines, Haiku poems follow a set pattern. The first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7 syllables i.e., 17 syllables in total.

A syllable is a part of a word pronounced as a unit. It is usually made up of a vowel alone or a vowel with one or more consonants. The word "syllable" has 3 syllables: syl-la-ble. Similarly, the word poetry has 3 syllables - po-e-try and Haiku has 2 - hai-ku.

The syllable structure of a Haiku uses sensory language to capture an emotion or an experience. Almost all Haiku have a dominant impression, or main idea, that appeals strongly to one of the five senses.

The 'key' to Haiku

The secret to write a great Haiku is to observe and appreciate nature in as much detail as possible. Haiku is a sum of two juxtaposed ideas. Usually, the last lines shift the perspective of the original thought to create a punch.

The essence of a Haiku is 'cutting' (kiru, in Japanese), often represented by juxtaposition of two images or thoughts and a 'cutting word' (Kireji, in Japanese) between them. This has to be a kind of verbal mark that indicates a moment of separation of thoughts. It is not necessary for the lines to rhyme.

How to write Haiku?

First, get a picture in your mind of a thing or a person that made you angry, sad, happy or glad.

Write down your image using 10 to 15 words.

Then put it into the 5-7-5 form.

Try to make others see your picture or idea. An illustration of what you are trying to express might help too.

Take inspiration

One of the greatest Haiku poets was the Samurai, Basho (1644-94). Yosa Buson, Kobayaski Issa and Natsume Soseki were other masters of Haiku.

Few examples:

From time to time

The clouds give rest

To the moon-beholders. - Matsuo Basho

Blowing from the west

Fallen leaves gather

In the east. - Yosa Buson

My life, -

How much more of it remains?

The night is brief. - Masaoka Shiki

I kill an ant

and realize my three children

have been watching. - Kato Shuson

-TNN


'Nation united against militancy & terrorism'



Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif on Friday said Bengali nation has again been united against militancy, terrorism, cruelty and anti-nature forces under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"The present government is working relentlessly to combat militancy and terrorism from the society and also to protect agriculture, land, rivers and biodiversity to build a beautiful and developed country," he said.

The minister said this on Friday while inaugurating the 'Seventh National Environmental Festival 2016' at Notre Dame College's central auditorium organized by ' Notre Dame Nature Study Club' with college Principal Dr Fr. Hemonto Pius Rozario, CSC in the chair.

Referring to Prime Minister's speech in the United Nation's assembly, Sherif said, "Sheikh Hasina raised her strong voice against terrorism and militancy worldwide calling upon world-conscience to stop providing arms and funds to those."

He mentioned that Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched the Green Revolution in Bangladesh and her daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is trying to materialize his dream and unfinished tasks overcoming different barriers to development.

The minister also stressed the need for building a national unity against the terrorists and militants.

Deputy Chief Conservator of Environment and Forest Ministry Dr Tapan Dey, Managing Director of Bangladesh Shishu Academy Selina Hossain and Dhaka University Professor Dr Niaj Ahmed Khan, among others, spoke on the occasion.


DU Kha-unit admission test held

Dhaka University (DU) honours admission seekers engrossed in answering the questions in Kha-unit admission test. The snap was taken from the Curzon Hall of the university on Friday.

Written test for admission into first year honours' classes for the session 2016-2017 under Kha-Unit of the University of Dhaka (DU) was held peacefully on Friday.

DU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Pro VC (Academic) Prof Dr Nasreen Ahmad, Pro-VC (Administration) Prof Dr M Akhtaruzzaman, Treasurer Prof Dr M Kamal Uddin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Coordinator of Kha-unit admission test Prof Dr Begum Akter Kamal and senior teachers and officers visited the examination halls.

A total of 34,606 candidates appeared at the admission test under Kha-Unit this year for 2,241 seats.
A special law enacted for certain purpose shall always prevail over the general law



High Court Division

(Civil Appellate Jurisdiction)

Khandker Musa Khaled J

SH Md Nurul Huda

Jaigirder J

AM Mostafiz Meah

... Plaintiff-Appellants

vs

United Commercial Bank Ltd and others ... ............. Defendants Respondents

Judgment

February 13th, 2012

Code of Civil Procedure (Vol of 1908)

Sections 9 and 151

Order VII, rule 11(d)

Artha Rin Adalat Ain (VIII of 2003)

Section 12(8)

Since there is specific restriction in Section 12(8) of the Ain, which is a special law, to challenge auction sale by filing any suit, the question of lenient construction of the law does not arise. The special law enacted for certain purpose and it shall always prevail over the general law. Suit being barred under Section 12(8) of the Ain, rejection of plaint is justified under Order VII, rule ll(d) read with Section 151 of the Code. . ..... (20 & 21)

Dwarka Prasad Agarwal vs Ramesh Chandra Agarwala, AIR 2003 SC 2696; Mohammad Julfikar vs Abul Kalam Chowdhury. 42 DLR (AD) 83: Mozammel Hoque vs Sonali Bank, 15 BLD (AD) 35 and Abdul Jalil vs Islamic Bank Ltd Bangladesh, 53 DLR (AD) 12 ref.

Probir Neogi and Minhazul Haque, Advocates-For Appellant.

TIM Nur Nabi Chowdhury, Advocate-For Respondent Nos. 1-2.

Taz Mohammad, Advocate -For the Respondent No.3

Judgment

Khondker Musa Khaled J: This First appeal, is directed against the judgment and decree dated 26-10-2010 passed by the learned Joint District Judge, First Court, Rajshahi in Other Class Suit No. 15 of 2010 allowing an application under Order VII, rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure filed by the defendants 1-2 for rejection of the plaint.

2. After filing the appeal, the appellant preferred an application for temporary injunction on which, a Rule was issued calling upon the defendant-respondents to show cause as to they should not be restrained by an order of temporary injunction from dispossessing the appellant petitioner from the land mentioned in the schedule. At the time of issuance of the Rule, the parties were directed to maintain status-quo in respect of title and possession of the land mentioned in the schedule of the application.

3. The First Appeal alongwith the connected Rule No. 605(F) of 2010 are taken up together for disposal by this judgment.

4. The facts relevant for disposal of the appeal and the above mentioned Rule, in short, are that the plaintiff-appellant AM Mostafiz Meah instituted the above mentioned suit on 2-2-2010 against the defendants United Commercial Bank Ltd for having a declaration that the alleged auction sale of the schedule land on 16-7-2009 is illegal, void, fraudulent and not binding upon the plaintiff. Because, the auction sale was held against the provisions contained in the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. According to the plaint case, the plaintiff received a loan of Taka 9 lac which was subsequently increased to Taka 32,22,633.09 on 31-3-2009 due to accumulation of interest and charges thereon. At the time of taking loan, the plaintiffs three kathas of land specified in the schedule was mortgaged with the defendants- Bank under a registered deed on 27-1-2002 and a separate deed of Power of Attorney was also executed and registered on the same date. Without considering the plaintiffs prayer for remission of interest, the defendant-Bank published tender notice of auction sale in respect of the mortgaged land in the Daily Protham Alo on 1-7-2009 and thereafter, sold the property on auction on 16-7-2009 for a consideration of Taka 16 lac before the expiry of 15 days from the date of publication of notice. So, the auction sale was illegal and contrary to the provisions of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain.

5. When the suit was pending before the trial Court, the defendant-Bank filed an application on 3-10-2010 under Order VII, rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure for rejection of plaint on the ground that since it is admitted in the plaint that the suit relates to recovery of loan by financial institution, it is barred under Section 18(2) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. In view of such legal bar, the plaint was liable to be rejected.

6. After hearing both the parties, the learned trial Judge was pleased to reject the plaint allowing the application of the plaintiff bank by the impugned judgment and decree dated 26-10-2010, against which, the plaintiff preferred this appeal and obtained the Rule and injunction order in the manner already stated above.

7. Mr Probir Neogi, the learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the plaintiff- appellant, submits that inherent power of adjudication of all the suits of civil nature cannot be easily ousted even by provision of a statue. Section 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure confers jurisdiction upon the Civil Court to determine all disputes of civil nature unless expressly barred by a statue and that normally the Civil Court would give interpretation of the statute in favour of upholding retention of civil Court's jurisdiction and it is the Civil Court which is legally empowered to see whether the auction sale was held in accordance with the provisions of Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. In this respect, the learned Advocate has referred to the case of Dwarka Prasad Agarwal vs Ramesh Chandra Agarwala reported in AIR 2003 SC 2696 and also case of Mohammad Julfikar vs Abul Kalam Chowdhury reported in 42 DLR (AD) 83.

The learned Advocate has also relied on the case of Md Mozammel Hoque vs Sonali Bank reported in 15 BLD (AD) 35 to show that separate suit to challenge a decree of Artha Rin Adalat is not also barred in certain cases. It is further submitted that Section 18(2) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003, does not create any legal bar to file a separate suit relating to recovery of loan in the civil court. Rather Section 18(3) of the said Ain clearly indicates that the borrower can also file such a suit against the Bank of Financial Institution in the Civil Court. So in his opinion, there is no legal bar to maintain the suit challenging loan recovery process in the Civil Court and the trial Judge has committed mistake in rejecting the plaint in Order rule VII(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure showing legal bar to file a separate suit in the Civil Court under 18(2) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. As such, the impugned Judgment and decree is liable to be set aside.

8. Mr TIM Nurun Nabi Chowdhury, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent Nos. 1-2 (United Commercial Bank Ltd.) has submitted in support of the impugned judgment stating that the borrower is specifically barred from instituting any suit against the financial Institution under Section 18(2) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. So, there is no scope to go for a lenient interpretation of the statue in favour of the plaintiff-appellant in this case.

The learned Advocate has also made reference to sections, 12(8) and 5 and 20 of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 in support of this contention that a suit of such mature in the ordinary Civil Court is not maintainable. It is contended that when it is admitted fact that the plaintiff-appellant received loan from the defendant-bank against his mortgaged property and also executed a Power of Attorney in favour of the defendant-bank, the mortgaged property was naturally sold in auction to the respondent No.1 in exercise of lawful authority under Section 12 of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain 2003. So, the learned trial Judge passed the impugned Judgment in the right direction and that the appeal has no ground to succeed, the learned Advocate added.

9. Mr Taz Mohammad, the learned Advocate appearing on behalf of respondent No. 3 (auction purchaser), however, concedes that Section 18(2) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 is not applicable in rejecting the plaint of this suit. He submits that though the section was misquoted in the application for rejection of plaint and also in the impugned judgment and order, the fact remains that the borrower cannot maintain the suit challenging auction purchase of the respondent No. 3 as it is specifically barred under Section 12(8) of the Artha Rin Adalat, 2003.

(To be continued)

The learned Advocate further submits that the respondent No. 3 is a bonafide purchaser for value thorough the auction sale held and conducted in accordance with the provisions of law and, as such, he has already acquired right which cannot be frustrated by filing a separate suit in the Civil Court. The learned Advocate has relied on the case decision reported in Abdul Jalil vs Islamic Bank Ltd Bangladesh 53 DLR (AD) 12 and to put an end to the frivolous litigation in order to give effect to the actual sprit of the Special Law.

10. We have gone through the impugned judgment, plaint of the suit for declaration, application for rejection of the plaint and other documents available on record.

11. Evidently the Plaint has been rejected under Order VII, rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure stating that section 18(2) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 stands as a legal bar to interfere any suit of this nature by any Civil Court. section 18(2) of the said Ain runs as follows:

OKvb FYMOnxZv, Kvb Av`vjZ cOwZovbi wei, GB AvBbi Aaxb Av`vjZ, mswko FY nBZ D~Z Kvb welq, Kvb cOwZKvi `vex Kwiqv gvgjv `vqi KwiZ cvwie bv, Ges FYMOnxZv-weev`x, ev`x-Avw_K cOwZovb KZK `vqiKZ gvgjvq wjwLZ Reve `vwLj Kwiqv, D wjwLZ Reve cOwZMYb ( Set-off) ev cviv`vex (counter claim) AsIf~ KwiZ cvwie bvO|

(Underline is made by us)

12. Clearly the aforesaid section puts restriction on the borrower to file any suit in the Artha Rin Adalat over the loan related matter of the financial institution.

13. But the instant suit for declaration was not filed in the Artha Rin Adalat Ain constituted under the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. So, this section has no manner of application for the purpose of rejection of plaint in this case.

14. Mr Taz Mohammad, the learned Advocate for the respondent No.3 also concedes to the submission of Mr Probir Neogi in this respect. But he has strenuously argued that the suit is actually barred under Section 12(8) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 and according to his contention, mere misquoting of section cannot prevent the Court from upholding plaint rejection order when the plaint is found non-maintainable by any other provision of law.

15. Accepting the contention of Mr Taz Mohammad, let it be examined whether section 12(8) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 is a legal bar for rejection of plaint under Order VII, rule II (d) of the Code of Civil Procedure.

16. Section 12(8) of the said Ain may be

quoted below for ready reference:

OAvcvZZt ejer Ab Kvb AvBb wfbic hvnv wKQzB _vKzK bv Kb, GB avivi Aaxb Avw_K cOwZovb KZK lien, pledge, hypothecation A_ev Mortgage Gi Aaxb cOv ygZvej Kvb RvgvbwZ 'vei ev A'vei muwE weq Kiv nBj, D weq Zvi AbyK~j ea ^Z m"wo Kwie Ges Zvi qK KvbfveB ZwKZ Kiv hvBe bv t

Ze kZ _vK h, Avw_K cOwZovb KZK weq Kvhg Kvbic AeaZv ev cwZMZ Awbqg _vwKj, RvgvbZ cO`vbKvix-FY MOnxZv Avw_K cOwZovbi wei ywZc~iY `vwe KwiZ cvwieb|

17. It is admitted in the plaint that the plaintiff received loan from the defendant-Bank against mortgage of his land property and he also gave authority to the bank to sell the mortgaged property for the purpose of realisation of dues by executing a separate registered Power of Attorney on the same date. When such authority to sell the mortgaged land is given by the borrower, the Bank naturally has become legally empowered to transfer the land for the purpose of realisation of the loan and section 12(8) of the said Ain, 2003 operates, as a clear bar to challenge the auction sale in any manner as the auction purchaser acquired absolute right, title and interest to the land in question by operation of law. In this case, the respondent No. 3 Robiul Awal already purchased the mortgaged land in auction sale held on 16-7-2009, which is called in question in the suit of the plaintiff before the Civil Court.

18. It appears from the plaint that the auction sale was called in question merely on the ground that it was held before expiry of the stipulated 15 days from the date of publishing auction tender notice on 1-7-2009 and, as such, the auction was held in violation of sections 34(1) & 33(1) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. It appears that if the date of publishing tender notice is taken to be inclusive of the specified 15 days, then apparently such allegation does not stand at all. Even if there is any procedural defect or illegality in the auction sale process, the borrower can at best file a suit claiming compensation from the Bank according to the provision of Section 12(8) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 as quoted above, but he is not in position to challenge the very auction sale in any manner in view of the above mentioned proviso to the Section 12(8). Moreover, apparently we do not find any acceptable ground to challenge the auction sale. So the present suit for declaration challenging the legal auction sale is barred under Section 12(8) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. We have also perused the cited case of Md Mozammel Hoque vs Sonali Bank 15 BLD (AD) 35 where a suit challenging the decree of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain was found maintainable in a very exceptional circumstances. The relevant part of the finding may be quoted below:

"When the petitioner's allegation of nonservice of summons of the suit before the Artha Rin Adalat is correct, his remedy of a separate suit to challenge the decree is not barred under the facts an circumstances of the case, provided his remedies under the Artha Rin Adalat Act stood barred at the time of the filing of the suit for no fault of his own".

19. Evidently there is no such a extraordinary situation in this case. Actually no suit was filed by the Bank for recovery of any loan in this case. The question of fraudulent suppression of summons does not arise here. Rather the Bank had, to sell the mortgaged property in accordance with the Section 12 of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. The aforesaid citation, therefore, has no manner of application here in this case.

20. So far jurisdiction of the Civil Court under Section 9 is concerned, we hold the view that since there is specific restriction in Section 12(8) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003, which is a special law, to challenge auction sale by filing any suit, the question of lenient construction of the said law does not arise. The Special Law enacted for certain purpose and it shall always prevail over the general law. On the question ouster of Civil Court's Jurisdiction, the cited case of Mohammad Juljikar vs Abul Kalam Chowdhury 42 DLR (AD) 83 and AIR, 2003 SC 2696 as has been referred to by the learned Advocate for the appellant, are not applicable in the instant case. Rather we hold the view that the suit of the plaintiff as has been framed is not at all maintainable in view of the provisions of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003 as already discuss above; and that being the legal position, the case of Abdul Jalil vs Islamic Bank Ltd Bangladesh reported in 53 DLR (AD) 12 as referred to in the impugned judgment appears to be appropriate having binding effect in this case.

21. Considering all aspects, we hold the view that the suit of the plaintiff being barred under Section 12(8) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003, rejection of plaint is justified Under Oruer VII, rule 11 (d) read with section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure. So, the impugned judgment and decree may also be affirmed with the aforesaid modification by putting the correct section of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003.

22. In the result, First Appeal is dismissed without any order as to costs. The impugned judgment and decree passed by the learned Subordinate Judge is maintained with the modification that the suit is barred by under Section 12(8) and not section 18(2) of the Artha Rin Adalat Ain, 2003. Accordingly, the connected Civil Rule No. 605(F) of 2010 is discharged and the ad-interim order dated 10-11-2010 directing the parties to maintain status-quo stands vacated.

Send down the LCR along with a copy of the judgment to the Court below immediately.




Dhaka, Moscow sign deal on visa-free visit

Bangladesh and Russia have signed an agreement on visa-free visit for persons holding diplomatic and official (service) passports.

At a meeting held on Thursday evening at the UN Headquarters, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov signed the deal on behalf of their respective governments.

The agreement once implemented will ease and enhance the level of engagements between the peoples of the two friendly countries, said foreign ministry here on Friday. During the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed issues of mutual interests.

They also discussed the possibility of a visit by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Dhaka sometime early 2017. The Russian side showed interest in formalising a few agreements, including the Inter-governmental cooperation, maritime cooperation,and send delegation to Dhaka to further the ongoing discussion. Foreign Minister Ali thanked the Russian government for its continued support to Bangladesh and especially referred to the implementation of the country's first nuclear power plant under the Russian assistance. Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque was present during the meeting.


PM rules out mid-term polls

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaking at a press briefing in Bangladesh Mission in New York on Thursday.

UNB, New York :

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday ruled out the possibility of any mid-term election in the country, questioning the necessity of such polls.

"Has the news of the mid-term polls come floating in the Jamuna River? Is there any such problem for which the mid-term election will have to be given?" she told a press conference here in the morning.

The press conference was arranged at Bangladesh's Permanent Mission to brief the media about the outcome of the Prime Minister's participation in the ongoing 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Sheikh Hasina said there is no relation between the mid-term polls and the upcoming council of Bangladesh Awami League. "You know Awami League is a big organisation. The party's council from the grassroots to ward, union, upazila and district levels has already been completed. Now, the central council (of the party) will be held, and the councillors will take decisions about the leadership," she said. The Prime Minister said she thinks that there is no relation between the party's council and the national election. "It's our routine work as the party council is held after every three years." Noting that the party could not hold its council during the emergency and martial law regimes, she said, "Otherwise, we tried to hold the party council regularly and we're taking preparation in this regard," she said.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Bangladesh Ambassador and

Permanent Representative to the UN Masud Bin Momen were present on the dais while PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim moderated the press conference. PM's entourage, including ministers, parliament members, political and business leaders, were also present. Answering to a question about opposition by BNP and some other parties to government steps on curbing terrorism and militancy and the role of the opposition parties, Hasina said the opposition party which tends to oppose every step will usually oppose everything and there is nothing to be worried about it.

"The opposition party in parliament is properly playing its due role, but you can't expect anything, especially from those who are not in parliament and don't believe in democracy, who burnt and killed people to death to foil the last general election, burnt the polling centers and killed an Assistant Presiding Officer, burnt people alive in buses, trains, launches and trucks," she added.

The Prime Minister alleged that the BNP-Jamaat clique committed all such crimes to thwart the last general election but failed to involve the common people in their attempt to foil it. Hasina said all should have to resist those culprits who are killing people in the name of Islam and maligning this holy religion. She said the issues of counterterrorism and militancy came up in various functions of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly as terrorist acts are now taking place across the globe not only in Bangladesh. Hasina said some incidents of bombing and terrorist acts continued to take place in the USA just before the current general assembly.

Responding to a question about the extradition of the killers of Bangabandhu, Hasina said it took 31 years to try the killers of Bangabandhu adding, "Since we've held the trial, we'll complete the rest surely." She said as the killers of Bangabandhu are staying in various countries, her government has been trying its level best to bring back those killers and execute the verdict. Asked whether she was writing her autobiography, Hasina said nothing like that. "I always want to live as my father's daughter." Replying to another question from UNB Editor-in-Chief Enayetullah Khan about the next US presidential election, the Prime Minister echoed with the questioner hoping that such a new government would be there in the US that would work with Bangladesh.

Replying to another question on whether Bangladesh would give any female candidature for the Secretary General post of the UN which will fall vacant in December next, Hasina said, "I'll be a bit more delighting if any woman assumes any post, and there'll always be affection for our own community ...there's is no doubt about it.


Terrorists desperate for `lack of rule of law`: BNP

Staff Reporter :

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday claimed that terrorists have got a free hand to carry out brutal activities as there is 'no rule of law' in the country.

In a statement, he also said, "The country's people have got panicked due to barbaric and desperate activities of the terrorists."

The statement was issued following the murder of Munshiganj Sadar upazila's Rampal union unit Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal general secretary Mizanur Rahman by criminals yesterday.

Fakhrul said Mizan's murder has demonstrated that the terrorists now

hardly care anyone to indulge in criminals activities. "We don't have any suitable word to condemn the cruel incident."

He said the security of people's lives and property is now at stake due to daring activities by the criminals. "Our national existence will also be endangered if we can't free the country from the grasp of terrorists."

The BNP secretary general demanded the government immediately arrest Mizan's killers and ensure exemplary punishment to them.
One held with 12 gold bars in Jessore

UNB, Benapole :

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested a man along with 12 gold bars weighing 1.5 kg from Shikari Battala at Benapole border on Friday noon.

The arrestee was identified as Asanur Rahman, son of Nur Islam, a resident of Daulatpur village in the district.

Liakat Hossain, acting Captain of BGB-26's Benapole camp, said tipped off that a big consignment of gold bars was

being smuggled to India from Bangladesh, a team of the border force conducted a drive at Shikari Battala in the noon. During the drive, the BGB men arrested Asanur and recovered 12 gold bars after searching his body. The market price of the recovered gold bars is estimated to be Tk 58 lakh. A case was filed with Benapole Port Police Station in this connection.
140 bodies recovered from Egypt refugee shipwreck

Al Jazeera News :

The total number of bodies pulled from the waters climbed to 148, Egypt's state-run news agency MENA said on Friday, quoting Wahdan el-Sayyed, the spokesman of Beheira province, where Rosetta is located.

Earlier reports had put the number of dead at at least 43. The military said that it had rescued 163 survivors, and recovery attempts were continuing. There are fears the death toll could rise further, with rescuers focusing their efforts on the boat's hold where witnesses said around 100 people had been when the vessel flipped over.

In a new report on Friday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that "as many as 240 [people are still] unaccounted for or presumed missing" from the shipwreck. "Normally in such situations, 'missing' migrants are presumed drowned, their remains never recovered," it said. The IOM said most of those rescued were Egyptians, but also included Sudanese, Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian. Authorities arrested four suspected people traffickers on Thursday over the incident, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean. The accident comes months after the EU border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound refugees were using Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous journey. People-traffickers often use barely seaworthy vessels and overload them to extract the maximum money in fares from desperate refugees. The IOM reported on Friday that 300,450 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2016 through 21 September, arriving mostly in Greece and Italy. Some 166,050 people have arrived in Greece and 130,567 in Italy during 2016. Total arrivals for the entire month of September last year were 518,181 - nearly 50 percent higher than 2016's totals, with slightly over a week remaining before the start of October. Deaths, however, are considerably higher than last year's total of 2,887 on this date. According to the IOM's Missing Migrants Project, this year's deaths stand at 3,501, including the people who died in the latest tragedy off Egypt.
2 BD nat`ls shot dead by BSF

Jhenaidah Correspondent :

Two Bangladeshi nationals were gunned down by the members of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in the frontiers of Jhenaidah and Kurigram districts early Friday.

The deceased were identified as Jasim Mandal, 38, son of Daud Mandal of Soilgoldia in Chuadanga Sadar upazila and Dukhu Miah, 28, son of Abdul Hye of Fakirpara village in Roumari upazila in Kurigram district.

Talking to the local journalists BGB 58 Battalion Director Lieutenant Colonel Tajul Islam said, they came to know that as some cattle traders from Bangladesh entered the Indian territory through Baghadanga frontier under Moheshpur upazila to bring cattle from there at around 3.30am, the BSF men opened fire on them killing Jasim Mandal on the spot.

The BSF men later dragged the body into the Indian territory, while the others managed to flee.

In Kurigram, another Bangladeshi youth was shot dead by BSF troops along Goytarpar frontier in Roumari upazila early Friday.

Commanding Officer of Jamalpur BGB-35 Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Rafiqul Islam said the BSF members opened fire on some Bangladeshi men when they went near the main pillar No. 1068 around 5 am, leaving Dukhu Mia dead on the spot.

A letter has been sent to the BSF authorities protesting the incident, he said.
BD to seek $20b aid for 25 mega projects

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

Bangladesh will seek billions of dollar funding support from China to implement dozens of its strategic development projects when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Dhaka in the second week of October.



At the same time, it will also seek Chinese cooperation in the areas of trade, commerce, foreign direct investment, defense and blue economy.



"We will seek financial assistance to the tune of US$20 billion from China to execute at least 25 mega development projects. We will make the proposal during the discussion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina," a senior External Resource Division (ERD) official told The New Nation asking not to be named.



He said, implementation of these projects is vital to support an 8.0 per cent annual GDP growth and achieve the status of middle income country by 2021.



"Dhaka has already prepared a list of such projects for Beijing opting Chinese funding for their implementation. We are expecting an official announcement in this regard during the meeting between the two leaders. If Beijing does not consider to Dhaka's needs then it will look for alternative funding sources for their implementation," said the ERD official.



The ERD official, however, expressed his optimism of securing the Chinese support in implementation of Bangladesh's mega infrastructural projects saying that the Chinese President might announce a full package involving billions of dollars to shore up our investment need.



"China has already taken the lead of Malaysian mega projects edging out other foreign bidders like Japan. It may be played a similar role here being a tested friend of Bangladesh," he added.



Officials said the projects lined up for Chinese assistance include the single line dual gauge railway track from Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and Ramu to Gundum near Myanmar border project, Dhaka-Chittagong railway chord line project, Padma rail link from Dhaka to Jessore project and multi-lane road tunnel under the river Karnaphuli.



Other projects include Chinese economic and industrial zone in Chittagong area, digital connectivity for Digital Bangladesh, expansion and strengthening of power system network in DPDC area, Payra sea port project, Dhaka-Ashulia elevated expressway, Unit-2 of Eastern refinery and single point mooring project.



According to the Finance Ministry officials, the government has targeted to implement these projects by 2021 and sent loan proposals to China considering their interest in promoting Bangladesh's economic development as they are doing over the years.



Another senior official in the Prime Minister Office told The New Nation yesterday that the issue of deep sea port project is expected to come into discussions between the two leaders and most likely a deal to this effect would be signed between Bangladesh and China.



"The visit of Chinese President is significant for various reasons. Talks between the two sides will be held on economic and regional cooperation, terrorism and security issues," a foreign ministry official told The New Nation yesterday.



He said the visit of Chinese top leader in Bangladesh would further deepen the Sino-Bangla ties when both the countries are maintaining an excellent bi-lateral relation.

"A number of accords, memorandum of understandings and agreements are expected to sign between Bangladesh and China during the Chinese President's upcoming visit to Bangladesh," he added.

In the past four decades, the Sino-Bangla relations have gone through a speedy transformation. Exchange of high-profile visits between China and Bangladesh shows both countries seriousness to strengthen ties between them.

In June 2014, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid visit to China emphasizing a stronger Sono-Bangla relations.

During the visit, she invited the Chinese President to come to Bangladesh to mark the 40 year's anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries.



The Chinese President will arrive in Dhaka on October 14 and leave for India on the next day to attend the BRICS Summit in Goa.
Patient dies at DMCH

Why sweeper engaged in giving treatment instead of doctor! He was beaten severely by family members

Staff Reporter :

A patient died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital [DMCH] on Friday being 'treated' by a sweeper who was on-duty at that time in absence of qualified physicians, alleged victim's family members.



At one stage, the angry family members and other patients caught the sweeper-cum -physician and beat him severely.



The dead patient was identified as Biplob Mandol, 26, a resident of Keraniganj. He was admitted to DMCH on Sunday being injured in a motorcycle accident.



Getting information, police rushed to the spot and rescued the accused sweeper Sumon, 27, at about 4:30 pm.

But it did not cool down the anger of general people. They besieged the police camp chanting slogans demanding punishment of the accused.



The agitated patients and their relatives also demanded explanation from DMCH authority why a sweeper was engaged in giving treatment instead of a doctor.



Detailing the incident, Biplob's father Binod Mandol said: "My son received serious injuries in a motorcycle accident at Keraniganj on Sunday and he was admitted to DMCH. We went to call the on-duty doctor when his condition deteriorated Friday afternoon. After hearing the problem, the doctor prescribed an injection to push into patient's body."



"When we went to buy the medicine, the sweeper Sumon pressed an Oxygen mask on the mouth of patient. After a while, he announced that the patient had expired. There was a stethoscope hanging on the neck of Sumon. At first, we thought he was a doctor. But someone recalled that he [Sumon] brushed the room a few minutes ago," the father added in a wailing voice.



Police and local sources said that family members of the patient and other people became extremely unhappy seeing the mismanagement of hospital administration. They were also locked in an altercation with hospital officials, and started beating Sumon.



Being informed, members of Shahabagh Police Station rushed to the spot and took Sumon on their vehicle for his safety. But the agitated people besieged the police van and started beating Sumon again taking him forcibly from police.



Later, additional police force along with RAB members went there and brought the situation under control. They kept Sumon at DMCH police camp to save him from public wrath.



"Now, the situation is under control. Additional police and RAB members have been deployed at DMCH to prevent any further untoward incident," Assistant Sub-Inspector [Superintendent of DMCH police camp] Bachhu Mia said.



The accused person Sumon, however, told the newsmen that he was working as a "ward boy" at Ward No. 200 in the DMCH. He got the job in the hospital through recommendation of a ward master. "I went to the patient being directed by a doctor," he said not mentioning the doctor's name.


Aarons, a rent-to-own store with two locations in Lafayette, is seeking the biggest tax relief: $1.6 million of its $1.7 million bill.

Dozens of property owners representing 95 properties in Lafayette Parish, most of them commercial owners and what appears to be landlords, will be lined up Tuesday to contest their assessments. In fact, property-tax challenges are the only item on the councils agenda save for a pair of Planning Commission appeals  no ordinances, either introductory or facing a final vote, are on the agenda  but it will be long meeting nonetheless.

Some of the commercial property owners have lawyered up, notably Prog Leasing and Aarons Inc., both out-of-state companies headquartered in suburban Atlanta, Ga. that will be represented by a fellow Georgia tax firm, Cushman & Wakefield.

Aarons, a rent-to-own store with two locations in Lafayette, is seeking the biggest tax relief. The Lafayette Parish Assessors office assessed the companys property in the parish at $1.7 million; Aarons is seeking to pay $96,168, which would represent a $1.6 million reduction.

Prog Leasing, on the other hand, is seeking the largest reduction in terms of percentage: Its assessed liability on five properties in the parish was set at $331,7000. Its seeking a 100 percent reduction  as in no tax bill whatsoever  in its appeal.

To see the full list of property-tax appeals with links to supporting documentation, click here.
In March, U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi was removed from the cases against the Iberia sheriff and 11 of his subordinates without explanation.

Awaiting trial on charges he directed deputies to beat jail inmates, Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal is asking a federal appeals court to overrule a mysterious decision to transfer his case to a different judge.

In March, U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi was removed from the cases against Ackal and 11 of his subordinates without explanation.

Ackal's attorney, John McLindon, asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday to return the case to Minaldi. McLindon's court filing claims Minaldi's removal from the case violated court rules.

The chief judge for the Western District of Louisiana reassigned the cases to a different judge four days after Minaldi abruptly ended a hearing related to the case against Ackal. Minaldi didn't disclose a reason on the record.
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.

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Andrew Lipovsky/NBCShawn Mendes was the musical guest on Thursday night's The Tonight Show and helped host Jimmy Fallon read some of his favorite #FallSongs,

Fallon's weekly "Tonight Show Hashtags" usually features him reading his favorite viewer tweets with a hashtag he's chosen, but this time, Mendes sang them, backed by Jimmy's house band, The Roots.

Here are a few examples:

To the tune of his own hit, "Stitches," Mendes sang, "Watch me sneeze until I can't breathe, allergies are gonna kill me, and now that I'm without warm weather, I'll be needing sweaters."

Next, Shawn used Simon & Garfunkel's classic "The Sound of Silence" to deliver a tweet that read, "Hello Starbucks my old friend, It's time for pumpkin spice again."

The 18-year-old Toronto, Canada native chose Adele's "Hello" as the melody for a tweet that read: "Hello, it's trees. We were wondering if all these months you'd like some leaves."

Shawn got some help from Jimmy on a takeoff of The Proclaimers' "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles" that declared, "And I would rake 500 piles, and I would rake 500 more. Just to be the man who raked 1,000 leaves outside of your front door."

Later, he sang "Mercy," from his new album, Illuminate.

Mendes will head his first-ever arena world tour in 2017 in support of the album.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
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The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...

[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try?

Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women.

I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it.
Brandon Banks, 30, of Cape Girardeau, was found guilty Thursday of the first degree murder of Marsha Brown, 40, also of Cape Girardeau.

Banks was also found guilty of three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and possession of a weapon by a felon, according to a news release from Jackson County State's Attorney, Michael Carr. A Jackson County jury deliberated less than two hours before returning with a verdict.

Jackson County deputies were called Jan. 14, 2014, to Potters Road in Makanda in response to a body discovered in a grassy embankment on the side of the road. Brown was identified through a driver's license and other identification.

Her family reported she was last seen between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13, 2014, when she left her home en route to Carbondale with Banks and two others. Witnesses reported the group traveled to Carbondale to attend a party at a local motel. An argument ensued during the party between Banks and Brown that turned physical.

Brown called 911 and said she was being held against her will, but did not know the name or location of the hotel. She then terminated the call. Banks suspected she called the police and instructed the group to get in the car and leave Carbondale.

The two continued to argue, until Banks ordered the driver to stop the car and that everyone exit the vehicle. Once outside, Banks shot brown in the face and fired at least two more shots into her body. He then ordered everyone back into the car and the group left the scene, leaving Brown behind.

Banks could spend natural life in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in about 60 days. He has been in custody since his arrest in St. Louis, two days after the shooting.

Jackson County Sheriff's Office investigated the case with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, St. Louis Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Marshall's Office and the U.S. Secret Service.
A dance party in Carbondale this Saturday will raise money for Yazidi women and girls who have escaped enslavement by ISIS.

Part of an international effort called Global Hafla for Humanity, the fundraiser will feature social dance styles of the Middle East. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at Willow Street Studios, located at 205 W. Willow St.

Tedi Thomas, a dance instructor at Willow Street Studios, organized the Carbondale event. She has studied the Egyptian folk dance called raqs sharqi  known to Americans as belly dancing  for the past 36 years.

Thousands of Yazidi women and girls were enslaved by ISIS in 2014 when forces stormed Iraq.

We all want to be able to do something, but we feel helpless in the face of the evil and harm thats done to people around the world, she said. But this one really hit home, because it also ties into the civil war in Syria, and again, (were) trying to reach out and do something that will benefit people of the areas where the dance comes from.

All proceeds will go to the AMAR Foundations Escaping Darkness campaign, which works to bring therapy and assistance to Yazidi women who were bought and sold in markets, raped, tortured and abused by ISIS fighters.

Thomas described raqs sharqi as a cultural tradition of social dancing, and a little bit different than what most Americans associate with "belly dancing.

Its a folk tradition, and what people do with what we call belly dance is actually involving creating more of a theatrical presentation of these music and movement traditions, Thomas said.

The party is open to dancers of all skill levels. Beginners shouldnt have any trouble, Thomas said.

Its going to be really simple, because basically when people of the culture get together and have celebrations  they have celebrations for births and marriages and things like that  it is a matter of joy and happiness, she said. You have music, theres usually food involved, and theres dancing, and its just about expressing that happiness. So basically its everybody getting up and dancing in the traditions that the dances come from.

Thomas hopes to begin the party with the dabke, a Levantine line dance.

Were just going to stumble through it and have a good time. Then were going to some of what I like to refer to as raqs baladi, which is plain old having-fun-to-the-music dancing, she said.

There is a suggested donation of $10, and light refreshments will be provided.

I dont currently plan on turning anybody away for their inability to donate, and in the same vein Im hoping that some people who have the ability to donate will be more generous, she said.

Those wishing to donate directly to the campaign may do so at www.haflaforhumanity.com.
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, West Virginia, 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.
SPRINGFIELD  The Illinois Department of Human Services will hold hearings next month on its plan to prohibit overtime for workers who provide in-home care for people with disabilities.

The department implemented the policy in May in response to a U.S. Department of Labor ruling that said home care workers must earn time-and-a-half overtime pay if they work more than 40 hours per week. However, Gov. Bruce Rauners administration put the policy on hold last month just as a union representing 25,000 home care workers was readying to file a class-action lawsuit challenging it.

Terri Harkin, a vice president with the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois, said the union believes the administration acted illegally in implementing the restriction.

While the department is now seeking permission from the General Assemblys bipartisan, bicameral committee in charge of approving such rules, Harkin said SEIU still believes its actions are against the law. The state has an obligation to bargain with the union over policy changes, she said, adding that the union has filed an unfair labor practices claim with the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

Even if it werent illegal to implement this because of the bargaining obligation, they still shouldnt do it, Harkin said. Its very harmful to literally thousands of people with disabilities and some of the lowest-paid workers in the state.

Personal assistants in the departments home services program earn $13 an hour, and Rauner vetoed legislation this summer that would have raised their pay to $15 an hour. The union and the administration have been negotiating a new contract for more than a year, and the administration has pushed for a pay freeze.

The Department of Human Services did not respond Thursday to a request for comment, but Secretary James Dimas told The Associated Press last month that the policy was designed to save the state money and protect personal assistants from working too many hours.

Previously, we had people working 17 or 20 hours in a day, Dimas told the AP. I dont think people are very fresh and responsive if they put in that kind of schedule.

A department official who testified about the policy this spring before an Illinois House committee assured lawmakers that it wouldnt be implemented in a draconian manner.

Ginger Grant of Charleston works for a 67-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis who is approved for nearly 60 hours of care per week. The woman already had a second personal assistant who filled in when Grant wasnt available. When the new policy went into effect, the woman had to find a third assistant to pick up the extra hours Grant could no longer work.

Grant said that has meant the woman can no longer call her if she needs help with something like going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

I had to cut back or I would be fired, she said, noting that her pay has dropped by about $200 to $300 per month.

Harkin said that not all clients have been able to find extra help so easily. The turnover rate for the home care workers is nearly 50 percent annually, she said.

The department will hold hearings on the policy Oct. 3 in Chicago and Oct. 6 in Springfield.
Orangeburg Lutheran Church has what looks like two large bird feeders outside its educational building.

But these structures are not for feeding birds.

They are for souls with a love for reading.

Expertly wood crafted and complete with swinging-hinged doors, the cases actually store books that are part of the church Little Library community service project.

There is an adult library and a childrens library located on Fair Street across from the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five office. Unlike most other libraries, there is no card required for community members to take up to three books from each library on any given day.

Citizens are free to keep the books, or return them after theyve been read. The adult library contains books on everything from quilting to history, while the childrens books also contain a plethora of themes for kids to enjoy.

Even if citizens choose to keep the books, they are free to come back and select other books for further reading.

The Rev. Dr. James B. Vigen, pastor of Orangeburg Lutheran Church at 610 Ellis Ave., said he was at a meeting in Columbia when he first saw a Little Library at a nearby church.

I said, Thats a good idea. We could have one at my church. So I shared the idea with our church council a long time ago, and they said, Yes, its a good idea! Make it happen! Then it was up to me in my busy schedule to find the time, Vigen said.

Vigen said he asked church member Jean Schwartz, a master woodworker who had already crafted cabinets for the church, to construct the Little Libraries.

He said the project is actually part of a nationwide movement that has been going on for quite some time.

Little Free Library is indeed a Hudson, Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization that supports the worldwide movement to offer free books housed in small containers to local community members.

Little Free Libraries are also referred to as community book exchanges, neighborhood book exchanges, book trading posts, pop-up libraries and micro-libraries.

Schwartz said while the library construction project was a lot of work, it was worth it.

We have a lot of homeless that come through here that are readers. They go to the library but, you know, they cant spend the night there and take kids books home, so this serves that need as well, Schwartz said.

She said she is not worried about the church running out of books. Weve got a tremendous amount of readers here that will be donating constantly.

Donna McCullough is one providing much-needed childrens books.

McCullough said, First of all, its about supporting our church. Thats very important, and then children, of course, do well if they can read. Everything hinges on their reading.

Schwartz said, Reading to small children is just as important as being able to read. Seeing their parents read makes more of a difference than you would ever know.

Ive seen this project work in other communities. A friend of mine lives in Gilbert and buys books and puts them in the one they have in Gilbert. ... And I know they have a number of them in Columbia, and they seem to be working pretty well.

Vigen said the community is certainly welcome to donate books to the effort. They can drop them off at the church office from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Donors can also leave books by the office door if they cannot drop them off at the designated hours.

Weve got the libraries all set up. Weve been collecting books, and well continue to collect books. We are screening them, the pastor said.

Each book contains a small white label with the churchs name on it, along with a bright blue book mark that asks citizens to invite others to use the little libraries and also welcomes them to worship at Orangeburg Lutheran Church if they dont already have a faith home.

There are also bright green fliers out at the Little Libraries site that explains how the project works, including how not to leave donated books in the library boxes.

Its all an honor system. There are no cards or costs. You can pull up and take what books you want, but were asking that people please limit themselves to three books from each category per visit so that theres some for other people, Vigen said.

He said the project is promoting literacy and school success, particularly for children.

As far as people taking too many books at one time or perhaps stealing or selling them, the pastor said, If they do, its OK. Well stock it up again and hope they dont steal them again. Im hopeful that its gonna work out very well.

Schwartz said, Every so often well have to replace the books anyway. If theyve been out there three months, everybodys either read them or dont want to read them, so itll be time for a new crop.

Studies have shown that children who have magazines and books and are read to at home are going to do better in school, he said.

The Little Library is one of many outreach projects for the church each year.

The church will also be celebrating its homecoming with a worship service to begin at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. The Rev. Stephen Mims is the featured speaker and a luncheon will follow. To attend the luncheon, call 803-534-1192 or email at olc610@bellsouth.net.
It isnt unusual for presidential candidates to discuss the actions of the Supreme Court on the campaign trail  hailing some precedents and promising to overturn others. However, in most election years, the campaign rhetoric is just that: empty rhetoric.

By design, the Constitution limits how far any one president can go in circumventing, overruling or limiting the Supreme Court or the Constitution itself. In 2016, however, the stars have aligned for Secretary Hillary Clinton so that campaign pledges regarding constitutional law are not just empty promises. Indeed, in 2016, such promises are deliverable.

What makes this possible in 2016 is not only the fact that Clinton would be able to appoint a Supreme Court justice of her own choosing but that she already has at least one justice in seeming total support of her constitutional agenda.

On crucial questions concerning both the First and Second amendments, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has declared positions that mirror those of Clinton. These facts combined create the possibility for a scenario that has not occurred in a long time: A president able to weld the appointment power with reasonable certainty that the court will support their agenda. The prospect of that happening today is of particular concern to the future of civil rights.

On questions arising from the First Amendment, the current split on the court has left several questions unresolved and recent precedents in danger of being overturned.

Hillary Clinton has pledged to introduce a constitutional amendment that would effectively alter the First Amendment by overturning the courts recent precedent in Citizens United. However, if she achieves the presidency, she may not have to take such a drastic step. Justice Ginsburg, for her part, has taken a position similar to Clintons by publicly calling for the Supreme Court to overrule the Citizens United precedent.

The stance taken by both Clinton and Ginsburg is illustrative of a larger recent trend on the part of some liberals to see the First Amendment through a partisan lens. For instance, after Justice Antonin Scalias passing in the middle of the term, the Supreme Court split 4-4 on several cases. Arguably the most significant of these was Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. In Friedrichs, nine California teachers argued that compulsory union dues violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and free association.

Clinton explained in a statement on the Friedrichs case that the Supreme Court is important to protect individual rights and progressive traditions in our country. But when it comes to the First Amendment, progressive traditions trump individual rights every time.

The courts liberal members  especially Ginsburg  have voted to silence a non-profits critical video of Hillary Clinton through restrictions on campaign limits, to force nuns to fund sexual activity they disagree with, and to force workers to fund political organizations of which they \are not members.

A second area in which the law is open to real change is the courts Second Amendment jurisprudence. The late Justice Scalia wrote the majority opinion in District of Columbia vs. Heller, in which the court struck down regulations that made it effectively impossible to obtain a handgun license and thereby upheld the right of citizens to possess weapons for self-defense in their own home.

Once again, Clinton is on record arguing that the case should be overturned. And once again, Ginsburg is also on record in agreement. In an interview with the New York Times, the justice explained she thought Heller was a very bad decision and that the court would have an opportunity to reconsider it in the future.

Many of these and similar First and Second Amendment questions will be before the court again in the near future. The courts tie in Friedrichs has left the issue of worker freedom unresolved and ripe for a new challenge. As recently as this term, the Supreme Court relied on Heller to question the constitutionality of state bans on stun guns, and the right to use non-lethal means of self-defense will likely be before the court again soon.

Considering that the elder justice of the courts liberal bloc has publicly expressed views in line with those of Clinton, we can be reasonably certain how the court will resolve these questions if they get their way. Regardless of political affiliations, those who care about civil rights  particularly our First and Second amendments  should be concerned about the prospect of a Supreme Court that is not adversarial to the executive.
Students who hold associate degrees from any of South Carolinas 16 technical colleges may enroll as juniors at Claflin University.

Leaders of Claflin and the S.C. Technical College System met Thursday in Orangeburg to sign a memorandum of understanding that will provide a seamless transferring handshake, Claflin Provost Dr. Karl Wright said.

This is the first such agreement the state system has entered into with a private, four-year university in South Carolina. Claflin is the only historically black college or university in the state with this type of agreement with the state tech system.

Claflin President Dr. Henry Tisdale said the agreement is a historic event for both the university and the state tech system.

Wright noted that 53 students transferred out of the technical college system to Claflin this fall.

Tisdale said Claflins enrollment is well over 2,000 students.

Sometimes we have applications from students and we advise them that it may be a better course of action to begin the first two years at a two-year institution and that might help them become a much stronger student, Tisdale said.

Some of the best and brightest students also begin at the two-year institutions, he said.

And sometimes they may feel more comfortable staying closer to home or not just ready yet to jump into a four-year institution, Tisdale said.

He said that making Claflin more accessible will contribute to the universitys steady growth.

Yes, we will grow in the future and we expect to see more growth coming from students who are transferring after getting two-year degrees, he said. Tisdale said the universitys online courses make Claflin accessible statewide.

Dr. Susan Winsor, interim president of the state tech system, said, We consider the technical college system to serve multi purposes in this state. Workforce development is obviously critical to us, but so is the access to a four-year degree.

She said the agreement provides students with, the opportunity to stay at home, perhaps cut some costs, but still have access to a very fine education and institution that has an incredible reputation.

Were very grateful for yet another pathway for students to access their dreams, she said.

Tisdale said Claflin University began discussing this type of agreement with state tech system in early 2015.
Village Nails, a salon on St. Matthews Road, has settled a lawsuit with a customer for $300,000.

Attorney Wayne Ridgeway said his client, Annette Townsend, was injured when a technician at Village Nails gave her a pedicure and used a rasp on the bottom of one of her feet. He said his client was living in Orangeburg at the time of her injury but has since moved.

Townsend filed a lawsuit in February 2015, alleging she was injured by an unlicensed nail technician on June 23, 2014, and subsequently underwent long-term wound care, Ridgeway said.

The technician used a bandage to cover the womans foot injury, he said. In the days that followed, the woman went to the emergency room of the Regional Medical Center with a bacteriological skin infection.

She was admitted to RMC for several days to treat her foot injury and then underwent long-term wound care, Ridgeway said.

Ridgeway said his client still has pain and discomfort.

The case was scheduled for trial in a few weeks.

Ridgeway said the $300,000 settlement is the maximum payment allowed by Liberty Mutual, the insurance agency that covered Village Nails.

Charles DuBose, the attorney representing the owner of Village Nails, asked a Liberty Mutual spokesman to contact this newspaper.

Richard Angevine, the Liberty Mutual spokesperson, said, Liberty Mutual Insurance does not publicly discuss matters involving individual policyholders.

Ridgeway said, in a written statement, that the owner of Village Nails stated that her salon does not use a pedicure rasp  which is not allowed for use in salons  and that her technicians are licensed.

We knew early on that the (Village Nails owner) was not being truthful and had located several women who were prepared to offer testimony that they also had been injured by the illegal rasp at this salon, Ridgeway said.

Ridgeway also stated that a representative of the states Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation offered testimony that an unannounced inspection about one week prior to the incident documented utilization of a rasp, an instrument used to scrape cells from the underside of the foot.

In addition, the inspection yielded unlicensed nail technicians, Ridgeway said.

The owner of Village Nails was reached by phone on Thursday, but she didn't provide any comment.
There are thirteen new Rural Ambulances sitting for some years now in storage at the St. Vincent Shipyard, originally known as the Ottley Hall Marina and Shipyard.





THE VINCENTIAN understands that they were a gift from the Government of Dubai to the people of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, to assist this country in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals project.





The ambulances appear to be particularly designed for use in services to women, since they bear the insignia of WAHA  which stands for Women and Health Alliance International  an international non-profit, non governmental organisation based in France.





WAHA was launched by Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al-Nahyan, wife of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates, with the over-arching goal of addressing maternal and neonatal health in disadvantaged communities throughout the world.

It follows, therefore, that this country would qualify for assistance from this NGO, and it appears, from what THE VINCENTIAN has learned, that the thirteen ambulances were donated in that organizations name.





Questions abound as to why the ambulances have remained in storage. Is it that they are deemed unsuitable for use in our terrain? If this is the case, didnt we have some indication beforehand as to the type and capacity of the ambulance? Is this another lapse in our delivery of health care and health service to the people, especially at the community level? Is it that we cannot afford to bring these ambulances into operation?





Does someone in the scheme of things consider these ambulances useless? If they are suitable for use here, why are we continuing to deny our people, our women folk especially, this vital service?





Answers, please.




Right: The Aqua facility being demolished on Wednesday morning about the same time Chill Spot was also being demolished.

Businessman Garth Lance Oliver is not the only one whose business was disrupted earlier this week.





A team of workmen was seen demolishing a nearby operation Aqua, known as an outdoor roast meat operation.

Information surfaced at the end of last month, after a notice was served by the Physical Planning and Development Board on Oliver, that he had two weeks from August 31 to shut down his business, following his alleged failure to comply with Building and Planning regulations.

However, there was no definite word on the future of Aqua, even after residents had accused that business place of also making their lives uncomfortable.

They complained about loud music, sometimes being played into the early hours of the morning and at high levels, and the smoke which emanated from the grill.

Following the word that Oliver was being shut down, nothing was heard about the future of Aqua, other than they were told to move their operations indoors.

Despite several attempts to obtain a comment from the Director of Planning. THE VINCENTIAN was unable to do so. (DD)
Aaron Moses, President of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions, delivering his address to the 14th Summit of the Confederation.

President of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) - Aaron Moses, has declared that Credit Unions have contributed significantly to the economy of the Caribbean, so much so that they have become the engine of sustainable development.





Moses, speaking at the opening of the 14th Annual OECS Credit Union Summit at the Buccament Bay Resort Conference Hall on Thursday 14th , told the gathering comprising Credit Unions officials, government officials and members of the media, that more than 50 percent of the populations of the OECS are members of a credit union, and in terms of assets and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the various OECS countries, there is a very interesting story.





"St. Vincent, Grenada and St. Lucia assets to GDP ranges between 19 and 21 percent. When we get to Dominica that is 39 percent and certainly Monserrat, for unique reasons, is over 50%, said Moses.

He, however noted that, despite the fact that the Credit Union movement has done well, there are tremendous challenges that confront them.





"If we are to continue to be the engine of sustainable development within our societies, we must work harder, we must do a lot of things differently, we must work smarter, said the CCCU President.





Moses spoke of the financial illiteracy epidemic that characterizes the world, including the Caribbean. He said the (Caribbean) population knows very little about financial issues, discipline and management.

He made reference to the introduction of institutions that offer Pay Day loans, where people, especially those of the lower echelons of our society, are paying between 30 and 36 percent to borrow money.





"So you have workers who are barrowing $ 1,000 and they will have to start paying over $300 in interest. By the time that the end of the first week comes around, they have to go back, and its a vicious cycle, Moses declared.

The operations by those institutions are having a negative impact on the lives of the individuals, their communities and families, Moses posited, and contrasted this against the Credit Unions, whose goal is the building and enhancing the lives of individuals, their families and communities.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves (2nd from left) challenged the Credit Unions to play their part in ensuring a stable financial sector in the region.

Featured Speaker at the opening of the 14th Annual OECS Credit Union Summit Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has appealed to the credit union movement to make changes, in order to realize financial stability in the region.





The 14th Annual OECS Credit Union Summit was held at the Buccament Bay Resort from the 14th to 18th September, 2016, under the theme Strengthening OECS Credit Union Co-operation, Integration and Innovation.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Co-operative League Ltd. played host to the Summit. Among those in attendance were representatives of Antigua and Barbuda Co-operative, Dominicia Co-operative Societies League, Grenada Co-operative Societies League, St. Kitts and Nevis National Co-operative League, St. Lucia Co-operative League, St. Patricks Co-operative Credit Union, Montserrat, and the host country.





Gonsalves, in his address, noted that it was important that the Credit Union Movement is run well, and that they work in unison with the regulators to ensure that they contribute to stability in the financial sector.





"Because if you dont, it will affect the money that we have inside of the Credit Union; it will affect the financial system as a whole. Once upon a time, it didnt matter, but now the Credit Union matters in a systemic sense, said the Prime Minister





He told the gathering that the verdict of the Central Bank is that the financial system in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union is stable, however, challenges persist in both the banking and the non-banking sector, including the Credit Union, and that the stability is being threatened by the loss of corresponding banking relationships.

The Prime Minister, who is also Minister of Finance, said that there are Credit Unions in the OECS to whom the commercials banks have said, "We dont want your accounts, because they want to be certain that nobody is using the credit union for money laundering or the finance of terrorism.





But Gonsalves also showered praises on the Credit Union Movement, stating that it has made tremendous strides and is now in demand. But he also mentioned a need for a change in some of the operations of the Credit Union, so as to make it more appealing to the younger generation.





Noting that while it was good to have many credit unions, it was also important to deliver great service even if it meant merging in cases where it was necessary, as referenced Unity Labour Party Credit Union merging with the General Employees Co-operative Credit Union (GECCU), as an example.





According to the Prime Minister, he would like to see the Bank of St. Lucia and the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines become one, "So dont think I am advocating this in relation to Credit Nnion, and am not advocating in relation to the banks, said Gonsalves.
The Kingstown Evangelical Church was host to the 2016 annual Conference of the Evangelical Churches of the West Indies (ECWI).

The Evangelical Churches of the West Indies (ECWI), on Sunday 18th September, held its annual Missions Conference at the Kingstown Evangelical Church.





The denomination which is marking its 65th Anniversary of ministry in SVG, was especially pleased to host some 300 participants from the South East Caribbean district of the ECWI.





The Conference heard a number of presentations by missionaries serving in other countries, one such person being Ms Annie Bobb, a seasoned missionary, give a comprehensive report of her work over the years. A video report was presented by Derrick and Adita Juteram, missionaries serving in remote areas of Columbia.





The message was shared by Pastor Jean Claude Didier of St. Lucia and president of Advance International (AI), the missions sending arm of the ECWI. He challenged the gathering with his message Serving Gods Purpose for Our Generation.

A special highlight of the evening session was the ordinations of two local pastors, Leslie Daize and Herman Dalzell.

The evening also included a graduation ceremony for six persons who received their Associate Degree diplomas from the Evangelical Institute of Christian Education (EICE).
Some of the featured local designers on Fashion Night Out include Kimya Glasgow (top left), Odini Sutherland (centre), Ikesha Delpleche (top right), Jeremy Payne (bottom right), Aileen Bailey (bottom left).

Fashion Night Out SVG, St Vincents first Late Night fashion shopping experience, will be held on Thursday 29th September 2016, 7:00pm to 10:00pm, at the Cruise Ship Terminal Building.





The event will be hosted by the Kimya Glasgow Boutique.

Fashion Night Out is a global initiative that began in 2009 by Vogue Magazine and the Council of Fashion Designers of America in New York.





It was initiated as a measure aimed at enticing and encouraging consumers to support the fashion industry during a tough economic climate. The event expanded to 16 countries by 2010.





The locally hosted event is Kimya Glasgow Boutiques Buy. Think. Shop Local Campaign, which seeks to highlight the importance of Vincentians supporting their own local artisans towards stimulating increased economic acitivty at the small business level.





Fashion Night Out SVG will include retail offers, giveaways, product sampling, fashion-related activities, along with a relaxed networking environment with industry stakeholders including 12 local creatives, as well as a select group of regional designers.
On Saturday 24th September, the St Vincent & the Grenadines Medical Association will host a fundraiser with a difference at Flow Wine Bar.





Dubbed A Latin Night for a Cause, and themed Putting Our Strengths Together, the event is aimed at raising funds to assist the Medical Association in its support for treatment of Breast and Prostate Cancer patients, and its awareness programme as far as these two very common cancers are concerned.





The event slots into the designated months for Prostate and Breast Cancer Awareness, September and October respectively.

According to co-host of the event Kimya Glasgow, who is also the co-ordinator of Latin Nights at Flow, "Almost everyone knows someone or knows of someone who has been affected in some way by cancer. Even within my own family, we have been affected by both Breast and Prostate Cancer, so I felt a responsibility to work with the Medical Association to help in the fight against and awareness of these Cancers, and their prevention and treatment. It is a very personal decision.





She went on to say, "I believe that each one of us has the ability to help, and even small contributions can make a difference when added with the goodwill of others. It adds up and can do great things. We have a duty to help each other, which is why I launched Latin Night for a Cause.





Latin Night is a weekly event held at Flow Wine Bar, and has previously supported Earthquake Relief for Ecuador.
Left: Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves counting down to zero funds for LIAT. Right:Julie Reiffer-Jones, Acting CEO of LIAT, admitted to LIATs shortcomings, and promised to address them with urgency.

There will no new injection of funds from St. Vincent and the Grenadines into the regional airline LIAT, until that airline improves its service.





That is the position as laid down by Prime Minister of SVG Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, when he met with a LIAT delegation headed by Acting CEO of LIAT Ms. Julie Reiffer-Jones, Wednesday 14th September, in Kingstown.

That positon follows on a similar one declared earlier this year by Prime Minister of St. Lucia Allen Chastanet i.e. that there will be no funding of the airline by St Lucian taxpayers.





Last week Wednesdays meeting was occasioned after LIAT had come under heavy fire, with Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Godfred Pompey, going public to express their concern about the service meted out to SVG, by of the 59- year-old regional carrier.

According to a news release following the meeting, Dr. Gonsalves, who is the Chairman of LIATs shareholder prime ministers, also raised specific areas of complaint with the Acting CEO, not least among these being the lack of information and the cancellation of flights.





He issued a strong appeal for the airlines management to seek to carry out the mandate of the Shareholder Governments and Board of Directors.





For her part, according to the release, Ms. Reiffer-Jones committed the airline to: review the schedule of flights in and out of St. Vincent and the Grenadines within one week; notify the E.T. Joshua authorities by 9:00 p.m. about the need for any extension beyond the operating hours; review the turnaround time of aircrafts with a view to reducing delays; consider a return of the direct Puerto Rico-SVG flight; improve Customer Service by providing more information to the travelling public.





Last week, as the criticism of LIATs service intensified, Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace, in his weekly Radio programme, described LIAT as a near to sixty-year-old which by now should have dealt with most if not all of its internal problems.





Eustace, though, admitted that this has not been the case; that the airline had shown no real improvement in its service; and that it was, therefore, in bad shape.

He chided PM Gonsalves for having given the impression that "things are getting better, when in fact "things are not getting any better.

It appears now that Dr. Gonsalves has recognised and admitted that things are not getting any better, and is prepared to do something about it.
Workers and proprietor Lance Oliver (seated right) strike a mood of disbelief as they view the demolition of their bread and butter.

Attorney Mafern Mayers-Oliver, wife of businessman Garth Lance Oliver, owner of Chill Spot, Arnos Vale, is unhappy with the way the Physical Planning and Development Board (PPDB) went about the demolition of her husbands place of business on Wednesday.





The demolition following a notification dated August 31, that was sent to Oliver from the Planning Board, giving him until September 16 to comply with the order to cease operation.

The business remained open, and information received was that Oliver was going to appeal the decision.





Appeal submitted

When contacted, Oliver referred THE VINCENTIAN to his wife who confirmed that her husband had in fact submitted a formal appeal to Physical Planning, but nothing was communicated back to them.





That is until they  Planning authorities - moved in with a team to demolish that section of Olivers business place from which has been operating a restaurant and bar at Arnos Vale.





Planning took issue with the operation of the business, stating in the August 31 notification that two previous notices were served back in 2014 and 2015.





The first notice in 2014 cited that Oliver was operating a business without the necessary permission, and in 2015, it stated that without Planning permission he erected a covering over the parking lot designated to be the parking area for another of Olivers businesses, Rent and Drive.





Order for demolition





Mayers-Oliver further explained that a copy of the order for the demolition of her husbands restaurant was served to their lawyer after the demolition process was complete, sometime Wednesday morning.

"We expected that the order would be stayed until the appeal (against the order to cease operations) was heard, Mayers-Oliver explained.





She said that she saw a copy of the demolition order after the process was complete, and it was there that Planning made known its reason for going ahead with the order.

But nothing was formerly communicated to either her or her husband, and Mayers-Oliver is contending that according to the Town and Country Planning Act, Section 18.10, paragraph five of the Act, it states that the order ought to be stayed until the appeal is heard.





It was also stated that the Olivers needed to submit the appeal directly to the minister; however Mayers-Oliver said that under Section 18.10, it says that the appeal may be submitted to the Board; later in Section 27 it mentions making the submission to the minister.





"It seems that Planning is more powerful than the law of the land, Mayers-Oliver told THE VINCENTIAN.

She further explained that they were served notices on three occasions, the first in which Planning cited them of not applying for a change of use of the said property.





But Mayers-Oliver said that her interpretation of the Act suggested that there was no need to apply to operate a restaurant, seeing that the Arnos Vale property was always listed as a commercial property.

When the demolition team showed up on Wednesday morning, neither Mayers-Olivver nor her husband was on the premises.





When they did arrive and requested documentation authorizing the demolition, the response was that no documentation was needed.

And with the accusation that Oliver was not in compliance, Mayers-Oliver said that she did not understand what that meant.





Efforts to appease residents





Mayer-Oliver also told THE VINCENTIAN that a committee comprised of residents and the three operators, Oliver, Trotman and the proprietors of Aqua, met to work through a compromise that would allow for their continued operation.





Trotman made the decision to cease his roast meat operation, with Chill Spot and Aqua remaining open.

However, Mayers-Oliver told THE VINCENTIAN that her husband implemented some changes to his operations, including playing his music at a moderate level and designating a parking area for patrons of the restaurant so as to avoid traffic build-up.





She admitted that the smoke remained an issue, but that after meeting with the Department of Public Health, it was suggested that they put the grill on the roof, which her husband did.

A visit by the members of the said committee earlier this year was evidence that her husband had done all in his power to try to co-exist with the residents. In fact, according to Mayers-Oliver, the committee members indicated that they were satisfied that Oliver made satisfactory adjustments so as not to be considered offensive to nearby residents.





But she said that she does not know if that report was ever sent to the PPDB.

"We always cooperated with the people, Mayers-Oliver said.

"In the beginning, we got it wrong, but it is like we are being reminded of what we did, she continued.

As for the future, Mayers-Oliver said that she does not think that she wants to go down the road of bringing a lawsuit against Planning.





"Its a long process, justice delayed is justice denied, she said.

She said that they are working on plans, including addressing some of the issues that were highlighted.

Once completed, they will be submitting them to the PPDB for approval, Mayers-Oliver assured.
Winfresh South East Steel Orchestra into their recital at the Vineyard Vincyfest on Marthas Vineyard.

The eight-year-old Winfresh South East Steel Orchestra has had its first taste of international exposure.





The significant juncture in its short but ongoing existence came when a contingent of the orchestra performed at the Vineyard Vincyfest, at Featherstone Center for the Arts, Marthas Vineyard, USA.





Vineyard Vincyfest, held August 27, featured cultural and literary aspects of St Vincent and the Grenadines on the popular summer spot located south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and followed on a December 2015 memorandum of Agreement signed between the government of SVG and Dukes County, Marthas Vineyard.





South Easts invitation to perform at Vinceyard Vincyfest was extended by the SVG Consulate in New York, co-ordinator of the activity.





A 19-person contingent - including 16 players, Musical Director Marla Nanton, Band Manager Cecil Ryan and parent Jennifer Richardson - made the trip.





According to a release from the orchestra, the groups reception at Marthas Vineyard was "phenomenal, with numerous requests by members of the audience for the band to play.





The release said the band played for extensive periods of time, and represented itself and St. Vincent and the Grenadines well.

Bitten by the bug of travel and exposure, the Orchestra said it was anticipating future opportunities to gain even more international exposure.
After a break in 2015, the Annual Literary Fair is back as part of the University of the West Indies Open Campus and the Association of Vincentian Artists Writers and Producers contribution to the cultural calendar for this years Independence celebrations.





From October 13th to the 15th 2016, the grounds of the Open Campus will be transformed into a cultural callaloo of Art, Books, Poetry, Song, Dance and Pan. While the primary focus will be to encourage more Vincentians at home and abroad, at all strata of our society, to read and write as this years theme suggests, "Vincy: Read and Write, the Literary Fair is also an opportunity to showcase new and emerging Vincentian talent in the visual and performing arts. The patrons will, no doubt, have the opportunity to immerse themselves and relish the sweet artistic songs and moves to the more experienced artists.





The Literary Fair will officially open on Thursday October 13th at 5:30 pm at the grounds of the Open Campus with an Opening Ceremony to be followed by a Reception. This would however be preceded by an Exhibition at 10:00 am.





The Ceremony will definitely be a foretaste of whats to come on Friday 14th dubbed, An Evening of Pan Poetry and Dance hosted by the Vincentian Association of Artists Writers and Producers. A feature of this activity is the Poetry awards sponsored by the Association.





The Fair climaxes on Saturday, October 15th with a Childrens Village and a Film Night. The Childrens Village will commence at 10:00 am and finish at 3:00 pm. It will include among other things, story telling, riddles, old time games and the reading of pieces by participants in this years national reading competition. It promises to be a treat that your child wouldnt want to miss. The curtain will come down at 6:00 pm, with the screening of at least two local documentaries on important aspects of our cultural heritage.




By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

Austrian Airlines intends to resume flights to Baku, said the Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.

He made the remarks at the meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, U.S.

Kurz noted that Azerbaijan benefits a favorable business atmosphere and Austrian companies are interested in investing in the country.

The Austrian Foreign Minister said also that during its chairmanship at the OSCE in 2017, his country will make efforts to settle the existing conflicts, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The chairmanship at the OSCE will pass to Austria in January 2017.

Kurz expressed his intention to visit Azerbaijan as the future OSCE chairperson-in-office and to discuss the issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the Azerbaijani side.

The meeting highlighted favorable opportunities for expanding of the Azerbaijani-Austrian political dialogue and economic cooperation.

Austrian Airlines has stopped flights to Azerbaijan in December 2015, in times when the national currency of Azerbaijan faced the devaluation process.

The company had noted that the reason of the suspension of flights was the reduction in demand and reduction of the number of passengers. The flights were carried out on the route Vienna-Baku-Vienna. The last flight was made on January 11.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Mekan International Theater Festival has successfully ended in the ancient cultural centre of Azerbaijan, Sheki, Trend Life reported.

Addressing the closing ceremony, the head of Sheki city executive power Elkhan Usubov thanked Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Azerbaijan's Union of the Theatrical Figures for support in organization of the festival.

Further, the representative of Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi

The festival's honored guest Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi was presented commemorative gift on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The colorful event brought together the theatre troupes from Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Ukraine and the UAE.

Guests of the festival enjoyed masterful performance of nine plays.

The opening ceremony featured the play "Dead" by great writer Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, the editor of satirical magazine "Molla Nasraddin".

Azerbaijan was represented at the event by the State Academic Drama Theater, State Russian Drama Theater, State Puppet Theater, Shaki State Drama Theater and Ganja State Drama Theater.

The State Russian Drama Theatre staged "The Seven Beauties", famous romantic poem by legendary poet Nizami Ganjavi.

The performance was presented by honored artists of Azerbaijan Fuad Osmanov, Naina Ibragimova, Asker Ragimov, People's artist Yuriy Baliyev, actors, Teymur Ragimov and Maksud Mammadov.

Ukrainian theatre "Beautiful flowers" presented satirical play "Piy" by Igor Kluchnikin.

The play affects various social problems such as greed for money, social media addiction, bad habits and other problems.

Moscow's Trickster Theatre staged the play "Body parts".

The main roles in the play played Litvinova Maria, Natalie, Denis boroditski and director Vyacheslav Ignatov.

The theatre troupe from Georgia delighted the audience with opera buffa in two acts "The Barber of Seville" by Gioachino Rossini.

The festival's last day featured the play "Vagif" by dramatist and great poet Samad Vurgun.
By Azernews





By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Belarus have discussed cooperation in military sphere as Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov met with State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Stanislav Zas.

They hailed relations between the countries, and noted that the friendly ties between the two leaders provided a solid foundation for the development of the bilateral cooperation, Azertac reported.

The two noted the significance of stepping up efforts to strengthen Azerbaijani-Belarusian ties and highlighted the two countries contributions to the regional security.

They stressed a huge potential existing for the expansion of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belarus in a variety of fields, including military, military education, military technical ones.

Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with Belarus in all fields, particularly in military one. At relevant meetings, the sides highlights huge opportunities for expanding cooperation in military-technical and military education fields.

Meanwhile, Belarusian companies will participate in the ADEX-2016 exhibition, grand demonstration of modern weaponry and technology, to be held in Baku on September 27-30.
By Trend





An OSCE-supported practical course on Internet journalism for some 40 students at the International University for Humanities and Development has concluded in Ashgabat, said the OSCE in a message.

An international expert addressed the global technological environment and new conditions for journalism and society, journalism ethics and the use of sources. The students looked at the principles and instruments of Internet journalism and discussed the text structure and rules of storytelling in online journalism. The four-day course also covered techniques and approaches to visual information in Internet journalism.



Internet provides journalists with vast opportunities, including innovative ways of newsgathering and dissemination, producing news reports and interaction with audiences, said Natalya Drozd, head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.



Modern journalists are expected to be very dynamic, to be able to use new technologies and the Internet and master new media skills, while also paying due attention to fundamental journalism skills such as writing, interviewing and fact-verification, she added.



These courses mark the continuation of successful co-operation with Turkmenistan in the area of journalism education and I am convinced that they will contribute to the development of students professional skills and capability to make effective use of the opportunities offered by new technologies, she said.



The event at the International University for Humanities and Development will be followed by a similar course next week at the Foreign Ministrys Institute of International Relations.
Get Everton Crazy at Everton Two

, 23 September,



Everton are making a limited number of tickets to the event available to supporters who can sign up at evertonfc.com to be in with a chance of attending.

The book, priced at 18.78, is a rich account of a life following the Blues from one of Everton's most committed and well-known supporters, first as a lad growing up in Widnes and then from afar after his work in the oil and gas industry took him to America.

Dr France will be holding subsequent signing sessions at Matchday Hub, Spellow Lane on 30 September at 6.30pm before the home game with Crystal Palace; at Waterstones, Liverpool One on Tuesday 4 October at 6.30pm; at Linghams, 248 Telegraph Road, Heswall on Wednesday 5 October at 7pm; and at Wardleworths, 33 Westfield Street, St Helens on Saturday 8 October at 11am.

About these ads
Oil prices fell on Friday, pulled down by a sell-off following two sessions of strong rises and on caution ahead of a gathering of Opec ministers next week in Algeria to discuss possible production cooperation to rein in global oversupply.



US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures CLc1 were trading at $45.98 per barrel at 0648 GMT (2:48 am ET), down 34 cents, or 0.7 percent, from their previous close.



International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were down 25 cents, or 0.5 percent, at $47.40 a barrel.



Traders said that the declines were largely down to technical indicators and also selling pressure following strong price gains in the previous two trading sessions.



Matt Stanley, a fuel broker at Freight Investor Services in Dubai, said that there was a lot of uncertainty in the market regarding price trends.



"Nobody is really sure where we will go from here which strikes me that $47.50 is a number we may hover around for a while," he said.



The price falls may also be related to an increase in crude supplies, with global production already exceeding consumption almost without interruption since mid-2014.



War-torn Libya, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), exported its first cargo from its Ras Lanuf port since at least 2014 this week, contributing to OPEC's record production Prodn-Total of 33.5 million barrels.



"Supply has increased again," said London-based commodity brokerage Marex Spectron, adding that at the same time "a significant amount of refining capacity is out of the market, which puts a lid on the demand for crude oil."



Opec could see a new push to clinch a first deal to curb output since 2008 next week when the group meets informally in Algeria next week.



Although most market observers say an agreement that would significantly cut record output is unlikely, analysts said that some form of cooperation among exporters, which could at least prevent production from ballooning further, was possible.



ANZ bank said on Friday that it did not expect a formal deal, but added that "discussions between Saudi Arabia and Iran this week suggest they are keen to get something done..., which raises the possibility of a sharp reaction to the upside in prices if an agreement is reached."



US investment bank Jefferies said that "rhetoric into the event seems to be shifting towards agreements to continue talking with action potentially coming later on (at) the next formal Opec meeting in Vienna" in November.-Reuters
BUFFALO  Lawmakers tasked with finding new sources of state revenue during the economic downturn opted instead Friday to allow many industries to continue receiving sales tax exemptions.

The Joint Revenue Committee considered a 12-page bill that could have removed nine sales tax exemptions from several business sectors, from agriculture to data centers to aircraft repair.

The push to generate fresh revenue comes at a time when coal, oil and gas  which account for 70 percent of the money in state coffers  are down. Most of the exemptions came from industries that are not directly involved in energy production.

In the end, lawmakers saved five exemptions, after lobbyists and people who work in the industries argued they are necessary to remain competitive and diversify the states economy.

The bill will be introduced during the 2017 session, with the Revenue Committee sponsoring it.

Four sectors would have to start paying taxes if the bill passes:

outdoors guides and outfitters currently exempted from certain lodging taxes;

some commercial aircraft owners who sell or lease the planes;

businesses that transmit messages from pagers that they sell or rent;

coal gasification companies exempted from equipment to build plants.

There are no coal gasification facilities in Wyoming.

Representatives from several other businesses convinced lawmakers that they need their exemptions to continue:

Farmers and ranchers who dont pay sales taxes on tractors and other machinery;

manufacturers exempted from sales taxes on machinery;

aircraft repair companies that operate in county airports;

data centers exempted from taxes on equipment purchases;

companies that specialize in repairing railroad cars.

The Wyoming Department of Revenue and the nonpartisan Legislative Service Office did not provide a total for what the exemptions cost the state, although exemptions for manufacturing, database centers and railroads combined cost Wyoming $37 million in 2015, according to Revenue Department figures.

Sen. Dave Kinskey of Sheridan supported keeping many of the exemptions. For years, Wyoming has hoped for the manufacturing and technology industries to take root. They came to Wyoming because there were no tax exemptions, and they should not be yanked, the Republican said.

It slams the brakes on growth on those industries, which we desperately need, he said.

Progress Rail Service, which has repair shops in Rock Springs and Bill, a small community in Converse County, was one of the companies that argued the tax exemption needs to stay intact on rail repair equipment. The company pays nearly $3 million a year to the state in other taxes, such as property taxes  money the state could lose if the company closes the shops. Other states, such as Nebraska, offer the exemption, said Progress Rails Kevin Ogle.

Sen. Cale Case, who argued with nearly every industry representative who said they might leave the state without the exemptions, noted Wyoming doesnt have a corporate income tax, while Nebraska has a 7.8 percent corporate income tax. And Wyoming has some of the lowest property taxes in the United States, he said.

There must be a mix of reasons youre in different states, Case said.

Shawn Reese, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, which works with businesses moving to Wyoming, argued for keeping many of the exemptions.

When firearm magazine manufacturer Magpul Industries recently moved from Colorado to Cheyenne, a molding and injection company followed. When HiViz Shooting Systems, another firearms accessories company, moved to Laramie, Maverick Ammunition followed, Reese said.

Reese urged lawmakers to look at the bigger picture.

Wyoming, by many numbers, is the least diversified state, he said.
BUFFALO  Lawmakers spurned a bill to increase taxes on wind energy Thursday, after hearing five hours of testimony from the industrys developers, utilities, local government officials and ranchers opposed to the proposal.

In fact, no members of the public spoke in favor of wind tax increases, even though lobbyists who represent fossil fuel companies sat through the entire discussion, which ultimately lasted nearly six hours.

The idea to increase wind energy taxes  currently at $1 per megawatt hour, with Wyoming being the only state that taxes generation  originated as school construction money continues to dwindle. The school construction account is primarily funded with coal lease bonuses. But there have not been new coal leases in years.

Rep. Mike Madden, a chairman of the Joint Revenue Committee, suggested increasing the tax to $3 per megawatt hour. The rejection of his proposal represents a major victory by the wind industry, which mobilized dozens of local government leaders and others in the fight against the proposal.

Armed with handouts that included splashy graphics and big dollar figures  construction of some projects runs into the billions of dollars  the wind energy industry successfully argued that a new tax will kill projects now under development and put Wyoming at a competitive disadvantage for wind projects at a time when it needs economic diversification.

Wind and fossil fuels are very different technologies with very different economics, said Paul Martin, CEO of Intermountain Wind.

However, Madden disagreed that an increase would kill projects if it was around $3. Although Wyoming is unique in its generation tax, he said lawmakers from two other states have talked to him about implementing such taxes in their states. And Wyoming has a different tax scheme than other states.

We have the cheapest, lowest price of industrial property taxes you can find, almost, in the whole country, he said. In fact the commercial property (tax) is the lowest.

In the world of renewable energy, wind farms are built one of two ways: either utilities such as Rocky Mountain Power construct them and add them to their fleet of renewable and nonrenewable-generated electricity, or companies in the business of developing the farms build them and sell the power to utilities, typically inking 20-year contracts.

The contracts tend to have a fixed price, meaning there is no flexibility if the Wyoming Legislature decides to hike the tax halfway through a contract.

Representatives of Power Company of Wyoming, which began building this month a 1,000-turbine project that will likely be the countrys largest, and Viridis Eolia of Venezuela, which is developing a smaller farm north of Medicine Bow, both spoke at the meeting. They described taking on the risk of building the farms and asked lawmakers not to change the taxation scheme.

Cameron Stonestreet of Calgary-based TransAlta, which has a wind farm in Uinta County, said there are opportunities to expand in the Cowboy State. But the current tax environment in Wyoming put the company on pause.

We just feel a tax increase would really blunt our enthusiasm for the state, he said.

Rep. Bunky Loucks, R-Casper, wanted the committee to advance the tax proposal so that it would have a debate on the House floor. He disagreed with a wind production tax credit that the federal government gives some companies, arguing it chooses winners  the wind industry  over losers  the coal industry.

I dont know how Ill vote for it on the floor, he said.

But most lawmakers agreed with Rep. Mark Kinner, R-Sheridan, that wind energy  through employment, construction of the massive projects and taxes the industry pays  offers tremendous opportunities for many communities in Wyoming, especially in Carbon County, where the largest project is planned.

Weve heard a lot about Wyoming is a small town with long streets, he said. And really I think were all in this together, working together for the state.
Rick Young had everything lined up for his new outdoor gear shop. He had a concept and distributors, and a storefront in the Sunrise Shopping Center had recently opened.

Then the bust began to hit. The number of operating rigs dropped, and rumors of nearby coal mines closing began to sneak into everyday conversation. The number of jobs and, therefore, the amount of money being spent was beginning to fall.

Poised to open the store, Young hesitated.

As a Casper native, he was familiar with the booms and busts that regularly rolled through his hometown. Both he and his wife, Cassie, had other full-time jobs to support them. But the money for their new business venture would be all theirs. It was a risk.

The couple decided to go for it. In March, 42 Degrees North opened.

We talked about it and mulled it over and figured we could make it work OK during the downturn, Young said. Then things would get better, and wed be OK.

Despite fewer jobs and declining spending, entrepreneurs have opened several new family shops and restaurants in the past year. Each brings something different to town: specialty outdoors gear, local art, Venezuelan food, fresh-baked pastries and imported teas. Each new business owner finds something to rely on to get them through uncertain economic times.

In June, Casper had 2,300 fewer private-sector jobs than it did the same month of the previous year, according to the Casper Economic Indicators report, though the number of jobs is beginning to rise. Collections from the county sales and use tax have fallen by more than a third in the same period  a sign that people are spending less.

The worst of the bust hadnt yet hit when Laura and Phil Nickerson were considering opening Wyomade last summer.

But Laura was already nervous about opening the store, which sells Wyoming-made art and gifts. They had never owned a business and were funding the venture with their own money. They would have to rely on Phils salary as a geologist to keep the store running and food on the table.

The economy was better when they opened last October, Phil Nickerson said, and he never expected it to get as bad as it did. But the couple had wanted their own business for years and, after careful consideration, they just went for it.

Even as things have gotten worse, the feelings people have when theyre buying gifts hasnt changed, he said. People still have birthdays, Christmases and anniversaries.

Helping customers find the perfect item and supporting local artists and creators makes the risk worth it, the Nickersons said. The support theyve found from the community has made a difference as well, they said.

Weve been really impressed by the community here, Laura Nickerson said. People will come to us to check if we have something before they check anywhere else. The support for local businesses is strong.

Arepa Barn owner Verne Granger also said community support has been crucial to the Venezuelan restaurant since it opened in May. After quitting his job as an electrical engineer, Granger decided he wanted to do something new after 30 years of refinery work. But as new business owners, there was a lot to learn. Granger took an introductory class on how to run a restaurant, but much help came from the owner of the property they were leasing and the local small-business community.

If I had to go it alone, we wouldnt be even close to where we are now, Granger said.

Business has been slow so far, he said, but he believes the downturn is past its worst point. More important, however, he has faith that opening the restaurant is what his family is meant to be doing right now.

I believe God is guiding us through this, no matter what the economy is doing, he said. Well keep doing what were doing, come hell or high water.

Stacie Gottsch couldnt pass up the perfect opportunity to open the restaurant she and her husband had dreamed about for years, regardless of economic indicators. When the Sunrise Coffee Cafe closed in June, Gottsch had her chance. Stacies Coffee and Tea opened Sept. 12 after months of planning and renovations to the space.

Its impossible to be completely prepared to open a restaurant, even in the best of times, Gottsch said. But opening the cafe despite the challenges is a way for her to show her dedication to Casper, she said. It also allows her to give back in ways she couldnt before, like buying supplies and services from local companies instead of out-of-state corporations. And at the end of each day, she brings leftovers to the nearby VA clinic.

There are going to be ups and down in our business as well as in our community, she said. Were a part of it, no matter what.
Editor:

In the coming weeks news reports will be filled with coverage about the performance of the Republican and Democratic Party candidates in the televised Presidential and Vice Presidential debates. Wyoming voters deserve to receive equal coverage about the ideas of the Green and Libertarian Party candidates.

The private company that controls the debates has set an arbitrary bar to participation. The only candidate outside the two ruling parties to qualify was a billionaire financing his own campaign a quarter century ago. The debates themselves are actually scripted press conferences disguised as journalism.

Both the Green and Libertarian Party candidates are qualified to appear on the ballot in all or nearly all of the states -- the Libertarians in 50 and the Greens in 45. Under the nations election laws, either the Greens or the Libertarians could win the presidential election -- especially in a four-way contest.

Wyoming voters in particular deserve to see the Greens and Libertarians in the debates. Neither the Republican nor the Democratic nominee received a majority of support from their party membership in Wyoming.

If the Green and Libertarian Party candidates are going to be excluded from the nationally televised debates, as seems likely, then local Wyoming media outlets owe the voters equal coverage for Jill Stein, Ajamu Baraka, Gary Johnson and Bill Weld.
Last week I reread a 2012 Chris Madson article in Wyoming Wildlife discussing the snow-white arctic geese that visit Wyoming as part of the western Central Flyway.

During fall migration, and again in March, they arrive en masse in the Platte Valley. Inasmuch as arctic geese in the western Central Flyway have increased each year by 10 percent, they have become too numerous to sustain themselves, Madson writes.

He describes several causes for their population explosion. One is abundant food. Grain production has increased across the winter range and in the southern part of migration routes. The supply improves survival and ensures that females arrive at nesting sites with large fat reserves, which means a head start for egg production and the raising of goslings.

The most significant contributor to the overabundance of arctic geese, however, has been climate change. For the past 60 years, more temperate weather has prevailed in the North: Snow records at Barrow, Alaska, show that average snow melt today is four days earlier than it was in 1940.

Four days may not seem much, but it causes significant shifts in hatching days. Studies between 1951 and 1986 show that, by the end of this period, clutches hatched more than two weeks earlier than at its beginning.

By contrast, a late snow melt in earlier decades caused females to skip nesting: It meant that goslings may not be ready to fly when the first blizzards arrive.

Increased hatching success carries the seeds of collapse, Madson notes. Nesting colonies along the southern and western shores of Hudson Bay have destroyed vegetation and damaged the soil. Even if these areas could be protected from the geese, they would take decades to heal, if they ever fully recovered.

Similar damage has happened at the Queen Maud colonies: More than 100 square miles of tundra have been stripped of vegetation. Geese are gregarious birds; hence, they require large tracts of real estate for their nurseries.

Some of the birds have set out in search of new country with better conditions for their young. However, large wetland systems suitable for breeding are surprisingly rare. Hence, their populations are beginning to decline, limited as they are by the ecological and physiological forces that control animal life.

Human life, too, shows an overabundance of populations. Like arctic geese, we are running out of habitat. In centuries past, countries with exploding populations sent their surplus elsewhere  think of the penal colonies the British empire established in Australia, or the religious dissenters who left Europe to establish American colonies.

If we examine our distant forebears repeated migrations out of Africa, we note that the pattern began in prehistoric times. The first exodus seems to have been prompted by a climate change that turned African jungles into savannas.

With that, the first humans lost their habitat, a tree canopy that provided fruit plus sleeping quarters high up, safe from large predators.

Once they began ambling through grasslands, early humans found themselves visible and vulnerable. They may have left the African savannas in search of another jungle. What they found instead were seashores and rivers where they had to catch fish, high plains populated by mastodons and icy tundras of arctic flora. Our ancestors learned they had to kill to survive. No more, that distant Eden with fruit hanging within reach.

The situation today is no less desperate than that of early African migrants. According to NASA, since the start of 2012, more than 27,000 fires have destroyed nearly 2 million acres  and thats just in our neck of the woods, the western U.S.!

Bees are dying off so fast, scientists warn they may go extinct. In China, thats already the case. The French parliament banned bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides after more than 300,000 bee colonies collapsed, but in the U.S., where annual mortality rates have been as high as 80 percent, corporate interests continue to block any pesticide ban, for it may impact monoculture, e.g., miles of corn or alfalfa fields.

In 2014, overall bee colonies crashed to their lowest level in 20 years. Where will agriculture go  where will alfalfa go  without bees? Look at Chinese workers, climbing trees to hand-pollinate fruit blossoms.

When we avoid contemplating the human-caused degradation of what we call home, we sleepwalk toward disaster. For the sake of the future we need to change our thinking  not 20 years from now, but immediately.

Unlike geese, humans have the capacity to correct correct their ecological errors. Zero population growth and environmental care are a must.
Since our founding, America has been a generous nation, with a storied history of charitable and philanthropic giving. Last year Americans donated a staggering $373 billion to charitable causes.

People dig into their pockets for a variety of reasons  passion, gratitude, generosity, conviction, tax write-offs or perhaps guilt.

Most early endeavors were Christian-based. The Bible is rife with references regarding helping the less fortunate.

Industrialist and 19th century philanthropist Andrew Carnegie wrote Gospel of Wealth to explain that he saw giving his vast fortune to causes as his Christian duty.

Scripture informs us God loves a cheerful giver. Some jest, Hell even accept it from a grump. Give out of the abundance of the heart!

Most have a cause near and dear to us. Legions will clamor for a cause that is haute couture. Some are high-profile. Theres no paucity of worthy organizations entreating for funding.

Notable charities range from the American Cancer Society to the American Red Cross and Samaritans Purse to the Salvation Army or Make-A-Wish Foundation. All count on the generosity of supporters. Some are less known yet no less vital. Not all are nationwide; those leave an indelible mark on local communities, saving lives, relieving misery and delivering goodwill.

Due diligence is required, as scammers exist. Few can give to every appeal, even if it is legitimate. Unlike the Gates Foundation, we have limited resources. The focus is financial donors. Few could donate the vast sum that emblazons ones name on a building or sport stadium.

Not all contributions are monetary. Some are indefatigable activists, not satisfied to remain on the sidelines. They toil in obscurity. It may be time and talent or sweat and tears. Volunteers are the backbone of most charitable organizations. Absent a personal touch, charity can appear sterile, especially on the government dole.

Less glamorous is the plight and unique aim of the Rescue Mission. The image has changed in some aspects since the first Gospel Mission was founded in 1872 in New York City.

Not the mission  the cause is as great today. It doesnt just aid the down and out or bottom stratum of society, as some think. Caught in the web of helpless despair, many find themselves in a rescue mission.

Causes are myriad: a major downturn in the economy, mental illness, poor choices, personal tragedies, drug addiction, loss of a family, alcoholism, illicit behavior. Its true, But for the grace of God Fallen Man wears many faces. Who hasnt made poor choices? A thin line separates prince and pauper.

Fortunately, some are dedicated to ministering to those that most of society has forgotten, rejected or ignored. Its a labor of compassion. Reaching men, women and children. Feeding, housing, and offering them hope with the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. A chance for reconciliation.

Absent fanfare or media attention, its a quotidian affair. Theres no surcease to misery, loneliness and rejection. Its a world foreign to most of us whose live otherwise. Turning a blind eye to what repels us isnt new. Both priest and Levite ignored the wounded man on the Jericho road.

Brad Hopkins, executive director of Central Wyoming Rescue Mission in Casper and the 10-member board of directors are committed to the mission that launched CWRM in 1978. Their mission: Central Wyoming Rescue Mission rescues and reconciles the homeless and needy with the love of Christ, restoring them back to society as healthy, productive and independent community members.

Hopkins said, Its an honor to be in a position to be a voice for those who have no voice. He spent 12 years with the Denver Rescue Mission.

Wyoming churches and individual contributors help provide a haven where everyone is welcome, for men and women in crisis of hunger and homelessness. CWRM annually provides 39,283 meals and 1923 hours of counseling and much more, all at no cost to those who pass through their doors.

Tangible gifts representing 21 counties in Wyoming and more than 30 churches permits the group to expand their ability to continue radical hospitality.

Few of us will darken their door. So how do we connect with the most vulnerable? Pray, donate or volunteer. Visit CWRM.org. Partner with them. What do you think?
Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images via ABC; ABC/Fred LeeStevie Wonder lends his vocal talents to the new single by rapper Common, "Black America Again," which addresses the recent incidences of police violence against members of the African American community. An emotional music video for the song is viewable now on Common's official YouTube channel.

The clip opens with video footage leading up to the death of Alton Sterling, who was killed by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in July, and goes on to feature a variety of black faces in tears along with historical images. The song, which evokes the Black Lives Matter movement, features Wonder singing the repeated refrain, "We are rewriting the black American story."

The video arrives following the recent deaths of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Editor:

The UW Office of Academic Affairs has made its recommendations on the elimination of programs at the University of Wyoming. As a Wyoming native, and a graduate of the University of Wyoming, I am concerned, but all Wyoming citizens should be concerned about these choices, especially the education programs that are on the chopping block.

If art and modern language education are eliminated, it doesn't just affect the students at the university: it affects every child in the state as there will no longer be teachers to teach these subjects

I am a language teacher. We know that teenagers have huge advantages over adults in learning foreign languages. Without modern language education, our young people will no longer have the opportunity to learn foreign languages while their brains are best equipped to learn them. They will not be prepared to be global citizens in an increasingly global economy.

I urge you to write a message of concern on behalf of Wyoming young people. You can send an email to the University committee that will rule on these recommendations at progrevw@uwyo.edu.
PHOENIX  The showdown between Arizona Public Service and state utility regulator Bob Burns has been put off while he shops for an attorney.

Burns said Thursday he reached a deal of sorts with the power company to give it and its parent, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., more time to produce all the documents he subpoenaed.

That also puts off Burns demand that Don Brandt, the chief executive of both companies, submit to questioning under oath next month about political donations and other financial matters.

But Burns said he is getting something out of the deal, too: time to find and hire an attorney.

Burns had thought when he issued the subpoena last month he would have legal help in deciphering the documents he demanded. But his fellow members on the Arizona Corporation Commission vetoed his plans to hire outside counsel.

It was only last week  after APS and Pinnacle West sued to quash the subpoena  that the other regulators reversed course and agreed to let Burns bring on legal help to defend that lawsuit.

Finding a lawyer has been harder than he expected, Burns said. The attorney cannot work for a firm that handles legal matters for either APS or Pinnacle West. Also, the full commission could pull the plug on the attorneys funding at any time.

The other regulators have said they did not want the fight with the states largest electric utility over its books to become a financial drain.

Commission Chairman Doug Little said the utility has suggested it would go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to defend what it says is its First Amendment right not to disclose its political donations. He worries the state could be on the hook for a seven-digit fee for its own attorney and the cost of the APS legal team if the utility won.
If you go

Voices from the Border forum

When: Sep. 29, 6:30-8 p.m.

Where: Fox Tucson Theatre

Price: Free

How to get tickets: Advance tickets are required. Reserve yours at http://tucne.ws/d1f

For more information, call Arizona Public Media at 520-621-5828.
The board that oversees the University of Arizona has approved transition terms for President Ann Weaver Hart that will force taxpayers to cover two presidential salaries next school year.

Harts deal with the Arizona Board of Regents also grants her an immediate year-long sabbatical when she steps down as president and becomes a professor  even though Hart doesnt qualify for a sabbatical under UA policy.

Hart will continue to receive $475,000 a year in presidential base pay until June 2018, but will surrender the presidency in 2017 under what a regents official described in a Thursday email to the Arizona Daily Star as a Termination by Board without Cause.

Regents general counsel Nancy Tribbensee told the board that Hart has agreed to terminate (her) contract to allow her successor to start work in 2017.

Harts June announcement that she planned to step down as president when her contract ends followed months of controversy and mounting donor outrage over her decision to join the board that oversees DeVry University.

The for-profit college, which pays Hart $170,000 a year in salary and stock to serve on its board, is facing a federal government lawsuit for allegedly deceiving students, claims the company denies.

The Regents have launched a search for a new UA president and hope to have one in place by mid-2017.

Hart will face a big drop in income when her presidential paychecks stop.

Her transition deal calls for her to receive a salary thereafter equivalent to the highest salary paid to any faculty member in the College of Education, where shell work as a professor. The Regents agreed to the professorship when they hired Hart in 2012.

The Star asked UA officials Wednesday to provide Harts new salary figures by Thursday, but they didnt provide them.

The UAs 2015 salary database suggests the figure is in the neighborhood of $120,000 to $130,000 a year  less than one-third of Harts current base pay.

The transition term that grants Hart an automatic sabbatical when she steps down as president varies from UA rules governing such leaves.

Employees must have at least six years on the job to qualify for a sabbatical, but Hart will only have five when the deal kicks in next school year.

UA policy also requires sabbatical hopefuls to submit written plans for how theyll spend their time off, which then must be reviewed by an internal committee to see if they benefit the university.

Hart avoided those requirements by receiving the Regents guarantee of time off.

The Star asked Regents by email how they could approve a sabbatical for Hart when they dont have any sabbatical-granting power under UA policy.

The board is not limited by the university sabbatical leave policy in negotiating individual contract terms for the presidents, Regents spokeswoman Sarah Harper responded.

The board is the governing body for the universities and as such it retains the authority over employment related decisions, she said.

Hart helped develop her transition terms in consultation with former regents chair Jay Heiler of Paradise Valley and current chair Greg Patterson of Scottsdale.

The board approved the deal unanimously at its meeting in Flagstaff on Thursday.
Pima Community Colleges Governing Board isnt ruling out disciplinary action against the schools CEO for violating the civil rights of a former employee, the boards chairman says.

The board remains supportive of Chancellor Lee Lambert because theres nothing to suggest his actions  which could cost taxpayers  were anything other than a one-time mistake, Chairman Mark Hanna said.

Without a clear indication that the chancellor has engaged in a pattern of unfair or illegal personnel actions, the board will continue to support him Hanna said in an email to the Arizona Daily Star.

A federal judge found that Lambert, an attorney with a civil-rights background, violated the civil rights of former PCC chemistry instructor David A. Katz, who was let go in 2014 without an opportunity to defend himself against misconduct allegations, contrary to the Fourteenth Amendment.

Hanna, who as chair speaks on behalf of the board under PCC policy, said the board will wait until the court case concludes before deciding whether its appropriate to discipline Lambert.

The issue concerning a reprimand to the chancellor really cant be answered yes or no until we know the final outcome, he said.

The judge denied requests from Lambert and two former PCC administrators for immunity from personal liability in the case, meaning they may have to pay damages to Katz out of their own pockets.

The judge also refused immunity to the college district as a whole, meaning taxpayers also could also be on the hook for damages.

PCC agreed to settlement talks with Katz four days after the July 25 order by U.S. District Court Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson. He filed suit in late 2014.

Last week, a few hours after discussing the Katz case in a closed-door executive session, the board gave Lambert a positive job review at its public meeting and voted unanimously to extend his $299,000-a-year contract to 2019.

As of earlier this week, it wasnt entirely clear whether PCC had disclosed the July court ruling to its accreditor, the Chicago-based Higher Learning Commission.

Commission spokesman Steve Kauffman told the Star the college was required to report it and did so in a timely manner.

But PCC spokeswoman Libby Howell said the college hadnt notified the accreditor because it isnt obliged to do so while the court case is pending.

The College reports to HLC matters relating to institutional accreditation, and not individual employee or student matters. In addition, in this particular instance, even if it were appropriate to report an individual employee matter to HLC, there is no final decision to report, Howell said.

The college has been under accreditor sanctions since 2013 over numerous shortcomings in its governance and administration.

An accreditation review team is to visit Tucson next week to see if PCC has improved enough to be taken off sanctions.
Voters in District 14 have four candidates to choose from for two open state House seats.

Of the four candidates  Mike Holmes, Drew John, Jason Lindstrom, and Becky Ann Nutt  only Holmes lives in the Tucson metro part of the district. About a quarter of voters in the large district live in Pima County.

The two House seats are open, with incumbent Republicans David Gowan and David Stevens stepping down.

John has raised about $34,300 for his campaign, including major donations from Arizona Cardinals President Michael Bidwill and Tucson auto dealer Jim Click. The other candidates are participating in the clean elections system, meaning they do not accept donations from special-interest groups.

Heres where the candidates stand on a few key issues:

EDUCATION FUNDING

Republicans John and Nutt supported Proposition 123, the voter-approved measure meant to increase teacher pay and end a years-long legal dispute between schools and the state. Democrats Holmes and Lindstrom opposed it.

Holmes said the Legislature should stop shifting money away from education and focus on funding for teachers, buildings and buses. He opposes the expansion of the states school voucher programs and the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, saying those programs would hurt small and rural school districts.

John said Prop. 123 was not the ultimate answer to school funding, but lawmakers can get serious about finding solutions now that the courts and politics are out of it. He said legislators need to do more listening to outside ideas.

Lindstrom called Arizonas low ranking among states in education spending embarrassing. He opposed Prop. 123 because he thought it unwise to spend the state land trust funds more quickly. He said the state should look for more efficiencies to shift funds to education.

Lindstrom also said he wants government to be more transparent, and to promote that hed wear a camera on the job if elected.

Nutt said she supported Prop. 123 because education leaders supported it. On the campaign trail, shes met with as many school superintendents as possible to learn about the different needs of different school districts. The Legislature should focus on updating the school-funding system to better meet districts needs, she said.

She supports shifting some federally controlled lands to state control, excluding park lands, to put more money in the land trust that helps fund education.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Holmes said Cochise County is losing population largely because of Defense Department cutbacks at Fort Huachuca, and the area needs to diversity its economy. He supports Sierra Vistas plans to create a tech education hub.

Holmes and Lindstrom support plans to add an industrial port of entry in Douglas, like the one in Nogales, and an inland port in Willcox. More investment in infrastructure is needed to make it happen, Holmes said.

Holmes also supports a procurement preference for veteran-owned businesses in state contracting, which he said would help more veterans get jobs and start or grow businesses.

John said rural Arizona has always struggled in economic development because it doesnt have spare money to spend. He said hed focusing on helping to create an educated workforce and encouraging community colleges to work with businesses to align curriculum to workforce needs. John also would work to help small businesses in rural areas get better access to capital and training for applying for government loan programs.

John also said its important to change the negative rhetoric about border towns and focus on area assets.

Nutt said she started a chamber of commerce and a tourism council in Greenlee County to help stabilize local economies there. She said she wants to help preserve the rural way of life by strengthening local economies and maintaining workforce training programs. It does the state no good to have areas that are floundering, she said.

BORDER ISSUES

Each candidate said enforcing immigration law is a federal responsibility, but consideration should be given to crime that comes across the border.

Holmes said the Legislature should empower county sheriffs and stop sweeping funding from sheriffs departments. Nutt agreed that the state should address the needs of border sheriffs.

John and Lindstrom said the state should push harder on the federal government to address illegal immigration and border-area crime. John said the state should get involved when the federal government wont.
After about 14 years on the Pima County Superior Court bench, Judge Carmine Cornelio is retiring at the end of the year, a decision he said was based partly on the negative results of a judicial-performance review.

He made the decision after the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review issued a 27-4 vote in June holding that Cornelio does not meet state judicial standards, meaning he should not be retained by voters in November.

The commission has only made six such recommendations since 2006, according to records provided by the Arizona Supreme Court. Cornelios vote, which he said left him a little shocked, was also one of the strongest non-retention recommendations the commission has made over the last decade.

The 16 other Pima County Superior Court judges up for retention votes on the November ballot were deemed to meet state standards, most with unanimous or near-unanimous votes.

In Pinal, Maricopa and Pima counties, Superior Court judges are appointed through the voter-approved merit-selection process rather than being elected, but are subject to up-or-down retention votes every four years.

Cornelios name will not appear on the November ballot, since he has decided to retire.

Cornelio told the Star the vote was one of many factors in his decision to leave the bench, which was also influenced by family, health and professional considerations. He said he intends to go into private practice in alternative dispute resolution after retiring on Dec. 31, as well as spend more time with his growing number of grandchildren. To replace him, a judicial appointment commission will review candidates and submit at least three to the Governors Office for final approval, as per the merit process.

While the most recent vote was a resounding recommendation to voters to not retain him, both of Cornelios other public performance reviews since 2008 were overwhelmingly positive. Twice commissioners voted 28-1 recommending that voters retain him. Results from surveys sent out to judges, attorneys and litigants in 2008, which are considered by the commission before voting, show that nearly all respondents found his performance to be at least satisfactory and up to superior.

Cornelio said his survey results since then have largely been above bench averages. Cornelio conceded there were a couple areas where Im lower than I should be in the most recent round of surveys, but said they were not overwhelmingly negative.

The survey breakdown for the most recent vote, which Cornelio provided at the request of the Star, shows that attorneys, litigants and staff evaluated him more negatively than Pima County judges as a whole. Jurors, however, viewed him more favorably, on average.

Where Cornelio fared worst was in the judicial temperament section, where his average score among attorneys was a little over an average score of 2, which is deemed poor. Thirty-three percent of attorney respondents gave him a score of either unacceptable or poor, which triggers additional scrutiny from the judicial-review commission. However, none of his average scores in any category fell below an average of two.

Written comments from survey respondents were a combination of high praise and trenchant criticism. Several described the judge as fair and excellent, while others took issue with his inappropriate comments and unpredictable and mercurial reasoning and personality. One attorney said he was not very familiar with criminal law while another applauded his true gift for settlement conferences.

The judge had several ideas about why things did not go well this time around, including the fact that he was on a criminal bench rotation during the period evaluated, while most of his experience and interest are on the civil side and that he didnt go in person to speak with the commission about those surveys before the vote. He said he opted to write a letter to the commission instead.

Obviously with some hindsight, I wish I had gone up to have a discussion with them about the numbers and their process and some of the problem with their process, he said. And some of the problems I first had when I rotated to the criminal (bench).

During his time as a judge, Cornelio has also received several public sanctions from the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct for his behavior in and out of the courtroom, most recently in 2013. The latter case stemmed from two separate complaints about Cornelios behavior during settlement conferences, which the resolution notes are often more informal and governed by fewer rules than other court proceedings. In both cases, Cornelio conceded that some of his statements were inappropriate.

However, two of these sanctions preceded votes in which the commission found that Cornelio does meet judicial standards.

Cornelio said he doesnt know if those sanctions played a part in the most recent vote, but said they were certainly something that they had available.

A non-retention recommendation from the commission does not spell the end of a judges career. In 2014, for example, that same commission voted 23-6 against Pima County Superior Court Judge Catherine Woods, who was then retained in the general election with the support of 59 percent of voters.

If I had gotten this vote a number of years before, I clearly would have decided to stand for retention, he said. And Im confident, given the history in Pima County, that I would have been retained.
PENDLETON, Ind. (AP)  Behind the barbed wire and the armed guards and the locked gates, a handful of men wearing tan jumpsuits are bent over old newspaper boxes, paintbrushes in hand.

Incarcerated at the Pendleton Correctional Facility for offenses ranging from burglary to murder, the men are unlikely partners in a hunger-relief program started last month by Hanover College student Sierra Nuckols. The 20-year-old launched her Community Food Box Project after returning from a trip to South Africa with the Desmond Tutu Center for Peace, Reconciliation and Global Justice.

Nuckols reached back to her childhood for inspiration when coming up with her free food idea. Born to a teenage mom, she remembered days when food was scarce, but she also remembered how friends, family and neighbors shared what they had.

That's the idea behind the food boxes: to offer temporary, immediate relief "until the city and other stakeholders invest in the urgent needs of people living with food insecurity," she says on her Facebook page.

To date, three boxes filled with free nonperishables have been placed at IPS School 56, 2353 Columbia Ave.; Rock of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 10302 E. 38th St.; and Martin Luther King Community Center, 40 W. 40th St. People are invited to take what they need and fill the boxes when they can. Other organizations have told Nuckols they want to take charge of a box in their neighborhood, so she is struggling to keep up with demand.

Jeff King, community involvement director at the prison, got wind of Nuckols' initiative and wanted to help.

"I'm just touched that a college kid wanted to do this," he said. "I respect the heck out of Sierra."

So do the men who are working behind the prison walls. Many grew up in the neighborhoods where the Community Food Box Project is being introduced and still have friends and family there. They know the toll that hunger can take on a child, so they are working several hours a day to transform donated newspaper boxes into mini food pantries.

"The guys take so much pride in doing this," said William Dion Baxter. "When we can do something for children, a lot of guys will step up."

He's standing in an old machine shop on the prison grounds that today serves as American Legion Post 608. The walls are covered in elaborate, patriotic murals created by talented artists who also are prisoners here. Baxter, a Navy veteran, is the post commander. He's serving time for the murder of his best friend. He didn't do the killing, he said, but he was there and didn't call 911.

"A lot of people were hurt, and I don't want to minimize that," he said.

So, any good that he and his fellow veterans in Pendleton can do helps chip away at the shame and regret many feel. The 16 veterans and 12 sons of veterans who are members of Post 608 raise thousands of dollars every year through prison fundraisers. The money is donated to charities such as Gleaners Food Bank, Special Olympics, Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Mozel Sanders Foundation.

"We appreciate the opportunity to do something for the community," said Baxter, who grew up on the east side and attended John Marshall High School. "It's a way of redeeming ourselves."

King said one offender put it this way: "We took from the community; this is a chance to give back."

That's what Lawrence Carter is doing. He is copying an image of a "Star Wars" character onto a newspaper box. "We're going to turn this little box into R2-D2 and fill it with food. This gives us a chance to show the community we can do something constructive and positive."

Nuckols is thrilled with the interest her project has generated around Indianapolis but said critics have been quick to slam the idea, suggesting the boxes could spawn violence if people fight over the food.

"They say food deserts are caused by people stealing from stores, and that we shouldn't provide food for people who steal," Nuckols said. "It's sad to see that sort of dehumanization going on. They are looking down on people who are needy. They don't realize it's actually a systemic issue."

Nuckols points to a 2014 Walk Score study that ranked Indianapolis as the worst food desert in the nation, based on the percentage of people (5 percent) who could walk to a grocery store within five minutes of their home.

"Why have we come to this place?" she asked. "Why are one in five people going to bed hungry? Why do people have to go to a silly little box to get food?"

These are weighty questions for a 20-year-old anthropology major. But she has always had a strong sense of social justice, said her mother, IPS board member Gayle Cosby.

"Her childhood was atypical. I had her when I was 15," Cosby said. "She came to my high school graduation. She saw me graduate college. She saw me grow up in a way that's not typical. But her coming along made me strive to do better."

In high school, Cosby said her daughter began to think critically about the world and how she could contribute to a "better society, a more just society."

"I struggled as young single mom, but organizations were there to provide support," Cosby said. "She recognizes that and is ready to give back."

Tim Nation, executive director of Peace Learning Center, is serving as Nuckols' mentor on her Community Food Box Project. He accompanied her and eight other Youth Fellows as part of the Desmond Tutu Center's trip to South Africa in July.

"I've been impressed by her speed since we've returned from South Africa in getting this project going," he said. "I'm really inspired by the younger generation. I see an eagerness to learn; I see kids with a lot of integrity and compassion."

Nuckols said this is only the beginning. "When you actually start to do this kind of work, you see how much more needs to be done."

___

Source: The Indianapolis Star, http://indy.st/2dhIC6d

___

Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com

This is an AP-Indiana Exchange story offered by The Indianapolis Star.
Yes, I'm going to mention the flaming cheese ... But the beloved Greek Festival is pumping out lots of new dishes to celebrate its 40 year anniversary. I tried a few of them, as well as some returning favorites.

Check out more photos from the event here.

1. Saganaki flaming cheese

Location: In the "Greek Street" area in the front

I have eaten most everything here and this is unequivocally the best. A team of "Saganaki boys" (as I like to call them) fry up slabs of grassy Kefalograviera, a sheep's milk cheese from northern Greece that holds its shape when it gets hot. Right at the end, they splash a fragrant Metaxa brandy in the pan, making for a crusty exterior and a fiery show. $6

2. NEW! Pork Souvlaki

Location: In the "Greek Street" area in the front

Right next to the saganaki booth you'll find a new tent with half a dozen people working different grills. This is the "street food" section. Later in the weekend they should have calamari and fried smelts  a tiny freshwater fish  but right now it's all about the fragrant pork kebab. Make sure you get it done up with the tzatziki yogurt sauce, which balances out the spice. $9

3. NEW! Pastitsio

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Location: In the "Greek Dinner Service" section in the back

If you're willing to brave the 45-minute line in the back, you'll be rewarded with a hunk of pastitsio, a cheesy macaroni dish similar to lasagna. This was extremely well executed given the circumstances, with perfectly cooked noodles layered onto a gentle bechamel sauce. $12 for a plate

4. Sheep's milk feta cheese and pita bread

Location: The deli inside the Hellenic Community Center

Before I leave, I usually like to hit up the deli inside for some of that Kefalograviera cheese they use for the flaming saganaki. (It's actually really easy to make at home, even without the brandy.) But this time the cashier told me to try her "Skopelos" Feta, which she buys from a wholesaler in Scottsdale. Gorgeous. I get teary when I have really great cheese, and this did it for me. Salty, pillowy with just a hint of grass. It puts your supermarket stuff to shame. Also, get the pita bread. They bring it in from Chicago! $7 for pita, $4 for feta

5. Baklava sundae

Location: Next to the pastries inside the Hellenic Community Center

Inside by the pastries you'll find a couple of ladies making Greek coffee from silver briki pots. Ask nicely and they'll give you a baklava sundae from the cooler. High-quality vanilla + sheets of crispy sweet baklava and caramelized nuts = sleepy time go home now. The end. $4
Help India!

By Mohammad Sajjad for TwoCircles.net

This is a response to Shaibal Guptas column, Unimportance of Shahabuddin, which was published in the Indian Express on September 21.

Support TwoCircles



Shaibal Gupta is quite a respected academic. His studies and articulations about the contemporary Bihar is enviable. However, in this particular column, he seems to have acted more as a spokesperson of the incumbent Chief Minister and less as an independent academic.

In Bihar, there is a common parlance: You need to have a criminal, or a police, or a politician in your family, if you have to live with dignity in Bihar. True, a lot has changed since Nitish came to power, notwithstanding what his motivated critics may say. This does not mean that Nitish has not done anything worth criticising/condemning. Bihar is also a place whose dons have themselves demonstrated to have become the intelligentsia. While Shahabuddin and Munna Shukla have obtained Ph.D. degrees from the BRA Bihar University Muzaffarpur, the other dons Anand Mohan Singh and Pappu Yadav have become authors cum poets. For the formers memoir in both prose and poetry, once, there was a news-item that Prof. Namwar Singh would be adorning the book- release ceremony.

It was so outrageous for me to know this news that I did not care to check if Prof. Namwar Singh really went to grace the occasion. Shaibal Guptas opening line is, Bihar is one of the few states where the intimacies of the mafia and intelligentsia are celebrated in a demonstrative manner. Much beyond that, my point is: In Bihar, mafia has not only become the legislators but also has announced to have become intelligentsia unto themselves. Shahabuddin too has been flamboyant about having read celebrated works like God of Small Things, Godfather, and fifty more books.

In the 1990s, when some of these worthies grew in strength, Nitish Kumar was quite a part of the ruling formation headed by his so called elder brother, Lalu. Even after having parted with Lalu, Nitishs party/coalition did carry some of such worthies along, including Munna Shukla and Anant Singh. Thus, Bihar was never unburdened with these dons; neither pre-1990s, nor post-2005. Though one must add that in post 2005 years some of these figures were really chastised by the state. Nitish does deserve appreciation for such brave steps. This certainly does not absolve him of why and how Shahabuddin got bail. Even if, just for the sake of pushing ahead the argument, Guptas rather unrealistic and over-optimistic claim that in a changed political economy, if any, dons will no longer emerge is conceded, one cannot forget the tales of dreadful stories of the crimes that were perpetrated in Bihar.

The allegations of which had put the don behind the bars. That an accused in the murder of a journalist, Rajdeo Ranjan, was seen in the palpably pompous cavalcade is just one latest instance of the failure of the state.

Gupta has talked of an economy of JCB or Hyaba, road-roller or tractor growing in Bihar. Hence, he is optimistic about non-emergence of criminals/mafia, within such an economic context. How can he be so naive about the Bihar affairs? How did he ignore the crimes of real-estates? Kidnapping for ransom, grabbing real estate and every such crime is passing him by. The acid killing of Siwan is also said to be about real estate. Just recently, a Muslim bahubali of Muzaffarpur has grabbed land of a poor Pasmanda Muslim in the town. This could not be put on record or be reported as the sufferer cannot dare saying no to the don otherwise he would lose his life. The Navruna case of Muzaffarpur is by all accounts about the same kind of crime to grab the real estate. How many of Muslims earning in the Middle East are paying ransom to their mohalla hoodlums is something remains confined only to the knowledge of the neighbourhood and close kins. Shaibal Gupta has chosen to ignore all these instances. This is quite intriguing. Moreover, explaining, howsoever erroneously, is one thing. Justification of such menace is another. Gupta, by skipping the issues of criminal justice and its history almost borders on justifying the wrongs committed allegedly by the don. The don after being released, in his press statements/interviews has shown no remorse, in fact, he has boldly asserted that he is not going to change his ways.

Gupta has also chosen not to look deeper into the meanings and messages of the huge, pompous cavalcade show-off by the don and his crazy fans. The phenomena of such dons having become role models for the teenagers and youth across Bihar, has already become a menace for the people. Smaller dons in mohallas have already been thriving on ransom extracted through their neighbours, is another phenomena Gupta seems to be unaware of. These very characters are elected for the rural and urban local bodies. These characters are the property dealers, euphemism for criminals, property grabbers, and extortionists. I have narrated a profile of a goon in a north Bihar village, in my book, Contesting Colonialism and Separatism: Muslims of Muzaffarpur (2014). I have profiled a career-criminal among the rural lumpen-criminals operating these days in rural Bihar. Further, in my essays on the communal riots in Azizpur, Muzaffarpur (January 2015), in Agarpur-Lalganj, Vaishali (November 2015), and in Saran (August 2015), I have explained the roles of the hoodlums as the immediate agent provocateurs of the riots. Let me quote from my essay in the EPW (31 January 2015):

It should also be remembered that in present-day Bihar villages migrations for livelihood have made male presence very minimal. The few who stay back often become part of the lumpen criminal politician set who work as brokers of nationalised banks as well as touts at police stations and in the community development blocks from where the panchayat development funds and the funds for social welfare schemes flow. There are reports that ever since the Nitish Kumar-led administration launched a crackdown on this network, many of them have taken to another form of crime  sex-trade and trafficking.

Further, with each bout of communal tension/violence, these hoodlums expand and deepen their clout and base within their castes/communities. The growing communalization of contemporary Bihar is also intertwined with the rising phenomenon of the hoodlums in mohallas. This aspect and impact of the political economy should not be lost on anybody, particularly by the ilks of Shaibal Gupta, who prefer to rely upon the logic of political economy rather too heavily.

Last, the state-managers of the day should not stay complacent by such misleading formulations that the so-called political economy emerging in contemporary Bihar will prevent emergence of hoodlums. The release of the don on bail has fuelled the aspirations of the hoodlums. This should be taken note of by the Nitish led administration.

The author is an Associate Professor at the Centre of Advanced Study in History. Aligarh Muslim University
Help India!

By Sheikh Khurshid Alam for TwoCircles.net

There is paucity of research on the possibility of the appointment of Muslim women to the office of Muslim Marriage Registrar (MMR) and Qazi. Generally in India and particularly in West Bengal the word Qazi has become a misnomer. During my course of research whenever I asked people as to what did they understand by Qazi, they answered that Qazi means Judge. The office of the MMR & Qazi is not the office of the Qazi  the judge in the strict sense of the term because in India there is no idea of parallel judiciary. The ignorance of this fact that MMR & Qazi and the Judge are not the one and the same, has led to declaration and issuance of various fatwas that Muslim women cannot be a Qazi. I believe that when such fatwas are issued then the issuer had the same idea of the word Qazi as the masses have. It took India almost five decades, since its independence from the British to have Shabnam Ara Begum of East Midnapore in the State of West Bengal as the first women Qazi in the year 2004. The present article is an attempt to look into the issue of gender bias in the matter of appointment of Muslim women as MMR & Qazi.

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Sadia Dehlvi says Islam is dynamic, understood and practiced in a variety of ways in different cultures. Patriarchy remains deaf to the Qurans call for equality, justice and compassion that extends to all humanity. Excluding women from leadership, patriarchy is blind to the Quran celebrating the wise consultative rule of Queen Sheba and her diplomatic engagement with Solomon. Patriarchy fails to recognise the Quran honouring women as recipients of wahy, Divine Revelation; as experienced by Mosess mother and Mariam, or Mary. Some famous early and medieval commentators of the Quran, such as Imam Hajar Asqalani and Imam Qurtubi, include Mary amongst the prophets

Patriarchy is prevalent in almost every society of the world. When we look back into the Islamic history, we find that Mecca, the birth city of the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alaihi wa salaam was a patriarchal society. When the Muslims migrated to Medina, they found the women of Medina more open and authoritative than their counterparts in Mecca. It is reported in the Chapter Mazaalim of Sahih Bukhari that Hazrat Umar, the second caliph of Islam once brought the notice of Prophet Muhammad regarding the authoritative nature of the women of Medina and on hearing this Holy Prophet just smiled at him.

The Medina period of Islam is considered as an ideal period and the historians often give references to the Medina model of governance. It is seen that the Medina model does not attract inconvenience to the women folk and patriarchy was not misused.

On being questioned about her views on the allegation of some renowned organisations like JUH, JIH, AIMPLB being patriarchal, Noorjehan Safia Niaz says, Of course they are patriarchal, the way they have interpreted the Quranic verses, the way they have completely ignored the plight of women, the way they resist any reform process. Are these renowned organisations not aware of the changes that have happened in neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Pakistan, or other Islamic countries? Oral divorce has been done away with in all countries legally, but they are not willing to change the same in India? Everyday our Aurton ki Shariah Adalat receives cases where the woman has been abandoned by her husband after divorcing her on phone or by letter and has remarried. These bodies want to maintain their hegemony over the community. They dont think Muslim women are part of the community. For them women do not exist and her plight does not affect them.

India has reeled under the influence of patriarchy since time immemorial and the Muslim rulers of the Mughal period did not introduce much reform in this area. Though the Muslim subjects under the Mughals were governed as per the Shariah Law or the Cannon Law, the non-Muslim subjects were governed under the Common Law.

The present Muslim World has undergone a lot of changes with the change of time but India is yet to evolve its personal laws in tune with the developing circumstances.

Office of the Qazi

The origin of the institution of the Qazi in India can be traced back to pre-Mughal period. The office of the Qazi was known by various names during various periods down the history. At the time of Kutbuddin Aybak, the Chief Judge known as Qazi -ul-Quzzat was first appointed to supervise the work of the subordinate Qazisat. During the reign of Sikandar Lodhi the Chief Judge was known as Mir-i-adal. Sher Shahs predecessors had copied the Abbasids Khalifas in establishing State Departments and hence the Judiciary under the Chief Qazi was also known as Dadbak which means chief Administrator of Justice. During the reign of the Mughal Emperors the power of appointment of judges was exclusively vested in the sovereign power. However the Sovereign could delegate the power of appointment to the Governors or to the Chief Qazi also known as Qazi -ul-Quzzat. With the advent of British rule in India, the office of Qazi was abolished in 1809. After the abolition of the office of Qazi, the functions of Qazi were transferred to the courts of British India.

The Act of XI of 1864 abolished the offices of Muhammadan law officers, the Qazi -ul-Quzzat and subordinate Qazi, however in 1880 the Kazis Act XII was passed which gave power to the Local Government to appoint Qazi in any local area after consulting the principal Muslim residents of such local area. These Qazi did not possess any judicial or administrative powers; the only function which they usually perform now is the registration of marriage and divorce. It is pertinent to mention that the presence of such Qazi is not essential during the marriage ceremony, the Qazi can register the marriage or divorce even after the event has taken place.

Qazi: the Judge in Mughal India

Qazi had a bigger role in the judiciary system in the state and he held the court and gave justice. Qazi-ul-Quzzat or the Chief Judge was the Supreme Judge of the Empire, and also the Qazi of the Imperial Camp. He always accompanied the Emperor. Every city and even large village had its local Qazi who was appointed by the Chief Qazi. His court was the chief criminal court of appeal. He was not debarred from deciding original suits. But his main function was to hear appeals from the subordinate courts. The role of Qazi as the chief judge is a practice evident since the Mughal rule. The institution of sharia courts under the royal Mughal patronage was decisive in its articulation which continued unabated until the British intrusion.

Qazi: The Muslim marriage registrar in independent India

Section 3 of The Bengal Muhammadan Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1876 states:

It shall be lawful for the [State] Government to grant a license to any person, being a Muhammadan, authorizing him to register Muhammadan marriages and divorces which have been effected within certain specified limits, on application being made lo him for such registration; and in like manner it shall be lawful for the said [State] Government to revoke or suspend such license:

Provided that no more than two persons shall be licensed lo exercise the said function within the same limits; and provided further that, when two persons are so licensed to act within the same limits, the one shall be a member of the Sunni, and the other of the Shia, sect.

Kazis Act 1880 also provides that:

Wherever it appears to the State Government that any considerable number of the Muhammadans resident in any local area desire that one or more Kazis should be appointed for such local area, the State Government may, if it thinks fit, after consulting the principal Muhammadan residents of such local area, select one or more fit persons and appoint him or them to be Kazis for such local area.

Nothing in Act to confer judicial or administrative powers; or to render the presence of Kazi necessary; or to prevent any one acting as Kazi.- Nothing herein

contained, and no appointment made here under, shall be deemed- (a) to confer any judicial or, administrative powers on any Kazi or Naib Kazi appointed hereunder; or (b) to render the presence of a Kazi or Naib Kazi necessary at the celebration of any marriage or the performance of any rite or ceremony; or (c) to prevent any person discharging any of the functions of a Kazi.

Reformative measures

Various strategies have been suggested to tackle the obstacles being faced by the Muslim community. The issue of the appointment of a woman as a Muslim Marriage Registrar and Qazi is not related directly to the Muslim personal laws in India but the office of the MMR and Qazi is instrumental in preservation of the personal laws.

Dr. Kauser Edappagath, in his book, Divorce and Gender Equity in Muslim Personal Law of India writes, The issue of reform of the Muslim personal Law in India has, for some time past, been a battle-field between progressive and the reactionary elements in the society.

Hence, it is seen that there is no bar on Muslim women to hold the office of the Muslim Marriage Registrar and Qazi in modern India and moving a step further; it is the need of the hour to establish more Shariah Courts and appointment of women Qazi to increase the rate of disposal of cases. Shariah courts do not create a parallel Judiciary, rather it acts as an Alternative Dispute Redressal (ADR) system and this would be a positive step towards nation building by lessening the burden from the judiciary and at the same time empowering the Muslim women and more.

The author is a member of Calcutta Society for Socio-Legal Research, a non-profit organisation addressing the current and future dynamics of the Minorities of India, overall public-awakening activities and research projects.
NASAs Hubble Space Telescope observed a system of two red dwarf Stars and one planet orbiting around them. This system is around 8,000 light years away from earth and is located in the center of the Milky Way. The planet orbits approximately 482 million km (300 million miles) from the binary star system and completes an orbit around the stars in seven years.

System of a stars and one planet

This system of three astronomical bodies was detected by gravitational micro lensing, which encompass the use of two stellar bodies, including a background and a foreground star.

The light from a background star is bended and amplified by the gravity of a foreground star when these two bodies are aligned as seen from earth. Many types of information can be obtained by gravitational micro lensing, such as the nature of the foreground star and the accompanying planets.

Microlensing

The system was first observed back in 2007; however, at that time, the variety of micro lensing observations revealed only a star and one planet. Careful analyses revealed a third body, which scientists could not clearly identify then. Ground observations suggested a system consisting of a Saturn-like planet and a binary system of stars or a Saturn-like planet and an earth-like planet around a single star.

Hubbles observations

Using Hubbles high resolution imaging astronomers were able to set apart the individual members of the system in a much crowed star field. These observations revealed that although the light coming from star was somewhat faint to be coming from a single star, the most likely possible scenario was that the source was not coming from a single but from two red dwarf stars.

The almost perfect alignment of the background and foreground bodies plus the observations made with the aid of the Hubbles Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 allowed for the careful study and detection of the system of stars and one planet. Its expected that with the use of micro lensing and Hubbles resolution capabilities scientists will be able to continue their search for exoplanets and their related host stars.
Premier seeks deeper reforms Updated: 2016-09-22 11:13 By Zhao Huanxin and Wang Linyan in New York(China Daily USA)

China still has a long way to go to modernize and needs to pursue development through deepening reform, opening up further and safeguarding the environment, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday at United Nations headquarters in New York.

Li said China has become the first nation to submit a report to the UN on how it is implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a blueprint endorsed by the UN last year for ending poverty and hunger, promoting equality and protecting the environment in the years leading up to 2030.

While addressing the general debate of the UN General Assembly, whose theme is The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our World, the premier vowed that China would carry out a new round of opening-up and work to achieve mutually beneficial cooperation.

Li said that for the sustainable goals to be attained, current norms regarding the international order and relations must be maintained. These norms, formed in the wake of World War II, have ensured peace in the world for more than 70 years, he said.

"They have been proved effective and must be safeguarded with resolve," he said.

The premier also said that the world economy's sluggish growth must be reversed, or sustainable development will have no foundation.

He said international organizations should prioritize developing countries in allocating new resources.

Meanwhile, Bank of China said in a news release that it has become the first renminbi-clearing bank in the US after Li announced on Tuesday night that China had decided to designate a domestic bank to serve as the clearinghouse for yuan transactions in New York.

Li spoke at a gala dinner co-hosted by the Economic Club of New York, the National Committee of US-China Relations and the US-China Business Council.

Li did not name the bank, but also mentioned foreign banks in New York that met the eligibility requirements are welcome to become clearing banks for yuan.

The establishment of a clearing bank in the US will "promote the growth of renminbi activity in the US and help accommodate an increase in volumes and demand for renminbi products and services", Timothy Geithner, former US Treasury secretary, told the Financial Times.

Ming Ming, head of fixed-income research at Citic Securities, who previously worked on renminbi internationalization at the PBOC, told the newspaper that the lack of a renminbi-clearing mechanism in the US, a center of global finance, was "a major missing piece of the puzzle for renminbi internationalization".

"The designation of Bank of China in New York means the global framework is now basically complete," Ming said.

Xia Le, chief economist for Asia at Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg News: "This is an important step in building the global infrastructure, as the yuan-clearing system now covers 24 hours."

In September 2015, China and the US agreed to further boost cooperation on renminbi business. At the conclusion of the eighth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in June in Beijing, both countries announced that they would further develop renminbi trading and clearing in the US.

Hu Yongqi in Beijing contributed to this story.
Veteran revisits battlefields, relives memories of war Updated: 2016-09-23 10:53 By QI XIN/CHEN LIANG(China Daily)

Zhu Wenbin and his grandson, Zhu Zhe, visit a museum in memory of the Chinese war of liberation in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/China Daily]

Age 87, veteran soldier Zhu Wenbin felt it was a matter of urgency that he revisited the battlefields where he fought for New China.

He and three of his comrades-in-arms, who were living in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, promised to revisit the battlefields together several years ago. "Unfortunately, two of them have passed away and the other is bedridden," Zhu said. "So I feel it's time to make the trip and honor those friends who sacrificed their lives for the country."

Zhu joined the People's Liberation Army when he was 17-years-old. "Time flies. My grandson has grown up now, many things have changed, but the memories of my experiences in the army have never changed," Zhu said.

Zhu Zhe, 24, his grandson, posted about his grandfather's wishes to see the battlefields on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform, and it caught the attention of many young netizens.

"As the only grandson in the family, I want to help my grandpa to realize his dream," he said.

In mid-July, Zhu Wenbin, his wife, son and grandson, started a 17-day, 3,500-km car journey from Zhengzhou to Zhu Wenbin's hometown in Shanxi province, and then to revisit the battlefields in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. "I'd like to share my army stories with my grandson," Zhu Wenbin said.

They visited Baobuqi near Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, where one of the old soldier's best friends was killed in battle. Wang Shansan, who grew up with Zhu Wenbin and joined the army with him in 1947, was killed there in 1949, Zhu Wenbin told his family members.

It was the first day of the Lunar New Year in 1949. After a fierce battle, the last one in the Suiyuan area during China's civil war, a comrade told Zhu Wenbin that Wang had been killed while seizing guns from captured enemy soldiers.

"I was shocked to hear this news," Zhu said. "Wang failed to witness the victory of the battlehe hadn't even eaten his new-year dumplings yet."

Zhu Wenbin remembered the promise which he and Wang made before leaving their hometown in Shanxi. It was: No matter who died on the battlefield, the other person would try to bring his body home.

So Zhu Wenbin sent the message of Wang's death back home, asking his elder brother to help. "My older brother spent six days driving a cattle cart to bring Wang's body home from Inner Mongolia. Luckily, it was winter," he said.

"In Shanxi, the first thing my grandpa had to visit is the ruins of Wang's family home," Zhu Zhe said. They went to the local martyrs' memorial park and placed a bouquet in front of Wang's grave.

"My grandpa always told me that hard-won peace, tranquility and stability should be cherished. After the trip, I appreciate that much more than before," the grandson said.

Zhu Jianjun, 51, Zhu Wenbin' son, plans to write a book, collecting the stories of veteran soldiers such as his father.

"When I came to my grandpa's hometown, I felt that the sons of veterans were so excited to see each other, advocating the spirit of their fathers, and I want to write it down," he said, adding that he plans to call his book "I am a soldier".

Chen Liang contributed to this story.
Airports around world work to improve Chinese services Updated: 2016-09-23 10:10 By Zhao Lei(China Daily)

Beijing Capital International Airport, the largest air hub in the country, is helping foreign airports translate signs and train their staffs to deliver services in Chinese to improve the travel experience for Chinese tourists.

Han Zhiliang, the airport's general manager, said at the Fifth Beijing Global Friend Airports CEO Forum on Thursday that his company has helped the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, Incheon International Airport in South Korea and several airports in Thailand to check and correct signs written in Chinese.

Beijing Capital has also been assisting Finland's Helsinki Airport and Germany's Frankfurt Airport with their efforts to improve services in Chinese.

Moreover, exchanges have been undertaken between Beijing Capital employees and their counterparts in Munich and Frankfurt, Germany; Geneva, Switzerland; and Havana, Cuba, Han said. Such programs enable foreign airport workers to better understand Chinese passengers and Chinese cultures, he added.

In October, Helsinki Air-port in Finland will send several employees to work for three weeks at Beijing Capital, he said.

Sun Xiaoyi, deputy head of the Beijing airport's service department, said a lot of foreign airports have reached out to ask for help with Chinese language services.

Having witnessed large numbers of Chinese travelers, airports around the world are striving to enhance local appeal to Chinese air-lines and travelers. Signage in Chinese has become part of the basic infrastructure, and many foreign airports have developed Chinese websites or mobile phone applications.

Chinese tourists spent $215 billion during trips overseas in 2015, accounting for 17 per-cent of all overseas consumption by travelers around the world, according to a report released by the World Tour-ism Cities Federation on Tuesday.

The United States, Japan, South Korea and Britain saw the biggest increase in Chinese visitors in 2015.

"Chinese travelers would find it convenient and comfortable to use the facilities at Finnish airports because they have a lot of Chinese-speaking employees, along with many digital tools designed for Chinese visitors, including a mobile phone application capable of recognizing different Chinese dialects," said Kari Savolainen, CEO of Finland's state-owned airport operator Finavia.

Winfried Hartmann, senior vice-president of sales and customer service at Frankfurt Airport, said the airport is developing a mobile phone application that can automatically trans-late German signs into Chinese.

"In addition, we will strengthen our collaboration with Beijing Capital to improve our service for Chinese travelers," he said.

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/23/2016 page5)
China ranks No 4 in global governance Updated: 2016-09-23 10:10 By Cui Shoufeng(China Daily)

Unbalanced development, clash of civilizations among barriers to globalization, expert says

The West remains the biggest contributor and participator in global governance, with some emerging economies narrowing the gap, according to a report on 189 states' participation in world affairs.

Based on primary indicators including mechanisms, performance, decision-making and responsibilities, the top countries in order are the United States, France, the United Kingdom, China and Japan. The top four are permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Most G8 and G20 member states are ranked in the top 30, with emerging countries such as China and India playing a bigger role in global governance.

Beijing scores high in economic contributions to global GDP, while New Delhi has performed well in "shouldering global responsibilities" thanks to its large number of personnel in UN peacemaking missions, said the report.

Issued on Thursday by the Political Science Institute of East China University of Political Science and Law, the Center for China and Globalization and China International Publishing Group, the report is the fourth of its kind.

"The report came at a time when globalization is under siege, even in the West. It is expected to offer a glimpse of what should be done to optimize global governance," said Wang Huiyao, president of the center.

From being a participator to a leading contributor to global governance, China stands firm in its endorsement of globalization, Wang said.

"But the challenges are worth noting. Neither US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton nor her Republican rival Donald Trump has the will to finish the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks," he said.

Facing globalization are two major problems, said Gao Qiqi, a professor at East China University of Political Science and Law.

"The first is unbalanced development," he said. "Many developed economies are suffering from sluggish growth, while their developing counterparts lack needed financial and infrastructure support."

The second is the "clash of civilizations", Gao said.

As the just-concluded G20 Summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, indicated, China is ready to offer a plan on the basis of its achievements in national governance, he said.

"China's traditional culture highlights the importance of inclusiveness, which is exactly what globalization needs to prosper, and it believes improving infrastructure comes first," he said.

In a broader view, global governance largely hinges on emerging countries' greater contributions in providing public goods and services over the next decade and the UN's structural reform in the longer run, the report said.

cuishoufeng@chinadaily.com.cn
Tourists hear call of island destinations Updated: 2016-09-23 10:10 By Shi Xiaofeng in Zhoushan, Zhejiang(China Daily)

Increasing numbers of Chinese choose to go abroad for relaxation, not just sightseeing

A quarter of outbound Chinese mainland tourists headed to islands last year, according to statistics released at the 2016 International Islands Tourism Conference in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province.

According to The World Islands Tourism Development Report released on Thursday, the number of outbound Chinese mainland tourists hit 117 million in 2015. That accounts for nearly 10 percent of global inter-national tourists and makes China the world's largest source of tourists.

"Although sightseeing tourism is still the most popular form of travel for Chinese tourists, more and more have been enjoying the lei-sure style in recent years," said Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy.

"Island trips top leisure tourism," Dai said.

According to a report on the 2016 Spring Festival, domestic and foreign island tourism accounted for half of travel volume. The rate at some international travel agencies even exceeded 80 percent.

That makes Lefkada, an island city in Greece, confident about its potential for Chinese visitors.

"We have more clear water and scenery in Lefkada. Chinese tourists only know Santorini so far, but they will love Lefkada once they visit there," said Konstantinos Drakontaeidis, the mayor.

"We came here last June and started our sister city relationship with Zhoushan. That provides us a tunnel to enhance our cooperation with China. Alot of business-men came with me here to Zhoushan this year, and they had contacted some local and national travel agencies and relevant companies. We hope to promote some special routes and packages for Chinese tourists soon," he said.

Marcelo K. Peterson, governor of Pohnpei state in Micronesia, shares the same ambition.

"When I visited China two months ago and talked to the locals, only a few people knew about us. But they know Guam and Fiji. So we came to promote ourselves."

"At present, we have a visa exemption policy for Chinese tourists. But they have to apply for a US visa and transfer at Guam. That increases the travel expenses and preparation time. We are trying to launch more flight routes so Chinese people can enjoy our favored policy," he said.

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the island country, launched a direct flight from Beijing to Mahe Island in February. The flight takes off every Wednesday from Beijing and returns on Tues-day, cutting one-way flying time to 10 hours and 50 minutes and the ticket price by one-third.

Hannah Babby Lafortune, principal secretary of tourism and culture of the Seychelles, told China Daily that 15,000 Chinese visited last year, ranking sixth among its inbound tourists.

"It has great potential," Lafortune said.

shixf@chinadaily.com.cn

A man poses for pictures with workers during an expo at the 2016 International Islands Tourism Conference in Zhoushan,Zhejiang province, on Thursday.Wu Linhong / For China Daily

(China Daily 09/23/2016 page5)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's Cuba visit to deepen bilateral cooperation Updated: 2016-09-24 02:12 (Xinhua)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to Cuba will help boost economic cooperation between Havana and Beijing, and promote the Cuba-China comprehensive strategic partnership, said a renowned Cuban expert.

"China is a strategic partner for Cuba," Ruben Zardoya, former rector of the University of Havana and expert on China issues, told Xinhua, adding that Li's visit "will be very important for our country and will help strengthen ties."

Economic relations between the two countries are in "crescendo" and Chinese investment in Cuba is "tangible," Zardoya said.

"There are protocols, agreements and accords of all kinds between the two countries to promote investment, banking development, transport, industry, defence, civil aviation, renewable energy, agriculture and biotechnology, among other areas," he said.

Li will arrive in Cuba following his participation in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and an official visit to Canada.

China is Cuba's second-largest trade partner and Beijing's participation in the development of multiple sectors of the economy has been vital to Havana's push to modernize the country's socialist model.

"Economic relations with China help Cuba obtain financial benefits and credits, and assimilate new modern technologies and the know-how for numerous industries from a very reliable partner," Zardoya said.

Cuba's tourism industry has witnessed increasing bilateral cooperation, not only because a growing number of Chinese visitors are traveling to the island country each year, but also because of Chinese investment in infrastructure development.

"Cuba has announced Chinese investment in the tourism sector with the construction of two luxury hotels in the outskirts of the capital," said Zardoya.

Cuba is also looking to increase its exports to China, particularly in the health sector.

"Biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry are important areas for cooperation due to the high scientific level of Cuban professionals and products the country manufactures, such as vaccines and innovative drugs against cancer and other diseases," he said.

Cuba began to modernize its socialist system about six years ago in order to trim the bloated public sector and increase productivity.

Cuban President Raul Castro approved a plan for 300 economic reforms in 2011 similar to the Chinese economic model, saying the experience of other socialist countries would be incorporated into the Cuban model.

"We must learn from their best practices. Chinese experience has been extraordinary and is an indisputable source of inspiration for Cuba," said Zardoya.

With "solid" political relations and many common grounds on global matters, the two countries can easily focus on boosting economic cooperation, he said.

"Havana and Beijing have common values such as the right of nations to self-determination, respect for sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries, and peace and stability as a condition for economic development," he said.

Strong ties with Cuba help bolster China's presence and enhance its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, which have grown substantially in the last few years, he added.

Li's trip to Havana will be the first official visit to Cuba by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago.

Li will be meeting with Raul Castro over strengthening China-Cuba cooperation and friendship, and preside over the signing of cooperation agreements in the fields of technology, renewable energy, industry and environmental protection.
BRICS ministers welcome China's leadership role Updated: 2016-09-23 04:44 By WANG LINYAN at the United Nations(chinadaily.com.cn)

The BRICS foreign affairs ministers welcomed China's incoming BRICS chairpersonship in 2017 and expressed confidence that intra-BRICS cooperation will be further strengthened, at a regular meeting on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York.

The ministers welcomed the fruitful discussion by BRICS leaders at their informal meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Hangzhou Summit, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are the BRICS member nations.

They acknowledged the significant outcomes of the G20 Summit, and called for their full implementation, including in the areas of sustainable development goals, climate change, and on innovation and structural reform as drivers of future economic growth.

The G20 Summit, hosted for the first time by China in early September, has, also for the first time, included sustainable development in its agenda.

At Tuesday's meeting, the ministers called for "collective action" to boost world economic growth, macroeconomic policy coordination and improving global economic governance.

Poverty eradication has been reaffirmed as the greatest global challenge, and the ministers committed to continue to work toward the full implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

They called upon the international community, especially the developed countries, to fulfill their commitments and provide strong support for developing countries. In this regard they recalled the G20 Action Plan on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and G20 Initiative on Supporting Industrialization in Africa and LDCs.

The ministers expressed their concern over continued conflicts in several regions that undermine stability and security and provide fertile grounds for terrorist activities, causing refugee and migration waves.
Influential Republican senator slams Obama's Middle East policy as 'unmitigated disaster' Updated: 2016-09-23 09:48 (Xinhua)

US 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 DC, capital of the United States, Sept 22, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

WASHINGTON - Influential US 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 US 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 US 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 US should focus on "nation-building at home."

The withdrawal of US 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 US 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 US 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 US-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 US failure to establish a no-fly zone in Syria as a mistake.

In response to the criticism, Carter repeated three objectives of the US military campaign in the region, namely destroying IS, combating IS metastases everywhere they emerge around the world, and helping protect homeland security.

The US 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 US military officer also made it clear that the US 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.
Li, Trudeau get ball rolling on free-trade deal Updated: 2016-09-23 11:24 By AMY HE and ZHAO HUANXIN in Ottawa(China Daily USA)

China and Canada have agreed to launch exploratory talks on a free-trade agreement, Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take part in a joint press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on Thursday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

They made the announcement at a joint press conference on Thursday morning after a tete-a-tete followed by a longer talk.

We have reached new consensus in the field of economy and trade, Li said on the second day of his visit to Canada. Weve talked about how to establish a free-trade area between China and Canada.

The two countries also announced an agreement aimed at ending a dispute over exports of Canadian canola oil to China.

Trudeau said they found a predictable, science-based and stable solution to ensure access to the Chinese market for Canadian canola exports through early 2020.

This is great news for our Canadian canola farmers, said Trudeau, adding that the progress goes to show how two countries willing to collaborate can solve difficult challenges together.

China also agreed to import bone-in beef from Canada. The measures demonstrated Chinas commitment to farmers and producers in Canada, Li said at the press conference.

The Canadian Cattlemens Association immediately lauded the action, saying it will boost exports to China by $10 million a year.

The two leaders meeting twice within a month shows that China-Canada relations have ushered in a new phase, Li said.

With the visits, the two sides formally inaugurated an annual dialogue mechanism between the heads of government, Li said.

The two men presided over a signing ceremony prior to the joint press conference, where 14 cooperative documents were inked on the economy, trade, agriculture, customs, education, tourism and crime-fighting.

Were pleased to have witnessed commercial signings today that will help achieve this goal. We know theres a huge amount of untapped potential in our commercial relationship  this new trade target will benefit Canadian workers and business owners while creating good, well-paying jobs, Trudeau said.

He also said that though there is much anxiety around globalization and trade, the Canadian and Chinese governments are directly focused on creating trade opportunities that benefit Canadians and benefit the middle class and the communities they work in.

The two countries also agreed to double two-way tourism visits by 2025. Trudeau said that the two countries agreed to launch a Canada-China economic and financial strategic dialogue that as a forum will seek to guide the economic relationship between our two countries now and into the future.

Lis visit marked the first Chinese premiers visit to Canada in 13 years.

He was welcomed by Trudeau with military honors on Thursday at the Drill Hall at Cartier Square in Ottawa, a military training facility in the Canadian capital.

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.
Promoting tourism for Maritime Silk Road cities Updated: 2016-09-23 13:16 By HONG XIAO in New York(China Daily USA)

A campaign to promote tourism for Chinese provinces and cities along the Maritime Silk Road has begun in the US and Canada.

The campaign organized by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) visited Vancouver on Tuesday and Houston on Wednesday. On Friday, the show will travel to Dolphin Mall in Miami.

With the theme of Beautiful China  Journey along the Maritime Silk Road, the three-hour highlights provinces and cities including Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong.

The Maritime Silk Road has a legacy that can be traced back more than two millennia, when the Chinese, Hindus and Arabs exchanged goods through maritime sailing.

The Maritime Silk Road started at the southeastern coast of China.

Passing by the Indo-China Peninsula and countries by the South Sea, it stretches into the Red Sea area from the Indian Ocean, and ends in East Africa and Europe. As the maritime channel for trade and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, the road boosted common development of countries along the route.

In October 2013, the Maritime Silk Road initiative, also known as the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, was first proposed by President Xi Jinping during a speech to the Indonesian Parliament.

It is a complementary initiative aimed at investing and fostering collaboration in Southeast Asia, Oceania and North Africa, along several contiguous bodies of water  the South China Sea, the South Pacific Ocean and the wider Indian Ocean area.

The area that has led Chinas economic development is opening wider and shining with its rich history, picturesque landscape and a highly developed outlook to welcome friends from all over the world.

By the end of 2015, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guilin and other cities along the Maritime Silk Road offered transit without visa within 72 hours to foreign visitors from 51 countries and regions, including the US and Canada.

With 2016 designated as the Year of China-US Tourism, China expect more than 6 million tourists from both China and the United States, said Zhang Meifang, Chinas deputy consul general in New York,

According to Pan Xiaopeng, deputy director of the CNTO in New York, from January to April, some 720,000 Americans traveled to China, the highest level in five years.

Lia Zhu in San Francisco contributed to this story.

xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com
China lifts ban on US beef imports Updated: 2016-09-23 13:17 By PAUL WELITZKIN in New York(China Daily USA)

China on Thursday said it was conditionally lifting its import ban on some shipments of US beef, ending a 13-year embargo imposed after the discovery of a case of "mad cow" disease in Washington state.

The announcement was made in Ottawa by Premier Li Keqiang, who also said that China was ready to lift restrictions on bone-in Canadian beef.

Prior to going to Canada to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, Li said on Tuesday in a speech in New York that China would "soon" allow imports of US boneless beef and beef on the bone.

The lifting of the US ban applies to imports of beef from cattle under 30 months old, according to a statement posted on the Ministry of Agricultures website.

The move remains subject to completion of quarantine requirements, which will be issued later, the ministry said, without providing further details.

"I welcome the announcement from Chinas Ministry of Agriculture that it has lifted its ban on US beef following a recently concluded review of the US supply system, US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement on Thursday.

Vilsack said the US is looking forward to prompt discussions with Chinese authorities on the conditions to allow trade to resume.

"This is potentially very significant for the US market. Chinas beef imports have risen sharply the past four years and it is now the second-largest beef importing country. US access to this market offers considerable new market potential for US beef exports, Derrell Peel of the department of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University said.

Brazil has overtaken Australia as Chinas top beef supplier.

In the first six months of 2016, China imported 295,721 metric tons of beef, jumping 60.8 percent year-on-year. The USDA 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.

The agency has been in talks with Beijing ever since the ban to reopen the market, said Fred Gale, China specialist with the USDA.

"Opening the China market will create more demand for US beef, Gale said. "That not only gives Chinese consumers more choices, but also gives US farmers and ranchers more market outlets for their products. This is especially important now because the farm economy is in a period of generally depressed prices.

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
'Don't shoot him!' N.C. victim's family releases own video Updated: 2016-09-24 03:04 (Agencies)

The family of a black man fatally shot by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday released its own video of the encounter that sparked three days of protests and continued to urge officials to release their own recordings of the slaying.

The moment that a black police officer shoots Keith Scott, a 43-year-old father of seven, cannot be seen in the two-minute video recorded by his wife, Rakeyia, who can be heard urging officers not to open fire on her husband.

"Don't shoot him! He has no weapon," she can be heard telling officers as they yell at Scott to "Drop the gun!" About a half-dozen gunshots can be heard in the video released to US media, followed by her scream, "Did you shoot him? He better not be dead."

Scott's death was the latest in a long string of controversial killings of black people by US police that have stirred an intense debate on race and justice. A United Nations working group on Friday compared the killings to the lynching of black people by white mobs in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Scott's death sparked two days of rioting in North Carolina's largest city, with protesters dismissing the claim of police officers that Scott was holding gun.

Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Chief Kerr Putney has said video taken by police body cameras supports the police's version of events but has refused to release the video publicly. He told reporters on Friday that releasing the video now could harm the investigation into the shooting, now being led by the state.

"I know the expectation is that video footage can be the panacea and I can tell you that is not the case," Putney said, adding that he would eventually agree with the release of the video. "It's a matter of when and a matter of sequence."

Scott's family, initially contended that he was carrying a book, but after viewing the police video on Thursday said it was "impossible to discern" what, if anything, he was carrying. They urged police to release the footage.

"There's nothing in that video that shows him acting aggressively, threatening or maybe dangerous," said Justin Bamberg, one of the lawyers representing the family, said in an interview early on Friday.

No gun can be seen in Mrs. Scott's video, which was filmed from a nearby curb as the drama unfolded on the street in front of her.

Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican locked in a tight re-election race, signed a law last week that would require authorities to obtain a court order before releasing police video. Critics say it would prevent the sort of transparency that is needed to defuse public anger in the wake of police shootings.

Scott was the 214th black person killed by US police this year out of an overall total of 821, according to Mapping Police Violence, another group created out of the protest movement. There is no national-level government data on police shootings.

The UN working group recommended the US create a reliable national system to track killings and excessive use of force by law enforcement officials, as well as ending the practice of racial profiling.

Police arrested a civilian on Thursday and charged him with the murder of a protester who was shot during Wednesday night's protest and died on Thursday, Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Chief Kerr Putney told a press conference on Friday.

Police identified the shooter as Rayquan Borum, 21, and the victim as Justin Carr. They did not disclose Carr's age.

POLITICAL BATTLES

The killing and its aftermath are playing out in a state that has been at the forefront of some of the nation's most bitter political fights in recent years.

North Carolina's Republican-dominated state legislature has tightened voting laws, slashed education spending and passed a law prohibiting transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice.

State officials who pursue these policies are partly to blame for this week's unrest, civil rights leaders say.

"It's somewhat hypocritical to cry out against violence when you pass violent policies," said Reverend William Barber, head of the North Carolina NAACP.

In contrast to the tension in Charlotte, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was calm after a white police officer was charged with first-degree manslaughter on Thursday for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man that was also captured on video.

The officer involved in that shooting turned herself in early on Friday and was released on $50,000 bond.
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LONDON  Vietnamese and British coffee enterprises are keen on doing more business together, Viet Nam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA) Chairman Luong Van Tu said on Wednesday.

Tu was speaking to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent at a roundtable discussion on the coffee business in London.

The seminar, jointly held by VICOFA, British Coffee Association and the Embassy of Viet Nam in the United Kingdom, aims to boost coffee trade between the two countries.

Participants discussed measures to develop and promote coffee production standards in line with the principles of sustainable development. They also talked about the quality of coffee and how export supply chains are organised in producing countries such as Viet Nam.

At the seminar, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Van Thao pledged his strong support to facilitate Vietnamese market access to UK enterprises. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said Viet Nam encouraged foreign investors to pour capital into agriculture, including the coffee processing technology.

Viet Nam is the largest coffee producer in Asia and second in the world after Brazil.

Every year, Viet Nam exports 90 per cent of what it produces with a volume of some 1.3 million tonnes, earning over US$3 billion. In recent years, Viet Nam has increased the export of processed coffee -- roasted, ground and 3 in 1.

The Vietnamese coffee industry is focusing more on processing instant coffee, which generates higher profits for the national coffee sector.

Domestic consumption is also increasing rapidly. In 2015, Viet Nam had 17,300 coffee shops nationwide. There are several coffee shop chains in the country, such as Highland Coffee, Trung Nguyen, Me Trang and Vinacafe. The Starbucks chain has developed at a very rapid pace in Viet Nam.

In 2015, bilateral trade turnover between the United Kingdom and Viet Nam reached $5.4 billion, an increase of 25 per cent against the previous year. The United Kingdoms investment in Viet Nam was valued at $4.7 billion, ranking second among European Union investors.

Viet Nam export turnover to the United Kingdom has been increasing at an average of 20 per cent per year. The main export products include seafood, vegetable, fruits and cashew, as well as coffee, tea, pepper and rubber, along with garments, textiles and shoes. In terms of coffee, the United Kingdom is among the top 10 largest coffee importing markets of Viet Nam. In 2015, the United Kingdom imported some 32,000 tonnes worth $65million.

Coffee exports exceed expectations

Viet Nams coffee exports in August reached 2.54 million bags (152,678 tonnes), a growth of 9.2 per cent from July, according to the General Department of Customs statistics.

This number is significantly higher than the markets expectation of 100,000 to 120,000 tonnes, as well as the Governments estimated 140,000 tonnes.

Viet Nams coffee exports from the beginning of the 2015-16 crop has yielded 1.61 billion tonnes, as of today, an increase of 33 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Experts said Viet Nams increase in coffee exports in August has contributed to balancing the market in the context of decreasing supply from Brazil, one of the largest coffee producers in the world.

According to the August 2016 monthly exports report by the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafe), the countrys export of Robusta coffee in August had declined by 90 per cent compared with the same period last year to a mere 39,327 60kg bags.

Brazils yield of Robusta coffee was severely affected by the drought in the state of Espirito Santo - Brazils main Robusta-producing region. Its coffee exports (both Arabica and Robusta) in August reached 2.4 million bags, down by 7.4 per cent from the same period last year.

Nonetheless, compared with July, coffee exports still increased by 46 per cent - the smallest amount in a year.

Nelson Carvalhaes, president of Cecafe, predicted a gradual and sustainable growth recovery for Brazils coffee exports.  VNS
A NANG  Sixty per cent of Japanese investors face ongoing challenges with legal transparency, taxes, investment licence procedures and administrative reform when they invest in projects in the central region and a Nang City.

Kana Miyazaki, deputy chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Ha Noi, reported these and other statistics yesterday during the annual dialogue between the Japanese Business Association in a Nang (JBAD) and the citys leadership.

Miyazaki said 60 per cent of Japanese investors in the central region and a Nang still complain that unclear explanations and legal definitions and complicated investment licensing procedures and tax regulations remain major barriers to attracting Japanese investors to the city.

A recent survey of JETRO revealed that 63 per cent of the Japanese firms based in Asia planned to expand their businesses in Viet Nam due to the development potential of the Asian market. Viet Nam is a favourite investment destination among Japanese investors, with its stable political situation and cheap labour costs, Kana said.

Central Viet Nams attractions include favourable investment conditions, cheap labour and fast recruitment of skilled workers, she said.

a Nang has smoothed the way for Japanese investors by setting up a Japanese Desk a Nang team which will be available every Wednesday to support Japanese investors by explaining administrative procedures, investment licences, priority policies and other issues.

Kana said she hoped the citys administration would support Japanese investors more actively, starting from the initial investment process.

The JETRO office in Ha Noi receives 12,000 visits from Japanese investors each year, asking for investment environment information about Viet Nam.

The number of Japanese projects in information technology, retail, hospitality industry and cuisine services has been drastically increasing, especially small- and medium-sized businesses with investment capital of US$5 million each, Kana said.

Vice chairman of a Nang citys Peoples Committee, Ho Ky Minh, said investment projects funded by Japanese investors helped improve the citys socio-economic development.

Japan is the biggest investor in a Nang, with 112 projects worth $397 million  10 per cent of the accumulated foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the city  creating 32,000 jobs for locals, Minh said.

But the city has yet to attract huge FDI projects, so dialogue will help us speed up policy reform to attract more foreign investment in coming years, he said.

Minh said the citys leadership wants to hear detailed opinions and requirements from Japanese investors regarding the investment environment, difficulties and barriers to doing business in a Nang.

A logistics project in the Hoa Cam Industrial Zone in a Nang. The city called for Japanese investors to fund logistics ventures. VNS Photo Cong Thanh

According to JBAD, the promised apartments, shopping areas and kindergarten projects in Industrial Zones (IZs) and Industrial Parks (IPs) have yet to be developed by the city.

General manager of Tokyo Keiki Precision Technology Inc, Michio Saruhasi, said the city should speed up construction connecting Nguyen Tat Thanh road with a Nang citys Hi-Tech Park.

The delayed construction of the road limits us in employing workers. We can only contract 10 per cent of workers needed for our project right now, Michio said.

He said slow completion of the road also causes more transport difficulties for businesses.

General director of a Nang Nippon Seiki Company, Moriyuki Hosokawa, said the city should build more IT buildings for Japanese IT companies expansion projects.

a Nang should develop more IT parks with the best cyber security, infrastructure and high speed internet service. We also need the citys Information and Communications Department to provide rapid internet repair service within one hour - not the usual seven hours, Moriyuki said.

a Nang University also proposes to increase enrollment in information technology training at the Technology College in 2016-20, to meet the demand for a skilled labour force for Japanese investors.

Director of the citys investment promotion centre, Le Canh Duong, said 11 barriers raised by JBAD in a dialogue last year have been completely dismantled.

We reduced the length of time needed to grant licences for foreign employees from two weeks to eight days. Some procedures has also been conducted online to facilitate things for Japanese businesses, Duong said. "Also, the citys Customs Department now offers automatic customs clearance procedures for Japanese investors."

Many Japanese investors agreed to build workshops to provide Japanese-style work places for companies in some industrial zones. Garbage collection and cleaning service is also done twice a week at Hoa Khanh Industrial Zone, as required of Japanese businenesses, he said.

The city will reserve a 9ha complex for developing apartments, supermarkets and 2,000 sq.m of kindergarten projects to serve IZ and IP workers in the Lien Chieu district in 2017-20.

a Nang will subsidise 50 per cent of van rental costs for investors transporting workers from the city centre to IZs and IPs. Bus routes are planned for 2020.

The city has developed an Information Park on 344ha of land in Hoa Vang District and an IT park on 55.6ha nearby, where space has been reserved for IT investors from Japan.

The city also plans to build an industrial park for small- and medium-sized businesses from Japan on 134ha.

a Nang will begin construction of the Japan-Viet Nam Culture Centre in Ngu Hanh Son District and launch a new direct flight from a Nang to Osaka in October.

According to the latest reports, a Nang has attracted 423 foreign investment projects worth $3.68 billion to date.  VNS
The price of Sai Gon Beer Alcohol Beverage Joint Stock Company (Sabeco) shares have soared in recent days on the over-the-counter (OTC) market after the company announced its listing plan on the HCM Stock Exchange.  Photo cafef.vn

HA NOI  The price of Sai Gon Beer Alcohol Beverage Joint Stock Company (Sabeco) shares have soared in recent days on the over-the-counter (OTC) market after the company announced its listing plan on the HCM Stock Exchange.

The number of offers to buy shares of Viet Nams biggest beer producer have perked up rapidly since early this week with the bid volume reaching over one million shares a day.

The tender prices are currently around VN100,000-102,000 (US$4.48-4.57) per share, up 25 per cent over that of early August.

Increased investor interest was attributed to Sabecos listing plan this year.

Last week, Sabeco asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to debut its shares on the HCM Stock Exchange in the future. The company said it was working with a consulting securities firm and the procedures would take at least two months to be completed.

Shares of Sabeco is being traded on the OTC market, a decentralised and off-exchange trading floor where stocks are traded through a dealer network.

In August, the Government asked Sabeco and Ha Noi Beer-Alcohol-Beverage JSC (Habeco), the countrys two biggest breweries, to list their shares on the local stock exchange, saying it is mandatory for State-owned enterprises to list on the stock market after equitisation.

Both Sabeco and Habeco made their initial public offerings in 2008.

According to the divestment plan, the State will sell its entire 82 per cent of capital, equivalent to VN9 trillion at the Habeco this year.

As for Sabeco, the divestment will consist of two tranches in which around 54 per cent of capital will be sold this year while another 36 per cent will be put up on sale in 2017, after Sabeco shares are listed on the stock exchange.

Based on OTC prices, Sabeco is valued at around VN65 trillion and the divestment value amounts to VN57.5 trillion, or $2.6 billion.

In the OTC market, the bid prices of Habeco are around VN47,000 and VN48,000 a share, slightly higher than that in early August.

Sabeco and Habeco hold a combined market share of 60 per cent in the local beer market.

The local beer market has seen an annual growth rate of 35-40 per cent in recent years. Viet nam is forecast to consume 4.04 billion litres of beer in 2016, the highest in the ASEAN region.  VNS
Workers process wooden products at a local small firm. The VCCI and municipal and provincial authorities signed an agreement yesterday to jointly create a favourable business environment.  Photo baotintuc.vn

HA NOI  The Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and 21 municipal and provincial authorities signed an agreement in Ha Noi yesterday to jointly create a favourable business environment.

The agreement is designed to implement Government Resolution 35 on enterprise development until 2020 by simplifying administrative procedures, increasing dialogue between businesses and authorities, among others.

VCCI President Vu Tien Loc said the resolution, which went into effect in May 2016, is expected to produce more than 100,000 new companies within a year. At such speed, 150,000-200,000 new firms will debut each year and the goal of a million by 2020 will be within reach.

He also took the occasion to call on localities to launch start-up campaigns and pledge to assist enterprises in improving their competitiveness.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue, who is also head of the Central Steering Committee for Enterprise Reform and Development, said that with the signing, all 63 localities have reached a deal with the VCCI.

The Deputy PM made it clear that the Party and State appreciate businesses and businesspeople, adding that the amendments to the Law on Investment and the Enterprise Law, as well as other laws, are also meant to generate an environment conducive to business operations.

Hue suggested building an annual business development index which would include corporate revenues and workers income.

Since the resolution was issued, more than 9,000 new firms have been established per month. Ha Noi recorded 15,530 in the past eight months and expects to have at least 400,000 by 2020.

Early this year, the PM approved a project supporting start-up ecosystem and national renovation by 2025. The Government is preparing for proposed revisions to 15 laws regarding the business environment to be submitted to the legislature for consideration, as well as a bill to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups and start-up ecosystem.

Localities were asked to attract foreign direct investment, encourage trading households to register as businesses, provide more credit for SMEs, and establish venture funds at local and central levels.  VNS
HA NOI  The customs sector has recommended that the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies review policies for export processing enterprises, since current regulations seem to excessively favour the firms.

This was reported by Dien an Doanh nghiep (The Business Forum) online.

Decree No, 29/2008/N-CP, dated March 14, 2008, defined these enterprises as either companies operating in export processing zones or firms operating in industrial and economic zones and exporting all the products that they manufacture.

Decree No. 24/2000/N-CP, issued on July 31, 2000, reiterated that these enterprises must export all their products.

However, the latest Enterprise Law and the Investment Law, which came into effect in mid-2015, do not stipulate the types of export processing enterprises or regulate the percentage of goods they are to export.

The slackening regulations result in almost no difference between export processing enterprises and normal firms, although the export processing enterprises enjoy preferential treatment, the customs sector said.

Specifically, Circular No. 219/ 2013/TT-BTC, issued by the finance ministry on December 31, 2013, stated that normal domestic enterprises which sell goods to export processing enterprises will enjoy value-added tax (VAT) rate of zero per cent.

The same goods, if traded between normal domestic enterprises only, will bear VAT rates of 5-10 per cent.

The customs sector said it was necessary for the authorities to maintain the regulation requiring export processing enterprises to export all their products and reconsider preferential policies to assure business equality.

The sector suggested that the VAT incentive applied in case domestic firms sell goods to export processing enterprises should be abolished. The incentive should only be applied when export processing enterprises import goods from foreign countries.

An official from the management board of industrial zones in southern ong Nai Province told Dien an Doanh nghiep on condition of anonymity that because of the lack of regulations on export processing firms under the enterprise and investment laws, the board is quite hesitant to certify the companies.

Managing the firms also embarrassed the ong Nai Department of Customs, which reportedly said many of them did not meet production facility standards, as required under Decree No. 114/2015/N-CP issued last year on export processing, industrial and economic zones.  VNS
CAMBODIA  There is untapped potential for Viet Nam and Cambodia to foster bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment and tourism.

This message was delivered by Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Thach Du during a business conference held on Thursday in Cambodia.

The ambassador said bilateral ties have experienced encouraging results over the past years.

Viet Nam is considered one of Cambodias leading economic partners with two-way trade reaching US$3.4 billion in 2015. Trade is expected to reach $5 billion in 2017. In term of investment, Viet Nam has, till date, invested $2.85 billion in 182 projects in Cambodia. Viet Nam also recorded the largest number of travellers to this neighbouring country with some 990,000 visitors in 2015, Du said.

In his speech at the event, Chea Vuthy, vice secretary general of the Council for Development of Cambodia, gave a brief overview of the countrys investment climate and policies. He also spoke highly on the effective contribution of Vietnamese businesses to his countrys socio-economic development and to the economic co-operation between the two countries.

Currently, Viet Nam is one of Cambodias five leading sources of foreign investment besides China, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, with the most noteworthy projects focusing on agriculture and industry, valued at $958 million.

He said Cambodia would create the most favourable conditions for foreign investors including those from Viet Nam. The influx of Vietnamese investment to Cambodia would increase significantly in the near future, he added.  VNS
HCM CITY  Following increasing criticism of Viet Nams failure to crack down on wildlife crime, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a new directive earlier this month instructing authorities and law enforcement agencies across the country to take urgent measures to combat the illegal trade in wildlife.

According to the directive, the Government is aware that its current approach has not stamped out the illegal trade and that illegal activities, including processing, handicraft making and trading, and openly selling wildlife products such as ivory and rhino horns are still taking place.

The prime minister has urged provincial and city authorities to scale up their efforts to tackle wildlife crime by instructing relevant agencies to monitor, investigate and apply serious punishment to those involved in illegal trade of ivory and rhino horn, as well as inspect craft villages, processing workshops, souvenir shops in tourist spots, airports, seaports, and traditional medicine shops.

The directive also makes it clear that the days of impunity for wildlife criminals must come to an end.

It instructs the Ministry of Police and other concerned ministries to organise campaigns to destroy trans-border organised crime groups, who are involved in trading, storing, trafficking, importing/exporting illegal specimens of wildlife species, especially ivory and rhino horn.



The police are told to also cooperate with other agencies to monitor and severely punish activities related to retail selling, online trade, advertisement and illegal uses of ivory and rhino horn in domestic markets.

In another welcome move, the PM has ordered that the results of the inspections, monitoring exercises and prosecutions must be published in the media. This is particularly significant since Viet Nam has reported no successful prosecutions of rhino horn traffickers despite the widespread evidence of illegal trade.



The unexpected directive comes just a week before 181 nations gather in South Africa for the worlds most important wildlife trade meeting  the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)  where Viet Nams lack of progress on tackling wildlife trafficking will be in the spotlight.

It also comes just days after the WWF called on Viet Nam to take concrete steps to tackle illegal rhino horn trade or face trade sanctions under CITES.



"This directive shows that the Vietnamese Government is aware of the seriousness and scale of the illegal wildlife trade in the country and admits that much more needs to be done to tackle it," Tran Le Tra, policy manager, WWFViet Nam, said.

"It is critical that responsible authorities act upon this directive and immediately ramp up efforts to crack down on illegal wildlife markets and prosecute the traffickers."



There are concerns that this directive might turn out to be stronger on paper than in practice, especially as a similar announcement was made in 2014 but with little effect.



But the new directive stresses that authorities will be held accountable for their action  or lack of it. According to the announcement, Heads of Party Committees and local governments are responsible and accountable to the prime minister if violations of regulations on wildlife are discovered.

The decision also comes just days after it was announced that the Wildlife Justice Commission would hold public hearings in November following its investigations into the illegal wildlife trade in Viet Nam.

The commission took the decision to hold the hearings because the authorities in Ha Noi had made no effort to act on the evidence that the WJC had presented to them.

"The prime minister has shown that there is political will in Viet Nam to tackle wildlife crime: the world will now be watching to see how urgently and effectively the authorities implement this important directive," Elisabeth McLellan, WWF Head Wildlife Crime Initiative, said.

While this directive is a significant step in the right direction, Viet Nam still needs to prove that it is serious about tackling wildlife crime, particularly the illegal rhino horn trade.

So WWF says it will still be pushing for Viet Nam to agree to concrete, time-bound actions at CITES CoP17 or face the threat of sanctions.  VNS

Education for Nature-Vietnam to make proposals at CITES conference

The Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV) group has called on member countries of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to vote against Swazilands proposal to legalise the rhino horn trade.

Ahead of the conference of CITES member countries in Johannesburg, South Africa, from September 24 to October 4, the ENV also opposed caging tigers and recommended delegates vote to increase the protection for pangolins.

Vu Thi Quyen, director of ENV, hoped that the right decisions would be made at the conference to protect endangered animals.

ENV backed the proposal to raise the protection level for pangolins from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES.

Putting the protection of all the eight species of pangolins at the same level as tigers combined with the upcoming modified Law on Criminals would allow Vietnamese law-enforcement agencies to impose punishments related to pangolin trading, the centre said.
QUANG NGAI  The overexploitation of white sand resource in Quang Ngai Provinces Ly Son island district  as known as Cu Lao Re  has led to a shortage of white sand.

This has thwarted the garlic farming activities of local residents.

White sand, or coral sand, has been used for years by Ly Son farmers to grow garlic. They cover the soil on which the garlic is planted with a 5cm layer of white sand and replace the layer with a new one every garlic growing season.

Decades ago, when white sand resource was easily available, farmers could walk out to the shore and get the sand from there. The easy accessibility made them unaware of how to judiciously use and preserve the resource.

Nowadays, with the quantity of white sand reducing, those who get it, sell it at high prices.

They take rafts out to the ocean, some 7-8km away from the shore, mine the sand from there, then sell it to us at VN500,000 (US$22.4) per cart, Le Van Be, a resident of An Vinh Commune, told VOV. If we want them to deliver the sand to our farming area, we have to pay them double.

The sand is sold at VN140,000150,000 ($6.3-6.7) per cubic metre (excluding transportation fee), higher than the previous years.

According to local farmers, each unit of the farming area (about 497sq.m) needs to be covered with 3-4cu.m of sand. With a total farming area of 300ha, each year Ly Sons farmers need 1.800-2.400cu.m of sand to grow garlic. However, at present, sand miners can only meet 70 per cent of their requirement.

The districts authority has collaborated with the provinces science and technology department and central research institutes to pilot a garlic farming project without using sand, Pham Thi Huong, vice chairwoman of Ly Son Districts Peoples Committee, said.

However, the project did not succeed.

For now, we have proposed to the agricultural department to encourage farmers to extract sand from one area, instead of exhausting all sources, she said. The department has agreed, and will soon decide on the area and announce it to local farmers.  VNS
by Phuong Ha

As a young girl, I have nothing but enthusiasm for exploring new land. On a beautiful day I decided to pack my bag and headed to Cu Lao Xanh, Green Island, which I had heard much about but never had a chance to visit.

Cu Lao Xanh (Green Isle) or Van Phi Island is located near the Xuan ai Bay in Nhon Chau Commune in Binh inh Province. Covering an area of 365 hectares, the island is just 17 kilometres away from Quy Nhon City, so it took me just about two hours to reach the island by boat from Ham Tu Harbour.

On approaching Thi Nai Port, I was stunned by the grand beauty of the huge statue of Vietnamese hero Tran Hung ao (1228-1300) and the Phuoc Mai Lighthouse. Built by French colonists over 100 years ago, the 52-metre lighthouse is like a welcoming or farewell signal to ships travelling back and forth to the city.

My first stop is Cu Lao Xanh Light Station, which is built parallel to Cu Lao Xanh Lighthouse on top of a 120-metre hill. It is a two-storey building with a unique structure and used to serve as a pleasure house of a French official during the anti-French war.

At the back of the station is a 19-metre lighthouse which was finished in 1890 after a ship sank on colliding with the reef in Quy Nhon Sea. At first, the lighthouse was named Plogam Bir, and like other buildings within the station, its structure is the perfect combination of Western Gothic and Asian elements.

Grand beauty: Visiting Cu Lao Xanh is a great chance to enjoy a beautiful natural picture along the sea.  Photo ivivu.com

Over the past 100 years, Cu Lao Xanh Lighthouse has become a loyal friend to fishing boats from every corner of the country that passes by. Its light has become the belief and hope for fishermen in countless sea storms. The lighthouse standing high and firm above the vast sea is a symbol of the islanders strong will in cohabiting with the strong waves all year round.

Standing on top of the mountain and by the foot of the lighthouse, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the scene below. The Green Island stretched out in front of my eyes like a giant picture in green - of the coconut trees sweighing in the wind to the endless rows of tropical almond trees along the seashore.

From the lighthouse, I moved down toward the northwest to visit Gieng Tien (Fairy Well) Stream. Legend has it that on moonlit nights, fairies used to descend and go sightseeing, bathe in the stream, play around before flying back to their abode in the sky. Every visitor to the island is advised to bathe in the stream and experience its pure fresh water with its salty smell

Leaving the Fairy Well Stream, I moved down to the foot of the mountain then followed a roughly 3km-path decorated with rows of colourful flowers to the north of the island. On contemplating the piles of rocks of all shapes and sizes, observing the funny dancing feet of the seabirds, I felt immersed in the beautiful nature.

Varieties of coral: A visitor dives into the clear water of Cu Lao Xanh to contemplate sea life.  Photo khangkhangquynhonhotel.com

There were also small sand dunes in which the sea turtles often lay their eggs. If a tourist is lucky enough, he might have a chance to see the tiny turtles crawling on the sand toward the sea. It would also be a great idea to bring along a fishing rope: when tourists are tired from walking, they can sit on some rock cliffs and go fishing, or wade in the water to catch some vu nang snails, a local specialty. What can be more pleasant than to enjoy the seafood one has just caught, grilled on the spot with friends or family members.

I decided to go back to the fishing village and was treated to a simple meal of fresh seafood by the villagers. After lunch, they led me to the southern part of the island, right in front of the village, to see the coral. Despite growing next to a densely-populated fishing village, the coral there was still in primitive condition. I did not have to dive deeply in order to observe the variety and beautiful sparkling colours.

When the sun started to set, I was struck by another peaceful scene of villagers fixing their nets while happily taking to each other on the beach, little children playing around while the fishing boats were bobbing on the waves in the last rays of sunlight.

The blue sky, blue sea, green island and beautiful natural scenes of Cu Lao Xanh have left a long-lasting impression. The island is truly a precious gem in the sea and a destination that should not be missed when exploring Binh inh Province.  VNS
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates its 86th National Day on 23rd September 2016 to commemorate the unification and founding of the Kingdom at the hands of its founder His Majesty King Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1932, who managed to unite all parts of the Kingdom (with an area of 2.25 million km2) into a Kingdom today considered among the most advanced countries in the Middle East.

The Kingdom is one of the worlds biggest productive economies that achieves annual economic growth among the highest rates globally, ranging from 5% to 7% annually. The country enjoys vast natural resources of strategic materials that help it occupy an advanced position in terms of the role played in order to achieve political and economic stability in the world.

The Kingdom is based on the important pillars with its strategic geographical location, which is considered the most significant gateway to the world and a centre linking three continents as well as surrounded by many important water crossings. Besides, the Kingdom has huge investment capabilities as well as the Arab and Islamic depth that allows it the opportunity to build and establish relations of friendship and cooperation in various fields with the rest of countries and regions thanks to its faith in the short and long-term foreign policy in order to achieve peace globally through the development of relations and strengthening and diversifying forms of relations with all peace-loving nations in the world. So as to achieve mutual benefits between the Kingdom and other countries as well as gain more friends and also to ensure stability in the world, the Kingdom always seeks to contribute to and participate with friendly countries to touch on and explore fields that can strengthen relations among them especially on an economic level.

The relations between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered relatively recent, but its in accelerated growth and the Kingdom always desires to deepen and diversify these relations in all fields because of the fact that Viet Nam enjoys stability and security across different aspects, and achieves similarly flourishing growth rates and economic progress in various fields. This could be seen clearly in Viet Nams economic vision 2020 announced recently, which is very similar to Saudi Arabias economic vision 2030 announced at the same time, in terms of ambition, prospects and aspirations to enhance opportunities in order to move to the future in the cooperation that brings prosperity and new breakthroughs, strengthening relations and achieving mutual benefit between the two countries.VNS
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeman Le Hai Binh

HA NOI  Viet Nam is co-operating with international bodies on the case of Trinh Xuan Thanh, who has been issued with an international arrest warrant over massive US$147 million losses incurred by a company he once chaired, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeman Le Hai Binh said yesterday.

At a regular press conference yesterday, Binh answered questions about the fugitive former head of the PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVC) and former official of southern Hau Giang Province.

In reply to a question about the posssibility that Thanh would be arrested in a country that does not have an extradition treaty with Viet Nam, Binh said relevant agencies are co-operating with each other and with relevant international bodies to address the issues.

Thanh was charged with letting the company incur losses of VN3.2 trillion ($147 million) under his leaderships between 2011 and 2013. He sought overseas sick leave in mid-August and has not returned, the police said.

Answering questions on Taiwans violation of sovereignty over Viet Nams Ba Binh Island, Binh said Viet Nam was working to verify the information and would respond accordingly if evidence of such violation was confirmed.

He affirmed that Viet Nam has repeatedly claimed its undisputed sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly Archipelago). Taiwans reported action, if confirmed, has seriously violated Viet Nams sovereignty and escalated tensions, undermining attempts to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

Commenting on the Russia-China military exercises in the East Sea, Binh said that as a coastal country and a member of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Viet Nam believes all activities in the East Sea must follow international laws to maintain peace, stability, navigation and overflight security and safety.  VNS
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (centre) delivers speech at the last working day of their third session yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Trong uc

HA NOI  The draft law on associations sat at the top of the National Assembly Standing Committees agenda during the last working day of their third session yesterday.

The draft law contains specific articles concerning association registration, association rules and State management of associations.

Most deputies agreed that the law must create favourable conditions for citizens to practice their rights to establish associations and tap into associations self-regulation, use of volunteers and sense of responsibility.

However, they said the draft law should more specifically regulate State management over associations, particularly those with foreigners or that are not registered, in order to ensure operations are law abiding.

Le Thi Nga, Chairwoman of the NAs Justice Committee, said associations that are not required for registration and associations without legal entities all need specific regulations in order to ensure the respect of peoples rights while also ensuring State management over unregistered associations.

Some deputies proposed strict specific regulations on association formation in order to avoid the establishment of associations en mass, which could cause difficulty for State management, and avoid the abuse of association establishment for illegal activities.

Regarding regulation that allows foreigners working legally in Viet Nam to join associations, NA General Secretary Nguyen Hanh Phuc said more studies are necessary to ensure their rights are respected and their operation abide by Vietnamese laws.

Vice NA Chairman Uong Chu Luu called this an important law, urging care to ensure the law fully respects the rights of citizens as stipulated in the Constitution as well as ensures State management over operation of these associations.

He asked the compiling board and relevant agencies to study opinions of the deputies at this discussion session and submit the draft by the second meeting of the National Assembly next month.

Closing remark

Closing the sessionwhich ended after eight and a half days of workNA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the session fulfilled all assigned tasks.

The committee discussed the preparation for the second sitting of the 14th NA, scheduled to open on October 22. It also commented on the adjustment of three bills, including the law on associations, the law on belief and religion, and the law on asset auction.

The committees members discussed 10 draft laws and one draft resolution that will be submitted to the 14th NA at its second session, including the law on water resources, the law on railways, the law on technology transfer, the law on foreign trade management, and the law on management and use of State assets, among others.

They gave opinions on the committees draft resolution on regulations on the creation, verification and submission of State budget estimates, central budget allocation plans and State budget balance to the NA for approval.

The committee adopted a draft resolution on principles, criteria and norms for the allocation of the State budget for frequent expenditures.

It also looked into the 2016 working reports of the Government, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Peoples Court and the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Peoples Procuracy on crime prevention and violations in law enforcement and anti-corruption work.

Ngan proposed the Government, the Peoples Supreme Court and the Peoples Supreme Procuracyalong with relevant agenciescontinue collecting opinions to improve draft laws, reports and resolutions for submission at the upcoming second session of the 14th NA.  VNS
PHNOM PENH  Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has emphasised the need for Cambodia and Viet Nam to intensify information sharing to develop relations.

The PM hosted a reception in Phnom Penh yesterday for visiting Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan.

Tuan expressed hope for the Cambodian leaders continued support for the countries cooperative programmes in information and communications.

Vietnamese ministries and agencies will coordinate with the Cambodian side to deepen bilateral relations in all areas, including information and communications, he added.

On the same day, Tuan held talks with Cambodian Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Tram Iv Tek and Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed how to foster collaboration in this field.

During Tuans visit to Cambodia from Wednesday to today, the two sides signed four cooperative documents, including an agreement to intensify information sharing from 2016-2020 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the Cambodian Ministry of Information.

The minutes of the meeting between the MIC and the Cambodian Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications which realises cooperative contents of their cooperation agreement on posts and telecommunications, signed on September 22, 2012, were also shared.

The Vietnamese minister also presented 10 computers to schools for Vietnamese students in Cambodia.  VNS
NEW YORK  Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed on the need for Viet Nam and the United States to strengthen ties.

The consensus on increasing delegation exchanges and dialogues to boost their bilateral relationship was reached during their meeting in New York yesterday on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.

The two sides discussed how to translate into action the agreements reached during US President Barack Obamas visit to Viet Nam in May 2016.

They also agreed to work together to manage differences between the two countries, for the sake of their people and for peace and development.

Blinken suggested Viet Nam and the United States utilise the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, to which they are both signatories, to enhance their collaboration in trade-investment, science-technology, climate change response, national security and defence.

The two officials talked about regional politics and security, including traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

Further, they discussed the settlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures while respecting international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to maintain peace, stability, security and maritime and aviation freedom in the area.

The same day, Deputy PM Minh held a roundtable talk with more than 25 large US business houses, including large investors in Viet Nam such as Intel, Metlife, Cargill and Coca Cola.

He attributed the thriving relationship between Viet Nam and the United States to contributions from the businesses.

Viet Nam has signed free trade agreements, including the TPP, he said, calling on US enterprises to maximise opportunities afforded by the pacts to step up their investments in the Southeast Asian nation.

The Vietnamese government will continue to improve the local investment climate to help foreign firms operate in the country, the official pledged.

A number of the US businesses said they are interested in manufacturing, services and finance-banking in Viet Nam.  VNS
The Peoples Court in the northern province of Bac Ninh yesterday sentenced nine people to death for heroin trafficking in the largest case of its kind in Viet Nam.  Photo soha.vn

BAC NINH  The Peoples Court in the northern province of Bac Ninh yesterday sentenced nine people to death for heroin trafficking in the largest case of its kind in Viet Nam.

At the end of a four-day trial, the 34-year-old drug lord, Trang A Tang and eight other ring members were convicted of trafficking nearly 1,800 cakes of heroin, or about 630kg, and over 550 methamphetamine pills.

The eight others accused were Trang A Nenh, Giang A Cho, Giang A Nhu, Sung A Lanh, Song A Nenh, Trang A Mua, Vu Van Lam and Trang A Ky, aged between 25 and 58.

Three others, including Tangs wife, Giang Thi Sua and her father, Giang A ua, were sentenced to life in prison on the same charges.

According to police records, Tangs network had reportedly smuggled heroin from Laos and Thailand into Viet Nam since 2009, until the ring members were arrested in 2013.

The smuggled heroin was stored at Tangs fathers house in Moc Chau District, northern Son La Province.

Tang and his accomplices then sold the heroin to other drug-distribution networks.

During the trial, the court accused Tang of 13 counts of drug smuggling but he only admitted to four.

During the hearing, he also said that he acted alone in buying and selling heroin, and that the remaining defendants were not involved.

A large number of people were discovered to be involved in Tangs ring, most of them members of his immediate family and relatives. - VNS
HA NOI  Sitting at the foot of a tree in the National Institute of Mental Health, under the Ha Noi-based Bach Mai Hospital, Le Thi Thanh casts her eyes around to search for her son in the crowd queuing up to park their vehicles in the hospitals parking lot.

The woman, from Lap Thach District, the northern province of Vinh Phuc, waits for her son with an exhausted expression.

The Bach Mai Hospital closed its biggest parking lot at the beginning of this month, in order to build a daytime centre for health examinations and treatment.

By the end of this month, the parking lot of the National Institute of Mental Health, where Huu  Thanhs son  parks his motorbike, will also be closed to upgrade the institute.

After 30 minutes of queuing up in the baking sun to get into the parking lot, and 10 more to find a space, Huu is sweating profusely before even taking his mother into the hospital.

Im afraid of hospitals in Ha Noi. Leaving vehicles in the parking lot is more tiring than having a health examination, said Huu.

However, a 40-year-old motorbike taxi driver standing nearby said queuing for 20 minutes was still quick.

The previous afternoon, too many vehicles flooded the parking lot so it took a long time to park the vehicles, he said.

On Wednesday morning, the hospitals security guards created a two-lane path to go in the parking lot, so residents can queue up along the path to go in and out.

But it still takes them at least 15 minutes, because the hospital is so crowded.

Since the Bach Mai Hospital closed its biggest parking lot at the hospitals gate, the parking lots of other surrounding hospitals such as the National Geriatrics Hospital, the National Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital and the National Dermatology and Venerology Hospital, are more crowded than usual, although their parking lots are less spacious.

At the National Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, residents even have to put their vehicles in front of the health examination area and the drug stores, causing problems on the pavements.

The vehicles are arranged haphazardly and residents find it difficult to take their vehicles out.

Nguyen Thi Huyen, from Ha Nois Thanh Tri District, takes her baby to the National Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital early so her motorbike is usually parked in a far corner. When she wants to leave, shes faced with at least five other motorbikes that need to be moved to clear the way for hers.

Some residents are forced to leave their motorbikes at houses nearby, costing up to VN10,000-20,000 (US$0.4-0.8) for one motorbike.

Complicated problem

Nguyen Van The, a resident from Ha Nois ong a District, said that he agreed with the plan of upgrading the hospital. But the hospital should arrange another suitable parking lot while the old one is being upgraded.

Finding a parking lot outside the hospital will be much more difficult for patients coming from other provinces and cities, he said.

Doctor Duong uc Hung, head of the Planning Division under the Bach Mai Hospital, told the Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) newspaper that the hospitals leaders knew that residents would face difficulties in finding parking, but the hospital could not provide an alternative.

The hospital recommended that residents travel to the hospital using public transportation rather than personal vehicles.

The hospital asked the peoples committees of ong a District, Phuong Mai and ong Tam wards for support to create good conditions for residents parking their vehicles.

Hoang Bao Phuong, chairwoman of the Phuong Mai Ward Peoples Committee, said that the ward did not have any big spaces to accommodate such a large number of vehicles.

Every day, Bach Mai Hospital receives about 6,000 people for health examinations, 4,000 inpatients and thousands of visitors, according to the hospitals statistics.  VNS
HCM CITY  State management of food safety and hygiene should be reorganised as it remains ineffective in monitoring unsafe food sold in the market, experts have said.

The suggestion was made at a food-safety policy forum that ended yesterday in HCM City held by the Office of the National Assembly.

Under the 2010 Food Safety Law, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are all responsible for management of food safety and hygiene.

Overlapping management is the consequence of this, said Nguyen Tu Cuong, former head of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department.

Cuong said that consumers were at a great disadvantage because food safety was still not ensured.

Tran Quang Trung, former head of the Viet Nam Food Administration, said that an independent agency from the central to grassroots level should be set up to improve management.

HCM City is planning to pilot this kind of agency, which should be expanded to other locailties, he said.

He said the law and other regulations on food safety were in conflict with each other, and did not even include the same standards set by many other countries.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, head of the Viet Nam Food Administration, said that improved interdisciplinary co-operation among government agencies would ensure food safety and hygiene at public places.

The agencies are creating safe food chains to ensure that safe food is used, especially at schools and industrial park kitchens.

Although food poisoning is closely monitored by agencies, the risk remains high, he said.

Between 2011 and 2014, the Food Administration agency conducted inspections of more than 2.6 million food establishments.

Around 20 per cent of the establishments violated regulations on food safety and hygiene, Phong said, adding that these establishments were fined VN75.5 billion (US$3.3 million).

In 2011, 148 food poisoning cases occurred, increasing to 194 in 2014. The figure fell by 179 last year.

Twenty-five cases were recorded in the first quarter, with two people dying from food poisoning.

The causes were contamination from microorganisms and chemicals, but the cause of many food poisoning cases was difficult to determine.

Losses caused by food poisoning in 2011 were estimated to be US$239,550, increasing to $270,436 in 2014 and $283,874 in 2015.

Dr Pham Duy Tuong of Ha Noi Medical Universitys Nutrition Faculty said that illegally imported food was difficult to control.

Phong said the Ministry of Industry and Trade and provincial peoples committees, especially those in border provinces, would ensure closer monitoring of illegal imports.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will also continue strict surveillance of the trade and use of chemicals to protect plants and vegetables.

Phong said the Government should allocate sufficient funds to meet the goals of the national programme on food safety and hygiene. In 2014, the fund was cut by 60 per cent.

Allocation of other funds, including one to build a national experimental institute for food safety and hygiene, should also be done soon, according to Phong. VNS
HA NOI  The Governments Inspectorate has uncovered violations relating to land use planning and management as well as budget expenditure in southern Soc Trang Province during the 2010-2014 period.

According to its conclusions released on Wednesday, during the 2010-2014 period, many activities relating to land use planning and management in Soc Trang Province were not in accordance with the land law.

For example, Soc Trang City Peoples Committee allowed the Satraco Joint Stocks Company  a tourist service provider  to use over 8,000sq.m. area of Doi Pagoda.

Vinh Chau Town Peoples Committee granted land-use right certificates to ineligible land users and did not collect land use fees from 32 local households.

In addition, the quality of land use planning was poor as only a few of the 440 key projects approved by local authorities were implemented.

Soc Trang Province Peoples Committee approved 20 projects, while mistakes were found in most of the projects, particularly in bidding and selecting constructors.

The governments Inspectorate calculated that it had not collected over VN122 billion in land-related violations in the province.

Earlier, at a meeting with the provinces leaders, ang Cong Khuan, vice head of the Governments Inspectorate, asked the province to follow the Inspectorates conclusion and recommendation by the end of this year.

The provinces leaders were asked to impose appropriate penalties on persons and organisations involved in the violations.

The governments Inspectorate also suggested that the province increase the quality of staff, which was a major factor for the wrong collection and expenditure of the budget.  VNS
HCM City Party Committee Secretary inh La Thang has opined that the bad odour shrouding the southern part of the city is caused by the a Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex in Binh Chanh District.  Photo tintm.com

HCM CITY  HCM City Party Committee Secretary inh La Thang has opined that the bad odour shrouding the southern part of the city is caused by the a Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex in Binh Chanh District.

The Party Committee said in a release following his recent visit to the waste treatment complex that he has however instructed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to find the cause of and solutions to the problem.

He also called for planting more trees near a Phuoc, upgrade its treatment technologies and speed up construction of a new waste treatment facility in neighbouring Long An Province.

a Phuoc receives more than 5,000 tonnes of rubbish every day.

Thang said the long-term solution to eliminating the smell is to upgrade waste treatment technologies so that garbage is treated rather than disposed off in landfills.

According to reports from authorities in Binh Chanh, Nha Be, and 7 districts, the odour worsens during the rainy season every year.

This year the situation has been particularly bad, with the smell being worse and more widespread than ever, they added.

During his inspection of a Phuoc, Thang said, he found the smell emanating from the dump site and a pond containing wastewater operated by the Viet Nam Waste Solution Company.

Following recent public complaints that the smell affected their day-to-day life, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed the city administration to act.

The issue will be discussed at the upcoming monthly meeting of the city administration.  VNS
An appeal court in Ha Noi yesterday upheld the five-year imprisonment sentence for blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, on the charge of abusing the rights to democracy and freedom to infringe on the interests of the State and rights and interests of organisations and citizens.  Photo tuoitre.vn

HA NOI  An appeal court in Ha Noi yesterday upheld the five-year imprisonment sentence for blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, on the charge of abusing the rights to democracy and freedom to infringe on the interests of the State and rights and interests of organisations and citizens.

Vinhs assistant Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, 36, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Both Vinh, better known as Anh Ba Sam, and Thuy live in Ha Noi.

According to the indictment, Vinh, 60, launched the blog Dan Quyen at diendanxahoidansu.wordpress.com, and Chep Su Viet at chepsuviet.wordpress.com in September 2013 and January 2014, respectively. Vinh had asked Thuy to release 24 articles containing groundless content on the websites that distorted Party policies and State laws, tarnished personal reputations and affected organisations prestige, presenting a one-sided and pessimistic view, and causing public anxiety.

Throughout the interrogation and arguments, both defendants denied the charges. Vinhs lawyers also said at the court that there was not enough evidence to convict.

After considering the defendants testimony and lawyers arguments, the indictment and related evidence and documents in the court on March 23, the panel judges came to the conclusion that Vinh and Thuys actions constituted an abuse of their rights to democracy and freedom, in order to infringe on the interests of the State and rights and interests of organisations and citizens as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 258 of the Penal Code.

The council said the act is dangerous to society and the sentences handed down by the previous court must be maintained.

The prison terms of Vinh and Thuy are counted from May 5, 2014. VNS
HA NOI  The Ha Noi Customs Department and the economic police yesterday checked four packages shipped from United States to Ha Noi in July and found some 350kg of electronic cigarettes and vape liquid.

The goods owners  Nguyen Kim Th, 27, and Tran Viet Th, 22, both living in Ha Noi  failed to show police import permission and authorised papers from the Viet Nam National Tobacco Corporation for import of the goods.

They had also missed the deadline for submitting customs documents.

For such reasons, the goods are seized, sealed off whilst the owners were required to pay administrative fine.

Also yesterday, the Ha Noi Customs Department, economic and drug police found 82.5kg of khat leaves containing the stimulant cathinone  a drug banned in Viet Nam.

The leaves were hidden carefully in packages which were supposed to be shipped by air to the United States.

Initial investigation showed that the sender was a man named Pham Van Duy from northern Lao Cai Province.

Earlier, in July, Ha Nois customs and police seized 199 packages containing over 2.5 tonnes of Khat leaves sent by air from other countries to Ha Noi. Both the sender and the receiver were hired for transportation in Viet Nam.

Khat (Catha edulis), a flowering plant native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, contains a monoamine alkaloid called cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant, which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite and euphoria.

In 1980, the World Health Organisation classified it as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence, although the organisation did not consider khat to be seriously addictive.

Khat is illegal or used as a controlled substance in many countries, including Viet Nam, although its production, sale and consumption are legal in some African nations.  VNS
QUANG BINH  Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh said yesterday it was co-operating with related agencies to investigate an alleged attack on forest rangers by a group of loggers.

According to a report by the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Forest Ranger Unit, at around 3pm on Wednesday, Mobile Ranger Team No 2 and forces of the Hoa Son Ranger Station detected a suspicious 16-seater van travelling from Hoa Son Commune, Minh Hoa District to Ho Chi Minh National Highway.

During a search, they found that the van, driven by inh Minh Tuong, was transporting 20 boxes of wood, which was some 1.5cu.m.

Failing to prove the legality of the wood, Tuong, a resident of Hoa Son Commune, and some people who had accompanied the van on motorbikes reportedly threatened to throw rocks on the rangers car. They then used a sword and an iron tube to attack the rangers, leaving Duong Quyet Thang, deputy head of the Mobile Ranger Team, injured.

Another person drove the 16-seater van into the rangers car, following which the van plunged into a field on the side of the road.

The group of 15-20 people continued to attack the rangers and used motorbikes and another car in which they transferred the wood. They also managed to push the van back up to the road and escape.

The rangers could only seize four boxes of wood, which were brought to the Hoa Son Ranger Station.

Illegal logging is rampant across forest and mountainous areas in Viet Nam, with loggers becoming increasingly violent in recent times.

In August, an official was killed and two others were injured after being attacked by illegal loggers in the Central Highlands province of Lam ong.

Early this month, a group of loggers, also in Lam ong, was prosecuted for assaulting rangers with weapons in July.

According to estimates of ak Lak Provinces Forest Ranger Unit, there were 14 cases in which illegal loggers fought against rangers and forest protection forces since the beginning of 2015 to July 2016 in the province alone.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stressed that the desire for learning is always a treasured tradition of the Vietnamese people.

The Prime Minister made the statement at a ceremony celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Viet Nam Association for Promoting Education (VAPE) in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The Vietnamese have always valued education, even in extreme poverty; people will try their best to send their children to school, in the hope of a brighter future, PM Phuc said.

VAPE has extended its activity to all regions and provinces nationwide, attracting a large number of people to participate in building learning family, learning clan, and learning residential block.

At present, 98 per cent of all communes, wards and towns have established their own community learning centres, contributing to the promotion of education for adults. VAPE has developed a robust Study and Talent Encouragement Fund system and awarded scholarships to millions of disadvantaged children and thousands of academically outstanding students each year. In addition, VAPE has successfully organised the Viet Nam Talent Award, with the aim of encouraging success stories through studying and creative labour.

The Prime Minister called for close co-operation from all Party and Government committees as well as other social and political organisations to assist the VAPE in the following activities: effective dissemination of information and effective implementation of guidelines and policies of the Party and the State on the radical and comprehensive education and training reforms, and the promotion of lifelong learning movements in families, clans and residential communities.

He also highlighted the need to build a learning society to better serve Viet Nams international integration in the digital era.

VAPE Chairman Nguyen Manh Cam said VAPE would expand and diversify its activities in the coming years to include new forms of studying: studying at home, studying at workplaces, studying at manufacturers and studying in formal and non-formal education  all with the aim of promoting studying and learning at all levels  from individuals to families to sectors.

Only through study can Viet Nam become a "smart nation" and Vietnamese society become a "smart society", with a rich national knowledge reservoir comparable with that of other countries, as per the wish of the late President Ho Chi Minh, Cam said.

VAPE plans to develop a learning citizen model  a citizen who lives and works in a learning society. All members of the association are expected to give their best effort and become learning citizens, helping other people to study their whole lives.  VNS
HAVANA  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Cuba on Thursday for the first visit to the country by a Japanese premier, saying he wants to "open a new page" in relations.

Abe met with Cuban President Raul Castro during a visit that comes after Tokyos close ally Washington restored ties with the 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 newspaper, Granma.

The head of the worlds third-largest economy called for "open dialogue" to stimulate trade and investment, development cooperation and tourism.

Abe was received with military honors at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, where he had a private meeting with Castro. Later, he placed a floral tribute at the monument to the Cuban hero Jose Marti.

The Japanese premier is scheduled to hold a news conference this morning before departing the Caribbean island.

Japan was Cubas second-largest trading partner between 1970 and 1985, but the relationship deteriorated drastically as the Cuban economy took a hit from the breakup of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

Trade totaled about US$35 million in 2014.

Abe said he also wanted to discuss nuclear disarmament.

On Monday, Cuba signed a debt restructuring deal with Japan according to which Tokyo will forgive part of Cubas debt, leaving it to pay $606 million.

Of that, $249 million is set to be deposited in an investment fund for Japanese businesses on the island, the Japanese government said.  AFP
Virginia Tech will host Precision Agriculture Day on Oct. 12 at Kentland Farm in Blacksburg from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Participants will have the opportunity to get answers to common questions about the benefits of precision agriculture and learn how they can establish cost-effective technologies on their farms.

Precision agriculture is becoming increasingly utilized  and economical  in recent years as producers use technology, such as iPads, GPS, and variable rate equipment, to increase yields and inform management decisions.

Registration information for the event, which costs $10, can be found online. Kentland Farm is about eight minutes from the Virginia Tech campus at 5250 Whitethorne Road.

The following topics will discussed at the field day:

low-cost technologies that are available now and are practical for your operation;

technologies that work on smaller farms;

precision agriculture equipment for use on hilly terrain;

recommendations for producers who are just beginning to consider a technology investment; and



potential return on investment in precision technology.

Featured demonstrations and presentations will be provided by Hoober Inc., of Ashland, Virginia; James River Equipment, of Tappahannock, Virginia; Meade Tractor, of Christiansburg, Virginia; and Southern States Cooperative.

The Virginia Tech Department of Mechanical Engineering will also present a drone flying demonstration.

The event is sponsored by Virginia Techs College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Virginia Cooperative Extension. The organizers would like to extend a special thanks to Farm Credit of the Virginias for providing water and refreshments.

For more information, call the Pulaski County Extension Office at 540-980-7761 or email paulette@vt.edu.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation in order to attend the event, please contact Morgan Paulette at 540-980-7761 or paulette@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Written by Amy Loeffler
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....
CLARKSVILLE  The Shell Rock River, headed for a record-tying crest, overran a temporary levee in Clarksville Thursday night, forcing more than 280 people of the community of 1,400 from their homes, said Police Chief Barry Mackey.

About three dozen people at Westside Assisted Living were displaced. The facility stayed dry, but residents were moved as a precaution, Mackey said.

Gov. Terry Branstad issued a disaster declaration for Butler, Chickasaw and Floyd counties, where the cities of Shell Rock, Greene, Clarksville, Nashua, Nora Springs, Charles City and others were hit by flooding.

Clarksville evacuations began at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday when officials realized a temporary levee on the west end of town wasnt going to hold back the Shell Rock.

The National Weather Service said the river crested at 23.3 feet in Clarksville.

Residents said they had plenty of warning. Officials went door-to-door to let people know to leave or prepare for flooding.

We had a little lead time, said Matt Behrends, assistant chief with the Clarksville Fire Department. We tried to let everybody know by social media, and we went door to door.

Joyce Hinders was alerted to the levee breach and began moving items in her home to higher ground. She and her husband had a short nap before hearing the sound of water rushing into their basement. The couple then watched as water continued to encroach on their home.

Hinders had help from friends, neighbors and her son moving items and pumping water from the home. Like many residents, Hinders had been through this before. She said flooding in 2008 was worse.

In 2008, the water was all around the house, Hinders said.

Water over roadways made getting into some northeast Iowa towns difficult. Iowa Highway 188 into Clarksville from the south was overtopped by water. Shell Rock was basically split, with people on the west end having to detour from a county highway to U.S. Highway 218 to get to the east side of town.

Iowa Northern railroad tracks in Clarksville appeared to be damaged by the flood. Railroad officials were assessing damage and checking the entire line. Railroad offices temporarily relocated to Waterloo-Cedar Falls from Greene due to flooding.

In Waverly, about 50 homes on the citys southeast side were affected by flooding on the Cedar River. Water covered Seventh Avenue Southeast on Thursday night. City officials moved fast to evacuate the area as the river rose faster than earlier forecast.

We looked at the data and it (the river) was coming up fast, said James Bronner, Waverly city administrator.

The forecasted Saturday crest at Waverly was downgraded from about 16 to 14 feet by the National Weather Service on Friday.

Despite the floods Waverlys Oktoberfest celebration was held as scheduled, although it moved. Volunteers set up a tent and stage on First Avenue Southeast. The original location, Kohlman Park and First Street Northwest, was affected by flooding.
OELWEIN  The former Oelwein mayor is taking two newspapers to court in connection with articles relating to his 2014 arrest on abuse charges, of which he was ultimately acquitted.

Jason Manus, represented by attorney Thomas Frerichs of Waterloo, said reports Manus past included drug and assault arrests in Missouri in the 1990s and a civil suit with a car dealership were false.

The suit was filed in August and names the Des Moines Register, its parent company The Tribune Co., columnist Daniel Finney and the Oelwein Publishing Co., which runs the Oelwein Daily Register. It seeks more than $10,000 in damages alleging stress-related injuries and damage to Manus reputation.

The reports came in shortly after Manus was arrested on abuse charges in August 2014 and subsequently stepped down from his position as mayor. The lawsuit alleges the Des Moines Register published the Missouri allegations in a take down piece, and the Oelwein Daily Register then republished the statements.

Both pieces have since been removed from the newspapers websites.

The Courier located Missouri court records pertaining to a person named Jason R. Manus who was arrested for LSD and assault in the 1900s. The former Oelwein mayors middle name is Joseph, according to court records.

The Oelwein paper published a retraction within a few days of the article, according to attorney William Scherle of Des Moines, who is representing Oelwein Publishing.

He declined further comment because the matter is pending in court.

Its not our practice to comment on ongoing litigation other than to say Im confident that were not going to be found responsible for any damages or liability there, Sherle said.

A response he filed Tuesday said the paper published information later determined to be false. He said the papers actions were protected under the Constitution because Manus was a public figure, and the article was done without malice and with the belief the information was true.

Attorney Michael A. Giudicessi, who is representing the Des Moines Register and Tribune, couldnt be reached for comment.

Manus was found not guilty in the abuse case during jury trials in May and July 2015.
WATERLOO  Prosecutors and the defense briefly returned to the courtroom Thursday to argue over who has the final word in the trial of a Denver resident accused of killing a man during a neighborhood dispute in 2015.

Charged with first-degree murder, Steve William Fordyce waived his right to a jury, allowing a judge to consider his case during an August bench trial. His attorneys argued he acted in self-defense, and the verdict is still pending.

Normally, trials end with the state delivering closing arguments followed by the defenses closing. The state, which has the burden of proof, is then allowed a rebuttal.

After closings and rebuttal in the August trial, Judge David Odekirk gave both parties 10 days to submit any written briefs and reference any legal authority.

Defense attorney Christopher and Tiffany Kragnes then submitted a 22-page document outlining proposed findings and laying out a legal path the judge could follow to find Fordyce not guilty because of self-defense.

The state cried foul.

The rules dont allow for a second closing argument, Assistant County Attorney Brook Jacobsen said during Thursdays hearing, and he called the defenses filing inappropriate and asked the judge to strike it.

Christopher Kragnes said filing wasnt out of the ordinary as he has submitted similar documents in other cases. He said the filing cited case law combined with facts to show why those prior cases were relevant.

Odekirk chalked the disagreement up to a miscommunication and gave prosecutors additional time to submit any written responses to the defenses filing.
CEDAR FALLS  It was just the news the Cedar Valley hoped for.

The Cedar River at Cedar Falls crested at 98.8 feet shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is 88 feet. The river had been projected to crest as high as 100.8 feet.

In Waterloo, which uses a different measuring system, the river reached a preliminary crest of 22.95 feet Saturday evening, the Weather Service announced shortly after 9:30 p.m. The projected crest also was lowered through the day Saturday from as high as 26.4 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet.

It was the second-highest crest ever for both cities.

Black Hawk Creek at Hudson crested at 14 feet, flood stage.

Lori Glover, Black Hawk County emergency management director, said rain expected late Saturday and today wasnt anticipated to significantly affect stream levels here, with most of it draining south.

Cedar Falls City Administrator Ron Gaines was cautiously optimistic as he and Mayor Jim Brown toured the flood levee and downtown with U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, R-Iowa, Saturday afternoon.

Theres still a lot of water going though there, Gaines said. But barring any fluctuations, I think we will focus on recovery efforts and where do we go from here, particularly for residents of the North Cedar area of northern Cedar Falls.

Donations have come in, and we have to figure out what the needs are for people who are working to salvage their homes and businesses, Gaines said.

As sightseers flocked downtown to snap pictures, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart pleaded for residents to stay away so city workers could do their jobs. The Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center was being prepared for a Saturday evening wedding reception.

It was a similar scene in Cedar Falls. With downtown still closed to vehicle traffic but busy with pedestrians Saturday afternoon, Gaines observed a wedding party posing for photos in the middle of the Main Street Parkade.

Waterloo officials worked to assess standing water emanating from storm sewers. Some downtown blocks along West Sixth Street, and a block of West Fourth between Jefferson and Commercial by the convention center, were closed to traffic. Expanded pumping appeared to stabilize the situation.

Engineers are monitoring the saturated levee in Cedar Falls throughout the weekend. Sightseers were asked to stay off of the earthen levee, and Gaines said public safety officials would enforce that.

Some downtown Cedar Falls businesses reopened late Saturday afternoon.

Several downtown Waterloo bridges remain closed  Park Avenue, 11th and 18th streets and Westfield Avenue. Hart said a major concern remained the Cedar Terrace neighborhood along the Cedar River southeast of Crossroads Center, where volunteers amassed a sizable flood wall.

Residents of at least one home surrounded by water had to be rescued by boat.

Were trouble-shooting and problem-solving at this point, Hart said. Staff has done an excellent job. Overall, theres some challenges, but so far so far  were holding all right.

City Engineer Eric Thorson said Friday staff would monitor the flood control system through the weekend and address any potential leaks.

Chris Smith, a truck driver who lives in Wellsburg and is a Waterloo native, heard volunteers were needed and drove down Friday. He was the de factor organizer of Cedar Terrace sandbagging operations along Belle Street on Saturday afternoon.

Its been a steady flow (of volunteers) since 9 oclock this morning, Smith said.

They had gone through what Smith estimated to be 45 dump trucks full of sand, filling more than 8,000 bags. Smith said the mayor told them to begin sandbagging at Shaulis Road near Faulk Road, where floodwaters had already come over the street.

Several residents down there got caught in 2008 and had to be evacuated, Smith said.

Smith estimated 300 to 400 people helped fill sandbags and build berms.

This is what makes me proud to be who I am, to be an American, to be an Iowan, Smith said. Most of these people are total strangers. When the call was made they just came, and its awesome. The Weather Channel cable network was at Cedar Terrace on Saturday to broadcast the efforts nationwide.

In Cedar Falls, hundreds of volunteers sandbagged until nearly 2 a.m and resumed at 7 a.m Saturday until some 250,000 sandbags were placed on the south side of the river downtown.

Gaines said sandbags, water barriers and large Hesco barriers heavy-fabric wire-mesh sand-filled bastions similar to those used for military fortifications Iraq and Afghanistan, were put in place along much of the south side of the river.

Gaines said the city was particularly worried about the north side of the Cedar River.

We know that theres going to be some significant damage up there, and weve got to get up there and help those neighborhoods out as we recede, Gaines said.

The Lone Tree Road fire station is open to assist residents and drinking water is available there for residents who bring a container.

City officials emphasized they made many improvements to the citys levee system after the 2008 flood, including flood improvements around Cedar Falls Utilities.

UnityPoint-Allen Hospital took in 54 residents of The Western Homes Martin Center near downtown Cedar Falls as a precaution against anticipated flooding and any subsequent power outage. Those residents returned to the Martin Center Saturday afternoon, UnityPoint-Allen development official Jim Waterbury said.

Cedar Falls City Council member Mark Miller said the Living Water Church of the Nazarene near the Lone Tree Road fire station also was being utilized as a place to receive and disburse donations of household items for residents in the area, jointly operated by city employees and volunteers.

Also the American Red Cross-Iowa region opened an emergency shelter in Cedar Falls at the University of Northern Iowa West Gym. The Salvation Army of Waterloo-Cedar Falls summoned an emergency mobile canteen from Davenport to provide food and liquids to volunteers, as did other businesses and organizations.

Firefighters notified mobile home parks and other residences in the North Cedar and Lincoln Street areas Friday in advance of rapidly rising floodwaters. Some left and others stayed.

If it were me, I would make arrangements to leave, Cedar Falls Fire Rescue Capt. Mike Buhrow told one resident. At a certain point we arent going to be able to get out to you unless its a medical emergency.

At the Center Street sandbagging station Friday, Greg Elin of Janesville was loading orange sandbags onto a trailer with some Cedar Falls family members.

Were helping some friends, he said. We have one on Lake Street off of Big Woods Road. It was one of several stops they planned on making.

Jeff Kessell was filling sandbags shortly before 11 a.m. with co-workers from City Builders, located along Center Street.

Weve been preparing for this for two days now, so this is the third day, he said. The sandbagging station at 2806 Center St. was one of three in Cedar Falls.

The City of Waterloo closed several flood control gates and activated storm water lift stations to keep water from backing up into storm sewers. Workers installed flood walls along the Cedar River at locations such as the Waterloo Center for the Arts and Veterans Memorial Hall.

Motorists were cautioned against driving through floodwater  though some didnt heed that and some people were cruising through flooded areas on personal watercraft.

In Janesville, just north of Cedar Falls on the Black Hawk-Bremer county line, rising floodwaters prompted evacuation of a mobile home park Thursday night. Some homes along the Cedar River were also surrounded by water.

Its like a gigantic moat all around the house, said resident Jeff Nichols. I still have a boat if I need to go anywhere.
WATERLOO  Iowa Democrats have touted their successes with getting women on the ballot this election year, noting the handful of locations across the state where women will make up at least one of the choices in each of the top five races.

Across the state, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Patty Judge will top the ticket. And in Iowas 1st and 4th congressional districts, Democratic women Monica Vernon and Kim Weaver, respectively, will be in the next slot. In Allamakee and Clayton counties, and Marion and Dubuque, voters will have the choice to select Democratic women for state Senate and state House, as well.

The bipartisan Iowa group seeking equal representation in elected office, 50-50 in 2020, has noted this year as historic for the number of women on the ballot in the state, with a total of 65 women.

There are a lot of places where we have women all the way up and down the ticket, and thats, I did not think Id see that in my lifetime, Iowa Democratic chairwoman Andy McGuire told the Courier.

While its an achievement for women, McGuire also sees it as a way to break through the partisan gridlock that has stymied legislation for years, including the recent impasse on funding to address the Zika virus.

Women, I think, are key there, said McGuire, a Waterloo native. In business, when you put women on a board, things get done differently, and it doesnt have to be all women, but you get more than two women on a board, and there is a definite effect, and thats because women think differently.

McGuire also pointed to examples by lawmakers, including the 2013 budget agreement that ended the federal government shutdown and the agreement to expand Medicaid in Iowa earlier that same year.

Those women are what I think is the difference. And even though theyre Democrats this time, I do think women bring a different perspective to the table, and thats why Im so excited about this ticket, McGuire said.

While Clinton is currently lagging in polls in Iowa, according to the Real Clear Politics average, McGuire expressed confidence in Democrats chances with Clinton atop the ticket and having the party work so closely with her campaign.

Clinton led in Iowa polls until the beginning of September, but since then, Republican nominee Donald Trump has been leading in polls in the state by sometimes narrow and sometimes wide margins.

McGuire praises the Democrats get-out-the-vote effort she said will be the difference in a state that is typically a toss-up. But she also has been talking about the issues Clinton stands for and contrasts that with Trump.

Hes temperamentally unfit, and I think that helps us a lot with people, and is pushing a lot of people to the Democratic ticket this year, McGuire said, while pointing to differences in the candidates levels of transparency, in their economic agendas and foreign policy knowledge.

McGuire notes, though, the Democrats arent just focused on the top of the ticket. Their volunteers and staff are encouraging people to vote for Democrats up and down the ticket, whether theyre women or not.

She said she expects the race between Judge and longtime U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to narrow as the election nears, and acknowledges a close race in Iowas 1st District where Vernon is hoping to unseat first-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Rod Blum, R-1st District.

McGuire also praised the efforts of Democratic leaders Iowa Sen. Mike Gronstal, of Council Bluffs, and Iowa Rep. Mark Smith, of Marshalltown, for their efforts to elect more Democrats at the state level. She predicted the Iowa Senate would remain in Democratic hands, and even expressed optimism at winning the majority in the Iowa House.
Lincoln Savings Banks has been in operation for 114 years. There are 19 locations throughout Iowa, with our corporate headquarters located in Reinbeck.

We want the people in our communities to be as financially sound as they can be. We love our customers, and thats how we do business. Our customers experience a different level of service. We focus on their needs and become their lifelong partner.

Were different than the rest. We arent transaction based; rather, we are a full-service financial institution. Our customers have a name, not just an account number. Our customers do their banking, insurance, wealth management, trust, mortgage and real estate with us.

The employees of Lincoln Savings Bank are forward-thinking, innovative and passionate about what they do. They work hard day in and day out, and care more about others than they do themselves. Thats what makes Lincoln Savings Bank the Best of the Best.

We dont just work here  we live here, we raise our families here, we love the Cedar Valley. Thats why this award means so much to us  its our customers who voted.

Lincoln Savings Bank gives back to the Cedar Valley through sponsorships, donations and volunteerism. We believe in supporting our local community, as a true community bank should.
WATERLOO -- Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 432 Newell St., will honor the 15th anniversary of its pastor, the Rev. Lovie Caldwell and his wife, at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Speaker will be the Rev. Epps and his church from Cedar Rapids, along with the Rev. Coleman of Antioch.

All churches and the community are welcome to be a part of this event.

NEW HARTFORD -- Restored will give a free gospel concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the New Hartford Community Center.

It's part of a gospel series at the center, continuing through March.

All concerts begin at 7 p.m., with food and fellowship immediately following.

Restored include Ray and Nancy Hemmer and their daughter, Naomi Probert. Everyone is welcome.

CEDAR FALLS -- The Roving Volunteers In Christ's Service Ministry has an RVICS team serving at Riverview Conference Center through Sept. 29.

The nonprofit organization, supported by gifts and donations, was founded in 1977. Membership includes retired couples who travel throughout the United States and Canada in motor homes, working at retreat and conference centers, schools and colleges, camps, retirement centers and similar ministries.

The members are self-supporting and provide their own transportation, food and tools. They serve at the project ministries for three to four weeks and then move on to the next project.

WATERLOO -- Jim Roche will be the featured speaker for the Catholic Witness Hour from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Parish Center at Blessed Sacrament Parish.

The Witness Hour is an opportunity for Catholic adults and young adults who want to be inspired in their practice of the Catholic faith.

WATERLOO -- The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo will host a listening session for gay and lesbian Catholics at 7 p.m. Wednesday at 220 E. Fourth St.

This discussion is open to any gay or lesbian Catholic who wishes to discuss their past, present or future relationship to the Catholic Church in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.
There is a rash of cyber-crime occurring every day in the United States, and many people outside the information technology community are completely unaware of it.

Companies and individuals across the country are falling victim to ransomware attacks and paying off cyber-criminals every day. The villains behind this activity often are tied to overseas crime organizations involved in all sorts of despicable injustices like drug and sex trafficking, weapons trading and terrorist funding, among other things.

The basic concept behind ransomware has been around for many years but recently has experienced explosive growth. The FBI released a report in April that showed businesses had paid over $200 million in ransoms in the first quarter of the year. The FBI expects those numbers to rapidly grow through the end of the year.

Ransomware is a form of malware spread using a number of methods such as tricking users into clicking a link in a cleverly crafted phishing email, hackers finding unpatched holes in an application or when an unsuspecting web surfer lands on a malicious website. All of these incidents can result in the ransomware being installed on a computer without the user ever knowing it happened.

These programs are difficult to detect until the damage is done. Files on the computer are encrypted in a way that usually cannot be undone. Access to files is denied until a ransom is paid and a decryption code is provided. This assumes you are dealing with an honest criminal who will provide the decryption code once the ransom is paid.

Ransomware programs are available for sale on the internet black market. Anyone can buy them using the virtual currency bitcoin. This currency is virtually untraceable and has grown in value at an astounding rate since it was introduced in 2010. Originally created to solve government problems like security, cost and time, bitcoin is now the preferred currency in cyber-criminal activity.

Thinking you or your business are safe from a ransomware attack because you have nothing of value to steal is a common but misguided idea. Ransomware is often successful because it denies access to information that may not be valuable to anyone beyond a single person or business. Files of any type can be encrypted, locking them completely from access or use. If your companys open accounts receivables were no longer accessible, for instance, what could that potentially cost your business?

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have published documents recently on the steps to take to combat this crime. These resources can be found by searching ransomware at www.fbi.gov or www.dhs.gov.
To ordinary conservative ears, this sounds histrionic. The stakes cant be that high because they are never that highexcept perhaps in the pages of Gibbon. Conservative intellectuals will insist that there has been no end of history and that all human outcomes are still possible. They will evenas Charles Kesler doesadmit that America is in crisis. But how great is the crisis? Can things really be so bad if eight years of Obama can be followed by eight more of Hillary, and yet Constitutionalist conservatives can still reasonably hope for a restoration of our cherished ideals? Cruz in 2024!

Except one: if you dont try, death is certain. To compound the metaphor: a Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto. With Trump, at least you can spin the cylinder and take your chances.

Did you know that this is the Flight 93 Election ? In case you havent already encountered Publius Decius Mus by now and have no idea what Im talking about, let me explain in Publius (pseudonymous) words:

Well, as one of those ordinary conservatives mocked and dismissed in this essay (and its follow-up) I decided that I couldnt resist the opportunity to respond to Publius. Many writers I admire have already written very good fiskings of the original essay; but Publius put together a response to his critics and ended with this challenge:

Which brings me to the final two objections, which are really the same: I am said to be insane, and my insanity is supposedly evident from my contention that things are really bad, when in fact they are not that bad. I would be overjoyed to read a convincing account of why things are not that bad, whydespite appearancesthe republic is healthy, constitutional norms are respected, the working class and hinterland communities are in good shape, social pathologies are low or at least declining, our elites prioritize the common good, our intellectuals and the media are honest and fair. Or if thats too big a lift, how about one that acknowledges all the problems and outlines some reasonable prospect for renewal? But only if its believable. No skipped steps and no magical thinking. Dr. Conservatism needs to do better than his habitual Sorry about the cancer, heres a bottle of aspirin. If someone writes such a piece, I promise to read it and try to be persuaded by it. You might be doing meand others whom I have misguidedly misleda great favor. Only a fool would choose pessimism for its own sake. In my case, it chose me, against my will, because in current circumstances it just seems more plausiblein greater alignment with the observable factsthan optimism. But if Im wrong, have at it. Thats what I meant by my reference to the agora. Arriving at the truth is hard enough with open, honest debate. Its impossible without it. So flay me, by all means, and I will try to learn something. [] The country will go on, but it will not be a constitutional republic. It will be a blue state on a national scale. Only one party will really matter. A Republican may win now and againonce in a generation, perhapsbut only a neutered one who has updated all his positions so as to be more in tune with the new electorate. I.e., who has done exactly what the Left has for years been concern-trolling us to do: move left and become more like them. Yet another irony: the conservatives who object to Trump as too liberal are working to guarantee that only a Republican far more liberal than Trump could ever win the presidency again.

Still and all, for manypotentially me includedlife under perma-liberalism will be nice. If you are in the managerial class, you will probably do wellso long as you dont say the wrong thing. (And, as noted, the list of wrong things will be continuously updated, so make sure you keep up.) Professional conservatives seem to believe that their prospects will remain yoked to that of the managerial class. Maybe, but I doubt it. Eventually their donors are going to wake up and figure out what the Democrats and the Left realized long ago: conservatives serve no purpose any more. Then the money will dry up andwhat then? To the extent that our conservatives soldier on eo nomine, life will be a lot worse for them than their current, comfortable status as Washington Generals. They will have to adjust to dhimmitude. I cant tell if they dont understand this, or do and accept it. Then again, what difference, at this point, would that make? For the rest of youflyover peoplethe decline will continue. But things are pretty bad now, yet you can still eat and most of you have cars, flat screens, and air conditioners. So what are you complaining about? Keep in mind, this is the best case scenario. Which leaves open the larger questions raised in the prior essay that gave so many the vapors: how long could that possibly last? And what follows when it ends? The #NeverTrumpers dont even attempt to answer the second because their implicit answer to the first is: forever. Who knew they were all closet Hegelians? Yet Im called nuts for raising doubts. Can we at least finally admit, squarely, that conservatism has failed? On the very terms that it set for itself? I dont mean that in an accusatory or celebratory wayIm, quite sad about it, honest!only as a matter of plain fact. One of those who most objected to the Flight 93 analogy also accused me of sophistry. I remind him that, according to Aristotle, the Sophists identified or almost identified politics with rhetoric. In other words, the Sophists believed or tended to believe in the omnipotence of speech. Is that not a near-perfect description of modern conservative intellectuals, or at least of their revealed preferences? Except that one wonders what, in their case, is the source of that belief, since they havent been able to accomplish anything in the political realm through speech or any other means in a generation. One can point to a few enduring successes: Tax rates havent approached their former stratosphere highs. On the other hand, the Left is busy undoing welfare and policing reform. Beyond that, weve not been able to implement our agenda even when we win electionswhich we do less and less. Conservatism had a project for national renewal that it failed to implement, while the Left madeand still makesgain after gain after gain. Consider conservatisms aims: civic renewal, federalism, originalism, morality and family values, small government, limited government, Judeo-Christian values, strong national defense, respect among nations, economic freedom, an expanding pie, the American dream. I support all of that. And all of it has been in retreat for 30 years. At least. But conservatism cannot admit as much, not even to itself, in the middle of the night with the door closed, the lights out and no one listening. I tried to tell it, and it got mad.

All right then, consider this post me stepping into the agora to answer Publius challenge with open, honest debate  an attempt to persuade him that his analysis of our present political moment in America is wrong-headed, factually mistaken (in part) and; while this may seem ironic coming from a blog that has no problem pointing out the manifold problems with modernity, his pessimism about the future is way too apocalyptic for the actual problems faced by our fellow citizens and our leaders.

Lets begin with the first essay, where Publius lays out his case in these stark terms:

If conservatives are right about the importance of virtue, morality, religious faith, stability, character and so on in the individual; if they are right about sexual morality or what came to be termed family values; if they are right about the importance of education to inculcate good character and to teach the fundamentals that have defined knowledge in the West for millennia; if they are right about societal norms and public order; if they are right about the centrality of initiative, enterprise, industry, and thrift to a sound economy and a healthy society; if they are right about the soul-sapping effects of paternalistic Big Government and its cannibalization of civil society and religious institutions; if they are right about the necessity of a strong defense and prudent statesmanship in the international sphereif they are right about the importance of all this to national health and even survival, then they must believemustnt they?that we are headed off a cliff.

As a conservative, one may rightly ask -- why does Publius think the cliff has come into view just now? Hasnt he been paying attention to conservative thought over the 20th Century? To take one (important) representative sample, heres Richard Weaver from Ideas Have Consequences:

Surely we are justified in saying of our time: If you seek the monument to our folly, look about you. In our own day we have seen cities obliterated and ancient faiths stricken. We may well ask, in the words of Matthew, whether we are not faced with "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world." We have for many years moved with a brash confidence that man had achieved a position of independence which rendered the ancient restraints needless. Now, in the first half of the twentieth century, at the height of modern progress, we behold unprecedented outbreaks of hatred and violence; we have seen whole nations desolated by war and turned into penal camps by their conquerors; we find half of mankind looking upon the other half as criminal. Everywhere occur symptoms of mass psychosis. Most portentous of all, there appear diverging bases of value, so that our single planetary globe IS mocked by worlds of different understanding. These signs of disintegration arouse fear, and fear leads to desperate unilateral efforts toward survival, which only forward the process. Like Macbeth, Western man made an evil decision, which has become the efficient and final cause of other evil decisions. Have we forgotten our encounter with the witches on the heath? It occurred in the late fourteenth century , and what the witches said to the protagonist of this drama was that man could realize himself more fully if he would only abandon his belief in the existence of transcendentals. The powers of darkness were working subtly, as always, and they couched this proposition in the seemingly innocent form of an attack upon universals. The defeat of logical realism in the great medieval debate was the crucial event in the history of Western culture; from this flowed those acts which issue now in modern decadence. [my emphasis]

Weaver wrote these words in 1948  let's not use this post to start a big debate about whether or not he was correct in his diagnosis of the start of Wests problems -- but clearly he is one example of many conservative thinkers that can be adduced who will point to events of the past (sometimes the past of five hundred years ago!) who suggest that 'the cliff is coming into view' (e.g. the New Deal represents a fundamental break from our constitutional order and unless reversed our republic will never know good government again') and something must be done to salvage Western civilization as we know it. These laments have a hint of truth to them, as the conservative thinker is usually pointing to a real social problem and/or decline in standards. The issue remains -- what is to be done about this decline and what is the appropriate metaphor to describe the conservatives dilemma living in modernity. Are we really headed for a cliff? In some sense, for those of us who reject the modern Leftist world-view, things are indeed bleak, but are they any worse than what Christians faced during the early years of the church? During the attacks on the Eastern Roman Empire from Islam? During the wars of religion after the Protestant Revolution? During our fight with Nazism or the communism?



Well, Publius is very much focused on the here and now and with respect to recent conservative thinking, and as a result he rejects the solutions on offer from conservatives over the past 20+ years because he thinks they have been ineffectual and that modern conservatives refuse to own up to the true crisis that America (and the West) faces in this moment:

Lets be very blunt here: if you genuinely think things can go on with no fundamental change needed, then you have implicitly admitted that conservatism is wrong. Wrong philosophically, wrong on human nature, wrong on the nature of politics, and wrong in its policy prescriptions. Because, first, few of those prescriptions are in force today. Second, of the ones that are, the left is busy undoing them, often with conservative assistance. And, third, the whole trend of the West is ever-leftward, ever further away from what we all understand as conservatism. If your answerContinettis, Douthats, Salams, and so many othersis for conservatism to keep doing what its been doinganother policy journal, another article about welfare reform, another half-day seminar on limited government, another tax credit proposaleven though weve been losing ground for at least a century, then youve implicitly accepted that your supposed political philosophy doesnt matter and that civilization will carry on just fine under leftist tenets. Indeed, that leftism is truer than conservatism and superior to it. They will say, in words reminiscent of dorm-room Marxismbut our proposals have not been tried! Here our ideas sit, waiting to be implemented! To which I reply: eh, not really. Many conservative solutionsabove all welfare reform and crime controlhave been tried, and proved effective, but have nonetheless failed to stem the tide. Crime, for instance, is down from its mid-70s and early 90s peakbut way, way up from the historic American norm that ended when liberals took over criminal justice in the mid-60s. And its rising fast today, in the teeth of ineffectual conservative complaints. And what has this temporary crime (or welfare, for that matter) decline done to stem the greater tide? The tsunami of leftism that still engulfs our everyliteral and figurativeshore has receded not a bit but indeed has grown. All your (our) victories are short-lived. More to the point, what has conservatism achieved lately? In the last 20 years? The answerwhich appears to be nothingmight seem to lend credence to the plea that our ideas havent been tried. Except that the same conservatives who generate those ideas are in charge of selling them to the broader public. If their ideas havent been tried, who is ultimately at fault? The whole enterprise of Conservatism, Inc., reeks of failure.

Lets stop here and unpack this rant for a moment. The first thing we need to ask is whether or not Publius is correct  has conservatism been a total failure? I seem to read this more and more in the blogosphere and certainly used to read it regularly on alt-right blogs  it seems to be what drives the frustration with our current crop of Republican leaders and/or has helped explain the rise of Trump. But what does it mean against reality? Yes, the courts have been trending leftward for quite some time (since Griswold? Earlier?) This is an important distinction given that federal (including the Supreme Court) and state courts have often undermined conservative political victories, as with our efforts in many states to successfully use the state constitutional process to remind the public what the proper meaning of marriage consists of (by my count 38 states had officially passed constitutional amendments defining marriage solely as limited to one man and one woman before the infamous Obergefell decision.)

While the federal government grows ever more onerous and bloated with debt, our state governments are getting leaning and smarter thanks to conservative ideas and governance  at last count 23 states were totally controlled by Republicans (Governor and both houses of the state legislature) versus only 7 for Democrats. There are an additional five Republican Governors (making 28 total) and seven states that are totally controlled (both upper and lower house of representatives) by Republicans (and four more lower houses and three more upper houses controlled by Republicans.) All these Republicans at the state level have been busy  opposing Obamas agenda, doing what they can to protect the unborn, cutting spending, attacking the ability of unions to raise money, establishing charter schools (or working with the amazing home school movement and organizations like the HSLDA to make sure that homeschooled children are left alone), easing the regulatory burdens on their businesses, etc. They have worked hand in hand with conservatives at the national level to protect our rights to defend ourselves and conservatives should be happy to celebrate Missouri as the latest state to pass a Constitutional carry law (essentially, citizens of Missouri no longer need any sort of permit to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense.)



So at a local level clearly the answer to Publius question  what has conservatism achieved lately? is quite a bit. As for welfare reform and crime, which he points to as conservatives successes of the past that have begun to unravel thanks to the tsunami of leftism that engulfs all temporary achievements, Im not so convinced. He says,





Crime, for instance, is down from its mid-70s and early 90s peakbut way, way up from the historic American norm that ended when liberals took over criminal justice in the mid-60s. And its rising fast today, in the teeth of ineffectual conservative complaints.

As an historical factual matter, this is just incorrect  depending on whose data you look at and for what crime, the mid-70s and early 90s peak is in fact a return to earlier high levels of crime (at least for homicide) that America experienced in the early twentieth century:

https://ourworldindata.org/homicides/

The fact that we have brought crime down to the historic lows that existed only in the 40s and 50s is indeed something to celebrate, even if, yes, some leftists are intent on undoing the hard work conservative law and order policies have accomplished the past 20+ years. Likewise, with welfare  it remains the fact that reform took millions of people off the rolls and forced them to eventually get jobs if they wanted to receive any kind of help from this program. Publius is right, of course, to point to ongoing efforts by leftists to roll this success back or I could point to other welfare programs that were not reformed and continue to metastasize. Again, I dont deny that in many, many ways  especially at the federal level  the government is too big and imposes too much of a regulatory burden on the American people.

But that brings us to the final part of Publius essay  his solution. He thinks that we need to rush the cockpit and vote for Donald Trump as the last best hope to save the republic from a Hillary Clinton Presidency, which

will be pedal-to-the-metal on the entire Progressive-left agenda, plus items few of us have yet imagined in our darkest moments. Nor is even that the worst. It will be coupled with a level of vindictive persecution against resistance and dissent hitherto seen in the supposedly liberal West only in the most advanced Scandinavian countries and the most leftist corners of Germany and England. We see this already in the censorship practiced by the Davoisies social media enablers; in the shameless propaganda tidal wave of the mainstream media; and in the personal destruction campaignsoperated through the former and aided by the latterof the Social Justice Warriors. We see it in Obamas flagrant use of the IRS to torment political opponents, the gaslighting denial by the media, and the collective shrug by everyone else. Its absurd to assume that any of this would stop or slowwould do anything other than massively intensifyin a Hillary administration. Its even more ridiculous to expect that hitherto useless conservative opposition would suddenly become effective. For two generations at least, the Left has been calling everyone to their right Nazis. This trend has accelerated exponentially in the last few years, helped along by some on the Right who really do seem to meritand even relishthe label. There is nothing the modern conservative fears more than being called racist, so alt-right pocket Nazis are manna from heaven for the Left. But also wholly unnecessary: sauce for the goose. The Left was calling us Nazis long before any pro-Trumpers tweeted Holocaust denial memes. And how does one deal with a Nazithat is, with an enemy one is convinced intends your destruction? You dont compromise with him or leave him alone. You crush him.

O.K. then! Again, ignoring all our efforts to stop left-wing madness over the past eight years under Obama (sometimes successful and sometimes not) Publius plows ahead with his case that Trump is the antidote to a Hillary presidency, specifically because Trump gets these three things correct:

Trump is the most liberal Republican nominee since Thomas Dewey. He departs from conservative orthodoxy in so many ways that National Review still hasnt stopped counting. But lets stick to just the core issues animating his campaign. On trade, globalization, and war, Trump is to the left (conventionally understood) not only of his own party, but of his Democratic opponent. And yet the Left and the junta are at one with the house-broken conservatives in their determinationdesperationnot merely to defeat Trump but to destroy him. What gives? Oh, righttheres that other issue. The sacredness of mass immigration is the mystic chord that unites Americas ruling and intellectual classes. Their reasons vary somewhat. The Left and the Democrats seek ringers to form a permanent electoral majority. They, or many of them, also believe the academic-intellectual lie that Americas inherently racist and evil nature can be expiated only through ever greater diversity. The junta of course craves cheaper and more docile labor. It also seeks to legitimize, and deflect unwanted attention from, its wealth and power by pretending that its open borders stance is a form of noblesse oblige. The Republicans and the conservatives? Both of course desperately want absolution from the charge of racism. [] Yes, Trump is worse than imperfect. So what? We can lament until we choke the lack of a great statesman to address the fundamental issues of our timeor, more importantly, to connect them. Since Pat Buchanans three failures, occasionally a candidate arose who saw one piece: Dick Gephardt on trade, Ron Paul on war, Tom Tancredo on immigration. Yet, among recent political figuresgreat statesmen, dangerous demagogues, and mewling gnats alikeonly Trump-the-alleged-buffoon not merely saw all three and their essential connectivity, but was able to win on them. The alleged buffoon is thus more prudentmore practically wisethan all of our wise-and-good who so bitterly oppose him. This should embarrass them. That their failures instead embolden them is only further proof of their foolishness and hubris.

So here is Publius essential case for Trump: that what America needs right now more than anything else is a candidate that will change our immigration policies (so they are more restrictive and are much more serious about the risks of assimilating poor and/or alien  Muslim  cultures), change our trade policies so we are more protectionist and less open to free trade, and finally a candidate that is willing to re-think our foreign policies and be willing to retreat from various alliances and/or foreign theaters of war.

This is supposed to save America?

Lets think back to Publius earlier lament  I thought he agreed with conservatives about the centrality of initiative, enterprise, industry, and thrift to a sound economy and a healthy society and nodded his head along when us conservatives talked about the soul-sapping effects of paternalistic Big Government and its cannibalization of civil society and religious institutions? If so, what the heck will Trump do to improve this situation? As Publius himself admits, Trump is nothing more than a liberal Democrat who has unorthodox views on immigration. Trump is not serious, at all, about doing anything with respect to the size and scope of the administrative federal state, the budget deficit, our national debt, entitlement programs, etc. Indeed, what policy detail he has revealed suggest he will make the problem worse!

Ive already blogged on this site about trade  I just disagree with Publius and Trump that more protectionism is the answer to our economic problems (I think it will make them worse and ultimately hurt the working class.) As for Trumps foreign policy  who knows what he thinks? He was for the Iraq war and then he was against it; he has flirted with left-wing lies that Bush made up the intelligence on WMD in Iraq, he said he supports torture, he thinks Putin is a good leader for Russia (quick news flash  I would like nothing more than peace and prosperity for the Russian people and for our two countries to develop stronger ties with one another  I just think it is kind of hard to do that when a vicious dictator is in charge of one of those countries), etc. Like Publius, I think it would be wise if America pulled back from our heavy involvement in the Middle-East and encouraged others to fight their own battles. If we have learned anything from our past involvement in the region it is that unintended consequences face any action in the Islamic world and unless we are directly threaten by a state we would do well to avoid direct entanglement. But Trump is on record as saying we have to "do something extremely tough over there...like knock the hell out of them" referring to ISIS -- does that sound like someone who is ready to pull out of direct engagement in the Middle-East?

And then there is immigration  the idea that Conservative Inc. (except for the brave Tom Tancredo) has been only for open borders over the past 20+ years is laughably wrong. Has Publius never read a word that Mark Krikorian has written (for National Review no less!) Yes, some conservatives favor more immigration than others  but there are many serious intellectual conservatives in the mainstream who have been willing to call for serious immigration restrictions or at least focus first on border control and security before any talk of legalization or normalization of the status of illegals already in the country. Senator Sessions has been fighting this good fight for years and Trump was smart to draw on his wisdom in crafting his own policy positions on immigration. The conservative base has dragged the Republican leadership kicking and screaming to our more restrictionist position and weve punished those who wont toe the line (e.g. Eric Cantor.)



But lets go back to Publius central contention  even if we are successful in reducing the flow of immigrants into this country (especially from poorer, third-world and Muslim countries) would that suddenly solve all our problems with the Left? To ask this question is to answer it  the American people are divided. We differ about fundamental first things, to use Father Neuhaus old formulation and changing demographics, while helpful; wont change the fact that people in Massachusetts and California think about the role of the family, government responsibility, and the meaning of liberty in different ways than the people in Texas and Utah. We are even divided within states -- the people of Austin dont agree with the people in Fort Worth on what constitutes the good life; what it means to defend the good, the true and the beautiful; and what governments role should be in promoting the common good. Changing our demographic over the next 50 years might help promote domestic cohesion (I think it will) but we will remain divided over these 'first things' for quite some time.



If you are a conservative what will help in the long run are conservative ideas and winning people over to our side  which is why Trump is so disappointing and unacceptable  almost nothing he says and does on the campaign trail helps advance the basic philosophical case for limited government, the meaning of the Constitution and ordered liberty, the importance of the natural law and the complementary role of the sexes in marriage and the family, etc. Think again back to Richard Weaver  idea matter and in the long run there is no easy way around the fact that we have to convince our fellow citizens of the righteousness of our cause.

Finally, there is work to be done outside of politics  in the culture, in our churches, in our local community groups, etc. As Jonah Goldberg said in his response to Publius, concerning the original Flight 93 metaphor:

Its also not true. Truth would exonerate him. But it isnt true  and even if it were, he cant possibly know that it is. I am the first to concede that if Hillary Clinton wins it will likely be terrible for the country. But America is larger than one election for one office in one branch in one of our many layers of government. Indeed, if its true that America is one election away from death, then America is already dead. Because the whole idea of this country is that most of life exists outside of the scope of government. Yes, this idea is battered and bloodied. But I fail to see how rejecting the idea  as Decius does  is the best way to save it.
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Willamette Laws Student Bar Association held elections this week and elected new officers for each class. Initial votes resulted in runoff elections for the first-year president and secretary/treasurer positions. Final winners were announced Tuesday evening.

SBA is the student governing body of the College of Law, and all law students are members. Class officers represent the interests of their respective classes.

Katherine Gipson McLean was re-elected as third-year president. Last year, she also served as president for her class.

My main goals in continuing on as our class president are to continue to field concerns and suggestions from my classmates and channel them to the proper places of authority, continue to promote class camaraderie, and to accomplish whatever tasks are needed to host some great graduation festivities, McLean said.

McLean has an undergraduate degree in secondary education social studies from Arizona State University. Originally from Phoenix, she said she hopes to take the Arizona bar exam after graduating in May of 2017. She plans on working in criminal defense.

James Sullivan is the newly elected second-year president. He said his mission as president is to encourage his classmates to take an active role in their education and future. He has an undergraduate degree in business administration from DeVry University and is interested in pursuing business, construction, or construction-defect law.

Following Wednesdays runoff elections, Thomas Ybarra was named first-year president. Ybarra said he plans on using the position to follow through on campaign promises. He ran with Emily Lohman as his vice president on a platform called Unite.

We promoted uniting our class with the community through service projects, uniting each other through engaging social activities and events for everyone in our class, and uniting each individual personally with Willamette by listening to student ideas and concerns, Ybarra said.

He is originally from Boulder City, Nevada, and has an undergraduate degree in political science from Southern Utah University. For now, he said he would eventually like to work in poverty law or develop and lobby legislation for issue-specific nonprofits.

Students also elected other class officers, including: Lauren Barnes as third-year vice president, Collin Edmonds as third-year secretary/treasurer, Carlotta Alverson as second-year vice president, Brittany Sumner as second-year secretary/treasurer, Emily Lohman as first-year vice president, and Natasha Torres as first-year secretary/treasurer.

SBA meets on Mondays, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., in room 219. The meetings are open to all law students.

About Willamette University College of Law

Opened in 1883, Willamette University College of Law is the first law school in the Pacific Northwest. The college has a long tradition at the forefront of legal education and is committed to the advancement of knowledge through excellent teaching, scholarship, mentoring and experience. Leading faculty, thriving externship and clinical law programs, ample practical skills courses, and a proactive career placement office prepare Willamette law students for today's legal job market. According to statistics compiled by the American Bar Association, Willamette ranks first in the Pacific Northwest for job placement for full-time, long-term, JD-preferred/JD-required jobs for the class of 2014 and first in Oregon for the classes of 2012, 2013 and 2014. Located across the street from the state capitol complex and the Oregon Supreme Court in downtown Salem, the college specializes in law and government, law and business, and dispute resolution.
As Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump prepare to go head to head in the coming presidential debates, another discussion has emerged about the selection of the debate moderators.

Ultraviolet, which describes itself as a community of people from all walks of life mobilized to fight sexism and expand womens rights, is promoting an online petition that urges the Presidential Debate Commission to add more women to the list of moderators.

The commission chose Lester Holt of NBC News to moderate the first debate, which will be held Monday at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. Two moderators, Anderson Cooper of CNN and Martha Raddatz of ABC News, will moderate the second debate, Oct. 9 at Washington University in St. Louis. The third debate, on Oct. 19 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will be moderated by Chris Wallace of Fox News.

Ultraviolet said on its website:

The Presidential Debate Commission just announced that men will moderate all three debates between the first female major party candidate and the most sexist candidate in recent history. The one woman included was only trusted to co-host.

Thats rightin 2016, the commission somehow thinks that a woman cannot moderate a presidential debate on her own.

The website goes on to suggest that Gwen Ifill of PBS, Rachel Maddow of MSNBC, Christiane Amanpour of CNN and Tamron Hall of NBC News and MSNBC would be good candidates for moderators.

The vice presidential debate, on Oct. 4 at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., will be moderated by a woman  Elaine Quijano of CBS News and CBSN.
Zaha Hadid Architects has finally inaugurated the new Antwerp Port House in Belgium, which repurposes, renovates and extends a derelict fire station into a new headquarters for the port  bringing together the ports 500 staff that previously worked in separate buildings around the city. With 12 km of docks, Antwerp is Europes second largest shipping port, serving 15,000 sea trade ships and 60,000 inland barges each year.

Antwerp handles 26% of Europes container shipping, transporting more than 200 million tonnes of goods via the ocean-going vessels that call at the port and providing direct employment for over 60,000 people, including more than 8,000 port workers. Indirectly, the Port of Antwerp ensures about 150,000 jobs and has ambitious targets for future expansion to meet the continents growth and development over the next century.

Image  Helene Binet

In 2007, when the former 1990s offices of the Port of Antwerp had become too small, the port determined that relocation would enable its technical and administrative services to be housed together, providing new accommodation for about 500 staff. The port required a sustainable and future-proof workplace for its employees, representing its ethos and values in an ever-expanding local and international arena.



As the threshold between the city and its vast port, Mexico Island in Antwerps Kattendijk dock on Quay 63 was selected as the site for the new head office. The waterside site also offered significant sustainable construction benefits, allowing materials and building components to be transported by water, an important requirement to meet the ports ecological targets.

Image  Helene Binet

Following the construction of a new fire station with facilities needed to service the expanding port, the old fire station on the Mexico Island site  a listed replica of a Hanseatic residence  became redundant and relied on a change of use to ensure its preservation.

This disused fire station had to be integrated into the new project. The Flemish government's department of architecture, together with the City and Port authorities organized the architectural competition for the new headquarters.

Image  Helene Binet

Zaha Hadid Architects' design is informed by detailed historical research and a thorough analysis of both the site and the existing building.

''There was only one rule laid down in the architectural competition, namely that the original building had to be preserved. There were no other requirements imposed for the positioning of the new building. The jury was therefore pleasantly surprised when the five shortlisted candidates all opted for a modern structure above the original building. They all combined the new with the old, but the design by Zaha Hadid Architects was the most brilliant,'' said Marc Van Peel, president of the Port of Antwerp.

Image  Hufton+Crow

Working with Origin, leading heritage consultants in the restoration and renovation of historic monuments, ZHAs studies of the sites history and heritage are the foundations of the design which firstly emphasises the north-south site axis parallel with the Kattendijkdok linking the city centre to the port.

Secondly, due to its location surrounded by water, the building's four elevations are considered of equal importance with no principal facade.

Image  Hufton+Crow

ZHAs design is an elevated extension, rather than a neighbouring volume which would have concealed at least one of the existing facades. ZHA and Origins historic analysis of the old fire station also highlighted the role of its originally intended tower - a grand, imposing component of the fire station's Hanseatic design.

Its bold vertical statement, intended to crown the imposing volume of the building below, was never realised.

Image  Hufton+Crow

These three key principles define the designs composition of new and old: a new volume that floats above the old building, respecting each of the old facades and completing the verticality of the original designs unrealised tower. Like the bow of a ship, the new extension points towards the Scheldt, connecting the building with the river on which Antwerp was founded.

Surrounded by water, the new extension's facade is a glazed surface that ripples like waves and reflects the changing tones and colours of the citys sky. Triangular facets allow the apparently smooth curves at either end of the building to be formed with flat sheets of glass. They also facilitate the gradual transition from a flat facade at the south end of the building to a rippling surface at the north.

Image  Hufton+Crow

While most of the triangular facets are transparent, some are opaque. This calibrated mix ensures sufficient sunlight within the building, while also controlling solar load to guarantee optimal working conditions.

At the same time, the alternation of transparent and opaque facade panels breaks down the volume of the new extension, giving panoramic views of the Scheldt, the city and the Port as well as providing enclosure.

Image  Hufton+Crow

The facades rippling quality is generated with flat facets to the south that gradually become more three-dimensional towards to the north. This perception of a transparent volume, cut to give the new building its sparkling appearance, reinterprets Antwerps moniker as the city of diamonds.

The new extension appears as a carefully cut form which changes its appearance with the shifting intensity of daylight. Like the ripples on the surface of the water in the surrounding port, the new facade reflects changing light conditions.

Image  Hufton+Crow

The old fire stations central courtyard has been enclosed with a glass roof and is transformed into the main reception area for the new Port House. From this central atrium, visitors access the historic public reading room and library within the disused fire truck hall which has been carefully restored and preserved.

Panoramic lifts provide direct access to the new extension with an external bridge between the existing building and new extension giving panoramic views of the city and port.

Image  Tim Fisher

The client requirements for an activity based office are integrated within the design, with related areas such as the restaurant, meeting rooms and auditorium located at the centre of the upper levels of the existing building and the bottom floors of the new extension. The remaining floors more remote from the centre, comprise open plan offices.

Image  Tim Fisher

Collaborating with services consultant Ingenium, ZHA developed a sustainable and energy-efficient design reaching a Very Good BREEAM environmental rating. Despite the challenges of integrating with a protected historic building, high standards in sustainable design were achieved by implementing effective strategies at each stage of construction.

Image  Tim Fisher

A borehole energy system pumps water to a depth of 80m below grade in over 100 locations around the building to provide heating and cooling. In the existing building, this system uses chilled beams.

In the new extension, it uses chilled ceilings. Waterless lavatory fittings and motion detectors minimise water consumption while building automation and optimal daylight controls minimise artificial lighting.

Image  Tim Fisher

With constant references to the Scheldt, the city of Antwerp and the dynamics of its port, married with the successful renovation and reuse of a redundant fire station - integrating it as a fully-fledged part of its headquarters - the new Port House will serve the port well through its planned expansion over future generations.

Image  Tim Fisher

Marc Van Peel said: The architectural style of the original building, a replica of the former Hansa House, recalls the 16th century, Antwerp's "golden century." But now above this original, a contemporary structure in shining glass has been built, which I am sure, represents a new golden century for Antwerp.

Image  Tim Fisher

Zaha Hadid Architects has recently won WA Awards in the 23rd Cycle with two major projects Investcorp Building, Middle East Centre at St Antonys College, University of Oxford and Messner Mountain Museum Corones in Italy.

Level 5 Belly ceiling plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Ground floor plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

2nd floor plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Bridge floor plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Level 6 floor plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Level 7 floor plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Level 8 ceiling plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Level 8 floor plan. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Long section 1. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Short section. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

East elevation. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

North elevation. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

South elevation. Image  Zaha Hadid Architects

Project Facts

Total Floor Area: 12,800 square metres, (6,600 square metres in the refurbished fire station), (6,200 square metres in the new extension)

New extension: 111 metres length, 24 metres width, 21 metres height

Existing fire station: 63 metres length, 78.5 metres width, 21.5 metres height

Total height (existing building + new extension): 46 metres (5 additional floors)

Site Area: 16,400 square metres- 90-seat auditorium, 190 bicycle parking spaces, 25 parking spaces for electric cars

Project Team:

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)

Design: Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher

ZHA Project Director: Joris Pauwels

ZHA Project Architect: Jinmi Lee

ZHA Project Team: Florian Goscheff, Monica Noguero, Kristof Crolla, Naomi Fritz, Sandra Riess, Muriel Boselli, Susanne Lettau

ZHA Competition Team: Kristof Crolla, Sebastien Delagrange, Paulo Flores, Jimena Araiza, Sofia Daniilidou, Andres Schenker, Evan Erlebacher, Lulu Aldihani

Consultants:

Executive Architect: Bureau Bouwtechniek

Structural Engineers: Studieburo Mouton Bvba

Services Engineers: Ingenium Nv

Acoustic Engineers: Daidalos Peutz

Restoration Consultants: Origin

Fire Protection: Fpc

Top image  Helene Binet

> via Zaha Hadid Architects




AUSTIN, TX, September 23, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Award-winning Austin feature film Found Footage 3D (FF3D) will make its Texas Premiere at Austin Film Festival (AFF) in October. Found Footage 3D is produced by Kim Henkel, co-creator of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre, one of the most influential horror films in history.



FF3D tells the story of a group of filmmakers who travel to a remote cabin in the woods to shoot "the first 3D found-footage horror film," but find themselves *in* a found-footage horror film when the evil entity from their movie escapes into their behind-the-scenes footage.The Hollywood News describes the film as "Scream meets The Blair Witch Project."



"We are proud to bring Found Footage 3D back to our home town for its Texas Premiere at a renowned festival like AFF," says Writer/Director Steven DeGennaro. Executive Producer Joe Woskow adds, "Austin is well-known for its influential role in the film industry. It's exciting to share Found Footage 3D with Austin audiences in all its gory 3D glory."



Found Footage 3D recently had its World Premiere in Chicago at Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival, where it received overwhelmingly positive reviews from a packed theater and was honored with the festival's inaugural Jury Award, presented to DeGennaro by Bruce Campbell himself. "I set out to make a smart, scary feature film, and the reviews we've received thus far have been phenomenal," DeGennaro says.



Found Footage 3D was filmed in Central Texas and also features UT Austin Radio-TV-Film alumna Jessica Perrin in her big screen debut.



The Texas Premiere of Found Footage 3D will be screened in 3D at the Alamo Drafthouse Village on Saturday, Oct. 15, with a second 3D screening at the Galaxy Highland Theater on Tuesday, Oct. 18.



Horror film fans will have a chance to win tickets to the Texas Premiere by signing up for the film's email list at foundfootage3d.com. Along with the official trailer, the website features immersive 3D and VR behind-the-scenes videos.



Plot Synopsis

When he's hired to document the behind-the-scenes action of the ultra low-budget horror movie "Spectre of Death" ("the first 3D found-footage horror film"), an aspiring filmmaker packs up his camera and travels with the film's crew to a creepy cabin in the woods. But when the fictional evil presence from their film begins appearing in his behind-the-scenes footage, he has to figure out how to stop it, or it just may find its way into the real world. In the same way "Scream" deconstructed the slasher sub-genre in the 1990s, "FF3D" takes a found-footage horror movie and populates it with people who are aware of all of the rules, tricks, and cliches of the genre. They know how to make a found footage movie. But do they know how to survive one?



Trailer: http://www.foundfootage3d.com/trailer

Press kit: http://www.foundfootage3d.com/press_kit



About Found Footage 3D

Writer/Director: Steven DeGennaro

Producers: Steven DeGennaro, Charles Mulford, Kim Henkel

Executive Producers: Adam Henninger, Joe Woskow

Co-Producers: Scott Weinberg, David Kassin Fried, Randi R. Ludwig

Starring: Carter Roy, Alena von Stroheim, Chris O'Brien, Tom Saporito, Scott Allen Perry, Jessica Perrin, Scott Weinberg

Official Website: foundfootage3d.com

Twitter: @foundfootage3d Facebook: /foundfootage3d Instagram @foundfootage3d YouTube: /foundfootage3d



About Austin Film Festival

Austin Film Festival is the premier film festival recognizing writers' and filmmakers' contributions to film, television, and new media. Austin Film Festival furthers the art and craft of filmmaking by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film and television to tell a story. For more information, schedule, and film passes, visit austinfilmfestival.com.



# # #
Sep 22, 2016 | By Tess

In a particularly heartwarming story from the 3D printing world, a 9-year-old boy has taken it upon himself to create a 3D printed prosthetic hand for an adult man who was born without one.

The 9-year-old in question, Calramon Mabalot, is an exceptional child, who has not only taken to 3D printing as a hobby, but has already turned it into a business, founding his very own online 3D printing service, Brother Robot, with his brother and father. While you may have perhaps never heard of the small scale 3D printing hub, the resourceful young boy has already completed more than fifty 3D printing orders through it.

Despite his small but growing 3D printing service, Calramon was inspired to make a 3D printed prosthetic hand for Nick, who was born without a right hand, for free. Nick, a Canadian visiting San Diego, was brought into a 3D printing tutorial at Calmarons local library, which was organized by librarian Uyen Tran. There, as the librarian gave basic instructions on 3D printing a prosthetic hand, Calramon became interested in creating a 3D printed hand for Nick, who happily offered to be the 9-year-olds guinea pig.

The 3D printed prosthetic hand that Calramon made for Nick was based off of designs and instructions from e-NABLE, the organization that brings together makers from all over the world to design and create open-source 3D printed prosthetic hands for children. The prototyping process for the hand, which took a few attempts, was all done at the local library, while the final processes of assembling were done by Calramon at home in his own 3D printing lab.

Upon receiving the hand, Nick was not only joyful, but very impressed with the young man who made the device. As Calramon explained, It was great. He was super happy. He was really impressed that you could do that. I feel good because I learned and I also helped somebody.

Impressively, this is not Calramons first 3D printing project, and it certainly wont be his last. In July, the young boy also started working on a 3D printed arm for his fathers colleague, who lost his arm in a car accident. The 3D scanning process for this can be seen on Calramons popular Twitter page. The 9-year-old maker is also super into making 3D printed quadcopters, which him and his family offer through the Brother Robot website.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Sep 23, 2016 | By Andre

I make my living in 3D printing so whenever theres a new 3D printer release I take pause and consider the potential it may have as a game changer. But between all of the slickly produced crowd-sourced 3D printers to the half-way around the world units without much support, its tricky to figure out what is indeed what.

Luckily, as the years have gone by, high quality 3D printer review video channels like Toms 3D, hosted by Thomas Sanladerer, have sprung up to provide a voice of reason to the sometimes chaotic nature of the desktop 3D printer space. Phew. This time around, the delta based Atom 2 3D printer was put to the test.

Designed and manufactured in Taiwan, this 3D printer is built looking slick and sexy as any of the sleekest Kickstarter entries that all too often emphasize form over function. Luckily for the Atom 2, it keeps the function intact.

With a max build volume of 22cm x 32cm, 50 micron max print resolution, auto bed levelling, optional heated bed and a sturdy aluminum frame you should feel comfortable that it is capable of at least hitting the standard fare when it comes to todays acceptable range of 3D print features.

Additionally, there are compartmental elements like a swapable 150mw laser engraver with a dual hot-end addition still in the works. So there is certainly an element of above-and-beyond within the system.

With all this said, how does it perform? Thanks to efforts by people like Thomas we find out quickly that although $2,000 is a bit of a hefty price tag to pay for a kit based 3D printer that will take you upwards of 15 hours to assemble, it is a very solid machine when all is said and done.

He mentions the build plate being as advertised (he went with the heated bed upgrade), that there was minimal artifacts in prints using the out-of-the-box slicer settings and that, as he put it, to be honest, in the end, it works and that print quality is well above average.

It was noted that its not the fastest machine out there but ultimately (and I agree here) its better to get a great looking print and wait a little bit longer vs. a sloppy print at twice the speed (like what he discovered with the OnePro in a recent review).

In the end, he seems to have concluded that its a quality 3D printer that demonstrates top-class features in some regard but lags behind in others (such as a low resolution LCD screen and limited slicing presets out of the box). Also, if you are not a maker at heart, the assembly time might be a bit overwhelming (check out Toms 11 hour assembly video if you have a whole day to kill).

Will the Atom 2.0 become the next breakthrough in 3D printing? According to what Ive gathered from Thomas review Im leaning probably not. But it does look like a reliable, expertly developed unit that pushes the technology forward if only marginally. And well, until that long awaited killer app in 3D printing technology arrives, marginally aint all that bad. And if that wont cut it, the 3D printer manufacturer suggests an Atom 2.5 is already in the works that will address any shortcomings discovered in the current version.

Posted in 3D Printer

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Sep 23, 2016 | By Tess

A medical 3D printing alliance alliance consisting of Taiwans National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs), China Steels branch company ThinTech Materials Technology, the TongTai Group, and the United Orthopedic Corporation has been formed in order to advance the development of new medical 3D printing materials, specifically a new 3D printed artificial bone material. The alliance marks a significant step forwards for Taiwans 3D printed medical materials industry.

3D printed knee joint and acetabular cup

On September 20th, NARLabs hosted a ceremony to launch the groups new 3D printing medical material, which recently underwent and passed the ISO-10993 biocompatibility international regulations verification. The artificial bone material, which is now being put through clinical testing, is preparing to be launched on the international market.

The process of creating the new biocompatible 3D printing material has relied on all the companies involved in the medical 3D printing alliance. For instance, the implant material is made from raw material supplied by the China Steel Corporation, which is then grounded into a fine powder by ThinTech Materials. Once the 3D printing material is prepared, the United Orthopedic Corporation is responsible for creating an implant or prosthesis design, which is then sent to the TongTai Group for 3D printing.

Significantly, the new and innovative 3D printed artificial bone material has already gained attention from a number of established metal 3D printing companies, including Renishaw, 3D Systems, and EOS. According to a source, these companies are seeking to establish ties with the alliance in order to use ThinTech Materials metal powder to create their own medical grade products and expand their services and business.

The 3D printing material itself is made from a high quality titanium, which was extensively tested until it met all biomedical material requirements. Currently, the new implant material is undergoing its biomedical system certification process, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. Once this certification has been approved (the ISO-13485), the new material will officially become part of the biomaterials supply chain. Notably, as the new material gets cleared at a number of stages, the medical 3D printing alliance is continuing its work to create even more advanced, and even lighter titanium powders for the 3D printing medical industry.

Currently, Taiwans first successfully tested 3D printing artificial bone material is undergoing human clinical trials in cooperation with the China Medical University Hospital. Subsequent trials, which will be done at the National Taiwan University Hospital, are expected to be completed within the next three years, and once completed results will be handed over to UL, a global independent safety science company who will choose whether to certify the new material. If all goes well, the certified material will then expand into the global market by applying for U.S. FDA approval.

3D printing has been increasingly used in the medical field in order to create custom prostheses and implants. Additive manufacturing has offered the medical industry a number of advantages over more traditional manufacturing methods, such as a much faster production time (a knee joint could take to as little as 17-18 hours to produce), and more complex implant designs (such as porous surfaces) which help to promote bone cell growth in the patient, thus reducing recovery time.

3D printed artificial bone plate

According to statistics from Business Monitor International (BMI), an international research organization, the global medical equipment market size is currently worth around $323.9 billion, and is expected to rise to 382.5 billion by 2018. Even just looking at the artificial joint global market you can see the growth, as it reached a high $15.4 billion in 2015 and continues to rise steadily. As Lin Yansheng, the chairman of the United Orthopedic Corporation, points out, artificial joints will move towards customized 3D printed products in the future, which are tailor made to become an inevitable trend.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Sep 23, 2016 | By Alec

While Materialise is by far the biggest 3D printing company to have grown out of Belgiums innovative climate, the country is absolutely packed with refreshing 3D printing startups that are unveiling one 3D printing breakthrough after another. Just last month, Belgian studio VIGO Universal 3D printed an actual, full-scale Stargate portal. But none of those projects wouldve been possible without the countrys very open high-tech sector, and startup Cr3do has just completed a spectacular 3D printed tribute to the Corda Campus in Hasselt  one of the biggest innovation hotspots in the country. They have 3D printed a scale model of the campus, the biggest of its kind in Belgium.

This achievement is extra remarkable because Cr3do (short for Creating 3D-Objects) has only been around since 2015, and is based on the Corda Campus in Hasselt. Back in April of this year that Cr3do launched their 3D printing services through two new websites, one of which was completely focused on the architecture sector. 3D scale models are simple, quick and sustainable solutions for architects, contractors and project developers that want to physically visualize their prestigious projects, founder Jens Raskin said of their specialized services. However, they are also offering 3D printing solutions for anything from engineering prototypes to company logos.

Despite their quality services, Cr3do is still very much a startup that is working hard to expand their solutions and production capacity. They recently won the JCI enterprising competition and were awarded the Student Startup of the Year award during the Tech Startup Day Awards. Thanks to their tumultuous growth, they started renting a bigger office on the Corda Campus in Hasselt at the beginning of the year. From here, the technological hotspot of Limburg, our team is working to expand our platform to other niche markets, Raskin explained.

Images credit: cr3Do

And through their collaboration with the Corda Campus, they immediately produced a huge showpiece. The scale model is a massive 3 by 2.40 meters in size, easily making it the biggest 3D printed scale model in Belgium. As Raskin explained, 3D printing is dynamic enough for a growing entity like the Corda Campus, which is spread out over a large number of buildings. The scale model is modular in nature and divided into several islands. Once the campus grows and elements need to be added to the scale model, we just have to take out the island in question and adjust it. If the Corda Campus went for a conventional manufacturing solution, we wouldve had to implement their five-year plan immediately.

That sensible and high-tech approach also appealed to the campus itself, which represents technology and innovation within Belgium. Opting for 3D printing was thus a very conscious decision, says Executive Director Raf Degens. But we also want to offer the best possible support to the companies inhabiting the campus. The scale model will be an eye-catcher on our website and will be used during the Corda Experience, a site tour that starts in October. The scale model will help visitors find their way around and get to grips with the campus. And once the campus expands, the model will as well. 3D printing will ensure that it always stays up-to-date, Degens said.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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If you run in San Francisco's well-heeled artsy circles, then you're already familiar with native Roth Martin, whose Hedge Gallery, in Jackson Square, has been known for its trendy exhibitions and as a kind of unofficial headquarters for stylish soirees over the past 13 years. But did you know that Martin kind of has a thing for ladies' shoes? It's true.

Martin shows off a pair of Rothy's Point flats, made in a nearly zero-waste process of recyclable rubber soles and uppers woven from threads made of recycled water bottles. (Photography by Guru Khalsa)

But seriously, how exactly did a one-time commodities trader and biotecher, established gallery owner, husband, and father of four come to unleash his inner Kenneth Cole? Long story short, he's had footwear on the brain for years, thanks to the memory of a sock-like kids shoe he once saw in Europe. That, combined with a growing desire to create a fresh shoe that would be versatile enough for his wife, Emily, to wear all day long and literally everywhere, and well, the rest, as they say...you know.







"The thing is," says Martin, contemplating this seemingly incongruous career move, "I have always had a passion for art, design, and fashion. I believe my calling is creating things."







So, Martin, along with his business partner, finance guy Stephen Hawthornthwaite, turned his focus toward innovation, drawing from his experiences in art and technology to develop a computer program that would make a stylish yet truly eco-friendly shoe. "Basically, our seamless 3-D knitting process hasn't existed before," he says, noting, with a well-earned humblebrag, that Rothy's design and manufacturing process creates virtually zero waste. And the shoes themselves are as green as they come, made of fibers from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, with rubber soles and foam insoles that are carbon-free and recyclable. For an added perk, these puppies are even machine washable.





But are they cute? Let's just say that Gwyneth likes them: Rothy's made its unofficial coming out as a featured brand at Goop Mrkt's San Francisco pop-up this past May.





Since then, the simply chic, ready-for-hill-schlepping flats (which are available for purchase online) have been catching on with well-heeled fashion girls and working moms alike who are happy to trade in their heels for attractive rubbers. Rothy's come in two stylesa rounded-toe silhouette (The Flat) as well as a pointed-toe version (The Point)and a slew of colors and patterns that run the gamut from basically elegant to just-splashy-enough. As for comfort, they are off the charts.





So what's next? Men's kicks? "No," deadpans the Belgian Loafer-wearing Renaissance man. "Right now we're all about the women." Fine by us.





Favorite Gallery That's Not Hedge

"SFMOMA. Who says the works have to be for sale?"





Design Heroes

"Dieter Rams, Raymond Loewy, and Elsa Peretti."





At Home With Roth

"I'm always striving for less is more, but that less needs to be damn good. I'm all about simple design...period. Architect-designed furniture. Japanese simplicity ideal. With four kids, it's all a pipe dream, though!"

Martin carries a cork wallet made for him by his son. (Courtesy of Roth Martin)

The Uniform

"Patagonia vest, Dege & Skinner custom navy-and-white check shirt, a belt I made, Levi's jeans, Belgian Loafers and, if necessary, a sport coat, custom made by Henry Poole Tailors. I'm the fourth generation buying clothes from Poolethey last forever and never go out of style. I have sport coats that are already 20-plus years old, and I still wear my grandfather's clothes, which still look brand new. I'm all about fewer, better things. This is what we are after at Rothy's, too."





SF Shopping Spree

"Unionmade, Heath, Aether, and the Ferry Building."





Best 'Hood

"Russian Hill. We lived there 12 years."
2. Borrow the Kardashian/Adele aesthetic. Some of the hottest stars in music, movies and TV flaunt their Curve Power, and you can, too. Patronize brands that celebrate the fact we see ourselves as sexy and glam, whether we're a size 12 or 24.

This may entail a shift in your priorities, from dressing to look thinner to dressing to look hot. Many websites and brick-and-mortar stores stand ready to help you make this pivot, from Eloquii and Ashley Stewart to Monif C. and Torrid. These four (plus the revamped Lane Bryant) have all embraced the concept of "dress to stand out" by stocking up on merchandise fresh off the runway:

buttery leather skirts and motorcycle jackets

colorful printed sheaths

on-trend ankle pants and culottes

cool jeans

decorative blouses and tunics

jumpsuits

off-the-shoulder tops

calf-friendly tall boots

There's not a frumpy look in sight!

3. Make peace with your imperfections. Don't rush into cosmetic surgery, fillers or Botox. No sooner have you pulled, lifted, lasered off or filled in one "glaring flaw" than another presents itself for correction. Rather, try reconciling yourself to the sort of reality that Mirren has come around to. "I am not keen on my nose," the Trumbo star has said of what many consider to be her facial calling card. "I don't like my ankles. I am unsure about my behind. I don't like my legs at all. I am not too sure about my chin, and my forehead is a bit dodgy. But overall I can live with it."

Hey, if a L'Oreal Paris spokeswoman can live with the passage of time, so can we. But if you're still determined to "take measures," don't overlook all of today's DIY options, from tooth-whitening strips to creams or serums that plump up skin and hair to the range of modern makeups that offer to define our features, restoring the glow and giving us creative playtime every day.

For more beauty and style tips for women 50-plus, check out The Woman's Wakeup and AARP's new Beauty & Style digital magazine, which is available for tablet.
Toppmeyer: Vols can't be stopped by a basketball school. Bring on Georgia

There was no chance of Kentucky keeping up with these Vols. UK is a basketball school, after all. Now, bring on Georgia. UT looks ready for the champs.


Fertoz Investor Conference Call audio replay available

Brisbane, Sep 23, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Organic phosphate supplier Fertoz Ltd ("Fertoz" or "the Company") ( ASX:FTZ ) thanks all analysts and investors who joined the Company's update call on Tuesday 20 September.



Fertoz invites investors to access a full replay of Chairman Pat Avery's discussion, Q&A and presentation slides at:

http://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/2EV9Y6D5



The Company thanks investors for their ongoing support as it pursues its goal of delivering cash flow and growth by supplying rock phosphate to the fast-growing North American organic farming market.





About Fertoz Ltd





Fertoz (ASX:FTZ) is an Australian-based phosphate exploration and development company with a range of projects in British Columbia, Canada as well as Queensland and the Northern Territory. The Company is focused on becoming a fertiliser producer as quickly as possible, initially focusing on the Canadian/USA markets.

Fertoz plans to develop its exploration assets in Canada in order to identify any potential Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) projects. It intends to seek joint venture partners to assist in funding the exploration projects in Australia.

Phosphate is a commodity necessary for feeding the world, and Fertoz is ready to capitalise on this growing demand.


Releases Native Device Browser App

Melbourne, Sep 23, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Xped Limited ( ASX:XPE ) ("Xped" or "the Company") wishes to advise that its new Device Browser App has been released to the Google Play(TM) Store for Android devices. The App has been released in English with a Chinese language translation underway given these two languages represent the main core targets for the Company at the present time.



Highlights



- Xped APP released to Google Play(TM) Store with verification underway for release on Apple App Store



- Available in English with Chinese language translation under way to cater for Xped's target markets.



The Xped App



Available for both Apple and Android devices - September 2016.



The Company awaits Apple's verification and authorisation to release the Xped App on the Apple App Store. This release can take between 2 to 5 weeks depending on Apple's backlog of processing and verification which is unusually long due in part to the new iOS 10 release and the fact that the Xped App needs to be tested against hardware (IoT Gateway) which requires Xped to provide evidence via a video that the software works correctly.



Martin Despain Managing Director commented, "Xped has been working quickly to deliver a native version release of its Device Browser App which is an essential piece of the ADRC technology solution. The release of the native App will assist the Company working towards opportunities to commercialise ADRC."



About XPED Ltd





XPED Ltd (ASX:XPE) is an Australian Internet of Things (IoT) technology business. Xped has developed revolutionary and patent-protected technology that allows any consumer, regardless of their technical capability, to connect, monitor and control devices and appliances found in our everyday environment. Xped provides technology solutions for Smart Home, Smart Building, and Healthcare.

At Xped, were Making Technology Easy Again(TM)


APP Securities Disruptive Technology Series

Sydney, Sep 23, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - APP Securities and Boardroom Media present Disruptive Technology Series - United Networks, Thursday, 22nd September, 2016, 12:30 PM (AEST), featuring United Global Sim, United Networks and WPP Aunz ( ASX:WPP ).



Taking on the $57 billion global roaming market



United Global SIM and United Networks director Nick Ghattas talks about fixing one of travellers' pet peeves: data and phone charges. In this address Ghattas explains how his company is reducing travellers' phone and data costs, connecting them with local offers and even helping travellers caught in natural disasters and other emergencies while overseas.



This presentation is proudly brought to you by Boardroom.Media, the official content, technology and streaming provider for APP Securities' Disruptive Technology Lunch Series.



To view the Webcast Presentation, please visit:

http://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/3XL656KF



The Technology of Elections



"Data changes everything", says Justin Di Lollo, business director at WPP AUNZ ( ASX:WPP ).



In the latest instalment of APP Securities' Disruptive Technology Lunch Series, broadcast by Boardroom.Media, Di Lollo is joined by Skye Laris, managing director at Skye Laris & Co, and Kuba Tymula, managing director at Harris Partners, to discuss the digital political campaign trail, leveraging digital assets to change public perceptions, and how the worlds of government and business are sharing digital insights.



To view the WPP Aunz Webcast Presentation, please visit:

http://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/088OR38M





About Boardroom Media





Boardroom.Media is a new breed of media company that's equal parts publisher, content producer, and streaming media technology business. With a strong footing in capital markets, professional services and asset management, the company has been a leading provider of multimedia communication solutions for corporate Australia for more than a decade.

About WPP AUNZ Ltd

WPP AUNZ Ltd (ASX:WPP) is a group of 80+ marketing communications services companies that collaborate to create world-class customer experiences and drive growth for our clients.
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.
A roundup of our favorite recent tax fraud cases.

Nashville, Tenn.: Preparer Tracey Brown, 48, has pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false returns.

According to court documents, Brown operated the prep business Total Tax Services from her residence and admitted that from at least January 2006 through December 2010 she routinely filed false returns on behalf of her clients to inflate their refunds without her clients knowledge or permission.

She further admitted that on these false returns she claimed a variety of false items, such as medical expenses, charitable contributions and business losses, with an intended tax loss of some $443,605.

Sentencing is Dec. 21, when Brown faces a maximum three years in prison, as well as a term of supervised release and monetary penalties.

Durham, N.C.: Preparer Reyna Nembiu Montes has received a year and a day in prison for aiding in the preparation of phony returns.

According to court documents, Montes operated the prep business Su Manu Amiga and admitted that she prepared multiple false individual income tax returns for clients, claiming false dependents to generate fraudulent refunds. She also admitted that she failed to disclose the existence of her prep business on her personal income tax returns.

She pleaded guilty on June 26. In addition to serving her prison sentence, Montes was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $115,287 restitution to the IRS.

San Francisco: Preparer Josiah Larkin, 40, has been convicted of conspiracy to file false claims and presenting false claims to the IRS.

Evidence at trial showed that Larkin set up a storefront in San Francisco in December of 2012 and, although not authorized to do so, identified the shop as a Colbert Ball Tax franchise. He also advertised Get Up to $600 - Even if Unemployed, On SSA or SSI.

Larkin prepared false returns for clients, reporting that they had no income and that they paid $4,000 in qualified education expenses to attend college to generate refunds based on the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Larkin took approximately half of the fraudulently obtained refunds and gave the remaining half to his clients.

He was indicted in January 2015 and charged with one count of conspiracy to file false federal income tax returns as well as multiple counts of filing false claims and aiding and abetting filing false claims. A jury found Larkin guilty of the conspiracy charge and five counts of filing false claims.

Sentencing is Jan. 13, 2017. The maximum for conspiracy to file false claims is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The maximum for presenting false claims to an agency of the U.S. is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution if appropriate.

New Orleans: Former preparer Donald Stewart, 60, has been sentenced to three years in prison and a year of supervised release and been ordered to pay $577,202.97 restitution to the IRS.

According to case documents, Stewart previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public funds and one count of aggravated ID theft.

From approximately 2001 through 2008, Stewart acted as a preparer under the business names Stewarts Tax Service and Stewart LTD before the IRS suspended his EFIN. From January 2011 through February 2012, Stewart admitted causing federal refunds in others names of others to be e-deposited into bank accounts that he controlled. Stewart also admitted to cashing or depositing U.S. Treasury checks made payable to others, which represented federal income tax refunds totaling approximately $539,393, at a bank in the New Orleans area.

In addition, Stewart obtained and used the means of identification of another individual, including their Social Security number, during and in relation to wire fraud, when he filed a false return using another individuals name and stole the resulting refund.

LaVergne, Tenn.: Preparer Michelle Theus, 42, has pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false returns.

According to court documents, Theus, operating under the name Cole Tax Services, admitted that from 2009 through 2012 she filed false returns on behalf of her clients for the 2008 through 2011 tax years. Without her clients knowledge she routinely reported false items on the returns, such as false dependents and false education and childcare credits, to inflate refunds.

Theus further admitted that she often prepared and provided the client with an accurate return and then prepared and filed a false return in the clients name. In most cases, Theus directed the IRS to split the fraudulently inflated refunds into separate bank accounts, having the portion expected by the client deposited into the clients bank accounts and having the inflated portion of the refund deposited into one of her or her family members accounts.

She concealed her wrongdoing from the IRS and her clients by not signing the tax returns she prepared, which gave the IRS the impression that the clients prepared the returns themselves, and by listing her and her family members addresses on the returns to divert IRS correspondence away from the clients.

Theus admitted that she prepared some 206 returns with an intended tax loss of about $450,959.

She also admitted that she prepared and filed false 2009 and 2010 income tax returns for herself that underreported income from her prep business; Theus failed to report more than $95,000 in income for 2009 and 2010, which resulted in additional tax loss of $37,275.

Sentencing is Jan. 11, when she faces a maximum of three years in prison, as well as a term of supervised release and monetary penalties.
Doordarshan will be the media partner of Ziro Festival of Music (ZFM) which starts from today at the remote Ziro valley of Arunachal Pradesh. ZFM is a four day festival organised by a cultural organisation with the support of Tourism Department of Arunachal Pradesh and Ministry of Development of North East region (DoNER), Govt of India. The festival will close on 25th September.

Director General, Doordarshan Ms Supriya Sahu has informed that this is the first time that DD is associating with this unique festival and this is part of strengthening the activities of DD in the North East region.

Doordarshan Kendra, Itanagar (Arunachal) and PPC (NE),Doordarshan, Guwahati will provide intensive coverage of the entire festival and the same will be telecast on DD-National, DD-Bharati, DD-India, DD-North East and Doordarshan Kendra Itanagar. DD-News will also provide the news coverage to the festival.

DG said that as public service broadcaster Doordarshan hopes that this will promote local tourism at Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh through its national telecast. The festival which began in 2012 attracts a large numbers of tourists to Arunachal Pradesh.

ZFM is one of the most popular outdoor festival attracting local artists of the region as well as internationally renowned artists and travellers from across the world. Ziro valley is a world heritage site and is a home of the Apatani tribe  an agrarian tribe, whose relationship with nature is tender and loving.
Blenders Pride Fashion Tour, the most iconic and definitive expression of style and good taste has unveiled a new TV campaign with brand ambassador Priyanka Chopra. The new TVC Keep the World Guessing is an edgy rundown of the multi-faceted demeanor of todays youth and their endeavor to wow the world with every step they take.

Keeping up with the consistent stylish and edgy positioning of the brand, the TVC is shot in black and white tones, wherein Priyanka Chopra is running in a stunning mirror maze, being chased by paparazzi. She throws multiple reflections on the mirrors creating a strong resonance with her multi-faceted persona and eventually escapes the maze, leaving behind the paparazzi who in complete surprise end up shooting her striking reflection. Conceptualized by creative agency Lowe Lintas, Delhi the TVC has been shot in New York by the famous French filmmaker and visual artist Jean Claude Thibaut, known for his bold stylish work.

Commenting on the new TVC, Raja Banerji, Assistant Vice President Marketing, Pernod Ricard India said, Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2016 is the most definitive, premier and contemporary expression of style and good taste in the country. Priyanka Chopra, a global style icon has been associated with us for the last 5 years and is the perfect brand ambassador. She emulates the dynamism, enigma and a multi-faceted personality which is the essence to taste life in style for todays consumers.

Adds Priyanka Chopra, To me, style is a mirror of your inner self, giving you a chance to bring out your hidden facets. Which is why my association with Blenders Pride Fashion Tour is so special... because every time we work together they unveil a different side to me. The creative expression of this is real, edgy, relevant and very now. Its a surprise every time and to me that is the thrill of style!

Arun Iyer, Chief Creative officer, Lowe Lintas adds, Blenders Pride Fashion Tour is one of the most stylish brand that India has today. And this particular film marries Blenders Pride Fashion Tour and Priyankas personality perfectly. It brings out the fact that style empowers you to surprise the world. It was a very complex shoot with lot of mirrors and reflections, but Jean Claude Thibaut beautifully executed the idea to give us a stunning film.

The TVC can be viewed here 

60 Seconds - https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=7sOt8SOEOXE
VARADERO, Cuba, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a rare vote, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) has adopted a proposal for a stronger shark finning ban by an overwhelming margin, despite objections from Japan. The European Union and the United States have proposed for several years that NAFO strengthen its ban on shark "finning" (slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the body at sea) by prohibiting the removal of shark fins at sea. This year, the proposal was for the first time co-sponsored by Norway and the host country of Cuba, and gained new, outspoken support from Canada and Iceland. A similar ban was adopted by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission in 2014, but other regional fisheries bodies have yet to accept such change.

"We are elated that North Atlantic fishing countries have taken a strong stand against shark finning and are leading the way toward adoption of best practice rules to prevent it globally," said Sonja Fordham of Shark Advocates International. "We are deeply grateful to Cuba, our host country, for introducing the finning ban measure at this year's meeting, and bringing it over the finish line at last."

NAFO banned finning in 2005, but allows fins to be removed at sea, as long as the fin-to-carcass weight ratio does not exceed 5%. Using ratios has proved difficult for enforcing finning bans, while "fins-attached" landing rules are widely recognized as best practice. The US and EU are expected to re-introduce a fins-attached proposal at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting in November.

This year's NAFO meeting marks a dramatic policy change for Canada and Korea, who helped defeat the "fins-attached" measure in 2015. Overall, nine NAFO Parties voted "yes" on the proposal, Japan voted "no," and Russia abstained.

"We are thrilled that Canada has -- at long last  joined the chorus of countries supporting this cornerstone of responsible shark fisheries management," said Katie Schleit of Ecology Action Centre. "We are grateful for their enthusiastic support and hopeful that this new, national policy means that Canada will now join 30 other countries cosponsoring stronger finning bans and other safeguards for sharks at ICCAT."

Shark Advocates International is a project of The Ocean Foundation.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cuba--norway-help-us--eu-win-stronger-shark-finning-ban-for-northwest-atlantic-300333387.html

SOURCE Shark Advocates International






Annual Silver Industry Premier Event

GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- From November 11-13, 2016, the 3rd China International Silver Industry Exhibition (SIC), the largest event of the industry, will be held at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo. This exhibition will host over 350 global brands and showcase such sectors as rehabilitation services, intelligent elderly care, age-friendly buildings, healthy living, daily necessities for the elderly, and retirement services. It is estimated that over 50,000 professional buyers will be in attendance.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160914/407476

A Global Gathering Presents Tremendous Opportunities

Supported by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Australian Consulate, UK Trade and Investment, the French Consulate, and other consulates and commercial counselor's offices in China, the 3rd SIC will host over a hundred brands from Japan, Australia, Taiwan, HK, Germany, France and more. The Japanese Pavilion, for example, will present over 40 leading brands including TOTO, Paramount Bed, Shiga-SH, Anjoy, Erecta, NAKA, TacaoF and Aiphone. Over 20 renowned Australian enterprises will feature their advanced home nursing and healthcare services plus healthcare consultation services and systems. Taiwan will bring over 30 reputable brands and enterprises such as Huijia, Bedding World, Jet Crown, and Nam Liong.

Five Exhibition Areas Showcase First-Tier Name Brands

The SIC's 30,000 m2 exhibition space is divided into five thematic exhibition areas: the International Zone, Barrier Free Living, Rehabilitation Services, Elderly Smart Care and Healthy Living. The Barrier Free Living area will showcase leading-edge furniture, building materials, bathroom items, architectural designer brands, products, digital technology and design solutions for the elderly. The Rehabilitation Services area presents high-quality safety products and services for the elderly, including known brands such as Da Fukang, Shidao and Guangdong Prosthetic Rehabilitation Center. The Elderly Smart Care area will feature the new concept "Internet + Smart Living for the Elderly" to showcase first class healthcare management systems, wearable health devices, smart home technology and products. The Healthy Living area will showcase the global pursuit and understanding of a healthy lifestyle, including healthcare and leisure, tourist and cultural services for the elderly.

Summit Forum Provides Insight into Industry Restructuring

The 2016 China International Silver Industry Summit Forum will be staged during the 3rd SIC. The forum will be keynoting on innovations and breakthroughs in the industry's supply-side reforms. A total of 20 sessions including the plenary, parallel and special sessions, and business matchmaking meetings will be held to provide forward-looking insight about the reforms, senior housing development and operation, overseas elderly care practices and cases, and innovations in professional training. It is estimated that over 10,000 representatives will participate.

Forum highlights include the China-Japan Silver Industry Seminar, organized in conjunction with JETRO, to provide exclusive matchmaking opportunities for the exhibitors and Japanese enterprises. The China-Australia Retirement Forum, jointly organized with the Australian Trade Commission, is to interpret new developments, policies and trends in the silver industry of the two countries. Furthermore, "one-on-one" procurement sessions will be provided to pair reputable real estate developers and chain stores with suppliers and distributors to cut business deals at a highly-efficient, rapid and direct fashion.

Pre-registration for SIC has begun on the official website, www.silverindustry.cn/en, where visitors can obtain an exclusive bar code for quick entry to exhibition venues. Visitors with priority pre-registration shall receive their visitor pass in the mail from the organizer, FOC. Pre-registration before November 4 qualifies attendees for free tickets to forum sessions and other exclusive privileges -- this is truly an event worth waiting for!

Contact:

Ms. Xia Lingxu

Tel: +86 (0)20 89899600 / +86 13570451966

E-mail: xialingxu@polycn.com








WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an interview with BBC Sandeshaya, Sri Lankan Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe categorically rejected all allegations of war crimes committed by Sri Lanka's armed forces and stated the government would take legal action against anyone who alleges the armed forces committed war crimes. Furthermore, he said that anyone who discusses mass graves in Sri Lanka's North is an enemy of the nation and war heroes.

In response to the Minister's remarks, US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC)'s President Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham said:

"USTPAC is deeply troubled by Justice Minister Rajapakshe's comments. His calls for legal action against those who accuse the armed forces of war crimes appears an attempt to silence victims and human rights defenders as they search for truth and justice. It runs counter to and potentially negates the current government's commitment to Transitional Justice and good governance."

Minister Rajapakshe's statement, taken with repeated pledges to protect war heroes from President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, seriously damages victims' trust in the government to carry out credible transitional justice mechanisms and institutional reforms as agreed to by Sri Lanka in UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1. It also contradicts the findings of the 2010 Panel of Experts Report, the 2012 Petrie Report, and the 2015 Report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL). These UN reports identified widespread and systematic war crimes committed by both sides during Sri Lanka's civil war.

The OISL Report found in its principal findings that there were "reasonable grounds" to believe that international crimes had been committed by the Sri Lankan army including: unlawful killings & enforced disappearances, shelling of civilian areas, shelling of hospitals, sexual torture, and denial of humanitarian aid, while the LTTE's international crimes included: unlawful recruitment of children, unlawful killings, and forced recruitment.

The OISL Report noted that, "The sheer number of allegations, their gravity, recurrence and the similarities in their modus operandi, as well as the consistent pattern of conduct they indicate, all point towards system crimes," i.e. war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Dr. Karunyan further stated: "This development points to the need for transitional justice mechanisms that are fully independent from the unreformed Justice Ministry. Given the Justice Minister's comments on mass graves, he should not have any role in creating, operating or monitoring the Office on Missing Persons.

"The Minister's statement should raise alarm bells among the international community. The partiality of the Justice Minister is another indication that there must be international expert participation in the transitional justice mechanisms in Sri Lanka, including international judges. Critically, statements of this kind by senior members of the government point to the need for long-term monitoring on implementation of Resolution 30/1 by the OHCHR."

Notes for Editors

USTPAC is a US-based Tamil advocacy group advocating for a cessation of ongoing human rights abuses in Sri Lanka , accountability from both the government of Sri Lanka and LTTE for crimes committed during and after the civil war, and a political settlement to address the root causes of the conflict. It has worked for these goals at the UNHRC since 2012.

, accountability from both the government of and LTTE for crimes committed during and after the civil war, and a political settlement to address the root causes of the conflict. It has worked for these goals at the UNHRC since 2012. In September 2015 , the report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) identified widespread and systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against civilians. The government's conduct during the final period of the civil war was particularly heinous.

, the report of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) identified widespread and systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against civilians. The government's conduct during the final period of the civil war was particularly heinous. In October 2016 the government of Sri Lanka co-sponsored consensus-based UNHRC Resolution 30/1. The Resolution, along with the OISL Report, established a framework for transitional justice, institutional reform and political settlement. The UNHRC requested High Commissioner for Human Rights provide an oral report on Sri Lanka's implementation of the Resolution in June 2016 and written report in March 2017 .

the government of co-sponsored consensus-based UNHRC Resolution 30/1. The Resolution, along with the OISL Report, established a framework for transitional justice, institutional reform and political settlement. The UNHRC requested High Commissioner for Human Rights provide an oral report on implementation of the Resolution in and written report in . The Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) delivered a report to the UNHRC on 15 September 2016 . The report noted problems in the way the government has secured mass grave sites and handled evidence. Sources reported that there were significant impartiality and conflict of interest issues in the Attorney General's Department, which falls under the Ministry of Justice.

Contact:

Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham, President of USTPAC

Website: www.ustpac.org

Email

Twitter: @USTPACadvocacy

Phone: 517-317-0998

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ustpac-deeply-disturbed-by-sri-lankan-justice-ministers-statement-300333209.html

SOURCE USTPAC
CEO of YarnTree, the operator of the buying agent specialized in overseas brands: KoreanMall, Mr. Ahn Jin-ho signed contracts for establishing the overseas branches in China, Japan, and Indonesia.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006411/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

Recently, Yarn Tree also concluded a contract for collaboration with BrainCore attracting the project for Korean-Chinese compatible transportation card in order to extend its business to the Chinese market. Serving as a travel card, BrainCores card can also be used in convenient stores and department stores. As the project for Korean-Chinese compatible travel card is a part of the citizen-card project which the Chinese government started pushing forward at the beginning of 2016, the project will be extended from Weihai to all over China.

Yarn Tree is planning to make a new foray into the Chinese market by taking the opportunity of the formal contract with BrainCore. Furthermore, its also planning to introduce the project, One-Asia Travel Card, in Indonesia and Malaysia. In the meantime, KoreanMall is in the preparation for obtaining the exclusive right for online stores that accept the payment by Korean-Chinese Travel Card in order to attract more Chinese customers.

In addition, Yarn Tree concluded a contract for establishing branches with Digital On Net which will be responsible for marketing and customer service in Japan.

The head of Korean branch of Digital On Net, Mr. Go Yong-ho stated I believe this contract will bring a synergy effect on our current businesses as this allows us to pioneer the e-commerce market.

The business partner for the Indonesian market is Pt. ORDA MITRA NUSANTRA. The company is specialized in logistics in Indonesia and will be in charge of various events for the local marketing, customer service, and merchandise sales. Yarn Tree aims to continue the Korean Wave through the online platform by taking advantage of the increasing demands of Korean products in Indonesia.

Yarn Tree launched KoreanMall for international customers to purchase Korean products in a simple and easy way in January of this year. The online store is available in 154 countries and offers 14 different languages along with local return/exchange and customer services.

Within a month, there have been over ten thousand visitors on the online store. And eight-thousand visitors access to the online store on average. The company aims to reach 200,000 visitors by the end of this year and plans to expand its sales network through the collaboration with other shopping malls.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160922006411/en/

YARNTREE

JEON.JUNSEOP, +82.70.8676.1604

jeon.junseop@koreanmall.com
US, Japan rescue squadrons save downed pilot

Within 30 minutes of an AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet crash Sept. 22, Airmen from the 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadrons here were in the air and intent on saving the life of a pilot stranded in the Pacific Ocean.



The pilot was able to eject from the aircraft before the crash and landed in the cold waters of the Pacific, where he waited for rescue.



We received the notification of an ejection and immediately went into action, said Capt. Paul Fry, a 31st RQS combat rescue officer.



Nearly 30 minutes after the notification, both U.S. Air Force assets and their partner Japan Self-Defense Forces aircraft were on the scene searching for the downed pilot.



Once we got the call, our helicopter maintenance unit did a great job getting our aircraft ready to go, said Capt. Zachary Martin, a 33rd RQS pilot. We can really thank our training for the quick response because as soon as we got the call everyone just fell into their training habit patterns and we went wheels up.



Many different units from across Kadena Air Base came together to get out to the pilot, who was floating in the open ocean, 95 miles off the coast of Hedo Cape.



As soon as we arrived on scene, we saw the survivor and began the process of putting the pararescueman into the water to rescue him, said Staff Sgt. Marcus Taylor, a 33rd RQS special mission aviator.



Once on scene, Carroll freefell about 10 feet from the helicopter into the water and immediately swam to the pilot. While in the water he performed an initial assessment of the pilot to make sure he was OK to be pulled inside the helicopter.



We were able to find him so quickly because our JASDF partners were on scene so quickly with eyes on him, Carroll said. Once I assessed he was OK, I got him to the hoist and we pulled him up.



Once the pilot was pulled into the helicopter, he was given immediate medical attention en route to Camp Foster, Japan, where he continued to receive care.



We train a lot for these exact types of missions so anytime we can go out and bring someone back alive, its a really good feeling, Fry said.
The 2016 Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System Air Expeditionary Group along with two Air Reserve Component MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft completed a month-long activation in support of aerial fire suppression missions in the Western U.S., Sept. 3, 2016.

This years MAFFS activation began when a Request for Assistance was made by the National Interagency Fire Center based in Boise, Idaho on Aug 2. The RFA requested two MAFFS-equipped C-130s along with appropriate command, control and support personnel to assist in wildfire suppression efforts in the Great Basin.

We are mobilizing MAFFS to ensure we continue to have adequate airtanker capability as we experience elevated wildfire activity in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Oregon, Washington, California and elsewhere in the West, said Aitor Bidaburu, Chair of NIFCs National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group in the NIFC news release announcing the MAFFS activation.

Aircraft and aircrews from the Air Force Reserve Commands 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. and the Wyoming Air National Guards 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyo. provided the requested MAFFS capabilities, supporting suppression efforts to fires in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Utah Aug. 3 to Sep. 3.

Our training this spring and continued preparations allowed us to respond quickly, getting us out the door and on our way shortly after receiving the RFA, said Col. James R. DeVere, commander of the 302nd Airlift Wing.

For the Peterson-based Reserve wing, this years preparations were similar to previous activations with the exception of the recent return of Reservists and aircraft from an overseas deployment in support of U.S. Central Command along with a catastrophic hail storm that hit Colorado Springs the evening of July 28, causing damage to a portion of the 302nd AWs C-130 fleet.

At the close of the August MAFFS activation, in response to the operations tempo and hail storm, 302nd AWs chief of aerial fire fighting and MAFFS program manager, Lt. Col. Luke Thompson lauded the efforts made by the wing, Id like to thank everyone who supported the firefighting missions in August and September that we just completed. After a long deployment last winter and spring, followed by a devastating hail storm right before the MAFFS call, the wings personnel made it a priority to support this important mission.

Thompson also acknowledged the extra efforts in support of MAFFS given by the entire team at the Colorado Reserve wing to include aircraft maintainers, aircrews, support agencies and leadership, Who many of which were still in recovery mode from the CENTCOM deployment, dropped their jobs and lives again in order to go fight fires.

Immediately after their arrival in Boise on Aug. 3, the Airmen of the 302nd AW and 153rd AW began flying MAFFS missions the first day of their activation with retardant drops on the Pioneer Fire in Idaho.

As always, our crews responded quickly and efficiently to the call, said Col. Scott Sanders, MAFFS AEG commander.

Further describing this years MAFFS activation, Sanders said, This was a unique activation for us because it was the first with aircrew members from the 152nd.

The months activation allowed the Nevada crews to experience actual MAFFS operations and gather more flying hours under their belts, said Sanders of the Nevada Guard members who are slated to become the next MAFFS qualified C-130 wing, replacing the 145th AW, North Carolina ANG who will transition from a C-130 to C-17 airlift mission.

The MAFFS-equipped C-130s based out of Boise Air Tanker Base, Idaho made 165 retardant drops, releasing 395,632 gallons of retardant.

According to NIFC, the last 10 years, DOD C-130s equipped with U.S. Forest Service MAFFS systems have delivered a total of approximately 9.1 million gallons of retardant on wildfires, an average of about 910,000 gallons per year.

In addition to the U.S. Forest Service MAFFS RFA, the California Air National Guards 146th Airlift Wing supported a state activation of MAFFS providing aerial fire fighting suppression missions throughout California. Their efforts resulted in 112 drops, releasing 288,000 gallons of retardant.

As far as calling it mission complete for additional MAFFS AEG activations in 2016, Sanders is not certain, but based on the current weather conditions and National Preparedness Level lowering to PL3 on Sept. 2, he said, Were always ready to respond when called, however, I would not be surprised if we could take our MAFFS hats off until next year.
Upon the shoulders of giants

Within the last year, the Air Force Reserve has lost two airpower leaders who were instrumental in the development and continuance of the Reserve as it grew in mission significance in the 1970s and 80s.



Maj. Gen. Homer I. Pete Lewis was the first dual-hatted chief of Air Force Reserve and commander, Headquarters Air Force Reserve, serving from 1971-1975 (he assumed the commanders position in March 1973). It was a significant task for Lewis to successfully juggle his time and attention between his chief of Air Force Reserve strategic duties in Washington, D.C., while forging the day-to-day operational executions at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, as HQ AFRES commander.



He led AFRES in Operation Homecoming as AFRES C-141 and C-9A aircraft ferried U.S. prisoners of war to the states from their Vietnam captivity. Also, in 1973, two other historical events transpired with AFRES acquiring C-5 associate units at Charleston AFB, South Carolina, and Travis AFB, California. Additionally, AFRES C-141 associate crews flew hundreds of missions into Israel and the Middle East during the Arab-Israeli War.



Lewis was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve infantry in 1940. He was subsequently called to active duty in 1941. Through various assignments stateside, Lewis was transferred in 1944 to Douglas Army Air Field, Arizona, as commandant of cadets for the twin-engine advanced flying school, with both American and Chinese officers attending.



In late 1944, Lewis volunteered for aerial gunnery training and completed officer combat gunnery school at Laredo, Texas, with a rating of aerial observer. In early 1945, having just graduated as an aerial gunnery instructor, he went overseas and joined the Third Air Division in England and was later assigned to the 486th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force, as group gunnery officer. He flew multiple combat missions over Central Europe in B-17s until the wars end.

Lewis passed away at his Texas home on Oct. 21, 2015, at the age of 96.



Maj. Gen. Alan G. Sharp served as vice commander to the chief of Air Force Reserve and commander, HQ AFRES, Maj. Gen. Roger P. Scheer, from 1986-1990. Effectively executing the commanders strategic desires while providing the necessary airlift perspective, several accomplishments highlight this leadership duos time in the seats.



Through their persistence in updating the Air Force Reserve air fleet, in 1987 the 944th Fighter Group, Luke AFB, Arizona, received new F-16C and D aircraft from off the assembly lines. In 1988, AFRES airlifters transported tons of relief supplies and support equipment in response to Hurricane Hugo in the southeast portion of the United States.



And, in 1989, AFRES responded to Operation Just Cause, airlifting more than 7,500 passengers and more than 4,000 tons of military cargo in support of the Panama operation.



Sharp was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the University of Utahs Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1953. His flying experience, both active duty and reserve, saw him piloting C-46, C-119, C-124, C-130 and C-141 aircraft. Sharp was recalled to active duty during the Cuban missile crisis in late 1962 before returning to the Air Force Reserve.



Before serving as HQ AFRES vice commander, Sharp served in numerous command positions at Hill AFB, Utah; McClellan AFB, California; Norton AFB, California; McGuire AFB, New Jersey; and Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.



He passed away at his Utah home on August 11, 2016. He was 86 years old.



What these two generals had in common was a strong and determined sense of holding and molding the Air Force Reserve into an air power that was continually being morphed into something more than what was originally envisioned.



Lewis proved that the dual-hatted position could be an effective leadership configuration without jeopardizing control and management of the force.



Sharp, several years later in his position as vice commander, was keen on seeing first-hand how well units were prepared to meet readiness requirements as the operational mission tasks grew and the Total Force concept blossomed to what it is today.



During his stint as vice commander, he led staff visits to more than 90 unit training assemblies across the nation. The reasons for the visits were twofold: First was to see first-hand the needs of the units without all the pomp and circumstance normally provided for a visiting general officer; and second, for his staff to acquire best practices produced by Airmen and their families so that their efforts could be captured and emulated at other locations around the flying circuit.



Both Lewis and Sharp were motivated and inspired to grow the Air Force Reserve. One general was an upcoming airpower star with bomber and World War II experience and the other traversed through the years just after the Korean War into the long Cold War period as an airlifter piloting both propeller and jet-propelled cargo planes.



Sir Isaac Newton once said, If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. How appropriate when considering the many contributions of Homer Lewis and Alan Sharp.



On the shoulders of these two airpower giants did the future chiefs of Air Force Reserve, and commanders and vice commanders of Air Force Reserve Command have the wherewithal to reach up to even greater service heights  airpower heights built by those who preceded them in the areas of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do!



(Van Deventer is a program analyst in the Directorate of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters AFRC, Robins AFB, Georgia. He proudly served as Sharps aide-de-camp from 1986-1990.)


Syrian and Russian aircraft pounded rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Friday, a monitor said, after the army announced a new offensive aimed at retaking all of the divided second city.

An AFP correspondent in the opposition-held east of the city reported intense bombardment both from the air and by ground artillery.

It came after the Syrian army announced late on Thursday that it was launching a new offensive to retake rebel-held parts of the city.

A military source said the bombardment was in preparation for a ground operation.

We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment, he told AFP.

This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts.

The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground.

An army officer in Aleppo confirmed that the ground assault had yet to begin.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 30 strikes on rebel-held districts during the night and early on Friday.

The Britain-based monitoring group said at least 10 people had been killed, among them two children, and dozens wounded.

It said more dead were feared buried under the rubble.
The Indian Navy ended its security operations on the sightings of suspected elements on Friday, but the Maharashtra police and other agencies continue their vigil in the region.

Mystery continues over the sightings on Thursday of around five-six suspected terrorists, who were described by local school students as masked, wearing Pathani suits and carrying weapons, sending the entire security apparatus in a tizzy.

Sanitisation of the naval areas has been undertaken. Indian Navy is maintaining close liaison with local police, other agencies for further updates, developments, a Defence Spokesperson said.

About the state of alertness, he said the Indian Navy maintains a high state of alert/tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances.

Since Thursday, multiple security agencies continued their hawk-eyed vigil on Friday to apprehend the unknown persons sighted in Uran town, and police later released sketches of two suspects.

Official sources in the state government said that the combing operations by the local authorities are in the final stages and nothing worthwhile has been found so far.

However, the police will continue to remain in a state of alertness in Uran town, which has a population of around 31,000, and the Uran sub-district has around 140,000 people spread in 53 villages and four small towns, on the mainland around 50 km from Mumbai.

Security at all critical installations and sensitive locations in Mumbai and adjoining Raigad, Navi Mumbai, has been beefed up with police road blocks and vehicle searches, fishermen were on the lookout in Arabian Sea and aerial-surface combing operations were taken up in different parts.

At least two to four schoolchildren had reported spotting some unidentified persons  ranging from one to five  wearing masks, Pathani suits and carrying weapons around 7 a.m. on Thursday.

They informed their teacher, who in turn alerted the police and the entire security apparatus swung into action within hours.

Schools, colleges, shops and establishments in Uran and surroundings remained shut for two days as security officials searched the area.

Returning from a trip to the US late on Thursday night, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to the people not to panic as adequate security arrangements were in place in Uran.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale said that police and other security agencies have launched operations to trace the suspects.

Till now, the version of two witnesses (students) could not be confirmed, efforts are on, Nagrale said.

Meanwhile, huge deployment of police was witnessed in parts of south Mumbai, road blocks and checking of select vehicles continued overnight in an efforts to detect the missing suspects.

Security has been intensified at Raj Bhavan, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the BARC, DAE, Mantralaya and surrounding VVIP areas, key railway terminus and stations, prominent beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu, various oil and fertilizer companies installations on the eastern coast of Mumbai, the naval harbour, JNPT and MbPT, etc.

The two-day operations were described by security personnel as the highest ever state of alert after the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror strikes.
A Goa court has acquitted both the accused in the sensational 2008 rape and murder of British national Scarlett Keeling, triggering outrage in a case that put a global spotlight on the dark underbelly of Indias tourism industry. She was fifteen at the time of incidence.

Two beach shack workers Samson Dsouza (48) and Placido Carvalho (37) were acquitted by the Goa childrens court on Friday. They had been accused of sexually assaulting Scarlett after giving her a cocktail of drugs and leaving her unconscious in the shallow waters.

I am devastated and will definitely be challenging the verdict. I am reeling. Its been eight years of agony. The Indian judicial system has totally let me down, said Scarletts mother, Fiona MacKeown, who came to Goa hoping her daughter would finally get justice.

My daughter was murdered. Someone should be held responsible, she added.

The trial into the Keeling case started in 2010 and nearly 70 witnesses were examined over the past six years.

The Goa Police was subsequently forced to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which eventually filed the chargesheet against Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho.

Scarletts bruised and partially clothed body was found on Anjuna beach in February 2008.

She had been at a Valentines Day beach party while the rest of her family had gone travelling.
So our Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets his post-birth day Gift from Pakistan! The Uri terror attack has claimed the lives 18 jawans and injuring 20 personnel. What reciprocation when Modi had wished Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday a few months ago!

What sort of security system we have at the Indo-Pak border sites and how terrorists keep on infiltrating into our territory with heavy arms and ammunitions, so often? Only a couple of days back, eight terrorists sneaked in but they were all killed. One should certainly not question the incompetence of our armymen and border security forces but why dont we have a fool proof system to stop complete infiltration of terrorists and to shoot them down across the border? How are these terrorists able to reach all the way upto our army base and barracks?

Militants dont bother about their lives. They are fidayeens and come with a mission and know very well that they will be ultimately killed but what worries me the most is why should the lives of our army men, security forces, policemen be sacrificed and lost in the process? And their families left in the lurch and to fend for themselves?

After every terror attack, all we hear from the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister and others are the oft-repeated and parroted words and statements: We will not get cowed down by such attacks; we will give a fitting reply; the attacks are very cowardly, the attackers will not go unpunished (remember the Mumbai attack perpetrators who are yet to be booked!!?); and so on and so forth. We have been hearing the slogans of all politicians for decades now and no remedy has been found apart from saying, We dont take it down - Dushmanon ko Karara Jawab Denge ! Its highly disgusting. The tragedy is all Prime Ministers of our country starting with Jawaharlal Nehru wanted only to be recognised as international statesmen!

Today, Pakistan is emboldened by the help received from America and China who have their own axes to grind. If we can wean these two countries away from Pakistan, I am sure terrorism will surely come down drastically. On the other hand, a full-fledged war is certainly not a solution still, as it will lead to severe catastrophic results. Pakistan is isolated desperate, fanatic and mad with all its internal problems! A war with India is the only way to distract the public attention and to untie them! Further they will not hesitate to use nuclear weapons that can do lot of damage to India! We have started to progress under the new regime at the centre and cannot forgo the economic success for a few loss of lives, although tragic and painful! Once the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan is neutralised with the help of foreign powers (without Indias direct involvement), India can finish the rest fast without much damage!

As I have said several times we should have no cultural, bilateral ties, no trade and commerce, transport and sports, no diplomatic relations, no peace talk, no photoops.at the Taj Mahal and so on. To begin with, at least hit the nation where it would hurt the most. High time to stop this proxy war which has been going on for decades and in which we have lost more number of lives of our jawans than we otherwise would have lost in a conventional war! Its now or never. Above all, at least now, will the media and the pseudo journalists be totally impartial and the opposition support the government and stop sympathizing and appeasing the stone pelters and separatists ? Jai Jawan, Jai Hind !

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
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 last night, police said today.

The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut today.

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 (NSG) and state polices specialised Force One have also been roped in, police said.

Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police monitored the situation throughout the night along with other top officials.

A strict vigil by police and other security agencies is being maintained in the area.

A high alert was yesterday sounded 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 Societys 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 Indias biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the countrys 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 waterfront of the financial capital. The base located close to the town also houses units of MARCOS, the Navys elite strike force.
In the wake of deaths allegedly due to malnourishment in neighbouring Palghar, Maharashtra Health Minister Dr. Deepak Sawant has directed the local administration to start Village Child Development Centres (VCDC) on a priority basis.

The minister on Thursday visited five primary health centres (PHCs) in the district and also inspected the manner in which malnourished children and mothers were being treated.

His visit comes after National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to state government on Thursday over the large scale deaths of children in Palghar, especially in Mokhada taluka, allegedly due to malnourishment.

The five centres included Shenva, Takipatar, Dolkhamb, Kasara and Khardi.

He directed the medical teams to register pregnant mothers on time, and provide them with medicines on time and also keep 108 Ambulance services available round the clock.

Sawant also directed the teams to start VCDC for better child care and also instructed that those needing further treatment should be sent to Child Treatment Centre (CTC) and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRC).

He directed district health officer B S Sonawane to explore the possibility of setting up a trauma care centre at Kasara and a rural hospital at Dolkhamb village and asked him to submit a proposal to the government in this regard.
A six-year-old boy has won the respect of President Barack Obama and thousands of others after he offered to take in a little boy who was injured after his home in Aleppo, Syria, was bombed.

The image of shell-shocked five-year-old Omran Daqneesh sitting alone in an ambulance, covered in dust and blood, shocked the world and inspired Alex, from Scarsdale, New York, to write a 3-page letter to Obama.

In a handwritten letter sent to the White House, Alex asked Obama to go and collect Omran and bring him to his house where we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons.

Alex said that Omran could be part of his family, and offered to be his brother. He said he would teach him how to speak English, to ride a bike and added that his sister Catherine would share her toys with him.

Obama read Alexs words aloud in a speech he gave at the United Nations earlier this week, before posting a video of Alex reading the letter himself to Facebook.

In his message, Obama asked people to read the letter to understand why he had decided to share it with the world.

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, the President wrote.

We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were, he added.

The post has collected more than 100,000 likes and been shared more than 60,000 times, with many Facebook users praising the compassion shown by Alex.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016  Just 10 days after the U.S. announced a trade dispute challenging Chinas domestic corn, wheat, and rice price supports, China on Friday announced anti-dumping duties on U.S. dried distillers grains (DDGS).

Chinas Ministry of Commerce will impose anti-dumping duties on U.S. dried distillers grains (DDGS) effective immediately, the ministry said on Friday. The preliminary determination comes after an investigation  at the request of Chinese ethanol producers  that determined U.S. subsidies had substantially harmed domestic producers there.

Beginning today, product importers must make a deposit with Chinese customs authorities of 33.8 percent of the import value of the DDGS.

In a joint statement, the U.S. Grains Council, the Renewable Fuels Association, and Growth Energy said they were deeply disappointed with the decision. They also disagreed with the assumption that DDGS are being dumped on the Chinese market and said they are confident that U.S. DDGS . . . are not causing or threatening injury to Chinese producers.

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"U.S. DDGS have not caused any injury to Chinas DDGS producers, the groups said. Instead, DDGS play an important role in protecting Chinese feed producers and households against unpredictable swings in global commodity prices.

"We welcome opportunities to work together with the Chinese government, Chinese feed producers and consumers to continue to meet Chinas growing feed demand in a mutually beneficial way for all parties as China implements market-oriented agricultural pricing reforms, they added.

The three groups said they remain hopeful the Chinese government will reverse course in its final determination.

#30
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration acted illegally when it imposed new safety requirements on fertilizer dealers without giving them a chance to comment, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday.

In its decision, the court ruled that OSHA acted outside the bounds of the Occupational Safety and Health Act when it redefined retail facility exemptions to the Process Safety Management Standard.

OSHA tightened the standard following the West Fertilizer facility explosion in 2013, caused by a fire that detonated between 40 and 60 tons of fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate. The explosion at the plant in West, Texas, killed 15 people, including 12 first responders, and caused widespread damage to more than 150 nearby buildings.

Before the rule change, facilities that derived more than half their income from direct sales to end users were exempt from the PSM requirements, which apply to facilities that handle toxic chemicals. After the change, however, ag dealers who sell anhydrous ammonia to farmers were swept into the regulatory net.

But when OSHA removed the retailer exemption, it did so without requesting public comment, which gave the Agricultural Retailers Association and The Fertilizer Institute the procedural angle for their lawsuit.

OSHA made a bad decision in regulating ammonia in response to an ammonium nitrate incident, and the agency made that decision incorrectly, ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock said in a press release. Although ARA could only challenge on the procedural point and not the decision itself, we're still very pleased to see the court rule in our favor and to provide this relief to our members.

ARA Chairman Harold Cooper called the courts ruling a big win. He pointed out that the retailer exemption in question had been in place for more than 20 years and OSHA should not have redefined it without an opportunity for stakeholders to comment.

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Until OSHA completes a formal rulemaking process, which ARA said could take several years, ag retailers remain exempt from compliance with PSM requirements.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who had been working with ARA on Capitol Hill on the issue, said he was glad to see the ruling, which sends OSHA back to square one to ensure that producers are heard. Thats essential not only because the regulation would be a hardship for farmers, but also because consumers will ultimately foot the bill paying higher food prices.

ARA and TFI estimated the new requirements could cost each retail facility $25,000. OSHAs estimate was $2,500. Before the court ruling, OSHA had said the requirements would go into effect Oct. 1.

#30

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LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 22, 2016  The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) opened its 2016 annual meeting today by calling for the federal government to allow the states to play a greater role in policymaking in the next administration.

NASDAs board of directors unanimously approved the groups Call to Action to 2020: Advancing Agriculture through Enhanced Partnerships, underscoring the importance of what NASDA President Greg Ibach called cooperative federalism.

Ibach, who is also Nebraskas Director of Agriculture, said the Call to Action was drafted after an escalation of what he said were hostile rulemaking and policy proposals by federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agencys Waters of the U.S. rule and Labor Department regulations governing pesticide applicators. In a briefing for reporters prior to the initiatives adoption, Ibach said in some cases rules were drafted with little or no input from the states, or suggestions made by NASDA during comment periods were ignored.

As we look ahead to a new president, a new administration, a new Congress, and debate on a new farm bill, effective partnerships between states and federal government are needed now more than ever, Ibach said in a release. States have a unique perspective that is closer to producers and can offer solutions that help ensure agricultures economic stability while guaranteeing safe and accessible food.

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Meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska, and celebrating NASDAs 100th anniversary, the groups members continued their discussions on the upcoming 2018 farm bill, focusing on the importance of a viable safety net for farmers and ranchers, as well as the challenges and opportunities the legislation can address.

There are real challenges in the farm economy, but also important opportunities at home and abroad for U.S. producers, said Ibach. As both co-regulators of and promoters of agriculture in our states, we look forward to working with Congress to craft a farm bill that works for producers across the country and helps agriculture advance.

Among the speakers at Thursdays opening plenary session were American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, and Ronnie Green, chancellor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Duvall told the state officials that the different components of the ag sector needed to join together to protect the farm bill safety net that is under attack from the congressional Freedom Caucus and the Heritage Foundation, while Green said more funds are needed for research if agriculture is going to be able to feed a growing world population.

#30

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 - A newly discovered non-Bt protein could be a solution for farmers struggling with corn rootworm resistance to existing Bt corn varieties, DuPont Pioneer scientists report.

In a paper published Thursday in the journal Science, DuPont Pioneer researchers detailed their findings, which Neal Gutterson, the companys vice president for research & development, called a breakthrough for addressing a major challenge in agriculture.

We have discovered a non-Bt protein that demonstrates insecticidal control of western corn rootworm with a new and different mode of action than Bt proteins currently used in transgenic products, Gutterson said. This protein could be a critical component for managing corn rootworm in future corn seed product offerings. The work also suggests that bacteria other than Bt are alternative sources of insecticidal proteins for insect control trait development.

Relief for farmers cannot come soon enough, but DuPont Pioneer cautioned that the traits are in Phase 2, or early development, of research and development. Under todays global regulatory environment, the estimated length of time to introduce products with biotech traits from this stage is eight to 11 years, the company said.

Corn growers have struggled for decades with damage from western corn rootworm, one of the most destructive pests of the corn crop in North America. The cost to growers of crop losses and inputs to control rootworm is estimated to meet or exceed $1 billion annually.

But in recent years, the adaptable pest has become resistant to transgenic varieties of Bt corn, prompting efforts to manage the problem through the planting of refuges without the Bt toxin, use of crop rotation, and planting of pyramided varieties that contain more than one protein to combat the voracious rootworm larvae.

But the rootworm is not so easily vanquished. Recent research has uncovered evidence of cross-resistance. Laboratory selection experiments indicate that western corn rootworm has the ability to develop resistance to all currently commercialized Bt toxins following three to seven generations of selection, according to a paper published earlier this year.

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The latest paper discusses results of field experiments using the insecticidal protein IPD072Aa, which was isolated from Pseudomonas chloroaphis. IPD072a has the ability to kill WCR larvae resistant to mCry3A or Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1, the paper says.

Thus, IPD072Aa is effective in killing WCR insects that are resistant to either of the two types of Bt proteins used in current commercial transgenic corn lines, the paper says.

Non-Bt proteins and RNA-based products highlight our efforts to identify alternative methods for effective control of insect feeding damage in agriculture, Gutterson said. Pioneer is committed to delivering superior germplasm, native and biotech traits, seed treatments and agronomic advice for the most productive products to its customers.

Nathan Fields, director of biotechnology and crop inputs for the National Corn Growers Association, said farmers would welcome a new mode of action for fighting rootworm. If it clears all the safety protocols, well be looking forward to it getting to market sooner rather than later, he said.





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ME. Professor, it is often professional practice to not respond to reader commentary unless the reply author includes a name. But given the role of trade in the economy and the emerging social media standards, is it not more important to set the record straight? Do you agree?

BF. As a professional, my advice has always been to focus on the economic arguments and not get side-tracked into denigrating people, professions, institutions or interest groups. People are entitled to their own opinions, but not their own set of facts. Those who have misperceptions, have the same rights to be educated as everyone else. And it is useful to set the record straight so others dont adopt the myths and misconceptions.

ME. Good. Since the 1930 Smoot Hawley Tariff Act was signed 86 years ago, few if any first hand advisors are still around. However, we do know that President Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Act after receiving a petition signed by 1,028 American economists advising him against signing the measure. The roll out of Smoot-Hawley occurred during a period of tight money policy, falling GDP, and deflation. Historical analysts suggest that while Smoot-Hawley advanced prices on imports a nominal amount from 40% to 48%, by 1932, the real tariff impacts grew from a 40% to 59% in real prices after factoring in deflation that was simultaneously occurring. Smoot-Hawley soured trade relationships, other trading nations retaliated, and that compounded the downward economic spiral that ultimately resulted in 25 percent unemployment, thousands of bank closings, and hundreds of thousands in farm and business failures.

BF. A tariff by definition is a tax on the global trading system. Those who argue for maintaining higher tariffs are by definition arguing for maintaining higher taxes on the global trading system. When we talk tax policy, some interests typically attempt to shift the tax burden from themselves to others. It is the same with trade tariffs. Certainly there are times and circumstances when open trade does not make sense for reasons of national security or health and safety. Creating a level playing field in labor and environmental standards is an important part of the trade negotiations. However the biggest issue in the current debate has to do with global alignment of the major geopolitical forces in forming coalitions of trading nations. The TPP coalition favors open markets and competition in trade. Alternatively, a coalition could emerge where centrally-planned economies with state-owned enterprises have greater clout in drafting the rules for trade in the region.

ME. Tariffs historically were imposed on our exports under mercantilist policies practiced once upon a time by the United Kingdom and that led to the Declaration of Independence. One would hope that reasons for the Boston Tea Party would be remembered. I agree, it would be useful to ask in the current context whether a global trading system dominated by China and Russia would generate a better result for U.S. interests than a regional trading coalition favoring open trade on a level playing field? One can imagine that China and Russia are more likely to push approaches that manipulate terms of trade toward their internal benefit--similar to the mercantilist approach in history.

BF. From a national security perspective, passage of the TPP is perhaps the single most important thing that Congress and the President can do in the lame duck session or in 2017. Look at the nations that negotiated the TPP. In addition to the United States, the TTP negotiations included Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. The bottom line is if TPP does not pass, China will likely be more dominant in the Pacific Rim trade. For those who want to see better trade deals with China, it would be useful to compare the potential outcomes. What if the U.S. approved TPP? A coalition of a dozen or more nations favoring open trade would be negotiating and enforcing regional trade rules as China considers whether or not to join the coalition. Alternatively if the United States does not approve TPP, we take on the role of negotiating with China by ourselves while we spend more time renegotiating TPP with nations who already thought they had a deal.

ME. The problem with isolationism is that, What you dont know, can hurt you. TPP reduces over 18,000 taxes that other countries place on made-in-America exports. For example, current tariffs in some the TPP countries raise prices by up to 59% for U.S. autos and up to 40% for U.S. poultry. TPP would open up these markets and help labor and businesses to compete on a level playing field in these markets. In general, the U.S. already has a relatively open market for many of the TPP partners. The TPP focus is on providing leadership in reducing the tariffs currently imposed by others and setting the rules for other Pacific nations that might consider joining TPP in the futurelike China.

BF. With TPP, a coalition of nations works together to promote more open trade outcomes in the region and impose sanctions on the behavior of others that violate the rules of trade in the agreement. If we go it alone and turn down TPP, we undercut an alliance that includes some of our best trading partners and we are less likely to achieve successful outcomes. In addition, some of our Pacific Rim trading partners may likely begin to cut deals with China to protect their own longer-term strategic regional interests.

ME. In the days following WWII, the U.S. accounted for half of the global economy and most of worlds military might. That is when the U.S. led creation of the global institutions and policy framework for developing trade liberalization and economic development. The U.S. had a big stick and we used it in shaping the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. We led the efforts to set the course toward global interdependence to reduce odds for future world wars. Today the U.S. economy accounts for less than 20 percent of the global economy. Chinas economy is about the same size as the U.S. economy. The playground of international relationships has changed. It is useful to have coalition clout signed up before engaging those who would potentially be detractors from the open trade and level playing field rules. The question is whether or not a Go it alone trade strategy policy makes any sense in modern times?

Mark Edelman is a professor of Economics at Iowa State University and Barry Flinchbaugh is an emeritus professor of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University.

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Hainan Airlines' direct flight between Beijing and Brussels has increased five-fold in the past ten years, according to the company's Brussels chief.

Yang Jiuzhou, the general manager in Hainan Airlines Brussels Office, revealed the increase at a function to mark the route's tenth anniversary on Thursday night.

Hainan Airlines launched its direct flight in 2006, on the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between China and Belgium. The flow of passenger has risen to 114,000 in 2015, from 24,000 in 2006.

Yang says the route is one of the longest in terms of operating time amongst Hainan Airlines' transcontinental flights.

"Looking at the prospects of the coming decade, we hope we can contribute more to boost the exchanges between China and Belgium, China and Europe," Yang says.

At the celebration, Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Qu Xing praised the airline for its "story of success" achieved in the previous years and the success of the flight between Brussels and Belgium is "part of such glory."

"As we are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the bilateral relationship, I hope more direct flights between China and Belgium will be launched to enhance exchanges," Qu said.

Qu said Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel will visit China in October after a March visit was postponed due to the terrorist attacks in Brussels.

Privately-owned Hainan Airlines operates 700 domestic and international flights.

Yang Yueyang contributed to the story

To contact the reporter: fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
Who Are the Chaldeans?

Chaldea corresponds to the geographical territory situated within the south-eastern marshlands and coastal plains of southern Babylonia along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.

From the beginning of the second millennium BCE, an influx of semi-nomadic clans infiltrated southern Babylonia in waves. The Chaldeans controlled much of southern Babylonia's trade routes due to the territory's adjacency to the Persian Gulf.

In antiquity, the Chaldeans were also the driving force behind the advancement of Babylonian astronomy and science. Chaldean philosophers sophisticated the already established observations and devised complex theories to describe the cosmological phenomena.

According to the table of nations, the Biblical Chaldeans were descended from Arpachshad, grandson of Noah.

During the advent of Christendom, the earliest manifestation of the Chaldeans is attested in the first century AD manuscripts entitled 'The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.' The text constitutes the earliest principles concerning Christian ethics, rituals, church organisation, and baptism.

The Apostles further appointed: Whosoever resorts to magicians and soothsayers and Chaldeans, and puts confidence in fates and nativities, which they hold fast who know not God,- let him also, as a man that knows not God, be dismissed from the ministry, and not minister again. - Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (c. 65 AD) The Chaldeans profess to be acquainted with the horoscope. - Hippolytus of Rome (c. 200 AD)

Early Syriac narratives for instance that of the 'Doctrines of Addai' also indicate the Chaldeans neither embraced the Holy Gospels nor the newly founded religion 'Christianity.' Converts to Christendom were encouraged not to associate with the Chaldeans.

The term 'Chaldean' was stigmatised by the early Church fathers and employed in a derogatory connotation.

In c. 800 AD, Abbasid Caliph al-Ma'mun came into contact with the Chaldeans in the ancient city of Harran. The caliph observed that the Chaldeans practised a form of astrolatry and were not recognised as a dhimmi.

The term "dhimmi refers to non-Muslim citizens of an Islamic state. The word literally means "protected person." Followers of monotheistic religions enjoyed some level of privileges under Islamic law.

The Caliph commanded the Chaldeans to either embrace one of the religions mentioned in the Koran or face death. A local tribal sheikh encouraged the Chaldeans to identify as Sabeans. The Chaldeans thus renounced their identity and embraced the Sabean nomenclature.

Early Islamic and Judaic scholarly narratives corroborate this historical event.

The Chaldeans are also called Sabeans, the name Sabeans was applied to them at the time of al-Ma'mun. - al-Khwarizmi (c. 839 AD) Then he, the sheikh said to them when al-Ma'mun returns from his journey, say to him, 'we are Sabeans,' for this is the name of a religion which Allah, may his name be exalted, mentioned in the Koran. Profess it and you will be saved by it. - Ibn al-Nadim (c. 900 AD) What is left of the Chaldeans is now in the two cities Harran and Roha, and that they in the time of al-Ma'mun gave up the name Chaldeans and took the name Sabeans. - Hamzah al-Issfahani (c. 900 AD) It is well known that the Patriarch Abraham was brought up in the religion and the opinion of the Sabeans, that there is no divine being except the stars. - Musa Ibn Maymun (c. 1200 AD)

During the early Middle Ages, East Syriac Christians inhabited the northern territory of Cyprus. This community adhered to the Church of the East and were also denominationally known as Nestorians. The Roman Catholic Church viewed the Nestorians as heretics and exhausted every effort in converting them to Catholicism.

In 1445 AD, the Council of Florence presided by Pope Eugene IV succeeded in welcoming the community into Catholicism. Furthermore, the Papacy constructed a distinct confessional body and bestowed upon them the unmeaning title of 'Chaldeans.'

Why Chaldean?

The sacred liturgies practised by this community was conducted in the East Syriac dialect which the Papacy romanticised and synonymously regarded as Chaldaic- with reference to the Biblical Book of Daniel.

According to Medieval scholars, the Ethiopian (Abyssinian) faction denominationally identified its community as 'Chaldean' indicating that the term was neither exclusive to the East Syriac Christian converts, nor was it employed to designate an ethno-political identity.

The Ethiopians call themselves Chaldeans. - Joseph Justus Scaliger (c. 1540 AD)

Six centuries since it was renounced, the Chaldean identity was thus revived by the Roman Catholic Church.

In 1552 AD, a power struggle broke out within the Church of the East which provoked distrust amongst various monks toward their anointed Patriarch.

Yohanan Sulaqa, a schismatic monk failed in legitimising his candidacy to topple the Patriarchate thus journeyed to Rome and presented his confession of faith before Pope Julius III. The Papacy consecrated Sulaqa 'Patriarch of the Eastern Assyrians' presiding over the Catholic 'Church of Mosul in Assyria.'

A rival Patriarchate was now formed.

In efforts of reinforcing the union, the Papacy came to denominate the Catholic portion 'Chaldeans' in conformity with the precedent converts in Cyprus a century earlier. In c. 1844 AD, the so-called Chaldean Patriarch was encouraged by the Holy See to journey to Constantinople in order of attaining a Ottoman mandate recognising the Chaldean Catholics as a distinct community to that of the Nestorians.

The ambitious views of the Roman pontiffs sowed the pestilential seeds of animosity and discord among all Eastern Churches; and the Nestorian Christians, who are also known by the denomination of Chaldeans, felt early the effects of their imperious councils. - Johann Lorenz Mosheim (c. 1726 AD) They distinguish themselves by the name of Chaldeans for they detest and abhor the denomination, or distinction of Nestorians. - Cornelius De Bruyn (c. 1736 AD) The Christians who are born in the towns of Mosul, and of Mardin, do not speak a word of Chaldaic, at least it is not their mother tongue. - Carsten Niebuhr (c. 1797 AD) The present Chaldean Christians are of a recent origin. The sect was as new as the office, and was created for it. Converts to the Papacy from the Nestorian and Jacobite Churches were unified in one body, and dignified by the name of the Chaldean Church... In fact, all the Nestorian Church books are used by the Chaldeans. The priest seemed to think, that, in conformity with the name of his Church, its books must in ancient times have been written in the Chaldean character, but confessed at present it posses no such books, and only uses the Nestorian character (Syriac). - Rev Eli Smith (c. 1833 AD) The so-called "Chaldeans" of Mesopotamia recieved that title, as you know, from the Pope, on their becoming Catholics. - Edward Robinson (1841 AD) The Pope bestowed upon them, the venerable, but unmeaning title of Chaldeans, which they now claim; Although they were and are truly nothing more than Papal Nestorians, or Nestorian Catholics. - North American Review (c. 1843 AD) The community styling themselves "Chaldeans," had not been recognised by the Ottoman Porte. This was the first recognition by the Ottoman Porte of the new community. - George Percy Badger (c. 1844 AD) To the title which the Pope has given to them of "Chaldean Christians," they have no exclusive claim, not such a strong claim, indeed. - John Wilson (1846 AD) Chaldeans. A modern sect of Christians in the East, in obedience to the see of Rome. - Walter Farquhar Hook (1859 AD) At the schism on account of Nestorius, the Assyrians, under the generic name of the Chaldean Church, mostly separated from the Orthodox Greeks, and, being under the rule of the Persians, were protected against persecution. - Henry John Van-Lennep (1875 AD) Another fact connected with the nationality of the Chaldeans which goes far to show they are as much entitled to Assyrian descent as any other community which boasts of ancient origins. - Hormuzd Rassam (c. 1898 AD) Strictly, the name of Chaldeans is no longer correct. - The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 3 (1908 AD) It may not be out of place, therefore, to point out that there were exceedingly few Roman Catholic Assyrians or "Chaldeans" as they are generally termed when they embrace Rome, amongst the refugees at Baqubah. The very large majority of the Roman Catholic Assyrians in the Mosul vilayet did not join the mountaineers and fight against the Turks in consequence were permitted by the Turks to continue to dwell practically unmolested in their homes about Mosul. - Herbert Henry Austin (1920 AD)

The modern usage of the Chaldean identity is challenged by conflicting historical narratives.

The Sabeans are the Chaldeans. - Joseph Justus Scaliger (c. 1540 AD) The Chaldeans, that lived towards the foot of the river Euphrates, were called Sabeans by the Arabians and Jews. - George Mackenzie (c. 1711 AD) The Chaldee language of the Sabeans. - William Tooke (c. 1769 AD) Sabeans, or Christians of St. John, as they are vulgarly called, who lived near what was considered to be ancient Chaldea, and who are generally supposed to be descendants of the old Babylonians and Chaldeans. - John Philip Newman (c. 1826 AD) Whenever the term "Chaldean" occurs in the Nestorian rituals, which it does only in two instances, it is not used to designate a Christian community, but the ancient sect, who have been called also Sabeans. - George Percy Badger (c. 1844 AD) The sect variouslty known by the names of Sabeans, presents the most curious combination of wholly diverse creeds that can be conceived. As the descendants of the ancient Semitic population of Chaldea, and the inheritors of the Babylonian language. - Stanley Lane-Poole (c. 1883 AD) The Kasdim, the Chaldeans and the Sabeans, are only different names successively given to the same people. In the time of the Bible they were called Kasdim; in the age of the Talmud they were the Chaldeans, and later they recieved the name of the Sabeans. - Michael Friedlander (c. 1890 AD)

Presently, the Sabeans of the south-eastern marshlands and coastal plains of southern Iraq identify as 'Mandaean.' The term is derived from the ancient Babylonian 'Mandetu' meaning 'the knowledgeable.' The Mandaean Book of the Zodiacs bears rich testimony to various astrological and ancient Chaldean doctrines.

Editor's Note: The modern Chaldeans, who are Roman Catholic Assyrians, are not related to the ancient Chaldeans of South Iraq.
Evidence of Ancient Assyrian Church Discovered in Kazakhstan

The ancient city of Ilyn Balik, known from pilgrims' travels and historical texts, has been discovered in Kazakhstan. Historians of Christianity along the Silk Road have known of travelers' accounts of Christian communities in the region and in the ancient city of Ilyn Balik, but now, recent excavations at the village of Usharal, 60 kilometers from the Chinese border, have uncovered the ancient city as well as the site's cemetery, where eight gravestones have been found.

This discovery is the first archaeological evidence for a Christian community in the borders of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This discovery supports the understanding of ancient Kazakhstan as a multi-cultural center between the East and West, with Muslims, Buddhists and Christians living among the local herdsmen and nomadic tribes.

A local resident of Usharal reported the discovery of an inscribed stone marked with a cross two years ago. The stone was recovered, but the original location of that stone is not known. The Kazakhstan government, cognizant of their multi-cultural history, has created the Center for Cultural Rapprochement under Karl Baipakov, Kazakhstan's leading archaeologist and a world-renowned specialist on the Silk Road. Under Baipakov's leadership, the Center has encouraged archaeological work focused on illuminating the varied cultural strains in Kazakhstan's history and actively supports the joint teams' efforts.

Baipakov encouraged the formation of a joint international team from Archaeological Expertise LLC based in Almaty, Kazakhstan (under Dimitri Voyakin), and the Tandy Institute for Archaeology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (under the joint direction of Steve Ortiz and Tom Davis), to investigate the discovery. The joint team began investigations of the site of Ilyn Balik, a medieval city never before excavated, within the boundaries of Usharal late this summer.

The team discovered seven inscribed gravestones clustered on the surface outside of the main area of settlement of the site. The suspected grave markers all have inscribed Nestorian-style crosses, and two of them have fragmentary inscriptions.

The new discoveries provide context for the previously discovered inscribed stone and most likely indicate an extra-mural cemetery and possibly an associated Christian community. One of the inscriptions in Old Syriac has been partially deciphered by the Tandy Institute's epigrapher, Ryan Stokes, associate professor of Old Testament at Southwestern, and indicates a date of 1162 A.D.

The local Christian community has reacted with joy to the news of the new discoveries. One believer responded, "So nobody can tell me that I don't have Christian roots."

The Nestorian gravestones show that Christianity was present in Kazakhstan long before Western imperialism. It is, in fact, an element of historic Kazakh identity.

Tom Davis is professor of archaeology and biblical backgrounds at Southwestern Seminary as well as chair of its archaeology department.
Is Obama Fast-tracking Mosul Offensive to Save His Legacy?

(AINA) -- Whenever a sitting President of the United States leaves office after his term of office whether its four or eight years the media starts talking about what will their legacy be? There are separate listings for both domestic and foreign policy.

In January 2017 Barack Obama leaves office. So there are several issues in Foreign Policy that will be scrutinized by both Candidates. But there is one situation that seems to be the focus of this Administration to be resolved before the incumbent leaves office. What is a concern is this was an issue that many feel that Obama dropped the ball on.

When Obama took office He sought to shift the focus from Iraq to Afghanistan. He felt that the fighting in Central Asia was more justified than was was occurring in the cradle of civilization. But what has happened in Iraq during his term of office has been a detriment not only to the people of Iraq but has also led to problems not only in the Middle East but can also be viewed as a source of some of the issues now affecting Europe.

Considering what has happened in the Country since major US Combat Forces left the Country the Administration made a great error in Judgement with the timing of their withdrawal. Even though there was a functioning Government in Baghdad events were manipulated so that there were a couple of power vacuums in the Country. This would lead to a situation that certain elements were to exploit successfully for their own agendas.

In 2014 Sunni Elements including former member of the Saddam Hussein Baathist Party merged with Al-Qaeda Fighters to form what some refer to as Daesh or the Islamic State. They also moved into Syria taking advantage of the Civil War raging there to take over roughly one third of the Country which is roughly the same size of Iraqi territory that they were able to capture as well. Shia Militias emboldened by Iranian Support were actually able to control other parts of the Country.

Some of these actions have placed some of the Religious Minorities such as the Assyrians and the Turkmen in the position of being seen as pawns. They have suffered atrocities at the hands of ISIS and indifference at the hands of Baghdad. So they have some room to be skeptics.

One of the goals that the Obama Administration does have is the liberation of Mosul. The planners in Washington and Baghdad are beginning to fast track this effort. The goal of having the city be liberated before Obama leaves office is crystal clear. That way some issues of having a safe haven for the Religious Minorities be addressed by the next Administration.

It is also clear that President Obama feels that what has taken place in Iraq may have a negative impact on his legacy. Some of his actions do indicate that this is a valid concern.
September 22, 2016

TEHRAN, Iran  The chair of Iran's Expediency Council, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, delivered the following remarks Aug. 10 at the 33rd Summit of Managers and Heads of Education in the Country, organized by the Ministry of Education:

Today, you can see that Germany and Japan have the strongest economies in the world. These same two countries were prohibited from having military forces after the Second World War. When a country is at war, it spends so much money on its military. With no military spending, these countries could use that extra money on science and production and were able to create a science-based economy for themselves. As a result, they are no longer fragile. The door has been opened to a similar process in Iran. Managers, teachers, and concerned citizens should use this opportunity. I am sure that we can get there during President [Hassan] Rouhanis second term.

In due time, radical and conservative media outlets and figures began to heap harsh criticism on Rafsanjani's remarks. Those not inclined to look upon Rafsanjani favorably seized the opportunity to attack him.

Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was among the first to criticize Rafsanjani. On Sept. 8, Hajizadeh said, If he dares to go without his bodyguards for a few days, then he can claim that the country does not need military forces. Hajizadeh also remarked that one of Irans major problems is the absence of any kind of political redline, asserting, Individuals are willing to say anything or do anything in order to achieve their political objectives.

Member of parliament and hard-liner Javad Karimi Ghodoosi also reacted harshly, saying on Sept. 10 that Rafsanjanis remarks were relaying the good news to the United States that the Islamic Republic would be disarming itself. Ghodoosi does not believe that the comments originated with Rafsanjani, but were some sort of complex code conceived by think tanks in France, Britain and the Netherlands.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hard-line daily Kayhan, a position appointed by the supreme leader, published an editorial on Sept. 3 titled Mr. Rafsanjani, Dont Send an Invitation Card to Daesh. In it, he wrote, Would Daesh [Islamic State], which is dreaming of entering Iran and committing atrocities similar to those it has committed in Iraq and Syria, hesitate for even one minute if given a chance to commit these atrocities? If the answer is no, and considering that in case of disarmament Iran will become an easy target for enemies big and small, can we then doubt that Mr. Hashemis comments are basically inviting Daesh terrorists into Iran?

Rafsanjani's office felt compelled to respond, issuing an explanation on Sept. 5 to media outlets regarding his remarks. The statement did not deny that Rafsanjani had made the comments, but rather focused on Rafsanjanis revolutionary background while providing general explanations about what he had said:

Accusing someone who was the spokesman of the Supreme Defense Council during the Imposed [Iran-Iraq] War, who was appointed by the late Imam [Ruhollah] Khomeini as commander in chief of Iran's armed forces, who later, as president, played the most important role in strengthening the countrys defense system, of wanting to weaken the countrys armed forces, indicates that a coherent scheme is at work. This possibility becomes more likely when a series of insults and accusations suddenly appears in media outlets, big and small, that are connected to a particular circle.

This is not the first time that Rafsanjani has been harshly criticized and attacked over remarks about the military. On March 23, he had come under fire after a controversial post on Twitter, saying, The world of tomorrow is a world of negotiations and not missiles. On that occasion, Rafsanjani was not only attacked by the usual opponents, but also by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A week after the tweet, on March 30, Khamenei, in a meeting with a group of preachers, said, There is a time and place for everything. Otherwise, our rights as a nation will be trampled upon. If, out of thoughtlessness, someone comes and says that the world of tomorrow is a world of negotiations and not missiles, then he is being thoughtless. However, if he says this knowingly, then he is being treacherous.

After Khamenei's not-so-subtle response, Rafsanjanis office first tried to deny any connection between the Twitter account and Rafsanjani personally. After a few days, however, a revised tweet was posted, explaining that Rafsanjani had been only partially quoted, suggesting that his words had been taken out of context.

Beyond these separate controversies, and beyond Rafsanjanis resorting to either denial, revision or justification of his comments in the face of harsh criticism from his conservative opponents, a big picture is emerging. The question is, How much traction will Rafsanjanis increasingly clear vision of the Iranian military, and its role in the country, ultimately gain? Only time will tell.
September 23, 2016

One day after yet another report came out summarizing the wretched state of Egypts tourism industry, government officials said they will turn management of the Giza pyramids over to the private sector.

The prime ministers office said Sept. 6 the decision is part of an effort to develop the archaeological area to a level befitting its status as a World Heritage site.

Tourism in Egypt has been suffering severely for the past five years. According to an economic performance report issued Sept. 5 by the Ministry of Planning, the tourism sector shrank by 34% during the period from January to March, compared with 9.3% during the same period last year.

Moodys Investors Service issued a report in July stating that Egypts tourism sector brought in revenues of $551 million during the period from January to March, which is the smallest amount since the comparable quarter in 1998.

In June, the tourism sector registered its worst monthly drop of this year, with the number of tourists visiting Egypt plummeting 60% compared with June 2015. According to a report issued July 28 by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), the number of tourists in Egypt stood at 328,600 in June, compared with 820,000 in the same month last year.

Its not as if thats an anomaly, though. The entire first half of 2016 was abysmal, with the number of tourist arrivals falling each month compared with the same month the year before: January, down 46.3%; February, 45.9%; March, 47.2%; April, 54%; and May, 51.7%, according to the CAPMAS report.

On top of that, what first looked like a potential bright spot in a CAPMAS report for July still reflected a major decline. In July, the number of tourists reached 529,200  the highest figure since a Russian plane exploded in October after taking off from the Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport. Yet, that number still showed a drop of 41.9% from July 2015.

According to Sami Mahmoud, head of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, assigning the management of tourist attractions to private companies shows Egypts desire to pull as much profit as possible from the sites. Mahmoud told Al-Monitor that the authority proposed the change three years ago and has been studying the idea with Ministry of Tourism experts.

Mahmoud specifically cited the need to turn around the reputation of the Giza pyramids area, which has suffered from what he described as chaos and irresponsible management.

Mahmoud expects the chosen company will apply a sophisticated administrative approach based on a clear plan to be discussed with officials of the Ministries of Tourism and Antiquities. Mahmoud believes private sector companies are best-suited to manage all tourist attractions in Egypt and that this system has been adopted in many countries that rely on tourism as a source of national income.

Mahmoud anticipates that revenues of all the tourist attractions will rise if reputable companies are allowed to invest in this field.

Bassem Halaqa, head of Egypt's Tourist Guides Union, agreed with Mahmoud that the pyramids area has been in chaos for the past five years, which destroyed its reputation. Halaqa attributed this chaos to factors such as the inability of tourist police to protect foreign visitors against what he described as harassment from street vendors. He also blamed the administrative apparatus in Giza along with the Ministry of Environment for failing to keep the area clean.

He said successive governments in Egypt failed for over 50 years to protect and optimally use Egyptian antiquities. The private company, however, will succeed because of the strict administration standards and competitiveness in the private sector. According to Halaqa, government employees dont care about tourist attractions; all they care about are their salaries.

Halaqa considers the move to a private company the first step toward achieving real growth in tourism. He said he is confident that the condition of the tourist attractions under private companies will improve significantly.

Magdy Selim, former undersecretary of the Tourism Ministry, believes that assigning the management of tourist attractions to a private company will not only achieve material gains, but will also help save Egypts tourism reputation by marketing abroad and providing better service for tourists. Selim asserted that more than 75% of Egypts tourist attractions need a miracle to save their reputation and increase revenues.

In early August, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi restructured a tourism council under his chairmanship. The council will develop policies for promoting tourism and suggest necessary legislation and regulations to improve tourist activities. Despite the stagnation of Egypts tourism industry, the council has not met since it was formed.

Selim said the government is long overdue in promoting tourism, which has languished for five years. He said laws that regulate the governments management of tourist attractions  especially laws related to funding  impede development. Private companies, he said, have more freedom to allocate funds for assets, services and promotional events, both inside and outside Egypt.

Selim is optimistic that contracting out tourism management to the private sector will pave the way for a variety of local and international companies to invest in tourism in Egypt. However, he believes the Egyptian administration should offer tax breaks and other incentives.
September 22, 2016

Last month, the Iranian government announced that due to increasing levels of infertility, it will now help fund up to 85% of infertility treatments at state hospitals for families wishing to conceive. Studies by medical researchers show that more than 20% of Iranian couples cannot conceive, compared with the global rate of between 8% and 12%. The Iranian governments latest move is yet another step by the Islamic Republic to encourage childbearing, which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been campaigning for in recent years. In this vein, family planning budgets have been cut and prevention methods such as vasectomies have been banned.

Iran has long been a leader in the Middle East on treating infertility, with nearly 100 clinics nationwide that serve not only Iranian couples, but also couples from neighboring states who come to take advantage of the countrys open stance toward such treatments. Yet what remains an overarching question is why infertility rates in Iran have jumped above the global average.

Measuring the causes of infertility remains difficult for the scientific community. In the case of Iran, some medical researchers in the country point to the possibility of high levels of air pollution in recent years having an adverse effect on reproduction. But countries such as China and Mexico have had much higher levels of pollution for longer periods of time, and we do not see spikes in levels of infertility. As such, while pollution can be a contributing factor, it is not the only factor.

More broadly, infertility rates in the Middle East are high compared with global averages. Marcia Inhorn, a medical anthropologist at Yale University who specializes in assisted reproduction in the region, points to the high rate of marriages between cousins in the Middle East, especially first cousins, as a leading cause. Male infertility is the hidden story of the Middle East, she argues in her findings, which are the results of decades of research on the ground in the region.

Yet doctors in Iran have also been pointing to the fact that there are other factors at play in this equation. The truth is that doing a proper in-depth study on infertility in Iran is difficult, Dr. Mahshid Hashemi, a womens health physician in Tehran, told Al-Monitor. There are a multitude of factors we have to account for, and one that we havent properly looked into in Iran, but that proves to be a big issue in other countries, is how sexually transmitted diseases [STDs] that are untreated can be a crucial factor in infertility.

Annual checkups for STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, which if untreated can lead to infertility, are easy. However, the problem remains that doctors do not test unmarried women for these diseases unless the patient asks for it. There is a simple fact that we have more and more people in Iran having premarital sex than we have ever had, but it remains a social taboo to check either males or females for STDs such as these, Dr. Hossein Ashraf, an infertility specialist in the central Iranian city of Esfahan, told Al-Monitor.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), chlamydia and gonorrhea are important preventable causes of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and infertility. Untreated, about 10-15% of women with chlamydia will develop PID. More dangerously, chlamydia can also cause fallopian tube infection without any symptoms. PID and the silent infection that chlamydia causes in the upper genital tract may cause permanent damage to the fallopian tubes, uterus and surrounding tissues, which can lead to infertility. Both STDs are treatable if caught early. As such, the CDC recommends yearly tests for all women under the age of 25 who are sexually active, as well as for women with multiple sexual partners, or a sex partner who has an STD.

Ive never had a doctor ask to do any of those tests on me, Gelareh, a 27-year-old engineer in the Iranian city of Shiraz, told Al-Monitor. Im not married, but I am sexually active, and the truth is that I dont even know what I should be asking my doctor for. And my doctor just assumes that because Im not married she doesnt even need to ask me any of these questions about diseases I can get through sex.

Ashraf agreed that if a patient is unmarried, many of his colleagues do not ask further questions. He told Al-Monitor, I know the reality of our society now, and I try to get my colleagues to agree to look past the fact that a young person may not be married, yet may be sexually active. But it remains hard. Its still a big taboo for our generation, despite the fact that the trend in the younger generation points to a reality we need to deal with. Other patients, especially those who cannot afford to go to private clinics in big cities, complain that there is little privacy in their doctors offices to ask questions. There are always other people in the office when Im there, Sara, a 25-year-old from a small town outside of the central Iranian city of Yazd, told Al-Monitor. Sara is also sexually active, and she noted that even if she could talk to her doctor in private, she would be too afraid to tell him that she is sexually active, given how small her town is. I think he would judge me, even though I know there are other unmarried women in our town who are also sexually active," said Sara.

I dont know why were having such problems getting pregnant, Negar, a 29-year-old civil engineer from Esfahan, told Al-Monitor. She and her husband had been trying for over two years to get pregnant before they saw a specialist. They are now undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. Negar mentioned that among her group of friends, at least five other couples in their late 20s are also undergoing infertility treatment. What is shocking is that we now have more and more cases of couples in their late 20s, early 30s, seeking infertility treatments, Hashemi said. The rates Im seeing are more than Ive seen in all my years of practicing. This points to a deeper problem. We do have a problem with male fertility in Iran, its true. But what Im seeing now is also high rates of infertility in younger women. In many societies, infertility treatment is for women who are in their later 30s. Woman in their late 20s should not have a problem getting pregnant  especially in such high numbers. We need to figure out what the underlying issues are.
September 23, 2016

A stranger landing in Israel and watching the efforts of right-wing Knesset members to prevent the evacuation and demolition of the illegal West Bank settlement outpost of Amona would likely have thought that the security of the State of Israel was at stake.

Although the Supreme Court decided to order the evacuation of the Jewish settlement built on private Palestinian land back in December 2014, the court granted the Amona settlers and the state a two-year extension to organize the move and find an alternative location for its inhabitants. But instead of preparing to implement the ruling, the Amona settlers, their leaders in the Yesha settlement council and the right-wing parties chose to try to skirt the court decision and keep their homes.

One of their moves was the reintroduction of a bill known as the regularization law, which failed to pass in 2012. It would prevent the razing of homes built on private Palestinian land by legalizing the settlement. Another is the takeover of lands adjacent to Amona by essentially claiming that these are lands abandoned by "absentee owners." If the owners of such property do turn up, they would receive compensation from the state.

The Amona campaign is currently focused on pushing forward this legislation. As far as the settlers are concerned, this is the ideal solution. On Sept. 17, 25 Likud government ministers, deputy ministers and Knesset members issued a joint declaration of support for the law. Unlike them, the ministers from HaBayit HaYehudi  Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and its chair, Education Minister Naftali Bennett  do not believe the bill will win Knesset approval and are seeking instead to raze Amona and rebuild it on the adjacent land they argue was abandoned.

In August, the Israeli militarys Civil Administration in the West Bank issued a map marking 35 lots adjacent to Amona and announced that it was attempting to determine whether they could be declared abandoned and Amona could be moved there. But it soon transpired that most of these lands have owners who claim to have been evicted on the day Amona was established in 1995. The Yesh Din human rights organization recently handed the Civil Administration 29 petitions by the legal landowners, residents of the villages of Silwad, Ein Yabroud and Taybeh, opposing such a move.

Most of the people are heirs of the landowners or [their descendants], Yesh Din attorney Shlomy Zachary tells Al-Monitor. According to him, representatives of the Civil Administration visited the Silwad village head, handed him a notification and said the residents had 30 days to file objections. The village head, Naal Nimr Hamed, one of the Amona landowners, went to Yesh Din for help.

The organization collected documents from residents of neighboring villages to prove ownership or legal entitlement to the land that the Civil Administration wishes to designate as abandoned. Among the documents are aerial photos of the region that show that most of the land was cultivated until 1997.

When Amona broke ground, the land owners  were not allowed access, says Zachary. Those who tried to get there were chased away by the settlers or the army. Even when the Palestinians tried to coordinate their entry through the Civil Administration, they were told by officials that at the moment there were settlers on the ground and said, 'Its dangerous for you. Let us deal with it and we will move the [settlers], and you can return to your land and resume cultivation.

Zachary says his organization has obtained written documentation pertaining to the conduct of the Civil Administration around the time that Amona was established and the Palestinians were blocked from their lands.

My father and mother lived next to that land and grew grapes, figs and olives there, Silwad resident Marwan Hamed tells Al-Monitor. Hamed says his is among the land about to be designated as abandoned. We continued to till the land until the settlers came. Anyone who went near the settlers would be shot at  both by the settlers and by the army, which would show up immediately to defend them.

Hamed recounts that two years ago, after the Supreme Court handed down its decision to evacuate Amona, several landowners came to see the area from which they had been barred for almost two decades, but they were forcibly removed. Now theyre hoping that justice will be done through Yesh Din.

Hamed says he has enough documentation to prove ownership of the land. We have ownership registration going back to the days of the Ottomans, in the name of my father and mother, he says. Each of the land owners can identify exactly which lot belongs to his family. Were talking about a large tract of land, about 2,000 dunams [494 acres]. We live about 1.5 kilometers [1 mile] from there and stare from afar at the land that our fathers worked and from which we were forcibly evicted. Even now, as Im talking to you, I can see the land and see settlers arriving there in a white car, examining the area and walking about freely.

Hamed also says that violent clashes between residents of the Palestinian villages and the settlers are a routine matter. Three years ago, settlers came to me and cut down olive trees. The Israeli army and police came. We gave them photos we had taken, including of those who did what they did, and to this day they havent done a thing.

Zachary believes that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit will not allow the takeover of the land near Amona now that theres proof that it was not abandoned. After we presented the first 24 petitions, a meeting was held in his office and it turned out there were only 11 lots that were not claimed, and they are not contiguous. We presented five additional petitions that will make it hard for the state to establish a settlement on the lands of so-called absentee owners  which in fact are not.
September 22, 2016

The Palestinian Supreme Court's decision to delay local council elections has resulted in an estimated $8 million debt and many questions about how those funds were spent and how they will be repaid.

Palestinian political circles were preoccupied with the local elections scheduled for Oct. 8 until the Supreme Court decided Sept. 8 to postpone the vote, in part because of disagreements over candidate lists between Fatah and Hamas. The court was expected to revisit the issue Sept. 21, but delayed any ruling until Oct. 3.

"I expect that the decision to stop the elections will stir up social problems and lead to financial legal actions," Omar Shaban, the head of PalThink for Strategic Studies in Gaza, told Al-Monitor. "Some candidates resigned from their jobs and others sold their cars to secure the financial expenses of their electoral campaign."

These expenses include amounts remitted by the candidates to their respective local councils to cover their unpaid water and electricity bills  which have been due for years  as required by Local Council Election Law of 2005 before they can run for election. The money also includes the amount the government pledged to give the Central Election Commission (CEC) in return for logistical support, including civil servants, transportation and telecommunication services, and office rental for CEC employees from the time the elections were announced in June, through Oct. 8.

That is in addition to registration fees paid by the electoral lists, as well as campaign funds collected. All of these amounts are estimated to total $8 million.

Nasr Abdul Kareem, an economics professor at Birzeit University, told Al-Monitor that Palestinian law does not govern electoral campaign expenses. "There are three types of funds paid during the local council elections. The candidates should settle what they owe to local councils and obtain a [receipt, as proof] and these amounts are nonrefundable. According to [the law], the electoral lists  874 lists in Gaza and the West Bank  shall pay a registration fee of $1,400 for each list to the CEC, which shall keep it as a trust deposited in its account. This is in addition to the operating expenses paid by each candidate or list, including phone bills and costs for banquets, which are a prevalent electoral tradition in Palestine. These expenses are difficult to assess or to secure, which requires their regulation by virtue of a law to preserve transparency and integrity.

CEC spokesman Fareed Taamallah told Al-Monitor, The CEC was surprised by the decision to suspend the elections and developed a mechanism for returning the funds paid by the electoral lists. Amounts were deposited in the accounts of the CEC Banking Committee to pay back to each list [$1,400]. The amounts paid in return for the [receipts] were included in the budget of the Ministry of Local Government and may not be recovered. The government had also paid part of the elections budget and another part was secured from an unknown source. There is no accurate estimation of the total funds.

However, Hisham Kahil, the CEC executive director, said during a July 23 televised interview with Wattan News Agency that the Oct. 8 local elections would cost $8 million  $5.5 million in the West Bank and $2.5 million in the Gaza Strip.

A CEC official told Al-Monitor recently on condition of anonymity, We face serious challenges to return the funds due to their owners. The [law] governing local council election states that spent funds should be returned to the candidates in case of their victory or withdrawal, but does not mention anything about the scenario of suspended elections. This was not an item on the CECs agenda. We were surprised by the suspension decision because dozens of candidates quit their jobs at the departments of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Near East. These candidates not only lost their source of income but also the chance to win the election. Moreover, the cost of the election process reached $8 million, of which the government only settled 10% to the CEC, which does not exceed $800,000."

On Aug. 10, the CEC asked all candidates in the local council elections to attach statements to their candidacy applications proving they had settled all fees due to their local council. Minister of Local Government Hussein al-Araj announced Aug. 31 that the amounts paid by the candidates in return for obtaining financial receipts provided the local councils funds with 7 million shekels ($1.85 million).

Maher al-Tabbah, the director of public relations and media at the Chamber of Commerce in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, The CEC did not expect a decision to suspend the elections, and probably lacks clear mechanisms or means to return the funds due to their owners. I expect the electoral lists and candidates to file legal proceedings before the courts against the CEC to recover the funds spent during the preparation of the electoral process.

Being unprepared doesn't excuse the CEC from its financial obligations, according to Walid Mezher, the legal adviser to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and an independent candidate on the Nuseirat list in the central Gaza Strip supported by Hamas.

There are financial expenses that the CEC and the government must return to the candidates, such as phone call expenses, transportation fees for the members of the electoral campaigns, and the costs of visits to families and tribes with thousands of voters, even if the CEC was not financially and administratively ready for the decision to suspend the elections," Mezher told Al-Monitor.

An important fact related to the funds invested in the local council elections was not widely reported by the media: Some lists supported by the PA exploited the PAs public facilities, such as transportation, mobile phones and offices within the ministries to manage their electoral campaigns without any supervision by the PA.

It should also be noted that the factions affiliated with the PLO received monthly financial aid of undetermined amounts from the Palestinian National Fund. These factions, such as Fatah, have their own electoral lists. On the other hand, the lists supported by Hamas and the independent lists do not benefit from such financial aid.

The PA benefited from international aid, especially from the European Union, to hold the local council elections, but I do not know the exact amount of this aid," PalThink's Shaban said, adding, "Some electoral lists exploited the government resources to organize their campaigns in violation of [the law]. This undermines the concepts of electoral transparency, since partisan electoral lists are not supposed to use state resources."

The court-ordered election delay also was felt outside political circles.

Haitham al-Sak, the financial director of the daily newspaper Felesteen, told Al-Monitor, The decision to halt the elections took us by surprise because we prepared ourselves to get the financial resources from the electoral campaigns and the advertisements of the candidate lists. We prepared financial statements for the campaigns and expected to collect large amounts  tens of thousands of dollars  but the decision to stop the election was bad news for us.
September 23, 2016

In the week before President Mahmoud Abbas speech to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22, a number of Palestinians were shot and killed or injured by Israeli soldiers. On Sept. 20, Hazem Kawasmi, a Palestinian activist, made a profoundly insightful statement on his Facebook page: We are neither in an intifada nor are we involved in civil disobedience. We have no idea where we are going.

Kawasmi, who works with the Arab World Democracy & Electoral Monitor, told Al-Monitor that unlike the two previous intifadas, at present there is no clarity in vision. Palestinians are not happy with the situation, because there is no vision or strategy toward liberation while the Palestinian Authority appears to be able to coexist with the current conditions on the ground.

In his UN speech, Abbas did not reference violent acts of resistance or the possibility of a nonviolent protest movement coupled with an international boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign. He did, however, try to connect the past with the future by talking about the 100-year-old Balfour Declaration, the 71-year-old UN partition plan and the nearly half a century of Israeli occupation.

Abbas mentioned Israel 38 times, talked about peace 20 times, used the word occupation 15 times, denounced terrorism 6 times, spoke of Jerusalem five times, referred to illegal settlements five times and called for the rights of refugees once.

Nowhere in the speech of the Palestinian leader was there any hint of a grand strategy for Palestinian liberation. Abbas talked about the need for reconciliation and national unity, offered a peaceful and neighborly future between an independent Palestinian state and Israel, but said very little about the mechanism that Palestinians need to adopt to reach the elusive liberation that they desire.

The distance between New York and the occupied Palestinian territories is huge both in terms of geography and political relationships. What is voted on or discussed in the UN General Assembly rarely has any direct influence on Palestinians in Nablus or Hebron.

Perhaps the occupation is Israel's Achilles heel, as it was one of the issues US President Barack Obama touched on directly in his General Assembly speech. Israel would be better off if it didnt permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land, Obama told Israelis and world leaders Sept. 21.

Continued dependency on diplomacy and expectations that Western countries will pressure Israel to attend an international conference and concede to the acceptance of a free Palestine seems to be the all that Abbas expects from his current trip to the United Nations. About the French initiative to convene an international peace conference, he said Palestinians and others are hopeful that such a conference will lead to the establishment of a mechanism and defined time frame for an end to the occupation.

Abbas' over-dependency on diplomacy appears to be the result of the pomp and other trappings of the presidency that he and his team have constructed around political life in Palestine. Diplomacy has become the exclusive path to liberation simply because it allows for the leaderships political survival. Diplomacy without any means of applying pressure on Israel, however, is unlikely to produce results at the negotiating table.

Of course, it is impossible for President Abbas and his team to support any kind of violent resistance, including low tech violence, such as using knives and car ramming. If they did indicate serious support for violent acts of resistance, they would end up jailed or deported by Israel. That they are not condemning such acts is being used by Israel to attack them.

Nonviolent acts of resistance, however, have at times been endorsed by the leadership, with reservations. Both Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal have publicly called for mass popular resistance, but neither has done anything to support nonviolent protest. More important, in the absence of a national strategy that Palestinians can unify behind, such ideas amount to nothing more than lip service. The Palestinian leadership has even thwarted the worldwide boycott efforts by Palestinians and their supporters by failing to get fully behind them.

During the funeral of South African leader Nelson Mandela in 2013, Abbas was confronted on the boycott issue. He insisted that his government approved of the boycott of settlement products but not the boycott of the State of Israel. Such talk shows the lack of a consistent Palestinian position on nonviolent campaigns, such as the BDS movement. The Israelis are sufficiently worried about BDS to the point of shifting resources and manpower to fight it internationally, but the Palestinian leadership remains silent about it. Some Palestinian officials, among them Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organizations (PLO) Executive Committee, have expressed their support, but Abbas has yet to publicly endorse it.

The absence of a credible, unified Palestinian strategy for liberation has seriously eroded support for Abbas as well as all the established Palestinian factions. While part of the problem is the ongoing split between the two main movements, Fatah and Hamas, the problem goes much deeper.

Kawasmi's short post on Facebook reflects the thinking of most Palestinians in regard to the lack of leadership, unity and a credible national strategy for liberation. The weakened support for the organized movements, including those in the PLO, is largely because they have dropped the term liberation from their political program.
September 23, 2016

GAZIANTEP, Turkey  Louay Hussein is a Syrian pro-opposition politician who was arrested by the Syrian regime several times, beginning when he was a university student. He was banned from traveling and prevented from obtaining a passport under the rule of President Hafez al-Assad as well as under his son, Bashar.

With the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, with a group of other young Syrians, Hussein founded the Building the Syrian State movement in September 2011, denouncing the current Syrian regime as authoritarian. The movement defines itself as a political organization with a futurist vision for Syria. Its involvement in the current conflict has aimed to advance patriotism.

Hussein left Syria through Turkey for Spain after he was released from detention in Damascus. He had been detained on several charges including "weakening national sentiment." Hussein has long been a controversial figure, as his orientations differ from those of most of the Syrian revolutions activists and actors, and he has been criticizing the oppositions performance. He is against militarization and extremism, and has been accused by Syrian activists of holding ideas and positions close to those of the Syrian regime.

His full interview with Al-Monitor follows:

Al-Monitor: The Building the Syrian State movement has recently prepared a memorandum outlining the movements vision of the transition period in Syria, in accordance with the UN approach toward the Syrian crisis. Would you please explain what this memorandum is about?

Hussein: We are in the midst of UN and international efforts to reach a settlement to end the situation in Syria, according to the Geneva-based international resolutions and UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

This effort focuses on involving all of conflicting parties in a transitional authority that would prepare the country to hold elections in a predetermined period of time. This matter requires many criteria, principles and details. This is why all political forces need to propose their vision regarding this process. For our part, we included many criteria which must be adopted when developing transition options, such as adopting the concept of "no victor and no vanquished" and including a minimum of 30% women in all institutions and bodies that are being formed, as well as including the opposition and other parties in all institutions, according to the Geneva statement. There is a number of key points that must be preserved, such as the adoption of a constitutional declaration for the transitional period, postponing the drafting of the constitution until a legislative body is elected by all Syrians, the formation of a supreme constitutional council to supervise the transitional executive bodies and their commitment to what was agreed upon in Geneva, the participation of all Syrian components in all authorities, without excluding any of them, but without being based on a proportional quota system. This is in addition to the distribution of power between all transitional institutions to avoid having a single institution capable of monopolizing and controlling the other institutions.

We stressed the need to have an independent judiciary headed by the Supreme Judicial Council, whose members will be appointed according to their posts, namely the head of the court of cassation, the general prosecutor, heads of the military and administrative judiciary and others. They will be selected through an agreement between the UN and the Syrian parties, and not in accordance with the quotas in the Geneva statement. It is hard to summarize the vision in a press interview, but I tried to introduce the criteria and principles according to which the transitional governance institutions are formed.

Al-Monitor:  The [memorandum] speaks of the protection of all religions in Syria to prevent the establishment of a sectarian system. Does that stem from your fears of a sectarian conflict in Syria? If that is the case, are these fears the movement's or your own?

Hussein: There are no fears. We want to have a state for all Syrians, not for any particular religious, nationalist or political party alone. We want a secular state.

Al-Monitor: Your vision includes demands for the confiscation of the properties of the Arab Baath Socialist Party and National Progressive Front, which are the governing authorities in Syria. Is that a clear call for a de-Baathification in Syria?

Hussein: Absolutely not. We do not accept de-Baathification. Yet in order for the competition between the political parties in the country to be legitimate, parties should not own properties that they obtained from the state as the leading parties. Thus, there is no way to compare Building the Syrian State with the Baath Party or any of the [National Progressive] Front s parties, which have headquarters and vehicles at the heart of the capital and the rest of the Syrian cities that are the state's properties and not their own. We only have partisan properties.

Al-Monitor: Taking into account the social, political and military divide of the Syrian scene and your previous statement that what is taking place cannot be called revolution, how do you see Syria today and in the future?

Hussein: I am not a political analyst to express how Syria will be in the future. I can say how I want the future to be and what I am trying to push to achieve it. Syria today is a field for international conflicts, not just Syrian ones. This does not mean that Syrians are not fighting among each other, but they are no longer the decision-makers when it comes to their own destiny, after all Syrian parties gave up to international powers. The conflict has become an international dispute being fought by Syrian proxies. The regional countries can only work through and influence sectarian Sunni and Shiite or nationalist militias, and for this reason this image of the conflict [as a proxy war] is becoming more and more pronounced.

We want Syria to be a state based on the concepts of citizenship and equality for all Syrian people without any discrimination on the grounds of religion, sect, race or sex. We want this state to adopt a democratic system of governance. We will not accept the prevailing growing sectarian and nationalist conflicts, but we will challenge them as much as we can.

Al-Monitor: In light of the ongoing sectarian and religious conflict in Syria, to what extent do you believe Syria can achieve freedom, dignity and democracy?

Hussein: Freedom, dignity and democracy are goals we must strive to achieve since one cannot expect that they will come about on their own. Such goals require enormous efforts in light of the impediments by several local, regional and international powers. These goals need a powerful will and relentless brave fighters who do not surrender. We are in the midst of this battle, and most of the powers are against these values and goals. But I personally expect to find such an indomitable will once the sound of the cannons stops for a while.

Al-Monitor: You usually talk about Syria as the homeland of all of its components. What do you say to those who accuse you of being sometimes biased in your statements in favor of the Alawite sect, given that you are Alawite yourself?

Hussein: No comment.

Al-Monitor: Why did you leave Syria while you were always adamant about staying there?

Hussein: I felt my life was in danger and that the regime was ready to assassinate me for my opposing opinions.

Al-Monitor: There have been talks that you were promised personal benefits by international parties for leaving Syria. What do you say about that?

Hussein: I will not reply. The rule is that the burden of proof is upon the claimant. The party making the accusation is supposed to provide evidence and not the accused party. Otherwise, a man could claim that 1,000 persons have robbed him and they would have to prove that they did not. I do not respond to such talk.

Al-Monitor: What are the reasons for your positions against the revolution? In your first appearance after leaving Syria, you refused to acknowledge the Syrian revolution's flag at a conference with the head of the Syrian National Coalition, Khaled Khoja, since you believe that the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic does not only represent the regime. Then, you joined the High Negotiations Committee only to definitively withdraw from it later on.

Hussein: I said over and over again that I stand with Syria and the Syrians, and not with any other party. I am only against the regime because it is against the interests of the Syrians. I will not support anything that claims to be a revolution unless it promotes the interests of the Syrians  and I mean all Syrians, no exceptions. I am not seeking to win favors with this or that party, but I try to have a clear conscience. I am always ready to be questioned and assume responsibility for any action I have taken that harmed the Syrians or caused the death of any of them.

Al-Monitor: A leaked audiotape attributed to you stirred controversy, as you were heard saying that you do not like the revolution and you do not want it. As an opposition politician, how can you be this daring, while politics require diplomacy?

Hussein: This has nothing to do with diplomacy. These statements were stolen without my knowledge and were distorted. But to clarify, I said this revolution and not the revolution. I was referring to the revolution that the thief and I were talking about when he was recording my statements without my knowledge. I was talking about the bloodthirsty, the sectarians, thieves and their ilk who call their movement a revolution. I not only reject this revolution, I fight against it.

And now I am also against the revolution led by Jabhat al-Nusra. It is not enough for a party or a person to raise the slogan of the revolution to be considered a good person or party. This is very simple. A person must be of a good nature to be later on described as a revolutionary. The movement must be beneficial to the people to be called a revolution and must not commit criminal acts.

Al-Monitor: You recently posted on Facebook a statement that raised the ire of the Syrian public from the Sunni sect and other activists, as you used the expression Sunni scum in reference to extremist fighters. This Syrian Sunni community was infuriated by the use of this expression. You did not stop there  the next day you wrote about Alawite scum. As a politician, dont you think that these statements lack diplomacy and fuel the Syrians' hostility toward you?

Hussein: The word "scum" is not used to offend the Sunni community, since it is used here to describe a specific social category, just like we say, for example, Sunni intellectuals, Alawite peasants or Kurdish aristocrats. Those who were offended are not the Sunnis but the Sunni scum. Of course, scumbags may wear a tie, put on makeup or own a car. When some describe the so-called Ibrahim el-Youssef massacre as the Sunni massacre, they surely mean only the Sunni scum. The Sunnis  and I believe I am a part of them  do not glorify a sectarian killer such as Ibrahim al-Youssef.

Al-Monitor: Building the Syrian State includes members from all the Syrian components and its vision is based on the idea of Syrian patriotism. We are hearing that the Kurds are advancing in northern Syria and have declared a federal system. What is [your group's] take on the Kurds advancement, and how do you see the future of the Kurdish cause in Syria?

Hussein: I did not quite understand the expression Kurds advancement. If you are referring to the control by an armed Kurdish faction over large tracts of Syrian territory in the north of the country, we believe this is similar to the control imposed by other groups in other regions. These are partisan efforts to impose a political presence in Syria's future. We do not have any secession concerns.

As for my opinion about the future of the Kurdish cause, I am waiting for our fellow Kurdish citizens to explain what the Kurdish cause means now. This expression seems to have lost its meaning. There is no Kurdish cause now.
September 23, 2016

Until two years ago, deep-rooted US-Turkey military relations were cited as a model of strength in the defense industry, military training and exercises, global peace support operations, global struggle against terror, NATO missions, and joint operations in Afghanistan. These were all signs of the high level of cooperation and interoperability between the US military and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

In those good old days, billions of dollars worth of defense projects between the two countries moved forward despite minor hiccups and, financed by the International Military Education and Training Fund, hundreds of Turkish officers and noncommissioned officers went to the United States for training. Every year, the two sides carried out about 20 bilateral or multilateral exercises and maneuvers, organized high-level military summits, and they even awarded each other medals of outstanding service.

The traditional model of US-Turkish military relations resembled a sort of "high politics" shaped behind closed doors by the Turkish General Staff and its US counterpart, where societal dynamics and the elected civilians of Turkey did not have much say. The relations were also an anchor of Turkey's untouchable links to the Western security bloc, thereby directly affecting Ankara's foreign policy choices.

Today, this traditional paradigm appears to be withering, as one can easily feel the cold winds blowing against US-Turkish military relations on the ground and at the diplomatic-strategic levels.

Ali Bilgin Varlik, a retired army colonel and an assistant professor of international relations at Esenyurt University in Istanbul, points to the societal dynamics that have begun to affect US-Turkish military ties, particularly after the July 15 coup attempt. Varlik told Al-Monitor that the Turkish public's lack of confidence in the United States has been overtaken by outright anger: "Turkeys secular segments have been reacting to The Greater Middle East and moderate Islam projects the US was promoting at the beginning of the 2000s. After the 15 July coup attempt, the conservative circles of Turkey began to think that the US had planned the coup or withheld its support for the government against the attempt.  The net result is the loss of sympathy by most of the population. The 15 July coup attempt by Gulenists and the ongoing process for his extradition only amplified the lack of confidence in the US."

Varlik said because of popular pressure, the TSK cannot engage in close relations with the US military anymore, even it wanted to. He added that unless Fethullah Gulen is extradited and put on trial in Turkey, the pressure the TSK feels in its relations with the US military will not ease.

Ugur Gungor, a retired army colonel and associate professor of international relations, noted the governments strengthening hand in civilian-military relations. "Now it is the civilian politicians of Ankara who determine the bilateral relations between the TSK and the US military and their cooperation in the field," he said.

Retired Gen. Ahmet Yavuz agrees with Gungor. Yavuz believes the United States, which sees the Syrian Kurdish group People's Protection Units (YPG) as a reliable partner in the struggle against the Islamic State (IS), is likely to maintain that relationship in the future. He also thinks that the United States intends to strengthen its diplomatic ties with the Democratic Unity Party (PYD), the Kurdistan Workers Party's extension in Syria, with the goal of replicating the Kurdistan Regional Government model of Iraq. But Washington also knows it needs the TSK's military support primarily for its Incirlik and Diyarbakir air bases in the war against IS.

Sources close to the US Embassy in Ankara, who asked not to be identified, view this perceptible weakening of US-Turkey military ties primarily as a structural issue rather than a result of daily issues, such as developments in northern Syria, the status of the PYD/YPG or the extradition of Fethullah Gulen. An American source in Ankara told Al-Monitor, "The constant daily changes in Turkey's attitude, the way Ankara comes up with excuses to turn down the alternatives we offer makes Turkey an unpredictable and at times incomprehensible actor. This ambiguity makes it hard for us to devise a robust structure for our military relations."

Another US source who also did not want to be identified said the transformation of civilian-military relations in Turkey that now allots a more prominent role to elected officials has been causing problems for the United States to identify the proper interlocutors in Ankara and in the field. "In the past, we had only one counterpart: the chief of staff. But now we don't know who we should be dealing with anymore. Shall we ask the chief of staff, the ministry of defense, the ministry of foreign affairs or directly the presidency?" he added.

A source in Turkey's security bureaucracy told Al-Monitor that the same problem also exists on the US side. In the past, the Turks generally knew who to approach in their military relations, but now that has become truly difficult: "In the old days, we used to coordinate NATO issues with the US European Command [EUCOM] and Iraq with Central Command [CENTCOM.] But today in Syria, for example, you have EUCOM, CENTCOM, Pentagon, CIA, the State Department and others. This complex structure creates issues of coordination between two countries and unnecessary misunderstandings."

Another US source said, "The US does not need to ask for Turkey's permission for steps it will take against [IS]. YPG forces in Syria have provided security for the international coalition fighting [IS] and proven themselves to be the best ally against terrorism. We still can't comprehend Ankara's intentions and final objective in combating [IS]. This is one reason for the loss of transparency and institutional deficiency in confidence between the two countries."

US sources note that when the civilian government in Turkey gains the upper hand, passionate narratives for domestic political consumption rather than rational reasoning take center stage. They note US officials resent the use of terms such as "selling out, back stabbing" in military relations between the two countries. Here, however, one must also take note of the deep suspicions in Ankara on whether US relations with the PYD are short-term, interested-oriented, purely military or a long-term strategic relationship that will have political ramifications.

"I think the US is still confused about its relationship with the PYD. The views of US Department of State officials who talk with us in Ankara do not mesh with signals we get from CENTCOM or the Congress," a source told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity.

In short, there is a major paradigm shift in US-Turkish military ties, but neither Ankara nor Washington appears to be aware of it. The following dynamics characterize the shift:

This new paradigm is more complicated than before, with multiple actors. This causes confusion and problems in identifying the proper interlocutor.

The decisive effect of the civilian government and popular pressure on the TSK is increasing. Washington seems to be having problems adapting to this change.

Ankara tends to exploit the relationship excessively in the daily routines of domestic politics.

Ankara's incessant rejection of US proposals and refraining from looking to find models and solutions disturbs Washington.

Mere references to cooperation are not enough anymore. When the parties do not notice the divergences between what is said and what is done in the field, crisis in confidence becomes inevitable.

Washington still has not comforted Ankara over the PYD matter, while Ankara has not persuaded Washington that it is giving priority to fighting IS.

Washington is not aware that the extradition of Fethullah Gulen is about to become a major crisis that will affect its military relations with Turkey.

Finally, because of both Ankaras and Washingtons obliviousness to these massive changes, there is no joint mechanism envisaged to manage and coordinate the new paradigm. This naturally means more crises, more confusion and ambiguity, and worse, disintegration of confidence in US-Turkish relations.
September 22, 2016

NEW YORK  Efforts to try to salvage a Syria cease-fire deal remained frustrated Sept. 22 after diplomats from the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) failed to reach consensus on steps to try to restore the cease-fire, which collapsed Sept. 19 after just one week.

"It's clear we cannot continue on the same path," US Secretary of State John Kerry said after the meeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, leaving the ISSG meeting Sept. 22, said that nothing had been agreed to, and that consultations would be continuing.

US officials, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity after the meeting, said it had been very contentious, and said they were frustrated. But the United States would be willing to consider constructive ideas from Russia if it issued any, they said.

Russia expressed resistance to a US proposal to temporarily ban military flights over humanitarian aid corridors in Syria. In closed-door meetings, Russia suggested it would need a reciprocal bold gesture were it to agree to some version of a temporary grounding of military flights, sources said.

The State Department also released a fact sheet on the deal, which was reached in Geneva Sept. 9 but not released publicly, causing some suspicion among the Syrian opposition and consternation among some ISSG members who had been asked to endorse a text they had not seen.

How do we get things back on track? How do we restore the concept of the cease-fire? 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 cant happen, and there are some people who believe that major parties dont want it done," Kerry said.

Germanys top diplomat threw backing to Kerrys proposal for a temporary ban of military aircraft over Syria, ahead of the ISSG meeting.

The situation today in Syria is on a knife edge, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Sept. 22. If the cease-fire is to have any chance at all, there needs to be a complete ban on all military flights over Syria for a limited period  three days at least, thought seven would be better.

He added, This would make it possible for the United Nations to resume its humanitarian assistance missions to the people suffering under siege.

But Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov seemed to reject the flight-grounding proposal, saying it was evidently based on the United States' conclusion that Russia or the Syrian regime was responsible for airstrikes that destroyed a UN aid convoy Sept. 19. Such a conclusion was premature before a thorough investigation was complete, the Russian diplomat said.

"To find the way out of this situation that would suit the United States and the groups patronized by the Americans, this scheme was proposed, but it cannot work," Ryabkov told Russias Tass news agency Sept. 22. "Certain steps are needed, and thats why Im not sure that the idea of the US secretary of state is workable.

The Sept. 19 attack on the UN humanitarian aid convoy in western Aleppo 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, Kerry told the UN Security Council Sept. 21.

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 whats necessary to avoid escalation, he said.

The current international efforts for a Syria cease-fire, while well-intentioned, have some of the same weaknesses that caused earlier efforts to falter, Syrian opposition leaders say.

The first cessation of hostilities in February, which had a slightly longer life than this one, had the same weaknesses: no monitoring, no enforcement mechanisms and no consequences for violations, Bassma Kodmani, a member of the Syrian opposition High Negotiating Committee, told Al-Monitor in an interview Sept. 20.

As long as we dont have clearly stated implications for violations, we stand a very slim chance of compliance by the regime, she said. We know the regime does not do anything unless absolutely forced to do so on humanitarian aid, airstrikes, the cessation of hostilities. That has been the pattern throughout."

The bigger question is if Russia is at all interested, is it able or willing [to force the regime to comply], can we consider that Russia is a trustworthy partner in this? Kodmani asked. The answer so far has been very discouraging. We are waiting for the other countries to draw their conclusion.

Despite the recent US-Russia recriminations over the Sept. 19 attack on the UN aid convoy and a Sept. 17 US-led coalition strike that mistakenly killed Syrian soldiers in Deir ez-Zor, American officials have told the Syrian opposition that they assess Russia does seek coordination with the United States on Syria.

Bassam Barabandi, a former Syrian diplomat now with the High Negotiating Committee, said US officials recently explained to him that they have "nothing to offer Russia" except mutual coordination. So [either] we will have a deal and things will move slowly in a more positive direction. If that conclusion is wrong, there will be more war. We will not offer anything more, or less.
The state Supreme Court has ruled in a four-year legal battle between Sweetwater Brewing Co. and AlaBev over whether or not the brewer can leave its distributor.

In 2012, the Atlanta brewer notified AlaBev (then called Birmingham Beverage Company) of its intent to switch to Supreme Beverage. AlaBev sued Sweetwater for breach of contract and alleged that the brewer did not follow the process laid out in Alabama law to switch distributors.

Under Alabama law, brewers and wholesalers can't decide exit conditions for their own contracts. In the three-tier system, brewers sell to wholesalers, who sell to retailers, who sell to the general public.

Judge Donald Blankenship granted a summary judgment in favor of SweetWater and Supreme on July 7, 2015. AlaBev's attorneys appealed the case to the Alabama Supreme Court, and the court affirmed Blankenship's decision Friday. The court did not issue a written opinion with the decision.

Under Alabama law, a beer producer can only have one wholesaler for a given territory, usually counties. The law requires a producer and a wholesaler have a territorial agreement in writing and on file with the state Alcohol Beverage Control Board.

Blankenship cited in his 2015 ruling that there's no evidence that a written territorial agreement between SweetWater and AlaBev ever existed or was on file with the ABC Board in his ruling for SweetWater.

"There is no evidence that this reduction was part of any agreement between SweetWater and Supreme," Blankenship wrote in the order. "Further, without a valid territorial agreement, BBC has no basis for asserting any illegality in this action."

SweetWater was the 18th largest craft brewer in the nation in 2015, according to Brewers Association.
District Attorney E. Paul Jones

The district attorney for Macon County said today he was surprised to learn that Gov. Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange have sent him a letter about electronic bingo because he said he has been communicating with the attorney general's office for several weeks about the issue.

District Attorney E. Paul Jones, whose district includes four counties, said he is prosecuting serious, violent crimes with a staff reduced by state budget cuts.

He said an investigation of electronic bingo would not be a top priority even if it was within the scope of his duties, which he said is not the case.

"My responsibility is to prosecute criminal cases made by a law enforcement agency," Jones said.

Jones said today he had not received the letter from Strange and Bentley, dated Sept. 20, although he did get an email purportedly from the governor sent to his personal email account but not his DA account.

Jones said he had placed three calls to the governor's office but had not been able to confirm that the email came from the governor.

On Thursday, the governor's office released the letter sent to Jones and Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson.

The letter, signed by Bentley and Strange, says the electronic bingo games at the reopened VictoryLand casino are illegal.

It asks Jones and Brunson to respond by Sept. 30 with their plans for enforcing the law.

Jones said he would send a letter in response to the request.

Brunson could not be reached for comment.

VictoryLand reopened last week with about 500 electronic bingo machines. It had been closed since 2013, when state authorities seized machines and cash.

Bentley and Strange also sent a letter to Lowndes County Sheriff John Williams and District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer, telling them electronic bingo operations at White Hall and Southern Star were illegal.

Williams and Tesmer could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bentley and Strange sent a memo to sheriffs and district attorneys in other counties that have approved constitutional amendments for bingo to "reaffirm our position on enforcing the law as interpreted by the Alabama Supreme Court concerning the illegality of electronic bingo."

Jones, whose district covers Macon, Chambers, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties, said he is prosecuting multiple cases involving murder, rape, robbery, child sexual abuse and other serious crimes.

He said his state budget has been slashed by more than half since Bentley took office, and he effectively has one investigator, down from four.

He said conducting an investigation at VictoryLand would be beyond his office's financial abilities even if it was within the scope of his statutory duties.

Jones said if he is presented a case by law enforcement against VictoryLand he will prosecute it. But he said it would not be his first priority.

"I'm not going to put it ahead of sexual abuse of a child or a murder case," Jones said. "It's a misdemeanor."

VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor said last week that Brunson had approved the electronic bingo machines.

The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the electronic bingo machines taken from VictoryLand in 2013 were illegal.

The court found that the machines did not meet the legal definition of bingo as approved by Macon County voters in a constitutional amendment in 2003.
Two men were killed in a shootout with each other at a Fairfield gas station Friday afternoon.

The gunfire erupted about 1:45 p.m. at the Chevron on Lloyd Nolan Parkway. Witnesses and police said multiple shots were fired between the two men at the gas pumps at the service station.

One of the wounded men fled the scene in a vehicle, but made it less than a mile before he crashed into two light poles and came to a stop in the middle of the road, one of those poles still beneath his car.

The other wounded man was treated by paramedics at the Chevron and then taken to UAB Hospital by a rescue truck. He was unresponsive when he left the scene, and pronounced dead a short time later.

Fairfield police Chief Nick Dyer said at least one witness was being interviewed at Fairfield police headquarters, but said the two men are believed to have shot each other. "We're not looking for anyone else,'' he said.

Dyer said the girlfriend of the victim who was found dead in the crashed car was with him, but said the boyfriend pushed her out of the vehicle before he fled the gas station scene.

"We're trying to determine what started the argument but the (girlfriend) doesn't have a true reason,'' he said.

Police have already viewed some surveillance tape but said some of the shooting was blocked by the gas pumps. They still don't know who fired first.

Alexis Evans said she had just gotten off the bus when she heard the shots ring out. She said she heard at least nearly a half dozen. "It was awful. It was really awful,'' she said. "They just went to shooting at each other. It was bad."

The mother of one of the men rushed to the crime scene at the Chevron and collapsed into the arms of police officers. She then left to go to UAB Hospital at the advice of police.

At least 100 people gathered at the scene of the crash, including the mother, other family members and friends of the man dead inside the vehicle. The victim's mother, sitting inside an SUV, spoke with police and Jefferson County Coroner's Office officials.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said it would likely be Monday before the names of the victims are publicly released.

Today's slayings bring the total number of homicides in Fairfield this year to five. The other homicides happened Feb. 20, April 7 and June 10. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 108 homicides.
vigil.jpg

(Jonece Starr Dunigan)

As the light of a candle glowed against her solemn face, Bria Mines was determined to take a stand against police brutality during a vigil at Kelly Ingram Park on Thursday night.

Birmingham's Black Lives Matter chapter called the gathering to support the family of Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man who was fatally shot by Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby on Sept. 16. Mines, 19, heard about the event on social media, the same place where she heard about the past protests and marches remembering other black individuals who allegedly died at the hands of law enforcement. They were events Mines couldn't attend because of a busy schedule.

But she decided she wasn't going to miss this event.

"We come past so many years of slavery and so many years of segregation," Mines said. "We shouldn't be pushed back like this."

More than 50 people carried black balloons and black candles during the vigil. Participants -- black, white, Hispanic and other nationalities -- toted signs saying, "Black Lives Matter" or "No Justice, No peace." Community activists, pastors and residents used the vigil as a platform to speak about their emotions or uplift the community through song, poetry or preaching.

Rev. Carl Hill Jr. of Greater 14th Street Baptist Church in Bessemer tried to encourage people to remain persistent. He knows they have heard the same roll call of the dead over and over: Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and others. But he asked the community to unite during his speech.

Black Lives Matters Birmingham officials speak during candlelight vigil for #TerenceCrutcher pic.twitter.com/GWwSARF4vT  Jonece Starr Dunigan (@StarrDunigan) September 22, 2016

"We have to look beyond justice because justice leaves us heartbroken," Hill said. "We're looking beyond justice. We want equality."

BLM official Cara McClure said she was pleased with the peaceful atmosphere of the event. People spoke about love and peace, but the undertones of anger and hurt were also present. And that's OK, McClure said.

She felt the same uneasy feelings after watching the helicopter footage of Crutcher's death, which shows the victim walking towards the vehicle with his hands up moments before he was shot. She couldn't sleep after she watched the violence in the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina after the officer-involved shooting death of Keith Lamar Scott on Tuesday. She said it's important for the community to stay together to stop the root of violence.

"I kind of thanked God it wasn't Birmingham, but violence isn't police brutality," McClure said. "Violence is homelessness. Violence is poverty. We have all of that in Birmingham. So we have violence in our city."

McClure made sure unity was illustrated during the vigil. Participants released their balloons and blew out their candles at the same time. They consoled each other with hugs as they left the park.

It was Mines' first time attending a vigil and she is determined to attend more vigils, marches or protests. She hopes more people will join her.

"Racism isn't something you're born with. It's taught to you and passed down to generation to generation," Mines said. "But there can always be that one person that helps to stop it. I feel like things like this will help sooner or later because it makes people aware. If more people are aware about (social injustice) it will get better."
sessions shelby rsa

Sens. Jeff Sessions, left, and Richard Shelby, center, with Gov. Robert Bentley in a 2011 event at Redstone Arsenal. (AL.com file photo)

Alabama's two U.S. senators joined 28 of their colleagues on Friday, sending a letter to President Barack Obama urging the president not to change longstanding American policy that keeps the option of a first nuclear strike on the table.

The policy has been in place since the end of World War II, but Obama is considering reversing course, arguing that a first strike nuclear attack all but assures the destruction of the U.S. from a retaliatory strike from countries with large nuclear arsenals such as Russia or China.

But U.S. Sens. Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby, both Republicans, contend that changing the strategy gives an advantage to terrorist organizations and "hostile countries."

"Establishing a no first use policy ... would severely reduce the value of our nuclear deterrent, limit the options of America's future leaders to safeguard the legacy of peace, and undermine the credibility of our alliances," the senators wrote. "As you are well aware, some hostile countries possess biological, chemical, and radiological weapons that have the potential to kill scores of Americans or allied citizens. Terrorist organizations actively seek the expertise to build their own weapons and steal material from countries that possess it. It would be exceedingly unwise to forgo the option of a nuclear strike against such enemies to end a conflict on terms favorable to the United States and its allies."

The senators noted that members of Obama's cabinet, including Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz all support continuing the first-strike policy.
After facing harsh criticism for ending her hunger strike, Irom Sharmila seeks support as she plans to run for office.

Kolkata, India  As she ended her epic 16-year hunger strike last month in protest against alleged brutality and sweeping powers by Indias military in the countrys northeastern state of Manipur, Irom Sharmila announced her intention to run for office to carry on her struggle against the abuses.

Sitting on her bed at a Vaishnava monastery in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, the 44-year-old rights activist, who had begun her hunger strike demanding the repeal of the controversial security law of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA (PDF), told Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview that many of her supporters are now unhappy with her decision.

I pledged that I would not end my hunger strike until AFSPA was withdrawn  But I fasted for so long, and it failed to impact the government  I decided to change the course of my fight and join politics, she said.

However, the human rights activists decision has come at a price, costing her much of the support of those who had stood by her side during her 16-year-long hunger strike.

Being confined to a hospital bed for so long, the woman who has become known as the Iron Lady of Manipur has indeed emerged to a thorny political scene, finding herself isolated and rebuked by the very supporters and fellow activists who once stood by her side.

Many even wanted me to not end the hunger strike, Sharmila said. However, she describes that what made her end her strike was the realisation for the need of a new strategy.

While I was fasting, at one point, I began to realise that many of my co-activists were withdrawing their support, and I was left all alone in my fight, she says.

Sharmila has evolved in her beliefs and now sees that political participation is what will bring change from inside the system.

Through politics, I can attain power, Sharmila told the local media last August, just after the tube used by the authorities to force-feed her through her nose was removed. If I can win the elections, become the chief minister of Manipur, then I can get the AFSPA repealed using my political clout.

According to human rights organisations, the AFSPA of 1958 has been in force purportedly to curb insurgency in areas like Kashmir and northeast India, including Manipur. The act gives troops sweeping powers to make arrests without warrants and even shoot suspected insurgents without fear of prosecution.

READ MORE: The longest fast

Her latest decision to end the strike and contest elections is a change in strategy only, and the movement to repeal of the AFSPA will only get stronger now.





There are a good number of people supporting Sharmilas new political strategy, and they will be happy to see her as a powerful political leader, Nepram says.

In Manipur, we still have 60 armed insurgent groups and 100,000 troops of Indian armed forces, and the martial law of AFSPA is still in place.

We are ruled by men who control the state with guns, drugs and high corruption. Under this extremely violent situation, it will require proper strategising for Sharmila to plunge into the political arena in the state, she says.

Repeated Al Jazeera attempts to solicit a response from Indian government representatives to these allegations of human rights violations were unsuccessful.

Political strategy

Earlier this month, several of Sharmilas fellow activists and friends met her in the hospital to help her plan a strategy to connect with the people before going out on her political mission.

Fasting Sharmila in the forefront of the anti-AFSPA fight helped mobilise the support of the masses successfully, human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam, who has long worked with Sharmila as her associate, told Al Jazeera. However, now that she wants to continue her fight against AFSPA as a politician, she badly needs the mass support.

Loitongbam adds that Sharmilas strategy should be to go out and interact with the grassroots people to find out what they expect from her before she launches her career in politics.

Sharmila told Al Jazeera she had regained her physical strength will start meeting people from different corners of the state this month.

Manipurs ruling Congress party, Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Delhi  approached Sharmila, welcoming her to their respective parties.

However, Sharmila says that she would run in next years Manipur state elections in as an independent candidate.

She recognises the weight of her decision, and her goal is to go out and connect with locals around the state.

I have to reach out to the people of Manipur. I have to spend a long time meeting the members from different communities across the state, she says.

In fact I have already begun traveling to different parts of the state to meet the people.

Recognising the importance of gaining the peoples support in her new journey, Sharmila says she will need their full-fledged support.

I cannot succeed in my goal unless they back me.

Follow Shaikh Azizur Rahman on Twitter @azizinnews
Rights and aid groups say the caution that follows a major attack can have devastating impact on civilian populations.

New York  The deadly attack on a UN aid convoy near the Syrian city of Aleppo became a grim reminder to diplomats gathered for this years United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of the challenges facing humanitarian aid agencies.

The #NotATarget stand-in, organised by UN staffers for three days, drew attention to what was on the minds of the aid community attending the event.

Although the UNs humanitarian aid agency said it had resumed aid delivery on Thursday, news of warplanes bombing aid trucks during a fragile week-long ceasefire  an attack that killed at least 20 people  has brought the topic to the fore this week.

The attack on the convoys was egregious, said Jason Cone, executive director for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which supplies a network of 150 health centres and clinics in different parts of Syria.

All the parties to the conflict need to accept that aid needs to come in  it shouldnt require ceasefires for this to happen, he said.

The UNs refugee agency estimates that 13.5 million of Syrias population of nearly 18 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. Delivering aid in the country is incredibly difficult and dangerous, Cone said.

Every time we try and bring in assistance, its in a very clandestine way, he added. This is how MSF has been getting aid into Aleppo to help the 250,000 people trapped there.

Chilling effect

Unlike in other countries, MSF does not provide coordinates for their clinics to Syrian officials and combatants, because those hospitals have been targeted as part of the war strategy.

In 2016, we had 31 attacks on 19 MSF facilities  it absolutely has a chilling effect. While were running large operations in Syria and around Syria in places like Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, were nowhere near meeting the needs  nobody is, said Cone.

Selim Salamah, a refugee from Syria and director of the Palestinian League for Human Rights, said the UN should have led more efforts way before the attack on the convoy in negotiating humanitarian access.

We will see little outrage as most members of [this] convoy were Syrians  no foreigners lives were lost to cause an international anger, he added.





US officials have blamed the strike 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.

Syria is not the only place where aid delivery is a challenge. Places like South Sudan and Yemen have also proved vexing, largely because of the number of non-state armed groups with whom any kind of safe passage for convoys of goods has to be negotiated.

Jehanne Henry, senior researcher in Human Rights Watchs Africa division, told Al Jazeera that how and if an aid convoy can get in largely depends on the parties involved.

Some organisations have a higher threshold for risk, she said. But when big attacks on aid groups happen, it certainly has huge, very far-reaching consequences.

As an example, Henry mentioned the July attack on aid workers at a compound outside Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Aid organisations all evacuated their staff and have only recently come back, Henry said.

When aid groups leave and when operations are suspended, we know that it affects the civilian population. The insecurity, the limits in the reach of aid groups  at the end of the day, its the civilians, its the villagers who suffer, she added.

Worldwide, 246 million children live in areas affected by conflict  12 to 15 million of them in areas actively involved in war  and 28 million children have been displaced by conflict.

The numbers are mind-boggling, said Saudamini Siegrist, senior adviser for child protection emergencies at the UN agency for children (UNICEF).

She told Al Jazeera that while the tactic of blocking access to humanitarian aid is not a new thing, aid agencies have been facing increasing difficulties in accessing the most vulnerable populations.

We have a lot of experience in this area, and I would say that we will not be deterred, said Siegrist.

But, she added, being cut off from aid, combined with not having access to education, will have short and long-term consequences for children.

It will have a crushing impact on the lives of children  and recovery takes time, she said. Theres no quick fix.
Raising fences and hiring border hunters to reject war refugees goes against the values of the EU.

Over the past few days, the streets of Hungary have been taken over by large billboards with an unequivocal message: Lets send a message to Brussels so that they understand.

The defiance and arrogance of the ruling nationalist movement led by Hungarian President Viktor Orban has reached new levels with this campaign that cost his country millions of euros. In two weeks, he will be able to use a new bargaining chip in his populistic demands: an overwhelming victory in the upcoming referendum on the quota of Syrian refugees that his country will accept.

Orbans victory in the upcoming vote is assured. The question asked to Hungarian citizens could not have been more biased: Do you want the European Union to be able to order the mandatory settlement of non-Hungarian citizens in Hungary without parliaments consent?





It is hard to imagine that a country would vote en masse to allow any organisation to impose decisions without consulting its own elected parliament. Had the question been Do you want to protect a handful of civilians escaping war? then Orbans success would have been less certain.

National sovereignty

Orban has framed the debate around the issue of national sovereignty. The argument is that Hungary needs to resist against decisions taken abroad, as it has done throughout its history.

In the 19th century, the country resisted diktats from the Austrian Empire. In the second half of the 20th century, it stood valiantly against the orders from Moscow. Now, Orban suggests, it is time to resist policies from Brussels as if the European Union was yet another conqueror.

READ MORE: Three paths to European disintegration

What Orban fails to mention is that Hungary is free to follow the British road and leave the European Union at any time. Nevertheless, this is a step that Budapest will not take. The country benefits greatly from EU membership with its gross national product per head increasing by 20 percent since Hungary joined the union 10 years ago, despite a recent stuttering under Orban.

Yet, despite impressive economic results, the Hungarians have to understand that being a member of the EU does not mean that you can simply reap the benefits without contributing to a common political project.

In the case of the Syrian refugees, both Greece and Italy are supporting the bulk of the weight. Even if the efforts made by both countries is little in comparison with Lebanon or Turkey, both are in dire need of support from European solidarity.

Matteo Renzi is about to bet his political survival in an upcoming referendum on constitutional reforms, currently overshadowed by the debate on refugees. The Greek economy is still recovering and needs support from neighbours.

Refugee crisis

Yet Orban is using the refugee crisis for his own interests. His objective is to annex the electorate of the other nationalistic parties in Hungary, such as the neo-nazi Jobbik party, by blowing the issue out of proportion.

If Hungary is not ready to step up to its obligations ... then the very pertinence of its EU membership should be reassessed. by

In truth, the European Union plan for refugees allocation only requested Hungary to welcome 1,000 refugees  that represents a mere 0.01 percent of the current population.

If Hungary is not ready to step up to its obligations, if the country does not want to contribute to a regional effort by implementing Brussels negotiated quota system, then the pertinence of its EU membership should be reassessed. This is in essence what other European leaders are starting to suggest.

Before the European summit held last week in Bratislava, the foreign minister of Luxembourg  a founding member of the EU  clearly suggested that Hungary should be left on the side of the European Union.

According to Jean Asselborn, Hungary should be kicked out because of its repeated violations of the EUs core identity.

Raising fences and hiring border hunters to reject war refugees is fundamentally against the values and political aspirations underlying the very creation of the union.

READ MORE: Hungary  three villages and the fence that divides them

The EU is not an a la carte menu whose finality is to increase economic return. It was never meant to be a pedestrian trade agreement but instead was founded to make war unthinkable and materially impossible and prevent the rise of nationalism, as the Schuman Declaration of 1950 clearly stipulated.

By not standing up to its original values, the European Union is losing its soul and therefore its raison detre. The European project is not about ethnic or religious identity, nor is it about economic gains but it is about the protection of democracy and the interdependence between people and nations.

Unfortunately, the Bratislava summit confirmed that European leaders were ready to settle for very mild and cautious stances. The priority curser has been pointed towards stability and security, playing directly into the hands of the extreme right parties.

With elections over the next few months, neither Angela Merkel nor Francois Hollande seem willing to take an ambitious long-term approach. The fallout from Brexit, the opposition between Mediterranean and Nordic countries, the renewed assertiveness of xenophobic leaders in the East  all these divisions seem to paralyse the already lukewarm Franco-German tandem when leadership would be deeply needed.

Instead of playing on the defensive in the wake of globalisation and its inevitable consequences, a reaffirmation of European values together with a strong rebuttal of Orbans xenophobic tactics would have been the correct long-term strategy.

Until European leaders stand up to their responsibilities, the European youth will not buy into the universal project, and the democratic deficit of the European institutions will worsen, leading to their eventual demise.

Remi Piet is assistant professor of public policy, diplomacy and international political economy at Qatar University.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
On Tuesday, King Felipe VI of Spain addressed the United Nations General Assembly. The young monarch referred to the political deadlock and economic situation in Spain, and called on Spanish politicians to protect and improve the welfare state, and assist those affected by the recession.

He even managed to call for a negotiated handover of Gibraltar to Spain. Not mentioned in his address, however, was the political conflict surrounding the memory of the Spanish civil war, the renewed efforts to find the remains of poet Federico Garcia Lorca, one of Francos most famous victims, and the role of the UN in the process.





On August 18, 1936, the Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, was executed by forces loyal to General Francisco Franco, at the start of a three-year civil war that left 200,000 dead.

The Granada-born poet had gained notoriety for his 1928 book of poems, Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Ballads), and his 1933 play Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding), but was also known for his leftist and anti-fascist views.

Taboo subject

He was shot dead by a death squad at the age of 38, and buried in an unmarked grave at the edge of an olive grove. Where he was buried has long been a mystery, if not a taboo subject.

READ MORE: Spanish leftists join fight against ISIL

Under Francos rule (1939-1975), Lorcas ideas and death were not publicly discussed, and only redacted versions of his books were available. As Spain moved to democracy, Lorca rose to the fore again, his writings finding a new generation of readers.

During the past seven years, several attempts have been made to locate the poets grave. Earlier this week archaelogists began excavating at a site just outside the town of Alfacar, on a hilltop facing Granada, hoping to find Lorcas resting place. The archeologists have been following leads provided by historians.

In 2009, Ian Gibson, Lorcas biographer, had identified a spot in Alfacar after interviewing a man who claimed to have buried the poet. The excavation ended unsuccessfully.

In 2012, it was historian Miguel Caballero who after consulting local police archives, suggested that the burial place was about half a kilometre away from the first site. This latest excavation is based on Caballeros belief that Lorcas body was thrown into a now-sealed well a few metres away.

The logistical difficulties are compounded by the political situation in Spain.

In 1977, two years after Francos death, Spains main political parties negotiated an amnesty law called the Pacto del Olvido (the Pact of Forgetting), with parliament passing an amnesty law making it almost impossible to prosecute the human rights abuses of the old regime.

The Granada-born poet had gained notoriety for his 1928 book of poems, Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Ballads), and his 1933 play Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding), but was also known for his leftist and anti-fascist views. by

Historical memory

The pact also included a provision of desmemoria (disremembering), meaning the government would not stir up memories of the civil war, whether through a truth and reconciliation commission or through commemorative events.

In the past decade, however, a number of historical memory groups have appeared, led by the descendants of Republicans and leftists who were murdered, and calling for an exhumation of mass graves and a public discussion of the civil war.

Jose Maria Aznar, of the Popular Party, who was prime minister from 1996 to 2004 was opposed to these demands  both his father and grandfather had served under Franco.

His socialist successor Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero passed the Law of Historical Memory in 2007 that required the removal of Francoist symbols from public places, and called for state funding for the exhumation of mass graves.

The historical memory law provided four years of state support, helping organisations such as the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory locate 5,400 bodies and undertake DNA testing of remains.

Yet lots of mass graves and tens of thousands of bodies remain unexhumed, and that is because when the conservative Mariano Rajoy came to power in 2011 following a landslide victory, the funding was stopped.

READ MORE: Looking backwards at Muslims in Spain

In his campaign, Rajoy had made clear his opposition to the memory law, saying it simply polarised Spain further, and promised that if elected: I would eliminate all the articles in the historical memory law that mention using public funds to recover the past. I wouldnt give even a single euro of public funds for that.

Relatives of the disappeared

To fund excavations, the memory groups began appealing for assistance from regional institutions and via crowd-sourcing on the internet.

In September 2014, Spanish memory activists received an unexpected boost from the United Nations, when a UN working group on forced disappearances visited Spain, and issued a report with 42 recommendations  among them the abrogation of 1977 amnesty law  and demanded that the Spanish government take action to ensure that relatives of the disappeared receive state support in locating the remains of the individuals murdered during the civil war or during the dictatorship.

Yet the process has remained stalled, a reflection of Spains political deadlock. Since January, Spain has had an interim government led by Rajoy, with party leaders unable to form a majority in parliament.

The memory activists have received some support in Catalonia, the Basque Country and Andalusia, especially in cities where socialists and the left-wing movement Podemos are in power. In the Navarre capital, Pamplona, for instance, the city council run by a coalition of Podemos and Basque Independents recently decided to remove the remains of two Francoist generals from the citys Monument to the Fallen, in accordance with the Law of Historical Memory.

This third attempt to find Lorca, say activists, is supported by a recent anonymous donation. And much rests on this undertaking. Many believe that finding the final resting place of Lorca, a voice of pluralism and tolerance, can help reconcile Spain with its tragic past.

If [Lorca] is there, we will find him, declared Javier Navarro, the archaeologist leading the excavation in Alfacar.
Officials say bodies of 162 people have been pulled from the Mediterranean, amid fears death toll could rise further.

The death toll from a refugee boat sinking off Egypts coast has risen to 162, as rescuers recovered more bodies from the Mediterranean.





Survivors have said up to 450 people were on board the overcrowded fishing vessel that was heading to Italy from Egypt when it capsized off the port city of Rosetta on Wednesday.

The bodies of 162 people had been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast, Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province, where Rosetta is located, told the Associated Press on Friday.

An earlier official toll on Friday had put the number of dead at 148.

The military said that it had rescued 163 survivors, and recovery attempts were continuing.

There are fears the death toll could rise further, with rescuers focusing their efforts on the boats hold where witnesses said around 100 people had been when the vessel flipped over.

READ MORE: The refugee crisis beyond Europe

In a new report on Friday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that as many as 240 [people are still] unaccounted for or presumed missing from the shipwreck.





Normally in such situations, missing migrants are presumed drowned, their remains never recovered, it said.

The IOM said most of those rescued were Egyptians, but also included Sudanese, Eritreans, a Syrian and an Ethiopian.

Authorities arrested four suspected people traffickers on Thursday over the incident, the latest in what the UN refugee agency expects to be the deadliest year on record for the Mediterranean.

The accident comes months after the EU border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of Europe-bound refugees were using Egypt as a departure point for the dangerous journey.

People-traffickers often use barely seaworthy vessels and overload them to extract the maximum money in fares from desperate refugees.

READ MORE: Refugee crisis a test of our humanity

The IOM reported on Friday that 300,450 migrants and refugees had entered Europe by sea in 2016 through September 21, arriving mostly in Greece and Italy. Some 166,050 people have arrived in Greece and 130,567 in Italy during 2016.

Total arrivals for the entire month of September last year were 518,181  nearly 50 percent higher than 2016s totals, with slightly over a week remaining before the start of October.

Deaths, however, are considerably higher than last years total of 2,887 on this date.

According to the IOMs Missing Migrants Project, this years death toll stand at 3,501, including the people who died in the latest tragedy off Egypt.
UK-based Larry Sanders, 82, will represent the Green Party in the race for former British PM David Camerons seat.

The brother of Bernie Sanders, the former US presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, has announced that he will be running for a seat in the British parliament, vacated last week by former Prime Minister David Cameron.

Larry Sanders, 82, who moved to the UK in 1969, was selected to represent the Green Party in the October 20 by-election to replace Cameron as the MP for the Witney constituency in Oxfordshire.

Cameron, who stepped down as prime minister in late June following his failed referendum campaign to convince UK voters to remain the European Union, announced his resignation from parliament earlier in September.

Congrats to @LarrySandersPPC, selected as @TheGreenParty candidate for #Witney. A fantastic local activist & advocate for truly public #NHS.  Keith TaylorMEP 2010-19 (@GreenKeithMEP) September 22, 2016

The major political parties are in disarray, Sanders said in a statement on Friday.

The policies of the last 30 years, shifting resources and power from the majority to the richest, culminated in the illegality and greed which crashed the economy in 2008, he said, channelling a rhetoric his 75-year-old brother and senator of Vermont used throughout his presidential nomination bid.

This is a rich, capable and decent country, he said. We can do better.

More funding for social care

Sanders will be fighting the by-election on the promise to fight NHS [National Health Service] privatisation, the Green Party said in a statement on Friday.

He will also campaign for a fair proportional representation system so every vote counts, more funding for social care and to reverse housing policy so everyone can afford a decent home.

READ MORE: Bernie Sanders calls out capitalism at the Vatican

Larry Sanders, who previously served as a local councillor, is currently the Green Partys health spokesman.

He been active in local politics in Britain for more than 15 years, also ran for a parliamentary seat in the 2015 general election for Oxford West and Abingdon, when he secured 4.4 percent of the vote, losing to his Conservative rival who got more than 45 percent.

The Witney constituency is also a stronghold for the ruling Conservative Party.

READ MORE: Britains Green Party surge

At the 2015 election, Cameron secured the Witney parliamentary seat by winning more than 60 percent of the vote, while the Green Party candidate only got 5 percent.

The Conservatives announced on Thursday that 37-year-old Robert Courts will be their candidate in the coming by-election for the Witney seat.

Courts, a barrister and local councillor on West Oxfordshire District Council, said he was honoured by his partys decision.
Family of black man killed by police says it is impossible to discern from the videos whether Keith Scott carried a gun.

The family of the black man whose shooting death by police in Charlotte, North Carolina, triggered violent protests has viewed a video of the episode, as pressure is growing for police to make the footage public.

Keith Scott was killed on Tuesday by a police officer as part of a search for another man. While police say the officer who killed Scott was black, witnesses say the officer was white.

Police contend that Scott, 43, was carrying a gun when he approached officers and ignored repeated orders to drop it. His family previously said he was holding a book, not a firearm.

After the family had been allowed to see two police videos of the shooting, their lawyer said it was unclear if Scott was holding a gun when killed.

Scotts family called on police to immediately release the videos that they saw on Thursday.

But Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney told reporters that he is not going to make the video public because he does not want to jeopardise the investigation.

READ MORE: When do US police use body cameras?

Scotts death is the latest to stir passions in the United States over the police use of deadly force against black men.

The familys viewing of the video came on the same day that a white police officer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was charged with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose car had broken down and blocked a road.

In Charlotte, Scotts family said it still had more questions than answers after watching two police body camera videos of the officer shooting him dead in the car park of an apartment complex.

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, Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for the family, said in the statement.

It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr Scott is holding in his hands, the statement said, adding that Scotts hands were by his sides and he was slowly walking backwards.

Scotts killing prompted two nights of riots in Charlotte. Residents marched again on Thursday night in a peaceful protest.
India has signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France for around $8.7bn, the countrys first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades and a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modis plan to rebuild an ageing fleet.

The first ready-to-fly Rafales are expected to arrive by 2019 and India is set to have all 36 within six years.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the agreement with his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar, in New Delhi, on Friday, ending almost 18 months of wrangling over terms between New Delhi and manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

Parrikar said the deal would significantly improve Indias strike and defence capabilities.

Air force officials have warned for years of a major capability gap opening up with China and Pakistan without new state-of-the-art planes, as Indias outdated and largely Russian-made fleet retires and production of a locally made plane was delayed.

India had originally awarded Dassault an order for 126 Rafales in 2012 after the twin-engine fourth-generation fighter beat rivals in a decade-long selection process, but subsequent talks collapsed.

Modi, who has vowed to modernise Indias armed forces with a $150bn spending spree, personally intervened in April 2015 to agree on the smaller order of 36 and give the air force a near-term boost as he weighed options for a more fundamental overhaul.





But an industry expert says the deal does not stand to benefit India.

I dont think its a good deal, Bharat Karnad, a research professor in national security studies at the Centre for Policy Reseach, told Al Jazeera.

The original deal was for 126 aircrafts for a sum of $12-15bn. If you look at 36 being bought for $9bn without any transfer of technology, it ends up being a solution to ensure the health of the aviation sector in France.

The aircrafts are far too few to have a great operation significance in war.

Al Jazeeras Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris, said there was a lot of lobbying that took place behind the scenes to make this deal happen.

Its a big deal indeed for France and is expected to create up to 5,000 jobs here, she said.

The 36 planes will be built here before being sent to India ready for service. At many stages, it looked as if it wasnt going to be signed but the French government and President Francois Hollande have been very instrumental and lobbied hard over the years.

Mark of recognition

Fridays agreement is a major vote of confidence in the Rafale, which had long struggled to find buyers overseas, despite heavy lobbying efforts by the administration of President Hollande.

Hollande hailed the deal as recognition of Frances aviation industry.

The agreement  is a mark of the recognition by a major military power of the operational performance, the technical quality and the competitiveness of the French aviation industry, Hollande said in a statement.

India says its locally made Tejas fighter, which took to the skies in July 33 years after it was cleared for development, will form a major part of its future fleet, but Parrikar has also said that India needed 100 new light combat aircraft by 2020 to replace Russian MiG-21s.

India is the worlds biggest arms importer, and despite Modis pledge to build a local manufacturing base, foreign defence firms view India as one of the most lucrative markets as Western states trim defence budgets.

Tensions have flared up between Pakistan and India following the Uri attack last week that killed 17 soldiers in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, at his UN General Assembly address on Wednesday, said he did not want an arms race with India. But Eenam Gambhir, Indias UN diplomat called the neighbours a terrorist state, blaming the neighbouring country of planning the attack in Uri.
Crowds demand release of police footage showing moment Keith Lamont Scott was killed, and ignore calls to go home.

Protesters massed on Charlottes streets for a third night as pressure mounted on authorities to release a video that could resolve different accounts of the latest police killing of a black man in the United States.

Demonstrators on Thursday chanted Release the tape and We want the tape while briefly blocking an intersection near the Bank of America headquarters and later climbing the steps in front of the city government centre to vent their anger over the shooting dead of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott.

Later, several dozen demonstrators gathered on a highway, but they were pushed back by police in riot gear.

The protests were calmer than on previous nights. A midnight-to-6am curfew imposed by the mayor aimed to add a stopping point for the demonstrations but many marched on past 12am, with police saying they would not enforce the curfew as long as the demonstrations remained peaceful.

One protester Al Jazeera spoke to, when asked why they were marching after midnight, simply said: Because black lives matter.





On Wednesday, a night in which at least 44 people were arrested, one protester who was shot was taken to hospital.

That protester, 26-year-old Justin Carr, has now died of his wounds, officials said. City officials said police did not shoot the man and no arrests have been made over his death, but protesters say police fired the shot that killed him. A murder investigation is under way.

A state of emergency was imposed after Carr was shot.

Al Jazeeras Alan Fisher, reporting from Charlotte, said: The street is packed with people who have decided that the curfew means nothing to them, and they are going to continue protest.

Family shown footage

So far, police have resisted releasing police dashcam and body camera footage of Scotts death on Tuesday.

His family was shown the footage on Thursday and demanded that police release it to the public. The familys lawyer said he couldnt tell whether Scott was holding a gun, referring to a claim made by police and denied by witnesses.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said earlier that the video would only be made public when he believed there was a compelling reason to do so.

You shouldnt expect it to be released, Putney said. Im not going to jeopardise the investigation.

READ MORE: Keith Lamont Scotts family views video of killing

Charlotte is the latest US 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.

Charlotte police have said that Scott was shot dead on Tuesday by a black officer after he disregarded loud, repeated warnings to drop a gun. Neighbours, though, have said he was holding only a book, and that the officer who killed him was white. 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.

Irresponsible not to release video

Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for Scotts family, watched the video with the dead mans relatives. He said Scott got 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 backwards with his hands by his side, Bamberg said.

The lawyer said at a news conference earlier in the day that Scotts wife witnessed his killing, and thats something she will never, ever forget.

That is the first time anyone connected with the case has said Scotts wife witnessed the shooting. Bamberg gave no further details on what she saw.





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.

According to a tally being kept by The Guardian media organisation, police have killed at least 194 black Americans so far this year. In all of 2015, police killed at least 306 black men.

The figures from 2016 suggest that while black Americans make up around 13 percent of the population, they make up about 25 percent of those killed by police.
Al Jazeera speaks to a man who used an extreme tactic to survive a war on drugs that has killed more than 3,000 people.

Manila, Philippines  He was left for dead for an hour, his bullet ridden body slumped face down in a dimly lit corner near Manila Bay, soaked in his own pool of blood dripping onto the concrete pavement.

Police said that Francisco Santiago Jr and another man, George Huggins, were shot dead during an anti-drug operation in the early hours of September 13.

But, as reporters arrived at the scene of the police shooting, Santiago, who had been shot multiple times, started showing signs of life.

Stunned onlookers watched as his legs began twitching. Moments later, the 28-year-old sat upright, propping himself against a car and holding his bloodied arms in the air.

Police officers at the scene surrounded Santiago  pistols ready  before putting him in a car and taking him to the hospital.





Speaking from his hospital bed last weekend, Santiago told Al Jazeera that his rise from the dead was not a miracle, but a tactic to stay alive.

He alleged police had shot him multiple times and tried to kill him.

Breathing with the assistance of an oxygen tank and his bullet wounds bandaged, Santiago said he played dead for about an hour after being shot by a plain-clothes police officer.

Lying on the street, he hoped he would not succumb to his wounds as he waited for anyone but the police to find out he was still alive.

He denied the official police account he had sold methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, to an undercover anti-narcotics agent in the early hours of that morning. He also was not armed, he said, denying a police report that he had pointed a .22 Black Widow revolver at the undercover officer.

The driver of a motorised rickshaw, Santiago claimed that he was the victim of a police buy-and-bust set up, and that he had been picked up by police for questioning about 12 hours before being shot.

Santiago also said that the officer who shot him that night was the same plain-clothes policeman who had boarded his rickshaw earlier that day and took him to the station for questioning.

Twelve hours later, he was shot in the chest, upper abdomen and both arms. The second man shot at the scene, Huggins, died of his wounds.

Over 3,000 drug-related killings

Santiago is a rare survivor of Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes all-out war on drugs, his mother and a human-rights worker said.

Since June 30, when President Duterte took power and launched his war against drug traffickers and users, the police have reported over 3,000 drug-related killings, including 1,105 people killed in police operations up to September 16. Police revised that number down from 3,541, as reported earlier by the Philippine police chief Ronald Bato.

Despite mounting international condemnation as the death toll spirals upwards, Duterte told a gathering of troops near his home city of Davao on Tuesday that he had ordered authorities who are taking part in anti-drug operations, to stick to your mandate and do no wrong.

The drug problem in the Philippines was more serious than he expected, Duterte said, before offering some of his familiar advice: If a suspect draws out a gun, kill him. If he doesnt, kill him anyway.

Dutertes frequent exhortations for extrajudicial violence against suspected drug users and drug dealers have effectively given Philippine police a license to kill without any fear of accountability for their actions, said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch.

The case also underscores the dire need for an urgent, impartial investigation into the circumstances of the alarming surge in killings by police since Duterte came to power, he said.

Santiago was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday and is now detained at a Manila police station, his mother said.

During his brief detention at the police station prior to being shot, Santiago was coerced into admitting he was a tulak  slang in the Philippines for a drug dealer  and was forced, though he refused, to try out and hold a pistol, his mother, Ligaya Santiago, told Al Jazeera.

She also said police had pressured her son to fabricate a story to the media about the events on the night of shooting.

Between his detention and the shooting, Santiago and Huggins were ordered to board the rickshaw and drive around the area near the station, before they were shot.

Roy Candelario, the police investigator who first reported the double shooting to his station, insisted that the shooting of Santiago and Huggins was a legitimate police operation. If police had wanted to execute the men, both would have died, he assured.

If it was a summary execution, then the shooter would have already done the finishing on the suspect, Candelario told Al Jazeera.

Do you know what finishing is? Its shooting someone in the head.

Manila district police chief Joel Coronel was quoted in a newspaper as saying that Santiago was the main target and was on the drug watch list.

Police poseur buyer

The official police report into the double shooting identified Huggins as a gang member, who previously surrendered to authorities after being linked to the illegal drugs trade.

According to the report, an undercover police officer acted as a police poseur buyer and bought one sachet of shabu in the amount of 500 pesos ($10.64) from Santiago.

However, after having received the marked money, Santiago reportedly noticed that their client was an undercover law enforcer who eventually pushed him hard outside the motorised rickshaw.

Huggins then pulled out a caliber .38 revolver and fired successive shots at the undercover police officer but missed.

Sensing that his life is in jeopardy, the undercover officer, Orlando Gonzales, traded shots with Huggins, who sustained gunshot wounds and met his untimely death.

Around the same time, Santiago also reportedly pulled out a .22 revolver and [levelled] the same towards the police poseur buyer.

Santiago sustained gunshot wounds in the body and collapsed to the ground. He was later taken to a nearby hospital after showing sign of life, the report added.

Santiago admitted to Al Jazeera that he had used drugs, but was adamant: I am not a drug dealer.

On the night of the shooting, a man wearing a light-coloured shirt and dark jacket was in the area, according to a witness who could not see if Santiago and Huggins were armed or not because it was dark.

After the shooting, I saw police officers kick the bodies of the two suspects, as if to check if they were still alive or not, the witness said.

The police couldnt do anything because the reporters were already there. So, they just rushed the man to the hospital, while the reporters chased after them.

Santiago is facing four charges, including violation of the Philippine drug law, assault on a police officer, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and frustrated murder, according to the Manila Police District report.

His mother also said that he was being denied a lawyer.

An organisation of lawyers in the Philippines, the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), has offered Santiago its assistance and condemned Dutertes war on drugs as an assault on the fundamental constitutional rights to life, due process and presumption of innocence.

By undertaking tactics  such as killing rather than arresting suspects and bringing them before the bar of justice, law enforcement officials are betraying public trust, FLAG secretary-general Maria Socorro I Diokno said in a statement sent to Al Jazeera.

Law enforcement officials, Diokno said, must remember to perform their duties with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice.
Obama vetoes bill that would have allowed families of victims of September 11, 2001, to sue government of Saudi Arabia.

US President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would have allowed the families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement accompanying his veto message, Obama said on Friday he had deep sympathy for the 9/11 victims families and their desire to seek justice for their relatives.





The president said, however, that the bill would be detrimental to US national interests and could lead to lawsuits against the US or American officials for actions taken by groups armed, trained or supported by the US.

If any of these litigants were to win judgements  based on foreign domestic laws as applied by foreign courts  they would begin to look to the assets of the US government held abroad to satisfy those judgments, with potentially serious financial consequences for the United States, Obama said.

Saudi Arabia denies involvement in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon 15 years ago and has strongly objected to the bill.

The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) cleared Congress earlier this month just ahead of the 15th anniversary of the attacks.

Congress could override the veto with two-thirds majorities in both chambers, which is possible due to the measures broad bipartisan support. The White House has been working to convince politicians not to attempt such a move.

OPINION: 9/11 then and now  Terror, militarism, war and fear

New York Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, issued a statement within moments of receiving the veto promising that it would be swiftly and soundly overturned.

A group of survivors and families also pressed Congress to uphold the legislation, calling Obamas veto explanation unconvincing and unsupportable.

This is just the latest snub of Saudi Arabia from the US Congress, Al Jazeeras White House correspondent Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, said ahead of Obamas veto.

Two months ago, it released the so-called 28 pages  documents from an investigation that had been classified for a decade. Those papers traced a link between some Saudi diplomats and citizens and the hijackers before the attack. The Saudi government has denied it was involved.

Fifteen of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were Saudi nationals.

In a 2003 report, the US governments 9/11 Commission said there was no evidence Saudi Arabia had funded al-Qaeda.
Congressman Robert Pittenger apologises for his comments against Charlotte protesters after drawing heavy criticism.

A US congressman has come under fire after accusing protesters rallying against the police killing of a black man of hating white people, because white people are successful.

Republican politician Robert Pittenger told the BBC show Newsnight late on Thursday that people protesting against the killing of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte  the latest US city to be shaken by protests over the death of a black man at the hands of police  were doing so because they hate white people.





The grievance in their minds  the animus, the anger  they hate white people, because white people are successful and theyre not, Pittenger, who represents the Charlotte area, told Newsnight when asked about what was driving the protests.

Charlotte police have said that Scott was shot dead on Tuesday by a black officer after he disregarded loud, repeated warnings to drop a gun. Neighbours, though, have said that he was holding only a book, and that the officer who killed him was white. The police chief said a gun was found next to the dead man, and there was no book.

In the Newsnight interview, Pittenger also complained that the government had spent too much on welfare programmes that ultimately hold black people back.

It is a welfare state, he said. We have spent trillions of dollars on welfare, and weve put people in bondage, so they cant be all that theyre capable of being.

Pittenger later released a statement apologising for what he said but faced fierce criticism from fellow members of Congress, as well as his constituents.

George Kenneth Butterfield, a congressman for North Carolina, who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus, slammed Pittenger on Twitter saying his constituents deserve better.

.@reppittenger, your hateful and divisive rhetoric is exceedingly disappointing. Your constituents deserve better. #ncpol pic.twitter.com/1OdfwEZTGr  G. K. Butterfield (@GKButterfield) September 22, 2016

Criticism also came from other politicians in North Carolina.

One of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard. Ashamed to have served with this fool in the #ncga. #ncpol https://t.co/nZJe6t4b69  Rep. Grier Martin (@GrierMartin) September 22, 2016

Others blamed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has been accused of promoting racism, bigotry and misogyny, for worsening race relations in the country.

.@RobertPittenger's despicable comments are a sign of how low #Trump has brought our political discourse.  David Brock (@davidbrockdc) September 23, 2016

According to a tally being kept by The Guardian media organisation, police have killed at least 194 black Americans so far this year. In all of 2015, police killed at least 306 black men.

The figures from 2016 suggest that while black Americans make up around 13 percent of the population, they make up about 25 percent of those killed by police.
Residents speak of onslaught as Syrian army jets launch more than 150 air strikes, killing at least 90 people.

Syrian army jets have launched more than 150 air strikes on eastern Aleppo in the past 24 hours, killing at least 90 people in the northern city and its countryside, according to residents.

The latest raids on Friday, part of a new Syrian government offensive to recapture rebel-held parts of Aleppo, destroyed emergency service structures, as well as underground shelters used by civilians to hide from bombings.

We feel the earth trembling and shaking under our feet. Aleppo is burning by Bahaa al-Halabi, Aleppo resident

At least 30 neighbourhoods were targeted, Al Jazeeras Amr al-Halabi reporting from the city said, adding that the relentless bombardment was hampering the ability of rescue workers to help civilians caught up in the fighting.

Three centres for a volunteer rescue group known as the White Helmets were also hit in the raids.

We have four centres in eastern Aleppo. The aircraft targeted three centres. Two of them are now out of service, Abdul Rahman al-Hassani, of the White Helmets, told Al Jazeera.

He added that five vehicles belonging to the White Helmets were destroyed, including an ambulance.

Our centres were the direct target [of the strikes], Hassani said.

3 of the 4 @SyriaCivilDef centers in Aleppo city targeted this morning. 60 air strikes in East Aleppo pic.twitter.com/g5seYilDbY  The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) September 23, 2016

It was the second consecutive day of such fierce attacks, with one resident saying that the bombing continued all night and into the morning.

We feel the earth trembling and shaking under our feet. Aleppo is burning, Bahaa al-Halabi, an activist from a besieged rebel-held district, told DPA news agency.

People are not safe any more, even in shelters, resident Yassin Abu Raed said. Other locals said the latest raids were destroying underground shelters people had built.

The Syrian military, which is backed by the Russian air force, said late on Thursday that it was starting a new operation against the rebel-held east, which is home to at least 250,000 people and has been battered by intense bombing for months.

In a statement on its official website, the Syrian defence ministry called on Aleppo residents to move to government-held areas, adding that there would be no detention, or inquiry to any citizen who reached the checkpoints that divide the city.

A high-ranking military source confirmed that the bombardment was preparation for a ground assault.

We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment, he told the AFP news agency.

This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground.

Aleppo was once Syrias commercial and industrial hub but has been ravaged by fighting and roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012.

Rebel districts have been under siege by the army for most of the past two months after troops overran the last supply lines.

READ MORE: Why Aleppo matters

The announcement of the new Syrian army offensive on Thursday came just as international powers failed to revive a collapsed ceasefire during diplomatic talks in New York.





Speaking after a meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) on Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that he was determined to restore the ceasefire, calling on the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Russia to do their part to ease the suffering of the Syrian people.

A truce deal hammered out by Russia and the United States briefly halted the violence earlier this month, but it collapsed after just a week without any of the promised deliveries of desperately-needed relief supplies.

On Monday, a UN aid convoy was attacked, in what the US says was a Russian air strike, though Moscow rejects the charges. At least 20 people were killed and 18 trucks destroyed.

What is happening is Aleppo is under attack and everyone is going back to the conflict, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura 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.
Three out of four centres for volunteer rescue group hit by bombs as more than 100 raids launched in new offensive.

Syrian army jets have launched at least 100 air raids on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, killing 26 people, since the government announced a new push on the city, according to rescue workers.

The military, which is backed by the Russian air force, said late on Thursday that it was starting a new operation against the rebel-held east, which is home to at least 250,000 people and has been battered by bombing raids for months.





At least 15 Aleppo neighbourhoods were targeted, Al Jazeeras Amr al-Halabi reported from the city, adding that the relentless bombardment was hampering the ability of rescue workers to help civilians caught up in the fighting.

Three centres for a volunteer rescue group known as the White Helmets were hit in the raids.

We have four centres in eastern Aleppo. The aircraft targeted three centres. Two of them are now out of service, Abdul Rahman al-Hassani, of the White Helmets, told Al Jazeera.

He added that five vehicles belonging to the White Helmets were destroyed, including an ambulance.

Our centres were the direct target [of the strikes], Hassani said.

The White Helmets group, which operates in rebel-held parts of the country, was this week named as one of the winners of an award often called the alternative Nobel prize.

The Right Livelihood Award Foundation cited the White Helmets, also known as Syria Civil Defence, for outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians.

Aleppo was once Syrias commercial and industrial hub but has been ravaged by fighting and roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012.

Rebel districts have been under siege by the army for most of the past two months after troops overran the last supply lines.

READ MORE: Why Aleppo matters

A truce deal hammered out by Russia and the United States briefly halted the violence earlier this month, but it collapsed after only a week without any of the promised deliveries of desperately needed relief supplies.

What is happening is Aleppo is under attack and everyone is going back to the conflict, United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura said.

De Mistura has estimated that more than 400,000 people have been killed since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011, though that number is not an official UN estimate.
Court to rule on who will be president after disputed election resulted in violent protests and a political crisis.

Gabons constitutional court is to decide as early as Friday who will be the countrys next president, ending weeks of uncertainty after a disputed election sparked a political crisis and violent protests.

Incumbent President Ali Bongo, the son of late ruler Omar Bongo, was declared the winner of the August 27 election by a margin of fewer than 6,000 votes.

But rival Jean Ping, a career diplomat and former chairman of the African Union Commission, filed a legal challenge and demanded a recount, saying that the vote was fraudulent.

The court met on Thursday and has retired to consider its verdict. It has the choice of either upholding the original result or overturning it.

The case is under deliberation. In principle, the decision could be handed down on September 23, the president of the court, Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, said at the end of a nearly three-hour hearing on Thursday.

Pings staff have accused the court and Mborantsuo of being guilty of a miscarriage of justice, citing an interview she gave.

I have to say that it is rare that the choice of reversal [of the vote results] is used, she told the Jeune Afrique weekly on September 15 in a statement that infuriated Ping supporters.

Friday deadline

Mborantsuo, who is from Bongos stronghold of Haut-Ogooue, was named to the countrys top court when she was only 28. She had an affair with Bongo and bore him two children. According to the opposition and the Gabonese media, she has amassed a large property portfolio at home and abroad.

Nobody wants to be in Mborantsuos shoes, a diplomatic source told the AFP news agency. She is under enormous pressure from both camps.

Ping has made it clear that he believes Bongo has the court in his pocket, referring to it as the Tower of Pisa that always leans the same way.

Friday marks the expiry of a 15-day deadline for the court to resolve the electoral dispute, but the announcement could still be delayed until Saturday.

The country of 1.8 million people has been deeply split by violent protests that erupted after Bongo was declared the winner.

In his legal challenge, Ping asked for a recount in the Bongo familys Haut-Ogooue stronghold. Bongo won more than 95 percent of votes there on a declared turnout of more than 99 percent.

EU election observers said there had been a clear anomaly in the results from the province.

We are scared

There was a heavy security presence in the capital Libreville on Thursday, where the situation was tense as people awaited the courts decision, with officers in riot gear prepared to head off any unrest.

Gabonese ministers, who have vowed to maintain order, warned 73-year-old Ping that he could be held responsible if fresh violence breaks out.

Pings camp says that more than 50 people were killed in post-electoral violence but the interior ministry has put the toll at three dead.

Locals were stockpiling food to last through the weekend should the streets be manned with checkpoints.

We are scared that after the final results are out that there may be more violence and looting and the country turns into a civil war, Glady Ipandi, who was shopping in Libreville, told Al Jazeera.

Rice, bread, milk, and canned food are running out in the capital. Many shops have shut down and people are taking as much cash out as possible from ATMs.

Pierre Dekambe, a resident of the capital, told Al Jazeera: We dont know what is going to happen, if the president is going to be re-elected or not, or if there going to be protesters on the street. We just dont know.
Britain has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in Europe and doctors in UK want minorities to participate more.

Doctors in Britain are urging ethnic minority communities to help end a serious shortage of organ transplant.

Britain has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in Europe and according to the countrys National Health Service (NHS), only 34 percent of people from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) backgrounds that consented to donating their organs.

The figure was almost half the number of white people that had signed up.

Nine-year-old Delano Joseph receives dialysis treatment three times a week at a childrens hospital in the UK.

His kidneys do not function conventionally and his blood is cleaned artificially by a machine.

Delano is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, but is struggling to find a match due to a lack of suitable donations from the black community.

READ MORE: Can the UK change attitudes towards organ donations?

His mother, Diana Joseph, blames the shortage on cultural attitudes.

For the black community, I think its fear, she told Al Jazeera.

I really think its fear. I think its the same for all ethnic communities. But when it comes to being under the knife, the attitude is no. Its like youre rejoicing in someone elses sorrow.

With BAME patients making up 33 percent of the active kidney transplant waiting list, the NHS report stated that the lower rate of donation is a challenge.

It recently launched a Campaign Video targeting Muslim and Jewish communities, in a bid to encourage more people to sign up to organ donation lists.

Moral scepticism

Despite most religious leaders in the UK supporting organ donations from either a living or dead person, there is still moral scepticism among many Muslims.

Professor Nizam Mamode explained to Al Jazeera that particular minority communities can be more susceptible to certain diseases that could potentially lead to organ failure.

There are certain kidney diseases which are genetically related and therefore, within an ethnic group or a subdivision of an ethnic group, you may find a higher prevalence of that disease, Mamode said.

And there are other conditions like diabetes that are more common in the Asian community, which can lead to kidney failure.

Last year, more than 1,300 people died either waiting on the list or becoming too sick to receive a transplant.
Allie Ricker and her colleagues at the Career Resource Center noticed students didnt visit on a regular basis.

A lot of our services that we have are one-and-done types of services, Ricker said. Students come in for a workshop and then leave. Theres not a whole lot of community.

As a result, the senior assistant director for career and professional development at the CRC, is helping to launch the Career Success Institute, a six-week program that aims to help students develop skills for leadership positions, internships and job searches.

The new program will be held every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at the resource center starting Oct. 11. The application, which can be found on the centers website, is due today.

We really wanted to create a cohort of students with this institute, Ricker said.

The pilot program will provide students a chance to connect with their peers and reflect on their career interests. Initial sessions will focus on community building. Participants will be able to get to know each other and the resource centers staff, Ricker said.

Students will then take a personality assessment to help them reflect on whats important to them and how that applies to their career goals.

A student leadership panel consisting of UF students with experience in campus involvement and internships will also give advice to enrollees during one of the programs sessions, Ricker said.

Ron Cabrera, a UF health education and behavior junior, has attended multiple workshops at the CRC in the past and is excited about the institutes potential.

I think it will be beneficial for students to take advantage of that program, the 20-year-old said. It will help us get a better aspect of what careers we want to pursue and just network with the people there as well.

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At apartment parking lots across Gainesville, police officers have been issuing vehicle security report cards to deter burglaries.

These blue pass-fail notices, posted underneath car windshield wipers, are meant to function as wake-up calls for residents who may have left their cars unlocked or who have left valuables in plain sight.

Although police find the initiative important for educating the public amid a burglary surge, some residents see it as a violation of privacy and a waste of public resources.

A majority of folks that have received these understand what were doing, said Gainesville Police spokesman Officer Ben Tobias. But we have heard some very vocal complaints, ones that were pretty accusatory of us, on social media.

The program, which began about five years ago, has been sporadically used, he said. Officers visit apartment lots and other parking lots, checking up on a group of cars in the area.

Tobias said he is not aware of any other police department that has implemented a similar program.

Despite what some critics have alleged, Tobias said officers do not pull door handles. They look through the car window to see if the lock peg is up or down.

Were not going to commit a burglary ourselves just to get a point across about safety, he said.

Tobias said residents should take solace in the fact that, of anyone who could be checking on their cars, its police officers.

But the report cards placed on cars may encourage burglaries, said Moe Farag, an Eastside High School junior who lives at The Laurels Apartments.

Instead of a potential burglars pulling on handles, a passersby can just take the flier and see if the car is unlocked or has any valuables inside of it before deciding to commit the crime.

Because of this, the report cards officers leave could lead to a burglary, the 16-year-old said.

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If you dont have a good reason, you could just stop doing it, Farag said.

Dr. Yasser Samra, who works at UF Health Shands Hospital, said the program wastes officers time.

If they dont have anything better to do, then fine, he said. But they probably have something better to do.

Paul Ramdial, whose children attend UF and live at The Laurels Apartments, forgot to lock his car Wednesday night while visiting his son and daughter at the complex.

He said he understands criticisms of the program, but he thinks police are just trying to help.

But being the way we are about how we value our privacy, I can see the conflict, he said.
Christina Gladney wants change.

We are in a social war, and I am enraged, the 28-year-old UF health behavior doctoral student said Thursday night as a crowd gathered to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and recent events in the black community. Im tired of the dialogue.

About 100 people gathered at the Institute of Black Culture for an event hosted by the UF Black Graduate Student Organization at its monthly meeting. Recent shootings across the country had Gainesville residents demanding answers from a panel.

With shaking hands and tears in her eyes, Gladney described what it was like to be a black woman pulled over by police.

How insulting it is, she said, her voice trembling with anger, to have a white man pull me over, in my blackness, and wont give me my license until I look in his blue eyes.

One of the panelists, UF sociology doctoral student Micah E. Johnson, said the thought of the U.S. moving past race is a misunderstanding of the countrys culture.

Racism is an American tradition, the 31-year-old said.

When discussing the recent Milwaukee, Wisconsin shooting, Johnson said for there to be racism, there has to be some element of greater control.

UF history professor Ibram Kendi, another panelist, agreed.

You cant be racist without power, she said.

Kendi, a history professor, defined racism as any idea that suggests one group is superior or inferior to another. He said leaders will listen to what people have to say, but they will ultimately pick and choose what it is they want to change.

People in power always like when the powerless engage in dialogue, he said.

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University Police Chief Linda Stump-Kurnick disagreed.

I think its making a good difference, she said. Agree or disagree, were not going to come together without dialogue.

Stump-Kurnick then told a story about when she felt fear when being pulled over. She said she placed her hands on the wheel and told the officer about the gun in her car. The officer recoiled and placed her hand on her weapon.

Raja Rahim, 26, said she was insulted by Stump-Kurnicks story. Black men have been killed by officers for doing the same thing, she said.

Its like a slap in the face to hear the story of what you walked away from, the UF history doctoral student said.

Gladney said nothing will change until society begins to consider people over policies and programs.

Whats beautiful to me, she said, is when a perpetrator of racism tries to understand his behavior.
For the past 20 years, Lee Ann Dodson has believed art has the power to heal.

A pioneer in UFs Arts in Medicine program, the Gainesville artist often spend her days sitting with patients at UF Health Shands Hospital and helping them cope with their ailments through drawings and paintings.

Sometimes, it just turned out I sat and drew the patient, Dodson said. They liked that  they were often so sick that they didnt want to do anything.

Today, after a 10-year hiatus, Dodson will host her last Gainesville art exhibit before moving to Arkansas to be closer to family. The free event will be at 6 p.m. at Thornebrook Gallery, located at 2441 NW 43rd St., Suite 6D.

For Dodson, its her last chance to show off her work.

  

In the lobby of Shands north complex stands a testament to Dodsons legacy.

The Healing Wall, constructed in 1996, features thousands of colorful tiles, each painted by patients, family members, staff members and friends.

The two large 9-foot panels are meant to give patients a sense of comfort. The wall was inspired by the death of a 15-year-old cancer patient named Michelle Channing.

When Channing left the hospital, she sent Dodson a painting of flowers that sparked an idea.

I saw attending physicians come in with med students and they talked about patients  not with their names  but as a diagnosis, Dodson said. I had this idea that they saw patients in one color, like a mono-color.

Dodson created a piece for UF entitled, Michelles Flowers, in which she painted Channing in four different ways using only mono colors.

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Channing passed away months after she saw the painting.

Dodson was emotionally worn out after Michelles death but wanted to do more. That was when Dodson and her friend and colleague, UF nursing professor Mary Rockwood Lane, began creating the wall.

She came to the program at a time when the program needed pioneers, said Christina Mullen, the director of the Shands Arts in Medicine program. She was one of those pioneers.

After putting her paintbrush down to focus on her son, she recently began drawing again, she said, and as her life has gotten more complicated, so has her art.

Her move back to her hometown in Arkansas inspired the show being held today. It will feature 50 of Dodsons pieces.

The arts are integral to the human experience, and I do believe that its intrinsic to the making of any kind or any type of art that it has a healing effect, she said.

Artist Lee Ann Dodson poses for a photo with colleague Mary Rockwood Lane, a UF nursing professor, in front of the Healing Wall, a collection of thousands of colored tiles painted by patients, staff members, family members and friends.
Browsing the various news websites online has become an arduous task in 2016. Watching news stations on TV is even more unpalatable. Trying to stay informed is important, but a very fine line has developed between awareness of current issues and receiving the massive media spin on everything. Has 2016 really been that bad a year for the world? No, but I believe were not only becoming far more aware of the terrible things, but also fascinated by them. For the majority of Americans, their news comes through their preferred syndicated sources filter, as they are simply being spoon-fed whatever that news station decides is important that day.

The news media has power, but it might have more than it should. With regard to the current political climate, the relationship between Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and virtually all of the major news outlets  barring Fox News Channel  has been worse than most relationships any of us will have to endure in our lives. The almost-daily dialogue between Trump and certain papers (The New York Times and The Washington Post being his favorite targets) has approached comical levels of bickering and squabbling. And all for what? I understand Trumps political tactic of always trying to stay in the news cycle; in fact, I think its a brilliant way to obtain massive amounts of free publicity and TV time. But at this point in the election, isnt it time to take on a more traditional (i.e., proven to work) approach? One with less yelling of absurdities and provocative late-night tweets?

No. From the original conception of Trumps presidential run, the rule book for how to properly run a campaign was heaved out the window, so what makes people think hes going to suddenly change things now? Although I do not think this part is intentional, I do believe the vast majority of the media worldwide is avidly against Trump. Its quite obvious, actually. But I do not believe this will have any negative effect on Trumps chances of winning. In fact, I think it just might help him.

Journalist Glenn Greenwald compared the Trump-vs.-the-media battle to Britains recent vote to leave the European Union. Greenwald stated, the mistake the U.K. media and U.K. elites made with Brexit is the exact same one that the U.S. media and U.S. elites are making about Trump. Greenwald described the pre-Brexit vote climate as the media and elites simply reinforced each other and only really talked among themselves and those who agreed with them. What resulted was the appearance of an obvious stay vote, since virtually every media outlet and famous person was for it. The reality, however, turned out to be just the opposite once the people hit the booths. Both British and global media were shocked by such an outcome. If the entire media feels one way, that means most regular citizens do too, right? Wrong.

I agree with Greenwald when he says those voting for Trump in November do not care about any media spin against him. The media can keep showing poll after poll with Clinton ahead of Trump, but they are only deceiving themselves and maybe a few other people who place all their faith in mainstream media. I cannot say who will win in November, as this election has proved me wrong a multitude of times, and I have given up trying to predict anything. But doesnt it feel wonderful to know that this dumpster fire is almost put out?

Donald Trump is the ultimate political wild card and I would not be surprised at all if, just like Brexit back in June, the world the media sees and the world the regular people see prove to be vastly different.

Andrew Hall is a UF business administration junior. His column appears on Fridays.
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors has named two bankers to its advisory board.

Lisa McDougald, the deputy general counsel at the $222 billion-asset BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., and Leon Holschbach, chief executive of Midland States Bancorp, a $3 billion-asset company in Effingham, Ill., were appointed to the board this summer, CSBS spokesman James Kurtzke told American Banker on Thursday.

McDougald and Holschbach will each serve two-year terms on the 16-member advisory body of the nationwide trade group for banking and financial regulators.

"The advisory board is set up to be a forum for people in the banking industry to come in and give feedback to regulators and get their perspective on banking matters," Kurtzke said.
Farmers Capital Bank in Frankfort, Ky., has announced a plan to restructure its balance sheet.

The $1.8 billion-asset bank is prepaying $100 million of high fixed-rate borrowings with contractual maturities in November 2017.

It will prepay the debt with excess low-yielding cash deposits of $10 million and $3.8 million in net proceeds from the sale of available-for-sale investment securities.

The bank had a 4% average cost on the fixed-rate borrowings that were repaid. The mix of cash and investment securities sold to fund the debt prepayment results in a 3% average yield, the bank said in a news release this week.

The bank estimates an additional 90 basis points in yield tied to the repositioning of low-yield, short-term investments built up in anticipation of the debt repayment. It also expects interest income will increase incrementally. It could accomplish those parts of its plan by the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter.

In January the bank announced that it would extinguish $15 million of subordinated debt for a $4.1 million pretax gain in the first quarter.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit Thursday against a Van Nuys, Calif., credit repair company for deceptively marketing its services and charging consumers illegal fees.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, alleged that Prime Marketing Holdings engaged in deceptive acts and practices and violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule by charging illegal fees and making deceptive statements.

The agency is seeking to halt the company's conduct and refund fees to consumers.

"Today we are taking action against Prime Marketing Holdings for luring consumers with misleading claims about its ability to repair credit files and then charging illegal fees," CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a press release.

Prime Marketing operates under various names, including Park View Credit, National Credit Advisors, and Credit Experts. "We vehemently deny the allegations in the CFPB's complaint and will fight this case in court," the company said in an emailed statement. "The complaint alleges facts that are patently false and a novel legal theory based on factually inaccurate information."

The company misled consumers and made unsubstantiated claims that it could remove derogatory information from credit reports and boost credit scores by over 100 points, according to the complaint.

Prime Marketing targeted consumers who had applied for a home loan, a refinancing or other credit. It charged an initial setup fee of several hundred dollars and an $89.99 monthly fee before providing consumers with documentation. It also claimed to have a money-back guarantee but its sales contracts limited the ability of consumers to get refunds.

The CFPB also released a consumer advisory Friday with tips for consumers who are trying to improve their credit or are dealing with credit repair firms.
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.
Only four days after I wrote "The Decrepit Candidate" here at American Thinker, Hillary Clinton took ill at the 9/11 fifteenth anniversary memorial ceremonies in New York City, ditched her press pool, left prematurely, and was unceremoniously stuffed, stiff as a board, into her van to escape to daughter Chelsea's apartment. Thanks to a citizen video, taken by Zdenek Gazda and now viewed by millions of people worldwide, we know that the Clinton campaign's original statement that Hillary became "overheated" is a lie. OK, let's be more charitable here  if Hillary did indeed overheat and become dehydrated, then it was a partial truth, but it was made a lie because it wasn't the whole story.

After Gazda's video became public, a new excuse explanation was needed, and it was provided by Hillary's personal physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, who has written that she examined Hillary on Friday, September 9, performed tests, and diagnosed "a mild non-contagious bacterial pneumonia" (whatever that is; probably a simplified description in layman's terms). Hillary was put on antibiotics (for the second time since September 2) and told to rest. Presumably ignoring the good doctor's advice, Hillary returned to full-bore campaigning and fundraising that same day.

I don't doubt that Hillary had pneumonia, but is this also a lie, because it is not the complete story? We now understand that Hillary is very secretive about her health, as she did not tell either her staff or running mate Tim Kaine of the pneumonia diagnosis until after her Sunday collapse.

I remain skeptical that Hillary is really in good health, and I think there are very good odds that the very secretive Hillary is hiding a degenerative neurological condition from the public, and probably from most everybody except those people closest to her, possibly even from her primary care physician (Dr. Bardack).

If so, then visiting the 9/11 ceremonies was certainly a high-risk event for Hillary to attend, since there were lots of people, lots of things going on with multiple distractions occurring at the same time in an uncontrolled environment, lots of reporters, lots of cameras taking pictures, a lot of chances to spot evidence of a neurological disorder, and not a good time for something to go "wrong," which it did.

Here's Hillary at the ceremonies, in the early morning before they get underway:

Note her sunglasses. They have been described as "cobalt-blue" by sharp internet sleuths, and they do seem to be special glasses designed to block red-spectrum frequencies of light (which can trigger or aggravate seizures in people with certain neurological disorders). You can detect this because the glasses are completely black in front of Hillary's face (since they are absorbing the red frequencies of daylight, so Hillary's flesh-toned face cannot be seen), but the portion of the glasses that are in front of a man's white shirt allow the blue frequencies of daylight to pass through to the viewer.

Also note the Big Black Dude in the upper left corner. This guy is almost never more than a few steps away from Hillary at her public appearances, and I'll say more about him later.

The blue tint of the glasses becomes really obvious in this publicity-stunt picture of Hillary leaving Chelsea's apartment later that day:

The red-spectrum frequencies of daylight are absorbed by the glasses, but the blues are not, so they reflect back to you.

The picture above, taken during the ceremonies, has been described as "squeeze my fingers," a test for feeling and/or muscle strength in the fingers. It's not clear in this photo if Hillary's companion, Christine Falvo, a former co-worker of Hillary's at the State Department who now works for a New York City public relations firm, is actually administering a neurological test. Perhaps some intrepid journalist could ask Chuck Schumer, the onlooker on the left, if he recalls what was going on here.

When Hillary became "overheated and dehydrated," she left the ceremonies for the street, where her van would pick her up. In the photo below, taken as she leaves the site, Christine Falvo is seen supporting Hillary, while Hillary has her right hand clasped to her chest. This is a classic maneuver taken by people with Parkinson's Disease to disguise hand tremors, but we can't tell from just a snapshot if that is what Hillary is doing here. We would need to see a video to determine if Hillary executed this maneuver for any length of time.

Note that the Big Black Dude is right behind Hillary, just a step away. (Also, note that Christine's sunglasses are not reflecting only blue light.)

At the street, Hillary used the post (technically, a bollard) and the assistance of Christine Falvo to stay erect. You can see that her knees are weak, but she is otherwise stiff as a board. The Big Black Dude has just slid open the door of the van.

In the above freeze-frame of the Gazda video, at the moment that Hillary is heaved into the van, her knees have buckled, but her upper torso is still stiff. Christine is still trying to hold her upright as she, the Big Black Dude, and an unidentified person on the right tip her forward and lift her into the van.

Some of the dinosaur media have reported that Hillary "stumbled at the curb" and "fell into the van." Others reported that she "fainted." This shows the extremely low quality of "journalism" today, describing things that just didn't happen, as you can see for yourself in the video. Hillary didn't "stumble"; she buckled at the knees. She didn't "faint" (lose consciousness and go limp). Hillary herself says she didn't faint, and for once she might be telling the truth, because the video shows that she was apparently awake but immobile. She was having a seizure of some kind.

Of course, this is not the first time Hillary has become rigid and unresponsive on the campaign trail. Take a look at what transpired on August 4, 2016 at her campaign rally in Las Vegas:

A "silent demonstrator" in the audience waves a flag. Hillary freezes.

With Hillary still motionless and speechless, the Big Black Dude rushes to her side.

He puts his right arm on her shoulder and speaks to her.

In the comforting embrace of the Big Black Dude, Hillary starts to snap out of her trance.

Here's what the Big Black Dude said to Hillary:

"It's OK. We're not going anywhere. Keep talking"

The demonstrators were never a security threat. This is not telling Hillary that she isn't in danger  this is a medical intervention to get her to snap out of her trance.

If you're in doubt, look what transpired afterward:

While Hillary was frozen, two guys, who are almost certainly Secret Service agents from Hillary's protective detail, moved toward her from her right.

Hillary recovers from her trance and starts talking, rephrasing what the Big Black Dude said to her: "OK. Here we are." She then gives her infamous Wicked Witch of the West cackle and continues: "OK, we'll keep talking."

Meanwhile, the Big Black Dude, who does not possess the physique of your typical Secret Service man, leans over and says something to one of the agents, and they walk away from the podium. (The complete video is here.) Who is this guy, that he has the power to tell Secret Service agents what to do?

Above is a picture from 2010, when Bill Clinton had heart surgery to install two stents. To Bill's left is the Big Black Dude, who was Bill's medical aide (note clothing) and who accompanied Bill and monitored him while he was recovering.

The Big Black Dude (on right, still dressed in civvies) was a staple of Hillary's campaign from almost the beginning, as this early campaign photo shows. So this is a man known to and trusted by the Clintons, no doubt because of his medical assistance during Bill's recovery.

Surely you remember this picture from February 2016, when the dinosaur media reported that Hillary slipped on the steps and needed assistance to reach the porch. My question is, slipped on what? It was a beautiful South Carolina day. There is no snow, ice, or wet surface. No banana peel, even. She could have tripped, maybe, or stumbled, but slipped? I don't think so. Lifting Hillary to the top of the steps on the left is the ever-present Big Black Dude, and an unidentified person is helping her up on her right side.

So my question is, if Hillary is in excellent health as reported by Dr. Bardack, with hypothyroidism (under control with medication) and "seasonal allergies" (for a very long allergy season, January to December) which cause her to cough as her only chronic conditions, then why does she have the Big Black Dude, who apparently functions as some sort of medical assistant, constantly at her side?

If we knew the identity and role in Hillary's campaign of the Big Black Dude, I think we might have the answer whether or not Hillary has an undisclosed medical condition, specifically a neurological problem. It might not be Parkinson's Disease, as Dr. Ted Noel suspects from the strong circumstantial evidence. It could be ongoing damage from her 2012 concussion, or some other problem.

So here is a challenge for you intrepid journalists who are on the campaign trail with Hillary. (Are you listening, Andrea Mitchell?) Next time you talk to her campaign manager, Robby Mook, ask him these questions:

Who is the Big Black Dude? Who writes his paycheck? The government, or the Clinton campaign? What is his purpose in the campaign? Is he a doctor or medically trained?

Then see if you can get straight answers from Robby, not a pack of lies or obfuscations interspersed with Trump-trashing.

Oh, I forgot. You'd have to leave Clinton Protection Mode to do real investigative reporting. Ain't gonna happen.

Going forward, there are two things that will be dogging Hillary if she is indeed hiding a neurological condition:

Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway, the folks directing Trump's campaign, are not stupid people. If they think Hillary is hiding poor health, and especially if they suspect she has Parkinson's Disease, they can try to arrange "triggering" events for Hillary to cope with during her campaign rallies or speaking gigs. If Hillary exhibits a few more "brain freezes" or coughing fits before November 8, that might not be enough to get her to quit the race, but it might convince many more voters that Hillary is too sick to be elected president, thus they won't vote for her. Every public appearance Hillary makes is a high-risk event. Her campaign can try to control this risk by cutting back the number of her public events, and by choosing small venues with tiny audiences so the environment can be more tightly controlled. But it's still risky  surprises can, and will, happen.

And now everybody is waiting, watching, and analyzing.
Hi Folks. These are a few thoughts from the road. Mary and I are driving from our home in Florida up to visit her family in West Virginia and my family in Maryland. On Saturday, Pumphrey, the community I grew up in, is having an event honoring my 88-year-old preacher dad. Dad was a pillar of our black community. In the 60's, we Pumphrey elementary school students were bussed to the recently integrated Brooklyn Park Jr/Sr High School. Saturday night, I have been asked to sing at my Brooklyn Park High School reunion. I will not tell you which year reunion because it sounds really old, even to me.

Our car radio lost Rush and other talk radio favorites as we drove through states. In South Carolina, I stumbled across a southern gospel station that made me smile. I'm Stickin' With Jesus All The Way was one of the great comforting songs we heard. Several radio stations touted traditional American values. We saw a huge billboard that read, Blue Lives Matter, Trump/Pence. My point is that, listening to mainstream media, one could easily conclude that we have lost the America we love.

There are more of us who love God, our country, our National Anthem and our flag than those who do not. It reminds me of that guy in the Bible who was depressed because he thought he was the only one left in Israel who had not succumbed to worshiping false gods. God told the man he had 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal. Sometimes when standing up for righteousness we feel alone.

Mary and I spent the night in North Carolina near Charlotte. On TV in our hotel room, local news was dominated with the riots. Once again just like in Ferguson, blacks were responding violently to a lie insidiously spread on social media, promoted by mainstream media.

Black Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said that Keith Scott, the fatally shot black man, came out of his car with a gun, not a book as claimed by Scott's family, who were not there. Also, the officer who shot Scott was black. But this is not the story-line that the Left wishes to further. The Left ignored the facts and ran with the story-line that another unarmed black man was gunned down by a racist cop. Documented evidence confirms that blacks pose the largest threat to black lives.

Divinely led to push back against the Left's narrative (lie), which has painted a target on the backs of America's brave men and women in blue, I launched a nationwide Blue Lives Matter Celebration tour. Our first celebration event was in Daytona Beach, Florida. The media blackout was stunning. Still, we press forward in Jesus name. Our next Blues Lives Matter Celebration will probably be in Dallas.

With this latest wave of riots and anger targeted at police, a dear friend emailed me. She cautioned me to be prayerful and careful in regard to standing up for police at this time. The image of lighting a candle in the darkness came to mind. When things are at their darkest, that is the time to light a candle.

Black Chief Putney confirmed my thoughts regarding the importance of spreading the truth. He said, It's time for the voiceless majority to stand up and be heard.

Evil prospers when good folks do nothing. Folks, I believe God has my back. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I have been preaching for years in my articles that the Left has had its way reshaping our culture and country because far too many Americans are afraid of making the Left really angry. Well, I cannot sit back and allow the Left to spread lies which ultimately leads to the assassination of police. I am moving forward with my Blues Lives Matter Celebration tour, discrediting the lies and spreading the truth about police in positive, upbeat, and entertaining ways. Please contribute.

The insane with racial hate and depravity American Left has decreed that it is racist to say all lives matter. I will say what God says is right rather than what evil men demand that I say.

Red, yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. This means all lives matter!

Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American

Chairman: The Conservative Campaign Committee

http://www.lloydmarcus.com/
If people call you an intellectual, you might not be so smart.

You may be an impostor, a two-legged adjective posing as a deep thinker.

A true person of intellect is a thinker of thoughts, who uses his or her head -- not as an advertisement -- but as a tool to greater understanding.

Just as important, a real thinker wonders whether he or she has not seen the full picture, whether there is not much more to learn.

It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers, wrote James Thurber, an author and cartoonist at The New Yorker. In a sense Thurber, was re-working an idea embraced by Talmudic scholars.

Who is the smart man? asks the Talmud, answering: He (or she) who learns from every man. (Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter IV).

A real thinker combines a sharp head with an open mind -- brain smarts with the kind of emotional intelligence that not only admits possible error but actively seeks others who may know more or may know better.

By this rule, many of the intellectual class are dumb indeed, so smugly sure of themselves that they simply insult those with whom they disagree.

This takes place on many subjects, but the most jarring is climate change.

Intellectuals like President Barack Obama or New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, insult those with doubts about alleged man-made climate change. They berate the doubters as unscientific idiots who endanger the security of the United States and the future of the world.

Trump Win Could Make Climate Catastrophe Inevitable, headlines Mother Jones magazine in a recent article. This is like saying if Donald Trump wins, the world will end. This kind of pseudo-religious-end-of-days contention (masquerading as science) has driven people with common sense to doubt the wisdom of our so-called intellectuals. It has also helped Trump.

Indeed, if Trump wins and the world does not end, he may get messiah status, if not the Nobel Peace Prize that went to a man who acted like he was saving the world (Obama) but actually brought it many disasters.

President Obama has never shown convincingly that climate change is, as he claimed, the top danger facing the United States, but on this and other matters he and his colleagues have taken a smug We-know-best posture ruling out all debate.

The climate debate is only one of many arenas for the false intellects. Obama steadfastly refuses to admit that Islamic terror is a more real and immediate danger to US national security than climate warming, observed Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric in a recent interview. Welch is an executive who succeeded by recognizing and fixing problems

Indeed, Islamic terrorism is a term Obama will not use. He sticks to his I-know-Islam-better-than-Muslims-know-Islam mantra, even to the point of saying that Islamic terrorists are not really Islamic.

Now lets make two things clear: ISIL is not Islamic, Obama declared in a major national security speech on September 10, 2014.

No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISILs victims have been Muslim, Obama said with typical superciliousness, sure of himself to the point of omniscience.

Many of Obamas points were illogical non-sequiturs that were both misleading and factually wrong. Anyone who has studied Islam or taken a course in comparative religion knows that. But Obama studied with Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Dr. Edward Said -- not exactly real experts on Islam.

For over 1,300 years Islamic groups have attacked other Islamic groups: Sunnis fought Shiites, Shiites raided Kharijites, Wahabbis struck Hashemites, and many more. They were all Muslim. The common ground is/was believing they were/are the true Muslims.

Islamic groups often attack Muslims first, and then, these Islamic groups or sects will continue to attack non-Muslims, such as Christians, Jews, Pagans, Hindus, Buddhists, and other infidels. The fact that they kill more Muslims before killing non-Muslims does not mean that they are not Islamic.

The term Islamic State is designed to recall the structure of the Islamic state that began in Medina under Muhammad, Islams messenger, and that continued under various caliphates -- states or empires headed by men who saw themselves as the khalifa (deputy, in Arabic) of Muhammad.

The Islamic State organization is named in Arabic al-dawla al-islamiyya fi-al-Iraq wa-al-Sham which means Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, [hence ISIL]. term al-sham in Arabic means the crescent that includes Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel: the Levant.

The leaders of ISIL consider themselves Muslims, and the vast majority of their victims -- Muslims or non-Muslims -- also consider ISIL to be Muslim.

Barack Obama, who knows little Islamic history and no Arabic (and does not want you to know his grades at Columbia), pretends he is an authority on the subject. So does Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

In a speech this month, Ms. Clinton said Trump was aiding terrorists by calling them Islamic. Clinton claimed the terrorists were rooting for Trump.

Bringing Islam into the definition of our enemy actually serves the purpose of the radical jihadists, Mrs. Clinton said -- a remark that was totally unsubstantiated by anecdotal or clinical evidence.

Trump has made Islam and Muslims part of his campaign, and basically the jihadists see this as a great gift. They are saying oh, please Allah, make Trump president of America. She did not supply any proof for this statement.

As in the case of alleged man-made climate change, Obama-Clinton and their pseudo-intellectual chorus are not willing to address contrary opinions based on the merits. They are not even willing to look at data that contradicts their original prejudice.

Real thinkers do not ignore contrary evidence or silence opposing views, and they certainly do not falsify their data -- something that has happened more than once among the climate-heating orthodox community.

Similar stifling of free debate is evident on many issues, where the insult has replaced the factually-based argument.

Obama, Clinton, and some journalists suggest those with contrary views on abortion, immigration, the economy, crime, Iran, Israel and terrorism are haters of women, racists, war mongers and xenophobes.

They always seem to say: We know the problems and the answers, and so, be good enough to stay out of our way.

Throughout his time in office, Obama pictured himself and his team as experts on the Middle East, which has since sunk into greater chaos, with great waves of bloodshed and refugees, as terrorism has expanded.

Other world leaders who acted like they knew better but are now out the door or on their way are German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Britains ex-Prime Minister David Cameron. Their heritage is a refugee crisis and Britain leaving the EU.

So is it any surprise when the search for common sense leads the common man to spurn the so-called elites and so-called intellectuals?

Dr. Michael Widlanski, author of Battle for Our Minds: Western Elites and the Terror Threat, is a former reporter, correspondent and editor respectively at The New York Times, Cox Newspapers, and The Jerusalem Post. He served as Strategic Affairs Advisor in Israel's Ministry of Public Security, as well as a visiting professor at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of California/Irvine
One of the most astonishing facets of politics today is the left-feminist surrender in the face of jihadist violence against women and children. Jihadists openly glorify rape, kidnapping, slave markets, and worse. The holier-than-thou Swedes have done nothing about domestic rape campaigns, and now their vaunted society is breaking down. Socialist societies seem paralyzed by P.C. indoctrination, even though aggressive violence must simply be crushed before it gets worse.

The silence of the left has been deafening. Obama is all for gay rights around the world, but apparently not enough to protect Iranian gay men pushed from tall buildings to fall to their deaths.

Feminist Naomi Wolf sold her soul to Al Jazeera a few years ago.

And the most famous feminist of all, Hillary Clinton, walks in that classical submissive posture with her Muslim Brotherhood escort, Huma Abedin, both with their heads and bodies covered.

Enter Angelina Jolie, to finally denounce jihadist horrors committed against women. So far, hers is a lone voice in the feminist wilderness, but conservatives have a moral duty to amplify her voice. Conservatism is a moral force; indeed, conservatism is the political moral voice of Western civilization.

For over 10 years, I had been visiting the field and meeting families and survivors of sexual violence who felt for so long that their voices simply didnt mater, they werent heard, and they carried a great shame, Jolie continued. "I remember distinctly meeting this little girl who was very young, probably about seven or eight, and she was rocking backwards and forwards staring at the wall, and tears streaming down her face because she had been brutally raped multiple times, you couldn't talk to her, you couldnt touch her. 'I felt absolutely helpless, I didnt know what to do for her."

What we must do is to keep such horrific crimes against humanity from happening in the first place. Jihad-mongers understand "the stronger horse," and if we  the United States and its allies  act firmly against them, they will back down. Or we could simply enforce basic human values and obliterate them.

Murderous cults around the world did back down historically, when the modern West exerted its power in support of humane values.

I believe that Donald Trump understands this very clearly.

The left has been utterly silent on jihadist crimes against women and girls. Hillary says nothing, and the professional feminist establishment does less than nothing; if anything, they enable the criminals. The Clinton Foundation takes millions of dollars from jihad-mongers. As for Socialist Bernie Sanders, he avoided jihad and its horrors.

The silence of the left means complicity. They know that violent sexual horror is taking place in jihadist regimes on a mass scale. They know and do nothing.

We may not agree on everything with Angelina Jolie, but on this supremely important fact, we should speak with one voice, and very, very loudly, until the crimes stop.
An email chain acquired by the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and shown to Fox News reveals immigration officials urging employees to work overtime to naturalize as many immigrants as possible in advance of the presidential election.

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.
An adviser to the European Union's top court says Hamas and the Tamil Tigers should be dropped from the EU's list of terrorist organizations.

The reason? It's not because the adviser thinks Hamas is no longer conducting terror attacks against Israel. It's because the adviser says the procedure for placing the terror groups on the list in the first place wasn't followed.

Wall Street Journal:

The opinion of the European Court of Justices advocate general isnt binding on the courts judges. However, if confirmed, it would mark a key point in a drawn-out court battle between the Palestinian and Sri Lankan groups and EU governments. Depending on the detailed argument of the judges, EU governments might then still have an opportunity to place both Hamas and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as the group is formally known, back on the list. In 2014, the EUs second-highest court ordered both Hamas and the Tamil Tigers to be struck off the blocs terror list in two separate decisions. It said at the time that Hamass listing wasnt based on evidence that had been properly examined and confirmed by national authorities, but on factual imputations derived from the press and the internet. The European Council, which represents EU governments in the blocs lawmaking process, had appealed that judgment, arguing that it was relying on a 2001 decision by the U.K. that designated both Hamas and the Tamil Tigers as terrorist groups, as well as the terror listing for both groups in the U.S. Thursdays opinion rejects that argument, following similar reasoning as the 2014 decision. The council cannot rely on facts and evidence found in press articles and information from the internet, Advocate General Eleanor Sharpston said. Ms. Sharpston also said that the council couldnt rely on terror listings by countries outside the bloc, such as the U.S., without ensuring that there was sufficient protection of fundamental rights. A final judgment from the Luxembourg-based ECJ will likely take several months to arrive. The courts judges often follow the opinions, but have also come out on the opposite end of their advisers in a few notable cases. Until the case has been finally adjudicated, both Hamas and the Tamil Tigers will remain on the terror list. That means the groups assets will remain frozen and the EU will make extra efforts to stop any European funding from reaching them. The blacklisting also discourages EU officials from holding direct talks with senior members of either group.

Did the court think to ask EU member intelligence agencies for their opinion? It wouldn't be evidence from "newspapers" or "the internet." The evidence would be based on cold, hard facts.

But even that isn't necessary. It may be a novel approach, but maybe they should ask Hamas about annihilating the Jews. Or perhaps ask Hamas why they celebrate the spate of knife attacks on Israeli citizens  attacks they encourage.

But to the bureaucrats in Brussels, all the paperwork has to be in order, all the is dotted and ts crossed while the truth be damned.

The danger is, if Hamas is taken off the terror list, a flood of money will flow into its coffers. It will be earmarked for "economic development" but will somehow  magically  end up funding terrorist attacks. A child is aware of this probability, but that doesn't appear to matter to the fools who are playing with fire by legitimizing Hamas.
As every Godfather fan knows, youve got to have a compound when your famiglia hits the big time. I am sure we are supposed to associate family compound with the words Hyannis and Kennedy, but for me, Corleone comes to mind.

And the Clintons certainly have done that and more. Jennifer Gould of the New York Post reports:

Its not quite the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, but Bill and Hillary Clinton are expanding their Westchester spread by buying the house next door, The Post has learned. The Clintons shelled out $1.16 million for the three-bedroom, 3,631-square-foot, ranch-style home set on 1.51 leafy acres on Old House Lane in Chappaqua. Westchester County land records and tax records from the town of New Castle  where Chappaqua is located  list William and Hillary Clinton as owners of the property.

The rumor is that this is to be for Chelsea and her family, though they have a huge luxury apartment in Manhattan, and if Hillary is in the White House, would family gatherings take place here?

From what I understood about the existing Chappaqua house, Bill has gotten the most use out of it. And we do suspect that going to the mattresses is one of his favorite activities, so a family compound does have a certain logic.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky
While visiting New York City on 9/21, London's Mayor Sadiq Khan evidenced mild chagrin in saying terrorist attacks should be seen as part and parcel of living in a big city. He added, It is a reality, I'm afraid, that London, New York, and other major cities around the world have got to be prepared for these sorts of things.

Mayor Khan makes it clear that preparing for the sort of thing that causes streets to run with the blood of dozens of innocents should not involve a military response. He advocates police staying in touch with communities and exchanging ideas and best practices.

Two aspects of conditioned helplessness are being inflicted on the citizens of Europe and the USA, numbing and incapacitating them enough to surrender their national sovereignty and traditional ways of life to the deepening darkness of globalism. One aspect is the increasingly laughable harangue by left-wing politicians that patriotic people are racio/phobio/blah-blah-blahists suffering cases of blah-blah-blahism. Americans receive a new mental diagnosis every week, and they all indicate something very, very bad about us. President Obama doesn't pass up a chance to insult the American people, preferably in front of an international audience. Hillary brought a bit of literary flair to her insults with the basket of deplorables remark. Shoulder to shoulder with the other prominent destroyers of great nation-states and proud developers of lawless tribal territories, Mayor Khan didn't miss the chance to denigrate the tens of millions of Americans who support Donald Trump. Khan's racist-shmacist in-your-face-ist shot was that the Trump movement is driven by scapegoating.

But there is a deeper, more psychologically crippling aspect to the mass psychology of globalist takeover then the vilification of patriots, and Khan has chosen to spearhead it. In his original learned helplessness experiments (now widely considered unethical), psychologist Martin Seligman electrically shocked dogs, which were divided into groups that could or could not do something to stop the shocks. The dogs for whom the shocks were inescapable developed what Seligman called learned helplessness. The most helpless dogs simply gave up, lay down, and whimpered.

The mayor of London has just said to all of us, you are those dogs, and there will be inescapable shocks causing death around you. These shocking events will kill ordinary people like you and your family in the mundane places we all need to go to. Get used to it. Accept it. There is nothing you can do to stop it.

Obama, Hillary, and Khan are committed globalists in the process of dismantling the geographic, legal, and traditional integrity of their respective nations. But the American and British people are at different stages of conditioning of helplessness to resist. Therefore, the statements of Obama and Hillary and Khan take different tacks in the normalization of terrorism. Obama and Hillary are at the stage of insulting Americans' intelligence about terrorism. When a white kid commits a heinous mass murder in a church, they know exactly what happened and why it happened, and, as it should be, the outpouring of grief is enormous. Following each Islamic terrorist attack, Obama and Hillary display the now familiar head-bobbling confusion and say, We don't know what just happened, and we don't know why. Their expression of grief is slow in coming if it comes at all.

But England and America have very different histories. We are an armed population founded on a God-given responsibility to defend ourselves. Americans are not ready to hear that Islamic terrorism is part and parcel of their everyday lives, uncontrollable as the weather.

The British people are sufficiently crushed in spirit to hear the mayor of London say that what happened in New York during his visit was terrorism and it's no big deal. Khan leads the way in saying the lethal terrorism thing will be happening over and over around you, so lie down, whimper like the helpless experimental dogs, and get used to it.

Normalizing terrorism with its constant, grinding fear is the greatest tool the globalists have to persuade citizens of the functional democracies to relinquish their borders and rights. That fear is indispensable to Mayor Khan and to the leftist-globalist cause. The Islamic terrorist is London's new Jihadi-Bobbie. He is walking, watching, and waiting in the streets by night and day, serving a cause, which, according to the city's mayor, cannot be stopped.
Obama has threatened to veto a bill passed by Congress that would allow victims of September 11 to sue Saudi Arabia for damages. Currently, victims can sue countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran, Syria, and Sudan. Saudi Arabia is not a designated state sponsor, so this legislation is necessary to allow the victims and families of the victims to sue Saudi Arabia.

Obama's excuse is that this will harm our relations with the Saudis and may allow other countries to sue the USA for its conduct in the war on terror, such as drone attacks that kill civilians.

First, just because the victims can sue does not mean they will win. They will need to submit evidence that there is a causal connection between the Saudi government and the attack. They may find such evidence through discovery by depositions and subpoenas with aggressive attorneys pursuing the case.

At this point, we do not know what the Saudis did, and we have only their word and the U.S. government's word that there is no connection. But why would we believe the Saudis? As for our own government leaders, we do not know how vigorously they pursued the Saudi connection. Fifteen of the nineteen hijackers were Saudis. Osama bin Laden was Saudi, and his wealthy family is close to the Saudi royal family, in a similar way to how George Soros is close to Obama and the Clintons. Just coincidences?

Why the special concern for the Saudis, who gave 25 million dollars to the Clinton Foundation? Maybe a lawsuit will reveal that the Saudis were buying insurance for this law, which could reveal embarrassing secrets.

Our priority must be to get justice for the victims of September 11, and not to worry about the feelings of the Saudis, or what other countries may do.

If the Saudis are clean, then they have nothing to worry about. They have plenty of money to hire defense lawyers. But if they were involved, then a lawsuit should be the least of their worries.

Trump should ask Hillary if she agrees with Obama's veto of the law for the September 11 victims and ask Hillary why the Saudis gave the Clinton Foundation $25 million.
Malik Obama, Obama's half-brother who resides in Kenya, announced that he supports Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton:

"I will support Donald Trump because he is a humble and honest guy," the president's half brother, Malik Obama, told USA TODAY. "He is a guy who can help people. It's an opportunity for Americans to give Trump a chance to become president." "I don't like (Hillary) Clinton," Malik Obama added, ignoring his relative's strong support for the Democratic candidate. "She is dishonest and a liar. She keeps on lying about emails every time."

This is evidence that one of the Obamas cares for the welfare of the United States.

Trump should film and ad with Malik. Malik has analyzed the two candidates succinctly and more accurately than have the mainstream media and the vast majority of the paid pundits.
Let's add another chapter to the one-sided U.S.-Cuba deal.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has just sent a letter to President Obama demanding a few answers to some rather troubling questions:

During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing last week, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Deputy Administrator, Dr. Huban Gowadia, confirmed that there are currently no federal air marshals on commercial flights between the U.S. and Cuba. This admission contradicts earlier claims by your administration that the federal air marshal agreement was finalized and they would be on commercial flights. Simply put, your administration has been caught in a bold-faced lie that has put American lives at risk.

Who decided that U.S. flights to Cuba would not have to carry air marshals?

So why are there any flights? Shouldn't we tell passengers to Cuba that these flights do not carry an air marshal? Why was this hidden from U.S. citizens flying to the island on the assumption that the aircraft is operating under normal aviation rules? All of this comes after we heard that the U.S. has not vetted Cuban airport workers and security procedures.

Frankly, the whole thing is embarrassing and further evidence that the Obama administration is either totally incompetent or determined to do a deal with Cuba at any cost.

Let's hope this topic comes up in the first Clinton-Trump debate.

Mr. Trump is signaling a shift by saying this:

We are also going to stand with the Cuban people in their fight against communist oppression. The Presidents one-sided deal for Cuba benefits only the Castro regime. But all of the concessions that Barack Obama has granted the Castro regime were done through executive order, which means the next President can reverse them -- and that is what I will do, unless the Castro regime meets our demands. Those demands will include religious and political freedom for the Cuban people.

Let Mrs. Clinton defend the Cuba deal, or at least explain to U.S. voters what she thinks of flights without air marshals or not U.S. vetting of safety procedures at Cuba's airports. She should also comment on the embargo.

In 2012, Governor Romney lost Florida by 30,000 votes out of 8 million. President Obama never said to Cuban-Americans that he was negotiating to restore relations with the Castro regime. Instead, he took a hard line.

Let's hear from Mrs. Clinton today now that we know a few things about this U.S.-Cuba deal that were never disclosed in the rush to put an embassy in Havana.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
Wells Fargo and its CEO have been in the spotlight for defrauding customers by opening accounts that they did not order. But they are not alone. Far from it.

The telecom companies have been doing this for years. Its called cramming. For example, carriers would team up with third-party providers to provide useless services the customer didn't order. These charges would be on the bills  which are always complex and difficult to follow. The carriers would split the revenues with the third party.

One of these "services" was texts with "helpful" social advice. The government fined the carrier. But there were no congressional hearings and no publicity, and no one went to jail. Someone should have.
The non-enforcement of the law has become sport in the past eight years. Hidden under gimmicks such as prosecutorial discretion and other feints, the Department of Justice and other such entities have seemed to turn their backs when full frontal execution of the law was required. A curious disinterest for certain laws is in play.

We receive a constant dose of stories revealing the non-enforcement of immigration law.

In lockstep is the complete disregard for the laws on the books designed to quell situations such as Ferguson, Dallas, Baltimore, and now Charlotte.

Two years ago, I authored an article for American Thinker titled The Anti Riot Act. One more law unenforced by this administration.

In a recent article in ZeroHedge, an official of the Charlotte Police Department notes that 70% of those arrested have out-of-state identification. This should pique the interest of federal authorities. It doesnt.



Criminals disguised as protestors cross state lines to engage in destruction and rioting. Has anyone heard of the statute that prohibits crossing state lines to engage in such behavior being enforced by federal authorities?

From the Federal Judicial Center, 2101. Riots:

(a) (1) Whoever travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses any facility of interstate or foreign commerce or uses any facility of interstate or foreign commerce, including, but not limited to, the mail, telegraph, telephone, radio, or television, with intent  (A) to incite a riot; or (B) to organize, promote, encourage, participate in, or carry on a riot; or (C) to commit any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; or (D) to aid or abet any person in inciting or participating in or carrying on a riot or committing any act of violence in furtherance of a riot; and who either during the course of any such travel or use or thereafter performs or attempts to perform any other overt act for any purpose specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of this paragraph shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. (b) In any prosecution under this section, proof that a defendant engaged or attempted to engage in one or more of the overt acts described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and (1) has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce, or (2) has use of or used any facility of interstate or foreign commerce, including but not limited to, mail, telegraph, telephone, radio, or television, to communicate with or broadcast to any person or group of persons prior to such overt acts, such travel or use shall be admissible proof to establish that such defendant traveled in or used such facility of interstate or foreign commerce.

There is a wisdom to such laws, one that predicts how local situations can blossom into much larger events when interlopers are allowed to exacerbate the situation. These laws need to be enforced. They are not. It is fair to ask, Why not?

Recall in Ferguson that the influx of non-residents (Revolution Club of Chicago, New Black Panthers, etc.) who came to join in the fray was noted by local authorities, yet there was no action from federal authorities regarding the enforcement of statues prohibiting the crossing of state lines to engage in such behavior.

Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States. (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; Pub. L. 103322, title XXXIII,  330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) source

There are two clarities. The administration has sympathies in one direction, and the Department of Justice has disinterest in another direction.

Enter George Soros. The Washington Times has noted that the Ferguson protests/riots were funded by George Soros. Now BLM.

From the article in ZeroHedge:

 hackers with DCLeaks.com published OSF (Soross Open Society Foundations) documents showing that the Soros group had already given at least $650,000 directly to BLM .  Mr. Soros spurred the Ferguson protest movement through years of funding and mobilizing groups across the U.S., according to interviews with key players and financial records reviewed by The Washington Times[.]  Since 2003, Soros has contributed $54 million to federal candidates and committees.

It seems that with the distribution of all this money, there has been a sponsorship of certain activities by Soros, and also a very detectible disinterest by those who should be intensely concerned about those very activities.

What has Soros attempted to achieve with such largess? Looking at where the current allegiances align, it is interesting to speculate where that $54 million may have fallen.

Noting the Soros funding of BLM, we also have Hillary Clinton as a (BLM) Black Lives Matter proponent and Barack Obama with BLM sympathies and invitations to the White House. On the other side of the ledger, we have Obamas Department of Justice seemingly unconcerned that laws prohibiting the crossing of state lines to incite riots are being violated. Coincidental?

Certainly something new is going on, and Mr. Soros musnt be displeased.
While the Gear S3 from Samsung has already been announced, its not yet available. Nor has Samsung given out any information about when it will be available or the pricing of the new smartwatch. Luckily, if youre in the market for a new smartwatch, their previous flagship smartwatch is seeing some pretty big price cuts as of late. The Gear S2 is currently selling for $105 over on eBay. Now this is the Verizon model, which means it does support 3G on Verizon  not other carriers unfortunately  it is unlocked so you can add it to your own account without any issues.

The Gear S2 received a ton of praise when it debuted last year. A big reason for that was the fact that it sported a round display  a first for Samsung smartwatches. In addition to that, it also had a rotating bezel. Which made for a pretty easy way to navigate through the OS thats loaded up on the smartwatch. The Gear S2 does run on Tizen, but it does work on any Android smartphone  not just Samsung devices. So even if you dont own a Samsung smartphone, you can still use the Gear S2. You can pick it up at the link down below.
While comparatively newer companies such as Xiaomi, Meizu, LeEco, OPPO, Vivo and Gionee are among the more recognized Chinese smartphone brands in India right now, traditional biggies, such as Lenovo and Huawei, arent doing too badly either. Interestingly, most of these companies werent even looking to expand their operations beyond the Chinese borders until a couple of years ago, but have now become so bullish on India that quite a few of them have started setting up factories in the country to assemble their smartphones and other products. Xiaomi was the pioneer in choosing India as a smartphone manufacturing hub when the company awarded Foxconn Electronics the contract to start manufacturing its budget Redmi 2 devices in the country last year.

Since then, many other brands have joined the fray, and if a new report from Reuters is anything to go by, Huawei Technologies may well be the next big name to start manufacturing its smartphones in India as part of the federal governments much-hyped Make in India initiative. According to the report, the Chinese telecom giants proposal to start manufacturing in the country apparently got the all-clear from the authorities last July, nineteen months after the company applied for a license. Now that its proposal has been cleared, the Chinese multinational will start making its handsets in the country from the next month at a factory in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The plant is reportedly operated by the Indian arm of American electronics manufacturer, Flextronics International  the worlds second largest contact manufacturer of electronics after Taiwans Foxconn.

In a statement released earlier today, the CEO of Huawei India, Mr. Jay Chen, announced that the company is convinced about the growth potential and will keep looking for opportunities to increase our presence (in India). According to the statement, the Made in India devices should be available for purchase as early as next month itself. The company also said that it is planning to roll out around 3 million handsets from its Indian factory by the end of next year. India is currently the worlds third-largest smartphone market after China and the U.S. and is one of the only major markets to be still growing at double digits even as the rest of the world is experiencing a slowdown over the past few quarters.
Zhu Wenbin and his grandson, Zhu Zhe, visit a museum in memory of the Chinese war of liberation in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/China Daily]

The son of a former soldier plans to write a book about his father's experiences

Age 87, veteran soldier Zhu Wenbin felt it was a matter of urgency that he revisited the battlefields where he fought for New China.

He and three of his comrades-in-arms, who were living in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, promised to revisit the battlefields together several years ago. "Unfortunately, two of them have passed away and the other is bedridden," Zhu said. "So I feel it's time to make the trip and honor those friends who sacrificed their lives for the country."

Zhu joined the People's Liberation Army when he was 17-years-old. "Time flies. My grandson has grown up now, many things have changed, but the memories of my experiences in the army have never changed," Zhu said.

Zhu Zhe, 24, his grandson, posted about his grandfather's wishes to see the battlefields on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform, and it caught the attention of many young netizens.

"As the only grandson in the family, I want to help my grandpa to realize his dream," he said.

In mid-July, Zhu Wenbin, his wife, son and grandson, started a 17-day, 3,500-km car journey from Zhengzhou to Zhu Wenbin's hometown in Shanxi province, and then to revisit the battlefields in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. "I'd like to share my army stories with my grandson," Zhu Wenbin said.

They visited Baobuqi near Hohhot in Inner Mongolia, where one of the old soldier's best friends was killed in battle. Wang Shansan, who grew up with Zhu Wenbin and joined the army with him in 1947, was killed there in 1949, Zhu Wenbin told his family members.

It was the first day of the Lunar New Year in 1949. After a fierce battle, the last one in the Suiyuan area during China's civil war, a comrade told Zhu Wenbin that Wang had been killed while seizing guns from captured enemy soldiers.

"I was shocked to hear this news," Zhu said. "Wang failed to witness the victory of the battlehe hadn't even eaten his new-year dumplings yet."

Zhu Wenbin remembered the promise which he and Wang made before leaving their hometown in Shanxi. It was: No matter who died on the battlefield, the other person would try to bring his body home.

So Zhu Wenbin sent the message of Wang's death back home, asking his elder brother to help. "My older brother spent six days driving a cattle cart to bring Wang's body home from Inner Mongolia. Luckily, it was winter," he said.

"In Shanxi, the first thing my grandpa had to visit is the ruins of Wang's family home," Zhu Zhe said. They went to the local martyrs' memorial park and placed a bouquet in front of Wang's grave.

"My grandpa always told me that hard-won peace, tranquility and stability should be cherished. After the trip, I appreciate that much more than before," the grandson said.

Zhu Jianjun, 51, Zhu Wenbin' son, plans to write a book, collecting the stories of veteran soldiers such as his father.

"When I came to my grandpa's hometown, I felt that the sons of veterans were so excited to see each other, advocating the spirit of their fathers, and I want to write it down," he said, adding that he plans to call his book "I am a soldier".

Chen Liang contributed to this story.
Samsungs worldwide recall of the Galaxy Note 7 has been great in some areas, although it would seem not in all areas. In South Korea, a number of replacement units have already made their way into the hands of consumers. Samsung began issuing replacement phones to affected consumers on Monday, but it seems that complaints are already coming in. South Korea has laid out rules for Samsung to make sure that the batteries in new Galaxy Note 7 units are not dangerous or damaged, but the batteries in the new units are exactly what consumers in the country are now complaining about. On Thursday, South Korean news network YTN started airing reports of consumer complaints, which reportedly caused Samsung shares to plummet 2.5%, after they had finally started to rise again. According to the reports coming in, Samsung has come forward to publicly acknowledge the issue on Friday.

According to recipients of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the units are acting up in some very specific ways that point to issues with the batteries. For instance, the new phones are experiencing issues such as overheating, as well as losing battery charge while actually being charged. While no units have been reported to have caused any damage or suffered any fatal malfunctions as of yet, the issues that are being reported are ones which would seem to directly relate to the batteries. Although such behaviors could be related to other factors, such as short circuits or material defects within the devices. However, as the batteries were the reason behind the recall of the initial run of Galaxy Note 7 units, it stands to reason that battery issues will likely be the defect on everybodys mind.

According to comments Samsung has reportedly made, the issues are isolated and not related to a larger battery issue. Instead, Samsung is insisting that the issues being reported in South Korea are related to minor errors with the mass production of the new units. They have not yet confirmed how many cases theyre dealing with in South Korea, or if similar reports are coming out of other countries at the moment and details have yet to be given as to how Samsung is planning on dealing with these reports.
While overheating batteries is not a new situation as there have been overheating batteries for likely as long as there have been batteries, scenarios like these are in the news more as of late due to the issues with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. Following those events, a new report has surfaced today stating that a Samsung Galaxy Note II began to emit smoke in the middle of an IndiGo flight headed from Singapore to Chennai. The device, which was stored in the luggage compartment below the plane, began to to smoke and spark which caught the attention of other passengers who could smell it. That resulted in the airline using a fire extinguisher to put out the sparks, followed by placing the phone in water to be safe.

According to the report the plane was able to land just fine and none of the passengers or airline personnel were hurt in any way, and while this is less serious than many of the situations that took place with the Galaxy Note 7, it goes to show that its still possible for something to go wrong even with older electronics. Reuters also states that this is the first report of something like this happening with a Galaxy Note II device, suggesting this is a one-off incident.

At the moment there looks to have been no explanation from Samsung as to what caused the issue with the phone, but the report mentions that Samsung is looking into things to figure out what started the problem. Even though the plane made it safely to its destination, passengers on future flights may be requested not to use their Galaxy Note phones on future flights, as Indias Aviation regulator (the DGCA) is said to be putting out a notice that requests passengers either leave all Galaxy Note series devices powered off on flights, or simply not bring them on the flight altogether. While that might seem like an extreme measure, its likely that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is taking into account this incident as well as the formal recall on the Galaxy Note 7 into their decision on the warning, which makes sense, as the reasoning for it ultimately leads back to the safety of the passengers and the crew.
Sonys Xperia Z and Xperia X phone lineups have long lacked fingerprint functionality in the United States. Sony once explained this as a business decision, leaving the term rather ambiguous. Some have speculated, however, that the software limitation is due to licensing issues of some sort in the States; indeed, almost all of the Sony Xperia devices that have made their way stateside actually do have the hardware for the fingerprint sensor on them. Since the fingerprint scanner being disabled is strictly on the software side of things, many users are able to circumvent the lockout and get the fingerprint sensor working through a number of methods.

For the most part, Xperia owners in the US found that enabling the sensor was as simple as flashing a different territorys firmware or a custom ROM on their devices. While special fixes were required in some cases, most of them ended up integrated into later custom ROM releases, such as with the Xperia Z5 Compact. With the upcoming Xperia XZ having a fingerprint sensor present, the speculation is that this one will meet the same fate as other Xperia models in the US and find its fingerprint sensor disabled on the software side when it hits the US.

While custom ROMs wont be available for a while depending on how popular the phone is with the development community, most modern Xperia models have shipped with bootloaders that can be easily or semi-easily unlocked. If this ends up being the case with the Xperia XZ as well, a US buyer could very well receive their new phone in the mail and flash the firmware for a different countrys model the same day. Likewise, an unlockable bootloader means that custom ROM development is quite likely and will happen fairly quickly, if the phone happens to have one. Ultimately, how easy it is to enable the fingerprint sensor will be up to Sony when the device hits the States, but the fact remains that almost all signs at this point indicate that a fingerprint sensor will be present, but will also likely be disabled by default.
Due to their reliance on ultra-high or ultra-low band spectrum depending on the carrier and type of 5G technology being deployed, approaches to 5G can be vastly different. Verizons 5G plan is multi-pronged, and part of that plan has always been fixed 5G, or stationary access points meant to service a select small territory, such as a certain building, campus, or city block. Fixed 5G technology has some place in the plans of just about everybody wanting to break into the 5G space, but according to Verizon CFO Fran Shammo, Big Red has special plans for the technology. Namely, theyre hoping to use it not only to expand their 5G wireless network, but to compete with traditional broadband solutions.

Taking the stage at a Goldman-Sachs investor conference, Shammo made Verizons 5G plans perfectly clear, and let everybody there know that they were planning on hitting the 5G scene early, and in a big way. While Shammo was reluctant to talk about the marketing capability of 5G technology and the number of different industries it could possibly disrupt, he did make it known in no uncertain terms that Verizon is going all-in with 5G, and theyre going to do it sooner than anybody else. Shammo spoke pointedly about competitors 5G aspirations, knocking the notion that 5G is an affair best saved for a few years down the road, despite an official standard not being defined just yet.

While Shammo did not elaborate much on Verizons desires to compete in the traditional broadband market using fixed 5G, he did say flatly that the reason competitors are putting their 5G plans so far into the future is because their spectrum portfolios simply dont allow them to get 5G off the ground as quickly as Verizon can. Verizons sizable portfolio of high-band spectrum could indeed help Big Reds aspirations to roll out the technology by 2017, but T-Mobiles CTO Neville Ray previously slammed this strategy, implying that once the standard was out and others had time to build out their networks, Verizon would be left in the dust, much like Sprint was when they were marketing WiMax to consumers who were starting to see 4G LTE pop up on other carriers. Between Ray and T-Mobile CEO John Legere, things even got a bit inflammatory, with the duo insinuating that Verizons rush for 5G deployment was a band-aid for the fact that their network is stressed to the breaking point. It remains to be seen just how well Verizons network will stack up at that point, or if they will be able to get 5G off the ground in 2017 at all, but Shammo seemed quite confident that theyll have no issues.
ZUK is a China-based company which is owned by Lenovo. This company had introduced two smartphones under the ZUK brand in China this year, the ZUK Z2 and ZUK Z2 Pro. Both of these smartphones are quite compelling as far as specs go, though the ZUK Z2 Pro is the more powerful one. That being said, it was just a matter of time before one of these two smartphones lands in India, and that has just happened, read on.

Lenovo has unveiled the ZUK Z2 in India, but it comes sporting a different name to the country, its called the Lenovo Z2 Plus. As you can see, Lenovo actually used the name of the company in India, and even added the Plus to the name for some reason. Aside from the name change and an additional RAM variant, this is the same device the company had introduced in China back in May. The Lenovo Z2 Plus features a 5-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) 2.5D curved glass display, 3GB / 4GB RAM DDR4 RAM and 32GB / 64GB of internal storage. The 13-megapixel snapper (f/2.2 aperture, 5P lens, ISOCELL sensor, PDAF) can be found on the back of this smartphone, while an 8-megapixel camera (1.4um pixel size, f/2.0 aperture) is placed on front side of this device. The 3,500mAh battery is also a part of this package, and it comes with Qualcomms Quick Charge 3.0 technology. The Type-C USB port is placed on the bottom of this device, though were looking at USB 2.0 here, not USB 3.0. Qualcomms Snapdragon 820 64-bit quad-core processor fuels this smartphone, along with the Adreno 530 GPU, while there are two SIM card slots available in this handset. The fingerprint scanner is placed below the display, while Android 6.0 Marshmallow comes pre-installed on the device. The ZUK Z2 Plus measures 141.65 x 68.88 x 8.45mm, while it weighs 149 grams.

The ZUK Z2 Plus will be available in Black and White color variants, while its 4GB and 6GB RAM models will cost Rs. 17,999 ($267) and Rs. 19,999 ($299) in India, respectively. The device will be available exclusively from Amazon India, and youll be able to purchase it from September 26th in the country. Do keep in mind that the company will also offer two cases, the Chrono Case and Stealth Case which will cost Rs. 1,299 ($19) and Rs. 699 ($10), respectively, just in case youre interested.

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Buy The Lenovo ZUK Z2
(ANSA) - Venice, September 23 - Indian Ambassador to Italy Anil Wadhwa on Friday said relations with Italy, which had become "worn" over the past four years, have "reconnected", thanks in part to a recent meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries. While speaking at the opening of two days of meetings on contemporary India at Venice's Ca' Foscari University, Wadhwa didn't make specific reference to the judicial proceedings regarding two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012, which have been the source of tension between the governments.

"The idea is to restart a common business strategy between the two nations and to further strengthen relations," he said.

Wadha cited several upcoming events to this end, including a meeting between Italian representatives and India's food processing ministry scheduled for the end of September.

He said there have already been 11 business events held this year with the goal of commercial exchange between the two countries.


(ANSA) - Genoa, September 23 - There's an optimistic spirit at this year's 56th Genoa Boat Show, amid a marked recovery in an industry that experienced darker years during the economic crisis, but nautical sector leaders are now calling for more government investment and attention.

Industry experts at the show, which opened Tuesday and runs through Sunday, said that lease-to-buy contracts for boats grew by 44% in the first five months of 2016; nautical industry revenue rose 17.1% in 2015 on 2014 figures to reach 2.9 billion euros; and Italy leads European exports of inboard pleasure boats at 23.7%, ahead of both the Netherlands and Germany.

This year's Genoa Boat Show is hosting 800 vendors and 1,000 boats, displayed over 180,000 square metres of exhibition space, 100,000 of which are on water.

Carla Demaria, president of non-profit Italian marine industry association UCINA, agreed with Industry Minister Carlo Calenda's call for unity within the nautical sector, but said that the Genoa Boat Show merits more government resources. Industry divisions led to the creation in 2015 of the Italian Nautical Association, which took a large group of Italian nautical brands away from the Genoa Boat Show.

"The Genoa Boat Show deserves government attention regardless of divisions in the sector, because it's (Italy's) international nautical showcase - the only one that meets the criteria of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers," Demaria said. Former president of UCINA Massimo Perotti agreed, adding that government focus on the nautical sector "has died".

Perotti said government reforms on recreational boating laws have been at a standstill since 2012, and he lamented government delays in creating and implementing a program for a national online boat registry.

Italian Minister for Regional Affairs Enrico Costa agreed that the government needs to "do its bit", in particular by getting rid of excessive laws that hamper the sector, and not creating additional new ones.

"The nautical sector found itself in difficulty and had to get back up on its own," Costa said.

"Given that there are ideas, ability and talent, the government's job is to reap the rewards, not be a barrier, no longer throwing a wrench in the works of entrepreneurs," he said.


(ANSA) - Rome, September 23 - The damage from August's devastating earthquake in central Italy will amount to at least three to four billion euros, Civil Protection Fabrizio Curcio told a press conference a month after the disaster killed 297 people.

"The damage will not be less than three or four billion euros, a ball-park figure. I fear it will not be lower," he said. Premier Matteo Renzi told the same news conference that Curcio was being "prudent" and that the damage will not be under four billion euros. "The earthquake did not just strike in the areas where it claimed victims," Renzi said.

"It also created mayor damage in other areas". Curcio added that the construction of wooden homes for people made homeless by the quake "will take seven months at the most". Curcio said of the 3,000 displaced by the quake, 2,500 are currently living in temporary tent shelters.

"Our priority is to close the tent camps and this weekend there will be a significant reduction," he said.

Renzi said the country will rebuild the towns devastated by last month's earthquake in central Italy "as they were before, and more beautiful than before".

"Our goal, for first and second houses and for businesses, is to bring everything back to how it was before," Renzi said.

"The fact that a month has gone by has turned the spotlight away, but it doesn't take away the pain of the victims' families, and it's our duty to take charge of that," he said.

Earthquake reconstruction commissioner Vasco Errani said 15 million euros' worth of donations have been received via text message alone, more than that of the earthquake that struck Emilia-Romagna in 2012.

He said an "open data" system would be created to ensure transparency showing where donations from citizens, businesses, and foreign governments are applied.

Rebuilding efforts will incorporate anti-seismic standards capable of withstanding a 6.0-magnitude quake, he said.


Migrants: 300,450 arrived in Europea via sea this year, IOM Over 3,500 died trying

(ANSAmed) - GENEVA, SEPTEMBER 23 - Some 300,450 migrants and refugees have arrived in Europe via sea since the beginning of the year.



Most arrived either in Greece (about 166,050) or Italy (about 130,567). The number of people who have died while trying to reach Europe has risen to over 3,500, according to International Organization for Migration (IOM) figures. ''At this rate, 2016 will be the deadliest year ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea,'' UNHCR said after the latest boat disaster off Egypt, where a vessel carrying about 450 people capsized. At least 162 people died and 165 were rescued at sea.



(ANSAmed).




ROME - Palazzo Farnese, in which the French Embassy to Italy is located, will this weekend be opening its doors to the public as part of European Heritage Days.



As part of the event, the Italian Red Cross will be accepting donations to support those hit by the August 24 earthquake in central Italy. Workers will be in the courtyard of the embassy to accept the donations. The Embassy of France to Italy had previously also provided emergency supplies to the displaced.

The Renaissance-era building in Piazza Farnese will be open on Saturday from 10 AM until 6 PM, with the last entrance at 9:30 PM, and on Sunday from 10 AM until 6 PM, with the last entrance at 4:30 PM.

The opening will coincide with the last days of Design@farnese. Visitors will thus have the chance to discover the large galleries of Palazzo Farnese decorated with the creations of French designers made in France and Italy. Info: www.ambafrance-it.org

Access will be barred to those carrying luggage, bags, backpacks, food or drinks. Strollers will also not be allowed and ID cards must be shown.
Spanish Steps reopen after Bulgari-funded restoration Mayor says 'we are all responsible' for city upkeep

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 23 - Rome's famous Spanish Steps on Thursday are open again after a restoration funded by Italian luxury goods producer Bulgari.



Against a backdrop of fireworks and music by the Accademia Nazionale Santa Cecilia, Rome mayor Virginia Raggi noted on Friday on Facebook that Thursday's inauguration "was a special one for all Romans, who can once again make use of one of the city's jewels'.



"We have said this before," the mayor, from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) said. "No one must be left behind. And this is why there were 10 detainees from the Rebibbia jail, while 30 citizens from 15 of the capital's municipalities watched the show from front-row seats. "Thanks to all those who worked to restore the splendor of the steps and the Bulgari fashion house, which financed the works." She added that "if we take care of our own city by keeping it clean and taking care of it, then others will, too." (ANSAmed).




40 Israeli citizens killed in terrorist attacks in one year Over 300 including 121 stabbings

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, SEPTEMBER 23 - There have been 309 terrorist attacks in Israel since September 2015 that have left 40 Israelis dead and 455 injured, the Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom reported on Friday. ''The new reality of a single perpetrator of attacks, known as 'lone wolves', happens often and in all areas of the country,'' the emergency service noted. The organization said that there had been 121 stabbings of Israelis, 130 stone-throwing incidents, 25 firearm attacks, one bomb on a bus and one missile attack in the same time period.



(ANSAmed)
TUNIS - A regional conference organised jointly by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR that focused on migrant protection and life-saving at sea concluded in Tunis on Friday.



The conference aimed to develop common guidelines for migrant rescue at sea based on increased cooperation and coordination between countries affected by migrant flows across the Mediterranean.



"Saving lives at sea and ensuring effective rescue capabilities is a collective responsibility that shouldn't fall on just the coastal countries," said Tunisian Foreign Minister Elyes Lakhal.



"In recent years Tunisia has saved 2,119 migrant lives. We're asking the international community and European Union governments to take concrete measures," Lakhal said.



Official representatives from Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Italy and the EU naval mission EUNAVFOR MED took part in the conference, along with experts and universities, all of whom agreed upon the need to adopt standard global measures and better coordination.

Meanwhile, the bodies of 148 have been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast by Friday, three days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to head to Europe.
BEIRUT - Syrian army aircraft have launched more than 150 air strikes on eastern Aleppo in the last 24 hours, killing at least 90 people in opposition-held areas of the northern city and its countryside, Al Jazeera reported on Friday. Many of those killed were children.



The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that one airstrike on the Beshqati village west of Aleppo had killed 12 members of the same family, including 6 children and adolescents. At least 15 areas of opposition-held eastern were hit in the airstrikes, an Al Jazeera reporter in the city said. Three centres for a volunteer rescue group known as the White Helmets were also hit in the raids.



''We have four centres in eastern Aleppo. The aircraft targeted three centres. Two of them are now out of service," Abdul Rahman al-Hassani, of the White Helmets, told Al Jazeera.



He added that five vehicles including an ambulance had been hit in the attacks.
Turkish journalist Altan re-arrested shortly after release Warrant issued for 'links with Gulen supporters'

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, SEPTEMBER 23 - Turkish journalist and writer Ahmet Altan was arrested again on Friday after being released on parole on Thursday morning.



Both of his arrests were in connection with an investigation into alleged links with those behind the July 15 coup attempt, local media reported. On Thursday, an Istanbul court had ordered the arrest of Altan's brother Mehmet, a university professor, who is also accused of links with Fethullah Gulen, the imam in self-imposed exile in the US who Turkey believes to be behind the coup attempt. Many authors have signed an appeal to support Turkish intellectuals in the face of a purge by the Turkish government following the failed coup attempt. Signatories include Orhan Pamuk and Roberto Saviano, who dedicated a recent M100 Media Award that he received from German chancellor to the Altan brothers. The Altan brothers are accused of given ''advance notice'' of the coup the evening prior to the coup attempt on a television program. (ANSAmed).




Amend succeeds Lou Laroche, who will retire at years end from the company after nearly 40 years of service.

Having commemorated our 50th anniversary in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, Raytheon and our Saudi customers have built a strong foundation together to help provide for the safety and security of the Kingdom, said Thomas A. Vecchiolla, President, RII.

Kurt has vast experience in the Gulf region, which will serve him well in upholding our commitments to Saudi Arabia, and in partnering on endeavors to support the Kingdoms 2030 vision, he added.

I want to sincerely thank Lou Laroche for his dedicated support of our Saudi customers, and I wish him and his family all the best for the future, Vecchiolla continued.

With Raytheon since 2011, Amend most recently served as the Vice President of foreign policy and national security affairs in RII. He began his career with the company as an International Business Development Director, later also overseeing the development of the international strategy with regard to government agencies and partnerships.

Prior to joining Raytheon, Amend served as a career Foreign Service Officer for 23 years with the U.S. Department of State in the Middle East, South Asia, and the former Soviet Union.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh says the Azerbaijani forces made over 25 ceasefire violations across the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijani line of contact.

The Ministrys announcement reads: Overnight September 22-23 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 25 times by firing more than 200 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions in Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact.

The Defense Army forces maintained the ceasefire regime and continued confidently carrying out their military duties.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Bodies of eight firemen, who were earlier announced missing as they were putting out a major blaze at a warehouse in the east of the Russian capital, have been discovered, a source in the Russian Emergencies Ministry said, TASS reported.

"The bodies of eight firemen were discovered, " the source said. "We have been hoping until the very last minute that they were alive."

The press service of the Emergencies Ministry reported firefighters have extinguished the fire at the warehouse of plastic goods.

"At 07:44, the fire was extinguished," the source said.

The ministry's spokesman said that rescuers also prevented an explosion of 30 cylinders containing household gas in the blazing warehouse for plastic goods. Firefighters also discharged 67 kg (148 pounds) of ammonium from the compressor facility.

A source in the law enforcement agencies told TASS that incautious handling of a radiator was the mostly likely cause of a major fire at the warehouse.

"Workers in the warehouse left the radiators turned on all the time," he said. "This might have caused overloading of the circuit and the ensuing conflagration."

Russia's Investigation Committee has opened an inquiry into the accident.






Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China stands ready to continuously increase contacts and expand cooperation with Canada to break new ground for promoting bilateral relations.

Premier Li Keqiang met with George Furey (right), speaker of the Canadian Senate, and Geoff Regan, speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Provided to China Daily

Li made the remarks as he met Canada's speaker of the Senate George Furey and speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan.

Li said Chinese and Canadian people enjoy long-standing friendship and the two countries' economies are highly complementary with broad prospects for cooperation.

It is normal for China and Canada, with different national conditions and cultural backgrounds, to have different viewpoints or disagreements on some issues, Li said.

But their common interests are far greater than differences, Li said, noting that the two countries have neither problems left over by history nor fundamental conflict of interests.

China's National People's Congress, China's legislature, is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience in law-making and rule of law, and facilitate communication with Canada's Senate and House of Commons to help promote China-Canada relations and enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Li said. ' Furey and Regan agreed with Li's evaluation of China-Canada relations, saying that enhancing two-way communication between the legislatures of the two countries would help the two sides boost understanding, reach consensus and strengthen cooperation.

They said Li's visit to Canada, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, will create new important opportunities for the continued deepening of relations and cooperation between the two countries.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministers of the CSTO member states on September 22 discussed the UN General Assemblys 71st session agenda issues in New York and exchanged views on the ways to develop the cooperation between the CSTO and the UN, including also the peacekeeping field, the Russian Defense Ministry said, RIA Novosti reported.

The allied states have agreed to take joint steps in the UN Platforms for ensuring security, fight against terrorism, Nazism glorification, neo-Nazism, the statement says.

It is said CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha spoke about the preparation process of the CSTO Collective Security Councils regular session which is going to be held on October 14 in Yerevan.

The UN General Assemblys 71st session is being held in New York from September 13 to 26.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. As hundreds of demonstrators filled the streets of Charlotte Thursday night to express their anger over Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, the mayor of North Carolina's most populous city signed an order for a curfew slated to go into effect at midnight, ABC News reported.

But police later said the curfew would not be enforced as long as protests are peaceful -- and that was evident, as demonstrators remained in the streets well past midnight without any police intervention.

Before 1 a.m., protesters were laying down in some streets, and marching in others.

The curfew will be lifted at 6 a.m., per Mayor Jennifer Roberts' order. The curfew is part of a proclamation of a state of emergency, that explains such a measure is necessary "in order to more effectively protect the lives and property of the people within the City of Charlotte."

Chanting "No Justice, No Peace" and "Don't Shoot, Hands Up," protesters began peacefully marching down streets around 7:30 p.m. -- surrounded by rifle-carrying National Guard officers -- carrying signs that read "End Police Terror," "Black Lives Matter," "I Hope I Don't Killed For Being Black" and "Black Power."

At 11:31 p.m. police tweeted that there were "no reports of officer or civilian injuries during tonight's demonstration," but half an hour later, police tweeted that two officers were being treated by EMS workers after they were sprayed with a chemical agent by demonstrators."

The protest began around the same time that attorneys for Scott's family said they had watched police video of Scott's shooting, but were unable to ascertain if Scott indeed had a gun in his hands.

"After watching the videos, the family again has more questions than answers," a statement from the family's attorney's read. "When told by police to exit his vehicle, Mr. Scott did so in a very calm, non-aggressive manner. 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."

Despite demands from the family and community for police to release dashcam and body camera footage to the public, police are resisting such a move.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said the footage of Scott's killing could undermine the investigation. The video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so, he told reporters Thursday.

"You shouldn't expect it to be released," he added. "I'm not going to jeopardize the investigation."

Protesters also descended upon I-277, as they did the previous two nights. Riot gear-wearing police managed to move protesters off I-277 after dispersing tear gas, according to WSOC. Pepper spray was also used.

Thursday night's protest also kicked off shortly after Charlotte police confirmed that a man shot by another civilian during Wednesday night's protests had died, and that a homicide investigation has been launched. Police identified the victim as Justin Carr, 26.

A candlelight vigil was set up to remember Carr.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Acting Minister of Economy of Armenia Artsvik Minasyan presented the works done in 7 months of his tenure as Minister.

He said as an ARF representative he attaches importance to the fact that a high-ranking official presents a report of the works done during his tenure.

As I have previously said for many times, the major issues faced by the Ministry are 30. The Economy Ministry currently has a number of issues to settle, he said, Armenpress reported.

He said those issues are extensive, and of course, require proper work. It is obvious that the Ministry doesnt have all the necessary powers, and the funds are not enough to completely solve them, but we must work together in order to be able to raise those issues and give them effective solution, he said.

One of the priority issues is the implementation of economic development policy and monitoring, which is enshrined in the Charter of the Ministry, but the Ministry doesnt have all the necessary powers in this regard. Thus, we must take steps together with our partners, to hold discussions in order to understand which agency must deal with this issue, and the Government must take consistent steps over this pathDuring 7 months we still havent managed to have the major document on the economic development policy. There must be an agency or a group which will deal with this issue. I am sure this will be a priority issue for the Government, he said.

Minasyan attached importance to the coordination works with the donor organizations. He said all the works must be done in one place which will more facilitate that process.

He said the works have been carried out towards promoting investments. The draft amendments to the Law on Foreign Investments were developed and put into circulation, and it will be submitted to the Parliaments discussion soon.

Minasyan added that steps were and will be taken towards the elimination of obstacles to investments. He said the investors must be sure that they will not face problems and obstacles.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Acting Economy Minister of Armenia Artsvik Minasyan rejects the talks over the tense relations between Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan and the ARF Ministers.

He said there is no tension between the Prime Minister and the ARF Ministers.

Normal working process, there is no tension, no problem in that regard. I am sure both the ARF Supreme Council and the RPA leadership have a necessary will to implement the agreement signed between the political forces. There is no disagreement, he said, Armenpress reported.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Acting Minister of Economy Artsvik Minasyan received an offer to work in other fields which he is going to discuss with the ARF leadership and make appropriate decision.

He said after the upcoming structural changes in the Government, in fact, the Economy Ministry will no longer exist, and Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan expressed a wish to see another person in the new Ministry.

I am satisfied and thank all the people who assisted me during this period for carrying out these works, he said, Armenpress reports.

To the question, which Ministry he has been offered to lead, he said there were proposals to work in several directions.

I have already said I am going to discuss that issue with my party leadership. After the discussions respective decision will be made, and you will know about it, he said.

He added that the Economy Ministry needs reforms which will lead to more effective solution of the issues.

For me 3 fundamental documents are important and I have always talked about it. The talk is about the Constitutional amendments, the Presidents February 12 speech and the RPA-ARF agreement. I have guided by that directions, I consider the major issue is the development of economic doctrine, he said.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Culture and Coca-Cola HBC Armenia signed an agreement on September 23.

According to the agreement, Armenian historical-cultural monuments of high value will be depicted in Coca-Coal bottles.

The agreement was signed in the Ministry of Culture.

The printing of the monuments will be associated with Coca-Colas 20th activity in Armenia, Deputy Minister of Culture Nerses Ter-Vardanyan said, Armenpress reported.

Within the framework of the cooperation, Coca-Cola will give certain part of the money received from the sale of those products to the implementation of programs aimed at preserving and restoring the historical-cultural monuments.

It is already 20 years we are operating in the Armenian market and consider ourselves as part of the Armenian history. This project links our company with the country that has centuries-old history and culture. It can help to our activity and contribute to the development of tourism in Armenia, Sayora Ayupova, General Manager of Coca-Cola Hellenic Armenia, said.

Contract date depends on the sales and demand of the product.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the newly elected State Duma to support the candidacy of Vyacheslav Volodin as its speaker, reports TASS.

This is an important issue, Putin said, as the previous speaker Sergey Naryshkin, has been offered a leading post in the foreign intelligence service (SVR).

Putin assumes that big experience at parliament will help Vyacheslav Volodin to structure work in position of the State Duma speaker if the legislators vote for him:

"Vyacheslav Viktorovich (Volodin) knows what parliamentary work is like, he has been a deputy for a long time, and, while at the presidential administration, supported direct contacts with legislators, with faction leaders, with parties, - those were his professional obligations. I hope this all will help him in structuring the work at the lower house of the parliament, if, of course, the legislators vote for him," the president said during a meeting with leaders of the parties, which will be represented at the newly elected State Duma.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. A British man who lived in the Alps as a goat for three days has won one of this year's Ig Nobel prizes, BBC reported.

Tom Thwaites had special prostheses made so he could walk like an animal.

The spoof awards, which are not quite as famous as the real Nobels, were handed out during their annual ceremony at Harvard University, US.

Other studies honoured during the event examined the personalities of rocks, and how the world looks when you bend over and view it through your legs.

On the surface, all the celebrated research sounds a bit daft, but a lot of it - when examined closely - is actually intended to tackle real-world problems.

And nearly all of the science gets published in peer-reviewed, scholarly journals.

It is unlikely, though, that the German carmaker Volkswagen will appreciate the point or humour of the Ig Nobels.

The firm has been awarded the chemistry prize for the way it cheated emissions tests.

Goat-man Tom Thwaites actually shares his biology prize with another Briton, Charles Foster, who also has spent time in the wild trying to experience life from an animal's perspective.

Clearly, the practice is fast-becoming a national trait.

Thwaites concedes his effort was initially an attempt to escape the stress of modern living, but then became a passion.

He spent a year researching the idea, and even persuaded an expert in prostheses, Dr Glyn Heath at Salford University, to build him a set of goat legs.

Fascinating, if a little bizarre on occasions, was Thwaites' verdict on the whole venture. He developed a strong bond with one animal in particular - a "goat buddy", but also very nearly kicked off a big confrontation at one point.

"I was just sort of walking around, you know chewing grass, and just looked up and then suddenly realised that everyone else had stopped chewing and there was this tension which I hadn't kind of noticed before and then one or two of the goats started tossing their horns around and I think I was about to get in a fight," he told BBC News.

The American science humour magazine, the Annals of Improbable Research, is the inspiration behind the Ig Nobels, which are now in their 26th year.

Thursday night's ceremony was reportedly as chaotic as ever, with audience members throwing the obligatory paper planes while real Nobel laureates attempted to hand out the prizes.

Reproduction Prize - The late Ahmed Shafik, for testing the effects of wearing polyester, cotton, or wool trousers on the sex life of rats.

Economics Prize - Mark Avis and colleagues, for assessing the perceived personalities of rocks, from a sales and marketing perspective.

Physics Prize - Gabor Horvath and colleagues, for discovering why white-haired horses are the most horsefly-proof horses, and for discovering why dragonflies are fatally attracted to black tombstones.

Chemistry Prize - Volkswagen, for solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions by automatically, electromechanically producing fewer emissions whenever the cars are being tested.

Medicine Prize - Christoph Helmchen and colleagues, for discovering that if you have an itch on the left side of your body, you can relieve it by looking into a mirror and scratching the right side of your body (and vice versa).

Psychology Prize - Evelyne Debey and colleagues, for asking a thousand liars how often they lie, and for deciding whether to believe those answers.

Peace Prize - Gordon Pennycook and colleagues, for their scholarly study called "On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bullshit".

Biology Prize - Awarded jointly to: Charles Foster, for living in the wild as, at different times, a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox, and a bird; and to Thomas Thwaites, for creating prosthetic extensions of his limbs that allowed him to move in the manner of, and spend time roaming hills in the company of, goats.

Literature Prize - Fredrik Sjoberg, for his three-volume autobiographical work about the pleasures of collecting flies that are dead, and flies that are not yet dead.

Perception Prize - Atsuki Higashiyama and Kohei Adachi, for investigating whether things look different when you bend over and view them between your legs.






YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Sevan Mayor Rudik Ghukasyan has been invited for interrogation as a witness by the investigating body, but he didnt attend without properly informing about it, thereafter a decision was made to detain him, the Investigative Committee informed Armenpress.

Rudik Ghukasyan came with his attorney and he is already released.

He was invited as a witness over the case of abuses.
The civics teacher from Massey Hill Classical High School in Fayetteville, N.C., was giving a lesson last week about the Bill of Rights that touched on Texas v. Johnson, the Supreme Court case upholding the constitutional right to burn the American flag. To illustrate the landmark decision, Francis pulled out a full-size Star-Spangled Banner and laid it on the classroom floor. Does anybody have a lighter, he asked the class. When no one responded, Francis stepped on the flag several times.
Mufti Al Muhaysini addresses jihadi fighters across Syria, calling for "unity, organisation and rapprochement" based on the "general fundamentals of Islam." A sworn enemy of the Islamic State, the quranic judge has tried to ingratiate himself with the likes of Shia Hezbollah. However, his unifying language has not convinced any jihadi groups.

Aleppo (AsiaNews)  The Mufti of the al Nusra Front and quranic judge of takfiri jihadist groups in Syria Abdallah ben Mohammad Ben Suleiman Al Muhaysini, a Saudi also known as Abdallah Al Muhaysini, yesterday appealed to jihadis across the country to unite for the decisive battle of Aleppo.

In an interview with Al Masra, the official newspaper of the Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda, the al Nusra Front mufti  who has been responsible for recruiting children and teenagers for armed jihadi groups  said, "In this situation and times, we need unity, organisation and rapprochement. [We must] unite on the basis of the general fundamentals of Islam and repay the aggressor."

He also spoke of the need to "put aside disagreements, forget contrasts and unite the ranks" to face the "decisive battle" for Aleppo.

At Muhaysini, who rejects any criticism of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, expressed his happiness upon hearing the news of the death of al Adnani, the right-hand man of Daesh caliph al Baghdadi. Faced with the catastrophic defeats of his armed groups in Aleppo, he chose a unifying language, but he has not convinced any Syrian jihadi groups.

The al Nusra Front mufti quoted from history to touch the hearts of his listeners, saying that "The collapse of the Ottoman Empire led to the emergence of various currents and Islamic parties. The Jihad [Holy War against Satan and the infidels] today will unite us in a single place and in a single united front for a single goal and common purpose. We shall not give the enemy any opportunity of dividing us."

At Muhaysini, known for his hatred of Shias who always boasted of condemning directly as a quranic judge and without trial any Syrian Alawite prisoner of war, tried to ingratiate himself with Lebanons Shia-dominated Hezbollah.

He stated that he had ten Lebanese Hezbollah prisoners [in his hands] who have not been killed. He asked Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah to become again a "hero for all Muslims", i.e. what he was "after winning the July 2006 war against Israel."

To curry favour with Shias, al Muhaysini even said in an exclusive interview via Skype with the Lebanese daily al-Akhbar that "all Islamic jihadis in Syria, put together, are worth less than a single extra body hair on Imam Ali.

The despair that transpires from al Muhaysinis statements proves once again the terrible divisions tearing at the myriad of Sunni jihadi groups in Syria, split among various regional and international alliances with competing interests.

Abdallah ben Mohammad Ben Suleiman Al Muhaysini is a Saudi imam, born in Buraydah, Al-Qassim Region. He graduated in Comparative Fiqh (comparative Islamic theology) from the Al-Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University.

The cleric arrived in Syria in October 2013 as an "independent combatant" in order to resolve conflicts between the Daesh caliphate (Islamic state) and various jihadi fractions in Syria, in particular, between "Ahrar Al Sham" (Islamic Movement of the Free Men of the Levant', which includes Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine) and the al Nusra Front itself.

As soon as he arrived in Syria, he asked to meet Islamic State "Caliph" al Baghdadi. The latter refused to see him but delegated the task to the "governor of al Sham" Abu Ali Al Anbari (from Al Anbar in Iraq), who proposed Al Muhaysini join Daesh as a "quranic judge".

Al Muhaysini refused the offer, eventually becoming Daeshs most vocal jihadi critic. It was he who reorganised Jaish al-Fatah (Army of Conquest), a pro-Saudi and pro-Turkish group in which he acts as a Sharia or quranic judge. (PB)
by Bernardo Cervellera

Fines of up to 200 thousand yuan (27 thousand euro) for "illegal religious activities" by Catholic or other members of underground communities. "Illegal activities" include "dependence from abroad" (such as the relationship with the Vatican). The regulations preach non-discrimination, but party members are forbidden to practice their religion, even in private. Strict control of buildings, statues, crosses. Clampdown on the internet. It could be the end of the underground community.

Rome (AsiaNews) - A new set of draft regulations on religious activity has been issued in China. These would replace the 2004 regulations. Compared to these, the draft is longer: there are 74 articles spread over nine chapters, (in 2004 there were only 48 articles). New to this draft is the inclusion of norms for the construction of religious buildings and statues (after the demolition campaign of crosses and churches); diverse rules governing the use of the internet; clarifications on Buddhist religious personnel (Tibetan) as well as Catholic. The amount of fines that are imposed on those who break the rules has also been adjusted. Now there will be penalties of up to 200 thousand yuan (over 27 thousand euro: the minimum wage in Shanghai is a bit less than 300 Euros) for "illegal religious activities " or foreign travel and pilgrimages without government consent.

Contradictions within the Party

In itself, the draft, published on September 8 on the State Council for Legislative Affairs website, was made public to allow for any corrections, suggestions and amendments until October 7. But a Party member confessed laconically to AsiaNews: "It is said that it is a draft, but it really is the definitive text."

The ideological structure of the new text remains firmly in the communist domain: religious activities, to be expressed, must be screened and controlled by the state at all levels; village, county, state, country.

Without defining what a religion is or religious experience, the regulations (Art. 2) begin proclaiming that in China "citizens enjoy religious freedom", that no one "can force a person to believe or not to believe "and that" ... no organization can discriminate against citizens who believe in a religion".

This statement is in contradiction to what is happening within the Chinese Communist Party itself, where for years it has been preached that members can not adhere to any religion even in private, not even after they retire.

Although there is no definition of religion, the first part of the draft lists a long series of things that religions "must not do": cause conflict with other religions or non-believers; provoke ethnic divisions; favor religious extremism; divide the nation; practice terrorism (art. 4).

Sinicized religions without foreigners

To be "under the law", religions must be "guided" by the government of the people, by the departments of Religious Affairs, the county and village authorities who have the right to intervene in religious activities (art. 6).

In addition, each religious group "must adhere to the principle of independence and self-government" and "not be controlled by foreign forces" (art. 5). These principles are a tradition from the times of Mao Zedong, who at first wanted to destroy religion and then  when this proved impossible - at least control them with an iron fist with the patriotic associations, giving rise to "independent" churches and community. But these principles have taken on a new emphasis after President Xi Jinpings speech to the United Front last year, in which he warned against "foreign influences" and decreed that if the religions want to live in China they must "sinicize ". The negative psychosis operated on foreign religions refers to Muslims in Xinjiang and Tibetan Buddhists, but also the Pope and the Vatican who, with the appointment of bishops, are suspected of conspiracy and of "interference in China's internal affairs".

This "sinicization" also deals a blow to foreign personnel who may be invited to "religious schools" (seminaries, monasteries, etc.). Art. 17 provides that institutions cannot invite staff from abroad, and that permission can only be granted by the " State Council Department of Religious Affairs". This fruits of this can already be seen: theological seminaries such as Beijing, which once housed dozens of foreign professors, now can barely obtain permission for two or three.

The places of worship and crosses

A complicated process has been introduced for the approval of the construction of places of worship, with applications passing month to month through all levels of government; only then can a place of worship be built, but then it will take even more months to apply for registration for use (Articles 19-27). Special permits are required to install religious statues outside of places of worship (Art. 29-30). In addition to permission, the religious community must accept the verification of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In any case "the construction of large religious statues outside of temples and churches is prohibited".

The ban reflects the demolition campaign carried out against the crosses and churches in Zhejiang launched two years ago to reduce the visibility of the Christian buildings, which hoisted large crosses on top of buildings or towers. In addition to destroying buildings that had already received building permits, the provincial government issued norms which regulated the height, position, size and even the color of the crosses.

Controlling the buddha and bishops

Chap. V (arts. 36-39) regards "religious personnel", who exercise ministry. They must be registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs. There are two specific points. The first refers to the "living Buddha" of Tibetan Buddhism, whose reincarnation "must be submitted for approval to the department for religious affairs of the people's government". The Party-government established this rule years ago, which seeks to prevent the possibility of an "uncontrolled" or "not approved" reincarnation the Dalai Lama.

Another specific point regards Catholic bishops, who must be registered with the nations departments of religious. It is also specified that "those that have not obtained or have lost religious professional credentials, must not engage in activity as religious professionals" (n. 36). Many Catholics are concerned that this subparagraph might harden the government's stance towards unofficial bishops, who are not registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and that therefore commit "illegal or outlawed actions" if they dare to celebrate a Mass or distribute the Sacraments.

The end of the underground community?

The same can be deduced from the Chap. VII on "legal responsibility", where "illegal" religious activities will be punished "according to law" and result in a revocation of "the registration certificate."

Many Chinese dioceses have been signaling to us that the government is licit and illicit means to push unofficial priests to register with the Ministry. Sadly  although not specifically mentioned in the Regulations - such registration occurs through the Patriotic Association (PA), which is the control body, whose statutes (to build an "independent" Church) are "incompatible with Catholic doctrine" , as the Letter of Benedict XVI to Chinese Catholics clearly states. Most underground priests would be willing to be registered if the tentacles of the PA were removed. The fact remains that these new regulations appear to deal a lethal blow to the underground community, making it almost impossible for them to exercise their religious freedom without registration of places of worship and staff. Whats more their "illegal activities" could result in hefty fines up to 200 thousand yuan (Arts. 67-68).

The "criminal" actions that warrant severe punishment include " accepting domination by external forces, accepting clergy from foreign religious groups or organizations without authorization, as well as other acts contrary to the principle religious independence and self-governance" ( art. 70, 2). In practice, if out of friendship an Italian priest celebrates with a community or with a Chinese priest ( "without authorization"!) he will be committing one of the most serious crimes: ecclesial communion does not count; it must have government approval.

The criminalization against everything that harms "independence and self-government" has also spread to the internet: religious information via the internet must have the permission of government authorities and "must not contain prohibited content" (Arts. 47-48) .

In conclusion, reading all regulations, religions emerge as a suspect and dangerous item, made acceptable only if controlled by the "people's government". Yet from the start Regulations proclaim that "religious freedom" is enjoyed by all citizens, without discrimination.

Among the discriminatory prohibitions there is in fact - in addition to the abovementioned prohibition on Party members to be religious - the fact that It is prohibited to proselytize, hold religious activities, establish religious organizatons, or set up religious activity sites in State schools" ( art. 44). In return, the state has the right to coerce and to enforce lessons of atheism and Marxism in religious schools.
The most effective way to safeguard the dignity of all in the Middle East is a renewed commitment to the rule of law and freedom of religion and conscience. The Holy See and the Vatican State become parties to the UN Convention against Corruption.

New York (AsiaNews)  In his address on Thursday to the UN General Assembly in New York, the Vatican's Secretary of State Card Pietro Parolin outlined the Holy See's views about world affairs, focusing on integral human development, based on the right to life, which "is impossible without peace", as tragically shown by the ongoing Middle East crisis.

Parolin noted that Only two days ago in Assisi, Pope Francis, together with numerous other world religious leaders, stressed the importance of dialogue as a privileged way to be peacemakers. Conflicts not only render the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level absolutely impossible, but also destroy so many human resources, means of production and cultural heritage.

In his opening welcoming the approval by many countries of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris accord on climate change, he noted however that these goals cannot be realistically reached without significant changes in the world's economic systems.

In particular, he spoke of the "ecological debt" that rich countries have towards those in need, calling for alternative finance systems capable of ensuring that financial resources are both accessible to and sustainable for the poorest."

Development is not possible without peace, Card Parolin said. "The enormous and ill-fated effect of war is a downward spiral from which there is often no escape as shown in war-torn areas of the world, most notably Syria, which has "been overrun by all kinds of armed groups."

The Holy See also believes that in the Middle East a renewed commitment in favour of the rule of law and of freedom of religion and of conscience is the most effective way to safeguard the dignity of all.

In the Middle East, we see the terrible consequences of a spiral of war: many lives destroyed; fallen states; collapsed ceasefires; unsuccessful peace initiatives; and failed attempts to resolve the fundamental causes of conflict in Syria, Iraq and Libya, to find a solution to the crisis of the presidency in Lebanon, and to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This persistent failure has dampened the hopes and promises of all who consider that region sacred and holy.

We can also witness these failures in the long-standing conflicts that continue to oppress and take the lives of so many in South Sudan, the Great Lakes, and now for two and half years in Eastern Ukraine.

Another factor that degrades social coexistence in countries and undermine the whole international community is the scourge of terrorism.

In the course of recent years, we have seen the metastasis of terrorism to so many parts of the world. Neighbours to Syria and Iraq have increasingly become victims of innumerable barbaric acts. Beyond the Middle East, atrocious acts of terrorism have instilled fear in the daily life of so many across the globe.

Happy for the positive outcome in Colombia, the heartfelt hope of the Holy See is that that, through the facilitation of the international community, various forms of contact and dialogue will be pursued to resolve ongoing conflicts.

Finally, addressing the issue before the Assembly, the migration crisis, he stressed "that 65 million people have been compelled to flee from their homes and communities, because of persecution, conflicts, widespread violence and hunger, and devastated lands."

After expressing gratitude and appreciation towards Lebanon and Jordan for accepting large numbers of refugees from Syria, the cardinal encouraged effective action to help migrants, addressing the root causes of migration.

He noted that "migration and development are tightly linked," and "The consequences of the mass movement of refugees and migrants threaten to weaken our commitment to the values of solidarity and hospitality towards those in need. These values stand at the heart of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy."

Lastly, Card Parolin also deposited on behalf of the Holy See the instrument of ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
Caritas Lebanon director Fr Paul Karam warns of great potential "social conflict" between locals and refugees. He will talk to Pope Francis about the tragic situation. The local Church is involved in mediation and tensions reduction. Those who make weapons also run the war and manoeuvre it to make it go on

Beirut (AsiaNews)  The danger of "social conflict" between the local population and the refugees who fled war-ravaged, jihadi-affected Syria and Iraq is growing. As people start "to sell everything", the government remains "weak" and no longer able to protect and take care of a population "increasingly in difficulty, said Paul Karam, head of Caritas Lebanon, who spoke to AsiaNews.

The Catholic charity has played a leading role for the past four years in helping families fleeing war in Syria and elsewhere. The clergyman is coming to Rome for a meeting between Caritas workers and Pope Francis. We are going to tell the pope the way things are, he said. We are going to talk about a tragic situation.

In more than four years, Lebanon has received almost 1.6 million Syrian refugees, bearing the demographic, economic imbalances, political, and security burdens that it entails. According to UN figures, registered refugees number 1.2 million.

To these must be add at least 700 Christian Iraqi families from Baghdad, Mosul and Erbil, and tens of thousands of Palestinians from Syria. All this in a country of about 4.4 million that is hard-pressed to manage the emergency situation.

At present, World Bank experts are discussing aid for Lebanon and its refugee burden. In this regard, a meeting was held recently in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, to outline new ways to address the issues the many challenges.

Since the start of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the European Union has been the main international donor for refugees, with  800 million (US$ 900 million), including  356 in humanitarian aid, 87 so far in 2016, and more than  250 million through the EUs Neighbourhood Policy. The goal is to help Lebanese authorities provide assistance and basic services to refugees.

The EU is also the largest donor in the Syrian conflict, with more than  6.6 billion provided by Brussels and individual Member States in humanitarian aid and development assistance.

However, the emergency in Syria grows more and more and, according to the latest UN estimates, at least 13.5 million people need "urgent help".

Talking about the emergency, the director of Caritas Lebanon noted that Lebanon does face a "serious risk" of internal conflict. The country is stifled, he warns, and if the United Nations and the international community do not find a solution to end the Syrian conflict, the situation could blow up."

There is a "constant flow" of refugees crossing the border "via non-legal routes," Fr Paul Karam noted. This helps to "fuel tensions. The local community has looked on as food and aid goes to refugees, whilst they become progressively poorer." In some areas of the country, people " live below the poverty line. Poverty is growing among both refugees and the Lebanese. "

The Lebanese Church has to mediate the tensions to lower the level of confrontation and limit the danger of clashes between the two groups who are united by need and want.

"We do what we can but the refugees are certainly not all Christians, the clergyman said. Many of them are Muslims and there are no direct relations. With Christians and local residents, we try to calm things down, but people are starting to react vocally. 'Count me as a refugee is one of the slogans that are becoming increasingly popular."

For the director of Caritas Lebanon, more than food, aid or money, which are a necessity, "the most important thing is to end the conflict in Syria"; otherwise, tensions, divisions, and terrorism will grow."

The poor are the first to pay for great power bickering. For a while "we hoped for an agreement between the US and Russia, but the reality on the ground seems to be quite different," said the priest.

Citing the Lebanese prime minister at the UN, he said that We do not see a peaceful solution for Syria. In any case, "Peace must be based on justice and all-out fight against arms sales and trade, Fr Karam said.

No poor can manufacture and trade weapons and the Syrian war also rotates around this, he added. Aid is not infinite and those who make weapons also run the war and manoeuvre it to make it go on.
by p. Purushottam Nayak*

A retreat for the enrichment of marriage was held in Bhubaneshwar. Five members of Couples for Christ from the Philippines and two from Bangalore, Karnataka, led the event. The lay movement was established in Manila in 1981. It obtained Vatican recognition in 2005 as a private international association for lay faithful.

Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews)  Evangelization, renewal of families and care of the poor are part of the mission of a Filipino lay group called Couples for Christ (CFC) that visited Odisha, eastern Indai, from 13 to 18 September.

The Couples for Christ team consisted of Bro. Steven Maningat, Sr. Natividad Minerva, country coordinator, Bro. Bernard, Piedad Provincial Area Director of Isabella Province and Sr. Belinda Piedad, Bro. Luis Dela Cruz, Provincial Area Head of Capiz Province; all from the Philippines, as well as Bro. Hector Poppen, Country Head, and Sr. Garnet Poppen (Bangalore) from India.

Couples for Christ is a Catholic lay movement which focuses on evangelization, renewal of families and caring for the poor. It was started in Manila, Philippines in June 1981 and is now functioning in over 100 countries. Though the movement was started for strengthening couple relationship, the need for empowering all members of families was felt in order to build up strong families. Accordingly, family ministries were launched in 1993. This includes Kids for Christ (KFC - 4 to 12 years), Youth for Christ (YFC - 13 to 21 years), Singles for Christ (SFC  21 to 40 years), Servants of the Lord (SOLD - Single men above 40 years) and Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD  Single women over 40 years).

As a truly Christian mission, CFC metamorphosed from a family renewal movement into a force for social renewal giving birth to ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor), with Social ministries to reach out to different sectors of society with programmes on education, health, housing and food-sufficiency.

In 1995, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) approved CFC as a national private association of lay faithful. In 2000 the Holy See granted provisional approval and in 2005 it granted permanent approval to CFC as an International Private Association of Lay Faithful under relevant Canon Laws.

In India there are two branches of Couples for Christ, one operating mainly in the metropolises and one in more rural areas. CFC was introduced to Odisha state in November 2012 starting with Bhubaneswar and later in 2013 spreading to the Kandhamal region, which has a larger density of Catholics.

The introductory programme of bringing couples to a closer relationship with God and with each other was conducted by members of CFC Canada. Subsequent programmes for inculcating strong marriage bonds, God given roles of Christian husband and wife, responsible parenthood and empowering members to lead a spiritual life and to evangelize other couples were conducted by CFC teams from Manila and India.

It is a matter of great pride that thanks to the blessings and unstinted support of Most Rev. John Barwa, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, CFC Odisha has over 350 couples, 300 SOLD and 200 HOLD members and the majority of them are in the Kandhamal region.

Though language is a barrier, as most members in Kandhamal speak only their native tribal dialect, this has been overcome with the help of members who are bilingual in English and native languages. The process of translating the teaching from English into Odiya language is in progress so that the programme can be extended to remotest parts.

Archbishop John Barwa, Fr. Prasan Kumar Pradhan and Fr. Mukund attended the 35th CFC Anniversary in Manila in June 2016 and have got to know in detail functioning of this world-wide movement and hence are rendering all support to strengthen the movement in Odisha so as to re-build strong Christ-centred families.

A marriage enrichment retreat (MER) for member couples was conducted at the St. Vincents Pro-Cathedral Bhubaneswar on 17th and 18th September by a team consisting of 5 CFC members from the Philippines and 2 members from Bangalore. Eight couples from Bhubaneswar participated. The programme consisted of teachings and intense personal sharing between couples and was highly appreciated by the participants as it gave them a true perspective of a Christian marriage and the great responsibility on the shoulders of couples and parents in building strong Christian families. The two-member team from Bangalore will be conducting marriage enrichment retreats in Baliguda, Raikia and Daringbadi, Kandhamal region, in the coming weeks.

The social aspect of the movement has been introduced in Odisha with educational sponsorship for 240 students, financed by CFC Canada. The number of students being sponsored will be gradually increased in the coming years.

* Secretary of Mgr. John Barwa, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
He must serve five years in prison. He was sentenced along with his assistant for having "violated the interests of the state" by publishing articles online. The defense lawyers argue that the trial was not democratic: "The accusation is based on false evidence, and under the current Penal Code Vinh is innocent."

Hanoi (AsiaNews / RFA) - A legal court in Hanoi has rejected the request for appeal of the Catholic blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, who will have to return to prison to serve five years. The man was sentenced last March along with his assistant for publishing online articles against the state.



Nguyen Huu Vinh, 60, is a former police officer and has been linked in the past with the Vietnamese Communist Party. Arrested in May 2014, Huu Vinh and his assistant were tried after six months of unjustified detention for violation of Article 258, which punishes "abuses of freedom and democracy" and "violating state interests".



Founded in 2007, his blog "Ba Sam" published articles and essays against the Hanoi government, and had millions of viewers. The space also hosted a forum to launch fierce accusations against Beijing's "imperialist" policy in the South China Sea.



Tran Vu Hai, a lawyer defending the blogger, has lashed out at the court's decision, declaring that the procedures of the trial in the courtroom were "undemocratic." When the hearing began, the lawyer said, "the Chief Justice said that he listened to both sides, but then rejected all our arguments. In some moments he was clearly in favor of the accusers and finally issued this ruling".



Defense lawyers continue to repeat that Vinhs sentencing is based on false evidence and that "under the new Penal Code of Vietnam, he is innocent." The Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), based in Paris, has condemned the decision of the Hanoi court and appealed to the Vietnamese government to cease "the continued repression of peaceful dissidents". According to the organization Human Rights Watch (HRW), there are between 150 and 200 bloggers and activists detained in Vietnamese prisons



In past years, Vinh was also subject to beatings for covering trials against human rights activists and abuse against the Catholic community in the capital.

Although locked up in prison, the blogger has made his voice heard during the pollution scandal that hit the central provinces of Vietnam in recent months, accusing Hanoi of having repressed peaceful protests
by Mathias Hariyadi

Ethnic Toraja attend the parish church. Pastor says it has proper papers and saw the mayor visit.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Scores of Islamic fundamentalists and local residents protested today in front of a Protestant church in Makassar (South Sulawesi) that caters to ethnic Toraja, who are mostly Christian (Protestant and Catholic).

Islamic radicals from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) demonstrated against the renewal of the churchs building permit (IMB) granted to the Bunturannu congregation that runs the church.

The FPI said that its protest was sparked by complaints from local residents who accuse church leaders of lacking the proper papers to renew the permit.

"The presence of the Church in this area does not have the approval of most of the Muslim population, said local FPI spokesman Aramna Rahman. Residents said they never gave permission for the renewal of the project. "

Rev Daur Sanpe Rurun quickly responded saying that Makassar authorities issued the papers in due form.

"Do not worry about permits and legal papers, he said, because, after we laid the first stone of the church, the mayor visited the site and officially recognised the project.

Hamzah Hamid, a local politician, criticised radical Muslims for causing the incident, noting that the FPI has no right to organise demonstrations against church construction. "Their actions stain the good reputation of Islam, he said.

This is the second violent incident in a few days involving ethnic Toraja Christians. On 12 September, unknown assailants gunned down a Catholic teacher and catechist in Puncak Jaya district, Papua province.

Christians and Muslims have already clashed in South Sulawesi. On 7 September, a group of Islamic radicals disrupted Mass at a parish in Surakarta (Central Java).
This is the first state visit to Havana by a Japanese head of government. Medical aid, debt relief, and investments dominate talks. In return, Castro will use his good offices to curb North Korea, Cubas old ally. Chinas Li Keqiang will follow Abe, a sign that East Asia is increasingly interested in the Caribbean.

Havana (AsiaNews)  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday became the first Japanese leader to visit communist-ruled Cuba. Abe and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed to boost bilateral economic relations and forgive some of Cubas huge debt toward Japan. In return, Cuba will use its good offices to curb North Koreas nuclear provocations.

The visit follows Cubas thawing relations with the United States. The two countries re-establish diplomatic relations in 2015 after 50 years of embargo.

Tokyo is a historic ally of Washington and has always tried to follow  whenever possible  US foreign policy.

Of the 700 foreign companies present in the island nation, only 18 are Japanese. Until now the trade was limited to the exchange of Cuban seafood, tobacco and coffee for Japanese industrial machinery.

Japanese Prime Minister now wants to develop economic cooperation, but in return wants Cuban aid on the North Korean nuclear issue.

Havana has good relations with Pyongyang. Both countries are non-aligned countries and backed each other when they faced embargoes.

This cooperation has sometimes circumvented international law. A few years ago, Cuban ships have been intercepted carrying weapons to North Korea disguised as sugarcane.

During the meeting with Castro, Abe granted US$ 13 million in medical aid to the country. He also referred to a recent bilateral agreement under which Japan would waive 120 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) of Cubas debt to Japan.

Before his meeting with Raul Castro, the Japanese leader also met former President Fidel Castro.

The island trip has another purpose, namely countering Chinese expansion into the Caribbean, this according to several analysts.

The area has long been at the centre of a diplomatic tug-of-war between Beijing and Taipei via economic aid for diplomatic recognition from the regions smaller nations. It is therefore no accident that as soon as Abe leaves, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang will land in Havana.

According to Deputy Minister Wang Chang, Li will travel to Cuba right after his visit to the United Nations General Assembly. This too will be a first for a Chinese head of government. However, President Xi Jinping visited the Caribbean island two years ago. Havana and Beijing have always had fraternal diplomatic relations.

Like Abe, the Chinese leader intends to focus on economics to further bilateral relations and the traditional friendship between the two countries.
Just a week after losing regional leaders from its Singapore, Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi offices, another senior lawyer has left Ashurst.Brussels managing partner Carl Meyntjens will join Simmons & Simmons as a corporate partner. He has been at the head of Ashursts in the city for almost a decade.Two partners have replaced Meyntjens, with Arnaud Wtterwulghe as office managing partner and Denis Fosselard appointed to the newly-created position of head of Brussels. DLA Piper is merging with Canadian firm Dimock Stratton in Toronto, adding 16 IP partners to the global firm from 1November 2016.The news follows the recently-announced tie-up between Norton Rose Fulbright and Vancouver firm Bull Housser.DLA Piper already has a presence in Toronto together with other major Canadian cities including Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver.When teams move law firms in lateral hires, black associates appear less likely to make the move than their white colleagues.Thats according to a study co-authored by a professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business which found that only associates were affected while there was little difference between the moves of black and white partners.The report, authored by Christopher I. Rider, of Georgetowns McDonough School of Business, Adina Sterling of Stanfords Business School and David Tan, of the University of Washingtons Foster School of Business, was included in the book Diversity in Practice Race, Gender, and Class in Legal and Professional Careers published earlier this year.A new law requiring citizens and visitors to Kuwait to provide a DNA sample is being fought by lawyers.The law is due to be introduced within weeks and was passed by the countrys legislature a year ago. In the time since then, law firm Adel AbdulHadi & Partners has been preparing a legal challenge to it.Newscientist.com reports that law firm principal Adel AbdulHadi says that requiring a DNA sample from all means everyone is considered guilty under proven innocent. He says that the law will be the equivalent to house searches without a warrant.The government says the measure will help combat terrorism but that has been refuted by critics.
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A High Court judge may be the last person one would visualise when asked to picture a person who uses emojis in official documents, but one UK justice has earned praise after utilising the modern digital icons in one of his judgements.The Hon. Mr. Justice Peter Jackson used emojis and uncomplicated English in a long family law judgment so that children and a mother can fully understand the decision.According to a Legal Cheek report, the case was about a British Muslim convert who reportedly tried to take four children to Syria, but was stopped in Istanbul Turkey.Justice Jackson was explaining in the document to a 10-year-old and 12-year-old why they would only have limited contact with their father from now. The father is now serving an 18-year prison term for firearms offences.The decision may be long but it and Justice Jackson are now being hailed as a champions of plain English.According to a report from Metro UK, the 6,555-word ruling is being considered for a Plain English Award by the Plain English Campaign.Unfortunately for us, the decisions online version does not contain the emojis.

Online Version:

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2016/9.html
The Australian Government is to introduce a new temporary visa for parents of Australians, it has been confirmed, with a start date of July 2017 pencilled in.The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) has launched a consultation process and is inviting members of the public to provide their views. During the recent general election campaign the Government promised to enhance existing visa arrangements to enable sponsored parents to visit their family in Australia for a continuous period of up to five years.'The Australian Government believes that parents should have the opportunity to visit children and grandchildren who live in Australia as long as parents and their sponsors can satisfy community expectations and that their stay in Australia does not have an undue cost impact on the Australian community,' said a DIBP spokesman.'While several visa options are already available for parents to spend time with their family in Australia, community feedback indicates that a fresh approach should be considered,' he explained.But he pointed out that the introduction of such a visa is a significant shift from current visa options for parents. 'It raises a number of issues around our communities and the nature of services to support these visitors. The Government is seeking community input to help shape the development of the visa,' he added.People can make a written submission on the development of a temporary stay parent visa, or on issues raised by sending an email to: [email protected] Submissions should be made by midnight on Monday 31 October 2016 and any received after this deadline might not be considered.Currently there are limited visa places available for extended family members, such as parents. Up to 8,675 will be made available for parents in 2016/2017, but the DIBP points out that demand is greater than available places and annual limit is imposed.'The Government acknowledges the value of family migration and recognises that parents provide a range of benefits to their families and community. However, for the past two decades, it has been necessary for the Government to limit the number of permanent migration places available to parents,' said the spokesman.'These limits recognise the challenges Australia must face due to an ageing population, as well as the overall budget impact of older migrants. The limits also reflect the Government's priority of providing visa pathways for the children and partners of Australians, as well as the need to target young skilled migrants to maximise the economic benefits of migration,' he added.Currently is it proposed that all applicants for the new visa would undertake medical examinations with the aim of not being a burden to the Australian health system and would need to take out adequate health insurance from an Australian provider.They would also need to be sponsored by their child who would have to be able to support the parent if necessary and the visa would entitle them to stay for up to five years and apply for a five year renewal.
Hi guys,



My boyfriend is doint phd in " Mechanical Engineering" in Australia. He plans to apply for Visa 189 after graduation.



For his graduation background, he did "Master of Material Engineering from China" and "Bachelor of Material Physics" from China as well. Before going to Australia for doing Phd, he had got 1 year and 5 months work experience from China. His job is directly related to "Material Engineering".



I have known that skill assessment with EA is mainly based on Bachelor Degree. His Bachelor is not engineering... The course name may be different in each university but the courses and subjects might similar and comparable between material physics and engineers. He also got a lot of journal papers and research tasks related to Material Engineer.



In this case, is that possible for EA to look over the Name of Degree but assess his courses and subjects in his Bachelor Transcript ? If not, appreciate if you guys can suggest us other occupations that he can try to apply.



Thanks,

Irene
Yes but not if the debt is with Australian government (then can but HARD) other debts make no difference.
Cars exported include the Zen, Celerio, Swift, A-Star, Maruti 800 and the Alto; Made-in-India Baleno first Maruti car to be exported to Japan.

Maruti Suzuki India, the country's leading passenger vehicle maker, has announced that it has crossed cumulative exports of 15 lakh (1.5 million) vehicles. These vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa.

Early this year, the companys premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, became the first car to be exported from India to Japan. Maruti Suzuki first began its export operations in 1987-88, when a small number of cars were sent to Hungary. Thereafter, exports have grown at a steady pace as new models and markets were added to the export programme. Some of the early much-in-demand export models included the Zen, the Maruti 800 and later the A-Star.

The Alto, Indias most popular car brand for over a decade, also has a sizeable presence in the export markets and has clocked over 3,90,000 sales cumulatively. Commenting on achieving the 1.5 million export landmark, managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, Kenichi Ayukawa, said, We are happy to reach the 1.5 million milestone for our exports. Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries. Our products like the Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe. He added, Our premium hatchback Baleno, made exclusively in India, is the first car to be exported from India to Japan. It has become a symbol of the Make-in-India mission of Prime Minister NarendraModi, and taken Indias exports story to a new level.

In 2015-16, the top-five exported models for the company were the Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and the Ciaz. Countries like Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia have emerged as the top markets for Maruti Suzuki export models. The newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, is also exported to South Africa and Tanzania and will be exported to SAARC countries in the future.
We first laid eyes upon the 2017 Kia Soul exactly one month ago , when it made its debut and went on sale in South Korea. Now, though, Kia has confirmed the Soul will get dressed in its finest jacket for the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Hence, next week well see the Euro-spec model up close and personal before it goes on sale all across the Old Continent in late 2016.Although plentiful, exterior modifications havent changed the visual character of the Soul too much. It just made it more hip, more alluring to youngsters as a means of personal transportation. Everything, from the updated tiger-nose front grille to the redesigned daytime running lights and fog lights, help the Soul get in with the in crowd. The interior also benefits from small updates, including a selection of funky color combos.But visual freshness isnt all there is to the facelifted Soul. Some people will be more thrilled to find out that Kia has made the Soul safer than before. The key update in this regard is Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. For the more tech-savvy among us, the big news is the integration of Android Auto (Android 5.0 or newer), as well as Apple CarPlay (iPhone 5 or newer).The big news, however, is the addition of the 1.6 T-GDI engine. The 1.6-liter turbocharged unit is pretty much the same powerplant you might find in the ceed GT warm hatch, with 201 horsepower (204 PS) and 195 lb-ft (265 Nm) available to play with. And just like the ceed GT, the Soul 1.6 T-GDI comes exclusively as a front-wheel-drive affair. But then again, this is a crossover in tune with city life, not rutted roads, green lanes, muddy fields, or sand dunes.In combination with the 7DCT seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the 2017 Kia Soul 1.6 T-GDI is pretty quick for this type of vehicle. 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 7.5 seconds is no slouch. By comparison, the most powerful model in the Renault Captur range , which is 80 horsepower down on the most powerful Soul, struggles to hit that in 10.7 seconds.
Ah yes, leave it to Japan to turn hidden desires into not-so-high-octane fetishes - come to think of it, hearing the Dajiban name of this grassroots motorsport form is enough to figure out what's going on: we're dealing with Dodge van racing over in the Land of the Rising Sun.And thanks to the video at the bottom of the page, which comes from JDM aficionado noriyaro, we can see what happens when a bunch of these vans duke it out on the Ebisu circuit.You'll find that many of these vans are modified, but don't expect anything more than a budget take on the market. Even so, when a driver furiously blips the throttle during a column-using downshift, you know things are wacky.Legend has it the Dajiban trend kicked off year ago at Ebisu, when motorcycle racers decided to switch from their two-wheeled monsters to the vans they used as support vehicles.Out when the load and in came brief mods, with the result bringing tons of adrenaline. So don't be surprised to find completely stock 318 V8s under the massive hoods of these Dodges , albeit with supped-up cooling systems that can support the prolonged hooning.And given the location of these stunts, don't expect the Dajiban thing to remain a straight-line-only affair. Oh no. Those crazy drivers will occasionally engage in drifting activities, such as the ones you can see in these screenshots - Body roll? Unpredictable mid-turn hopping? Don't let such unimportant details derail you from the slip angle path.Come to think of it, the US enjoyed its fair share of van hooning pleasures back in the 80s. Just think of the A-Team or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.So what happened? Who killed the go-fast van? Well, Japan is probably the one to blame here. After all, it was the original Toyota RAV4 who popularized the crossover segment, allowing these cars to show the world it doesn't necessarily need to turn to vans for extra space, right?
In this cases, the good old diesel engine is called upon, and we all know what they do to the environment and, consequently, to our health. So all those ecology preachers who urge people to use trains more often should accompany their recommendation by an asterisk: especially if your commute overlaps with an electrified route.A French company called Alstom is trying to find a solution to this problem by replacing the diesel engine with something that has zero emissions. Well, zero harmful emissions, because their prototype does produce some steam and water. Sounds familiar? Many years ago, Honda made headlines with its car that would pour pure water out of its tailpipe. It was called Clarity FCX and it used a hydrogen fuel cell generator to power its electric motor.This technology has lost momentum lately after some voices argued that creating liquid hydrogen and then turning it into electricity wasn't a very energy efficient method. For the car industry, it also meant that a new parallel infrastructure had to be built, so everybody had to be on board for it to happen.If the fuel cell solution hit some obstacles in the car industry, it might make a little more sense when it comes to trains. The infrastructure part is dealt with easily since trains follow very clear routes, so adding hydrogen refueling pumps at every train station should suffice. Besides, the size of the batteries needed to power the electric motor of a train engine would make it extremely expensive, not to mention very heavy.Alstom's hydrogen fuel train is built on an existing model - the Lint - but with a few very important modifications that have earned the name of iLint. The hydrogen tanks and the fuel cell are located on the roof, while the lithium-ion batteries, the converter, and the inverter sit underneath the passenger compartment, together with the electric motor. Die Welt tells us that the iLint will begin its runs on the Buxtehude-Bremervorde-Bremerhaven-Cuxhaven line in the northwestern German state of Lower Saxony by the end of next year, but there's already an order for 14 iLints from Germany, with operators from other countries such as Norway, Holland or Denmark showing their interest as well.The only real two questions surrounding the success of the iLint is how much will it cost - Alstom keeps that a secret for now - and how easily available will the liquid hydrogen be? If those are taken care of, then the iLint should be a hit as it's cheaper to run - especially if we consider the inevitable rise in the price of the fossil fuels - and cheaper to maintain. Not to mention 100 percent pollution free.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in the United Kingdom has issued a safety recall after a potential problem with the airbag system on the Honda GL1800 Goldwing was found recently. The issue consists of such systems not being able to deploy correctly.As a precautionary measure, Honda has identified a batch of Gold Wing models, manufactured between 2007 and 2008, that will have airbag inflators replaced, Honda UK says in a press release. The remedial work will happen in two phases. First, airbag systems will be disabled. Models in question will then be booked in to have a new inflator fitted. Honda encourages Gold Wing owners to contact their Honda dealer, to establish whether their model is affected.The problem was firstly mentioned earlier this year in June, when Honda US recalled more than a couple thousand Goldwings for the same airbag problem. The inflators are sourced from Takata , one of the biggest airbag systems manufacturer that outraged people recently through defective parts.The Honda Goldwing was available with an airbag system between 2006 and 2010, the safety feature being designed to deploy in a head-on collision to prevent the rider flipping over the bike or hit his chest/head against the tank, handlebars or dashboard.So, if you are the owner of such Honda model and care for your safety, do check in with your local dealership and ask for an appointment. Also, take it easy and ride using your head.
SUV

The Japanese brand initially designed for the U.S. market, but eventually introduced in Europe and the rest of the world has already announced it will showcase a concept of an innovative seat , as well as a concept that previews a compact. The latter will be named Lexus UX Concept, and it will preview the brands vision in the segment.After releasing a teaser image of the UX , the Japanese brand has published a photo of the interior, which looks far too futuristic for production.Instead of a conventional gauge cluster, Lexus has gone all  Minority Report  and beyond, so it has created a 3D transparent globe that floats like a hologram.The center console also has holograms, which are displayed on a facetted crystal structure that is imagined to be used as a control for the air conditioning and infotainment systems.Both driver and front passenger can use the latter, as it is visible to both occupants of the front seats. We can only imagine the smudge marks on this, but we admit it looks incredibly cool. Lexus thinks the car of the future does not need regular mirrors, so the interior has a set of displays that replace the side mirrors. The windows are electro chromatic so sunlight will not affect the occupants level of comfort. Furthermore, all the switches and controls are housed under transparent covers and operated by touch, without analog actions.The passenger is also spoilt in this model, as Lexus has fitted his or her side of the dash with a removable sound bar. Think of it as a Bluetooth speaker with high-quality audio capabilities. The entire concept vehicle will be exhibited in Paris starting September 29, 2016.Do not expect to see any of the elements seen in this concept car to appear in production models soon, as it will take a few years and millions of dollars to adapt them to the market, if they ever get approved.
The Singapore-based ride-hailing service Grab and NuTonomy have entered into a partnership that would enable commuters to hail self-driving cars for their daily commute.

All of it forms part of a public trial for NuTonomy that the ex-MIT engineers have been testing for some time now. The partnership with Grab will only work towards enhancing the scope of the trials even more. Much like Uber's autonomous cars that are being tested in Pittsburgh, the NuTonomy taxis too will be accompanied by two of their engineers to monitor proceedings, The Verge reported.

However, the service has largely been restricted to a small 1.5 square-mile region in Singapore which the authorities have earmarked for testing autonomous driving tech. Called North 1, it comprises of the business district though the rides can also stretch to the nearby blocks but with the accompanying engineers taking over the taxi controls during such times.

The trial will run for two months and the rides will be free during the time. There will be six taxis comprising of modified Renault Zoes and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs that have been earmarked for the trials. During the time, Grab users can hail the self-driving taxis by tapping on the 'robo-car' icon in the Grab app.

Grab also revealed to TechCrunch their partnership with NuTonomy does not call for any investment in either companies. However, it's still a win-win situation for both as Grab gets to have a first-hand experience dealing with self-driving taxis while NuTonomy gets the chance to perfect its technology in some real-word scenario.

Maybe NuTonomy gets to take away more from the partnership as it pushes ahead with its agenda to run a fleet of fully autonomous taxis by 2018. For Grab, it can be considered as a future case scenario and the experience thus gained will come in handy if it ever chooses to operate autonomous taxis in future.

Grab is widely considered as the Uber of South-East Asia though unlike its American rival, the firm just operates in just six countries in the regions. Also, with the primary road and traffic infrastructure in those countries still being in the developing stage, experts opine its brush with autonomous technology could be short-lived or have a very limited scope.

In contrast, Uber operates in some of the most developed regions of the world having the best of traffic infrastructure. Its penchant for self-driving technology is all too well known and has recently started trial run of a fleet of around 200 Volvo V90 SUVs specially adapted to drive on its own.
23 September 2016 12:29 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Armenian armed units have once again set fire to the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

The military units of Armenian Armed Forces after completing the illegal military exercise in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan burned a large proportion of the territory Uzundere in occupied Aghdam region, APA reported.

The flames got spread to the outskirts of the occupied Aghdam. It was possible to see the fire from the territory of frontline villages. Due to the arsons, wild animals began to attack villages of Azerbaijani citizens, causing damage to livestock.

Despite a fragile ceasefire agreement Armenia, which keeps under occupation 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, regularly stages provocation on the contact line of troops.

By constantly conducting such attacks, Armenian side once again shows its political incompetence. The Armenian Armed Forces often commit large-scale arsons in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, particularly in the summer. Their main goal is to harm Azerbaijan and its citizens by making life near the borderline difficult and risky for them.

In addition to arsons, the Armenian armed forces continued military exercise in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Various military compounds of Armenian Armed Forces using artillery conducted the next stage of the military exercises in the territory of Uzundere of Aghdam region.

The installations of rocket launchers, mortars, and heavy machinery were used in the exercises. The sounds of artillery fire during the exercises were heard in front-line villages, and even in the neighboring areas.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
23 September 2016 11:49 (UTC+04:00)

By 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.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
23 September 2016 12:01 (UTC+04:00)

By Felipe Calderon

Over the last 15 years, the number of students worldwide has increased by some 243 million, a reflection of governments commitment to expanding access to education. But some countries have made far more progress than others, not only by increasing the share of young people in school, but also by guaranteeing the quality of that education. Closing this education gap must be a top priority.

The International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity, of which I am a proud member, is working to do just that. Led by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is currently the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, the Education Commission operates on the strong belief that education is a fundamental human right, and the route to substantially improved living standards.

The Commission is co-convened by Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malawian President Peter Mutharika, and the director-general of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. And it draws on the experience of many types of leaders  including former heads of state, legislators, successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople, artists, and academics  from around the world.

There is also a youth panel that elicits the perspectives of distinguished young people. That panel is chaired by Kenyas Kennedy Odede, who developed an educational model that combats extreme poverty and gender inequality through education, and Guyanas Rosemarie Ramitt, an advocate for young people with disabilities. Also on the panel is Pakistans Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who courageously defied the Taliban to campaign for girls access to education.

This impressive group of leaders and thinkers has worked tirelessly to assess the state of education worldwide, with an eye to identifying the particular challenges that confront different countries. The resulting report, The Learning Generation: Investing in Education for a Changing World, provides a series of recommendations that will enable low- and middle-income countries to boost education quality and enrollment rates within a generation. It was presented this week to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has already agreed to act on the recommendations it contains.

The reports recommendations focus on several fundamental objectives, including innovation, inclusiveness (with the lowest-income citizens getting particular attention), and a comprehensive, long-term investment plan for education.

Of course, achieving these goals will cost money. That is why the Education Commission calls for a financing compact between developing countries and the international community, whereby wealthier countries offer increased finance and guidance to developing countries that commit to educational reform and investment.

There is certainly space for developing countries to boost investment in education. Fuel subsidies are widespread in developing countries, consuming some 25-30% of government revenues  much more than education spending, in most cases. These subsidies do not just undermine efforts to reduce environmental damage from emissions; they also tend to benefit the rich significantly more than the poor.

Eliminating energy subsidies would free up public funds for scientific research and education, generating benefits for the environment and improving the wellbeing and prospects of the poor. Though reducing subsidies can be politically challenging, Ghana and Indonesia have shown that reallocating funds to social sectors can help build popular support for it. I plan to do my part to by pushing for subsidy cuts in my own country, Mexico.

As I have argued before, if money for energy subsidies were reallocated to education, the environmental benefits would be compounded. After all, the better people understand the science of climate change and its effects, the greater their capacity to help mitigate it. With the right knowledge, people can build resilience to climate change, thereby safeguarding their livelihoods. Moreover, they can help to advance important innovations, such as clean energy and solar power, and develop tailored climate-smart solutions that bring social and economic benefits to their communities.

There is no justification for neglecting education, the foundation on which social and economic development is built. By combining the resources and capabilities of national and sub-national governments, the private sector, and civil society, we can create a learning generation: children with the knowledge and skills they need to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Only then will we be able to realize the hope of a more just and sustainable world.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Creating a Learning Generation

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23 September 2016 15:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Guy Verhofstadt

The European Unions list of crises keeps growing. But, beyond the United Kingdoms Brexit vote to leave the bloc, Polands constitutional-court imbroglio, Russian expansionism, migrants and refugees, and resurgent nationalism, the greatest threat to the EU comes from within: a crisis of political leadership is paralyzing its institutions.

As if to prove the point, EU member states leaders (with the exception of UK Prime Minister Theresa May) met recently in Bratislava, Slovakia, in an attempt to demonstrate solidarity, and to kick-start the post-Brexit reform process. The attendees made some progress toward creating a European Defense Union, which should be welcomed, and toward admitting that the EUs current organizational framework is unsustainable; but there was scant talk of meaningful institutional or economic reform.

Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzis refusal, at the close of the summit, to appear onstage with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel all but confirmed fears that rudderless leadership is fueling institutional dysfunction. A summit that was supposed to be a display of unity revealed only further division.

EU leaders must take responsibility for this latest failure. For starters, they must stop issuing empty declarations. The EUs institutional impotence is apparent, especially to its enemies. So now it faces a stark choice: a leap forward toward unification or inevitable disintegration.

Few Europeans want to make that choice. Many politicians are afraid of paying a high domestic political price for pursuing an agenda of EU reform. They argue that pushing for further integration in the current political climate is reckless, and that the EU should focus on doing less, better.

But that is a false trade-off. The EU could build a more integrated economic-governance model to increase investment and create jobs, while at the same time streamlining its operations to address common complaints about red tape and dysfunction.

Few European leaders seem to understand that the real risk to the EU  and to their own political futures  is the status quo. And with populist movements across Europe pummeling traditional parties in the polls, the window for delivering real change is quickly closing.

It does not have to be this way. Too many leaders are paying lip service to domestic nationalists and populists, mistakenly thinking that this will preserve their domestic poll ratings, when they should be showing genuine leadership and fighting for the common good.

Upcoming national elections in France and Germany will be bellwethers for the future of European leadership. In recent German state elections, Merkels Christian Democratic Union and its government partner, the Social Democratic Party, experienced notable losses, which could mean that Germanys grand coalition is at risk ahead of next years election. Meanwhile, support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to grow.

Merkel has two choices: She can move to the right, as former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has done in his latest bid for the French presidency, or she can fight to hold the center by addressing the AfDs simplistic arguments head on. The choice is clear: Merkel should stand and fight, while also advancing an alternative vision for modernizing the EU.

Defeating populism will require leaders to acknowledge the people left behind as a result of globalization, but also to dispel the myth that there is a quick fix, or that globalization can simply be reversed. Contrary to populist arguments, protectionism will not reduce youth unemployment or income inequality. If EU countries reject trade deals currently under discussion, including the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, the EUs share of world trade will decrease, and the European economy will suffer for it.

Likewise, if the eurozone fails to integrate further by strengthening its economic-governance structures, Europes ongoing financial crisis will only continue, impeding social mobility and undermining social justice. It is time for EU leaders to make these arguments more effectively.

Across the West, the 2008 financial crisis triggered a political fight that is still in progress. It has changed from a battle for accountability and reform to a clash between visions of open and closed societies, between a global consensus and policies still operating at the national, local, or even tribal level.

If the EU is going to quell the revolt against globalization, free trade, and open societies, it will need more leaders and fewer managers. European leaders, frankly, should know better than to blame EU institutions, hypothetical trade deals, and refugees for their own failures to tackle unemployment and reduce inequality.

The EUs current crisis-management playbook is running out of pages. We in Europe can either put our heads in the sand while the European project slowly dies, or we can use this crisis to start a new project of renewal and reform.

Here, too, the right choice is clear: EU leaders should offer Europeans a new social contract, based on the understanding that peoples legitimate fears about globalization should be met with a collective, progressive European response.

The EU has been a major force behind globalization, and only the EU has the power to help manage the consequences. European leaders must explain to their voters why nationalism cannot.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Europes Leadership Crisis

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23 September 2016 12:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Viral Acharya , Diane Pierret and Sascha Steffen

European banks high litigation and restructuring costs have resulted in major losses on their books and abysmal stock-market performance. As the industry and European regulators now reflect on this dismal state of affairs and search for solutions, they should consider banks revenue distribution  including employee bonuses and shareholder dividends  as part of the problem.

Revenue distribution is one primary reason for European banks capital shortfalls. To understand why, we should look back to October 2014, when the European Banking Authority began balance-sheet stress tests for the eurozones largest 123 banks and found a capital shortfall of 25 billion ($28 billion) in all of them.

At the time, the EBA required the banks to devise plans to address their respective shortfalls within 6-9 months. Some banks took action and raised equity through rights issues, sometimes with substantial help from governments. But most banks mollified regulators by simply shedding riskier assets to improve their capital ratios.

Needless to say, these efforts were ineffective, and European banks share prices have declined by 50%, on average, since the initial 2014 assessment. Banks that failed the stress test and didnt take the result seriously are partly to blame, but so, too, are regulators who did not sufficiently hold the banks feet to the fire to improve their balance sheets, and who may have applied stress tests that were too weak to detect financial frailty.

The EBA conducted another series of stress tests and reported the results in late July. This latest round looked at 51 banks and, contrary to previous tests, was not designed to identify capital shortfalls, but rather to provide a common analytical framework to consistently compare and assess the resilience of large EU banks to adverse economic developments.

Regulators now suppose that the European banking sector is resilient to adverse shocks. On the same day as the EBAs announcement, the worst performer, Italys Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, announced 5 billion ($5.6 billion) in new funding, pursuant to its 5.6 billion capital requirement.

Still, market reaction to the announcement was negative (the EuroStoxx Banks index fell 7.5% in two days), most likely because the EBA did not include specific estimates of European banks capital shortfalls or outline a recapitalization plan.

In a new paper investigating this market reaction, using United States capital-requirement rules, we calculate the total capital shortfall in all 51 participating banks to be 123 billion. Despite this large capital shortfall, 28 of the 34 publicly listed banks in the stress test paid out about 40 billion in dividends for 2015, meaning that they distributed, on average, over 60% of their earnings to shareholders.

Dividend payments made by under-capitalized banks amount to a substantial wealth transfer from subordinated bondholders to shareholders, because it is bondholders who will suffer the losses in a crisis. Moreover, it is potentially a wealth transfer from taxpayers to private shareholders, because under new banking rules government bailouts are possible after bondholders have covered (bailed in) 8% of a banks equity and liabilities.

By contrast, undercapitalized banks in the US are forced to halt all forms of capital distribution if they fail a stress test. Fortunately, following the 2016 round of stress tests, the EBA is now also considering this type of regulatory sanction. Thus, competent authorities may also consider requesting changes to the institutions capital plan, which may take a number of forms such as potential restrictions on dividends required for a bank to maintain the agreed trajectory of its capital planning in the adverse scenario.

We estimate that if European regulators had adopted this approach and forced banks to stop paying dividends in 2010  the start of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe  the retained equity could have paid for more than 50% of the 2016 capital shortfalls.

The figure below shows our calculated capital shortfalls, using the EBA stress tests adverse scenario losses and the cumulative dividends these banks have distributed since 2010. Dividends paid out by some banks, such as BNP Paribas and Barclays, actually exceed the current capital shortfalls, while at others  such as Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, and Societe Generale  capital shortfalls far exceed dividends that would have been retained. The latter banks would still require substantial capital issuances on top of dividend restrictions to make up the difference.

[chart]

Nonetheless, our findings suggest a simple first step toward preventing bank capital erosion: stop banks with capital shortfalls from paying dividends (including internal dividends such as employee bonuses). Such a policy would not even require regulators to broach topics like capital issuance, bailouts, or bail-ins, and some banks have even already begun to suspend dividend payments. All thats left now is for the European Central Bank to enforce this practice across the eurozone.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Turning Off the Dividend Spigot

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23 September 2016 16:58 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Austrian Airlines intends to resume flights to Baku, said the Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.

He made the remarks at the meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, U.S.

Kurz noted that Azerbaijan benefits a favorable business atmosphere and Austrian companies are interested in investing in the country.

The Austrian Foreign Minister said also that during its chairmanship at the OSCE in 2017, his country will make efforts to settle the existing conflicts, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The chairmanship at the OSCE will pass to Austria in January 2017.

Kurz expressed his intention to visit Azerbaijan as the future OSCE chairperson-in-office and to discuss the issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the Azerbaijani side.

The meeting highlighted favorable opportunities for expanding of the Azerbaijani-Austrian political dialogue and economic cooperation.

Austrian Airlines has stopped flights to Azerbaijan in December 2015, in times when the national currency of Azerbaijan faced the devaluation process.

The company had noted that the reason of the suspension of flights was the reduction in demand and reduction of the number of passengers. The flights were carried out on the route Vienna-Baku-Vienna. The last flight was made on January 11.

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23 September 2016 13:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

A Cultural Festival of Turkic-Speaking States will be held in Seoul, Korea, from November 8-13.

The festival will bring together cultural figures from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Azertac reported.

The opening ceremony will take place at the National Museum of Korea on November 8.

The five-day festival will feature a Day of Azerbaijan on November 9. A concert of Azerbaijani, Kazakh and Kyrgyz musicians will take place in the city of Gimhae on November 13.

The Azerbaijan State Song and Dance Ensemble, Natiq's Rhythm Group and famous jazzman Elchin Shirinov will delight with splendid musical performances.

The event will also feature an exhibition reflecting the country's history, culture, cuisine, nature and architecture.

Azerbaijani delegation at the festival is supported by the Ministry of culture and Tourism, Azerbaijan-Korea Cultural Exchange Association and media centre "Baku".

TURKSOY is an international cultural organization of countries with Turkic populations, whose speaking languages belong to the Turkic language family.

The organization has its roots going back to the 1992 meetings in Baku and Istanbul, where the ministers of culture from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan declared their commitment to cooperate in a joint cultural framework. TURKSOY was subsequently established by an agreement signed on July 12, 1993 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

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23 September 2016 16:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Baku will host an exhibition on Astrakhan Oblast of the Russian Federation.

The event will be held as part of the celebrations of the 300th anniversary of Astrakhan Oblast in 2017, Azertac reported.

The exhibition will feature rare photos and documents, including original documents of famous Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel, who lived and worked in Baku.

"The President of Russia Vladimir Putin ordered to hold celebrations in honor of the 300th anniversary of Astrakhan Oblast. The preparations are currently under way. It will be a great honor if Azerbaijani delegation will take part in the event, said Chairman of Astrakhan Government Konstantin Markelov.

He also said Azerbaijani Culture Days will be arranged in Astrakhan next year.

Azerbaijan and Russia are tied by firmly based on relations, which were officially established in 1992.

The two countries enjoy high level cultural relations. A Year of Azerbaijan was declared in 2005 in Russia, and the Year of Russia in Azerbaijan in 2006. During these two years, the two countries held 110 special cultural events.

Russian is one of the languages students get education in Azerbaijan.

More than 15,000 students study in Russian in Azerbaijani universities. A branch of Lomonosov Moscow state University was opened in 2008 in Baku. Moreover, a branch of another Russian university, Sechenov Moscow State Medical University providing free education was also established on September 15, 2015 in Baku.

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23 September 2016 17:25 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Mekan International Theater Festival has successfully ended in the ancient cultural centre of Azerbaijan, Sheki, Trend Life reported.

Addressing the closing ceremony, the head of Sheki city executive power Elkhan Usubov thanked Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Azerbaijan's Union of the Theatrical Figures for support in organization of the festival.

Further, the representative of Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi

The festival's honored guest Japanese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tsuguo Takahashi was presented commemorative gift on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The colorful event brought together the theatre troupes from Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Ukraine and the UAE.

Guests of the festival enjoyed masterful performance of nine plays.

The opening ceremony featured the play "Dead" by great writer Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, the editor of satirical magazine "Molla Nasraddin".

Azerbaijan was represented at the event by the State Academic Drama Theater, State Russian Drama Theater, State Puppet Theater, Shaki State Drama Theater and Ganja State Drama Theater.

The State Russian Drama Theatre staged "The Seven Beauties", famous romantic poem by legendary poet Nizami Ganjavi.

The performance was presented by honored artists of Azerbaijan Fuad Osmanov, Naina Ibragimova, Asker Ragimov, People's artist Yuriy Baliyev, actors, Teymur Ragimov and Maksud Mammadov.

Ukrainian theatre "Beautiful flowers" presented satirical play "Piy" by Igor Kluchnikin.

The play affects various social problems such as greed for money, social media addiction, bad habits and other problems.

Moscow's Trickster Theatre staged the play "Body parts".

The main roles in the play played Litvinova Maria, Natalie, Denis boroditski and director Vyacheslav Ignatov.

The theatre troupe from Georgia delighted the audience with opera buffa in two acts "The Barber of Seville" by Gioachino Rossini.

The festival's last day featured the play "Vagif" by dramatist and great poet Samad Vurgun.

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23 September 2016 12:42 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Russia, the U.S. and France are ready to host another meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia or their Foreign Ministers in the framework of the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Ambassadors of the Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group noted in a joint statement.

The statement reads that the Co-Chairs of the OSCE MG, Ambassadors Igor Popov of Russia, James Warlick of the U.S., and Pierre Andrieu of France, and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, met separately with the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

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, they said.

American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick noted that he is waiting for progress on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Meetings with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan have concluded in New York. We look forward to progress on key issues, he wrote in Twitter account following the meeting.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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23 September 2016 14:13 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The necessity of resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has been emphasized again at the United Nations General Assembly. Thus, the Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be among the priorities of his country's presidency at the OSCE in 2017.

The FM made the remarks at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, U.S.

Sebastian Kurz assured that resolution of conflicts in the East of Ukraine, Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria will be among the priorities of Viennas chairmanship at the OSCE.

The presidency will pass to Austria in January 2017.

The previous day, presidents of Latvia and Estonia also emphasized at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly the necessity of settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict among other.

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.

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By Rashid Shirinov

Nagorno-Karabakh is the territory of Azerbaijan. Although the Armenian diaspora activists protested against events commemorating Khojaly genocide in our city, my answer to them was: I support the Azerbaijani nation, Mayor of the Israeli city of Acre Shimon Lankri has told journalists.

He stressed that no threat by Armenians can change his attitude towards Azerbaijan. "The city of Acre was home to the largest Azerbaijani community."

The mayor recalled his visit to Quba in Azerbaijan, and said he was proud to see such excellent conditions created for the Jews in the country. We agreed to sign a friendship and cooperation agreement between Quba and Acre. We presently continue the negotiations, and the document will be signed in 2017, Lankri said.

Quba region is home to Azerbaijan's largest community of Mountain Jews, who live there in Krasnaya Sloboda (Red Town). Located 165 km northwest of the capital Baku, the village is inhabited with about 3,000 people.

The mayor informed that a House of Azerbaijan is being built in Acre, adding that it will be affiliated with Azerbaijan Multiculturalism Center.

The Israeli-Azerbaijani relations were also touched upon by Rafael Harpaz, Head of the Eurasia Department at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Former Israel's Ambassador to Azerbaijan. "We are watching the process ongoing over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he told APA.

Harpaz said that Israel believes and hopes that peaceful solution is the only way out of the conflict: "We have had such an experience in the region. We hope that the international efforts headed by OSCE Minsk Group will be successful, and we support these efforts."

He noted that Israel would like to observe peace in the region. "If there is peace, the economic capacity of the region will be strong," he said.

The former Ambassador expressed also contentment with opening Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel: "We conduct negotiations. But the final decision is up to the Azerbaijani government."

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.

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23 September 2016 10:45 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

The Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic Speaking States will send an observation mission to the referendum on amendments and annexes to Azerbaijan's Constitution.

The mission will visit Azerbaijan by the invitation of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the country.

The mission will include parliamentarians from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey, as well as representatives of the secretariat of the organization.

The mission plans to conduct surveillance in several areas on the day of universal suffrage.

September 26, 2016, was set as the date for the referendum on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan.

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.

So far, the Chairman of Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 117 international observers until now to monitor the referendum on 26 September.

The head of the CEC said that they are the members of parliament and representatives of about 35 countries, including the PACE and other international organizations.

The Electoral Code of Azerbaijan indicates that the day of the popular vote should be non-working.

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.

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23 September 2016 09:57 (UTC+04:00)

A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on September, 23

The new edition includes articles about: President Aliyev: Industrial development remains a priority; Azerbaijani president awards national Para team; Expert: SOCARs bonds enjoy obvious advantages; India seeks to open direct flights to Azerbaijan, etc

AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az.
23 September 2016 15:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan and Belarus have discussed cooperation in military sphere as Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov met with State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council Stanislav Zas.

They hailed relations between the countries, and noted that the friendly ties between the two leaders provided a solid foundation for the development of the bilateral cooperation, Azertac reported.

The two noted the significance of stepping up efforts to strengthen Azerbaijani-Belarusian ties and highlighted the two countries contributions to the regional security.

They stressed a huge potential existing for the expansion of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Belarus in a variety of fields, including military, military education, military technical ones.

Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with Belarus in all fields, particularly in military one. At relevant meetings, the sides highlights huge opportunities for expanding cooperation in military-technical and military education fields.

Meanwhile, Belarusian companies will participate in the ADEX-2016 exhibition, grand demonstration of modern weaponry and technology, to be held in Baku on September 27-30.

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23 September 2016 14:36 (UTC+04:00)

By 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.

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23 September 2016 13:36 (UTC+04:00)

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.

He made this remark commenting the attacks on Azerbaijan by Western institutions and organizations upon the upcoming referendum to be held in Azerbaijan, which proposes amendments to the Constitution.

Azerbaijan will hold a referendum vote on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan on September 26, 2016.

Democracy is based on peoples will and how it votes, said Rahr, stressing that 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.

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.

In the eve of the September 26 referendum, the Venice Commission suddenly made a sharp criticism of the proposed changes to the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani authorities say that aim of the changes proposed in the Constitution is to ensure the operational activities of the central government, however, the Venice Commission is trying to interpret this wrongly.

The conclusion of the commission contains obvious mistakes far from reflecting the reality having technical mistakes, gaps and violated its internal procedures. It even made a reference to Article 159, which totally lacks.

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23 September 2016 11:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The event, dedicated to the establishment of the Mexico-Azerbaijan Friendship Group, has been held in the Chamber of Deputies of the Mexican Congress.

Chairman of the Friendship Group of the Michoacan state of the Alfredo Anaya Orozko addressed the event, describing the establishment of the Friendship Group as the manifestation of great attention to and mutual interest in developing cooperation between the two countries, Azertac reported.



In this regard, the establishment of the group will contribute to the strengthening of our friendly ties and help the two countries and people better know each other, he said.

He hailed rich and ancient heritage of Azerbaijan, describing the country as a place of religious tolerance among the Muslim countries.

Anaya Orozco further highlighted the history of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Mexico.

In her remarks, Charge d'Affaires of the Azerbaijani Embassy Mehriban Samadova described Azerbaijan as the regional leader. She said Mexico was the first Latin American country where the Azerbaijani government opened its embassy in 2008.

Samadova noted that the opening of the embassy gave a significant impetus to the development of Azerbaijan-Mexico inter-parliamentary ties.

Touching upon Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Charge d'Affaires highlighted the resolution which the Chamber of Deputies of Mexican Congress adopted in 2011. She described the resolution as a great political and moral support for the people and government of Azerbaijan as well as for a fair settlement of the conflict.

Deputy Head of the Department for Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Alessandro Macias Ortego, in turn, underlined the importance of the establishment of the Friendship Group in terms of diplomatic cooperation.

Members of the friendship group and Mehriban Samadova then signed the Act on the Establishment of the Group. Under the document, members of the Group will closely cooperate with Azerbaijan. The Act provides for the establishment of continuous and effective dialogue, strengthening of ties between the two peoples, and the building of new and better ways of cooperation.

The Group, which includes 10 members, of whom five are members of the ruling party Institutional Revolutionary Party, will be headed by Alfredo Anaya Orozco.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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23 September 2016 17:39 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Camal



Azerbaijan stands alone in a sea of chaos in global affairs, claimed CEO of the U.S. Caspian Group Holdings Rob Sobhani.

Sobhani made this remark, commenting on criticism of Azerbaijan by Western institutions and organizations on the eve of the referendum on making amendments to the constitution.

Its [Azerbaijani] leadership has been wise, independent, responsible and forward thinking. If the people of Azerbaijan have the choice to vote for more of the same via a referendum, then it is their right and no one can criticize them, he told Trend.

The referendum in Azerbaijan is scheduled for September 26, and proposes 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.

What is important to realize is the total ineptitude of Western powers at solving more pressing issues such as global terrorism, the crisis in Syria and its subsequent refugee crisis, he said.

The expert pointed out that over 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives, 4 million people are homeless, Africa is struggling with massive poverty and North Korea is on the verge of starting a nuclear war with its neighbors.

In this situation, the Western media should praise, not criticize Azerbaijan for being a stable country, with religious tolerance and at peace with its neighbors, added Sobhani.

Azerbaijan is trying to resist the onslaught of Western institutions for many years, which are trying to undermine the situation from within.

Only several days left to a day of constitutional referendum vote in Azerbaijan, the Venice Commission made the negative statement on the proposed changes to the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

Many in the country consider this statement a pressure tool to the referendum. The Azerbaijani side condemned these statements, stressing that they are biased and one-sided, and assessed this as a political order.

The Commission made such a statement only few days left to the referendum despite the fact that the referendum bill was revealed in July and refused 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.

Moreover, the conclusion of the commission had obvious mistakes far from reflecting the reality having technical mistakes, gaps and violated its internal procedures. It even made a reference to Article 159, which totally lacks.

Clarifying the purpose of the amendment to the Constitution, Shahin Aliyev, head of Department of Legislation and Legal Expertise of Azerbaijani Presidential Administration said: We are not talking about getting president and vice-president additional power its about improving governance.

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23 September 2016 14:36 (UTC+04:00)

The opening ceremony of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve, whose restoration was funded by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, has been held in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

The Azerbaijani first lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and vice-president of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the event, Azertac reported

Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva were welcomed by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo city Daniel Panov and other officials. The ceremony started with the unveiling of a memorial plaque.

"It is my honor to attend this event," said Veliko Tarnovo's Mayor Daniel Panov. He thanked Azerbaijan's first lady on behalf of the local residents for this project.

He highlighted the history of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve. The mayor noted that restoration of the ancient monument was a lasting desire of the Bulgarian people, adding the Heydar Aliyev Foundation made this dream come true. He presented keepsakes to the Azerbaijani first lady, Leyla Aliyeva and the Bulgarian Premier.

President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her gratitude to the mayor and residents of Veliko Tarnovo for sincere reception and hospitality. Mehriban Aliyeva congratulated the people of Bulgaria on the occasion of the country's Independence Day and wished them peace and prosperity. She as well congratulated them on the opening of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve after restoration. She said the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was happy to contribute to the renovation of this cultural and museum center.

"Trapezitsa Reserve is the national wealth of the Bulgarian people, and is also part of the European cultural heritage. That's why I want to reiterate that we and our Foundation are very proud that we contributed to the restoration of this historical and cultural heritage of world significance," Mehriban Aliyeva said.

Saying Azerbaijan was located at the crossroads of the civilizations, the first lady hailed multiculturalism and tolerance in the country. Guided by the principles of cultural diversity, tolerance and mutual respect, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is implementing projects to support cultural heritage all over the world. I am very glad that one of our projects is implemented in a friendly country  Bulgaria."

Mehriban Aliyeva praised strategic bilateral relations between the two countries, and expressed her hope that this project would also contribute to the strengthening of bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.

She thanked those who contributed to the realization of the project, particularly Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and the country's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Maya Hristova.

Addressing the event, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov highlighted the development of friendly ties between the two countries. He expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and the Foundation's vice-president Leyla ALiyeva. He described the event as a "strong bridge of friendship" between the two countries. He noted that the ancient cultural monument which was restored through support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation would contribute to the development of Azerbaijan-Bulgaria friendship.

The event participants then viewed the Cultural Heritage Center which was created in the area of the Reserve. The center highlights the history of Veliko Tarnovo and Trapezitsa, as well as the second Bulgarian khanate and features, various exhibits on the archaeological researches, and the Middle Ages.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation then presented the Azerbaijani and Bulgarian version of the postage stamps which reflect the conservation and restoration of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve.

An agreement "On conservation and restoration of Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve and construction and repair of its technical infrastructure" was signed in Sofia in 2015.

Under the agreement, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation carried out the restoration and preservation of the 150-meter long Western Wall of a historic monument, the construction of 700-meter long tourist alley, the creation and provision of a cultural centre, the repair and preservation of three churches on the territory, and the creation of a transportation infrastructure for visitors.

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23 September 2016 15:36 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The European Union supports Azerbaijans territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, as she met with Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov during the 71st session of the UN General Assembly.

Mogherini pointed out that the EU is interested in the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mammadyarov, for his part, briefed Mogherini about the situation in the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Azerbaijans foreign minister noted that the continuing occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and the destructive and provocative policy pursued by this country harms the restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Azerbaijan supports substantive negotiations, he added.

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.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed the current status of the bilateral relations, exchanged views on their prospects and expressed interest in developing those relations, according to the Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry.

The sides expressed readiness to start the talks to bring the Azerbaijani-EU partnership to a qualitatively new level and noted that there is a great potential for cooperation in energy, transportation and agrarian spheres.

The long-standing efforts to promote a peaceful solution to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia remains in the forefront of the EU priorities, and EU authorities repeatedly call Azerbaijan as an important country for Europe.

The resolution adopted by the European Parliament on Azerbaijan a year ago, caused a serious regression in relations between the two parties.

The recent visit of EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee to Baku, however, gave a hope for the further development of the cooperation and become a good opportunity for the two parties to restore shaky relationship.

The EU and Azerbaijan are maintaining relations under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which was signed in 1996 and came into force in 1999.

Since then the PCA has provided the legal framework for EU-Azerbaijan bilateral relations in the areas of political dialogue, trade, investment, economic, legislative and cultural cooperation.

Azerbaijan is also included in the EU program on "Eastern Partnership" adopted on the initiative of Poland and Sweden and approved at the EU summit in Brussels in 2008.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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23 September 2016 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Azerbaijan is preparing for the upcoming referendum in an extensive regime.

September 26, 2016, was set as the date for the referendum on proposed changes to the constitution of Azerbaijan.

A meeting on the national referendum on amendments to the countrys Constitution was conducted at the Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS).

Opening the meeting, BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov emphasized the importance of the forthcoming referendum to be held upon a decree by the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev.

Elmar Gasimov pointed out that the referendum will become an important event in the social and political life of Azerbaijan as well as a further step in the implementation of new reforms in the country. Speaking about the changes and amendments to be included in the Constitution, he said that they would serve to the improvement of the prosperity and well-being of Azerbaijani citizens, better protection of their rights and freedoms, and further consolidation of the statehood.

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.

So far, the Chairman of Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited 117 international observers until now to monitor the referendum on 26 September.

The head of the CEC said that they are the members of parliament and representatives of about 35 countries, including the PACE and other international organizations.

The Electoral Code of Azerbaijan indicates that the day of the popular vote should be non-working.

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.

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23 September 2016 11:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

U.S. 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.

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23 September 2016 15:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

The terrorist organization of Gulen is a security threat not only for Turkey but also for those countries where the supporters of this movement exist, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, Anadolu Agency reported.

In turn, Turkeys Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag who is accompanying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a visit to New York for the annual UN General Assembly meetings said that U.S. Vice President Joe Biden admitted that Ankara provided "concrete evidence" about terror leader Fethullah Gulen being the mastermind of a recent coup attempt in Turkey.

"We have enough information, documents and proof that shows Fethullah Gulen is the leader of this terror group that had tried to make a coup," Bozdag said, referring to the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) that Ankara implicates in the coup attempt.

"Mr. Biden also accepted and stated that there was concrete evidence," Bozdag added.

Bozdag said Turkey expects the U.S. to take the necessary "second step" and temporarily arrest Gulen.

"We hope that it won't be delayed and happen on a short notice. We requested a temporary arrest of Gulen because of the July 15 coup bid and him being the mastermind behind this. He is a terrorist that conducted this coup bid from Pennsylvania, he said.

Ankara maintains that the overthrow attempt was organized by followers of Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the state of Pennsylvania since 1999, and his FETO terror group.

Gulen is also accused of leading a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary, forming what is commonly known as the parallel state.

A group of servicemen made an attempt for a military coup in Turkey on July 15. However, the rebelling servicemen started to surrender July 16 and Turkish authorities stated on a failure of the attempt for the military coup.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the death toll as a result of the military coup attempt stood at 246 people excluding the coup plotters and over 2,000 people were wounded.

Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency in Turkey on July 20.

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23 September 2016 13:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev arrived in Moscow to continue his medical treatment in Central Clinical Hospital of the Russian Presidents Office, Kyrgyz presidents press-service said on September 23.

Earlier, the doctors of this hospital have treated Atambayevs heart disease. Atambayev was invited to the hospital by the Russian side.

Atambayev is accompanied by deputy chief physician of Clinical Hospital of Kyrgyz Presidential Administration Gulmira Baitova.

Previously, Atambayev has been taken to a hospital in Turkey.

Atambayev took a short vacation to undergo a medical examination. The vacation will presumably last until October 1.

Sixty-year-old Atambayev suddenly felt ill on September 19 on the way to New York and was advised by his doctors to pass a preliminary medical exam. The exam discovered some symptoms of possible heart problems.

He had to cancel the visit to the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Almazbek Atambayev has been the President of Kyrgyzstan since December 1, 2011.

Before becoming the President he served as the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from December 2010 to December 2011. He created history by becoming the first peacefully inaugurated President in the post-Communist Kyrgyzstan.

Being in the presidential post, he left no stone unturned to establish the economic independence of Kyrgyzstan by strengthening trade relations with Turkey and Russia.

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23 September 2016 19:14 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Hasanova

All four political parties registered in Uzbekistan are allowed to participate in a presidential election, Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, chairman of the Uzbek Central Election Commission, said at a briefing on September 23.

"Today the registration certificates and forms of subscription lists have been delivered to the authorized representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP), the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (DPU) "Milly Tiklanish" (National Revival), the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (PDPU) and the Social-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (SDPU) Adolat (Justice)," Abdusalomov added.

Uzbekistan decided to hold early elections on December 4 after the recent death of Islam Karimov,who headed the country for the past 25 years.

Earlier this week, the representatives of those parties sent the required documents to the CEC.

The list of presidential candidates includes Shavkat Mirziyoyev nominated from the UzLiDeP, Sarvar Otamuratov from "Milly Tiklanish" DPU, Nariman Umarov from Adolat SDPU, and Hotamzhon Ketmonov from PDPU.

Election campaigns started on September 9. Registration of presidential candidates will be held from September 30 until October 20 in accordance with the action plan for preparations and holding the presidential election.

Earlier, Uzbekistans Central Election Commission (CEC) has adopted a decision to create constituencies for the presidential election.

The CEC has formed 14 electoral districts within the boundaries of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent city. The total number of voters included in the lists of the constituencies is 21.435 million.

Uzbekistans President Islam Karimov passed away on September 2 after suffering a stroke.

The president of Uzbekistan is elected for a period of five years.

---

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Unless youve been living under a rock, you should know that major oil producers around the world are feeling the pinch after oil supply has repeatedly exceeded global demand.

So far it has pushed crude oil prices down from $114 in 2014 to below $50 per barrel in 2016. Yowza!

Though production has declined in the U.S. and Canada and prices have recovered from their $28-per-barrel lows, current oil price levels are still too low to be sustainable for most oil producers.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has also warned that the oil supply glut will persist into late 2017, well over initial estimates, thanks to declining demand from major energy users like China and India and record output levels from OPECs members.

On September 28, the last day of the International Energy Forum in Algeria, major oil producers including Russia and members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will have a meeting on the sidelines in the hopes of addressing oil oversupply concerns and prop up crude oil prices.

Market players arent holding their breaths after a highly-anticipated meeting in Vienna last June turned out to be an overhyped dud. Still, it looks like the stars are lining up for an actual output next week:

Major players are showing a willingness to cooperate

Russia and Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest oil-producing countries, sent a joint statement earlier this month saying that they could limit their output in the future. Though no details were released, the cooperation was a step forward seeing as both countries have been fighting a proxy war in Syria.

Putin himself is all for cooperation, seeking some sort of compromise and even allowing Iran to recoup from its losses, believing that Iran is starting from a very low positionit would be unfair to leave it on this sanctioned level. Meanwhile, Russias Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia would be ready to cap output at the level of any month in the second half of this year.

Iran, OPECs third-largest producer, is also willing to play nice. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani recently shared that they welcome any move aimed at market stability and improvement of oil prices based on justice, fairness and fair quota of all producers.

If you recall, Iran said no thanks to the meeting earlier this year after its oil sanctions had just been lifted. Analysts believe that the mention of quota hints that Iran may push for a return to OPECs country-specific quota system implemented in the past.

Other OPEC members are also feeling optimistic. Venezuelan President Maduro said last week that members are close to a deal while Iraqs OPEC Governor Falah Alamri said that This time I think (things are) a little bit different because circumstances are a little bit better, helping (producers) to reach a deal.

There are more details available

Its not just an excuse to eat tajine. Both Russia and Iran have specifically hinted at using country-specific quotas, while some OPEC officials are talking collective output ceiling and production freezes. OPEC Secretary-General Mohammed Barkindo even has a time limit, saying that any output freeze deal will last until October 2017.

Informal meeting could turn into formal talks

OPECs Barkindo and Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa have hinted that OPEC could announce an emergency meeting should the players reach an understanding. This is a turnaround from Barkindos earlier statement that next weeks huddle is an informal meeting rather than a decision-making meeting.

Historically, meetings in Algeria have produced results

In 2004 OPEC announced a surprise supply cut amidst growing Chinese demand, which resulted in a jump in oil prices and a reversal of the decision a few weeks later.

Then, in 2008 OPEC participants announced a supply cut of 4.2 million barrels per day, which also resulted in higher oil prices.

As good as the chances are for a possible deal next week though, many analysts still believe that any announcement likely wont have a significant impact on the global oil oversupply issue.

For one thing, the participating countries are likely more cooperative nowadays because output cap or freezes wont affect their current production rates anyway.

Russias output in September registered at 11.09 million barrels a day, the highest monthly average since the Soviet era, while Saudi Arabia is also pumping record high levels of crude.

Libya, hit by political unrest, is also about to recover its export terminals while Nigeria is slowly recovering its oil production levels after militant groups have halted their attacks. Heck, even Iran is close to producing at its pre-sanction levels!

These production levels suggest that the major players are more willing to cooperate because they can take any restrictions coming their way. At this point, imposing any production or output freeze would be like requiring athletes to match their personal best in each competition.

Another reason why an agreement likely wont have teeth is that OPECs quotas are widely regarded as recommendations and are regularly violated by its members.

And since its hard to accurately monitor each members monthly production levels, it wont take much for the players to exceed these quotas should they feel the need to do so.

So while theres reason to expect some sort of arrangement between the biggest oil producers next week, its not likely that the overall oil oversupply picture will change. However, this doesnt mean that oil prices wont react to the news.

If major oil players signal enough optimism over a rebalancing in the oil markets and pinky swear to show more cooperation down the road, then oil bulls might pounce at the idea.

On the other hand, any vague and/or boring fanfare about nothing could further disappoint oil traders and cause more selloff for the Black Crack. Last but not least scenario is postponing any formal announcement until the November 30 OPEC meeting in Vienna, which would subject oil prices to more uncertainty for weeks.
New Forest-based artisan bakery Great British Biscotti Co is moving to a new site in Christchurch, Dorset, and will be open for business next week.

The new larger unit measures around 4,000 sq ft and will boost capacity for the sweet and savoury biscotti producer.

Paul Rostand, director of Great British Biscotti, told British Baker: Were now in a position that sales are growing so rapidly that we had to move to have a more spacious bakery. The move will allow us to gain some accreditation and will improve quality for the business.

Previously called New Forest Biscotti, the company has rebranded with a new name and packaging as it looks to grow sales nationally.

This will be the second move for the company since opening their first commercial unit in March this year.
The Hampshire-based gluten-free bakery Mrs Crimbles has released a new range of home baking mixes.

The Home Bake mixes include: Pancake & Batter; Pastry; Sage & Onion Stuffing; and Ready to Use Breadcrumbs. They are available to purchase in independent retailers nationwide and via the Mrs Crimbles website.

The company said that the range was designed to offer home bakers flexibility and freedom to express their creativity. The Home Bake range can also be used to make dairy-free dishes by substituting with non-dairy ingredients.

Mrs Crimbles recently won the Best Savoury Snacks category in the 2016 Free-from Food Awards for its Cheese Straws in the Down the Pub category.

In July, Mrs Crimbles was bought for an undisclosed sum by Dutch organic and natural food company Wessanen.
Edward Snowden speaks via video link during a news conference in New York City, U.S. September 14, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

In the weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama met at the Sunny-lands resort in California in June 2013, the US administration had spared little effort in portraying China as a villain in cyberspace.

The revelation made by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden just days before the Sunnylands meeting, however, exposed the real villain to the world. It showed that whatever other countries had done in cyber surveillance was nothing compared with the gigantic scale of operations launched by the NSA, often labeled "No Such Agency".

For the rest of the world, Snowden is a whistleblower and a hero because he revealed the US government's secret surveillance programs across the world, whose targets included leaders of countries that are US allies. Such spying, which violates people's privacy and civil rights, often involves willing and unwilling collaboration with several major US tech companies.

In the US, the debate on whether Snowden is a hero, patriot or traitor is still a divisive issue even though his revelation compelled the US administration and Congress to correct so many mistakes. For example, the panel appointed by Obama to review NSA surveillance programs made dozens of reform recommendations. A federal appeals court ruled NSA's call-tracking program exposed by Snowden illegal. And the USA Freedom Act passed by the US Congress ended the bulk collection of phone data by the government.

In the past week, Snowden has again been in the spotlight. Oliver Stone's movie Snowden hit US theaters on Sept 16. And Snowden has sought Obama's pardon, arguing that his leak of NSA surveillance programs was "not only morally right" but also "left citizens bet-ter off".

On Sept 14, the American Civil Liberties Union launched the Pardon Snowden campaign to urge Obama to pardon Snowden. The campaign was joined by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and more than 100 legal scholars, former national security officials, business leaders, human rights activists and artists.

Most of the people who believe that Snowden is a traitor and should spend the rest of his life in prison argue that he broke an oath and put the US national security in danger. It is true that Snowden breached the trust placed in him, but he did so after finding out the US administration was involved in serious wrong doings, which is a much more serious crime than people realize. Even former US attorney general Eric Holder admitted that "we can certainly argue about the way in which Snowden did what he did, but I think that he actually performed a public service by raising the debate that we engaged in and by the changes that we made".

However, the US House Intelligence Committee unanimously signed a letter to Obama on Sept 15 not to pardon Snow-den.

Obama once said the debate triggered by Snowden "will make us stronger", yet it does not look like he will have the good sense to pardon Snowden before leaving the White House in January.

Both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are against granting Snowden a pardon. The only 2016 presidential candidate who supported Snowden is no longer in the race. Democrat Bernie Sanders said, "the information dis-closed by Snowden has allowed Congress and the American people to understand the degree to which the NSA has abused its authority and violated our constitutional rights".

For the third year in a row, Snowden has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Whoever wins the prize on Oct 7, it is clear that Snowden has done the world a great service, so much more than Obama had when he was awarded the prize in 2009.

The author is deputy editor of China Daily USA. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
Top 13 dealer tricks

Most car dealers arent really out to rip you off, but keep in mind that car dealerships are for-profit entities.
Private businesses could be footing some of the bill for the new $66 million St. Petersburg Pier.

Groundbreaking set for early 2017

Firm to evaluate value of sponsorships

City councilman said he's fine with idea



The city is considering the possibility of sponsors for the project. Corporations would get the advertising, while the venue will get some of its bills paid.

"If some companies or some individuals would like to support the pier project in that manner, Id be fine," said St. Petersburg Council Member Steve Kornell.

The city is in the early stages of exploring the possibility. The next step is bringing in a firm to evaluate what sponsorships would be worth.

The process could take about a year and a half.

If the city moves forward with sponsorship, officials said the signage would be kept rather discreet.

Im not talking about a big digital billboard out there on the pier, Kornell said. "That would not be acceptable to me. But as long as its tasteful, I think theres absolutely nothing wrong with it.

The city said its already received some interest in sponsorships. Groundbreaking for the pier is set for early 2017.
With investigations and independent audits in the works, Mayor Rick Kriseman is taking the heat over the sewage crisis.

'We could have communicated better,' Kriseman says

Mayor, Congressman Jolly at odds

FWC is investigating spills



More than 190 million gallons have been released into Tampa Bay and other local waterways. Mayor Rick Kriseman acknowledged things could have been handled better.

Ive said it before, we could have communicated better," said the mayor.

Kriseman is promising more transparency and man-power hours to fix the problem.

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.

Kriseman said he doesnt know why he and the city council were never shown that report when it came out in 2014.

I can speculate and I hate to do that, because if Im speculating and calling somebody out and it doesnt end up being the case, I dont want to do that," he said. "I definitely have my own suspicions. Well see if my suspicions are true."

Additional sewage was released into the Bay during the torrential rains that came with Hurricane Hermine last month. 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 tests in the immediate area of the sewage spill, Scott directed the Department of Health to begin additional testing at this site.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is now investigating the spills.



Congressman David Jolly has turned over materials for FWC to investigate the possibility of criminal wrongdoing.



Kriseman said Jolly is capitalizing on a crisis for political gain.



Congressman Jolly is up for re-election, Kriseman said. Unfortunely, this is political.



Congressman Jollys office released a response to Kriseman's statement.



This is a serious matter. Representative Jolly will not engage in a political debate regarding an environmental crisis and he would hope Mayor Kriseman would also want to make sure no laws were broken.

City employees with any information about the waste water issues are being asked to come forward.
The Florida Board of Education will take up school turnaround plans today, and the meeting might determine the fate of eight struggling Polk County schools.

State to vote on school turnaround plans, including 8 in Polk



Florida Board of Education meeting at Tampa Airport Marriott

Schools have received D or F grades by the state

At a meeting at the Tampa Airport Marriott, the Board is addressing "D" or "F" rated schools that were automatically entered into the states "Differentiated Accountability" (DA) program.

Officials will vote on turnaround plans to help the Polk schools that the state has threatened to close if the new plans did not show improvement.

The Polk schools seeking approvals today: Bartow Middle, Combee Elementary, Crystal Lake Middle, Eagle Lake Elementary, Garner Elementary, Griffin Elementary, Lake Marion Creek Middle and Palmetto Elementary.



Meanwhile, Boone, Denison, Kathleen, Lake Alfred-Addair and Westwood middle school are already under a turnaround program. The board has given those schools until 2017-18 to show improvement.

School officials said the schools still have some options for their turnaround plans.

They can change district management, close schools, convert them to charter schools or bring in an outside party to run the schools.

All totaled, state officials are eyeing almost 70 schools in 24 school districts that are implementing turnaround options.

The Board of Education is specifically set to address the fate of 46 of those schools today.
Tropical Storm Karl is in the Atlantic Ocean about 300 miles south of Bermuda.

An Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane investigating Karl found that it is stronger this morning with winds 60 mph. Karl is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday while it moves over warmer water and relatively low shear.

Karl will pass near Bermuda late tonight or early Saturday and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Bermuda.

Karl will turn north today then move northeast this weekend.

Tropical Storm Lisa is in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Maximum sustained winds are 40 mph.

The center of Lisa has become fully exposed due to strong shear. The very strong shear should cause further weakening along with increasing dry air.

Lisa should weaken and it is expected to become a remnant low this weekend.

 What exactly are the spaghetti plots?

 Information You Need | Supply Checklist






Dead Oregon Coast Whale May Have Its Home on Beach Near Manzanita

Published 09/22/2016 at 7:21 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Manzanita, Oregon) - A 38-foot deceased Humpback whale that washed in and out of north Oregon coast beaches this week seems to have found a permanent home at short sand Beach in Oswald West State Park. (Photo of the humpback at Oswald West State Park courtesy Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium).

Or at least as permanent as any beach can get. Its current spot is considered stable enough that Oregon coast officials  including Oregon Parks and Recreations Department (OPRD)  are content to just leave it there. The biggest reason is that there is no way to get heavy equipment down there to bury it or get it out it the first place, so state officials will actually use it to teach about nature.

In fact, interpreters from OPRD will be on that beach this weekend from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to teach visitors about the whale and how it feeds the local environment.

When the full grown humpback washed up initially this weekend, it had a powerful and foul smell because its internal organs had burst out of it. Now, that smell is gone  but there will be some health issues to be aware of when visiting short sand while the whale is there.

Crews from the Seaside Aquarium and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network's Portland State University office tried to do a necropsy on the dead whale Thursday, but with the internal organs gone  and the fact the whale has been dead too long  finding the actual cause of death is impossible.

Tiffany Boothe from the aquarium was one of those on scene Thursday.

We didn't really discover anything, Boothe said. With the organs gone there was no way to do a necropsy.

She said from what inspections they could do it seemed like a healthy whale, and yet there were no signs of trauma. Boothe said the crew did a long crosscut along the corpse and found no signs of hemorrhaging.

When it initially stranded last week, it was discovered the tail was missing. But Seaside Aquarium crews strongly believe that happened postmortem, and that it was a boat that had severed the tail when passing the carcass as it floated along.

Boothe said blubber will go for testing for heavy metals.

Keith Chandler, aquarium manager, said the intense smell came from the organs that spilled out of the carcass when it first landed on Falcon Cove Beach  about two miles north of short sand. At that first stranding, Chandler said he could literally smell it one mile away.

Now, the whale will serve as a teaching moment. Chandler said it will likely remain on this beach for a long time, as short sand is not as steep or as dynamic in tidal action as Falcon Cove Beach. A good storm or high tide could whisk it away again, however.

OPRD staff will tell the public about how the whale will continue to feed nutrients into the ocean, feeding the crabs, fish and other creatures and plants.

This is all a part of nature, Chandler said. It's all part of the normal natural cycle.

Still, Chandler warned you should definitely stay away from the creature's remains, as contact by you or your pets could mean contracting disease.

Keep animals off any dead creature on the beach, Chandler said. Always keep a leash on them when you're around a dead thing like this. And yeah: don't touch it. It's really tempting, but don't.

short sand is a hugely popular surfing hotspot on the north Oregon coast as well, and Chandler said you should stay out of water that is near the dead whale. That goes for swimmers and surfers, he said.

Use common sense, he said. Don't swim in areas around the whale. Manzanita Hotels for this - Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour



More of the whale photos from this week, courtesy Seaside Aquarium











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A Bridge City woman was injured in a crash with an 18-wheeler Thursday night in Orange County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

At around 7:30 p.m., a Chevrolet pickup truck traveling southbound on Highway 62 crossed the center dividing line and struck an 18-wheeler traveling northbound, Sgt. Stephanie Davis said. The Chevy truck struck the 18-wheeler in its rear axle.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Brent Harrewyn, Provided by Lamar University Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Uncredited/File photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3





The captain who was taken captive by Somali pirates in 2009 and whose memoir of the experience was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film will speak at Lamar University, as part of the college's Academic Lecture Series.

Richard Phillips, captain of the MV Maersk Alabama, will speak from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the University Theater at Lamar University, 4400 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy, Beaumont, the university announced in a press release.
Vidor officials announced on Friday they are opposing a road project that will be funded by Orange County, saying the state, not taxpayers, should pay for the construction costs.

Council approved a resolution on Thursday to persuade Orange County Commissioners Court not to undertake construction of a proposed FM 299 Loop, which would connect FM 105 north of Vidor to west of Vidor near some wetlands and other low-lying areas and then to FM 105 on the south side of Vidor, said City Manager Mike Kunst.

"If the county used money to finance that road, it wouldn't have anything left to make it profitable," Kunst said.

Kunst said the possible cost for building the FM 299 Loop could reach $40 million for a bare-bones, two-lane road.

"Why should our citizens have a tax increase to pay for something the state should," Kunst said. A Farm-to-Market road is generally considered a state responsibility.

Vidor Mayor Robert Viator Jr. said 53 percent of Orange County residents live within a city limit and have to pay for city services and support county services.

"Unfortunately during the past several years, the county residents who live inside an incorporated city limits, such as Vidor, have seen less and less of a return for their county tax dollars," Viator said. "These Orange County residents should receive the same amount of county services as do the residents who live in the unincorporated areas of the county. Those of us who live in the cities don't receive a reduced tax rate from the county, so we should not receive reduced services. If the county decides to finance, in any amount, a (Texas Department of Transportation) road, it is going to increase the strain on an already strained budget."

Viator said Vidor's main concern is that the state, and not Orange County, should build roads that ultimately are TxDOT's responsibility.

"I am hopeful that the other cities will approve similar resolutions," he said.

DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com

Twitter.com/dwallach
Laila Gerik will celebrate her seventh birthday today in a Houston hospital ICU.

Laila was diagnosed with pneumonia two weeks ago, according to her mom, Marissa Gerik.

Marissa Gerik said she thought Laila was over the worst of it last weekend, but then the Bridge City girl woke up Sunday morning unable to talk and struggling to breathe.

She was taken by ambulance to Texas Children's Hospital, where the Geriks remained on Thursday.

Dr. Jeff Thompson, an emergency medicine specialist at Altus Emergency Center in Lumberton, said he's seen a recent spike in pneumonia and bronchitis patients.

Thompson said it's not unusual to see more lung infections like bronchitis this time of year because kids have returned to school and are swapping germs.

After school, the kids share their germs with mom, dad and any siblings at home, he said.

Thompson said the most common treatment for bronchitis is prescription inhalers and steroids, which reduce inflammation in the lungs.

While not as common as bronchitis, Thompson said more locals are suffering from pneumonia right now. Pneumonia patients tend to have weaker immune systems and/or are smokers, Thompson said.

Jammie Marcantel, 36, and her father, Clyde Marcantel, 58, were both diagnosed with pneumonia in July, she said.

Jammie Marcantel said her father was admitted to an area hospital on July 16 because his oxygen levels were so low. She said she had a fever of over 104.

The Marcantels, from Lumberton, beat pneumonia in August, but Jammie Marcantel said they both still have some chest congestion.

Greg Hamby,a pharmacist at King's Pharmacy on North Major, said he has seen a few customers picking up antibiotics that would treat pneumonia, but that pneumonia cases typically spike in the colder months when flu season hits.

Hamby said he has noticed a slight increase in customers battling bronchitis.

"It travels from the schools, to the homes and into the community," he said.

Bronchitis is a generic term used to describe inflammation of the lungs caused by a virus, Hamby said.

Since bronchitis is a viral infection, it can't be treated with an antibiotic, he said.

Hamby said the best approach is prevention through good hygiene.

Angel Loftin, 36, of Vidor said she was diagnosed with acute bronchitis last week and was given an oral steroid to help with the congestion, coughing and fatigue.

"It's pretty rough," she said. "I cough my head off, and my voice cuts in and out."

SFlores@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/saraeflores
Facebook Founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, MD, are donating at least $3 billion over the next 10 years to fight diseases, according to The New York Times.

Here are five things to know:

1. The couple launched Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which has made investments to charter schools, education startups and curing diseases.

2. During an event this week, Dr. Chan, a pediatrician, said the initiative's goal to advance human potential and promote equality falls in line with the movement to cure disease.

3. Dustin Moskovitz, a Facebook co-founder, has also invested money in health initiatives and is a member of the Giving Pledge. The Giving Pledge is a group of the world's wealthiest individuals and families who have promised to give a large portion of their wealth to philanthropy.

4. Cori Bargmann, PhD, a neuroscientist at New York City-based Rockefeller University, will lead The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's science work with the first project being Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, is a San Francisco-based independent research center where engineers, biologists, chemists, computer scientists and other healthcare professionals will work together to fight diseases.

5. Mr. Zuckerberg noted if the initiative achieves its goal of curing or managing all diseases, this will increase human life expectancy to 100 years.

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The Hill published an article by general surgeon John Coppedge, MD, which claims Hillary Clinton's "abnormal eye moments" may indicate the candidate has more serious health issues.

Here are six insights:

1. Dr. Coppedge notes a recent speech Ms. Clinton gave in Philadelphia where her eyes did not move in the same direction at the same time.

2. Based on this observation, Dr. Coppedge claims the candidate has an issue with her left sixth cranial nerve. While this issue may result from many causes, Dr. Coppedge believes this is a result of the traumatic brain injury Ms. Clinton suffered in late 2012.

3. Following the injury, Ms. Clinton was diagnosed with a transverse sinus thrombosis, which Dr. Coppedge notes causes most patients to suffer from brain swelling and increased intracranial pressure. The swelling would cause headaches, visual disturbances and balance issues, which Dr. Coppedge notes Ms. Clinton has reported since the 2012 injury.

4. Ms. Clinton's personal physician Lisa Bardack, MD, said she placed Ms. Clinton on Coumadin, a blood thinner, to dissolve a blood clot. Dr. Coppedge argues Coudamin does not dissolve an existent clot but rather he argues Coumadin works to minimize the chance of further clotting. In her reports, Dr. Bardack claimed the clot has resolved, but Dr. Coppedge says that would be surprising as "the majority of such clots do not dissolve" and "the way it was documented that the clot had resolved has not been reported."

5. Dr. Coppedge said it is likely Ms. Clinton's transverse sinus is still blocked and she therefore may have increased pressure and swelling and decreased blood flow to her brain.

6. Although Dr. Coppedge said he is not an ophthalmologist or a neurologist, he learned the concepts he discussed above during his medical school education. He believes Ms. Clinton should undergo an independent medical exam as "it is too important not to get this right."

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Here are six gastroenterologists in the news this past week.

Nikhil Pai, MD, is leading a research study on the efficacy of fecal transplants for children suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.

Ashraf Almashhrawi, MD, has joined Hannibal Regional Medical Group, a multispecialty physician group with locations throughout Missouri.

The Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation named James D. Lewis, MD; Lea Ann Chen, MD, and psychiatrist Eva Szigethy, MD, PhD, the recipients of the inaugural Sherman Prize for Excellence in Crohn's and Colitis.

Anthony Masciarelli, DO, was named a "Top Doctor" by NJ Top Docs.

The American Gastroenterological Association Research Foundation awarded Kimberly Agbo the 2016 AGA Investing in the Future Student Research Fellowship, which will allow her to work with Vincent Yang, MD, PhD, at Stony Brook University in New York.
The U.S. Senate has made progress on a stopgap spending bill that would prevent a partial government shutdown, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Senators on both sides of the aisle have agreed to include in the bill $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus, though they still disagree on whether to include assistance for Flint, Mich., according to the article. The bill is needed to keep the government running beyond Sept. 30, and would keep the government funded through Dec. 9.

The short-term spending bill includes $1.1 billion to research a Zika vaccine and provide for healthcare in various U.S. states and territories, including Puerto Rico, according to the report. It also includes $500 million for disaster recovery in Louisiana and other states.

But Democrats want the bill to also address the drinking water crisis in Flint, the article states.

The Senate last week passed legislation authorizing a numer of water projects across the U.S. and included assistance for Flint, according to the report. But the House version of the water bill, which Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said the chamber will consider next week, doesn't include funding to address Flint's drinking water.

The Senate is expected to vote on the spending bill Tuesday. The bill will then move on to the House.

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Black Book names top 5 RCM software vendors 2016
Here are 11 recent news updates on key health IT companies.

1. McKesson released the latest version of its pharmacy management solution, Pharmaserv 7.5.

2. Athenahealth launched athenaInsight, a daily news and data hub focusing on healthcare in the United States.

3. Epic Systems' is hosting its annual Users Group Meeting this week, and close to 18,000 people gathered at the vendor's headquarters in Verona, Wis., to share experiences with Epic's platform.

4. Surescripts is offering EHR vendors free access to its National Record Locator Service until 2019, and eClinicalWorks, Epic and NextGen Healthcare are among those that plan to offer the capability to users.

5. Apple hired a Toronto-based physician to help develop healthcare messaging.

6. Brooklyn, N.Y.-based NYU Lutheran Medical Center launched its Epic EHR.

7. Florence, S.C.-based McLeod Health, which provides care for more than 1 million residents, will transition its seven acute hospitals and 90 ambulatory care centers to Cerner's health IT suite.

8. Flint Waters, the state of Wyoming's CIO, will step down from his position to join Alphabet's Google unit.

9. McKesson introduced the McKesson Intelligence Hub, a platform that enables interoperability among healthcare applications.

10. Omaha-based Nebraska Medicine plans to implement Epic's Healthy Planet, the vendor's population health platform.

11. IBM has inked a deal with Japan's largest bank to develop smart contracts that automate business transactions using blockchain technology.

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6 recent vendor contracts, go-lives
The following health IT vendor contracts and go-lives were announced within the past week.

1. Cabell Huntington (W.Va.) Hospital selected PMMC's PMMC CONTRACT PRO for contract management and denial management services.

2. Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network is now live on Caradigm Care Management's Intelligence Platform to supports its bundled payment initiative.

3. Tacoma, Wash.-based CHI Franciscan Health selected Glytec's eGlycemic Management System for diabetes care management.

4. The Indian Health Service awarded Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera Health a contract to provide telemedicine services.

5. Brooklyn, N.Y.-based NYU Lutheran Medical Center went live on its Epic EHR.

6. Florence, S.C.-based McLeod Health selected Cerner's health IT suite.

7. Omaha-based Nebraska Medicine plans to implement Epic's Healthy Planet population health management platform.

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18,000 head to Epic's UGM this week; athenahealth introduces daily news, data hub; Cerner heads to McLeod Health  11 health IT keynotes

Yahoo confirms 500M users affected in 2014 breach
A health clinic in Massachusetts is notifying patients of a data breach after learning of unauthorized access to a regional health information exchange that contained some of its patients' information.

Codman Square Health Center in Dorchester, Mass., posted a breach notification on its website, indicating it learned July 13 that the New England Healthcare Exchange Network was accessed without authorization. The notification indicates the individual also accessed information of individuals who are not Codman patients.

According to HHS Office for Civil Rights' breach notification portal, the breach affects 3,840 patients at Codman Square Health Center, but as the breach reportedly affects patients from other organizations participating in the HIE, the actual number is likely higher.

Compromised information on the NEHEN network includes patient names, addresses, birth dates, gender and health insurance information. Some individuals' Social Security numbers may have been accessible, but Codman indicates there is no evidence the information was misused.

NEHEN did not immediately return Becker's Hospital Review's request for a comment.

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Betsy Ryan, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association, will step down from her role in July 2017.

Ms. Ryan has served as president and CEO of NJHA since 2008. Previously, she acted as general counsel and COO of the 98-year-old healthcare trade group, which includes more than 300 member hospitals, health systems and other acute care providers.

"It has been a privilege to work with the healthcare provider community in New Jersey in taking good care of the people of our state. My tenure has coincided with one of the most transformative times in healthcare history," said Ms. Ryan. "It's not easy to step down from a meaningful, fulfilling job, but I do so knowing that I've accomplished what I wanted in my career at NJHA. Change is good, and it's the right time for me and my family."

NJHA's Board of Trustees will launch a search to fill the position, according to the report.





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In the past, healthcare providers' pay was primarily driven by the volume of patients and services rendered, with weaker correlation to outcomes. However, the healthcare industry  led by initiatives enforced by CMS  has embarked on a permanent departure from this approach.

Under a value-based system, healthcare organizations are rewarded for care that produces the best possible outcomes for the lowest possible cost. Bundled payments are central to such a system. Under this model, providers are paid a set amount for an entire episode of care, from pre- to post-operative care. They either share in savings or absorb the extra costs associated with complications, extended length of stay or readmissions.

The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model, CMS' first mandatory reimbursement model of its kind, focuses on hip and knee replacement. About 800 hospitals across 67 markets are participating in CJR, which took effect April 1, 2016. During the five-year program, hospitals are still paid according to existing Medicare fee-for-service rules throughout the year. At the end of each performance year, however, CMS compares a hospital's spending for a care episode to the target episode price. An episode begins from the time a patient is admitted to surgery through 90 days post-discharge, including care in skilled nursing facilities.

Depending on the participant hospital's quality and spending performance, the hospital may receive an additional payment from Medicare or be required to repay Medicare for a portion of the episode spending.

This content is sponsored by Pacira

In July, CMS proposed new provisions to CJR, which would extend the model to include hip and femur fractures. Under the proposal, the hospital in which a patient is admitted for surgical hip or femur fracture treatment would be accountable for the cost and quality of care during the inpatient stay, as well as for 90 days after discharge. Hospitals would receive a fixed payment for each care episode. Those that deliver care for less than the target price while meeting or exceeding quality standards would keep the savings achieved. Hospitals with costs exceeding the target price would have to repay Medicare.

To succeed under CJR, participating hospitals must make structural and cultural changes. Many of these changes can be borrowed from institutions that thrive under older bundled payment initiatives, such as the 2013 Bundled Payment for Care Improvement Initiative. Here are seven key areas upon which hospital leaders and clinicians must focus.

1. Empower physician leaders to drive change. One critical culture change imperative for success under CJR is creating a structure that aligns physicians and hospital administrators, while also providing clinicians with necessary education of the new model. "Allowing physicians and hospitals to align in any bundle situation is critical to the success of the initiative," Richard Iorio, MD, chief of adult reconstruction at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center, said during a webinar hosted by Pacira Pharmaceuticals.

Indeed, the importance of strong leadership among surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses under the CJR model cannot be overstated. However, clinicians need sufficient education on the changes they are required to make before they will be willing to alter their approach to care delivery, let alone act as leaders of change.

Surgeon education is particularly pertinent. According to Jeff Peters, CEO of Chicago-based Surgical Directions, effective surgeon education efforts must include an overview of bundled payments, with attention paid to their effects on reimbursement and a breakdown of what services are included in the target price. Hospitals should also illuminate how they compare with other hospitals' clinical, financial and patient satisfaction outcomes.

In addition to bolstering physician education, it is critical for hospitals to develop strong governance models that include clinical stakeholders. One such example is a Surgical Services Executive Committee, which brings a variety of leaders  senior administrators, medical directors, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and ad hoc members  to the table to refine clinical pathways. "The SSEC brings together all of the disciplines affected by bundled payment so there are representatives at the table when decisions are made," Mr. Peters said during a webinar sponsored by Pacira.

2. Develop metrics that quantify operational, financial and patient satisfaction improvement opportunities. Physicians are methodical creatures and their behavior is driven by evidence-based reasoning. To fuel surgeons' intrinsic desire to improve,leaders should share concrete data on individual and hospital performance.

"Data, clarity and transparency of data are critical for this whole process," said Dr. Iorio. "Both financial and quality metrics need to be communicated to the physicians; this reinforces good behavior and penalizes bad behavior."

NYU Langone physicians receive quality and financial metrics on a biweekly basis. The data is completely transparent  it is even posted online, according to Dr. Iorio. Physicians see their quality and financial performance compared with their peers. As a result, surgeons' inherent sense of competition drives them to improve  whether that is choosing more cost-sensitive implants, reducing OR time or reducing readmissions.

Hospitals have also found surgeon scorecards drive change, according to Mr. Peters. Surgeon scorecards record data on various metrics  including clinical, financial and patient satisfaction measures  for each individual physician and compare those results to peers in the hospital as well as regional or national benchmarks. However, Mr. Peters stressed that surgeon scorecards should facilitate a nurturing, educational process, not a punitive one. "You want an ongoing collaborative working relationship with the surgeon," said Mr. Peters.

3. Educate patients on what to expect ahead of surgery. At NYU Langone Medical Center's Hospital for Joint Diseases, clinical care coordinators identify and assess patients who qualify for the BPCI Initiative before they are admitted for surgery, according to Deserie Duran, RN, assistant director in HJD's department of care management and social work.

"The BPCI clinical care coordinator calls the patients and families," Ms. Duran said during the webinar. "This call is the Guided Patient Services call. In this call, the care coordinator or nurses set the expectations for the hospital stay to the patient and their family."

Patients also fill out questionnaires and meet with the surgeon in advance to identify possible comorbidities, undergo additional tests if needed and discuss risk management strategies. If patients are flagged as high risk, coordinators make home visits and more frequent phone calls to ensure the patient is prepared for surgery and recovery.

Care coordinators also work with the patient and the clinical team to plan the patient's discharge prior to admission to facilitate a smooth transition to the next phase of care, whether in the home or a post-acute care facility.

4. Design a hip fracture workflow. Given the latest changes CMS has proposed making to the CJR model, it is especially pertinent for hospitals to design a robust hip fracture workflow, as these cases are not preplanned but incur equally high costs to elective hip and knee replacements.

"The hip fracture patients that fall into BPCI are trauma-induced diagnoses," said Ms. Duran. "These patients do not have the benefit of having a planned surgery or planned discharge disposition." Often, hospitals are not sure if such patients  who are typically older with more serious comorbidities  will enter the bundle until after the surgery takes place. With CJR, they will no longer have a choice.

NYU Langone's Hospital for Joint Diseases identifies hip fracture patients prior to admission if they come in through the emergency department or from an outside hospital. The clinical care coordinator meets with them at the bedside, reviews an informational brochure on the bundle, completes a risk-assessment survey and identifies the appropriate disposition.

5. Optimize care management during the hospital stay. An essential element of optimizing care during the inpatient stay is continuous quality improvement, a theory-based, data-driven management system that looks at processes and outcomes and tries to determine common causes for variation. The key elements of CQI include teamwork and continuous review of progress. In terms of the CJR model, enhanced recovery protocols are also integral to CQI. ERPs, which aim to manage patients' pain and get them ambulating as soon as possible, are critical to optimizing the inpatient period of the episode of care.

"Surgeons must work closely with nurses, social workers and care managers to monitor the patient's progress and readiness for discharge and ensure the post-discharge services are in place," said Ms. Duran. The team must also work together to stay on track for the expected discharge date and address any barriers as needed.

While patients who are able to discharge to the home after surgery typically experience faster recoveries with lower rates of post-operative injuries or infections, not all patients are ideal candidates for home. Some may need a skilled nursing facility or another post-acute care provider. In other situations, it may be necessary to move a patient from the home to a SNF to address issues that arise.

6. Minimize narcotics in pain management. The anesthesiology team's primary goals under a joint replacement bundle include adequate pain relief, faster mobilization and decreased length of stay, according to Milad Nazemzadeh, MD, clinical assistant professor and associate director of anesthesiology at the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine at NYULangoneMedicalCenter.

It is integral to provide a multimodal approach to pain management during and after surgery and minimize use of narcotics, Dr. Nazemzadeh explained during the webinar. Patient-controlled analgesia, peripheral nerve blocks, indwelling epidurals and femoral nerve catheters have been eliminated at NYULangoneHospital for Joint Diseases. In a multimodal approach to preoperative oral preemptive analgesia, which reduces pain and enables faster ambulation after surgery, Dr. Nazemzadeh said the anesthesiologists use oxycodone controlled release (10 mg), acetaminophen (1,000 mg), celecoxib (200 mg) and pregabalin (50 mg). They minimize narcotic use by using intraoperative periarticular injections, such as EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), administered by the surgeon.

"There are important benefits of using regional anesthesia over general anesthesia," said Dr. Nazemzadeh. These benefits include lower incidence of venous thromboembolism and decreased need for intraoperative narcotic use.

7. Optimize fluid management. Optimizing hemodynamics  fluid management  during surgery allows for more stable blood pressure and heart rate, as well as faster recovery room times, according to Dr. Nazemzadeh. It also enables early ambulation and rapid rehabilitation. NYULangoneHospital for Joint Diseases' goal is to give patients about three liters of IV fluid from the time surgery starts until the patient leaves the recovery room. However, the total IV volume is determined by patient history, length of surgery and estimated blood loss during surgery.

Conclusion

The CJR model imposes high demands on the entire care team, making coordination of care and communication all the more critical to success. The post-discharge period is an especially critical time for the care team to maintain communication with one another and the patient, as it comprises the vast majority of the episode of care under CJR bundle. Although the patient is either in another medical facility or at home, the hospital is still on the hook for his or her outcomes.

If administrators and staff work together to empower physicians and design new clinical care pathways, each can share in the benefits while improving the health of the patients who trust them with their care.

Full Prescribing Information is available at www.EXPAREL.com

Important safety information:
From ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" to "General Hospital" to "ER", audiences are fascinated by physicians. But how much of what you watch on television or see in the movies is actually the truth?

Business Insider sat down with Jenna Reece, a fourth-year medical student at New York City-based Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Faiz Jiwani, a fourth-year medical student at Gainesville, Fla.-based University of Florida's College of Medicine, about their experiences in the medical industry and how those experiences are depicted in the media.

Here are six myths about physicians and medicine the media churns out, along with four surprising tropes it gets right.

1. Myth: Physicians fit into easy stereotypes. According to Ms. Reece, there are numerous stereotypes about physicians that are routinely presented on television: the old mentor, the idealistic young physician, the womanizer, etc. Those stereotypes are largely absent from the field in real life, Ms. Reece said. "When the physician and patient meet, they meet each other with a history of experiences," said Mr. Jiwani. " The patient already has some expectation of what the physician will be like." But because of the sheer volume of medical dramas for audiences to choose from, the overall effect of medical archetypes has lessened.

2. Myth: All physicians do is treat and diagnose patients. Medical dramas often fail to show the administrative burden physicians wade through on a daily basis. Desk-work doesn't make for compelling TV.

3. Myth: Medical culture is homogenous across the board. Ms. Reece claimed that few medical shows are able to accurately capture the medical culture that persists in a given field. She specially points to the 2015 film "Trainwreck," where actor Bill Hader portrays a quiet, soft-spoken orthopedic surgeon. "You couldn't be soft spoken," said Ms. Reece. "You'd be eaten alive. You wouldn't get into a residency program for orthopedic surgery if you didn't culturally fit in."

4. Myth: Hospitals are a great place to meet someone and fall in love. While romantic relationships can and do occur between physicians in real life, most physicians just don't have the time to have a discrete rendezvous in between shifts. Despite what's often portrayed on television, most medical teams aren't composed of young, attractive singles, according to the article.

5. Myth: Scrubs look good. According Ms. Reece, medical dramas get the scrubbing process totally wrong. "When you scrub into a surgery, it looks pretty ridiculous," said Ms. Reece. "You look like you're in a really weird space suit."

6. Myth: Physicians are magicians. There's a reason it takes an average of 14 years to become a physician  medicine isn't an easy thing to understand. "In media, science is so often portrayed as magic," said Ms. Reece. "And medicine is so often portrayed as magic. It can fix anything." The way it's portrayed on television may cause individuals to rely on medical "cures" and intervention to treat illnesses rather than focusing on preventative methods to promote healthy living, said Mr. Jiwani. "What bothers me about that is you have the hero physician and then some unidentifiable patient," said Mr. Jiwani. "There's this clear depiction of the physician carrying all the agency in that scenario. This is prevalent throughout depictions of physicians throughout media. It's just inaccurate."

7. Truth: It's gory. "Before I went to medical school, I totally thought [surgery depictions] must be fake. Especially the super fake-looking stuff  the spurting, Monty Python-style blood during surgery. I thought it was an exaggeration. You're like, why are they showing that? The thing is, that's not an exaggeration. It actually spurts, Monty-Python style."

8. Truth: Physicians do make a lot of money. The average salary for a primary care physician in 2015 was roughly $195,000. The average specialist made about $284,000, according to the article.

9. Truth: Physicians have intense schedules. While medical dramas often show the majority of the action taking place in the hospital, the depiction isn't that far from the truth. About a quarter of physicians reported working between 61 and 80 hours a week in 2014, according to the American Medical Association.

10. Truth: Hospitals provide a good backdrop for stories. According to Ms. Reece, medical drams function similarly to shows set in high schools  the very structure lends itself to a complete plot, formula and character motivation all at once. Hospitals and medical issues are also incredibly relatable because nearly everyone has had some sort of interaction with a physician or has dealt with an illness at one time or another in their lives. "It's all there and it's easy fodder for drama and stories," said Mr. Jiwani.
Striking Allina Health nurses could lose health insurance coverage if the open-ended walkout at the Minneapolis-based health system's Twin Cities hospitals continues through Oct. 1, reports Pioneer Press.

The workers, who are represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, began their second strike of the summer on Labor Day. As workers began the strike, Allina brought in 1,500 replacement nurses. Nearly three weeks later, the strike is at a standstill with no future talks scheduled.

A key sticking point in the dispute between Allina and its 4,800 nurses has been the nurses' health insurance.

Allina wanted to eliminate the nurses' union-backed health plans, which include high premiums but low or no deductibles, and move the nurses to its corporate plans, reports the Star Tribune. Allina has estimated that eliminating the nurses' union-backed health plans would save the health system $10 million per year.

Allina's September contribution to the union-backed plans ends Oct. 1, according to the Pioneer Press. When that contribution ends, striking Allina nurses wanting to stay on their current plans must sign up for COBRA and foot the entire cost of their healthcare until they go back to work, the publication states.

Nurses on the most popular union-only plan going on COBRA would pay $1,060 a month for coverage, while families would pay $2,545, according to Pioneer Press, which cites union spreadsheets. That compares to the usual monthly premiums on these plans, which are $144 for an individual and $456 for a family.

With Allina's most popular plan, the monthly premium is $86 for a single employee and $434 for a family. According to the Pioneer Press, nurses would pay that amount if they were on the corporate plan and not on strike.

Alternative options for the striking Allina nurses include joining a spouse's insurance plan or purchasing temporary insurance through Minnesota's Affordable Care Act healthcare exchange or a broker, according to Minnesota Nurses Association spokesman Rick Fuentes.

Mr. Fuentes told Pioneer Press it is unclear how many nurses would opt to go back to work due to the higher cost, but "[coverage] is a concern, and the nurses are talking about it."

Allina spokesman David Kanihan said the health system expects many nurses to return to work at or by Oct. 1, though not specifically due to healthcare or economic necessity, according to the report.

"The number [of returning nurses] has grown pretty steadily since the strike began, really, and I think what that indicates is that a growing number of nurses do not support this strike as a way to settle our differences," Mr. Kanihan said.

He noted in the article that now-striking nurses must work at least one shift before Oct. 1 if they want Allina to continue covering their share of the nurses' healthcare costs.

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Thirty-five states and Washington, D.C., are accusing opioid drugmaker Indivior of trying to keep generic versions of Suboxone off the market, reports Reuters.

The drug, made by Indivior, is used to treat pain as well as addiction to narcotic pain relievers.

In a lawsuit filed by the entities Thursday, they allege British company Indivior made efforts to get patients to switch to a dissolvable oral strip version of Suboxone.

The lawsuit alleged that when Indivior's exclusive right to sell the drug was about to expire in 2009, it took steps to block generic versions from entering the market and that another company, MonoSol Rx, helped Indivior reach that goal, according to the report.

Indivior said in a statement cited by Reuters that it would continue to "vigorously defend" its position.
A Supreme Court justice has temporarily exempted faith-based Dignity Health from reforming its worker pension plans to comply with federal regulations, Bloomberg BNA reports.

On Sept. 21, Justice Anthony Kennedy granted the San Francisco-based health system a reprieve from making its employee pension plans compliant with the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act until court justices decide whether to hear the system's appeal.

The move will effectively halt a lower court's decision from taking effect. Earlier this year, a federal appeals court ruled Dignity Health's employee pension plan did not meet criteria to be considered a "church plan" and so must comply with federal protections for workers under ERISA.

Dignity Health is among three faith-based health systems facing lawsuits over noncompliance with federal employee pension regulations, including Advocate Health Care Network in Downers Grove, Ill., and St. Peter's Healthcare System in New Brunswick, N.J.
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health has declared the state's high rate of falls among individuals aged 65 and older an epidemic, according to WPR.

More than 37,000 state residents aged 65 and older went to the emergency room due to a fall in 2014, according to data acquired by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

That same year, Madison-based University of Wisconsin Health System's primary care clinics implemented a program created by the CDC called Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries. The program helps healthcare providers assess an individual's risk of falling and provide resources to for preventative care.

The Wisconsin Institute for Health Aging, also in Madison, offers an evidence-based program entitled Stepping On, for individuals aged 60 or older who have experienced a fall or may be susceptible to falling. The seven-week program offers strength and balancing exercises, information about safe footwear, explains typical falling hazards around most homes and teaches participants about how vision and medication affect a person's falling risk, according to the article.

State legislatures are also using their resources to help stop the epidemic. Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Wis.) sponsored a $200,000 healthy aging grant to promote prevention programs. Sen. Olsen said in statement he plans to work with Gov. Scott Walker and the legislature to increase funding and make the grant permanent, according to the article.
While most patients and clinicians take the U.S.'s oxygen supply for granted, medical oxygen is considered a luxury outside of the developed world, according to David Barash, MD, CMO of GE Foundation  a philanthropic organization created by Fairfield, Conn.-based General Electric.

In a recent column in the The Huffington Post, Dr. Barash described the existence of "oxygen deserts" in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries. A quarter of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa never have medical oxygen available and 32 percent have an irregular supply. About 42 percent of Kenyan children prescribed oxygen did not receive it.

These oxygen shortages adversely affect millions of people across the globe. More than 800 women die a day from pregnancy-related and childbirth complications and about 2,500 children under the age of five die each day from pneumonia  conditions directly related to a lack of access to medical oxygen, according to The Huffington Post.

Expensive, inefficient supply chain practices are partly to blame for the poor oxygen accessibility, as hospitals in "oxygen deserts" are often located far away from oxygen generation plants in major cities. The oxygen must be transported hundreds of kilometers to the health facilities, which causes delays and boosts costs.



In 2013, GE Foundation partnered with UNICEF and Assist International to build oxygen plants near rural hospitals to improve access to the most basic, yet crucial human physiological need.





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Li, Trudeau inaugurate 'new annual dialogue' 2016-09-23 01:29 By (China Daily)

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.
 Flash

A new opinion poll finds the majority of Chinese respondents think that China and Japan should peacefully coexist and seek common development through win-win cooperation.

"The Public Opinion on China-Japan Relations 2016" survey was released in Tokyo on Sept. 23, five days ahead of the 12th Beijing-Tokyo Forum. [Photo/China.org.cn]

"The Public Opinion on China-Japan Relations 2016" survey, co-sponsored by China International Publishing Group (CIPG) and Japanese nonprofit think tank Genron NPO, was released in Tokyo on Sept. 23, five days ahead of the 12th Beijing-Tokyo Forum.

It is scheduled to be held Sept. 27-28 in the Japanese capital on the theme of "Sino-Japanese cooperation for Asian and world peace and development."

Wang Gangyi, vice president of CIPG, released key figures from the survey showing a majority of the Chinese public continue to see the significance of the bilateral relationship; however, they still don't think highly of the status quo.

In 2016, 70.8 percent of the Chinese respondents said the China-Japan relations are important or relatively important, a little higher than 70.1 percent in 2015. 78.2 percent said the relations now are bad or relatively bad, 11 percent up from last year. In terms of the future of the relationship, 33.8 percent of the Chinese respondents said it might continue to deteriorate, 18 percent up from the previous year.

However, optimism is strengthening, as the portion of Chinese respondents who are upbeat about ties increased. Among the Chinese surveyed, 23 percent believed relations will turn good or relatively good, while the portion in 2015 was 17.5 percent. About 30.8 percent believed China and Japan can coexist and seek common development (last year only 19.4 percent believed this). In addition, 14.4 percent thought the two countries will continue to be rivals, compared to 24.8 percent in 2015.

To improve ties, Chinese respondents suggested the two sides restore political trust, strengthen cooperation on global issues, enhance economic relations and reinforce security cooperation.

Data also showed Chinese respondents were confident of a pick-up in trade and economic relations, wishing the two countries strengthen cooperation on Asian affairs and global issues such as maintaining peace in Northeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and advancing economic cooperation with developing countries.

Regarding economic relations, 61.5 percent believed the two economies are highly complementary to each other and win-win cooperation is possible, 10 percent up from last year.

To boost economic ties, 45.8 percent thought the most effective way is to improve the relationship between the two governments, and 39.6 percent believed enhancing practical cooperation between Chinese and Japanese enterprise is also essential.

Chinese respondents consider disputes over territorial claims, maritime resources, and historical issues as the main obstacles for bilateral ties, the survey found.

In terms of territorial disputes, 44.8 percent of Chinese respondents worried a military clash could break out, 13.7 percent up from 2015.

Japan's handling of historical issues is a major factor for Chinese respondents' bad impression about the neighbor. About 63.6 percent thought Japan didn't sincerely reflect on or apologize for its historic aggression against China, and 65.1 percent advised Japan respect history, an increase of 8.9 percentage points from the previous year.

Exchanges between media, students, teachers and educational personnel are considered the main channels to boost public diplomacy between the two countries. The contribution of people-to-people interactions to improving ties was endorsed by 66.9 percent.

The poll also showed that 89.5 percent of Chinese respondents were diversifying their knowledge of Japan through the Chinese media, and 73 percent agreed that the Chinese media injected positive energy to the bilateral ties.

And it is noteworthy that 26.7 percent of the respondents said they obtained Japan-related information through the mobile internet.

The survey in China was conducted from August 13 to 24, involving 1,587 residents in 10 cities including Beijing and Shanghai, and 612 elites including entrepreneurs, civil servants, scholars and media personnel.

The opinion polls, which have been conducted consecutively for 11 years, mirror the will of the two peoples and serve as an important channel to understand each other.
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.
A landmark international business park that could cost more than 250m (214m) to build is being planned by developer Michael Howard at a site near Dublin Airport.

His company, Genvest, intends to build 13 grade A office blocks on a huge site beside the M50. It is expected that up to 8,500 people could eventually be deployed at the campus.

The massive development will provide one million sq ft of office space on a 17.2-hectare site that hopes to emulate business campuses occupied by technology giants such as Google and Yahoo in California.

"The development of this business park establishes a new benchmark for businesses communities in Ireland," the company told the council in a masterplan for the scheme.

"The project builds on the masterplan concepts of companies such as Google, Facebook and Yahoo."

Genvest has just applied for planning permission for the first phase of the project, which will include three office blocks, each of them five storeys tall. One building in that first phase will have 7,404 sq m (80,000 sq ft) of floorspace, while the other two will each have 8,283 sq m (89,000 sq ft). Those offices are expected to provide workspace for up to 2,000 people, and the business park will include a park and a running track.

Genvest said it would be a "flagship development at both national and international level".

"The idea of office buildings clustered around a central park is a new concept for use in business parks in Ireland," the company said in a statement.

It is also envisaged that it will include food and retail outlets.

The site is at a key strategic location on an M1-M50 interchange, and is just a short distance from Dublin Airport.

The site is adjacent to a large Clayton Hotel, which is owned by Ireland's biggest hotel group, Dalata, which also owns a Clayton Hotel in Belfast.

The hotel will be integrated into the business campus "visually and functionally", according to Genvest.

The hotel already has 467 bedrooms. The previous owners - the Moran and Bewley's Group - had sought permission to add 367 bedrooms, as well as a conference centre.

Dalata has confirmed that it will not proceed with that scale of extension, and is now working on plans to add 140 more bedrooms to the property.
The site of the former Deerpark Hotel in Co Antrim

The site of a former landmark hotel in Co Antrim has gone on the market as a residential development for 0.6m.The Deerpark Hotel in Muckamore had been a popular destination for nights out and functions up until the 1990s.

The venue was eventually knocked down in 1997, and its former site is now on the market through commercial property agents Lisney for 625,000.

The 3.4 acre site is one mile from Antrim town and close to Belfast International Airport and the M1 and M2 motorways.

It also has expired planning permission for 39 dwellings.

Lisney surveyor Olivia Martin, who is managing the sale of the property, said: "We anticipate a high level of interest in the land from local housebuilders keen to avail of the opportunity to redevelop the former hotel site. The location, combined with flat topography and private access, make this an instruction that we don't think will be on the market for long. The location and scale of this site really add to its potential as a unique development opportunity, and it is one that we believe will garner substantial interest."

It's the latest residential site to come on the market, as the rate of housebuilding here picks up following the downturn.

New homes are being built in the province in growing numbers, with a 30% increase in new home starts to 3,223 recorded in 2015.

And while around 5,000 new homes are finished by builders in Northern Ireland every year, industry groups - including the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) - have said around 11,000 new homes are needed every year to meet demand.

John Armstrong, head of the CEF, has welcomed the increasing availability of sites. "While housebuilding has been picking up, there aren't enough houses being built - and this could be an indication that the availability of sites is now catching up." Other sites are advertised for sale this week in Business Telegraph, including 4.5 acres at Ballyheifer Road in Magherafelt and a site at Annadale Green in south Belfast.
Frankie and Bennys is shutting four of its locations in Northern Ireland

A group of restaurant properties is being put on the market after the owner of Italian diner-style chain Frankie & Benny's revealed it was shutting locations here, it can be revealed.

The so-called Project Tail portfolio includes restaurants at retail parks and shopping centres across Northern Ireland.

The range of soon-to-be vacant locations are being handled by commercial property firm Savills.

It includes four Frankie & Benny's restaurants, located in Ballymena, Bangor, Coleraine and Londonderry.

And Tex-mex restaurant Chiquito at Victoria Square will also become part of the list of restaurants going on the market.

The move to fill the sites comes after The Restaurant Group - company behind Frankie & Benny's - announced it is to close 33 of its UK outlets following a pre-tax loss of 22.5m for the first half of the year.

The group has seven eateries in Northern Ireland.

Those to close include the Frankie & Benny's in Ballymena, Coleraine, Londonderry and Bangor.

The Belfast Victoria Square Chiquito is also set to close.

Paul Wilson of Savills said: "This is an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a portfolio of restaurant units, ranging from approximately 3,600 sq ft to 6,750 sq ft at some of the most prominent retail destinations across Northern Ireland.

"Each location has a strong retail and/or leisure offering and a high calibre of neighbouring A3 occupiers, making it an ideal location for a food and beverage operator to either acquire multiple sites to provide a critical mass or as individual outlets."

Chiquito is located on the second floor of Victoria Square, and sits alongside a range of other chain restaurants including Cosmo, Five Guys, Frankie & Benny's, Kua 'Aina and Nando's.

The four Frankie & Benny's businesses which will soon become part of the property portfolio include the restaurant in Ballymena at the IMC Cinema Complex.

The Bangor restaurant is located at Bloomfield Shopping Centre, while the Coleraine outlet is at the Riverside Retail Park.

And the final Frankie & Benny's in Londonderry is situated at Crescent Link Retail Park.

Parent company The Restaurant Group announced in August that it was cutting between 80 and 100 jobs here as a result of the closures.

A spokesman for the business said: "The company expects few, if any redundancies. In total in Northern Ireland, 80-100 people will be affected."

A statement described the sites as "under-performing" and said that the closures were part of a "strategic review" into the company.

The business posted pre-tax losses of 22.5m for the first half of the year as it took a hit from a 59.1m exceptional charge linked to the store closures and write-downs.

The store closures will affect up to 1,000 jobs, although it is understood that the company will redeploy the vast majority in other outlets.

Like-for-like sales fell by 3.9% as the group, which had previously issued a string of profit warnings, flagged a "challenging trading period".
Iceland is being threatened with legal action to change its name

A cold war is in the offing after the Icelandic government confirmed that it is considering launching a lawsuit against British supermarket Iceland over its name.

Iceland's ministry of foreign affairs confirmed that it is mulling filing a suit against the frozen foods giant, 45 years after it was founded.

"I can confirm that this is being looked into, but no decision has been made," a spokesman for the ministry told the Press Association.

A statement from the Government of Iceland explained that a group of Icelandic parties, including the government, are looking at filing a "cancellation action" against the supermarket's Europe-wide trademark registration for the name "Iceland".

Promote Iceland, an agency linked to the Icelandic foreign ministry, stressed that it has no intention of forcing Iceland Foods to give up its brand, but wants to ensure that the supermarket does not prevent Icelandic firms from registering the name "Iceland" across the UK or EU.

"We are looking for a 'live and let live' outcome," Jon Asbergsson, the managing director of Promote Iceland, explained.

The government said the chain has launched and won "multiple cases" against Icelandic companies for using the word, " even in cases when the products and services do not compete".

"Any decision about proceeding with this claim will only be made after full consideration of the interests of Icelandic companies and our people," the government added.

A spokesman for Iceland said: "Iceland Foods has traded under the Iceland name in the UK since 1970, and is today one of the UK's most recognised brands.

"We have also traded as Iceland for many years in other EU countries, and in non-EU countries, including Iceland itself.

"We are not aware that our use of the Iceland name has ever caused any confusion with Iceland the country."

The relationship between the supermarket and the Nordic nation has a history of frostiness.

Icelandic retail conglomerate Baugur held a controlling stake in the grocer until its collapse in 2009.

The stake then fell into the hands of Icelandic banks Landsbanki and Glitnir, which was later acquired as part of a management buyout led by founder and chief executive Malcolm Walker.

The company, whose headquarters are in Deeside, has more than 800 stores across the UK and employs more than 23,000 staff.
Northern Ireland's manufacturing sector is not witnessing the same Brexit bounce as the UK as a whole, it has been claimed.

There were further signs of an improvement in the UK economy as figures showed a robust performance from the manufacturing sector in September, according to a CBI survey.

But Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said: "Our soundings are that those who export are seeing some benefit from the sharp change in the value of sterling resulting in some orders and customers returning.

"However, we have a small number of manufacturing exporters and the latest HMRC stats show that there was a further reduction in the number of firms exporting in the last year by almost 5%.

"The rest of the manufacturing sector locally is suffering from significantly higher input costs due to the slide in sterling with most of what we produce being sold at home and in Great Britain.

"So, the net effect locally is likely to be more negative than the CBI survey."

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.
Rock legends Iron Maiden continue their hugely successful The Book of Souls World Tour into 2017 with a date in Dublin.

Their series of European arena shows open in Antwerp, Belgium on April 22 - Maidens first visit to this city since 1981 on the Killers Tour.

The band then travel to Germany for shows in Oberhausen, Frankfurt and Hamburg before heading into the UK and Ireland for an extensive series of concerts in May including a return to Dublin, their first visit there in seven years, for a date at the 3Arena on May 6.

Maiden founder member and bass player Steve Harris said: The whole band is really enjoying this tour and though we love playing festivals and stadiums, it is terrific to return to the intimacy and atmosphere of arenas for a few shows.

"The songs from The Book Of Souls album and the new Maya-themed Eddies and stage sets have gone down really well and fan reaction has been amazing. And of course we know our fans appreciate us playing a lot of the older songs too, which we will continue to do. 
Blue Peter presenter Lindsey Russell is on the panel

Bafta has announced the jury for its first-ever Kids Young Presenter competition.

Blue Peter presenter Lindsey Russell and Nick Kicks host Rachel Stringer will be helping to find the next budding TV star aged between seven and 14.

The winner will have the chance to host Bafta's behind-the-scenes coverage at the British Academy Children's Awards on November 20 at the Roundhouse in London.

They will be tasked with introducing and interviewing the award-winners after they come off the stage.

Others on the panel include Officially Amazing's Ben Shires, Into Film editorial manager Charlie Wainwright, CBBC presenter Katie Thistleton, Scrambled presenter London Hughes, First News editor Nicky Cox and The Evermoor Chronicles actress Georgia Lock.

Ambitious young presenters have been asked to submit a short video of themselves showing off their interviewing skills on friends, teachers, parents and siblings.
Janette Benaddi, Helen Butters, Niki Doeg and Frances Davies became record breakers when they rowed across the Atlantic (Welcome to Yorkshire/PA)

The story of four working mothers who became record-breakers when they rowed across the Atlantic could now be told in a movie.

Helen Butters, Janette Benaddi, Frances Davies and Niki Doeg received a heroes' welcome on their return to their home county of Yorkshire after completing the 3,000-mile race in February.

The four friends - known as the Yorkshire Rows - became the oldest women to row across an ocean when they crossed the finish line of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in Antigua.

On Friday, they confirmed a book telling their story - Four Mums In A Boat - will be published by a division of HarperCollins UK next year.

And they said the London-based production company Archery Pictures had optioned the film rights.

The women Tweeted: "@yorkshirerows are thrilled to announce our story is being published by @HQstories @HarperCollins you can preorder now!"

And they added: " @yorkshirerows r excited 2 announce archery pictures have optioned our story for a movie."

The women, who all have children at the same school and became friends after taking up rowing at a club in York, formed the plan to take part in the race around three years ago at a boat club dinner.

During their 67 days at sea, the team encountered a hurricane, power failures, attacks from flying fish, seasickness and injuries.

They also revealed they had to row naked after running out of clean clothes and said an equipment failure had left them steering by hand and one rower down at all times.

After their return, the women laughed about which film stars could play them in any movie.

Benaddi, 51, and Butters, 45, joked that they wanted Renee Zellwegger and Kate Winslet to play them but said they would have to master a Yorkshire accent first.

Archery's Pip Williams told deadline.com: " I was truly inspired by the story of these women who prove that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it.

"Their positive outlook and humour brings warmth to what is ultimately a hugely formidable challenge and achievement."
Taoiseach Enda Kenny prepared a draft speech welcoming Britain's decision to "remain in the EU" and congratulating the then-Prime Minister David Cameron, new documents reveal.

Mr Kenny had prepared to say he was "delighted" the UK decided to remain in the EU and described the vote as a "positive result for us all".

In the speaking notes, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, the Taoiseach expressed warm "congratulations" to British Prime Minister Cameron, who has since resigned.

"I am very pleased the United Kingdom has decided to remain a member state in the European Union. This was a very hard fought contest," the Taoiseach's statement said.

"The union must now focus on the real challenges it faces in promoting its people's prosperity and security.

"But happily, in facing these challenges, we will stand together as a union of 28 member states, ready to engage, to negotiate and to chart a way forward on behalf of all of our citizens," it added.

Minister for European Affairs Dara Murphy prepared a similar draft speech to be delivered on June 24 - the day after the referendum paving the way for Britain to leave the EU.

Mr Murphy was to deliver the speech ahead of a meeting of Europe Ministers in Luxembourg which took place the day after the vote.

The FoI documents also reveal extensive preparation for both outcomes of the referendum.

The strategy for a 'Leave' vote included a Whatsapp group which was to be set up to allow key staff members communicate with each other about ministers' media appearances.

The schedule also showed Mr Kenny was due to contact EU and Opposition leaders on the morning of the vote result, after which he would call his own Cabinet ministers.

A questions and answers briefing note prepared before the British vote said it would "be difficult to imagine a situation" where there would be no customs border between the North and South of Ireland if the UK leaves the EU.

Contingency plans and actions were also prepared ahead of the vote.
A sexual health doctor has revealed she has diagnosed three heterosexuals with HIV in the last month

A sexual health doctor has revealed she has diagnosed three heterosexuals with HIV in the last month.

Dr Lisa Nelligan said one of the patients was a young professional living in Belfast who was unwittingly infected by his girlfriend.

She had contracted the disease from a former partner and had no idea she was HIV positive, according to Dr Nelligan.

The GP, who runs a sexual health clinic at Kingsbridge Private Hospital in south Belfast, was speaking out as thousands of students begin the new academic year to remind them of the ongoing risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

There are between 60 and 70 new cases of HIV diagnosed in Northern Ireland every year and I have seen three in the past month, she said.

There is an idea that HIV largely affects homosexuals, but that isnt the case and all three of the people I saw were heterosexuals.

One of them was a woman from eastern Europe who had contracted it when she was over there.

There was another woman from Belfast and the third was an affluent, young, professional heterosexual in his 20s and his diagnosis was a real surprise.

He was a young guy with a good job and he was in a steady relationship.

He had been to his GP maybe four or five times, he wasnt feeling wonderful, his glands were up, and he came in to me to get checked out.

He was low risk so I told him I could call him in a few days with the results and when they came through I was pretty shocked.

We worked out he had contracted it from his girlfriend and it turned out she had contracted it from a previous partner and didnt know.

She was actually a healthcare worker so her diagnosis will have an impact on her work. The diagnosis can be catastrophic.

However, Dr Nelligan said that advancements in treatments mean that HIV patients can lead healthy lives for decades.

But she stressed the importance of an early diagnosis when reducing the damage caused by the virus.

HIV isnt in the media as much as it used to be, so younger people in particular dont think about it as a threat, she continued.
Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )

Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye)

Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )

First Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed a deal reach over the three year old Ardoyne Orange Order parade dispute.

The deal, however, remains subject to the Parades Commission allowing a return parade next Saturday, October 1 at 8.30 am.

>>Read the full text of the agreement<<

It will allow the lodges to complete their 2013 parade, with a commitment that Orangemen will not apply for future return parades without local agreement.

The agreement will see the dismantling of the controversial Twaddell protest camp.

A community forum will be established to build better relations among all those who share the part of the Crumlin Road concerned.

Nationalist residents group Cara has endorsed the deal, however the more hardline group GARC has vowed to continue to protest against any Orange parade passed the Ardoyne shops.

Speaking this morning at a DUP breakfast in Omagh Ms Foster described the deal as a "significant step".

"The agreement reached between three Orange Order lodges in North Belfast and Ardoyne residents representatives comes about following engagement in a local dialogue process," she said.

"The understanding they have reached is a welcome development and is a significant step given this has been an initiative between the Orange and local residents.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close File picture of Derry businessman Jim Roddy who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residents' group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Derry businessman Jim Roddy, left, who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residentsO group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Rev Harold Good who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residentsO group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Kelvin Boyes / PressEye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Rev Harold Good who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residents group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Matt Mackey - Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 23rd September 2016 - File picture of Rev Harold Good who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residentsO group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne. Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye / Facebook

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Whatsapp File picture of Derry businessman Jim Roddy who helped reach an agreement between the Orange Order and the nationalist residents' group CARA that will allow Orangemen to march along the contested route past Ardoyne.

"I said at the start of the summer that we all have a responsibility to show leadership and to continue to seek resolutions to contentious issues through discussion and to ensure any difficulties are identified and resolved peacefully. By doing so we become stronger as a community and a country.

"I thank all those involved. We want to build a future that is respectful, inclusive and vibrant. Northern Ireland can have a very bright future built on respect and celebration of diversity."

Presbyterian Moderator the Rev Frank Sellar praised the deal, and urged that "equal energy to be given to strengthening community relationships in the area".

I welcome the agreement that has been reached between the lodges and residents of Twaddell Avenue after three years of dispute, and pray that it might now find peaceful resolution as we look forward to the future," he said.

For all concerned this has been a long-running and seemingly intractable situation. For this reason I give thanks for the dedication, patience and persistence of all involved in bringing these negotiations to a resolution.

What will now be important, as we mover forward, is for equal energy and persistence to be given to strengthening community relationships across the whole community."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gerald Solinas the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is William (Willie) Frazer during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gorge Chittick at the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gerald Solinas the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is George Chittick during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Hundreds of bands march through west Belfast this evening to mark the 1000th day of protest at the Twaddle Peace Camp. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Press Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Twaddell Avenue Kevin Scott A protestor at Twaddell Avenue Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph Loyalist protest in the Woodvale area of north Belfast Gerald Solinas, left, and James Small pictured at Camp Twaddell at Ardoyne in North Belfast with other protestors. Picture by Kelvin Boyes/PressEye Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Loyalists at the protest camp at Twaddell Avenue in north Belfast The loyalist camp set up in the Woodvale area of north Belfast / Facebook

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Whatsapp Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is Gerald Solinas the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye )

Justice minister Claire Sugden paid tribute to the facilitators and all those involved for their efforts.

"I look forward to seeing this new agreement implemented and an end to the protest," she said.

I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the Chief Constable and his officers who were at the frontline policing this situation over the course of the last three years, for their impartial and impeccable support to protect the entire community at the Twaddell interface.

Belfast Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Chris Noble said he looks forward to being able to scale back the policing operation at Twaddell.

"The Police Service welcomes the news of a local agreement in relation to the challenges surrounding parades and protests at Twaddell/Crumlin Road in North Belfast," he said.

"I and my officers look forward to stepping back from the significant policing operation that has been ongoing for some time.

"We will continue to work with all communities to secure a long term resolution of the issues surrounding parades and protests in Belfast."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has also welcomed the deal.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is 1 during the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing George Chittick at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing Gerald Solinas at the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye File images showing the Twaddell camp as an agreement to allow the parade to rerun next Saturday , Northern Ireland (Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Belfast , UK - April 07, Pictured is the 1000th day parade held at Twaddell in North Belfast on April 07, 2016 Belfast, Northern Ireland ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye ) Kevin Scott / Presseye / Facebook

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On Saturday morning the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast added its support, commenting: "We look forward to the lodges and bands completing their 2013 Twelfth of July parade".

In a statement on Friday evening the Rev Harold Good, a former president of the Methodist Church and Londonderry businessman Jim Roddy - who have been facilitating talks - said: "We are pleased to announce that a local agreement has been reached to bring an end to the difficulties surrounding parades and protests in the Twaddell/Crumlin Road area.

"The agreement has the full support of the three lodges and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA).

"The full text of the agreement will be made available tomorrow."

The agreement comes after a public meeting on Friday night.

CARA said the deal represented the best for residents and businesses affected by the parade, the camp and the heavy police presence in the area "and the constant tension that comes with that".

The hard-line Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective have not supported the deal.

An Orange Order source said they had reached an agreement and the deal could only be done once the parade had taken place, which would be a matter for the Parades Commission.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire added: "I welcome the agreement which looks set to see the end of the north Belfast parading dispute.

"I commend the representatives of the Orange Order and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association for their efforts in negotiating a solution.

"This is a clear demonstration that local dialogue can work, and offers up the best chance of resolving disputes like this."

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland, which represents officers welcomed the prospect of a resolution.

A PFNI spokesman said: "This will immediately release the officers deployed in connection with that protest to be utilised in front-line duties in the communities they were extracted from.

"It will also help to take some of the pressure off those front line officers who, on a daily basis, are struggling to meet demand. We obviously commend all those who played a part in making this resolution possible."

Since 2013 the Parades Commission has prevented the annual Twelfth return parade past the Ardoyne shop fronts.

In response the three Ligoniel lodges involved established a camp at Twaddell Avenue and held nightly protests over the determination.

The flashpoint has previously witnessed serious loyalist and republican rioting when tensions boiled over.

Dissident republicans had also used the nightly gathering of police in the area to target officers.

The bill for policing the standoff was in excess of 21m.

The Republic's Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan also welcomed the deal.

He said: "I welcome todays announcement that a way forward has been found to resolve the difficulties that surround parades and associated protests in the Crumlin Road and Twaddell area of north Belfast.

Expressions of place and identity can be very emotive and challenging. I commend the spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that has allowed a common understanding to be developed on how these parades can be managed.

I encourage the wider community to give this initiative its full support.

I acknowledge the hard work in a spirit of genuine engagement and reconciliation by all those who were party to achieving this new approach.

I wish to pay tribute to those in the Orange Order and among local residents for their leadership and courage in achieving this agreement. I look forward to its full implementation in good faith and good neighbourliness.

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he hopes the parade will be allowed to pass peacefully.

"This will be an enormous relief to most," he said.

"While the camp at Twaddell may have offered a focal point for justified frustration and anger in the early days of the impasse, it had become an expensive and ineffective initiative.

"I hope the parade will now be allowed to pass peacefully and respectfully."

Alliance Leader David Ford also welcomed the announcement.

"After many months of disagreement, the announcement of a resolution of the dispute between members of the loyal orders and Ardoyne residents is very welcome," said Mr Ford.

"I congratulate the representatives of the two sides on reaching an agreement and thank the mediators for their good work, despite the disappointments of the past summer.

"I look forward to seeing the full details of the deal being published and most importantly, put into action."
A bin fire in an underpass spread to a building at Royal Victoria Hospital.

It happened at about 8pm on Thursday night with the fire spreading to the Queen's School of Dentistry building.

Four engines and over 20 firefighters were sent to the incident with the fire put out at around 10pm.

The building sustained smoke damage and pipework damage, but there were no reports of any injuries.

The Belfast Trust described the fire as small and there was no need for patients to be evacuated. It praised staff for their professional and swift actions.
A family have said they are devastated following the sudden death of their 11-year-old son who "loved life".

Tributes have been paid to Leon Carlisle who passed away on Wednesday night at his home in west Belfast.

Leon was a student at St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School. Hundreds of messages of support and well-wishes have been left for his family.

The young boy's family has paid tribute to him online saying that he "loved life" and that he had "loads of friends".

However, the family's grief was compounded by false reports which were quickly spread on social media.

The reports forced his father to plead with the public to stop them being shared.

Through his grief, his father John posted on Facebook to clear up the "insensitive and offensive" reports.

He said: "Just lost my 11-year-old son and it feels like I've woke up to a nightmare. I would like to clear a few things up, Leon wasn't depressed he loved life, he didn't have mental health problems, he wasn't being bullied he had loads of friends and loved getting out to play."

He added: "I know people are rightfully shocked, some are trying to show respect but 90% of the comments I'm reading are insensitive and offensive as they are not true.

"If people could spread the truth and not hearsay I would greatly appreciate it."

The youngster's school also 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.

"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."

Police confirmed they received the report of a sudden death in west Belfast and that it is not being treated as suspicious.
Detectives from Reactive and Organised Crime Branch have arrested a 28-year-old man and seized suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of 1.2 million after Police stopped a car on the West Bank Road in Belfast on Friday 23 September.

Police seized cocaine worth 1.2million in Belfast.

A 28 year-old man was arrested after police stopped a car on the West Bank Road on Friday.

Police said they were "delighted to have removed a large quantity of drugs off the streets of Northern Ireland."

"The PSNI," a spokesman said, "is committed to making Northern Ireland a hostile environment for those involved in drug criminality."

Police are appealing for anyone with information on drug dealing to contact officers.
Goods belonging to Lord Maginnis of Drumglass are to be seized and sold to cover the amount owed in an outstanding fine which he continues to refuse to pay, a judge has ruled.

Representing himself Lord Maginnis took up position in the benches usually reserved for the prosecution team.

According to court papers, the seventy-eight year old peer of Park Lane, Dungannon was convicted of boarding a train without a valid ticket in London on 5 March 2014.

The case initially appeared before South London Magistrates' Court where Lord Maginnis was ordered to pay a total of 1,478.90, which consisted of a fine of 220, along with compensation of 19.90 and costs of 1,239.

However, with nothing paid by 23 November last year, the case was ordered to be transferred from South London to Dungannon Magistrates' Court.

Lord Maginnis advised the judge he was under some time pressure stating: I have a hospital appointment this morning. I am waiting of the NHS to give me a new hip.

District Judge John Meehan confirmed he had read the papers submitted by Lord Maginnis and described it as an unhappy situation".

Lord Maginnis said: This is about a fine and more particularly about the system. I was summonsed in London on two occasions and turned up both times. It was cancelled both times. On the third occasion I did not appear and they went ahead without me.

He continued: Ive been rubbished in terms of an 80p mistake. I resent that old age is treated so. This is not only personal  its a general issue. It has already cost me 3,200 in legal fees to ascertain why the court went ahead in my absence.

Judge Meehan noted the matter had gone through an appeal at crown court in London but was dismissed. It was then transferred to the Northern Ireland jurisdiction, ending up at Dungannon Magistrates' Court after the fine remained unpaid.

He said: I am at a stage where the matter is put before me for the fine to be addressed.

It was explained persons in this position could enter into a repayment plan to discharge the outstanding fine and costs, - and option which was firmly rejected by Lord Maginnis.

At this Judge Meehan ordered a Distress Warrant to be issued for goods to the value of the amount in question to be seized.

This warrant will be served by PSNI.

Lord Maginnis asked: Does this mean, in fact, justice is denied?

Judge Meehan replied: Thats a philosophical issue and one I am not qualified to comment upon.

He then urged Lord Maginnis the case was concluded and wished him well with his hospital appointment.
Nightly protests were held in the nearby unionist Woodvale/Twaddell area in the years since the camp was set up, with a protest parade every Saturday

One of Northern Ireland's bitterest loyal order parading disputes has been resolved.

Orangemen and nationalist residents who had been at odds for years over a contentious march past the Ardoyne area of north Belfast have reached an accommodation.

The flashpoint has previously witnessed serious loyalist and republican rioting when tensions boiled over on the main date in the Orange parading calendar - the "Twelfth of July".

A 24/7 loyalist protest camp was set up at the volatile community interface in 2013 when the Parades Commission - a government-appointed adjudication panel for controversial marches - prevented Orangemen belonging to three Orange lodges passing the nationalist Ardoyne along the Crumlin Road as they returned from traditional "Twelfth" commemorations.

Nightly protests were held in the nearby unionist Woodvale/Twaddell area in the years since, with a protest parade every Saturday.

The policing operation at the site has cost in excess of 20 million over the last three years.

A deal to resolve the dispute collapsed this summer when one of the three lodges - Ballysillan Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) 1891 - refused to back a proposed resolution.

With the Twelfth subsequently passing off without major incident, hopes remained high that negotiations could be resurrected and a solution found.

Those hopes proved well founded on Friday night with the announcement that a deal involving the main residents group in the area - the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (Cara) - and all three lodges had been reached.

A statement from the two men mediating - Reverend Harold Good and businessman Jim Roddy - said: "We are pleased to announce that a local agreement has been reached to bring an end to the difficulties surrounding parades and protests in the Twaddell/Crumlin Road area.

"The agreement has the full support of the three lodges and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association."

The men said the full text of the deal would be published on Saturday.

While Cara supported the deal, it is unlikely that a more hard-line residents group - the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (Garc) - will back the accommodation.

It is understood the deal with allow the lodges to complete their 2013 parade, with a commitment that Orangemen will not apply for future return parades without local agreement.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire hailed the resolution.

"I welcome the agreement which looks set to see the end of the North Belfast parading dispute," he said.

"I commend the representatives of the Orange Order and the Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association for their efforts in negotiating a solution.

"This is a clear demonstration that local dialogue can work, and offers up the best chance of resolving disputes like this."

Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan said: "I commend the spirit of co-operation and mutual respect that has allowed a common understanding to be developed on how these parades can be managed.

"I encourage the wider community to give this initiative its full support.

"I acknowledge the hard work in a spirit of genuine engagement and reconciliation by all those who were party to achieving this new approach.

"I wish to pay tribute to those in the Orange Order and among local residents for their leadership and courage in achieving this agreement.

"I look forward to its full implementation in good faith and good neighbourliness."
Paul Raymond seen with Fiona Richmond in London after an edition of his 'Men Only' magazine was read by a High Court jury to decide whether or not it was indecent or obscene.

21st July 1967: Club owner Paul Raymond and four of his revue dancers, who are on their way to Aden to entertain the troops. The dancers are Carole Ryva, Jean Crabtree, Lady Flan and Sandra Bunting. (Photo by C. Maher/Express/Getty Images)

The self-styled King of Soho - Paul Raymond - was one of the most colourful characters in recent British history opening the first hugely successful strip club in London and going on to become one of the country's richest men. On his first visit to Northern Ireland, son Howard talks about life in his father's kingdom.

Howard Raymond takes a seat in Belfast's Merchant Hotel, takes a look around the surroundings of its Great Room and deems it "eclectic".

"Eclectic yes, quite opulent, I do like it," says the 56-year-old businessman.

This coming from a man whose father was once dubbed the British Hugh Hefner, a trend-setter in London's West End for strip clubs, gay bars, a pornographer, among the wealthiest men in the country and the self-styled King of Soho.

Surely life growing up in his household was bound to be a little eclectic, I ask.

"Oh yes, when you look back on it now probably, but for me it was a normal life," he smiles.

Hailing from Antrim, the Quinns left Ireland for Liverpool just before the dawn of the 1920s and in 1925 along came Geoffrey Anthony Quinn - Howard's father.

He and his two brothers became successful each in their own right. One a pilot the other a doctor and Anthony - or Paul Raymond as he became - saw his name in lights in London.

"But he was always the black sheep of the family," Howard continued.

"My grandmother was a devout Catholic, I never saw her in anything other than black, they never wanted anything other than my father to be a bank clerk."

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Paul Raymond with Fiona Richmond in London after an edition of his 'Men Only' magazine was read by a High Court jury to decide whether or not it was indecent or obscene. Pic: PA Wire Steve Coogan as Paul Raymond and Tamsin Egerton as Fiona Richmond in the film The Look of Love based on Paul Raymond's life. 21st July 1967: Club owner Paul Raymond and four of his revue dancers, who are on their way to Aden to entertain the troops. The dancers are Carole Ryva, Jean Crabtree, Lady Flan and Sandra Bunting. (Photo by C. Maher/Express/Getty Images) 18/02/1988 Paul Raymond 18/02/1988 Paul Raymond Paul Raymond seen with Fiona Richmond in London after an edition of his 'Men Only' magazine was read by a High Court jury to decide whether or not it was indecent or obscene. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Paul Raymond with Fiona Richmond in London after an edition of his 'Men Only' magazine was read by a High Court jury to decide whether or not it was indecent or obscene. Pic: PA Wire

Anthony - given the Hollywood actor Anthony Quinn and the fashion for French-sounding names at the time changed to Paul Raymond - first dipped his toe into the show business world as a mind reader.

He then toured a show of nudes. To get around the laws at the time about what could be on stage the women did not move, but instead were paraded around on podiums.

Soon the the lure of London proved irresistible.

In 1958 to circumvent laws prohibiting striptease, he opened the private club, the Raymond Revuebar - which members could sign up to on the the door.

It became a sensation boasting of 45,000 members and was the place to be for all the stars of the day.

Actor John Mills, comedian Peter Sellers, the boxer Cassius Clay would have all paid a visit.

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Whatsapp A young Howard Raymond.

Unique in its time - it had a casino, restaurant and theatre all under one roof - the club became a Soho landmark, only closing its doors in 2004.

Later came Madam JoJo's, the first gay bar in London.

Raymond used the profits to enter the world of adult publishing with hugely popular titles including Razzle, Men's World and Mayfair. He also bought up large chunks of Soho. Today large swathes of the district remain under his family's ownership.

"It was a great upbringing," continues Howard.

"There was never a time I thought it was rubbish. But looking back on it there were odd times. We had the big house, the staff and I would go to my father's office and the girls would be rehearsing during the day and just walking about naked. It was par for the course.

"I remember the first night at boarding school we were all asking about our pets and what their names were and I asked what the boys called their cheetah.

"We had a cheetah. It had a cushion in the living room and when someone called it would be the first to greet them. For me that was normal and I thought everyone had one as a pet."

"My mother once went ballistic because my father brought home the Kray brothers and the Richardsons one night. They were sworn enemies, the two biggest gangs in London who had been killing each other and here they were partying with my father in our living room one night in some kind of ceasefire.

"They probably went off and shot each other the day after.

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Howard with his father, mother and sister Debbie. Howard with his father, mother and sister Debbie. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Howard with his father, mother and sister Debbie.

"But that was closer to the end of my parents' relationship when work and family life became blurred for my father. My mother wouldn't have it."

Raymond and his wife Jean Bradley split up and over his affair with the soft porn actress Fiona Richmond.

Regarded by many as charming, generous and a serial womaniser, when asked about his father, Howard is quick to respond, "shy," he says.

"And a devout catholic.

"It was a real struggle for him. There were times he would go quiet and just take himself off. It was very contradictory.

"One of the magazines ran a four or six-page spread on one girl and as part of the set she was wearing a cross and my father hated it.

"So he ordered the pages to all be ripped out of the magazine before they got to the shop. They all had to be taken out by hand - can you imagine? He was that furious."

Howard says that such was the notoriety of his father that when he joined a Christian Brothers school he was soon sent packing as, in his words, "they didn't want his type" associated with the school.

And when it came to his sister Debbie's burial after her death in "suspicious circumstances", the church refused at first. Clergy did raise the problem the church had with the roof, but a somewhat smaller donation helped the provide for a short funeral.

He was also targeted by two decorators who posed as members of the IRA in a bid to extort money.

"But it was all picture postcard stuff looking back," continues Howard.

"Yes there was outrage and plenty of it at the time. The police visited the club that many times, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission - really - examined one of our take-overs of a magazine. It was ground-breaking stuff at the time but it was all tame.

"It was as I said Victoria picture postcard stuff, you would put it on the coffee table now, no question.

"But I had a great life and wouldn't change a thing."

Paul Raymond passed away of respiratory failure in 2008.

"And despite 45 years of being told to make sure he got the last rites, I nearly forgot," says Howard.

In tribute to his late father Howard has crafted his own gin, The King of Soho.

"When my father arrived in London it was either pale ale or gin. And he drank the ale first and when he became more sophisticated he turned to the gin.

"We put a lot of time and effort into it and I am so pleased with the results, the bottle, the brand, but most of all it's a dam fine gin.

"I wanted to get the spirit of Soho in the brand. Everyone knows about Soho so we had to think. It's a hunting ground, so we have the fox, the peacock's feather in his hat because people would watch you walk down the street, the velvet suit for the hedonism and of course he is a creature of the night.

"And it works, people have got it.

"There are those that remember my dad then there are those who want to know the story behind it and it is bringing it all back. It is a proper tribute to my father."

A film about his father was made starring Steve Coogan, but Howard has never watched it, nor intends to, as "it was nothing more than a fiction piece". And another - titled The King of Soho - is in the pipeline which Howard is backing.

Despite the family ties to Co Antrim Howard's visit to Belfast is his first. Struck by the prettiness of the city - and its free-flowing traffic - he intends to return to properly trace his roots. Knowing little of his roots only that the family grave is somewhere next to a pub.

"It would have to be," Howard jokes.

The King of Soho gin is stocked in The Vineyard, Belfast Ormeau Road and at Lavery's.
A leading Irish-American lobby group has blamed this newspaper for being excluded from a meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary.

Fr Sean McManus, the Fermanagh-born leader of the Irish National Caucus (INC), spoke after he was not invited to a Washington meeting on September 7 with James Brokenshire and US officials.

In a statement, the cleric said he suspected his exclusion was down to reports by this paper on an educational video about Northern Ireland produced by the INC. First Minister Arlene Foster described the video as "misleading at best and downright sectarian at worst".

Fr McManus said: "The Belfast Telegraph took exception to the Irish National Caucus animated internet video, which is on our website, and that newspaper may have actually incited Mrs Foster to attack."

The animated video claimed anti-Catholic discrimination was still rife in Northern Ireland and that Protestants never accepted Catholics as equals. It also called for England to "finally terminate its long colonial experiment on the island of Ireland".

The video additionally featured a map of Northern Ireland that wrongly included Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan.

Fr McManus added: "Mrs Foster accused me of being sectarian. I deplored sectarianism, and the Belfast Telegraph ran headlines, 'Irish National Caucus lies must be challenged'."

Barbara Flaherty, the INC's executive vice-president, said that "hundreds of Irish-Americans are now very suspicious and angry about the whole thing."

"We don't know if any of this (the coverage in the Belfast Telegraph) played a part in Fr McManus being excluded," she added.

"However, had Fr McManus attended the meeting, you can be certain he would have raised the Pat Finucane case, the Raymond McCord Jr case, the Scappaticci-Stakeknife case and the Ballymurphy massacre."

Fr McManus said he believed the invitations had been sent out by Norman Houston of the Northern Ireland bureau in Washington. However, Mr Houston told this paper he had not been involved in the organisation of the Washington meeting and was not aware of any reason for a snub.

The NIO was also contacted for a comment from Mr Brokenshire, but no reply was received.
The parent of a pupil at a Belfast school is planning to apply for a judicial review of a decision to amalgamate it with a lower performing school.

Little Flower and St Patrick's College Bearnageeha in north Belfast are due to merge by next September.

The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) proposed the amalgamation in 2015, and it was approved by former Education Minister John O'Dowd earlier this year.

But the decision is set to be challenged in the courts in November, and a group of Little Flower parents have vowed to protest outside CCMS.

Almost 2,000 signed a petition against the amalgamation earlier this year. Now the parents have appealed to the new Education Minister Peter Weir to intervene.

One of the mothers involved with the campaign who has a daughter in Year 8 at Little Flower has said she feels the school is being penalised despite meeting the department's definition of a sustainable school.

She said Little Flower had consistently outperformed St Patrick's College in terms of its GCSE pass rate.

"Little Flower is financially stable, it is performing well and is even used as an example of a successful secondary school in national media - yet with this amalgamation we are being punished," she told the Belfast Telegraph.

"We would question the sustainable schools policy when we - who meet its definition - are being amalgamated with another school.

"We also feel like the whole process is being rushed through.

"We, the parents of the children in this school, want a new consultation and for the minister to take a look at our case."

The mother said they feel like the process is being "rushed through", with a board of governors for the proposed new school already appointed.

She added a judicial review being taken by one of the parents is set to be heard in November.

Little Flower is a girls' secondary school, while St Patrick's is a single-sex boys' school.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said: "The department has received a pre-action protocol letter for judicial review which commences legal proceedings.

"It would be inappropriate to comment until the judicial process has concluded."

Mr O'Dowd approved the amalgamation of Little Flower and St Patrick's in March following the proposal from CCMS.

He announced then that the two schools would form a new 11-19 co-educational post-primary school with an admission number of 195 and enrolment number of 1,300.

"These proposals are the result of several years of planning and I commend CCMS and the schools involved for their work in this regard," he said.

"It has been a challenging road for all concerned, but I am satisfied that my decisions will future-proof Catholic provision in this area for many years to come."

A spokeswoman for CCMS said: "The decision to amalgamate Little Flower Girls' School with St Patrick's was taken by the Minister for Education in March 2016.

"We welcomed the decision and are now working with the schools in relation to the implementation of that decision.

"As per the ministerial decision, the plan remains for the amalgamation to take place on September 1 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter."
Ceejay insisted on a #Selfie with his dad and Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin presenting honorary Constable Garda Ceejay with his PSNI uniform and briefing him about his mission today.

Meet Ceejay, the four-year-old honorary constable with the PSNI.

Ceejay McArdle was diagnosed with leukaemia in September 2014.

The determined youngster from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan wants to join the gardai when he grows up.

And in June 2015 he joined the Garda force as he graduated from its training college in Templemore.

And on Friday, to give him a boost after receiving his most recent dose of chemotherapy, he became an honorary constable with the PSNI.

Ceejay along with PSNI officers were on a special mission to find a robber who had been stealing all of the sweets from children in Belfast.

He started his day with a briefing with Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin where he got his uniform for the day.

Here he found out their important mission for the day. He even got a helping hand from Batman.

And soon they were off on their journey which started with a tour on the River Lagan on a police boat.

Next they met the police dogs and chased some of the robbers who almost got away with the coveted sweets.

We had the pleasure of meeting @GardaCeejay today and taking him on a short trip as part of his visit to the PSNI #KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/wFVqnNhawa  PSNI Air Support (@PSNIAirSupport) September 23, 2016

Thanking @GardaCeejay for a job well done today. Safe journey home, we loved having you visit us. pic.twitter.com/1gLm5IAOIg  Stephen Martin (@ACCMartinPSNI) September 23, 2016

Thank you @GardaCeejay for joining us today and helping us out! A video of the day will be posted next week for you all to see. #PSNI pic.twitter.com/yF3HHJ9nMB  PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) September 23, 2016

Ceejay then got the chance to operate the water cannon - before seeing the PSNI skid-pan in action.

Follow the action on the PSNI's instagram account here and view their story at the top of the app.
A republican mural off the Falls road area of Belfast on March 14, 2009

A loyalist mural in the Shankhill area of Belfast on March 14, 2009

A republican mural in the Ballymurphy estate in Belfast on March 14, 2009

Belfast murals. A mural off the Newtownards Road dedicated to 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe' author C.S Lewis who was from the area. 2010.

A Thomas Devlin murder appeal poster beside a UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) mural in the Mount Vernon area of North Belfast opposite the flats where one of his killers had lived.

One of the mural, "Bernadette" in the Bogside. Supplied Picture

Born identity: The UDA mural in east Belfast where many young Protestants say pride in the British Army, and anger at flag protests, have reinforced their sense of Britishness

The mural by artist Ross Wilson celebrating King Williams 1690 battle with King James replaces a UFF mural on a gabel wall on Linfield Avenue Sandy Row.

A project recording experiences of key figures from the Troubles and the peace process has been launched

Going back: The absurd psychology of paramilitarism fixating on UVF gunmen and Bobby Sands instead of icons like George Best, shows their mawkish self-mythologising

Residents gathered to watch the unveiling of the new mural opposite the Catholic church in Harryville, Ballymena, County Antrim. The old loyalist paramilitary mural close to a Catholic church which was the scene of weekly protests in the 1990s was removed at the weekend. It was replaced by an Ulster Scots mural featuring symbols such as a shamrock and Red Hand of Ulster. 2/4/06

Going back: The absurd psychology of paramilitarism fixating on UVF gunmen and Bobby Sands instead of icons like George Best, shows their mawkish self-mythologising

The UVF mural painted over one of George Best at Inverwood Court in east Belfast

A new UVF mural is being painted in Willowfield

Republican mural depicting former north Belfast IRA leader Martin Meehan revealed in the Ardoyne area of Belfast

Murals down the years ... republican mural depicting former north Belfast IRA man Martin Meehan is revealed in the Ardoyne area of Belfast.

Murals down the years ... A huge UFF mural was beamed to the world as cyclists passed it during May's Giro d'Italia

Murals down the years ... The Shankill Star Flute Band in Belfast carries a Lambeg drum dedicated to the memory of Brian Robinson, a UVF terrorist who shot Paddy McKenna dead at Ardoyne in 1989

Murals down the years ... former IRA sniper and Sinn Fein politician Martin Meehan aiming a rifle

The sabotaged mural of former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers on the International Peace Wall in west Belfast

The new mural, honouring UDA gunman Stephen McKeag, in the lower Shankill area

A senior loyalist has defended a new mural of a UDA member linked to 12 murders.

There was a furious backlash this week against the mural on a Housing Executive property in Belfast's lower Shankill area, which features an image of Stephen 'Top Gun' McKeag with the words "remember with pride".

Critics accused it of glorifying terrorism, and questions were also asked of the Housing Executive, which said it did not give permission for the mural, but has no plans to remove it.

However, Jim Wilson, an east Belfast community worker and former Red Hand Commando, called the criticism unfair and said many people still saw McKeag as a hero.

"He's a hero to certain people - no different than Bobby Sands would be a hero to a lot of republicans," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback.

"I don't regard him as a sectarian killer. I didn't say I regarded him as a hero. He was a soldier who thought he was right in the way he was fighting."

"I don't challenge the claim he's a hero because he's a hero to some people in the community."

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of McKeag's death after a drug overdose in 2000.

He earned the 'Top Gun' nickname for frequently being named the UDA's volunteer of the year, given to members who carried out the most murders.

On one occasion in September 1993, McKeag walked into a hairdresser's on the Donegall Road and killed owner Sean Hughes.

Asked if a mass murderer should really be remembered with pride, Mr Wilson replied: "Yes, I'm telling you there are plenty of mass murderers on the republican side who are involved in politics today. They're not on the walls, they're involved in politics... so let's get real about a mural dedicated to a loyalist."

But SDLP MLA Clare Hanna said: "I don't think it's something to celebrate, and I apply the same principle to all paramilitaries and all murals. I don't think this is someone to remember with pride. I regard it as a visual promotion of terrorism - I regard it as propaganda."

Journalist Hugh Jordan told Mr Wilson during the show: "There is nothing about Stephen McKeag worth remembering with pride. He was a drug user, a drug dealer, he was a mass murderer - 14 people at least are dead because of him. This mural is a backward step."

Mr Wilson then said: "Stephen McKeag was seen as a soldier fighting against republicans in his community."

But Ms Hanna added: "Or hairdressers."
A son of Ian Paisley was due to meet a man his father accused over murders but has pulled out

A son of Ian Paisley has pulled out of a meeting with a man his father accused of involvement in one of the worst atrocities of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

In 1999, the late firebrand preacher and Democratic Unionist leader Dr Paisley used parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons to claim Eugene Reavey helped plan the 1976 murders of 10 Protestant workmen at the village of Kingsmill, Co Armagh.

Days before the Kingsmill outrage, three of Mr Reavey's brothers were fatally wounded in a loyalist paramilitary gun attack at the family home at nearby Whitecross.

Kyle Paisley had agreed to talk with Mr Reavey, who for years has worked to clear his name, but withdrew the offer hours after news of the meeting became public.

While Ian Paisley never retracted his statement, a subsequent investigation by the police's Historical Enquiries Team made clear there was no evidence to link any member of the Reavey family to Kingsmill or paramilitarism.

Former chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Sir Ronnie Flanagan also said there was no evidence linking Mr Reavey to the republican paramilitary gun attack.

Mr Reavey long campaigned for the former Stormont first minister to apologise, but he died in 2014 having never backtracked on his allegation.

News of the imminent meeting with Kyle Paisley, himself a Free Presbyterian minister, was broadcast on the BBC on Friday morning. Hours later Mr Paisley withdrew the offer.

"I want to express unequivocally my disappointment in the way this matter has been handled," he said.

"I feel that confidence has been broken on what had been a matter of private correspondence."

Expand Close Kyle Paisley had agreed to talk with Mr Reavey, who for years has worked to clear his name, but withdrew the offer hours after news of the meeting became public. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Kyle Paisley had agreed to talk with Mr Reavey, who for years has worked to clear his name, but withdrew the offer hours after news of the meeting became public.

He added: "My only purpose in saying that I would meet Mr Reavey was to offer Christian sympathy on a personal level.

"News reports this morning may have left the impression that I was going to apologise for my father's statement in Parliament some years ago. I could not and would not.

"Because of the way in which this matter has been handled, there is now no possibility of my meeting with Eugene Reavey."

Mr Reavey insisted he did not break any confidences. He also said he had not asked Mr Paisley to apologise for this father's remarks.

"I am disappointed the meeting has been cancelled because I certainly did not break any confidence," he said.

"I would still like to meet and put my point of view to him."

Mr Reavey again stressed that he and his family never had any links to republican paramilitaries.

"I have nothing to hide, nothing," he said. "There are no skeletons in Eugene Reavey's cupboard - and my bones have been well and truly picked over, over the years."
Forensic teams and a police dog carried out searches at properties in the Lurgan area on Wednesday.

Police have been given more time to question four men arrested as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity.

A court has allowed detectives to question the men - two aged 22, one aged 24 and one 46 - until Monday evening.

A fifth suspect, arrested in Lurgan on Thursday, also remains in custody at a police station in Belfast.
Sex Worker rights Campaigner, Laura Lee at Belfast High Court on Friday Morning, Laura appeared at court for a judicial review hearing. Photo Colm Lenaghan/ Pacemaker

Prostitutes in Northern Ireland are being exposed to greater risk of violence by a new law criminalizing their clients, the High Court heard.

On Friday a judge was told they face increased dangers from having to operate alone, with reduced abilities to screen those seeking out their services.

The claims were made as a sex worker's unprecedented legal challenge to legislation making it illegal for men to pay for prostitutes got underway in Belfast.

Laura Lee's lawyers claim amendments to the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act breach human rights entitlements to privacy and freedom from discrimination.

But Attorney General John Larkin QC, representing the First and Deputy First Ministers, resisted her attempt to secure a judicial review.

He insisted protections under European law do not cover sex for hire.

Northern Ireland is currently the only UK region to make the purchase of sex a criminal offence.

The amended legislation was introduced last year in a private member's bill brought before the Assembly by Democratic Unionist peer and Stormont MLA Lord Morrow.

Although it shifts the legal burden away from prostitutes, they believe it will put them at heightened risk from customers using fake names to avoid identification.

Ms Lee, a 38-year-old Dublin-born law graduate, was accompanied by supporters for the first stage in her courtroom battle.

Mr Justice Maguire was told she has been a sex worker for two decades, and now operates in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Her counsel, Steven McQuitty, stressed the case was not a debate about the morality or any perceived degradation of those involved in the trade.

"We simply say the current law operates to make sex work in Northern Ireland more dangerous, particularly for women given most sex workers are women," he said.

The barrister set out three ways in which the risks have allegedly been heightened:

Sex workers have to increasingly operate alone, without the protection offered by brothel arrangements.

Reduced opportunities to meet and screen clients without them being exposed to criminal liability.

Prostitutes ability to share information being hit by customers remaining anonymous.

The court heard Ms Lee was herself exposed to significant verbal abuse during one encounter.

She feared for her own safety but was able to avoid any violence.

Her legal challenge is directed against the Department of Justice - even though former Minister David Ford opposed the new legislative clause.

Counsel for the Department, Tony McGleenan QC, did not oppose the case advancing to a full hearing, but stressed it was no indication of support for Ms Lee's action.

However, the Attorney General argued that proceedings should be thrown out at the first stage.

He insisted no unlawful act had been identified, and claimed the Act brought in by Lord Morrow provided Ms Lee with greater protection from any abusive behaviour.

"Put bluntly, she no longer has to put up with that sort of conduct. The path to the police station is smoothed and widened," Mr Larkin submitted.

Referring to Ms Lee's business model, the Attorney General emphasised how she is paid up front in cash for sexual services.

"She can't sue for her fees, she can't issue an invoice to a client asking him or her to pay up," he said.

"Her business... is utterly unsupported by the common law and existing law of contract."

Responding to claims that customers are more likely to remain anonymous, Mr Larkin suggested those who are "hardly flowers of humanity" may always have been wary about being known.

He rejected claims that the law means men seeking to pay for sex will be more dangerous, contending that Ms Lee retains "sovereign choice" on whether to accept clients who don't identify themselves.

The Attorney General added: "The applicant wants to continue to receive money from prostitution.

"The policy of the law designed to disrupt and, if possible, prevent human trafficking is to choke-off demand.

"Time will tell whether or not that works, but Lord Morrow I hazard would be very pleased indeed to know he stopped one or two women being trafficked into prostitution."

Following submissions Mr Justice Maguire reserved judgment on the application for leave to seek a judicial review.
The DUP Economy Minister has again dodged the question on how he voted in the EU referendum.

Simon Hamilton was repeatedly asked on Thursday night's The View on the BBC which way he voted.

And, as he did with the Belfast Telegraph, shortly after taking up his appointment in July, he would not directly answer the question.

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Mr Hamilton was asked about his party's and Sinn Fein's position on various matters when SDLP leader Column Eastwood asked him how he voted in June's EU referendum. Which he ignored.

Host Mark Carruthers then took on the questioning asking if the Economy Minister would "lay the issue to rest once and for all".

Mr Hamilton said he was committed to getting the "best deal for Northern Ireland" in the forthcoming exit negotiations and was "very comfortable" with the result.

He added: "I absolutely support my party's position in respect of leaving the European Union.

"There is nothing to be gained from going over the referendum campaign.

"There are huge opportunities to be gained from brexit.

When it was put to him that people would assume from his response that he voted remain, the minister added: "People are not interested in how I voted."

After being shouted down by other guests, he added: "What they are interested in is whether we can get the best deal for Northern Ireland and that is what we are doing."

Finally when asked if he voted leave or remain and if he would give a straight answer, he again repeated that there "were huge opportunities" before being cut off.

For two minutes 15 seconds of the show Mr Hamilton was asked 12 times on how he voted.

On Friday morning, The Belfast Telegraph contacted the DUP to ask, once again, if Mr Hamilton would say how he voted in the referendum.

A spokesman said he had answered the question, adding: "People have moved on and Simon has moved on from the campaign and he is focused on getting the best deal for Northern Ireland in the Brexit negotiations."
Belfast High Sheriff Jim Rodgers has spoken of his anger and embarrassment after a Chinese tourist's handbag was stolen at City Hall

Belfast High Sheriff Jim Rodgers has spoken of his anger and embarrassment after a Chinese tourist's handbag was stolen at City Hall.

The woman, who was accompanied by friends, was being photographed on the stairs when the distressing incident - which is thought to be a first - occurred.

Sources at City Hall (right) said CCTV was not operational at the particular spot where the handbag was snatched after being left unattended while pictures were being taken.

However, a council spokeswoman told the Belfast Telegraph that footage of the reception area, which was busy ahead of a tour, was being examined.

Mr Rodgers said the incident was a terrible advertisement for one of Belfast's most important landmarks, adding that he feared it would put off people from wanting to visit the popular tourist attraction.

"The woman is absolutely devastated that her handbag, containing her passport, money and a camera, was stolen shortly after she arrived in Belfast for the first time," he said.

"She only arrived in the city first thing yesterday morning with three friends on a whistle-stop tour and they're leaving today, so they haven't had the best experience that they could have had. It's a tragic day when a tourist can't visit one of Belfast's most iconic buildings with a realistic expectation of leaving with all their personal belongings in tact."

Eyewitnesses reported that the handbag belonging to the woman, who was in her early 30s, was taken by a man who was seen fleeing through the front entrance of City Hall.

"I totally condemn this incident and I hope the police bring the perpetrator to justice without further delay," said Mr Rodgers.

"Something like this should never happen, but in the meantime I would advise people not to leave down their handbags, or any other personal belongings, beside them when they're visiting City Hall."

A spokeswoman for Belfast City Council said the incident happened just before 10am when the reception area was particularly crowded with visitors prior to a planned tour.

"Staff immediately provided assistance, with the reception team sourcing a contact number for the woman to report the matter to the PSNI and our security team assuring her that all would be done regarding CCTV analysis of the reception area at the time," she explained.

"We have both CCTV coverage of the reception area of City Hall and security personnel stationed there. The CCTV analysis is ongoing at present."

It is understood that reception staff sourced contact numbers for the woman's airline company and her bank so that she could cancel her cards.

The woman later returned to reception with a small memento for one of the receptionists as a thank-you.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said that officers were investigating the theft of a handbag from Belfast City Hall in Donegall Square.

She added: "The bag contained a purse containing a sum of cash and a white camera.

"Police enquiries are continuing and there are no further details at this time."

Mr Rodgers said that the woman and her friends were presented with civic gifts following the theft "to show the good side of the city".
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 pensioner was killed when an explosion caused an ambulance to catch fire outside a busy Irish hospital's emergency department.

Christopher Burn (79) died and paramedics Steven Lloyd and Dave Finnegan were injured following the fatal fire at Naas General Hospital, Co Kildare shortly after 1.30pm yesterday.

It is believed that Mr Burn may have tried to light a cigarette while in the ambulance, unbeknown to staff.

Mr Finnegan, who is aged in his 40s, and Mr Lloyd, aged in his late 30s, were in the vehicle preparing to move the patient into the ED.

However, as the elderly patient was being tended to, an explosion occurred.

The force of the explosion was so severe that Mr Lloyd was thrown across the tarmac, having left the drivers seat to open the ambulance side door. Two Naas-based paramedics who witnessed the incident ran towards the burning ambulance and pulled Mr Finnegan out, who was on fire. However, sources stated that there was tragically nothing that could be done for Mr Burn.

Mr Finnegan was treated for burns but was discharged last night. Mr Lloyd was kept in St James' Hospital as a matter of precaution. He is expected to make a full recovery.

It is believed that an oxygen tank exploded, and the Health Service Executive has said that checks will be put in place immediately to guarantee a similar incident doesn't happen again.

Health Minister Simon Harris expressed his sympathies to Mr Burn's family last night.

"I was numb when I heard about this terrible tragedy," he said.

"I visited the hospital to extend my sympathies to the family on the death of their loved one."
The mother of British teenager Scarlett Keeling has vowed to continue fighting for justice after two men were cleared of raping and killing her daughter in Goa in 2008.

Fiona MacKeown, who travelled to India for the long-awaited trial verdict, said she was disappointed with the outcome and hoped to take the case to a higher court.

Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho were alleged to have plied the 15-year-old with drugs, raped her and left her unconscious on the beach where she subsequently drowned.

But they were acquitted of charges of rape and culpable homicide at Goa Children's Court on Friday.

Mr D'Souza told reporters: "I am happy with the verdict. Justice has prevailed."

Mr Carvalho said: "There was nothing in the case. We were being framed."

Scarlett's bruised and half-naked body was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of Goa in February 2008.

She had been at a Valentine's Day beach party while the rest of her family had gone travelling.

Her death was originally treated as an accident but eventually police charged local men Mr D'Souza and Mr Carvalho.

The court had heard that Scarlett, from Bideford in north Devon, suffered 50 separate injuries.

After the initial police conclusion that she had died accidentally, a second post-mortem report was carried out at the Goa Medical College and Hospital and a new investigation was launched.

The prosecution alleged that Mr Carvalho and Mr D'Souza, who was working at a beachside shack near where her body was found, had plied Scarlett with drugs, then attacked her.

But defence lawyer Marvin D'Souza said the investigation had been influenced by diplomatic pressure and trial by media.

He said: "There was no evidence against my client from the beginning. The CBI (the Central Bureau of Investigation, India's elite national police agency) were just going ahead without any evidence. If the CBI decide to take the matter up to the High Court, we will see what legal options we have."

But Ms MacKeown's lawyer, Vikram Verma, said the criminal justice system had "failed".

He said: "It is for the CBI to decide. Facts are that the medical evidence talks of 52 injuries, coke, eyewitness and forensic supports this. But according to the verdict, no-one killed her, hurt her or gave her cocaine.

"The job of the investigation agency is to find out who has done it and to present evidence to support their case. The present criminal justice system has failed."

Speaking at a press conference in Goa after the verdict, Ms MacKeown said the police were "corrupt".

"The medical evidence confirms that my daughter Scarlett was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after some criminals gave her alcohol and cocaine.

"Right from the beginning I knew that the local police did not want to prosecute the killers. It took a huge effort from me even to get the police to register a complaint.

"I had some hope that the CBI ... It is clear that they are either incompetent or corrupt and I don't believe that they are incompetent.

"I can only say that if international tourists come to Goa and are murdered, they have no hope that justice (will be done) in this system.

"I don't believe there has ever been justice for a murdered tourist in this country."

She added: "The criminal justice system protects the criminals and not the tourists."

Ms MacKeown also called on Vandana Tendulkar, president of the Children's Court, to make public her reasons for acquitting the men.

"I want to see her judgment and I want to scrutinise it and then I'm going to show it to the whole world, so it better be good."

Ms MacKeown said that she was not confident of a prosecution for culpable homicide because of a key witness "pulling out at the last minute".

Michael Mannion, a carpenter from London who was travelling in Goa, had told police he saw Mr D'Souza on top of Scarlett hours before she was found dead on the beach.

Ms MacKeown said she held him "partially responsible for this lack of a guilty verdict" for not returning to give evidence to the trial.

Ms MacKeown also told reporters at the press conference that she was not hopeful that an appeal would lead to a conviction.

"I don't have much hope of a positive verdict to an appeal."

She continued: "I'll just sort of gather myself and speak to Vikram, see what he thinks is possible to do next.

"I'm not going to just go away and give up. I just feel very deflated at the moment by this whole thing and until I see a judgment I won't know what to think."
The days of the big screen at Belfast City Hall seem to be numbered, with a committee now set to discuss the attraction's future.

It was meant to remain in place until 2019, but it needs an update costing 120,000, and there is no other suitable location for it in the city. What was meant to bring the city's people together to watch sporting events and more has, therefore, proved to be an expensive disappointment.

No doubt the intention to locate the big screen outside the City Hall was well-meant.

However, it is imperative that more thought be given to such schemes in future, before even more taxpayers' money is so flagrantly wasted.
The Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams is rarely out of the headlines, and the pressure continues to mount on him after the latest BBC Northern Ireland Spotlight programme.

It broadcast the claims of an undercover source that Adams had sanctioned the murder of the former leading Sinn Fein member and self-confessed MI5 agent Denis Donaldson.

Donaldson was murdered in Donegal following his confession, and his killers have not been identified despite an ongoing investigation by the Gardai.

The Spotlight's anonymous source, nicknamed Martin, offered no concrete evidence but rather supposition.

It is clear that whatever are the rights or wrongs of the allegations made on the Spotlight programme, the pressure continues to mount on Gerry Adams.

The drip, drip effect of such historical allegations against Adams, including the claim that he ordered the murder of Jean McConville, can only serve to destabilize the current power-sharing pact at Stormont.

Already his political opponents are enjoying another field day of criticism of the Sinn Fein leader.

In addition to this, Adams' scarcely-credible denials of membership of the Provisional IRA continue to threaten to make him a figure of ridicule, even within his own community.

One theory for Adams' continued denials is that any acceptance by him that he had indeed been an IRA member would open him up to considerable civil liability, if not criminal prosecution, for acts carried out by the Provisionals during the period of his membership.

Nevertheless Gerry Adams must now come clean about his full involvement in republican activism, as Martin McGuinness has done, to a limited extent.

Adams must explain, for example, why the British Government thought it was important to fly him to London for secret talks in 1972.

The fact that Adams has recently alluded to a timescale for stepping down as party leader is no excuse for waiving the very justified claims for transparency and clarity on these vitally important issues.

Whatever Adams' embarrassment about the latest serious claims about the murder of Denis Donaldson, the time has finally come for the truth.

The political process, which ultimately depends on trust, deserves nothing less than this.
I was brought up and educated in north Belfast, then attended QUB and, from 1972 until 1975, I worked in Ardoyne and west Belfast.

Those dark days brought Northern Ireland to the brink of civil war, especially during the madness of the Loyalist workers' strike.

During these years, I switched on the radio (no breakfast TV then) and listened to the list of innocents that were killed the night before - shopkeepers on the Falls, taxi drivers on the Shankill, farmers in Tyrone, or policemen by under-car booby-trap bombs.

There was daily rioting in loyalist and republican areas of Belfast and Derry. During these riots, some people partaking, or just watching, were killed.

In this light, I ask the following question: when did the Ballymurphy Massacre occur? Where was it? In the 70s, 80s, 90s, or 00s?

It is only in this past few years that this name has come to light. There were many bloody massacres during the Troubles - Bloody Sunday, Bloody Friday, Greysteel, Droppin Well, Sean Graham bookies, Omagh, Loughinisland, Kingsmills. I could go on.

It seems to me that the deaths over periods of weeks and possible months have been brought together to infer a massacre. By doing this, it takes away the sense of shock and disgust that should be attributed to the aforementioned true massacres.

In truth, the deaths of these poor people have been cynically hijacked and manipulated by Sinn Fein in their drive to rewrite history.

Many innocent people were killed in riot situations. I would encourage their loved ones to ask questions of the Army and RUC, but also ask Sinn Fein to find out why the IRA used them as human shields.

QED

Portrush, Co Antrim
One of the strangest conversations that I had with Denis Donaldson was in his car on the Andersonstown Road. We were working on a Sinn Fein project together and he was collecting me from my parents' house.

He was hungry and he asked me for a loan of some money, which he used to buy some food from an Indian takeaway. He proceeded to light up a cigarette - he had a particular way of smoking, holding the butt between his thumb and his finger, smiling and sucking the smoke in through his teeth, so that it made a noise when he inhaled. He joked a bit, talked about a family occasion coming up ... and then he tried to recruit me into the IRA.

I declined and he asked me to go back to him if I changed my mind. I didn't. He wasn't the only person who asked me to join the IRA and so, when I was giving evidence to police in my own abuse case a number of years ago, I named all the individuals who did to the police, including the name of a current Sinn Fein politician.

Knowing that I would be subject to a background check, lest my credibility be tested in court, I was fully aware that they would check with Special Branch to corroborate the details.

Because Denis Donaldson was a British agent, the likelihood was that his handlers had a note of my declining the IRA approaches and this was one detail which could be corroborated - along with information that recordings of some of the "meetings" that were held when the IRA were "investigating" my abuse existed.

I wanted the intelligence services to turn over any scrap of detail they had which would prove my evidence to be true, knowing that I would eventually come up against a huge smear campaign against me, launched from deep within the highest levels of Sinn Fein and the IRA and carried on by malleable minions.

I liked Denis, he was good fun to be around, smiling on most occasions with a mischievous glint in his eye. He was a family man and clearly loved them. However, it was his involvement with the large, dysfunctional family of republicanism which eventually saw him murdered.

Why he became an agent for the British remains a mystery, though I've heard the rumours. Like most people, I was shocked to the core when Donaldson was eventually outed; that someone so involved in republicanism, deeply embedded at the heart of both the IRA and the Sinn Fein machine, could have hidden that fact for such a long time sent ripples among republicanism, with more hardline supporters openly saying that he "should be stiffed" for what they saw as betrayal of the worst kind.

That anger was palpable again in the aftermath of BBC NI's Spotlight programme on the intelligence war between the IRA and the state.

If ever you want to test the temperature of the republican movement, have a look at how Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams conduct themselves.

McGuinness lost it on Twitter, stating, among other things, the claims were "as credible as Walter Mitty", while Adams went into the oft-tested deny, attack, paint yourself as a victim of British spooks, then if-all else-fails-threaten-to-sue mode to the media corps.

Spotlight, of course, actually never said the IRA murdered Donaldson, nor did they say that Gerry Adams sanctioned the murder. Rather, they said that security sources had told them that intelligence gathered from covert surveillance and agents contradicted the IRA denial of the murder, that south Armagh IRA leader Thomas "Slab" Murphy "insisted that Donalsdon be killed in order to maintain army discipline and that the IRA in south Armagh commissioned the operation that led to Donaldson's death".

The IRA could not have risked such a high-profile murder in the middle of the peace process, but it is entirely credible that they sent another organisation, or individuals, to do their dirty work for them.

Rather than exploring that angle, the media focused on the assertion from "Martin" that he knew from his "experience in the IRA that murders have to be approved by the leadership ... the political leadership of the IRA ... Gerry Adams, he gives the final say".

Adams, of course, categorically denies this and, of course, he would. But the problem for Adams is that he's been caught being economical with the truth so many times that few people believe him.

A bigger problem, though, is that the Irish public have become so immune to allegations of wrongdoing against him that they are not surprised any longer when heinous acts are linked with him. Though, it was particularly chilling to see video footage of Adams responding to the 1987 murder of Charlie McIlmurray saying: "Mr McIlmurray, like anyone else living in west Belfast, knows that the consequence for informing is death."

So, what was Sinn Fein thinking of when they kneejerked an angry response, feeding the story and ensuring that most media outlets ran with it as a main piece of news?

To focus on just one part of the Donaldson affair ignores what happened before his death, including his debriefing by the IRA and it's possible that Sinn Fein were trying to clamp down on the story to stop others digging.

Likely, also, is their anger at the assertion from security sources in Spotlight that the IRA army council and organisation was heavily compromised by agents of influence, that the British directed key decisions at crucial points, exploding open their narrative that they fought a war, rather than being effectively controlled.

A terse statement from Sinn Fein was immediately issued in the aftermath of the programme. Gerry Kelly was wheeled out to talk to RTE the next day, Mary Lou McDonald to the Irish Times podcast, where she referred to the programme as "a ball of smoke", Raymond McCartney lost the run of himself online, declaring the programme "The Great Fake Off", and Sinn Fein generally went into meltdown on social media.

But it was a tweet from Sinn Fein's Declan Kearney that caught my eye, referring to the BBC Spotlight programme as an "investigation" (his word) and using the hashtag #politicalagenda.

It was eye-catching, given Declan Kearney's own role in the Donaldson affair, which he made no mention of on Twitter. It was Kearney who Donaldson contacted when he was warned that he would be outed as an informer and, according to a 2006 article written by Brian Rowan, Kearney spoke to Adams, who "instructed him to arrange a meeting with Donaldson and to ask him directly was he working for the Brits?" It was at this meeting between Kearney, Donaldson and Leo Green that Donaldson informed them of his double life. He was then expelled from Sinn Fein.

The Rowan report is interesting, because it corroborates Spotlight's details on the Castlereagh documents and Stormontgate - and is the first mention of another agent at the heart of the affair.

Spotlight is renowned for being forensic in their approach to both verifying information and in public service broadcasting. Jennifer O'Leary's programme was painstakingly researched for months and now another agent has come forward.

Paramilitaries have form for lying and Spotlight has form for exposing them. In the fullness of time, the dirty linen of the republican movement will all come out in the wash.
Madhu Kumari is seen inside her makeshift hut in New Delhi, Sept. 18, 2016.

Teenager Madhu Kumari says she struggled for two years to get into a school in New Delhi and suspects this was because she came from Pakistan, Indias arch rival.

All the schools I tried told me I needed to have an Indian identification card, a school-leaving certificate from my previous institute. I didnt have any of those. But I knew these were just excuses. Their problem was that I am a Pakistani national, Madhu, 16, told BenarNews about her experience of being turned away by one-half dozen public schools since she landed in India.

Acting on a suggestion from a human rights activist, Madhu early this month sent a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a last-ditch effort to resume her education.

Within days leaders of Delhis ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  who otherwise are at loggerheads  came together in a rare gesture to get the undocumented teenager enrolled in a government school near her makeshift home in southwest Delhi.

Madhu is one of about 120,000 Pakistani Hindus living in India after having escaped what they call religious persecution in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where just over 2 percent of its 180 million citizens are Hindu.

Although Indias Hindu nationalist-led government last year announced that Hindu refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh who had entered India legally before Dec. 31, 2014, could stay on in the country even after their visas had lapsed, most are unable to get jobs or admission to educational institutes because they lack valid documents.

Madhu, who secured admission in the 9th grade of the Government Co-Educational Senior Secondary School in Sanjay Colony on Sept. 14, said she was indebted to the Indian government for letting her pursue her education so she could become a police officer one day.

I could not have even thought of doing that in Pakistan. Hindus are treated like untouchables there. We are constantly harassed, forced to study Islamic literature. We arent even allowed to drink water from the same glasses that the Muslims use, said Madhu, who hails from Pakistans Sindh province.

Language was also a problem

In July 2014, while she was studying in an Urdu-language school in the Pakistani province of Sindh, Madhu made a tough decision to leave behind her widowed mother and four siblings and cross the border with her elder brother, Lakhmer, and maternal uncle, Jawahar, in hopes of a better future.

The trio found shelter in a makeshift settlement  made up of tin roofs and tarpaulin sheets  in Sanjay Colony, where nearly 100 other Pakistani Hindu families live.

In a few days, her brother began work as a daily wage laborer and her uncle started getting brick laying jobs. Madhu thought the hard part was over.

But it was only the beginning of a heartbreaking struggle that lasted two years, Madhu said.

Language was also a problem. Since I studied in a strictly Urdu-medium school in Pakistan, I did not know Hindi or English. That was another reason some schools refused to admit me, she said.

Letter causes chain reaction

Despite the meager income that Lakhmer and Jawahar made from their jobs, they paid a local language tutor to help Madhu improve her Hindi and English diction.

After nearly two years of tuition she became fluent in Hindi and could get by in English. Even then, no school would grant her admission, Jawahar, who only goes by his first name, told BenarNews.

But I could see that Madhu was very keen to go back to school, so I started asking around for help. Someone suggested we write to the Indian government about it. With the help of Ashok Agarwal we sent a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, pleading him to intervene, Jawahar said. Agarawal is an advocate and human rights activist.

The letter, which was also posted on Twitter, set off a chain reaction.

Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj invited Madhu to her office for a chat, following which, Swaraj spoke to Kejriwal for help.

The next day, Delhis Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is also Delhis education minister, wrote to the government school in Sanjay Colony: She wants to study and on humanitarian grounds it is my considered opinion that we need to walk the extra mile to accommodate her desire [to pursue studies] in our school.

He said the school should consider relaxing rules that come in the way of Madhus dream while adding that the required books and uniform will be provided by the Delhi government.

But Madhus brother, Lakhmer, told BenarNews that Kumari had yet to receive the books promised by the government.

Up until now, shes been sharing her classmates books. But I am sure [the government] will stand true to its word, he said.

Madhu said she would manage even if that promise of books was broken.

I am just grateful I am being allowed to study. My classmates are nice to me. They share their books and their food with me. I cant really ask for more, she said.
An Australian investigator inspects the site of one of the bombings in Bali, Indonesia, Oct. 17, 2002.

Malaysia and the United States are discussing the de-radicalization process required to release at least one of two Malaysians linked to al-Qaeda and who are incarcerated at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi met this week in New York with U.S. Ambassador Lee Wolowsky, the special envoy for the closure of Guantanamo, according to state-run news agency Bernama. Zahid said he was informed about the possibility of the release of detainee Mohamad Bashir Lap to his home country, but that Bashir would have to undergo a de-radicalization process in a Malaysian prison.

Last week, a U.S. Periodic Review Board (PRB) declared that the continued law of war detention of Bashir and fellow detainee Mohamad Farik Amin was necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States.

[B]oth detainees will receive a file review in six months, just like all detainees who are not approved for transfer through the PRB, a U.S. State Department official told BenarNews in an email on Friday.

The two Malaysians are among 61 people from around the world being held at Guantanamo, which the U.S. government is looking to shut down.

In its assessment of Bashir, dated Sept. 15, the board noted that it looked forward to reviewing his file in six months, and it encouraged the Malaysian government to undertake efforts to prepare for his possible transfer out of Guantanamo. In Fariks case, the board did not mention a potential review in six months, and noted a lack of credible evidence that he could be de-radicalized.

According to Zahid, a committee of representatives from Malaysias Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, National Security Council, Attorney Generals Chambers, Royal Malaysia Police, Prisons Department and Immigration Department, would be set up immediately to establish a protocol regarding the de-radicalization process, Bernama reported. He invited Wolowsky to visit Malaysia to explain the requirements for transferring detainees.

I am confident the Malaysian de-radicalization program can rehabilitate the Malaysian detainee, said Zahid, who is also Malaysias home minister. He was in New York to lead the Malaysian delegation to the U.N. General Assembly.

On Friday, Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said he hoped the United States would decide to transfer Farik as well. If the U.S. will let us, he told BenarNews.

He is our countryman, he is a citizen of this country. We must take care of him and try to rehabilitate him, Khalid said, referring to Bashir.

Detainees linked to Bali, Jakarta attacks

Bashir, 39, and Farik, 41, have been in U.S. custody since September 2006.

In a document released in March 2016, the U.S. government described Bashir as a key lieutenant for senior al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Hambali of Indonesia, who also is in custody at Guantanamo Bay.

Following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington, Bashir was to be a member of a suicide cell for an al-Qaeda second wave targeting the tallest building in California, the U.S. government alleges. He also allegedly facilitated funding from al-Qaeda that was used for the Bali attacks in 2002 and the bombing of J.W. Marriot hotel in Jakarta in August 2003, which killed a total of 214 people.

Most of [Bashir]s comments on life after detention have centered on continuing to engage in violent extremism. [Bashir] views America as an enemy of Islam, and he has spoken of his intent to fight and kill Americans, specifically U.S. soldiers. [Bashir] has not shown any regrets, and should he be released, most likely would engage in wars where he perceives Muslims are being oppressed, according to the document posted at the U.S. Department of Defenses Periodic Review Secretariat website.

A similar document filed against Farik claims that Hambali hand-picked him for the California second wave and that Farik also facilitated funding for the Bali and Jakarta attacks.

[Farik] developed a close relationship with Hambali, serving as a key lieutenant and interlocutor, while providing operational support to terrorist activities  including casing potential targets, researching and practicing bomb making, obtaining weapons and acquiring false documents, the U.S. alleges.

The document states he is willing to be killed on the battlefield, if given the opportunity and shows no specific plan regarding how he would reintegrate in Malaysia, if released.

Hambali, who appeared before the review board in August, has been called an operational mastermind who served as a main liaison between JI and al-Qaeda from 2000 until his capture in 2003.

De-radicalization

Malaysian police visited the detainees twice  first in 2007 and again in 2015, a counter-terrorism official told BenarNews.

It was under the Malaysias government request to the U.S. that Malaysian authorities be allowed to conduct assessment on the two detainees, the expert said. That assessment will be used in the de-radicalization process, according to officials.

Asked about that assessment, Khalid said Malaysia had no plans to share it with the U.S. at this time.

We will wait for further developments on the proposal made by the deputy prime minister, he told BenarNews.

During a international counter-terrorism conference in Bali last month, Zahid proposed establishing an Interpol-led secretariat for de-radicalizing militants from South and Southeast Asia. The proposal called for setting up a secretariat spearheaded by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) whose mission would be to de-radicalize militants at an international level.

Since 2013, Malaysian authorities have arrested at least 230 suspected members of Islamic State 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.
Thai security officials examine the wreckage of a police pickup truck that was targeted in a roadside bombing in Krong Pinang district, Yala province, Sept. 23, 2016.

Three policemen were killed and two others wounded when they were ambushed in a roadside bombing and shooting by suspected rebels in the Thai Deep South on Friday, officials said.

The attack in Yala provinces Krong Pinang district brought to 12 the number of people killed in bombings in Thailands insurgency-stricken far southern border region in recent weeks. Another four people were killed in 11 bombings that struck Thai tourist areas outside the confines of the Deep South last month.

The recent attacks and the one on Friday took place against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by the Thai junta to open formal peace talks with rebels.

Fridays bombing and shooting targeted seven police officers while they were traveling in two pickup trucks between the villages of Ban Benja and Ban Lubohkalo, authorities said.

Officials believe that a group of about seven insurgents was hiding out in a rubber plantation near the road when the bomb went off and struck the second police vehicle. The rebels then came out and opened fire to prevent officers from aiding their colleagues in the exploded truck. The insurgents stole three rifles and three handguns from police before fleeing the scene, officials said.

The dead police officers were identified as Cpl. Nathapong Chartdam, Lance Cpl. Suriya Nunim, and Lance Cpl. Attahapol Luathep.

The explosion from the 80-kilo (176-pound bomb) cut the truck in two and left a crater that measured 13 feet wide. The device was hidden in a sewer and triggered with a battery. Remnants of a gas cylinder were found at the scene, according to officials.

Yala police Commander Itthiphol Achariyapradit said officers were hunting for insurgents.

We believe the attackers were led by Hubaideelah Rommuelee, the insurgent commander with his active group in the area, he told reporters.

A wider conflict

Thai police have linked last months bombings in the upper south to people in the Deep South but have denied that those attacks signal an expansion of the separatist conflict, which has killed more than 6,000 people in the predominantly Muslim and Malay-speaking border region since 2004.

However, a report issued this week by an NGO that studies conflicts worldwide and recommends solutions for them contradicted this assertion by Thailands military government.

[T]he scale of the August attacks, geographic reach and choice of targets mark a clear shift, and apparent decision to expand the conflict, the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) said in its report, referring to the Aug. 11 and 12 attacks in tourist hotspots.

The August bomb attacks in the upper south raise the specter of a wider conflict, with more attacks in tourist areas. That should prompt the NCPO to reconsider its approach of containing the insurgency and seeking militant capitulation rather than a comprehensive political solution, ICG added, referring to the junta by its official name, the National Council for Peace and Order.

The report also cast doubt on the juntas efforts to open formal talks aimed at ending the conflict in the Deep South.

Earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur, government officials and southern rebel groups led by MARA Patani agreed to discuss a limited ceasefire at future meetings.

The peace dialogue between Thailands military government and some Malay-Muslim separatist leaders in exile has foundered. Coordinated bombings in August on tourist areas outside the customary conflict zone in the deep south bear the hallmarks of the separatists and indicate that the governments approach of containing the insurgency is not working, according to International Crisis Group.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which seized power in the 2014 coup, professes to support dialogue to end the insurgency but avoids commitment, and the prime minister has questioned the talks. The main insurgent group has rejected the process, and the number of fighters the umbrella entity set up to negotiate in 2015 controls is unknown, the report added.
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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
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
The 61-hectare innovation precinct in Adelaide's southern suburbs is home to a range of startup programs, a number of large tech companies and two tertiary education institutions.

Australias Silicon Valley could end up in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, according to proponents of an innovation precinct that mixes cutting-edge research with corporate know-how and startup flair.

The Tonsley innovation district is located on the site of the former Mitsubishi Motors auto assembly plant in Adelaides southern suburbs, around 20 minutes south of the CBD by road or train.

After auto production ended at the plant in 2008, the 61-hectare site was handed over to the South Australian state government.

It was repurposed as a technology park for research, training, startups and established businesses with a focus on a range of sectors including advanced manufacturing, sustainable industries, medical devices, energy, and software.

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Today, the site is nestled between Flinders University  a research-intensive university with 26,000 and strengths in medical devices, cybersecurity and nanomaterials  and TAFE SAs Tonsley Campus, which trains students for jobs in the industries of the future.

Its centrepiece is the MAB  previously Mitsubishis main assembly building  which at 8 hectares is the largest undercover building in the Southern Hemisphere.

The precinct has already attracted the attention of numerous major companies, with Siemens, Microsoft, Cisco, Simulation Australasia, ZEN Energy Systems and Signostics, among many other big name companies, establishing a presence in the precinct.

Alongside these are a number of tech startup-focused organisations based out of Tonsley, including the Innovyz accelerator program, the CoHAB coworking centre, the eNVIsion incubator program, the Hills Innovation Centre and Flinders Universitys innovation centre New Venture Institute (NVI).

The vision for Tonsley is it will be a truly integrated precinct that has everything from tertiary education, very high-end research, through to commercial operations and a significant residential precinct that will accommodate in excess of 800 dwellings and 1200 residents, Tonsley project director Richard McLachlan said.

We anticipate there will be some additional high-quality amenity at the site in addition to the high-quality space we have already delivered, including a small neighbourhood-style retail precinct with some seven-day-a-week activation.

'This is a national play'

The project is not without its critics. Majoran/SouthStart director Steve Barrett recently argued Tonsleys facilities are under-utilised due to location and scale  location being distance from the CBD and scale being a bit too much for what the population actually needs here.

The notion that the precinct is too far away is disputed by NVI director Matthew Salier, who said the comments are disappointing because were a small city  and we all need to pull in the same direction to see the change and the transformation we want.

I think some of the opportunity that Adelaide has is that we are so close and connected, and we have these opportunities to leverage all the great things that can happen in a CBD, but also draw on amazing assets that are only a few minutes away, Salier said.

The advantage here is you go into a coffee shop and you bump into the Siemens R&D people who are talking about advanced energy management sitting next to a professor who is one of the top 10 people in the world for robotics automation. And you can sit down and talk to them.

Likewise, Innovyz chairman Philip Vafiadis disputes the claim about the facility being under-utilised.

Tonsley is a remarkable precinct, and the governments foresight in creating it was truly remarkable. I dont think the Australian population understands yet whats happening here, Vafiadis said.

Its the largest building undercover in the Southern Hemisphere. The number of companies coming together is just ridiculous.

And its just started  its just over a year old now. The government has been working on it for over a year, getting the governance sorted and the rigmarole of transforming the site. But in terms of operations, it just started over a year ago.

The best is still coming. This is a profound thing for the whole country. This isnt a South Australia play, this is a national play.

So why are people like Salier and Vafiadis so bullish about Tonsley, and what can it offer your business? Heres a look at some of the things the precinct offers innovative technology-focused startups:

New Venture Institute

The NVI was established around three-and-a-half years ago to help Flinders University focus the entrepreneurial and innovation potential of its research, student and staff.

Along with mentoring support and cohabitation space, including through its eNVIsion incubator program, NVI also offers a range of events designed to bring together entrepreneurial startups and cutting-edge researchers.

Salier said the program was launched as a way to showcase how universities can contribute to entrepreneurial startup ecosystems in better and more effective ways, and that's certainly what we aspire to.

We have 62 other smaller businesses  sole traders and startups  that are residents of our eNVIsion incubation program... They include everything from a startup focused on carbon-fibre wheel technology to photonics, medical devices  all manner of things.

According to Salier, around 40 percent of the startups and entrepreneurs participating in NVIs programs come from the Flinders University staff and student base, and the remaining 60 percent are from the broader community.

That other 60 percent there is part of our broader mission to connecting the university with the broader community. We do that through programs we run, we do that through events we hold, and we do that through spaces that we make available to people to utilise, he said.

An example of the type of event NVI hosts is Icebreaker, which is an attempt to break the Guinness world record for the worlds largest business speed networking event.

Icebreaker is a business speed-dating networking event, and its an attempt to break a Guinness World Record for business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, government [officials] and anyone else to meet. They can have a three to four minute conversation with at least 20 different people.

We expect between 1200 and 1500 [people will attend], and weve got half of that number now, which is terrific three to four weeks out. Its part of Flinders Universitys 50th anniversary celebrations.

Innovyz

The Tonsley precinct is also home to Innovyz, one of South Australias first accelerator programs.

Innovyz started a bit over four years ago as a pretty standard tech accelerator. We had done an arrangement with TechStars in America  we licenced it, in fact  and we were one of the first [accelerators] to do what were doing in our region, Vafiadis said.

We put a mentor program together with ANZ as our first major supporter. We delivered five accelerator programs under that model.

We built over 30 companies, some of them have done some amazing things, including Blue Dot, Makers Empire, Be Intent, which has done some amazing deals with major corporates.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, Innovyz has shifted from a traditional accelerator model to being a commercialisation program targeting ideas that have very, very great impact, Vafiadis said.

A typical accelerator model says: Bring us your ideas and well help you to be a better entrepreneur and one day youll be successful. The hope is that as they become better entrepreneurs, the ideas theyre working on will then benefit the rest of the world, he said.

The fundamental shift we took was we made the decision to do things that matter. While there are many ideas that can help people make money, there are other ideas that really matter to the future of things.

A major focus of Innovyzs new commercialisation model is around building governance boards and recruiting staff, meaning companies that graduate from the program are ready for investment.

Our process can accommodate ideas without teams right through to corporate spinouts. We work with universities, research centres, existing businesses and researchers that have an idea but dont want to come on day one and want to keep their day jobs, Vafiadis said.

Theres a great degree of governance around the corporate entities and we build them to be robust, and everyone has to sign up to the same [commercialisation path and] governance framework, whether theyre the investor, researcher or company joining in.

Vafiadis cites a number of success stories that have emerged from the new commercialisation model  including a company called K-Tig, which commercialised a CSIRO-developed process for welding thick metals about 100 times faster and 94 percent cheaper than conventional methods.

Another is Titomic, which commercialised an additive manufacturing method for mass production that makes metals stronger, and therefore allowing manufacturers to use less materials and lighter products.

Vafiadis said Titomics method, which produces titanium thats 34 percent stronger than aerospace grade, is a good example of a product that has a great impact.

If youre a board member of an aerospace company, if you could make your products 34 percent lighter and your CEO didnt use this technology, youd fire them.

Vafiadis said he expects to put a call out for Innovyzs next cohort  focused on creating businesses that apply technology to solve waste management challenges  in the coming weeks.

We accept up to 10 ideas at a time, and they become incorporated bodies before they enter into the program... Theres a 16-week process between when we open applications and the time the program starts, and then its a nine month program after that.

CoHAB

Innovyz has also worked with the South Australian state government to establish and manage a not-for-profit startup coworking space at Tonsley, known as CoHAB.

We did it for two reasons. First, it was a way of giving back, and secondly, we thought we could do better than a regular coworking space. We broke even in the first six months, which Im told is unprecedented with co-working spaces, Vafiadis said.

Im also proud because I believe its possibly the largest coworking space in South Australia now, and were just over a year old, so its remarkable that weve gone from nothing to being a substantial market leader.

Vafiadis emphasises that, unlike other coworking spaces, participants at CoHAB are carefully curated.

This isnt a model where we just build a space and shove a lot of people in, shake and hope something good comes. This isnt the standard model  theres a lot of curation that happens silently in the background that CoHAB does particularly well.

Were at nearly 100 percent capacity, meaning all the offices and rooms are at capacity now, and the hot desk casual area  which is the smaller area  is at 70 percent.

The gender ratio is 40 percent women and 60 percent men  It would be great to get to 50/50, but we think that mix is unusual in tech-based areas. There are now 50 companies and 80-plus members touching on numerous industries.
Kenya's government has pledged to support the newly established public-private partnership to support UN Women's 'Making Every Woman and Girl Count' campaign.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, Janet Museveni and Sicily Kariuki of Kenya.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Kenyas cabinet secretary for public service, youth and gender affairs, Sicily Kariuki, said that Kenyas government was firmly committed to the program. Kenyas Vision 2030 which is the countrys long term economic development blueprint is aligned with principles of the Sustainable Development Goals. Particularly, the vision flagship project on gender, youth and vulnerable groups, mirrors the gender objectives in the SDGs.

Kenya fully recognises that quality disaggregated data is vital in shaping policy that ensure that every woman and every child count in our quest for lasting sustainable development for all.

Speaking at the same event, Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said that decisions and progress on gender matters would have to be data driven.

Collecting data is an immediate priority, because if we are going to act, we actually have to have good baseline data on where we are, she said. A lot of reasons we dont have good data particularly around the gender goals is because we havent collected it.

The Make Every Woman and Girl Count programme seeks to address the urgent need to increase availability of accurate information on gender equality and womens rights in order to inform policy and decision making. Currently, there is a huge data gapfrom the complete lack of statistics on how many women and girls live in poverty; to inaccurate measures of womens engagement in economic activities, based on sexist assumptions.

Kenya has been selected as one of the 12 pathfinder countries where this initiative will be implemented and Kariuki assured the gathering that Kenya was fully committed in moving this initiative forward.

Where available, data has continuously informed some interventions in Kenya, and helped to track the transformation in areas such as: free and compulsory primary school in education that has boosted enrolment of girls and boys since 2003 to enable Kenya to achieve near gender parity; affirmative action rooted in the constitution has seen the rise of women in decision making both in the public and political spheres; free maternity health services in public health facilities that has drastically increased the number of deliveries within hospitals and reduction in maternal deaths; as well as transformative socio-economic programmes through access to catalytic funds and cash transfers.

I wish to appreciate and commend the Secretary General of the UN, for his exemplary leadership in translating Every Women and Every Child into a global movement that has elicited action by international entities, private sector as well as Governments to address challenges facing women and girls, a constituency that is a core priority of the 2030 sustainable agenda, Kariuki added.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and Janet Museveni, Senegal President Macky Sall, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Melinda Gates also attended the launch.
South African comparison website PriceCheck hosted its inaugural Tech & E-Commerce Awards on Thursday, 23 September 2016 at The Westin Cape Town. Along with celebrating the company's 10th birthday, the Awards aimed to recognise and reward stellar tech and e-commerce businesses in South Africa - those that have stood the test of time and newcomers to the industry.

In addition to various category awards, was a Peoples Choice Award  based solely on public opinion  and an Overall Winner as chosen by the judges. The judging panel comprised a number of industry veterans, spanning the realms of tech, business, digital, marketing and commerce.

They were: Alastair Tempest, director at Ecommerce Forum Africa; Lianne du Toit, vice chairperson of Silicon Cape; Matthew Buckland, CEO at Creative Spark; Geoff Cohen, co-founder of Delv Media; Lynette Hundermark, co-founder of Useful & Beautiful, Toby Shapshak, editor-in-chief and publisher of Stuff magazine, and Dirk Henke, managing director emerging markets at Criteo.

The country's largest online retailer, Takealot.com, scooped the coveted Overall Winner award for the night, along with Best Customer Service and the People's Choice Award. Zando also left smiling with two awards in tow, namely Best Mobile Shopping Experience and Best Overall Shopping Experience, while on-demand home cleaning startup SweepSouth and its co-founder Aisha Pandor took home the Best Black Tech/E-Commerce Entrepreneur and Best Female Tech/E-Commerce Entrepreneur category awards.

Overall Winner, Takealot

Full winners list
PARIS - US online retailing giant Amazon rolled out across Europe on Thursday its section where it features hand-crafted products sold directly by artisans.

More than a thousand European artisans have joined Handmade, where they can present their wares on the e commerce website as well as explain their craft and the unique properties of each object.

Amazon emerged as a force in online retailing by allowing consumers to compare and shop for goods across a number of suppliers who compete fiercely on price.

But with Handmade, first launched last year in the United States, Amazon entered the more genteel segment of consumers looking for quality, hand-crafted, and unique items instead of mass-produced goods rolling off factory assembly lines.

Handmade was also a direct challenge to New York City-based Etsy, an e-commerce website devoted to personally crafted and vintage items.

It features a number of different sections such as jewelry, handbags and artwork, but also allows users to search for artisans in different areas.

"Selected artisans must meet specific conditions in terms of production of their objects and the size of their firm" in order ensure objects are in fact mostly hand-crafted, Patrick Labarre, who heads up Handmade in France, told AFP.

Handmade is now available in some 40 countries.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana has welcomed the judgment in the case brought by the South Africa Poultry Association (SAPA) against poultry meat regulations.

North Gauteng High Court Judge HJ Fabricus dismissed the application made by SAPA with costs. SAPA brought the case to the North Gauteng High Court, where it contested that the amended poultry meat regulations, published on 22 April 2016, were unlawful and irrational.

The contested amendments relate to the cap of total brine injection of 10% and 15% for a whole carcass and individual quick portions, respectively.

In terms of the amended notice of motion, SAPA sought an order reviewing and setting aside the amended poultry meat regulations. Furthermore, an order was sought suspending the implementation of the regulations until eight weeks after the grant of an order in the review application.

Minister Zokwana said the judgment confirms that the interests of consumers and the need to advance fair trade practices is paramount.

Indeed, this judgment advances fair competition between producers and traders of poultry meat products, said Minister Zokwana.
Vehicle tracking solutions company Ctrack will be tracking all the teams in the 2016 Sasol Solar Challenge. Ctrack will measure key telematics data and provide full visibility of the 14 participating teams, including the reigning champions, the Nuon Solar team from Delft University in the Netherlands.

In its fifth year, the Sasol Solar Challenge is aimed at demonstrating the power of alternative energy. Emphasising engineering and innovation, the competition gives local and international students in the disciplines of science, engineering, and technology an opportunity to showcase their ingenuity by designing world-class solar-powered vehicles.

The Sasol Solar Challenge brings together the pinnacle of electric vehicle and solar technology research. It is ranked as one of the top global events of its kind, and it is great that South Africa is hosting such an event. Through supporting this challenge, we want to show our dedication towards building a sustainable, eco-efficient future, said Hein Jordt, MD of Ctrack Fleet Management Solutions.

Tracking and monitoring the race

The eight-day event starts this Saturday, 24 September, at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, and finishes in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront. Teams will manage their custom-designed solar-powered vehicles as they race across the South African terrain, covering a distance of 2,000 km of varying road conditions.

Sasol Solar Challenge selected Ctrack for their advanced fleet management software, which will enable them to monitor all teams and support vehicles in real time. Accurate measurement of daily distances, trip information and time travelled, will be significant in the adjudication of the overall winner.

The Ctrack solution also equips the support teams with integrated driver terminal devices (Ctrack On-The-Road). This will enable them to make race navigation decisions in real time, as well as plan their routes effectively to maximise speeds whilst conserving energy. A Ctrack support team will be accompanying the race to provide support in analysing race data.

While parts of the race will take place in remote rural regions, spectators can still follow the action on a dedicated online portal powered by Ctrack. This will provide the exact position of each participant on an interactive map, updated in real-time.
Information and communications technology (ICT) remains the key contributor to the development of advanced economies, and the Government Technology Conference (GovTech) 2016 - which is a platform for public and private sector leaders, professionals and practitioners to discuss, deliberate and explore the role that ICT plays in improving the quality of life of citizens - lays a solid foundation on which SA is able to accelerate its digital drive.

GovTech has remained an important event on the South African ICT industry's calendar for the past decade.

GovTech 2016, which will be held from October 30 to November 2 2016 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, will build on the conference's longstanding theme of development and growth.

The GovTech theme this year - ICT for Development, Access and Growth - explores the potential of technology in promoting public service and delivery through advancing equitable access for all; enabling socioeconomic development and growth; and technology innovations reinventing government in the digital age.

The conference has four tracks: Access, Development, Growth, and Research & Innovation. GovTech 2016 also has different focus areas which have been identified as a subset of the overall theme - all aimed at demonstrating how the smart and effective use of technology is shaping and transforming SA's future for all.

"The GovTech 2016 conference will also look at the role of research and innovation in influencing technology (ICT or otherwise) that can make government function better while enhancing planning, and helping to build sustainable communities, profitable industries and growing economies that are inclusive and promote local/homegrown content," says Dr Setumo Mohapi, CEO of the State Information Technology Agency (Sita).

He says that this will be hosted under the sub-theme of How Technology Improves Service Delivery for Citizen Empowerment. Importantly, this theme is in line with the Millennium Development Goals on poverty alleviation and article nine of the Sustainable Development Goals.

"GovTech will provide another motivation for participants in the conference to consider capital and intellectual investment in R&D to produce and showcase technologies that cut across the government sectors and are essential in helping to plan and deliver services which impact positively on the quality of life of citizens," says Mohapi.

Sita is the main driver of GovTech and can be credited with growing it into the leading public sector ICT event in Africa. GovTech 2016 will also complement government's rollout of broadband infrastructure. As such, it will also explore more ways that ICTs are able to bridge the digital divide, especially in the smaller and outlying municipalities. This will facilitate the adoption of cloud computing, social media, mobile technology, television, the Internet of Things and telecommunications.

These solutions are all being integrated as part of the government's digital transformation strategy, and their importance in developing the country is enshrined in the government's National Development Plan (NDP).

GovTech 2016 will therefore explore more ways that ICT infrastructure can achieve the targets established by the NDP. This includes creating an inclusive information society, while the conference will provide an ideal platform to assess progress made at all tiers of government in meeting the imperatives of the NDP.

Importantly, the rapid adoption of ICT promotes people-centric "e-governments" with efficient public administrations, especially in healthcare and education.

The conference will discuss innovative approaches in the deployment of ICTs to provide inclusive and quality education, and their role in improving accessibility to formal and nonformal education.

It will highlight ways in which the technology facilitates collaborative efforts to create extended reliable, timeous, high quality and affordable healthcare services.

Over and above its ability to improve the socioeconomic fabric, GovTech 2016 will assess this important backbone of the "smart" cities that drive business and economic growth.

Considering ICT is the element of the infrastructure underpinning competitive economies, GovTech 2016 will continue to explore the efficacy of existing enabling conditions to stimulate sustained economic growth.

However, rapid digital transformation at both public and private sector level carries risk. For this reason, GovTech 2016 will dedicate time to ensuring a stable, sustainable environment that supports future development of ICTs. This includes its participation in protecting infrastructure and important data.

Greater confidence in ICT will drive ongoing innovation, such as cloud-based analytics, social and mobile platforms across public sector agencies to stay abreast of citizens' needs.

The benefits of these technologies will be discussed at length, as well as the combining of commercial and government Internet of Things systems to improve interaction between these stakeholders to enhance services to customers and citizens.

In addition to exploring new business and e-government models, GovTech 2016 will assess the move towards open data. By making their information available to developers to build new applications, global governments are revolutionising the way they interact with citizens.

Says Mohapi: "This year's conference will continue to inspire and motivate. No efforts have been spared in bringing about another event of the highest standard."

GovTech has remained an important event on the South African ICT industry's calendar for the past decade

Source: Business Day
During the Seed Potato Grower's forum in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, JP van den Berg from Northwest was named Seed Potato Grower for 2016 at the Bayer gala dinner.

From left to right: JP van den Berg and his wife Linne; Sanette Thiart, Managing Director, Potato Certification Service, and Hennie van der Westhuizen, Business Manager Central, Bayer

The other finalists for this year's award were Frans Engelbrecht (North West) and W & K Boerdery (Western Free State). Three years certification data (from registration to control results) were used to determine the winner.

Bayer and Potato Certification Service strive to build on quality as the cornerstone for the industry. Both organisations stand for sustainability for all stakeholders in the potato industry. After a difficult year during the 2015/16 drought, it has become very clear that consistency and reliability are two qualities that will support players in the potato industry.

Bayer strives to provide access to innovation, by investing in research to offer the potato industry products that address problems like managing virus vectors and soil-borne diseases. It is also important to protect the current potato protection products to support sustainable potato production. Therefore, Bayer launched its promise of "Committed to the Future" where they collectively want to responsibly manage the challenges of the future.

Along with the 18th Seed Grower of the Year Award, Potato Certification Service is also celebrating their 21st anniversary. The company has played a leading role over 21 years in the pursuit of a sustainable supply of high-quality plant material to the potato industry.

For the first time, special recognition was also given to a group because of their involvement with the winner and even more due to the fact that all three finalists were Wesgrow growers.
South African steel production fell 9.9% year on year (y/y) in August to an estimated 446,000 tons after an 11% drop in July and a 6.9% rise in June, according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel).

The June result was the first y/y increase this year and followed a 16.3% rise in South African steel production to 7.6-million tons in 2015 compared with a 2.8% decline in global steel production to 1.6228-billion tons. In 2015 steel production decreased in all regions except Oceania, which registered a 4.6% gain.

In the first eight months of 2016 South African steel production was down 9.0% y/y compared with a 12.9% y/y decline for Africa and a 0.9% y/y reduction globally.

In August world crude steel production rose 1.9% y/y to 134.1-million tons, of which China accounted for 68.6-million tons, which was a 3.0% y/y increase.

The poor demand was in part due to the government's multi-billion rand infrastructure investment plans failing to gain traction, as investment in steel-intensive railway corridors such as links to Swaziland and the Waterberg coalfields, remain plans, not projects.

The government's economic cluster said in early September 2016 that steps had been taken to accelerate implementation of Jacob Zuma's nine-point plan to get the economy onto a sustainable growth path. The cluster was at an advanced stage in preparing for the implementation of 40 intensive investment projects.

In the February 24 2016 budget, the Treasury outlined plans for R865.4bn in public-sector infrastructure spending over the next three fiscal years. The largest portion, of R291.6bn, will be invested in the steel-intensive transport and logistics sector.

By contrast the private sector has invested heavily in the steel-intensive nonresidential construction sector with reports of shortages of steel reinforcing bars.

The real value of nonresidential buildings completed soared by 42% y/y in the first seven months of 2016 as there were large increases in completions of retail, office and banking space in KwaZulu-Natal, while the centre of Sandton currently resembles a great big construction site with several large buildings in the process of being erected.

Source: BDpro
A Supreme Court of Appeal ruling on Thursday, 22 September 2016, which invalidated the South African National Roads Agency Limited's (Sanral's) plans to toll the N1 and N2 in the Western Cape, has added to the agency's tolling woes.

This is the latest blow for the agency, which has struggled to get drivers to comply with its e-tolls in Gauteng.

Sanral, responsible for maintaining the national road network, was one of the parastatals placed on review for downgrade by ratings agency Moody's, which raised concern about its funding challenges and ongoing cash flow pressure.

Moody's said Sanral still faced public opposition to the tolling system and had failed to get motorists to take up a 60% discount period on historic debt, raising only R76m a month in the 2015-16 financial year compared with R86m a month the year before. The agency needs to raise R260m a month from etolls for the system to be successful.

Earlier in 2016, Sanral cancelled two bond auctions due to a lack of investor interest.

However, the agency has raised more than it expected to at its bond auctions since it returned in June.

The DA-led city of Cape Town has been vehemently opposed to the agency's tolling plans in the Western Cape, and after a four-and-a-half-year court battle the metro has succeeded in halting the project.

In 2015, the High Court in Cape Town ruled in the metro's favour by setting aside the declaration to toll sections of the highways.

The city had approached the court, accusing Sanral of failing to follow due process when it decided to toll the N1 and N2 in the Winelands. The court ruled that if Sanral wanted to proceed with the project, it had to start from scratch and conduct a process supported by proper public participation. Sanral then appealed the judgment.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein dismissed the appeal with costs. The city successfully argued in court that the minister of transport at the time the tolling decision was made and Sanral had both failed to consider relevant information - such as the effects of tolling, the affordability of the proposed toll fees for low-income earners and the effect on the surrounding road networks.

Further, in terms of the Sanral Act, only the Sanral board could take the decision to declare a toll road. But the city argued that the board never made such a decision and was never given the information to enable it to make such a resolution. The appeal court stated in its ruling that the decision to toll had massive implications for the province and the country, and as such required serious and informed deliberation, which was solely lacking.

In a media briefing on Thursday, Brett Herron, Cape Town's mayoral committee member responsible for transport, said that the ruling was a victory for Western Cape residents.

He said while the judgment would have little effect on the e-tolls saga in Johannesburg, as the courts had found it to be lawful, it would have a major bearing on how Sanral operated going forward. Sanral would have to consult widely before taking a decision to toll, said Herron.

Sanral spokesman Vusi Mona said the agency respected the ruling.

"We will, however, study the judgment and reasons provided by the court of appeal."

Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille said: "I hope that Sanral will refrain from wasting taxpayers' money on further legal action.

"The city's estimated legal costs have already reached at least R20m," she said.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge
Growthpoint Properties has debuted in 50th place in Brand Finance's list of South Africa's 50 Most Valuable Brands. In doing so, it has also become the only SA REIT to be included in the index.

Norbert Sasse, CEO of Growthpoint Properties

Each year, the brand valuation and strategy consultancy Brand Finance puts thousands of the worlds top brands to the test. They are evaluated to determine which are the most powerful and the most valuable by country, by industry and against all other brands worldwide.

The most valuable South African brands are included in the Brand Finance South Africa 50, launched this month in partnership with Brand South Africa and Brand Africa. In its inaugural inclusion in the 2016 ranking, Growthpoint scored a brand value of R1,467bn on 1 January 2016, and a Brand Rating of AA-.

Building a great brand

Thebe Ikalafeng, chairman of Brand Finance Africa, comments: Its typically quite difficult to see any movement among the top 50 list because it takes a long time to build a great brand. For that reason, many companies remain regular on the list, changing little, although jostling for position. Major shifts are usually a result of disruption in a particular industry or sector such as when the likes of Facebook and Google disrupted the communication sector globally and Outsurance and Vitality in the health sectors locally. Growthpoints ability to crack the list says it is doing the right things. Its inclusion recognises Growthpoints brand custodianship and management and the growth of its business.

Ikalafeng adds: Successful brands contribute to the value of South Africa as a country. They create jobs, reduce inequality and poverty. It is important to remember Brand Finances compilation of South Africas 50 Most Valuable Brands is an independent evaluation using publicly available information on each business. The only way to get on the list is to build a great brand. Brand Finance Salutes Growthpoint for its excellence in flying the South African and African flags.

The methodology used to compile the ranking defines a brand as a marketing-related intangible asset including names, terms and visuals that create distinctive images and associations in stakeholders minds, thereby generating economic benefits and value. It also considers the brand contribution, which is the total economic benefit that a business derives from its brand, from volume and price premiums over generic products, to cost savings over less well-branded competitors.

Brand journey

Norbert Sasse, CEO of Growthpoint Properties, comments: Were thrilled to be included among South Africas 50 most valuable brands. This achievement is especially remarkable considering the relatively short time the Growthpoint brand has existed. Prior to June 2007 we were externally managed, so we really only began our own brand journey about nine years ago. South Africas property sector is highly competitive and a strong brand is a valuable advantage for outperformance.

Sasse adds: Our marketing team is the official custodian of Growthpoints brand and they understand that a brand is more than our logos, symbols and designs, but is a function of the entire business - what we do and how we do it. Our people are passionate and proud ambassadors of the Growthpoint brand and take their representation of the organisation extremely seriously. They drive our strong reputation and deliver on our brand promise of Space to Thrive.
A part of our history and culture is lost every time South Africa loses a heritage site, as well as the opportunity to understand something new about our past. Be it archaeological sites, living cultural landscapes, early commercial industrial sites, colonial edifices or working class residential areas, South Africa's top ten most endangered site speak of the fragility of our national heritage.

This year saw the first time that the Heritage Monitoring Project (HMP) issued a call to the public to nominate sites of concern which saw more than 46 heritage sites across a range of categories submitted. The long list of submissions included cultural landscapes, archaeological and palaeontological sites, built heritage, industrial heritage, burial sites, military sites, public open space and even South Africas oldest nature reserve. Over the past few weeks an expert panel of judges have been evaluating the submissions against a set of criteria:

 The significance or importance of the site (most importantly, to the local community)

 The urgency and extent of risks or threats faced

 Feasibility of finding a solution or the feasibility of a proposed solution

 Existence of a local organisation that could help save the site with the necessary support

 A clear mechanism through which the general public are able to provide support

According to Jacques Stoltz, founding member of the HMP, most of the sites are threatened by a combination of poor heritage law enforcement, mining licences being issued in complete disregard of our heritage, urbanisation, under-investment, poor state asset management and the seemingly endless delays in resolving land claims and the limbo that many communities still find themselves in in the shadow of apartheid. On a more promising note, the list also shows the incredible courage of individuals and local organisations fighting uncaring administrations, developers, powerful international and local mining interests and natural forces.

The final list of sites (in alphabetic order):

amaMpondo Cultural Heritage Landscape, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape

Why this site matters: The amaMpondo landscape, in particular, the communities of Sigidi, Mpindweni, Mdatya, Mtolani, Gobodweni, Mtentu (aka Nyavini) and Mabaleni, should be viewed as a living cultural heritage landscape. It is a landscape that is expressive of a traditional agrarian system characterised by vernacular infrastructure and architecture, locally bred agrarian crops and livestock and specific techniques, knowledge, and skills related to the cultivation of these crops, and related cultural activities such as rituals, festivals and spiritual beliefs.

In the face of the construction of the Wild Coast N2 toll road and proposed mining, the communitys passion for preserving their cultural heritage is remarkable. Yet, to date, the landscape qualities and values, as well as the intangible elements associated with the landscape and agrarian ways of living, have gone mostly unrecognised by authorities, despite the area drawing local and international tourists. In the judges view, given the dichotomy between heritage and development, a determination should urgently be made on whether the entire amaMpondo cultural landscape should be preserved or parts thereof that reflects or offers an authentic heritage experience.

Why this site is endangered: These Pondoland villages are surviving vestiges of a traditional, agrarian way of amaMpondo life that was largely destroyed by the Betterment schemes of the late 1950s and which culminated in the rural insurrection known as iKongo, or the Pondoland Revolt of 1960.

Today, there is a strong push from government to develop the Wild Coast N2 toll road. In addition, the area has been earmarked for open cast mining. Development poses a serious risk to a traditional way of living and if a balance is not struck between heritage and development, the former will be a loser as it is a non-renewable resource.

Local champion: Sustaining the Wild Coast

Buffelsjachtsrivier Bridge, Overberg, Western Cape

Why this site matters: This 9-span bridge was constructed by the Higgo Brothers to the design of Charles Michell completed during his tenure as surveyor-general and engineer of the Cape Colony in 1852. The Bridge comprises stone-clad piers, timber joists (with timber knee braces) and timber decking salvaged from a wreck in Gordons Bay and transported overland to Swellendam for construction of the bridge. It is said that molasses (grown in plantations between Swellendam and Malgas) was used as binding agent for the Gypsum bedding and grouting of the stonework cladding (hence the nickname of Sugar Bridge).

The bridge is believed to be the third oldest bridge of historic significance in South Africa and the site is a graded provincial heritage site. An innovative local initiative seeks to rehabilitate the bridge, as a fully functional bridge for the local community, however, a lack of sufficient funds constrains implementation of the redevelopment scheme. In the view of the judges, the redevelopment proposal demonstrates how heritage structures can be repurposed to address the needs of the present, connect spatially fragmented communities, stimulate job creation, boost tourism and conserve an important piece of civil engineering history.

Why this site is endangered: The bridge has been severely neglected and its deterioration poses a considerable environmental risk. It is also at risk from further flood damage.

Local champion: Swellendam Heritage Association

Canteen Kopje, Barkly West, Northern Cape

Why this site matters: Canteen Kopje was declared and gazetted as a protected National Monument in 1948. The archaeological site covers a long sequence from the Earlier Stone Age to Later Stone Age, the Iron Age and colonial contact period. The site has a provisional basal date of 2.3 million years and is one of the most important Early Stone Age sites in South Africa. Its preservation is considered of critical importance to the scientific community and it is an invaluable cultural resource.

Why this site is endangered: So many sites associated with the pre-colonial history of the country are under threat and their loss is inconceivable. They form a vital component in the understanding of the development of the country. If this site is lost we will lose the record of life spanning many thousands of years and with it, the possibility of understanding something new about the deep past.

Mining in a declared heritage site sets a precedent that imperils all South African archaeological sites. The danger is real and present. Without the actions of the heritage community, including the McGregor Museum, this site would already have been lost to the present and the future. While a High Court ruling has prohibited further mining, the decision by the Department of Mineral Resources to grant a mining permit over a heritage site holds serious implications for Canteen Kopje and other similar sites across the country.

Local champions: McGregor Museum, Sol Plaatje University, Historical Society of Kimberley and the Northern Cape Provincial Government

Central Mill Rimers Creek, Barberton, Mpumalanga

Why this site matters: Rimers Creek (originally known as Umvoti Creek) is an area of public open space situated in the historical heart of Barberton. It is on the threshold of the site of the Barbers familys gold discovery in 1884 that led to a gold rush and where the Rimer Brothers (James Cook and Richard Guy) made a further discovery shortly thereafter. It is the site of the historic Central Mill where the ore from their early workings was crushed and where the first ore from the historic Sheba Gold Mine was sent by Edwin Bray in 1885.

The mill was owned by a syndicate to which the Rimers and Barbers belonged and was the nucleus around which Barberton developed. Rimers Creek is where Barberton was born in 1884 when David Wilson, the Mining Commissioner, broke a bottle of gin on a rock and christened the town Barberton after the Barbers. It is situated in what will eventually constitute the gateway to the Barberton-Makhonjwa Mountainlands area  a site on Unescos World Heritage Tentative List.

Why this site is endangered: A heavy truck parking lot and pipe storage yard have been approved for the historical site of the Central Mill in Rimers Creek in the midst of heritage homes, declared provincial heritage sites and residential properties despite vociferous objections from the local community. The site is threatened by the development and undermines the precepts of the law. The case highlights the disastrous effects of a lack of planning alignment between the local municipality and national and provincial heritage requirements and law enforcement.

Local champion: The Umjindi Environmental Committee, the Umjindi Barberton Ratepayers Association and other interested and affected parties

Cullinan Mine Workers Compound, Cullinan, Gauteng

Why this site matters: The Cullinan compounds were built in 1908 to house migrant workers employed by the Premier Transvaal Diamond Mining Company. It used to house up to 15,000 black mine workers who came from all over Southern Africa and were segregated along strict colonial and apartheid era ethnic lines (surviving death registers that were salvaged by heritage activists attest to the sub-continental reach of Cullinans labour pool). During the Second World War, the compounds, as with the rest of Cullinan village, were taken over by the army. Italian Prisoners of War (POWs) housed at the nearby Zonderwater constructed a fountain at the site. In 1945 the mine resumed operations. Like many other black mine worker compounds across the interior of South Africa, the history of the site has largely been forgotten and is invisible to the many tourists who visit Cullinan today.

Why this site is endangered: The compound was abandoned in 1971 and is in a bad state of repair. The associated graves are also in an appalling condition, while the fountain is at risk of being completely overgrown. As the site falls within a mining area, access is restricted and the buildings are neglected, overgrown and at risk of deterioration and eventual collapse. While the current owners of the mine argue that the site is hazardous, there is a local heritage community in place who is committed to researching, documenting, promoting and exposing the site to locals and visitors as an integral part of Cullinans mining heritage. However, to date, access remains restricted and efforts to have Cullinan declared as a heritage conservation area has met with little success.

Local champion: The Cullinan Heritage Society

East Fort, Hout Bay, Western Cape

Why this site matters: East Fort Battery c.1782 is one of four coastal fortifications built and developed in Hout Bay during the period 1781  1806. Hout Bay was seen by the government of the day as the soft-underbelly of Cape Town, exposing it to a possible marine invasion from the South. East Fort was established in 1782 and consists of a 6.4-hectare site which is today bisected by Chapmans Peak Drive, part of our countrys No 1 scenic route. However, little information regarding East Forts important role in our countrys history is provided near to or at the site and it remains an enigma to the many passing tourists. The site includes four ruined buildings (most of which could be restored) and a battery of 8 x 18 PDR guns which have been restored, proofed and licensed by the Heritage Association of South Africa and have been ceremonially fired on many special occasions by the Associations gunners. Given its location, the site has significant redevelopment potential as a heritage tourism destination.

Why this site is endangered: Little or no maintenance is currently done or protection given to the fabric of the site by the responsible authorities, walls are collapsing, it is subject to vandalism and exposed to fire damage, two major ones having occurred since SANParks took over the site.

Local champion: Hout Bay and Llandudno Heritage Association

Pageview, Johannesburg, Gauteng

Why this site matters: The old Malay camp dates back to the South African Republican period when the Kruger government established the area in 1893/4 for a predominantly coloured and Malay community. When the neighbouring Coolie Location was evacuated and subsequently burnt to the ground in 1904 (ostensibly in response to the outbreak of bubonic plague) many displaced Indian families resettled in the Malay location.

Over time the Malay location would become a predominantly Indian area. With its neighbouring suburb, Vrededorp  a freehold area established for poor Afrikaners  the area became a lively multi-cultural community accommodating people from all sections of the population including Indians, whites, coloureds, Africans, Malay families and also a Chinese community. Although officially renamed Pageview, for most South Africans the area was simply Fietas.

Following the Group Areas act of 1950, the suburb was proclaimed a white area and in the face of heavy opposition, the first eviction notices were served in 1967. In 1975 many residents and businesses were bulldozed with traders relocated to the newly constructed Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg and residents relocated to Lenasia. As with District Six and Sophiatown, this site is related to a very significant part of South Africas past  that of forced removals. Despite the demolitions, some significant buildings remain, including the Fietas Museum which singularly keeps the Fietas memory alive.

Why this site is endangered: The threats to Pageview resonate with those faced by similar areas across the country - the loss of historical memory of a particular time in South African history, the seemingly never-ending delays in resolving land claims and the manner in which this is reflected in the built environment and in spatial planning. The site also speaks to the attempts made by members of the local community to ensure that their history and memory of the area are kept alive while the historical fabric deteriorates or is destroyed. This should serve as a source of inspiration to other communities.

At the same time, years of waiting for land claims to be resolved means that there has been no investment or redevelopment and surviving buildings are abandoned and at risk of illegal occupation. Insanitary, conditions are rife. Empty land parcels dot the landscape. Although a development vision was adopted a decade ago, little tangible benefits have resulted. Efforts by the Fietas Museum to attract visitors and interest in Pageview are undermined by these existing conditions.

Local champion: The Fietas Memory in Action Museum

Pilgrims Rest town, Pilgrims Rest, Mpumalanga

Why this site matters: Pilgrims Rest was established in 1872 and was once a thriving tourist attraction. The Pilgrims Rest Reduction Works, considered by some to be the first gold-related industrial plant in Africa, formed the basis of a Unesco world heritage site tentative submission. However, years of neglect, poor management, theft and illegal mining have caused the town and associated industrial sites to deteriorate. This has threatened the livelihood of entrepreneurs and others who benefit or may benefit economically from its presence. It is an example of how heritage can be used to sustain a local economy but only if the ongoing maintenance and integrity of the site can be secured through responsible government custodianship and proper site management.

Why this site is endangered: If there is no intervention, further degradation of the site will erode the remaining tourism and other local economic benefits the site holds for the area. This will also threaten its existing Provincial Heritage Site Status and any future efforts to reconsider the site as a potential Unesco world heritage site (South Africa removed the site from its tentative list in 2015). The town is neglected and is not being maintained by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.

Local champions: Mpumalanga Historical Interest Group and local businesses

Timbershed, Plettenberg Bay, Eastern Cape

Why this site matters: In August 1786, the Dutch East India Company decreed the erection of the Timber Shed for storage of timber prior to shipment by sea. Due to its age, this site has great historic significance. The site was declared a national monument in 1961.

Why this site is endangered: The site is currently, for all intents and purposes, a ruin and if not maintained will eventually disappear. The original yellowwood lintels in the windows are buckling and in danger of collapsing. Four beams have already collapsed resulting in the fall of a considerable amount of stonework. The stonework, lintels, and walling can be stabilised with the necessary engineering skills and funding.

Local champion: Van Plettenberg Historical Society

Westfort Village, City of Tshwane, Gauteng

Why this site matters: Westfort Village is the residue of the Westfort Leprosy hospital, established in 1897. Its first phases were executed to the design of the ZAR Department of Public Works under Sytze Wierda and Klaas van Rijsse. Its development continued until 1947 when the last

construction phase was effected. In the meantime, it had grown exponentially when, with the closure of the leprosy asylum Robben Island, Westfort became the only leprosy institution in South Africa, serving a mixed race community of patients. The site lost its medical use in 1997, was mothballed and abandoned, after which it was appropriated. It is now home to a vibrant multi-racial community. The originally isolated sites are being engulfed by fast-encroaching suburbia.

The site represents the evolution of both urban planning in South Africa, as well as the development of medical care from home-based care to large-scale scientific institutions. Apart from these associations it has high aesthetic value, set picturesquely against the southern slope of the Bronberg Mountains and it is a site of national importance in the medical history of South Africa. It is the last remaining example of a near extinct institutional typology. The new community that has made this site its home can become the new custodians of the site if granted title and given the proper guidance. This community, if supported, could be enough of a public to guarantee the survival of the site.

Why this site is endangered: Disastrous development plans are already, in part, being implemented. At the same time, the inhabitants are scheduled to be relocated. The fact that the site is inhabited and inhabitable is the reason the site still exists. Should the existing community be relocated the site will be stripped of all useful building material and cease to exist. It is clear that the City of Tshwane has not developed a vision for the site, and the 2015 infrastructural developments carried out without heritage values being considered or statutory approvals sought. At the same time, the high levels of poverty and lack of infrastructure (electricity) have wrought havoc. Two recent fires have destroyed important structures. Recent service delivery protests have cost two more. If no action is taken, Westfort Village - one of the more important heritage assets of Tshwane and Gauteng - will be lost in less than a decade.

Custodians: Westfort Heritage Foundation and Tshwane Building Heritage Association

The full short- and longlist of sites are available at Ther Heritage Portal.
Hospitality group, Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) has won multiple awards including their flagship property, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, being voted the Best Resort Hotel by the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents (AZTA) for the twentieth year in a row.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

AAT property Lokuthula Lodges won the Best Self-Catering category, while Victoria Falls Safari Club took out Best Boutique Hotel and marketing executive Wendy Bourne won the Most Outstanding Voluntary Service to Travel Agents award.

The Annual AZTA Awards, which reward airlines, lodges, agents and companies with a certificate for their great service, as voted by the Zimbabwe travel industry, were presented at the Meikles Hotel.

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, won Best Resort Hotel, ahead of Victoria Falls Hotel, which took second place, and AZambezi River Lodge, which came in third. Lokuthula Lodges took out the Best Self Catering award ahead of Wild Heritage and Blue Swallows Lodges respectively.

Taking second and third places in the Best Boutique Hotel category, after Victoria Falls Safari Club, was Stanley & Livingstone Safari Lodge and Pamushana Lodge.

The Africa Albida Tourism team with the awards at the Meikles Hotel

Other award winners included Meikles Hotel for Best City Hotel, with Cresta Lodge and Crown Plaza taking second and third place respectively, while Amanzi Lodge won Best Bed & Breakfast/Guesthouse, followed by Wild Geese Lodge and Karibas Hornbill Lodge.

Best Safari Establishment  Non Tented was won by Camp Amalinda in Matopos, while Best Safari Camp  Tented went to The Hide Safari Camp in Hwange.
Local clearing agents in Rwanda have welcomed the decision by shipping lines at Dar es Salaam port to waive container deposit fees. Maersk and Safmarine shipping lines recently agreed to give a waiver on container cash deposit to members of the Rwanda Freight Forwarders Association to reduce the cost of doing business.

The scheme will first be rolled out as a pilot phase before it can be fully adopted. The development follows bilateral talks held last month between Rwanda and Tanzania to address the current constraints affecting traders at the port, including the question of cash deposits.

Fred Seka, the chairperson, Rwanda Freight Forwarders Association (ADR), said both parties agreed to use an insurance guarantee covered by UAP Insurance to facilitate ease of doing business at the port. According to Seka, Tanzania Shipping Line Ltd accepted the proposed use of Insurance guarantee by UAP and will conduct due diligence to determine clearing agents to be granted the waiver and those that should use insurance guarantee.

"Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has so far granted full access to TANCIS customs system to 30 clearing firms out of the 54 companies that requested to have access to the system; the TPA is working to issue the okayed firms badges and forward the list to Tanzania Ports Authority so that they can have full access to the port and be able to follow up clearance of goods within the port premises," Seka said in a statement.

Facilitating the ease of doing business

He also denied media reports indicating that local clearing agents want to replace clearing agents from Tanzania at the port. "We are only coming to deal with Rwandan cargo and not to take Tanzanian jobs," he said adding that the agents are equally seeking for strong partnerships with their counterparts in Tanzania to further facilitate the ease of doing business along the central corridor.

The two sides further discussed a number of constraints including the high container deposits required by the shipping lines, and non-recognition of Rwanda Standards Board's (RSB) standard mark by Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA), and agreed to follow up on implementation of commitments by Tanzania Revenue Authority to facilitate and authorise Rwanda Freight Forwarders to lodge documents into their customs system.

Vincent Safari, the national coordinator, Rwanda National Monitoring Committee on NTBs, at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, reassured that Rwandans will only go to clear cargo belonging to Rwandans and urged both parties to ensure strong business ties to facilitate regional trade.

"It is out of fear that allowing Rwandans full access to ports will translate into loss of business on the Tanzania side, which is not true," he said, adding that there is a need to understand the scope of the single customs territory which is designed to ease regional trade. Recently, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) announced it will open a liaison office in Kigali next month.

The country office means that importers, clearing agents, and exporters will be able to clear goods from Kigali without having to travel to Dar es Salaam. Eng Deusdedit Kakoko, the TPA director general, said in an interview with The New Times last week that the move aims at bringing services nearer to the Rwandan business community, "which will help cut the cost of doing business, and reduce the hurdles within the logistics and supply chain."

Rwanda-TZ trade numbers Tanzania's Port of Dar es Salaam is by far the most important port for Rwanda, accounting for over 70 percent of Rwandan international maritime trade. More than 90 percent of other exports (apart from tea and coffee) go through Dar es Salaam, according to figures from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. However, statistics indicate that total trade with Tanzania declined to $68 million in 2015, from $105 million in 2013. Tanzania is Rwanda's third largest trading partner in the EAC bloc.
OSLO: More than 100 disgruntled Tesla owners in Norway have sued the US automaker because the electric cars don't accelerate as quickly as promised, their lawyers said Wednesday.

The 126 plaintiffs claim their electric vehicles don't accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 3.3 seconds, as marketed. "At the core of the matter is that there are consumers seeking compensation because the cars have less horsepower than promised," one of the lawyers for the owners, Kaspar Thommessen, told AFP without specifying the amount of damages sought. They are suing Tesla for breach of consumer law.

The dispute concerns the Tesla S P85D, a sedan featuring one of the fastest accelerations in the world, listed at 700 horsepower by the carmaker. But according to the dissatisfied owners, the real horsepower is only around 469, making accelerations a little less spectacular than expected.

"Some may think that this is just whinging," Tesla owner Frode Fleten Jacobsen told business daily Dagens Naeringsliv. "But many people pushed their financial limits in order to own a car with 700 horsepower, and when you notice that you didn't get what you paid for you feel cheated," he said.

He said he dished out 873,900 kroner (about 94,000 euros, $105,350) for his car. Tesla Norway meanwhile said its tests and those conducted by third parties showed that the car consistently performed as marketed, or better.

"With respect to acceleration, Tesla described the S P85D as having a 0-100 kph time of 3.3 seconds, and Motor Trend and others actually achieved a time of 3.1 seconds," a Tesla spokesman wrote in an email to AFP.

The case will go before an Oslo court in mid-December.

Norway, where electric cars are exempt from taxes, is one of Tesla's biggest markets. The company has sold more than 1,600 cars so far this year. In August, zero emission cars - all brands combined - accounted for more than 15% of new car registrations, a market share which is unparallelled in the world but which is facing stiff competition from hybrid cars.

Source: AFP
According to the 2017 edition of the SA Social Media Landscape, released this week by World Wide Worx and Ornico, the next year will see the use of as many as four social media platforms becoming pervasive marketing tools in South Africa. The study included a survey of 116 major South African brands, making for a representative sample of the country's major brands.

123RF

Already, in 2016, 91% of these brands were using Facebook, 88% were active on Twitter, and 66% were on YouTube. LinkedIn slipped from 70% to 63%, as brands struggled to get to grips with its more serious nature. Meanwhile, Instagram increased sharply from 42% to 62% of brands making use of it,

When asked what additional platforms they would embrace in 2017, no less than 26% said they would use Instagram, while YouTube was set to attract a further 16%. This will see the image-sharing and video-sharing networks join the top table currently occupied by Facebook and Twitter.

The message is clear for anyone wanting to communicate with the public, consumers or large groups of stakeholders, says Oresti Patricios, CEO of Ornico. If youre not using social media, youre not reaching your audience. If youre not on social media, your stakeholders are.

Ornico became a partner in the Social Media Landscape study after its 2015 acquisition of Fuseware, which has been conducting the research with World Wide Worx since 2011.

On a consumer level, growth for most networks has slowed down, but engagement by users has intensified. In 2016, no single social network has redefined the social landscape, in the way that Instagram and YouTube did in the previous two years.

Nevertheless, says World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck, social media is not waning: The fact that Instagram continued to grow at a high rate  by 32% up to 3.5-million users  and that YouTube has seen a massive increase in engagement with brands, confirms that the social media is hardly stagnating. Rather, it is maturing into a more stable and measurable environment that can be leveraged more effectively by brands.

Facebook is now used by 14-million South Africans, while YouTube has moved firmly into second place with 8.74-million users, well outpacing Twitters slower rise to 7.7-million. LinkedIn maintains its energetic rise, now standing at 5.5-million.

One of the most significant trends uncovered is that Facebook, with 14-million users, now has 10-million, or 85% of its users, using mobile devices. This is significantly up from or 77 per cent the year before. While a significant number of these users are also accessing Facebook on computers and tablets, it is clear that the mobile phone has become the primary form of accessing social media.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON  The mother of a boy who was five years old when he was briefly kidnapped and violated by a repeat sex offender says a seven-year prison sentence isnt enough for the offender.

She shook her head during an interview following the abusers sentencing in Brandon provincial court on Thursday.

He took my boys innocence at five years old, she said.

Bruce Bumstead/Brandon Sun The Brandon Court House.

As the family tries to move on, she noted how her boy, now nine, felt pride at going to the police station to make a statement and help protect other children.

(My son) helped to put away the monster and he felt very good about himself, the mom said.

She and relatives cant be identified due to a publication ban that protects the identity of the victim.

Hugh Alexander McCurry, 39, was sentenced for sexual assault and kidnapping.

McCurry was a complete stranger to the victim and his family, and Crown attorney Jim Ross, who has been a Brandon Crown since 1996, says it is the only such child abduction case in the city he can recall.

On Dec. 12, 2011 at 4:30 p.m., the five-year-old boy was playing in his yard on Stickney Avenue with his four-year-old sister and his sisters friend.

McCurry  who had five prior convictions for sex offences  pulled up in his car, opened the door and told the children it was dangerous to toboggan in that spot.

He claims that the boy climbed inside his car uninvited. The boy said McCurry told him to get in the car, pulled him in by the wrist, shut the door and drove off.

McCurrys story is different in court documents. He told authorities that hed seen some kids playing and had stopped his vehicle when the victim opened the car door and asked if he was a friend of his dads.

He said he told the child he wasnt, and they shouldnt be playing on the hill. He told the child to get in the car and warm up, which the boy did, and took advantage by driving off.

McCurry drove the boy to a secluded spot near the Corral Centre and the Riverbank Discovery Centre where he sexually assaulted him before dropping him off on a street.

McCurry maintains that he prefers girls and only learned that hed taken a boy during the sexual assault.

The child was found by police two blocks from his home within 35 to 45 minutes after he went missing, crying and with his snow jacket unzipped.

The mother questions whether police initially took the investigation seriously, wondering whether it had to do with the fact her family is aboriginal, or that she and her husband were known to police at the time.

Or, whether police thought nothing would have happened in the short time the boy was gone.

She said officers simply dropped the boy at home following the incident, but didnt suggest he should go to the hospital.

It was only 45 minutes, but still.

She described her relief at her sons return and took him in her arms.

Oh, I was just so happy to have him back When he got home I cradled him, she said.

She carried the exhausted boy to bed. But, hours later, when he complained of pain, he and family were taken by police to hospital where a doctor found injuries consistent with sexual assault.

The boy also made comments to police suggesting hed been sexually violated, his mom said.

Semen was found on his jacket, but Ross told court that thresholds for DNA in 2011 didnt allow testing. In 2015, using improved technology, the sample was tested and detected a mixed DNA profile of both the boy and McCurry.

McCurry was on the DNA database due to previous convictions. The mom said the boy and family members were only extensively interviewed by police after the DNA hit.

In court, McCurry rested his head on his hand and stared at the desk in front of him as Ross read the facts.

After questioning why the Crown asked that he be banned from computer use as part of his sentence, he apologized  I messed up. My mom did the best she could, my dad did. I just fd up.

The victims father, who sat next to his boy in court, flipped McCurry the middle finger as he spoke.

As Judge Donovan Dvorak pronounced sentence, the victims mother kissed her son on the cheek.

To have ones child abducted from the safety of their yard by a stranger and sexually abused is a parents worst nightmare, Dvorak said.

Dvorak delivered a total sentence of seven years in prison, based on a deal reached between the Crown and McCurry.

Ross said the boys memory of events isnt strong and it would be traumatic to put him on the stand at trial in a bid to tell the court his story.

The victims uncles voiced their displeasure with the sentence as they left the courtroom.

Isnt that fg sickening? Seven years, one said.

McCurry is eligible to apply for parole after serving one third of his sentence. Provided he cooperates with his rehabilitation and doesnt get in trouble, he will be released after serving two thirds.

Outside the courthouse, relatives described how the assault changed the young victim. He has nightmares and is afraid to be out by himself, and his family says hell attend counselling.

McCurry confessed following his October 2015 arrest, but despite his record police released him while he was pending on his charges.

The victims mom says she fibbed to her son to give him peace of mind, and told him his abuser was in jail.

That seemed to help him regain some confidence.

He smiled and laughed as he played with a friend outside the courthouse on Thursday.

His mom provided The Brandon Sun a copy of the victim impact statement her son wanted to read in court. Unfortunately, his mom had the statement and was late for court due to car problems, so he couldnt read it.

His mom wrote her sons feelings as though she were going to read it in court on his behalf, but she said her boy wanted to read it himself. One of the lines reads:

My son wanted to say he is glad that you are going to jail and happy you are going to jail, and happy that you are not going to hurt any more innocent girls and boys.

It describes how the boy was once happy and goofy, and brave but after the assault he became clingy and afraid to go out. He blamed himself for what happened, and grew very protective of his sisters.

His major fear is that he is going to turn out like you. He is afraid he is going to grow up and hurt little children they way you hurt him, reads the statement.

The abuse also affected his parents.

The mother says the boys father blames himself for what happened  she was out shopping and her husband had been watching the children, but he stepped away briefly to check on some cooking.

His wife said he cant forget the expressions on the girls faces as they came running to the house to tell him his son was stolen.

She said both parents sought comfort in alcohol, and their relationship was strained.

 ihitchen@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @IanHitchen
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Businesses are always searching for the next untapped market, and on Thursday leaders at CFB Shilo pointed at themselves as an opportunity for business owners.

Lt.-Col. John Cochrane wanted to demystify the military base to business leaders either unaware Shilo is open for business, or hesitant of complicated government tendering processes.

We arent looking to take your money, Cochrane told a sold-out lunch crowd of 270 people at the Brandon Armoury Thursday as part of the monthly luncheon series hosted by Brandon Chamber of Commerce. What were looking to do is we have products and services that we require, were looking to get those opportunities out there to you.

Photos by Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun CFB Shilo base commander Lt.-Col. John Cochrane addresses Brandon Chamber of Commerce members, seated for lunch in the Brandon Armoury, during the chambers first luncheon of the fall season on Thursday.

The base commander was promoting the shop local movement to a receptive audience. He suggested more Westman-area businesses should submit bids for the contracts Shilo offers.

There is big money in it, too: of the 63 procurements Defence Construction Canada acquired in the 2015-16 fiscal year, $20 million was awarded. Those tenders covered various base-related and housing projects.

Most of these contracts are awarded locally, but Cochrane explains some deals are won by Winnipeg and national firms, money he would prefer staying local.

In rare cases, about five per cent of construction contract tenders are cancelled because not enough firms put in a bid.

Cochrane was keen to note the range of contracts available is vast, many in construction but also in sectors like transportation, ammunition, food and maintenance.

Essentially, Shilo is a small town, and like a small town we have needs, he said.

Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Brandon Chamber of Commerce members line up to a military-style mess tent at the Brandon Armoury on Thursday, with cooking staff from CFB Shilo serving meals.

Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Terry Burgess said they recently visited Shilos base to understand the opportunities available to businesses, and in conjunction with CFB Shilo will extend that invitation to any business leaders who are interested.

Cochrane said Thursdays event served as a welcome mat for the business community.

There are those business leaders and companies that understand and know the nuances of Shilo and government contracting  but youll get some other ones that have more of a challenge and theyre not familiar with it or they might even be a little bit intimated, he said.

Cochrane said more contracts locally would have an economic spinoff to the Westman region. And in Shilos case, it would cut down on long trips.

We have to occasionally do parts run into Winnipeg for our maintenance, Cochrane said.

Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun The first Brandon Chamber of Commerce fall luncheon, hosted by CFB Shilo and held in the Brandon Armoury on Victoria Avenue on Thursday, was a sold-out affair.

 ifroese@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ianfroese
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/09/2016 (2229 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Wasnt that a party? Yes indeed, to say the least!

Beyond everyones expectations, the Lauder community is elated and extremely proud of hosting the homecoming for well over 500 people over the weekend of July 9-10, commemorating 125 years of its beginning.

In spite of extensive rainfall prior to and on the morning of July 9, nothing would stand in the way of the multitude of people planning to partake in the festivities.

Submitted The skillfully designed iron sign, courtesy of the Maple Grove Hutterite Colony and erected on Hwy 345, will forever welcome people to Lauder and long serve as a reminder of its 125 years as a community.

Much visiting and mingling began upon entering the hall to register and view the vast collection of pictures and memorabilia on display. Chances of cashing in on a wide array of raffle and silent auction items were also made available to those desiring to chance their luck.

Each individual attending had his or her own reason for being drawn back to a place to call home. Clearly evident, time has taken a toll on Lauder, as it has with many other small communities.

Just for the time being, these stark statistics became overshadowed and subdued, as people gathered with one common intention  to celebrate!

Nearly 400 enjoyed a Beef on a Bun supper Saturday evening so capably provided by J&S (Janz) Meat Processing. Hartney Elks did likewise Sunday morning, catering a hearty breakfast to some 170 hungry souls.

Along for the Ride, a live band from Brandon, provided lively, entertaining music from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Sincerest thanks to Ron Gould and associates for a most splendid evening.

An outdoor noon church service followed breakfast on Sunday morning with Rev. Doug Craig as presiding worship leader. A huge tent, graciously provided by Keith and Lisa Vanbeselaere, was more than appreciated, especially with the intense noon sun and accompanying humidity.

Submitted Dorothy (Dooley) and Gord Burgess.

Following the church service, people were invited to enjoy 125 Birthday Cake and ice cream.

In conjunction with the 125 festivities, family reunions were held, drawing people from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and the United States.

Thank you seems so inadequate as we express deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for contributing to an extremely successful weekend. Just your presence made it unforgettable.

An enormous thank you to the many individuals and surrounding businesses for your generous support, by means of monetary and various raffle items  all enhancing the thrills and vibes of winning! Several silent auction items were also open to bids.

The skillfully designed iron sign erected on Hwy 345 will forever welcome people to Lauder and long serve as a reminder of Lauders 125 years as a community. We acclaim Maple Grove Colony for such fine workmanship.

We have long acknowledged the imminent fact that our community numbers continue to lessen. Without everyone pulling together  the old, the young, and in-between  in the various work bees that saw 160 new trees planted, many hours of grass mowing, painting, and general cleanup of lots and buildings, we surely could not have hosted such a grand and momentous weekend.

Submitted Michael and Janet Fedorowich visit with Kay and Brenda Boyd

Regretfully, the weekend drew to a close as the approximately 50 RVs, campers, and tents packed up to depart, each with so many remarkable and cherished memories of another truly festive time at Lauder  indeed A Place To Call Home.

 Submitted
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 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 Brad Wall claimed the old public store-only option is not sitting with Saskatchewan people.

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 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 led 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 be 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. Her column was recently published in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/09/2016 (2228 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

No matter how members of the former NDP government may try to spin it, the Selinger governments legacy as a competent fiscal manager has been utterly laid to waste this week with the castigation of a few of the former governments pet projects.

On Monday, it was a decision to cancel plans to relocate the Winnipeg headquarters of the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries downtown, with the new government appointed board of directors saying it was unnecessary and too costly.

All too right it was costly  the Crown corporation had planned a $75-million relocation plan that would have consolidated its offices and about 400 employees at the former Medical Arts Building in Winnipeg.

This reversal was merely the first of a one-two-three punch the Progressive Conservatives have been launching at the NDP as they ready for the legislature to resume Oct. 3.

On Tuesday, it was the release of the auditor generals report on the East Side Road Authoritys handling of that project, which the Conservatives labelled scathing. The ESRA board was dismissed, and the project is now under the mandate of the infrastructure department.

On Wednesday, and really to no ones surprise, it was Manitoba Hydros ambitious hydroelectric projects: Bipole III and the Keeyask dam. The newly named Manitoba Hydro board, put in place only two days after the Tories gained power, released an American consultants report on Bipole III and Keeyask, and it was damning.

In a nutshell: Bipole III East was the best option available, but Keeyask was imprudent. But the projects are too far along to cancel them. More bad news is that Manitoba Hydros debt is set to double to $25 billion within four years. And guess whos on the hook? You got it, consumers and taxpayers.

New boards and new eyes on projects mean a different point of view on how they are governed, and theres no doubt Manitoba Hydro has been an ongoing concern for many Manitobans for a while. The Conservatives are being very strategic in dismantling the reputation of the previous government with these reviews. But its more than just that.

First, a good offensive in politics is always better than a strong defence, and the government is likely to ruffle more than just a few feathers as debate is set to begin on Bill 7, which would end automatic certification for unions, forcing workplace votes in every instance of union organizing. How credible will the NDP be in question period if the premier is able to fire back with a laundry list of messes created by a government seen as too soft on labour?

Second, Mr. Pallister can easily fend off criticism the debt legacy of the NDP, exacerbated by poor management of Manitoba Hydro, the East Side Road Authority and MLL, made spending cuts and slashed programs necessary. Finance Minister Cameron Friesen has already suggested as much, telling reporters the provinces credit rating is likely to be downgraded again because of the debt load, and that means money earmarked for public services will have to go to servicing the debt.

The bonus is the government now has a much clearer understanding of the provinces financial mess than it did when the legislature recessed for the summer break. And it can still blame the NDP for creating any hardships Manitobans are about to experience. Thats a sweet spot for any political party. The Tories should and will take full advantage of it.

With a less-than-stellar interim leader at the helm in Flor Marcelino, a much-diminished caucus, and with Premier Brian Pallisters rising popularity in the province, it seems pretty clear to us that the New Democrats will be mired in the Opposition seats for several years to come.

Its not really surprising then, that the partys rising stars  such as Kevin Chief  are uninterested in taking the helm of a sinking ship.

 Winnipeg Free Press/The Brandon Sun
The Taoiseach has reiterated the Government's intention for Ireland to retain its 12.5% corporate tax rate.

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan will reveal any changes to Ireland's tax rates in next month's budget announcement.
The European Commission is to engage with local authorities to speed up the roll out of broadband to rural communities across the EU.

The initiative is aimed at making funding available to telecom operators to provide 5G connectivity in remote areas where installation is prohibitive due to cost.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said it is in Ireland's interests for the UK to retain open trade with the EU.

Michael Noonan said Ireland will be trying to negotiate for free trade in order to avoid a new border with Northern Ireland.
Nothing says Australia like Ugg boots. And snakes.

The two came together the other day when snake catchers in Adelaide were called to a woman's residence after a snake had taken refuge in one of the Aussie brand's sheepskin boots.

They posted a pic of the snuggled-up snake to their Facebook.

So cosy!

Fun fact: The eastern brown snake is the world's second most venomous land snake and responsible for the most deaths caused by snake-bite in Australia. In recent years, those numbers have been greatly reduced thanks to increased first aid knowledge and availability of anti-venom.

Not so funny now, is it?
The Archbishop of Dublin says the Kinahan/Hutch gang feud is a threat to democracy.

Diarmuid Martin says the people involved are sober, cold and willing to kill for status.
The father of the man charged with setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey informed the FBI in 2014 about his son's apparent radicalisation, he said.

Mohammad Rahami, father of alleged bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami, said his son underwent a personality shift after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2013.

Her said his son was not the same after that trip.

"I found a change in his personality. His mind was not the same. He had become bad and I don't know what caused it but I informed the FBI about it," he said.

Mr Rahami Snr said he was not sure if the FBI took any action against his son at the time and said he and his family were in a state of shock following last weekend's blasts, which injured 31 people.

"I condemn the act of my son and I am sad over injuries caused to people," he said, adding that he was cooperating fully with investigators.

Rahami, an Afghan-born US citizen was shot and severely injured during his arrest on Monday. He has been unconscious for much of the time since undergoing surgery, said Robert Reilly, a spokesman for the FBI's Newark office.

Prosecutors say Rahami, 28, planned the explosions for months as he bought components for his bombs online and set off a backyard blast. They say he wrote a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other Muslim extremists, fumed about what he saw as the US government's killing of Muslim holy warriors and declared "death to your oppression".
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...
Sex workers have maintained Canberra is a safe place to work, despite a string of violent sexual assaults against women in their profession.

ACT Policing revealed Canberra sex workers had been targeted by a group of three men during a series of brutal attacks earlier in the year.

Former sex worker Lexxie Jury, pictured in 2011, said workers in the Canberra sex industry take care of one another, Credit:Karleeen Minney

Up to six women reported being raped and robbed, and police said more victims have come forward since they went public on Thursday.

Investigators now believe the gang was active in Canberra from January to May this year. Their previous reports indicated the men had attacked women between March and May.
A federal judge slammed Facebook, saying the social media giant might not be doing enough to deter terrorists from using its platform.

US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in Brooklyn, New York, also accused Facebook's lawyers - by sending a first-year associate to a hearing - of not taking seriously lawsuits with implications of international terrorism and the murder of innocent people.

Public servants say they are denied freedom of speech on Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms. Credit:Getty Images

"I think it is outrageous, irresponsible and insulting," Garaufis told the attorney on Thursday. The judge ordered Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm representing Facebook, to send a more senior lawyer to the next hearing on September 28 because he wanted to "talk to someone who talks to senior management at Facebook."

Garaufis is overseeing two lawsuits in which more than 20,000 victims of attacks and their families accused Facebook of helping groups in the Middle East such as Hamas. The judge noted similar suits haven't been successful under US law which insulates publishers from liability for the speech of others. But he said that doesn't mean Facebook shouldn't take it seriously and try to address the issue.
A US court of appeals has ruled that refusing to hire someone with dreadlocks is legal.

The court ruled against a discrimination case brought against an employer who withdrew their offer to hire an employee after she refused to cut off her dreadlocks.

A neutral grooming policy to prohibit the wearing of dreadlocks cannot constitute race discrimination, the employer argued successfully. Credit:Jonathan Carroll

In 2010, Chastity Jones applied for a customer service position at Catastrophe Management Solutions, a firm that processes insurance claims.

Ms Jones received a job offer, but was told by the human resources manager that she would have to cut off her dreadlocks because they "tend to get messy" and did not comply with the company's "neutral grooming policy".
When he was pressed on why Australia could agree to an American request to take refugees from a centre in Costa Rica, but not end the suffering of those on Manus and Nauru, he launched a withering attack on Labor for losing control of Australia's borders, declaring it "the biggest policy failure in the history of the Commonwealth". Conveniently, he neglected to mention that the Coalition torpedoed Labor's Malaysian people-swap deal that might have made a big difference, something Tony Abbott has conceded, in hindsight, he regrets.

The Prime Minister's key message abroad was that strong border protection policies are essential to maintain public support for immigration, multiculturalism and a generous humanitarian program. He chose not to explain why this has consigned more than 2000 vulnerable people to a life of limbo on poor, remote islands, or give the slightest hint as to when their misery will end.

Having implored other nations to embrace Australia's uncompromising approach to refugees and border protection at every opportunity, Turnbull comes home to confront an issue that should be comparably simple  but has become anything but.

Malcolm Turnbull faces his own agility test when he returns from New York and Washington to confront the challenge of securing the passage of legislation for the marriage equality plebiscite he took to the July 2 election.

Illustration: Jim Pavlidis

On his return, Turnbull needs to make it as difficult as possible for the opposition to hold its nerve and vote down what Labor has branded a divisive, expensive and unnecessary national opinion poll on marriage equality  and demand instead that Parliament do its job and decide the issue. His big weapon is that there is no plan B, meaning marriage equality advocates will have to wait at least another three years for the issue to resurface, when the composition of the Senate might be even more problematic. This is unlikely to cut it.

Labor insists the message from the LGBTI community is that it would rather wait and avoid homophobic hate-speech being unleashed by those opposing a "yes" vote in the plebiscite. This invites the conclusion that, while Indigenous Australians are fighting to get on a ballot paper to secure recognition, the gay community is fighting to get off one to secure equality.

The Prime Minister's initial task is to consider changes to the plebiscite plan that address the main concerns of opponents, though this assumes the conservative flank of his partyroom will agree to them and that Labor will accept them. Right now, neither is likely. Consider the possible changes: the removal of public funding of $7.5 million for each side; making the vote "self-executing", so changes to the Marriage Act automatically follow a "yes" vote, without MPs who oppose marriage equality getting the chance to vote against them; and reducing the cost from an estimated $200 million.

As Labor's Mark Dreyfus argues, the current plan would see publicly funded TV ads arguing that homosexuals do not deserve equal rights. "I think that is absolutely wrong," he told a Freedom for Faith conference in Melbourne on Friday. "And, if I think of a young and vulnerable LGBTI Australian in country Australia, far from any support network, watching those ads over Christmas and New Year, I fear for them."
Monday looms as D-Day for the Turnbull government's precarious plebiscite on same-sex marriage, with the Coalition and Labor to sit down in Brisbane for talks.

Attorney-General George Brandis and Special Minister of State Scott Ryan will meet with shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus in a last-ditch attempt to find a compromise that might win Labor's crucial support in the Senate. It precedes a cabinet meeting in Canberra on Monday night.

But any genuine attempt at negotiation appears doomed from the start, with Labor making demands to which the Coalition will find it impossible to accede.

Mr Dreyfus on Friday mentioned two changes - dumping public funding for both sides' campaigns, and making the plebiscite self-executing or binding - as necessary but not sufficient for Labor to reconsider its position on the issue.
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.
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."
A powerful union previously responsible for an aggressive campaign against the Baird government says it will spend up to $1 million in three months to campaign against plans to privatise the operation of five hospitals.

"We've resolved to spend up to $1 million by the end of the year," said Brett Holmes, the general secretary of the Nurses and Midwives' Association.

Brett Holmes, general secretary of the Nurses and Midwives Association, is concerned a US-style healthcare system is on the horizon. Credit:Ryan Osland

"Some people said there was no basis to our concern, but the more we see the running of hospitals handed to private operators, the more it seems we are headed to an American [health] system."

The state government unveiled last week plans to privatise the operation and building of five hospitals across NSW, including at Maitland, Wyong, Goulburn, Shellharbour and Bowral. Private operators will be invited to submit expressions of interest to run the hospitals.
A block of council-owned land that mired Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's 2016 election campaign in controversy has sold for almost $2 million more than the price agreed to with a Liberal National Party donor earlier this year.

The sale has prompted calls from the council opposition for an inquiry into political donations at a local government level.

Labor opposition leader Peter Cumming has called for an "ICAC-style" inquiry into council land deals. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad rejected a council request to sell the Hendra land, at 538 Nudgee Road, to LNP donor Tan Boon Seng in March.

Then, the Quirk administration had agreed to sell the 8521 square metre property to Dr Tan for $3.3 million, without going to the open market, which resulted in a referral to the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Queensland exporters who had heard the siren song of London calling have had a meeting with the state's deputy premier.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad met with three companies with Queensland roots while she was in London during her trade mission to Europe and the Middle East.

Jackie Trad has met with Queensland businesses with a base in the UK. Credit:Bradley Kanaris

Ms Trad left Australia on Tuesday for the trade mission, with the aim to explore models for infrastructure development and reaffirm Queensland's commitment to the Great Barrier Reef at a meeting with UNESCO officials in Paris.

She will also meet with senior planning executives in London to explore economic development opportunities, with a focus on Cross River Rail.
Jafri Katagar pictured last year at the start of his campaign. Credit:Meredith O'Shea He said officers who attended the scene believed the man from Clayton was at risk of being struck by passing cars and trams, and asked him several times to move to a safer location. "Following a number of near-misses with traffic, police advised the man he would be arrested if he did not move to a safer location," the spokesman said. "The man still did not comply and physically resisted police when they attempted to arrest him. "Police deployed OC spray and moved the man off the street."

About three hours after the incident Mr Katagar said he was still recovering from the "massive" pepper spray. "It was too much. It burned my eyes, my face, my neck, my hands. I couldn't see anything. I felt like my face was burning," Mr Katagar said he was protesting peacefully  in his usual spot between the tram tracks outside the Young and Jackson pub - when he was asked to move by a group of police officers he had not seen before. He said he was not blocking traffic or pedestrians. "Most of the police, they do support me. I have police who will come give me bottles of water in summer, and they say they like what I'm doing, but there are others that are so, so, so, so bad," he said.

"It's mostly police who have seen me for the first time." Following the incident Mr Katagar posted on Facebook that he has received police approval for his public protest. "Before I started my campaign over a year ago I spoke to the police and got their approval to stand there, but once I started my campaign about half of the police turned against me. "I am not breaking any law by publicly campaigning against racism. Racism is a problem in Australia affecting so many people in our society, so I will continue my fight against this racism despite the racist abuses, death threats and police brutality that I get all the time." Mr Katagar posted a video he had previously recorded showing a police officer indicating he was permitted to carry out his protest, provided there was no safety risk.

"At the moment we are allowing you to stay given that you're not blocking any traffic," the officer said. "If you stay right where you are here you are safe. The minute you move anywhere else and you are unsafe or are unsafe to vehicular traffic you will have to be moved." Bystander Dilmen Ramadan filmed the incident from her Socialist Alliance stall outside Flinders Street Station. "Week after week Jafri has been there holding up his sign and it's never been an issue. For some reason today I looked over and saw police making a fuss," Ms Ramadan said. "It was totally unnecessary I'm still shaken by what happened."

Mr Katagar launched his campaign against racism last year after being told by a doctor he wouldn't understand the medical system because he was from Africa and couldn't understand English. Since his vigils began, he has described being the most-hugged man in Australia, and also the most abused. "I came here over 10 years ago and since my time here I realised that racism is a problem and it affects us integrating within Australian society," he said. A snap protest has been organised for outside Flinders Street station from 5pm on Saturday, with more than 400 people indicating via Facebook that they would be attending. Protest organiser "Moo Kau" said he was appalled by the video footage of the pepper spray incident.
There is no doubt their visible presence make people feel good but so do puppy dogs, Ugg boots, comfortable underwear and food trucks serving ribs  but not on the taxpayer's tab. Finally, earlier this year the Auditor-General released a report on the PSOs that states the obvious. "The PSO program was intended to reduce crime and improve public perceptions of the safety of the train system. I found that while there is evidence that PSOs have increased perceptions of the safety of Melbourne's train network at night, it is not possible, on the available data, to determine if their presence has had an impact on crime," Acting Auditor-General Dr Peter Frost found. He said there were "no measures in place to determine whether the PSOs are having the effect the policy intended. So, while 1145 PSOs may make people feel safer, it is not clear whether safety has actually improved." What? We were told they would do a Clint Eastwood on Railway Ruffians turning our train trips from a manspreading nightmare where glue sniffers hog the seats into a Puffing Billy type tea and scones experience. First a few facts. In 2013-14 there were 847 reported assaults at Melbourne train stations. That is less than one per PSO (who are on a starting wage of around $60,000).

Out in the wider world we have around 74,000 crimes against the person with around 6000 general duties police available as first responders. That is 12.3 crimes per uniformed cop. During 2014 there were around 9600 criminal offences reported on Melbourne's train system or a little over eight per PSO. In the same time there were around 470,000 reported offences in Victoria or 78 per operational general duties police officer or 36 for every police officer from Chief Commissioner to junior constable. But wait  only half the crimes on the train system happen after 6pm when PSOs are on duty, which works out at 4.2 crimes per officer per year  or about one every three months. PSOs issue around 20,000 infringement notices (fines) per year. They work over 200,000 shifts so that is an average of one fine every two weeks per PSO. While senior Victoria Police are trying to free officers from working in police stations to increase the number of mobile patrols we have more than 1100 trained and armed PSOs unable to leave their railway posts. It is the modern version of the Maginot Line, only we do it on the Belgrave, Sandringham and Hurstbridge lines (stopping all stations).

Put it this way: If every station on the Frankston line is staffed with PSOs we have 60 armed law enforcement officers protecting around the same number of passengers on a late night train. At the same time we have around 200 police in 100 mobile units out on Melbourne roads, which works out at one police officer per 26,000 citizens. Which is leaving the PSOs frustrated that they are under used and confined to the railway precinct when there are desperate needs for their services elsewhere. As one PSO wrote in a submission to the Police Association: "We want to help our fellow police members ... I have been on duty, standing on one side of the road and watched drug deals taking place. Why? Because nobody is sure about whether I/we have the power to arrest. Where is this nebulous line on the ground that can't be crossed? "We have had the situation that when the boom gates on crossings get stuck down, two units have to be taken off the road to do traffic control at the boom gate while PSOs stand on the platform metres away watching."

"Last night on shift I had to let two offenders walk by because there were no vans available for transporting them." This PSO says their limited powers mean they can't search suspected drug dealers. "We can see druggos from other areas of Melbourne, who come to my area, disappear up the road for 20 minutes and come back to catch the next train out. We know they are carrying or dealing drugs, but are powerless." The author, a former national logistics manager whose job was to improve results with existing resources, says the system is not working. This is nuts. Fact  most railway crime and anti-social behaviour happens on trains and not at stations. Fact  you could provide better protection by having two sets of two PSOs on each line moving from train to train linked to a passenger text helpline. This would require a commitment of 170 PSOs to provide a seven-day a week service.

Just think what we could do with the remaining 975 PSOs. In the submission to the Police Association, mentioned above, several options are explored that would free up police. For example police are transporting people suffering mental illnesses to hospital at a rate of one an hour and are then forced to wait with the patient until assessed by a doctor  which can take hours. Added to this there are growing reports of violence in hospital casualty wards from ice- affected patients. So what about placing armed and trained PSOs in hospitals to guard patients brought in by police and protect hospital staff? Police complain they are losing hundreds of shifts per year when assigned to court security, a job perfectly suited to PSOs. They could also do traffic duty, guard crime scenes, act as drivers for supervising police and staff police station front counters. This would provide thousands of extra operational police shifts at no cost.

Certainly the Auditor-General's office agrees: "The full value of the PSO program is yet to be realised ... There is also the potential for PSOs to be used more efficiently and effectively." And so very quietly former senior Victorian policeman and retired South Australia Commissioner Mal Hyde has completed a review of the PSO program and recommends more than 30 changes to build a more flexible and practical system. But will there be a political will to change? In most areas of government endeavour such as education, health and transport there are long-term plans. But in the emotion-charged area of law and order, governments react to headlines with tougher laws and promises of more police. As a result our prison numbers have tripled in the past 15 years and the crime rate climbs. Police stations are built in swinging seats not to catch crooks but to catch voters. The government is ramping up the Police Academy to full capacity to increase police numbers, despite the police 2025 planning Blue Paper saying more staff alone is not the answer.
John Scott moved into his small Reservoir unit 21 years ago. Back then, when Rotary owned the group of 22 independent living units, he only intended to stay a year.

He liked it so much, he's still there.

Mayflower residents (L-R) Philippa Carthew, Keith Williams and John Scott. Credit:Paul Jeffers

Not for much longer. He and his neighbours, aged from their 60s to their 80s, must be out by April.

The 80-year-old's home is now owned by the Mayflower Group. The not-for-profit group bought the Reservoir property for $1 in 2008, when Rotary could no longer afford to run it.
A Perth man who sexually abused a 12-year-old girl alongside her father while she was shackled to a bed and forced to wear bondage gear has been jailed for seven years.

Nicholas Adam Beer, 36, admitted sexually penetrating and indecently dealing with the child, and also taking indecent photographs and videos of her naked but wearing a mask, gag and dog collar emblazoned with the word "bitch" while tied up at his Wanneroo home in March 2014.

Jailed man Nicholas Adam Beer was given seven years but could be out in five. Credit:Viki Lascaris

He also pleaded guilty to supplying the material to the father and possessing more than 27,000 images and 475 videos of other child exploitation material that he'd downloaded from the internet.

The District Court of WA heard the father brought his daughter to Beer's house after he responded to online advertisements offering her up.
Unconventionally successful Perth rehab centre Shalom House is being overwhelmed with desperate addicts pleading for places, even as the local council pursues court action against it.

The not-for-profit, long-term facility in Henley Brook houses addicts who volunteer for intensive counselling and slow reintegration into work and life under the watchful eye of manager Peter Lyndon-James, himself a former addict.

Peter Lyndon-James faces an uncertain future. Credit:Emma Young

Housing 37 men six months ago, it now houses 60 across six locations. Mr Lyndon-James hopes to soon take on 15 more.

Eleven volunteers have become 23 staff, some volunteers, some paid.
London: Australia shouldn't count on the UK government following through with its promise of a free trade deal after Brexit, because it may end up sticking with the European Union's trade bloc instead, a leading European politician has warned.

Former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb emerged from a series of top-level meetings in Whitehall this week with the impression that Brexiteers are not committed to a full exit from the EU trade zone.

Win for open markets, the European Parliament has backed a trade deal with Canada that is being seen as the template for an Australia deal Credit:Bloomberg

Instead they are wondering whether they could negotiate a "have the cake and eat it" position, where they gain some freedoms from Brussels but keep a close trade relationship that might preclude outside deals.

"One [option] that I hear echoed in the halls of Whitehall but I'm not too convinced about myself would be that the UK would remain a member of the Customs Union," Mr Stubb said.
Manila: In his latest outburst Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has told foreign investors they can leave his country if they don't like his often obscenity-laden comments or deadly crackdown on drugs.

"So be it. Leave our country. Then we can start on our own. I can go to China. I can go to Russia. I have to talk with them. They are waiting for me, so what the hell?"

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte does this trademark fist bump. Credit:AP

The comments came after international rating agency Standard and Poor's warned that extrajudicial killings are threatening the Philippine economy and endangering its democratic institutions.

Mr Duterte said he couldn't care less if international agencies think his comments make investors nervous.
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Dozens of disgruntled renters from across the city rallied outside Barclays Center on Sept. 22 demanding lawmakers protect them from high rents, eviction, and landlord harassment, then held a funeral procession mourning the sad state of the citys housing stock.

The ralliers chose Kings County as their battleground because so many longtime locals are hurting from the impact of gentrification over the past decade that has made Brooklyn one of most expensive housing markets in the country, according to one organizer.

Brooklyn has for the last 10 years has become a brand in and of itself, so weve seen hundreds of thousands of people move into the borough, said Michael Higgins Jr., a community organizer with activist group Families United for Racial and Economic Equality. People feel it and thats why theyre out there.

After assembling outside the stadium, the protesters stormed through the surrounding neighborhoods with placards in the shape of tombstones and coffins, making stops at new Downtown luxury housing complex City Point and the Brooklyn Housing Court, before finishing up at the Gowanus Houses.

The rally was just one of many that took place across the country on Thursday as part of the Renters Day of Action  a movement demanding a nation-wide freeze on rents and unjust evictions, for all foreclosed homes be turned into affordable housing, and for stronger laws protecting tenants right to organize without being harassed by their landlords.

And if the rabble-rousers didnt achieve their lofty goals, their demonstration at least gave heart to the victims of slumlords who are fighting to stay in their homes, one ringleader said.

I hope it gives everybody hope, said Park Slope rabble rouser Rev. Billy Talen, head of anti-consumerism group the Church of Stop Shopping. The landlords and their lawyers are sometimes very mean-spirited and put false announcements on their doors and intimidate older folks into believing they must give up. But when they have people as you can see of all races and ages, of all genders, of all persuasions, when they see our good feelings, they then will have hope themselves and contact somebody and find out their landlord was bluffing.
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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?
Online shopping firm is going to set up three new fulfilment centres in India by December-end. Currently, it has 24 centres across 10 states having a total area of 6 million cubic feet. The new facilities will add 1.5 million cubic feet space to the company's existing warehouse infrastructure in the country, according to India director(category management) Noor Patel.
B2B e-commerce platforms inventory management services is gaining popularity among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This has resulted in reducing inventory costs by 40 per cent for SMEs.

SMEs who would earlier procure raw material from various sources and stock it for one month to three months, are now opting for B2B e-commerce players like Power2 SME, Tradohub and IndiaMart are offering inventory on behalf of SMEs, thereby reducing the former's inventory costs by over 40 per cent. According to SMEs, this has reduced their stock maintenance cost drastically and also supplying has become easy.
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have stopped last-minute discount offers, resulting in 45-90 per cent rise in airfares on key metro routes this week compared with fares in the last week of August and the first one of September.
The country's largest carmaker India on Friday announced crossing the milestone of 15 lakh vehicles in its cumulative exports.

"These vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa. Early this year, the company's premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, became the first car to be exported from India to Japan," the company said in a statement.

MSI had started exports to Europe in 1987-88, when a small number of cars were sent to Hungary.

"Thereafter, exports have grown at a steady pace, as new models and markets were added from time to time. Although exports business is inherently subject to economic and policy changes in the destination countries, the company has been able to maintain an upward trend in exports over the years," it said.

MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said: " has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries. Our products like Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe."



In 2015-16, MSI's top five exported models were Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and Ciaz. Among destinations, Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia were the top export markets.

MSI's newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, is also exported to South Africa and Tanzania and will be exported to SAARC countries in the future, it said.

The company's hatchback Zen, India's world car of the 1990s, took the company to many new markets. Exports were bolstered also by the iconic Maruti 800 and later, A-Star.

Alto, the company's best selling model in India for over a decade also has a sizeable presence in the export markets, having clocked over 3,90,000 sales cumulatively, MSI added.
has said that the company is expanding its footprint in the radio business as it is showing good growth. In the Annual General Meeting of the company held in Chennai on Friday, the shareholders of the company sought it to expand its business with a national television channel, rather than remaining a regional channel.
In the wake of rising tension between India and Pakistan, top officials of Gujarat government have reviewed the threats and security of ports and coasts of the state. Minister of state for shipping and ports, government of India was also present at the meeting.

"When Gujarat is connected with Pakistan through sea route, security of ports and coasts becomes important. The state has one major and 48 minor ports and security of it is in priority," said Mansukh Mandavia, MoS for ports and shipping, government of India.
In a day of dramatic developments, the Supreme Court terminated the parole and other interim arrangements allowed to Sahara chief after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) informed the court that it had received intimation from the Income Tax (I-T) department that the groups properties that were being put on auction were already under provisional attachment by the I-T department.
Schools were advised to remain closed for two days from Friday after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy rains in and other areas that were already battered by multiple spells of rains and associated flooding in the last ten days.
In the wake of the dastardly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri region in which 18 Indian Army soldiers lost their lives, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Friday issued a 48 hour-deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India, saying they will push them out of the country if they don't go back to their nation.

"We give a 48 hour deadline to Pakistani Actors and artists to leave India or will push them out," said Amey Khopkar, Chitrapat Sena president.

This comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two nations after four terrorists killed 18 Army personnel at an Army camp in Uri region.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack as probe agencies reportedly recovered weapons and ammunition bearing Pakistani insignia from the site.

Pakistan has, however, flatly rejected New Delhi's claims of involvement in the Uri terror attack, stating that the latter has a traditional tendency to point fingers at the former whenever a terror attack takes place on Indian soil.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the attack and said that it won't go unpunished.

Notably, it is not the first time that Pakistani artists have been threatened by Mumbai-based political parties.
is unlikely to cooperate with India following a terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Jammu and Kashmir that left 18 soldiers dead, a Pakistani daily reported on Friday.

India on Wednesday summoned Pakistan's envoy Abdul Basit and said it was ready to provide fingerprints and DNA samples of the terrorists killed in the September 18 attack.

" is unlikely to accept India's offer because of the Modi government's malicious campaign to defame Islamabad by prematurely blaming it for the latest incident," the Express Tribune quoted an unnamed official as saying.

"On one hand you (India) are declaring a terrorist state, while on the other hand you are expecting us (Pakistan) to cooperate with you," the official told the daily.

Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack that has pushed India-Pakistan relations to a new low.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed CBI to proceed with the investigation in slain journalist Rajdev Ranjan's murder case and directed the Bihar police to provide protection to his family.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also issued notices and sought response from RJD leader Shahabuddin, Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, the son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Bihar government on the plea of Ranjan's wife seeking transfer of the case from Siwan in Bihar to Delhi.

The apex court directed the CBI to file a status report of its investigation before it on October 17, the next date of hearing.

The bench directed the Superintendent of Police, Siwan to provide police protection to the Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan and their family.

Asha had moved Supreme Court seeking transfer of probe and trial in the case to Delhi alleging that media reports had shown two absconding killers of her husband in the company of recently-released RJD leader Shahabuddin and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav.

She had sought reliefs including a direction to CBI to take up the investigation forthwith in view of the fact that the proclaimed offenders, Mohd Kaif and Mohd Javed, have been spotted with Shahabuddin and the state Health Minister, where several cops were also present. Kaif surrendered in a Siwan district court of Siwan on September 21.

The scribe, working with a vernacular daily, was shot dead on the evening of May 13 in Siwan town by some sharp-shooters allegedly at the instance of then jailed RJD leader, the plea alleged, adding that despite being named by the family of the journalist, Siwan police did not name Shahabuddin in the FIR as a key conspirator.

It also alleged that the RJD leader was irked over some reports by the slain journalist on the issue of murder of three sons of Chandrakeshwar Prasad. Shahabuddin has been convicted and awarded life term in one of the cases.

Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him.
Sri Lanka is keen to join India's ambitious Sagarmala project that aims to harness its 7,500-km coastline and inland waterways and step up cooperation with four south India states to form a $500 billion sub-regional economy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said.

Wickremesinghe said arrangements have been finalised to make Sri Lanka a strong economic and technological hub in the Indian Ocean region, extending necessary support for naval, air, communication and business operations.

Delivering the keynote speech at the Colombo International Maritime Conference (CIMC) on Thursday, he said the Sagarmala project is an advantage for Sri Lanka.

"Joining the Sagarmala is an advantage for us, not a disadvantage," the Sri Lankan prime minister said, ruing that in the last few decades, misled by socialism, India and Sri Lanka closed trade links and became "land-based economies".

"Sri Lanka supports India's Sagarmala programme of building ports around the country, and will use para-diplomacy to build stronger links with India," Wickremesinghe said.

The Sagarmala is aimed at harnessing India's coastline and inland waterways to boost industrial development. It was originally floated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2003 but its perspective plan was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April this year.

The ambitious project with a projected outlay of Rs 4 lakh crore is expected to reduce cost for transporting goods. It holds significance as maritime logistics is seen as a vital component of the Indian economy, accounting for 90 per cent of EXIM trade by volume and 72 per cent of EXIM trade by value.

Wicremesinghe also recalled Sri Lanka's strong historical links with Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. He said his government was planning to engage in para-diplomacy with the Indian states to integrate with their economies.

Southern Indian states and Sri Lanka can form a $500 billion economy, he said but stressed that infrastructure developemnt alone won't be enough.

"We must increase the training of personnel and employ modern shipping laws," he said. "Small steps, if enacted correctly, can lead to immense prosperity," he added.
The decision of central government to merge the railway budget with the Union general budget will be very helpful for funding, said Union Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, he said that once the budgets merged, the responsibility of raising funds for the Railways will be with the central government. This would also help its functioning, he added.
Despite rising political tension, sections of businesses continue being bullish on India-Pakistan trade relations. An example of this was seen in Ooty on Friday, far from the line of control where counter-infiltration operations were in full swing, where representatives of Pakistan Tea Association (PTA) said tea export from India could double if the supply of quality tea improves.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) will seek fuller disclosure from companies looking to list on stock exchanges. This will include embedded value, details on policies, value of new business, and their maturity, apart from financial information. Embedded value is the sum of the net asset value and present value of future profits of an company. Net asset value is assets minus liabilities.
2nd Meeting of High Level Group of Eminent Experts to Strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism concludes All member countries agreed to move forward towards operationalizing the SAARC Terrorist Offences and Drugs Offences Monitoring Desks

The 2nd meeting of the High Level Group of Eminent Experts to strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism concluded here today. The two-day meeting was chaired by Director, Intelligence Bureau, Shri Dineshwar Sharma, with the participation of delegations from all SAARC member countries. During the meeting, the issues of terrorism and the measures to strengthen the SAARC anti-terrorism mechanism were discussed.

Besides terrorism, the important issues discussed during the meeting included drugs trafficking, financing of terrorism and cyber crimes.

The member countries shared their national experiences on various related legislations to counter terrorism. All member countries of SAARC agreed to move forward towards operationalizing the SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) and the SAARC Drugs Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) in order to strengthen the combat efforts against terrorism.

All member countries agreed to cooperate on capacity building by way of sharing their expertise on the subjects related to suicide terrorism, counter radicalisation, drugs trafficking and cyber security. Other issues like corruption and money laundering were also brought up for discussions as they also contribute towards terror financing.

During the meeting, there were discussions on fine-tuning the SAARC Anti-Terrorism mechanism by improving and sharing regional monitoring systems, real time exchange of information, capacity building through training of human resources and early ratification of the relevant SAARC Conventions. The meeting endorsed the importance of regional cooperation in effectively tackling the menace of terrorism.
Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Prakash Javadekar Chairs Review Meeting of Iisers and IISc Emphasis on Research and Innovation for Sustainable Progress; Greater Autonomy to Premier Higher Education Institutions

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri Prakash Javadekar today chaired the review meeting with Directors of five Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, located at Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, at IISER, Mohali (Punjab). This was followed by interaction with students and faculty of IISER Mohali where he received feedback for improving the performance of these institutions. He was accompanied by the Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (Higher Education) Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey.

Interacting with the media after the meetings at IISER Mohali, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that the meetings were good and fruitful and helped in deciding the road ahead for these premier institutions of science education. He said that the government role must be that of a facilitator and not a controller, for which it proposes to give more autonomy to premier institutions of higher learning, based on their performance.

Shri Javadekar said that the Prime Ministers scholarship for research is being envisaged for IISERs on the same lines as for IITs and IIMs.

Laying emphasis on research and innovation, Shri Prakash Javadekar expressed the view that perceptions matter for which joint effort of IITs, IIMs and IISERs must be ensured so that the quality of education being imparted in our top institutions gets reflected in their international rankings. He said that research and innovation must power the Make in India campaign, as sustainable progress is achieved only in those nations which themselves innovate.

The Union Minister has already held review meeting of IIITs, IITs and IIMs before this. Improving the quality and promoting research in these institutions has been the underlying principal theme of reviewing all the central institutions. He will also be meeting with Vice Chancellors of 41 Central Universities at Banaras Hindu University on 6th October 2016. The scheduled meeting with Vice Chancellors of Central Universities will focus on actions taken and proposed for improvement of quality in education, research, internal resource generation, infrastructure, student centric initiatives, and e-governance initiatives.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump suggested that rival Hillary Clinton was responsible for unrest after police shootings of African-Americans, saying she "supported with a nod" the idea "that cops are a racist force to our society".

Clinton "shares directly in with the responsibility for the unrest that is afflicting our country," Trump told a crowd in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday, while the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, braced for a third night of protests following a fatal police shooting of a black man on Tuesday night.

"Rioting in the streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and it must be ended now," Trump said.

Trump's remarks came as police confirmed the death of a protestor shot in demonstrations in the aftermath of the killing of Keith Scott in Charlotte, the Guardian reported.

Police and Scott's family have told contradictory accounts of the shooting, with officers alleging he had a gun and family saying he held a book.

Mike Pence, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, also spoke about the issue on Thursday, telling pastors in Colorado that he disagreed with protesters who have demonstrated against police abuses for nearly two years.

"Donald Trump and I believe that there's been far too much talk of institutional bias or racism within law enforcement," Pence said, insisting the issue was resolved. "We ought to set aside this talk about institutional racism and institutional bias."
Yahoo! 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.
Iran used the UN General Assembly to accuse the United States of failing to implement aspects of the historic nuclear deal, demanding that Washington do so or risk formal complaint.

President Hassan Rouhani complained that America is dragging its feet on its side of the bargain, and elaborated on his complaints at a follow-up news conference with reporters.

"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 world body, referring to the deal.

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 banking system, limiting its ability to benefit from the end of sanctions.

Iran says the agreement has already led to a significant rise in oil exports, but that in other sectors banks are concerned they will be liable for prosecution 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 a news conference following his address.

Rouhani told reporters that the United States was guilty of delays, a "complete lack of transparency" and failure to take action on commitments.

He complained of a "severe delay" over the sale of passenger jets for example, accusing the United States of failing to prepare the requisite paperwork between signing the agreement in July 2015 and the accord coming into effect.

"There would have been ample time within that window to take all the necessary actions for the subsequent steps," he told reporters.

The United States is the only problem, he said. "Other nations are working hard to realise their commitments," he told reporters.

The Iranian President welcomed the prospect of US companies doing business in Iran. "If we have issues, those are with the United States government, not with the companies, not with private enterprise," he said.

Tehran has threatened to take action in the 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.
Permanent arrest warrant has been issued against former Pakistani president general (retired) by a sessions court in Islamabad in the murder case of Lal Masjid deputy cleric Abdur Rashid Ghazi who was killed in a military operation in July 2007.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (West) Pervaiz-ul- Qadir Memon has directed Aabpara police to make all out efforts to arrest Musharraf, reports the Express Tribune.

Islamabad Senior Superintendent of Police, as well as the deputy commissioner (DC) has been ordered to seize all properties of Musharraf, other than the land paying revenue to the government.

The court has also confiscated surety bonds of Rs 2,00,000 which had been submitted by Musharraf's guarantors when he was granted bail by a sessions court in November 2013.
South Korea's government said cash held by Co Ltd and funds pledged by its parent group should meet the costs of unloading some $14 billion in cargo stranded on vessels operated by the troubled container line.

The collapse of South Korea's biggest shipping operator late last month has plunged the shipping industry into chaos ahead of the crucial year-end holiday shopping season as dozens of vessels and their crews wait for money needed to pay for port and handling fees.

The government said a 60 billion won ($54 million) loan pledged by Korean Air Lines Co, Hanjin's largest shareholder, and additional support promised by executives associated with the firm should cover the costs related to the offloading of all Hanjin ships.

"We've calculated the costs that will be needed to offload the cargo, and this can be covered roughly with the funds that have been pledged," Vice-Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok told reporters on Friday.

South Korea will also announce new measures to bolster the shipping industry in October, which will include advice on how other shipping can avoid Hanjin's problems in the future.

90% of Hanjin's 97 container ships should have completed offloading by the end of October, the government said. Hanjin has begun returning leased ships to their owners, and some vessels have been sold.

On Friday, the Singapore high court approved the discharge of cargo controlled by five container shipping on the Hanjin Rome, one of the several seized ships owned or leased by Hanjin.

The Hanjin Rome was arrested in a dispute over unpaid rental payments totalling more than $2.4 million owed to German shipowner Rickmers Holding, court documents show.

There are 24 crew members stuck on board the Hanjin Rome, 11 South Koreans and 13 Indonesians who are not allowed to use an port facilities, the ship's captain told Reuters.

Food supplies were limited and crew members must ration carefully, Moon Kwon-do added.

"To maintain water, we distribute water once a week on Wednesday for personal use such as laundry", he told Reuters.

South Korea's maritime ministry said it would work with shipowners and unions to help more than 1,200 crew members stranded on vessels Hanjin is responsible for.

Video footage provided by shipping unions broadcast on South Korean television this week showed some crews fishing for food and complaining of inadequate water supplies.

The video had been "edited to exaggerate" conditions on vessels, the maritime ministry said.

"Seafarers will be very anxious and their families at home will be concerned and distressed," said Ken Peters, Director of Justice and Public Affair at maritime welfare charity, The Mission to Seafarers.

"The Mission to Seafarers has now issued a global alert to all our 200 port welfare teams to be ready to assist Hanjin seafarers when they come into port."

($1 = 1,102.1000 won)
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.
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, school going 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," Representative to India Louis-Georges Arsenault told PTI.

Cyber bullying, cyber stalking, grooming, webcam sexual abuse, pornography are just some of the several forms of sexual abuse through Internet.

The 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 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 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.
After former Union minister of human resource development Smriti Irani rejected a shortlist earlier this year, the Board of Governors (BoG) of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, or IIM-A, on Friday shortlisted three new names for the chairman's post.
DLF, India's largest developer, is looking to file for a real estate investment trust (Reit) in the current financial year, with the capital regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), clearing the norms for Reits on Friday.
Option Strategy



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Disclaimer: Motilal Oswal Securities ( MOSL ) is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India ("SEBI") and is licensed to carry on the business of broking, depository services and related activities. MOSL is in the process of getting registered under SEBI - Research Analyst Regulations. MOSL, the spokesperson or his relatives, do not have financial interest in the securities mentioned above. The spokesperson has not served as a director, employee or officer at the subject company in the last 12 months. MOSL or its associate might be involved in market making for the subject company or have potential conflict of interest.
Shares of are up nearly 3% to Rs 484 on the BSE after the company announced that it has entered into an agreement with Glemham, a UK based managing general agent, to create a new cloud based bureau processing business.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) board meeting on Friday amended the regulations for infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs) to facilitate their growth and allowed foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to directly trade in debt .
has locked in upper circuit of 20% at Rs 42.15 on the BSE on back of heavy volumes after the company announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the restructuring of outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) subject to certain conditions.
Ever since its genesis in 2007, American television sitcom, The Big Bang Theory has continued to mainstream everywhere.

The annual Forbes list for the top earning TV actors of 2016 went to all four male casts from 'The Big Bang Theory' with Jim Parsons, for a whopping 25.5 million dollars, securing the No.1 spot yet again, reports E! Online.

Johnny Galecki snagged the No. 2 spot with 24 million dollars, Simon Helberg came in third with 22.5 million dollars, and British Indian actor, Kunal Nayyar is No. 4 with 22 million dollars.

Other actors featured on the list are Mark Harmon of NCIS, Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ty Burrell and Ed O'Neill, Kevin Spacey, Nathan Fillion and more.

Forbes 2016's Highest-Paid TV Actors complete list:

1. Jim Parsons - 25.5 million dollars

2. Johnny Galecki- 24 million dollars

3. Simon Helberg- 22.5 million dollars

4. Kunal Nayyar- 22 million dollars

5. Mark Harmon- 20 million dollars

6. Ty Burrell- 12.5 million dollars

7. Nathan Fillion (tie)- 12 million dollars

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (tie)- 12 million dollars

Ray Romano (tie)- 12 million dollars

10. Ed O'Neill- 10 million dollars

11. Eric Stonestreet- 11 million dollars

12. Kevin Spacey- 11.5 million dollars

13. Michael Weatherly (tie)- 10 million dollars

David Duchovny (tie)- 10 million dollars

15. Justin Chambers- 9.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With the Goa Children's Court all set to pronounce its verdict in the 2008 rape and murder case of 15-year-old British teenager Scarlett Keeling, the victim's mother Fiona Mackeown today thanked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its probe into the matter and expressed hope that the perpetrators are brought to book.

MacKeown, who is presently in Panaji to attend the final hearing in the case, expressed hope in the Indian judiciary and showered praise on the CBI for its efficient handling of the matter.

"I think they (CBI) have done their best... Everything was so diluted because of the delays.I think they have done everything they can," she added.

The 52-year-old British further said that she would not have come back if she had no faith in the Indian judicial system.

"I am glad there is a female judge and I think that makes a difference for me and the CBI has done everything they can," she added.

Meanwhile, the victim's lawyer Vikram Varma also lauded the CBI and said the matter based on evidence available and eyewitnesses appears to be an absolute case of culpable homicide.

"We are hoping for a verdict (in our favour) and there is a possibility that along with the verdict, if they are guilty, we may have sentencing also today," Varma said.

"There have been problems in matters of homicide or culpable homicide. The court needs irrefutable evidence and when the evidence is destroyed by the accused or corrupt police officers then the court is always in dilemma on what basis there should be a conviction," he added.

Stating that the CBI has done its best to gather whatever evidence was available, Varma said, "It is up to the court now to make a decision and based on this evidence is the absolute case of culpable homicide and probation of narcotics and the five sections of law for which the accused have been held."

The matter will be taken up for hearing at 2: 30 p.m. on Friday.

The British teenager was raped and murdered on Anjuna beach in Goa in 2008 in which two beach shack workers Samson D'souza and Placido Carvalho have been accused of sexually assaulting her after giving her a cocktail of drugs and leaving her unconscious in the shallow waters.

Her body was found in the early hours of February 19, 2008.
A special session of the Karnataka legislative assembly was convened on Friday over the Cauvery Waters issue and it decided to pass a resolution to only release water for the purpose of meeting the basic concerns of Bengaluru and the Cauvery Basin.

Two days ago the Congress government in the state decided to defer the release of 6,000 cusecs of water a day ordered by the Supreme Court and the state's assembly is expected to back that decision today in the form of a unanimous resolution.

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.

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.

In Tamil Nadu, Opposition party DMK on Thursday urged the state government to follow suit and discuss the next course of action over the water sharing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A delegation of Japan-India Parliamentarians' Friendship League (JIPFL) called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.

The delegation was led by Mr. Hiroyuki Hosoda, and included Mr. Katsuya Okada, Masaharu Nakagawa, Mr. Naokazu Takemoto and Mr. Yoshiaki Wada.

The JIPFL delegation conveyed their condolences for the victims of the cross-border terror attack in Uri, J&K on 18 September 2016.

The JIPFL delegation welcomed PM's call for greater international cooperation against the global menace of terrorism, and for coordinated efforts to isolate the State sponsors of terrorism.

The Prime Minister recalled his successful visit to Japan in 2014, during which he had interacted with JIPFL in Tokyo. The Prime Minister said that India and Japan have laid the foundations for strong cooperation in many areas for decades to come.

The JIPFL delegation conveyed that there is strong bipartisan support in Japan for strengthening relations between Japan and India, and welcomed the progress achieved in High Technology cooperation, especially in High Speed Railway.

The Prime Minister recalled that Prime Minister Abe's visit to India in 2015 was a landmark visit in the history of our bilateral relations, and said that he is looking forward to visiting Japan in the near future.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Barkha Shukla Singh on Friday defended herself in the case filed against her and former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit by her successor Swati Maliwal, saying the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) is probing the matter and whoever is found guilty will be punished.

"She (Swati Maliwal) is remembering these things when I have already filed a complaint against her in the ACB. If there was anything like this then she should have filed the case against me earlier. It doesn't matter; we are not sacred of these things. The case has been registered in the ACB and it will probe the matter and whoever is found guilty will be punished," Singh told ANI.

Singh alleged that a 'fraud' Maliwal was acting as per the instruction of Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal.

Maliwal had earlier approached the ACB with a complaint against two former DCW chairpersons and the former Delhi Chief Minister accusing them of gross financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds.

The ACB officials have said that they would first go through the contents of the complaint and then launch a preliminary investigation.

Earlier this week, an FIR was filed against Maliwal over alleged irregularities in appointment of staff in the women's panel.

This development came after she was grilled by the ACB over the matter.

Speaking to the media after being questioned, Maliwal said that they have asked her 27 questions and have given her a week to respond, adding the questions pertain to how the DCW managed to make so many appointments.

"In the past one year, we have handled 11,500 cases and attended 2.25 lakh calls. In the past eight years, the former chairperson managed only one case. What is troubling everyone is how we managed to do so much work? We will cooperate in the investigation," Maliwal said.

The DCW is under the ACB scanner for arbitrarily appointing 85 people in the last one year.

Around 90 percent of contractual staff of the DCW is the members of ruling AAP.

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has expressed a desire to see his country be part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the 71st United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

Rouhani also lauded Sharif's vision which he said has translated the CPEC into reality, reports Dawn.

While asserting that Iran considers Pakistan's economic development as its own development, the Iranian president said that there is a need for defence cooperation between the two countries.

He also said that Pakistan's security is the security of Iran.

Both sides discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, especially oil, gas and electricity.

They also noted that progress on Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline and electricity import from Iran would help Pakistan overcome its energy shortages in the coming years.

Sharif also apprised Rouhani on the Kashmir issue.

Meanwhile, Rouhani extended an invitation to Iran to Sharif.

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Within an hour of its release, the official trailer of 'Ae dil Hai Mushqil' is trending high on twitter and has created a stir among movie buffs with its passionate portrayal of love and friendship.

The two and a half minute trailer shows the dynamic equation between Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and gives a glimpse of the sexy Fawad Khan and his love for Anushka.

While Anushka, in the trailer, is seen rooting for friendship with Ranbir and then eventually reveals his courtship with Fawad, Ranbir, after going through heartbreak finds the ethereal Aishwarya, who is playing a poetess.

Ranbir's heartfelt dialogue, "mujhse pehle jaisi mohabbat mere dilbar na maang," in his sexy baritone is certainly enough to steal away millions of hearts of his female fans.

Ahead of trailer release, the cast of the Karan Johar's directorial created a buzz on social media, attracting the attention of the fans.

Ranbir, who usually is known for staying away from the social media platforms hacked the official 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkils' Twitter handle and tweeted, "Baby Jo. Rk here. Trailer ka time toh bata sabko. @karanjohar."

To this, Karan Johar replied, "RK!!! Will tell the time when you get officially onto this amazing platform called @TwitterIndia."

Anushka Sharma, who is currently in Amsterdam shooting for her upcoming Imtiaz Ali's 'The Ring' also posted a video announcing the official date of the trailer launch and asking people to keep their love alive and make this Diwali - 'Ae Dil ki Diwali'.

The movie is scheduled to release on October 28.

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The Shiv Sena on Friday said the entire world is aware about terrorism spreading from the land of Pakistan and said Islamabad is taking advantage of the situation as New Delhi cannot hold it responsible for the same.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut lashed out at Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for turning a blind eye to the terrorism breeding on his soil.

"Nawaz Sharif is the Prime Minister of Pakistan and talks like that. Everyone in the world knows how terrorism has spread from the land of Pakistan. If there were no terrorists in Pakistan, America wouldn't have killed Laden or the Taliban chief," Raut told ANI.

"If there was no terrorism in Pakistan, they would not have given safety to Dawood and his whole gang. Pakistan has people like Hafiz Sayeed, Lakhvi; they are sitting there and threatening India," he added.

The Shiv Sena leader was also critical of China's support to Pakistan.

"No one would have the courage to support Pakistan openly. Everyone knows what China is doing from the back, but no one will support Pakistan openly.

Whatever the Pakistan media spreads, China will say it does not support Pakistan, but that does not mean China supports India," said Raut.

"We always have had diplomatic win, but diplomatic win will not solve the Kashmir issue or stop the killing of our soldiers. We want a win which solves the Kashmir issue or stops the sacrifice of the Army," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Pakistan Prime Minister raked up the Kashmir issue at the United Nations and 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, who was addressing the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), demanded an "independent inquiry into the extra-judicial killings" and a U.N. fact-finding mission to Kashmir "so that those guilty of these atrocities are punished."

China had earlier on Wednesday said it stands with Pakistan and will continue to stand with the country in future.

However, China the very next day distanced itself from reports claiming that Premier Li Keqiang had conveyed his country's backing to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue during his meeting with the Pakistan Prime Minister.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The activists have said that Pakistan's Operation "Zarb-e-Azb", which was against militant groups, has destroyed the homes of the locals instead of terrorists and has victimized the Pashtun community.

The International Forum for Rights of Pakistan hosted a seminar at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva earlier this week on the human rights violations caused by the Pakistani Army under the garb of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

Speakers at the conference included Afghani human rights activist Faiz Mohd Zaland, Member of the Senate of Polish Parliament Jacek Wlocowicz , Executive Director of South Asia Democratic Forum Paulo Casaca , Executive Director Baluchistan House Tarek Fateh and Baluch Representative at the UNHRC Mehran Marri.

In his remarks at the conference, Zaland stated that the Pakistan Army and its intelligence agencies had victimized the Pashtuns, who were living in North and South Waziristan, adding that the military operation had only destroyed the homes of the local people and not the terrorists as claimed by the Pakistani Government.

He pointed that with UN agencies and the media denied access to the areas of the operation, the Pakistan Government had ensured that these atrocities did not come out in the open.

Wlocowicz in his speech said that though the Pakistan 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 two million people leave 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 said that the Pakistan 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.

Echoing similar sentiments, Mehran Marri said 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 .

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today described Pakistan as "Na-Pak" and also dubbed it as a "factory of terrorism" which had become a threat to the world.

"Pakistan is not Pak it is Na-pak, because of the unholy alliance of Pakistan with terrorists , with the major terrorist groups ,it proves that Pakistan is not Pak, it is Napak," he said.

"That is why you see Pakistan is completely isolated before the world. No country is ready to support Pakistan because of its nefarious and evil designs and for their support of the infrastructure of terrorism," Naqvi told ANI.

"If Pakistan is not ready to shut down the infrastructure of terrorism, then definitely it will face serious consequences," he added

The minister said the entire world had realised that Pakistan sponsors terrorism and shelters terrorists, which not only poses dangers to India but also to peace and humanity the world over.

"No country can afford such type of the nefarious design by a neigbour. Ofcourse, wait and watch," he added.

"I can assure the world and the people of the country that India is in safe hands ,as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a strong nationalist leader and there will be no compromise with anti forces," he said.

Sharif raised the issue of Kashmir and praised the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, at United Nations Genral Assembly(UNGA) on Wednesday.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today attended a function marking the release of the book "Citizen and Society," written by the Vice-President Hamid Ansari.

The book was released by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the Vice President for presenting his thoughts to the future generations through the book.

He said today technology has converted citizens to netizens, and traditional boundaries are being obliterated.

However, in India, he said, there is a unit called "Family" between citizen and society, which has been our biggest strength.

He said India should be proud to be a country of so many dialects and languages, and so many different faiths, living in harmony. He said all citizens have made a contribution to make this happen.

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Humour, acerbic wit and satire stem from a literary genre that makes you chuckle, smirk or sneer. And if this rendition comes with a vibrant play of picturesque words, it brings alive characters that lend certain unique depth to the narration. Renee Ranchan's debut collection of short stories, To Each With Love

Internationally renowned Reginald Massey, Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, London, has commended the book in as many words: "In my considered opinion, The Fiefdom! and From the Attic are minor masterpieces. In the former, for the first time, I have read the traumas and tribulations of professional Indians living in a third-class feudal society based on caste and class. She is the first writer who has written on this sensitive subject with such insight. And indeed, For Your Loins, Sir can be scripted into a ground-breaking Bollywood film."

Interestingly Massey traces the trajectory of short stories penned skilfully by Anton Chekhov, Guy de Maupassant, O. Henry, Oscar Wilde and closer home the Nobel Laureate Gurudev Tagore, Munshi Premchand and Saadat Hasan Manto before he deduces that "... Ranchan's stories have a strange charisma about them, and that is what seduced me to read them with pleasure and immense interest. They explore the hypocrisy of Indian society at every level, and she delves deep into the psychology of the devastating Indian Mother figure, who sustains, and at the same time devours Mother India."

The experiential reality of the varied social milieu grips you, as whiffs of Ranchan's memories of everyday life find a 'tangible form'. The author's insightful grasp of the human psyche amid distraught situations, with an inimitable light-heartedness is truly engaging. Be it the portrayal of a stereotype bahu Vimla Jain awaiting the birth of a son to salvage her marital status; a country bumpkin Chander metamorphosing into a street savvy domestic aide; a frustrated spinster school teacher Lulla fighting demons of her singlehood; a sophisticated memsaab Andrea bringing to fore the gaping class contrast and its inherent conflict; a Rebecca grappling with the vagaries of family inheritance; or a Kashmiri Mataji with honey & peach complexion ruing her youthful days as she passes away: "It was a banana-mooned night when the sky was more sapphire-shaded than black. The moon unfurling this blueness, pulling the brightest stars to itself. That was the night when Mataji was found dead. Her baby pink mouth pouting a newborn smile, the blue sky in her eyes bright.

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The US-India Council (USIBC), as an official partner of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, concluded a multi-city road show in the United States.

Led by Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner of Gujarat, the delegation also included representatives from Invest India, FICCI, ONGC and KPMG. This is the fifth year of partnership between Vibrant Gujarat and the US-India Council.

In 2015, USIBC led the largest ever US delegation to the summit providing top business leaders with opportunities to interact with the chief minister of the state as well as senior state and central government officials.

The multi-city industry roundtables aim to provide an opportunity for the delegation to present Gujarat as the leading investment destination in India.

The council organized industry receptions and roundtables in Houston, Chicago, New York, Washington, DC and Menlo Park, providing an opportunity for the delegation to meet over 100 top US companies across industries, including healthcare, food and agriculture, defense, logistics and infrastructure.

Some of the companies in attendance during the road show included MasterCard, UST Global, JP Morgan, Thompson Reuter, Abbott, Aemetis, Lockheed Martin, Cisco and Welspun.

As part of the road show, the council also hosted a roundtable with Ajay Pandey, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT). GIFT is being developed as a global financial and IT services hub, a first of its kind in India, designed to be at or above par with globally benchmarked financial centers.

Pandey discussed the International Financial Services Centre in GIFT and the benefits to the entities setting up operations in these cities that include the Minimum Alternative Tax, reduced from 18.5 percent to nine percent, the Security Transaction Tax (STT), Commodity Transaction Tax (CTT) and Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) waived off.

At the conclusion of the road show, Mukesh Aghi, President of USIBC, noted that, "The state of Gujarat is one of the leading states in India for industries and is recognized as India's growth engine. Vibrant Gujarat Summit is one of the most notable efforts in India's attempts to place itself as the topmost investment destination. USIBC is delighted to partner with the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, having long supported Gujarat's pro-business environment. The summit is also timely as it will be held during a critical phase of the GST roll-out."

Providing the key note address during the road show, Bharat Lal highlighted the significance of Gujarat as a complete business destination that is located strategically, has an inherent entrepreneurial spirit and is home to a diverse range of industries such as pharmaceuticals, agro and food processing, and a robust logistics industry.

As a result, the state ranks among the top five states for FDI inflow and 19 percent of the industrial output comes from the state of Gujarat. The Vibrant Gujarat Summit is the definitive platform to engage in discussions with key policy-makers, thought leaders and businesses who are shaping the future of India.

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The US Embassy in Kabul has welcomed the signing of peace agreement between the Afghan Government and one of the country's largest militant groups Hezb-e-Islami led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

"We welcome today's accord negotiated and concluded by the Government of Afghanistan and Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) as a step in bringing the conflict in Afghanistan to a peaceful end," the Khaama Press quoted a statement by the US Embassy as saying.

The statement added that Washington continues to support 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 draft peace agreement between the Afghan Government and Hezb-e-Islami party was signed yesterday.

Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar signed the agreement on behalf of the government while Mohammad Amin Karim signed the agreement on behalf of Hezb-e-Islami.

The agreement was signed after almost six months of continued negotiations between the two.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Focus on 7 States with highest Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will soon launch Mission Parivar Vikas in 145 high focus districts having the highest total fertility rates in the country. These 145 districts are in the seven high focus, high TFR states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam that constitute 44% of the country's population. The main objective of 'Mission Parivas Vikas' will be to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework.

These 145 districts have been identified based on total fertility rate and service delivery (PPIUCD and Sterilization performance) for immediate, special and accelerated efforts to reach the replacement level fertility goals of 2.1 by 2025. Recent data suggests that these 145 districts have TFR of more than/equal to 3.0 (56% of the 261 districts in the 7 HFS) and are home to 28% of India's population (about 33 Crores). However, only 22% of India's protected couples and 40% of India's couples with unmet need reside in these districts. These districts also have a substantial impact on maternal and child health indicators as about 25-30% of maternal deaths and 50% of infant deaths occur in these districts Moreover, 115 of these districts (79%) have high percentage of adolescent mothers.

The key strategic focus of this initiative will be on improving access to contraceptives through delivering assured services, dovetailing with new promotional schemes, ensuring commodity security, building capacity (service providers), creating an enabling environment along with close monitoring and implementation.

The Mission will be implemented in all the 145 districts at one go.

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Shares of L&T Technology Services will debut on bourses today, 23 September 2016. The initial public offer (IPO) of L&T Technology Services received bids for 1.83 crore shares, as per the data on the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website. The IPO was subscribed 2.53 times. The initial public offer (IPO) of L&T Technology Services had opened for bidding on 12 September 2016 and closed on 15 September 2016. The company has issued shares at Rs 860 per share, the top end of the Rs 850 to Rs 860 per share price band for the IPO. The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) category was subscribed 5.01 times. The non-institutional investors category was subscribed 1.03 times. The retail individual investors (RIIs) category was subscribed 1.75 times.

Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel)'s chairman & managing director, Atul Sobti, said that in spite of financial year ended March 2016 (FY 2016) being an extremely challenging year, the company recorded the highest-ever commissioning of projects in its history and the highest order booking in the last five years in FY 2016, ending the year with significant traction in growth drivers.

Addressing shareholders at the 52nd annual general meeting of the company, Mr. Sobti said that enhanced focus on project execution has resulted in Bhel creating history by way of commissioning/synchronizing an all-time high 15,059 megawatts (MW) of power generating equipment during the year. Despite intense competitive pressure in the power and capital goods markets during the year, Bhel achieved the highest order booking in the last five years, at Rs 43727 crore, a 42% leap over 2014-2015. The company ended the year with a total order book of Rs 110730 crore for execution in 2016-2017 and beyond. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 September 2016.

Shriram Transport Finance Company said that a committee of the company allotted 1,300 secured redeemable non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of face value of Rs 10 lakh each, aggregating to Rs 130 crore on private placement basis. The NCDs have a tenure of three years from the date of allotment. The NCDs carry a coupon rate of 8.25 per annum. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 September 2016.

Majesco announced that it has entered into an agreement with Glemham, a UK based managing general agent (MGA), to create a new cloud based bureau processing business using Majesco CloudInsurer to reduce the cost of transacting General Insurance in the UK market. Majesco CloudInsurer platform will be used to initially provide commercial lines insurance to both the broker and the small medium enterprise (SME) markets. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 September 2016.

Gallantt Ispat said that a meeting of the board of directors of the company will be held on 29 September 2016, to consider and approve the disposal of two subsidiaries - Shree Surabhi Wheat Products and Shree Surabhi Flour Mills. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 September 2016.

Speciality Restaurants said it has opened new Sigree franchise restaurant at Nagpur. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 September 2016.

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Majesco rose 2.98% to Rs 484.05 at 09:22 IST on BSE after the company announced that it has entered into an agreement with Glemham, a UK based managing general agent, to create a new cloud based bureau processing business.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 September 2016.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 25.68 points or 0.09% at 28,747.45

On BSE, so far 16,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 26,338 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 488 and a low of Rs 476 so far during the day. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 789 on 12 January 2016. The stock had hit a record low of Rs 303 on 29 September 2015.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 11.62 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5.

Majesco announced that it has entered into an agreement with Glemham, a UK based managing general agent (MGA), to create a new cloud based bureau processing business using Majesco CloudInsurer to reduce the cost of transacting General Insurance in the UK market. Majesco CloudInsurer platform will be used to initially provide commercial lines insurance to both the broker and the small medium enterprise (SME) markets. Based on the Majesco CloudInsurer platform, the business will deliver Net Rated products to all distribution channels, supporting full cycle processing across the Internet. Capacity is being provided by a number of different underwriters. Processing expense ratio in the business is expected to be around 5% versus the typical 14%-18% seen across the market.

Majesco CloudInsurer provides a core insurance software platform leveraging Majesco core solutions with a digital, multi-channel platform leveraging Majesco.

Majesco's net profit fell 64.96% to Rs 0.89 crore on 10.47% rise in total income to Rs 8.97 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q4 March 2016.

Majesco enables insurance business transformation for about 150 insurance customers worldwide by providing solutions which include software, consulting and services.

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In a lacklustre trading session, key benchmark indices traded with minuscule losses in afternoon trade. At 13:19 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 25.26 points or 0.09% at 28,747.87. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 4.80 points or 0.05% at 8,862.65.

In overseas stock markets, European stocks edged lower as investors paused for breath after recent gains and awaited the latest data on manufacturing and services activity in the euro zone. Asian stocks edged lower amid a slew of economic data. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite settled 0.28% lower. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was currently down 0.39%. The MNI China business sentiment index came it at 55.8 in September 2016, up from a marginally revised 54.1 in August, driven by a faster increase in new orders and a further strengthening in confidence among manufacturing companies. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Average ended 0.32% lower. Japanese manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in seven months in September, a preliminary survey showed today, 23 September 2016. The IHS Markit/Nikkei Japan Flash Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 50.3 in September from a final 49.5 in August on a seasonally adjusted basis.

US stocks registered modest gains yesterday, 22 September 2016, extending previous trading session's gains as investors digested several economic data releases and the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy decision. US home resales unexpectedly fell in August 2016. The National Association of Realtors said yesterday, 22 September 2016 that existing home sales declined 0.9% to an annual rate of 5.33 million units.

Closer home, the market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,277 shares rose and 1,198 shares declined. A total of 234 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.55%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.54%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

Index heavyweight Reliance Industries (RIL) rose 1.07% to Rs 1,099.30. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,100.50 and a low of Rs 1,088 so far during the day.

FMCG stocks were mixed. Godrej Consumer Products (down 1.26%), Jyothy Laboratories (down 0.86%), Dabur India (down 0.82%), Colgate Palmolive (India) (down 0.76%), Hindustan Unilever (down 0.58%), GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (down 0.56%) and Marico (down 0.24%), edged lower. Nestle India (up 0.09%), Bajaj Corp (up 0.15%), Britannia Industries (up 0.67%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care (up 1.34%) and Tata Global Beverages (up 2.70%), edged higher.

Most pharmaceutical shares edged higher. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 1.81%), Cadila Healthcare (up 1.42%), Strides Shasun (up 1.26%), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (up 0.90%), Piramal Enterprises (up 0.84%), Cipla (up 0.83%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 0.70%), Alkem Laboratories (up 0.46%), Divi's Laboratories (up 0.17%) and Aurobindo Pharma (up 0.12%), edged higher. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 0.1%), Wockhardt (down 0.12%), IPCA Laboratories (down 1.35%) and Lupin (down 1.54%), edged lower.

Morepen Laboratories surged 8.87% at Rs 27 on reports that the company may sell its over-the-counter (OTC) brands to focus on active pharmaceutical ingredient and home diagnostics business as growth drivers. As per reports, Morepen Laboratories is considering a business rejig which could lead to a potential sale of the over-the-counter brands, including antiseptic cream Burnol. The company's OTC portfolio include Lemolate cold and cough relief remedy, Sat-Isabgol, anti-fungal and antibacterial cream Itch Beat, Fever-X, Pain-X, a face wash and 2 Cool hair oil, among other brands.

Jubilant Life Sciences gained 3.92% at Rs 644.65 after the company said that its material wholly-owned subsidiary's board of directors approved offering of unsecured high yield bonds. The board of directors of company's material wholly-owned subsidiary, Jubilant Pharma (JPL) at a meeting held today, 23 September 2016, approved the proposal to launch a benchmark offering of unsecured high yield bonds (notes) outside India by JPL. The notes are proposed to be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading. Jubilant Pharma is a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore outside India. The announcement was made during market hours today, 23 September 2016.

Gayatri Projects rose 1.11% to Rs 683.05 ater the company secured a Rs 1255 crore contract in a joint venture with Russian construction company PTPS. The contract is for rehabilitation and upgradation of four laning of a highway in Odisha on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode. The announcement was made during market hours today, 23 September 2016.

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Held on 23 September 2016

Gujarat Themis Biosyn announced that at the Board Meeting held on 23 September 2016 following businesses were transacted.

1. Approved appointment of Hinesh Doshi as an Alternate Director to J. H. Choi w.e.f. 23 September 2016.

2. Approved proposal to seek consent of members under Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013 for giving loans, providing guarantees or securities and/or to make investments.

3. Approved draft Notice of Postal Ballot for seeking consent of members under Section 186 of the Companies Act, 2013.

4. Approved Appointment of M/s. H. V. Gor & Co., Company Secretaries as Scrutinizer for the purpose of conducting Postal Ballot and E-voting.

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A divergent trend was witnessed between the two key benchmark indices with the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, trading with small losses and the Nifty 50 index trading with minuscule gains. At 12:15 IST, the Sensex, was down 9.71 points or 0.03% at 28,763.42. The Nifty was currently up 2.40 points or 0.03% at 8,869.85.

In overseas stock markets, Asian stocks edged lower amid a slew of economic data. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite was currently off 0.18%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was currently down 0.02%. The MNI China business sentiment index came it at 55.8 in September 2016, up from a marginally revised 54.1 in August, driven by a faster increase in new orders and a further strengthening in confidence among manufacturing companies. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Average ended 0.32% lower. Japanese manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in seven months in September, a preliminary survey showed today, 23 September 2016. The IHS Markit/Nikkei Japan Flash Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 50.3 in September from a final 49.5 in August on a seasonally adjusted basis.

US stocks registered modest gains yesterday, 22 September 2016, extending previous trading session's gains as investors digested several economic data releases and the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy decision. US home resales unexpectedly fell in August 2016. The National Association of Realtors said yesterday, 22 September 2016 that existing home sales declined 0.9% to an annual rate of 5.33 million units.

Closer home, the market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,287 shares rose and 1,035 shares declined. A total of 205 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.73%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.68%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

Auto stocks witnessed a mixed trend. TVS Motor Company (up 1.02%), Bajaj Auto (up 0.43%), Mahindra & Mahindra (up 0.67%) and Hero MotoCorp (up 0.21%) edged higher. Ashok Leyland (down 0.77%), Eicher Motors (down 0.65%), Tata Motors (down 0.59%) and Escorts (down 0.17%) edged lower.

Maruti Suzuki India (Maruti) was up 0.24% at Rs 5,608. The company said it has attained cumulative exports of 15 lakh vehicles. In 2015-16, the top five exported models for the company were Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and Ciaz. Among destinations, Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia emerged as the top markets for Maruti Suzuki export models. The newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, is also exported to South Africa and Tanzania and will be exported to SAARC countries in the future, Maruti said. The announcement was made during market hours today, 23 September 2016.

Power generation and distribution stocks were mostly higher. Reliance Infrastructure (up 1.05%), Reliance Power (up 1.06%), JSW Energy (up 0.82%), Adani Power (up 0.54%), NTPC (up 0.19%), CESC (up 0.23%) and Power Grid Corporation of India (up 0.11%) edged higher. Torrent Power (down 1.19%), NHPC (down 1.12%), Tata Power Company (down 0.59%) and GMR Infrastructure (down 0.43%) edged lower. Jaiprakash Power Ventures was unchanged at Rs 4.48.

Shares of state-run coal mining giant Coal India were up 0.11% at Rs 328.05.

Shares of L&T Technology Services were currently trading at Rs 895.10 on BSE, at a premium of 4.08% over the initial public offer (IPO) price of Rs 860 per share on its debut on the bourses today, 23 September 2016. The stock made its debut at Rs 900, a premium of 4.65% over the IPO price. The stock hit a high of Rs 931 and low of Rs 886.95 so far during the day. The company had priced the IPO at Rs 860 per share, the top end of the Rs 850-860 per share price band for the IPO. The IPO which closed on 15 September 2016 received strong response from investors. The IPO comprised of an offer for sale of 1.04 crore shares by engineering and construction major L&T. L&T Technology Services did not receive any funds from the IPO. L&T's stake in L&T Technology Services has fallen to 89.77% from 100% earlier after the IPO.

Shares of L&T were up 0.02% at Rs 1,499.35.

Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) rose 1.9% at Rs 149.90 after the company's chairman & managing director Atul Sobti said the company recorded its highest-ever commissioning of projects and highest order booking in the last five years in the financial year ended 31 March 2016 (FY 2016), with significant traction in growth drivers. Addressing shareholders at the company's annual general meeting yesterday, 22 September 2016, Sobti said that enhanced focus on project execution has resulted in Bhel creating history by way of commissioning/synchronizing an all-time high 15,059 megawatts (MW) of power generating equipment during the year. Despite intense competitive pressure in the power and capital goods markets during the year, Bhel achieved the highest order booking in the last five years, at Rs 43727 crore, a 42% leap over FY 2015. The company ended FY 2016 with a total order book of Rs 110730 crore for execution in FY 2017 and beyond. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 22 September 2016.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday, 22 September 2016, named three outside experts as members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the names of Chetan Ghate, a professor at Indian Statistical Institute; Pami Dua, director at Delhi School of Economics (DSE); and Ravindra Dholakia, professor at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, as MPC members. The six-member MPCthe other three members are from RBIwill conduct its first monetary policy review on 4 October 2016. The members of the committee from RBI are Governor Urjit Patel, deputy governor R. Gandhi, who is also in charge of the monetary policy, and executive director Michael Patra. The RBI governor will have a casting vote in case of a tie.

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A rangebound movement was witnessed as key benchmark indices hovered a tad below the flat line in mid-morning trade. At 11:15 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 20.95 points or 0.07% at 28,752.18. The Nifty 50 index was currently down 4.70 points or 0.05% at 8,862.75. The market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE, 1,182 shares rose and 969 shares declined. A total of 177 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.62%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.52%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

Stocks of public sector banks edged lower. IDBI Bank (down 1.61%), Canara Bank (down 0.81%), Bank of India (down 0.54%), Punjab National Bank (down 0.39%), Union Bank of India (down 0.62%), State Bank of India (down 0.16%), Indian Bank (down 0.39%), Bank of Baroda (down 0.18%) and United Bank of India (down 0.62%) declined. Corporation Bank (up 0.57%) edged higher.

Stocks of private sector banks were mixed. Axis Bank (down 4.14%), ICICI Bank (down 0.71%), Yes Bank (down 0.28%) and IndusInd Bank (down 0.31%) edged lower. Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 0.46%) and RBL Bank (up 0.45%) edged higher.

Index heavyweight HDFC Bank was up 0.47% at Rs 1,313.85. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,315 and a low of Rs 1,303 so far during the day.

IT stocks witnessed a mixed trend. HCL Technologies (up 1.25%), TCS (up 0.62%), Oracle Financial Services Software (up 0.13%) and Tech Mahindra (up 0.05%) edged higher. Wipro (down 0.01%) and Persistent Systems (down 1.2%) edged lower.

Index heavyweight and software major Infosys was down 0.45% at Rs 1,053.70. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,059.85 and a low of Rs 1,048.50 so far during the day.

Morepen Laboratories surged 8.27% at Rs 26.85 on reports that the company may sell its over-the-counter (OTC) brands to focus on active pharmaceutical ingredient and home diagnostics business as growth drivers. As per reports, Morepen Laboratories is considering a business rejig which could lead to a potential sale of the over-the-counter brands, including antiseptic cream Burnol. The company's OTC portfolio include Lemolate cold and cough relief remedy, Sat-Isabgol, anti-fungal and antibacterial cream Itch Beat, Fever-X, Pain-X, a face wash and 2 Cool hair oil, among other brands.

Jubilant Life Sciences gained 3.09% at Rs 639.50 after the company said that its material wholly-owned subsidiary's board of directors approved offering of unsecured high yield bonds. The board of directors of company's material wholly-owned subsidiary, Jubilant Pharma (JPL) at a meeting held today, 23 September 2016, approved the proposal to launch a benchmark offering of unsecured high yield bonds (notes) outside India by JPL. The notes are proposed to be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading. Jubilant Pharma is a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore outside India. The announcement was made during market hours today, 23 September 2016.

In overseas stock markets, Asian stocks witnessed mixed trend amid a slew of economic data. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite was currently off 0.25%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng was currently down 0.01%. The MNI China business sentiment index came it at 55.8 in September 2016, up from a marginally revised 54.1 in August, driven by a faster increase in new orders and a further strengthening in confidence among manufacturing companies. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Average was currently down 0.27%. Japanese manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in seven months in September, a preliminary survey showed today, 23 September 2016. The IHS Markit/Nikkei Japan Flash Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose to 50.3 in September from a final 49.5 in August on a seasonally adjusted basis.

US stocks registered modest gains yesterday, 22 September 2016, extending previous trading session's gains as investors digested several economic data releases and the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy decision. US home resales unexpectedly fell in August 2016. The National Association of Realtors said yesterday, 22 September 2016 that existing home sales declined 0.9% to an annual rate of 5.33 million units.

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With effect from 01 September 2016

Vani Commercial announced that Praveen Kumar resigned from the post of Company Secretary, Compliance Officer & Internal Auditor of the Company on 01 September 2016, due to his personal reasons and he communicated his inability to work with the Company after the said date. Consequently the Board of Directors of the Company accepted his resignation and relieved him from his duties w.e.f. 01 September 2016.

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Vedanta rose 1.9% to Rs 171.85 at 15:00 IST on BSE after the company said that it signed the concession agreement for redevelopment of berth no. 8, 9 and barge berths at Port of Mormugao, Goa.

The announcement was made yesterday, 22 September 2016.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 34.54 points, or 0.12%, to 28,736.43.

On BSE, so far 7.48 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volume of 15.1 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 171.90 and a low of Rs 167.20 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 180.70 on 7 September 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 58.10 on 12 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 22 September 2016, falling 4.7% compared with Sensex's 2.81% gains. The scrip, however, outperformed the market in past one quarter, gaining 32.98% as against Sensex's 7.5% gains.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 296.47 crore. Face value per share is Re 1.

Vedanta said that the project will be handled by Goa Sea Port Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Sterlite Ports, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vedanta. The total estimated project cost is Rs 1145 crore and construction is expected to be completed in five years.

Vedanta on 15 April 2016 had received letter of award for redevelopment of existing berths 8, 9 and barge berths at the Port of Mormugao, Goa on develop, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis for a concession period of 30 years with the Mormugoa Port Trust.

The redeveloped berths are planned to handle all type of cargo including iron ore, coal and general cargo with an expected capacity of 19.22 million tonnes per annum. Vedanta is the largest exporter of iron ore from Goa and this project would provide logistic integration to its iron ore business apart from handling other cargo, the company had said at that time.

Vedanta's consolidated net profit fell 27% to Rs 615.02 crore on 15.2% decline in net sales to Rs 14364.01 crore in Q1 June 2016 over Q1 June 2015.

Vedanta is a diversified natural resources company. Its business primarily involves producing oil & gas, zinc - lead-silver, copper, iron ore, aluminium and commercial power. The company has a presence across India, South Africa, Namibia, Australia, Ireland, Liberia and Sri Lanka.

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Nearly 30 countries and over 2,000 Indian as well as foreign delegates are participating in the 20th edition of the India International Sea Food Show, which was inaugurated by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here on Friday.

The three-day event, the largest sea food fair in Asia, is aimed to boost the country's aquaculture industry with the US, EU, Southeast Asia, Japan and China as major sea food partners.

Addressing the inauguration, Sitharaman said that a number of marine products will be benefited by the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), which has been expanded to Rs 23,500 crore now.

"Certain marine and sea food products will be benefited from the new MEIS scheme which has been expanded by Rs 1,500 crore," Sitharaman said.

The three day event jointly organised by Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPDEA) and the Sea Food Exporters Association of India (SEAI) was also attended by Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu among other dignitaries.

"An agency for development and management of aquaculture and fisheries will be set up under MPEDA in all coastal states of the country," she said.

The biennial event, first held in 1973 in Mumbai, is the largest sea food fair in Asia which sees participation of sea food importers and exporters of marine products, processors, manufacturers and other sectors. India is the world's second largest sea food producer.

The event aims to boost value addition to marine products and promote sustained small scale aquaculture through empowerment of farmers. This year's sea food show has been organised with the theme of "Safe and Sustainable Indian Aquaculture" to project the quality of aquaculture.

India recorded an export of $5,511.12 billion in FY 2014-15, a growth of 10.05 per cent compared to last year. The country envisions a turnover of $10 billion by 2020.

According to Sitharaman, value addition to the marine products was necessary to boost land based sea food growth.

She said that many foreign organisations from countries like Japan and South Korea want to invest in the country to provide best aquafarming practices.

Venkaiah Naidu also emphasised on the value addition of the sea food products and said it was "the need of the hour".

Citing the World Bank and Moody's reports, Naidu used the platform to assure the foreign delegates that when economies of other countries was tumbling, India's economy was stable and was moving forward.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that he wanted Visakhapatnam to be known as "global aquaculture hub" and appreciated the support provided by the government in boosting agriculture facilities in the state.

He said more than five per cent of the state GDP was contributed by the fisheries industry.

The Chief Minister said the government was working on various projects to boost the marine industry and due to various projects in Andhra Pradesh, the country's sea food export industry in the future will be comparable to China.

At least 160 private and government funded laboratories will be set up in the state under a common network of aqualabs and a separate jetty for fishing harbours will be constructed, the Chief Minister said.

(Priya Yadav can be reached at priya.y@ians.in)

--IANS

py/vgu/rn

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Decrying the "silence" of nuclear scientists on the alleged health hazards of uranium mining in Jharkhand, a group of activists on Friday said they handed over "radiation contaminated" soil and water samples from villages around the Jaduguda mine to a section of researchers here, as a form of protest.

Alleging radiation exposure hazards from the mine is triggering deformities and neuromuscular weaknesses among villagers in the vicinity of the mine, activist group Jal Jangal Jameen passed on the samples to scientists of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, who they said have turned a deaf ear to their grievances on radiation hazards.

"Due to mutation from radiation, deformed babies are born. We conducted a health camp recently and we discovered 46 patients out of 193 families had various deformities," Chhandak Chatterjee, a member of the activist group which includes doctors, told IANS.

The Jaduguda Uranium ore of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) is located in the mineralised zone of East & West Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand.

Mining operations at Jaduguda began in the year 1967. The mine has the distinction of being the first uranium mine in the country.

"The radioactive waste seeps through water bodies and is impacting the village. However, the scientists are not considering the matter at all. They say it is due to malnutrition but we are questioning why there are high numbers of deformities in that particular area," said the activist.

In addition, he pointed to the fact that the food canteens which the UCIL officials use, procure their produce from West Bengal and Odisha.

"Vegetables and fruits also grow in area around the mine. If they claim nothing is wrong with the soil and water, then why do they procure produce from outside. If the samples are safe, they should be able to keep it with them in their rooms," added the activist.

The forum plans to hand over similar samples to eminent nuclear physicist Bikas Sinha on Saturday.

--IANS

sgh/ssp/rn

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The Indian armed forces should be in a state of constant preparedness, specially in the wake of recent terror attack on an army camp in Uri, Jayanti Bose Rakshit, the grandniece of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, has said.

Speaking at a function organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce here on Thursday evening, she said had Bose been alive, he would certainly have liked the Indian armed forces to be "up and about for any threats" to the nation.

Rakshit also said that it was a deeply flawed yet popular view that the armed forces and the police were the only ones responsible for the safety and security of the nation.

"The world seems to get more dangerous place to live in with each passing day and powers inimical to safety and interests of India are playing lethal games to harm us," she said, adding greater vigil was required at the moment.

Speaking at the event, which was organised to pay tribute to the martyred Indian soldiers and to debate on the security situation in the country and at the borders, actor Sushant Singh said people should introspect whether they were worthy of being protected by our soldiers at all.

"We should think in alls seriousness on why should these great soldiers lay their lives for us, a society which is cruel and corrupt" he said while pointing out how women were being stabbed in public and girls molested out in open as people turn their backs on such serious matters. I actually feel that we are not worth all this safety and protection when we don't value our soldiers and policemen," he said.

He also exhorted the people to go and make a small but serious and honest start to ensure that they become the change rather than seeking and waiting for change. The problem with India, he said, was that everyone was fighting their own battles and there is no unanimity amongst us on issues facing the nation.

"I try not to be part of the rot, tell my chartered accountant not to fudge figures and evade tax," he said, while adding in the same breath that he knew that all this would result in failure.

Retired army officers also spoke on the occasion.

Major General Rajinder Singh of the Bihar regiment, which lost 15 men in the Uri attack narrated his experiences on the border and said most Kasmiri's were kind- hearted, well-meaning people who had small "khawishein" (aspirations).

Brigadier Raj Dev Singh said in the changed times, an army job was no more considered honourable and that people think a job of a peon at the RTo office was much better (because of the money that can be made from bribes). Seeking respect for soldiers, he informed the gathering that he had lost his 32-year-old son who served the Indian Army.

Sadly, he noted the Indian Army had become a last priority for young men and women as they seek more cash-rich and cushioned jobs.

Gaurav Prakash, chairperson of the PHD Young Business Leaders Forum said the time had come for a sustained pursuit of terrorists who come and attack India from across the border.

--IANS

md/vm

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Film: "Banjo"; Director: Ravi Jadhav; Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Nargis Fakhri, Dharmesh Yelande, Raja Menon, Aditya Kumar, Mohan Kapur, Luke Kenny; Rating: **1/2

"Banjo" is a film about the underdogs -- both the musical instrument which has never perhaps got its due, as well as the four protagonists of the film, who play banjo in the ghettos of Mumbai to earn an extra buck to supplement their meagre income. They may be passionate about their music, but earning a livelihood takes over and they never enjoy their music or take it seriously.

Chris (Nargis Fakhri) a musician from New York comes to Mumbai in search of the popular quartet, after hearing the clip her friend and sound recordist Mikey (Luke Kenny) sends her, as she believes they may help her make the winning composition which she is keen to submit for a music festival in New York.

Nandkishore aka Tarrat (Riteish Deshmukh), a banjo player by night and an extortionist by day, who collects money for the local corporator Patil, whom he looks up to, Paper (Aditya Kumar), who is a paper seller, Vajjya (Raja Menon) who constantly dreams of flying in an aircraft, complete with a sexy air hostess, and Grease, a car mechanic, form the foursome. Music binds these friends who crave for respectability, which obviously eludes them.

The familial pressures to give up music and earn a proper livelihood, rival gang fights of slum dwellers and their dreams, action, romance, drama, to an extent even humour and pathos, director Ravi Jadhav has managed to inject all the possible ingredients in this low-budget film and given it the flavour of an inspirational musical drama with messages too.

Yet, there's something innately lacking in this film. It lacks depth. Its rustic essence is endearing and appealing in parts, but it skims the surface, as do all its one-dimensional characters. The premise seems half-baked and far-fetched and unfortunately, the weak screenplay does not help.

Riteish Deshmukh is sincere and even attempts to look like the musician he is playing. He fights, he emotes, sings and dances. His raw vulnerability and simplicity in some scenes is endearing, but the script limits him.

Nargis Fakhri seems incongruous, even though she makes a genuine effort to portray her character. The basic premise of her character travelling from New York to Mumbai in search of a local banjo group in the chawls, itself is preposterous. Her accent is in keeping with her character, as is her svelte attire, but it does not gel somewhere.

Aditya Kumar, Dharmesh Yelande and Raja Menon play their parts effectively. Aditya Kumar particularly stands out in the trio. Mohan Kapur as the head honcho of a music company has nothing much to offer. Luke Kenny as Mikey the sound recordist who speaks flawless Hindi and Marathi, is real.

The music by Vishal-Shekhar is undoubtedly a highlight of the film and "Bappa", "Rada", "Udan choo" and "Rehmo Karam" are numbers with foot-tapping beats, soulful lyrics and are mellifluously sung. The songs are well-picturised too and cinematographer Manoj Lobo has captured Mumbai beautifully.

In parts, "Banjo" has traces of films like "ABCD" and the obstacles in their path to make it big seem forced too, but it is the simplicity of the theme, which redeems it to an extent.

"Banjo" could have been a story well told, sans the customary cliches of the lives of slum dwellers, but nevertheless, it has its moments of earnestness and Riteish and the music of the film are certainly among them. You may not love it, but you will definitely not hate this film.

--IANS

troy/nn/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Film: 'Banjo'; Director: Ravi Jadhav; Starring: Riteish Deshmukh, Nargis Fakhri; Rating:***

In what could be seen as a breakthrough performance for the underrated Riteish Deshmukh with reservations, "Banjo" provides him a chance to play a street musician in the bustling egalitarian bylanes of Mumbai where water scarcity is seriously countermanded by an abundance of dreams.

In fact one of the dreamers dreams of owning his personal water tank.

Seriously.

Deshmukh plays Taraat, who we are told, has been raised by a now-old and senile musician (Janardhan Parab). Early in the film when in typical "Raja Hindustani" style Taraat is supremely smitten by the Gori Memsahib from the US (Fakhri), he goes through a lengthy drunken monologue where he pretends to hold a conversation with his inert foster-father who can't hear a thing. Deshmukh exercises admirable control over the dialogues and the shifting emotions in the sequence, never overstating the self-pity for applause.

It requires herculean proportions of daring to attempt such a lengthy sequence during these times when audiences fidget faster than flies. As you sit patiently through Marathi director Ravi Jadhav's first Hindi film, you will come across many such moments that defy conventions of commercial cinema even while the narration remains stubbornly true to Bollywood cinema's age-old tradition.

In fact "Banjo" is endearingly old-fashioned in its world view. Its chawl-bred characters still look at fair skin as a sight for joy and happiness. And a woman showing legs and cleavage are ogled with unwavering eyes. Nargis Fakhri as the NRI who gathers together Deshmukh's banjo band for a fusion binge, is laughably plastic. She moves through the motions of her character's journey from the skyscrapers of New York to the slums of Mumbai with not a single moment of genuine emotion.

In a curious way her artifice tent-poles the plot, pins down its mad rush of street music and sweaty energy to a decorative centrepiece. Director Jadhav and his skilful cinematographer Manoj Lobo have shot the film in the unglamorous locations of Mumbai, abandoned ships, dockyards and warehouses where the street music is played with a vigour that is not only infectious but also unique to Hindi cinema which tends to avoid celebrating fringe sections of society.

Here the robust rhythms of banjo music merges with the thumping sound of burps belches yelps and yodels that rent the air in flamboyant notes of articulate street wisdom. The gaudy colour palates in the Ganpati song are segregated from the more austerely defined colours of the club concert in the later part of the film.

The characters range from the endearing (Dharmesh Yelende, Ram Menon and Aditya Kumar are exceedingly likable as Deshmukh's buddies) to the identifiably normal (Luke Kenny as Fakhri's desi-firangi Mumbaiyya friend) and exasperating (Mohan Kapoor as leery music producer needs to be whacked for playing a character so shallow).

Where the film founders terribly, almost bringing down the plot's spiralling aspirations, is in cramming too many strands and sub-plots in the screenplay that are induced to create a dilating drama. Also, the visual palate of streetside bonhomie tends to get over-cute at times.

Rather than digress into a sub-plot about a politician taking on builders, Jadhav's narrative should have stuck to the story of the street musicians who are embarrassed by the lowbrow status allotted to their art, until the American woman with the long legs and the leggier pout discovers them for her own devices.

Interesting music pieces (Vishal-Shekhar), a furiously implosive background score (Sourav Roy) and a principal cast that believes in the plot's quintessential rags-to-riches logic tends to keep the storytelling afloat. However, "Banjo" is unlikely to set the box-office on fire. Its energy remains half-doused by over-statement.

--IANS

jha/lok

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that despite citizens turning into netizens due to technology and obliteration of traditional boundaries, the family continues to be the country's biggest strength.

"Technology has turned citizens into netizens, traditional boundaries are being obliterated and our thinking is fast changing. Still, between the citizens and the society, we have a unit that we call the family, which traditionally has been our biggest strength," Modi said at the launch of Vice President Hamid Ansari's book 'Citizen and Society' at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

"We should be proud to be a country of so many dialects and languages, and so many different faiths, living in harmony. We have this legacy which we need to protect and promote," added Modi

Releasing the book, President Pranab Mukherjee urged Indians to actively engage in important issues facing the country so as to protect and advance the Indian democracy.

"The book reminds us about the responsibility bestowed upon us as citizens and many a time we have failed to discharge those responsibilities. We cannot forget that without effective engagement, we can't achieve success and protect our democracy. Democracy is always noisy and our democracy is more noisy. But it always pays if we engage ourselves with issues," said Mukherjee.

"Sometimes, I wonder when I look at how we are managing a country of 3.3 million square km, having 128 crore people, seven religions, 122 languages and 1,800 dialects and yet under one system, one flag and one Constitution.

"It cannot be preserved, protected and advanced automatically. I thought it would be my duty to draw the attention of the Indian citizens to these aspects which our Vice President has done with elan," Mukherjee added.

--IANS

and/tsb/dg

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French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and pledged his country's support to India in the fight against terror.

Condoling the deaths at the Uri army camp in a terrorist attack on September 18, Le Drian expressed resolve to strengthen bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation. He said France stands with India in the fight against terrorism.

The French Defence Minister also briefed Prime Minister Modi on the current status of bilateral defence cooperation.

Modi welcomed the signing of the inter-governmental agreement on purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft earlier in the day, and called for its speedy and timely implementation.

--IANS

mak/ask/dg

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A few years ago, five M.Tech students of agricultural engineering from one of the top agricultural universities of Maharashtra came to our Institute for a four-month internship. One day, during their internship, we had some visitors to whom I was showing our electric trike. While running it, a knob came off its switchboard. To fix it, I asked one of the interns to get me a plier. He brought me a spanner instead! He did not know the difference between the two.

These students during their B.Tech and M.Tech had never worked with their hands or had even seen farm machinery and did not know anything about simple workshop equipment. They had passed engineering examinations without learning anything of practical value.

According to the latest statistics, only 6-7 per cent of India's engineering graduates are employable in the core engineering sector and these interns clearly were part of the trend.

I feel that it is not the students' fault but that of a corrupt and broken teaching system, which fleeces them. There are few good teachers of engineering, but by and large most are mediocre (even in IITs) and the stress is more on passing examinations rather than a hands-on learning experience.

In university after university and in various IITs, I have found that most of the students do not want to do any engineering but opt for MBAs, civil services and software-oriented programmes. The main reason is that they are not challenged to do any hardware-oriented engineering because of the lack of good teachers.

The teaching in most of the engineering colleges, including IITs, has been deteriorating for the last 20-30 years and is currently quite mediocre with most of the faculty not up-to-date in engineering research. In fact, IITs are consistently rated quite low in international university rankings.

Four years of engineering education is a sufficiently long time to inspire the students to take up a career in engineering. The fact that only a handful of students who pass out every year opt for an engineering or a research career shows that very little of good engineering is taught.

Most of the engineering colleges have ad hoc staff and fresh graduates become teachers. Even in IITs around 50 per cent of faculty positions are vacant. The government, in its wisdom, thinks that giving higher pay will help attract good faculty to these Institutes. This is a myth because great teachers are not attracted only by pay but by the scholarship environment of doing good research and teaching. Great engineering colleges the world over produce a good number of excellent researchers, some of whom also become great teachers.

Also, some of the problems with engineering education have been created by information technology (IT) companies themselves. In the past, these companies have heavily recruited from IITs and other good engineering college campuses. In fact, not long ago there used to be a saying "anything that moves in IIT gets a job in Infosys". This resulted in making most of the students complacent and bunking classes since they knew that they will be taken by IT companies irrespective of their grades. With this attitude, it becomes very difficult for students to learn anything.

So, what needs to be done? One of the ways forward is to create a great research and scholarship environment in IITs and engineering colleges. This can happen when faculty and students work on problems of India -- especially for rural areas. Providing basic necessities to 60 percent of our rural population is a huge technological challenge and R&D on this should come from good engineering colleges. At the same time, emphasis should be laid on faculty spending time in industry. This trend is prevalent in European and American universities and needs to be emulated in India.

Another way is for excellent engineers both in India and abroad to be invited to give lectures in engineering colleges. In addition, there are a good numbers of Indians who work as engineering faculty abroad in good schools and come on a yearly visit to India. The HRD Ministry should create systems where both groups are encouraged to teach in engineering colleges at their convenience.

A good way for students to be involved in R&D is for them to spend one or two years doing work or internships in industries and in rural science and technology NGOs. If they understand real-life problems, they will be able to provide practical solutions to them.

Once the R&D bug gets into their head, it will automatically manifest itself in innovative solutions. This R&D bug should be put into these students even during their school days by following the US-based Maker Movement (MM). The US had an old tradition of youngsters tinkering in their garages on amateur radios, making small household items, etc. With the computer revolution, youngsters stopped tinkering and moved into playing with their iPads, iPods, phones and the like. With 3D printing technologies, US schools are now making students interested in creating designs, toys and new inventions. Once bitten by this bug, it is assumed that the students will be more involved in engineering by innovating and creating hardware-oriented products during their college days.

The future of India belongs to the younger generation. All of us have to do our bit to get them involved in improving the lives of Indians. If we do not do so, there will be serious social conflicts. Unless we can provide basic amenities so that the rural poor can live a meaningful life, we will never become a great nation. This is a great challenge for all young engineers and it is my dream that they will take it up to make India a better place to live and work.

(Anil Rajvanshi is the Director, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute in Maharashtra. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at anilrajvanshi@gmail.com)

--IANS

anilr/vm/sac

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Automobile major Maruti Suzuki India on Friday said it has attained cumulative exports of 15 lakh vehicles.

The automobile manufacturer said these vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa.

According to the car maker, although exports business is inherently subject to economic and policy changes in the destination countries, the company has been able to maintain an upward trend in exports over the years.

"Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries," said Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Maruti Suzuki.

"Our products like Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe."

Akayuwa said the company's premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, became the first car to be exported from India to Japan early this year.

"It has become a symbol of the Make in India mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and taken India's exports story to a new level," Ayukawa added.

The company stated that in 2015-16, the top five exported models for the company were Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and Ciaz.

"Among destinations, Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia emerged as the top markets for Maruti Suzuki export models," the car maker said in a statement.

"The newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, is also exported to South Africa and Tanzania and will be exported to SAARC countries in the future."

--IANS

ppg/ask/dg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Muslim woman in Canada, who was denied a court appearance because of her hijab, sought legal clarification on the rights of Quebecers, who want access to justice while wearing religious attire.

Rania El-Alloul's lawyer appeared in Quebec Superior Court on Thursday seeking a declaratory judgment that would clarify that litigants have the right to wear a hijab or other religious attire in court, Toronto Star reported.

"We are seeking a declaration that what happened is wrong and she has the right to wear the hijab," Constitutional lawyer Julius Grey told the Canadian press after the hearing.

In February 2015, a judge of a Quebec court told El-Alloul that her case involving the province's automobile insurance board and her impounded vehicle would not proceed as long as she was wearing the hijab in court.

She refused to remove it and the judge put the case off. It was ultimately settled when the car was returned.

Grey said on Thursday that he believes that the judge's decision regarding the hijab violated his client's charter rights, but said opposing lawyers argued that the issue could not be settled by a declaratory judgment.

He said that a judicial complaint he and another lawyer filed against the judge on El-Alloul's behalf was rejected in February.

El-Alloul, who was present for the proceedings, has been doing well since last year's high-profile proceedings, Grey said.

Last year, El-Alloul refused more than $38,070 raised on her behalf through a crowdfunding campaign, suggesting the money be used to tell others' stories.

Despite her complaint being rejected, Grey said his client is still very interested in having her rights declared.

"She is doing it on principle," he said, adding "She is doing it because what happened was wrong."

--IANS

ask/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New York bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami's family may have had pro-jihadist views, the media reported on Friday.

Site Intelligence Group published Facebook posts by Rahami's sister sharing quotes of radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, while in other posts she appears to praise terrorists, CBS News reported.

"It seems like the family may have adopted some of the viewpoints as he did, but again, it's too early to say if they were directly involved with the attack itself," said Tara Maller, a senior policy advisor at the Counter Extremism Project.

Rahami's friends and family have told investigators that he changed after a year-long trip to Afghanistan in 2014 and became more religious and started distancing himself.

In an interview, Rahami's father said he warned federal agents in 2014 about some of his son's suspicious activities but Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) slammed the reports saying "at no time did the father advise interviewing agents of any radicalisation or alleged links to the terrorists".

Rahami's current wife, Asia Bibi Rahimi, was interviewed by the FBI in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday and said she had no knowledge of her husband's alleged plot, a senior law enforcement official told NBC News.

Meanwhile, Rahami is still hospitalised after a shoot-out with New Jersey police.

Twenty-nine persons were injured in the New York City bombing while no one was injured in Seaside Park, where a military charity race was due to take place. Rahami is also considered a person of interest for the five pipe bombs found near the Elizabeth, New Jersey, train station on Sunday.

--IANS

sm/rn

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India's civil aviation regulator on Friday said it has summoned officials from Samsung Electronics for questioning after a Samsung Note 2 smartphone emitted smoke on board an IndiGo flight causing panic.

According to a spokesperson of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), an advisory will be issued to all airlines to caution passengers who are travelling with any type of Samsung Note device in aircraft.

The development followed a Samsung Note 2 smartphone emitting smoke on board IndiGo's flight from Singapore to Chennai early on Friday morning.

Passengers on board the international flight began to panic when smoke began issuing from the overhead storage bin. Alert passengers noticed the smoke and burning smell and immediately alerted the cabin crew.

"IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning (September 23, 2016) and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board," the airline said in a statement.

"The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23 C and informed the Pilot-in-Command who further alerted the ATC of the situation on board," the statement said.

"The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per the Standard Operating Procedures prescribed by the aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung Note 2 into a container filled with water in the lavatory."

The budget passenger carrier said the aircraft made a normal landing at Chennai airport, and that all passengers were deplaned as per normal procedure.

"This equipment (Samsung mobile) will be further examined by the concerned departments. IndiGo has voluntarily informed the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)," the statement added.

On September 9, DGCA had prohibited the use of another smartphone from Samsung, the Galaxy Note 7, on board aircraft due to global safety-related incidents involving the high-end phone.

The DGCA that time issued a public notice advising travellers and the airlines to ensure that the communication device is not turned on or its battery charged on board the aircraft.

The notice further detailed that the smartphone should not be stowed away in any checked-in baggage. However, the smartphone can be carried in a switched off mode in hand-baggage.

Globally, civil aviation authorities around the world and several airlines have issued warning not to charge or switch on Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on board aircraft.

Samsung has recalled its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone over battery overheating issues globally.

The South Korean company sold about 2.5 million units of Note 7 since the device was officially released in August. However, after it discovered that some of the Note 7 batteries burst into flames when charged, it offered to swap devices in an early September voluntary recall.

Samsung recently said it will launch media advertisements to apologise for the "discomfort and concern" caused due to the ongoing global recall of its Note 7 smartphones.

--IANS

rv/dg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's civil aviation regulator on Friday said it has summoned officials from Samsung India Electronics for questioning after one of the company's smartphone -- Samsung Note 2 -- emitted smoke on board an IndiGo flight causing panic.

According to a spokesperson of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), an advisory will be issued to all airlines to caution passengers who are travelling with any type of Samsung Note device in aircraft.

The development followed a Samsung Note 2 smartphone emitting smoke on board IndiGo's flight from Singapore to Chennai early on Friday morning.

Passengers on board the international flight began to panic when smoke began issuing from the overhead storage bin. Alert passengers noticed the smoke and burning smell and immediately alerted the cabin crew.

"IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning (September 23, 2016) and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board," the airline said in a statement.

"The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23 C and informed the Pilot-in-Command who further alerted the ATC of the situation on board," the statement said.

"The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per the Standard Operating Procedures prescribed by the aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung Note 2 into a container filled with water in the lavatory."

The budget passenger carrier said the aircraft made a normal landing at Chennai airport, and that all passengers were deplaned as per normal procedure.

"This equipment (Samsung mobile) will be further examined by the concerned departments. IndiGo has voluntarily informed the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)," the statement added.

Samsung on its part said that it is touch with relevant authorities.

"We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices," a Samsung spokesperson said.

"At Samsung, customer safety is our highest priority. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information, and are looking into the matter."

On September 9, the DGCA had prohibited the use of another smartphone from Samsung, the Galaxy Note 7, on board aircraft due to global safety-related incidents involving the high-end communication device.

The DGCA that time issued a public notice advising travellers and the airlines to ensure that the communication device is not turned on or its battery charged on board the aircraft.

The notice further detailed that the smartphone should not be stowed away in any checked-in baggage. However, the smartphone can be carried in a switched off mode in hand-baggage.

Globally, civil aviation authorities around the world and several airlines have issued warning not to charge or switch on Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on board aircraft.

Samsung has recalled its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone over battery overheating issues globally.

The South Korean company sold about 2.5 million units of Note 7 since the device was officially launched in August. However, after it discovered that some of the Note 7's batteries burst into flames when charged, it offered to swap devices in an early September voluntary recall.

Samsung recently said it will launch media advertisements to apologise for the "discomfort and concern" caused due to the ongoing global recall of its Note 7 smartphones.

--IANS

rv/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan was on Friday urged by a leading daily to talk individually to countries to step up its diplomatic offensive against India.

"China is already on Pakistan's side," the Nation said in an editorial. It said greater efforts must be made to make Muslim countries publicly denounce India's policy.

It said South Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were all on India's side. Iran, it pointed out, had opted for neutrality.

"The rest of the world has chosen to look the other way, which could be countered by Pakistan asking for individual support one by one. The US and other global powers have so far chosen not to get involved," it said.

India-Pakistan ties have hit a new lot over Kashmir, and especially after the September 18 attack on an army camp in Uri which left 18 soldiers dead.

--IANS

ruwa/mr

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Border Security Forces (BSF) arrested a 30-year-old Pakistani intruder along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector on Friday, an official said.

Abdul Kayum, who claimed to be a resident of Pul Bhagawa area of Sialkot in Pakistan, was arrested between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m in the Pargwal area.

"We arrested the intruder as soon as he reached near the fence in Akhnoor area. He was unarmed," a BSF officer told IANS on condition of anonymity.

He said a mobile was recovered from the intruder.

"We are yet to ascertain the purpose of the intruder of crossing the border and entering Indian territory as he is continuously changing his statement."

The officer said "this kind of incident generally happens on the IB and we take them seriously every time."

This incident comes in the wake of the September 18 cross-border terror attack on an army camp in Uri sector in Jammu and which left 18 soldiers dead and many more injured. Four terrorist were also gunned down in the attack.

The officer said a combing operation had begun along the Line of Control (LoC) near Keran village in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday morning after noticing some suspicious movement which also forced them to resort to firing.

The army said on Thursday that it had foiled two infiltration bids on the LoC.

--IANS

rak/ksk/vm

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Russia on Friday denied that its joint military exercises with Pakistan were being held in "so-called Azad Kashmir" or in Gilgit and Baltistan, and clarified that the exercises were being held in an area in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Russian embassy here, in a statement, said: "Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called "Azad Kashmir" or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan."

"The only venue of the exercise is Cherat. All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," it said.

Cherat is located in Nowshera district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. Rattu is in Astore district in Gilgit Baltistan, an area claimed by India.

Russian troops arrived in Pakistan on Friday for the first-ever joint military exercise by the Cold War rivals.

The Pakistan media said that the tactical drills will be held from September 24 to October 7 in the Army High Altitude School in northern Pakistan's Rattu and at a Special Forces Training Centre in Cherat.

India had earlier conveyed its concerns to Russia over the proposed military exercises.

"There has been continuous communication between MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) and our counterparts in Russia," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing here on Thursday.

"This issue was also discussed at a very high level -- at the inter-governmental commission -- that was held between India and Russia," he said.

Describing Pakistan-administered Kashmir as part of sovereign Indian territory, Swarup stated: "So, our sensitivities in this regard are well known internationally and given our privileged and strategic partnership with Russia, we have rightfully conveyed our concerns to them."

The Russian statement came soon after its military personnel taking part in the drill arrived in Pakistan, belying earlier media reports that Moscow had cancelled the exercise in the wake of the terror attack that killed 18 soldiers at an army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, on September 18.

About 200 servicemen from both sides will be participating in the exercise, called Druzhba-2016 (Friendship-2016).

"The objectives of the joint exercise include developing cooperation between ground forces of the two countries, improving tactical abilities of the participating military personnel and developing a foundation for future interactions," the Pakistan embassy in Moscow said in a statement.

It said the exercises were a "manifestation of the desire" of Islamabad and Moscow "to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields of mutual interest including defence".

Analysts have noted a warming of Pakistan's ties with Russia, even as its ties with its long-term ally, the US, seem to be cooling.

Pakistan is particularly looking to Russia for arms. Reports said Moscow recently secured a deal for four Mi-35 attack helicopters, even as Islamabad is also exploring the possibilities of buying Su-35 fighter jets.

The two countries signed a military cooperation agreement in 2014 to enhance defence cooperation.

Incidentally, India on Friday signed a deal with France for buying 36 Rafale multi-role combat jets "off the shelf".

--IANS

team-rn/tsb

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ZiO-Podolsk, the machine engineering arm of Russian nuclear group Rosatom has been qualified to supply equipments for the third and fourth nuclear power units to be set up in Tamil Nadu.

In a statement issued late Thursday, Rosatom, Russia's state atomic energy corporation said ZiO-Podolsk has passed an audit to become an equipment supplier for the second phase of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP).

The audit was carried out by representatives of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the general contractor - ASE Engineering Group.

According to the statement, ZiO-Podolsk will produce eight sets of separator super heaters and the same number of high-pressure pre-heaters for the new reactors at Kudankulam.

Representatives of NPCIL visited the manufacturing arm of ZiO-Podolsk to get to know the technological infrastructure and production practices of the division.

In general, ZiO-Podolsk, apart from super heaters and pre-heaters, will supply reactor pressure vessel, main circulation pump, coolant pump, suppression pools and support plates for main reactor.

In 2003-2004, the Rosatom subsidiary produced and supplied reactor equipment for two units at KNPP. The company also supplied 24 units of passive system for heat removal were supplied.

Two further VVER-1000s are planned for construction at Kudankulam under Russian-Indian framework agreement signed in 2014.

Excavation works for Kudankulam units 3 and 4 are in progress. According to Atomstroyexport, first concrete for the new units will be poured in March 2017.

In December 2014, Moscow and New Delhi signed a document on strategic vision of serial construction of nuclear power units in India by using Russian technologies.

The document outlines plans for the construction of more than 12 nuclear power units in India, at Kudankulam site as well, Rosatom added.

--IANS

vj/ksk

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The joint Russia-India Indra-2016 drills started on Friday at the Sergeyevsky shooting range in the country's Far Eastern Primorsky territory, the authorities said.

Over 500 Russian and Indian members of the military, 50 units of infantry fighting vehicles, T-72 tanks, an unmanned aerial vehicle detachment, as well as the Eastern Military District's (EMD) attack and army aviation are involved in the drills, said the district's spokesperson Vladimir Matveev.

The joint military exercises will end on October 2, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two countries have been conducting anti-terror drills since 2003. Previous joint drills with EMD's participation were conducted in 2013 at the Mahajan shooting range in India.

--IANS

sm/dg

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The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea by political organisation Swaraj Abhiyan for a CBI/SIT investigation into the alleged wrongdoings in the purchase of helicopters by Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice C. Nagappan asked the petitioner to serve copies of its petition on the Centre and the five states and fixed the next hearing in the first week of November.

The petitioner's counsel Prashant Bhushan told the bench that there was an adverse report by the Comptroller and Auditor General with respect to Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir while media reports about Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh clearly indicated the alleged wrongdoing.

The petitioner-organisation sought a court-monitored investigation into the purchase of AgustaWestland helicopter by the Chhattisgarh government.

Bhushan told the court that the state governments have purchased VIP helicopters either without any tender or by way of sham tender but none of such deals has been investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation/Enforcement Directorate the way the purchase of VVIP chopper by the central government was investigated.

He said that in the case of Chhattisgarh, the tender itself was issued for the purchase of a particular brand of Agusta helicopter -- Agusta 109 Power E helicopter. The petitioner alleged that the helicopter was purchased from objectionable dealer having office in the tax haven of British Virgin Islands on the basis of "spurious global tenders".

--IANS

pk/tsb/vt

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A man who threw ink on Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia outside Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung's office was granted bail by a court here on Friday.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ambika Singh granted bail to Brijesh Shukla asking him to furnish a bond of Rs 15,000.

On Monday, Shukla threw ink on Sisodia when he was speaking with journalists after meeting Jung.

The ink scattered mostly on Sisodia's left arm and a part of his face, taking the Deputy Chief Minister by surprise.

When reporters asked Shukla the reason for the ink attack, he responded: "People are dying in Delhi and you (Sisodia) prefer to go on a foreign (Finland) jaunt."

Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, went to Finland to study the country's highly acclaimed educational system.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders expressed surprise that no policeman was present at the site when the attack occurred.

Shukla was said to be a resident of Karawal Nagar in northeast Delhi.

--IANS

akk/vgu/bg

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Border Security Force (BSF) troopers opened fire following suspicious movement along the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Police said the BSF troops posted in the upper bore area of the LoC in Keran sector noticed some suspicious movement after which they fired.

"Searches have been started in the area now," police said.

The army said on Thursday that it had foiled two infiltration bids on the LoCe.

--IANS

sq/ksk

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Two contract killers were arrested for killing a cloth merchant here, the Delhi Police said on Friday.

Nawab Ali, 24, and Nakul, 26, both residents of east Delhi, were arrested on Thursday, the police said.

Both allegedly eliminated Subhash Yadav, 40, for payment of Rs 2 lakh from some of his lenders and financiers. Yadav was found murdered on September 18 with multiple stab wounds.

"During investigation, it was found that Yadav owed Rs 5 crore to his lenders. He was shifting his base to Bengaluru to avoid his lenders," Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Rishi Pal told reporters.

"We also recovered a knife, bloodstained clothes and a scooty without number plate used in crime," the officer said.

The police said both arrested men were also involved in other heinous crimes. Pal said Nawab was released from jail in April.

--IANS

aks-sp/tsb/vt

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A youth was arrested in Assam's Tinsukia district on Friday on charge of raping a 20-year-old woman in a train while search is on for his two accomplices, police said.

Police said the crime took place in the Tinsukia-bound Bangalore-Tinsukia Express on Thursday night.

"The young woman, who works as a domestic help in Bengaluru, was returning home in Tinsukia ahead of Durga Puja. Most passengers travelling in a particular compartment alighted at Dibrugarh station on Thursday night. The three youth travelling in the compartment later took the woman to the train toilet and raped her," the police said.

After the train reached New Tinsukia station on Friday morning, the woman narrated the incident to her brother who had come to the station to receive her.

He informed the Government Railway Police at the station, after which one accused was held.

The woman later lodged a formal complaint against the three youths.

Police said the arrested youth, Prahlad Chhetri, confessed to his involvement in the crime but maintained that the other two were not involved.

--IANS

ah/tsb/dg

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He has turned war into a national industry, said the French philosopher Voltaire of his friend and patron King Frederick of Prussia after the two had a bad falling out. For years Voltaire tried to persuade the king to stop waging senseless, wasteful attacks on his neighbours but to no avail. Such was the temper and tenor of the 18th century that the Prussian king  a remarkable military commander and enlightened reformer  came to be known as Frederick the Great. No such appellation is likely to attach itself to Pakistans rulers and generals in posterity.
Indias TV channels and other media outfits have rarely embarrassed themselves (and the country too) as much as they have done in the wake of the fidayeen attack on an army camp in Uri. Reporting has given way to posturing, and intelligent commentary to absurd warmongering. In truth, the bellicosity seems to reflect frustration that the countrys security forces continue to have no answer to cross-border raidsbut demanding a jaw for a tooth is no substitute. Speak softly, Theodore Roosevelt had advised, but carry a big stick, and you will go far. We are doing the opposite. Amidst the noise, we dont even ask negligent or incompetent generals questions on how they allow army camps to be penetrated as easily as Sarojini Nagar Market; the business of asking tough questions does not seem to be part of journalism any more. Even people whom one should take seriously, like the former foreign minister Yashwant Sinha, have advocated adventurist lines like abrogating the Indus Water Treatya surefire way to win massive international sympathy for Pakistan.
Contradictory views over a likely notice asking the to vacate the party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, contributed to political tension in the capital. The claimed it had permission till October 2018 while government sources said the party had sought an extension a few months back and urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu was considering the proposal.
Prime Minister is likely to send a strong message to Pakistan from Kozikokde where the BJP Council's meeting begins on Friday.

The three-day conclave will start with a meeting of party office bearers and state presidents to finalise the resolutions to be passed by the Council.

BJP sources said a resolution condemning the terror attack on the Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan's role in it would be passed.

On Saturday, Modi will address a public rally on the Calicut beach. This will be first public speech of the Prime Minister after the September 18 Uri attack that left 18 soldiers dead.

"We are also waiting to hear what he says on Pakistan and Uri," Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told IANS.

He said the Council will discuss security concerns sparked by the Uri bloodbath.

Hussain said the Modi government was on the right direction and was sure to take every step to corner Pakistan and end terrorism.

"We are a strong economy. We initiated talks with Pakistan and this was the reason the whole world is supporting India and Pakistan has been isolated," he said.

At the venue, a giant poster quotes party ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya's views on Kashmir.

"Kashmir is an integral part of India and there will not be any compromise on this," Upadhyaya had said in 1968. He had also said that even the UN won't be allowed to interfere in Kashmir.

The National Council meet, dedicated to Upadhyaya, would conclude on September 25, the day the late leader was born.
In the picturesque coastal town of north Kerala, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to change its spots. As it ended the first day of its three-day council meeting, the party focussed on welfare of the poor, distancing from its core plank of nationalism and security.
The bodies of 115 people had been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast by today, three days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized in the Mediterranean while attempting to head to Europe.

Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Egypt's coastal Beheira province, provided the latest death toll and told The Associated Press that dozens more are feared dead.

An AP reporter near the Nile Delta city of Rosetta saw between 20 to 30 bodies brought in by fishing boats early Friday morning and delivered to a group of waiting ambulances lined up at the coast guard pier.

The migrants' boat capsized on Wednesday, nearly 12 kilometers from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta. Many of the dead are women and children who were unable to swim away when the boat sank.

The head of the local council in the area, Ali Abdel- Sattar, said that the currents have carried the bodies of the victims many kilometers away from the site of the sinking. "Today, four bodies, including two Egyptian children, were found 20 kilometers to the east," he told the AP.

He added that many of the migrants are believed to have been "stored in the bottom of the boat, in the fridge."



"Those are the ones who drowned first, most probably stuck, and their bodies might not be retrieved anytime soon," he said, adding, "those we found are the ones liberated from the boat. I believe many are stuck and now laying in the bottom of the sea." He said the boat may now have sunk to 16 meters (yards) below sea level.

The UNHCR estimated that the boat was packed with some 450 people, while the state agency MENA said earlier that the number might be as high as 600.

"UNHCR is deeply saddened by the loss of life after yet another boat capsized in the Mediterranean," the U.N. Refugee agency said in a statement. Of the 150 people rescued, UNHCR said that the majority are Egyptians, while the others are Sudanese and other nationalities, including Somalians and Eritreans.

Today, four people described as members of the vessel's crew were arrested over charges of human trafficking and manslaughter.

Egypt has been a traditional route for migrants travelling to Europe by sea. However, UNHCR said that since 2014 there has been a steady increase in the number of people intercepted while trying to leave.

Over 4,600 people of different nationalities were arrested this year, UNCHR said, a 28-percent increase compared to last year.

The EU border agency, Frontex, recently said more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September this year, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year.

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A court here today sentenced two persons to life imprisonment in a murder case.

Additional District Sessions Judge Dinesh Chand Singh sentenced Balender and Surender to life in prison for murder and also slapped Rs 20,000 fine on each of them.

According to government lawyer Jitendra Tyagi, Sukrampal was stabbed to death by the duo when he was returning from a wedding ceremony at Kadipur village here on February 11, 2010 over an old enmity.

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A 3-year-old boy is being dubbed as 'Mowgli' after miraculously surviving three days in a remote forest in Russia's Siberia, braving near-freezing temperatures and a woodland teaming with wolves and bears.

Tserin Dopchut survived by eating his own supply of chocolate and on his good sense finding a dry makeshift bed under a larch tree.

His rescue was personally announced by the head of Tuva Republic, Sholban Kara-Ool, who blogged: "Hurray! Little Tserin has been found alive!"



"They discovered him earlier this morning after a search in the taiga some 3 kilometres from the village of Khut," he was quoted as saying by the Siberian Times.

A huge search had been launched for the boy who disappeared after playing with dogs near his family home in the forests of Piy-Khemsky district.

He may have followed a young puppy into the woodland despite the watchful eye of his great grandmother -- who was in charge of him when he was lost.

He was eventually found on Wednesday after 72 hours in the wilderness.

More than 100 people including Russian Emergency Ministry's rescuers, police, volunteers, as well as close and distant family members joined the frantic hunt. A helicopter also flew over a search area of some 120 square km.

Regional emergencies' chief Ayas Saryglar said, "Of course, the situation was very dangerous. The River Mynas is fast and cold. If a small child fell in, it would be certain death."



"There are wolves, and bears in the forest. The bears are now fattening for the winter. They can attack anything that moves. In addition, it is warm during the day, but at night there are even frosts. If we consider that the kid disappeared during the day, he was not properly dressed -- only a shirt and shoes, no coat," he said.

Regional head Kara-Ool said, "He (the boy) recognised his uncle's voice calling his name, and called back. Once his uncle hugged him, the little boy asked if his toy car was okay. He said that he had some chocolate which he ate during the first day."



"Then he found a dry place under a larch tree and slept there between the roots. The whole village is throwing a party to celebrate his survival. He was given the second name of Mowgli," Kara-Ool said.

Searches had gone on day and night. His home village Khut has a population of around 400. There are 63 houses, and locals all joined together to hunt for the missing child. Doctors say he has suffered no serious damage from his ordeal.

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Eight Russian firefighters were killed as they battled a blaze at a warehouse in eastern Moscow, authorities said today, in the latest deadly fire to hit the city.

The bodies of the firemen were discovered after they lost contact as they fought to extinguish the huge blaze that started last evening at a plastics depot on the edge of the Russian capital, the emergency services ministry said in a statement.

"The corpses of eight colleagues have been found in the main area where the search was located," the statement said.

"Until the end there was hope that they would be alive. But due to the intense fire, the high temperatures and the thick smoke the firefighters were unable to get out."



The emergency workers who were killed were among the first to arrive on the scene and helped evacuate 100 workers from the warehouse, officials said.

They were battling flames on the roof of the building when it collapsed, the emergency services said.

Officials said the blaze -- which tore across an area of some 4,000 square metres - was eventually extinguished at 0744 local time (0444 GMT) today.

The fire is the latest deadly inferno to claim lives in the Russian capital, where safety standards are often lax.

Last month 16 migrant workers mostly from ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan died in fire at a print warehouse where they worked in the city.

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Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) here today accused former Maharashtra revenue minister and BJP leader Eknath Khadse of unduly favouring a city-based firm in connection with a land transaction, a charge refuted by him.

AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon alleged that the transaction led to "windfall gains" for ABIL, a firm belonging to real estate baron Avinash Bhosale.

As per a Government Resolution (GR) of 1951, government's



permission was needed for transferring the lease of a parcel of the land, on which the Vijayanagar Society now stands, to anybody other than society's existing members, she said.

"The GR further states that it is the government policy



to claim 50 per cent of the profit in case of a transfer," she added.

However, a deal of transfer for a plot was signed by ABIL



MD Amit Bhosale, and others on October 29, 2012, without prior government approval and without paying government taxes, she alleged.

NGO Bhrastachar Virodhi Gandhigiri Jan Andolan had filed



a case against Bhosale, who owns plot number 2 in the society where ABIL office now stands, and Sunil S Patil, who owns plot number 15, before the Additional Collector in 2014, she said.

The Additional Collector had held that prima facie the GR had not been followed, and ordered further inquiry.

However, Menon alleged that Bhosale and Patil filed an appeal before the Revenue Minister's office in January, and Khadse stayed the order without hearing the NGO's plea.

The order should be revoked and Bhosale and Patil should



be made to pay the government taxes, and further a commission be appointed to identify all such transactions at Vijayanagar Society which has about 200 plots, she demanded.

Khadse -- who had resigned from the state cabinet earlier



this year over a string of allegations against him including a questionable land deal by his family -- denied any wrongdoing.

"These are baseless, politically motivated allegations and I am going to file defamation case against Sharma," he said.

ABIL too refuted the allegations. "Police have already submitted their investigation report on the said subject to the court, so let us wait for the court's decision. These allegations are baseless and we would be filing a defamation case against them," said Amit Bhosale.

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The Asian Development Bank has sanctioned Rs 2,016 crore for funding three projects on drinking water supply in West Bengal, Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said today.

During the day he met ADB officials who have cleared the project.

Under the ADB-funded projects, a drinking water supply project will be taken up in Haroa and Rajarhat under which they will take water from the Ganga, remove the pollutants like arsenic, fluoride, etc to make it potable water, Mukherjee said on the sidelines of an interactive session at Bharat Chamber of Commerce.

The second one in Bankura will use water collected from DVC reservoir while the third one will be a piped water supply project in Nandigram.

Besides this, the government is also in talk with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for funding 90 projects related to supply of drinking water in Purulia district.

"There are 90 projects in 20 blocks of Purulia for which we are talking with JICA. They have agreed initially and we have to go to Japan in November for final talks," Mukherjee said.

This project is also worth about Rs 2000 crore under which they are planning to install subversive pumps as rivers are not perennial.

The DPR will be ready by the end of this year, he said.

Attacking the Centre, he said earlier they used to get funds from Delhi for projects like Gram Sadak Yojna but now they will have to shell out 40 per cent of the cost.

"We are raising this issue and will continue raising this issue. This is damaging rural development," Mukherjee said.

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Puducherry station of All India Radio(AIR) which boasts of having a listenership of around 76 lakhs, even from the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, today stepped into its golden jubilee year of broadcast.

Commissioned this day in 1967 as a result of relentless efforts of leaders of public opinion, local journalists and the then Lt Governor B D Jatti, the then Chief Minister M O H Farook, the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry headed then by Nandini Satpathy the station has been catering for the Tamil, French, Hindi and Sanskrit speaking sections of population.

The AIR Puducherry has a listenership of around 76 lakhs spread over the Union Territory of Puducherry and the districts of Cuddalore, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

A release from the Assistant Director and Programme Head P Prabhakaran said the broadcast is in the frequency of 1215 Khz.

The AIR here broadcasts various programmes relating to literature, agriculture, women's welfare, children, youth, science, sports, industrial workers and drama and music, the release said.

Many eminent personalities from different fields of literature, science, drama and medical sectors have shared their excellent information with the listeners and the general public through this public broadcaster.

The Health Education programmes broadcast from the station on regular basis associate doctors from the Centrally sponsored JIPMER on primary channel every Friday at 8.30 am and also over FM Rainbow with frequency of 102.8 mtrs every Thursday at 6.45 am and also over AIR Karaikal every Friday at 1.30 pm.

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Home-share booking site Airbnb has partnered with Gujarat government to enhance travel experience of the tourists, both domestic and international, visiting the state and also boosting the tourism sector there.

"Gujarat ranks among the top states in India for us, both in terms of listings and growth. We will work together to bring homestays and travel options in the state onto an international platform," Airbnb India Country Manager Amanpreet Bajaj told PTI.

He added that the two entities will work together to boost tourism and create positive travel experiences for both domestic and international visitors in Gujarat.

Gujarat is a vibrant attraction to tourists in India and abroad, enriched with its cultural nuances as well as the hospitality of its local populace, he said.

"Airbnb and Gujarat government will come together to assist homestays to come onto our global platform. We will also hold educational and sensitization sessions on 'hosting standards and best practices' for current or potential hosts of homestay facilities and unique properties in Gujarat," he added.

Airbnb will also help provide information to its users on less-explored but high potential destinations in Gujarat to promote tourism to these destinations.

The San Francisco-based firm is confident of manifold growth in its business in India over the next few years, driven by a surge in volume of travellers using its platform and increase in number of listed properties.

About 17,000 properties are now listed in India with 115 per cent growth being seen in listing in 2015 from the previous year.

In terms of travellers (bookings), there has been 185 per cent increase in travellers from India and 184 per cent increase in bookings in India (in-bound) in 2015 from the previous year.

The Indian travel market is set to pass the USD 40 billion dollar mark by 2020, according to industry reports.

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Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder today slammed Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal for "shedding crocodile tears" over the death of senior RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja.

Reacting to Badal's allegations that Congress was playing politics over Gagneja's death, Amarinder asked him as with what face he had gone to meet Gagneja's family and condole his death when they were still awaiting justice as none of the culprits had even been identified so far, leave aside arrested.

"One and a half month has passed and you continue to remain clueless about the culprits and still you have the audacity to blame us for playing politics when we are asking the genuine questions", he said.

Calling Badal's bluff, Amarinder asked why no action had been taken against the culprits responsible for murderous attack on Sant Ranjit Singh Dhadarianwale as everybody knew who was responsible.

"When you are shielding the mastermind of the attack, how can you deny our charges of your involvement in all these incidents?" he asked, while adding "everybody knows that you wanted to silence the Sants who were exposing you for your involvement in the Bargadi sacrilege".

The PCC president alleged that Badal h ad a purpose in



all this to create a sense of fear among people.

"Whether it was the sacrilege in Bargadi, Malerkotla or Ludhiana or the attack on Sant Dhadarianwale and the killing of Brig Gagneja and Namdhari Mata Chand Kaur, every probe and investigation will lead to Badal", he alleged.

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Aligarh Muslim University authorities have decided to reschedule the varsity's Students' Union election and restart the electoral process "at the earliest", a university spokesman said today.

A decision on this was taken at a special meeting of the University's Executive Council held last night.

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) authorities had made it clear that they were not in a position to hold polls on the earlier scheduled date of September 27 as demanded by a section of the protesting students.

The students had staged a dharna in front of the Vice Chancellor's residence on Wednesday night demanding roll back of Vice Chancellor Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah's decision to cancel the varsity's Students' Union election.

The University has decided that "criminal elements and expelled students" will not be allowed to enter the campus during this period, the spokesman said.

A five member committee headed by Prof Amanullah Khan, a senior member of the AMU faculty, has been constituted to monitor the electoral process and ensure a speedy conclusion on the issue.

The spokesman also scotched widespread rumours circulating in the campus that the Vice Chancellor has resigned.

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Taiwan said today China had blocked it from attending a major United Nations aviation meeting, the latest setback to its troubled campaign for international recognition.

Beijing hit back at the criticism, saying the island had "no right" to be invited.

Self-ruling Taiwan is routinely prevented from attending global forums by Beijing, which still sees it as part of its territory requiring reunification.

But the island had been hoping to attend the triennial meeting of the UN aviation agency in Montreal later this month, after it was admitted in 2013 in a major breakthrough.

That invite came under previous Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou.

But ties with China have rapidly turned frosty under new leader Tsai Ing-wen, who took office in May.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), which handles relations with Beijing, said Friday the island had not been admitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting "due to political interference from China".

"(It) is a great loss for international aviation safety and the public's right to welfare protection," the MAC said in a statement.

Beijing said the move reflected the fact that Taiwan was not a sovereign state.

"The ICAO is a special agency of the UN, and only sovereign countries can take part in it," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular briefing Friday.

"Taiwan is part of China, so it has no right to participate in this organisation meeting."



Lu said that past arrangements had been made thanks to a "consensus" between Beijing and Taipei, referring to former president Ma's willingness to concede that there was only "one China", with each side allowed its own interpretation.

Tsai has never backed that concept, angering Beijing.

"For Taiwan's participation in any international organisation, the prerequisite is the 'one China' principle," Lu said.

Taiwan was a founding member of the ICAO but was thrown out in 1971 when it lost its UN seat to China.

The agency appointed China's Fang Liu as secretary-general last year.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said the ICAO had made the "wrong decision".

"The government expresses strong regret and dissatisfaction," Foreign Minister David Lee told reporters.

Beijing has cut off all official communication with Taiwan since the new government took office.

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Members of two organisations today staged a protest here to denounce the terror attack on an army base in Uri and urged the Centre to deal with Pakistan "with an iron hand".

Rashtriya Ekta Manch and Maulana Azad Vichar Manch activists held the demonstration at the iconic Azad Maidan in South Mumbai and expressed solidarity with the families of the 18 soldiers who were martyred in the last Sunday's attack.

Hussain Dalwai, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and president of the Manch, headed the protest gathering of nearly 500 people and asked the Narendra Modi government to act against Pakistan in the wake of the Uri strike.

"Modiji, its now or never. Muster courage and show it to our enemy. We are not asking you to punish Pakistani people. We are not against them... But we are against the Pakistani government and its military which is training and harbouring terrorists," the Congress leader said.

He said his party would "firmly" stand behind the government when it takes any decisive action to teach the neighbouring country a lesson.

The protesters also "hanged" the effigies of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and its Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and demanded that Indian should snap ties with Islamabad. They also shouted anti-Pakistan slogans.

Dalwai targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Pakistan visit and giving gifts to Nawaz Sharif.

Nizamuddin Raeen, president of Minority Cell of Mumbai Congress, condemned Pakistan over the Uri attack and demanded military action against the neighbouring country for "sponsoring terrorism in India".

"Pakistan is hell bent on provoking the peace-loving citizens of India. Time has come to seek military action against Pakistan. We also urge the United Nations to declare it as a terrorist state," he said.

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Police officers across the country misuse confidential law enforcement databases to get information on romantic partners, business associates, neighbors, journalists and others for reasons that have nothing to do with daily police work, an Associated Press investigation has found.

Criminal-history and driver databases give officers critical information about people they encounter on the job. But the AP's review shows how those systems can be exploited by officers who, motivated by romantic quarrels, personal conflicts or voyeuristic curiosity, sidestep policies and sometimes the law by snooping.

In the most egregious cases, officers have used information to stalk or harass, or have tampered with or sold records they obtained.

No single agency tracks how often the abuse happens nationwide, and record-keeping inconsistencies make it impossible to know how many violations occur.

But the AP, through records requests to state agencies and big-city police departments, found law enforcement officers and employees who misused databases were fired, suspended or resigned more than 325 times between 2013 and 2015. They received reprimands, counseling or lesser discipline in more than 250 instances, the review found.

Unspecified discipline was imposed in more than 90 instances reviewed by AP. In many other cases, it wasn't clear from the records if punishment was given at all. The number of violations was surely far higher since records provided were spotty at best, and many cases go unnoticed.

Among those punished: an Ohio officer who looked up information on an ex-girlfriend and pleaded guilty to stalking her, a Michigan officer who looked up home addresses of women he found attractive, and two Miami-Dade officers who ran checks on a journalist after he aired unflattering stories about the department.

"It's personal. It's your address. It's all your information, it's your Social Security number, it's everything about you," said Alexis Dekany, the Akron woman whose former boyfriend, a police officer, pleaded guilty last year to stalking her. "And when they use it for ill purposes to commit crimes against you to stalk you, to follow you, to harass you ... It just becomes so dangerous."



The misuse represents only a tiny fraction of the millions of daily database queries run legitimately during traffic stops, criminal investigations and routine police encounters. But violators misuse systems that supply information on law-abiding citizens as well as criminal suspects.

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Heavily armed militants have attacked two security check posts in Pakistan's restive tribal region near the Afghanistan border, official said today.

The militants opened fire at a security check post in the Sheikh Baba area of Mohmand Agency and the Nawa Pass security post in Bajaur agency.

The security forces repulsed both attacks by retaliating quickly, security officials said.

No casualties were reported on either side of the border.

The TTP Jamaatul Ahrar group has aimed responsibility for the attacks.

Strict security measures were at place at mosques and other places across the agency during Friday prayers.

A local administration official said that security measures were taken on the directives of senior officials and they will stay in place for an indefinite period.

Separately, some armed men torched four trucks loaded with fruits and kidnapped three tribesmen belonging to Wazir tribe from South Waziristan Agency.

The security forces rushed to the site and have started search operation in the area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Incessant rains continued to batter the city for the third day today, prompting Telangana government to ask IT companies to allow their employees in the city to work from home even as help has been sought from the Army for rescue operation in some areas.

Reacting to the state government's request, Nasscom sent an advisory to all its members asking them to allow employees to work from home, if possible, in view of the heavy rains.

Following the downpour, which crippled normal life in some parts of the city, the state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Greater Hyderabad area today and tomorrow.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is in the national capital, reviewed the situation and instructed the Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma to take stock of the situation and estimate damage caused by rains.

Accordingly, Rajiv Sharma ordered all the District Collectors to prepare a list of damages and loss due to the heavy rains, an official release from CM's office said.

Telangana's Information Technology Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said they have sent an advisory to IT companies' association to either declare a holiday or allow their employees to work from home following forecast of heavy rains today and tomorrow.

"We have asked the IT associations to send an advisory to all the IT companies located in the city. Accordingly, they issued advisory to all the IT firms. This is in the interest of safety of the employees. The response from companies is good," Ranjan told PTI.

Heavy rains have been lashing the city, which is a major center for the technology industry, and some other parts of Telangana since the last couple of days.

The government has sought help of the Army for rescue operation in some areas of the city, for which the Defence wing has agreed, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said today.

"We sought their help and they also came forward. They have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them, the GHMC official said.

Some localities in the low-lying areas of Miyapur, Bachupalli and Nizampet continue to be inundated since the last two days. GHMC has been supplying food packets to the people in rain-affected areas.

(REOPENS BOM 16)



State IT Minister KT Rama Rao and other ministers along with senior officials toured the city and reviewed the situation. KTR instructed officials to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

Talking to reporters, he said the situation in the city is under control and requested the public not to believe in rumours.

"Army and NDRF teams are ready to extend help," he said. Normal life in some low-lying areas of the city has been disrupted due to the water-logging.

"Hyderabad traffic police has advised commuters to avoid undertaking unnecessary journeys. We see less Traffic today possibly due to holiday announcement to educational institutions and also people avoided unnecessary journeys," Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic) said.
BJP today said it was keen to expand the party-led National Democratic Alliance in Kerala and prepared to coordinate and accept any political party into its fold.

The remarks assume significance in the wake of reports that the party was eyeing Kerala Congress (M), led by former Finance Minister K M Mani, which snapped its over three decade old ties with the UDF recently following differences with Congress over bar bribery scam.

KC(M), which enjoyed a strong support base among Christian community in central Travancore, has six MLAs in the present state Assembly and one MP.

After its fallout with Congress-led UDF, KC(M) recently decided to sit as a separate bloc in the state Assembly, keeping an equi-distance to both UDF and LDF.

However, former BJP state president, P S Sreedharan Pillai told PTI here that so far no talks had been held with the Kerala Congress (M) on the matter.

"But the party was interested in expanding NDA by taking more parties in its fold," he said.

Pillai also rejected reports that fissures have erupted between BJP and its key partner in Kerala Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), floated by Sree Narayana Dharam Paripalana Yogam, (SNDP) General Secretary Vellapally Natesan.

SDNP is a powerful social organisation of backward Ezhava community in the state.

"It was a frivolous story. Because of the enthusiasm generated over the party's national council here, some efforts are being made by anti-BJP forces to dampen it," he said.

Meanwhile, indicating that party was not averse to have KC(M) in its fold, BJP spokesperson in Kerala J R Padmakukar told PTI "we have made our stand clear that no party,including KC-M, is untouchable to us. We are planning to expand our base. All parties are welcome to NDA."



BJP, which had garnered about 16 per cent vote share in the May 16 polls, is upbeat that it has succeeded in opening its account in Kerala Assembly with the victory of former Union minister O Rajagopal.

"We are planning to expand our base in the state. All parties are welcome to NDA. If they express their wish, we will discuss in the NDA and take a decision," he said.

On BJP eyeing KC(M), Padmakukar said, "let them take a decision. If they express a desire to join NDA or support or work along with BJP, we will take a decision. Our basic idea is to strengthen our vote share in Kerala to become a ruling party in the state".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Government bonds (G-Secs) advanced further following heavy demand from corporates and banks, and the interbank call rates also ended higher due to rising demand from borrowing banks amid tight liquidity conditions in the banking system.

The 7.59 per cent government security maturing in 2026 surged to Rs 104.20 as compared to Rs 104.1325 previously, while its yield inched down to 6.97 per cent from 6.98 per cent.

The 7.59 per cent government security maturing in 2029 climbed to Rs 104.42 from Rs 104.3075, while its yield edged down to 7.05 per cent from 7.07 per cent.

The 6.97 per cent government security maturing in 2026 firmed up to Rs 101.2075 from Rs 101.1350, while, its yield softened to 6.80 per cent from 6.81 per cent.

The 7.61 per cent government security maturing in 2030, the 7.68 per cent government security maturing in 2023 and the 7.88 per cent government security maturing in 2030 were also quoted higher at Rs 105.23, Rs 104.10 and Rs 106.8550 respectively.

The overnight call money rates finished higher at 6.48 per cent from Thursday's level 6.45 per cent. It resumed higher at 6.55 per cent and moved in a range of 6.55 per cent and 6.40 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), purchased securities worth Rs 29.46 billion in 6-bids at the 3-days repo auction at a fixed rate of 6.50 per cent as on today, while its sold securities worth Rs 29.33 billion from 20-bids at the overnight reverse repo auction at a fixed rate of 6.00 per cent as on September 22.

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A 32-year-old Pakistani-origin Muslim man, serving a life sentence for the murder of a Scotland-based shopkeeper, has released extremist audio messages from his prison cell calling on supporters to behead "insulters".

Tanveer Ahmed, a Sunni Muslim, had stabbed AsadShah outside his store in the Shawlands area of Scotland in March for "disrespecting" Islam.

The 40-year-old victim, who belonged to the Ahmadiyya sect and had been granted asylum in the UK after he fled persecution in Pakistan, later died in hospital.

Now Ahmed is reportedly encouraging others to do the same in his extremist messages, some of which appear to have been recorded and released after he was jailed for life in early August.

In Ahmed's most recent speech, uploaded to YouTube earlier this month, he celebrates sending Shah "to hell with the help of Allah".

"I have the honour of sending him to the hell forever," he says in Urdu, according to 'The Independent' newspaper.

Ahmed goes on to call Ahmadi Muslims "frauds" for their beliefs and accuses them of "contaminating the faithful".

"Whoever and wherever is listening my voice must make a resolve to protect the finality of prophethood. We will save the Lord's followers from going down to the hell - will protect their faith," he says.

The message then calls on listeners to repeat a chant vowing to "offer their lives and souls", ending with "There's only one punishment for insulters: cut off their heads, cut off their heads, cut off their heads."



It was one of five messages, uploaded to the same YouTube account in May, June, August and most recently on September 7.

They are believed to have been recorded on a mobile phone, possibly during a call made by Ahmed from Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow, Scotland.

At the time of his sentencing last month, Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty, of Police Scotland, described the attack as "utterly unacceptable and cannot be justified."



"Glasgow is a strong, united, multi-faith community that has immense pride in its diversity. Religious intolerance in any form is simply not tolerated in our society and Police Scotland will work in partnership with our communities to eradicate such behaviour," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a major catch, BSF troops today arrested near the International Border here a Pakistani national and said he was an activist of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) terror outfit.

"In the wee hours today, alert bordermen in Pragwal Sector of Akhnoor area of Jammu district apprehended a young Pakistani national who crossed over the International Border (IB) and was trying to negotiate border fence to infiltrate into Indian Territory," DIG BSF Jammu Frontier Dharminder Pareek told PTI.

The DIG said the nabbed person gave his identity as 32- year-old Abdul Qayum, son of Bhag Ali, a resident of Pul Bajuan village in Sialkot district of Pakistan.

Qayum was in possession of one dual SIM Nokia mobile phone, the BSF officer said.

"On further questioning by BSF sleuths, Qayum revealed that in 2004, he underwent 'Daura-e-Aam' militant training with LeT outfit at Mansera training camp in Muzaffarabad in PoK," Pareek said.

Thereafter he has actively worked for LeT and remained associated with distribution of Jihadi literature and magazines like 'Gajwa' and 'Jarar' as well as collection of funds for LeT, the BSF DIG said.

Qayum has collected Rs 50 lakh of Pakistan currency and handed it over to LeT 'amir' namely Mujahid Bhatt of Sialkot area, DIG said.

"Qayum was found to be well aware of all various terrorist organization based in Pakistan and their leaders including Hafiz Sayeed, (Hizbul Mujahideen chief) Syed Sallauddin and also separatist leaders of Kashmir -- Syed A S Geelani, Asiya Andrabi, Yasin Malik etc," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Border Security Force (BSF) troops along the 198 km long International Border in Jammu region are on high alert following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly Uri terror attack.

"Jawans guarding the border are keeping a hawk eye on the activities across the border and are alert round the clock. Patrolling is going on," a senior BSF officer said.

Amid thick vegetation and treacherous terrain, Jawans armed with thermal imagers and surveillance equipment are maintaining constant vigil along the border where three-tier fencing and flood lights are installed.

The officer, however, played down reports of high intensity militant activities across the border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua and ruled out any air space violation by Pakistan.

The officer said, "20 to 30 militants are always at launching pads to infiltrate into this side of the border. There is no serious activity or any concern."



"The militants are shifted from one area to another along the Indo-Pak border to be push them into Jammu and Kashmir to engineer terror acts here," he said.

Over 450 villages and hamlets with a population of over 4.50 lakh are located along the IB and LoC in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts.

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CBI has arrested two officials - both Assistant Superintendents - of Postal department in Allahabad for allegedly receiving a bribe of Rs 30,000 for favouring an employee in a departmental inquiry.

CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said here today that a case of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the Superintendent of Post Offices, Business Development, Regional Office, Allahabad.

"The complainant has alleged that a departmental enquiry was conducted against him by the Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices and an illegal gratification of Rs 30,000 was demanded by said accused for giving favourable enquiry report," Gaur said.

The Spokesperson said after getting the information about the transaction, the teamslaid a trap and the Assistant Superintendent was arrested while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.

"Investigation also revealed the role of another Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices, Business Development, Regional Office, Allahabad in the conspiracy of the said bribery case. He has also been arrested. Searches were conducted at the premises of accused," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.


The Centre is likely to take a tough stance against triple talaq in the Supreme Court on the plea that according sanctity to it under Sharia is "completely misplaced" and it is "unfair, unreasonable and discriminatory" as many Islamic countries have regulated matrimonial laws.

The Centre is also of the view that the issue is not to be seen from the point of view of Uniform Civil Code, but be treated substantively as an issue of gender justice and that of fundamental rights of women.

These views are likely to be articulated by the Centre before the Supreme Court in the triple talaq case that will come up before the Court sometime next week.

"A practice - unfair, unreasonable, discriminatory, has always given way before a humanising Constitutional principle, particularly under Chapter 3 of the fundamental rights.

"This whole plea of sanctity under Sharia is completely misplaced. There are nearly 20 Islamic countries in the world who have regulated their matrimonial laws, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and some Arabic countries like Saudi Arabia," a senior government functionary said.

The official said, "This issue is not to be seen from the point of view of Uniform Civil Code at all. The issue is only and substantively the issue of gender justice."



The plea to be taken by the Centre, that supports the petitioners in the triple talaq case in Apex Court, will highlight the issue of non-discrimination towards women and the dignity of individuals which permeates the entire scheme of fundamental rights as articulated under Article 14, Article 15 and Article 21 of Constitution.

"The issue is if regulating the matrimonial law in an acknowledged Islamic country is not considered as contravening Sharia, how can this be treated like this in a secular country like India where Constitution is supreme," the official said.

The government's views came out at last week's meeting of Group of Ministers formulated on the issue.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi met last week to deliberate on government's possible stand to be taken in Supreme Court on the Muslim practice of triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat).

They also deliberated on the Muslim practice of polygamy and 'nikah halala' (a practice where divorced women, in case they want to go back to their husbands, have to consummate a second marriage).

The Law Ministry will file a consolidated reply on the issue in the apex court by the end of this month.

The issue is being deliberated upon at inter-ministerial level which includes ministries of Home, Finance and Women and Child Development apart from the Law ministry.

(REOPENS DEL 79)



The first among these pleas was filed by Shayara Bano from Uttarakhand who challenged the practices like triple talaq, polygamy and "nikah halala" as being unconstitutional.

Two women divorced through triple talaq from Jaipur and Kolkata also approached the court. Their petitions and a number of supportive pleas filed by Muslim women's organisations have all been bunched together.

Opposing these petitions in court are the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).

AIMPLB had told the apex court earlier this month that personal laws can't be re-written in the name of reforms and that the validity of Muslim personal law "cannot be tested" as it derives from Quran.

Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, which is also one of the petitioners in SC, spearheaded a signature campaign earlier this year in which over 50,000 Muslim women and men participated and sought a ban on triple talaq.
China today said it was expecting an early visit by Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte to address differences over the disputed South China Sea.

According to media reports, Duterte is planning separate visits to China and Japan next month, which will be his first trips outside Southeast Asia since assuming office on June 30.

In response to a question if the China-Philippine disputes on South China Sea will affect the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told apress briefing here that as long as the two sides have the will to settle their disputes through consultation, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome.

Tension between China and the Philippines has risen in recent years over the South China Sea issue, especially since the former Philippine government initiated a case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013.

An arbitral tribunal set up at Manila's request quashed China's claims of historical rights over almost all of the South China Sea.

China has reiterated that it will not accept any proposition or action based on the decision by the tribunal in July.

Lu said countries in the region have agreed to adhere to a dual-track approach on the South China Sea issue, with disputes to be resolved peacefully through direct negotiations between parties concerned, and to work together to maintain peace and stability.

"We hope countries outside the region will respect the consensus reached by China and countries surrounding the South China Sea," Lu said.

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China will impose anti-dumping duties on distiller's dried grains (DDGs) from the US requiring importers to pay a cash deposit on purchase.

The domestic industry has been "substantially" harmed by the dumping of DDGs, the Ministry of Commerce said in its preliminary ruling following an investigation launched earlier this year.

Starting today, importers of the product must place deposits with Chinese customs at 33.8 per cent of the import value, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

DDGS are the nutrient rich byproduct of dry-milled ethanol production, which are used in animal feed.

China is the world's biggest buyer of DDGS, with most imports coming from the US.

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A delegation of Delhi Congress unit today met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged "financial irregularities and illegalities" in the Mohalla clinics run by the AAP government.

The delegation led by Delhi Congress unit chief Ajay Maken apprised the LG about the "anomalies" in the Mohalla clinics and demanded a CBI enquiry into it, said a party statement.

"The AAP government extended pecuniary advantage to members and office bearers of the party by paying more than the prevailing market rent to them whose premises were used for opening Mohalla clinics," Maken alleged.

The memorandum submitted to Jung also said that the Mohalla clinics "lacked basic health facilities" and that established health guidelines were being "violated" there.

Delhi Congress had yesterday released its report on the Mohalla clinics, accusing the government of "ad-hocism" in running them.

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Congress today said it would support the Odisha government to protect the state's interest in the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh but blamed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the situation.

"We are ready to accompany the Chief Minister and meet the Prime Minister for resolving the Mahanadi issue," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said in the Assembly during a special discussion on the dispute.

Slamming Chhattisgarh for unilaterally building projects on the upstream of the river, Mishra said, "Odisha should approach the Centre for setting up a tribunal to solve the matter.

"We also ask the state government to publish a white paper on the issue enabling people to know how they will be hit by projects in upstream of the river," he said.

Claiming that the Mahanadi issue has exposed the state government and the Chief Minister, the Congress leader alleged that Patnaik wanted the issue to linger for his political gains.

"Therefore, the ruling party avoids taking opposition parties along with it to oppose the Chhattisgarh government's activities," he alleged.

Asserting that a tribunal is the only alternative left with the state, Mishra said a meeting with the Prime Minister could also help resolve issue. Two meets with the Chhattisgarh government have failed to yield any result.

The Congress leader said the Chief Minister must win confidence of all political parties to jointly fight for the state's interest.

Rejecting the government's argument that it was not aware of Chhattisgarh's activities, he said, Patnaik in 2001 had assured this House that Chhattisgarh would not be allowed to proceed with construction activities on upstream of Mahanadi.

"Then Patnaik had said water inflow to down stream of the Mahanadi would decline if Chhattishgarh constructed dams upstream," Mishra said.

In 2003, the state government had claimed that water flow will not be affected even if Chhattishgarh built dams in the upper portion of the river. It even said that the opposition was making unnecessary hue and cry over the matter, he claimed.

"Again in 2010, on behalf of the Chief Minister, the then parliamentary affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty, had said that steps were being taken to protect interest of the state.

"Now the state government says that Chhattishgarh built the projects without informing Odisha," the Congress leader said.

"There are lots of contradictions in the state government's assessment. This indicated that the government is still clueless on the impact of the projects on Odisha," Mishra said.

The Congress leader slammed the Chief Minister who is also water resources minister for his absence in the House during the debate on the sensitive matter.
A Delhi court today granted bail to a man, who had allegedly thrown ink at Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia outside the Lieutenant Governor's office here four days ago.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ambika Singh enlarged 42-year-old Brijesh Shukla on bail on furnishing of a personal bond of Rs 15,000 and a surety of like amount.

Regarding the accused's previous involvement in other cases, advocate Rajesh Kumar, who was representing Shukla, told the court that there were two other criminal matters against him client, of which one has been quashed by the Delhi High Court and the other was a cross-FIR.

Shukla, a resident of Karawal Nagar in Northeast Delhi, was arrested on September 19 and was in judicial custody.

He was arrested for allegedly thrown ink at Sisodia, saying he was angry with the Deputy CM's Finland tour at a time when the city was grappling with a health crisis.

He was booked under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the IPC.

Shukla has been engaged in protests against the AAP government over various issues and has also filed a complaint in court against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi.

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A dacoity bid was foiled at Wakergunj area last night and five persons were arrested in this connection, police said.

The five persons, wanted in connection with several crimes, were spotted by a mobile police van at Wakergunj in Jalpaiguri Sadar block.

The police suspect they had assembled there for committing a dacoity.

Bombs and weapons were recovered from their possession.

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The head of a human rights group in Congo says three more people have succumbed to their wounds after an attack by rebels in the northeast, raising the death toll to at least 10.

Jean-Paul Ngahangondi said today that two people remain missing after the attack overnight Wednesday in the Kasinga-Munzambayi locality about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Beni. He says a dozen homes and two military camps were burned and food and valuables stolen.

He says the UN peacekeeping mission has reinforced its presence in the area.

Congo's military has blamed Allied Democratic Forces rebels. The rebels have been accused of killing more than 700 people since October 2014 in the area.

They are among scores of armed groups that have been present in eastern Congo for years.

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The Delhi government has increased the retirement age of city government services to 65 with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung giving his approval in this regard.

A senior government official said this is good news for Delhi government's as it will enable the city administration to retain experienced for a longer period.

"Good news for Delhi Govt Doctors. Enhancement of retirement to 65 yrs done (sic)," Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain tweeted.

"The Health Department of the government had recently sent a proposal to the Lt Governor to seek his approval. The LG has given his approval to government's proposal to increase the retirement age of doctors to 65," a government spokesperson said.

At Delhi government-run hospitals, the retirement age of doctors was 62. There are nearly 36 hospitals run by Delhi government in the capital.

Another official said the move will provide better services in government-run public health facilities, particularly to the poorest, who are entirely dependent on public facilities.

In May this year, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced raising the age of retirement of government doctors to 65 years.
A 26-year-old son of a Delhi Police constable was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Sector 23 of Rohini area in outer Delhi apparently over some financial dispute, police said today.

Vinay, a resident of Sector 21 in Rohini, was returning home on his motorbike when he was shot at around 7.15 pm yesterday, said a police officer.

Police reached the spot after receiving a PCR call and rushed Vinay to a nearby hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.

The victim used to lend money on interest. According to his father, he had had given a loan of Rs 2.5 lakh to Bablu who threatened to shoot with when he demanded the money back, police said.

A case of has been registered at Begumpur police station in this connection and investigation is underway. Efforts are on to identify the perpetrators of the crime through CCTV camera footage, they said.

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Demanding passage of the proposed Motor Bill that promises reforms in the transport sector, leading NGOs today called upon the parliamentary standing committee to vet the legislation and submit report at the earliest.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016, introduced in Parliament on August 9 by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, aims to fill the gaps in the legislative framework that governs road safety in the country by amending the 28-year-old Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (MVA).

On August 16, the Bill was referred to the parliamentary standing committee (PSC) on transport, tourism and culture for its review and recommendations.

The NGOs, working on road safety across India, discussed the issues at a workshop here and urged the government to ensure the "Bill is passed in the Winter Session without delay".

The unanimous view was that the Bill is a significant step forward and specific policy gaps still needed to be addressed, as per a statement issued by them here.

"...We welcome introduction of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016. The Bill addresses various crucial safety elements such as child safety, improvement in driver licensing system, provision for electronic enforcement and rationalisation of penalties for various life-threatening offences...," said SaveLIFE Foundation.

"We urge the standing committee to... Submit its report at the earliest so that the Bill can be passed in the Winter Session."



The NGOs in question are Consumer Voice (Delhi), Centre for Road Safety-Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice (Jaipur), Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (Chennai), CUTS International (Jaipur), Institute of Public Health (Bengaluru) and Parisar (Pune), which urged the panel to comprehensively address safety of children during commuting.

One of the proposals was inclusion of mandatory use of child restraint systems in line with recognised safety standards as well as provisions to ensure appropriate headgear for children under 4 years of age on two-wheelers.

International experts on road safety from the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), a hosted project of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, supported the government's recent efforts to improve the country's road safety.

India accounts for as high as 5 lakh road accidents per annum in which 1.5 lakh people are killed and 3 lakh are crippled. Gadkari has stressed that efforts are on to reduce the fatalities by 50 per cent by 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ensuring progress of the poor, minorities and Dalits should be the "rajdharma" of governments, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today and advised ministers from the southern states to focus on the "arithmetic of development" over the "mathematics of votes".

"Progress and prosperity of the poor, weaker sections, minorities and Dalits is not a political formality for us but it should be our duty, our rajdharma," Naqvi said during a review meeting with various state ministers here.

"We should focus on the arithmetic of development and empowerment of the poor people and not on mathematics of votes," the Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs was quoted as saying in a release.

"The day when development agenda dominates political agenda, nobody will be able to defeat us," he told the ministers from Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Reiterating the Narendra Modi government's commitment towards empowerment of poor, minorities and Dalits, Naqvi said the Centre wants that the uplift of these sections becomes a "ground reality" with co-operation of states.

"There will be no shortage of funds for the purpose, but every single penny of public money should be spent on developmental works with complete honesty and transparency," he said.

Listing the schemes being implemented by his ministry, which include Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Yojana, Ustaad, Nayi Manzil and Seekho aur Kamao, he asked the states to take maximum benefit of these programmes.

Naqvi told the state ministers the Centre is reviewing the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme to make it "more effective" and his ministry is working on a "war-footing" to get the Waqf properties rid of the "clutches of mafias" and has been providing financial assistance to state Waqf boards in this regard.

The Minority Affairs Ministry, in co-operation with state governments, will set up schools, colleges, malls, hospitals, skill development centres, on Waqf land and the revenue generated will be used for educational and other developmental activities for the Muslim community, he said.

Naqvi said that with an aim to provide information about welfare schemes to the members of minority communities, he will start 'Progress Panchayat', from Haryana's Mewat on September 29.

"After the first Progress Panchayat, I will visit various states including those in south India," he added.

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The FBI has confirmed that it is gathering information into allegations against Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt regarding his children.

It has been reported that Pitt misbehaved with his kids on a private flight.

The agency has confirmed it is "continuing to gather facts" about the incident, which has been widely reported to have led to his wife Angelina Jolie to file for a divorce.

41-year-old Jolie's lawyer had stated that the reason for the split was "family's health".

"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," the FBI said in a statement to Variety.

According to the LA Times, the FBI was informed of "a child welfare incident".

The alleged incident took place on September 14 on a private jet flying from France to Los Angeles, with a stop in Minnesota.

Jolie, who filed for divorce on September 19 ending their two-year-old marriage, had listed the date of separation as September 15.

Variety cited sources saying that the FBI received a complaint from the state officials.

While the FBI might not usually look into such a case, the sources told the magazine that because the alleged incident happened while in the air, it moves to the FBI to gather evidence to determine whether or not a federal investigation is required.

It was earlier reported that Pitt was under investigation for child abuse after after he allegedly got "verbally abusive" and "physical" with one of his children on the flight.

A source had told People magazine that the Los Angeles Police Department and LA County Department of Children and Family Services are both investigating after someone anonymously reported the incident.

LAPD, however, denied its involvement.

Jolie has requested for full custody of their six children-- three biological and three adopted. The grounds for divorce are listed as "irreconcilable differences".

"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," Pitt, 52, said in a statement.

The actor is yet to respond to the allegations.

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Five girls, all minor, drowned in two separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours while three others are missing, police said today.

Three girls drowned while two of their friends went missing today after they ventured into a dam at Ghana village in Sagar, nearly 70 kms from the district headquarters.

A group of seven girls, all minors, entered Bakauri dam to bath around 11 am. As soon as they moved into the deep water, all of them started to drown, Devri tehsil Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Pancham Raj told PTI.

Three of them - Bhag Bai Ahirwar (16), Sonam Ahirwar (12) and Neha Ahirwar (11) - drowned, he said.

Those who went missing were also named Neha Ahirwar and Radha Ahirwar.

The other two- Gayatri and Roshni Ahirwar- were rescued by the people around.

Bodies of Bhag Bai, Sonam and Neha have been fished out. Divers are on the job to trace the missing girls, he said, adding the victims are from different family.

In the second incident in Jhabhua, two minor girls drowned in a rain-fed drain at Hedhva village of the district last evening.

Usha Ninam (12) and Sonam Garhwal (14) went to take a bath at rain-fed Tola Data drain under Kakanwani police station area last evening.

The bodies were retrieved from the drain and handed over to the family after post-mortem, he said, adding further investigations are on.

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A computer hacker who helped the Islamic State by providing names of more than 1,000 US government and military workers as potential targets has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Twenty-year-old Ardit Ferizi, a native of Kosovo arrested last year in Malaysia, was sentenced today in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Earlier this year, he became the first person convicted in the US of both computer hacking and terrorism charges.

Ferizi hacked a private company and pulled out the names, email passwords and phone numbers of more than 1,300 people with government and military addresses. The Islamic State published the names with a threat to attack.

Prosecutors sought the maximum sentence of 25 years. Defense lawyers said Ferizi meant no real harm and asked for a six-year sentence.

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Union Minister has stressed on the need for agricultural revolution in the country by providing electricity at low rates to farmers from pithead power plants.

"We need to start an agricultural revolution in India by providing cheap electricity to farmers from pithead power plants and urea produced using domestically available Coal Bed Methane (CBM) or coal gasification. Expensive urea imports from China would not be required," Gadkari said on Thursday evening.

The Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister was addressing the 17th Regulators and Policymakers Retreat organised by The Independent Power Producers Association of India in South Goa.

"Innovation in water management, including de-silting of rivers, using innovative check dams for micro-irrigation rather than big hydro projects, are required," he said.

On the viability of power sector, Gadkari said,"How can coal prices vary without power prices correspondingly varying? The power sector would not survive."



"In the past, state governments have given too much importance on increasing the generation capacity without giving due importance to transmission and distribution segments in the power sector," the minister said.

"With the advancements of new technology and innovations, significant growth is expected in the Indian power sector and the agriculture sector will be one of the beneficiaries of such growth," he said.

The need is to focus on agriculture sector and provide electricity 24/7 to rural areas at low prices, he added.

Expressing confidence in the government's plan to revolutionise the agriculture and irrigation sectors, he noted that some laws regarding environment and forests create hindrance in economic development.

The conference that began on Thursday is based on the theme 'India - Meeting the Aspirations?'



The event looks at the aspirations of young Indians keeping in mind the ways of improving their living standards by benchmarking it with the western narrative of development.

Participating in the event through video conferencing, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu explained how the country is undergoing massive transformation in power sector through a pro-active approach and better policies and regulations.

He said, "Rickshaw, taxi and train to be integrated in scheme for multi-modal transport."



Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, in a pre-recorded message, said the UDAY scheme is the most significant step taken to remove financial constraints in the distribution segment and will bring efficiency in the workings of the state electricity distribution companies.
In order to create skilled manpower in the specialised sector, the is launching training programmes linked to the industry.

The training programme will be initiated by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an arm of the ministry, and it will train people at its laboratories focusing on diverse research across the country.

"We would first launch 30 such programmes in next 2-3 months and later increase their number up to 75," Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

He added that these programmes were in line with the new initiatives of the CSIR that is entering its 75th year next week.

The courses that are being launched for the next 2-3 months are related to leather processing, making of leather goods and garments, dyeing, mould-casting, electroplating, metal finishing, glass beaded jewellery, blue pottery, mineral engineering, lead acid battery maintenance and industrial maintenance engineering.

The CSIR laboratories cater to different sectors.

The minumim period required to complete these programmes is eight weeks with the maximum time span being 52 weeks, during which time people from a diverse section including school dropouts, diploma holders and graduates will be trained.

The CSIR's Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) has also signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Caste Cooperative Finance Corporation (APSCCFC) to train manpower in leather works in the state.

According to Vardhan, it is a good opportunity for people to gain a first hand experience of how the market forces work given that the CLRI has an active working relation with industry players besides providing the intitute's infrastructure to the the benefit of the trainees.

The CLRI said the state of Telangana has also approached them to conduct similar training programmes in the state.
Gujarat Chief Minister today hosted a "Twitter Town hall" and answered people's questions through the popular micro-blogging site.

Questions were put to him using the tag #AskVijayRupani.

While Rupani and ruling BJP termed the initiative as a huge success, opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party claimed that the CM could not answer most of the questions.

According to a government release, as many as 20,000 questions were asked to Rupani during the day.

Replying to several questions about the fix-pay regime in Gujarat, Rupani tweeted that fix-pay employees working with the government on five-year contract will be inducted as regular employees.

On traffic congestion, Rupani informed that 45 cities in Gujarat will be covered under a comprehensive CCTV project to ease the problem.

He also answered questions on Patidar and Dalit agitations, corruption, security situation in the wake of Uri terror attack, etc.

Senior Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela claimed that Rupani tried to copy "another BJP leader" and failed.

"Rupani tried to copy the idea of another BJP leader but miserably failed. It was a total fiasco as he could not answer most of the questions," said Vaghela.

AAP too pooh-poohed the initiative.

"Even after thousands of questions poured in, Rupani could not answer a single one. Despite the fact that this program was a total failure, Rupani tweeted that it met with huge success," said AAP in a statement.
The Chenpur-Kurumgarh-Baridih path in Jharkhand's Gumla district would be renamed as Nayam Kuhur path in memory of a soldier who was martyred in Uri.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das announced it during his visit to Gumla to attend a programme there.

Das directed the Gumla Deputy Commissioner to prepare a detailed project report for 35 km road in this regard, an official release said.

Kujur was one among the 18 martyrs killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists in the Uri sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister handed over cheques of Rs ten lakh to the families of the two slain martyrs- Kujur and Javra Munda, the release said.

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Gauhati High Court today withdrew all the judges in south Mizoram's Lunglei district following mob violence in court premises yesterday and attached them with the District and Sessions Judge, Aizawl.

The Registrar General of Gauhati High Court H. K. Sharma issued the order withdrawing Lunglei District and Sessions Judge R. Thanga, Additional District and Sessions Judge Helen Dawngliani and Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class R. Malsawmdawngzuala.

The order also directed Lawngtlai district Senior Civil Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate Laldinpuia Tlau not to hold circuit court in Lunglei until further order.

The order came after irate mob belonging to Zohnuai locality of Lunglei attacked district court buildings with stones and bricks yesterday and also ransacked the official residence of the Civil Judge.

Local people of Zohnuai gathered in front of the district court demanding to see the face of Stephen Lalchawiliana (26) who was to be produced before the court for allegedly killing C. Lalsawmliana (33) of Zohnuai locality of Lunglei on August 27 night.

The crowd turned into an unruly mob after learning that the accused was already remanded in judicial custody for a further period by holding a camp court inside the District Jail.

Police arrested 17 people for unlawful assembly and they were remanded to judicial custody just before the judges were withdrawn.

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The Madras High Court today deferred till September 30 the post-mortem of a woman techie murder accused, who allegedly committed suicide in prison, after his father sought time to move the Supreme Court for nominating a doctor of his choice in the autopsy panel.

Justice N Kirubakaran, who had yesterday directed AIIMS Delhi to depute a doctor for the post-mortem of P Ramkumar on or before September 27 while rejecting petitioner's plea for including a doctor of his choice, ordered preservation of the body at the Government Royapettah Hospital till September 30.

Even though the court was not convinced with the submissions of the petitioner's counsel, the judge said he was granting the concession as a mark of sympathy.

If the petitioner was unable to secure any order from the Supreme Court by September 30, Ramkumar's post-mortem should be done on October 1, he ruled.

Ramkumar, arrested on the charge of murdering 24-year old software engineer Swathi on June 24 at a railway station here, allegedly ended his life by biting a live wire in the Puzhal central prison on September 18.

His father R Paramasivam moved the court seeking presence of a doctor of his choice during the post-mortem.

A single judge rejected his prayer and directed setting up of a four-member team of government doctors to conduct the post-mortem. But the petitioner filed an appeal before a division bench.

As the bench was split on its view over his plea, Justice Kirubakaran was appointed as the third judge to decide the issue and he ruled against allowing a doctor of petitioner's choice, but asked AIIMS to depute a doctor, paving the way for conduct of the post-mortem.

However, petitioner's counsel R Sankarasubbu this morning made a mention before Chief Justice S K Kaul and wanted the court to pass interim orders staying conduct of post-mortem till the victim's father moved the Supreme Court for remedy.

He said since three judges had taken three different views the matter should be referred to a larger bench.

Turning down the request, Justice Kaul said though the court understood the petitioner's emotions, it could not do anything at this stage. If he still felt aggrieved, he can move the apex court.

If he wants he can approach the portfolio judge, he said.

The counsel then made a mention before Justice Kirubakaran, who heard the matter and passed the present order late this evening.

During the hearing, Justice Kirubakaran rued that parties were politicising the Ramkumar autopsy issue.

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As top national leaders of the BJP meet here, veteran Sangh ideologue and a key organiser of 1967 national meet of Jan Sangh, P Parameswaran, today said Hindu nationalist wave is sweeping the state and saffron force will emerge as a major contender for power.

"There is a sweeping Hindu nationalist wave across Kerala," said Parameswaran, who was entrusted with the task of building up the Bharatheeya Jan Sangh in Kerala in 1957 as its State Organizing Secretary.

Parameswaran, who has worked alongside leaders like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, told PTI there have been Hindu upsurgences previously also but most of them were reactionary- in response to anti-national forces.

"But the present one is genuinely positive. It is spearheaded by RSS. But, the BJP (not exactly a political wing of the RSS - It has none) largely stands to benefit from this wave," he said.

Parameswaran, much revered by Sangh followers, said one noticeable feature is the present upsurgence has not created any adverse reaction in the non-Hindu communities in the state.

"They have looked at it rather positively," he claimed.

"It will surely make a great difference in the political spectrum. We can naturally expect BJP to reap a rich harvest. The present eruption of violence in various parts of the state has made the people think of a viable political alternative to the ruling Communist party -- Left or Right," he said.

Parameswaran, one of the senior-most RSS pracharaks and ideologue, was the main organiser of the National Meet of Bharatiya Jan Sangh held in Kozhikode in 1967, in which Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya was elected as its President



In 1968, he became and All India General Secretary and Later Vice President of the Jana Sangh. He was imprisoned during the period of emergency in 1975-77.

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Pulitzer prize-winning historian Saul Friedlander, a world authority on the Holocaust, said today he would leave the United States if Donald Trump was elected president.

The 83-year-old Israeli-American writer, who escaped the Nazis by being hidden in a Catholic boarding school in France, described Trump as a "dangerous crazy".

He said the controversial Republican candidate could win November's election because of Hillary Clinton's "tendency to lie and to hide things".

"One cannot exclude Donald Trump winning even though he is a dangerous crazy," he told AFP.

"He says whatever comes into his mind."



Friedlander's magisterial two-volume history of Nazi Germany and the Jews charts Adolf Hitler's rise to power in a period where populism was rising across the world as it is today.

"We don't know what (Trump) thinks," said the writer, whose parents perished in Auschwitz after being handed over to the Germans by French police as they tried to escape to neutral Switzerland.

"At the same time, there is a huge swathe of Americans, mostly poor, angry whites, who dream of having him in the White House.

"He is kind of a release valve for their anger against the 'establishment' represented by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"Because she has, unfortunately, a tendency to lie and to hide things," he said, referring to her recent bout of pneumonia, which her campaign was only forced to disclose after she was seen stumbling into her car.

"Trump, by comparison, seems totally open and frank, even if he has not published his income tax returns."



Friedlander, who is based in Los Angeles, also warned of the rise of anti-Semitism and of Holocaust denial.

"Negationists are, in general, anti-Semites, and I am utterly opposed to debating with them. It gets you nowhere, they will always find a so-called detail showing that all these stories of gas chambers were a joke.

"They are obsessed by the idea that Jews could have invented the story of their extermination," said the author, whose new books, "Reflections on Nazism" and "Where Memory Leads", have just been published in France.

The historian -- who left France for Israel after World War II and worked as an assistant to former president Shimon Peres -- has been very critical of the Jewish state's treatment of the Palestinians.

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The GOP-led House has approved legislation to prohibit the US from making cash payments to Iran and require that Congress be notified before any future claims settlements with Tehran are conducted.

The bill passed by a wide margin, 254-163.

The measure, an election-year broadside, won ample support from Republicans aiming to rebuke the Obama administration for paying Iran USD 1.7 billion in cash earlier this year to settle a decades-old arbitration claim. Democrats have accused Republicans of trying to score political points with the bill.

Since the initial payment was made the same day Tehran agreed to release four American prisoners, GOP lawmakers decried the payments as ransom, a charge the White House has rejected.

Citing Iran's status as a leading state sponsor of terrorism, Republicans have contended the untraceable cash will be used to finance terrorism around the world.

Although the bill targets Iran, lawmakers also passed an amendment that would bar the US from paying cash to other designated sponsors of terrorism and North Korea.

"Cash does not leave a paper trail," said Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif., the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman and the bill's sponsor. "Cash is the currency of terror."



The Obama administration has threatened a veto of the bill, calling it "an ill-advised attempt to respond to a problem so-called 'ransom' payments to Iran that does not exist."



House Democrats accused Republicans of trying to score political points. Rep Eliot Engel of New York, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said holding Tehran's money until Iran released the Americans "was a pretty shrewd bargain." But by using the word ransom, Engel said, Republicans turned the bill "into a political hot button a poke in the eye of the administration."



An initial USD 400 million payment in euros, Swiss francs and other foreign currency was delivered on pallets on January 17, the same day Tehran agreed to release the prisoners.

The remaining USD 1.3 billion was paid in cash installments made on January 22 and February 5.

The administration has said the arbitration payment and prisoner release were separate, but later acknowledged that the cash was used as leverage until the Americans were allowed to leave Iran.

Republicans on a House panel pressed Treasury Secretary Jack Lew yesterday about the cash payments at a Financial Services Committee hearing on the condition of the financial system. The exchanges became heated.

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The Telangana government today asked IT companies to allow their employees in the city to work from home so as to avoid venturing out in view of incessant rains here for past two days, even as help has been sought from the Army for rescue operation in some areas.

Following the heavy downpour which crippled normal life here, the state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Hyderabad today and tomorrow.

The government has sought help of the Army for rescue operation in some areas of the city, for which the Defence wing has agreed, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation said today.

"We sought their help and they also came forward. They have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them, the GHMC official told PTI.

Telangana's Information Technology Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said they have sent an advisory to IT companies' association to either declare a holiday or allow their employees to work from home following forecast of heavy rains today and tomorrow.

"We have asked the association to send an advisory to all the IT companies located in the city. Accordingly, they issued advisory to all the IT firms. This is in the interest of safety of the employees. The response from companies is good," Ranjan said.

Heavy rains battered the city which is a major center for the technology industry, and some other parts of Telangana for the past couple of days, throwing life out of gear in some places.

Some localities in low lying areas of Miyapur and Nizampet continue to be inundated since the last two days.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao yesterday reviewed the situation and directed officials to take all precautionary measures in view of the heavy rain forecast.

State IT Minister KT Rama Rao along with senior officials toured the city last night and reviewed the situation. He instructed officials to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

Normal life in some low-lying areas of the city has been disrupted due to the water-logging, and traffic has been hit badly due to the downpour.

Hyderabad traffic police has advised commuters to avoid undertaking unnecessary journeys.

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With Trai keeping a tab on the point of inter-connect (PoI) issue between incumbent operators and Reliance Jio, Idea Cellular today said it has agreed to provide 230 per cent additional capacity to the new entrant.

Over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio allowing sufficient buffer for future, Idea said adding that it will "continue to engage and expand capacity for the new operator to allow seamless traffic flow between the networks".

Coming just days after Trai warned operators of action in case of service quality violation arising out of insufficient inter-connectivity points, the statement issued by Idea said quality of service for its customers is a "top priority".

"Idea Cellular recently invited Jio for a discussion to mutually resolve the traffic asymmetry. As quality of service for its customers is top priority, Idea has agreed to further enhance capacity in both access and long-distance inter-connection by providing over 230 per cent additional capacity, allowing for two-way calling between the networks," the Idea statement read.

Idea has now provisioned 1,865 ports for access, from 565 earlier -- a 230 per cent increase in capacity.

"Simultaneously, the NLD (national long distance) capacity is also being expanded by nearly 50 per cent. With this huge capacity expansion, over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio, allowing sufficient buffer for future," it said.

Reliance Jio -- which commercially launched its services on September 5 -- has accused the existing players of not releasing sufficient inter-connection points while the incumbents like Idea, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have blamed the new entrant for unleashing a "tsunami" of free traffic on their networks.

After Trai's nudge, the operators have agreed to augment capacity on their networks to accommodate more Jio traffic, but have been seeking regulatory intervention to address the issue of "induced asymmetry of traffic".

Jio argues that that benefits of superior voice technology is being denied to its customers due to the network congestion and has blamed the "anti-competitive behaviour of incumbent operators" for the "poor experience" on its services.

Jio has claimed that it has been witnessing 75-80 per cent call failures over the last few weeks. It had said that over a period of 10 days alone, 52 crore calls failed cumulatively on the networks of the three incumbent operators Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.

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The IMF today asked the Sri Lankan government to expedite the legislative process of implementing the VAT amendments to meet obligations under the three year extended fund facility (EFF) by the global lender.

"It is important that the government expedites the legislative process of implementing the VAT amendments that are needed to support revenue targets for 2016 and 2017", Jaewoo Lee, the head of the IMF mission, which concluded a 10- day visit tot the country told reporters.

The government's increased VAT proposals met with resistance from the unity government partner, Sri Lanka Freedom Party of the President Maithripala Sirisena.

The opposition and businesses also took to the streets to oppose the move.

The move to affect a 4 per cent increase from 11 to 15 per cent which was to come into force in May this year had to be shelved as the Supreme Court ruled that the law had not been presented in parliament with due procedure being followed.

The IMF mission refuted the government's claim that the VAT hike was a temporary measure.

"It will be a source to support revenue targets and we do not see it as a temporary measure," Lee said.

In June the IMF approved a 1.5 billion dollar extended finance facility for 3 years to support the balance of payments and in support of the government's reform agenda.

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Away from the 50-over format for a while, India were placed third while mainstay Virat Kohli held the second position in the batting chart in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings released in Dubai on Friday.

India were positioned third with 110 points behind Australia (124) and New Zealand (113).

With 813 points in his kitty, Kohli was only behind South African talisman AB de Villiers and a place ahead of another experienced Proteas Hashim Amla in the batting list.

Besides Kohli, Rohit Sharma (7th) and Shikhar Dhawan (8th) were the other Indians in the batting list dominated by the South Africans and the Asian giants.

No Indian bowler featured in the ODI chart, and there was no one from the country in the allrounder list as well.

As far as future team movement is concerned, fourth-ranked South Africa have a chance to climb up to second position in the when they host number-one ranked world champions Australia in a five-match series from September 30 to October 12.

While Australia and South Africa will aim to consolidate their current positions, Bangladesh, the West Indies and Pakistan will target to improve their rankings.

World champion Australia is currently on 124 points and without an immediate threat to its top ranking with New Zealand second on 113 points.

But a series win for South Africa, who are a fraction of a point behind India, against Australia could help them move ahead of the reigning ICC Champions Trophy winner. A 3-2 series win will put South Africa in third position on 112 points, while a 4-1 series win will lift it to second position on 114 points.

For Australia, a 3-2 series win will maintain their current 124 points with a maximum drop to 118 points in the case of a 5-0 series whitewash. Even if they also loses their preceding one-off match to Ireland and get blanked by South Africa, Australia will retain number-one position at 116 points with South Africa behind it on decimal points.
Seeking greater cooperation in agriculture trade, India today asked neighbouring China to import a wide range of items from it such as rice, sugar, maize and dried grapes.

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh met his Chinese counterpart Qui Dongyu on the sidelines of BRICS agri-meet here and asked China to consider importing these products from India.

"I am looking forward for more and more cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors between the two countries leading to further strengthening of bilateral relations," Singh said in a statement.

He said China can explore the possibility of importing agricultural items including live plants, coconut, cashew nuts, banana, pepper, shorghum, coconut oil, oil cake, which India has a potential to export.

Singh also expressed satisfaction over the progress made in finalising a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China on sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues



He said the MoU is "inching towards finality".

In 2015-16, India's export to China stood at USD 875.13 million, while imports were at USD 284.18 million.

India exports agri-items such as fish, prawns, shrimp, cotton and castor oil, and imports kidney beans, apples, pears and bamboos.

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Pakistan's Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan today accused India of blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack without having any concrete evidence and ruled out any immediate cooperation with India in probing the incident.

"India itself does not have any evidence about the (Uri) attack so how will Pakistan help in carrying out any investigation," Khan said while talking to the media.

He also accused India of hurling baseless allegations against Pakistan after the attack at the army camp in Uri.

"India is responsible for levelling false accusations on us when the investigations are not even completed," he said.

Khan also ruled out any immediate cooperation with India over the attack and accused the Indian government of launching a 'malicious campaign' to defame Pakistan by prematurely blaming it for the .

He said India imposed censorship on its media when it questioned its allegation about Pakistan.

"We did not impose any censorship on the media but they did because their propaganda was earlier exposed by their own news channels," he said.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Nafees Zakaria in an interview with state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) today said India has the habit of blaming Pakistan for any untoward incident particularly in Kashmir.

"Kashmir is the main bone of contention between Pakistan-India relations. We have always tried to resolve the issues with India through dialogue," he said.

Zakaria said India has always blamed Pakistan but could not provide evidence, Radio Pakistan reported.

He alleged that India was involved in subversive activities in Balochistan and Karachi and is financing terrorists to destabilise Pakistan.

He said India wants to divert the attention of the world from its brutal activities in Kashmir by levelling allegations against Pakistan.

He said the OIC has also strongly condemned the Indian atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris.

To a question, he said Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism.

He said seventy thousand civilians and seven thousand security personnel have been martyred in the war against terrorism.
India and France today signed the Euro 7.87-billion (Rs 59,000 crore approx) deal for Rafale fighter jets, equipped with latest missiles and weapon system besides multiple India-specific modifications that will give the IAF greater "potency" over arch rival Pakistan.

The Inter Governmental Agreement was signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian 16-months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly away condition during his trip to France.

The contracts for the deal was also signed earlier today. The 'vanila price' (just the aircraft alone) will cost about 91 million Euros each for a single seater and about 94 million Euros for a two seater trainer aircraft.

"Pleased to inform that India has signed an agreement for procurement of 36 Rafale aircraft with weapon systems, five years complete spares and maintenance, performance based logistics, India specific special provisions. This is an achievement which will give the IAF the required potency in terms of penetration and capability," Parrikar told reporters at the South Block.

The deal, first fighter plane contract in 20 years, comes with a saving of nearly 750 million Euros, gained through hard negotiations by the Indian side, over the one struck during the previous UPA government, which was scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, besides a 50 per cent offset clause.

The 50 per cent offset clause means that Indian businesses, both big and small, will gain work to the tune of over three billion Euros.

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, comes equipped with state-of-the-art missiles weaponry 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 include 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. Both missiles have a 2 metres precision which means that a target can be hit with high precision.

Defence Ministry sources said the Rafale, which has a range of 780 to 1055 km, depending on mission role, as compared to 400-450 of the Su30, will be better than what even the French uses as it will have numerous India specific additions.

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.

Associate supplies for the 36 fighter jets will cost about 1800 million Euros while performance based logistics will cost about 353 million Euros.

Rafale is a multi-role fighter aircraft capable of undertaking all types of missions with a capability to simultaneously perform both air defence and ground attack role in a single mission.

Sources said that Rafale would be able to do five missions per day as compared to three for other aircraft because of high turnaround time.

For example, the engine of the Rafale can be replaced in 30 minutes as compared to 8 hours for the Su30.

The India specific modifications would also include Israeli



helmet mounted displays, ability to start at cold bases like Leh, better radar, better detection and survival features among others.

The tough negotiations by the MoD-IAF team extracted many concessions and discounts from the French before arriving at a price that is almost 750 million Euros less than what was being quoted by the French side in January 2016.

This was when the commercial negotiations gathered pace. The French side had quoted a price of 8.6 billion Euros in January following which India refused to sign the contract.

This forced both the countries to just sign an MoU in January, when French President Francois Hollande came, announcing their intention to sign an IGA.

To bring down the cost, the Indian side asked French officials to calculate the deal on actual cost (Price as on today) plus European Inflation Indices.

The Defence Ministry has capped the European Inflation Indices to maximum 3.5 per cent a year. In other words, if inflation Indices goes down, India will have to pay less. Even if it goes up India will not pay more than 3.5 per cent increase, sources said.

(REOPENS DEL 47)



After Dassault Aviation, makers of the Rafales, emerged as winners, the UPA government had agreed with French officials to calculate the price on the fixed cost formula that allowed the company to include additional price of 3.9 per cent inflation indices from day one of the deal.

So, had the deal gone ahead, India would have ended up paying additional cost of inflation Indices (@3.9 per cent) which was already added at the initial negotiation itself.

Moreover, there was confusion on the calculation of the basic price itself.

In the original MMRCA proposal, 18 planes were to be manufactured in France and 108 in India in collaboration with the HAL.

It was later discovered that the cost of 108 fighters would go up by about Rs 150 crore per plane since the labour man hours in India were 2.7 times higher than in France, raising questions about the French firm being the lowest bidder.

Interestingly, the then Defence Minister A K Antony had put down on file a remark that the negotiating team must come back to him before finalising the contract, creating more confusion for the negotiators.

However, the new deal comes with several discounts, sources said.

For instance, Dassault will have to ensure that at least 75 per cent of the entire fleet remains operational at any given time. This warranty is signed for the first five years.

Despite several steps taken by the Defence Ministry over the last three years, 55 per cent of India's frontline fighters, the Sukhoi-30 fleet, remains operational at any given time, up from the dismal 46 per cent earlier, sources said.

Three other concessions include free training for 10 IAF personnel, including three pilots besides additional guarantee for 60 hours of usage of training aircraft for Indian pilots and six months of free weapons storage without charge (in case the Indian infrastructure is not ready for storing the weapons).

Sources said the timeline for the delivery of Rafale jets was five months earlier compared to the MMRCA deal.

They added that while effort was to make the starting date of delivery closer than the 36 months, it could not be done because the India specific modifications will take time.

India currently has a fleet of 34 squadrons as against a sanctioned strength of 44.
India and Russia today kicked off the eighth edition of their joint military exercise in Vladivostok with a focus on counter-terror operations.

The 'Indra-2016' exercise is being held in the Ussiriysk district and the main focus of this edition of the joint drills is on 'Counter-Terrorism Operations in semi mountainous and jungle terrain under United Nations Mandate'.

To achieve interoperability in joint operations, troops from both sides would acquaint themselves with the respective approach to such operations. A comprehensive training programme spanning 11 days has been drawn up for the purpose, the Indian Army said in a statement.

Brigadier Sukrit Chadah is leading the Indian contingent of 250 soldiers from the Kumaon Regiment while the Russian army is being represented by 250 soldiers from the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade.

Addressing the contingents, Brig Chadah highlighted the need for jointness between the two nations to defeat terrorism.

The 'Indra' series of bilateral exercises is one of the major bilateral defence cooperation initiatives between India and Russia since 2003. The Indian contingent is scheduled to return to India on termination of the exercise in early October.

The exercise started on a day when 70 soldiers from a mechanised infantry unit of the Russian military arrived in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever joint military drills between the two former Cold War rivals.

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An Indian spiritual singing group will perform here as they take the stage at the 9th edition of International 'Samaa' Festival for Religious Chanting and Sufi Music.

The visit of the six-member group, led by Purna Das Baul Sarat, was organized by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture, Embassy of India in Cairo, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.

The group is sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations in New Delhi.

The group will be performing at different venues in Cairo including, the historic Citadel, Qubbat El-Ghouri, Moiz Street and other venues.

The festival began on Tuesday and will go on till September 27. The group performed first on Tuesday at the opening ceremony, directed by the Egyptian music conductor Intesar Abdel Fatah.

Baul sect are nomads whose religious philosophy goes back over 1000 years. One of the main tenets of Baul cult is love for humanity -- irrespective of their casts and creed, faith and religion, color and custom.

Baul speaks about the universal mysteries of life in simple words to touch the hearts of common man.

Singing spiritual songs, according to Baul philosophy, the soul is nothing but the god within oneself who has to be perceived and realized though inner enlightment.

Purna Chandra Das, represents the eighth generation of an ancient Baul family.

Das took the Baul tradition for the first time outside India, travelling to USSR where he presented his songs at the World Youth Festival.

Since then he has toured 125 countries all over the world.

He is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the prestigious title Emperor of Baul by the President of India in 1967, Sangeet Natak Award in 1999 and in 2001 he was honored with the title 'Tulsi' by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

There are six English language documentaries on Das. Some were produced in the US and Japan especially well known among them is Lila.

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Islamist identity of states like Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is the "underbelly" inspiring terror outfits like ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hezbollah, US lawmakers have been told by a American Islamic forum leader.

"Political movements and the Islamist identity of states like the Islamic Republic of Iran or the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or the Wahabism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the underbelly inspiring the militant movements like ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hizballah," M Zuhdi Jasser, president of Phoenix-based American Islamic Forum For Democracy, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.

Jasser said it is as "equally foolhardy" in counter- terrorism and counter-radicalisation work to refuse to acknowledge the role of political Islam in the threat as it is to "villainise" the whole of Islam and all Muslims.

"However, those Islamist governments exploit the militancy of jihadists in order to dictate the ruling form of Islam," he said yesterday in his testimony before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, which organised a hearing on radical Islamist terror.

The lawmakers expressed concern over the mushrooming growth of terrorist organisations.

Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the Congressional subcommittee said events of the past few days remind how threat from radical Islamic terrorism is changing and how difficult it is to detect it and prevent it as well.

"In my view, we still have not dealt effectively with some of the root causes. We have not effectively dealt with the ideology that radicalises people here and around the world.

"It is essential, moving forward, that we not just try to muddle through, contain, try to prevent a catastrophe, but that we have a strategy that will be successful in dealing with the threat as it is evolving," he said.

Ranking Member Adam Smith said post 9/11, America pulled together all the different elements of US power, and allies, with the intelligence, law enforcement, military and built a very sophisticated operations centre and tracked al-Qaeda, first, of course, in Afghanistan, then into Pakistan, and Yemen, and elsewhere and has done a successful job of taking out their leadership and then minimising their ability to move forward.

"What we have not been successful at is turning back the ideology. And that is where other groups have popped up, and whether it's al-Qaeda or ISIL or Ansar al-Sharia, or any of... Boko Haram, dozens of different groups that adhere to this nihilistic, violent death ideology. That ideology has, quite honestly, spread since 9/11. There are more people adhering to it now than there were then," he said.

"And that is the great threat, and that is what we have



seen in Europe and here as people not directly affiliated with al-Qaeda or ISIL or any of these other groups, by simply pledging allegiance and going off and committing violent acts in their name," Smith said.

Asking how to turn back that ideology, Smith said this is particularly important for America to work with the Muslim world on ways to promote the more peaceful brand of Islam that the overwhelming majority of people in that religion adhere to and work with them to defeat the ideology.

"That is a challenge because this is what (al-Qaeda founder) Osama bin Laden wanted. He wanted a war of civilisations. He wanted the West versus Islam. And every time we take a look at this, and cast a broad net and cast aspersions against the entire Islamic religion, we only empower al-Qaeda and ISIL and their message," he said, using another acronym for the ISIS.
Israel today offered to India its expertise for strengthening border fencing, stressing that the two countries share "similar challenges" on many fronts, including cross-border terrorism.

The comments made by Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon assume significance in the wake of last Sunday's terror attack in Uri, where the terrorists were believed to have come from Pakistan crossing the Line of Control.

The top Israeli diplomat said his country is following the development with concern and affirmed that cooperation on terrorism shall be a permanent feature of bilateral ties.

Carmon said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his last visit to Israel, was shown the country's preparedness level at the borders.

"Our message is, yes, Israel has the expertise, because it has been under threat. We do share similar challenges. We have the solutions. We can work together on the solution.

"We have shown in other areas that we can cooperate and this might and should be the case here as well," Carmon said during a media briefing on the upcoming HLS and Cyber Conference in Tel Aviv.

Asked about the Uri attacks, which claimed the lives of 18 soldiers, Carmon said Israel's cooperation with India on a daily basis on anti-terrorism, defence and homeland security "is there, was there and will continue to be there".

"There is a need to confront terrorism. There is a tactical way to do this. There is an international, diplomatic way to do this and I am sure and confident that India knows exactly what it needs to do," he said.

Carmon said that Israel was willing to share conceptual and technological knowledge on how it was countering cyber threats, which he said can emanate from anywhere and not any particular country.

The conference will be held between November 14-17 where a number of Indian companies are expected to participate.

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"Suicide Squad" actor Jai Courtney is set to be honoured at the Australians in Film (AIF) Awards ceremony in Los Angeles next month.

The 30-year-old Australian, who has also starred in "Terminator Genisys" and the "Divergent" franchise, has been named as one of the recipients of the FOXTEL Breakthrough Awards, which he will receive at the fifth annual Australians in Film Awards, reported Contactmusic.

Jai will be joined by Garth Davis, who directed episodes of mystery thriller series "Top of the Lake", and made his feature-length movie debut with adoption drama "Lion."



The film, starring Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara and Dev Patel, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier this month.

"Jai and Garth are worthy honorees of the FOXTEL Breakthrough Award. Both are incredibly talented and in demand, both internationally and in Australia. We look forward to celebrating their achievements," said Kate Marks, President of Australians in Film, in a statement.

They follow in the footsteps of previous breakthrough honourees including Liam and Chris Hemsworth, Jai's "Suicide Squad" co-star Margot Robbie and The Night Manager's Elizabeth Debicki.

The awards ceremony, hosted by Tim Minchin, will be held at the NeueHouse Hollywood on October 19.

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Against the backdrop of Uri attack emanating from Pakistan, a Japanese Parliamentary delegation today welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for greater international cooperation against terrorism and for coordinated efforts to isolate the countries sponsoring terrorism.

The Japanese MPs conveyed this to the Prime Minister when they met him here as part of Japan-India Parliamentarians' Friendship League (JIPFL).

"The JIPFL delegation conveyed their condolences for the victims of the cross-border terror attack in Uri...," a PMO statement said.

"The JIPFL delegation welcomed PM's call for greater international cooperation against the global menace of terrorism, and for coordinated efforts to isolate the State sponsors of terrorism," the statement added.

This comes against the backdrop of the terror attack on army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18. Convinced that the attack emanated from Pakistan, India is weighing options for counter action, which includes efforts to isolate that country.

During the meeting, Modi recalled his successful visit to in 2014 where he had interacted with JIPFL in Tokyo.

He said that India and have laid the foundations for strong cooperation in many areas for decades to come.

The JIPFL delegation said there is strong bipartisan support in for strengthening relations with India and welcomed the progress achieved in High Technology cooperation, especially in High Speed Railway, the statement said.

Modi recalled that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India last year was a landmark in the history of bilateral relations and that he is looking forward to visiting Japan in the near future.
Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood has made a return to parliament after winning 16 seats in the 130-member house, according to results announced 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 yesterday 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.

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B Lakshminarayana has been elected Chairman of SIMA Cotton Development and Research Association (SIMACDRA) for the year 2016-17.

While R Elango was elected as Deputy Chairman, R Ravichandran was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Association, at its 41st Annual General Meeting held here last night.

SIMA CDRA was established in 1974 by the textile mills in the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Pondicherry, with the objective to promote the development of cotton farming for enhancing cotton production, productivity and fibre quality so that raw cotton may be made available at reasonable price to the mills.

It supplements the efforts of the State and Central Governments and other agencies in promoting the increased production of quality cotton to meet the demands of the textile industry, an association release said today.

The association had come out with a indigenous kapas plucking machine in a cost effective manner and a farmer can pick 6-0-80 kg of kapas per day as against 20 kgs of manual picking.

Tamil Nadu government has offered 50 per cent subsidy for this machine so as to motivate the farmers to opt for cotton cultivation, thereby increase cotton area and sustain the textile industry.

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A global body of publishers today expressed deep concern over "on-going restrictions" imposed on court reporting in Kerala and called for immediate steps to ensure that journalists are provided "unhindered access".

WAN-IFRA President Tomas Brunegard raised the matter with Kerala High Court Chief Justice and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in two separate letters, where he also sought a thorough probe into alleged violence against mediapersons.

"Left unpunished, crimes against media can lead to a state of impunity that threatens the very fabric of democratic society," Brunegard said in his letters, which came a day after similar plea was made by the International Press Institute (IPI).

WAN-IFRA made an appeal to Kerala HC Chief Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar to intervene and direct the court officials to lift the restrictions imposed on the media so that journalists may cover proceedings in a fair manner.

Brunegard noted, "regrettably" the situation remains the same despite Vijayan's intervention and journalists were being forced to rely on information provided by Public Relations Officer of the Kerala High Court, he said.

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.

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A 24-year-old man was arrested today for causing severe injury to a teenage girl, with whom he was in a relationship, by allegedly slitting her neck in outer Delhi's Mangolpuri area, police said.

The accused, identified as Rahul, was arrested from Fish Market, U Block, Mangolpuri, Vikramjeet Singh, DCP(Outer) said.

According to the police, Rahul, a resident of Sultanpur Majra village, came to meet his 18-year-old girlfriend at her place when she was alone. They had a fight over Rahul's refusal to marry her. He apparently wanted to end the relationship and in a fit of rage slit the girl's neck.

The accused then fled the spot, they said.

The girl was rushed to the hospital by her parents, where she underwent a surgery, police added.

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A judge sentenced a man to 80 years in prison for the beating death of an Indiana University student two weeks before she was due to graduate.

Daniel Messel of Bloomington was sentenced to 60 years behind bars for the April 2015 murder of Hannah Wilson and another 20 years for being a habitual criminal. Indiana law requires Messel, 51, serve at least three-quarters of his sentence, or 60 years.

The body of the 22-year-old psychology major from Fishers, an Indianapolis suburb, was found in a vacant lot about 10 miles from IU's Bloomington campus. Messel's cellphone was found under the body.

Brown Circuit Judge Judith Stewart said that even what amounts to a life sentence was inadequate for Messel. "There is nothing the court can do by sentence that brings complete justice," Stewart said.

Messel maintained his innocence during the hearing.

"I didn't kill Hannah. If it was my daughter, I'd want to know what really happened," he said. A jury deliberated about five hours last month before convicting Messel.

Authorities haven't said how or when they believe Messel and Wilson came into contact. When police first went to Messel's home on the day Wilson's body was found, his father told them his son had not returned from playing trivia at a local bar the night before.

Messel was previously convicted of forgery in 1989, felony battery in 1990, and battery with a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious injury in 1996. The last two charges resulted in an eight-year prison sentence.

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Two maps depicting the general topography of Uri were recovered from the four terrorists who stormed into an Army camp here even as the army intensified efforts to identify the exact stretch along the Line of Control (LoC) from where they entered India.

Official sources said today that besides arms and ammunition, two maps showing general area of Uri were recovered from the four slain terrorists, who are now believed to be from Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba(LeT).

The maps showed various places of Uri including the Brigade Headquarters and other installations of this town, about 75 km North of Srinagar. The place is strategically important in view of the power project operated by National Hydel Power Corporation(NHPC).

The maps would now form a part of investigations which is being handled by the National Investigating Agency (NIA).

In the meantime, Army has contacted heads of 12 villages located above the Brigade headquarters to ascertain whether they could throw some light about the infiltration, the sources said, adding this was a part of domination drill being conducted by the army off and on along the LoC.

The army was conducting search operations in various villages along the LoC to find out whether the four terrorists, who carried out the audacious attack at the camp on September 18, had left tell-tale signs.

There were reports that that Army had intensified searches in Charunda and Gollahan villages to ascertain whether the terrorists had taken shelter before reaching the army camp at Uri. Both the villages have a combined household of 603 and a population of less than 4,000.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has handed over to NIA the 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 NIA team, which arrived here on Tuesday, today finished the documentation process which includes seizure of the arms, ammunition and other articles.

The NIA along with technical experts from other security agencies is also trying to retrieve data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) sets recovered from the slain militants.

The NIA Tuesday registered a case to probe the terror attack at the Army installation in Uri.

The NIA 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 investigation suggesting 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 LoC.

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Comedy legend Mel Brooks and Broadway star Audra McDonald have been feted by US President Barack Obama as the recipients of the prestigious National Medal of Arts.

The stars were announced as part of the class of 2016 earlier this month and they were presented with their special accolades during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC on Thursday, reported NBC .

"We believe that arts and the humanities are in many ways reflective of our national soul," Obama said, as he welcomed the honourees.

"They're central to who we are as Americans - dreamers, storytellers, innovators and visionaries."



Composer Philip Glass, music mogul Berry Gordy, musician Santiago Jimenez, Jr, playwright and director Moises Kaufman, playwright and actor Luis Valdez, and painter Jack Whitten were also celebrated for their contributions to the arts, as were jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and Hollywood great Morgan Freeman, who were unable to attend the event.

"(Freeman is) undoubtedly off playing a black president," the Commander-in-Chief quipped of the veteran actor, who portrayed fictional leaders in "Deep Impact" in 1998 and "Olympus Has Fallen" in 2013.

"He never lets me have my moment."



The National Medal of Arts are the US government's highest arts award and they are presented to those who are "deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States".

Thursday marked Obama's final National Medal of Arts ceremony before he leaves the White House in January next year.

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Missiles rained down on rebel-held areas of Syria's Aleppo today, causing widespread destruction that overwhelmed rescue teams, as the army prepared a ground offensive to retake the city.

Nearly 30 civilians including several children were killed and dozens wounded in the raids by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said.

The intensity of the bombardment, which included artillery barrages and barrel bombings by helicopters, brought new misery to the estimated 250,000 civilians besieged by the army.

The escalation came after US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to reach an agreement with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on terms to salvage a failed ceasefire.

Asked by reporters at the United Nations whether the truce could be reinstated, Lavrov simply said: "You should ask the Americans."



A US official told AFP that no Kerry-Lavrov meeting had yet been scheduled for Friday, "but that could change".

An AFP journalist in rebel-held east Aleppo reported relentless air raids and artillery fire overnight and Friday morning.

Entire apartment blocks were flattened, overwhelming rescue teams from the White Helmets civil defence organisation.

In the Al-Kalasseh district, three buildings were levelled by a single strike, and rescue workers were trying frantically to reach survivors using a single bulldozer and their bare hands.

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Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today strongly condemned the attack on court buildings in south Mizoram's Lunglei district and ransacking of the official residence of a judicial magistrate by a mob yesterday.

He said the withdrawal of all the judges from Lunglei district by the Gauhati High Court would have adverse effects on the people of the district and the state government was helpless as the courts are functioning under the high court.

Meanwhile, Mizoram Bar Association (MBA) of Lunglei also condemned the act and said that it would stop working indefinitely in protest against the attack on the judiciary.

The MBA said the mob not only attacked the district court buildings but also ransacked the official residence of the judicial officer.

The lawyers demanded that the local people of Zohnuai locality should pay for the cost of the damages done to the court buildings and the residence of the judicial officer while also demanding that those responsible for the mob violence should be brought to book.

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Hundreds of Muslims here today burnt an effigy of Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif condemning the attack on the Uri Army base on September 18.

The protesters gathered at Husani chowk after Friday namaz at Jama Masjid and marched to Rajwara chowk shouting slogans like 'Hindustan Zindabad' and "Pakistan Murdabad".

They burnt the effigies there. They said the effigy also represented terrorists.

"We burnt an effigy symbolising Sharif and terrorists," said Maulana Shan-a-Alam of the Jama Masjid.

Addressing the community, he said Indian Muslims will give befitting reply if Pakistan tried to attack the country.

Maulana Khurshid Alam, another cleric, said Indian Muslims would never betray the country.

In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Pakisan prime minister Sharif had described the slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a "Young leader", whereas he was nothing but a terrorist, he said.

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A two-member delegation of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) visited Mewat in Haryana to gather first-hand information on the murder of a couple and gang rape of two Muslim girls by alleged cow vigilantes in a village.

The delegation, comprising NCM chairman Naseem Ahmad and member Praveen Davar, yesterday visited Dingerheri village where the crime was allegedly committed by cow vigilantes on August 25.

The Commission is likely to come up with its report on the incidents next week.

During its two-hour visit, the delegation met the victims' family and villagers to take their views and also discussed the incident with District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Davar said.

"We are currently in the process of finalising our report which will be submitted before the NCM in its weekly meeting.

"Whatever recommendations the NCM will make, we will write to Haryana Chief Minister (Manohar Lal Khattar) to take action based on the recommendations," he said.

The NCM will also apprise Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Minority Affairs Minister (Independent Charge) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi about its observations on the incident.

The visit of the delegation comes against the backdrop of Ahmad writing to Union Home minister on September 19, expressing concerns over "increasing violence" against Muslims by "so-called vigilante groups".

In his letter, Ahmad had referred to the attack on some Muslims in west Delhi and stated that such groups and series of incidents are "vitiating" social fabric of the country and are bound to disturb the overall climate of co-existence among communities.

"In particular, it is creating atmosphere of extreme insecurity and suspicions among the Muslims across the country and a deteriorating communal amity amongst communities that have traditionally lived together in peace and harmony," Ahmad had said in the letter, written in pursuant of complaints including one by Maharashtra Congress secretary Shehzad Poonawalla.

Ahmad also urged Singh to ask states to handle such



situations with "heavy hand" to enforce sense of security among the minorities in all seriousness.

Meanwhile, Poonawalla, who had filed three petitions before NCM over incidents, involving cow vigilante groups in Mewat and also Gujarat, today appreciated the Commission for taking up the issue before the Centre.

He also demanded the NDA government to act "decisively against such groups" which spread terror among Dalits and Muslims.

Listing such incidents including the mob lynching of a Muslim person for allegedly consuming beef in Dadri last year, Poonawalla demanded the Centre and state governments to ban them "like any other terrorist group".

"If the BJP government protects these groups as they are affiliated to Sangh Parivar, I will approach Supreme Court to do the same," he said.
European Union leaders will meet in Malta in February to help prepare for a summit the following month in Rome aimed at revitalising a bloc without Britain, an EU source said today.

"I can confirm that the Malta Summit at EU 27 will take place on the 3rd of February," an EU source who asked not to be named told AFP.

The 27 leaders met without British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this month in Bratislava, promising to forge a new vision for a bloc rocked by Brexit, the worst migrant crisis since World War II, terrorist attacks and a stuttering economy.

Valletta will play host as it assumes the rotating six-month presidency of the EU in January after Slovakia.

The EU source said the agenda of the Malta meeting is still to be determined but it will be "basically a follow-up to Bratislava and preparation for the Rome Summit in March," which marks the 60th anniversary of the bloc's founding treaty signed in the Italian capital.

May has said Britain will not trigger Article 50, which sets the two-year Brexit talks in motion, before the end of this year.

Her EU peers have repeatedly called on her to move quickly so as to end the uncertainty over Britain's future relations with the bloc.

A regular EU summit is also scheduled for the end of October in Brussels, leading up to another in December.

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The Enforcement Directorate today arrested a Director of a defaulting firm in connection with its money laundering probe in the NSEL scam case.

Kailash Agarwal, Director of Ludhiana-based ARK Imports, was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly not cooperating in the investigations in the case.

The firm is alleged to have defaulted over Rs 720 crore of NSEL investors.

They said Agarwal was earlier arrested by the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai police in 2014 in the same case.

The ED had recently arrested Jignesh Shah, promoter of Financial Technologies which owns NSEL, in the same probe.

The agency had filed a 20,000-page charge sheet against NSEL and 67 others in a Mumbai court in March last year, explaining NSEL funds were laundered and "illegally plouged into purchase of private properties".

The charge sheet detailed money trail amounting to Rs 3,721.22 crore.

ED had registered a criminal case under the PMLA in 2013 to probe the case, along with the EOW.

After a high-level meeting, chaired by Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das in June, the Centre also directed the Maharashtra government to expedite the resolution of the case by quickly auctioning assets worth Rs 6,116 crore attached so far and refund investors at the earliest.

NSEL's payment troubles started after it was ordered by regulator Forward Markets Commission (FMC) in July 2013 to suspend spot trade in most of its contracts due to suspected trading violations.

The exchange could not settle the outstanding trades, sparking investigations by the police and regulators to find out whether the exchange had defrauded traders by not enforcing rules requiring sufficient collateral to be set aside.

Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL) blamed NSEL executives and the trading parties for the default.

There were 24 members who defaulted payment to about 13,000 investors.

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A man was today arrested after 300 intoxicant capsules were allegedly seized from his possession in Katra town of Reasi district in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Narinder Kumar was arrested and two poly bags containing 150 intoxicant capsules (Paravan Spas) each were recovered from his possession in Counter number 2 area in the town, a police officer said.

The accused was arrested on the spot and booked under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said.

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The parents of a 26-year-old AIIMS student, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his Delhi flat two months ago, has sought a CBI probe into his death.

The autopsy conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine of AIIMS has ruled out suicide by Saravanan Ganeshan, who was found dead in his rented flat on July 10, his father Ganeshan told reporters at nearby Tirupur, the victim's hometown.

Police had claimed that my son had committed suicide by self injecting some poisonous fluid but in view of the Department of Forensic Medicine's report, the Centre should immediately order a CBI probe into the entire episode, he said.

Saravanan Ganeshan (26), who was doing his MD degree at AIIMS, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his rented flat at Hauz Khas in South Delhi.

He had taken admission for his MD degree at AIIMS 10 days



before his death.

Delhi police had stated that Saravanan had taken some injection, suspected to be potassium chloride, which is used as a medicine as well as for causing cardiac arrest.

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Sanjiv Singh will be the new Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation's largest company.

Singh, 56, who is currently Director of Refineries at IOC, was selected for the top job after government headhunters Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB) interviewed eight candidates.

Besides Singh, PESB interviewed Oil India Director HR and Business Development Biswajit Roy and four executive directors of IOC, it said in a notice.

Singh, who has been Director of Refineries at since July 1, 2014, will replace B Ashok on his superannuation at end of May 2017.

He will have three-year tenure at the helms of India's largest oil refining and marketing commpany. is also the nation's biggest company by revenue.

Singh served as an executive director of Paradip Refinery Project as well as head of IOC's Panipat Refinery before becoming a director.

A Chemical Engineer from IIT-Roorkee, Singh joined in December 1981 as Trainee Engineer and has worked in various positions at Mathura, Barauni and Panipat refineries of the company.

PESB recommendation will now go to the administrative ministry, ie the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas which will after receiving vigilance clearance send the proposal to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Miniter Narendra Modi for approval.
A white pigeon, apparently from across the border, with "some words written in Urdu" has been found in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, police said today.

Naresh Kumar, a resident of Motla village in the district, had yesterday spotted the bird at his house. He noticed something written on its wings in Urdu and brought it to the notice of police, which took the bird into custody today.

The pigeon is suspected to have flown into the Indian territory from Pakistan. The avian was "inspected" by the sleuths of security agencies and an X-ray scan was also conducted on it.

"Police found some numerical digits stamped on the bird's wings. We are trying to ascertain if it is a mobile number and if the pigeon came from Pakistan," said DSP, Mukerian, Bhupinder Singh.

"There is a stamp and something written in Urdu on its wings. Besides, an eleven-digit number was also found on its body," SHO, Mukerian, Jaswinderpal Singh said.

"We got the writing translated...Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday is written on the pigeon's body," he said.

Officials from the state intelligence and the Army also inspected the bird, police said.

Last year, a pigeon with some words written in Urdu was found by villagers in the Bamial sector of Pathankot district, which is just a few kilometres away from the Indo-Pak border.

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Condoling the deaths in two road accidents in Bihar and Punjab over the last few days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today sanctioned Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to seriously injured from the PM's National Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister "is grieved to learn about the loss of lives and injuries sustained" by the persons in the bus accident of September 19 near Bennipatti in Madhubani district of Bihar and the bus accident of September 20 near Muhawa village in Attari in Amritsar district of Punjab, a PMO statement said.

"He has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the persons deceased, and Rs. 50,000 each to the seriously injured, from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund," it added.

In the Madhubani mishap, at least 27 passengers were killed when a private bus fell into a roadside pond.

The Prime Minister had expressed deep sadness over the accident on that day.

In the Attari accident, seven children were killed and 17 others injured when a school bus fell into a canal at Muhawa border out post.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a live speech via satellite link during spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi's 63rd birthday celebrations at Amritapuri in Kollam on September 27.

On the occasion, Modi will also announce Mata Amritanandamayi Math's (MAM) completion of 2,000 toilets in the state as part of its Rs 100-crore pledge towards improving sanitation and ending open defecation in Kerala.

The events, to be held from September 25-27, include panel discussions aimed at uplifting India, launch of several important projects as well as charitable activities, a press release said here today.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam, Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of AYUSH Sripad Yasoo Naik, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien, former chief minister Oommen Chandy are among the diginitaries attending the celebrations, it added.

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Poland today sought partnership with India in agriculture and food processing sectors and offered its expertise in these areas.

"During 2015, bilateral trade between India and Poland amounted to USD 2.2 billion. We have the expertise to handle 95 per cent of our food processing requirements, while India only handles 10 per cent, which holds scope for Polish collaboration in this area," Poland's Deputy President of Agricultural Market Agency Jaroslaw Olowski said here.

"Polish apples are world famous and we supply one crore apples every year to India, while India can consider increasing mango exports," he said.

"We are here to understand the Indian markets, its distribution channels, products and policies of India to strengthen trade which will be combined with sales, besides, exchange of culture activities between Poland and India."



Speaking about the strengths of agriculture, dairy and animal husbandry sectors in the European country, Olowski said Poland is among top producers in poultry, fruit, vegetables and honey and can cater to Indian tastes.

Tomasz Lubaszuk, Ambassador of Poland, said his country looks forward to augment ties with India, especially in agriculture and food processing sectors.

The Embassy lends support to Indian businesses to set up base in Poland and vice-versa. There is great potential for culture and touristic exchanges which is proven from the fact that in the last five years, eight Bollywood films were shot in Poland, opening further scope, Lubaszuk said.

India's bilateral trade with Poland has grown almost 7-fold over the last 10 years. India has invested USD 3 billion in Poland, making it one of the most important countries to engage in business, he said.

The Maharashtra government is also keen to invite Polish investments and acquire technology from it in the dairy sector, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department Mahadev Jankar said.

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Union minister Kiren Rijiju today said the police action can be tough in exceptional cases where citizens do not abide by the rule of law, even as he highlighted the need for reforms in the force.

"Here in India, there is a fashion to say that the whole police are corrupt, politicians are corrupt, system is corrupt and even judges are corrupt. It is easy to blame each other but there is need for reform in people's mindset also," the Minister of State for Home Affairs said.

"India must be governed by the rule of law," Rijiju said at a conference here organised by Indian Police Foundation on the occasion of 10 years of the Supreme Court judgment on police reforms.

"When citizens are not behaving according to the rule of law, in those circumstances, the police must be tough. But that toughness in the police action must be exceptional. It must be the exception and not the common practice," he said.

Rijiju said there is a need for reform in every sector, including the police, the judiciary and the administration as well as the society.

"When people say that all politicians are thieves, I say politicians do not have their specific character, as they derive their character from the society. So, the mindset of the people and the society has to be reformed," he said.

He said those who serve in the police must realise that they have a responsibility towards the society and remarked that their's is "not a job, but a service to the people".

Noting that there is something wrong in the way many look at the police service, he said, "I feel that we must develop credibility. Satisfaction will only come when we have respect for the service and for these, reform is required in police."



Lauding the Police for its diligence, Rijiju said nowhere in the world is there a police which works as hard as the Indian Police does. "They are on duty round-the-clock. They sacrifice their own leaves, their festivals to make sure that the people enjoy their life and festivals. Their hard work is not recognised by people," he said.

The MoS remarked that he was "very unpopular" among his colleagues in Parliament because he does not heed to their "requests" seeking transfer of policemen.

"There are 543 Members of Parliament and people make their request for transfer through their MPs. Since I do not heed to their demands, I have become very unpopular," Rijiju said.

He said that apart from the reforms in the police, the force must act according to the elected government. "Since the leaders are answerable to the people, the police should pay heed to the instructions of the elected representatives, so that the citizens can be served," he said.

Calling for "reforms within the police", Rijiju said the force needs to be adaptive of the local conditions and work in coordination with the locals.

"We talk about the police reform, within the police also there has to be reform. Police must have public coordination. Some people from the northeastern region say that when they visit police stations, police do not take their complaints. So there must be reform at the ground level within the police and they must be adaptive and according to the society.

Rijiju said it is sad that in some areas people try to



dominate the police by using political power, arms or resources and in many cases they are brought under fear.

"In some cases, even an SP (Superintendent of Police) gives taxes. It is very sad. In some circumstances, the police must be tough in exceptional cases," he said.

Prakash Singh, Chairman of Indian Police Foundation, a research organisation aimed at improving policing by bringing a culture of evidence-based policing in India, called for the implementation of the 2006 judgment of the Supreme Court on police reform.

"The Supreme Court judgment has to be implemented but the matter continues to drag on. Some of the states are very clever. In the judgment, there was a provision which said the order must be followed until new Acts are passed. Thus, the states quickly passed new Acts which legitimised the status quo. Nothing has changed on the ground level as far the police reform is concerned," he said.

The objective of the police reforms is upholding human rights, better law and order, better policing, benefiting citizens. It is not aimed at glorifying police, he said.

Referring to the continuous tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre over authority on the police, eminent jurist Fali S Nariman said, "Delhi is neither a Union Territory nor a state. It is half a state. Delhi Police is certainly not a happy lot. While the Aam Aadmi Party pulls them one way, the Union ministry pulls them the other way."



"Definitely, they (the police) need more protection than the citizens of Delhi," he said on a lighter note.

Apart from them, N Ramachandra, President of Indian Police Foundation, Maja Daruwala, director of Commonwealth Human Rights initiative, former Union minister Veerappa Moily and former chief justice of India Justice R C Lahoti also supported reforms in the police.
A special train, called 'Mosquito Terminator', was today pressed into service by the Northern Railway to spray insecticide on water bodies along the track in Delhi area to curb mosquito breeding.

The train, with a power sprayer truck provided by SDMC which is mounted on a wagon, was flagged off from New Delhi railway station today.

The water bodies formed on the land adjacent to the railway tracks, which is otherwise inaccessible, can be sanitised effectively in this manner, said a senior Northern Railway official.

The drive against mosquito breeding was launched by the Northern Railway, as part of its public health initiative, in association with South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to check mosquito breeding in the water bodies in the wake of spurt in vector-borne diseases during this season.

The official said, the sprayers can sanitise large and inaccessible areas from a distance of 50-60 metres from the tracks in a short span of time.

Moving at a speed of 20 kmph, 'Mosquito Terminator' would cover a distance of about 150 km, in each cycle, over a period of two days. As per schedule, there will be four rounds of spraying at an interval of two weeks.

The train will pass through Sarai Rohilla, Patel Nagar, Delhi Cantonment, Palam, Safdarjung, Kishanganj, Lajpat Nagar, Nizamuddin, Adarsh Nagar, Shahdara and Gurgaon.

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Government-run Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) today said it has taken up over Rs 15,000 crore worth of projects in domestic as well as international markets.

"We are investing Rs 8,000 crore in a coal-based fertiliser plant at Talcher in Odisha, Rs 5,530 crore project of additional ammonia and urea at Thal (Maharashtra), Rs 209 crore sewage treatment plant at Trombay (in Mumbai), Rs 950 crore project of energy conservation and USD 903 million urea project in Iran over the next few years," RCF Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Mishra told reporters here.

In the Iran project, a four-way joint venture, RCF's share is worth Rs 500 crore.

"We have networth of Rs 2,800 crore and will be able to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore of both debt and equity. We will be able to fund these projects in a phased manner over the next few years," Mishra said.

The mini-ratna PSU, along with Coal India (CIL), GAIL (India) Ltd and Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL), is setting up a fertiliser complex at Talcher, comprising 2,200 MTPD ammonia plant and 3,850 MTPD urea unit through coal gasification route as feed stock.

Coal for the project will be made available by CIL from nearby fields. Land and certain facilities will be provided by FCIL.

The project, which will utilise state-of-the-art coal gasification technology, will be executed by a joint venture company, Talcher Fertilizers Ltd.

The ammonia synthesis and urea plants will be built on lump sum turnkey (LSTK) basis for which pre-qualification bids have been invited and pre-qualified parties shortlisted, he said.

Project capital cost is estimated to be about Rs 8,000 crore. Tender has been issued to pre-qualified LSTK vendors. Selection of coal gasification technology and coal block allocation is underway, Mishra said.

The project is of strategic importance as it aims to make breakthrough for an alternative source of feedstock in the form of abundantly available coal from domestic sources in place of natural gas. It will aid much needed urea production capacity for the eastern part of the country, he added.

RCF also proposes to expand urea capacity at Thal by setting up one single stream ammonia plant of 2200 MTPD capacity and one single stream urea plant of capacity 3850 MTPD at a cost of Rs 5,530 crore.

The project is awaiting approval from the Centre, he said.

The Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Trombay will cost



Rs 209 crore. In view of ensuring water availability, RCF is setting up additional STP adjacent to the existing one with a capacity to treat 22.75 million litres per day (MLD) of municipal sewage to produce about 15 MLD of treated water, Mishra said.

A portion of the treated process water will be supplied to Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) on mutually agreed terms.

At Trombay and Thal units, RCF is implementing energy conservation projects by investing around Rs 950 crore. The company is also exploring the possibility of setting up potassic and phosphatic plants abroad, Mishra said without giving investment details.

Mishra said the PSU was nominated by the government, along with Gujarat State Fertilisers Corporation (GSFC), for the proposed 1.3 million tonne urea plant in Iran.

Faradast Energy Falat Company (FALAT) of Iran has been shortlisted as the prospective local partner.

The consortium is planning to set up an ammonia and urea plant in Chabahar in Iran, using natural gas as feedstock, which is abundant in that country, with an estimated investment of USD 903 million.

Commenting on financial performance of the company, Mishra said total income rose to Rs 8,761 crore in FY16 as compared to Rs 7,787 crore in the previous year.

However, net profit was down at Rs 191.23 crore as against Rs 322 crore earlier.

The company's margins, besides sales of both fertilizers and industrial products, have been adversely impacted by a host of factors, Mishra said.

These include stringent energy norms specified by the government, higher gas price for non-urea operations, abundant availability of cheap imported chemicals, steep depreciation in rupee and delayed disbursement of subsidy, he said, adding the good monsoon this year will help the fertiliser industry.
Rich tributes were paid to Maharaja Hari Singh, the last ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir on his 121st birth anniversary today.

Various religious, political and social organisations paid tributes to the Maharaja with a special function being held at the Tawi Bridge where a statue of the erstwhile ruler has been erected.

Singh signed the Instrument Of Accession with the government of India after Pakistan army-backed tribal launched an attack on the state post independence.

Recalling his contributions for the welfare and development of Jammu and Kashmir, Speaker Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta called him a great visionary who worked for women education and uplift of weaker sections of the society.

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Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar today proposed "patriotic tourism" to make the countrymen aware of the role of defence forces in provding people safety and comfort.

"We should visit our borders and the villagers living nearby to know the role of defence forces in our safety and comfort," Kumar said at a seminar, which was organised to celebrate Haifa Mukti Day by Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS).

The Day is commemorated to pay tributes to the sacrifice of more than 900 brave Indian soldiers who laid down their lives for liberating the Palestinian Port of Haifa from Ottoman Empire of Turkey during World War-1 on September 23, 1918.

These soldiers were from the Lancers of Maharajas of Jodhpur, Mysore and Nizam of Hyderabad.

The seminar, titled "World Peace: Significance of Indo-Israel friendship," was also attended by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Jagdish Mukhi, Israel's Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon, among others.

At the seminar, Kumar suggested action plan by proposing "patriotic tourism" to the audience as well, a release said tonight.

He also moved a resolution, which was unanimously accepted by the audience, the release said adding the resolution proposed renaming Teen Murti Chowk as "Teen Murti Haifa Mukti Chowk".

According to the release, Carmon promised all support to FANS and Indo-Israel Friendship Forum for bringing the two countries closer and for the proposed visit of Indians to Haifa in 2018, the centenary year of Indian heroism in Haifa.

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Russia has sentenced an elderly decorated space engineer and university instructor to seven years in prison for state treason, an official said today.

Vladimir Lapygin was sentenced to seven years on charges of state treason, a spokesman for Moscow City Court told AFP, without giving details.

"The verdict was pronounced on September 6," he said, adding that the entire case was "top secret."



Russian agencies said Lapygin taught at Moscow's Bauman State Technical Institute. Information on the university's page suggested he advised graduate students in the mechanical engineering department.

Lapygin is also an employee of Tsniimash, the Central Research Institute of Machine Building, which develops rockets and is administered by the Roscosmos space agency.

In 2014 he received a medal for his contributions to Russia's economy and defence capabilities.

Russian media said Lapygin is in his late 70s and spent months under house arrest after his initial detention in May 2015. Lapygin was reportedly accused of giving Russian secrets to China.

Lapygin is just the latest person convicted for state treason and espionage in a list of Russians and foreigners which has been growing rapidly since 2014 and has included an air traffic controller, a housewife and a former intelligence officer.

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Russian intelligence agencies are making a "serious and concerted" effort to influence the US presidential election that could be aimed at influencing the outcomes and sowing doubt about the security, two top American lawmakers have claimed.

"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," Senator Dianne Feinstein, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Congressman Adam Schiff ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee 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 behaviour of the Russians," the two lawmakers said in a joint statement.

They are from the same Democratic party.

"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 Vladimir 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," they said.

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A mechanised infantry unit of the Russian military today arrived in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever joint military drills dubbed 'Friendship-2016' starting from tomorrow, reflecting growing military ties between the two former Cold War rivals.

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10," army spokesman Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted along with some photographs of the Russian and Pakistan troops.

A statement by Russia's Southern Military Command said the drills will involve over 70 servicemen of the Southern Military Command, including the Mountain Mobile Brigade's personnel deployed to the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic (North Caucasus), and also officers from the headquarters' staff.

"The Southern Military Command's mechanised infantry servicemen are fully equipped and have their mountain gear with them, as well as ammunition for their standard weapons," Russia's Itar-Tass agency reported, citing the statement.

The two militaries will share their experience and employ teamwork in fighting in mountainous areas, particularly destroying illegal armed groups, it said.

"The joint military drills are aimed at bolstering and building up military cooperation between the two countries," it said ahead of the opening ceremony tomorrow which is scheduled to take place at Pakistan Army's High Altitude School in Rattu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills called as 'Friendship 2016', which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era.

The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades.

Pakistan decided to broaden its foreign policy options after its relations with the US deteriorated following secret CIA raid in Abbottabad that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Its relations with the US were soured recently when US lawmakers blocked funds for the sale of eight Lockheed Martin Corporation's F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Pakistan decided to look at alternative sources to purchase the aircraft including from Jordan.

Over the last 15 months, the chiefs of Pakistan's Army, Navy and Air Force travelled to Russia. The flurry of high- level bilateral exchanges resulted in the signing of a deal for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad.

The agreement, signed in Moscow in August 2015, was considered a major policy shift on part of Russia in the wake of growing strategic partnership between the US and India.

Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington.

After securing the helicopters deal, Pakistan is also exploring options to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia. For this purpose, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman visited Moscow in July.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Russian ground forces contingent on Friday arrived in Pakistan to participate in the first-ever joint military exercises starting from from Saturday, reflecting growing military ties between the two former Cold War rivals.

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise," army spokesman Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa said.

The Russian troops will be in the country for two weeks from September 24 to October 10.

About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills called as 'Friendship 2016', which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era.

The move comes amidst increasing defence ties between Moscow and Islamabad as the latter was also thinking to buy advanced Russian warplanes.

The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades, local media reports said.

Pakistan decided to broaden its foreign policy options after its relations with the US deteriorated following secret CIA raid in Abbottabad that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May 2011.

Its relations with the US were soured recently when US lawmakers blocked funds for the sale of eight Lockheed Martin Corporation's F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Pakistan decided to look at alternative sources to purchase the aircraft including from Jordan.

Over the last 15 months, the chiefs of Pakistan's Army, Navy and Air Force travelled to . The flurry of high- level exchanges between the two nations resulted in the signing of a deal for the sale of four MI-35 attack helicopters to Islamabad.

The formal agreement, which was signed in Moscow in August 2015, was considered a major policy shift on part of in the wake of growing strategic partnership between the US and India.

Islamabad is eager to improve its ties with Moscow to diversify its options in the event of any stalemate in ties with Washington, according to the Express Tribune.

After securing a deal of MI-35 helicopters, Pakistan is also exploring options to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, it said. For this purpose, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman visited Moscow in July.
Russia tonight rubbished media reports that its troops will be holding joint military exercises with Pakistani forces in Gilgit-Baltistan, which is a part of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and said the anti-terror drills will take place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

The denial came as Russian troops arrived in Islamabad today for the first-ever joint exercises with Pakistani forces from tomorrow under the name 'Friendship-2016', reflecting growing military ties between the two countries.

"Contrary to some reports appearing in a section of the press, the Russia-Pakistan anti-terror exercise is not being held and will not be held in any point of so-called 'Azad Kashmir' or in any other sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit and Baltistan," said a statement by the Russian Embassy in New Delhi.

"The only venue of the exercise is Cherat," the statement added, referring to a place in Kyber Pakhtunkhwa. Cherat lies 34 miles south east from Peshawar.

"All reports alleging the drills taking place at the High Altitude Military School in Rattu are erroneous and mischievous," the Russian Embassy said.

Earlier, media reports from Islamabad said the exercises will take place at Pakistan Army's High Altitude School in Rattu in Gilgit-Baltistan.

About 200 troops from the two countries will take part in the two-week long military drills called as 'Friendship 2016', which have been termed as a sign of growing military ties between the former rivals of Cold war era.

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise from September 24 to October 10," army spokesman Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa tweeted along with some photographs of the Russian and Pakistan troops.

A statement by Russia's Southern Military Command said the drills will involve over 70 servicemen of the Southern Military Command, including the Mountain Mobile Brigade's personnel deployed to the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic (North Caucasus), and also officers from the headquarters' staff.

"The Southern Military Command's mechanised infantry servicemen are fully equipped and have their mountain gear with them, as well as ammunition for their standard weapons," Russia's Itar-Tass agency reported, citing the statement.

The two militaries will share their experience and employ teamwork in fighting in mountainous areas, particularly destroying illegal armed groups, it said.

"The joint military drills are aimed at bolstering and building up military cooperation between the two countries," it said.

The joint drill is seen as another step in growing military-to-military cooperation, indicating a steady growth in bilateral relationship between the two countries, whose ties had been marred by Cold War rivalry for decades.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Top security experts of SAARC countries today agreed to help each other in tackling suicide attacks, radicalisation of youths besides sharing intelligence on terror on real time.

The agreement came at the second meeting of the High Level Group of Eminent Experts to strengthen the SAARC Anti-Terrorism Mechanism which 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.

Two junior officers posted in the Pakistani High Commission in India attended the meeting on behalf of Sultan.

All member countries agreed to cooperate on capacity building by way of sharing their expertise on the subjects related to suicide terrorism, counter radicalisation, drugs trafficking and cyber security," an official statement said.

Other issues like corruption and money laundering were also brought up for discussions as they also contribute towards terror financing.

During the meeting, the representatives of SAARC nations discussed on fine-tuning the SAARC Anti-Terrorism mechanism by improving and sharing regional monitoring systems, real time exchange of information, capacity building through training of human resources and early ratification of the relevant SAARC Conventions.

The meeting endorsed the importance of regional cooperation in effectively tackling the menace of terrorism.

The two-day meeting was chaired by Director, Intelligence Bureau, Dineshwar Sharma.

During the meeting, the issues of terrorism and the measures to strengthen the SAARC anti-terrorism mechanism were discussed.

Besides terrorism, the important issues discussed during the meeting included drugs trafficking, financing of terrorism and cyber crimes.

The member countries shared their national experiences on various related legislations to counter terrorism.

All member countries of SAARC agreed to move forward towards operationalising the SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) and the SAARC Drugs Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) in order to strengthen the combat efforts against terrorism, it said.

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Larry Sanders, the 81-year-old brother of former US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, has been selected by the UK's Green Party to contest from former prime minister David Cameron's old parliamentary seat.

Larry grew up in New York and has lived in Oxford since 1969, making him eligible to contest the election on October 20 from Cameron's Witney constituency in the university town.

Cameron, has quit as an MP on September 12, nearly three months after he resigned as Prime Minister in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the EU in a referendum.

After his selection yesterday, Larry said: "We need to show that we don't want Britain to be the most unequal country in Europe. We don't want unmet health needs to increase when we already have too few doctors, nurses, and hospital beds."



"We don't want the government to impose unworkable contracts on 50,000 precious doctors, when it is clear that the supposed reason for the contract, a seven-day hospital service, can't be done at present funding.

"This is a rich, capable and decent country. We can do better," he added.

He credited his brother, who ran against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic party nomination, for much of his political education.

Larry has previously contested polls as a candidatein the neighbouring Oxford West and Abingdon constituency for the Green Party in 2015, where he finishedinfifth place.

Last night, a local Conservative councillor and barrister wasselected by the Conservative party to run for Cameron's seat.

Robert Courts has lived locallyfor several years and served as West Oxfordshire District Councillor since 2014.

The 37-year-old was selected from a shortlist of three and will be supported in his campaign by Cameron.

He is widely expected to retain the seat for the Tories, with Cameron, securing a majority of more than 25,000 votes at the last General Election.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The air cargo markets deceleration this year had a greater impact on third-quarter cargo revenues at American Airlines than its primary rivals, Delta and United Airlines. But the best revenue quarter in company history and a $483 million profit painted a positive financial picture that could be replicated in the final quarter thanks to resilient []
CBI was today directed to proceed with its probe into the murder of journalist Rajdev Ranjan by the Supreme Court which asked the Bihar police to provide protection to his family that has claimed threat to life from controversial RJD leader Shahabuddin.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan also sought the response of Shahabuddin, Bihar's health minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav and Bihar government on a petition by Ranjan's wife who has also sought transfer of the case from Siwan in Bihar to Delhi.

The RJD chief's son was seen in a photograph published in newspapers with one of the two sharp shooters of alleged gangster Shahabuddin.

"In view of that, we direct that the CBI may proceed with the investigation but not finalise it and shall file the status report before this Court on October 17," the bench said, adding "Superintendent of Police, Siwan district, shall provide police protection to the petitioner and her family."



The counsel for Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan claimed before the bench that CBI has not even started its probe into the case due to "political influence" and "fear of Shahabuddin" as the state machinery was protecting the history sheeter, against whom there were 58 criminal cases according to Bihar government's 2014 affidavit in the apex court.

When the counsel said the case should be transferred to Delhi, the bench said "CBI shall continue the investigation there. Eventually, after hearing them, we may consider whether to transfer the case. There is no trial as of now. Let them investigate."



The counsel told the court that five persons were arrested by Bihar Police in connection with the case, but the two alleged sharp shooters of Shahabuddin were not.

"CBI did not dare to take up the investigation in the case due to fear of Shahabuddin. Two sharp shooters, Md Kaif and Mohd Javed, were seen with Shahabuddin and Health Minister of Bihar Tej Pratap Yadav. Entire state machinery is protecting Shahabuddin," he alleged. Kaif surrendered before a Siwan court two days ago.

He said that Rajdev, a journalist, had written various stories about the "criminal deeds" of Shahabuddin and after RJD-JD(U) alliance came to power in Bihar, he was shot dead.

"Terror of Shahabuddin was so high that even the trial judge, who had convicted him in one of the case, has requested for transfer from Siwan to Patna," he alleged while seeking transfer of the case from Siwan to Delhi.

Reacting to the apex court's notice, Tej Pratap today



said in Patna that similar notices should have been issued against BJP leaders also whose photographs had appeared with a suspect in the case and other criminals.

Asha's counsel Kislay Panday also said an FIR should be registered against Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap for allegedly "harbouring and sheltering" Kaif and Javed, who were declared as proclaimed offenders in the case in which "hapless and helpless widow" ran from pillar to post for justice.

He said Kaif has surrendered before the police but Javed has not been arrested so far.

Panday said that Asha and two children of the slain journalist have been compelled to live in constant fear after Shahabuddin was released from Jail.

If the probe and trial of the case was conducted in Bihar, Shahabuddin and others would "terrorise the witnesses" due to which they would not get any justice, he contended.

In its order, the bench referred to submissions advanced by the counsel which said, "criminalisation of politics have been heavily commented upon and deprecated by this court in many a decision...And case at hand depicts a disturbing affair in that regard, for Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap, though (they) hold party position and position in the political executive, yet do not even think for a moment before associating themselves with such kind of anti-social elements and, in fact, sometimes render assistance."



The bench said "on perusal of the petition, it is prima facie discernible that the petitioner who lives with two small children, after losing her husband and the developments that have taken place in District Siwan, is in a state of continuous fear."



"It has been said that courage is the mother of all virtues and a man with courage can always sustain his or her dignity. But, sometimes, situations are created by certain powerful protagonists which instill fear in the mind of a citizen and that fear has the potentiality to usher in atrophy to the sense of dignity.

"It is also asserted in the petition that in the obtaining fact situation, this Court may direct for giving her protection by the competent authority failing which it is difficult to fathom, what kind of danger shall visit her," the bench noted.

Regarding the prayer for police protection, the bench



asked SP Siwan and the concerned police station to provide protection to Ranjan's family.

"The Superintendent of Police Siwan District shall provide police protection to the petitioner and her family. The concerned Station House Officer of Nagar Thana shall also see that the protection is given. We have directed both the Superintendent of Police and the Station House Officer so that the petitioner, a lady in distress, shall feel protected," the bench said.

Asha had moved Supreme Court seeking transfer of probe and trial in the case to Delhi alleging that media photos had shown two absconding killers of her husband in the company of Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap Yadav.

She had sought reliefs including a direction to CBI to take up the investigation forthwith in view of the fact that the proclaimed offenders, Mohd Kaif and Mohd Javed, have been spotted with Shahabuddin and the state Health Minister, where several cops were also present. Kaif surrendered in a Siwan district court of Siwan on September 21.

The scribe, working with a vernacular daily, was shot dead on the evening of May 13 in Siwan town by some sharp- shooters allegedly at the instance of then jailed RJD leader, the plea alleged, adding that despite being named by family of the journalist, Siwan police did not name Shahabuddin in the FIR as a key conspirator.

It also alleged that the RJD leader was irked over some reports by the slain journalist on the issue of murder of three sons of Chandrakeshwar Prasad. Shahabuddin has been convicted and awarded life term in one of the cases.

Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him.
Eight years after British teenage girl Scarlett Eden Keeling was found dead on a beach in Goa, a children's court here today acquitted two local men accused of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving her to die on the shore.

Goa Children's Court Judge Vandana Tendulkar acquitted Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho of all the charges in the high profile case, which had cast a shadow on the coastal resort, a former Portuguese enclave.

Carvalho and Samson were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, sexual abuse and drugging.

As the verdict was pronounced in a jam packed court hall, Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown did not hide her deep disappointment.

"I am devastated, I am shocked," said Fiona, who waited for long for the verdict in the case as the trial dragged on for years due to several reasons, including withdrawal of the initial prosecutor and failure to get the deposition of a key witness from abroad.

Talking to reporters outside the court here, Fiona, who flew down to Goa from Davon (UK) to be present in the court for the final verdict, said, "I am shocked. I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order."



Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the judgement as "unfortunate", but said it will not hamper the image of the coastal state. "I have just heard about the verdict, I have not gone through the entire judgement. I feel the outcome of the verdict is heartbreaking, it is very unfortunate. Unless, I go through the judgement I would not be in a position to detail my reaction," he said.

"It is a heartbreaking judgment...I feel that such a outcome of the case needs to be challenged in the higher court," he added.

The 15-year-old's bruised and semi-nude body was found at Anjuna beach on February 19, 2008. After the body was found, Fiona stayed in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case.

Goa Police was accused of trying to hush up the case. The police had initially dismissed it as a case of drowning, but later registered it as culpable homicide, after Fiona pressed for a second autopsy, which found that the girl was drugged and raped.

CBI, to which the probe was handed over later following repeated pleas made by Scarlett's family, had filed its chargesheet in the case in 2009.

The case had grabbed international attention as British citizens used to form the largest number of tourists visiting Goa.

The investigating agency had charged Samson of



sexually abusing the girl and leaving her to die on Anjuna coast, while Placido was accused of providing narcotics to her on the fateful day.

Talking to reporters after the verdict, Samson said, "I am relieved. Justice has finally prevailed."



The prosecution had examined 31 witnesses, including the mother of the deceased during the trial.

Interacting with mediapersons in the office of her lawyer, Vikram Varma here, Fiona said medical evidence confirms that her daughter was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after some criminals gave her alcohol and cocaine.

She said from the beginning, she knew that the local police were not interested to prosecute the killers. "It took a huge effort for me to even get the police to register a complaint," Fiona said.

She said she had high hopes after CBI took over the probe.

"But it is clear that they are either incompetent or corrupt. I don't believe they are incompetent. And all I can say is that if any international tourists come to Goa and get murdered they have no hope for justice in this system," she said adding criminal justice system protects the criminals and not the tourists.

Fiona said she is exploring the possibility of challenging the verdict but has no financial resources and patience to wait for eight more years to get the justice.

At the time of incident, Fiona and her family were on a holiday in India. Fiona and her other children had gone to the neighbouring state of Karnataka, leaving the 15-year-old Scarlett to the care of a Goan family.

The police investigation had revealed that the girl who had arrived on the shack in the midnight, was allegedly offered the drugs and later sexually abused before leaving her to die on the beach. On March 31, 2008 her body was flown to UK and was kept at a morgue till June 16, 2012 when it was finally buried at her home in Davon.

Bowing to the constant pressure of Fiona, then state government led by Digambar Kamat had agreed to hand over the investigation to CBI, which was finally transferred to the federal agency (CBI) on May 7, 2008.

The CBI filed chargesheet on October 21, 2009 before Goa Children's Court. But the trial, which began in 2010, saw change of five judges and three public prosecutors.
Amid concerns among staff about CBI scrutiny in some high-profile cases including in MCX matter, Sebi Chairman U K Sinha today assured that the employees need not worry as their interest is safeguarded under the Act governing the regulatory body.

Asked by reporters here after a board meeting of Sebi, Sinha also expressed his displeasure at the media coverage of the recent incident of CBI conducting searches at the premises of some Sebi officials as part of their probe into MCX case.

"I am the victim here," Sinha said, while saying that he was not happy with the way media has reported the matter.

He also said that Sebi employees need not worry as there are provisions in the Sebi Act to safeguard their interest.

He was referring to Section 23 of Sebi Act under which no external agency should be able to seek depositions from Sebi officials without the consent of central government and Sebi Chairman.

The Sebi Employees' Association (SEA) has reportedly expressed concerns over the recent CBI searches at three of its members' residences.

In a letter to the Sebi Chairman, the body representing over 700 officials reportedly said these 'selective' searches were "shocking and disturbing" as the matter was years-old and involved decision-making at the highest level.

The association is said to have sought intervention by the Sebi board to ensure that they can discharge their duty without any fear of selective scrutiny.

As per reports, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) also plans to seek clarity from the Finance Ministry on the CBI scrutiny of its officers in various cases.

In the past also, CBI had registered a PE (Preliminary Enquiry) against former Sebi Chairman C B Bhave in the matter concerning grant of approval to MCX Stock Exchange, but later decided to close the case after the agency came to a conclusion that his role was not of serious nature to warrant registering a case.

Earlier this week, CBI arrested Jignesh Shah, who had founded MCX, in the case of alleged cheating and suppression of facts in getting Sebi extension to MCX Stock Exchange to continue as a stock exchange in violation of norms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after a high alert was sounded in Mumbai coast and adjoining areas after a group of men was spotted moving suspiciously near a Naval base at Uran near here, the multi-agency search for them continued for the second day today, although the Navy called off its operation.

Police said none of the men could be traced so far even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was in Pune, said the information about suspicious armed people being spotted in Uran was yet to be corroborated.

However, police said that based on the description given by some school children, who spotted the armed suspects yesterday, their sketches were issued late last night.

Talking to PTI, Satish Mathur, Director General of Police, said, "Search operations by police is still on in Uran area. But, so far, nothing significant has been come across."



He said police had also submitted a confidential report on the search operations to the government.

A high-level meeting of Police officials and National Security Guard (NSG) unit commanders was also held at Uran in the morning, where schools and colleges have been shut today.

The Western Naval Command (WNC) of Navy, which called of the search operation, in an official statement here said, "As far as Indian Navy is concerned, operations based on yesterday's sightings of suspected terrorists are concerned are over. Sanitisation of naval areas has been undertaken. Navy is maintaining close liaison with local police/other agencies for further updates or developments."



"However, as the state of alertness is concerned, Indian Navy maintains a high state of alert and tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances," it added.

The WNC had issued "the highest state of alert" along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts after suspicious movement of the men yesterday morning. The Navy had pressed its choppers for surveillance and heightened patrolling in the sea by its vessels and high-speed boats.

Fadnavis, who was in Pune to take a review of various government schemes, said, "I appeal to people not to get panicked as the information received from the girl, who had informed about the suspicious armed people spotted in Uran, has not been corroborated. However, all the agencies--ATS, NSG, Coastal police, Navy and local police are working together and combing operations are going on."



He also appealed to the electronic media not to televise sensitive establishments in and around Uran for security reasons.

Minister of State (Home) Deepak Kesarkar, however, said information about suspicious men seem to be prima facie true. "Security forces are working on two fronts. The suspects are being identified and combing exercise in the area is also vigorously on," Kesarkar told reporters here.

Kesarkar said, prima facie, what the children had



reported seems to be true as it has not been proved otherwise.

"But, there has been no boat, in which they could have travelled, apprehended as yet. Currently, the CCTV footage in the area is being examined and the sketches of the suspects are being circulated in the area," he said.

The minister said that the government machinery is working overtime to ensure there is no repeat of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

"Never before in the past have the agencies been so swift in carrying out identification and combing operations. All tools that we have at our disposal to ensure there is no repeat of 2008 attacks. Even if the terrorists have entered, they will not be allowed to harm a single person," he said.

Kesarkar said he and the Chief Minister were taking regular updates from the DGP on the matter.

Massive combing operation in Uran and Karanja areas is being carried out with the help of Coast Guard and CISF. The elite commandos from National Security Guard (NSG) and state police's specialised 'Force One' have also been roped in.

Some children from Uran Education Society's school had spotted the suspects, and their teacher informed the police. Subsequently, the WNC issued a "highest state of alert" along the coasts, where several sensitive establishments and assets are located.

The alert came four days after the Uri attack, which left 18 soldiers dead.

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 in the city 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.
The construction of Shirdi



airport is nearing completion and the facility will be ready by the first week of November, a top official of Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) said today.

"Work on Shirdi airport is in the final stages. The air



traffic control (ATC) will be ready by the first week of November. It is set to be launched any time after November 1," Vishwas Patil, Managing Director of MADC told reporters here.

At present, work on the terminal building spread over 3,000 sq mtr is in progress and will be completed by November, he said.

"Initially, the flight operations will be restricted between sunrise and sunset and the night landing facility will be installed by January 15, 2017. Once the flight operations start, devotees of from across the world will be able to fly to Shirdi (to visit the famous Saibaba shrine here)," Patil said.

Out of the total cost of Rs 325 crore, the MADC has spent Rs 230 crore so far on the airport, he added.

"The airport crash tender imported from Austria at a cost



of Rs five crore is ready. This ultra modern vehicle can reach any part of the airport within one and half minutes," he said.

According to him, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis is keen on inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the airport.

In the next two years, permanent terminal building and ATC tower will be built on 5,000 sq mtr land, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In an operation leading to the "near decimation" of the Karbi People Liberation Tigers (KPLT), six top KPLT militants were neutralised in an encounter with security forces in East Karbi Anglong district of Assam today.

Among the six militants killed were the 'Operation Commander' and 'Area Commander' of KPLT, a Defence spokesman said in Guwahati.

Their camp was also busted in the joint police and Army operation and large quantity of arms, ammunition and other warlike stores were recovered from there.

The Defence spokesman claimed that the operation has led to "near decimation" of the KPLT which has been the most prominent anti-national group active in both West and East Karbi Anglong districts.

On receiving specific intelligence about the presence of a KPLT camp in the dense Nambar Reserve Forest under Bokajan police station, Army and Assam police had launched a joint operation last afternoon to nab the militants and destroy their camp, the spokesman said.

At around 1 AM today, the Army personnel spotted the camp with armed insurgents and on being challenged the ultras opened indiscriminate fire on the troops who also opened retaliatory fire and in the ensuing firefight, four militants were neutralised, the spokesman said.

Taking advantage of the dense jungle, the other rebels tried to escape but the troops engaged them in a firefight resulting in the killing of two more militants, the spokesman said.

The seized items include one INSAS Rifle, one 7. 62mm Self Loading Rifle (SLR), one country-made rifle, two hand grenades, large quantity of ammunition, fired cases, six matchets, solar chargers, blankets and other war like and survival stores, he said.

KPLT, formed in 2010-11 by a breakaway faction of the Karbi National Liberation Front after the KLNF declared ceasefire, is active in the remote areas of Bokajan resorting to extortions and kidnappings for ransom.

Superintendent of Police Debojit Deuri told PTI that the process for identifying the militants was on.

(REOPENS CAL 4)



The slain KPLT guerrillas have been identified as Rupsing Ronghang, Augustin Kro, Sibson Timung, Dhansing Engti, Haren Engti and Therson Tokbi alias Dorson, the SP said.

Rupsing and Augustin are top KPLT militants, Deuri said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today termed expanding social media a "big challenge" the traditional media faces as he lamented that media sometimes "crosses its limit".

"We have many challenges before us ...Social media is expanding its roots in a big way..If I become the broadcaster myself how big a challenge it will be for you all," he said.

Speaking at the inaugural function of Confederation of Newspapers and Agencies Emloyees Organisations here the Chief Minister said social media offers public representatives a platform to reach out to audiences.

"The speed with which things are changing...If I have to reach lakhs of people I will do it thorugh the social media...This situation is a challenge for you...Mediapersons are also coming on the Twitter and I have put police and other departments on twitter," he said.

Regretting that sometimes media "crosses its limits", he referred to a item in a local newspaper branding him as "Aurangzeb". In a lighter vein, he added he has not yet taken out his sword.

He said the SP government has extended all possible help to mediapersons and will continue to do so.

Yadav attacked the Mayawati government saying compared to the "patharwali sarkar"- in apparent reference to the huge number of statues the BSP government installed of some party icons and its election symbol of 'elephant'- people will find his government much more liberal and democratic.

The Chief Minister said Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh have recently been in . "It is another thing that it has happened because of the samajwadis," referring to the recent tussle in his Samajwadi Party.

He thanked the media for raising issues which he said act as inforamtion for the government to act on them and improve the situation.

Earlier general secretary of the Confederation, MS Yadav spoke about the long struggle fought for the constitution of Majithia wage board and implementation of its recommendations for journalists.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said the state government will build a stadium in memory of seven school children who died after their bus fell into a canal in Muhawa village on Tuesday.

"The stadium will be built at cost of Rs 20 lakh in Muhawa and the village school will be upgraded to senior secondary level," he said at a seminar here to commemorate Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary.

Sukhbir directed the district administration to send Karanbir Singh's name for the national bravery award for saving lives of many children in the accident.

The public works department was also directed to increase width of guard rails by one and a half feet at bridges prone to such accidents.

The Deputy CM claimed Punjab was the only state that had implemented Ambedkar's ideologies in their true spirit.

"The World Kabaddi Cup due in November will be christened as Dr Ambedkar World Kabaddi Cup. Besides, 2600 free medicine shops will also be named after Ambedkar," he said.

Subjects on the life and philosophy of the great personalities, including Ambedkar, would be made compulsory in Punjab universities to enable the young generation to adopt their ideals for personality development, Sukhbir said.

"Punjab carries forward the proud legacy of secularism, therefore people live peacefully and have equal respect for each other and every religion," he



said.

Asking people to follow Ambedkar's ideas, he said Punjab would be a role model in this aspect.

Addressing the gathering, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said following the footsteps of Ambedkar can change the country.

People should take inspiration from the lives of gurus, saints and great people, and develop their personality and character, Bedi said.

"The youth should focus on self education instead of 'Facebook' and devote majority of their time to acquire knowledge and to sports, she said.

Bedi asked people to be a part of Swachh Bharat campaign and focus on keeping the environment clean.

Punjab Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal said the ideals of Ambedkar are relevant even today as they were 70 years ago.

"It was a Herculean task to prepare the constitution of a diverse country like India, but Ambedkar accomplished it," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Left-ruled Kerala on Friday sought a decision on the formula for compensating states for any loss of revenue post the implementation of goods and services tax (GST) before a rate is decided even as most others hailed the decisions taken at the first Centre-State council meeting on the new tax regime.

At the first meeting of the Council, states proposed certain formulae based on their revenues for calculating compensation while the Centre proposed compensating states if the revenue growth rate falls below 12 per cent.

"The Centre had suggested an average of last three years of revenue, some states said it should be best of three years out of five. Then the Centre went back and suggested that it should be based on pan-India revenue growth rate of 12 per cent. Almost all states are in agreement that it has to be the best of three years out of five," Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said.

The compensation needs to be thrashed out before deciding the rate, he said.

Gujarat Minister of State for Finance Rohit Patel proposed the formula of the best three of the last 10 years for calculating compensation to states while West Bengal put it at the best three of the last 6 years.

Chhattisgarh Finance Minister Amar Agrawal said all states were on board for implementation by April 1, 2017.

States and the Centre on Friday agreed to Rs 20 lakh as the turnover limit for exemption from GST, with states saying their share of revenue would be protected.

"Delhi wanted that the exemption threshold should be kept at Rs 25 lakh, but the Council decided on Rs 20 lakh. Our revenues will be protected," Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Skill Development Abhishek Mishra said the state is happy with the Rs 20 lakh figure and it would be hassle free for traders.

Haryana Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu too said there will be no loss of revenue to the state.

"We would like to be fully compensated and the Centre has given that assurance. Now only the broad modalities are to be decided," he said.

Odisha Finance Minister Pradeep Kumar Amat said the central government will compensate for five years for revenue loss and this will be discussed in the next meeting.

According to the West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, three alternatives were discussed.

A state can be compensated if the revenue under falls short of the average tax earnings in the best three years out of the past five.

Second, of the five years, two outliers are left out and an average is taken. If the revenue under GST is short of this, then states get compensated.

Third, a base year can be fixed and a particular growth rate decided for all states. If the revenue falls short of that, then compensation kicks in.

The base year for compensation has been agreed as 2015-16 and the average of five years will be taken, he said, adding that if for some reasons the base year becomes 2016-17, then the average would be taken for 6 years.

The GST Council, chaired by Union finance minister, will meet again on September 30 and discuss the compensation issue. In the October 17-19 meeting, the Council will decide on the rates.

The officials of both the Centre and states are working on thrashing out a consensus on the compensation formula.
A defiant Syrian regime launched a new assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo 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 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 yesterday.

"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."



An AFP correspondent in the rebel-held east of Aleppo witnessed a dozen families fleeing the Soukkari district for other rebel areas further north.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Taiwanese court has sentenced a former intelligence officer to 18 years in prison for reportedly working as a double agent and spying for China as relations worsen with Beijing.

Major Wang Tsung-wu was sentenced yesterday by Taiwan's High Court on convictions of engaging in espionage as well as violating national intelligence and security laws.

The court provided no further details, citing national security restrictions.

Local media reported how Wang was allegedly turned by China when he was sent there as an undercover agent for Taiwan's Military Intelligence Bureau around 20 years ago.

He spied for Beijing for more than a decade, reports said.

Wang was recruited by China in 1995 and leaked confidential information before he retired in 2005. He also recruited retired colonel Lin Han in 2013 to help collect intelligence, according to Hong Kong-based Apple Daily.

Lin had travelled to Singapore and Malaysia to meet with Chinese intelligence and passed on information about the identities of the Taiwan bureau's officers and their missions, Taipei-based Liberty Times reported.

Wang was paid around USD 96,000 while Lin received about USD 76,000 for the information they passed, it added.

Lin received a six-year jail term for violating national intelligence law, the High Court said.

Both men can appeal the ruling.

It is the latest in a string of espionage cases and comes as ties between Taiwan and China turn increasingly frosty since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in May.

Taiwan and China have spied on each other ever since they split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. Beijing still regards the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

In 2011, an army general who headed an intelligence unit was sentenced to life for spying for China, in one of Taiwan's worst espionage scandals.

That sentence came despite a rapprochement between Taiwan and China under then-president Ma Ying-jeou of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party.

Earlier this year a mainland Chinese man was jailed for four years for recruiting a former major-general and other local military officers to spy for Beijing.

The major-general received a sentence of two years and 10 months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police today claimed to have foiled a murder plan after arresting three persons, including a rape convict, who was absconding after jumping parole.

Ankit (23), Chand (30), and Amit (22) were arrested on Wednesday while going to Badli from Shalimar Bagh in a car, they had snatched at gun-point from Dwarka. They were allegedly going to murder Ankit's uncle Bhag Singh over a property dispute, a police official said.

A country-made pistol and live cartridges were seized from their possession. Chand, a convict in a kidnapping and rape case, was sentenced to seven-year jail term, but was absconding after jumping parole, the official said.

The gang was involved in at least seven robberies in northwest and outer Delhi areas, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trinamool Congress and Congress MLAs today staged a noisy walkout from the Tripura Assembly separately on different issues today.

TMC members walked out when Speaker Ramendra Debnath refused to admit an adjournment over Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's alleged anti-national remarks.

During the Zero Hour, TMC leader Sudip Roy Barman stood up and pressed for an adjournment to discuss Sarkar's comment made at a business seminar here yesterday.

Barman said the Chief Minister's comment that India always showed "big brotherly attitude" towards its neighbouring countries was "inimical to national interest".

A heated exchange of words between the Treasury and the TMC benches followed and the Chief Minister himself said he had not said anything inimical to national interest.

"I have said our External Affairs ministry should have such an attitude that we can maintain a good relation with our neighbouring countries. We want good neighbours. As an Indian, it is my right," Sarkar said.

But the barbs continued to fly as TMC members called the Treasury bench "agents of China and Pakistan", while the Left MLAs described Trinamool Congress as "agent of BJP".

As Speaker Ramendra Debnath did not adjourn the House, all six members of Trinamool Legislature Party (TLP) staged a noisy walkout and did not return to the House for the rest of the day.

Similarly, the three Congress MLAs also walked out in protest against the Speaker's refusal to allow a discussion on the events that led to violence on January 23 at Agartala after the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) brought out a procession.

The Speaker cited rules and business of the House to reject the demand.

Congress leader Ratanlal Nath said the party's demand for a CBI inquiry into the incident and discussion in the House was rejected in a "very undemocratic manner" and the party members staged a walkout.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Five states, including Gujarat, today signed MoUs worth over Rs 12,800 crore with various investors in tourism sector, on the concluding day of the Incredible India Tourism Investors' Summit here.

Tourism Secretary Vinod Zutshi announced the signing of the MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) by Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttrakahand and Chhattisgarh.

He also said the ministry has decided to set up a task force, with representations from the states and other stakeholders, to take forward certain policy measures and attract more investment.

"We have information from five states. Gujarat has signed MoUs for investment worth Rs 8,795 crore, while Karanataka has signed investment proposals to the tune of Rs 2,595 crore," Zutshi said.

The three-day Summit, which concluded today, was organised jointly by the Ministry of Tourism, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tourism Finance Corporation of India.

While Rajasthan and Uttrakahand signed proposals for investment worth Rs 955 crore and Rs 507 crore respectively, Chhattisgarh signed MoUs for investment to the tune of Rs 12 crore, Zutshi said.

The Tourism Ministry has decided to set up an investment desk, which will work as facilitator both for the investors and the states, he said.

The states have been advised to conduct investment meets for taking forward various proposals to logical conclusion, Zutshi added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
British Prime Minister Theresa May's government today suffered its first major jolt when Treasury Minister Lord Jim O'Neill resigned amid speculation that he was unhappy with her policies on China.

O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs chief economist who was brought in by former prime minister David Cameron, also resigned as the Conservative party whip. He did not give a reason for his departure but UK media reports indicate it was a result of growing tensions with May's approach.

There had been growing speculation over Lord O'Neill's resignation following a report in the 'Financial Times' in July that cited his unhappiness after May announced a shock review into the 18-billion-pound Hinkley Point project involving China.

"I primarily joined, however, for the specific purpose of helping deliver the northern powerhouse, and to help boost our economic ties with key growing economies around the world, especially China and India, and other rapidly emerging economies," 59-year-old Lord O'Neill wrote in his resignation letter.

"The case for both to be at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention. I am leaving knowing that I can play some role supporting these critical initiatives as a non-governmental person," he adds.

O'Neill is best known for coining the phrase "BRICS", an acronym for the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and was a close aide to Cameron.

He will now sit on the cross-benches of the House of Lords.

May said she was sorry about O'Neill's resignation and thanked him for his service.

"You have made a significant contribution to driving forward the government's work on delivering growth beyond the south-east through the northern powerhouse and on promoting stronger economic links with emerging economies, including China and India. You have laid important foundations in these areas, and the government will build on them," she wrote.

"I would particularly like to pay tribute to your ground-breaking work on antimicrobial resistance.

You should take great pride in seeing your review culminate this week in the UN high level agreement.

"You have played a vital role in building global consensus on this important issue, which will have long-lasting benefits."



Downing Street announced that Lord Young of Cookham will become the new Treasury spokesman in the House of Lords.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Uri terror attack loomed large as the BJP National Executive met today ahead of the two-day National Council meeting starting tomorrow amidst demands for tough action against Pakistan.

The party itself sought to focus on the pro-poor agenda during the deliberations with BJP President Amit Shah asking its state governments to execute the schemes aimed at the welfare of the poor in the centenary birth anniversary year of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay.

On the first day of the three-day exercise, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate from tomorrow, Shah focused on the party's 'garib kalyan' agenda in his address to the office-bearers.

Against the backdrop of the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed, a key leader maintained that the party appreciates the sentiments in the country and that "action will keep happening" against Pakistan.

BJP fielded its General Secretary Ram Madhav, who has advocated punitive action against Pakistan, before the media to outline the Council's focus on 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last man) and say how it is an occasion for the party to rededicate itself to Upadhyay's ideals.

Madhav parried a volley of questions about the party's position on the Uri attack but made it clear that it will be deliberated in the Council.

"We are a party of grassroot workers. We understand and appreciate the sentiments in the country," he said.

Prodded again, Madhav said, "A lot has happened in the last three days, especially on the diplomatic front".

The party will air its views in the coming days, he said. "Let's wait for a while. There is joy in wait. You (media) will get your food," Madhav said.

Asked about the "lack of action" despite leaders, including him, making strong comments against Pakistan, he said, "You want only statements or action too? Actions too will keep happening."



Soon after the Uri attack, Madhav had spoken about India adopting the policy of "for one tooth, complete jaw", asserting that the days of strategic restraint are over.

Modi, who is scheduled to address a public meeting tomorrow, is expected to speak on the Uri incident at a time when there has been a clamour within the party and outside for action against Pakistan.

There has been criticism of the Prime Minister with some detractors recalling the attacks he had made against the UPA government for its alleged soft attitude towards Pakistan- sponsored terror.

Shah will also speak tomorrow and deliver his address to the Council on Sunday when Modi will give the valedictory speech.

Both leaders will touch on the Uri incident in their speeches, party leaders said.

BJP's National Council will adopt the 'garib kalyan'



report of a committee headed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and is likely to ask states, where it is in power, to implement pro-poor schemes of the Modi government with a one-year target.

Almost 80 schemes of the Centre are aimed at the welfare of the poor and the committee is also believed to have incorporated certain schemes of the different party-run state governments that can be replicated in other states.

"It (Council) is essentially dedicated to Upadhyay's ideals. We are setting a new trend for all political parties that you can have a national council dedicated to constructive works," Madhav told reporters, adding that it was not merely about strategising to win coming elections.

"It is a historic, unique conference," he said.

A senior party leader said the top brass wants to position the organisation as the party of the poor in the same way Congress projected itself for decades with its populist and welfare policies.

"Unlike the Congress whose pro-poor agenda was confined to slogans and did little good to the poor, we want our schemes to touch their lives positively and position ourselves as their true benefactors before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," he said but declined to be quoted.

Shah told the party's office-bearers at the meeting held in a scenic resort on the Malabar town's outskirts that Kozhikode was a "holy pilgrimage" centre for them as it was here that Upadhyay was elected as President of the Jana Sangh, the BJP's forerunner, in 1967.

"Now a government of Deen Dayal Upadhyay's ideology is ruling the country with full majority and it is imperative for us to realise his principle of antyodaya. The government and the organisation should work in unision to this purpose," he said.

Madhav said the Council will also finalise a year-long list of programmes to celebrate his birth centenary anniversary, which falls on September 25.

"The year will be dedicated to the welfare of the downtrodden," he said, adding that Modi will kick off the exercise on September 25. The Prime Minister will also attend an event to felicitate associates of Upadhyay.

The Council is likely to adopt one resolution on its last day on Sunday.

The party has also made elaborate arrangements to beam Modi's speech at the Council live so that its workers across the country can hear him.

Madhav also hit out at the Left Front government in Kerala, saying that BJP's and RSS' functionaries have been at the receiving end of the violence of CPI(M) cadres.
Amid tension in the wake of Uri terror attack, the Raj Thackeray-led MNS today asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India immediately, failing which the shooting of their movies will be stalled.

The party wrote an open letter to Bollywood producers and production houses, asking them why they need to rope in actors from the neighbouring country when enough talent is available in India.

Actors like Mahira Khan (featuring in Shah Rukh Khan- starrer 'Raees') and "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" star Fawad are hijacking the opportunities of Indian artistes, MNS General Secretary Shalini Thackeray told a press conference here.

In Karan Johar's "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", slated to release next month, Fawad is in a supporting role, while Mahira essays the lead role opposite SRK in "Raees", which will mark her Bollywood debut.

Mumbai Police, however, assured the actors they need not worry as they will be given protection.

"They (Pakistanis) don't give our people any respect in their country. Pakistani artists don't earn anything in their country but in India they get name, fame and money. After all this, their government funds terror activities in India, this is completely unacceptable," Thackeray said.

Thackeray, along with President of the party's cinema wing, Amay Khopkar, released copies of the open letter to the media. The letter questions Indian producers' "love" for Pakistani artistes.

"In a country of 1.25 billion people, where lakhs and crores struggle for an opportunity to be launched in movies, why you have so much affection for the Pakistani artistes? Do you want to say that our actors do not have requisite talent? This is akin to insulting our country," the letter read.

Thackeray lambasted the NDA government for not dealing with Pakistan in a "stern" manner.

Speaking to PTI, she said, "The current government has been only giving assurances that they will deal sternly with Pakistan, but unfortunately nothing has happened so far."



"All foreign nationals who land in the country with valid documents issued by Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra need not worry," Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Deven Bharti said.

Johar's Dharma Productions, which has produced "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", said it has to understand the issue before commenting on it.

"We have not come across anything yet. If there is an issue, we need to understand the matter first, so we cannot comment anything," an official from Dharma Productions said.

The calls and messages to the makers of "Raees" did not elicit any response.

Heavily armed militants stormed the headquarters of the Army in North Kashmir's Uri town in the wee hours of September 18, killing 18 jawans and injuring 19 other personnel in the terror strike in which four ultras were neutralised.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A six-year-old boy here has won the respect of President Barack Obama and thousands of others after he offered to take in a little boy who was injured after his home in Aleppo, Syria, was bombed.

The image of shell-shocked five-year-old Omran Daqneesh sitting alone in an ambulance, covered in dust and blood, shocked the world and inspired Alex, from Scarsdale, New York, to write a 3-page letter to Obama.

In a handwritten letter sent to the White House, Alex asked Obama to go and collect Omran and bring him to his house where "we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons."



Alex said that Omran could be part of his family, and offered to be his brother. He said he would teach him how to speak English, to ride a bike and added that his sister Catherine would share her toys with him.

Obama read Alex's words aloud in a speech he gave at the United Nations earlier this week, before posting a video of Alex reading the letter himself to Facebook.

In his message, Obama asked people to read the letter to "understand why he had decided to share it with the world."



"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," the President wrote.

"We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were," he added.

The post has collected more than 100,000 "likes" and been shared more than 60,000 times, with many Facebook users praising the compassion shown by Alex.

One Facebook user wrote: "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."



Another added: "I heard this earlier today, as read by my president. Even with that pre-conditioning, made me cry while reading it just now. Neither of these sweet little boys, someone's sons, are Skittles."



Donald Trump Jr., the son of the Republican presidential nominee, had sparked controversy on Monday when he compared Syrian refugees to a bowl of Skittles candies.

The generous offer from Alex comes as Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia have each produced more than 1 million refugees due to ongoing crises, according to the UN. Earlier this year, the world body's refugee agency said that the number of refugees and displaced people worldwide had surpassed 60 million for the first time.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 50 leading US tech companies, including Microsoft and Google, have pledged more than USD 650 million for the education and employment of 6.3 million refugees including children in 20 countries.

Microsoft, TripAdvisor, HP and Google along with 47 other companies will help more than 80,000 children in refugee camps to get an education under a government initiative, US President Barack Obama said at theUN Leaders Summit on Refugees.

"You have companies like Accenture, Western Union, and LinkedIn that are going to help with internships, skills training and job placement," he said. "Today's commitment means that we're going to be creating employment opportunities for more than 220,000 refugees."



The companiesare "investing, donating, or raising" more than USD 650 million for the education, training and employment of 6.3 million refugees in 20 countries.

"For these companies to put themselves out there on behalf of the most vulnerable citizens in the world is an extraordinary gesture of compassion," Obama said.

The UN estimates that in 2015 alone, conflicts and persecution"forcibly displaced" 65.3 million people worldwide,thebiggest forced displacement since World War II.

The world body has classified 21.3 million of them as refugees. The sheer enormity of those numbers placed a heavy burden on just 10 countries, Obama said.

In June, the White Houseunveiled an initiative aimed at getting "measurable and significant commitments"from the private sector and 15 companies had signed up for it then. The list released on Tuesday showed the number had gone up to 51.

Google said it will also contribute a USD 1 million grant to theClooney Foundation for Justice, established by actor George Clooney and his wife, Amal, to help educate Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

Microsoft plans to team with local providers to deliver wireless broadband to refugees and international aid groups in Malawi, and is teaming with HP to provide tech training in refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan which will lead to certifications to qualify them for worker visa programmes instead of making them go through the more laborious government refugee process.

Microsoft said it will expand partnerships with the UN and NGOs to expand Arabic-to-German language education, support counseling programmes and provide technological education to refugees.

Facebook promised to bring Wi-Fi connectivity to 35 locations in Greece, a first point of landing for many refugees, as well as to refugee camps in other places, while HP promised to bring education technology to six places where it could reach refugees throughout Lebanon and Jordan.

LinkedIn said it will expand its refugee recruitment programme,Welcoming Talent, beyond its initial launch in Sweden. Twitter promised USD 50,000 in advertising grants to NGOs that help refugees while Uber said it will help refugees find employment as Uber drivers and help them lease cars.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United States has lauded the peace agreement signed between Afghanistan and Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin, appreciating the step to seek a peaceful resolution through political dialogue and negotiation.

"We applaud both parties for seeking a peaceful resolution through political dialogue and negotiation, we commend the agreement as an important demonstration of the Afghan government's commitment to restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan," Spokesman of the National Security Council, the White House, Ned Price said yesterday.

These steps towards seeking a peaceful resolution to decades of conflict can only benefit the people of Afghanistan, he said.

The deal with Hizb-e Islami, 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.

"The US continues to support an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process in which armed groups cease violence, break ties with terrorist groups and accept the Constitution, including protections for women and minorities," Price said.

In another statement, the State Department Spokesman John Kirby commended Afghanistan for its achievement in forging an accord with Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin.

"We look forward to supporting steps towards a comprehensive resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan," he said.
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Sheryl Underwood  Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. Although Sheryl has risen to become an important personality in the industry, ...

Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ...

Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias  Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ...

Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo  The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ...

Millie Weaver  Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ...

Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ...

Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols  Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...

Who Is Bree Morgan  Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ...

Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...

Liz Wheeler  Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...

Betty White  Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...

Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...

Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...

Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...

Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...

Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...

Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...

Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...

Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...

Joel Osteen  Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...

Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...

Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

Who Is Tony Berlin  Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...

The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...

Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ...

Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ...

Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband  Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...

Nadeska Alexis Bio  Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...

Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...

A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...

Kay Adams Biography  Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ...

Ben Shapiros Family  Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ...

QVC Shawn Killinger Bio  Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...

Liv Lo  Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ...

Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ...

Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ...

Who Is Jessica Gadsden  Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ...

Who Is Collins Tuohy  Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ...

Eye-Popping Facts About The Personal Life And Career Success Of Sportscaster Heidi Watney Heidi Watney is a media personality who has created a niche for herself as a sportscaster. Starting out as a radio presenter, the brilliant young lady has gone on to work for several prominent sports networks, and currently, she is with the MLB. The sportscaster is also known to have been an avid sports lady right ...

Marty Lagina Bio  Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ...

Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...

Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...

Natasha Bertrand Biography  Is She Married? Who Is the Husband & What Is Her Age? Natasha Bertrand is not just a young prominent journalist but a first-rate investigative reporter. With her natural beauty and smile, Natashas sharp, insightful political commentary also makes her a thorough reporter. Her sound political perspective and coverage in the country have made her a force to be reckoned with in the profession. Renowned for her ...

What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...

Is Stephanie Gosk Gay or Lesbian, Who is the Wife or Partner  Jenna Wolfe? In August 2013, NBCs Today viewers were greeted with two shocking news. Today weekend anchor, Jenna Wolfe, announced that she was as a lesbian, introducing her partner as NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, and said the two are expecting their first child. A long time has passed since then and certainly, a lot of things ...

Nikki Mudarris  Bio and Net Worth: 5 Interesting Facts You Need to Know Nikki Mudarris, also known as Miss Nikki Baby, is a reality television star, model and fashionista. Shes best known for VH1s reality TV series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood. Her entrepreneurial skills enable her to create and run a successful lingerie line Nude by Nikki. Not only that, but Nikki has also successfully run the Las ...

5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...

Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ...

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In a stern warning to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government would not tolerate any attempt to foment trouble in the Darjeeling hills.

"Whenever there is an election, they talk of violence and bandhs. We will not tolerate this," she said at a programme of Tamang development board.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung said the Chief Minister stated that Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was given Rs 400 crore by the state government.

"Let her give the details of the amount by September 27. Failing which we will call a bandh on September 28," he said.

Banerjee said that instead of working for development, they are indulging in politics.

"We want peace in hills. We will not allow violence. Enough is enough. We must work for development. We have developed Lamahatta, Mirik, Tiger Hill, Lava Lolegaon. But they want to destroy it all by violence," she said.

"We will not stop the process of development in the hills. We want people to get employment. We are here to address the issues of the hills. If the hills smile, we will smile," she said.

Referring to her frequent visit to the hills which some Opposition parties had objected to, the Chief Minister expresses surprise why they are "angry" over her visits to the hills.

"We never feel angry if they visit Siliguri," she pointed out.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The last fortnight we saw the incredible long-term investment it takes to accomplish targeted assassinations. In light of revelations of Dawood Ibrahims presence in Karachi this fortnight and the open existence of Hafiz Saeed in Lahore, Indias aspirational aims of getting rid of these two charming fellows might be a study worth considering.

Three pre-requisites are involved for this  human resources, legal resources and finally long-term planning.

As we saw last fortnight, Israeli intelligence gathering teams recruit the rough equivalent of our Satya Nadellas and Sundar Pichais in their formative years. The Indian system has neither the money nor the institutional flexibility to do anything like this. Far from it, intelligence figures nowhere in the career radar for parents working hard to put their kids in an engineering college. One often touted reason for this is bad pay  well, no intelligence service pays well.

The primary attraction for bright people joining the intelligence services remains the aura that surrounds it. More importantly, it holds out the promise of serious value addition to science background recruits. That is to say its the rough equivalent of the Indian army going to a shanty town, picking out a bright kid and saying give me three years of your life and I will give you the equivalent of a bachelors and masters with practical training that even Harvard and MIT cannot, for free. Neither do RAW and military intelligence have that cool factor (arguably the ISI does) given that they are shoved around by everyone; nor does they have that level of education to offer.

This means that Indias military intelligence and civilian intelligence are run by people not used to innovation, improvisation or out of the box thinking. Complicating this is the abysmal treatment many are subjected to within the system. The lack of clear standards and procedures means that anyone can be scapegoated at any time (and have been in the past) and this leads to the willingness to take risks decreasing considerably.

Consequently the two key elements of the human angle to a targeted elimination  the risk-taking ability and the planning of out-of-the-box solutions by cut-throat corporate sector types -- simply do not exist in India.

The second aspect is legal  understanding its nuances and how to play about with it. In the world of intelligence cooperation there is no such thing as illegal. Normal champions of human rights like Denmark and the UK were more than happy to help the US in their extraordinary rendition flights  ferrying suspected terrorists to Syria to circumvent their domestic bans on torture. Countries that are dead set against the death penalty like France have few-to-none reservations in letting Israeli agents assassinate Palestinian terrorists on their soil; and recently Germany and Poland conspired jointly to release spies involved in the killing of Mhamoud al-Mabhouh. Russia, on the other hand, manages to execute dissidents abroad through sheer audacity; for example, Litvinenko with Polonium-210. If the Russian example is one of an adversarial environment, most of the other examples are in a permissive environment. The question is why do these countries give each other so much leeway but do not give India the same room?

While it is easy to turn to the racism answer, that would be both crude and far from the truth. The reality is these countries play a very fine line with the law and media to manage the fallout of botched operations effectively. The prime requirement for this is the notion of plausible deniability  where the host government can claim it had no knowledge of the operation. This must be combined with the willingness of the spy agency and the country carrying out the operation to not claim credit for it. In Indias case this seems virtually impossible, given that possibly the only cross border raid we carried out  a partially successful one, into Myanmar, a co-operative and friendly country  had ministers chest-thumping on TV. This not only leaves the host nation looking stupid, but also erodes Indias credibility for future operations in other countries. Plausible deniability ultimately is legal fiction  it is about denying your involvement even the face of facts, and giving other governments the legroom they need to maintain the fiction of innocence. This is much like a psychopath at trial, where innocence until proven guilty has to be maintained. It is also for this reason that dossiers of the kind India wanted to hand over to Pakistan are considered something of a joke  a sign of impotence.

Finally the all important aspect to an assassination plan is maintaining operational secrecy throughout  and standing by the decision to eliminate irrespective of administration. Consider this  during the Kargil war, an extremely high-value wiretap was released simply to prove an allegation the then defence minister George Fernandes had made. This destroyed years worth of effort for the mere scoring of rhetorical points. Similarly if the latest pictures of Dawood were an intelligence leak  it means the loss of years of effort; albeit the appalling lack of detail to attention (his Clifton address was wrong) simply to score rhetorical points at the aborted NSA dialogue. It has also been alleged that a plan existed to eliminate Dawood that was called off at the last minute.

It is exactly this kind of vacillation -- an inability to understand the value of silence and secrecy, the inability to play a system and understand legalities and the chronic inability to recruit the best and brightest  that will ensure that our dreams of joining the big league of the US, France Russia and Israel, remain just that: Dreams.
By Tommy Wilkes and Nigam Prusty

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France on Friday for around $8.7 billion, the country's first major acquisition of combat planes in two decades and a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plan to rebuild an ageing fleet.

The air force is down to 33 squadrons, against its requirement of 45 to face both China, with which it has a festering border dispute, and nuclear-armed rival Pakistan.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian signed the agreement with his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar, in New Delhi, ending almost 18 months of wrangling over terms between New Delhi and manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

Parrikar said the deal, which a defence ministry official said was valued at 7.8 billion euros ($8.7 billion), would "significantly improve India's strike and defence capabilities".

Air force officials have warned for years of a major capability gap opening up with China and Pakistan without new state-of-the-art planes, as India's outdated and largely Russian-made fleet retires and production of a locally made plane was delayed.

India had originally awarded Dassault with an order for 126 Rafales in 2012 after the twin-engine fourth-generation fighter beat rivals in a decade-long selection process, but subsequent talks collapsed.

Modi, who has vowed to modernise India's armed forces with a $150 billion spending spree, personally intervened in April 2015 to agree on the smaller order of 36 and give the air force a near-term boost as he weighed options for a more fundamental overhaul.

The first ready-to-fly Rafales are expected to arrive by 2019 and India is set to have all 36 within six years.

Defence analyst Nitin Gokhale told that the price tag was fair and that India had negotiated it down from 12 billion euros.

Dassault said in a statement it welcomed the contract signing.

India says its locally made Tejas fighter, which took to the skies in July 33 years after it was cleared for development, will form a major part of its future fleet, but Parrikar has also said that India needed 100 new light combat aircraft by 2020 to replace Russian MiG-21s.

That has encouraged the likes of Sweden's Saab and U.S. Lockheed Martin to re-pitch their single-engine Gripen and F-16 planes that were eliminated in the Rafale tender.

"The Rafale is filling up one critical gap. It's not the whole envelope," Gokhale said. "Once this is over, the government will get down to business to assess the proposals."

India is the world's largest arms importer, and despite Modi's pledge to build a local manufacturing base, foreign defence firms view India as one of the most lucrative markets as Western states trim defence budgets.

($1 = 0.8920 euros)

(Reporting by Tommy Wilkes and Nigam Prusty; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Nick Macfie)

(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.)
By Rania El Gamal and Dmitry Zhdannikov

DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce oil production if rival Iran caps its own output this year, four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters, as Riyadh tries to strike an elusive OPEC deal to curtail supply and boost prices.

The offer, which has yet to be accepted or rejected by Tehran, was made this month, the sources told on condition of anonymity.

OPEC holds an informal meeting next week in Algiers, which non-OPEC Russia will also join. The group, which produces a third of the world's oil, will also have a formal gathering in Vienna at the end of November.

"The Algeria meeting is not a decision making meeting. It is for consultations," said a source familiar with the Saudi oil thinking.

Riyadh is ready to cut output to levels seen early this year in exchange for Iran freezing production at the current level, which is 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd), the sources said.

"They (the Saudis) are ready for a cut but Iran has to agree to freeze," one source said. Three more sources confirmed the offer was presented to Tehran.

A source familiar with Saudi oil thinking said: "Our goal is to reach a consensus and look at different scenarios for the production levels of the OPEC countries. We are looking forward to a credible and transparent solution which would lead to market stability".

A source familiar with Iranian thinking declined to comment on details of the proposal but did not rule out a compromise next week: "Let them all talk face to face."

There was no official comment from Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Oil prices rose on the that Saudis were offering a deal to Iran but later pared gains to trade 4 percent lower by 1700 GMT as hopes of an agreement next week faded.

At $46 per barrel, prices are well below the budget needs of most OPEC countries and a fraction of the 2014 peak above $115 per barrel.

SEEKING CONSENSUS

Saudi output usually drops in winter and spikes during hot summer months, hence Iran could dismiss the proposed reduction as an attempt by Riyadh to present a natural decline as a cut.

Iran has been promising to boost output to 4 million bpd, although production has stagnated in the past three months at around 3.6 million bpd, indicating the new push might be difficult without additional investments.

The first source did not say by how much Riyadh would cut if Iran agreed to a freeze. The Algerian oil minister said this month that OPEC would need to reduce supply by around 1 million barrels per day to help rebalance the market.

Riyadh's production has spiked since June due to summer demand, reaching a record high in July of 10.67 million bpd and edging down to 10.63 million bpd in August. From January to May, Saudi Arabia produced around 10.2 million bpd.

Previously, the Saudis have refused to discuss a production cut.

OPEC officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran met this week in Vienna. According to sources, they did not discuss the Saudi proposal, focusing instead on baseline production figures.

The meeting produced no breakthrough, the sources said. The source familiar with Saudi thinking said it would nevertheless help build consensus.

Two sources said Saudi Arabia's Gulf OPEC allies the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait were expected to contribute to any output reduction.

Saudi Arabia, by far the largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will shoulder the biggest cut, the sources said.

The proposal can be seen as a shift by Riyadh, which orchestrated the current OPEC policy in 2014 by refusing to cut output alone to support prices and chose to defend market share against rivals, particularly high-cost producers.

A fall in oil prices to $30-$50 per barrel from levels as high as $115 seen in June 2014 led to a boost in global oil demand and a decline in high-cost supplies such as those from the United States.

But the Saudi strategy caused a rift in OPEC, whose poorer members have faced a budget crisis and unrest. Riyadh and its Gulf allies also had to tighten their belts after a decade of generous public spending.

As the pain of cheap oil grew and pressures on Saudi finances increased, Riyadh and Tehran signalled they were willing to show more flexibility to prop up prices.

However, the first attempt at a global production pact collapsed in April when Riyadh insisted Tehran participate. Iran has said it will not join any such agreement until it boosts output to pre-sanctions levels.

(Additional reporting by Alex Lawler; editing by Dale Hudson and David Clarke)

(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.)
Volkswagen's MAN division plans to cut 1,400 jobs at its diesel-engine unit with the goal of improving cost savings by more than 450 million euros ($504.23 million).

Under the new plan called "Basecamp 3000+", MAN's Diesel & Turbo division aims to streamline internal processes, improve its cost structure and tackle development of the company's strategy and portfolio, it said.
REKHA

THE UNTOLD STORY

Author: Yasser Usman

Publisher: Juggernaut

Pages: 230

Price: Rs 499



On March 30, 1981, John Warnock Hinckley, Jr shot at and wounded President Ronald Reagan in Washington DC. During his interrogation and the subsequent investigation, it was revealed that he had carried out the assassination attempt to impress actor Jodie Foster for whom he had developed an obsession after watching Taxi Driver (1976), in which she had played a child prostitute. The obsession of fans - rarely leading to murder attempts - is part and parcel of our celebrity culture. It is often nourished by the mystique, real or manufactured, around the celebrities. In India, no one had stage-managed this better than .
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
The Union Commerce Ministry will set up state specific agencies for the promotion of exports in aquaculture and fisheries sectors in all coastal states soon.

Announcing this at the 20th edition of the three-day India International Seafood Show (IISS) in Visakhapatnam today, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the agencies for aquaculture and fisheries, under the guidance of the chief ministers and headed by their chief secretaries, will be under the aegis of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).

The nodal body for marine exports, MPEDA is answerable to the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry.

This is the second seafood export friendly measure announced by the ministry this week. On September 22, the government had notified an expansion of the products that are covered under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), to include some marine products also.

Under the MEIS, the government currently allocates Rs 22,000 crore annually for exports. "From this financial year onwards, an additional Rs 1500 crore will be allocated under the scheme that will include certain marine and seafood items," Sitharaman said.

Voicing concern, she said that despite being a major producer, India's seafood industry has a long way to go in fully tapping the potential for value addition.

"I held discussions with trade ministers from Japan and South Korea recently and they have expressed interest in collaborating with India for development of aquaculture," she added.

Sitharman hoped that the MPEDA would play a key role in bringing in the best industry practices from around the globe to accelerate the growth of the seafood industry.

Expressing his government's determination to make Andhra Pradesh the 'Aquaculture Hub' not only of India but also of the world, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, said that the state accounted for over 45 per cent of India's cultured shrimp exports during 2015/16.

"We expect to touch a target of 70 per cent over the next few years," he added. Stressing the need for controlling diseases in farmed shrimps, Naidu said his government has set up a Task Force to set up state of the art laboratories in this regard.



The IISS, with 'Safe and Sustainable Indian Aquaculture' as the central theme of the event, has been organised jointly by MPEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and Seafood Exporters' Association of India (SEAI), with Export Inspection Council (EIC) as its knowledge partner.

M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of Urban Development, who was the Guest of Honour, said there is a soaring demand for India's seafood in the international market.

In his introductory remarks, A Jayathilak, Chairman, MPEDA, said India's seafood industry, which witnessed a dip of 10 per cent last year had now shown an increase of 10 per cent this year, despite a global recession.

The MPEDA has set a target of marine product export target of $5.6 billion in 2016-17, an increase of nearly 20 per cent . "We expect a sea change by the year 2020 by which we expect exports to touch US$ 10 billion, "he said.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has stressed on the need for agricultural revolution in the country by providing electricity at low rates to farmers from pithead power plants.

"We need to start an agricultural revolution in India by providing cheap electricity to farmers from pithead power plants and urea produced using domestically available Coal Bed Methane (CBM) or coal gasification. Expensive urea imports from China would not be required," Gadkari said last evening.

The Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister was addressing the 17th Regulators and Policymakers Retreat organised by The Independent Power Producers Association of India in South Goa.

"Innovation in water management, including de-silting of rivers, using innovative check dams for micro-irrigation rather than big hydro projects, are required," he said.

On the viability of power sector, Gadkari said, "How can coal prices vary without power prices correspondingly varying? The power sector would not survive."

"In the past, state governments have given too much importance on increasing the generation capacity without giving due importance to transmission and distribution segments in the power sector," the minister said.

"With the advancements of new technology and innovations, significant growth is expected in the Indian power sector and the agriculture sector will be one of the beneficiaries of such growth," he said.

The need is to focus on agriculture sector and provide electricity 24/7 to rural areas at low prices, he added.

Expressing confidence in the government's plan to revolutionise the agriculture and irrigation sectors, he noted that some laws regarding environment and forests create hindrance in economic development.

The conference that began yesterday is based on the theme 'India Meeting the Aspirations?'

The event looks at the aspirations of young Indians keeping in mind the ways of improving their living standards by benchmarking it with the western narrative of development.

Participating in the event through video conferencing, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu explained how the country is undergoing massive transformation in power sector through a pro-active approach and better policies and regulations.

He said, "Rickshaw, taxi and train to be integrated in scheme for multi-modal transport."

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, in a pre-recorded message, said the UDAY scheme is the most significant step taken to remove financial constraints in the distribution segment and will bring efficiency in the workings of the state electricity distribution companies.
On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a shift in the country's strategy to tackle Pakistan by raising the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir or POK. The aim was to counter Pakistan's interference in Kashmir and its backing of the insurgency there. However, in faraway Mumbai, cotton traders were working out the nitty-gritties of shipping cotton to Pakistan. The reason - cotton production in Pakistan has fallen 35 per cent this year and imports from India turn out to be much cheaper than from Australia and Africa. Incidentally, Pakistan was the largest buyer of Indian cotton in the 2015/16 season (October-September). It bought 2.5 millon bales (one bale is 170 kg); India's total cotton exports were 6.5 million bales. Traditionally, the biggest buyer of Indian cotton has been China. However, this year, things are different, partly due to the economic slowdown there and partly due to its textile exports becoming less competitive due to rising wages and other factors.



Terms of Trade



Trade, it seems, is the only aspect of Indo-Pak relations that has not been hit by the deteriorating ties between the two countries. It rose 6.1 per cent to $409.96 million in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. In 2015/16, both countries had traded goods worth $5.31 billion, down from $6.71 billion in 2014/15. This year, though the trade may not surpass the 2014/15 numbers, it is projected to cross last year's level comfortably. It usually surges in winter when demand for fresh fruit, meat, nuts and other agriculture products increases on both sides.

There are good reasons for this optimism. Just as Pakistan is facing a cotton crisis, India has of late been unable to produce sufficient cement due to shortage of fly ash supplied by thermal power units. This has triggered a surge in cement imports from Pakistan. Cement from Pakistan turns out to be cheaper. The average price of a sack of an Indian brand is around Rs 550 but Pakistani supplies are sold at Rs 480-500. Cement imports do not attract basic Customs duty but all major inputs such as limestone, gypsum and pet coke do. Indian cement makers have been pushing for additional duties on imported cement.

A commerce ministry report says more than one million tonnes of cement is expected to be imported from Pakistan this year; the domestic production is 280 million tonnes. The supply from Pakistan is mostly sold in three-four districts of Punjab and some areas of Himachal Pradesh.

India has also seen a surge in demand for its sugar. In 2015/16, Indian mills had exported sugar worth $46.46 million to Pakistan. In the first three months of 2015/16 itself, the exports had touched $31.78 million.

India has been traditionally supplying meat, chemicals, artefacts, medicines and agriculture products to Pakistan. This year, there has been a surge in demand for Indian cotton, dairy products and sugar, too. India buys nuts, fruit, cement, leather products, some chemicals and rare earth materials from Pakistan.



Trade Ties

India has been pushing Pakistan for normalisation of trade on the basis of the September 2012 roadmap that mentioned removal of all restrictions on trade through the Attari/Wagah border and grant of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India by December 2012. Pakistan, however, did not adhere to the timeline. India has already given Pakistan the MFN status - which is nothing but a promise not to discriminate against imports from the country that has got the status. Afghanistan also wants to use the Pakistan route to trade with India. However, Pakistan has clarified that it can allow Afghanistan to bring its goods but will not give access to Indian traders. India and Pakistan trade from two routes - the Mumbai-Karachi sea route and the Attari/Wagah land route. There are two other points - Chakan Da Bagh in Poonch and Salamabad in Uri - but they are used only for trade between Kashmir and POK.

ICRIER recently said that informal and indirect trade between the two countries is worth more than $10 billion. The products that are traded include diamond/gold jewellery, scrap, machinery, electronics items and paper. These usually travel through a third country such as Dubai. Both countries lose out on Customs and other duties. Pakistan had agreed to comply with the tariff liberalisation plan of the South Asian Free Trade Area, which would have lowered tariffs, but not much movement has happened on this till date.

However, any big change in the situation is unlikely due to growing political tensions. Both countries have a restricted visa regime, high tariffs and inadequate trade infrastructure. Pakistan's negative list, for instance, has 1,209 items. India's has 614 items. Lack of direct banking channel, limited connectivity and hostile political environment also play spoilsport.
Shares of Morepen Laboratories advanced nearly 10 per cent in trade on Friday following news report that the company may sell its OTC (over-the-counter) business of market leading brands such as Burnol to Ajay Piramal Group.

"Morepen has mandated Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu to run a formal process and negotiations are at an advanced stage," said a report in Economic Times, quoting sources.

Reacting to the news, the stock of Morepen Lab gained as much as 9.87 per cent on the BSE. However, the scrip settled the day 5 per cent higher.



Meanwhile, the Exchange has sought clarification from the company, with reference to the news flashed on Economic Times with headline "Morepen in Talks to Sell OTC Business to Piramals".
Maruti Suzuki India has recorded cumulative exports of 15 lakh vehicles to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa.

In the year 2015-16, the top five exported models of Maruti Suzuki were Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and Ciaz.

Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia were listed as the top markets for Maruti Suzuki export models.

"We are happy to reach the 1.5 million milestone for our exports," said Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki.

The company's premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, was the first car to be exported from India to Japan.



"It [Baleno] has become a symbol of the Make in India mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and taken India's exports story to a new level," said Ayukawa.

The newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, which are exported to South Africa and Tanzania will be exported to SAARC countries in the future.

The automobile maker begin exports to Europe in 1987-88, when a small number of cars were sent to Hungary. Thereafter, exports have grew at a steady pace, with newer models added from time to time.



Maruti Suzuki's popular hatchback of the 1990s, Zen, took the carmaker to larger markets. Exports were also fueled by the Maruti 800 and later, A-Star. The Alto clocked over 3,90,000 sales cumulatively.



"Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries," he added.


IndiGo airline on Friday said passengers saw smoke seen coming from Samsung Note 2 smartphone in flight from Singapore to Chennai.

The aircraft made normal landing at Chennai airport and all passengers were deplaned as per normal procedure, a Reuters report said.



Regulator DGCA summoned the company officials and ban the onboard use of this series of devices of the South Korean major.

With the latest incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked airlines to advise passengers to switch off their Samsung Galaxy Note phones while on-board.

The move comes two weeks after the watchdog banned the use of Samsung Galaxy Note7 onboard an aircraft following a series of incidents of the smartphone's battery exploding in various countries. Samsung launched the Note 7 on August 19 in some markets, including South Korea and the US. However, this is the first incident of the Samsung device catching fire onboard in India.

The crew had to use fire extinguisher to put off the smoke and following the incident, the DGCA has called in Samsung officials to meet on September 26, sources added.


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% 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% 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% 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." (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
The closing date for Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) will be October 14th it was announced today.



Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) is an initiative of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Enterprise Ireland, and is run by the 31 LEOs across the country. Each LEO has an investment fund of up to 50,000 to award to young entrepreneurs across three categories locally - Best Business Idea, Best Start-Up Business and Best Established Business.



Four previous IBYE winners today met up with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O Connor T.D. and talked about the role IBYE has played in their business success stories.



They were also joined by representatives of Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). Their message to aspiring young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 35 is to grasp the opportunity and get their applications into www.ibye.ie by the 14th October deadline.



Speaking with the previous winners, Minister Mitchell OConnor said, "It is so refreshing to hear the success stories from these inspiring and ambitious young entrepreneurs. I fully support Irelands Best Young Entrepreneur initiative, the aim of which, is to support a culture of entrepreneurship among young people at both national and local levels. I want to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and to encourage young people to set up new businesses which will ultimately create and sustain more jobs right across the country."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
Twitter Inc has initiated talks with several technology companies to explore selling itself, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday, as the social media company grapples with its slowest revenue growth since going public in 2013.

The sale negotiations will test Twitter's value both as a data and multimedia company, as other social media services such as Facebook's Instagram and Snapchat are expanding their footprints and developing new ways to generate profits.

CNBC reported earlier on Friday, citing anonymous sources, that Twitter is in talks with companies that include Alphabet's Google and Salesforce.com, and may receive a formal bid soon.

Twitter and Alphabet could not be reached immediately for comment. Salesforce declined to comment.

Twitter shares rose the most since its stock market debut in 2013, up 21 percent to $22.59, giving the company a market capitalization of close to $16 billion.

Twitter has been a near-constant focus of takeover speculation amid persistently disappointing sales and user engagement. In its most recent quarterly earnings statement, Twitter's revenue missed Wall Street estimates and the revenue forecast for the current quarter of $590 million to $610 million was well below the average analyst estimate of $678.18 million.

As rivals such as Instagram and Snapchat gain traction with advertisers and social media users, investors have questioned how long Twitter could persist as a stand-alone company.

Co-founder Jack Dorsey returned to the company as chief executive in 2015, but his plan for reviving Twitter is at best seen as unfinished. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
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."

Technology website Recode first reported Tuesday that Yahoo planned to disclose details about a data breach affecting hundreds of millions of users. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian on September 22 met EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assemblys 71st session, press service of the MFA informed Armenpress.

The EU High Representative congratulated Edward Nalbandian on the 25 years of Armenias Independence and said the EU will continue supporting the ongoing reforms in Armenia.

Federica Mogherini welcomed the agreement reached between the Armenian leadership and opposition over the new Electoral Code and said it was an important step ahead of the parliamentary elections next year. In this context, Edward Nalbandian expressed gratitude to the EU for the assistance provided to Armenia for a long time.

The sides touched upon the interim negotiations over Armenia-EU new framework agreement which were held on September 19 in Brussels.

They exchanged views on the ongoing negotiations over the political dialogue, sectoral cooperation and trade issues. They attached importance to the holding of the next round of talks in the end of October in Yerevan.

Edward Nalbandian presented the agreements reached at the Vienna and St. Petersburg summits which were initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. He said Azerbaijan still refuses to implement those agreements.

Federica Mogherini reaffirmed the EUs full support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs efforts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Bahamas Leaks: Another setback for the EU Commission

Published on September 23, 2016

Story by euro topics

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A German newspaper has discovered that former EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes was director of an offshore company in the Bahamas while she occupied her EU post. The European Commission plans to investigate the affair, but commentators say will do little to help the Commission's poor reputation.

Unfortunate, but not scandalous - Der Standard, Austria

Der Standard stresses that there has been no evidence of abuse so far: "The European Commission is lurching from one corruption scandal to the next. It's easy to get the impression that the body is gradually losing all credibility when you read the headlines on the most recent 'Bahamas Leaks' scandal involving Neelie Kroes... She failed to declare that from 2000 - long before she took office - to 2009 she was director of a letterbox company: a clear violation of the code of conduct. But as incorrect as this omission was, one should be wary of blowing it up into a major EU scandal. Kroes apparently never actually performed any duties for the Bahamas job, which took the form of a project. And she was deemed a highly competent competition commissioner, standing up to big companies like Microsoft. So far there are no indications of personal wrongdoing in her post as commissioner, or even abuse of office." (23/09/2016)

EU politicians can't do as they please - Der Volkskrant, Netherlands

Like former Commission president Manuel Barroso Neelie Kroes is harming the image of the EU, De Volkskrant complains: "This is another blow to the image of the European Commission. How believable are European attempts to fight tax fraud when a former EU commissioner was active in a tax paradise? Already many Europeans have the feeling that the EU Commission mainly represents the interests of industry and is much less concerned about those of the man on the street. ... EU commissioners must do all they can to demonstrate that they are there to serve the people. They must demonstrate the highest degree of integrity... That means former commissioners must also be subject to certain restrictions. Activities with which they sully the image of the EU after the fact must be avoided at all cost." (23/09/2016)

Stop the revolving door effect - La Vanguardia, Spain

Regardless of Kroes' Bahamas business dealings the switch from politics to business needs to be better regulated, La Vanguardia comments: "The Kroes case touches a sore point regarding the revolving door at the heart of the European Commission, as the ex-commissioner is currently being paid for her services as a consultant for the Bank of America and Uber. The most scandalous case of this type is that of ex-president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, who began working for the powerful investment bank Goldman Sachs after concluding his mandate in Brussels... This loss of prestige for the EU institution is another heavy blow for the already ailing European project. The EU Commission needs to do more to ensure that its commissioners adhere to the code of conduct and at the same time create stricter rules to avoid the revolving door effect." (23/09/2016)

Brussels is in dire need of a clean-up - Le Monde, France

Le Monde advises Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to carry out a thorough purge in Brussels: "This affair is devastating for Juncker's Commission. Nevertheless we shouldn't be fooled: the former Luxembourg prime minister and his Commission go after fraud with the zeal of the newly converted. If Juncker is now the target of a smear campaign in Brussels, it's because he's putting up a fight. Against Apple and tax fraud, for European refugee quotas, for a less strict European budget policy. His actions have made him many enemies in Northern and Eastern Europe and among the German conservatives. Juncker is a political president of a political Commission. He must be supported. He must go all the way and take the Kroes case before the courts, at least to shed light on all her activities. Because if he doesn't clean up Brussels, the populists will." (22/09/2016)

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30 Countries, 300 Media Outlets, 1 Press Review. The euro|topics press review presents the issues affecting Europe and reflects the continent's diverse opinions, ideas and moods.

Story by euro topics
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. In response to President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan criticizing Freedom House for its reports on his growing authoritarianism and his governments tightening restrictions on civil liberties and political rights, Freedom House issued the following statement:

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, said Daniel Calingaert, acting president. 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, Daniel Calingaert said, Armenpress reported.

On September 20, 2016, in a statement Aliyev criticized the European Parliament, the OSCE, and Freedom House, for their criticisms of questionable elections and violations of fundamental human rights in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2016, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2016, Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2015.
Economist Tom Lawler sent me the table below of short sales, foreclosures and all cash sales for selected cities in August.



On distressed: Total "distressed" share is down year-over-year in all of these markets.



Short sales and foreclosures are down in all of these areas (except a minor increase in Springfield).



The All Cash Share (last two columns) is mostly declining year-over-year. As investors continue to pull back, the share of all cash buyers continues to decline.





Short Sales Share Foreclosure Sales Share Total "Distressed" Share All Cash Share Aug-

2016 Aug-

2015 Aug-

2016 Aug-

2015 Aug-

2016 Aug-

2015 Aug-

2016 Aug-

2015 Las Vegas 4.1% 6.2% 5.5% 7.0% 9.6% 13.2% 25.8% 28.2% Phoenix 2.1% 2.7% 2.3% 3.4% 4.4% 6.1% 20.3% 22.6% Sacramento 2.9% 4.3% 2.9% 3.8% 5.8% 8.0% 15.3% 18.8% Minneapolis 1.1% 1.7% 3.8% 6.1% 4.9% 7.8% 12.1% 11.7% Mid-Atlantic 2.8% 3.2% 8.6% 10.5% 11.4% 13.7% 16.7% 16.5% Florida SF 2.1% 3.5% 8.0% 16.6% 10.1% 20.2% 27.3% 33.6% Florida C/TH 1.4% 2.3% 7.3% 15.3% 8.6% 17.6% 55.0% 59.7% Miami MSA SF 2.9% 5.9% 9.5% 17.9% 12.4% 23.8% 26.5% 32.0% Miami MSA C/TH 1.7% 3.0% 10.0% 19.2% 11.7% 22.2% 56.1% 62.9% Chicago (city) 12.4% 15.0% Northeast Florida 14.2% 25.8% Rhode Island 8.0% 10.1% Spokane 6.1% 10.0% Toledo 24.9% 30.3% Tucson 20.9% 25.8% Knoxville 22.5% 23.4% Peoria 20.2% 17.2% Georgia*** 19.8% 21.9% Omaha 15.2% 16.9% Pensacola 24.3% 30.6% Richmond VA 6.9% 9.3% 16.0% 16.0% Memphis 8.6% 12.2% Springfield IL** 6.8% 6.6% *share of existing home sales, based on property records

**Single Family Only

***GAMLS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Several details over the death of soldier Narek Patatanyan were revealed.

Based on the acquired evidence, 6 people have been charged, press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia informed Armenpress.

On September 16 at 13:00 the Defense Army soldier Narek G. Patatanyan (born in 1997) was mortally wounded in one of the military units of the Defense Army.

Several cases of violence committed by his co-servicemen, various cases of crimes were revealed.

5 people are arrested.

1 person is under the control of the Armenian Defense Ministrys N military units commander.

Investigation is underway.

Note - Suspect is innocent until proven guilty by the Court of Law.
SHARE Michael A. Ramon, 28, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals on Sept. 22, 2016 in Houston. Julie Garcia/Caller-Times MyKayla Recio's classmates wrote memorials on note cards and stones for their friend. Recio died in a wreck Saturday near the Gollihar Road exit off Crosstown Expressway. Michael A. Ramon

By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times

The driver who fled the scene of a fatal wreck has been found, officials said.

U.S. Marshals took Michael A. Ramon, 28, into custody in Houston, according to a Corpus Christi police news release. Ramon threatened he'd rather have a "shoot-out" with police than be apprehended, but no shots were fired in the capture, police said.

Ramon had a firearm in his possession, the release stated. He is being brought back to Corpus Christi and will be processed at Nueces County Jail.

Law enforcement agencies had been looking for Ramon since the Sept. 10 wreck, which left 11-year-old MyKayla Recio dead. A blue Ford Explorer, carrying nine people, flipped near the Gollihar Road exit off Crosstown Expressway.

The driver of the vehicle lost control while driving north, police said. Multiple people, including a 3-year-old girl and two 13-year-old girls who were thrown from the vehicle, were taken to the hospital.

The toddler was thrown over the barrier onto the frontage road and was relatively unharmed, said police. The mother of the toddler and one of the teenage girls, and a 23-year-old woman remained at the scene.

Witnesses told police three adult men fled the scene on foot. Two of the male passengers were questioned by police days after the wreck. The men did not know the nature of the vehicle's occupants' injuries when they fled, police said.

Ramon was on the Nueces County Top 10 Most Wanted List in July for narcotics, arson and burglary charges, according to court records. Police said several tips were made to Crime Stoppers on his possible whereabouts, but he was located by marshals.

Twitter: @Caller_Jules
Mary Kristene Chapa

SHARE KRISTA TORRALVA/CALLER-TIMES David Strickland walks outside the San Patricio Courthouse where he is being tried on capital murder and other charges. Molli Olgin

By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

SINTON  Mary Kristene Chapa was supposed to be dead. Instead, she took the stand against her accused attacker Friday.

Chapa remained calm as she testified in a San Patricio County courtroom on the fifth day of the capital murder trial against David Malcom Strickland. She was respectful  answering "yes, sir" and "no, sir"  even as defense lawyers challenged her memory of June 22, 2012, when a man raped and shot her and her girlfriend Mollie Judith Olgin. The women were left for dead, lying in brush at a Portland park.

Chapa survived. Olgin, 19, did not.

Their bodies were found the next morning by a couple bird-watching. Chapa's arm lie around Olgin.

Strickland has pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers have pointed the finger at a man from Nevada who Portland police initially suspected of the crime.

Defense lawyer John Gilmore on Friday questioned Chapa about details she gave police of the attacker, including the color of his gun, what he smelled like and where he stood in relation to the women.

The details, though seemingly minuscule, could mean the difference between Strickland and the other man, based on testimony.

Chapa, who suffered a traumatic brain injury, could not identify Strickland.

Defense lawyers honed in on some initial descriptions she gave while hospitalized in 2012. At that time, she said the attacker smelled of cigarettes and was armed with a silver handgun. Those details, defense lawyers have argued, more closely fit the description of the Nevada man, whose DNA was found on cigarette butts at the park. A silver gun was found in his girlfriend's possession. A gun police seized from Strickland is black.

Prosecutor Sam Smith pointed out the other man is more than a foot taller than Chapa.

Chapa said her attacker was scrawny and stood about her height.

Strickland watched from the defense table as deputies helped Chapa step down from the witness stand and walk to her mother. Chapa limps as a result of some paralysis on her left side.

Several dozen people sat in the courtroom during Chapa's long-awaited testimony. In previous days, fewer were in attendance.

On Thursday, Richard Hitchcox, a firearms examiner for the Texas Department of Public Safety, testified two shell casings recovered from the park likely came from Strickland's gun, a .45 Glock handgun. Similar tests conducted on the other man's weapon, a .45 Thompson, were inconclusive, he said.

Defense lawyers, however, have argued that critical patterns on the casings don't match those of Strickland's firearm.

Strickland, 30, was arrested in 2014 after a letter meant for Chapa's father was instead given to authorities. A draft of the letter, which included two identical lines, were found on Strickland's laptop. Strickland's wife, Laura, was initially charged with tampering with evidence; police thought she delivered the letter. Charges against her were later dismissed.

Initially, it was widely believed Chapa and Olgin were targeted because of their sexuality. Vigils were held in their honor across the country, and last year Chapa was a presenter and speaker at the annual Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards in New York.

But police and prosecutors have said evidence in the case does not support the hate crime narrative.

Twitter: @CallerKMT
SHARE Mark Gonzalez, a Democrat, and James Gardner, Republican, are vying for Nueces County District Attorney.

By Krista M. Torralva of the Caller-Times

Don't expect knockouts during debates between the Nueces County District Attorney candidates.

Democrat Mark Gonzalez and Republican James Gardner agree on what they say are problems under the current regime.

"These debates between me and Mr. Gardner are going to be pretty boring," Gonzalez said during a televised debate on the KTMV talk show "El Poder." "We see the same problems ... and whoever wins is probably going to fix them."

The candidates vary only slightly in their action plans.

"I think the only difference between us is I think the solutions will be a little different and the personnel that we bring in to address those problems may be a little different," Gardner said.

They agree morale in the office is low and is contributing to the constant turnover. They also say the handling of misdemeanor cases is dysfunctional and contributes to a backlog that lost the county about $140,000 in state funded grants. A group of judges and court officials this month said the main issue was in the district clerk's office between 2010 and 2014. But looking ahead, that group said the more than 5,000 cases that need to be resolved by August 2017 to receive grants are in the hands of the district attorney's office.

Part of the problem is with the cases the district attorney's office accepts but aren't able to prove in court, the candidates said.

In 2015, 2,281 misdemeanor cases were dismissed and 3,213 ended in convictions, according to statistics from the district clerk's office.

Many of those cases are family violence misdemeanors. The candidates gave their take on those cases during the debate. Gardner said he believes most of the cases are invalid but the district attorney's office accepts them because it looks good to the public since a spotlight has been shone on the issue in the past couple years.

"Sometimes the truth is very hard to hear. Sometimes ... the so-called domestic violence case is not a domestic violence case at all," Gardner said. "It's where she saw him out with some other girl and she wants to make him pay."

Gonzalez said he doesn't believe most of the cases are false reports but thinks the investigations are improperly conducted and the district attorney's office is partially to blame. The district attorney should instruct officers on best practices so the prosecutors can be successful in court.

"Our cases are going to be airtight," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez is a career defense lawyer. Gardner, currently a defense lawyer, is a former Nueces County gang prosecutor and civilian contract attorney in Afghanistan.

The district attorney leads an office of about 45 lawyers and about 30 support staff. The office handles the prosecution of misdemeanor and felony cases in Nueces County and has an annual budget of about $4.2 million.

The position pays about $140,000 a year plus a $12,000 county supplement and is a four-year term.

Twitter: @CallerKMT
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It's official  Cambridge has been named as the UK's most innovative city.

When it comes to inventiveness, it creates more patents per 100,000 people than any other city - and it also has the highest-skilled population of any city in Europe.

The feather in Cambridge's cap is revealed in a study by the think-tank Centre for Cities.

The study claims most cities in Britain are lagging behind European competitors for skills and productivity, and says the weaknesses to be tackled if cities are to attract industries offering long-term growth and prosperity.

The study of 63 UK cities showed nine out of 10 performed below the European average for productivity and three out of four had a lower proportion of highly skilled workers.

Only Cambridge and Oxford were in the European top 20 for innovation, while the UK economy relied on a handful of high-performing cities for economic growth, said the report.

Alexandra Jones, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: "No other economy in Europe is so dependent on the performance of its cities, yet too many of the UK's urban areas are failing to realise their potential.

"For the country to thrive in the years to come, it's vital that the Government works with cities to address the skills and productivity gaps holding most places back.

"In particular, the Government should ensure that any new funding commitments in the Autumn Statement focus on boosting the key drivers of growth in cities, such as skills, transport and housing."

Cambridge City Council welcomed the report. Its leader Cllr Lewis Herbert said: We in Cambridge feel that this is a city of considerable magic, both for its quality of life and for its uniquely successful business community.

It is helpful to have that confirmed by this new report from the Centre for Cities. It shows the strength of our universities, our businesses and the innovative people who live, work and study here.

Cambridge is clearly a great place to come and do business, and for government and businesses to invest in. Through the Local Plan we have put forward, and the City Deal investments we are making with our partners, we are working hard to ensure Cambridge remains open for business, locally, nationally and internationally, into the future.

However, we are not complacent, and are also working hard through the proposed devolution deal to secure 70 million to build new council housing in Cambridge and 100m for affordable housing across Cambridgeshire.

We aim to ensure that more local people can gain the skills they need to take part in our growing knowledge economy. In addition we want to help people across all incomes find the housing that they need and can afford, so everyone can share in the city's future prosperity."
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A man who robbed a bank in Cambridge by handing over a crumpled note saying This is a bank robbery has been jailed for six years.

Brian Murphy, of Crowland Way, Cambridge, was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday after a jury of eight women and four men took just 56 minutes to convict him.

Murphy, 52, made off with 7,776 in cash after he robbed the Market Hill branch of NatWest on April 27 this year.

The court heard Murphy entered the outlet at about 2pm wearing dark clothing to disguise his appearance and handed over a note to the cashier demanding they hand over money.

Roxanne Ainsthorpe, prosecuting, said the cashier managed to slip a dye module in Murphys bag which exploded after he left, covering the cash with red dye.

Miss Ainsthorpe told the court Murphy then started to spend the stolen money just hours later at a Coral bookmakers in Cambridge before travelling by train to Great Yarmouth.

The following day he carried on shopping, buying toiletries from Wilko, clothing from BHS and food from Lidl, as well as placing a number of other bets.

Miss Ainsthorpe said: I suggest that this is someone who was on the run from a bank robbery.

She added Murphy had tried to conceal his identity when he checked into a campsite at Great Yarmouth by offering a false name.

The court previously heard that red dye was discovered on the defendants clothing after the robbery, including on the cuffs of his top and the pockets of his trousers.

He was arrested on April 30. A key fob to the caravan park was found on his possession and upon further investigation police officers found receipts and a new suitcase filled with 3,000 in red-stained notes.

Murphy refused to comment in police interview and did not give evidence in court.

However Mark Shelley, defending, said the question of identity was a glaring hole in the prosecutions case.

He said a witness at the bank  who had been just metres away when the robbery occurred  had not identified Murphy during identity parades.

Mr Shelley said the prosecution had failed to prove Murphy was at the bank during the robbery and so they were instead trying to prove he was there by means of circumstantial evidence.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The cattle shed belonging to Harutyunyan family has been collapsed in Karnut village of Shirak Province of Armenia, press service of Gyumri Medical Center informed Armenpress.

On September 13 at 11:00 two men were taken to Gyumri Medical Center.

One of them Mkrtich Harutyunayn (born in 1981) died before reaching to hospital. A bit later his father Taron Harutyunyan (born in 1941) was taken to hospital. He received multiple brain and spine injuries. At this moment he continues receiving medical assistance.

The relatives said during the incident father and son were working on the roof of the cattle shed.
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A disabled ex-soldier from Cambridge is battling it out for a 100,000 prize in the new series of TV reality show Hunted.

Kirk Bowett, 37, had one of his arms amputated below the elbow after he was caught in a bomb blast on the front line in Iraq in 2013.

He now works for the Ministry of Defence, and has teamed up on the Channel 4 show with another limbless ex-serviceman, Jeremy Scarratt, 57, from Somerset.

In the programme, pairs of fugitives try to outwit and evade a team of professional hunters, including former Met officer Peter Bleksley.

In last night's first episode of the show, now in its second series, Kirk and Jeremy, known as Jez, were seen wearing army fatigues at Wimpole Hall, trying to beat their trackers.

Jez is a former Royal Marine who lost part of a leg in a motorbike accident.

Interviewed by the News earlier this year, Kirk said he wears a prosthetic. He said: "I tend to wear it every day - to blend in a bit. If I don't, children will always notice and say 'How did you lose your arm?' I tell them I was a pirate, and I got it bitten off hunting for treasure,"

Episode two of the series is on Channel 4 next Thursday, September 29, at 9pm. Keep in touch with www.cambridge-news-co.uk for more updates on how Kirk and Jez get on.
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Businesses offering the best customer service in the city were honoured at the Cambridge BID awards.

The awards ceremony, held at the Cambridge Union yesterday, was attended by representatives from city centre businesses that all signed up to have their staff and service rated anonymously in Cambridge BID's Mystery Shop programme.

This year, nearly 200 businesses - more than twice as many as last year - signed up to take part in the programme  a sign of the growing commitment Cambridge businesses have to deliver excellent service to their customers.

Ian Sandison, Chairman of Cambridge BID, said: "Excellent customer service is key to a business's continuing success and I am delighted that so many businesses in Cambridge recognise this and are making such an out-and-out commitment to their customers.

"In a world where online shopping is growing, it is the personal service offered on the high street that keeps people coming into stores and reinforces the relevance of the high street.

"This is why the Mystery Shop programme, which is all about improving personal service, is so vital to what Cambridge has to offer.

"The fact that the number of businesses signing up to Cambridge BID's programme has doubled demonstrates the belief and commitment these businesses are putting in their staff and service. This is the level of excellence we have now come to expect from businesses in Cambridge."

The first round, which took place this spring, involved 196 businesses compared to 90 last year. A second round of mystery shopping followed in the summer, with independent assessors carrying out the visits.

The awards were presented by the Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Jeremy Benstead, who said: "I am delighted to present this award today to businesses that have clearly gone that extra mile to ensure their customers are being treated to excellent customer service.

"To have assessed nearly 200 businesses and find the customer service at such a high level speaks volumes about the businesses in Cambridge city centre."

The winners for Best Overall Customer Experience 2016 across 12 categories were:

Best cafe: Hot Numbers

A great venue with a great product, a captivating atmosphere and with great staff My lasting impression of the service was that the colleague was attentive, genuinely friendly and engaging, knowledgeable about the products and enthusiastic about their job and serving me."

Restaurant/Late Night Venue: Butch Annie's

The place was well organised and the food was fresh and tasty. The service was knowledgeable and efficient and therefore I would return and recommend the venue."

Independent Business  Fashion & Beauty: Prohibido Lingerie

The staff member who served me has the 'wow' factor when it comes to service. I could have stayed there all day and, if I could have, I would have purchased every single item she recommended."

Independent Business  Other: Cambridge Framing & Mirror Centre

"The colleague was both friendly and professional. She gave me all the help and information I needed and she treated me like a valued customer."

Service: Harvey Jones Kitchens

Product knowledge was phenomenal. He listened carefully to me and clearly explained how the service could meet my needs."

Leisure & Tourism: Visitor Information Centre

"The member of staff was exceptional. She gave me clear and easy-to-understand advice and employed a perfect combination of offering advice and basing her suggestions on my requests and answers to her question."

National Business - Fashion: Rohan

The service was outstanding. I was made to feel like a truly valued customer. My enquiry was handled very well indeed."

National Business  Other: Le Creuset (joint winner) & Crabtree & Evelyn (joint winner)

Service was excellent. The staff member showed exemplary enthusiasm and made me feel highly valued as a customer due to her attentive approach." (Le Creuset)

The assistant was polite and professional throughout, whilst still making the procedure upbeat and friendly. We soon built up a rapport and I left feeling like a very valued customer." (Crabtree & Evelyn)

National Business  Shoes & Accessories: Hotter Shoes  Lion Yard

I felt like a valued customer from the moment I entered the store. Even though it was busy, the assistant gave me her full attention, was happy to chat while she worked and found me the perfect pair of shoes."

Lion Yard: LUSH

"A great range of products combined with staff who are professional and know the products very well."

Grand Arcade: Penhaligons

"The store staff are very interested and enthusiastic about their products and go into great detail about the ingredients and scents from the products so I would definitely recommend the store to friends and family in the future."

The Grafton: The Perfume Shop

"I received excellent, fully engaged service from a staff member who really took an interest in my needs. He also took the time to build rapport by asking if I was new in town."

There were also two categories for Overall Winner  Shopping Centre and Non-Shopping Centre.

The Overall Winner - Shopping Centre was The Perfume Shop for The Grafton Centre . The mystery shopper from Storecheckers commented in the report: Excellent service from a very knowledgeable, friendly staff member  I would definitely recommend due to the personalised service."

Beth Cant, manageress of The Perfume Shop  The Grafton Centre, said: "I have an excellent team who work extremely hard on customer service. It's important for us to give our customers the best experience we can when they come to see us. Our mission statement is 'Smile, listen, be there'  and that's what we do."

The Overall Winner - Non-Shopping Centre was an unprecedented result split fiveways between businesses who all received the maximum 100% across all criteria. Sharing the award were Cambridge Framing & Mirror Centre, Harvey Jones Kitchens, Visitor Information Centre, Le Creuset and Crabtree & Evelyn .

Claire Milbourne, manager of Crabtree & Evelyn, said: "When a customer walks away happy, having had a good experience, and tells their friends  that's what we strive for. We like to make our customers feel part of the Crabtree family."

Jackie Neill, store manager of Le Creuset in Cambridge, said: "We are delighted to have won the award for Mystery Shop, as customer service is of the utmost importance to us as a brand."

Andrew Palmer, manager of the Visitor Information Centre, said: "These awards are a fantastic achievement for the staff of Visit Cambridge and Beyond. They celebrate and recognise our dedicated approach to delivering first class customer service, to visitors to Cambridge."

David Grenham, marketing manager for Harvey Jones Kitchens, said: "We have built our business on client satisfaction, so we are delighted to receive this award in recognition for the customer service levels achieved by our Cambridge showroom."

Karen Hilpert, manageress of Cambridge Framing & Mirror Centre, said: "I'm really happy and proud. This award is validation that my staff are as good as I believe them to be."

The mystery shop programme additionally worked with Cambridge Science Festival to mystery shop over 20 of their events in March. The new customer experience special recognition Award was given to the Institute of Manufacturing exhibition and the Plant and Life Sciences marquee.

Five of the Cambridge University Colleges B&B Accommodation providers were also mystery shopped during the summer with Downing College becoming the first recipient of the Customer Experience Special Recognition Award in this category.

Sandison added: These Awards recognise excellent service and the level of service has certainly been outstanding this year. It is exceptional to have five Overall Winners in the Non-Shopping Centre category  all scoring the maximum possible across all judging criteria. Huge congratulations to all our very worthy winners.

Cambridge BID is delighted to support businesses in our city, helping them to go from strength to strength. All the businesses that took part in the Mystery Shopper programme are offered the opportunity of a de-brief session with Storecheckers to feedback on individual reports, enabling them to build on their successes. Further training sessions, linked to the results of the Mystery Shop report, will additionally be held this January."
| BY Lynchy |

After being involved with the BBH network for nearly 20 years, including five 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.

McClelland (left) 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 McClelland: I came back to BBH for a year and stayed for five. 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.

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.

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 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.
| BY Ricki Green |

Award winning director Jessica Barclay Lawton has joined Truce Films.

Her move to the world of content and commercials comes on the back of recent narrative successes, including the critically acclaimed Screen Australia supported web series Movement which featured at Tribeca Film Festival.

Lawton established herself as an up and coming talent with her short film Morning Star, which premiered at Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. She followed this up with the short We Keep on Dancing, which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance Film Festival and was winner of Best Live Action at the Palm Springs International Shortfest.

More recently, she has directed music videos for artists such as British India, Miles de Carteret and Montgomery, and branded content for Kirin Beer + Broadsheet, RMIT University and Cotton On.

Lawton has also produced music videos for Vance Joy, Owl Eyes and Jimmy Barnes.

Says Jim Wright, producer, Truce: Were really excited about Jess joining the team. Her talent as a visual storyteller is clearly evident in her narrative projects and I have no doubt that will translate into commercial work that resonates with an audience. Plus, shes rad.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The working visit of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Hermine Naghdalyan to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) continues.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the National Assembly, on September 22, Hermine Naghdalyan had official meetings with the Deputy Speaker of All-China National Peoples Congress of Chinese Parliament, the Chair of Womens All-China Federation Shang Yueyu and the Deputy Head of the China-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Van Ifui in Beijing.

Welcoming her Armenian counterpart, the Deputy Speaker of the PRC Parliament started the conversation with the word accepted in China: At the first meeting people get acquainted with each other, at the second meeting they make friends and then continued We made good friends with Mrs Naghdalyan long before, and our friendly relations can and should be useful for the friendship of our countries and peoples.

During the meeting the achievements of cooperation signed between the two womens organizations in 2014 were discussed, the results of the works done at the national and regional level during the two years were summed up, the ways of further cooperation were also outlined within the framework Silk Road Economic Zone ideology. Both sides highlighted the main directions of the development of cooperation, including the necessity of the womens social, healthcare, educational problems, womens entrepreneurship, gender movement, active participation of the womens NGO representatives, tourism, the enlargement of the mutual contacts of the Regional Structures of the Womens All-China Federation.

The Deputy Chairs of Womens All-China Federation and the employees of the International Department of the Chinas National Peoples Congress took part in the meeting.

After the meeting the talk also was continued with the Deputy Chair of the Women's All-China Federation Tsui Yu during the working dinner in honour of the Armenian Delegation, where the Chinese counterparts presented the women's assistance programmes revised and being implemented by them. The RPA Women's Board and the Women's All-China Federation implement the women's economic situation and different programmes directed to the solution of social and health problems. In those spheres the Women's All-China Federation has considerable experience and volumes, taking into consideration that it has been set up and functions since 1949. The Chinese counterparts shared their rich experience with the members of the Armenian Delegation.

On September 22, the RA NA Deputy Speaker Hermine Naghdalyan, who is also the Head of the NA Armenia-China Friendship Group, met with the Deputy Head of China-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Van Ifui in the PRC Parliament.

Both sides noted with satisfaction that today the relations between Armenia and China have reached its zenith. The Deputy Head of China-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group has underlined that the dynamics of those relations distinguishes not only with regular contacts of high ranking officials, intensiveness of political and economic dialogue, but also by their quality and depth.

He reminded his last year visit to the RA, the reception at high level, the active working discussions during his visit and underlined the necessity of developing them. Mrs Naghdalyan, touching upon the developments of bilateral relations during the last two years, has noted that especially after the visit of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan to the PRC and the signing of a number of important programme documents the works directed to the fulfillment of the those agreements had become more important, and the implementation of the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Zone requires serious works at all levels, including through legislative means, and it is the direct duty of the deputies and the Friendship Group members.

The duty of the politician and the deputy is to be permanently alert, to see and foresee developments and events and try to find solutions, Mrs Naghdalyan noted, documenting that progress of economic ties is noticed today, and the goods turnover in the first half of 2016 compared with the same period of the previous year has grown for more than 44%, which, in fact, is encouraging, but is not sufficient. In her word, Armenian companies did not take part in China-Eurasia Expo of huge economic significance and there was no Armenian pavilion.

During the meeting the mutual efforts aimed at the strengthening of cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries were highlighted, and the results are already evident, more deepening the friendship between the two nations. The sides made an arrangement over the mutual visits.

Mr Van Ifui thanked Mrs Naghdalyan for the significant contribution and active cooperation in the development of the relations between the two countries.

Hermine Naghdalyan, in her turn, thanked her counterpart for the warm reception and assured that the intensiveness of such contacts will promote the intensification of cooperation between the legislative bodies.
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."
Detail on how Canberra would replicate the Texas festival's success are, at this early stage, scant. But Labor says it would work with Canberra's national institutions, the Te Papa museum in New Zealand, Singapore's ArtScience Museum, and the Canberra Innovation Network.
Building public transport infrastructure might be the cheapest way to transport people around a city, or it might not. The answer depends on the way that you value "externalities" like convenience, pollution and safety. It is hard to put a value on reduced road congestion, reduced air pollution, reductions in car crashes and the benefits of more vibrant communities, but while they are hard to measure, we do know that few people outside the Canberra tram debate value these things at zero. History and international experience tell us that people are willing to pay a premium to live in walking distance of a tram or train station and that no such price premium is apparent for bus stops.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Saudi Arabia has offered to reduce oil production if rival Iran agrees to cap its own output this year, in a major compromise ahead of talks in Algeria next week, Armenpress reports four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

The offer, which has yet to be accepted or rejected by Tehran, was made this month, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Riyadh is ready to cut output to levels seen early this year in exchange for Iran freezing production at the current level, which is 3.6 million barrels per day (bpd), the sources said.

"They (the Saudis) are ready for a cut but Iran has to agree to freeze," one source said. Three more sources confirmed the offer was presented to Tehran.

A source familiar with Iranian thinking declined to comment on details of the proposal but did not rule out the possibility of a compromise next week: "Let them all talk face to face."

There was no official comment from Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Saudi output usually drops in winter and spikes during hot summer months, hence Iran could dismiss the proposed reduction as an attempt by Riyadh to present a natural decline as a cut.

Iran has been promising to boost output to 4 million bpd, although production has stagnated in the past three months at around 3.6 million bpd, indicating the new push might be difficult without additional investments.

The first source did not say by how much Riyadh would cut if Iran agreed to a freeze.

Riyadh's production has spiked since June due to summer demand, reaching a record high in July of 10.67 million bpd and edging down to 10.63 million bpd in August. From January to May, Saudi Arabia produced around 10.2 million bpd.

Previously, the Saudis have refused to discuss production cuts.

OPEC officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran met this week in Vienna. According to sources, the gathering did not discuss the Saudi proposal, focusing instead on baseline production figures. The meeting produced no breakthrough, the sources said.

Two sources said Saudi Arabia's Gulf OPEC allies the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait were expected to contribute to any output reduction.

Saudi Arabia, by far the largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will shoulder the biggest cut, the sources said.

The proposal can be seen as a shift by Riyadh, which orchestrated the current OPEC policy in 2014 by refusing to cut output alone to support prices and chose to defend market share against rivals, particularly high-cost producers.

A fall in oil prices to $30-$50 per barrel from levels as high as $115 seen in June 2014 led to a boost in global oil demand and a decline in high-cost supplies such as those from the United States.

But the Saudi strategy caused a rift in OPEC, whose poorer members have faced a budget crisis and unrest. Riyadh and its Gulf allies also had to tighten their belts after a decade of generous public spending.

As the pain of cheap oil grew and pressures on Saudi finances increased, Riyadh and Tehran signaled they were willing to show more flexibility to prop up prices.

However, the first attempt at a global production pact collapsed in April when Riyadh insisted Tehran participate. Iran has said it will not join any such agreement until it regains market share and boosts output to pre-sanctions levels of around 4 million bpd.

OPEC members will meet on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum, which groups producers and consumers, in Algeria from Sept. 26-28. Non-OPEC producer Russia is also attending the forum.
Customers of LuxConnects DC1.1 data centre, situated at 4 Rue Graham Bell 3235 Bettembourg, will gain access to Hurricane Electrics IPv4 and IPv6-native network through 100GE, 10GE, and 1GE ports. LuxConnect has deployed more than 1,000km of fibre-optic cabling throughout the country.

We are delighted with our latest move into Western Europes flourishing telecommunications market, said Mike Leber, president of Hurricane Electric. In July, the company launched its first African PoP and one month later opened a PoP in Wyoming.

Due to its position as a strategic ICT hub and central gateway to Europe, expanding to Luxembourg was the next logical step to meet the rising demand for high-quality IP transit at an affordable cost. With the launch of this new PoP at the Bettembourg ICT Campus, Hurricane Electric will continue to solidify its role as the leading global internet backbone.

Hurricane Electric has over 17,000 BGP sessions with over 5,700 different networks via more than 145 major exchange points and thousands of customer and private peering ports.
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The Police of Armenia received an alarm call, according to which one of the Mellat Bank customers had left a case in the bank which raised suspicion, Armenpress was informed from the press service of Police Armenia.

The Police conducted examination and found nothing dangerous.

Armenpress correspondent informs from the site the Police are still working inside the bank. They are examining the content of the case, trying to find the owner. Documents of an Iranian citizen have been found.
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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia has revealed a new form of transnational criminal offence not recorded in Armenia so far.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of NSS Armenia, investigative measures revealed that a group of individuals in collaboration with their overseas accomplices imported into Armenia euro banknotes withdrawn from circulation and painted with special colors for encashment or ATM security considerations.

The members of the clandestine group had an intention to clean the banknotes by chemical substances, make them look old and concealing the fact that they have been withdrawn from circulation, fraudulently sell the Republic of Armenia.

As a result of the preventive and deterrent actions of the NSS, the clandestine group failed to bring to end its criminal intentions, while the withdrawn banknotes have been revealed and confiscated.

Three individuals have been arrested in the sidelines of the criminal case. The NSS takes measures to identify other possible members of the group, as well as to reveal other cases of similar crimes that can have happened in the past.
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YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, FM Nalbandian particularly mentioned,

Mr. President,

Secretary General,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to congratulate and wish success to Peter Thomson, the President of this session and to thank his predecessor Mogens Lykketoft.



I would also like to take this opportunity to express our high appreciation to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his able leadership.

Mr. President,



Two days ago, Armenia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its independence. In this relatively short period of time much has been done to strengthen democratic institutions, rule of law, good governance, protect human rights and advance economic reforms.

We have been able to make a significant progress also with regard to the social and economic development agenda. However, challenges still remain. The needs of the most socially vulnerable groups have been placed in the center of Armenias Prospective Development Strategy for 2014-2025. Likewise, our Government has launched the Plan of Actions for its National Strategy on Human Rights Protection. In this regard, Armenia continues actively working with all UN human rights mechanisms, including special procedures and treaty bodies.

Our new constitutional reform, which followed an inclusive process of broad public discussions aimed at achieving a new and improved governance system with increased transparency and accountability, was approved at a nation-wide referendum last December and welcomed by relevant international bodies.

Mr. President,

The United Nations has a considerable role to play in changing the environment conducive to intolerance, racial discrimination, xenophobia, violent extremism and terrorism.

On numerous occasions Armenia has condemned the crimes committed by DAESH, other terrorist groups, which threaten the peoples of the region and beyond. The war in Syria has a devastating impact on its civilian population, including national and religious minorities who face existential threats due to identity based crimes. The violence has not bypassed Syrian-Armenians, many of whom lost their lives. The Armenian settlements, churches, schools and cultural institutions were destroyed. One hundred years ago Armenian refugees found shelter in many Arab countries after the Armenian Genocide. Today thousands of Armenians, together with other people of the Middle East, again are forced to flee their homes. From Syria alone more than 20 thousand found refuge in Armenia. Therefore, we know what it means to be a refugee and to host refugees.

The Government of Armenia has undertaken considerable efforts in assisting the refugees and facilitating their integration. We believe that wider international cooperation is needed to adequately address the challenges posed by massive displacement. The full implementation of the commitments of the New York Declaration on refugees and migrants adopted few days ago by this august body stands as an important milestone in this regard.

We would like to stress the significance of addressing the root causes of large movements of people through the prevention of crimes against humanity, peaceful settlement of disputes and achievement of lasting political solutions.

Mr. President,

Armenia has been continuously supporting and contributing to the elaboration of the mechanisms of prevention, in particular by regularly initiating Resolutions on the Prevention of Genocide in the Human Rights Council.

As a nation who experienced the first genocide of the 20th century and continues to face the denial of this horror, Armenia reaffirms its strong support to the fight against impunity for genocide. 2016 marks the first anniversary of the UN General Assembly Resolution initiated by Armenia, proclaiming December 9th as an International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide.

As the threat of violence continues to spread in different parts of the world it is crucial to make our joint efforts for peace and security more efficient. It is with this understanding that Armenia has participated in a number of UN and UN-mandated Peace Operations, thus actively contributing in the most direct way to the building of international peace and security. As the UN Assistant Secretary General noted Armenias support is important not only for its contribution but also for the Armenian history and the challenges overcome during it. Indeed, history teaches us that the security of one is closely connected to others.

Mr. President,

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development. These major documents proclaim that All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. It is well known that the UN Charter underlines the respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples as a purpose of this organization.

Aggressive military response of the state to the peaceful aspiration of people to exercise their right to self-determination only legitimizes such aspiration and deprives the aggressor of any claim to authority over such people. The UN Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order rightly stated that rather than perceiving self-determination as a source of conflict, armed conflict should be seen as a consequence of the violation of the right to self-determination.

Azerbaijan stubbornly refuses to recognize the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination. As part of Azerbaijans policy of ethnic cleansing and aggression, starting from the late 80s and beginning of 90s Armenians were massacred and expelled from their homes. Nobel Peace Prize winner Andrei Sakharov called it a threat of a new genocide of the Armenian people.

This year again, in early April in blatant violation of the cease-fire agreement, Azerbaijan unleashed another large scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh, indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructures and population. Among the victims were a 12 year old boy and 92 year old woman. Three captive soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh armed forces were beheaded in DAESH style, which was subsequently demonstrated in towns and villages and publicized through social networks. Furthermore, the leader of Azerbaijan publically decorated the perpetrators of this crime. During the exchange of bodies of the deceased between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, carried out through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, it was registered that the corpses transferred from the Azerbaijani side had undeniable signs of torture and were mutilated. Such despicable atrocities go beyond elementary norms of the civilized world and constitute gross violations of international humanitarian law.

The April aggression severely undermined the peace process. To restore the trust in peaceful resolution of the conflict measures should be taken to prevent the use of force and to create conditions conducive to the advancement of the peace process. This was the main aim of two Summits on Nagorno-Karabakh held in Vienna in May and in St. Petersburg in June. First of all, it is imperative to implement what was particularly emphasized and agreed upon at these Summits - first, the full adherence to the 1994-1995 trilateral ceasefire agreements, which do not have time limitations; second, the creation of mechanism for investigation of ceasefire violations; third, the expansion of the capacity of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

Against all odds the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been able to defend themselves and create a free and democratic society.

Armenia, together with the mediator countries - Russia, the United States and France  the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, will continue its efforts towards exclusively peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Co-Chairs have proclaimed a rather civilized formula for the settlement  ballots instead of bullets. The proposal outlined by the presidents of the Co-Chair countries stipulates future determination of the final legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh through a legally binding expression of will of its population. The mentality that supports medieval barbarism, as witnessed in April, can hardly accept the civilized approaches of the modern world.

Mr. President,

Armenia welcomes the integration of the Vienna Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries into the Agenda 2030 as an important step to promote sustainable and inclusive development. To ensure the effective implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action and mainstream it into our policies, the Government of Armenia has recently adopted a national strategy for its implementation. We deplore policies that stipulate unilateral economic measures as an instrument of political pressure.

Agenda 2030 reconfirms once again that such measures are detrimental to sustainable development. The unilateral land blockade of Armenia by Turkey is a gross violation of international law. It continues to severely hamper regional transit communication routes, economic cooperation and integration.

Mr. President,



Armenia welcomes the central role of the United Nations in the implementation of the new and comprehensive Agenda. We do not underestimate the challenges facing all of us - equally we should not downplay the opportunities. More than seven decades on, we must show the same insight and vision to safeguard the future of this Organization and ensure the best possible future for the peoples of the United Nations. Armenia is fully committed to these goals.



Thank you.
Karnataka High Court asked the government to regulate school fees in private unaided educational institutions. It asked the state government to notify draft rules under the Karnataka Education Act. HC has asked the government to notify draft rules by October 5.

The Karnataka High Court said, "Till the parents approached this court, their complaints on schools charging exorbitant fees had fallen on deaf ears. The department authorities woke up from a deep slumber and attempted to conduct inspections only after parents approached the court."

Justice Aravinda kumar said the authorities did not issue notices to the complainants seeking their presence when they visited the schools that are collecting excess fees.

"But they contend that they inspected schools. They even failed to place any proceedings of how they acted on the complaints," he added. He also said that the lack of efforts to implement the rules regulating fees and donations collected by recognized private schools had forced the court to issue guidelines.

The High Court has issued eight guidelines to curb the practice of charging excess fee and donations by private schools. It will help the private schools across the state to determine a fee structure.

Justice Kumar said that such a practice has been continued every year due to lack of efforts by the authorities to implement the Karnataka Education Institutions Rules 1995 and The Karnataka Educational institutions (Regulations of certain fees and donations) Rules, 1999.

The proposed draft discusses the option of levying a huge fine of Rs. 10 lakhs to the private unaided institutions for collecting an extra fee rather than that fixed by the authorities.

A 90-day time frame is required to complete the necessary amendments.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) counseling in Madhya Pradesh has been canceled by the Supreme Court of India. The counseling sessions held so far by the private colleges of Madhya Pradesh will be canceled after the order from the apex court.

The Supreme court has asked for a centralized counseling session which must strictly follow the rules set up by the central government. This counseling will be done to allocate seats to students in medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) courses.

A bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave took this decision on the basis of arguments from various petitioners. It has asked the fresh counseling process to be completed within a week.

The court observed that the rules and regulations laid by the center government has not been followed by the private colleges in their counseling.

A centralized counseling session will prevent students from attending multiple counseling sessions. Private medical and dental colleges of Madhya Pradesh wanted to hold their own counseling sessions. Madhya Pradesh government contended in the court saying that students will be asked to give extra fees in these counseling sessions.

Maharashtra and Kerala have also approached the apex court in this regard. The hearing will be done for them on Friday.

Over 60,000 students have appeared in NEET all over the nation. The main objective of NEET is to give admission in medical to meritorious students. There should not be any need to pay an extra fee to get a seat in a medical or dental college.

The HRD minister Prakash Javadekar said that NEET will clean a lot of mess and his ministry is in touch with the Health ministry on this subject.

NEET PG exam dates released
The prestigious Oxford University has announced a new scholarship scheme for Indian students studying law the institution.

The scholarship at the Somerville College is being launched in the memory of Conrnelia Sorabji. Sorabji was the first female Indian student to study law at Somerville back in 1889. She is also the first woman to practice law in India and Britain.

Details of the Cornelia Sorabji Scholarship in Law:

The scholarship will cover upto 50% of the entire cost of the degree programme which usually sums upto 36,000 pounds including tuition fees and lodging.

Somerville College is celebrating her 150th birth anniversary this year with the first student awardee of the Cornelia Sorabji Scholarship in Law, Divya Sharma from Chandigarh, taking up her Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree at the institute.

Oxford University Now World's Best! Knocks Down Caltech To 2nd Place

"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.

Find Out Why UK Is Losing Its Popularity Among Indian Students!
The Union HRD minister, Prakash Javadekar, said that improving the quality of education in India still remains a major challenge. He was talking in the 'Young Makers Conclave'.

He said that there are 270 million students in the country from KG to PG but the quality of education is still a major challenge.

Referring to the glorious past of India he said, "India was a great power, it was one third of the world trade, because we had Nalandas, Taxilas and Vikramshilas, the great universities of world at that time."

"If global rankings like QS or Times Ranking existed at that time, these universities would have got the top positions," the HRD minister claimed.

"Therefore, those who attacked India destroyed its libraries, because this was its strength. The nation in which education is good along with research and innovation, is one which is prosperous," he added.

Talking about the roots of the present education system which goes back to the British era, Javadekar said that the Britishers provided education to a limited class to serve their administrative purposes but did not want Indians to really learn.

The IT sector, which provides a lot of jobs in India, the union minister said, "While India is called a software power, it is a limited software power. We do it, but we have not come up with Google, Facebook, Twitter, Windows etc which are doing huge business."

When asked about the government initiatives to improve the quality of education, HRD minister said that a Higher Education Financing Agency was being set up. He has held a meeting with Canara Bank officials in this regard recently.

Government has also started SWAYAM, the program to offer online courses to students of India by the best professors of the nation. Professors of IITs, IIMs, JNU, NITs and other leading universities will offer courses here.
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: The statement reads:

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 margins of the UN General Assembly to continue discussions on a settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

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.

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."
STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: Based on the acquired evidence, 6 people have been charged, press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia informed.

On September 16 at 13:00 the Defense Army soldier Narek G. Patatanyan (born in 1997) was mortally wounded in one of the military units of the Defense Army.

Several cases of violence committed by his co-servicemen, various cases of crimes were revealed.

5 people are arrested.

1 person is under the control of the Armenian Defense Ministrys N military units commander.

Investigation is underway.
Moldovas new Ambassador to Armenia, Ruslan Bolbocean, whose diplomatic residence in the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev, on Friday presented his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

September 23, 2016, 13:18 Armenia President and new Moldova ambassador discuss cooperation

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: First, the President congratulated the ambassador for assuming this office, and wished him success in his diplomatic mission in Armenia, Press Office of the President informed.

Stressing that the two countries enjoy good interstate relations, Sargsyan underscored the need to intensify cooperation in all domains. He also expressed the hope that the new ambassador will give new impetus and additional incentive to Armenian-Moldovan relations and cooperation.

Ambassador Bolbocean, for his part, considered conducting diplomatic mission in Armenia to be a great honor and responsibility, and assured that he will do his utmost so that progress becomes visible in a foreseeable future.

President Sargsyan, in turn, highlighted cooperation on matters that are crucial and sensitive for the two countries.
An 82-year-old Uber driver has been killed in a horror crash in Delray Beach, Florida when his Buick Enclave was struck by a Lamborghini Murcielago at high speed.



Police and eyewitnesses state that the yellow Lamborghini Murcielago, driven by 60-year-old Roger Wittenberns, was speeding alongside his 61-year-old girlfriend, Patty Ann McQuiggin, in her Porsche 911.

When Wittenberns crossed Federal Highway west, he collided with the Buick of Uber driver J. Gerald Smith. The impact was severe enough to eject Wittenberns from the Lamborghini and leave Smith in a critical condition. He died soon after at the local Delray Medical Center.

Those investigating the crash believe that speed was not the only factor. They say that alcohol likely played a contributing role in the crash as Wittenberns latter told police from his hospital bed that he had been drinking with his girlfriend beforehand.

Immediately following the crash, Wittenberns girlfriend left the scene and dumped her car in a nearby restaurant parking lot.

WPTV reports that traffic homicide investigators are currently reviewing the case before any decision will be made with the State Attorneys office to press possible charges against Wittenberns and McQuiggin.

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO
The 2017 BMW 5-Series has yet to be revealed but the North American ordering guide for the model has emerged online thanks to Bimmer Post.



The guide reveals that for the 2017 model year, North American customers will be able to choose between the 530i and 540i in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations. It is believed that in the months following the cars local launch, a 550i model will be added to the range.

While the guide offers details about every single paint shade available for the range as well as all the standard and optional features, perhaps the most interesting are the autonomous packages the car will be available with.

The guide reveals three separate Driver Assistance packages for the sedan. The first package will consist of a head-up display, Park Distance Control system, rear view camera and parking assistant. The second package, dubbed Driver Assistance Plus, includes an active driving assistant, an improved self-parking setup, blind spot detection, daytime pedestrian protection, front collision warning, lane departure warning and a surround view camera.

It is the Driver Assistance Plus II where the new semi-autonomous systems will be found. They include active cruise control with a stop and go functionality. Theres also active lane keep with side collision avoidance, traffic jam assistant and autonomous lane changing.

Beyond these technologies, the new 5-Series will be available with a host of other packages across the exterior and interior, including the M Sport Package and Luxury Package.

Follow the link here for the full ordering guide.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

PHOTO GALLERY
Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is on a working visit in New York City, on Thursday attended and addressed at a high-level event devoted to the fifth anniversary of the Open Government Partnership.

September 23, 2016, 15:03 Vibrant civil society is formed in Armenia: Nalbandian

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 23, ARTSAKHPRESS: In his remarks, Nalbandian specifically noted that a vibrant civil society, which is the indicator of a strengthening democracy, has formed in Armenia.

He added, however, that people in Armenia are well aware that there are still a considerable number of challenges.
Tesla has slapped Michigan legislators and governor Rick Snyder with a federal lawsuit after the states decision to ban the automakers direct sales model.



Tesla first applied for a dealer license almost a year ago but it was recently rejected as the state requires all new vehicles must be sold through franchised dealerships. The automaker isnt having any of it.

In the lawsuit, the firm says it 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, reports the Detroit Free Press.

It is later asserted that the states laws regarding the necessity of franchised dealers actually violates the equal protection clauses and due process rights of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Solving this legislatively always has been and continues to be Teslas preferred option. For the last two years, Tesla has pursued legislation in Michigan that is fair to everyone and that would benefit Michigan consumers, the company said.

PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Residents are being urged to stand up for safety in their community in a special event taking place in Penticton tonight.

Communities Unite! Take Back the Night! is set to take place at Gyro Park, starting with sign making at 6:30 p.m. and a march taking place at 7 p.m.

Participants in the South Okanagan Victim Assistance Society (SOVAS) event are encouraged to bring flashlights, glow sticks, banners and noise makers.

SOVAS provides counselling, court support and information to men, women and children who have experienced abuse.

Their service area includes the South Okanagan Similkameen region, covering Penticton, Summerland, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Cawston, Keremeos, Hedley and Princeton.

For more information, visit www.sovas.ca
Photo: Google Street View

A portion of Sexsmith Road will be closed overnight tomorrow as city crews remove the railway crossing.

Crews will begin their work about 8 p.m. Friday and hope to be finished by 1 p.m. Saturday.

Old Vernon Road between Highway 97 and Airport Way will be closed Saturday from 5 a.m. until 1 p.m. for track removal and paving.

Traffic along Old Vernon Road will be detoured via Airport Way.

Removal of railway crossings is part inter-jurisdictional sale and purchase agreement to have CN Rail remove the rail infrastructure from the Okanagan Rail Corridor.

The rail corridor within Kelowna city limits remains closed and undeveloped.

The future trail has an uneven surface and natural hazards that may cause serious injury.

Active construction is occurring in some areas and should be avoided.
You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope you can help solve by calling our anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.

CRIME: THEFT OF JEWELLERY FROM VEHICLE

DATE: September 8, 2016

RCMP FILE: 2016-54016

Be on the lookout for this unique jewellery that was stolen out of a car parked in a driveway on Terrace Hill Place during the early hours of September 8th. Someone entered the silver Subaru Outback during the night and made off with a white Guess purse, a white gold wedding ring, an anniversary ring, a Presidents Club corporate ring and a Tiffany Starfish pendant necklace. Value of items stolen is approximately $8600.00.

Photo: Crime Stoppers

If you know anything about this crime, or any other crime, call the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS or visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net. Your information will be kept confidential and could lead to a reward of up to $2000.00.

CRIME: THEFT OF MOTORCYCLE

DATE: September 21, 2016

RCMP FILE: 2016-56984

The owner of a Husaberg motorcycle reported its theft on September 21, 2016. Sometime overnight the bike was stolen from the 1400 block of Richter Street. The motorcycle, a 2007 yellow and blue Husaberg with VIN VBKHUM4037M548245 and BC license plate number W71786, had half a tank of gas and the owner is in possession of the only set of keys.

Photo: Crime Stoppers

You can help catch these suspects and qualify for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: shuswaptourism.ca

It's going to be a busy week for members of Enderby council.

The Union of B.C. Municipalities conference starts Monday and Mayor Greg McCune said he and the five councillors in attendance have 19 meetings set up over five days.

That's on top of regular conference events.

McCune said they plan on meeting with the Ministry of Transportation to discuss traffic congestion in the community 30 minutes from Vernon on Highway 97A.

Every summer for the past few years, the scenic town has endured bumper-to-bumper traffic. McCune said the ministry is aware of the situation and plans on taking action.

McCune also wants to address the number of conservation officers in the province, saying more are needed.

Enderby is surrounded by the great outdoors and is a mecca for fishing, camping, hiking and hunting, but the area hills have also become a dumping ground.

Right now there is a lot of illegal dumping out there, said McCune who believes more conservation officers would go a long way in deterring illegal dumping.

McCune believes that once a few people are caught and fined, word will spread.

There is only a handful of officers right now, he said, adding if more were available they could work in teams and concentrate on problem areas.

We think it's not too much to ask, he said. We are always saying it's a beautiful province so let's put our money where our mouth is and keep it that way.
Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet

The results are encouraging, but very preliminary.

That's the opinion of Premier Christy Clark after August numbers were released following implementation of the government's 15 per cent foreign tax on home purchases in the Lower Mainland.

The government introduced the tax at the beginning of August as a way to help slow down the white hot Lower Mainland housing market.

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.

Clark, in Kelowna Thursday for the opening of the new Trades Training Complex at Okanagan College, said it appears many foreign buyers moved their purchases up to the end of July to avoid the tax.

But, it's had an impact, which she said is what the government wanted.

"If it's had a dramatic impact, that's what British Columbians want. British Columbian's want to be able to make sure they, and their children, have first crack at housing in our province, but especially in the Lower Mainland where the market has been so hot," said Clark.

"We can't put British Columbians first unless we keep the dream of home ownership within the reach of the middle class. This is only part of the answer."

The premier does expect those numbers to normalize over the coming months. While people were able to move transaction to July to avoid the tax when it was introduced, they won't be able to do that moving forward.

"My hope is many of those units that might otherwise have been sold to foreign buyers will be open for British Columbians because we want to put British Columbians first."

As for a class-action lawsuit being brought forward against the tax, Clark said it's something she assumed would happen.

"Government can't do anything in the modern day without having somebody sue us," she said.

"I am quite prepared to go to court and make the argument we want to put British Columbian's first. This was the right thing to do. We are going to argue that vigorously, an we'll see what the courts decide."
Photo: Contributed

The City of Penticton electric utility is planning a power outage for this weekend.

The outage will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25, within the 1700-2100 block of Camrose Street from Industrial Avenue East to Warren Avenue East affecting about 30 customers.

The purpose of this outage is to upgrade the Penticton Regional Hospital expansion.

People with any questions or concerns can contact Cara with the electric utility department at 250-490-2535.
Photo: RCMP

UPDATE: 6:15 p.m.

Kamloops RCMP state they are no longer looking for the stolen Ford truck.

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says the vehicle was found abandoned and no arrests have been made in relation.

The RCMP investigation is ongoing.

ORIGINAL: 4 p.m.

Kamloops RCMP are asking the public to keep a lookout for a stolen truck that has been used to conduct criminal activity over the past few days.

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says a red and white 1996 Ford F250 pick-up, British Columbia license plate HL1085, was stolen the night of Sept. 19.

The truck may or may not have a matching canopy on it.

Since then, police believe this vehicle has been associated to numerous thefts from vehicles both within Kamloops and in rural areas, says Shelkie.

In one instance, the male suspect driving the stolen vehicle assaulted a bystander who questioned him.

The suspect is described as being approximately five-foot-nine-inches tall and stocky.

Shelkie says police are asking the public to contact them or Crime Stoppers if they see this vehicle.

Do not follow the vehicle if it is moving, do not approach anyone who is in the vehicle, simply call in the last known location of the vehicle, adds Shelkie.

You can contact the RCMP at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Photo: CTV

A Vancouver company is making international headlines after it was named by the U.S. attorney general in an international mail and lotto fraud case.

According to a statement from the U.S. Treasury Department, allegations have been made that the PacNet Group has a lengthy history of money laundering.

PacNet offers payment processing services including multi-currency payouts, check cashing and international credit cards.

The report states the company has offices in Vancouver, Ireland and the U.K., and subsidiaries or affiliates in 15 other countries.

According to CTV Vancouver, the U.S. Department of Justice accuses the company of being a "significant transnational criminal organization," with a nearly 20-year history of "knowingly" processing payments related to scams.

The treasury claims that PacNet's processing network helps to prevent detection of fraud.

"Every year Americans receive tens of millions of fraudulent solicitation letters, and many of these letters, for example, falsely claim that the recipient has won cash or valuable prizes," Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said.

"In order to collect these benefits, the letters say, the recipient need only send in a small amount of money for a processing fee or taxes."

Lynch said the company targets the elderly and those in vulnerable financial situations.

As a result of the investigation, CTV reports that 12 executives and directors have been identified as being involved in the scam.

Three of the dozen, Marie Boivin, Mary Ann Driscoll and Rosanne Day, are based in Canada.

People from Turkey, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, India and the U.S. are also facing charges and several businesses have been named in the case.

A request for comment from PacNet by CTV has not yet been returned.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: UBC

Tolko Industries says the pine beetle has forced it to close its Nicola Valley operation in Merritt, putting 203 employees out of work.

Tolko announced Thursday that it will permanently close its Merritt operation on December 16th, 2016.

Making the decision to close an operation is never easy, said Brad Thorlakson, president and CEO.

Following the recent reduction in the annual allowable cut as a result of the completion of the pine beetle harvest, an extensive review of the wood supply for all of our Southern Interior operations was conducted. Based on this review, we have determined there is not enough timber to supply all of our mills. This has resulted in the decision to permanently close our Nicola operation.

Tolko said employees were informed of the decision on Thursday.

Today we have issued notice to employees, and we are working through the details of a transition package," said Mike Harkies, executive vice president of Solid Wood.

We anticipate full details to be available to employees the week of October 10th.

Thorlakson added that the closure of this mill will result in the removal of 250-million board feet of capacity from the lumber market.

Despite this news, he said the company his family has owned since 1956 remains well positioned for future success.

We are focused on making decisions that ensure our long term success. As a company, we are very well positioned due to our geographic and product diversification.

Tolko purchased the Nicola Valley operation in 1987.
Photo: Contributed

While realtors and some homeowners are furious over the Liberal party's new 15 per cent tax on foreign buyers in Metro Vancouver, that move may be paying off in the polls.

According to the Angus Reid Institute, the policy change is unequivocally popular with people living in the region and has also given Clark the most drastic quarterly increase in her job performance approval since winning re-election in 2013.

The institute said she is up 7 points or 34 per cent since the spring.

However it is not all good news. Despite this bounce, Clarks ratio of disapproval to approval is still nearly two-to-one.

On the other hand, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is a enjoying not only a jump in approval but a positive view of his job performance from more than half of his provincial constituency.

A narrow majority (53 per cent) say they approve of the way Pallister is running the province, up seven points from the last wave of this survey.

Pallister is now Canadas second most-approved-of premier. The most-approved-of remains Sasktachewans Brad Wall.

While still in first place, Wall's approval rating has slid nine points since the spring.

In Quebec, where income taxes are reported to be among the highest in Canada, Premier Phillippe Couillard has seen his approval rating drop five points since May (33 per cent then, 28 per cent now).

The situation is relatively more stable for several other premiers in Canada.

In Alberta, Rachel Notleys job approval stands at 31 per cent, essentially unchanged since the spring (32 per cent).

The premiers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also note small, statistically insignificant declines.

About 38 per cent of Nova Scotians endorse Stephen McNeils job performance, down three points since the spring. In New Brunswick Brian Gallant finds his approval rating off two points over last quarter at 24 per cent.

Newfoundland and Labaradors Dwight Ball is promising no more major cuts in a fall budget update, and sees his own approval rating tick upward four points from a low 17 per cent last quarter (21 per cent now).

As for Canadas least-approved of Premier, that designation rests with Ontarios Kathleen Wynne.

Her approval rating slid another four points to 20 per cent, part of a steady decline from 41 per cent in June 2014.

The numbers above were provided by the Angus Reid Institute that analyzed the results of an online survey of 4,629 Canadian adults in a randomized and representative sample of Angus Reid Forum panelists from Sept. 5  11, 2016.

A probability sample of this size carries a margin of error of +/- 2%, 19 times out of 20.

For more information on the results, click here.
Photo: Getty Images

For some, cat herding is a national pastime. I try to avoid it.

I shy away from anything that requires direction for a large number of people. I admire people who specialize in managing departments," organizing volunteers or even shepherding passengers on to aircraft.

I was able to run multiple businesses at one time, but put my two children in a room with me and I developed a remarkable admiration for my wifes skills.

That is probably why I feel so out of place here in the Philippines.

For a start, there are a lot of people  all running, driving or riding around without any particular sense of direction or lane management.

The air is more congested that the roads as I cough and splutter my way through a morning jog.

The streets of Cebu are rarely quiet, but they certainly come alive at 7 a.m.

Honking horns appear to be some kind of ritual heralding and then serenading the sun on its daily visits to this bustling town that has a hard time deciding if it is a business centre, impoverished community or tourist destination.

For me, at least on this trip, it is a business centre. It is a place that I have come to train some staff.

Hence, the herding cats reference,

Filipinos are wonderful people, happy, smiling and very polite. But the politeness has been getting us in trouble.

Not unlike Canadians prolific desire to apologize, the Philippine people prefer to use the phrase Yes, sir.

So if you ask them, do they understand, they will respond Yes, sir, which really means, I have no clue what you want.

It is not a big problem until you get to the end of the work day or work week and find out that not much has been done from a productive standpoint.

Desperately searching to find a quick fix so I didnt find myself trying to step on cats tails all day long, I honed in on the most delightful trait of the Filipinos.

So my first lesson to our team here was to be less polite. Kind of like asking a Canadian not to apologize.

Lo and behold, there was less cat herding to do. Fewer mistakes to clear up. Less chasing around for the real information.

The lesson was all about communication in the end. One of the most serious challenges in business is learning to communicate.

In international business, that revolves around understanding other cultures.

Thank goodness Canada is multi-cultural because without that background, I would have been calling my wife for help.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: file photo

A legal advocacy group in British Columbia is calling for dog handlers with the Vancouver Police Department to wear body cameras after a bystander was accidentally mauled this week during a police takedown.

Doug King of Pivot Legal Society says the use of police dogs is on the rise and that recording attacks on video would provide an objective look at situations that prompt their use.

A man was sent to hospital with serious injuries on Monday as three alleged kidnappers were arrested in the Metro Vancouver suburb of New Westminster.

A spokeswoman with a New Westminster hospital says Vick Supramaniam, the person identified in the media as the dog-bite victim, has been discharged. A report from Global News says the man lost part of his left ear and was bitten on his thigh.

"We can't say that collateral damage is OK in our domestic police. It's just not right," King said. "We need to know why the handler made the decision to deploy the dog, why the dog was allowed to maul him for so long."

Vancouver police apologized for the attack, explaining that a "completely innocent person" had been caught up in Monday's incident.

"We were dealing with armed people who were alleged to have committed murders, who have a kidnap victim in their vehicle, and we had to act very quickly," said spokesman Const. Brian Montague.

"Our officers are reaching out to the family to see if there's anything we can do to help them, but there's no doubt that they'll be traumatized."

He said in an email Thursday that accidental bites are very rare and that dogs are used only in serious and dangerous situations when suspects are hiding or running away from police.
Photo: Twitter - KRON4

Two students at a Northern California university scrawled swastikas and other hate speech in residence halls, the campus president said Thursday.

The swastikas were found Tuesday at two separate dormitories that mostly house first-year students at San Jose State University.

Next to one of the swastikas was scrawled "Admit One Jew," President Mary Papazian said in a statement emailed to all students Thursday. She said police have identified the student responsible and "determined that this act, while bias-based, targeted no one in particular and is not by definition a hate crime."

The other swastika was drawn on a white board in a common area of another dormitory. The white board was described to police by the student responsible as a "joke board," said Papazian, adding that this incident remains under investigation and police were confident the two cases are not related.

A university spokeswoman, Pat Harris, said the school was considering sanctions against the students that could result in expulsion.

Officials didn't release the identities of the students involved to preserve student confidentiality, the statement said.

Papazian said she was disheartened and outraged by these "profoundly hurtful acts" but hoped the campus would learn from it.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The FBI is gathering information about an incident involving Brad Pitt and his family aboard a private flight last week, the agency confirmed Thursday.

Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency is still evaluating whether to open an investigation into allegations Pitt was abusive during the flight toward one of his six children with actress Angelina Jolie Pitt, as several media outlets have reported.

The reports from anonymous sources state the actor is under investigation by a child welfare agency because of the Sept. 14 incident. The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Families refused to say whether it was investigating Pitt.

A representative for Pitt declined comment Thursday.

Jolie Pitt filed for divorce Monday and her lawyer released a statement the following day saying she came to the decision "for the health of the family." She listed their separation date as Sept. 15, the day after the alleged plane incident, and is seeking sole custody of all six of the children.

A phone message left for Jolie Pitt's attorney Laura Wasser was not returned Thursday.

Amara Suarez, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, said the agency could not confirm whether it was investigating Pitt or the well-being of the former couple's children.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Several Midwestern states were a soggy mess Thursday after up to 10 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa and triggered mudslides that caused one death.

Washed-out railroad tracks derailed a train in southwestern Wisconsin, where a mudslide destroyed a house and killed the man inside. Crews built dams to protect a cheese cave and a woolen mill in southern Minnesota. And in northern Iowa, about 100 people were evacuated from their apartments.

The rain mostly moved through the states Wednesday evening and early Thursday, though another round was in the forecast for northern Iowa on Thursday night. While much of the water began to recede or drain Thursday, its effects could be found throughout the area.

Mud pushed a home onto Wisconsin State Highway 35 in Vernon County on Thursday morning. It took search and rescue crews until the afternoon to find his body, emergency management officials said. His name was not immediately released.

About 40 miles south in Crawford County, two BNSF Railway locomotives and five cars derailed. The crew wasn't injured, but one of the fuel tanks ruptured, spilling about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel  some into the Mississippi River, the railroad said. BNSF crews placed booms downstream to capture the fuel. Wisconsin emergency officials said 15 people who lived nearby were evacuated as a precaution.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency for 13 counties to help local governments pay for the costs of damage and cleanup to public infrastructure.

In Minnesota, the northern suburbs in the Twin Cities area saw up to 10 inches of rain. Seventy miles south, Waseca saw nearly 14 inches of rain over two days. Basements were flooded across the community, and several residents were evacuated.
Photo: The Canadian Press

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."

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.
Photo: YouTube

Police are encouraging caution amid a rash of public complaints and social media reports in a number of states of people dressed like clowns and acting suspiciously, even if they think many are knucklehead pranksters or simply bogus.

Real clowns are just plain miffed.

Authorities in Greenville, South Carolina, were among the first to report a clown-related incident in recent weeks. Late last month, some children reported clowns trying to lure them into the woods with money. Sheriff's deputies found no evidence, however, not even a prankster in a clown suit.

But for whatever reason, since then, people in Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina and now, Pennsylvania, have reported scary or suspicious encounters with people dressed like clowns.

"When people report these things it should be 'someone dressed like a clown,' because a real clown would never dress or do anything to scare anyone," said Tricia Manuel, 55, who runs Mooseburger Clown Arts Camp in Buffalo, Minnesota. The camp, named for her alter ego, Pricilla Mooseburger, trains about 100 clowns each year.

She said she has been following the reports closely because they are hurting business.

"In South Carolina, two of the clowns were afraid to go out and perform, and they're two of my customers," said Manuel, whose two children are also clowns.

The sheriff in Escambia County, Alabama, last week arrested a 22-year-old woman and two juveniles after Flomaton High School was locked down and searched when students were threatened on "Flomo Klown" and "Shoota Cllown" social media accounts. And in Athens, Georgia, an 11-year-old girl was arrested for taking a knife to school on Friday because she was frightened by social media reports and other rumours that clowns were preparing to attack children.

Manuel said the public's perception of clowns has been going downhill since Stephen King's 1986 novel about a child-killing clown, "It," became a TV miniseries four years later. But the latest incidents take the cake.

"We are used to 'Killer Klowns from Outer Space' and Krusty the Clown, but this has taken it to another level," Manuel said. "It's another thing to have people act out these sick fantasies. This is like, 'Are you kidding me?'"
Photo: Contributed CFB Trenton

A Canadian Armed Forces Sergeant posted at CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario has been found guilty of child pornography offences and arranging to commit a sexual offence against a child.

Crown Attorney Lee Burgess says David Rodwell was convicted in a Belleville, Ont., court on Thursday of possession of child pornography, making child pornography and making an agreement to commit a sexual offence against a child.

The 57-year-old air weapons systems technician was charged last year after participating in various online chat rooms, including a conversation with a U.S. Homeland Security special agent posing as an air force mother of three.

The conversation revolved around setting up a sexual encounter with a three-year-old child in San Francisco, and the investigation was turned over to the military police when information led to Rodwell's home at the base in Trenton.

Police also found five videos and 33 child pornography images on Rodwell's computer.

Burgess says sentencing is set for Dec. 15.
I have lived in Westbank for 15 of the past 17 years, and the West Kelowna we see today is not the Westbank when I first moved here. Far from it.

The city is expanding, in some ways, where the municipal government cant keep up. And that is where I believe we need a proper town hall.

I would love to see a fantastic building go up that would be a landmark and worth showing off, this is what they have designed and proposed. But the problem is its going to cost over 7 million dollars. Its great that the building will have all of these other amenities, but I honestly think that those additional amenities are excuses to make the extravagant building.

Do we need another interior health office? Last I checked they were everywhere.

Now, there are things that the city needs that they havent kept up with, mainly sidewalks. As I drove a lot of places, I never really noticed the lack of sidewalks until a popular mobile game came out that encouraged walking to places. Suddenly i realized that Old Okanagan Highway, as well as Shannon Lake Drive, had barely any sidewalks at all. Next to the highway, these are two of the busiest roads in the city, being the main roads for a large number of housing.

Unless you drive, which not everyone does, its really difficult for someone to walk to even the bus stop, let alone the grocery store.

Now, there is a common ground in this.

I would be happy to see a town hall go up, that doesnt have the extra offices to it that we really dont need, still look really nice, but maybe only cost three million. A fraction of what they want to spend. The extra money goes into things that we really need, like the sidewalks that this city heavily lacks.

Jordan Wickett
A group that promotes bipartisanship is recognizing U.S. Rep. John Katko for his work in Congress.

No Labels presented Katko, R-Camillus, with its "Problem Solver Seal of Approval." The honor "demonstrates Congressman Katko's willingness to working in a bipartisan manner to produce results for the 24th Congressional District," according to a news release.

Katko touted several achievements during his first term in Congress, including passage of an education bill that rolls back Common Core mandates and approval of a long-term highway bill to fund bridge and road repairs.

He also mentioned his work on legislation and other efforts to combat the heroin epidemic.

"I'm honored to have earned the Problem Solver Seal of Approval from No Labels, and I'll continue to work in Washington to end the partisan divide and to deliver results for families in central New York," Katko said in a statement.

Since taking office in 2015, Katko has sponsored 24 bills. Fourteen of the measures have been approved by the House of Representatives and six have been signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Katko joined No Labels in January 2015 and wore a No Labels pin when he attended the State of the Union address that year.

The recognition from No Labels comes as Katko is running for re-election in the 24th Congressional District. His opponent is Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon, who previously served as U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's top aide in central New York.

Election Day is Nov. 8.
Photo: www.csc-scc.gc.ca

The RCMP has reopened the investigation of the death of a 33-year-old inmate who was pepper sprayed four times in the face in rapid succession last year at Dorchester Penitentiary in New Brunswick.

Last month, police said their investigation was closed, but now RCMP spokesman Const. Hans Ouellette says new information has come forward and the file is being re-examined.

He would not give any details about the new information or the nature of the investigation.

Matthew Hines died on March 27, 2015 after he was pepper sprayed for refusing to return to his cell.

A three-person panel said the use of force was inappropriate, noting that Hines was "under sufficient control of the staff" at the time of the repeated spraying.

The details of the struggle with guards and a lack of medical attention have been criticized by Hines's siblings, who say they were initially given scant and inaccurate information about how their brother died.
Photo: Contributed

A California driver has been cited for using a mannequin  not a real person  to drive in the carpool lane.

The Orange County Register reports that Brea police found the mannequin Friday inside a truck on the congested 57 freeway.

The truck veered out of the carpool lane close to an officer's motorcycle. As the officer attempted to warn the driver to be careful, he noticed the passenger wasn't a passenger.

Police say the driver acknowledged using the mannequin in the carpool lane for some time. The driver told police that he would now accept that he needs to sit in traffic like everyone else.

California requires that a vehicle have a minimum of two people for carpool lanes. Driving alone requires a fine of at least $481.
Photo: Contributed

RCMP in Nova Scotia say a 28-year-old man has been charged in connection with multiple alleged sexual assaults at an unlicensed residential daycare.

Police say they learned Tuesday that a youth was allegedly sexually assaulted by a man who lived in the daycare in Kingston, N.S., but was not an employee.

As a result of the investigation, two more victims have come forward.

Jeffrey Roy Casey of Kingston appeared in Kentville provincial court Thursday to face three charges of sexual interference and sexual assault and two charges of invitation to sexual touching.

Casey was released on conditions and is scheduled to return to court late next month.

RCMP investigators say they are concerned there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to contact the Kings District detachment.
Photo: Contributed

The tourism industry in Osoyoos is getting a boost from the province.

The South Okanagan town is receiving $390,335 from the resort municipality initiative to support the industry.

Through the initiative Osoyoos has received a total of $3.5 million since 2008 in funding toward projects including a trail system, signage, special events, beach cleaning, public art, boat parking, Gyro Park waterfront improvements and a marina facility enhancement.

Thanks to the (Resort Municipality Funding), the Town of Osoyoos has been able to develop world-class tourism facilities and services that enhance the visitor experience and assist the province of B.C. in achieving its tourism and economic development goals," said Osoyoos Mayor Sue McKortoff. "Ongoing funding has enabled our municipality to develop a new marina, redevelop our Gyro Park, enhance our hiking trail network, purchase a beach cleaner and provide secure boat trailer storage for our visitors."

"Our community volunteers are thrilled to be able to deliver all our festivals and community events in these wonderful modern facilities. We look forward to developing more facilities that enrich our community and express Canada's warmest welcome."

The funding provides $10.5 million each year to help eligible resort-oriented municipalities to develop and enhance their tourism infrastructure and amenities.

RMI communities include Whistler, Fernie, Kimberley, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet and Valemount.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The head of Canada's cyberspy agency says the day is coming when hackers will be able to crack the encryption people rely on for secure online banking and shopping.

Greta Bossenmaier, head of the Communications Security Establishment, says advances in quantum computing could open the door to breaking these protections within 10 years.

Bossenmaier issued the warning in an address to the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies in Ottawa.

She says the immense processing power of quantum computing will bring tremendous opportunities for science, medicine and engineering.

But it could also hobble today's encryption methods of shielding sensitive data from prying eyes.

Bossenmaier's speech comes as the Liberal government consults Canadians on creating a new cybersecurity policy.
Photo: Twitter

The Liberals are trying to turn the tables on Conservatives who've had a heyday with excessive moving expenses claimed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's two top aides.

They've revealed that former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper's office paid out almost $325,000 in relocation expenses for 29 staffers  including a single move for one individual that came in at just over $93,000.

But the Tories point out that the Harper staffers' total expense claims were run up over nine years, whereas Trudeau's PMO has managed to rack up $220,564 for five staffers in just nine months.

The tit-for-tat ploy comes a day after Trudeau's chief of staff, Katie Telford, and principal secretary, Gerald Butts, apologized for claiming $80,382 and $126,669 respectively in expenses incurred moving to Ottawa from Toronto.

The duo promised Thursday to reimburse a total of $65,000.

Trudeau initially defended his aides as having followed all the rules of a decades-old relocation policy that was last updated by the Harper government in 2011; he has since instructed Treasury Board to come up with a new policy.
Photo: Contributed

Anyone cheated by a lawyer in Ontario will now be eligible for up to $500,000 in compensation, more than triple the previous limit, the body that regulates the profession has decided.

In recommending the higher cap, a committee of the Law Society of Upper Canada tasked with the issue noted the last increase was in 2008, at which the time the limit was set at $150,000.

"In light of the over eight years that have elapsed since the last increase and acknowledging the mandate of the law society to govern in the public interest, the committee determined that an increase in the per claimant limit is appropriate at this time, notwithstanding the infrequency with which claims exceeding the limit are likely to arise," the committee concluded.

Between Feb. 1, 2014, and Aug. 31, 2016, the fund doled out almost $7.5 million to 260 claimants, law society figures show.

The highest payout during that period  almost $1.4 million  went to 35 clients of Javad Heydary, a Toronto lawyer who took money from trust accounts before he fled to Iran in late 2013 and likely died there.

Another 10 clients of Richard Chojnacki, a lawyer from Mississisauga, Ont., received $1.08 million. His licence was revoked in October 2010 and he was jailed in 2012 after pleading guilty to fraud for embezzling money from clients.

The society established the fund in 1953 to compensate clients who lose money due to their lawyer's dishonesty. Errors and omissions insurance, which covers negligent conduct, does not cover dishonest conduct, such as theft.

"The legal profession is considered unique in protecting clients from dishonesty in this fashion," its report states.

Claims in other provinces vary widely. For example, Nova Scotia has no limit while Quebec's is set at $100,000. A survey of "client protection funds" in the United States also showed wide variance in programs, ranging from limits of $50,000 to $400,000.

To cover the higher cap approved this week, the society's 35,000 practising lawyers will have to pay another $18 a year, bringing their levy to $290.

People ripped off by paralegals can get as much as $10,000  an unchanged amount. The fund paid 37 clients of paralegals $85,640 from February 2014 to the end of last month.
Photo: The Canadian Press

More than half the country fears a Trump presidency. And only about a third of Americans believe he is at least somewhat qualified to serve in the White House.

In the final sprint to Election Day, a new Associated Press-GfK poll underscores those daunting roadblocks for Donald Trump as he tries to overtake Hillary Clinton.

Moreover, most voters oppose the hard-line approach to immigration that is a centerpiece of the billionaire businessman's campaign. They are more likely to trust Clinton to handle a variety of issues facing the country, and Trump has no advantage on the national security topics also at the forefront of his bid.

Trump undoubtedly has a passionate base of support, seen clearly among the thousands of backers who fill the stands at his signature rallies. But most people don't share that fervour. Only 29 per cent of registered voters would be excited and just 24 per cent would be proud should Trump prevail in November.

Only one in four voters find him even somewhat civil or compassionate, and just a third say he's not at all racist.

"We as Americans should be embarrassed about Donald Trump," said Michael DeLuise, 66, a retired university vice-president and registered Republican who lives in Eugene, Oregon. "We as Americans have always been able to look at the wacky leaders of other countries and say 'Phew, that's not us.' We couldn't if Trump wins. It's like putting P.T. Barnum in charge. And it's getting dangerous."

To be sure, the nation is sour on Clinton, too. Only 39 per cent of voters have a favourable view of the Democratic nominee, compared to the 56 per cent who view her unfavourably. Less than a third say they would be excited or proud should she move into the White House.

"I think she's an extremely dishonest person and have extreme disdain for her and her husband," said one registered Republican, Denise Pettitte, 36, from Watertown, Wisconsin. "I think it would be wonderful to elect a woman, but a different woman."

But as poorly as voters may view Clinton, they think even less of Trump.

Forty-four per cent say they would be afraid if Clinton, the former secretary of state, is elected, far less than the 56 per cent who say the same of Trump. He's viewed more unfavourably than favourably by a 61 per cent to 34 per cent margin, and more say their unfavourable opinion of the New Yorker is a strong one than say the same of Clinton, 50 per cent to 44 per cent.

That deep distain for both candidates prompts three-quarters of voters to say that a big reason they'll be casting their ballot is to stop someone, rather than elect someone.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Syria's military threatened a ground offensive in Aleppo and pounded the city's rebel-held neighbourhoods with airstrikes on Friday, killing dozens, demolishing buildings and damaging a main water station in an escalation that could doom faltering attempts to revive a cease-fire.

Rebels vowed to fight to keep President Bashar Assad's forces out of their districts and shelled government neighbourhoods, wounding several people, according to state media.

Diplomatic efforts in New York have failed to salvage a Syria cease-fire that lasted nearly a week, before giving way to what residents and activists say is a new level of violence. The bombing, which began in earnest late Wednesday, has been unprecedented, targeting residential areas, infrastructure and civil defencecentres.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city and one-time commercial centre, has been contested since July 2012, but in recent weeks its eastern rebel-held neighbourhoods have been under siege by government forces and their allies. During the cease-fire, aid convoys remained stuck on the Turkish border unable to reach rebel-held parts of the city where some 250,000 people live, even though aid delivery was part of the U.S.-Russia truce agreement.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 civilians, including three children, were killed in dozens of raids that began overnight. A member of the city's forensic team, Mohammed Abu Jaafar, said he had documented 54 deaths since late Thursday, including many women and children.

A photograph circulating on social media showed the bodies of a woman and her two children who were killed in one of the airstrikes on Aleppo. The three were shown lying in bed, their bloodied bodies covered in dust and debris as a rescue worker crouched next to them. The woman held a bloodied infant; lying next to her was the body of a young boy, his blue shirt covered in blood.

The Observatory said dozens of people were wounded and an unknown number remained buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed in the airstrikes that began in the early hours Thursday. A young girl was pulled out alive from a collapsed building in the city's Bab al-Nairab neighbourhood early Friday, according to Ibrahim Alhaj, a rescue worker with the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets.

A video posted online by several Syrian social media sites showed the girl's rescue. In other footage a weeks-old infant girl was shown being pulled from under the rubble of an apartment building.

Dozens more civilians were killed in other parts of Aleppo province, including at least 15 in the village of Bushqateen, three in Kfar Hamra and 11 in Al-Bab, a stronghold of the Islamic State group, according to forensic team member Abu Jaafar and the Observatory.

The pressure on rebel-held parts of the city is the most serious in years now that all areas are surrounded by government forces and their allies, including Iraqi fighters and militants from Lebanon's Hezbollah group.
Photo: Randy Millis

Up to four vehicles were involved in a crash that gummed up Springfield Road Friday afternoon.

Emergency crews helped clear the vehicles off the wet roads, on Springfield near Dayton Street.

There's no word on injuries.
U.S. Rep. John Katko will return thousands of dollars of campaign contributions he received from COR Development executives after two of the company's top officials were among nine charged Thursday in a federal corruption case.

Katko, R-Camillus, has received $10,000 from COR Development's Steven Aiello and Joseph Gerardi dating back to 2014, when he first ran for Congress. Aiello gave him $6,000 and Gerardi donated $4,000, according to Federal Election Commission records.

A spokeswoman for Katko's campaign said the funds will be returned and the refunds will be reflected in the next campaign finance filing, which will be released in mid-October.

Katko is a former federal prosecutor. He was an assistant U.S. attorney in central New York prior to running for Congress.

Aiello and Joseph Gerardi, COR Development's general counsel, are accused of paying approximately $35,000 in bribes to Joseph Percoco, who was serving as a top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In return, Percoco allegedly assisted COR reverse a decision by Empire State Development that would've required the firm to enter into a labor peace agreement.

Authorities say Percoco also pushed for the release of more than $14 million in funds awarded to COR for two major projects in central New York. The payments from the state were delayed until Percoco intervened, the complaint states.

The U.S. Attorney's office also says Percoco secured a "substantial pay raise" for Aiello's son, who worked in Cuomo's administration.

Aiello and Gerardi denied making payments to Percoco. Federal prosecutors hit them with an additional charge of making false statements to authorities. The complaint accuses the developers of using a lobbyist, Todd Howe, to funnel the money to Percoco.

The two COR Development officials are also facing charges related to their alleged roles in a bid rigging scheme. The U.S. Attorney's office said request for proposals issued for certain projects were designed to make the company the only qualified bidder.

Aiello and Gerardi have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, two counts of paying bribes and gratuities, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements to federal officers. If convicted on each count, they could face up to 20 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, whose office is prosecuting the case, said in a statement that "companies got rich and the public got bamboozled."

"Today's charges shine a light on yet another sordid side of the show-me-the-money culture that has so plagued Albany," he said.
Photo: National Gallery of Canada Untitled, Annie Pootoogook, 2004

An award winning Inuit artist has been identified as the woman who was found dead earlier this week in the Rideau River in Ottawa.

Police say the body of Annie Pootoogook, 46, of Ottawa was discovered on Monday, but don't suspect foul play.

Jason St-Laurent of Ottawa's SAW Gallery, where some of Pootoogook's works are on exhibition, said it has been confirmed that her body was found in the river.

Pootoogook won the 2006 Sobey Art Foundation Award, an annual prize given for contemporary Canadian art, for her pen and coloured pencil drawings representing facets of Inuit life.

The prize is given to an artist who has exhibited a public or commercial art gallery within 18 months of being nominated.

Pootoogook was born in Cape Dorset, on Dorset Island, near the southwestern tip of Baffin Island and came from a family of artists.

Her work has been featured at various exhibitions since 2002.

Nunavut Premier Peter Taptuna is offering his condolences to Pootoogook's family Friday afternoon on Twitter.

And Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo tweeted that Canada has "lost great artist&greatwoman."

Police are asking anyone who has information about Pootoogook's whereabouts in the days before her death to contact investigators.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
Every Friday, The Citizen features a pet available for adoption from the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York.

This week, we spotlight Gina.

Q. Who is your best friend?

A. Let me put it this way. I know who isn't my best friend. That would be the person who put that silly dress and hat on me and took my picture. Not funny! But I am kind of cute, aren't I?

Q. What has been your worst experience?

A. Imagine having to sit in a 6-by-6 pen on a 95-degree day with no water, no shade, no iPad to play with. That describes my worst experience. Enough said.

Q. If you could have a job, what would that be?

A. I would like to be hired on as someone's princess (without the dress, thank you) and have lots of toys, kids to play with me and, most importantly, someone to love me. That's my ideal job.

Q. If you could visit any place in the world, where would that be?

A. You know, I have had a lot of things to worry about over the span of my 8 months of life, so I haven't really had time to think about travelling. I think I will let my new family figure that out for me.

Q. If you could meet someone famous, who would that be?

A. Let me tell you about Lex. He was the first active-duty, working military dog to be granted early retirement in order to be adopted. While working in Fallujah, Iraq with U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dustin J. Lee, Lex was wounded in an attack that killed his handler. According to reports, despite Lex's own injuries, he refused to leave the side of Cpl. Lee, and had to be dragged away to be treated by medics. As far as we canines are concerned, Lex is very famous and a hero, and we would all love to meet him.

Q. Do you have an interesting fact to share?

A. I do! Did you know that in 1960s San Francisco, there were two stray dogs who were best friends and they wandered all over the city together. Their travels and exploits were documented by the local newspapers, they were exempt from being picked up by dog catchers and they became celebrities. San Francisco is still a great city for dogs and cats  and this is a fact!

Q. Do you have any advice for our good Citizen readers?

A. I do! While the calendar says fall, the temperatures and humidity are still very high. And they are way too high to leave your canine friend in your car while you run even a short errand. Please, good Citizen readers, your pup will be much happier and safer in the cool confines of your house. Thank you and love, Gina and friends.
With its latest exhibit, the Cayuga Museum is revamping one of its past shows about Native American art and culture.

"A Living Legacy: Arts of the Haudenosaunee" explores the heritage of those who identify with the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy through crafts, wood carvings, bead formations and other artwork.

A similar exhibit was showcased by the museum in 2014. The 2016 version, however, features all new art, with not a single piece used in the past display, said Executive Director Eileen McHugh.

The show, which opened last week, was organized after the museum called for submissions of artwork from individuals who identify as Haudenosaunee, McHugh said.

The exhibit includes handmade moccasins, pottery, raised beads and a portrait of pebbles stylized into shapes. Eighteen artists are featured, including sculptor Tom Huff, of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, Natasha Smoke, of the Mohawk Nation, and photographer Alex Hamer, of the Oneida Nation.

"Some people express their native heritage, while others you wouldn't know their heritage just from looking at their art pieces," McHugh said.

McHugh said "A Living Legacy" proved very popular in 2014  a factor in the decision to revisit the exhibit two years later.

New York state's fourth- and seventh-grade curricula, she said, are required to feature lessons on the Haudenosaunee culture. As a result, all of the schools within the Auburn Enlarged City School District  and some outside of it  toured the museum in 2014 to see the display.

Area schools are currently arranging visits to this year's iteration, McHugh said. Paired with the exhibit are several events at Theater Mack that dive deeper into Native American culture through more interactive means.

On Thursday, the museum hosted a lecture at Theater Mack with Freida Jacques, clan mother of the Onondaga Nation. Jacques  who has decades of leadership experience, according to the museum  was scheduled to discuss the Haudenosaunee culture and its history.

More events are scheduled for October.

Five guided art seminars are scheduled for an art vendor day on Oct. 1 at Theater Mack. McHugh said a series of different classes will be held where a handful of the exhibit's artists will lead participants through the process of making different items, such as earrings and animal carvings.

The seminars will be led by members of the Native Roots Artists Guild, with scheduled representatives from the Seneca and Mohawk nations.

Then, on Oct. 4, Theater Mack will host a showing of the Oneida Nation documentary "Lacrosse Stick Maker," which follows the experiences of the last Oneida stick maker, McHugh said.

"It's a mix of the way they express themselves in art, but all of the artists identify as Haudenosaunee," McHugh said about the exhibit's artists.
Discussion

The first identified occurrence of isolated local mosquito-borne transmission and the first identified outbreak of mosquito-borne Zika virus infection in the continental United States occurred in Florida in Miami-Dade and Broward counties during JuneAugust, 2016. After identification of two cases linked geographically by places of employment, enhanced passive and active case finding identified a cluster of 29 infections with illness onset during June 30August 5. Multiple cases were identified in residents of the affected area; however, the investigation highlighted the potential risk for workplace mosquito exposure. Workplaces A, B, and C all had significant open-air areas where employees worked or took breaks and which were in close proximity to identified larval development sites. Health departments should collect information on occupation, industry, and workplace as part of ongoing Zika case investigations. Including the systematic collection of this information as part of surveillance might facilitate identifying future workplace-associated outbreaks.

Aggressive mosquito control efforts, including aerial adulticiding and larviciding, most likely contributed to a decrease in Zika virus transmission; no new cases in this area were identified with symptom onset more than 2 weeks after the first aerial adulticide and larvicide applications. The affected community also played a role in preventing new infections when residents and businesses began observing Drain and Cover prevention measures. Although the outbreak continued for more than 1 month, it remained limited to a small geographic area, as has been the case in previous arbovirus outbreaks in Florida (6).

Despite intensive investigation, no evidence of further spread was identified within the households or neighborhoods of two unrelated locally transmitted cases. Epidemiologic investigations of outbreaks of dengue, a related flavivirus spread by the same vectors, suggest that the wide use of air conditioning and low population densities limit spread of viruses transmitted by Ae. aegypti, a mosquito that bites indoors and outdoors and has a limited flight range (7); however, other factors might play a role in limited spread. Open doors and windows were observed at the homes of both Patients A and B, but air conditioning appeared functional in neighboring houses, and population density thresholds for flavivirus transmission have not been determined.

Currently, the Food and Drug Administrations Emergency Use Authorization recommends rRT-PCR testing of urine and serum. However, many assessments of ongoing community transmission in these investigations included collection of urine specimens only for rRT-PCR testing. This approach had several advantages. For example, a positive PCR test provides a definitive diagnosis of Zika virus infection, no phlebotomist and fewer laboratory supplies are required (reducing costs and required skills for investigations), and willingness of survey respondents to provide a single, noninvasive specimen might have enhanced participation. In addition, detection of Zika virus RNA has been documented with a higher frequency and for a longer duration in urine than in serum (8). However, a disadvantage of only collecting urine is that persons with earlier exposures might no longer have viral RNA present in their urine, and without serologic confirmation, a diagnosis of Zika virus infection could be missed.

Control of Ae. aegypti during outbreaks is hampered by factors including a large number of cryptic larval development sites in urban environments, the possibility that truck-based spraying might not reach backyards or areas distant from roads, and the presence of adult mosquitoes indoors. In this affected area, high numbers of Ae. aegypti adults persisted despite aggressive efforts at eliminating larval development sites and truck-based and backpack spraying with adulticides. In contrast, mosquito counts decreased >10 fold following two aerial applications of naled at 3-day intervals; however, a sustained reduction was maintained only in the area sprayed aerially with both naled and Bti. Substantial reductions in mosquito counts coincided with apparent cessation of the outbreak.

Aerial insecticide applications have the potential to treat large areas rapidly and more uniformly; however, data on the efficacy of controlling Ae. aegypti populations by aerial spraying with modern ultralow volume spray technologies that can precisely control droplet size are limited. Less than one ounce of naled per acre is used for aerial spraying, which might explain the absence of observed negative health effects during and after aerial spraying. This finding is consistent with previous reports showing no difference in naled metabolites in urine before and after spraying, suggesting that residents in spray zones have negligible insecticide exposure (9,10).

The findings in this report are subject to at least four limitations. First, the number of persons infected with Zika virus likely was higher than reported. Most persons identified with Zika virus infection did not seek medical care; several were asymptomatic and were only identified by investigations of workplaces and neighborhood surveys. Second, the neighborhood surveys in the outbreak area were a convenience sample selected to detect ongoing transmission, and thus, the proportions of persons identified with recent infection could not be extrapolated to produce communitywide estimates of infection incidence. No other similar investigations exist for comparison of findings. Third, some persons infected earlier in the course of the outbreak might not have had Zika virus RNA still present in urine, resulting in an underestimation of the number of infected persons among those surveyed. Finally, the threshold reduction of Ae. aegypti populations needed to interrupt Zika virus transmission in South Florida is unknown and likely would vary by location and environment. Thus, although the combination of aerially applied naled and Bti along with source reduction and ground-based applications of larvicide and adulticides reduced Ae. aegypti populations to low levels, it cannot be concluded definitively that these reductions were responsible for ending the outbreak.

Local and state health departments serving communities with a competent Zika virus vector should continue active monitoring for local virus transmission. To reduce risk for local transmission within the continental United States, persons returning from areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission should use insect repellent routinely for 3 weeks after return to prevent human-to-mosquito-to-human transmission and should use condoms to prevent sexual transmission. All residents, regardless of travel history, and all business establishments should empty or drain standing water around their homes and businesses. Clinicians who suspect Zika virus disease in patients who reside in or have recently returned from areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission should consider testing for Zika virus and promptly report cases to public health officials. Clinicians in areas where the vector is found might consider testing persons with compatible illness even in the absence of travel.
The driver and three students were treated for injuries Friday after a school bus went off the road and into a ditch on Route 90 near Laraway Road in Montezuma.

The Port Byron Central School District bus went off the road at about 3:15 p.m. Emergency radio transmissions indicated that the bus driver may have suffered from a medical problem before the accident. There were no reports of serious injuries among the students on the bus, but three students, in addition to the driver, were taken from the scene by ambulance.

Port Byron superintendent Neil O'Brien said shortly after 5 p.m. that all of the students had been released from the hospital.

O'Brien said the school district "would like to thank the state police and first responders who did such a wonderful job taking care of the students and driver."

Auburn-based state police said that the investigation into the accident was ongoing.
Stephen Fedrizzi remembers the exact date  the stormy night of June 10, 2015  when Mathers Road washed out.

"There were quite a few car tires and tree branches and debris, but it was already too late once we got there," said Fedrizzi, the highway superintendent for the town of Venice. "The road washed out beyond what we could do."

Though drivers may have never noticed the 40-inch pipe underneath the road, keeping water flowing through, its importance became apparent to everyone that next day. Fedrizzi said one residence that was covered by the Long Hill Fire Company was now miles out of the way, and a Moravia school teacher could no longer shoot down Route 38 to get to work.

Fedrizzi worked on a game plan to get the culvert fixed and the road back up and running, but the cost of repairs was daunting  $300,000.

"The town doesn't have that kind of money, and we were wondering how we were going to do it," he said.

That's when the Cayuga County Soil and Water District became involved. Executive Director Doug Kierst laughed when he recalls first seeing the damage done to the road and culvert.

"The bank itself," he said, "the erosion, was over 20 feet where it dropped off and eroded from the bank. It was another 20 feet wide, so it was a significant hole more or less in the ravine that we had to worry about stabilizing. So when you first walk up to a problem like that, you go, 'Oof. Where do we begin? How do you start building a bank almost vertically in a steep ravine where you can't get equipment?'"

Kierst and his team, who have worked on stabilization projects before, used grant funds and called in engineers and product experts for the rebuild. After the planning and permitting processes were finished, work on Mathers Road began in July this year.

In about a month and at less than one-third of the original projected cost, the district and the town highway department worked together to install crushed stone mats and rocks, as well as a larger 6-foot pipe. They finished off by using concrete to grout everything together.

By Aug. 23, Fedrizzi said he called fire control to say the road was back open.

The finishing of the project comes just before the Cayuga County Legislature passed a resolution at its Planning Committee meeting on Sept. 14, encouraging local municipalities to utilize the district for projects. Chairman of the Legislature Keith Batman had said at that meeting that towns and villages did not need to make a call for bids should they work directly with the district.

The resolution does not make working with the district mandatory. Its purpose, Batman had said, is to encourage others to work with the district so the county could potentially cut back on its budget contributions.

"Cayuga County has a serious revenue expense problem," Batman said at the meeting. "Soil and Water Conservation District is a significant part of our budget. We have a significant vested interest in making certain that they continue in full strength. One of the things we can do is to say to ourselves and to other municipalities, 'This is an organization that's a non-for-profit organization. It's appropriately licensed and able to do this work. Look to them.' That's all we're saying."

So far the resolution has unanimously passed through the Planning Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.

Fedrizzi said his experience working with the district helped keep the town's costs down. Collaborating with the district's team also made the project run smoothly and efficiently, he said.

"It's a good example of the collaboration that does go on between the county and municipalities to get projects done, and how working together you can actually save some money," Kierst said. "We encourage everybody from Lake Ontario down to Locke and Genoa to work with us."
Automakers already struggling with intense competition in the United States and many other regions of the world have long worried about their prospects after China and India begin building large numbers of ultra-cheap cars.

But Chinese carmakers have experienced numerous setbacks to their global ambitions, and a new study of the Indian auto industry reveals more obstacles than many outsiders expected.

The study, released yesterday by I.B.M. and the Transportation Research Institute of the University of Michigan, notes that Indian automakers are plagued by shortages of skilled workers, inferior product quality and inadequate highway infrastructure, among other challenges.

Its authors, who interviewed 30 high-level executives and automotive experts in India, are confident that the industry will surmount the impediments to make India one of the worlds top 10 vehicle-producing countries by 2015. But they suggest that the Indian car market remains in a fairly primitive stage of development.

Roads are the big problem, said Allan Henderson, senior managing consultant at the I.B.M. Institute for Business Value. The infrastructure needs to be improved more than you might think. Theres a number of problems, but theyre aware of them and they know what it takes to overcome them.

Sales of passenger cars in India have more than doubled since 2002, to 1.4 million from 675,116, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, which represents 38 makers of vehicles and engines. Passenger car exports have nearly quadrupled in the period but still were less than 200,000 in the last 12 months.

Future growth could be limited, however, by too few engineers and skilled trades workers. Although India is known as a home of plentiful low-cost labor, many workers do not have the qualifications that automakers there desire.

It was almost unanimous amongst the interviewees that this is a challenge they need to work on, said Bruce M. Belzowski, senior research associate in the Transportation Research Institutes automotive analysis division. We were under the impression, as most Westerners are, that India is an almost unlimited source of labor.

Even if carmakers are able to increase production, the study found that many consumers do not want to buy the products because roads are in poor shape and congested. Motorcycles and other two-wheelers are the most popular form of transportation, outselling four-wheeled vehicles four to one.

Exporting is troublesome as well. Indian automakers have difficulty understanding foreign consumers, developing a range of models, managing global supply chain logistics and incorporating advanced technology, the study concluded. Additionally, Indian ports would need significant upgrades to handle high volumes of vehicles.

Theyre not ready for full-scale exporting, Mr. Belzowski said.

The problems that Indian automakers are facing will not halt the industrys growth, but they will take time and considerable resources to resolve, Mr. Henderson said.

Ultimately, he said, it doesnt look like theres really anything that should stop the Indians from being major global players.

They fully expect to be a powerhouse on the world stage.

The countrys automakers do have several important factors working in their favor: The Indian government is solidly behind their efforts, even drafting an aggressive mission plan for the industry, and Indian consumers generally want to buy vehicles made in their own country to support the economy. (In contrast, Detroits automakers often complain that they get little support from the United States government or from American consumers.)

As a result, executives interviewed for the study projected domestic sales to double, to 2.8 million by 2010 and reach 4.2 million by 2015. Even then, just a small fraction of the nations more than 1.1 billion people will own cars.


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Luxury hotels in the historic center for a Catholic family. Only luxury hotels can provide a paradisiacal vacation for a big Catholic family. A high-level vacation for families, children and not only. The gorgeous views, divine service, and the best location are all luxury hotels. Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and more. Everyone will find their place in this corner of paradise.

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Breckenridge, CO, United States

In Breckenridge, Colorado, there are plenty of places to visit, whether you're a nature lover or thrill seeker. For nature lovers, the Blue River runs right through town and there are plenty of trails to explore. If you're looking for a thrill, Breckenridge is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. There's also plenty of shopping and dining options in town, so you'll never run out of things to do.

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Savannah, GA, United States

Savannah, Georgia is a beautiful city with lots of places to visit, including Forsyth Park, River Street, and the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. Another place to visit is the Savannah History Museum, which is jam-packed with interesting exhibits on the history of the city.

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Naples, FL, United States

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Louisville, KY, United States

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Galveston, TX, United States

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Columbus, GA, United States

Columbus is a charming small town in Georgia that is worth a visit. There are several places to visit in Columbus, including the Riverwalk, the Chattahoochee River, the National Infantry Museum, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. The Riverwalk is a beautiful walkway along the Chattahoochee River that is perfect for a relaxing stroll or a bike ride. The Chattahoochee River is a great place to go fishing, swimming, or kayaking. The National Infantry Museum is a museum dedicated to the infantry of the United States Army. It is a must-see for history buffs. The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a museum dedicated to space science. It is perfect for kids and adults alike.

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Anaheim, CA, United States

Anaheim, California is home to both Disneyland and California Adventure Park. The parks are just a short walk away from each other, and make for a great day of exploration. Anaheim is also home to the Anaheim Angels and the Anaheim Ducks, so there's always a game to catch. If you're looking for something a little more low-key, Anaheim has a great shopping district and a variety of restaurants to choose from.

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Santa Cruz, CA, United States

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Eugene, OR, United States

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Branson, MO, United States

There's plenty to see and do in Branson, Missouri, from state parks and amusement parks to theaters and shopping. Here are some of the most popular places to visit: Silver Dollar City is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. is a theme park with rides, shows, and craftsmen demonstrations. The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." puts on a variety of shows, including "The Legend of the Shepherd of the Hills" and "The Catfish Fry." Table Rock State Park has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. has fishing, swimming, and hiking trails, as well as a nature center. The Titanic Museum features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. features a half-sized replica of the ship, along with exhibits about the history of the Titanic. Branson Landing is a shopping and entertainment complex on the waterfront. There's something for everyone in Branson, Missouri  come visit and see for yourself!.

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Panama City Beach, FL, United States

The white sand beaches and emerald waters of Panama City Beach, Florida, are a popular tourist destination. The city is home to numerous hotels, resorts, and restaurants, as well as amusement and water parks. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, kayaking, and surfing.

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Monterey, CA, United States

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Norfolk, VA, United States

Norfolk, Virginia is a great place to visit for its historical places and military bases. Some places to visit in Norfolk are the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk Botanical Garden, and the Norfolk Naval Station.

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Palm Springs, CA, United States

Palm Springs is a vibrant city located in the Coachella Valley and is known for its year-round sunshine, resort atmosphere and Mid-Century Modern architecture. Top places to visit include the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Palm Springs Art Museum, Indian Canyons and Moorten Botanical Garden. For a truly unique experience, be sure to check out the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale  the worlds largest vintage furniture and design event.

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Rochester, NY, United States

Rochester is a city in western New York State and is the county seat of Monroe County. Rochester is known for its annual festivals, including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, the Rochester Fringe Festival, and the Holiday Folk Fair International. Places to visit in Rochester include the George Eastman Museum, the Strong National Museum of Play, the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and the Seneca Park Zoo.

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Pigeon Forge, TN, United States

Visit the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge for a unique experience. This museum is dedicated to the Titanic, one of the most infamous ships in history. Tour the ship and learn about the passengers and crew who were on board. You can even see the actual artifacts recovered from the shipwreck. If you're looking for a little more excitement, head to Dollywood. This amusement park is home to roller coasters, a water park, and plenty of other rides and attractions. Plus, the park is themed around the life and music of Dolly Parton. No trip to Pigeon Forge is complete without a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains offer a variety of activities, including hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. Plus, the natural beauty of the area is simply breathtaking.

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Jacksonville, FL, United States

Jacksonville is less than an hour's drive from the beaches of Amelia Island and St. Augustine, and a little more than two hours from Orlando. The city has a lot to offer visitors, including a riverwalk, museums, and a vibrant arts scene. Jacksonville is also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team.

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Minsk, Belarus

Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a city that has something for everyone. If you're looking for a little history, Minsk has plenty of it, with churches and monuments dating back to the 12th century. If you're looking for a lively nightlife, Minsk has that, too, with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants. And if you're looking for a little nature, Minsk has parks and gardens to enjoy. Here are just a few of the places you can visit in Minsk: The Holy Spirit Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Minsk, is a must-visit for history buffs. The National Library of Belarus is a huge library with more than 18 million items in its collection. The Opera and Ballet Theatre is a beautiful building that hosts performances of both opera and ballet. The Victory Park is a large park with a war memorial, a children's playground, and a lake. And for a little bit of nature in the heart of the city, the Botanical Garden is a great place to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Minsk.

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Jaipur, India

Jaipur is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. It is the capital of the state of Rajasthan and is known for its palaces, forts and temples. Some of the places to visit in Jaipur include the Amber Fort, the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar Observatory and the Hawa Mahal. Jaipur is also a great place to shop for traditional Indian handicrafts.

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Chicago, IL, United States

Chicago is a city full of culture and history. There are plenty of places to visit, such as the Willis Tower, Buckingham Fountain, and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Chicago is also home to many restaurants and bars, so there is something for everyone.

Chicago Luxury Hotels

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is a beautiful city located on the north island of New Zealand. There are many places to visit in Auckland, including the Sky Tower, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Auckland Domain. The beaches in Auckland are also worth visiting, especially Karekare and Piha. Auckland is a great place to visit, and I highly recommend it!.

Auckland Luxury Hotels

Auckland Luxury Villas

Amsterdam, Netherlands

If you're looking for a city that's got it all, Amsterdam should be your go-to destination. From the city's lively and vibrant nightlife to its charming and quiet neighborhoods, Amsterdam has something for everyone. Be sure to check out the Anne Frank Huis, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum, as these are some of the most popular attractions in the city. And if you're looking for a little bit of nature, be sure to take a walk or bike ride through Amsterdam's many parks.

Amsterdam Luxury Hotels

Berlin, Germany

There are so many great places to visit in Berlin that it can be hard to know where to start. From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the fascinating Reichstag Building, there's something for everyone in this vibrant city. If you're looking for a bit of history, make sure to check out the Berlin Wall Memorial or the DDR Museum. And for those looking for a bit more fun, there's always the Alexanderplatz Christmas Market or the Zoologischer Garten. No matter what your interests, Berlin is a city you won't want to miss.

Berlin Luxury Hotels

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is a city of contrasts with its gleaming temples and skyscrapers, chaotic markets and tranquil canals. While it's a popular tourist destination, Bangkok is a city that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages. Some of the top places to visit in Bangkok include the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, the floating markets and the Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Bangkok Luxury Hotels

Bangkok Luxury Resorts

Bangkok Luxury Villas

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges is a city in Belgium that is worth visiting. It is full of medieval charm and there are a lot of things to see and do. Some of the places to visit include the Markt, the Belfry, and the Begijnhof.

Bruges Luxury Hotels

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels is a city in Belgium that is best known for its chocolate, waffles, and beer. But there is much more to see and do in Brussels than just indulge in the local cuisine. There are a number of interesting historical landmarks to visit, such as the Grand Place and the Atomium, as well as a variety of parks and gardens. And, of course, Brussels is also a great city to explore on foot.

Brussels Luxury Hotels

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary's capital, is a city of thermal baths and medival, baroque and art nouveau architecture. Crowded with tourists, the city is bisected by the Danube River into the hilly Buda and the more developed and flat Pest. Among the main places of interest are the neo-Gothic Parliament, the Chain Bridge linking Buda and Pest, the Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda bank, and the State Opera House and Heroes' Square on the Pest side.

Budapest Luxury Hotels

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Home to some of the best beaches in Mexico, Playa del Carmen is a favorite tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. With its lively nightlife, gorgeous coastline and ample shopping opportunities, there's something for everyone in this tropical paradise. Don't miss the opportunity to visit some of the area's most popular attractions, such as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum and Coba, or the eco-friendly Turtle Beach. With its friendly people, delicious food and stunning scenery, Playa del Carmen is a place you'll never want to leave.

Playa del Carmen Luxury Hotels

Playa del Carmen Luxury Resorts

Playa del Carmen Luxury Villas

Denver, CO, United States

Denver is a great city for visitors. There are so many places to see and things to do. Some of the top places to visit include the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and the Colorado State Capitol. There are also plenty of great restaurants and shops to explore. Denver is definitely a city worth visiting!.

Denver Luxury Hotels

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is a city located in Ireland. It's a city full of culture, with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist spots are the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and the Dublin Castle. There are also plenty of pubs and restaurants to discover.

Dublin Luxury Hotels

Dusseldorf, Germany

Dusseldorf, Germany is a city with many different places to visit. The city has a mix of old and new buildings, and a variety of activities to do. The best places to visit in Dusseldorf are the Konigsallee, the Rhine Tower, and the Oktoberfest. The Konigsallee is an open-air shopping mall that has many high-end stores. The Rhine Tower is the tallest building in the city and offers great views of Dusseldorf. The Oktoberfest is a week-long festival that celebrates German culture and food.

Dusseldorf Luxury Hotels

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Edinburgh, Scotland is a beautiful city to visit. The architecture is very old and unique, and there are plenty of historical places to visit, like Edinburgh Castle. There are also plenty of parks and gardens, and lots of shops and restaurants.

Edinburgh Luxury Hotels

Rome, Italy

Rome is a city rich in history and filled with beautiful places to visit. Make sure to stop by the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Also be sure to visit St. Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel while in Rome. If youre looking for a little more nature in your trip, head to the Villa Borghese gardens or the Janiculum Hill for some wonderful views of the city. And of course, no trip to Rome is complete without a gelato!.

Rome Luxury Hotels

Rome Luxury Villas

New York, NY, United States

There are many amazing places to visit in New York State. Some of my favorites are the Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Finger Lakes. If you're looking for a city break, New York City is definitely worth a visit. There's endless things to see and do, from touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to visiting world-famous museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. No matter what your interests are, you'll be able to find something to enjoy in New York State.

New York Luxury Hotels

New York Luxury Villas

London, United Kingdom

London is a city rich in history and full of amazing places to visit. Some of my favorite places are Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London. There is so much to see and do in London, you could spend weeks here and never run out of things to do. If you're looking for a city full of culture and history, London is the place for you.

London Luxury Hotels

London Luxury Cottages

Madrid, Spain

Madrid is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world. From the Royal Palace to the Prado Museum, theres plenty to see and do in Madrid. If youre looking for a little bit of nature, Madrid has plenty of parks, like the Buen Retiro Park, to relax in. And dont forget to try some of the delicious tapas and wine while youre in town.

Madrid Luxury Hotels

Memphis, TN, United States

The birthplace of rock 'n' roll, Memphis is a city rich in history and culture. From Graceland to Beale Street, there are plenty of places to visit in Memphis. Be sure to check out Sun Studio, where rock 'n' roll was born, and the National Civil Rights Museum, which tells the story of the African-American civil rights movement. Memphis is also home to some amazing food, so be sure to try some of the city's famous barbecue and soul food.

Memphis Luxury Hotels

Miami Beach, FL, United States

There is much to explore in Miami Beach, from the famous Art Deco district to the vast beaches and crystal-clear waters. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, while history buffs can explore the ancient burial mounds at Miami Beach. Shoppers and foodies will find plenty to keep them busy, with vibrant neighborhoods like Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive offering unique boutiques and award-winning restaurants. And of course, no trip to Miami Beach is complete without a visit to world-famous South Beach.

Miami Beach Luxury Hotels

Miami Beach Luxury Resorts

New Orleans, LA, United States

You can't visit New Orleans without trying some of the local food. Beignets, Po' Boys, and gumbo are just a few of the must-try dishes. While you're in town, be sure to check out the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and St. Louis Cathedral. If you're looking for some nightlife, Bourbon Street is the place to be. And, of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Mardi Gras!.

New Orleans Luxury Hotels

Milan, Italy

Milan is a city located in the Lombardy region of Italy. It is a popular tourist destination because of its historical and artistic heritage. Some of the places you should visit while in Milan are the Duomo, La Scala, and Castello Sforzesco.

Milan Luxury Hotels

Naples, Italy

Naples is one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Italy. There are countless places to visit, such as the Royal Palace, the Museum of San Martino, and the Church of Gesu Nuovo. Naples is also home to excellent shopping and dining options. Be sure to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the city's many cafes and take a stroll through the picturesque streets.

Naples Luxury Hotels

Paris, France

Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It's home to iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, as well as a thriving nightlife and restaurant scene. If you're looking to explore all that Paris has to offer, here are some of the top places to visit: The Eiffel Tower: This iconic landmark is a must-see in Paris. Climb to the top for stunning views of the city, or take a ride on the elevator to the bottom for a closer look at the structure. The Louvre Museum: This world-famous museum is home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, including the Mona Lisa. The Notre Dame Cathedral: This beautiful cathedral is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris. Make sure to climb to the top for some amazing views of the city. The Champs-Elysees: This famous avenue is a popular destination for shopping and dining. Be sure to wander down the street and take in all the sights and sounds. The Arc de Triomphe: This towering arch is another iconic landmark in Paris. Climb to the top for some amazing views of the city.

Paris Luxury Hotels

Paris Luxury Villas

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague is a city rich in history and culture. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, and the Old Town Square. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy, and the nightlife is vibrant. Prague is a truly unique city and a must-visit for anyone traveling to the Czech Republic.

Prague Luxury Hotels

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana is known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. This paradise is a favorite destination for travelers looking for a Caribbean getaway. Punta Cana is home to a wide variety of resorts and activities, from enjoying the sand and surf to golfing, spas, and shopping. Nature lovers can also explore the areas jungles, caves, and waterfalls.

Punta Cana Luxury Hotels

Punta Cana Luxury Resorts

Punta Cana Luxury Villas

Marbella, Spain

If you're looking for an idyllic and luxurious Spanish escape, look no further than Marbella. Located on the country's Costa del Sol, Marbella is home to stunning beaches, top-notch resorts, world-class golfing, and much more. A visit to Marbella is the perfect way to experience all that Spain has to offer.

Marbella Luxury Hotels

Marbella Luxury Villas

Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakesh is a city in Morocco that is full of culture and history. There are several places to visit in Marrakesh, including the Palace of the Bahia, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, and the Saadian Tombs. The souks (markets) are also a must-see, where you can find everything from souvenirs to spices to traditional clothing. Be sure to enjoy a meal in one of the many restaurants or cafes in Marrakesh; the food is delicious and the atmosphere is always lively. Marrakesh is a wonderful city to explore and definitely worth a visit!.

Marrakesh Luxury Hotels

San Francisco, CA, United States

San Francisco is a popular tourist destination, and for good reason. There are plenty of things to see and do in this vibrant city. Here are some of the top places to visit: 1. Fisherman's Wharf: This neighborhood is home to a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as a popular pier where you can enjoy views of the bay. 2. The Golden Gate Bridge: This iconic bridge is a must-see for any visitor to San Francisco. 3. Alcatraz Island: This former federal prison is now a popular tourist attraction. It's a must-see for fans of history and crime dramas. 4. Chinatown: This colorful neighborhood is home to some of the best food in San Francisco. Be sure to check out the Dragon Gate entrance. 5. The Mission District: This trendy neighborhood is home to hip restaurants, bars, and art galleries.

San Francisco Luxury Hotels

Moscow, Russia

Moscow, Russia is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the Kremlin, Red Square, and Saint Basil's Cathedral. Other great places to see include the Bolshoi Theatre, Gorky Park, and the Tretyakov Gallery. There are also many churches and other historical buildings to explore. Moscow is a lively city with a lot of culture and nightlife. There is something for everyone to enjoy in Moscow.

Moscow Luxury Hotels

Venice, Italy

Venice is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The city is built on a lagoon in northeast Italy and is known for its canals and gondolas. There are many places to visit in Venice, including the Grand Canal, St. Marks Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Venice is also home to many museums, including the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Venice Luxury Hotels

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria is a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Vienna, including the Hofburg Palace, the Ringstrasse, and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna is also home to some of the world's best shopping, including the Karntner Strasse and the Graben. Finally, no visit to Vienna is complete without experiencing the city's world-famous nightlife.

Vienna Luxury Hotels

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is a marvelous city located in the heart of Switzerland. It is a city that has something to offer for everyone. From amazing restaurants and beautiful architecture to exciting nightlife and gorgeous parks, Zurich has something for everyone. Some of the most popular places to visit in Zurich include the Bahnhofstrasse, which is the city's most famous shopping street, the Lindenhof, which is a beautiful park with amazing views of the city, and Grossmunster, which is a stunning Romanesque church. Zurich is also home to some of the best museums in the world, including the famed Museum of Art and the Swiss National Museum. With its mix of old-world charm and modern amenities, Zurich is a city that is definitely worth exploring.

Zurich Luxury Hotels

Acapulco, Mexico

If you're looking for a Mexican vacation spot with plenty of history and culture to explore, Acapulco is a great option. From the archeological wonders of the ancient city to the stunning coastal views, there's something for everyone in Acapulco. Plus, with its temperate climate, it's a great escape from colder winter weather.

Acapulco Luxury Hotels

Acapulco Luxury Resorts

Acapulco Luxury Villas

Nashville, TN, United States

One of the United States' most interesting places to visit is Nashville, Tennessee. There's plenty to see and do there, from the Grand Ole Opry to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Music is a big part of the city's history and culture, so be sure to catch a show while you're in town. Other popular attractions include the Ryman Auditorium, the Parthenon, and the Jack Daniel's Distillery. Nashville is also a great place to eat, with a wide variety of restaurants serving up everything from barbecue to Mexican food. So if you're looking for an exciting and diverse city to visit, be sure to add Nashville to your list.

Nashville Luxury Hotels

Nashville Luxury Villas

Atlanta, GA, United States

What's not to love about Atlanta? From the iconic Georgia Aquarium to the World of Coke, from the Fox Theatre to Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta offers a wealth of destinations for tourists. Sports fans will want to check out the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and history buffs will enjoy the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Braves fans can take a tour of SunTrust Park, and shoppers will enjoy the many boutiques and malls in the city. There's also a great restaurant scene in Atlanta, and music lovers will want to check out the many venues offering live music. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation spot or a place to explore on your own, Atlanta is a great choice!.

Atlanta Luxury Hotels

Miami, FL, United States

The Magic City is a top tourist destination for a reasonthere are endless things to do in Miami! From exploring the trendy neighborhoods and dazzling beaches to soaking up the Latin culture and nightlife, Miami is jam-packed with amazing places to visit. Here are a few of our favorites: 1. Wynwood Walls: This outdoor art exhibit is a must-see for any art lover. The colorful murals are awe-inspiring and definitely Instagram-worthy. 2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens: This estate is dripping with luxury and opulence, from the grandiose architecture to the expansive gardens. It's the perfect place for a day of relaxation. 3. South Beach: This world-famous beach is a must-visit for any sun-seeker. The crystal-clear water and soft sand make for the perfect day-long beach getaway. 4. Little Havana: Experience Cuban culture at its best in Little Havana. From delicious food to lively music and dance, there's something for everyone in this vibrant district. 5. Art Deco District: This district is home to Miami's most iconic architecture. Take a stroll down the charming streets and admire the colorful buildings that make Miami so unique.

Miami Luxury Hotels

Miami Luxury Villas

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is a must-see destination in Japan. There are endless places to explore in this city - temples, shrines, gardens, and more. The Shinjuku district is a great place to start, with its neon-lit streets and myriad shops and restaurants. For a taste of traditional Japan, visit the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa or the Imperial Palace. Nature lovers will enjoy the Hamarikyu Gardens or the Hama-rikyu Teien Garden. And for a unique experience, take a trip to Mount Fuji.

Tokyo Luxury Hotels

Tokyo Luxury Villas

Buenos Aires, Argentina

There are plenty of places to visit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some popular tourist destinations include the obelisk, the Casa Rosada, and the Puerto Madero district. Every barrio (neighborhood) has its own unique culture and flavor. San Telmo, La Boca, and Palermo are some of the most popular barrios. There are also many parks and plazas, such as Plaza de Mayo and Plaza de la Republica, that are worth checking out.

Buenos Aires Luxury Hotels

Hamburg, Germany

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany is Hamburg. From the lively and colorful harbor district to the grandiose City Hall, there is plenty to see and do in Hamburg. Some of the other popular places to visit include the Reeperbahn district with its pubs and nightlife, the Planten un Blomen botanical gardens, and the architecturally stunning Rathausmarkt square.

Hamburg Luxury Hotels

Lisbon, Portugal

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon is a city of fascinating contrasts. From its coastal location, visitors can enjoy stunning ocean views, while its hilly, narrow streets are home to a maze of charming traditional homes and lively nightlife. A city of 7 hills, Lisbon is a bustling metropolis with something for everyone. Here are some of the top places to visit: The Belem Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Lisbons most iconic landmarks. This 16th-century fortress and lighthouse is a must-see for visitors. The Alfama district, with its winding streets and tile-roofed homes, is the oldest district in Lisbon. This is the perfect place to get lost and explore the citys history. The Lisbon Zoo is a great place to enjoy a day out with the family, with over 2,000 animals from around the world. The Christ the King statue, located atop a hill in the suburb of Almada, offers impressive views of Lisbon and the river Tagus. The Lisbon Oceanarium, located in the Parque das Nacoes district, is home to more than 12,000 marine creatures and is one of the largest aquariums in Europe.

Lisbon Luxury Hotels

Lisbon Luxury Villas

Malaga, Spain

Malaga is an attractive seaside city in southern Spain with a long history. There are many places to visit in Malaga, including the Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Malaga Cathedral. Malaga is also home to a variety of museums, including the Picasso Museum. The city is well known for its beaches, and there are many delightful places to relax and enjoy the sun and the sea.

Malaga Luxury Hotels

Malaga Luxury Villas

Munich, Germany

When planning a vacation to Munich, Germany, be sure to include these top places to visit: The Marienplatz is a must-see square in the city center, featuring a beautiful Glockenspiel show and the Old and New Town Halls. The Englisher Garten, Europes largest city park, is a great place for a relaxing stroll or a picnic. OlympiaPark is home to the famous 1972 Olympic Stadium as well as a huge amusement park. The Frauenkirche is a stunning church in the old town with a Glockenspiel of its own. Beer lovers will want to visit the Hofbrauhaus, the worlds most famous beer hall. For a bit of history and culture, check out the LudwigMaximilians-University and the Deutsches Museum. There is so much to see and do in Munich  these are just a few highlights!.

Munich Luxury Hotels

Granada, Spain

Granada is a city in southern Spain that is known for its Moorish architecture and history. The city is home to the Alhambra, a palace and fortress that was constructed in the late 1300s. Visitors can also enjoy the citys many churches, including the Cathedral of Granada. Granada is also a convenient base for exploring the other cities and towns in Andalusia.

Granada Luxury Hotels

Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest is a city full of history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Palace of Parliament, which is the world's largest civilian building. Other places to visit include the old city center, which is full of charming streets and buildings, and the Botanical Garden, which is the largest botanical garden in Romania.

Bucharest Luxury Hotels

Bologna, Italy

Bologna, Italy is a beautiful city with plenty of places to visit. Some popular tourist destinations include the Piazza Maggiore, the Tower of Asinelli, and the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca. There are also plenty of museums and churches to explore, and the city is full of charming restaurants and cafes. Bologna is an excellent destination for a vacation, and there is something for everyone to enjoy in this amazing city.

Bologna Luxury Hotels

Porto, Portugal

Porto is a port city in Portugal that is well known for its wine. It's also a city with a long and rich history. There are many places to visit in Porto, including the old city center, the Dom Luis I Bridge, and the Clerigos Tower. Porto is also home to the famous Port wine caves, which are a must-visit for wine lovers.

Porto Luxury Hotels

Cologne, Germany

Cologne, located on the Rhine River in western Germany, is a city well worth visiting. The city has a long and rich history, dating back to the time of the Roman Empire. Some of the city's most popular tourist attractions include the Cologne Cathedral, Hohenzollern Bridge, and the RheinEnergieStadion. Additionally, Cologne is home to a wide variety of museums, shops, and restaurants. In fact, the city has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Germany. So, if you're looking for a great European city to visit, be sure to add Cologne to your list.

Cologne Luxury Hotels

Istanbul, Turkey

If you're looking for an exotic and affordable vacation destination, look no further than Istanbul, Turkey. Filled with historical places to visit and bargains to be found, Istanbul offers something for everyone. Be sure to visit the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque while you're there. Don't forget to bargain for the best prices when shopping in the bazaars, and enjoy some delicious Turkish cuisine while you're at it. Istanbul is sure to leave you with a lasting impression.

Istanbul Luxury Hotels

Istanbul Luxury Villas

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai is a fascinating and exotic city that offers visitors a mix of traditional Middle Eastern culture and modern, cosmopolitan life. There are plenty of places to visit in Dubai, from the towering skyscrapers of Downtown Dubai to the luxury shopping malls and luxurious hotels of the Palm Jumeirah. Don't miss a chance to experience an Arabian night out on an epic dhow cruise, or take a trip out into the Arabian Desert to see the stunning sand dunes.

Dubai Luxury Hotels

Dubai Luxury Resorts

Dubai Luxury Villas

Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp is a city located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital of the province of Antwerp and has a population of over half a million people. Antwerp is a popular tourist destination due to its many historical buildings, museums, and art galleries. Some of the most popular places to visit in Antwerp are the Cathedral of Our Lady, the City Hall, the Rubenshuis, and the Antwerp Zoo.

Antwerp Luxury Hotels

Lyon, France

Lyon is a beautiful city in the south of France that is full of culture and places to visit. Some of the most popular places to visit in Lyon are the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere, the Place Bellecour, and the Vieux Lyon. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere is a beautiful cathedral that is a must-see when visiting Lyon. The Place Bellecour is a large square in the heart of Lyon that is full of restaurants and cafes. The Vieux Lyon is a district in Lyon that is full of old buildings and is a great place to wander around and take in the sights.

Lyon Luxury Hotels

Athens, Greece

If you find yourself in Athens, there are definitely some spots you won't want to miss. The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Olympic Stadium are all essential stops, but there are plenty of others, too. If you're looking for a bit of history, the National Archaeological Museum is a must-see, while nature lovers will enjoy a visit to the botanical gardens. If you're looking to relax, take a walk along the beach in Glyfada or head to the Plaka district for a charming and picturesque setting. No matter what you're interested in, Athens has something for you.

Athens Luxury Hotels

Athens Luxury Villas

Helsinki, Finland

While in Helsinki, make sure to visit these popular tourist destinations: The Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral The Sibelius Monument Ateneum Art Museum Market Square Helsinki Zoo.

Helsinki Luxury Hotels

Vilnius, Lithuania

The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is a picturesque city with a rich history. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of charming churches, narrow streets, and pretty squares. There are also lots of museums and other places of interest to visit, including the Hill of Crosses, Gediminas Tower, and the Presidential Palace. Vilnius is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars to enjoy in the evening.

Vilnius Luxury Hotels

Reykjavik, Iceland

A city of remote beauty, Reykjavik is teeming with interesting places to visit. One of the worlds most northern capitals, Reykjavik offers stunning landscapes and a wealth of cultural experiences. From the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church to the popular Golden Circle tour, theres plenty to see and do in Reykjavik. Be sure to check out the citys lively nightlife scene, too  you wont be disappointed!.

Reykjavik Luxury Hotels

Glasgow, United Kingdom

Some of the most popular places to visit in Glasgow include the Gallery of Modern Art, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Riverside Museum, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. There are also many wonderful parks and gardens to explore, including the Botanic Gardens and Glasgow Green. For those interested in history and architecture, there are many fascinating old buildings to see, such as the Glasgow Cathedral and the University of Glasgow. And for those looking for a lively nightlife, Glasgow has no shortage of pubs, clubs, and restaurants.

Glasgow Luxury Hotels

Los Angeles, CA, United States

As the birthplace of Hollywood and home to some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, there's no shortage of places to visit in Los Angeles. Start by exploring the city's iconic neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills and Hollywood, then venture out to attractions like the Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach and Disneyland. And don't forget to savour the city's world-famous cultural scene, with its abundance of museums, theatres and restaurants.

Los Angeles Luxury Hotels

Los Angeles Luxury Villas

San Diego, CA, United States

San Diego is a city located in California and is a major tourist destination. One of the main reasons people visit the city is for its many beaches. Coronado Beach, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach are some of the most popular and are all within close proximity to the city center. Other attractions in San Diego include the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and the USS Midway Museum. Restaurants, bars, and shopping can be found throughout the city, and world-renowned museums, like the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, are also located in San Diego.

San Diego Luxury Hotels

San Diego Luxury Resorts

San Diego Luxury Villas

Washington, DC, United States

Washington, D.C. is a city full of history and places to visit. Some popular places to visit are the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, and the Smithsonian. D.C. is also home to a number of monuments and memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. There are also a number of museums in D.C., like the American History Museum and the National Air and Space Museum.

Washington Luxury Hotels

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. Aside from its beautiful beaches, there are plenty of places to visit and things to do in Cancun. Some of the most popular attractions include the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza, the eco-park Xcaret, and the nightclubs and bars in the resort district.

Cancun Luxury Hotels

Cancun Luxury Resorts

Cancun Luxury Villas

Virginia Beach, VA, United States

Virginia Beach is one of the top tourist destinations on the East Coast. From the Virginia Beach Boardwalk to the miles of sandy beaches, there's something for everyone to enjoy. There are also plenty of restaurants, shops, and other attractions to keep visitors busy. Some of the most popular places to visit in Virginia Beach include: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. : This aquarium is home to more than 20,000 animals, including sharks, dolphins, and rays. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk: This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. This 3.5-mile boardwalk is one of the most popular attractions in Virginia Beach. It features a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and amusements. First Landing State Park: This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. This park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as a beachfront area for swimming and sunbathing. Cape Henry Lighthouse: This lighthouse is one of the oldest in the country and offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. There are plenty of other things to do in Virginia Beach, including dolphin and whale watching tours, kayaking, and golfing. Whether you're looking for a fun family vacation or a romantic getaway, Virginia Beach is sure to please.

Virginia Beach Luxury Hotels

Virginia Beach Luxury Resorts

Beijing, China

If you're looking for an amazing cultural experience, be sure to add Beijing, China to your travel bucket list! With beautiful temples, charming hutongs (traditional alleyways), and a lively food scene, there's something for everyone in this bustling city. Plus, Beijing is home to some of the most iconic attractions in China, like the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City. So if you're looking for an unforgettable East Asian adventure, be sure to add Beijing to your list!.

Beijing Luxury Hotels

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is a metropolitan city that is home to over 10 million people. It is a city full of culture, history, and a vibrant nightlife. There are plenty of places to visit in Seoul, including the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and N Seoul Tower. The Jeongdongne district is a must-see for anyone interested in art and culture, and the Itaewon district is a great place to go for a night on the town.

Seoul Luxury Hotels

South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States

Known for its dramatic lake and mountain scenery, South Lake Tahoe offers visitors plenty of places to visit and things to do. Some of the most popular attractions include floating down the river on a tube, hiking the trails in the summer and skiing or snowboarding the slopes in the winter. The city also has a variety of restaurants and nightlife options, as well as casinos for those looking to try their luck.

South Lake Tahoe Luxury Hotels

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Daytona Beach, FL, United States

Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. It is approximately 40 miles northeast of Orlando, and 85 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The city is known as "The World's Most Famous Beach." Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida. The Daytona Beach area is a popular tourist destination. It is well known for its beaches, sports events, and motorsports. Daytona Beach was the birthplace of NASCAR and home to its first track, Daytona International Speedway. Dayton Beach also features a large number of tourist-oriented businesses, such as motels, restaurants, and bars.

Daytona Beach Luxury Hotels

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The coastline of Rio de Janeiro is breathtaking, and the views from Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain are unforgettable. Rio's world-famous beaches are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and the surf. The city's rich culture and history can be experienced in its many museums and in the lively nightlife. Rio is also a great place to shop for souvenirs.

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Jaco, Costa Rica

Jaco is a town on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It's about an hour drive from San Jose and is a popular spot for surfers, sunbathers, and tourists. There are a number of beaches in the area, as well as restaurants, bars, and hotels. If you're looking for a place to relax and enjoy the Costa Rican sun and beaches, Jaco is a great option.

Jaco Luxury Hotels

Oslo, Norway

Oslo, Norway is a city with plenty of places to visit. You can find the peace and tranquility of nature parks and green spaces, experience the city's vibrant nightlife, or take in the historical and cultural sights. Here are a few of the top places to visit in Oslo: The Royal Palace: Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Oslo's Royal Palace is the official residence of Norway's king and queen. The palace is open to the public year-round, and offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Vigeland Park: Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. Considered one of Oslo's most popular tourist destinations, Vigeland Park is home to over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. The park is a great place to spend a sunny day outdoors. The Maritime Museum: This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. This museum is home to a variety of exhibits on Norway's maritime history. Visitors can explore everything from Viking ships to modern submarines. The National Gallery: The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. The National Gallery is Norway's largest art museum, and home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from the country's most famous artists. Aker Brygge: Aker Brygge is a popular waterfront district in Oslo, home to a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. The area is a great place to people watch and enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord.

Oslo Luxury Hotels

Lima, Peru

If you're looking for a city that's bursting with culture and flavor, Lima, Peru is the place for you! This vibrant destination is home to some of the most amazing places to visit in all of South America. From ancient ruins to lush rainforests, there's something for everyone in Lima. Here are just a few of the must-see attractions in this amazing city: The Larco Museum is one of Lima's top tourist destinations. This incredible museum is home to one of the largest collections of pre-Columbian art in the world. The Historic Center of Lima is a must-see for any history lover. This vibrant area is home to some of the oldest architecture in Lima, including the iconic San Francisco Monastery. If you're looking for a little bit of jungle in the city, head to the Parque de la Reserva. This lush park is home to beautiful gardens, a zoo, and even a butterfly farm! No trip to Lima would be complete without a visit to Machu Picchu. This ancient Inca citadel is one of the most iconic sites in all of South America.

Lima Luxury Hotels

Ankara, Turkey

Ankara is the cultural and political center of Turkey. The city is home to many museums, including the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and is a popular destination for tourists. The Citadel, the Ataturk Mausoleum, and the War of Independence Museum are all popular tourist destinations in Ankara. The city is also home to a vibrant nightlife and is a popular destination for students.

Ankara Luxury Hotels

Birmingham, United Kingdom

There are plenty of great places to visit in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Some of the most popular places to go include the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Black Country Living Museum. These places are all great for tourists, as they offer a variety of attractions, including beautiful gardens, interesting art, and a recreation of an old-fashioned town. Additionally, there are plenty of other great places to visit in Birmingham, such as the Jewellery Quarter and the German Christmas Market.

Birmingham Luxury Hotels

York, United Kingdom

With a rich history that spans back over 1,000 years, York is a must-visit destination in the United Kingdom. Explore the city's medieval architecture and narrow cobblestone streets, or enjoy a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of cultural experiences, such as the York Minster cathedral, the Jorvik Viking Centre, and the National Railway Museum. There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy in York.

York Luxury Hotels

Inverness, United Kingdom

Inverness, Scotland is a must-see destination on any traveler's list. Filled with rolling green hills, historical sites, and plenty of outdoor activities, there's something for everyone in this charming town. Start by exploring the city center, which is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. Make sure to check out the Inverness Castle, which offers commanding views of the area, and the Inverness Cathedral, a beautiful example of medieval architecture. Outside of the city center, there are plenty of other attractions to explore. The Loch Ness Monster is said to make its home in the loch here, and visitors can take boat tours to hunt for the mythical creature. If you're looking for a more active adventure, take a hike in the hills or go fishing on the loch. No matter what you choose to do, Inverness is a beautiful and welcoming town that is sure to charm you.

Inverness Luxury Hotels

Marseille, France

The Vieux Port (Old Harbor) is the oldest port in France. It is a beautiful place to visit with its sailboats, restaurants, and cafes. The Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica is also worth a visit. It offers stunning views of the city. If you're looking for a more lively atmosphere, head to the La Canebiere. It's a wide avenue with plenty of shops and restaurants.

Marseille Luxury Hotels

Marseille Luxury Villas

Honolulu, HI, United States

Honolulu is a city located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States. It is the most populous city in the state of Hawaii and the county seat of the City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is located in Honolulu. Other places to visit in Honolulu include Diamond Head, the USS Arizona Memorial, and Hanauma Bay.

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Bar Harbor, ME, United States

Famous for lobster and stunning ocean views, Bar Harbor is a popular destination in Maine. There are plenty of things to do in the town and its surroundings, including hiking, biking, whale watching, and exploring Acadia National Park.

Bar Harbor Luxury Hotels

Colorado Springs, CO, United States

There are many places to visit in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a popular park with beautiful rock formations. Pike's Peak is a 14,115 foot mountain that offers great views and outdoor activities. The Broadmoor is a world-renowned resort with lovely gardens and a championship golf course. Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a popular tourist spot.

Colorado Springs Luxury Hotels

Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States

Just an hours drive from the Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach is a popular tourist spot, especially in the winter when the snowbirds migrate down. The seven-mile-long beach is known for its white sand and clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and kayaking. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in the area, as well as a few stores.

Fort Myers Beach Luxury Hotels

Biloxi, MS, United States

There are plenty of places to explore in Biloxi, Mississippi  from the citys iconic Beaches to the picturesque Bay Saint Louis. Venture into the citys downtown area to check out the many shops and restaurants, or take a walk along the shoreline. No matter what you choose to do, youre sure to have a great time in Biloxi.

Biloxi Luxury Hotels

Palermo, Italy

If you're looking for a city with a rich and diverse history, Palermo is the place for you. This coastal city in Italy is teeming with medieval architecture, churches, and cathedrals. Be sure to check out the Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Europe, and the Palazzo dei Normanni, the seat of the Sicilian government. Don't miss out on the city's vibrant nightlife and vast array of restaurants that serve up some of the best food in the country.

Palermo Luxury Hotels

Palermo Luxury Villas

Manila, Philippines

The capital of the Philippines, Manila is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. There are plenty of places to visit in Manila, including the walled city of Intramuros, the Rizal Park, and the Manila Bay. The city is also home to a large number of churches, including the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church. Manila is a great city to explore on foot, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy.

Manila Luxury Hotels

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt is an alpine village in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It is famous for its ski resort, mountaineering and hiking trails. The views of the Matterhorn from Zermatt are iconic. The village is car-free, making it a cyclists' and pedestrians' paradise. There are many places to visit in Zermatt, including the village's beautiful churches, impressive museums, and great restaurants.

Zermatt Luxury Hotels

Basel, Switzerland

Basel is a city located in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel has a population of about 176,000 and is the third most populous city in Switzerland. Basel has many interesting places to visit, including the Basel Munster, the Basel Rathaus (town hall), the Basel Zoo, and the Munsterhof, the old town square. Basel also has a number of art museums, including the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Fondation Beyeler, and the Schaulager. Basel is a great city to visit, and I highly recommend it!.

Basel Luxury Hotels

Copenhagen, Denmark

There are a number of places to visit in Copenhagen, Denmark. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include Tivoli Gardens, Nyhavn, and the Rosenborg Castle Gardens. Tivoli Gardens is a beautiful amusement park that has something for everyone. It is perfect for a day of fun with family or friends. Nyhavn is a charming canal district that is popular for its brightly colored houses and lively atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing cruise down the canal or take a seat in one of the many cafes and restaurants. The Rosenborg Castle Gardens are home to a majestic castle as well as beautifully landscaped gardens. There is plenty to see and do in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copenhagen Luxury Hotels

Steamboat Springs, CO, United States

Steamboat Springs is located in northwestern Colorado. The town is named for the steamboats that traveled up the Yampa River in the 1800s. Today, the town is a popular tourist destination, known for its skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and rafting.

Steamboat Springs Luxury Hotels

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and is home to many tourist attractions. Some popular places to visit in Abu Dhabi include the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Ferrari World Theme Park, and the Yas Island Waterpark. There are also a number of museums and shopping malls in Abu Dhabi, making it a great destination for those looking for a mix of culture and leisure.

Abu Dhabi Luxury Hotels

Abu Dhabi Luxury Resorts

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Bogota, Colombia

There's a lot to see and do in Bogota. Some of the top places to visit include the historical La Candelaria district, the cobblestone streets of Plaza de Bolivar, the Monserrate mountain, the Bogota Botanical Garden, and the Gold Museum. La Candelaria is home to many brightly-colored colonial buildings, churches, and plazas. Plaza de Bolivar is the center of Bogota and is surrounded by important landmarks like the Presidential Palace and the National Capitol. The Monserrate mountain is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning views of Bogota. The Bogota Botanical Garden is the largest in Colombia and features a wide variety of plants and trees. The Gold Museum is home to the largest collection of Pre-Columbian gold artifacts in the world.

Bogota Luxury Hotels

Cebu, Philippines

Due to its location and its rich history, there are plenty of places to visit in Cebu. Some of the most popular tourist destinations include the Cebu Taoist Temple, the Fort San Pedro, the Yap-San Diego Ancestral House, and the Magellan's Cross.

Cebu Luxury Hotels

Cebu Luxury Resorts

Lagos, Portugal

Lagos is a small town in Portugal with a population of around 22,000. It's located in the Algarve region and is a popular tourist destination. Some of the places to visit in Lagos are the beaches, the old town, and the Marina. The beaches are beautiful and there are a lot of them to choose from. The old town is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways with lots of shops and restaurants. The Marina is a great place to walk around and watch the boats.

Lagos Luxury Hotels

Medellin, Colombia

Some places to visit in Medellin, Colombia are: the Botanical Garden, the Ethnographic Museum, the Jardin Botanico, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Park of Lights, and the San Pedro Claver Church.

Medellin Luxury Hotels

Genoa, Italy

While there are many places to visit in Genoa, one of the must-sees is the city's cathedral. Dedicated to San Lorenzo, the church features an intricate Gothic facade and a Renaissance interior. If you're looking for a place to take in some stunning views, head to the Genoa Aquarium, which is located on the promenade stretching along the city's harbor.

Genoa Luxury Hotels

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vietnam. Its a bridge town thats best explored on foot. The narrow streets are a mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architecture. There are tailors, artisans, and lantern shops galore. The food is also some of the best in Vietnam. Be sure to try the local specialties, like Cao Lau and White Rose dumplings.

Hoi An Luxury Hotels

Hoi An Luxury Resorts

Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku, Azerbaijan is a city with a lot of culture and history. There are a lot of places to visit, like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. There are also a lot of great restaurants, like the Flame Club, which has a great atmosphere and delicious food.

Baku Luxury Hotels

San Luis Obispo, CA, United States

San Luis Obispo is a city located in the central coast of California. It's known for its natural beauty, relaxed vibe, and abundance of things to do. Some of the top places to visit in San Luis Obispo include the Madonna Inn, Hearst Castle, and the Paso Robles wine country. The city is also home to a variety of beaches, parks, and other attractions. In addition, San Luis Obispo is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and other amenities.

San Luis Obispo Luxury Hotels

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Colombo is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The city is located on the west coast of the island and is the administrative, commercial, and industrial center of Sri Lanka. Colombo is also the center of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with numerous Buddhist temples. There are a number of places to visit in Colombo, including the Galle Face Green, the Dutch fort, the Pettah Bazaar, and the Sri Lankan National Museum.

Colombo Luxury Hotels

Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia is home to some of the most stunning temples and historical landmarks in the country. The city is also a great place to enjoy traditional Javanese culture and cuisine. Some of the must-see places in Yogyakarta include the Borobudur Temple, the Prambanan Temple, and the Sultan's Palace.

Yogyakarta Luxury Hotels

Cefalu, Italy

Looking for a beautiful and historic place to visit in Italy? Look no further than Cefalu. This town is teeming with history and stunning architecture, and its location on the coast makes it the perfect place to relax and take in the stunning scenery. Don't miss the Duomo di Cefalu, a 12th century Norman church that is definitely worth a visit, or the Palazzo dei Normanni, a former royal palace.

Cefalu Luxury Hotels

San Jose, CA, United States

San Jose, California, is home to a variety of tourist destinations. Some popular places to visit include the Winchester Mystery House, the Tech Museum of Innovation, and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There are also a number of lovely parks, such as Kelley Park and Plaza de Cesar Chavez, that are well worth a visit. San Jose is also home to a number of great restaurants, so be sure to check out the local cuisine. Whatever your interests, San Jose has something to offer visitors.

San Jose Luxury Hotels

Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in China. There are many places to visit in Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Victoria Peak, and the Temple Street Night Market. Hong Kong is also a great place to shop, with many high-end malls and markets.

Hong Kong Luxury Hotels

Hong Kong Luxury Resorts

Orlando, FL, United States

Orlando is a city in the central region of Florida, in the United States. The city is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the metropolitan area also known as Greater Orlando. Orlando is well known for its theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld Orlando. Other tourist destinations in Orlando include the Holy Land Experience, the Orlando Science Center, and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. Orlando is also home to the University of Central Florida, one of the largest universities in the United States.

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Philadelphia, PA, United States

If youre looking for a place thats rich in history and culture, Philadelphia is the place for you. The city is home to numerous iconic landmarks, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Theres also a great variety of museums and other attractions to explore, such as the Philadelphia Zoo and the Please Touch Museum. And, of course, Philly is the birthplace of Americas favorite sandwich, the cheesesteak. So why not visit Americas most historic city and see for yourself what all the fuss is about?.

Philadelphia Luxury Hotels

Nice, France

France is known for its many beautiful places to visit, and Nice is no exception. With its stunning coastline and mild climate, Nice is a popular tourist destination. Some of the most popular places to visit in Nice include the Promenade des Anglais, the Castle Hill, and the Old Town. There is also a wide variety of shops and restaurants to enjoy in Nice. If you're looking for a beautiful and relaxing place to visit in France, Nice is definitely worth considering.

Nice Luxury Hotels

Nice Luxury Villas

Singapore, Singapore

Singapore is a popular tourist destination, brimming with cultural and natural attractions. From award-winning restaurants to serene gardens and pristine beaches, there is much to explore in this diverse city-state. Here are some of the top places to visit in Singapore: 1. Marina Bay: This iconic waterfront district is home to stunning architecture, world-class landmarks, and a vibrant nightlife. 2. Gardens by the Bay: These stunning gardens feature a mix of plants from around the world, as well as towering sculptures and a biodome. 3. Chinatown: This lively district is home to traditional Chinese shops and restaurants, as well as vibrant street markets. 4. Little India: This neighborhood is known for its vibrant culture and colorful temples. 5. Sentosa Island: This resort island is home to sandy beaches, lush rainforests, and a variety of entertainment options.

Singapore Luxury Hotels

Singapore Luxury Resorts

Nottingham, United Kingdom

Nottingham is a city in the East Midlands of England. It is one of the United Kingdom's major cities, with a population of over 321,000. The city is home to two universities, Queen's Medical Centre, and seven football grounds. Nottingham is known for its lace-making and bicycle manufacturing. The city has a rich history, dating back to the Bronze Age. There are plenty of places to visit in Nottingham, including the Nottingham Castle, the Sherwood Forest, and the National Ice Centre. The city also has a lively nightlife, with a variety of pubs and bars.

Nottingham Luxury Hotels

Cannes, France

Cannes is a city located in the south of France. Some of the places to visit in Cannes are the Palais des Festivals et des Congres, the Boulevard de la Croisette, and Le Suquet.

Cannes Luxury Hotels

Cannes Luxury Villas

Park City, UT, United States

Park City, Utah, offers visitors a wealth of places to visit and things to do. Main Street, with its charming shops and restaurants, is a must-see. The Park City Museum tells the town's fascinating history, and the Park City Utah Temple is a beautiful sight. For outdoor enthusiasts, there's plenty of skiing and snowboarding in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer. And don't forget to visit the Olympic Park, where the 2002 Winter Olympics were held.

Park City Luxury Hotels

Park City Luxury Resorts

Port Angeles, WA, United States

If you're looking for a quaint, small town to visit in the US, Port Angeles is worth a stop. Located in the state of Washington, it's right on the Pacific coast with stunning views of the Olympic Mountains. There's plenty of things to do in the area, from hiking and fishing to whale watching and enjoying the local restaurants and breweries.

Port Angeles Luxury Hotels

Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

If you're looking for a fun-filled Florida getaway, look no further than Fort Lauderdale! With its miles of pristine beaches, world-famous shopping and vibrant nightlife, there's something for everyone in this seaside city. Here are some of the top places to visit in Fort Lauderdale:  Las Olas Boulevard: This popular shopping and dining district is home to some of Fort Lauderdale's most upscale boutiques and restaurants.  The Beach: With its wide, sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, Fort Lauderdale's beach is a major draw for visitors.  The Everglades: Just a short drive from Fort Lauderdale, the Everglades are home to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, bald eagles and manatees.  The Broward Center for the Performing Arts: This world-class performing arts center is home to a variety of theater, dance and music performances. So what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Fort Lauderdale today!.

Fort Lauderdale Luxury Hotels

Fort Lauderdale Luxury Resorts

Myrtle Beach, SC, United States

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to visit in the area, including amusement parks, beaches, and golf courses. Myrtle Beach also has a lively nightlife, with plenty of bars and restaurants.

Myrtle Beach Luxury Hotels

Myrtle Beach Luxury Resorts

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is one of the most visited places in Austria. It is a city rich in history and culture. There are many places to visit, such as the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Mirabell Palace, and the Salzburg Cathedral. There are also many hiking trails and parks to enjoy.

Salzburg Luxury Hotels

Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya is an amazing city with plenty of places to visit and things to do. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Pattaya offers something for everyone. There are lovely beaches, interesting temples, great shopping, and exciting nightlife. With its moderate climate and affordable prices, it's no wonder Pattaya is a favorite destination for tourists from all over the world.

Pattaya Luxury Hotels

Pattaya Luxury Resorts

Pattaya Luxury Villas

Dallas, TX, United States

Dallas is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the ninth most populous city in the United States and the third most populous city in the state of Texas. Dallas is also the main city of the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the United States. The city's prominence arose from its historical importance as a center for the oil and cotton industries, and its position as a major transportation hub for the South. Dallas is home to the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, and transportation. The city is home to the world's largest airline hub and the third largest cargo airport in the United States.

Dallas Luxury Hotels

Kolkata, India

Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. The city is located on the east bank of the Hooghly River. It is the second most populous city in India, after Mumbai, and the third most populous metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai and Delhi. The city is notable for its colonial architecture, art and culture, and for its overwhelming poverty. Kolkata is home to the Indian Museum, the Calcutta Stock Exchange, the National Library of India, and the Indian Statistical Institute.

Kolkata Luxury Hotels

San Antonio, TX, United States

San Antonio is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas. There are plenty of places to visit in this city, from the well-known River Walk to the exquisite Spanish missions. If you're looking for a fun place to spend the day, you can't go wrong with San Antonio.

San Antonio Luxury Hotels

Seattle, WA, United States

There are many wonderful places to visit in Seattle, Washington. Some of the most popular attractions include Pike Place Market, the Seattle Space Needle, and the Museum of Pop Culture. There are also many parks and gardens, such as Volunteer Park and Seattle Chinese Garden, as well as plenty of restaurants and shops. Located on the other side of the world, Western Australia is a great place to visit for those looking for something different. Some of the most popular attractions include Rottnest Island, the Margaret River region, and Monkey Mia. There are also plenty of beautiful parks and gardens, such as Kings Park and Botanic Garden, as well as restaurants and shops.

Seattle Luxury Hotels

Liverpool, United Kingdom

Liverpool is a city located in North West England and is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom. The city is known for its football teams Liverpool and Everton, The Beatles, and its maritime history. Liverpool is a popular tourist destination and is home to various tourist attractions including Mersey Ferry, Liverpool Cathedral, and Albert Dock.

Liverpool Luxury Hotels

Malmo, Sweden

Malmo is Sweden's third largest city with a population of over 310,000. It is located in the province of Scania on the country's southern tip. Malmo is a vibrant city with a strong arts and cultural scene. There are plenty of places to visit in Malmo, including the Malmo Castle, the Botanical Gardens, and the Turning Torso skyscraper. Malmo is also home to a large shopping district and a lively nightlife.

Malmo Luxury Hotels

Gothenburg, Sweden

Goteborg, Sweden's second largest city, is a major port on the country's west coast. It's a popular tourist destination, known for its lively nightlife, beautiful architecture and delicious seafood. Some of the city's highlights include the Liseberg amusement park, the Botanical Garden, and the charming old town district. Goteborg is also home to a large number of museums, including the Volvo Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Universeum science center.

Gothenburg Luxury Hotels

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and is a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Ljubljana, such as the castle, the old town, and the cathedral. The city is also home to many museums, art galleries, and parks. Ljubljana is a great city to explore on foot, and there are many restaurants and cafes to enjoy.

Ljubljana Luxury Hotels

Sydney, NSW, Australia

Australia is a vast country with plenty of stunning places to visit, but Sydney is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations on the continent. From the iconic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to the beautiful beaches and lush national parks, there's something for everyone in this lively city. There's also a thriving food and nightlife scene, so you'll never run out of things to do in Sydney.

Sydney Luxury Hotels

Sydney Luxury Villas

Melbourne, VIC, Australia

There's a lot to love about Melbourne  its lively arts and culture scene, its parks and gardens, its diverse range of restaurants and cafes, and its stunning architecture. Here are some of the best places to visit in Melbourne: - Federation Square: This iconic square is a great place to people-watch and take in the city's impressive architecture. It's also home to a number of museums and galleries, including the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and the National Gallery of Victoria. - Queen Victoria Market: This vibrant market is a must-visit for foodies and shoppers alike. It's the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere, and offers a vast array of fresh produce, meat, seafood, and souvenirs. - Melbourne Cricket Ground: If you're a sports fan, be sure to check out the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It's also home to the Australian Football League, and has hosted a number of major sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby Union World Cup. - Royal Botanic Gardens: These beautiful gardens are a great place to relax and take in some of Melbourne's natural beauty. They're home to a number of different gardens, including the Australian Garden, the Sculpture Garden, and the Japanese Garden.

Melbourne Luxury Hotels

Melbourne Luxury Villas

Vancouver, BC, Canada

The top places to visit in Vancouver are Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, and Chinatown. These are all must-see attractions that offer an array of activities, scenery, and history. Stanley Park is a world-famous urban park that features greenery, beaches, gardens, and a stunning view of the North Shore Mountains. Granville Island is a vibrant neighbourhood with unique shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Gastown is the city's oldest neighbourhood and is home to charming cobblestone streets and funky boutiques. Chinatown is one of the largest and most vibrant Chinatowns in North America and offers delicious food, interesting history, and vibrant culture.

Vancouver Luxury Hotels

Toronto, ON, Canada

From the CN Tower and Hockey Hall of Fame to the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Distillery District, there are plenty of amazing places to visit in Toronto, Canada. With something for everyone, Toronto is a great city to explore. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!.

Toronto Luxury Hotels

Montreal, QC, Canada

Montreal is a vibrant city with something for everyone. There are plenty of places to visit, including the Notre Dame Basilica, the Olympic Stadium, and Mount Royal. The city is also home to a lively arts and culture scene, with theatres, art galleries, and music venues. Montreal is a great place to visit year-round, with festivals and events happening throughout the year.

Montreal Luxury Hotels

Seville, Spain

Seville is one of the most visited places in Spain for a plethora of reasons: its stunning architecture, tapas bars, flamenco and great weather. The Giralda Tower is a must-see when in Seville as is the Plaza de Espana. Andalusian culture is heavily present in the city and is best experienced by wandering the narrow streets and alleyways, popping into a lively tapas bar for a drink and some snacks or enjoying a flamenco show.

Seville Luxury Hotels

Seville Luxury Villas

Ocean City, MD, United States

Ocean City is a seaside resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, on the Atlantic coast. It is well known for its long promenade, its fishing, and its crab cuisine. There are plenty of places to visit in Ocean City, including the boardwalk, amusement rides, shopping, and restaurants. You can also visit the Assateague Island National Seashore, which is home to wild horses, or head to the nearby town of Berlin for more shopping and dining options.

Ocean City Luxury Hotels

Cambridge, MA, United States

If you're looking for a quintessential New England town to visit, Cambridge, Massachusetts is the place for you. With its elaborate architecture and Colonial history, Cambridge is a lively town with plenty of things to see and do - perfect for a weekend getaway. Some of the places you won't want to miss include the Harvard University campus, the charming and lively shops and restaurants in Harvard Square, and the leafy paths of the Cambridge Common.

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Laguna Beach, CA, United States

Laguna Beach, California is a place known for its stunningly beautiful coastline, excellent restaurants, and art galleries. But there's more to Laguna Beach than meets the eye. Here are some of the best places to visit in Laguna Beach: Crystal Cove State Park: This state park is known for its coves, tidepools, and bluffs. It's a great place to go hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. Heisler Park: This park is a great place for a walk or a picnic. It's also home to some of the best views of the Pacific Coast. Downtown Laguna Beach: This charming downtown area is home to art galleries, boutique shops, and excellent restaurants. Aliso Beach: This beach is known for its excellent surfing and swimming conditions. It's also a great place to take a walk or enjoy a picnic.

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Hot Springs, AR, United States

In downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, you'll find historic buildings, antique shops, and art galleries. For nature lovers, there are also plenty of places to visit, including the Garland County Arboretum, Ouachita National Forest, and Hot Springs National Park. Spa enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing day in one of the area's hot springs. And no trip to Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the world-famous Bathhouse Row.

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Sedona, AZ, United States

There are many places to visit in Sedona, Arizona. Among the most popular are the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. The town's unique red-rock formations and ancient ruins offer plenty of photo opportunities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Sedona is a great place to relax and take in the natural beauty of the Southwest.

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Boulder, CO, United States

Boulder, Colorado is a breathtaking city nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city is home to stunning views, ample outdoor recreation, and a lively arts scene. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring the city's many trails, parks, and open spaces. History buffs will enjoy checking out the city's museums and historic sites. Culture seekers will appreciate the city's many theaters, art galleries, and restaurants. No matter what your interests, you'll find something to love in Boulder.

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Key West, FL, United States

Key West is a small island off the coast of Florida that is filled with history, charm, and fun places to visit. Its lush tropical setting and the laid-back vibe of the island make it a popular destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. There are plenty of places to explore in Key West, from the charming historic district to the crystal-clear waters of the Florida Keys. Here are some of the top places to visit in Key West: -The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: This iconic museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who lived in Key West for over 20 years. -Duval Street: This lively street is the heart of Key West's nightlife and is home to many bars and restaurants. -The Southernmost Point: This landmark is located at the end of Duval Street and is the southernmost point in the continental United States. -The Key West Lighthouse: This picturesque lighthouse is a popular spot for tourists and offers stunning views of the island. -The African American Heritage House: This museum is dedicated to the history and culture of African Americans in Key West. -The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory: This attraction is home to over 2,000 butterflies and a variety of other tropical plants and animals.

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Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden is a city with many places to visit. One place is the Vasa Museum, which is home to a ship that sunk in 1628 and was raised from the ocean floor 333 years later. The ship is preserved and on display in the museum. Another place to visit is the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch. The palace is open for tours, and visitors can see the royal apartments, the throne room, and the Hall of State.

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Destin, FL, United States

Looking for a place to visit in Florida? Look no further than Destin! This city is home to beautiful beaches, wonderful restaurants, and plenty of places to shop. No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in Destin. Be sure to check out the Destin Harbor and the fishing pier for amazing views and plenty of things to do. If you're looking for a place to relax, head to the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. There's something for everyone in Destin, so be sure to visit this amazing city!.

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Ashland, OR, United States

There are many places to visit in Ashland, Oregon. Some of the most popular places are the Shakespeare Festival, Lithia Park, and Mt. Ashland. The Shakespeare Festival is a great place to see some of the best plays in the world. Lithia Park is a beautiful park with a river running through it. Mt. Ashland is a great place to go skiing in the winter.

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Seaside, OR, United States

One of the most beautiful places on the Oregon Coast is Seaside. With its wide, sandy beach and majestic promenade, Seaside is a popular tourist destination. There are plenty of places to eat and shop, and the Seaside Aquarium is a must-see. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, whale watching, or just taking a leisurely stroll along the beach.

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Newport, RI, United States

Newport is a picturesque town located in southern Rhode Island that is home to some of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. The city is known for its miles of beaches and historic mansions that line the coast. Some popular places to visit in Newport include the Cliff Walk, the Breakers Mansion, the Museum of Yachting, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

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Siena, Italy

Siena, Italy is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its well-preserved medieval city center. The city is famous for its art, food, and wine. Siena is located in the heart of Tuscany, making it the perfect base for exploring this beautiful region of Italy. Don't miss the Duomo (cathedral), the Piazza del Campo, and the Torre del Mangia.

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Reno, NV, United States

Home to the University of Nevada, Reno and a wide variety of cultural and natural attractions, Reno is a great place to visit. Some of the top places to see in Reno include the Nevada Museum of Art, the Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, and the Reno Events Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and skiing at Lake Tahoe and biking and kayaking on the Truckee River. In addition, Reno is home to a diverse array of restaurants and nightlife venues.

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Atlantic City, NJ, United States

Atlantic City is a popular East Coast tourist destination, known for its boardwalks, beaches and casinos. There are plenty of places to visit in Atlantic City, from the Boardwalk Hall and the Absecon Lighthouse to the Atlantic City Aquarium and Lucy the Elephant. For a more thrilling experience, head to one of the city's casinos, where you can try your hand at blackjack, slots, roulette and more. Atlantic City also offers a wide variety of restaurants, from seafood spots to pizza places, so you're sure to find something to your taste. And if you're looking for some nightlife action, the city has you covered there too. Atlantic City is definitely a place worth visiting!.

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Lake George, NY, United States

Looking for a place to visit in upstate New York? Look no further than the stunning Lake George. This picturesque locale is located in the heart of the Adirondacks and is known for its pristine beauty and terrific recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and skiing, among other activities. Don't miss the chance to take in the spectacular views from the summit of Prospect Mountain or from the water's edge.

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Buffalo, NY, United States

If you're looking for a city that has it all, Buffalo is the place to be. From its vibrant downtown district to its abundance of parks and nature preserves, there's something for everyone in Buffalo. Here are some of the top places to visit in Buffalo: 1. The Buffalo Zoo - One of the top zoos in the country, the Buffalo Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers of all ages. 2. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery - Buffalo's answer to the Louvre, the Albright-Knox is home to some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. 3. The Buffalo-Niagara Heritage Village - This living history museum offers a glimpse into what life was like in Buffalo in the 1800s. 4. The Buffalo River - Take a walk or bike ride along the Buffalo River, one of the city's most picturesque areas. 5. Delaware Park - This large park is home to a variety of attractions, including a zoo, a golf course, and a nature preserve.

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Rochester, MN, United States

Rochester, Minnesota is a city with plenty of places to visit. There's the Mayo Clinic, the Apache Mall, and several other shopping areas, as well as a variety of restaurants. There are also a few parks and golf courses. For those who love the outdoors, Rochester is also close to several state parks and the Mississippi River.

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Duluth, MN, United States

If you're looking for an amazing place to visit, Duluth, Minnesota should definitely be at the top of your list. This city is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, and there are plenty of things to do here that will keep you entertained for days on end. Some of the most popular places to visit in Duluth include the Aerial Lift Bridge, the Glensheen Mansion, and Chester Creek Park. Additionally, there are a number of excellent restaurants and shopping areas in the city, so be sure to explore everything that Duluth has to offer.

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Maputo, Mozambique

Maputo is the capital of Mozambique and a city full of culture and history. There are many places to visit in Maputo, such as the Jose Eduardo dos Santos Museum, the Maputo Cathedral, and the Rua da Independencia. Maputo is also home to the Maputo Bay, which offers beautiful beaches and great seafood.

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Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona, located on the northeast coast of Spain, is a renowned tourist destination and one of the most popular cities in the world. There are plenty of places to visit in Barcelona, such as the Gothic Quarter, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Parc Guell, La Sagrada Familia, and more. The city is also home to a lively nightlife and some of the best restaurants in the country.

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Split, Croatia

Split is a city on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. It is the second-largest city in Croatia and the largest city in Dalmatia. It has a population of over 200,000 inhabitants. The metropolitan area, which includes the City of Split and the surrounding towns, has a population of over 330,000. Split is a popular tourist destination and is the home of the Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other popular tourist destinations include the Riva, the Peristyle, the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, and Sustipan.

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Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a city on the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, a seaport and the administrative center of Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Dubrovnik is nicknamed "The Pearl of the Adriatic".

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Byron Bay, NSW, Australia

Byron Bay is a magical place. It's no wonder that it's one of the most popular destinations in Australia. The town is set in a beautiful location, surrounded by rolling green hills and the bright blue ocean. There's plenty to do in Byron Bay, whether you're looking for a relaxing beach holiday or an adventure-filled trip. Some of the top places to visit in Byron Bay include the iconic lighthouse, the stunning beaches, and the lush rainforest. There's also a great nightlife and plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy. If you're looking for an amazing Australian getaway, be sure to add Byron Bay to your list!.

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Wellington, New Zealand

If you're looking for a little slice of heaven on earth, look no further than Wellington, New Zealand. With its gorgeous landscape and plethora of activities, there's something for everyone here. Whether you're a nature lover or a city slicker, Wellington has something special to offer. Top Wellington attractions include the Zealandia eco-sanctuary, the cable car up to the Botanic Gardens, and the sprawling Te Papa museum. For those who love getting out into the great outdoors, there are plenty of hiking and biking trails, as well as lovely seaside towns and villages to explore. And of course, no trip to Wellington would be complete without trying some of the delicious local cuisine  be sure to sample a traditional Maori hangi feast! So what are you waiting for? Book your flight to Wellington today and start planning your perfect holiday!.

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Saint Louis, MO, United States

If you're looking for a fun place to visit with a rich history and plenty of things to see and do, look no further than Saint Louis, Missouri. This vibrant city is home to a variety of interesting attractions, including the Gateway Arch, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. There's also no shortage of restaurants and shopping options in Saint Louis. So, whether you're looking for a place to explore new cultures and cuisines or you're just looking for a place to have some fun, Saint Louis is a great option.

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Bloomington, IN, United States

The city of Bloomington, Indiana is home to a variety of attractions and places to visit. The Indiana University campus is a popular destination, as is the city's historic downtown district. Monroe County Courthouse
Many scientists consider graphene to be a wonder material. Now, a team of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has succeeded in linking graphene with another important chemical group, the porphyrins. Porphyrins are well-known because of their striking functional properties which for example play a central role in chlorophyll during photosynthesis. These new hybrid structures could also be used in the field of molecular electronics, catalysis or even as sensors.

Hardly any material is currently receiving as much attention in research as graphene. It is flexible, extremely thin and transparent, while at the same time it has very high tensile strength and conducts electricity, ideal prerequisites for a wide variety of application areas. However, using graphene to capture solar energy or as a gas sensor requires other specific properties as well. These properties can be achieved by fusing functional molecules with the carbon layer.



In previous research, scientists were primarily concerned with wet-chemical methods for attaching the molecules to the surface of the material. Together with his colleagues, Molecular Engineering at Functional Interfaces Professor Wilhelm Auwarter decided to take a different approach: They were able to link porphyrin molecules to graphene in a controlled manner in an ultra-high vacuum using the catalytic properties of a silver surface on which the graphene layer rested. When heated, the porphyrin molecules lose hydrogen atoms at their periphery and can thus form new bonds with the graphene edges.

Clean and controllable

"This method creates a clean and controllable environment," explains Professor Auwarter. "We can see exactly how the molecules bond and what types of bonds occur." Here the researchers use the latest in modern atomic force microscopy to depict the chemical structure of individual molecules, the atomic "skeletons", so to speak.



For the first time the scientists have succeeded in attaching functional molecules to the edges of graphene covalently, i.e. with a stable chemical bond. "We want to modify only the edges of the material; this way the graphene's positive properties are not destroyed," says Auwarter.

The researchers chose the porphyrin molecules as the partner for graphene because of their special properties. "For example, porphyrins are responsible for transporting oxygen in hemoglobin," he continues. The molecules change their properties depending on which metals are at their center and can take on various different tasks, e.g. specifically bonding with gas molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.

In the future this new method may make it possible to bond other molecules to graphene as well. The researchers also want to take even better control of the reaction, achieving targeted modifications by attaching molecules to carbon nanostructures such as graphene ribbons. These nanostructures are of central importance in electronic applications.
Four Empire Today salespeople allege in a class-action lawsuit that the Northlake-based flooring retailer hasn't paid them all of the commissions and bonuses to which they're entitled. (Brian Harkin / Chicago Tribune)

Four Empire Today salespeople allege in a class-action lawsuit that the Northlake-based flooring retailer hasn't paid them all of the commissions and bonuses to which they're entitled.

Empire has more than 1,000 retail salespeople and independent sales representatives who could qualify for the class, the breach-of-contract complaint said.

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The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, also accused Empire of charging improper expenses to sales, a practice that had the effect of lowering the compensation to its sales reps.

Empire couldn't be reached for immediate comment.

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The company has commissioned salespeople at stores in Illinois, New York, Virginia, Florida and Arizona, and has commissioned independent contractors through a shop-at-home division in 77 U.S. markets, the lawsuit said.

Empire's 2012 acquisition of the Luna flooring business is mentioned in the lawsuit, as all four plaintiffs are former Luna workers.

They are: Kevin Wielgus, now division manager of retail sales at Empire's Naperville and Schaumburg stores; Mark Costigan, now sales manager at Empire's Schaumburg store; Sheryl Pascoe, a former sales worker at the Schaumburg store; and Tom Ringlestein, who has worked for Empire as an independent contractor since it bought Luna flooring in 2012.

Starting in February 2016, Empire began phasing out Luna's computer system for calculating commissions and bonuses.

Due to integration problems with the computers, the lawsuit said, plaintiffs were regularly shortchanged on commissions and bonuses by "an average of a minimum $1,000 per month."

From February to June 2016, Empire reconciled some errors by comparing its system with Luna's.

In June, however, Empire told workers that the Luna computer system had been permanently disabled. The reconciliations ceased, and the plaintiffs continued to get commissions and bonuses "far below what they had actually earned."

Wielgus alerted Empire to the shortfalls on many occasions, the suit said.

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"The problem with Empire computer system and the underpayment of commissions and bonuses was a global issue that applies to all employees and independent sales representatives," said the lawsuit, filed by Timothy Hudson of Tabet DiVito Rothstein in Chicago.

The class would consist of all current and former employees working for Empire in retail sales or shop-at-home independent sales contractors from February 2016 to the present.

The lawsuit seeks, among other things, to force Empire to make good on unpaid commissions and bonuses. Claims will exceed $5 million, the suit said.

byerak@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @beckyyerak
Restaurants and grocers have made huge progress in recent years to serve more sustainable chicken, but little progress has been made with beef or pork. Slagel Family Farm, in Fairbury, Ill., is dedicated to raising cattle, pigs and other animals without added hormones. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune) (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Where's the beef?

If it's sustainable beef you're looking for, the answer is complex. And expensive.

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In response to consumer demand, restaurants, grocers and other food service companies have shifted toward chickens and turkeys that are raised sustainably  "naturally," more humanely, with less environmental impact and without antibiotics. But there has been comparatively little progress made with beef or pork.

The reason? Cows and pigs take longer to raise for market, the network of cattle and pig ranchers is far more fragmented, and, perhaps the biggest challenge: There's still conflict over what exactly "sustainable" means.

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Many small regional farms, including some in Illinois and Indiana, have made the shift to sustainable beef and pork, but they often cater to restaurants and discriminating customers willing to pay a little extra. For Big Food, including chains like McDonald's, establishing a supply of sustainable beef has been a challenge.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 14 Chickens are housed in the chicken coop at Slagel Family Farm in Fairbury, Ill., on Sept. 22, 2016. Restaurants and grocers have made huge progress in recent years to serve more sustainable chicken, especially poultry with fewer antibiotics. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

"You're talking about thousands and thousands of ranches that you have to try to influence," said Marion Gross, McDonald's senior vice president of U.S. supply chain management and sustainability.

To understand the situation clearly, one needs to look no further than a pledge the Golden Arches made in March 2015 to move entirely to antibiotic-free chicken. Last month, the fast-food giant announced that it had met that goal six months ahead of schedule. The change went quickly for McDonald's, in part because it has just two main U.S. chicken suppliers.

Sustainable beef, at least for McDonald's, is a different story. It gets its beef from thousands of ranches, each with an average of just 50 cows.

Although it began deriving some of its beef from sustainable sources this year, McDonald's acknowledges that sustainable beef is hard to accomplish, and that it and the industry have further to go on this front.

Industry structure is one reason why sustainable poultry is easier to accomplish than sustainable beef. Chicken operations often are contained, with one company handling all aspects from birth to slaughter, processing and packing. But in the beef industry, there are multiple layers of companies, from ranchers to feedlot owners to packers.

"And cattle is a big investment for them. It's a 2,000-pound

animal that they want to be healthy during its life, so when it's time to go to market with that animal they get the price that they expect to get," Gross said. "So when you start to have the antibiotics conversation with them, you can see how it could be much more challenging, because they want to keep that animal as healthy as it can be so that it matures appropriately and it brings value for them. That's their livelihood."

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Cattle can be 2 years old before they go to market; chickens can be slaughtered after just weeks. So there's also much more time in which cattle can get sick. Some proponents of sustainable farming argue that poor conditions in large industrial farming make the animals sick more frequently, and many livestock are fed antibiotics on a regular basis as a result.

McDonald's, which according to the most recent statistics purchased about 725 million pounds of beef in the U.S. in 2014, as well as 490 million pounds of chicken, has been part of industry action in recent years to try and tackle sustainable beef. In 2015, the burger chain was a founding member of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, along with other restaurant chains, producers, and environmental and animal welfare organizations.

I personally think we have a moral obligation to farm in a sustainable way. We have to show the animals as much respect as possible; to let pigs be pigs.  Greg Gunthorp, Indiana hog and poultry farmer

The roundtable defines sustainable beef as beef that's being raised with an eye toward what's best for the environment, the farmers and the animals themselves, while also focusing on economic viability and innovation. These focus areas can carry more or less weight depending on who in the industry is asked  and responses, even after years of analysis, can vary widely.

That's one of the biggest problems facing sustainable beef at the moment, said Sonya Hetrick of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, a nonprofit group that sets industry stands for corporate sustainability disclosure.

The considerations among ranchers and the broader industry can range from energy and water management to food safety, packaging and nutrition content.

Looking for the information can be frustrating too. Since there are no standards on sustainability, reporting of those efforts can come in many forms: through a corporate responsibility report, a quarterly earnings report or the company's website.

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Farm owner LouisJohn Slagel, right, talks Sept. 22, 2016, with visiting chef Brok Kellogg, left, and sous chef Theron Walker at the Slagel Family Farm in Fairbury, Ill. The visiting chefs are from the Tangled Roots Brewing Co. of Ottawa, Ill. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

"That can make it really hard for an investor or a consumer to make an informed choice," she said.

Consumers have in growing numbers been choosing more "natural, "organic" or "antibiotic-free" meat in recent years for reasons including personal health and animal welfare.

One name many Chicagoans have likely seen on menus across the city is Slagel Family Farm, which provides meat to more than 100 area restaurants from its farm in Fairbury, in central Illinois. Owner LouisJohn Slagel said the farm's dedication to raising cattle without hormones was borne out of what his family and neighbors ate when he was young.

Slagel said that although his farm has found a niche for his beef, he says it's been far more difficult for other farmers to raise sustainable beef. He noted that big producers often don't pay farmers a premium for cattle raised without antibiotics or other substances that promote growth, which often leaves farmers with the dilemma of which methods to use.

Raising a sustainable herd is a slower process, to be sure: Slagel's cows are between 18 and 22 months old when they go to slaughter, weighing about 1,500 pounds. He estimates the process could be sped up by about two months if the farm used hormones in its feed.

Greg Gunthorp, an Indiana hog and poultry farmer that also supplies a number of upscale Chicago restaurants, says his family has run a sustainable farm for generations but "people are only paying attention now."

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Like Slagel, Gunthorp has found a niche for his pork by finding restaurants that serve customers hungry for a better cut. But Gunthorp believes strongly that sustainable production means all involved are better off: the farmer, the land and the animal.

"I personally think we have a moral obligation to farm in a sustainable way," he said. "We have to show the animals as much respect as possible; to let pigs be pigs."

Gunthorp doesn't believe that small-farming techniques will ever be entirely replicated by the broader industry, but he's encouraged by the rise in customer demand for animals raised with care.

"I don't think Big Agriculture will ever come over to our side but I think they're bending to some consumer demands," he said. "And that's good to see."

sbomkamp@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SamWillTravel
Just days after he faced a tough grilling on Capitol Hill, Wells Fargo chief executive John Stumpf resigned from an advisory role with the Federal Reserve.

Stumpf has left his position as a representative for the 12th District on the Federal Advisory Council, the San Francisco Fed said Thursday. Stumpf was part of a team of 12 representatives from the banking industry who consulted with the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors four times a year about banks and the economy.

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Stumpf is working to regain customers' trust and rebuild Wells Fargo's reputation after it became widely known that employees opened more than 2 million credit card and deposit accounts without customers' approval. Earlier this month, regulators fined the bank $185 million for the scheme, which also included cases of workers moving customers' money without permission to fund the sham accounts.

In a statement, the bank said Stumpf's resignation from the council was a "personal decision." "His top priority is leading Wells Fargo," the statement said.

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On Tuesday, Stumpf testified before a Senate panel about the changes the bank has made since 2011 to stop the activity, including lowering sales targets, more rigorous training for employees and creating a new alert system that notifies customers when a new account is opened in their name.

Wells Fargo has fired 5,300 employees who were involved with the fake accounts. But many lawmakers are asking that Stumpf and other executives be held accountable. At the hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called on Stumpf to resign and to give back some of his compensation. He earned $19 million last year.

Warren and four other Democratic senators sent a letter Thursday to the San Francisco Fed asking officials not to reappoint Stumpf, who was in his second term. (Members to the Federal Advisory Council are appointed for one-year terms each January.) It was unclear whether the letter played a role in his resignation.

John Stumpf, chairman and CEO of the Wells Fargo & Company, testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee September 20, 2016 in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee / Getty Images)

"It would be ironic if the Federal Reserve ... continued to receive special insights and recommendations from senior management of a financial institution that just paid a record-breaking fine to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for 'unfair' and 'abusive' practices that placed consumers at financial risk," the letter read.

Stumpf has been called to testify at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee next Thursday.
Two executives at the S.C. Johnson family's asset management firm are tied to the $8.3 million purchase of a newly built,10,500-square-foot mansion in Lincoln Park.

Built by Environs Development, the six-bedroom mansion, which sits on a 42-foot-wide lot, sold in mid-July to a Delaware limited liability company, Howe Street Properties.

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Two Howe Street managers, David Novick and John Andreoli, are named on a related $1.1 million mortgage taken out for the property. Novick is president of Racine, Wis.-based Johnson Keland Management, which is the asset management firm for the family that founded the S.C. Johnson & Son consumer goods empire. Andreoli is a vice president at the firm.

A Racine attorney's name appears on the deed as well.

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A spokeswoman for privately held S.C. Johnson, which is based in Racine, told Elite Street in an email that the mansion purchase "does not involve the company." Andreoli and Quentin Green, the real estate agent who represented Howe Street, declined to comment to Elite Street. Novick did not respond to a request for comment.

The mansion has 7-1/2 baths, a five-stop elevator, more than 3,500 square feet of open-air terraces that include two outdoor fireplaces, a penthouse sky deck and an attached four-car heated garage.

The mansion first was listed in April for $8.6 million.

Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.







Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 (VHT Studios)

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 5 Billionaire Ken Griffin, Illinois richest man, paid $58.75 million in November for the top four floors in the Near North condominium building at 9 W. Walton St., known as No. 9 Walton. This photo shows a rendering of the lobby. (JDL Development / E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune (inset))
Northbrook's Glenkirk Foundation, which has been helping children and adults with intellectual disabilities since 1954, has landed a North Shore native turned veteran TV director as guest speaker for its 19th annual Benefit Brunch.

1977 Evanston Township High School grad Michael Engler fell in love with acting there. He eventually switched to directing, however, racking up a remarkably impressive career on Broadway and in television, with credits such as "Party of Five," "The West Wing," "Deadwood," "Sex and the City," "Six Feet Under," "30 Rock" and even four episodes of "Downton Abbey," including the two-hour series finale. Engler will speak about his career, with an emphasis on his "Downton Abbey" experiences Oct. 16 at Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods.

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Pioneer spoke with Engler, busy shooting the new ABC show "Notorious," for a quick chat about directing vs. acting, TV vs. theater and why he feels lucky to have gotten his start at ETHS.

Q: Were you born and raised in Evanston?

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A: I was. Born and raised there until I went to NYU for college, where I studied acting. Ever since my freshman year at ETHS, I'd started getting involved with theater as an actor. I fell in love with it and thought I'd be an actor until I discovered at NYU that directing was a better fit for me. And that's what I attempted after graduating, first in New York and then in regional theaters. I assisted some people and worked for a costume designer and I stage managed  that sort of thing.

After that, I went to Yale Drama School and studied directing and started working as a director around the country and in New York. Then I got invited to work on various things in LA, leading to television. (Engler's first TV directing credit was a 1992 adaptation Larry Gelbart's "Mastergate," which he had also directed on Broadway.)

I think I was very lucky to go to ETHS, because it allows for such incredible theater experience and training and opportunities to experiment. I don't think I would have had the awareness of how many ways there are to go without that.

Q: Did you always have television in mind?

A: No, I didn't. It just worked out that way. Television had started to change and become more interesting and it was possible to learn how to do it on the job. I found it very interesting right away though, I have to say.

Q: Directing television is supposedly much more difficult in some ways than directing theater. Did you find it a challenging transition?

A: The pace of it is pretty intense, to say the least, compared to theater. It moves a lot quicker, but there are also a lot more people involved who can help orient you to the style of it and the speed of it. It's harder in the sense that you work very, very quickly, but there are also a lot of people who are there doing it every week who can help you a lot if you're coming in to do just a couple of shows.

Q: You produced and directed the hit series "Party of Five" only two years after getting started in TV.

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A: Yeah, that was pretty great since it was one of my first.

Q: "West Wing," "Deadwood," "Sex in the City," "Six Feet Under," the list goes on and on, right through to "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and "Downton Abbey."

A: I've been lucky, but it's been unusual, too, because a lot of directors find it hard not to be typed into something they can't get out of. People get used to thinking of you in a certain way, as a comedy director or a drama director or whatever. So, being able to go back and forth has been a wonderful gift, because I do like doing both.

It may be that theater people aren't quite so susceptible to being typed. I think it's a little better understood that with a theater background you can do a lot of different things. I had a lot of comedies and dramas on my resume from New York, so I think that helped make people a little more open-minded when I was getting started. And then I just kept making a point of trying to do different things. Of course, the down side of that is that certain people don't know what to make of that and it makes them nervous. (Laughing.)

Q: What do you find artistically satisfying now about being a director?

A: I like being able to focus on telling a bigger story instead of just focusing on one character. Looking at a story and setting it in its context, whether it's historical or social or psychological. I find all of that pretty interesting. It's also more challenging for me in more areas and I like that.

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Q: Let's talk a little bit about the Glenkirk Foundation.

A: I don't know a lot about it, aside from admiring what they do. My stepmother is friends with a woman who volunteers there and she had asked if I'd be willing to speak at a fundraiser. And I said I'd be happy to because I think they're doing important work. After that, it was a matter of figuring out what I could talk about that would be useful for them and interesting for their audience.

Q: What do you plan to speak about?

A: I'll talk a bit about my general background and moving from working in theater into television. But I thought it might be interesting to talk a little more specifically about working on "Downton Abbey," which seems so unlikely for someone like me. Though, actually, in some ways, I felt more at home than ever there because it was so much more like working in a theater.

Information: glenkirk.org

Michael Engler

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At: Glenkirk Foundation's 19th annual Benefit Brunch

When: 11 a.m., Oct. 16

Where: Ravinia Green Country Club, 1200 Saunders Road, Riverwoods

Tickets: $110
The late Dr. Aidan MacCarthy is the subject of A Doctors Sword, showing at the 2nd Annual Irish American Movie Hooley at the Gene Siskel Film Center. (HANDOUT)

From the long and colorful and lyrical and raucous history of the Irish, we have heard and read of scoundrels and poets, heroes and rascals, but it's hard to recall any story as compelling as that of a man named Aidan MacCarthy.

He is gone now, having died in 1995 when he was 82. But his life is captured in evocative and, frankly, jaw-dropping detail in a film titled "A Doctor's Sword."

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Like a lot of witnesses to the inhumanity of war, MacCarthy talked little of his experiences in World War II. Whatever horrors and indignities he carried back from that time he kept to himself. The only physical manifestation of his war years was in the form of a Samurai sword that he brought home with him and that hangs in the family pub in his hometown of Castletownbere in southwestern Ireland. The film focuses on MacCarthy's daughters' efforts to uncover the story of that sword.

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"It was a long shot," says one of them.

This film  more about it in a moment  is the centerpiece of next weekend's 2nd Annual Irish American Movie Hooley at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. It's a modest but substantial festival that was begun last year by Chicago's indefatigable Mike Houlihan, who writes, acts, makes movies, co-hosts a radio show and generally exhibits enough creative energy for a dozen people.

The festival began, actually, with one of his films, the charming "Our Irish Cousins," which follows Houlihan to his roots in Ireland. He was pleased by the film's successful premiere at the Siskel Center in 2013. "That was just great," said Houlihan. "But then I had no success at all getting it accepted into various Irish film festivals. So I thought, what about Irish-American festivals? And that's when I learned, shockingly, that there weren't any."

And so he started his own. It was held last September to sellout crowds, compelling the ever-optimistic Houlihan to say at the time, "I think I got lucky to have three great films. Maybe next year we'll have a dozen."

That did not happen. "After the first festival I did meet a lot of Irish-American filmmakers," he now says. "And saw a lot of good films. But I finally decided to keep it again to three."

That was a wise choice.

In addition to the previously mentioned triumph "A Doctor's Sword," the festival begins with "Beneath Disheveled Stars" (8 p.m. Friday). It was written, directed and filmed by its star, Kevin Baggott, who plays the lead role of Bobby, a superintendent of a few bedraggled Brooklyn buildings who tries to fulfill his dead mother's last wish, which was to have her ashes scattered on the grave of her first love in Ireland.

It is not a good trip. Toting nothing more than those ashes and a cellphone, Bobby makes his way to the small southwestern coastal village of Kilcrohane. While trying to deal by phone with mounting troubles back in NYC  a boss wondering where he is; the goof who he has filling in for him asking inane questions; trying to borrow money from his daughter and estranged wife who left him for his own brother; his girlfriend and her leave-my-sister-alone brother; and his besotted dad wandering Coney Island  he encounters characters and problems aplenty.

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Such is his condition that he says at one point, "Sometimes I am a stranger to myself."

Alternately hilarious, touching and haunting, the movie is shadowed by a sense of increasing uneasiness that gives it a compelling, can't-stop-watching tension.

More I cannot, will not, tell you, but that Baggott will be present for the screening and, after that, an audience discussion and a reception at the Emerald Loop Bar a couple of blocks away from the Siskel Center at 216 N. Wabash Ave.

The third film, "The Lark's View" (5 p.m. Oct. 2) is a thoughtful and stunning melding of words and images, all on the topic and meaning of place.

The Gaelic title is "Fis na Fuiseoige," and it wisely carries English subtitles as it digs into  with beautiful cinematography, featuring many aerial shots  the deep connection to the land in mythology, history and legend. Director Aodh O Coileain, who will also attend the screening and a discussion, has gathered such contemporary poets as Paddy Bushe, Biddy Jenkinson and others for on-camera conversation and readings. It forcefully makes the case for the importance of the survival of the Irish language.

And now, back to "A Doctor's Sword" (8 p.m. Saturday). Here too, I don't want to give away too much. And so, in brief, Aidan MacCarthy was a doctor who enlisted in the Royal Air Force and survived the bombings and "friendly fire" on the beach at Dunkirk; was for three years a Japanese prisoner of war in Java; was shipwrecked after a U.S. torpedo attack; and wound up in Nagasaki, where he survived the atomic bomb that leveled that city on Aug. 9, 1945, and killed some 70,000 people.

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Produced by Bob Jackson (who will be here for the screening/discussion) and directed by Gary Lennon, the film uses interviews  including those MacCarthy taped for a radio documentary shortly before his death and which first aired on the day of his funeral  as well as terrific archival footage and starkly gripping animation, as its cameras follow the trip to Japan by MacCarthy's eldest daughter, Nicola, to track down the story behind the sword.

Her only clue is a photograph that her father had kept, a small shot of a man, with a note and the name "Kusuno" on its back. She successfully, emotionally unravels the mystery. She and the filmmakers do her father proud while giving all an unforgettable 70 minutes.

rkogan@chicagotribune.com

MORE FROM RICK KOGAN:

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
NEW YORK  James Patterson has decided that an upcoming novel, "The Murder of Stephen King," wasn't a good idea after all and is having the scheduled Nov. 1 publication withdrawn.



In a statement released Thursday through Little, Brown and Company, Patterson said he didn't want to cause King or his family "any discomfort." The book was intended as a tribute to King, a King-like story of an obsessed fan out to get the writer. But Patterson, who co-authored the 150-page novel with Derek Nikitas, said he had learned that fans in real life had "disrupted" King's home.



"My book is a positive portrayal of a fictional character, and, spoiler alert, the main character is not actually murdered," he said. "Nevertheless, I do not want to cause Stephen King or his family any discomfort. Out of respect for them, I have decided not to publish 'The Murder of Stephen King.'"



Despite the jarring title and Patterson's best-seller status, the novel ranked just No. 30,491 on Amazon.com as of midday Thursday. King had no involvement with the book and declined to comment last week when asked about it by The Associated Press.



Patterson told the AP last week that he and King don't know each other, although there is some public history between them. In a 2009 interview with USA Weekend, King said Patterson was "a terrible writer but he's very successful." Patterson, speaking to the AP, shrugged off the remarks as "hyperbole."



The novel about King was a featured work in the prolific Patterson's BookShots series of brief, inexpensive fiction. As a replacement, he will be releasing the novel "Taking the Titanic" in November.



Associated Press







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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Actress, writer, producer and director Angelina Jolie Pitt and her husband, actor Brad Pitt, pose on the red carpet for the opening night premiere of their new film, "By the Sea," at AFI Fest 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

In an age where too many celebrities are famous for little more than being famous, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt occupy a spot in the Hollywood firmament matched only by the stars of yesteryear  Bogart and Bacall, Tracy and Hepburn, even Burton and Taylor. The married couple are equals in the way few movie stars are.

Both Jolie and Pitt are accomplished actors  gilded by Oscar, firmly on the A-list  but both have also transcended their acting. She has segued into directing, him producing, and they've both become champions for social causes at home and abroad. Through a careful management of their image and social media footprint, they conjured the glamour of the movie stars of old.

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So when Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt in a Los Angeles court Tuesday, even those who usually steer clear of such tabloid fodder took notice. Pitt, 52, and Jolie, 41, aren't your average Hollywood celebrity couple falling out of love.

"They came from an era before celebrities were doing their own social media," said Vanessa Diaz, a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA and assistant professor at Cal State Fullerton who specializes in pop culture. "What celebrity means, looks like, sounds like, is changing. All of the changes in media, like reality TV, make it so Brangelina is one of the last old Hollywood kind of couples. Two of the biggest movie stars coming together.

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"Now, at a time when a lot of the couples are Kardashians, it's a different era of celebrity," Diaz continued. "You can turn on any time of day and see what Kanye and Kim are doing. There was a limited window into Brangelina's life. It had mystery and mystique."

Film critic and historian Leonard Maltin said that "we don't know anything about their private lives, really, nor is it any of our business, really. But they're both successful and attractive people who have been forced to live at least some of their lives in public. So the public feels a certain ownership, whether they're entitled to or not."

Yet together they managed to walk a path that was public when it served their purposes  as when Jolie revealed in a 2013 New York Times Op-Ed that she had a double mastectomy to raise breast cancer awareness  and private when they chose to be. And rather than nurture Instagram followers, they chased their creative passions.

But for all their iconoclastic nature, they met in that most conventional Hollywood way: on a film set. It was 2004, while they were co-starring in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," shortly after Jolie ended her marriage to actor Billy Bob Thornton  and Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston.

And that's when the media, which had always had its eye on Pitt and Jolie separately, became obsessed. Brangelina was born.

"Brangelina has a lot of meaning behind it because it's not just Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie," Diaz said. "Brangelina is more than a pronoun. It's an adjective. People use it to describe things. It means whirlwind romance, extravagance, a particular kind of sexiness, lavishness, glamour, an exotic life they represented."

The two became Brangelina before they married in 2014, when they were reinterpreting the modern family by having three children out of wedlock, and adopted three more from various countries including Ethiopia and Cambodia.

While doing blockbuster films like "Tomb Raider," Jolie was also busy raising awareness about the plight of refugees, traveling to Iraq and other war-torn regions, eventually becoming a UN special envoy. Pitt worked to rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

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Jolie perhaps took the biggest leap for a celebrity of her caliber when she revealed her choice to have a mastectomy. In promoting breast cancer awareness, she explained that her decision was based on her genetic predisposition toward breast cancer. The piece garnered worldwide attention.

Yet the exposure that either of them sought was often on their own terms. Jolie and Pitt remained strategically aloof by carefully cultivating their celebrity image, showing up on red carpets, working the paparazzi and even selling their own authorized photos of their kids to media outlets.

"They have been lead characters in the tabloid soap opera for so long, seldom far from magazine headlines, that this [divorce] is much like a surprise Friday cliffhanger from soap operas of old," said Dr. Karen Sternheimer, author of "Celebrity Culture and the American Dream: Stardom and Social Mobility."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 45 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)

The pair separated Sept. 15, according to court documents, a little over two years after they married in August 2014.

In her divorce filing Tuesday, Jolie cited irreconcilable differences, and according to People magazine and TMZ, Jolie has asked for physical custody of all six children.

Jolie's attorney has said she wouldn't be commenting on the divorce filing, but Pitt released his own statement to People magazine. "I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the well-being of our kids," he said. "I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time."

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But rumors about a troubled relationship dogged them for years.

It was all par for the course for the couple, whose relationship has ended many times over the years in the headlines of gossip publications.

Both actors started out as pretty faces in an industry rife with beauty but soon made names for themselves in breakthrough roles. For Pitt, it was as the lawless love interest in "Thelma and Louise." For Jolie, it was as the reckless, troubled young women in "Girl, Interrupted" (she won a supporting actress Oscar for the role).

Before meeting Pitt, Jolie had a reputation as a wild child. She has admitted cutting herself and using drugs including cocaine, LSD, ecstasy and heroin.

"I did the most dangerous and I did the worst and for many reasons I shouldn't be here," she told "60 Minutes" in 2011.

In the wake of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Aniston and Pitt separated in January 2005. He and Jolie went public as a couple soon after  famously prompting fans to declare allegiance to "Team Aniston" or "Team Jolie."

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Pitt would later admit to falling in love with Jolie while filming but not to infidelity. In May 2006, Jolie and Pitt welcomed their first biological child, daughter Shiloh.

They reinvented themselves over time as they presented a united front and embodied the image of a socially conscious, modern family.

In October 2014, she was named an honorary dame and met with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, and this May it was announced that she'd be a visiting professor at the London School of Economics' Centre for Women, Peace and Security.

Their last film together, 2015's "By the Sea," is now being mined for clues into the couple's now-defunct marriage. Jolie perhaps knew then it would be scrutinized.

"Brad and I have our issues, but if the characters were even remotely close to our problems we couldn't have made the film," she told the Telegraph earlier in 2015. "We have days when we drive each other absolutely mad and want space, but the problems in the movie aren't our specific problems."

Times staff writer Christie D'Zurilla contributed to this report.

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To read the article in Spanish, click here

ALSO

Say it ain't so: Hollywood reacts to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt divorce news

Revisiting Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's movies in divorce-enabled hindsight

Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt exchanged love letters while filming abroad

Brad Pitt on raising kids: 'Our life is their normal ... we're migratory workers in a sense'
Mike Daisey, monologist and the creator of "The Trump Card," will perform the piece for one night only in Chicago to kick off the run of Theater Wit's production.

Daisey will perform his monologue examining the rise of the nation's potential next commander-in-chief on Sat. Oct. 15 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.

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Performing in the regular run of the show is Elizabeth Ledo (Oct. 18-23), Joe Foust (Oct. 25-30) and Steven Stafford (Nov. 1-8). As previously announced, artistic director Jeremy Wechsler will direct.

"The Trump Card" runs Oct. 18-Nov. 8 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.

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Daisey's previous shows include "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs" and "American Utopias," which he performed at the Chicago Humanities Festival in 2012.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP)
The dining room at the new Zurich North America headquarters in Schaumburg. The 11-story building is scheduled for a Wednesday ribbon-cutting and an October move-in. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Suburban office buildings tend to be cut from the same dull cookie-cutter, so when one comes along that grabs your eye, it's an event. Such is the case with the impressive new Zurich North America headquarters along Interstate Highway 90 in Schaumburg.

The light-blue, 11-story structure, scheduled for a Wednesday ribbon-cutting and an October move-in, makes you think that a giant child was playing a giant game of blocks and went off to grab a giant glass of milk while leaving the blocks slightly askew.

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The biggest of the blocks, some 500 feet long, spans over two smaller ones while its ends hang over them, seemingly precariously. That's quite a change from the conventional image of insurance companies like Zurich: solid, stable, even a little boring. Yet the arrangement seems to make functional sense, particularly on the wellness front.

Narrow office floors, infused with natural light, are furnished with 2,500 sit-stand desks. There are gathering points throughout, including a hip first-floor coffee bar sheathed in faceted walnut. The 40-acre site offers walking trails and volleyball courts in addition to the usual spouting fountain.

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In many respects, however, this a traditional suburban office complex. Just about all the employees will drive to work and park in a six-level garage. The executives have their offices on the top floor. Some things don't change.

Developed by the Chicago office of Clayco for Swiss-based Zurich, which insures businesses, the $350 million building defies the current trend of suburban companies moving downtown. Zurich stayed put in Schaumburg, where it has long occupied two 20-story towers, because most of its workforce lives nearby. Schaumburg also provided millions in property tax breaks, company officials said.

As designed by Paul De Santis of the Chicago architectural firm Goettsch Partners, the building consists of two narrow office blocks, each five stories tall. The bridgelike top block, which is rotated to face downtown Chicago, spans a jaw-dropping 180 feet between them.

The arrangement creates a spectacle made for the highway, where buildings are viewed at high speed and across great distances rather than at the measured pace and from the close-range perspective of a pedestrian on a city sidewalk. The driver racing by experiences an enlivening tension between four-square strength and off-kilter dynamism.

Many architects these days are designing buildings as stacked blocks, undoubtedly drawn to this visual trope by the prospect of bold sculptural form. But here, the device is more than a one-liner.

The lower blocks are skewed so sunlight can reach into outdoor spaces, including a sunken plaza that's shielded from the noise of passing vehicles. The facades are carefully, if unremarkably, detailed, with projecting sunshades of varying depths lending texture to the otherwise sleek skins. A free-standing pavilion, which will be used for conferences, brings the giant-sized blocks down to a human scale. Care has even gone into the garages, whose vast expanses of pavement are broken up by courtyard-like openings that draw in natural light.

It seems contradictory that a car-centric building like this could merit coveted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum status. Yet there are many green features, from planted roofs to a south-facing "double-wall," which consists of two walls of glass with a large cavity of air in between. In winter, the cavity will act like a thermos that insulates the building. Throughout, sensor-driven blinds will shield the interior from the blazing sun.

As shaped by Mark Hirons and his team from the Chicago office of CannonDesign, the interior reflects a Swiss preference for clean-lined simplicity and the desire of Zurich North America's chief executive, Mike Foley, to promote more engagement among employees. Such interaction can be hard to achieve in tall office buildings, where people from different departments tend to meet up only in elevators.

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In contrast, the new building has a three-story dining room; "social hubs," filled with chairs and tables, on every floor; and a conference area that will prevent the need to go to hotels for meeting and training sessions. Picking up on the faceted wood underside of the building's top bar, Cannon has woven that thread throughout the meeting zones with folded wood walls and ceilings that resemble Japanese origami.

In keeping with today's efficiency-driven business world, most of the office spaces are more densely-packed than in Zurich's current quarters. Yet the thinness of the blocks enables natural light to penetrate into the work spaces from two sides. One of the upper floors features a striking, three-story work space, enlivened by the trusses. "Heads-down" employees like actuaries and underwriters will work in less-open zones that strive to be "neighborhoods," not cube farms. A balcony, carved into the upper floors, looks to downtown Chicago.

Will the eye-catching building, which cost about 5 percent more than a conventional structure, improve Zurich's bottom line? Perhaps, but still-struggling Sears hoped for similar benefits when it moved out of then-Sears Tower to a corporate campus in Hoffman Estates in the 1990s.

This much can be said with certainty about the new Zurich building: Its synthesis of structural expression, sustainability and architectural showmanship makes for a powerful display as you pass by on the highway. The big question now is whether the reality of this building-block architecture turns out to be as compelling as the imagery.

bkamin@tribpub.com

Twitter @BlairKamin
The city is just days into test-driving a traffic diversion plan in one Northwest Side neighborhood, but a fair number of residents are already asking to put the brakes on it.

At a community meeting Thursday night in Albany Park, residents vented to 33rd Ward Ald. Deb Mell and others about the pilot project known as the Manor diverter, which began Monday and forces motorists driving north and south on Manor to turn east or west onto Wilson, offering some breathing space for pedestrians and bicyclists. North and south turns from Wilson and Manor aren't allowed.

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The Manor diverter pilot project is being considered as a permanent part of a proposed Manor Greenway, which aims to calm traffic and create a better climate for pedestrians and cyclists between Horner and Ronan parks. While many of the roughly 100 people who attended the meeting at the Horner Park field house expressed support for the Manor Greenway project, many others said they didn't like the diverter because it cuts off access and moves traffic to other streets. Others said they wished they were involved earlier in the process.

"Do we really have to go this far to address these issues? To address whatever concerns these people have, do we really have to make it a diverter?" said Stephanie Dragovich, 67, who lives on West Leland Avenue, north of Wilson. "It's historically meant to be a thoroughfare. There isn't a north-south passageway through for a mile, and traffic all around us is so many times worse before this diverter."

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Dragovich said speed bumps and stoplights should have been considered instead of blocking off the streets to get drivers to slow down. That way, people like her and others who live north of Wilson could get to and from their homes more easily than under the diverter plan being tested. She also said she has never seen enough of a traffic problem to warrant a solution.

Others disagreed, saying that their cars had been sideswiped and that their children were in danger of being hit by a car or a bike. They also said the diverter helps decrease the volume of traffic and increase the safety of the neighborhood.

"I have young children, and it's very dangerous. People blow through the stop signs, they speed down the way, it's very difficult to even cross Manor with my kids on their bikes, going to the park," said Alison Ryan, 44, who lives on West Agatite Avenue, south of Wilson. "I appreciate what they're trying to do. It's just a test. I'm a bit shocked at some of the reasons people have. I get it, it's inconvenient for me, too, but it's a test that these guys are trying to put through to see if it will help, and I say let them do their job."

Ryan said she hopes people will see the "greater good" and withhold judgment until data are collected by the Chicago Department of Transportation.

John Bowley, 45, of Albany Park, said he's concerned about the lack of communication leading up to the diverter pilot.

"If it had been a little more transparent, if everybody found out about it at the same time, if it wasn't like a small group of homeowners, a dozen people or 10 people even, got a sneak preview, and then it was set out for everybody else to fight, if we all had talked about it in the planning stages, we wouldn't be at this point," Bowley said.

Mell said during the meeting that there have historically been complaints about traffic congestion at the Manor and Wilson intersection and hopes to find a solution. She said she hopes to hear more feedback as the project continues.

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

"A lot of people are passionate about their neighborhood, and they're expressing their approval, disapproval, whatever the comments may be. I took them all in, and I look forward to seeing what happens in the coming weeks," Mell said.

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Mell said it was clear that residents north of Wilson Avenue were more affected and is grateful that CDOT representatives were available to answer questions.

Mike Amsden, assistant director of transportation planning for CDOT, said he understands people want to know what is going on and are concerned about access to their homes.

"We want to see where traffic goes," Amsden said. "There's no magic number. If we need to look at other mitigation efforts we will, but ultimately it comes down to the data we present and how the community responds to it."

The test trial runs through Nov. 18.

gwong@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GraceWong630
Gary

Beth-Eden Baptist Church: 2330 Whitcomb St.  The Usherboard will present 12 Keys to God's Resources at 4 p.m. Sunday. Information: contact Rosa L. Adams at 219-887-0737.

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Christ Baptist Church: 4700 E. 7th Ave.  The Food Pantry Ministry will distribute food on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 24. Identification is required. Bring large bags or boxes. The Soup Kitchen Ministry will serve from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning Sept. 24. The Women for Christ Ministry will hold its Monthly Clothing Give-Away from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 24. Information: 219-938-5504.

El Bethel Apostolic Church: 2316 Taney Place  The 35th Women's Day Service will be at noon Oct. 2. The theme is "Being Strong in the Lord." The noon speaker will be Evangelist Joe Evelyn Henderson of Apostolic Church, Dixmoor, IL. The 4 p.m. speaker will be Evangelist Dr. Ann Burton of Christ Temple Apostolic, Indianapolis.

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First Baptist Church: 626 W. 21st Ave.  The annual Men's Day Service will be at 10:45 a.m. Sept. 25. The theme is "Godly Men on a Godly Mission," Scripture reference 1 Corinthians 15: 57-58. The guest speaker will be Dr. James Thomas from New York. The colors are blue and white. A luncheon will follow the service. Information: 219-883-3216.

Marquette Park United Methodist Church: 215 N. Grand Blvd.  Senior Yoga will be held at noon Tuesday and Friday for $3 and at noon Thursday for $4 which includes lunch. The 1st Saturday Outreach Lunch will be held at noon on the first Saturday of each month. Information: 219-938-4106.

Mt. Calvary Church: 1001 Garfield St.  The 52nd anniversary of the church will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Oct. 7. The theme is "The Church a Solid Rock." Preston Ezell, New Life Missionary Baptist Church will be guest speaker. The Rev. Dr. David Neville, Jr., Pastor of Unity A.M.E. Zion Church will be guest speaker at 3 p.m. Oct. 9. Information: 219-883-3608.

Mt. Zion Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ: 4937 Massachusetts St.  The Annual Clothes Give-away will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct 8. The public is invited. Bring your own bags.

St. Paul Church: 2300 Grant St. --- The St. Paul Mass Choir Annual Day will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 24. The theme is "After 100 Years, Still Covered by the Blood of Jesus." Invited guests include Voices of Love, Altovise Ferguson, Cliff Gober, Whosoever Will Choir and the Hearnes Family. Guest speaker will be Sister Shanell L. Manuel.

St. Timothy Community Church: 1600 W. 25th Ave.  A worship service to celebrate the 90-year anniversary of the church will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 25. Rev. Dr. Earl G. Harris of NOC African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dayton, Ohio, will be guest speaker. The Sanctuary Choir will perform the annual choir concert at 4 p.m. Information: 219-977-0079 or visit www.sttimothychurch.org.

Merrillville

The Love Church and The Healing Wings Clinic: 6844 Broadway St.  Healing and Deliverance Services will be at 10:30 a.m. and at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 25. Information: 219-769-5683.

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Portage

St. Peter Lutheran Church: 6540 Central Ave.  A Trunk or Treat event will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 22 in the church parking lot. Candy, mini-hayrides and a haunted house will be free. A concession stand will be available. A Christmas Vendor/Bake Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 12, featuring "Fitz and Floyd" Christmas glassware. Vendor spaces are $20 each. Information: 219-762-2673.

Email church announcements to Paul Eisenberg at peisenberg@tribpub.com.
A former Chicago man charged with sexually assaulting one woman and killing another in the city more than 13 years ago was added today to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list.

Fidel Urbina, 37, has been on the run since 1999, according to Robert Grant, the special agent in charge of the FBI office in Chicago. His last known address was in the 2100 block of South Fairfield Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood.

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Urbina was arrested by Chicago police in March 1998 and charged with kidnapping, beating and sexually assaulting a woman, according to the FBI. But while free on bond awaiting trial, he allegedly raped and fatally beat Gabriella Torres, 22, the FBI said. He allegedly left her body in the trunk of a car in Gage Park in the 2300 block of West 50th Street and lit the car on fire. Urbina has since been charged in Torres' killing.

"These crimes have demonstrated his violent nature and the need to locate and apprehend Urbina before he can strike again," Grant said. "We are hoping that the publicity associated with this case, along with the significant reward being offered, will lead to his arrest."

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A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading to his discovery and arrest.

Urbina is the 497thperson to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list since it was established in 1950, the FBI said.

Urbina replaces Adam Christopher Mayes on the FBI's list of its most wanted fugitives. Mayes was wanted in connection with the murder of a woman and her daughter and the kidnapping of the woman's two small children from their home in Tennessee, but he killed himself when confronted by authorities last month, according to the FBI.

Urbina, a Mexican national, is described by the FBI as 6 feet tall. He has a medium build and weighs about 170 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes and a pockmarked right cheek. He has used several aliases, including Lorenzo Maes, Fernando Ramos and Fidel Urbina Aquirre, according to the FBI.

Anyone with information about Urbina is asked to call the FBI's Chicago office at (312) 421-6700 or the nearest law enforcement agency.

rhaggerty@tribune.com

Twitter @RyanTHaggerty
The judge in the rancorous, seven-year divorce of the multimillionaire founder of Cancer Treatment Centers of America has indicated he's losing patience and won't delay the trial yet again.

"This case has to proceed," McHenry County Circuit Judge James Cowlin said at a recent hearing, according to a transcript. "It's got to be done before I retire. ... It's just been going on way too long."

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Attorneys for cancer hospitals founder Richard Stephenson and his ex-wife Alicia have traded claims of hiding documents, revealing confidential information, insulting the court and endlessly prolonging the case.

The couple's marriage was formally dissolved in April, but they have yet to resolve the bottom line  the value and division of their property, as well as what maintenance Richard must pay  and the case is due to head to trial Oct. 17 if they can't reach a settlement first.

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In court documents filed this week, Alicia Stephenson's attorneys claim that her former husband's assets exceed $1 billion, and that, as his own attorneys have admitted, he has the ability to pay any reasonable amount of maintenance, or alimony. Richard Stephenson's attorneys have claimed the other camp has inflated figures that seek to quantify his wealth.

The couple, whose lawyers are due back in court for another pretrial hearing Friday, had a prenuptial agreement that their property would revert to pre-marriage ownership if they divorced. The agreement has been upheld in court, but Alicia's attorneys argued that she had businesses in her name that were part of her husband's financial empire, to which she was entitled.

After years of fighting over that issue, the parties have now agreed that Alicia Stephenson has an interest in 10 business holdings, some that are worth substantial sums, said her attorney, Elizabeth Felt Wakeman.

As an example, she cited International Capital & Management Co., which she said paid $141 million in distributions and dividends in one year. With a 20-percent ownership interest, she estimated, Alicia Stephenson should have received about $28 million from that in just one year.

But getting financial documents from Richard Stephenson's camp remains a point of contention. Michael Berger, another of Alicia Stephenson's attorneys, asserts that in his 40 years as a divorce lawyer, he'd never seen a court allow such "obstructionist" refusal to share financial documents.

"She is entitled to her day in court," Berger said.

Richard Stephenson's attorneys have scoffed at such claims, saying they have shared required information, and denying that the properties are worth as much as Alicia Stephenson's lawyer say. Most of them were sold or worthless or "hocked to the gills," according to Richard's lead attorney, David Grund, who countered that he'd never seen such disrespectful behavior by an opposing attorney in his career.

Grund said in court that Richard Stephenson has offered a "global resolution" with sufficient funds to avoid maintenance, but that reaching any agreement remained a "difficult situation."

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As one indicator of how much money is at stake, early in the case, the judge awarded Alicia temporary payments during the divorce proceedings of $65,800 a month, or nearly $800,000 each year, which over seven years would amount to more than $5 million.

As with any divorce, the dispute marks a long way from where the couple began.

When the two married in 1991, Richard was a 51-year-old divorced father of four. He was also an investment banker who had recently started his Schaumburg-based hospital network with its first medical center in Zion, saying he was motivated in part by the death of his mother from cancer. Alicia was a 26-year-old making modest money as a model and fashion coordinator.

They celebrated a storybook wedding at their 120-acre Tudor Oaks estate in Barrington Hills, with five days of festivities. During their marriage, they traveled the world and stayed in three different homes, each with its own staff. They had one daughter, now grown. But by 2009, the relationship had soured, and Alicia filed for divorce, claiming "irreconcilable differences" and "mental cruelty."

By now, the case is on its second main judge and has involved numerous attorneys, two contempt of court orders, two appellate court rulings and even an obscene gesture flashed from one lawyer to another in court.

At a recent court hearing, Grund said Richard Stephenson is a fair man who wants to end the litigation.

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"He's civic-minded," Grund said. "He's charitable. He raises hundreds of millions of dollars for charity for children and the poor who can't obtain proper care for their cancers. He's a man that's known for his impeccable honesty and impeccable integrity. He has an enormous heart, and he's got a great mind."

Richard Stephenson's attorneys have repeatedly asked to seal court documents relating to his wealth, describing him as a very private man. While an early batch of financial records with confidential information was sealed, the judge recently rejected requests to seal financial agreements and attorney fees, which run into the millions of dollars.

"We're public courts," Cowlin said. "We're supposed to be open to the public.  I've had other litigants in my courtroom who make a lot of money. It's disclosed. On the other hand, I've had a lot of litigants in my courtroom who make little or no money. They would probably like that to be kept private too, because they're embarrassed about it. But nevertheless, it's disclosed. That's the general rule."

In the divorce case, a trial date has been set and delayed at least a half dozen times. Alicia Richardson's attorneys have repeatedly asked for more time to get depositions and documents. The case involves more than 250 business entities or properties, and 25,000 pages of records, and a trial could involve more than 100 potential witnesses. The trial has been delayed several times before.

Cancer Treatment Centers of America, now based in Boca Raton, Fla., has five privately owned for-profit hospitals nationwide, with Richard Stephenson as chairman of the board. In May, the company announced that it laid off 350 workers, including 81 in Zion, to adjust to the new health care economy. It also completed an $84 million renovation of the Zion hospital last year, and reported revenue of $615 million there in 2014, but the facility was only half-full that year, according to filings with an Illinois health facilities review board.

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com

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A former Chicago man charged with sexually assaulting one woman and killing another in 1998, and added to the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list in 2012, has been arrested in Mexico City.

Fidel Urbina, 37, has been on the run since 1999. His last known address was in the 2100 block of South Fairfield Avenue in the Little Village neighborhood. Prosecutors in Mexico on Thursday said they have detained Urbina, a Mexican citizen.

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The federal attorney general's office in Mexico said Thursday that Urbina was detained on a U.S. extradition warrant in a tiny hamlet named El Polvo in a remote part of the border state of Chihuahua.

Urbina was arrested by Chicago police in March 1998 and charged with kidnapping, beating and sexually assaulting a woman, according to the FBI. But while free on bond awaiting trial, he sexually assaulted and fatally beat Gabriella Torres, 22, the FBI said. He left her body in the trunk of a car in Gage Park in the 2300 block of West 50th Street and lit the car on fire. Urbina has since been charged in Torres' killing.

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A reward of up to $100,000 had been offered for information leading to his discovery and arrest.
According to a confidential state report obtained by the Tribune, Laquan McDonald's homicide and 10 others involving state wards who died in street violence should give pause to Illinois child welfare, juvenile courts and educational systems. (Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

When Laquan McDonald was hospitalized for psychiatric problems at age 11, his responses on a sentence completion test revealed the emotional wounds he carried from a difficult childhood.

"Bad," the boy said when asked to come up with one word that describes his view of the world. Another question asked: What does every child get? Rather than "a hug" or "a toy," McDonald's answer was "punched."

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His violent death nearly six years later after a confrontation with Chicago police has incited outrage and calls for reform within the city's Police Department and state's attorney's office. But, according to a confidential state report obtained by the Tribune, his homicide and 10 others involving state wards who died in street violence should give pause to Illinois' child welfare, juvenile courts and educational systems as well.

McDonald was one of a record-high 11 youths killed while in the Department of Children and Family Services' care during a two-year period through June 30, 2015, and examined by its Office of Inspector General. The sad trend is continuing, officials said, with at least seven more teenage wards slain since Jan. 1. That's about double compared with most years and mirrors the larger trend of widespread violence plaguing the city.

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The slain youths were rescued from childhoods of alleged abuse and neglect, but their teenage years after government intervention surrounded by gangs and city violence proved just as unstable, DCFS inspector general investigators found.

The unfiltered 119-page homicide report and its recommendations are based on interviews and the office's access to protected records, gleaned through subpoenas, from police, DCFS, schools, hospitals, the medical examiner, and juvenile delinquency and child protection courts.

The report, finalized this summer, does not identify the youths, but a Tribune review of other public records and interviews revealed the names behind the complex personal stories.

Police discovered Robert Waldon at age 3 abandoned in a drug house on the city's West Side. Dai'Jonn Danzy came to the state's attention when he was born with cocaine in his system. Officers found Rashad Oliver and his five siblings in an abandoned roach-infested house in Maywood.

Their homicides often were "triggered by what might appear to be trivial matters, such as a previous fight, an insult, or a taunt delivered on social media," the report said. The wards were shot, stabbed and, in one case, set on fire and dumped in the trash.

The crime scenes often were littered with shell casings, another sign of high-powered handguns with multiround clips that proliferate on city streets. Police made arrests in nearly half the homicides.

Most were born to young single mothers who struggled with substance abuse issues. They ranged in age from 14 to 20 and bounced around among relatives, shelters, foster homes and group and residential facilities in Chicago and the suburbs.

Two were high school graduates with plans to go to college.

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Still, all but one of them grew up to embrace the gangs and drugs that saturated their impoverished neighborhoods. The majority committed crimes, some violent. McDonald had 26 juvenile arrests by 17 before his fatal encounter with a Chicago police officer. Only two ever held a job.

Their caregivers often failed them, and their own bad decisions put them in harm's way. A common thread of hopelessness was evident.

"Dreams die young," Oliver, the youngest of the profiled teens, scribbled on an undated piece of paper found in his case file. "So live with it. I did."

Besides intractable societal problems, the report identified failures in a system tasked not only with keeping the youth safe, but also with helping them become productive adults. Among the highlights:

Most of the youths attended low-performing schools, and all had poor reading and math scores that were identified early on without meaningful intervention.

At least four were exposed at a young age to lead poisoning, which has been linked to developmental delays, academic difficulties and violence.

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The teens often languished in the system without stable homes. Some were placed for long periods in emergency shelters beyond a court-allowed 30 days. Some teens complained they were placed in rival gang territories. Two were gunned down outside their state-paid homes. Also disturbing, in some cases, professionals failed to notify police when a ward was alleged to have a gun.

Some of the youths ended up with elderly relatives who, beyond receiving a monthly subsidy check, were offered inadequate services to raise a teen with learning disabilities, or mental health, substance abuse or behavioral problems.

Investigators also identified communication breakdowns throughout the system, including between DCFS and its service providers and personnel in child protection and juvenile delinquency courts.

DCFS Inspector General Denise Kane urged a reinvestment in the city's poorest communities. The report's recommendations range in scope from remedial tutoring and paying DCFS providers to pick up kids for school and recreational programs to more advanced strategies, such as creating a transitional place for drug- or alcohol-addicted youth in the early stages of their recovery.

"If we're not going to do it and we're supposed to be child welfare, then take away the name. We should be called something else." Kane said. "We have to be proactive. We've got a commitment to stop the violence and give these families all the help they need."

DCFS Director George Sheldon agreed with many of the inspector general's findings. He took over DCFS last year as its ninth leader in five years. He has made it a priority to shrink residential group placements and is trying to develop therapeutic foster homes. He noted other steps underway to help strengthen Illinois' most broken families, including an effort to bring in $2.7 billion in federal funds through a Medicaid waiver for the care of people with mental illness and substance abuse issues.

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Sheldon acknowledged "these kids in most, if not all, of the cases were not served well by the department." But, for real intervention to come, the director said it's a job far bigger than government and must include nonprofit, business and philanthropic entities.

"Ultimately," he said, "it's got to be a communitywide conversation."

No place to call home

Of the 11 youths studied, 14-year-old Rashad Oliver was the only one not involved in the juvenile justice system for a crime.

He was shot in the head Jan. 25, 2015, minutes after leaving a friend's home in south suburban Riverdale. The friend told police Oliver was rushing to make an 8 p.m. curfew set by his foster mom. It was his fifth foster home in less than five years.

From a young age, violence surrounded him. According to the report, the sound of crackling gunfire frightened him as a child on the city's West Side. His mom was 15 when he was born. His father was nine years older. Oliver's mom had five more children by the time he was 10.

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The boy had a long history of physical abuse, including being burned and hit with belts and extension cords, the inspector general said. His family at times lived in homeless shelters as his parents dealt with substance abuse problems, the report said.

In August 2010, the state took the children into protective custody after police found them living in an abandoned house in Maywood without working utilities or running water and with maggots, roaches and mold. The goal was for the family to be reunited once the parents completed treatment and could provide better care, but, when that didn't happen, the children remained in the system.

Oliver moved between three foster homes that first month due to his aggressive behavior and unwillingness to follow directions. He found stability away from his siblings in a new foster home in South Holland, but, due to an undisclosed licensing issue, workers removed him after six months.

"This move was described (by Oliver) as upsetting and traumatic," the report said.

He did well during his final placement in Riverdale. But the foster mother whom he had forged a bond with since April 2013 was moving to Tennessee. He was scheduled to move in with another foster family  his sixth  the week after he died.

His shooting was captured on a surveillance camera. Police arrested two suspects, one of whom allegedly mistook Oliver for a rival gang member and targeted him to exact revenge for an earlier shooting.

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Lure of gangs

All but one of the 11 slain youths was at least peripherally tied to a gang.

Experts say a shift in how Chicago's gangs are organized along with the availability of guns has contributed to pervasive violence.

As the Tribune earlier reported, instead of vast swaths of the inner city under the control of large, structured gangs, small leaderless factions claim to control patches of neighborhoods, and members often resort to deadly violence as a first response to settle even the pettiest of fights.

This shift is even more deadly for DCFS teens who are placed in shelters and group homes, sometimes in rival territories, the inspector general's report said. In fact, records show some teens complained prior to being placed in a facility that their presence there would put them at risk.

"Merely traveling around their neighborhood, on foot, can be a perilous task ... just being an unrecognized face could invite violence," the inspector general wrote. "The effect that this fear has on the ability of these wards to successfully adjust to a placement cannot be underestimated."

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Two teens died just outside their state-paid facilities.

If we're not going to do it and we're supposed to be child welfare, then take away the name. We should be called something else.  DCFS Inspector General Denise Kane

On Nov. 21, 2014, 19-year-old Dai'Jonn Danzy was shot multiple times in a parking lot behind the Adapt Community Alternatives building in Maywood where he had lived for six months. He was ambushed after returning from the store. Six spent shell casings were found near his body, along with strewn bottles of juice and bags of chips.

Another DCFS ward who lived there is facing first-degree murder charges.

The state intervened when hospital staff called the DCFS hotline to report Danzy was born with cocaine in his system. His case was closed two years later, but, just before his 16th birthday, the agency became involved again when Danzy was reportedly homeless.

By then, he had grown into a troubled teen with self-admitted gang ties and a juvenile record for a robbery at his high school.

A judge in late 2011 granted DCFS temporary custody of the teen, who over the next two years frequently ran away from shelters and got into trouble at a group home. Of one shelter in particular, the inspector general reported, Danzy repeatedly voiced concerns.

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"Too many Mos," he said, referring to the street name for members of the rival Black P Stones gang.

He completed a two-month drug treatment program in late 2013 but struggled with his sobriety in early 2014 after being placed back at the group home. He admitted to his therapist that he smoked marijuana daily to "keep calm." When the therapist asked him what he worried about, he replied, "nothing but dying."

Danzy moved to the less-restrictive transitional living program in Maywood that May. He was supposed to go to a "low crime/gang area," according to a discharge summary, but Adapt's location did not meet this requirement, the inspector general wrote.

In his final six months of life, records showed, Danzy did better. By now, he was 19 and motivated to attend school regularly with the hope he'd be allowed to be more involved in his 3-year-old daughter's life. He was pursing teen parenting and outpatient sobriety services before his death.

On a self-assessment, Danzy stated, "I believe I am ready for this program because I have realized (there's) more to life than drinking and smoking. And this is my last shot."

Turning to guns

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Six of the 11 youths had a criminal record with gun charges or other documented involvement with weapons. In two of the shootings, police found discarded guns near the bodies that were believed to belong to the youths.

When a youth in the state system is caught with a gun or ammunition, per DCFS policy, a report is generated and police must be notified. But, as was the case with Robert Waldon, the inspector general uncovered a pattern of DCFS providers not involving police.

Similar to Danzy, Waldon was killed outside a state-funded facility. He died two weeks after moving into the Geneva Foundation transitional living shelter on the city's West Side.

Michael Patton's body lies in the street underneath a sheet in the 600 block of East 50th Place on June 30, 2014. (Vincent D. Johnson / For the Chicago Tribune)

Video surveillance showed he rang the doorbell of the facility at 1 a.m. May 22, 2014, and an unknown assailant approached and opened fire. A Chicago Police Department homicide report listed the 18-year-old Waldon as a gang member.

He was born with intrauterine substance exposure due to his pregnant mother's drinking and use of cocaine, marijuana and heroin, inspector general investigators reported. His mother got clean, but, when Waldon was 3, he was abandoned in a drug house, the report said. His uncle and grandmother took him in and, at age 4 in 1999, he tested positive for lead exposure, the inspector general said.

In fact, four of the 11 slain youths had a documented history of lead exposure. All of those exposed did poorly in school. Yet, their case files make no mention of follow-up lead testing, and few meaningful early intervention services were offered.

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The inspector general's report cited research that found early childhood lead exposure, even at very low blood-lead concentration levels, is associated with poorer achievement on standardized reading and math tests.

Waldon's school records indicate he received special education services in the sixth grade, at which time he was reading at a second-grade level. In a common theme that ran through most of the youths' lives, a teenage Waldon was often angry and truant and admitted to a regular habit of alcohol and smoking marijuana to self soothe.

'The respect I desire'

After eight years in foster care, Waldon's grandmother adopted him in 2007.

But, three years before his death, a judge granted DCFS temporary custody of the 15-year-old boy after his grandmother said she could no longer care for him due to her failing health and his complex problems.

The inspector general was critical of DCFS for at times placing a troubled teen with an elderly caregiver, such as a grandparent, but failing to provide meaningful assistance beyond a monthly check. Sadly, in three cases, including that of Waldon, their own relatives asked DCFS to remove the teens from their home because they were frightened by the youths' gang ties or access to guns.

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After leaving his grandmother's care, Waldon was placed in a foster home, but, within three weeks, that family dropped him off at a shelter because he brought a gun into their home. At the shelter, Waldon admitted he carried a gun because of threats from rival gangs, but professionals overseeing his case did not notify police.

"I can walk down the street and I get the respect I desire," Waldon once said of his gang life and guns.

The failure to report Waldon's gun possession to police led the inspector general to investigate how often in the system that happens. Investigators found at least 48 reports from 2011 to 2015 in which a DCFS youth was caught with a firearm or ammunition. The department's system to collect the data, though, was unreliable, and the inspector general noted the actual number of incidents was likely higher.

Regardless, in 18 of the 48 cited cases, the inspector general said police were not notified.

Waldon lived at the shelter for four months after the gun incident as the state tried to find a more permanent solution. He frequently was on the run, and his grandmother reported she sometimes saw him sleeping under her porch.

At the shelter, and later at his Park Forest group home, Waldon at times was violent toward staff and his peers. He'd refuse treatment, skip school, abuse alcohol and drugs, get arrested, and he was hospitalized twice for psychiatric reasons.

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In his last contact with staff, shortly before his death, Waldon said he was going "to make some money."

'Help is coming'

In pouring rain June 30, 2014, Michael Patton died after being shot in the chest a half-mile from President Barack Obama's home in the nearby Kenwood neighborhood.

Police said the Bronzeville shooting was drug related. In the final moments of the 17-year-old's life, as he lay in a puddle of heavy rain and gasped for air, a resident on the block knelt beside him.

"Hang in there," Vincent Johnson told him, according to an interview with a Tribune reporter later that night. "Help is coming."

The shooting took place one block from the foster home of a woman with whom Patton's family  and the inspector general  said he should never have been placed.

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Fifteen-year-old Patton and his three siblings were taken into protective custody and placed with relatives in 2012 after DCFS received a report that their mother had abandoned them.

That June, after frequently running away and acting out at relatives' homes, Patton was allowed to move in with a friend's mother in DuPage County even though she had recent arrests for DUI and battery, the inspector general said. Patton described her as his godmother, and the state paid her about $300 a month for the foster placement.

He was expelled from his Naperville high school in the fall for marijuana possession. In 2013, the teen was arrested for battery and attempted robbery. Relatives complained to the private agency handling his case about a lack of supervision in the woman's home, the inspector general report said.

His mother died after a long, undisclosed illness that June. A few months later, Patton moved in with his aunt, Judy Morgan, and her husband, also in DuPage County.

The teen regularly attended school, but he later rebelled against his aunt's rules and began spending weekends with the woman he called his godmother, who was now living in Chicago.

Patton lobbied his caseworker to let him live with the godmother again. He got his wish by March 2014 and, despite signs that he appeared high, tired and frequently missed school, he remained there.

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"There is no mention throughout these notes to explain why (Patton) moved to his godmother's home in Chicago when he was working and going to school in Bolingbrook," the inspector general wrote. "The only stated reason, consistently cited, was that (he) wanted more freedom."

He was killed weeks after his May high school graduation. Morgan, his aunt, said she wanted her nephew to remain with her but, because he had turned 17, the private agency case manager told her it was the teen's decision.

The homicide remains unsolved.

Wake-up call

The odds were stacked against Laquan McDonald from the time he was born until one month after his 17th birthday, when an encounter with Chicago police ended with the teen lying in the street, his body riddled with 16 bullet wounds.

The dashboard camera video of a white officer shooting the black teen, who was armed with a knife but did not appear to lunge at police as they alleged, has led to a firestorm of controversy and calls for major criminal justice reforms.

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According to the inspector general's report, his Oct. 20, 2014, death should serve as a wake-up call to those in child welfare as well. Investigators cited examples in McDonald's records in which services to help him and his family fell short or were offered too late to make a difference.

He was born to a 15-year-old mother who was a DCFS ward herself due to a caregiver's drug use. The young mom raised her son for his first three years until she was accused of providing inadequate supervision for him and his 8-month-old sister. Their mother got them back, but she lost her children again when McDonald was 5 due to allegations of corporal punishment.

Amid the instability of those early years, the state twice placed him in foster homes outside the family. Both stints were brief, one to two months. According to the inspector general's report and other records, it was during the second placement that McDonald said he was beaten, barely fed and touched in a sexual manner.

The inspector general said he was never given therapy related to sexual abuse despite "being a very angry child with definite aggressive tendencies, and (who) had knowledge of sex beyond his developmental age."

His great-grandmother, Goldie Hunter, became his legal guardian, and he lived with her for a decade until she died at age 78 in August 2013. Hunter was a retired laborer and widow with a seventh-grade education who managed to care for at least 12 children, some her own and others from the family's later generations, including her great-grandson.

She raised McDonald in the city's rough Austin neighborhood, and it was clear his problems were beyond her grasp. Investigators argued the system should have offered better intervention services to assist the elderly woman. McDonald received special education services, but his disruptive and aggressive behavior, along with truancies, suspensions and gang life became a common theme, stymieing his progress in the half-dozen or so schools that followed.

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"The grandmother wanted services for him," said Kane, the DCFS inspector general. "She was just becoming more and more ill."

Early intervention programs are key, Kane said, along with providing safe passage. For example, a gang territory map of McDonald's neighborhood included in the inspector general's report showed the teen would have faced five different gangs in his community while walking to various schools, parks or local libraries.

Police arrested McDonald 26 times in three years, the report said. Seven drug possession cases advanced to juvenile court referrals, and one resulted in a conviction. He was placed on long periods of probation, often with electronic monitoring, mandatory school, community service, outpatient mental health and drug treatment services.

Because of his great-grandmother's age, DCFS required a backup caregiver. A great-aunt was named but, after Goldie Hunter's death, McDonald was instead placed with a young, single uncle who the inspector general said was also ill-equipped to control the teen and a sibling.

His mother petitioned the court a year before her son's death to regain custody. In the months that followed, she was regularly attending therapy and had made progress. McDonald was assigned to outpatient services at the same clinic as her, but he did not attend the program for three months, in part, because his uncle's house was 14 miles away, the report said.

The DCFS-paid foster program serving him at the time did not transport him. Instead, he was referred to another outpatient program closer to his foster home. He died before attending.

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No more tomorrows

The report revealed how even simple blunders can make or break a troubled teen's future.

In one tragic example, after an unstable childhood in which he was exposed to his caregivers' drug abuse and domestic violence, Douglas Johnson by 14 was involved in a gang, carrying guns and selling drugs in Rockford.

But, after stints in juvenile corrections facilities and DCFS placements across the state, he emerged at age 17 in 2013 with a GED and enrolled at Rock Valley College to study nursing through DCFS' Youth in College program. His plans, though, were derailed for a year when "bureaucratic delays" between the Rockford case management agency and DCFS failed to provide him with tuition payment forms, the report said.

The teen's courses were dropped for lack of payment. The mix-up was cleared up April 18, 2014, and an 18-year-old Johnson signed a community college payment form. He was killed three days later, fatally shot during an argument with another teen.

"Don't let me die," Johnson was quoted telling paramedics.

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The shooter was acquitted after he argued self-defense. Jasmine Phillips, the mother of Johnson's child, said he had a temper and "felt like no one was ever there for him. But, as far as my daughter, he was trying to better himself for her."

Months later, another gaffe delayed 18-year-old Jeremiah Shaw from his plans to start anew.

DCFS had been involved in the final two years of his life after Shaw's probation officer reported the then-16-year-old was living on the street while on probation for attempted burglary.

Shaw got treatment for drug and mental health problems but relapsed after returning to his neighborhood on the city's Southwest Side. He lived for five months in a shelter and then finally in a residential treatment program in Lake Villa. His mother picked him up on his 18th birthday, and Shaw soon dropped out of high school after an arrest for drug possession.

The plan was for him to be admitted into a transitional living program. Before he could, though, Shaw had to be processed through the Aunt Martha's Children Reception Center in Chicago. His mother went with him on Aug. 5, 2014, but, after several hours of waiting, they left because she had to get to work.

The inspector general said the intake staff had mistakenly told them he could not be admitted without the proper paperwork from his caseworker. The mother and son planned to return the next day, but he never got the chance.

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The next morning, while outside his grandmother's home smoking a cigarette, Shaw was sprayed with nearly a dozen bullets from two guns in what police called a gang-related killing.

"Since (his) death, (DCFS) has reissued the directive that it is not necessary to contact the caseworker to place a ward who had walked into the shelter," the inspector general report said.

His aunt, Samiesha Kent, said regardless of the difficulties her nephew faced in his life, he was "a talented, smart, loving and happy kid. We love and miss him dearly."

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"Not only will the system separate you from your loved ones, the streets will do it even faster," she said.

When asked if even the most hardened teens in the system could be saved, DCFS Director Sheldon said he isn't prepared to give up on them. But he acknowledged the difficulties their cases present.

His plan for DCFS includes reducing the number of children and teens in residential group-type placements in favor of therapeutic homes with foster parents who have backgrounds in nursing, teaching or social work who receive more pay and more training.

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The one thing missing for each of the 11 teens, the director said, was a reliable adult throughout their life.

"That's what most of the research shows can really turn around a child's life," Sheldon said. "They don't get it at home and they haven't found it in our system. So where do they go? They find it in the street."

cmgutowski@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @christygutowsk1
Kevin Dugar, left, and twin brother Karl Smith. Already serving a long prison sentence, Smith took the witness stand Sept. 22, 2016, and professed he committed a murder for which Dugar was convicted years ago. (Illinois Department of Corrections)

It was the first time in years that the 38-year-old identical twin brothers had seen each other.

Their mother wept as she looked on.

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But this was no typical family reunion.

Karl Smith was on the witness stand Thursday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, making an admission seemingly ripped from a made-for-TV movie.

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Smith confessed to a murder that his brother, Kevin Dugar, has been in custody for since 2003.

"I'm here to confess to a crime I committed that he was wrongly accused of," Smith testified moments after taking the witness stand.

His mother, Judy Dugar, cried as she listened from the courtroom gallery, while his brother, sitting at a table with his lawyer, wiped tears from his eyes.

But Cook County prosecutors questioned the stunning admission, telling a judge that Smith came forward only after an appeals court upheld his own conviction for attempted murder. He is serving a 99-year prison sentence for taking part in a home invasion and armed robbery in which a 6-year-old boy was shot in the head in 2008.

"He's got nothing to lose" by taking the blame for his brother's murder rap, said Assistant State's Attorney Carol Rogala.

She also told Judge Vincent Gaughan that Smith's confession didn't "fit the independent eyewitness accounts of what happened."

It is unclear when Gaughan will decide if Dugar should be given a new trial.

Dugar's lawyer, Karen Daniel, a Northwestern University law school professor who directs its Center on Wrongful Convictions, said the evidence against Dugar was razor-thin  no confession or physical evidence but the testimony of two eyewitnesses, including one who recanted at trial.

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The two brothers, who dressed alike until eighth grade and impersonated each other for years afterward, still looked identical Thursday with their shaved heads and close-cropped beards. Only their clashing prison clothes set them apart. Smith is doing his time at Menard Correctional Center; Dugar at Stateville Correctional Center.

Growing up, the twins were closer than brothers  they were "one person" who shared socks, shoes and even sandwiches, according to their mother and Smith.

Even their parents couldn't always tell the brothers apart, and on Thursday, Smith struggled to identify himself when shown a photo of the two of them.

Their mother, whose maiden name Smith later adopted, spent much of the day in tears, happy to be in the same room as both of her sons for the first time in years, even if it was a courtroom. She doesn't drive and hasn't visited them in state prison.

But she said she was hurt that prosecutors doubted her son's story that he was the real killer.

"He wouldn't lie about that," she said.

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Veteran lawyers at Cook County's main criminal courthouse could not recall another case quite like this one  a scenario some said seemed more out of a law school exercise.

But Michael Winston was released from prison in 2012 after six years behind bars for a South Side murder after his older brother, Robert, who looked similar, confessed that he was the actual killer, said Winston's attorney, Jeffrey Urdangen.

And in New Mexico, shortly after Joseph Montoya was convicted of second-degree murder in 2000, his identical brother, Jeremy, came forward to claim he was the actual killer. But the trial judge and appeals courts rejected the claim, finding the twins had "colluded," according to court records.

In the slaying at issue in Thursday's hearing, a gunman dressed in black shot into a group of three people near Sheridan Road and Argyle Street in March 2003, killing Antwan Carter and wounding Ronnie Bolden.

Bolden, who was shot three times, later identified the gunman as "Twin," the street name used by Smith and Dugar, who frequently impersonated each other.

"We was acting as one," testified Smith, who admitted he and his brother were gang members who dealt drugs. "Where I was, he was, acting like each other. He pretended to be me, and I pretended to be him."

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Smith told the judge he was stopped by police not long after the killing but identified himself as his brother and was allowed to leave.

At trial, Bolden admitted that he didn't identify Dugar as the gunman for more than a month after the shooting because he planned to settle the matter "on the street," according to Dugar's petition for the post-conviction hearing. Bolden was a member of Black P Stones, a gang then feuding with the twins' gang, the Conservative Vice Lords.

Bolden identified Dugar in a photo lineup that did not include Smith, according to the petition. The other eyewitness, Monique Boykins, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, recanted at trial and testified Bolden told her to identify Dugar as the gunman to police.

A jury convicted Dugar of first-degree murder in 2005, and Judge Gaughan sentenced him to 54 years in prison.

Daniel maintains that Smith's confession is newly discovered evidence that Dugar's trial attorney could not have uncovered.

Dugar had asked his brother if he had been the gunman before the trial, Smith testified Thursday, but he said he denied it at the time.

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Smith said he never told anyone he committed the homicide until he wrote his brother a letter three years ago.

"I have to get it off my chest before it kills me," Smith wrote in tiny handwriting to fit as much as he could on each page. "So I'll just come clean and pray you can forgive me.  I'm the one who and shot and killed those two Black Stones on Sheridan that night."

When Smith didn't hear back from his brother, he wrote him again a few weeks later in October 2013, confessing to the murder again and asking for his brother's forgiveness.

"The reason I didn't say (expletive) at the time was because I didn't and couldn't find the strength to do so at the time," Smith said in the letter, admitted into evidence.

This time, Dugar wrote back and asked Smith to contact his lawyers. Smith signed a sworn statement confessing to the murder in 2014.

On Thursday, Smith testified that he threw a party the night of the murder but decided to leave with a close friend to buy marijuana.

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After parking at Sheridan and Argyle, Smith was crossing the street when a truck pulled up and he was confronted by Bolden and Carter, he testified.

Smith said he opened fire with a .38-caliber handgun, saw Carter fall to the ground and then pulled out his .32-caliber pistol and fired at Bolden as he backed up, Smith testified. He said he then ran back to the friend's car.

"I took a deep breath and told him to  just drive and go to the liquor store," Smith said.

They then returned to the party, where Smith changed clothes and later went clubbing with his brother, he said.

After his brother's arrest, Smith said he didn't come forward because he thought his brother would be cleared of the killing. He even sat in on at least one day of the trial, taking a seat in the back of the courtroom.

"I didn't have the strength to come forward," Smith said. "I thought it was the job of the police to catch me."

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He testified he found God in prison and realized he needed to set his past wrongs right.

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But prosecutors questioned his sincerity. Police repeatedly asked Smith to come in for questioning but he never did, they said.

"You never gave witnesses in this case the chance to see you together to pick out the right one, correct?" Rogala asked.

"Correct," Smith replied.

The twins' father, Isaiah Dugar, 68, died last month from a heart attack, an ending their mother said was quickened by the pain of seeing both their sons behind bars for violent crimes. The couple also had two daughters.

"I hope Kevin will get out. I hope he change his whole life around," said the mother, crying in the courthouse lobby. "He got to."

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sschmadeke@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @SteveSchmadeke
A Near West Side man has been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 27-year-old man critically wounded in Lakeview last month, police said.

Investigators identified Nickolas Burch, 27, as the person who shot the man in a Lakeview alley about 8:35 p.m. Aug. 1, according to Chicago police.

Witnesses said they heard gunshots and found the man lying on the ground in the 3200 block of North Racine Avenue. He had been shot in the side of the neck, police said at the time. He was taken in critical condition to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

Burch was arrested by 12th District Chicago police officers Wednesday. He was ordered held in lieu of $50,000 bail on charges of robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm, but Judge Laura Marie Sullivan ordered him held without bail in a related aggravated battery to a police officer case, according to court records.
Chicago police are warning cabbies about a man who robbed two taxi drivers on Wednesday after they drove him from downtown to the South Shore neighborhood.

In both cases, the man hailed a cab downtown and asked the driver to take him to near 7800 S. South Shore Drive, according to a police alert. When they got there, the man told the driver he was robbing him, and demanded cash.

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The most recent robbery took place about 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday, with another taking place just after 9:35 a.m. on Wednesday, police said.

The robber was described as a black man age 20 to 40, with a dark complexion and black hair in an Afro style. He stands between 5-foot-7 and 6 feet and weighs between about 140 and 160 pounds, according to the alert.

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Surveillance photos of the robber were not immediately being released by police.

Anyone with information on the robber is asked to call Area South detectives at 312-747-8273.
Dozens of local nonprofits received grants totaling more than $1.3 million from the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff on Monday during a celebration that also featured a detailed discussion on the areas cooperative efforts to battle hunger in the region.

The 122 grants ranged the breadth of Northern Arizonas nonprofit community and will help fund work in social services, education initiatives, community health, environmental and conservation efforts, emergency services, animal protection and more.

The philanthropic group holds and manages a permanent endowment fund that has competitive grant cycles annually. In 2016, there were 146 applications, of which 122 were funded. It was the 19th annual grants presentation held by the group.

Although funding was awarded to groups as diverse as the Alzheimers Association, Special Olympics Arizona, Literacy Volunteers, Victim/Witness Services of Coconino County and the Museum of Northern Arizona, the group this year highlighted community-wide efforts to battle food insecurity.

It was noted by ACF of Flagstaff Advisory Board member Ken Lamm that the profile of those who lack food security (defined by the USDA as access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life) has changed over time. Whereas years ago, people envisioned the homeless and chronically unemployed as suffering from hunger, food insecurity has expanded to a much broader demographic.

Now, in todays environment, it could be a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker, a child, a student, or even a relative who is facing food insecurity, Lamm said.

Flagstaff has engaged in a multi-faceted and comprehensive response, Lamm said, with efforts that have been both co-operative and compassionate.

He noted that more than 40 non-profits - many of whom were in attendance at the grant ceremony  are partnering to work toward greater food security. Every Flagstaff grocery store gives food on a regular basis to organizations battling food insecurity, as do 19 local restaurants. Students at Northern Arizona University have set up their own food pantry for fellow students in need called Louies Cupboard. Collectively, Northern Arizona amassed more than 1 million pounds in food to provide greater food security in the past year.

In addition, hundreds of volunteers give thousands of hours annually to collect, prepare, and serve or distribute food to families, children, students and the homeless.

All of us who live, work and play in Flagstaff are very proud of you and others helping the cause of food security, said Lamm. You are the embodiment of why Flagstaff is a uniquely compassionate community where people take care of each other."
A woman tried to lure a 4-year-old girl from a school playlot Thursday on the Northwest Side, according to a news release from Chicago police.

The girl was in the playlot of a school in the 2700 block of North Lockwood Avenue about noon when a woman waved her over and held money through the fence, police said.

The girl took the money, and the woman asked her for her name.

The girl then ran to her grandmother and said the woman had given her money and left in a green minivan.

The woman is described as being 20 to 35 years old with dark hair. The green minivan drove north on Lockwood Avenue and west on Parker Avenue after the incident, then circled the block two more times, police said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call police at 312-744-8200. Tips also can be submitted anonymously at tipsoft.com, police said.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel rates his summer a "9", citing his relationship with his son, during the Becoming a Man mentoring session at Morgan Park High School, which was also attended by Ald. Matt O'Shea, 19th. Sept. 23, 2016. (Hal Dardick / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune)

A day after offering solutions to Chicago's violence problem, Mayor Rahm Emanuel spent some time suggesting his efforts alone won't solve the problem.

The mayor started the day working out with police cadets. Then he went to a South Side elementary school to highlight a new health center. And he capped the day by sitting down with high school kids on the Far South Side to take part in a Becoming A Man mentoring program session.

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Those stops reinforced the themes of the three-pronged approach Emanuel laid out during his Thursday speech about stemming the city's violence: hire 970 more cops over two years while pushing for tougher gun crime sentences, promote economic development and job creation in economically struggling neighborhoods and spend more on mentoring programs like BAM.

But the most revealing stop of the day may have been the one that was least scripted: an interview with WBEZ-FM 91.5 host Jenn White to discuss the speech. Emanuel said it will take more than just his efforts to reduce the poverty correlated with violence, improve cooperation between police and distrustful minority community members and put an end to gang violence.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 19 Mayor Rahm Emanuel approaches Chicago Police Department recruits at the police training facility, where he will go on a run with them Sept. 23, 2016. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

After delivering a speech looking firm in the face of a major problem, Chicago's in-charge mayor conceded the limits of his power.

"I'll accept my responsibility, but this is Chicago's fight, not the mayor's fight," Emanuel said when asked about critics of his plan. "Everybody has a role to play to put their shoulder to the wheel to do things. ... This is all of our fight."

While the mayor on Thursday declared the "fight belongs to all of us," he leaned more heavily on the theme Friday. He also conceded the limits of his power when asked how he'll measure progress. Crime statistics, mentoring efforts and job creation can be measured, but not all the desired progress will come in weeks, months or even a couple of years, he said.

"Entrenched poverty and the consequences of poverty are generational," Emanuel said.

It's part of a balancing act for Emanuel, who has to address the rising violence that has put Chicago in a national spotlight, but can't predict outcomes that also depend on the overall economy and long-standing problems like economic and racial segregation.

The mayor also continued to avoid explaining how he'll pay for hiring so many more cops, beyond simply replacing those who retire or leave the force for other reasons. If he does replace all the departing officers and hire 970 more, the annual cost once he's done will easily top $135 million a year.

"That's what my budget's for," Emanuel said when asked by White how he'll cover the cost. "In a couple weeks, we'll lay that out."

Around City Hall, that's roughly translated as "he hasn't figured it out yet."

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Emanuel closed the day by taking part in the BAM session at Morgan Park High School, where the mayor joined about a dozen young men rating their summers, throwing paper airplanes in a goal-setting exercise and declaring future goals. The mayor talked about the personal importance of his relationship with his three kids, but also talked about his "professional" goals, which he said he outlined in his speech.

"You guys didn't give up on yourselves, and the city didn't give up on you, and there's other people like you who can bring us together as a city to solve a problem," he said.

hdardick@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ReporterHal
Anne Bigane Wilson, president of Bigane Paving Company and Ogden Avenue Materials in the River West neighborhood, discusses concerns about possible zoning changes. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

The sun hadn't risen above the John Hancock Center a few miles to the east, but already heavy dump trucks were rumbling in and out of Bigane Paving to pick up their loads of asphalt for the day.

Nestled just south of Goose Island and a block north of a big townhouse development that the trucks rolled past, the company provides much of the raw material used to pave roads and patch potholes across the North Side.

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The 6-acre site sits at the crux of a controversy, the latest iteration of a tension that has repeated itself for a century and a half as the city periodically rebuilds and reinvents itself: industrial Chicago butting up against people who pay big money to live in trendy neighborhoods without the attendant noise, smells and pollution from businesses that have been there for decades.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and local aldermen are looking to change the rules that have long protected industry along the North Branch corridor hugging the Chicago River as condo developers are champing at the bit to get more homes built in an area that includes parts of Bucktown, Lincoln Park, River West and River North.

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For the mayor, easing property restrictions may be too good to pass up. Not only is it prime real estate at a time he's trying to broaden the city tax base to lessen the blow of various tax hikes he's pushed through, but it's a useful recruitment tool as Emanuel markets Chicago to corporations as a postindustrial playground where young, well-paid professionals want to live.

Those who support bringing more housing into the area argue this type of scenario has been going on since before the Great Chicago Fire. They point to the fact that many industrial tenants already are moving out, leaving big pieces of land empty or underutilized along the river.

"It's necessary because cities are dynamic entities, they change constantly, and our city has changed," 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins told those at a recent meeting on the proposed planning amendments. "Our city has evolved. Much as we're standing here on Goose Island, named after the geese that Irish immigrants raised here because the soil was too acidic to farm. The geese are long gone, the Irish immigrants are long gone and we now have an industrial legacy that's rapidly changing before our very eyes."

Longtime industrial business owners are nervous the area's makeup will tip further away from its roots and toward pricey homes. They've noticed that dynamic playing out in the fast-gentrifying West Loop, where residents who move into expensive lofts get sick of the stink of the meat packing that's been going on for more than a century. For industries that remain, the loss of the planning rules that protect them is alarming.

"I'm not going to wait till I have residential next to me and it makes it too hard to stay in business," said Anne Wilson, Bigane's president. "It's the frivolous lawsuits that anyone can file for any particular reason, it's the constant complaints that you have to deal with. It's all the little things that can make it really difficult to do business in the city."

Industrial protection legacy

The city's first planned manufacturing district was established in 1988 along Clybourn Avenue east of the river's North Branch. The designation all but ruled out more lucrative residential and commercial zoning, making it less expensive for industries to hold on to property there.

While running for mayor, Richard M. Daley expressed skepticism about the special districts, saying converting vacant factories into pricey residential loft apartments and condos was good for Chicago. Once elected, Daley changed his tune. In 1990, he endorsed the idea of extending the planning rules to cover Goose Island and a strip of Elston Avenue west of the river.

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Daley administration officials said then that the mayor was won over by personal pleas from owners of industrial companies in those areas who told him they would not be able to afford to stay if the buildings were available at higher residential prices to developers interested in converting them to housing for yuppies. But critics of Daley's about-face wondered how much he was influenced by a handful of big, deep-pocketed industrial operators who wanted to keep land values low so they could expand cheaply. Other industrial districts around the city followed.

Emanuel wants to do away with the North Branch district and instead establish smaller areas set aside for industrial, commercial and residential development within the corridor. These new land-use parameters would then be used to assess upcoming zoning change applications from developers petitioning to put in condos. City officials say the patchwork approach will allow them to more precisely plan for the future while addressing the fact that the number of industrial jobs are going down while those at offices and in retail are rapidly increasing.

"The purpose of the land-use plan is to maintain the corridor as an economic engine and job center," Planning Department spokesman Peter Strazzabosco said. "The initiative's No. 1 goal is to protect existing businesses, especially critical service providers and long-established manufacturers. Methods of doing that involve the types of uses that would be allowed nearby, given the types of buffers that help minimize potential conflict, such as the river, major streets, rail embankments and low-intensity, nonresidential uses."

Following various public meetings and drafts of the plan, Emanuel aims to have a new framework set by early next year.

The friction

The people at Bigane, the asphalt-maker, worry the changes will leave the operation squeezed by new neighbors.

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The company was named one of a handful of "critical services" in the planning proposal that city officials unveiled at the Goose Island meeting. It's an acknowledgment that the asphalt made there has to be quickly transported to job sites before it hardens. Move the plant to the South Side or the suburbs, Wilson said, and it would be nearly impossible to get to parts of the North Side in time. A concrete plant, a garbage facility and several city utility sites also got the "critical services" designation.

Wilson said she's "truly grateful" the city recognizes Bigane should receive some kind of protection. City planning officials talked about zoning the land around critical service sites for new industrial uses or other kinds of commercial development such as big box stores to create "buffers" separating them from homes.

But she warily eyes a large vacant plot just northwest of the yard. "The city talks about building in buffers around us so we won't get that clash of industry and residential, but we aren't sure what that means, what form that will take," she said.

The townhouse development outside Bigane's gates has the built-in buffer of a wide train viaduct, but that hasn't stopped complaints about noise from the early-morning truck traffic along Ogden Avenue.

"It's the only way I can get in and out," Wilson said.

Bigane bought the pre-existing asphalt plant 20 years ago. But as Wilson notes, "people spend a certain amount of money on a house or a townhouse and they have a certain expectation. Not everybody is good about checking out neighborhoods. As we laugh, all the condos on Ogden Avenue sell during the winter, when the asphalt plant's not running."

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For more than a decade, Thomas Struif has lived with his wife and two children on Ogden in one of the dozens of townhouses in the St. John's Park subdivision a block south of Bigane. For him, it's businesses like the asphalt plant that need to do more to accommodate their neighbors.

"I have 9- and 12-year-old kids who get woken up at between 5 and 5:30 in the morning by the sound of heavy trucks air-braking and bouncing up and down the street over potholes," Struif said. "The trucks are lining up 20 or 25 deep, they're idling and they're oiling their beds so the asphalt doesn't stick, which causes all kinds of air pollution."

Struif said he's lived in the neighborhood since the 1990s, and the industrial noise is getting worse, not better, despite residents' repeated complaints to the city.

"It's becoming a more industrial feel even as the neighborhood in many ways gets more residential," he said. As the planning process for the industrial corridor continues, Struif said he thinks more commercial businesses and technology firms would be a better fit.

Postindustrial mayor

The move to postindustrialize the special manufacturing district is in keeping with Emanuel's vision, and could result in some profound changes to the way the city looks.

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The mayor often talks up his attempts to make the river Chicago's "backyard." He wants a waterway that has long been lined with industry to be more inviting to residents. (The lake is the city's "front yard.")

From the Riverwalk build-out downtown to the construction of boathouses along the banks in various neighborhoods and efforts to clean the notoriously dirty water, the "River Mayor" is a nickname Emanuel hopes historians will someday apply to him.

Among the goals that planning officials highlighted in a report titled "Mayor Emanuel's Industrial Corridor Modernization-North Branch" was to "continue the improvement of the riverfront for pedestrians and bicyclists in appropriate locations."

The manufacturing land-use changes also are part of a broader move by Emanuel to better foster the explosive residential growth that has been going on in and around Chicago's central core for years.

He's trying to expand the city's zoning bonus program to allow developers to build taller apartment buildings in a wider area mainly to the north and west of downtown, a kind of "Super Loop" that was once talked about in urban planning circles in the late 1980s.

The Lathrop Homes redevelopment, meanwhile, has drawn controversy as housing advocates and residents of that historic riverfront Chicago Housing Authority complex near Clybourn Avenue and Diversey Parkway protest the loss of hundreds of units for low-income people in favor of a mixed-income complex set to introduce around 500 market-rate tenants to the site.

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The high-profile, empty Finkl & Sons steel company property and recently shuttered Morton Salt packaging and warehouse site also sit within the industrial corridor, two more big, mouthwatering parcels for residential developers looking for available land.

And a plan to relocate a major city government truck yard from near Goose Island to Englewood would take advantage of some of the empty land on the South Side while making way for more space for more lucrative development on the Near Northwest Side.

Industries see the writing on the wall, and want assurances they'll get help from the city to protect their rights in neighborhoods that are trending toward hip condos.

Two miles northwest of Bigane Paving, Horween Leather Co. doesn't enjoy "critical service" status, so the city plan could mean even closer encounters with nearby homeowners.

"We process hides, and in mid-August when it's 95 outside and the wind blows a certain direction, I can't promise you you're not going to notice," said Skip Horween, president of the tannery that has sat along the river near Ashland and Elston avenues since 1920.

Horween marvels at the changes that already have taken place in the area in recent years, but he has no desire to move.

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"Nobody moves into this area surprised that we're here," Horween said when asked what kind of assurances the city could give him. "We shouldn't be able to be complained out of the neighborhood. That's a start."

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @_johnbyrne
President Barack Obama took direct aim at GOP nominee Donald Trump's assertion that conditions for African-Americans now are worse than they have been at any time in U.S. history, saying in an interview aired Friday that even young children know better than that.

"You know, I think even most 8-year-olds will tell you that whole slavery thing wasn't very good for black people," Obama said in an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC News that was taped Thursday in the new National Museum of African American History and Culture ahead of its opening. "Jim Crow wasn't very good for black people."

Trump has suggested repeatedly that black Americans should vote for him because of the dire circumstances they now face, saying in August in Michigan, "What the hell do you have to lose?"

"Our African-American communities are absolutely in the worst shape they've ever been in before," Trump said during a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday. "Ever, ever, ever."

Speaking Friday evening at a White House reception celebrating the museum's opening, Obama said, "the timing of this is fascinating. Because in so many ways, it is the best of times, but in many ways these are also troubled times. History doesn't always move in a straight line. And without vigilance, we can go backwards as well as forwards."

Referring to the current protests in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the president added that the museum "allows all of us as Americans to put our current circumstances in a historical context."

"My hope is that, as people are seeing what's happened in Tulsa or Charlotte on television, and perhaps are less familiar with not only the history of the African American experience but also how recent some of these challenges have been, upon visiting the museum, may step back and say, I understand," he continued, "I sympathize. I empathize. I can see why folks might feel angry and I want to be part of the solution as opposed to resisting change."

The president first questioned Trump's assessment that blacks' status in the United States is at a low point last Saturday, telling the Congressional Black Caucus, "You may have heard Hillary's opponent in this election say that there's never been a worse time to be a black person. I mean, he missed that whole civics lesson about slavery and Jim Crow ... but we've got a museum for him to visit. So he can tune in. We will educate him."

But his latest remarks, which aired on ABC's "Good Morning America" as part of a joint interview with his wife, Michelle, were even sharper. Obama, who will speak at the museum's opening Saturday, emphasized that Americans need to understand that the impact of discrimination will take decades to undo.

"It's unrealistic to think that somehow that all just completely went away, because the Civil Rights Act was passed or because Oprah's making a lot of money or because I was elected president," he said. "You know, that's not how society works. And if you have hundreds of years of racial discrimination it's likely that the vestiges of that discrimination linger on. And we should acknowledge that and own that."

Michelle Obama said the museum's collection highlighted Americans' ability to rise above past wrongs.

"We've been through so much. And we've overcome so much," she said. "After you see what we've been through, there's nothing we can't handle as a community and as a nation."

Addressing the ongoing and sometimes violent protests in Charlotte in the wake of this week's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, Obama said the fact that so many people of color see racial bias in the system should prompt Americans to ask themselves "tough questions. Are we teaching our kids to see people for their character and not for their color?"

"If you have repeated instances in which the perception is at least that this might not have been handled the same way were it not for the element of race, even if it's unconscious," he said, "then I think it's important for all of us to say, 'We want to get this right. We want to do something about it.' "
Democrats, fearful that third-party presidential candidates could attract enough millennials to cost Hillary Clinton key states are stepping up efforts to woo young voters with one message: Stop Trump.

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, and Jill Stein, the left-wing Green Party aspirant, are attracting much of their support from younger voters. Some recent polls show them attracting a total of over 10 percent of the vote nationally and doing much better than that with millennials.

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"There are lots of potential Clinton voters who could be lost to these third-party candidates," acknowledges Geoff Garin, the pollster for Priorities USA, the Clinton Super PAC. "We are making a first-class effort to reach them through digital media" and saying "that their vote could mean Donald Trump is president."

Bill Weld, Johnson's vice presidential candidate, said that the Libertarian ticket was taking equally from both sides. But he also said that he considers Trump by far the greater danger and will focus on attacking him in the final six weeks. "Watch me on this," declared the former Massachusetts governor, a lifelong Republican. He said Trump's proposal to deport all 11 million illegal immigrants "reminds me of Germany in the 1930s."

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Voters born after the early 1980s chose Barack Obama over Mitt Romney by 60 percent to 37 percent in the 2012 election, when they accounted for almost one in five voters. Polls suggest they may turn out in smaller numbers this time and favor the Democratic side less because Johnson and Stein are getting a slice of their votes.

Trump is enormously unpopular with millennials, a fact that the Clintonites like to emphasize. "Young people think Donald Trump is deeply out of step with their values, on issues affecting them, diversity and inclusion." says Garin.

But Clinton is well aware of her problem with young voters. She was clobbered by Bernie Sanders among millennials in the Democratic primaries, and her slippage in September polls is largely attributable to their defections.

On Monday she wrote a blog post for MIC, a news site aimed at millennials, titled "Here's What Millennials Have Taught Me," in which she acknowledged that she has to give them a more positive message. She also wrote about her own post-college experiences. She also showed up on the satiric talk show "Between Two Ferns," giving deadpan answers to silly questions posed by the comedian Zach Galifianakis.

In attacking Trump with millennials in mind, Democrats will focus on the environment and climate change  which Trump has called a hoax  as well as social issues and racial tolerance.

Some Clinton supporters hope that if the race still seems close in late October, then the Johnson-Weld ticket, which is on the ballot in all 50 states, might throw in the towel in the interest of defeating the Republicans. Weld ruled that out, but added, "I'm just getting a chance to go to work on Mr. Trump."

Albert Hunt is a Bloomberg columnist.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives on stage next to a statue of Rocky during a rally at the Sun Center Studios in Aston, Pa., on Sept. 22, 2016. (Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images)

For a Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump has shown an unprecedented aptitude for alienating Republicans. Mitt Romney isn't voting for him. George W. Bush has declined to endorse him. George H.W. Bush reportedly will vote for Hillary Clinton.

Many people in his party have repudiated Trump's comments on race, immigration, Vladimir Putin and more. But among those who support him, there is one decisive, last-resort justification: Trump would appoint conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices who would uphold the Constitution, and Hillary Clinton would not.

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What makes them so sure? If there is anything clear from his tweets and speeches, it's that he has no more regard for the Constitution than he does for the creditors he stiffed in his many bankruptcies.

The evidence is abundant for anyone paying attention. He provided more in calling for the use of "stop and frisk" by police in Chicago, citing the "incredible" results the practice yielded in New York.

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But the tactic is no longer in use in New York, thanks to a federal court decision ruling it a violation of the Fourth Amendment ban on "unreasonable searches and seizures." The court said New York cops were stopping and searching people "without a legal basis" and doing it in a racially discriminatory way.

Nor does Trump have much use for the Fifth Amendment, which says no one may "be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law." He insists that unauthorized immigrants could be deported without a court hearing.

The Supreme Court, however, has long held that the guarantee is not limited to citizens. "All persons within the territory of the United States are entitled to the protection" of due process, it said in 1896.

His promise to inflict torture on alleged terrorists is also at odds with the Fifth Amendment, which protects suspects from being forced to incriminate themselves, as well as the Eighth Amendment, which forbids "cruel and unusual punishments." The United States has signed an international treaty banning torture, and the Constitution states that "all treaties" are "the supreme law of the land."

Trump exhibits a comprehensive contempt for the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion and the press. Trump wants to set up a national database of Muslims and endorsed Ted Cruz's idea of police patrols of Muslim neighborhoods  either of which would violate religious rights by singling out one faith for special burdens.

He also wants to curtail the freedom of the press, an institution he reviles. "We're going to open up those libel laws," Trump vows, "so that when The New York Times writes a hit piece which is a total disgrace or when The Washington Post, which is there for other reasons, writes a hit piece, we can sue them and win money." He hopes to use the threat of financial ruin to deter news organizations from candidly assessing him.

The chief protection against this sinister ambition is the Supreme Court, which says the First Amendment protects those who resort "to exaggeration, to vilification ... and even to false statement." Libel actions may not be used by public figures to suppress criticism, even if it's inaccurate. Trump's problem, of course, is not criticism that is factually inaccurate but criticism that is factually true.

Trump wants to foil "anchor babies" by repealing birthright citizenship, which is granted by the 14th Amendment. It says, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

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To focus on specific provisions of the Constitution that offend Trump, however, gives him too much credit. He knows as much about the Constitution as he does about taxidermy. The real problem is his disdain for the notion that it should hinder him from doing whatever he wants.

Some conservatives think they can count on him to place conservatives on the court because he has provided a list of possible nominees that they find acceptable. Why they think he would be any more steadfast on that promise than any other is a mystery. In the end, he would do whatever suits his whim.

The Republican nominee regards the Constitution the way he regards the Bible  as a revered document to invoke when convenient, not one to follow. Conservatives might consider that it would be less threatened by a court made up partly of Clinton appointees than by a presidency occupied entirely by Trump.

Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman.

Download "Recalculating: Steve Chapman on a New Century" in the free Printers Row app, available at www.printersrowapp.com.

schapman@chicagotribune.com

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When it comes to stock market investments, timing is everything. So you have to feel a little bad for John Kerin, CEO of the Chicago Stock Exchange, who's lined up an exciting deal that faces serious political head winds. He has a chance to expand in the U.S. and take his technology to China. Kerin's vision: Make the Chicago Stock Exchange a financial services conduit for companies and investors on both sides of the Pacific.

The problem? This is 2016, with a heated election season, and Kerin's deal involves putting the exchange in the hands of a new ownership group led by Chinese investors. There are many good business reasons for the exchange to sell itself to a Chinese-led group, but regulators and members of Congress are swarming. It's bad politics these days to speak positively about global trade and investment.

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Yet it's also bad economics to fear globalization. Trade is good for American prosperity. But you wouldn't know that from listening to the presidential candidates. Donald Trump says America is "losing the trade war," blaming U.S. job losses on imports. Hillary Clinton turned against free trade to win blue-collar votes.

Suspicions run deeper when a Chinese firm offers to acquire an American one, especially in a sensitive sector of the economy. No question: A transaction that would put a U.S. stock exchange in Chinese hands requires U.S. government scrutiny before approval. It doesn't take a Hollywood scriptwriter to imagine Chinese hackers infiltrating the Chicago exchange to bring down all of Wall Street.

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So let's, um, take stock of this deal: The Chicago Stock Exchange, a tiny player in the markets, was looking for investment capital to grow in the U.S. The best offer was an acquisition deal from a group led by China's Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group.

The tie-in with China makes this proposal special. Not only could Chinese companies list on the Chicago exchange, the Chinese-led group wants to export the Chicago technology to create an exchange in Chongqing, one of China's biggest cities. Add in the eventual possibility of connecting individual Chinese investors with the U.S. markets via the Chicago Stock Exchange. There are 1.4 billion people in China, 120 million of whom have brokerage accounts. That's a lot of potential customers for the exchange here and the proposed one in Chongqing.

The benefit to both sides isn't some wacky coincidence: It's the essence of globalization. Countries and companies specialize in certain industries, invest in each other, compete to make better or cheaper products. Yes, there are winners and losers, but that fear is overblown. In the U.S., most manufacturing job losses are due to productivity gains, not the loss of markets to imports. "If there is no international trade, if there is no cross-border investment, if services, capital, people and good do not cross borders, then it's less activity for you, it's less jobs," said Christine Lagarde, who isn't on the Nov. 8 ballot. She heads the International Monetary Fund and was warning business leaders at a recent summit how the trade backlash could hurt the world economy.

Nevertheless, members of Congress want to make it tougher for Chinese companies to buy firms here. There's a U.S. government process in place to vet those deals, involving an examination by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. That body can block a deal on the broad basis of national security. In a letter this month, 16 members of Congress asked the Government Accountability Office to see if CFIUS should toughen its criteria to raise the bar on foreign companies buying American ones. Congress is even worried about Dalian Wanda, a Chinese conglomerate, buying U.S. movie theaters. By the way, that same conglomerate is co-developing a 98-story tower on Wacker Drive, another win for Chicago. And globalization.

We asked Kerin about the cyber-risk of Chinese-led ownership of the Chicago exchange. He's not worried. He said firewalls, intrusion protections, regulatory oversight and other measures already are in place to protect the financial system. He also muses about hacker tactics. "If the Chinese wanted to infiltrate the U.S. financial system, is this how they would do it? Would they do something this public?"

We won't speculate. We'll wait for CFIUS to examine the transaction and assess any risks.

Scrutiny on national security grounds is appropriate. Fear of foreign investment isn't.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
It's hard for any entity involved in Syria's brutal five-year civil war to cite consistent stretches of success. President Bashar Assad would be on the ropes if it weren't for Russia's intervention. President Barack Obama's track record in Syria has been pockmarked with failure, and likely will leave a lasting stain on his legacy. Moderate rebel groups are fighting to survive. And the one group everyone wants out of Syria, Islamic State, has slowly, steadily been losing territory day by day, acre by acre.

One player in Syria, however, has been able to grow stronger and build on its battlefield victories. Syrian Kurds have expanded the territory they control in the northern part of the country, and have retaken from Islamic State key cities like Kobani and Manbij. As a result, the Kurds are in the best position to mount an offensive against Islamic State fighters in their de facto Syrian capital, Raqqa.

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A victory over Islamic State in Raqqa, coupled with what the West hopes is an eventual ouster of the militant group from its biggest stronghold in Iraq, the northern city of Mosul, would deal a crushing broadside to the militant group's vision of a caliphate in the Middle East. The Islamic State would find itself on the run  hardly a selling point in its online recruiting.

Syrian Kurds' pivotal role in the fight against the Islamic State has the White House weighing whether to arm Kurdish fighters. Up until now, the Pentagon has armed militias belonging to the Syrian Arab minority in Kurdish-held territory, but has not been directly arming Syrian Kurds. Speaking at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday, U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said bolstering Syrian Kurd fighters' military capability "will increase the prospects of our success" to retake Raqqa. "They are our most effective partner on the ground," Dunford said.

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Obama has had his share of tough choices to make during the Syrian conflict. Arming Syrian Kurds is one of the toughest  but it's the right choice to make.

Reinforcing Syrian Kurds' military capability would come with a price. It would further inflame tensions with Turkey, an important U.S. ally in the war against Islamic State but an avowed enemy of the Kurds, who have a history of separatist conflict in eastern Turkish provinces. U.S. relations with Turkey are already fraught, following the detentions and firings of tens of thousands of Turkish military officers, professors, teachers and judges in the aftermath of the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Erdogan is already incensed by Washington's refusal to extradite the man he believes masterminded the coup  Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric and Erdogan's primary political rival, now living in Pennsylvania. And there's another major complication: The stronger the Kurds get, the closer they move toward their vision of a transborder Kurdistan state.

Syrian Kurds have established a semiautonomous region across northern Syria that they call Rojava, with a separate constitution, instruction in Kurdish in many schools, and even foreign offices set up in Moscow and other European capitals. Together with the autonomous region Kurds have governed in northern Iraq since 2005, Kurdish leaders could one day forge their own de facto state, Kurdistan, stretching from Iran on the east to Turkey on the west and encompassing 9.5 million people. Can a trans-border Kurdistan co-exist with regimes in Ankara and Damascus that see Kurds as mortal enemies, and a government in Baghdad that uneasily tolerates Kurdish autonomy?

What's important now is the ouster of the Islamic State from Raqqa, and achieving that success involves arming Syrian Kurds.

Turkey might not acquiesce. One point the U.S. can stress to Erdogan's administration is that Kurds wouldn't be getting heavy artillery, just small arms and ammunition. They should also remind Erdogan that Islamic State remains a major threat to Turkish national security. The terrorist raid on Istanbul's Ataturk Airport in June that killed 45 people was carried out by assailants that Turkey linked to Islamic State.

Some of Obama's most embarrassing failures in Syria have involved pinning hopes on the wrong fighting forces. A yearlong $500 million program to train and equip 5,400 moderate Syrian rebel fighters yielded just a handful of troops. Obama can at least start to redeem his record by beefing up the Syrian Kurds' arsenal.
The next mayor of Flagstaff will be chairing a city council tasked with finding a new city manager, addressing long-range water needs and accommodating an ever-growing population -- among other issues.

But beyond City Hall there is another leadership role as the city's official representative.

Mayor Jerry Nabours says that four years in office have given him the chance to build relationships with leaders throughout the state and even the country that benefit the city.

A lot of the mayors job is outside of the council meetings, Nabours said. These are issues that involve relationships with the state and federal government.

However, challenger and current Councilmember Coral Evans said life experience in a variety of jobs and involvement in grassroots organizations brings her the perspective and experience necessary to bring about the changes she sees as essential to Flagstaff in the upcoming years.

Ive worked as a maid, Ive worked in restaurants and in bars as a DJ, Evans said. Ive also worked for Gore and started my own business. I manage an incubator to grow businesses and I manage a radio station. That qualifies me in a unique way. I bring a broad perspective.

In two separate interviews, Evans and Nabours discussed their achievements while in office and offered solutions to issues they expect Flagstaff to face in the future.

Personal qualifications

Both Evans and Nabours cited their experience and relationships as reasons they are qualified to tackle Flagstaffs issues as mayor.

Nabours said two of his proudest achievements as a mayor are seeing the city make progress on flood control in the Southside neighborhood and downtown, and securing an agreement for a pipeline path to Red Gap Ranch. Both came as a product of his relationships with state officials, he said.

When Gov. (Doug) Ducey was elected, he came to me and asked what he could do for Flagstaff, Nabours said. I asked for an agreement with ADOT to secure the pathway along I-40. Thats not something that happens at a council meeting, those are connections that you build.

Nabours said work in tandem with Sen. John McCain and the Army Corps of Engineers has helped to make headway on funding for flood control measures for the Rio de Flag.

That doesnt come up at council meetings, and it takes a lot of work behind the scenes, Nabours said.

Evans, who is executive director of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, said her experience working in neighborhoods and building community bridges will help her address the ever-growing population in Flagstaff.

Flagstaff is expected to reach 100,000 people by the year 2030, Evans said. As we grow as a city, we need to decide how we will embrace the new people while maintaining a sense of place, history and community.

Evans was first elected to the council in 2008, when the city was faced with budget cuts and layoffs.

I came in at the height of the recession, she said. We were trying to rebuild programs and pay for services with a lack of funding. We were really successful in those four years of maintaining the core services of the city.

Evans said some of the biggest achievements of the council while she was a member were passing the equal rights ordinance, preserving green space and securing approval for the veterans home. Evans said she was directly responsible for work on the veterans home.

I am extremely proud and extremely excited about that, she said.

Both candidates said their involvement with other business ventures in the community provides affects positively their ability to be mayor.

Nabours said that, as a landlord, he has gained indispensable knowledge about housing issues in the city.

Evans said that, as the executive director of a nonprofit organization that receives funding from the United Way, she is involved directly in issues of housing, education and income. Evans said she always abstains from council votes about the United Way.

Upcoming issues

Evans said that, as mayor, she would like to see a long-term plan for the citys water supply, which she said she believes is being mishandled.

Evans said she would like to see the city work in partnership with local tribes when it comes to water issues, including how the city plans to access Red Gap Ranch.

The pipeline is expected to cost $200 million to $300 million, she said. We should have a plan for that and develop that plan now.

Increasing housing costs are also driving the need for more affordable housing, and Evans said she would like to see a reinvestment from the city into a housing trust, which existed before the recession. She said she would like to get large employers in the city involved in the program by utilizing excess land owned by the businesses in order to provide workforce housing. Evans said there is no guarantee that an increase in building alone would lead to homes becoming more affordable.

Evans said she would also like to have a meeting with the city council and the Arizona Board of Regents to discuss Northern Arizona Universitys growth and its impacts on the city, as well as housing options for NAU students and employees.

Nabours said he would like to see work done to make access to Flagstaff easier for people driving from the Valley.

The I-17 is becoming very unreliable, Nabours said. There needs to be some way to bypass wrecks or blockage of some kind. We are now pushing ADOT for some ways to work around I-17 blockages.

As for housing prices, Nabours said by increasing the number of available homes, competition will drive down prices when supply can keep up with the demand.

The cost is absolutely market-driven, he said. When demand so greatly exceeds supply, then housing is artificially high. My focus is helping to create more supply.

Nabours said the increase in high-occupancy housing requires some city involvement, including law enforcement and preemptive measures, like the nuisance party ordinance. However, Nabours said he would like to do away with the permitting process required to allow a landlord to rent by the bedroom vs. by the apartment as a whole.

City manager decision

The next council and mayor will be tasked with choosing the next city manager. Josh Copley was given an 18-month contract that began in September 2015, so the decision will be required sometime in 2017.

Nabours said he would like the city to choose a new manager who shares (Nabours) vision of good jobs and reasonable housing.

Nabours said the city manager is responsible for making the city an attractive place for businesses to come and grow.

We have to have an image and a reputation that we are a pleasant place in which to do business, he said. Thats part of the job of city manager, to make sure all the departments have the correct attitude.

Evans said she would evaluate a candidate based on the diversity of the persons background, including what roles they have held in other organizations. She said she would like to see someone with a variety of work experience rather than only managerial or administrative.

The city manager needs to understand the vision of a city and be 100 percent supportive of that vision, she said.

Looking to the future

Nabours said, if elected again, he plans to "mostly stay the course" for the city, but said his existing connections will benefit the city in case of an unexpected event.

"You never know what's going to come up," Nabours said. "We could have a major emergency in Flagstaff, and you would want someone as mayor who knows various agencies that can respond efficiently and appropriately."

Evans said, if elected, she would stand by her core values of what the role of a mayor requires.

"I believe it is the mayor's role to uphold the vision of the community," she said. "I believe it is the mayor's role to facilitate public engagement in the democratic process and set aside ideology and petty differences to work with the council toward the success of the community."
See the winner here.

Extras:

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"So that's how the Twitter feed gets fed...."

Dan Tompkins, Westmont

"Looks Pikachewy to me."

Scott Tredwell, Advance, NC

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Quick!!! Text him that he's about to fall into a pit.

John Slenczka, Woodridge

"Some might call that Natural Selection."

Ken Macke, Naperville

"Cubs fans always seem to find a pit of despair.

Carolyn Wartinbee, Elmhurst

"I know it worked for Loch Ness, but there's got to be a better way to raise Chicago's profile."

Thomas Daniel, Des Plaines

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"She gives new meaning to over the top."

Nancy Cultra, Hinsdale

"I think he's auditioning for 'The Walking Dead'!"

Sylvia Henfling, Hoffman Estates

"Tyrannosaurus Text"

Peg Provenza Rockford

"He has a greater calling."

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Bob Angone Miramar Beach Florida

"He's really enjoying those Trump tweets."

David Berkowitz , Schaumburg

"It's a 'Petextrians' dilemma- how to stay in touch with the world if one puts his phone down."

Don Farrell, Glenview

"He's looking for a way to sidestep the new water tax."

John Desmond

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"Apparently there are still some bugs in phone mapping applications."

John Moery, Chicago

"He never grasped the connection between proper footwork and great photography!"

Bob Ory, Elgin

"I'm convinced Pokemon GO is God's way of thinning the herd".

Hal Pristovnik, Niles
Commercial outfitters are again allowed to run trips to the aqua blue waterfalls near the Havasupai village of Supai, but a new licensing system requires that pack animals used by those outfitters to haul gear and visitors to the falls must meet minimum body condition standards.

In July, the tribe temporarily halted trips led by private trekking companies to Havasupai Falls, saying tribal council needed to revise its permitting process for outfitters, including how arrangements are made for pack animal use.

The new outfitter license regulations, approved by the tribe in mid-August, state that any pack animals, which are generally owned by Havasupai tribal members and used by the outfitters, must be inspected and permitted by the tribes animal control officer, according to Abbie Fink, a spokesperson for the tribe.

Under the licensing system, horses will be rated based on a body scoring system that quantifies the amount of body fat on the animal. Horses must meet a body condition score of four out of nine in order to be approved for packing, Fink wrote in an email. An optimum body score for working horses is five or six. The animals will be randomly inspected by the animal control officer, who lives in the community, Fink wrote.

The tribe also has a weight limit of 130 pounds per pack animal.

Its the responsibility of the outfitter, not the owner of the horses, to ensure that all pack animals it uses are permitted by the tribe, Fink wrote.

The application also includes an annual $7,500 fee and outfitters must get their application approved and pay the fee before resuming trips to the popular tourist destination, Fink wrote. Additionally, group sizes will be limited to 30 people and each outfitter must submit a log of their trip detailing trails used, sites visited, clients served, the groups activities, accidents or injuries and any other problems or concerns, according to a summary of the license requirements.

The tribes actions drew skepticism from one nonprofit group working to improve the condition of the horses. Susan Ash, co-founder of Stop Animal Violence Foundation, questioned how outfitters would ensure the horses they use are permitted and are in fact receiving adequate nutrition and care. She asked who will ensure animals are permitted, how outfitters will guarantee pack weights dont exceed reasonable limits and who will be checking that animals will receive adequate water when they arrive at the top of the canyon.

Ash said she is still getting reports of horses in Supai that have a body score of one.

My belief is that they are still trying to drag their feet, Ash said of the Havasupai Tribe.

The tribes decision to halt third party-commercial trips on its reservation came amid mounting complaints and news reports about pack horses owned by tribal members that are overworked and malnourished and fail to receive proper care.

In April, federal authorities arrested tribal member Leland Joe and charged him with felony animal abuse after finding four of his horses were severely underweight and had deep sores from the packs constantly rubbing against their skin. Joe was required to give up the horses and was sentenced to three years of supervised probation after he pled guilty to a lesser charge.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts offers mule rides at the South Rim and mule packing services into and out of the Grand Canyon. Spokesman Bruce Brossman said the company's animals are monitored regularly by state livestock inspectors, the National Park Service and the state veterinarian. Bossman said the company requires that its mules get days off and has weight limits for people allowed on mule rides, but couldn't say whether there is any strict weight limit for the packs put on the animals.
The intersection of Richland and Village Green Drive in Aurora's 8th Ward is one place where a median may be built to try to slow down traffic. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News)

The Aurora City Council is set to spend more than $100,000 on measures to slow down traffic in some neighborhoods.

The council on Tuesday will vote on a $101,638 bid from Geneva Construction Co., of Aurora, to build traffic-calming devices this year in six spots throughout the city.

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The spots are in the 5th, 8th and 10th wards and would be paid for by ward funds controlled by the aldermen in those wards.

Eric Gallt, Aurora traffic engineer, said the devices to be built are different, depending on the need on that particular street.

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"Different traffic calming measures have been incorporated throughout the city to provide safety for both vehicle traffic and other road users," Gallt wrote in a memo to the mayor and City Council. "For each of the ... streets, different traffic-calming measures are suggested based on the applicability and effectiveness of these measures for those streets."

For instance, at the intersection of Bradbury Circle and Commerce Drive in the 10th Ward, the city has suggested building a traffic circle to calm the traffic along Commerce, and that turning onto Bradbury. In other areas, the calming device usually is a median in the roadway.

Other spots where the devices would be built are along a small stretch of Deerpath Road in the 5th Ward; and, in the 8th ward, at Village Green Drive and Richland Drive, further west on Village Green Drive near Clifton Court, on Oakhurst Drive near Anton Street, and on Oakhurst near Park Street.

The spots were chosen from requests by residents along the roads. After getting the requests, the city did traffic studies to determine if something needed to be done and what kind of devices would be built, Gallt said.

slord@tribpub.com
Illinois Math and Science Academy senior Addison Herr was building a virtual reality model of his school out of his dorm room last year.

This year, he and a team of students are continuing work on the project  and starting work on another virtual reality project  at the competitive, residential Aurora school's new innovation hub, a space designed for the IMSA and Fox Valley communities to work on ideas and solutions to problems.

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Herr's team is one of two that were selected to be resident projects for the "launch pad" spaces in the Steve and Jamie Chen Center for Innovation and Inquiry, or IN2, which opened this school year but is still undergoing work. The other student project is an app called Dropdot that is designed to help teach young kids letters and numbers.

The launch pads, which are nooks on one side of IN2, are meant to house "innovative ventures" focused on new technology designed to affect learning, education and communities, IMSA officials said in a statement. One launch pad is designed to house a project focused on IMSA's mission to "advance the human condition," and the other houses a project focused on education technology, spokeswoman Catherine Stieg said.

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Herr's team filled the "impact" launch pad slot. His team is divided into two projects, one that is working on the virtual reality model of IMSA and one that is working to use virtual reality for science, technology, engineering and math education. The goal is to bring both the model of the school, which draws students from across the state, and STEM education to students who don't have easy access to either.

The Dropdot team, a group of senior IMSA girls, earned the edtech launch pad spot. The app, initially created by an IMSA alumna during a summer internship, has children connect dots in numerical or alphabetical order to create a picture, team member Felicia Chen said. The current team hopes to expand the app.

The two launch pad projects are among several projects that could be housed at IN2. The space, which will be a short walk down a hallway from IMSA's front door when complete, will open onto a whiteboard of ideas waiting for other IN2 members to jump onto and explore as "riders," and faculty or staff to oversee as "drivers."

The hub includes large and small spaces for students to meet and work and a stage for speakers to present. A maker space includes equipment and 3D printers. An idea bar will house representatives from companies or nonprofits, investors or entrepreneurs, who function as a "concierge" for the space and help guide students ideas, Chief Innovation Officer Britta McKenna said.

"They don't serve coffee," said Carl Heine, IMSA talent program director. "They serve up ideas."

The hub was funded in part by a $1 million donation from Steve Chen, a 1996 IMSA graduate who co-founded YouTube. Other alumni funded the launch pad spaces.

Once an idea becomes an IN2 project, it is accessible by any member. That automatically includes the IMSA alumni and community, but IMSA officials are also working on memberships for other middle- and high-school students and corporate, municipal and nonprofit partnerships.

"Part of why we wanted to have this here was to engage the community and give the community access to the brainpower our students have," Stieg said.

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Part of IMSA's charge is to bring STEM education to students throughout the state, Stieg said. And that is part of the rationale behind Herr's virtual reality projects.

He began working on the model of IMSA in his dorm room last year, and it is almost complete, he said. The team hopes to bring the model to students in Chicago, Herr said.

"If you're a student," said team member Takudzwa George, "and you're seeing a virtual reality thing from students at a place you're going to go to, to me, that provides some inspiration."

The STEM education virtual reality project is not as far along, but he envisions it allowing users to do things such as pick up a virtual test tube, pour virtual chemicals into it and watch a virtual reaction occur.

Herr said working on the IMSA model in his dorm room was cramped and he wasn't always able to lock up his equipment, he said. But now, the team is able to bounce ideas off others at IN2 and collaborate, he said. They plan to work with the Dropdot team when it comes to coding.

The Dropdot team is picking up the work of IMSA graduate Summer Wu, who created the app and, when she graduated and went to college, donated it to IMSA, Heine said. The team is hoping to add additional languages to the app, create a way for users to compete against their friends and possibly expand it to include a piece for older children.

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There aren't many successful apps for young kids, Chen said, and the project allows them to "reach out to a new audience."

Before IN2 opened, the team was working out of classrooms, said Grace Yang, another member of the project. She described it as "More of a student experience."

But now, working out of IN2, the experience feels more professional, she said.

Memberships to IN2 come with a fee, but need-based scholarships are available. Email IN2@imsa.edu for more information.

sfreishtat@tribpub.com

Twitter @srfreish
Ralph John Andermann of Darien, Ill. who is credited with helping develop radar systems during World War II. His son has donated one of his uniforms to the Darien Historical Society, which will dedicate it Oct. 2, 2016. (Andermann family )

On the morning of Dec. 7 1941, a new system called "radar" detected dozens of aircraft heading toward Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Military personnel thought the equipment, which was in use for less than a month, was malfunctioning, according to the National Geographic Society. It was a huge mistake that allowed Japanese airplanes to pound the island military base with bombs.

Ralph John Andermann, who grew up on a farm without electricity in then-rural Darien, would later help to develop and advance radar systems during World War II. He graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign a year before Pearl Harbor with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He was called to active duty and served in the Army Signal Corps in March 1941.

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"I thought 'wow,' he was instrumental in developing radar," said his son Ron Andermann, 65. "He was a modest guy. He didn't talk about it much."

Ron Andermann came across his documents about the radar program after his dad died in 1997.

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Andermann will dedicate his father's World War uniform to the Darien Historical Society during a ceremony from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Old Lace Schoolhouse and Museum, 7422 Cass Ave.

Debbie Coulman, a member of the Darien Historical Society, said people in Darien will appreciate having the uniform on display there.

"It is a uniform from one of our founding families of Darien and he helped establish the radar that helped win World War II: All from Darien," Coulman said. "We are proud of his service."

Andermann said his father stayed in the U.S. and Canada during the war. He said that his father, in particular, worked on developing ground-controlled intercept radar. The system gave ground control personnel and war machinery better accuracy for shooting and bombing enemy aircraft. One of the biggest challenges was training enough military officials to properly use the equipment, he said.

On the day the war ended, The New York Daily News wrote an article with the headline "U.S. Gives Radar Secrets, 'Major Reason' of Victory." The article states that "radar, (was) second only to the atomic bomb as the war's most revolutionary scientific development."

In his young life, Andermann grew up on an 80-acre farm, which extended west of Clarendon Hills Road and south of 75th Street. In the late 1920s, when Andermann was about 10 years old, an aircraft navigation beacon was built on his uncle's nearby farm. The beacon helped guide airplanes at night.

Andermann believes the beacon might have helped instill an early interest in electronics and communications. In 1935, he was a licensed Federal Communication Commission Amateur Radio Operator. He ran wires from a second story bedroom window of the farmhouse to a south pasture for good reception, Andermann said.

"He grew up at a time before his farm had electricity and later in his life becomes involved in electronics," Andermann said. "That's pretty neat. It can be compared to the earlier years of the Internet. He was just like those pioneer Internet geeks but of a different era."

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Joseph Ruzich is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Tori Smith, 19, of New Lenox, and Isaac Marrin, 21, of Palos Heights, face lengthy prison sentences for allegedly ordering the drug, Ecstacy, also known as Molly, from Germany through the mail, police said. (New Lenox Police Department)

Two south suburban residents face the possibility of decades in prison for class X felonies after they allegedly ordered drugs from Germany through the mail, police said.

Tori A. Smith, 19, of the 600 block of Columbia Drive in New Lenox, and Isaac M. Marrin, 21, of the 12500 block of Harold Drive in Palos Heights, are each charged with calculated drug conspiracy and controlled substance trafficking, which are both class X felonies, according to New Lenox Police Det. Sgt. Louis Alessandrini. Each charge carries a possible prison sentence of nine to 40 years.

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Both were also charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, which is a class 1 felony, he said.

On Wednesday, authorities intercepted a package from Germany at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, he said.

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"I don't know if the sender was red-flagged, or if a dog sniffed it," Alessandrini said.

Authorities opened it, tested it and determined it contained more than 100 grams of methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), known on the street as ecstasy or molly, he said.

"That's a pretty significant amount," Alessandrini said. "It's probably about $2,000 worth of that drug."

Due to the large quantity of the drug recovered, the two face longer prison sentences, he said.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

With the assistance of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Postal Inspector, the package was shipped to O'Hare Airport. Addressed to Smith, it was delivered to the Columbia Drive home where she resides with her parents, he said. Smith signed for the package, he said.

A short time after delivery, New Lenox police issued a search warrant, found the package opened, with Smith and Marrin in the back yard.

"She was running toward the rear fence when she was apprehended," he said. "The investigation revealed they were both involved with the ordering."

Authorities believe they were selling the drug mostly at concerts, he said. Molly is common at rave parties and electric music festivals, he said.

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"As we looked a little bit further, it's probably not the first time they've done this and gotten away with this," Alessandrini said.

Bail for each suspect was set at $500,000, and they are due in court on Oct. 26, according to reports.

Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
The Cook County medical examiner's office identified Pompey Hicks, III, of Oak Park as one of the bodies found a year ago in a Riverdale garage. (Pompey Hicks IV)

The body of a man found a year ago in a south suburban garage amid other bodies and human remains has finally been identified, the Cook County medical examiner's office said Friday. Family members called it the end of a "horror story."

Pompey Hicks, III, of Oak Park, was 51 when he died on September 30, 2011 from an accidental methadone and alcohol intoxication, according to a statement from Cook County medical examiner.

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After Hicks' body was autopsied, he was released to Living Waters funeral home on October 4, 2011, "a funeral director that met all requirements," the medical examiner's statement said.

Since then, his son, Pompey Hicks, IV, said he has fought to receive the remains of his father, who was supposed to be cremated by Anton Godfrey at Living Waters Funeral Home. The son filed a law suit against Godfrey in 2015, three weeks before Godfrey died of a heart attack, authorities said.

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"Mr. Godfrey agreed to cremate my father, put him in the urn and return my father to me, which never happened," the son said. "It became like this game, 'I have your father, I have his remains, I'm going to give him back to you,' but that never was the case."

In September 2015, days after Godfrey died, and four years after Hick's death, Godfrey's wife claims she discovered the bodies in their garage, not having known about them before.

A Tribune report at the time said Anton Godfrey was "the subject of multiple court orders to cease and desist his in-home mortuary practices," according to Illinois State Police.

It is unclear the relationship Godfrey had to Living Waters.

"We're still trying to unravel the exact relationships with everybody," said Hicks' attorney, Kevin O'Connor, of the Elmhurst firm O'Connor and O'Connor, PC.

The attorney said there was another funeral director affiliated with Living Waters at the time.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

When news broke of Godfrey's wife finding the four bodies, along with cremains, and a container of organs, Hicks, IV thought his father may be among them. However, he thought he heard that all four bodies had been identified, and figured his dad was not there, he said. In his mind, though, he always new his dad was still missing.

Friday, when the son heard that his father's body had been identified, he called the news "a relief."

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"It's definitely a relief for me, because I would argue with that man (Godfrey)," he said. "I've been fighting to get my father's remains. It's a relief for the whole family."

The other three bodies were identified as 38-year-old Torrence Henderson, who died in July 2011 of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; 62-year-old Ruby Jackson, who died in August 2013 of a cerebrovascular accident; and 50-year-old Bridgette Godfrey, who died in February 2013 of anoxic encephalopathy due to respiratory failure due to bronchial asthma, the statement said.

The cremains were identified as Andre D. Mabrey, 44, who died Nov. 2013. The cause of death is not available.

"A container of organs that was found in the garage remains unidentified as DNA could not be recovered from the organs," the statement said.

Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter. Vikki Ortiz Healy and Angie Leventis Lourgos contributed to this report.
A group of students from Shepard High School in Palos Heights met the enemy  invasive honeysuckle and autum olive trees  and conquered it to help save one of the rarest plants in the world.

Coordinated by AP physics teacher Brian Sievers, the eradication effort introduced students to conservation ecology and got them working together to preserve Iliamna remota, commonly known as the Kankakee mallow, which is endemic to a single location  20-acre Langham Island in the Kankakee River.

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Despite being designated as an Illinois Nature Preserve, the island has not been adequately cared for in more than a decade due to budget cutbacks. When botanists paddled out there a couple of years ago, they found only layers of thick brush and overgrowth, but no mallows. The plant, which can grow to a height of more than 6 feet with light pink flowers, was feared to be extinct until last year when a group of conservationists restored the island's habitat.

Today, there are about 700 Kankakee mallows growing on Langham Island, according to volunteer steward Trevor Edmonson, but the nascent plants are vulnerable to the exotic invasive species that flourish on the island.

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That led to 31 AP physics and physical science students from Shepard to equip themselves with bow saws and loppers for the eradication operation. Sievers, who rowed the students across the Kankakee River to the island, estimates they encountered close to 1,000 invasive bush honeysuckle and autumn olive trees.

"The volunteers that work this island all the time, they were actually amazed by what the kids did," Sievers said. "They were like beavers, man, they blew through areas."

Pat Hayes, the site steward at Orland Grassland who brought a group of volunteers to assist at Langham Island, estimated the small group of island regulars would need a year's worth of monthly cleanups to clear as much as the students did in just a few hours.

"They bring a lot of energy into a project like this," said Hayes, who called the students' output "remarkable."

"You just can't get enough work in front of them fast enough," she said. "Boy, they just work rings around us."

The students, who received class participation points, had a blast wiping out the mallow's encroachers.

"It was really fun because I've never done anything like that," said junior Ashley Stefanelli, a self-proclaimed "indoors person," whose only regret was failing to heed her teacher's advice to wear long sleeves and bring bug spray. "It's just different, out of your comfort zone."

In addition to the ecological benefit, Sievers said the trip was valuable because it gave students an opportunity to get to know each other and their teacher outside of class.

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"Some of the kids, they don't talk much in class, but outside of class we were chatting away, talking, kidding around, laughing," he said. "Hearing them talk and seeing them interact with their peers, they get a little looser. It's not the teacher-student barrier. They're a little more open. It's nice."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Stefanelli said even skeptical students who thought the effort might be "bad and boring," came away surprised by how much fun they had.

"Honestly, it was a really good trip," she said. "Not only did we have fun doing what we were doing, but I personally made a lot of new friends."

"I didn't have one kid going, 'Oh, this was bad. Oh, I hated it,'" said Sievers, an environmental engineer who got into teaching 17 years ago. "No, no. It was sort of like, hey, if I do this again, I think I know I've got 31 kids who would do it again."

He plans to stay in touch with Edmonson, a restoration specialist who leads the Friends of Langham Island volunteer group that gathers monthly for workdays at the island, and may bring a group of students back out in a few months for a burn of the dried brush they cut down..

Anyone interested in learning more about the Kankakee mallow or helping clear invasive species at Langham Island can visit the "Friends of Langham Island" Facebook page. The group will hold its next workday on Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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zkoeske@tribpub.com

Twitter: @ZakKoeske
Margaret Hayes, principal of St. Linus School in Oak Lawn, will be awarded the Sister Dorothy Marie Peschon Award by Saint Xavier University for service and commitment to education. (Maura Bruton)

Margaret Hayes didn't always want to become an educator.

The Oak Lawn woman's mother and grandmother were teachers with Chicago Public Schools but Hayes said she originally wanted to study business in undergraduate school.

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Eventually, however, Hayes decided to switch to education and take a step in what would be a successful career as an educator.

"And it was the best decision I ever made," Hayes said.

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On Oct. 2, Hayes, principal of St. Linus School in Oak Lawn, will be awarded the Sister Dorothy Marie Peschon Award by Saint Xavier University for service and commitment to education.

Hayes is an alumnus of the Southwest Side university and a graduate of St. Linus, a Catholic middle school.

Since coming to St. Linus in 2015, Hayes has added a third preschool, Spanish classes, music classes, theater program, iPads and other technology into the classrooms. Enrollment grew by 10 percent in the year since Hayes took the top job.

Hayes said St. Linus benefits from having a good history of fundraising to help pay for these new programs, and already had a reserve when she arrived.

One of her biggest accomplishments at St. Linus is getting ThinkPads into the hands of sixth and seventh graders, Hayes said. She said it's important for students to have early access to technology in the classroom to help them prepare for high school curriculum that use tablets and similar devices.

Before coming to St. Linus, Hayes served as principal of St. Cletus School in LaGrange, was dean and principal of Maria High School in Chicago for 11 years and was an elementary school teacher in Chicago Public Schools for 15 years.

Hayes also is a former commissioner for the Oak Lawn Park District and sits on the Oak Lawn Public Library Foundation Board. She lives in the same family home she grew up in, not far from St. Linus in the parish.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

According to St. Xavier University, the Sister Dorothy Marie Peschon Award goes to those whose have demonstrated a lifetime of "service, compassion and a yearning for knowledge."

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Hayes will receive the accolade at the annual St. Xavier University Spirit Awards ceremony.

Sister Peschon was a professor emeritus of romance languages and literature at the school. She taught for more than 60 years in the Chicago area and died in 1990.

The award was a shock, Hayes said, who added that it was a great honor to be recognized.

For her, being principal means being able to help students on a larger scale than she could as a teacher, Hayes said.

"I love being able to not just shape what's going on in my classroom, but shape what is going on in the whole school," she said.

Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Alderman Matt O'Shea is being asked by a group of 19th Ward parents and residents to let them help formulate an alternative to his plan that disrupts three schools in an attempt to address overcrowding at Mount Greenwood Elementary and shrinking enrollment elsewhere.

The group, 19th Ward Parents United, argues that the plan would hurt Kellogg Elementary, Sutherland Elementary and Keller Regional Gifted Center. In the two weeks since O'Shea announced the plan, members have repeatedly asked him and Chicago Public Schools officials to form a task force that would include all stakeholders to come up with a different solution.

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"One man or one man plus his assistant plus CPS does not have all the information and knowledge that all of these community stakeholders have about our schools and about our ward," said Emily Lambert, a Kellogg parent and local school council member. "We can help be part of the solution, and that's what we want to be."

The parents, whose closed Facebook page boasts 90 members, has collectively been doing much of the work that a task force could eventually take on, Lambert said.

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"We would love to come up with a proposal, but we want to do it the right way," she said. "We want to have access to the information that you need to come up with a responsible proposal. We're not just going to throw something out like he did. We want to do it the correct way."

O'Shea has attended seven community meetings where he's discussed the idea and taken questions. With the exception of a capacity crowd at Mount Greenwood Elementary that appeared amenable to his plan, the public response has been critical  a mix of hostility and confusion from parents suspicious of what they perceive to be CPS' ulterior motives.

The plan would consolidate Kellogg Elementary and Sutherland Elementary in Sutherland's building in Beverly; move Keller Regional Gifted Center from Mount Greenwood to the former Kellogg building in North Beverly; and create a second campus for Mount Greenwood Elementary within the former Keller building.

The restructuring is intended to alleviate a near doubling of enrollment at Mount Greenwood in the past decade by clearing space at Keller for the school to expan. It also addresses the shrinking student bodies at Kellogg and Sutherland by merging those schools.

A significant portion of the money freed up by the reshuffling would be used to renovate crumbling Esmond Elementary, a nearly all-black, low-income school in Morgan Park that O'Shea has called "the greatest need in our community."

In recent days, the alderman has floated the possibility of moving Mount Greenwood students into buildings owned by Saint Xavier University. He and his staff toured two facilities Thursday  at 104th Street and Spalding Avenue and at 110th Street and St. Louis Avenue.

"It's an option for the overcrowding issue in Mount Greenwood," said O'Shea, who declined to speculate on whether CPS would be willing to pay for acquiring and retrofitting the space.

Many parents have expressed skepticism over the CPS enrollment projections that O'Shea has presented, which show Mount Greenwood continuing to grow as a precipitous decline occurs at Kellogg and Sutherland in coming years.

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The alderman has said that U.S. Census Bureau figures measuring the area's school-age population track with CPS' numbers, but many 19th Ward parents remain unconvinced, arguing that if enrollment declines stabilize or even rebound, O'Shea will simply have shifted the overcrowding problem from Mount Greenwood to the newly-merged school.

Some opponents of the plan, which seeks to merge two high-performing majority black schools in Beverly to accommodate a predominantly white school in Mount Greenwood, have suggested it has racial overtones. Others argue that the merged school, which would no longer accept non-neighborhood kids from more impoverished communities the way Kellogg and Sutherland currently do, would no longer be as racially and economically diverse.

While O'Shea has lamented the large proportion of non-neighborhood students attending some district schools, he denies that race or class played any role in his proposal.

Lambert and others say their calls for a task force have fallen on deaf ears so far.

"We have statements, we have people calling and asking, we have people emailing and asking, we are now going to have a walk and a rally where we go to his office and once again ask," she said. "I think the next step would probably be to rent an airplane and write it in the sky and hope that maybe he notices and takes it seriously. We have asked in so many ways."

When pressed Thursday, O'Shea would not commit to a task force, saying he is compiling ideas and suggestions about his plan to present to CPS. He then plans to relay what he hears from CPS executives to principals and local school council chairs, and hold additional public forums.

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O'Shea encouraged concerned individuals to schedule a time to meet with him privately at his office.

But Lambert said one-on-one meetings are not the answer.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"We don't need individual meetings," she said. "We need to get together and harness the power of the group."

She wants O'Shea to be more open with enrollment figures and more concrete in his proposal.

"None of us have seen anything on paper," she said. "This proposal is really, really vague and the fact that he is so committed to something that is so non-solidified, I think that is part of why we're all so worked up and confused about it."

A coalition of opponentswill march Saturday in protest. The group will meet behind Kellogg Elementary, 9241 S. Leavitt St., at 2 p.m. and walk first to Sutherland Elementary, 10015 S. Leavitt St., before heading to the 19th Ward office at 10400 S. Western Ave., for a press conference.

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"We demand the alderman rescind his proposal and work with a joint task force that will help strengthen, rather than hurt, schools in our community," said Micheal O'Doherty, a Kellogg parent..

zkoeske@tribpub.com

Twitter: @ZakKoeske
Paige Dague often uses fresh fruit grown in her garden to fill her pies. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

Though pie is a treat for all seasons, autumn makes many of us think we can actually bake one.

When September rolls around, even people who haven't preheated an oven since spring suddenly embrace the idea of getting up to our elbows in flour.

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Sure, we know pie is not easy. It's not like cookies, which give you dozens of chances to turn out something presentable. Or brownies, which make it possible to both underbake and overbake in the same pan.

Pie is its own fiefdom. There's no way to sample it before it's done, no way to adjust things mid-bake, no way to recover from a crust gone soggy or a filling turned soupy.

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And that, perhaps, is part of pie's allure: It is a test of our baking skills, artistic ability, patience, determination and ability to forgive imperfections.

To help us launch a new season of baking and to get us ready for those pie-in-the-sky expectation holidays, we turn to a local expert for advice. Paige Dague knows a thing or two about pie. She recently started her own company, Hypnotize Pies, out of her home in Homewood.

Though Cook County's cottage industry rules only allow her to sell certain kinds of pies at local farmers' markets, Dague continues to tweak recipes and experiment with flavors in anticipation of the day she opens her own brick-and-mortar shop. And she tends to her demanding day job as a project manager for Reavis High School in Burbank.

The 52-year-old mother of three admits she came late to the baking game, embarking on her new passion just a few years ago after her husband challenged her to replicate a blueberry pie he'd tasted and loved while traveling through Ohio.

Since, she's taken multiple state fair blue ribbons which encourage her to continue.

"After I won my second blue ribbon, I thought maybe this isn't a fluke," she said. "I thought, I'm getting really close to retirement. Maybe this could be my second career. But I didn't want to just bank on that. So I looked into the cottage food thing. I had no idea it would be so difficult. It was a ton of certification, a ton of work. But I'm glad I did it because I did learn things."

Paige Dague rolls out pie crust dough between two paper cake pan liners. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

She began the process just after Labor Day 2015. By January, she was ready to sell at Homewood's monthly indoor winter market.

"The first day I was there at the end of January, I sold out in two hours. And I was brand new. Nobody knew who I was," she said.

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At every market appearance since, both indoors and outdoors, she has sold out of her supply of 45-50 pies in 20 minutes.

"It's crazy, like a mad rush," she said.

But with success, she said, comes pressure.

"If people are going to line up to get my pie, it better be good," she said, explaining she bakes through the night to prepare for each market.

"My Fridays before a market day are 22 hours of baking," she said. Her husband, who is self-employed, calls her "the Jack Bauer of baking."

"So I really need a store front. I see that in my future. The farmers' market is a stepping stone, sort of a test," she said.

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A store would allow her to hire a staff and to sell one of her best pies, a strawberry rhubarb, which is not currently on the county's approved list.

Meanwhile, she also offers pie school -- pie-baking lessons at your house or hers. So far, requests mostly have been from people hosting kids' events, but she hopes to expand into the girls' night out market.

Dague's last farmers' market appearance for the year will be on Oct. 1, at Martin Square in Homewood. Later that day, she will judge a pie contest at a fundraiser for Love, Inc. in Tinley Park.

And now, about pie. Roll up your sleeves, dig out your favorite recipe and clear some counter space.

Dague shares tips for making the process easy-peasy and the result fabulous.

The crust

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Whether it's pastry, cookie or pretzel, for most people, Dague said, "the crust is the thing."

"It's nothing to be afraid of," she said, counting four ingredients: four, some sort of fat, butter and a little water to hold it all together.

"For the fat ingredient, some people use shortening, some use butter. It's very popular to use a combination of both," she said. "The shortening gives it flake; the butter gives it flavor."

Vegetable oil is another possibility. "But you can't roll it out because the texture is so different. You just pat it into the pan."

Dague said people have been known to use vodka in place of water.

"It makes it flaky. In apple pie, sometimes I'll use apple cider or apple vinegar," she said. "There's a lot of room for creativity in a pie crust."

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Dague buys paper cake pan liners at Gordon Food Service and sandwiches the crust between two before rolling it out. The sheets are bigger than wax paper and she cuts them to size.

"It really saves my table when rolling out crust. And it makes it easier to flip the crust over," she said.

Paige Dague crimps the edge of her pie crust with the knuckle of one hand and the forefinger of another. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

She also uses a flour wand to evenly sprinkle flour onto dough to keep it from sticking.

After the crust is in the pan, Dague folds overhanging dough under, to double it up.

"I use the knuckle of one hand and the thumb and forefinger of another and I just squeeze all the way around," she said.

Then she pops the crust into the refrigerator to "let the gluten relax so it doesn't become tough" while she prepares the filling.

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The filling

A fruit pie calls for about 5 or 6 cups of sliced fruit, depending on the size of the pan and the juiciness of the fruit, she said.

Generally, you add a sweetener, such as sugar, and a thickener, such as flour, corn starch or tapioca.

When Dague uses tapioca, she grinds it in a coffee grinder so that the granules are the same size as the sweetener because she doesn't like seeing tapioca pearls in a baked pie.

"It's a really good idea when using a thickener like tapioca, flour or corn starch to mix it with your sweetener (usually sugar) before you add it to the fruit," she said. "This ensures that the thickener is evenly distributed."

Fresh fruit is mixed with sugar and finely crushed tapioca. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)

While apple is by far the most popular fruit pie, blueberry and cherry pies are big sellers.

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"Most of the time for fruit pies, you add a little bit of contrasting flavor. For instance, in my blueberry pie, I add lemon juice and grape juice. In my strawberry rhubarb pie, I use fresh squeezed orange juice. Just a teaspoon will give it a little bit of flavor."

Before she places the filling into the unbaked crust, she sprinkles "Crust Dust," a mixture of equal parts flour and sugar into the pan.

"The flour will help absorb any excess moisture from the fruit. And the sugar just tastes good," she said.

The topping

Pie toppings can be a second crust, a pastry lattice, a crumble top like a streusel, or if you're making a cream pie, whipped cream or chocolate shavings, she said.

"I like a streusel top because I like the texture and I also like the sweetness of it," she said. "Streusel is butter, sugar and flour. You can add cinnamon if you like."

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Using a pastry blender or a fork, smash the butter into crumb-size pieces so it mixes nicely with the flour and sugar. She uses unsalted butter so she can control how much salt goes into a pie. Streusel pies, she said, "look sort of homemade, but they taste so good."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Once the pie is assembled, into the oven it goes. And don't fret that your oven isn't some top brand with all kinds of bells and whistles. Dague said hers is a standard GE convection oven.

"But you do get to know your oven, if it runs hot or has hot spots," she said.

In summation, Dague said, the only thing you really need to turn out a great pie is practice.

"Here's the thing about pies," she said. "They do not have to be perfect. They only have to be good."

For more information on Hypnotize Pies, go to www.hypnotizepies.com

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dvickroy@tribpub.com

Twitter @dvickroy
I have a problem with the Civic Federation's new report encouraging annexation of unincorporated areas by municipalities in order to reduce Cook County's costs.

I generally agree with the mission of the Chicago-based Civic Federation, a nonpartisan research group founded in 1894 as a reform organization. The group champions efficient delivery of government services and promotes sustainable tax policies.

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On Thursday, the group released its second report calling for towns to eventually absorb every square inch of unincorporated territory within Cook County's borders. The new report expands on a 2014 study. Both reports emphasize the potential cost-savings that could be realized if unincorporated areas of Cook County ceased to exist.

The executive summary says, "On April 30, 2012, a special task force appointed by Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle set as an aspirational goal the incorporation of all unincorporated land in Cook County so that every resident of Cook County would also be a resident of a municipality.

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"The Civic Federation strongly supports this goal because the county's current practice of providing municipal-type services to these areas is inefficient and inequitable."

The updated report concludes 126,034  or 2.4 percent  of Cook County's 5.2 million residents live in unincorporated areas. The county spends nearly $43 million annually to provide those areas with services, including law enforcement and building and zoning regulation.

The Civic Federation is miffed that residents of those areas only generate $24 million in annual revenue for the county, resulting in a shortfall of nearly $19 million annually. That's unfair to Cook County residents who live in municipalities, the group says.

I think the Civic Federaton is trying to get the 97.6 percent of Cook County residents who live in municipalities to turn against their unincorporated brethren.

"County taxpayers who reside in municipalities are effectively paying a subsidy to cover municipal-type services for residents of unincorporated areas, even as they pay taxes for their own municipal services," the new report says.

I understand why that grinds their gears. A lot of people hate being forced to pay for benefits for others. People are sometimes angered at having to spend their hard-earned money on taxes used to provide services like food stamps, welfare and health care for others. Many people are passionate about their anti-socialist views.

I don't argue with the basic notion that this situation is unfair to people in incorporated areas. However, I believe the Civic Federation is placing a disproportionate emphasis on this issue as a priority.

I've yet to encounter a resident of an incorporated municipality in Cook County clamoring for something to be done about this injustice. I've yet to meet a person who lives in a Cook County municipality who says, "We've really got to do something about people in unincorporated areas who are sponging off of us."

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While I agree with the Civic Federation's principles of efficient and fair government, I wonder why the group has issued two reports in less than two years saying this is a serious problem.

The $18.9 million subsidy is significant, but some perspective is in order. Cook County's 2017 budget is $1.92 billion and predicts a $174 million deficit this year. Even if $19 million in annual savings were to be realized  and that's a big if  it's still only 1 percent of the county's annual budget.

I realize you have to start cutting costs somewhere, but there are bigger fish to fry. I think it would be more productive to focus on the sustainability of personnel costs, including pensions.

"The County Officers and Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund of Cook County continues to face a significant unfunded actuarial accrued liability, with 2015 unfunded liabilities of $5.9 billion," the county budget states.

The Civic Federation has published other reports and studies that include outstanding research into the pension crises at the local, county and state levels. The group also has outlined numerous ways Illinois could get its fiscal house in order. All the group's good ideas are routinely ignored amid the political gridlock in Springfield.

I think the Civic Federation might be feeling rejected and looking to rebuild its confidence with its plans to facilitate incorporation of areas of Cook County  areas populated by people the group likes to characterize as deadbeats who "burden" others with the need for services. I give the group credit for at least acknowledging reasons why residents choose to remain unincorporated.

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"Overall, residents of the unincorporated areas that were interviewed were satisfied with living in the unincorporated areas and enjoyed the lower property taxes associated with living in an unincorporated area and the rural character of their residential areas," the new report states.

The 221-page report goes into great detail about how Cook County could realize tremendous benefits if it didn't have to serve unincorporated areas. The report outlines detailed steps describing what Cook County should do to encourage annexations.

My biggest criticism of the report, however, is that it ignores how Cook County is engaged in a lawsuit that directly contradicts the goals spelled out in the annexation studies.

In July, the Cook County state's attorney filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of several annexations made by Lemont, some dating back 20 years or more. The complaint alleges that 17 properties  including a church, fire station and residential housing developments  were not contiguous to Lemont's borders at the time they were annexed, nor are they now.

Lemont officials said they were perplexed by the lawsuit.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"Returning these properties to unincorporated Cook County would be in direct contrast to the Cook County Board president's mandate to remove as much territory from unincorporated Cook County as possible," Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves said in a statement in response to the lawsuit.

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"The Village Board and I are extremely perplexed as to why the Cook County state's attorney is getting involved," Reaves' statement said.

When one government entity sues another, taxpayers foot the bills for attorneys on both sides. I hope when such lawsuits are filed there are compelling reasons to justify the expenses to taxpayers.

I think debate about annexation of unincorporated areas should largely defer to the wishes of the people in those areas. If they want to pursue annexation to a municipality, I'm all for streamlining the system and making the process easier.

But if residents want to remain unincorporated, I strongly oppose attempts to force them to be annexed by a municipality. I've yet to be persuaded that the costs to provide services to those residents creates an undue burden on others who live in municipalities.

tslowik@tribpub.com

Twitter @tedslowik
The 14600 block of Linder Avenue in unincorporated Bremen Township contains deep craters. Residents want help fixing the road, which is on private land. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown) (Chicago Tribune)

Sometimes it's hard to tell if elected officials are sincerely doing all they can to help their constituents.

When a problem drags on and nothing is done about it, people tend to question their officials about it. Officials typically provide explanations. Often these sound like valid reasons outlining the complexity of a problem and offer assurances that everything possible is being done to find a solution.

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But sometimes years go by and nothing changes. People start to think those explanations sound like excuses. They begin to think their elected officials aren't really doing their best to solve the problem.

I'm beginning to think that's the case with Bremen Township Supervisor Maggie Crotty. I think she could do more to help homeowners in the 14600 block of Linder Avenue in an unincorporated part of her township near Midlothian.

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In two previous columns, I've written about how that may be the worst stretch of road in Illinois. The potholes  more like craters  are so deep that vehicles bottom out as they drive through them. You can try to drive around them, but in spots they're so numerous it's impossible to avoid them.

I've talked with residents and reported how it's an unusual situation. The road is actually on private land owned by the residents. How the road was built on private land 90 or so years ago isn't as important as the present.

Over the decades, people have used Linder Avenue as a public road. I've witnessed all manner of vehicles use the road, including a police car, a school bus, a UPS delivery van, a garbage truck and others. I'm told fire trucks and ambulances use the street, too.

There are mailboxes along the road. The United States Postal Service treats Linder Avenue like a public road.

Once you accept that the road is in terrible shape and that everybody treats it like a public road, you wonder what it will take to fix the street. I think Bremen Township needs to immediately fill the worst of the potholes, and that Crotty needs to lead the effort to find a long-term solution.

Crotty insists the township can't send over a truck to fill the holes with gravel because the street is on private land.

"This highway department would love to help them, but they have to have jurisdiction," she told me the other day.

I think she's mistaken. I directed her to House Bill 0182, which was approved by the General Assembly last year, signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner and took effect Jan. 1.

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Crotty said she was unfamiliar with the legislation. I wrote about it in a previous column. She knows her way around Springfield, having represented the 19th District in the state Senate from 2003 to 2013 and having served three terms as a representative in the Illinois General Assembly before that.

The measure amended the Illinois Highway Code to authorize townships and road districts to use motor fuel tax funds "for the maintenance or improvement of nondedicated subdivision roads established prior to July 23, 1959."

That means the township, since Jan. 1, has had the legal authority to send a crew over to Linder Avenue and patch the road, even though it's on private land. That would resolve the immediate need to make the road more traversable.

As for the long-term solution, I think Crotty should demonstrate more leadership in working with Linder Avenue homeowners and Cook County officials. Homeowners told me they think Crotty pays lip service to their appeals, but isn't doing all she can to help. A meeting was organized a long time ago, they said, but since then they've received no new information or action toward a resolution.

One solution would be for Midlothian or some other municipality to annex the homes, but homeowners told me they prefer to remain unincorporated. I think there's a way to let them do that and still fix the road.

Homeowners would have to transfer ownership of the land where the road is, and I believe they're all willing to do that. The properties need to be surveyed and legal documents drawn up. Someone would have to pay the surveyors and lawyers. I'll get to payment in a bit.

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Engineers would have to be hired. Questions about the extent of improvements would need to be answered. Are concrete curbs, gutters and storm sewers needed, or could a contractor more simply remove existing asphalt, grade the sub-base and pave the road?

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

I think Linder Avenue homeowners would need to agree on a plan, and they'd also have to agree to join a special service area (SSA). The Illinois Property Tax Code gives municipalities and counties the authority to create special service areas to pay for infrastructure improvements like a new road.

Cook County could create the SSA. The county could issue bonds to pay for attorneys, surveyors, engineers and contractors. The costs would be added up, and each property owner in the SSA would be assessed a fee. The assessments could be spread out over 20 or so years and added to annual property tax bills.

Ultimately, a new road would be built, homeowners would pay for it, and Bremen Township would own and maintain it moving forward. With additional effort, the potential for state or federal grant funds to cover part of the costs of the improvements could be explored.

I don't see a need for special legislation at the state level for a long-term solution, just a willingness for homeowners to agree on a plan and for their local elected officials to demonstrate true progress toward a solution.

Crotty and all the other township officials  highway commissioner, trustees, assessor and clerk  are nearing the end of their four-year terms. With local elections looming on April 4, the next few months may be the best time for Linder Avenue homeowners to pressure Crotty to show leadership on this issue.

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tslowik@tribpub.com

Twitter @tedslowik
A Southtown article stated that the Oak Lawn High School District plans to hire based on race, religion and sex. I think someone needs to tell them that we have laws in this country against that. I think that this board has set itself up for numerous lawsuits against the district and themselves. The taxpayers better put a stop to this and remove these board members, or get out their checkbooks to cover these lawsuits.

Won't the use of dry ice, which is really CO2 in solid form, to fight the rat problem in Chicago contribute to global warming? Just asking.

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Mike, Palos Hills

A well-deserved round of applause to Mayor Sexton of Evergreen Park for his enthusiasm and determination to acknowledge and overcome a shortfall of business in his village. Other south suburban communities should follow his lead and get off their laurels.

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Tinley Park

To all those so-called Republicans out there who have gone to the "Never Trump" campaign, read this: "Unless the people rise and through unified action take control of their own government, they will wake up to find that traitors in public office have taken control of them." Calvin Coolidge. The definition of freedom is, "The right of the individual to determine their own destiny." Do you have that right today, or are you controlled?

Brad, Frankfort

Dear Torn of Evergreen Park: Is it reasonable that police officers might have some culpability in the attacks against them? How many videos do you need to see of men and boys with their hands in the air and clearly showing no threat who are shot in the back? How many police officers have murdered people of color with no justification or justice for the victim or their families? I can tell you, this has been the case in black communities for decades, where many young people are more fearful of police than thugs. At least you know who the thugs are. You don't know the good cops from the renegades. They all wear the same uniform. The president is not responsible for every problem in our society, we are.

DW

It is disconcerting to hear Hillary Clinton's claim that Donald Trump's campaign incites extremism. Seems her timidity had little effect on the resolve of the New York and Minnesota radicals, or any other radical extremist events during her 30 years of "public service." Maybe, these extremists don't care who is in office. If that's the case, I am going to cast my vote for the candidate who will exercise the force needed to deal with them. Hillary ain't that candidate.

Evergreen Park

Send the branding consultant home. With the recent rash of more closings, it seems Tinley's businesses have inadvertently branded us "The Town Not to do Business."

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Tinley Park

Watching the Chicago Cubs fall flat on their faces to the Milwaukee Brewers has brought me to the realization that this is not "the year" either. I suspect they will not make it past the first round of playoffs, when they have to face they likes of the Nats, Dodgers or perhaps the Mets again. So much for that wonderful and amazing season. Sorry Cub fans, we're gonna wait another hundred years.

Terry, Mount Greenwood

I agree with one recent contributor. I was not surprised when I learned that when Hillary Clinton collapsed during the 9/11 memorial, and she was rushed to her daughter's apartment instead of a hospital or doctor's office. The whole situation, as usual, was handled with that "Clinton-esque" secrecy that is normal to her staff, but strange and suspicious to the common person.

Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins gives the Black Panther salute during the national anthem and is quoted saying, "It's to unite the community." Are you kidding me?

Rick, Evergreen Park

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Many people in other countries would love to come to America and stand with hand on heart to pledge allegiance to our flag. They should change places with the people who don't want to and give them the opportunity.

Sue

Hey guys, when you meet someone new and (ahem) "interesting," and are asking her out for the first time, make sure it's with the understanding of "Dutch treat." For those unfamiliar with this term, it means that both parties pay their own way. Normally, this occurs on the first 10 or more dates. This should help weed out the "gold diggers." Beware. Been there.

The Chicago Police Department has the unhappy job of cleaning up the mess created by the war on poverty of 50 years ago. Fifty years and trillions of dollars later, we have more poor, ignorant and violent people than ever before. If I were the Chicago superintendent of the Police Department, I would give Hilary and Dick Durbin badges and guns, and let them clean up their own mess.

Jim, Tinley Park

With the way that police are portrayed daily, the profession of law enforcement I suspect is becoming less and less appealing as a work pursuit. Considering that "progressives" seem to generally side with those who detest law enforcement, they should very seriously reconsider their well documented position on suppressing Second Amendment rights, in their own self-interest.

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Tom, Evergreen Park

Reading the obvious Democrat and women's libber Kathleen Parker's latest rant that ran in the Daily Southtown Friday stating that Donald Trump is "unfit" to be president, she just forgets the fact that her savior, Hillary Clinton, should be tried for perjury, misprision and treason ... but she supposedly is not "unfit."

BJ, Frankfort

Quoting a recent Southtown article, Rham says "this fight belongs to all of us." No it does not. The whole violent black problem was created by the Democratic Party and it's billion dollar give away for votes programs. You reap what you sow Rham, so a lot of overtaxed middle-class Chicagoans say: Democratic Party created it , Democratic Party can fix it. Good Luck.

TL

I am profoundly grateful to the lovely lady who paid for my item at the Jewel store in South Chicago on Monday when I came up short at the checkout. I will be sure to "pay it forward." This is how we restore and preserve our faith in humanity. In these divided times, we need an extra bit of hope. Thank you for giving me that.

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Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Steger

So, as Charlotte, N.C. erupts with rioters  no they were not protesters  our wonderful president is once again missing in action instead of condemning the violence. Why, you ask? Very simple. It does not figure in his leftist agenda. Instead, he'll talk down to blacks saying that to honor his legacy that they must support Hilary Clinton for president. We really need some leadership in this country, and with Clinton you get more of the same as President Obama. Some legacy  one of failure for eight years. The changes are coming on Nov. 8. Just wait.

Don, Orland Park

OK, GOP. You've taken this joke far enough. Bring out your real candidate.

Lee

What's Speak Out?

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Speak Out allows readers to comment on the issues of the day. Email Speak Out at speakout@southtownstar.com or call 312-222-2427. Please limit comments to 30 seconds or about 120 words and give your first name and your hometown.
It's nice that people want to make extra money by having a garage sale, but five days in a row is out of hand. Tinley Park needs to put a stipulation on how long somebody can have a sale. Friday and Saturday are fine, but having it Wednesday-Sunday and then Monday for a holiday? That's excessive. Something needs to be done. People who come to the sale block your driveway and mailbox. If you can't be respectful, don't go. To people having the sale: Respect your neighbors and don't have sales for five days. If you're desperate for money, get another job. Don't inconvenience your neighbors. To people going to these: You have nothing better to do for five days?

To the commenter from Orland Park who's criticizing me and then talking about how beautiful Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's wife Melania is: Let's print a picture of her without all the makeup, bling and flair she uses with all her money. Then we'll see how beautiful she is. Another thing is, if you want that maniac Trump, that's your problem. But I don't want a president who's got Russian President Vladimir Putin as one of his best friends and who thinks former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is wonderful. I don't want a president like that. Also, yes, there are many intelligent women in Orland. Unfortunately, I don't believe you're one because I don't think you have your facts straight.

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Sam

I can't believe the two nitwits we have running for our country's highest office. The world around us is in total shock. They can't believe the United States of America has sunk to such outlandish presidential nominees. Democrat Hillary Clinton is a pathological liar and Republican Donald Trump is a psycho. Talk about a living nightmare. The sad part is whoever wins, the United States of America loses. It's like a freak show and it's actually happening to us. God help us.

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Joe, Alsip

More about former President George W. Bush's prescription drug plan: Why did they fight bringing drugs in from Canada? They were much cheaper for the same drugs. They claimed you don't know if drugs from Canada are safe. I take seven prescriptions. None are made in the United States. They're made in foreign countries. If you have the manufacturer's bottle, you'll see what country they come from: Israel, Czechoslovakia and every place but the United States. As long as Pfizer and Bristol-Meyers Squib are importing drugs, they're safe. But if we got them from Canada, they wouldn't be? Why are we paying twice as much as other countries for drugs? If it isn't Bush's drug plan, there's no other reason.

I think the village of Tinley Park's Water and Sewer Division needs to get off their butts. If you're going to start picking and choosing who you're going to change the water meters on for the old meters, that's discrimination. You've still got residents that have old ones. You should treat them all the same. You don't pick and choose who you're going to shut the water off on and who you're going to let keep their old water meters because they're elderly. You're discriminating against some elders and shutting their water off, and some you're letting go scot-free? That's discrimination and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Why is everybody so worried about the $400 million that Iran got from the United States? No worries. All President Barack Obama has to do is see Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. She can give him $400 million right from her own fund  the charity fund of the Clinton Foundation.

John, Bridgeport

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

I think at this point we could stop worrying about the drug dealers coming in from Mexico or in a bad neighborhood. The biggest drug dealers I know of today are doctors wearing white smocks with stethoscopes around their necks. I know more people strung out on Vicodin and pain pills today, more than I ever have in all my life.

Tom, Burbank

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump added another person to his upper staff. Stephen Bannon, former executive chairman of Breitbart News has made a living out of making false accusations against the Clintons. Now Trump's top five or six people only know how to make accusations. None of them are trustworthy. None of these accusations made against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have been proven. He even accused her of killing former White House aide Vince Foster, who committed suicide. This is the type of person you Republicans are voting for president. The man has no morals. When he deports all the undocumented immigrants, he won't have any employees because more than 50 percent of them are working for him.

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Wes from Orland Park mentioned about how the Illinois Lottery proceeds are distributed and this reminded me of wondering about what happens to unclaimed lottery winnings. Illinois used to have a special ticket for cash or cars or trips. Now we don't hear anything about this unclaimed money. Are they keeping it, which means their share of the money is even more than they have now?

Don, Chicago

What's Speak Out?

Speak Out allows readers to comment on the issues of the day. Email Speak Out at speakout@southtownstar.com or call 312-222-2427. Please limit comments to 30 seconds or about 120 words and give your first name and your hometown.
Fire officials respond to a car fire at Chicago Street and Shales Parkway in Elgin. (Liz Kusper / HANDOUT)

Elgin firefighters were called to a car fire at about 2:38 p.m. Thursday at Shales Parkway and Chicago Street (Route 19), fire officials said.

According to fire department officials, the fire was caused by mechanical problems, adding that the driver had just purchased the 1997 Honda Civic for $500 and was taking it to a mechanic to get checked out.

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Traffic heading eastbound on Chicago Street was blocked for about 30 minutes until the blaze was out, officials said.

Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
A makeshift memorial has sprouted near the spot where Northwestern University freshman Chuyuan Qiu, 18, was killed in a bicycle accident on Sept. 22, 2016. (Lee V. Gaines / Pioneer Press)

A stretch of Sheridan Road in Evanston where a Northwestern University freshman was killed in a crash involving her bicycle and a cement truck Thursday night will soon have bike lanes as part of a multi-phase roadway project.

NU student Chuyuan Qiu, 18, was involved in the crash around 5 p.m. in the 2000 block of Sheridan Road, according to authorities. Evanston police said she was turning out of a university parking lot when she was hit by one of the truck's wheels and knocked off her bike. She then rolled under the truck.

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Qiu was later pronounced dead at Evanston NorthShore University Hospital.

The driver of the truck, a 38-year-old Des Plaines resident, was not cited in connection with the incident, police said. The investigation is ongoing, but the truck driver had a green light at the time of the crash and there is no reason to suspect he was impaired or distracted, said Perry Polinski, the police department's media relations officer.

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"She just misjudged the speed of the truck," Evanston police Chief Richard Eddington said. "Or didn't realize how long the truck was. ... A tragic accident."

Accidents involving bicyclists are not common in the area, Polinski said.

A female bicyclist was struck and killed by a motorcyclist in June 2014 in downtown Evanston in the 600 block of Church Street, he said.

A makeshift memorial under a small tree on a sidewalk adjacent to Sheridan Road appeared Friday morning near the area where Qiu was hit. Cyclists and pedestrians passing the memorial kept out of the roadway and on the sidewalk. Plans for a formal memorial event in Qiu's honor are pending, said Bob Rowley, Northwestern's director of media relations.

Qiu was from Nanjing, China, and had just started at Northwestern, according to Dean of Students Todd C. Adams. She was a member of the Kaplan Humanities Scholars Program. Fall classes began this week.

Several cyclists in the area said they planned to exercise greater caution while riding their bikes around campus, particularly near Sheridan Road.

Bike lanes will be installed on the thoroughfare next summer, according to Mark Muenzer, Evanston's director of community development.

The project is funded by the city and through a grant received from the Illinois Department of Transportation, said Katie Knapp, transportation and mobility coordinator for Evanston.

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Muenzer said the NU school year offers a short window of time for construction to take place. This past summer crews replaced and refurbished water mains located under the roadway in phase one of the two-stage project, he said.

Next summer, a stretch of Sheridan from Davis Street to Ingleside Place just south of the city's border with Wilmette will be repaved and bike lanes installed, Knapp said.

She said discussions about the project began two years ago and the city has collaborated with NU officials and student groups throughout the process.

"Certainly, if you walk along Sheridan Road today, you'll see there are large sidewalks but a lot of mixing between bikes and pedestrians," Knapp said.

She said students "positively received" the news that the city intended to separate both modes of transit by installing bike lanes.

When asked if the city hoped that the forthcoming bike lanes would prevent any future accidents in the area, Knapp said "safety is a top priority" for Evanston.

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When asked whether NU conducts any outreach with new students regarding bike safety on campus and within Evanston, Rowley pointed to a university police web page that offers safety tips for student cyclists.

Knapp said the city also strives to educate NU students and other residents about best safety practices for cyclists.

Students in need of support in the wake of Qiu's death are encouraged to seek help from the university's counseling and psychological services, the Dean of Students Office or the chaplain's staff, according to a statement on the university's website.

Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press. Pioneer Press reporter Bob Seidenberg contributed.
Jeremy M. Jones, left, Abeet Ramos and a male juvenile are accused of kidnapping a Wheaton College student at gunpoint and forcing him to withdraw money from ATMs before releasing him unharmed in Chicago, authorities said. (DuPage County Sheriff's Department photos)

Bail was set at $3.5 million Friday for one of three people accused of kidnapping and robbing a Wheaton College student last month, DuPage County prosecutors said.

Jeremy M. Jones, 23, of Elgin, who had been sought in connection with the Aug. 26 kidnapping in Glen Ellyn, was arrested Sunday in Chicago on an unrelated charge.

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According to DuPage prosecutors, Jones had been a passenger in a car pulled over by Chicago police. He allegedly tried to flee on foot and then gave a false name when police arrested him.

DuPage prosecutors allege that Jones displayed a handgun when he and a male juvenile accosted the student outside a Starbucks in Glen Ellyn and forced him into a vehicle occupied by a another man, who police alleged is Abeet Ramos, 18, of South Elgin.

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The trio allegedly drove the student to several ATMs and forced him to withdraw more than $1,500 before letting him go later in Chicago. The student, who was not harmed, called police, and authorities were able to get a license plate number of the vehicle from ATM surveillance video, prosecutors said.

Ramos and the juvenile were arrested earlier this month. Prosecutors said the trio spent some of the money on new clothing.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, Jones had been paroled this summer after being incarcerated for an attempted armed robbery conviction in Kane County.

"Thanks to the hard work of several law enforcement agencies, including the Elgin and Glen Ellyn police departments, all three men suspected in a brazen kidnapping have been detained," State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "I would especially like to thank the Chicago Police Department for their outstanding work in locating and apprehending Mr. Jones."

Jones is due back in court Nov. 1 in front of Judge John Kinsella.

Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
Gurnee Fire Department requested to Great America for a high-angle rescue after a worker experienced back pain and could not move while doing maintenance work on the Sky Trek Tower about 300 feet up inside the tower at Great America, Sept. 22, 2016. (Joe Shuman / Chicago Tribune)

A Six Flags Great America crew worker involved in erecting the park's inflatable gorilla for the upcoming Fright Fest needed to be rescued Thursday from the top of the Sky Trek Tower after suffering a back ache, officials said.

"He is part of the maintenance team that puts up the big gorilla. He threw out his back and we reached out for assistance from the Gurnee Fire Department because they could make him more comfortable," Katy Enrique, the park's public relations manager, said.

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Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Pellitteri said the worker was immobilized by pain in an area inside the column above where the elevator stops. Rescue workers used a "Miller Halfback" device that is a harness that has a long board down the middle to help stabilize a patient, he said.

"We had to lift him up then drop him down to where the elevators are," said Pellitteri, which estimated the drop at about 25 feet. "We had to get him through a manhole that opens up into the elevator area," he said.

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"He couldn't move. He was flat on his back. He was in a lot of pain," he said, adding authorities treated him with pain medication.

Gurnee Fire Department requested to Great America for a high-angle rescue after a worker experienced back pain and could not move while doing maintenance work on the Sky Trek Tower about 300 feet up inside the tower at Great America, Sept. 22, 2016. (Joe Shuman / Chicago Tribune)

Pellitteri said that the Fire Department has a good working relationship with Six Flags Great America staff and that made operations very smooth. The rescue took just over an hour Thursday afternoon.

Enrique said the workers were installing the gorilla for Fright Fest, which opens this weekend.

fabderholden@tribpub.com

Twitter @abderholden
While some area towns are bailing from electricity aggregation programs that were designed to save consumers money on their electricity bills, Lake Zurich users still are seeing savings, village officials said. (Pioneer Press / Pioneer Press)

While some area towns are bailing from electricity aggregation programs that were designed to save consumers money on their electricity bills, Lake Zurich users still are seeing savings, village officials said.

In July, residents enrolled in the Lake Zurich program enjoyed a nearly 12 percent drop in rates, said Kyle Kordell, assistant to the village manager. Lake Zurich electric rates dropped from 7.199 to 6.35 cents per kilowatt hour, he said.

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The rates should remain at that level at least until the village's aggregation agreement with the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative expires in June 2017, Kordell said.

"Aggregation is essentially when the residents of a community combine their purchasing power to purchase electricity as a group to receive a better rate," he said.

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Voters throughout the suburbs in recent years approved through referendum village-run electricity aggregation programs as an alternative to secure cheaper electricity rates than what ComEd offered.

After launching the voter-approved program in 2012, Lake Zurich users have saved $1.75 million overall and the average participant has seen $336 in savings, Kordell said.

But while residents of Lake Zurich enjoy rate drops, some area communities have left their programs because ComEd started to offer lower rates following approval of electricity aggregation programs.

Morton Grove in suburban Cook County dropped its program earlier in September and nearby Lincolnwood did so in 2014, according to reports from the Chicago Tribune.

In Lake County, Buffalo Grove officials, whose aggregation program expires next year, don't anticipate securing better rates than those currently offered by ComEd, said Village Manager Dane Bragg.

"We have not considered a renewal or bid process for 2017 for electric aggregation," Bragg said. "At this time, the ComEd indicative pricing is low enough that we don't see much opportunity to negotiate a better deal."

Nearby Lincolnshire and Barrington also are locked into contracts through 2017. Village officials in both towns did not return calls or emails requesting comment.

Lake Zurich entered into its current three-year contract with Homefield Energy in 2014, Kordell said.

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"As of right now, there are no set plans on renewing the electricity aggregation program with the lowest priced alternative energy supplier or reverting back to ComEd as the primary supplier," he said. "This decision will almost entirely be determined by larger regional and national market conditions, and the financial trends of commodities."

Lake Zurich will likely work with the NIMEC to seek bids before its current contract expires, Kordell said.

"The village will be keeping an eye on electricity prices and market fluctuations in order to make the most well-informed decisions for the future of the Lake Zurich aggregation program," he said.

Public Works Director Mike Brown agreed.

"Village staff will continue to monitor the program and make every effort to ensure that Lake Zurich residents and business owners are getting the best available option the aggregation program offers," Brown said.

The fact that ComEd is offering such low rates shows the aggregation programs have worked, Kordell said.

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"Generally, electricity aggregation programs across Chicagoland have largely succeeded over the past few years in helping to drive down the overall price of electricity," he said. "In short, aggregation has worked the way it was intended to."

For example, in summer 2010, Lake Zurich residents were paying ComEd 9.07 cents per kilowatt hour, Kordell said.

"Since then, all commodities have seen large price drops," he said. "The widespread popularity of municipal aggregation is one important factor in driving down the price of electricity and savings residents millions of dollars over the years."

As members of the Northwest Electric Aggregation Consortium, Buffalo Grove and Lincolnshire users will be charged 6.621 cents per kilowatt hour through May 2017, according to the Chicago Tribune.

This month, Barrington entered the final year of its three-year contract with Dynegy Energy Services LLC, according to Dynegy's website. Village users are currently paying 6.509 cents per kilowatt hour, according to the site.

Phil Rockrohr is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Edward Breastfeeding Center moves

The Edward Breastfeeding Center will be relocated from Edward Hospital to a new location Thursday, Sept. 29.

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The center, which serves women in Naperville and the surrounding area, is moving to to 10 W. Martin Ave., Suite 202, to make way for a renovation and expansion of the Level II Intermediate Care Nursery at Edward, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-2017.

The new location features more convenient parking and a shorter walk from the parking lot.

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The center is open by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and by calling to schedule Sunday hours.

Public Safety open house

The Naperville Police and Fire departments will host their annual public safety open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the public safety campus, 1380 Aurora Ave.

The open house features police and fire demonstrations, including a training exercise in which a Lifestar helicopter lands and emergency personnel perform an auto extrication.

The police department's K9 unit will be at the open house as well as various police and fire vehicles.

Children can also meet Sparky the Fire Dog and McGruff the Crime Dog.

For more information, go to www.naperville.il.us/psoh.

Girl Scout badge program set

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Girl Scouts can earn their junior "Detective Badge" by attending sessions being held Thursday, Oct. 6, and Monday, Oct. 10, offered by the Naperville Police Department at Naperville's Safety Town.

Sessions are held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on both days.

Scouts will practice observation, communicate in code, learn to fingerprint and use detective science to solve a mystery.

A Safety Town patch is included in the registration fee. To register, go to www.napervillejuniors.org.

For information about the class, contact Mary Browning at browningm@naperville.il.us or 630-420-6731. For information about registration, contact Sydney Seguino at safety_town@att.net.

The Conservation Foundations Fall Festival will be held Oct. 9 at McDonald Farm in Naperville. (The Conservation Foundation)

McDonald Farm fall festival

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Families can meet a variety of animals and learn about life on a farm during The Conservation Foundation's Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at McDonald Farm, 10S404 Knoch Knoll Road, Naperville.

The event features live music, food, hayrides, wildlife exhibits, a petting zoo and pony rides.

Visitors can take a farm tour to learn about the sustainable initiatives at McDonald Farm, learn about native landscaping and learn how to conserve rainwater using rain barrels.

There will also be raptor and monarch butterfly presentations for children. Rain barrels and oak trees will be available to buy.

Admission is free.

For more information, go to www.theconservationfoundation.org.

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Forest Preserve open house

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County will host an open house at its Urban Stream Research Center at Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.

Visitors can see crayfish, mussels, insects and fish that live in the county's waterways and learn how ecologists are raising endangered species, including Hine's emerald dragonflies, Blanding's turtles and freshwater mussels. Visitors can also learn how ecologists work to protect the region's watersheds.

Registration is not required to the free event. For more information, call 630- 206-9626.

Officer wins state bar award

Naperville Police Officer Shaun Ferguson received a 2016 Law Enforcement Award from the Illinois State Bar Association at the Sept. 20 Naperville City Council meeting.

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The Law Enforcement Award recognizes those who excel in law enforcement and acknowledges individuals whose service brings honor and respect to the criminal justice system.

Ferguson was recognized for using his experience as a drug crimes investigator to discuss the dangers of heroin and its effect on youth to parents and teens.
League of Women Voters' member Susan Greenwood asks a table of students in the main cafeteria of Naperville North if they are eligible to vote during a voter registration drive Friday at the Naperville high school. (Suzanne Baker / Naperville Sun)

Kathryn Burke spent a few minutes of her school lunch period Friday ensuring she can vote in the November election.

The high school senior was the first student to visit the voter registration table set up in the small cafeteria of Naperville North High School by the League of Women Voters of Naperville.

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Burke said she was upset she missed out on the March primary in Illinois.

It was too late to sign up when she found out about the new Illinois law allowing 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the time of the November general election to vote in the primary.

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Burke won't be missing out this time.

"I think it's important. Even one vote can matter," Burke said.

Annette Smith, the Naperville league's voter service chairwoman, said Naperville North is one three high schools the group is visiting in the next week. Members will be head to Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley high schools in Aurora on Tuesday for National Voter Registration Day.

Smith said she wasn't sure how many first-time voters would be signing up this fall, since many were registered during voting drives before the March primary.

At Waubonsie and Metea, around 400 eligible juniors and senior registered last winter.

"It was the most people we've registered in one day," Smith said. "We had writer's cramp for days."

Registration was slow Friday at Naperville North.

Of the three students who stopped by the league's table in the first hour, only Burke was able to register. One student had no identification; the other was not old enough.

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In search of potential new voters, league member Susan Greenwood canvassed North's small and large cafeterias for students old enough to vote in November. The two 18-year-olds she found said they were registered.

Naperville North social studies teacher Holly Welsh said a big reason for the low response probably was because Naperville North allows seniors to leave campus for lunch.

To combat that, Welsh enlisted officers from the Naperville North Junior State of America debate club she advises to camp out at the exit doors to remind seniors of the registration drive. JSA members also toured the cafeterias and learning commons for would-be voters.

Welsh said in the future a different time of day might be a better option if the school and league plan another drive.

Naperville North students who missed their chance to register Friday still can accomplish the task online at https://ova.elections.il.gov/.

Greenwood said young people might find that way much easier.

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Getting new voters  high school students or people who've moved to the area recently  registered now is critical since early voting starts Thursday, Greenwood said.

"Clearly this is a very important election," she said. "If you don't vote, then you can't complain if you don't like who was elected."

Even if voters don't like any of the presidential candidates, they can vote for other races. "The U.S. Senate race will be close, and every vote counts," Greenwood said.

She added young people have just as much right to have a voice in the democratic process as anyone else, and they can make the biggest difference in the 2017 consolidated election.

While the presidential race is important to give direction to the nation as a whole, Greenwood said, the election in April has an impact on what happens in the city, parks and schools, "our everyday lives."

"For students, the school board election is going to have more of a direct effect on you," she said.

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subaker@tribpub.com

Twitter @SBakerSun1
The Mattress Firm store at Harlem Irving Plaza replaced Sleepys when the chain acquired the brand in July. It was the fourth Mattress Firm store to open in Norridge. (Natalie Hayes / Pioneer Press)

Norridge Mayor James Chmura is pulling out the stops to usher in new streams of revenue, from lifting a ban on video gambling last year to welcoming a new multimillion-dollar mixed retail center planned for a longtime vacancy on Harlem Avenue.

But amid the town's plans for new businesses to open in coming years  including a Miller's Ale House and an AMC theater soon to be under construction on the former Norridge theater property  Chmura wants to cap the growth of one kind of store because he says there are too many of its type in the village.

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Since 2014, Houston-based Mattress Firm has opened four stores in Norridge, with three located on Harlem Avenue. The most recent store opened in July in a street-facing storefront in Harlem Irving Plaza next to XSport Fitness, after Mattress Firm bought out the Sleepy's store that was there previously, as part of a nationwide rebranding of that chain.

In 2014, Mattress Firm bought Back to Bed and Bedding Experts. Another mainstream mattress brand, American Mattress, closed a shop on the 4500 block of North Harlem in November of last year, but another store is still in operation a block down the street in Harwood Heights.

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Mattresses bring in sales tax revenue the same way other types of retail do, but Chmura said he'd like to make room for other types of businesses.

"I don't want to see one more mattress store open in the village," Chmura said recently. "Everyone wants to be in [Harlem Irving Plaza], and Mattress Firm secured the lease on that store when they bought out Sleepy's."

Mattress Firm CEO Ken Murphy explains the growing number of 200-plus stores in the Chicago market as a way to provide convenience for customers.

"We invest in real estate in highly trafficked intersections and shopping centers in key markets to maintain visibility," Murphy said. "Additionally, recent acquisitions have added to our real estate portfolio, [and] this sometimes results in having Mattress Firm locations in close proximity."

Commercial space along the few-mile stretch of Harlem Avenue that runs through Harwood Heights and Norridge is in high demand, with large companies sometimes coming out ahead of small businesses when it comes to competing for street-facing properties.

Former Norridge shop owner Amjad Owaynat operated a Middle Eastern-style grocery store called Middle Eastern Flair in a high-traffic storefront on the 4300 block of Harlem Avenue until last year, when his landlord ousted him from the property after she sold it to a Mattress Firm store. Owaynat fought to stay in the store until a judge eventually sided with the property owner and ordered him out. He since has opened a larger store on Irving Park Road in Chicago.

With so many mattress stores in a town that spans less than 2 square miles, it's uncertain how Mattress Firm will fare in the future.

While Murphy would not disclose whether the company has future plans to consolidate the Norridge stores, he said clusters of stores often perform well.

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"As a function of acquiring several companies in recent years, we have naturally gained many strong retail locations as well as some under-performing and/or duplicative stores," Murphy said. "As a natural course of business, we close under-performing stores and will continue to do so as needed as a part of our plan for operational excellence."

German-based home goods manufacturer Steinhoff International in August acquired Mattress Firm with plans to operate the more than 3,500 U.S. stores as a subsidiary of the company with the goal of creating the "world's largest multi-brand mattress retail distribution network," according to a statement released by the two companies on Aug. 8.

Murphy's job survived the acquisition, and he expects the Mattress Firm name to do as much.

"We will continue with our plans to consolidate all stores under one banner nationwide and will continue to operate as Mattress Firm," he said.

Natalie Hayes is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
At a meeting on Sept. 20, members of Norridge School District 80's board and staff explained and defended the decision to pursue a plan to demolish two schools and build a new, combined school for an estimated $60.6 million.

The meeting lasted about two hours and was mainly focused on details regarding the Nov. 8 referendum question, which asks residents if the property tax extension limitation law for District 80 should be increased "from the lesser of 5 percent or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 73.6 percent for the 2016 levy year."

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If the November referendum question is approved, Norridge homeowners can expect to pay about $479 more in taxes per year based on a $100,000 home, according to information provided by the school district on Aug. 16. The funds from the increase would initially go toward building a new combined school, according to the board. Giles and Leigh schools would be torn down.

"I'm not a construction manager; I'm not an architect. ... There's a lot of things that go into building a building," District 80 Superintendent Paul O'Malley said before spending about a minute and a half going through a list of bullet points that included items such as fire protection, plumbing, and furniture fixtures and equipment.

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"There's a lot of things that go into the $60.6 million, and I believe we have confidence in our architects and construction managers," O'Malley said. "I believe that they know what they're doing and that they build buildings quite regularly, and I'm confident in their numbers."

There are some who are standing against the project. Ricardo A. Mora, who opposes the plan, said police were at the meeting because of comments he'd received online via a Facebook group. Police were present for the entire meeting.

"All we know is the chief of police called and asked that police be here. And we complied," said School District President Srbo Radisavljevic, regarding the three armed police officers who attended the meeting in uniform.

"Everyone's entitled to their opinion. You might not agree with the referendum; you might agree with the referendum. But you need to be good role models for the kids. I think it's very sad, there's no reason for this," said board member Cynthia Stec, who serves as secretary, regarding the online vitriol between residents about the referendum.

During the meeting, O'Malley tried to prevent Mora from handing out a prepared statement in which Mora stated that the district has been fiscally irresponsible, spending more money than it has been receiving for years, and created a deficit reduction plan in April 2016 only because the state required officials to do so.

"We've established the fiscal policies. We're moving forward, and we believe we're being financially responsible," O'Malley said, regarding the deficit reduction plan. "And based on those measures that we've put in place, we're able to save $1.1 million."

During the meeting's public comment portion, Anna Santucci, 63, said she was considering leaving the village she's lived in since 1969.

"I lost my husband, and I just can't afford to pay extra taxes," said Santucci, who cried as she spoke. "Let the children pay something. Maybe have them pay something. Charge the families."

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O'Malley said the education must be provided to all.

"People don't realize we're [offering] free and appropriate public education," O'Malley said. "We would like to charge, and we think that would be a viable solution. It's not the charging that's problematic. It's the collection because we cannot collect from people who cannot pay. We cannot do that. Schools are much different than they were in the past. People have expectations, and it doesn't matter if you have the money. You have to provide."

In 2010, the district commissioned CONCEPT 3 Architects to perform a facility study on the two schools. According to that study, John V. Leigh School was originally constructed in 1956 and has been expanded six times, with additions in 1958, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1997 and finally in 2006. The majority of the Leigh School was built prior to 1965.

Meanwhile the James J. Giles School was originally constructed in 1929 and has been expanded six times with additions in 1949, 1953, 1959, 1961, 1965 and finally in 2001. The majority of Giles School was built in or prior to 1965, according to that same study.

This school year, there are 620 students enrolled at Giles and 490 students enrolled at Leigh, according to information presented at the meeting.

The site for the proposed combined school has not yet been officially announced. However, O'Malley brought up Divine Savior Church, at 7740 W. Montrose Ave. in Harwood Heights, as a possible location under consideration. Also during his presentation, O'Malley had images of an artist's rendering of what the new combined school could look like. He said that they were pulled from a request for proposal application from one of the three architecture firms the district is considering for the project. He said he sent out a request for proposal for 15 firms, and the district has narrowed the list to three.

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At the meeting, the board was asked what would happen if the referendum fails in November.

O'Malley said there would be reductions, "and we have a contractual obligation. We need to let our teachers know if their program is going to be cut."

The superintendent went on to say he didn't feel comfortable cutting band or kindergarten programs because they are "staples of the district."

"But we have to reduce," he said. "We have no choice. The state has bestowed upon us expectations, and we cannot do anything expect reduce our expenses."

Alex V. Hernandez is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Glenview-Northbrook Elementary District 30's Kurt Barker recently won an Illinois State Board of Education "Those Who Excel" award that recognizes his ability to teach students in innovative ways. (Irv Leavitt / Pioneer Park/Chicago Tribune)

Don't tell Kurt Barker you're not cut out for music.

"We're all musical," the Willowbrook School music teacher said. "It's part of who we are."

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Barker recently won an Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel award that recognizes his ability to teach students in innovative ways. For instance, he's bringing the gifted math teacher of the Glenview/Northbrook school into the mix for the annual fifth-grade musical performance, helping the kids design a musical instrument that they came up with themselves.

The students were asked questions such as "what do you love about school?" (Recess) "What is something you like at recess?" (Monkey bars) So, the math teacher is helping them design a percussion instrument that looks like monkey bars.

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Naturally. This is, after all, the teacher who taught kids to play music on shoes.

"I you look at it through one lens, they're performers," he said of his charges. "But I don't want them to be performers, I want them to be creators.

"When you make music, you're not playing for me. You're playing for yourself."

So, in October, the fifth-graders will have mallets and monkey bars on stage. Nothing new for parents, since Barker helped change the expectations of parents when he arrived at District 30 a decade ago.

He had the support of the administration then, and he has it now. He was hired by Melissa Hirsch, then the principal of the Glenview school, now the district curriculum director. She was looking for a different kind of teacher to replace a more traditional music teacher, and Barker was highly recommended, she said.

"I just really loved not only this passion and his energy," she said. "But it was clear how much he enjoyed being with kids and seeing them grow in the fine arts, and celebrating it, and I hadn't seen it in a long time.".

"He's all about the experiences and the process, not so much the product, but the learning and the growth," said principal Scott Carlson.

"Music is just the medium, and he looks beyond it," Carlson said. "What Kurt is trying to do with the kids is empower them with their own creative voices."

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It's not the first award Barker has received this year. Last spring, The Northern Suburban Special Education District sent him their Best Practice Award, which recognized his skill with special education students at the school, 2500 Happy Hollow Road.

His philosophy fits their needs.

"They create what fits for them," he said.

Hirsch said that the district responds to people who teach with imagination.

"Our curriculum in the district is aligned to standards, but it also aligns to pedagogical best practices," best teaching methods, she said. "And Kurt has a real talent for integrating other content areas, bringing (other teachers) in."

Barker said that children try new things because they trust him, and he does, in part, because his bosses trust him.

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He said former Superintendent Ed Tivador told him not to be afraid to take risks, because he wasn't going to break the kids.

ileavitt@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @IrvLeavitt
I went to my kid's college to attend a "family weekend" a few weeks ago. Sat in classes of my interests and talked to profs after classes, also to senior students from STEM to humanity majors. There are quite few students impressed me with their strong passions and what they've done outside classrooms. I can visualize that they will be the future leaders in their fields. However, there is one thing in common, gosh they all are so deeply liberal, like 10X (Obama+Clinton)...

When i took my son and his friends out for dinners or fun off-campus activities, i was afraid to discuss politics freely with them, because 1) if they disagree, i would spoil the good time together, and 2) if they agree with me, they could get a F or D on their writings?

One thing for sure, i am not as liberal and lefty as their profs, although i consider myself as liberal...
Ron Szumelda, a Radisson bartender for 35 years, teaches a course for bartenders and servers in proper serving techniques at Sheffield's in Merrillville on Monday. (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

Tending bar one day at Sheffield's in Dyer, a young man gave Christine Struve a driver's license that she thought might have been fraudulent. To confirm her suspicions that he was under 21 years old, she looked him up on Facebook.

Sure enough, he listed himself as 19 years old on his Facebook page, she said. "I think I did a good job that day," said Struve, of Cedar Lake.

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If she had served him an alcoholic beverage, there was a chance she could have run afoul of the Indiana State Excise Police, which regulates Indiana liquor establishments, and lost her license to serve alcohol and possibly her job. The business could have been fined, too, and possibly lost its liquor license.

Ron Szumelda, who offers Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Certification Training required of all people who serve alcohol in a place of business, reinforced that message during a certification class he conducted recently at Sheffield's in Merrillville.

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Although the potential to serve alcohol to minors is the top legal issue for bars, restaurants and liquor stores, Szumelda, 68, a longtime bartender at the Star Plaza Theater, said it's incumbent upon workers to know how to spot a fake ID.

He explained to the class of 12 women seeking their state-mandated Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Certification permit that Indiana driver's licenses have 12 distinct security features. He said he thinks Indiana licenses are difficult to duplicate or alter in a way that would fool anyone. But the licenses and other acceptable forms of identification differ by state, and there are also foreign and military identification documents to contend with.

Szumelda said there are resources online for anyone in doubt about the validity of someone's state ID. But in the end, the decision may come down to common sense.

"The triangle area of a person's eyes, nose and mouth doesn't change, so look at the person in relation to the photo on their ID," he said. "Check the birth date. Take the time to do the math."

A minor attempting to get served is not an uncommon experience for Julie Pesich, of Schererville, an employee of Sheffield's in Dyer.

"We get fake IDs all the time, especially this past summer with a lot of young women coming in," she said. "Most of the IDs are from out of state. But you can tell they just look too young."

The certification training was also an opportunity to stress how to notice the signs of intoxication and when to stop serving someone.

"You need to understand your legal liabilities and state liquor laws," he said. "Understand how alcohol affects the body and know the telltale characteristics."

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Szumelda noted that a patron having a designated driver doesn't absolve an employee from over-serving someone. People walking drunk out of a bar can get hurt or cause injury to others, too. In addition to gambling, drug activity is another major concern in bars, he said.

"More drugs get bought and sold in bars then on the street," he said. "Try to notice someone's demeanor before and after they come out of the restroom."

He said it's hard to know if Indiana Excise Police are in a bar or restaurant.

"They'll come in in plainclothes and can even have someone underage with them," he said. "If they come in in uniform, someone has probably tipped them off and you're in trouble."

Szumelda has provided Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Certification Training for more than 4,000 people. More information about the training is available at alcoholtrainingday.com or 219-743-1815.

Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
A sign along US Rt. 14 opposing a proposed railroad that would run through south Lake and Porter counties. Officials with the firm proposing the rail line filed an alternate route for it this week, but opponents remain unimpressed. (John Konstantaras / Post-Tribune)

Officials with Great Lakes Basin Transportation filed an alternate route plan this week that shaves more than 21 miles off the route of the proposed freight line and takes it further away from Lowell Middle School.

The proposed route, filed with the federal Surface Transportation Board Tuesday and released online Thursday, also runs south of Westville instead of through the city limits. Modifications also were made to the route in Illinois and Wisconsin, where it originates, but it is unchanged as it runs through southern Porter County.

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The alternate route, according to the filing, will allow operating speeds up to 70 mph, and GLBT used public response "to adjust its network design and create a new preferred route." The new route, as submitted, is about 260 miles; the original route was 281 miles.

"I think our interest is the same as the people out there. We want to build a project that is going to have the least impact on the most people," said Mike Blaszak, an attorney with GLBT, adding officials with the freight train line took public comment on its earlier proposal into account. "We wanted to take advantage of that."

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The proposal has generated a wide swath of opposition across all three states, as residents decried the loss of farmland and voiced concerns for schools and public safety if the freight train line went forward.

Opponents said the alternate route does not allay those concerns.

"The new route does absolutely nothing to mitigate the negative impact this proposal has on Porter County's schools, fire and police departments, farmers and residents. I remain as opposed to this railroad as ever," said Porter County Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, whose Porter Township property would be bisected by the rail line.

The Office of Environmental Analysis, part of the STB, will compile more than 3,900 comments submitted online, as well as those made during the spring meetings, for an environmental impact statement on the proposal. That process is expected to take a few years.

A spokesman for the STB said the alternate route would be taken into consideration as part of that impact statement.

The documents filed by GLBT note that the original route was half a mile from Lowell Middle School, went through a water well field, and was close to water collection infrastructure.

Three alternatives are suggested for Lowell, including one north of that community. The other two shift further south of the middle school but the filing notes one of them borders the Kankakee River flood plain.

"I still think it's a bad idea and I don't support it. I don't care what the alternate route is. It doesn't do any economic development for us," said Lake County Councilman Eldon Strong, R-7th District.

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Eagle Creek Township resident Linda Cosgrove agreed.

"There are going to be a lot of very upset people," she said. "We'll keep fighting and I'm grateful that so many of the citizens groups are working together. There is strength in numbers for the common good."

GLBT's proposal, at $8 billion in private funds, would be the largest new rail line in recent times and is meant to provide a bypass for Chicago's congested rail yard while taking trucks off the road. The route, from Milton, Wis., into LaPorte County, would have the capacity for up to 110 trains a day.

Two of the six Class I railroad firms expected to be served by the freight line have publicly stated they will not participate; the remaining four appear uncommitted to the project.

Several people, including a representative with the opposition group Residents Against the Invasion of Land by Eminent Domain, or RAILED, have submitted alternate routes for consideration to the STB.

For the most part, those routes use abandoned or existing but underutilized rail tracks as an option instead of the new rail line proposed by GLBT.

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GLBT founder and managing partner Frank Patton has said those alternate routes would be taken into consideration, but the filing this week notes that existing lines are already owned by railroads and GLBT does not have the right to use them.

The existing rail corridors also ran through cities and towns, which was counter to GLBT's goal of "avoiding and minimizing impact," according to the filing.

Those opposed to the freight line proposal disagree.

"There are some very good alternatives that have been proposed yet GLBT has disregarded them. RAILED will continue to fight this railroad and stand united with the other opposition organizations," said Kathleen Honl, one of RAILED's organizers.

Patton, who has not disclosed who would fund the railroad, has yet to file a formal application with the STB. Patton and Jim Wilson, the freight line's president and author of the overview for the alternate route, have said they would file their application later this year after getting feedback from the STB on the comments and concerns submitted to that agency.

The STB will make the final determination on whether the freight line will proceed on GLBT's preferred route, an alternate route or not at all.

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Additionally, the Office of Environmental Affairs is seeking more information from GLBT officials.

In a Sept. 9 letter to one of GLBT's attorneys, Victoria Rutson, the OEA's director, requests the average number of trains per day forecasted for each segment of the freight line during its first year of operation; the anticipated average operating speed for trains on each segment; and the anticipated average train length for each segment, including the number of locomotives.

That information is due to federal officials no later than Nov. 10.

Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
A new Lake County Council committee has begun reviewing job descriptions of 1,851 full-time county employees as part of an effort to implement a step pay-grade system intended to standardize salaries and make them more competitive.

County officials are looking at using the $687,000 a year given workers as longevity pay and a temporary hiring freeze on nonessential positions to help fund the plan.

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Tom Dabertin, human resources director, said his office has spent 550 hours working with department heads to create the job descriptions. The process revealed what officials have long expected to find  employees in different departments with similar duties and job titles with widely varying pay. Many workers are underpaid, he said.

"Lake County is not a pay leader," Dabertin said, adding that Porter County, which has about a third of Lake's population, and Cook County in Illinois pay more for most positions.

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The step system would create a standard job description for a given position, such as clerk, secretary or maintenance, and create a pay range. New employees would come in at the bottom of the pay grade and work up to the top of the grade. Increases would be performance-based instead of the current practice of rewarding time on the job.

The step system is expected to help the county become more competitive and create a more equitable environment for workers. Some workers, Dabertin said, are making less than $20,000 despite a 3 percent across-the-board pay increase for full-time workers approved in August.

"For the county to be paying less than $20,000 in salary when you are spending more than $20,000 in benefits makes no sense," he said. Bringing all employees making less than $20,000 to at least 90 percent of the lowest pay level in the range for that position would cost roughly $500,000, he said.

Insurance and benefits for workers cost about $20,000 per employee, which is good, Dabertin said, even while pay for the rank and file has been relatively stagnant for the past 10 years.

"At the end of the day, without a doubt, they are still underpaid," he said.

Council President Ted Bilski, D-Hobart, said county officials have tried to do things for employees when money was not available for raises; time off was a perk officials added during the lean times when the county could not afford raises.

The council has been working toward a pay-grade schedule for about three years. With the new committee reviewing job descriptions, fixing any discrepancies and assigning pay to the scale, the plan could be implemented by March, if the council approves it.

"This is achievable. This salary schedule is the future," Bilski said.

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Councilman David Hamm, D-Hammond, said he is concerned the new system would allow for favoritism in raises.

Dabertin said department heads would have discretion over how money allocated for annual raises is distributed among workers, giving a harder-working employee a higher-percentage raise than an employee who does not work as hard.

The system would be backed up by annual performance reviews, something not done now, he said. That review would include a punch list of job goals, and employees' performance toward those goals would be noted.

Councilman Jamal Washington, D-Merrillville, said he was skeptical the new system could be implemented and would rather see across-the-board increases for employees. He said the work to create the pay scale was a waste of money.

"I cannot support this," Washington said.

Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, said the incentive-based plan mirrors raises in the private sector.

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"I think it's a good start," he said.

Officials said the new system would be self-policing when it comes to nepotism increases. Since all public employees' salaries are available online through the Indiana Gateway, employees will be checking to see what co-workers are earning and will complain about undeserved raises. Department heads would have to back up pay increases with performance reviews, Dabertin said.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
What's Quickly? It's where readers sound off on the issues of the day. Have a quote, question or quip? Call Quickly at 312-222-2426 or email quickly@post-trib.com.

To the people who say marijuana shouldn't be legalized, I say why? It is better for you than alcohol and tobacco. It would also be a major boost to the economy. Not to mention our jail population would be reduced.

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Our security measures need to be severely overhauled when these terrorists are able to pass their scrutiny.

You question whether or not Hillary Clinton is trustworthy. Shouldn't you be asking the same question of her opponent?

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Remember when our elected officials worked for us instead of the other way around?

Without unions you would not have good paying manufacturing jobs here in the U.S.A. Why do you think they are moving to Mexico and China, low pay and no safety requirements make them more attractive.

Why do Todd Young's supporters falsely attack Evan Bayh for being a lobbyist when they backed Dan Coats who spent years as a registered lobbyist working in Washington, D.C.?

Words for your wisdom: To resist the truth is to struggle with peace.

Wells Fargo Bank fired 5,300 employees for tampering with customers accounts. But the top two CEO's who made multi-millions from the scam can keep those bonuses.

How could there be that many people out in this world that don't know the difference between a fact and an opinion?

Have you heard about the 6 year old boy from New York who wrote to President Obama asking that he bring the wounded little Syrian boy to their home, where he would be taken in and become their brother? It's good that he would be welcomed with open arms in New York, because Mike Pence doesn't want this dangerous little boy anywhere near Indiana.

Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"Your call is important to us, please hold for our next representative. We are experiencing a large volume of calls at this time". How often have you heard that recording? How long did you have to wait? Customer service these days is nonexistent. No corporation really cares about anything but getting your money.

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Mike Pence makes $111,000; Indiana average $47,000. I could easily live on $47,000 IF I had no house payment, phone, NIPSCO, food bill, medications to pay for, had a car WITH a driver, didn't have to pay my health and life insurance, etc.

A Pence backer complained that the Quickly editors published too many anti-Pence comments. Well now all the national newspapers are publishing plenty of anti-Pence comments. Now everyone sees what Indiana has had to tolerate with him running our state.

If the Indiana governor job only paid $47,000 per year like one Quickly reader desires, you would never get a Mike Pence or Mitch Daniels caliber governor. You would have to settle for a John Gregg or Hillary Clinton caliber governor.

I wonder if charges would have been filed against the officer in Tulsa without the aid of video? Cops need to stop shooting unarmed people.

Donald Trump's supporters are outraged about being called "deplorable." And yet, fully 20 percent of them, according to a non-partisan poll, believe that abolishing slavery was "a bad idea." If that isn't deplorable, then I don't know what is.

Read more at www.post-trib.com/quickly.
Residents in Western Springs looking to pay for programs by credit card in the village's Recreation Department will now be charged a 1 percent fee to help the village offset the charge of credit card banking fees.

And it may soon be implemented for all municipal transactions involving credit card payments.

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The Village Board voted unanimously Sept. 19 to begin charging a fee for credit card payments for recreational programs after a public hearing earlier in the evening. Village attorney Michael Jurusik said the public hearing was required under state law to establish such a fee.

The 1 percent fee, up to $20 per transaction, will be for credit card payments made to the Recreation Department. The action also allows the village to amend its credit card payment ordinance in the future if they choose to charge fees on credit card transaction for other village services, such as water bills or vehicle stickers.

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Finance director Grace Turi said each time the village receives payment via credit card for village programs or services, fees are charged to the village by the credit card companies. But even with adding the fee, the village still will not recoup the amount that it is charged by credit card companies, officials said.

Turi said credit card payments by residents to the village are minimal, as most people pay by check. He said most of the credit card transactions are for payments for recreation programs. She said the fee would be clearly marked as a separate line-item cost on credit card statements.

Turi said the village will evaluate the process of charging a fee for all credit card transactions on village payments during the next budget cycle.

"Our volume of credit card transaction is not significant, but the largest volume of those transactions does come from the Recreation Department," Turi said. "Most people pay for other services via check or direct debit."

Village Trustee James Horvath said the Recreation Department had asked the Finance Department about the process of adding a convenience fee.

"Originally they had proposed a 2 percent fee, but we will start it off at 1 percent and see how it goes," Horvath said.

While the ordinance can be changed in the future to allow for the village to charge the fee for all credit transactions, Jurusik said the village is bound by state law as to how much of a fee the village can charge.

David Heitz is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
A set of replicas of the 12 Zodiac antiquities of Beijing's Old Summer Palace donated by Kungfu megastar Jackie Chan will be removed from Taipei Palace Museum's south square.

Jackie Chan poses with a certificate of donation and one replica from the 12 Zodiac heads at Taipei Palace Museum in December 2015. [Photo / China News Service]

Museum director Lin Jeng-Yi said the replicas would be removed at the end of September after he had consulted architecture, arts and collectors circles who all considered them as not original "art." At the same time, local cultural workers thought the square should provide space for local art to be exhibited rather than donated works from outside of the island.

"Everyone, from architects, domestic collectors, the art world in general to the media thinks they should be removed," Lin said in a legislative question-and-answer session of Taiwan's Education and Culture Committee on Thursday.

Lin said it was improper to place them at the main entrance of the museum's south branch. The removal will not affect the museum structure as an architect had told him the replicas were only decorations, he added.

They haven't decided where to put the Zodiac heads yet after dismantlement but they would be managed as general property instead of as an art collection, the director added.

Jackie Chan was very selective regarding the recipient of the animal sculptures when he donated them to the museum. He even attended the opening ceremony of the south branch of Taipei museum.

Originally a part of a water fountain in the Old Summer Palace, the bronze heads of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals were looted by foreigners during the Opium War in the mid-1800s. Seven of them have been returned and are now under the care of museums, but five are still missing.

The star became fascinated after reading about them in 2000. His 2012 film "Chinese Zodiac" was about a team of mercenaries trying to recover the lost artifacts. Chan eventually decided to put together a team of artists and researchers to create replicas of the bronze antiques.

After hearing the news of fate of his donation, Chan stated through his manager that when he donated those artifacts, it was because he thought the museum was an entity that "respects civilization and preserves culture," and he was not just donating artifacts but defending an attitude. Now, "if the museum has different attitude on how to respect civilization and preserve culture, we respect that, too," the actor added.

Another set of the 12 Chinese Zodiac heads are now in Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum.

The replicas were also caught up in political controversy as two Taiwan extremists sprayed red paint on two bronze artifacts at the end of last year, writing "(mainland's) cultural united front" in Chinese characters, a term referring to the mainland's campaign for reuniting the island.

At that time the museum denied the political background of the donations, adding that the sculptures were included in the new museum building after careful consideration as they represent the universal value of honoring cultural relics and protecting cultural heritage.

However, as the leader and ruling party of Taiwan changed earlier this year, the dismantlement of the replicas also aroused some speculation that it was a move of de-sinolization.

The number of visits by mainland tourists to Taipei Palace Museum has shrunk considerably. A total of 863,540 people from outside Taiwan visited the island in August, down 3.4 percent from the same period last year, according to the island's tourism bureau. The decline was due largely to plummeting numbers of visitors from the Chinese mainland  down 32.4 percent from last year to 248,538.
The logo of Yahoo. [Xinhua]

Yahoo Inc. acknowledged on Thursday that information associated with at least 500 million user accounts, including names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and hashed passwords, was stolen from its network in late 2014.

The technology company headquartered in Sunnyvale, northern California, said in a website posting, titled "An Important Message About Yahoo User Security," that it believed a state-sponsored actor was behind the incident and that an investigation had found no evidence that the actor is currently in its network.

The information stolen, noted Yahoo's chief information security officer Bob Lord, included "in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers."

However, while the investigation is going on and Yahoo is working with law enforcement, Lord said that the stolen information did not include unprotected passwords, payment card data or bank account information, as "payment card data and bank account information are not stored in the system that the investigation has found to be affected."

The company, which once was a Silicon Valley legend and web pioneer in the 1990s but agreed to sell operating businesses to Verizon Communications Inc. in late July this year, said it is notifying potentially affected users via email and asking them change their passwords and adopt alternate means of account verification. The content of its message is available starting at 11:30 am Pacific daylight saving time (PDT) on its website.

It also warned against unsolicited communications that ask users for personal information or refer them to a web page asking for personal information, and ask them to avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails.

Unconfirmed media reports said Yahoo was notified about the security breach two months ago.
A Chinese internet company displays its face identification technology, which increases security for online payments, at Cybersecurity Week in Wuhan.

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".
Hyundai Motor Company China Business Strategy President Choi Sung-kee (2nd left), Hyundai Motor (China) director Jung Chang-ho (2nd right) and two Hyundai Motor's top executives, models pose with All-Neww Genesis for a photo on Aug 18, 2014, at the launch event in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

South Korea's Hyundai Motor 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 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 US 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 US 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 US 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 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."
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China's Ministry of Commerce has decided to impose anti-dumping duties on distiller's dried grains (DDGs) from the United States by requiring importers to pay a cash deposit on purchase.

The domestic industry has been "substantially" harmed by the dumping of DDGs, the ministry said in its preliminary ruling following an investigation launched earlier this year.

Starting on Friday, importers of the product must place deposits with Chinese customs at 33.8 percent of the import value.

DDGS are the nutrient rich byproduct of dry-milled ethanol production, which are used in animal feed. China is the world's biggest buyer of DDGS, with most imports coming from the United States.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent headquarters of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was held on Friday in Beijing.

The headquarters will be located in the north of Beijing, between the Olympic Forest Park and the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2019, the bank said in an online statement.

Speaking at the ceremony, AIIB President Jin Liqun said,"This Bank sets out to be lean, clean and green, and there is no better site in Beijing to highlight our green commitment than alongside the beautiful Olympic Forest Park."

The AIIB has been using temporary offices on downtown Beijing's Financial Street since beginning operations in January.

Jin expects the headquarters to serve as a new city landmark and provide a solid foundation for the bank's development.

The first chairman of the AIIB board of governors and Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei and Mayor of Beijing Wang Anshun attended the ceremony.

The AIIB is a not-for-profit bank initiated by China and supported by a wide range of countries and regions. With authorized capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars, it aims to provide financing for infrastructure improvement in Asia.

In June, the bank approved its first four loans, totaling 509 million dollars, to fund power, housing and transportation projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
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.
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).
Ukraine crisis [By Zhai Haijun / China.org.cn]

Meetings between G20 leaders tend to increase in importance when the event becomes an arena for breakthrough talks between the world's most important countries. Sometimes, however, lack of an anticipated meeting can be even more significant.

Before the G20 summit in Hangzhou in early September, there was speculation that the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, who have been trying to implement common agreements since February 2015, would restart.

The goal is to solve the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine which begun when Russia annexed the Crimea and created two separatist republics -- Donbas and Luhansk -- militarily supported by Russia. They retracted their allegiance to the government in Kiev, provoking war.

An agreement reached in the Belarussian capital of Minsk led to temporary cessation of hostilities. However, since then, none of the conditions necessary to end the conflict have been implemented. The meeting of the four leaders during the G20 summit was supposed to provide another chance.

It is good that the expected meeting didn't take place in China; there were talks about the conflict, however. Ukrainian President Petro Poroszenko didn't fly to Hangzhou, but he ceded negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin to France, Germany and his strongest current ally, America.

Putin's talks with the European leaders were courteous. French President Francois Hollande played the role of the "good, pro-Russian cop" offering a readiness to lift European economic sanctions imposed on Russia in return for any peaceful steps taken by the Kremlin.

On the other hand, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the "bad cop." During the meeting with Putin she stressed sanctions could only be lifted if Russia ceased its support for the separatist republics and gave up Crimea.

The strongest position was adopted by U.S. President Barack Obama. Even though America and Russia could agree on a ceasefire in Syria, there was no promise of an early removal of U.S. economic sanctions.

On the contrary, a few days before the Hangzhou summit, Washington demonstratively extended the list of Russian companies and individuals under sanctions, including enterprises building the gas pipeline between Russia and Germany and a sea bridge connecting Russia with Crimea. Sanctions will only be lifted when there is peaceful conflict resolution in Ukraine.

The problem is no solution currently exists. The compromise agreed in February 2015 is not wanted by anyone, anymore.

Russia doesn't want it, because it won't allow it to reach its strategic goal in Ukraine, which is to block its permanent economic integration with the EU as well as Ukrainian integration into NATO.

Yet, it cannot afford the cost of escalating the military conflict. Low prices of natural resources have reduced Russian budgetary revenue. Economic sanctions have made innovative economic development more difficult. Meanwhile, the separatist republics, controlled and financed by the Kremlin, still continuously destabilize their Ukrainian neighbor and keep it in constant fear of war.

Ukraine is not interested in an agreement either. It is not able to control the border between Russia and the separatist territories and that's why it doesn't want to organize the local elections stipulated in the agreement. It sees no point in paying for elections and effectively financing hostile separatists.

In addition, it has gained an important ally. During the NATO summit in Warsaw in July 2016 Ukraine was offered an "open door," meaning gradually strengthened military cooperation to add to economic integration with the EU.

These decisions, however, raise concerns about Russia's reaction, with the prospect of a local war being extended to territories of separatist pro-Russian republics in the East of Ukraine.

However, renewing military action is not in the best interest of the Kremlin. Russia has just had its parliamentary elections. Even though the result is obvious it is a bad time to fight with a neighbor.

Presidential elections will soon take place in the U.S. If Donald Trump wins, the "open door" for Ukraine might be partly closed.

Ukraine, despite its natural resources, is currently the poorest country in Europe. The mere closing of the Russian market for Ukrainian goods in January 2016 caused economic losses of US$15 billion and a reduction of over a hundred thousand jobs.

A new level of hybrid war has begun for Ukraine and Russia. An economic one. Russia will support, by every means to achieve the potential bankruptcy of the Ukrainian economy. If international support, meaning American and European politicians, weakens, there's a higher chance Ukraine will return to being under Russian economic and military influence.

All it takes is for the pro-Russian opposition to win the next presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine. That's what Kremlin is actively waiting for.

Piotr Gadzinowski is deputy chief redactor of dailypaper TRYBUNA, member of Program Councuil in Polish Public Television, former member of Polish Parliament, former head of the Polish-Chinese Parliamentary Group.
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Direct flights between Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Kyrgyzstan have begun, the shortest air route between the two countries.

At 11:40 p.m. on Monday, a Boeing 737 aircraft arrived at Kashgar airport after a two-hour trip from Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, the route's first flight.

The plane will leave Bishkek for every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and fly back to the city every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Kashgar, south Xinjiang's largest city, used to be an important staging post along the ancient Silk Road.
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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.
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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.
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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]

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.
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and underlined the importance of the two-state solution in bringing lasting peace to the Middle East.

The meeting took place on the margins of the annual high-level debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened on Tuesday and runs through Sept. 26.

Ban "also underlined the international community's reaffirmation of the two-state solution as the only way to a sustainable peace," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here. "The secretary-general expressed concern over the continued settlement-related activity."

The two-state solution, widely backed by the international community, means a secure Israel to live in peace with an independent State of Palestine. The secretary-general and the UN Security Council both have reiterated that the Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal under international law.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general highlighted the growing cooperation with Israel during his tenure and the country's strengthened representation in different UN bodies, the spokesman added.
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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.
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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.
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Journalists in Somalia will not be able to cover any events at the Mogadishu airport for the next two months, aviation authorities said Thursday.

In a statement, Aden Adde Airport director of security Abdi Ashkir Jama said the decision was made out of security concerns.

Coming ahead of the polls set to start Saturday, the decree warns that violators may face prosecution, court fines or a total ban of reporting from any airport in the country.

The journalists union NUSOJ has however castigated the move as damaging the interests of the media and the public.

"The airport is a major news maker especially now when most candidates for the upcoming elections are trooping into the country. This is disappointing and regrettable," NUSOJ secretary general Mohamed Moalim said in a statement.

Last week, the Interior Ministry ordered political parties and groupings to cease any campaigns in the city citing security concerns.

Militant group Al-Shabaab has threatened to disrupt the polls and called on its members to attack elders who will be participating in the elections.

Parliamentary elections are set to begin on Saturday and will run through to Oct. 10. A new president will be elected by Oct. 30.
Dental check-ups are no longer suggested for children, but mandated for most students by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Public Health Solutions is in the process of checking students teeth in schools throughout its service area of Gage, Jefferson, Thayer, Saline and Fillmore counties.

The DHHS regulation that went into effect at the start of the 2014-2015 school year stipulates children in preschool through fourth grade, seventh grade and 10th grade must receive health screenings annually, which include dental, hearing and vision check-ups, as well as recorded height, weight and body mass index.

Some schools have us check students in every grade while were here, said Carmen Chinchilla, Public Health Solutions Dental Program Coordinator. Students are sent home with a toothbrush and information packet and their parents are given report cards. If they have parent consent, they get a fluoride varnish and sealants.

Registered Dental Hygienist Deb Schardt checked the teeth of students for two days in a row at Tri County. Chinchilla noted on the report card the condition of the students teeth and any concerns.

Schardt said the benefit of a fluoride varnish is that it helps remineralize and protects from cavities, and that sealants protect the biting surface from cavities. The sealants are like a plastic coating that also release fluoride into the teeth, she said.

The goal is to have these kids referred to a dentist at a young age, Chinchilla said. Most kids dont see a dentist before the age of 3 or even 5. For some of them, this is the first time theyve had anyone poke around in their mouth. We try to make it as positive of an experience as possible.

Preschoolers were first up on Friday. Each was greeted enthusiastically by the staff, given a stuffed animal to hold during the short check-up and told to pick out a sticker afterward.

We do it in a non-threatening environment, Chinchilla said. They know their school. And theyre friends are doing it, so they can emulate what theyre doing.

Public Health Solutions dental program started two years ago when DHHS issued its mandatory changes to school health screenings. Chinchilla said the program has thus far been paid for by grant money, which is set to expire Sept. 30.

Were currently working on a sustainability plan that helps us keep doing this, because its a worthy cause, she said.

When the team is done seeing students in its area this fall, they said they will have seen more than 5,000 kids since the program started. Chinchilla said about 70 percent of the schools in the five counties agreed to the visits by the dental team.

The alternative is for students to be checked by a dentist with a form of proof or to be checked by the school nurse.

As capable as school nurses are, their training is not in oral health and their scope of practice does not allow them to apply a varnish or sealant, Chinchilla said.
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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.
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The UN refugee agency on Thursday condemned escalating violence in South Sudan's Greater Equatoria region over the past weeks, including recent attacks on Lasu settlement, in which a young Congolese refugee was killed.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), armed groups have repeatedly entered the settlement in recent days and fired shots, assaulted refugees, looted and destroyed humanitarian assets, goods and property.

"Fearing for their lives, some 8,000 refugees fled in panic and dispersed in different directions," UNHCR said in a statement issued in Juba.

The UN said the body of the young Congolese refugee was found by a group of refugee leaders nearby the settlement, which lies some 40 kilometers south of Yei.

It said about 6,500 people have reportedly found refuge in a farmland at Kukuyi, some 6 kilometers north of Lasu, while another 1,400 refugees have scattered along the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).

Refugee representatives told UNHCR that 100 people have crossed into DR Congo and settled near the border at Aba, joining another 2,000 Congolese nationals who escaped from Lasu in early September.

UNHCR's Representative in South Sudan, Ahmed Warsame decried these horrific acts that have caused death, fear and suffering of innocent people.

"We urge all armed parties to respect the civilian and humanitarian character of asylum and refugee settlements and call upon the Government of South Sudan to protect the lives of civilian populations, including refugees," Warsame said.

Renewed insecurity in South Sudan has forced more than 195,000 people to flee the country since July 8, bringing the number of South Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries to over 1 million.

In South Sudan, more than 1.61 million people are internally displaced and another 261,000 are refugees from Sudan, DR Congo, Ethiopia, and Central Africa Republic (CAR).

According to UNHCR, armed groups penetrated the Lasu settlement on Monday and ransacked the primary health care center, stealing drugs, medical supplies and furniture.

They also seized radio communication equipment and solar panels used to pump water to private and public facilities in the settlement, leaving the population without drinking water.
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China will help Mozambique establish an industrial park as an effort to increase job opportunities in the southern African country, according to Chinese Ambassador Su Jian.

Ambassador Su told Mozambican Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario on Wednesday in Maputo that China is willing to continue supporting the country in different domains including increasing job opportunities through the establishment of an industrial park.

The ambassador said the Chinese government would send a group of specialists to Mozambique next year to help establish the industrial park.

"Mozambican government has already identified a number of potential locations. With that defined, potential Chinese and Mozambican companies can be invited to the initial phase of the project," said the ambassador.

China is one of the major foreign investors in Mozambique and has been implementing a number of moves that tend to help Mozambique overcome the challenges it is going through in the economic domain.

Those moves include debt relief and loans with low or no interests as part of the Chinese and Mozambique strategy to strengthen cooperation.
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An inter-agency, cross-line convoy has entered the besieged Syrian town of Moadamiyeh in rural Damascus, bringing assistance for 35,000 people, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Thursday.

"Today's convoy included food, medical supplies, education, water and sanitation and other supplies," Dujarric said.

Aid deliveries have resumed based on the humanitarian imperative to stay and deliver aid even in the most difficult situation, although assurances of safe passage are needed first, he said.

"The resumed convoys will be undertaken on a case by case basis, depending on conditions on the ground, including in Aleppo," in northern Syria, he said.

The resumption follows the implementation of a nation-wide ceasefire on Sept. 12 at sundown after a landmark agreement was reached earlier this month by the United States and Russia.

The truce is hoped to facilitate the delivery of critical aid as well as rekindle efforts seeking to convene warring factions back to the negotiation table to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict, which broke out in March 2011.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) meets with Canada's Senate Speaker George Furey (R) and Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan in Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 22, 2016. [Xinhua]

Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday that China stands ready to continuously increase contacts and expand cooperation with Canada to break new ground for promoting bilateral relations.

Li made the remarks as he met Canada's speaker of the Senate George Furey and speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan.

Li said Chinese and Canadian people enjoy long-standing friendship and the two countries' economies are highly complementary with broad prospects for cooperation.

It is normal for China and Canada, with different national conditions and cultural backgrounds, to have different viewpoints or disagreements on some issues, Li said.

But their common interests are far greater than differences, Li said, noting that the two countries have neither problems left over by history nor fundamental conflict of interests.

China's National People's Congress, China's legislature, is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience in law-making and rule of law, and facilitate communication with Canada's Senate and House of Commons to help promote China-Canada relations and enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Li said. ' Furey and Regan agreed with Li's evaluation of China-Canada relations, saying that enhancing two-way communication between the legislatures of the two countries would help the two sides boost understanding, reach consensus and strengthen cooperation.

They said Li's visit to Canada, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, will create new important opportunities for the continued deepening of relations and cooperation between the two countries.
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A curfew order was issued in the U.S. city of Charlotte, North Carolina, Thursday night as hundreds of protesters marched relatively peacefully through downtown to protest the fatal police shooting of a black man for the third night.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts issued the curfew order, which will go into effect beginning midnight until 6 a.m. next morning, the City of Charlotte said in a tweet.

The curfew will be in effect each day until the end of the state of emergency is declared or until the official proclamation is revoked, it added.

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency in Charlotte on Wednesday night. He also ordered the deployment of the state's National Guard and State Highway Patrol to assist local law enforcement forces in restoring order in the city.

A number of National Guard troops and riot police were monitoring closely the demonstration after two nights of violent unrest, in which 17 police officers were wounded and 44 protesters arrested.

During Thursday's march that started in a park, the protesters once blocked an intersection near the Bank of America headquarters in the business district, local media reports said.

TV video showed that some protesters held up posters saying "Stop killing us," "Resistance is Beautiful," and "Release the tapes."

A big crowd of protesters gathered before the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), chanting: "We want the tapes."

They demanded police release the video of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man, by a police officer Tuesday afternoon.

But CMPD chief Kerr Putney said he has no intention to release the dash cam video of the fatal shooting so that it would not impact the ongoing investigation.

"I'm not going to jeopardize the investigation," he told reporters.

Justin Bamberg, an attorney for Scott's family, said in a statement that the family members had watched the police videos.

"It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands," Bamberg said in a statement.

Police have insisted that Scott was holding a gun. The claim was strongly denied by his family which said Scott was holding a book instead of a gun.

Scott was shot as he walked slowly backward with his hands by his side, Bamberg said, while calling on the police to released the police videos to the public.

In another development, a protester, identified as 26-year-old Justin Carr, who was shot in the head by another civilian during Wednesday night's unrest died Thursday. No suspect in the case has been arrested so far.
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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met with Canadian Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall, the governor general's official residence.

Hailing the governor general's state visit to China in October, 2013 during which Johnston reached broad consensus with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Li said China appreciated the contribution the governor general has made to the bilateral ties.

Though far apart, China and Canada share deep friendship, said Li, adding that his current visit has deepened mutual political trust and pushed forward substantial cooperation.

During Li's visit, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, China and Canada have officially launched the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, reached agreement on the feasibility of a potential free trade agreement and signed a series of documents on economics and trade, agriculture, tourism, law-enforcement, aviation and other areas.

Li said he believes that China-Canada ties will develop rapidly thanks to the joint efforts of both countries and peoples.

Johnston spoke highly of the new progress made in bilateral cooperation during Li's visit, saying it helps open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

The launch of the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, the enhanced cooperation in extensive areas and the close people-to-people exchanges will bring substantial benefits to the two peoples, said the governor general.

He said he is confident in seeing a better future of bilateral ties.

Li's wife Cheng Hong and Johnston's wife Sharon Johnston were present at the meeting.

Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday from New York for a four-day official visit to Canada at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. Li will head to Cuba on Saturday to continue his America tour.
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Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan on Friday for the first ever Pakistan-Russia joint exercise, the army said.

The two-week exercises will start on Sept. 24 and continue until Oct. 10, the army spokesman said.

The military exercises, named as "Friendship-2016" will be conducted in mountainous areas of northern areas and at a special forces training center in Cherat area of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province.

The joint exercises is seen important for the growing cooperation between the two armies.

Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier stated that exercises are aimed at strengthening and developing cooperation between the countriesarmed forces.

Section of the Pakistani media has reported around 200 military personnel from the two sides would take part in the exercises.

Pakistans Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah told local media that the development "reflected increased cooperation between the two countries. "

Russia agreed last year to sell four MI-35 attack helicopters to Pakistan that was considered as a sign of defence cooperation between the two countries.

Pakistan and Russia had struck a bilateral defence cooperation deal in November 2014 to boost military-to-military relationship. Endit
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The death toll from Thursday's fire at a warehouse in Moscow has risen to eight, the Russian news agency TASS reported Friday.

Eight bodies were found on the roof, where the dead firemen were installing a water curtain to cool the gas cylinders and compressors, Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said.

"They were the first to arrive at the warehouse, they immediately conducted a reconnaissance and evacuated over 100 employees of the warehouse," said a spokesman for the ministry.

Over 160 people and about 50 pieces of equipment were involved in the blaze, which broke out on Thursday in the warehouse located on Amurskaya Street in eastern Moscow and burnt an area of approximately 4,000 square meters.

The fire was extinguished at 05:23 p.m. local time (1323 GMT) on Thursday, according to the ministry.
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Two people were shot dead and seven others injured from a bar quarrel in Southern Thailand's Samui Island on early Friday, local media reported.

The shooting incident took place at about 2 a.m. local time in a bar in Surat Tani province in southern Thailand. A group of police who went to drink in the bar after their duty off, had a quarrel with some young bar patrons. The security guard of the bar intervened and asked them to leave.

According to local newspaper Thairath, six to seven shots were heard from the crowd gathering in front of the pub. A security guard was shot at his heart and died at the scene. A police officer died in the hospital. Seven injured including the bar manager were rushed to hospital.

Bangkok Post said that CCTV footage showed that one of the policemen opened fire at the crowd. He was later caught and arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public area.

Details are still under investigation.

Samui Island is a popular tourism destination in Thailand, where nightlife, especially its full moon parties, are famous for being among the best in Thailand.
As a hatchery continues plans to open a location in Beatrice, local officials are hoping the company introduces the Sunland to a new group of workers.

Plans were announced in June that Hybrid Turkeys will build a hatchery in the northwest portion of the Gage County Industrial Park.

Walker Zulkoski, executive director of the NGage economic development group, said some current employees have shown an interest in relocating to Beatrice to continue working for the company, and will visit the area next month.

Were going to be having several folks from Hybrid Turkeys existing facility that theyre closing down coming to visit our community, potentially moving themselves and their families here to work here, he said.

Zulkoski said NGage received 15 questionnaires from people considering moving to Beatrice. Most would also bring families with them.

The majority of them have kids, the majority of them have spouses, Zulkoski said. Were going to host all of them for a couple of days. Were going through questionnaires right now looking at the things theyre interested in, but obviously they want to see the schools because a lot of them have children.

They want to look at family activities, dining, things that we can do to keep them entertained.

Zulkoski added that the overwhelming majority of those interested in the area  around 95 percent  have indicated they would rather rent than own a home if they relocate.

It was previously stated that the $6 million investment is the culmination of an extensive search for a potential site to build a new hatching facility.

The hatchery is expected to be operational by July 2017 and add 25 full-time jobs at the 30,000-square-feet site.

City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer said the group is seeking LB840 and tax increment financing (TIF) funds to set up the location, both of which have pending applications.

The TIF project is currently waiting for information backsame with the LB840, he said. Its little things they need to know, like what entity is actually going to own the ground. Well get that information back and keep those applications moving.

The site selection team said it was impressed by the collaborative and innovative approach presented by both the city of Beatrice and the state of Nebraska.

Beatrice was one of five communities in three states considered, and this will be the companys first Nebraska location.

Hybrid Turkeys is part of Hendrix Genetics, a leading multi-species breeding company with primary activities in turkeys, layers, pigs, aquaculture and traditional poultry.

Headquartered in Boxmeer, in the Netherlands, Hendrix Genetics provides expertise and resources to producers in more than 100 countries, with operations and joint ventures in 24 countries and more than 2,400 employees worldwide, according to the press release.
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The death toll of the capsized migrant boat near Egypt's northern coast rose to 112, Egypt's Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told Xinhua on Friday.

"The number of the death toll might rise because the rescue efforts are still going on," Megahed said.

The migrant boat that drowned on Wednesday near the coast of Egypt's northern Beheira province carried about 600 people onboard whose destination was supposed to be Italian shores.

Egyptian authorities have arrested four members of the capsized boat crew over human trafficking charges.

Smugglers often overload the boats with passengers who have paid for the journey.

The EU's border agency Frontex warned that a growing number of migrants bound for Europe is turning to Egypt as a departure point for the sea voyage.

Illegal migration via Egyptian Mediterranean Sea shores rose over the past few years in attempts to flee difficult economic conditions in the most populous Arab country.
A shopper selects beef products at a supermarket in San Diego, California.BLOOMBERG

Premier's remarks spark rally in cattle futures, may relieve glut of cold storage supplies in US

Chinese authorities on Thursday announced the conditional lifting of a 13-year import ban on some US boneless beef and beef on the bone.

The removal of the ban applies to cattle that are under 30 months old, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday by the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

The authorities said China would allow imports of beef that comply with China's traceability and quarantine requirements.

China has banned imports of most US beef since 2003, partly due to the concerns over the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as "mad cow disease". The lifting of the ban will be subject to the completion of detailed quarantine requirements, which will be announced at a later date, the statement said.

Premier Li Keqiang told business groups in New York on Tuesday that China would soon resume imports of US beef.

Li's remark about Chinese shoppers soon having a greater choice of beef sparked a rally in US cattle futures, which closed at just under 1 percent higher at $1.085 per pound at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday.

US cattle futures fell to six-year lows earlier this month, as supplies have expanded in the country, with a glut of cold storage beef, and China offers a potential outlet, The Wall Street Journal reported.

In the first six months of 2016, China imported 295,721 metric tons of beef, jumping 60.8 percent year-on-year. The value of imported beef reached $1.3 billion, up 48.3 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Because of rising feed prices, limited grazing land and the breeding cycle, China's cattle-raising sector lags behind consumer demand, resulting in higher beef prices in the past five years, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

"With an emerging middle-class and their rising income, Chinese people are increasingly preferring high-quality and safe food products, including beef," said Wang Kai, a professor at Nanjing Agricultural University.

"Currently, the supply of beef in China falls short of demand, and China has found it is impossible to grow all of the food it needs and has consequently formed closer ties with the world food market."

"Demand for beef, mutton, fruit, wine and dairy roducts will certainly provide many opportunities for major agricultural produce exporters such as the US, Chile, Brazil and Argentina."

Tian Shen, a 24-year-old office worker in Beijing, said she prefers premium imported beef products in the supermarkets, as they have higher meat qualities and taste better.

Contact the writers at zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn and zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
Emma Walmsley

GlaxoSmithKline Plc promoted Emma Walmsley to be its new chief executive officer and succeed Andrew Witty when he retires, singling out the UK's largest drugmaker as the only major global pharmaceutical company led by a woman.

Walmsley currently leads Glaxo's consumer health business. She will join the board on Jan 1 and take the helm of the London-based company on March 31, Glaxo said in a statement on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old Oxford graduate, whose background is in marketing rather than science, will be tasked with piloting cutting-edge treatments for cancer and infectious diseases through clinical tests and onto pharmacy shelves to boost earnings and revive Glaxo's shares. Chairman Phil Hampton had said he was seeking outside as well as inside for a new leader.

"I think it's actually better to have somebody who's more familiar with Glaxo, from working on the inside, rather than an external candidate," said Stephen Bailey, a fund manager at Liontrust Investment Partners LLP in London with 800 million pounds ($1 billion) under management, including Glaxo shares. "I would assume in the long term the likelihood is that the consumer division is split away."

No Science

As was the case for Joe Jimenez when he took over at rival Novartis AG, Walmsley's background isn't rooted in pharmaceuticals.

She joined the British drugmaker in 2010 from French cosmetics giant L'Oreal SA where she spent 17 years, holding marketing and general management roles in China and the US.

While living in Shanghai with her husband David and four children, Walmsley attended a networking lunch with Witty, she wrote in an online blog posting for Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In website.

Bungee Jump

"An inspiring conversation ended up spiraling into a job offer alarmingly fast," Walmsley said. The opportunity to run a business with operations in 100 countries, 5 billion pounds in sales and thousands of employees seemed overwhelming. She was plagued with concerns that she was being disloyal to L'Oreal, and unfair to her family.

Accepting Witty's offer felt like a "bungee jump"but one she took with her husband's support.

At Glaxo, Walmsley joined the over-the-counter products business, first as president and then as CEO in 2015, following a three-part transaction with Novartis AG. She holds a degree in classics and modern languages from Oxford University.

The stock has climbed about 40 percent during Witty's tenure at the helm. That's in line with Novartis's performance, though it lags behind local rival AstraZeneca Plc's 140 percent advance.

Under Walmsley's leadership, core operating margins at the consumer unit doubled to 14 percent in the quarter ended June from a year earlier, bringing Glaxo closer to its aim of 20 percent operating profit margin for the division by 2020.

Few Women

Picking Walmsley means Glaxo probably will retain its consumer business rather than split it off, analysts at Liberium Capital said in a note to clients. Witty has described a view of the industry in which companies must move away from single blockbuster medicines and instead build a broad stable of solid earners such as vaccines and consumer products. In a March interview, Witty said the consumer health businessknown for its Sensodyne toothpaste and Tums antacidscould in a few years generate enough cash to cover half the dividend Glaxo pays to investors.

Walmsley will join a small pool of women leaders in the pharmaceutical world. Among them are Heather Bresch, who heads the much smaller Mylan NV. Her promotion also makes her the first female chief among the FTSE100's biggest companies.

Others include Imperial Brands Plc's Alison Cooper, Royal Mail Plc's Moya Greene, Severn Trent Plc's Olivia Garfield, Kingfisher Plc's Veronique Laury-Deroubaix, EasyJet Plc's Carolyn Julia McCall.

That may be one reason why even some investors who'd called for a very different person to replace Wittysomeone from outside the company with science experiencerallied behind her.

"While Emma doesn't have a lot of drug development experience, I think the drug world is changing," said Dan Mahony, a fund manager at Polar Capital LLP in London, which owns shares of Glaxo. "It's not just about getting data to get drugs approved. It's also about getting data to get drugs reimbursed and paid forand that's all about generating value and effectiveness and real-world data. That's what consumer products are about."

Witty has run Glaxo for almost a decade. Once hailed as one of the pharmaceutical industry's most visionary managers, the 52-year-old has faced criticism for Glaxo's lagging share performance and sluggish sales. A bribery scandal in China that led to a $489 million fine last year also tarnished his image, which he had built with initiatives to develop the world's first malaria vaccine and reform the way medicines are marketed to doctors.
The Alzheimer's disease that are afflicting millions of people worldwide will become preventable in a decade, said a US pharmaceutical company on Wednesday.

Patients that suffer from the disease, which was first described by, and later named after, German psychiatrist and pathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906, show such symptoms including memory loss, problems with language and loss of bodily functions which ultimately lead to death.

US-based Eli Lilly and Company is coming up with a drug which enables doctors for the first time to detect in early stages amyloid plaques in living brains that are signs of and finally lead to the Alzheimer's disease.

Lilly's Vice President Phyllis Barkman Ferrell told China Daily that the plagues start to build up even 15 to 20 years before the first symptoms emerge, so early intervention can help to slow down the disease before it starts fast deterioration.

"The science has advanced greatly and we at Lilly believe that the Alzheimer's disease will become preventable by 2025," said Ferrell.

The drug has been available in the US, Europe and Japan and is expected to come to China soon for research purposes.

Jia Jianping, a leading Chinese expert in treating Alzheimer's disease, said the disease is "absolutely preventable" and pharmaceutical companies including Lilly are making breakthroughs in diagnostic methods.

He said one third of those diagnosed in the early stages have the chance of improving their cognitive abilities.

Currently drugs available are unsatisfactory, said Jia, as they are symptomatic and cannot slow down the disease.

"That is why I have high hopes for drugs that can modify the disease, such as what Lilly is working on."

Jia calls for building a national surveillance network so that people who are prone to developing the disease can be singled out for treatment as early as possible.

He also urges people to pay more attention to their family members and make medical appointments for them if they show signs of short-term memory loss.

China is home to an estimated 7 million people who suffer from the Alzheimer's disease and the number is expected to double by 2030.
State Administration of Foreign Exchange SAFEsupports Chinese enterprises' "real and reasonable" overseas mergers and acquisitions, said a senior official of SAFE during the administration's news briefing on Thursday.

According to Guo Song, director of current account management department, SAFE, the administration fully encourages Chinese enterprises to launch overseas mergers and acquisitions based on the principle of "real needs".

China's overseas direct investment (ODI) has shown a rapid growth recently. Zhang Xiangchen, deputy international trade representative with China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC), said at a news conference also held on Thursday that China achieved net capital outflow for the first time last year as China's ODI surpassed foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2015.

According to the ministrythe number of Chinese enterprises' overseas mergers and acquisitions was 572 in 2015, with the companies investing $54.44 billion in 62 countries and regions. And the rapid growth continues this year.

Guo though admitted that the rapid growth of ODI has influence on China's foreign exchange situation. "But from international experience, after an economy becomes a middle-income country, it will gradually change from net capital inflow country to net capital outflow country" Guo said, "which is a normal and reasonable thing."

He also pointed out that SAFE will prevent the so-called return of "Chinese concept stock", those overseas listing Chinese enterprises, for the purpose of arbitrage.

SAFE will support normal and compliant overseas investment, and will strictly crack down on fake overseas investments, he added.

Xu Weigang, deputy director of General Affairs Department, SAFE, said the administration will pay attention to both promoting trade and investment facilitation and preventing foreign exchange risks.

According to Zhang Shenghui, director of Supervision and Inspection department, SAFE, in the first half of 2016 SAFE launched two non-spot inspections and found violations involving more than $8.4 billion.

"We found that some enterprises or individuals were transferring property through overseas investment," Guo Song said. "This will be our focus," he added.
UN police unit members from China practice in Langfang, Hebei province, on Wednesday. LI HUISI/CHINA NEWS SERVICE

The world's first standby, rapid deployment police unit for United Nations peacekeeping missions passed UN tests on Wednesday, paving the way for participation in future missions.

"Today, altogether we have witnessed an excellent performance, a professionally formed police unit," said Ata Yenigun, chief for selection and recruitment at the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the test evaluator. "We have seen motivated personnel, a fit and healthy staff."

The tests, which were held at the China Peacekeeping Police Training Center in Langfang, Hebei province, had five partsincluding team tactics, VIP escort, vehicle check and crowd controland all 160 members of the unit passed with merit, according to a statement by the Ministry of Public Security.

The unit, established by the ministry, was a response to President Xi Jinping's commitment during the UN Peacekeeping Summit in September last year that China would join the new UN peacekeeping capacity readiness system and take the lead in setting up a standby police unit, the ministry said.

Xi also announced during the Peacekeeping Summit that China would build an 8,000-strong standby troop force for UN peacekeeping missions.

The new system differs from traditional peacekeeping forces in that they are more rapidly deployed and more mobile, according to Yenigun.

China is so far the only country that has pledged such a unit for rapid deployment, Yenigun said. "It puts China as the No 1 police contributing country among all Security Council members," he said.

Members of the unit were selected from border control forces across China, and more than 50 of them have peacekeeping experience in such countries as Haiti and South Sudan, according to the ministry.

The members have taken courses such as language training, UN-based knowledge and tactical skills since predeployment training began in June, the ministry said.

Lyu Yanchen, 26, a platoon commander of the unit, said he volunteered for the selection in March and passed three rounds of strict tests, including an English language test and one for leadership ability, before being recruited to the unit.

Lyu, from the border control force in Southwest China's Yunnan province, said he took part in cargo escort and crowd control exercises during the performance on Wednesday morning.

"Right now we are waiting and will continue to get trained, so in the future we can quickly take missions if ordered."

Yenigun said another team from the UN will inspect the unit's equipment in October. After assessment of the equipment, and if everything goes smoothly, the unit will be ready for rapid deployment, he said.
China's second space laboratory, the Tiangong II, began conducting in-orbit tests on Thursday, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

All of the spacecraft's scientific instruments have finished their self-examination since the lab was launched aboard a carrier rocket on Sept 15 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gobi Desert, the CAS said in a statement on Thursday.

The in-orbit tests will generate Tiangong II's first data for scientific research on Saturday, it said, without elaborating.

Tiangong II, the country's largest space asset, will make preparations in space for about one month before the Shenzhou XI manned spacecraft's planned flight in mid-October to transport two astronauts to enter the lab. They will stay inside the lab for 30 days.

Its predecessor, the Tiangong I, was launched in September 2011 and was mainly used to test technologies involved in space rendezvous and docking. With a designed life span of two years, the Tiangong I was in service for more than four years and conducted automatic and astronaut-controlled dockings with Shenzhou VIII, Shenzhou IX and Shenzhou X spacecraft.

Tiangong I is expected to fall to the ground in the second half of next year, and most of its structure will burn up during its reentry into the atmosphere.

Because of this, the process will not pose a serious threat to civil aviation or people on the ground, according to Wu Ping, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency.

She said Chinese space scientists will continue to closely monitor the movement of Tiangong I.

In April next year, a Long March 7 rocket will transport the Tianzhou 1 cargo spacecraft to dock with Tiangong II. The cargo ship will carry fuel and other materials as well as test technologies for replenishing the manned space station expected to be built in 2022.
Fifty-four universities from China have made the 13th edition of World University Rankings, with Peking University and Tsinghua University ranking 29th and 35th respectively.

Seven universities from the mainland are included in the top 400, and two from Hong Kong made the top 50.

For the first time in six years there is also a new No 1, as the UK's University of Oxford took the top spot from US universities for the first time in the 13-year history of the rankings.

The rankings, released on Wednesday, are published annually by Times Higher Education magazine. It includes the top 980 universities, or 5 percent of the world's higher-education institutions.

The Chinese mainland's rise can be partly attributed to improved scores for academic reputation, research influence and attracting international talent, while Hong Kong's performance is largely the result of increased institutional and research income and greater research productivity, said Phil Baty, the rankings' editor.

He attributes China's great success to one key factor: a government committed to generously funding and sup-porting the development of world-class universities.

"China's investment in excellence since the 1990s has been an example to the rest of the world, an extraordinary success story that demonstrated that with the right levels of financial support, and the political will to reform universities, outstanding results can be achieved," he said.

Baty said China can still do more to enhance higher education.

"There should be further focus on the quality of research. A key element of this should come through greater international partnerships - where the best practices from the great Chinese scholarly traditions can be combined with good practice in the West," he said.

Baty said the notion of Asia as the "next higher-education superpower" has become something of a cliche in recent years, but this year's rankings show that the region's rise is real and growing.

Overall, 290 Asian universities from 24 countries are included in the list and 19 are among the top 200, up from 15 last year. The region has two new entries in the top 100, and another four institutions - from Hong Kong, South Korea and Chinese mainland - have joined the top 200.

Peking University climbed 13 places from 42nd last year, while Tsinghua joins the top 40, up from47th last year. Five of Hong Kong's six representatives have entered the top 200 - more than any other Asian region, while South Korea has also made great strides. The National University of Singapore, Asia's top university, is at 24th-its highest-ever rank.

"There is no doubt that more of Asia's leading universities will soar to join the world elite in the years to come," Baty said.
A man poses for pictures with workers during an expo at the 2016 International Islands Tourism Conference in Zhoushan,Zhejiang province, on Thursday.Wu Linhong / For China Daily

Increasing numbers of Chinese choose to go abroad for relaxation, not just sightseeing

A quarter of outbound Chinese mainland tourists headed to islands last year, according to statistics released at the 2016 International Islands Tourism Conference in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province.

According to The World Islands Tourism Development Report released on Thursday, the number of outbound Chinese mainland tourists hit 117 million in 2015. That accounts for nearly 10 percent of global inter-national tourists and makes China the world's largest source of tourists.

"Although sightseeing tourism is still the most popular form of travel for Chinese tourists, more and more have been enjoying the lei-sure style in recent years," said Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy.

"Island trips top leisure tourism," Dai said.

According to a report on the 2016 Spring Festival, domestic and foreign island tourism accounted for half of travel volume. The rate at some international travel agencies even exceeded 80 percent.

That makes Lefkada, an island city in Greece, confident about its potential for Chinese visitors.

"We have more clear water and scenery in Lefkada. Chinese tourists only know Santorini so far, but they will love Lefkada once they visit there," said Konstantinos Drakontaeidis, the mayor.

"We came here last June and started our sister city relationship with Zhoushan. That provides us a tunnel to enhance our cooperation with China. Alot of business-men came with me here to Zhoushan this year, and they had contacted some local and national travel agencies and relevant companies. We hope to promote some special routes and packages for Chinese tourists soon," he said.

Marcelo K. Peterson, governor of Pohnpei state in Micronesia, shares the same ambition.

"When I visited China two months ago and talked to the locals, only a few people knew about us. But they know Guam and Fiji. So we came to promote ourselves."

"At present, we have a visa exemption policy for Chinese tourists. But they have to apply for a US visa and transfer at Guam. That increases the travel expenses and preparation time. We are trying to launch more flight routes so Chinese people can enjoy our favored policy," he said.

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the island country, launched a direct flight from Beijing to Mahe Island in February. The flight takes off every Wednesday from Beijing and returns on Tues-day, cutting one-way flying time to 10 hours and 50 minutes and the ticket price by one-third.

Hannah Babby Lafortune, principal secretary of tourism and culture of the Seychelles, told China Daily that 15,000 Chinese visited last year, ranking sixth among its inbound tourists.

"It has great potential," Lafortune said.

shixf@chinadaily.com.cn
Tensions are escalating between one of China's most widely reported philanthropists and news media outlets that questioned his donations.

Chen Guangbiao, a self-proclaimed billionaire philanthropist known by many through his attempt in 2013 to buy The New York Times, among other public acts, sued Caixin Media Company on Wednesday afternoon over an investigative news report that alleged Chen lied in many of his public announcements regarding what he has done for the underprivileged. Chen asked for 1 million yuan ($152,000) in compensation and an apology. The people's court in the Qinhuai district of Nanjing, Jiangsu province, picked up the case.

On social media, Chen characterized the report as "hearsay, malice, calling black white" and said that it had "extremely negative impacts" on him and his company.

He also promised to hold a news conference on Friday morning in Nanjing to give details about what he and his company have gone through in recent years.

Caixin has not officially responded to Chen's remarks. Hu Shuli, head of the media group, posted another behind-the-scenes video story online about the investigation into Chen.

Hu said Caixin journalist Zhou Qijuan spent more than a year digging into the story, and the hardest part was to figure out the exact amount of money Chen actually spent out of his own pocket for various philanthropic projects.

According to public records, Chen claimed that by 2012 he had made more than 2 billion yuan in donations and helped more than 700,000 poor families. Yet Zhou cited an anonymous source in the story who said that Chen has, at most, given out 20 to 30 million yuan of his own money.

Chen did not immediately return calls or text messages from China Daily.
A local government in Hubei province is calling upon members of the Communist Party of China and the Communist Youth League in government institutions to have two children, saying that failure to do so will have harmful effects.

According to a report by Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in Yichang in August, the average number of children for women of childbearing age in Yichang stood at 0.72, the thepaper.cn reported.

Only about 36 percent of women in the city plan to have two children. The low willingness is the result of economic pressures seen in higher education and the cost of future marriages, the report found.

The report was based on in-depth interviews with 1,000 women aged 15 to 60.

Having a second child is not affordable for many couples in Yichang, although it's "ideal" for them to have two, the report said. It added that willingness may not be improved even with government incentives.

An open letter published on the website of the Yichang Health and Family Planning Commission on Sunday said: "Young comrades should begin with themselves, and seniors should educate and urge their children" to reproduce. Seniors should tout the advantages of having two children and warn of the risks of having only one, the letter said.

Chinese lawmakers amended the family planning law in January to allow all couples to have two children.

Since 2000, the fertility rate in Yichang has been extremely low. On average, the letter said, the number of children born to each woman is statistically less than one.

"If this continues, there will be great risk and danger to the city's social and economic development and residents' family lives," it said.

Traditionally, Chinese parents help their children buy apartmentsas well as vehicles for their sonswhen they get married. In some regions, it's a must to give the bride's parents money as a gift.

A public servant in Yichang, who wasn't named, told China Business Network that he was eligible to have a second child even before the government lifted the ban, but he didn't do it.

"My parents are in poor health and couldn't help take care of the child," he said. "The economic pressure for me would be heavy, as well, if I were to have one more child."

The report said that the percentage of women who would like to have two children would increase only to 44.1 percent, given the prospect of incentive policieswhich could include free kindergarten education and a monthly allowance of 100 yuan ($15) until the second child turns 18.

Zhou Lihua in Wuhan contributed to this story.
A poster by Save the Children. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A nonprofit educational project called Inclusive Education, which aims to create a more comprehensive and beneficial study environment for children with disabilities in the next two years, has been officially launched by Save the Children, along with UNESCO and other partners.

Wang Chao, the representative of Save the Children in China, said at a news conference on Wednesday that since many disabled children go to special schools they do not get the needed opportunities to mix with the mainstream society. The Inclusive Education project believes in the the philosophy of integrated education, as well as the right of disabled children to study in ordinary school with other kids.

"At present, China still has a large number of school-aged disabled children who are not getting the quality of compulsory education they need," said Xu Jiacheng, the secretary of the Chinese Society of Education Special Education Branch.

There's still a long way to go to achieve the goal of educational equality. Wang Xingxing, the manager of the Inclusive Education project, said that more than 30 percent of adults still use "the disabled" in a discriminatory way and about 80 percent of them have no idea of Inclusive Education.

Many people have devoted themselves to the Inclusive Education career to help these children. Zhou Hang, the head teacher of a primary school in Sichuan province, along with teachers and parents from his school, have already brought changes to these children's daily life by helping them in many ways. Zhang Xinyue, one of his students, won a prize in the painting competition, which made both the student and the teachers happy.

The Save the Children has launched a public campaign which calls for concerted efforts to help the children with disabilities instead of neglecting or discriminating against them.

"Let's go to school together" is the slogan of the Inclusive Education project, which the organization believes also represents the need of many children with disabilities to make friends with other children, learn useful knowledge and lead a hopeful life.
The opening ceremony of the photo exhibition "Yunnan - a beautiful place" jointly organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, China Embassy in Czech Republic and Yunnan Federation of Literary and Art Circles, kicked off on the evening of September 20th in Villa Pellet in Prague, capital of Czech Republic.

The Vice-President of Foreign Trade, and member of the EU Parliament Zahradil, the curator of Villa Pelle exhibition hall Vladana Rydova, the Chinese Ambassador in Czech Republic Ma Keqing, the vice-chairperson of Yunnan Federation of Literary and Art Circles Huang Ling, all made speeches.

Zhou Tao, the Vice-chairperson of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles invited the guests to cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony.

The foreign affairs representative of Czech Presidency attended the opening ceremony.

A number of diplomats located in the Czech Republic, Prague art sessions, photographers as well as local representatives of the mainstream media and more than 100 people attended the opening ceremony.

This year is the 67th diplomatic year between China and Czech Republic.

Yunnan is an ethnically diverse place in China and its landscape and culture are extremely special. There are 62 photos displayed in this exhibition.

The exhibition will last 5 days.kicked off on the evening of September 20th in Villa Pellet in Prague
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met with Canadian Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall, the governor general's official residence.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met here with Canadian Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall. Provided to China Daily

Hailing the governor general's state visit to China in October, 2013 during which Johnston reached broad consensus with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Li said China appreciated the contribution the governor general has made to the bilateral ties.

Though far apart, China and Canada share deep friendship, said Li, adding that his current visit has deepened mutual political trust and pushed forward substantial cooperation.

During Li's visit, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, China and Canada have officially launched the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, reached agreement on the feasibility of a potential free trade agreement and signed a series of documents on economics and trade, agriculture, tourism, law-enforcement, aviation and other areas.

Li said he believes that China-Canada ties will develop rapidly thanks to the joint efforts of both countries and peoples.

Johnston spoke highly of the new progress made in bilateral cooperation during Li's visit, saying it helps open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

The launch of the annual dialogue mechanism between two prime ministers, the enhanced cooperation in extensive areas and the close people-to-people exchanges will bring substantial benefits to the two peoples, said the governor general.

He said he is confident in seeing a better future of bilateral ties.

Li's wife Cheng Hong and Johnston's wife Sharon Johnston were present at the meeting.

Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday from New York for a four-day official visit to Canada at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. Li will head to Cuba on Saturday to continue his America tour.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to Cuba will help boost economic cooperation between Havana and Beijing, and promote the Cuba-China comprehensive strategic partnership, said a renowned Cuban expert.

"China is a strategic partner for Cuba," Ruben Zardoya, former rector of the University of Havana and expert on China issues, told Xinhua, adding that Li's visit "will be very important for our country and will help strengthen ties."

Economic relations between the two countries are in "crescendo" and Chinese investment in Cuba is "tangible," Zardoya said.

"There are protocols, agreements and accords of all kinds between the two countries to promote investment, banking development, transport, industry, defence, civil aviation, renewable energy, agriculture and biotechnology, among other areas," he said.

Li will arrive in Cuba following his participation in the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and an official visit to Canada.

China is Cuba's second-largest trade partner and Beijing's participation in the development of multiple sectors of the economy has been vital to Havana's push to modernize the country's socialist model.

"Economic relations with China help Cuba obtain financial benefits and credits, and assimilate new modern technologies and the know-how for numerous industries from a very reliable partner," Zardoya said.

Cuba's tourism industry has witnessed increasing bilateral cooperation, not only because a growing number of Chinese visitors are traveling to the island country each year, but also because of Chinese investment in infrastructure development.

"Cuba has announced Chinese investment in the tourism sector with the construction of two luxury hotels in the outskirts of the capital," said Zardoya.

Cuba is also looking to increase its exports to China, particularly in the health sector.

"Biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry are important areas for cooperation due to the high scientific level of Cuban professionals and products the country manufactures, such as vaccines and innovative drugs against cancer and other diseases," he said.

Cuba began to modernize its socialist system about six years ago in order to trim the bloated public sector and increase productivity.

Cuban President Raul Castro approved a plan for 300 economic reforms in 2011 similar to the Chinese economic model, saying the experience of other socialist countries would be incorporated into the Cuban model.

"We must learn from their best practices. Chinese experience has been extraordinary and is an indisputable source of inspiration for Cuba," said Zardoya.

With "solid" political relations and many common grounds on global matters, the two countries can easily focus on boosting economic cooperation, he said.

"Havana and Beijing have common values such as the right of nations to self-determination, respect for sovereignty, non-intervention in the internal affairs of other countries, and peace and stability as a condition for economic development," he said.

Strong ties with Cuba help bolster China's presence and enhance its relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, which have grown substantially in the last few years, he added.

Li's trip to Havana will be the first official visit to Cuba by a Chinese premier since the two countries established diplomatic ties 56 years ago.

Li will be meeting with Raul Castro over strengthening China-Cuba cooperation and friendship, and preside over the signing of cooperation agreements in the fields of technology, renewable energy, industry and environmental protection.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (front) and other senior leaders visit an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March in Beijing, September 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Friday called for carrying forth the spirit of the Chinese Red Army on the Long March eight decades ago, and striving fearlessly to realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

Xi made the remarks during a visit to an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March.

The Long March spirit is characterized by working hard, fearing no sacrifice, and firm belief in communism and the ultimate victory of China's revolution.

From October 1934 to October 1936, the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army soldiers left their bases and marched through raging rivers, snowy mountains and arid grassland to break the siege of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) forces and continue to fight Japanese aggressors. Some of them marched as far as 12,500 kilometers.

The maneuver was a turning point in China's revolution.

Against all odds, the Red Army completed the march under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a world-renowned feat that will be forever engraved in the history of China's revolution and the Chinese nation, said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

The Long March clearly demonstrated the power of revolutionary ideals, Xi said at the exhibition in the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing.

"Times have changed, the situation has changed, but the ideals and causes that we communists have been fighting for have not changed," he said.
Fancy a Kindle? Take the Long March quiz

The event was held on the Huishi Bridge to commemorate the joint of forces of the Red Army. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ceremony began on the southern end of the Huishi Bridge, with our platoon of reporters lining up in rows and columns. Then there were a series of speeches before we began our march.

Lead by a man waving a banner and a handful of uniformed soldiers, we marched across the bridge in formation. Then down the street, blocking one lane. It was a grand gesture, an activity that clearly held a lot of significance for the organizers.

Then we reached the reconstructed Gate of Joining Forces and a three-part pagoda that represented the union of the armies near the end of the Long March. There was a wreath laying and my fellow reporters formed a queue to lay flowers between the wreaths.

I felt very out of place.

Im usually pretty comfortable in China. I know enough of the language to make friends and accomplish whatever I want to do. I'm a chopstick master and I've traveled quite a bit in the country. But being the only foreigner in miles, wearing a Red Army costume hat handed out by the organizers, and partially participating in a ceremony to memorialize fighters in the revolution was surreal.

But while the march and ceremony seemed odd and uncomfortable for me, most of the people around me treated it as a reverent but everyday experience. Later, when my fellow China Daily reporter Ma Chi explained the concept of "Red Tourism" to me, I started to understand.
Fancy a Kindle? Take the Long March quiz

The sign on the way to a viewing platform in Zhangjiajie in Hunan province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The sign was hilarious.

Nailed to a tree, it proclaimed to anyone who passed that they "will regret it if (they) don't come see the scenery." The tag line, seemingly ripped from an advertisement or brochure, made it feel as though the park was speaking directly to me, and giving me a hard sell. The sign was surreal, but it was also right.

As I peeked out over the ledge on the viewing platform, I was blown away by the scale and alien majesty of Zhangjiajie. The spires of rock jutted out like spines of some hidden, slumbering beast. It was by far one of the most bizarre and beautiful landscapes I had ever seen.

Unfortunately, I wasn't there on holiday; I was traveling as part of my first Long March Press Tour earlier this year. We came to Zhangjiajie to not only take in the amazing scenery, but also see the impact tourism has had on the local economy. Our group of reporters talked with vendors, drivers, and tour guides, all of whose jobs depended on visitors to this geological wonder.

Tourism can be a huge asset for a national or regional economy. The United Nations' World Tourism Organization says tourism accounts for 5 percent of the world's GDP, provides one in 12 jobs worldwide, and is the first or second largest source of export revenue for 20 of the world's 48 least developed countries.

Chinese tourists are some of the biggest providers of international tourism revenue. According to the China National Tourism Board, 120 million Chinese traveled overseas last year, spending 684 billion yuan ($104.5 billion) as they did it. And now China's policymakers are looking to harness the power of tourism to help boost the country's poorest regions.

The goal, as outlined by Premier Li Keqiang during an international tourism conference in Beijing this May, is to raise 12 million people out of poverty via tourism in the next five years. To do this, the government will continue to improve roadways, subsidize construction of tourism necessities, and provide advisory support for rural tourism efforts. This will hopefully draw more people, both from domestic and international populations, to less-traveled portions of China's vast countryside.

This call to travel has really resonated with me. I had already visited many places in China, but after moving to Beijing I stopped traveling within the country as much as I had before. Since my trip to Zhangjiajie I've revisited Xi'an, explored a new (to me) portion of the Great Wall, and experienced the twisting roads and breathtaking landscapes of Gansu province. There is a lot out there, and by exploring more of rural China it will not only be good for my wanderlust but also the communities I visit.
Visitors view exhibits at an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March at National Museum of China in Beijing on Sept 22, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

An exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March opened to the public at the National Museum of China in Beijing on Thursday.

More than 300 pieces of cultural relics and artworks are on display, revealing the 12,500-km military expedition of the Red Army, led by the Communist Party of China (CPC), to combat the Kuomintang regime in the civil war.

From 1934 to 1936, an 80,000-strong Red Army force took part in the epic trek, which laid an important foundation for the Communist victory in the war.

They finally arrived in Yan'an in West China's Shaanxi province, where the new headquarters of CPC was later established. Over three quarters of the soldiers died or were reported missing in the two-year span.




China's Global Newspaper





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Shanxi to train Cameroonian eye doctors ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2016-09-23

Shanxi Provincial Eye Hospital has signed an agreement with a hospital in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, to help train staff in the facility's ophthalmology department.

The deal, confirmed on Sept 18, will see a team of ophthalmic experts from Shanxi travel to Cameroon to provide technical training, while staff members from Yaounde Women and Children's Hospital will be invited to North China to improve their skills.

The agreement is an extension of the "journey to brightness" program, a Chinese initiative which offers free treatment to cataract patients in Africa. As one of participants in the project, Shanxi Provincial Eye Hospital sent a team of specialists to Cameroon in May, which completed 627 cases of cataract surgery during their stay.

Fru Fobuzshi Angwafo III, director of Yaounde Women and Children's Hospital, said that the cooperation furthers the communication in health care between two sides. He hoped that the partnership with Shanxi will help the hospital improve the skills of its staff and the service it is able to provide to patients.
Migrants are rescued during a MOAS operation off the coast of Libya August 18, 2016 in this handout picture courtesy of the Italian Red Cross released on August 19, 2016. Picture taken August 18, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

On Monday, at the first United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants, UN members pledged, through the New York Declaration, to protect and help refugees, and better respond to the refugee crisis.

On Wednesday, more than 40 lives were lost in the Mediterranean off Egypt's north coast when a boat carrying hundreds of migrants, reportedly Italy-bound, capsized.

If the current refugee-induced and refugee-related troubles in Europe illustrate the challenges in accommodating those who have already reached European shores, the latest incident is a tragic reminder of the broader refugee crisis.

That makes the commitments of world leaders in New York worthy of imminent action. They are of utmost importance to improving international humanitarian guarantees and services for this vulnerable group. If all the promises made in New York can ultimately be honored, it would help to end the refugee crisis.

But just as a UN official conceded: "We have been able to give the basics to refugees, like blankets, medicine, some food. But what refugees want also is a future, is education, is jobs."

We are talking about the largest refugee crisis since World War II, with 65 million people considered refugees and migrants. Yet the New York Declaration treats only the tail end, not the root causes, of the ongoing crisis.

The massive inflow of refugees adds extra burden to destination countries, which are already struggling financially. The rest of the world has a moral obligation to help such countries to help those unfortunate newcomers.

Indeed, the refugee flow into Europe has dropped significantly over the past year. But that is mainly an outcome of tighter border control. On the other hand, the civil war in Syria, sectarian strifes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and domestic conflicts in some parts of Africa have never stopped creating new refugees, only it is a lot more difficult for them to make it to foreign countries.

The short-lived ceasefire in Syria and the corresponding finger-pointing between the United States and Russia are symbolic of the difficulty in restoring basic security and basic order there, which US President Barack Obama said "has broken down".

Therefore, besides organizing better responses to the refugee crisis, the world needs to place equal, if not more, emphasis on tackling its root causes, and maneuver and broaden consensuses on solving the most devastating refugee-creating conflicts.

Because people will continue fleeing their homelands as the "cycles of conflict and suffering", Obama lamented, perpetuate.
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."
Health and family planning authorities of Yichang, Central China's Hubei province, recently issued an "open letter" urging young members of the Party and youth league who work for the local government to have two children and the older ones to encourage their grown-up children to do the same, in order to set an example for the rest of the people.

The letter reminds one of the promotional campaign launched across China in the 1980s to urge couples to observe the one-child policy. The family planning policy was changed in January this year, allowing all couples to have two children,

True, Yichang has a low birth rate; the average is much lower than one child per woman. Its Changyang and Wufeng counties began implementing the two-child policy on a trial basis in 2003 and 2004, respectively, but failed to raise the birth rate. Therefore, it appears the "open letter" is an overreaction to local demographic problems and a renewed effort to encourage couples to have two children.

Advanced countries' experiences show that raising the birth rate is not an easy job. Japan has taken a series of measures to encourage young couples to have children, but has failed to reverse the falling birth rate.

Whether or not to have a child is directly related to people's attitude toward childbearing and the cost of raising a child. So, an official document that is only good on paper will not encourage people to have more children.

China's low birth rate is not just a result of its previous one-child policy. Education, prosperity and busy lifestyles have also made people averse to large families.

To make couples change their minds, the government should therefore take systematic measures, such as improving social security and welfare, building a service-oriented government and putting in place supportive facilities for the two-child policy.
Xu Guohua visits a collapsed section of the Great Wall to collect unbroken bricks, which he will save to use in later maintenance of the Wall, in Qinhuangdao, North China's Hebei province, on March 22, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

A SECTION OF THE GREAT WALL in the rural area of Suizhong county, Northeast China's Liaoning province, has always been protected as a precious heritage. Yet several recent photographs show it is now covered with cement and almost destroyed. Local authorities claim they have "repaired" it. Beijing News says their response is irresponsible:

It seems the local authorities don't understand the difference between "repair" and "damage". Repairing means restoring to sound condition after damage. Ironically, those who covered that part of the Great Wall with cement in the name of "repair" have actually damaged it.

The Great Wall is not only symbolic of China, but also an important historical structure for research. Some news reports say the damaged section was built in 1381, which in itself is a historical record. Every brick in the Great Wall is history, and the "repair" has destroyed them by covering them with cement.

Local authorities say their repair work is legal. But a special regulation, called The Great Wall Protection Regulation, states the wall should be repaired on the principle of "not changing its original shape and look". In other words, the Great Wall should be maintained in its original form even if it needs to be repaired. This means those people responsible for covering the Great Wall with cement have broken the law and damaged the structure. So they should be held accountable.

Other reports say similar kind of damage has been caused to sections of the Great Wall in Beijing and elsewhere.

Yet seldom do we hear that those responsible have been penalized. That such incidents recur has much to do with the lack of punitive measures. It is time the judiciary took action against such "vandals".
The Apple iPhone7 and AirPods are displayed during an Apple media event in San Francisco, California, US, September 7, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

"TO ANY EMPLOYEE who buys an iPhone 7, come and quit your job." An open letter written by the owner of a company in Central China's Henan province to his employees has gone almost viral online. The administrative department of the company has confirmed the letter's authenticity, saying those who buy iPhones are "unpatriotic". A comment in Beijing Youth Daily questions the logic:

When the news first became public, many viewed it as a joke, although some irrational netizens said "no patriotic Chinese should buy an iPhone 7; they should buy Huawei instead".

Buying a foreign product does not make a person unpatriotic. And since China and the United States are interdependent economies and most iPhones are made in China, boycotting them will hurt Chinese industries and workers.

Some "patriots" might have their own economic theory and insist on boycotting products from the US and Japan. They have the right to not buy some foreign products. But the problem arises when somebody compels others to accept his/her views and act (or not act) accordingly, and threatens to fire them from their jobs.

That becomes a legal problem. By threatening to dismiss employees who buy iPhone 7, the employer has violated their rights of free consumption and the labor law.

The judiciary should intervene, instead of allowing him to go scot-free because he hides behind the cover of "patriotism". And there are others who believe in his skewed logic. Yet what such people propagate is not true patriotism.

Some of them boycott Japanese products by smashing Japanese cars purchased by their compatriots; a few even attack, both verbally and physically, those using Japanese brands.

By using violence against their compatriots, they also hurt the industrial chain in China. Since many brands already have a global presence and Chinese workers work for them, boycotting their products will hurt the latter.

Therefore, people should not boycott foreign products, because that has little to do with patriotism.
The exodus of refugees from their war torn countries in the Middle East is stressing the resources of nations in Europeas they assist in the resettlement of these displaced people. European nations are taking the brunt of the influx and are mired in a political tussle between opposing groups  those in favour of humanitarian aid and those that donot want more refugees ontheir soil. Understandably the presence of the refugees would add strain and demand on social and economic systems and there would be resistance and reluctance to handle the crisis in as humane a way as possible.

Those who say the United States is the main contributor to the refugee problem, argue its leaders are sitting afar and not doing much to ameliorate the problem other than voicing words. US President Barack Obama held a summit at the UN with 52 countries and obtained pledges that critics say could simply fall through when implemented. They say the New York Declaration is just that, a declaration, and thatthe Americans must do more. They say the miserable 10,000 Syrian refugees accepted onto American shores is a drop in the ocean among the65 million refugees awaiting help.

The world can no longer rely on the US to play a leading role in this human tragedy for obvious reasons. The US is not playing the role expected from the richest and most powerful nation in the world and is unlikely to do so going forward with the domestic politics in high fever against taking more refugees into the American continent.

China, far away from the problem, has pledged US$100m in humanitarian aid to the cause of the refugees. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke in the UN that China would do more, want to do more to help the refugees and migrants and would consider more measures if necessary to help countries and international organizations tackling the crisis. This is in addition to the US$1 billion China UN peace and development fund pledged by President Xi Jinping at the 70th UN General Assembly last year. China is considering using a portion of this fund for the refugees.

China has stepped in to fill a leadership void abandoned by the US. China could take on the challenge, work and cooperate with the UN and international agencies and countries in Europe to resolve the crisis on humanitarian ground. The Americans are most welcome to contribute their share when they are pricked by their conscience and to live by their often repeated calls for human rights and the rights of people to live freely and with dignity.

The refugee problem is a human problem affecting the lives of millions of people and all responsible countries must come together and increase their effort and contributions towards this 21th Century problem of enormous proportion. The millions of refugees have the right to live better, to live with dignity and need the help of all responsible countries towards their plight. This is not just Europes problem, not just an American problem but a problem of the world, a problem of mankind and the world must work together to help fellow human beings in dire straits.

The failure of the Americans to lead in this crisis does not mean that the nations of the world would just watch from afar and do nothing. The world must go on with or without the Americans. China and other major powers could assume the initiative in working with the UN to help fellow mankind in despair through decisive and constructive actions. The refugee problem is now, an immediate crisis, and cannot wait for things to happen in another few years. It is an urgent task that needs to be managed sensitively, humanely and immediately.
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Spain is promoting its tourism resources in the Chinese market for the first time, using a targeted B2B model. A forum (FOTEC) which aims to connect specialized resources from the tourism industries of China and Spain kicked off in Beijing on September 22, 2016.

25 agencies and enterprises from Spain are participating in the forum, including airline companies, government representatives of local tourist attractions and companies specializing in lifestyle, cuisine and healthcare. Some Chinese outbound travel agencies also attended the opening ceremony.

Over 320,000 Chinese tourists visited Spain last year, and that number is predicted to rise to 1 million in the next 5 years. This seemingly alarming speed is in fact not very surprising. Last year, Spain received over 68,000,000 visitors from around the world, ranking as the second most popular tourist destination worldwide, second only to France. At the same time, as the biggest outbound tourism market in the world, the number of international travelers from China reached over 110 million last year.
Whoever is elected as the new president of the United States, be it the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton or her Republican counterpart Donald Trump, constructive corrections will have to be made to improve the China-US ties, said a veteran US expert on China-US relations.

David Lampton, director of the China Studies at Johns Hopkins University in the US, offered solutions and elaborated on why there is plenty of hope for better bilateral relations, at a Beijing-based seminar hosted by the Center for China and Globalization on Thursday.

"The US is a decentralized country and its 50 states can make their own economic policies. They are China's natural allies and could be the stabilizers in the China-US relationship," he said. Many US states have enjoyed benign agricultural exchanges with China and their primary concern is their economic well-being, hence China should make friends with them, be they Democratic or Republican, he said.

"We should seek to build common, economic, and security institutions, as well as invest in each other," Lampton said. It was unfortunate that the US government's initial reaction to the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was "no", instead of being involved economically, he said.

When it comes to security concerns, China should also improve the relations with its neighbors, including the Philippines and Japan, otherwise they would try to get the US involved, which can make things unnecessarily more complicated, he said.

Clinton is more likely to be the winner of this year's presidential election, Lampton predicted. He said the chances of Clinton winning the election could reach 60 percent or even higher. "If there was a 9/11-style terrorist attack that killed thousands of Americans, that would change the environment overnight."

Clinton has a better campaign organization and is a seasoned debater, he said. Mostly backed by angry white males, Trump has alienated women, a group that accounts for almost half the vote, and black people too, he added. "He benefits when people are afraid."
Jo Johnson, the UK's Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation confirmed on Friday that the UK-China Research and Innovation Partnership Fund, also known as the Newton Fund, has committed 200m across 37 joint programs and supported over 220 partnerships since 2014.

He made the announcement while addressing the opening ceremony of the UK China Innovation is GREAT Showcase. He highlighted the fund's success in establishing over 37 joint funding initiatives and programs such as the 21 million Research and Innovation Bridges programs and the Climate Science for Service Partnership.

"The future of science depends on collaboration and sharing expertise and China is an important science partner for the UK. Through the Newton Fund we're working together on areas such as sustainable agriculture and smart cities to improve the lives of millions across the globe," he says.

"The success of the Newton Fund and our exciting partnership demonstrates that our science and innovation relationship is going from strength to strength."

The Science Minister is visiting Shanghai for a series of bilateral events and meetings highlighting the strength of the UK-China education and science and innovation relationship, alongside the UK's Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Mark Walport and around 150 representatives from the UK's Research Councils, universities and businesses.

The Newton Fund aims to support the development of UK-China research and innovation capacity for long-term sustainable growth. It supports a variety of causes: healthcare, urbanization, a changing climate, food, energy, and water.
China welcomes the new Philippine president to visit at an early date, the Foreign Ministry said, following reports that a visit is likely to take place in late October.

Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a news conference on Friday that China has said many times that it would welcome a visit by President Rodrigo Duterte, and the two sides are in close communication.

"Differences will exist between any two countries, but ... there is no setback that cannot be overcome in the Sino-Philippine relationship as long as the two countries work to maintain the political will to solve their differences," Lu said.

According to diplomatic sources contacted by Japan's Kyodo News Agency, Duterte plans to visit China on Oct 19 and 20 and to embark on a "working visit" to Japan from Oct 25 to 27. These will be Duterte's first trips outside Southeast Asia since assuming office on June 30.

Kyodo also said that Duterte chose China as his first destination, instead of Japan, at the suggestion of Zhao Jianhua, the Chinese ambassador to Manila.

"I've noticed such reports, but I want to say that the Philippines is a sovereign state and it will decide its own diplomatic agenda according to its own judgment," Lu said.

Under its previous administration, the Philippine government unilaterally initiated an arbitration case over the South China Sea disputes against China in 2013, and the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague issued a ruling in July. China has reiterated that it will not accept any proposition or action based on the decision.

During a speech on Thursday, Duterte said he will bring up the ruling in a constructive way on his China trip.

He also said he wanted to preserve goodwill with China to allow for economic partnership, according to media reports in the Philippines.

Chen Qinghong, a researcher of Southeast Asian and Philippine studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said signs indicate that Sino-Philippine ties are moving in the right direction.

However, he said both countries should be cautious of outside interference as they strive to improve their relationship.
OTTAWA - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China and Canada have embarked on exploratory talks for a potential free trade agreement.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau wave to the media after the signing ceremony of a series of bilateral cooperation documents in Ottawa September 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li made the remarks when meeting with journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau after the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of a series of bilateral cooperation documents."We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade area," said Li, adding that China is willing to import frozen beef from Canada and the two sides have reached an agreement on Canada's canola exports to China.Li also said that the two sides discussed cooperation in finance, tourism, law enforcement, as well as between their local governments."The exchange of visits within one month showed that China-Canada relations are entering a new stage," said Li who referred to Trudeau's recent official visit to China, adding that "it's rare in the bilateral ties, and conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the expectations of the international community."Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday. His visit to Canada is the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years.The Chinese premier said the two sides agreed that China and Canada have broad common interests and sound cooperation. The development of the bilateral ties is in the interests of both Chinese and Canadian peoples as well as the world' s peace and stability.
Life sciences company will invest $20.4 million

Contact: Crystal Feldman

Crystal Feldman govpress@nc.gov

Black Mountain, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) announced today that Avadim Technologies Inc. will launch a major expansion at its operations in Buncombe County, creating 551 jobs over the next five years. Avadim is a life sciences company delivering Pathogenesis Based Therapies, addressing infection prevention, neuromuscular disorders and barrier repair. Avadim will invest nearly $20.4 million in its North Carolina expansion over the five-year period.said Governor McCrory.Founded in 2007, Avadim Technologies, Inc. is a life sciences company that has developed a new class of topical therapy solutions to address gaps in global health. The therapies work to protect and support natural physiological functions, preventing infections, improving neuromuscular disorders and enhancing wound care.Inc. magazine ranked Avadim Technologies No. 234 on its list of the 500 fastest-growing U.S. companies for 2016. The company currently employs 106 people across the United States.said Secretary Skvarla.Avadim will expand its product development, manufacturing, distribution and corporate headquarters operations. Among its new hires will be sales and marketing personnel, customer service representatives and I/T specialists. Salaries will vary by position, but the average annual compensation of the company's new employees will be $50,816. Buncombe County's overall average wage is currently $37,491 per year.said Stephen Woody, Chairman & CEO of Avadim.Avadim's expansion in Buncombe County will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state's Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Under the terms of the JDIG, the company is eligible to receive up to $4.9 million in total reimbursements. Payments will occur in annual installments over 12 years pending verification by N.C. Commerce and N.C. Revenue that the company has met incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIGs reimburse new and expanding companies a portion of the newly created tax-base with the goal of increasing the overall revenue benefit to the state of North Carolina.By law, JDIG projects must result in a net revenue inflow to the state treasury over the life of the award. For projects in Buncombe and other Tier 3 counties, 25 percent of the eligible grant is directed to the state's Industrial Development Fund - Utility Account to help finance economic infrastructure in less populated counties. Avadim's expansion could provide as much as $1.63 million in new funds for the Utility Account. More information on county tier designations is available here Since Governor McCrory entered office in January 2013, the state's economy has generated more than 300,000 net new jobs.Partnering with N.C. Commerce and the EDPNC on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, N.C. Transportation, N.C. Revenue, Golden LEAF Foundation, Land of Sky Council of Governments, City of Asheville, Buncombe County and the Asheville-Buncombe County Economic Development Coalition.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang makes remarks when meeting journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau in Ottawa, Sept 22, 2016. Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

OTTAWA -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Thursday that China and Canada have agreed to strengthen their ties in economic, trade and other fields, and to begin exploratory talks for a potential free trade agreement.

Li, who is on an official visit to the North American nation, made the remarks when meeting journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

"We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade area," said Li, adding that China is willing to import frozen beef from Canada and the two sides have reached an agreement on Canada's canola exports to China.

Li also said that the two sides discussed cooperation in finance, tourism, law enforcement, as well as between their local governments.

"The exchange of visits within one month showed that China-Canada relations are entering a new stage," said Li who referred to Trudeau's recent official visit to China, adding that "it's rare in the bilateral ties, and conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the expectations of the international community."

Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday. His visit to Canada is the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years.

The Chinese leader said the two sides agreed that they have broad common interests and sound cooperation. The development of the bilateral ties is in the interests of both Chinese and Canadian peoples as well as the world' s peace and stability.

"We have decided to strengthen exchanges in all levels and in multiple mechanisms. We have agreed to establish high-level financial dialogue mechanism," Li said.

The Chinese leader also noted that they have discussed their differences, saying that it is normal for China and Canada, two countries with different national conditions and in different development stages, to differ.
(Photo : Getty images) The former local government palace is framed by an iron ring in Gyantse township of Tibet, China.

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Tibet, an area in the Tibetan plateau region of Asia, is a hot target for China as it seeks to expand the tourism sector to become a leading source of economic development in the region.



The region's tourism sector is still at a low due to the political and religious conflict experienced in 2008. Its strict foreign visit policy is said to be another factor of such performance as it inhibits tourists from making it a destination.



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The tourism sector represents more than 20 percent of the region's GDP with a total of 320,000 jobs. The GDP is projected to hit a five percent increase with 500,000 employment opportunities generated.



At the Tibet International Tourism and Culture Expo, Chinese authorities paid a visit to shed more light on the future of the tourism sector in the region.



Both Beijing and Tibet governments estimate that a total of 24 million tourists are set to visit by yearend, thereby earnings may reach a total of 19.35 billion yuan ($2.9B).



The figure is expected to increase by 2020 to nearly 35M, bringing revenue of 49.4 billion yuan ($7.44B).



An infrastructure boost is also anticipated in the region, as large luxury hotels are now being built. The Intercontinental, Marriott and St Regis are a few of the already developed hotels.



Tibet Tourism and Development Commission Deputy Director Wang Songping pointed out in his remarks that tourism is a vital asset to the economy of the region.



International Campaign for Tibet presidenMatteo Mecacci added that tourism is on the development agenda for the region



"Tourism in Tibet is an integral part of the strategic and economic objectives of China," he said "Tibetans should be the primary beneficiaries of tourism explosion in the region."



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(Photo : Getty images) A Tibetan Buddhist monk sits on the grasslands outside a monastery next to a government resettlement community for former nomads at Tibetan Plateau in Yushu County, Qinghai, China

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Freedom is a word with limited meaning for the citizens of Tibet, China. The religious region is highly guarded and patrolled by police with the government paying close attention to the citizens to make sure every law is followed to the ladder.



Even monks are more monitored in their monasteries.



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A monk in his early 30's from Sichuan, a neighboring province, shared that they are not free.



"To get into Tibet from another province you need a certificate with your name, address and identity card number," he explained. "Everything has to be stamped by the monastery, the Bureau of Religious Affairs and the police."



Despite the fact that the region is currently at a calm state, the authority is still taking no risk following the deadly demonstrations held in 2008 against Han Chinese.



Kate Saunders of the US-based NGO International Campaign for Tibet noted that faith is symbolic in the region.



"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," she explained.



A staunch supporter of the Tibet citizens, Saunders has been constantly pointing out that the Chinese government has allegedly been exploiting their resources.



Accordingly, the Tibetans argued that authorities have weakened their faith and culture so as to exercise new leadership.



Barkhor, a road near the temple that pilgrims pay respect by walking in a clockwise direction, displayed little Chinese flags on the building's floor, as the Tibet citizens are still under constant watch.



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(Photo : Getty Images) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended the country's decision to pursue an extradition treaty with China.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has defended his government's decision to start negotiation with China for an extradition treaty. Trudeau argued that the decision would help Canada to reach a higher pedestal in its bilateral relationship with Beijing.



Canada's leader said the "strong, robust" relation he is seeking to build with China "allows us to make gains on human rights and consular files."



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Trudeau's defense of extradition-treaty comes as China's Prime Minister Li Keqiang started his four-day visit to Canada on Wednesday. His defense also comes days after the opposition Conservative party strongly opposed the on-going talks for extradition treaty, claiming that Ottawa is making an undue concession to Beijing on the sensitive issue.



Beijing agreed to deport Canadian convict Kevin Garratt to Canada last week. Garratt's sudden deportation, which came closely on the heels of Trudeau's visit to China, sparked off the speculation that Canada has struck a secret deal with China. However, the Canadian government has strongly dismissed reports of any secret deal.



Meanwhile, Trudeau on Wednesday sidestepped questions about Chinese secret agents covertly entering Canada to bully Chinese suspects to return home. A report by The Globe and Mail this week claimed that China had resorted to arm-twisting some Chinese suspects to return home after it found that Ottawa was unwilling to cooperate on the issue.



Several western countries including America, News Zealand, and Australia have been hesitant to sign an extradition treaty with China out of concern about the fairness of the country's judicial system and the treatment of prisoners.



The Chinese government has been pushing several countries including Canada for an extradition treaty. Chinese state media has revealed that several western countries have become popular hideouts for Chinese corrupt officials.



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(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Air China has launched a direct flight between Beijing and Warsaw.

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Air China has officially launched regular flights between Beijing and Warsaw, the very first direct flight to Poland by an Asian airline.



The first flight from Beijing successfully landed at Warsaw's Chopin Airport early morning on Wednesday with an estimated 200 people on board an Airbus A330.



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The Chinese Ambassador to Poland Xu Jian, Vice President of China National Aviation Holding Hou Xulun, and Chopin Airport's chief director Mariusz Szpikowski attended the official welcoming ceremony, according to state-backed Xinhua.



Xulun said the newest service is an important move to help establish the "Aerial Silk Road" and to cater to the demands of businessmen and tourists from both countries.



Meanwhile, Jian believes Poland's strategic location plays a crucial role between the East and the West, with hopes that the new "Aerial Silk Road" would provide social and economic development, offer more travel choices, and boost bilateral cooperation particularly in the areas of cultural exchange, education, and science and technology between the two nations, Xinhua reported.



Szpikowksi, on the other hand, said the direct link is not only beneficial to Chopin's airport but also to Warsaw and Poland. Poland is looking to establish business, cultural, and trade relations with China.



Meanwhile, Air China said that the latest Beijing-Warsaw is its second non-stop long-haul international service connecting the mainland to Central and Eastern Europe.



Flights heading to Beijing depart on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.



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TagsAir China, aviation, china, Warsaw, Chopin Airport, Poland, Aerial Silk Road
(Photo : Getty Images) Taiwan has asked Google to blur satellite images displaying its latest military installation in the Itu Aba island.

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Taiwan's defense ministry said on Wednesday that it has requested Google Inc. to blur satellite images displaying, what military experts claim to be, a new military installation on Itu Aba, Taiwan's sole holding in the disputed South China Sea region.



"Under the pre-condition of protecting military secrets and security, we have requested Google blur images of important military facilities," Taiwan Defense Ministry spokesperson Chen Chung-chi said.



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The defense ministry's statement came after local Taiwanese media reported that a recent image seen on Google Earth showed four three-pronged structures sitting in a semi-circle position just off the northwestern shoreline of Itu Aba.



Google Inc, which is based in Mountain View California, has so far not commented on the issue.



Military experts in Taiwan are claiming that based on Google Earth imagery, the structures in the said portion of South China Sea were most likely related to defense purposes 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 military expert and scholar, who claimed to have regularly visited Itu Aba.



The revelation of a new military installation is likely to stroke fresh tension in the disputed maritime territory, where China's belligerent construction activities on various reefs and islands have already caused enough tensions.



The recent verdict by The Hague-based international tribunal, which dismissed China's historical claim over the South China Sea region, has also reportedly added to the tension in contested waters.



China stakes claim over the entire energy-rich South China Sea. Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are the other important claimants who have asserted ownership over a part or the entire South China Sea region.



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(Photo : getty images.) Iran on Thursday expressed desire to become part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), according to statement issued by Pakistan prime minister's office.

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Iran articulated on Thursday its desire to become part of the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects China's northwestern region of Xinjiang to Gwadar port located in Pakistan's insurgency porn province of Balochistan.



The message was conveyed during Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which happened on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly session, Times of India reported.



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In a statement, Sharif said that "President Rouhani lauded the vision of the Prime Minister for translating CPEC into reality and expressed his desire to be part of the CPEC."



"In particular, the two leaders reiterated the complementarity between Gwadar and Chabahar sea ports that could boost regional trade exponentially in the decades ahead," the Pakistani leader added.



Reports have indicated that the CPEC project has been surrounded with controversies allegedly because of security concerns expressed by India. New Delhi claimed that its security concerns are justified, as the corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).



India had officially lodged protest with China and Pakistan on several occasions, calling on both countries to immediately stop work on the project. However, Beijing and Islamabad chose to overlook India's concerns. Earlier this year, Chinese state media had warned that India may try to sabotage the CPEC project.



Indian seals historic Chabahar port deal with Iran



Concerned by security challenges borne out of CPEC project, New Delhi was going full throttle to seal the Chabahar port deal with Iran. India eventually succeeded in sealing the project during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit to Iran in May.



The deal was considered immensely important for India to break away from China's encirclement or the much talked about "string of pearls" strategy. Indian foreign experts alleged that China is trying to encircle India by pursuing several infrastructure projects in Indian neighbourhood, and that the Chabahar port deal was very much in China's wish list.



The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is worth $46 billion.



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TagsChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor, china, CPEC, Iran, Iran and China
(Photo : Getty Images) A Yahoo! News sign is displayed prior to the start of the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 25, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Yahoo confirmed that about half a billion user accounts have been stolen in 2014, blaming "state-sponsored" hackers in what appears to be the biggest cybersecurity breach in history.



Bob Lord, chief information security officer of Yahoo, said on Thursday that hackers breached into its network late in 2014. Stolen personal data included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, "hashed passwords and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers."



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He, however, said that other sensitive information including credit card data or bank account information were not affected, thus believing the attack was state sponsored, BBC reported.



Yahoo, which is selling its core business to Verizon Telecommunications Inc. in a $4.8 billion deal, believes that the perpetrators are no longer in the internet company's network.



The company is encouraging not only those affected users but all of its clients to promptly update their passwords and security questions and review their accounts for malicious activities, CNN Money reported.



According to The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo started investigating for possible theft in July after hackers claimed to sell 280 million Yahoo accounts. Although the company found that the sale was a hoax, it investigated further eventually finding out that it had been breached by a "state-sponsored actor."



Yahoo is cooperating with law enforcement to investigate about the breach.



"The FBI is aware of the intrusion and investigating the matter. We take these types of breaches very seriously and will determine how this occurred and who is responsible," an FBI spokesperson said.



The spokesperson further said that it will cooperate with the private sector and share the information so they can protect their systems from cyber criminals.



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TagsYahoo, Cyberattack, cybersecurity, personal data theft, hackers
(Photo : Getty Images) China meat imports increased around 10 times between 2010 and 2015.

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After the 13-year ban on imports of beef from the US, China has decided to get American beef products again.



In 2003, China stopped importing most US beef products because of the mad cow disease scare, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, according to Wall Street Journal.



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At that time, China's imports of beef amounted to $15 million (or 12,000 tons), including $10 million from the United States.



However, lifting the ban has some restrictions. Chinese government will only purchase beef meat less than 30 months of age and US exports will have to comply with China's traceability and quarantine rules.



The US Meat Export Federation called the announcement as an essential first step from China.



I welcome the announcement from China's Ministry of Agriculture that it has lifted its ban on US beef following a recently concluded review of the US supply system," US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. "This announcement is a critical first step to restore market access for USbeef 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," Visack added.



The announcement came after years of delays and years after China said in 2006 that imports of some beef products would already resume. It can be recalled that American producers and trade officials expected restrictions to be lifted.



Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said the decision is a sign that Beijing wants to improve commercial ties with the US.



According to US Meat Export Federation, China is the world's second biggest beef buyer. Its meat imports increased around 10 times between 2010 and 2015, which was attributed to the increasing capacity of the middle class to buy as they get richer and local farmers' incapacity to keep up with the demand.



In the meantime, China still needs to negotiate with the USDA about the conditions that will apply to US beef exports entering the market, South China Morning Post reported.



China's agriculture ministry, however, has not divulged yet as to when the US beef imports will start again.



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Tagschina, U.S. Beef, China 13-year ban U.S. Beef, China's Ministry of Agriculture, U.S. Meat Export Federation, beef meat, meat import, China US Beef Imports
(Photo : GettyImages/JoeRaedle) Wanda Group has `described accusations that it is using money to influence a ballot decision in its dipute with Hilton over a piece of land in Beverly Hills as frivolous.

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A labor union has filed a complaint, asking state and federal election officials to investigate Wanda Group's implication in a Beverly Hills ballot initiative. The plaintiff is Unite Here Local 11, the Southern California chapter of a 270,000 strong labor union. Wanda Group is one of the leading Chinese multinational conglomerates.



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The complaint comes on the heels of a long-running clash between the Hilton and Wanda over the issue of developing a property adjacent to the hotel. Hilton wants to build a 37-storey condo on the land while Wanda is looking to start a boutique 134-room hotel, along with 193 condos. Eventually, a ballot was carried out, asking voters to indicate their choice. The labor union contends that Wanda is using money to influence the ballot.



According to Deadline, a spokesman for the Fair Political Practices Commission said that they do not have any record of the complaint. Meanwhile, Wanda Group has described the accusation "frivolous."



According to Yahoo, Wanda claims that Union did not carry out any conversations with the company about potentially representing the workers at its new hotel. The union had opposed the Wanda projects on account of traffic concerns in a letter sent to the city. It also spoke against the project at the Beverly Hills Planning Commission.



The polling for the issue is expected to take place in November.



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(Photo : GettyImages/IanWalton) A trade deal between China and Canada is likely to provide a fillip to Canada's economy

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China and Canada are expected to initiate talks for a possible free-trade agreement. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made this announcement on Thursday. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is currently on a four-day visit to Canada.



At a joint press conference in Ottawa, the two leaders said that they are looking forward to doubling the volume of trade between the countries by 2025. According to Reuters, both the countries have settled their trade dispute. They also agreed to solve a dispute related to exports of Canadian canola to China.



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A trade deal between China and Canada is likely to provide a fillip to the Canadian economy, which is suffering from declining oil prices and slow growth rate. China is Canada's second-largest trade partner, after the United States.



According to the Financial Post, the bilateral trade between the countries grew by more than 10 percent on a year-over-year basis in 2015 to $85.8 billion.



During Canadian Prime Minster Trudeau's visit to China in August, both the countries signed more than 60 commercial deals. Trudeau also announced four business deals including a joint venture to develop, build, and market nuclear reactors. The deal involves China National Nuclear Corp, Shanghai Electric Group Co Ltd., and SNC-Lavalin Inc.



China has also agreed to continue to import Canadian canola. China accounts for about 40 percent of Canadian canola exports. However, authorities in Beijing are looking to place tough restrictions on canola imports from Canada. Canada's total canola imports to China was valued at $2 billion last year.



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TagsJustin Trudeau, Li Keqiang, china, Canada, Canadian canola
(Photo : Getty Images) President Rodrigo Duterte is set to visit China in the last week of October to discuss the South China Sea dispute with Chinese officials

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Philippine diplomats are currently in talks with their Chinese counterparts for the upcoming visit of President Rodrigo Duterte to Beijing next month to discuss the plight of Filipino fishermen in the disputed South China Sea.



High-ranking foreign affairs officials said on Friday that arrangements are being made by both Philippine and Chinese authorities for the visit of Duterte at the end of October.



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"One of the things that I would demand if I go to the mainland China is, 'Give us back our fishing rights.' That's one," Duterte said in a speech he delivered at the inauguration of a power plant in Manila on Thursday.



Appeal



Duterte had earlier appealed to China to give Filipino fishermen access to the resource-rich Scarborough Shoal following a recent arbitration court ruling that no one country can legally control that shoal.



Duterte said in his speech that he will go to China this year and hold talks with Chinese officials to resolve the South China Sea dispute as he told Chinese businessmen, " You will see me (in China) often."



China-Philippine bilateral relations have been cold in the few past years due to their longtime conflict over territorial claims in the South China Sea.



The territorial case filed by Manila against Beijing before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) three years ago under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III only exacerbated the deteriorating ties between both nations.



Sino-Philippine cooperation



Analysts said Duterte's soft stance towards Beijing on various issues including the recent arbitration court ruling favoring the Philippines shows Manila's intent to mend its ties with the Asian giant.



The Philippine President said he was looking forward to a future Sino-Philippine cooperation such as venturing into joint gas explorations in the South China Sea as part of repairing strained ties between the two nations.



Duterte also said in his speech that he would raise the July 12 arbitration court ruling favoring Manila's claims before the Chinese government during the formal talks.



"When I come face-to-face with the Chinese negotiators, I will present this problem. Here is this piece of paper, our arbitral award. We do not go out of the four corners of this paper. We talk. We will not act as warmongers," he said.



Scarborough Shoal



Duterte said that although Manila would not deviate from the court ruling in the talks, he would seek a way to convince Beijing to let Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal make a living after being deprived of their livelihood for four years since China seized control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippines.



On July 12, an international arbitration court ruled that China had no legal basis for its 'historic claims' in the disputed South China Sea.



The ruling rejected Beijing's claims to almost the entirety of the strategic waterway saying it violates the Philippines' rights to explore resources within its exclusive economic zone.



China has rejected the ruling as "illegal" and "null and void." Chinese President Xi Jinping had said that Beijing would not accept any talks and propositions based on the ruling.



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TagsSouth China Sea talks, President Rodrigo Duterte, Scarborough Shoal, Filipino fishermen, Philippines, china
(Photo : Getty Images ) The United States and the Philippines would hold a large scale combat exercise from October 4 to 12.

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The United States and the Philippines are slated to hold their first-ever large-scale combat exercise in October.



Filipino officials on Thursday announced that the Philippines' and United States' armed forces would conduct the annual joint military exercise - PHIBLEX 33 - next month. The annual military exercise would be held at northern gunnery range in the Philippines from October 4 to 12.



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"The annual exercise will be held on October 4-12 with the opening ceremony set to be held at the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City," Philippines Marine Corps Public Affairs Director Captain Ryan F. Lacuesta said. "Activities lined up for PHIBLEX 33 include the amphibious landing exercise at the Naval Education Training Command in San Antonio and the combined live fire exercise (CALFEX at Crow Valley."



The President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte recently suggested that U.S. troops must leave country's southern province Mindanao. He warned that the presence of American troops in the trouble region is causing further deterioration of the situation. Duterte's anti-US tirade is believed to have strained the ties between the two countries.



Last week, Duterte said that his country would not take part in joint patrols in the disputed South China Sea. His remarks came as a setback to the United States which has been patrolling the contested waters.



In July, the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China in favor of the Philippines in a long-standing territorial dispute over islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The US, Japan, and other foreign powers have repeatedly asked China to recognize the ruling of the international arbitration court.



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TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, US, Philippines, joint military exercises
(Photo : Getty Images ) China has said it backs Pakistan in Islamabad's dispute with India over the Kashmir region.

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China has said that it backs Pakistan's stance on Kashmir.



Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday said China would continue to support Pakistan's position on Kashmir. He urged the international community to show a better understanding of Islamabad's stance on its standoff with India over the Kashmir region.



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"We support Pakistan, and we will speak for Pakistan on every forum. We attach great importance to Pakistan's position on Kashmir," Keqiang told his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st session of United Nations General Assembly in New York. He also said China would continue to play a constructive role in the improvement of the relations between India and Pakistan.



China on Wednesday asked India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid fueling the tension over the issue. Beijing also expressed concerns over the current situation in India's Kashmir region while urging both sides to step up communication and dialogue.



"We are 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," foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said. "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,"



At least 20 Indian military personnel were killed, and 25 others wounded in a recent terrorist attack on a military camp in Jammu and Kashmir, India. New Delhi accused Islamabad of being involved in the terror attack, while Pakistan said that India is responsible for the current situation in the Kashmir Valley.



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(Photo : Getty Images) Taiwan has protested after the UN failed to invite representatives from the country to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) assembly, which would be held in Canada from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7.

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The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a U.N. aviation agency, has snubbed Taiwan by not inviting it to its assembly that is scheduled to be held in Canada from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7. The move is seen as the United Nation's (UN) tacit recognition of the 'One China' principle, which states that China and Taiwan are part of one nation.



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"ICAO follows the United Nations' 'One China' policy," the agency's communications chief, Anthony Philbin, told Reuters in an email.



The ICAO said that the 2016 assembly, which would be held in Montreal, did not follow the same pattern as the 2013 meeting in when China agreed to Taiwan's participation in the assembly.



Miffed with the ICAO's decision, Taiwan warned China of serious repercussion but did not elaborate on what actions it would take.



"We solemnly call on China to open its heart and think seriously as it may face serious consequences for its one-sided actions," Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a statement.



China, on the other hand, has welcomed the decision, reiterating that Taiwan needs to recognize the 'One China' Principle.



"At present, our position is extremely clear. The prerequisite for Taiwan to participate in any international activity is for it to agree to the 'One China' policy and for this to be resolved through consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular news briefing.



Lu added that Taiwan's participation in the 2013 assembly was based on a "temporary arrangement."



Cross-Strait ties have been going downhill ever since Taiwan's pro-independent leader Tsai Ing-wen took office in May. Tsai, who is Taiwan's first-ever female president, had set the tone for Cross-Strait relation by conspicuously skipping any mention of the 'One China' principle in her inaugural speech.



Taiwan separated from China in 1949 following a bitter civil war on the mainland. However, China has never recognized Taiwan as a separate nation and considers it a wayward province that is waiting for unification.



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Woman cites faith as reason for effort to overturn LGBT anti-discrimination law 23 September, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

DENVER (Christian Examiner)  A Christian small business owner in Colorado has filed a federal lawsuit asking the court to toss the state's anti-discrimination law, which she says effectively forces people of faith to use their labor in support of same-sex marriage.

Lorie Smith, who owns a website and graphic design company called 303 Creative LLC, filed the suit in federal court Sept. 20. In the complaint, Smith is described as a woman who "believes that God has called her to use her talents and her company in a way that honors Him."

Part of Smith's business is creating custom wedding-related websites which only depict marriage between one man and one woman, as she believes is described as God's original design for humanity.

While I will serve anyone I am always careful to avoid communicating ideas or messages, or promoting events, products, services, or organizations, that are inconsistent with my religious beliefs.

Smith claims she would like to publish that information, but isn't allowed to by the Colorado Anti-discrimination Act because any publication, display or communication speaking of the exclusivity of Christian, heterosexual marriage would be perceived as dismissing members of the LGBT community as "unwelcome, objectionable, unacceptable, or undesirable."

"Therefore, Lorie and 303 Creative cannot explain on 303 Creative's website their religious belief that God designed marriage as an institution between one man and one woman and why they cannot create wedding websites promoting and celebrating any other conception of marriage," the complaint reads.

Attorneys for Smith are seeking declaratory relief from the court because Colorado's anti-discrimination law, they claim, violates her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to free speech, religious liberty and due process (because the state's Civil Rights Commission could impose fines on her business without an avenue of recourse for her).

The current website for 303 Creative already contains a vague description of Smith's religious beliefs. In it, she claims her faith makes her "selective" about the messages she creates and promotes.

"While I will serve anyone I am always careful to avoid communicating ideas or messages, or promoting events, products, services, or organizations, that are inconsistent with my religious beliefs," Smith wrote on the website.

Smith's attorneys, Alliance Defending Freedom and former Colorado Assistant Solicitor General Michael L. Francisco, appeal to the same language used in the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that created the right of gay marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges. In the majority ruling by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court claimed human "dignity" required all states to recognize the fundamental right to marry for homosexuals.

Smith's suit alleges that her dignity is also at stake because Colorado's anti-discrimination law forces her faith into the closet and leaves her with the choice between denying her livelihood and facing severe financial penalties for not complying with the state's opinion on marriage.

The suit also claims, using Justice Kennedy's own words, "the First Amendment ensures that religions, those who adhere to religious doctrines, and others have protections as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths."

According to Denver's ABC affiliate, which cast the case as a petition to "deny rights to gay couples," the group Freedom for All Coloradans claimed the lawsuit was an effort to undermine the Obergefell decision.

"Allowing business owners to refuse service to customers whom they dislike, or disapprove, will open a can of worms and make it more difficult to enforce Colorado's laws that ensure businesses are open to everyone," the group said.

The group has publicly stated its opposition to "religious exemption bills" which, according to them, undermine the rule of law.
Leaders of Africas Lake Chad Basin countries affected by Boko Harams intensifying insurgency over the past two weeks are calling on the international community to act urgently against the regions ongoing humanitarian "catastrophe."

Presidents Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria), Mahamadou Issoufou (Niger), Idriss Deby Itno (Chad) and Paul Biya (Cameroon) are scheduled to participate in a special Summit on the crisis chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York today (23 Sep).

The seven-year Islamist rebellion has left 20,000 people dead and about 2.6 million displaced across the four countries. Many families have been displaced several times. In Nigeria, the crisis is particularly acute in Borno State, but the neighbouring states of Adamawa and Yobe are also affected. Recent Nigerian Army military operations, which led to the recovery of territories previously under Boko Harams control, have revealed the scale of the humanitarian needs of civilians in the three states.

Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State and epicenter of the insurgency, has seen its population rise from 1 million inhabitants to 2.5 million because of internally displayed persons (IDPs) fleeing Boko Haram.

Nigerias neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger are also flooded with thousands of refugees from Nigeria. The number of displaced people in the most affected areas has tripled over the last two years.

Rev. Samuel Dali, President of the Church of Brethren in Nigeria (Ekkliziyar Yan Uwa a Nijeriya, or EYN), told World Watch Monitor that despite the governments persistent victory claims, Boko Haram continues to pose security threats. In many areas militants are still active, he said, forcing people to put their lives in danger each time they go to their farms.

Last week, Boko Haram attacks near Chibok killed 12. On 18 Sep., eight Christians were killed as militants opened fire outside a church in Kwamjilari, 19km from Chibok, where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped overnight in April 2014.

The assailants also burned down the church, blocked roads and began shooting randomly, prompting a movement of people who sought refuge in the bush and the nearby town of Chibok.

In the early hours of Monday, 19 Sep., militants stormed Tari, an agrarian community in Damboa near Chibok. The assailants slit the throats of the village head and his son before setting fire to their houses. Two other villagers were shot dead as they were trying to escape.

Rev. Dali also decried the corruption and mismanagement of relief materials by officials he said are hampering the aid efforts.

"Unfortunately, the relief materials are not always reaching the right persons," said Dali. "Some officials keep them for themselves, leaving the IDPs in hunger."

Dalis claim echoed the accusations of Father Maurice Kweirang, in charge of St. Theresa Catholic Churchs IDP camp in Yola, in Nigerias north-eastern Adamawa State.

''This crisis is a result of a deliberate act of mismanagement by officials," Fr. Kweirang told WWM. Food and other non-food items destined for IDPs have been diverted. They are selling them in open market in Maiduguri [Bornos main city] and elsewhere."

International NGOS are not doing enough either, he claimed, since they are working under the state Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which he called ineffective.

Critical point

On 16 Sep., two top humanitarian officials raised the alarm for the Lake Chad Basin region at a conference in Londons Chatham House.

The situation has reached a "critical point", noted Dr. Mercedes Tatay, International Medical Secretary of Medecins Sans Frontieres. After visiting north-east Nigeria few weeks ago, she reported that in many areas where Boko Haram militants had been in control, MSF found people without water, food or sanitation.

"We are in a catastrophe. There are huge mortality rates. In parts of north-east Nigeria, the under-5 mortality rate is quite low [only] because all the young children have already died.

''More than 100,000 displaced women and children are fully dependent on food aid, but MSF only has a narrow space for intervention."

As the Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer visited the South-Eastern Niger region of Diffa. He said the area now hosts some 157,000 internally displaced people.

The international community must pay more attention to the Lake Chad Basin, he said, because the current crisis there could have lasting consequence for the region and elsewhere.

Lanzer said the combined population of the region is estimated at 22 million (between Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad) and likely to double every 20 years.

"This will have huge impact on the migration phenomenon," he said.

Niger lies on a major migrant route between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Some 120,000 migrants from 15 African countries crossed through Niger's arid northern region last year, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

The international community needs to drastically scale up its operations, Tatay said.

"The humanitarian response is still inadequate in quality and quantity," she said. "Some places, like Maiduguri, are not receiving enough assistance [although] there are no access problems. The host population is also in great need of attention as they are often in the same situation as the IDPs."

Courtesy: World Watch Monitor

Publication date: September 23, 2016
Christians in North Korea are being enslaved, raped, tortured and killed, according to a report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The report, titled Total Denial: Violation of Freedom of Religion or Belief in North Korea, from the UK religious freedom charity said freedom of religion is largely non-existent.

"Religious beliefs are seen as a threat to the loyalty demanded by the Supreme Leader, so anyone holding these beliefs is severely persecuted," the report says.

"Christians suffer significantly because of the anti-revolutionary and imperialist labels attached to them by the country's leadership."

The report details incidents such as Christians being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled underfoot.

Christians in North Korea must practice their faith in secret or they are sent to hard labor camps.

"A policy of guilt by association applies, meaning that the relatives of Christians are also detained regardless of whether they share the Christian belief," the report says.

"Even North Koreans who have escaped to China, and who are or become Christians are often repatriated and subsequently imprisoned in a political prison camp."

North Korean officials say there are about 13,000 Christians in the country, but Cornerstone Ministries International estimates there are about 200,000 to 300,000.

Publication date: September 23, 2016
Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, expressed his sorrow at the shooting death of an unarmed black man by police in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

ChristianToday.com reports that Terence Crutcher was shot and killed by Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby when he reportedly refused to comply with orders.

There has been an outcry against police targeting of African Americans. Another black man was shot by police in Charlotte earlier this week and the city is still experiencing protests, some of which have resulted in more violence.

On September 20, Moore tweeted:

Grieved to hear about #TerranceCrutcher. Another life lost. Another community traumatized. This situation has to change.  Russell Moore (@drmoore) September 20, 2016

Moore also told The Christian Post, "I'm afraid that the American people are almost becoming numb to these situations and we have here another life lost," Moore said. "Another community left traumatized. And I think many people are asking how much longer can this situation persist this way. And so, I think we've seen the country is watching the video right now it's, what can one say, except that it ought to leave us heartsick."

Officer Shelby has been charged with manslaughter.

Publication date: September 23, 2016
There are two things I am not, which I will not pretend to be: a police officer or a black American. I cannot, and will not, imply that I either understand all that is going through your hearts and minds these days, nor will I insult your intelligence by trying to suggest that the solutions to the deep issues that keep resulting in altercations and deaths are easy. They are not.

Charlotte, youre not alone. In fact, you reflect the new, increasingly violent, divided America. Like a growing number of people, words fail to express my grief, anger and bewilderment over the death of Keith Lamont Scott, a black man who was killed a few hours ago by a black police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina1. His death hits especially close to home because my family and I lived in, and loved, Charlotte for several years. We lived just minutes from the University City apartment complex where Scott lived.

Its nearly the same thing, different city, in America. Just a few days earlier, Terance Crutcher was shot and killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by police. It is reported that Scott was carrying a gun, while Crutcher had a gun neither on his person nor in his vehicle. In either case, death is always tragic, and is to be mourned.

As children, Keith Scott and Terance Crutcher may have dreamt of one day being famous  but they probably never dreamt of being famous this way. Surely, you police officers dont enjoy this kind of fame, either. I know you dont seem to agree on everything, but I suspect you all agree that its time for a change.

In this day where so many are so polarized, and the spread of violence leaves the Zika virus in the dust, I think we can all agree that Albert Einstein was right about far more than thermodynamics. He said that Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. He was right. Its time we all agree  quickly and thoroughly  that the cycle of insanity between police and the black community stop. One thing is certain: the enmity and violence wont stop if we keep attempting the same solutions. We would be insane to think that our current solutions are working. They arent.

Neither putting police officers on administrative leave, nor rioting in the streets, will remove the underlying mistrust, misgivings and misunderstandings that keep perpetuating the ghastly insanity that is the new normal in America. Its time to deal with the root issues behind the altercations, violence and death. Its time that both of you  and all of America  sit down and seek the real solution. Until we become humble and bold enough to pursue it, little will change. In fact, Im humbly confident that the insanity weve witnessed will only get worse and spread.

Were all dirty. There are no exceptions. Our nation needs a bath. Not the kind where we draw up warm water and soak to remove surface grime, but the kind where we draw near to God and ask Him to remove the filth within. Thats the cure for violence; thats the antidote to racism  a humility and repentance that recognizes all life as sacred, all people as worthy of respect, all hatred or fear rooted in skin color as a generational evil that must be eradicated.

All of these problems, and others not enumerated here, can be traced to a single source. Im afraid weve all grown accustomed to thinking that mere mortals can bring the hope and change that only the Almighty can. Lets not make that same mistake this election year. Our root problem is our failure  our refusal  to really call out to God, surrender to Him, and ask Him to do what He alone can do  change people from the inside-out.

Weve all disarmed ourselves of the one weapon most essential in the fight against evil: unapologetic, humble dependence upon God. Instead of doing the one thing we all should, the one thing we all must do at this vital time in our nation, were doing the exact opposite. Our dismay at the outcome has not yet moved us to recognize the foolishness of our self-imposed divorce from God. Weve removed any public expression of genuine dependence upon Him, and this is the price that must be paid. It is an exceptionally high price, and we are outright stupid to keep paying it.

Were witnessing the long-term effects of a society where God is shunned, bullied and neglected. How is that working out for us?

If we fail to invoke the real solution, every other solution will merely be a Band-aid on the festering wound that has become the new America. This is not an easy solution, because it requires the one trait that mere mortals have an exceptionally hard time embracing: humility. Yes, the solution is difficult. But it is possible  and it is essential  if we hope to stop the cycle of insanity.

We have to get to the heart of the matter, and the heart of the matter is your heart and mine. Every day we wait will result in more polarization, division, hatred, violence and death. Each of us needs to participate in The National Week of Repentance, coming October 30  November 6, the week before the election. You dont have to travel anywhere to jump in. It will happen simultaneously across the nation. No matter where you live, from Alaska to Hawaii, you can participate. In fact, I think we all must. The time for Americas bath is long overdue. Its time to draw near to God. RevivalMatters.com provides all the information you need to invite the hope and change that only God can bring. Without that, we can all brace ourselves for more insanity.

1 http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/21/charlotte-police-warned-suspect-to-drop-gun-before-shooting-which-triggered-riots-hurt-16-officers.html

Michael Anthony is founder and president of Godfactor.com; founder of the National Week of Repentance (RevivalMatters.com); and lead pastor of Grace Fellowship of York, Pa. (GraceYork.com). All views expressed are his own and not the official position of any organization.

Publication date: September 23, 2016
The Chinese government has released a set of proposed amendments to its rules regulating religious affairs, as President Xi Jinping attempts to exert even greater control over how religion is practised.

The new set of amendments, released to the public on 7 Sep. for a one-month consultation period, includes guidelines on religious education, the types of religious organisations that can exist, where they can exist and the activities they can organise.

Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, emphasised the need for provincial officials to have a better overall understanding of religion, so that they are better able to resist foreign religions. (The idea of resisting foreign religions is generally taken as an attack on Christianity, which is considered a product of the West, promulgated by foreign powers with the intention of destabilising Chinese harmony).

This all fits into the current governments efforts to cynicise every aspect of Chinese life  be it culture, news or religion.

--Thomas Muller, Open Doors

This comes shortly after Chinas broadcasting regulator announced that it is planning to curb all social and entertainment news that promotes Western lifestyles.

This all fits into the current governments efforts to cynicise every aspect of Chinese life  be it culture, news or religion, according to Thomas Muller, analyst at Open Doors World Watch Research unit. Open Doors is an international charity which monitors Christians under pressure around the world.

Making religions more Chinese'

In April, President Xi, speaking in Beijing at the National Conference of Religious Work, said he wished to help religions adapt to the socialist society.

Xis April speech was based around four themes:

 Unity between religious and non-religious groups in society, along with ethnic and regional unity. Xi urged officials to guide the religious to love their country, protect the unification of their motherland and serve the overall interests of the Chinese nation.

 Localisation of foreign religions in order to make them more Chinese and to prevent foreign infiltration. He stressed harmony in the building of a healthy and civilised society.

 Limiting religions influence by keeping it separated from government administration, the legal system, and education; and countering religious content on the Internet by disseminating the Partys religious policies and theories online.

 Party leadership. The General Secretary called on Party cadres to strengthen their supervision of religion and encouraged them to guide and educate religious circles and their followers with socialist core values and with ideas of unity, progress, peace and tolerance.

[The] implications for Chinese Christians remain to be seen, but it might well be that these directives find their way into new regulations affecting the Church in China, said an Asia analyst for Open Doors, who wished to remain anonymous. Freedom in all sectors of society [has been] shrinking since Xi Jinping came into power, and there is evidence that the government is also tightening its grip on the Three Self Patriotic Movement [the state-approved Church].

1,500 crosses taken down from church rooftops

In the past three years, over 1,500 crosses have been removed from churches in the south-eastern province of Zhejiang  known as the Jerusalem of the East because of its strong Christian presence. Meanwhile, some churches were labelled illegal structures and demolished. Those who have resisted have faced physical abuse, detention and criminal charges.

Open Doors Asia analyst calls it the most blatant attack on the Church since the Cultural Revolution  under the guise of enforcing building-code regulations.

David Saperstein, US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, said he remained concerned about the situation. We really encourage them to ease the restrictions all across the country and allow religious freedom and religious institutions to flourish and function without the kind of constraints that they face  that are so pervasive, he said.

China remained a Country of Particular Concern in the US State Departments latest annual report.

Over the past year, the Chinese government has stepped up its persecution of religious groups deemed a threat to the states supremacy and maintenance of a socialist society. Christian communities have borne a significant brunt of the oppression, with numerous churches bulldozed and crosses torn down, it said.

The Chinese government has stepped up its persecution of religious groups... Christian communities have borne a significant brunt of the oppression, with numerous churches bulldozed and crosses torn down.

--US State Department

The Chinese government did not respond to the reports assertions. However, US government-funded Voice Of America News highlighted a year-old editorial on the pro-Chinese government Global Times news site, which reiterated that China respects religious freedom but that the growth rate of Christianity in some Chinese provinces is among highest in world (sic) Many people feel the churches and crosses in Zhejiang have become too big for their taste.

VOA added that it was unusual Beijing had targeted only one province and also state-registered churches, rather than unregistered ones where many of Chinas Christians pray in potential violation of the law.

In a recent podcast, US-based political scientist Carsten Vala told VOA: It seems as though the top provincial leader [in Zhejiang]  took offence that Christian churches were so prominent and they have these massive buildings and very large crosses that were visible from public highways miles away.

Vala said Christianity has attracted younger and better-educated followers in recent decades and that the Communist Party has become increasingly concerned that this may pose a threat to its power. However, he said that stronger pressure on the Church has in recent decades always led to stronger Church growth and that the most likely response to further pressure would be for more Christians to go underground.

I dont think the Chinese authorities necessarily understand the history of Christianity, so they dont understand that often this kind of campaign can boomerang and actually end up with the opposite result, he said. Theres also a push to try to register the unregistered churches. At the very local level, there have been reports and discussions about linking those congregations to essentially what are the lowest level of the state-hierarchy neighbourhood-watch committees. And so maybe the government thinks that if they are registering the unregistered groups and then putting pressure on the official churches, that this will have a successful result. But history shows time and again that when persecution comes, it leads to a temporary lull and then a resurgence of believers.

Open Doors Asia analyst says Christians in China have been concerned that the situation in Zhejiang may be a precursor to a more intrusive and widespread effort aimed at shutting down more and more churches around the country. But so far, this has not been the case.

Courtesy: World Watch Monitor

Publication date: September 23, 2016
That was the Theban Legion and why do many western churches commemorate it According to the earliest accounts we have, an entire Roman legion was martyred for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods and/or take an oath to extirpate the Christians of Gaul.

The year was 287 or thereabouts. Diocletian shared imperial rule with Maximian Herculius. The two claimed to be sons of the gods, incorporated the names of Jove and Hercules into their titles, and set about imposing Roman peace to the empire. A revolt was in progress in Gaul, its adherents calling themselves the Bagaudians. It was to quell this disturbance that Maximian brought up the Theban Legion from Egypt.

The region of Thebes was the most fiercely Christian of all Egypt. Supposedly this whole legion of 6,600 men were Christians. Ordered to sacrifice to pagan deities they refused, and were encouraged by their commanders, Maurice, Exuperius and Candidus to remain strong. Consequently, Maximian had 1/10th of the Theban soldiers executed. When the rest of the men remained stubborn, he killed more, and finally slaughtered everyone who was left. Certainly Maximian was brutal enough to order such a deed. Maurice was beheaded, too. This took place near Lake Geneva.

The memory of the event was so strong that in the middle of the following century, a church was built in honor of the martyrs. Bishop Theodore claimed he had a vision showing where the martyrs' bones were buried. The name of the town of Saint-Moritz, Switzerland preserves the memory of Maurice.

But is the tale probable as told? Most writers doubt it. It seems incredible that every one of over 6,600 men would remain a dedicated Christian in face of death. Furthermore, there is reason to believe that not all the Thebans were present at the site of the massacre. Nor do Christian historians who lived at the time mention the event, which, if it took place as recorded, was surely an astonishing occurrence. More likely, a single squad or detachment was involved.

Just what happened we will probably never know in this life. The problem is that the first significant account we have of the affair was written 150 years after the events by Eucherius, who was Bishop of Lyons from 435 to 450. Because some details of his account are wrong, there is reason to suspect the other details, too, although he assured his readers that he had the story on good authority.

Bibliography:
Korean American non-profits in multiple parts of the nation have hosted and will continue to host awareness events and drives to increase voter registration and citizenship applications in the weeks and months leading up to the election.

In Southern California, the Korean Resource Center (KRC), based in Los Angeles, joined 14 organizations in hosting the Pan Asian Citizenship Event on September 17, to provide services to the Asian immigrant community members in their respective languages, including Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese, among others.

I was thrilled to learn that I was eligible to apply for citizenship and that there are community-based organizations such as the Korean Resource Center in Los Angeles that offer naturalization services for free, said a Korean American woman who identified herself as Ms. Park. Financial burdens and false information had previously kept me and many others from considering applying for decades.

Ten Korean and Korean American organizations have joined hands to host voter registration drives in multiple parts of Los Angeles on National Voter Registration Day (September 27). The Korean American Coalition, the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley Korean American Association, the Korean American Democratic Committee, the Korean American Republican Committee, and the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, among others, will be hosting booths from 12 PM to 5 PM in various markets in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Korean American non-profits in other states have also held volunteer trainings, citizenship application workshops, and voter registration drives, including the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) in Virginia and the Korean Resource and Cultural Center (KRCC) in Illinois.

Leading up to Citizenship Day we have assisted hundreds of eligible community members with their naturalization applications and lifted up their stories of success, as well as the stories of those who will soon naturalize and those who currently have no path to American citizenship but are instilled with the American values of family and strive to be fully contributing members of this country and in their communities, Dae Joong Yoon, the executive director of NAKASEC, Inhe Choi, the executive director of KRCC, and Joon Bang, the Los Angeles Director of KRC said in a joint statement.

We remain committed to reclaiming the narrative defining an American and continuing to help our hardworking community members apply for citizenship, register to vote, and win immigration reform that provides a fair pathway to citizenship and embraces family unity, the statement adds.

KRCC hosted voter registration outreach events at Northwestern University and at a Korean Festival hosted by Joyful Presbyterian Community Church, while NAKASEC held volunteer training events in Annandale ahead of their upcoming voter registration drives in October.
Rage is todays ruling online emotion. So concluded a 2013 study of Chinese mini-blogging network Weiboa platform that resembles Twitter and boasts twice as many users.

Beihang University researchers examined 70 million Weibo tweets over a six-month period, sorting them by anger, joy, sadness, and disgust. Rage was the emotion most likely to spread across social media, with one angry post powerful and persuasive enough to negatively influence a follower of a follower of a follower.

In other words, that angry tweet of yours has the potential of fomenting rage to the third degree! But its not just our smartphones sowing the seeds of all this discontent.

Edward Wasserman, dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, was quoted in Scientific American as saying, Mainstream media have made a fortune teaching people the wrong ways to talk to each other, offering up Jerry Springer, Crossfire, Bill OReilly. People understandably conclude rage is the political vernacular, that this is how public ideas are talked about.

Little wonder, then, that our collective anger spews forth at politicians who lie, at systems that discriminate, at businesses that exploit, at abortionists who murder, at pastors who fall, at police who kill, at those who kill police, and at injustices whenever they manifest themselves.

Anger and frustration are everywhere. We see it and feel it every day. But whats driving it? According to Rabbi David Wolpe, the answer has to do with our sense that tomorrow may not be any better than today.

All of us, conjectures Wolpe, [see] history as an ever-increasing march to enlightenment. If you believe ...

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Like most people, I was born with a hunger for truth and freedom. Unfortunately, I was born in Communist Romania under the brutal totalitarian regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. Ceausescus Romania was a land of lies, where simply questioning a government directive could lead to imprisonment, physical torture, andin some casesdeath.

Needless to say, we lived in a constant state of anxiety and mistrust. Anyone could arbitrarily denounce a neighbor, classmate, or family member for making anti-government statements. The government even had spies planted in the churches. The best way to avoid trouble was to remain silent, question nothing, and try to blend in.

For years, I watched my parents and relatives play the part of good citizens while privately whispering their contempt for the government. I wondered, Why do people always speak in whispers? Why are they so afraid to speak the truth?

Do you go to church?

The more fear battered those around me into silence, the more obsessed I became with finding the truth. After graduation, I went to law school and became an attorney. But my jobassigned by the governmentconsisted of little more than rubber-stamping newly-created communist rules and regulations. It was demoralizing.

One evening a client came in to discuss some paperwork related to a property settlement. We had been meeting for months now, and frankly, I was exhausted. But this particular client never seemed to get discouraged. He always smiled, and he had a sense of contentment unlike anything I had ever seen. It was as though he were somehow oblivious to all of the misery that surrounded him. He radiated joy and peace, and for some reason, it troubled me.

Without thinking, I confessed, I wish I had what you have in your life. I wish I had your sense of peace and happiness.

Do you go to church? he asked.

Yes, I replied. On Christmas and Easter. Why?

Would you like to come with me to my church this Sunday?

My first instinct was to decline. After all, the communist government was notoriously anti-church. Under Ceausescus rule, Christians were frequently arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. Church buildings were bulldozed, their land confiscated to make room for Ceausescus palace. Anyone who questioned his anti-God stance was either thrown in jail or disappeared. For all I knew, this could be a trick to test my loyalty. I paused briefly to consider my next move. Then I saw once again that look of peace and contentment. I wanted thatso much so that I decided it was worth the risk.

The next Sunday I visited his church. As soon as the choir finished the opening song, the pastor read John 14:6I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. I could not believe what I heard. Someone was claiming to be the truth?

As the pastor continued to describe the truth of Jesus Christ, I felt as though the verses he shared were written specifically for me. Looking across the aisle, I saw my client. He smiled, nodded, and gently patted his Bible as if to say, Now do you understand?

I did. Without realizing it, I was beaming back at him. For the first time in my life, everything made sense. I had spent years searching for the truth, but I had been looking in the wrong placeslaw school, the government, the justice system. I suddenly realized that truth was something that came not from law books, but from God himself: the Creator of the universemy Creator, the source of all life, peace, and happiness.

Barely able to contain my excitement, I accepted the pastors invitation to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior. From that moment on, I would dedicate my life to pursuing and speaking the truth, no matter the cost.

Article continues below

My Greatest Test

Shortly after I was baptized, I began defending fellow Christians facing imprisonment for transporting Bibles across the Romanian border, sharing their faith, or worshiping privately in their own homes.

This quickly made me a target. Many days I awoke to find my tires slashed. Clients and friendseven my childrenwere threatened. My daughters and I were held under house arrest for almost a month. I was kidnapped, bullied, pushed into moving traffic, and beaten by the secret police. For their own protection, friends and coworkers began keeping their distance. My faith was tested daily. My greatest test, however, was yet to come.

Late at night, after a long day in court, Miruna, my legal assistant, peeked into my doorway: A big man in the waiting room says he wants to discuss a case. She shrugged. Thats all he will tell me.

I was taken aback at how enormous he was. As he sat down in front of my desk, his eyes seemed to bore a hole straight through me, and a sneer formed at the corner of his mouth. Slowly, he pulled back his coat and reached into a shoulder holster, withdrawing a gun.

You have failed to heed the warnings youve been given, he said, aiming at me. Ive come here to finish the matter once and for all. He flexed his fingers, and I heard a distinctive click.

I am here to kill you.

My hands shook. Fight-or-flight instincts pinged in my brain. My chin trembled. An image flashed through my mind: my assistant arriving in the morning and finding my lifeless body on the office floor.

I was alone with my killer. And yet, I was not. I began silent, fervent prayers, recalling Gods promises. His Spirit breathed peace into my panicked heart. Then I sensed his message: Share the gospel.

I considered the man before me. Behind those hate-filled eyes was a creation of God. He had an immortal soul, and he needed to know about the love God has shown in Jesus Christ. At once emboldened, I met my killers eyes. Have you ever asked yourself: Why do I exist? or Why am I here? or What is the meaning of my life? I once asked myself those questions. My voice stayed calm and did not waver.

He slid his gun back into the holster. I leaned forward. You are here because God put you here, and he has put you to a test. Will you abide in God or in the will of a manyour boss, President Ceausescu, who requires you to worship him? God has given you free will to choose.

His eyes softened. My heart thumped even faster, and my confidence rose.

The truth is that we have all been corrupted and gone away from God. He nodded. We all are sinners, and our sin has determined our future. Hebrews 9:27 says, People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. 

His mouth fell slightly open, and his hands relaxed.

But the good news is that God has prepared a way out for every one of us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

As I continued to talk with him, he appeared smaller and more peaceful.

Finally, he brought his hand to his forehead and said, You are right. The people who sent me here are crazy. I do need Christ. He promised, I will come to your church as a secret brother in Christ. I will worship your powerful God.

And with that, my killer walked away saveda brother in Christ. He went on to enroll in seminary, and we have even kept in touch. He, like me, had found the Truth. And neither of us will be afraid to speak it ever again.

Virginia Prodan is an international human rights attorney, and an Allied Attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom. She is the author of Saving My Assassin (Tyndale).

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It used to be a Kroger. Now its a church, and Im sitting on what was once the frozen pizza aisle.

On the stage, a small band kicks off the service with a hymn that sounds more like The Avett Brothers than Hillsong United. I dont want to say their style is plain; that sounds too critical. Simple may be better.

Simple is an adjective that Church Projecta six-year plant located inside a converted grocery store just north of Houstonuses to describe itself. Biblical. Simple. Relevant.the tagline is emblazoned on a black and white sign outside of its building. Their goal as a congregation is sharp: We want to change the way people see Christ, Christians, and the Church.

As the service continues, this vision emerges like a series of cardboard figurines in a pop-up book. There are no colored lights or flashy multimedia designs, no heavily structured transitions or fog machines. When one part of the service is done, the person holding the mic passes it off to the next leader in line. Their lead pastor, Jason Shepperd, preaches an expository sermon from 1 Thessalonians. He doesnt exhort from atop the gray-carpeted risers; instead, he sets up on the floor, peering directly into the front row. His words are clear, and he doesnt mince the text. There are some garnishes, but mostly meat. (Come to think of it, his podium is about where the deli counter stood.)

As I mill around after service, Im surprised to run into half a dozen people I grew up with at another church. I just got tired of all the production, one friend tells me as we talk about how she eventually made her way to Church Project. ...

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Celebrating the Pro-Life Movement's First Legislative Victory Life Advocacy Groups Have Opportunity to Capitalize on Hyde Amendment's 40th Anniversary



Contact: Tom Ciesielka, 312-422-1333, tc@tcpr.net



CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- September 30, 2016 marks the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Hyde Amendment, widely acknowledged as the first legislative victory of the pro-life movement following the 1973 legalization of abortion in America. TC Public Relations is encouraging life advocacy groups to capitalize on this opportunity to build awareness and promote their organizations.



The Hyde Amendment is named after its chief sponsor, Republican Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois. The late statesman, known for his eloquent and unwavering defense of life, successfully barred the use of certain federal funds to pay for abortion in most circumstances. Though it has taken various forms and has undergone modifications, to date the Hyde Amendment remains intact  although the 2016 Democratic platform includes an explicit call to repeal it.



Tom Ciesielka, president of TC Public Relations, noted, "The 40th Anniversary of the Hyde Amendment is one that pro-life groups will want to mark publicly for a number of reasons. First, it is a significant milestone, second it is an opportunity for life advocates to recognize an early success that has endured, and  with its first party-wide challenge by Democrats  the defense of the Hyde Amendment may prove crucial at this moment."



Ciesielka offers the following suggestions for pro-life groups to consider when observing the 40th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment: Host an informal Hyde-themed coffee, brunch, or dinner for your board members or core volunteers take time over a meal to learn the impact of the Hyde Amendment and plan to advocate for its continuation.



Create a series of social media posts for the anniversary week:



Educate about the Hyde Amendment and its impact (i.e., "Did you know the Hyde Amendment saves 300,000+ babies each year by placing restrictions on federal abortion funding?" or "Celebrate 40 years of the Hyde Amendment: restricting federal funding of abortion").



Cite quotes by Henry Hyde, such as, "This is a debate about our understanding of human dignity, what it means to be a member of the human family, even though tiny, powerless and unwanted." (Find more quotes at www.azquotes.com/author/29083-Henry_Hyde)



Educate about the Hyde Amendment and its impact (i.e., "Did you know the Hyde Amendment saves 300,000+ babies each year by placing restrictions on federal abortion funding?" or "Celebrate 40 years of the Hyde Amendment: restricting federal funding of abortion"). Cite quotes by Henry Hyde, such as, "This is a debate about our understanding of human dignity, what it means to be a member of the human family, even though tiny, powerless and unwanted." (Find more quotes at www.azquotes.com/author/29083-Henry_Hyde) Submit an op-ed piece to a local media outlet marking the anniversary and explaining why your community is better because of it.



Announce an annual Hyde Life Issues Essay Contest for children  granting awards for a selected piece within each academic range.



Gather outside an abortion clinic and sing spiritual songs, pray, and read aloud Henry Hyde's Plea to Override President Clinton's Veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban (taken from the Congressional Record, September 19, 1996)  text found here.



Add Henry Hyde's book, "Catch the Burning Flag: Speeches and Random Observations," to your staff's reading list and consider gifting a copy to a local library.



Pray for the defeat of any challenge to the Hyde Amendment, including the current Democratic Party platform push to repeal it. "As pro-life advocates observe this milestone in the movement," added Ciesielka, "It can be a time to look into their own organizational history and the surrounding community to find the landmarks and events worth recognizing in similar ways." Some possible benchmarks might include: The founding date of the organization or birthday of its original organizer



Anniversary of a group success (i.e., closing of a local abortion facility)



A somber recognition of a particularly heinous incident (i.e., a death via botched abortion) or an annual memorial for all local victims



Recognition of a particular accomplishment (largest protest, longest vigil, most churches represented)



Local events, practices, or traditions that celebrate life About TC Public Relations

TC Public Relations is a Chicago-based firm managing reputations for businesses and nonprofit organizations. President Tom Ciesielka and staff handle media relations, social media strategy, and crisis communications for clients that include attorneys, authors, churches, and social change advocates. Visit tcpr.net.

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Chrisagis Brothers Win Best Duo and Become Part of Prison Fellowship Contact: Lynda Sullivan, 740-859-2344



YORKVILLE, Ohio, Sept. 23, 2016 /



The Brothers are also busy with Prison Fellowship International. Prison Fellowship started with Chuck Colson, former aide to President Nixon. Colson gained notoriety when he was convicted for a Watergate-related offense and served seven months in prison. This is where Colson's life changed and he became a born again Christian. When Colson walked into freedom he had a new mission to give prisoners the chance to receive Jesus and turn their lives around through Christ. He founded Prison Fellowship in 1979 and for the past 38 years, they have proclaimed the Gospel to prisoners and their families world-wide.



The Chrisagis Brothers have always had a heart for children. They had a children's TV series for 3 years and then travel through-out the U.S. with music, puppets and skits. They also did many TV variety shows and a plush toy line to help kids learn, read and grow in character. So when they got a chance to be spokespersons for the Child Sponsorship Program, they jumped at it right away. Millions of Children around the world have lost one or both parents to incarceration. Of these, nearly one million children of prisoners live in high-risk situations: poverty, isolation, abandonment. They become outcasts in their communities and are ten times more likely to get caught up in the criminal justice system. The mission that Prison Fellowship and the Chrisagis Brothers have is to rescue, restore, and rebuild the lives of these children world-wide. For more info on this check out the Chrisagis Brothers website at

Share Tweet Contact: Lynda Sullivan, 740-859-2344YORKVILLE, Ohio, Sept. 23, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- The Chrisagis Brothers are known worldwide for their anointed music ministry that changes lives for Jesus. This past year has been an unbelievable year for the Brothers, they have ministered throughout the United States with three bookings every week as they traveled to Florida, Texas, New York, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, etc. The Chrisagis Brothers just won Best Christian Duo Of The Year at the Extraordinary People Awards in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where 200 countries voted and were all represented at the Gala. This award is different then all others, the fans don't vote and neither do the performer's peers but countries vote and that in itself is powerful. The Award proved that God has taken the Brothers world-wide with their Music Ministry. In Dec. the Brothers will be in concert with legendary Grammy Winner and Christian artist Russ Taff. Then in 2017 the Brothers will be on a huge tour with many of the pioneers in Christian music traveling from state to state called The Legends Tour, much like the Winter Jam Concert Tours.The Brothers are also busy with Prison Fellowship International. Prison Fellowship started with Chuck Colson, former aide to President Nixon. Colson gained notoriety when he was convicted for a Watergate-related offense and served seven months in prison. This is where Colson's life changed and he became a born again Christian. When Colson walked into freedom he had a new mission to give prisoners the chance to receive Jesus and turn their lives around through Christ. He founded Prison Fellowship in 1979 and for the past 38 years, they have proclaimed the Gospel to prisoners and their families world-wide.The Chrisagis Brothers have always had a heart for children. They had a children's TV series for 3 years and then travel through-out the U.S. with music, puppets and skits. They also did many TV variety shows and a plush toy line to help kids learn, read and grow in character. So when they got a chance to be spokespersons for the Child Sponsorship Program, they jumped at it right away. Millions of Children around the world have lost one or both parents to incarceration. Of these, nearly one million children of prisoners live in high-risk situations: poverty, isolation, abandonment. They become outcasts in their communities and are ten times more likely to get caught up in the criminal justice system. The mission that Prison Fellowship and the Chrisagis Brothers have is to rescue, restore, and rebuild the lives of these children world-wide. For more info on this check out the Chrisagis Brothers website at chrisagisbrothersministries.org or visit pfi.org
home Faith Canadian government orders pastor to allow gay-straight Alliances in Alberta Christian schools

A pastor is being ordered by the Canadian government to allow gay-straight alliances in the two Christian schools that he runs in Alberta.

Brian Coldwell, a pastor of New Testament Baptist Church and chairperson of Independent Christian Education Society, said that he did not intend to comply with the order.

"I have a duty as a pastor to protect the flock of God," said Coldwell on a late August interview with CBC. "And there is no way under heaven I'm going to allow gay activists to come in here and basically undermine our ministries and our religious freedoms or confuse and corrupt our children," he added.

Earlier this year, Education Minister David Eggen ordered the school boards to submit LGBTQ policies before the end of March but some schools showed resistance. Eggen appointed a consultant to form a new transgender policy in one of the schools that did not comply.

"I'm not going to allow the minister of education to appoint anyone to come in here a he does not have that dictatorial power," said Coldwell.

On Sept. 2, Eggen sent a letter to Coldwell asking him for assurance that he will allow gay-straight alliances to be formed at the Meadows Baptist Academy and Harvest Baptist Academy in Parkland County.

Eggen stated that the reply he received from Coldwell on Sept. 16 was unsatisfactory. He indicated that he will appoint a third party to conduct an inquiry at the schools. He stated that he is allowed to withdraw the funding for schools that do not comply.

According to Global News, the province of Alberta provided 70 percent of the schools' funds.

"The process of course that's included at my disposal is deregistration of a school or withdrawal of funding or so forth. One usually begins this process through the process of inquiry," said Eggen.

Kris Wells of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services believed that the government should have created a uniform policy regarding gender identity and sexual orientation instead of allowing individual boards to create their own.
home Entertainment Chinese businessman to build biblical theme park in Canada

Chinese businessman Sun Wenqing hopes to build a biblical theme park in Moose Jaw, Sakatchewan. A cemetery has just been approved as the site of his future theme park which will feature full-sized replicas of Biblical structures such as the Tabernacle and Noah's ark.

"This will be a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction and I think there will be people coming from all over the world to visit," says Marc L'Hoir, the manager of Sunset Cemetery, to CBC News.

Sun, a former Buddhist who converted to Christianity, already built a similar park in Shenyang, China. L'Hoir says that the theme park is just one of Sun's ways of spreading Christianity to the world.

L'Hoir expects the park to be a popular tourist destination and hopes that it will add value to the cemetery.

"You know how many people go to Vatican City? How many people go to Jerusalem to the Wailing Wall? So once the word gets out and we start marketing it, I think it'll be a real tourist attraction for Moose Jaw," L'Hoir says. "Plus it's going to enhance the cemetery. Hopefully people want to be buried there," he adds.

The park will be built on two hectares of land next to the cemetery. L'Hoir says that the cost of the park's construction is estimated at $1.2 million. He shares that the park will be built in phases and it will be opened before the entire park is completely finished.

Mike Wirges, the administrator of the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw, says that the development plans for the park were approved last week. He believes that the proposed park will be more passive and entirely different from theme parks with rides.

The size of the ark is expected to be 136 meters long, 23 meters wide and 13 meters high. Other parts of the world also host such big attractions. Ken Ham's "Ark Encounter" in Kentucky spans 155.4 meters long, 25.9 meters wide and 15.54 meters high. Another full-size replica of Noah's ark was also built in Hong Kong in 2009.
home World Ethiopian Muslim beats wife for converting to Christianity

An Ethiopian woman spent three days at a hospital after she was beaten by her husband for converting to Christianity. Habiba Ibrahim, mother of three, had been a Christian for about a month before her husband found out and attacked her.

Ibrahim converted to Christianity on Aug. 2. Her husband, Ibrahim Dido, found out about her conversion on Sept. 10 after the morning prayers at a nearby mosque.

"He locked me in the house and began beating me with sticks, and immediately neighbors arrived and rescued me from my husband's wrath," Ibrahim told Morning Star News.

One of her neighbors said that Ibrahim's clothes were blood-stained due to a deep cut on her forehead.

"Her husband was shouting, saying that she should die for forsaking Islam," the neighbor said.

Ibrahim was brought to a clinic in Bokulu Boma and was sent home after three days.

Her conversion was part of an evangelistic program in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia that began 10 years ago. The evangelists used the Burj language which was spoken by people living in the Moyale area on both sides of the border.

Ibrahim said that she wavered from performing Islamic rituals after conversion which was noticed by her husband.

"My husband began questioning me on my laxity in Islamic activities, which I did not respond to," Ibrahim said.

A week before the attack, a woman from the church came to her and warned her to be careful because Muslims have discovered her conversion to Christianity.

At present, Ibrahim and her three children have relocated to another village but they are still in need of financial and medical support.

About 34 percent of Ethiopia's population are Muslims. The Open Doors World Watch list ranks it as 18th most difficult country to be a Christian.

Earlier this month, more than 700 Muslim prisoners received pardon from the Ethiopian government as part of the celebration of Eid al-Adha. Some of the pardoned convicts were charged under a controversial anti-terror law. Critics claimed that the law has been used to suppress dissent and imprison political opposition members.
home Tech Imaging technology uncovers secrets of 1,700 year-old Biblical scroll as a copy of book of Leviticus

Through the use of imaging technology, a charred 1,700-year-old scroll was revealed to be a copy of the book of Leviticus. The En-Gedi scroll had been damaged by fire about 1,400 years ago but a process called "virtual unwrapping" has made the contents of the artifact readable.

Physically unfurling the scroll would have resulted in its destruction so the experts digitally scanned the artifact and produced a flat image.

"We're reading a real scroll," said lead study author W. Brent Seales. "It hasn't been read for millennia. Many thought it was probably impossible to read," he added.

Seales, a computer scientist at the University of Kentucky, had been working for the last 13 years to find ways to read the text inside ancient scrolls. He was inspired to work on the project because he wanted to read the charred scrolls found at Herculaneum. The researchers said that it may be possible to read more scrolls using the new method.

"The En-Gedi manuscript represents the first severely damaged, ink-based scroll to be unrolled and identified non-invasively," the researchers noted in their study.

The artifact was found in 1970 in En-Gedi, a nature reserve in Israel near the Dead Sea. Researchers said the site was destroyed by a fire around 600 A.D. The researchers wrote that each scroll was "completely burned and crushed, had turned into chunks of charcoal that continued to disintegrate every time they were touched."

The scroll is the earliest copy of Leviticus ever found in a Holy Ark. Experts discovered that the document only contained consonants and no vowels. According to Dr. Emanuel Tov, a co-author of the study, this meant that it was written before the ninth century A.D., when symbols for Hebrew vowels were first produced.

Carbon-14 dating placed the artifact at around 300 A.D. but Hebrew experts on paleaography dated the document to around 100 A.D.

The text in the ancient document was discovered to be identical to the medieval Hebrew Bibles known as the Masoretic Texts which are still in use today.

"This is quite amazing for us," Tov said. "That in 2,000 years, this text has not changed," he continued.
Christians And Mercy Killing: Is It Really Just Killing?

When is a person not a person? It sounds like the set-up to a bad joke, but it's far more serious than that. People with brain injuries that leave them in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) breathe, sleep and excrete. They really do anything else: they don't communicate, they show no responses to other people or any awareness of their surroundings. Brain scans show nothing happening.

So should they be kept alive, at considerable expense, or should their families be able to decide to let them go?

The question has surfaced again thanks to the story of Jodie Simpson. She died a few weeks ago having spent four years in a PVS after an overdose. Her mother Jean first asked doctors to help her to die in April 2013 and it has taken this long to make it happen. She believes it should be easier and quicker, and that her daughter wouldn't have wanted to remain alive in her condition.

Others disagree: life is life, they say  and there are too many cases of people written off by medical science who've gone on at least to some degree of recovery. Who are we to decide whether someone should live or die?

In the UK, the way doctors deal with PVS was established by the Tony Bland case. A Hillsborough victim, he spent years in a PVS after he was crushed in the crowd. He died in 1993 after a long court battle after artificial feeding and hydration was withdrawn. It was his case that established that the court had to be involved in every decision to allow someone to die  it isn't for the family or for doctors alone.

In the US, it's symbolised by the case of Terri Schiavo, who was the focus of intense campaigning during her PVS from 1990 until she died in 2005, with pro-life and right-to-die activists fighting her case through the courts and in the arena of public opinion. There was a bitter split between her husband, who wanted her to be allowed to die, and her parents, who did not; the legal fight went all the way up to the US President, George W Bush, who returned to Washington DC specifically to sign legislation designed to keep her alive.

Not just in the case of PVS but in other areas, Christians are deeply concerned about a perceived drift to devaluing human life. Belgium has already legalised the euthanasia of children, the first of whom died only a few days ago. In the UK, the latest Assisted Dying bill was rejected last year; it will be back.

So how should Christians think about these issues, and are there principles that can guide us? Here are things to bear in mind as we think things through.

1. The Bible is of limited use

There are no proof-texts to help us, because many of these situations were simply not envisaged when the Bible was written. They are functions of our technical ability, which has allowed us to keep alive people who would otherwise have died. The Bible has nothing to say about people in a persistent vegetative state, because there weren't any. We cannot be fundamentalists about this.

2. People are of infinite value

No one is worth less than another person because they are disabled mentally or physically, or because they are poorer or contribute less to society. One of the gifts Christianity has given to the world is the knowledge that someone's worth is innate; it's given by God, not acquired by some and not others. We should resist anything that tends to write off some people as worthless, no matter what their physical or mental condition  and that's why we should resist any move to take the decision about removing feeding from the courts. It sends a poweful signal that human life is too important to let go on the say-so of any individual.

3. We are part of society

We aren't just free individuals, with no responsibility for anyone else. One of the arguments of the right-to-die lobby is that we should have the freedom to choose death if we're in great pain or distress. In principle, this sounds plausible. However, it's very difficult to imagine a system that allows people this right and at the same time protects vulnerable people from the pressure to choose death when they would rather live  and that is why UK Christians should continue to resist calls for right-to-die legislation.

4. We're vulnerable to self-deception

It's fatally easy for documentaries to portray people who are in pain and distress and want to end their lives, and to get us on their side: it seems cruel not to give in to them. But one of the things we have to bear in mind is the effect their suffering has not just on themselves, but on us. It distresses us acutely; we want it brought to an end, and that can skew our arguments in favour of terminating life.

5. We should beware of faithlessness

Christians believe death is not the end. People facing the end of their lives, or who are in a vegetative state, still have a future. Saying that preserving their lives at all costs is the only Christian thing to do is arguably to place too high a value on continued existence, as though existence is all that matters. That's a view that might make sense to an atheist, but not to a Christian: we believe all life matters to God, not just now but in eternity.

In the end, the situations created by modern medical science are so varied and complex that Christians have to approach them cautiously, humbly and in the knowledge that there are no easy answers. We have to balance our knowledge of the infinite preciousness of human beings with our knowledge that all of us have to die. If we're in a position where we have to make a decision for a loved one, we have to ask for purity of heart and mind as we do it. We have to be able to trust God with the outcome, even when it's desperately hard.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
Christians 'Hung On A Cross Over Fire', Steamrollered And Crushed To Death In North Korea

Christians in North Korea face rape, torture, enslavement, and being killed for their faith, a damning new report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has warned.

CSW, a UK-based religious freedom charity, said in the report, Total Denial: Violations of Freedom of Religion or Belief in North Korea, that freedom of religion or belief "is largely non-existent" under dictator Kim Jong-Un's leadership.

"Religious beliefs are seen as a threat to the loyalty demanded by the Supreme Leader, so anyone holding these beliefs is severely persecuted," the report says.

"Christians suffer significantly because of the anti-revolutionary and imperialist labels attached to them by the country's leadership."

Among the documented incidents against Christians are "being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled underfoot".

Other crimes include "extra-judicial killing, extermination, enslavement/forced labour, forcible transfer of population, arbitrary imprisonment, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance, rape and sexual violence, and other inhumane acts".

Though the regime officially says there are just 13,000 Christians in North Korea, the true figure is believed to be much higher. Cornerstone Ministries International, which works with North Korean Christians in the country as well as in China, estimates that there are between 200-300,000 in total.

Believers are forced to practise their faith in secret, and if caught, get sent to North Korea's notorious hard labour camps. One escapee told CSW that while he was detained, he met a prisoner who was sent to the camp simply because he had spent a month in China studying the Bible.

"A policy of guilt by association applies, meaning that the relatives of Christians are also detained regardless of whether they share the Christian belief," the report says.

"Even North Koreans who have escaped to China, and who are or become Christians, are often repatriated and subsequently imprisoned in a political prison camp."

Despite intense persecution, there are 121 religious facilities in North Korea, the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights says, including 64 Buddhist temples, 52 Cheondoist temples, three Protestant churches, a Catholic cathedral and a Russian Orthodox church.

All five churches are in the capital, Pyongyang, however, and analysts suggest that they may function primarily to improve North Korea's image with the international community, rather than as free houses of worship.

There are also unconfirmed reports of 500 house churches in North Korea, where individuals whose families were Christians before 1950  when the Korean War began  are allowed to gather for worship. However, they may not elect leaders or use religious materials.

Christians are not the only religious group to suffer under the regime. Buddhists and Cheonists are also treated as revolutionaries, though the higher number of temples than churches "suggests that the regime may have a higher degree of tolerance for beliefs considered to be indigenous to Asia or to the Korean peninsula," CSW says.

However, research suggests that temples are maintained as cultural heritage sites rather than as functioning religious buildings.

"I have seen a Buddhist book once at a temple," one interviewee told the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. "It had a strap with Chinese letters and months written on it. There are temples but people are not allowed to believe in them."

"These religious facilities, organisations and institutions are designed to indicate the existence of religious pluralism and acceptance, but the reality is full of contradictions," CSW says.

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry and other sources have testified to the "use of these formal facilities, organisations and institutions for political means."

CSW has urged the international community to support the referral of North Korea to the International Criminal Court for its violations of human rights.

"The regime is actively hostile to religion and religious believers, both domestically and internationally. Many North Koreans are suffering because of their faith, and the international community needs to act urgently to end impunity and ensure accountability," it said.

"The UN and other members of the international community must ensure that human rights are central in any negotiations with North Korea... Every effort must be made to seek accountability and justice for the North Korean people, who suffer human rights abuses on a scale unparalleled in the modern world."
Debate Over 'Blasphemy' Flares In Gaza

A debate over blasphemy has broken out in the Gaza Strip after a senior academic with ties to Hamas suggested an anti-blasphemy law should be introduced.

Gaza is run by Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood-related group, but has relative freedom of religion. The small Christian community of around 1,200 believers is able to practise its faith and provide a variety of social services.

It's reported 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.

There has never been such a law in Palestine but al-Khalidi is accused of suggesting there should be consideration of punishments according to Sharia law  for those who contravene Islamic teaching.

This has sparked controversy in Gaza and among the wider Palestinian community.

Yousef Farhat, a former official in the Hamas administration said, "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. Today's calls to confront blasphemy are an extension of IS' ideology."

Gaza has been under Hamas control for almost a decade, while the West Bank is ruled by the more secular Fatah faction.
Donald Trump Appoints 33 Top Catholics As Advisers

Donald Trump has named 33 influential and conservative Catholics as new advisers.

They include Joseph Cella, founder of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, and Sentator Rick Santorum who has twice run for President himself.

Faith Whittlesey, former ambassador to Switzerland, is also on the list, Philly.com reports.

Polls have shown that Hillary Clinton ranks higher than Trump in support from Catholics, much of this due to Hispanic voters, who favour Clinton over Trump by 77-16 per cent.

The Catholic News Agency comments: "Notably, Cella is a signatory of An Appeal to Our Fellow Catholics, an open letter written by George Weigel and Robert P. George in March during the primaries and signed by more than 30 Catholic intellectual and readers."

One interpretation could be that as latest polls show Clinton's lead over Trump is narrowing, Trump and his team are preparing at a deeper level for the possibility of office.

Having wooed evangelicals, the appointment of the Catholic advisers indicates he is now turning his attention to the Catholic Church in a new and profound way.

As with the conservative evangelical faith community, the significance of the Catholic Church in arguing for the "common good" and influencing the moral and spiritual climate in which a President governs cannot be overstated.

Trump, a one-time supporter of abortion who has changed his mind on this contentious issue, has a lot of ground to make up but religious leaders would prefer to work with a President who is for them, not against them.

"The choice for Catholics in this presidential election could not be more stark," Whittlesey said in a statement released to Philly.com. "Clinton support a breathtakingly radical cultural agenda and judicial nominees which leave no room for the legal protection of the unborn and the ability of Christians to fully and freely practice their faith that is constitutionally protected by the First Amendment.

"Trump will fight for Catholics in defense of life, and their religious liberty."

Cella has in the past described Trump as "manifestly unfit to be president" in a letter that said he was vulgar, appealed to racial fears and questioned his commitment on "life issues".
Eastern European leaders oppose Muslim migration, say Islam has no place in their Christian nations

Islam does not belong in Christian Europe. This is the expressed consensus of Eastern European leaders even as tens of thousands more refugees from violence-wracked and conflict-ridden Muslim nations in the Middle East and Africa continue to knock on Europe's doors.

CBN News reports that Hungary has built a 175-kilometre razor-wire fence along its southern border. It has also deployed 10,000 police and soldiers along its border and is reportedly recruiting 3,000 "border-hunters" equipped with pepper spray and loaded pistols to stop refugees from entering.

These moves prompted one European leader to remark that "Hungary is not far away from issuing orders to open fire on refugees," a statement that was, however, denied by Hungarian officials.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made it clear though that "those arriving have been raised in another religion, and represent a radically different culture."

Writing in an opinion piece for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, Orban pointed out that most of the refugees are Muslims. "This is an important question, because Europe and European identity is rooted in Christianity," he said.

Orban reminded Hungarians and other Eastern Europeans of the time in history when Muslims occupied their lands. He asked his countrymen to show the same courage as their ancestors "in the war against the Ottoman armies."

Following the fall of Constantinople in 1453, much of Eastern Europe fell under Muslim occupation for centuries.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is even more direct, saying that Islam has no place in his country and that Muslim migrants cannot be allowed to "change the character of our country," according to the Washington Post.

"The idea of multicultural Europe has failed... The migrants cannot be integrated, it's simply impossible," he stressed.

Poland says it favours accepting only Christian refugees. "An individual who arrives in Poland must demonstrate that he or she can integrate in our culture and society. Therefore, we can place greater hopes that Christian refugees have more potential to assimilate," Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said in an interview with The Middle East Eye.

Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn believes that many Muslims ultimately want to conquer Europe.

"Is this a third Islamic attempt to conquer Europe? Many Muslims say that Europe is at the end," Schonborn said in a recent sermon, according to the Catholic Herald.
ISIS abducting children, selling them to Turkish traffickers who harvest their body parts, source says

Is there any crime more gruesome than this?

The Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group appears to have sunk to a deeper level of depravity following reports that it has resorted to selling the children it has kidnapped to its contacts in Turkey who then harvest organs from these children. The reports did not state whether the children end up dead.

The terrorist group has been forced to find whatever ways it can generate funds as the U.S.-led coalition continues to target its financial resources, according to sources.

A local source told Iraqi News that ISIS has sold "dozens of children" to Turkish organ traffickers to be able to sustain its operations in Mosul, its largest stronghold in Iraq.

The source likewise revealed that more than 30 children aged 9 to 12 are currently being held by ISIS and "readied for being trafficked to Turkey."

Aside from selling kidnapped children, ISIS also harvested about 23 human organs from its own members and those being treated in hospitals in Nineveh so they could also be sold, according to Iraqi News.

"Special medical unit of the organisation proceeded to steal human organs for about 23 ISIS militants of those who slept in the hospitals of Nineveh," the source told the online Iraqi news portal.

The source said ISIS militants stole kidneys, intestines and other internal body parts from their victims.

"They were transferred under tight control to affiliated hospital on the outskirts of the city," the source added.

The source explained that ISIS is resorting to organ trafficking because it has lost much of its revenue sources, such as oil fields.

A report from the analysis firm IHS said ISIS is struggling to fund its operations in its self-proclaimed caliphate as revenues from oil fields continue to plunge as a result of the sustained U.S.-led coalition airstrikes on ISIS-held oil fields and other related structures.

IHS said the total ISIS revenue has dropped about 30 percent from last year's earnings.

IHS reports that ISIS revenue from crude sales is down about 26 percent from last year, while the oil production in the region has dropped to 21,000 barrels per day from a previous high of 33,000 barrels per day.

According to CNN, crude oil sales accounted for about 42 percent of ISIS revenue.
Justin Welby: Same-Sex Unions A Reality 'Whether We Agree Or Not'

Justin Welby has said that new family structures, including same sex unions, are now a reality "whether we agree or not" in a sermon which dismissed the idea of a Victorian golden age of family values as a "myth".

Addressing representatives of the Mothers' Union (MU) from around the world at a special service in Winchester Cathedral to celebrate the organisation's 140th anniversary, Welby praised the MU's aim of "supporting family life" at a time of rapid social change.

However, he said that the "myth" of stable Victorian values was "just that  mythology", the Telegraph reported.

The Archbishop praised Mary Sumner, the rector's wife who in 1876 founded the MU, the Anglican-based group which now has more than four million members in 83 countries.

"Family life in Victorian times was under great pressure, especially in the poorest parts of the country," he said. "Mary Sumner acted out of concern not only for her own family but for a country in a terrible situation in which children were not nurtured, women were at risk, households were not stable and the Church was not doing very much about it other than preaching."

Welby, who recently learned that his alcoholic father was not his biological father, and whose parents divorced when he was young, paid tribute to the importance of family in his own life. "I know from myself that there is nowhere I can take my failures as safely as around the table in the family," he said. "And I know having grown up in a different environment, a different sort of household, what a gift of grace that is."

Welby said that change is "not always bad" but he added that many institutions and churches have been left "living in a culture that they have not yet begun to come to terms with".

He added: "It is not less nor more challenging now to have strong families in the 21st century than it was for Mary Sumner and the need for reliance on God is the same."

Welby argued against same-sex marriage in the House of Lords but by all accounts has embarked on a "journey" on the issue of homosexuality and the Church. Last month, he told the Greenbelt Christian festival that he was "constantly consumed with horror" at the way in which the Church had treated gay people.
Meet The First Children To Return To Fallujah After ISIS

Families have begun to return to the besieged city of Fallujah in Syria, after ISIS militants fled the city in June when it was recaptured by government forces.

About 500 families have moved back in since the city was reopened last Saturday. Hundreds more are waiting at security checkpoints to be allowed through.

#mce_temp_url#The Preemptive Love Coalition (PLC), an aid group working in Iraq, is offering assistance to the thousands of people who will now have to rebuild their lives.

"When it comes to communities affected by conflict like Fallujah, Preemptive Love is committed to being the first in and the last to leave," founder Jeremy Courtney says.

"We've been showing up on the frontlines for Fallujah since the earliest days, and now that the town has been liberated from ISIS control, we are redoubling our commitment to help Fallujans return home and rebuild their lives.

"We had the joy of accompanying the first Fallujans to return home after two-years of tumultuous ISIS rule and government counterattacks. As they arrived home, we were able to hand them a kind of "welcome home" gift: a month's worth of food and other essentials like soap to address hygiene concerns.

"For most of us, 'homecoming' sounds like an unqualified good. But when you've been displaced for years, living wherever you find a place to lay your head, and your home has been attacked and looted by ISIS or anti-ISIS forces, returning home is complicated. Families need support."

PLC has documented the return of a number of families to Fallujah. Below are some of the first children to return:

Usama and Abdullah

"These two could put a smile on almost any face. But don't let those mischievous grins fool you!" PLC says. "Their dad proudly told us that Usama and Abdullah were great students before ISIS captured Fallujah. Now that ISIS has been driven out of the city, they look forward to going back to school."

Karar

Karar was the very first child from Fallujah to return to his home, and his family were the first to enjoy a meal together. PLC has been able to provide them with enough food to last more than a month.

Ali

The first thing Ali asked his mother when they reached their home was: "Where are my toys?". He asked if ISIS had stolen them.

Fallujah, which lies just over 40 miles from Baghdad, was the first Iraqi city to fall to ISIS control in June 2014, and was declared fully-liberated two years later after a US-led coalition together with Iraqi troops forced out the militants. During ISIS-occupation, hundreds of civilians starved to death and some were reported to have resorted to eating soup made from grass.

The city is still without running water and electricity, but Courtney is hopeful that this week marks the beginning of a bright future for Fallujah's residents.

"There may not be government services  there may not be a government  but at least they are home and, for now, they are safe, with plenty of food and supplies to help them begin the long process of beginning again," he says.
Mexican Priest Missing After Two Kidnapped And Killed

A Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Mexico, following the kidnapping and murder of two priests at the weekend.

On Thursday, Catholic officials pleaded for the life of Father Jose Alfredo Lopez Guillen, who was taken from his Church on Monday and remains missing. Guillen was robbed and then taken from his Church in rural Janamuto, Michoacan.

In a statement, the archdiocese said: "We plead that the life and physical integrity of the priest be respected."

This comes after two priests, Fathers Alejo Nabor Jimenez Juarez and Jose Alfredo Suarez de la Cruz, were kidnapped and killed in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz; they were found dead on a roadside on Monday.

Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda, head of the Morelia archdiocese, said in an online video statement: "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."

Cardinal Inda added: "Our community suffers the death or anguish of any of the faithful." He said that Father Guillen "is a good man, a man who does good, a peaceful man, and so this barbarity is in no way justified."

Both sites of kidnapping, Michoacan and Veracruz, have long been victims of organised crime and illegal drug trade in the area, Crux Now reports.

Mexico is a strongly Catholic country, with 83 per cent of its citizens identifying as Catholics. However, the Church's vocal opposition to illegal drug trade has made its Priests frequent targets for attack. Twenty eight priests have been killed in the last decade, not including this weeks killings, according to Mexico's Catholic Multimedia Centre's (CMC) 2015 report. The CMC also reported that 520 priests had been victims of extortion during the year.
Anglican 'Church' For Conservative Christians Launches Mission In England

An Anglican mission to rival the Church of England has set out plans to evangelise the UK.

The mission is already reaching out to evangelical Christians in dioceses that are "closed to conservative evangelicals".

The plan is to plant hundreds of new evangelical Anglican churches.

The influential Archbishop and Primate of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, is backing the plan.

It involves new Anglican churches being independent from the country's "official" established church.

The Anglican Mission in England (AMiE) sets out its goal of to planting 25 new churches by 2025 and 250 by 2050 in a new video.

Archbishop Okoh, who leads the conservative Anglican fellowship Gafcon, says: "We are so thrilled that the Anglican Mission in England exists and we are delighted that it is keen to start many new churches in the years to come. AMiE has the full support of the GAFCON movement."

AMiE is seeking "pioneers" to plant the new churches. The mission is also seeking assistant ministers and "partners" where local Anglican churches can link with AMiE churches and support them financially.

Christians will even be encouraged to move house and relocate to new area to plant a new mission church.

AMiE was established in 2010 and was given full validation by the GAFCON Primates as authentically Anglican in 2013.

Pastor Pete Jackson, of Christ Church Walkley, says in the video that many will attempt to evangelise England from within the structures of the Church of England.

He adds: "But this isn't always possible. Sometimes there's no enthusiasm for starting anything new. Sometimes the timescale is an unreasonble constraint on mission.

"Sometimes a whole diocese is closed to conservative evangelicals. And sometimes there is false teaching at the very heart of the leadership, and we can't be sure the work of the Gospel will be safe in present structures. In these situations, the Anglican Mission in England can help."

Lee McMunn, chairman of the AMiE pioneering task force, says: "By 1555, John Calvin and his supporters in Geneva had pioneered five new churches in France. Four years later, they had planted 100. And by 1562, a total of 2,000 new, Gospel churches had been started in France.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to see the same thing happen in England today?"

Richard Coekin, director of co-mission, quoting Mark's gospel, says: "When Jesus looked at the crowds, he was filled with compassion. They were harrassed and helpless, crushed and tortured, like sheep without a shepherd, desperately in need of Jesus.

"And ever since Jesus and the Apostle Paul, the best way of reaching them has always been church planting. In fact it's part of the Anglican DNA, to start new Gospel churches across our land to reach the lost. And we need to get involved, in our time."

Richard Leadbeater, pastor of King's Church Guildford, which started meeting publicly in 2014, says that although it was "terrifying" to start the church it was also "thrilling". This was because, while they had almost nothing, they "did have God." The church has grown through "prayerful dependance on God and his word." They don't own a building and did not even have a musician at first. Yet they have grown both spiritually and numerically.
Relentless Decline Of The US Episcopal Church Continues

The US Episcopal Church has lost nearly ten per cent of its members in just five years, latest figures show.

Large falls in church membership began at the start of this millennium. Statistics from 2015 show a drop-off of more than 37,000 baptised members, a fall of 2.1 per cent.

This takes the total Episcopal Church membership to a new low of fewer than 1.8 million. Just four years earlier, in 2011, there were more than 1.9 million.

While nearly a quarter of churches grew by more than 10 per cent from 2011 to 2014, this was offset by the larger number - four in ten - that lost 10 per cent or more of their members over the same period.

The statistics have been analysed by Jeffrey Walton of Juicy Ecumenism who writes that the latest figures are consistent with past years. "Dioceses in New England, the Rust Belt and predominantly rural areas post sharp declines, while dioceses in the South either retain their numbers or decline at a more gradual rate."

There were large membership declines in dioceses including New York, Newark, Maryland and Iowa.

However there was also growth in several dioceses including Central Florida, North Dakota, Hawaii, Nevada and Fort Worth.

More than seven in ten of Episcopal Church parishes attract fewer than 100 people to Sunday services.

Walton writes: "The trend lines do not bode well for the future, with 55 per cent of congregations experiencing decline of 10 per cent or greater in the past five years. In contrast, only 18 per cent of congregations grew their attendance by 10 per cent in the same time span. As a whole, the denomination has experienced a 26 per cent drop in attendance since 2005."

According to another recent report, one quarter of Episcopal congregations have a membership that is 50 per cent or more aged over 65, and in three-quarters of Episcopal congregations, more than half the members are aged over 50. The report says that growth is least likely to occur in churches with an older age profile.

Half of the membership is aged 50 or over. "The 'tipping point' in terms of likelihood of decline seems to be where over half of members are 50 years old or older," the report says.

The report acknowledges that most conservative, evangelical and sectarian religious bodies have been growing while mainline denominations have been in decline since the mid-1960s. It also notes that the more Sunday services that are held, the more likely a church is to grow.

Earlier this year, the Church of England released figures which showed the number of people attending church services weekly has dipped below one million people for the first time, continuing an annual rate of decline of about one per cent.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is helping lead a "reform and renewal" movement in the Church of England in an attempt to reverse the decline.

The Episcopal Church's presiding bishop Michael Curry has focused on branding his church as the "Jesus movement".
A Billings anesthesiologist who was convicted of prescription drug fraud is facing new allegations of making false claims to receive payments through Medicaid, a program from which he had been barred.

In a civil complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Billings on Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Dishong of Missoula said Cory Lee Pickens provided services to two dental providers, who paid him and then filed claims with Medicaid.

Because of Pickens criminal conviction, federal law excluded him from participating in federal health care programs, like Medicaid, for at least five years.

Pickens was sentenced in 2011 to three years of federal probation for prescription drug fraud and fined $2,500. He admitted to filling prescriptions for narcotic painkillers from 2007 to 2009 to support an opiate addiction.

The complaint seeks a judgment equal to three times the actual value of the false or fraudulent claims submitted to Medicaid plus a civil penalty of $5,500 to $11,000 per violation.

Pickens attorney, Mark Parker of Billings, said Thursday, Weve been working with the Department of Justice on this issue. We havent come to a resolution, but we hope to.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services notified Pickens in August 2011 that he had been excluded from federal programs and that his name had been added to the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities, which is a publicly available website employers can check for background information on prospective employees.

Pickens, Dishong said, was granted a waiver to the exclusion in November 2011 and allowed to practice at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. The waiver, however, said Pickens was not allowed to practice for any other employer in any other location, she said.

The complaint alleges that in October 2011, Pickens started providing sedation services to patients of a Laurel dentist, William B. Winterholler, who had confirmed with the Montana State Medicaid website that Pickens was a state provider. But Winterholler did not check with the list of excluded persons, and Pickens did not disclose that he was excluded, the complaint said.

About two years later, Winterholler learned from a third party that Pickens was excluded, the complaint said. Winterholler confronted Pickens, who told him he had a waiver.

Dishong said the Montana Medicaid office told Winterholler that Pickens was an approved state provider. However, in late October 2013, it notified Winterholler that Pickens was on the exclusion list and had no waiver that would allow him to provide services to his patients.

Winterholler ended his relationship with Pickens and reported the conduct to DPHHS. The dentist identified $36,414 that was improperly paid by Medicaid for services to his patients and agreed to repay the government $54,621 to settle the violation, Dishong said.

In a second similar situation, Pickens began providing anesthesia services in March 2013 to a group of dental practices known as Remington, which included Remington Family Dental; Hardin Family Dental and Rubicon Dental Associates, Dishong said.

In October 2013, a third party informed Remington that Pickens was an excluded provider, Dishong said. Remington then discovered Pickens was on the exclusion list and ended its relationship with the doctor.

Remington voluntarily reported the conduct to DPHHS, identified $16,386 in Medicaid payments and paid the government $24,579 to settle the violation, the prosecutor said.

Pickens, Dishong said, contracted services with Winterholler and Remington through a business called Ambulatory Anesthesia Consultants in Billings. He provided a fee for services and was paid directly by the provider rather than billing a private insurer or Medicaid. After Winterholler and Remington paid Pickens, they submitted claims to Medicaid for eligible patients and the claims included the services Pickens had provided.

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry showed that Pickens received a medical license in March 2004, and its expiration date was March 2015. The state listed Pickens license status as suspended expired.

U.S. District Judge Susan Watters has referred the case to U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Ostby.
Russell Moore Voices Sorrow at Shooting of Terence Crutcher As Officer Charged

The police officer who shot and killed the unarmed black man Terence Crutcher in Oklahoma last Friday has been charged with manslaughter.

Tulsa County's district attorney, Steve Kunzweiler, district attorney for Tulsa County, has filed a first-degree manslaughter charge against Betty Shelby, the white police officer who shot Crutcher.

Meanwhile, Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, has expressed his sorrow at the shooting.

He tweeted: "Another life lost. Another community traumatized. This situation has to change."

Grieved to hear about #TerranceCrutcher. Another life lost. Another community traumatized. This situation has to change.  Russell Moore (@drmoore) September 20, 2016

In a further statement given to The Christian Post , Moore added: "I'm afraid that the American people are almost becoming numb to these situations and we have here another life lost," Moore said. "Another community left traumatized. And I think many people are asking how much longer can this situation persist this way. And so, I think we've seen the country is watching the video right now it's, what can one say, except that it ought to leave us heartsick."

Shelby is the second person to be charged in Tulsa over shooting an unarmed black man.

Last year, Kunzweiler also charged a sheriff's deputy aged 73 with second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting Eric Harris.

This week the United States has seen riots in Charlotte, North Carolina, after another black man was shot dead by police.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 release date, specs; new tablet to come out in two models

The wait for Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 continues as the South Korean company remains mum about the tablet's release date.

Early reports speculated that the next-generation Galaxy Tab will come out during the IFA 2016 in Berlin Germany. But the device was obviously absent during the event that was conducted in early September.

Rumors about the device's September release date came out after Android Authority spotted a posting on Samsung Colombia's website. While the post on the had already been removed, the report mentioned that a rough translation of the Colombian posting stated that the new Galaxy Tab S3 will have "similar qualities to its predecessor, the Galaxy Tab S2, but with some innovations so far not known."

However, the end of September is just a week away, and Samsung has yet to make any announcements regarding the device's possible release.

While the South Korean consumer and electronic goods manufacturer is still secretive about the release date of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, speculations about the device's specs are being talked about online.

Reports mentioned that the third-generation Galaxy Tab S will be offered in two variants. One will have an 8-inch AMOLED screen display, while the other one will come out with a 9.7-inch AMOLED screen.

The rumored tablet is also expected to have two internal storage options per model. Consumers could opt to buy a 32 GB or a 64 GB built-in storage model, but both will come out with 4 GB of RAM and the octa-core Exynos 8890 processor. The device is also said to be equipped with an Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow mobile operating system, but it could be upgraded to the soon-to-be-released Android 7.0 Nougat OS.

The tablet will also reportedly have an 8-megapixel primary camera with a 2-megapixel secondary shooter for selfie shots.

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Tab S3 before the end of 2016.
Science Alone Does Not Have All The Answers

The assumption that science and religion are in conflict is a view that never diminishes.

Many assume that modern science has rendered religious explanations irrelevant, and some go further to say that science alone can answer all of the questions of life.

Not so with Professor Brian Cox, the renowned BBC presenter and particle physicist at the University of Manchester. Professor Cox recently shared a conference platform with Professor David Wilkinson, astrophysicist, Royal Society fellow and Principal of St John's College, Durham.

Cox expressed concern over the unnecessary "polarisation of the debate" adding that, although he himself has no personal faith, different "opinions and worldviews need to be celebrated and explored".

Cox's vision of dialogue between scientific and religious voices is welcomed and shared by many scientist-theologians, not least Alister McGrath, professor of science and religion at the University of Oxford, who holds that these two disciplines are "mutually enriching".

The history books also remind us that the two have interacted in this way for centuries. Key contributions to disciplines such as mathematics, medicine, astronomy and philosophy, have come from several different civilisations and religious cultures; ancient Greece and Egypt, the far east, the Middle East and, more recently, Western Europe.

Further, the birth of modern science in the West has strong connections to belief in the God of the Bible. Many key scientists, such as Francis Bacon (1561-1626), often referred to as the father of the modern scientific method, were Christian Theists whose belief in God made possible and drove forward their science. Today, we could point to the Harvard astronomer Owen Gingerich, and National Institutes on Health Director Francis Collins as professing Christians who are also outstanding scientists.

Cox's recognition of the need to listen to and celebrate the views of others is especially pertinent to the age of 'religious tolerance' in which we live. Yet, there is a need to recapture what 'tolerance' really means. Tolerance, properly understood, means that profound disagreement can co-exist with all 'voices' being given a fair hearing.

Professor Cox makes this point using an analogy from politics. Democracy, a quality that most would associate with a healthily functioning state, thrives on the very premise of respectful disagreement.

So too with science. Science progresses at its best when there is discussion and debate. There is a long history of scientific discoveries being met initially with disagreement or scepticism. But when the data doesn't fit the theory, it is precisely this openness to discussion that sends us back to the drawing board time and again before the 'Eureka' moment dawns. In whatever arena we find ourselves, be it the laboratory, the boardroom, the lecture theatre or the office, we often have most to learn from those from whom we differ.

That said, there is also much that Professor Cox and Christians can agree about. We have a shared love of science and want to see it thrive and we have a shared recognition of its limits.

Science cannot answer the biggest questions of life, questions of meaning and destiny with which humanity has always grappled.

The conference focussed on the possibility of multiple universes, or multiverses. Cox, in a later interview, made the crucial point that, "even if [multiverses] turn out to be correct, what does it mean?".

He has said that for answers to questions of meaning we will need to look also to novelists, artists, philosophers and theologians.

In other words, science cannot answer every question.

There are different levels of explanation, often coming from different fields of expertise, that each help us make sense of the world, and together they provide a complete picture. Professor Cox is absolutely correct that there is a greater need for conversation and mutual enrichment between science and religion. This dialogue is a must for all who seek truth, be it in nature or scripture.

Dr Sharon Dirckx is a Tutor at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and a former brain imaging scientist
Why Christians Have Got To Stop Demonising or Idolising The Media

As Christians, we're told that we're always going to face opposition and sometimes even persecution. You only have to look around the world today to realise that is true.

Yet sometimes, we in the West have a tendency to see opposition or even hostility when it's not necessarily there. This can be especially true of our interactions with media.

Christians, and especially evangelicals, sometimes behave as if everything the secular media does is inherently wrong, problematic or even dangerous.

There are numerous examples. Senior evangelical leaders such as Franklin Graham regularly rail against, "the liberal media's anti-Christian bias". Christian media outlets often join in with this kind of argument. "Want More Evidence of the Liberal Mainstream Media's Bias?" asked one recent headline. Another story reported approvingly that, "Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump accused the media of mocking Christians".

Other related industries are in the firing line too. "Disney Criticized for Anti-Christian, Anti-Conservative Bias at Shareholder Meeting," reads one headline from a Christian site. A third of Republicans believe Hollywood is biased against Christianity, according to a recent survey.Those Christians within the industry sometimes accuse Hollywood of the same thing.

It isn't just the US either. A petition was recently handed in to the BBC by Christians who claimed, "Christians are being misrepresented or treated unfairly" by the UK's public service broadcaster.

All of these opinions may have some truth to them, of course. The view of Christians in some forms of media can be fairly negative. The real worry, though, is how this causes Christian to treat the media as a whole.

The atmosphere of suspicion can quickly bleed through into two dangerous reactions. The first reaction is to demonise all secular media. The second is to bury our heads in the sand and only ever engage with media considered to be acceptable or safe.

At its most extreme, this can lead to a paranoia that the secular media as a whole is 'out to get us'  that there are bogeymen around every corner. The bizarre accusation that Starbucks was biased against Christians because it produced a plain red cup at Christmas is the kind of paranoid thinking that can infect us when it comes to media.

The secular media isn't there to preach the gospel. That's our job. While there are some occasions on which it would be nice to have a fairer hearing from mainstream news outlets, we shouldn't write off the whole secular media.

There's another risk, though, and it comes from the opposite direction.

Some Christians can be overly enamoured by the mainstream media. This shows itself when something from the Christian subculture bubbles its way into the mainstream. The excitement that can be generated by appearing in the pages of the New York Times, The Guardian or on the airwaves of the BBC or CNN can be attractive.

This can lead to a worrying sense that unless our project, ministry or church has had the seal of approval from a shiny mainstream media source then we're not doing something right.

There is a middle course that we can set between these two extremes that will serve us and our churches well. A positive, hopeful and open approach to the mainstream media without obsessing over receiving 'approval' is what we should be seeking.

Media, at best, are there to hold the powerful to account, to tell the stories of people whose voices deserve to be amplified and to be 'educating, entertaining and informing' the public. This is the kind of media we should be seeking to engage with and there is plenty of it out there in various formats on both sides of the Atlantic.

So what does good media engagement look like?

First, it's about stories. The reason Jesus taught in parables is that stories are one of the best ways for humans to understand a message or concept. We need to tell the story of our church, ministry, political cause or whatever it may be in a compelling and interesting way.

Secondly, it's about integrity. The kind of media we choose to engage with and create will have an honesty about it that shines through. We should be loudly endorsing integrity in media when we come across it. Rather than complaining that Hollywood is a den of iniquity, it would be better to praise good work. Think about Spotlight, a movie which chronicled the investigation into child abuse in the Church. Not an easy film to watch, but one that (as we argued at the time) is essential viewing for Christians.

Thirdly, it's about being positive and proactive with our faith, rather than defensive. The best communicators in the Church realise that doing this not only makes for good TV, radio or press, but it also spreads our message effectively. Watch this clip of Alpha Course chief Nicky Gumbel on prime time BBC TV  warm, open, funny and positive.

Rev Christopher Landau, a journalist-turned-priest says that our approach should be simple. "In a society where, the younger people are, the less they have to do with church, and where even the most rudimentary teachings of Christianity are a mystery to many," he argues, "we have a duty to use the media - in all its contemporary forms - to seek to re-engage our communities with our own take on what constitutes good news."

Andy Walton is a chairing the Church and Media conference in London on 20 October 2016, which features NT Wright among its speakers. Find out more here.
Why Does God Allow Depression?

A thousand teenagers will cram into a Westminster conference room on Saturday with hundreds more forced to watch it online because they could not get a ticket for the over-subscribed event.

But this is not a Jeremy Corbyn rally. Nor the latest in Justin Bieber's worship tour.

It is a day-long conference answering questions about faith and reasons for belief in God.

Reboot began four years ago under Ravi Zacharias International Ministeries (RZIM). It sought to address a "mass exodus out the back door of the church of young people". The reasons given were often to do with unanswered questions about Christian belief or the Bible and Reboot looked to address this with a simple question and answer session.

The first event had nearly 400 people and has now spread all around the world to Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong with Cairo, Beirut and Cape Town on the upcoming schedule.

Ahead of this weekend's event in Westminster Christian Today spoke to Amy Orr-Ewing, RZIM's Europe, Middle East and Africa Director, who said she had been "overwhelmed" by the enthusiasm for these events.

"Most of the big successful youth events you see are more around justice, or emotion, or worship and this was more about addressing their questions and doubts they have.

"We were really moved to see all these young people who had really sincere questions and many who said they had asked their pastor and their youth leaders. This was their last point and they said they were going to give up if they didn't hear answers."

The main focus of the day is to answer general questions from participants as well as more specific sessions on science, reasons for God's existence, anxiety and fear, the body and sexuality and the accuracy of the Bible.

We took the opportunity to ask her about depression and why God would allow so many young people to suffer from mental illness and anxiety. Here's what she said:

"I think I would approach that question from a bigger picture of why would God allowing suffering of any sort. To begin to answer that question we need to look at what we read in the Bible about how God created a good world where love and choice are possible.

"A world where love and choice are possible is one where God doesn't control us and force us to be a means to his end. That means we have accountability for the way we make choices but it also makes us vulnerable to the negative things others do.

"That is the cost of love. That is the price we pay for being in a world where love is possible.

"I would understand depression in the context of suffering and in the context that the Bible does not say 'come to God and all your problems will disappear'. The world the Bible describes is the real world where bad things happen to good people. God comes into that world in Jesus and experiences that suffering himself.

"When he promised his presence with us in a suffering world it is not a distant patronising love but a love that is with us and that experiences suffering alongside us."

But what about the injustice that depression is not the fault of the person but can happen as a result of something outside their control that happened to them?

"Sometimes we need to take a step back and look at the possibility that God does not exist," she said.

"Within that framework we are left with the explanation that we came about by chance. We are left with an ultimately arbitrary morality where the strong eliminate the weak with no explanation of why that stuff happens to us.

"Our sense of outrage at evil and someone being abused mentally or physically points to the preciousness and dignity of human life. It points to the significance of the ultimate nature of good and evil.

"Our very outrage in the face of evil points to the fact that good and evil are real and they are not just personal and arbitrary categories. And they can only ever be absolute if there is a God above us.

"It is in the Christian faith that we see both a sense of justice that God actually does care and human beings are precious. We see that we do have a God given dignity and that suffering really does matter and evil really is evil. We also see that perpertrators will face justice even if it is not in this life.

"For me there is tremendous comfort in that framework of the Bible as we look at some of these things because we are never left alone and we are not told it doesn't matter.

"We are told it does matter  it matters to God and it matters to us as Christians."

You can find out more about Reboot here. The conference will be held between 10am  5pm at Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster, SW1P 3DW. Tickets are sold out but you can watch a live stream of the event here and find out more about RZIM here.
Heidi Cruz, who left Goldman Sachs Group last year to help her husband Ted Cruz in his quest for the Republican presidential nomination, is returning to the bank in a newly created role in the Houston office.

Cruz, 44, will concentrate on helping to win new clients, focusing on strategic relationships, according to a memo to staff Friday from Tucker York, global head of private-wealth management for the New York-based firm. She'll report to David Fox, head of the southwest region for the wealth business.
Steve Whittaker

The recently merged Benchmark Hospitality International and Gemstone Hotels & Resorts company announced a new corporate ID and brands.

The company, now known simply as Benchmark, operates four different brands: Benchmark Resorts & Hotels; Gemstone Collection, which incorporates selected Benchmark hotels and Gemstone Hotels & Resorts; Benchmark Conference Centers; and Owner Advisory Group.
Dave Rossman

Citing the evolving retail landscape, Austin-based high-end furniture retailer Louis Shanks plans to close its large Houston showroom and distribution operations early next year, according to a report in Furniture Today.

The retailer operates a 120,000-square-foot showroom and 80,000-square-foot distribution center in the 2800 block of Fondren Road in west Houston.
Global heavy equipment and truck auctioneers Ritchie Bros. cleared more than $54 million during their eighth Texas auction of the year this week in Fort Worth, the company announced.

The auction sold more than 4,400 items for 519 owners including two 2014 Liebherr cranes for a combined $2.4 million, a truck-mounted drill for $375,000 and four portable frac pumps for a combined $1.1 million. In all, more than 320 truck tractors, 50 trailers, 100 excavators and 85 forklifts, among other items, were sold, according to the company.
A former Billings accountant who defrauded his clients was ordered to pay $175,000 in restitution.

Michael Leonard Wombolt was sentenced to probation in July for his scheme, which bilked sometimes five- and six-figure sums from clients.

The largest chunk of the $175,661 restitution will go toward Dennis Ost, whose Malta oil field business lost $98,033 to Wombolt. Officials at the Harvey Ost Oilfield Co. first contacted police in 2015 after discovering suspicious checks going to A+ Accounting and Consulting, Wombolt's accounting firm that managed Ost's finances.

Ost will receive $126,258 in restitution, according to documents filed in the U.S. District Court.

A $39,339 payment on Wombolt's restitution document matches the amount that was reported stolen from Billings Pool & Spa.

The other five entities will receive four-figure amounts, the documents state.

After his indictment, Wombolt shuttered his accounting firm. In March, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. As part of a plea agreement, seven other counts of wire fraud were dismissed at sentencing.

His probation period is five years.
If you're a Harry Potter fan, you're well aware of Pottermore, an online hub for fans. On Thursday, the website released a quiz where fans can discover, after years of waiting, what their Patronus is.

In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, the Patronus is the "spirit animal" that defends the wizard when the charm is cast against the terrifying Dementor, who feed upon human happiness and cause depression to anyone near them.
Yes, Virginia, there is an Eloise. And on Monday, Oct. 3, Houston diners will get to meet Eloise Nichols  the restaurant  when it is set to open in the River Oaks area.

Named for the paternal grandmother of proprietors Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart, Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors is being readied at 2400 Mid Lane as a neighborhood restaurant serving creative American bistro fare and classic cocktails with a fresh spin.

The owners intend to invest the new spot with the same feisty charm and easygoing grace as Nichols, who at 93 still drives her own car. Siblings Adair and Barnhart know their grandmother as a "no-nonsense, classic Texas beauty" whose welcoming style of entertaining was a living room where people would linger for hours.

"It's important that it feel like a living room," Barnhart said Friday, looking out over the handsome, 120-seat space with cool tile floors, a bespoke bar, inviting tabletops, retro wallpaper, globe lights and framed photos of Eloise herself.

"We want it to be inviting and warm," Adair said, adding that he hopes it's the type of space where you don't mind waiting for a table. "A place to spend some time."

The siblings, who opened the Adair Kitchen concept four years ago, have grown as restaurateurs; Eloise Nichols is their next big step in the competitive Houston restaurant scene. Even before it opens the restaurant seems self-assured and well-situated in a neighborhood  smack between River Oaks District and Highland Village  flush with growth potential. The Mid Lane site with its graceful trees, feels tucked away but there's a sense of big things coming: new construction abounds, including Eloise Nichols' neighbor, Bosscat Kitchen & Libations, a SoCal whiskey bar and comfort food concept incoming at 4310 Mid Lane.

The owners have a deep hospitality background. The Adair Family Restaurants Group, founded by their father Gary Adair, has Skeeter's Mesquite Grill restaurants and Los Tios Mexican Restaurant stores in its growing portfolio.

"Having those roots, it's not all about bells and whistles," Nick Adair said. "It's about the foundations of service. I think we have our feet planted."

Still, Eloise Nichols has some very attractive bells and whistles. The design is relaxed and sophisticated; the bar and its lovely glassware is ready to make spirited magic; and the staff seems itching to start pleasing.

Adair and Barnhart have developed some smart partnerships. They hired Joseph Stayshich, formerly of the Kitchen at Karbach Brewing, as executive chef. Stayshich is creating a judicious American bistro menu with a soft southern drawl. Dishes will include char-grilled oysters, a sausage board, shared beef tartare, redfish on the half shell, shrimp with grits, a classic burger and steak. During a pre-opening visit he showed a dish of charred broccoli with creme fraiche and Calabrian chile; a Gulf snapper crudo with tahini, grapefruit, orange and fried olives; and chicken and dumplings (chicken confit, ricotta gnocchi, and wild mushrooms) served in an individual cast iron pan.

Beverage director Grant Walker has some sure-fire crowd pleasers up his sleeve. The bar will feature inventive twists on classic cocktails. Examples: a Whiskey Sour made with amaretto and an ampersand stenciled in bitters on its foamy surface; a Harvey Wallbanger with a citrus kiss and a sizzle of Szechuan peppercorn; and cucumber margarita; and a pineapple Gimlet served in a copper pineapple cup.

To get the best sense of the Eloise Nichols aesthetic, take a look at the photo of a young Eloise, chic in shades and gingham, with a perfectly manicured hand hoisting a can of Falstaff beer to her lips. It's at once refined and unpretentious. And that may be the feeling Houston diners get when they take in their first taste of Eloise Nichols soon.
The Harris County District Attorney's office said Thursday that there appeared to be evidence missing from the property room at Constable Precinct 7, which serves southern Harris County.

Jeff McShan, spokesman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office, said Harris County auditors notified DA Devon Anderson Thursday afternoon that there appeared to be evidence missing from Precinct 7 and that Anderson immediately sent emails to her prosecutors and defense attorneys telling them if they had upcoming cases to double check evidence involving that department.

The announcement coming in an email alert sent by the DA's office came only a month after a similar alert prompted the dismissal of 100 criminal cases related to a massive destruction of thousands of pieces of evidence in Constable Precinct 4, which serves northern Harris County. That matter remains the subject of an external audit and an ongoing criminal probe.

CONTROVERSY: Feds eyeing mass evidence destruction problems in Precinct 4

But Constable May Walker on Thursday defended her office and denied that any evidence was missing. "I don't know why she (Anderson) sent that out," Walker told the Chronicle.

In an interview, Walker said county auditors visited her department and found her evidence room in "disarray" in a site visit on June 29.

Walker said that her department was initially unable to locate several pieces of evidence that the auditors requested them to find as part of that initial visit, but blamed the confusion on the recent retirement of an officer who had for years served as the custodian. Walker said she asked the auditors office to give her department time to review the room and requested them to return.

Walker said she subsequently assigned three other officers to reorganize the property room and enter evidence into a law enforcement tracking software supplied by the county known as FileOnQ.

"We straightened it out to where you could go on at FileOnQ and ask for anything at random," she said.

RELATED: DA's office releases list of cases affected by Pct. 4 evidence destruction

Walker said the auditors have not yet completed their audit or provided her with a report.

The county auditor was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

JoAnne Musick, a former president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, expressed dismay with yet another notice that impact affect pending or closed cases.

"At least the DA acknowledged the issue and provided notice. But what does this say about our smaller law enforcement agencies? There is no oversight. No accountability. Certainly our district attorney has not been working with them on evidence preservation. And they are not using best practices to catalog and store evidence."
Police are searching for a man suspected in a bank robbery late last month in north Houston.

The heist happened about 12:10 p.m. Aug. 30 in the 900 block of Grand Plaza Drive, according to the Houston Police Department.

Police said the man walked into the bank and went to a teller counter and demanded money. After the teller gave him an undisclosed amount of cash, the man casually walked out of the bank.

No injuries were reported

The man is described as being between about 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet tall, and he weighed about 175 pounds. He wore a read sweatshirt with pockets in front, khaki shorts and white shoes. He had a goatee.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS or online at www.crime-stoppers.org. Tips may also be submitted by text message. Text TIP610 and tips to CRIMES.

Crime Stoppers will pay up t $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect or charges being filed against him.

All tipsters remain anonymous.
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Find out in the slideshow above what you need to know before you flee (legally) to Canada after the upcoming presidential election

It seems like for years people in the United States have been threatening to move to Canada if the presidential candidate they support is or isn't elected.

Republicans threatened to move to Canada in 2008 after Barack Obama was elected, and there are those on the left who have said that they're checking out if Donald Trump defeats Hillary Clinton and vice versa.

RELATED: Snowden says he'll vote in US presidential election

Sure it might seem like all your problems would be solved running north of the border.

We asked author Andre du Broc exactly what that would entail since he recently wrote a book on the subject, "How to Move to Canada: A Discontented American's Guide to Canadian Relocation."

Those interested in leaving the U.S. for the Great White North can find the 144-page book on Amazon. It might even make a handy gift for people in your family who feel like quitting on the greatest country on Earth. It is due for release Oct. 4.

RELATED: Small Canadian town will give land, a job to anyone willing to move

The tongue-in-cheek book is for the "frustrated, angry, and just plain exasperated" American whose resolve has been worn down by the election circus.

The book has information on picking the right region of Canada to settle in, lingo you need to get down, and even the proper legal channels you must follow to become a citizen.
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After a neighborhood feud complete with legal threats, a horse sanctuary near The Woodlands will move to a new location Saturday.

Henry's Home, a small nonprofit that offers free rides for veterans, will occupy 10 acres in a new planned community south of Conroe in the former Camp Strake.

In June 2015, neighbors contracted a lawyer to send sanctuary founder Donna Stedman a cease-and-desist letter, the Chronicle previously reported.

They complained that having a business -- even a nonprofit one that rehabilitated abused horses and provided an outlet for disabled veterans, active military and their families -- in the residential Spring Hill area violated deed restrictions. A neighbor who backed the horse sanctuary pointed to a for-profit horse facility down the road and said the complainants were being hypocritical.

Stedman told the Chronicle last year that she dreamed of a bigger chunk of land out in the country, "a place where people could heal their souls."

More for you A neighborhood feud over deed restrictions erupts in tranquil...

At noon Saturday, that dream will come true.

Among the 10 horses making the move are the sanctuary's namesake, Henry, who was adopted from the Houston SPCA when he was so starved that he couldn't stand without support from a giant sling. After years of recovery, he remained underweight last year, despite his constant grazing.

"He's patient and loving but an attention hog," Stedman said.

There will also be a recent addition, a 2-foot-5 miniature black horse named Willie Nelson who was found a few years ago with his halter embedded in his skin.

Stedman said Friday that the Johnson Development Co. is giving the sanctuary a $1-a-year lease, renewable annually for at least three years. She hopes it will be a permanent home.

The new facility is in the Grand Central Park planned community. The sanctuary gives these directions: From Houston, follow I-45 North and take the Camp Strake Road exit. Make a U-turn under the freeway and turn right at the Grand Central Park monument sign. Follow the road about one-half mile to the site for Henry's Home.
Few occasions call for a bow tie and a motorcycle. Dapper fans of old bikes are in luck this weekend as Billings is one of 410 cities worldwide to host The Distinguished Gentlemans Ride on Sunday.

The niche ride began in 2012 with 2,500 riders globally. Last year 37,000 people participated in 79 countries. Riders register online, and, while the event is free, its a fundraiser for prostate cancer research and suicide prevention, so donations are encouraged. The event is intentionally low key, and before registration, riders are told only to meet at MoAV Coffee House between 9 and 11 a.m., said organizer Ed Heiliger, who started the Billings ride last year.

The DGR is one of many in Billings, but separates itself by its dress code and motorcycle restrictions. The concept was born in Sydney, Australia, when founder Mark Hawwa was inspired by a photo of actor Jon Hamm, well-dressed as "Mad Men" character Don Draper and straddling a 1957 Matchless G3LS, according to a DGR news release.

Hawwa thought an event for well-dressed riders and classic bikes would combat negative stereotypes of motorcycle enthusiasts. Organizers encourage riders to bust out their best duds. Three piece suits, top hats, manicured facial hair and even monocles are not uncommon.

Its also an excuse to roll grandpas old Harley-Davidson out of the corner of the shop. Heiliger plans to ride a 1930 Harley VL his dad purchased in 1947. Heiliger said he believes classic bikes should be ridden. Hell sometimes see a vintage motorcycle or two at events around town but not often on the street.

Its like they keep them hidden. People just dont bring them out as much as I think they should, he said.

The dozens of poker runs, memorial rides and toy drives in Billings are usually open to anything with two or three wheels. The DGR is limited to vintage motorcycles, old school choppers, bobbers, scramblers, street trackers and other bikes with a vintage aesthetic. Riders are politely asked to leave late model touring bikes and billet aluminum covered customs at home.

That wont be a problem for Lindsey Rieker. She only owns vintage and rides her 1970 and 1972 BSA Thunderbolts regularly, often commuting to work on the old British motorcycles.

Rieker said shell ride the 1972 Thunderbolt on Sunday. It has a little more flash than the 70 with a chrome tank and sleek, lowered handlebars. Thats not to say the other BSA doesnt have a special place in her garage. Reikers dad gave her that bike from his own collection, and hell ride one of his many vintage motorcycles alongside her on Sunday.

Bad weather or not, I think it will just be a fun event to get us all together, she said. We all have a common ground: bikes.

She said the classy attire only adds to the fun.

Interested riders with qualifying motorcycles may register at gentlemansride.com.
WASHINGTON -- Guess what? A President Trump could adopt his new trade agenda without any authorization from Congress -- and this could trigger a global trade war and a deep U.S. recession. Policies that promise to make us stronger economically could do the opposite.

That's the main take-away of a study by the Peterson Institute, a Washington think tank, of the trade policies of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Both candidates oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and Trump has advocated stiffer anti-trade policies -- high tariffs on Mexico (35 percent) and China (45 percent) as well as possible withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Not surprisingly, Peterson -- whose free-trade bias is no secret -- deplores these proposals. For Congress not to ratify the TPP would be a huge strategic blunder, writes economist Marcus Noland. It would represent a retreat from a leadership position in Asia, ceding "to China the lead in setting trade rules" for the region. "China's economic influence [would grow] at the expense of" America's. The TPP eliminates most tariffs among its 12 country members and sets some rules for state-owned enterprises and other areas of international commerce.

The study's most startling conclusion is that Trump could implement most of his proposals, which repudiate decades of pro-trade policies, by executive order. So contends Peterson's Gary Hufbauer after a review of trade laws. Over the past century, Hufbauer says, Congress has passed many laws that "authorize the president to impose tariffs or quotas on imports." These provide ample precedent for independent presidential action, Hufbauer says.

The laws include the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917, the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934, the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the Trade Act of 1974 and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977. Even the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allows its members (the United States, Canada and Mexico) to withdraw with six months' notice. There are similar provisions in other free trade agreements (FTAs) that the United States has with 18 countries, including Colombia and South Korea. Trump has said he might withdraw from these if they can't be satisfactorily renegotiated.

Of course, all Trump's bluster may simply be a ploy to improve his bargaining position with other countries. It's also likely that domestic opponents -- big agricultural and industrial exporters -- would rush to court, seeking a temporary injunction pending the outcome of a trial. Presumably, they would argue that Congress had delegated details of trade policy to the president, but not fundamental changes in policy.

Still, Hufbauer doubts the courts will persuaded. He thinks they would move against the president only if the White House lost a trial. A trial could take a year or two, giving Trump a long period of freedom to pursue his policies.

If Trump raises tariffs on Mexico and China, they will retaliate, and this could set off a full-scale global trade war, the Peterson study says. Even assuming Trump doesn't adopt other extreme measures (leaving the WTO or abrogating other FTAs), the result would be a severe recession, estimates an economic model used by Peterson. Trade and investment would decline. Unemployment would rise to 8.6 percent in 2020.

Actually, no one knows what would happen. But it almost certainly would be unfavorable. Over the decades, expanding trade has been an engine of growth for the world economy. Trump seems to assume that if he can cut the trade deficit, he would be defending U.S. jobs and stimulating U.S. economic growth. With a $500 billion U.S. trade deficit in 2015, there seems to be ample room for improvement.

Although this appears logical, it's actually backward. When the U.S. economy grows rapidly, the trade deficit rises (because imports surge) and the unemployment rate falls (because shoppers also buy domestic goods and services). By contrast, when the economy falls into recession, the trade deficit declines (because Americans buy fewer imports) and unemployment soars (because consumption also weakens). Not surprisingly, the Great Recession caused a huge drop in the trade deficit. In 2009, it was $384 billion, down from $762 billion in 2006.

If Trump gets his way, some offshore factories might shift back to the United States and other home countries. But the much larger effect would be weaker global trade and investment. A trade war that demolishes political support for global commerce would be a landmark event. Because companies wouldn't know where they can buy and sell profitably, they would delay investments until the outlook clarified. That could be a long time. Are these the last days of open trade? They could be.
Imagine this: A Montana mining company responsible for years of accumulated toxic waste meets elected officials behind closed doors to hammer out a plan to clean up some of it. Of course, both sides agree to do this outside of public view because, you know, they need to talk openly, frankly, about business stuff that probably we little people wouldn't understand.

You'd guess that this was the beginning of some Copper King story ending in graft, corruption and rich mining magnates.

Who knew history repeated itself?

That's exactly the case in Butte and Silver Bow County. For years, Atlantic Richfield Co., the company responsible for cleaning up decades of mining waste, has tried negotiating the cleanup with state and local officials. Maybe the worst part of this was that the secret negotiations had the secrecy blessed and ordered by the federal court Judge Sam Haddon.

At stake isn't just what is to be done, but also the future health of the Butte community. And let's face it: What ARCO doesn't do, local, state and federal government will have to finish. In other words, after a substandard cleanup effort, the taxpayers may shoulder the burden for trying to make Butte environmentally right.

On Tuesday, The Montana Standard filed suit along with Silver Bow Creek Headwaters Coalition in federal court, seeking to intervene in the case, arguing the public should not be kept in the dark about a decision that could have such far-reaching effects on generations of Butte and Silver Bow residents for decades.

The suit points out that without notice the government has bargained away the public's right to know, provide input and possibly use the power of public pressure to influence the outcome of the clean-up in its own community. Simply put, the lawsuit argues the government bargained away something it did not own  the public's right to know.

The public should be involved. This is something that clearly will affect generations of Butte residents, as mining pollution has already impacted the lives of so many.

Opponents of the lawsuit may argue that if negotiations are forced into the public, the process may not be as open or move as smoothly, thereby resulting in a worse outcome for the public.

We'd argue that what could be potentially much worse for the public, though, is the ability to hide the truth or cut deals that cut corners.

Besides, just this week both state and local officials pulled out of Superfund negotiations because of issues with ARCO. As a recent editorial in the Standard asked: Does anyone believe the public's observation would have resulted in a worse result? After all, the negotiations seem close to collapse.

Maybe if they had been open in the first place, they wouldn't be crumbling.

In fact, we'd argue that more input, more information and more transparency will lead to an even better result because the decisions will happen in the open, where people can monitor the progress or put pressure on leaders when, as is the case right now, the talks have stalled. Finally, if members of the public see something wrong, they can lobby local leaders to make a change.

It's unconscionable that the government and the courts would want to cut the public out of something that literally affects the life and health of the entire community. Certainly, we'd hope the judge will agree and at least let the public observe the process which will wind up dictating how the community is cleansed.

We hope local and state officials, if they come back to the negotiating table, will this time remember not to bargain away the public's right. We hope they will also advocate bringing the public and media to the table.

There's something scrappy  something definitely Butte  about the act of standing up to big corporations, a government that seems in cahoots with a private business, and a community that loves its underdogs.

Fighting for the public's right to know isn't just the right thing to do. It's enshrined in our state's constitution. We firmly believe that right to know was put in there as a response to the lousy government that all too often scurried behind closed doors to leave the public with a raw deal. Those kind of politics were in fashion at one time in Butte.

Hopefully not anymore.
Tasha Adams: I still sometimes feel like I released him out into the world. I think of him like a grenade where I was always putting the pin back in."
Daredevil Robbie Knievel received a two-year deferred sentence in Butte district court Thursday in connection with a drunken driving incident in 2015.

Knievel, the son of the legendary Evel Knievel, stood before Judge Brad Newman and said he was definitely guilty of endangering the individuals who were involved in a four-car pileup after he ran a red light on April 21, 2015.

Before I plead guilty, I would like to say from the bottom of my heart I thank God nobody got hurt. I was definitely guilty, and I learned a lot from it, Knievel said.

The 54-year-old previously denied the felony charge of criminal endangerment in Butte district court.

Knievel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, a second offense, which was amended from a felony count by Butte-Silver Bow County prosecutors. He received a six-month sentence in city court with all but seven days suspended.

Knievel, who has been sober since his arrest last year, cited his drinking problems all my life and thanked God that none of the victims were hurt.

I dont even know who any of the people are to this day, and that accident just really woke me up in my life, he said.

Knievel was walking with a cane in court, having suffered a spinal injury in a "sober jump" exhibition in Palm Springs, California, several months after the Butte accident. He had surgery on his spine in February of this year.

Deputy County Attorney Ann Shea argued for a deferred sentence, saying it was the right amount of time for monitoring and rehabilitation. Two years of reporting to a probation officer would be the best for Knievel and the community, she said.

Insurance covered the property damage resulting from the crash, and no restitution would be required, Shea said.

Defense Attorney Walter Hennessey agreed with the prosecutor, adding that the deferred sentence would give his client a chance to prove to the court he had changed.

Newman said he had considered a custodial sentence for Knievel, but given his lack of a felony conviction, a deferred sentence should be our first line of attack.

Knievel was overcome with emotion, at times crying, as the two attorneys made their sentencing recommendations.

Newman reminded him how close he came to endangering the lives of the victims in the crash, and hurting himself.

Noting Knievels fame, Newman also ordered him to complete 40 hours of community service, specifically for educational purposes. Knievel had earlier said that he wanted to continue speaking about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Youre going to be a better messenger than the court can be  maybe change someones life, Newman said.
CHEYENNE  Wyoming lawmakers are considering legislation that would free up inactive liquor licenses for new businesses to use.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that the Legislature's Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee voted last week to send a bill that would require license holders to sell liquor for 12 consecutive months to the full Legislature in 2017.

Currently, liquor license holders are only required to sell alcohol for three consecutive months per year to keep their license. Because retail liquor licenses are limited by an area's population, unused licenses prevent other businesses from obtaining them.

Seasonal operations could still keep their licenses under the proposed legislation.
A Harris County toxicology expert resigned late Thursday as more than 10 years worth of DWI cases were under review after questions were raised about her qualifications.

"Dr. Fessessework Guale resigned her position as toxicology analytical operations manager at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences," the institute's spokeswoman Tricia Bentley said Friday.

In a letter sent to Houston defense attorneys last week, the district attorney's office said Guale has testified that she received a different master's degree than what she earned.

READ MORE: Questions about lab tech forces DA to review 10 years of DWI cases

The letter, a general notice to attorneys representing the thousands of DWI cases in Harris County every year, invites them to request a review of any cases involving Guale's testimony since 2006. It is not known how many cases - if any - could be challenged.

"The District Attorney's Office will facilitate specific requests for review of Dr. Guale's trial testimony in Harris County prosecutions from 2006 to present," according to the letter from Assistant District Attorney Inger Chandler.

The revelation outraged defense attorneys, who say Guale may have lied about her resume every time she was on the witness stand - which could be scores of cases.

"I think that she has troubles with truth-telling," said defense attorney Tyler Flood, who is president of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. "And she has put a lot of people in jail, and prison, for getting up on the stand and talking about junk science."
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Harris County prosecutors on Friday dismissed trespass charges against a reporter for VICE, an HBO news program, his lawyer confirmed.

Alex Thompson, 27, was arrested on Saturday at a west Houston hotel during an event for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

RELATED: Protesters greet Trump during his Houston visit

Houston police said hotel management asked Thompson to leave the building, which he did, then he tried to enter the hotel a second time. When he was asked to leave by management, Thompson told management to arrest him because he was not leaving, police said.

Thompson's attorney, Geoff Berg, confirmed that the charges were dropped after a brief hearing Friday, in which Thompson did not appear.

Berg referred questions to VICE officials and said the news organization is expected to release a statement Friday.

DEMOCRATIC VISIT: VP candidate Kaine fires up Democrats in Houston

Trump spokesman Steven Cheung has said the campaign had no knowledge of the arrest.

Trump's talk in Houston Saturday was part of a three-day conference held by The Remembrance Project, a non-profit organization that aims to draw attention to people killed by immigrants in the country illegally.

Trump kicked off his campaign in 2015 with severe condemnation of illegal immigration and has promised to deport the estimated 11 million people not authorized to be in the country if elected president.
A year after ice cream from Blue Bell Creameries began slowly returning to supermarkets following a bacteria contamination linked to 10 listeria cases, including three deaths, the Brenham-based ice cream icon is once again pulling some of its products from store shelves.

On Wednesday, Blue Bell announced a recall of "select products" that came from its plant in Sylacauga, Ala. because they were made with a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by a vendor that was "potentially" contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The cookie dough ingredients came from Garner, Iowa-based Aspen Hills, Inc.

The Blue Bell Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Blue Bell Cookie Two Step ice cream products were not sold in Texas, but they were distributed in 10 states throughout the south, including Louisiana.

In a statement on its website, Blue Bell identified the potential problem through what the creamery called "intensified internal testing" and notified Aspen Hills, which then issued a voluntary recall.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and with those with a weakened immune system. For normally healthy people, eating some of the contaminated ice cream can cause short-term illnesses such as a fever, nausea and diarrhea. A listeria infection can result in miscarriages and stillbirths for pregnant women.

To date, no illnesses have been reported due to the potential listeria contamination. "Although our products in the marketplace have passed our test and hold program, which requires that finished product samples test negative for Listeria monocytogenes, Blue Bell is initiating this recall out of an abundance of caution," company officials said Wednesday.

Aspen Hills reported shipping 578 cases of the suspicious "no egg chocolate chip cookie dough" to the Alabama plant on July 26. They shipped a further 1,358 cases to Brenham between Aug. 9 and Aug. 22.

After the 2015 listeria outbreak, the company halted production. With a significant investment from Fort Worth oil billionaire Sid Bass, Blue Bell began returning to shelves about a year ago. The economic impact of the latest voluntary recall was not immediately clear.

Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, questioned the method Blue Bell used to evaluate its products before being shipped out.

"You can make a mistake once but for a company to make a mistake twice?" Nestle asked. "Obviously, they weren't doing something if they shipped something they tested."

A Seattle-based attorney specializing in food safety issues also raised a question about the supplier. Bill Marler negotiated a settlement with a Florida man who got sick after eating Blue Bell ice cream that tested positive for listeria. On Wednesday, he wondered if Aspen Hills - the vendor that provided the potentially contaminated items - also employed the "test and hold" method to ensure their products are safe for human consumption.

"If they had done that, then arguably that ingredient would never have made it into Blue Bell's products," Marler said. "The real question is, have they (Blue Bell) required their vendors to do that?"

Blue Bell Creameries was fined $175,000 as part of a settlement with Texas health officials as a result of the 2015 listeria outbreak. The settlement requires Blue Bell to continue practices mandated by the Department of State Health Services in May 2015, such as withholding each lot of ice cream from distribution until tests come back negative.

On Wednesday, the state officials said the company notified them within 24 hours of receiving the lab-confirmed positive sample for listeria, as required by the agreement Blue Bell signed.

"Through the use of Blue Bell's test and hold protocol, no finished product that has been tested and confirmed positive for (listeria) at the Brenham plant has entered the marketplace in Texas," the Department of State Health Services said in a statement.

Blue Bell issued a series of incremental recalls when the original listeria outbreak was first discovered in early 2015. The company initially insisted the problems were limited to a small amount of ice cream. Blue Bell eventually shut down its entire operation and admitted ongoing sanitation problems across its plants. The company laid off or furloughed more than 2,800 employees and Blue Bell brand ice cream was unavailable in stores from April through August of 2015.

Bass bailed out the family-run company with a cash infusion of up to $125 million. All of its furloughed workers returned to work and some of their laid off employees were rehired.

The latest Blue Bell recall follows another high-profile food contamination case. The Chipotle Mexican Grill burrito chain temporarily shuttered dozens of restaurants late last year after two E. coli outbreaks in Washington and Oregon sent 21 people to the hospital. Health officials identified a second outbreak that infected five people in the Midwest.

Although the possible listeria contamination is another setback for Blue Bell, Marler said the company is likely more concerned about the ongoing federal inquiry. Under U.S. law, it's a misdemeanor to distribute tainted food and heavier penalties can be levied if it's done knowingly.

"The criminal investigation is still ongoing," Marler said. "They have bigger concerns than," the latest listeria-based recall.

Katherine Blunt contributed to this report.
Grand Prairie Police Department

The Grand Prairie police are on the hunt for 25-year-old math teacher Michael Perez and a 16-year-old student, Amy Botton.

A statement released by the Grand Prairie Independent School District says Perez "has been removed from all duties and prohibited from being on district property." Grand Prairie is about 15 miles west of Dallas.
Officials at Sam Houston State University say there has been a rise of chlamydia and gonorrhea among the Huntsville school's students.

The news comes less than a month after the World Health Organization warned that gonorrhea and chlamydia are quickly becoming untreatable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gonorrhea's resistance to common antibiotics has grown so strong, doctors are down to only one recommended and effective class of antibiotics to help combat the infection.
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In the folksy style for which he's known, Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine rallied a Houston crowd Friday morning to motivate the party faithful to continue drumming up votes for the ticket topped by presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

During a 30-minute speech at the Communications Workers of America Local 6222 union hall in downtown Houston, he discussed his pride in being the former secretary of state's running mate, what's at stake in the election and how the Democrats can win.

The U.S. senator from Virginia made the case for the Clinton-Kaine ticket by contrasting the vision of the Democrats to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

READ MORE: Why you should care about the Cincinnati Enquirer's Hillary Clinton endorsement

In his most demonstrative action, he held up the book that he wrote with Clinton called "Stronger Together"  the campaign's slogan  to show the smiling running mates on its cover waving their hands.

"We're upbeat, and we're telling you what we're going to do," he said.

Then, saying he was reluctant to give Trump "a royalty," Kaine presented "Crippled America," the GOP nominee's recent book. The crowd booed.

READ MORE: UH Poll: Clinton leads Trump 43-34 in Harris County

"It's his vision for who we are," Kaine said. "He's sitting up in a penthouse tower somewhere looking down at everybody with a big scowl on his face."

Kaine was flanked by United States and Texas flags as he spoke before about 300 party faithful including volunteers and unionized bus drivers as well as former and current elected Democrats from across the Houston region.

The stem-winder laid out reasons why he believes the Democrats are the party that expresses the best of a diverse and inclusive America  and could turn Texas from reliable Republican red to blue in November.

READ MORE: 'West Wing' stars stump for Hillary Clinton in Ohio

"Let's just have that fighting, underdog spirit," he said. "We can elect the first woman in the history of this country. We can make sure we build an economy that works for everybody and not just a few. We can move forward on important priorities like immigration reform and climate change."

He ended with declarations in Spanish and walked off the stage to Motown's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

In her introduction of Kaine, Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee fired up attendees by telling them that they are on "the right train to be on to go to victory in November 2016."
**NEW Texas Take: The Podcast with the Houston Chronicles Mike Ward and Quorum Report Editor Scott Braddock

A new poll shows Hillary Clinton is beating Donald Trump in Houston. Dan Patrick challenges Ted Cruz on his stance on Trump, claiming that if he and other Republicans do not back the presidential nominee, they will be left behind. Texas voter registrations are at an all-time high, but does that signal a record turnout in the November general election? Plus, growing concerns about police shootings of African-American men and a federal judge's new warning to Texas to mind its Ps and Qs on Voter ID. Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher

-- Programming Note: I will be catching some rays on vacation next week, so reach out to Mike Ward (mike.ward@chron.com) if you have any news.

-- Catch the latest from the Chronicles Mike Ward: State officials are housing 37 foster care children with severe emotional and behavioral issues in a repurposed former juvenile detention center in northeast Texas, a decision a ranking Texas senator said Thursday amounts to the warehousing of troubled youths in the state's care.

-- Overnight: Charlotte stays largely peaceful during 3rd night protest, AP

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents Thursday night for the citywide curfew that runs from midnight to 6 a.m. 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.

-- CRUZ WATCH  Ross Ramsey in The Texas Tribune: If Ted Cruz does (endorse Trump), he will have to explain how his change of heart was anything more than politics as usual. During the presidential campaign, Cruz had promised to endorse the partys nominee, no matter who that turned out to be. 

That doesnt leave him many places to go. He risks Republicans viewing him as unprincipled if he endorses, or unloyal to the party if he doesnt. Or, since this started as a story pitch, he comes up with a really convincing way to bring the election year to a happy close that preserves his political future.

-- Yes, another Texas poll. Happy weekend!

Hillary Clinton has a comfortable 10-point lead over 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.

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. (Houston Chronicle)

-- YOUR WEEKEND READ  Texas Monthlys Erica Grieder talks to the Border Patrols new Rio Grande Valley sector chief: This is the heated environment in which Manuel Padilla now finds himself. Considered one of the Border Patrols star commanders, Padilla left Tucson in late 2015 to take over the Rio Grande Valley sector, which covers 19 counties and 17,000 square miles and abuts 320 miles of river and 250 miles of the Gulf of Mexico.

Born in Nogales, Arizona, in 1965, Padilla has spent thirty years with the Border Patrol and has gained a reputation for being serious, civic-minded, and successful. Under Padillas leadership, the Tucson sector saw huge declines in cartel activity and in the number of immigrants illegally crossing the border, and he believes the agency can achieve similar results in South Texas.

>> Bud Kennedy: On border, Dan Patrick isnt about right or wrong  just politics, Star-Telegram

-- Finally: HOUSTON (AP)  A supplier of cookie dough that Blue Bell Creameries blamed for a possible listeria contamination of some of its ice cream said Thursday that its product tested negative for the pathogen before it was sent to the Texas-based company.

CAPITOL DAYBOOK - no meetings

SPEED READ

Grieder: This ones on us, Sid, Texas Monthly

On Abbotts watch, the fight for the soul of Texas universities has cooled, The Texas Tribune

Tulsa police officer charged in mans death, AP

Child's death in car in Dayton coincides with call for new safety measure, Houston Chronicle

Texas not budging on rule requiring burial or cremation of fetal remains, The Texas Tribune

Adler announces crowdsourced investment fund to save live music venues, Austin American-Statesman

American flight makes unplanned Texas stop due to disruption, Houston Chronicle

Farewell to summer leads to uptick in Texas fireflies, Houston Chronicle

Hope springs eternal in the oil patch, Houston Chronicle

Despite Optimism, Oil Firms Keep Cutting Jobs, Wall Street Journal

Once Again, School District Shuts Down Tax Break for Gas Exporter, Texas Observer

Satellite-based radar confirms man-made Texas earthquakes, KXAN

US House approves legislation prohibiting cash payments to Iran, AP

RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE

-- APs Steve Peoples and Jill Colvin in Pittsburgh: 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 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 offers plan to cut college tuition, Houston Chronicle

-- Inside Clintons debate prep  Its not clear if Dunn and her partner Ron Klain  the two most experienced debate prep specialists in Democratic politics  are giving Hillary Clinton the same advice. But they are overseeing an orderly and intensely secretive process designed to armor a battle-scarred debater for an unpredictable face-off that presents great dangers  but also an opportunity for Clinton to reverse the fall narrative of a Trump surge, writes Politicos Annie Karni and Glenn Thrush.

-- So, what is Trump doing? Per the NYT: Mr. Trump, in turn, is approaching the debate like a Big Man on Campus who thinks his last-minute term paper will be dazzling simply because he wrote it. He has paid only cursory attention to briefing materials. He has refused to use lecterns in mock debate sessions despite the urging of his advisers. He prefers spitballing ideas with his team rather than honing them into crisp, two-minute answers.
I sat down at my computer in the fall, and when I looked up, it was April, was how one man described his experience with a genealogy project. When we attended the recent Germans from Russia Heritage Societys convention in Rapid City, statements like that floated on the air and illustrated how riveting the study of family history can be.

Many of us living in the region qualify for membership in the organization. My paternal grandmother migrated from Ukraine at the age of seventeen in 1904, and all of my wifes grandparents journeyed here in the early part of the twentieth century to escape the harsh realities of life in Russia. Many of us Germans from Russia (GRs) can point to ancestral stories that have been passed down, some in church and community history books, letters, or word of mouth.

The beginning of GRs history can be traced to 1763 when Catherine the Great of Russia wanted to modernize Russia and invited German farmers to settle in her country. She offered them enticements such as free transportation, free land, freedom of religion, freedom from taxes for a period of time, exemption from military service, and freedom to exercise local self-government.

Catherine herself was a German national who assumed power after the assassination of her husband, Peter III. She saw Russia as a backward country and encouraged immigration of her old countrymen because they were progressive farmers, good craftsmen, and efficient business people. Many accepted the invitation, over half a million by the 1850s. For the most part, the German immigrants prospered, but the 20th century and its world wars brought an end to their peaceful coexistence with the original inhabitants since they were always suspected of being potential traitors.

I opened a book titled From the Steppes to the Prairie penned by Monsignor George P. Aberle who had come in 1908 from Strasburg in South Russia at the age of seventeen and then became a Catholic priest. He gives a highly readable account of how succeeding Russian governments reneged on Catherines earlier promises to them. Without going into further detail about the political climate and how it developed, we can just say that living there became progressively difficult for the Germans.

As time went on draft animals no longer existed because the man-made famine called the Holodomor instituted by Joseph Stalin had taken them all from the settlers. That and roving bands of thieves came in the night stealing anything they could. What could the settlers do but replace the muscle power of the animals with their own. Men were taken for military service or sent to gulags in Siberia or had been shot, leaving the women with all the physical work. A stark black and white photograph showed a one-bottom plow pulled by four women who had just paused to rest behind their makeshift yoke.

A picture of a stone barn shown at the convention got my attention because it spoke loudly about the disrespect shown by the Russians to the memory of deceased GRs. Located in Ukraine, the builders of this barn plundered tombstones from cemeteries to use for building blocks. The inscriptions on most of them had been turned to the interior of the building. Whether purposefully or inadvertently, however, the builder faced one outward on the wall exposing the name and dates of the person carved on the stone.

Not all was doom and gloom at this convention because some of the workshops made participants smile. Im thinking specifically of those demonstrations teaching how to make Hochzeit Schapps and Red Borscht. I dont know if the schnapps was anything like the variety my father-in-law mixed up for our wedding, but if it was, it certainly made our guests smile as they drank and held out their glasses for refills. A strong aroma from the borscht workshop worked its way throughout the conference center making people unfamiliar with it, like myself, ask whats in that stuff. And for one coffee break, some of the best kuchen you can imagine was served.

The man in the first paragraph of this piece could well have been my wife, because when she starts a genealogy search, she gets completely immersed in it, too. Resources exist to help researchers such as the Germans from Russia Heritage Society headquarters in Bismarck and the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection in the NDSU library system.

The Heritage Collection, under the direction of Michael M. Miller, provides links to much information, but it also sponsors and arranges trips to the homeland where participants can walk on ground their ancestors walked on, mix with present-day residents, and tour meaningful sites.

If someone wants to start the process of genealogy, all they need do is contact one of the two above mentioned organizations or talk to people presently engaged in it or start digging on their own. Chances are they will lose themselves in the process and end up with meaningful documents of family history to pass on to their own descendants.
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.
North Dakota Farmers Union this week sent 44 people to participate in the National Farmers Unions legislative fly-in to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness in Congress about the worsening farm economy.

NDFU President Mark Watne said the 275 participants in the fly-in will visit every member of Congress to tell them about the 63 percent decline in farm income from 2014 to 2015. Defining the problem is the first step; the harder part is finding a way to fix it in time to save family farms and rural communities, he said.

Were getting a lot of understanding about the issue, he said. But were not getting a real good set of solutions.

Andy Swenson, farm and family resource management specialist at North Dakota State University, said 2007 to 2012 were very good years for farm income, with 2012 being a tremendously profitable year for farmers. Those conditions helped pull more young people back to the farm. But average net farm income went from $76,404 in 2014 to $28,600 last year.

Now, it doesnt even provide income for one family let alone two, Swenson said.

Cost of production increased a lot from 2004 to 2013, and though it has started to come down, it hasnt dropped as far as the prices farmers are getting for their crops, according to Swenson.

Its been a sharp reversal of fortunes, and, hopefully, the balance sheets were solidified in those goods years so you have a little cushion, said Swenson, adding that those in a good situation coming out of the strong years likely can refinance their obligations at least for the next year.

But Watne worries that producers  especially young ones  without enough equity or a strong enough balance sheet might be out of luck when it comes time to get operating loans.

If you cant give them equity, youre going to have a problem, Watne said.

Swenson said the 2014 Farm Bill did away with direct payments, which paid some producers regardless of situation, which helped make up for poor prices or yields. However, Swenson and Watne said those programs have not kept up with the cost of production.

Nobody could really plan for this much of a drop in prices, Watne said.

While solutions are hard to come by, Watne has a few ideas. He says he believes the level of support in farm programs should be based on the cost of production. Additionally, he believes the American people need to be shown the benefit of the nations food system and the importance of having a broad base of farmers rather than be reliant on other countries or a concentrated system of a few producers.

Farmers Union members at the fly-in are asking members of Congress to support the Renewable Fuel Standard and to make sure the Department of Justice is adequately considering whether mergers among agricultural companies are producing monopolies. Additionally, they are asking for more prudence in trade agreements that have often left American farmers and ranchers with more negatives than positives.

Swenson said such downturns in farm income are cyclical and usually correct themselves. Fewer people will produce crops for low prices, reducing supply, while low prices lead to increased demand.

They say low prices will cure low prices, he said.

Keeping costs down in ways that wont hurt yields will be important, as will looking for crops with a brighter outlook, according to Swenson, who said corn and wheat  two of North Dakotas biggest crops  have taken the biggest price hits, but others have remained marginally stronger and allow for better chances to at least break even. Production costs should decrease somewhat for next year, he said.

The tough farm economy likely will cost the state some producers, though time will tell how many, Swenson said. Strong yields, including a record corn yield and strong wheat yield, should help balance things out.

Its bad, Swenson said. Could have been really bad.
Burleigh County commissioners decided Thursday to move ahead with the proposed conversion of existing jail space into offices for the sheriff and state's attorney.

To move forward, commissioners approved a design and engineering contract with Ubl Design Group for up to $659,000.

The commissioners also chose to seek a contractor-at-risk format for awarding contracts. Under that model, the general contractor selected is responsible for guaranteeing the project remains within budget. The contractor will bid out all facets of the project. Jeff Ubl of Ubl Design Group assured it was a very transparent way of bidding out projects. Each part of the project is bid out and Ubl didn't feel prices could be manipulated if they came in lower than budget.

A committee will be formed to name the contractor by qualifications. The committee could be named at the Oct. 3 meeting.

Ubl estimates the project will cost $9.5 million.

Tearing down the old jail cells and repurposing them cannot start until the new combined jail is completed. Sheriff Pat Heinert said he plans to move inmates into the new facility in phases.

When asked, Heinert said the concept of the contract-at-risk manager was fairly new to this region and committee members were uncomfortable using it when drafting the new jail plans, but said it could have also worked for that project's construction. He supported using the contract-at-risk manager process for converting the old jail, however.

Budget

After County Finance Director Clyde Thompson assured there would be no property tax increases for the average property owner, the 2017 budget of $110 million in spending met no objections from the audience and no amendments were made.

This amounts to a decrease from spending $126 million in the 2016 budget because detention center construction costs are down $20 million.

Commissioners approved the budget 5-0.

County Auditor Kevin Glatt said property taxes will not increase because new growth and reserves are being used to cover any budget increases.

The county will issue 49.21 property tax mills, including 1 property tax mill for the highway department, a .75 mill increase. Each mill is valued at $473,000, an increase from one year ago of when mills were valued at $438,000.

Burleigh County budgeted $7.4 million in operational costs for the new jail while Morton County will contribute $1.23 million

All employees will see a 1.5 percent wage increase in the 2017 budget, costing the county $350,000. Commissioners added nine new positions in the budget for the new detention center and a new administrative assistant in the victim witness advocate program of the state's attorney's office, starting July 1, 2017.

Glatt said 3.8 percent of the property taxes is based on the agriculture sector, 28.1 percent from commercial properties and 67.1 percent from residential properties.

He added the county only keeps 19 percent of all property taxes collected for the entire county, and the school board, park board, township board and city commission each have jurisdiction to levy their separate property taxes.

With the new jail being built in southeast Bismarck, scheduled for completion next spring, the commission didn't expect it would incur major repair expenses and cut the jail maintenance fund from .5 mills to .25 mills. A $2 million reserve balance remains in the fund.

The county lost $2.7 million in state sales tax aid and state highway gas tax funds for 2017. To compensate part of the loss, the county diverted $1 million of its reserve funds, raised the highway department mill levy from .25 mills to 1 mill and delayed the purchase of two road graders.

In the budget, commissioners decided to spread its share of the Fox Island Flood Protection project -- $920,000-- over several years and replace it with smaller annual payments instead. Commissioner Kathleen Jones said the vote on the special assessment project appeared favorable and the results would be announced in October. Benefiting residents of the flood project will pay part of the costs via the special assessment if approved.

Other cuts included striking $15,000 for LED lights for courtrooms and reducing the county park budget from $240,000 to $121,600.
A pipeline protester, who was held in the Morton County jail and inspired a 300-person rally Tuesday, was extradited to Nebraska and later released on bond.

Olowan Martinez, 42, of South Dakota, was arrested Sept. 13 for criminal trespass during a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The new charge triggered a Nebraska warrant: She was wanted on a felony charge of making terroristic threats and misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal mischief from a 2013 incident in Sheridan County.

According to a criminal complaint from Nebraska, Martinez allegedly took and damaged hundreds of dollars worth of alcohol and damaged tires on a vehicle belonging to a Nebraska-based beer distributor.

On Tuesday, about 300 people held a rally outside the jail in Mandan to show support for Martinez and appeal for her release. They held up a large sign that read "Free Olowan," and some called out to her in the jail.

Representatives from the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office picked her up at the Morton County jail on Wednesday afternoon.

On Thursday, Martinez made her initial appearance in Sheridan County, and her bond was set at 10 percent of $10,000, which has been posted.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled on Sept. 29 in Nebraska. A trial for her misdemeanor trespassing case is set for Dec. 28 in Morton County.
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The company building the Dakota Access Pipeline has purchased 20 parcels of land totaling several thousand acres just north of where protesters of the four-state pipeline are encamped on federally owned land and where the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe claims sacred sites were distributed by pipeline construction, property records show.

Dakota Access LLC bought the land from cattle ranchers David and Brenda Meyer of nearby Flasher for an undisclosed sum, according to the warranty deed filed with the Morton County Recorders Office.

The companys Bismarck attorney, Lawrence Bender, signed the deed on Thursday. He could not immediately be reached for comment Friday, and the Meyers have not returned phone messages left at their listed number this week and Friday.

The land includes a segment of the pipeline route west of Highway 1806 where the tribe claims burials and other sacred sites were disturbed by bulldozers on Sept. 3, leading to a violent clash between angry protesters and the pipelines private security personnel armed with guard dogs and pepper spray. Both sides claimed injuries.

The deed does not list the acreage involved in the sale, but legal descriptions of the parcels indicate it involved more than 6,000 acres.

The land includes at least part of the historic Cannonball Ranch located at the confluence of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers.

Bill Edwards, an investment firm owner in Aberdeen, S.D., tried unsuccessfully to auction off the 7,400-acre ranch in 2006, the Associated Press reported at the time. Property and state tax records show David and Brenda Meyer bought 10 parcels totaling 2,365 acres from Edwards for about $3.2 million in November 2013, and all of those parcels were included in Thursdays sale to Dakota Access LLC.

KX News of Bismarck reported that David Meyer said he sold the land to Dakota Access for liability reasons, that there were too many people on his property all the time and that it was a beautiful ranch but he just wanted out.

The Meyers previously signed easements with Dakota Access LLC in February 2015 allowing for a 50-foot-wide pipeline easement and a 100-foot-wide construction easement, records show.

David Meyer also has a grazing lease on 429 acres owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just north of the Cannonball River where thousands of pipeline opponents have been camping for several weeks.

The corps granted a special use permit Friday to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to allow a lawful free-speech demonstration to continue on Corps land south of the Cannonball River but didnt act on the permit application for the north land because of the existing grazing lease.
Editors note: On September 24, 2019, the US Department of Labor announced the final version of its rule. Of note for churches and church leaders: the adopted standard salary level is $684 per week, or $35,568 per year, for a full-year worker. This is slightly higher than the original rule proposed in March.

Editors note: For an in-depth treatment of this topic, see Richard Hammars analysis in A Closer Look at New Overtime Rules Taking Effect in 2020.

On March 7, the US Department of Labor (DOL) issued its long-awaited replacement of the Obama administrations controversial overtime rule, raising the minimum salary threshold required for workers to qualify for the Fair Labor Standards Act's white collar exemptions to $35,308 per year, reported Law360.com. The new weekly minimum salary will work out to be ...
An expert in North Dakotas anti-corporate farming law says Thursdays purchase by Dakota Access LLC of about 6,000 acres of private ranch land surrounding its pipeline route near Standing Rock Sioux Reservation violates the law and should be immediately investigated by the Attorney Generals office.

Bismarck attorney Sarah Vogel, former head of the Agriculture Department, says the anti-corporate farming law forbids corporate farm and ranch land ownership with only very narrow exceptions. She said its not clear why Dakota Access needs to own the land when it already has a 150-foot pipeline easement.

The anti-corporate farming law allows corporations to own land necessary for residential, commercial or industrial development, but Vogel said the ownership of 6,000 acres falls far beyond the scope of a narrow path for a pipeline to which it already has access.

Thats sketchy, she said.

The deed transfer from David and Kathy Meyer was recorded Thursday in the Morton County registrars office, which by law has 30 days to report corporate land purchases to the Attorney Generals office, according to the Century Code. The code says if the attorney general finds a violation, hes required to commence action in district court, leading to a forced sale and possible fines.

Liz Brocker, spokeswoman for Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, said the paperwork from Morton County had not yet arrived Friday.

Lawrence Bender, a Bismarck attorney for Dakota Access who handled the purchase, did not return a late-Friday phone call for comment on the anti-corporate farming implications.

Bob Carlson, former president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, said that based on a description of the transaction, it didnt appear to fit the parameters of the anti-corporate law.

It sounds like quite a lot of acreage to purchase for the use of a pipeline, unless theyre planning to put up a refinery or something, he said. They cant farm it or use it for conservation, so they mustve had some kind of arrangement for it to be industrial property for the time being.

Vogel suggested Dakota Access may be trying to avoid archaeological surveys, which have been a point of contention between the pipeline and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
Audio Transcript

Stephen Eide: Hello everyone. Im Stephen Eide, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute filling in for Brian on the 10 Blocks Podcast brought to you by City Journal. Im joined in the studio today by Thomas Main. Tom is a professor at the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College here in New York City. Previously Tom worked for a number of reputable organizations and publications, such as the Smith Richardson Foundation, and he even did a brief stint at the Manhattan Institute in the early 1980s. Today we are here to discuss Toms new book, Homelessness in New York City: Policymaking from Koch to de Blasio. Tom, thanks so much for joining us.

Thomas Main: Thank you.

Stephen Eide: Okay, so I want to start off with, let me just frame the discussion this way. So its, you know, sometimes you hear it alleged that were not doing enough to help the homeless in New York City but the fact is that city government in New York spends close to $2 billion on homeless services across several city agencies. And one question your book is trying to answer is how did this subpopulation, which faces every possible disadvantage, manage to secure such a sizeable chunk of the city budget to yourself. What answer did you come to about that question.

Thomas Main: Well, lets see. You know there was a school of thought, the pluralists, who said New York is made up of all sorts of different interest groups and they all get a little something, right? And then in the radical 60s and the 70s that approach came under criticism and the argument was gee, there are some groups who dont get anything. So, I looked at the homeless and I said well if, you know, if theres any group thats not going to get anything it kind of looks like its going to be the homeless. But in fact I think that the homeless, they did not succeed in organizing themselves as an interest group the way like a union might or an ethnicity might, but they did succeed in attracting the attention of a homeless policy network that was very effective at representing them in courts and in other policymaking forums. So they werent an interest group that fought for themselves but they received the support of an effective policy network.

Stephen Eide: Yeah, one of the things that I think is very useful, that your books does very usefully, is help to remind us of the outsize role that courts have made in homeless policymaking in New York City. Can you talk a little bit about that for a second?

Thomas Main: Yes. I mean its clear that as a result of the Callahan v. Carey suit which dealt with homeless single men and McCain v. Koch and its follow-up lawsuits which dealt with families. Yes, entrepreneurial lawyers, activist lawyers, pushing for a right to shelter through the court played a very big role in New York City, you know, partly because New York States Constitution, in Article 17, has language that we construe to something like a right to shelter. So that was very important to see the impact of legal activism. However, one thing I would say, though, people do tend to focus on the legal activists and say oh, the city was dragged kicking and screaming to provide shelter all against its will. And theres something to that, but thats not the whole story. I mean I think the city could have put up more resistance to the legal advocates if it wanted to and in the end I think the city, for the most part, felt  gee, this is the right thing to do. Its not politically sustainable to say were just not going to help homeless people. And so I think the shelter system that weve got, whatever you think of it, was partly built up not only by these legal advocates but also by the city and by mayors.

Stephen Eide: Well, yeah. I think that raises  but doesnt that beg a question, though, that, you know, that is to say this is New York City, its a, you know, Democratic city, progressive-leaning city, surely New York would have provided for the homeless under any scenario. But yet what the real effect of this role that legal advocates and courts played is in this extensive regulation and oversight of the citys homeless policy.

Thomas Main: Yeah.

Stephen Eide: Especially the shelter system. I mean thats the question, its not whether or not we would provide for the homeless, but how we would do so and whether or not city officials would get, how much leeway city officials would get.

Thomas Main: Yes. I think one of the limitations of the system, alright, was the frame, or one of the limitations of the New York approach was framing the problem as a matter of right to shelter. So if you conceive of it as a right which is to be vindicated through the courts and you can conceive of it as a right to shelter you get two things. One is you get the courts involved in the management. They dont claim to be involved in the management of the shelters but in fact they are, and thats oftentimes suboptimal. The other problem is once you define the problem as a right to shelter what you get is shelter. And lots and lots of shelter. And you dont necessarily get mental health services, you dont necessarily get cheap permanent housing and so forth. So, you know, I in the end came around to supporting the idea of a right to shelter. It kicked off the system, which  and in fact in the late 70s not enough was being done for the homeless, thats true. And so in that situation I can sympathize with people who said gee, whiz. We just got to sue these SOBs to get them off their butts. So Im sympathetic with that but I think the limits of that approach are one, it doesnt make for a great managerial environment and two, it limits you to focusing on shelter rather than any other approach.

Stephen Eide: Lets move a bit into the current situation, because you do, in your book, bring it all the way up to the current de Blasio administration and its policy on homelessness. One thing that strikes me about the de Blasio administration its I believe the first mayoral administration to not have to deal with the courts in its homeless policymaking. Do you think this might have anything to do with the fact that the man that would have sued the current administration over shelter management and other aspects of homeless policy, Steven Banks, the former head advocate of the Legal Aid Society, is now de Blasios HRA Commissioner? Why has de Blasio not had to deal with the courts as much as prior administrations?

Thomas Main: Well I think the main reason is because the big court case, the McCain case that dealt with the right to shelter of homeless families, was settled under Bloomberg. And so you know, the case pretty much went away before de Blasio came on board at all. And I think its also probably true that the fact that Steve Banks is commissioner of HRA and now oversees homeless policy, I think that induced a lot of advocates to cut the city some slack that they wouldnt have otherwise. But I think the main thing is, you know, the litigation just ended and thats what happened.

Stephen Eide: Now your book is very provocative in a number of ways and one thing that its very provocative is, I think, is that its fairly sympathetic to the de Blasio administrations approach to homelessness. I mean a poll showed that New York Citys public has generally taken a pretty dim opinion of the mayors approach on homelessness and yet you see de Blasio and Commissioner Banks as generally in the right track. What do you think the public has been getting wrong about the de Blasio approach?

Thomas Main: Well, lets see. I think the public perhaps has the perception that there are many more homeless people on the street than there were under Bloomberg. And there doesnt seem to be much evidence of that. Now, there are, in fact, people on the street under de Blasio. The question is are there many more people on the street under de Blasio than there were under Bloomberg? And I dont see much evidence for that. I do think the media has, you know, for political reasons partly, decided to focus on the homeless problem and run photographs of homeless people on the street under de Blasio, and that gave people the impression that there were more people on the street. Now, however, there are more people in the DHS shelter system than there used to be. I believe its now in the vicinity of 59,000 people, its at an all-time high, so thats serious. So I would say the de Blasio administration deserves a certain amount of sympathy because they inherited a tough situation. The homeless shelter census was going up, not down, when de Blasio came in, okay? So to turn around a trend like that is challenging and I think de Blasio underestimated how tough it would be and maybe oversold the public on how much progress could be made and so I think theres a certain amount of frustration.

Stephen Eide: Yeah, and if I could just you know, leap to the publics defense on a couple of points or at least push back on a couple of things you say in the book, if you dont mind, I mean first of all we know that the single adult population has been rising. Its possible that the people that the public see on the streets are people who are sleeping in shelters but are, you know, out on the streets panhandling during the day, in particular the single adults. And second, this issue of permanent housing benefits. Permanent housing as a solution to homelessness, which is a solution that, as I gather from the book, you know, you resisted when you first began researching homelessness back in the 1980s, but youve since come around to support. And this is certainly central to the de Blasio administrations solution to homelessness. Let me put the question to you this way. I mean giving out permanent housing benefits to get people out of shelter you reduce or stabilize the shelter census, but you increase overall levels of government dependence. I mean is this a win for social policymaking in New York City?

Thomas Main: Well I think its something to be thought about very seriously. Now, if you say okay, were going to take people, mostly families who are in the shelter system, and were going to get them out by moving them into public housing or by moving them into apartments that are owned by the city or by giving them a subsidy, then the question comes up well, will that encourage people to come into the system simply for the sake of getting the subsidy or the apartments? Now, I used to think that back in the early 90s I thought it was a very real possibility. I still think its a real possibility that the city should keep its eye on. However, there has been, I think, pretty much definitive quantitative work done by Dan OFlaherty at Columbia. He looked at what happened when the Dinkins administration very rapidly moved homeless families out of the shelter and into city-owned apartments. I claimed that caused more people to come into the shelter system. OFlaherty demonstrates quantitatively, and I havent seen anybody undermine these findings, that, as a matter of fact, very, very few people came into the shelter system in order to be eligible for the permanent housing and he estimated that the city has to place seven homeless families in city-owned apartments before it would draw in one family to the shelter system. So the perverse incentive exists, but its weak. Alright, so thats one question. Now, then theres another issue, okay? You might say fine, now lets go ahead and give out the subsidies because we dont have to fear about the perverse incentives. But then, as you point out, if you subsidize people then you end up subsidizing them and they are now dependent on the subsidy and you have to ask, so you have now  now you have another problem. You dont have a problem with perverse incentives but you have a potential dependency problem and youve got to decide whether thats, that problem, a dependency problem, is better than the problem you would have of people being on the street in the case of the mentally ill, and so forth, and in general I think were rather better off with the dependency problem than we would be with the problem of a lot more people on the street getting nothing.

Stephen Eide: And, you know, can you try to separate what you just said between the two populations that homeless policies typically define it in between. I mean you have the single adult problem and then you have the family problem.

Thomas Main: Yes.

Stephen Eide: And the single adult problem is the one that, you know, this is  these are the type, we see them on the street, they have much higher rates of substance abuse and mental illness. The family problem, most of the people in the shelters, most of New York Citys homeless population is basically single mothers with children.

Thomas Main: Yes.

Stephen Eide: Thats the largest number. The solution that you just laid out, I mean to what extent do we need to distinguish between those two different populations?

Thomas Main: Well, theyre very different populations and they require very different interventions. The single individual man population is much more disabled than the family population. The single men are much more substance addicted, much more mentally ill. And they require some form of intense rehabilitation, right? The family population is different. You dont have dramatically higher rates of mental illness and substance abuse amongst homeless families than you have amongst housed families that are similarly poor. Homeless families, generally, if you simply move them very rapidly into subsidized housing, even if they dont get rehabilitation, right, they generally do pretty well. So therefore the rapid rehousing approach seems to work with the homeless families. Im more skeptical about that approach with homeless individuals because you need some way to, you know, to get them into rehabilitation if you possibly can.

Stephen Eide: Yes, and clearly in the publics mind I think the greatest concern when you are talking about maintaining levels of public order, you know, making sure

Thomas Main: Yes.

Stephen Eide: that you know, the streets are clean, they are not disorderly, we dont have, you know, encampments, a problem like that. Thats really, has more to do with the single adult issue in

Thomas Main: Yes, and I think, you know, going back to this question of the public, I mean Im not arguing that the public, you know, doesnt know what its talking about. The public is very concerned about public order. I am too and I think the de Blasio administration, you know, failed to communicate forcefully that, you know, they were not going to allow the order on the streets to deteriorate. And when the public somehow got the idea that that was not as much of a priority as it used to be they objected and, you know, and de Blasio has, you know, ever since then been trying to convince people hey, Im really on top of this public order issue with mixed results.

Stephen Eide: Well, you know, I think thats all the time we have now. Thanks so much for coming in, Tom.

Thomas Main: Youre welcome.

Stephen Eide: We would also love to hear your comments about todays episode on Twitter, @CityJournal with the hashtag #10Blocks. Lastly, if you like our show and want to hear more, please leave ratings and reviews on iTunes. Thanks for listening and thank you again, Tom, for joining us.

Thomas Main: Thank you.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. So it was in June, when the University of CaliforniaBerkeley created Ideaction, a website for friends of Cal to pitch their money-raising ideas for the university. Suggestions have rolled in: charge for valet parking, host furniture sales, repurpose Memorial Stadium for clubbing, and so on. These submissions would be amusing if not for the fact that Berkeley and the UC system face a larger problem, which no amount of parking transactions or furniture sales can fix.

The University of California system has long faced financial challenges and controversies, many of which are self-inflicted at the campus level. In 2015, for example, after the system received an increase in state funding, it promptly gave its highest-earning administrators a raise over student objections. The current situation at Berkeley is particularly acute: Berkeley has what outgoing chancellor Nicholas Dirks described as a substantial and growing $150 million deficit, which imperils its long-term solvency and growth. Solving that budget crisis wont be easy, given declining state funding, an in-state tuition freeze, and annual increases in merit pay and cost-of-living adjustments.

Instead of hunting for creative, untapped revenue sources or making piecemeal changes, Berkeley administrators need to turn inward and take a comprehensive look at their own spending choices. How did the situation become so dire? Any sober analysis of the institutions budgeting makes the indulgencesparticularly on administrative spendingimmediately apparent.

Berkeleys excesses start at the top: Chancellor Dirks, who recently announced his resignation, earns an annual salary of $532,226ten times the median American household income. The university spent more than $200,000 on his image consulting and more than $1 million on renovations to the chancellors University House, including almost $700,000 for a fence and $90,000 for new Persian rugs. Dirks himself came under investigation for allegedly misusing funds. Below him, Berkeley has lavished spending on full-time administrators, growing the ranks by 56 percent between 2005 and 2015, to a total of 1,281 people. There are now almost as many administrators at Berkeley as there are facultyone for roughly every 21 undergraduates.

An analysis conducted by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni of publicly-available data found that between 2009 and 2014, Berkeleys administrative spending grew faster than that of any other institution in the UC system, at a rate dramatically outpacing instructional spending growth. Both physical and human resources are squandered. As is true at nearly all UC campuses, tenured and tenure-track faculty generally teach a maximum of four courses per year, often fewer. Many classrooms sit empty, especially on Fridays and the whole of the summer. Berkeleys renowned research reputation doesnt preclude a modest increaseappropriately rewardedin teaching responsibilities. Even one more course every other year would make a huge difference. That, and the full use of classroom and lab space, would open opportunities for deserving California students and bring a robust stream of new tuition dollars to the campus, without further taxing the public.

Research has shown that colleges and universities could save as much as 10 percent of their instructional costs simply by reorganizing curricula. Berkeley can follow the example of its Pac-12 colleague, Arizona State University. By consolidating related departments, ASU has already saved more than $13 million without eliminating any faculty positions. For example, it once had separate departments for biology, plant biology, microbiology, and molecular and cellular biology; today, it has a truly interdisciplinary School of Life Sciences. Berkeley is ripe for similar innovation.

A $150 million deficit is daunting but not insurmountable, though it requires changes that may be uncomfortable. The cost of inaction as budget shortfalls loom would be far more harmful, especially at a time when overstretched students, families, and taxpayers have already seen their tuition bills rise by more than 30 percent over a five-year period. UCBerkeley is a remarkable institution with more than 480,000 living alumni, but to preserve its tradition of academic excellence, university and system leaders must finally address long-festering financial problems. Its challenge now is to become a model for academic excellence and management responsibility.

Photo by nothjc/iStock
This weeks long-anticipated federal corruption charges against Andrew Cuomos one-time closest aidethe man the New York governor once described as his fathers third sonrepresents a what-might-have-been moment in a potentially brilliant career. On Thursday, U.S. attorney Preet Bharara charged Joseph Percoco and eight others with looting the so-called Buffalo Billion, an economic-development initiative closely identified with the governor. The prosecutor made clear that he doesnt have enough to charge Cuomo, but that trials in the cases announced this week will allow New Yorkers to see in gory detail what their state government has been up to.

Before Bharara arrived on the beat, state government effectively meant Cuomo working in concert with then-Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver and then-Senate majority leader Dean Skelos. They enjoyed many productive years doing New Yorks business together before the prosecutor broke up the old gang, convicting Silver and Skelos on corruption charges of their own. The trio worked collegially on Cuomos plan to direct upward of $750 million in public funds to the Buffalo Billion. In a nutshell, Albany was to partner with tech-entrepreneur Elon Musk to produce solar panels (and create permanent jobs) in the economic wastelands of New Yorks western frontier. Musk was to provide the jobs while Albany kicked in the cash. So far, only Albany has held up its end of the bargain: Buffalo is knee-deep in tax dollars, but Musks SolarCity is teetering on insolvency.

Its the Buffalo Boondogglenever mind the criminality that Bharara allegesthat poses the greatest potential threat to the governors future. Cuomo has never lacked for self-confidence, and his impatience with even well-meant dissent is legendary. Thats a fraught combination given that the Buffalo business has been functionally free of legislative oversight. Silver and Skelos were always preoccupied with their own schemes, and nothing substantive has changed since their departure.

Nobody ever asked the most fundamental question: is there a sustainable industry to be forged from building solar panels in Erie County? Short answer: nonot given New Yorks prevailing tax and regulatory climate, and especially not in a county where it snows from September to April.

Eager to revive the depressed counties of New Yorks heartland and Southern Tier, Cuomo lacked the courage to use his considerable influence with the Albany legislature to prune taxes and pare regulation. His solution was to bury the problem in tax dollars. This approach isnt intrinsically criminal, but it does attract people of low degree, some of whom have recently been posting bail. And it betrays poor judgment on Cuomos partin the policies he pursues, in the people he trusts, and in the electorate at large.

You cant fool all of the people all of the time. Mario Cuomo discovered this in 1994. But its also true that the people can be forgiving. While this latest embarrassment would seem to preclude a national future for Cuomo, who knows what will happen if he decides to seek a third term in 2018? Given everything that has transpired, the job certainly stands to be a lot less fun for Cuomo.

The charges have also diminished Cuomos standing to hector Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has his own problems with Bharara. The whole business will make it harder for Cuomo to recruit a credible primary opponent for de Blasio next year, and to subvert regular Democratic efforts to take over the state Senate in November. No matter the fate of the Senate, Cuomo is likely to enter the coming legislative session with fewer allies than ever, which means a further increase in union power and overall progressive influence. The centrist Democrat who took office in 2011 will be a mere memory.

These charges must be proved, of course. But Bhararas eagerness to provide all the gory details will prove damaging to a governor who has promised to walk the high road more often than he actually has.

Photo by Drew Angerer/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
Partisan hackery is a feature, not a bug, of many cable programs, and networks stables of on-air analysts are filled with thoroughbreds. CNN contributor Corey Lewandowski is not unique in that regard. What makes Donald Trumps former campaign manager different from his counterparts on the split-screen is threefold: He has a non-disparagement agreement with his former boss; he will continue receiving severance payments from the Trump campaign until after the election; and he reportedly still advises the GOP nominee on an unofficial basis.

CNN has been roundly criticized for paying a political commentator whos simultaneously being paid by a subject of his commentary. The network has publicly looked the other way regarding this clear conflict of interest, though it did refute reports earlier this week that Lewandowski would be suspended after the latest stories on his severance package.

In the words of Mark Twain "the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Will be on @CNN today during the 3:00 PM hour. Tune in!  Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) September 21, 2016

Network chief Jeff Zucker praised Lewandowski in a rare comment on the matter in August, explaining that CNN wanted to bring on a pro-Trump analyst because its really important to have voices on CNN who are supportive of the Republican nominee. This raises the obvious question of why CNN didnt find a pro-Trump analyst whos not on Trumps payroll. A representative did not respond to CJRs request for comment.

More importantly, what do CNN viewers get from this odd relationship? Does Lewandowski add value in a way other analysts could not? CJR scoured a weeks worth of CNN transcripts and clips to find out. From September 16 to September 22, Lewandowski made four appearances on the channel. Heres what he said:

September 16: CNN Tonight

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In wake of Trumps stated disavowal of birtherism on Friday, Lewandowski followed the candidates lead and said the controversy actually started with Hillary Clintons 2008 campaign. Such projection isnt particularly outlandish for a pro-Trump analyst, despite the claim having been widely debunked. The discussion did, however, overstep CNNs own reporting, putting host Don Lemon in the awkward position of repeatedly fact-checking his own guest in-between arguments. The back-and-forths followed a familiar pattern, as sampled below:

LEWANDOWSKI: Donald Trump didnt raise [the birther] issue. Thats the point. Donald Trump never raised this issue. This was raised by the Clinton LEMON: Corey, that is patently false. I mean, come on. LEWANDOWSKI: Its not false. LEMON: Are youyes, it is. LEWANDOWSKI: Its actually not false.

Lemon remained remarkably patient throughout these exchanges. But his and other guests exasperation showed when Lewandowski repeated the same assertions in the programs second hour Friday night. Watch a clip of it belowdont miss the facial expressions.

September 19: New Day

Lewandowski was brought on Monday morning to discuss the terrorist attack in New York with CNN hosts Alisyn Camerota and Chris Cuomo. The pair had to rein in their guest almost immediately after asking him to respond to Trumps insinuation that immigration upped the chances of more attacks.

CAMEROTA: Corey, I mean, to suggest that there would be more and more terror attacks across the countryis that the right tone for a morning like this? LEWANDOWSKI: Well, I think what it is, is it re-highlights the problems we have with our immigration system. What we know is that 40 percent of the people who are in the country illegally have overstayed their visas. And what we hear from the reports this morning is that this person is either potentially of Afghani descent or CAMEROTA: A naturalized citizen. LEWANDOWSKI: Well, but did CAMEROTA: Thats not an overstaying his LEWANDOWSKI: Is that what the report is for this person who has committed, potentially, a terrorist attack? CUOMO: Yes. CAMEROTA: Yes. CUOMO: Thats hes a naturalized citizen. LEWANDOWSKI: If thats the case CUOMO: Not a refugee. He didnt overstay a visa. LEWANDOWSKI: Did he come into this country legally? Was the proper work done? Look, dont forget, the San Bernardino killer came in on a K-1 visa. CAMEROTA: Right, but this is different. LEWANDOWSKI: Right? CAMEROTA: I mean, youre making a connection that we dont know yet.

The discussion on terrorism and policing continued. Lewandowski, a former cop, had a heated exchange with fellow CNN contributor Christine Quinn about commitment to the police. They also sparred at length about whether Trump was right to call the New York explosion a bombing before knowing all the facts. Lets leave this for the side, Cuomo said in a failed attempt to push the conversation forward.

September 20: CNN Tonight

Returning alongside Lemon, Lewandowski responded to news that George H. W. Bush would vote for Clinton with a jab at low-energy Jeb Bush and typical platitudes about the Washington establishment. Lewandowski and Atlantic Contributing Editor Peter Beinart then argued about the dangers of terrorism vs. climate change, with the former landing a Trumpian zinger: Id rather take my chances of being underwater than being hit by a bomb from a terrorist. Okay!

The conversations soon devolved after turning toward Trumps supposed outreach to African Americans. Watch Beinarts blood pressure rise in the clip below:

September 21: CNN Newsroom

Lewandowski returned on Wednesday for a panel discussion on police violence hosted by anchor Brooke Baldwin. He defended Trumps outreach to the black community, later arguing with CNN contributor Angela Rye and civil rights attorney Charles Coleman Jr. on whether black suspects are killed more often by police than suspects of other races. Thats a fair discussion, though Lewandowski once again mangled the facts when alluding to the man charged for last weekends bombings in metropolitan New York, Ahmad Khan Rahami.

RYE: The point is that black people are killed when others are wounded, thats the point. LEWANDOWSKI: Its egregious to think the potential terrorist in New Jersey was shot and wounded but not killed because he was white. RYE: Nobody said that, Corey. . LEWANDOWSKI: We all agree he was white, the terrorist who set off a bomb. RYE: I dont think he was white. COLEMAN: We dont agree on that. LEWANDOWSKI: The second pointis the police officer who stopped the individual, who was also African American, has no history perpetuating any types of crimes against African Americans. Nothing in his record says he has been a bad police officer whatsoever, so this narrative that [Rye] is perpetuatingwhere he has this built-in notion that he doesnt agree just because he is of the same raceis egregious. There is nothing racist about this whatsoever. What the larger story isthey have an individual who is dead. Thats the larger story. Race has nothing to do with that. RYE: Corey, it actually has everything to do with it. You dont understand systemic oppression. You made that clear. LEWANDOWSKI: I do understand it. What I know is that 93 percent of BALDWIN: Got to go.

None of the above exchanges are out-of-leftfield for cable segments, but Lewandowskis contributions dont add any particular nuance. If anything, he introduces untruths like his former boss, who still pays him, leaving other on-air talent to clean up afterward. Is Lewandowskis supposed insight worth all the knocks CNN is taking for him? And to ask a more basic question of the news organization: Why reward a man whose campaign displayed not only utter disdain for journalism, but also utter disregard for the truth?

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti.
Officials from 21 states sued the U.S. Department of Labor Tuesday over a new rule that would make about 4 million higher-earning workers eligible for overtime pay, slamming the measure as inappropriate federal overreach by the Obama Administration.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt, a Republican, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Eastern Texas, urging it to block implementation before the regulation takes effect on Dec. 1. Laxalt, a frequent critic of President Barack Obamas policies, said the rule would burden private and public sectors by straining budgets and forcing layoffs or cuts in working hours.

This rule, pushed by distant bureaucrats in D.C., tramples on state and local government budgets, forcing states to shift money from other important programs to balance their budgets, including programs intended to protect the very families that purportedly benefit from such federal overreach, he said in a statement.

The lawsuit came the same day that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more than 50 other business groups filed a legal challenge against the regulation.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez said he was confident in the legality of the rule, describing the lawsuits as partisan, obstructionist tactics. He noted that overtime protections have receded over the years: they applied to 62 percent of full-time salaried workers in 1975 and just 7 percent today.

The overtime rule is designed to restore the intent of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the crown jewel of worker protections in the United States, Perez said in a statement. I look forward to vigorously defending our efforts to give more hardworking people a meaningful chance to get by.

The measure would shrink the so-called white collar exemption that exempts workers who perform executive, administrative or professional duties from overtime and minimum wage requirements.

It would more than double the salary threshold under which employers must pay overtime to their white collar workers. Overtime protections would apply to workers who make up to $913 a week, or $47,476 a year, and the threshold would readjust every three years to reflect changes in average wages.

This long-awaited update will result in a meaningful boost to many workers wallets, and will go a long way toward realizing President Obamas commitment to ensuring every worker is compensated fairly for their hard work, the Labor Department said in May when it announced the new rule.

Business groups say the changes are too much and too fast, especially as states continue to recover from the recession.

We believe that many employers across our state and the country_large and small alike_will not be able to meet the high cost of these ongoing rate changes, and as a result, will be forced to curtail hiring or even lay off employees, said Kristin McMillan, president of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Other plaintiffs include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin, and the governors of Iowa, Maine and New Mexico.

The Eastern Texas district where the lawsuit was filed is known as a rocket docket court where cases move along quickly.
Chipotle is making another push to convince people that its food wont make them sick, with plans to run more newspaper and digital ads outlining the safety steps it has taken since last years E. coli outbreak.

The ads beginning Wednesday will be an open letter from co-CEO Steve Ells, who also recorded a video that will be promoted online. The move underscores the Denver-based companys struggle to rebound from a series of food scares and extinguish any doubts that its burritos and bowls are safe to eat.

There are definitely folks out there who arent entirely sure, said Mark Crumpacker, who heads Chipotles marketing. Crumpacker said those with lingering worries are preventing other sales too, since they can veto going to Chipotle in group outings.

Even more challenging will be winning back people who know the food is safe, but have started going to places like McDonalds or what Crumpacker called knockoff Chipotles.

To boost sales, the company has so far tried giving away coupons for millions of free entrees, introduced chorizo as a topping, started a summer loyalty program and offered free drinks to students in September. In the April-to-June quarter, sales at established Chipotle locations were still down 24 percent.

The changes have been a work in progress. In December, Chipotle said it was implementing high-resolution ingredient testing to prevent contaminants from reaching its restaurants. It has now ended that in favor of preventative measures that ensure the elimination of pathogens.

Chipotle is also using the sous-vide airtight cooking technique on beef and pork before they arrive in restaurants, and chopping its romaine lettuce in stores again, instead of in central commissaries. It says the commissaries were removing the outer dark green layer, which made people think that it had changed to a less-tasty iceberg lettuce. Chipotle says the lettuce is now washed in water, a mix of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to kill germs, then rinsed in water again.

This isnt the first time Chipotle has said its sorry and stressed its commitment to food safety. At the end of last year, it ran a similar open letter in newspapers that apologized for making people ill. Despite these kinds of actions, co-CEO Monty Moran noted the persistent effect of the intense media spotlight on the food scares, which included a norovirus outbreak at a Boston restaurant.

People became very afraid of our food nationwide, Moran said.

Chipotles latest efforts may run into the larger restaurant environment. Bernstein analyst Sara Senatore noted that a Chipotle sales recovery in the rest of this year could be hindered by broader industry weakness. Several companies including McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks reported disappointing sales figures in the most recent quarter, with executives citing reasons like cheaper groceries and political uncertainty.

In the meantime, Chipotle is trying to adjust. To avoid wasting money on labor and extra food, Moran said the company has been holding boot camps around the country to retrain managers about staffing levels and supply orders.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
FORT TOTTEN -- Details have been slow to emerge as authorities investigate a suspicious death reported Wednesday night on the Spirit Lake Nation reservation.

Kyle Loven, an FBI media coordinator in Minneapolis, said the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Spirit Lake tribal authorities are investigating the death, but the case has yet to be classified as a homicide or accident.

Loven said the identity of the deceased was not being made public as of Thursday evening.

On Wednesday night, Forum News Service reported the belongings of a young woman had been discovered on the reservation. Loven would not comment on the gender of the deceased Thursday morning.

BIA spokesperson Nedra Darling said the BIA is the lead agency in the investigation but said she could not provide further information Thursday evening.

Two deputies from the Grand Forks Sheriffs Office assisted in the investigation Wednesday night through their Unmanned Aircraft Systems unit, according to Lt. B.J. Maxson.

They flew the unit over the scene, took some photos and handed them off to the lead agency, Maxson said.

Maxson said the two people with the UAS unit returned to Grand Forks on Wednesday night after assisting in the investigation.

Spirit Lake Nation has experienced multiple homicides in recent years. Lance Alan Robertson, a 27-year-old member of the Spirit Lake Nation, pleaded guilty in June to second-degree murder in the death of Larse Azure Jr., 18, of Fort Totten. Robertson ran Azure over in his Dodge Durango in December 2015.

In 2013, Valentino Bagola was found guilty in the murders of his cousins, Destiny Jane Shaw DuBois, 9, and her 6-year-old brother, Travis Lee DuBois Jr.

Another Spirit Lake Nation man, Dallas Wayne Thundershield, was charged in April with murder and assault with intent to commit murder in the stabbing of two men. Police say he killed 52-year-old Richard Dean DeMarce Sr. by hitting him with a truck and stabbing him in the heart. He was accused of assaulting Elvis DeMarce, 43, by stabbing him six times. Thundershields trial was delayed and is scheduled to begin in federal court October 18.
Blue Bell Creameries Inc., the ice cream maker that was devastated by a deadly listeria outbreak last year, is doing another product recall tied to the bacteria.

The company is voluntarily calling back products from its Sylacauga, Alabama, factory that were made with chocolate chip cookie dough. The ingredient in question, supplied by Aspen Hills Inc., potentially contains listeria monocytogenes, Blue Bell said in a statement.

The Texas-based creamery recalled all of its products last year after listeria tied to its ice cream killed three people. It also fired or furloughed most of its employees, putting the future of the more-than-century-old business in jeopardy. Blue Bell resumed operations after investor Sid Bass helped rescue the company in July.

There have been no reports of illnesses with the latest listeria scare, Blue Bell said. The company is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to recall the products, which were sold in 10 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. They carry the codes 082618226, 080418222, 081818224, 081518242 and 082418242.

Blue Bell is initiating this recall out of an abundance of caution, the company said.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
An acclaimed recreational climbing route and one of the only overhang climbing areas in the country has been closed because of liability concerns.

The Oregon city of Redmond doesnt intend to permanently shut down the Maple Bridge Arches Climbing Project, which is constructed on the underside of the bridges arches, officials told The Bulletin.

According to parks and recreation manager Annie McVay, Redmonds insurance company called in June to say it would not renew coverage for the bridge in the wake of a March ruling by the state Supreme Court. In that case, the court found that a legally blind woman could sue the Portland employee who dug a hole in a park that later caused the woman to injure herself while running.

Before that decision, it was believed that employees and volunteers would be protected from liability, along with the owners of free recreational facilities. McVay said Citycounty Insurance Services told her it now considers the climbing bridge too risky.

We tried to get (CityCounty) to reconsider  we really think that the activity is very safe and has a lot of safeguards  but it wasnt successful, explained McVay.

The climbing project wasnt considered a liability when it opened in July 2015. Officials believed they were covered by the 1995 Oregon Public Use of Lands Act, which protects public and private property owners from liability if their land is available for free public use. The recent state Supreme Court case, however, found that that immunity doesnt extend to employees who maintain the property.

Scott Winkles, an Oregon League of Cities intergovernmental relations associate, said the climbing bridge isnt the only property impacted by the ruling.

A handful of playgrounds and a public motocross track in Pendleton have been closed, and Klamath Falls decided not to pursue a bike park, said Winkles.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
It's getting more and more difficult to find someone who has never been hit by a data breach. Customers of stores and restaurants . . . Government workers . . . Workers whose companies' records have been stolen . . . People with health insurance . . . Now consumers who've done business with a major email and Internet company.

Personal information involving 500 million Yahoo accounts, including accounts with Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Finance and Yahoo Fantasy Sports, was stolen back in 2014 and we're just now learning about it. Yahoo's announcement Thursday also said the theft also may have included 113 million Flickr accounts.

The stolen information may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and in many cases, security questions and the answers people gave, Yahoo said.

So here are steps you should consider taking, ASAP:

1. Assume that anything that was in your Yahoo email account could be in the hands of bad guys, including passwords to other web sites and accounts.

2. Make sure all of your passwords on all of your accounts -- especially on any other email account or financial account -- are solid and are not the same one you used on any of your Yahoo accounts.

3. If you used the same "secret questions" on your Yahoo account and any other account that you have, start changing them. Favorite movie of all time? Pet's name? Middle name of your youngest sibling? Change them all.

And on that note, don't use secret questions that other people know the answers to. There are lots of people who know your high school mascot. It's probably easy to figure out from your Facebook page or among anyone you knew in high school. Don't use the name of the street you lived on as a child. Or your pet's name. Tons of people know the name of your dog, cat or guinea pig.

4. Further, when you're asked by a bank or a credit card company or any entity to provide something like your mother's maiden name, don't provide the true answer. Your mother's maiden name is easy to find. When I'm asked for my mother's maiden name, I give them a fabricated last name. The trick is, you gotta remember it since it's not true.

5. Watch out for suspicious emails or phone calls that try to trick you into disclosing personal information, based on already having some information about you that may have been extracted from your Yahoo account.

With a data breach of this scale, many of us will receive emails and calls that claim to be from Yahoo and asking us to click on links or fill out forms or provide even more personal information.



If anyone contacts you by email or phone and says he's from Yahoo or law enforcement and is calling about this breach, hang up. If you don't hang up for some reason, then do not provide any information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, bank account information, etc.



6. Remember that stores, banks, universities and investigators will never contact you out of sky blue and ask for personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords, etc. Never. Ever. And they'll never contact you and ask you to change your password by clicking on an unknown link. Don't click on links or reply with any information. Never. Ever.



7. This same warning applies to anyone who calls you and claims to be from Microsoft or Apple support and says you have a problem with your computer and the caller needs access to your computer to fix it. Just don't. Ever. Just hang up without saying bye.



8. Be more cautious about anything you post on social media -- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. You can provide thieves with a lot of information without meaning to. This is especially troubling if you post the name of your best friend and photos of your dog online, and then use that information as the answers for security questions for bank accounts.



And remember that even if your social media accounts are accessible only to friends or family, the information is still on some company's database and can be accessed or sold.



9. If you want to be uber-cautious, contact your banks and investment accounts first, then credit cards and other types of financial accounts. Ask whether you can put additional verbal passwords on your accounts that don't involve any public record data such as your date of birth. We're talking about PINs or random words (like cinnamon or acorn). You want to make sure someone can't access your accounts for wire transfers or to change your contact information without your secret password.



10. I've never been a huge fan of credit freezes across the board. That's starting to change. It's almost come to the point where everyone should consider having their credit files frozen so that someone can't open new accounts in their name.



Yes, credit freezes can be a hassle if you need to unfreeze your reports because you're applying for a loan or insurance or renting a new apartment. It can take up to three business days to unfreeze it and allow access. And yes, freezing and unfreezing them costs $5 per credit bureau.



But a credit freeze would prevent any new accounts from being opened without your expressed permission, indicated by providing your 10-digit PIN that you're given when you freeze the files.



If you want to do a credit freeze, you'll have to contact each of them individually:



Equifax: http://www.equifax.com/help/credit-freeze/en_cp or call 1-800-685-1111.



TransUnion: https://freeze.transunion.com or call 1-888-909-8872



Experian: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html or call 1-888-397-3742.



One of my primary sticking points with credit freezes is that they can give people a false sense of security. Credit freezes won't help prevent fraud on existing accounts, which constitutes 88 percent of identity theft.



11. Consider paying for identity theft protection. You're looking for the kind that can alert you to any underground use of your Social Security number, credit card numbers, driver's license number or email.



12. Watch out for anything odd -- a medical explanation of benefits for a service you didn't have or from a provider you don't recognize, a rejection letter for an account you didn't apply for, a missing credit card statement that is more than a few days late. These could be signs of identity theft.



13. Put every type of protection you can on your financial accounts. If you can use two passwords, do it. If you can require codes to be sent to your phone in order for you to log in, do it. If you can request email or text alerts for purchases or bank account withdrawals or changes to your contact information, then do it. While you're at it, make sure that companies you do business with have all of your current contact information in their files.



14. Monitor your primary bank accounts, credit cards, investments, etc., more carefully than ever. Every week is good. Every day is better.



15. Check your credit reports regularly. You're entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus. Go to annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. Or you can fill out a paper request and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, Georgia 30348-5281. You'll be asked to provide your name, address, Social Security number, date of birth and which bureau you want a report from (Equifax, TransUnion or Experian).



Best advice: Order a credit report from one of the bureaus every four months.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Policy disputes about how electricity ought to be generated and the role of fossil fuels such as gas and oil on the economy are generating one kind of product to be sure -- reports from economists and pollsters.

No fewer than two economic reports and one poll were released Thursday.

And at least one of them, a national poll released by the Young Conservatives for Clean Energy Reform and the Christian Coalition, was aimed at national policy makers and Congress, who normally receive a steady stream of reports from organizations such as the American Petroleum institute.

But what the poll found will be of interest to Ohio lawmakers as well: Political conservatives are embracing new technologies such as solar and wind, as well as energy efficiency technologies.

"For young conservatives, clean and efficient energy isn't something fringe or futuristic. It's a regular and growing part of their lives, and they want their elected leaders to support renewable energy in common-sense ways that grow the economy, promote energy independence and defend American families from pollution," said Michele Combs, founder and chair of Young Conservatives for Clean Energy Reform, following a rally in Washington, D.C., co-hosted not only by the Christian Coalition but also by the American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions.

On the other side of the traditional political divide, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a national study with an Ohio-specific section on Thursday arguing that without oil and gas development since 2009, the U.S. and Ohio economy would have been far worse off.

"The 'Keep it in the Ground' movement completely ignores the vast benefits to Ohio and our nation's economy that the energy renaissance has brought to us," said Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy, in a prepared statement.

In the same release Zack Frymier, director of energy and environmental policy at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, says, "Thankfully Ohio has been able to enjoy the benefits and positive economic impact that has come with oil and gas development related to the shale plays in our state. As the report points out, however, the continued, upward trajectory of this energy revolution is not a foregone conclusion. We urge policymakers at all levels not to enact policies that would jeopardize this continued growth."

The Chamber assertions do not mention that the shale revolution in Ohio, which is primarily a natural gas play, has choked on its own success. Both oil and gas prices have plummeted because the new technologies have produced more resources than the economy currently needs.

In a report aimed squarely at Ohio's lawmakers and policy makers, the Advanced Energy Economy Institute, a national organization, released a four-part economic model predicting future Ohio power prices.

The point of the study is to prove that by adopting laws and regulations to usher in renewable energy companies and by mandating utilities help their customers use less power, Ohio's future electric rates would be much lower than if the state does nothing.

The new technology would also help Ohio comply with the still pending U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, the report argues. The CPP would require states to lower carbon dioxide emissions of the power plants within their borders.
FARGO  Fall enrollment numbers are in at North Dakota colleges and universities. Total numbers are down slightly at the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University. Still, UND is seeing an increase in student diversity and grade-point average, and NDSUs numbers remain largely stable.

North Dakota State University

NDSUs official fall 2016 enrollment is down just less than 1 percent from last year, with a total of 14,432 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Last years fall enrollment totaled 14,516 students, according to a press release.

Our enrollment continues as planned, via careful and intentional retention efforts, graduate student recruitment and undergraduate recruitment, said Provost Beth Ingram, adding that NDSUs student academic profile remains steady.

This years class of new students had the same impressive grade-point average and ACT scores as the class of 2010, she added.

This year, 50 percent of incoming students had high school GPAs of 3.5 or higher, and 29 percent had a high school GPA of 3.75 or higher. The overall ACT average is 23.59. NDSU recommends a grade point of 2.75 and ACT score of 22 or higher for admission.

Last years class of 2,552 incoming students was the third largest in NDSU history.

University of North Dakota

Total enrollment at UND is down 2 percent, this year at 14,648 from last falls enrollment of 14,951. Undergraduate enrollment at 11,255 students is down 2.8 percent. A press release attributed the decrease to the universitys focus on quality, the elimination of several programs due to budget reductions and increasing graduation rates paired with larger graduating classes.

Despite the decrease, UND is calling its fall enrollment numbers evidence it has taken on the most academically prepared and diverse freshman class yet.

This years freshman class of 1,928 is the largest since 2012 and is also reportedly the most diverse group of incoming freshmen in UNDs history, with 10.8 percent of freshmen, 209 students, identifying with ethnicities other than white/Caucasian, a 14.8 percent increase over last fall.

This years UND freshman class has an average high school GPA of 3.46 and average ACT score of 24.0. Last fall's averages were a 3.42 GPA and ACT score of 24.0. In total, 51 percent of UNDs currently enrolled freshman class had a high school GPA above 3.5.

This is the fourth consecutive year UND has seen an increase in average freshman GPA. The average freshman ACT score has been stable or increased over the past five years.

Thomas DiLorenzo, UND provost and vice president of academic affairs, said several years ago, administrators decided to prioritize increasing the quality of students attending UND.

We anticipated having a dip in enrollment as the larger classes graduated and smaller, yet stronger, academic classes enrolled, he said.

"You're faced with a decision of being the biggest or the best," said UND President Mark Kennedy. My goal is to have UND be the best.

Kennedy said that recruiting better-prepared students will help the university meet expectations for increasing retention and graduation rates. Prioritizing quality and student success has resulted in the third consecutive year with first-year retention rates at 80 percent or higher, the press release said.

UND graduate and professional student enrollment is up slightly over last fall. Official graduate enrollment at 2,872 students is up 10 students over last fall. There are 2,066 students enrolled in masters programs, 646 enrolled in doctorate programs and another 160 enrolled in special programs.

North Dakota State College of Science

Fall enrollment at NDSCS surpassed 3,000 students for the sixth consecutive year this fall semester, with enrollment at the colleges Wahpeton campus showing a 2.6 percent increase over 2015. Overall, fall enrollment for Wahpeton, Fargo, online and early-entry students totals 3,003, a 4 percent decrease from fall 2015, when enrollment was at 3,123. There are 1,349 students enrolled in Wahpeton, up from 1,315 last year, according to a press release.

NDSCS President John Richman said the college is continuing to prioritize growing enrollment at its Wahpeton campus, which saw the number of students living on campus increase by 4 percent over last year. Just more than 1,000 of its students live in campus residence halls, family housing and apartments.

The 2016 student body comprises 1,982 freshmen and 1,021 sophomores. The number of students enrolled full time at NDSCS has grown by 3.5 percent from 1,694 in 2015 to 1,753 in 2016.

The number of North Dakota students is 2,056, representing 48 of the states 53 counties.

There are 431 students taking at least one class at the Fargo campus, a 2 percent increase over 2015. A breakdown of total enrollment shows 280 students taking classes only at the Fargo campus and 207 taking classes exclusively online. There are 483 students taking classes at multiple NDSCS locations, or through a combination of in-person and online instruction.

The number of high school students taking early-entry classes through NDSCS has decreased by 17 percent to 684 from 825 in 2015.

While we are seeing fewer high school students enrolled in our early-entry classes this fall, traditional students are recognizing the value of a two-year education  including the 99 percent placement rate of our graduates, Richman said.
IMG_0628.JPG

Signs inside the closing Super Kmart at 9200 Mentor Ave. say everything is 10 percent to 30 percent off regular price, but not everything is discounted. Shoppers seemed to be stocking up mostly on things like paper towels and toilet paper. The Mentor Kmart is slated to close when its lease expires at the end of December, but liquidation sales started on Thursday.

(Special to The Plain Dealer)

MENTOR, Ohio -- The parking lot at the Super Kmart store at 9200 Mentor Ave. that's closing at the end of 2016 was packed on Thursday afternoon, as customers streamed in to browse for bargains.

Several shoppers admitted they are no longer regular Kmart shoppers, and a few said they were visiting the store for the first time.

Lisa Carrion of Perry, who came to buy some kitty litter, said she wasn't surprised to hear that the Kmart was closing. "I've always thought that their prices were a little too high," she said.

One man who refused to give his name said he drove in from Willoughby hoping for a discount on a striped patio rocker he has been eyeing all summer. "When I first looked at it, it was $49, and today I walked out of here with it for $33," he said proudly, as he loaded the oversized chair into his back seat.

The Super Kmart in Mentor, built in 1994, employed 200 people when it opened but now has fewer than half that number of workers.

The 234,000-square-foot Super Kmart, built in 1994, employed 200 people when it opened, said Thomas Thielman, economic development administrator for the City of Mentor. But he said it now it has fewer than 100 workers, as many people have left that store.

"We can confirm that we are making the difficult, but necessary decision to close the Kmart store at 9200 Mentor Ave in Mentor," said Chris Brathwaite, spokesman for Kmart's parent company, Sears Holdings Corp. "The store, which opened in 1994, will close to the public in mid-December. Until then, the store will remain open for customers."

"We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and have accelerated the closing of unprofitable stores as previously announced. We often hear from our members who are disappointed when we close a store, but our Shop Your Way membership platform, websites and mobile apps allow us to maintain these valued relationships long after a store closes its doors," he said.

"As a result, we hope to retain a portion of the sales previously associated with this store by maintaining our relationships with the members who shopped this location. Our members and customers can also shop at our other Kmart locations, which are listed at

.

Brathwaite did not disclose how many people work at the Mentor store, saying only that most are part-time and hourly. "Those associates that are eligible will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores." Workers in the nail salon and photo studio inside that Kmart store are not Kmart employees, he added.

In August, Sears Holdings said revenues fell $548 million to $5.7 billion for the second quarter that ended July 30.

At Kmart stores open at least a year -- an important indicator of a retailer's health -- sales decreased 3.3 percent in the quarter, as shoppers bought fewer groceries, household items, clothing, and consumer electronics. At Sears stores, comparable store sales fell 7 percent.

Sears Holdings' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward Lampert said at the time that "We continue to face a challenging competitive environment and while we continue to focus on our overall profitability, including managing expenses, we reported a net loss for the second quarter." Nevertheless, "We feel we are making progress in our transformation as we remain focused on our best stores, our best members and our best categories to drive our business and enhance the member experience."

As of July 30, Sears Holdings had 883 Kmart stores and 709 Sears stores.

Meijer Stores bought the 23-acre Mentor Avenue property last year and has been leasing it to Kmart, but that lease ends in December and Kmart doesn't want to renew, said Ric Spence, planning administrator for the City of Mentor. Meijer plans to tear down the building and open one of its own supercenters there in 2019.

On Thursday, signs inside the Kmart store said everything was at least 10 percent to 30 percent off. Cases of frozen and perishable foods were still fairly full, but shoppers were filling their carts with things like paper towels and toilet paper.

The store is no longer honoring the prices in the Kmart sales flyer or opening new layaway accounts.Clothing is 30 percent off, and Halloween costumes and decorations are 25 percent off.

Shopper John Drago, a 65-year resident of Mentor, said Kmart should never have tried to open across the street from Walmart in 1994.

"Trying to compete with Walmart is ridiculous," he said. "Why? Because their prices are lower, their selection is wider, and they're just across the street. Hardly anyone comes here anymore. I've never seen this parking lot so full."

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A second court has rejected a lawsuit by nine Cleveland police officers that claims that the city and former police Chief Michael McGrath discriminated against them by keeping them on restricted duty after the 2012 police chase that resulted in the deaths of an unarmed couple.

The officers, among 12 involved in a chase that ended when 137 shots were fired into a car driven occupied by Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell, appealed a ruling by U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin last year that rejected the officers' discrimination claim.

A panel of three U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals judges wrote in a decision rejecting the appeal that the officers failed to prove that McGrath's decision to keep them on extended restricted duty, known as "gymnasium," was motivated by the fact that eight of the nine officers were white, and the victims of the shooting were black.

The officers had argued that McGrath had historically not given black police officers suspensions longer than 45 days, the minimum cooling off period required in use of force cases.

The court ruled that the police department had "legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons" for keeping the officers on restricted duty until a criminal case over the shooting was resolved.

In their appeal, the officers' attorneys argued that Federal District Judge James S. Gwin should have accepted the fact that the police officers thought that Russell and Williams were armed and dangerous, and that the sound of a car backfiring was in fact a gunshot.

The judges wrote that the officers did not offer a "scintilla of evidence" that the couple was armed.

The argument that they were acting in good faith when they shot the couple was central in their claim that McGrath and the police department discriminated against them by ordering them to stay on restricted duty for a longer than usual.

Michael Brelo, one of 12 officers involved in the deadly police chase, was charged with voluntary manslaughter and was found not guilty in May, 2015. His acquittal set off a night of tense protests that led to the arrests of dozens of demonstrators in downtown Cleveland.

Brelo was not part of the discrimination suit against the city.

The families of Russell and Williams sued the City of Cleveland over the police chase, procuring a $3 million settlement in 2014.

To read the full appeals court ruling, click here.
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Cuyahoga County officials have changed oversight of its health care benefits program.

(Karen Farkas, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County has frozen its regional health insurance program after discovering a $9.5 million budget shortfall -- plus the depletion of a $12 million health care reserve fund.

The problems are in the county's health insurance programs for employees as well as in a regional program, in which municipal governments and other public agencies take advantage of the county's buying power to get low rates.

Employee claims in the county employees program, which is self-insured, have been higher than anticipated, County Executive Armond Budish told cleveland.com Wednesday. In the regional program, the county wasn't charging its partners enough, meaning the 19 public agencies in the program had too-good-to-be-true rates.

"It's painful," Budish, who has been dealing with debt and financial misjudgments since he took office in January 2015, said Wednesday at a meeting with cleveland.com editors and reporters.

The county, which has a tight $374 million annual general fund budget, plans to cover the shortfall with rainy day funds -- tax dollars the county has saved. The county is also overhauling the program to keep it solvent in the future.

The insurance issues pre-date Budish's tenure as county executive. When Budish's staff noticed the anomalies in the spring of 2015, Budish immediately asked for an independent audit to determine the depth and causes of the shortfalls.

The first phase of the audit was released Friday.

See the executive summary below or click here if on a mobile device.

The full report can be read here or go to bc.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/Audit-Committee.aspx.

Here's what you should know.

How is the health care program supposed to operate?

The county is self-insured. The county's 6,000 employees can choose from three health care plans, with MetroHealth (which is free to employees), Medical Mutual of Ohio and UnitedHealthcare.

The county pays an administrator to manage the plan and negotiate benefits and premiums. It pays for doctors visits and other services itself, offset by premiums paid by employees.

In 2010, the final year of a three-commissioner government, the county invited municipalities to join its health insurance plans.

That was a year after commissioners signed a six-figure contract with consulting firm Employee Benefits International. The county -- under its first county executive and County Council -- renewed the contract without soliciting competing bids in 2012.

With the regional plan, the county hoped to save money for cash-strapped cities, while costing county taxpayers nothing. Partners were to have between 10 and 250 employees.

The county human resources department would bill the majority of the partners a monthly premium per employee, based on rates recommended by EBI.

What happened?

EBI had an incentive to recruit partners, for it charged each municipality between $8 and $28 per employee, separate from any fee paid to the county, the audit said.

And the program -- which grew to 2,400 partner employees -- got bigger than original guidelines.

The premiums paid by the partners were lower than market rates, too low to cover the cost of their healthcare claims. The county, which was not supposed to have any financial responsibility for the program, had to cover the losses.

The problem wasn't immediately apparent, though, because of a lag period. When new partners joined, they started paying into the system for months before claims were paid out, making the program appear to be flush.

As bills came due and more partners joined the program, the losses compounded.

The problem with the county employee account was simpler. Claims were higher than expected. Bills for treating chronic illnesses depleted available cash.

What did the county and auditors discover?

Fiscal Officer Dennis Kennedy said when he started in spring 2015 he found financial statements unclear. It was hard to determine where money was deposited and where payments were coming from, he said. Money for the county employee health care fund was mixed up with the regional fund.

"He saw red flags with health care plans," Budish said.

The audit found more than two dozen problems, including:

Partner administrative fees were put in the pool to pay claims instead of being deposited into the general fund. That way, the county was never reimbursed for managing the program.

The county was permitted by contract to charge an administrative fee of 3 to 6 percent of insurance rates. Instead, the partners were charged either $8 or $15 per employee. Not charging the prescribed fee cost the county between $938,000 and $1.68 million, over the life of the program.

County contracts with participants in the regional plan prohibit charging retroactively to cover shortfalls, leaving the county to eat the losses.

Former employees and others who no longer qualified for coverage received $2.5 million in benefits.

What does EBI say?

"There are many things we would dispute," said Jim Dustin, president of EBI, who has reviewed the audit results. "We will address the results very quickly, point by point. We believe we performed very efficiently and well."

Dustin said his company has an excellent reputation in the industry and feels issues that were mentioned in the audit had been addressed "but had been ignored or not included in the information."

He said there were many inaccuracies in the report. The company, which had no control over claims, was chosen by the county after going through a request for proposal process. Budish signed an extension of the contract in May 2015, he said.

The county was aware of the relationship between EBI and Wellness IQ, which was cited in the report as a potential conflict of interest.

"We are talking with our legal counsel," he said. "We feel the inaccuracies pose potential issues for our customers. We have been doing this for a long time very successfully."

What has the county done?

The county terminated contracts with EBI and Wellness IQ. Some county employees who oversaw the program have left.

The county froze the regional health care program, stopping any new partners from signing on.

The county recuperated the $2.5 million in benefits it shouldn't have paid.

Ernst & Young was hired to establish new policies and procedures.

Oswald Cos. was hired to replace EBI to manage the health care plan. That company will receive no fees from regional partners.

What happens next?

The $9.5 million deficit will be covered by reserves and any leftover money in this year's budget, Budish said. The reserve fund will be replenished over the next two to three years.

Premiums for partners will likely rise for 2016, but Budish said the rates will still be well below anything smaller governments could negotiate on their own.

The county will:

seek more partners to join the program, paying high enough rates to cover costs.

introduce a wellness plan, to make employees healthier and lead to fewer claims.

The county has referred the audit and other information to the law department.

"It is possible there could be litigation but we are not anticipating it," Budish said. "It is very hard to figure out where the mistakes were. Our internal work wasn't so great."

This story has been updated with comments from EBI.
Each November, Crossroads Hospice makes a special effort to honor Veterans.



This year, October 1st marks the 70th anniversary of the first Nuremberg Trial verdicts for Nazi war crimes - presenting a unique opportunity to honor both veterans and the values they defended.



Nazi atrocities included camps designed to systematically slaughter over six million European Jews and Slavs, Gypsies, and others deemed inferior by Nazi demagogues.



Allied leaders sought a fair, democratic standard of justice for future generations. On November 20, 1945, an International Military Tribunal opened in Nuremberg, Germany.



At the first Nuremberg Trials, the court determined Germany's leaders willingly embraced Nazi ideology disregarding human values Americans deem self-evident: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.



Today, we take a moment to honor veterans everywhere for protecting our cherished values - and pledge that our actions and our aspirations will continue to support those values throughout our communities and our country.



David Napoli,

Valley View
marijuana file medicine man

A new bill would limit Ohio's medical marijuana program to only accept out-of-state patient ID cards from states that have also prohibited smoking and growing your own marijuana.

(Jackie Borchardt, cleveland.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Medical marijuana patient ID cards from most other states would not be accepted here under a new bill -- the first attempt to tweak Ohio's new law.

But a legislator who worked on the medical marijuana law said the new bill is premature and seeks to address a problem that doesn't exist.

Ohio law calls for the state to enter into reciprocity agreements with medical marijuana states that have similar patient eligibility requirements. That would mean Ohio patients could use their state-issued patient ID cards to use medical marijuana in other legal states and vice versa.

House Bill 597 would limit those states to those that don't allow marijuana to be smoked or grown at home since Ohio's law prohibits both practices. Neighboring Michigan allows both.

The bill's sole sponsor Rep. Kyle Koehler, a Springfield Republican, said Thursday the legislation was not intended to hurt Ohio patients.

He said the reciprocity language in Ohio law creates a loophole for an Ohio patient to go to Colorado, buy a marijuana plant, bring it back to Ohio and smoke it. In that scenario, Koehler said, the patient could use the reciprocity agreement as a defense.

"If someone is smoking and growing we're not going to do reciprocity with them," Koehler said.

But that activity is already illegal under state law, said fellow Republican Sen. Dave Burke of Marysville. Burke, a pharmacist who spearheaded the Senate GOP medical marijuana effort, said reciprocity doesn't give patients a free pass to choose which law to follow -- they must follow Ohio law when in Ohio.

"I can use my Ohio driver's license to drive 90 miles per hour on a highway in Alaska if that's legal there, but my Alaska license in the inverse doesn't mean I can come to Ohio and drive 90 miles per hour," Burke said.

Too soon to revise?

Ohio law allows patients with about 20 qualifying medical conditions to use and buy marijuana if recommended by an Ohio-licensed physician. The law does not permit smoking and homegrowing marijuana but allows marijuana oils, tinctures, patches, edibles and plant material for vaping.

Many of the program's details, including how reciprocity would work, are still unknown. State officials have yet to establish the patient registry and issue ID cards, and it could take two years for retail dispensaries to open.

Burke said it's too soon to revise the law, which took effect Sept. 8, noting the rules around reciprocity haven't been drafted yet.

If enacted today, Koehler's bill would limit reciprocity to three of the 24 other medical marijuana states: Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New York.

None currently offer reciprocity to out-of-state cardholders. Pennsylvania's program won't be up and running for a few years, like Ohio's. Minnesota and New York are often used as examples of poorly designed and executed medical marijuana programs because so few patients are served.

Aaron Marshall, spokesman for Ohioans for Medical Marijuana, said Koehler's bill doesn't make sense and shows "reefer madness" still exists in the Ohio legislature.

"Why are we punishing patients? We don't even have this system in place and we're already trying to chip away at the eligibility and enact hurdles," Marshall said.

What's reciprocity?

Each of the 25 medical marijuana states operates its own program under its own rules. Most states do not allow out-of-state patients to buy and use marijuana within their borders.

Ohio lawmakers wanted to make sure out-of-state medical marijuana patients visiting Ohio or receiving treatment at a hospital here could continue to use their medicine without penalty. Likewise, Ohio patients could continue their use while visiting another state.

Ohio's medical marijuana law doesn't automatically accept patient ID cards from all medical marijuana states. Instead, it requires the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy to make a "good faith" effort to enter into reciprocity agreements with states that meet two criteria:

The state's eligibility agreements, including qualifying medical conditions, are substantially comparable to Ohio's. The state will recognize Ohio's patient IDs.

How would reciprocity work?

The short answer to that question (and many others about Ohio's law): We don't know.

At least eight of the 25 medical marijuana states offer some legal protections for patient cardholders from other states. Generally, that means out-of-state patients can't buy marijuana at dispensaries but won't be arrested for possessing it. Four states and the District of Columbia allow adults over age 21 to buy and possess marijuana for any purpose.

Burke said lawmakers also intended to apply reciprocity to doctors, which he said the state medical board will sort out. So if an Ohio patient saw a specialist in another state, that doctor's recommendation could meet the law's requirements.

"What if your world-renowned neurologist is in Colorado -- are we going to say you're not going to see that doctor? Or if there's an oil from a special strain grown in Washington state, you can't have access to that product simply because Washington allows smoking and homegrow?" Burke said. "We feel [reciprocity] is a good thing for both physicians and patients."

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CTU strike Tshirt.JPG

A strike is still a possibility for Cleveland teachers, now that they have rejected a proposed contract with the district. But the two sides will try to strike a new deal first.

(Patrick O'Donnell/The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland school district and Cleveland Teachers Union had a clear plan if teachers had agreed to back a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract.

With passage from teachers, the school board would have voted on the deal on Sept. 27 and both sides would have focused on campaigning for voters to renew a major tax for the district.

Forget that plan now.

With a 1,832 to 1,730 vote, teachers rejected this week a tentative deal that union leaders and the district reached Aug. 30, just days before the union had announced that it would strike.

So what happens from here?

Back to negotiations: Both the district and union say they want to return to negotiations and each affirmed that in official statements Thursday night after the vote was announced. And both sides say they are confident they can reach a new deal.

Will there be a strike? That depends. Union President David Quolke said that reaching the tentative agreement on Aug. 30 takes the immediate strike threat off the table.

But Quolke said that union membership is upset and that members gave leaders clear authority this summer to call a strike if they deem it necessary. How re-negotiation goes will determine that.

How soon will they negotiate again? Not until the week after next, at the earliest. The union has scheduled a retreat with building leaders for late next week to talk about the biggest objections to the tentative contract. Quolke said he will work with a federal mediator to meet after that.

He's also drafting a survey for teachers to express their concerns with the now-rejected contract.

"I do not want to right to the table unless I know what the critical issues are," he said.

See below for more on objections raised by some teachers.

Will the school board still vote on the contract? No. Since the union voted no, there's no need for a board vote.

How will teachers be paid with no contract? The last contract, reached in 2013, will be used until a new one replaces it.

Teachers will not receive the two-percent raises other unions received this year and which was part of the tentative agreement unless that is made part of any new deal.

Cleveland teachers had an average salary of $66,736 in 2015-16 with a median salary of $75,620.

Are teachers still backing the tax? Yes.

The 2012 tax increase that is up for renewal in November was a 15-mill tax that raised the city's property tax rate for schools by about 50 percent when voters passed it in 2012. It gives the schools about $65 million a year, or nearly 10 percent of its $700 million operating budget.

Click here for more about what it means to the district and costs you.

Union leaders voted Thursday night to endorse the tax and members will still campaign for it. Teachers are making phone calls to support Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and other candidates and will also urge passage of the tax renewal in those calls. Quolke said teachers will also be walking door-to-door in neighborhoods in support of candidates and the tax.

What's in the contract that teachers rejected? The three-year deal, which would have given the teachers a 2 percent raise this school year, called for wages to be negotiated again next year when the result of the tax renewal is known.

It also would have thrown out most of a "performance" pay plan that the district and union reached in 2013 as part of the Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools, an improvement plan backed by Gov. John Kasich and the state legislature.

What are the objections? As we told you above, union leaders are surveying teachers about their objections and will meet with representatives of each school next week.

Teachers have complained to the Plain Dealer that the contract:

- Does not force the district to add more music, art and gym classes.

- Does not restrict standardized testing.

- Does not resolve concerns with how teachers are evaluated.

- Does not give adequate raises to teacher aides.

Click here for more on these concerns.

Here's the now-rejected deal:
CTU contract opposition flyer.png

A flyer that teachers distributed in opposition to the tentative contract agreement between the Cleveland Teachers Union and the Cleveland school district.

(Courtesy of Errol Savage)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland teachers have rejected a a three-year contract with the Cleveland school district, complaining about "disrespect" from the district and adding yet another challenge to the bid to renew the giant 2012 school tax the district's budget depends on.

Teachers voted 1,832 to 1,730 to reject the deal reached Aug. 30, just days before the union had announced that it would strike.

"It was a close vote, but enough of our members clearly do not believe that the Tentative Agreement fixed the broken promises that occurred over the last 3 years," said CTU President David Quolke. "Our members know that there is still too much testing for our students and that evaluations must become significantly more fair."

Quolke and district spokesperson Roseann Canfora said they hope the two sides can return to the negotiating table to reach a new agreement.

"The district remains committed to bargaining a contract that meets these goals (of the Cleveland Plan) and that members can support," Canfora said. "We will be prepared to meet with the CTU bargaining team in the days ahead and continue to work for an agreement that can be supported by all."

Teacher Errol Savage, a union representative for Newton D. Baker elementary school, was among the teachers who campaigned against the deal. He and another teacher printed a flyer opposing it (see it above).

The district, the flyer says, has an "abusive amount of testing," poverty wages for aides, and "vindictive and overbearing administrators."

Savage and teacher Chris Malinoski also charged that the contract has too much "vague, open-ended rhetoric." The 2013 contract had also left several issues to be resolved later, including ways that teachers could earn salary increases, but never were.

"They (union leaders) can lay 2013's broken promises on (district CEO Eric) Gordon, but are negotiators are opening that same door again," he wrote in his flyer against the deal. "Don't let them sell you short again."

And the two said: "A 'NO' vote does not mean a strike. It means, 'Go back and fix this BS'."

The deal, which would have given the teachers a 2 percent raise this school year, called for wages to be negotiated again next year when the result of the tax renewal is known.

It also would have thrown out most of a "performance" pay plan that the district and union reached in 2013 as part of the Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools, an improvement plan backed by Gov. John Kasich and the state legislature.

See the now-rejected deal below.

But Savage and other teachers, mostly with anonymous comments, had told The Plain Dealer that the pay changes were not their biggest concerns.

Since the tentative deal was reached, there had been a few rumblings of dissatisfaction with some teachers said they had expected the union to fight for air conditioning in older schools or better classroom teaching materials.

A major complaint was not winning a guarantee of adding more art, music and gym classes for students, along with restoring librarians and nurses that have been cut the last few years.

Savage also said after the votes were tallied, that teachers are upset that district leadership regularly has people visiting classrooms unannounced and without identifying themselves, even refusing to.

"Principals are bullying teachers," he said. "It was minimally addressed in the contract. Mot enough, though."

Teachers also complained that paraprofessionals - teachers aides, attendance liaisons - did not receive more than the two percent raise that everyone in CTU received. Most "paras" in the district make between $25,000 and $35,000 a year, according to district payroll records - an amount that the union and district CEO Eric Gordon have said is too low

The tentative agreement delays negotiating any raise for them until February, after the levy vote.

Teachers anonymously complained that the district might not follow through and that so-called "me too" clauses in contracts with other employee unions in the district are blocking paras from raises.

These clauses in the one-year contracts the other unions signed earlier this year would give other employees - bus drivers, maintenance crews, secretaries, security officers - the same raises that anyone else receives. That means that if paras had a large raise, so would all the other unions.

Gordon said those clauses are standard, particularly when unions are signing short-term contracts when future revenue is uncertain.

The 2012 tax increase that is up for renewal in November was a 15-mill tax that raised the city's property tax rate for schools by about 50 percent. It gives the schools about $65 million a year, or nearly 10 percent of its $700 million operating budget.

Click here for more about what it means to the district and costs you.
Algoma Harvester loading 30,007.542 metric tons of wheat at Riverland Ag/Duluth Storage on July 7, 2016 - a Twin Ports record for the largest load of grain. (Photo credit: Capt. Tom Mackay, Duluth)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Shipping on the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway appears to be rebounding, according to a report from the Ottawa-based Chamber of Marine Commerce that serves shipping interests in the United State and Canada.

"We've seen a real rally in August. St. Lawrence Seaway cargo shipments were up 8 percent compared to the same month last year," Stephen Brooks, president of the chamber, said in a news release.

"U.S. grain exports now match last season's strong performance. Iron ore shipments have improved as Canadian and U.S. mines have boosted production," he said "and we continue to see steady demand for aluminum, cement and asphalt."

Jade Davis, vice president of external affairs for the Port of Cleveland said in the release that the port "was excited to see an increase in steel shipments throughout August, when compared to July. We expect continued momentum in our cargo numbers throughout the remainder of the shipping season."

The steel traffic encompasses both imports and exports going through the port here.

Davis said the imports include bulk wire and steel plate and slab, while exported steel tends to be in the form finished products, such as building materials and equipment for European heavy industry.

Since 2014, the first full year following major investment in container cargo, tonnage moving through the port has quadrupled.

That increase buffered the Port of Cleveland, which experienced only a slight decrease in tonnage as of August.

Davis said in August that Cleveland is the only container port on the Great Lakes.

Creation of the Cleveland-Europe Express has created the first regular container shipping service in 50 years, according to Port of Cleveland officials.

During the regular shipping season cargo goes directly to the port of Antwerp in Belgium. Great Lakes and Seaway shipping are not year round because of ice and lock maintenance.

But in winter, cargo still goes through the Port of Cleveland on its way to and from East Coast ports.

Throughout the lakes and the seaway, the August acceleration lifted year-to-date cargo shipments (from March 21 to August 31) to 17.3 million metric tons. While this number is down 7.5 percent compared to the same period in 2015, the busier August narrowed the gap.

U.S. grain shipments via the Seaway (from March 21 to August 31) totaled 1.1 million metric tons with wheat, corn and soybeans being loaded in ports such as Duluth-Superior and Toledo, Ohio.

"Grain shipments through the Port of Duluth-Superior have been running well ahead of last year - some 18 percent as of early last month," said Vanta Coda, executive director of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

Coda said in the marine-chamber's news release, that "recent shipments have included not only wheat and beet pulp pellets bound directly for Mediterranean ports but also cargoes headed through the Great Lakes-Seaway system to Canadian ports aboard Canadian-flag lakers."
School district test score changes 2014 to 2016.png

Changes to Ohio's state tests and with how schools and districts are graded on state report cards have led to falling grades and to confusion. The Plain Dealer is offering a look at how schools and districts scored vs. to state averages to give some comparison from year to year of how they have fared through the changes.

(Plain Dealer staff)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The flood of D and F grades on state report cards last week has some school districts feeling shellshocked and families left unsure how to sort them out.

Districts are lashing out from across the state, calling the report cards "seriously flawed," a "train wreck" or a misguided attempt to "compare apples, oranges and bananas" from three different state tests in as many years.

How, they ask, could only two districts receive A grades for having top scores, when 37 earned As in 2014?

And how could districts and schools that earned B grades most years suddenly be whacked with Ds?

It's a highly-political issue and one that is playing out in states across the country, as educators and legislators want students better prepared for college or the workforce.

Had Ohio officials gone as far as other states, last week's report card bloodbath would have been much worse.

When deciding how to rate students, schools and districts early this year, the state chose to go halfway: The Ohio Department of Education and state school board estimated a midpoint between the easy As and Bs of a few years ago and the harsh expectations of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a respected national test.

To some, that's a compromise that makes the shift manageable. Others say splitting the difference leaves no scientific or educational backing for the grades, making them meaningless.

See below for more on that dispute.

Here's how Ohio has changed its grades for school districts over the last three years on the key "Performance Index" measure. Note how the number of A and B grades has shifted to C and D as the state changed learning standards, state tests and expectations of students.

One way to compare

So The Plain Dealer is offering a different way of viewing these ever-changing test results with a rough look at whether your school or district is truly worse than two years ago, or if you are improving compared to neighboring schools.

By stacking your school and district scores for each of the last five years up against state average scores for each of those years, we offer some control against all the changes.

It also allows a comparison, however imperfect, between the apples, so to speak, of 2012, 2013, and 2014's Ohio Achievement Assessments, the oranges of the 2015 Common Core-based tests from PARCC and the bananas of the new 2016 state tests from the American Institutes for Research.

Click here to see how your school performed vs. other schools over the last five years.

Click here to see how your district performed vs. other districts in the last five years.

We don't show how many points that scores changed, since scoring has changed in each of the years. But the size of the bars offer a graphic look at how far scores deviate from the average, as Ohio switched between tests.

Changes to Ohio's state tests and with how schools and districts are graded on state report cards have led to falling grades and to confusion. The Plain Dealer is offering a look at how schools and districts scored vs. to state averages to give some comparison from year to year of how they have fared through the changes.

(Bars on the right of the center line show how far above state average a school or district scored and bars to the left show how far below. Look below each searchable chart for details on our methodology.)

The Ohio Department of Education was given an early look at the methodology before the latest report cards were released and at final results this week and raised no objections, other than noting that it specifically chose not to compare years because they are so different.

Most districts fairly steady

There are a few patterns we have noted in our early look at these comparisons:

- 316 districts improved against state averages in the last three years, while 292 scored worse against the state average than they did in 2014.

- Here in Cuyahoga County, districts that scored above average stayed above average and those that scored below, stayed below. The exceptions were Berea, who fell, and Lakewood, who rose, but both were near average to begin with.

- Statewide, 33 districts that scored below state average in 2014 scored above in 2016, while 45 slipped from above to below-average in that period.

- The worst-scoring districts in 2014 closed the gap between themselves and the state since then. The bottom 16 laggards from 2014 improved compared to the state average in 2016.

This includes six districts whose Performance Index grade fell from D in previous years to F's this year. Those grades fell just because the state set the bar higher, even as the districts crept closer to the state average.

Those are: Cleveland, Dayton, East Cleveland, Trotwood-Madison, Warrensville Heights and Youngstown.

- Eight of the Top 10 districts in 2014 expanded their lead over the rest of the state, even as tests changed.

Only the Wyoming and Mason schools lost ground, while powerhouse districts like Solon, Rocky River and Beachwood gained.

- The biggest gainers: Stryker, Warren, Lima, Steubenville and Cuyahoga County's Warrensville Heights.

- The districts that slid the most: Firelands, Montpelier, Sebring, Nelsonville-York, and Lake County's Fairport Harbor.

Beyond the limits of our comparison, others are raising additional issues with the scores that are behind them and the report cards.

Grades still related to wealth

Scores are again related to income and poverty levels.

This morning, Ohio school boards and administrators released their annual study showing how poverty levels in districts affect test scores. As in previous years, test scores this year were consistently higher for more affluent districts and lower for those with higher poverty rates.

"The gap between low-income students and their wealthier counterparts continues, regardless of the more stringent measures on school district report cards," that report found.

See the

here.

Even state school board members, who decide how students, schools and districts are graded, differ sharply on whether the grades are valid. When setting those rules early this year and when adjusting some of them in June, the board had split votes and emotional debates.

"Score gap" lessens, but remains

For the last several years, Ohio and other states have wanted to raise standards and expectations of students in hopes of improving college and career readiness. And while states like Massachusetts and New York excel on NAEP, known as the "nation's report card," Ohio has lagged behind.

Researchers have noted how many states, including Ohio, tend to consider more students "proficient" in math and English than score well enough on NAEP to reach that level. See the chart below of the "score gap" between Ohio and NAEP under the state's old tests and the gap today under the new tests.

That 4th grade reading gap for Ohio was the 5th-largest out of all 50 states, according to a 2014 study.

Ohio's NAEP "Proficiency Gap" 2013-14 Ohio State Test Proficiency Rate 2013 Ohio NAEP Proficiency Rate Gap 4th Grade Reading 86 37 -49 4th Grade Math 78 48 -30 8th Grade Reading 87 39 -48 8th Grade Math 80 40 -40 2015-16 Ohio State test Proficiency Rate 2015 Ohio NAEP Proficiency Rate 4th Grade Reading 57.5 38 -19.5 4th Grade Math 69 45 -24 8thGrade Reading 47.5 36 -11.5 8th Grade Math 53 35 -18

State grades fell in 2014-15 when Ohio was cutting loose from the multi-state PARCC testing consortium, but less than the other states in PARCC. The state school board instead set score targets in between what PARCC chose and Ohio's old targets.

State skips "drastic" change

For 2015-16, the state again held off setting requirements similar to NAEP. Though teams of educators help set goals for what students should be able to answer, the state again chose a middle ground between NAEP and old Ohio expectations.

"Other states have gone directly to a NAEP-like cut, which was pretty drastic," Jim Wright, the director of testing for the Ohio Department of Education, told the state board in June.

Wright said the department instead recommended scores that would show 50-60 percent of students as "proficient," instead of the 80 percent in previous years. He noted that Ohio would still have more "proficient" kids than NAEP says, but it would be "more realistic."

That compromise still prompted a vigorous debate at the state school board in June. Some board members worried that requiring high scores would damage how residents perceive their districts. They also worried that higher expectations might make it too hard for high school students to score well enough on new end-of-course exams that now count toward their graduation.

Others argued that students are graduating from high school unprepared for jobs or to do college-level work. Grading at the old levels, they said, would amount to a lie.

Board member Sarah Fowler blasted the scores needed to earn high ratings - knows as "cut scores" - in a message to her constituents in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties last week.

"The cut scores were set AFTER the kids took the tests and based upon how they performed," Fowler said. "This is not an objective standard, rather it is extremely subjective (ie, "how many kids do we want to see pass and how many do we want to see fail?")."
LINNDALE, Ohio -- A man shot in August by a concealed carry permit holder during an armed robbery attempt survived even after the bullet shot out part of his brain, police said.

Varshaun Dukes, 22, still has a .45-caliber bullet lodged in his head and yet is able to communicate, Linndale Police Chief Tim Franczak said.

He is cooperating with police and is now charged with aggravated robbery, kidnapping, felonious assault and possessing a gun as a felon.

Two other men, brothers Nathan and Mario Hubbard, ages 30 and 23, are charged with complicity to aggravated robbery, kidnapping and felonious assault.

The trio is scheduled for arraignment Friday, but Franczak said he's not sure how Dukes will be able to get to to the county courthouse for the hearing under his condition.

Franczak said prosecutors waited to present the case to a Cuyahoga County grand jury because medical personnel warned them Dukes would likely die within hours or days of the Aug. 7 robbery-turned-shootout in the parking lot of the Family Dollar Store on West 117th Street and Bellaire Avenue.

"We asked how long we should wait, and the doctors said he shouldn't survive at all," Franczak said. "In 21 years in law enforcement, I've never seen anything like it."

Franczak said when they watched the surveillance video of the shootout, they saw the concealed carry permit holder, who went to the store to shop, fire back at Dukes and hit him in the head.

Dukes went to the ground, rolled over and scooped up parts of his brain that had spilled on to the pavement, Franczak said. He then passed out.

"One of the officers said it was like watching a zombie," Franczak said.

Franczak said detectives took extra precautions when interviewing Dukes at the hospital to ensure he's competent so that his statements would remain viable for use in the court case.

They spent the first several minutes of the taped interview asking him questions, including if he knew who the president was, why he was in the hospital and who they were.

Police had family members watch the interview and asked him if he understood his rights before every question, Franczak said.

Dukes was in the intensive care unit, then transferred to a brain rehabilitation center and now is in out-patient care. He lost some fine-motor skills and can only walk a short distance before his body shuts down, Franczak said.

Doctors have no prognosis as to how long Dukes could live or how well he'll function because they've never seen someone survive a shooting like that.

"None of the doctors believe he should be alive," Franczak said.

Franczak said the man who shot Dukes will not be charged. The case was presented to a grand jury, which ruled that he acted in self-defense, Franczak said.

The trio plotted to commit several robberies that day, the Sunday of Ohio's No Tax Weekend, police said. Their first stop was about 1 p.m. at the Family Dollar, which was packed with customers shopping for back-to-school supplies.

Dukes, who was wearing a mask, walked up to a man in the parking lot, while the Hubbards acted as a lookout and getaway driver, Franczak said.

He was going through the man's pockets when the concealed carry permit holder approached him.

Dukes pulled out his gun and fired the first shot, missing the man, police said. The concealed carry permit holder pulled out his gun and a shootout ensued with both men firing several shots.

The Hubbards jumped in the getaway car and sped off. They were driving double the speed limit away from the scene, triggering one of Linndale's speed cameras to take a photo of the car.

Franczak said the picture came out perfect and helped them track down the Hubbards.

"There were a lot of shoppers," Franczak said. "It really could have been worse. Luckily, it only went bad for one of the bad guys."
Medical marijuana patients only

The Ohio State Medical Board advised doctors to talk to their lawyers if they want to recommend medical marijuana before the state's certification is set up.

(Jackie Borchardt, cleveland.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State Medical Board is advising doctors to talk to their lawyers and employers if they want to recommend medical marijuana to patients before the state's dispensaries open.

Physicians and patients had hoped for clear-cut guidance about the affirmative defense portion of Ohio's medical marijuana law. Instead, the board on Friday issued a statement directing doctors to contact an attorney to explain it.

Until marijuana is legally sold in Ohio, state law gives patients an affirmative defense from prosecution for possessing marijuana and paraphernalia.

But the defense only applies if the patient has obtained a note from his or her doctor indicating the patient meets a few criteria and the marijuana would be permissible under state law, which does not permit smoking marijuana or growing it at home.

"The board recommends that physicians consult with their private legal counsel and/or employer for interpretation of the legislation," the board said in a statement released Friday.

The statement noted state law requires doctors have a special certificate, not yet available, to issue a "written recommendation" for medical marijuana. But the board didn't indicate a difference between a recommendation for an affirmative defense and a recommendation to register a patient in the yet-to-be-established program. That leaves open the interpretation that physicians can't write recommendations until certified.

The law allows people with about 20 medical conditions to use and buy marijuana if recommended by a doctor. It also grants immunity to doctors from civil liability, criminal prosecution and discipline from the state medical and pharmacy boards for advising patients use medical marijuana, discussing the drug with them or monitoring a patient's treatment with marijuana.

The law went into effect Sept. 8, but the Ohio State Medical Association advised physicians to wait to act on affirmative defense letters until after the board weighed in.

State medical board spokeswoman Tessie Pollock said the board will review a medical marijuana related complaint as they would any other. Pollock said the board would consider whether someone violated state law, including the immunity provision.

By September 2017, the board must decide how doctors become certified to formally recommend medical marijuana.

Sen. Dave Burke, a Marysville Republican who worked on the law, said Thursday the law was intended to let patients use medical marijuana as soon as it took effect and further guidance from the medical board at this time was unnecessary.

"Willing physicians are in the free and clear," Burke said, noting doctors will have to treat marijuana as a controlled substance under state law. "The affirmative defense was meant to allow for a quick transition for folks who need this product sooner than later."
Charlotte Police Fatal Shooting

National Guardsman stand on the street Thursday night in downtown Charlotte, N.C.

(Gerry Broome, Associated Press)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Family members of Keith Lamont Scott on Thursday watched police video of his shooting, saying the videos are unclear if Scott was armed and that he was walking backward when shot.

The family is asking police to make the videos public, but Charlotte-Mecklenberg police Chief Kerr Putney says that would jeopardize the investigation, CNN reports.

"You shouldn't expect it to be released," Putney said, according to the Washington Post. "Transparency is in the eye of the beholder. ... If you think I'm saying we should display a victim's worst day for public consumption, that is not the transparency I'm speaking of."

"I can tell you this: There's your truth, my truth and the truth," Putney said. "Some people have already made up their minds."

Justin Bamberg, a lawyer for Scott's family, says the videos show Scott, 43, got out of his vehicle "in a very calm, non-aggressive manner," NBC News reports. Bamberg also says Scott's hands were by his side and that he was slowly walking backward when he was shot by police.

Putney says Scott was armed with a handgun and that the video shows he ignored multiple police commands. Bamberg concurred that police did issue several commands, NBC News reports.

Scott's family also says he was disabled because of an unspecified accident that occurred about a year ago.

Officer Brentley Vinson, who is black, shot Scott, who also is black.

Meanwhile, protests continued Thursday night in downtown Charlotte, although they remained peaceful, the Associated Press reports.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and National Guard and state troopers were brought in to help police. One person was fatally shot by another civilian Wednesday night, and several police officers have been injured in clashes with protesters.

Police have arrested 44 people on charges including failure to disperse, assault, and breaking and entering, NBC News reports.

If you'd like to comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comment section.
Voting stickers

A ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the state's process for clearing ineligible voters from the voting roles because it punished inactive voters for not voting.

(Kathryn Kroll, The Plain Dealer)

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Ohio's reliance on lack of voting activity as a trigger for purging people from the voting rolls violates federal law.

In a 2-1 opinion, the appellate court reversed a lower court decision.

The ruling Friday overturned U.S. District Judge George C. Smith's decision and struck down the state's process, which involved sending notifications to inactive voters.

What's the case about?

In April the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, the Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless sued Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted over the way the state conducts voter roll maintenance.

The process is used to help weed ineligible voters -- those who have died or been found incompetent or convicted of felonies or who have moved from the voting jurisdiction -- from the voting rolls. But it also is triggered by lack of voting.

They argued Ohio's process was improper because it violates specific provisions in the National Voting Rights Act of 1993 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Those two laws were enacted to encourage greater participation in federal elections.

The laws provide states with a means to clear their voting rolls of ineligible voters only under certain circumstances. Part of that procedure must include a notification process that gives a voter a chance to confirm they are still eligible.

But the law specifically says registered voters may not be disqualified simply because they have not voted.

What's Ohio's process?

The state of Ohio follows a notification process outlined in the federal statutes. It sends a notice to voters informing them that that their registration may be cancelled if they don't take action to confirm they are indeed eligible electors.

A person can confirm eligibility by responding to the notice or by voting within a four year period.

One of the triggers for the notice, though, is if a person has not voted within two years.

The plaintiffs argued that was a violation of federal law. The state argued that since it included a notification process outlined in the federal parts of the statue it was complying with the law.

What did the court say?

The court acknowledges that there is some ambiguity in the law, and that the exceptions that allow voters to be removed from the rolls appear to clash with the general law.

But it said that ambiguity must be resolved in favor of the goals of the statue as a whole - that no voter should be disqualified simply for not voting often enough.

You can read the full opinion below. Mobile users click here.

Ohio's process violates that provision, the court said. And the provision would have no teeth if the state simply could circumvent it by listing ways a voter could confirm their eligibility.

"A state cannot avoid the conclusion that its process results in removal 'solely by reason of failure to vote' by providing that the confirmation notice procedure is triggered by a registrant's failure either to vote or to climb Mount Everest or to hit a hole-in-one."

The majority opinion was written by Judge Eric Clay, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton. He was joined by Judge Julia Gibbons, who was appointed by President George W. Bush.

Judge Eugene Edward Siler, who was appointed by President George H.W. Bush, dissented in part. He would have upheld the lower court's ruling except on an issue of whether Ohio adequately notifies electors how to remedy their voting registration if they move from Ohio.

What happens now?

The case is returned to the district court for further proceedings.

It is unclear what impact it may have on voters whose names already were removed from the voting rolls. That will be addressed by the district court.

The law bars removal of any names from the voting rolls if there are less than 90 days before a primary or an election that includes federal officeholders.

What's the reaction?

Husted, in a statement, criticized the ruling.

"With today's ruling, the court will effectively force us to put voters back on the voter rolls who have died or long since moved to another address," he said.



"This ruling overturns 20 years of Ohio law and practice, which has been carried out by the last four secretaries of state, both Democrat and Republican," Husted said. "It also reverses a federal court settlement from just two years ago that required exactly the opposite action."

Mike Brickner, senior policy adviser for the ACLU, had a different perspective. What was practice in Ohio was also illegal, in the court's view, he noted.

"We are very happy that the court found that Secretary Husted's process of purging voters in Ohio is illegal and must stop," Brickner said "We hope that a plan will emerge soon to allow the tens of thousands of voters illegally purged from the rolls to vote in the upcoming presidential election."

Rep. Kathleen Clyde, a Kent Democrat who often has been at odds with Husted over voting regulations, said the ruling is a victory for the fundamental right to vote.

"Today's decision is a victory for voters, voting rights and common sense," Clyde said. "Now, Ohioans who are registered and show up to vote can be confident that their ballots will be counted instead of thrown out."

Catherine Turcer of Common Cause Ohio said the case is a reminder that voters should check their registration status.

"Election Day is still a long way away but it's coming up quickly. So take charge now and verify your vote," Turcer said. "And with early voting open to all Ohio voters, you can cast your ballot anytime from Oct. 12 to Election Day on Nov. 8."

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Drug seeps into Ohio's prisons Smuggling of addiction treatment Suboxone grows with demand

Ohio and 35 other states on Thursday sued the makers of Suboxone, a prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction.

(M. Spencer Green, Associated Press)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio and 35 other states on Thursday sued the makers of Suboxone, claiming the company conspired with another to prevent competing generic drugs from entering the market.

Indivior, formerly known as Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, makes Suboxone, a brand-name prescription drug used to treat heroin and opioid addictions by easing cravings. A multi-state investigation found Reckitt worked with MonoSol Rx to change the drug from a tablet to a film that dissolves in the mouth, a more expensive form, which the attorneys general said blocked the development of lower-cost generic tablets and maintaining its monopoly.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said people deserve fair market competition, especially when the product is used to treat addiction.

"Some people rely on this prescription drug to treat heroin addiction," DeWine said in a news release. "They shouldn't be forced to pay higher prices or deprived of options because drug makers circumvent the law to maximize their profits."

Reckitt introduced Suboxone in 2002 and had exclusive patent protection for seven years. In a suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Pennsylvania, DeWine and the other attorneys general accuse the company of "product hopping," when a company makes small changes to its product to extend patent protections.

The suit asks the court to stop the companies from engaging in anti-competitive conduct, to restore competition, and seeks relief for consumers, plus court costs.
Gary Johnson

Let Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein have an undercard debate.

(Scott Morgan, AP)

The hullabaloo from two prominent third-party candidates ruled off the presidential debate stage for the first debate on Monday night is understandable: Libertarian Gary Johnson and Jill Stein of the Green Party both want the exposure.

Monday night's encounter between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump could wind up being one of the nation's most-watched political debates.

But the Commission on Presidential Debates is entirely justified in using a national polling percentage cutoff to limit the debate to Clinton and Trump (a rule that could allow a third-party candidate with more support to qualify for future debates.)

Nor should qualifying for debates be about who makes the most ruckus. Stein's supporters should not disrupt the proceedings by trying to escort her into the debate, as a supporter has suggested.

Just 1 1/2 months out from Election Day, if a candidate hasn't been able to get what could be considered the minimal voter interest for contention, he or she doesn't belong on the main stage.

Where such candidates do belong, however, is in an undercard debate.

Johnson's polling at an average of 8.4 percentage points in five major polls used by the debate commission and Stein's polling at 3.2 percent both translate, potentially, to millions of voters. This level of voter interest justifies inclusion in a secondary, televised debate.

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An undercard debate makes even more sense in a year when polls show both Clinton and Trump with high negative ratings. People appear to be searching for alternatives to two major-party nominees whom they don't trust. And Johnson, unlike Stein, has made the ballot in all 50 states - although in Ohio he's on the ballot as an independent whereas Stein is listed as the Green Party candidate.

That translates to a lot of curiosity about Stein and Johnson, the latter of whom, in particular, seems to have attracted the interest of a number of the younger voters who'd originally supported Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator who lost the Democratic nomination to Clinton.

Yes, setting up a parallel set of debates at this late stage in the campaign will be challenging - but it can be done. And it should be done.

Helping voters determine if Johnson, the former Republican governor of New Mexico, and Stein, a pediatrician with activist leanings, are well-equipped to be the next commander in chief is a huge public service.

Johnson pitches himself as a tax-cutter who works "across the aisle to get things done," as he wrote in an essay demanding a place in the debates, but who seemed to have forgotten about the city of Aleppo in war-ravaged Syria when asked about it on MSNBC's Morning Joe. He later apologized saying, "I care about these issues because I don't want our men and service women maimed or killed."

Meanwhile, Stein seems more political activist than presidential material. She was recently charged with vandalism for spray-painting construction equipment during a protest of the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota.

We can derive from these snapshots that they are passionate, involved and, yes, very human. But obviously there is more to them than that. Let us hear them in their own debate.

Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Notification Settings (in blue) just below.
DEVILS LAKE -- A plan to ask counties to increase mills allocated to the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center has been shelved for now.

The Devils Lake jail that serves Benson, Eddy, Nelson, Ramsey and Towner counties suggested each county the jail serves increase their financial contributions by half a mill. The LEC is in need of renovations and wants to be proactive when approaching possible projects in the future, LEC Director Rob Johnson told Ramsey County commissioners Wednesday.

That adds up to significant expenses, he said.

Money collected by the increase, which was estimated at $73,000 per year, would have gone toward a capital improvement fund to pay for improvements to the jail. There is no fund for maintenance of the building, said Ed Brown, a Ramsey County commissioner who chairs the LEC Board.

Initially, leadership from four of the five counties said they supported the idea, but Towner County commissioners said they preferred the jail to charge more to house inmates over the mill-increase proposal, balking at the prospect of contributing more taxpayer money.

Nelson County changed its mind, saying it was no longer interested in the proposal.

At this point, its just not going to happen, Johnson said.

The jail receives funds by charging inmate fees to counties. Raising the inmate rate would impact Ramsey County more since more prisoners come from it than any other county.

Commissioners were concerned with operation costs and finding ways to keep the jail profitable, with Chairwoman Myrna Heisler calling the LEC a money pit. She said it isnt fair that Ramsey County must continually be the provider of the jail and pay more for inmates because another county doesnt want to contribute to the proposed mill increase.

Its like having an old house that constantly needs refurbishing just to stay in it, she said.

Johnson said the jails 2017 budget will be in the black. There are options to reduce costs, but there isnt much the jail can cut from its budget, he added. The jail is working on ways to increase its inmate population without increasing fees.

Ramsey County did not act on the mill-increase proposal.

Focusing on the future

A former captain who was fired by a Devils Lake jail has been hired as the leader of the facilitys re-entry program.

The LEC hired Dan Kraft this week as its Residential Re-entry Center operations director. Johnson left the position after he was hired last month as the LEC director.

Kraft brings a wealth of experience to the position and has the leadership qualities desired as expansion of the physical plant and incorporating treatment programs become realistic goals for the RRC, Johnson said in a news release.

The LEC board elected to allow Johnson to make the final decision on the hire, though a hiring committee was involved in the screening process. Eleven people applied for the position, but one withdrew before the committee could go through the applications, Johnson told the Herald on Thursday.

The committee interviewed four applicants before initially offering the position to Jennifer Jacobson, a program director for the Lake Region Corp. in Devils Lake. She turned down the position, and the job, ultimately, was offered to Kraft.

Kraft was captain of corrections at the LEC when he was fired March 28, 2014, by former LEC Operations Director Denny Deegan, citing serious issues with supervision of staff and overall work performance. Kraft disputed those claims. Deegan later was fired by the LEC board.

The LEC has acknowledged Krafts history with the facility, Johnson said, adding it was thoroughly addressed through the application process and in interviews. The board is confident it can move forward with success, Johnson said.

We expect to achieve this success by focusing on the future as we strive to provide the best transitional environment and opportunities we can for the residents we assist, he said in the statement.

Krafts base salary will be $50,000. An official start date hadnt been set as of Thursday, but Johnson said its likely Kraft could begin in two weeks.
The U.S. government and Boeing have welcomed a World Trade Organization (WTO) report that revealed how the European Union (EU) failed to stop unfair government subsidies to French plane-maker Airbus despite previous rulings by the global trade body.

The WTO also found Airbus received new illegal subsidies for the A350, which are reported to be nearly $5 billion.

In 2011, the WTO outlined specific steps for the EU to withdraw government financial support for Airbus, which included subsidy programs, that European states claimed were "launch aid" for the plane-maker to bring its products to market.

Not only did the EU ignore the 2011 measures, the regional bloc further breached rules by granting over $4 billion in new subsidized financing for the Airbus A350 XWB, the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) office declared in a statement on Thursday.
Kris Loertscher | EyeEm | Getty Images

Comparison shopping is a key bargain-hunting strategy  especially, as it turns out, when you're planning for your last big purchase. Funeral service and cremation prices vary widely. Even a simple direct cremation  with no ceremonies, viewing or casket  can range from $495 to $7,595, according to a new survey from the Consumer Federation of America and Funeral Consumers Alliance. The report solicited pricing information from 142 funeral homes and cremation businesses in 10 major cities. "This extreme price variation provides compelling evidence of the need for effective price disclosure," CFA Executive Director Stephen Brobeck said in a news release. Even in the same city, the difference can be thousands of dollars. In New York, for example, direct cremation might run as little as $550 or as much as $10,125  more than 18 times as much, according to data from comparison site Parting.com. That's a potential premium of more than 1,800 percent. The new CFA/FCA report is a follow-up to research the consumer advocates released in 2015, which found full-service funeral prices ranging from $2,580 to $13,800. Even within the same city, the groups said, highs and lows often had variances of more than 200 percent.



Although the Federal Trade Commission's "funeral rule" requires funeral homes to give pricing information by telephone, 24 of the 150 businesses in the 2015 survey did not provide that data after a phone and email request. And only a quarter had price information listed on their website.

Nor is advertised pricing always reflective of the final bill. In the cremation survey, 22 percent of the businesses surveyed did not include in their pricing the cost of the cremation itself, a charge that advocates said could tack on another $250 to $400.



Low and high prices for funeral services Click to edit Direct Cremation Click to edit Immediate Burial Click to edit Full-Service Funeral Click to edit Low High Low High Low High Atlanta $850 $3,640 $1,195 $5,200 $3,370 $11,050 Denver $1,055 $2,840 $1,260 $2,945 $2,600 $7,855 Indianapolis $895 $3,295 $1,295 $4,365 $2,700 $6,415 Minneapolis $760 $3,000 $650 $3,395 $2,580 $7,855 Philadelphia $1,365 $3,345 $1,080 $3,600 $4,135 $7,990 Seattle $495 $3,390 $690 $3,395 $2,805 $5,515 Tucson $649 $2,440 $640 $3,140 $2,630 $8,140 Washington, D.C. $1,295 $7,595 $1,410 $6,800 $3,770 $13,800

Source: SOURCE: Funeral Consumers Alliance and Consumer Federation of America

"The funeral industry certainly makes it more difficult than it needs to be," Joshua Slocum, executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, told CNBC.com earlier this year. Part of the problem also falls with consumers, who aren't shopping around. "Most people go to the same funeral home their family has always used, and just say 'yes' to everything," Cheryl Reed, a spokeswoman for review site Angie's List, told CNBC.com earlier this year. That's a bad idea  and it's unusual for such a big purchase, Slocum said.

"You don't make that decision when you buy a car, you don't do that when you decide on a Realtor to sell your home and you don't do that when you're buying $6,000 worth of new kitchen appliances," he said.
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:



EPR Properties : "Yes, you're getting at almost a 5 percent yield. I say pull the trigger."

E.W. Scripps : "I think people are too negative on that, down 20 percent. I don't want to sell that stock."

Exelixis Inc : "I probably overstayed my welcome on this thing. We recommend this thing at $3 and $4 and now it's up to $15, but I really believe that they've got the right drugs ... If you bought it at $2 or $4 and it's at $14, take some off the table. Let's be prudent, OK."

Fiserv : "This is one of those great what I call tech-fin. It's a great technology financial company. I was going to mention it the other day when I did the credit cards. You've got a winner there."

NeoPhotonics Corp : "I like the stock."
Signage stands outside the Trump International Hotel, formerly the Old Post Office Pavilion, in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. The hotel opened on September 12 with a formal grand opening expected in October. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images

If you're a business owner who wants to save on estate taxes, you might want to take a page from presidential candidate Donald Trump's playbook.

This month, the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., kicked off a "soft opening," checking in its first guests.

The luxury facility is located in the Old Post Office Pavilion, a federal building that has undergone a $200 million makeover. The Trump Organization signed a 60-year lease in 2013 with the General Services Administration, allowing the firm to renovate and manage the building. The lessee of the building, listed as "Trump Old Post Office LLC" is owned by a Delaware-registered group of limited liability companies, according to the lease document. DJT Holdings LLC holds a 76.725 percent membership interest in the company, and has made an equity contribution of more than $2.3 million, according to the lease. Members are considered owners of LLCs for tax purposes.

The lease document sheds light on an estate-planning technique the 70-year-old Trump appears to have used. Essentially, by giving the children an interest in the hotel now, Trump's estate would save a bundle on future taxes when the hotel stake presumably will be worth much more.

LLC Ownership

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Here's how it works:

Three other LLCs also have membership interests in the company that's leasing the building, according to the document. They are Ivanka OPO LLC, Don OPO LLC and Eric OPO LLC. These three entities each hold a 7.425 percent interest, and all are listed as making zero equity contributions, according to the document. The Ivanka Trump Revocable Trust is listed as the sole owner of the Ivanka OPO LLC. The owners of the Don OPO LLC and Eric OPO LLC could not be determined, though presumably these entities are also owned or controlled by Donald Jr. and Eric, two other of Donald Trump's five children. "This is the typical estate plan, where you have a senior generation that wants the junior generation involved in an activity," said Stephen J. Bigge, partner with Keebler & Associates, a tax advisory firm in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Because the children's LLCs appear to have no equity interest in the deal, according to the document, their stakes are considered gifts for estate planning purposes, attorneys say.

Taxable gifts

When it comes to gift taxes, the donor is responsible for picking up the tab. In 2016, you can give up to $14,000 per recipient free of taxes ($28,000 if you are making this gift with your spouse). Over your lifetime, you can make gifts up to $5.45 million free of taxes. In Trump's case, if the value of the ownership interests given to the children exceeds his gift exclusion, he will likely have to pay some tax on the gift. A gift tax return would provide some clarity on how the majority LLC valued the smaller stakes. Trump to date has declined to release his tax returns.

But here's where smart planning kicks in: If the hotel is successful, the stakes in the deal will become much more valuable over time. By gifting an interest in the hotel to his children now, Trump is paying taxes in the present  rather than having his estate pay a 40 percent levy to the federal government in the future when the hotel's value has likely appreciated. "If this hotel is successful, it could be worth a great deal of money," said Bruce D. Steiner, who is of counsel at Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen in New York City. "Trump gets nearly a quarter of it out of his estate." Details of the Trump entity that's holding the lease came to light this summer in a previously redacted lease document, available here. BuzzFeed News originally revealed some details in this document via the Freedom of Information Act.

"Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric are and have been, and continue to be, actively involved in the development and management of the hotel," a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization wrote in an email. "Consistent with standard real estate industry practice, Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric each received a profits interest in the hotel partnership for their services."

Smaller scale
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Are frog-skin chips the future of Singaporean agriculture? If Chelsea Wan has anything to do with it, the answer is yes. Wan, a second-generation farmer and fierce advocate for Singapore's tiny agriculture industry, is on the hunt for ways to diversify her product - frogs - in ways that appeal to consumers in the sophisticated and land-scarce city-state. Jurong Frog Farm was founded by Wan's father, Wan Bock Thiaw, in 1981 and is Singapore's first and only frog farm. The Wan family, together with a staff of 13, rear American bullfrogs, a frog species prized for their meaty hind legs, which are cooked as a delicacy. There are usually between 10,000 and 15,000 frogs, from tadpoles to market-size adults, living at one time on the 1.1. hectare farm nestled in the Kranji countryside.

A hoppy history

The 33-year old Singaporean, who majored in sociology, joined the family business full-time in 2006, in part to help her busy father. "I see a lot of potential for the business. Also, I saw my dad toiling so hard when I was growing up, he's literally a one-man show," Wan, who's now director of the farm, tells CNBC. Jurong Frog Farm sells most of its antibiotic-, hormone- and steroid-free amphibians to restaurants and supermarkets in Singapore, as well as selling deboned frog meat as pet food. But Wan and her brother Jackson have branched out, opening an online store to make the farm's produce more accessible. "I wanted to offer more value compared to what the traditional frog farming business was about, which was mostly just the meat or selling live frogs," says Wan, who's known as the "Frog Princess" in the farming community. "Frog farming can only be profitable if you keep overheads really lean. In our case we had to diversify and create value out of our byproducts because of increased competition from frog breeders in neighboring countries," Wan explains.

Young schoolchildren on an educational tour in Jurong Frog Farm, Singapore. Jurong Frog Farm

She reveals that the farm has an annual turnover of 1.2 million Singapore dollars ($880,000) but declines to comment further on financial details. Aside from frog meat, the farm manufactures its own bottled "hashima," a fragrant, collagen-rich desert popular in China and central Asia that's made from the fatty tissue near the frog's fallopian tubes. And for even more adventurous foodies, they've starting making frog skin chips seasoned with spices, which Wan says are "also very rich in collagen." Wan also developed a structured educational tour for students or tourists who want to learn about the frog's life cycle, and is working with tertiary education institutions to learn how to better cater to her frogs' needs and discover other uses for frogs' body parts.

A fragile future

Farms are rarely associated with Singapore, a small urban city-state that imports more than 90 percent of its food. But as well as the Jurong Frog Farm, the Kranji countryside is home to a goat dairy farm and a number of high-tech vertical farms equipped with the latest technologies to maximize output within tight spaces. The area's farms are currently enjoying a new lease of life, after until recently fearing for their future. In late 2014, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) told 62 of the local farms, including Jurong Frog Farm, that their land leases would not be renewed when they expired in June 2017, so the land could be redeveloped. But following an outpouring of public support for the farmers, AVA said in June it would extend the farmers' tenure until the end of 2019. "It was really a consolidated effort by the farmers, we banded together through the Kranji Countryside Association, and through that association we made our voices heard," Wan says, adding that she was greatly encouraged by support from the public. "We really still see a future for farming in Singapore." Singapore's local farms produce 8 percent of allvegetables sold in the city-state, 8 percent of the fish and 26percent of the eggs, according to AVA data. But the Kranji farmersdon't know what will happen to them once their lease extensions runout.

Jurong Frog Farm's Chelsea Wan holds up an American bullfrog. Singapore Young Farmers
Palmer Luckey, Founder, Oculus VR, on the Centre Stage during Day 1 of the 2015 Web Summit in the RDS, Dublin, Ireland.

Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus, has financially backed a partisan group devoted to circulating Internet memes besmirching Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the Daily Beast reported Thursday.

The group, called Nimble America, describes itself as a "social welfare 501(c)4 non-profit" in support of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the report said.

Luckey, who sold his virtual reality company Oculus to Facebook for $2 billion in 2014, said that despite being listed as NimbleAmerica's vice president on its website, he was just the group's money man, adding that the group "sounded like a real jolly good time," the report said.

In an auto-response to an email sent by CNBC outside office hours, Nimble America said it takes positions on a variety of public policy matters and that it creates ads to promote "common sense conservatism." It said it didn't consider its activities to be political as defined under U.S. tax code.

Responding on September 26 to CNBC's inquiry, Nimble America did not address its sources of funding, but said via email, "As an advocacy organization, Nimble America may also support or oppose political candidates that share or oppose the ideals of Nimble America."



In a Facebook post on September 24, Luckey apologized for actions that may negatively impact perceptions of Oculus and its partners.

He confirmed that he had donated $10,000 to Nimble America, but denied that he was a founder or employee of the group and added that he didn't plan further donations to the group.

Facebook didn't immediately return CNBC's emailed request for comment, sent outside office hours, on whether Luckey was an employee of the company.

The full Daily Beast report can be read here.



Clarification: This article has been updated to include statements from Nimble America and Palmer Luckey.
Bruce Berkowitz said Friday he leans toward voting for Donald Trump for president, not because of the billionaire developer himself, but because of Trump's advisors.

"I'm looking at the people who are gonna be doing the hard work for the country, who are reforming financial systems, welfare benefits ... right now I'm picking the people that Donald Trump is picking to do the heavy lifting for the country," the founder and chief investment officer of Fairholme Capital Management, which manages just under $5 billion, told CNBC.

The money manager added "that could change" before the election. But Berkowitz said he had "a lot of difficulty" with President Barack Obama's administration.
As the opioid epidemic continued growing  claiming tens of thousands of lives in overdoses  so did the prices of an old drug that acts as a silver bullet to immediately resurrect dying patients.

"In the case of naloxone, when it's purchased directly by health departments, or community organizations or police departments, there's no buffer, they pay the whole cost, so any increase in price erodes their purchasing power, and they're either able to purchase fewer or they're gonna need to find additional dollars to keep pace with the demand," he said.

"Usually when you see increases in the price of pharmaceuticals, they're somewhat cushioned or buffered by the fact that they're covered by third-party payer's insurance," Raymond said.

Daniel Raymond, policy director of the Harm Reduction Coalition, said that the price increase of naloxone in recent years "poses a dilemma, because we're seeing more demand for naloxone."

"For certain, they have saved lives as a result of their donations," she said, "but we should not be dependent on their donations that are given by companies."

Wen said Baltimore, like a number of other cities and municipal services, has benefited from donations that some naloxone makers have made.

At the same time, she said, "naloxone is available by the pennies in other countries. It's on the World Health Organization's list of essential medications. It's been a generic medication for years."

Wen, who wants to get naloxone into the hands of all Baltimore residents, says her department has seen its cost of acquiring the medication double in the past three years.

"Why should we be priced out of a lifesaving medication at a time of public health emergency when we need it the most?" asked Dr. Leana Wen, the Baltimore City Health Commissioner. "It's unethical and inhumane to deny our patients and our cities lifesaving medications, and watch hundreds of thousands of citizens in our cities die."

The cost of that drug, naloxone, now is drawing renewed attention as public officials complain the cost of products containing it is limiting the acquisition and use of the medication, and thus potentially costing lives of people OD'ing on prescription painkillers, heroin or fentanyl.

Naloxone, which counteracts the effect of an opioid overdose, has been available for treating opioid overdose for more than four decades, and is a generic medication, meaning that no company holds the right to exclusively market it.



There are seven commonly used products or devices that contain naloxone, delivering it either as an injection, or, in the case of Narcan, as a nasal spray.

Prices for those products vary widely, as do the number of doses contained in a given product. They range from $150 for a two-pack of single-dose Narcan, up to $396 for a 10-syringe set from Amphastar subsdiary International Medication Systems, and then to a high of a whopping $4,500 for two single-dose Evzio injectors from Kaleo, according to data from Truven Health Analytics.

Evzio's price has grown more than six-fold from mid-2014, when it was selling for $690. The product's price was raised to $900 late in November 2015, and then quintupled in price to its current level less than three months later.

A set of 10 vials of naloxone sold by Hospira was selling for $45 in 2009. The price eventually grew nearly 600 percent up to $263.88 in early 2014, before drifting down to its current level of $189.96. International Medication System's price has almost doubled since 2008, and the company has seen the number of prescriptions for its naloxone products almost double from 2009 to 2014.

Those price hikes have been noticed by Congress, which since last year has become increasingly concerned about the price of drugs, particularly ones like naloxone that have been around for years and which do not have patent protection.

In June, the Senate's Special Committee on Aging, wrote five companies asking about their efforts to preserve accessibility to naloxone.

The letter asked for insight about "actions [they] are taking to ensure continued and improved access to naloxone, an explanation for price changes in [their] company's naloxone product, and a description of the available resources and tools to prevent barriers to access and shortages of this critical and life-saving medication."



Earlier this week, a House committee grilled the CEO of Mylan over her company hiking the price of lifesaving anti-allergy EpiPens more than 500 percent in recent years. EpiPens contain epineprhine, which like naloxone is a decades-old, generic medication.

On Thursday, a day after that Mylan hearing, members of a House subcommittee cited the cost of naloxone as a reason that competition between drugmakers should be encouraged.

"On the one hand, we want to encourage pharmaceutical companies to invest in expensive research and development in order to bring innovative and lifesaving drugs to market," Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said, according to an account of that hearing by the Morning Consult. "On the other hand, we also want to encourage sufficient competition to ensure that there is an appropriate check on consumer prices."



At that same hearing, Dr. Eric Ketcham of New Mexico noted that while a 1 milliliter syringe of naloxone sells for the equivalent of $1.17 in India, the same product's cost in the northwest section of his state has risen from about $12 in 2012 to around $30 this year.

And Ketcham said that a 2-ml syringe product sold by Amphastar, which is used by many fire departments and emergency medical service, "is now priced at approximately $49" per dose "and has risen incrementally from $17" per dose in 2014.

"The consequence of these rising prices may force naloxone out of the budget for rural fire or EMS service that doesn't have the buying power of a hospital or larger municipal agency," said Ketcham, who is medical director of the emergency department at the San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, New Mexico.

Paul Ripp, the fire department chief in Madison, Wisconsin, said that naloxone price increases have put "the squeeze on other areas [in the budget] such as safety equipment."

"Gear for our firefighters has to be put off into the future because of the money being spent on the extra drugs that we need to handle overdoses," Ripp said.

Kaleo, when asked about its naloxone product's cost, said that the list price of Evzio was increased earlier this year to cover the cost of a program that "dramatically changed our patient access program for Evzio."

"Unlike some access programs that utilize coupons to bring down out-of-pocket costs by a set amount, Kaleo's access program ensures all patients and caregivers with commercial insurance and a prescription can obtain Evzio at no cost, even if their commercial insurance does not cover it," spokesman Mark Herzog said. "With our new access program, no matter the pharmacy price for Evzio, a patient with commercial insurance and a prescription will obtain Evzio. To cover the cost of this program for patients, we increased the list price for Evzio."

Herzog also noted that Evzio "was the first naloxone product specifically designed, FDA- approved and labeled for use by individuals without medical training. It is the only intelligent auto-injection system that provides simple, on-the-spot voice and visual instruction to help guide people through the injection process."

A spokeswoman for Pfizer , whose divisions include naloxone maker Hospira, said,"Hospira has long recognized the critical need for naloxone as a potentially life-saving drug. As other manufacturers have exited the naloxone market over the years, Hospira worked hard for more than three decades to maintain the availability of this important, medically necessary product to patients and physicians."

"Throughout that period, Hospira often served as the sole supplier of this critical medicine," the spokeswoman said. "Hospira (and now Pfizer) has responsibly priced naloxone; we believe our actions have reflected sensitivity to the need for the product, and also take into account the investments necessary to produce high-quality generic drugs as well as ensure appropriate distribution through licensed medical professionals."
Today at The Federalist, Acton associate editor Sarah Stanley penned an article profiling an artist from North Korea who goes by the name of Sun Mu. This profile is inspired by a recent documentary that highlights the life of the artist. Sun Mu defected from the oppressive state in the late 1990s and since then has been creating art that depicts the story of his life in North Korea. In order to protect his family, Sun Mu cant use his real name. Stanley explains:

The most extraordinary thing about him is that the audience for his art mostly doesnt know what he looks like, or what his real name is. Sun Mu still has family in North Korea, so he never shows his face in public. His real identity is a closely guarded secret. He insists hiding in plain sight is not a form of thrill-seeking. He puts himself in real danger simply because he was destined to become Sun Mu (a phrase meaning no boundaries).

When Sun Mu first defected from North Korea he made his way to China where he was first exposed to a society other than the tyrannical state of his home country. Stanley explains his experience:

The most surprising thing he noticed when he arrived in China was the lights. The glittering lights, Sun Mu says. Plastic bags blowing in the winds. Is this rotten capitalism? Is this the rotten capitalism the North has been talking about? Why are so many lights on? He even began to wonder if he was hallucinating. There couldnt be that many working lights glittering all over. For at least a decade after he defected, he continued to believe the lies perpetuated by Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong Il, propaganda that said capitalism made other countries worse.

Given that Sun Mu has experienced life in so many different cultures, its no surprise that his art draws inspiration from so many different influences other than North Korea. Back to Stanley:

Throughout the documentary, Sun Mus paintings come to life as transitions in the narrativeor as voiceovers occur. Several paintings get special attention as the artist explains his inspirations and where he was in his life journey when he created them. A friend of Sun Mu says, if reunification were to happen, I think it would resemble Sun Mus paintings. They have a clear mix of both North and South Korean style culture as well as Western influence. Sun Mu has been described as South Korean by appearance, North Korean by heart.

Sun Mus art is shown at the Yuan Art Museum in Beijing where museum curator, Liang Kegang, describes Sun Mus art saying He didnt just paint the suffering and present only the wounds, he painted hope, a beautiful thing. This is very precious.

Stanley finishes her article by giving a description of the emotional closing scene from the documentary.

The documentary gives voice to countless North Koreans who are now refugees or are still trapped in their hellish nation. It fittingly ends at Yeon Mi Jeong, a South Korean lookout over the border to North Korea. Sun Mu gazes back at his former home. He knows exactly what hed do if he ever went back there: Id load my car with a pig, rice, and booze and Id throw a big party in my hometown so we could all eat til our stomachs burst, for once. He hopes to one day exhibit in Pyongyang.

You can read Stanleys full article at The Federalist here.
Australia should use use the money it plans to spend on a marriage equality plebiscite for more useful public services, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told CNBC.

On Monday, the Australian Government approved a plan to disburse $15 million in public funding to the "yes" and "no" campaigns taking part in a national poll that will ask Australians whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. According to the state broadcaster ABC, the plebiscite is expected to cost $160 million in total.

A vocal opponent of the plebiscite, Joyce was the first high-profile corporate figure to reject the government's plan for same-sex marriage, arguing that the decision should be made by lawmakers, not put to a poll.

Australia's Marriage Act 1961 defines marriage as "the union of a man and a woman," according to the Gilbert + Tobin Centre for Public Law at the University of New South Wales. A plebiscite result has no legal standing, and the act could be changed by the federal parliament without a test of public opinion.

"The country can spend on a lot of other things, whether it's health, nurses, skills, transport. And this should be the job of parliament. Parliament is there to lead the country, to make the decisions," Joyce told CNBC in an exclusive interview.
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Jim Cramer saw oil play out its same pattern of prices rising on rumors of an oil output deal, and then falling when it does not happen. Rather than pull his hair out worrying about it, he kept China and earnings on his radar for next week. "In October we have had a bunch of crashes. Be prepared to be scared again by the same naysayers and my advice, get over it, look for cheap stocks of great companies, and use the fear to buy, not to sell," the "Mad Money" host said. With this in mind, Cramer outlined the stocks and events on his radar next week: Monday: The presidential debate, Carnival, Vail Resorts, Thor Industries

Cramer does not expect anything positive for business to come out of the debate. He anticipated that both banks and the drug companies will be hot topics, thanks to Wells Fargo and Mylan. "I say, thanks for nothing," Cramer said.





With news that Twitter could potentially be sold to Salesforce.com , Alphabet or other unknown suitors, Cramer was faced with a classic dilemma. "Left to its own devices, Twitter should be lower, perhaps appreciably lower because it doesn't have growth and growth is the magic elixir that's required for all tech companies," Cramer said. Cramer has argued in the past that if Twitter's management thought bigger and made the platform easier to use, it could be so much more than what it is now. It could be used for the ultimate customer relations tool. Ultimately, Cramer determined that it would be tough to get behind Twitter right now because it can only be recommended on a takeover basis. The fundamentals don't support its current valuation, though it is worth a great deal to some. "If you own Twitter, understand it's in rarefied territory and I am thinking it's four, five points up, and three down down if nothing materializes," Cramer said. Until very recently, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance was one of the hottest stocks out there. It suddenly fell off a cliff for no discernible reason. "Eventually all growth stocks run into the problem of great expectations, but if the story is intact, they ultimately bounce back," Cramer said. The question now becomes whether Ulta is a broken stock or a broken company. If the company is broken, work has to be done before investors can make a move. But if merely the stock is broken, it could just be a matter of time before it makes a comeback. The verdict? This is a broken stock, not a broken company, Cramer said. "That is why I think it is worth buying, particularly if it keeps going lower on the same old information," Cramer said.

ULTA beauty event Tasos Katopodis | CNBC
European stocks closed lower Friday as investors paused for breath after recent gains and digested the latest data on manufacturing and services activity in the euro zone.

The pan-European Euro Stoxx 600 Index ended the day down 0.7 percent provisionally with the German Dax and France's CAC 40 both down by 0.4 percent. The FTSE 100 closed flat on the day

The banking sector was the worst performer after a rally in the previous session aided by the weaker dollar following the rate decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

There was bad news for euro zone on Friday with the latest flash purchasing manager's index (PMI) falling to a near two-year low, indicating that the economic upturn in the region is fragile and failing to achieve any real traction. The preliminary PMI from Markit showed that business activity in the 19-country region fell to 52.6 in September versus 52.9 in August and below market expectations.

Stephen Brown, a European economist at Capital Economics, believes that pressure on the European Central Bank to take action will continue to mount. "We expect it to announce an extension of its asset purchase program in December, if not before."
The lackluster state of the French economy is slipping down the list of hot topics for voters as the race for the presidency in 2017 starts to accelerate, according to one expert. Jonathan Fenby, director of European Political Research at TSL Research Group told CNBC on Friday that concerns about immigration and security have overtaken worries about the economy. "It is immigration and law and order now," Fenby told CNBC Europe's "Squawk Box" on Friday. "(In the past) it certainly was the economy and unemployment which has remained around 10 percent (that voters cared about) but now with the terrorist attacks over the last 18 months or so it's very much become security." Earlier this week, seven candidates were lined up to run in the French conservative presidential primaries coming up in November. The former President Nicolas Sarkozy and the former Prime Minister Alain Juppe are considered the frontrunners while Bruno Le Maire and Francois Fillon are among the other contenders.



The Eiffel tower is closed for security reasons and guarded by police following Fridays terrorist attack on November 15, 2015 in Paris, France. Xavier Laine | Getty Images

Six out of the seven candidates are from the main opposition Republican party with immigration, national identity and security becoming the key themes for the candidates. France has been rocked by several high-profile Islamist-inspired terrorist attacks in the last 18 months, from the Charlie Hebdo attack in January 2015 to the Paris massacre last November and, most recently, the Bastille Day attack in Nice. The conservative primaries will be held on November 20 with a possible run-off the week after, if no candidate gets at least 50 percent of the votes. France 24 noted this week that the stakes are high for the vote "with polls showing that the winner of the primary would be the clear favorite to win the election next May."

Leaning to the right
Here's what we know about how they are preparing:

The first presidential debate could easily become one of the most watched events ever, and it will be nearly impossible to avoid seeing at least some parts of it on a television screen, cell phone, tablet or laptop or social media.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are preparing for their highly anticipated Monday night debate showdown in ways that appear to be as different as their candidacies. One looks to be hunkering down with homework, research and rehearsals, while the other seems to be taking an on-the-fly casual approach to what could be the most important 90 minutes of the presidential election.

Between her 2000 Senate run and two presidential bids, Clinton has appeared on the debate stage nearly 40 times. Still, she has never prepared for an opponent quite as unpredictable as Trump.



In an email to supporters this week, Clinton touted her debate experience but acknowledged Monday's matchup is "the most important" yet.

More from NBC News:

Clinton Preparing for 'Different Trumps' at First Debate

Trump Supports Stop-and-Frisk Despite Policy's Condemnation

Trump Dismisses 'Narrative of Cops as a Racist Force'

This month, Clinton has hunkered down with top aides to study from the comfort of her own home. The bulk of Clinton's prep has been done in and around her house in Chappaqua, New York, partly due to her recent bout with pneumonia.

Following the disclosure of her illness, Clinton took three full days off the trail to recover and read up on briefing books.

And while the campaign is very tight-lipped on specifics, aides say they are preparing for the night to go in several directions.



The candidate herself has often said that she doesn't know "which Donald Trump will show up" to the first debate. Clinton's communications director, Jennifer Palmieri told reporters this week that the campaign is "preparing for the different Trumps that might show up."

At a Hamptons fundraiser last month, the former secretary of state asked the crowd for "thoughts or ideas" on her debate strategy against the Republican nominee. "Maybe he will try to be presidential and try to convey a gravity that he hasn't done before or maybe he will come in and try to insult and try to score some points," she speculated.

Recently, Clinton has vowed to "communicate as clearly and fearlessly" as possible "in the face of the insults and attacks and the bullying and bigotry that we've seen coming from my opponent."

Those familiar with her prep know she needs to be ready to take on any uncomfortable topics that Trump could possibly throw her way, a tactic Trump hasn't shied away from in the past.

Aides argue Clinton has a slight edge because she has so much experience debating one-on-one, whereas Trump spent most of the time in the primary season sharing the stage with many opponents.

The Democratic nominee opted for a fairly light schedule this week in order to practice for the debate. She only traveled to two battleground states  Pennsylvania and Florida  in order to accommodate enough prep time. She's taking full days off the trail Thursday and Friday, unlike her opponent, and has no public events scheduled over the weekend either.

One very guarded secret that has stayed under wraps, so far, is the question of who is playing Trump at these private sessions. Some have hinted that multiple people are taking on the role, in order to best prepare for the different tones Trump may strike.

Palmieri has called the debate stage a "great place" for voters to hear from Clinton in an "unfiltered" way.

The critical calculation will be: How much time can Clinton spend on the offensive debating against someone like Trump who will seek to put her on defense for most of the 90-minute discussion.

Every campaign tries lower expectations for their candidate ahead of a debate, and then pump up their performance afterwards, but Democrats are preparing for the spin wars to be especially important this year in shaping the public image of the debate.

One of Clinton allies' biggest concerns is that Trump will be judged against an unusually low bar, while Clinton will be judged against an impossibly high one. Aides have already started working the refs, urging reporters and pundits to hold Clinton and Trump to the same standard, and her campaign is sure to flood the airwaves with surrogates ready to declare Trump's performance a disaster and shame media figures whom, in their opinion, are too soft on Trump.

As the countdown clock to Monday night's first encounter ticks away, Clinton told radio host Steve Harvey Tuesday that she's ready for a heated encounter on the debate stage.

"I can take it," she said. "I can take that kind of stuff. I've been at this and I understand it's a contact sport."
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A spate of high-profile thefts at automated teller machines (ATM) has sparked alarm and sent law enforcement officials in a tizzy.

But a British cybersecurity firm reckons swindlers can be stopped in their tracks with the help of machine learning and a bit of math.

ATMs have long been a target for criminals, although the style of attacks has evolved in recent years; from illegally tampering with the cash dispensing machines, many are now turning to more sophisticated means of gaining access, by infecting ATMs with malware.

Malware is a generic term for a variety of malicious software that can pose serious cybersecurity threats.

Earlier this year, a gang stole $13 million from ATMs in a three-hour, 14,000 withdrawal spree in Japan, while in Taiwan, hackers breached a major domestic bank in July and used malware to withdraw more than $2 million from dozens of ATMs, reported Reuters.

The Bangkok Post further reported a group made off with 12 million baht ($346,926) from ATMs belonging to the state-run Government Savings Bank (GSB) in Thailand in August. More worryingly, the attacks aren't restricted to Asia alone.

Analytics software company FICO said in a study in April that the number of ATMs in the U.S. that were compromised by criminals rose 546 percent in 2015 over the previous year, the highest growth rate ever observed by the company.

Attacks on ATMs are just one of the major threats facing companies as hackers and cyber criminals have been using increasingly sophisticated means to attack targets ranging from the Democratic National Committee to technology firm Yahoo.

Analysts say that investing heavily on firewalls is no longer enough to contend with the multitude of cyber threats companies face. Often, an organization may not be aware of being compromised until much later, when most of the damage has already been done.

Harnessing the power of machines

Cambridge-based Darktrace's Asia Pacific managing director, Sanjay Aurora, told CNBC in an interview that malware can breach a company's network and sit idle for as many as 200 days, quietly gathering information before launching a major attack.

Because businesses can have hundreds of connected devices transmitting large volumes of data all at the same time, it is impossible for security personnel to track all the anomalies in the network before they morph into serious cybersecurity threats.

"That's where you use machine learning to interpret all the variety of so-called small events - some related, some unrelated - and use mathematics to say hey this is a leading indicator to an insider threat because I have not seen this there before," explained Aurora.

Education Images | UIG | Getty Images

Machines have superior processing power and can scan through huge volumes of data. Theoretically, a piece of computer software can be programmed to learn and become smarter in the way it catches anomalous patterns in a company's networks.

The advantage it has over traditional firewalls is that the latter looks only for known anomalous patterns and every time a new threat is uncovered, the code must be updated for it to be effective. And keeping a large network up to date with the latest security updates can take time and is costly.

Aurora said the thing organizations need to understand is that the "threat is inside, something will [always] bypass" the firewall.

Going after the weakest link

Banks and financial institutions are a key target for hackers because of the vast amount of money they handle regularly. Accordingly, these institutions invest heavily to protect their core assets, such as intellectual property and other vital information.

Given how extensive a big bank's network can be, other areas do not receive similar levels of protection. These so-called weak links are now attracting hackers' attention. ATMs are one such weak link, said Aurora. Other cybersecurity experts agreed.

"ATM machines still rely on outdated operating systems like Windows XP, which is threat-prone, since Microsoft ended support for it in 2014," Dhanya Thakkar, managing director and vice president for Asia Pacific at Trend Micro, told CNBC by email.

Ending support implied Microsoft would not release any new security updates to protect the operating system against new threats.

Hackers typically attack ATMs using malware through the following steps, according to Thakkar:

Access the ATM system either physically or through a bank's internal network

Install a malware and infect the core of the ATM, which communicates with the bank's infrastructure, cash and credit card processing functions

Hackers can then withdraw all the funds in the ATM or steal data from cards used by others, including bank account and personal identification numbers.

Kaspersky Labs' Alexey Osipov said many hackers don't even go near an ATM machine to carry out an attack or profit from it.

"Different underground forums share and sell information about attacking ATMs," Osipov told CNBC by phone. Which means a person could theoretically write lines of codes for a malware and only "sell his intellectual property to other criminals."

In the case of the Thailand heist, however, analysis from American network security company, FireEye, suggested possible coordination among attackers in the virtual and the physical world.

FireEye 's Daniel Regalado observed in an August blog post the malware used in the Thailand attacks - dubbed "RIPPER" - built on existing malware used to expel cash from ATMs, but also "used some interesting techniques not seen before."

Regalado noted the malware interacted with ATMs using a specially manufactured ATM card with an EMV chip that served as the authentication mechanism. EMV, which stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa  the three companies that originally started it  is a technical standard used by credit and debit payment cards that uses chip card technology. Users, for example, have to enter a personal identification number (PIN) to verify they are the genuine card holder. "This malware family can be used to compromise multiple vendor platforms and leverages uncommon technology to access physical devices," he said.

Striking gold, taking the king's ransom
A police officer frisks a man in Albuquerque, NM. Russell Contreras | AP

But the Republican candidate failed to mention that his hometown, along with many other cities who followed New York City's crackdown, have become case studies in the perils of such an approach. Four of the five biggest American cities  New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia  have all used stop-and-frisk tactics in an attempt to lower crime. Despite what Trump says, the results are mixed, and in each city the methods have been found unconstitutional for disproportionately targeting minorities. In New York, a class-action lawsuit led to a federal judge's ruling that New York's use of the tool violated the rights of minorities, with more than 80 percent of stops involving blacks and Latinos, with rarely any of the stops resulting in the seizure of contraband.

Mayor Bill de Blasio won election that year by campaigning against stops, which have decreased dramatically. The city must now file regular reports on them. Los Angeles spent more than a decade under monitoring by the U.S. Justice Department in response to excessive force, illegal arrests, and unconstitutional searches and seizures  including the disproportionate stopping of blacks, even though those stops were less likely than those involving whites to uncover weapons or drugs, researchers found. The reforms, including collection of detailed data on stop-and-frisks, helped, advocates say. But the data collection has since ended, making it difficult to determine if things are still getting better. Chicago agreed to reform its stop-and-frisk tactics last year after coming under pressure from the local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, which found police were using the tool more aggressively  four times more often  than New York, with blacks bearing the brunt. The city agreed to bring in a federal monitor to oversee reforms. Philadelphia made a similar pact with its local ACLU in 2011, agreeing collect data on stop-and-frisks with oversight by a federal monitor. The latest numbers were not promising: a March monitor's report said the settlement had been violated thousands of times in 2015, with weapons hardly ever found.

Four of the five biggest American cities  New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia  have all used stop-and-frisk tactics in an attempt to lower crime.
A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf.

A daily morning look at the financial stories you need to know to start the day

STOCKS/ECONOMY

-Stock futures are a bit down after two straight days of solid rallies. Investors will be watching two Fed speeches today.



-Eurozone business growth has hit a 20-year low.

OIL/ENERGY

-The Saudis have offered to cut their oil output if Iran agrees to cap its output at current levels.
"Everybody needs the money. The question is can you bridge the gap."

"They're putting a lot of advance work into trying to get things done in a way that they weren't before Doha," the global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets told CNBC's " Power Lunch. "

The rhetoric leading up to next week's OPEC meeting is signaling the possibility of a freeze in crude production, noted oil expert Helima Croft said Friday.

When OPEC members met in Doha, Qatar, in April, there was a different tone leading up to it, with the Saudis essentially saying they weren't going to do anything, Croft noted.

This time, economic circumstances are tougher, she said, with Saudi Arabia having already burned through $200 billion in foreign exchange reserves since the decline in oil prices.

"Nobody wants to be back in the $30s. So I think the odds are greater this time than when they were going into Doha and the last couple OPEC meetings," she said.

The 14-country producer group is holding talks next week in Algeria aimed at freezing production. On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Saudi Arabia did not expect an agreement. The news sent oil prices down about 3 percent on Friday.

According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia has offered to cut oil production if rival Iran agrees to cap its own output this year.

Croft believes if there is a freeze or even constructive framework out of the meeting, the price of oil will rise. That's because analysts expect nothing to get done.

"It's out of consensus to say you expect even a freeze at this point. So I think if we get a freeze next week or even a constructive framework  'we're going to talk about it some more'  that will provide support to oil because right now everyone thinks that they are basically dead on arrival."

Croft said a freeze could boost oil by a couple of dollars, and a framework could add a dollar or two to the price.

 Reuters contributed to this report.
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."
How should Christians address predatory lending that takes advantage of the poor when they are in dire straits? As Ive argued before, I believe a helpful first step is to get churches and other faith-based organizations involved in providing short-term loans and financial counseling. But sometimes education and sacrificial generosity is not enough to solve the problem, and communities have to pursue other measures.

A prime example is found in Texas where several groupsincluding an alliance of Baptists and Catholicsworked to defend the poor against the payday loan industry. Deidox Films produced The Ordinancea documentary which you can watch in its entirety belowthat shows what can happen when churches, nonprofits, and individuals join together to protect the vulnerable.
watch now

Relations between Greece and Russia have remained strong throughout the two countries' economic and political crises but Russia's deputy finance minister told CNBC that his country was not in a financial position to help debt-laden Greece recover.

There has been much speculation over the years that Russia could step in to offer an alternative rescue package to Greece but the country itself saw its economy fall into recession following a dramatic slump in the oil price since 2014, and international sanctions for its annexation of Crimea and role in a pro-Russian uprising in Ukraine.



Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras together in April 2015. Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images

"Russia, of course, could be a friend (to Greece) from different points of view," Russia's Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak told CNBC on Friday. "But at this stage, it's rather difficult to say that we are in a position to grant financial credits, with a budget deficit and huge demand for money internally, we now are very conservative in terms of granting external credits." "But Russian companies are looking forward to being more involved in Greece's economy in terms of direct investments and I think that this will help the Greek economy," Storchak, who was appointed deputy finance minister in 2005, added.

Now on its third bailout program, Greece's relations with its lenders has deteriorated as the country struggles to meet the terms of its current 86 billion euro bailout. Part of its program commits the government to a privatization program, which has attracted foreign interest  notably from China and Russia. Storchak added that the conditions for expanding Russian investment in Greece were good. "My expectations are that the two nations will develop their relationship in different fields and it will be to the benefit of the Greek economy and Greek people."
Timing is everything in politics. You have to know which issues to talk about, and talk about them the right way and at just the right time to really cash in with the voters. This year has certainly provided presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton with dozens of issues to choose from, but an issue that's re-emerged in just the last two weeks provides both of them a uniquely equal chance to surge in this election. That issue is the renewed anger at CEOs, big banks, and Corporate America in general thanks to two separate hearings featuring bipartisan bashing of Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf and Mylan Laboratories CEO Heather Bresch. The first candidate who taps into this anger and presents him or herself as someone who could make it right will gain a major late advantage in this contest. But there's one catch: no stand on this issue will resonate unless it includes the "J" wordjail.

A lot voters and pundits would usually be repulsed by a candidate going around promising to put people behind bars, you know, especially because presidents are not supposed to act as judge, jury, and jailer/executioner. But a long-simmering public anger at the banks that began with the housing collapse and TARP in 2008 has been re-ignited with the news that Wells Fargo was hurting its regular customers and blaming the fraud on low-level employees.

Anti-CEO sentiment is also aflame because of the Mylan EpiPen case, where the public is still having an especially hard time accepting the $600 price tag for an item that costs little to produce. Compound that with the fact that the EpiPen is often a life-or-death need for millions of children who suffer from allergies, and you have a perfect storm of everyone from financial journalists to carpooling moms calling for somebody's head. And it was more than a little noticeable that at both the Wells Fargo and Mylan hearings, both Democrats and Republicans piled on. Stumpf and Mylan CEO Heather Bresch seemed to have no friends on Capitol Hill after years of cozy relationships. Promising to crack down on the next "bad guy" CEO or bank is less politically risky than ever.

But why is promising to bring jail into the equation so important this time? The simple answer is that despite the big banking collapse and all the evidence of mortgage fraud, the public is keenly aware that the Obama administration is about to complete eight years without getting even one high level bank executive or CEO behind bars. This failure is a key reason for the rise in popularity for people like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders' strong presidential candidacy. Even conservative Republicans point to the lack of convictions as evidence of a major Obama administration failure and "crony capitalism." This kind of bipartisan frustration is rare, and it has everything an aspiring presidential candidate locked in a tight race needs.

Of course jailing white collar criminals is a lot easier said than done, especially CEOs. And even if they are convicted, it's not like they go to some hardcore state prison where every prisoner's life is often in danger. But don't underestimate the visual power of seeing a major banking executive in chains wearing the orange jumpsuit of a convict.

Anyone old enough to remember the video of former Lincoln Savings and Loan chief Charles Keating being led away in convict's attire can attest to that. But the great thing about elections is that no one expects the candidates to actually achieve what they promise while the campaign is still going on, they just expect them to try. Promising to jail the next Stumpf or Angelo Mozilo that comes along is easy, but it doesn't make it any less politically beneficial. If elected, the candidate who makes that promise would be under a lot of pressure to make good with a high profile conviction. But passing a newer and tougher law to make future convictions easier to achieve could serve as a decent alternative.

Both Trump and Clinton would be smart to make such a promise immediately, with the first candidate to do so getting a decided advantage. The wording of such a promise could actually be eerily the same for both Trump and Clinton. Clinton would have to tiptoe around the fact that the Obama administration never bagged a big name conviction, but simply by leaving the president's name out of it and decrying the fact that so far, "corporate and banking criminals have evaded full justice," (putting the onus on the crooks), would work. Trump would have far more freedom to blame President Obama, but for the best effect he would also have to predict that Clinton couldn't even make a valid promise to jail the same people who have donated so heavily and uniformly to her campaign. But other than those important differences, the key point of the winning message for both of them would be that promiseempty or notto send someone to jail.

In the end, taking this kind of stand would take more guts than we've seen from our presidential candidates in the past. But it must be clear to at least one of the campaigns that last week's Congressional hearings have washed away almost all the serious negatives that would usually come along with brash promises to send American citizens to the slammer. Perhaps the deciding factor for which candidate chooses to take this stand will be which one of them wants to win it more.
A custom-made tweed suit worn by former Beatle John Lennon is set to go up for auction with a price tag of $65,000.

The two-piece grey and black houndstooth suit, designed by tailor Douglas Millings, was worn by Lennon during the height of the Beatles' fame in the 1960s.

According to Boston-based RR Auctions, the suit is "in very fine condition" and offers bidders the "rare opportunity to own a full suit from one of the most important artists of all time." Lennon later donated the suit to London waxworks museum Madame Tussauds.

The auction of the suit, first reported by the Liverpool Echo, is estimated to fetch $65,000 plus when it goes under the hammer next week.

One of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century, Lennon wrote a host of famous songs, from "Norwegian Wood" to "Imagine". He died in 1980 after being shot by Mark David Chapman in New York City.

Decades after their split, the appetite for Beatles memorabilia remains strong. In February, a lock of Lennon's hair was sold in Dallas by Heritage Auctions for $35,000.
Carter Page, an adviser to U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, speaks at the graduation ceremony for the New Economic School in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 8, 2016. Page is a former investment banker who previously worked in Russia.

One of Donald Trump's foreign policy advisors is being probed by U.S. intelligence officials to determine whether he has had private discussions with senior Russian officials, Yahoo News reported, citing sources.

In particular, members of the intelligence community are concerned that Carter Page has spoken with the Kremlin about the possibility of lifting economic sanctions on Russia, sources told Yahoo.

Page and Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.



The report comes amid growing concerns that Moscow may be trying to influence the U.S. presidential election. On Thursday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Adam Schiff of California issued a joint statement expressing their concern about Russian hacking and called on President Vladimir Putin "to immediately order a halt to this activity."

"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," Feinstein and Schiff 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 electionwe can see no other rationale for the behavior of the Russians."

Feinstein is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Schiff is a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee.

It's your money, it's your vote: Read all of CNBC's debatecoverage and analysis here.

Read the full report on Yahoo News.
The polls say the number of undecided voters in this presidential election is unusually high.

In a head-to-head race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the RealClearPolitics average of polls shows 11 percent of voters are still undecided. That's a very large number for this late date and more than a 37-percent increase over this time in 2012, when only eight percent of voters said they still couldn't make up their minds.

This is probably the biggest reason why so many pundits believe this close election will be decided by the presidential debates, especially the first one coming up this Monday night.

The debates will, indeed, be important, but not because they will change the minds of any voters or give guidance to those who can't make a choice. They will be crucial because they will once again provide millions of Americans with rational-sounding excuses to finally go public with their voting choices.

Here's why: There really aren't a significant number of undecided voters  despite what the polls say. Most people decided a long time ago. The problem is, a lot of people are reluctant to ADMIT who they plan to vote for.

That's where the debates come in. In fact, this is where the debates always come. What the debates provide to every voter who's wary to make their presidential choices public is a series of rational  but fake  excuses to justify a decision they made weeks or months before based on reasons that also may be a little embarrassing to admit.

Let's be clear: The reason why so many more people say they're undecided this time around is the fact that the two leading candidates are very unpopular. Saying you support either candidate publicly means you are almost definitely going to anger someone standing within earshot and most Americans don't love having political arguments (unless you live in New York!). But the debates provide shier voters plenty of real statements or candidate gestures they can use as a rational excuse for saying they've finally made a choice. And since so many people watch the debates, those supposedly once-undecided voters can be sure the excuse they use is at least something their peers saw, too. It's not like some wacky data found on an obscure or biased website.

Throughout history, the debates have provided voters some great fake reasons to finally come out of the electoral closet. In 1976, Jimmy Carter had the election sewn up as soon as he won the Democratic nomination thanks to a public that wanted to punish the Republicans and all crooked politicians for Watergate. People were relieved to see a Washington outsider it could choose instead. But it was still a little weird to proclaim support for someone with no foreign policy experience in the midst of the Cold War. Then came the debate where President Gerald Ford misspoke by saying the Soviets didn't dominate Poland or the rest of Eastern Europe. Suddenly, Ford's experience wasn't anything the voters who quietly backed Carter needed to be embarrassed about ignoring. The debate didn't change their minds, it helped them feel better about making their opinion public.

Most of the presidential debates since then haven't provided that kind of stark gaffe, but they're just as effective because it's not a slam dunk the decided-but-uneasy voters need. All they need is something somewhat memorable to use as that magic excuse. So when the supposedly unstable and war-happy Ronald Reagan seemed poised and serious in his 1980 debate with Carter, that was excuse enough. When Michael Dukakis couldn't definitely answer the question about whether he'd support the death penalty for his wife's hypothetical killer, that was excuse enough. And when George H.W. Bush committed the supposed mistake of looking at his watch during a 1992 debate, voters uneasy about admitting they were voting for the nationally inexperienced Bill Clinton had their excuse, too.

It didn't matter that each of those past debate examples, from Ford to Bush, didn't really prove anything about the candidates' abilities to lead as president. What mattered is that they were very public statements or gestures that served as something supposedly undecided voters could grab onto with reasonable assurance their neighbors and colleagues wouldn't beat them up for doing so.

With that in mind, look for a lot of closet Trump supporters to point to any signs of their candidate keeping his composure as more than enough of an excuse to finally say they've "decided" to reluctantly back him. Shy Clinton voters will probably cite any debate response where she rattles off insider expertise on foreign policy as their excuse. Physical appearance will play a big role, too, but not as many voters will be willing to admit that. Still, if Clinton looks sick or Trump makes a lot of rude and dismissive faces they too could serve as phony excuses for the supposedly undecided to make a public choice.

Debates are, indeed, crucial, because they get those publicly on-the-fence voters to finally admit they've made a choice. This helps the polls become more accurate and reduces the chance of some kind of tumultuous election night surprise. But anyone who says the debates really convinced them of anything in this or any other election is probably just not telling the truth.
Created for T-Mobile

When Donna Lomazini and Bryony Zasman won T-Mobile's Un-leash your Business contest at iCONIC, they had no idea the impact it would have on their company. Lomazini and Zasman founded ZOOMcatalog, a cloud-based library that allows clients to store and send catalogs digitally. The prize they received was a full T-Mobile business package, with ten mobile devices, and international access to the network. The effect has been a game-changer. "Now we're evolving and re-thinking the entire catalog process," said Zasman.

We met Lomazini and Zasman at the Denver stop on the 2016 iCONIC tour. iCONIC is a joint creation of CNBC and Inc., and is sponsored by T-Mobile. The conference series draws together some of the most enterprising small businesses in the nation. Lomazini and Zasman, who attended iCONIC to learn more about how to drive their company forward, were selected as the winners of the T-Mobile Un-Leash Your Business Contest.

Regarding their good fortune in winning the contest, Lomazini summarized it by saying, "We always are looking for ways to be ahead of what people need, and everyone's using mobile devices these days; that's how they access content."
DeWITT, N.Y.  Saab Defense and Security USA LLC said it plans to add 50 new jobs at its DeWitt site in the coming months after winning a $38.1 million contract to provide the U.S. Navy with an air-traffic control radar system for Navy vessels.

We are thrilled to receive this order from the U.S. Navy and look forward to supporting them on yet another important program, John Belanger, VP of communications at Saab Defense and Security, said in an email to BJNN.

The business, located at 5717 Enterprise Parkway in DeWitt, currently employs about 240 people after a banner year of hiring.

We have seen significant growth over the past year, adding approximately 100 new employees to our Sensor Systems unit in the last 12 months, Belanger said.

The Navy order as well as other new business Saab Defense and Security expects to win in the near future are leading to the expected 50 new hires, he added. The majority of those jobs will likely be engineering positions.

The order

Saab Defense and Security received the 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 phase of the program includes the initial procurement of three radars over a four-year period, according to a company news release.

The radar will be deployed to the U.S. Navys 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 aircraft by providing aircraft position, radar signal, and weather data, the company said. Air-traffic controllers use the data for services like 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, Erik Smith, president and CEO of Saab Defense and Security USA, said in the release.

The U.S. Department of Defense in its contract announcement said 47 percent of the radar development engineering work will be done in Sweden, nearly 36 percent at the Saab Defense and Security plant in DeWitt, and 17 percent at a site in New Hampshire.

The Navys award includes fiscal 2016 research, development, test, and evaluation funds totaling $12.5 million, obligated at the time of the contract award, according to the Department of Defense contract announcement.

Saab acquired DeWittbased Sensis Corp. in 2011 and split the corporation into two units  Saab Defense and Security on Enterprise Parkway and the Saab Sensis air-traffic management unit at 85 Collamer Crossing Pkwy.

Saab Sensis  is also doing extremely well; both here in the U.S. as well as in the global market, Belanger told BJNN. Saab Sensis currently employs about 225 people in DeWitt, he added.

In all, this order to [Saab Defense and Security] and the resulting growth of our company is a great example of Saabs long-term commitment to Syracuse and Central New York made with the original acquisition of Sensis in 2011, Belanger concluded.

Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com
The top post this week on CoinWorld.com concerned the grading and encapsulation of a 2014 American Eagle 1-ounce gold bullion coin that was struck on a planchet intended for the American Buffalo 1-ounce gold $50 bullion coin.

Its time to catch up on the week that was in numismatic insights and news.

Coin World is looking back at its five most-read stories of the week.

Click the links to read the stories. Here they are, in reverse order:

5. Coin World offers first glimpse at Walking Liberty gold half dollars: Monday Morning Brief: The dust is barely settled from the excitement over the U.S. Mints Sept. 8 release of the 2016-W Standing Liberty Centennial gold quarter dollar and another limited-edition is on the horizon to whet collector appetites.

4. Were you there when the BEP had to COPE with paper money anomalies?: Its been 40 years since an unprecedented flood of Federal Reserve note errors began pouring into circulation.

3. Roman coins that depict buildings that still stand are highly coveted: A highlight from an upcoming Numismatica Ars Classica auction depicts the Triumphal arch of Septimius Severus, which still stands today in Rome.

2. First look: U.S. Mint's 2017 American Liberty $100 gold coin: The design depicts Liberty as an African-American woman, facing left, wearing a crown of stars as an homage to the Statue of Freedom atop the U.S. Capitol dome.

1. What are the odds of a gold American Eagle being struck on the wrong planchet?: Professional Coin Grading Service graded and encapsulated an example of the wrong planchet error that APMEX submitted to the grading service after identifying the coins gold fineness as suspect.

Connect with Coin World:
A website devoted to Colorado Wine and beyond.
Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
Ragtag furthers big-screen mission through A Community Thrives

Ragtag Film Society took home $12,000 in grant money, which will further its day-to-day and big-screen mission.
January 25, 2016 - Robert Gates who works on the maintenence team at 100 North Main knocks some of the loose concrete facing off the building in preparation for a complete renovation of the tallest building in Memphis. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)



SHARE

By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal

The point person for 100 North Main filed a bankruptcy case this week attempting to stave off a state receivership action on a financially troubled Florida retirement community.

Memphis-born real estate investor and consultant Eli Freiden's company filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization Thursday for University Village. The continuing-care senior community in Tampa has been targeted by Florida insurance regulators for a couple years.

Larry Weissman, lawyer for building owner IMH Memphis LLC, said Friday he didn't expect the bankruptcy to affect his client's efforts to eliminate building code violations and redevelop the building.

After an appearance in Environmental Court, Weissman described Freiden as a "tangential player" in IMH, the company that's seeking to convert Memphis' tallest building from office space to residential.

Freiden is the point of contact listed for the ownership group, but group members are not identified in real estate and corporate filings.

The bankruptcy case comes as building owners say they've found a contractor to clean out the debris-strewn building for a tenth of the cost of a threatened city-sponsored cleanup.

Mike Todd of Premiere Contractors Inc. said he's given owners a cost-plus proposal estimated at about $135,000 to remove debris that's posing a fire hazard.

Todd said he's ready to begin work next week, as soon as he receives an initial payment from owners.

Environmental court Judge Larry Potter said he prefers to have private owners do the work, but if the payment to Todd isn't made by 1:30 p.m. Monday, "then the city will go to work." The city's estimate, for which no detail has been provided in court, is $1.3 million.

The vacant skyscraper has been in court on code violation charges since last fall. Owners have won a series of delays while seeking $60 million to $70 million in financing for a residential conversion.

The bankruptcy filing in Florida was signed by Freiden as manager of University Village's general partner.

It says a receivership action by the Florida Department of Financial Services has prevented the owners from selling the community or making a management change acceptable to state regulators.

It says the bankruptcy is designed "to avoid the costs and expenses of a trial in the receivership action and to facilitate the sale of the village and the retirement center."

Regulators accused University Village owners of mismanagement, including failing to pay refunds owed to residents and not having proper credentials to own the facility.

In addition to Freiden, another businessmen with ties to 100 North Main has been involved in University Village: John W. Bartle, an Indiana-based development consultant on the Memphis project.

Elsewhere in Memphis, Bartle and Freiden worked in management roles for Ridgecrest apartments, a government-subsidized housing complex in Frayser that emerged from a two-year bankruptcy reorganization earlier this year.

Bartle also was point person for another Memphis complex, Hilldale, that defaulted last fall on payments on tax-exempt bonds issued by a city housing board.

IMH Memphis bought 100 North Main in August 2015 from a group led by another Memphis-born businessman, Isaac Thomas. Thomas company bought the building in 2013, emptied it of tenants and proposed a nearly $100 million redevelopment that never got off the ground.
Construction work was going strong as the sun rose over the future One ServiceMaster Center in Downtown Memphis Friday. (By Thomas Bailey/The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE The old Peabody Place mall is hardly vacant anymore. Construction workers are busy inside and out converting the space for ServiceMaster's new headquarters. (By Thomas Bailey/The Commercial Appeal)

By Thomas Bailey Jr. of The Commercial Appeal

At the future One ServiceMaster Center early Friday, bucket lifts holding construction workers stretched to the the upper windows, chainlink fence, concrete barriers and orange-and-white barrels claimed chunks of Third, Second and Peabody Place for workers, scaffolding ringed the faux bell tower, and plastic, plywood or glass covered openings old and new.

Belz Construction Services appeared in high gear to transform the long-vacant Peabody Place mall into the new headquarters for ServiceMaster.

The company applied for a building permit this week that values the next phase of construction at $9.5 million.

ServiceMaster announced its move Downtown on June 3 and that it expects the new, 328,000-square-foot home office Downtown to be ready by late 2017. The company will move about 1,200 workers there.

ServiceMaster signed a 15-year lease with the building's landlord, Belz Enterprise.
Jesmyn Ward

SHARE Jesmyn Ward is the author of "Salvage the Bones," this year's Memphis Reads title.

By Peggy Burch, Chapter16.org

When Jesmyn Ward writes in "Salvage the Bones" about the cruelty of Hurricane Katrina or the terror of a pit-bull fight, she's not relying solely on imagination. She and her family watched from a truck in a field as the Category 5 storm devastated her area of coastal Mississippi in 2005. Her father and brother raised and sometimes fought pit bulls, and as a child she saved her own life by repeatedly punching one as it attacked her. "Narrative ruthlessness" is what she calls her gift for creating visceral fiction from her own experiences.

Ward's novel, a 2011 National Book Award winner and the 2016 Memphis Reads selection, describes the days leading up to the deadly hurricane for a broken family living on the remote edge of a town called Bois Sauvage, Mississippi. It is also the story of the heroic stand the family makes against the traumatic thing itself.

With neglect that amounts to abuse, the drunken father in "Salvage the Bones" barely maintains a house for his children  three sons and a daughter  after his wife dies in the birth of the youngest. The girl, 15-year-old Esch, narrates the story, beginning with the grueling birth of puppies to her brother's beloved pit bull, an event that conjures memories of her mother's home delivery and death. Esch soon realizes that she is pregnant, and though she is miserably in love with the father of her child, he views her merely as a source of sexual relief.

Ward was born in Oakland, California, and earned degrees from Stanford and the University of Michigan, but she grew up in the tiny town of DeLisle, the inspiration for Bois Sauvage, or "savage wood," where both "Salvage the Bones" and her previous novel, "Where the Line Bleeds," are set. In her 2013 memoir, "Men We Reaped," about the deaths of her brother and four other young men in her community, Ward wrote about DeLisle's conflicting allure:

Homesickness had troubled me ever since I'd left for Stanford in 1995. I would hide weird crying jags from my then-boyfriend when I saw down-on-their-luck men who reminded me of my father. I would beg long conversations on the phone with my friends at home so I could listen to the sounds in the background, wishing I were there. I dreamed of the woods surrounding my mother's house, that they were being razed and burned. I knew there was much to hate about home, the racism and inequality and poverty, which is why I'd left, yet I loved it.

In all of her books, Ward writes tenderly and knowingly about young men doomed to struggle against economic deprivation and intractable forms of racism in the rural South. "Salvage the Bones" is as much a story about a boy and his dog as it is about a girl and her pregnancy, or a family and Hurricane Katrina. The novel is animated by the affection and support the narrator gets from her siblings. And Esch is bewitched by her brother Skeetah's love for his pit bull, China, a devotion that takes the two of them on a dangerous mission to steal medicine for the dog:

Skeetah grabs my hand, and I almost jump away from him, surprised at the feel of it around mine, his fingers hard, the small calluses on his palm from China's leash now dry and scratchy as old bread. He pulls and we run through a corridor of pines, oaks, birch, birds. I can't help it. I lean back against his pull, and I laugh.  Is this how Medea ran with her brother, hand in hand, away from their father's hold to join the Argonauts?

In both of Ward's novels, mothers are absent, and fathers are addicts. Twin boys in "Where the Line Bleeds" lose their father to drugs. The four siblings in "Salvage the Bones" negotiate the precarious space around their angry, beer-bleary parent as he orders them to do what must be done to get ready for the storm that will become Katrina. "For a moment he looked not-drunk," Esch says of her father as he talks about the hurricane.

Ward, an associate professor of English at Tulane University, is also the editor of a new essay anthology called "The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race." Earlier this year, she received a Strauss Living award for literary excellence  a $200,000 grant that will free her to write for two years. The revered short-story writer Joy Williams, an award juror, said in a statement: "Jesmyn Ward's work, profoundly engaging and necessary, possesses great strength and a dire beauty."

Ward has said she wrote a novel about Katrina in part because, "I was dissatisfied with the way it had receded from public consciousness." According to Karen B. Golightly, director of Memphis Reads and an associate professor of English at Christian Brothers University, the choice of "Salvage the Bones" resonated with one CBU freshman from New Orleans: "You don't understand, but we thought, 11 years later, everyone had forgotten about us."

For more local book coverage, please visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee.
Jack Soden (from left), Pat Kerr Tigrett, Leslie Greif and Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell were at the Ol' Man River Moonshine Ball.

SHARE Cast members of the "Million Dollar Quartet" TV show  Shawn Zorn (from left), Will Tucker, Drake Milligan, Griffin Rone and the show's music director, Chuck Mead  performed at the Ol' Man River Moonshine Ball. Zoey Nix (from left), Zach Stark, Brian Scruggs, Asia Parham and LeeAnn Stewart were at the Cooper-Young Festival. Eddie Floyd was honored at the Moonshine Ball. Colby (left) and Canyon Williams were at the Ol' Man River Moonshine Ball.

Fireworks rivaled a harvest moon as recordings of Elvis Presley's "Burning Love," Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" and Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" played at the Ol' Man River Moonshine Ball, which was held Sept. 16 on the Gibson Guitar Factory rooftop.

The party, which Steve Conley jokingly called "Son of Blues Ball," had traces of Pat Kerr Tigrett's long-running event, which ended last year. Like the Blues Ball, the Moonshine Ball was lavishly decorated  but in red, yellow and orange instead of blue and silver. Instead of being held in several ballrooms, guests gathered on the first floor before ascending to the roof, where the stage and tables and chairs were set up. The party moved to the second floor when rain began to fall about 11:30 p.m.

The Blues Ball, which was held for 22 years, honored the people who make Memphis music. The Ol' Man River Moonshine Ball honored great things happening in Memphis.

"Million Dollar Quartet," the eight-part CMT series that was filmed in Memphis and is slated to air in March, was one of those positive things. Cast members Drake Milligan (Elvis), Griffin Rone (Bill Black), Will Tucker (Scotty Moore), Shawn Zorn (W. S. "Fluke" Holland, Carl Perkins' drummer) and the show's music director, Chuck Mead, performed at the party. The show's executive producer, Leslie Greif, also attended.

Eddie Floyd didn't perform because of the rain, but he was honored on stage with a brass note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. A public ceremony was held earlier on Beale Street, and the note will be placed in concrete at a later date, said Dean Deyo, Beale Street Walk of Fame chairman.

To get a note, a recipient must have a "real strong tie to Memphis music and/or Beale Street," Dean said. He described Floyd as an "international ambassador of Memphis music," who went around the world singing his hits, including "Knock on Wood" and "634-5789."

"And that's what really helps all of us here," Dean said.

'Sunset Supper'

The Memphis launch of Champagne Cuvee Roger Daltrey was held Sept. 15 at the "Sunset Supper"' for sponsors and other VIPs at Pat Kerr Tigrett's Downtown penthouse.

Roger is a founding member and the iconic frontman of classic British rock band The Who. The Champagne honored the band's 50th anniversary "The Who Hits 50!" tour and the band's classic 1969 rock-opera album, "Tommy."

The Champagne was created in association with Eminent Life, a London-based company that creates limited-edition products and is dedicated to celebrating excellence in music and the arts.

A percentage of the proceeds will go to Teen Cancer America, a charity founded by Roger and Pete Townshend, The Who's lead guitarist and songwriter.

Champagne corks popped as guests tried glasses of the Champagne with their fried chicken, mashed potatoes and other Southern fare prepared by The Majestic Grille chef/owner Patrick Reilly.

"I'm a big Who fan," said Eminent Wines founder/CEO Jerome Jacober. "Things started very naturally. Roger buys wine from us. We discussed what we could do to celebrate the band. We created the Champagne. Specially blended for Roger.

"We launched it in London just over a month ago, so we're now distributing in Europe. The U.S. obviously is very important to us. Memphis  the home of rock and roll. Roger loves Memphis. And it was essential for us to start with Memphis."

Jerome described the Champagne as "very robust" with a "very fine texture."

The label bears the image from the cover of The Who's "Tommy" album.

"It took us three years to create this bottle from the design to the blending, the production, to the aging. And Roger was very much hands-on from the start of the project. It's his baby," Jerome said.

That "Tommy" label is going to pop up some more, Jerome said. "We are going to reproduce a limited-edition series of Tommy guitars, inspired from the 'Tommy' album cover. Gibson is doing the guitar."

Asked where Roger was, Jerome said, "Roger is now playing in Italy. He couldn't be here, unfortunately. But we'll make sure we'll bring him back into Memphis very soon."

Hot in Cooper-Young

Asked what he was going to do later that night, Zach Stark, who was at the Cooper-Young Festival, said, "Maybe get in a pool."

Temperatures aren't in the lower 90s at every Cooper-Young Festival.

Thousands turned out for the event, held Sept. 17. The festival, which featured food, drink, vendors and live music, started at 9 a.m. and ended at 7 p.m.

For those who weren't in the mood for corn dogs or funnel cakes, Strano! Sicilian Kitchen & Bar chef/owner Josh Steiner created a special Cooper-Young Festival menu, which included calzone for $10 and Italian grilled cheese for $12.
By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge James Beasley on Friday deferred sentencing of Bartlett police Officer Lucas Hines for six months for reckless driving in a 2014 fatal crash.

If Hines successfully completes diversion, Beasley said he will dismiss the case and it will be removed from the officer's record. He said there is sometimes more to punishment and consequences than putting a person in jail.

"I believe that Mr. Hines is going to live with this for the rest of his life," Beasley said.

Prosecutors sought the maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine, while Hines' attorney asked the judge to place him on diversion.

A jury in August found Hines guilty of reckless driving in the Oct. 12, 2014, crash at Stage Road and Bartlett Boulevard in which 49-year-old Michelle Sloyan and her friend, 63-year-old Danny Floyd, died. Hines had been charged with vehicular homicide, but the jury only found him guilty of the lesser misdemeanor offense.

Assistant District Attorney Billy Bond asked for the maximum sentence Friday, calling the case "egregious" and arguing that two people died as a result of Hines' reckless driving. Bond said the officer was in violation of multiple policies, and that the victims never had a chance to react or see him coming.

"He's never shown any remorse," Bond said.

Hines' attorney Arthur Quinn countered that the jury acquitted him of causing their deaths. Forty-six letters in support of the officer were submitted, and Hines' wife, Konstance, testified tearfully Friday that Hines' thinks about the victims every night.

"It has affected him," she said. "It's really affected our family."

Hines was suspended without pay from the department, and his wife said he's found three jobs to support her and their two children.

"He's the best father I could have ever asked God for," she cried, telling the judge she couldn't believe she had to beg him not to take Hines away from her.

According to facts presented at trial, Hines was traveling up to 83 mph, and Floyd failed to yield when he tried to make a left turn onto Bartlett Boulevard from Stage Road. Floyd, a tree cutter, and Sloyan, a Kroger cashier, were ejected from the vehicle in which they were not wearing seat belts.

Sloyan's cousin Kathy Bischoff remembers her for being "a truly good person."

"She was fiercely loyal to her family and to her career," Bischoff wrote. "At the time of her death, though suffering from diabetes and its associated complications, Michelle was determined to reach the tenure of 25 years working as a cashier at Kroger, and refused to apply for disability."

Sloyan was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, and "as a young child, she endured several surgeries that left her with a facial scar and a voice that was so sweet, but different from others," Bischoff said. "She would feel insecure at times, though she overcame this challenge."

Floyd had "a very large heart," said Doug Ammons, co-owner of the Shelby Forest General Store that Floyd often visited. "Danny's heart was bigger than Shelby Forest. He was a very loving and giving person."

Floyd would take in and nurse abandoned animals. He was a "true animal lover to his core and he passed that on to me," said his daughter, Danelle Senkbeil.

The crash followed an encounter Hines had with a blue Volkswagen that Hines tried to stop for traveling 44 mph in a 30-mph zone near Woodlawn and Old Brownsville. Hines said he pointed to where he wanted the car to pull over. But the car at one point came at the him, and he had to push himself away from the vehicle, the officer said.

The driver of the Volkswagen then fled, according to testimony, and Hines said he went to look for the car to prevent the driver from hurting someone.
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By Stephanie Norton of The Commercial Appeal

A man is dead after a domestic altercation early Friday morning in Frayser.

Memphis police responded to a shooting call in the 3000 block of Signal at 2:30 a.m. A man on the scene told officers he was involved in a shooting.

According to officers, the man said there was a domestic dispute at the residence between a woman and another man. During the altercation, the man fighting with the woman allegedly armed himself with a handgun. The second man then shot him, police said.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect surrendered to officers and was taken into custody. No charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.
Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal files Professor Irwin Corey (right), self-styled "world's foremost authority," wowed them on September 23, 1973, at "Auction Fantastic," a benefit for the American Cancer Society at the Holiday Inn-Rivermont. Watching him warm up for the sale (which included a riverboat trip to Baton Rouge, an ensemble designed by Michael Novrese, a year's supply of bacon and a tour of Spain) are (from left) Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Pierotti and Mr. and Mrs. William Faye. Tony Barrasso presented music at the party, which included cocktails and dinner and a silent auction before the major event.

SHARE

Sept. 23

25 years ago: 1991

"Tell everybody! Tell everybody! B.B. King's in town." There was a full moon over Beale Street and a packed house at B.B. King's Blues Club Sunday night, as the performer returned to his Memphis roots for a three-night stand, his first regular engagement at his namesake club. The sellout crowd of more than 300 at the early show and the dozens outside pressing against the windows and listening to the music from speakers knew they were watching music history. Among the notables were bluesmen Albert King and Little Jimmy King and novelist Larry McMurtry.

50 years ago: 1966

The 110th Mid-South Fair will open this morning to the sound of clicking turnstiles and the celebration will continue late this afternoon when a beautiful girl jumps from a five-foot birthday cake. Gates open at 8 a.m. The midway and other attractions start at 10 a.m. Government and Fair officials will dedicate the 1966 extravaganza at 5 p.m. on the Free-O-Rama Stage. Guests for the dedication will be Gov. Frank Clement, Representative George Grider (D, Tenn.) and members of the City and County Commissions and the County Court.

75 years ago: 1941

Construction of floats for the Annual Spirit of Christmas Parade to be staged the night of Nov. 21 already is under way. Fred Goldsmith, president of the Spirit of Christmas, Inc., announced yesterday.

100 years ago: 1916

KNOXVILLE  President Ayres announced today an attendance of 680 at the University of Tennessee in this city.

He has received many letters from young men in the army who will come later.

125 years ago: 1891

The benefit concert and ball given yesterday at Jackson Mound Park by the musicians of Memphis to the members of the New Memphis Theater orchestra, who lost their instruments and music in a fire, was a great artistic and financial success.
Lawmen begin to leave a south Jackson, Miss., neighborhood, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, as local police continue to investigate a house where a man was suspected of holding about a dozen people against their will. Jackson police are trying to figure out whether anyone was ever being held hostage in the house. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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By Jeff Amy, Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss.  Police now say they are trying to figure out whether anyone was ever held hostage in a Mississippi house where they'd earlier believed a man was holding more than a dozen people.

Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance called the situation "bizarre" in a news conference after the six-hour incident ended.

Authorities believed a suspect remained inside after most or all of the people they believed were hostages emerged without injury. Vance said then that police would wait him out. But officers then determined that all the people emerging from the building said they had not been held hostage after all.

When officers went in, they found two people asleep and at least two more in the attic, Vance said. One man was apparently hiding up there in fear of arrest for unpaid traffic tickets.

Police also found two rifles, a handgun, a small amount of PCP and another drug. Police aren't sure who they belong to.

"We will figure out whether we need to arrest anybody through the investigative process," Vance said.

Authorities received a call around 5 a.m. from someone inside saying they were being held hostage. When police arrived, someone inside saw the police and slammed the door.

"We got a report of a situation that equates to a kidnapping," Vance said. "That individual gave us a name as to who was doing that."

All told, Vance said, 15 people came out of the house over the course of the standoff.

The chief said some of them may have been lying to police, and that the original caller might face a charge of filing a false report.

"We can't just say halfway into it this looks like a hoax and pack up and go," Vance said, explaining that police had a duty to take the situation seriously. A major street was blocked off and students were held inside two nearby schools for their safety.

Shortly after law enforcement left, some people milling around the rundown wood frame house refused to talk to reporters. Some were taking their belongings and leaving, while another complained that his belongings had been given to a woman he didn't know.
September 23, 2016 - From left to right, James Johnson, chairman of the Madison County NAACP education committee, Patricia Coleman, chairman of the Carroll County NAACP education committee, and Dr. Jerry Woods, vice chair of the Tennessee education committee for NAACP, have a discussion about activities for the education equity Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) at the Fogelman Executive Conference Center on Friday. "We're looking at the ESSA implementation which replaced the old No Child Left Behind," Woods said. "We have groups from across the state and each of them are planning an ESSA public forum for their own communities." NAACP Tennessee has their 70th state convention and civil rights advocacy training conference in Memphis. On "Freedom Friday" members attended an advocacy luncheon and forum from noon to 4:15 p.m. (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

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By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal

NAACP members from across the state are in Memphis this week to discuss education, voting rights and other advocacy issues as part of the organization's annual conference.

The 70th annual NAACP Tennessee State Convention and Civil Rights Training Advocacy Conference began Thursday at First Baptist Broad Church. On Friday, members convened at the Fogelman Executive Center and Hotel on the University of Memphis main campus for a speech from Delisa Saunders, deputy director of human rights and community relations for the District of Columbia-based American Federation of Teachers.

"While the AFT is my daytime job, the NAACP is my lifetime job," Saunders told the audience of about 50 people.

Saunders spoke for roughly 30 minutes, encouraging the NAACP to do its part in advocating for labor unions, voter rights, and the right to fair and equal public education. She implored the audience to partake in early voting and voiced her support for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, whom the American Federation of Teachers has endorsed.

"Our vote is our power, our vote is our voice, we got to use it," Saunders said.

Tennessee NAACP president Gloria J. Sweetlove said many of the conference sessions purposefully focused on education.

"From our very start 107 years ago, part of our mission statement is to enhance the educational, political" and economic equality of minority groups, Sweetlove said. "That is part of our agenda, that is what we do."

The conference concludes Saturday evening with the Freedom Awards Dinner.
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By Eli Lake

When future historians debate why the U.S. did so little to stop the tragedy in Syria, they should dig up the speech President Barack Obama just gave at a United Nations summit on refugees.

While Democrats signaled their collective virtue by denouncing a tweet from Donald Trump Jr. that compared Syrian refugees to Skittles, Obama lectured foreign ministers and heads of state this week on the same topic.

"And just as failure to act in the past, for example, by turning away Jews fleeing Nazi Germany, is a stain on our collective conscience," Obama said, "I believe history will judge us harshly if we do not rise to this moment."

Obama went on to state something obvious: "We must recognize that refugees are a symptom of larger failures  be it war, ethnic tensions, or persecution." But then he said something bizarre: "If we truly want to address the crisis, wars like the savagery in Syria must be brought to an end, and it will be brought to an end through political settlement and diplomacy, and not simply by bombing."

This, of course, is a straw man. No one who has argued for more U.S. involvement in Syria has said more bombing alone will solve these problems. What's more, the U.S. is doing a lot of bombing in Syria today against the Islamic State.

But there is also something sinister about Obama's formulation. The U.S. is not just another country when it comes to the collective security of the Middle East. Through its alliances and interventions, it has been the region's reluctant sheriff since the end of World War II. In this sense, it's rich of Obama to pose as a Jeremiah when he has acted more like a Nero.

His administration's pursuit of diplomacy and publicly stated policy to not attack Syrian forces gave Russia a green light to establish its forward air bases in Syria a year ago. As Secretary of State John Kerry pursued Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to restart peace negotiations, the Russians deployed bombers and jets to Syria and struck a pact with Iran to regain territory for the dictator, Bashar al-Assad.

This toothless diplomacy has further immiserated the Syrian people. The U.S. government confirmed Tuesday that it was Russian aircraft that destroyed an aid convoy this week, halting the delivery of food and medicine to the besieged citizens of Aleppo, and killing 20 aid workers.

It's worse than this, though. This atrocity was committed during what was supposed to be a cessation of hostilities negotiated by Kerry and Lavrov this month in Geneva. The second phase of that agreement would have established a center in Jordan where Russian and U.S. military officers would share intelligence to target the Islamic State and other jihadis in Syria.

Think about that for a minute. Kerry negotiated a deal to collaborate with an air force that just bombed an aid convoy and has bombed hospitals and civilians now for a year. It's true that over the weekend, the U.S. bombed Syrian soldiers. It apologized for that mistake. The Russians at the time demanded the UN censure the U.S. This week Lavrov ridiculously has urged the UN to gather all the facts about the bombing of the aid convoy.

Kerry has mustered outrage at all of this. On Wednesday he told a UN meeting on Syria: "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."

Let me add that this also a moment of truth for Obama and the Democrats who support him. Kerry is reduced to chasing his Russian counterpart around the world to beg for cease-fires and negotiations because Obama never tried to deter Russia's intervention a year ago. As a result, there is no real chance to establish the no-fly zone that people like Kerry lobbied for in 2014 and 2015 behind the scenes, and that Hillary Clinton calls for publicly today. That's a policy that would have saved lives and pressured Assad to negotiate an end to the war.

The tragedy in Syria is primarily the fault of Assad. But Obama's failure to challenge Assad and his Russian and Iranian supporters has extended the war that has forced so many Syrians to flee their country. It's easy to tweet the truism that these refugees are people, not Skittles. It's much harder to come to terms with the role Obama's inaction has played in upending those people's lives.

Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist.
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By Ramesh Ponnuru

If the most famous U.S. government secret revealed by Edward Snowden had been the only one he divulged, deciding whether he deserves a pardon from President Barack Obama would be a tougher call.

Snowden famously disclosed in 2013 that the National Security Agency had been collecting Americans' electronic metadata in bulk. The program was authorized only by a dubious reading of existing law, and when Congress debated the issue it insisted on changes to the program. So even though Snowden broke the law, he contributed to a worthwhile democratic debate.

But that's not the whole story, as the University of Chicago law professor Geoffrey Stone has pointed out:

"The problem is he disclosed vastly more than that, involving foreign intelligence not of Americans but of individuals who aren't American citizens in other countries. No changes were generally made in those programs and Americans don't really care. But disclosing those programs has had a serious impact on their being as effective as they had been. I think he did a lot more harm than good.

"One example: One program lets the NSA gather email communications, including content of emails, not just phone numbers, targeting individuals who are not U.S. individuals, outside the U.S., where there's reason to believe the communications relate to terrorist activities. They can gather large amounts of email content, in so far as they have reasonable grounds to believe it's relevant to terrorist activity. Once disclosed, the terrorist knows this is going on and then takes measures to communicate in other ways."

Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law School professor, argues that these other disclosures do not square with Snowden's claim to have been acting in defense of the Fourth Amendment. They involved "standard intelligence operations in support of national security or foreign policy missions that do not violate the U.S. Constitution or laws, and that did extraordinary harm to those missions." They also involved legitimate intelligence operations by our allies.

In these cases, I don't think the argument for a pardon  that Snowden's actions served a praiseworthy higher purpose that justified or mitigated his lawbreaking  can hold. Joshua Franco of Amnesty International pleads in Snowden's defense that foreigners have privacy rights, too. Maybe they should, but how we should balance our country's legitimate national-security needs against such considerations was not Snowden's decision to make.

Katrina vanden Heuvel wrote in the Washington Post that Snowden conducted his lawbreaking "responsibly and with great caution," and that he can't be held responsible if journalists revealed secrets that had more value to terrorists than to the public. Actually, it is his fault, since he gave reporters those stolen secrets, apparently without reading them first.

In another Post op-ed  the newspaper has been hosting a debate on the issue since it ran an editorial against a pardon  Margaret Sullivan ignores the harmful disclosure of information about legitimate intelligence work to conclude that "Snowden acted carefully, responsibly and courageously  and squarely in the public interest." Actually, much of what he did was reckless and without much connection to the public interest. The president will not and should not condone that recklessness.

Ramesh Ponnuru is a Bloomberg View columnist. He is a senior editor of National Review.
Launch Registration Campaign To Verify The Vote

Columbus, OH  A coalition of voting rights advocates applauded a court ruling today that found the state has improperly removed hundreds of thousands of voters from the registration rolls ahead of the 2016 Presidential Election.

Ohio voter advocates said the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decision rightly restores voting rights to those Ohioans who were wrongly dropped from the registration rolls simply because they chose not to vote in recent years.

Were pleased the court recognized that voter inactivity is not sufficient reason to block properly registered voters from making their voice heard in this years Presidential Election, said Carrie Davis, executive director of the League of Women Votes of Ohio.

State election officials have removed roughly 2 million voters from the registration rolls since 2011, including 400,000 last year. The total number of purged eligible voters is unknown since the secretary of states office failed to distinguish between deceased and inactive voters. Reuters recently estimated that at least 144,000 inactive voters were purged in Cuyahoga, Franklin and Hamilton counties alone.

Unfortunately, its unclear whether these voters rights will be automatically restored since the state treats deceased voters the same as people who sit out a few elections, said Davis. If the state is intent on managing the voter rolls effectively, why wouldnt they have the ability to make such an important distinction?

In light of the states policy of removing eligible voters from the registration rolls, the coalition, which includes the League of Women Voters of Ohio, Common Cause Ohio, the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition, and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, launched the Verify Your Vote campaign to encourage eligible voters to check their registration status and re-register if necessary.

No matter what federal judges or Statehouse politicians do, you can still have your say in this election. So take charge and verify your voter registration online to make sure its still current before the Oct. 11 deadline, and then make a plan for how you want to vote  early in-person, by mail, or on Election Day, said Camille Wimbish of Ohio Voter Rights Coalition.

Voters can easily check their registration status online through the Ohio Unity Coalition website: http://ohiounitycoalition.org/are-you-registered-to-vote/ or www.myohiovote.com, or by calling your county Board of Elections.

While the General Assembly authorized online voter registration earlier this year, the system will not be available until 2017. Therefore, voters who need to re-register can print out a voter registration form or obtain one from a public library and mail it in to their local board of elections or the Ohio Secretary of States office before Oct. 11.

Election Day is still a long way away but its coming up quickly. So take charge now and verify your vote, said Catherine Turcer, of Common Cause Ohio. And with early voting open to all Ohio voters, you can cast your ballot anytime from Oct. 12 to Election Day on Nov. 8.

Early voting period voting will begin Oct. 12. The Ohio Secretary of States office may file an appeal to the full 6th Circuit Court of Appeals or to the U.S. Supreme Court. While we await further court action, the best thing that voters can do is check their registration and update as needed.

Contacts:

Carrie Davis, League of Women Voters of Ohio, 614-469-1505

Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio, (w) 614-441-9145 or (c) 614-579-5509
The U.S. government's attempt to stop a lawsuit challenging the legality of the H-1B lottery was rejected Thursday by a federal court judge.

The government tried to get this case dismissed on legal technicalities but failed. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon, in Oregon, denied the government's dismissal motion in a 24-page ruling.

This case may now be decided quickly. The plaintiffs are seeking a summary judgment with oral arguments schedule in December. If the summary judgment is granted, the lottery could end -- the plaintiffs hope -- as early as next year.

The case was brought by Tenrec Inc., a web development firm, and Walker Macy LLC, a landscape architecture, urban design and planning firm. Both firms filed petitions to hire a person who needed an H-1B visa, but lost the lottery.

"In denying the government's motion to dismiss, the court recognized the legal right for the employees, as well as the employers, to sue over the lottery process," said plaintiff attorney Brent Renison at Parrilli Renison in Portland, Ore., on Friday. "This is significant because some courts around the country have only recognized standing of employers to sue."

The U.S. distributes H-1B visas via a lottery in April of each year. The lawsuit argues that this lottery distribution system is unlawful because it does not consider applications in the order received. It wants the lottery abolished and replaced with a date filing system, or what amounts to replacing a lottery with a line.

It's getting increasingly difficult to get an H-1B visa. The U.S. allocates 85,000 under its cap, but many more petitions than that are allowed. In April it received 236,000 visa petitions.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service attempted to dismiss a lawsuit by arguing, in part, that the two firms challenging the government didn't have sufficient standing.

But Judge Simon said the allegations "are sufficient to show a concrete and particularized injury."

Parrilli Renison has posted court documents, including the most most recent decision.

A USCIS spokeswoman said the agency doesn't comment on ongoing litigation.
Cllr Rock Feilding-Mellen is the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

When its your job to provide accommodation for homeless people in the midst of a housing crisis, and your borough contains some of the most expensive housing on the planet, you need all the help you can get.

The very least you would hope for is that the legislation that shapes housing, planning and welfare all pulls in the same direction and in a way that sets the stall out to help you live within your means while helping put a roof over the heads of vulnerable people. Because if it doesnt (and I dont think it does) it proves to be incredibly costly, both financially and in human terms when the legislation is unclear and even contradictory.

In this case when I talk about homeless people I dont mean rough sleepers, important as this group is and with whom we do a great deal of good work to help alleviate their problems. What Im talking about is those who have a roof over their head but for a multitude of reasons, very familiar to all in the housing field, are about to lose it. A person often finds themselves homeless when parents or friends are unable or perhaps unwilling to accommodate them. Relationship breakdowns and unfortunately domestic violence also contribute to the problem as does the loss of an assured shorthold tenancy (AST).

The ending or non-renewal of ASTs brings a lot of business through our door, in fact it is increasingly the main cause of homelessness and its not difficult to understand why. There is a huge demand for private rented accommodation and, particularly within London and the south east, that is pushing rents far beyond both Local Housing Allowance levels and indeed beyond the level of affordability for a growing number of working households.

It may prove extremely difficult to prevent the ending of an AST if cost is the underlying issue. In my own Council we simply dont have the resources in either our general fund or our Discretionary Housing Payments budget to prevent such homelessness on a sustainable basis. Moreover, throughout much of London (and doubtless in other cities too) it is proving increasingly difficult to secure local, affordable accommodation in order to relieve this homelessness.

Other legislative spanners in the work, when it comes to my Councils ability to address homelessness, can be found in some aspects of the Housing and Planning Act, and in particular, proposals concerning what are referred to as higher value voids or, to the average man and woman on the street, expensive council homes. If you know much about Kensington and Chelsea then youll know that quite a few of our precious Council homes will fall into this category. It comes with the territory.

Our analysis demonstrates that we could be forced to sell well over 100 such houses and flats each year. So thats 100 fewer social homes to offer people on our housing list which as you can imagine is a long and slow-moving one. This is a big deal for us as it would represent almost a quarter of our average annual lettings. How can we (and other local authorities) be expected to meet our current duties with regard to homelessness while social housing stock is being sold off to fund other Government commitments?

The present rules leave us with little room to build our way out of trouble. Its hard enough when you are a small densely packed borough, but when our ability to fund construction of new social housing is curtailed by the debt cap on the Housing Revenue Account the result is it is impossible for us to find sufficient, affordable local accommodation within Local Housing Allowance subsidy caps while our grant from central government is reduced year-on- year.

If all this didnt make our job hard enough, there are proposals from respected organisations that would make it more difficult  by widening the pool of people to whom we would have a duty to provide affordable local accommodation. Here Im talking about the Crisis recommendation that responsibilities to provide emergency accommodation should fall on councils regardless of an applicants connection to that local authority.

This is something we strongly oppose. We are known for delivering good services and we are a desirable place to live. For these two reasons people with no connection to the borough will turn to us for help. Our desire to free ourselves from any such future commitment is driven not by disregard for peoples difficulties but by financial necessity and the need to make sure we deliver for those who already have real connections with the borough.

I admit that by viewing homelessness through the lens of legislation Ive taken a rather narrow view of the issue. But this legislation is what sets our parameters and determines what we end up paying. Of course there are far wider factors at play when it comes to homelessness. The economy, employment levels, educational attainment, mental health, physical health and I could go on. What is clear to me however is that the Government, and indeed Parliament, cannot keep giving local government more responsibilities for sorting out homelessness but ever less funding and ever more restrictions on its ability to act.

If the Government wants councils to continue housing local homeless households locally, even in expensive parts of the country, then it must not force us to sell large proportions of our existing social housing. It must free us from the current restrictions on prudential borrowing and the use of Right to Buy receipts, and it must provide us with the funding to pay more in rent for private rented sector properties in those high-value areas.

Conversely, if it is unwilling to make those changes, the Government must acknowledge the consequences and take responsibility for the fact that councils will no longer be able to house homeless households in expensive parts of the country.
Graeme Archer is a statistician and a former winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Blogging.

Its easy to laugh at Yassmin Abdel-Magieds reaction to a talk by the novelist Lionel Shriver. (Abdel-Magiedis is an Australian engineer and commentator, and also a sometime Guardian contributor, whose TedX talk has been watched millions of times.) As the writer of We Need To Talk About Kevin gave her speech on Community and Belonging at a festival for writers in Brisbane, Ms Abdel-Magieds emotions went into hyper-drive.

Mama, I cant sit here, I said, the corners of my mouth dragging downwards. I cannot legitimise this 

So Yasmin walked out on Lionel:

As my heels thudded against the grey plastic of the flooring, harmonising with the beat of the adrenaline pumping through my veins, my mind was blank save for one question.How is this happening?

How indeed? What had Shriver done to cause Abdel-Magied to flee, her mind (almost) completely blank? Something vile, surely.

Shriver was, in fact, merely discussing identity politics, and its baleful influence on fictional practice; she attacked the absurd notion of cultural appropriation: the idea that trying on other peoples hats, stepping into their shoes  the entire point of writing fiction  is nothing more than wearing the teeth of your pillaged enemy as a necklace.

(This description, which Ive purloined from Libby Purves excellent column on the subject, appears in Time, and is about  Im not making this up  which hairstyles are permissible for different ethnicities to possess.)

What makes my own mouth drag downwards  what I can no longer legitimise  is the idea that simply laughing at people like Abdel-Magied is enough. (I hope to God that neither she nor her mother ever pick up a copy of Animal Farm. Appropriation of animal culture, and the villains are, oh God, pigs.)

Though its hard, not laughing at identity politics. Those (white) Black Lives Matter idiots who jerked around on a hot City Airport tarmac were themselves accused of cultural appropriation (because, presumably, only black people can protest about the racism of runways and aircraft noise, because no; me neither. Left-wing activism, devouring itself.)

But titter ye not. Identity politics is doing serious harm to the chances for a good society; that is, one which is comfortable with itself and its individual members. (What a policy wonk might call cohesion.)

As Shriver put it in her speech:

Those who embrace a vast range of identities  ethnicities, nationalities, races, sexual and gender categories, classes of economic under-privilege and disability  are now encouraged to be possessive of their experience and to regard other peoples attempts to participate in their lives and traditions, either actively or imaginatively, as a form of theft.

Identity politics in literature is bad enough. Whats worse is that its taking hold of a growing segment of the British Left, desperate to fill its post-Blair not-socialist gap. Here is how it works.

First, ignore the (observable) fact that every human being alive is in possession of a near-as-dammit infinite number of overlapping identities (list your own, then stop when you run out of patience.)

Secondly, and ignoring this inconvenient fact, insist that every human can be deconvolved into a finite number of different categories, by applying some sort of sociological Fourier transform. (Graeme is 50 per cent gay and 15 per cent Tory and five per cent vegetarian and so on.)

Thirdly  and here is where we move from the realm of sociological guff, and start harming ourselves  construct a mainstream politics which prioritises these (fictional  the irony!) mono-identities, and devises policies specific for each ones needs. A politics of communities, by definition plural, by definition non-overlapping.

Politics is about choosing, so a ranking of the identities, and their various intersections, must be imposed. Gay > Straight, for example, but Left-Straight > Tory-Gay, which explains why straight Labour activists cant see that turning up at Pride marches wearing Never kissed a Tory teeshirts is a moral obscenity: their place in the hegemony  the rank of their primary identity  vis-a-vis Tories excuses it.

This isnt uniquely a Left-wing pathology. There is a spectre of a mote in a type of Right-wing eye too; thats why Andrea Leadsom thought it fine to do all that As a mother thing: picking a single aspect of her identity and using it to rank the leadership potential of everyone else on the planet. Mothers > Non-mothers.

Such a politics goes wrong because we are not deconvolvable. We are convoluted, by design and by our enormous good luck.

We dont live in the frequency domain, where Im 50 per cent gay, 20 per cent Scottish, 10 per cent Tory, and so on. I am 100 per cent all of these things  and a near infinite number more such things  all at the same time.

A politics which pretends otherwise is doomed to failure, not least because (have you noticed?) it discourages empathy: not-You is not only unknowable, either in literature, or in political discourse; not-You is forbidden, because You > not-You.

At best, identity politics produces earnest young women like Abdel-Magied, who waste their intellectual potential by finding other gifted women to be angry about. Over nothing, Yasmin. You stormed out over nothing.

At the mid-point of the scale, it gives us Ken Livingstone, who knew perfectly well what he was doing when he embraced Qaradawi or drivelled on about Hitler. Indeed, the thought that should make your blood run cold isnt really what he said or did. It is that, from the perspective of an identity politician, Livingstone was being entirely rational: there are more Islamic voters than Jewish or gay ones, and that reductive frequency-dimensionality is the only world Livingstone inhabits. Islam > Jew/gay.

At its worst, of course, identity politics gives us Rotherham, and Tower Hamlets, Trojan Horse schooling and gender-segregated Labour Party meetings. It gives us the murders of Asad Shah and Jalal Uddin.

And because working-class people  those who didnt get to grammar school  can be clumsy, sometimes, in the way they express concern about immigration, identity politics provided an easy way for middle-class liberals to avoid even having to think about the topic. Racists. (There is a sign that  Brexit, Trump  liberals are starting to wake up to the limitation of their approach.)

How to fight this? First, recognise that words matter; words are both the weapons in this war and the bricks to build something better. Ive just spent a year in the Department For Communities & Local Government. Good people, wrong name. We need a Department Of Community, not For Communities, and we need a politics, not of identity, but of values.

Had we a politics of values, for example, universities could stop tying themselves in knots, defending the campus presence of groups inimical to freedom. The entire point of a university is intellectual rigour and freedom, so if your society is opposed to those values, then sorry: no room at this inn. That isnt a contradiction. Its rejecting the calculus of identity politics. Our values: Freedom > Non-freedom, regardless of your identity.

You can have identity politics, or you can have a good  cohesive  society. You certainly cannot have both.

Imagine being Abdel-Magied. Seriously: imagine it. Put yourself in her shoes, inhabit the persona of someone who could walk out on Lionel Shriver and feel brave to do so. Breathe in an understanding of where politics is going so very, very wrong.

Abdel-Magied might describe such empathetic engagement as cultural appropriation. I would call it absolutely vital, and absolutely just the first step in unwinding the intellectual noose of identity politics from around our political necks.
Iain Dale is Presenter of LBC Drive, Managing Director of Biteback Publishing, a columnist and broadcaster and a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate.

Over the weekend, I will head up to the Labour Party conference. Its my 18th, but I suspect that this years will be different to all the others.

Im expecting a very different clientele to be attending. Gone will be the sharp-suited youths of the Blair years; present will be a new breed of the hard left. I suspect the atmosphere will be horrible. The Corbynistas will feel that they are at their most powerful, and all this talk of Jeremt Corbyn being magnanimous and making a peace offering to his critics is for the birds.

Even if he wanted to, McDonnell wouldnt allow it. The Shadow Chancellor sticks firmly by the rules of the Trotskyists handbook. Stamp your opponents into the ground when they are at their weakest. Give no quarter. No compromise. See if Im not right.

         

This week I convened my panel to compile this years Top 100 People on the Right. It consisted of a Conservative MP, a party agent, a prominent Vote Leave campaigner, a broadsheet journalist and a Tory writer.

The most enjoyable part of this three hour session was deciding who to eject from last years list. It was quite a task given the regime change weve been through.

Perhaps the most difficult thing to achieve was to agree where David Cameron and George Osborne (last years top two) should feature in the list. You will be able to see the results of our deliberations next weekend on ConservativeHome.

         

So Mary Berry has quit the Great British Bakeoff. Give. A. Toss.

         

I suspect the viewing figures for the first Presidential debate early on Tuesday morning will be at an all-time high in this country. With the polls having narrowed, there is an awful lot at stake for both candidates. Id love to be a fly on the wall as the Trump debate prep team take their candidate through what he should and shouldnt do. Be the voice of sweet reason and dont say anything sexist, shrills one. Ground the bitch into the dirt, says another. Let Donald be Donald, says another.

It will be very interesting to see which of his advisers wins the day. Clintons task is to speak human. Shes not a great speaker or a debator, but her strategy surely has to be to show Trump up for what he is: a racist, sexist bully who has no clue on either domestic or foreign policy.

Having said all that, Trump has one strong card in his hand  that of the outsider. Like Nigel Farage, he seems to be inspiring people to vote who havent voted in years. I am astonished by the number of Democrats who say they cant vote for Hillary and will therefore vote Trump.

The question is, will they be outnumbered by Republicans who cant stick Trump and will hold their noses and vote for Hillary? And to think, that out of 320 million people, these are the best two candidates the Americans could throw up. And I use that phrase advisedly.

         

On Tuesday I hosted an hour long radio debate between Mark Regev, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, and his Palestinian counterpart, Manual Hassassian. I had interviewed them separately back in July and asked if they would debate each other.

Somewhat to my surprise, they both agreed without any pre-conditions. My aim was to have an hour of conversation rather than heated debate. I wanted to avoid any histrionics on either side and to try to explore what the two sides have in common, as well as what divides them.

I urged people right from the beginning to try to put aside their own prejudices and beliefs and I hope I did that myself. Looking at the social media reaction, it seems I succeeded in that as no one has accused me of being biased towards one side or the other  that must be a first!

Im really proud of what we did in this hour. Im told it was the first time that an official representative of the Israeli government and an official representative of the PLO had debated each other in this way. I was delighted to see them shake hands at the end. Symbolically it was important.

         

The Liberal Democrat conference was held in Brighton this week. Just thought you should know.

         

Ive always rather liked Diane James. In case you havent a clue who I am talking about, she has just been elected Leader of UKIP. Ive rarely seen a woman more pumped up with adrenaline than when she accepted the job on stage at the UKIP conference. I did think, though, that Nigel Farage shouldnt have been on stage. It was her moment, and she should have been allowed to enjoy it on her own and bask in the applause from a very excited audience.

James is transparently nice, but she is also quite steely. The big question against her, though, is can she appeal to voters in northern Labour seats. They are the key to UKIPs success in 2020, but she wont appeal to them in the same way that Farage did.

The other question against her is whether she can escape from his shadow. The jury is out on that one. There have been several defections of relatively high profile UKIPpers back to the Conservatives in recent days. I doubt whether this trickle will become a flood, but you never know. If Suzanne Evans decided to make the journey back, I suspect she would be followed by quite a few others.
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MOSS POINT, Miss. -- Moss Point police want residents to be aware of telephone scammers involving fake IRS agents and Microsoft computers checks. Residents are encouraged to hang up the phone if they receive one of those calls and report them to police.

According to Interim Police Chief Brandon Ashley, phone calls have the potential to cost residents money.

"One of the scams caused significant monetary losses," Ashley said. Police said in a news release that reports about the calls started Sept. 15 and continue to come in.

Scams vary from calls from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to a Microsoft scam. The caller threatens individuals by saying they owe back taxes and the caller proceeds to threaten an arrest unless payments are made. Caller ID information often shows the call is from another state.

According to the release, "A computer device can be purchased to display any phone number or name regardless of the originating call location. The IRS does not call and threaten residents with arrest on back tax cases. This is a scam; hang up phone and report the incident to the police."

In regards to the Microsoft scam, scammers contact residents with computer related issues or viruses, requesting access to the computer of the resident contacted.

Ashley warns residents to be aware that once the caller has access to your computer, they can download your computer hard drive files, passwords, bank account information, or add a virus or keystroke registry that will send the caller a detailed report of your computer activity including websites, user/password information.

According to Ashley, Microsoft does not monitor computers and again advises residents to hang up on these callers and report the calls to police.

Residents who receive these types of phone calls are encouraged to contact Cmdr. Stacey Deans at 228-474-4103.
Mississippi Capitol building_edited-1.jpg

The Old Mississippi State Capitol, also known as Old Capitol Museum or Old State Capitol, served as the Mississippi statehouse from 1839 until 1903. It is a capstone of state history as plans progress on celebrating the state's Bicentennial in 2017. The old state capitol was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. In 1986, the structure was designated a Mississippi Landmark and became a National Historic Landmark in 1990.

(MDAH Photo)

As the Bicentennial celebration year of Mississippi Statehood approaches, plans throughout the state or being made as local governments and organizations are creating a calendar of special events for 2017.

Jackson will open two new museums, the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in December, 2017 and the Mississippi Gulf Coast will be very much involved too.

Locally on Tuesday, 6 p.m., at the Pascagoula Public Library Mary Margaret Miller White of the Mississippi Bicentennial Commission will share information on how to get involved in the year's celebration.

"The Mississippi Bicentennial offers a unique opportunity to foster appreciation among citizens for the state's rich history and to educate people of all ages about the founding, growth and evolution of America's 20th state," said George Sholl, president of the Jackson County Historical and Genealogical Society, sponsor of Tuesday's program that is open to the public.

White will preview the events already planned and invite input on how people can get involved.

The Pascagoula Bicentennial presentation on Jan. 23-24 at the Pascagoula Public Library will feature on display an original copy of the Mississippi Constitution adopted in 1817.

JCHGS in partnership with Pascagoula Public Library Genealogy and Local History Department has a special event planned for Jan. 23-24 in Pascagoula, one of nine cities chosen by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to host an exhibit featuring an original copy of the Mississippi Constitution and a rare original 20-star U.S. flag that was flying in 1817. Other related educational information and displays will be presented during that exhibit.

Also close to home, the Mississippi Historical Society will hold its annual meeting in Gulfport on March 2-4 with a Bicentennial theme.

A Mississippi Bicentennial Concert Celebration will be held on April 8 at Gulfport's Centennial Plaza.

Hancock Bank has made a $50,000 contribution to the MDAH for the two Mississippi Museums project. The gift will sponsor the "Sitting In" section of the "Tremor in the Iceberg" gallery of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. The gallery documents the escalation of civil rights activities in the early 1960s that led to national and international media attention being focused on Mississippi.

The Gulfport Redevelopment Commission will host a bicentennial celebration at Centennial Plaza kicking off on March 30 at the Old Veteran Affairs hospital property on Beach Boulevard. Organizers emphasize the event is for all of Mississippi. It will feature numerous exhibits and events, yet to be announced.

Watch for news of upcoming events as they develop.

(Columnist Joanne Anderson may be reached at joandy42@yahoo.com.)
Close

Although it is a new virus, which has caused several issues in the past couple of months, yet Zika has intrigued interest of the world. The first infected Florida mosquitoes, which was found in Miami has caused the virus to spread over to the US now.

Consequently, a need has arisen to make sure that residents of the area follow proper preventive measures. Also, residents of the continental US should know about the symptoms of ZIka, so that they can be curbed at the beginning. For this proper knowledge about the disease is essential.

Symptoms of Zika Virus

The common symptoms of Zika virus include fever, rash, and joint pains. Other symptoms include muscle pain and headache, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The infection of ZIka virus starts with mild symptoms, which can last from several days to a week. Patients don't generally get too sick to be hospitalized, and rarely die of ZIka infection. This is why patients may not even notice that they have been infected with the Zika virus.

Tests

Since Zika virus resides in the blood for approximately a week, it is prudent to get checked regularly, especially as soon as a person suspects he/she is infected. It is better to visit the doctor, so that they can run tests for not only Zika, but a similar infectious disease like chikungunya or dengue.

Treatments

Presently, there is no known cure or treatment to Zika virus. However, patients can be treated by hydration, rest and pain medication to alleviate the pain. Ibuprofen is a good choice for pain medication. Additionally, it is a good option to consult a doctor, who can provide a more personalized medication for the patient after knowing about specific ailments.

Some of the medicines, which should be avoided by Zika patients are aspirin and other non - steroidal anti - inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) until the risk of bleeding can be ruled out.

Spread of ZIka

Maps from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shown that Zika will be spreading from the lower tip of Connecticut to Southern and Western California. However, this is not accurate, and only a prediction of the possible tracks.

Presently steps are being taken in the affected and surrounding areas to curb the growth of the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. However, residents should also take in some precautionary measure to stop the spread of the diseases.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
The African elephant population has declined by 30 percent between 2007 and 2014, mostly as a result of poaching for the illegal ivory trade, according to a new study. Photo by Vanessa Mignon

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Governments play a big part in combating the legal and illegal international trade in wildlife. This Saturday, a United Nations conference, known as CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), will begin its deliberations and consider proposals at a two-week meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. Over 3,000 delegates from 183 countries will attend the meeting and our Humane Society International (HSI) team will be there, advocating to protect animals ranging in size from the tiny Cuban land snail to African elephants and dozens of other animals.

HSI partners with a number of other animal welfare and conservation groups throughout the world under the banner of the Species Survival Network to drive better outcomes for animals.

There has been a dramatic escalation of poaching and illegal wildlife trade over the past three years, since the last CITES meeting was held. The African elephant population has declined by 30 percent between 2007 and 2014, mostly as a result of poaching for the illegal ivory trade, according to a new study from the Vulcan Foundation. An estimated 1,342 African rhinos were poached in 2015 for the illegal trade in their horns, according to African wildlife authorities. And in the past decade, wildlife traders killed and sold over one million pangolins  making that species the most trafficked mammal in the world. Much of the focus of this meeting will be on what global actions can be taken to address this crisis.

The serious harm caused by the capture and killing of wildlife for the legal international wildlife trade is also a problem that CITES will address. The African lion population decreased by 49 percent between 1993 and 2014, in part due to trophy hunting, and is now facing a new threat: trade in lion bones to Asia where they are used in medicinal tonics and wine. Populations of the silky shark have declined by over 70 percent, big-eye thresher sharks by 70 to 80 percent, and devil rays by at least 30 percent, due to trade in shark fins for shark fin soup and the rays gill plates for medicinal tonics in Asia.

Despite the obvious need for new and increased CITES protection for these and other species being championed by many countries around the world, a few nations are pressing to keep the status quo or even increase trade. Most African countries support giving African elephants the highest level of CITES protection, which would prohibit international commercial ivory trade, but Namibia and Zimbabwe are seeking CITES approval of international trade in ivory from elephants. Swaziland is proposing to legalize the international trade in rhino horn from their country.

Decisions taken at this meeting could have life-changing implications for some of the worlds most iconic and threatened species and dozens of lesser known animals. We will be there, working hard to convince countries to give these beleaguered creatures the protection they so desperately need. Ill keep you updated on major developments.
When youre the leader of the free world, you dont have time to spend on style. So US presidents have usually stuck to the prevailing fashions of their eras, from colonial breeches to the 20th centurys boxy wool suits. Even so, a few managed to leave a mark on American fashionand not always for the better.

Seen as the paragon of presidential fashion, John F. Kennedy revolutionized mens style with his love of two-button suits, Ray-Bans and Ivy League sweaters. Before him, Franklin D. Roosevelts Borsalino fedora and long cape resembled a dandy detective, and when Dwight D. Eisenhower couldnt find an army jacket comfortable and natty enough, he designed his own. The short-length Ike jacket is still the uniform of various federal agencies. Ronald Reagan had all his suits made in Beverly Hills, and famously met Margaret Thatcher in a blue-and-green plaid number that sent pundits reeling.

Going back even further, Dude President Chester A. Arthur was a clotheshorse who owned 80 pairs of pants and dropped the equivalent of $15,000 at Brooks Brothers upon his election. And George Washington started the presidency off by eschewing the trappings of royalty for common dress.

Sadly, for every sartorial hit, theres a spectacular miss. Notoriously sloppy dresser John Quincy Adams wore the same top hat for 10 years, while James Monroe still donned Revolutionary War powdered wigs and breeches despite being elected in 1816, giving him the look of a Colonial village re-enactor. Zachary Taylor wore suits so shabby he was mistaken for a farmer, and William Henry Harrison campaigned wearing fringe adorned faux-outdoorsman outfits and leather moccasins.

Much later, Lyndon Johnson was taped graphically describing the crotch-length needs for his pants, while Bill Clintons ultrashort running shorts left us blinded. And again theres Reagan, who was inexplicably photographed on Air Force One wearing a shirt, tie and sweatpants.

Our outgoing commander in chief left a stamp on White House fashion too. Despite describing himself as a little frumpy, President Obama has been praised for his slim suits, hip Oliver Peoples sunglasses, and cool confidence in casualwear. And yet  remember those misshapen dad jeans he wore in 2009? Or the scolding that rained down when he wore a tan summer suit during an August 2014 briefing? Hey, at least it wasnt frumpy.

As for our possible next presidents, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have made style news. Shes got an arsenal of designer pantsuits, and he would be the first POTUS to wear his own brand of suits  whose jackets he never buttons. Its an odd habit, sure. But its certainly not stranger than wearing the same hat for 10 years. Thats just gross.

red bridesmaid dresses | long bridesmaid dresses
States and school districts that get federal funding to support students who are English-language learners can use that money to support long-term ELLs and ELLs in special education, as well as to help figure out how those students are progressing, according to new Every Student Succeeds Act guidance released by the U.S. Department of Education Friday.

The guidance also makes it clear that districts and states can use their English Language Acquisition grantsprovided through a $737 million program also known as Title III of ESSAfor many of the same purposes as they did under No Child Left Behind. Thats true even though schools accountability for ensuring ELLs progress in their English-proficiency has moved to Title I of the law, along with accountability for all other groups of kids.

That means that states are allowed to use their Title III funds to help identify ELLs who are struggling, make sure their English-language proficiency tests match up with English-language proficiency standards, and align state content standards with English-language proficiency standards. And districts can use Title III funds to help notify parents that their child is an English-learner.

States and districts can also use their Title III money to help meet some new transparency and reporting requirements in ESSA that are aimed at getting a better understanding of ELLs and former ELLs.

For instance, the new law calls for states and districts to report on the percentage of students who have been identified as long-term English-language learnersthose students who have attended school in the United States for five years or more without being reclassified as proficient in English.

Districts and states must also track the performance of former ELLs for four years to determine whether they are performing academically on par with their never-EL peers or whether gaps in achievement remain. Tracking this data will help educators better judge the effectiveness of English-learner services and district and state policies around how and when students are determined to no longer need language services, the guidance states.

And states and districts now need to make it possible for researchers and the public to see how kids who fall into more than one subgroup of studentsincluding English-learners with learning disabilitiesare progressing.

Noting that ELs are a highly diverse student population, the guidance also recommends tracking the performance of English-language learners of other subgroups, including students with gaps in their formal education and those who have recently arrived in the United States.

The guidance, which is non-binding, also covers a range of fiscal and monitoring issues in Title III. You can check it out here.
During a breakfast for reporters hosted by the Christian Science Monitor this week, U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. spoke briefly on a form of education that often flies way under the radar: home schooling.

Home schoolers make up only a sliver of the total K-12 student population in the U.S., and its certainly not every day that such a high level education official discusses the topic.

The National Center for Education Statistics estimates there are 1.8 million home-schooled students in the country, which was 3.4 percent of the overall K-12 student population in 2012. Thats about double the number of home schoolers 10 years ago.

But thats a best guess because tracking the size of the population is difficult due to wildly different reporting requirements from state to state.

King was asked by a reporter what he thinks of the recent uptick in homeschooling, especially as more students who are educated at home are entering college, and whether home schooling could be a possible solution to some persistent issues facing education, such as the achievement gap.

Here is Kings response, compliments of my colleague, Education Week reporter Alyson Klein, who was there :

I have certainly seen examples of students who had a great schooling experience. I had college classmates who had home schooled, and experienced tremendous academic success. But on the other hand I worry in a lot of cases students who are home schooled are not getting the kind of breadth of instructional experience they would get in school. They're also not getting the opportunities to develop relationships with peers unless their parents are very intentional about it. And are often not getting those relationships with teachers and mentors other than their parents, again, unless their parents are very intentional about it. I do worry about whether home schooled students are getting the range of options that are good for all kids. But there are examples of them doing incredibly well ..."

The reporter also asked King if there was research on how well home schoolers perform academically. King said he had not seen research around home schooling. He continued:

I imagine it would be very hard to figure out what it is exactly that youre capturing as there is such diversity in experiences of home school students.

As Ed Weeks school choice beat reporter, I can attest to that. There is not much research on the academic performance of home schoolersand the research that exists comes with a lot of caveats because its almost impossible to get a representative sample of students.

The Home School Legal Defense Association, the most visible group on the national level in the home schooling sector (of which there are very few), took some issue with Kings remarks.

While Secretary King had some good things to say about homeschooling, Im disappointed that his comments imply that public schoolers have a wider range of options in education, which is simply not true, HSLDA co-founder Michael Farris said in a statement on the organizations website .

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Women's interest in these men was purely short-term, though, indicating once again that women like manly men (read: the asshole who will start bar fights and end up with scars all over his stupid, manly face) for sexual flings, while they gravitate to more "feminine" men for long-term relationships and the care of their children.

Strangely, the study did not find a preference for or against women with facial scars, possibly indicating once again that men aren't that picky. Who cares if she has been in a few knife fights, as long as there's the chance she'll still sleep with you?

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"Hey, doll, is that a knife or ... it's a knife. Right. My wallet's in my coat."

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Follow Kathy on Twitter or befriend her on Facebook. Paul K. Pickett is a Canadian writer who never smiles and can be contacted at paulkpickett@hotmail.com.

For more ways Cracked will help you find the perfect mate, check out 6 Things Everyone Knows About Women (That Aren't True) and 6 Things Men Do To Get Laid That Science Says Turn Women Off.

And stop by LinkSTORM to perfect your chin posing.

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Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? Then sign up for our writers workshop! Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? Mediocre? Even rudimentary? Are you frightened by MS Paint and simply have a funny idea? You can create an infographic and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow!
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In an epic 3,000-word rant for The New York Times titled "Metropolis -- The Silliest Film," Wells trashes every aspect of the movie, going on to say, "Never for a moment does one believe any of this foolish story; for a moment is there anything amusing or convincing in its dreary series of strained events. It is immensely and strangely dull. It is not even to be laughed at. There is not one good-looking nor sympathetic nor funny personality in the cast; there is, indeed, no scope at all for looking well or acting like a rational creature amid these mindless, imitative absurdities. The film's air of having something grave and wonderful to say is transparent pretense. It has nothing to do with any social or moral issue before the world or with any that can ever conceivably arise. It is bunkum and poor and thin even as bunkum."

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Bunkum!? Let's not say things we can't back, H.

Yet another NYT review praised the film for its technical achievements, but hated its story. "It is a technical marvel with feet of clay," it claimed, "a picture as soulless as the manufactured woman of its story." The New Yorker hated it even more, calling it "laid on with a terrible Teutonic heaviness, and an unnecessary amount of philosophizing in the beginning."
A blood-soaked tale of revenge based on the true story of a guy who merely wanted to get some of his shit back after a dumb accident. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Hugh Glass, who survives a brutal bear attack to avenge his son's killers. And no, we're not going to try to argue that this is some kind of fucked-up interpretation of A.A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh stories.

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The Children's Movie It Copied:

This may sound ridiculous, but stay with us. The Revenant, the tale of a grizzled trapper lost in the wilderness, is a lot like The Adventures Of Milo And Otis, the story of two cuddly animals lost in the wilderness. Things are OK at the very start of both movies; Leo's son is still alive, and Milo and Otis (a kitten and puppy best friends) are chilling out on a farm.

Columbia Pictures

20th Century Fox



Above: mass hysteria?

Things go to hell, though, when Milo and Otis venture away from the farm and Glass ventures away from his expedition -- both suffer horrifying bear attacks.

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The subtext in these scenes is bears = fucked (but not literally -- that was a rumor).

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What follows in both cases is a crazy survival adventure wherein the heroes (Milo and Glass) try to trek back home through the wild, enduring nature's harsh obstacles. Milo doesn't sleep inside any disemboweled animals, but they are animals, so, you know, close enough.

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20th Century Fox

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20th Century Fox



Both feature a dickish waterfall among the antagonists.

The movies flow similarly; between the action, we cut to beautiful shots of landscapes and clouds. Put a blue filter on the Milo And Otis shots, remove the Dudley Moore narration, and boom, you've got yourself an art film.

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20th Century Fox

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The Revenant's director tried to get Mandy Moore for the narration, but no luck.

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Along the way, both Milo and Glass make unlikely friends from different worlds who help them scavenge for food. Or potentially are food, we guess.

Columbia Pictures

20th Century Fox



That pig is totally the Tom Hardy character, though.

The climax of each movie finds a hero (Otis and Glass) venturing into the woods during a blizzard on a crazy mission -- of course, one is bloodthirsty revenge and the other is to save a kitty cat, but you get the idea.

Columbia Pictures

20th Century Fox

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20th Century Fox

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20th Century Fox



You think Leo waited a long time? It's been 210 dog years since this movie, and no Oscar for that pup yet.

The biggest difference between the films may be behind the scenes. The Revenant set was famously intense, probably because they didn't have a litter of identical Leonardo DiCaprios on set in case things went south. As far as we know.

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J.M. McNab co-hosts the pop culture nostalgia podcast Rewatchability, which can also be found on iTunes. Follow him on Twitter @Rewatchability.

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So it looks like Wells Fargo is the latest big bank to come under fire for doing shitty, illegal things to millions of people. Federal regulators have revealed that the company's employees created more than two million fraudulent bank and credit card accounts in order to meet quotas. 5,300 employees were fired, Wells Fargo paid a $185 million fine, and the government released statements like this absolving the executives of any responsibility.



"Thousands of employees committed crimes for years on end. But don't worry, the CEO knew nothing."

Unlike most financial scandals, the root cause of the bad behavior here is immediately familiar to anyone who's had to work at a big box retail store. If you force salespeople to move "memberships" in order to keep their job, then they'll find a way to move those memberships, even if they have to forge applications from fictional characters like Harry Potter or Dwight D. Eisenhower. The pressure to break the rules comes from unreasonable corporate expectations, but corporate never has to ask employees directly to break the law, so they stay safe.

We sat down with one former employee, Kristen, to learn how Wells Fargo pressured thousands of normal people, many of whom were making, as Elizabeth Warren noted, $12 an hour to commit financial fraud.
Educators who work directly with English-language learners should play a major role in determining when, and if, the students no longer need the specialized services, newly issued guidance from the Council of Chief State School Officers recommends.

Close to 30 states rely on a single benchmarkresults on an English-language proficiency examto determine which English-learners are reclassified as English proficient while only 15 states use teacher input or evaluation.

In the new guidance, authors make the case that relying on a single, high-stakes assessment is problematic, and that states should rely on two or more measures to determine when students exit English-learner status. Using multiple measures allows for more robust reclassification policies and procedures, they argue.

Robert Linquanti, a senior research associate at WestEd, a San Francisco-based research group, and H. Gary Cook, Rita MacDonald, and Daniella Molle of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, wrote the report.

Professional standards of education and psychological testing clearly stipulate that high-stakes decisions regarding studentsparticularly education program placement and provision of services for English learnersshould not be made on a single test score, and that other relevant information constituting complementary evidence is warranted, the authors write.

EL reclassification policies and practices can and should be strengthened, made more coherent, and standardized within states in ways that enable local educators ... to meaningfully participate in making reclassification decisions.

Robert Linquanti, a senior research associate at WestEd, a San Francisco-based research group, and H. Gary Cook, Rita MacDonald, and Daniella Molle of the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, wrote the report.

To develop a more complete picture of ELL students English proficiency, the guidance offers sample processes on observing and analyzing how ELLs use language in the classroomincluding how well they read, speak, listen, and interact with others.

We maintain that additional sources of evidence complementary to large-scale annual ELP (English-language proficiency) assessments are necessary to ensure valid inferences and appropriate educational decisions for a group of students that are a protected class under federal law, the authors write.

Part of an ongoing effort to bring more consistency to services for English-language learners, the guidance is the latest in a series related to moving toward more common policies and practices to identify, classify, assess, and reclassify ELLs as former English-learners.

Heres a look at the guidance .

Related Stories

English-Language-Learner Classification Can Impede Student Growth, Study Finds

States May Move Closer to Uniform Way of Identifying ELLs

CCSSO Offers Guidance on Reclassification of English-Language Learners

ELL Assessment Group Moves Ahead on Standards, New Tests

New Guide to Help States Commonly Define English-Language Learners

Photo Credit: Andrew Echeverria, left, gets help from Joel Miller, a veteran educator who teaches a course for long-term English-learners at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. The course was created to help students who have struggled to become proficient in English. --Emile Wamsteker for Education Week
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New Yorks education department will propose to its board of regents early next year an overhaul to the states learning standards, according to the Associated Press .

The departments new learning standards are dramatically different from Common Core State Standards, the department said. Thats largely in response to an opt-out movement sparked two years ago by parents frustration with overtesting and the states use of common-core standards.

In 2015, the board of regents, which oversees K-12 schools, instituted a four-year moratorium on test scores being used in teacher evaluations. And the state did not renew its contract with the testing company, Pearson, to administer the tests after controversies involving both the writing and administration of the exams.

Then, in March of this year, state legislators replaced three of the regents, including Chancellor Merryl Tisch, whose term was up after two decades on the board and a term as chancellor that started in 2009. She had been among those leading the push to adopt the new standards and use test scores to evaluate teachers.

Despite the changes, more than a fifth of the states eligible students opted out of the exams this year, presenting a challenge to department officials who will have to comply with the proposed federal regulation that mandates at least a 95 percent participation rate of eligible students.

The departments proposed English/Language Arts standards are 60 percent different from its previously adopted common-core standards, and 55 percent of its math standards are different, according to the department. The department also refers to the new standards as NYS English and Mathematics Learning Standards rather than common-core standards.

Dedicated teachers, parents, and educators from across the state put in countless hours to develop these new draft standards, said New York Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. I thank our review committee members for taking the time to propose meaningful changes to improve the states learning standards. Teachers will be able to use these standards as a basis for developing their curricula and lesson plans to meet the needs of students in their classroom.

The board is set to vote on the standards in early 2017.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
State Superintendent Michael Martirano, who led West Virginias schools through a rapid loss of student enrollment , dramatic budget cuts , and a nasty state-versus-local control fight over school construction, has announced that he will leave the position at the end of this school year.

The reason, he said, is the recent death of his wife, Silvana Martirano, who had cared for his children in Western Maryland since he took the job in September 2014.

The board will now spend the next several months vetting potential candidates for the position.

I first met Martirano a year ago in an elevator during a Council of Chief State School Officers conference in Charlotte, N.C. He struck up a lively conversation with me about the states evolving role in helping the growing number of financially and academically struggling districts.

The near-collapse of the coal industry had left local board members strapped for cash, taking out risky loans, shirking building maintenance duties, and slashing away at extracurricular programs. With the shifting state industry, families, especially in the states picturesque rural areas, were packing up and leaving the state in droves, leaving aging school buildings half empty and further exacerbating academic challenges.

One district in particular, Martirano said, illustrated West Virginias predicament. Several weeks later, I traveled to Fayette County to write about a fight over which of the districts schools, many in severe disrepair, should close.

Martirano joins a long list of state superintendents in West Virginia and elsewhere who have resigned within three years of being hired. State departments growing role in evaluating teachers, rating districts, and turning around underperforming schools has made the superintendents position particularly political.

Adding to the pressure: State chiefs are in the throes of crafting their education plans to be executed under the Every Student Succeeds Act. The federal policy gives states plenty more rightsand responsibilitiesin shaping the way they evaluate teachers and schools.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
A new study suggests that schools districts take a closer look at the principal job if they want to get to the root cause of teacher turnover and find ways to prevent it.

Susan Burkhauser, institutional research associate at Loyola Marymount University, outlines her study in a paper titled How Much Do School Principals Matter When It Comes to Teacher Working Conditions?, published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. Burkhauser bases her work in part on the intuitive assumptions that working conditions are a prime factor in a teachers decision to stay or go and that principals may be in the best position to shape working conditions. Principals, she says, can influence a teachers perception of the job by changing actual conditionsby offering more academic and moral support, more opportunities to develop teaching skills and advance their careers, more say in school policy, and the like.

Whats new about Burkhausers study is that it suggests that a teachers perception of working conditions is closely related to his or her perception of the principal. That is, the way a teacher sees her principal can shape the way she perceives conditions in the school, even before any changes are made, and regardless of what else is going on in the school or district.

Using data from the biannual North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey , Burkhauser measured the relation between the teachers perception of principal and workplace climate in four areas: 1) teachers time use, 2.) school environment, 3.) school leadership, and 4.) teacher training. She found that the teachers ratings of their experiences in these areas matched their ratings of their principals.

Burkhauser writes that the estimated effect of increasing principal quality by one adjusted standard deviation in perceptions of time use has the equivalent estimated effect of a decrease in seven students per teacher or a movement to a pupil/teacher ratio of 8-to-1 in the average classroom. In other words, teaching seems more manageable to a teacher who trusts her principal.

Whats more, the measure of principal effectiveness correlated across all four areas. This suggests that well-liked principals who are seen as doing a good job in one area may enjoy favorable perceptions across all areas of school environment. At the same time, Burkhauser acknowledges that it could be that teachers are judging their principals according to whether or not they like the school environment, in which case more research has to be done to determine the cause of this correlation.

Based on the studys results, Burkhauser advises districts suffering high turnover to conduct a survey of teachers perceptions of their working environments. Low scores would suggest that districts need to find ways of training its principals in improving conditions at the school. Districts might also create principal-training programs on how to effectively communicate with teachers, or in providing useful feedback to teachers. They could look to recruit principals who have a record of improving school working conditions.

Burkhauser does acknowledge some limitations of the study. For example, the data come one state, North Carolina, whose particular school accountability policies may shape the principalship and interest in principal jobs in ways that dont apply to other states. Further, North Carolina does not have collective bargaining agreements for teachers, and so the studys results may not be entirely applicable to states with strong unions and labor agreements that determine a principals job and authority.

Finally, the study doesnt account for the effects of certain school factors, such as location, or how much autonomy the district gives a principal, all of which affect the principals impact. So theoretically, a principal who gets favorable ratings on school environment at one school, may not experience the same outcomes at a different school.
Yet another salary-related grievance for teachers: Depending on where you live, buying a home can be far out of reach.

In a new report , the National Housing Conference, a nonprofit that advocates for affordable housing, analyzed 210 metro areas and whether workers in public education, from bus drivers to teachers, could afford to buy or rent a home. (The report did not account for a second income in the household.)

High school teachers had a median income of $56,882, making it possible for them to rent a two-bedroom home in 94 percent of the metro areas analyzed. One of the 12 metro areas where teachers cannot afford the typical rent is Honolulua factor in Hawaiis recent teacher retention and recruitment struggles .

However, high school teachers at the median salary could afford to own a median-priced house in just 62 percent of metro areas. For example, the report said, the income needed to buy a home in San Luis Obispo, Calif., is more than twice that of the average high school teacher salary in that area.

In fact, a separate report from Redfin, a national real estate company, found that just 17 percent of California homes for sale are affordable on the states average teacher salary of $73,536. That amounts to 13 percentage point decline in affordable housing for teachers since 2012, the analysis said.

A typical home in California costs more than half a million dollars$200,000 more than the average teacher can afford, Redfin chief economist Nela Richardson said in a statement. Though California is a striking example, its not the only state with this issue. Due to the yawning gap between incomes and home prices in communities across the country, our public servants cant afford to live in the communities they serve.

To help with recruitment and retention, some districts have implemented housing incentives for teachers, like subsidized housing or loan assistance. A California bill that would allow school districts to lease property for the development of housing for teachers and other district employees is on the governors desk. It has been championed by the San Francisco school district . And a few months ago, the Washington Post reported that a nonprofit managed by the Charter School Incubator Initiative is building subsidized housing for teachers in Washington, D.C.

In the latest issue of Education Week, my colleague Brenda Iasevoli reported on a Newark, N.J. apartment complex called Teachers Village. The apartments, which are open to all public school teachers, have reduced rent and are attached to three new charter schools. While teachers unions are concerned with the ties to charter schools, teachers who live there praise the affordability and the convenience of the location.

Source: Image of Teachers Village, by Mark Abramson for Education Week; infographic via Redfin
Small Businesses Are Living Month-to-Month, Barely Saving Money

If you're struggling to save money and survive, you are not alone. Many of the country's small businesses are essentially living month-to-month.

A new study from the JPMorgan Chase Institute showed that the average small business has just 27 days worth of cash reserves. So what is life like for small businesses living on the financial edge?

Money in the Bank

The study looked at cash buffer days: "the number of days of cash outflows a business could pay out of its cash balance were its inflows to stop." While 1 in 4 small businesses are living relatively comfortably, with 62 or more cash buffer days, the vast majority couldn't go two months without income. Overall, the average daily income for most small businesses was only $7 more than their expenditures, making it almost impossible to save money or expand.

Where the lack of savings can really hurt small businesses is if they have to close unexpectedly or have any break in income. According to the report, a quarter of small businesses wouldn't be able to make ends meet after missing two weeks of income.

Daily Survival

But not all small businesses are created equal, and not every industry suffers the same cash-strapped problems. Real estate companies averaged the highest number of cash buffer days, with 47. Restaurants, on the other hand, had just 16 days worth of cash reserves. Retail stores average 16 cash buffer days, health care services 30, and high tech companies averaged 33 cash buffer days.

Scraping by day-to-day can be especially dangerous for those small businesses, like restaurants, whose daily cash inflow can be volatile. According to the report, restaurants on average bring in just $11 more than they spend each day, with retailers making just $4 more a day. Living on such thin margins can be stressful, and small business owners must have an accurate view of their debts and liquidity if they want to survive.

An outside pair of eyes can always help when it comes to your small business's financials. Contact an experienced commercial attorney in your area if you want help putting together your business's future.

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Channel programs News

Accenture To Buy 260-Person Consultancy To Help Retailers Navigate Digital Disruption

Michael Novinson

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Accenture has agreed to purchase a 260-person global strategy consulting firm focused on helping top retailers and private equity firms deal with digital disruption.

The Dublin, Ireland-based company, No. 2 on the 2016 CRN Solution Provider 500, said New York-based Kurt Salmon will help address continued strong demand for strategy consulting services among retailers as digital technologies disrupt their entire business and operating model. The vertical is also grappling with rapidly rising consumer expectations, industry convergence and low barriers to entry, Accenture said.

"It's more than just putting up a website or putting up a mobile app," Chris Donnelly, retail industry lead for Accenture's strategy practice, told CRN. "It permeates all parts of the company, and all parts of the company need to transform."

[RELATED: Accenture Continues On Salesforce Solution Provider Acquisition Path With Deal For New Energy Group]

Bringing Kurt Salmon on board will help Accenture address significant unmet need around retail operations, merchandising and private equity supply chain, Donnelly said. The rise of e-commerce and digital technologies has caused retailers to rethink how they can most effectively get products to consumers and where and how they should be storing products, according to Donnelly.

Accenture will also benefit from Kurt Salmon's strong history of thought leadership, assets and retail analytical skills, Donnelly said.

Kurt Salmon was founded in 1935, and is known for operational strategy consulting around logistics and supply chain, merchandising and product development, corporate strategy and due diligence, and omni-channel retail strategy, according to Accenture. Taken together, these tools can help shape the transformation of the retail sector, according to Accenture.

However, Kurt Salmon has increasingly seen clients need more and more digital and technology services beyond the scope of what they can typically provide, Donnelly said. For instance, Donnelly said Accenture has 800 associates globally focused on customer experience design for digital experiences, which has become an increasingly important part of retailers transforming their businesses.

Both Accenture and Kurt Salmon work primarily with large retailers, with both companies currently serving many of the same clients.

Terms of the deal, which was announced Thursday, were not disclosed. Kurt Salmon employees are expected to join the Accenture Strategy retail industry practice once the deal closes later this year.

As the business and technology worlds converge, Accenture said it has found that clients are increasingly seeking industry-specific strategies. Kurt Salmon said it can give clients a competitive advantage by delivering client-centric value across the globe.

Although Accenture has taken a balanced approach to providing clients with both horizontal and vertical support, Donnelly strongly believes that vertical knowledge is vital in the strategy and consulting space.

For instance, Donnelly said retailers want to talk with a consultant that not only has a deep understanding of merchandise planning, but also one that understands how exactly merchandising planning is different in the grocery and clothing apparel spaces.

"Our customers are demanding deep industry experience," he said.

Accenture has made 11 acquisitions in 2016, with a heavy focus on security, vertical practices and growing capabilities around Salesforce. The solution provider said it expects to grow annual sales from its security practice to well more than $1 billion by addressing industry-specific security vulnerabilities.
Networking News

Yahoo: More Than 500M User Accounts Impacted In Possibly Biggest Breach To Date

Gina Narcisi

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Yahoo confirmed that the large-scale data breach the internet giant was made aware of this summer includes more than 500 million user accounts  a number more than double the 200 million users originally thought to be impacted by previous reports.

The company said Thursday afternoon that "at least 500 million" user accounts have been impacted by the breach. Yahoo believes the hack was carried out by a state-sponsored actor.

According to a report by Business Insider, a breach involving more than 500 million user accounts would qualify the Yahoo hack as the biggest breach of all time. The internet company said it is working closely with authorities.

Yahoo in August said it was aware of a claim that 200 million Yahoo user accounts had been hacked, and that one infamous cybercriminal dubbed "Peace" was selling the stolen user information on the dark web.

The data breach has exposed certain user account information, which could include names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birthdays, hashed passwords, and in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers, Yahoo said in a post on its investor relations page. The company added that it doesn't believe that payment card data and bank account information was among the stolen data.

Yahoo said that the hack on its network occurred in late 2014, and that the state-sponsored hacker is no longer on the network.

News of the hack came one month after telecom giant Verizon announced its intent to acquire Yahoo for $4.83 billion in July.

Some security vendor executives and analysts believe that the hack could have implications for the acquisition, including the potential renegotiation of Yahoo's sale price.

Michael Bremmer, CEO of TelecomQuotes.com, a telecom consultancy based in Moreno Valley, Calif., doesn't believe the large-scale hack will interfere with Verizon's plans to acquire Yahoo, but that the company could potentially use it as leverage to lower the price.

"Verizon needs Yahoo just as much as Yahoo needs Verizon, because Verizon wants to be in the content business and Yahoo did content well," Bremmer said. "The sad part is, we're used to seeing this kind of news [about breaches] come out all the time."

For its part, Verizon publicly commented on Yahoo's security breach on Thursday afternoon, writing that it had been notified of the breach within the past two days.

"We understand that Yahoo is conducting an active investigation of this matter, but we otherwise have limited information and understanding of the impact. We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities," Verizon said.

TelecomQuotes.com's Bremmer said that the high-profile breach could help bring much-needed attention to security, and could potentially give security products and services sales a boost.

Yahoo is in the process of notifying affected users. The company is encouraging any users that haven't changed their passwords since 2014 to do so now, and to "review their online accounts for suspicious activity."
Security News

CRN Exclusive: ReSec Technologies Launches First Channel Program In North America

Sarah Kuranda

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Launching its enterprise network security solution into the U.S. market earlier this year, ReSec Technologies is now officially launching into the channel, announcing its inaugural partner program in the region.

ReSec Technologies, based in Israel, has an enterprise network security offering that prevents against known threats, zero-days and advanced persistent threats using its Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology, which breaks down content entering the environment and reconstructs it free of any malicious pieces it might contain.

While ReSec launched into the U.S. market around the RSA Conference earlier this year, CEO Dotan Bar Noy said it first wanted to prove itself in the region against competitors like Check Point Software Technologies, Symantec and FireEye before formally approaching partners. Now, he said the company is ready to officially launch its North American Partner Program, naming its inaugural partner, Strong Crypto Innovations.

[Related: Cryptzone Launches New Channel Enhancements, Incentives As It Looks To Grow Business Through Partners]

You see more and more people are understanding that theres something new here and something different, Bar Noy said.

The program is designed to be very hands on with partners, Bar Noy said, including around technical training, joint marketing and procurement. Bar Noy said the company is starting by focusing on partners based on the East Coast, with a particular focus on the government and financial services markets, where the company feels it has a particular value proposition as a stand-alone network security offering or as an add-on to existing big-name vendor solutions.

Alex Fry, president of Luray, Va.-based Strong Crypto, said the company signed on with ReSec as its inaugural partner because it looks to offer a competitive security strategy to its clients, with what it identifies as the best-in-breed and best-in-class solutions.

I think [the new program is] great.  I think what theyve shown is that they are willing to empower their partners and go out and demonstrate the solution to our clients, Fry said.

Fry said he hopes the launch of the new partner program will help get the word out about ReSec and the value proposition it offers through its CDR technology.

Clients are tired of promises and technology that doesnt work as promised. One of the things we decided to do is be the trusted adviser, or part-ime CISO, to the clients that we serve and identify the vendors that fill the gaps in the information security program so we can put together a full-fledged information security program for our clients. ReSec is an important part of that strategy, Fry said.

In his own experience, Fry said customers understand the cost savings they can get from the offering, but it often takes education to help them understand the preventative capabilities of the technology and how it can fit into their portfolios.

I think [this launch] helps getting the word out that this type of solution is available, Fry said.

Bar Noy said he hopes to grow ReSec to do most of its business through the channel. He said ReSec is best and developing software and wants to go to market through partners, who specialize in working with customers.

We dont want to do direct, Bar Noy said.
Security News

Proofpoint Hires Former Fortinet Exec As North American Channel Chief

Sarah Kuranda

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Proofpoint has nabbed former Fortinet channel exec Jon Bove as its North American channel chief, as the security vendor looks to expand its push into the channel with regional reseller partners.

Bove joined Proofpoint in August as senior director of North America channels, reporting to Vice President of Worldwide Channels Dee Dee Phelps Acquista. He joined the company from Fortinet, where he was regional vice president of US channels. Fortinet declined to comment on the move.

Mark Miller, partner at M&S Technologies, said the move is a huge channel win for Proofpoint. As a Fortinet partner, Miller said he has known Bove for a long time and called him a solid guy and very smart.

[Related: CRN Exclusive: Channel Visionary Powell Set To Lead A Channel Application Services Revolution At LogicMonitor]

I think they stole a very strong voice at Fortinet John is extremely channel friendly and very strategic, Miller said.

Boves appointment comes as Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Proofpoint continues to build out its channel strategy, a push that began three years ago when the security technology vendor hired Phelps Acquista as its first North American channel chief. The company has expanded its worldwide channel team five times in the three years since, Phelps Acquista told CRN.

We are doing more business with the channel than we ever have, Phelps Acquista said. Im very pleased with the progress weve made with the channel overall. Phelps Acquista could not disclose exactly how much or what percentage of business now goes through the channel, saying only that Proofpoint has made great strides in growing its channel business.

Now, Phelps Acquista said, Proofpoint is looking to move to its next phase of channel expansion, led by Bove. She said Proofpoint is looking to expand its reach with regional reseller partners, to supplement the work it already does with solution providers, national security partners and multi-country systems integrators.

We have been measured in our approach with the channel and we have really been very focused on who we have worked with on purpose by design over the past few years.As we enter the next phase, I think its how do we find the right set of partners to focus on next who [will] allow us to double and triple our business. What Jon [Bove] is heading up largely is the help in building out that strategy, Phelps Acquista said.

Phelps Acquista said the addition of partners will be measured and strategic in North America, rather than strictly based on volume. To those partners, she said Proofpoint brings strong compensation, high product renewal rates and subscription services for additional recurring revenue.

Phelps Acquista said partners can also expect to see some changes to the partner program next year, directed by Director of Global Channel Programs and Operations Brian Kroneman. She said Proofpoint is also in the midst of launching a new partner portal.

We will expect more of our partners. We want them to be more educated on Proofpoint offerings. We want our customers to first and foremost have a great Proofpoint experience and we do that by systematically and methodically adding the right partners to the mix and expecting something from them, Phelps Acqusita said.

I think for the most part if you talk to the partners we do business with, they are really pleased with the focus and shift and dedication weve shown to them over the last 3 yearsIts a very important part of our strategy, she said.
Channel Opportunities Across The Board

The Channel Company CEO Robert Faletra said IoT is "the next big wave" in technology for the channel during a keynote at XChange 2016, hosted by The Channel Company.

Among the participants at the roundtable were Luis Alvarez, president and CEO of Alvarez Technology Group, a Salinas, Calif.-based solution provider; Lawrence Van Deusen, director of network integration at Dimension Data, a Raleigh, N.C.-based systems integrator; Michael Lomonaco, director of marketing and communications at Open Systems Technologies, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based solution provider; and Jason Waldrop, CEO of CWPS, a Chantilly, Va.-based managed service provider.

Following are excerpts from these four channel players about the opportunities for IoT for solution providers, system integrators and customers.
This powerful statement from the New York Times editorial board captures the cries of many people on the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina tonight.

"The Police Department in Charlotte, N.C., has responded in exactly the wrong way to a police officer's killing on Tuesday of another black man, Keith Scott," reads the editorial. "Release the Charlotte Police Video."

Snip:

There is no legal reason to withhold the video from the public, and in this fraught situation, the best way to allay the community's distrust is complete transparency. Unfortunately, the city's mayor, Jennifer Roberts, seems largely at sea and distressingly out of touch with how lack of an open governmental response led to demonstrations in places like Ferguson, Mo., Cleveland and Baltimore. She said Thursday morning that she had not even viewed the video.

The folly of stonewalling is well demonstrated in Chicago, where a scandal stemming from the city's mishandling of a police shooting of a black teenager in 2014 opened wounds that will take years to heal. The city maintained at the outset that Laquan McDonald, 17, was threatening police officers with a knife when they killed him. But when the video was finally made public 13 months later, it showed the young man moving away from the officers when one of them executed him.

The scandal has toppled a county prosecutor, discredited city government and further alienated Chicagoans from a Police Department long known for its brutality.

Some police departments are starting to understand that public trust depends on good faith and openness. In the Tulsa case, for example, the Police Department committed itself to "full transparency and disclosure."

The North Carolina legislature, however, made that far more difficult when it passed an ill-advised measure this year that allows police departments to withhold camera footage from the public unless a court orders the release.
Carnival Corporation has signed a non-binding memorandum of agreement to build two cruise ships with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), with an option for two more, in a deal also involving China Investment Capital Corporation.

The agreement was announced in Tianjin on Friday morning at the China Cruise Shipping conference and trade show.

The ships will be domestically owned in China for Carnival Corporation's joint venture, and will most likely fall under a to-be-named domestic brand.

Both vessels will be 133,500 tons according to a translation, featuring Chinese and Western style designs. Passenger capacity will be 5,000.

The first ship will be delivered in 2022, according to a statement from CSSC, which also said the ships will be built on the Carnival Vista platform in partnership with Fincantieri.

Official statement from Carnival:

Carnival Corporation & plc today announced that its cruise joint venture in China has signed a non-binding memorandum of agreement (MOA) to order the industrys first new cruise ships built in China for the Chinese market. The MOA is subject to several conditions including closing of the joint venture, financing and other key terms.

As part of the new MOA, Carnival Corporations cruise joint venture in China agreed to order two new cruise ships to be built by a newly formed China-based shipbuilding joint venture between Chinas largest shipbuilder, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), and Italy-based Fincantieri S.p.A., the worlds largest cruise shipbuilding company. The MOA also grants Carnival Corporations cruise joint venture the option to order two additional China-built cruise ships.

Carnival Corporations cruise joint venture in China will operate the new ships as part of its plans to launch the first multi-ship domestic cruise brand in China. Based on Carnival Corporations Vista-class platform, the design for the new ships will be tailored for the new Chinese cruise brand and the specific tastes of Chinese travelers. The first of these ships is expected for delivery in 2022.

The partners signed the memorandum of agreement at a signing ceremony held today at the 11th annual China Cruise Shipping and International Cruise Expo (CCS11) in Tianjin, China.

Carnival Corporations cruise joint venture  a partnership announced last fall with CSSC and China Investment Capital Corporation (CIC Capital) in which Carnival Corporation holds a minority interest  is expected to initially launch its new domestic Chinese cruise brand using ships that are purchased from Carnival Corporations existing fleet and homeported in China. Based on the MOA announced today, the joint venture would then add new China-built cruise ships starting in 2022 to further accelerate growth in the Chinese cruise market, which is expected to eventually become the largest cruise market in the world.

Separately, Carnival Corporation and its Chinese partners also announced today that the Chinese central government has now granted approval for the cruise joint venture to officially incorporate in Hong Kong. This news follows a standard regulatory approval process with Chinese officials that has taken place since the joint venture agreement was originally announced in London in October 2015.

We are excited about the potential for the first new cruise ships to be built and deployed in China for the enjoyment of Chinese travelers, which will be an important milestone in the development of the Chinese cruise market, said Alan Buckelew, global chief operations officer for Carnival Corporation. As we work with our Chinese partners to launch the first domestic Chinese cruise brand in the next few years, being able to offer cruises on China-built cruise ships represents a new opportunity for us to generate excitement and demand for cruising amongst a broader segment of the Chinese vacation market, which is already the largest in the world and continues to see strong growth every year.

Buckelew added: We see this collaboration with CSSC and Fincantieri as a potential cornerstone of a domestic cruise presence in China, serving Chinese guests with world-class cruise ships that are built in China for the first time. We are grateful to have this opportunity, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership as we continue supporting Chinas goal to be one of the worlds leading cruise markets.

Official statement from Fincantieri:

Fincantieri and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), signed a non-binding agreement with Carnival Corporation and CIC Capital Corporation (CIC Capital) for the construction of the first new cruise ships to be built in China for the Chinese market. The understanding is subject to several conditions, including the closing of the joint venture and the financing.

As envisaged by the agreement, the joint venture being set up between Fincantieri and CSSC will act as prime contractor for the construction of two new cruise ships to be built at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), yard of CSSC Group, ordered by the joint venture of which Carnival Corporation, CSSC, and CIC Capital will be part of, with an option for two additional ships.

The new ships will be based on the Vista-class platform, ships built by Fincantieri for the Carnival Group, and the design will be tailored for the specific tastes of the Chinese travelers and for the new Chinese cruise brand of the joint venture between Carnival, CSSC and CIC Capital, which will also operate the units. The first delivery is expected in 2022.

The agreement signed today follows the one of last July between Fincantieri and CSSC for the constitution of a joint venture aimed at developing and supporting the growth of the Chinese cruise industry.
Top Chinese government officials and shipbuilding executives speaking at the China Cruise Shipping conference in Tianjin were bullish on the future of the cruise industry in China, painting a picture of continued rapid development.

"With the growing wealth of the Chinese population, many citizens are looking for new ways to travel. Because of that we are seeing an explosion in the cruise industry in China," said Xilong Zhang, vice director, China National Tourism Administration. "We will continue to provide support for the development of homeports."

Zhang said he was dedicated to developing the cruise industry in Tianjin and across China.

"The coming decade will be the golden era for cruise industry development in China," Zhang said.

"China is among the top three shipbuilders in the world," said Shuanchang Yang, vice director, ministry of industry and information technology. "The shipping industry is in a downward phase, but the cruise industry is the opposite, especially in China."

He also stressed a coming "golden era" of cruise development in China within the next two decades.

"We are trying to build our own cruise ship and develop our own cruise shipbuilding industry," Yang noted. "Smart shipbuilding is currently a core focus."

And Chinese shipbuilders may be poised to take advantage of China's developing cruise sector.

"In the past we had some small ships and now we have 4,000-passenger ships in the market," said Wenming Hu, chairman, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

He said major cities have all introduced cruise-friendly policies to help build up the cruise business in China.

"It's fair to say the cruise industry has become an important component of the economy," Hu said, adding the market needs to be further educated about the cruise product. "I'm certain the cruise industry will continue to be a driver of the Chinese economy."

He said the industry needs to look at itinerary homeport management in China, and further coordination was needed.

"We need more marketing and promotional campaigns to raise the awareness of the industry in China," Hu said. "We need to build a cruise culture that is unique to China ... and encourage consumers to participate."
Presidents and CEOs from all the major cruise brands operating in Asia all underlined the potential of the Chinese cruise industry at the China Cruise Shipping conference and trade show in Tianjin, speaking directly to government officials, media and other delegates.

"We are very confident about the potential here," said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation, which also signed a deal on Friday to build two cruise ships in China.

"The market will see significant growth over the next decade," Donald noted.

Donald said Carnival was helping to build a domestic and profitable industry in China, noting that the AIDA and Carnival Cruise Line brands will join the Chinese market "in the next few years."

"To continue to build this market we need to communicate what cruising is all about," Donald continued. "Carnival Corporation is committed to China and building honorable enduring relationships with our Chinese partners. We recognize new markets take time to develop."

Part of that development will also be simplifying the process of leaving and returning to China for Chinese Citizens, Donald advised.

Adam Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, said China was the most interesting development "of our times" for those that had devoted their careers to the cruise industry.

"The growth potential is immense," said Goldstein.

Alan Buckelew, COO of Carnival Corporation, highlighted Carnival Corporation's growth in China since starting out in 2006 with the Costa Allegra.

"We're all very excited about the future of China and cruising in this country," said Buckelew.

Colin Au, advisor and founding president of Genting Hong Kong, also spoke, making his first appearance at China Cruise Shipping.

Au said the industry had come a long way since Star Cruises started up in the 1990s, when the product experience involved fixed seating times.

"We believed we needed to combine Chinese and western styles and create a vacation focused on freedom," Au said. He explained the so-called freedom (i.e. Freestyle) model drove profit, so Genting re-invested the money and built new ships.

Now, attention has turned to the start-up Dream Cruises brand which will take delivery of its first ship in October, said Au, noting the potential of the Chinese market.

"The current cruise industry is designed on the Western vacation preferences," Au said. "There have not been ships and products designed for the Chinese."

Genting is among the companies promising ships built to Chinese preferences, with two ships for Dream and two more bigger ships for Star Cruises following in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Au said generally, bigger was better when it came cruise ships, however, in China, newer is better.

"So we need to build new ships that are big and new and offer a wide range of activities," Au said.

Frank del Rio, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said the rapid growth in China will continue.

"China will eventually (pass) the United States as the largest cruise market," said del Rio.

Norwegian's executive team was among the most accessible at China Cruise Shipping.

When the Norwegian Joy arrives in Shanghai next June, del Rio said every space on the ship has been designed for Chinese guests.

"We're going to great lengths to make sure the Norwegian Joy is the perfect ship for our Chinese guests," said del Rio.

Norwegian will move into new offices in China in October, with room for up to 60 employees, said del Rio.

MSC Cruises President and CEO Gianni Onorato said the company intends to continue to grow in China, recently confirming the MSC Splendida will arrive in the market in 2018 to join the MSC Lirica.

Onorato said the company's goal is to carry 5 million passengers per year globally with growth targets not only in China but in North America and Europe as well.

"We have plans to further develop our presence in China," said Onorato.

Min Fan, president and CEO of SkySea Cruise Line, pointed to developing his new brand over the last year and a half. Music theme cruises have been good for brand recognition, said Fan, also noting he had tremendous support from partner Royal Caribbean Cruises to build up the SkySea brand.

"There is something missing," said Fan. "For agents, there are not enough passengers and there is over capacity, but that is part of the growing process."

Fan said that most passengers are not seeing the ships as a destination itself, and said agents are attracting customers with shore excursion products.

"But that will be adjusted in the next three to five years with better hardware and software (in the market)," said Fan, adding that the market is large enough in China for companies to develop niches for themselves.

He also hinted that China will become an import outbound market for the cruise lines, perhaps hinting at future plans for expanded deployment - outside China - for SkySea.
In the world of medical device security, success comes down to having the capability to fail gracefully.

This is not as oxymoronic as it might seem, Kevin Fu told an audience at the Security of Things Forum in Cambridge, Mass., on Thursday. What is more important than bulletproof security, he said, is the ability to contain or localize breaches or infections so they dont disrupt the continuity of operations.

Fu, CEO and cofounder of Virta Laboratories. whose opening keynote was titled, Your Fly is Down: Managing Medical Device Security Risk, was just one of multiple experts who said the security of those devices could be drastically improved just by practicing basic security hygiene.

But even without that, the reality in the medical field is different from that of most other sectors of the Internet of Things (IoT): The risks of vulnerabilities in connected medical devices are frequently outweighed by the benefits offered to patients by those devices.

Just one example, he said, is pacemakers, which used to require the use of a needle to adjust or maintain them. That created an infection risk, which in some cases was fatal, he said, so there are great benefits to wireless devices because they increase the sterile field.

[ ALSO: SOURCE Boston: Medical devices still vulnerable, but things may be changing ]

In general, he said, patients prescribed an implant are far safer with those devices than without, even though we have found major security problems with them.

This, he said, is not to imply that improving security is unimportant. He said a major risk to health care organizations, which has exploded in the past year, is ransomware, which in general is not aimed at specific devices, but the entire operation.

That can result in shutting down operations, and disrupting the clinical workflow, he said.

But when it comes to individual medical devices, he and others said the majority of flaws fall into the low-hanging fruit category  they could be addressed with the digital version of zipping up your fly.

Part of the problem, which has been widely reported, is that the industry is still early in the transition to connected devices. Many are legacy systems or devices, designed without any expectation that they would be connected, and therefore without any security built in.

Dr. Julian Goldman, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, made that point during a panel discussion following Fus keynote titled, Securing Connected Health Devices and Networks.

He said a major obstacle to security is, the age of the equipment  a lot of it is 10 or 15 years old. The developers may have left the company. Those arent excuses, theyre just the facts. Its very complex.

Fu, who was also on the panel, agreed. Of course everything is hackable, he said, so the key is how do you fail gracefully? How can you localize the problem so it doesnt interrupt the continuity of operations?

Security risks come from multiple directions, he said. They include:

Vendors using infected USB drives.

Vendors repairing infected machines.

Vulnerabilities on the product assembly line.

Software updates.

Outdated operating systems.

Fu gave the example of a pharmaceutical compounder running with Windows XP, for which Microsoft no longer supports with security updates.

When it was brought in for repair, the malware on it spread to others in the shop, he said. "It was like Typhoid Mary.

The risks of porous security can have serious medical consequences, he said, noting that if medical sensors have been compromised, then they become unreliable for medical staff to use to make a proper diagnosis.

He said it is crucial for designers and developers to start building security in from the get go, because it is very difficult to bolt on after the fact.

But, he said it is even more crucial not to sow panic among patients. They are making risk choices, he said. In the medical world, it is not always true that it is best to eliminate the security problem, because it may introduce new risks that would harm the patient more.

A more rigorous authentication protocol for a pacemaker would improve security, he said, but if the patient is unconscious or cant remember the password, the safety problem outweighs the security risk.

That was the message from the panel as well. Authentication, blindly applied, doesnt work, said Steve Christy Coley, principal information security engineer at Mitre.

As Fu emphasized, however, there are ways to improve before a new generation of devices with better security become part of the infrastructure.

One thing is just to have a better inventory, he said. A large number of hospitals dont even know what devices they have, what software theyre using. If we dont know what we have, we cant secure or manage risk.

Audra Hatch, systems analyst at a regional New England medical center, said things would improve with better communication among different stakeholders and departments. Were very siloed, she said. There is finance, clinicians, administration. Do these groups talk? Are we all on the same page? Do the people doing acquisition understand the clinicians?

Goldman said he is encouraged by more involvement in medical device security by the federal Food and Drug Administration, which has issued security guidance aimed at manufacturers. The FDA is now deeply engaged, he said.

Christy Coley said he sees progress, but it is slower than any of us would prefer.

Hatch agreed. Im an optimist, she said, but an impatient optimist.
Next week, New York State will begin a 45-day public comment period on its new financial industry cybersecurity regulation -- and, so far, security experts have a favorable view of the proposal.

Under the new regulations, banks and insurance companies doing business in New York State will need to establish a cybersecurity program, appoint a Chief Information Security Officer and monitor the cybersecurity policies of their business partners.

According to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, this is the first such regulation in the country. "This regulation helps guarantee the financial services industry upholds its obligation to protect consumers and ensure that its systems are sufficiently constructed to prevent cyber-attacks to the fullest extent possible," he said in a statement.

While the proposed regulations do offer some specifics, such as requiring annual penetration testing and multi-factor authentication for privileged users, it's not just a compliance check list -- financial firms will also need take a close look at other weaknesses that they might have.

Banks and insurance companies will be required to conduct an annual assessment of their specific risks, and design cybersecurity programs to address those risks, according to New York State Department of Financial Services superintendent Maria Vullo.

Wider impact

As the center of the global financial industry, New York's policies have wide-ranging effects.

Most of the foreign banks that do business in the United States have operations in New York, said Daniel Klein, COO at Tel Aviv-based security firm EverCompliant.

The proposed regulation is a big step forward for cybersecurity, he said.

"There's a big awareness right now that these are big issues, and that there are big gaps in the controls," he said.

The regulation could help pave the way for those in other countries, added Israel Levy, CEO at Tel Aviv-based Bufferzone Security.

Banks located outside New York State, whether elsewhere in the U.S. or in other countries, even if they don't do business in New York, should start preparing themselves.

"You do see financial organizations take self-imposing steps in directions to come," he said.

Meanwhile, some countries, like Israel, have even tougher regulations, he added.

For example, Israeli banks have had to have physically separate internal and external networks. The same desktop computer cannot be used to access both unless there are two separate network cards and two separate virtual machines running on the computer, so that infections that come in from the public internet can't make their way into the bank's core systems.

Another area where the New York State regulations could have gone further is in multi-factor authentication.

The new rules say that banks must "require" multi-factor for privileged users, but only "support" multi-factor for web applications that deal with sensitive information.

"Many leading banks already use multifactor authentication to secure their customers accounts and this protection should be universal," said John Gunn, spokesman for Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based VASCO Data Security.

The original plan, first floated by the previous Department of Financial Services superintendent, would have required just that. But since the change in leadership, that provision seems to have been watered down, Gunn said.

But overall, the regulations are a more in the right direction, he said.

"We really applaud the efforts, and we think it's a step in the right direction," he said.

A security check list, by itself, would not be sufficient to address the risks facing the industry.

"Regulations happen in government time, and cyber attacks happen in internet time," said Bert Rankin, chief marketing officer at Redwood City, Calif.-based security company Lastline.

Raises the bar

For the larger institutions, the requirements spelled out in the regulations might be old hat, he added.

"There are a number of banks that are extremely forward-looking and have deployed very sophisticated solutions, and there are others that have lagged behind," he said. "The types of banks that are especially vulnerable tend to be mid-tier or on the smaller end of the scale."

Given how interconnected the financial industry is, however, a weakness at any one firm could have wider repercussions.

"What this does is sets a floor, a minimum standard," he said. "There are large interdependencies between the players and the suppliers in the industry. You need to elevate everyone's security posture."

He noted, however, that the regulations are just a minimum set of requirements.

"Banks -- and enterprises in general -- need to do a lot more than just the minimum," he said.
Securing the internet of things should become a major priority now that an army of compromised devices  perhaps 1 million strong - has swamped one of the industrys top distributed denial-of-service protection services.

A giant botnet made up of hijacked internet-connected things like cameras, lightbulbs, and thermostats has launched the largest DDoS attack ever against a top security blogger, an attack so big Akamai had to cancel his account because defending it ate up too many resources.

It wasnt that Akamai couldnt mitigate the attack  it did so for three days  but doing so became too costly, so the company made a business decision to cut the affected customer loose, says Andy Ellis the companys chief security officer.

+ MORE: Homeland Security issues call to action on Internet of Things security +

The delivery network has dropped protection for the Krebs on Security blog written by Brian Krebs after an attack delivering 665Gbps of traffic overwhelmed his site Tuesday. The size of the attack was nearly double that of any Akamai had seen before.

An IoT botnet generating this much traffic is a bellwether event that Ellis says will take some time to analyze to come up with more efficient mitigation tools.

Its impact is similar to the 2010 attacks by Anonymous using the open source, low-orbit ion cannon tool, or the 2014 DDoS attacks launched from compromised Joomla and WordPress servers, he says.

The lesson for enterprises is that the DDoS protections they have in place need to be tweaked to handle higher attack volumes, he says.

IoT exploited

The massive Krebs on Security assault is the work of a botnet made up primarily of internet of things devices, according to Akamai. So many devices were used, in fact, that the attacker didnt have to employ common tactics that amplify the impact of individual devices, Ellis says.

The number of machines in the latest botnet is still unknown, and could be as large as a million. Were still trying to size it, he says. We think that might be an overestimate but its also possible that will be a real estimate once we get into the numbers.

With estimates of 21 billion IoT devices by 2020, the scale of botnets that might be created by these relatively unprotected machines could be enormous, says Dave Lewis, a global security advocate for Akamai who spoke Thursday at the Security of Things Forum in Cambridge, Mass.

What if an attacker injects code into devices to create a Fitbit botnet? he says. Researchers have already shown its possible to wirelessly load malware onto a Fitbit in less than 10 seconds, he says, so the possibility isnt fantastic.

Some of the attacking machines are running clients known to run on cameras, he says. Its possible they are faking it or its possible its a camera that was doing these attacks, he says. There are indicators that there are IoT devices here, at scale

The attack didnt use reflection or amplification, so all the traffic consisted of legitimate http requests to overwhelm Krebss site, Ellis says. Its not junk traffic.

A lot of things about the attack are still unknown such as whos behind it and what method the botmasters used to infect the individual bots.

Ellis says some other providers Akamai had contacted report similar but smaller attacks likely from the same botnet. Many of them were aimed toward gaming sites, and Krebs has written about such attacks, so there may be a connection there, he says.

Twitter

Akamai will analyze the attack and devise tools to fight similar attacks, Ellis says.

Krebs has tweeted about the attack after Akamai stopped protecting his site. I can't really fault Akamai for their decision. I likely cost them a ton of money today, he wrote. So long everyone. It's been real.

This story, "DDoS attack takes down Krebs site" was originally published by Network World .
Coffee lovers, get ready for National Coffee Day. It's coming up on September 29 and many chains are offering special deals.

Grab some freebies or support local business by getting a caffeine fix at one of southwestern Connecticut's coffee shops.

SoNo Baking Company with locations in Norwalk, Westport and Darien is offering a free cup of coffee with the purchase of a pastry from 7am to 3pm that day.

If you miss National Coffee Day because you're overseas, don' fret; International Coffee Day is October 1. This is the second year that 77 member states of the International Coffee Organization and dozens of coffee associations from around the globe will come together to celebrate.

According to the National Coffee Association, coffee can trace its heritage back centuries to the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau.

"There, legend says the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beloved beans. The story goes that that Kaldi discovered coffee after he noticed that after eating the berries from a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they did not want to sleep at night."

The site also states that "after crude oil, coffee is the most sought commodity in the world."
BRIDGEPORTVoters will get to see Connecticuts 4th Congressional district candidates, John Shaban and Rep. Jim Himes, face-off in back to back debates next month.

The state legislator and incumbent Congressman will first debate at Wilton High School on Oct. 23 in an event co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of District 4. The next day, Oct. 24, they will discuss issues of foreign policy for a debate organized by the World Affairs Forum at UCONN Stamford.

Himes, a Democrat who is seeking his 5th term in the House of Representatives, calls the debate a vital part of the process for voters during these very serious and complicated times.

Shaban, a 51-year-old Republican, is also looking forward to showing voters the candidates different approaches to problem solving, but says hes disappointed that these are the only two debates the opponents will have before the Nov. 8 election.

Himes was screaming and yelling eight years ago that he only got six or seven debates, and were only going to do two, Shaban said, claiming there were originally four debates planned. Is that politics? Yeah, maybe it is. But its not good policy, its not good public relations and its not good for the district.

The state representative of the 135th district, which includes Easton, Redding and Weston, feels the two debates wont adequately cover the issues, or the constituents.

More Information If you go: Debates for 4th Congressional District candidates Oct. 23, 5pm Co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters of District 4 Clune Auditorium of Wilton High School Oct. 24, 7pm Organized by the World Affairs Forum at UCONN Stamford. UCONN Stamford's GenRe Auditorium Both events are free of charge. See More Collapse

While he hopes to speak on trade and terrorism at the foreign policy debate, Shaban says the number of debates might not allow him and Rep. Himes to sufficiently address the central thesis of his campaign. Namely, domestic issues like the mismanagement and misuse of state resources. Shaban also argues that more debates would allow a broader population of the district to attend.

Patrick Malone, the Communications Director for Himes campaign, says Himes will continue to reach out to constituents both inside and outside of the debate format.

Jim has always debated his opponents and looks forward to doing so again this year, Malone said. But, most of all, he looks forward to continuing to talk to people throughout the district as he regularly does whether its election time or not.
This is very sad and infuriating. A 15-year-old girl from Hagerstown, Maryland was riding her bike and collided with a car. When police arrived they told her an ambulance was going to take her to the hospital. She didn't want to go. She got back on her bike, but before she could get away, an officer grabbed her from behind. The next thing you know, she was roughed up, cuffed, put in the back of a patrol car, and then pepper sprayed. Instead of taking her to the hospital, the officers took her to the police station for interrogation.

The girl was black, and the police officers were white. It made me sick to watch this video. She'd just been in a bad accident, flew 15 feet through the air, and was knocked out. The police were cold, harsh, and violent with her. They kept aggressively shouting at her "Stop!" and "What's your name!" Imagine your own child suffering a head injury and then being treated like this. Her frightened shrieks are heartwrenching.

From the Daily Beast:
A North Haven man will serve 18 months in prison for his part in a bizarre home invasion scheme that police said involved having a teenaged girl get a Shelton man drunk so they could rob him.

Joseph Cahill, 19, was sentenced at Superior Court in Milford on Thursday. Cahill referred to himself as a punk during the sentencing hearing, the Valley Independent Sentinel reported.

Cahill pleaded guilty in July to charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. Three other men and a 17 year-old girl have also been charged in the Sept. 8, 2015 incident.

Police said the victim called authorities, saying he was beaten in the driveway of his Shelton home by three men. When police responded, they found the victim bleeding profusely from the head. He was later treated at a nearby hospital.

Shelton detectives said participants had conspired to rob and assault the victim. According to the detectives, the girl called the victim and had him pick her up and drive her to his Shelton home, where she planned to get him drunk so he would be easier to rob.

The victim likely fell for the ruse because a short time later, the teen texted her accomplices that the victim was intoxicated and she had left the door unlocked, police said.

But the plan fell apart, police said, when the victim happened to walk outside. He was then set upon by the three men and was struck in the head by a facsimile firearm, according to police. During this commotion, police said, a neighbor came outside and the three men then fled scene.
Domestic violence

Connecticut continues to see an average of 14 intimate partner homicides each year.

Karen Jarmoc, chief executive of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, regarding a report showing that 231 people have been killed by their intimate partners since 2000.

Legal 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.
Glenn Reynolds, blogger, USA Today contributor and law professor, had an answer for drivers who found themselves surrounded during protests in Charlotte over the police killing of a black person: "Run Them Down." It was not a very good answer: he was temporarily suspended from Twitter, got in hot water with his editors at USA Today, and his university made clear they considered it an embarassment to the faculty. And so apologies are born.

'I didn't live up to my own standards, and I didn't meet USA TODAY's standards. For that I apologize.'  Those words can easily be taken to advocate drivers going out of their way to run down protesters. I meant no such thing, and I'm sorry it seemed I did. What I meant is that drivers who feel their lives are in danger from a violent mob should not stop their vehicles.

The value of a Tennessee higher education reaffirmed!
Robert Croucher owns Hatton & Berkeley, a firm that sent "speculative invoices" to people it accused of illegally downloading the Robert Redford movie "The Company You Keep"  letters so egregious that Lord Lucas described the company as "scammers" and the letters as "extortion," urging Britons to "put them in the bin."

Croucher has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison following an incident outside of the members-only Raffles club in London. Croucher had a dispute with a woman already in the car that ended when he took away the driver's keys by reaching through the window; the driver says he was then slapped by Croucher, knocked to the ground, and kicked in the body and head.





Croucher objected to the sentence, telling the court, "This will destroy my life, I am the director of a company, and everyone would lose their jobs."

Earlier this year, the Advertising Standards Agency found that Croucher had made a misleading claim on his website, where he said he had created 10,000 jobs.

"I was begging for my keys and he suddenly pushed me on the pavement," Hussain told the Court. "He has just kicked me in several parts of my body and head. My head was very swollen, I went to hospital where I stayed for four hours. I went to my GP a few days later and got prescribed antibiotics, it was severe pain." Croucher, who gave his address as Hawthorn Road, Hornsey, north London, admits assault but denies kicking Mr Hussain.

Company boss cries as he is jailed for assaulting Uber driver outside gentlemen's club

[Tristan Kirk/Evening Standard]

Copyright Troll Partner "Kicked Uber Driver in the Head" [Andy/Torrentfreak]
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.
Three gentleman were allowed to resign from their jobs after they were accused of forcing a 19-year-old man to eat marijuana. The gentlemen's names are Richard G. Pina, Jason E. McFadden, and Michael J. Carnicle, and they were all Phoenix Police Department officers.

The officers' superior, Lt. Jeff Farrior, was told about the incident but chose not to investigate. For this, he was demoted to the position of sergeant.

From USA Today:
Boo! What are the scariest spots in Lake County?

The old courthouse. A tea room in Mount Dora. Lake County has several places that are thought to be haunted.
Will the Royal Family help soften up potential overseas trade partners ahead of our departure from the EU?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges visit to Canada with their two children, beginning tomorrow, might help prospects of a trade deal there.

So might Kates first solo overseas visit  to the Netherlands  next month.

Could The Queen be heading to mainland Europe next year on a goodwill mission?

What about our main royal asset, the Queen, allegedly a Brexiteer?

HM hasnt left the country this year but my source says: A visit to mainland Europe is planned for 2017.

Tory veteran Kenneth Clarkes forthcoming memoirs, for which he received a 433,000 advance, are called Kind of Blue. Presumably this is a reference to his being a rebellious Conservative. Its also the title of an album by Clarkes idol, the late trumpeter Miles Davis, regarded as the greatest-ever jazz record. Critics might have preferred Ken to have chosen So What  another Miles Davis number.

Naomi Campbell, now 46, has earned a bit of a reputation as a diva over the years

Naomi Campbell, pictured, seems to have lived down her reputation for disputatious, phone-throwing aggression. Shes accorded a full page eulogy in The New York Times, which notes: Today, at 46, Miss Campbell is ubiquitous once again, walking her signature walk here, there and everywhere, while enjoying a career peak seldom seen in the youth-obsessed fashion world. Better not annoy her, though.

Reflecting on the news that Mary Berry is quitting the Great British Bake Off because of its move to Channel 4, broadcaster Gyles Brandreth recalls: I was privileged to know one of the great TV cooks: Fanny Cradock. She was a unique cross between Mary Berry and Jeremy Clarkson. Theyll be pleased to hear it, Im sure.

Cake-making actress Jane Asher, 70, said young actors are too snooty about the work theyll accept but actor Paul Clayton, 59, chairman of the Actors Centre, denies this in The Stage, and suggests that the young Ms Asher achieved recognition by an association with a certain young pop star called Paul McCartney. Is that fair?

Today in Los Angeles, Jane Fonda, 78, auctions 668 items, mostly clothes, she acquired during her ten-year marriage to her third husband, CNN founder Ted Turner, explaining: Ted didnt like to carry a lot of luggage on his jet  it was too burdensome. So she bought clothes and other essentials for their ten far-flung homes and had to store them after their 2001 divorce. I had to do jobs to pay for the storage, she adds. Its tough at the top!
Egyptian cotton has long been regarded as the ultimate luxury when it comes to bed linen, but finally it has a contender.

Strange as it may seem, sheets crafted from bamboo have been rising in popularity of late among comfort connoisseurs; hailed for their good value, silky soft feel, and anti-microbial qualities - perfect for sweaty sleepers.

Being a rather hot sleeper myself, and with a history of making rash purchases of Egyptian cotton, I am delighted to report that after testing four brands myself, I am a total bamboo convert, and here's why.

Annabel luxuriates in bamboo sheets at home in bed - and her Chihuahua Mouse seems just as comfortable

You spend around a third your life in bed, I always reason, so splashing out on decent sheets is a sound investment as far as I'm concerned.

Egyptian cotton varies in plushness mainly according to its thread count, with a higher count (more threads per square inch) coming at a much higher price.

A top-of-the-line set of Queen-sized 1,000 thread count sheets crafted from Egyptian cotton can cost eye-watering sums of up to 1,600, but you can get much lower-quality versions for around 50.

Bamboo sheets vary much less in price, starting at around 80 for a double duvet set and running up to 150 for the creme-de-la-creme options.

Deliciously silky linen from Between The Sheets, 119 for a double sized duvet set (left), and a super-soft option from Cariloha, 150 for a double duvet set (right)

Almost creamy in texture, the fabric felt notably cooler against my skin than Egyptian cotton - bamboo being naturally three degrees lower in temperature. Pictured, linen from Ettitude, 78 for a double sheet set

Compared to the Egyptian cotton sheets I own, which cost several hundred pounds, all the brands I tested felt three times as soft, and cost more in the region of 100.

Almost creamy in texture, the fabric felt notably cooler against my skin than Egyptian cotton - bamboo being naturally three degrees lower in temperature - meaning I woke up the next morning a lot less clammy than usual.

It's no surprise, therefore, that bamboo bed linen has been popular in hot, humid countries for some time now.

Another reason it is gaining fast popularity elsewhere in the world now, in part, is because it appeals to eco-conscious consumers.

Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic and has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and deodorising properties, meaning they stay fresh for longer. Pictured, double sheet set, 90, from All Bamboo

THE BEST BAMBOO SHEETS FOR YOUR BUCK Ettitude: Considering these were the cheapest sheets I tested, costing 78 for a queen set, I was impressed with how luscious they were. After several washes, the satin feel gave way to more of a brushed cotton texture, but have remained significantly softer than standard cotton. Ettitude - which also incorporates charcoal into the fabric to absorb odour - claims its 300 thread count sheets are equivalent to 1000 count cotton, and I have to say I agree. 9/10 Between the sheets: These were, and have remained, super soft, but felt less silky and more breathable than the others I tested. Probably for that reason, I really noticed how much cooler I felt sleeping in them. At 119 for double set, they were a little on the steep side, but worth it for particularly sweaty sleepers. 8/10 All Bamboo: Reasonably priced at 90 for a double set, these sheets felt like a happy medium between silky and cotton-like, and scored highest on the moisture-wicking front. Better than holding up after repeated washing, they actually appear to be getting softer each time. Only available in white. 8/10 Cariloha: At the top end of the price range, costing 170 for a queen set, these Australian sheets certainly felt the most luxurious. Wash after wash, they retained an almost creamy satin consistency. Available in a wide range of colours, this American brand also manufactures bamboo clothing, and if youre willing to part with the extra cash, its worth it to feel like youre snoozing in 5-star hotel bed linen every night. 10/10 Advertisement

Bamboo, not a wood but actually a grass, is touted as being one of the most sustainable plants used in farming, since it grows at such a fast rate.

While the cotton production industry is labour intensive and involves a lot of fresh water, the fibre yield per-acre from bamboo is up to ten times higher, requiring up to 20 times less water.

Another string to its bow?

Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic, making it a popular choice for those with skin conditions including eczema; and has antibacterial, anti-fungal, and deodorising properties, meaning they stay fresh for longer.

Finally, having slept on bamboo sheets for almost six months now, I can attest to the claim that they don't lose their silky quality after repeated washing.
For six months 39-year-old Tina Breen was exhausted, sick and gaining weight.

Despite weekly visits to three different doctors and a barrage of tests for obscure diseases, not one specialist spotted she was pregnant.

Even as the mother-of-four sat in an ultrasound room at 24 weeks, she was told the bulge in her belly was likely a bowel obstruction or a cancerous growth.

It turned out to be twins.

Happy family: It took Tina Breen six months to find out she was pregnant with twins Arabella and Caleb. She is pictured with Briana, 16, Ashlee, 21, Miya, 19, and Mitchell, 5 (L-R)

Ms Breen, from Adelaide, told Daily Mail Australia about her bizarre pregnancy ordeal.

'I had been sick for five or six months and I had heaps of different health issues, from food intolerance to weight gain, fatigue, headaches and nausea,' she said.

Cancer scare: Doctors feared that Ms Breen's swollen tummy was a bowel blockage or cancerous growth (pictured at 27 weeks shortly after she found out)

'I had kidney and liver function problems as well. I was constantly at the doctors getting different things looked at.'

Six months earlier Ms Breen returned a negative pregnancy test after a fling and the last thing she expected was to be carrying a child.

'I'd had a contraceptive implant that lasted five years. I'd just had it removed and the doctors asked me to wait for a month before I got the Depro contraceptive injection.

'They did a pregnancy test at the time and it came back negative. There was no reason for them to have thought it had happened.'

With the pregnancy progressing, the single mum became increasingly desperate as she battled mystery symptoms of nausea and fatigue.

'I went to three different doctors to find out what was wrong.

'I begged the last one to do something about it. I was working full time as a single mum and the sickness was taking a toll on my mental health.

'He did another full round of tests and said I was pregnant.

'But the hormone reading was so weak he thought I was only four or five weeks, and I hadn't been sexually active in that time.'

Ms Breen's surprise turned to shock and then horror as the doctor performed another round of tests.

'They first time they picked up a hormone called HCG. The strength of this tells you how advanced the pregnancy is,' she explained.

'The second test for HCG was even lower so they thought it was a non-viable pregnancy.

'They thought the contraceptive injection I'd been given had interfered with the embryo and it had potentially turned cancerous and would have to be removed.

'The doctor sent me for a scan so they could assess how they were going to remove it.'

Relief: Ms Breen cradles her newborn twins after her pregnancy ordeal. She said she was relieved they were born without major complications

The ordeal took another strange twist when the scan picked up that Ms Breen was actually 24 weeks pregnant.

'They didn't pick up the second baby's heart beat at first. They found that with a specialist's ultrasound.

Concern: 'None of the tests could prove if they were healthy or not. But they were fine,' she said

'In 24 hours the pregnancy went from non-viable, to advanced, to twins with one that might be alive and one that is not.'

Devastated, Ms Breen returned home to break the news to her four children, aged 21, 19, 16 and five.

'They were all so relieved. They had seen me be ill for so long and were convinced the cancerous growth was terminal.

'The next day I had the scan and spent two hours with the specialist who went through every part of the babies.'

She was astounded when not one, but both of the twins were given a clean bill of health.

'He assessed them as being OK. Given it was a 24-week pregnancy with no ante-natal care, and I'd been living life normally - working full-time, going to aerobics and drinking occasionally.'

For the rest of her pregnancy Ms Breen was horrified at the thought her babies could be born with health defects or deformities.

Supportive: Ms Breen said her daughters Briana, Mia and Ashlee (L-R) and her son Mitchell had been enormously supportive

Baby joy: After such a rollercoaster pregnancy, Ms Breen was ecstatic to give birth to her healthy twins

'I was constantly concerned. None of the tests could prove whether the babies were healthy or not.

'But they were fine. They had only minimal health problems and it was quite incredible.'

She carried the babies to 36 weeks and delivered them via caesarean section at the end of May.

Babies Arabella and Caleb are in good health and now slowly adjusting to life with their four older siblings.

'It took me a long time to deal with the pregnancy. I knew that in a matter of weeks I'd have to change my life to fit two babies in - my car, my job, my lifestyle, everything.

'My other children were heaps more positive than I was. They were probably the most positive.
Every bride wants to look beautiful on their wedding day and on TLC show Say Yes To The Dress, designer David Emanuel helps them do just that by advising them on their perfect gown.

But the 63-year-old had his work cut out when he met one bride-to-be who visited him at Confetti and Lace in Essex after exhausting her options at bridal shops in the capital.

Katie Taffler, 26, strategy consultant from London, told him: 'I am here today because I have had a lot of trouble finding my dress. I have been all around London.

Katie Taffler, 26, strategy consultant from London, ruled out an Anouska G dress for 1,726

Katie, who is marrying her partner of five years David at South Farm in Cambridgeshire, has a 1,500 budget

'I have alarm bells going off in her head,' David confided in consultant Kim (both pictured) when Katie went to change

'It is my day and I want to feel good. I do not want to get married in a dress I don't feel good in.'

Katie, who is going to marry her partner of five years David at South Farm in Cambridgeshire, said she had no idea what dress to get with her 1,500 budget.

She said none of the dresses she has tried on so far are right for her and she wanted something with 1920s elegance.

'I have alarm bells going off in her head,' David confided in consultant Kim when Katie went to change.

'She has been to millions of shops, tried on millions of dresses, she may be unfocussed or even worse, her expectations are too high.'

Katie was also unhappy with the second dress, a Kenneth Winston design for 1565

She was more complimentary about this gown, but took issue with the neckline and the way the skirt fell straight down

Kim wondered if Katie was a 'picky princess' and worried if David would be able to find a dress to satisfy her.

Katie ruled out the first two he suggested  a Anouska G design for 1,726 and a Kenneth Winston one for 1565.

Speaking of the first dress she said: 'It looks like a summer dress. I feel like I could wear it to a summer party, it's not a wedding dress. I feel like the sequins look like fish scales. It is the wrong shape and style, it is not for me.'

She was more complimentary about the second gown but took issue with the neckline and the way the skirt fell straight down causing the usually unflappable David to lose his cool.

Her disdain caused the usually unflappable David to lose his cool

Katie agreed it was difficult but said she wouldn't be happy unless she found the perfect dress

He told her: 'One minute you want twenties which is straight, then you are pulling it in which is fishtail, I am getting huge mixed messaged, it is difficult.'

Katie agreed it was difficult but said she wouldn't be happy unless she found the perfect dress.

'None of this is what I want,' she told David, who co-designed Princess Diana's dress.

She added later: 'The trouble is, I don't know what I want. I know David thinks I am confused but I am not confused, I just don't want to compromise on this dress.'

However she then found what she was looking for in the third gown she tried on, a 1,180 satin design by Ronald Joyce with a cowl neckline.

She found what she was looking for in the third gown she tried on, a 1,180 satin design by Ronald Joyce with a cowl neckline

She said: 'I think this dress is really special as it is elegant, chic and classic without being boring'

David was also delighted Katie was finally satisfied. 'I am going to go for a large glass of Champagne, my work here is finally done!' he said

She said: 'I think this dress is really special as it is elegant, chic and classic without being boring.

'I feel like a princess, it is a weight off my shoulders as it was really stressing me out.'

David was also delighted Katie was finally satisfied.

'I am going to go for a large glass of Champagne, my work here is finally done!' he said.
She hopes to use her platform to raise awareness for breast cancer

Just 18 hours after her second miracle baby was born on March 29th, Farrah Millar, 37, was told she had stage three breast cancer.

What followed was six highly emotional and challenging months, with the doting mother balancing countless scans, gruelling treatments and chemotherapy while raising her young family.

And now, the positive mother-of-two from Perth has been named Australian Mother of the Year as part of the Mother & Baby magazine awards.

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Pushing on: Just 18 hours after her second miracle baby was born on March 29th, Farrah Millar, 37, was told she had stage three breast cancer

Proud: And now, the positive mother-of-two has been named Australian Mother of the Year as part of the Mother & Baby magazine awards (pictured with Nat Natalie Bassingthwaighte)

'I actually have no idea who nominated me,' Ms Millar, who has a support group on Facebook, told Daily Mail Australia.

'I got a phone call around May letting me know I had been nominated and later when they called to tell me I'd won I fell off the bed!

'I've just had my head down mumming along and I haven't even been a mum for 20 months yet. The other mothers' stories were so amazing so I couldn't believe they chose me.'

Glowing: 'I got a phone call around May letting me know I had been nominated and later when they called to tell me I'd won I fell off the bed!' She said

Touched: 'I've just had my head down mumming along and I haven't even been a mum for 20 months yet. The other mothers' stories were so amazing so I couldn't believe they chose me'

Ms Millar was awarded the title on Thursday and won $5,000 to spend at Babies R Us, which she requested to split with the other finalists.

'It was so surreal. All these other suppliers came up to me and I was offered a holiday as well which was just incredible,' she said.

Ms Millar, who recently finished her chemotherapy after 18 weeks, is due to undergo a double mastectomy on the 10th of October and hopes that after six weeks of radiation, she will be cancer-free by the new year.

All smiles: Ms Millar was awarded the title on Thursday and won $5,000 to spend at Babies R Us, which she requested to split with the other finalists

Well deserved: 'It was so surreal. All these other suppliers came up to me and I was offered a holiday as well which was just incredible,' she said

In May, Ms Millar spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her diagnosis and explained that her miracle baby boy Rhylan was a complete surprise as they had been through three cycles of IVF over four years before she had her daughter Lehnae, almost two.

'Around the the time I found out I was pregnant I discovered a lump under my arm and in my left breast but I didn't do anything about it... I was breastfeeding and so many changes go on in the breasts,' Ms Millar said.

But Ms Millar mentioned them to her midwife the week before she was due for a caesarean and was sent in for an urgent ultrasound.

Happy family: 'Around the the time I found out I was pregnant I discovered a lump under my arm and in my left breast but I didn't do anything about it,' she told Daily Mail AU in May

Miracle: She went through IVF for four years before she gave birth to her daughter Lehnae, 14 months, and found out she was pregnant again just five months later

'I had biopsies done as well and they said they would be able to tell me my results on the Tuesday - the day I was booked in for my C-section,' Ms Millar said.

'On the Tuesday it all went well and then on the Wednesday morning I came out of the shower to find my doctor in my room with two nurses standing looking at me.

'The first thing out of my mouth was "Oh my God I've got cancer". I just knew it by the way they were looking at me.'

The nurses held Ms Millar's hands while she was told the news as her newborn baby boy Rhylan lay beside her... and right in the middle of the conversation her mother walked in with Lehnae.

Early days: 'I had biopsies done as well and they said they would be able to tell me my results on the Tuesday - the day I was booked in for my C-section,' Ms Millar said

Heartbreaking news: 'The first thing out of my mouth was "Oh my God I've got cancer". I just knew it by the way they were looking at me,' she said

'It was this big festival of tears and questions and shock really,' Ms Millar said.

'I was just processing everything... I had this amazing little boy who was such a miracle and this amazing little girl and my brain just left the building. I started going on this ridiculous train of terrible thoughts.

'All I could think was that I might never get to see them grow up. I'd had these amazing babies and we had tried for so long and then to fall pregnant again we were simply blown away.'

Ms Millar had thoughts racing through her head about her sickness, what this meant, whether she would lose her hair, whether she would lose her breasts and ultimately, whether she would survive.

'I was just processing everything': 'I had this amazing little boy who was such a miracle and this amazing little girl and my brain just left the building,' she said

Staying strong: 'All I could think was that I might never get to see them grow up. I'd had these amazing babies and we had tried for so long,' she said

What followed were weeks of blood tests, ultrasounds, body scans and heart scans to check for other tumours.

'I was in a massive daze because I was in hospital for four days recovering and was still weak and then after all the tests I was still in disbelief because cancer had never touched my life so closely,' she said.

'For it to happen to me it felt like a dream and it still does some days, it's not real to me. And people were looking at me with their heads tilted everywhere I went because I was carting this newborn around with me.'

Little miracle: 'Maybe on some level he knows what is going on. He is looking after me rather than me looking after him,' Ms Millar said of Rhylan

Determined: And now, 18 weeks on from her first treatment, Ms Millar said she has seen a good response

Ms Millar had to stop breastfeeding a few weeks later and made sure to have little Rhylan by her side at all times to breastfeed until the last possible moment.

And now, 18 weeks on from her first treatment, Ms Millar said she has seen a good response.

'I will have my operation in a couple of weeks and then radiation which will take me up to Christmas,' she said.

'And then by the new year hopefully I will be looking at a new cancer-free me.'

Ms Millar, who has a Facebook group, #FarrahsArmy, hopes to use her newfound platform to raise awareness about cancer.

Hopeful: 'I will have my operation in a couple of weeks and then radiation which will take me up to Christmas,' she said

Excited: 'By the new year hopefully I will be looking at a new cancer-free me,' she said

'I really want to implore every woman and man in the world to not let any health ailment go unchecked... life is so precious and important,' Ms Millar said.

'You can't be there for others unless you are well yourself. Pinktober is coming up and it is the perfect time to have a checkup and become more familiar with your body.

Ms Millar also hopes to encourage women to ask for support if they find themselves in a situation similar to her own.

'Listen to the breast care nurses when they tell you you need support. Support is what gets you through,' she said.

'Listen to your body and instincts and ask lots of questions. Don't be embarrassed, knowledge is power, and don't berate yourself about the decisions you do make.'
'Neither of us can believe how this has all turned out,' they said in a clip

They have just landed a million-dollar yacht deal, from February 2017

Since then, they have amassed some 216,000 subscribers on YouTube

The pair started sailing and vlogging about their journey in October 2014

Elanya Carausu, from Western Australia, sails the world with her boyfriend

How's your Friday afternoon going? Excited for the weekend?

Spare a thought for the Australian YouTube sensation and vlogger couple, Elayna Carausu and Riley Whitelum, who have been sailing around the world and documenting their travels since 2014 - and, for whom, every day is a Saturday.

The photogenic pair have just landed a million-dollar luxury yacht deal, which will replace their existing boat, known as La Vagabonde, from February 2017.

Scroll down for video

Living the dream: Elanya Carausu and Riley Whitelum (pictured), from Western Australia, have been sailing the world since October 2014

High seas: The pair have visited the likes of St Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and French Polynesia, among more in their time at sea

Class: The photogenic pair have just landed a million-dollar luxury yacht deal, which will replace their existing boat, known as La Vagabonde, from February 2017 (pictured)

New video: The pair uploaded a new video to their YouTube page, in which they said that they are 'over the moon' with the latest development in their journey

'We're over the moon,' Elanya Carausu, from Western Australia, said in the couple's most recent YouTube clip.

Neither of us can believe how this has all turned out

'Neither of us can believe how this has all turned out,' Riley Whitelum added.

The couple, who fell in love as strangers and sailing novices several years ago, set sail around the world in October 2014, uploading video blogs to YouTube and slowly building up to the 216,000 followers they have today.

'The videos went a little bit bananas, which we were totally unprepared for,' Ms Carausu said in the new video.

However, these days the couple are well used to commanding thousands of likes and views on social media.

Disbelieving: 'Neither of us can believe how this has all turned out,' Riley Whitelum said on their latest video (pictured with Elanya Carausu)

Wanderlust: The couple, who fell in love as strangers and sailing novices several years ago, set sail around the world in October 2014

Social superstars: They uploaded video blogs to YouTube and slowly built up to the 216,000 followers they have today

Down to earth: 'The videos went a little bit bananas, which we were totally unprepared for,' Ms Carausu said in the new video on YouTube

From February 2017, the couple will have access to a million-dollar 45ft Outremer yet-to-be-built catamaran.

Following a totally chance meeting with a manufacturer of luxury vessels in Los Roques, the couple landed the incredible deal.

'I've been dreaming about this since I got the initial email,' a disbelieving Mr Whitelum said.

Change of circumstances: From February 2017, the couple will have access to a million-dollar 45ft Outremer yet-to-be-built catamaran (pictured)

Movement: Following a totally chance meeting with a manufacturer of luxury vessels in Los Roques, the couple landed the deal that will see them move from La Vagabonde (pictured)

Dreams: Riley Whitelum (left) says he has been dreaming about this 'since I got the initial email' - the couple, meanwhile, have always shown their life, glamorous and otherwise

Crowd-funding: Though the couple's story may sound idyllic, as previously reported, the couple initially earned their money through the crowd-funding video platform, Patreon

Artists: This allows independent artists to do creative things with the help of the public  people donate dollars per film, painting, etc, so that artists dont have to 'sell out'

Adventure: The couple receive abound AUD $4000 for their wanderlust videos, as thousands tune in to watch their adventure that represents a lifestyle far removed from most (pictured)

Pay off: 'After three years of sailing the globe, everything we have worked so hard for has all led to this,' the happy couple updated their YouTube followers

Though the couple's story may sound idyllic, as previously reported, the couple initially earned their money through the crowd-funding video platform, Patreon.

This plaform allows independent artists to do creative things with the help of the general public  people donate a certain amount of dollars per film, painting, etc, so that artists dont have to 'sell out' to huge organisations.

The couple receive abound AUD $4000 for their wanderlust videos, as thousands tune in to watch their adventure that represents a lifestyle so far removed from most.

Since they set sail, they have travelled as far afield as St Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and French Polynesia.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges trip to Canada is the eighth time the couple have been abroad since marrying in 2011 - but they have some way to go to match the distances travelled by the Prince of Wales and Diana in the early years of their marriage.

During their five-and-a-half years together as man and wife, William and Kate have clocked up 71,196 miles on foreign trips and spent 44 days abroad.

But during the equivalent period of their marriage, Charles and Diana travelled 95,856 miles and spent a total of 100 days overseas during eight trips.

William and Kates honeymoon overseas trip came two months after their marriage when they went to Canada. Here they are pictured at a ceremony at Province House in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island in 2011

William and Kates honeymoon overseas trip came two months after their marriage when they went to Canada then Los Angeles in June 2011.

In comparison, after marrying in July 1981 Charles and Diana waited two years to take their first trip - an extended 41-day tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1983.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge married on April 29 2011 and since then their trips have included a signature nine-day tour of the Far East and South Pacific for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 as well as visits to India and Bhutan earlier this year.

After marrying in July 1981 Charles and Diana waited two years to take their first trip - an extended 41-day tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1983 (pictured meeting Prince Edward at his school at Wanganui, New Zealand)

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William arrive at the 2011 BAFTA Brits To Watch Event at the Belasco Theatre in July 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The newlywed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in attendance on the ninth day of their first joint overseas tour visiting Canada and the United States

The royal couple at the home of Governor General Frank Kabui in Honiara, Solomon Islands, as part of their nine-day royal tour of the Far East and South Pacific in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2013

Prince George joined his parents on a three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia in 2014

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Taj Mahal, Agra, India, earlier this year

Kate and William pose next to a prayer wheel on the trek up to Tiger's Nest during a visit to Bhutan in April 2016

Their longest journey overall was to Australia and New Zealand in April 2014 when the pair were away for 18 days, covering 23,701 miles.

When they return from Canada they will have been abroad for 51 days, covering 82,048 miles.

Unlike William and Kate, Charles and Diana visited countries in the Middle East, visiting Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in November 1986.

The Prince of Wales will visit Bahrain for the sixth time in 30 years this November, despite strong objections from human rights groups.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana take part in a Arabic coffee ceremony with the Amir of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa Bin Sulman Al-Khalifa after arriving in 1986

The Prince of Wales stands with the Princess of Wales and the Amir of the State of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hammad Al Thani at the Rayyan Palace in Qatar in 1986

Both royal couples had two babies two years apart within the five-and-a-half year time period.

William was born in June 1982 followed by Harry in September 1984, while George was born in July 2013, followed by little sister Charlotte in May 2015.

It will be 16-month-old Charlottes first visit abroad, but Prince George, three, has previous on royal engagements, having gone to Australia and New Zealand in 2014.
1 MY SOUL MATE

Ive lived in this house for almost ten years. I bought it when I got custody of my children Tom and Libby from my second marriage as I wanted to live close to my mum. They loved having their grandmother round the corner. Then 18 months ago my wife Anna moved in  thats us in the photo. It took me some time to find my soul mate and we met on Twitter. Shes Italian and a fabulous cook  as passionate about food as I am. Weve been together three and a half years and Im happier than ever.

MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace 51, discusses his office at his home near Whitstable in Kent

2 LITERARY GENIUS

Im a massive fan of AA Milne  always have been. My mum used to read the stories to me when I was young and when Anna moved in I started reading them to her in the evenings, even though at first she was reluctant. The House At Pooh Corner may well be the best work in English literature. The final chapter when Christopher Robin gets the toys together and they realise hes saying goodbye is the saddest thing. Anna bought these figures of Pooh and Piglet for me to keep in here.

3 SWEET CAESAR

Historys always been a passion of mine and these marzipan figures are of Augustus Caesar and Henry II, two of my heroes. Augustus Caesar brought stability to Rome after Julius Caesar was assassinated, and Henry II had an empire that stretched from the borders of Scotland all the way to the Pyrenees. For my 50th birthday two years ago Anna made a huge cake for me with these figures on top. When I walked in and saw it on the kitchen table, my mum said I looked five years old again!

For Gregg's 50th birthday two years ago, he had a cake with these two marzipan figures of Augustus Caesar and Henry II on top

4 MASTER PLAN

John Torode and I have been presenting MasterChef for 12 years now. One day my agent said to me, Go and see a company called Shine who are making a food programme. They put a camera on me, gave me a cup of tea and told me to talk about food. I spoke for 45 minutes without a break and got the job. John and I  seen here as the Blues Brothers for a magazine shoot  were chosen independently but Id known him for ten years. I was his greengrocer. Hes a pal and a great guy.

Gregg has been with his wife Anna, who he met on Twitter, for three and a half years and she moved in 18 months ago

5 TOP KIDS

This a great picture of my children when they were eight and six. Tom, now 22, has just finished a degree in economics and Libbys in her second year studying contemporary theatre. Im happy theyve turned out so well. As a single parent you have a decision  do I make money or do I stay at home? I decided it was better for them if I went out and made money  and my mum was around anyway. You never know if youve got it right  youve just got to do what you thinks best.

Gregg's children when they were eight and six. Tom, now 22, has just finished a degree in economics and Libbys in her second year studying contemporary theatre

6 VEGGING OUT

I have so many cookery books, but this one represents my love of Anna and my love of Italian food. Its by Francesco Mazzei, the chef of the only restaurant on Savile Row in Mayfair, Sartoria, one of my favourites. Its all about the food of the south of Italy which I love so much. I started out as a greengrocer and my love of food grew because I was supplying fruit and veg to top restaurants. Nobody loves vegetables more than me, the Hindus and the southern Italians.
A woman is set to marry a man 19 years her junior - after they met and fell in love online as avatars in a virtual reality game.

Fiona Batty, now 48, was 39 and living in Brisbane, Australia, when she met 21-year-old Patrik Persson online.

She and Patrik, now 30, used Second Life, an online virtual reality world where users create characters, known as avatars, and socialise with complete strangers.

Fiona Batty, pictured on the left, and Patrik Persson, on the right, met and fell in love on virtual reality game Second Life

The couple, above as avatars, used the online virtual reality world where users create characters, known as avatars, and socialise with complete strangers

Fiona created an avatar called Phoebe who is short with curly hair and looks similar to how she does in real life.

After logging on to the site one day in 2007, she immediately hit it off with a tall, broad, tattooed avatar called Sareth  who was actually Patrik, a fibre optics technician from Soderhamn, Sweden.

The pair lived 15,000 miles apart and knew nothing about each other.

But remarkably they started dating online, even building a virtual home together.

Fiona, now 48, pictured above in 2016 at Midsommarafton Summer, Sweden, logged onto the site in 2007 and immediately hit it off with tall, broad and tattooed Sareth - who was actually Patrik

Patrik, now 30, pictured above at the cinema in 2014, is a fibre optics technician from Soderhamn, Sweden

The couple, pictured above in 2008 as their avatars Phoebe and Sar at their virtual home, did not talk in real life for a year

Pictured above in January 2009 spending Fiona's first Christmas in Sweden, the pair spent a whirlwind four days together in Stockholm and at the end of their trip they declared their love for one another

They did not talk in real life until a year later, when they met in April 2008 for a whirlwind four days in Stockholm.

At the end of their trip they declared their love for one another and now, eight years on, live together in Brisbane, Australia.

The couple have had their share of problems though.

Last year a wrist injury forced Fiona to give up her job as a marketing manager.

The couple have also undergone six unsuccessful rounds of gruelling IVF costing around 25,000.

Patrik has an engagement ring in his drawer but hasn't yet proposed.

'We picked the ring together,' Fiona laughed. 'We will get married. It just hasn't happened yet.

'It's great how we met, it always raises eyebrows.'

Fiona was working for an education company when she first discovered Second Life, logging on to see if it was a site her employers could use.

Living together in Brisbane, Australia, they say they are now trying for a baby and want to get married

Pictured above in Sydney, Fiona says they picked the ring together but that it is currently in Patrik's drawer and that they will get married but it 'just hasn't happened yet'

Pictured above at their virtual home as avatars in October 2007, the couple says: 'It's great how we met, it always raises eyebrows'

Pictured above in July 2016, Fiona first logged onto Second Life because she was working for an education company and wanted to see if it was a site her employers could use

But soon, she became hooked on hanging around virtual beaches, chatting to strangers.

She was particularly drawn to Sareth, who she said made her laugh.

He was captivated by her too.

Initially, the pair talked in groups but after a few weeks they'd sneak off to private spots on the beach and chatter one-on-one.

Gradually, they spent more and more time online, logging on daily to see how the other was getting on - despite the eight-hour time difference.

'I told him I was in my 30s and he said he was in his 20s,' Fiona said.

'Actually I was 39 and he was 21.

'He thought I was around 30 and I thought he was about 28.

Pictured in February 2015 in Brisbane, the couple initially talked in groups but after a few weeks they'd sneak off to private spots on the beach and chatter one-on-one

Gradually, the pair, pictured above in 2009 at a Eskimo Joe gig, spent more and more time online, logging on daily to see how the other was getting on - despite the eight-hour time difference

Pictured in May 2016, the couple didn't know each others ages for a year - with Fiona telling him she was in her 30s and he telling her he was in his 20s. She was actually 39 and he was 21

'We didn't discuss our actual ages until a year later, but it didn't matter.'

Second Life users can 'build' homes and Fiona created a house - which Patrik was always in.

'We'd lie in bed and chat,' she added.

Fiona said she knew Patrik was special when, on New Year's Eve 2007/2008, he organised for all their Second Life pals to go to hers at midnight for a party.

'I was sick and he arranged a virtual do,' she laughed. 'He knew I couldn't actually go out.'

With her friends sick of her talking about him without having ever met him, Fiona decided to take the plunge in 2008 and organise a face-to-face meet up.

Fiona, who used to live in London, said: 'They told me to see if I liked him, to get it out of my system.'

Fiona said she knew Patrik was special (the couple are pictured above in 2007 sharing their first dance as avatars) when, on New Year's Eve, he organised for all their Second Life pals to go to hers at midnight for a party

Fiona's friends became tired of them talking without ever having met Patrik and so Fiona decided to take the plunge in 2008 and organise a face-to-face meet up - they are pictured above on the last day of Fiona's first visit to Stockholm in 2008

Pictured above, Fiona spends her first Christmas in Sweden in January 2009

After arriving at the airport, Fiona (pictured on the right) was immediately bowled over by Patrik (on the left), saying: 'He looked like his avatar. We started chatting  and didn't stop'

At the end of their four days together the couple, pictured above having summer in Sweden in 2011, arranged to see each other again when Patrik asked to visit Australia

In May 2009, Patrik moved to Brisbane, Australia permanently (where they are pictured above) and the couple regularly return to Sweden to see family

The couple, pictured this year, have undergone six unsuccessful rounds of IVF costing 25,000 but Fiona is positive when she says: 'I am so glad I met him. Second Life gave me a new life'

Arriving at the airport, she was immediately bowled over by him.

She continued: 'He looked like his avatar. We started chatting  and didn't stop.'

At the end of their four days, Patrik asked to visit Australia.

He flew 40 hours to see her in July 2008 and they continued where they left off  but visited a real beach this time.

In May 2009, he moved to Brisbane permanently.

The couple regularly return to Sweden to see family, and Patrik's family have also visited Australia.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY The decline of vigour in old age is largely the result of people expecting to decline and the mind-body connection automatically carried out this intention From Ageless Body, Timeless Mind by Dr Deepak Chopra (b 1947) Advertisement

Dear Bel

How can I get over the regret of never telling my first (and only) love when I had the chance how I felt  now that she has recently married?

I thought I had resolved these issues when she moved abroad and met her future husband, but seeing pictures on Facebook and talking to her I realise Ill always love her.

We met a decade ago as students. I was immediately attracted but decided not to pursue those lustful feelings, thinking they would be fleeting, and that I would be attracted to other girls as well.

Initially, that worked and we became close friends. It was only at the end of that first year and the start of the second that my feelings turned to love. My sense of great happiness and serenity in her company is still unique. I always compared new dates with her  which then ended badly.

I regret never making the most of the four years we had before her husband came on the scene.

At least I never gambled our friendship, but rationalised that we would have broken up when she moved abroad. And that I, as a disabled man, could never make her truly happy like her husband does.

I will probably never see her again or at least never be able to tell her how much she meant to me. So Im low and very lonely.

How do I resolve these issues and move on? Can I keep her friendship or will I always be on my own?

BRENDAN

What a heartbreaking letter  all the more so for being so brief. There is a swell of deep feeling within these short sentences that makes this problem as powerful as a long novel.

Its hard to read your words without suspecting that your disability (not mentioned until near the end) was the reason you never declared yourself to the girl you fell in love with as an undergraduate, that you always felt you could never be worthy of her.

Confessing your feelings might have ruined your friendship, so you never did. The fear of rejection must have been terrible.

Nevertheless, I wonder why you think you will never see her again, and whether there is any doubt that you can hold on to her friendship?

Her recent marriage has left you devastated  but that feeling of being low and lonely wont last for ever.

What remains is the very thing that is making you so sad: your unrequited love for this girl  yet maybe it is requited, even if not in the way you would like. Im sure she knows you have always loved her.

The words of Dolly Partons hit song are so beautiful and so poignant, expressing all we would wish for someone we love, even if that beloved person can never be ours:

I hope life will treat you kind,

And I hope you have all that you ever dreamed of,

Oh I do wish you joy and happiness,

But above all this, I wish you love.

The thing is, Brendan, you have to be strong and let go of this dream of the past  just as the man who writes the next letter must do.

Let me introduce someone whose long-lasting agony of loss is due to death itself.

Social media will enable you to have many conversations with the wonderful woman you met ten years ago and, in that sense, share some of your life with her; Wills first love inhabits the distant stars in the night sky.

Dear Bel

After a troubled and traumatic childhood, I lost my love when I was only 24.

Some 30 years after her death, Im receiving counselling for an alcohol problem  I self-medicate to help me through dark times.

My relationship of about nine years ended only three weeks ago, partly as a result of the process I am going through.

As part of the grief therapy I am undertaking, it was suggested I write a letter as a way of helping me release some of the pain, which I have attached here.

At this moment I am bewildered, so incredibly sad and so incredibly alone. Please tell me things will get better.

WILL

The letter/poem that was with this email was so beautiful I wish there were space for it on this page.

But lines like You were the piece that was missing, the piece that made me whole and You touched my soul and made me better should resonate within your heart, Brendan.

All I can say to you both, Brendan and Will, is that things can get better, but only if you achieve acceptance.

Oh, I know that sounds as if I am asking you to climb Mount Everest in flip-flops; nevertheless, it is an essential part of living to come to terms with an inevitable shortfall in happiness.

Which means understanding that, at some stage or other, each of us will have to endure loss. The old saying that pain is the price we pay for love never ceases to be true  and as one who has known love and pain, I celebrate the glory of that truth.

Surely it is the very essence of being truly human  and therefore both of you must hold up your heads at last, realising that because of your deep feelings you can touch the clouds.

I have just finished a really terrific, perceptive novel by Tessa Hadley, called The Past, which ends with the thoughts of an elderly estate agent, sad that four siblings are finally selling their old family house:

This was because hed loved their mother once, for a long time. Shed gone away though, and hed had to make his life without her.

Those poignant closing words are all the more powerful for their simplicity. He had to make his life without his lost first love. It was impossible to change the fact that she went away, then died.

So yes, he had to.

What else can we do but summon up the courage to endure?





I adore him, so why has he left me?

Dear Bel

Mine is a problem as old as time itself  a happy relationship suddenly gone cold.

For more than seven years my partner and I enjoyed each others companionship. We are both previously divorced (our respective partners left us) and we both have children  his grown up and left home, one of mine (20) is still at home, the other gone.

We were both afraid of another marriage/divorce, the emotional/financial upheaval, yet created a loving relationship.

Hes 67, Im 54. He worried about the age gap, I never did. Weve had wonderful holidays, and supported each other through family bereavements.

Although very different, we made each other laugh, always talked and felt relaxed. I was contented and he told me he felt the same.

But after our recent lovely holiday he decided to end it. Im at a loss. Hes a wonderful man, kind, considerate, caring, well-mannered, loving. Although we didnt spend 24/7 together, we saw the best of each other.

Weve had differences and endured one or two setbacks, but I always supported him as he tried to overcome the past  the loss of his father at 18, the loss of his mother a few years ago; his son moving to live and work abroad; and more importantly the loss of his marriage.

All of these scarred him. A sensitive soul, he goes down quite quickly. Normally these downs are short-lived, but occasionally they prompt him to break off our relationship.

He says he needs to be on his own, he cant move on from the past, it isnt me, its him, and he would rather be on his own than continue.

Ive never asked him to change or for us to live together; all I want is his companionship and love.

Why, when he has a woman who loves him and has never asked more than he felt able to give and has never let him down, would he end a beautiful relationship?

SERENA

How I wish I had the answer to this problem  and indeed to all the problems of the world. But there isnt an advice columnist, priest, therapist  nor angel, for that matter  who could possibly give you a definitive reply to your final question.

We could all hazard guesses, especially as you explain some of the hurts your partner has endured in the past.

Yet many people endure those same setbacks and griefs, many even worse ones, yet do not succumb to this despair that is so ready to inflict hurt on other people.

Some people are so much more resilient, striding forward through their lives, shaking off their tears with their misfortunes, as a dog shakes off water.

What makes us so different? Why do some people succumb to self-medication (see Will above) while others grit teeth and vow to be brave, facing down their ghosts? That question is far too deep to be tackled here, since I have spent years reading about these issues and forming no conclusions.

As I write this, I realise I am hoping against hope your man will change his mind, as he has done in the past. Yet at the same time I must be honest and ask whether the to-ing and fro-ing is actually good for your soul. You love this man, trying hard to understand his past woes and supporting him through bad times and good, but in return, after the last holiday, you were knocked sideways by his decision to ditch you  again.

My question is this: even if he changes his mind once more, are you prepared to face a future in which this happens from time to time, and in which he does not seem able to give you the support that you need?

That is a big assumption Im making, I know. Yet reading between the lines of your email, it does worry me that the sustenance might have been one way.

At 54, you have many years in which to meet new people and form new relationships. There may be more much companionship and happiness ahead in a changed life. Who knows, but you might want to live with someone again? None of us knows what will happen, which is why hope clings to the branch in the storm.

I have nothing but compassion for you as you face the realisation that the relationship might be over.

You sound a much stronger person than the man you love, and I can only hope that your common sense, self-knowledge and strength will help you through.





AND FINALLY... My heart will always be British

It began with the dogs. First, we had the DNA of one rescue mutt tested and then (more recently) that of the new rescue puppy.

Since both had had unhappy beginnings I thought they deserved identity.

So Sophie is half Yorkie, half Chihuahua, while little Hattie is half Yorkie, half Pomeranian. So welcome to a Chorkie and a Porkie!

Not so long ago, curiosity whetted, I got my DNA, and that of my father, tested. Our branch of Mooneys has Irish blood, but English, Scottish and Welsh, too, but what about the 11 per cent of Dads genes and 17.9 per cent of mine being broadly north-western Europe? Who knows what our ancestors got up to in cosmopolitan Liverpool!

The result didnt make me feel any more European; I have no affection for that gold-starred blue flag, but a passionate love of the Union Jack.

For how can you believe you belong to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, as well as Britain; the country of your birth? That is just meaningless to me.

The EU referendum has been and gone and this is not a political column, but it is about feelings  and a sense of belonging is hugely important to the heart.

That is why being in a secure relationship and getting on with your family rank so high in happiness surveys. We may love to travel and enjoy looking at other cultures, but home is where the heart it.

In the end, what matters is where you feel you belong and to whom. I may be even more of a mongrel than our cross-breed dogs, and yet everything this country stands for  its history, landscape, tolerance, sense of humour, culture, national faith, monarchy and laws  is as true and dear to me as my family. And thats the DNA that matters.
Divorce can have a devastating impact on one's health - even if you're an A-lister like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

That is according to a growing swell of research into 'divorce stress syndrome'.

Doctors and therapists are increasingly acknowledging marital break-up as a cause for both emotional and physical ailments - including eczema and muscle pain.

'Nearly all of the people I see experience symptoms like stress, low mood, depression and insomnia,' says family therapist Charlotte Friedman, who runs Divorce Support Group in the UK.

Scroll down for video

Divorce can have a devastating impact on one's health - even if you're an A-lister like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, experts warn as they explore the idea of 'divorce stress syndrome'

'Around 60 per cent of people also suffer physical symptoms, which might include migraine, eczema or back trouble - usually the result of muscular tension,' she adds.

Indeed, a recent study by the University of Michigan showed those who divorce experience a more rapid decline in their health than those who remain married.

And while men tend to suffer more long-term health issues after divorce, women are more seriously affected in the short-term.

Experts attribute these effects to stress and grief.

In the US, high-conflict divorces are seen as so stressful that they have been reclassified as one of the causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a condition usually associated with accident victims or soldiers in war zones.

Women are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD, suffering symptoms which include flashbacks, unsocial behaviour, heightened anxiety, insomnia and psychosomatic illness.

Even if it's the wife who has made the decision to leave her marriage, guilt and emptiness can still take their toll.

Charlotte Friedman explains: 'The marriage may have been unhappy, but it's still a loss you have to deal with.'

Dr David Pastrana, a legal professor based in Arizona, argues that the newly-divorced go through the same stages of emotional readjustment as those coming to terms with bereavement  namely, denial, anger, depression and acceptance.

'Divorce can affect us emotionally, mentally and physically, beyond our expectations,' Dr Pastrana, author of the book Divorce Stress Syndrome, explains.

'As you mourn the death of a loved one, so you encounter divorce grief.

'Recognising these feelings and acknowledging that you must go through a transitional healing process is a good place to start. Once you've understood them, you're on your way to overcoming them.'

Psychologist Dr James Lynch, author of The Broken Heart: The Medical Consequences Of Loneliness, concurs.

Divorce can affect us emotionally, mentally and physically, beyond our expectations Dr David Pastrana, legal professor

He believes the links between emotional stress and physical illness are only beginning to be recognized.

Studies show that psychological stress increases the damage caused by free radicals  unstable molecules which attack healthy cells and are believed to play a part in heart disease, cancer and other serious diseases.

Under duress, the body produces more of the fight-or-flight hormone cortisol, which destabilizes the body's immune system and makes it less able to fight off illness.

Numerous studies have identified a link between stress levels and cancer.

Researchers at the University of Illinois recently studied 989 women diagnosed with breast cancer over a three-month period, and found an association between stress and the disease.
Crowded into a room in the University of Wisconsin's palliative care ward, a family held vigil over their elderly relative as doctors said she had just hours to live.

Despite having a close family of children, grandchildren and in-laws, she had always wanted to die alone.

But her tearful loved-ones couldn't bear the thought.

Days went by, with the family on rotation. There was always at least one person at her side, though she had lost all ability to communicate.

Some patients seem to survive longer than expected before drifting off when they want

'After a while they were wondering what was going on,' Dr Toby Campbell, chief of palliative care at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, told to Daily Mail Online.

'One day they left the room for five minutes to get Tylenol and something from the cafeteria.

'She died in those five minutes.'

It sounds absurd, bizarre, impossible.

But according to Dr Campbell, this is hardly the first time he has seen a patient apparently 'hang on' to their life until the time was 'right', so to speak.

'I absolutely think there's something in it,' he exclaimed.

'Ask any one of my colleagues in New York or anywhere else. They will tell you the same.

'It happens a few times a week. I don't even remember all the cases that well because it's a pretty common phenomenon.

'It happens all the time.'

Intriguingly, there is little-to-no literature on why this happens.

Scientists have been exploring for decades how positive thinking and desire to live seem to help patients survive beyond doctors' expectations.

However, these studies all focus on patients who still have months or years left.

I don't even remember all the cases that well because it's a pretty common phenomenon Dr Toby Campbell, chief of palliative care at University of Wisconsin, Madison

Dr Campbell's research is on patient-doctor communication, as such he has not explored the science behind this phenomenon beyond his observations.

Of course, he says, we all try to find meaning in those final hours, analyzing every last moment, conversation, breath and expression.

In many cases it can be projection.

From experience, however, Dr Campbell says there is no doubt some patients seem to have a say in when they go.

'I don't know whether it's something hormonal or existential. I think some patients have no control.
No Man's Land

Wyndham's Theatre, London Until December 17 2hrs

Rating:

One of the theatre highlights of this year is this pairing of two stage knights, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, in Harold Pinters maddening but brilliant 1975 play.

Thanks to their roles in the X-Men film franchise, both actors (theyre great friends offstage) can well afford to stay at home with their feet up.

But here they are, in their mid-70s, having done a regional tour and a Broadway run, and yet its still somehow fresh.

The production is set in the Seventies and Hirsts two assistants  a pair of London geezers straight out of The Sweeney  give the impression theyd duff up Spooner if they got the chance

This is a play  and I dont pretend to understand it  about a failed poet, Spooner (McKellen), who has met in a pub a successful man of letters called Hirst (Stewart) and gone back to the latters luxurious north London home. There they swig heroic quantities of malt whisky as the crumpled slime-bag Spooner, mackintosh in hand, ingratiates himself with the wealthy writer.

The production is set in the Seventies and Hirsts two assistants  a pair of London geezers straight out of The Sweeney  give the impression theyd duff up Spooner if they got the chance. Menace and violence are never far off. With Pinter theres always a shark circling the harbour.

The playwright builds his characters out of their unreliable anecdotes and blurred memories. It becomes obvious that Hirst is suffering from something: Alzheimers, chronic alcoholism, perhaps devastating writers block.

Theres always the worry with McKellen that hell overact. But hes better by a whisker than Stewart, who doesnt quite convey Hirsts tweedy, Evelyn Waugh-ish grandeur

Theres always the worry with McKellen that hell overact. But hes better by a whisker than Stewart, who doesnt quite convey Hirsts tweedy, Evelyn Waugh-ish grandeur. Maybe as a talisman, McKellen wears a cheap suit identical to the one John Gielgud wore when playing opposite Ralph Richardson in the plays first outing.

However, they both give as good as they get, Spooner memorably pursing his mouth as Hirst smugly admits to having once seduced his wife.

But its not just a double act. Owen Teale is sensational as Hirsts gruff servant Briggs, with Damien Molony as his chipper sidekick Foster. And Sean Mathiass production gives full weight to this poetical plays dazzling verbal elegance and its shocking Anglo-Saxon filth.

Theres audience laughter you associate more with Tom Stoppard, but this production is also a reminder that whatever you think of Pinter, the old grumps greatest gift was his ability to write terrific parts for our very best actors.

The Rivals

Bristol Old Vic Until October 1 3hrs

Rating:

Sheridans great comedy features the character who gave her name to the word malapropism, with lines like As headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.

As Mrs Malaprop, Julie Legrand is sweet if not terribly funny. The plays other great character is the young, rich Lydia Languish, and Lucy Briggs- Owens comic turn  with Made In Chelsea tones  hugely enhances the evening.

As Mrs Malaprop, Julie Legrand is sweet if not terribly funny. The plays other great character is the young, rich Lydia Languish, and Lucy Briggs- Owens comic turn enhances the evening

Desmond Barrit is a model of gruff paternalism as Sir Anthony Absolute but the sheer mix of performance styles suggests a confusion as to what The Rivals really is. Its enjoyable but too often it feels as if this gorgeous high comedy has been turned into a low farce.





Things I Know To Be True

Lyric Hammersmith, London On tour until November 26

2hrs 20mins

Rating:

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way, wrote Tolstoy. Andrew Bovells gripping portrait of an Adelaide family demonstrates how a million gallons of parental love is no guarantee against unhappiness.

A daughter returns from Europe having had her heart savagely broken; a son reveals a secret; another son confesses to fraud; and another daughter abandons her family.

Imogen Stubbs is terrific as the fierce mum with a laser glare that can detect anything wrong in her brood.

Imogen Stubbs is terrific as the fierce mum with a laser glare that can detect anything wrong in her brood. But even her marriage to loyal Bob (Ewan Stewart) is far from Persil-white

But even her marriage to loyal Bob (Ewan Stewart) is far from Persil-white. The choreography by Frantic Assembly in this co-production with the State Theatre Company of South Australia adds soaring poetry to the revelations.
The mass defection of Arunachal Pradesh MLAs from the Congress to the BJPs new political platform, the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), has long-term strategic implications.

If the experiment works, it could be replicated elsewhere. A southern strategy dubbed SEDA, patterned on NEDA, is already in the works.

Mistake

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made a politically fatal mistake by alienating the partys Assam leader Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier this year, driving him into the BJPs grateful arms.

Rahul Gandhi made a politically fatal mistake by alienating the partys Assam leader Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier this year

The Congress rout in the Assam assembly election followed. Appointing Sarma convener of NEDA was a masterstroke by the BJP.

The disaster that has since befallen the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh, is a direct result of the BJPs new strategic paradigm following its chastening defeats in Delhi and Bihar.

Ive been a vocal critic of the BJPs decision to form an alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir with a soft-separatist party like the PDP.

The clock on that experiment has started ticking. But in the northeast, the BJP has got it right.

Singed by the Supreme Court ruling in July reinstating the Congress government in Arunachal, the BJP employed a two-track strategy.

One, it kept open lines of communication with chief minister Pema Khandu on an almost daily basis.

BJP kept open lines of communication with Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu

Two days after being sworn in as Congress CM in Arunachal Pradesh, Khandu sought an appointment with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

He was made to wait for three days. I got an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi within 15 minutes, Khandu reveals.

Two, the BJP used Arunachals urgent need for central funds to prise open the door.

The mass MLA defection from its ranks may have stunned the Congress, but it had been under planning for weeks.

The BJPs top interlocutors kept the prime minister closely informed. Sarma executed the plan with clinical efficiency along with Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Losing Sarma to the BJP will come to haunt Rahul Gandhi for a long time. Sarma has cleaved open a path for the BJP in the north-east with Assam and Arunachal in the bag.

NEDA can now target Congress-ruled Meghalaya and Manipur. Even Tripura, secure in the Lefts grasp, could prove vulnerable if a classical domino effect plays out during the 2018 assembly electoral cycle.

More worrying for the Congress than even the likelihood of losing the entire northeast to the BJP is the threat of a NEDA-like thrust in the south.

By using a satellite platform like NEDA, the BJP can firewall its Hindutva agenda from potential allies.

In the northeast, with its preponderance of minorities, the Sarma-led NEDA is seen as a more centrist partner than a direct BJP alliance.

The same policy can be used in, for example, Kerala with its 45 per cent minority population.

Kerala and TDP-ruled Andhra Pradesh could then conceivably, along with putative local SEDA satellite allies, penetrate bastions like Telangana.

SEDA could even make inroads into Tamil Nadu as an era beyond Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi unfolds.

Karnataka is likely to fall to the BJP in 2018, giving the party another southern beach-head.

Complacent

More Congress states may follow, including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, leaving the Congress, if it loses Meghalaya and Manipur as well, with virtually no presence in any state across the country.

That is a proposition unthinkable even three years ago. But the BJP should not be complacent.

It faces a stiff challenge in Uttar Pradesh where Mayawati is the clear front-runner.

A post-poll BSP-Congress alliance, if the BSP falls short of an absolute majority, cant be ruled out.

The fractious Aam Aadmi Party and Navjot Singh Sidhus new political formation will make the election a four-cornered battle.

That would give the Congress a toe-hold in Indias largest state and spark a mini-revival.

Punjab could be next. The fractious Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Navjot Singh Sidhus new political formation will make the election a four-cornered battle.

Monumental misgovernance by the BJP-SAD alliance will cost it heavily  as it should.

The best the alliance can hope for is a hung house and some horse trading with factions of various smaller parties.

But the main contest will be between the Congress and AAP. With AAP in self-destructive mode, the Congress could begin its national resurrection in Punjab.

Paradox

Meanwhile, the BJP will be hard pressed to defend Goa in 2017. Paradoxically, a three-way fight with the Congress and AAP might divide Goas large minority vote and help the BJP - undeservedly - to cling to power.

With AAP in self-destructive mode, the Congress could begin its national resurrection in Punjab

The states dispute with the local RSS unit bodes ill. It could prove costly for the BJP.

Finally, Gujarat. Here too danger lurks. AAP is playing spoiler but again may unwittingly help split the Congress vote.

Hardik Patels exile from Gujarat ends in January. He will have an entire year to create anarchy at the behest of his Congress benefactors.

Will the Congress win back Gujarat after a gap of over 20 years? Unlikely, despite its machinations, because of the triangular math.

As the country heads towards the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Congress may be left with just Punjab (not a certainty though) and one or two pockets in the northeast (again not a certainty).

Does that mean the BJP will suffer no significant reverses of its own? Not necessarily.

Challenges lie ahead in Madhya Pradesh (2018) and Chhattisgarh (also 2018).

Both will face anti-incumbency in a binary contest with the Congress.
On September 7, 2009, as he was returning to France from a visit to Brazil, Nicolas Sarkozy was smiling.

He had met Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian President, who promised that he would immediately buy 36 Rafale fighter planes for the Brazilian Air Force.

That day, the French delegation told the press that it was a proposal that Brazil could not refuse.

A French Air Force Rafale, seen in this photo released by ECPAD taxis on the runway at the Saint-Dizier military base, eastern France

They were unanimous that Lula had realised that the Rafale was the best in the world.

Delays

Le Figaro, the largest circulation French daily, incidentally owned by the Dassault Aviation group, announced the success of the French President.

Nicolas Sarkozy has not gone (to Brazil) for nothing... It is a political, diplomatic and industrial success for the French President; the sales of the 36 planes represent a contract of $5 billion, it wrote.

The same day, Lula confirmed that the Brazilian Air Force had chosen the Rafale to re-equip its fleet. And then? Nothing happened.

When President Dilma Rousseff visited Paris in December 2012, President Francois Hollande also tried to sell the best plane, but in the end, again nothing happened.

The moral of the story is that unless a contract is inked, nothing is done in matters of defence equipment.

Like the Doubting Apostle, one cant be sure until the ink is dry on the contract.

Many factors can intervene; one is corruption (incidentally, both Lula and Rousseff have lost their job - for corruption).

Another one is influence. The Russian Ambassador to India, Alexander Kadakin, declared in 2014: 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. They will be shot down like mosquitoes. Thats why I dont understand why.

During the following joint press conference at Hyderabad House in January 2016, Hollande said that the real deal would be inked dans les jours prochains (in the coming days).

These were the type of forces opposing the deal. French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian, accompanied by Eric Trappier, the chairman of Dassault Aviation and his colleague of Thales and MBDA (a European developer and manufacturer of missiles), arrived in Delhi on Wednesday night and the 7.87 billion euros deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets is set to be signed on Friday.

The basic cost, armaments, offsets and service value were finalised a few days ago.

It was included in a several-thousand pages Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA). It is the end of a long saga which started in 2001.

While the initial request for information for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) was issued in 2001, the request for proposal (RFP) was only publicised in 2007.

This is when the complications started. However, 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 for supplying 126 planes to the IAF.

Out 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 Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Negotiations

Soon several disagreements cropped in; the transfer of technology was probably too ambitious.

Further, Dassault was not ready to take the 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.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Le Drian signed an MoU for the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft in January

On April 9, 2015, an Indian delegation arrived in Paris ahead of the PM and the French side was informed of Delhis decision to purchase 36 planes off-the-shelf.

It was a quick, pragmatic, and smart move. While dropping the MMRCA framework, India considered primarily the negotiating table, the IAFs critical operational necessity.

On January 25, 2016, as President Hollande arrived in Delhi to participate in the Republic Day celebrations the next day, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Le Drian signed an MoU for the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft.

During the following joint press conference at Hyderabad House, Hollande said that the real deal would be inked dans les jours prochains (in the coming days).

Future

Later, Dassault Aviation clarified that it would take about four weeks; the French officials accompanying the President during his State visit were quite optimistic that this could be done.

It took eight more months to finalise the deal. The main complication was the offset option; in September 2015, on a special intervention by Modi, France agreed to a 50 per cent offset clause: in other words, the French group of companies led by Dassault would reinvest 50 per cent of the deal value in India.

It was not off-the-shelves anymore. On September 18, a new report said: Though the deal could have been firmed up earlier, issues like pricing and offsets took time as India wanted a better contract.

The report adds: This means creating business worth at least three billion euros for Indian companies, both big and small, and generating hundreds of jobs in India through offsets.

A French official had said once, With India, you have to learn patience.

He was right. But retrospectively, it is shame that the process lasted 15 years and that the Indian Air Force (IAF) had to wait all this time.

The consolation is that the 50 per cent offset should bring a new life to the Indian airplane industry and eventually India will one day be able to produce a Kaveri world class engine for its own aircraft, something China is unable to do.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdevs close aide Acharya Balkrishna has come a long way since 1995, when he and his mentor approached the authorities to get Patanjali registered as an organisation.

The two men had only Rs 3,500 in their pockets while the officials demanded a fee of Rs 13,000. The duo borrowed Rs 5,000 each from their friends to pay the fee.

Twenty-one years later, Balkrishna has stormed into Indias richest 100 club with a $2.5 billion net worth based on his 97% stake in the fast-growing Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, while e-tailer Flipkarts co-founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal lost out.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdevs close aide Acharya Balkrishna has come a long way since 1995, when they started this business with only Rs 3500 in pocket

Balkrishna on Thursday made his debut on the annual Forbes list of Indias 100 richest people at the 48th position.

The Bansals who were ranked 86th last year with a net worth of $1.3 billion have missed the boat this year with a dip in their companys valuation.

The Flipkart co-founders did not offer any comment on the matter.

Balkrishna is among six newcomers on the list, which is topped by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, for the ninth consecutive year.

Patanjali has grown into a company with annual turnover over Rs 5,000 crore and is targeting a Rs 10,000- crore turnover for next year

Asked to comment on start-ups like Flipkart, Balkrishna told Mail Today: I dont know about start-upsI dont know what this list means. I only know one thing that even with an unlisted company like ours, we have achieved a spot in global rankings like the one issued by this business magazine. I dedicate it to the 20 crore consumers of Patanjali products. Both Flipkart and Patanjali are new businesses, but with contrasting styles of functioning."

"While Flipkart is a modern-day technology-driven company providing a purely trading platform, Patanjali draws on traditional Indian knowledge to produce goods for the market."

Balkrishna points out that now Patanjali is a talking point at malls and showrooms in big cities as well as in kirana shops in small towns

Whatever we have achieved is without making any compromise, by following a two-pronged strategy to give the right price to farmers and sell the goods at an affordable price to consumers, Balkrishna said.

Forbes said the combined net worth of Indias 100 wealthiest is $381 billion (nearly Rs 25.5 lakh crore), a rise of 10% from $345 billion in 2015.

Patanjali has grown into a company with annual turnover over Rs 5,000 crore and is targeting a Rs 10,000- crore turnover for next year.

The Forbes list is topped by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, for the ninth consecutive year

Balkrishna points out that now Patanjali is a talking point at malls and showrooms in big cities as well as in kirana shops in small towns.

Speaking of the growing demand of Patanjali, he says: We are not able to provide enough supply. We have to increase our production this year.

But will there be a change in his lifestyle to complement his new-found fortune?

No way, says Balkrishna. I have been a yogi and a sadhu, who wears a pair of slippers and mostly travels by road I will continue living that way.

So what next after feeding Indians? We will feed the cows, he says.

At a time when gau-rakshaks are grabbing the headlines, is Patanjali walking a path to prove a political point?

No," says Balkrishna. "We are working to improve the breeding of Indian cows to tap the dairy potential and for that we are now getting into cattle feed production in a big way."

Flipkarts co-founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal lost out of the list

Indias potential in dairy is huge and such is the demand that it easily outstrips the supply, said Balkrishna, indicating that his company is ready to take on global dairy giants, rearing to enter the market.

Despite being a 97% shareholder in Patanjali and worth Rs 25,000 crore, he gives all the credit to Baba Ramdev.

It is all his vision, he said. I am only the executing officer.

Though Ramdev holds no share in the company, he is the de facto brand ambassador, while Balkrishna runs the operations, Forbes said.

Patanjalis growing empire has a few immediate agendas  establish a Vedic education system with a blend of ancient traditional curriculum and spirituality.

The other is mass cultivation of herbal products. Giving a glimpse of the swadeshi manufacturers eating into the profits of multi-national food and consumer giants in the country, the Patanjali hinted at an all- out war against the foreign brands.
For the second consecutive day on Thursday, the Congress stepped up attacks on mohalla clinics, alleging that some of them run side businesses such as grocery stores.

The party released a report exposing the anomalies in 105 mohalla clinics.

It said that the report is based on survey conducted in all the 105 clinics by 217 Jan Sarvekshaks (surveyors) that it had appointed.

The Congress alleged that there are no referral linkages to dispensaries or hospitals for those who cannot be attended to at the mohalla clinics

The report highlighted serious violations of public health and financial propriety by the AAP government.

Mohalla clinics were opened without carrying out a detailed gap analysis and study. These clinics would remain open for only four hours in a day, alleged Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Ajay Maken.

Last year, as part of a pilot project, the AAP government had opened 105 mohalla clinics across Delhi and promised 1,000 clinics, boasting innovative diagnostic technology.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Ajay Maken alleged mohalla clinic violating health regulations

The Congress also alleged that the doctors and staff have been shifted from polyclinics and dispensaries, which has hampered the existing healthcare services.

Quoting the report, it alleged that in the absence of doctors in these places, untrained staff attend the patients.

There are no name plates mentioning the names of the doctors and their degrees.

Official records available with the mohalla clinics show serious irregularities. Information related to patients' health is usually tampered with, alleged Maken.

On Wednesday, the Delhi government extended the pilot project for another year.

With mounting cases of dengue and chikungunya, the administration has also issued orders to all the mohalla clinics, polyclinics and dispensaries to remain open on all days, including Sundays and gazetted holidays, till October 30.

Data released by the Delhi government in August said that nearly eight lakh patients were treated in five months at the 105 mohalla clinics, which provided consultation, 110 free essential drugs, immunisation to children, 212 basic tests and counselling.

Results of most of the tests were given to the patients within two minutes and it was also uploaded on an IT cloud for the patients and their doctors to access, on their smart phones.

The patients data recorded were also beneficial for the health centres Swasthya tablets.

The operation of mohalla clinics and dispensaries should be expanded to at least 12 hours a day and they should have emergency services for 24 hours. Vacancies should be filled on a permanent basis, instead of outsourcing healthcare to private doctors. Fair Price Shops having generic medicines should be set up as a large number of patients continue to visit private doctors, added Maken.

Swati Maliwal accuses Union Minister of owning brothels

She claims to be receiving threats since she took on the prostitution mafia

AAP leader and Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal alleged on Thursday that business at the red-light district of GB Road receives protection from a Union Minister. She said the red-light district makes Rs 5 crore every night, whereby girls as young as 10-12 years old are auctioned in lakhs.

A well-known politician owns a few brothels here and gets the money, she said.

I stumbled upon this information, while trying to find out who owns these dingy buildings. Recently, a prostitution kingpin (Afaq Hussain) who had ambitions to fight elections in UP was arrested. His arrest led to these revelations, said Maliwal.

Now, I am receiving threat calls from influential people in Delhi saying is daldal mein mat jao warna bura hoga (Dont get into these murky waters, or else you will face trouble). A frivolous FIR was slapped against me and I can be arrested any day, she said.

Maliwal said she would not be deterred and has vowed to unmask the culprits.
Nestle is in the process of destroying all the 38,550 tonnes of its two-minute Maggi noodles - which comes to approximately 54 crore packets.

The company on Thursday revealed that the decision has been taken after the countrys food regulator banned it alleging it was unfit for human consumption due to presence of lead and taste enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) beyond permissible limits.

Making a statement before the Supreme Court, Nestle informed that it had already destroyed 38,000 tonnes of Maggi and sought permission to burn the remaining 550 tonnes.

Nestle is in the process of destroying all the 38,550 tonnes of its two-minute Maggi noodles - which comes to approximately 54 crore packets

The company also spent Rs 30 crore in destruction of the noodles. These packets were sent to cement factories and burned in the incinerators.

The company said the recalled goods was worth a total of Rs 420 crores and is lying in 30 different locations across the country.

Senior lawyer Harish Salve representing Nestle, said it wanted to take the permission of the court as the matter was subjudice (whole matter was before the Supreme Court).

Salve told that the stocks were well past their shelf life and its storage would give rise to conditions that may lead to health hazard at various locations.

In June 2015, the Central government had moved the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission against Nestle, alleging unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements by the firm

But the Food Safety and Standards Authority of Indias (FSSAI) lawyer contended that it was not being destroyed as per the specification and all the more, the company should not be allowed to destroy the entire stock as it would amount to destruction of evidence.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, said: They (Nestle) may hold back some packets for the purpose of evidence. Ultimately what could be done with the old stock.

But the court deferred the matter till September 30, after FSSAIs junior lawyer said it would like Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to argue on behalf of it.

In June 2015, the Central government had moved the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission against Nestle, alleging unfair trade practices, false labelling and misleading advertisements by the firm. It has sought Rs 640 crore in compensation.

On 16 December, the Supreme Court barred the consumer forum from proceeding with the matter and summoned all case filed before it.

Subsequently, Nestle cleared tests conducted by the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), under the apex courts orders and the product was back in the market.

All the tests conducted on 29 samples failed to find excess lead or artificial monosodium glutamate (MSG) in it.
If your flight flight is getting delayed, then it could be well because of the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

You may get impatient with the airlines, but they could just be helpless without the ATCs clearance to take off.

But, the ATC is apparently reeling under acute staff crunch that has made it difficult to operate properly.

ATC has become the second biggest reason for flight delays in recent times

No surprise then that ATC has become the second biggest reason for flight delays in recent times.

According to civil aviation regulatory body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), this year ATC has delayed 19 per cent of flights. Last year, this figure was merely 7-8 per cent.

According to the officials, the delay caused due to the ATC has seen a steep rise since May.

One of the various factors include shortage of staff, security, restrictions, etc.

ATC is responsible for managing the air traffic, but it has been noticed that it is the second biggest reason for flight delays. The details will be analysed by DGCA officials as the delays are increasing every month, a senior official of Ministry of Civil Aviation told Mail Today.

According to the data analysed by DGCA, in August this year almost 19 per cent delays were caused due to ATC.

Last year for same month, this delays were only 10 per cent. Since May this year, the figure has increased from 13 per cent to 19 per cent.

The delays increased from 7 per cent in May to 10 per cent in August, last year.

Almost 1,500 ATC controllers are required to operate air traffic smoothly

ATC faces multiple issues which delays the operations. A new software was introduced in Delhi, almost three years back, which was meant to simultaneously communicate between airlines, ATC and other agencies involved in aircraft operations. But, that software could not fulfill the purpose for which it was introduced, a senior airport official said.

Shortage of ATC staff is the biggest reason for flight delays.

According to a senior Air Traffic Controller, if sufficient number of staff is deployed to control the traffic, delays would come down by 50-60 per cent varying from city to city.

Almost 1,500 ATC controllers are required to operate air traffic smoothly. For example, Mumbai required almost 200 ATC officials. This issue was also raised by an international aviation body when they conducted an audit, the official added.

Reasons such as aircraft rotation, crew rotation, awaiting for passenger load have been major reasons that troubles the passengers

Till last year, weather, airline operational reasons, technical problems were behind the flight delays.

Reasons such as aircraft rotation, crew rotation, awaiting for passenger load have been major reasons that put passengers in trouble.

In terms of time performance, the airlines are badly affected due to various issues. We have nothing to do if there is a shortage of staff or ATC is unable to give permission due to restrictions."
The CBI has launched a probe, after it came to the notice bogus security clearance were issued under the name of Indias home ministry, as a result of which 78 Chinese nationals reportedly came in to attend a health conclave in Delhi.

Authorities filed an FIR this week against unknown persons, who forged the letters, based on the complaint of an official in the foreign division of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), who said his signature was fabricated on the documents two years ago.

Security clearance is required from MHA for those participating in international conferences in India.

FIR was filed against 'unknown persons' who forged the letters, based on the complaint of an official in the foreign division of the Ministry of Home Affairs

On August 28, 2014, the MHA received a request from Dr Mohan Nair, chairman of the organising committee of the 7th Annual Scientific Sessions of Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society that was to be held from October 28 to November 1 that year.

The conference was to be attended by 78 Chinese experts who needed security clearance.

The organisers first got the permission to hold the event.

They then filed a separate request to get security clearance for the Chinese participants.

The conference was to be attended by 78 Chinese experts who needed security clearance. (picture for representation only)

The participation was conveyed to the Indian embassy in Beijing.

The ministry got an email from the embassy, saying they had received the clearance and issued visas to 43 Chinese nationals.

While the visa process was on, the Indian mission in Beijing received a letter from the MHA informing that security clearance was not required for the event.

Investigations revealed that the MHA letter was forged, the FIR said.

Dr Mohan Nair told Mail Today that during the preliminary investigation in 2014, it was found that the URL used to send the forged letter was not from our office."

The Chinese national allegedly travelled to attend a health conference. (Picture for representation only)

From where the letter was sent is a matter of investigation. We wanted as many participants as possible to arrive from China, but only with due diligence. Visas were allotted to significant Chinese nationals, he said.

Two years later, the ministry received an email from the Indian embassy in Beijing, forwarding the email received from the Chinese company that pursued the visa applications with the mission.

The email mentioned a person named Rajeev Bhatia, M/s Shobiz Experiential Communications Pvt Ltd based in Okhla Phase 3.

Before you grant visa to a foreign national you must know the purpose for which he is coming, the MHA spokesperson told Mail Today.

When a foreigner is coming to attend the conference then the ministry has to examine what are the international security implications and repercussions of a particular conference.

The spokesperson said people attending the conference need to apply for such clearances and organisers have certain responsibilities and implications for them too.

This Mail Today reporter posing as a prospective client seeking to organise an international event in India and spoke to the staff at M/s Shobiz Experiential Communications to know the procedure that was adopted to hold the 2014 conference.

We have agents in Delhi who are liaisons for embassy work, said a representative.
Indian Railways high speed rail project is likely to have a foreign boss.

More than six months after the formation of the High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (HSRC), the railways is still hunting for its chief.

A senior railway ministry official said the post is open for applications from foreign railway officials, who have expertise in executing bullet trains.

Indian Railway does not have any experience of bullet trains operations, the ministry may appoint an expert from foreign railway systems such Japan and France, as the managing director of HSRC

Since, Indian Railway does not have any experience of bullet trains operations, the ministry may appoint an expert from foreign railway systems such Japan and France, as the managing director of HSRC.

The Centre had formed the HSRC for the development and implementation of high speed rail projects.

These include countrys first bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which is been developed by Japan.

The special purpose vehicle will also oversee and execute the diamond quadrilateral high speed projects in India.

Since high speed train is a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, railway ministry cannot afford any delay in the High Speed Rail Corporation Limited project.

India does not have a single high speed rail corridor capable of running trains at speeds of over 250 kmph. We are expecting applications from qualified people from India and abroad to head the HSRC, said a top railway board official.

Japan, France, Spain and China have shown keen interest in developing the rail network in India

Sources said countries like Japan, France, Spain and China have shown keen interest in developing the rail network in India and the chief of HSRC could be from any of these countries.

Notably, the bullet train will be developed by Japan while feasibility studies are being conducted on other high speed corridors by Spain, China and France.

Railway Ministry has invited applications for the post of a managing director and three other directors for three main sections - electrical, systems and finance.

Officials said the appointment process will be completed by November this year.

The chief of the HSRC will be selected by the search-cum-selection committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary which will also involve Chairman of the Railway Board.

Executing the bullet train is a priority for the railway ministry.

While the MoU has been signed between India and Japan, the Rs 79,000 crore loan agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be signed by the end of this year.

Subsequently, Japan will go ahead with the appointment of design and general consultant for the project which is only possible by mid-2017.

But, looking at the urgency, India has requested Japan to appoint the consultant before the loan agreement is signed and grant Rs 1500 crore towards consultancy fee.

Actual work on the project is likely to begin by early 2018 and the project is targeted to be completed by 2023.

The other high speed corridors being executed by HSRC include Delhi - Mumbai, Mumbai - Chennai and Delhi, Kolkata.

Railway officials said the ministry would follow a two-pronged approach in this respect.

The first approach would be to raise the speed of segregated passenger corridors using conventional technology to 160 to 200 kmph.
There has been a growing demand in India for retribution against Pakistan, ever since the Uri attack took place.

In spite of bravado in his days as prime minister aspirant, Narendra Modi has come to realise the enormous risks attached to taking open, punitive action.

However, following the Indian Army's usual practice of under the cover surgical retaliation will not provide any political dividend.

Indian commentators have been advocating in favour of India withdrawing from this 65-year-old water sharing treaty unilaterally

So, there is a search for something spectacular, which will hopefully not go out of control.

In this context, the abrogation of the Indus Waters Treaty has come into serious consideration.

Agreement

In the last couple of days, several hawkish Indian commentators have been advocating in favour of India withdrawing from this 65-year-old water sharing treaty unilaterally.

This open and concerted demand for the abrogation of Indus Waters Treaty is something very new in the Indian public discourse.

The threat is no longer limited to speculation in the Indian media.

Modi had recently decided to raise the Balochistan bogey against Pakistan to dilute criticism about his failure to contain trouble in Kashmir

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup, in his media briefing on Thursday (September 22), has given clear hints about the Modi government's strategy of opening a new front against Pakistan: For any such treaty to work, it is important there must be mutual trust and cooperation. It can't be a one-sided affair.

Modi had recently decided to raise the Balochistan bogey against Pakistan to dilute criticism about his failure to contain trouble in Kashmir.

Following the same strategy, the Indus Waters Treaty is being put at stake to deflect public anger over his regimes failure to prevent the Uri attack.

The threat to stop sharing the Indus waters with Pakistan can be portrayed as a muscular response.

Immediately after Independence, both India and Pakistan engaged in a conflict over their share of the rivers waters.

The hope of financial support from the World Bank for their much-needed irrigation infrastructure brought both the countries to the negotiation table in March 1952.

After more than eight long years of hard negotiation, India and Pakistan reached an agreement on September 19, 1960.

The Indus treaty was an extension of the Partition process as it allocated the three eastern rivers of the basin - the Ravi, the Beas, and the Sutlej - to India, and the three western rivers - the Indus, the Jhelum, and the Chenab - to Pakistan.

The average annual flow of eastern rivers was calculated at 33 million acre feet, while the western rivers made up 135 million acre feet of the basin.

The Indus Waters Treaty has stood the test of time for past 56 years, though, during this time, many questions have been raised about its survival, and both countries have expressed their differences on several issues.

Still, the World Bank continues to showcase the treaty as a major success story of its credibility as a third-party negotiator in any river dispute.

Uncertainty

The Indus Waters Treaty has survived two major wars between India and Pakistan (1965 and 1971) and the Kargil conflict in 1999.

It is one of the successful examples of the two neighbours diplomatic efforts to build a mechanism of sharing waters.

The Indus Waters Treaty has survived two major wars between India and Pakistan (1965 and 1971) and the Kargil conflict in 1999.

However, as a co-operative water management mechanism, the Indus Waters Treaty has been far from satisfactory for both India and Pakistan.

Uncertainties over the interpretation of the treaty with respect to infrastructure development in the western rivers have become a major source of friction between India and Pakistan.

On the other hand, water scarcity in the basin in the face of rapidly increasing demand has been the source of regional conflicts within India and Pakistan. It is true that scarcity of water is fast deteriorating the Indus basin.

Any prospect of the best possible use of the waters - the only long-term answer to the basin's growing thirst - has not materialised under the 1960 treaty.

Thus, it is necessary to work for a new Indus treaty that can address fast-evolving water-sharing challenges in the basin.

Uncertainties over the interpretation of the treaty with respect to infrastructure development in the western rivers have become a major source of friction between India and Pakistan.

The new treaty might also open up possibilities for Afghanistan and China, the two other riparian countries of the Indus waters that would be part of the new arrangement.

While it is necessary to work for its revision to pave the way for greater cooperation, it will be imprudent on India's part to unilaterally decide to disregard the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

Abrogation

India needs to remember that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty is an international agreement.

Unilateral withdrawal from it will bring global condemnation, and the moral high ground, which India enjoys vis-a-vis Pakistan in the post-Uri period will be lost.

This will give the regime in Pakistan to turn the tables.

The uniqueness of the treaty is it is the only international water treaty co-signed by a third party - the World Bank.

Indias open withdrawal from the treaty will automatically draw the World Bank into the dispute - and in support of Pakistan.

If India decides to withdraw from the treaty, Pakistan can also take India to International Court of Justice and, in all likelihood, win the case.

The world courts decision in 1997 on the case concerning Gabcikovo-Nagymaros project on the Danube river between Hungary and Slovakia clearly establishes the importance of respecting international water agreements.

If India decides to ignore international norms and treats the Indus waters as a weapon to punish Pakistan, it will unfortunately lead to huge human insecurity in the neighbouring country.

At the same time, this will make Indias own dams and reservoirs in the river system genuine military targets for Pakistan to retaliate.

That will be a huge risk to take. Certainly, there are not many viable options available for prime minister Modi to successfully inflict retribution on Pakistan for the Uri attack and to openly take credit for it.

If he decides to sacrifice the Indus Waters Treaty as a face saver, it will impose a huge cost on India itself.
Mohammad Masiuddin, like most ISIS recruits, he too got radicalised online

Mohammad Masiuddin was a travelling terrorist till authorities arrested him two months ago.

Better known as Musa, the 25-year-old from West Bengals Birbhum district emerged as the face of trans-national, trans-organisational jihad, which is the newest threat to Indias security even as the country fights Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the western borders.

The man in the National Investigation Agencys custody had two handlers - ISIS India head Shafi Armar whos now based in Syria, and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) member Abu Suleman, a Bangladeshi national and a wanted terrorist.

Musa had moved from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu where he worked in a shop, in Tirupur.

Like most ISIS recruits, he too got radicalised online.

With a terror plan in mind, he conducted a recce of the carefully chosen spots in J&K and West Bengal, which were the ISIS targets. Musa reportedly appeared in a YouTube video, raising the ISIS flag in downtown Srinagar.

However, JMB, which is aspiring to set up a Bangladeshi caliphate, has been active in India and has set up base in states like West Bengal, Jharkhand and Assam.

Analysts say growing radicalisation in the neighbouring country has made it a hotbed for ISIS-inspired extremists who could spill over to India or weave alliances to carry out attacks.

Musa is the Indian face of ISIS JMB, an ominous symbol of new kind of terrorism.

He traveled to Kolkata and Srinagar to targets the spots, instructed from Shafi Armar alias Yusuf Al Hindi. He was also asked to attack the foreign nationals from the US, UK, Canada and Israel.

Armar started off as a member of the banned militant outfit Indian Mujahideen.

The world became aware of 25-year-old Musa when he was seen in a YouTube video raising the ISIS flag at a protest rally in downtown Srinagar.h

In early 2009, he fled to Pakistan with a few of its top-ranking members - including Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal.

He later left IM to join ISIS and was involved in recruiting and luring the Indian youth.

Earlier this month, when Musa was interrogated by the NIA and Bangladeshi officials, he told that Abu Suleman was the main handler for JMB.

Shafi Armar is ISIS recruiter who lives in Syria

The world watched as the Rapid Action Bangladesh (RAB) forces dealt with one of the deadliest deadliest terror attacks at a cafe in Dhaka, on July 1.

Indian televangelist Dr Zakir Naik who is now under the home ministry scanner emerged as a key link to the strike, but it was revealed that JMB wing owing allegiance to ISIS was also involved.

Soon after the attack, Suleman, a wanted man in Bangladesh, who was a key suspect, slipped into West Bengal.

He had earlier visited India twice, raising alarm bells in the security establishment.

When Suleman asked Musa to join JMB as a full-time agent, he simply refused, stating: I have a family.

In India, Suleman attempted to set up a JMB module with the help of Musa, who was then working in Tirpur.

Musa's journey to the JMB-ISIS module began in June 2015, when he liked a Facebook page of ISIS Bangladesh from the a fake identity in the name of Sabilillah Khan.

He was instantly contacted by Suleman, also known as Jihadi John.

Musa had Rs 60,000 in his bank account, this was the money which he had saved by selling a small property.

He used his entire saving to travel to Bengal and Kashmir. He followed the long route to Srinagar, reaching Jammu by train and then taking a bus.

Musa then visited Kolkata where he reportedly bought a 13-inch machete.

He then boarded the Visva Bharati passenger train from Howrah and left for his hometown in Birbhum.
India on Friday ordered new deep strike combat jets for the first time in 20 years and the latest war machines - the Rafales- are costly, deadly but come free of maintenance headaches.

Valued at 7.8 billion euro, the Narendra Modi government signed its most expensive defence deal on Friday but saved 328 million euro on the previous contract negotiated by the previous UPA government.

French Defence Minister Yves Le Drian was in New Delhi in the middle of the war-talk in the subcontinent for the signing of jet deal that had been pending for years.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian after signing the `59,000 crore Rafale fighter jets deal

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar inked the agreement ensuring that the Indian Air Force will start getting new state-of-the art combat jets in 2018, and the entire fleet will be operational only in six years.

At around Rs 700 crore per aircraft, Rafale will be most expensive to be operated by the Indian Air Force.

The last combat jet to be purchased by India was Su-30 MKI from Russia, but the French Rafale will now be the prized possession with an array of impressive weapons that include Meteor Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air and Scalp air to ground cruise missiles.

The Defence Ministry sources said that they have negotiated a deal which is cheaper than what was offered to the previous UPA government and the aircraft comes with better missile system and maintenance advantages.

The aircraft will be maintained and supported by the French for the first five years of operations.

It meant that the teething troubles about spares witnessed in the past have been sorted out in case of Rafales.

The delivery schedule of aircraft has been squeezed by five months.

All the 36 aircraft will be delivered between 36th and 67th month from the signing of the contract, said officials.

The French technicians will provide complete ground support and equipment for the first five years of operations and ensure that aircraft has an availability rate of 75 per cent, the highest in the IAF fleet.

The aircraft will have superior weapons like superior Meteor Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles and Scalp air to ground cruise missiles, both the latest weapons in the world fulfilling the IAFs requirement of a deep strike aircraft that can operate at extremely high altitudes.

The aircraft will have several India-specific enhancements.

The officials said that the aircraft that is being offered to India will be different from the ones operated by the French air force.

The Indian Rafale will be built from scratch as several modifications will have to be made to accommodate features ordered by India.

One of the key highlights of the new aircraft, apart from its weapon range, is the easy maintenance and operational characteristics.

The modular features will ensure a faster turn around time allowing more number of sorties.

Sources said that Rafale can take five sorties in a day, more than the aircraft currently in use.

Its engine can be re-fitted in half an hour and other features include: Flight Data Recorder with 10 hour recording, Radio altimeter for 10 kms-plus altitude, Synthetic Aperture Radars, Towed decoy system to counter air-to-air and air-to surface missiles.

Out of the 36 aircraft, 28 will be single-seater.

The officials said that Rafale betters Russias Su-30 MKI in many aspects.

The flight radius of Rafale is 780 to 1,500 kms in fully loaded configuration, more than double the capability of Su-30 MKIs.

The Modi government had scrapped the previous negotiations for the purchase of 126 Rafales as the discussions with the UPA government had gone into a spin because of high price of the aircraft.

It was decided to go for a direct government to government deal for lesser number of aircraft.
Its been the fourth consecutive year when 300-odd households in a village in West Bengals Birbhum district are running from pillar-to-post seeking permission from the district administration to organise Durga puja in their village.

In the past three years, they were denied a go-ahead by the local administration following objections by a few Muslim families in the village.

The incident came to light at Kanglapahari village under Nalhati police station in the district, a Hindu-dominated village located near Bengal-Jharkhand border under Rampurhat sub-division.

Half-done idols lie at a temporary mud structure in the village of Kanglapahadi in West Bengals Birbhum district

The organisers have knocked the doors of the district administration and submitted their plea to the office of the district magistrate, police superintendent, sub-divisional officer (SDO) and sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) of Rampurhat and Block Development Officer (BDO) of Nalhati-I on September 1.

But till now they have not received any response from the government officials.

The district administrative authorities have repeatedly denied permission to the puja committee - Kanglapahari Durga Mandir Committee, following objections by about 25 Muslim families in the village.

In the past three years, the local administration, panchayat and Nalhati police jointly prevented puja organisers from hosting the puja on the grounds of law and order issues.

I dont know about the matter. I have not received anything as of now. Once I get it, I will definitely consider the matter, Birbhum SP N Sudheer Kumar told Mail Today over phone.

Kanglapahari Durga Mandir Committee is not allowed to organise puja following objections by about 25 Muslim families in the village

The appeal was first submitted to the DM and SP offices on September 1 this year and a follow up was done on September 23.

On Friday, we went to the SP and DMs office to submit our second appeal. But there was no positive development, said Chandan Sau of Kanglapahari Durga Mandir Committee.

Sau said that since they not allowed to organise the annual festivity in their village, all women and children have to travel 3-8 km to celebrate the occasion in nearby villages.

A piece of land has already been donated by a villager, Mohanlal Sau, to construct a mud temple in the village where the puja can be organised peacefully. We dont have to set up a special pandal (marquee), as we have constructed a temporary mud structure with donations from the villagers."

"Like the last three years, this year too we started construction of Durga idol, which is now lying half-done. District officials are not responding as they dont want to antagonise the Muslim community, Sau said.

When quizzed, Birbhum DM P Mohangandhi tactfully side-stepped the question.

Devotees immerse the idol of goddess Durga at river Ganga in Kolkata (File picture)

He said: The formal procedure is to submit the appeal to the SDO as hes the authority to grant necessary permission, depending on the law and order situation.

Dhruba Saha, a local resident, who took up the matter with the local administration, said that a petition had also been filed in the Calcutta High Court and there is a hearing on Monday.

Sources in the district Trinamool Congress said that police and other district officials have already held meetings at the block levels and have finalised on the number of pujas that will be held across Birbhum this year.
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has pulled up the Central government over increased instances of cow vigilantism and the consequent fear that it has instilled among the Muslim minority.

It is vitiating the social fabric of the country and endangering the climate of co-existence among communities, said the NCM.

A two-member fact-finding team of the NCM also toured Mewat, especially the village of Dingerheri that was the site of the double rape and murder in August this year.

Panel members said Muslims are insecure in the wake of activities by cow vigilantes

The team told Mail Today that though the state government had ordered a CBI inquiry in the matter, the victims needed swift justice.

Acting on three back-to-back complaints by Maharashtra Congress secretary Shehzad Poonawalla, who cited several instances of cow vigilantism in his petitions to the minority rights body, the NCM has written a terse letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The NCM, in its letter, called upon the Central government for a very strong statement from the highest levels of government that such outlandish behaviour will neither be tolerated nor can it go unpunished.

The NCM has written a terse letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. (Picture for representation only)

It is true that law and order is a state subject, but certainly the Central government would be well within its powers to ask the states to handle such situations with a heavy hand and to enforce sense of security among the minorities in all seriousness, said NCM chairperson Naseem Ahmad in his letter to the home minister.

Meanwhile, NCM member Praveen Davar, who was part of the fact-finding team told Mail Today that there was a lot of resentment and insecurity among the Muslims of the region in Haryana in the wake of the activities of cow vigilantes.

While we met the bereaved family, they alleged that apart from the four accused arrested by the police so far, there were some three or four more people who are still at large. The police must look into their testimony and act, he said.

There was a lot of resentment and insecurity among the Muslims of the region in Haryana in the wake of the activities of cow vigilantes (picture for representation only)

Most of these gau raksha dals or cow vigilante groups are not only engaging in anti-social activities as the PM himself said recently but they are a challenge to rule of law and the Constitution.

Flogging Dalits, gang-raping women, and beating up and killing Muslims in Delhi or the case of Ayub in Gujarat, Akhlaq in Dadri, killing of Noman or Zahid or hanging Muslims in Latehar , Jharkhand all in the name of the cow show that these groups are no better than terror group ISIS or SIMI, said complainant Poonawalla.

Poonawalla demanded that the Centre ban gau rakshaks like any other terrorist group.
The son of a Delhi Police head constable was arrested on charges of stalking and attempt to kill a young women.

On Friday, the young man slit the throat of a girl who had refused to marry him.

The gruesome crime was reported from outer Delhis Mangolpuri area and the accused has been identified as Rahul.

According to police, around 9 am the outer district police was alerted that a man had attacked a Class 12 student with a knife.

A young man slit the throat of a girl who had refused to marry him. (Picture for representation only)

When the police reached the spot they found that the girls family has taken her to a nearby hospital.

During investigation it was found that victim studied in Class 12 in a government school. The accused is a resident of Majra village and used to stalk her, a senior police official of the outer district said.

The police swung into action and reached the accuseds house, where the family members told that he had left home in the morning and hadn't returned.

After a couple of hours, the police arrested him.

During Rahuls interrogation he revealed about his relationship with girl, which went sour after he lost his job. He wanted to marry her, but she was regularly rejecting his proposal. Rahul also claimed that the victim had started ignoring him, which had enraged him and triggered the incident, a police official added.

The accused had earlier attacked her with chilli powder, however no complaint was filed then. (picture for representation only)

A case has been registered against the accused on charges of attempt to murder.

The girl is admitted in the hospital and her condition is stated to be critical.

On Friday, the accused went to the victims house and where they had a heated argument related to their marriage.

He was infuriated and attacked her with the knife which he had brought from his home, police said.

The victim has suffered serious injuries on her neck, for which she will have to undergo 20 stitches.

She is unable to speak due to which her statement could not be recorded by the police.
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About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com

From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com

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Shares in British pharmaceuticals company Indivior swung wildly yesterday after it was accused of profiteering from a drug to treat heroin addicts.

The Slough-based group, which was spun out of Reckitt Benckiser in 2014, makes suboxone, a drug used to help addicts get off heroin and other painkillers.

But it now stands accused of trying to keep cheaper copycat versions of the drug off the market, with 35 American states and the district of Columbia filing a lawsuit against the company.

Lawsuit: Indivior has been accused of profiteering from a drug to treat heroin addicts by trying to keep cheaper copycat versions off the market

My office will not permit drug companies to engage in anti-competitive conduct that unlawfully extends their monopolies  and their monopoly profits  on drugs, said New York state attorney general Eric Schneiderman. Indivior said that it intends to continue to vigorously defend its position.

But shares tumbled nearly 18 per cent to 268.8p in early trading before closing the day down 3.9 per cent, or 12.7p, at 313.5p.

A tablet version of the drug was first approved for sale in the United States in 2002. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the company seven years of exclusive rights to sell the drug so it could recover its research and development costs.

The lawsuit alleges that as the period of exclusivity ended in 2009 and suboxone came under pressure from cheaper copycat versions, Indivior took steps to stop these generic drugs entering the market through a range of anti-competitive conduct.

It is claimed that Indivior told the FDA that it planned to offer a new dissolvable strip version of the drug instead of the tablet.

The company is said to have tried to convince the regulator that the drug had changed so much that copycats should be rendered invalid  preventing pharmacists from prescribing the cheaper generic pills.

The lawsuit also claims that Indivior raised safety concerns over the tablet in an attempt to persuade the FDA to approve the dissolvable strip rather than generic versions of the pill.
Students in the UK could save more than 12,000 a year by studying abroad and avoid paying three times over the odds for their university education, research claims.

Based on annual tuition fees, living costs and currency rates, universities in Germany, Sweden and South Africa offer British students the best value for money, FairFX suggest.

In the UK, annual tuition fees are around 9,000 a year, with yearly living costs also topping the 9,000 mark.

Expensive: In the UK, annual tuition fees are around 9,000 a year, with yearly living costs also topping the 9,000 mark

For a top 200 university, UK students wishing to save cash could head to Germany, where they would pay around 6,701 a year, compared to around 18,000 in the UK.

In Sweden and South Africa, a year at university would cost a British student 6,707 and 6,948 respectively, FairFX said.

Looking at leading individual universities across the world, the cheapest are Italys Scuola Superiore SantAnna and Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa.

Both offer free tuition and provide an allowance to cover living costs to the exclusive few successful applicants.

With free tuition and living costs of just 4,569 a year, the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden also offers good value for money.

In Germany, TU Dresden charges no tuition fees, but levies a 'term contribution' of around 346 a year. Being a student at TU Dresden costs around 5,477 a year, FairFX suggest.

Value for money: Based on annual tuition fees, living costs and currency rates, universities in Germany, Sweden and South Africa offer British students the best value for money

Affordable: Top 10 most affordable countries to study, according to FairFX

At the other end of the spectrum, UK students wishing to study in the USA need deep pockets, with annual costs, including tuition and living costs, coming in at around 45,000 a year, FairFX said.

In Australia, the average annual cost of going to university is over 31,000, the findings add.

Ian Strafford-Taylor, chief executive of FarirFX, said: 'The costs for UK students to attend university are steep compared to many overseas destinations, putting a significant burden on them as they start out on their career path.

High costs: To study at university in America can cost around 45,000 a year, FairFX suggest

Value for money: Top 10 individual universities in terms of value for money

'Studying abroad is certainly a viable option and we could see it becoming an alternative to taking a gap year with its opportunity to expand horizons and gain new experiences alongside an education.

'To get the very best value, students must not only consider tuition fees but also the local living costs when you get there as these can vary considerably. Its worth taking into account trends in long term exchange rates which will give you even more value for money.

Costly: Top 10 most expensive countries to study in, according to FairFX

'Wed also advise students planning to study overseas to track currency so when you do have to make international payments, whether for tuition or accommodation, youre getting the best deals.'

In the latest Times Higher Education world university ranking, Oxford University comes out on top, with the California Institute of Technology in second place.
First Direct has regained a claim to be the UK's best brand for customer experience, stealing the top spot in a survey from last year's winner Lush.

The online and phone bank with no physical branches is known for its strong commitment to customer service and compelling switching deals.

KPMG Nunwood, which complied the report said First Direct gave 'a sterling performance given that many financial institutions are struggling to reconcile increasing regulatory demands with a high-quality customer experience'.

Winning over customers: American Express, ao.com and QVC all slipped out of the top 10, while Emirates, giffgaff and the Apple Store were new entrants.

It was a good year all round for banking services, with Nationwide Building Society returning to the top 10 and TSB becoming the first major high street bank to break into the top 50.

The 'UK Customer Experience Excellence Analysis' praised Nationwide, suggesting its strong showing this year was 'driven by an intense focus on the human side of customer experience as a competitive differentiator, led from the very top'.

The compilers added: 'Reclaiming first place in 2016, First Direct creates positive brand memories for its customers through its quirky advertising and outstanding customer experience.'

Handmade cosmetics company Lush slipped from first to third place, taking the place of John Lewis which moved into second place.

American Express, ao.com and QVC all slipped out of the top 10, while Emirates, giffgaff and the Apple Store were new entrants.

Nationwide Building Society jumped in to the top 10 from 23rd place last year, swapping places with Skipton Building Society which fell further down the list.

Ocado slipped out of the top 10 while posh grocery rival M&S Food won seventh place.

Winners and losers: It was a good year for travel companies and banks, but not telecoms

Aside from the banking sector getting its act together, there was a strong showing from the travel sector.

Travel companies making it in to the top 20 included Emirates, Virgin Holidays, Saga, Eurostar and Virgin Atlantic. Meanwhile, American Airlines jumped 156 places to 70th place.

KPMG Nunwood said: 'In the UK and globally, we are seeing the travel sector leading both customer experience innovation and the delivery of experience quality through people. Indeed, within this sector there is something of an arms race, as companies work hard to woo the more affluent passenger or customer, in particular.'

Elsewhere, just two telecoms companies made it in to the top 100: giffgaff at eighth place and Tesco Mobile at 49th.

Bank Bonanza: Nationwide is back in the top 10, while TSB is the first big bank in the top 50

The compilers added that firms had 'begun to look intensely at costs' post-Brexit.

They argued that this had resulted in two things. Firstly, they said it had made strengthened the case for putting effort into customer experience, and secondly, it had prompted businesses to be more targeted about where they invest as 'in today's hyper-competitive world it is not possible to be all things to all people'.

The research, now in its seventh year, was conducted in July and involved more than 10,000 consumers evaluating 287 brands across 10 sectors.

The 'six pillars of customer experience excellence' that the experts looked for were personalisation, integrity, time and effort, expectations, empathy and resolution.

Customer Experience: This year's top 10 1. First Direct 2. John Lewis 3. Lush 4. Emirates 5. Amazon 6. Richer Sounds 7. M&S Food 8. giffgaff =9. Nationwide Building Society =9. Apple Store
The current pension savings rate of 4 per cent needs to be upped by three or four times for most workers to achieve a comfortable retirement, former Pensions Minister Steve Webb has warned.

Webb, now director of policy at pensions firm Royal London, said the average contribution rate - which measures the amount employers and workers put into a pension as a proportion of salaries - is 'a genuinely shocking figure'.

The ONS, which has just published the figure for 2015, said it was 'broadly comparable' with 2014. It covers contributions into 'defined contribution' pensions, into which staff and employers channel money to provide a pot of money for retirement.

Savings shortfall: Current contribution levels into pensions are not enough to provide a comfortable retirement, warn experts

Workers bear all the investment risk, unlike with generous and guaranteed final salary pensions, which have been mostly phased out in the private sector.

Webb said of the latest reported savings rate: 'A combined contribution rate of three or four times this size is likely to be needed for most workers to have something approaching a comfortable retirement

'It is quite clear that mass membership of pension schemes through automatic enrolment is just the start of a very long journey.'

Automatic enrolment into workplace pensions started in 2012 and so far more than six million people have been placed into a scheme by their employer

To get people into the savings habit, minimum contributions under auto-enrolment are being gradually phased upwards, so that from April 6 2019 they will increase to 8 per cent of qualifying earnings, of which a minimum of 3 per cent must come from the employer. See the table below.

The 8 per cent figure includes tax relief from the Government, which gives pots an extra boost, but this is not covered in the pension savings rate reported by the ONS.

The Government rebates all the income tax on people's pension contributions, whether they pay at the 20 per cent, 40 per cent or 45 per cent rate. Pensions are only taxed when savers start making withdrawals in old age.

The ONS figures show total membership of occupational pension schemes in the UK was 33.5million in 2015, the highest level recorded by the survey and a 10 per cent increase compared with 2014.

Within the latest total, there were 11.1 million active members of schemes, split between split between 5.5 million in the private sector and 5.6 million in the public sector.

Pension contributions: Auto-enrolment minimums are set to rise to a total 8 per cent by April 2019 (Source: Pensions Advisory Service)

Tom McPhail, head of retirement policy at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'The good news is that overall pension membership is on the rise thanks to auto-enrolment.

'But there are two big problems here: Firstly, many millions, in particular the growing legions of self-employed are still not in a pension and are being left behind; and secondly contribution rates are a long way short of adequate."

'The shift away from defined benefit [final salary] pensions in the private sector, as well as many millions now being auto-enrolled on minimum contributions has exacerbated the widening gulf between public and private sector provision.

'The best answer for all will be to drag up the levels of private sector DC scheme contributions, to the point where they provide comparable benefits to the very generous public sector schemes.

'However this will inevitably cause financial pressures on both employers and employees at a time when they are trying to contend with spending constraints, and the uncertainty of Brexit.'

Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, said: 'There are now more people in an occupational pension than ever before. This meteoric rise in workplace saving is largely thanks to the introduction of auto-enrolment, which has revolutionised the way people save for retirement in the UK.

'When it comes to saving for retirement, we now live in an era of personal responsibility, where individuals need to take control of their savings plans. The average contribution into a defined contribution pension is low at 4 per cent, and this figure is actually falling as a result of low contribution levels to auto-enrolment pensions bringing down the average.
Banks need to shoulder more responsibility when customers are tricked by fraudsters into transferring money to a 'safe account,' a consumer body says.

In recent years, there has been a terrifying rise in scammers duping people into moving money from their account to another over the telephone by concocting a story that their money is in danger.

Many who fall for it are elderly or vulnerable and in some cases, victims have lost their life savings.

Safe accounts: Victims of the scam have less protection than if they fell for a different kind of fraud, Which? says

However, unlike many other payment methods, victims who are conned into making the transfer have no legal right to get their money back from the bank.

Now, Which? has made a 'super complaint' to the Payment Systems Regulator and alerted the Financial Conduct Authority. Regulators have 90 days to investigate and respond.

A super complaint allows certain bodies to complain to regulators about features of the market significantly harming consumer interests.

Which? is a designated consumer body under the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013. It is the first super complaint the PSR, which was set up in 2015, has received.

However, Katy Worobec, director of Financial Fraud Action UK, says she is disappointed by Which?

She said: 'We are disappointed that Which? did not first seek to find positive solutions to ensure the legal protections for customers work before taking the super-complaint route.

'Customers rightly expect banks to carry out transactions they have authorised, and banks will provide compensation on a case-by-case basis.

SAFE ACCOUNT FRAUD This is Money has reported on some heartbreaking cases of this scam. Fraudsters prey on bank account customers and play on fear, creating chaos which can cause people to panic. There are variations on the scam - often, a fraudster will call pretending to be from your bank. They will know certain details about you and can even make it look like the phone number is genuine by spoofing it. Often, they will say there has been suspicious fraud on the account - and you need to transfer to a 'safe account'. However, this is an account belonging to the fraudster - and they quickly siphon the money away.

'However, a blanket approach is equivalent to asking an insurance policy to pay out for theft when the front door was left wide open.'

Six in 10 people did not realise they had no consumer protection from their bank if they were scammed into making a bank transfer, Which? research found.

More than eight in 10 had used bank transfers to make payments and nearly one in 10 had, or knew someone that had, made a bank transfer payment to a fraudster's account, the statistics claim.

Which? said UK consumers make more than 70million bank transfers a month, compared with just over 100million in a whole year a decade ago - but consumer protections had not kept up with changes.

By contrast, when people fell victim to fraudsters in other ways they had a better chance of getting their money back.

Which? said if a consumer authorised a payment to a scammer using a credit card they were likely to be able to recover lost funds from their bank under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

And if they had been tricked into providing their banking security details, and the scammer had used those details to make an unauthorised transfer of funds, the consumer may retrieve lost funds from their bank under the Payment Services Regulations 2009.

In one case seen by the consumer group, fraudsters claiming to be from a bank convinced a customer that their account had been compromised and to transfer 17,500 savings to another account, set up in their name.

Within minutes, the customer realised they had been tricked and contacted their bank, to be told the money had gone. The victim was offered a 10p refund - the amount the fraudsters had left behind.

In another case, a holiday lettings customer booked an apartment in Paris. He received an e-mail with lettings agency branding asking for the payment to be sent via a bank transfer.

The customer transferred the money from his account but soon after, the property was taken down from the listings.

The customer contacted the lettings agency who confirmed that the booking reference was invalid and that they were unable to help. The customer was unable to retrieve any of his money.

Which? wants regulators to formally investigate the scale of bank transfer fraud and how much it is costing consumers and take action with new measures and greater liability for banks.

Alex Neill, director of policy and campaigns at Which? said: 'We all now regularly use bank transfers to pay for things, but what most of us don't realise is that if you're conned into paying out money to a fraudster you stand to lose all of your money, unlike when you use your credit or debit card.

'With scams on the rise, consumers can only protect themselves so far and we believe that banks must do more to tackle bank transfer fraud and safeguard their customers from scams.'

The PSR said it would examine the evidence Which? had supplied and gather its own to build a clearer picture of the issue and decide a course of action.

Anyone with information they believe could be helpful can contact: PSRSuper-Complaints@psr.org.uk.

This is Money launched a new hub page earlier in the month called Beat the Scammers to arm readers with as much knowledge on fraud as possible.
If you could run your own small business, what would it be? For increasing numbers of people, the answer is, apparently, running their own vineyard.

Applications to open vineyards in the UK spiked by 40 per cent last year, while English wine stormed to victory in a series of high profile blind taste tests against champagne.

For some, having acres upon acres of vines to look after - and the satisfaction of seeing their wine on the shelf - is the ultimate 'escape to the country' fantasy.

Labour of love: Cherie Spriggs moved to the UK from Canada to work as a winemaker

But running your own vineyard isn't all plain sailing, with weather, timing and patience all playing their part in the uncertain process.

Here we meet two winemakers to talk about the highs and lows of their profession, and what drew them to their idyllic vocation.

Nyetimber - The English sparkling wine beating champagne on taste

For chief winemaker Cherie Spriggs, English wine has been a lifelong obsession. The native Canadian has produced wine all over the world but says she was drawn to the romance and history of Nyetimber, a place was first recorded in the Doomsday book in 1086.

Cherie studied at the Wine Research Centre in Vancouver and she worked on vineyards in Australia, New Zealand and Canada before getting in touch with Nyetimber, which is near Horsham in West Sussex.

Unconventional: Cherie took the unusual step of deciding not to produce any wine in 2012

She says: 'On a trip many years ago my father asked if I wanted a souvenir from London, and I asked for a bottle of Nyetimber because I always wanted to try it. I opened it and went "wow" - it's not perfect, but there are some characters in the wine that are really special, that I haven't tasted anywhere other than in champagne.'

A few years later in 2007, as they were about to take jobs in the Canadian wine industry, Cherie's husband Brad asked her what her dream job would be. She surprised herself saying 'making sparking wine for the English'.

She emailed Nyetimber to introduce herself and, fortuitously, they had two jobs going - so the couple made the move to the UK, where Cherie became chief winemaker.

Piece of history: Nyetimber was first mentioned in the Doomsday Book almost 1,000 years ago

Nyetimber is in the unusual position of owning 100 per cent of its 170 hectares of vineyards; they were bought by Dutch owner Eric Heerema in 2008.

It grows the 'holy trinity' of champagne grapes - chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir.

Champion: Nyetimber wine beat champagne in a blind taste test.

One of the reasons for this is that the climate in the south of England is said to emulate that of the Champagne region in the 1970s, one of the reasons why people have started to grow sparkling wine grapes there.

Her vineyard currently employs between 50 and 60 people - but at harvest time brings in over 300 seasonal labourers. It only opens to the public twice a year for open days - and these sell out months in advance.

In a good year Nytimber can produce up to 700,000 bottles of wine. However, disaster struck in 2012 when Britain experienced the coldest summer since records began - meaning Nyetimber took the highly unusual step of not making any sparkling wine at all, because Cherie felt the quality of the grapes wasn't up to scratch.

The bottle Nyetimber is best known for is its Classic Cuvee, which costs around 32 - placing it in the non-vintage champagne price bracket. It's sold in Waitrose and Majestic Wines, and also in restaurants across the UK.

Critical: The Nyetimber team are testing juice from the grapes as they gear up for harvest time

Cherie notes there are still some wine drinkers who will buy anything with a champagne label on it.

'There is still an element of the population who feels it doesn't matter as long as it says champagne on the bottle and that is something we want to educate people about. Just because it says champagne, a generic name for a region in France, it does not mean it is the quality you would hope for.'

She adds: 'When I moved to the UK I was surprised by the amount of British consumers who had not heard about English sparkling wine. Most of them were quite skeptical about the quality of the wine but we have been doing a lot to improve that.'

A turning point was in 2012,the London Olympics created a surge of passion for all things British.

And to seal the deal, last year a bottle of Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs fooled Parisian expert wine tasters with all 13 incorrectly guessing it was the champagne.

An education: Nyetimber has bi-annual open days which sell out months in advance

Right now, the Nyetimber team gearing up for harvest time, testing the juices and the quality of the fruit, a critical stage in the wine making process.

Cherie has some sobering advice for any would-be winemakers.

'It's not unusual for people to come into the vineyard business thinking it's a lifestyle choice and it's going to be a lovely and easy career - especially when wine is such a pleasurable, sociable thing.

'But it's a fallacy to think that it's easy - people work incredibly hard. You have to play the long game- the investment is huge and the return takes quite some time to come back. The number one thing that you need is patience.'

Furleigh Estate - The childhood home re-purposed as a vineyard

Escape to the country: Rebecca and husband Ian returned to Dorset to plant a vineyard

Like Cherie, Rebecca Hansford felt drawn to the English countryside to make wine. She grew up in Furleigh, Dorset, on her father's dairy farm, before doing a degree in maths and moving to London to become an actuary.

But despite herself, Rebecca found herself pining to return to the country, and when she saw her former family home up for sale she jumped at the opportunity.

She says: 'I thought I would never return to the West Country. I was an actuary advising companies on pension schemes and I realised Dorset was the most beautiful place in the world.

'My father had sold the farm, but my husband and I bought it back, and now I can see my children grow up where I grew up.'

Second life: Rebecca bought back her family home and turned the grounds into a vineyard

The deal completed on Christmas Eve 2004. Today there are more than 22,000 vines on the estate, three quarters of which are sparkling champagne grapes chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. The remainder are Bacchus and Rondo grapes, used to produce still wine.

On average, they produce 50,000 bottles of sparking wine per year, and 15,000 bottles of still wine.

Tricky: Making wine is a drawn-out process

Her reasons for deciding to plant a vineyard were entirely straightforward.

'When you come back to somewhere where there are not many people you can't start a business where you require lots of people coming in and we're not into animals so we wanted to grow something.'

Furleigh Estate employs five people full time and 20-30 seasonal labourers. It mainly sells through bars and restaurants such as The Ivy and The Savoy.

Rebecca thinks English wine is coming of age.

'I think English wine is a bit at that stage now some people will give it to their friends and say 'where do you think this comes from?'

'It says Dorset on our label - people will bring it back from holiday but to get them to buy the second bottle, it has to be good.

'Over the 10-12 years we have been going it has really changed - now more people are trying it, more people want it and so it keeps on expanding. '

English charm: Furleigh Estate produces 50,000 bottles of sparkling wine each year

Like Cherie, Rebecca says any would-be winemakers should go into the business with their eyes open.

'Vineyards eat money particularly because it takes so long to be ready - the wine we make this year will not be ready until 2020. If you went to a bank, they would just say "but you have all this stock!" It's quite hard but I think that's gradually changing as banks start to understand the business.

'It's not an easy way to make a living. It's a romantic thing - you retire and buy a vineyard - but then the vines get mildew or snails eat them. It can be soul-destroying, it's not for everyone.'

But on a personal level it seems the unorthodox career change has worked for Rebecca and her husband.

'We are lucky that the ground is right, the climate is right and we are on the crest of a wave - it's a good time to be in winemaking.'

Nyetimber Vineyard and Furleigh Estate were two of the most decorated English Wine producers at the 2016 International Wine Challenge. The competition aims to discover the world's best wines through blind tastings in which each entry is judged for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage.




Listen, I never think Im the moral authority in any situation, but this is really not normal or okay,' she told DailyMail.com in an

Anthony Weiners former sexting partner Sydney Leathers said she is concerned that there is no line the ex-congressman wont cross when it comes to his destructive online sex obsession, after learning that Weiner had been chatting with a 15-year-old girl.

Leathers, 26 - whose steamy online exchanges with Weiner, 51, sunk his 2013 mayoral bid when they were leaked to the press - said his conversations with the teen were predatory and disturbing, in comparison to her own relationship with Weiner when she was a 22-year-old college student.

Obviously there is no line for him, Leathers told the DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview..

Listen, I never think Im the moral authority in any situation, but this is really not normal or okay.

Scroll down for video

Sydney Leathers, who previously conducted an online relationship with Anthony Weiner, has branded his messages to a 15-year-old girl as 'disturbing'

Obviously there is no line for him, Leathers said of Anthony Weiner in an exclsuive interview with DailyMail.com

The DailyMail.com exclusively revealed online chats that Weiner had with the unnamed teenager. Obviously there is no line for him, 26-year-old Leathers said

Weiner exchanged flirtatious texts with the teen and sent her images of himself, including this selfie in his hot tub

'There is something predatory when youre being sexual toward a child. Thats just so far over the line, added Leathers, who has since starred in a number of adult videos, including one that spoofed her relationship with Weiner.

Its one thing to be a sexual person, but when youre reaching out to kids to talk about this s***, I just find that really disturbing.

The DailyMail.com first reported that Weiner exchanged flirtatious texts with the teen girl, including messages complimenting the girls body and telling her he woke up hard after thinking about her.

Weiner was spotted out in New York Wednesday. Over the past five years his political career and personal life have been shattered by repeated sexting scandals

He also sent her shirtless photos and talked to her on the video chat application Skype, during which the girl claimed she got undressed and Weiner encouraged her to engage in role play fantasies.

Over the past five years, Weiners political career and personal life have been shattered by repeated sexting scandals.

In 2011, he resigned from Congress after it was revealed that he was exchanging raunchy messages with multiple women he met online.

His attempted political comeback in 2013 ended abruptly when his conversations with Leathers were leaked to the press, torpedoing his mayoral campaign shortly before the Democratic primary.

Last month, Weiners wife, top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, announced they were separating after the New York Post published flirty exchanges and photos between him and another woman he met online.

One of the photos showed Weiner wearing shorts with a bulge in the crotch while lying in bed next to his toddler-aged son.

He sent some lady a photo with his kid in it where he has a boner, and hes talking to 15-year-old girls online, said Leathers. Its like, is there any line at all?

Leathers said the 15-year-old girl reached out to her over Facebook in May to ask for advice about the teens relationship with Weiner

Since news of their relationship emerged, Leathers has since starred in a number of adult videos including one that spoofed her relationship with Weiner

Leathers said the 15-year-old girl reached out to her over Facebook in May to ask for advice about the teens relationship with Weiner. Leathers said she initially thought it might be a joke, until the girl sent her a few of their messages.

Leathers said she told her therapist, who tried to contact Child Protective Services, but was told she needed to provide the girls phone number or home address before they could investigate.

I feel like they should at least look into it and see if hes talking to other kids too, because thats totally not okay, she said.

It does bother me because, like I said, I was 22 when I started talking to him and thats young  but not to the point of 15 [years old], she added. I felt like I was very naive and immature, so I cant imagine how she feels in that situation.

Weiner apologized in a statement to the DailyMail.com when contacted about his exchanges with the 15-year-old girl. He did not deny the relationship, but said he might have been the subject of a hoax.

'I have repeatedly demonstrated terrible judgement about the people I have communicated with online and the things I have sent, he said. I am filled with regret and heartbroken for those I have hurt.

I am sorry.

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, he added.

While Leathers said she was surprised to hear Weiner was talking to a girl that young, she said she was not shocked he was still carrying on with women online despite the number of times these conversations have been leaked to the press.
Making A Murderers Steven Avery is getting married to a gorgeous blonde woman from Las Vegas, whom hes seen in person just once.

The star of the hit Netflix show is engaged to pretty legal secretary Lynn Hartman and the pair have been dating for eight months, but virtually all of it over the phone.

The relationship began with letters and then phone calls, but they finally met up last week when she secretly visited him at Waupun Correctional Institute, in Wisconsin, which has been Averys home for the last 11 years.

Their romance has been kept strictly under wraps as Hartman has suffered horrific online abuse and threats, as shes been accused of being after Avery because of his fame and potential fortune.

Speaking from his prison cell, Avery, who has been engaged twice and married once before, told people to lay off his new paramour.

Shes going to be my future wife, well be laughing forever,' he said.

Steven Avery with his new fiancee Lynn Hartman, a legal secretary from Las Vegas. The pair have been secretly dating for eight months, but virtually all of it over the phone. They finally met for the first time last week

Avery shot to fame after his case was examined by the hit Netflix series Making A Murderer

'Despite all obstacles, and Steven's wrongful conviction and incarceration, we plan to be married shortly after he is released,' Lynn said

'Im happy, she treats me decent, she loves me, she's kind of spoiling me right now. I just want to be happy and enjoy my life, I think I did enough time.

The 53-year-old was sentenced to life without parole for killing 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbachin in 2005. His nephew Brendan Dassey, then 16, was also convicted.

Dassey, now 26, is set to be released in the next 60 days after having his conviction quashed last month.

Avery in a mugshot from 1985. His chances of being released from his prison in Wisconsin have risen since hotshot Chicago lawyer Kathleen Zellner took up his case

The Netflix series was taped over the course of 10 years by filmmakers Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi, and released in December 2015.

Before his murder conviction he served 18 years on the charge of rape before DNA evidence proved his innocence.

Avery has consistently maintained his innocence of the second crime, while his lawyers have accused police of setting Avery up in order to get out of paying him $36 million as part of a federal lawsuit for his wrongful rape conviction.

His chances of being released have increased since hotshot Chicago lawyer Kathleen Zellner took up his case and says that DNA testing will prove he isnt the killer.

Despite being in prison Steven has maintained an active love life.

His former fiancee Sandra Greenman claimed in a DailyMail.com interview last month that he received up to 40 letters a day from women and has become the strangest sex symbol.'

But Greenman, who has visited Avery in prison for over a decade, says she isnt happy about the news of his engagement to Hartman and believes the fame has gone to his head.

'She's very pretty, there's no way she'd want Steven Avery usually,' Greenman said. 'All the family are afraid of her, something isn't right, I know she wants fame, and she's looking for money.

Greenman with Avery, whom she has visited in prison for more than a decade

Avery with his cousin Carla Chase, left, and new fiancee Lynn Hartman, right

Another ex-fiancee of Avery's, Jodi Stachowski, has alleged that Avery was a violent and abusive 'monster' towards her, saying he strangled her and threatened to kill her during their relationship.

As for Avery's wife-to-be, little is known about the 53-year-old blonde, who originally comes from Alturas, California. According to her now-defunct Twitter page, she is a Legal Asst/Bankruptcy Paralegal.

Being beautiful and blonde obviously runs in the family as she has a stunning daughter called Kamilia, whos married to climber Cody Woolsley. They have a small child and live in St George, Utah.

Greenman slammed Avery's new fiancee, saying 'I know she wants fame, and she's looking for money'

A statement from Lynn appeared on the Steven Avery Project Facebook page, saying that they plan to marry on his release.

I am very happy to announce that Steven Avery asked me to marry him today, and I accepted. It has been a difficult road getting to this point in our lives but we are very happy,' she said.

'Despite all obstacles, and Steven's wrongful conviction and incarceration, we plan to be married shortly after he is released.

Stevens cousin Carla Chase, who was heavily featured in the hit documentary, posted pictures on Facebook of herself with the loved-up pair inside prison, saying: New pics from the last 3 days. Steven with Lynn Hartman & myself. Please no negative comments. We are here to support Steven & if he is happy, we all should be happy. Thank you everyone for all of your support...#FreeStevenAvery.

BRENDAN DASSEY'S FUND BOOSTED BY DAILYMAIL.COM A fund set up to help Making A Murderers Brendan Dassey for when he leaves prison is edging closer to its $10,000 target after his mother Bab Tadych told the DailyMail.com that they had nothing for when he was released. Dassey was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 41 years after he was convicted in 2005 of the murder and sexual assault of Teresa Halbach, in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, along with his uncle, Steven Avery. Barb set up a GoFundMe page to raise $10,000 to help her son get back on his feet, as everything he has at home is for a teenager, not a 26-year-old man. Since her plea in the Daily Mail, the fund is over halfway to its target and currently stands at $5,716. Barb says: Its to help Brendan get on his feet, its going to be very difficult for him. Clothes, stuff he needs, hes got nothing. All his clothes are too small, they were all stuff that were when he was a teenager. 'I dont really have anything, we need to start from zero. The State doesnt help with that sort of thing, once they let him loose, hes on his own. The sad truth is that Brendan went into prison as a child and he will be coming home a man. Brendan will have many needs, ranging from clothing to transportation. Advertisement

According to Avery's friend Curtis Busse, the couple have had to keep their romance low key because of the threats made to Lynn.

Busse regularly visits Avery and set up the Steven Avery Project Facebook page, which has over 120,000 members.

He gave an insight into their relationship in a statement on the Facebook page, which has now been taken down but was re-posted by a user on Reddit.

It read: SA [Steven Avery] was robbed of being human let alone a Father/Husband. This man deserves to be in love and after our phone call today he has asked that the project announce his Engagement With Lynn Hartman. Steven and Lynn have spoken every single day for the last 8 months through many phone calls and letters and have become inseparable.

Unfortunately, this process has not been easy for either of the two, Lynn has received many threats and nasty allegations from many individuals who seem to just be jealous or have no care for Steven's happiness.

I wouldn't be posting this if I didn't honestly believe it was important to address for Steven's future.

'One thing I know for sure about Lynn after speaking with her almost as much as Steven has and that is she is truly in love with Steven and real tears are shed when they speak to each other.

And no matter what happens to their relationship she would never request to speak to the media to make up completely foolish lies out of jealousy and the obsession of being in the spotlight.

But not all fans were happy about the news and took to Reddit or social media to express their fears for Hartman's safety.

Reddit member Caberlay said: God, I feel sorry for her. Another SA victim.
A Miss Italy contestant body shamed for being 'too fat' to be a beauty queen has hit back at her haters, saying: 'I love myself for what I am.'

Paola Torrente, who is a size 14, was ridiculed by other contestants and trolled on social media over her size after she came second in the competition.

But in an exclusive interview, she told MailOnline she was overwhelmed by the love she received from her fans and slammed the hypocrisy of an industry where skinny models go under the knife to look more like her.

Paola, 22, said: 'I embrace my curves at 360 degrees, and I'm never ashamed of them. There are many women that chose surgery to become more curvy.

Voluptuous: Miss Italy runner-up Paola Torrente (pictured), 22, has hit back at critics who said she was 'too fat' to take part in the competition

Torrente told MailOnline she 'loves her body' and slammed the beauty industry, where skinny models go under the knife to look more like her (pictured: Paola and Gabriel)

After coming second to Rachele Risaliti in the Miss Italy 2016 competition, size 14 Torrente was viciously attacked by internet trolls (pictured: the moment the winner was announced)

'I started to receive messages from girls who thanked me for participating, for showing that curvy is beautiful and thanks to me, felt better about themselves.

'I was surprised and proud. They made me feel good too. And maybe in that sense I am a role model, but firstly I'm just a very normal 22-year-old girl.

'I want to tell young women to accept themselves and to understand that feeling good and being happy is the most powerful thing to fight people's words and thoughts.'

Even her highest profile critic, Croatian model Nina Moric, has apologised for saying she had 'too much flesh' to share a stage with her skinnier compatriots.

The Miss Italy organisers video-called Moric live on TV while the contestants were on the stage and demanded an explanation for her vicious comments.

Torrente, an engineering student from Angri, south of Naples, explained: 'She said I shouldn't feel offended and she told me that I was beautiful. Her words calmed me down because I was really upset.

Torrente says she was overwhelmed the love and support she received, but her biggest fan remains her boyfriend Gabriel, who she has been with for four years (pictured: Paola, her boyfriend Gabriel and a friend at the beach)

Unsurprisingly, one of the first things to catch her boyfriend Gabriel's eye was her stunning hourglass figure

Torrente, from Naples, wants to inspire girls to love their bodies, saying: 'Feeling good and being happy is the most powerful thing to fight people's words'

Torrente's most vocal critic, Croatian model Nina Moric, has apologised for saying she had 'too much flesh' to be on stage with skinny contestants (pictured, Moric posing on Instagram)

'I always take words like hers with a smile, saying I feel good in my body, and I love myself for what I am.'

The bitter mother of Miss Italy's third place contestant Viviana Vogliacco was not so apologetic, having said a size 14 woman should 'take part in the Plus Size Miss Italy contest' and not in the mainstream event.

Torrente's reply?

He [her boyfriend] always been attracted by my personality and my curves... He always say to me that I'm the most gorgeous woman ever Paola Torrente

' I wasn't upset, just amused. I mean every one has the right to an opinion, even if it is the wrong one!'

Despite the abuse she received after coming second to champion Rachele Risaliti in Salerno, Torrente says she's never been bullied for her weight.

She was a hugely popular choice with the audience, but her biggest fan remains her boyfriend Gabriel, 26.

She has been with the the Brazilian-born medical student for four years and unsurprisingly, her stunning figure is one of the first things that caught his eye.

'He always been attracted by my personality and my curves,' she said.

'He always say to me that I'm the most gorgeous woman ever, and each day our love grows stronger.'

There are no secrets to the her perfect hourglass figure. The five-foot-nine model hits the gym 4 times a week - lifting weights and doing cardio - and eating fresh and organic food.

Torrente told MailOnline how plus-sized models are being more accepted in beauty pageants than ever before, saying: 'The stereotype of the tall, skinny girl started in the 1990s and girls became skinnier every year.'

There are no secrets to the Torrente's voluptuous figure, just regular exercise and a diet of fresh, organic food

The bitter mother of Miss Italy's third place contestant said a size 14 woman should 'take part in the Plus Size Miss Italy contest' instead of the mainstream event (pictured: Paola, right, posing with Miss Italy, left)

'Now a lot of girls that don't fit the beauty ideal of tall and skinny compete. That's a really good thing, it means mentality is changing.'

Her words were echoed by Miss Italy organiser Patrizia Mirigliani, who said: 'Stop the stereotypes. What we want is more female models who are closer to real people.'
An Italian public health campaign has been denounced as racist after it appeared to urge women to leave their black 'bad companions' if they wanted to fall pregnant.

Italy's Ministry of Health launched its first 'Fertility Day' on Thursday in an attempt to prevent infertility and sterility through education and health programmes.

Some 700,000 Italians want to have children but can't because of inferility problems. The country has one of Europe's lowest birthrates.

The top image shows four smiling, light-skinned adults at the beach illustrating 'good habits' for reproductive health. The bottom image shows a group of young people, including a black man, smoking  an illustration of the 'bad companions' who should be 'abandoned'

The new campaign, backed by Health Minister Beatrice Lorenzin, focuses on tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse.

But one of the flyers was slammed as racist, forcing Ms Lorenzin to remove the advert on the eve of the event launch.

The image shows four smiling, light-skinned adults at the beach illustrating 'good habits' for reproductive health.

The image was placed over a darker image of a group of young people, including a black man, smoking  an illustration of the 'bad companions' who should be 'abandoned'.

The poster was widely criticised, even from within the governing Democratic Party.

This advert as criticised as being sexist for featuring a woman holding her belly with one hand and an hourglass with the other with the tagline: 'Beauty doesn't have an age. Fertility does'

A woman holds up an hourglass during a protest in front of the Italian Health Ministry during the launch of a 'Fertility Day' campaign, in Rome, Italy, referencing the advertisement

Ms Lorenzin said Thursday she had approved a different ad and didn't know how the mix-up occurred, and that she had fired the official responsible.

Earlier adverts in the 'Fertility Day' campaign were criticized as being sexist for featuring a woman holding her belly with one hand and an hourglass with the other with the tagline: 'Beauty doesn't have an age. Fertility does.'

Another read: 'Hurry up! Don't wait for the stork.'

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the 'Fertility Day' launch, claiming the Health Ministry had ignored the real economic reasons behind Italy's low birthrate.

They said a stagnant economy, low-paying, temporary work contracts for young people and insufficient public day care, were all contributing factors.
The problem was found and Alan fought for not yet

A minor bump or bruise is not cause for concern for most little boys, but for seven-year-old Alan, it was potentially deadly.

Alan wasn't allowed to run, jump or ride a bike, because any bleeding at all could have killed him.

Doctors were unable to explain why, but Alan's immune system was attacking his red blood cells, slowly making the Sydney boy more and more weak.

Doctors were unable to explain why, but Alan's immune system was attacking his red blood cells, slowly making him more and more weak

Alan has battled the condition for as long as he can remember, but was only given a diagnosis when he was six and a half.

His father Tansel said his son was just three-years-old when they knew something was wrong.

'He had tiny bleedings in the skin that looked like a rash but weren't, and he would have bruises that wouldn't heal for a long time,' he said.

'We were spending a lot of time in hospitals.'

While he and his wife knew something was wrong, Tansel said he felt helpless.

'We were in limbo, we didn't know what was wrong with him,' he said.

'We were just dealing with all the problems as they came.'

'We were spending a lot of time in hospitals' Alan's father Tansel said

Tansel said Alan's life was constantly at risk, which meant he and his wife were forced to monitor his every movement.

'Any bleeding could be dangerous for him, deadly dangerous for him. So we were almost paranoidly (sic) controlling his movements,' he said.

Geneticists at the Garvan Institute in Sydney poured over every single one of his genes in an attempt to find out why Alan's body was killing him, according to the ABC.

In spite of the specialists' hard work, Alan became critically ill in October last year, his health rapidly in decline.

His father Tansel said his son was just three-years-old when they knew something was wrong

'He was an extremely sick little boy, he was about to die,' Garvan Institute geneticist Tony Roscioli said.

Dr Roscioli said it was at this point he 'dropped everything' and fought harder than ever to figure out why Alan's body was so self-destructive.

The geneticist said he turned to a new method of analysing Alan's genome, and soon identified the problematic gene.

'He was an extremely sick little boy, he was about to die,' Garvan Institute geneticist Tony Roscioli

Alan had a variant on the gene LRBA, which helps to regulate the immune system.

Australia was just the second country in the world to offer the genome testing that gave Alan his second chance at life.

Garvan's deputy director Professor Chris Goodnow said a 'chance finding' then lead them to a drug which they believed would help Alan.

But the drug was not yet authorised in Australia.

So professor Goodnow sought express permission and managed to get approval.

Alan was the first child to be given the medication in Australia, and within a week, he was showing signs of improvement.

After a few months in hospital recovering from his illness, Alan was finally able to return home to his family in June.

While the drug allowed Alan to go home and live a normal childhood, his father Tansel said the fight was not over yet.

'(The medication) won't cure him, just buy him time,' Tansel said.

'It's keeping him stable.'

Tansel said Alan's blood levels were now normal, but he might have to take the medication for life

He's since started school, running, jumping and even riding a scooter, all things he could never do before.

Tansel said Alan's blood levels were now normal, but he might have to take the medication for life.

The other option was stem cell therapy, an option Tansel said could either save or kill his son.

'It has a 20 per cent chance of killing him,' he said.

'So it's not an immediate option, but potentially down the track.'
The father of the man charged with setting off bombings in New York and New Jersey has said he warned federal authorities about the man's interest in jihadist material.

Ahmad Khan Rahami's father said in a New York Times interview published Thursday that he had told the FBI two years ago that Rahami was drawn to al-Qaida and Taliban videos and poetry.

'I told the FBI to keep an eye on him,' the Times quoted the father, Mohammad Rahami, as saying in his native Pashto.

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Mohammad Rahami, the father of the man charged with setting off bombings in New York and New Jersey, has said he warned federal authorities about the man's interest in jihadist material

Bombing suspect Ahmad Rahami has been charged with five counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and two gun charges after he was captured in an FBI shootout following the terror attacks. He is pictured in his arrest mugshot

He said he told the agents he couldn't say '100 percent if he is a terrorist'.

The FBI has said it looked into Rahami in 2014 after learning of comments his father made after Rahami was arrested on charges of stabbing his brother.

The FBI said it checked databases, consulted other agencies and conducted interviews but found nothing tying Rahami to terrorism.

At the time, Rahami's father backed away from talk of terrorism and told investigators he simply meant Rahami was hanging out with the wrong crowd, including gang members, a law enforcement official told the AP this week.

The father, Mohammad Rahami, said the FBI never spoke to his son, who was jailed at the time on the stabbing charge.

The son ultimately wasn't prosecuted after a grand jury declined to indict him.

The FBI had no immediate comment on the father's remarks Thursday.

The FBI has said it looked into Rahami in 2014 after learning of comments his father made after Rahami was arrested on charges of stabbing his brother

Pictured above is Nasim Rahami, the brother that Ahmad Khan Rahami is accused of stabbing

Investigators haven't been able to question Ahmad Khan Rahami because he's too severely injured from his shootout with police, a law enforcement official said Thursday.

Rahami remained hospitalized after his gunbattle with police officers Monday, and it was unclear when he might be taken to court to face federal terrorism charges in the blasts, which injured 31 people Saturday.

A public defender has sought a court appearance for Rahami so he can hear the charges against him.

Rahami, an Afghan-born U.S. citizen, has been unconscious and intubated for much of the time since undergoing surgery, said Robert Reilly, a spokesman for the FBI's Newark office.

The official who discussed authorities' inability to question Rahami was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Ahmad Khan Rahami is taken into custody after a shootout with police Monday in Linden, New Jersey. Rahami was wanted for questioning in the bombings that rocked the Chelsea neighborhood of New York and the New Jersey shore town of Seaside Park

Evidence teams investigate at the scene of Saturday's explosion on West 23rd Street in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood on Monday

Prosecutors say Rahami, 28, planned the explosions for months as he bought components for his bombs online and set off a backyard blast.

They say he wrote a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other Muslim extremists, fumed about what he saw as the U.S. government's killing of Muslim holy warriors and declared 'death to your oppression'.

As authorities tried to piece together information on Ahmad Rahami, his wife gave them a statement this week after walking into the U.S. Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, second right, look over a mangled construction toolbox Sunday while touring the site of the explosion in Chelsea

Police and firefighters work near the scene of the apparent explosion on Saturday

The wife has returned to the United States, a law enforcement official said. She's believed to have left the U.S. for overseas in June. Investigators have not suggested that she's suspected of any wrongdoing.

Investigators also have been looking into Rahami's overseas travel, including a visit to Pakistan a few years ago, and want to know whether he received money or training from extremist organizations.

Rahami and his brothers spent time with their grandfather in Afghanistan in 2012, their father said.

A neighbor on the family's block in Elizabeth said Thursday that the father had hoped the trip would nurture more discipline in the sons and when they returned they seemed more religious.

New York City firefighters stand near the explosion site in Chelsea

'They said, 'Yeah, you know, we went back to our roots,"' said the neighbor, Jaime Reyes.

The bombings in Seaside Park and Manhattan spurred a manhunt that ended Monday in Linden.

Patrolman Angel Padilla said he tried to roust a man sleeping in a doorway and recognized Rahami's face from a public alert hours before.

Authorities say Rahami shot Padilla in his protective vest before other officers exchanged gunfire with Rahami and subdued him.

Padilla told students Thursday at a Linden school that he was 'a bit nervous' when he confronted Rahami, but 'I can only say: I was just doing my job'.

Linden Police officer Angel Padilla, left, is hugged by Mya Austin, a third grade student at Linden School No. 5, during a visit to the school Thursday. Padilla, who was injured in a shootout with Ahmad Khan Rahami
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.
The death of a man who moved out West to follow his dream of searching for a $2million hidden treasure remains a mystery as medical investigators have been unable to shed more light on his final moments in the backcountry 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 show there wasn't enough evidence left for the Office of the Medical Investigator to determine what caused Bilyeu's death.

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Randy Bilyeu went missing while searching for a $2million hidden treasure in northern New Mexico. His skeletal remains were discovered this summer. His ex-wife Linda Bilyeu (right) has said 'He lost his life for a hoax'

There were no broken bones or other skeletal injuries, leaving only room for speculation.

'It is possible that Mr. Bilyeu was caught in a remote location in the winter, either because of the weather or because of an injury not involving a fracture of the bones and succumbed to hypothermia or the effects of dehydration,' the investigators wrote.

They also said it's possible the 55-year-old father and grandfather could have died from a natural event, such as a heart attack. Bilyeu had high blood pressure.

Pictured are art dealer turned author Forrest Fenn (left), who hid a treasure in the Rocky Mountains, and the cover of his memoir, The Thrill of the Chase (right)

'There are multiple plausible scenarios in which Mr. Bilyeu's death may have occurred, all of which cannot be disproven given the advanced state of decomposition,' the report states.

Bilyeu's family said Thursday they're not ready to give up on tracking down more details about what might have happened to him after he bought a raft and set out on the Rio Grande on January 5 to search for a buried treasure.

Thousands of people have tried to find the alleged treasure of gold and jewelry.

Bilyeu had scouted the area  a desolate, rocky stretch of the river not far from the border of Bandelier National Monument  for two weeks.

He had a GPS device and waders and brought along his little white dog, Leo.

More than a week passed before a worried friend reached out to his ex-wife in Florida, Linda Bilyeu, who filed a missing person's report January 14.

His raft and dog were found the next day.

Found in his car, were maps with markings that fellow treasure hunters used to narrow their search for him.

He also left food, suggesting he didn't plan to be gone long.

An intense search by authorities began, but hope slipped as the days passed.

Pictured is an estimated $2million of gold jewelry and other artifacts that Fenn has hidden for treasure hunters to find

A map and a poem from Forrest Fenn's book The Thrill of the Chase which contains clues to a hidden treasure

Linda Bilyeu began organizing volunteers who used everything from canoe trips, high-powered cameras and drones to search the rugged canyons along the river.

Linda Bilyeu acknowledged that Randy's death remains a mystery.

'He was brave enough to face the odds in an endeavor that he felt so confident about but due to an unfortunate event, his plan cost him his life,' said.

Antiquities dealer and author Forrest Fenn of Santa Fe ignited the treasure hunt several years ago when he announced that he stashed a small bronze chest containing nearly $2million in gold, jewelry and artifacts somewhere in the Rockies. He dropped clues to its whereabouts in a cryptic poem in his self-published memoir, The Thrill of the Chase.

The hidden treasure has inspired thousands to search in vain through remote corners of New Mexico, Yellowstone National Park and elsewhere in the mountains.

Fenn (pictured in 2013) dropped clues about the treasure in a cryptic poem in his 2011 memoir, The Thrill of the Chase. The self-published work spurred tens of thousands to search for Fenn's loot

Treasure hunters share their experiences on blogs and brainstorm about the clues.

The search has come with risks: Some have forded swollen creeks in Yellowstone and were rescued by rangers. A Texas woman spent a worrisome night in the New Mexico woods after being caught in the dark.

Others have been cited for digging on public land, and federal managers have warned treasure hunters not to damage archaeological or biological resources.

Bilyeu's family said Thursday they're not ready to give up on tracking down more details about what might have happened to him after he bought a raft and set out on the Rio Grande on January 5 to search for a buried treasure

During the months spent searching for Bilyeu, his family urged Fenn to call off the treasure hunt.

Fenn refused, saying that would be unfair to those who have spent their time and money looking for the 40-pound chest.

Linda Bilyeu said Randy's mishap should serve as a reminder that accidents can happen no matter how many preparations one makes.
A California couple was charged with the murder of a woman and the kidnapping of her three young children after a manhunt spread across three states pinned them down to Pueblo, Colorado.

Joshua Aaron Robertson and Brittney Sue Humphrey were charged on Thursday with killing 26-year-old Kimberly Harvill, whose body was found with gunshot wounds to the head along a road in a remote area of Los Angeles County on Aug. 14. Harvill was Humphrey's half-sister.

The alleged killers and Harvill were all involved with methamphetamine, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Capt. Steve Katz.

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An undated booking file photo released by the Pueblo Police Department shows Joshua Robertson and Brittney Humphrey. The California couple was charged with murder in the shooting death of a relative and the kidnapping of her young children

Robertson, 27, and Humphrey, 22, were arrested in Pueblo, Colorado on August 25, a day after the three children they're charged with kidnapping were found safe in a motel outside Albuquerque, New Mexico. The three children are all Harvill's and are between 2 and 5 years old.

They were found by chance after cops were called to the motel in Pueblo where they were staying on an unrelated investigation, said Pueblo County Sheriff's Office.

When cops caught Robertson and Humphrey they found them to be with a fourth child - the one-and-a-half-year-old daughter of a prison convict.

Robertson was set to be arraigned Thursday while Humphrey was awaiting extradition from Colorado.

It was unclear whether they have attorneys.

Kimberly Harvill was engaged to be married after the father of her three children and husband tragically died last year

Tragic. Harvill with her husband, Kenneth Watkins, and three children. Kenneth committed suicide last year

Prosecutors are asking that their bail be set at $2 million.

Robertson is accused of firing the gun that killed Harvill in an act that both he and Humphrey planned ahead of time, according to charging documents.

The couple took Harvill's children forcibly by instilling fear, according to the documents, which did not provide more details.

Investigators said Harvill and her children had most recently lived in Fresno and were transitory, moving from motel to motel, and depended on panhandling to survive.

Humphrey and Robertson were living in Lebec, the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County where Harvill was recently staying with her children and where she was killed, investigators said.

Before the pair were caught Humphrey's godmother, who only identified herself as Michelle, told NBC Los Angeles that she doesn't believe she was involved with Harvill's death and the kidnappings.

'She loved her sister and she loves those babies,' Michelle said. 'The fact that she's missing is just as concerning as the fact their mother is dead.'
A judge sentenced a man to 80 years in prison Thursday for the beating death of an Indiana University student two weeks before she was due to graduate.

Daniel Messel of Bloomington was sentenced to 60 years behind bars for the April 2015 murder of Hannah Wilson and another 20 years for being a habitual criminal.

Indiana law requires Messel, 51, serve at least three-quarters of his sentence, or 60 years.

Daniel Messel of Bloomington was sentenced to 60 years behind bars for the April 2015 murder of Hannah Wilson and another 20 years for being a habitual criminal.

The body of the 22-year-old psychology major from Fishers, an Indianapolis suburb, was found in a vacant lot about 10 miles from IU's Bloomington campus. Messel's cellphone was found under the body.

Brown Circuit Judge Judith Stewart said that even what amounts to a life sentence was inadequate for Messel.

The body of the 22-year-old psychology major was found in a vacant lot about 10 miles from IU's Bloomington campus. Messel's cellphone was found under the body

'There is nothing the court can do by sentence that brings complete justice,' Stewart said.

Messel maintained his innocence during the hearing.

'I didn't kill Hannah. If it was my daughter, I'd want to know what really happened,' he said. A jury deliberated about five hours last month before convicting Messel.

Authorities haven't said how or when they believe Messel and Wilson came into contact.

When police first went to Messel's home on the day Wilson's body was found, his father told them his son had not returned from playing trivia at a local bar the night before.

Messel was previously convicted of forgery in 1989, felony battery in 1990, and battery with a deadly weapon and battery resulting in serious injury in 1996.

The last two charges resulted in an eight-year prison sentence.
An Islamic State supporter from Rhode Island pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy charges, including a plot to behead conservative blogger Pamela Geller.

Nicholas Rovinski admitted he conspired with two Massachusetts men to kill Geller and attempted to recruit others to carry out additional violent attacks in the United States in a change-of-plea-hearing. The plots were never carried out.

A plea agreement between Rovinski, 25, and federal prosecutors calls for a sentence of between 15 years and 22 years. Judge William Young set sentencing for March.

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A courtroom sketch from June 12 2015 depicts, Nicholas Rovinski, second from right, of standing with his attorney William Fick, right, as Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell, left, presides during a hearing in federal court in Boston. In a change-of-plea hearing on Thursday he pled guilty to multiple federal charges including conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism

The boy next door? Rovinski was radicalized after watching videos online. He watched YouTube footage on how to make a machete

Rovinski, who has cerebral palsy and walks with a limp, answered softly when asked by the judge why he decided to plead guilty instead of going to trial.

'I feel that in the interest of myself and the people of the United States I should pay for the crimes that I have committed,' he said.

Pamela Geller, pictured, was allegedly targeted because she organised a 'Draw Mohammad' competition

Prosecutors said Rovinski plotted with David Wright, of Everett, and Wright's uncle Usaamah Rahim, of Boston, to kill Geller, who angered Muslims when she organized a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland, Texas, in May 2015. The contest ended in gunfire, with two Muslim gunmen shot to death by police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Siegmann said Rovinski told authorities after his arrest that he, Wright and Rahim had agreed to kill Geller, who's from New York. Siegmann said Rahim later told Wright he wanted to go after 'those boys in blue,' a reference to police.

Rahim, who had been under surveillance, was shot and killed by authorities on June 2, 2015, after he lunged at them with a knife when they approached him in Boston, prosecutors said. Wright has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Siegmann said that after Rovinski's arrest in June 2015 he sent two letters to Wright in which he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, talked about beheading people and told Wright he had recruited a fellow inmate to help 'take down' the East Coast and the U.S. government.

Wright, left, and Rovinski plotted with Wright's uncle Usaamah Rahim, right, to decapitate Geller. Rahim has shot dead by the FBI on June 2 after he threatened to stab agents with a knife

'Can't wait for them juicy necks,' Rovinski wrote, a reference to beheadings, Siegmann said.

Geller called Rovinski a 'murderous thug' and said he was right to plead guilty.

'He still deserves the maximum sentence  until he proves he is not a danger to human beings who don't accept his beliefs,' she said.

Rovinski's lawyer, William Fick, said Rovinski was a 'vulnerable young man' who was 'seduced by extremist ideology.'

'He has unequivocally renounced violence and renounced terrorism,' Fick said after the court hearing.

Siegmann said Islamic State recruiter Junaid Hussain communicated instructions about the plot to kill Geller directly to Rahim from overseas in May 2015. Hussain was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Syria in August 2015.
Conversations with the purported gunman at the Pulse nightclub. Nonstop calls from people reporting loved ones trapped inside the gay nightclub. Mistaken reports about explosives at the club and a false alarm about a second shooter at a nearby hospital.

New 911 calls released Thursday show the frantic pace that police and fire dispatchers faced during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

'My adrenaline is going way too fast right now,' a fire dispatcher said in one call.

Authorities are pictured outside the Pulse Nightclub where the mass shooting took place

City officials released about five dozen files of calls made to police and more than six dozen files of calls to the fire department after fighting media companies for three months over the release of the records.

Since the massacre in June, the city sought to block about two dozen media groups including The Associated Press from obtaining the government records.

A hearing on the continuing legal fight over the 911 calls will be held Friday.

Until Thursday, the city had released about 30 of the more than 600 calls made to dispatchers during the three-hour standoff with gunman Omar Mateen.

Forty-nine club-goers were killed and another 53 were seriously injured.

Mateen was killed in an exchange of gunfire with SWAT team members rescuing trapped patrons.

Omar Mateen (above), 29, killed 49 people and wounded another 53 after occupying a gay club in Orlando, Florida

The city is still requesting that scores of calls not be released under an exemption that prohibits depictions of death from being made public.

The city also wants to keep calls between Mateen and the police department's crisis negotiation team from being released.

A police communications supervisor, though, recounted one of Mateen's calls to an Orlando police official whose name is bleeped out at the beginning of the call when he identifies himself.

The police official said the FBI had called him about the Pulse shooting, and the dispatcher tells him that Mateen had said what sounded like 'an Islamic prayer' and pledged allegiance to 'Abdul something. I didn't hear the name'.

Police are pictured in Orlando, Florida, following the massacre in this June 2016 file image

A partial transcript of a conversation that the FBI released in the days after the shooting showed he had pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State.

Many of the police calls released Thursday show reporters calling the dispatchers for information about what is happening inside the club.

One call to a police dispatcher came from an Orange County Sheriff's Office worker who was trying to connect the sheriff's bomb squad unit with the Orlando police's SWAT team commander.

At one point in the standoff, police officials mistakenly believed Mateen had explosives.

About an hour after the shooting started, a police dispatcher called a fire dispatcher to say they believe there's an SUV in the club's parking lot with explosive tied to it.

Many of the fire department calls deal with the logistics of sending paramedics to secured, triage areas outside the nightclub and getting wounded victims to a nearby hospital.

In another call, a worker from a nearby hospital where most of the wounded victims were taken tells a fire dispatcher to have paramedics only bring trauma cases.

Later, a police dispatcher recounts to the unnamed police official that they are getting reports of a shooter at the hospital. The reports ended up being incorrect.

The media groups say the 911 calls are public records under Florida law and their release could help the public evaluate police response to the massacre.

The city initially said that the FBI insisted their release could disrupt the investigation.

But earlier this month, the FBI said withholding the records was no longer necessary.
Hilarious footage has emerged of a police officer busting a move in a dance battle at a community event.

Constable Ross Humphrey from Taupo Police, north of Wellington in New Zealand, shows off his killer dance moves at the Pihanga Street Reserve community in a competition against a woman from the neighbourhood.

When the DJ plays the song (Tokyo Drift by the Teriyaki Boys), Constable Humphrey kicks off his routine with the doing a side step dance move from the movie 2006 movie Big Momma's House Two.

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Constable Ross Humphrey starts his routine by doing the side step dance move from the movie Big Momma's House Two

Constable Humphrey then flails his arms about doing The Bernie, a dance move inspired by Bernie Lomax from the movie Weekend at Bernie's

He then follows with The Bernie, a dance move inspired by the flailing arms of Bernie Lomax from another film, Weekend at Bernie's.

The police officer then does the hugely popular Gangnam Style dance, which gets the biggest reaction from the audience.

At this point the officer's competition, a woman in a purple shirt, shimmies her way into the centre of the dance floor and steals a bit of the attention away with her energetic moves.

However, Constable Humphrey wins the audience back wowing them with his take on the caterpillar, the robot and the running man.

The lady in the purple shirt momentarily steals the limelight from the officer with her energetic dance moves

After loosing the audience for a brief moment to the lady in the purple top, the police officer wins them back with his Gangnam Style

The officer also does old school dance moves like the caterpillar and the robot, which gets a big reaction from the audience

Another retro dance move Constable Humphrey shows off is The Sprinkler

He also entertains the audience showing them the sprinkler and the Q-tip.

Ironically, the police officer also does the burglar dance move, which mimics a robber climbing in through a window and closing it shut.

Nearing the end of their dance-off, the woman in the purple shirt backs out leaving the police officer to finish his routine doing the Gangnam Style again.

The funny video from 2013 was has been viewed more than 3,800 times on social media.

The talented police officer shows more of his winning dance moves such as the Q-tip (right) and The Burglar (left)
A woman says she will be haunted for the rest of her life after she was raped on a first date and forced to abort her first child.

The woman fell pregnant after Chinese national Rubin Hu, 29, attacked her at his home in Notting Hill, Melbourne, on March 9 last year, The Age reported.

At the Victorian County Court on Thursday, the 21-year-old said she was shocked to find out she was pregnant and never thought she would have her first baby in such a way.

A woman says she will be haunted for the rest of her life after she was raped on a first date and fell pregnant

'This rape caused my first pregnancy and this will haunt me for the rest of my life,' she said in a victim impact statement.

She said she 'had to take out the baby', The Age reported, a remark defence lawyer Simon Moglia confirmed to mean she had an abortion.

The pre-sentence hearing was told that the pair had met online and had been on a date before returning to Hu's home.

Prosecution lawyer Diana Manova said Hu ignored the woman's plea to wear a condom and asked her if she had her period - something she argued was an aggravating factor.

Hu, who was charged with two counts of rape, was held in immigration detention for almost a year.

He has been in jail since he was convicted and will be sentenced in December, before likely being deported to China, The Age reported.
Lord Kinnock, who is 74, says it is doubtful whether he will see a Labour government again in his lifetime. He is being optimistic.

The situation is far worse than that. The real question is whether the Labour Party, as we know it, will still exist before his 75th birthday next March.

Of course, the name will still be there. But if Jeremy Corbyn is re-elected as leader, it will lapse into a coma from which there is no recovery.

Not scared of extremists: Neil Kinnock may not have won an election for Labour but he chased away Militant and put the party in a position where Tony Blair could transform it

Fanciful? Not at all. An experienced parliamentarian, one of the few for whom I have great respect, said to me at the weekend: It is all over. He didnt have to say what was all over.

This once-grand old party, born from working-class despair in Victorian times, is already being taken over.

The squatters  Corbyn, his Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and the leftist Momentum movement  are rapidly occupying the house.

There will be no blue plaques by the door saying that past giants of the party Clement Attlee, Hugh Gaitskell, Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan or Tony Blair, let alone Neil Kinnock, once lived there.

Their memories will be evicted, along with their supporters. It will be a shrine to Karl Marx.

Jeremy Corbyn and his Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell have taken over the Labour Party and steered it further away from electability

Already engagement officers are being recruited in the constituency parties to report on the anti-Corbynites.

They will relay details of meetings and political leanings to Momentum HQ, according to a Dispatches investigation for Channel 4 this week.

Is that surprising with John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, on record as being an admirer of Trotsky and Lenin?

What next, you might wonder  the formation of Corbyn Youth?

Whats actually happening is that Momentum Kids, a group founded by the Corbyn-backing Momentum movement, was announced on Monday, designed to get children involved in Left-wing politics.

This state of affairs really is beyond parody  rather like Corbyns idea of stopping after-work drinks because they discriminate against mothers. But it is not funny.

T his is part of a pattern in which the sinister is portrayed as innocuous. According to Corbynistas, the Tiny Trots, as Momentum Kids have already been nicknamed, are all about child care and engagement officers are only seeking better relationships with head office.

Meanwhile, those same Corbynistas deny plans for mandatory re-selection for MPs critical of their leader, but are, of course, determined on it. They also deny anti-Semitism, but as everyone knows it is rampant in the party.

Any damaging statement or action  Shadow Chancellor McDonnell reading from the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedongs Little Red Book in the Commons, or his claim to be a Marxist  is either denied or described as a joke.

For me, this is all too reminiscent of that dark chapter in the partys history, when the malign hard-Left Militant Tendency was intent on taking over Labour.

Militant was well-organised. They had taken over Liverpools politics. Their poison was spreading among the constituency parties  such as the one in Tonbridge and Malling, in Kent, where I was chairman at the time.

I experienced their tactics close at hand, including a 15st trade union bully threatening me, an inch from my face, after I had written articles in the Daily Mirror, criticising the hard-Left icon Tony Benn.

He only backed off when I said I would call the police.

Joe Haines (far left) with then Prime Minister Harold Wilson, remembers first hand the bully boy tactics of the militant Left

In one meeting, a group of Militant members did their damnedest to disrupt proceedings with bogus points of order, and, in the end, only a vote that went heavily against them reasserted my authority.

Fortunately, the national party leadership woke up to the threat of what was happening.

Neil Kinnocks memorable and mocking party conference speech in 1985, about the grotesque chaos of the Militants who were running Liverpool City Council, and who were hiring taxis to scuttle round a city handing out redundancy notices to its own workers, led to the end of their control. It was his finest hour.

We thought that was the end of the Militants. But it wasnt.

Theyre back with even greater menace  but the tragedy is that now there is no leader to denounce them. For the leader of the Labour Party today is the hard-Lefts inspiration.

They are no longer called Militant. The name is now Momentum. Same difference.

And there is no one to speak up.

Why arent Labours big-hitters Chuka Umunna, Dan Jarvis, Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall or Tristram Hunt on the rampage against Corbyn?

Where are you hiding? The big hope for the future Chuka Umunna (left) has vanished from the political landscape just when the Labour Party needs moderates like him

Why is it left to Owen Smith, an insignificant backbencher, to contest the leadership  a mouse fighting a rat, as my friend called it?

Where are the up-and-coming heroes? Why dont they speak up?

The answer is that they fear they will be deselected, thats why. Fear that a Left-winger will be put in their places to fight the next election.

W ell, Ive got news for them. Unless they fight and win this battle, there will be no Labour Party left to select them and no voters to elect them during the next one.

I suspect those who should be speaking up have no knowledge of their partys history. They should remember that at least making a stand against a leader you are desperate to unseat can eventually lead to the result you want, even if it takes a while.

Thats why, in my view, it is better for todays Labour grandees to fight and lose against Corbyn than never to fight at all.

At the beginning of this year, I told them how to do it.

Simply that the Parliamentary Labour Party should elect its own leader and register as a separate political party. It could call itself the Independent Labour Party, or the Real Labour Party.

It doesnt matter what, provided they keep the name Labour in the title. They would then be the second largest party, after the Tories, in the Commons.

They would be entitled to the several million pounds of official payments made to Opposition parties, which at present go to the Corbynites.

Unlike the Gang of Four (left to right - David Owen, Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins and Bill Rodgers) who set up the SDP in 1981, moderate Labour MPs would not be 'splitters'

The Opposition frontbench would be rightfully that of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

They would not be the splitters of the party. Corbyn and his crew would be.

All it needs is courage. Courage to face the row. Courage to face the threats that would inevitably come in a torrent on Twitter and Facebook.

Courage to put the party and the country before their own comfort. But it is that courage which  apart from being displayed by a handful of brave backbenchers  is missing today.

Once there were nearly 50 MPs who were former miners on the Labour benches.

Now there is only the token figure of the risible Dennis Skinner.

So it is that the party of the working class is represented by scores of MPs who have never done a days real work since they left university.

The party which won nearly half of all votes in the 1951 general election (when it lost despite beating the Tories in the popular vote) faces electoral collapse.

The party that won four general elections under Wilson and three under Blair hasnt a hope of winning the next one.
The youngest Australian to ever attend university in Australia, at age 12, has grown up to become the director of a successful start-up - and he's sharing his best tips for success.

Mel Myers, now 35, had been learning trigonometry when he was just eight-years-old and first began mathematics and IT university studies as a 12-year-old child.

The Sunshine Coast man has gone on to launch a successful start-up with 54 photo editors to fix images for real estate agencies and has dished out his two cents on the mistakes entrepreneurs make.

Mel Myers is pictured age 11, just one year before he began studies at university

The Sunshine Coast man, now 35 (pictured), has gone on to launch a successful start-up

'Many that I've met, generally, are usually trying to do too many things,' Mr Myers told Daily Mail Australia.

'All of a sudden, you've got so many different ideas at once and as a result don't end up doing any of them well.

'Focus is important and if you cut yourself back and really focus on what you want to do, you'll do a whole lot better.

'If you're going to start something new really think it through properly and know what you're getting yourself into from start to finish.'

Mr Myers is pictured receiving a mathematics award from then-Lord Mayor Jim Soorley when he was 11-years-old in 1992

Mr Myers is pictured when he was 13-years-old working at his computer

The boy is pictured when he was about 14, speaking with ABC Radio

But Mr Myers said this was something everyone had to learn, and it was something even his start-up  Box Brownie  had mistakenly done.

Now 35, Mr Myers began studying mathematics and IT externally through open learning at Deakin University when he was just 12-years-old.

'When I was 11 I finished high school maths and the next logical thing was university maths.'

'I couldn't be full time student when I was 12  and ended up doing maths and computer based subjects externally through various universities,' he said.

Mr Myers told Daily Mail Australia he would drive his parents 'crazy' by asking them to solve ridiculous equations as a child.

Mr Myers began studying mathematics and IT externally through open learning at Deakin University when he was just 12-years-old (he is pictured when he was 17, left at his graduation)

He finished his bachelor degree in business with a major in information systems when he was 17-years-old (pictured at graduation)

'I always loved maths in particular. I was a little kid who didn't know much about anything else but I knew a lot about maths.'

At 14 he was accepted into Sunshine Coast University and began attending while he continued living at home to complete a bachelor degree in business with a major in information systems when he was 17-years-old.

Mr Myers launched Box Brownie about two-years-ago with two others, and has been growing rapidly with over 3,000 customers and a quarterly growth of 56 per cent.

His start-up is a cloud-based software system designed to make image editing fast, easy and affordable.

Mr Myers launched Box Brownie about two-years-ago with two other and it has been growing rapidly
Anthony Weiner's sexting controversy with a 15-year-old girl is being investigated by law enforcement officials in New York and North Carolina.

The office of Jill Westmoreland Rose, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte, has 'begun investigative efforts,' a spokeswoman said.

An FBI task force in New York designed to combat the sexual exploitation of children is also looking into the case, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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Anthony Weiner's latest sexting controversy, this time with a 15-year-old girl, is being investigated by law enforcement officials in New York and North Carolina

Preet Bharara, one of America's toughest prosecutors, issued a subpoena for Weiner's cellphone and other electronic records on Thursday.

Speaking to the Washington Post on Thursday, Weiner said he is going through, 'a super-duper bad time', since the scandal was uncovered.

In the explosive messages, revealed by DailyMail.com this week, the former politician told the teen: 'I would bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week.'

The girl told DailyMail.com the text exchanges went on for several months, and that at one point during a Skype chat Weiner asked her to undress and touch herself.

Weiner (pictured near his home on Wednesday morning) said he is going through a 'super-duper bad time' since the scandal emerged

The 15-year-old girl said her text exchanges with Anthony Weiner went on for several months this year

ANTHONY WEINER'S TEXTS TO A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL I would bust that tight p***y so hard and so often that you would leak and limp for a week. I thought of you this AM. Hard. You can call me anything. Id like that. Your body is pretty insane. Advertisement

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.

In a statement, he said: '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.'

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday the disgraced former congressman could be jailed in the wake of the controversy.

'I've only read the reports and let me say this: If the reports are true, it's possibly criminal and it is sick,' Cuomo said.

In one of the messages revealed by DailyMail.com, Weiner said to the young girl: 'I would bust that tight p***y'

Weiner also sent the young girl a picture of himself in a hot tub. She replied: 'I'd like to come join you'

WHAT ANTHONY 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, a Democrat who resigned from Congress in 2011 amid a sexting scandal, claimed in a statement he had 'likely been the subject of a hoax.'

The congressman also said he provided an email written by the girl in which she recants her story.

Weiner is married to Huma Abedin, an aide to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and has a young son with her.

After resigning from congress in 2011, he unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2013 and was leading several polls until it was revealed he had continued his questionable behavior.

Abedin left him this month after revelations he had sent more sexually charged messages to another woman.

The office of Jill Westmoreland Rose (left), the U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina in Charlotte, as well as has Preet Bharara, top New York State investigator, 'begun investigating the allegations
Two factory bosses were shot dead by a 'gunman who then killed himself' at an East Tennessee factory Thursday.

The shooter's body was found in a bathroom, dead of what 'appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,' Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified him as Ricky Swafford, 45.

The victims were James Zotter, 44, and Sandra Cooley, 68, according to the TBI.

The preliminary investigation found Swafford got upset in a meeting with Zotter and Cooley -- his supervisors -- left, then came back and shot them, Local 8 reported.

Scene: Three people died Thursday in a shooting at an East Tennessee factory, police said

Crime: The shooter's body was found in a bathroom, dead of what 'appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,' Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler said

The Knoxville News Sentinel said the shooting was reported around 4.15pm at Thomas & Betts Corp.

Police arrived to find people 'streaming' from all exits, Ziegler said.

The police chief said the shooter was apparently using a semi-automatic pistol, but he didn't know the caliber or brand.

Witnesses described 'some attempted shooting in the front office and actual shooting deep inside the factory on the north side and the middle', Ziegler said.

Tragic: The victims have been identified as James Zotter, 44, and Sandra Cooley, 68

Speaking out: Athens Police Chief Zuck Ziegler said the shooter was apparently using a semi-automatic pistol, but he didn't know the caliber or brand

Thomas & Betts' headquarters is in suburban Memphis. It designs and makes electrical components for industrial, commercial, lighting and utility markets.

Parent company ABB said in a statement Thursday night that the 'loss is profound'.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families during this difficult time,' the statement said.

'We will have grief counselors available to all of our employees at the facility. ABB is working closely with authorities to cooperate and assist in their investigation.'
A debate is raging over whether or not the red wolf is in fact a unique species and if it should be on the endangered species list.

To prevent the red wolf from going extinct, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has shelled out about $35million since granting protection in 1967, FoxNews.com reported. Out in the wild, there are 29 red wolves.

In 1980, the animal was declared extinct in the wild and USFWS trapped 400 red wolves based on physical appearance instead of genetics in Texas and Louisiana, the report said.

Twelve pairs of the animals were selected for a captive breeding program at Washington state's Point Defiance Zoo.

A debate is brewing over whether or not the red wolf is in fact a unique species and if it should be on the endangered species list

Scott Griffin with Citizens Science told FoxNews.com: 'They absolutely invented a species and called it endangered. Fish and wildlife knew this was a hybrid from the beginning.'

USFWS was told in 1977 by the Solicitor General that the Endangered Species Act doesn't protect hybrids - however, the agency continued and had to deal with a 'super hybrid' created by the wolves mating with coyotes, the website said.

USFWS has sterilized hybrids and killed hybrid newborns in population control efforts.

UCLA geneticist Dr Robert Wayne - who believes the red wolf should be protected - was quoted by the website as saying: 'The red wolf, which lives in the Southern U.S. ...are in fact coyote and grey wolf hybrids.

'We found that the red wolves are about 75 per cent coyote ancestry. There is no evidence for distinct red wolf species.'

USWFS deputy director of policy Steve Guertin told Congress this week, according to FoxNews.com: '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.

'That's based on genetics, behavioral, taxonomic and other criteria.'

Former USFWS deputy chief of law enforcement Gary Mowad told the website: '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'

Former USFWS deputy chief of law enforcement Gary Mowad told FoxNews.com: 'This is a case of well-intentioned biologists going back several decades, trying to bring back a species they believe existed.

'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.'
The ban follows attempts to stop gym members from taking selfies

The bodybuilder now plans to change her gym because of the ban

Outraged bodybuilder Sarah Ward says she is unable to practice her sport

The ban was introduced as posing creates an 'uncomfortable environment'

City Fitness imposes a ban on posing in front of the gym's mirrors

Bodybuilders are outraged after a gym chain introduced a blanket ban on posing because it creates a 'potentially uncomfortable environment'.

But bodybuilder and CityFitness member Sarah Ward considers the rule a ban on the sport of body building and has hit back at her gym in Christchurch, New Zealand.

'First time I heard about it I didnt believe it, Ms Ward told Daily Mail Austraia.

'If you can't pose and see where your muscles are lacking as you train, you've got no way of improving.'

Bodybuilder and CityFitness member Sarah Ward (pictured) is outraged after the gym chain introduced a blanket ban on posing

Ms Ward considers the rule a ban on the sport of bodybuilding and says she has no way of improving if she can't see where her muscles are lacking

CityFitness operations manager Lisa Brown told Daily Mail Australia that rule was imposed following someone practicing their bodybuilding routine in their underwear

'It is completely appropriate during the course of your exercise routine to use the mirrors to assess form, technique or aesthetic appearance,' she said.

'The facilities are not an appropriate place for members to practice the routines of any individual sport so if the intent in coming into our facilities is to purely use them to practice a bodybuilding routine, we ask that you find alternate locations for such practice.'

But Ms Ward disagrees with this excuse.

'It's a blanket rule, they're saying no posing at all regardless of what you're wearing.

'Bodybuilders feel the rule is a like a target on their back, its ridiculous.'

Ms Ward now plans to change her gym because of the ban.

She said that her gym was a positive environment, even with the presence of bodybuilders

'People love knowing a bodybuilder, they love talking to a bodybuilder . . . they're not scared of me, they're not intimidated by me.

'I just hope they'll allow trainers to work with their clients the way the see fit while at the gym.'

CityFitness operations manager Lisa Brown said posing in front of the mirrors might make new gym members uneasy

Ms Ward says her gym was a positive environment, even with the presence of posing bodybuilders

The blanket ban follows the gym chain attempting to ban selfies earlier this year, following complaints from customers who were being photographed without their knowledge.

Due to unhappy members ending up in the background of Facebook posts and Youtube videos, taking pictures and video is now prohibited. If seen you will be asked to stop, read the sign directed at all members.

Disgruntled gym goer Rebel Ru Deus Ex Machina took a selfie with the sign in an act of rebellion and posted the image on Facebook.

'Noooo! Aww man lol, ooh such a rebel taking this haha,' he captioned the image on the social media page.

Staff have since been asked to remove the sign from their local gym.
Hundreds of Australian women are selling themselves on a website allegedly linked to sex trafficking in the U.S.

In the daily ads posted on classifieds website Backpage.com, women and men as young as 18 are offering sexual services in 12 Australian cities.

The advertisements offer explicit details about the services provided, accompanied by graphic pictures.

An image from one of the hundreds of daily listings posted to the Australian pages of website Backpage.com, which has been linked to sex trafficking in North America

In July, foreign sex-trafficking victims aged between 13 to 17 were rescued in the U.S. after authorities searched through the escort listings on the site, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Backpage is the second-largest classifieds website in America, and its role in alleged sex trafficking is now being investigated by a U.S. Senate committee, according to CNN.

In the U.S., two teenage girls who were alleged underage sex trafficking victims claim the site assisted in about 2000 instances of abuse against them because it allowed pimps to advertise sex with minors, The Boston Globe reported.

The company disputed the allegations.

In Toronto, which is branded the 'hub' of sex trafficking in Canada, police search the site daily for victims, the New Zealand Herald reported.

In New Zealand, where women are also advertising on the site, police said information about whether they were monitoring backpage was 'withheld'.

Some credit card companies are no longer be associated with the page's adult section due to the allegations against it.

A trial in which three teenage girls are suing Backpage for allowing them to be 'bought and sold' as prostitutes continues at present, NZ Herald reported.

Women post a range of photos - from lingerie-clad to sexually explicit - on the site

Jules Kim, CEO for Scarlet Alliance, the Australian Sex Workers Association, told Daily Mail Australia many sex workers used Backpage to advertise their services.

Many within the industry were also aware of the allegations facing the site.

Sex workers were often provided, where possible, education and training about advertising online and keeping themselves safe.

Scarlet Alliance was aware of the allegations against Backpage, but Ms Kim said the few cases of sex trafficking in Australia weren't related to online listings.

She said each state had organisations that could support sex workers, help with education and provide assistance with reporting incidents like sex trafficking.

Liz McDougall, General Counsel for Backpage, told Daily Mail Australia it could not comment due to pending legal matters in the U.S.

New South Wales Police said in a statement: 'The NSW Police Force monitors a range of websites. We work closely with the Australian Federal Police and law enforcement partners in other jurisdictions to monitor trafficking.

'We encourage any member of the public with information or concerns to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers.'
One of the women told the court she'll remember childhood as 'living hell'

A pair of athlete sisters have confronted their 'evil' parents to deliver powerful victim impact statements after they were raped and tortured for 14 years.

The sisters from northern NSW, who remain unnamed for legal reasons, fronted Sydney's District Court on Thursday, revealing how their father often tied them with barbed wire up to leave them in a chicken coop for up to three nights at a time.

At an earlier hearing, their father was convicted of 86 child sex offences and their mother was convicted of 13.

The court heard the violent abuse started when the pair were just five-years-old and one of the sisters was raped by her father when her mother was giving birth to her sibling in hospital, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

A pair of athlete sisters have confronted their 'evil' parents to deliver powerful victim impact statements after they were raped and tortured for 14 years (stock image)

'My father inflicted evil,' the daughter who suffered the majority of the abuse told the court. 'He abused me in such ways I thought I was going to die'.

Since the horrific abuse, the woman has been unable to hold down a job and struggles with everyday tasks.

The siblings would often miss school when they were locked in the shed for days at a time without food or a bed.

One of the sisters said their father would abuse them in cars at sporting venues, the chicken coop and in their bedrooms on 'special occasions,' the ABC reported.

As children, the siblings were promising sporting athletes and their father quit his job to help train the pair, saying he 'owned them'.

The court heard the abuse started when the pair were five-years-old and one of the sisters was raped by her father when her mother was giving birth to her sibling in hospital (stock image)

They told the court their mother should be 'ashamed,' by not putting a stop to the violent abuse.

The women said they gave in to their father's demands and feared they would be killed if they refused.

Their father gave evidence on Thursday and maintained he was not guilty of the offences.

Judge Felicia Huggett told the court the abuse was 'systematic' and the parents will be sentenced in October.
John Hopoate has been granted bail after facing court on Friday, charged with allegedly threatening a shop worker.

He allegedly made a 'number of threats' to a Crows Nest business owner and stole a beverage from the premises on Wednesday afternoon, police say.

A NSW Police spokesman said a 42-year-old man went to the Manly Police Station on Thursday afternoon where he was charged with contravening an Apprehended Personal Violence Order, intimidation and stealing.

John Hopoate was granted bail after facing court on Friday, charged with allegedly threatening a shop worker

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After spending a night behind bars, he was granted bail at Manly Local Court on Friday, where he was charged with allegedly threatening a shop worker.

Hopoate, who played for Manly, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles, courted controversy during his 13-year, 209-game, first-grade rugby league career, during which he represented Australia, NSW and Tonga.

In June, Hopoate was fined $1,500 and placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to assaulting a supermarket worker also in Crows Nest.

He was charged after a verbal argument with an employee at the Crows Nest supermarket turned physical, with staff having to intervene, police said at the time.

After spending a night behind bars, he was granted bail at Manly Local Court

In June former NRL player John Hopoate (right) was fined $1,500 after pleading to guilty to common assault following an incident at a Sydney supermarket

Hopoate was charged by the NRL with unlawful sexual connection after inserting his finger into the anus of three North Queensland Cowboys players during a 2001 fixture

Hopoate (left) fought 17 times as a professional boxer after his rugby league career ended and claimed the Australian heavyweight title in 2008

The 42-year-old played for Manly Sea Eagles and Wests Tigers in the NRL and was also capped twice by Australia after earlier featuring for Tonga, where he was born

On this occasion he pleaded guilty to the one charge at Downing Centre Local Court, where it emerged he swung his right arm at the male staffer's chest to stop him walking away and said, 'I'm talking to you, c***.'

Hopoate, the court heard, is the majority owner of a deli inside the supermarket and works as operations manager.

He had gone to find the owner of a neighbouring business to chat about discrepancies in cash received into their shared till. Hopoate is believed to have been angry that his weekly take had dropped from around $26,000 to $17,000.

The court was also told that the man Hopoate assaulted - Albert Demasi - then retaliated and head-butted the former NRL star.

He later questioned why the media was so interested in this incident. 'There's murderers and there's other cases here and you worry about common assault,' he said outside the court in June.

Hopoate, who became a professional boxer following the end of his NRL career, has a long history of indiscretions both on and off the field.

In 2001 Hopoate was charged by the NRL, which then fined him for unlawful sexual connection for infamously inserting his finger in three players' anuses during a match against the North Queensland Cowboys.

Off the field Hopoate has also had his fair share of trouble and in 2010 the father of ten was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray

Hopoate retired from rugby league in 2005 after incurring a 17-match ban for a tackle on Keith Galloway. Four years before that he was given a 12-match ban for poking opposition players up the backside.

Off the field Hopoate has also had his fair share of trouble and in 2010 the father of ten was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray while working as a security officer outside of a Sydney nightclub.
A Muslim psychologist who once said teenagers arrested on terrorism charges were just 'acting out' was allegedly aware of an Australian extremist heading to join IS.

Psychologist, Hanan Dover, from Punchbowl in Sydney's west, conversed with extremist preacher Robert 'Musa' Cerantonio over the phone before he was caught leaving Australia by a fishing boat.

The conversations which were intercepted by Australian Federal Police allegedly reveal discussions between the pair suggesting he wanted to leave to join the terrorist group, reported The Daily Telegraph.

Sydney psychologist, Hanan Dover (left) allegedly knew Australian extremist Robert 'Musa' Cerantonio (right) was leaving the country to try and join IS

'The only advice I'll give you, I thought about this last night, is the future that you want, if you are successful the people that you leave behind they will be under surveillance and just think about that,' Ms Dover allegedly said in one of the intercepted conversations.

'I'll speak to you soon. My advice to you is to shhh ...' Cerantonio allegedly said.

'Yeah, I just thought about that now. I know. I'm an idiot,' Ms Dover allegedly replied.

Conversations between the pair over a period of five months were intercepted by the AFP

Cerantonio is accused of confiding in Ms Dover during which he explained he had not heard from his 'teacher' within IS

The conversation which were tendered in court for Cerantonios case, spanned across five months.

Last November Cerantonio allegedly spoke to Ms Dover's daughter to suggest she should live in a country with sharia law.

Cerantonio is also accused of confiding in Ms Dover during which he explained he had not heard from his teacher with the Islamic State because his vicinity was being bombed.

A week later he allegedly confided once again with Ms Dover explaining his teacher was alive but two friends were martyred.

It is believed Ms Dover tried to visit Cerantonio while he was in custody in Cairns

Musa Cerantonio was caught during the first leg of their trip, which saw them drive from Melbourne to Cairns with a small tin boat attached to their car

Notorious Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio, was one of the five men arrested in May after their plot to sail from Cairns to Indonesia before fleeing to Syria to join ISIS.

They were caught during the first leg of their trip, which saw them drive from Melbourne to Cairns with a small tin boat attached to their car.

Cerantonio is known for posting videos online to urge others to join 'jihad' in Iraq and Syria.

In 2014 the radical preacher was arrested in the Philippines and deported back to Melbourne, and last year his passport was cancelled.

It is believed Ms Dover tried to visit Cerantonio while he was in custody in Cairns.
News / Africa

by Staff reporter

National chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Dali Mpofu has given a bit of a sarcastic warning to former Reserve Bank governor Toto Mboweni after he allegedly and "indirectly" called for regime change in the neighbouring Zimbabwe on Thursday.This was, Mpofu said, in relation to what happened to EFF leader Julius Malema in 2011 when he said the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) would establish a "command team" that would work to unite the opposition forces against the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in Botswana. He was expelled from the ANC for these comments.Mpofu warned that, just like Malema, the ANC would expel Mboweni for "indirectly" calling for regime change in the embattled Zimbabwe.'Careful Kumkani"some people" were expelled for allegedly "indirectly" calling for "regime change" in Botswana,' said Mpofu.Mboweni started what he calls a Zimbabwe Solidarity Movement (ZSM), which is aimed at helping destitute Zimbabweans living in South Africa. He also started the ZSM Fund to which he will donate R10 000. He says the fund will be managed by the SA Council of Churches and Gift of the Givers."On a different matter. It saddens me every day to see destitute Zimbabweans begging on our street corners. Let like-minded people help."Let us create a Zimbabwe Solidarity Movement to help our people. I volunteer to coordinate a solidarity program."In difficult times, people rely on solidarity. Zimbabweans are desperate. We can help. Corporates who do business in Zimbabwe, all of us!"I will instruct my bank to open a ZSM Fund tomorrow will R10,000.00 seed amount. All should follow. For accommodation, food and education."As gud people [sic], we cannot just pass-by, everyday, as disabled people, blind people, little kids, destitute women,beg for money at the "robots".""And we turn a blind eye to this?!Time for Solidarity for helpless Zimbabweans!Please join this humanitarian effort.Your are good people! [sic]."I will,tomorrow, request the SA Council of Churches and The Gift of the Givers to manage the funds and Zimbabwean Solidarity Fund project."Zimbabweans have been up in arms for some time, protesting what they call President Robert Mugabe's dictatorship, among other things.
Oxford was accused of elitism and snobbery last night after bitterly complaining about Theresa Mays plan to require universities to sponsor struggling state schools.

The universitys vice-chancellor Louise Richardson said running a local school would be a distraction and Oxford should not have to divert resources from ensuring we are the top university in the world.

Her comments drew a rebuke from ex-Tory leader and social mobility campaigner Iain Duncan Smith, who said: There is a sense of elitism and intellectual snobbery about this.

Oxford University (pictured) has been accused of 'elitism and intellectual snobbery' by Iain Duncan Smith for its attitude to the Prime Minister's plan

The problem is that if we want more British children from poorer backgrounds to enter British universities, it is not good enough to say that it is nothing to do with us.

We cannot do this alone. It is important for universities to now play a part in helping schools in the way that they prepare children for university.

Mrs May, who studied geography at St Hughs College, Oxford, from 1974 to 1977, has said universities will be asked to establish new schools or sponsor an existing under-performing one if they want to charge higher fees.

It is part of a wider drive to improve opportunities for children from less privileged backgrounds, which includes allowing new grammar schools to open for the first time since 1998. The Prime Minister attended a grammar school that became a comprehensive.

Professor Richardsons comments came in an interview to mark Oxford topping the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Asked if Oxford would support the idea of sponsoring a local school, she told the BBC: It would be a distraction. We are having this conversation because we are very good at running a university. We have no experience running schools.

Theresa May (pictured) is not afraid to upset universities if she believes it serves Britain's interests

Insisting that Oxford was already deeply involved in the community, she added: There are many wonderful teachers and head teachers throughout the country and I think its frankly insulting to them to suggest that a university can come in and do what they are working very hard to do and in many cases doing it exceptionally well.

She said universities should be helping existing schools, but not forced to divert academic resources from ensuring we are the top university in the world. The vice-chancellor added: It would be a distraction from our core mission.

Mrs May has been unafraid to upset universities in the past if she believes it serves Britains interests.

She triggered waves of protests by insisting on new rules to prevent Islamist extremists from preaching hate on campuses.

Universities were also angry at her decision to reduce the number of student visas given out each year.

Some MPs believe universities  irate at Britains decision to leave the EU  could use the grammar school plans to fight a proxy war against the Government

In the mid-1980s, Oxford delivered a public snub to Margaret Thatcher by refusing her an honorary degree. Until that point, Oxford graduates who became PM automatically received the honour. Academics campaigned against her getting the degree in protest at cuts in funding for education.

Professor Richardson was born in Ireland and built her career in America. She moved to Oxford from the University of St Andrews.

The Department for Education said: There are already some excellent examples of universities sponsoring schools. They have expertise that can help improve our education system and its in their own interests to improve attainment in schools.

'With 1.25million children in under-performing schools, we have put forward proposals asking how our world-leading higher education sector can help make more good school places available.
Comes after Theresa May declared that EU leaders will sign up to a deal with us because it is in their best interests

Theresa May declared that EU leaders will sign up to a deal with us because it was firmly in their interest

The jobs market of every single EU country is more dependent on trade with the UK than we are with them, a new report reveals.

The analysis by Civitas supports the Prime Ministers view that  for all the sabre-rattling from Brussels  the EU will have no option but to strike a trade deal.

As a proportion of the total working population of each country, every one of the other 27 EU member states has a larger share of its jobs market at stake in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations than we do.

Overall, 3.6 million British jobs are linked to trade with the EU  while 5.8 million EU jobs are linked to trade with the UK.

Crucially, Germany has 1.3 million jobs linked to exports to the UK  compared to only 800,000 jobs here linked to exports to Germany. The economic powerhouse of Europe will play a key role in deciding the shape of any deal with Britain, with its manufacturers expected to push for free trade to continue, even if Britain insists on ending free movement of EU workers.

The Civitas report also shows how  before the vote for Brexit  UK exports to the EU had declined from 50 per cent of all this countrys exports in 2005, to just 42 per cent in 2015.

The think-tank said that, on existing trends, the share of UK exports going to the EU would fall to 38 per cent by 2020 and to just 29 per cent by 2035. Again, this puts Britain in a stronger position in its talks with the EU, which are expected to formally begin in January or February once Article 50 is triggered.

Civitas research fellow Justin Protts, who conducted the analysis, said: Based on the potential impact on jobs, each EU country should be aware of the significant economic benefit in terms of jobs stemming from trade with the UK.

The EU does arguably have to negotiate as a bloc. However, each of the 27 remaining national government should be negotiating in the interests of those that democratically elected them. The EU, overall, has a net of 2.2 million more jobs linked to UK trade and the eurozone is still struggling with a highly unbalanced economy.

According to a Civitas report, there are 5.8m jobs in the EU which rely on trade deals with Britain. Pictured: Prime Minister Theresa May greets the President of the European Parliament Martin Schultz outside 10 Downing Street

(And) with the fall in the value of the pound, the UK has an increased competitive advantage which will allow it to do more to help UK businesses export outside the EU, which can help offset exposure to a change in trading terms. The EU does not have such a luxury.

Earlier this week, Theresa May declared that EU leaders will sign up to a deal with us because it was firmly in their interest.
Two Chinese men have been sentenced to death by an Indonesian court after being found with 18 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Li Fuzahang and Li Hezhang, both 30, were on Thursday found guilty of narcotics possession at West Jakarta District Court and will face the firing squad under Indonesia's harsh drug laws, which have seen 18 people executed since 2014.

Photos from court showed the two men, who were wearing blue jeans, white shirts and red vests issued by the West Jakarta Attorney's office, staring despondently at the floor.

Li Fuzahang and Li Hezhang, both 30, were sentenced to death by an Indonesian court on Thursday

The two Chinese men were found guilty of possessing 18 kilograms of methamphetamine

Under Indonesia's harsh drug laws possession of methamphetamine (pictured) and other drugs carries a maximum sentence of death

Fuzahang and Hezhang were arrested in December last year after police found 18 kilograms of methamphetamine inside four iron tubes at a shop they worked at in Tambora, West Jakarta, according to Indonesian state news agency Antara.

Defense lawyer Dolfie Rompas said his clients were unaware that the drugs were at the property, as they had been in Indonesia less than a month when they were discovered.

The pair had moved from China after a man named Chen Lao Pan, who is still at large, offered them a job at his spare parts business in Indonesia's capital, Rompas said.

'They only knew there was meth in the shop when they were caught by the police,' he was quoted as saying by republika.co.id.

Rompas said he planned to appeal the decision.

The two Chinese men were found guilty of narcotics possession at West Jakarta District Court

Police found 18 kilograms of methamphetamine inside four iron tubes at a shop Fuzahang and Hezhang worked at in December last year

In sentencing the men, Chief Judge Mochamad Taufik Tatas said there were no mitigating factors and drug-related crime posed a threat to young people, republika.co.id reported.

Since taking office in 2014, President Joko Widodo has resumed the execution of drug convicts, justifying its reintroduction after a four-year moratorium on the basis that Indonesia was facing a drug crisis - something which has not been backed up by sound statistics.

Indonesia's use of the death penalty has sparked widespread international condemnation and strained diplomatic ties with Australia when two Bali Nine members, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, were executed in 2015.

The pair claim they were unaware the drugs were at their workplace

The pair had moved from China to Indonesia after a man named Chen Lao Pan, who is still at large, offered them a job at his spare parts business
A 73-year-old woman was beaten on her doorstep after she challenged a man she found urinating against her house.

Kathleen Maccuish was left black and blue after the 'sickening and unprovoked' attack outside her home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on September 10.

Shocking photographs show how the pensioner suffered cuts to her face and bruising around her eyes, nose and mouth. Her right arm was also injured.

Victim: Kathleen Maccuish, 73, pictured, was left black and blue after the 'sickening and unprovoked' attack outside her home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on September 10

Attacked: Mrs Maccuish, pictured, was punched after she challenged a man who she found urinating against the wall of her house. Police are now appealing for information

Police are now appealing for information to help find the attacker.

Mrs Maccuish had returned home from walking her dog to find the man relieving himself against the wall of her home at around 8.15pm.

When she asked him what he was doing, the suspect grabbed her arm, threw her to the ground and punched her in the face before fleeing the scene.

PC Michelle Farmer, of Greater Manchester Police said: 'This was a sickening and unprovoked attack on an elderly woman that has left her shaken and anxious about going out. It is fortunate that she was not seriously injured.

Wounded: Mrs Maccuish suffered cuts and bruises to her right arm, pictured, in the attack

Lasting effects: Shocking photographs show how the pensioner suffered cuts to her face and bruising around her eyes, nose and mouth, left. Right, Mrs Maccuish today

'I would like to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the time, and may have seen anything that can help find this man, to come forward.'

The man is described as white, in his early 30s, 5ft 10in, of slim build with short dark hair, clean shaven and wearing a blue T-shirt and dark jeans.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Theresa May is considering scrapping the lavish Black and White Ball which raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for the Conservative Party.

Under David Cameron, the annual event attracted huge controversy  with a string of millionaire donors bidding huge sums for auction prizes such as City internships for wealthy youngsters, shoe shopping sessions with Mrs May and a JCB digger.

Hedge-fund kings, City tycoons and captains of industry mingled with Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha, Cabinet ministers, senior MPs and peers.

Guests leaving the Conservative Party's annual Black and White Ball at The Brewery in the City of London earlier this year

This year, around 700 guests paid between 500 and 1,500 for a seat at a table at an 18th-century brewery in the City of London.

But insiders said Mrs May wants to run the event in her own way.

The move is a further sign of determination to present herself as a Prime Minister for the many and not the privileged few.

The traditional ball is likely to be dramatically pared back. Instead, greater emphasis would be put on holding smaller fundraisers outside London.

David Cameron and wife Samantha are seen leaving a previous Black and White Ball. But Mrs May is keen to distance herself from Mr Cameron's legacy

Mrs May also wants to put the era of former party chairman Lord Feldman, who was in charge of fundraising, behind her.

Patrick McLoughlin, the new party chairman, will take charge of fundraising.

The plan is for the former miner to reach out to voters outside the Notting Hill set that Mr Cameron and colleagues cultivated.

In a further move to distance herself from the Cameron legacy, Mrs May has sacked some members of his business advisory group.

The panel of business chiefs met quarterly with Mr Cameron and other senior ministers.
Rebecca Lee, a teacher at Kipp Tulsa College Preparatory School, wrote Facebook post about how students are feeling and coping after the tragic shooting

A heartbreaking Facebook post a Tulsa teacher wrote about her students' feelings on the police shooting death of Terence Crutcher is going viral.

Crutcher, 40, was shot and killed by officer Betty Shelby on Friday after his car stalled in the middle of the road and he walked with his hands in the air.

Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter after shooting Crutcher, who was unarmed. If she is convicted, she faces up to life in prison.

Staff members at Kipp Tulsa College Preparatory School, where Crutcher's daughter reportedly attends, spoke with students about how they are dealing with the aftermath of his death.

Rebecca Lee, one of the teachers at the school, wrote a Facebook post about how students are feeling and coping after the tragic shooting.

She said the school decided to create a safe space for the children to share their thoughts and feelings in response to the shooting.

Lee explained that she wanted to share what she experienced with the students 'because I am convinced that if you can put yourself in the shoes of a child of color in Tulsa right now, you will have a clearer understanding of the crisis we're facing and why we say black lives matter.'

The elementary school teacher held small group discussions throughout the day with groups broken into the grades of students - fifth, sixth and seventh/eighth grades.

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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

While speaking with the fifth grade students, Lee said that they read a news article about Crutcher's shooting together so that they could all be informed about the incident.

She said that while she read aloud, the students, 10 and 11 year olds, highlighted and underlined parts of the story that stood out to them - 'Fatally shot. Hands raised. 'Bad dude.' Motionless. Affected forever.'

When she finished reading, she asked the fifth graders what their thoughts were.

In response to her questions, the students collectively replied: 'They answer with questions. Why did they have to kill him? Why were they afraid of him? Why does [student] have to live life without a father? What will she do at father daughter dances? Who will walk her down the aisle? Why did no one help him after he was shot? Hasn't this happened before? Can we write her cards? Can we protest?'

Lee shared that 'students cry softly as they speak. Others weep openly.

'I watch 10 year olds pass tissues to each other, to me, to our principal as he joins our circle.

'One girl closes our group by sharing: 'I wish white people could give us a chance. We can all come together and get along. We can all be united.'

'Let me tell you, these 10 year olds are more articulate about this than I am.'

The compassionate teacher wrote how she told the students that she is white and that she loves them and that they matter to her.

Video shows Crutcher (pictured in a white t-shirt) had his hands up when he was gunned down by police officers on September 16

Lee said she wanted to share her experience 'because I am convinced that if you can put yourself in the shoes of a child of color in Tulsa right now, you will have a clearer understanding of the crisis we're facing and why we say black lives matter'

While speaking to a group of sixth grade girls, Lee described that they were either 'red-eyed or withdrawn' as they sit 'next to Mr. Crutcher's daughter in class.'

'They are her friends. Nearly every student has a tissue as we read the article together,' Lee wrote in the post.

'When I open the floor for discussion: silence. It hurts to talk about. It hurts to think about. It hurts.

'I fight the urge to fill the dead air with my voice. A few quiet words are whispered about sadness and unfairness, but the rest of the time is spent wiping eyes and hugging one another.

'It becomes clear that no one else is in a place to speak.'

She explained that she gave the students a 'space to process silently the shocking situation.

Lee wrote in the post: 'Then I tell them, 'We have different skin colors. I love you. You matter. You are worthy. You are human. You are valuable.'

'Shoulders shake harder around the circle. I realize that this is the first time all year I have affirmed my love for them.'

Lee first shared the heartbreaking reactions to Crutcher's death from fifth grade students at the school in the viral post (above)

Since sharing the post to Facebook about the discussion at Kipp Tulsa College Preparatory School (above) on Wednesday afternoon, it's been shared over 112,000 times

Lee noted that the students were completely quiet in the cafeteria, as 'the tragedy lives and breathes among them.'

'It could have been their father. Boys are scattered across the cafeteria with their heads buried in their shirts,' Lee wrote of the scene with the sixth graders at the school during their discussion.

'A girl who just moved to Tulsa from New Orleans because her father wanted to 'escape the violence' is choked up as she speaks in the group next to mine. When we come back together whole group, one boy is still crying as another rubs his hand on his back soothingly.'

Lee also shared the reaction to she had while speaking with the older students about the shooting before closing out her post with encouraging people to 'love and love hard.'

Since uploading the post Wednesday afternoon, it's been shared over 112,000 times.
The demonstrator who was shot in the head during Wednesday night's riots in Charlotte has died.

Justin Carr, 26, died on Thursday after being critically wounded during the unrest over the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer.

Carr was shot as protesters clashed with police in riot gear lined arm-in-arm protecting the Omni Hotel at about 8.30pm.

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Justin Carr, 26, died on Thursday after being critically wounded during the unrest over the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer

City officials say Carr was not shot by an officer, but some protesters have claimed that he was wounded by a cop.

No arrests have been made in Carr's death, but a homicide investigation has been launched.

Police Chief Kerr Putney says the detectives are determined to find who fired the fatal shots.

Among those who question the city's account of Carr's shooting is the Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice.

Several coalition members were just 10 feet from the victim when he was shot, according to the Charlotte Observer.

'I saw the man go down on the pavement,' Minister Steve Knight of Missiongathering Christian Church in Charlotte said.

'It was an ambush. The victim was shot while he stood between two ministers, and we believe he was shot by police.'

Knight added: 'We would like to see surveillance video from the surrounding area that may have captured the shooting to determine who was responsible for the shooting.'

Carr was shot as protesters clashed with police in riot gear lined arm-in-arm protecting the Omni Hotel at about 8.30pm

City officials say Carr was not shot by an officer, but some protesters have claimed that he was wounded by a cop

Meanwhile, about 100 protesters have gathered at a park in uptown Charlotte, launching a third night of demonstrations over the fatal shooting of father-of-seven Scott.

As nightfall approached, 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 patrolled downtown interspersed with civilian vehicles.

A peaceful protest turned into a riot in Charlotte on Wednesday night as demonstrators clashed with police in riot gear

Guard members with fatigues and rifles walked through a plaza near the headquarters of Bank of America.

But at 8.30pm, without any sign of violence, police declared an illegal assembly at the junction of Trade and Tryon Streets.

On Wednesday, they had waited until rocks were thrown and after Carr had been shot to make such an announcement.

Police in riot gear emerged at the corner clearly ready to pre-empt the violence of the night before.

Meanwhile, Scott's family have urged for those who wish to protest to do so peacefully after a prayer vigil descended into riots on Wednesday.

In a statement on Thursday, Reykia Scott said she is devastated by the death of her husband and understands people's frustrations.

But she said that 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 said 44 people were arrested on Wednesday night for a variety of crimes such as assault, breaking and entering, and failure to disperse.

At least 11 people, including two cops, were taken to hospital.

Scores of rioters attacked reporters and others, set fires and smashed the windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants in bustling downtown Charlotte.
Crack teams specialising in tackling violence in jail have been deployed nearly twice a day so far this year, figures show.

The National Tactical Response Group has been called out 417 times between January and August this year  already a 15 per cent rise on the 360 times they acted last year.

The specialist force dealt with 32 hostage situations, including a member of prison staff held in May at Highpoint Prison, Suffolk, Ministry of Justice figures reveal. At Nottingham Prison alone there were five prisoner-hostage incidents in the period.

The National Tactical Response Group has been called out 417 times between January and August this year  already a 15 per cent rise on the 360 times they acted last year. Stock image

The specialist force dealt with 32 hostage situations, including a member of prison staff held in May at Highpoint Prison (pictured), Suffolk, Ministry of Justice figures reveal

Prison officers across England and Wales staged unofficial walkouts earlier this year over proposed reforms and safety fears.
Emergency services using their mobiles will get top priority on a secret congestion-free network.

Telstra has announced LANES emergency service on its 4G network, which will allow firefighters, police and ambulance workers with a special orange SIM card to communicate despite heavy congestion.

The telco giant says the technology is 'like offering Emergency Services their very own express lane.'

Emergency services using their mobiles will get top priority on Telstra's secret congestion-free network (stock image)

The LANES emergency service will allow firefighters, police and ambulance workers with a special orange SIM card to communicate despite heavy phone congestion

The service is expected to roll out this coming summer, where Australia often faces extreme weather like bushfires, cyclones and other natural disasters.

'These events put a huge amount of pressure on these important organisations and communications technology plays a major role in allowing critical services to be sustained in times of trouble,' Telstra's National General Manager Public Safety and Security, Alex Stefan said.

'It will provide police with access to real-time information that includes their identification process, which previously relied on a verbal descriptions via the radio network, as well as access mobile data-based services, letting them check photo ID or real time CCTV.'

Mr Stefan said there was enough capacity for up to 200,000 Australian emergency service workers to use the network all at once.

Brisbane police officers used LANES for remote access to their database and to stream footage from the council's network of security cameras during the G20 summit.

It's also been trialed at events like the Woodford Folk Festival and last year's AFL Grand Final where people often have difficulty getting reception, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Brisbane police officers used LANES for remote access to their database and to stream footage from the council's network of security cameras during the G20 summit (stock image)

Mr Stefan said there was enough capacity for up to 200,000 Australian emergency service workers to use the network all at once (stock image)

Telstra has suffered multiple network outages this year, where thousands of customers were left without phone and internet services (stock image)

It's reported the service could save emergency services $4 billion over 20 years compared to a similar network a Productivity Commission found.

But the Police Federation of Australia worries about future costs if all organisations are forced to use a commercial solution from Telstra.

'Just because LANES is rolled out it doesn't mean that public safety doesn't need its own spectrum,' the federation's chief executive Mark Burgess told the Sydney Morning Herald.
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Protests in Charlotte turned violent for a third night when police in riot gear used pepper spray on demonstrators who blocked a highway.

Officers stormed a line of protesters who had formed a human chain on I-277 and blocked traffic.

The cops batted them with their shields and pushed them off the road, deploying pepper spray.

A dozen of the demonstrators were hit and were unable to open their eyes as they screamed: 'It burns!'

The protesters had come prepared and had milk in spray bottles which helps overcome the efforts of pepper spray.

One girl sat on a curb sobbing as she cleaned her eyes with her hand. Another man with his shirt off was covered in milk.

Blocking the highway had caused cars caught in the chaos to turn around and drive the wrong way down the road. Police blocked off both sides.

The incident happened a little over an hour before the midnight curfew and afterwards the protesters began to regroup. Police have now cleared the highway.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department tweeted that two officers are being treated after they were sprayed with a chemical agent by demonstrators. However, no civilians were injured during Thursday's demonstration.

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Protests in Charlotte turned violent for a third night when police in riot gear used pepper spray on demonstrators who blocked a highway

Officers stormed a line of protesters who had formed a human chain on highway 277 and blocked traffic

People help a protester after he was pepper sprayed during Thursday night's demonstrations in Charlotte, North Carolina

The cops batted them with their shields and pushed them off the road, spraying their faces with pepper spray

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said on Thursday night that she had signed documents to impose a curfew from midnight to 6am.

She said she expected it to be in place for multiple days until officials determine they no longer need it.

Hours before nightfall on Thursday, the police chief had said he saw no need for a curfew.

However, shortly after the curfew got underway, Charlotte police said they don't plan to forcibly remove protesters from the street after curfew as long as the situation remains peaceful.

Capt. Mike Campagna told CNN the midnight curfew is a tool the police can use if it becomes necessary, but they hope that won't be the case.

Campagna added people inside the group of demonstrators helped keep things peaceful on Thursday.

He said community members intervened with aggressors after seeing the need when protests became violent on Wednesday night.

The National Guard were deployed to prevent a third night of violent riots in Charlotte as protesters massed on the city's streets to mount pressure on police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of Tuesday's shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

Demonstrators chanted 'release the tape' while briefly blocking an intersection near the Bank of America's headquarters in the heart of the city's business district. They then continued marching as police officers watched.

Members of the National Guard carrying rifles were deployed in front of office buildings to head off another night of violence in a city on edge.

Officers warned protesters to disperse at times when they stopped in front of buildings, but the demonstration remained peaceful in the hour after darkness fell.

In addition to the National Guardsmen, North Carolina state troopers and U.S. Justice Department conflict-resolution experts were sent to keep the peace.

The incident happened a little over an hour before the midnight curfew and afterwards the protesters began to regroup

A man is assisted after being sprayed by police during a confrontation with protesters that were blocking I-277 in Charlotte

The protesters had come prepare and had milk in spray bottles which helps overcome the efforts of pepper spray

Blocking the highway had caused cars caught in the chaos to turn around and drive the wrong way down the road. Police blocked off both sides

Protesters massed on the city's streets to mount pressure on police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of Tuesday's shooting of Keith Lamont Scott

By 9pm, the protests had been peaceful and a group of 500 people were marching through the Central Business District.

But there were tense moments and the crowd stormed up the steps of the Government Center right in the faces of five National Guard troops stationed out the front.

The crowd pointed and shouted at the soldiers until some of the protest organizers moved them on.

The protesters did the same at the police headquarters but quickly calmed down and moved on.

As the crowd matched around the streets motorists caught up in the protest had to to sit in their cars and listen to them chanting: 'No justice no peace!'

The group also chanted: 'Release the tape! Release the tape!' - a reference to the police dash cam footage of Mr Scott, which Charlotte police are not making public.

At the Omni hotel, a line of National Guard troops with an armored vehicle stood guard outside the entrance to the car park. Many of the other hotels had riot police out the front.

People chant at the intersection of Trade and College Streets during a protest against the police shooting of a black man

At 9pm, the protests had been peaceful and a group of 500 people were marching through the Central Business District

Protesters chant and wave signs at Trade and College Streets amid protests during a third night of unrest in Charlotte

The group chanted: 'Release the tape! Release the tape!' - a reference to the police dash cam footage of Mr Scott, which Charlotte police are not making public

Protesters walk in the streets downtown during another night of protests over the police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte

Charlotte awoke under a state of emergency on Thursday after a man was seriously wounded and later died after being shot during Wednesday night's protests

The city of Charlotte has imposed a curfew effective midnight on Thursday after a third consecutive night of unrest

Activists are pictured attempting to make their way onto Interstate 277 to block traffic as they march in the streets

Protesters shout for the videos of the shooting of Keith Scott from the steps of the police station during another night of protests in Charlotte

Riot police race to intercept a large group of activists attempting to block traffic on Interstate 277 during a demonstration

Members of the North Carolina National Guard stand guard outside the Omni Hotel, where a man was shot in the head on Wednesday

A protester embraces a member of the National Guard in Charlotte on Thursday night

The National Guard were deployed to prevent a third night of riots in Charlotte on Thursday and the city's mayor has imposed a midnight curfew

National Guard soldiers prepare for another night of protests over the police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte on Thursday

U.S. National Guard soldiers are greeted by a preacher outside the Omni Hotel, where a protester was shot in the head during Wednesday night's protests

So far, police have resisted releasing police body camera and dash cam footage of the death of 43-year-old Scott.

His family was shown the footage on Thursday and demanded that it be released 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 the footage of Scott's killing could undermine the investigation.

He said 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 Scott's mother claims he was reading the Koran while waiting to pick his son up from the school bus.

'That's a task for him every day, so he can be out there to get a special spot,' Vernita Scott Walker told WBTV. 'He sits in the truck and reads his book [the Koran].

'He loved to read that book, he loved to read that book.'

Charlotte is just the latest US 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.

A policeman dressed in riot gear watches protesters during another night of protests over the police shooting of Keith Scott

A member of the clergy stands in front of a line of police officers in Charlotte blocking the access road to I-277

Police look on as residents and activists march in the streets amid heavy police and North Carolina National Guard presence

A protester wearing a mask walks in front of a line of police officers blocking the access road to I-277 on Thursday

Riot police prepare to push protesters off the highway after they formed a line to block traffic on Thursday night

Charlotte is just the latest US city to be shaken by protests and recriminations over the death of a black man

Activists attempt to make their way onto Interstate 277 to block traffic as they march in the streets amid a heavy police

A couple looks at line of police officers blocking the access road to I-277 on the third night of protests in Charlotte

Police officers block the access road to I-277 near Bank of America Stadium on the third night of protests in Charlotte

Police in riot gear make their way to meet up with a large group of activists marching in the streets on Thursday evening

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 attacked reporters and others, set fires and smashed windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants in the city's bustling downtown section on Wednesday.

Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday's protests, and one protester who was shot died at the hospital on Thursday.

City officials said police did not shoot the man and no arrests have been made in 26-year-old Justin Carr's death, however some protesters have claimed he was shot by a cop.

The unrest has seemed at odds with Charlotte's image as a diverse, forward-looking banking capital of the New South.

On Thursday, in a measure of how tense things had become, three of Charlotte's major employers - Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Duke Energy - told thousands of employees not to venture into the city.

Police have said that Scott was shot dead 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.

A protester reaches to shake hands with a member of the National Guard during another night of protests in Charlotte

Demonstrators march together in protest on Thursday with a man holding a sign saying 'white silence is violence'

Protesters take to the streets of uptown during a peaceful march following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott

U.S. National Guard soldiers prepare for another night of protests over the police shooting of Keith Scott in Charlotte

National Guard troops were deployed throughout the city in a bid to prevent further violence on the streets of Charlotte

Marchers hold a sign asking for the removal of National Guard troops during a protest against police brutality

Defense attorney Toussaint Romain marches with protestors on September 23 in Charlotte

A man holds a sign reading 'Cry out to Jesus' in uptown Charlotte where protesters once again came out against the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott

. A state of emergency was declared overnight Wednesday in Charlotte and a midnight curfew was imposed by mayor Jennifer Roberts on Thursday, to be lifted at 6am

Protesters carry signs with Keith Lamont Scott's name on it. Scott, a black man, was shot by a black police officer on Tuesday

The protests stem from the fatal shooting this week of a black man, Keith Lamont Scott, by a plainclothes police officer

A couple watches along Trade Street in uptown Charlotte as demonstrators take to the streets following Tuesday's police shooting of a black father-of-seven

A woman holds a sign with a verse from the Bible - Psalm 82:6 'I said, 'You are 'gods'; you are all sons of the Most High'

A protester with a painted face joins the demonstrations during a third consecutive night of protests in Charlotte on Thursday

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,' he said in a statement.

'It is impossible to discern from the videos what, if anything, Mr. Scott is holding in his hands.'

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.'

However, Bamberg gave no details on what the wife saw.

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.

Family members of Keith Scott assemble near a press conference, held after protests against the police shooting of Scott; they have called on video of his death to be released

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

Some protesters wore masks in a bid to combat the tear gas that was deployed on demonstrators by police on Wednesday

Protesters shout for the videos of the shooting from the steps of the police station during another night of protests

Other cities have released footage of police shootings. Just this week, Tulsa police let the public see video of the disputed September 16 shooting, though the footage left important questions unanswered.

Last year, a Chicago police officer was charged with murder the same day the city released dash cam 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 a 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.'

The police chief acknowledged that he has promised transparency in the investigation.

However, he 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.'

Protesters block the road in front of Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Thursday

Protesters walk in the streets in downtown Charlotte during another night of protests over the police shooting of Keith Scott

Forty-four people were arrested after Wednesday's protests, and one protester who was shot died at the hospital on Thursday. Above, protesters shout during Thursday's evening's demonstrations

Officers warned protesters to disperse at times when they stopped in front of buildings, but the demonstration remained peaceful in the hour after darkness fell
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Heal Zimbabwe has joined the rest of the world in commemorating International Day of Peace.This year's commemorations are running under the theme, "The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace." Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September.The United Nations' General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.In his address on the occasion of this years' International Day of Peace, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon highlighted the importance of UN member states to create a future that promotes prosperity, peace and partnership in pursuit of peace and sustainable development."The people of the world have asked us to shine a light on a future of promise and opportunity. Member States have responded with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development... It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms. An agenda for the planet, our common home. An agenda for shared prosperity, peace and partnership." he said.For UN member states like Zimbabwe, the occasion for this year's commemoration offers an opportunity for self-introspection on how it has fared in creating a future that seeks to promote and uphold peace.Goal number 16 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands that countries promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels."Unfortunately, for the country, the current episodes where riot police is responding to peaceful demonstrations by citizens using brute force, continues to create fissures and dents on all attempts to enjoy fundamental human rights and freedoms by citizens. Fundamental human rights and freedoms such as those provided for in section 59 of the constitution which promotes freedom to demonstrate and petition must be enjoyed by every citizen," Heal Zimbabwe said."This year's commemorations are also taking place against a background where the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC), an independent commission mandated to ensure post-conflict justice, healing and reconciliation is yet to be functional."Heal Zimbabwe said while the gazetting of the NPRC bill on 18 December 2015 by government was a positive step towards operationalising the NPRC, such effort alone is not enough to attain national healing and reconciliation."The withdrawal of the NPRC bill from Parliament in May 2016 after citizens shredded its content during nationwide public consultative meetings is testimony that the bill failed to offer a comprehensive framework to justice, healing, reconciliation and social cohesion," said the organisation."Heal Zimbabwe calls upon the Ministry responsible for National Healing to stand guided by both the constitution and the views of the people of Zimbabwe as expressed during the bill consultations. Heal Zimbabwe further implores the Ministry to swiftly move in to ensure commencement of the Parliamentary processes that lead to the enactment of the law and effective operationalisation of the NPRC."The trust said equally important, HZT reiterates that the Government must engage protestors and proffer solutions to their grievances rather than quelling the protests using violence as this only defer the problems."HZT lastly, calls upon all Zimbabweans expressing their grievances through protests to do so peacefully as violence is totally unacceptable in modern day societies. Peace begins with me, Peace begins with You, Peace begins with all of Us!" said the trust.
An investigation has been launched after swastikas and hate graffiti were scrawled at two university dorms in San Jose, leaving staff and students outraged.

It happened at San Jose State University, whose campus president students could be expelled for the 'profoundly hurtful acts'.

The swastikas were found at Washburn Hall and Campus Village, where first year students are housed.

Police were called to Washburn Hall and Campus Village at San Jose State University University after the hateful vandalism was discovered

One of them was written using a marker on a whiteboard in a common room, while the other was made from name tags taken from outside students' rooms.

The culprits have been identified, the university said, and officials are considering sanctions which could include expulsion.

In a letter sent out to students, campus president Mary Papazian said: 'I am both saddened and outraged by this news.'

Next to one of the swastikas was scrawled 'Admit One Jew', she revealed yesterday.

She said police have identified the student responsible and 'determined that this act, while bias-based, targeted no one in particular and is not by definition a hate crime'.

The names of the culprits have not been revealed, but university staff have said they could face expulsion

The second student, who wrote on the whiteboard, claimed it was a 'joke board'.

The two instances are not thought to be linked, the university says.

The names of the students responsible for the vandalism have not been released.

But fellow students were left shaken by the content of the vandalism.

Daniel Dabel, who lives in Washburn Hall, told NBC: 'I'm hoping it was a joke and not a serious threat.

'People should be educated on how things like this aren't a joke. People were hurt. Many families lost people in the Holocaust.'

And fellow student Bianca Gilmore, who lives in Campus Village, said: 'I'm living with the people. I don't know what they could be thinking.'

Race relations on the campus have been under close scrutiny after three white former students were convicted of misdemeanor battery on a black student this year.

A trial in April heard Joseph Bomgardner, 21, and 20-year-olds Logan Beaschler and Colin Warren had put a U-shaped bike lock on the freshman's neck, and had hung Nazi symbols and a Confederate flag in their shared space.

They also referred to the African-American student they targeted as 'three-fifths' - a derogatory slave-era term.
Victorian high school students can now blame homophobic or transphobic bullying for poor results when they apply to university.

The Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, which processes university, trade school and private college applications, added the category to its reasons for special consideration.

The updated list of 'difficult circumstances' that make students eligible for its special entry access scheme includes two specific references to a student's sexuality.

Victorian high school students can now blame homophobic or transphobic bullying for poor results when they apply to university

They include 'discrimination on the basis of ones own sexualities, sexual orientations, gender identities, sex characteristics, and/or romantic identities' and 'bullying, harassment or negative treatment' due to 'race, religion, sexual characteristics, gender identity or sexual orientation'.

Similar schemes exist in other Australian states but Victoria is the first to single out discrimination or bullying for sexuality as a criteria.

Students in previous years had to claim 'physical, psychological or emotional abuse'.

The Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, which processes university, trade school and private college applications, added the category to its reasons for special consideration

A VCAT spokeswoman told The Australian specifically including sexuality and gender identity was driven by school career counsellors.

She declined to comment on whether any special interest groups or politicians had lobbied for the change.

LGBTI advocacy groups told the newspaper the move would 'help create more equal access to university and TAFE', but critics were concerned it would encourage a 'labelling and victimhood' culture.

New categories include 'discrimination on the basis of ones own sexualities, sexual orientations, gender identities, sex characteristics, and/or romantic identities'

SEAS allows tertiary admissions staff to take into account circumstances outside a student's control that affected their results.

Applications must include a personal impact statement, a supporting statement from an unrelated third party and, in some cases, a medical certificate, and be submitted by October 4 - more than two months before Year 12 results come out.

Circumstances usually include illness, injury, natural disaster, severe family disruption, abuse, family death, homelessness.

VTAC had more than 35,000 SEAS applications last financial year and 23 institutions recognise difficult circumstances in applications.
Accused paedophile Peter Scully is alleged to have carried out some of the most horrific sex crimes against children.

The 53-year-old Australian's alleged crimes are considered so monstrous that Philippine authorities are looking to reinstate the death penalty as punishment, news.com.au reported.

Scully is accused of carrying out sexual abuse and torture on young children and filming it before selling the films to paedophiles around the world.

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Accused paedophile Peter Gerard Scully is alleged to have carried out some of the most horrific sex crimes against children

A court heard on Tuesday Scully allegedly directed a video called 'Daisy's Destruction' where a baby girl was tortured by a masked and naked woman, allegedly one of Scully's two Filipino girlfriends, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The video is alleged to show the baby girl being tied upside down by her feet, sexually assaulted and bashed.

Footage featured in the film is said to be so horrific that a police chief labelled it 'the worst we have encountered in our years campaigning against child pornography'.

'I cried when I was watching them... in fact I feel like crying just now while talking about it,' prosecutor Ruby Malanog told the court, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

'It was hard to believe what I was seeing... that somebody could do those things to children.'

Police say Scully ran a dark web child pornography website called 'No Limits Fun' where videos were sold for up to $10,000 a view to paedophiles in Europe and the Americas, according to news.com.au.

The 53-year-old Australian's alleged crimes are considered so monstrous that Philippine authorities are looking to reinstate the death penalty as punishment

He and his two alleged accomplices, Carmen Alvarez (left) and Liezyl Magallo (right), who are wearing masks to hide their identities also carried out the abuse

The masks the pair wore in the video as they carried out the alleged abuse

Scully is seen using a lighter, hot wax, barbed wire and sex toys in the videos on his alleged victims.

He and his two alleged accomplices, Carmen Alvarez and Liezyl Magallo, who are wearing masks to hide their identities also carry out the abuse on the baby and other children who appear in 'Daisy's Destruction' and series of other films.

Alvarez and Magallo have been charged with child exploitation.

Scully allegedly groomed his victims by luring them into his car by assuring their parents they would have food to eat and get a good education.

During his Tuesday hearing, Scully was seen laughing and joking with fellow inmates while he faced a Philippine court over six of the 75 charges that have been levelled against him.

Police say they also found a 11-year-old girl's remains buried underneath the kitchen of an apartment rented by Scully in the southern Philippine city of Surigao in February last year.

A court heard on Tuesday Scully allegedly directed a video called 'Daisy's Destruction' where a baby girl was tortured by a masked and naked woman

The video is alleged to show the baby girl being tied upside down by her feet, sexually assaulted and bashed

Scully is seen using a lighter, hot wax, barbed wire and sex toys in the videos on his alleged victims

Videos like this were allegedly sold to customers in Germany, the United States and Brazil

Scullt set up a cybersex business, filming girls as he had sex with them or used sex toys, police say

Investigators told Channel Nine's 60 Minutes he had filmed himself sexually abused and strangling her to death.

The little girl was also made to dig her own grave.

Scully was only caught after victims and cousins Queenie and Daisy, aged 9 and 12, made their break from him.

They were detained with dog collars and chains for five days.

The girls said they were forced by Alvarez to engage in sexual acts with each other as they were filmed by the Australian.

Scully was arrested last year in Malaybalay, another southern Philippine city.

He has plead not guilty to charges of rape and trafficking.

The Melbourne native fled to the Philippines from Australia in 2011 after he was charged with fraud, according to local investigators.

He then set up a cybersex business, filming girls as he had sex with them or used sex toys, police say.
Chilling footage has emerged of the moment before a Sydney man was gunned down on his driveway while he collected his wheelie bins.

Ali Jammas, 36, was shot outside his home in Abbotsbury on July 12, 2013, before he crawled back inside and died a short time later.

CCTV footage taken from a neighbour's property shows the man seconds before he is killed by a hooded gunman.

In the video, a silver Subaru WRX can be seen pulling up outside the western Sydney property just after 6.30am, where it waits for more than three hours.

When Mr Jammas collects his bins about 10am, one of two men inside the vehicle can be seen getting out and running towards him.

Mr Jammas, who was on the phone at the time, is shot six times just seconds later.

Police allege one of the men involved in the targeted killing was Mahmoud Barakat, 31, who appeared in the NSW Supreme Court this week for his murder trial.

Ali Jammas, 36, was shot six times outside his home in Abbotsbury while collecting his bins

The court heard Mr Barakat collected a similar silver Subaru WRX from a friend's house two days before the murder, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The accused was captured again on CCTV returning the vehicle to the house of David Younes about 30 minutes after the killing.

Mr Barakat has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and is on bail.
An Australian woman is in a critical condition in a Spanish hospital after being injured in a bus crash while she was on the trip of a lifetime.

Julie Ann Fiegert had just ticked a box off her bucket list, walking from France to Spain with a group of friends, when tragedy struck in the Soria, north of Madrid.

The Queensland mother was on a bus that collided with a truck on a highway in Spain, injuring 45 people and killing one.

Julie Ann Fiegert had just finished a lifelong dream of walking from France to Spain

Ms Fiegert who had to be flown from the crash site to the hospital was reportedly sitting in the front seat next to the 26-year-old woman that died.

Her daughter Michelle started a Go Fund Me page and said she is in good hands in Spain but is still suffering from a host of injuries.

'She is heavily sedated in the Burgos Hospital of Madrid. A very prestigious hospital with the highest level of surgeons.

'Her known injuries as at Sep 20th are as follows: broken arm, broken collarbone, several broken ribs, punctured lungs, torn spleen, pulmonary artery severs, crushed both her legs (tibias), broken femur, lacerations and bruising,' a GoFundMe page stated.

Ms Fiegert was on a bus traveling near Soria, north of Madrid, at the time of the crash

Ms Fiegert was sitting in the front seat next to the 26-year-old woman that died in the crash

While Julie does have travel insurance the family is worried that it will take time for the money to come through.

'She is going to have a very very long stay in this hospital in Madrid and need multiple surgeries as well as therapies, recovery sessions and many costs to keep dad over in Spain by her side the entire time,' Michelle said on the GoFundMe page.

Ms Fiegert, from Burpengary north of Brisbane, had just completed a life long dream and was beginning to make her way home when the accident happened.

Ms Fiegert's daughter has now started a Go Fund Me page to cover medical bills

'She has dreamt of doing this her entire life and finally achieved it after setting out over a week ago.
A North Carolina congressman said that people are protesting in Charlotte because they 'hate white people for being successful'.

U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Republican whose district includes parts of Charlotte, was asked by the BBC what grievance the protesters have.

In the video posted online on 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.'

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A North Carolina congressman said people are protesting in Charlotte because they 'hate white people.' Above, U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger went on CNN to apologize for the remarks

He later released a statement apologizing and saying that his anguish over the situation led him to give a response he regretted.

'What is taking place in my hometown right now breaks my heart,' he said.

'My anguish led me to respond to a reporter's question in a way that I regret. The answer doesn't reflect who I am.

'I was quoting statements made by angry protesters last night on national TV.'

Pittenger, a Republican whose district includes parts of Charlotte, was asked by an interviewer for the BBC what grievance the protesters have

Chaotic protests broke out Tuesday and Wednesday in Charlotte after a black man was shot to death by a police officer

ROBERT PITTENGER'S APOLOGY IN FULL What is taking place in my hometown right now breaks my heart. My anguish led me to respond to a reporters question in a way that I regret. The answer doesnt reflect who I am. I was quoting statements made by angry protestors last night on national TV. My intent was to discuss the lack of economic mobility for African-Americans because of failed policies. I apologize to those I offended and hope we can bring peace and calm to Charlotte. Advertisement

He added: 'My intent was to discuss the lack of economic mobility for African-Americans because of failed policies.

'I apologize to those I offended and hope we can bring peace and calm to Charlotte.'

The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and racist.

Chaotic protests broke out Tuesday and Wednesday in Charlotte after a black man was shot to death by a police officer.

The National Guard were deployed to prevent a third night of riots in Charlotte on Thursday and the city's mayor imposed a midnight curfew.

Protesters massed on the city's streets to mount pressure on police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of Tuesday's shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

The group chanted: 'Release the tape! Release the tape!' - a reference to the police dash cam footage of Mr Scott, which Charlotte police are not making public.
Police say a man initially wanted for allegedly approaching a teenager and following her in a shopping centre is no longer wanted.

The man was caught on CCTV at Hurstville Shopping Centre in Sydney at about 8.40am on Tuesday.

Police revealed on Friday afternoon that the man was no longer being sought after and they thanked the community for their assistance.

Police say a man initially wanted for allegedly approaching a teenager and following her in a shopping centre is no longer wanted

The 16-year-old girl told police the man approached her and attempted to talk to her but she walked off.

He then followed her again and tried talking to her a second time.

CCTV images showed him wearing a dark jumper and dark jeans.

The 16-year-old girl told police the man approached her and attempted to talk to her but she walked off




A family in Adelaide have been left stunned after serious assault charges against a carer who allegedly left their grandmother battered and bruised were dropped.

Elizabeth 'Libby' Hannaford, 72, died when she 'went rapidly downhill' after the incident at at Southern Cross Care's Lourdes Valley Residential Care Centre, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.

Ms Hannaford's family only discovered on Thursday that the case would not go ahead and they were given 'no reason' as to why the aggravated assault charges were withdrawn two months ago.

On November 19, 2015, Elizabeth 'Libby' Hannaford, 72, was found 'covered in bruises' (pictured)

The court hearing was to begin on Monday at Adelaide Magistrates Court, and Ms Hannaford's family were staggered that this decision had instead been made.

'We are incredibly disappointed that no one bothered to tell us,' said her former husband, David Binns.

'No one had been held to account. There's ample evidence something terrible happened in that nursing home.

'But it seems everyone wants to wash their hands of it. We want answers [about] what happened to Libby.'

An employee at Southern Cross Care's Lourdes Valley Residential Care Centre in Adelaide (pictured) had been charged with aggravated assault over the incident (stock image)

The family were under the impression the case had continued and the man was due to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court (pictured) on Monday (stock image)

An employee at Southern Cross Care's Lourdes Valley Residential Care Centre in Adelaide had been charged with aggravated assault, but it was dropped after the grandmother of six died at the Repatriation General Hospital on February 7.

On November 19, 2015, Mr Binns was summoned to the home and found Ms Hannaford 'covered in bruises', but because she suffered from dementia she was unable to explain clearly to anyone what happened to her.

'Somebody had bashed her up. She had injuries to her face, chest and shoulders and was black and blue within days. She had not fallen over  she was beaten,' Mr Binns said.

The assault left her 'fearful' and unable to eat. A male carer was later charged with aggravated assault and ordered to face court on January 28, 2016.

But prosecutors withdrew the charges on July 7 and gave no reason why this decision was made. South Australia Police said that 'there was no reasonable prospect of conviction in this matter'.
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Detectives investigating Tiahleigh Palmer's tragic death have dug up scraps of clothing at her foster father's property.

Late on Friday, blue-gloved police officers were seen picking coloured fabric out of the ground at the home at Chamber's Flat, south of Brisbane.

As officers considered the find, investigators searched Rick Thorburn's 'Morning Glory and Afternoon Delight' coffee cart.

Police also seized two suitcases from the expansive two-hectare property, carting the potential evidence away in big plastic bags.

The house is being treated as a 'primary crime scene' in the murder investigation, with officers revving up excavation equipment about 9am.

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What have police found? Investigators plucked scraps of coloured clothing from the backyard of the property where Tiahleigh's foster family lived

Officers have been scouring Rick Thorburn's property in Chamber's Flat, south of Brisbane, for clues over the past 48 hours

Police, accompanied by heavy excavating equipment, started digging up the two hectare property about 9am Friday

Tiahleigh Palmer investigators also carted away two suitcases in yellow plastic bags, loading the evidence into a waiting car

Detectives picked apart the property in a bid to find any evidence relating to the Marsden State High schoolgirl's tragic death

Rick Thorburn's 'Morning Glory & Afternoon Delight' espresso coffee cart was also searched by officers

Police diggers unloaded heavy machinery at the property early on Friday morning, revving up the equipment about 9am

Investigators are seen in this picture standing by as digging equipment unearthed large slabs of grass at the home

A forensics officer (in blue) can be seen ducking inside the police 'Crime Stoppers' tent set up on the sprawling acreage

Police officers have this week swarmed over the Chamber's Flat home of the Thorburn family

Julene Thorburn returned to the rural property before midday Friday to tend to the horses - giving one a kiss

Ms Thorburn (left, right) is currently on bail. She was charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice

Forensics officers ducked away to take a quick drink and have a chat as the days-long effort ramped up in earnest

Ms Thorburn, the foster mother of Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, smiled for the cameras as she was escorted back to her car by a detective

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, officers explained why they were scouring the Thorburns' property.

'We are treating that [the house] as a primary crime scene. We are looking for any evidence in connection with Tiahleighs murder,' officers said.

'We are looking for all evidence. If it is there, we will look for it. If it is there, and the uniform and backpack are still outstanding... We will be looking to that at that address.

'All evidence is crucial. If it is there, yes, it is crucial.'

Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson said the earthmoving equipment was used to look for 'any evidence relating to Tia's murder and any of the other crimes with which the Thorburns have been charged'.

Detective Inspector Damien Hansen told reporters Thorburn had been transferred from hospital to prison.

'That will include any items, documents or DNA evidence. We will be looking for anything and everything,' he said.

The Courier-Mail reported they were trying to find the 12-year-old girl's backpack and school uniform.

Cindy Palmer, the biological mother of Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, read a statement during a press conference on Friday

Investigators want to find Tiahleigh Palmer's backpack in their searches

These developments come as the Tiahleigh's mother mother, Cindy Palmer, bravely fronted the media to speak for the first time since Rick Thorburn, wife Julene, and sons Trent and Josh were charged in relation to her death.

She said she was 'extremely upset the people who were entrusted to look after her daughter' were the ones who allegedly took 'her innocence and her spirit'.

'My other three children will now grow up without their sister and she will forever be an angel. I miss my daughter terribly every day and a piece of my heart is missing,' Ms Palmer said in a brief statement as she wore a T-shirt that read: 'Justice 4 Tiahleigh.

It has been also reported Tiahleigh repeatedly attempted to flee her home prior her death.

Ms Palmer had tried to run away 10 times in the 10 months leading up to her death in late 2015, according to claims by a former carer reported by the Courier Mail.

Julie Pemberton, who cared for Tiahleigh for two years, said she regretted not intervening while the young girl was trying to run away.

'I would have had her back in the following week, but I couldn't get her back.

'Too late now. You've just got to stop it happening again.'

Ms Pemberton said similar things to Daily Mail Australia last November, saying Tiahleigh often ran away from home and loved her mum, Cindy Palmer, dearly.

Police said they were looking for 'all evidence' and if it was there, it was crucial

Foster father Rick Thorburn was arrested - 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.

TIMELINE OF TIAHLEIGH PALMER'S MURDER October 30, 2015: Tiahleigh was last seen about 8.10am when her foster father dropped her off near Marsden State High School. November 5: Police appealed to the public for information on her disappearance and released an image of the 12-year-old. November 6: Fisherman found her body on the banks of Pimpama River. She was no longer wearing her school uniform. November 14: About 600 people attended her funeral. February 15, 2016: A $250,000 reward for information which would lead to an arrest was offered by police. March 23: Police forensically examined an empty house in Logan. July 11: Queensland schools became required to inform parents and carers if a child was absent. September 13: A blue Ford XR6 was seized by police and forensically examined. September 19: Tiahleigh's mother said the car belonged to her foster carers. September 20: Four people were taken into custody and her foster father was charged with her alleged murder. Advertisement

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.
He was armed and stole

Stills from security footage show a machete-wielding man threatening staff of a bottle shop with a huge machete - before fleeing the store without even demanding any money or alcohol.

Police are looking for a bandit who threatened a shop assistant at the Ashburton road Bottle-O liquor store in Gosnells, southeast of Perth, Western Australia.

One still of the robbery, which happened on Thursday September 1 at 12pm, show the robber entering the premises wearing a black Nike jacket with a hood, dark blue jeans and black running shoes.

Stills from security footage show the male robber walking into the Gosnells liquor store (left), he uses the large machete to threaten the shop assistant (right)

Another image shows the man holding up the hood of his jacket with his left hand and the machete with his right.

The man is described as fair skinned, of slim build, with short hair and cleanly shaven.

The would-be robber left the store empty-handed and the shop assistant unharmed, according to a Western Australia Police spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman suggested that he may have got what he wanted after he made his bizarre knife brandishing threat.

The man left the Bottle-O Ashburton Liquor store (pictured) empty-handed and the shop assistant unharmed

In a separate incident, Western Australian police are also appealing for information about an armed robbery of a pharmacy in Armadale, southeast of Perth on Thursday, September 22.

A man, wearing dark coloured clothes and shoes, was carrying a firearm and reported to have approached the staff of the Railway Avenue Pharmacy.

He demanded cash and prescription drugs, and fled the scene in a dark coloured sedan.

The robber is described as aged between 30 to 40 years old, 183cm tall, fair skinned, of a solid build, shaved head and a goatee.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Robert Mugabe and his embattled administration once again find themselves under a fresh regional and international spotlight, after Botswana President Ian Khama bluntly told the nonagenarian that it was time for him to leave office.Analysts, pro-democracy activists and opposition parties who spoke to the Daily News yesterday also said Mugabe's public humiliation by Khama on Wednesday, over his continued stay in power, would add pressure on him to exit high office.There were also widespread sentiments that Mugabe's unprecedented pummelling by a seating regional head of state would once again lead to Sadc renewing its intervention in Zimbabwe, as Harare begins to hog international headlines again after a seven-year lull which began with the stability-inducing government of national unity in 2009.It was also learnt from well-placed sources that Mugabe and other senior Zanu PF officials were "seething" with anger over Khama's criticism of the increasingly frail nonagenarian.Mugabe, the world's oldest ruler and the only leader Zimbabweans have known since the country got its independence from Britain in April 1980, is currently battling to contain rising civil unrest over the dying local economy  with Khama's forthright views on him likely to exacerbate his pain.The Botswana leader said Mugabe should step aside without delay and allow new leadership to takeover as Zimbabwe's political and economic implosion which began in 2000 was dragging down the whole of southern Africa.Asked by news agency Reuters if Mugabe should accept the reality of his advancing years and retire, 63-year-old Khama responded: "Without doubt. He should have done it years ago"."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, he's not really able to provide the leadership that could get it out of its predicament," Khama added.Botswana is home only to an estimated 100 000 Zimbabweans  a fraction of the estimated three million believed to be in South Africa  although this is still enough to strain public services in the small nation of 2,3 million people.South African-based think tank, NKC African Economics, was among those who felt that Khama's condemnation of Mugabe could open the floodgates to similar acerbic utterances by other regional leaders."It is even possible that the Southern African Development Community may be moved to shift its focus from Lesotho to the far more pressing problems emerging in Zimbabwe, where economic hardships, financial issues and currency rows are combining with increasing repression and a growing potential for violence."His words (Khama's) will carry much weight coming as they do from a long-standing democratic state, and the remarks signal the end of quiet diplomacy by Sadc leaders," said NKC analyst Gary van Staden.Pro-democracy groups and opposition parties also welcomed what they said was Khama's "ugly truth" about Mugabe's continued stay in office.Politics and governance expert McDonald Lewanika said Khama's public attack on Mugabe was very significant."Although Khama's take may not be new or unsurprising, it is significant because for sometime and years, Khama seemed to have made his peace with the Zimbabwean situation, and the fact that he speaks now shows a renewed concern and increased loss of legitimacy for the Mugabe regime because without recognition and support of its peers in the region and lacking support of a significant proportion of its citizens  its legitimate claim to power is on shaky ground," Lewanika told the Daily News.The MDC echoed Lewanika's sentiment and added that the political ground could be shifting for Mugabe."Khama has always been forthright and candid regarding his distaste for and disapproval of Mugabe's long authoritarian, despotic and corrupt rule. Mugabe's political sun has been slowly but surely setting since around the turn of the new millennium."The old man is in the departure lounge of his long political career. He is going. That's for sure. Mugabe has very limited, if any options, left for him. The only viable option will be for him to immediately step down from power and allow Zimbabwe to move forward," said MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu.Former State Security minister and for long a close Mugabe confidante, Didymus Mutasa, hoped that Khama's remarks would lead to consensus among Sadc leaders to persuade Mugabe to go."We recently met Sadc leaders in Swaziland as the National Electoral Reform Agenda (Nera). So, we hope that regional leaders took us seriously because it is not a secret anymore that Zimbabwe is in trouble as long as Mugabe continues at the helm."The situation we are faced with is very clear for everyone to see. Nobody needs to be told about the abduction of citizens and their torture for exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new paradigm in the region," he told the Daily News.Human Rights Watch senior Africa researcher Dewa Mavhinga said what Khama had said was very significant and would spur Zimbabweans to put more pressure on Mugabe to quit."Khama speaks the mind of many Zimbabweans when he says Mugabe is too old to lead Zimbabwe and must go. Zimbabweans must do more internally to push for human rights and democratic reforms and not put too much faith in Sadc leaders despite the courageous words by president Khama," he said.Apart from the country's dying economy, Mugabe is facing the biggest challenge to his long rule, with the nonagenarian also struggling to keep his ruling Zanu PF united as serious ructions, which analysts say have been caused by his unwillingness to name a successor, have split the former liberation into two bitterly opposed factions.In addition, Mugabe no longer enjoys the crucial support of war veterans who waged a violent assault against the opposition, especially in the hotly-disputed elections of 2000, 2005 and 2008.Khama, who is set to step down as Botswana president in 2018, is one of the few African leaders who have managed over the years to stand up against dictators on the continent.He was also the only African leader who stood with Western countries in 2013, following the equally disputed victory by Mugabe and Zanu PF party that year, which was dismissed by the opposition as a "farce".In the meantime, the rising regional and global spotlight on Zimbabwe has seen former Cabinet minister and South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni starting what he calls a Zimbabwe Solidarity Movement (ZSM), which is aimed at helping destitute Zimbabweans living in South Africa.He has donated R10 000 to the fund which will be managed by the South African Council of Churches and a local charity, Gift of the Givers."On a different matter. It saddens me every day to see destitute Zimbabweans begging on our street corners. Let like-minded people help."Let us create the Zimbabwe Solidarity Movement to help our people. I volunteer to co-ordinate a solidarity programme. In difficult times, people rely on solidarity. Zimbabweans are desperate. We can help. Corporates who do business in Zimbabwe, all of us!"I will instruct my bank to open a ZSM Fund tomorrow and will deposit R10 000 seed money. All should follow. For accommodation, food and education. As good people, we cannot just pass by everyday as disabled people, blind people, little kids, destitute women beg for money at the robots."And we turn a blind eye to this? Time for Solidarity for helpless Zimbabweans! Please join this humanitarian effort. I will, tomorrow, request the SA Council of Churches and The Gift of the Givers to manage the funds and Zimbabwean Solidarity Fund project," he said on Twitter.
His friends have taken to social media to share heartbreak over his death

Thaddeus is the third of Mia's 10 adopted children to die

As a child, Thaddeus was diagnosed with polio and was paraplegic

Friends to Mia Farrow's paraplegic adopted son who committed suicide have taken to social media sharing their heartbreak over his tragic death.

Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, 27, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the torso, a Connecticut medical examiner told TMZ. It was previously reported he had died in a car accident.

Farrow adopted Thaddeus from an orphanage in Calcutta, India, in 1994 at age 12. As a child, Thaddeus was diagnosed with polio and was paraplegic as a result of the disease.

One of his friends, Ashley Brewer, shared a post on Facebook Thursday afternoon about his death.

'Thaddeus Farrow I am going miss you more then words can say,' she wrote alongside a series of photos of them together smiling and seemingly having fun.

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Friends to Mia Farrow's paraplegic adopted son who committed suicide have taken to social media sharing their heartbreak over his tragic death. One of his friends, Ashley Brewer (together left and right), shared a post on Facebook saying she would miss him

Brewer (left) also shared a series of photos with Thaddeus (center) saying they brought her 'joy and sadness' at the same time

Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, 27, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the torso, a Connecticut medical examiner told TMZ. It was previously reported he had died in a car accident.

'These photos bring joy and sadness to me all at the same time!

'I can't believe such a beautiful soul is gone so soon!'

She said that Thaddeus was 'a great friend' to so many people.

Another friend, Jessie M. Grenfell, said that he was her 'best friend' and that she also would miss him.

'Thaddeus wilk farrow (sic) has been one of the absolute best friends I have ever had in my entire life,' Grenfell wrote on Facebook.

'Thad is more driven and determined then (sic) anyone I have ever met. He is kind and giving and absolutely loyal

'Thad works harder then (sic) most anyone I have ever met

Another woman and friend, Jessie M. Grenfell (left), said that Thaddeus (center) was her 'best friend' and that she would also miss him

Grenfell said that she was 'beyond in shock' that Thaddeus (above) had passed away

'He has always had my back and I have always had his. He has helped me in more ways then (sic) I could ever begin to thank him for'.

Grenfell said that she was 'beyond in shock that he has passed away' and that she doesn't know how to 'believe it or accept it.'

'He has helped me a million and one times and he's always been there for meAnd (sic) I for him,' Grenfell continued on in the post.

'Thad is a truly incredible man and one of my very best friends. I truly do not know how to ever accept that he is gone from this world.. he was meant to do so much.. he was going to do so much.

'He has already done so much.

'Rest in peace my dear best friend ... I will be missing you always and forever. I havent (sic) even begun to repay all of you're (sic) kindness in life and know it looks like my chance is over.'

Grenfell wrote: 'Thad (above) is a truly incredible man and one of my very best friends. I truly do not know how to ever accept that he is gone from this world.. he was meant to do so much.. he was going to do so much'

Of Thaddeus (above), Grenfell added: 'Rest in peace my dear best friend ... I will be missing you always and forever. I havent (sic) even begun to repay all of you're (sic) kindness in life and know it looks like my chance is over'

Grenfell said that he was a 'loved man' that will 'be missed by so many.'

'I will think of you always; I will miss having you by our sides and as a part of our family; no mater how much he would never accept it haha he was one of us and he always knew that.'

As news broke of the suicide ruling earlier Thursday, Farrow released her first statement about her son's death on Twitter.

'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,' Farrow wrote.

As news broke of the suicide ruling, Farrow released her first statement about her son's death on Twitter

Thaddeus (pictured above center) was found 'gravely injured in his car along Route 67' and was taken to a Danbury Hospital

The 27-year-old died after the incident in Roxbury, Connecticut on Wednesday - not far from his mother's estate Fog Hollow.

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.

The longtime activist and actress adopted Thaddeus 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.

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

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 of AIDS-related pneumonia in 2008 at the age of 35.

After she adopted Taddeus, Mia, who suffered from polio herself, spearheaded a campaign to rid the world of the disease.

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.

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

'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.

'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.

'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.'

Jessie M. Grenfell wrote the above note to Facebook about Thaddeus' tragic death




Tiahleigh Palmer's biological mother has spoken of her anguish after the foster father of the 12-year-old girl was charged with her murder.

Cindy Palmer bravely fronted media on Friday afternoon after Rick Thorburn, wife Julene, and sons Trent and Josh were charged in relation to her death.

She said she was 'extremely upset the people who were entrusted to look after her daughter' were the ones who allegedly took 'her innocence and her spirit'.

'My other three children will now grow up without their sister and she will forever be an angel. I miss my daughter terribly every day and a piece of my heart is missing,' Ms Palmer said in a brief statement as she wore a T-shirt that read: 'Justice 4 Tiahleigh.

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Tiahleigh Palmer's biological mother Cindy (pictured) has spoken of her grief after the foster father of the 12-year-old girl was charged with her murder

Ms Palmer also thanked the police, media and public for their help in trying to find out what happened to Tiahleigh.

The press conference came as an excavator was employed to dig up the backyard of Thorburn in Queensland as forensic investigators continue their search for the 12-year-old girl's missing backpack and school uniform.

Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said the Thorburns' home was the only crime scene investigators were focusing on at the moment.

He said he expected police to be at the scene for 'a number of days to come'.

'The backpack is still outstanding, the school uniform is outstanding. We will be looking for it at that address,' Det Insp Hansen said.

The excavator arrived earlier on Friday morning and investigators have been seen combing over the isolated property since then.

The press conference came as police employed an excavator to dig up the backyard of Thorburn in Queensland

An excavator is digging 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

Earlier Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson told The Courier-Mail the earthmoving equipment would be used to look for 'any items, documents or DNA evidence'.

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 claims 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 Friday

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

Bags of evidence are loaded into a police car as investigators continue their search

The property is on an isolated stretch of road at Chambers Flat

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 allegedly 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 murdered 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 murdered 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 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 alleged admission during their initial investigations and only obtained the information 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.
It was cut from the festival on Friday after days of angry opposition

An Australian film festival has come under fire over plans to screen a controversial anti-vaccination documentary.

The Castlemaine Local and International Film Festival in rural Victoria was due to host the Australian premiere of Vaxxed: From Cover Up to Catastrophe.

But it was met with furious backlash from doctors, politicians and the public who slammed it as harmful for linking the measles, mumps and rubella jab to autism.

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An Australian film festival has scrapped plans to screen an anti-vaccination documentary amid furious public backlash (creative director David Thrussell pictured)

It comes after the controversial film was dropped from Robert De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival in New York in April.

The actor, whose 18-year-old son Elliot suffers from autism that he blames on the MMR vaccine, later regretted axing it and urged people to watch it.

'There is a link and they are saying there isn't and there are other things there... There's more to this than meets the eye, believe me,' he said at the time.

CLIFF was on Friday forced to cut Vaxxed from its slate of 12 films after days of angry opposition.

Creative director David Thrussell said organisers felt 'personally and professionally threatened' and in fear of theirs and the public's safety.

'It is a sad reflection on the state of Australian democracy that legitimate questions cannot be raised in a public forum without inciting a campaign of ill-informed and dishonest intimidation,' he said.

'What can't be contained however is people's desire to see the film, and given this controversy, that will eventually happen in much greater numbers.'

He alleged the festival's website and its social media accounts, as well as those of the organisers, were hacked.

It comes after the controversial film, which links the measles, mumps and rubella jab to autism, was dropped from Robert De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival in New York

Vaxxed is doubly controversial because it is directed by Andrew Wakefield (pictured), who published the now-discredited 1998 study linking MMR to autism

Vaxxed is doubly controversial because it is directed by Andrew Wakefield, who published the now-discredited 1998 study linking MMR to autism.

Mr Wakefield was struck off the UK medical register in 2010 after the claims were found to be 'utterly false' and that he had acted 'dishonestly and irresponsibly'.

He produced the documentary, which argues the link was covered up by U.S. health officials, to clear his name and spread his claims despite being barred form practicing medicine.

Mr Wakefield even emailed CLIFF organisers thanking them for having the 'courage and integrity' to screen his film in the face of criticism from those who had not seen it and urging them to 'stand firm'.

'The facts portrayed in the movie are 100 per cent accurate and were provided by a senior scientist from the [U.S. Center for Disease Control] itself. It is not my opinion, nor is it my producers' opinions; it is fact,' he wrote.

He claimed there were never any threats of litigation despite accusing the CDC of fraud: 'Why? Because they know it to be true.'

CLIFF's plan to show the documentary were slammed by Australia's top doctors, who said it could discourage immunisation and harm public health.

Mr Wakefield even emailed CLIFF organisers thanking them for having the 'courage and integrity' to screen his film. It was posted to the festival's Facebook page

The documentary was to be screened at Castlemaine's historic Theatre Royal

Australian Medical Association president Michael Gannon said 'nothing good' could come from screening the film and urged the government to 'ban this rubbish'.

'The carnage, the disability, the death that's prevented by this [immunisation] program everyday is so important that this is one area where against my better instincts I would encourage censorship,' he told Fairfax.

'Every time we see a one or two per cent reduction in the rate of vaccination in our community we give the opportunity for preventable infectious diseases to take a hold.'

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy inquired about her powers to ban the film, saying it was irresponsible to promote harmful messages.

'We've got to keep challenging the anti-science myth pedalling that goes on around vaccination - and a film that goes out there to say "vaccinations aren't safe" is really, really unhelpful,' she said.
A Qantas plane carrying 97 passengers made an emergency landing at Perth Airport after the cockpit filled with fumes.

Passengers and five crew were forced to evacuate the stricken QantasLink Flight QF1623 via an inflatable slide at about 11.48am.

Two passengers were taken to Royal Perth Hospital with minor smoke inhalation.

A QantasLink plane carrying 97 passengers made an emergency landing at Perth Airport after the cockpit filled with fumes

The Fokker 100 aircraft flying from the WA mining town of Newman had hydraulic problems after takeoff and landed on runway three at 11.36am surrounded by fire trucks.

At least 10 fire trucks were reportedly sent to the airport along with ambulances and Australian Federal Police.

Qantas said in a statement: 'No emergency landing was requested by the pilots however emergency services are in attendance as a normal precaution.'

Passengers and five crew were forced to evacuate the stricken QF1623 jet via an inflatable slide at about 11.48am and two were rushed to hospital with unknown injuries

Passenger Ross Jenkins told PerthNow he could smell kerosene but saw no smoke.

'We landed right at the tail end of the airport which I thought was unusual,' he said.

'We came down a bit steeper than what we would normally.

'The cabin crew were told to man their stations then I heard evacuate, evacuate, evacuate.
Told him to stay strong and that he'd love to see his son and wife again

Wrote the letter to his college-aged son Sonny to tell him about prison life

Al Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 1931 for tax evasion

Mobster likely wrote the letter on the eve of his 39th birthday in 1938

Al Capone's ruthless Saint Valentine's Day Massacre left seven men dead - but even after four years in Alcatraz, the mobster let his soft side shine in a loving letter to his only heir.

The three-page letter, which is being auctioned off next week, is addressed to Capone's son, Albert 'Sonny' Capone.

The mobster signed it 'Love & Kisses, Your Dear Dad Alphonse Capone #85' - his number at the Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay.

'Junior keep up the way you are doing, and don't let nothing get you down. When you get the blues, Sonny, put on one of the records with songs I wrote you about,' Capone wrote.

Al Capone was charged with income tax evasion in 1931 (he is pictured that year) and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He spent most of his time behind bars at Alcatraz

From there, Capone wrote a letter to his son, Abert 'Sonny' Capone (pictured second from right in 1931 next to his father as Chicago Cubs player Gabby Hartnett signs a ball for him)

Capone likely wrote the three-page letter to Sonny in 1938 according to experts, four years after being transferred to Alcatraz. The first page is pictured

He added: 'Well heart of mine, sure hope things come our way for next year, then I'll be there in your arms.'

'It's an exceedingly rare personal letter showing the softer side of the notorious gangster,' said Robert Livingston, executive vice president of Boston-based RR Auction.

The firm is handling Monday's auction at a hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and expects it to fetch around $50,000.

'You'd think that figures like this would be despised, but instead, they're kind of deified in the consciousness of the American public,' he added.

Sonny was 19 years old when his father sent him the letter. In it, Capone talks about his life in prison and tells his son to stay strong. The second page is pictured

The third and last page of the letter (pictured) ends with: 'Love & Kisses, Your Dear Dad Alphonse Capone #85' - Capone's inmate number at Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay

The Brooklyn-born mobster ruled Chicago during Prohibition. His 1929 'Valentine's Day Massacre' killed seven members of the gang led by his rival, bootlegger Bugs Moran.

The feds caught up with Capone in 1931, when he was charged with income tax evasion.

He was eventually convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison, much of which he spent at Alcatraz.

Capone walked free released a few years early in 1938 and returned to his Miami Beach mansion. Riddled with syphilis, he had a stroke and died in 1947 at 48 years old.

The letter to his then college-aged son is dated only 'Jan 16th,' but experts say he likely wrote it in 1938, four years after being transferred to Alcatraz.

Sonny was 19 years old and had begun attending the University of Miami. Capone, who was born on January 17, was just about to turn 39.

Capone (second from right) told his son Sonny (pictured left next to his wife Ruth) in the letter he wanted to see him again as well as Sonny's mother and Capone's wife Mae (right)

His letter describes the daily grind in prison in a surprisingly cheerful tone.

Capone passed the time by playing banjo and mandola, an instrument similar to the mandolin. While at Alcatraz, Capone put together an inmate band he dubbed The Rock Islanders.

'Sonny I got a Song like Rainbow on the River, that was sung by Bobby Breen, in the Rainbow on the River picture, I sure hope you seen it as we saw it out here,' he wrote.

'When I come home, I will play not only that song, but about 500 more, and all mostly Theme Songs from the best Shows. In other words Junior, there isn't a Song written that I can't play.'

Capone ended the letter encouraging his son to stay strong.

'Well Sonny keep up your chin, and don't worry about your dear Dad, and when again you allowed a vacation, I want you and your dear Mother to come here together, as I sure would love to see you,' he wrote.
A Perth man who sexually abused a 12-year-old girl alongside her father while she was shackled to a bed and forced to wear bondage gear has been jailed for seven years.

Nicholas Adam Beer, 36, admitted sexually penetrating and indecently dealing with the child, and also taking indecent photographs and videos of her naked but wearing a mask, gag and dog collar emblazoned with the word 'bitch' while tied up at his Wanneroo home in March 2014.

He also pleaded guilty to supplying the material to the father and possessing more than 27,000 images and 475 videos of other child exploitation material that he'd downloaded from the internet.

Perth man Nicholas Adam Beer who sexually abused a 12-year-old girl alongside her father while she was shackled to a bed has been sent to jail for seven years

The District Court of WA heard the father brought his daughter to Beer's house after he responded to online advertisements offering her up.

In one of the videos Beer took, the girl can be seen struggling, saying 'stop, please dad'.

The court heard Beer - an anxious, socially alienated, emotionally immature loner - initially said she seemed 'comfortable and un-frightened' but psychiatric treatment was helping him start to gain an insight into the impact of his serious offending on the victim.

'She was simply far too young and you knew it was wrong,' Judge Bruce Goetze said in sentencing on Friday.

'She was uniquely vulnerable and her father encouraged you to exploit her, which is really unusual and strange.

'How any father can do this escapes me.'

Beer, who was a memeber of the Evil 8 paedophile ring, was sentenced in District Court of WA on Friday

Judge Goetze said the girl, who did not provide a victim impact statement, would probably not comprehend until she was an adult the full extent of the degradation she had been subjected to.

'That offending really humiliated her,' he said.

'She was was sexually exploited by a deviant father and you took advantage.'

Beer, who was among a group of men charged last year with abusing the girl when she was aged 11 to 13, dubbed the 'Evil 8', will be eligible for parole after serving five years.

Beer had been out on bail and not served any time behind bars.

The father, 42, was jailed for 22-and-a-half years in June but has appealed the sentence, arguing it is manifestly excessive.

Christian pastor David Volmer (pictured), was also part of the pedophile ring and has been jailed for 10 and-a-half years

Mark Wesley Liggins (pictured) was jailed for two years in May for his involvement in the Evil 8 ring

Other members of the Evil 8 paedophile ring have been jailed or are awaiting sentences for their offending.

Photographer Benjamin Simon Clarke was jailed for three years for abusing the girl.

David Volmer, a pastor, has been sentenced to 10 years' jail.

Ryan Trevor Clegg, 43, pleaded guilty in August to 61 charges, including four counts of sexual penetration of the girl when she was aged between 11 and 13.

Alfred John Impicciatore, 46, faces six charges including four counts of sexually penetrating a child aged between 13 and 16.
A vicious love triangle may have been the reason why a Darwin bikie has ended up in a coma.

The love feud may have been behind the hit and run attack that left Shannon Althouse  a Rebels sergeant-at-arms  fighting for his life, the NT News reports.

Police are pursuing a line of investigation that a bitter ex-boyfriend of Althouse's current girlfriend is behind the attack, which took place at a Yarrawonga industrial property on Tuesday night.

Shannon Althouse (left) was left in an induced coma after being run down. His friend and Rebels President Andrew Summerfield (right) took him to hospital after the incident

A police spokesman said that witnesses allege that the driver chased Althouse as he was being taken by a car driven by Rebels President Andrew Summerfield to a Palmerston doctor's surgery.

It was claimed that Summerfield's car was repeatedly rammed from behind by the other vehicle as he tried to get his friend to safety.

Since the incident police were calling for witnesses who saw a white four-door ute pursuing a gold ute and who have may have been at The Hub in Palmerston on Tuesday at 11pm.

Since Tuesday's attack Althouse's condition had improved and would soon be taken out of his induced coma.

The hit and run attack took place at The Hub in Palmerston, Darwin (stock image)

He remains in Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition. It's likely that Summerfield saved Althouse's life as was with him when he was run down.

Summerfield posted on social media how he was 'coughing up blood' after he was struck by the car, but gave no other details on the incident, saying that no complaint had been made to police.

He also posted a photograph of the pair drinking together on social media with the tribute to Althouse: 'A best mate, a brother, a soldier. RFFR Shannon Althouse.'
Some items were priced as much as $200,000 a piece, officials said

Three men were arrested for

An antiques store was selling savanna elephant tusks out of a

Three men were indicted on Thursday for selling art made from ivory out of a private room in a Manhattan antiques store.

Authorities seized over $4.5 million worth of Asian inspired art made from elephants tusks from the store and displayed their findings at a press conference held by the Manhattan District Attorney and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

'I'm outraged,' DA Cyrus Vance Jr. said. 'I can't believe that in our city we have stores that are profiting from wildlife crime.'

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Ivory art. Undercover conservation officers bought a carving for $2,000 last year identified through an analysis as elephant ivory

The designs and tusks available at the store are all presented on a table by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

'As the international elephant population hovers near extinction, too many ivory traders continue to profit from the slaughter of these beautiful, defenseless animals.'

Owners of the Metropolitan Fine Arts & Antiques store, Irving and Samuel Morano, 46 and 48, along with salesman Victor Zilberman, 62, were indicted for illegal commercialization of wildlife.

They all pleaded not guilty in Manhattan Supreme Court and were released on their own recognizance after a brief court appearance.

Manhattan prosecutors and state conservation officials said Metropolitan Fine Arts & Antiques has sold ivory articles and carvings since at least 2007.

They added that the shop didn't renew its previous license to sell ivory following a 2014 state law that banned most sales except under very limited circumstances.

Undercover conservation officers bought a carving for $2,000 last year identified through an analysis as elephant ivory.

Some items were priced or as much as $200,000 a piece, officials said.

Authorities say a subsequent search warrant found 126 ivory articles including two pairs of uncarved tusks. A mixture of adult and junior savanna elephant tucks were uncovered.

Savanna elephants are classed as a 'vulnerable' species with only around 352,000 remaining in Africa.

Savanna elephants are classed as a 'vulnerable' species with only around 352,000 remaining in Africa. On average, 96 are killed per day

Illegal poaching and humans moving into their natural habitat on the Southern African plains has seen the numbers drop significantly since 1980 when there were 1.2 million in the wild.

Statistics suggest that 96 elephants are killed per day which is rate of 300,00 per year.

New York state law stipulates that ivory artwork must be at least 100 years old, and made up of no more than 20% elephant tuck, to be sold.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said all troops would have their costs covered

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon yesterday defended the taxpayer-funded inquiry hounding British soldiers  as a way of preventing them from facing prosecution at The Hague.

He insisted troops had to face multiple probes in the UK to stop them being tried for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He admitted there had been a bucketful of patently false claims against UK forces, but said work was under way to eliminate all but a handful of serious cases.

Asked if he would apologise to innocent soldiers who have fallen victim to a witch-hunt, he suggested the investigations were necessary.

He replied: Ihat (the Iraq Historical Allegations Team) was established in order to prevent this country being hauled in front of the International Criminal Court. We have to investigate these allegations.

And he said it should be Russian forces who face prosecution at The Hague  which normally tries dictators for genocide  not British troops. But Sir Michaels defence of the highly controversial inquiries was criticised by supporters of the hounded UK soldiers.

Tory MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army officer, said: I understand what he is saying but there are others in this country that do not agree with that, including professors of law at Oxford University. It is possible to retrospectively legislate and limit human rights law by not applying it to the battlefield. Its the least we owe these people.

The Defence Secretarys remarks in a briefing at the Ministry of Defence came amid concerns soldiers facing charges for alleged abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan could have to pay their legal fees. But Sir Michael pledged: We will provide legal support without subsequent recovery costs.

And he suggested Russian commanders should be probed for war crimes after twenty people died when an air strike destroyed the humanitarian convoy in Syria on Monday.

Soldiers accused of war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan had face having their wages docked to fund their legal fees (file picture)

Sir Michael said: If it wasnt a mistake then certainly Russian commanders need to be held to account. But the Defence Secretary was criticised for not going far enough to back the hounded troops.

Lawyer Hilary Meredith, who is supporting soldiers facing prosecution, said: There needs to be more support for the Armed Forces. The way Ihat are going about their investigations is shocking.

Meanwhile, Sir Michael said RAF warplanes had hit more than 100 targets in Mosul as the US-led coalition prepares for an operation to retake the Iraqi city from Islamic State within weeks.

Solicitors involved in the cases had expressed fury that money for legal costs would be taken from their pay packets in advance

Around 1,500 cases of mistreatment are being investigated by the publicly-funded Iraq Historic Allegations Team (file picture)

More than 1,500 cases of mistreatment are being investigated by the publicly-funded Iraq Historic Allegations Team (lhat).

As reported by MailOnline, 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 earlier this week that six soldiers have been arrested and 20 questioned under caution during Ihat's 57million probe into the Iraq War.

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.

Hilary Meredith, who is seeking a judicial review of lhat backed by 200 troops, said soldiers had been left helpless before its 'aggressive investigators'.

The Daily Mail has campaigned for an end to the hounding of troops, with many suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after fighting for Britain overseas (file picture)

'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.

Ms Meredith added the MoD was 'hair-splitting' over legal fees while funding the multi-million pound inquiry.

Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former soldier, said he 'didn't understand' how the Prime Minister could say soldiers were 'being supported' in the wake of the pay issue

Earlier this week a spokesman for Mrs May said the Government 'continued to support anyone from the Armed Forces involved in an investigation'.

But Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former soldier himself, has called for a halt to the lhat investigation in the wake of the fees issue.

Last night, Sir Michael admitted that abuse claims against British troops had been a witch hunt.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the Defence Secretary warned that the scale of unfounded claims has resulted in a dampening effect on soldiers operational ability in the field.

He said: It has been a witch hunt. And it has been intimidating  not just to our veterans but it has been intimidating to our soldiers today who worry that they too might find themselves being investigated 10 years from now.

Sir Michael also said that any troops facing criminal proceedings will not have to fund their own defences.
The Metropolitan Police has admitted losing 13 unsolved murder files and is investigating whether they were destroyed by corrupt detectives.

Families remain unaware about the disappearance, which was first discovered in 2012 after a review of cold cases following the conviction of Gary Dobson and David Norris for the murder of Steven Lawrence in 1993.

A subsequent probe has also revealed fresh suggestions of police corruption around the Lawrence case which the National Crime Agency is now investigating.

Scotland Yard, pictured, has admitted losing files around 13 unsolved murder cases

It comes despite the force previously stating it had passed all relevant material to the Macpherson inquiry into his death in 1998, which concluded that the original investigation had been incompetent and that officers had committed fundamental errors.

Duwayne Brooks, a friend of Mr Lawrence who was present when he was stabbed to death, told the Daily Mirror: This is huge. The Met has repeatedly said all relevant documents were disclosed.

If it is found there has been a deliberate attempt to get rid of documents, those responsible should be prosecuted for perverting justice.

It is understood the files contained several boxes of papers and were kept at offices in north London.

The Met said there is no evidence they have been destroyed but this was constantly reviewed.

In a statement, a spokesman said: In 2012 the Met started a systematic review of historical unsolved homicide cases under the operation name Yetna. This operation initially focused on cases dating from between 1980 to 1989.

This review work identified that there were a number of missing files relating to murders from this time period.

'Since then significant efforts have been made to trace the missing files and understand what relevant material is held elsewhere in the Met.

At the current time 13 files are classed as missing, but work is ongoing to locate them.

It comes after fresh suggestions of corruption around the Steven Lawrence, pictured, murder case in 1993

The spokesman said the Met would not identify the missing cases and had not told the families due to the age of the cases as it could cause considerable distress after so many years.

The statement added: To date our efforts in locating some of the files have not suggested that police corruption is a factor. However, this is kept under constant review.

The Met has been very open about the challenges we face regarding record management. Whilst not unique to the Met, nor policing, particular challenges are presented by the decades worth of paper material that has been generated by an organisation of this size.

Since the 1980s our systems and processes for managing the huge amounts of information and paperwork generated by complex and long-running crime investigations have changed beyond recognition, most notably with the introduction of the HOLMES system.

The work to ensure our record management processes are robust is not just about looking back to the how material was stored in the 1980s but about looking forward to ensure that we are legally compliant and understand what information we hold so it can be disclosed to the relevant public inquires that are running.

As part of that process we are carrying out a full sweep of the Met estate and our deep storage facilities.

We are committed to taking every opportunity possible, no matter how many years have passed, to detecting unsolved murders and bringing justice for families.

A review called Operation FileSafe is believed to have inspected 900,000 documents across 34 Met buildings so far, with the 3million operation set to continue until 2018.

Meanwhile another Met team is working with a public inquiry into the murder of private detective Daniel Morgan, who was killed with an axe in Sydenham in 1987.

Duwayne Brooks, pictured, a friend of Mr Lawrence who was present when he died, said anyone responsible for 'perverting justice' should be held to account

His family suspect corrupt officers protected those responsible for the death of the married father-of-two.

It comes days after Two police officers - one a detective in the intelligence branch - have been arrested as part of a corruption investigation.

The pair were detained during raids in London and Essex this morning and remain in custody while their status as police officers is reviewed.

A 32-year-old detective constable attached to Met's Intelligence Unit was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, fraud by false representation, perverting the course of justice and offences under the Computer Misuse Act.

A 22-year-old constable attached to Redbridge Borough was also arrested at a residential address in Essex on suspicion of fraud by false representation.
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Laurent Delahousse the outgoing French ambassador to Zimbabwe, used his farewell dinner on Wednesday to mock President Robert Mugabe over the Zanu-PF leader's embarrassing "wrong speech" gaffe last year.Delahousse also revealed that a section of Mugabe's fractious regime had engineered a daredevil break-in at his official residence in Harare declaring a "diplomatic line was crossed".Mugabe last year read the same speech twice at two different occasions, in an embarrassing gaffe, which saw him ploughing through his State of the Nation Address at the official opening of the National Assembly.Government was forced to withdraw the speech, but Zanu-PF legislators had actually ululated and "thanked the President for a brilliant speech". The French National Day falls on July 14.
The toddler who was lost in forests swarming with bears and wolves for three days told his mother how he cried for her each night after dogs he was using to keep warm deserted him.

Harrowing new details have emerged about little three-year-old Tseren Dopchut, who has been given the nickname Mowgli having made himself a bed at the base of a tree.

His mother Dan-Khayaa Kurzhepey, 22, a law student, revealed that he had run into the Siberian taiga with a dog and two puppies, and they initially helped protect him and kept him warm.

But one by one his canine guardians went back home, leaving the child all alone in light daytime clothing with no food other than a tiny supply of chocolate, and temperatures sinking to freezing or below at night.

The toddler who was lost in forests swarming with bears and wolves for three days told his mother how he cried for her each night after dogs he was using to keep warm deserted him

His mother Dan-Khayaa Kurzhepey, 22, a law student, revealed that he had run into the Siberian taiga with a dog and two puppies, and they initially helped protect him and kept him warm

A toddler has been found alive after surviving alone for three days in Siberian forests filled with wolves and bears

With tears in her eyes, she said: 'He spent three days in forests, with only the trees around.

'God knows what he saw in the night.

'He told me how he was calling me: "Mama, mama."

'God knows how long he was calling me that way.'

The mother said that Tseren - now given the nickname Mowgli by the region's governor Sholban Kara-Ool - slipped away when his great grandmother was supposed to be looking after him.

'During the first day he was with three dogs, on the second day only one puppy was with him, and on the third day he was all alone,' she said.

'He told me: "I was calling the puppy - come here, come here puppy.".

'He also told me he was very cold.'

Tserin Dopchut, three, had only a few bites of chocolate stashed in his pocket when he wandered away from his great grandmother and followed a puppy into the Taiga wilderness in the Tuva region of Russia

The puppy left, but some of the hundreds of searchers spotted the direction it came from, and went to search for the child.

It was his uncle who finally found him weak but alive.

He went into shock when he was initially found, but he is now back to normal in hospital in Tuva region in southern Siberia, said Dan-Khayaa.

'He talks like before and remembers everything,' she said.

'He is all the same, my Tseren.

'He doesn't tell me much about what happened, but doctors say this is normal.'

Tserin - wearing only his daytime clothes - survived by making himself a bed among the roots of a protective larch tree.

It is believed that the puppy found its own way home leaving the boy alone in the Siberian wilderness.

But his mother knew he would be alright.

'I know my son, he is a fighter,' she said.

'I believed that he will survive.

'Of course, I worried terribly, but I tried not to think bad things.

'I forbade myself because all the bad things can become real and that should not be.

'I knew, we should never give up.'

A full-scale search for the child was launched with temperatures sinking to freezing point at night

She admitted to admonishing her son for wandering from her village into the dangerous taiga, natural habitat of wolves and bears a a fast-flowing river nearby.

'He went with three dogs - two puppies and one adult,' she said.

'He himself told me about this.

'I asked him - why did you go so far away, you know the forest is prohibited?

'He doesn't reply to me, obviously he aware of his guilt, that he was not supposed to wander so far.'

She told how neighbours had warned her to prepare for the worst after her son was absent for three days and nights in forests rife with wolves.

'Knowing my child well, I did not despair,' she said.

I did not think something bad had happened.

'I knew that my child was alive, that he can endure everything.

'And on the third day he was found and now he is next to me.'

A full-scale search for the child was launched with temperatures sinking to freezing point at night.

It is believed that the puppy found its own way home leaving the boy alone in the Siberian wilderness

Hundreds of rescuers took three days to find the child, who was eventually spotted by his uncle.

Tuva governor Sholban Kara-Ool explained: 'He recognised his uncle's voice calling his name, and called back. Once his uncle hugged him, the little boy asked if his toy car was okay.

'He said that he had some chocolate which he ate during the first day. Then he found a dry place under a larch tree and slept there between the roots.

'The whole village is throwing a party to celebrate his survival. He was given the second name of Mowgli.

'It is now predicted he will become a rescuer himself, because he showed incredible stamina for his age by surviving for so long alone in these cold woods.'

The risks were huge with Tuva emergencies' chief Ayas Saryglar telling The Siberian Times: 'The situation was very dangerous.

'The River Mynas is fast and cold. If a small child fell in, it would be certain death. There are wolves, and bears in the forest.

'The bears are now fattening for the winter. They attack anything that moves.

'In addition, it is warm during the day, but at night there are even frosts.

'If we consider that the kid disappeared during the day, he was not properly dressed - only a shirt and shoes, no coat.'

The boy's father is a soldier in the Russian army. The rest of the family were in the fields bringing in the hay when the child vanished.
This is the moment a five-year-old girl was pulled alive from the wreckage of a collapsed building by her ponytail after an airstrike in Aleppo killed her entire family.

Rawan Alowsh was dragged from the crumbled concrete of her family home in Bab al Nairab after fighter jets targeted rebel-held areas in the east of the Syrian city.

She could be heard crying out in pain in the video footage as rescuers desperately worked to remove the rubble covering her body following today's attack.

The injured girl was then carried away for urgent treatment, covered in dust and blood.

A five-year-old girl was pulled alive from the wreckage of a collapsed building after an airstrike in Aleppo which claimed the lives of her family

Sky News reported that her parents, three sisters and brother were among the 30 civilians killed in the raids by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft.

Local rescuers have called the bombing the start of an 'annihilation'.

It came after US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to reach an agreement with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on terms to salvage the failed ceasefire.

When asked by reporters at the United Nations whether the truce could be reinstated, Mr Lavrov simply said: 'You should ask the Americans.'

Fighter jets targeted rebel-held areas in the east of the city in a second day of heavy bombardment hours after the army announced the start of a military operation there, rescue workers and activists said.

Entire apartment blocks were flattened, overwhelming rescue teams from the White Helmets civil defence organisation.

Rawan Alowsh (pictured) was reportedly dragged by her ponytail from the crumbled concrete of her family home in Bab al Nairab after fighter jets targeted rebel-held areas

She could be heard crying out in pain in the video footage as rescuers desperately worked to remove the rubble

Sky News reported that the young girl was dragged from the wreckage by her ponytail

In the Al-Kalasseh district, three buildings were levelled by a single strike, and rescue workers were trying frantically to reach survivors using a single bulldozer and their bare hands.

The Syria Civil Defense's headquarters in the Ansari district was badly damaged along with an ambulance and a fire engine. A second centre operated by the group was also hit.

Around 12 people were also killed in a Russian raid on the rebel-held town of Beshkatine.

The bombardment came a day after the Syrian army announced an offensive to recapture east Aleppo, which has been held by the rebels since mid-2012 but has been surrounded by government forces since July.

The injured girl was then carried away for urgent treatment, covered in dust and blood

The girl's parents, three sisters and brother were among the 30 civilians killed in the raids by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft

The army urged civilians to distance themselves from 'the positions of terrorist groups' and pledged that fleeing residents would not be detained.

A high-ranking military source confirmed that the bombardment was preparation for a ground assault.

'We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment,' he told AFP.

'This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground.'

Another military source in Damascus said 'the goal of the operation will be to expand the area under the army's control'.

He said reinforcements had already been brought to Aleppo.

The talks between Kerry and Lavrov in New York on Thursday broke up after Russia refused US demands that it promise to immediately ground the Syrian regime's air force.

Missiles rained down on rebel-held areas of Syria's Aleppo on Friday, causing widespread destruction that overwhelmed rescue teams, pictured is a child being pulled from rubble

Around 30 civilians including several children were killed and dozens wounded in the raids by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said

The intensity of the bombardment, which included artillery barrages and barrel bombings by helicopters, brought new misery to the estimated 250,000 civilians besieged by the army

The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday, and there was no word on casualties.

Ammar al Selmo, the head of the civil defence rescue service in eastern Aleppo, told Reuters a squadron of five warplanes was in the skies over the city, identifying them as Russian.

A fresh wave of bombing had started at from 6am, after heavy overnight attacks, he said. 'What's happening now is annihilation,' he said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 30 air strikes had targeted different areas of Aleppo from midnight.

It is the latest blow in efforts to end the Syrian civil war that has raged since 2011.

Rebel officials and rescue workers said incendiary bombs were among the weapons that rained down on Aleppo. Hamza al-Khatib, the director of a hospital in the rebel-held east, told Reuters 45 people were killed.

Syrians carry a body following bombardment on the al-Marja neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo

Rescue teams are pictured carrying a casualty of a stretcher after the Syrian regime forces airstrikes hit Aleppo's opposition controlled Al-Ansari town

'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.

Moscow and Washington announced the ceasefire on September 9. But the agreement, possibly the final bid for a breakthrough on Syria before President Barack Obama leaves office in January, collapsed like all previous efforts to halt a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians and made half the nation homeless.

Syrian state media announced the new offensive and quoted the army's military headquarters in Aleppo urging civilians in eastern parts of the city to avoid areas where 'terrorists' were located and said it had prepared exit points for those who want to flee, including rebels.

A wounded man was seen being carried after by rescue teams after Al-Ansari was bombed

The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday, and there was no word on casualties

The Syrian army announcement did not say whether the campaign would also include a ground incursion.

The aerial assault, by aircraft from the Syrian government, its Russian allies or both, signalled Moscow and Damascus had rejected a plea by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights so aid could be delivered and the 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'.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad indicated he saw no quick end to the war, telling the Associated Press it would 'drag on' as long as it is part of a global conflict in which terrorists are backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United States.

A boy inspects a damaged site after airstrikes on the rebel held Tariq al-Bab neighbourhood

A Syrian family leaves the area following a reported airstrike on the al-Muasalat area in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo

Had the U.S.-Russian brokered truce, which took effect on September 12, held, and had humanitarian aid consistently flowed to Syria, this could have led to intelligence-sharing by Moscow and Washington to go after Syrian militant groups they both oppose.

The ceasefire deal suffered two blows in the last week. On Saturday, the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State militant group carried out a lethal air raid on Syrian government troops. Washington said it hit Syrian forces by mistake. Assad said in his interview he believed the strikes, which he said lasted over an hour, were deliberate.

On Monday, the ceasefire foundered further with an attack on an aid convoy that killed around 20 people and that Washington blamed on Russian planes. Russia denied involvement.

The cease fire in Syria is lying in tatters today after war planes pounded rebel positions in Aleppo (pictured) after president Bashar al-Assad announced a fresh offensive

Bashar al-Assad said the Syrian military, backed by the Russians, was starting a new operation against the rebel-held east

Doctors say 45 people have been killed in the devastated city of Aleppo while local rescuers have called the bombing the start of an 'annihilation'

In another sign of the Syrian government's determination to gain 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 in ruins.

Foreign ministers emerged from a meeting in New York having failed to find a way back to a ceasefire, though the United State's Kerry said he was willing to keep trying if Russia came back with new ideas.

'I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated,' Kerry told reporters after the session.

'It was a long, painful, difficult and disappointing meeting,' the U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters after the meeting of the International Syria Support Group, which includes about two dozen major and regional powers.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior U.S. official put the onus on Moscow to come up with ideas on how to ground the Syrian air force, a U.S. objective to reduce the violence.

However, emerging from a meeting that he said was 'intense,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's response to a proposal for grounding planes as 'not satisfying.'

Syrian state media announced the new offensive and quoted the army's military headquarters in Aleppo urging civilians in eastern parts of the city to avoid areas where 'terrorists' were located

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 the aid convoy near Aleppo.

Assad has appeared as uncompromising as ever in recent weeks, reiterating his goal of taking back the whole country.

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.
The son of former Loyalist terror chief Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair has been laid to rest today at a funeral attended by 100 people.

Jonathan 'Mad Pup' Adair Jnr is believed to have died after taking fake Valium pills that are feared to have killed dozens of people across Scotland.

Adair Jnr was found dead at a house in Ayrshire earlier this month aged 32, having recently been released from prison in Kilmarnock where he had been serving time for driving offences.

Valium, also known as diazepam, is a powerful tranquiliser used to treat conditions including muscle spasms, anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Jonathan Adair Jnr was laid to rest in Scotland today during a funeral in Ayrshire, pictured, in a coffin in which flowers spelt out 'dad, son, brother'

His father Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair, right, was seen arriving at a crematorium earlier today

Adair Jnr, right, is the son of former Loyalist terror chief Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair, left

(From left) Adair Jnr, Gina Adair, Chloe Adair, Johnny Adair and Natalie Adair moved to Scotland in the late 1990's after 'Mad Dog' was released in the Good Friday Agreement

His funeral was held at Holmsford Bridge crematorium near Irvine, North Ayrshire.

The hearse carrying the coffin had flowers spelling out dad, son and brother.

A number of Adair Snr's associates and supporters from Belfast were expected to travel to Scotland for the funeral despite 'warnings' from loyalist paramilitaries to stay away.

Adair Snr told the Belfast Telegraph newspaper on Friday: 'I just want to bury my son. I want to bury him with dignity and in peace. The support I have had from back home has been overwhelming.

'If a few individuals are trying to stop people attending (the funeral), it's because they are afraid of me. They are afraid of me regrouping and coming after them.'

The funeral passed without incident.

The fake blue Valium pills, sometimes available for as little as 10p, often contain a mix of other drugs making them potentially dangerous.

Adair Snr, a leading figure in the Ulster Defence Association during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, is said to be 'distraught' at the loss of his son.

One source told the Daily Mirror: 'He [Adair Snr] knows Jonathan was taking the blue pills, and he knows mixing them with alcohol or other drugs is quite likely to be lethal.'

The source added: 'He won't know for sure what killed Jonathan until toxicology results come back, and he is dreading any mention of heroin being involved.'

Jonathan Adair Jnr, pictured, is believed to have had 'blue plague' fake Valium pills on him when his body was found

Adair Jnr is understood to have had 'pills in his pocket' when his body was found.

Meanwhile one of the people who found him herself died of an overdose just days later.

Gemma Lawson, 22, and her boyfriend David Killen, discovered Adair Jnr dead while looking for a friend at the property in Troon, Ayrshire.

Mr Killen said Miss Lawson 'took 25 blue Valium pills' days later, and he found her unconscious the next morning at a homeless shelter they were staying at.

Despite paramedics attending, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two years ago Adair Jnr was jailed for smashing a window and threatening a woman after she refused to sell him cannabis.

He later admitted that he was high on 'street valium' when he went on the rampage.

The year before, he was on remand for attempting to headbutt a man.

He was put in prison again for breaking a ban on driving imposed against him after he was stopped by police.

Quick checks determined that he had no licence or insurance to drive the vehicle.

He was due to go on trial in January next year accused of being in possession of cannabis at HMP Bowhouse in Kilmarnock in May.

Adair Snr, pictured, was a leading figure in Ulster Defence Association during the Troubles

The case against him called at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Friday, the day before he was found dead. His lawyers lodged a not guilty plea.

Police confirmed they attended the property after his death and were treating it as 'unexplained'.

Adair Snr moved to Scotland with his partner and five children after being released from prison as part of the Good Friday Agreement and has lived in Ayrshire for a number of years.

The 52-year-old's group was linked to around 30 sectarian murders and Adair has himself survived many attempts on his life.
Scarlett Keeling's furious mother has blamed a 'despicable coward' eye witness who pulled out of giving evidence 'at the last minute' for the not guilty verdict over her daughter's death.

The bruised body of 15-year-old Scarlett was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state of Goa.

Samson D'Souza, 36, and Placido Carvalho, 47, were today both cleared of plying her with drugs, raping her and leaving her unconscious on the beach where she subsequently drowned.

As the investigation into the death got underway, a key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as 'Masala Mike' initially spoke of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Ms Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

But in a press conference in Goa today, Ms Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown said Mr Mannion had 'pulled out' of testifying 'at the last minute' and that she now held the London carpenter 'partially responsible for this lack of a guilty verdict'.

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The bruised body of 15-year-old Scarlett Keeling (pictured) was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state of Goa

Ms Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown, 51, said she was 'shocked' by the verdict, telling reporters: 'I've waited eight years (for justice) - and now this'

As the investigation into the death got underway, a key witness, Briton Michael Mannion (pictured), known as 'Masala Mike' initially spoke of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Ms Keeling on the beach shortly before she died

Samson D'Souza (pictured at court today) was one of two men cleared over the rape and death or Ms Keeling

Placido Carvalho (centre), one of the two Indian defendants, speaks to the media after the verdict today

The death of the teenager, from Bideford in Devon, became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system

After describing Mr Mannion as a 'despicable coward' for not returning to give evidence, she said: 'He let Scarlett down for the first time when he drove off and left her there with this guy and he just let her down again badly.'

She added: 'He was treated as a witness and he promised he'd come back and he didn't.'

Ms MacKeown, 51, had earlier said she was 'shocked' by the verdict, telling reporters: 'I've waited eight years (for justice) - and now this.

'Somebody murdered my daughter in this country and someone needs to be held accountable. I'm devastated and shocked.

'We thought justice would finally be done, but it hasn't. We had shown faith in the Indian judicial system, but the Indian system has let me down. This verdict is rubbish and we will file an appeal in the High Court.'

HOW KEY BRITISH WITNESS FAILED TO TAKE THE STAND Fiona MacKeown had been warned the odds of a conviction had been dealt a huge blow after a key British witness failed to take the stand with what she called 'watertight evidence'. Michael Mannion from Brighton previously claimed to have seen one of the two men who were accused of raping and leaving Scarlett Keeling for dead on a beach at the scene of the crime on the night of her death in 2008. He failed to return to Goa this summer for the trial after a nervous breakdown and his statements were scrapped as inadmissible. Mr Mannion, 44, was staying with D'Sousa in Goa on Valentine's Day eight years ago - the night Scarlett was killed. Michael Mannion from Brighton previously claimed to have seen one of the two men who were accused of raping and leaving Scarlett Keeling for dead on a beach at the scene of the crime on the night of her death in 2008 In an interview with The Telegraph, her mother Fiona Mackeown, 52, said: 'I have seen Michael's statements. 'But they are not admissible because they were not taken in front of the court. 'He was going to go and all was set. 'He said he saw one of them taking a pill and giving a pill 'to the girl'. 'He saw him lining up lines of cocaine.' But after discussing the case publicly over the years, Mannion had now suffered a nervous breakdown over the killing and had been given a medical exemption from testifying but would not comment about the case to The Sun. 'Eight years I've been involved in this,' Mannion told the paper. 'Who was there for me when I needed help?' Fiona MacKeown (pictured) had been warned the odds of a conviction had been dealt a huge blow after a key British witness failed to take the stand with what she called 'watertight evidence' Mannion's involvement in the case has been troubled including facing a travel ban by India from returning to Britain in the weeks after the death as he attempted to care for his sick father. 'I'm not guilty of anything at all. If I was, I wouldn't be here,' he had said in April 2008. 'It's causing immense stress on my family and personally I'm becoming a bit depressed by the whole thing.' His lawyer, Vikram Varma, had said: 'My client witnessed the events prior to the homicide of Scarlett Keeling. 'He was initially scared about going to the police with this information in case it got him into trouble. Now they have placed this circular on him, which effectively means he cannot leave. 'He is feeling devastated. He doesn't know what to do. All he wanted was to help the course of justice, he has lost all confidence in the police here.' Mannion had claimed that he had seen Scarlett being sexually abused by one of the accused.Ms MacKeown, added: 'The Foreign Office say a guilty verdict for D'Souza and Carvalho will be hard to get without Michael Mannion's evidence. 'We were close to putting it to bed once and for all but my heart has been broken again because Mannion cannot testify.' Advertisement

Judge Vandana Tendulkar took just seconds to clear the men due to a lack of evidence at the hearing at a packed court.

The men had been 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.

They had earlier been told they faced life in prison if found guilty.

Ms MacKeown looked anxious before the afternoon hearing inside the small courtroom filled with over fifty journalists.

Samson D'Souza (left) and Placido Carvalho (right) were 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

Fiona MacKeown (pictured outside court today) said she was 'devastated and shocked' by he verdict

Scarlett Keeling's mother (pictured) insisted her legal team will file an appeal in the High Court

Speaking after the verdict, 51-year-old Ms MacKeown (left) added that the Indian judicial system, had let her down. Her daughter Scarlett Keeling is pitured right

As the judge started giving her verdict, Ms MacKeown, who listened to her with rapt attention just yards from the accused then looked shell shocked as she realised the result.

The two men listened intently and then thanked the judge as, smiling broadly, they bowed and swiftly left the court.

Carvalho, who was acquitted of all the charges, said after the verdict: 'There was nothing in the case. We were being framed.'

D'Souza told reporters: 'I am happy with the verdict. Justice has prevailed.'

Defence lawyer Marvin D'Souza said: 'There was no evidence against my client from the beginning, the CBI were just going ahead without any evidence.

'If the CBI decide to take the matter up to the High Court, we will see what legal options we have.'

But Ms MacKeown's lawyer, Vikram Verma, said the criminal justice system had 'failed'.

He said: 'It is for the CBI to decide. Facts are that the medical evidence talks of 52 injuries, coke, eyewitness and forensic supports this. But according to the verdict, no-one killed her, hurt her or gave her cocaine.

'The job of the investigation agency is to find out who has done it and to present evidence to support their case.

'The present criminal justice system has failed.'

The death of the teenager, from Bideford in Devon, became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system.

Police initially dismissed Ms Keeling's death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after her mother pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped.

It showed that Ms Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but has been dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

Police initially dismissed Ms Keeling's death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after her mother, Fiona MacKeown (pictured), pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped

MacKeown (left) and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling (right) and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as 'Masala Mike', also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case.

He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Ms Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Ms Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Ms Keeling later returned alone to attend a party.

Her body was found on the morning of February 18, 2008.

Police alleged that D'Souza and Carvalho plied Ms 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.

They denied all of the charges, claiming that the teenager died an accidental death after taking drugs of her own volition.

After the hearing, Ms MacKeown lashed out at the investigation and in a press conference, called the local police 'corrupt'.

'The medical evidence confirms that my daughter Scarlett was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after some criminals gave her alcohol and cocaine.

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Ms Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Ms Keeling later returned alone to attend a party

'Right from the beginning I knew that the local police did not want to prosecute the killers. It took a huge effort from me even to get the police to register a complaint.

'I had some hope that the CBI (the Central Bureau of Investigation, India's elite national police agency) ... It is clear that they are either incompetent or corrupt and I don't believe that they are incompetent.

'I can only say that if international tourists come to Goa and are murdered they have no hope that justice (will be done) in this system.

'I don't believe there has ever been justice for a murdered tourist in this country.'

'The criminal justice system protects the criminals and not the tourists.'

She also called on the judge to make public her reasons for acquitting the men.

'I'd really like to see the judgment. I'd like to see what the judge has to say for herself.

'I'd really like to see her reasons for acquitting them on everything after the statements clearly said we know about the drugs - so many witnesses said about the drugs I thought she'd have at least charged them with that.

Ms MacKeown (pictured speaking to the press in 2010) described her daughter as 'just a normal teenage girl'

'I can't begin to imagine where she was coming from to acquit them of all charges.

'I want to see her judgment and I want to scrutinise it and then I'm going to show it to the whole world so it better be good.'

Before the hearing, Ms MacKeown described the delays in the case as a 'nightmare'.

She told Sky News: 'It's a parent's worst nightmare, it's bad enough to lose a child to murder without it being dragged out for so long, have the police lie about the whole incident to start with and they tried to rubbish me and Scarlett.

'It's been horrible, I would not wish it on anyone.

'I think it's been delaying tactics - I think they hoped I would get tired and get fed up of waiting or I would not come back. They were wrong.'

Ms MacKeown described her daughter as 'just a normal teenage girl'.

She told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: 'She wanted to be more grown up than she was. She was happy and lively and used to sing at the top of her voice through the supermarket.

'She played saxophone and she was going to join a band. She used to ride the horses a lot - we had horses and she loved that. She used to swim - all of us used to get into the sea in Cornwall and swim. She was active and strong and healthy.'

Ms MacKeown also said that she would always 'regret' allowing her daughter to go to the Valentine's Day beach party.

'Mostly people don't know the facts when they say I left her on the beach on her own or with her 29-year-old boyfriend. He wasn't her boyfriend and I didn't leave her on her own. They don't know the facts and I try not to take what they say personally.
Double killer Christopher Halliwell was branded 'self-centred, domineering, calculating and devious' by a judge today

Police say they are 'very, very clear' that double murderer Christopher Halliwell has more victims.

The taxi driver - who was already serving life for the 2011 murder of Sian O'Callaghan - was today told he will die in jail after he was convicted of murdering Becky Godden.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Superintendent Sean Memory said: 'I am also very, very clear there must be other victims out there, whether they are sexual offences or other women that he has taken.

'I can't believe that Becky was his first offence, from being a burglar in the 1980s to a murderer in 2003. There was a significant gap in his offending behaviour.

'On top of that, Sian wasn't murdered until 2011 so what happened in the interim eight years?'

Halliwell, 52, abducted Miss O'Callaghan, 22, in his taxi as she made her way home from a night out in Swindon in March 2011.

He confessed to killing Miss O'Callaghan and took police to her body before offering 'another one' and leading them to where he had buried missing prostitute Becky Godden years earlier.

Halliwell later denied murdering Miss Godden but was convicted following a two-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Passing sentence today, the judge described Halliwell's account of Miss Godden being buried in the field by two drug dealers as a 'cock and bull story'.

Halliwell murdered Becky Godden (left) years before he killed his second victim, Sian O'Callaghan (right), but Miss Godden's family had to endure a long wait for justice

The judge added: 'Your account of the circumstances in which she met her death bears all the hallmarks of a contrived explanation designed to avoid conviction in the hope that the minimum term you are presently serving will not be increased.

'But the account in which you advanced so glibly with little or no regard to the truth made no sense at all.

'I have had the opportunity of observing you throughout the trial and listening to your evidence. I have no doubt that you are a self-centred and domineering individual who wants his own way. You are both calculating and devious.'

Father-of-three Halliwell, who smirked at Miss Godden's family when he was convicted this week, stood impassively in the dock during today's hearing.

When the judge finished he sentencing remarks, he smugly said 'thank you' before being taken away.

Miss Godden's mother Karen Edwards has endured a long wait for justice. But she has refused to criticise the detective who broke the rules to catch Halliwell, instead hailing him a hero

The judge had told him: 'You have put the family of Rebecca Godden through similar anguish, first confessing to her murder and then answering no comment to all questions in interview.

'After what must have been hours of trawling through the prosecution papers, you devised a cock and bull story about two drug dealers.

'I cannot add to your sentence for such cynical indifference to the concerns of the families but it is clear to me that there is nothing which can mitigate your sentence.

Detective Superintendent Sean Memory says police are clear that more victims of Halliwell are out there

'I sentence you to life imprisonment and direct there will be a whole life order.'

Halliwell's confessions to Miss Godden's murder were initially ruled inadmissible because Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher had breached police guidelines on interviewing suspects.

The charge of murdering Miss Godden was withdrawn until March this year following an investigation by Wiltshire Police.

Former detective Mr Fulcher left the police after he was disciplined over the cautioning issue, but has been hailed a hero by Miss Godden's mother for finding her daughter's body.

Mr Fulcher now works as a consultant in Somalia but is writing a book giving his side of the story of the investigation into Halliwell, which is due out next year.

Police have said they have 'no doubt' Halliwell could have claimed more victims. The former butcher once asked a fellow prisoner how many women a person had to murder to become a serial killer.

Before rising today, the judge praised Miss Godden's family for their 'quiet dignity and courtesy'.

Addressing Miss Godden's family, the judge said: 'You have had to live with every parent's nightmare of a missing child and then the discovery that she had been dead for some years, buried naked in a field.

Footage released by police shows Halliwell asking for future impunity if he admits the murder

Halliwell was finally snared after forensic experts were able to link the soil found on a shovel in his shed to the field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire

'You have been deprived of the opportunity we all want to say farewell to our closest and dearest. And then you have had to live through the criminal processes as Christopher Halliwell was brought eventually to justice.

'There must have been moments when you wondered whether the case would ever be completed. If I may say so, you have behaved throughout with quiet dignity and courtesy.

DOUBLE KILLER JOINS ROLL CALL OF BRITAIN'S WORST SERIAL KILLERS, TERRORISTS AND THUGS DOING WHOLE LIFE TERMS Christopher Halliwell joins a grisly who's who of the vilest criminals in Britain. The 52-year-old taxi driver, who killed Becky Godden and Sian O'Callaghan in Swindon, is the most recent recipient of a whole-life order - meaning he will die in prison. He joins the likes of one-eyed police killer Dale Cregan, paedophile Mark Bridger and Moors murderer Ian Brady when he was handed the 'life means life' sentence. According to the Ministry of Justice, 54 other prisoners are serving a whole-life order, although that does not include those serving their terms in secure hospitals. Police killer Dale Cregan and paedophile Mark Bridger are among 'whole-life' prisoners Also on the infamous list is the 'Yorkshire Ripper' Peter Sutcliffe and club bouncer Levi Bellfield, who was handed the term for murdering two young women and trying to murder a third. Steve Wright will also die behind bars for the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich, as will Michael Adebolajo, one of the two murderers of soldier Lee Rigby. There are only two woman on the list. Serial killer Rose West was convicted in 1995 of a murder spree with husband Fred at the Cromwell Street 'House of Horrors' in Gloucester. She is joined by Joanna Dennehy who was described in court as 'arguably the most dangerous female prisoner in custody'. She was jailed at the Old Bailey in February 2014 for murdering three men and stabbing two more. There are other notorious killers who have not been given a whole-life tariff - including Soham murderer Ian Huntley, who is serving a 40-year minimum term for killing 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2003. Joanna Dennehy, who was given a whole life term for murdering three men and stabbing two more, has been described as 'the most dangerous female prisoner in custody' While Stuart Hazell, who killed schoolgirl Tia Sharp and hid her body in the loft of the home he shared with her grandmother, was given a 38-year minimum term. In 2013 the validity of whole life orders was thrown into turmoil after the European Court of Human Rights ruled prisoners must have the right to review for it to fit in with human rights laws. But the Court of Appeal later said murderers who commit the most 'heinous' of crimes can be sent to prison for the rest of their lives, ruling that the statutory scheme enacted by Parliament which enabled judges to pass whole-life orders was 'entirely compatible' with the European Convention on Human Rights. Advertisement

Detective who got confession out of Halliwell insists he did the 'right and moral thing' despite his failure to caution delaying justice

Former detective superintendent Steve Fulcher is to release a book telling his side of the story on the investigation

A top detective who lost his job after he caught Christopher Halliwell has said the killer's conviction has vindicated his actions.

Halliwell confessed to Becky Godden's murder and led police to the exact spot where she had laid in a shallow grave for eight years.

But the crucial confession was ruled inadmissible by a judge because Halliwell had not been cautioned beforehand.

The technicality saw former Det Supt Steve Fulcher disciplined for misconduct and resign in disgrace.

But defiant Mr Fulcher has said Halliwell's conviction this week proved he had done the 'right thing' in stopping a killer who may have gone on to murder more women.

He insisted he had no regrets. He said after the verdict: 'Halliwell is an evil and depraved violator of women. I caught a serial killer, preventing any further girls being murdered.

'I remain convinced that the action that I took in allowing Halliwell to take me to the bodies of both Sian and Becky, was the right and moral thing to do.

'It is perfectly clear that, had I not acted as I did, neither Sian nor Becky would ever have been found and Halliwell would be free to abduct and kill other girls.'

The police officer who led the investigation says he thinks Halliwell (pictured) killed others

Miss Godden's mother, Karen Edwards, paid tribute to the former detective outside Bristol Crown Court earlier this week and criticised the way he was treated.

She said: 'I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart Steve Fulcher for bringing my little girl home.

'I will also respect him and will be indebted to him for making that moral decision as a police officer but he should have never have suffered the terrible consequences, loss of reputation and career for doing such a thing.'
retired nurse said she 'cannot wait for her next challenge'

A sprightly 87-year-old has taken to the skies to become Britain's oldest female wing-walker.

Daredevil Betty Bromage was strapped to the wings of a 1944 Boeing-Stearman during the death-defying stunt before flying some 500ft above the ground - while travelling at 90mph.

Betty, who lives in a retirement home in Cheltenham, flew from Gloucestershire Airport, and said she cannot wait for her next challenge.

Daredevil Betty Bromage, 87, has become Britain's oldest wing-walker - and did it all for a good cause

Betty was strapped to the wings of a 1944 Boeing-Stearman during the death-defying stunt before flying some 500ft above the ground - while travelling at 90mph

She performed the stunt earlier this month at Gloucestershire Airport while her anxious friends and family looked on

The fearless pensioner raised more than 1,100, with all the money going to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

Betty was helped up onto the aircraft before being strapped into a harness on the centre of the plane.

As a precaution, the former nurse chose to wear a neck brace during the flight.

Speaking afterwards, she said: 'I had a wonderful time, and being a retired nurse, am happy to support the Air Ambulance in their work that I have seen first hand.

'I am now looking for my next challenge.'

Pilot Mike Dentith told The Mirror Betty could tick this off her 'bucket list'.

He added: 'She was a remarkable lady, well that generation are.

'She had a sort of bucket list she wanted to get through and this was on it. She said 'I'm starting a bit late but I want to get through it all'.'

Getting set: Betty's friends, family and fellow residents looked on with 'apprehension, then relief when she landed safely and happily'

The 87-year-old pictured getting strapped in and ready to take to the skies for her stunt

Undeterred by the danger of the experience, fearless Betty climbed straight onto the aircraft

Margaret Winterbourne, who works at Abbeyfield House where Betty lives, said: 'Betty enjoyed the exhilaration of her flight over the local countryside, while her family, friends and fellow residents looked on with apprehension, then relief when she landed safely and happily.'

Susie Godwin, Fundraising Manager for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in Gloucestershire, said: 'This is a wonderful challenge that Betty Bromage undertook, and we are very grateful to Betty, her family and friends for bringing in much needed funds to keep our Air Ambulance operational, 365 days a year, Saving Lives by Saving Time'.

She raised more than 1,100, with all the money going to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity

Betty said: 'I had a wonderful time, and being a retired nurse, am happy to support the Air Ambulance in their work that I have seen first hand'
A British secret agent who parachuted into Italy during World War II armed with secret codes in his toothpaste will be honoured today in a ceremony in Tuscany.

Dick Mallaby was chosen for the deadly mission by the Special Operations Executive because he was fluent in Italian.

He was instrumental in securing Italy's unconditional surrender and is believed to have been a real life inspiration of Ian Fleming's James Bond.

Dick Mallaby, pictured, was the first British agent dropped behind enemy lines in Italy in 1943

The real-life James Bond wore his clothes under his wetsuit because he parachuted into Lake Como from a Halifax bomber in August 1943 with a wash bag containing his secret kit

Despite the advanced planning, Mallaby was captured by the Italians soon after arriving

Mallaby was dropped into Lake Como in Northern Italy in August 1943 to meet up with anti-Fascist guerrillas, however, he was arrested shortly after landing and was almost shot as a spy.

He jumped from a RAF Halifax bomber into the lake. He was wearing his ordinary clothes beneath his wetsuit, in a piece of kit worthy of the fictional 007.

He had photographic negatives, and the crystal for his radio in the handle of his shaving brush. He even had secret codes in his toothpaste.

Luckily, following the toppling of Mussolini, the new Italian leadership were looking to surrender and used Mallaby as a key link in the negotiations.

He was even on the plane which flew the new Italian leadership and King Victor Emmanuel III.

He was later captured again, this time by the SS after trying to sneak into fascist-controlled Northern Italy from Switzerland in 1945.

Mallaby was able to talk his way out of facing a firing squad and was instrumental in negotiating the surrender of Italy to the Allies before going on his next secret mission

Mallaby was captured by the Germans in 1945 trying to sneak into northern Italy from Switzerland and despite being interrogated by the SS, he again avoided the firing squad and remarkably was able to later negotiate the surrender of 800,000 German troops in Italy

Despite facing execution for a second time, he was able to negotiate the surrender of 800,000 German troops in Italy.

Gianluca Barneschi has written a book on Mallaby's life following 20 years of research.

He told The Telegraph: 'He was a real-life James Bond. His missions, like many of the adventures of SOE agents, are likely to have been an inspiration for Ian Fleming, whose brother Peter also worked in special operations

'When he parachuted into Italy, he carried secret codes hidden in a toothpaste tube, as well as a crystal for a radio. Dick was a very brave Englishman. His missions were incredible; theyd make a great film.

'Mallaby was the right person, in the right place, at the right time, on two occasions during the war. Both times he was arrested, he could have been shot.'
A mansion belonging to one of Australia's wealthiest families is expected to sell for more than $30 million - a price that would set a new Melbourne record.

Lawyer and property magnate Daniel Besen and wife Danielle built their extravagant home in the exclusive Melbourne suburb of Toorak in 2012 for more than $20 million.

And now the couple is expected to put their lavish property on the market, despite remarkably having never lived a day in it, Domain reports.

The custom-built home features four bedrooms - each with an ensuite - a library, media room, multiple living and dining spaces, a wine lounge and a six-car garage.

A mansion owned by Daniel and Danielle Besen, one of Australia's richest families, is expected to sell for close to $30 million, a price that would be a new Melbourne record

The extravagant home in the exclusive Melbourne suburb of Toorak has reportedly never been lived in by Mr and Mrs Besen (pictured)

It also includes a secure underground art showroom, designed to house the large priceless collection that belongs to the major art collectors.

If the house sells for the expected price of $30 million it will eclipse the Melbourne record of $24 million set earlier in 2016.

With a total wealth of $2.41 billion, the Besen family were last year ranked as the fifth richest in Australia on the BRW Rich Families List.

Daniel Besen is the son of Marc and Eva Besen, the billionaire retail tycoons behind major fashion label Sussan.

The neighbours of the Besen's Toorak property includes Cotton On founder Nigel Austin and Sarah Lew, the former daughter-in-law of Solomon Lew.

The custom-built home features four bedrooms - each with an ensuite - a library, media room, multiple living and dining spaces, and a secure art gallery

The couple are also selling their estate in Flinders, on the Mornington Peninsula, which is expected to reach a price of close to $20 million

However that's not the only multi-million dollar mansion the Besen's are putting up for sale.

Another modern home owned by the couple on the Mornington Peninsula is set to sell for around the $20 million mark.

The unique Miramar estate at Flinders, about an hour from Melbourne, is rated as a five-star home and was designed by leading architects Wood Marsh.

Major property investors, Mr and Mrs Besen's exclusive addresses are just two of the many homes they own across the country.

Also believed to be among their portfolio are properties in Sydney and Perth, as well as other Melbourne homes.

The Besen family are also among Australia's biggest philanthropists, with the family's foundation contributing millions annually.
This is the shocking moment two plain-clothed policemen were left writhing in agony in a pool of blood after a misunderstanding led to a shoot-out between them.

In a frightening case of mistaken identity, a civilian police officer mistook a military policeman for a robber and confronted him in a pharmacy in Fortaleza, north east Brazil.

Olivio Gabriel Torres, who works as a crime investigator, was hit in the face and military police officer, Edilson Barreto da Silva, who patrols the streets, suffered bullet wounds to his thigh and abdomen.

This is the shocking moment two plain-clothed policemen were left writhing in agony in a pool of blood after a misunderstanding led to a shoot-out between them

Security camera footage from inside the pharmacy on Wednesday shows the two men fighting before Torres pulled his gun.

Silva, who was off-duty at the time, was seen standing at the counter as he prepared to pay for medication at the start of the video.

According to witnesses, Torres was walking past the store when he noticed Silva was armed and 'seemed to be acting suspiciously'.

Moments later security cameras recorded Torres entering, pulling his gun and striding up as he points his revolver at Silva's back.

The horrific encounter sees Silva reacting with surprise as the detective approaches from behind and orders him to 'lift up his T-shirt'.

Security camera footage from inside the pharmacy on Wednesday shows the two men fighting before Torres pulled his gun

The cameras recorded Torres entering, pulling his gun and striding up as he pointed his revolver at Silva's back

Silva tried to grab his gun from his waistband as Torres pushed him and started to shoot, the footage showed

Silva tried to grab his gun from his waistband as Torres pushed him and started to shoot, the footage showed.

The military cop retaliated and multiple bullets are fired at close range between the agents who were both in plain clothes.

Witnesses said at least 10 bullets were fired, many hitting walls on buildings opposite the pharmacy.

No one else was injured during the incident. Staff in the pharmacy were said to be in a state of shock and cowered behind the counters.

Edilson Barreto da Silva (pictured), who patrols the streets, suffered bullet wounds to his thigh and abdomen

Olivio Gabriel Torres (left), who works as a crime investigator, was hit in the face

In the struggle, the officers fell to the ground as they continued the firefight.

Silva was shot in the thigh suffering a severed femoral vein and a wound to his abdomen. Torres was injured in his face.

A witness who declined to be identified said: 'Even though the man was shouting that he is a military police, the civilian police officer kept shooting and held the other man down on the ground. I was standing nearby and I couldn't understand why this had happened. It was terrifying.'

Security guards from nearby stores are said to have rushed to the scene and taken the guns from the men.

According to investigator, Inspector Romerio Almeida, one of the officers was inside the pharmacy buying medicines when the other came in.

Silva, who was off-duty at the time, was seen standing at the counter as he prepared to pay for medication at the start of the video

According to witnesses, Torres was walking past the store when he noticed Silva was armed and 'seemed to be acting suspiciously'

He said: 'Military police officer Silva was in civilian clothes, but with the gun in his waistband. Civil police officer Torres, who was also in plain clothes found his actions suspicious and thought he was trying to rob the shop. It appears to have been a regrettable misunderstanding as they both exchanged gunfire which resulted in severe injuries.'

In a statement, the Department of Public Security and Social Defence said the incident was under investigation.

A spokesperson said: 'The circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire between civilian police and military police are being investigated. Initial inquiries points to a misinterpretation involving the two security officers who were in plain clothes.'

Both men were taken to the Dr. Jose Frota Institute Hospital where doctors said their injuries were extremely serious. The agents underwent emergency surgery and no further information has been released concerning the state of their health.
The number of passengers being stopped and searched at UK ports and airports has fallen despite heightened fears over terror attacks.

Just over 23,000 people were stopped by counter-terrorism officers while leaving or entering the country in the 12 months until June this year.

That is 23 per cent down on the previous year, despite the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe warning it is now a matter of 'when, not if' an attack takes place in the UK.

Fewer people are being stopped by anti-terror police at British airports and ports, stats show

It comes after a row over stop and search powers at airports, in which critics claimed 'racial profiling' was being used to discriminate against ethnic minorities.

British officials are not allowed to racially profile passengers, although some, including human rights group Liberty have claimed authorities are stopping people 'based on stereotype rather than genuine suspicion'.

The Home Office has insisted the reduced number of people stopped is not due to racial profiling or fears among anti-terror police of being accused of racism.

They say the drop in numbers is due to other techniques being used rather than randomly stopping passengers, The Times reported this morning.

Earlier this year, security expert Philip Baum praised Israel's El Al airline, which trains its workers in psychological observations techniques, which are then used as part of the security process.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has warned it is now a matter of 'when, not if' terrorists attack

Mr Baum said: 'All the money is being thrown at the screening and check process, but I believe it's vital we implement proper profiling and use behavioural analysis for security.'

He added: 'For me profiling is not about racial profiling, and should not be seen as politically incorrect.'
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The ruling Zanu-PF leaders in Masvingo's Gutu ward 6 area are reportedly worried by the increasing number of people supporting opposition parties.Heal Zimbabwe Trust reported that the party official expressed the worries at a meeting held in Hwizhu business centre."At a meeting held at Hwizhu business centre on 18 September 2016, Zanu-PF Councillor, Michael Bhema told people at the meeting that he was worried by the increase in the number of opposition supporters in the ward," said the trust. "Bhema warned that he was monitoring all people who were working with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) whom he accused of promoting activities of opposition parties."The trust said he also warned that if people in the ward continue working with opposition parties and NGOs, they risk having their names removed from food aid beneficiaries list.
An angry French mayor has called for all known suspected radicals on a terror watch list to be kicked out his town.

Guy Lefranc, mayor of Evreux in Normandy in northern France said he was 'furious' after he was denied a request to see the country's 'Fiche S' list of 'potentially dangerous individuals'.

He then demanded that any on the list who are living in his town be 'expelled' by the state.

Guy Lefranc, mayor of Evreux (pictured) in Normandy in northern France said he was 'furious' after he was denied a request to the country'd 'Fiche S' list of 'potentially dangerous individuals'

Normandy was at the centre of a terrorist outrage earlier this summer when two jihadists claiming allegiance to ISIS stormed into a church and butchered an elderly priest.

Lefrance had asked authorities to tell him if radicalised individuals on the terror list were living in the area claiming the information was needed for the safety of the town.

But after the request was refused, he said: 'Given that the state does not give us the means to protect the people of Evreux, I demand the state expels all those who are "Fiche S".

'I feel compelled to ask for this expulsion because I am not entitled to a perfectly legitimate request to know all those who are "Fiche S".

Normandy was at the centre of a terrorist outrage earlier this summer when two jihadists claiming allegiance to ISIS stormed into a church and butchered an elderly priest. Police are pictured at the scene in July

'I ask myself a question about some of my staff, who work with the public. I don't know if they are Fiche S, I don't know if they are dangerous.

'Given that we are in a state of emergency it is the responsibility of the Prime Minister to issue a decree that would give local mayors access to the files,' he added, according to The Local.

France remains under a state of emergency after 86 people were killed in a Bastille Day truck attack in Nice and last November's ISIS atrocity in Paris that left 130 dead.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said this week that the threat to France is higher than ever.
George Osborne has admitted freedom of movement will not survive Brexit as he warned that talks with the EU will not start until next autumn.

The former Chancellor, one of the biggest supporters of the EU's open borders immigration rules, said he could not envisage the Government accepting a deal that continues free movement of people because the issue 'clearly caused such concern in the referendum'.

He urged Theresa May to seek the 'closest possible' relationship with the EU on economic and security issues.

And Mr Osborne - the architect of Project Fear during the referendum campaign - insisted the Government must not pursue the 'hard Brexit' sought by those on the right, saying: 'The mainstream majority in our country do not want to be governed from the extremes.'

In a warning to those hoping for a swift exit - which includes Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson - he predicted it is 'highly unlikely' that the EU will be in a position to conduct serious negotiations until this time next year.

George Osborne (pictured earlier this month in Manchester) has admitted freedom of movement will not survive Brexit as he warned that talks with the EU will not start until next Autumn

He said his experience of working with his former European counterparts was that 'nothing serious happens until the French, and especially the German governments take a view' and with major elections taking place in both countries next year, they will be reluctant to enter negotiations until October 2017.

His comments are in stark contrast to Boris Johnson, who last night suggested the UK could be out of the EU by 2018, defying wide-spread expectations that Brexit negotiations will take the maximum two-years allowed under EU rules.

And in comments that took fellow ministers by surprise, the Foreign Secretary said Article 50 - the formal two-year mechanism for quitting the Brussels club - would be invoked early next year.

It earned him a slap down from the Prime Minister, with a Number 10 spokesperson saying the 'decision on when to invoke Article 50 is a decision for the Prime Minister and nobody else'.

George Osborne's comments are in stark contrast to Boris Johnson (pictured in New York last night), who suggested yesterday the UK could be out of the EU by 2018, defying wide-spread expectations that Brexit negotiations will take the maximum two-years allowed under EU rules

The Foreign Secretary (pictured with New Zealand's permanent representative to United Nations Gerard van Boheme) said Britain could trigger Article 50 - the formal process of leaving the union - early next year as he dismissed claims that the Government has no plan

Mr Osborne - now out of Government for the first time in more than six years after being sacked by Mrs May in July - shared his thoughts on the Brexit process in a lecture to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Admitting that free movement of people would have to come to an end after Brexit, he said: 'We shouldn't assume that there is an off-the-shelf arrangement that works for the second largest economy in Europe - I can't see us consenting to the current arrangements around free movement of people that clearly caused such concern in the referendum.

'Equally, I find some of the take-or-leave it bravado we hear from those who assume Europe has no option but to give us everything we want more than a little naive.

George Osborne urged Theresa May (pictured greeting European Parliament President Martin Schulz to Downing Street yesterday) to seek the 'closest possible' relationship with the EU on economic and security issues

'We need to be realistic that this is a two-way relationship: that Britain cannot expect to maintain all the benefits that came from EU membership without incurring any of the costs or the obligations. There will have to be compromise.'

OSBORNE'S PROJECTS DITCHED BY MAY Theresa May has ditched a string of George Osbornes pet projects since sacking him as Chancellor in July. She had already pledged to abandon his strict spending targets during her short-lived leadership campaign, ditching the commitment to balancing the books by 2019 and delivering a surplus the following year. The new PM is also set to drop his pledge to require city regions to have directly-elected mayors in order to receive devolution deals from central Government. Mr Osborne had been the leading supporter of metropolitan mayors to give more democratic accountability to local authorities. Mrs Mays promotion to Downing Street also threw doubt on the close economic ties Mr Osborne had built with China over the last few years. She announced a delay in approving the 18bn Hinkley Power Point nuclear reactor over concerns about the involvement of the Chinese and it emerged that as Home Secretary Mrs May raised objections to the former Chancellors gung ho attitude to wooing Chinese investment. Mrs May dithered over Mr Osbornes cherished Northern Powerhouse project, refusing to appoint a minister in direct charge of the initiative that had been so favoured by the former Chancellor. Earlier this week she insisted the new administration remained supportive of the Northern Powerhouse, although it took Mr Osborne to accuse her of having a wobble over the project before she reaffirmed her support. And finally, Mrs Mays first major policy announcement  the return of selective schools and grammar schools  is a move firmly opposed by Mr Osborne. He said he was unimpressed with her plans to allow schools to select based on academic ability, warning that it could lead to a school system where 80 per cent of the political discussion is about where 20 per cent of the children go. Advertisement

Predicting a much longer timetable for the start of formal Brexit negotiations, Mr Osborne said: 'In any case, it is highly unlikely that the rest of Europe will be in any position to conduct serious negotiations until the autumn of next year.

'My experience of six years of European negotiations is that nothing serious happens until the French and, especially, the German governments take a view - and both countries will be preoccupied with their own domestic elections for much of next year.

He added: 'Thats an opportunity for the British Government and the House of Commons to think hard about how we should approach the decisions we now face.'

In his Chicago lecture, delivered on Wednesday evening, Mr Osborne also admitted that Britain and its allies fuelled the rise of ISIS by failing to take action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 and 2013.

The former Chancellor said the Government's 'cost of not intervening' had caused the refugee crisis that had 'fuelled the rise of extremism across Europe' and allowed Russia to return as a major player in the Middle East.

He said the Government's 'conscious' decision not to intervene in 2011 was a mistake and allies could have altered the outcome of the civil war by 'forcefully backing the more moderate elements of the opposition'.

But after Assad 'crossed the red line' by allegedly using chemical weapons against civilians the Government pressed ahead with plans to intervene in Syria, only for MPs to narrowly defeat the Government in a crucial Commons vote.

Mr Osborne described it as the 'single most depressing moment of my time to date in Parliament'.

It played a crucial part in Barack Obama's decision to ditch US plans for bombing Assad forces and the West's failed attempt to find a diplomatic solution to the civil war, which has ravaged Syria for more than five years.

Mr Osborne said the alternative Britain and the US settled on was 'much weaker' than military intervention.

Failure to intervene had seen 'hundreds of thousands killed, millions displaced, neighbouring countries destablised,' Mr Osborne said in a candid lecture at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

But worst of all it had led to the 'emergence of a terrorist state' run by ISIS, he said.

Britain and its allies fuelled the rise of ISIS by failing to take action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 and 2013, George Osborne (pictured) has said
A company director wept in court as he was jailed for kicking an Uber driver in the head outside an exclusive London club - and he was told to 'get used to life being different.'

Robert Croucher, 35, begged to be spared a prison sentence and told a magistrate jail 'would destroy his life and his firm'.

But he was given the warning about prison life as he was sent down for his violent attack on cabbie Mohammad Hussain.

Croucher, managing director of business consultancy Hatton & Berkeley, was convicted of assault by beating at Hammersmith Magistrates Court after attacking Mr Hussain outside Raffles club in King's Road, Chelsea, when he refused to drive him and his partner Brigitte Kudor home.

Crying, he told the court: 'This will destroy my life, I am the director of a company, and everyone would lose their jobs.

Robert Croucher, 35, pictured, was jailed for 20 weeks for kicking an Uber driver in the head

Consultancy firm director Croucher( left) who had been with girlfriend Brigitte Kudor (right) during the incident, right, tearfully begged the court not to jail him because it would 'destroy his life and his firm'

We have 1,000 clients, we have staff all around the country, and it would die.

But magistrate Sandra Blandford was unimpressed and snapped: Your behaviour was unacceptable.

We find that you did kick Mr Mohammad Hussain a number of times while he was on the floor, and one of those kicks was to the head.

She added: Youll just have to get used to his life being different.

The court heard Mr Hussain feared driving Croucher after the latter 'suddenly became angry'.

He said: I refused because I got scared because the gentlemen suddenly got angry, something happened between them and he harshly slammed the door.

I got out to open the door, and then the gentlemen took the keys from through the window. He then slapped me.

I was begging for my keys and he suddenly pushed me on the pavement. He has just kicked me in several parts of my body and head.

The court heard Croucher, right with Ms Kudor, first slapped the driver and then took his keys

He is managing director at Hatton & Berkeley, based in Berkeley Square, London, pictured

My head was very swollen, I went to hospital where I stayed for four hours. I went to my GP a few days later and got prescribed antibiotics, it was severe pain.

Magistrates were shown footage of the incident recorded by a member of staff at Raffles, where Croucher was seen slapping Mr Hussain, insulting members of staff and then throwing the drivers keys down the street.

In the footage he is shown running after Mr Hussain before there is an altercation, and the cameraman is then seen running after Croucher and restraining him.

Kristoff Kwiecien, one of the doormen who also restrained Croucher, told magistrates he had held him down as the kicking was too much.

He said: Mr Croucher put him on the floor and kicked him in the head. It was three-to-five times. The first kick was loud, like a clap.

Mr Kwiecien told magistrates Croucher had a conversation with the doormen before the incident, and had threatened to have them fired.

He was very rude. He said he had built four flats in Mayfair, and I could lose my job tomorrow.

The incident occurred outside the exclusive club Raffles in Chelsea, pictured

Driver Mohammad Hussain, pictured, refused to take Croucher and his partner home after the businessman 'suddenly became angry'

Croucher insisted he only slapped the driver but the magistrates found he had kicked him in the head.

Ms Blandford told weeping Croucher: The CCTV evidence was compelling. We saw the slap, and the security guards saying call the police.

We saw the urgency in which they ran over shouting no need to kick him in the head.'

She added: This is a very serious offence, only a custodial sentence can be justified.

Croucher, of Hornsey, north London, admitted assault by beating, but denied kicking Mr Hussain.

The businessman was jailed for 20 weeks, ordered to pay 620 costs, a 115 victim surcharge, and pay Hussain 500 in compensation.

Raffles was founded in 1967, and counts Barbara Streisand among former guests.

It has also been visited by Royals including the Queen, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
Victim: Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, was murdered after a 'devious plan' by her family who were intent on carrying out an 'honour killing' because she left the cousin she was forced to marry

A British Muslim allegedly raped and murdered in an honour killing was lured to her death in Pakistan by her mother and sister who lied and said her father was dying, new court papers claim.

Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, was allegedly the victim of a 'devious plan' by her family who wanted her dead because she left the cousin she was forced to marry.

Police in Pakistan have accused her father Mohammad Shahid and first husband Mohammad Shakeel of murder and prosecutors want the death penalty if they are convicted.

But a final report on her death shows that Samia's mother Imtiaz and sister Madiha are accused of 'emotionally blackmailing' her to visit Pakistan and are wanted on suspicion of 'abetting the murder'.

Madiha and her older sister allegedly exchanged calls 15 in as many days, with Madiha 'crying' to say that their father, who has diabetes, was perilously ill in hospital.

Samia's mother Imtiaz 'also painted a grim picture of her father's condition on telephone', the report says, and 'emotionally blackmailed her daughter to plan her fatal trip to Pakistan'.

Samia texted a friend at the time: 'My family didnt tell me about it but mybsis (baby sister) called me cryin'.

She added: 'Pray i come bk alive on 21july my pysco cuzzan (Mohammed Shakeel) see'.

She was then convinced to come to Pakistan from Dubai, where she lived with second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazim.

In the dock: Samia's father Muhammad Shahid, right, and ex-husband Muhammad Shakeel, left, of slain British-Pakistani woman Samia Shahid are chased by journalists as they arrive to appear in court in Jhelum, in eastern Pakistan today

Samia Shahid, left, was allegedly raped and murdered in a so-called honour killing in Punjab in July by her cousin Muhammad Shakeel, right, who was her first husband

Arrested: Ms Shahid's father Mohammed, whom Samia had been visiting in Pakistan, has been charged and has appeared in court

Her family initially tried to get her to fly to Pakistan after her aunt died - but she refused so they then hatched a plan using her father's health, it is claimed.

The report says Mr Kazim 'has alleged Madiha and Imtiaz had played an instrumental role in alluring (sic) Samia to come to Pakistan to be a victim of their devious plan'.

Allegations: Samia's alleged killers (pictured today) were allegedly helped by her mother and sister who lied about her father's health to get her to Pakistan

Mother and daughter were allegedly allowed to flee the country before arrest by a local police inspector who should have seized their passports and has since been arrested.

28-year-old Samia landed in Pakistan on July 15 but five days later she was allegedly brutally raped and murdered.

Court papers claim that after arriving at her ancestral village in the Punjab her first husband Mohammed Shakeel was ordered by her father to watch her at all times.

On July 20, the day before she was due to return to her husband in Dubai, she refused to tell Shakeel where her passport and plane ticket were kept.

'Shakeel then, after terrorizing her, threw her on the bed and committed rape', the report says.

Samia then rushed out of the room and said she would go straight to the British High Commission.

Her father Mohammed Shahid was on a veranda and met them at the bottom of the stairs where she told him she was leaving.

The court report claims 'Shahid gave Shakeel a nod' and 'Shakeel started to strangle her with her scarf whereas Shahid held her legs, killing her within a short span of time'.

Row: Her family deny murdering the 28-year-old, but Ms Shahid's second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazim, claims she was killed by the family who disapproved of their marriage (pictured on their wedding day)

'Cover up': The family quickly had her buried in the local ceremony claiming Samia died of natural causes - the police later began investigating

Pakistani police claim Ms Shahid was raped by her ex-husband in this room hours before she was due to fly out to Dubai to join her second husband Mukhtar Kazim on July 21, 2016

The family then allegedly carried out a 'cover up', claiming she died of natural causes, and she was quickly buried in the village cemetery.

In the days following her death, Syed Mukhtar Kazim lodged a complaint with the police, claiming his wife was killed by her family who then tried to cover it up

But her current husband Syed Mukhtar Kazim became suspicious and flew to Pakistan and went to the police, who would later arrest her father and first husband.

Her sister and mother were allegedly allowed to flee Pakistan on July 27 thanks to a police officer who ignored orders to seize their passports. They are believed to be in Britain.

Police in Pakistan hoping to extradite accused Madiha and Imtiaz Bibi will need to obtain arrest warrants as the pair are in the UK.

The court papers called for the extradition of the two women to be started via the Ministry of Interior. Arrests warrants may be issued through Interpol.

Samia's mother and sister could not be found at their comfortable four storey home in Bradford, West Yorks, and are believed to be living elsewhere in the city.

A neighbour in their close knit Bradford suburb said: 'They've shut up shop here and gone. It's all very sudden and strange.'

The local MP Naz Shah, who highlighted the alleged crime, said she had stepped up her own security amid 'fears for my life.'

The politician admitted: 'I kicked off and if it wasn't for me this case would never have been brought. I've now had to review my security arrangements. Police have intercepted threats to kill me.'

The MP for Bradford West added: 'The sister was seen by locals within the community in the past few weeks so we believe they're still living nearby. But we're not aware if the police even know their whereabouts.'

The politician, who herself was forced into an arranged marriage at the age of 15, had called for an investigation into Samia's death insisting: 'We must raise the profile on so-called honour crimes.'

The Home Office yesterday refused to confirm if extradition proceedings are anticipated against the victim's mother and sister: 'As a matter of long-standing policy we neither confirm nor deny the existence of extradition requests.'

Lawyer: Najful Hussain Shah, center, the lawyer of slain British-Pakistani woman Samia Shahid's second husband, leaves court after saying he will seek the death penalty

Samia's alleged murderers appeared in court today and were told their trial will begin next week.

Her father strongly denied the allegations.

'This is a fake police story and nothing else. I loved my daughter too much and all allegations against me and my son-in-law are a pack of lies,' Shahid said outside the courtroom.

He and Shakeel were handcuffed and had their faces covered with cloths.

Mr Arif, who represents both men, said police presented a list of all charges against his clients, during Friday's brief court hearing.

He said the court will refer the case to another judge in Jhelum to start the trial.

Ms Shahid married her cousin Shakeel in 2012 but later obtained a divorce and eventually married Mukhtar Kazim and moved with him to the United Arab Emirates.

After Mr Kazim publicly accused his wife's family of killing her for marrying him against their wishes, police reopened the case and quickly concluded she had been strangled.

Mr Kazim's lawyer Najful Hussain Shah said he would seek the death penalty.
A father-of-two had a nightmare start to a family holiday - when he left his delayed British Airways flight covered in a hundred bites.

Paul Standerwick, 36, was looking forward to a break in America, but instead he arrived at his hotel room covered in dozens of itchy, infected bites the size of 50 pence pieces.

His, wife Maribel, and sons Frankie, five, and two-year-old Hector, from Wallington, in London Borough of Sutton, had already been hit by a 24-hour delay.

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Paul Standerwick, 36, from Wallington, Surrey, had a nightmare start to his family holiday to America when on his already delayed flight he was bitten at least 100 times by parasites believed to be bed bugs in one of the seats he moved to with his son to watch the plane landing

But when their flight finally took off from Heathrow for Boston, Mr Standerwick was attacked repeatedly by the parasites.

Only after landing did Mr Standerwick, a financial adviser, learn that passengers had been moved from the seat he was sitting in after complaining about the bugs.

He said: 'Me and my son moved seats to sit and watch the landing by the window.

'It wasnt until after we landed, actually, that someone tapped me on the shoulder and said the people sitting in the seats we moved to were moved on after they complained about bed bugs.

The father-of-two, Frankie (left) and Hector (right), said some of the bites that appeared all over his body were the size of 50 pence pieces and were itchy, full of pus and 'horrible'

'I thought nothing of it at the time. But about an hour later, at our hotel, these horrible, itchy bites started to appear.

'They got really infected. Lots of pus. They were everywhere. On my neck, my back, shoulders and legs.

'Where I was bitten lots of times in one place there was what looked like large bites the size of a 50 pence piece. If I had to guess I would say I was bitten well over a hundred times.

'Im still scarred. Its horrible.'

The itch-inducing incident, which marred the family holiday, led to only a 50 voucher as compensation from the airline following the flight on July 19 this year.

But it was the complete lack of a proper apology that angered Paul and led him to speak out.

He added: 'Im not even a compensation person. I dont like that attitude.

'All I want is a proper apology. I paid for a premium service, and what I got was the complete opposite.'

Mr Standerwick's bitten legs: Despite getting compensation Mr Standerwick said he is more interested in a proper apology from the airline who after moving other customers from the seat did not tell him when he moved

A British Airways spokeswoman apologised for the incident.

She said: 'We have said sorry to our customers for their experience and appreciate it must have been upsetting.
Britain and its allies fuelled the rise of ISIS by failing to take action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 and 2013, George Osborne (pictured earlier this month in Manchester) has said

Britain and its allies fuelled the rise of ISIS by failing to take action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011 and 2013, George Osborne has said.

The former Chancellor also admitted the Government's 'cost of not intervening' had caused the refugee crisis that had 'fuelled the rise of extremism across Europe' and allowed Russia to return as a major player in the Middle East.

He said the Government's 'conscious' decision not to intervene in 2011 was a mistake and allies could have altered the outcome of the civil war by 'forcefully backing the more moderate elements of the opposition'.

But after Assad 'crossed the red line' by allegedly using chemical weapons against civilians the Government pressed ahead with plans to intervene in Syria, only for MPs to narrowly defeat the Government in a crucial Commons vote.

Mr Osborne described it as the 'single most depressing moment of my time to date in Parliament'.

It played a crucial part in Barack Obama's decision to ditch US plans for bombing Assad forces and the West's failed attempt to find a diplomatic solution to the civil war, which has ravaged Syria for more than five years.

Mr Osborne said the alternative Britain and the US settled on was 'much weaker' than military intervention.

Failure to intervene had seen 'hundreds of thousands killed, millions displaced, neighbouring countries destablised,' Mr Osborne said in a candid lecture at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

But worst of all it had led to the 'emergence of a terrorist state' run by ISIS, he said.

George Osborne admitted the Government's 'conscious' decision not to take action against Syria President Bashar al-Assad (pictured giving an interview to the Syrian Arab News Agency yesterday) in 2011 had helped create a 'terrorist state' run by ISIS

George Osborne admitted that the West's failure to take action in Syria had created a refugee crisis that had destabalised neighbouring countries. Pictured, five-year old Syrian boy Omran Daqneesh sits alone in the back of an ambulance after being injured during an air strike in Aleppo on August 17 this year, believed to have been launched by Russian or Assad forces

Today the ceasefire was abandoned by the Syrian military, which launched a fresh offensive against rebels in eastern Aleppo - home to a quarter of a million civilians. Pictured, ambulances and buildings are left destroyed in Ansari, eastern Aleppo this morning after Syrian forces launched fresh airstrikes against rebels

Sharing his regrets of his time in office, Mr Osborne, who was at the centre of the Government for more than six years, said: 'We made a conscious decision not to intervene in 2011, when Britain, America and our allies could have tried to alter the outcome of the emerging civil war there by forcefully backing the more moderate elements of the opposition.

'There was a plan put forward to do that. But collectively the West chose not to take it up - and we settled on something much weaker.

'And we chose not to intervene again in 2013, when Assad crossed the red line we had drawn and used chemical weapons.

'The vote of the House of Commons against military action was the single most depressing moment of my time to date in Parliament.'

Mr Osborne was speaking as diplomatic relations over the Syria crisis hit rock bottom after US Secretary of State John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov failed to salvage a deal to rescue an agreed ceasefire over Syrian battle zones.

The Syrian civil war has raged for more than five years and diplomatic efforts to find a solution hit rock bottom after the Syrian military abandoned a ceasefire and launched fresh air strikes against rebels in Ansari, eastern Aleppo, where rescue workers were seen removing a destroyed ambulance this morning

Members of the rebel Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets assess the damage after the Syrian military launched fresh air strikes today

George Osborne said the Government's defeat in the 2013 vote on military intervention in Syria was the 'single most depressing moment of my time to date in Parliament'. Pictured, David Cameron admits defeat in the crucial Commons vote in August 2013

Earlier this week a US aid convoy was hit by an air strike - believed to have been a Russian bomb - during a one-week truce, triggering diplomatic meltdown.

And today the ceasefire was abandoned by the Syrian military, which launched a fresh offensive against rebels in eastern Aleppo - home to a quarter of a million civilians.

In his lecture - delivered on Wednesday evening, said it was impossible to know what would have happened if the West had intervened as soon as the civil war broke out in 2011 or in 2013, but said the inaction had made Western countries less secure.

'I don't know whether these interventions in Syria would have worked,' he said. 'I am sure they would have been very messy and difficult. Clinical interventions and text book nation building exist only in newspaper columns.

'But I do know what has happened in Syria while we chose not to intervene decisively. Hundreds of thousands killed. Millions displaced.

'Neighbouring countries destabilised. The taboo on the use of chemical weapons broken. The emergence of a terrorist state. Russia back as a major player in the Middle East. And a refugee crisis that has fuelled the rise of extremism across Europe.'

The West's failure to take action in Syria in 2011 and 2013 had allowed Russian president Vladimir Putin (pictured with US President Barack Obama at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland in 2013) take a stranglehold in the Middle East

In his Chicago lecture, Mr Osborne also shared his thoughts on Brexit, admitting freedom of movement will not survive Brexit as he warned that talks with the EU will not start until next autumn.

The former Chancellor, one of the biggest supporters of the EU's open borders immigration rules, said he could not envisage the Government accepting a deal that continues free movement of people because the issue 'clearly caused such concern in the referendum'.

He urged Theresa May to seek the 'closest possible' relationship with the EU on economic and security issues.
A Bosnian migrant in Austria travelled back to his homeland to blow up his ex-girlfriend with a hand grenade when he found out she was seeing somebody else.

Bosnian migrant Dalibor Gavric, 42, lived in the Austrian capital of Vienna where he met waitress Miljana Malesevic, 24, also from Bosnia. The couple started a relationship and even though he was married and had two daughters, he divorced his wife so that he could live with the younger woman.

But he was always jealous, and frequently the jealousy turned to violence which resulted in Milijana, with whom Gavric had a 4-year-old son, eventually leaving him and when she could not escape in Vienna, she fled back to Bosnia two months ago.

Dalibor Gavric, left, lived with Miljana Malesevic in Vienna until she ran off with another man and returned to her native Bosnia and opened up a new and successful restaurant

Gavric, 42, had a four-year-old son with 24-year-old Malesevic, who had a premonition days before his mother's murder that his father was going to come and kill her

Gavric found Malesevic in the town of Prnjavor, northern Bosnia and have her a hug, when he pulled the pin on the hand grenade, killing her instantly and leaving himself with grave injuries

With the experience she learned in Austria, she set up a cafe back home and even found a new partner in the town of Prnjavor in Northern Bosnia.

The cafe called 'Acapulco' was doing well and she was reportedly enjoying life with her new boyfriend.

Yet Dalibor could not get over the relationship with her and wrote threatening text messages to her on a daily basis, according to local media. When he learned that Milijana had found a new boyfriend, he completely snapped and immediately went to Bosnia himself.

Friends had warned Malesevic against leaving the cafe with her crazed ex-boyfriend

According to eyewitnesses, Milijana was sitting in her cafe with her friends when Dalibor suddenly appeared around 9pm on Wednesday evening.

They said that Dalibor insisted on having a private conversation with her, but they warned her not to leave the cafe with him. As soon as they left the building, Gavric hugged her and allegedly activated the hand grenade.

Milijana Malesevic was killed instantly in the blast, while miraculously Dalibor Gavric survived and was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. He is currently in intensive care.
Zdenek's uneaten chicken meal was found next to his body in east London

A cyclist attempted CPR but he was later pronounced dead by paramedics

The gang chased and beat the 31-year-old, leaving him in a pool of blood

Two teenagers bludgeoned a man to death with a bike chain after a spat in a takeaway.

Zed Makaross, 31, had just left the shop with his food when he was attacked by the pair.

The smartly dressed Czech national, who helped manage a catering company, was struck across the back of the head with a bicycle lock and kicked repeatedly as he lay on the ground.

Just moments earlier, he had been warned you shouldnt have spoken to him like that after exchanging insults with one of the youths in the fried chicken shop. The chilling attack is the latest example of soaring youth violence in London, with many criminals increasingly willing to carry weapons.

Flowers and photographs of the 31-year-old now lie outside the spot where he was attacked and killed

Tributes have been paid to businessman Zdenek Makar who lost his life after a petty row

Police have launched a manhunt for at least four youths after the 31-year-old was attacked following a 'trivial' row in a chicken shop in east London

Senior police officers have warned it has hit a four-year high as numbers of teenage offenders and victims spiral out of control.

Mr Makaross, who was also known as Zdenek Makar, was a deputy general manager at high-end catering and events firm Harbour and Jones. Police believe he was on his way home from an event when he stopped to pick up a takeaway in Poplar, east London.

Witnesses described how he exchanged a few words with a teenager as he waited for his order before being threatened by an older man.

One worker said an older man then put his arm around his neck and spoke to him, causing Mr Makaross to put his hands in the air and appear frightened.

He was followed outside before being hit over the back of the head with a heavy metal bike chain. He collapsed to the ground where the teenagers kicked him repeatedly. His attackers escaped on a silver BMX bicycle which had pegs attached to the rear wheels so it could carry two people.

Friends and colleagues of the businessman visited the scene and left tributes to Zed in Poplar

A friend lights candles at a vigil to Zed in East India dock. Zed's friends described him as having a 'huge heart'

Another friend said he would be remembered for his smile and positivity. Friends today gathered in memory of the 31-year-old

A cyclist came to Mr Makarosss aid after finding him lying in a pool of blood on a footbridge yards from the takeaway.

But despite frantic efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 12.20am on Thursday.

The takeaway owner said: They were all waiting for chicken when they started swearing at each other. Things got heated but there wasnt any physical violence, it was all over quite quickly. There wasnt any pushing or shoving.

We gave them their food and everyone then left, we had no idea what would happen. The man was in a suit and seemed okay, he said he was going home. It just seemed like an argument, we get it all the time.

Another witness said: It looked like they had hit him in the back of the head with this bike chain.

One of them had a bike lock chain and they had hit him with it, I think in the back of the head. He was lying on the floor and he had a wound on his head. There was a lot of blood, they were kicking him. There were two guys, they had hoods up.

Before anyone could stop them they rode away. This is a normal thing to happen in Tower Hamlets. The body was still there in the morning when I woke up.

Friends lit candles and lay flowers next to pictures of their friend Zed, who was beaten to death over a 'trivial' row

Zed was brutally beaten to death with a bike chain after buying a chicken meal from a takeaway

A city businessman was chased along a street and then beaten to death with a metal chain by a gang of teenagers on BMX bikes

Friends of the victim said they were totally sickened by the murder and urged police to catch those responsible as soon as possible.

Christopher Rawlins, who runs a local food bank, said he wanted those who killed him to rot in hell.

Murder squad detectives said they are hunting a gang of at least four youths, one of whom is believed to have been wearing a grey tracksuit.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said investigators have made no arrests and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Detectives continue to appeal for information and witnesses following the murder of a man in Poplar.

'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 station by East India Dock Road, E14.

'Officers attended and the 31-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have now been informed.

'Formal identification will take pace in due course. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place at Poplar Mortuary on Friday, 23 September.

'Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command led by Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith are investigating.

'At this early stage, it is believed the victim was involved in an altercation with a group of males inside Perfect Fried Chicken in East India Dock Road.

'The victim was then followed down the street and attacked.

'Detectives continue to appeal for anyone who was in the area who witnessed the events prior to attack or the incident itself.

'They retain an open mind as to the motive for the attack.'
Apple has redesigned its music app with the advent of iOS 10 - but as this video shows, it's causing a lot of confusion.

One of the big changes that people have noticed is that the shuffle button on Apple Music has gone - but where?

Filmmakers took to the streets of San Francisco to find out if others were having the same problem, and challenged them to get the shuffle function working.

Met with general confusion, two people suggested shaking the phone.

Another woman asked: 'Is this like a trick?'

And a man who tried pressing buttons on the screen admitted: 'I would probably just give up and listen to a podcast.'

Users were baffled as they tried to work out how to find the shuffle button, with two suggesting shaking it

The two-and-a-half minute film captures frustrated hand movements by people struggling to get music playing on shuffle.

One woman wearing gloves said: 'They don't want you to do it I think.'

The answer - once you stumble on it, is seemingly quite simple - you swipe the screen upwards to reveal the shuffle button in its new location.

When you stumble on the answer it's simple, but it is taking people a long time to work out how to do it

But the change has been met with general bafflement among Apple Music enthusiasts.

Blogger John Martellaro wrote: 'Why did Apple do this? My theory on why the Up Next screen is a swipe instead of a button push is that its easier to swipe when running or walking. Locating and pressing a small button to see Up Next is not as easy.

'But you still have to tap the Repeat and Shuffle buttons. Why not leave them where they were? Thats a mystery to me.'

And TekRevue wrote: 'Its a safe bet that most iOS 10 users would eventually discover this hidden menu, by accident or otherwise, but its a bit odd for Apple to place such a useful button out of sight and with no clear indication of how to find it.'

The change has been branded 'odd' by reviewers, and one man admitted he would give up and listen to a podcast instead
Mr Jones was founding Python member and directed three of their films

He said at the time: 'I couldn't remember my lines so it's absolutely true'

In 2014 needed cue cards to help him with his lines at Monty Python shows

Monty Python star Terry Jones has been diagnosed with a rare type of dementia  raising fears for his wife and young child.

Jones, 74, who has a seven-year-old daughter Siri, suffers primary progressive aphasia, which gradually impairs his ability to communicate.

Sufferers are eventually left mute and unable to understand language.

It means Joness second wife Anna Soderstrom, 33, who is from Sweden, will have to care for him.

Fellow Monty Python star Michael Palin said: People need to be very careful not to write him off.

Tragedy: Terry Jones, pictured far right with his fellow Monty Python start (left to right) John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle, has revealed he has dementia

New love: Terry Jones and his second wife Anna Soderstrom, who is 40 years his junior. They have a child, Siri, seven

Much loved: The comedian, left in 2012, was a founding member of Monty Python and in playing Brian's mother in the 1979 film, right, he said one of its most famous lines: 'He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy'

Revealed: Mr Jones' health problems have emerged after BAFTA Cymru announced he would be honoured at a special event next month

What has happened is truly tragic and sad. Its a form of dementia, its progressive and thats that.

His wife and child are doing their very best, its difficult. I was with him yesterday evening and I think he knows people.

He likes to see old friends and weve got to carry on our friendship. Its not ended, its just very sad hes got this form of dementia. He cant talk at any great length but he laughs at memories when I bring them up.

Its very limited but thats the nature of the aphasia hes got. All the Pythons have known about this for a while and no one knows what to do apart from to be supportive.

Hes still a member of the team and as far as were concerned a working member of the Python team. I dont think hell be doing any more stage shows but then I dont think any of us will.

One just has to say what a cruel, cruel stroke of fate for someone who was so articulate, and fluent, and funny, and loved words and loved reading and writing.

It just seems so dreadfully unfair but there we are, thats life.

Actress Carol Cleveland, who appeared in the Monty Pythons Flying Circus series as well as films Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life and Monty Python And The Holy Grail, said Jones had shown signs of dementia at the 2014 stage reunion.

She said: I know his new lady and his little daughter. Its going to be dreadful for them.

Terry himself indicated he was having memory problems when we were doing the O2 show, but he didnt mention the word dementia.

It had been noticed that he was struggling a bit with his lines, so we were all a bit concerned at the time. I last saw Terry just under a year ago. I could see he was struggling  he wasnt nearly as coherent as he had been the previous time Id seen him. In 2005 the comedian left first wife Alison Telfer for then-Oxford University student Miss Soderstrom, and married her in 2012.

Last night Miss Telfer, 72, who has two grown-up children with Jones, said: The family are all getting together and looking after him.

Stars: Mr Jones' Python career started in 1969 and he went on to direct three of their films - left to right John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Jones and Eric Idle

Famous: Terry, far right, pictured with Michael Palin, left, Graham Chapman, centre, and Eric Idle in Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Python stars: (L-R) Michael Palin, John Cleese, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle - who reformed for new shows in 2014 - Mr Jones required cue cards

The Welsh stars diagnosis was revealed after it was announced he was to receive a lifetime achievement award from Bafta Cymru but could no longer give interviews.

He met Palin at Oxford before they rose to fame in Monty Python alongside Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle. While others capitalised on their fame, with Palin presenting BBC travel shows and Cleese starring in Fawlty Towers, Jones had money issues.

In 2014 he took part in the reunion with the other remaining Pythons  Chapman had died in 1989  for ten shows at Londons O2 Arena, hoping it would help pay off the 700,000 interest-only mortgage on his 2.5million North London home.

But the performances, which made him 800,000, were not as lucrative as the star had hoped.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Rogue Zanu-PF youth reportedly ran amok in Nyanga North ward 8 where they reportedly assaulted some teachers at a secondary school.Heal Zimbabwe Trust reported that Brian Nyagura a Zanu-PF youth officer is intimidating community members in Nyautare area in Nyanga ward 8."On 18 September 2016, Nyagura assaulted a teacher at St Monica secondary school whom he accused of being an opposition supporter having seen him reading a copy of NewsDay newspaper," said the trust. "Nyagura accused the teacher of "selling out" and told him that opposition newspapers such as Newsday were not allowed in the area. Earlier in the month of September, Nyagura also assaulted Kelvin Chipika, an MDC-T member for wearing his party regalia at Dumba business centre."The trust said although a police report was made, Nyagura was never summoned to a police station or arrested.
Retailing giant C&A pandered to the Nazis during the Second World War and profited from slave labour, a new book has claimed.

The revelations are made by German economic historian Mark Spoerer, who was commissioned in 2011 by the company's owners to research the company's dealings with the Third Reich.

He says the firm sent a letter to Nazi Germany leaders in 1937 boasting to have never employed Jews and as a result, the regime kicked Jewish businesses out of their premises allowing C&A to move in and expand.

In return, the firm paid money into the Nazis' propaganda fund for their protection.

Retailing giant C&A pandered to the Nazis during the Second World War and profited from slave labour, a new book has claimed

In an attempt to build relations, bosses sent a letter to director of the Nazi four year economic plan Hermann Goering (pictured, left) in 1937, and also got Joseph Goebbels on board.

The owners, the Brenninkmeijer family, commissioned Mr Spoerer in 2011, and he has produced C&A - A Family Owned Company, highlighting how the company pandered to the regime at the expense of Jews.

During his research, he discovered how the Catholic family which ran the company found out it wasn't looked favourably upon by the anti-church Nazi regime.

In an attempt to build relations, bosses sent a letter to director of the Nazi four year economic plan Hermann Goering in 1937.

The letter boasted how the firm 'never employed Jews' and took on 'Jewish supremacy' of the textile trade.

As a result, the company was able to expand, as Goering greenlighted the C&A takeover of a Leipzig store that was Jewish-owned and the company proudly displayed a sign stating that the business was 'Aryan'.

While the company was gifted expensive paintings, C&A paid huge sums of money into the Nazi fund - masquerading as the Winter Help collections - which the author says was for protection they acquired after striking up a relationship with Joseph Goebbels.

The company was able to expand, as Goering greenlighted the C&A takeover of a Leipzig store that was Jewish-owned and the company proudly displayed a sign stating that the business was 'Aryan'

According to Spoerer, at least half of 16 properties acquired in the years 1937 and 1938 in Berlin came from Jewish-owned families.

All were acquired at less than market price, as was a plot of Jewish owned land in Bremen.

In the Jewish ghetto of Lodz, 70,000 people had to perform forced labour.

Around half of them worked in tailoring, shoe and leather manufacturing.

By the autumn of 1944, the German arm of C&A was turning over 22 percent of the whole of the ghetto's industry turnover.

When the Red Army troops arrived to liberate the ghetto in 1945, there were only 1,000 survivors.

During the course of their employment with the firm, four young women and five children died of malnutrition - deaths that Spoerer says C&A is mainly responsible for.

While the company was gifted expensive paintings, C&A paid huge sums of money into the Nazi fund - masquerading as the Winter Help collections - which the author says was for protection they acquired after striking up a relationship with Joseph Goebbels

Although C&A's headquarters before 1939 were in Amsterdam, the British arm of the company turned over one of its warehouses in 1940 for use by the Dutch government in exile.

Bernard Brenninkmeijer in London hoped that the Germans would soon be stopped.

But his cousin Rudolf Brenninkmeijer in Berlin sucked up to the regime in Berlin and dreamed of the 'final victory' over Britain.

'There can be no doubt after reading the history that the German line of the firm had exploited the plight of Jewish owners.

'It was less out of ideological than for opportunistic reasons,' said the Neue Zurcher newspaper in Switzerland.
British universities may branch out and open campuses in Europe in the wake of Brexit.

Education chiefs fear Britain leaving the European Union will pose a threat to funding and make it harder to attract top academic staff and plug them into research projects.

As universities in the UK face uncertainty, one vice-chancellor warned: 'Brexit cuts off our head and the higher education and research bill cuts off our legs'.

In a bid to retain funding, staff and students from the European Union several institutions are now considering opening outposts outside of the UK (file photo)

And in a bid to retain funding, staff and students from the European Union several institutions are now considering opening outposts outside of the UK.

The UK is currently the worlds second most popular destination for overseas students, according to the British Council, with 493,570 enrolled in universities in 2013/14, up around 80,000 on the 415,585 five years before.

As reported in The Guardian, universities are thought to be looking at the Republic of Ireland, Finland, the Baltics - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - and Germany as locations to open campuses.

One vice-chancellor looking to open a research institute that would allow access to EU research funds, told the Guardian: 'A piece of advice I've had is, if you are looking anywhere don't look at France because it's a nightmare. '

This chart, by the Higher Education Statistics Agency, shows non-UK domiciled students by region in 2014/15

The Income and Expenditure of UK Higher Education Providers in 2014/15: This chart shows where universities' income came from

While Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, told the paper: 'You can imagine a situation post-Brexit where UK universities are operating as aggressively in Europe as they are in China and India and elsewhere.'

This comes after the vice-chancellor at The University of Oxford warned that Brexit could damage its long-term prospects.

Brexit risks driving away students, staff and funding, Oxford's vice-chancellor, Professor Louise Richardson, told BBC radio.

Vice-chancellor ath The University of Oxford (pictured), Professor Louise Richardson, warned that Brexit could damage its long-term prospects

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.'




It is usually given to patients with severe pain or to manage surgery pain

Pop star Prince died after taking an accidental overdose of Fentanyl

The bust was called 'Operation Dirty Dope' and

Authorities in New York state have made a record drug bust, seizing 33 kilograms of heroin and 2 kilograms of fentanyl.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the New York State Police announced the action Friday. Schneiderman's office says the seizure is the largest ever in the 46-year history of New York's Organized Crime Task Force.

The investigation was called 'Operation Dirty Dope' and led to the disruption of what Schneiderman's office calls an alleged national heroin smuggling ring.

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Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and is usually given to patients with severe pain and people recovering from surgery

Twenty-five individuals living in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arizona and New Jersey have been indicted in connection with the case.

Schneiderman, a Democrat, plans to detail the operation at a press conference Friday.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid (painkiller), can be 50 times stronger than heroin and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

It is typically given to patients with severe pain or to manage pain after surgery.

File picture: Police said it was the biggest drug bust in New York's Organized Crime Task Force history.

On the street it is sold as a powder; spiked on blotter paper; mixed with or substituted for heroin, according to Drug Facts.

Pop star Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in April. A few days before his death his representatives said he was suffering with influenza and dehydration and his doctor prescribed him the drug

Users can swallow, snort, inject or consume fentanyl through their mouths. It gives a feeling of euphoria to however due to the potency of the substance overdoses can easily occur and can be deadly.

Users are at further risk when they mix it with other substances such as heroin and cocaine.

Pop star Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in April.

Last year the Drug Enforcement Administration warned about the dangers of fentanyl in a statement.

It said that the Mexican authorities had shut down several labs after authorities found the drug in the Northeast and California.

Earlier this month NYPD narcotics detectives confiscated glassine envelopes of heroin, heroin decks, guns and cash after operations to takedown two notorious drug rings
The uncle, now 65, got a two year jail sentence with 12 months suspended

The assaults took place when they lived at the same property and in public

A police investigation that started in the late 80's has come to an end after an uncle, 65, who was believed to be dead, was jailed for sexually assaulting his two young nieces more than 20-years ago.

The two girls, aged between two and six at the time, lived at the same property as their uncle and were first sexually assaulted in the late 80's, which continued for eight years into the early 90s, according to the Age.

The assaults took place in the man's caravan and in public places such as a shopping centre and a swimming pool.

Police first heard of the assaults in 1992 when the young woman told a school friend about her uncle's abuse, but when police came to speak to the uncle they heard the father had threw him from the house.

The two young victims were first sexually assaulted by their uncle in the late 80's and early 90's (Stock Image)

The man then was not heard from for 20 years, leaving the victim to believe he had died up until 2014.

After searching for her uncle's name online, she found his former address on a petition against a local pub in South Australia.

The search subsequently led to his most recent address in the Northern Territory, allowing police to charge him and extradite him back to Victoria.

The man pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one court of gross indecency relating to a child under 16 - a day after his trial was due to start - and was jailed on Friday.

The judge said the man, in his 30s at the time, abused the girls by touching their genitals at his home and in public and on one occasion asking them to touch his penis, which they refused.

The court heard the man bribed the girls to stay quiet with coins.

The assaults took place in public places such as a shopping centre and a swimming pool (Stock Image)

The judge said he was limited in his sentencing, since the maximum penalties for the crimes at the time of the offence were much less severe.

Despite the judge's reservations about the offender's remorse, which was 'questionable', he was sentenced to a two year sentence, with a further 12 months suspended.

One of the victims showed the impact the trauma had caused when she struggled to appear in court because the sentencing judge was bearded, just like her uncle, but was able to bravely overcome her fear to read her victim impact statement.

Besides the caravan the uncle assaulted his two nieces in a shopping centre (Stock Image)

'I needed to get over that so [my uncle] would have to listen to me and know I'm not scared [of him] anymore,' she said, The Age reported.

'Even if as in my case the sentence is not as harsh, [it was worth it]. He had to hear what I have to say so [it] brought my power back to me. I don't feel as much of a victim.'

While the victim said the pursuit of her uncle was worth it to find justice, the remarkably short jail sentence left the woman disheartened and said it is why adult women often struggle to come forward.
This disturbing footage shows the moment a prominent Indian politician and his son assaulted a pregnant nurse and pushed her to the floor.

Paramjit Singh, a high ranking-member of a Sikh nationalist party, and his son Gurjeet, allegedly flew into a rage when the nurse told them they had to wait at reception.

Security footage shows the men repeatedly hitting Nurse Ramandeep Kaur - who was five-months pregnant - before throwing her to the ground.

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Video footage shows the moment an Indian politician (wearing a turban) and his son assaulted a pregnant nurse and pushed her to the floor at Gupta Hospital in Baghapurana, Punjab

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) member and his son were visiting Gupta Hospital in Baghapurana, Punjab, to get a villager discharged on Thursday.

They asked for a bill from Dr Rohit Ravi, but allegedly became violent when the pregnant nurse asked them to wait at reception for the bill.

She told authorities that Singh told her: 'You don't know me. I am an Akali sarpanch (village leader).'

'I only had asked them to wait outside as they (Paramjit and his son) were sitting on seats meant for staff,' Ms Kaur said, according to the Times of India.

Paramjit Singh (back left), a member of a Sikh nationalist party, and his son Gurjeet (back right), allegedly flew into a rage when the nurse told them they had to wait at reception

Singh (wearing the yellow turban) can be seen pushing the nurse to the ground

Both the father and son were seen lashing out at the nurse following the confrontation

'They could not tolerate it and repeatedly slapped me and pushed me to ground.

'They also abused me despite my requests not to behave like this due to my condition.'

Security footage shows the pair lashing out at the nurse in a doctor's office while another man stands in the centre to protect her.

Police charged the father and son with trespassing, causing hurt voluntarily and intimidation, according to reports.

When contacted, Singh reportedly said: 'The nurse talked in insulting way , misbehaved with us and taunted that you people do not know where to sit and how to talk with hospital staff.'

Security footage shows the pair lashing out at the nurse in a doctor's office while another man stands in the centre to protect her
A wannabe rapper turned meth dealer has been jailed for operating drug rings with outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Lao Sun-Moon Tyson, 27, from Morningside in Brisbane, was caught buying drugs from alleged bikie kingpin Joshua Daniel Brady, 28, from Wakerley, Brisbane.

Tysons involvement in the drug operation was uncovered when alleged bikie Brady, the main target of the police operation, allegedly delivered drugs to him on seven separate occasions.

Tyson (pictured) in his latest rap song video entitled 'No Remorse' which was posted to YouTube in March

While it was allegedly a large scale drug trafficking operation, Tyson only onsold the drugs at a street level, according to the Courier Mail.

The operation included the distribution of cocaine, ice, ecstasy, cannabis, steroids and other drugs, according to Justice Ann Lyons who presided over his trial.

Large sums of money were being exchanged for significant amounts of drugs, Justice Lyons said.

Lao Sun-Moon Tyson (pictured), 27, from Morningside in Brisbane, was caught buying drugs from an alleged bikie kingpin

The metal fabrication worker and hopeful rapper was busted 18 months ago when police found 30.96 grams of meth in his possession, an amount they labelled a stockpile.

But Tyson was unfased by his arrest, and continued to deal drugs.

Tyson appeared in Brisbanes Supreme Court today, charged with drug trafficking.

While Tyson was not accused of having strong links to a bikie gang, the amateur rappers arrest was a direct result of a Taskforce Maxima operation targeting drug rings with alleged bikie links.

Tyson (pictured), a metal fabrication worker and hopeful rapper, was busted 18 months ago when police found 30.96 grams of ice in his possession

Tyson (pictured), from Brisbane, was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended after 15 months

The Brisbane man was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended after 15 months.

Alleged bikie kingpin Brady is due to stand trial on four counts of trafficking and three counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has moved his most advanced anti-aircraft missile system within range of NATO's Baltic base as he continues to order his nuclear bombers to patrol the North Sea.

The S-400 Triumph, dubbed the SA-21 Growler by NATO, can destroy an aircraft at a range of 250 miles at an altitude of 90,000 feet.

Putin ordered two batteries of the highly-mobile supersonic missile systems to be deployed to the area around St Petersburg, putting a missile shield over much of the Baltic region.

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RAF jets are regularly involved in missions to protect Baltic airspace from Russian aircraft, however, Vladimir Putin is now deploying his most-advanced anti-aircraft missile system to the region as part of his increasingly belligerent stance towards the former Soviet states

The highly-advanced S-400 Triumph, known by NATO as the SA-21 Growler, pictured, is capable of shooting down an aircraft at a range of 250 miles at an altitude of up to 90,000 feet

RAF Typhoons have been deployed in a Quick Reaction Alert role across the Baltic, most recently in Estonia, which will now be covered by Putin's advanced missile system

RAF Typhoons ended a six-month tour of duty at Amari airbase in Estonia earlier this month as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission.

According to the RAF, four Typhoon aircraft from the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing were deployed to protect the airspace around Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from incursion by 'unidentified aircraft'.

Yesterday, two RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept a pair of Russian Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack bombers off the coast of Scotland.

Each of the bombers is capable of carrying 16 nuclear missiles.

According the Ministry of Defence: '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.'

Russian's Western Military Command confirmed that two regiments of Growlers will be deployed to the 'Leningrad region in the near future'.

The Growler, pictured, is also capable of intercepting in-bound cruise missiles

Igor Muginov told the Russian Tass news agency: 'At this time, military servicemen are preparing to hold an operational readiness exercise at the Ashuluk military station in the Astrakhan region. They are going to engage low-flying aerial, high altitude, evading and ballistic targets.

'After the operational readiness exercise is completed, the missile complex will be brought into operation so it can be used to protect the aerial borders of North-West Russia.'

Russia has been dramatically increasing the number of S-400 regiments, with 16 due to be operational by the end of the year.

Putin has already deployed one unit to Russia's Hmeimim Air Base in Syria. From the heavily-defended airbase, the missile system can cover an area covering most of Syria, southern Turkey, Cyprus, the eastern Mediterranean as well as much of Israel.

The missile system comes in three sections, with a central control point, a radar complex capable of tracking 300 targets and controlling six anti-aircraft missile launchers.

The S-400 is also able to intercept cruise missiles and other potential airborne threats.

It is also believed to be a major threat to military aircraft such as the RAF Tornado and Typhoon as well as the US Air Force F-15, F-16 and F/A 18 Hornet.

Putin has ordered a massive increase in Growler production and will have 16 regiments available to him by the end of the year, with missiles already covering Syria and the North Pole

Russian defence officials claim it can even target the fifth-generation F-22 Raptor aircraft.

The long-range missile system first went into service in 2007.

Russia claims the system can even strike incoming ballistic missiles travelling at 10,000 miles per hour at a range of 40 miles.
Former headteacher Gillian Rew from Arbroath High School, in Angus, Scotland, has failed to get her hearing with the General Teaching Council for Scotland heard in private

A shamed headteacher has failed in a bid to have allegations of improper contact involving pupils heard in secret.

Gillian Rew was sacked from her 74,000-per-year post in September last year after allegedly getting drunk with sixth year students during a school trip.

The 49-year-old former head of Arbroath High School in Angus asked Scotlands teaching watchdog to hear the charges against her behind closed doors.

Mrs Rew is accused of being under the influence of alcohol, breaching child protection rules, and having improper contact with pupils.

But the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) threw out the application saying it was in the public interest for the hearing to be held in open session, apart from evidence relating to her marriage.

The GTCS has now revealed the full charges against Mrs Rew all of which relate to an adventure weekend trip to Lockerbie Manor in September 2014.

They allegations state: 'Whilst you were attending an S6 residential excursion at Lockerbie Manor, in Lockerbie, you did whilst having control of S6 pupils and also being the Child Protection Designated Officer for the excursion, consume alcohol and you were under the influence of alcohol.

'As a consequence of the above, you were in breach of Angus Councils Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures for Educational Excursions.'

Mrs Rew is accused of 'getting drunk' with sixth form students on an adventure weekend away

The charges add: 'And, thereafter, whilst under the influence of alcohol, you engaged in inappropriate conversations with, made inappropriate comments to and had improper contact with pupils.

'In light of the above it is alleged that your fitness to teach is impaired and you are unfit to teach as a result of breaching...the General Teaching Council for Scotlands Code of Professionalism and Conduct 2012.'

During a procedural hearing on Wednesday, the panel read out a letter from Mrs Rews clinical psychologist stating that at the time of the complaint Mrs Rew was in 'ill health'.

Dr Alison Harper suggested there would be an adverse detrimental impact on the Mrs Rews ability to provide evidence if the hearing was heard in public.

Mrs Rews representative added that the case 'goes beyond distress and embarrassment' because his respondent had been diagnosed with a clinical condition and potential harm could be avoided.

He later stated the process will be distressing, upsetting and will provoke anxiety for Mrs Rew.

But she had asked her case be heard in private due to her 'ill health' at the time and the 'stress and embarrassment'

Balancing these concerns and the public interest, the panel concluded the hearing should be heard in public with exception of evidence relating to Mrs Rews marriage and family circumstances.

Since the allegations came to light, social media has been awash with rumour and speculation over what exactly happened during the trip.

Among the lurid claims online are those of a former pupil who claimed: 'Apparently steaming on a camping trip and flirting with the boys. Heard she dropped crisps down her top and got one boys head to "Come and get them" haha.'

Another student wrote: 'Everyone defending her, she would grope anyone that had a packet of crisps in their hands.'

Yet another claimed: 'Mrs Rew came to a party with us as well and koed on the couch, thats the way teachers should be. Godbless Gillian Rew.'

However many pupils went online to defend their former headmistress saying the claims were exaggerated and that she transformed the school and was great at her job.

One school girl said: 'Omg Mrs Rew. She was suspended for being drunk at the residential. Its so unfair. Its not like she harmed any of us.'

Pupils at the school took to social media after the alleged incident and there were various rumours including claims she 'flirted with boys using a packet of crisps'

But some of the students stood up for her saying she was a great teacher and it was 'unfair' when it was a residential and a Saturday night when it is alleged to have happened

Another schoolboy wrote: 'Sacking Mrs Rew proves Angus Council have an absolute zero banter policy. The amount she did for the school was unreal and for her to go like that is tragic.'

It is believed that Angus Council became aware of Mrs Rews alleged drunken behaviour after receiving a complaint from a concerned parent.

She was suspended from her job shortly after the trip and a police investigation was launched.

A police investigation was dropped but now Mrs Rew faces the General Teaching Council for Scotland

The case was eventually dropped and prosecutors in Scotland declined to charge her.
A naked Donald Trump statue has been stolen from an art gallery in Miami in the middle of the night.

Miami police said on the department's official Twitter account that the statue of the Republican presidential nominee was taken from the Wynwood arts district on Thursday.

Police would like to talk to 36-year-old Pedro Alejandro Rodriguez about the overnight grand theft.

A naked Donald Trump statue displayed in the Wynwood area of Miami has been stolen

The statue was originally perched on a billboard before being moved to a gallery

The $50,000 statue was one of several created by anonymous collective INDECLINE and placed in major cities including New York, Cleveland, Seattle and San Francisco, pictures

Police said a 2013 gray Ford F-150 truck registered to 36-year-old Pedro Alejandro Rodriguez was spotted carrying the statue away from the roof

Security guards in Wynwood told police they saw a group of men loading the statue into a pickup truck around 3 a.m, according to WSVN-TV.

The guards said they were patrolling the area when they saw a group of men load the statue into a pickup truck and take off.

A witness told investigators he took a picture of the truck as it drove away.

Witness Angel Pino said he tried to yell at the men to stop, but they kept going.

'I was happening to be skateboarding over there on the other side, and I just seen the guys sneaking up, and he was already by the Donald Trump,' said Pino. 'He just pulled it and ran, so I just ran after him and said 'Stop! Stop!' And then he just jumped, went in the truck and left, but before he left, I took that snap picture. It was perfect.'

Police ran the license plate and are now looking for the registered owner who appears to be Rodriguez.

Police would like to talk to 36-year-old Pedro Alejandro Rodriguez about the overnight grand theft of the Trump statue. They identified the man after a witness jotted down his truck plate

The controversial naked sculpture of Donald Trump, titled The Emperor Has No Balls is one of the life-size naked Trump statue that artist collective INDECLINE installed around the country in August.

The sculpture was on display along for several days before it was stolen, said authorities.

'Someone made a political statement, and then someone else made a political statement back, taking it down,' said one person in Wynwood.

The statue had previously been placed on top of an event space, but was later moved to the Harold Golen Gallery as it distracted drivers on I-95

The statue was recently moved after originally being located atop a former RC Cola plant, but it was distracting drivers along Interstate 95.

A number of Trump statues have appeared in cities all over the country.

In New Jersey, a Trump statue which had been displayed on top of a warehouse was stolen over the weekend.
News / National

by Staff reporter

High field West MP Eric Murai (MDC-T) yesterday caused a storm after he parked his vehicle at the entrance of President Robert Mugabe's offices at Munhumutapa Building along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare.Murai was intercepted by armed police officers and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operatives and interrogated before being handed over to Harare Central Police Station.Mugabe's offices are classified as a high-security zone where ordinary motorists are not allowed to stop or park their vehicles. Pedestrians, too, are prohibited from loitering around the area.MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu yesterday described Murai's arrest and brief detention at Munhumutapa Building as illegal.
George Osborne's minister for the Northern Powerhouse has quit the government amid complaints that Theresa May is dismantling the former Chancellor's legacy.

Lord O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs economist who was appointed by Mr Osborne last May, resigned saying he wanted to play a role outside of government.

He has also left the Conservative Party and will sit as a crossbencher in future.

Mrs May has been seen as trying to draw a line under the David Cameron and Osborne era since taking over in Downing Street.

Lord O'Neill was drafted in to government by George Osborne after the general election

One of her first actions as PM was brutally sacking Mr Osborne, who allies had hoped would be shifted to Foreign Secretary.

Mrs May has also signalled she could take a tougher approach to relations with the Chinese - after the former inhabitants of Nos 10 and 11 put huge effort into encouraging investment from Beijing.

In a letter to Mrs May, Lord O'Neill said he had finished a review into anti-microbial resistance and felt it was time to step down as a Treasury minister.

'I primarily joined... for the specific purpose of helping deliver the Northern Powerhouse, and to help boost our economic ties with key growing economies around the world, especially China and India and other rapidly emerging economies.

'The case for both to be at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention.

'I am leaving knowing that I can play some role supporting these critical initiatives as a non-governmental person.'

Mrs May has brought in Lord Young, the former chief whip and Commons leader, to fill his job.

In a letter responding to Lord O'Neill, she praised his contribution on the Northern Powerhouse agenda and forging stronger ties with China and India.

'You have laid important foundations in these areas, and the Government will build on them,' the PM wrote.

'I would particularly like to pay tribute to your ground-breaking work on Anti-Microbial Resistance.

'You should take great pride in seeing your review culminate this week in the UN high level agreement. You have played a vital role in building global consensus on this important issue which will have long-lasting benefits.'
The white police officer charged with first-degree manslaughter after shooting an unarmed black pastor dead while he had his hands up has been released after posting bond.

Betty Shelby, 42, turned herself into police in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the early hours on Friday morning, just hours after prosecutors charged her in relation to the death of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on September 16.

Tulsa County jail records show Shelby spent just 20 minutes in custody, being booked at 1:11am and then released at 1:31am after posting $50,000 bond.

Betty Shelby (pictured) turned herself in on Friday morning after being charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting dead unarmed black pastor Terence Crutcher

District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charges Thursday afternoon against Shelby, saying the officer 'reacted unreasonably' and was 'emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted' when she shot Crutcher.

It comes after dashcam and aerial footage of the shooting and its aftermath showed the victim walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air.

If convicted, the police officer faces between fours years and the maximum sentence of life in prison.

Speaking to reporters outside the Tulsa County Courthouse on Thursday, Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany, said 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.'

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 got 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 claims she 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
A disabled woman has voiced her joy after her therapy dog, who she believes was stolen five years ago, mysteriously turned up 850 miles away.

Kalli Mahaffrey, from Pueblo in Colorado, thought the St Bernard, called Missy, was gone for good after she vanished from her front yard in 2011.

It prompted a search, and a report was filed with a local animal centre. Kalli said her young daughter, Kaylee, who was one at the time, had fallen in love with Missy.

Missy was found in Missouri - an incredible 850 miles from the Colorado home she vanished from in 2011

She was stunned to get a call from Missouri last week saying her missing pet had been found.

Missy was picked up as a stray, and a groomer found she had an identification chip which led back to her rightful owners.

Kalli Mahaffey is set to be reunited with the missing pet, who vanished from her front yard five years ago

Journey: Missy was discovered in House Spring in Missouri, 850 miles away and five years after she went missing

A fundraising campaign was launched to get Missy home

A delighted Kalli, 25, told the New York Post: 'She was stolen from me.

'She was in the front yard. I let her out to use the bathroom and then I turned my back and she was gone.'

A friend of the Missouri groomer, Brandi Cross, from House Springs, said: 'My heart is filled with happiness and love for this dog and family.

'I know how much these companion animals/service animals do for people.'

Another woman, Melissa Wideman-Morton, has volunteered to drive the dog from Missouri to Colorado tomorrow.

She called Kalli and put the phone to Missy's ears.

Kalli said: 'When she heard my voice on the phone, [Melissa] said her ears went back because she knows my voice.'

Volunteer Melissa Wideman-Morton will drive Missy back home to her rightful owners

When she was found in a wooded area, Missy was full of fleas and underweight.

Jefferson County Executive Ken Waller told the Post that the county had waived all the fees to bring the dog's shots up-to-date.

He said: 'With all the stuff thats going on in the world and all the unrest and negative things you hear, this story just tugs at your heart, Waller told The Post. So many things in this story just grab you.'
Russian school children took selfies with a dead bear after the large predator was shot dead trying to access their playground.

The hungry bear approached the Siberian school just as morning classes were about to begin.

Police tried to coax the bear out of the schoolyard in eastern Russia but 'it started to behave aggressively and lunged to attack people'.

Siberian school children took selfies with a dead bear that was shot in their playground

The hungry animal approached School Number 1 in Arkhara, Tamara Zudova when it was cornered by local police who tried to usher it away but were forced to shoot it dead

Groups of adults also stood around photographing the bear which was described as very ill

A decision was taken to shoot the wild animal after cornering it on a playing field.

The head teacher of School Number 1 in Arkhara, Tamara Zudova, then allowed students to see the dead bear at break time, and take selfies, said reports.

The male brown bear was the latest of many cases this year of the beasts encroaching towns and villages in Siberia.

'The students surrounded the dead animal, tried to touch and stroke the bear, and took pictures on their cell phones,' according to one account in The Siberian Times.

Adult passersby also took pictures.

Senior village administrator in Arkhara, Elena Manaeva, said: 'It was in the morning, and all the kids had just come to school.

'Of course, we were all very scared.

A wildlife expert examined the bear and found it was suffering from serious tooth decay

It was claimed the animal, which was quite underweight, would not have survived in the wild

'But thanks to the police, they solved the problem quickly, avoiding casualties.

'They forced the bear to the school stadium, then into a corner close to the fence.

'Then it was shot. I do not remember such cases in our village.'

Wildlife expert Vyacheslav Kastrikin examined the animal and said it was old and ill.

'His teeth had almost totally decayed so he wasn't able to chew and had lost much weight.

'This predator would not have lived long in the wild.'
Jolie filed divorce papers less than a week later and is now staying with all six children at a home she has rented in Malibu

The LA County Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI are both

'He is focused on the best interests of the kids right now, that is why he has remained silent despite the smears,' said the friend

them of running an 'endless smear campaign' against Pitt

Footage taken at at Minnesotas International Falls Airport last week in

Brad Pitt may not have to worry much longer about the recent allegations of physical abuse that are being investigated by multiple agencies after he and son Maddox got into a fight on the family plane last week, as the argument was caught on video.

US Weekly is reporting that cameras at Minnesotas International Falls Airport captured the argument between Maddox and Pitt, which should be a huge help to investigators in the case.

According to TMZ today Brad Pitt will not be prosecuted for any alleged assault against his son according to multiple law enforcement sources involved in the case because there's 'no way to conclusively prove Brad intentionally inflicted harm on his son.'

Scroll down for video

No truth: Footage taken at at Minnesotas International Falls Airport last week in Minneapolis shows Brad and Maddox fighting, but no physical contact

It could be an even bigger help to Pitt however as a source who saw the video claims: 'Brad is seen yelling a lot during it, but nothing physical.'

Pitt then drove around the tarmac in a fuel truck, but returned to the plane soon after and the group departed for Los Angeles.

It is still not clear however if that was the extent of the confrontation between the father and son, or if the heated row continued after the plane took back off for Los Angeles.

Ticket to ride: Pitt reportedly drove around the tarmac in this fuel truck at the airport

A source close to the actor shot down a report that appeared on TMZ Friday claiming that the confrontation between the Hollywood star and his teenage son escalated to the point that Pitt struck the boy - 'intentionally or inadvertently' - early Friday.

'These claims are exaggerated and fabricated,' a friend of the actor tells DailyMail.com.

'It's unfortunate for the whole family that people are insisting on continuing this endless smear campaign against Brad that hurts everyone.

Not having it: The individual also spoke out against Angelina Jolie's allies, accusing them of running an 'endless smear campaign' against Pitt (Jolie and Maddox above in 2015)

'They are a solid family with two caring parents and a normal share of verbal disagreements like major households .

'Hopefully people can move on and leave them all alone to work this out.'

Pitt's friend went on to explain that the actor has nothing negative to say about Jolie and continues to have a huge amount of respect for the mother of his children.

Family first: 'He is focused on the best interests of the kids right now, that is why he has remained silent despite the smears,' said the friend (Jolie and Pitt above in 2011)

'He is focused on the best interests of the kids right now, that is why he has remained silent despite the smears,' his friend explained, adding that Pitt wants his six children to feel good about both their parents.

The argument between Pitt and Maddox is still under investigation by both the LA County Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI.

THE FINAL DAYS OF BRANGELINA SEPT. 14: The entire Pitt-Jolie family land in Minnesota on trip home from France just before 8pm, where Brad is reportedly seen 'wasted' and yelling on the tarmac, at one point trying to drive off in a fuel truck. The plane then continues on to Los Angeles with Pitt back on-board, and soon after landing an individual contacts the L.A. County Dept. of Children and Family Service to anonymously report that Pitt was 'verbally abusive and physical' with the children on the flight. SEPT. 15: The official separation date listed by Jolie on divorce documents. SEPT. 15 - 18: Jolie goes behind Pitt's back and rents a home in Malibu before filing divorce papers a source close to the couple tells DailyMail.com. SEPT. 17 - 18: Jolie sits Pitt down and tells him she plans to file for divorce. He begs her to wait and promises to undergo more counselling. SEPT. 18: Jolie's brother is seen watching the couple's biological children - 10-year-old Shiloh and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne - at a Los Angeles park. SEPT. 19: Jolie files for divorce in a Los Angeles court, citing irreconcilable differences. SEPT. 20: News of the divorce breaks, along with false reports that Pitt's Allied costar Marion Cotillard had an affair with the actor, which caused the split. Both Jolie and Pitt say in statements that their children are their primary concern at this time and ask for privacy. SEPT. 21: Cotillard releases a statement on Instagram saying that she has never had any sort of relationship with Pitt while also confirming rumors that she and her actor partner Guillaume Canet are expecting their second child. SEPT. 21: Moving vans are seen coming and going from the Pitt-Jolie compound in the Hollywood Hills. SEPT. 22: News breaks that Pitt is being investigated by the FBI and the LA County Department of Children and Family Services after a confrontation with son Maddox on the plane. SEPT. 22: Police are seen arriving at the Pitt-Jolie compound, where Pitt is believed to be staying alone. Advertisement

The Los Angeles Police Department made the decision to hand the case over to federal authorities after they were informed of the incident by DCFS because the incident happened in the air and not in a specific jurisdiction.

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.'

TMZ reported earlier this week that it was an anonymous source who called in the complaint to DCFS, alleging that there was both physical and verbal abuse during a confrontation between Pitt and one of his children.

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.

Pitt has hired Lance Spiegel to represent him in the divorce. His previous clients include Charlie Sheen, Eva Longoria and Michael Jackson.

It was revealed on Thursday that 15-year-old Maddox, the couple's oldest son, was the child involved in the confrontation.

Maddox was adopted by Jolie from Cambodia when he was only a few months old back in 2002 - while she was still married to Billy Bob Thornton.

Jolie and Thornton split just three months later and divorced the following year, with Thornton never legally adopting the boy.

The actress and Pitt then began dating sometime around 2004 or 2005, and in 2006 Pitt adopted both Maddox and his little sister Zahara.

A colleague of the couple 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.

TMZ reports that Pitt will be seeking joint 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.'

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.'

Baby mama: Maddox was adopted by Jolie from Cambodia when he was only a few months old back in 2002 - while she was still married to Billy Bob Thornton (Jolie above in 2014)

New dad: Pitt adopted both Maddox and his little sister Zahara in 2006 (Jolie, Maddox and Pitt above in 2006)

Not over: The LA County Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI are both investigating the airplane incident (Pitt and Maddox above in 2013)

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.'

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.'

On the scene: Police were seen arriving to Pitt's home in the Hollywood Hills on Thursday (above)

Moving out: A moving van was also seen at the property on Thursday (above)

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.'

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.
Donald Trump's campaign is calling on Hillary Clinton to give back $550 in political contributions from Anthony Weiner, the disgraced former congressman under investigation for sexting with a teenage girl.

Weiner's antics have been a source of embarrassment for Clintonworld because of his marriage to Hillary For America vice-chair Huma Abedin.

Abedin is a longtime Hillary insider who has worked for her since her days as America's first lady.

And Trump himself has leveraged Abedin's marriage to a famous 'pervert' to argue that Clintonworld could have information security leaks.

GIVE IT BACK: Hillary Clinton is under pressure to return campaign contributions from Anthony Weiner, a former congressman who faces a probe into allegations he sexted with a teenage gifl

The NYPD's Special Victims Unit is looking into possible charges resulting from the sexting email exchange between a 15-year-old high schooler (right) and Weiner (left), seen in a photo taken Wednesday morning

Marriage over: Huma Abedin announced she would separate from Anthony Weiner before Dailymail.com revealed his sexual communications to a 15-year-old. Howeer, they appear to still live in the same Manhattan home

In the month after Clinton's classified email scandal broke last year, Trump told DailyMail.com that 'the person seeing her emails more than anybody else is Huma. And who's Huma married to? The worst deviant in the United States of America, right? Weiner!'

And when Abedin announced her separation from Weiner four weeks ago, Trump called the decision 'very wise,' adding that 'she will be far better off without him.'

But 'I only worry for the country in that Hillary Clinton was careless and negligent in allowing Weiner to have such close proximity to highly classified information,' he said.

''Who knows what he learned and who he told?'

Demands that Clinton return Weiner's money came from Donald Trump, shown Thursday night in suburban Philadelphia

At that point in time, news reports of Weiner's illicit sexting were limited to contacts with adult women.

But DailyMail.com reported exclusively this week that the former congressman, who resigned in 2011, has been carrying on an online relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

A federal prosecutor subpoenaed his phone records on Thursday. And the New York Police Department's Special Victims Unit is investigating the case since it involves a child.

'The announcement by the FBI and New York Police Department that they are investigating close Clinton ally Anthony Weiners inappropriate relationship with an under-aged female is extremely disturbing,' Trump's deputy communications director Jessica Ditto said in a statement Thursday evening.

In one message, Weiner told the girl he was 'hard' after thinking of her one morning

'The Clinton campaign should immediately return all campaign contributions from Weiner. America has had enough of the sleaze that is Clinton, Inc.'

Weiner's donations came at the end of May, when three weeks after Trump had cemented his position as the GOP's presumptive nominee while Clinton was still battling with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side of the race.

On the same day he made the contributions, Clinton campaign manager Robbie Mook send an email to supporters begging for a new cash infusion.

'For the time being, our fundraising is actually DOWN slightly from where it was in April,' Mook wrote.

'I dont know if its that you think we dont need the money yet (we do), or that Trump couldnt possibly win (he really, really could), or if youre just exhausted from a long primary (I dont blame you!)  but whatever your reasons are, I am personally asking you to get up off the bench and help make sure the most extreme, erratic presidential nominee in history never makes it to the White House.'

Weiner's troubles are mounting. He was already under investigation by New York City's child protective services over sending an adult woman a picture of him in a state of arousal with his son in bed beside him.

Then in the wake of Wednesday revelations by DailyMail.com, New York Police Department's Special Victims Unit launched an investigation into his sexting of a 15-year-old.

On Thursday DailyMail.com revealed that Weiner had passed the identity of the 15-year-old to media outlets, resulting in reporters coming to her father's home. DailyMail.com had never revealed any aspect of her identity.

Later that day, Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York - known as the nation's toughest prosecutor - issued a subpoena for his cellphone and other records, and it was disclosed that the FBI is investigating.
The shouting match was filmed and took place before the

A furious man went on a tirade against attendees of a Brooklyn Community Board 6 meeting about a decision to put a Citi Bike stand outside his home.

The man, who has been identified as Joseph Igneri, was filmed squaring up to members of the committee and a man he referred to as Jerry before the meeting had started.

Even though the Citi Bike scheme, which is a bike sharing initiative in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey City, wasn't on the meeting's agenda, a number of locals voiced their displeasure at the increasing number of bike stands and cyclists in the Brooklyn area.

Igneri shouted at the committee host exclaiming 'there's no bike stand outside your house' before going to a number of community leaders at table to point and ask them 'is there a bike stand outside your house?'

The member known as Jerry stands up to the man after he approached him and said 'Next time you shout at-' which got Igneri even more riled.

'You're gonna what?' he asked repeatedly as he bent down to bring himself eye level with Jerry.

Igneri was complaining about a Citi Bike station that was built outside his house. The bike sharing scheme was launched in 2013 across the area

Igneri was then asked to leave by the host and was seen walking out of the room.

New York State senator Daniel Squadron was present at the meeting, however the Citi Bike issues are problems for the city council and not state senators.

'Senator Squadron had shown up to the meeting before we convened because we did not have a quorum yet, and as a courtesy our chairperson allowed him to address the assemblage,' explained CB6 District Manager Craig R. Hammerman.

'And during the Q&A portion after he made his remarks, some people, who were obviously there to express their displeasure with the Citi Bikes program, asked the senator about it, peppering him with questions about the Citi Bike program, to which he was largely unable to respond since he's a state senator and it's a city program.'

Igneri approaches committee members. 'Do you have a bike stand outside your house?' he asked them

The angry Brooklyn resident confronts Jerry who stands up to Igneri. The man is asked to leave soon after this clash

Eric McClure, co-founder of the Park Slope Neighbors group and co-chair of the CB6 Transportation Committee, tweeted the video and said some in the area are against the Citi Bike scheme as the bikes can block parking spaces.

'This was a particularly extreme reaction, and totally out of line,' he told Gothamist.

'There were probably a couple dozen people there last night to speak (or yell) about their opposition to Citi Bike, or in most cases, their opposition to the placement of Citi Bike docks on their blocks and in 'their' parking spaces.'

This Twitter user said the meeting was chaos after outbursts from disgruntled Brooklyn residents

Igneri was a former board member of the CB6 but was relinquished of his responsibilities after failing to attend enough meetings. The Gothamist say he has filed numerous complains about bike lanes and trucks in the neighborhood over a 20 year period.

Citi Bike launched in May 2013 and allows visitors to travel around New York and New Jersey on shared bikes that are stationed across the area.

It recently opened new stations in Park Slope, Gowanus, Red Hook and BoCoCa in Brooklyn.
A case of leprosy has been diagnosed in a Southern California elementary school student, sending health officials scrambling to reassure parents and the public that the disease is hard to transmit and easy to treat.

Two children from Indian Hills Elementary School in Jurupa Valley had initially been diagnosed by a local doctor with the condition known medically as Hansen's disease, Riverside County health officials said Thursday.

But this week they received results from the National Hansen's Disease Laboratory Research Program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and they showed that only one of the children had tested positive.

Scroll down for video

A case of leprosy, extremely rare in the US, has been diagnosed in an Indian Hills Elementary School (pictured) student in California. Health officials are scrambling to reassure parents and the public that the disease is hard to transmit and easy to treat

Leprosy is extremely rare in the US with about 150 cases per year, as more than 95 per cent of the population is naturally immune to it.

Emails were sent to parents at the elementary school, where classrooms had been sanitized since the initial diagnosis, emphasizing how hard it is to contract leprosy and that there is no danger to the child's classmates.

'It is incredibly difficult to contract leprosy,' said Dr Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County's public health officer. 'The school was safe before this case arose and it still is.'

Despite its reputation as an incredibly infectious plague that makes sufferers shed body parts, the disease can only be passed through prolonged contact, and is fairly easily treated with antibiotics.

It is not spread through short-term contact like handshakes or even sexual intercourse.

Those most at risk are family members who are in constant contact with an untreated person, and is usually contracted by people who have traveled to places like India, Brazil and Angola where it's more common.

County health officials would say only that the child got the disease through prolonged contact with another person who is not in the county.

They would say nothing about the identity of either child who was tested.

'The only way to protect the two students is for nobody to know who they are,' district Superintendent Elliott Duchon told the Riverside Press-Enterprise.

Leprosy (file photo) remains a problem in tropical hot spots of the world with some 250,000 new infections reported each year. If left untreated, it can cause severe nerve damage, deformity and disability

Duchon was at the school on Thursday afternoon to answer questions from concerned parents.

Leprosy remains a problem in tropical hot spots of the world with some 250,000 new infections reported each year. Similar to tuberculosis, it can stay dormant for years before attacking the skin and nerves.

The disease has long been misunderstood, with false stories of fingers and toes falling off adding to the stigma. Fear led some countries to quarantine people.

Antibiotics typically kill the bacteria within days and make it non-contagious. It usually takes a year or two to fully clear the germ from the body.

If left untreated, it can cause severe nerve damage, deformity and disability.
It's the latest in a string of 'exploding' Samsung phone incidents reported

Phone was in overhead luggage storage as plane was preparing to land

Samsung Note 2 'caught fire' on IndiGo flight from Singapore to Chennai

A Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone is believed to have emitted smoke on board a passenger jet from Singapore to India this morning.

The handset was on board the Indigo airlines flight 6E-054 going to Chennai airport.

The airline confirmed today that passengers reported smoke on board and that air crew found it from the handset in the overhead luggage of seat 23 C.

A Samsung spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices.

'At Samsung, customer safety is our highest priority. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information and are looking into the matter.'

A Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone is believed to have emitted smoke on board a passenger jet from Singapore to India this morning

Samsung last week recalled 2.5million Galaxy 7 Note handsets following reports of exploding phones.

Etihad Airways temporarily banned the use of the smartphones at the beginning of this month again after reports of explosions from faulty batteries.

Following the latest incident, Directorate General of Civil Aviation Government (DGCA) of India has summoned Samsung officials to discuss the issues at a meeting on Monday.

An IndiGo spokesman said: 'A few passengers noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning and immediately alerted the cabin crew.

'The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the overhead of seat 23 C and informed the pilot-in-command who alerted air traffic control of the situation.

'Taking precautionary measure, the cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung Note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin.'

The spokesman added that cabin crew used a fire extinguisher on the handset and threw it into a lavatory.

A DGCA spokesman said it was thought the phone had caught fire.

Recently, the DGCA banned passengers from using Galaxy 7 phones that are switched on board flights.

US and Japanese aviation authorities on Friday also urged passengers to switch off Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on board.
Australian mother of two Sara Connor has asked to be moved to a more comfortable Bali jail cell because she is suffering from 'extreme stress'.

Ms Connor and her British boyfriend David Taylor are the prime suspects in the murder of Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on Kuta beach August 17.

The Byron Bay woman is said to be under extreme stress inside her Denpasar Police Station cell, where she has been locked up since her arrest on August 18.

Scroll down for video.

Australian mother of two Sara Connor (pictured) has asked to be moved to a more comfortable Bali jail cell

Ms Connor, who has been living in a 'small dark cell' with another woman, is not coping well with the stress, according to Yahoo News.

Her lawyer Erwin Siregar said his client wanted room to exercise and asked that she be moved.

In the month since Ms Connor and her British boyfriend were arrested for the Bali police officer's murder, the couple has been under ongoing interrogation by Indonesian authorities.

Ms Connor (pictured) and her boyfriend David Taylor are the prime suspects in the murder of Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa

Ms Connor's lawyer Erwin Siregar (pictured) said his client was suffering from 'extreme stress' and asked she be moved to a more comfortable cell

Ms Connor (pictured) is accused of murdering Bali police officer Wayan Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on Kuta beach August 17

Ms Connor (pictured) has been locked up in a Denpasar Police Station cell since her arrest on August 18

The pair were even forced to give their version of events and re-enact the night of the murder.

But the interrogation continues, as more details come to light.

The prosecution is expected to reveal more details on the case, including information about the murdered officer's phone, and what happened to it the night he was found dead on the beach.

Ms Connor (pictured centre), who has been living in a 'small dark cell' with another woman, is reportedly not coping well

Ms Connor (centre left) and her boyfriend David Taylor (centre right) have been under ongoing interrogation by Indonesian authorities

Ms Connor and Mr Taylor (pictured left) were forced to give their version of events and re-enact the night of the murder

The prosecution is expected to reveal more details on the case on Monday, when Ms Connor and Mr Taylor (pictured) are expected to be formally charged

The mobile phone was said to be found with the couple's clothing, which was discovered burned.

Ms Connor allegedly took the phone and wallet from Mr Sudarsa after he was murdered, but she denies the claim.

The new details will be presented to prosecutors on Monday, the day Ms Connor and Mr Taylor are expected to be formally charged.
News / National

by Staff reporter

OPPOSITION parties have welcomed the move by Botswana President Ian Khama to break ranks with most African leaders in publicly calling on President Robert Mugabe to retire.Known for his forthrightness, Khama this week called on Zimbabwe's 92-year-old leader to allow for leadership renewal in the country.While the ruling party scoffed at Khama's suggestion and Mugabe's administration remained tight-lipped, opposition parties roundly sang the Botswana leader's praises yesterday.MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said Africa badly needed leaders of Khama's calibre."This is the kind of assertive and positive attitude that we expect to have from all the leaders in the Sadc regional grouping. The MDC would like to most sincerely thank and, indeed, salute President Khama for calling a spade a spade."Mugabe is now an anachronism within Sadc in particular and Africa in general. He is way too old to cling to power. He is yesterday's man. He should immediately step down to allow Zimbabwe to move forward," Gutu said.The spokesperson for the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, Kurauone Chihwayi, said Khama's honesty should be applauded in the face of "protectionist tendencies" by African regimes."Zimbabwe needs honest friends like President Khama. President Mugabe should swallow his pride and step down to unlock the Zimbabwean economy. Zimbabwe is in ruins today because of corruption and incompetent leadership that is using State security apparatus to silence and oppress starving citizens," Chihwayi said.Former Finance minister Tendai Biti's People's Democratic Party spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Mugabe had turned Zimbabwe into the world's laughing stock."Khama's pronouncement is a commonsense position that any right-thinking person would have. The world cannot stop laughing at Mugabe's performance at the UN and his strenuous efforts to get off his plane and onto podiums. We must all collectively hang our heads in shame for failing to correct such an obvious anomaly," Mafume said.Former Vice-President Joice Mujuru's Zimbabwe People First spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said Mugabe should not be allowed anywhere near State power given his advanced age."Khama is being honest and saying the kind of things most Zimbabweans are silently saying; that the country cannot be extricated from the economic arroyo (gully) that Mugabe plunged it into under the Zanu-PF leader's watch."Those that urge him to stay on should be charged with treason because there is no greater threat to our national security than the presence of a frail and free-falling Mugabe in the Office of President," Mawarire, whose court application forced Zimbabwe into an election controversially won by Mugabe in 2013, said."These political maggots feasting on a decaying dictatorship should for once be patriotic and act in the interest of the majority by telling Mugabe to step down, call for fresh elections and leave those fit to run for political office to do so in a free and fair electoral environment."Khama said Mugabe's continued presence on Zimbabwe's political terrain and particularly as leader was a cause of instability in the region.
Out for a stroll with their dogs at a Cornish beauty spot, these three women dont appear to have a care in the world.

But they have found themselves at the centre of an online row  after allegedly refusing to clean up an enormous mess left by one of their Great Danes.

A picture of the two blondes and a redhead with their large dogs has been shared by thousands of Facebook users after being posted by angry local resident Karen Hoyle.

The online shaming comes days after a similar tactic was used by disabled train passenger Cat Lee  who posted a photograph of two businessmen she claimed had refused to give up the seats she had reserved.

Karen Hoyle sparked a huge debate on Cornwall Councils Facebook page yesterday when she shared a picture of the women and their three dogs who were on the coastline near Padstow

One of the men later came forward to say he had no idea she was disabled, and that the train company had announced all reservations were cancelled.

Miss Hoyle said she saw the three women leave the dogs mess on the ground at Padstow in north Cornwall on Thursday, while on their way to the ferry to nearby Rock.

The post with the pictures of the women and their dogs, including two Great Danes, like the one pictured, was shared more than 4000 times

She wrote in a public message to the council on Facebook: There [sic] blonde Great Dane did his business on the neat and tidy cut grass that was packed with tourists and then they all walked off leaving the mess behind. I would not report this if it was a small dog but this was a Great Dane!! And the mess left was enormous.

Miss Hoyle went on to say she had taken a photograph of the mess next to a pen to show the scale. She said: These ladies were offered a poo bag by myself on the beach and they said they had one.

I suggested politely in that case they should return and pick up the mess as they had time before the ferry left.

They refused to do so. They were further challenged by a gentleman and still refused to pick the mess up.

Miss Hoyle, 44, claims the women, who were walking two Great Danes and an Alsatian, had asked her: Who are you to tell us? But she added in her post: I am a responsible dog owner who lives in the area regularly walking my dog.

Miss Hoyles Facebook post was shared nearly 5,000 times and attracted more than 1,000 comments. One user wrote: Disgusting. If you wont pick up dog mess dont own a dog, simple.

Miss Hoyle edited the message on Thursday evening, saying: Update: woman has now come forward  lets leave council to now deal with.

The owner of the offending dog, who asked not to be named, expressed regret for her actions to a local newspaper. My friend had the dog and I was on the beach waiting for the ferry when it made the mess in the rough grass area, she said.

I was the one who had the bags. In hindsight, although I was not walking the dog at the time, I became aware and I should have gone back up and cleaned up the mess, missed the ferry and taken the next one.

Cornwall Council confirmed it is working with the owner now and warns other residents in Padstow (pictured) to be aware that if they leave their dog mess they will 'track them down'

A Cornwall Council spokesman said: There has been a huge public reaction to the Facebook post from a concerned resident reporting alleged dog fouling. The dog owner has since come forward and we are dealing with the incident.

The issue of dog fouling is one that upsets and angers many residents and we encourage members of the public to report incidents to us.

The message to irresponsible dog owners is that if you dont clear up after your dog, we will do all that we can to track you down and issue you with a fixed penalty notice.

Fines for refusing to clean up after your dog vary across the UK, but are often around 50 and can be as much as 80. Those who do not pay can be taken to court and fined up to 1,000.

Some local authorities make it mandatory for owners to carry a poop scoop and disposable bag when they are walking their dog in a public place.

Residents continue to question Cornwall Council calling for action after Karen Hoyle's post yesterday
Philip Hammond (pictured) has generated concern in the City after he was unable to tell businessmen which government minister or department was in charge of Brexit

Philip Hammond has generated concern in the City after he was unable to tell businessmen which government minister or department was in charge of Brexit.

The Chancellor said it was 'all very difficult at the moment' when asked who was in charge, according to a businessman present at a meeting on Wednesday.

It fuelled the growing sense of frustration over the Government's approach to leaving the EU and has led demands from business leaders for clearer lines of communication with ministers.

Theresa May appointed three leading Brexit campaigners to the main EU-focussed departments.

Boris Johnson was given the Foreign Secretary post, David Davis in charge of the Exiting the European Union department and Liam Fox was appointed the International Development Secretary.

Along with Chancellor Mr Hammond and the Prime Minister, all have held meetings with the private sector to understand their concerns and priorities for the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

One businessman told the Financial Times that he was frustrated at having to repeat his negotiating priorities for Brexit to different ministers and not knowing the line of command.

Others also complained about the lack of a single point of contact in Whitehall.

Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general at the Confederation of British Industry, said: 'A clear roadmap and architecture should be built so firms know who to engage with over what timeframe.'

Mr Hammond's office said they 'did not recognise' the Chancellor's remark that it was 'difficult' to say who was in charge of Brexit - reported in today's FT.

But another participant who has attended Whitehall meetings with ministers revealed the stark contrast in approach to Brexit among different Cabinet ministers.

Theresa May appointed three leading Brexit campaigners to the main EU-focussed departments. Liam Fox (left) was appointed the International Development Secretary, Boris Johnson (middle) was given the Foreign Secretary post and David Davis (right) in charge of the Exiting the European Union department. Pictured, the trio exit Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting earlier this month. The three are to share use of Chevening, the grace-and-favour country estate usually available for use by the third most senior Cabinet minister or the Foreign Secretary.

Carolyn Fairbairn (pictured left), director-general at the Confederation of British Industry, said: 'A clear roadmap and architecture should be built so firms know who to engage with over what timeframe. Meanwhile George Osborne (pictured right, earlier this month in Manchester) warned that Brexit negotiations might not start until autumn next year because of the German and French elections

'There are two significant strands of thinking in government,' one business leader told the newspaper. 'One strand is gung-ho and wants to drive on without fully understanding the consequences, the other is more measured.'

The confusion over the Government's approach to Brexit negotiations was laid bare last night when Theresa May was forced to slap down her Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson after he suggested Britain could be out of the EU by 2018, defying wide-spread expectations that Brexit negotiations will take the maximum two-years allowed under EU rules.

And in comments that took fellow ministers by surprise, the Foreign Secretary said Article 50 - the formal two-year mechanism for quitting the Brussels club - would be invoked early next year.

A Number 10 spokesperson said the 'decision on when to invoke Article 50 is a decision for the Prime Minister and nobody else'.

The confusion over the Government's approach to Brexit negotiations was laid bare last night when Theresa May was forced to slap down her Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (pictured in New York at the UN summit earlier this week) after he suggested Britain could be out of the EU by 2018, defying wide-spread expectations that Brexit negotiations will take the maximum two-years allowed under EU rules

Meanwhile George Osborne warned the opposite, predicting that talks with the EU will not start until next autumn.

In a blow to those hoping for a swift exit, the former Chancellor said his experience of working with France and Germany leads him to predict it is 'highly unlikely' they will enter serious negotiations about Brexit until this time next year.

He also admitted that freedom of movement will not survive the Brexit talks.

Mr Osborne, one of the biggest supporters of the EU's open borders immigration rules, said he could not envisage the Government accepting a deal that continues free movement of people because the issue 'clearly caused such concern in the referendum'.

He urged Theresa May to seek the 'closest possible' relationship with the EU on economic and security issues.
Leon Carlisle, pictured, 11, was found dead by his parents at home in Belfast minutes after being sent to his room following an argument

An 11-year-old boy was found dead just five minutes after being sent to his bedroom after arguing with his parents.

Leon Carlisles parents discovered him unconscious in his room at their home in Belfst after what has been described as a tragic accident.

The exact nature of what happened is still unclear but police are not treating the death as suspicious.

His father John McNaugthon paid an emotional tribute to his son on Facebook, stating his son loved life.

He wrote: It feels like I've woke up to a nightmare. Leon wasn't depressed. He loved life, didn't have mental health problems, he wasn't being bullied, he had loads of friends and loved getting out to play.

Leon was sent to his room for arguing with his parents over dinner like any other child does. What he did was an accident which happened in the space of five minutes.

His mother Lisa Carlisle added his death was a terrible accident we cant go back from.

In a statement posted on Facebook, St Marys Christian Brothers Grammar School, Belfast, where Leon was a student, 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.

His school, St Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar, pictured, paid an emotional tribute to him online and said his loss would be 'sorely felt throughout the school'

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 [May his Irish soul be on gods right hand].
A primary school has scrapped a rule ordering children to walk with their hands clasped behind their backs 'at all times' after a backlash from parents.

The 214-pupils at St George the Martyr Primary School in Camden, north London, were told last year that they must walk in the 'correct way' in school corridors, which school bosses called the 'University Walk'.

The term is believed to derive from how students at posh universities - such as Oxford, Cambridge and St Andrews - were told to walk in bygone years.

A primary school has scrapped a rule ordering children to walk with their hands clasped behind their backs 'at all times' after a backlash from parents (stock image)

Executive headteacher Angela Abrahams brought in the rule last year, much to the fury of parents, in a bid to 'strengthen pupil safety, maximise learning time' and 'raise their aspirations'.

Parents, however, were horrified, with some saying their kids looked like 'something out of a chain gang'.

Mrs Abrahams, however, left her job before the summer holidays and has been replaced by new headteacher Adam Young, who has 'quietly' dropped the order that kids walk with their hands behind their backs.

Mr Young is believed to have been alerted to the 'unpopularity' of the rule - which tells all kids at the school, aged 3-11, to walk with their hands 'clasped behind their backs' when on the school premises - by staff and parents.

Speaking this week, one parent - who asked not to be named - said: 'It was like the children were living in the 18th century.

'What so-called educators forget is that this is a primary school where children are just beginning to learn.

The 214-pupils at St George the Martyr Primary School in Camden, north London, (pictured) were told last year that they must walk in the 'correct way' in school corridors

'There is so much going on in their heads that they do not need to constantly be reprimanded for walking in a perfectly natural way with their arms down by their sides.

'Children do not naturally walk with their hands behind their backs - they are not Lord Snooty, they are little kids trying their best to learn.'

She added: 'It's a blessed relief that all the nonsense has now been scrapped now that a new headteacher has taken over.

'Now kids can get back to being kids.'

Another parent, again unnamed, said the walk was 'akin to prisoners being moved jails', adding: 'School is for learning and developing your mind, not walking single file like prisoners on a chain gang.'

Mother-of-two Maisie Rowe told the Camden New Journal newspaper this week: 'They have quietly shelved the rule.

'I think it just faded away last year as teachers stopped enforcing it and then it has gone this school year.'

Speaking last November, former head Angela Abrahams said: 'Our recently introduced 'University Walk' inspires children to be the best they can be and to 'go shine in the world'.

'It was introduced to strengthen pupil safety, further raise the aspirations of pupils and to maximise learning time.

'Staff report that they appreciate the impact it has had on learning time and pupils continue to be very happy and excited about learning.'
They are the couple who made history last year when the transgender 'father' fell pregnant by the trans 'mother'.

And now, four months after giving birth to their first child, Fernando Machado - who was born a woman - and his partner Diane Rodriguez - who was born a man - have revealed they want to expand their brood.

The new parents, from Ecuador, have opened up about life with their new baby after becoming the first transgender couple to fall pregnant in South America.

Transgender man Fernando Machado (left) - who was born a woman - gave birth to a baby in June this year, pictured with his partner Diane Rodriguez (right) - who was born a man

They have not yet announced the name of the newborn baby - but the 16-week-old is affectionately referred to as Caraote - which means 'the snail'.

'We are the same as other families. Even though we might not have the same rights, we're the same,' Mr Machado, who gave birth in June, told the BBC.

'We don't have a name yet - or rather we do - we are just waiting to announce it.'

Ms Rodriguez, who was born male - as Luis - spoke about how she never thought she would know the joy of being a parent.

The couple who made history last year when Mr Machado (pictured) fell pregnant by his transgender partner

The new parents, from Ecuador, have opened up about life with their new baby after becoming the first transgender couple to fall pregnant in South America

'Being a mother was never something I thought I would do because I am a transsexual,' she said.

'The law before demanded that to be recognised as a woman you had to be castrated.'

Ms Rodriguez headlines in her native country in 2013, when she became the he first transgender candidate to run for Congress.

She has previously spoken of how she struggled in the wake of coming out to her family, who shunned her and forced her to live on the streets.

Ms Rodriguez has even been abducted several times.

Mr Machado and Mr Rodriguez have revealed they want to expand their brood

Mr Machado has also bravely shared pictures of his caesarean scar in an attempt to dispel any prejudice or misconceptions

The couple have kept their fans updated with the pregnancy journey and even shared pictures from the maternity ward when Mr Machado gave birth in June.

'Guess where we are and that is what we are doing,' Mr Machado captioned one shot of the couple posed in surgery robes and hair nets at the hospital.

He has also bravely shared pictures of his caesarean scar in an attempt to dispel any prejudice or misconceptions.

They initially announced the news of their pregnancy online, having conceived naturally as either of them have undergone lower-body surgery.

At the time, Ms Rodriguez told Mexican media: 'This was the wish of both of us and there was nothing biological or legal to stop us, so we decided to do it'

The couple initially announced the news of their pregnancy online, having conceived naturally as either of them have undergone lower-body surgery

Ms Rodriguez headlines in her native country in 2013, when she became the he first transgender candidate to run for Congress

'We live as man and woman. I'm a transfeminine woman and Fernando is a transmasculine man. The process to get here was complex for each of us.

'Knowing it's our right, we decided to add another member to our family. '

Mr Machado has also spoken about the moment he found out he was pregnant.

He called his mother and sent her a picture of the pregnant test. She then showed it to a doctor who announced: 'It's positive'.

'I started crying with happiness, fear and dread, all at once. It was the most beautiful moment,' he said.
Staff describe the messages as 'black humour' to cope with daily work

Text messages from Mr Davis to staff show he predicted the three deaths

Macabre text messages sent from Garry Steven Davis' phone predicting the deaths of two nursing home patients that he is alleged to have killed have been examined in court.

Garry Steven Davis, 29, is accused of killing Newcastle SummitCare Wallsend residents Gwen Fowler, 83, and Ryan Kelly, 80, by injecting them with a lethal dose of insulin on October 18 and 19, 2013.

He is also accused of the attempted murder of Audrey Manuel who survived the attack on October 19.

The prosecution are alleging Mr Davis is the only person who could have injected the residents with the insulin - and he had the opportunity, knew the victims and had the skills.

Garry Steven Davis, 29, is accused of killing two Newcastle SummitCare Wallsend residents

The prosecution have also alleged Mr Davis, pleading not guilty, predicted which residents were going to die next in a series of messages to work colleagues.

The prosecutor Lee Carr examined Debbie Wilson, who was an assistant in nursing at the aged care facility and received the messages, on Wednesday and she said nurses often used 'black humor' to deal with the morbid day-to-day dealings of work.

Gwen Fowler, 83, was killed at SummitCare Wallsend in 2013

The SMH reported Ms Wilson initiated a conversation with Mr Davis asking how Gwen Fowler was, and after an exchange he said death, 'happens in three,' and Gwen Fowler was 'blue as but still breathing'.

When Ms Wilson replied 'Who do you think is number 3? John S or Doris M,' Mr Davis replied, 'Bell or Kelly'.

He later responded with, 'Gwen gone. Audrey number three.'

During his closing address Mr Carr said the accused knew who was going to die next because he injected them with the insulin.

'It points directly to knowledge of these persons having a condition that is not in any of these handover reports or doctors reports,' he said. 'It is in his mind.

'It is his knowledge, because the Crown would say he did it.'

However, the defence barrister Chris Watson said the text messages were just tasteless, 'And not predictive'.

'That word has been used by the prosecution, but their own witnesses put paid to that,' he said.

Mr Watson was highly critical of the investigation undertaken at the facility in the wake of the deaths and how Mr Davis' forthright approach during questioning - along with the evidence - was used against him.

'This is a situation where the accused recognises that this offending behaviour certainly has been carried out by somebody, but not him.

Ms Fowler and Mr Kelly were injected with a lethal dose of insulin at SummitCare Wallsend

'Where every issue was put to him and in my submission he addressed each issue and basically made concessions to the investigating police which could well be used against him.

'At no stage did he nominate anybody else, where you might think that if he was the person who was carrying out these terribly serious offences in that environment he would at least try to deflect responsibility in some way against somebody else.

'This is a matter where there is no direct evidence.'
It's far from the favourite part of the job for any medical professional.

But for a group of nurses at Brisbane's Wesley Hospital, poo is proving quite the hit.

The clinical nurses on ward 6E at the hospital have used a poo emoji plush pillow called 'Bristol' as their mascot since February, sharing his adventures on Instagram.

From being a patient at the hospital to visiting Scotland, Brazil, Mexico and even Bali, the poo pillow has not only become a hit on social media but also a powerful reminder of the affects of bowel cancer.

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A group of nurses at Brisbane's Wesley Hospital have used a plush emoji toy called Bristol to raise awareness about bowel cancer

The nurses have created an Instagram page called 'sisterhood of the travelling pants' to share the international journeys of Bristol

So far the pillow has travelled to amazing destinations including the Whitsundays (pictured) in Queensland, Scotland, Bali, Brazil and Mexico

Steph Young, one of the creators of the 'sisterhood of the travelling poo' Instagram account, said the goal was to stop making the idea of bowel health a negative one.

'Our manager came up with the idea and encouraged us to take the poo away because as nurses we travel a lot,' Ms Young told the ABC.

'It normalises poo  it's really important to talk about it and we wanted to start that conversation.'

The major premise behind Bristol was to increase people's knowledge of bowel cancer, particularly among young people on Instagram.

Photos of Bristol have been taken at the Whitsunday's in Queensland, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, poolside in Bali, by the beach in the Carribbean and even below to Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

Ms Young said she hoped their social media page could help people to notice the danger signs of bowel cancer early enough to prevent the disease taking hold.

The nurses say they hope the Instagram page will increase awareness of bowel cancer among young people and also encourage people to ensure they have a check up

Bristol has been photographed relaxing by the pool in Bali (left) and also catching some sun rays by the beach in the Carribbean (right)

Bristol has also been put through a colonoscopy by doctors at the Wesley Hospital as part of a check up for bowel cancer

'Many people with the symptoms of bowel cancer just think it's an upset stomach and they don't do anything about it,' she said.

'If bowel cancer is found early on, about 90 per cent of the cases can be treated successfully.'

Currently only 40 per cent of all bowel cancer cases are detected early.

So far Bristol has more than 440 followers on Instagram, with the nurses intent on next taking him to Paris and more corners of the globe, spreading the message even further.
A missing teenager in Texas is believed to have run away with her high school math teacher.

Grand Prairie Police are searching for Grand Prairie High School student, Amy Botton.

Authorities believe the 16-year-old ran away with her former math teacher at the school, 25-year-old Michael Perez.

Missing teenager, Amy Botton (right), is believed to have run away with her former high school math teacher, 25-year-old Michael Perez (left), according to Grand Prairie Police

The school's district said in a news release that as of Thursday night: 'Perez has been removed from all duties and prohibited from being on district property'

Perez, who taught with the district for five years, was 'relieved of his duties this morning the minute we found out,' Grand Prairie Independent School District (ISD) spokesman Sam Buchmeyer told Dallas Morning News.

Police believe Amy and Perez met at the high school while Perez was teaching, according to police.

Authorities are investigating the situation as an improper teacher-student relationship, Detective Mark Beseda told the newspaper.

The district said in a news release that as of Thursday night: 'Perez has been removed from all duties and prohibited from being on district property.'

Superintendent Dr Susan Hell also issued a statement saying: 'If true, this is a reprehensible violation of an educator's responsibility to students.

'Betraying a child's trust is outrageous.

Amy and Perez are believed to be in a 2011 black Toyota Camry or a 2014 grey Toyota Camry with Texas. One of the vehicles belongs to Perez and another to Botton's mother, the Dallas News reported. Pictured is Grand Prairie High School in Texas

'We urge law enforcement to take the strongest possible action as soon as possible.'

Police said they are concerned for the teen's welfare and are asking the public's help in finding her.

Amy and Perez are believed to be in a 2011 black Toyota Camry with Texas license plate CS8-G465 or a 2014 grey Toyota Camry with Texas license plate DDP-1381.
A museum has discovered a newspaper clipping dating back to 1883 inside the corpse of a massive sunfish.

Researchers at the Natural History Museum in London found the ripped sheet from the Sydney Morning Herald inside the three-metre fish as they did restoration work on the huge exhibit.

The fish - which weighed more than a tonne - washed ashore at Sydney Harbour on December 12, 1882, and was discovered by zoologist Edward Ramsay.

A museum has discovered a newspaper clipping dating back to 1883 inside the corpse of a massive sunfish

Researchers at the Natural History Museum in London found the ripped sheet from the Sydney Morning Herald inside the three-metre fish as they did restoration work on the huge exhibit

The astonishing creature was still alive when a crane was used to winch it ashore, but was quickly hacked to death by axe-wielding locals, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

A foreman stepped in and had what was left of the sunfish sent to the Australian Museum, and it later ended up being sent to London.

The Herald reported on the sunfish's discovery at the time, calling it a 'monster ... that it is of a species hitherto undescribed'.

A later newspaper clipping was discovered by the British researchers as they carried out work to restore the animal, which was beginning to split.

As they took the stuffing out of the creature, the experts were 'delighted to discover a broken chair and a scrap of the Sydney Morning Herald inside,' Natural History Museum conservator Lu Allington-Jones said.

Straw and bits of old wooden floorboards were also found inside the fish.

The fish - which weighed more than a tonne - washed ashore at Sydney Harbour on December 12, 1882, and was discovered by zoologist Edward Ramsay

The newspaper clipping was discovered by the British researchers as they carried out work to restore the animal, which was beginning to split.

It is not known how the Herald ended up inside the fish, however the article found is from 1883 so was inserted into creature after it died.

Ms Allington-Jones said: 'The dried, stuffed fish was brought to London to be shown in the Great International Fisheries Exhibition in 1883 and was then donated to the British Museum.'

It 'was compacting and splitting under its own weight and many of the seams had split', she added.
A key Bridgegate witness has claimed that Chris Christie's office used the Port Authority to award favors in an attempt to secure endorsements from local Democratic politicians for his re-election campaign.

David Wildstein testified on Friday that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had a 'one-constituent rule' - the only person who mattered was Christie.

'We used that as the barometer by which a decision would be made at the Port Authority,' Wildstein said in court on Friday.

And when Democratic Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich refused to endorse Christie, the Port Authority was used not to reward, but to punish, he claimed.

Key Bridgegate witness David Wildstein claims Chris Christie's office used the Port Authority to award favors in an attempt to secure endorsements from local Democratic politicians

Wildstein (pictured on Friday) testified that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had a 'one-constituent rule' - the only person who mattered was Christie

Wildstein alleged in court that both Christie and his former campaign manager Bill Stepien were among those who discussed creating traffic gridlock at the George Washington Bridge in 2013 as revenge on Sokolich.

Christie's then-deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly, and William Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, are on trial for wire fraud and civil rights deprivation.

Bridget Anne Kelly, Christie's then-deputy chief of staff, and William Baroni, the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, are accused of arranging the closure - which caused gridlock in Fort Lee for days.

They are both currently on trial for wire fraud, conspiracy and civil rights deprivation.

Wildstein has pleaded guilty in the scheme to tie up traffic at the bridge, which spans the Hudson River and connects Fort Lee with New York City, and is testifying for the prosecution.

It was Kelly who state officials went to first with their requests for anything from jobs at the agency to tours of the World Trade Center site, which the Port Authority owns, Wildstein claimed.

While the Port Authority would provide the benefits, the governor's office would control the process and take most of the credit in its quest to curry favor with politicians from whom it sought endorsements.

'That was the system that was established. All use of Port Authority resources had to be approved by the governor's office,' he testified. '

'The governor's office was always to be the deliverer of good news.'

Wildstein alleged in court that both Christie and his former campaign manager Bill Stepien were among those who discussed creating traffic gridlock at the George Washington Bridge (pictured) in 2013. Wildstein has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the scheme

Bridget Anne Kelly (left), Christie's then-deputy chief of staff, and William Baroni (right), the former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, are accused of arranging the closure - which caused gridlock in Fort Lee for days

In one case, Wildstein had the 100 flags flown over the World Trade Center site on the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks shipped to the governor's office after the ceremony to be distributed to local officials as it saw fit.

The office considered whether officials were willing to endorse Christie when deciding how to hand out the flags, surplus equipment, and even local grant money, he said.

Wildstein claims Baroni hired him to be the 'bad cop' in pushing Christie's agenda at the authority.

'If it was good for Christie then it was good for us,' Wildstein said.

He claimed other favors doled out to town and local officials included private tours of the World Trade Center redevelopment site and pieces of steel from the destroyed Twin Towers.

During testimony earlier Friday, former Christie campaign staffer Matt Mowers said Christie wrote a letter to the Port Authority supporting the purchase of commuter shuttle buses Sokolich had requested.

Sokolich eventually declined to endorse Christie in 2013 and was the target of the lane-closing scheme, prosecutors say.

Former Christie staffer Matt Mowers testified he told Kelly a Democratic mayor would not endorse the governor just a day before she sent an email hinting at the closure

Mowers, who now works for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, also testified he told Kelly about Sokolich's decision on August 12, 2013, the day before Kelly sent an email to Wildstein saying, 'Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.'

Kelly, who like Baroni has pleaded not guilty to the charges, has said her emails were meant to be sarcastic.

Christie has denied knowing about the bridge scheme until well after it was carried out, and a taxpayer-funded report he commissioned absolved him of wrongdoing.

He hasn't been charged.

Christie has also denied having a close relationship with Wildstein.

The two men attended high school together, and Wildstein was hired by the Port Authority to a position created just for him.

During opening statements, prosecutors said Wildstein will testify he bragged to Christie about the lane closures on the third day of the four-day shutdown.

Christie didn't comment on the allegation this week, but his office pointed to a statement he gave in 2014, denying he knew about the plot while it was ongoing.

Wildstein's testimony will continue on Monday.

Two of the three access lanes from Fort Lee, New Jersey to the toll plaza of the George Washington Bridge were closed for four days in September 2013.

Port Authority workers received the orders from high-ranking officials and were told not to warn Fort Lee police officers or public officials, according to the New York Times.
News / Press Release

by APO

The Kingdom of Morocco has officially submitted a request to accede to the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act, and therefore, become a Member of the Union

NEW YORK - The Kingdom of Morocco has officially submitted a request to accede to the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act, and therefore, become a Member of the Union.An Adviser to King Mohammed VI on Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Taieb Fassi Fihri, informed the Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, when they met, on 22 September 2016, in a bilateral meeting in the margin of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).The Adviser informed the Chairperson that Morocco had submitted the letter of intent on Thursday, 22 September 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also handed a copy to the Chairperson.Acknowledging receipt, the Chairperson advised the Envoy that due process will be followed, including officially informing Member States, as per the provisions of the AU Constitutive Act. The Kingdom of Morocco will be officially notified of the outcome.The King's Adviser on Foreign Affairs also informed the Chairperson of plans underway to host COP22, which is scheduled to take place in Marrakech in 2017.
A Florida zookeeper who was killed by a Malayan tiger in its enclosure screamed desperately into her radio for help before the 350-pound animal crushed her neck, an autopsy has found.

Stacey Konwiser, 38, died of a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular and other neck injuries suffered when she was attacked on April 15 by 'Hati', the Palm Beach County medical examiner found.

The male tiger, then 12 years old, had been at the zoo for two years on loan from the zoo in Fort Worth, Texas.

Zookeeper Stacey Konwiser (pictured), 38, died of a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular and other neck injuries suffered when she was attacked on April 15, an autopsy has found

Konwiser had entered the tigers' night house, an area where they eat and sleep that is not visible to the public, to prepare for a presentation.

The report by medical examiner investigator Aleita J. Kinman says the tiger's cage was supposed to be locked, but it was open, and Konwiser's view of the animal may have been blocked by a large box inside the enclosure.

Hearing her screams, Konwiser's co-workers rushed to the tiger exhibit and found the tiger standing over her body.

Zoo officials have defended their decision not to shoot the rare tiger, saying they feared a bullet could strike Konwiser or further enrage Hati if it didn't kill him instantly.

Stacey Konwiser (left with her husband Jeremy, also a keeper at the zoo) died after she was attacked by the tiger while in an enclosure at the zoo

Police officers are pictured outside the zoo's administration center. A report released on Thursday found that the zookeeper screamed for help as the tiger attacked her

Instead, they tried unsuccessfully to lure him into a cage before shooting him with a tranquilizer dart. Paramedics were able to reach her 17 minutes after the attack.

She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

No cameras were operating in the area of the attack. Officials have said they are only used to monitor breeding efforts, so were turned off.

There are only about 300 adult Malayan tigers in the wild and they are considered endangered.

Konwiser's co-workers rushed to the tiger exhibit after hearing her screams and found the tiger standing over her body. Pictured are two of the zoo's tigers

Konwiser had worked at the Palm Beach Zoo for three years after working at the Palm Springs, California, zoo

Investigative reports on the attack by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are pending.

Konwiser had worked at the Palm Beach Zoo for three years after working at the Palm Springs, California, zoo.

Konwiser had given notice that she had accepted a job with the Food and Drug Administration, but the zoo had offered to match her salary and give her new responsibilities in an effort to keep her.
The U.S. Secret Service has paid $1.6 million for air travel in the past year to a holding company owned by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Agents who serve on Trump's 'protective detail' have to fly with the candidate, and the billionaire's unconventional campaign style extends to his travel choices.

Instead of renting a single plane and splitting the costs with Secret Service and media outlets  like Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton does  Trump has exiled reporters to a separate charter aircraft while he and his staff and security fly aboard his personal Boeing 757.

So when the bills come due, Secret Service isn't paying just any air charter company. It's paying TAG Air, Trump's company, which owns his 'Trump Force One' jet.

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Trump Force One, as Secret Service agents call Donald Trump's custom Boeing 757, is expensive to fly  and the government's bodyguard force is paying its own way

Agents follow Trump everywhere, including on his jet, meaning that government-mandated reimbursements for travel go to the Trump-owned company that owns the aircraft

The inside of Trump's plane is luxurious, with every sat a first-class seat. A separate cabin at the rear includes 16 seats like these, just for Secret Service and other security personnel

The arrangement is unavoidable as long as the real estate titan owns a better aircraft than anything he could rent, a Trump aide who is familiar with campaign finance said on Friday.

'We're following federal law and all the FEC rules,' the aide said. 'Even if we offered to fly the agents around gratis, they couldn't accept because it wouldn't be an even playing field with Hillary.'

'That said, there are countless government regulations that don't make much sense in the real world. President Trump will be changing an awful lot of them.'

Politico reported on Thursday that the Secret Service has paid Clinton's campaign far more than Trump's for its travel  $2.6 million in all.

Clinton has had Secret Service protection continuously since 1992, meaning agents have flown with her from the beginning of her campaign.

Their airfare is currently paid to Executive Fliteways, an upstate New York company.

In Trump's case, the reimbursements defray his own costs.

Hillary Clinton's campaign plane is owned by Executive Fliteways, a new York company, which bills Secret Service for its portion of each charter flight with the Democratic nominee

Clinton, too, has a phalanx of Secret Service agents around her at all times, and has had a continuous 'detail' since her husband ran for president in 1992

'Everything was done in accordance with FEC guidelines and regulations,' Trump press secretary Hope Hicks told Politico.

And Secret Service spokeswoman Nicole Mainor added that the Federal Election Commission 'specifically requires security personnel such as the Secret Service to reimburse campaigns for seats' on charter planes.

The Politico has criticized Trump for patronizing his own businesses for flights, hotel rooms and ballroom rentals, calling it 'self-dealing' in brow-furrowed articles.

Trump's campaign said Thursday in a statement that similar complaints are 'misleading and flat out wrong.'

The Republican White House hopeful has contributed more than $54 million of his own money to his campaign war chest, dwarfing the $8.2 that has reportedly come back in to his companies.

'It's ridiculous to argue that Mr. Trump is getting rich by running for president,' the aide said.

'He'll end up spending far more to win the election as Hillary Clinton made giving speeches to Wall Street bankers.'

Vice presidential nominee Mike Pence flies separately on a Boeing 737 to his own campaign events. The Secret Service pays Private Jet Services, a New Hampshire company, for its portion of that charter.
A retired Texas surgeon has written an article postulating that Hillary Clinton's erratic eye movements during a Philadelphia speech are an indication she could be suffering from pressure on a nerve inside her skull  and that the condition is linked to a fall she suffered in 2012.

The ultimate effect of the fall, he writes, may have been constricted blood flow to the brain - which could explain both apparent erratic eye movements observed this week, and her collapse at New York's 9/11 memorial earlier this month.

'If, as is statistically likely, Clinton's transverse sinus is still blocked, she would still have increased pressure and swelling and decreased blood flow to her brain,' write Dr. John Coppedge in The Hill.

'That swelling would place pressure on the exposed portion of the sixth cranial nerve at the base of her brain, explaining the apparent lateral rectus palsy,' he writes.

Retired Texas surgeon Dr. John Coppedge has written that Hillary Clinton likely is suffering from pressure on the nerve inside her skull that is linked to eye movement

Coppedge references footage of Clinton's recent speech in Philadelphia, where video appears to show erratic eye movements.

'Her eyes did not always move in the same direction at the same time,' he writes. 'It appears that she has a problem with her left sixth cranial nerve. That nerve serves only one function and that is to make the lateral rectus muscle contract. That muscle turns the eye in the direction away from the midline.'

Coppedge then observers that, 'Dysfunction of that muscle causes the striking picture of the eyes not aiming in the same direction and causes the patient to suffer double vision.'

Clinton briefly wore prism lenses, which are used to treat double vision, following her late 2012 fall.

Coppedge predicts that the cause of Clinton's condition is pressure on the nerve that affects movements of the muscle that makes an eye move from side to side.

'Like all things medical, there is a long list of potential causes but in my opinion the most likely one, based on Clinton's known medical history is an intermittent lateral rectus palsy caused by damage to or pressure on her sixth cranial nerve,' he writes.

Coppedge is a retired Texas surgeon who has made repeated campaign contributions to Texas Senator John Cornyn, the Number Two Republican leader in the Senate. He has also contributed to outspoken Rep. Louis Gohmert, who this week accused the Obama administration of taking advice from the Muslim Brotherhood. He acknowledges that he hasn't examined Clinton.

In 2002, Coppedge dropped his support for Texas Gov. Rick Perry after the governor vetoed legislation dealing with prompt physician payments by insurance companies.

Coppedge also runs through Clinton's medications, and makes the points that many of her symptoms may be linked to one overriding condition.

Referencing her transverse sinus thrombosis, a blood clot in a vein leading to the brain, he notes that Clinton's private physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack, wrote that Clinton takes the blood thinner Coumadin to dissolve the blood clot.

'Actually, that is incorrect, because Coumadin has no effect on an existing clot,' he writes. 'It serves only to decrease the chance of further clotting occurring Clinton's physician has also reported that on follow up exam, the clot had resolved. That is surprising since the majority of such clots do not dissolve. The way it was documented that the clot had resolved has not been reported.'

Clinton this week ruled o ut taking a neurological test following a Florida TV anchor's question about elevated risk for dementia or Alzheimer's among older people.

'There's no need for that,' Clinton said when she got asked the question by Florida ABC anchor Sarina Fazan in an interview in Orlando.

Clinton at first joked when she got asked if she would take 'some neurocognitive test' given the elevated risks for degenerative disease 'because of your age.'

'I'm very sorry I got pneumonia,' Clinton shot back with a laugh. 'I'm very glad that antibiotics took care of it. And that's behind us now.' She was referencing her campaign's revelation after her Sept. 11th stumble that Clinton had been diagnosed with pneumonia.

HEALTH SCARE: Clinton stumbled when she had to leave a Sept. 11th ceremony early in New York

CORRECTION: Clinton wore what appeared to be corrective prism lenses in early 2013 following a concussion she had in late 2012

BRAIN TEASER: Hillary Clinton says there is no need for her to take a 'neurocognitive test' as part of her disclosure of medical information while seeking the presidency

She continued: 'I've met the standard that everybody running for president has met in terms of releasing information about my health.

Clinton was off the trail Friday as she prepares for Monday's high stakes debate.

Pressed by Fazan, Clinton stood her ground.

'There's no need for that. The information is very clear. And the information, as I said, meets the standards that every other person running for president has ever had to meet  and I'm happy that we've met and even exceeded them in certain ways,' she said.

In his article, Coppedge urges Clinton to take such an exam and have it be 'independent'  something previous candidates have not be required to do, but an idea that has gained currency given the advanced age of both leading candidates.

'Critics will rightly point out that I have not examined Clinton. They will point out that I am not ophthalmologist or a neurologist,' he writes.

'But I am a physician and the concepts discussed above are taught to every medical student early in their education. Her traumatic brain injury, transverse sinus thrombosis, subsequent symptoms, falling, passing out and now the obvious problem with eye movement are all fact, not speculation.'
One California driver tried to outsmart rush hour traffic by placing a mannequin in the passenger seat as he drove in the carpool lane.

His plan worked perfectly - until a police officer noted his hooded companion was made of plastic.

The man, whose name was not released by authorities, caught the attention of a Brea cop when his truck suddenly veered out of the carpool lane on Wednesday.

A California driver was cited after a Brea police officer discovered he was driving in a carpool lane during rush hour traffic with a mannequin in his passenger seat on Wednesday

Brea police were clearly amused by the driver's attempt to bypass bad traffic

His pickup came dangerously close to the motorcycle officer's bike, and the cop rode up to his window to warn him about being careful when changing lanes.

That's when the cop realized the driver's passenger was a mannequin, and immediately had him pull over on the congested 57 freeway.

The driver 'admitted to having done this for quite some time', police revealed on a Facebook post about this incident.

He also told the officer that he would 'now just accept the fact he needed to sit in traffic like everyone else'.

The driver was cited for traveling alone in the carpool lane.

California requires that a vehicle have a minimum of two people for carpool lanes. Driving alone requires a fine of at least $481.
EU chief Martin Schulz caused outrage today after blaming Jo Cox's death on the 'nasty' referendum campaign.

In an extraordinary claim, the European Parliament president said her death was an example of how unpredictable the EU referendum campaign was.

Former colleagues of Mrs Cox hit out at Mr Schulz over his comments, which were made during a lecture on Brexit at the London School of Economics today.

In a 'self-righteous' attack on Britain's referendum debate, Mr Schulz said: 'Who would have anticipated precisely what came next?' That the campaign would get so nasty that a Member of the UK Parliament, Jo Cox, would be brutally murdered, in broad daylight, for her political convictions?'

Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg accused Mr Schulz of 'trivialising' the mother of two's death and said he was significantly over-simplifying the circumstances behind the tragedy.

In an extraordinary claim European Parliament President Martin Schulz blamed the death of Jo Cox (pictured outside Birstall library in 2014) on the 'nasty' EU referendum campaign

European Parliament President Martin Schulz (pictured delivering a lecture on Brexit at the London School of Economics today) said Jo Cox's death was an example of how unpredictable the EU referendum campaign was

Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg told MailOnline: ' Its just nasty to say things like that and to think his self-righteous view of the world means that dreadful murders wouldnt happen  hes just wrong.

'Its nothing to do with peoples politics, its much more complex than that and its a trivialising and nasty thing to say.'

MPs pointed out today that the reality at the time of Mrs Cox's death was in stark contrast to Mr Schulz's claims today, with the rival Remain and Vote Leave campaign groups suspending their events for two days in a remarkable display of unity amid the hard-fought referendum campaign.

In a day of tributes to the Labour MP in the House of Commons, MPs made a point to separate the circumstances behind her death and the EU referendum campaign.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz (pictured meeting Theresa May at Downing Street yesterday) said the EU referendum campaign had become 'so nasty' that an MP was 'brutally murdered in broad daylight'

Jo Cox was pictured on the river Thames during an EU campaign event the day before she was killed in the streets of Birstall in her West Yorkshire constituency

Jo Cox (pictured left in 2015) left behind husband Brendan Cox (pictured right with her outside No 10 Downing Street)

Tory MP Peter Bone also lashed out at Mr Schulz for blaming Mrs Cox's death on the tone of the Brexit campaign was 'regrettable' and said MPs were facing many different threats and said Mr Schulz was wrong to pick out Mrs Cox's death and link it to the EU referendum campaign.

'There doesn't seem to be any link between the two things,' he said. 'To claim something like that is regrettable.

'It's a very strange thing to say - I'm surprised anyone would say it. Unfortunately in today's society we're under threat from all sorts of people, I had to call police to my surgery this morning.'

Mr Schulz's comments come just weeks before Mrs Cox's alleged killer is due to begin.

Mrs Cox, 41, who served as Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was killed on the street in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on her way to a meeting with constituents.

Mrs Cox, 41, who served as Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was killed on the street in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on her way to a meeting with constituents.

Mr Schulz was speaking as Mrs Cox's husband Brendan (pictured) and their two small children Cuillin and Lejla were visiting President Barack Obama at the White House today

Mrs Cox, 41, who served as Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was killed on the street in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on her way to a meeting with constituents. Pictured, Jo Cox makes one of her many impassioned interventions in the Commons during her short, one year in Parliament

Mrs Cox (pictured), 41, who served as Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was killed on the street in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on her way to a meeting with constituents

Mr Schulz made during a lecture on Brexit at the London School of Economics today.

Thomas Mair, 52, is accused of repeatedly stabbing the mother of two before shooting her in the head at point-blank range.

The timing of Mrs Cox's death - exactly a week before the June 23 referendum - drew some people to link it to the EU vote due to her enthusiastically pro-European views but senior political figures had stayed clear of making any such links.

Mr Schulz was speaking as Mrs Cox's husband Brendan and their two small children Cuillin and Lejla were visiting President Barack Obama at the White House today.

Mr Cox said: 'The kids are hugely excited and spent most of the flight doing drawings to give to the President. It's a very thoughtful gesture and the kids are looking forward to telling him more about their mum.'
Paedophile who wrote depraved stories about missing children William Tyrell and Madeleine McCann has walked free from jail.

Hobart man Sonny Day, 60, created sickening stories about children having sex, including material titled 'What happened to William Tyrell' and 'What happened to Madeleine McCann by Justin Time'.

The twisted stories were created between June 2012 and June 15 while he was serving jail time for child pornography crimes.

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Paedophile who wrote depraved stories about missing children William Tyrell (pictured) and Madeleine McCann has walked free from jail

Day scrawled images on his jail cell walls, depicting child pornography.

'He again committed the crime of producing child exploitation material, this time by writing a number of little stories about children engaging in sexual activity,' Chief Justice Alan Blow said.

'Any reasonable person would regard them as being particularly offensive.'

Sonny Day (pictured) leaving court on Friday after he was released from custody

Sonny Day (pictured right) scrawled images on his jail cell walls, depicting child pornography

While his stories about child sex and missing children were regarded as 'particularly offensive', the court noted there was no suggestion Day ever actually harmed a child.

'The material that I am concerned with had a particularly small readership, and is not likely to have done any harm beyond creating feelings of disgust and revulsion in those who had to deal with it,' the judge said.

After pleading guilty to producing child exploitation material, the 60-year-old walked free from custody on Friday after a Supreme Court judge backdated a four-month sentence.

With time already served, Day was released back into the community on a three-year probation order.

Day's material was titled 'What happened to William Tyrell' and 'What happened to Madeleine McCann by Justin Time'

The twisted stories about William Tyrell (pictured) were created between June 2012 and June 15 while he was serving jail time for child pornography crimes

Day scrawled images on his jail cell walls, depicting child pornography, and wrote stories about missing boy William Tyrell (pictured)

William Tyrrell disappeared from his Nana's home on the NSW Mid-North coast at about 10:30am on Friday the 12th September 2014. when he was 3-years-old

'Mr Day has remained in prison for a little over four months as a result of these crimes. No greater period of imprisonment is called for,' Justice Blow said.

A condition of Day's probation order is that he undertake psychological or psychiatric assessment, as requested.

'(He) suffers from bipolar disorder (and) all of his offending has occurred during manic episodes,' Justice Blow said.

Justice Blow did not address the stories Day wrote about missing children William Tyrell and Madeline McCann during Friday's sentencing, and there was no evidence to suggest they were anything but fiction.

Madeleine McCann disappeared on the evening of 3 May 2007 from her bed in a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz
Manning went on a five-day hunger strike this month asking for treatment

Was convicted Thursday of 'conduct which threatens' after the attempt

Manning, who is transgender, has fought to get appropriate healthcare

Chelsea Manning, 28, tried to take her own life in July at Kansas facility

Former US soldier announced her punishment in a statement on Friday

Former US solider Chelsea Manning has been sentenced to 14 days in solitary confinement after attempting suicide in prison, her supporters have said.

Manning, 28, is currently serving a 35-year sentence for passing classified files to WikiLeaks while serving as an intelligence analyst.

A disciplinary board at the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, military prison informed her of the decision after a hearing Thursday, according to a statement released Friday.

'I am feeling hurt. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I don't know how to explain it,' Manning said via Fight For The Future, a group supporting her.

Chelsea Manning (pictured), 28, attempted suicide in July in prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, after what her lawyers said was the Army's denial of appropriate healthcare

Manning can appeal the punishment and seven days of it will be suspended if she stays out of trouble for six months, she said in her statement.

There was no set date for the discipline to start, Manning added.

An Army spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment by phone or email.

Manning, a transgender Army private, was born male and revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman.

She tried to take her own life in July after what her lawyers said was the Army's denial of appropriate healthcare.

Manning was charged with 'conduct which threatens', 'resisting the force cell move team' and 'prohibited property' following the attempt, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

She was acquitted of resisting the force cell move team but convicted of the two other charges, she said Friday.

Manning, a transgender Army private, was born male and revealed after being convicted of espionage that she identifies as a woman. She is pictured left in a mugshot and right in a portrait reflecting how she sees herself

The prohibited book in her prison cell was an unmarked copy of 'Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy' by Gabriella Coleman, about the computer hacker group Anonymous, she added.

Manning went on a hunger strike earlier this month, agreeing to end it only when the Army said she would be allowed to receive gender transition surgery. She began hormone therapy in 2015.

Her hunger strike ended after five days, when the Army agreed to let her have the recommended medical care for her gender dysphoria, which will include surgery.

A lawyer for Manning, Chase Strangio of the ACLU, questioned the logic of 'our systems of incarceration punishing people with the cruelty of solitary for attempting to end their life'.

Manning provided more than 700,000 documents, videos, diplomatic cables and battlefield accounts to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.

The case ranked as the biggest breach of classified materials in US history. Manning, a former intelligence analyst in Iraq, received a 35-year prison sentence in 2013.

Military parole rules could allow her to leave prison after serving seven years.

Among the files Manning leaked in 2010 was a video of a US Apache helicopter firing on suspected Iraqi insurgents in 2007, an attack that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staffers.
Police were asked to investigate whether another girl who lived with Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father suffered any harm, it has been revealed.

After Tialeigh's disappearance in October 2015, child safety officials handed the police information about a teenager who was in Rick Thorburn's care for a short period of time.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman told the Courier-Mail that the girl who had been living at home in Chambers Flat, south of Brisbane, is now an adult.

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Police were asked to investigate whether another girl who lived with Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father suffered any harm, it has been revealed. Tiahleigh is pictured

Child safety officials handed the police information about a teenager who was in Rick Thorburn's (pictured after his arrest) care for a short period of time.

'That individual's details were given to the police immediately following Tiahleigh's disappearance,' she said.

A police spokesman confirmed that 'a number of children' who had lived at the home were interviewed but refused to go into details.

Tiahleigh disappeared from the home on October 30 last year and was found dead on a nearby river bank the next week.

Thornburn, 56, was arrested earlier this week and is accused of killing his foster daughter.

He 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.

What have police found? Investigators plucked scraps of coloured clothing from the backyard of the property where Tiahleigh's foster family lived

Officers have been scouring Rick Thorburn's property in Chamber's Flat, south of Brisbane, for clues over the past 48 hours

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.

Investigators want to find Tiahleigh Palmer's backpack in their searches

Thorburn's wife Julene, 54, and another son, Josh, 20, have been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Detectives investigating Tiahleigh's tragic death were yesterday seen digging up scraps of clothing at her Thorburn's property.

Late on Friday, blue-gloved police officers were seen picking coloured fabric out of the ground at the home.

As officers considered the find, investigators searched Rick Thorburn's 'Morning Glory and Afternoon Delight' coffee cart.

Police also seized two suitcases from the expansive two-hectare property, carting the potential evidence away in big plastic bags.

The house is being treated as a 'primary crime scene' in the murder investigation.

The dig came as Tiahleigh's mother, Cindy Palmer, bravely fronted the media to speak for the first time since charges were brought against her daughter's foster family.

Julene Thorburn, the foster mother of Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, smiled for the cameras as she was escorted back to her car by a detective today

She said she was 'extremely upset the people who were entrusted to look after her daughter' were the ones who allegedly took 'her innocence and her spirit'.

Youngest son Trent was charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice

'My other three children will now grow up without their sister and she will forever be an angel. I miss my daughter terribly every day and a piece of my heart is missing,' Ms Palmer said in a brief statement as she wore a T-shirt that read: 'Justice 4 Tiahleigh.

It has been also reported Tiahleigh repeatedly attempted to flee her home prior her death.

Ms Palmer had tried to run away 10 times in the 10 months leading up to her death in late 2015, according to claims by a former carer reported by the Courier Mail.

Julie Pemberton, who cared for Tiahleigh for two years, said she regretted not intervening while the young girl was trying to run away.

'I would have had her back in the following week, but I couldn't get her back.

'Too late now. You've just got to stop it happening again.'
President Obama brought up the stark example of the horrific conditions blacks suffered in this country during slavery as a way to push back against Donald Trump's claim that African-American communities right now are in the worst shape 'ever, ever, ever.'

The president made the comment in an interview on ABC's 'Good Morning America' when he got asked about Trump's comments.

'I think even most 8-year-olds would tell you that whole slavery thing wasn't very good for black people,' the president said.

'Jim Crow wasn't very good for black people,' he added, referencing the long period after the civil war when blacks were denied basic rights.

'What we have to do is use our history to propel us to make even more progress in the future,' Obama said.

President Obama said even most 8 year old would know 'that whole slavery thing wasn't very good for black people' in a rebuke to Donald Trump

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He made his comments to ABC's Robin Roberts in an interview inside the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in advance of its formal opening this weekend.

Obama, the nation's first black president, was taking issue with the Republican nominee's suggestion this week that 'African-American communities are absolutely in the worst shape than they've ever been in before  ever, ever, ever.'

Obama also said Trump, who has been making increasingly vocal appeals for black support before rallies that are mostly white, could benefit from a visit to the new museum.

The Democratic president encouraged Trump to visit Washington's new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, where the ABC interview was conducted.

'What we have to do is use our history to propel us to make even more progress in the future,' Obama said.

A slave family in the American south, circa 1754

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said this week that African American communities were in their worst shape 'ever, ever ever'

The comments come as Trump works to strike a delicate balance on the campaign trail. He's trying to show law-and-order toughness along with empathy for African-Americans amid criticism his campaign inspires racism.

The New York businessman has sent mixed and at times unclear messages that could rankle African-Americans even as he called Thursday for a nation united in 'the spirit of togetherness.'

'The rioting in our streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and ended now,' he declared at a rally in suburban Philadelphia on Thursday night.

He added: 'The main victims of these violent demonstrations are law-abiding African-Americans who live in these communities and only want to raise their children in safety and peace.'

A group of women and children, presumably slaves, sit and stand around the doorway of a rough wooden cabin in the Southern United States during the mid 19th Century

The National Museum of African American History and Culture and Washington Monument are reflected in a pool along the neighboring American History Museum in Washington

A pair of slave shackles are on display in the Slavery and Freedom Gallery in the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture during the press preview. The museum opens this weekend

Earlier in the day, however, Trump seemed to suggest that protesters outraged by the police shootings of black men were under the influence of drugs.

'If you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night,' he said at an energy conference in Pittsburgh.

Trump's campaign later suggested he was talking about America's drug problem in general, not the protests that dominated cable news coverage the night before.

Neither Trump nor Clinton is expected to campaign on Friday as they prepare for Monday's inaugural debate.

Clinton's campaign released an ad Friday seizing on some of Trump's public insults of women over the years. The ad raises the question: 'Is this the president we want for our daughters?'

In the ad, Trump's words play as young women look in the mirror, including 'She's a slob. She ate like a pig' and 'A person who is flat-chested, it's very hard to be a 10.'

Clinton hopes to capitalize on voters' wariness about Trump's no-holds-barred approach. A new AP-GfK poll found that early three in four registered voters do not view him as even somewhat civil or compassionate. Half say he's at least somewhat racist.

Even among those saying they'll most likely vote for Trump, 40 percent say they think the word 'compassionate' doesn't describe him well.

Trump's temperament, and his comments about women and minorities, is expected to come up in Monday's nationally televised faceoff  especially amid escalating racial tensions in many communities following the police shootings of black men in Oklahoma and North Carolina.

Charlotte, North Carolina was under a midnight curfew overnight after two previous nights of chaotic protests that led to one death as well as injuries, arrests and vandalism.

Trump has spent the last several weeks asking black Americans for their support and asserting that Obama has failed the black community, but those appeals have been undermined at times.
Police have released footage of the male suspect they believe slashed a 38-year-old man in the face, chest and hands on a New York subway this week.

The unnamed victim was attacked at 10.18am Thursday as he got off the uptown D train, which had just pulled into 42nd Street-Bryant Park station.

He then followed the attacker, described as a heavyset black man, in his late 30s to early 40s, up to street level but then lost him, am New York reported.

Surveillance footage shows the man as he entered the station.

Wanted: This is the man police believed attacked a 38-year-old straphanger on the D train on Thursday, as it pulled into 42nd Street-Bryant Park station

The attacker, who used a box cutter according to Pix11 , was said to be wearing a black jacket and gray sweatpants and is believed to have fled westbound from the station

The suspect is about about 6 feet tall, 235 pounds and was last seen wearing the dark V-neck long-sleeved shirt with dark pants, police said.

The victim was spotted by tourist Irene Malinowski on 42nd Street, an area close to Times Square, at about 10:30am. She said he 'was dripping with blood.'

Malinowski, 72, who was visiting from New Jersey, told am New York: 'It was dripping from his face and his chest.'

Photographs taken by the New York Daily News show the victim as a white male with long brown hair.

The men were seen arguing before the attack, police said, but are not believed to have known each other.

The suspect was heard saying 'What are you looking at?' according to CBS.

Stable: The man, seen here being loaded into an ambulance outside the station, was said to be in stable condition. The men were seen arguing before the attack

Blood was visible spattered on the platform, up stairs and on a higher level of the station.

According to Pix11, police on the scene were overheard saying the blood suddenly stopped, suggesting the victim collapsed.

The attacker, who used a box cutter according to Pix11, was said to be wearing a black jacket and gray sweatpants and is believed to have fled westbound from the station, into Bryant Park.

Police are also appealing for a man in a gray shirt who went above-ground after the stabbing. It's not clear whether this is also believed to be the attacker.

A man was slashed in the face, hands and chest with a box cutter at 42 St-Bryant Park Station in New York Thursday morning. The 'heavyset black male' suspect has not been caught

Officers recovered a box cutter at the scene and are reviewing video footage and talking to witnesses.

The victim was seen being loaded into an ambulance outside the subway's 6th Avenue entrance, and was later confirmed to have be in stable condition in Bellevue hospital.

The platform was closed for an hour, reopening at 11:19am.

Delays meant B and D trains were being re-routed over the C line between West Fourth Street and Columbus Circle while police investigated the scene. Normal service resumed at 11.30am, the MTA said.
News / Regional

by Thobekile Zhou

MDC-T Matabeleland South Senator Mlotshwa and some villagers from Matankeni, Mahetshe and Zwehamba have been arrested for demonstrating against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.Villagers today staged a demonstration against Mnangagwa and Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) over its farming project that has encroached into their ancestral farming lands.The arrested are being held at Maphisa Police station.Kholwani Ngwenya of Mabhikwa legal Practitioners instructed by Abammeli is onsite.ARDA has been expanding its agricultural land by demolishing homes of villagers who have been staying there for more than 60 years and going so far as moving graves.
A Louisiana deputy city marshal charged with murder in the shooting of a six-year-old autistic boy is asking a judge to throw out his indictment, saying he acted in self-defense.

Derrick Stafford and fellow deputy marshal Norris Greenhouse Jr face one count each of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder after they opened fire on a car driven by Jeremy Mardis' father in November 2015, killing the child.

A court filing by Stafford's attorneys says a police body camera video lacks audio for the first 27 seconds, making it impossible to determine if Stafford started shooting before or after Mardis' father raised his hands inside the car.

Louisiana deputy city marshal Derrick Stafford says he acted in self-defense when he opened fire on a man's car last November, killing his 6-year-old son, Jeremy Mardis (right)

Stafford's defense team claims the father, Christopher Few, ignored officers' commands to stop and rammed into a vehicle that Greenhouse was exiting.

Stafford, a Marksville police lieutenant, and Greenhouse, a former Marksville police officer, were moonlighting as deputy marshals on the night of November 3, 2015, when Greenhouse went in pursuit of Few's car.

State Police have said the officers opened fire on Few's car after the chase, which was joined by a third deputy and Marksville Police Sgt. Kenneth Parnell III.

A police report says video from Parnell's body camera shows Few's empty hands were raised and visible inside the vehicle when gunfire erupted. His son was strapped into the front seat.

Prosecutors said the video also shows that Stafford and Greenhouse fired from 'a safe distance,' and that Few's car was backing away from them.

'It also shows Greenhouse and Stafford firing from a position perpendicular to the driver's side,' their filing adds. 'And perhaps most important, it shows Few with his hands in the air pleading for the officers to stop firing. They did not.'

Police have said Stafford and Greenhouse fired at least 18 rounds at Few's car. The youngster had five gunshot wounds and his father had two.

Christopher Few suffered two gunshot wounds, while his autistic son, who was in his car during a police pursuit, was shot five times

Stafford emptied his magazine of hollow point bullets, and investigators traced 14 shell casings to Stafford's semi-automatic handgun, prosecutors said.

Four other shell casings recovered at the scene came from Greenhouse's gun.

In June, attorney Jonathan Goins, who represents Stafford, told a judge that amphetamines and benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that includes Xanax and Valium, were found in Christopher Few's system when doctors treated his gunshot wounds at a hospital.

Defense claims Few tried to ram a car that deputy marshal Norris Greenhouse Jr was existing

'We believe that this could have affected his behavior,' Goins told State District Court Judge William Bennett. 'He was also intoxicated, your honor, and the reports will show that.'

Goins also disclosed that the father had battled severe depression and had survived a suicide attempt only days before the shooting.

Stafford has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He is set to go to trial November 28. His wife said in December that she believes state authorities decided to charge him because he was black and the victims were white.

Last week, prosecutors argued in a court filing that Stafford has shown a pattern of using excessive force on other people who did not pose a threat.

The filing says the prior 'bad acts' of Stafford, a Marksville police lieutenant, include using a stun gun on a handcuffed man without warning and on a young mother who was already secured in a police car during separate 2011 arrests.
Lamel Yancy (pictured) has been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor after he was filmed handing his three-year-old nephew what appears to be a marijuana cigarette

A young boy has been filmed smoking marijuana after being handed a joint by his teenage uncle.

Police have arrested the uncle, 17-year-old Lamel Yancy from North Little Rock, Arkansas, after he posted the video on Facebook.

In the video, which was viewed more than 150,000 times before it was taken down by Yancy, the three-year-old boy is seen in the backseat of a car holding what appears to a be a marijuana cigarette.

Yancy then asked his young nephew is he wanted to smoke the cigarette.

'Wanna (sic) hit the blunt? You wanna (sic) hit the gas,' he said in the video, according to KARK4.

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The a video posted on Facebook, the young boy can be seen holding the cigarette (pictured) and then later smoking it

The three-year-old boy (pictured) lifted the 'joint' to his mouth and puffed on it multiples times in the video

'Nephew I got you man... one more time, hit the blunt one more time.'

'Hit that s***. Hit that s***.'

After the baby takes a few puffs, Yancy then intervened to get his alleged joint back.

'Hey, no, that's enough baby, that's enough... you gonna kill yourself,' he said in the short clip.

'He about to smell he high already.'

After smoking, the three-year-old could be heard coughing in the video.

In the video, Yancy could be seen lighting the cigarette before handing it to his nephew to smoke

North Little Rock Police arrested Yancy earlier this week and charged him with endangering the welfare of a minor, according to KHOU.

'I was disturbed appalled by what I had seen,' Sgt. Brian Dedrick said, before adding the department fears the baby may have smoked before.

'The child holds this like someone would be smoking so it makes you think this is not the first time this child has been exposed to this.'
A foster father with three children in his care has been charged with child sex offences and possessing child exploitation material.

The man in his 40s was arrested in north Queensland and charged with the sex related offences Thursday afternoon.

The arrest is just the latest scandal to rock the foster care sector.

A foster father with three children in his care has been charged with child sex offences and possessing child exploitation material (stock photo)

The man, who cannot be named, has been charged with three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, possessing child exploitation material and accessing child exploitation, according to the Courier Mail.

Police are reportedly shocked by what they found.

One of the charges reportedly stems from photographs the man took of a child.

Police are said to be shocked at what they have found during the investigation into the north Queensland man (stock photo)

The man has been charged with three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, possessing child exploitation material and accessing child exploitation (stock photo)

He has also been charged with using a carriage service to make available child pornography, disobedience to a lawful order in relation to refusing to provide access to a storage device, and possessing cannabis.

It's reported the foster father used special encryption software on his computer which could potentially wipe its history.

But in an effort to obtain evidence, police have arranged for a computer specialist to retrieve data from the man's hard drive.

The man is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court this morning.

The Queensland State Government this week announced it would launch a review into the foster care and Blue Card systems in the state.

The review will be launched following allegations against the foster father of murdered school girl Tiahleigh Palmer.

Tiahleigh's foster father Rick Thorburn, 56, has been charged with her murder, and foster brother Trent, 19, charged with incest following allegations he had sex with his 12-year-old foster sister.
A New Jersey man was charged Friday with murder in the shooting of an 8-year-old girl who was caught in the crossfire.

Camden resident Tyhan Brown, 18, was arrested Friday at his uncle's home in Clarksville, Tennessee, officials said.

Gabrielle 'Gabby' Hill Carter was hit in the head by a stray bullet while across the street from her home in August in Camden.

She was shot August 24 while riding a bicycle, Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson said, according to the Courier-Post.

Tyhan Brown (left) was charged Friday with murder in the shooting of 8-year-old Gabrielle 'Gabby' Hill Carter (right) who was caught in the crossfire

Carter's mother, Meresa Carter-Phillips (pictured center with pink hair) has said that it was good that Brown was arrested 'but nothing is going to change the fact that my daughter is gone and I have a loss'

Authorities say gunfire broke out when several men opened fire on an intended target.

U.S. Deputy Marshal Danny Shelton said Brown was arrested without incident and is in jail while awaiting extradition proceedings.

Brown's 35-year-old mother, Shakia Land, and his 19-year-old girlfriend, Natasha Gerald, have been charged with hindering the investigation after investigators say they gave false alibis for Brown.

Thompson said that police are also looking for other suspects who they believe were involved in the shooting.

'We are going to relentlessly continue our investigation into bringing those folks to justice,' he said.

Thomson said it's thought Brown was 'the principal actor in what took place that night', according to the Courier-Post.

Gabby was shot August 24 while riding a bicycle, Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson said

U.S. Deputy Marshal Danny Shelton said Brown was arrested without incident and is in jail while awaiting extradition proceedings

A information reward of $76,000 had been offered, the newspaper reported.

Thomas, according to the Courier-Post, said: 'We did not really receive the support we would have hoped for. That's not to say the community is in and of itself callous to this.'

Carter's mother, Meresa Carter-Phillips, told WPVI-TV that it was good that Brown was arrested 'but nothing is going to change the fact that my daughter is gone and I have a loss'.
A German politician from the so-called Pirate Party wheeled the corpse of his victim around the streets in a shopping trolley, it has emerged.

Gerwald Claus-Brunner killed a 29-year-old man identified as Jan L. in his flat in the city's Lichterfelde district of Berlin before taking his own life.

Video reportedly shows him transporting the corpse through the streets and past busy shops in the outsized black trolley.

A surveillance video at a shop shows Claus-Brunner, famous for wearing distinctive headscarves and dungarees, en-route to the flat.

Pirate party politician Gerwald Claus-Brunner (pictured) killed a 29-year-old man identified as Jan L. in his flat in the city's Lichterfelde district before taking his own life

A police vehicle is pcitured in front of the residence of Pirate party politician Gerwald Claus-Brunner in Berlin

'He is on his way to his victim,' said the BILD newspaper which published the video and still images on its website on Friday.

The video was timed at 6.11pm on Thursday last week. The store owner said Claus-Brunner, 44, who lost his parliamentary seat in Berlin's elections at the weekend came in twice a week to buy lottery tickets.

Three minutes later, after buying a pulp fiction western magazine, he is seen pushing the trolley in the direction of a local railway station.

Three hours later in the working class district of Wedding a pensioner identified only as Horst S. heard sounds in the stairwell of his apartment block where he lived opposite Jan L.

'I heard a surprised, wordless cry and then a muffled blast,' he said. 'When I went to look later there was no-one there.'

Later the corpse was wheeled away seven miles across town to his apartment.

Claus-Brunner, famous for wearing distinctive headscarves and dungarees, murdered his victim with blows to the head.

Claus-Brunner, famous for wearing distinctive headscarves and dungarees, murdered his victim with blows to the head

Members of the coroners office move a body to their vehicle from the residence of Pirate politician Gerwald Claus-Brunner in Berlin

Pirate Party members alerted police after they received a letter from Claus-Brunner saying he would be dead by the time the letter was opened.

When officers broke into the 44-year-old's rented apartment in Berlin's Lichterfelde district they found the two bodies.

He had killed himself on saturday evening, the day before the election. The victim was naked and bound to an upright trolley with zip ties.

A police spokesman said detectives were following up leads that Claus-Brunner stalked and harassed the younger man before carrying out the fatal attack.

Claus-Brunner, who attracted attention due to his height and clothes, belonged to Germany's first ever nationwide Pirate Party.

It surprisingly polled 8.9 per cent of the vote and won 15 seats in Berlin's state parliament in Berlin although last Sunday's elections saw them lose all their seats.

On Friday Claus-Brunner sent his final tweet which said: 'Proper c**p day today, surpasses every bad day that I have had so far. Hope the weekend will be better.'

One shocked neighbour said: 'He could fly off the handle sometimes but I don't think he could be a murderer.
A congressman says Hillary Clinton's former chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, and two other staff members were granted immunity deals in exchange for their cooperation in the now-closed FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state.

Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, tells the Associated Press that Mills gave federal investigators access to her laptop on the condition that findings couldn't be used against her.

Chaffetz said he was 'absolutely stunned' that the FBI would cut a deal with someone as close to the investigation as Mills.

Chaffetz said: 'No wonder they couldn't prosecute a case. They were handing out immunity deals like candy.'

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Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, tells the Associated Press that Mills gave federal investigators access to her laptop on the condition that findings couldn't be used against her.

Revelation: Jason Chaffetz disclosed that Cheryl Mills, a long time aide to Clinton, was given immunity to testify about the secret email server and its use

Mills then served as an attorney to Clinton during the server-gate investigation - and even sat in on Clinton's interview with FBI agents. Days after it took place, the decision not to prosecute was made.

Chaffetz says the two others granted immunity were John Bentel, then-director of the State Department's Office of Information Resources Management, and Clinton aide Heather Samuelson.

A yearlong investigation by the FBI focused on whether Clinton sent or received classified information using the private server, which was not authorized for such messages.

FBI Director James Comey said in July that his agents hadn't found evidence to support any criminal charge or direct evidence that Clinton's private server had been hacked.

He suggested that hackers working for a foreign government may have been so sophisticated they wouldn't have left behind any evidence of a break-in.

Chaffetz said he is looking forward to asking Comey questions about the immunity deals when Comey testifies Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee.

The congressman's disclosure means that Huma Abedin, Clinton's State Department aide and now vice-chair of her presidential campaign was not offered immunity.

Her estranged husband, however, is facing prosecution for sexting a 15-year-old girl, a development revealed by DailyMail.com.

Two other people were previously identified as receiving immunity deals.

One of those was Bryan Pagliano, a former State Department employee who helped set up Clinton's private email server - and who was on Thursday held in contempt of Congress.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved the contempt resolution on a 19-15 party-line vote.

The resolution states that Pagliano, the computer specialist tasked with establishing Clinton's server while she was secretary of state, did not comply with two subpoenas ordering him to appear before the panel.

Served: Congress twice subpoenaed Bryan Pagliano, who set up Hillary Clinton's secret server. He was close to the Clintons and posed with his wife, Carrie, and the now Democratic candidate

Silent man: Bryan Pagliano, whose wife Carrie was with him to pose with Bill Clinton, asserted Fifth Amendment rights to avoid FBI questioning and has refused to testify to Congress

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the panel's senior Democrat, bemoaned the spectacle, calling it 'a blatantly partisan Republican attack on the Democratic candidate for president.'

Cummings and other Democrats also complained that armed U.S. marshals issued a subpoena to Pagliano at his office  an action Cummings said 'served no purpose but to harass and intimidate' Pagliano.

But committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz of Utah said the contempt resolution was forced by Pagliano's refusal to comply with the subpoenas.

'This committee cannot operate - it cannot perform its duty, nor can any committee of Congress - if its subpoenas are ignored,' Chaffetz said.

Pagliano also refused to answer questions last year before a House panel investigating the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya.

He later spoke to the FBI under immunity, telling the bureau there were no successful security breaches of the home-brew server, located at Clinton's home in suburban New York City.

Pagliano said he was aware of many failed login attempts that he described as 'brute force attacks.'

The email issue has shadowed Clinton's candidacy for president, and Republicans have been steadfast in focusing on her use of a private server for government business, with several high-profile hearings leading up to the election.

No immunity deal: Huma Abedin was not given a deal by the FBI. Her estranged husband Anthony Weiner - the two were seen leaving the home they continue to share on Wednesday morning - however is being probed by the FBI and authorities in two states for sexting a 15-year-old

Chaffetz and other Republicans have cast Clinton as reckless with U.S. national security by insisting on using private communications systems at potentially greater risk of being penetrated by Chinese and Russian hackers.

But Democrats insist the sole purpose of the hearings is to undermine Clinton's presidential bid.

The GOP's actions are 'an embarrassment' and 'beneath the dignity of this committee,' said Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass.

Pagliano's attorneys said in a letter to the committee that the subpoenas revealed 'a naked political agenda' to embarrass Pagliano by forcing him to assert his constitutional rights before the cameras just weeks before the presidential election.
The body of a Venetian art thief who once worked as a roadie for Prince was tied to a shopping trolley and weighed with dumbbells before being thrown into Regent's Canal.

An inquest heard Sebastiano Magnanini's body was discovered in Islington by a horrified tourist and his seven-year-old son on the morning of September 24 last year.

The 46-year-old carpenter had been tied with electric cable around the hands, legs and neck, and the trolley was weighed down by dumbbells.

The body of 46-year-old Sebastiano Magnanini was discovered in Islington by a horrified tourist and his seven-year-old son on the morning of September 24 last year

Michael Walsh (left) was jailed for four years for preventing lawful burial and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. Paul Williams (right) was jailed for two years for preventing the lawful burial of a body

In March this year Michael Walsh, 41, of Islington, north London, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to preventing the lawful burial of a body and conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

Paul Williams, 64, of no fixed address, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to preventing the lawful burial of a body.

Daniel Hastie, 22, of Tottenham, north London, admitted fraud by using the Italian's bank card and was jailed for eight months.

Today St Pancras Coroners Court was told by friend Luke Allen that Mr Magnanini was a regular drug user and would inject both heroin and cocaine.

Magnanini was jailed for 18 months in 1998 for his part in stealing the 1million 'Education of the Virgin' painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

Daniel Hastie, 22, of Tottenham, north London, (left) admitted fraud by using the bank card belonging to Mr Magnanini (right) and was jailed for eight months

He stole it from a church in Venice and months after the heist the artwork was discovered in a warehouse in Tessera, near the Marco Polo airport.

The investigation was carried out by anti-Mafia police who believed the clan of the Venetian Rivieria were involved.

Three men were eventually arrested, confessed to the crime and revealed its hiding place.

The artwork was discovered just before it was due to be cut into four pieces and sold on.

After his stint in jail Magnanini, who was fluent in three languages, became a high-end tour guide in Cambodia around the temples of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

He then moved to south London where he became a carpenter before being a roadie for Prince, helping to build the musician's stage for three gigs in Camden in 2014.

Police at the scene, searching Regent's Canal where Mr Magnanini's body was found last year

Mr Magnanini was jailed for 18 months in 1998 for his part in stealing the Education of the Virgin by Battista Tiepolo

In a statement read out by the coroner, Mr Allen said he first met Magnanini in 2004 when he had been staying at the Arlington Hostel in Camden.

He said: 'I have been asked if he would go to a stranger's flat to take drugs. That is exactly what he would do as it is what he did when I first met him.

'He would often take heroin and cocaine together and he would inject drugs into his left arm.'

He was last seen on September 22 in Wimbledon where he worked as a carpenter and said he was going to meet up with a girlfriend who was flying in to London from Slovenia.

However police say they didn't meet up despite Magnanini calling and texting her.

Later that evening he met with Walsh - who he had known for some three or four months, in the Kings Cross area to buy drugs.

A postmortem revealed Mr Magnanini had a broken nose which could have been from a punch or a fall but the cause was unclear. Pictured, police at the scene in Islington

The cause of death was given as acute toxic effects of heroin, cocaine and alcohol with features of blunt force trauma to the head

Reading the police report, coroner Dr Richard Brittain said: ' They went to a pay phone to call a drug dealer.

'When that failed Mr Magnanini said he had drugs on him and they went to his (Walsh's) flat, where they took the drugs.'

The inquest heard he gave his bank card to Walsh to get money for more drugs, and when he came back they found the Italian asleep.

Walsh decided he 'would take advantage of the situation', and went shopping with his bank card along with Hastie.

When they returned to the flat lunchtime the next day they found Mr Magnanini had died from an apparent drug overdose.

Mr Magnanini was last seen on September 22 in Wimbledon where he worked as a carpenter and said he was going to meet up with a girlfriend who was flying in to London from Slovenia

The coroner said: 'Walsh said he panicked and left the flat. He then told his friend Williams who said he would help.

'In his panic he didn't go back to the flat, when he did return he found Williams had tied up Mr Magnanini and placed him in a shopping trolley.

'They then decided to put him in the canal as they were panicking about what to do.'

A postmortem revealed he had a broken nose which could have been from a punch or a fall but the cause was unclear.

The cause of death was given as acute toxic effects of heroin, cocaine and alcohol with features of blunt force trauma to the head.

In his conclusion the coroner said: 'It is clear he had a long standing drug problem from his youth.

'There is some suggestion the use in his later life was something he hid from members of his family.

'It seems clear when he returned to London those that knew him were clear he regularly abused drugs during his visits. He managed to maintain his working life despite his drug use.

'There is some evidence that he had shared his intention to meet a partner of his who was returning to London. However it is clear that did not occur.

'Police speculate that his drug seeking and the events may be related to this failure to meet up with his girlfriend. However there is no evidence that he was depressed or suicidal.'

The coroner gave a conclusion of 'drug related death and said the 'surrounding circumstances of the death were unusual' but the involvement of drugs was 'not usual especially in this jurisdiction'.
The family and friends of murdered backpacker Mia Ayliffe-Chung have paid tribute to the 'adventurer' who died while 'living her dream'.

A service was held at St Mary's Church in Wirksworth, Derbyshire in memory of Mia, who was tragically stabbed to death in Queensland, Australia in August.

Hundreds of people gathered at the church to remember the 21-year-old, with many mourners wearing colourful clothes rather than the traditional black to celebrate Mia's life.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung was killed while backpacking in Australia. Her mother Rosie Ayliffe (left imn in right-hand picture) attended a memorial service for her in Derbyshire today

Friends hugged outside at an emotional service in memory of Mia in Wirksworth today

The service was also broadcast outside the church via a public address system for those who wanted to stay outside and listen.

Giving the eulogy, Ms Ayliffe-Chung's mother Rosie Ayliffe said her daughter had a 'gentle, loving soul'.

She said: 'I know the way Mia was taken from us has caused shock, not just in our small community - and what a blessing just now we have each other - but much further afield and across the world.

'Mia's friends in Australia are doing as we are: trying to find ways to make sense of her loss and to give comfort to each other.

'We have to remember the extraordinary bravery of Tom Jackson in trying to save Mia, a bravery from which we should take great comfort in this hour of darkness.

'Tom barely knew Mia and yet he paid the ultimate price to try to save her.'

Mia's mother told the service that her daughter had a 'gentle, loving soul'

Hundreds of mourners attended the service at St Mary's Church in Wirksworth

She continued: 'Let his image be seared into your mind's eye and overcome the uglier ones you have inadvertently been exposed to.

'Know this: there is no religion on God's earth that would instigate a brutal, senseless act against an innocent young girl.'

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, was attacked at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland in August.

Smail Ayad, 29, is alleged to have killed Miss Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, and to have caused the injuries that led to the death of another Briton, 30-year-old Thomas Jackson.

Just five weeks before her death, Mia posted on Facebook she was 'living my dream'.

At today's service, Canon David Truby described Mia as an 'adventurer who just wanted to get as much experience of life and the world as she could'.

The priest said: 'We mourn for Mia, a young woman who had so much to live for'

Many of the mourners wore bright colours for the service, which was also broadcast outside

Canon Truby said: 'We mourn for Mia, a young woman who had so much to live for. We mourn for Tom, that brave man who risked his life and lost it as he went to her aid.

'There is nothing that can be said to try to make this loss any easier, nor should one try to do so.

'But, since that day, what has been apparent to me, as I have watched and listened on the sidelines, is the amazing compassion, support, concern, acts of simple loving kindness which have been so evident.'
MSNBC's Joe Scarborough was absent from his namesake show Friday morning after his son Andrew, 25, had a devastating fall down some stairs and was rushed to Bellevue hospital in New York with a skull fracture.

Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski revealed the news of the 'horrible accident' at the start of the show, saying she and other colleagues from the show had been at the hospital all night, where the newlywed Andrew had been stabilized.

'Andrew had a horrible accident. Head injury, fractured skull He fell down a flight of stairs.'

Joe Scarborough missed Friday morning's Morning Joe after his son Andrew fractured his skull in an accidental fall down some stairs

Joe tweeted these reassuring updates at about 10 am on Friday

Hours later Scarborough tweeted an update, writing, 'Andrew doing much better after a frightening day and long night', and a second update reassuring fans about his brain function.

'The neurologist asked Andrew questions this morning and ended by asking him his favorite team. He said 'The Red Sox, who've won 8 in a row.''

Which they have.

The situation didn't sound so positive just a few hours earlier.

Andrew got married just three months ago and Joe shared the happy news on Instagram

Andrew moved to Connecticut with his new bride shortly after the wedding much to his father's delight

Andrew, the second of Scarborough's four children moved north after graduating from the University of West Florida

Mika told viewers at 6 am, 'It was a long night, and prayers for them.'

'We want to thank the folks at Bellevue. What an incredible place... They stabilized him. That trauma team is amazing.

'It's touch-and-go, but they're stabilized.'

Andrew, the second of Scarborough's four children, got married just three months ago and has Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism.
Facebook has launched a new feature urging users to register to vote ahead of November's election.

The drive is the company's first nationwide voter registration drive.

Facebook users in the US who are 18 and older started receiving reminders to 'Register Now' at the top of their News Feed on Friday.

The social media giant told USA Today that the reminder will be sent out over the next four days.

Facebook has launched a new feature that will urge users to register to vote ahead of November's election. Facebook users in the US who are 18 and older started receiving reminders to 'Register Now' (pictured) at the top of their News Feed on Friday

'We thought we had a unique ability and responsibility to show people this reminder that they should be checking their registration so they can participate in the election,' Katie Harbath, Facebook's director of government outreach, told the newspaper.

But this isn't the first time Facebook has used the power of social media to urge people to vote.

The company actually started in 2008 by posting reminders to head to their polling station on Election Day.

Facebook experimented with a voter drive during the primaries earlier this year.

It's goal was to encourage people in individual states to register.

In this year's voter drive, close to 200,000 people registered to vote on the California Secretary of State's website, according to USA Today.

The social media giant said the reminder will be sent out over the next four days. By clicking on the current 'Register Now' button voters will go directly to the government's vote.USA.gov site, as they complete the registration process in their state

Facebook estimates that throughout the past eight years, 1.5 million people were registered as a result of its reminders on Facebook during the primaries.

Social media site, Instagram, is reportedly making a similar move next week, TIME reported.
Opinion / Columnist

To many minds ,the terms "Africa"or "African" are notions of resounding familiarity. One can place these as emblems of pride or identity depending on the context applied.. Given our colonial ,slave past and presently economic outlook, the most vocal proponents of these terms have been reformers,nationalists and various celebrities. It is common place that the fight for our once battered image is now entrenched into our very fabric, thus the very definition of "African" itself has been subject to various,but similar explanations, all historical and present.Notably amongst the loudest voices are a bulk of the nationalists on the continent,present or past ,that have successively applied the issue of the African identity in politics to such lengths that there seems to be no leader that is not championing the cause of "identity". The key terms which are most likely to accompany such rhetorics include "belief in ourselves", "fight for our identity", "colonial masters", "enemies of Africa" e.t.c.. This cannot go without mentioning the mixed recognition the founding fathers of African independence recieve. People like, Samora Machel, Nelson Mandela, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, Patruck Lumumba and Haile Selasie, are subjects of a hate and love relationship in their own motherland. Comparisons have been attempted to ascertain the greatest heroes of our liberation, yet very little of this bickering lays the focus on the real challenges facing the continent.It appears that no country in this continent has been ambitious and courageous enough to rid itself of external patronage and reliance. Almost every one of them is a proxy of the either the West, the East or both. The patronage extends itself to banking, technology, health, politics and culture to mention but a few. Whilst it is true that we live in a global village, the same village appears to have headmen and chiefs, and they're definitely not African and the sad thing is that we've done very little to prepare our own internal systems.The reality of the matter is that the black African human resource is the most under utilized on the continent.Our very own leaders have almost completely failed to capitalize on the brilliant minds already present here, the Cuban dream of self reliance seems to be less practical here. What the same black mind can achieve in the West is almost disallowed in the motherland.When it comes to this part of the world, the only thing conceivable is buy West or East. When push comes to show and the production comes ashore, it has to be a proxy of western multinationals to be believable as a standard product. The university and the the rest of the tertiary system is designed to follow that pattern, that students can only acquire knowledge as far as employable is concerned. Very few governments have taken advantage of their resource base to merge with the intellectual part of things to create self sustainable systems,both economically and socially.A few that have attempted to economies of scale such as South Africa,have only proved so far to be proxies of western capital thus their economies suffer from gross inequalities. Also to note is the fact that not all are commited to equitable distribution of land and wealth whilst those that try are riddled with corruption lawlessness and failure!Iron,platinum and copper the most important elements needed to manufacture a car do not neccesarily come from the West. To narrow down, platinum ,one of the rarest minerals on earth of which 80% is found in abundance southern Africa,specifically Zimbabwe and South Africa,but surprisingly enough,besides being amongst the main buyers buyers of platinum products, these two nations have got nothing to show for it. Learning institutions like Universities, technical colleges and polytechniques which are no longer the privy of the Western world only, have done little in making sure that production is mastered by the locals throughout. Its disheartening to note that up to now, very few products come off the production line as purely African products with African names. Chimuti motors, Zodwa planes, Oga televisions will make worldwide brands if ojr youths were led into the right directionHowever, not withstanding these facts,the symbol of poverty, strife and general suffering in the continent is the West, at least according to most African leaders. This is despite the fact that it has been years since the last colonial flag left our territories. Nonetheless governments like Mugabes has repeatadly shot down attempts to African creativity. His wife would rather have an appendix removed in Malaysia, after all how could he trust his beloved wifes life in the hands of a blackman, besides, its just in politics that he believes in black power. This is just one example of an African leader that preaches a certain message but whose actions reveal absolute disbelief in black mental cavities. Kabila had his child attend a European school everyday, if not for money then for admiration of western life over African.The call to equality of all races should be heard above the call to black power or identity as pushed by most radical pan Africanists. As usual, it should not come as an excuse for failed leadership, rather, a masterpiece in the overall intergration of states. It is no coincidence that one of the most racial statements pushed to date is the need to fight for black power. Not only is this term shaming to the black community in this modern era, it is also streroetyping. Mind you, the more we fight as a race, especially in the wrong direction, the more we self strereotype. The white community is not grouping up, just as men do not have special days as women do. One of the primal hypocrits of this development is the generation of African leadership that has held the youth back by selling the lie that their fate is vested in the colonial legacy, slavery etc. They are given the feeling of powerlessness to deal with the present and told that because of what the foundation was layed against them, there is very little to be done besides competing with the white color in all aspects of life. We can not,and shall not achieve total freedom as long as we are too loud about our race, after all we're not the only color in the world to have been subject to other races in history.Infact most of the youth generation was not born during the time of the struggles for independence, their lives are being wasted in maintaining feuds which no longer exist. Nowhere in the West do you here the need to strengthen white power, whilst on the contrary the black child is constantly taught to fight for black empowerment from birth, which makes no sense in human development and general competency. Instead of facing life as it is, the fallacy being taught that one ought to fight for a particular race has been so injected into our dna such that it is now inconceivable that other races will respect the black one. By subjecting it as a race that needs to be fought for, a clear cut trajectory is set in motion that reflects weaknesses that are only protected and defined by those creating them and pretending to fight them.Tawanda Madamombe (BAA University of Zimbabwe)
Jon Platt, a father who won a landmark High Court decision over taking his child out of school during termtime, sat beside a mother in court today as she battled an identical case involving her son.

The mother, 35, was hauled before a District Judge after she failed to pay a fine imposed by Surrey County Council after she took her son abroad without the permission of his headteacher.

She told the court she had a doctor's letter advising that she should take her son back home to Poland for Christmas because it would help her recover from depression.

However her son's school reported the child's 'unauthorised' absence to the education authority and the mother was fined 120 for flouting the school rules.

Today she defended herself at Guildford Magistrates' Court, and was advised by Mr Platt who, in June, persuaded High Court judges to overturn a conviction imposed after his child's 'unauthorised' absences from school on the Isle of Wight.

Mr Platt was acting as the mother's 'McKenzie Friend,' a legal term which allows her to have an advisor sitting with her in court. She had to represent herself because she did not qualify for legal aid.

High Court judges ruled that 45-year-old Mr Platt should not be forced to pay a 120 fine after he took his daughter out of class to go on a family holiday to Florida without permission.

He had refused to pay the fine to the Isle of Wight council after he argued that it was not legal because his daughter had attended school 'regularly'. She had a 92 per cent attendance record at the time of the week-long trip in April 2015.

Ms Kozlowska, whose son has a different surname from her and cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared before District Judge William Ashworth.

Jonathan Underhill, prosecuting on behalf of Surrey County Council, said her son had a pattern of absence from his school in Surrey over a number of years.

The school deemed her request for the termtime family holiday did not come under 'exceptional circumstances' after his attendance records had fallen below 90 per cent before she took him out of class for 12 days over the Christmas holidays last year.

He told the District Judge that she refused to pay the penalty notice issued by the local authority after she produced a letter from her GP Dr Lee Wormley asking the school to allow her to take the holiday.

Ms Kozlowska represented herself with support from Mr Platt at Guildford Magistrates' Court

The court was told it stated that Dr Wormley was treating the mother for depression, and that he recommended the trip to Poland, adding: 'It would be beneficial for her to return to Poland for the support from her family.

'It would great if this could be considered because it would be good for her and her son in the long run,' the letter to the school read.

The mother told the judge that she took her son out of school because she had become depressed from being a single mother who was renting a 'small room' with her son.

She said her son had a 93 per cent attendance record for the academic year 2015/16 including his authorised absences and added: 'Because prior to then I was having some difficulties and we were going through a really difficult time in our life. I was no longer able to really cope here on my own.

'Everyone lives abroad and I know that my mental health was deteriorating so I thought that the only reasonable decision would be to take him to Poland and ensure that then there as somebody else to look after him.

'I don't think it was a healthy situation for him to be next to me considering my condition.

'I am a responsible, loving and committed parent. We decided to stay as long as bearable, we tried to make sure that his absence will be as short as possible.'

Speaking of her son's previous poor attendance at school she revealed that his father visited less than twice a year.

She continued: 'I admit in the previous years it was because of unauthorised holidays.

'For me missing a few days of school then is less important than developing some sort of bond with his father who predominantly lives away.'

The court heard the pupil's attendance record was between 85 and 88.9 per cent over the academic years between 2011/12 and 2014/15.

The headteacher of the school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, said the child's attendance at school dropped to 80 per cent - which was below what the Department for Education deemed 'persistent absence' - from the start of the school year in 2015/16 to the end of the family trip.

'We did consider whether it was exceptional circumstances. We considered the fact that the Christmas holidays were approached and secondary we looked at the historical attendance of [the child] so that we could determine whether this was an exceptional circumstance or not,' the headteacher told the judge.
A man accused of killing a road worker while driving drunk insists he hadn't consumed alcohol and was sleeping instead.

Marcello Fracassi, 33, of Alliston, Canada, has been charged in the June 2014 death of Geoffrey Gaston, 41. Gaston died after being struck by Fracassi's pickup at night, while painting traffic lines. His co-worker Jane Fuller was also injured.

Fracassi's alcohol level was more than twice the legal limits hours after the crash, according to the prosecution. But Fracassi, who has pleaded not guilty to drunk driving causing death, claims it was not alcohol that caused him to crash his truck, but a sleep disorder.

He told the court Wednesday that medical issues have caused him to act erratically during his sleep, causing him to urinate around his house at night on more than one occasion.

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Marcello Fracassi (pictured), 33, of Alliston, Canada, has been charged in the June 2014 death of Geoffrey Gaston, 41. But he claims he was not drunk and was sleep driving instead

Prosecutors told Fracassi he seemed to have become concerned with sleepwalking only after being charged with killing Gaston.

But Fracassi, who has also pleaded not guilty to drunk driving causing bodily harm and fleeing the scene, insisted he had been having other issues, Canoe reported.

He told the court that in addition to urinating inside his house, he had several arguments with his wife Rachel that he couldn't remember the next morning.

Fracassi also said he had memory gaps and sometimes fainted. He has claimed not to remember anything of the crash.

Road worker Geoffrey Gaston (pictured left with his wife) died in June 2014 aged 41 after being struck by Fracassi's pickup truck at night while painting traffic lines

A video of Fracassi being interrogated by police (pictured) shows him telling an officer he had 'only' two beers that night - which the officer says is not possible given Fracassi's alcohol level

'Maybe you were peeing in the house because you were drunk?' the prosecution asked.

'No, not necessarily,' Fracassi replied.

He did however tell the court he had a secret stash of alcohol in his basement and that he would drink up to half a bottle of gin away from his wife's eyes.

Rachel told the court in the witness stand that she didn't know her husband drank in secret and that she had become scared of his bizarre behavior at night.

'At night time, I'm scared of my husband,' she said. 'I'm scared of how he's going to treat me. It's like it's him but it isn't him. I thought maybe he had a brain tumor.'

WHAT IS PARASOMNIA? Parasomnia refers to abnormal behaviors that occur when someone is asleep. They include sleepwalking, sleep eating, sleep aggression and sleep paralysis. Some people also have sexsomnia, which causes them to have sex while asleep. Parasomnia episodes can happen during the sleep cycle or while someone is falling asleep. The condition often runs in families, meaning a genetic factor is likely at the root of many cases. Brain disorders and medication can also trigger parasomnia episodes. About 10 per cent of Americans have parasomnia. Source: National Sleep Foundation Advertisement

Rachel, a religious woman who supports prohibition and claimed she hates alcohol, said her husband once told her to 'eat the Bible' and often urinated on the baby's chair and in closets.

She believed this was all a result of sleepwalking.

'Maybe he's loud and irritating because he's still getting drunk,' the prosecution told her - but she said she didn't think so.

A doctor spoke in Fracassi's defense on Thursday, saying he had done numerous tests with him and that Fracassi suffered from parasomnia, a condition that can cause abnormal behavior during sleep.

Dr Colin Shapiro said Fracassi had symptoms of parasomnia and added that consuming alcohol made it more likely to suffer from episodes related to the condition.

'The more alcohol, the more the possibility of a parasomnia event,' Shapiro said according to CTV News.

The prosecution challenged his testimony, saying Fracassi had swerved to avoid a truck after the crash.

Shapiro said people who sleep drive can sometimes recognize objects in front of them, which is why Fracassi managed to avoid the truck.

The doctor however couldn't explain why Fracassi didn't see Gaston.

A friend of Fracassi, Brian Lafanzano, told authorities earlier this week he knew Fracassi had sleep problems but didn't mention sleepwalking until after the crash, according to CTV News.

A video of Fracassi being interrogated by police shows him telling an officer several times he had 'only' two beers that night - which the officer says is not possible given Fracassi's alcohol level.

'I definitely have no, zero recollection of any of this,' Fracassi says about the crash, in the clip published by the Toronto Sun.

The officer presses him: 'Even if you're having these blackouts and stuff, though - I mean, come on. You hit a guy. He's dead. You owe it to the family to be - come on, own up, be honest. You owe them at least that much respect.'

But Fracassi, who calls himself a God-believing man in the video, insists he had two beers.

Another doctor will speak at his trial Friday.
The legacy of those who died in the Falklands War is being tarnished by a thaw of relations between Britain and Argentina, some of the island's natives are claiming.

In the biggest breakthrough in years, both countries recently announced that they would work to remove restrictions in the oil, fishing and shipping industries affecting the Falklands.

They also agreed to increase the number of flights between the islands and Argentina.

However, an online petition has been launched calling for an end to these amicable negotiations.

The legacy of those who died in the Falklands War is being tarnished by a thaw of relations between Britain and Argentina, some of the island's natives are claiming

Britain won a brief but bloody war after Argentine troops invaded the South Atlantic archipelago in 1982.

But islander Faith Felton says that it's not worth the sacrifice of those people who died defending the British overseas territory.

She launched an online petition this week called: 'Is your cheap holiday worth their lives?' which has picked up 64 signatures.

'We won the war in 1982, you know we should not be appeasing Argentina and we should be looking toward other routes,' Felton said.

'Our economy would still evolve, we would still move on. It might be a little slower but it would still happen.'

Former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (pictured left) was a lot more hostile in her negotiations than current leader Mauricio Macri(right)

The war over the islands known by Argentina as the 'Islas Malvinas' claimed the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers.

It ended after just 74 days with the Argentinian surrender, despite neither country officially declaring war on each other.

Argentina's constitution was amended in the 1990s to make recovering control of the islands through peaceful means a national priority.

During her eight years in power, former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner tried to pressure Britain into sovereignty talks by turning away British ships, encouraging companies to divest from Britain and raising other trade barriers.

She was also heavily critical of British plans to improve defences on the island and was criticised for taking out a newspaper advert calling on the UK to abide by UN regulations, ignoring the wishes of the Falklanders themselves.

But tensions have eased since pro-business President Mauricio Macri took office in December promising a less-confrontational stance.

Phyl Rendell, a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Government of Falkland Islands, said: 'We're cautiously optimistic that progress can be made now, particularly with Argentina agreeing to roll back sanctions that were being imposed more and more by the previous government,

The HMS Sir Galahad on fire after being hit by an Argentine missile in an attack that killed 48 people on board

'They want to disassociate themselves with that, remove obstacles to our industries and also to look at us having a flight from a third country to increase air access.

'So it is looking quite positive at the moment.'

The Falklands are internally self-governing, but Britain is responsible for defense and foreign affairs.

Argentina claims Britain has illegally occupied the islands since 1833. Britain disputes that and says Argentina is ignoring the wishes of the 3,000 residents who wish to remain British.

Macri, who has been criticized at home by politicians for both the agreement with Britain and for his recent comments,said that he spoke informally with Theresa May earlier this week and brought up the dialogue the countries have re-established in hopes of resolving the dispute over the Falklands.

A funeral for several troops who did not return from the brief and bloody conflict between the two countries

In an interview with Argentina's state news agency Telam, Macri claimed that he told May 'he is ready to start an open a dialogue that includes, of course, the issue of the sovereignty of the Malvinas.'

Macri said the British leader responded with a 'yes, that we should start to talk,' Telam said.

Macri later backtracked on the comments, saying 'a minute's worth chat cannot become an official agreement.'

Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra cautioned that while the disputed islands are something to be discussed with Britain, it would be 'a big step to say that the issue is on the table.'

The Falklands remain one of the world's most remote, underpopulated and unspoiled places.

Argentina claims Britain has illegally occupied the islands since 1833. Britain disputes that and says Argentina is ignoring the wishes of the 3,000 residents who wish to remain British

At stake are not only the islands themselves where sheep far outnumber people but rich fishing grounds and potential undersea gas and oil in the surrounding seas.

'My personal feeling is that the Argentines will want to get back in, not for the extra flight, but for the oil,' said Robin Goodwin, a fifth-generation Falkland Islander.

But other Falklands residents speak in more optimistic terms about closer ties between Argentina and Britain.

'We definitely need to tread carefully,' said Lizzy Bonner, a British-born, long-term resident of the islands.
Dramatic new footage of the fatal encounter between Keith Lamont Scott and Charlotte police filmed by his own wife has been released by his family.

The video, obtained by NBC News, shows the moments immediately leading up to Scott's death as well as the aftermath.

The shooting sparked protests, which went on for the fourth night in a row early into Saturday morning.

In the video, gunshots can be heard but his wife Rakeyia Scott appears to drop her phone at that moment, before regaining her composure and filming the aftermath of his death, with police searching his body.

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Last moments: Footage taken by Rakeyia Scott, the wife of Keith Lamont Scott, shows the moments leading up to his fatal shooting as well as the aftermath

'Drop the f***ing gun': Police officers can be heard telling Keith Scott to drop a gun; it has now been claimed a firearm found at the scene had Scott's DNA and fingerprints on it

Don't shoot! In the footage, Rakeyia, who commentates throughout, can be heard saying he has a traumatic brain injury and no gun

CHARLOTTE SHOOTING VIDEO: TRANSCRIPT OF RAKEYIA SCOTT'S HORRIFIED REACTION Rakeyia Scott: Don't shoot him, don't shoot him, he has no weapon, he has no weapon, don't shoot him. Police: Don't shoot. Drop the gun. Drop the f***ing gun. Rakeyia: Don't shoot him, don't shoot him, he didn't do anything. Police: Drop the gun! Rakeyia: He doesn't have a gun, he has a TBI [traumatic brain injury]. He's not going to do anything to you guys. He just took his medicine Police: Drop the gun. Let me get a f***ing baton over here. Rakeyia: Keith, don't let them break the windows. Come on out the car. Police: Drop the gun! Rakeyia: Keith, don't do it. Keith, get out the car. Keith, don't you do it, don't you do it. Keith! Keith! Keith! Don't you do it! Gunshots are heard Rakeyia: Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? He better not be f***ing dead. He better not be f***ing dead. I know that f***ing much. I know that much he better not be dead. I'm not gonna come near you [to police]. I'm going to record you though. He better be alive. You better be alive, how about that. Yes we're over here at 50... 50.. 9453 Lexington Court. These are the police officers that shot my husband and he better live. He better live because he didn't do nothing to them. Police: Is everybody good? Are you good? Rakeyia: He good. Nobody... touch nobody, so they're all good. Police: You good? Rakeyia: I know he better live. I know he better live. How about that, I'm not coming to you guys but he better live. He better live. Y'all hear this and you see this right? He better live. He better live. I swear he better live. Yep, he better live. He better f***ing live. He better f***ing live and I can't even leave the damn site. I ain't going nowhere, I'm staying in the same damn spot. The f***. That's ok, did y'all call the police? I mean did y'all call an ambulance? Advertisement

Rakeyia, who apparently had come out of the apartment with a phone charger for her husband only to notice the scene, can be heard repeatedly saying: 'Don't shoot him, don't shoot him', claiming that he has 'no weapon.'

'He doesn't have a gun, he has a TBI [traumatic brain injury], he's not going to do anything to you guys, he just took his medicine.'

When he is shot, she screams at the cops: 'Did you shoot him? He better not be f***ing dead, he better not be f***ing dead'.

Amazingly, she continues to film the scene, repeatedly saying: 'I know he better live.'

In the newly obtained footage, Scott doesn't appear to have a firearm near his person. This appears to contradict pictured that emerged on Thursday that appeared to show a gun at his feet. It is unclear when that photograph was taken.

A police source told WBTV that a gun reportedly found near Scott had his fingerprints, DNA and blood on it. It was also loaded.

Later on Friday, a second video emerged, which showed the aftermath of the shooting from another angel

It is unclear what the officers are doing, but after noting Scott 'isn't moving' the woman filming says: 'And they still putting the handcuffs on him'

Later on Friday, a second video emerged, which showed the aftermath of the shooting from another angel.

The cell phone footage, appears to have been taken by someone on a balcony in The Village at College Downs apartment complex, the Charlotte Observer reported.

She films from approximately 100 feet away as Scott lies motionless on the ground, officers moving around him.

It is unclear what the officers are doing, but after noting Scott 'isn't moving' the woman filming says: 'And they still putting the handcuffs on him.'

The second angle clip lasts one minute and 44 seconds and appears to show the same officers as seen in the first video.

After the release of both videos, protests continued into their fourth night - despite a city-wide curfew.

Dozens of protesters continued to march in the city's business district past the midnight Friday curfew into early Saturday.

Police said they would take a similar approach to Thursday night, when they allowed demonstrators to stay out past the curfew as long as they were peaceful.

Justin Bamberg, who is representing the Scott family along with Eduardo Curry, told the New York Times that the video did not prove whether the shooting was justified or not.

He said however that it offered 'another vantage point' of the incident.

'I know he better live': The extraordinary video was filmed by Rakeyia Scott (pictured with Keith), his wife, and she amazingly has the composure to keep filming after he was shot

Family members of Keith Scott assemble near a press conference Thursday, held after protests against the police shooting of Scott

Charles G Monnett, one of the attorneys for the Scott family said they decided to release the footage 'in the name of truth and transparency'.

'The family is still hopeful that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and city of Chicago will release all available video of the incident to the public so that people can draw their own conclusions about Keith's death.

'We encourage everyone to reserve judgment until all the facts are known. This is simply one step in our quest to find the truth for this family.'

Authorities in Charlotte have so far refused to release police bodycam footage of Scott being shot dead despite his family demanding it be made public.

Hillary Clinton, who decided to postpone her planned trip to Charlotte on Sunday after hearing from community leaders, has called on authorities to release it, saying: 'We must ensure justice & work to bridge divides.'

Clinton announced earlier Friday that she would travel to Charlotte in the aftermath of the shooting of a black man by a Charlotte police officer.

But Clinton's campaign now says that after further discussions with community leaders, the Democratic presidential nominee will postpone the trip to avoid straining the city's resources.

The citys police chief Kerr Putney said that he thought releasing the bodycam footage would 'inflame the situation' if he were to make the footage of Keith Scotts death available.

Mr Putney said that it would 'fracture the trust' of the community if the dash cam film were released without other evidence to put it into context.

Officer Brentley Vinson is the cop who shot Keith Scott; he has been placed on administrative leave, standard procedure

But North Carolina's Attorney General has called on officials to release the police video this week.

Scott was shot dead on Monday by police who were in the University City area of Charlotte looking for an unrelated suspect. It is unclear how exactly they initially began interacting with Scott.

Police claim that when they arrived, the officers 'observed a subject, Mr Keith Lamont Scott, inside a vehicle in the apartment complex. The subject exited the vehicle armed with a handgun. Officers observed the subject get back into the vehicle at which time they began to approach the subject.'

They say Scott, a father-of-seven, disregarded repeated demands to drop his gun. Open carry is legal in North Carolina.

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. His mother Vernita Scott Walker insists he was reading the Koran while waiting for his daughter.

Police say that he got out of his car with a gun and did not put it down despite repeated warnings to do so.

Mr Scotts family have seen the police dash cam video of his shooting and after viewing it contradicted the police version of events.

In a statement they said that he was not aggressive and when he was shot his hands were by his sides and he was walking slowly backwards.

Scott's family claim that he was sitting reading a book waiting for his son to get off the school bus. His mother claims he was reading the Koran.

An attorney for his family, who viewed the video Thursday, says it's not clear from the video if he's holding anything, including a gun.

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; the new footage doesn't appear to show a gun however

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

Last call: Walker revealed that just before a black police officer shot him, her son dialed his mother's number one last time, and she heard him say his middle name, 'Lamont'

Mr Putney said that people might think the video is a panacea but that was not the case.

He said: If I were to put it out indiscriminately and it doesn't give you good context it could inflame the situation and make it even worse. it will exacerbate the backlash, it will increase the distrust.

That is where judgement, discernment and reasonableness have to come in. Let me tell you, I'm not a very patient person.

'If I were putting it out on my time frame you would not have a whole case and you would damage the very trust you're trying to build.

Protests continued into its fourth night in Charlotte, North Carolina, following the release of the videos

Despite a midnight curfew, protesters remained in the streets until early Saturday morning

Police said they would allow protesters to break the curfew as long as they remained peaceful

It's not that I want to hide anything, it's the I want to be more thoughtful and deliver the whole story.

Mr Putney added that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, an agency that is independent from the Charlotte police force, is now in charge of the inquiry into Mr Scotts death.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said that she had seen the video of Mr Scott's death and that it was 'inconclusive'.

A woman hold up a 'Black Lives Matters' sign and another holds a board with an N.W.A. lyric

Dozens of protesters march in the streets of Charlotte on Friday night into early Saturday morning

She said she too wanted it released but did not want to jeopardize the integrity of the investigation.

She said: When youre still gathering eyewitness accounts...if you have already seen something on the internet or wherever it can cloud your memory.

'It can alter what you think you saw. We want to have integrity. We want those eyewitness to tell us without their memory being led.

Addressing the protests on Thursday night, Mr Putney said that they had dissipated on their own by 2am.

People help a protester after he was pepper sprayed during Thursday night's demonstrations in Charlotte, North Carolina

The cops batted them with their shields and pushed them off the road, spraying their faces with pepper spray

Defiant: Protesters raise their arms during a march in Charlotte on Thursday night

People chant at the intersection of Trade and College Streets during a protest against the police shooting of a black man

One police officer had minor injuries to his hand. Two were treated after being sprayed by a chemical by protesters.

One National Guard was treated for a minor injury and one civilian was taken to hospital for injuries not sustained during the protest.

Three people were arrested.

Mr Putney said that the gang which intelligence said that were coming to join the protests were coming from South Carolina, but did not provide more details.

Mr Putney said that he was 'encouraged by the manner in which the First Amendment was exercised' during Thursday night - even though the curfew was in place protesters were allowed to roam the streets.

MAN IS ARRESTED FOR MURDER FOR SHOOTING DEAD CHARLOTTE PROTESTER A suspect has been arrested over the deadly shooting of a protester during demonstrations in Charlotte over an officer's killing of a black man. Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference that the suspect, Rayquan Borum, 21, was arrested Friday morning. He has been charged with murder. He provided few other details about the arrest or the suspect but said that video led investigators to the shooter. Justin Carr, 26, was shot on Wednesday night during a violent night of protests in Charlotte. Carr was shot as protesters clashed with police in riot gear lined arm-in-arm protecting the Omni Hotel at about 8.30pm. Some protesters claim that Carr was wounded by a cop, a claim refuted by city officials. Justin Carr, 26, (left) died after being critically wounded during the unrest over the shooting of Keith Scott; Rayquan Borum (right) has been arrested and charged with murder Advertisement

He also said that he asked for a curfew to be enforced on Thursday night because of intelligence that an violent gang was on its way to join the protest. The curfew will remain in place for Friday night.

The third night of demonstrations in Charlotte over the police shooting of Scott was largely peaceful but protesters were cleared from Interstate 277 when they blocked it with a human chain.

Riot police used pepper spray on a dozen protesters and battered them with their shields.

North Carolina governor Pat McCrory had already declared a state of emergency in the city after violent looting in the Central Business District earlier in the week.




A man who has been charged with killing his wife told police that he watched her overdose, but an autopsy has revealed that she was actually shot twice in the head.

US Army veteran, Luc Tieman, 32, was ordered held without bail Friday during his first court appearance since being charged with murder in the death of his wife, Valerie Tieman.

The 34-year-old's body was found Tuesday a couple of hundred yards behind a home she shared with her husband and his parents in Fairfield, Maine.

US Army veteran, Luc Tieman, 32, was ordered held without bail Friday during his first court appearance since being charged with murder in the death of his wife, Valerie Tieman

Luc Tieman (right) initially told police he watched his wife, Valerie (left and right) overdose, but an autopsy has revealed that she was actually shot twice in the head

Her body was found in the woods (pictured) behind a home she shared with her husband and his parents

Luc Tieman, who friends described as a disabled Afghanistan war veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, was taken into custody about 10am Wednesday.

He initially told police his wife, who had been missing since August 30, disappeared while he was inside a Walmart.

Maine State Police said the husband told them that when he came out the store, his wife was gone from their truck.

A police affidavit indicates he changed his story after her body was found, telling investigators she was an addict who overdosed on heroin.

Tieman said for his wife to be missing this long without making contact is not like her at all and that he just wanted her found safely, according to News Center.

'Just want her to come out, not be scared. No one's going to get hurt or cares what she's done.'

Tieman said the two were on good terms.

He also said she mentioned some things before she went missing that worried him, including talking about another man, WCSH 6 reported.

She was reported missing by her parents, who live in South Carolina's Greenville County.

Luc Tieman, (left on tour and right) who friends described as a disabled Afghanistan war veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, had initially told police his wife disappeared while he was inside a Walmart

A police affidavit indicates he changed his story after her body was found near their home (pictured), telling investigators she was an addict who overdosed on heroin




Russia has sentenced an elderly decorated space engineer and university instructor to seven years in prison for state treason, an official said Friday.

A spokesman for Moscow City Court gave news of the verdict and jail term imposed on Vladimir Lapygin to the news agency AFP, without giving any details.

'The verdict was pronounced on September 6,' he said, adding that the entire case was 'top secret'.

Russian agencies said Lapygin taught at Moscow's Bauman State Technical Institute. Information on the university's page suggested he advised graduate students in the mechanical engineering department.

Lapygin is also an employee of Tsniimash, the Central Research Institute of Machine Building, which develops rockets and is administered by the Roscosmos space agency.

In 2014 he received a medal for his contributions to Russia's economy and defence capabilities.

Russian media said Lapygin is in his late 70s and spent months under house arrest after his initial detention in May 2015.

Lapygin was reportedly accused of giving Russian secrets to China.
Budget airline easyJet are in talks to buy a German carrier to make sure they can keep flying in Europe after Brexit, it has been reported.

Talks have been going on 'for some time,' according to Martin Locher, an employee representative on German-owned TUIfly's supervisory board.

Speculation was already rampant after German business weekly Manager Magazin on Thursday said easyJet was eyeing TUIfly as it seeks ways to keep flying freely within the European Union following Britain's decision to quit the bloc.

Budget airline easyJet are in talks to buy German carrier TUIfly to make sure they can keep flying in Europe after Brexit, it has been reported (File photo)

However, the German company on Friday sent a letter to its employees denying any plans for a takeover by the British low-cost carrier.

'A cooperation with easyJet or its participation in TUIfly is neither being prepared nor sought after,' said the letter.

'The speculation in Manager Magazin and in the market is unfounded,' TUIfly chairman Henrik Homann and managing director Jochen Buentgen stressed in their letter.

A second European carrier could be interested in a stake in German charter airline, a TUIFly labour representative said on Friday.

EasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall (pictured) had ruled out takeovers just a few months ago, Manager Magazin reported, but had apparently changed her mind following the Brexit vote

'There's another European airline to whom TUIFly could be sold,' Martin Locher said.

He declined to name the airline, but said it was a non-EU carrier. He also said it was not clear if talks with easyJet were continuing.

EasyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall had ruled out takeovers just a few months ago, Manager Magazin reported, but had apparently changed her mind following the Brexit vote.

Acquiring an airline like TUIfly could allow easyJet to secure a foothold in the EU.

As an EU member, British airlines have until now been covered by the EU's Single European Sky system, which lifts trade restrictions on airlines with their headquarters inside the 28-member union.

TUIfly has 41 planes, 14 of which are currently operated by loss-making Air Berlin.

Both Locher and Andreas Barczewski, a member of the TUI Group and TUIfly supervisory boards, said any sale of TUIfly against the wishes of employees and unions would be resisted.

Along with TUIfly, the TUI Group also includes airlines Thomson Airways, TUIfly Nordic, ArkeFly and JetairFly.

TUI has said it is targeting 50 million euros (43.36 million) in operational improvements at its airlines by the 2018/19 financial year.
An Italian presenter has been criticised for wearing a crucifix and rosary beads while reading the news.

Marina Nalesso, 44, has worn the religious accessories on several occasions during broadcasts on Italy's state-owned channel TG1.

The Venetian journalist, now based in Rome, often presents the 1.30pm slots.

She said her reason for wearing them was 'for faith and to make a statement', according to the Daily Express.

RAI, the country's national public broadcasting company, permits religious symbols to be worn by newsreaders, despite demands from some quarters to have them banned.

Reaction to her decision to wear the symbols on air has been mixed on social media.

An Italian presenter has been criticised for wearing a crucifix and rosary beads while reading the news

Marina Nalesso, 44, has worn the religious accessories on several occasions during broadcasts on Italy's state-owned channel TG1

Italian politician and fellow journalist Giorgia Meloni took to Twitter to show her support for Ms Nalesso, posting a message of 'solidarity'.

Another commenter tweeted, 'Veil, yes... but crucifix, no?'

One commenter on newspaper site, Il Giornale, said: 'I am an atheist, but an intelligent one - and the crucifix doesn't bother me, otherwise I wouldn't live in Italy.'

Italian politician and fellow journalist Giorgia Meloni took to Twitter to show her support for Ms Nalesso

Another pro-Nalesso commenter airs her views

Gynaecologist Silvio Viale, a radical atheist and member of the Democratic Party in Turin referred to Ms Nalesso's 'arrogance' at wearing the religious accessories

On Ms Nalesso's Facebook page, one supporter wrote: 'We have been marginalised for some time, not the other way around.'

However, others were not impressed - including gynaecologist Silvio Viale, a radical atheist and member of the Democratic Party in Turin.

'Even today at TG1 the arrogance of a presenter wearing a rosary around their neck,' he tweeted.

Another wrote: 'Since when is TG1 with the Vatican? Rosaries and medals everywhere.'

Journalists from RAI are not permitted to give interviews 'without permission of the company', according to Ms Nalesso.
Two men with guns, masks and gloves abducted him with two other people

Bishun was expected to be a cooperating witness during Alston's trial

Officer Merlin Alston, 34, is accused of helping Bishun for four years

Robert Bishun, 36, was found strangled in his cart in the Bronx Tuesday

A drug dealer set to cooperate with authorities against an NYPD officer has been found brutally murdered.

Robert Bishun, 36, was expected to testify against officer Merlin Alston, 34, in the next two weeks.

Alston is accused of driving Bishun around, helping him with drug deals and protecting him between 2010 and 2014. He has also been charged with warning a different drug trafficker, who sold cocaine, of impending police checks.

Bishun was found strangled Tuesday at the back of his BMW with a zip tie wrapped around his neck.

Robert Bishun (left), 36, was expected to testify against officer Merlin Alston (right), 34, in the next two weeks. He was found strangled in his BMW Tuesday night

Authorities revoked Alston's bail after Bishun's body was found, the New York Daily News reported.

'I've been around the racetrack once or twice. It certainly sounds like a contract killing,' federal Judge Colleen McMahon said.

Bishun's killing reeked of 'movie violence,' she added. He had three young children according to his Facebook profile.

Two men with guns, masks and gloves stormed Bishun's auto body shop in Stillwell Avenue on Tuesday evening and demanded cash and jewelry.

Bishun (pictured with his wife) was abducted at his auto body shop in Stillwell Avenue by two men with guns, masks and gloves who asked for cash and jewelry

They took Bishun's cousin and his cousin's girlfriend and put them into two car trunks while taking Bishun with them, according to the Daily News.

The cousin and his girlfriend escaped and called the police. Officers found Bishun's car in the Fieldston neighborhood of the Bronx around 11:15 pm on Tuesday.

Bishun was inside, unconscious and battered, with a zip tie around his neck.

Text messages showed that someone was monitoring Bishun's involvement in Alston's trial, federal prosecutor Tom McKay said at a hearing Wednesday.

Another cooperating witness in Alston's trial had his house shot up, the Daily News wrote.

Alston's attorney, Bradley Henry, said authorities had no evidence showing his client had anything to do with Bishun's death.

'There are other witnesses in this case that are going to be much more devastating than Mr Bishun would ever be,' he said in court.

'So to imagine that Mr Alston orchestrated this whole thing and set up this robbery to keep an individual who is probably a minor or a somewhat minor cooperator against him from testifying at trial just seems outlandish to me.'

A federal judge said Bishun's killing reeked of 'movie violence' and sounded like a 'contract killing'. Bishun (pictured with his wife) was going to be a cooperating witness in Alston's trial

Bishun agreed to be placed on supervised bail for five years in November 2014 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic drugs.

Alston was indicted the next month and accused of conspiring to sell drugs by participating in transactions, serving as a driver, providing protection and helping drug dealers avoid police detection.

He and Bishun delivered more than eight ounces of cocaine to someone in the Bronx on two separate dates between summer and fall 2010, according to the indictment.

On each occasion, Alston was inside Bishun's car next to Bishun's auto body shop and handed Bishun cocaine from a hidden compartment in the vehicle, the affidavit reads.

Alston, who has been suspended from the force, is also accused of accompanying Bishun to a meeting with another person after picking up a shotgun.

He also offered to arrange the sale of more than half an ounce of heroin, according to the prosecution.

Alston warned another drug dealer, a cocaine supplier, that police would come to their area soon, the charges state.
Palmer Luckey (pictured), a near-billionaire tech entrepreneur who brags about 'being part of the 0.001 per cent', has secretly funded a pro-Donald Trump group that mocks Hillary Clinton online

A near-billionaire tech entrepreneur who brags about 'being part of the 0.001 per cent' has secretly funded a pro-Donald Trump group that mocks Hillary Clinton online.

Palmer Luckey, who founded the virtual reality company, Oculus, that was purchased by Facebook for $2 billion in March 2014, has been revealed as the cash behind an anti-Clinton organization, Nimble America.

Nimble America is an online 'troll' group that says it wants to, 'make America great again with meme magic', the Daily Beast reports.

The group's website claims it has paid for a billboard in Pittsburgh that has a caricature of Clinton's face on it and the slogan, 'too big to jail'.

The Daily Beast also uncovered a lengthy Reddit post it claims Luckey made under his pseudonym, NimbleRichMan, on a forum for Trump fans.

The post was a plea for those active on the forum to donate to Nimble America, with the promise Luckey would match each contribution dollar for dollar.

'I am a member of the 0.001% (sic),' the post reads.

'You and I are the same. We know Hillary Clinton is corrupt, a warmonger, a freedom-stripper. Not the good kind you see dancing in bikinis on Independence Day.

'I have supported Donald's presidential ambition for years... I reached out to the because I am doing everything I can to help make America great again.

The troll group Nimble America claims to have been behind this billboard in Pittsburgh that mocks Hillary Clinton

Luckey and the group he was financially backing attempting to raise money from Donald Trump supporters online last weekend

'I need your help: for the next 48 hours, I will match your donations.

'Let's generate some success of our own. Make America great again with your meme magic.'

Luckey told the Daily Beast he first got in contact with the troll group on Facebook.

Luckey posted a message backing Donald Trump on a Reddit forum under the name 'NimbleRichMan'

In the post, Luckey claimed to have been a long-time supporter of Donald Trump, and said he would match any contributions made over the weekend to Nimble America

'It went along the lines of "hey, I have a bunch of money. I would love to see more of this stuff." They wanted to build buzz and do fundraising,' he told the website.

He added that he got behind the group because: 'Ive got plenty of money... Money is not my issue. I thought it sounded like a real jolly good time.'

However, the group appeared to turn on Luckey over the weekend, after what it described as a 'disastrous' plea for donations last Friday.

Users accused the 'shady charity' of trying to 'monetize' people on the forum, before lashing out at the claims 'NimbleRichMan' - who at that point was unknown - would provide financial help for the group.

Palmer Luckey liked a number of pro-Trump and anti-Clinton memes across social media, before it had been revealed he was behind the new group

After moderators for the group and infamous 'alt-right' figure Milo Yiannopoulos encouraged people to donate, according to Motherboard, users kicked up a fuss and demanded those behind the 'charity' resign.

According to a post on the forum on Friday, two 'moderators' did quit over the botched fundraiser.

In addition to funding the pro-Trump group, Luckey's public Twitter profile actively supports many 'alt-right' and anti-Clinton groups.

He has an estimated worth of $700 million.
Opinion / Columnist

SUCCESSION QUESTION IS A CRITICAL ISSUE TO OUR ECONOMY

ECONOMIC GROWTH

POLITICAL STABILITY



DONOR COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

ZAMBIA AS A CASE STUDY

RECENT UTTERANCES BY IAN KHAMA VERSUS A BEGGING BOWL

Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo writes in his personal capacity as the Director of Mentorship Institute of National Development and Sustainability (MINDS) and he can be contacted at greatorminds@gmail.com

The hot question which can never be avoided is the issue of succession. Definitely the succession issue determines the flow of governance and policy matters. Whilst Zanu Pf may try by all means to down play the issue of succession it's a serious matter because it evolves around political and economic matters. Mugabe s clinging to power has jeopardized the future plans of this country and it has contributed to the economic decline. We have a serious problem as a nation. The problem with Zanu Pf is that they have gone to the extent of threatening abductions to those who are outspoken on Governance matters particularly on succession matrix. Mugabe has done enough for this country and it's high time he has to table the succession plan on the table and it must be debated. This cannot be a party matter only but it's a national and regional matter because it has seriously affected almost everyone. My question I would ask Mugabe and Zanu Pf especially Chombo is that what is it that Mugabe wants to do that he has never done for the past 36 years? That's a very important question and it's a national matter. Even those in Zanu Pf have been seriously haunted by this problem but because most of these people have benefitted in a corrupt manner they cannot accept a leadership renewal plan. Mugabe presided over a failed state that has failed the nation for the past 36 years and we are saying succession matrix is the question and it has to be resolved.The succession plan has scuttled the economic projections of this country. This country has low revenues, decline in revenues and more imports than exports and we have problem with our balance of payments. No one can trust Zanu Pf and no one is willing to enter into business agreements because of policy inconsistency and mistrust. Zimbabweans we have a problem and truly speaking the problem is Zanu Pf has brought a lot of misery and untold suffering on Zimbabweans at large. Our unemployment rate is standing at 97% and there is no way we can attract any meaningful investments in this country until the succession problem can be resolved. Zanu Pf believes in beatings, intimidations and abductions without necessarily looking into economic matters. Most of these economic giants like US, EU, WORLD BANK, AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK have given conditions and the condition they have given us as a nation is MUGABE must retire and we will give you a bail out. So people cannot run away from this issue its haunting us and we must expose the matter to its fullest. Dangotte was warned recently in US against investing in Zimbabwe because he risks loosing his investments and this has become the biggest embarrassment to us as a nation. The question will then be should the nation wait for Mugabe to die? Or should we recommend impeachment? What's next?The recent political outbursts and current waves of demonstrations are a real threat to stability. We have a problem here and authorities must deal with this problem. Mugabe is not the only person who has the ability to rule this country. We have so many prominent and mature people within and outside Zanu Pf who can deliver good results. We have a political problem and political question which needs answers. The question is when we are expecting Mugabe s departure because honestly people cannot wait for 2023 so that we begin to plan for the future. The future of the current generation has been plundered into serious crisis because of the political crisis. SADC must definitely convey an emergency summit to deal with this impending matter because it has become a security matter within the region. Sanctions can never be linked to the succession matter or the issue of regime agenda its out, people are saying we need a new leadership to resolve this political crisis. The poverty levels of this country has reached unprecedented and catastrophic levels.We have a serious economic crisis, Government is failing to pay its creditors, civil servants have no definite pay dates, and corruption is rampant in the system. The donor community and international partners are not willing to part with any cent or to assist our Government because we have a crisis of legitimacy. The issue evolves around the succession problem. Donor community is saying we have the money but "MUGABE MUST GO first and this is the condition. My question as development analyst is should the country be held to ransom because of one person? Definitely NO. Donor community requires transparency and some of their projects they are long term and who can guarantee the safety of resources when succession issue is not resolved. Most donors have cut projects until leadership has resolved thus succession toxic issue. It's a thorn in the flesh.Whilst Zanu Pf may deny the issue of factionalism but Zimbabwe is risking sliding into a civil war if this issue is not addressed. When Michael Sata died PF Government was in a serious power struggle that threatened the stability of Zambia. It almost took 6 months to resolve the matter when party members were threatening to flood the streets. Zambia experienced this problem until Edgar Lungu came into power to fill the vacuum. This can be dangerous to the nation and the region at large. African leaders have a problem because they do not want to groom a successor. We have two factions namely team Lacoste and G40 and there is a lot of power struggle within the two. My question is cant these two factions push for a congress and elect a substantive leader to avoid a chaotic situation in the country.Khama has led the region by making it clear that we have a succession matter and it cannot be swept under the carpet. This is a serious matter and it must be dealt with in a diligent manner. We are in this situation because of succession issue and we urge Zanu Pf to take issue of succession matrix seriously. Chinamasa went to UK and EU seeking a bail out and he was given a condition, go back and resolve the succession matter. Generally the ruling party has been down playing the matter, attaching it to sanctions and I think in our normal sense who can lend a 92 year leader with funds without guarantee and security conditions of their money? They have the money but as long as Mugabe is still in power Zimbabwe will never get a single cent and we are going to continue suffering until we wake up to our sense. The ruling party should wake up and stop politicising the succession matter and they must critically consider and allow their leader to appoint a successor who then should move this country forward.
A new plan has been proposed to give nudists in Paris a dedicated spot where they can strip off in public.

The Green Party of Paris is announce proposals for a designated nudist park during a meeting at the Paris city council on Monday.

The exact location for the nudist hangout has not been confirmed but some nudists have been sharing their ideas.

A new plan has been proposed to give nudists in Paris a dedicated spot where they can strip off in public. One potential location is the Daumesnil lake in Bois de Vincennes (pictured) in the east of the city

Jacques Frimont, vice president of the Association for the Promotion of Naturism in Liberty, proposed a designated area at the Daumesnil lake in Bois de Vincennes in the east of the city.

This is the same lake the government plans to transform into a public swimming zone by 2019.

Nudist groups in the city have complained of the pressure of overcrowding on existing nudist facilities in the city.

For example, the Roger Le-Gall swimming pool in the 12th arrondissement allows nudity on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings, but members complain of cramped conditions.

Nudist groups in the city have complained of the pressure of overcrowding on existing nudist facilities in the city. Pictured, a couple walking nude in France (File photo)

'There were 150 of us on Wednesday night,' Denis Porquet, a member of the Nudist Association of Paris, told the 20 Minutes newspaper.

The group's members have had to hire out other spots such as bowling alleys, archery clubs and restaurants.

According to French law, nudists can potentially be hit with a 15,000 fine or face the prospect of one year in prison.

London's first nudist restaurant opened earlier this year - and it boasted 46,000 people on its waiting list.

Only open for three months, Bunyadi claimed it offered 'pure liberation', offering the experience of eating in its 'purest' form.
Britain is leaving a parting gift to the European Union, according to official statistics today  our language.

Even after Brexit almost all of the blocs 450million population will be able to talk easily with each other, as long as they speak English, a report showed.

The analysis from the EUs Eurostat arm said that 97 per cent of all secondary school pupils in the 27 countries are learning English as a foreign language.

In primary schools, English is being taught as the first foreign language in every non-English speaking country except bilingual Belgium and Luxembourg, where the language of neighbour Germany takes priority, it said.

The analysis from the EUs Eurostat arm said that 97 per cent of all secondary school pupils in the 27 countries are learning English as a foreign language (file image)

As a result 18 million pupils in the EU are learning Englishin primary schools, and 17 million in secondary schools.

The secondary total is more than three times the five million who are studying French, the language that held sway in the EUs forerunner, the European Economic Community, in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Pupils learning English easily outnumber the total who are studying any other language apart from their native tongue at secondary level. Alongside the five million students of French, three million are learning German, two million Spanish, half a million Russian, and 200,000 Italian.

The overwhelming numbers spending time on English at school are linked to the spread of English as a worldwide common language in recent decades rather than specific British influence. English is now an effective means of communication with locals and foreigners for travellers to most parts of the world.

However the study and use of English appears to have been growing rather than diminishing across the EU in the years of harsh argument that led up to David Camerons decision to hold the Brexit referendum and to the campaign itself.

In 2013 Eurostat recorded that 94 per cent of secondary school pupils were studying English, against 97.3 in the latest count. The new figures also show that across the EU 83.7 per cent of primary level pupils are learning English.

At primary level English was by far the most popular language, the report said. The dominance of English is confirmed at the lower secondary level of pupils aged around 11 to 15.

The near-universal study of English in schools across Europe has led to familiarity with the language among a high proportion of the adult population.

Eurostat reported in 2013 that two thirds of adults knew English, with 20 per cent of these saying they were proficient, 35 per cent speaking it well, and 45 per cent saying they had a fair command of English.

The agency said then that: The importance of English as a foreign language is confirmed among working age adults. In the EU, English was declared to be the best-known language amongst the population aged 25 to 64.

EU institutions are estimated to spend 1 billion a year on translation of the blocs 24 current languages

EU institutions are estimated to spend 1 billion a year on translation of the blocs 24 current languages. It had only four  French, German, Italian and Dutch  until the 1970s, but translation was more widely needed after Britain and Ireland joined, bringing English, in 1973.

Translation became a boom industry in Brussels after eight Eastern European nations joined the EU in 2004. Brexit will not mean that English disappears from the translation bill, because Ireland will still need documents and speeches in English.

Ireland requires English translation even though its own language was given official EU status in 2007, because only 100,000 people in Ireland speak Irish. All of the Irish speakers also speak and understand English.
The president of a government transparency group lashed out at the U.S. State Department on Friday after a federal judge ruled that a trove of Hillary Clinton's emails can be released to the public after Election Day.

That means the majority of messages recovered during an FBI investigation into Clinton's classified email scandal won't see the light of day until well after Americans pick a new president, raising the possibility that an 'October surprise' might pop up in December or January.

'This is an absolutely corrupt process the State Department has come up with,' Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton told The Wall Street Journal on Friday, blaming the Obama administration for slow-walking the release.

'The American people could be deprived of this information at this essential time.'

GOOD NEWS? The latest batch of Hillary Clinton emails  nearly 15,000 in all  don't have to be processed for public release until after Election Day, a federal judge has decided

Judge James Boasberg set a new timetable for the release of roughly 15,000 emails to or from Clinton that State identified outside the cache she turned over nearly two years ago  long after she ended her term as America's top diplomat.

It has been determined that about 5,600 of those messages are work-related, casting doubt on Clinton's many claims that her disclosures in 2014 included all emails connected with her job.

The State Department warned this week that about half of those may be duplicates of messages already published online as a result of successful Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits.

But the specter of 2,800 new emails, which the State Department has had in its possession for at least two months, would start a new media feeding frenzy if the documents were released before voters go to the polls.

The other 9,400 emails are personal in nature and won't be released.

JANUARY SURPRISE? Some of the emails could be damaging to Clinton but won't see the light of day until far into the future  perhaps even in to her presidency if she beats Donald Trump

Boasberg ordered the State Department to finish processing about 1,050 pages of material, likely compring fewer than 600 emails, by November 4. But it's up to the government agency which emails will be at the top of the stack.

Processing each message involves a consultation with more than a half-dozen intelligence agencies to determine if they contain classified information or should be redacted for other reasons.

The federal FOIA law includes exemptions that shield from public view anything involving national security, trade secrets, government personnel matters, personal and medical files, inter-agency communications and four other categories.

Boasberg's decision to delay the releases, he said Friday, was the product of the State Department's claim that it was over-burdened by dozens of lawsuits and thousands of FOIA requests related to the four years Clinton was secretary of state.

State will release batches of emails on October 7, October 21 and November 4, and then process just 500 pages each month.

Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton complained about an 'absolutely corrupt' process the State Department is using to slow-walk the email releases

It was Judicial Watch's lawsuit that drove Boasberg's ruling.

Clinton acknowledged last year that she ordered the deletion of more than 33,000 pages of her emails, saying they were all personal communications.

The FBI, however, recovered thousands of messages from a homebrew server that she used exclusively while serving in the Obama administration.

WHO IS JUDICIAL WATCH? Judicial Watch is a conservative-leaning group that relies on lawyers and Freedom of Information Act lawsuits to force the government to reveal information about its inner workings It has filed numerous lawsuits to require disclosure, including suing the State Department to release Hillary Clintons emails and pushing for more prompt release It also has sued to gain information about Clinton aide Huma Abedins special status as a government employee given permission to do outside work, and sought information on Benghazi and IRS activities It hounded Bill Clintons administration with lawsuits in the 1990s, but it also sued the George W. Bush administration for release of minutes from a secret energy task force stocked with oil industry bigs It was founded by conservative lawyer Larry Klayman, got funds from conservative billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife, and is currently headed by Tom Fitton Advertisement

An FBI investigation into whether she mishandled classified information by running all her official electronic correspondence through an unsecure system was closed without a recommendation of any criminal charges.

The roughly 15,000 emails were discovered as part of the FBI investigation into whether Mrs. Clinton or her aides mishandled classified information while serving in government. The FBI closed that investigation without recommending any charges.

Mrs. Clintons attorneys turned over roughly 30,000 emails to the State Department in 2014 making up roughly 55,000 pages. Her attorneys deleted another 30,000 that they deemed purely personalsome of which were recovered by the Bureau as part of its investigation.

The State Department is involved in dozens of lawsuits over Mrs. Clintons department records and is under court-imposed orders to produce documents in a number of those suits.

State Department spokesman John Kirby insisted to the Journal on Friday that many of the newly recovered email conversations consisted of message threads that originally included Clinton but later dropped her from discussion.

'Secretary Clinton would not have been in a position to provide the department with these portions of the emails, as the new material would not have been in her possession,' Kirby said.

Fitton had said on Thursday, before Boasberg ruled, that '[t]he Obama State Department has had these 14,900 emails that Hillary Clinton tried to delete since July but has only released three emails.'
As Puerto Rico was plunged into darkness earlier this week, following a fire at a power plant that caused the power grid to fail, the view from above was just as dramatic.

Pictures captured from a satellite overhead show just how dark things became on the Caribbean island.

More than 1.5 million homes and businesses had the plug pulled after the electricity supply failed across the territory.

Lights on! The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico is all aglow as night falls

Lights off! The blackout leads virtually the entire island to be plunged into darkness

Before and after: These pics from space show what it looks like when 1.5 million customers suddenly lose power

NASA released pictured shot using infrared imaging on its Suomi NPP satellite both before and after the outage.

The widespread loss of electricity appears across Puerto Rico in all areas outside of the capital, San Juan.

Ponce, Humacao, Aguadilla, Arecibo, and Mayaguez all had large numbers of customers losing power.

The ocean surface looks brighter in the second image due to different angles of moonlight on the water.

'With something of this scale, we're not just seeing an outage. We are seeing a complete stoppage in the rhythms of daily life,' said Miguel Roman, a scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and member of the Suomi NPP science team.

'These nighttime satellite images help bring a level of situational awareness so we can clearly identify the extent of the impacts into key lifelines of a city's infrastructure,' added David Green, the program manager for NASA's Disaster Response Program.

'We hope that power, civil, and health authorities can use imagery and data like this to map the extent of affected areas and prioritize their personnel and resources to restore critical infrastructure.'

Motorists illuminate a storefront with their headlights as they drive in to buy bread after a massive blackout, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Thursday

Customers stand in line at one of the few open cafeterias on Roosevelt Avenue, in San Juan

The fire occurred at the Aguirre power plant in Salinas after a power switch overheated.

It caused a 2,000-gallon mineral oil tank to explode and trigger a fire across three acres.

The collapse of the power supply meant water pumps stopped functioning, air conditioning failed, traffic lights switched off, while businesses and schools were forced to close.

The blackout hit the entire island of 3.5 million people early Wednesday afternoon and prompted the island to declare a state of emergency.

Edgardo Colon picks up his gas container after filling it with diesel for his generator, in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans faced another night of darkness Thursday as crews slowly restored electricity

Public schools remained closed on Friday, and heavy storms that hit the island Thursday afternoon knocked out power to some areas where electricity had only just been restored.

While those with power celebrated a return to normalcy, others lamented having to face another night in darkness with no air conditioning in the tropical heat.

Most Puerto Ricans don't have generators, and many expected to once again drag mattresses out to balconies and porches to spend the night outside.

'It's been horrible,' said San Juan resident Elizabeth Maldonado, adding that she was resigned to another sleepless night. 'I take showers every three hours at night to stay refreshed.'

For those who could afford it, hotels offered special rates for residents that were quickly snapped up.

Vehicle lights illuminate a street as homes and businesses were plunged into darkness

People buy ice during a massive blackout in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that caused air conditioning to stop working

A woman carries a bag of ice that she bought at El Angel Ice Plant during the massive blackout

As sunset approached on Thursday, long lines formed at ice plants, supermarkets and gas stations. Elsewhere, people crouched around power outlets at generator-powered supermarkets and malls to charge cellphones.

Traffic lights remained dark most of Thursday, and police officers stood in the streets directing traffic all day, some in heavy downpours. Workers at the main international airport filled out luggage tickets by hand.

The governor said at least one person died the first night from exposure to carbon monoxide after setting up a personal generator.

A 76-year-old man was taken to the hospital in good condition after spending the night trapped in an elevator at a government building, Garcia said. In addition, four police officers were hit while directing traffic but were expected to recover.

Localized power outages are common in Puerto Rico, which has an outdated energy infrastructure, but widespread failures such as this are extremely rare.

The blackout hit the entire island of 3.5 million people early Wednesday afternoon

Customers stand in front of a goods store during a massive blackout in San Juan

The Electric Power Authority said it was trying to determine what caused the fire at the Aguirre power plant in the southern town of Salinas.

The fire apparently knocked out two transmission lines that serve the broader grid, which tripped circuit breakers that automatically shut down the flow of power as a preventive measure, officials said.

Executive director Javier Quintana said a preliminary investigation suggests that an apparent failure on one transmission line that might have been caused by lightning caused the switch to explode.

Garcia rejected suggestions the blackout was caused by maintenance problems that have plagued the utility for years, largely a result of the island's economic and fiscal crisis. He said the switch where the fire happened had been properly maintained.
Police believed story after finding out her husband had been at the DMV

But when Maya ran to retrieve them, the blade slashed across Haynes' arm

Haynes tried to tempt her to drop it by placing treats on the floor

Teachers have heard the excuse 'My dog ate my homework' thousands of times, but this may be the first time a policeman heard 'My dog stabbed me with a knife'.

But that's exactly what Celinda Haynes told police after she showed up at a Hudson, Colorado hospital with a 4-inch-long gash in her arm on Wednesday.

Haynes' pup Maya, a one-and-a-half-year-old Chesapeake Bay retriever, spotted the paring knife in the kitchen and decided it would be her shiny new toy.

The tall dog easily reached over the counter and grabbed the knife in her mouth, with the blade sticking upward and downward.

Scroll down for video

Celinda Haynes shocked both police and medical professionals when she arrived at the hospital covered in blood, explaining that her dog Maya (right) had stabbed her in the arm

Maya (pictured) had grabbed a paring knife from the kitchen counter, thinking it was a new toy, and slashed Haynes' arm when the owner tried to tempt her to drop the knife with treats

Haynes tried to tempt Maya to drop the knife by putting treats on the floor, she told KDVR.

But as the excited pup ran for the treats, she slashed the knife across Haynes' arm and sent blood all over the floor.

Haynes had her daughter, Chanda Stroup, take her to Platte Valley Medical Center, where nurses immediately became suspicious of her story.

As Haynes received stitches on her arm, hospital staffers contacted the Town of Hudson's Marshal Service to report they suspected a domestic violence incident.

'When dispatch said that there was a person who was stabbed by a dog, I had to make sure I heard that correctly,' Deputy Zach Johnson said.

'Of course, my initial thought was what's really going on here.'

As the excited pup ran for the treats, she slashed the knife across Haynes' arm and left her with this 4-inch-long gash on her left arm

The paring knife that Maya had in her mouth when she accidentally slashed Haynes in the arm

But authorities soon discovered that Haynes' husband had been at the DMV renewing his license when the stabbing occurred, according to KMGH.

That's when they realized Maya was the only suspect.

'I've been in law enforcement for a long time and I always say, you can't make this stuff up,' Johnson said.

'Obviously we're not charging Maya with anything,' he added. 'Because she's a dog.'

And a very loved one. Haynes feels no ill will toward her pup over the accident, saying that her family was laughing over the whole thing by the end of the day.

'She's lovable,' Haynes said of Maya. 'She'll kill you with kindness.'

Haynes' wound is still healing, but for now she's focused on finding a knew hiding spot for the knives Maya can't get enough of.

'She even pulls them out of the knife block,' Haynes revealed. 'Anything for me to chase her, she'll do it.'
Kate and William will have one night away from their children Charlotte and George while on royal tour in Canada

They've given themselves one night away from the children during their official tour of Canada.

And this is the place William and Kate have chosen  an unremarkable 95-a-night hotel in the countrys remote north west.

While their children Charlotte and George stay in rather grander surroundings as guests of the government, their parents are headed for three-star lodgings that are  according to some visitor reviews  slightly down-at-heel.

The Coast High Country Inn in Yukon is most notable for the giant carved Mountie outside and its hops and grub pub.

The hotel is in the small town of Whitehorse  which played a part in the gold rush of the 19th century  and where the couple will sample some of Canadas great outdoors and possibly try their hand at mountain biking.

Although it is one of the most expensive hotels in the region, rooms have been described as being on the small side [the smallest weve come across in all our travels around the world said one Trip Advisor review]. Other guests have complained about yellow water from the hot tap while others said some of the rooms were tired, dated and cramped.

It is unlikely that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge  who start an official tour of the country today  will have that problem, however. The Mail understands that they are being given the best suite while they, like any parents with young children, enjoy a little respite from their brood.

The Coast High Country Inn, above, was chosen as the Cambridges accommodation for one night when they stay in the Yukon

The premium Jacuzzi king room has, as the name suggests, a giant jacuzzi bath and its own little kitchenette. For a couple who have a housekeeper at each of their two houses in Britain there is no butler service  but there is a microwave, mini fridge, hairdryer and ironing board as well as its own fireplace and terry cloth bathrobes.

The price tag, 153 a night, will be picked up by Canadian taxpayers who are footing the cost of the trip  excluding the Cambridges Scotland Yard security team. The hotel has just one dining option, a pub-type restaurant called The Deck serving rustic fare such as pulled pork and rock fish tacos.

The Cambridges will stay in the top-end suite, but some Tripadvisor users called the rooms small, pictured left. They'll also be able to use the 'rustic' bar, pictured right

The jalapeno slammers  perhaps not one for figure-conscious Kate  are an artery-blocking dish of peppers stuffed with goats cheese and cream cheese wrapped in bacon and fried.

But it is believed the hotels head chef is preparing a special menu for their royal visitors. According to the website Expedia, the hotel is rated three stars. Trip Advisor rates it as a four, despite the mixed reviews.

William and Kate have stayed in some of the best hotels in the world on official foreign tours. In Manhattan they were housed in an 8,000 a night suite at The Carlyle which had its own butler.

And in April they relaxed at Mumbais five-star Taj Mahal Palace, one of the most opulent hotels in the world. A source said the couple were delighted with their accommodation in Whitehorse.

There's an outdoor dining space where guests usually sample restaurant offerings like jalapeno slammers, but the chef is said to be working on a new menu for the royal couple

Back at their base for the eight-day trip, Prince George, three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte will continue to experience the royal treatment. They will stay with their parents at Government House in Victoria, the official residence of the Queens representative in British Columbia.

The 103-year-old building, set in a 36-acre estate, was first used by George VI and the Queen Mother in 1939, as part of their tour of Canada that year.

Staff have filled the ornate fountains with rubber ducks while chefs are devising special menus.

While George has already clocked up trips to Australia and New Zealand, it will be Charlottes first official overseas visit.
The iCloud account of Pippa Middleton, pictured here at the Spectator life magazine birthday party, is said to have been hacked

Pippa Middleton was at the centre of a major security alert last night after a man offered to sell 3,000 photographs of her and her royal relatives for 50,000.

The pictures, which are believed to be genuine, are said to include images of the socialite, 33, at a wedding dress fitting and naked ones of her fiance, James Matthews, according to The Sun.

The images are also said to include private images of her sister, the Duchess of Cambridge and her and Prince Williams children, George and Charlotte.

A box was superimposed over the gown in one of the alleged dress-fitting images, which is said to show Pippa smiling as her mother, Carole, takes pictures on her camera phone in the background.

Another picture appeared to show Carole inside Pippa's church wedding venue - while yet more are said to show Pippa and friends partying.

Scotland Yard has confirmed that specialist officers are investigating the case.

The anonymous seller - calling themselves 'mas', and also 'Crafty Cockney' - contacted media organisations claiming they had obtained 3,000 private photos from Miss Middletons Apple iCloud account.

The cyber thief has demanded 'a minimum of 50,000' within 48 hours as of 4pm, September 23, saying: 'This isnt [sic] an auction it will be a simple process of the highest bid.'

The haul apparently includes photos of parties, wedding dresses, royal children & pretty much everything in between.

Miss Middleton, right, became engaged to James Matthews, left, in July and the 3,000 photos are said to include parties and wedding dresses

The seller added: Due to current climate on privacy laws in the UK Im intending a quick US sale but would at least give you a heads-up.

Last night a source close to Miss Middleton confirmed that the pictures appeared to be genuine. A spokesman said: Miss Middletons lawyers have been informed and, in due course, the police will too.

The seller offered to converse with journalists through the encrypted messenger service Whatsapp.

He or she added: This is obviously a vast source of info and pictures that I neither want nor intend to keep in my possession very long.

The hacker also said they wanted to sell quickly to a British or US magazine - but would offer first refusal to UK buyers as this would ensure a more 'tasteful' publication.

Plan B would be to return the data to Pippa once payment had been made.

The hacker has claimed there are even pictures of the royal children, to whom Pippa is a doting auntie. The Cambridges are shown here on holiday in an official portrait

'BRUTE FORCE': HOW CYBER THIEVES CAN HACK iCLOUD Hackers are believed to have used iCloud's password reset function to gain access to accounts in the past. This was understood to be the method used during the 2014 mass theft. It allows users to reset their password by entering their username, date of birth and correctly answering two security questions - known as a 'brute force' attack. Brute force, also known as 'brute force cracking', is a trial-and-error method used to get plain-text passwords from encrypted data. Just as a criminal might break into, or 'crack' a safe by trying many possible combinations, a brute-force cracking attempt goes through all possible combinations of characters in sequence. iCloud secures data by encrypting it when it is sent over the web, and using secure tokens for authentication. This suggests the hackers were able to obtain the credentials of the accounts, and pretend to be the user, in order to bypass this encryption. Experts said answers to personal questions should be relatively easy to find for celebrities. Advertisement

The thief told The Sun to register with Jabber - an encrypted instant messaging app -before making contact again last night.

When pressed on the authenticity of the images, conversations with the hacker faltered.

Earlier, he used an intricate message forwarding technique and routed emails via a gardening centre website in Northamptonshire.

Celebrities private online accounts have frequently been targeted by hackers. Stars including Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence and model Kate Upton became the victims of a mass iCloud theft in August 2014.

It is thought that more than 100 celebrities fell victim to the hack, which resulted in revealing pictures of them being posted online.

Other high-profile figures who have had their online data stolen include Night Manager star Tom Hiddleston, whose Instagram account was hacked last month.

The hackers had control of the stars account for about two hours and shared an image assuring his fans they would eventually return the his account to him.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was also the victim of an embarrassing hacking scam back in June, after a Saudi-based group discovered his password was dadada.

Miss Middleton became engaged to James Matthews, a hedge fund manager, in July less than a year after they began dating.

Jennifer Lawrence, left and Kate Upton, right, are also both victims of data breaches and have had images leaked without their consent

The engagement, which is understood to have taken the 33-year-old former party planner completely by surprise, thrilled Kate and William and delighted the Duchesss parents, Michael and Carole. Mr Matthews, 41, asked Mr Middleton for permission for his daughters hand before popping the question.

Their marriage will place Mr Matthews into the wider family circle that William and Kate have established.
A teenager who borrowed a luxurious yacht from his father for a ride left the vessel a write-off after crashing it onto rocks in shallow waters.

The incident happened in the jet-set resort of St Tropez on the French Riviera.

Known only as Lucas, the 18-year-old took his four friends aged between 18 and 20 for a ride on the yacht of his multi-millionaire father, a rich industrialist from Belgium.

The teenagers were speeding along in the 56ft yacht and did not realise they had entered 2ft-deep waters, according to local media.

As the draught (distance between the waterline and keel) of the yacht is only 1.6ft, they crashed when they struck some rocks.

The local rescue services said the five teenagers were lucky to escape uninjured as the yacht hit the rocks without turning over - and they suffered only light bruising.

Known only as Lucas, the 18-year-old took his four friends aged between 18 and 20 for a ride on the yacht of his multi-millionaire father, a rich industrialist from Belgium

The teenagers were speeding along in the 56ft yacht and did not realise they had entered 2ft-deep waters in St Tropez, on the French Riviera

Pierre-Yves Barasc of the rescue services said: 'If they had crashed 30 feet away, they surely would have died.'

According to the rescue services and the French coast guard, the accident was caused by the teenagers' amateurism.

Lucas' father, who is based in the city of Wervik, has a big estate in Port Grimaud, a town close to St Tropez.

His yacht was built in 2009 and weighs 30 tonnes - and cost 1.2million, according to Belgian news site Het Nieuwsblad.

According to local media, it cannot be salvaged and will likely end up in the scrapyard.

And Lucas? He'll probably end up in the doghouse...

Pierre-Yves Barasc of the rescue services said: 'If they had crashed 30 feet away, they surely would have died'
Full-scale operation to start in a 'matter of weeks', says Sir Michael

Government believe the terror group could be out of Iraq in just months

British RAF jets have started pounding ISIS into submission as the Defence Secretary announced the terror group is 'on the cusp' of being driven out of Iraq.

Michael Fallon, secretary of state for defence, said the coalition was close to taking ISIS' last major stronghold in the country and the militants could be pushed out in months.

He said: 'There is no doubt now that Daesh is facing defeat. Indeed we are on the cusp of liberating the last major city it holds in Iraq  Mosul.'

British RAF jets have started pounding ISIS into submission as the Defence Secretary announced the terror group is 'on the cusp' of being driven out of Iraq

Michael Fallon, secretary of state for defence, said the coalition was close to taking ISIS' last major stronghold in the country and the militants could be pushed out in months

Sir Michael said: 'There is no doubt now that Daesh is facing defeat. Indeed we are on the cusp of liberating the last major city it holds in Iraq  Mosul.'

Tornado aircraft refuels from a tanker aircraft during a mission over central Iraq

British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants

The secretary of state said the operation would begin 'in the next few weeks

'We ought to be able to get Daesh out of Iraq over the next few months - the remaining months of this year and next year,' said Michael Fallon

Coalition defence ministers will meet next month to discuss how to deal with the estimated 8,000 foreign nationals fighting with IS - including around 400 UK nationals - some of whom are expected to try to return to Europe

Sir Michael said the extremists could be driven out of Iraq in months, as he laid out plans to retake Mosul.

He said: 'We ought to be able to get Daesh out of Iraq over the next few months - the remaining months of this year and next year.'

Sir Michael, who has just returned from Iraq, said Iraqi government forces backed by the US-led coalition are 'on the cusp' of taking the last major stronghold in the country.

British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a UK air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants.

The secretary of state said the operation would begin 'in the next few weeks'.

RAF personnel expect the mission to begin mid-October.

Two years after the RAF began military operations against IS - also referred to as Daesh - he said UK warplanes were stepping up attacks on the militants' positions ahead of the offensive.

He said: 'There is no doubt now that Daesh is facing defeat. Indeed we are on the cusp of liberating the last major city it holds in Iraq  Mosul.

'The RAF is now operating at the highest tempo in a single theatre for over 25 years.

'Though Mosul is a large and complex city, it will fall and will fall soon'.

Coalition defence ministers will meet next month to discuss how to deal with the estimated 8,000 foreign nationals fighting with IS - including around 400 UK nationals - some of whom are expected to try to return to Europe, he said.

'The partners in the coalition are very clear that their nationals who have gone off to fight and may have been involved in barbaric crimes should not be allowed to slip through the net without facing justice,' he added.

'Having spoken to the commanders of the troops involved, their self-belief and determination is very clear.

Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith, the deputy chief of the defence staff (operations), said coalition air strikes were keeping up the pressure on IS, destroying 'close to a billion dollars' in IS's illegally held 'cash stockpile'.

'We are disrupting Daesh command and control with targeted strikes that are restricting their freedom of movement and their logistic resupply,' he said.

Sir Michael acknowledged that the fall of Mosul would not mean the end of IS in Iraq, but said that it should be possible to drive them out of the country within the coming months.

'There remain pockets of Daesh resistance.

'However, we estimated at the beginning a three-year campaign. Two years on we have made significant progress. Daesh is a failing organisation,' he said.

'We ought to be able to get Daesh out of Iraq over the next few months - the remaining months of this year and next year.'

Air Cmdr Sampson added: 'We will militarily defeat Daesh in Syria and Iraq. I'm confident of that.'

Air Commodore Martin Sampson (pictured) warned that the militants had the capability to shoot the planes down

But militants are not taking the offensive lying down, and British warplanes have come under attack from Islamic State forces on the ground, the RAF commander leading the fight revealed last night.

Militants have fired surface to air missiles at RAF jets dropping bombs over Syria and Iraq.

Alarmingly, Air Commodore Martin Sampson warned that the militants had the capability to shoot the planes down.

His comments came as Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the coalition were 'on the cusp' of taking IS's last major stronghold in Iraq and the militants could be pushed out in months.

Speaking at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, two years after British jets were flown out to the base to join the air war, Air Cmdre Sampson said: 'When you put an enemy on the back foot and then squeeze them geographically they will find different ways to lash out.

'They try to shoot at our aeroplanes. When they do they expose themselves and invariably when they expose themselves we strike them.

'There have been many instances where the coalition has received surface to air fire. We have the ability to plot it with pinpoint precision and then we strike back.'

The Tornado GR4 jets and Typhoon fighter aircraft have been forced to defend themselves on multiple occasions over the past year, he said.

They have had to use flares to distract heat seeking missiles and evasive manoeuvring to escape from militants using shoulder-launched missiles and anti-aircraft artillery.

The revelation highlights the dangers to aircrew flying deadly missions over the war-ravaged region.

He said: 'Daesh have a whole bunch of capabilities.

British warplanes have come under attack from Islamic State forces on the ground, the RAF commander leading the fight revealed last night (file image)

'They have anti-aircraft artillery, they have handheld surface to air missiles.

'We are aware of their capabilities and we've got tactics and equipment that means that we're as safe as we possibly can be.'

He said that in response they used a variety of equipment and tactics, adding: 'We're constantly thinking about how they could counter it.

'We understand the environment, this is what we do. We never assume that you can use air power in a benign environment.

'It's not always totally contested but there is always the possibility that the piece of air that you are flying through could be contested. It might be contested by a Daesh bullet or a Daesh missile.'

Asked if they had the capability to shoot the RAF warplanes down, he said: 'In theory yes, what I would say though is every time they do that they expose themselves.

'I think as the campaign changes they will try different tactics and certainly firing at coalition aircraft is a tactic which thus far has proved to be pretty fool hardy for those who are doing it.'

He said they had 'sporadically' tried to hit RAF jets over the past year, adding: 'It's not a tactic they deploy regularly. We anticipate that they will do whatever is necessary when they get desperate and they are pretty desperate at the moment.'

Sir Michael Fallon said IS could be driven out of Iraq in months, as he laid out plans to retake Mosul (file image)

Although coalition helicopters could have bullet holes in them, none of the fixed wing aircraft had been actually damaged (file image)

He said although coalition helicopters could have bullet holes in them, none of the fixed wing aircraft had been actually damaged.

Speaking from London, Lieutenant-General Mark Carleton-Smith, the deputy chief of the defence staff (operations), said: 'There have been reports of engagements, several I think of United Kingdom aircraft but to no material effect.

'The principle is that they detect the missile as it is launched.'
The FBI announced on Friday that one of its ten most wanted fugitives was apprehended by Mexican authorities after evading justice for 17 years.

Fidel Urbina, a former Chicago resident who is charged with rape, murder and kidnapping, has been the subject of a nationwide hunt since 1999 after trying to flee the charges against him.

Police said that he raped and beat one woman in 1998 and then while he was free on bond, he raped and killed a second woman before disappearing.

Urbin, a 41-year-old Mexican national, was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in June 2012.

Fidel Urbina, 41, has been on the run from US authorities for 17 years. He is wanted for the rape and assault of one Chicago woman and the kidnapping, rape, and murder of another

'Fidel Urbina was wanted for his alleged role in two brutal attacks directed against innocent women,' said Michael J. Anderson, the special agent in charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office.

'Many family members have waited a long time for this day to come and they deserve the opportunity to face the accused in a court of law.'

'The FBI is extremely appreciative of our law enforcement partners in Mexico, as well as our local, state, and federal partners, for their tremendous cooperation and collaboration in the capture of this Top Ten Fugitive,' he said.

The bureau said that Urbina was taken into custody on Thursday without incident just outside Valle de Zaragoza in the Mexican province of Chihuahua.

Urbina is in the custody of authorities in Mexico and will remain so until he is extradited to the United States

He is in the custody of authorities in Mexico and will remain so until he is extradited to the United States.

In March 1998, Urbina was arrested and charged with kidnapping, assaulting, and raping a woman in Chicago. After his arrest, he was freed on bond.

While he was out on bond, he is alleged to have assaulted and bludgeoned to death a young woman, Gabriella Torres.

Torres was found in the trunk of an abandoned car in a Chicago alley. The vehicle had been set on fire, according to the FBI.

Mexican officials joined in on the hunt for Urbina in 2006, after it was believed that he had crossed the border

'I'd like to thank our federal partners at the FBI for their outstanding work in apprehending Fidel Urbina, whose merciless actions against innocent victims robbed one family of a daughter and left a permanent scar on a woman fortunate enough to survive his attack,' said Chicago Police chief Eddie Johnson.

'Mr. Urbina's capture should serve as a warning to violent offenders what can be accomplished through the combined weight of federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts.'

Mexican officials joined in on the hunt for Urbina in 2006, after it was believed that he had crossed the border.

In 2006, an arrest warrant was signed by a Mexican Federal Magistrate.

The FBI offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information that leads to Urbina's arrest.
From our vantage point at the end of the windswept pier we looked down into the choppy waters below. One by one the three of us cast our floral wreaths into the churning waves of the North Sea: Mark, our eldest, then Anthony, then me.

I think my sons felt that this small, but significant, act of memorial would give them some closure, although their beloved fathers body had never been found.

The three of us had often spoken about how best to commemorate the death of my husband, their father, two years before, and we had been naturally drawn to our local beach, near where he had so tragically lost his life in a canoeing accident.

It was a sad place, yes, but one that also held so many poignant memories for our family.

Anne Darwin's husband, John, faked his own death so that the couple could benefit from a portfolio of life insurance policies worth more than 680,000 in March 2002.

What my sons did not know was that the body of my husband, John Darwin, would never be found for one simple reason: that he was not dead.

As the world now knows, my husband and I had inflicted the cruellest possible deception on those we loved by pretending he had drowned so we could claim the insurance money to pay off our debts.

How could any mother sink so low? It is a question I ask myself daily.

God knows what the boys would have thought of me had they known that their dad was alive and well inside the family home just a few yards behind us  possibly even watching from a window, for all I knew. I live with the shame of it every moment of my life.

To an outsider, we appeared to have it all as we celebrated the first Christmas of the new millennium. A huge, Victorian seafront home, a shiny blue Range Rover with personalised number plates  my husbands pride and joy  parked outside and an impressive portfolio of more than a dozen rental properties across County Durham.

Both of us had steady jobs  John as an officer at the local prison, and I as a receptionist at a busy GPs surgery.

Our marriage had been through rocky times, but we were still together, and proud of our two handsome grown-up sons.

But, sadly, things were not as they seemed on the surface. A couple of years into the new decade my husband and I were in deep financial trouble.

John had overstretched himself with the purchase of our new home in the seaside town of Seaton Carew, and was struggling to pay the mortgage.

To add to our worries, hed also bought the house adjoining ours  equally large, and converted into 13 bedsits  in the hope of making some serious money from the rental income. But hed been unable to find tenants to fill it, nor funds to keep up with the repairs.

We couldnt even sell any of our other properties to keep our creditors at bay, because John had rolled all our debts into one huge monthly payment, known as a global mortgage.

John owed 64,000 on credit cards, and the car was costing him a crazy 650 every month out of his 1,300 take-home pay. I earned 750 a month but our mortgage payment was 1,735 a month, and on top of that John had taken out various high interest loans. Our total debts came to around 350,000, rising by the day. A tide of financial ruin was about to engulf us.

I hated coming home from work, dreading what new bills or threatening letters were waiting on the doormat.

I never knew what kind of a mood John would be in. He often used to ignore me and sulk. I never wanted the houses in the first place, and I didnt know how or why Johns plans had got so out of control.

We kept this problem hidden from everyone, including our sons, but it was at the forefront of my mind all the time.

The bank wasnt budging an inch. I had no idea how we could ever get ourselves out of this mess and knew bankruptcy was beating at our door.

All I wanted was to go back to a time before the rental properties and live a simple life.

Johns ideas started to get extreme. One evening he said: I think I should crash the Range Rover on the way home from work. If its written off, we could claim the insurance money. Then he added: But I might actually kill myself doing it. I dont want to do that.

I said, exasperated: John, dont be stupid. There has to be a better way to work things out. Bankruptcy might be painful and humiliating, but at least wed still have each other and could start again with our slate wiped clean.

John and Anne Darwin with agent Mario in Panama in July 2006 when everyone thought he was dead

But John wouldnt even consider it. He said hed never be able to live with the shame.

Maybe that was when John first started thinking of his plan.

Sitting in front of the roaring fire one evening early in 2002, he dropped his bombshell. He had come up with an extraordinary, utterly outrageous scheme to solve all our problems.

Im going to have to do a Reggie Perrin, Anne, he told me. He was, in all seriousness, planning to fake his own death like the TV character. He said if he could just vanish for a while, and then come back again, I could claim the life insurance money to pay off our debts and then we could start a whole new life somewhere else, probably abroad.

Hed even worked out how hed carry out his insane idea. He was going to paddle his canoe out to sea near our home, then make it look as if hed had a terrible accident and drowned.

But in reality he would come back ashore and push his canoe back out to sea to look as if it had capsized. Id meet him by the beach, transport him to somewhere safe, then report him missing to the police.

To him it all sounded so simple. I was speechless  I couldnt believe what I was hearing. What about the boys? I asked, horrified. Youre not seriously saying youd let them believe you are dead? And what about the police? Youll be found out and locked up  we both will.

For Gods sake, John, youll have to think of something else. You cant just disappear!

I really thought John had lost his mind.

Well its either that or I do it for real, he replied.

I was so angry. Im the one who will have to do the lying. You cant honestly expect me to tell the boys you are dead? What sort of mother do you think I am?

I stormed out of the room in frustration, in floods of tears, and locked myself in the bathroom. What the hell was he thinking?

John knocked on the door but I was having none of it.

Go away and leave me alone!

OK, well, I will do it for real then, John said, and then youll be free of me and the debts.

At that point I was thinking, Go ahead and do it! But I couldnt actually speak the words. And then I felt guilty for having such thoughts.

I was confused. I no longer knew what I really wanted. I just didnt want to be in this mess.

We had the same argument numerous times during the following weeks. I really couldnt believe he was going to go through with it. It was just too unreal to be true.

But whenever I protested, he simply insisted there was no alternative.

It was often the only topic of conversation. I would become so upset and emotional that some days, if we didnt talk about it, we barely spoke at all.

The couple's sons, Mark (left) and Anthony (right) on the beach where their father went missing

The truth was, he simply could not contemplate the thought of losing everything and being seen as a failure.

His mind was already made up.

On the morning of March 21, 2002, after one last vain attempt to talk him out of it, I left for work hardly believing I had finally agreed to go through with Johns insane plan. Today was the day for his vanishing act, and I felt sick to the pit of my stomach.

I left the surgery at around 6.20pm and set off for the car park at North Gare beach, just a five-minute car ride from our home, where Id promised to meet him at 7pm. There, under cover of darkness, was Johns outline, trudging towards me.

He looked like a bedraggled Milk Tray man, wearing a thick black jacket, jeans and a woolly hat and carrying a rucksack. But he was euphoric as he climbed into the car.

Several walkers had seen him going down to the sea with his canoe that morning, he said, and he hoped theyd be vital witnesses. He laughed as he told me how hed eventually caught a wave and paddled out to sea, about a mile along the coast.

Conditions were quite rough, and both he and his belongings were soaked by the time hed drifted into the shore again. There hed hidden in the dunes for the rest of the day, waiting for the light to fade. When it did, he had thrown the paddle out to sea.

Then hed filled the canoe with water by pressing it downwards, thrown in a few rocks for good measure to reduce its buoyancy, and shoved it out into the waves to await its fate. Finally, cock-a-hoop, hed set out to meet me.

I could see he was still running on adrenaline. For Gods sake, John, you cant do this, I begged him. It still wasnt too late.

But he was not going to change his mind. Our nightmare had well and truly begun.

John told me to drive him to Durham railway station. From there hed go to Newcastle, then Carlisle, and onwards. Unfortunately, it will all be up to you then, he said. Im sorry.

Still not really believing what I was doing, I did as he asked. In Durham I parked in an unlit side street and we had a last emotional hug.

I think I cried all the way home  I dont know if it was for John or for me, and what I was about to do; all the terrible lies I was about to tell, the lives I was about to destroy.

Why did I do it? That is the question I still ask myself today. Why, when I got home, did I make that phone call to the police?

I was never motivated by money. That wasnt the reason. Incredible though it may sound, the only reason I had was my loyalty to John.

John Darwin leaves Teesside Crown Court, Middlesbrough, in 2014 after a Proceeds of Crime hearing act

I felt I had a duty as his wife to do what he had asked. I went along with everything he asked of me, and I fully accept that I was, therefore, totally complicit in the crime.

In the week running up to that fateful night, John had concocted the story I would tell the police. It was painfully easy to put it into action.

I have to admit Im getting a bit worried, I told the operator after Id dialled 999. Ive called the prison where he works, and they said theyve been trying to contact him, with no luck. This isnt like John at all.

When two officers arrived at my house I had my story ready. Hes a very experienced canoeist, I told them. But I am worried that something dreadful might have happened. I was shocked at how easily I perfectly repeated the concocted lie.

A full-scale search-and-rescue operation was swiftly launched. Neither John nor I had had the slightest idea how big this would become.

I told the police Id decided against telling our children as I didnt want to alarm them unduly. To be honest, though, I simply couldnt face the thought of speaking to them.

It was my mother who eventually suggested ringing my brother Michael and asking him to break the news to my older son Mark at work in London.

My younger son Anthony, meanwhile, was on holiday at Niagara Falls, where he planned to ask his girlfriend, Louise, to marry him. I simply couldnt believe I was about to ruin what was meant to be one of the happiest times of his life.

Police officers were swarming all over my house for clues, looking under every bed and in all the cupboards while a detective gently pushed me for information I might have neglected to tell them. I really dont know what I expected but it was far, far worse than I ever dreamed possible.

When Mark arrived from London later that afternoon I didnt have to pretend to be upset. I couldnt speak. We just held each other close, and while I sobbed, Mark tried hard to hold back his own tears. I loathed myself for what I was doing.

What kind of a mother does this deliberately and totally unnecessarily? I felt helpless. Eventually Mark spoke. You know what hes like, Mum. Hell turn up and wonder what all the fuss is about.

I dont think he will, I replied, hes been gone too long  all the while knowing he wouldnt be returning and that if his escape plan was working properly, he wouldnt be found any time soon.

When there was still no sign of John the next day we knew we had to tell Anthony. I sat with my head in my hands trying to shut out the conversation as my sister Christine broke the awful news to him.

A mugshot photograph from Cleveland Police of John Darwin - who was later convicted of fraud along with Anne

Poor Anthony and Louise immediately cancelled the rest of their holiday and flew back to the UK. All because of my unforgivable lies. I was in a terrible state, thats true, but not for the reason everyone thought.

Four days after Johns disappearance, on Monday morning, March 25, the massive search-and-rescue operation, which had involved scores of courageous people in six lifeboats and three helicopters, was called off.

The Coastguard admitted that the chances of him being found alive had passed. John was presumed dead, drowned at sea.

IT WAS about a week after his disappearance that my husband called my mobile phone. I was truly shocked to hear his voice.

Has everyone gone home yet? he asked.

Are you mad? I said. Of course they havent! Ive got a house full of people and the police are in and out all day. Its all over the television and radio. I cant talk to you like this.

He was camped out on a beach in the Cumbrian seaside town of Silloth, he told me, and using a public phone. Please come back and give yourself up, I pleaded, in tears. Let me at least tell Mark and Anthony. Its terrible watching them desperately hoping youre still alive, lying somewhere injured.

No, you cant do that, said John. Theyll get over it. The police will stop looking and everyone will go home and get back to normal. Trust me.

Before he rang off he told me: I love you. Dont abandon me now.

I couldnt say I love you back to John. I was devoid of all feeling except anger.

The days seemed to pass in a blur. I wasnt eating, drinking or sleeping much  not out of grief, but because of all the terrible lies I was telling. And now things were about to get even more complicated.

Before disappearing, John had given a great deal of thought to the secretive life hed live on his return, when he was, to the rest of the world, dead.

Hed quickly decided that the simplest and cheapest option would be to move back home  or at least to one of the empty bedsits we owned next door.

These could easily be used to hide in  especially as there was a connecting door to every floor of our own house.

Id been horrified when he told me of his latest outrageous plan. Dont be ridiculous, Id said. Someone will see you straight away, and well have the police at the door.

But John wasnt about to let my doubts stand in his way. He never had, and he wasnt going to start now.

Three weeks after hed left home, when the house had finally emptied of the kind, caring and concerned people who had tried so hard to help me, I drove to Cumbria and picked up the bedraggled, dishevelled figure of my husband.

Their story was turned into a television adaptation starring Saskia Reeves and Bernard Hill as Anne and John respectively

John had changed so much that I didnt even recognise him at first. He had lost a huge amount of weight, grown a long beard and was wearing baggy clothes hed bought in a charity shop.

I was pleased to see he was alive and in one piece, but I was also very angry and told him it was time to put an end to the lies. But John said he couldnt and that the worst was now over. I knew that wasnt the case and there would be much worse to come if we carried on.

We need to at least tell the boys, John, I begged him. They are grieving and suffering so much.

But he said that was impossible. If we told them, they were likely to persuade me to tell the truth. He also said that if they agreed not to say anything, it would implicate them in the crimes, and that was the last thing either of us wanted.

This wasnt something wed considered before because we hadnt expected things to go on for so long, but it was now clear that the lying had to continue. I felt totally trapped, powerless to do anything.

Back home, John needed a bath and I certainly wasnt going to disagree. I think I put his filthy clothes straight in the wash.

As soon as he was out, he started quizzing me about how I was getting on with claiming the insurance. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. The stress of lying in such a terrible way to the boys and everyone else had taken its toll. I was a bag of nerves and furious with him for even bringing it up so soon after coming home. I havent done anything! I yelled at him, through tears. Nothing. Nothing at all. How the hell could I?

John knew it would be unwise to push things further  for now, anyway.

In the days that followed we settled into a surreal, awkward routine. John spent most of his time in our house with me, but made regular forays to the bedsit in the basement of the house next door, which he had made his bolthole.

The ground floor living room had vertical blinds fitted and, to make it easier for John to move around, I fixed net curtains to the bay window in the drawing room on the first floor.

But we were by no means in the clear yet. Just three days after he returned home, I had a call from the police that sent me into a blind panic: officers would be arriving the next day, they said, to make a top-to-toe search of the house.
Patients are at risk because thousands of EU doctors can work in the UK without basic safety checks, a watchdog warns today.

Niall Dickson, head of the General Medical Council, said the loophole should be closed after Brexit and labelled it a 'real weakness' when it comes to protecting the public.

And he claimed that repeated attempts to persuade EU officials to let Britain introduce the checks had always been flatly rejected.

Mr Dickson said: 'I'm not happy with the European doctor situation, and haven't been for many years.

Patients are at risk because thousands of EU doctors can work in the UK without basic safety checks, a watchdog warns today. Above, junior doctors on strike in April

'Some European doctors  because we haven't checked their competency  may struggle when they practise here and that could put patients at risk. Medicine is very culturally specific. Doctors who come from other cultures can find it a significant challenge practising in the UK.

'We are able to assess their language skills but we cannot check their competency to practise. That's just a reality.'

European laws prevent the watchdog, which regulates doctors working in Britain, from testing the medical skills of those from the EU as this would impede their right to freedom of movement.

Instead, the GMC must automatically assume applicants from all other member states are just as competent as British-trained doctors.

However, the watchdog's own figures show that EU doctors are twice as likely to be struck off, suspended or given a warning than those from the UK.

The risks to patients are likely to increase as the NHS is becoming increasingly reliant on overseas doctors to fill understaffed hospitals and surgeries.

Mr Dickson urged the Government to use Brexit negotiations to allow the GMC to carry out the checks, free from the shackles of EU law. Doctors from elsewhere in the world, including the US and Australia, must do a three-hour written exam and half-day practical test if they want to work in the UK.

There are just over 30,500 EU doctors on the GMC's register who are licensed to work in Britain, and another 3,500 arrive each year.

A Department of Health spokesman said: Patient safety is of the utmost importance, and we expect all healthcare professionals working in the UK to have a good command of the English language.

That is why we have tough rules, allowing individual employers to test employees at and beyond the initial point of employment.

Two years ago  following a lengthy battle  the regulator persuaded the European Commission to allow it to impose language checks on EU doctors amid concerns many could not speak basic English. But campaigners say it is far more important that the GMC can check their medical skills.

Mr Dickson, who steps down next month, said the GMC's attempts to enforce these tests for EU doctors had always been rejected by the European Commission.

Niall Dickson, head of the General Medical Council (London HQ, pictured), said the loophole should be closed after Brexit and labelled it a 'real weakness' when it comes to protecting the public

'We have to accept their primary medical qualification and we have to accept it's equivalent to a UK medical qualification and we must give them a registration and a licence,' he said. 'It's European law. The argument is that free movement of labour is a key principle within the European Union.'

He continued: 'I should add that many of the doctors who have come here have been extremely good and have helped our system and have delivered fantastic care. We absolutely want to protect their position post-Brexit.'

EU law says all European medical degrees are equivalent  whether from the UK, Germany, Greece or Romania, for example.

The GMC is obliged to assume that as long as a doctor has done the same amount of training as a medical student here  five to six years  they are just as competent.

But Mr Dickson said this wasn't a fair assumption, adding: 'We're not saying our medical training is better than anyone else's  we think it is good  it is also the fact that [they are] moving across borders.

'Doctors are like flowers, if you uproot them, bung them out and don't do anything with them that can cause problems. Not having the regulator being able to check competency is a real weakness in our regulatory defences.'

In a GMC press statement released after Mr Dickson spoke to the Daily Mail, it said:

UK patients are more protected than they used to be and the European Commission deserves credit for bringing in the fitness to practise alert mechanism, which allows regulators across Europe to share concerns about the fitness of practise of health professionals, and for giving the UK and regulators in the rest of Europe the power to require health professionals to demonstrate their ability to speak the language of their patients before granting them entry to practice.'

The GMC added:

As the Commission has also pointed out, and we accept, it is important to remember that employers also have a responsibility to carry out thorough pre-employment checks and make sure that the doctor is qualified and competent to carry out the duties they are being given, including having the right language skills for their particular role.

Earlier this month the GMC made the checks even tougher for non-EU foreign doctors, and applicants must now prove they are compassionate and understanding.

New rules also state they can only take the test a maximum of four times.

GMC figures for 2011 to 2015 show that just 0.55 per cent of doctors who qualified in the UK were struck off, suspended or given a warning.

This compares with 1.01 per cent from the EU and 1.1 per cent from elsewhere in the world.
By the way, it was a pleasure ruining your career, you corrupt b*****d.

Spoken from the dock at Bristol Crown Court this month, these were the words of convicted murderer Christopher Halliwell as he finished cross-examining former detective superintendent Steve Fulcher, the man who had sacrificed everything  his career, health and happiness  to bring him to justice.

It was a moment which, perhaps better than any other, summed up the monstrous injustice meted out to DS Fulcher  and exposed the deeply warped priorities of our legal system. Why on earth had this killer been given every conceivable privilege, while a brave, upstanding detective was hung out to dry?

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Steve Fulcher with his wife Yvonne. The detective was vilified for his role in the conviction of double murderer Christopher Halliwell and has seen his career, health and happiness ruined

For Fulcher had gone from being Wiltshire Polices man of the hour  flavour of the month as he puts it  to having his reputation destroyed.

This, despite the fact he had caught Halliwell, a murderer and possible serial killer. Indeed, it was only thanks to Fulchers instincts  honed from 25 years of painstaking investigations and cat and mouse detective work  that two young murder victims had been found.

Double killer Christopher Halliwell is believed by Fulcher to be responsible for more deaths

The lives of Sian OCallaghan, 22, and Becky Godden, 20, had been callously cut short by taxi driver Halliwell, who guided Fulcher to their bodies.

In the aftermath of Halliwells arrest, Fulcher was nominated for a Queens Police Medal  the highest honour in policing  for his work in extracting the brutal killers confession.

It was a fitting tribute for a man who prided himself on putting victims and their families first. Sian OCallaghans family certainly think so, as does Becky Goddens mother Karen. They have been fulsome in their support of a man they believe acted solely in their best interest.

Their sentiments, however, are not shared by the police or the legal system. Fulcher, now 49, was then suspended from the Force before being disciplined for gross misconduct and ultimately hounded out of his job.

His crime, if that is even remotely the appropriate word, was failing to follow to the precise letter police procedure  something Fulcher says he did because it was the only way to get to the truth.

As a result of this procedural failure, Halliwells confession regarding both murders was ruled inadmissible in court.

Thankfully, circumstantial and forensic evidence ensured Halliwell, 52, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2012 for killing Miss OCallaghan.

But only this week, five-and-a-half years after he led Fulcher to her remains, was he convicted of the murder of Becky Godden, at last bringing closure to her anguished family.

Yesterday he was sentenced to a full life sentence, a tariff reserved for those, like Moors Murderer Ian Brady, who are considered to be societys most dangerous.

Halliwell murdered Becky Godden (left) years before he killed his second victim, Sian O'Callaghan (right), but Miss Godden's family had to endure a long wait for justice

As he sentenced him, the judge dismissed Halliwells defence as a cock and bull story and deemed him to be calculating and devious.

Fulchers once distinguished career, meanwhile, lies in ruins. Effectively unemployable by British police, he now works as a consultant on policing in Somalia, taking him away from home for long periods.

The protracted investigations into his conduct, meanwhile, have affected not only his health but that of Yvonne, his 48-year-old wife of 28 years, and their two 20-something daughters  investigations which, as Fulcher emphasises in this blistering interview, could have been better used to secure Halliwells conviction for Becky Goddards death years earlier.

Its taken all this time for Beckys case to come to court, he says. But forensic evidence that has been used to convict [Halliwell] was available back in 2011. [Wiltshire police] chose not to pursue it. Instead resources went into investigating me for years.

Was there ever a more woeful example of flawed justice?

As Steve Fulcher tells of his battle with pen-pushers and myopic box-tickers within the police service, one thing is clear: the treatment received by this senior officer is enough to drive anyone to despair at the insanity of our legal system, one in which an obsession with process has taken precedence over the rights of victims and their families.

No one wants to go back to the old days where the police sometimes ran roughshod over the rules, but the pendulum has swung way too far in favour of the criminal, he says.

There is an obsession with procedure at the expense of the bigger picture. If I had followed procedure, then Sian and Beckys bodies may never have been found  yet it seems thats what senior authorities wouldve preferred. The public needs to know what the police wont do if their own daughter went missing. It is a scandal.

Fulcher is more than qualified to reflect on how British policing has changed. A career copper, he joined what was then Sussex police in 1986 aged 21. As he rose through the ranks, he enhanced his professional accomplishments with a postgraduate diploma and subsequent masters in Criminology. After joining the Wiltshire force in 2003, Fulcher was promoted to Detective Superintendent.

By then he had amassed an impressive CV, presiding over dozens of large investigations. A wealth of experience which was brought to bear when, on March 19th 2011, office administrator Sian OCallaghan was reported missing by her boyfriend after being last seen outside a nightclub in Swindon town centre in the small hours.

Via CCTV footage and tracing of her mobile signal it quickly became clear this was what Fulcher terms a crime in action.

When you have a body in a ditch you have a reactive investigation as the harm has been done. When you suspect someone has been abducted or kidnapped their life remains under threat, and there are very clear procedural rules about that.

So clear, in fact, that there is a police manual  The Kidnap Manual  with precise guidelines. What that manual makes very clear is the primary crucial objective is the preservation of life, says Fulcher.

Naturally, trying to ensure this places huge pressure on senior officers. It is a colossal effort. You are talking about co-ordinating hundreds of officers. You dont sleep, you dont eat, its a 24/7 commitment, says Fulcher. Its a race against time. A race against a backdrop of high emotions, too. I met Sians parents and promised them I wouldnt rest until I found her, he recalls.

Indeed, Fulchers commitment to the victims of crime shines through during our interview. For his emotion, when it comes, isnt for his own plight, but that of Becky, Sian, and their families. That is always in your mind, he says. They are someones daughter, sister.

A suspect soon popped up in the shape of taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, whose green Toyota Avensis had been seen near the nightclub and close to Savernake Forest, where Sians mobile had last given off a signal.

Former detective superintendent Steve Fulcher has now told his side of the story

With compelling circumstantial evidence, Fulcher authorised covert surveillance. Officers observed Halliwell depositing a perfume bottle, car seat covers and bloodied tissues in bins in assorted rural locations.

All the while, Fulcher delayed making an arrest, hoping Halliwell might lead them to Sian, whom he fervently hoped might still be alive.

That changed when officers reported Halliwell had visited a chemist and bought what Fulcher calls an overdose quantity of pills.

Fearful that Halliwell might take his own life, he felt he had no choice but to arrest him on suspicion of kidnap  the first of a number of difficult dilemmas he would face.

It was a terrible Catch 22. By effectively acting to ensure Halliwells life was preserved, I was potentially going to cause the death of his victim, he recalls. If Sian was still alive, she probably wouldnt survive the 96 hours we could keep him in custody if he refused to co-operate.

By now, the search for Sian centred round the nearby Iron Age fort of Barbary Castle. Anticipating Halliwells suicide risk, Fulcher arranged an interview team to conduct a Safety Interview, under caution, at the scene of his arrest.

But when Halliwell kept answering no comment, Fulcher took another crucial decision, authorising officers to bring Halliwell to the hilltop site alone for what is known as an urgent interview  something entirely permissible under the manuals code  in a last ditch chance to find Sian.

I pleaded with him for Sians life, he recalls.

For nine long minutes Halliwell said nothing. Then he said Have you got a car, lets go. It was horribly tense. All I could do was try to keep him talking.

After a nail-biting drive, Halliwell guided the police to an isolated lane running alongside the White Horse near Uffington, close to the Berkshire border, where he said Sians body was lying in the open.

At this point, with the focus shifting from kidnap to murder, Fulcher should, according to guidelines drawn up in The Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 (PACE), have cautioned Halliwell again.

As he points out, however, his focus was on one thing: finding Sian. Moreover, as forensic officers set to work, Fulcher was unprepared for what came next.

I gave [Halliwell] a cigarette and he asked to talk to me. We walked away and he said Do you want another one? He then told me he had killed a girl in 2003, 4 or 5, and he could take me to that body  the exact spot.

Once more, PACE guidelines state Fulcher should have cautioned Halliwell  yet doing so, he maintains, would have meant losing the moment, with Halliwell removed to a police station where he would have been given a solicitor whose role, as he points out, is to stop clients incriminating themselves.

You can criticise me, but I felt I had no option - there was simply no other way I could have acted that was within the letter of the law. There wasnt an alternative that wouldnt involve ruining my chances of Halliwell opening up.

In essence, Fulcher was using his experience to make a judgment call  a call that took him on another car journey with Halliwell to rural Gloucestershire.

He was crying in the car, saying he was a sick f*cker, recalls Fulcher. He was scrolling through pictures on his phone of other women, leading me to suspect there were other victims. I was desperately trying to keep the lines of communication open, wondering how much else he might tell me.

Once in the remote woodland, Halliwell stood on the exact spot where he claimed hed buried a girl years earlier.

That girl, we now know, was poor Becky Godden, a much loved daughter who had fallen into drug addiction, prostitution and, ultimately, Halliwells evil hands.

Becky Godden, a drug addict and prostitute, had fallen into Halliwell's evil hands years earlier

Her name would not be discovered for some days, after her DNA was checked. By then, Halliwell had been charged with Sian OCallaghans murder  he had stabbed her to death before dumping her body  and placed on technical bail (where bail is granted as the accused is already in custody) for the murder of the as-yet-unidentified woman.

Fulcher, meanwhile, was being heartily congratulated by senior officers.

The worm, however, quickly turned. Two months later, dismayed at Wiltshires Forces disinterest in both reinforcing the charges related to Becky Goddens murder and other potential victims, Fulcher asked to be reassigned to the National Homicide Team. It seemed astonishing to me they were not pursing lines of enquiry. Here was a man who indicated he might have more victims. Yet no one was interested.

Worse was to come: as the year unfolded, Fulcher learned that Halliwells legal team would attempt to get the charges thrown out on the basis that Fulcher had not adequately followed PACE guidelines.

I was prepared for this  his case wasnt defendable so it was the only thing they could do  but I thought reason would prevail. I acted in good faith to save a life, and to recover a body we did not previously know about.

Despite these hopes, Fulcher was wrong. Common sense did not win the day. In January 2012, at a preliminary hearing, Mrs Justice Cox ruled the confession obtained by Fulcher was inadmissible at trial.

While they could go ahead with Sians murder charge, thanks to Halliwells DNA being on her body, the refusal of Fulchers senior officers to further investigate Beckys death, and thus garner more evidence, led the CPS to withdraw that charge.

The CPS and senior police figures panicked, Fulcher says. Justice Cox got her judgment badly wrong. The CPS should have appealed. Instead, everyone turned on me.

The following month, he learned he had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. I offered to give them full and frank disclosure immediately. I heard nothing for 10 months, he recalls. In the meantime he was suspended, left pacing the floor at home with worry.

It didnt end there. He learned the CPS were considering bringing charges against him for malfeasance in public office.

I couldnt believe it, he says. This is a charge that usually applies to corrupt officials, not someone dealing with a serial killer.

The nadir came in January 2014, when he was found guilty of gross misconduct after a hearing at which, notably, Karen Godden, Beckys mother insisted on accompanying him to show her support.

It made little difference: while Fulcher was not sacked he was given a severe reprimand, something he felt left him with no choice but to resign.

There had been years of endless worry as they investigated me. I felt my position was untenable.

His loyal family had also suffered. It has been devastating for everyone, he says quietly.

The detective says his family, including wife Yvonne, have suffered terribly due to his plight

Two and a half years on, Becky Goddens mother has, at least, seen justice served  in no small part thanks to her own vigorous campaigning to ensure her daughters murder wasnt forgotten.

It need never have been so. The delay in Halliwells trial  with all the resulting trauma  was entirely down to an obsession with procedure, rather than the pursuit of justice.

Yesterday, the sentencing judge, Sir John Griffiths Williams, told Halliwell: But for your confession, I have no doubt Beckys remains would never have been found. You then tried to manipulate the police and court process to try to avoid getting what you deserved.

They are words Fulcher has waited many years for. The judge said I acted in good faith, he says. There is a fundamental flaw in the law when a detective has to refuse a voluntary confession from a suspect.

There remains the question of other possible victims. With the deaths of Becky and Sian some eight years apart, Fulcher is convinced there may be more undiscovered bodies  a sentiment now echoed by other senior officers involved in Halliwells conviction this week. Theres no question in my mind Halliwell murdered other girls, Fulcher says. I made that clear back in 2011.

But back then it seems the Wiltshire Force was more preoccupied with a crusade against an officer for failing to follow procedure  even when obeying that procedure could have prevented two grieving families gaining a terrible, final closure.

The worst part, Fulcher says, is none of its surprising. The senior echelons arent police officers at all. They are puppets blowing with the prevailing political wind. Most arent concerned with policing on the ground, but are pen-pushers worried only by self advancement.
A yoga teacher has spoken out after she claims she was drugged and teenage boys at a bar mitzvah fondled her recently enhanced breasts because their family paid for the augmentation and they thought of her body as their property.

Lindsey Ann Radomski, 33, was charged with indecent exposure, public sexual indecency, and disorderly conduct after being invited to a party by her employer.

Radomski, a Scottsdale, Arizona, yoga instructor, was found not guilty on all 18 misdemeanor counts against her on September 14.

She faced a sentence of up to six months in jail, a $2,500 fine and three years' probation if convicted.

Lindsey Radomski (pictured), 33, has spoken out after she claims teenage boys at a bar mitzvah fondled her enhanced breasts after she was drugged

Radomski claimed the boys thought of her breasts as their property since their families paid for the enhancement surgery

Radomski, who said she was blacked out in a back room and believes she was drugged, claimed the boys at the bar mitzvah thought of her breasts as their property, since their families had paid for them.

'(The boys) came into that room, I was passed out in and (they thought) they could do pretty much do what they wanted to doand (my breasts) were their families property (because they paid for them),' Radomski told Jason Mattera in an interview after her acquittal.

The alleged incident took place at the home of her employer in March of 2015 when Radomski was 32.

Radomski sat down with Mattera ofCrime Watch Daily to speak about the night she says she was attacked by the boys at the bar mitzvah party.

She was accused of flashing her breasts at the minors.

She admits to flashing a group of adults who asked to see her breasts but later that night blacked out, and doesn't remember anything from that point on

In their testimony, the seven boys involved - ages 11 to 15 - claimed Radomski invited them to fondle her breasts after other adults went to bed

She admits to flashing a group of adults who asked to see her breasts but later that night blacked out, and doesn't remember anything from that point on.

'We were at a back table in the backyard. It was dark out. It was just a group of adults having fun, drinking.

Radomski, 33, was charged with indecent exposure, public sexual indecency, and disorderly conduct but was found not guilty of all charges against her on September 14

'And in that moment, some of the adults asked me to show my breasts.

'And that's when I did. Briefly, for a few moments,' Radomski told Mattera.

She says she didn't want to flash the adults her breasts, but said she felt obligated.

'Granted, there was alcohol involved. As well as feeling that again, feeling that this was not something that I paid for on my own and so I felt like I needed to do that because I was being asked to,' Radomski said.

In their testimony, the seven boys involved - ages 11 to 15 - claimed Radomski invited them to fondle her breasts after other adults went to bed

Allegations were also made that Radomski engaged in oral sex with a 15-year-old boy.

Radomski is adamant she does not remember this and claimed to have been slipped a date rape drug GHB, according to the Washington Post.

Her lawyer Jocquese Blackwell told a court during an evidentiary hearing that a hair tests proves she was slipped the date rape drug GHB.

'It's the most disturbing - really sick thing you can possibly hear. I would never allow that to happen.

Radomski is adamant she does not remember the boys' fondeling her and claimed to have been slipped a date rape drug GHB

'It's really just a horrible thought. And to know what I was accused of and alleged is - it's sick.

'I loved those boys like family, like brothers. I mean, it was just a horrible situation,' she said as her voice caught in her throat, her eyes welling with tears.

Radomski's attorney painted a picture very different from the ones the boys had claimed happened, saying his client was the victim here and she had been drugged and attacked.

'She was drugged. She passed out and went to sleep.  In this case, Lindsey Radomski is the one whos being charged when she was the one who was attacked,' Blackwell said during his closing statements.

Blackwell also shared audio with Crime Watch Daily that purports to verify Radomski's version of the events.
Premature death has become an occupational hazard in the Farrow family. Her adopted children include Tam and Thaddeus (pictured)

The reports at first said he had died of a car crash. But then a more tragic explanation emerged to explain the death of Thaddeus Wilk Farrow.

The 27-year-old adopted son of Mia Farrow had committed suicide, shooting himself in the torso as he sat in his car in Roxbury, Connecticut, on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Farrow, a paraplegic and polio survivor who had lived 24 miles away in the town of Torrington, was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries but pronounced dead less than two hours later.

'We're devastated by the loss of Thaddeus, our beloved son and brother,' his actress and humanitarian activist mother said on Twitter. 'He was a wonderful, courageous person who overcame so much hardship in his short life. We miss him.'

Sadly, the Farrow family has had to get used to missing each other. Premature death has become an occupational hazard in a family that has spent decades lurching from one awful tragedy to another.

Even before Thaddeus's death, there had been talk of a Mia Farrow 'curse'. The actress who gave birth to the Devil's spawn in the Roman Polanski film Rosemary's Baby has had to endure 'every mother's worst nightmare' not once, but three times.

Of the ten children Farrow has adopted since 1973  joining her four biological offspring  three have died young and a fourth became estranged after being seduced by Farrow's former lover, Woody Allen. Two more say they have been abused, one by Allen and one by Farrow herself, claims that are denied.

This week, attention has focused on life in the family compound of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, where their three biological children and the three they've adopted from developing countries reportedly charge around with knives, bullying staff and screaming blue murder at the top of their lungs.

But Thaddeus's death reminds us of the family who started the trend for Hollywood stars to scour the poorest corners of the world for needy children to adopt. And it serves as a warning that there's not always a happy ending to what begins as an act of charity and humanity.

Farrow, now 71, truly scoured the globe in her search for suffering, comparing herself to being 'in a lifeboat pulling in all these people in the world in pain and distress'.

The star, educated at an English convent boarding school, has always been dogged by catastrophe.

Even before Thaddeus's death, there had been talk of a Mia Farrow 'curse'. Pictured, Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn

After an unhappy upbringing in LA where her hard-drinking, philandering parents never even ate with their seven children, Farrow lost a brother in a plane crash when he was 19, another who committed suicide in 2009 and a third who was jailed for sexually abusing young boys.

Farrow herself almost died from polio aged nine and was placed in isolation for three weeks. She claimed it was this experience that set her off on her humanitarian path. 'It made me feel like a pariah and left me with the desire to relieve suffering,' she said.

She and her former husband, conductor Andre Previn had three biological children  the oldest is now 46  before they started on their adoption path, taking in two Vietnamese toddlers, Lark Song Previn in 1973 and Summer 'Daisy' Song Previn in 1974.

The Vietnam War brought home to Previn and Farrow the 'senselessness' of having another baby when there were already so many that needed homes, she explained.

Four years later in 1978, they adopted a seven-year-old Korean girl, Soon-Yi, who had been abandoned by her prostitute mother.

Of these first three adopted children, only Daisy is still part of her mother's life. But then almost all her adoptees struggled with the vast cultural shock of suddenly becoming the children of gilded celebrities after having had nothing.

Three-month-old Lark was plucked from a Saigon orphanage and flown to Paris  en route to a mansion near Dorking where Farrow was living with Previn  with a romper suit for clothing and a tin teaspoon tied to her wrist.

When Farrow  who divorced Previn in 1979  relocated to New York, Lark and Daisy became the first Farrow children to make headlines. They were arrested in their teens for shoplifting hundreds of dollars worth of Christian Dior lingerie from a shop near the family's Connecticut home.

Farrow herself almost died from polio aged nine and was placed in isolation for three weeks. Pictured, Mia Farrow with adopted daughters Lark (left) and Daisy (middle)

Sadly for Lark, that was just the beginning of her descent as she struggled with drugs and then  in her 20s  contracted HIV/Aids. Her then husband, a drug addict and convicted felon named Chris McKinzie, sold a story that she had contracted it from a dirty needle in a tattoo parlour.

Both of Lark's daughters were born with the virus and grew up in near poverty in a squalid flat in the Bronx as their mother struggled to raise them alone. Lark was only 35 when she died of pneumonia in 2008, falling desperately ill as her mother was in the Congo engaged in her endless humanitarian work.

On her death, family friends claimed Lark turned to drugs in her late teens because of the traumatic custody battle that tore apart the family in the early 1990s.

The problems started, of course, when Farrow discovered that her lover and cinematic partner, Woody Allen, was conducting a sexual relationship with her daughter Soon-Yi, the little girl adopted from Korea, who family members said was desperately immature.

Soon-Yi was around 20 at the time and she and Allen moved in together and married. She never spoke to her mother again although, in court papers, she was damning enough.

According to Soon-Yi, many of her siblings had fallen into 'theft and alcohol abuse and truancy'. As for Farrow, who had been seeing her ex-husband Frank Sinatra throughout her 13 years with Allen, she was 'no Mother Teresa', said Soon-Yi.

'We're devastated by the loss of Thaddeus, our beloved son and brother,' his actress and humanitarian activist mother said on Twitter

Jane Reed Martin, a film industry friend, also stuck the knife into Farrow's unusual family, telling the custody hearing that Farrow showed favouritism to her biological children. She said that Lark was pretty much used as a scullery maid.

Another child at the centre of the custody battle was Farrow's fourth adopted baby, Moses Amadeus Farrow, a South Korean with cerebral palsy who she had picked up in 1980 when he was two.

By 1992 he was 14 and a letter he'd written was read in court. In it he expressed his hope that Allen would become 'so humiliated that you commit suicide'. (He had changed his tune by 2014, however, saying he had reunited with his father, severed ties with his mother and accusing her of physically abusing him as a child.

'From an early age, my mother demanded obedience and I was often hit as a child,' he said. 'She went into unbridled rages if we angered her, which was intimidating at the very least and often horrifying.')

As if losing Soon-Yi and fighting Allen over the other children wasn't enough to crush the family, Farrow then revealed that her seven-year-old daughter Dylan  yet another child she had adopted, this time from the U.S. in 1985  had tearfully recounted how Allen had sexually abused her in the attic of Farrow's home, a claim he has repeatedly denied.

One might have thought the harrowing trauma of the 1992 custody case  not to mention becoming a single mother  would have put Farrow off children for life. Far from it  she went on to adopt several more at a rate of one a year.

The first was Tam, a blind girl from Vietnam. She became the first Farrow child to pass away when she died aged 19 of heart failure in 2000.

Described as a sensitive and smart child who was incredibly devoted to Farrow, mother and daughter had been extremely close. Tam always had a weak heart but her death reportedly devastated Farrow.

Also adopted by Farrow was Isaiah, an African-American born to a crack addict mother; another blind girl from Vietnam  Frankie-Minh; and Quincy, the daughter of another drug-addicted African-American mother.

Cynics have been saying for years that Farrow, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2000, might have been better off helping her own dysfunctional clan rather than trying to save the world

And of course there was also poor Thaddeus, previously called Gabriel, whose truly awful background was catnip to the saintly Farrow.

Abandoned in Calcutta as a child who was paraplegic and suffered from polio, he was forced to crawl on his hands and stubs of legs as he begged for food. Later, in an orphanage, he was chained to a post and children threw rocks at him to hear the deep-throated growls he made.

Farrow said that when she saw him in 1994, she instantly knew 'that's my son'.

Three years ago, Thaddeus  paralysed from the waist down and forced to use crutches or a wheelchair  was a car mechanic studying to take on a job with the police.

Cynics have been saying for years that Farrow, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2000, might have been better off helping her own dysfunctional clan rather than trying to save the world. She has never really listened.

'No one makes it through life without some bad things happening to them,' Farrow said after she split with Allen. 'I've had my share, I guess, but I don't feel bitter.'
Abd Al-Waheed pictured above leaving the Royal Courts of Justice where he is claiming damages for alleged unlawful detention by UK armed forces

Troops dragged to the High Court by a suspected Iraqi bomb maker claiming nearly 250,000 compensation now face a criminal probe, the Mail can reveal.

A lance corporal and another soldier were quizzed by a British judge this summer, nine years after the incident.

Abd Al-Waheed, 53, was flown to Britain to demand up to 233,000 in compensation after he was imprisoned for 44 days during the Iraq War.

Last night it emerged his case and that of a second Iraqi, Kamil Najim Alseran, had been passed by disgraced law firm Leigh Day to a taxpayer-funded probe investigating alleged criminality.

They are now among 1,668 cases of alleged abuse by British soldiers being examined by the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat).

The move raises the prospect of heavy-handed detectives from Ihat quizzing the soldiers who could then face prosecution.

One of the soldiers who gave evidence about the treatment of Mr Al-Waheed in the civil case and now faces an Ihat investigation, said: It feels like a betrayal.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he added: Going before the High Court is unpleasant but if a government-run institution picks up on it that is a totally different kettle of fish.

It is the fear of the unknown and it could be very upsetting.

The lance corporal, a veteran of two tours of Iraq who was also dragged before the judge, added: You dont want this hanging over your head. I want to put this all behind me.

Soldiers who have done something wrong should be brought to justice but I dont think the lads who have been out operating in high-risk and stressed environments and were following orders should be. He described how he received a letter earlier this year from the Ministry of Defence asking him to give evidence to a civil court case over Mr Al-Waheeds detention.

I was shocked when I got a letter from the MoD, it was a bolt from the blue, he said. It had been nine years and I never expected to suddenly be giving evidence.

Then I presumed that was the end of it. I never expected to get the phone call in the first place and if anything else is going to happen then Im not going to be happy.

Months later the two soldiers were told the case had been passed to Ihat as part of the probe into alleged wrongdoing by British troops.

Mr Al-Waheed, believed by British soldiers to be a bomb maker, became the first claimant to come before an English judge to give evidence in person after being flow from Basra, southern Iraq, in June.

The suspected insurgent demanded up to 233,000 in compensation after he was imprisoned for 44 days, documents seen by the Mail show.

The three-times married father-of-eights claim included potential pay-outs for damage to teeth and loss of earnings.

Mr Alseran claimed as much as 46,000 after he was detained for 52 days following his arrest a week after the start of the war in March 2003. The soldiers were not involved in the Alseran case but the two claims were heard together.

On day four of the five-week hearing, the two former soldiers were dragged before the judge to testify.

According to the troops, Mr Al-Waheed was found in 2007 handling a deadly roadside bomb on a sofa in a house which contained mortars and plastic explosives.

But addressing the court in London, he said he was asleep with his wife in bed. He alleged he was beaten by the British soldiers with rifle butts before being transported to Basra airport and tortured with electric cutters used to pinch his flesh.

Mr Al-Waheed is trying to claim 233,000 in compensation for the 44 days he spent jailed during the Iraq War

Derek Sweeting QC, for the MoD, accused Mr Al-Waheed of telling lies about his treatment.

The soldier involved in Mr Al-Waheeds detention was adamant that he was not attacked.

The lance corporal also gave evidence to say he did not see a soldier mistreat the detainee.

Mr Al-Waheed was arrested at the house belonging to his in-laws in Basra. His lawyers said it was a case of mistaken identity and his brother-in-law was the target of the raid.

Last night a spokesman for Leigh Day confirmed it had handed the case onto Ihat.

He added: The civil case against the MoD went to trial in June-July and judgment is awaited. It would be inappropriate for us to comment.

An Ihat spokesman said the two cases were at pre-investigation stage. Investigators will determine if any lines of inquiry exist before they quiz any soldiers, he added.

Details emerged as mothers of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq launched a new petition calling for an end to the witch-hunt.
Labours shadow minister for domestic abuse was once arrested and cautioned nearly a decade ago over a violent bust-up with her husband.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, 47, is understood to have hit her then husband Graham Hoyland, 59, with a framed painting during a heated argument over their divorce.

The incident in 2007 saw police officers arrest the couple at their 460,000, family home in leafy Chapel-en-Frith, Derbyshire, and took them in to police custody.

Sarah Champion and her then husband Graham Hoyland were arrested after a heated argument over their divorce - she is understood to have hit him with a framed painting

Last night, Miss Champion claimed that the incident had been a slight altercation between a couple who were living in a very strained, unbearable atmosphere, the Daily Mirror reported.

Both Miss Champion, a vocal campaigner against domestic abuse, and Mr Hoyland, a best-selling author and mountaineer, received police cautions.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made Miss Champion his Shadow Home Office Minister for Preventing Abuse and Domestic Violence last year.

Just two weeks ago, she criticised the Conservatives record on domestic abuse in a strong opinion piece, noting that two women are killed on average by their partner every week in the UK.

Last night, Miss Champion admitted she had been in the wrong and that she lost control'.

Campaigners said ministers should set the highest possible standards and called for the MP to resign.

In 2000, Miss Champion married best-selling author and journalist Mr Hoyland, who became the 15th Briton to climb Mount Everest.

According to a source close to the couple, the couple had been thrashing out the terms of their divorce in 2007 and discussing what to do with their shared house.

Then, on August 22, they began having a heated confrontation which is alleged to have ended when Miss Champion pulled a treasured framed painting off the wall and hit her husband with it, causing actual bodily harm.

A police source confirmed that Mr Hoyland rang emergency services and police arrived to arrest the pair over the low-level assault.

Both were then driven to Buxton police station, gave statements, and were later allowed to go home after being cautioned by officers.

Mr Hoyland has since refused to comment on the incident.

Last night, Brian Hitchcock, director of Legal Services family charity Mens Aid, said: Sarah Champion should resign. Domestic Violence at whatever level is unacceptable.

Ministers should set the highest possible standards and if they break the law then there is no place for them in Government.

Sarah Champion was first elected in 2012, and in 2015 was appointed as Shadow Minister for Preventing Abuse by Jeremy Corbyn. Now concern has been expressed over her suitability

Born in Essex, Miss Champion moved to Northamptonshire aged eight and studied at a local comprehensive before graduating at Sheffield University with a BA in psychology.

Her early work focused on promoting community arts and culture, and it was then that she married Mr Hoyland.

Mr Hoyland is a best-selling author, mountaineer, sailor, and has also directed adventure films for the BBC and Discovery Travel Channel.

Following the couples acrimonious divorce, Miss Champion became chief executive of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice in Sheffield in 2008.

In 2012, she was elected as MP for Rotherham and was promoted to Jeremy Corbyns frontbench as Shadow Home Office minister for preventing abuse and domestic violence.

In June, she followed dozens of other Labour frontbenchers to quit in protest at Corbyns leadership  but the following month she reversed her decision and unresigned.

At the time, a Labour spokesman said: The Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Champion MP, who is re-joining the Labours front bench as Shadow Home Office Minister, focusing on women, equality and domestic violence.

Jeremy Corbyn gave Miss Champion a role focusing on women and domestic violence

Just over two weeks ago, Miss Champion wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian in which she refuted Theresa Mays claim that the Conservatives have a very good record on domestic violence.

In it, she wrote: Violence against women by strangers remains level, and violence against men continues to fall.

Simply put, women are bearing the brunt of violent crime in England and Wales, and it is being carried out against them by the people who are closest to them.

Miss Champion told the Daily Mirror last night that she was not proud of what happened.

She said: I accept I was in the wrong, but I have nothing to hide.'

She said she lost control 'and for that I am sorry, but I felt extremely vulnerable at that moment'.

She added: Things were extremely hostile between Graham and I and months of tension spilled over.

It was a frightening moment but I think the experience helps me better understand how living in a toxic atmosphere can cause emotional damage.

What happened between Graham and I has taught me how things can escalate out of control so quickly.

I feel Ive let down the people Ive tried to help most, but it wasnt some dark, horrid secret I was hiding, it was just a part of my life I tried to forget.

We got into a heated argument and he said, If you want to leave youll have to leave with nothing.

I told him if he was going to be unreasonable, then I would be too and grabbed a watercolour off the wall.

It had been given to us as a wedding present and painted by his great uncle Somervell, who attempted to climb Everest with [George] Mallory.

"I started walking out of the room and Graham made a lunge for me.

"The next thing I knew I was against the wall as he pushed the picture into my chest. I felt his grip relax and pushed back.

He grabbed the kitchen phone and called the police and said his wife was attacking him with a weapon.

I was terrified. That was the sum total of what happened.

It was a slight altercation between a couple who were living in a very strained, unbearable atmosphere.

Thats not to say Im making excuses for what happened, but I was amazed when he called the police .

Things got very messy after that. It led to weeks of highly charged tension between the two of us.

It was a living nightmare and that event was the culmination of weeks of trying to be reasonable and hold it together.

When I arrived at the station a female officer came in and asked me for my shoes and belt.

Ive no idea why but maybe they felt I was a suicide risk. I was finger-printed, interrogated and put into a cell. It was deeply humiliating.

I was in a real state. Its not normal to end up in a police station accused of assaulting your husband.

After the initial shock I felt strangely calm sitting there on my own.

I started to think that if I ended up in jail I could cope with the cell, but not the stickiness of the bench.

The police officer didnt even question me for very long. I told him what happened as he recorded it.

We were never really suited. Graham was so much older and we didnt have much in common.

I should have known it would never have worked.

Just over two weeks ago, Miss Champion refuted Theresa Mays claim that the Conservatives have a very good record on domestic violence in an opinion piece penned for the Guardian

Last night, Brian Hitchcock, director of Legal Services family charity Mens Aid, said: Sarah Champion should resign. Domestic Violence at whatever level is unacceptable.

Ministers should set the highest possible standards and if they break the law then there is no place for them in Government.

Born in Essex, Miss Champion moved to Northamptonshire aged eight and studied at a local comprehensive before graduating at Sheffield University with a BA in psychology.

Her early work focused on promoting community arts and culture, and it was then that she married Mr Hoyland.

Mr Hoyland is a best-selling author, mountaineer, sailor, and has also directed adventure films for the BBC and Discovery Travel Channel.

Following the couples acrimonious divorce, Miss Champion became chief executive of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice in Sheffield in 2008.

In 2012, she was elected as MP for Rotherham and was promoted to Jeremy Corbyns frontbench as Shadow Home Office minister for preventing abuse and domestic violence.

In June, she followed dozens of other Labour frontbenchers to quit in protest at Corbyns leadership  but the following month she reversed her decision and unresigned.

At the time, a Labour spokesman said: The Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Champion MP, who is re-joining the Labours front bench as Shadow Home Office Minister, focusing on women, equality and domestic violence.

Just over two weeks ago, Miss Champion wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian in which she refuted Theresa Mays claim that the Conservatives have a very good record on domestic violence.

In it, she wrote: Violence against women by strangers remains level, and violence against men continues to fall.
Donald Trump took his attacks on Hillary Clinton to a new level when he said Clinton 'shared directly' responsibility for the mayhem that occurred in Charlotte over the slaying of a black man by police.

'Those peddling the narrative of cops as a racist force in our society  and this is a narrative thats supported with a nod by my opponent, you see what shes saying and its not good,' Trump said at a rally on Thursday.

He said Clinton ''shared directly in the responsibility for the unrest that is afflicting our country and hurting those who have really the very least.'

He spoke after days of clashes over the shooting by a police officer of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte.

The attack is a step up from Trump's repeated swipe that Clinton. On the campaign trail he repeatedly says she takes African American voters for granted by seeking their votes but providing nothing in return.

'The rioting in our streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and ended now,' said Trump, who has stressed 'law and order' in his campaign.

Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton shares 'direct' responsibility for rioting in Charlotte this week

Trump once again brought up Clinton's security, after saying last week 'let's see what happens to her' if she were not protected by armed Secret Service agents, in a statement about the Second Amendment.

Hillary Clinton does not have to worry the sirens and the gun shots at night. She doesnt worry about it, Trump said, CBS reported. Shes sleeping.

Trump, who has trumpeted support from police unions, was unwavering in his support of cops.

'Police are entrusted with the immense responsibility and we must do everything we can to ensure theyre properly trained and that they respect all members of the police and that and wrongdoing is always vigorously addressed,' he said.

Our men and women in blue also need our support, our thanks and our gratitude. Remember that. They do,' Trump added.

Clinton tweeted Friday, 'Charlotte should release police video of the Keith Lamont Scott shooting without delay. We must ensure justice & work to bridge divides.' The tweet was signed 'H,' meaning it came from Clinton directly.

Hillary Clinton called Friday for release of police video of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte

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

A Charlotte Hornets store suffered damage during looting

Clintons said on a call with the mayor of Charlotte this week that 'too many Black Americans have lost their lives and too many feel that their lives are disposable,' according to a pool report of the call.
Parents in North Carolina claim a high school English teacher compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler during lessons.

Families of students enrolled at Cedar Ridge High School were outraged after students in the teacher's class complained of their teacher's habit of injecting her political views into the lessons, according to Fox News.

One unidentified student even recorded a lesson during which the teacher is heard saying that 'only white, Christian, male Americans' are safe from a potential Trump presidency.

'Basically, the only people who seem to be safe from this guy are white Christian males,' the teacher is heard saying.

The English teacher at North Carolina's Cedar Ridge High School is accused of forcing her students to compare speeches by Adolf Hitler (left) and Donald Trump

'Am I missing anything? Oh, American  white, Christian, male Americans.'

The audio of the lesson was first posted by conservative blogger A.P. Dillon.

According to the audio, the teacher veered into bashing Trump during a lesson on ethos and pathos.

'[Trump] is in fact the master of pathos,' the teacher told students. 'So who knows what his actual motives are but he is a master at manipulating his audience, right? He knows where the fears lie and he is going right after them.'

'He is poking the fryers under particular niches of people in this country. People who are anti-Mexican, people who are anti-Muslim, people who are anti-woman.'

The teacher did also say that Trump's opponent, Hillary Clinton, was 'guilty of the same thing.'

Parents of students enrolled at Cedar Ridge High School (above) say that they have refused to come forward because they fear retribution from the 'very liberal' school district

'The only difference is she's a little more subtle about it,' she is heard as saying in the recording. 'He just doesn't seem to care who he offends.'

One parent told Fox News that the frequent episodes of Trump-bashing made their child uncomfortable in class. That is what motivated one of the students to record the teacher.

'My son was very uncomfortable,' one father said. 'He felt like she was attacking anybody who liked Trump or anybody's parents who liked Trump. She didn't say anything bad about any other politician.'

The teacher is also being accused of making students watch video clips of speeches by the Fuhrer  and then giving assignments requiring them to make comparisons to Trump's speeches.

'She compared the Hitler speeches to things that Trump says  stuff like nationalism to making the country stronger,' one parent said. 'They played a video showing Hitler's speeches  translated into English.'

Once the teacher discovered that students had secretly recorded her, she confiscated their cell phones.

'She made the kids drop their phones in a basket by the door,' one parent told Fox News. 'So we just told the kids to either take notes or record her on their laptops.'

Parents in the school district said they were hesitant to reveal their identities to the media because they were concerned that the 'very liberal' administration would exact retribution.

'Most conservative parents don't want to fight the system because they know they are going to be shouted down,' the father told Fox News. 'Every parent is reticent to speak out because we are afraid the school board will come after us. We've seen them do that in the past.'

When Fox News contacted school officials for comment, it was told that they were looking into the matter.
Types Of Guys Women Can't Resist

Can You Guess The Type Of Man Women Crush On The Hardest?

Working on being the best possible version of yourself is inherently worthwhile, but it doesnt hurt that its likely to make you irresistible to members of the opposite sex, too.

RELATED: Here's How Attraction Really Works

Whether its having immaculate style, perfect pecs or witty banter, there are certain types of guys that women find impossibly charming, and who seem to have effortless luck with the ladies. Here are the top 10 types of guys women cant resist:

1. Funny Guys

a Humor is a social lubricant and an aphrodisiac, and its pretty much universally attractive, but funny men are particularly desirable in a culture thats still getting used to the idea of funny women (come on!). Genuinely funny guys have the ability to put people at ease and soothe social tensions; theyre a joy to be around and make attractive potential romantic partners.

Humor is something people are often blessed with from birth (or from the families they grow up in), but it is possible to work on being funnier, too. Dont force it, though, and dont be too confrontational with your humor: being shocking or edgy for the sake of it is not the same as being genuinely funny, and offensive jokes are pretty passe these days.

If youve always had the ability to make people around you giggle, thats a precious gift that you should continue to cultivate, and it will serve you well in your endeavors with women.

2. Socially Conscious Guys

a Men who care about the world around them are irresistible to plenty of women. Compassion, motivation and selflessness are attractive qualities in anyone, but when they come together in a social justice-savvy man, women will notice and be drawn to him; partly because these are qualities that are traditionally associated less with men than women.

It doesnt really matter whether the cause you care about is racial justice, feminism or environmental causes, women will notice that you are passionate about something beyond yourself, and thats appealing; particularly to women who also have a social conscience. Obviously, the main focus should be helping out marginalized people and communities, and your intentions need to be genuine, but female attention isnt a bad side effect!

3. Smart Guys

a Its always a plus to be able to learn things from the people youre dating, and intellect is key to keeping a woman engaged and stimulated. Smart guys have a certain gravitas that draws women into their orbits, and women know they wont be bored around a smart guy  unless, of course, hes insufferably condescending and stuffy about his smarts.

Like humor, intelligence can be worked on: Pick up a book or two if you feel youre lacking in this area, and listen to people from different walks of life with an open mind, as intelligence is often as much about broadening your perspective and having intellectual curiosity as it is about how many facts you have stored in your brain. (Make sure that you combine intelligence with humility to avoid coming off as pretentious, though.)

4. Nice Guys

a The saying is that nice guys finish last, but, to be honest, thats just something disgruntled (and not very nice) men tell themselves. The opposite is true: Women love nice guys, its just that nice doesnt mean cloying, insipid, and with no interests of ones own.

Genuinely thoughtful, caring and selfless men are widely adored and have no trouble meeting (and keeping) women, so bear this in mind if mean-spirited pickup artist theory, focused on negging and bringing down womens self-esteem appeals to you. Try being genuinely kind instead: Its a much better long-term strategy, and, frankly, it just feels better.

5. Talented Guys

Its hard to resist someone who has a killer talent, whether thats music, drawing, skating, or, really, anything done to a high level of expertise. Certain talents attract more social cachet than others  men who are brilliant dancers are probably luckier in love than men who are fantastic at juggling, say  but being focused and honing your craft, whatever it is, will attract potential suitors to you, simply because that passion and drive is attractive.

Everyone has things theyre good at; keeping up on your hobbies has a few benefits: Its inherently rewarding for you, but it might also spark romantic interest in nearby suitors.

6. Generous Guys

a Generosity is an appealing quality in anyone, but theres definitely a traditional, gendered appeal to a man who can provide for his woman (that is, financially). These kinds of ideas are increasingly outdated and more than a little sexist, but theres a nugget of truth worth saving in the traditional model: Generosity is appealing, and it doesnt have to be tied to traditional gender roles, or even to money.

You can be generous in other ways if youre not exactly rolling in cash: with your time, with compliments, or with the positivity and good energy you bring to situations. Being free with the things you have in abundance  whether thats money, time, a helping hand, whatever  will make you a great person to be around full stop, and it certainly wont hurt your romantic prospects, either.

7. Sensitive Guys

a Sensitive guys get a bit of a bad rap in the mainstream media. Theyre often dismissed as being too feminine, soft or gay (like thats a bad thing in itself), but in reality, women go nuts for men with a sensitive side, and the dismissal of sensitive men is, frankly, hyper-masculine nonsense  think of how attractive many women find Drake, Adrian Brody and Justin Bieber, for example.

Sensitivity, again, is something you can cultivate, and it boils down to the little things, like listening and remembering things your girlfriend tells you, and then proving it in small ways later. It also involves being in touch with your feelings and those of other people, and communicating honestly and openly. Most of the worlds best music, writing and acting comes from a place of sensitivity, and, generally speaking, no one could honestly claim that musicians, writers and actors arent successful with women. Give sensitivity a go!

8. Stylish Guys

Men with an impeccable sense of style and personal grooming rarely do badly with women. Being decked out in designer gear at all times isnt necessary, but it is important to take care of your appearance, scent and personal grooming, and men who put in a touch more effort than most are usually rewarded with a bit more female attention.

Its not simply a superficial thing, either: Putting effort into your personal style gives women a glimpse into your personality, level of attention to detail, and personal pride. So if your daily go-to is unwashed sweatpants, it might be worth reconsidering your approach here and investing in a good wardrobe, signature scent and grooming routine.

9. Hot Guys

a Speaking of the superficial, we wont beat around the bush with this one: women, on the whole, like good looking men. Surprise! We live in a looks-obsessed time and culture, and theres no getting around the fact that men who are genetically blessed will struggle far less than the rest when it comes to women.

Men with washboard abs and defined jawlines will attract the attention of the opposite sex, theres no doubt about that. Fortunately, though, for more humble looking men, its rarely the be all and end all for women, and the old cliche about personality mattering most definitely rings true. Still, if you have been told you have gorgeous eyes or sexy legs, those are worthwhile things to have in your arsenal of attractive qualities, too.

10. Guys Like You

I know what youre thinking: Guys like me? Pffft. Thats a wishy-washy, feel-good way to end a list of types of guys women cant resist. Women are plenty able to resist me. Fair point, but bear with me. The simple truth is that women arent a monolith, and the type of guys that some women are instantaneously attracted to wont raise another womans pulse whatsoever. Have you ever heard a group of women sitting around and debating whether Drake is attractive? Some of them want him to immediately impregnate them, and others cant fathom letting him touch them. Thats exactly the point: Theres so much room for subjectivity and personal preference here.

There are clusters of qualities that are widely attractive, like the ones Ive detailed above. But no matter who you are, you have some combination of qualities that will be irresistible to at least a few of the three and a half billion or so women on earth. Thats not feel-good nonsense, its just hard facts.

RELATED: 20 Things You Didnt Realize Actually Turn Most Women Off

So, whatever it is thats good about you  your sense of style, your wit, your in-depth knowledge of bee colonies or your ability to bench press a small car  someone will be delighted by that, and she just might be the woman of your dreams. A lot of relationship advice exhorts you to simply be yourself, and thats partly true, but its important not to rest on your laurels; instead, you want to be the best possible version of yourself. Hone your talents, brush up on your sensitivity, brush your hair, and bask in the adoring attention of women everywhere  or, at least, one somewhere!

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George Osborne and his allies were accused of 'sour grapes' last night after launching an extraordinary double assault on Theresa May's government.

The former chancellor used a speech in Chicago to attack ministers for their 'naive' approach to Brexit  and urged Mrs May to delay divorce proceedings with Brussels.

Hours later, one of his key allies became the first minister to quit the new government, hinting at concerns that Mr Osborne's legacy was being watered down by the new regime.

George Osborne (right) and his allies were accused of 'sour grapes' last night after launching an extraordinary double assault on Theresa May's (centre) government

Lord O'Neill of Gatley, who was recruited by Mr Osborne, stunned the Prime Minister by informing her he was quitting his job as a Treasury minister and resigning from the Conservative Party.

In his resignation letter, Lord O'Neill questioned Mrs May's commitment to Mr Osborne's Northern Powerhouse scheme and her loosening of ties with China.

Mr Osborne pointedly praised Lord O'Neill yesterday, saying he had made a 'big difference' and warning that his departure was 'a loss' to the Government.

Speaking in Chicago, he also questioned the Government's strategy on Brexit.

Mr Osborne, the architect of 'Project Fear', suggested claims by ministers  including Mrs May  that the EU would have to give Britain a favourable exit deal were unrealistic. 'I find some of the take it or leave it bravado we hear from those who assume Europe has to give us everything we want more than a little naive,' he said.

'We need to be realistic that this is a two-way relationship  that Britain cannot expect to maintain all the benefits that came from EU membership without incurring any of the costs of the obligations. There will have to be compromise.'

Calling for the UK to remain as close as possible to the single market, he said trade with the rest of the world could never replace the potential losses if Britain loses full access to its biggest market. He added: 'Brexit won a majority. Hard Brexit did not. The mainstream majority in our country do not want to be governed from the extremes.'

Mr Osborne also used an interview with the Financial Times to suggest he has not given up hope of returning to front line politics  or even leading his party  despite his ignominious exit from Government in the wake of the referendum.

Eurosceptic Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Osborne appeared to be in denial about the referendum result. 'Saying you want to stay in the single market is code for saying you don't accept the result of the referendum,' he said. 'That is basically denying democracy.

'The Leave campaign was very clear about this  we didn't want free movement, we didn't want sovereignty of EU law and we didn't want to pay into the EU budget  all of that is incompatible with being in the single market.

'People voted to leave the EU  there is no soft exit.

'People will also remember that George Osborne warned during the campaign that we would have all these disasters if we left, none of which have happened. He has no credibility as a forecaster. This is just sour grapes.'

Lord O'Neill of Gatley, the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, who has resigned from the Government

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith added: 'He seems to be without any humility at all and rather than go away and think about everything, he's going to tell everyone he got everything right and should be running the country.

'I think No10's best response would be to ignore it.'

Lord O'Neill, a former Goldman Sachs economist, said in his resignation letter that he was leaving because he had completed a review of antimicrobial resistance  the rise of superbugs.

He said he was glad the PM now 'appeared' to be backing both the Northern Powerhouse and closer links with China. Lord O'Neill said he had primarily joined the Government 'for the specific purpose of helping deliver the Northern Powerhouse, and to help boost our economic ties with key growing economies around the world, especially China and India and other rapidly emerging economies'.

He added: 'The case for both to be at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention.'
Ed Llewellyn (left), a contemporary of Mr Cameron at Eton, was appointed as Britain's ambassador to France

David Cameron was facing a fresh cronyism row last night after his former chief of staff was appointed as Britain's ambassador to France.

Ed Llewellyn, a contemporary of Mr Cameron at Eton, was nominated for the plum role by the former prime minister during his final days in Downing Street.

Whitehall insiders believe serving ambassador Sir Julian King may even have been moved to Brussels to enable Mr Llewellyn to take up his dream job.

Sir Julian was appointed as Britain's EU Commissioner following the abrupt resignation of Lord Hill, another friend of Mr Cameron.

Lord Llewellyn's appointment is highly unusual, given that he is a serving Conservative peer, after being handed a peerage in Mr Cameron's controversial resignation honours last month.

The move, along with those of Sir Julian and Lord Hill, is now set to be investigated by the Commons foreign affairs committee.

Crispin Blunt, the committee's Tory chairman, said he had been 'disappointed' by the decision of Lord Hill to quit in the immediate wake of the EU referendum with a 250,000 payoff, adding: 'We need to get to the bottom of why he decided to go.'

Mr Blunt said he was not convinced Lord Hill had quit to make way for Lord Llewellyn, but said MPs would look at whether Sir Julian was then moved to create a vacancy for him.

Ukip MP Douglas Carswell dubbed Lord Llewellyn a 'Cameron flunky' and questioned whether a man who was at the heart of the campaign to keep Britain in the EU was the right choice to help negotiate our exit with the French.

Whitehall insiders believe serving ambassador Sir Julian King (pictured) may even have been moved to Brussels to enable Mr Llewellyn to take up his dream job

He said: 'What kind of country are we where key offices of state are personal gifts to be handed out by the sofa gang at No 10?

'Ed Llewellyn was one of the chief architects of Project Fear, and he had a key role in the disastrous renegotiation that David Cameron engaged in.

'If we are going to be leaving the EU we need good relations with France  surely we can do better than this.'
A mother in Shanghai, China, has given birth to identical quadruplets, meaning that they are one in 15 million.

The four girls were born on July 7 in Shanghai, China and were discharged from hospital on September 22, reports the People's Daily Online.

The girls were delivered by cesarean section after 31 weeks and were kept in hospital for observation.

A big brood! The quadruplet babies were born on July 7 at a hospital in Shanghai

One in 15 million: Nurses hold the identical quadruplet girls at the hospital in Shanghai

Going home: The babies have all now been discharged after two months of hospital treatment

The four babies were delivered by caesarean section at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University after 31 weeks.

The girls weighed 1,120g (39 ounces) 1,100g (38 ounces), 950g (33 ounces) and 780g (27 ounces) respectively. They were later transferred to Fudan University's children's hospital and put in intensive care where doctors evaluated their condition.

Their 29-year-old mother told reports that she already had a son and daughter and was worried that raising six children would be an economic burden on the family.

She comes from Jiangxi province however when she was told she was expecting quadruplets, she was told to seek better treatment in Shanghai.

According to reports, the youngest of the four had respiratory problems which have now improved.

Their mother Wu Weiqing told China.org.cn: 'I'm very grateful to the doctors and nurses. The girls would not be able to grow so healthy without them.'

The total cost of treatment was 400,000 yuan (46,000) with nearly 300,000 yuan (34,000) coming from two charity funds.

Expensive family! Treatment of the babies has cost some 400,000 yuan (46,000)

Financial burden of six children: The 29-year-old mother already has two children

Loving family: The parents take a look at their four baby girls in Shanghai, China
Uber users in China have reportedly been scared and scammed by a number of accounts using zombie-like profile pictures.

After accepting customers' orders, these service providers, dubbed 'ghost drivers', would immediately start charging the journey without picking up the passengers, reported the People's Daily Online.

It's been suggested that these pictures had been digitally altered by the scammers in order to dodge Uber's strict identity checking system in China.

Scary: Uber users in China have reported to be scammed by a number of accounts with ghostly profile pictures. Above is one of them

Cunning: These accounts, dubbed 'ghost drivers', would charge customers for their ride without picking them up. Their zombie-like profiles also terrified passengers

Uber China told local media that they had blocked the suspect accounts after receiving complaints from customers (file photo)

Uber users across China have claimed being scammed by the 'ghost drivers' from the beginning of September, according to the report.

Many of them shared their experience on social media sites. They said their drivers claimed to have picked them up while they were still waiting for their cars.

Most of these 'ghost rides' were said to last around one minute and cost between eight and 15 yuan (1-1.7 pounds).

A spokesman from Uber China told Xinhua News Agency that the company had blocked the suspect accounts after receiving complaints from customers.

The spokesman said the company's operational and technical departments had teamed up to crack down on fraud as such, and that they would collect evidence before giving them to the police.

Uber also said they would give costumers a full refund once their complaints were confirmed.

Pictures released by the Jiangsu Police on their social media account on Weibo showed the eerie profile pictures of these 'ghost drivers'.

Many of their faces were discoloured or distorted.

The ghostly profile pictures might have been used in order to avoid being identified by Uber's facial recognition system, an anonymous employee from Uber China told The Paper.

An insider said processed fake photos could have been used to avoid Uber's identity checking system in China

The ride-hailing app launched a sophisticated security feature in China in April to help confirm a drivers identity during the registration.

The same employee said it was likely that these accounts had been set up by a group of scammers who used the pictures on stolen identification cards.

MailOnline has reached out to Uber for a comment.

The car-sharing industry is facing a transformation in China.

After operating in China for around three years, Uber's Chinese operation is set to be taken over by its competitor Didi Chuxing, according to a statement released in August.

However, China's commerce ministry is investigating the planned merger over anti-monopoly concerns, the ministry's spokesman said on Friday.
Two out of five renters in Britain never expect to be able to afford their own home, research suggested today.

It equates to 8.5million renters assuming they will never step onto the property ladder because they cannot afford a deposit or the mortgage repayments.

The Post Office survey found that renters believe it will take them eight years on average to save enough money for a deposit, with 33 per cent - the equivalent of seven million - expecting to save for more than a decade.

Two out of five renters in Britain never expect to be able to afford their own home

AVERAGE AGE THAT BRITONS EXPECT TO BUY A PROPERTY Region Average age Scotland 30 years old North West 33 years old Yorkshire & Humberside 33 years old West Midlands 33 years old East Midlands 30 years old East of England 36 years old London 34 years old South East 35 years old South West 37 years old Source: Post Office Money

The reasons for renters not expecting to be able to buy also include that they are currently saving for a deposit and that they are enjoying the freedom of being able to move more easily.

The research found regional differences, with - perhaps unsurprisingly given higher prices - those in south west the least optimistic. Those in the east midlands are the most optimistic, the survey found.

John Willcock, head of mortgages at Post Office Money, said: 'The struggle that first-time buyers face remains a huge concern and confidence among the group is low.

'High house prices and concerns about the cost of living have left many assuming that owning their own property is a distant dream rather than an achievable goal.'

Only a third of buyers expect to save the full deposit on their own, with 23 per cent relying on help from their partner and 17 per cent depending on money from an inheritance.

TOP FIVE REASONS FOR NOT CURRENTLY OWNING A HOME Main reasons for not owning a home Percentage of current renters Can't afford the deposit unless circumstances change 30 per cent Can't afford mortgage repayments 16 per cent Currently saving for a deposit 13 per cent Don't want to own a home for other reasons 11 per cent Like the freedom of being able to move when I want 6 per cent Source: Post Office Money

One in 10 say they will rely on help from the Bank of Mum and Dad to assist with their purchase.

A quarter of buyers would like to see more assistance available from the Government, with a further 16 per cent hoping for the return of the no stamp duty for first-time buyers.

AVERAGE AGE THAT BRITONS EXPECT TO BUY A PROPERTY Year Average age 2013 38 years old 2014 35 years old 2015 36 years old 2016 34 years old Source: Post Office Money

It follows separate research published earlier this week, which showed a surprising two out of five tenants in the UK are at least aged 46 years old.

The figures from letting agent Your Move found that 18 per cent of renters are over the age of 55 and 22 per cent are between 46 and 55 years old.

It claimed 39 per cent of those in private rental accommodation were aged under 35 years old.
Three of the worlds richest and most intelligent men are hoping to be the first to find alien life.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Russian entrepreneur Yuri Milner and physicist Stephen Hawking have revealed exclusively to MailOnline that they will be listening to signals from 'Earth 2.0'.

Officially named Proxima b, the rocky planet is believed to have the right conditions to harbour life and is just four light years from Earth.

The trio are funding an ambitious $100 million (76 million) project known as Breakthrough Listen, which will use the world's most powerful telescopes to listen to messages from ET.

Scroll down for video

Three of the worlds richest men are hoping to be the first to find alien life. Yuri Milner (centre), Stephen Hawking and Mark Zuckerberg have revealed exclusively to MailOnline that they will be listening in to signals from 'Earth 2.0'

BREAKTHROUGH LISTEN Breakthrough Listen is a search for intelligent life using two of the world's most powerful telescopes. It was launched in January with the aim of scouring one million of the closest stars to Earth for faint signals thrown out into space by intelligent life beyond our own world. Scientists taking part in the 76 million ($100 million) project are also scanning the very heart of our galaxy along with 100 of the closest galaxies for low power radio transmissions. Breakthrough Listen will collect data over a 10-year period. Search capacity will be 50 times more sensitive, cover 10 times more of the sky, five times more of the radio spectrum, and at speeds 100 times faster. Advertisement

Last month, astronomers found clear evidence that our nearest star, Proxima Centauri, is the sun to another Earth-like world.

It came only a few months after Stephen Hawking and I, with Mark Zuckerbergs support, launched our Breakthrough Starshot project, which aims to launch a tiny spacecraft to Alpha Centauri within a generation, Milner told MailOnline.

At the time, we hoped there was a planet in the Centauri system, but we didnt know.

Now we have a definite target. That makes the mission feel more tangible.

Thousands of exoplanets have been discovered before, but unlike the others, scientists say Proxima b is within our reach.

While four light years is a long way - more than 25 trillion miles - future generations of super-fast spacecraft could conceivably travel to the planet within the next few decades.

Much further in the future the planet may even be colonised by space travellers from Earth.

Early next month, the Breakthrough Listen team will look for radio emissions that differ from the natural background noise using the Parkes Observatory in Australia.

The same observatory was used to receive live televised pictures of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.

It is difficult to predict how long the search will take, but we know that all the conditions necessary for life to arise on Earth are ubiquitous in the universe, Andrew Siemion, Director of Berkeley SETI (Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Research Center told MailOnline.

The team hopes to avoid a repeat of the false 'alien' signals that were picked up by the RATAN-600 radio telescope in Zelenchukskaya, Russia  but doing so may be tricky.

Proxima b is just four light years from Earth - close enough to be reached by future space missions. Pictured is an artist's impression of the surface of the planet, looking out onto its star and the double star Alpha Centauri

Terrestrial technology is a challenging problem, said Siemion.

Our notion of what types of emission are produced by technology is informed by our own technology...our own technology presents a significant interfering background.

It comes as one of the backers of the project, Professor Hawking, says we should be wary of contacting aliens if we find them.

'Gazing at the stars I always imagined there was someone up there looking back', Hawking says during a film, titled Stephen Hawkings Favorite Places'.

'As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone.'

However, if we were to meet an advanced civilisation, Hawking says it could be similar to when the Native Americans first encountered Christopher Columbus  and that didn't turn out so well.

On October 4, the Breakthrough Listen team will use the Parkes Observatory in Australia to look for radio emission that differs from the natural background noise

He says it's better for us to find them before they find us.

Milner says this shouldn't stop us from looking.

Ive always been fascinated by the existential questions of life and the universe, he said.

It is fundamental to understanding our place in the big scheme of things. You cant know who you are without having others to compare yourself to.

WHAT MAKES PROXIMA B UNIQUE? Distance: This is the closest Earth-like planet we could ever find. Orbiting our nearest star, the planet is only four light years away. Missions to send spacecraft to the planet to look for signs of life are already being planned, and could happen within decades. Composition: The planet is rocky and a similar size to Earth. Temperature: It lies in the 'habitable zone' of its star, which means there could be liquid water on its surface - a key ingredient for alien life. The temperature on the surface of the planet could be between -90 and 30 Celsius (-130 and 86 Fahrenheit). Atmosphere: If Proxima b has an atmosphere, the simple ingredients - water, carbon dioxide, and rock - that are needed for the formation of biochemical cycles that we call life, could all be present and interacting on the planet's surface. Advertisement

They could well be right. But they could also be wrong.

Either way the answer would be incredible. We humans are curious beings who like to know the truth. So, why not look?

The Breakthrough Listen team has already collected data on other star systems using the Green Bank Radio Telescope in West Virginia and Lick Observatory's Automated Planet Finder in California.

The Milky Way (artist's impression shown top) is around 100,000 light years across. Earth and Proxima b are only 4 light years apart (inset), making them galactic neighbours. Scientists hope we can reach the planet in the next few decades

Studies carried out so far by the project include most of the stars within 16 light years of Earth.

Breakthrough Listen can collect data over a 10-year period from a network of the world's most powerful radio and optical telescopes to yield vast, full-sky signal monitoring.

Search capacity is 50 times more sensitive, cover 10 times more of the sky, 5 times more of the radio spectrum, and at speeds 100 times faster.

What would Milner do if we did hear signals from an alien civilisation?

I will take a bottle of champagne out of the fridge and start thinking about the message back, he says.

YURI MILNER AND THE BREAKTHROUGH PRIZES A onetime physics PhD student in Moscow who dropped out to move to the US in 1990, Milner is one of a handful of technology tycoons devoting time and money to space exploration. Yuri Milner was born into a Jewish family on 11 November 1961 in Moscow and studied theoretical physics at Moscow State University, graduating in 1985. He began his business career selling illegal DOS computers in the Soviet Union. When the national government collapsed, he enrolled at Wharton School of Business to earn an MBA. He then went on to work for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., as a Russian banking specialist tasked with the development of the private sector banking. He rose up in the banking world, and from 1997 to 2000, Milner was Director General of the investment fund New Trinity Investments. But his real success came when he founded investment firms Digital Sky Technologies (DST) - now called Mail.ru Group - and DST Global. DST Global has invested in a number of major technology firms including Facebook, Spotify, Twitter and Alibaba. In 2012, Milner established The Breakthrough Prize - a set of international awards recognizing three fields of endeavour: Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences and Mathematics. Laureates receive $3 million each in prize money, making the Breakthrough Prizes the largest scientific awards in the world. Earlier this year, he teamed up with Stephen Hawking in the search for alien life as part of the 'Breakthrough Initiatives.' The $100 million quest will see telescopes scour one million of the closest stars to Earth for faint signals thrown out into space by intelligent life beyond our own world. As part of his long-term vision, Milner believes that the internet will develop into a 'global brain' that will work as a type of nervous system for Earth. Advertisement




Project that found that if you have an itch on one arm, you can relieve it by looking in a mirror and scratching the opposite arm, also won a prize

A British man who lived as a goat for three days is among the winners of this year's Ig Nobel prizes for scientific research.

Thomas Thwaites designed prosthetic limbs that allowed him to walk on all fours and graze with goats on a farm in the Alps.

Other winners included a Swede who wrote a trilogy about collecting bugs and Egyptian doctor who put pants on rats to study their sex lives.

The awards parody the Nobel Prizes, which are given out for the most unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research.

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A British man who lived as a goat for three days is among the winners of this year's Ig Nobel prizes for scientific research. In this image, Thomas Thwaites, left, accepts the Ig Nobel prize in biology from 2007 economics laureate Eric Maskin at Harvard University

THE IG NOBEL PRIZES The awards are given annually to celebrate the lighter side of science, focusing on comical yet thought provoking research. The prizes were awarded for a 26th straight year at a zany ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on 22 September. Winners receive $10 trillion cash prizes  in virtually worthless Zimbabwean money. This year's awards were sponsored by the science humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research. Advertisement

Winners receive $10 trillion cash prizes  in virtually worthless Zimbabwean money.

Mr Thwaites, wearing his prosthetic limbs, said the Biology Prize was a 'huge honour' as he collected the award at a ceremony at Harvard University.

He said: 'I got tired of all the worry and the pain of being a human and so I decided I would take a holiday from it all and become a goat.'

Mr Thwaites shared the biology prize with another British author, Charles Foster, who also spent time living as a variety of animals.

His work, Being A Beast, saw him take on the perspective of a badger, an otter, a fox, a red deer and a swift.

Thomas Thwaites, a 34-year-old researcher from London, has spent a year creating prosthetics that allow him to roam around on all fours

Mr Thwaites said: 'I got tired of all the worry and the pain of being a human and so I decided I would take a holiday from it all and become a goat'

Thomas Thwaites accepts the 2016 Ig Nobel Prize in Biology for 'creating prosthetic extensions of his limbs that allowed him to move in the manner of, and spend time roaming the hills in the company of, goats' during the 26th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony

Along with the Biology Prize scooped by Thomas Thwaites, there were nine other prizes awarded at the Harvard University ceremony.

REPRODUCTION PRIZE

The late Cairo University professor Ahmed Shafik won a posthumous award for his research on rats wearing polyester, cotton, wool and polyester-cotton blend trousers to determine the different textiles' effects on sex drive.

Professor Shafik found that rats that wore polyester or polyester blend trousers displayed less sexual activity, perhaps because of the electrostatic charges created by polyester.

He suggested that the results could be applied to humans

Atsuki Higashiyama, from Ritsumeikan University in Japan (right), who won for a paper on how objects look different when one bends over and views them through one's legs, speaks after receiving the Ig Nobel Perception Prize, standing alongside a 'human spotlight'

Atsuki Higashiyama, left, from Ritsumeikan University in Japan, was awarded a prize for investigating whether things look different when you bend over and view them between your legs

The late Cairo University professor Ahmed Shafik won a posthumous award for his research on rats wearing polyester, cotton, wool and polyester-cotton blend trousers (illustrated above) to determine the different textiles' effects on sex drive

ECONOMICS PRIZE

A joint project from the UK and New Zealand scooped the prize for economics.

Mark Avis, Sarah Forbes, and Shelagh Ferguson won for looking at the perceived personalities of rocks, from a sales and marketing perspective.

PHYSICS PRIZE

This award was given to a group of researchers for their work on horseflies and dragonflies.

The team discovered why white-haired horses are the most horsefly-proof horses, and also why dragonflies are fatally attracted to black tombstones.

Master of Ceremonies Marc Abrahams holds up the 2016 Ig Nobel award during ceremonies at Harvard University in Cambridge

Nobel laureates Rich Roberts (physiology or medicine, 1993), right, Dudley Herschbach (chemistry, 1986) third from right, and Eric Maskin (economics, 2007), second from left, compete in a game of noughts and crosses or tic-toc-toe with a brain surgeon

Nobel laureates, front row from left, Dudley Herschbach (chemistry, 1986), Eric Maskin (economics, 2007), Rich Roberts (physiology or medicine, 1993) and Roy Glauber (physics, 2005) are introduced during the Ig Nobel award ceremonies at Harvard University

Human Aeorodrome Eric Workman acts as a target for paper airplanes during the Ig Nobel award ceremonies at Harvard University in Cambridge

CHEMISTRY PRIZE

Volkswagen won the chemistry prize for 'solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions by automatically, electromagnetically producing fewer emissions whenever the cars are being tested'.

The German car manufacturer was embroiled in a scandal after it emerged millions of its vehicles were fitted with software known as defeat devices to cheat emissions tests.

MEDICINE PRIZE

Andreas Sprenger was part of a team at the University of Luebeck in Germany that found that if you have an itch on one arm, you can relieve it by looking in a mirror and scratching the opposite arm.

Sound silly? But imagine, Sprenger said via email, if you have a skin condition with an intolerable itch, you can scratch the other arm to relieve it without rubbing the affected arm raw.

Susanne Akesson, left, accepts the Ig Nobel prize in physics. Akesson, from Lund University in Sweden, was part of a team that discovered why white-haired horses are the most horsefly-proof horses and for discovering why dragon flies are fatally attracted to black tombstones

'Majordomo' Gary Dryfoos sits onstage before the 26th First Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge alongside a 'human spotlight'

NASA scientists Lisa Danielson (left) and Will Stepanov are celebrated onstage for their wedding anniversary during the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony at Harvard University in Cambridge

Charles Foster speaks after receiving the Ig Nobel prize in biology during ceremonies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Foster, a fellow at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, won for literally living like an animal

PEACE PRIZE

A group of researchers won the coveted IG Nobel Peace Prize with an in-depth study called 'On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bulls***'.

PSYCHOLOGY PRIZE

Gordon Logan, a professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, and colleagues from Canada and Europe won for their research on lying.

Their study of more than 1,000 people who are ages 6 to 77  'From junior to senior Pinocchio: A cross-sectional lifespan investigation of deception'  found that young adults are the best liars.

How do the scientists know their subjects weren't lying to them?

'We don't,' Logan said.

Fredrik Sjoberg, left, of Sweden, accepts the Ig Nobel award in literature from Nobel laureate Dudley Herschbach (chemistry, 1986). Sjoberg's research led him to publish three volumes about collecting hoverflies on the sparsely populated Swedish island where he lives

Audience members throw paper airplanes during the Ig Nobel award ceremonies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass

Bruno Verschuere, from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, accepts the Ig Nobel award in psychology from Nobel laureate Roy Glauber (physics, 2005), right, during ceremonies at Harvard University Verschuere's team won for their research on lying

LITERATURE PRIZE

Swedish Fredrik Sjoberg bagged the Literature Prize for his three-part autobiographical tome on the joys of collecting flies that are dead, and flies that are still alive.

PERCEPTION PRIZE
In an effort to make cars more environmentally friendly, a German car company has looked to solar technology.

A prototype for a car has been developed which is adorned with solar panels.

The Sion car can travel up to 115 miles on a single charge and also uses the unexpected material of moss to ventilate the vehicle.

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Researchers in Germany are pushing the panels to their limits, with the invention of a new car powered by the sun

Sono Motors, a car company based in Munich, is now crowdfunding $200,000 (154,000) to build the car, which is currently a prototype.

The self-charging car will get power from the solar panels fitted to its roof and sides, though drivers will also be able to use power outlets as an alternative.

Sion, which is expected to hit the roads in 2018, also features an unusual ventilation system fitted with moss.

The Icelandic strain of moss is claimed to have air-cleaning capabilities that can filter dust particles and act as a natural air filter.

The self-charging car will get power from the solar panels fitted to its roof and sides, though drivers will also be able to use power outlets as an alternative

Two models will be available - the 'Urban' designed to travel 75 miles will be priced at $13,000 (9,940), and an 'Extender' model that will travel up to 115 miles on a single charge and cost $18,000 (13,770).

The car is a six-seater, with three front seats, and three in the back, which can be flipped down to provide more room for storage.

THE URBAN VERSUS THE EXTENDER URBAN EXTENDER Price $13,000 (9,940) $18,000 (13,770) Range 120 kilometres (75 miles) 250 kilometres (115 miles) Charging Power 43 kilowatts 22 kilowatts Time to charge to 80% 30 minutes 30 minutes

The car is a six-seater, with three front seats, and three in the back, which can be flipped down to provide more room for storage

Laurin Hahn from Sono Motors, said: 'We started four years ago in a garage and soon got bigger and moved to a bigger workshop.

'The team got bigger and we managed to finish our first pre-prototype in early 2016.

'At that time we founded the Sono Motors.

USING MOSS FOR VENTILATION A unique moss is integrated into the dashboard and used as a natural air filter. A special lichen moss is used, which is known for its appealing look and excellent air filtration. In spite of the naturalness of the moss, it actually requires no care, since the plant draws its water from the air, acting as a natural air conditioner. The microstructures of moss binds fine dust particles from the air, so even in a big city, you can breathe fresh air. Advertisement

'Right from the beginning we had the plan of doing a crowdfunding campaign.

'It was always on our mind to make this happen with all the people out there, who want to see the same change as us.'

As well as charging the vehicles, the solar panels can be plugged in to other devices, such as cooking stoves, to provide power.

Sion, which is expected to hit the roads in 2018, also features an unusual ventilation system fitted with moss. The Icelandic strain of moss is claimed to have air-cleaning capabilities that can filter dust particles and act as a natural air filter

Sono Motors, a car company based in Munich, is now crowdfunding $200,000 (154,000) to build the car, which is currently a prototype (pictured)
An ancient book that has baffled experts for decades may be an elaborate hoax, it has been revealed.

The centuries-old Voynich manuscript, which dates back to the middle ages, was long thought to contain a secret code and cyptographers have spent years trying to decipher the mysterious text.

However, one expert now claims that simple techniques could have been used to fool people into thinking that the bizarre text was actually written in code.

The centuries-old Voynich manuscript, which dates back to the middle ages, was long thought to contain a secret code and cyptographers have spent years trying to decipher the mysterious text but now one expert believes it to be a hoax

Many experts argue that the text contains similar features to natural languages, suggesting that it may be a code.

However, Gordon Rugg, a computing expert at Keele University claims to have worked out a simple system that produces similar results in a new study.

'We have known for years that the syllables are not random,' he told Rebecca Boyle at New Scientist.

'What I'm saying is there are ways of producing gibberish which are not random in a statistical sense.

'It's a bit like rolling loaded dice. If you roll dice that are subtly loaded, they would come up with a six more often than you would expect, but not every time.'

One expert now claims that simple techniques could have been used to fool people into thinking that the bizarre text was actually written in code.

Scholars have spent their lives puzzling over the Voynich manuscript.

The book's intriguing mix of elegant writing and drawings of strange plants and naked women has some believing it holds magical powers.

THE VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT The 15th century cryptic work has baffled scholars, cryptographers and codebreakers. So far, no one has been able to read a single letter of the script or any word of the text. Over time it has attained an infamous reputation. It has even featured in the latest hit computer game Assassin's Creed, as well as in the Indiana Jones novels, when Indiana decoded the Voynich and used it to find the 'Philosopher's Stone'. However in reality no one has come close to revealing the Voynich's true messages. Many grand theories have been proposed. Some suggest it was the work of Leonardo da Vinci as a boy, or secret Cathars, or the lost tribe of Israel, or most recently Aztecs. Some have even proclaimed it was done by aliens. Advertisement

Mr Rugg says that the fact the text looks like a mysterious language, doesn't mean it is one.

The researcher was able to generate a series of words that follow a linguistic pattern, but are actually meaningless, using a rudimentary grid system based on Voynichese words.

A card with three holes cut out was moved around the grid to reveal various symbol combinations that Mr Rugg used to create nonsensical new words.

He believes that a similar method could have been used to create the ancient text, rather than it being an sophisticated code.

In August, Siloe, a small publishing house nestled deep in northern Spain, secured the right to clone the document.

The weathered book is locked away in a vault at Yale University's Beinecke Library, emerging only occasionally.

'Touching the Voynich is an experience,' said Juan Jose Garcia, director of Siloe, which is based in Burgos, in the north of Spain.

'It's a book that has such an aura of mystery that when you see it for the first time... it fills you with an emotion that is very hard to describe.'

Siloe, which specialises in making facsimiles of old manuscripts, has bought the rights to make 898 exact replicas of the Voynich.

The copies will be so faithful that every stain, hole, sewn-up tear in the parchment will be reproduced.

The company always publishes 898 replicas of each work it clones - a number which is a palindrome, or a figure that reads the same backwards or forwards.

The publishing house plans to sell the clones, also known as facsimiles, for 7,000 to 8,000 euros (6,030 to 6,891 or $7,800 to $8,900) apiece once completed - and close to 300 people have already put in pre-orders.

Raymond Clemens, curator at the Beinecke Library, said Yale decided to have facsimiles done because of the many people who want to consult the fragile manuscript.

A publishing house recently announced plans to sell the cloned versions of the mysterious book for 7,000 to 8,000 euros ($7,800 to $8,900) apiece once completed

Workers at Siloe publishing house are shown making mockups of the ancient manuscript

HOW IT BE WILL CLONED Only slightly bigger than a paperback, the book contains over 200 pages including several large fold-outs. It will take Siloe around 18 months to make the first clones, in a painstaking process that started in April when a photographer took detailed snaps of the original in Yale. Workers at Siloe are currently making mock-ups before they finally set about printing out the pages in a way that makes the script and drawings look like the real deal. The paper they use - made from a paste developed by the company - has been given a special treatment so it feels like the stiff parchment used to write the Voynich. Once printed, the pages are put together and made to look older. All the imperfections are re-created using special tools in a process kept firmly secret by Garcia, who in his spare time has also tried his hand at cryptology. Advertisement

'We thought that the facsimile would provide the look and feel of the original for those who were interested,' he said.

'It also enables libraries and museums to have a copy for instructional purposes and we will use the facsimile ourselves to show the manuscript outside of the library to students or others who might be interested.'

The manuscript is named after antiquarian Wilfrid Voynich who bought it around 1912 from a collection of books belonging to the Jesuits in Italy, and eventually propelled it into the public eye.

Theories abound about who wrote it and what it means.

For a long time, it was believed to be the work of 13th century English Franciscan friar Roger Bacon whose interest in alchemy and magic landed him in jail.

But that theory was discarded when the manuscript was carbon dated and found to have originated between 1404 and 1438.

Others point to a young Leonardo da Vinci, someone who wrote in code to escape the Inquisition, an elaborate joke or even an alien who left the book behind when leaving Earth.

Raymond Clemens, curator at the Beinecke Library, said Yale decided to have facsimiles done because of the many people who want to consult the fragile manuscript. Many still believe that the book contains a code despite the new study suggesting it may be a hoax

Copies will be used to show the ancient manuscript outside of the library to students or others who might be interested

The paper they use - made from a paste developed by the company - has been given a special treatment so it feels like the stiff parchment used to write the Voynich. Once printed, the pages will be put together and made to look older

THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING THE VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT The Voynich manuscript was discovered in an Italian monastery in 1912 by book dealer Wilfred Voynich. Carbon dating suggests the manuscript was created in the early 15th century, between approximately 1404 and 1438, during the Italian Renaissance. The 240 pages of the book are made from a type of parchment produced using calf skin, known as vellum. Each page is decorated with illustrations, diagrams and a mysterious text written from left to right. Due to its mysterious nature, the text has been studied by cryptographers around the world, yet no-one has succeeded in deciphering the reams of written passages. This has led to many people claim the book is hoax, or that the writing is nonsense. Due to the manuscript's discovery in Italy, many researchers believe the book to have originated in Europe, however, the latest research from Dr. Tucker suggests it may have been written by the Aztecs in what is now modern-day Mexico. Advertisement

Its content is even more mysterious.

The plants drawn have never been identified, the astronomical charts don't reveal much and neither do the women.

Does the book hold the key to eternal youth? Or is it a mere collection of herbal medicine and recipes?

Scores have tried to decode the Voynich, including top cryptologists such as William Friedman who helped break Japan's 'Purple' cipher during World War II.

But the only person to have made any headway is Indiana Jones, who manages to crack it in a novel featuring the fictitious archaeologist.

For a long time, it was believed to be the work of 13th century English Franciscan friar Roger Bacon whose interest in alchemy and magic landed him in jail. But that was discarded when the manuscript was carbon dated and found to have originated between 1404 and 1438

Scholars have spent their lives puzzling over the Voynich manuscript, whose intriguing mix of elegant writing and drawings of strange plants and naked women has some believing it holds magical powers

The weathered book is locked away in a vault at Yale University's Beinecke Library, emerging only occasionally. Siloe, which specialises in making facsimiles of old manuscripts, has bought the rights to make 898 exact replicas of the Voynich

Fiction aside, the Beinecke Library gets thousands of emails every month from people claiming to have decoded it, says Rene Zandbergen, a space engineer who runs a recognised blog on the manuscript, which he has consulted several times.

'More than 90 per cent of all the access to their digital library is only for the Voynich Manuscript,' he added.

Only slightly bigger than a paperback, the book contains over 200 pages including several large fold-outs.

The 240 pages of the book are made from a type of parchment produced using calf skin, known as vellum, and are decorated with illustrations, diagrams and a mysterious text written from left to right

It will take Siloe around 18 months to make the first clones when a photographer took detailed snaps of the original in Yale.

Workers at Siloe are currently making mock-ups before they finally set about printing out the pages in a way that makes the script and drawings look like the real deal.

The paper they use - made from a paste developed by the company - has been given a special treatment so it feels like the stiff parchment used to write the Voynich.

Once printed, the pages are put together and made to look older.

All the imperfections are re-created using special tools in a process kept firmly secret by Garcia, who in his spare time has also tried his hand at cryptology.

'We call it the Voynich Challenge,' he said.

'My business partner... says the author of the Voynich could also have been a sadist, as he has us all wrapped up in this mystery.'
ceremony in Baltimore, which is on October 15th

USS Zumwalt was due to head to its

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After months of anticipation, the US' largest and most technologically sophisticated destroyer, USS Zumwalt was scheduled to finally set sail for training at sea.

But it appears the $4.3 billion (3.3 billion) will remain in Virginia at Naval Station Norfolk longer than expected after crew members detected a leak on the vessel.

Naval Surface Forces Pacific spokesman John Perkins said crews on the USS Zumwalt found a seawater leak in its propulsion system earlier this week.

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After months of anticipation, the nation's largest and most technologically sophisticated destroyer, USS Zumwalt was scheduled to finally set sail for training at sea. But it appears the Navy's newest destroyer will remain in Virginia at Naval Station Norfolk longer than expected after crew members detected a leak on the vessel

No one was injured and the guided-missile destroyer only minor damage, reports suggest.

The Navy claims such incidents are common place in ships of this type during their first outings.

The stealthy Zumwalt was headed to its commissioning ceremony in Baltimore with a crew of 147 officers and sailors, who were praised by their skipper, Captain James Kirk, for their preparation over the past three years to get the first-in-class warship ready for duty.

He admitted his name has caused much hilarity - saying 'certainly I have been ribbed every now and then with someone saying, "You're going where no man has gone before, on this class of ship."'

The bridge also looks like something from 'Star Trek' with two chairs surrounded by nearly 360 degrees of video monitors, with inevitable comparisons of the Zumwalt to the Starship Enterprise and the skipper to the fictional Captain Kirk.

'The three things this crew exemplifies is high level of technical expertise, great teamwork and then the toughness to get done what needs to get done,' Navy Capt James Kirk said.

Local news organizations report that the ship was supposed to get underway for training at sea, but as the crew prepared for the voyage, it detected the leak

'On this ship, teamwork is at a premium.'

The 610-foot destroyer once headed out for sea trials in a snowstorm, and hundreds of people gathered to watch as it headed into the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine while leaving Maine for good.

It features an angular shape to minimize its radar signature, an unconventional wave-piercing hull and a composite deckhouse that hides radar and other sensors.

Pictured left, Captain James Kirk, skipper of the future USS Zumwalt, stands in front of the destroyer at Bath Iron Works earlier this month in Maine. Pictured right is William Shatner as Captain James Kirk in the hit TV show Star Trek

It boasts a powerful new gun system that can unload 600 rocket-powered projectiles on targets more than 70 miles away.

Weighing in at nearly 15,000 tons, it is about 50 per cent heavier than current destroyers.

But the crew size is half of the 300 personnel of those destroyers.

Heavy automation of fire suppression, flood control and other systems means fewer sailors are required, part of a trend in the Navy.

The new Ford-class aircraft carriers will sail with several hundred fewer crew members.

The vessel boasts a powerful new gun system that can unload 600 rocket-powered projectiles on targets more than 70 miles away

The future USS Zumwalt headed down the Kennebec River after leaving Bath Iron Works earlier this month in Maine for testing

David Aitken, the Zumwalt's fire control chief, said all sailors are cross-trained, but there's more sharing of tasks on the Zumwalt.

'We all work together because there are fewer of us,' said the chief petty officer, who's the primary supervisor for sailors who operate the ship's weapon systems.

He said he prefers the arrangement because there's more work to do and more systems to learn.

But some are concerned that the Navy could be going too far in reducing the number of sailors. Commanding officers like to have an 'extra margin' to account for injuries or missions that could leave the crew depleted, said retired Vice Adm. Pete Daly, CEO of the U.S. Naval Institute.

The Zumwalt, Daly said, has the smallest crew size since the Farragut-class built in the 1930s, which featured a similar complement of sailors.

And those ships were tiny in comparison to the Zumwalt, he added.

USS ZUMWALT: EQUIPPED TO DOMINATE THE SEAS FOR DECADES A model of the Zumwalt Class destroyer built by Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding is seen displayed during a contract signing ceremony at the Pentagon Displacement: 14,564 long tons (14,798 t) Length: 600 ft (180 m) Beam: 80.7 ft (24.6 m) Draft: 27.6 ft (8.4 m) Propulsion: Two Rolls-Royce Marine Trent-30 gas turbines driving Curtiss-Wright generators and emergency diesel generators, 78 MW (105,000 shp); two propellers driven by electric motors Speed: Over 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) Weapons: 20  MK 57 VLS modules, with a total of 80 launch cells RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), four per cell Tactical Tomahawk, one per cell Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC), one per cell Two  155 mm/62 caliber Advanced Gun System 920  155 mm rounds total; 600 in automated store with Auxiliary store room with up to 320 rounds (non-automatic) as of April 2005 70100 LRLAP rounds planned as of 2005 of total Two  Mk 110 57 mm gun (CIGS) Future versions of the radical design are expected to be used to test a futuristic 'Star Wars' railgun (advanced gun system) that uses electromagnetic energy to fire a shell weighing 10kg at up to 5,400mph over 100 miles Advertisement

The Zumwalt's crew is constantly talked up by Kirk, who wants to make sure the highly trained sailors are not overshadowed by the vessel's technology.

But it's hard to escape the ship's wow factor.

The future USS Zumwalt is so stealthy that it'll go to sea with reflective material that can be hoisted to make it more visible to other ships.

It is designed to look like a much smaller vessel on radar, and it lived up to its billing during recent builder trials.

Lawrence Pye, a lobsterman, told The Associated Press that on his radar screen the 610-foot ship looked like a 40- to 50-foot fishing boat.

He watched as the behemoth came within a half-mile while returning to shipbuilder Bath Iron Works.

'It's pretty mammoth when it's that close to you,' Pye said.

Despite its size, the warship is 50 times harder to detect than current destroyers thanks to its angular shape and other design features, and its stealth could improve even more once testing equipment is removed, said Capt. James Downey, program manager.

During sea trials last month, the Navy tested Zumwalt's radar signature with and without reflective material hoisted on its halyard, he said.

The goal was to get a better idea of exactly how stealthy the ship really is, Downey said from Washington, D.C.

The 610-foot destroyer once headed out for sea trials in a snowstorm, and hundreds of people gathered to watch as it headed into the remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine while leaving Maine for good

The reflectors, which look like metal cylinders, have been used on other warships and will be standard issue on the Zumwalt and two sister ships for times when stealth becomes a liability and they want to be visible on radar, like times of fog or heavy ship traffic, he said.

The possibility of a collision is remote.

The Zumwalt has sophisticated radar to detect vessels from miles away, allowing plenty of time for evasive action.

But there is a concern that civilian mariners might not see it during bad weather or at night, and the reflective material could save them from being startled.

The destroyer is unlike anything ever built for the Navy.

Besides a shape designed to deflect enemy radar, it features a wave-piercing 'tumblehome' hull, composite deckhouse, electric propulsion and new guns.

The warship is due to be commissioned in October in Baltimore, and will undergo more testing before becoming fully operational in 2018.

Future versions of the radical design are expected to be used to test a futuristic 'Star Wars' railgun that uses electromagnetic energy to fire a shell weighing 10kg at up to 5,400mph over 100 miles  with such force and accuracy it penetrates three concrete walls or six half-inch thick steel plates.

The $4.3bn ship departed from shipbuilder Bath Iron Works in Maine and carefully navigating the winding Kennebec River during trials

More than 200 shipbuilders, sailors and residents gathered to watch as the futuristic 600-foot, 15,000-ton USS Zumwalt glided past Fort Popham, accompanied by tugboats on Monday.

The $4.3bn ship departed from shipbuilder Bath Iron Works in Maine and carefully navigating the winding Kennebec River.

Kelley Campana, a Bath Iron Works employee, said she had goose bumps and tears in her eyes.

'This is pretty exciting. It's a great day to be a shipbuilder and to be an American,' she said.

'It's the first in its class. There's never been anything like it. It looks like the future.'

Larry Harris, a retired Raytheon employee who worked on the ship, watched it depart from Bath.

'It's as cool as can be. It's nice to see it underway,' he said.

'Hopefully, it will perform as advertised.'

Bath Iron Works will be testing the ship's performance and making tweaks this winter.

For the crew and all those involved in designing, building, and readying this fantastic ship, this is a huge milestone,' the ship's skipper, Navy Capt. James Kirk, said before the ship departed.

The ship has electric propulsion, new radar and sonar, powerful missiles and guns, and a stealthy design to reduce its radar signature

The ship has electric propulsion, new radar and sonar, powerful missiles and guns, and a stealthy design to reduce its radar signature.

Advanced automation will allow the warship to operate with a much smaller crew size than current destroyers.

All of that innovation has led to construction delays and a growing price tag.

The Zumwalt, the first of three ships in the class, will cost at least $4.4 billion.

The ship looks like nothing ever built at Bath Iron Works, with an inverse bow that juts forward to slice through the waves.

Sharp angles deflect enemy radar signals. Radar and antennas are hidden in a composite deckhouse.

The builder sea trials will answer any questions of seaworthiness for a ship that utilizes a type of hull associated with pre-dreadnought battleships from a century ago.

Critics say the 'tumblehome' hull's sloping shape makes it less stable than conventional hulls, but it contributes to the ship's stealth and the Navy is confident in the design.

Eric Wertheim, author and editor of the U.S. Naval Institute's 'Guide to Combat Fleets of the World,' said there's no question the integration of so many new systems from the electric drive to the tumblehome hull carries some level of risk.

Operational concerns, growing costs and fleet makeup led the Navy to truncate the 32-ship program to three ships, he said.

With only three ships, the class of destroyers could become something of a technology demonstration project, he said.

The goal is to deliver it to the Navy sometime next year.

'We are absolutely fired up to see Zumwalt get underway.

The Zumwalt looks like no other U.S. warship, with an angular profile and clean carbon fiber superstructure that hides antennas and radar masts.
Robert Mazur On Going Undercover To Take Down Pablo Escobar

We Spoke To The Man Who Brought Down 100 Of Pablo Escobar's Drug Lords

This article was originally published by AskMen UK.

Robert Mazur was an undercover agent in the 1980s who managed to imprison more than a hundred people in Pablo Escobars crime ring, as well as bring down one of the most corrupt banks in the world, the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. He did this by posing as a powerful money-laundering business man called Robert 'Bob' Musella  and had the private jet-Rolls Royce-fine dining fuelled lifestyle to match.

RELATED: Pablo Escobar May Be A Netflix Star, But These Narcos Deserve A TV Show Too

Hollywood certainly couldnt have been expected to ignore the big screen potential of Mazurs story, so of course theyve given it the cinematic treatment with The Infiltrator, with Bryan Cranston, no less, taking on the role of Mazur.

We wanted to find out more about what it was like infiltrating Pablo Escobars crime ring and the insanely dangerous nature of the illegal drugs trade, so put a couple of questions to Robert himself.

What was the most dangerous situation you found yourself in?

I was threatened on many occasions  I was told that if I should turn out to be something other than what I professed to be, there wasnt a hole deep enough on the planet that I could hide in, and that I and my family would be killed.

I was also accused of being a DEA undercover agent and had to talk my way out of it. So I requested a meeting with a representative of Gerardo Moncada, who was a principal manager for Pablo Escobar. And when I met with this representative, my briefcase malfunctioned  my recorder fell into the body of the briefcase. I was trying to stay very calm and put it back together again as he was walking towards me to get Swiss bank records that were in the briefcase.

Did you ever get involved in physical violence?

No. The people that I dealt with were the people who pulled the strings of the puppets that do the dirty work. But two of them approached my partner, Emir Abreu (played by John Leguizamo), in my presence, to kill one of the people within the cartel who they felt was creating risk. Obviously, we didnt do that. We said that there was no way that we were going to do that in Paris rather than in the States, because we didnt have any connections in Paris.

What was the craziest thing you knew about Pablo Escobar?

Ive mentioned earlier that Gerardo Moncada was one of my clients, as was another of his managers, Fernando Galeano. They were discovered by Escobar to be, in his view, disloyal, because they were diverting some of the drug proceeds. They did that because he kept increasing the tax on them for using his routes. So when Escobar discovered what he believed to be their disloyalty, he had them summoned along with some of their family members before him, where they were hung by their feet, their clothes were stripped off and blowtorches were used to melt the skin off their bodies, and they were chopped up and burned.

Pablo Escobar was also very concerned about a candidate running for president in Colombia and had intelligence that the individual was supposed to be taking a commercial flight. So he made arrangements for the commercial flight, with more than a hundred innocent people on it, to be blown up in the air.

Why do you think Pablo Escobar was able to become so successful?

He was smart enough to recognise that he needed to have a loyal following. And because of certain charitable actions that he outwardly took in the community, especially with the poor  providing housing, employment, food  he used a Robin Hood facade to win over loyalty. He also made it very, very clear that he freely used violence at the most horrific levels. Plus, he surrounded himself with some of the brightest minds in Colombia. Most of the individuals that I came into contact with were college-educated and spoke multiple languages. If they werent in the drug world, they would probably have been highly successful senior executives in a corporation.

You had to affect the persona of someone who was very wealthy and powerful. What was the most extravagant thing you did?

I had a private jet, I stayed at the best hotels in the world, I had a second home, I drove a Rolls Royce and a Jaguar and a Mercedes, and I was a member of most of the high-end social clubs around the world. That caused people to think that I was truly Robert Musella, this mob-connected money launderer who operated  corruptly  an investment company, a mortgage brokers business, an air chartered service, a jewellery chain and even a brokerage firm with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Frankly, to me, I couldnt have cared less where I was eating or where I was living. My heroin was information. I chased actionable information that my agency couldnt have got otherwise, and thats really what drove me.

How has the illegal drugs industry changed today?

Its ten times worse than it was when I was there. Theres absolutely no doubt that today, the Mexican and Colombian cartels work closely with terrorist organisations like Hezbollah, Hamas, Al-Qaeda and others. The United Nations on Drugs and Crime did a study a few years ago to attempt to measure the amount of money generated from the sale of illegal drugs. And it came in the approximate range of $400 billion a year, globally. But if you look at the effectiveness of law enforcement in identifying and seizing that money, there is a credible argument that one can make, that less than 1% of that is identified and seized every year. So the coffers of these criminal organisations grow tremendously.

RELATED: Be Careful What You Drop Ecstasy and MSMA Are Getting Stronger

What do you think the international communitys policy should be towards illegal drugs?

I do not support legalisation in any way, shape or form. I do believe that before you can even contemplate legalisation you have to empower the people on the demand side with education and treatment. Im also very, very big on trying to revisit what we do with people who launder drug proceeds. In my particular story, the senior executives of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International were imprisoned for their acts. That doesnt happen very frequently  we have a tendency these days to fine institutions.

The number one law enforcement officer in the United States, the Attorney General, previously made a decision with respect to HSBC and their movement of illicit funds, whereby it was decided that the Department of Justice had made a recommendation of the indictment of the institution. That was not the road taken, because it was perceived that it would be too disruptive to the financial market. And I dont think that that is the type of thinking that should be moving what we do with dirty bankers.

The Infiltrator is released in cinemas today
United Parcel Service (UPS) is newest competitor in the race to unleash the first fleet of delivery drones.

The firm began testing the use of drones this week with a focus of bringing packages to remote or difficult-to-access locations.

A mock delivery of urgent medical supplies was delivered from Beverly, Massachusetts to Children's Island as a test, which is the first drone delivery to be made by a major delivery firm in the US.

Scroll down for videos

United Parcel Service (UPS) is newest competitor in the race to unleash the first fleet of delivery drones. The firm began testing the use of drones this week, with a focus of bringing packages to remote or difficult-to-access locations

UPS TAKES TO THE SKIES UPS announced today that it has begun testing the use of drones to make commercial deliveries of packages to remote or difficult-to-access locations, working together with drone-maker CyPhy Works. Testing began on Thursday when the companies staged a mock delivery of urgently needed medicine from Beverly, Mass. to Childrens Island, which is about three miles off the Atlantic coast. CyPhy's PARC flew from Beverly to Childrens Island to test the viability of using the drone to make a time-critical delivery. In the mock scenario, the drone successfully carried an asthma inhaler to a child at a camp on the island, which is not reachable by automobile. Advertisement

'Our focus is on real-world applications that benefit our customers,' said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president of global engineering and sustainability.

'We think drones offer a great solution to deliver to hard-to-reach locations in urgent situations where other modes of transportation are not readily available.'

UPS partnered with robot-maker CyPhy Works, whose drone made the three mile journey in about 8 minutes.

CyPhy's PARC flew from Beverly to Childrens Island on Thursday to test the viability of using the drone to make a time-critical delivery.

In the mock scenario, the drone successfully carried an asthma inhaler to a child at a camp on the island, which is not reachable by automobile.

'This demonstrates a drone is the best and most efficient way to deliver a package in a medical emergency in a remote location,' Helen Greiner, chief technology officer and founder of CyPhy, told Reuters.

Greiner said the drone tests with UPS allows her company to gather engineering and cost information and then work with UPS to look at where drones can add the most value to UPS' extensive network.

Still, the robot-maker doesn't see drones replacing delivery trucks, bikes, buggies or gondolas anytime soon.

'Drones aren't going to take the place of all delivery, but there are places where you have inaccessible location, an emergency situation where the infrastructure is down, you want or need the package quickly  these are the areas where drones will be the best way to get a package to a location,' Greiner said.

Although the duo deemed the test run a success, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not making it easy for them to turn it into a full-fledged business just yet.

A mock delivery of urgently medical supplies was delivered from Beverly, Massachusetts to Children's Island as a test, which is the first drone delivery to be made by a major delivery firm in the US

UPS partnered with robot-maker CyPhy Works for this new project, which made the three mile journey in about 8 minutes. Pictured is Helen Greiner, founder of CyPhy, who intercepted the package once the drone reached its destination

As of last month, drones are prohibited from flying over people not involved in their operations.

The newly revised regulations also require aerial vehicles to remain within line of sight of their controllers at all times, effectively rendering commercial deliveries impossible.

THE US AND UK DRONE RULES Last month, the US Federal Aviation Administration unveiled long-awaited new rules that clear the way for small, commercial drones to operate across US airspace. Under the FAA's rules, drone operators will be allowed to fly commercial craft weighing less than 55 pounds (25kg) during daylight hours, provided they can maintain a clear view of the drone at all times. Limit drone operations to the hours from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Limit speed to no more than 100 mph and drones are not allowed to fly higher than 400 feet. While that effectively precludes the sort of robo-delivery services being developed by Amazon and other major vendors, the new rules will nonetheless ensure drones become increasingly commonplace in the skies. The White House cites industry estimates suggesting drones could generate more than $82 billion (63 billion) for the US economy over the coming decade, creating some 100,000 jobs. Wal-Mart Stores said last month it was six to nine months from beginning to use drones to check warehouse inventories in the United States, suggesting drones will soon become part of our everyday lives. But in the UK, drones are regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority. These rules apply to unmanned vehicles not more than 44 pounds (20kg) without their fuel, and states they can be flown up to 400 feet in the air. 'A person must not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property,' the regulation says. Some experts say this regulation is not enough. But Amazon said its UK partnership aims to understand how drones can be used safely and reliably, and identify the best regulations to put in place. Advertisement

But those restrictions aren't keeping drone-makers and their partners from racing to develop technology suitable for commercial deliveries while they work with regulators to tweak existing rules.

Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president of global engineering, said the company hopes to persuade the FAA to allow UPS to expand on its tests and eventually offer emergency deliveries by drone as part of its services.

In the mock scenario, the drone successfully carried an asthma inhaler to a child at a camp on the island, which is not reachable by automobile. As of last month, drones are prohibited from flying over people not involved in their operations

Although the duo deemed the test run a success, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not making it easy for them to turn it into a full-fledged business just yet.

HOW DRONES COULD SOON BE SPEEDING UP DELIVERIES Impatient shoppers will be pleased to hear that Amazons drones could significantly speed up the speed at which deliveries can be made. The plan is for Amazon's PrimeAir service to eventually deliver small packages weighing up to 5lbs (2.27kg) in 30 minutes or less. Amazon got British approval for three new types of tests, including flying drones that are no longer within sight of their operators in rural and suburban areas. Up in the air: Amazon claims the drones (file picture) are greener and safer than its vans The other two are having one person operate several highly automated drones and testing devices to make the drones able to identify and avoid obstacles. During the test the drones will be only allowed to fly an altitude of 400ft (122m) and kept away from operating near airport flight paths. Hopes: This is a file picture of what the drones may look like. Amazon wants to use the devices to deliver packages to homes in under 30 minutes Advertisement

Although this is the first drone delivery test run UPS has conducted, the firm is already involved in the space.

UPS backed a startup earlier this year that uses drones to ship life-saving blood supplies and vaccines in Rwanda.

Rather than sending supplies by road, firms are looking to the skies to get the medical supplies to where they are needed, with the automated air deliveries 20 times faster than by land.

CyPhy's PARC flew from Beverly to Childrens Island on Thursday to test the viability of using the drone to make a time-critical delivery

The newly revised regulations also require aerial vehicles to remain within line of sight of their controllers at all times, effectively rendering commercial deliveries impossible. But drone-makers and their partners plan to work with regulators to tweak existing rules

The flying robo-doctors will deliver blood and vaccines to half the transfusion centers in the country of 11 million people.

UPS may have won this week's battle, but Amazon may win the competition, as the firm has been ad this game for a few years now.

The e-commerce giant plans to start using drones to delivery packages by 2017 and has begun testing its package delivery drones in the UK.

Amazon, which has a 500,000 sq ft warehouse in Peterborough, hopes the drones will eventually be able to fly for ten miles at 400ft and carry packages of up to 5lb.

The Seattle-based company wants to use drones to deliver packages to people's homes in under 30 minutes, claiming they are greener and safer than its vans.
Each day, an estimated 350,000 babies are born worldwide, outnumbering the number deaths, and adding to a growing population.

And while it may not be an obvious link, this overpopulation could be increasing the pace of climate change.

Dr Travis Rieder, a moral philosophy professor and bioethicist at Johns Hopkins University, explains why the key to stopping climate change is reducing the number of babies born each year.

Each day, an estimated 350,000 babies are born worldwide, outnumbering the number deaths, and adding to a growing population. And while it may not be an obvious link, it appears that this overpopulation could be increasing the pace of climate change

THE KAYA IDENTITY The Kaya identity is an equation relating factors that determine the level of human impact on the climate, in the form of emissions of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. The Kaya identity says the pace of climate pollution is related to four factors: 1) Carbon dioxide emissions 2) Energy consumption 3) World GDP 4) Global population The equation says that as the number of people in the world increases, the pace of climate pollution also rises. Advertisement

Earlier this summer, I found myself in the middle of a lively debate because of my work on climate change and the ethics of having children.

NPR correspondent Jennifer Ludden profiled some of my work in procreative ethics with an article entitled, 'Should we be having kids in the age of climate change?,' which summarised my published views that we ought to consider adopting a 'small family ethic' and even pursuing fertility reduction efforts in response to the threat from climate change.

Although environmentalists for decades have worried about overpopulation for many good reasons, I suggest the fast-upcoming thresholds in climate change provide uniquely powerful reasons to consider taking real action to slow population growth.

Clearly, this idea struck a nerve: I was overwhelmed by the response in my personal email inbox as well as op-eds in other media outlets and over 70,000 shares on Facebook.

I am gratified that so many people took the time to read and reflect on the piece.

Having read and digested that discussion, I want to continue it by responding to some of the most vocal criticisms of my own work, which includes research on 'population engineering'  the intentional manipulation of human population size and structure  I've done with my colleagues, Jake Earl and Colin Hickey.

In short, the varied arguments against my views  that I'm overreacting, that the economy will tank and others  haven't changed my conviction that we need to discuss the ethics of having children in this era of climate change.

Although environmentalists for decades have worried about overpopulation for many good reasons, Dr Rieder suggests the fast-upcoming thresholds in climate change provide uniquely powerful reasons to consider taking real action to slow population growth

FOUR DEGREE WARMING COULD BE 'CATASTROPHIC' A report prepared for the Word Bank provides snapshots of the latest climate science. It warns that without concerted action, temperatures are on pace to rise to 4C above pre-industrial times by the end of this century. At 4C warming, the World Bank predicts that every summer month will be hotter than any current record heat wave, making the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean deadly during the summer months. Many coastal cities will be completely under water, and all low-lying island nations will likely have to be abandoned. Hundreds of millions, if not billions of people could become climate refugees, as their homelands become uninhabitable. Advertisement

HOW BAD WILL THINGS GET?

Some comments  those claiming climate change is a hoax, devised by those who wish to control the world's resources  are not worth responding to.

Since 97 percent of all relevant experts cannot convince climate change skeptics of the basic scientific facts, then nothing I say will change their minds.

Other concerns, however, do require a response.

Many people reacted to my work on procreation ethics by saying climate change will not be so bad, and so curbing individual desires, such as having children, in its name is unnecessary fear-mongering.

In my work, I suggest that 1.5-2C warming over pre-industrial levels will be 'dangerous' and 'very bad,' while 4C will be 'catastrophic' and will leave large segments of the Earth 'largely uninhabitable by humans.'

Here is a very brief survey of the evidence for those claims based on what I consider reputable sources.

At 1.5-2C, a World Bank report predicts an increase in extreme weather events, deadly heat waves and severe water stress.

Food production will decrease, and changing disease vectors will create unpredictable infectious disease outbreaks.

At 4C warming, the World Bank predicts that every summer month will be hotter than any current record heat wave, making the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean deadly during the summer months (stock image)

Sea levels will rise, combining with increased storm severity to place coastal cities at risk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that from the years 2030-2050  as we reach this level of warming  at least 250,000 people will die every year from just some of the climate-related harms.

Perhaps many of us in rich countries (the 'us' who might be reading this) will be largely protected from these early harms; but that doesn't make them less real to the vulnerable citizens of, say, Bangladesh, Kiribati or the Maldives.

In fact, it escalates the injustice, as the global wealthy have benefited from and contributed to climate change the most, while the global poor will be hurt first and worst.

At 4C warming, the World Bank predicts that every summer month will be hotter than any current record heat wave, making the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean deadly during the summer months.

Many coastal cities will be completely under water, and all low-lying island nations will likely have to be abandoned.

If temperatures rise by 4C, many coastal cities will be completely under water, and all low-lying island nations will likely have to be abandoned. Pictured are people affected by flooding in India

Hundreds of millions, if not billions of people could become climate refugees, as their homelands become uninhabitable.

Based on these descriptions, I stand by my predictions.

NO, ENVIRONMENTALISTS DON'T HATE BABIES

Other critics have argued that advocating for a lower birth rate = hating babies or being 'anti-life.'

Obviously I don't hate babies! I'm pretty wild about my own kid, and small humans in general.

This anti-life charge is more interesting, but equally wrong.

The premise seems to be that those who wish to lower fertility rates must be misanthropic, or fail to see the value of humans.

But that gets things exactly backwards: A radical concern for climate change is precisely motivated by a concern for human life  in particular, the human lives that will be affected by climate disruptions.

A valuable philosophical contribution here is the distinction between 'making people happy' and 'making happy people.'

When I feed a hungry person, or prevent a harm from befalling someone, I improve a person's well-being.

But when I create a person whom I will then feed and prevent from harm, I make a person who will predictably be well off.

In the first case, I added happiness to the world by helping an existing person; whereas in the second case, I added happiness by creating a person who will be happy. See the difference?

I, like many philosophers, believe that it's morally better to make people happy than to make happy people.

Those who exist already have needs and wants, and protecting and providing for them is motivated by respect for human life. It is not a harm to someone not to be created.

In fact, I would argue that it is more 'anti-life' to prioritize creating new life over caring for, or even not harming, those who already exist.

CAN THE ECONOMY GROW WITH LOWER POPULATION GROWTH?

Another opposing argument: People are not only consumers  they are also producers, and so will make the world better.

Yes, humans are producers, and many wonderful things have come from human genius.

But each person, whatever else they are (genius or dunce, producer or drag on the economy) is also a consumer.

And this is the only claim needed in order to be worried about climate change.

The problem here is that we have a finite resource  the ability of the Earth's atmosphere to absorb greenhouse gases without violently disrupting the climate  and each additional person contributes to the total amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

So although humans will hopefully save us (we do, in fact, desperately need brilliant people to develop scaleable technology to remove carbon from the air, for instance), the solution to this cannot be to have as many babies as possible, with the hope that this raises our probability of solving the problem.

Several people point to low-fertility countries like Japan, Italy and Germany, and argue that problems experienced by such countries are proof that the 'real' population crisis is our dropping fertility rate (stock image)

Because each baby is also an emitter, whether a genius or not.

Lastly, there's the view that lowering fertility rates will kill the economy.

Several commenters point to low-fertility countries like Japan, Italy and Germany, and argue that problems experienced by such countries are proof that the 'real' population crisis is our dropping fertility rate.

We need more babies to grow into healthy young producers to keep our economic engine humming.

The truth in this objection is the following: An economy that requires infinite growth to be healthy will be harmed in a world of finite resources.

But if it's true that our economies can't survive slowing or even reversing population growth, then we're in some trouble no matter what.

Why? It's simple logic that we cannot grow our population forever.

We can either reflect now on how to protect our economy while working toward a sustainable population, or we can ignore the problem until nature forces it on us, perhaps violently and unexpectedly.

I'll conclude with one, final thought: I don't enjoy arguing for a small family ethic, or a population engineering scheme.

Despite snide accusations to the contrary, I get no research funds or any other incentive for making this case.
Nasa is expected to make an announcement about 'surprising activity' on Jupiter's moon, Europa, on Monday.

Many speculated that Nasa could finally be announcing evidence of life beyond Earth.

The space agency, however, has poured cold water over these claims, tweeting that the much anticipated announcement will not be related to aliens.

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Jupiter's sixth-closest moon Europa is one of the most interesting bodies in our solar system when it comes to the hunt for extra terrestrial life. Now Nasa has released a cryptic message saying 'surprising' evidence about the moon will be announced on Monday

Jupiter's sixth-closest moon Europa lies 500 million miles from the sun and has an ocean lying beneath its surface which makes it one of the most likely places in the solar system for life to thrive.

The press briefing will be held at 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) on Monday, and broadcast in a live video stream.

'Astronomers will present results from a unique Europa observing campaign that resulted in surprising evidence of activity that may be related to the presence of a subsurface ocean on Europa,' Nasa officials wrote.

Nasa categorically stated in a later tweet that the discovery, which is due to be revealed on Monday is 'NOT aliens'

WHAT WE KNOW Nasa researchers will present results from a Europa observing campaign. The campaign found 'surprising evidence of activity that may be related to the presence of a subsurface ocean'. The images to be presented were taken by the Hubble space telescope. The press briefing will be held at 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) on Monday, and broadcast in a live video stream. Advertisement

The images presented will have been taken by the Hubble space telescope.

Because Europa has the potential to have more liquid water than we have on Earth, some had speculated that the surprise reveal could be evidence for life.

The 1,900-mile-wide (3,100 km) moon harbors a huge ocean of liquid water beneath its icy shell.

Astronomers think this ocean is in contact with Europa's rocky mantle, making all sorts of interesting chemical reactions a possibility.

Instead of direct evidence of life, however, experts have said it is more likely to be a step towards finding it.

The announcement could be related to faint plumes of water spotted on the moon back in 2012. This graphic shows the location of water vapor detected over Europa's south pole in December 2012

JUPITER'S ICY MOON EUROPA Jupiter's icy moon Europa is slightly smaller than Earth's moon. Europa orbits Jupiter every 3.5 days and is tidally locked - just like Earth's Moon - so that the same side of Europa faces Jupiter at all times. It is thought to have an iron core, a rocky mantle and a surface ocean of salty water, like Earth. Unlike on Earth, however, this ocean is deep enough to cover the whole surface of Europa, and being far from the sun, the ocean surface is globally frozen over. Many experts believe the hidden ocean surrounding Europa, warmed by powerful tidal forces caused by Jupiter's gravity, may have conditions favourable for life. Advertisement

This is an artist's concept of a plume of water vapour thought to be ejected off the frigid, icy surface of the Jovian moon Europa, about 500 million miles (800 million km) from the sun

WHO WILL SPEAK AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT Paul Hertz, director of the Astrophysics Division at Nasa Headquarters in Washington. William Sparks, astronomer with the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. Britney Schmidt, assistant professor at the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Jennifer Wiseman, senior Hubble project scientist at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Advertisement

The announcement could be related to faint plumes of water spotted on the moon back in 2012.

Hubble used a spectrograph to see normally invisible plumes of water vapour, shown in pictures as blue pixels above the moon.

'By far the simplest explanation for this water vapour is that it erupted from plumes on the surface of Europa,' lead author Lorenz Roth of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio said at the time.

'If those plumes are connected with the subsurface water ocean we are confident exists under Europa's crust, then this means that future investigations can directly investigate the chemical makeup of Europa's potentially habitable environment without drilling through layers of ice.

'And that is tremendously exciting.'

Bill McKinnon, a planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, told Business Insider the announcement is likely to be connected to these plumes.

'A plume confirmation would be a great thing,' McKinnon added, but 'I have no insider knowledge.'
Half of the potentially dangerous Galaxy Note 7 handsets have now been replaced with non-exploding versions through Samsung's recall program in the US.

The Korean electronics maker shipped 500,000 replacements earlier this week, after 90 percent of their customers opted for a new phone - the rest asked for a refund.

This announcement comes a week after the US Consumer Product Commission issued a formal recall for one million devices plagued by incidents of batteries bursting into flames.

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Approximately 500,000 potentially dangerous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 handsets have now been replaced with non-exploding versions in the US. The fiirm shipped the replacements earlier this week, which are now in 90 percent of their customers' hands

WHY WERE THE BATTERIES EXPLODING? Lithium batteries are use in a range of consumer electronic devices, favored by manufacturers because they are lightweight and pack much more energy into a small space than other power cells. But storing so much energy in a tiny space, with combustible components separated by ultra-thin walls, makes them susceptible to overheating if exposed to high temperatures, damage or flaws in manufacturing. If the separators fail, a chemical reaction can quickly escalate out of control. Koh Dong-jin, Samsung's mobile president told reporters in Seoul: 'The flaw in the manufacturing process resulted in the negative electrodes and the positive electrodes coming together.' It is unclear how Samsung failed to discover the battery problem before launching the Note 7. Advertisement

'Working hand in hand with the CPSC, we are delivering as promised and moving quickly to educate consumers about the recall and make new Note7s available,' said Tim Baxter, president of Samsung Electronics America in a recent statement.

'New devices will be in stores no later than tomorrow and we will continue to take the necessary actions to ensure users are powering down and immediately exchanging recalled devices.'

Samsung began its world tour for replacements this past Monday, starting with South Korea and a few European countries, reports CNN Money.

For customers who are procrastinating in returning the older devices, the firm plans to push a software update to all recalled handsets that prompts users to turn off their phone and exchange it.

This warning will be displayed every time an old Note 7 is turned on or charged.

In addition to a batch of replacements, Samsung also announced the roll-out of a software update for Note 7 devices, which helps users identify replacements.

A green battery icon on screen indicates that a Note 7 was built with an unaffected battery - the icon was white on the previous version.

After selling 2.5 million phones globally, Samsung was forced to warn these customers that their smartphones could explode.

And although the firm blames this fiasco on a faulty battery, reports suggest the real culprit was Samsung's urgency to beat Apple to the finish line.

Samsung also announced the roll-out of a software update for devices, which helps users identify replacements from the ticking time bombs. A green battery icon on screen indicates that a Note 7 was built with an unaffected battery - the icon was white on the previous version

For customers who are procrastinating in returning the older devices, the firm plans to push a software update to all recalled handsets that prompts users to turn off their phone and exchange it. This warning will be displayed every time an old Note 7 is turned on or charged

Once rumors surfaced that Apple's latest device wasn't set to be the year's biggest innovation, Samsung executives 'pushed suppliers to meet tighter deadlines, despite loads of new features'.

This group of executives, which includes mobile chief D.J. Koh, agreed to move production ahead of schedule in order 'launch a new phone they were confident would dazzle consumers' and take advantage of Apple's letdown, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

By doing so, Samsung was able to pack the Note 7 with a range of cutting-edge technology in just a short period of time.

This announcement comes a week after the US Consumer Product Commission issued a formal recall for one million devices plagued by incidents of batteries bursting into flames

GALAXY NOTE BELIEVED TO HAVE EXPLODED ON A PLANE A Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone is believed to have 'exploded' and caught fire on board a passenger jet from Singapore to India this morning. The handset is said to have emitted smoke on board the Indigo airlines flight 6E-054 going to Chennai airport. A Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone is believed to have 'exploded' and caught fire on board a passenger jet from Singapore to India this morning The airline confirmed today that passengers reported a small fire on board and that air crew found smoke coming from the handset in the overhead luggage of seat 23 C. Samsung last week recalled 2.5million Galaxy 7 Note handsets following reports of exploding phones. Etihad Airways temporarily banned the use of the smartphones at the beginning of this month again after reports of explosions from faulty batteries. Following the latest incident, Directorate General of Civil Aviation Government (DGCA) of India has summoned Samsung officials to discuss the issues at a meeting on Monday. An IndiGo spokesman said: 'A few passengers noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning and immediately alerted the cabin crew. 'The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the overhead of seat 23 C and informed the pilot-in-command who alerted air traffic control of the situation. 'Taking precautionary measure, the cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung Note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin.' The spokesman added that cabin crew used a fire extinguisher on the handset and threw it into a lavatory. Advertisement

This includes a high-resolution screen that stretches around the edges, iris-recognition security and of course, a faster charging battery.

However, this accelerated production came at a cost.

On August 2, Samsung took the stage in New York to unveil its 5.7 inch handset, a place where the firm also saw an opportunity to take a stab at Apple.

After selling 2.5 million phones globally, Samsung was forced to warn these customers that their smartphones could explode. And although the firm blames this fiasco on a faulty battery, reports suggest the real culprit was Samsun's urgency to beat Apple to the finish line

'Want to know what else it comes with?' teased Samsung's vice-president of marketing, Justin Denison.

'An audio jack. I'm just saying.'

Within a few days of the launch, it appeared Samsung was eating their own words after reports surfaced that the Note 7 was bursting into flames.

Just a month after the launch, Koh held a press conference in Seoul, South Korea where he announced the recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 devices that would eventually be replaced with a new and safe Note 7.

Although the firm was praised for its quick thinking, it was also criticized for announcing these plans prior to establishing a strategy on how to gather millions of phones in 10 countries and get each person a replacement.

This group of executives, which includes mobile chief D.J. Koh, agreed to move production ahead of schedule in order 'launch a new phone they were confident would dazzle consumers' and take advantage of Apple's letdown, the iPhone 7 (pictured)

In the meantime, Samsung had short-term solutions such as shutting phones off and not using them to a software patch that prevents batteries from overheating.

'This is creating an enormous problem for the company -- for its reputation and ability to support its customers when there's a problem,' David Yoffie, a management professor at Harvard Business School and board member at Intel Corp, told Bloomberg.

While employees scrambled to meet the early launch date, suppliers also stretched their work hours and were under more pressure than usual.

One supplier told Bloomberg that 'it was particularly challenging to work with Samsung employees this time, as they repeatedly changed their minds about specs and work flow'.

'Some Samsung workers began sleeping in the office to avoid time lost in commuting.'

But with all the sweat and tears, the firm believed they had come out on top.

The Note 7 devices were shipped to carriers all over the world in time for an early launch and one executive even said they had time to test the handsets in May, which is 'the typical amount of time to check its capabilities'.

However, it wasn't until the devices reached customers were they deemed ticking time bombs.

In a case shortly after the release, one man shared a video of a charred Note 7 on YouTube.

THE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 7 RECALL The world's largest maker of mobile phones recalled 2.5-million units of its top-of-the-range model more than two weeks ago, after batteries began catching fire while charging. But users snubbed the South Korean electronics giant's offer of a temporary replacement until new Note 7s became available, and there seemed to be little urgency among consumers for the permanent fix offered. The success of the recall is seen as crucial to Samsung retaining brand loyalty and preventing customers defecting to arch-rival Apple's new iPhone 7 or cheaper Chinese-made models. A Samsung spokeswoman confirmed the firm had started to offer the replacement handsets. The company began offering replacements for users in Canada and Singapore last week and is set to start soon in other nations including Mexico, Taiwan, New Zealand the United Arab Emirates. But with only a trickle of customers visiting stores in Seoul today for their replacements, the fate of the much-hyped handset remained unclear, although consumers in the South Korean capital were sympathetic. The recall dealt a major blow to the firm's reputation and raised alarm among airline, with several banning passengers from using the device on board. South Korean users have time until March 2017 to hand in their phones for a replacement but Samsung is hoping a software update that will limit battery recharges to 60 percent of capacity will jolt consumers into returning their handsets. The recall crisis erupted as Samsung finds itself squeezed by competition from Apple in the high-end market and Chinese rivals in the low-and mid-end segment. Advertisement

'Hey YouTube,' Ariel Gonzalez says.

'Be careful out there. Everyone rockin' the new Note 7, it might catch fire y'all.'

Another was from family in St. Petersburg, Florida, who reported a Galaxy Note 7 phone left charging in their Jeep caught fire and destroyed the vehicle.

And most recently, a six-year-old boy was burned after a Samsung phone 'exploded' in his hands.

'This is a crisis and a blow to Samsung's image,' said Kim Sang Jo, economics professor at Hansung University in Seoul.

'Clearly there were procedural missteps and the company will have to restore consumer and investor confidence.'

About two weeks ago, the US aviation safety officials warned passengers not to turn on or even charge a Note 7 during while one the plane, after numerous incident reports surfaced.

The family said the phone, which was plugged in here, was engulfed in flames which quickly consumed the rest of the vehicle

The Federal Aviation Administration also told passengers not to put smartphones in their checked bags, citing 'recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung' about the devices.

Delta Air Lines Inc, the No.2 U.S. airline by passenger traffic, said it is still studying the issue.

'Delta is in constant contact with the FAA and other bodies in its run of business as a global airline,' spokesman Morgan Durrant said in a statement.

'We will comply with any directive and are studying this matter. Safety and security is always Delta's top priority.'

New York and New Jersey have both asked Samsung users to shut their phones down while riding public transportation until every faulty Note 7 has been replaced.

HOW LITHIUM ION BATTERIES WORK IN YOUR PHONE Lithium ion batteries have three basic parts - a positive cathode, a negative anode and a chemical layer in between known as an electrolyte. The electrolyte allows electrical charges flow between the electrodes. In lithium ion batteries, the cathode is usually lithium cobalt oxide while the anode is made from graphite. When your battery charges, electrons entering at the anode attract lithium ions, which then nestle in sites between the graphite's carbon layers. During use, lithium atoms at the anode start losing their electrons, allowing electrons to zip through the circuits in the phone to provide power. Meanwhile, lithium ions journey through the electrolyte to be reunited with electrons at the cathode. These processes keep going until all ions reach the cathode, causing that dreaded flashing battery symbol. Every time your battery uses 100 per cent of its charge, known as its capacity, it has been through a single charge cycle. Each charge cycle, however, reduces the battery's total capacity by a tiny amount. Advertisement

Although Samsung voluntarily recalled 2.5 million devices worldwide, the announcement seemed to fall on deaf ears as many stores and carriers continued to sell them.

The US Consumer Product Commission was then forced to step in and recall the one million in the US, where some 92 incidences of batteries overheating have been reported.

Samsung rushed to produce and ship the Note 7 devices and one executive even said they had time to test the handsets in May, which is 'the typical amount of time to check its capabilities'. However, it wasn't until the devices reached customers were they deemed ticking time bombs

GALAXY NOTE 7 SPECS 5.7inch curved screen Measures 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9mm, weighs 169g (5.96 oz) MicroSD card expansion slot that holds up to 256 GB Available in black onyx, silver titanium, gold platinum and blue coral Built with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Display is a super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen USB-C charger port 64 GB of internal storage, with 4 GB RAM Non-removable Li-Po 3500 3,500 mAh battery Water-resistant phone body and S Pen Advertisement

The US notice affects around one million of the global total of 2.5 million handsets being recalled, which has cast a cloud over the South Korean electronics giant and world's largest smartphone vendor, reports AFP.

The recall is the largest the smartphone industry has ever witnessed, however, Samsung did receive a pat on the back from others in the technology industry for the firm's speed and decisiveness, reports The New York Times.

'I thought, 'How is it that this is happening?' ' Jennifer Shecter, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports, told The New York Times.

Shecter said the group found an inconsistent response to the recall across America, as some stores and carries continued to keep selling the Note 7 even days after Samsung made the recall announcement.

'Samsung made an announcement, but the government wasn't involved, there wasn't a clear message, there wasn't an approved remedy and there wasn't a clear fix,' she said.

Samsung has started an exchange program for Galaxy Note 7 owners in the UK and Ireland today, which allows them to trade in their ticking time bombs for safe smartphones.

'Samsung is fully confident that the battery issue has been completely resolved in the replacement Note 7 devices that will be available to customers in UK and Ireland from this week,' said the firm in a statement.

The tech company added that while there had only been 'a small number of reported incidents, safety is the number one concern.

'Our absolute priority is the safety of our customers  that's why we are asking all Galaxy Note 7 customers to act now and exchange today,' said Conor Pierce, vice president of IT & Mobile at Samsung UK & Ireland.
The evaporation of water was used to initiate the

The subjects of this project were droplets of saturated aqueous solutions containing various inorganic salts

the clip Crystallization 2 as part of the large effort named Beauty of Science

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To some, observing droplets of saturated aqueous solutions crystallize is monotonous.

But, one professor compares this natural reaction to beautiful works of art, as the colours and structures appear to form tiny intricate snowflakes.

Yan Liang used the evaporation of water to initiate the process inside the droplets and captured the breathtaking display with timelapse photography.

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To some, observing droplets of saturated aqueous solutions crystallize is monotonous. But, one professor compares this natural reaction to beautiful works of art, as the colours and structures appear to form tiny intricate snowflakes

CRYSTALLIZATION AT WORK Crystallization occurs to when the solution reaches a lower energy state. The activation energy comes in the form of a nuclei crystal being added to the liquid solution This nuclei can come from another source, known as seeding, or can naturally form within the solution as a result of the ion and molecule interactions. This allows the dissolved ions to build up on the nuclei and then each other to form the stunning crystals. Advertisement

Liang, a contract associate professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), has been turning science into art for years.

And his latest project consists of various droplets of saturated aqueous solutions containing various inorganic salts  such as table salt and sodium.

Named Crystallization 2, this stunning art project is part of an a larger effort called Beauty of Science.

'We set out to shoot chemical phenomena from fresh new angles using the latest photo equipment,' he told PetaPixel.

'We chose the crystallization processes first because these processes are extremely beautiful, and we knew we could improve on our initial attempt from two years ago.'

Liang and his team used a Sony A&R II attached to a canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens to capture the final timelapse of the crystallization process.

Due to the size of the RAW files (81Mb for uncompressed RAW, 41Mb for compressed RAW) they went with JPEG for this process, he said.

'Utilizing the 42.4MP full-frame sensor of the A7R II, we got images with great detail,' Liang told PetaPixel.

However, because with the size of the RAW files (81Mb for uncompressed RAW, 41Mb for compressed RAW), the team decided to use JPEG instead, Liang explained.

And since the crystal images were mainly black and white or other simple colours, there was no need to deal with larger files.

Yan Liang used the evaporation of water to initiate the process inside the droplets and captured the breathtaking display with timelapse photography. Liang, a contract associate professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), has been turning science into art for years

With his latest project consists of various droplets of saturated aqueous solutions containing various inorganic salts  such as table salt and sodium Named Crystallization 2, this stunning art project is part of an a larger effort called Beauty of Science

The team had to do a few minor colour corrections and stabilization in After Effects and generate a 4K timelapse from an 8K video in Final Cut Pro X before reaching the final product.

'The image quality and level of detail of the final 4K video is stunning,' Liang said.

'We also selected the best still images for each crystal from the timelapse sequence.'

Two years ago, Liang released a series of images that how reactions taking place after acid is dripped onto a flower, or when a copper sulfate solution was mixed with sodium hydroxide, to create copper sulfate precipitate, which looks like a brilliantly blue swimming pool.

The images showcase the dazzling array of colours and textures created when chemicals clash.

Liang became fascinated by chemical reactions during his studies and joined with two other professors at USTC in February to share their love of colourful potions by taking photographs.

'We set out to shoot chemical phenomena from fresh new angles using the latest photo equipment,' Liang told PetaPixel . 'We chose the crystallization processes first because these processes are extremely beautiful, and we knew we could improve on our initial attempt from two years ago

Liang and his team used a Sony A&R II attached to a canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro lens to capture the final timelapse of the crystallization process. Due to the size of the RAW files (81Mb for uncompressed RAW, 41Mb for compressed RAW) they went with JPEG for this process, he said

With help from Tsinghua University Press and visual effects experts, Professor Liang, Professor Xiangang Tao and Dr Wei Huang researched which reactions would look the most eye-catching on camera.

The scientists then carried out small-scale experiments before shooting the best possible images of the prettiest reactions.

The trio uploaded the work to their website - including reactions such as precipitation, crystallization, bubbling and metal displacement  where they proved popular.

Liang, avoids working with reactions that could potentially be hazardous.

'The image quality and level of detail of the final 4K video is stunning,' Liang said. 'We also selected the best still images for each crystal from the timelapse sequence'

Crystallization2 is a short video about beautiful crystallization processes. The subjects of this project were droplets of saturated aqueous solutions containing various inorganic salts (e.g. table salt, sodium sulfate etc.). The evaporation of water initiated the crystallization processes inside the droplets, which were captured by time-lapse photography

'I was always fascinated by the beauty of chemistry - both the colourful chemical reactions and the invisible molecular structures,' he said.

'The first step was doing research and selecting the potential reactions that could be beautiful then we conducted experiments and make sure these reactions were indeed worth filming.

'Once we found the proper reactions, the third step was to optimize both the reaction parameters and our shooting techniques and make sure we get the perfect images.

'However, during experiments, something unexpected could happen and we ended up getting some extra beautiful shots.'
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You've got cash to splash but where to stay?

Well if you really do have limitless funds, then you might want to check out some of these presidential hotel suites.

MailOnline Travel has put together a guide of the most lusted after hotel rooms in the world, with prices topping an eye-watering 62,000 a night.

Indeed, the 12-bedroom presidential suite at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva costs 62,392 ($81,000), with the offerings of a gym, Jacuzzi, Steinway grand piano, private butler, chef and security team enticing the likes of Michael Jackson, Richard Branson and Rihanna.

Or you might want to investigate the presidential suites at the gold-encrusted Raj Palace in Jaipur, India, with 41,248 ($53,550) a night getting you 16-square feet to play with. Amenities include a private bar, historic museum, roof deck and spa pool.

Intercontinental, Hong Kong

Price per night: 9,607 ($12,468)

Sold as Asias 'most spectacular' presidential suite, InterContinental Hong Kong's luxury five-bedroom space - complete with double height ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows - spans 7,000 square feet

Crow's nest: The InterContinental presidential suite bathroom boasts stunning views of Hong Kong

Sold as Asias 'most spectacular' presidential suite, InterContinental Hong Kong's luxury five-bedroom space - complete with double height ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows - spans 7,000 square feet.

Among the amenities on offer is a round-the-clock personal butler service, a gym, a private sauna and steam room.

Stepping outside, the suite boasts a 2,500-square-foot rooftop terrace decked out with an infinity swimming pool and Jacuzzi overlooking Victoria Harbour and the city skyline.

St. Regis, New York

Price per night: 26,959 ($35,000)

Located in the heart of Manhattan, the St. Regis New York's presidential suite on the 16 floor boasts stunning views over Central Park

Clean appeal: The bathroom is decked out with marble tops and mosaic tiles - there's also a rather funky light

Sit back and relax: There is a balcony off one of the bedrooms, so guests can look down on the city below

Located in the heart of Manhattan, the St. Regis New York's presidential suite on the 16th floor boasts stunning views over Central Park.

The three-bedroom apartment comes complete with numerous balconies, a wood-paneled library, full kitchen and a spa-style bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub.

Other perks include 24-hour butler service, a complimentary bottle of Champagne and free in-room movies.

The Raj Palace, Jaipur, India

Price per night: 41,248 ($53,550)

Impressive interiors: The gold-encrusted Raj Palace offers guests a choice of two presidential suites: the Shahi Mahal and Maharajas Pavilion, the latter of which is a four-story, four-bedroom apartment

Standout features: There are four bedrooms in the suite, with lots of ornaments decorating the rooms

Opulent: The Raj Palace suite features lashings of gold leaf and marble

The gold-encrusted Raj Palace offers guests a choice of two presidential suites: the Shahi Mahal and Maharajas Pavilion, the latter of which is a four-story, four-bedroom apartment.

The roomy 16,000-square-foot abode includes a 'luxurious' private lounge and bar on the first floor, museum on the second floor, a library and dining room on the third floor, and a private rooftop terrace and spa pool on the top deck.

One of the most impressive rooms is the double-height reception room, with a giant chandelier, topped off with lashings of red velvet and gold leaf furnishings.

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

Price per night: 10,287 ($13,355)

Mood lighting: The Mandarin Oriental's presidential suite on the 36th floor in Tokyo includes a dark wood paneled dining room with seating for eight people and a roomy lounge area

The suite's white-marbled bathroom features a Jacuzzi bathtub positioned next to the window overlooking the cityscape

The Mandarin Oriental's presidential suite on the 36th floor in Tokyo has one large master bedroom with a king-sized bed swathed in Egyptian cotton linens.

The giant master bedroom also boasts a walk-in wardrobe, while the adjoining white-marbled bathroom features a Jacuzzi bathtub positioned next to the window overlooking the cityscape.

Additional accommodation includes a dark wood paneled dining room with seating for eight people, a separate study, living room, pantry, hall and powder room.

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii

Price per night: 10,287 ($13,355)

Ocean views: Forget high-sky views. The Four Seasons Hualalai in Hawaii ups the ante with its Presidential Villa, where guests can breeze out from their three-bedroom bungalow to the beach

Sleep appeal: The suite features four poster beds and patio doors leading out into the garden

Dreamy: The beach at the Four Seasons Hualalai in Hawaii features hammocks for guests to relax in

Forget high-sky views. The Four Seasons Hualalai in Hawaii ups the ante with its Presidential Villa, where guests can breeze out from their three-bedroom bungalow to the beach.

The tropical-feel suite includes a large outdoor deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean, complete with sunbeds and a hot tub.

For a real Hawaiian experience guests can wash off in an outdoor lava-rock shower after a spot of swimming. The living room is also open air - perfect for a stargazing session.

The Beverly Hills Hotel

Price per night: 13,094 ($17,000)

Pretty in pink: The Beverley Hills Hotel has welcomed dozens of famous faces, from Elizabeth Taylor to Marilyn Monroe to the Duke of Windsor

Hollywood hangout: The one-bedroom presidential suite at the Beverley Hills Hotel promises to make guests feel as pampered as possible - with luxuries including a fireplace and den to hide away in

Sun spot: Guests of the suite can relax on the balcony and watch the world go by

The Beverley Hills Hotel has welcomed dozens of famous faces, from Elizabeth Taylor to Marilyn Monroe to the Duke of Windsor.

And its one-bedroom presidential suite promises to make guests feel as pampered as possible.

Featuring oak furnishings and candy-coloured velvet furnishings, amenities include a 'den' to hideaway in, a fireplace, a professional chef's kitchen, a piano and a 'luxurious' marble bathroom complete with an outdoor shower for two.

Other room highlights include round trip LAX airport transfers, complimentary flowers, a fresh fruit platter and bottle of Krug champagne.

Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan

Price per night: 17,716 ($23,000)

Popular spot: The 500-square-metre Presidential Suite on the 10th floor at Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan has welcomed celebrities, presidents and royalty from Queen Elizabeth to George Clooney

Taking the plunge: The suite - which includes a swimming pool - is not cheap at 17,716 ($23,000) a night

Party planning: In the luxurious living room - stocked with a treasure trove of fine art and antiques - youll find a welcoming marble fireplace, while the dining room is furnished with French crystal

The 500-square-metre Presidential Suite on the 10th floor at Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan has welcomed celebrities, presidents and royalty from Queen Elizabeth to George Clooney.

In the luxurious living room - stocked with a treasure trove of fine art and antiques - youll find a welcoming marble fireplace, while the dining room is furnished with French crystal.

There are three bedrooms and the Pompeii-style spa has a large private swimming pool, whirlpool, Jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath.

Hotel President Wilson, Geneva

Price per night: 62,392 ($81,000)

Musical touch: The lounge area in Hotel President Wilson's presidential suite includes a Steinway grand piano

Entertaining spaces: The dining table in the apartment is perfect for a large gathering

Lakeside location: Guests of the suite can sit back and watch some television while soaking in the watery views

Room for two: The suite boasts a large whirlpool bath, with a balcony overlooking the lake

Where do the rich and famous stay when they're planning a getaway on the shores of Lake Geneva?

Michael Jackson, Richard Branson, Rihanna and Bill Gates have all enjoyed stays here, the world's luxurious hotel suite - a snip at only 62,392 ($81,000) a night.

The 12-bedroom Royal Penthouse Suite of the President Wilson hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, is believed to be the most expensive hotel suite in the world.

Occupying the entire eighth floor of the hotel and spanning a massive 18,000 sq/ft, it boasts a gym, Jacuzzi, Steinway grand piano, private butler, chef and its own security team.

Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.

Price per night: 11,473 ($15,000)

Vantage point: The five-star Mandarin Oriental in Washington D.C. boasts stunning views of the city

Suite spot! The Lincoln Memorial can clearly be seen from the suite's dining room, which seats eight people around the table

Washington D.C. is the political hub of America, so the presidential suites in the city's top hotels scrub up pretty sharp.

The five-star Mandarin Oriental doesn't disappoint with a three-bedroom penthouse complete with views of the National Cathedral, Lincoln Memorial and Potomac River.

Features include giant four-poster king beds, a walk-in closet, 24-foot living room, an infinity edge bathtub and study with leather walls.

Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel, Istanbul

Price per night: 27, 557 ($35,700)

Soaking it in: Formerly the palace of an Ottoman Sultan, the Ciragan Palace Kempinski is the jewel of Istanbul

A-list haunt: Fans of the opulent five-star hotel include Prince Charles, Liz Hurley, Uma Thurman and Giorgio Armani

Formerly the palace of an Ottoman Sultan, the Ciragan Palace Kempinski is the jewel of Istanbul.

Its presidential suite is certainly fit for sovereignty with two bedrooms, a library, powder room and views out over the Bosphorus strait.

For those who like to arrive in style, there are boat and helicopter services available.
This just might be the cutest animal you've probably never heard of.

Pine martens - a relative of the weasel - were at one point very nearly extinct in England and continue to be extremely rare, but have been faring much better in Scotland.

A whole family of them have been spotted from cabins at the Forest Holidays resort in Strathye nibbling on food scraps left out by guests.

Pine martens were at one point very nearly extinct in England but have been faring much better in Scotland, where they have been spotted at a woodland resort (pictured)

The pine marten used to be Britain's second most common carnivore.

It was heavily hunted for its fur, however, and almost wiped out in the 1800s, with the species granted protection in 1988.

The adorable creature is the size of a cat but slender with brown fur, a bushy tail and a creamy yellow throat.

A group of around 20 pine martens are thought to have set up camp at the Scottish Resort, with some even captured on video enjoying an alfresco breakfast on the deck of a cabin.

A whole family of them have been spotted from cabins at the Forest Holidays resort in in Strathye (pictured)

The adorable elusive critters have been snapped nibbling on food scraps left out by guests

The adorable creature is the size of a cat but slender with brown fur, a bushy tail and a creamy yellow throat (stock image)

One visitor was so intrigued by their antics that she started a Pine Marten Diary in 2010, asking other visitors to capture their own sightings.

'When we got up in the morning the sandwich and the peanut butter had gone, all that was left was a muddy paw print on the table top!' one wrote.

Another entry reads: 'I saw him at 3.30am, I was so excited I had to go and wake up my husband. He was very cute  bushy tail with a little white belly  so worth the wait to see.'

The location at Strathyre provides the perfect habitat for the creatures, with a mixed woodland that includes birch, spruce, pine and outcrops that offer plenty of places to make dens.

Forest restructuring in Scotland brought about by the Wildlife and Countryside Act in the 1980s has meant that pine marten population has been growing.

Scotland's Strathyre provides the perfect habitat for the creatures, with a mixed woodland and plenty of places to make dens

Forest restructuring in Scotland brought about by the Wildlife and Countryside Act in the 1980s has meant that pine marten population has been growing

Currently, a brand new study by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is being launched to assess the feasibility of translocating pine martens into England

As for England, even naturalist Sir David Attenborough admits he has never seen the shy mammal in the wild.

A recent poll has revealed that 60 per cent of the British public dont know what a pine marten is, with 35 per cent thinking its a kind of bird, and 12 per cent thinking its a kind of tree.

Last year in England a pine marten sighting was verified by Shropshire Wildlife Trust - the first confirmed in the area for 100 years.
Consuming 16,000 calories a day doesn't seem like the road to beautification for most people, but in western Africa it is.

A new infographic reveals some of the oddest beauty rituals in the world with being 'super-sized' considered the height of desirability in some parts.

In China, leg stretching and foot binding were both popular antics until they were banned - as long legs and tiny tootsies were considered the ultimate symbol of power.

Striking: In Africa some tribes stretch their bottom lips using a clay plate in order to define their beauty - the larger the lip plate, the more beautiful a woman is considered

No pain, no gain: A new infographic, created by beautyflash.co.uk , reveals some of the oddest beauty rituals in the world

Another beautifying practice that is no longer allowed is the tradition of wearing wooden nose plugs, according to the infographic, which was created by beautyflash.co.uk.

Women of the Apatani tribe in India originally started wearing large plugs in their noses to make them unattractive and prevent them from being abducted, but the custom soon turned into a popular trend.

Although some bizarre beautifying trends have died out, a whole new breed of rituals have cropped up.

Eye widening is becoming increasingly popular in South Korea, with many people believing rounder eyes are more beautiful.

The procedure, called Epicanthoplasty, involves cutting the outer edges of the eyes to make the rounder and wider.

Also in Asia, skin-lightening or bleaching is a common practice. It is also popular in Africa and the Middle East.

Taking pain to another level, in Indonesia some tribe members sharpen their teeth, while in Africa, tribal women willingly scar themselves as a sign of strength.

Out with the old, in with the new: Although some bizarre beautifying trends have died out, a whole new breed of rituals have cropped up

In Kenya the Maasai people stretch their earlobes, believing the more they stretch them the more beautiful they will become.

Similarly in other parts of Africa, some tribes stretch their bottom lips using a clay plate in order to define their beauty. The larger the lip plate, the more beautiful a woman is considered.

Over in northern Thailand neck stretching is still practiced, with women wearing brass coils around their necks in a bid to appear more elegant.
Tensions ran high between Sam Johnston, 27, and Rhys Chilton, 29, on Thursday night's episode of The Bachelorette.

And while they were paying each other out on camera, fans took to Twitter with comparisons between the male models and fictional film characters Derek Zoolander and Hansel.

'Am I watching #BacheloretteAU or Zoolander ? (sic)' one viewer tweeted.

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Face-off! Sam Johnston (L) and Rhys Chilton (R) were compared to Zoolander characters Derek and Hansel during Thursday's episode of The Bachelorette

Confused: One viewer asked: 'Am I watching #BacheloretteAUD or Zoolander ?' (sic)

'Haha Rhys and Sam are like Derek Zoolander and Hansel....let the battle begin!' another wrote.

Another fan even shared a still from the film's famous "walk-off" scene where the male models showed off their talents on the runway.

'Sam and Rhys are ABSOLUTELY Derek Zoolander and Hansel, which obvs means they will eventually be besties (sic), one person tweeted.

Life imitating art: Fans compared Sam and Rhys' rivalry to the relationship between Zoolander character's Derek and Hansel (played by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson)

Rivalry: Sam appeared envious of Rhys during the photo shoot group date, which saw the 29-year-old strip down to show off his physique

Rhys, who has made many mentions of his modelling career throughout the show, was in his element during the first group date of the series.

Starring with Georgia Love, alongside fellow contestants Sam and Clancy Ryan, the self-proclaimed entrepreneur went shirtless for the Mills and Boon romance novel cover photo shoot.

'I've got a rig, I got it out,' Rhys noted in his piece-to-camera before parading his bare body in front of the other contestants and Georgia.

Showdown: One viewer tweeted: 'Haha Rhys and Sam are like Derek Zoolander and Hansel....let the battle begin!'

Walk-off: One fan shared a still from Zoolander to illustrate Sam and Rhys' competitiveness

'My body is gonna (sic) be on the cover of a lot of books, apparently. Hopefully they tag my Insta [Instagram] down the bottom,' he laughed.

And during the preparation for the steamy shoot, the Queenslander wanted to make sure his looks stood out above the rest.

'Could you make my eyes pop?' the professional poser asked of the show's makeup artist.

A sign of things to come? One fan predicted that Sam and Rhys will settle their rivalry and become best friends, as did Derek and Hansel in the comedy

All for show? Another fan suggested Sam's disdain for his fellow contestant was a disguise for his admiration

All eyes on him: 29-year-old Rhys wanted to make sure he stood out and asked the makeup artist to 'make my eyes pop' for the shoot

Meanwhile, electrician Sam appeared envious and couldn't stop mocking Rhys on camera.

'Rhys, I think he pretended to not know what was going on...he just couldn't wait [to get his shirt off],' the Sydney-sider said.

Sam downplayed his own experience as a model, playing coy when Georgia asked if he's done it before.

'A few Big W. A few Aldi. Aldi's probably my finest work, I think,' Sam said coyly.

Showing off: Last night's group date saw Rhys strip down for a photo shoot alongside Sam, Clancy Ryan and Bachelorette Georgia Love

Not shy: Rhys was in his element throughout the shoot, telling the camera beforehand: 'I've got a rig, I got it out'

He added to camera, taking a dig at Rhys: 'If I told her earlier she would have through differently of me, put me in the same category as Rhys.'

But as the shoot got underway and Rhys was clearly at the centre of attention with his ripped torso on display, Sam channeled his inner male model and busted out some moves of his own.

His experienced pout didn't go unnoticed by the other contestants spectating from the sidelines.

'Is that Magnum?' one of them asked, referring to one of Derek's signature look in Zoolander.
She is delightedly preparing for single motherhood.

And Stephanie Davis is seizing her last chance for a child-free holiday as she jetted on her babymoon on Thursday, after revealing the trip is 'so needed' after many dramatic holidays in the past.

The 23-year-old former Hollyoaks actress was perhaps referencing her overwhelming trip to Cape Verde in April with ex-beau Jeremy McConnell, the father of her child, after reports surfaced claiming she was left in fear after a row.

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Baby on the way: Stephanie Davis is seizing her last chance for a child-free holiday as she jetted on her babymoon on Thursday, after revealing the trip is 'so needed' after many dramatic holidays in the past

Stephanie has kept her pregnancy well-documented following the tempestuous start to her journey after meeting Jeremy in the Celebrity Big Brother house in January.

Despite the beautiful brunette dating hunky model Sam Reece on the outside world, she struck up what would become an extremely volatile relationship with the father of her child.

Since she announced her pregnancy earlier this year, Jeremy has vehemently denied paternity while Stephanie has offered to undergo tests to determine his role.

In April during their trip to Cape Verde, sources told The Sun that the Irish model, 25, grabbed Stephanie's neck after accusing her of looking at other men - days after news surfaced that Jeremy was hospitalised during an argument.

Peace out: The 23-year-old former Hollyoaks actress was perhaps referencing her overwhelming trip to Cape Verde in April with ex-beau Jeremy McConnell, the father of her child, after reports surfaced claiming she was left in fear after a row

Happier than ever: Stephanie has kept her pregnancy well-documented following the tempestuous start to her journey after meeting Jeremy in the Celebrity Big Brother house in January

In a thinly-veiled reference to the trip, Stephanie shared a snap a stunning image as she stood on a dancefloor in a skin-tight dress while holding a fan.

She added the caption: 'Me and my beautiful baby boy growing each day, so proud of him already and he's not even here yet his first holiday in his mummy hehe.

'Can't WAIT to take him on his first holiday next year and he him in the pool So so happy. My little perfect family xxxx'

Lies? Since she announced her pregnancy earlier this year, Jeremy has vehemently denied paternity while Stephanie has offered to undergo tests to determine his role

In her pregnancy blog for OK! magazine, the stunning actress discussed her holiday: 'I'm off on my little babymoon to Spain and I can't wait, it's so needed. I'm just going to chill out the whole time, eat lots of nice food and go for nice walks.

'It's been a long time since I've had a nice holiday with no drama. I'm definitely going to be proudly wearing my bikini too! It's going to be my last trip before my baby arrives and I am feeling a bit worried about flying.

'But I'll just pop my plane socks on and go for walks up and down the aisle and I'm sure I'll be fine.'
They say living well is the best revenge.

And Kate Winslet admitted she sees her happy family life and successful career as a way to get back at bullies who hounded her over her weight and acting ambitions as a teenager.

Speaking to The Today Show to promote her new film The Dressmaker, the British star, 40, said she identified with her character's desire for revenge.

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Living well: Kate Winslet told The Today Show that her happy family life and career were her revenge against girls who teased her about her weight and acting while growing up

'I was kind of bullied when I was younger, actually at school,' she told Billy Bush.

'For being chubby, you know, I had girls who were envious of me because I was acting a little bit as a teenager.'

In her new movie, Kate plays a couture designer who returns to her small Australian hometown to exact revenge and reconnect with her estranged mother.

And Kate joked that her career success and happy family were her way of getting back at the mean girls.

Not nice: The 40-year-old said she was bullied for 'being chubby' and for getting acting roles as a teenager

Candid: The British star told Billy Bush that her 'happy life' with a healthy family and booming career was the best way to get back at bullies

'So this is my revenge. This right here, this lovely career that I have been blessed with,' Kate said.

'I have healthy children. You know, I have a really happy life and, to me, it's like 'Well, look at me now girls!''

Asked if Titanic was when she first launched her payback, Kate admitted:'That was a very, very sweet moment.'

'Sweet moment:' The Oscar-winner shot to worldwide fame in 1997 when she costarred in Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio

The 1997 megahit shot Kate and costar Leonardo DiCaprio to worldwide fame, and she went on to win an Oscar as Best Actress for The Reader in 2009, as well as earning six other Academy Award nominations.

Kate is now married to her third husband Ned Rocknroll, and they share two-year-old son Bear Blaze. She also has a daughter Mia, 15, from her marriage to director Jim Threapleton and a son Joe from her marriage to director Sam Mendes.

And she said her teenage daughter was jealous that she was costarring with Liam Hemsworth in the Dressmaker and then with Justin Timberlake in an upcoming Woody Allen film.

Up in smoke: Kate stars as a fashion designer who returns to her small Australian hometown to exact revenge in new film The Dressmaker

'It does seem a little mean, doesn't it?' Kate said. 'It's OK, she loves me. She forgives me, and she has said, 'Mum, if you don't let me come on to that set, I'm never going to speak to you again.''

But the Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind star admitted she was left mortified after asking Justin Timberlake if he can sing.

'I hum a lot on set and I do tend to just absentmindedly sing between takes. And he was doing the same thing,' she said of the pop star.

'And I turned around to him and said 'Oh, so that'll be our thing. Do you sing?' And then I was like 'Of course he sings, Kate. Of course he sings! Did you just say that?' Can you imagine?'

Whoops: The actress cracked up as she admitted she asked Justin Timberlake if he can sing after hearing him humming on set
Little Men (PG)

Verdict: Poignant slice-of-life drama

Rating:

The last film by writer-director Ira Sachs was 2014's exquisitely observed Love Is Strange, about an ageing gay couple forced out of their Manhattan apartment and compelled to live apart.

Little Men is also about relationships unfolding against a backdrop of the unforgiving New York property market, and is better still: a charming, funny, poignant drama about two 13-year-old boys whose friendship grows even as the parents of one try to evict the mother of the other.

Jennifer Ehle and Greg Kinnear play Kathy, a psychotherapist, and Brian, a struggling actor, whose awkward only son Jake (Theo Taplitz) is uprooted when the family move from Manhattan into the Brooklyn apartment of Brian's late father, Max. Max also owned a commercial property downstairs, run as a dress shop by a Chilean immigrant, Leonore (Paulina Garcia).

She and Max were firm friends, possibly lovers. He kept her rent low, even as the neighbourhood became inexorably gentrified.

Little Men is a charming, funny, poignant drama about two 13-year-old boys whose friendship grows even as the parents of one try to evict the mother of the other, writes Brian Viner

But Kathy and Brian cannot afford to be sentimental, and besides, Brian is under pressure from his sister (Talia Balsam) to secure the market rent. Leonore, for her part, cannot afford to pay any more.

What elevates the story, turning it into a really beguiling slice-of-life drama, is Jake's burgeoning friendship with Leonore's son Tony (Michael Barbieri).

Tony is everything Jake is not: outgoing, confident, cheeky.

The boys' relationship, and their desperate attempts to make the warring adults see 'sense', is the soul of this lovely film. But none of it would work half so well without a string of topnotch performances, notably by both children; Barbieri, in particular, is a proper little scene-stealer.
Glenn Close (left) and Gemma Arterton (right) attended a special screening of The Girl With All The Gifts in London this week

The Girl With All The Gifts (15)

Verdict: Brilliant dystopian thriller

Rating:

Dystopian fantasies involving post-apocalyptic zombies usually make my blood run cold  not because they scare me, but because they bore me.

Here, though, is a very fine film indeed, about just that, set in a ravaged England populated by terrifying 'hungries' and terrified 'friendlies'.

The hungries, in Colm McCarthy's powerful version of M.R. Carey's 2014 novel, are humans who have been infected by a virulent fungus, only snapping out of a catatonic trance when they smell healthy human flesh and blood, which they then feel compelled to eat.

But a small group of child hungries, who have mutated differently and haven't succumbed to the trance, have been imprisoned at a military base so that a team of scientists, led by Dr Caldwell (Glenn Close), might cut them open to find a cure.

The experiment also requires them to be educated, and the smartest yet most guileless of them is young Melanie (Sennia Nanua), who is devoted to her nicest teacher, Miss Justineau (Gemma Arterton).

At first, there are precious few clues as to what exactly is going on. Why are Melanie and her classmates locked up in cells at night, then clamped into masks and strapped into wheelchairs before being taken to their lessons, overseen by the brutal Sergeant Parks (Paddy Considine).

McCarthy, an experienced TV director (Peaky Blinders), does a terrific, measured job of answering our questions.

Is Dr Caldwell a futuristic Dr Mengele and Parks her uncompromising enforcer, or do they have humankind's best interests at heart?

We begin to find out when an army of hungries attack the compound.

Melanie and the others escape and make it to a devastated London where they, too, need to eat, enabling McCarthy to spring some neat visual jokes. I particularly enjoyed a shot of a derelict Pret a Manger sandwich bar, as our band of survivors step cautiously through the streets past hordes of statue-like zombies who might start munching on them at any moment.

The post-apocalyptic film, directed by Colm McCarthy (second left), is set to be released in the UK on September 23

The tension while all this is happening is ratcheted up superbly; I was suffused with those cold shivers which last week's horror release Blair Witch so dismally failed to trigger.

But The Girl With All The Gifts is far more than a sci-fi horror film. In a strange way it is also a love story, and at the heart of it is Melanie, beautifully played by young Nanua in her first major acting role.

Moreover, the harder you look, the more symbolism you will find, whether it's meant to be there or not. The Zika virus, ebola, Aids . . . they are all relatives of this devastating fungus.
He is one of the world's most desired stars.

And Michael Fassbender's legion of female fans will go giddy with delight when they see him go shirtless in the new trailer for crime drama Trespass Against Us.

In the trailer he plays Chad Cutler, an outlaw who lives in a caravan in the south of England and who is latest in line to the family crime empire.

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Phwoar: Michael Fassbender goes topless as he taunts police in the Trespass Against Us trailer

Dirty boy: But his antics end up with him being trust face first onto the ground

However it seems he is not so keen for his young son Tyson, who is played by Georgie Smith, to follow in his footsteps, and is now looking for a way out of his life of crime.

Indeed he makes sure his boy does his homework, even though he never attended school himself, and is keen to move into a empty mobile home lot on his own, after being spurred into action by his other half.

His nagging wife tells him, 'I can't live like this no more, I can't do it. I've had enough.'

Huckled: He did not look to pleased as he was taken to the police car

Family shame: But it is only the latest in a long line of arrests for the career criminal character

Life of riley: He lives in a caravan surrounded by his family's dodgy associates

In another clip she says: 'You did say we weren't living with your dad forever Chad.'

However it is also clear that he somewhat revels in his criminal lifestyle.

As he enjoys a family evening at a food truck he boasts, 'Me, I've never been arrested,' and when he is told is is always getting his collar felt, he replies, 'never been charged.'

And his father Colby, who is played by Brendan Gleeson, is convinced the family enterprise will continue.

Family man: Michael's character Chad lives something of a charmed life

Vital spark: He even starts his morning with a relaxing puff between the sheets

Problem parent: The devoted father takes an unusual approach to teaching his son Tyson how to drive

Family business: And his crime kingpin father tells his boy he expects him to follow in his footsteps

He tells Tyson as they sit at a campfire: 'Here's the truth. You pass it down from father to son. Father, son, grandson.'

And when Colby discovers his sons plans for another life he works to make sure his descendants will be forced to stay within the orginsation that the Cutler family has maintained for generations.

He has his boy take part in a spectacular heist and a high-speed car chase that leads to a manhunt which leaves his freedom hanging in the balance.

Colby says: 'It's going to start raining down on all of us and they'll break you on your own, you know that. Not if we stay tight.

Strong bond: But Chad will soon upset his father by trying to break free

One last job: But his canny old man has him take part in a dangerous heist

Gun-believable: And he ends up taking part in a high action car chase

And it seems Chad will be forced to take desperate measures if he is to escape his father's vice-like grip and become a law abiding citizen.

In a dramatic scene in the woods, his knife-wielding father tells him: 'You forget who you are boy?' with Chad replying, 'I'm just trying to look after my family.'

The Adam Smith directed gangster film was made away back in 2014, and is finally due to be released on the internet in the US on November 24, and will get a limited release next year.

That's my boy: The devoted dad tells Tyson he loves him as it looks like he is set to get jailed

On the run: He is shown fleeing through a wooded area in dodgy tracksuit bottoms
Christian's brother Nick Candy pictured with wife Holly Valance.

Property tycoons Nick and Christian Candy have oligarchs on speed-dial and an opulent lifestyle to match  flaunting supercars and designer shoes costing 1,000 a pair.

But are the duo  dubbed the Bling Brothers for their free-spending ways  having their wings clipped as they battle an unsavoury 132 million High Court lawsuit against Nicks former university friend Mark Holyoake?

The corporate jet company controlled by Christian Candy, CPC Aviation, is being put into liquidation after posting losses of almost 4 million on turnover of just 559,583.

In a further blow, the private plane operated by the venture has been sold for 9.7 million, but this sum wont go into the Christians pocket.

The jet  thought to be the plane Nick Candys wife Holly Valance (pictured together) used to fly up to the final of Strictly Come Dancing when she took part in the show in 2011  was part-collateral for a 12.3 million loan from Bank of America, and the proceeds of the sale went to repay the debt.

The latest accounts for CPC Aviation say: Following a review of the companys activities, the company decided to cease the chartering activity, and . . . has disposed of the aircraft.

The interior design company run by Nick Candy, Candy & Candy Ltd, recently posted a 454,299 loss.

But despite the red ink on their balance sheets, the brothers behind the One Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge  where one flat was sold to a Ukrainian billionaire for 136 million  have always been keen to show off the trappings of success, snapping up superyachts called Candyscape I and II, complete with a 78,000 piano that plays itself.

But the pairs offshore business dealings have come under scrutiny in recent months, after Holyoake alleged the brothers threatened him after he borrowed 12 million from Christian Candys CPC Group to fund a Mayfair property deal.

The Candy brothers deny all wrongdoing, but the case has proved a PR disaster, after Holyoakes lawyers accused the brothers of tax evasion.

For the record, Christian, 43, and his wife, Emily, did not give their three-year-old twins the names Monaco and Cayman after tax havens. Christian explained that Cayman is named after his favourite Porsche.

Former Respect MP George Galloway is livid hes not being taken seriously by colleagues at talkRadio. His most recent Friday night politics show was interrupted by a prank call, when a talkRadio producer phoned in and simply quoted the lyrics to Where Is The Love by the Black Eyed Peas. Listeners said it was light relief, since Galloway can be repetitive and tedious.

But George failed to see the funny side  especially when fellow presenter Jon Holmes replayed the prank on his show three days later. Galloway blocked talkRadio  his employer  on Twitter and accused Holmes of behaving like a public schoolboy.

David Beckhams oldest son, Brooklyn, was never going to be short of female admirers following his split from Hollywood actress Chloe Grace Moretz, 19.

The 17-year-old aspiring photographer, who ended his romance with Moretz last month, was spotted on an evening stroll in London this week with German catwalk model Adrienne Juliger, 19.

Brooklyn Beckham was spotted with Adrienne Juliger, a 19-year-old model, pictured left, leaving a Sir Elton John concert, pictured right

The pair were both dressed in black skinny jeans as they returned from a concert by Sir Elton John  Brooklyns godfather  in Camden. When they first met last September for a joint cover shoot in Teen Vogue, Adrienne admitted: I dont have time for a boyfriend. Sometimes I wish I did, but right now Im focusing on my work. A lot can change in a year.

Future is not rose for Brangelina

Good timing for sales of a certain rose at Majestic Wine stores.

Theyre promoting Miraval, produced by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at their chateau in the South of France, where the actor is alleged to have boozed with Hollywood pals as his marriage disintegrated.

A taste of Hollywood in your glass, the store blurb gushes.

An incredible Provence rose produced with a helping hand from superstar winemaker Perrin.

A new campaign by Majestic Wine advertises a rose wine produced by Brad and Angelina, pictured above with two of their children, and comes as Angelina files for divorce

Referring to the film on which the pair met, it adds: This is one to be shared with Mr & Mrs Smith.

Not any more.

Finally, Hull has earned its place on the UK map.

Attending the launch of the Hull City of Culture 2017 festival, Lord Hall, BBC Director-General, said: Ive been nudged again here about Hulls place on the BBC weather map  sometimes its on there, quite often it isnt.

So Ive just made a telephone call and as of January 1, 2017, Hull will appear on every BBC weather map, national and local.
She always favours a demure and ladylike look.

And Alicia Vikander was on fine sartorial form as she stepped out in Rome on Thursday night, looking impossibly stylish in an elegant black gown.

The 27-year-old actress was the picture of class in the semi-sheer number as she attended the Tribute To Spanish Steps Opening Event.

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Glamorous: Alicia Vikander was on fine sartorial form as she stepped out in Rome on Thursday night, attending the Tribute To Spanish Steps Opening Event

Alicia accesorised her classic gown with a striking Bvlgari necklace, adding a touch of glamour to the look.

The screen star sported a pair of gold embellished heels and a cute, glitter embellished bag.

She wore her brunette locks pinned back in an elegant updo and opted for barely-there make-up.

Bling: Alicia accesorised her classic gown with a striking Bvlgari necklace, adding a touch of glamour to the look

Lovely ladies: The screen star, posing alongside Aimee Yun Yun Sun, carried a cute, glitter embellished bag

Alicia was stepping out solo without boyfriend Michael Fassbender, who she has been dating since they fell for each other on the set of The Light Between Oceans.

The romantic drama is based on the 2012 novel about a lighthouse keeper and his wife.

The cast and crew were forced to relocate to a wind-swept island off the shores of New Zealand for filming, living in trailers for several months.

Centre of attention: All eyes were on Alicia as she worked her magic for the cameras

It's all in the details: She dressed up her look with a pair of gold embellished heels

Alicia recently confessed in an interview with Vanity Fair that seasoned actor Michael would ask her for help with his role, bringing them closer together.

She told the monthly: 'He was very sweet at letting me in... He was like, "Can you please give me a note? What do you think I should do?"

Director Derek didn't play as coy when it came to Vikander and Fassbbender's relationship as he said: 'It wasnt hard for me to see that the chemistry could be there, just knowing them as individuals.

'What I saw was two great people who were so supportive of each other, who were really picking each other up, and pushing each other.'

Shine bright like a diamond: Alicia posed with Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin at the glamorous event

Perfect poster girl: The Oscar-winning Danish Girl actress turned heads




He's the goofy miner from Queensland who was eliminated from The Bachelorette on Thursday night.

But Ben Lyall remains hopeful his ideal woman is still out there, after admitting Georgia Love isn't quite his type.

Asked about his 'dream girl' during an appearance on Studio 10, the 32-year-old stated: 'She needs to have about five per cent trash bag in her.'

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What a man wants: Ben Lyall has revealed his dream girl would need to be 'five per cent trash bag' after being eliminated on The Bachelorette

The dog-lover went on to explain why he was sent home from the competition early, saying: 'Georgia is a refined wine. She's elegant and classic. I like a Passion Pop.'

Host Sarah Harris asked if the blonde-haired hunk likes 'a girl that's a bit rough around the edges,' to which Ben agreed enthusiastically.

'Yes! Five per cent trash bag. That's what it is,' he explained.

'I like a Passion Pop': The 32-year-old told Studio 10 hosts he thought Georgia was too classy for him

'15 per cent is too much.'

The self-described 'five-and-a-half' recently revealed he's on Tinder to find love following his short stint on the reality show.

During his exit, the awkward blonde expressed his disappointment in not finding his 'unicorn'.

Hopeful: The miner has revealed he's been on Tinder to find love following the show

'A refined wine': Ben said the Bachelorette is too 'elegant and classy' to be his ideal girl

'Unfortunately, I didn't find the unicorn that I'd been looking for, but it's back to the drawing board, I guess,' he told the camera.

I hoped I was going to experience that feeling where you swallow a rainbow, but it wasn't meant to be this time around and I'm sure my time will come one day.'

Ben became a fan favourite for his quirky no holds barred personality.

Making an impression: The Wollongong resident became a fan favourite after he tripped and made a smooth recovery in the first episode

During his very first meeting with Georgia, 27, the wide-eyed miner blurted out that he'd done 'three nervous poos' beforehand.

The admission came after he tripped and fell on his way out of the limousine.

Laughing off the incident, the Wollongong resident said: 'I'm falling for you already!'
She was one of the busty blondes booted off hit dating series The Bachelor.

And Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris has revealed she would also be sent home packing on a reality show of a different kind.

'I wouldn't last one day on Survivor,' the 28-year-old shared to Instagram on Thursday, also adding, 'I would drive my camp nuts'.

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'I would drive my camp nuts': The Bachelor's Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris, 28, shared to Instagram on Thursday that she would not last one day on endurance competition Survivor

'Wouldn't last one day on Survivor,' Kiki began her message, shared with her 74,000 Instagram followers.

'Not to mention I sing everything and would drive my camp nuts,' she continued.

The text ran alongside a beachside snap that saw the busty blonde flaunting her svelte figure in a skimpy green two-piece.

With her long locks falling over one shoulder, Kiki appeared to be sporting a minimal amount of makeup.

Not ready to tough it out? The busty blonde was referring to reality series Survivor that sees contestants put through their paces in a number of challenging environments

Kiki was referring to reality series Survivor, that sees contestants put through their paces in a number of challenging environments.

Competitors are often seen toughing it out with very limited resources, a far cry from some of the luxuries at The Bachelor mansion.

Instead, the glamour model has been making the most of her newfound notoriety, lending her name to a teeth whitening product as well as doing the rounds on radio stations and television chat shows.

Reality reunion: Kiki has been seen hanging out with fellow Bachelor stars Faith Williams (far left), Noni Janur and Rachael Gouvignon, enjoying a few adventures in Sydney

Flaunting it: The glamour model recently revealed her slender frame in a skimpy two-piece while posing alongside Balinese swimwear designer Noni

She has also been seen hanging out with fellow Bachelor stars Noni Janur, Rachael Gouvignon and Faith Williams, enjoying a few boozy adventures in Sydney.

Since failing to capture Richie Strahan's heart, Kiki seems very much on the hunt for love, having recently signed up for dating app Bumble.

She has been spotted with a profile on the app in recent weeks.

The hard-partying personal assistant is no stranger to dating, admitting to OK! magazine that she's been on more than 100 dates, and was even once engaged.

On the prowl: Since failing to capture Richie Strahan's heart, Kiki seems very much on the hunt for love, having recently signed up for dating app Bumble

Looking for love: She has been spotted with a profile on the app in recent weeks

'I've probably been on 100 dates and have gone through bad relationships and bad break-ups,' she said.

The glossy mag reports her previous engagement was a 'band-aid'.

Before the show, she also revealed that she would have been happy to relocate to Perth from Sydney for Richie - where he is based - because she thinks it's a good place to start a family.

'I moved to Perth to live with a partner before, and I plan to move there again - I think it's a great place to settle down and have children'.
Catelyn Lowell received a warm welcome from husband Tyler Baltierra after spending a month at a treatment center for mental health issues.

The 24-year-old reality star's homecoming was shown in a preview clip released by MTV on Thursday ahead of the next episode of MTV's Teen Mom OG.

Catelynn left her 24-year-old husband and 20-month old daughter Novalee for a month at an Arizona-based treatment center.

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Warm welcome: Catelynn Lowell was greeted by husband Tyler Baltierra after returning from a month-long stay at a treatment center in a preview clip of Teen Mom OG

Televison producer Jessica in the clip picked up Catelynn at the airport when she arrived in Michigan.

Jessica asked the 16 & Pregnant star if the treatment helped.

'Oh, my god, yeah,' replied Catelynn as she puffed on a cigarette.

Catelynn said she was still on the antidepressant Zoloft and at the same dosage.

Together again: Tyler hugged Catelynn and she told him that he smells good

'It helped tremendously,' she said of the experience.

Tyler was up after midnight waiting for Catelynn and greeted ehr in the dining room.

The couple hugged it out as soon as they saw each other and exchanged a few kisses.

Ride home: Catelynn on the ride home talked about the benefits of her time in treatment

Dining room: Tyler waited patiently in the dining room for Catelynn to return home

Big hug: Catelynn and Tyler hugged when they first saw each other

Tyler greeted Catelynn with flowers and a handwritten note on a card.

The camera focused on the sweet note that read: 'I am so proud of you for doing all of the hard work you have done this past month. You are the strongest, most courageous and beautiful human being I have ever met.

'I am honored to call you my wife and love you beyond words. You are amazing and you are strong,' it continued.

Sweet gesture: Tyler had flowers and a card set out for Catelynn

Cute card: A card from Tyler was waiting for Catelynn to open

'Youre gorgeous and brave, caring and nurturing, youre angelic and graceful, and more importantly  youre worthy of love!  I love you babe, dont ever forget it!,' the note concluded.

Catelynn after reading the tender note looked to Tyler and said, 'Aww, you're so cute!'.

She then wrapped her arms around Baltierra and joked,'You smell good. I haven't smelled a man in a month!'.

Sweet note: Tyler penned a sweet note for his wife Catelynn

Young couple: Catelynn and Tyler hugged after she read his card

Catelynn has been strugling with anxiety an depression for some time and recently decided to seek extra help.

Teen Mom OG will return on Monday night on MTV.

Catelynn and Tyler welcomed daughter Nova on January 1, 2015 and she previously gave birth as a teen to Carly who was given up for adoption.
Elementary will return to CBS for its fifth series next Sunday.

And this Thursday,the show's star Lucy Liu was well into her publicity rounds.

The 47-year-old was the picture of elegance when she swung by Extra at Universal Studios Hollywood, wearing a cocktail dress that showcased her lean and toned legs.

Beautiful in black: On Thursday, Lucy Liu looked the image of glamour when she stopped by Extra at Universal Studios Hollywood to promote her show Elementary

In an interesting turn, the dress featured clefts between the shoulder straps and the fabric that wound its way around her neck.

The Chicago actress accentuated her minuscule waist with a black leather belt. Its gold-coloured clasp matched her gold bracelet, which featured a bow design.

That bow motif continued in her gold-drop earrings, which joined a collection of accessories that included a watch and a pair of purple cat-eye sunglasses.

Coordinating: The star was perfection in a black flare dress with a gold bracelet to match her gold earrings and the gold-coloured clasp of her belt

In the offing: She sat down with Charissa Thompson (right) ahead of the fifth series premiere of her CBS programme Elementary, which airs next Sunday

Set in the present, Elementary is adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and stars Jonny Lee Miller as the iconic detective.

The Kill Bill actress plays opposite him as Dr Joan Watson, who is based on Dr John Watson, Holmes' right-hand man in the original stories.

Promoting the programme on The Talk on Thursday, she admitted that re-imagining the character as an Asian woman could be 'hard because when something is steeped in literature, in that sort of a historical manner, you don't necessarily want to mess with it and tip it.

Excellent company: The 47-year-old stars opposite Jonny Lee Miller, who plays Sherlock Holmes reset in the present

'But,' she said, 'I think, as somebody who's creative, you don't - you have to always, you know, think outside the box, because if - otherwise, I'd be pulling a rickshaw in every episode,' she quipped.

She explained: 'You have to break down barriers, not intentionally, but you have to do things that you think are gonna be interesting and creative.'

'Think outside the box': Also on Thursday, she appeared on The Talk to discuss her Elementary character Dr Joan Watson, a female and Asian version of the character Dr John Watson from the original Arthur Conan Doyle stories

Hearkening back to her 2000 role in Charlie's Angels, in which she co-starred with Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz, she noted: 'You stimulate the public eye and say, "Oh, well, yes, they were known as three Caucasian women," but then you introduce that. It becomes something as normal."'

Circling back to Elementary, she pointed out: 'So, now it shouldn't be so odd that Watson is being played by a woman and somebody who's Asian. So, you have to introduce people to it. Just like, you know, an African American president. You know, now it shouldn't be such a big deal.'
Roxy Jacenko has come to the last leg of her breast cancer treatment, after revealing her shocking diagnosis back in July.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, the 26-year-old shared a photo of St. Vincent's radiation clinic, along with the caption, 'Five days to go'.

After a tumultuous year, the mother-of-two has kept a brave face since the diagnosis which came just three weeks after her husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail in late June for insider trading.

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'Five days to go': Roxy Jacenko has posted an Instagram picture of the St. Vincent's radiation clinic in the last leg of her treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer in July

Keeping her 129,000 followers up to date with her day-to-day life, the picture comes as a stark reminder to fans that treatment is underway and going ahead with no hitches.

In the snap a sterile clinic equipped with radiation machinery could be seen at the St. Vincent's Hospital.

The blonde beauty has kept pictures of doctors and clinics to a minimum on social media, distracting fans with pictures of her adoring children, work and fashion forward outfits.

Meanwhile in August a promo clip for Roxy's upcoming 60 minutes documentary showed the moment surgeons remove her cancerous tumour.

Strong: Roxy kept a brave face after being diagnosed with cancer in July just three weeks after her husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail for insider trading

The preview featured exclusive scenes from the operating theatre as the publicist underwent the surgery for breast cancer.

The footage was filmed at a Sydney hospital and was included in a an hour-long special on Channel Nine.

In the 30-second trailer, Roxy was shown calmly receiving medical treatment in a hospital gown.

Later, the focus shifted to the operation itself - including the graphic moment the tumour was taken out.

Doting mother: The blonde beauty has kept pictures of doctors and clinics to a minimum on social media distracting fans with pictures of her adoring children, work and fashion forward outfits

A previous 60 Minutes trailer showed a confrontation between Roxy and reporter Allison Langdon.

Roxy was clearly angered by the suggestion that people might question the timing of her cancer diagnosis since the conviction of her husband.

'You've got too much time on your hands if you say that. I don't really give a f*** what they think on my timing.

Surgery: A promo clip for Roxy Jacenko's 60 Minutes documentary features scenes from her recent breast cancer surgery

'I don't really give a f*** what they think on my timing': A previous 60 Minutes trailer showed a confrontation between Roxy and reporter Allison Langdon (pictured) who claimed that people believed the cancer diagnosis came at a 'convenient' time

'They can say that, the reality is, it's not something that I ever thought I would face.'

In June, Oliver was sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison, to be released after one year on a good behaviour bond.

Roxy stood by his side during the trial and sentencing at the NSW Supreme Court and frequently made headlines for her stylish outfits.
She sent tongues wagging earlier this month when she revealed an ill-applied coating of fake tan during a photo shoot on Bondi Beach.

And former Bachelor 'villain' Keira Maguire, 29, has one again sported a splotchy faux bronze during a shopping trip in Bondi on Wednesday.

Having forgotten to apply fake tan to her entire body, the controversial socialite's showcased a set of ghostly-white hands and snowy-toned underarms as she waved and smiled at onlookers.

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Blotched blunder! Bachelor 'villain' Keira Maguire, 29, has one again sported a splotchy faux bronze during a shopping trip in Bondi on Wednesday

Joined by a female pal, Keira was spotted dashing through drizzling rain, wearing a khaki vest, black skinny jeans and a matching felt hat.

She completed her look with a pair of round-framed sunglasses, black leather boots, a choker necklace and a pair of delicate drop earrings.

Her cropped blonde mane was worn to hang loosely above her shoulders, while her makeup was kept understated with just a touch of soft pink lipstick and bronzer.

Oh dear! Having forgotten to apply fake tan to her entire body, the controversial socialite's showcased a set of ghostly-white hands and snowy-toned underarms as she waved and smiled at onlookers

Casual: Joined by a female pal, Keira was spotted dashing through drizzling rain, wearing a khaki vest, black skinny jeans and a matching felt hat

Trendy: She completed her look with a pair of round-framed sunglasses and black leather boots

Decorated: She also sported a choker necklace and a pair of delicate drop earrings

The fashion-loving Sydney local chose not to carry a handbag for the occasion, but rather opted to juggle her phone and key-ring in one hand.

At one stage, she was seen leaving a fashion boutique called Winona- a brand for which she recently modelled in a beach photo-shoot.

She and her friend also popped by a local eatery to grab a take-away beverage and snack.

Glam: Her cropped blonde mane was worn to hang loosely above her shoulders, while her makeup was kept understated with just a touch of soft pink lipstick and bronzer

Balancing act! The fashion-loving Sydney local chose not to carry a handbag for the occasion, but rather opted to juggle her phone and key-ring in one hand

At one stage, she was seen leaving a fashion boutique called Winona- a brand for which she recently modelled in a beach photo-shoot

Since being booted from The Bachelor last month, Keira has maintained her position in the limelight by appearing on the red carpet at a slew of high-profile events.

She has also recently signed up with Roxy Jacenko's talent agency Ministry of Talent, having promised her fans that she is in the process of launching a fashion blog.

Keira has also spoken about her desire to become Australia's next Bachelorette, telling Mamamia that it would be 'more my thing' than being a contestant.

Socialite: Since being booted from The Bachelor last month, Keira has maintained her position in the limelight by appearing on the red carpet at a slew of high-profile events

Fame train: She has also recently signed up with Roxy Jacenko's talent agency Ministry of Talent, having promised her fans that she is in the process of launching a fashion blog

'I feel like it's more my thing, at least I can have control,' explained Keira.

'I would eat....I don't know. The poor guys that are on it- could you imagine?'she mused, adding: 'I would definitely do it because I'd just f**k s**t up.'

When quizzed about how she would treat her suitors on the show, Keira said: 'I would probably be a lot more nicer because I wouldn't want to put anyone through what I went through.'

New gig? Keira has also spoken about her desire to become Australia's next Bachelorette, telling Mamamia that it would be 'more my thing' than being a contestant

Will we see more of Keira? 'I would eat....I don't know. The poor guys that are on it- could you imagine?'she mused, adding: 'I would definitely do it because I'd just f**k s**t up'

How generous! When quizzed about how she would treat her suitors on the show, Keira said: 'I would probably be a lot more nicer because I wouldn't want to put anyone through what I went through'
In honor of Kendall Jenner's October cover of Vogue Espana, the 20-year-old model also starred in a fun, flirty video for the Spanish fashion magazine.

According to New York Magazine's The Cut, however some Twitter users have taken issue with the fact that Kendall's posing involved ballet at all  perhaps forgetting that models often pose doing things that they are not experts in.

And since then, Kendall has turned off comments on one of the instagram photos shared from her magazine spread.

Kendall Jenner turns off comments on Instagram photo from Vogue Spain shoot... as critics claim a professional dancer should have been used

In the snap, the stunner is dressed in a tan, draped gown while her hair is pulled back in a top knot.

The model, wearing gloves and ballet shoes, is seen leaning against a ballet barre, standing on her tip toes.

Despite sharing two additional shots from her spread on Instagram, Kendall only turned off the comments for the one photo.

On point: But Kendall's posing didn't impress the dance buffs

The brunette beauty modeled a leotard, socks and ballet shoes, where she either rested on a couch or leaned sat on a rug on a studio floor

In the other snaps, Kendall is wearing traditional dancer attire, but unlike the other photo, is not posing in a position as a typical ballerina would.

The brunette beauty modeled a leotard, socks and ballet shoes, where she either rested on a couch or leaned sat on a rug on a studio floor.

Last week, Kendall shared a video from her shoot where she playfully danced around dressed as a ballerina.

On camera: Kendall Jenner stars in a new video for Vogue Espana

In character: The video is ballet-themed, and she wears pointe shoes and leg warmers

Young at heart: She said that even though she grew up fast she still likes just being a kid

Social media did not take kindly to the video. Users began to attack both Vogue magazine and the model.

'Is there anything more tragic than Kendall Jenner pretending to be a ballet dancer for Vogue Spain,' wrote one.

'Kendall Jenner's "ballet" shoot has me so heated. Stay in your lane Kendall Jenner, ballet requires more talent than you will ever have,' wrote another.

One more said: 'I am exhausted yet cannot sleep because I'm having NIGHTMARES about Kendall Jenner trying to do ballet and I'm so OFFENDED it hurts.'

The place of honor: She covers the October issue of Vogue Espana

Annoyed: Some dancers are not happy about Kendall's ballet-themed shoot

Outraged! They've been taking the issue seriously on Twitter, saying that what Kendall is doing looks nothing like ballet

Overreaction? Some think Kendall should leave ballet to the professionals, clearly missing the point that this was a playful modeling shoot

While many took offense with Kendall, professional ballerina Allison DeBona defended the star in a Facebook post.

'Ballerinas across the globe are upset that Vogue Spain hired Kendell Jenner to look like a ballerina in a video shoot. Well, Vogue Italia hired me to look like a ballerina in a video shoot,' she began.

After referencing her own video that received criticism for being overly sexualized, Allision continued her address to her fellow dancers.

'TO THE BALLET WORLD, it seems to me as if there is never a perfect condition for you. As far as Kendall Jenner and the Vogue Espana shoot, she's a beautiful young girl who's job is to do what she's asked to do,' she noted.
They tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Corfu, Greece in July.

But there was plenty of drama behind the scenes of reality star Ryan Serhant and Emilia Bechrakis' big day, as the premiere episode of Million Dollar Listing New York: Ryan's Wedding revealed on Thursday.

An overwhelmed Emilia lashed out and called the real estate agent a 'f**king idiot,' after earlier breaking down in tears when her father visited and pressured them to move back to her native Greece.

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Feeling the pressure: Things were tense between Ryan Serhant and Emilia Bechrakis on the premiere of Million Dollar Listing New York: Ryan's Wedding on Bravo on Thursday

'I think my father's still digesting the fact that Ryan's not Greek, that he's very American,' Emilia says, adding 'My father is very protective of me, he always has been.'

Ryan, 32, admitted to being 'intimidated' by Emila's father Leonidas, who quickly tries to convince the couple to move to Greece when he visits them in New York - and disses their luxurious penthouse apartment as 'too modern.'

'I was always saying to my daughters that I want a future husband of theirs to have three things: first of all, handsome, second educated, you are, and the third to be Greek,' he tells Ryan.

'Two out of three's not bad, but it's not perfect.'

Emotional: Emilia teared up when she told Ryan she missed her family and friends back in her native Greece

Tough crowd: Emilia's father Leonidas visited them and asked the couple to move back to Greece

Awkward: He also pressed Ryan on religion, telling it's very important to his Greek Orthodox family. Ryan said he believed in 'something' but that his Protestant upbringing 'never clicked'

And things turn even more awkward when he presses Ryan on religion. Their entire family is Greek Orthodox, and Emilia says the religion is very important to her very traditional father.

But Ryan's tongue-tied, saying he was raised Protestant and went to Sunday School but it 'never clicked.'

'I don't really know what to say I don't talk about religion that often. I think that's just a product of the times that we're in,' he sputtered.

'I'm not really religious,' he says, adding: 'I know I believe in something.'

Daddy's princess: 'We would love for you to move to Greece,' he tells the couple

Brave face: Ryan admitted Emilia's father is one of the few people who intimidates him

Her dad then suggests the couple move to Greece, leaving Ryan shocked and saying he doesn't want to give up business he's worked so hard to build.

'My little princess goes away, and we want Emily to be very close to us,' Leonidas says.

'We would love for you to move to Greece.'

'Are you serious?' Ryan asks.

Immigrated: 'I've changed my life completely for Ryan and I don't think he recognizes the extent of it,' Emilia said

Disappointed: Her father said he always told his daughter's to find someone handsome, educated and Greek. 'Two out of three's not bad, but it's not perfect,' he says

Emilia reminds her stunned beau that she never planned to stay in the US and was just visiting America when she met him, fell in love, and gave up her life back home to be with him five years ago.

'I miss home, I miss my friends. I wiped out my entire life,' she says, tearing up and adding that she worries about what will happen to her folks in old age.

'I've changed my life completely for Ryan and I don't think he recognizes the extent of it,' she tells the camera.

But Ryan protests: 'I don't think I can move to Greece. I mean seven years ago I was doing free theater with no money, and it sucks a lot. And I will never ever go back there,' adding that moving to a new country would be 'starting from zero.'

Emilia points out: 'Your biggest fear is the life I live now. Starting from zero.'

Busy guy: Ryan was too busy hustling his Greenpoint development to help an overwhelmed Emilia with wedding planning

Torn: The real estate agent tried to get his fiance off the phone so he could finish making a deal

The real estate agent then gives in, and agrees they can look into buying a summer place in Greece. He later puts his team in charge of looking for a home in Greece, but makes them promise not to tell Emilia.

But after patching things up, the couple's relationship quickly goes downhill again when Ryan is too busy hustling to sell apartments for a Greenpoint, Brooklyn development to help with wedding planning.

He drops the ball, and the venue they wanted in Corfu gets completely booked out before they can plan a date.

Meanwhile, Emilia is overwhelmed with trying to plan the wedding alone, and lashes out at her over-worked fiance.

She loses it at Ryan when he comes home and tells her he had an 'insane' day.

Booked: Emilia discovered the resort they wanted as a wedding venue was booked out after Ryan failed to email them

Explosive: 'It's driving me crazy!' Emilia yelled about Ryan's refusal to help

'What do you want from me?': The real estate agent pointed out he was busy working to afford their $4 million apartment and huge wedding in Greece

'Youre not he only one who had an insane day,' she says.

'I don't know what has happened the last year, its like you've warped into this other human being, everything has to be perfect. It's driving me crazy!' she yells.

Ryan says she just doesn't get it, that he has more people working for him now. He's feeling the pressure and extra responsibility as his business has quadrupled.

'I used to be more present as a human being,' he admits to the camera.

'I used to just want to cuddle all day. But now I have a lot of people depending on me financially,' he says.

Priorities changed: Ryan said he was feeling the pressure because business had quadrupled and he had a lot of employees depending on him

Ryan tells Emilia that's he's working so hard to give them a good life and pay for their lavish destination wedding in Europe.

But the lawyer points out she's also working hard and can't plan the wedding alone.

'So for the rest of time this is what I'm going to live with? Because you're going to be busy?' she asks.

Really? Emilia asked if this is what their life will be like as she struggled to deal with Ryan's workaholic ways

'I'm always going to be busy, so I can pay for $4 million apartments and huge f**ing weddings in the middle of Greece!' Ryan replies.

'I don't know what you want from me!'

He then says he feels like he's always walking on eggshells around Emilia because she yells at him all the time.

An angry Emilia then accuses him of wanting a pretty little wife to make him dinner every day. Lashing out, she calls him a 'f**king idiot.'

Ryan then jokes he was trying to find a woman like that, but there aren't any.

Busy guy: Ryan told his fiance he had to walk on 'eggshells' around her because of all the yelling

What? The Greek beauty then lashed out, calling him a 'f***ing idiot' and an 'a**hole'

'You have plenty of time to go find her now, a**hole,' snaps back Emilia as she walks out.

'F*** my life,' says a dejected Ryan.

The Bravo star admits to the camera that the couple have always argued, but that the stress of planning their wedding is causing huge cracks in their relationship.

'This is putting our life on a whole new level of bad,' he says.

The episode also shows the couple are yet to discuss having children, when Ryan finds a baby book in the bathroom.

Need to talk? Ryan was worried when he found Emilia reading a baby book

Daddy? 'I'm not ready to be a father,' he admitted to the camera

'I'm not ready to be a father,' he says.

'Are you getting ready to have a baby? Do you want to?' he asks his bride-to-be.

And it seems there are more wedding-related crises to come, with a preview for the upcoming series showing the couple freaking out in Greece after learning their church venue has been double-booked.

The issue of religion comes up again when Emilia is dismayed to learn Ryan wasn't baptized, and two of his friends are seen fighting over planning the bachelor party.
Her strong social media presence has certainly not gone unnoticed, with a Logies campaign helping her score a nomination for the coveted Gold award earlier this year.

And now Lee Lin Chin has decided to read some of the mean tweets existing online, funnily enough published on her own timeline.

In a video shared by SBS 2, Lee Lin is seen not holding back when reading a tweet she previously directed towards The Feed presenter Mark Fennell.

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Not holding back: Lee Lin Chin has decided to read some of the mean tweets existing online, funnily enough published on her own timeline, with this expletive one directed at The Feed presenter Marc Fennell

'Mark Fennell f*** you!' Lee Lin says while peering at a mobile phone screen.

She then addresses the audience, informing them, 'that's it, that's the whole tweet... F*** you Mark Fennell'.

The media personality has plenty of other famous targets who have fallen victim to her snappy 140-word online messages.

She's coming for you boys! Opting for some double trouble, the veteran television star reads a tweet directed at The Today Show host Karl Stefanovic, and his journalist brother Peter

Watch out: The SBS personality also got sassy with ABC presenter Tony Jones who hosts Q&A

Opting for some double trouble, the veteran television star reads a tweet directed at The Today Show host Karl Stefanovic, and his journalist brother Peter.

'I'm calling for a fight for the death between you two,' she begins.

'Highlander rules. There can be only one. Survivor becomes my bride. xx (sic).'

Other well-known figures who are mentioned in the entertaining segment are Q&A host Tony Jones, SBS presenter Ricardo Goncalves and even English broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson.

Not so flirty: Lee Lin reads a tweet joking that English broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson hit on her

Colleagues: She also read out a tweet directed towards SBS presenter Ricardo Goncalves

Diva: She didn't hold back when addressing luxury Italian fashion house Dolce Gabbana

Earlier this year Daily Mail Australia revealed that the veteran journalist has a helping hand in developing her hilariously entertaining tweets.

Australian comedian Chris Leben, who is a writer for SBS program The Feed, workshops the social media posts with the SBS World News presenter, and posts them on her behalf as she apparently doesn't own a mobile phone.

'It's a collaboration more than anything,' Chris told Daily Mail Australia in April.

Team effort: Australian comedian Chris Leben who is also a writer for The Feed on SBS2, helps formulate newsreader Lee Lin's hilariously entertaining tweets

'Lee Lin doesn't own a mobile phone so I do post the tweets but we work on them together. Sometimes she'll come to me with an idea, sometimes I'll come to her with one and we'll workshop it,' he explained.

'It's a team effort. The account is managed by The Feed and run by myself and Lee Lin. She's in on the joke and loves to play with it.'

Lee Lin, who has been presenting with SBS World News since 1992, also embraces her comedic side when appearing on news and current affairs program The Feed airing on SBS2.

Popular: Lee Lin's strong social media presence has certainly not gone unnoticed, with a Logies campaign fuelled by Chris helping her score a nomination for the coveted Gold award

Goals: Back in May last year following the 2015 Logie Awards, a tweet on Lee Lin's account announced her mission to be nominated and win a Gold Logie the following year

Success: After Lee Lin's Gold Logie nomination was announced in April, Chris posted this proud tweet

Chris is the head comedy writer for the show, working with Lee Lin on a regular basis.

He is also the mastermind behind her social media campaign to land her a Gold Logies nomination.

Back in May last year following the 2015 Logie Awards, a tweet on Lee Lin's account read: 'Just decided to win the gold next year, I deserve it #TVWEEKLogies'.

And after her nomination was announced in April, a new tweet was published reading: 'Waking up a gold Logie nominee just feels better you know? #tvweeklogies'.

Veteran journalist: Lee Lin has been presenting with SBS World News since 1992, also embraces her comedic side when appearing on news and current affairs program The Feed airing on SBS2

The Feed: Chris told Daily Mail Australia that SBS2 program The Feed helps manage Lee Lin's Twitter account

Public support: The Gold Logies campaign certainly generated plenty of support from viewers

Taking to Twitter the same day, Chris wrote on his own social media account: 'The #tvweeklogies campaign I ran seems to have worked. @LeeLinChinSBS is nominated for best presenter and gold. TAKE THAT HIGH SCHOOL!'.

Lee Lin was up for the Gold gong this year alongside The Project's Carrie Bickmore and Waleed Aly, as well as The Block host Scott Cam, Family Feud's Grant Denyer, and Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries actress Essie Davis.

Ultimately The Project's Waleed took out the winning title.

Great achievement: She is the first SBS personality to be nominated for a Gold Logie

Putting it out there: Chris told Daily Mail Australia, 'Lee Lin doesn't own a mobile phone so I do post the tweets but we work on them together'
A competitor fighting for 'gay bachelor' Robert Sepulveda Jr's heart dramatically left the show on Thursday's episode after taking a feud to a disgusting new level.

Sam, 31, had repeatedly clashed with Dillon, 26, in the Finding Prince Charming house but he completely flipped when his rival complained about him to Robert.

Storming into Dillon's room, Sam angrily called his nemesis a 'snake,' 'sheep' and 'f***ing weak,' before warning: 'You are a b***ch and I would love to beat the living s*** out of you.'

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Gay bachelor: Robert Sepulveda Jr sent a contestant home on Thursday's episode of Finding Prince Charming after a suitor voluntary left after spitting on someone

But just as the tirade appeared done, Sam then spat at his fellow competitor - a disgusting move that left some of the others in the house in tears.

Sam had been so upset by what he saw as Dillon's treachery that he already insisted he was 'done' and would be leaving.

After the spitting attack he appeared to have little option but to follow through, and packed his bags and left.

Ironically, Sam had been doing well with interior designer Robert, 33, who had called him an 'amazing guy' and even admitted: 'Sam seems like somebody I could see myself long-term with.'

That's gross: Sam decided to leave the house and spit on Dillon on his way out

Alone time: Dillon during his along time with Robert said he was having issues with Sam

Dillon's decision to take Robert aside to angrily criticize another contestant seemed to have sealed his fate on the dating show, with Robert admitting: 'It's making him look crazy. It really shows me Dillon's maturity level. It's not what I want in a partner.'

Instead, Sam leaving persuaded Robert to give Dillon one more chance in case everything he had been complaining about had been true.

But even before the drama, Dillon had an even bigger reason to worry about his standing, after going in for a kiss with Robert who instead pulled away with an embarrassed smile.

That's awkward: Robert pulled away when Dillon went in for a kiss

'It's hard to be kissing a bunch of guys,' Robert insisted later. 'I want there to be a sense that these guys are special.

'My relationship with Dillon isn't as strong as with some of the other guys so I don't want to mislead him in any way.'

Before he left, Sam, from Chicago, said he 'immediately felt remorse' after spitting.

Slowing down: Robert said it was hard kissing a bunch of guys

Felt remorse: Sam said he regretted spitting on Dillon and claimed he wouldn't spit on his worst enemy

'As soon as I did it, I regretted it. I definitely did, because I was bullied as a kid. I was bullied hard. I was bullied to the point where I was cutting myself,' he said.

'Truly, I've never spit on anyone in my life. I just spit at him and immediately I felt remorse. But it's done.'

He added of Dillon: 'I do think he was manipulative, but he definitely did not deserve to be spit on - nobody deserves that. I wouldn't spit on my own worst enemy.'

Full of anger: Dillon was chewed out by Sam before the spitting incident

Casual observer: Danique watched the spitting incident go down while sipping on white wine

He had earlier joined Justin, 29, in a date with Robert where they all did acrobatic yoga, with Sam feeling at a double disadvantage because he struggled with it and because Justin had already shared a kiss with Robert, the first of the series.

After a nervous attempt at the acrobatic yoga, he then had to watch Justin - who hid the fact that he had done acrobatic yoga before - perform the partner poses with ease, admitting later: 'This is becoming the date from hell.'

Justin, however, insisted it 'could not be any better,' saying: 'Each move is smooth, we are physically touching, we're smiling and connecting eyes. This is awesome.'

Acrobatic yoga: Sam struggled with acrobatic yoga with Robert during their date with Justin

Great form: Justin and Robert meanwhile pulled off the acrobatic yoga moves easily

But even he was thrown a curveball when they went for a walk in stables and Justin thought the 'conversation seems forced' and they did not kiss, leaving him terrified during the black tie ceremony at the end that he would be sent home.

Instead, Robert told him: 'I think in the barn there was a missed opportunity for us. I don't want you to think anything's changed, because it hasn't. I should have taken that chance and I didn't.'

Robert did have a second kiss during the episode, after tanning company founder Paul, 34, opened up to him about the devastation of his fiance Ben's suicide last Thanksgiving.

Candid conversation: Paul opened up to Robert about his former fiance Ben committing suicide last Thanksgiving

As they talked about the loss while in Paul's bedroom, Pal said that Ben 'would want me to fall in love again' and told Robert: 'I haven't met anyone like you before and I'm really enjoying the time we've spent together so far.'

At that Robert instantly moved forward, caressing his face with a hand as they kissed.

'The kiss was great. It kind of secured a connection there for me,' Paul smiled later, while Robert admitted: 'Paul is definitely a contender.'

Connection made: Robert and Paul later kissed and Paul was the first to stay at the black tie ceremony

In fact, he picked him first to stay at the black tie ceremony, and earlier admitted: 'I'm nervous with Paul, because this is the type of guy that I could actually see myself with, so I want to do everything right.'

Paul and Dillon had been joined by Chad, 32, and Danique, 30, at the other group date of the episode, to a vineyard, where Danique made Robert laugh.

But despite calling him 'genuine and authentic,' Danique was the latest sent home, with Robert telling him: 'You make me laugh, and you're sincere, but I need more than just a friend and I only see us being friends.'

The host: Lance Bass talked to Robert about the status of his journey

Tie ceremony: The guys waited to find out which ones would be keeping their black ties

Give it back: Danique was asked for his black tie back from Robert

'I've been single for a long time,' Danique said later with tears in his eyes.

'People always say they love who I am, they love being around me, but they don't see me in that way,' Danique confided.

Finding Prince Charming returns next week on Logo.
They have already fallen head-over-heels for Georgia Love.

But The Bachelorette boys will be taking a tumble of a different kind during a high-flying trapeze lesson on next Wednesday's episode.

In a short promo clip for the upcoming video, Georgia is seen challenging her merry men to a sky-high group date.

Taking to the skies: The Bachelorette boys will be taking a tumble of a different kind during a high-flying trapeze lesson on next Wednesday's episode

Georgia appears comfortable with lofty heights as she seamlessly executes a trapeze demonstration in front of the awe-struck boys below.

Meanwhile, Osher Gunsberg's voice-over can be heard at the beginning of the video saying: 'The bachelorette is at ease on the trapeze but not everyone gets a grip on this group date.'

Next, fans see a montage of several contestants tumbling from the trapeze swing as the other boys laugh on.

Oops! Next, fans see a montage of several contestants tumbling from the trapeze swing as the other boys laugh on

'I hope the paramedics are close by': Sam sarcastically reflected upon the action-packed date

'I hope the paramedics are close by because it's going to be just old men hurting themselves,' Sam said sarcastically in his piece to the camera, before adding: 'I'm ready, it sounds exciting!'

Later, we see Georgia clad in a cherry-red pencil dress enjoying a chat with Courtney, who has so far failed to put the golden date card into play.

'I feel like the girl who's given you my phone number and you havent called,' lamented Georgia.

Golden boy: Later, we see Georgia clad in a cherry-red pencil dress enjoying a chat with Courtney, who has so far failed to put the golden date card into play

Date card: Lucky for Georgia, Courtney decided to procure the card at the cocktail party

Lucky for Georgia, Courtney decided to procure the card at the cocktail party.

This gave him the right not only to take Georgia on a single date, but also to select the next group date's guestlist.

One contestant is then seen diving into the pool fully-dressed at the cocktail party in a bid to win a spot at the group date.
She is one of Hollywood's most attractive stars, so it is only fitting that she an invited guest to a beauty event in LA.

And on Thursday, Christian Milian displayed her playful side at the Welcome to the Age of Cool evening hosted by Philosophy skin care and Ellen Pompeo.

The 34-year-old actress combined casual elements with night-out attire.

Style star: On Thursday, Christian Milian, 34, displayed her playful side at the Welcome to the Age of Cool evening hosted by Philosophy skin care and Ellen Pompeo

The beautiful brunette wore a fitted T-shirt with the words, 'wild thing' and a lion printed on it.

She tucked in her top into an A-line, red leather skirt.

Christina's look was complete with a pair of black-and-nude striped heels.

See her roar: The beautiful brunette wore a fitted T-shirt with the words, 'wild thing' and a lion printed on it

The actress wore her long, dark tresses down and in loose waves.

For make-up, Christina played up her features with flesh-toned eye make-up and lip-colour.

The mum-of-one showed off her baby blue manicure against the backdrop of her red skirt.

Pretty ladies; Christina mingled with the beautiful actress and host Garcelle Beauvais, 49

Blonde beauties: Ellen Pompeo, 46. who has appeared in ads for the skincare line, displayed her slim figure in a curve-hugging, blue dress. Reality star Morgan Stewart, 28, wore a sweater and jeans look

Also at the event was the evening's host, Ellen Pompeo, 46.

The beauty, who has appeared in ads for the skincare line, displayed her slim figure in a curve-hugging, blue dress.

Reality star Morgan Stewart, 28, and actor-hosts Mario Lopez, 42, and Garcelle Beauvais, 49, were also among the evening's invited guests.
While internet memes imagined Jennifer Aniston smugly celebrating the split of Brangelina, the reality proved to be a far different story on Thursday night.

The Friends star was seen looking very solemn as she emerged in New York after bombshell claims surfaced alleging her ex Brad Pitt has been accused of child abuse by Angelina Jolie.

The 47-year-old looked a far cry from her usually effervescent self as she arrived at her home in the Big Apple just days after news broke her former husband's marriage had fallen apart.

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Somber: While internet memes imagined Jennifer Aniston smugly celebrating the split of Brangelina, the reality proved to be a far different story on Thursday night in NYC

Wearing a broad brimmed hat, the actress kept her eyes on the ground as she somberly walked the city streets.

Her ex-husband, who she was married to from 2000 to 2005 before he left her for Angelina, has been hit with severe accusations.

Pitt got into an argument with his son Maddox last week on the family's flight home from France, according to a source close to the actor and his estranged wife Angelina Jolie.

The fight led to her bombshell decision to file for divorce.

Somber: The actress looked serious as she was spotted in New York amid reports her ex-husband Brad Pitt is being investigated by the FBI for an alleged abusive incident

Serious: The 47-year-old looked a far cry from the internet memes speculating she was celebrating the demise of Brangelina

'Closure': Jen's somber appearance on Thursday was a far cry from the happy reaction fans imagined as they flooded the internet with memes after Angelina filed for divorce

The actor and his 15-year-old son were at odds for unknown reasons, but Pitt did not touch the teenager at any time claims the source.

The source went on to say that allegations of abuse against the actor, both verbal and physical, have been 'exaggerated or fabricated'.

Pitt is now being investigated by the FBI and social services in Los Angeles.

Downcast: Jennifer cut a somber figure after jetting out of LA amid the bombshell news that Angelina Jolie had filed for divorce from Jen's ex-husband Brad Pitt

'Karma': The former Friends star reportedly never though Angelina was right for Brad, who is now being investigated by the FBI over a fight with son Maddox on a private jet last week

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.

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.

Team Aniston: The internet was quick to rally to Jennifer's side when the shock news of Angelina's divorce filing broke this week

Moved on: The Meet The Millers star, who wed husband Justin Theroux last year, reportedly called Angelina 'The Groom Raider'

Jennifer, who wed actor-screenwriter Justin Theroux last year, split from Pitt in 2005, after he fell in love with Jolie on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Learning about Brangelina's split, the former Friends star told friends 'Yeah, that's karma for you,' according to Us Weekly.

She 'admittedly feels sort of satisfied about Brad and Angelina's split' according to the insider.

Staying out of it: The actress kept a low profile in a big brown hat and ripped jeans as she headed to her New York apartment as ex Brad is under investigation for alleged child abuse

Left LA: Jennifer wore a black jacket and leather handbag with gold chain as she arrived in New York City

High five: Twitter users turned to Friends flashbacks to imagine Jennifer Aniston celebrating the news of Brangelina's divorce after news broke on Tuesday

Classic quote: Jennifer earned the public's sympathy after Brad Pitt left her after falling for Angelina on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005

No photos please: Another Twitter user imagined Jen capturing the moment on her iPhone

Another source told The Mirror that Jen never thought Jolie - whom she and her friends reportedly call 'The Groom Raider' - was right for her ex.

'Throughout all the pain and hurt Jen endured when she split from Brad she always felt Angie wasn't for him,' the insider said.

'She always thought she was too complex for him as she sees Brad as quite a simple guy... He's just a regular guy with a high profile job.

They added: 'Everyone in Jen's circle presumed Angie would grow tired of Brad and it would be her leaving him for another guy.'

Jolie is now seeking full custody of their six children, and their divorce has quickly turned nasty.

But when news of the bombshell split broke this week, the internet exploded with funny memes imagining Jennifer's joy.

Many of the celebratory memes used some of her classic Friends lines.

'And that, my friend, is what they call closure,' she smugly says in one of the memes.
She has just nabbed herself a piece of rock music history.

And independent woman Lady Gaga clearly needed no support as she decided to go braless and shirtless under a chic white blazer.

The 30-year-old, who is reported to have purchased Frank Zappa's Hollywood estate, looked in a fine mood as she stepped out in New York on Thursday night.

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Chest too much! Lady Gaga clearly needed no support as she decided to go braless and shirtless under a chic white blazer while stepping out in NYC on Thursday

The Poker Face hitmaker completed her attire with a jaunty hat, white trousers and platform boots.

Meanwhile, Gaga is reportedly the proud new owner of Frank Zappa's secluded Hollywood Hills estate - making her the first non-family member to call the property home.

Variety reports the 30-year-old star purchased the home Laurel Canyon home via a trust.

The 30-year-old, who is reported to have purchased Frank Zappa's Hollywood estate, looked in a fine mood

The six bedroom - seven if you count the attached staff apartment - seven bathroom home, came onto the market for the first time in June for just under $5.5 million.

Prior to that a documentary maker had started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $9 million to buy the home, he fell short, and it went up for sale for significantly less.

The property is certainly fit for an eccentric musical icon as, after all, it was designed by an eccentric icon specially to meet his mutual needs.

New pad: Lady Gaga is reportedly the proud new owner of Frank Zappa's secluded Hollywood Hills estate - making her the first non-family member to call the property home

History everywhere: If that is not enough to inspire her, the Laurel Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills - where Joni Mitchell and Jim Morrison also famously lived - is steeped in musical history and was a hub of creativity throughout the Seventies

Frank - who passed away in 1993 aged 52 - purchased the home in 1968 for just $75,000 and proceed to transform it into a sprawling treasure trove of different design influences and creative spaces.

Original built in 1939, the property - which also has two guest houses - is in a Tudor-like style.

But the Valley Girl musician transformed the 7,000-square foot home to fit his needs and it features his famous recording studio.

Rock history: The Valley Girl musician is seen at the house in his recording studio - infamously known as the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen - in 1972

Gaga will be able to record her next album in the late rocker's specially built recording studio, also known as the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen.

As well as a recording studio - infamously known as the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen - is a storage chamber known as The Vault where the Grammy Lifetime Achievement winner kept his private archives locked away.

If that is not enough to inspire her, the Laurel Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills - where Joni Mitchell and Jim Morrison also famously lived - is steeped in musical history and was a hub of creativity throughout the Seventies.
She is swiftly making her mark on the world of modelling and acting.

And Lily-Rose Depp was certain to steal attention on Thursday as she attended the Chanel No 5 L'Eau Dinner in Los Angeles.

The 17-year-old daughter of Johnny Depp flaunted her toned midriff in a heavily embellished extreme crop top with black leather trousers.

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Stunning: Lily-Rose Depp was certain to steal attention on Thursday as she attended the Chanel No 5 L'Eau Dinner in Los Angeles

Her golden-brown locks were gathered up in a loose bun with soft curls falling against her cheeks while allowing glimpses of large hoop earrings.

Despite attracting attention in the fashion world, Lily Rose appears to be carving out a successful path as an actress, with the project marking her fourth major movie in two years.

The Chanel muse featured in the fantasy French drama Planetarium alongside Hollywood star Natalie Portman.

Winning them over: Lily-Rose wore the extreme crop top with leather trousers to the glamorous dinner

Details: The daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis matched her embellished top with hoop earrings and a soft updo

Strike a pose: The teen expertly modelled her outfit for the cameras

She also starred in Kevin Smith's comedy-horror films Tusk and Yoga Hosers, alongside her acting father.

Meanwhile, at the Chanel event Milla Jovovich was also in attendance exuding California cool in patterned denim jeans, a silky black blouse and cream textured coat as she attended the event with director husband Paul W. S. Anderson.

Top of the crops! The model showed off her impressive abs

Cowgirl: The budding actress looped her thumbs into her leather belt loops

Everyone wants a picture: The 17-year-old posed patiently with Pharrell Williams

Happy! Lily-Rose and Pharrell flashed their pearly whites

Pharrell was typically cool in a fedora, plain white tee and colourful coat

Car crazy: Pharrell's flamboyant jacket was covered with cars

Rachel Zoe was a glamour girl in strapless black gown and unique jewellery while posing with her husband Rodger Berman.

Zoey Deutch looked beguiling in her tweed dress with gaping sides and a revealing square cut-out in back.

Smiles all around: Lily-Rose was the center of attention as she posed with Mario Testino

Tight squeeze: Mario looked delighted to see Lily-Rose and gave her a warm hug

Good to catch up: The pair conversed enthusiastically, with Mario looking particularly jubilant

Hold me close: Mario clearly thinks very highly of the model

Model behaviour: Lily-Rose was joined by British model and TV presenter Alexa Chung at the star-studded Chanel event

Reese Witherspoon's daughter Ava Phillippe, 17, made a stunning appearance while dressed in a patterned skirt and detailed grey top.

Girl Meets World star Rowan Blanchard was cute and confident in a colourful tweed jumpsuit with red-orange bag.

Pharrell Williams brought along his wife Helen Lasichanh and together they made a fashion forward pair.

Keeping it casual: The statuesque star, 32, teamed a leather jacket with jeans, a grey top and striking scarlet shoes as she posed for a photograph with Lily-Rose

Textured beauties: The Resident Evil star was fetching in denim and tweed coat while Rowan Blanchard bewitched in a jumpsuit

Radiant duo: Milla Jovovich was in attendance with her husband, director Paul W. S. Anderson
She's a silver screen veteran who is about to celebrate her 41st birthday.

But rosy-cheeked Kate Winslet can still feasibly pass for the romantic interest of 26-year-old Liam Hemsworth in their latest film, The Dressmaker.

Such is the power of her endless youth, that it wasn't until just recently that Kate discovered the 14-year age difference between them.

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Steamy: Kate Winslet and Liam Hemsworth enjoyed a steamy romance in The Dressmaker, but the youthful Brit admits she had no idea there was 14 years between them until months after the film's release

During an interview about the film, which was released on Friday in the US, she told Refinery 29 that his age had remained a mystery to her during their time on set.

'I just found out today that he's 26. I didn't even know how old he was,' she said.

The blonde Titanic star appears to have no qualms about her age, and says she is yet to reach a point where it has impacted on the roles she's offered.

Back in black: Kate plays Tilly in the film, which centres around her return to a rural Australian town to right the wrongs of the past through dressmaking

'I mean talk to me again in 10 years time, and I might be like: "Do you remember I said to you that I wasnt getting parts anymore? Well yeah, guess what: Hollywood thinks Im too old and I need a face-lift." Which I wont be getting,' she joked.

The Dressmaker follows Tilly, played by Kate, as she returns to the rural Australian town she was banished from after being accused of a murder when she was young.

She attempts to right wrongs of the past using her developed skills as a dressmaker.

During the Australian made movie, Kate spends a steamy night with co-star Liam Hemsworth, who shows off his rippling abs throughout the film.

Stripping down: During the film, Kate and Liam's on-screen romance heats up, and viewers are treated to a view of the Australian actor's muscular chest

After its release in Australia, it quickly became the second highest-grossing Australian film of 2015 and received a wealth of award nominations, including 13 AACTA awards.

Despite the grand success she achieved with The Dressmaker, Kate is not one to rest on her laurels.

She will appear in Collateral Beauty alongside Will Smith, Helen Mirren and Keira Knightley when it is released on December 16 in the US.
She was once a Disney darling after shooting to fame in her teens.

But Zoey Deutch looked worlds away from her Disney days as she opted for a rather daring ensemble at the launch of Chanel's new fragrance, No 5 L'Eau, at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood on Thursday night.

The former Suite Life on Deck star, 21, turned heads as she flashed some serious side-boob in a racy cut-out dress while attending the star-studded dinner party in Los Angeles.

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Peek-a-boob! Zoey Deutch looked worlds away from her Disney days at the launch of Chanel's new fragrance at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood on Thursday

The actress opted for a plaid loose-fitting frock, featuring daring cut outs at the sides.

The otherwise demure ensemble ended just above knee-length and also featured a cut-out at the back.

Pairing her ensemble with chunky black heels and a quirky giant thread roll bag, the rising star ensured all eyes were on her as she posed up a storm for the cameras.

Dare to bare: The former Suite Life on Deck star, 21, turned heads as she flashed some serious side-boob in a racy cut-out dress while attending the star-studded dinner party in Los Angeles

Plaid's the way to do it: Pairing her ensemble with chunky black heels and a quirky giant thread roll bag, the rising star ensured all eyes were on her as she posed up a storm

The Vampire Academy actress pulled back her long ombre locks in a chic high ponytail to draw attention to her flawless complexion, which was accentuated with natural make-up.

Keeping her jewellry simple Zoey added a pair of gold fruit shaped earrings and a simple oversized gold ring worn on her index finger.

The beauty is the cover girl for the September issue of Harper by Harper's Bazaar where the mag declared her the latest It Girl.

Plenty to smile about: Check her out: The actress opted for a plaid loose-fitting frock from the French fashion house's collection, featuring daring cut outs at the sides

Elegant: The otherwise demure ensemble ended just above knee-length and also featured a cut-out at the back

The Dirty Grandpa star happens to be the privileged daughter of actress Lea Thompson and director Howard Deutch, who recently celebrated 27 years of marriage.

Zoey has previously opened up about the downsides of having famous parents.

'It was definitely a strange experience when I would see my mom making out with various people,' Zoey admitted of Thompson, who starred in the Back to the Future franchise.

'It made me question if my parents really loved each other.'

Pretty as a picture: The Vampire Academy actress pulled back her long ombre locks in a chic high ponytail to draw attention to her flawless complexion

Despite her showbiz connections, the striking millennial doesn't consider her choice of vocation lucky, convenient, or somehow fulfilling a family legacy.

'I never have a fun answer to the question of how I decided to become an actress,' Deutch shrugged.

'I never had that "aha!" moment. It was just always what I wanted to do.'

Also attending the star-studded Chanel bash on Thursday night were the likes of Lily-Rose Depp and Kristen Stewart, who have both fronted campaigns for the iconic French fashion house.

A-list bash: Lily-Rose Depp (L) and Kristen Stewart (R), who have both fronted campaigns for the iconic French fashion house, also attended the Chanel party on Thursday
She gave birth to her second daughter Indigo a mere seven weeks ago.

And new mother Luisa Zissman made sure to flaunt her impressive post-baby body as she enjoyed a girls' night out at London's Novikov restaurant on Thursday.

Enjoying a dinner date with a gal pal, the former The Apprentice star, 29, looked chic in a pair of leopard print cigarette pants which hugged her toned legs.

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Hot mama: Luisa Zissman made sure to flaunt her impressive post-baby body as she enjoyed a girls' night out at London's Novikov restaurant on Thursday

The ex-Celebrity Big Brother contestant - who welcomed her first child with husband of one year Andrew Collins in August - slipped into a chic black loose-fitting polo neck.

Cutting out the evening chill, Luisa layered her look with a quilted black leather jacket, as she injected height into her frame in a pair of lace-up heels.

Adding a pop of colour to her minimal look, the brunette beauty toted a vibrant bright yellow tote bag.

Mother-of-two Luisa wore her glossy brunette locks straight and accentuated her striking features with minimal make-up.

Wild thing: Enjoying a dinner date with a gal pal, the former The Apprentice star, 29, looked chic in a pair of leopard print cigarette pants which hugged her toned legs

Dressed to impress: The ex-Celebrity Big Brother contestant - who welcomed her first child with husband of one year Andrew Collins in August - slipped into a black polo neck

The TV personality's glamorous appearance comes after she proved she's determined to get her figure back in an Instagram snap shared with her 421,000 followers earlier this week.

Luisa - also mother to daughter Dixie, six, from her previous marriage - has been avidly documenting her weight loss journey with her followers, shortly after ridding her social media accounts of all images of her children.

Her decision comes after she previously expressed her desire to raise her family away from the spotlight, as well as admitting that her husband didn't approve of her sharing pictures of the kids.

And despite her reluctance to post baby shots, she is still extremely keen to show off her body on the photo-sharing site.

Girls' night out: Cutting out the evening chill, Luisa layered her look with a quilted black leather jacket, as she injected height into her frame in a pair of lace-up heels

Working hard: The TV personality's glamorous appearance comes after she proved she's determined to get her figure back in an Instagram snap shared with her 421,000 followers

On Wednesday, she was keen to share her progress with her phenomenal shape as she posted the in-depth caption reading: '2 weeks postpartum vs today 7 weeks postpartum.

'Stomach gone down & very slowly getting some kind of tone back, long road ahead!

'For those interested I've been eating well but not denying myself anything & doing Pilates, or toning classes at least once a day, sometimes twice and horse riding too. I STILL lack core strength which I discovered when schooling my horse today!

'But I'll get there! Loving my new leggings from H&M! #mummytummy #postpartumfitness #postpartumbody #7weekspostpartum.'

Just two weeks after birth, Luisa shared a snap of herself in underwear just before giving birth, alongside a snap of her in a bra and jeans this week.

Astounding: The TV star is determined to get her figure back after welcoming her second child into the world just seven weeks ago

Flaunting her incredible washboard stomach, the former Apprentice star wrote: '2 weeks ago vs this morning. Surprised at how quickly my stomach has gone down. I gained 2st with this pregnancy & have 7lbs to lose now.

'With Dixie I gained 4st! having been very fit before I got pregnant was a massive bonus in my recovery I think.

'Skin is still loose & can't wait to tone up but on the whole pretty pleased with how belly is looking.

'Have no core strength which I realised after trying to ride my horse last week. I did NO exercise throughout my pregnancy due to my hips & pelvis being in agony, and I ate well but didn't deny myself anything.

What a transformation: Luisa looked remarkably different just two weeks after giving birth to second daughter Indigo Esme

'As soon as doc signs me off I'll be following @kayla_itsines programme to get fit, doing Pilates & yoga and of course my beloved horse riding. Will share my progress here with the other mummas who are interested to see. #postnatal #postpartumbody (sic)'.

Last month, Luisa took the decision to remove all pictures of her two young children from her social network pages.

Taking to Instagram she posed a screengrab of her notes, writing: 'Just wanted to say thanks to those that were lovely & wrote nice comments on my pic of Dixie.

'I have now deleted that pic and most others of her and have taken the decision to no longer share photos of Dixie on social media.

'When both my girls are old enough they can have their own social media accounts but until then I will protect their privacy and not share anymore.'

'Cabbage leafs and iced towels in plastic bags, the glamorous life of motherhood': Luisa previously admitted she was in a lot of pain from breastfeeding

In her true open and honest style, she previously admitted she was in a lot of pain from breastfeeding.

She posted an Instagram selfie of her breasts covered in cabbage leaves and iced towels as she got used to feeding again.

Sharing the photo on her Instagram page, Luisa wrote: 'Cabbage leafs and iced towels in plastic bags, the glamorous life of motherhood. Regretting that boob job right about now. #engorged #massivemelons.(sic)'

Luisa and second husband Andrew Collins welcomed baby Indigo at London's Portland Hospital in August.

And like many new mothers' experience, the former Celebrity Big Brother star was finding the first few days of nursing rather painful.

She announced Indigo's birth a week and a half ago with a photo of the baby's hand, writing: 'She's here! Born Tuesday 2nd August at 9.21pm weighing a very healthy 8.1lbs (where was she hiding in my little bump?!).

Happy news: Luisa and businessman Andrew, who is 17 years her senior, welcomed Indigo into the world on August 2

'Daddy won't let me post any pics of her so this is all you'll get, but she's perfect in every way.

'I had a perfect hypnobirth in water, she was born very quickly after a 1hr labour with no pain relief. I love giving birth!! It's the most amazing thing ever!

'Finally home from hospital & enjoying being a family of 4! Oh and her name: Indigo Esme Collins.'

Luisa revealed in April she was pregnant with her first child with Andrew, who she wed at the Chateau de la Napoule, a waterside castle on the French Riviera in July 2015.

The pair, who share a 17 year age gap, started dating in late 2013 - a few months after she found fame on The Apprentice - with Andrew proposing with a 1.5million Boodles ring in Paris in October 2014.
She's known for her dazzling looks, edgy style and her numerous tattoos.

And on Friday, Australian model-turned-Hollywood star Ruby Rose had them all on display.

The Orange is the New Black actress showed a glimpse of her toned midriff and exposed her narrow decolletage in nothing but a navy jacket.

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'Who needs one?' Ruby Rose shows a glimpse of her toned midriff and exposes her narrow decolletage

The Melbourne-born stunner explained in her latest Instagram post she was wearing pants, a jacket and a bag, but when it came to a top she said: 'Well... who needs one?'

Ruby used the post to congratulate American supermodel Gigi Hadid on her recent success with her Tommy Hilfiger collection - and praised her after an ugly incident in Milan.

I'm so proud of this angel @gigihadid .. Congrats on the TH collection!!' she wrote alongside the photo.

'Keep kicking a**': Ruby praised American supermodel Gigi Hadid for fighting off a prankster in Milan earlier this week

'Your success couldn't be happening to a harder working more down to earth girl. Beautiful friend, beautiful person. Keep kicking a**. (specially of pussy boys in Milan).'

Earlier this week, Gigi made her way to a waiting car as she was leaving the Max Mara during Milan Fashion Week.

A man, believed to be serial prankster Vitalii Sediuk, grabbed her by surprise, forcing her to fight him off.

'I am a HUMAN BEING:' Gigi took to Twitter to defend her actions during the incident

And as she walked towards her car, he then grabbed the supermodel from behind, picking her up off the ground.

And after the incident, Gigi took to Twitter to defend her actions saying the prankster had no right to man handle her.

She wrote: 'I am a HUMAN BEING and had EVERY RIGHT to defend myself. How dare that idiot think he has a right to man handle a complete stranger. He ran quick tho...' (sic).

In demand: Ruby has managed to secure various modelling gigs and roles in new movies

Meanwhile, after garnering a legion of fans from American comedy-drama Orange Is The New Black, Ruby has managed to secure various modelling gigs and roles in new movies.

She has recently been busy filming John Wick: Chapter Two and xXx: The Return of Xander Cage and also wrapped up filming for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.

In December last year, Ruby was also named number one of IMDB's Top 10 Movers and Shakers list for her role as Stella Carlin on OITNB.
She's the perfect mix of beauty and brains.

And Amal Clooney, 38, combined glamour and sophistication with aplomb as she returned back to her Upper East Side hotel in New York on Thursday.

The human rights lawyer sauntered with confidence in a striking hot pink suit and a pair of black heels.

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Pretty pink: Amal Clooney, 38, combined glamour and sophistication with aplomb as she arrived back at her Upper East Side hotel in New York on Thursday

She finished her ensemble with a large and luxurious cream leather handbag, while she let her luscious raven locks fall freely.

She ran her fingers through her tresses as she left her black SUV, and wore characteristically classy make-up including lashings of mascara which enhanced her chestnut peepers.

Earlier in the day, Amal caught the eye in a bright red dress as she left the Carlyle Hotel.

The wife of George Clooney was impeccably stylish in the striking scarlet garment, which highlighted her long legs and slender frame.

Scarlet statement: Amal 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.

Seemingly 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.
She's been busy promoting her latest movie American Pastoral.

And Jennifer Connelly was sure to mix up her demure style as she arrived for her movie's photocall at the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Friday.

Edging up her look, the 45-year-old actress - who was joined by her co-star Ewan McGregor - displayed her lean legs in a chic two-tiered ruffle hem mini-dress as she posed for photos at the city's Kursaal Palace.

Chic: Jennifer Connelly was sure to step out in style as she arrived for a photocall for her new movie American Pastoral at the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Friday

The Beautiful Mind star exhibited her toned arms in the sleeveless scuba fabric number, which featured gold zipper detailing.

Highlighting her golden glow, Jennifer slipped into a black pair of platform Louis Vuitton boots as she posed for photographs at the cinematic event.

Styling her raven-coloured locks into a side parting, the Oscar-winning actress highlighted her stunning features with striking make-up.

Edgy: The 45-year-old actress, who was joined by her co-star Ewan McGregor, displayed her lean legs in a chic two-tiered ruffle hemmed mini-dress at the city's Kursaal Palace

Walk this way: The Beautiful Mind star exhibited her toned arms in the sleeveless scuba fabric number, which hugged her slim frame and featured gold zipper detailing

Beautiful: Styling her raven-coloured locks into a side parting, the Oscar-winning actress highlighted her stunning features with striking make-up

Jennifer looked at ease at the event as she got a helping hand from her dashing Scottish co-star Ewan.

Looking handsome, the Fargo actor, 45, slipped into a pair of dapper black chinos and round neck T-shirt.

Ewan donned a single breasted blazer with white pocket square to ensure he was suited and booted for his moment in the spotlight.

Helping hand: Jennifer looked at ease at the event as she got a helping hand from her dashing Scottish co-star Ewan while arriving at the event

Dapper date: Looking handsome, the Fargo actor, 45, slipped into a pair of dapper of black chinos and round neck T-shirt

Suit up: Ewan donned a single breasted blazer with white pocket square to ensure he was suited and booted for his moment in the spotlight

Playing married couple Dawn and Seymour 'Swede' Levov in the upcoming flick, it's clear the pair made a lasting friendship on set as they smiled and giggled together at the press event.

At one point, the pair playfully joked having to let go of each other's hands as they each took their turn infront of the cameras.

Soaking up the atmosphere, the on-screen loves were sure to make time to sign autographs for eagerly awaiting fans.

Having a laugh: Playing married couple Dawn and Seymour 'Swede' Levov in the upcoming flick, it's clear the pair made a lasting friendship on set as they smiled and giggled together

Playful: At one point, the pair playfully joked having to let go of each other's hands as they each took their turn infront of the cameras

Beaming: The two co-stars couldn't contain their smiles as they posed for photos

Time out: Soaking up the atmosphere, the on-screen loves were to make time to sign autographs for eagerly awaiting fans

Fandom: The Hollywood stars were sure to make time for fans in the Spanish city

Ewan makes his directorial debut on the crime-drama - which is based on the 1997 novel of the same name by Philip Roth.

The film centres around family man Seymour 'Swede' Levov, who's watches his middle class life fall apart as his daughter's new radical political affiliation threatens to destroy them.

The film also stars Dakota Fanning, Rupert Evans and Valorie Curry and premiered on September 9 at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

It is set to be released in the United States on October 21.
The happy Bachelor couple are spending time together in Perth.

And as Richie Strahan took Alex Nation up to a picturesque look out to watch the sun set on Friday, the blonde 25-year-old couldn't resist striking a pose alongside her beau's big black car.

But while Richie filmed Alex's antics on Snapchat, the single mother showed she may not have what it takes to hit the runway.

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Strike a pose: Alex Nation attempted to work the camera while on a sightseeing trip with her Bachelor beau Richie Strahan - but ended up hitting her head as she flailed around instead

The video opened on Alex running behind the car while Richie turned the camera on himself and winked.

He then showed social media followers the stunning Perth sunset they had originally come to see before Alex decided she wanted to be the star of the show.

The Melbourne woman's antics didn't appear to bother her Bachelor beau, who encouraged her to drape herself on his car.

The real model: Richie, an actual model, found humour in the 25-year-old's attempts

Ouch! After flailing around on her blonde beau's car, Alex threw her head back dramatically and hit her head

'Work it baby! Do it again! Strike a pose,' he yelled as his girlfriend flailed around.

Alex leaned back on the car dramatically - and she immediately hit her head.

The reality TV star clutched her head and tried to cry out in pain through her laughter.

Richie was no help, and could only offer a 'did you just hit your head?' to this injured lady-love through his own hysterics.

The Bachelor winner crouched to her knees before her beau decided to turn off the camera and help.

Despite her struggles posing, she cut a rock-chic look in a pair of tight ripped black jeans and a leather jacket.

She added some light to the otherwise all-black outfit, finishing off the look with a high-necked white top.

Fashion is pain: The mother-of-one tried to cry out in pain but couldn't help but laugh
At the start of the month, she was photographed shooting scenes for her latest movie Transformers: The Last Knight on the streets of London.

And on Friday, Laura Haddock swapped the English capital for Oxford city centre, as filming continued on the big budget Michael Bay-directed project.

The 31-year-old screen beauty wowed as she stepped out in a plunging white blouse under a black leather jacket to shoot alongside veteran actor Sir Anthony Hopkins.

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Back to work she goes: Laura Haddock as spotted shooting scenes for her latest movie Transformers: The Last Knight in Oxford on Friday

Carrying a pair of tinted shades as she roamed about the outdoor setting, the mother-of-one accessorized with a bold statement necklace.

And, to add to her sleek look, Laura - married to actor Sam Claflin - oozed high fashion glamour with her fiery red tresses styled into a neat topknot.

In between takes, she was seen jovially chatting away with director Michael, while the film-maker also enjoyed some off-time conversation with screen star Anthony.

Stylish: The 31-year-old actress wowed in a white blouse under a sleek leather jacket

She's got drive: As she shot scenes for the big budget movie, she was seen getting out of a car

The 78-year-old actor stepped out in style for his day in front of the cameras, wearing a grey suit under a taupe scarf and smart camel coat.

It seems the stars haven't been thrust into the action just yet, as there was no sign of any of the film's titular mechanical monsters on the set - though they can hide in plain sight.

Laura was recently given the task of driving a Chevrolet Camero onto the set, possibly indicating she is the Autobot Bumblebee's latest human companion.

Deep in conversation: In between takes, she was seen chatting away with director Michael Bay

Centre of attention: Crew members surrounded her as she got into character on the set

In the navy: Laura displayed her enviable curves in a high-waisted navy skirt with back zip

Famously given an overhaul from his appearance in the '80s cartoon - in which he transformed into a VW Beetle - in 2007's Transformers, Bumblebee took on the form of the iconic muscle car.

Bumblebee's last faithful companion was Shia LeBouf's Sam Witwicky, although he did join forces with Mark Whalberg in 2014's Age of Extinction to save his leader Optimus Prime.

Production on the highly anticipated movie - which also stars Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel, Stanley Tucci and Tyrese Gibson, among others - begun in May.

Transformers: The Last Night is scheduled to be released on June 23, 2017.

On set: Sir Anthony Hopkins was also spotted roaming the set as he shot scenes for the film

Dapper: The veteran actor looked stylish in a grey suit under a camel coat and taupe scarf

Man's best friend: The film-maker took some time out to greet an adorable pooch on the set
Roxy Jacenko has come to the last leg of her breast cancer treatment, after revealing her shocking diagnosis back in July.

And it seems even her two children, Pixie and Hunter, are in celebration mode.

The PR maven shared a picture of the adorable pair cheering as they devoured the new Gaytime flavoured treat released by Doughnut Time.

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Hooray for doughnuts! PR maven Roxy Jacenko shared a picture of her children Hunter and Pixie Curtis cheering after tasting the new Gaytime flavoured treat from Doughnut Time

Both Pixie and Hunter were pictured with their hands in the air, but Hunter, 2, looked particularly delighted as he smiled broadly back at the pale green packaging.

The doughnut, which was released on Saturday, consists of a milk chocolate glaze, crushed biscuits, golden caramelised crepes and is filled with honeycomb custard.

For Roxy, the sweet treat is a welcome distraction from her last few radiation treatments to help rid her of breast cancer.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, the 26-year-old shared a photo of St. Vincent's radiation clinic, along with the caption, 'Five days to go'.

'Five days to go': Roxy Jacenko has posted an Instagram picture of the St. Vincent's radiation clinic in the last leg of her treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer in July

After a tumultuous year, the mother-of-two has kept a brave face since the diagnosis which came just three weeks after her husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail in late June for insider trading.

Keeping her 129,000 followers up to date with her day-to-day life, the picture comes as a stark reminder to fans that treatment is underway and going ahead with no hitches.

In the snap a sterile clinic equipped with radiation machinery could be seen at the St. Vincent's Hospital.

Strong: Roxy kept a brave face after being diagnosed with cancer in July just three weeks after her husband Oliver Curtis was sentenced to jail for insider trading

The blonde beauty has kept pictures of doctors and clinics to a minimum on social media, distracting fans with pictures of her adoring children, work and fashion forward outfits.

Meanwhile in August a promo clip for Roxy's upcoming 60 minutes documentary showed the moment surgeons remove her cancerous tumour.

The preview featured exclusive scenes from the operating theatre as the publicist underwent the surgery for breast cancer.

The footage was filmed at a Sydney hospital and was included in a an hour-long special on Channel Nine.

In the 30-second trailer, Roxy was shown calmly receiving medical treatment in a hospital gown.

Later, the focus shifted to the operation itself - including the graphic moment the tumour was taken out.

Doting mother: The blonde beauty has kept pictures of doctors and clinics to a minimum on social media distracting fans with pictures of her adoring children, work and fashion forward outfits

A previous 60 Minutes trailer showed a confrontation between Roxy and reporter Allison Langdon.

Roxy was clearly angered by the suggestion that people might question the timing of her cancer diagnosis since the conviction of her husband.

'You've got too much time on your hands if you say that. I don't really give a f*** what they think on my timing.

Surgery: A promo clip for Roxy Jacenko's 60 Minutes documentary features scenes from her recent breast cancer surgery

'I don't really give a f*** what they think on my timing': A previous 60 Minutes trailer showed a confrontation between Roxy and reporter Allison Langdon (pictured) who claimed that people believed the cancer diagnosis came at a 'convenient' time

'They can say that, the reality is, it's not something that I ever thought I would face.'

In June, Oliver was sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison, to be released after one year on a good behaviour bond.

Roxy stood by his side during the trial and sentencing at the NSW Supreme Court and frequently made headlines for her stylish outfits.
He's the Melbourne-born hunk who found fame as a Hollywood heartthrob in hits like The Hunger Games and The Last Song.

And on Friday, Liam Hemsworth showed his Aussie pride as he promoted the long-awaited U.S. release of his hit Australian comedy-drama, The Dressmaker.

'Proud to be a part of Australian film,' wrote the 26-year-old on Instagram.

'Proud to be a part of Australian film:' Australia's Liam Hemsworth promoted the U.S. release of his new Australian film The Dressmaker on Friday

'It's beautifully shot and Kate Winslet is incredible (as always),' he continued, gushing over his glamorous co-star.

He finished: 'Hope you guys can check it out.'

Kate is about to celebrate her 41st birthday in coming weeks.

'It's beautifully shot and Kate Winslet is incredible (as always),' he gushed

But the rosy-cheeked actress can still feasibly pass for the romantic interest of 26-year-old Liam in their latest film.

Such is the power of her endless youth, that it wasn't until just recently that Kate discovered the 14-year age difference between them.

During an interview about the film, which was released on Friday in the US, she told Refinery 29 that his age had remained a mystery to her during their time on set.

Steamy: Kate and Liam enjoyed a steamy romance in The Dressmaker, but the youthful Brit admits she had no idea there was 14 years between them until months after the film's release

'I just found out today that he's 26. I didn't even know how old he was,' she said.

The blonde Titanic star appears to have no qualms about her age, and says she is yet to reach a point where it has impacted on the roles she's offered.

'I mean talk to me again in 10 years time, and I might be like: "Do you remember I said to you that I wasnt getting parts anymore? Well yeah, guess what: Hollywood thinks Im too old and I need a face-lift." Which I wont be getting,' she joked.

Back in black: Kate plays Tilly in the film, which centres around her return to a rural Australian town to right the wrongs of the past through dressmaking

The Dressmaker follows Tilly, played by Kate, as she returns to the rural Australian town she was banished from after being accused of a murder when she was young.

She attempts to right wrongs of the past using her developed skills as a dressmaker.

During the Australian made movie, Kate spends a steamy night with co-star Liam Hemsworth, who shows off his rippling abs throughout the film.

Stripping down: During the film, Kate and Liam's on-screen romance heats up, and viewers are treated to a view of the Australian actor's muscular chest

After its release in Australia, it quickly became the second highest-grossing Australian film of 2015 and received a wealth of award nominations, including 13 AACTA awards.

Despite the grand success she achieved with The Dressmaker, Kate is not one to rest on her laurels.

She will appear in Collateral Beauty alongside Will Smith, Helen Mirren and Keira Knightley when it is released on December 16 in the US.
He enjoyed a whirlwind trip to Spain for the Pull & Bear photocall on Wednesday, as the new face of the brand.

But Brooklyn Beckham was back to his comfort zone on Friday, as he headed out in sunny London for a relaxing skating session.

The 17-year-old showcased his talent as he soared into the air during one impressive trick, catching the attention of his friends as well as onlookers all around him.

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Camo cool: Brooklyn Beckham, 17, headed out in sunny London for a skating session on Friday in a grungy camouflage printed T-shirt

Dressed in jeans and a casual camouflage printed T-shirt, the star rocked an edgier style, matching the grungy vibe of the activity he was enjoying.

Adding a bright yellow beanie to his head despite the sunshine beating down, the aspiring photographer embodied the typical 'skater boy' image for his relaxing afternoon outside.

Taking style lessons from his parents however, Brooklyn kept his outfit co-ordinated by completing his look with matching vibrant mustard trainers.

Skater boy! Dressed in a yellow beanie and jeans, the youngster embodied the typical 'skater' image as he impressed with several well-rehearsed flips and tricks

Rolling up his T-shirt as he got down to business, the teen showcased a whole host of impressive flips and tricks, which caught the attention of all onlookers around him.

Skating is evidently a keen hobby of the youngster's, with Brooklyn always tearing up the pavements in any spare time between his school and budding modelling career.

Brooklyn signed a deal with Spanish fashion brand Pull & Bear earlier this month - making a model-worthy appearance at the company's photocall in Spain on Wednesday.

Sporting a bomber jacket and top knot, the teen clearly took inspiration from his famous father as he cut a stylish figure on the event carpet.

Spitting image: Sporting a bomber jacket and top knot, the teen clearly took inspiration from his famous father as he cut a stylish figure at the Pull & Bear photocall in Spain on Wednesday

The gig comes just weeks after signing a contract to appear in an advert for mobile phone company Huawei worth 100,000.

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.

'He's got millions of social media followers and this is a good way to engage a load of youngsters.'

Additionally, the eldest of David and Victoria's talented brood modelled in Burberry's Brit perfume campaign and graced the covers of China's Vogue ME and Miss Vogue last year.

Model material: Brooklyn's modelling career is really kicking off this year, after starring in Burberry's Brit perfume campaign and on the cover of Miss Vogue last year

His busy modelling schedule may be a means of distraction from his heartache however, having recently split from actress girlfriend Chloe Moretz, 19.

With Brooklyn based in London with his family for school and the actress in Los Angeles, it was believed they called time on their romance due to long-distance being too much to bear.

A source said: 'Brooklyn is so young with his whole life ahead and although he was besotted with her at first, as time wore on Chloe wanted to become more serious and given he lives on the other side of the Atlantic, it was something he couldn't offer.'

The pair briefly dated in 2014, before getting back together earlier this year and attending a number of high-profile events together over the summer.
He's been busy filming the latest installment of Thor on the Gold Coast.

But British actor Idris Elba, 44, will take time out from his busy work schedule for a shopping event in Sydney.

The talented hunk will visit the Harbour City on Monday with UK clothing brand Superdry.

Taking a break: British actor Idris Elba will take time out from his busy on-set schedule to for a shopping event in Sydney

The Hollywood star ventured into the world of fashion last year and recently created his second collection for the company.

Next week, the Thor actor will reportedly help guests examine the new line in an 'exclusive shopping event.'

The line was designed alongside Superdry Co-founders James Holder and Julian Dunkerton.

'We're three British lads who've worked hard to get to where we are. I'm passionate about what I do and always give 100 per cent,' Idris said.

Co-stars: Idris, Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth have been working on the third installment of the Marvel comics film

'If I had the opportunity to have any influence in fashion, this is it. I'm not a designer, but I'm passionate about clothes and I know how men want to look.'

Idris and his co-stars Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth have been working on the third installment of the Marvel comics film in Queensland.

Meanwhile, the Hackney-born actor is set to star in a documentary about his own personal journey to becoming a professional kickboxer.

Titled Idris Elba: Fighter, the film 'will see Elba undertake the physically and mentally demanding task of training to become a professional kickboxer.'

New venture: The Hackney-born star is set to star in a documentary about his own personal journey to becoming a professional kickboxer

He's set to take on his first fight in October, with the match featuring in the three-hour-long special.

'It has been a lifelong ambition of mine to fight professionally,' the 44-year-old actor said.

'Entering the ring to further test myself as a human being is a challenge I have been looking to take on for quite some time,' the star said previously.

Despite his fitness and physique being suitable to playing the role of James Bond, Idris has dismissed rumours he's set to become the next 007.
Where would you choose to live in Soapland? I could be quite happy in Emmerdales Home Farm, not least because of the wine cellar which, given how much everyone drinks, might be the size of Austria. But I dont want to deal with the cold of the Yorkshire Dales.

EastEnders terraced houses are quite nice, although the noise of the market traders setting up at dawn might be off-putting. Then theres the cost of redecorating, following the departure of previous owners (all of whom have appalling taste that only a fire and re-build could make good).

Im rather taken with Phelan and Vinnys apartment development in Coronation Street. Theres the small problem of it being a scam (ie non-existent), but the brochures are so pretty. Carlas old place is smart, too, but itd take a year to clear out the empty red wine bottles that must be hidden in every nook and cranny.

Its just as well none of these places exist, really. Its enough stress just thinking about them  imagine what putting down a deposit would be like. Which reminds me, Phelan. The cheques in the post.

CORONATION STREET

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN  OR A U-TURN?

Will Kirk (above, with Beth) decide to go to court to support his semi-wife, and what will her sentence be (as if working in that factory werent sentence enough)?

Where is everyone getting their hair done, because it sure as heck isnt at Audreys. Vinnys lustrous locks, Tracys exquisite highlights, Eileens bubbly new cut... yet all we saw in the salon last week were two women with curlers lurking beneath their hairnets. One even had a line to say, which was a first.

When not being overwhelmed with her one client, Maria this week tells Beth that if she wants Kirk back, she must deliver a heartfelt apology. Will Kirk (above, with Beth) decide to go to court to support his semi-wife, and what will her sentence be (as if working in that factory werent sentence enough)? Marias other problems involve the death of a family member and her psycho lesbian live-in stalker. Lifes never easy for Maria, is it? And shes yet to notice Liam hasnt been fed for a month.

Todd also has a difficult decision to make  does he put Phelan or Billy first? Last weeks episodes were brilliant  Shakespearean (seriously!) in their shifting of the moral compass when Todd made a decision, too late, not knowing that he neednt have taken the path he did. Will Todd discover he has a conscience, or does Phelan already have him in his clutches?

EASTENDERS

MONEY TALKS  TOO MUCH

There is a little light humour when, at the Vic, locals are betting on whether Vincent (left, centre) can teach Kim to drive properly. Lets hope so: to Beachy Head and off it, with any luck

How is Sharon still standing? The stress of carrying that frown must be taking its toll. Its back on duty again this week when Phil is in hospital and Ben refuses to visit. Whats going on? Well, Sharon, he aint having his tonsils out.

Life doesnt improve when Dennis comes home from school with a bruised face. When Sharon arranges a meeting with the school to discuss bullying, will there be another surprise in store for her? Or will the scriptwriters give her blood pressure a rest for the day?

There are more money worries for Martin and Stacey, who are on the verge of being homeless. How hard can it be to get a cheap place in this part of the East End? If Stacey cut back on purchases of hair colour, they could probably go for a three-bedder.

There are also financial woes for Babe, when Mick tells her to get the blackmail money to Les and Pam or hes going to the police. And Babes solution? She tries to blackmail Abi into giving her cash. Thats what I call shifting cabins on the Titanic. Pam has bigger things to worry about when she decides she wants to visit Pauls killers. Id send Christine. Thatll scare them.

There is a little light humour when, at the Vic, locals are betting on whether Vincent (left, centre) can teach Kim to drive properly. Lets hope so: to Beachy Head and off it, with any luck.

EMMERDALE

ANOTHER BARKING MAD SCHEME

Theres more excitement for Charity when she tells her ex Cain that she was with Ross (above) only to make him jealous

Is there anything Charity wont do for a fast buck? Her latest plan, concocted with Ross (never the brightest glow-worm under the night sky) is to steal a dog for a reward. Alas, it goes awry  theyre stranded on a climbing frame and held to ransom by a Rottweiler. Still, its a change from being held in a car boot.

Theres more excitement for Charity when she tells her ex Cain that she was with Ross (above) only to make him jealous. Cain kisses her, but why is he reticent about announcing their reunion and how will he break the news?
She had a shock after being forced to defend herself against a prankster who lifted her in the street on Thursday.

But it appeared Gigi Hadid had completely recovered from the episode when she got back to business at the Versace SS17 show during Milan Fashion Week on Friday.

Behind-the-scenes photos show the 21-year-old model preparing for the catwalk with fellow beauties Adriana Lima and Doutzen Kroes.

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Ready for action: Behind the scenes photos show 21-year-old Gigi preparing for the catwalk with fellow beauty Adriana Lima

With her brunette locks parted at the middle, Gigi sported a buttoned-up patchwork shirt with striped sleeves and a turquoise collar.

The beauty ensured her hair remained in place with two clips as she accentuated her striking facial features with a touch of make up including pink eye shadow that complemented her green eyes.

Meanwhile Adriana, 35, showcased her incredible curves with a plunging nude strap top layered under a matching woollen number.

The Victoria's Secret Angel sported the same hairstyle as Gigi for the show, keeping her locks away from her striking cheekbones with some cute clips.

With her brunette locks parted at the middle, Gigi sported a buttoned-up floral patterned shirt with striped sleeves and a turquoise collar

Stunner: Gigi ensured her hair remained in place with two clips as she accentuated her striking facial features with a touch of make up including pink eye shadow

Enjoying a cuppa: Donatella Versace (L) and Gigi Hadid (R) were backstage ahead of the Versace show during Milan Fashion Week

After getting ready, the models were all set to put on show on the catwalk.

Gigi turned heads as she paraded down the catwalk in a sheer navy dress adorned with sequin embellishment.

Daring to go braless beneath the scanty ensemble, the blonde beauty offered a glimpse at her ample cleavage as she stared steely-eyed down the end of the runway.

Hair-raising: The preparations were meticulous as model Doutzen Kroes had her locks attended to

Dazzling: Adriana Lima looked a vision as she waited backstage before her big moment

Skimming her thighs, the sheer fabric also offered a look at her tanned and toned pins, as she teetered along the runway in a pair of barely there navy heels.

Wearing her honey coloured locks sleek and straight, she added to the glamour by tracing her hazel coloured peepers with a slick of silver eye shadow.

Meanwhile, Bella, 19, also turned heads in a billowing blue shirt that featured cream crochet embellishment.

Prepared: After getting ready, the models were all set to put on show on the catwalk

Finishing touches: Gigi had to be patient and stay still as her make up was applied

Good to go: The beauties needed some minor adjustments before they hit the catwalk

It was on Thursday that Gigi was manhandled by a former Ukrainian television reporter who has pulled similar stunts in Paris, Los Angeles and Moscow.

The man grabbed Hadid from behind and lifting her off the ground as she and her sister, Bella, 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.

Having a laugh: Irina Shayk (L) and Donatella Versace (R) were hanging out backstage ahead of the show

Good pals: Gigi and Donatella had a playful time as they smiled for the cameras backstage

Kind words: Donatella Versace greeted Gigi ahead of the show to pass on her good wishes

Recovered: It was on Thursday that Gigi was manhandled by a former Ukrainian television reporter who has pulled similar stunts in Paris, Los Angeles and Moscow

Ready for the runway: Gigi flashed a smirk before heading out into the lights

Practice makes perfect: The duo were seen trying out their poses before the show

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.'

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.

Old school: Gigi Hadid used a polaroid camera backstage to take some funky snaps

All fun and games: Gigi shared a joke with her make-up artist who attended her

Getting ready: The models prepared backstage at the Versace show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017

All set! Gigi Hadid (L) and Adriana Lima looked ready for action

All smiles: A trio of models appear excited before the big show as they pose backstage

'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.

Attacker: As she stopped to pose for pictures with vying admirers, the prankster loitered nearby before scooping Gigi up in one brutal sweep

Help! As they settled into the second day of Milan Fashion Week ahead of the Moschino show, things took a turn for the worse when she left the Max Mara show earlier, which she walked in

Get back! Shocking footage surfaced which showed the stunning star being scooped up in the air while she lashed out at him
She's been dating Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson for two years.

But there was no sign of the 61-year-old funnyman as Louise Ford, 32, stepped out in London on Thursday to run some errands.

The actress - who met Rowan in 2012 when they co-starred in the West End comic play Quatermaine's Terms - kept it casual in skinny jeans, a blue leather jacket and flat shoes as she popped out to post a letter.

Dressed down: Actress Louise Ford, 32, who has been dating Rowan Atkinson, 61, for over two years kept it casual as she stepped out in London on Thursday

Louise wore her dark hair pulled back off her face and appeared to be going make-up free.

It was reported earlier this year that Louise had moved into Rowan's 4.65 million London home, just two months after his divorce from Sunetra Sastry, his wife of 23 years.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'Rowan and Louise are both incredibly private people. But this shows they are obviously serious about their relationship.'

Atkinson and Miss Ford went public with their romance in 2014, after his marriage to Ms Sastry came to an end.

Loved up: The pretty brunette moved in with Rowan earlier this year, after his divorce from Sunetra Sastry, his wife of 23 years, was finalised

Loved up: Rowan and Louise met in 2012 when they co-starred in the West End comic play Quatermaine's Terms but only started dating two years ago

At the time of the couple's split in 2014, they were building an 11million home in Oxfordshire, however the Blackadder star relocated to the London cottage while Ms Sastry is living in a 21million mansion in the capital.

The funnyman, who is estimated to be worth 70million, shares son Ben and daughter Lily with his ex-wife, whom he married in 1990.

He first met Ms Sastry, the daughter of an Indian engineer from Ealing, West London, in the late Eighties, when she was working as a make-up artist for the BBC, and was previously in a relationship with Men Behaving Badly star Leslie Ash.

Happier times: Rowan and Sunetra Sastry (pictured in 2005) were granted a divorce in November 2015, after 23 years of marriage

Louise most recently worked on Channel 4 sitcom Crashing and friends of her and Rowan revealed their comedy backgrounds are a large part of why they 'work' as a couple.
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They've proved to be talented models in their own right.

But sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid combined their star power once again as they stormed the runway at the Versace SS17 show for Milan Fashion Week on Friday.

Taking the lead, older sister Gigi, 21, turned heads as she paraded down the catwalk in a sheer navy dress adorned with sequin embellishment.

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All eyes on them: Supermodel sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid combined their star power once again as they stormed the runway at the Versace SS17 show for Milan Fashion Week on Friday

Daring to go braless beneath the scanty ensemble, the blonde beauty offered a glimpse at her ample cleavage as she stared steely-eyed down the end of the runway.

Skimming her thighs, the sheer fabric also offered a look at her tanned and toned pins, as she teetered along the runway in a pair of barely there navy heels.

Wearing her honey coloured locks sleek and straight, she added to the glamour by tracing her hazel coloured peepers with a slick of silver eye shadow.

Putting on a show: Taking the lead, older sister Gigi, 21, turned heads as she paraded down the catwalk in a sheer navy dress adorned with sequin embellishment which offered a look at her tanned and toned pins

Sheer delight! Daring to go braless beneath the scanty ensemble the blonde beauty offered a glimpse at her ample cleavage

Feeling shirty: Bella, 19, also turned heads in a billowing blue shirt that featured cream crochet embellishment

Meanwhile, Bella, 19, also turned heads in a billowing blue shirt that featured cream crochet embellishment.

Highlighting her lean legs, the star donned a pair of black skinny jeans as she strode past in towering black heels.

Her hair and make-up was styled in the same way as her elder sisters, giving the show some continuity.

Shayking it up! Russian model Irina Shayk also stormed the runway, going braless beneath a skintight navy jumper

Model moment: The show was filled with stars, including Naomi Campbell, Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima and Irina Shayk

Two of a kind: Naomi Campbell flashed her lean legs in a wrap skirt whilst Adriana Lima exposed her toned abs

Whilst the supermodel sisters were the stars of the show, they were joined by a host of accomplished models.

Russian beauty Irina Shayk also offered a look at her assets by going braless in a navy jumper which she teamed with figure-hugging high-waisted trousers.

Layering up the star - who is dating Bradley Cooper - also wore a navy mac over her ensemble.

She's Dunn it again! Jourdan Dunn stormed the runway in a navy leather jacket and tight red T-shirt

Leggy lady! The supermodel flaunted her pins in a mini skirt with a dangerously high split

Model moment: The collection was surprisingly muted for the typically colourful Versace presentations

Modelling to the Max: Stella Maxwell donned one of the most colourful ensembles on the catwalk in a checkered co-ord

Leading the way: Gigi lead the glamorous brigade of models as they took to the catwalk to showcase the designs

Queen of the runway, Naomi Campbell, was also called in by Donatella Versace to walk in the show, and showed the other models exactly how to work their angles as she strode past in a leg flashing wrap skirt and sports jacket.

The stellar line-up also included Adriana Lima who flaunted her toned abs in a colourful crop top as she teetered along in a pair of towering wedges.

Meanwhile, Doutzen Kroes put her best foot forward in a black tracksuit that skimmed over her model frame.

Backstage beauty: Gigi was a vision of beauty as she prepared for the show backstage with clips smoothing her golden locks

Friends in high places! Gigi cuddled up to designer Donatella Versace before walking in the show

Snap happy: Gigi turned the tables as she became a photographer for the night capturing the backstage shots

Model pals: Gigi and Adriana cuddled up to take snaps before storming the runway together

Blonde beauty: Gigi was a vision as she had her hair and make-up expertly applied

Getting ready: The models were in great spirits as they got themselves dolled up for the runway

Model moment: Gigi cuddled up to Adriana as they posed for shots before taking to the runway

While the sisters were a vision of poise and grace, just the day before Gigi was left disheveled after getting caught in a dramatic fracas when she elbowed serial prankster Vitalii Sediuk after he grabbed her and picked her up from behind.

Shocking footage surfaced which showed the stunning star being scooped up in the air before she lashed out as her sister Bella shouted at him to put her down. Gigi and Bella have been enjoying their stints in fashion shows around the globe as the latest styles from the SS17 lines are unveiled.

As they settled into the second day of Milan Fashion Week ahead of the Moschino show, things took a turn for the worse when she left the Max Mara show earlier, which she walked in.

As she stopped to pose for pictures with vying admirers, the prankster loitered nearby before Sediuk launched his brutal sweep.The shell-shocked beauty put on a feisty display as she turned around to elbow the trickster before trying to chase after him while she was restrained by her security.

Front row fancy: Serena Williams wowed in an aquamarine cropped jumper teamed with skinny jeans and heeled boots

Three of a kind: Bella and Gigi cuddled up to Serena backstage whilst they all donned pieces from Versace's new collection

Sequin sisters: Olivia Palermo and Nina Zill wowed in heavily embellished Versace garments to watch the show
Cindy Crawford may be known for modelling haute couture and being splashed across magazine covers.

But on Thursday evening, she proved she can be just as bewitching when dressed down for a bit of family time.

The 50-year-old showcased her pencil thin legs in tight jeans as she arrived at SoHo House in Malibu with her husband Rande Gerber and her doppelganger daughter Kaia Gerber on Thursday.

Family time: On Thursday, Cindy Crawford was spotted leaving her car alongside Kaia Gerber at SoHo House in Malibu on Thursday

Maintenance: The 50-year-old showed off her sculpted legs in tight jeans

The DeKalb native wore a dull blue top featuring robe-like sleeves with slits, and tucked it into her jeans, which she'd cinched with a brown leather belt. Her luxuriant hair flowed free, and a couple of necklaces added some flash to the look.

Meanwhile, the dashing 54-year-old she married in 1998 wore his silver shirt slightly unbuttoned and threw a brown jacket on top.

Their 15-year-old daughter clambered from the car in a high-cut, torn pair of denim shorts and sported a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt.

Rounding out the party: Crawford's husband Rande Gerber seemed to have driven the trio to the private members club

Legacy: The 14-year-old has followed in her mother's footsteps and become a model herself

Easy breezy: The following day Cindy showed how to do casual wear right as she went on a morning coffee run

Last week, the woman Forbes once declared the world's highest paid model put aside some time for a less frequent family experience.

The Vogue mainstay was visiting her home state to attend the Fifth Star Awards at Millennium Park in Chicago, where she presented an accolade to fashion photographer Victor Skrebneski.

During her sojourn in the Windy City, she stopped by to visit her 97 year old maternal grandmother Dorothy Walker. The model posted an Instagram photo of them together, hinting at a genetic source of her youthfulness.
Cindy Crawford may be 50 years old, but the only evidence of that in her career is its length.

In a photoshoot conducted Saturday, she reminded the world why her generation of models had 'super' appended to the job title.

Photos released to Instagram by stylist Elizabeth Sulver showed the Vogue darling flashing her stunningly flat midriff in a leather jacket.

She wore no top underneath that jacket, holding it slightly open so that a generous helping of cleavage was on display. A double-strand necklace flashed between the collar, and black sunglasses were perched on her face.

The DeKalb, Illinois, native stood with her legs apart, her bottoms consisting solely of skimpy black underwear. Black thigh-high stiletto boots accentuated her vertiginous legs.

On Sunday, Sulcer had posted a picture from the shoot, featuring only the model posing in the outfit against a white wall.

Her caption revealed the shoot had been photographed by Russell James, the Australian fashion photographer known for his work with such brands as Vogue and Victoria's Secret.

#CindyCrawford and I the other day. @tamahk @elizabethsulcer @russelljames A photo posted by dennisgots (@dennisgots) on Sep 22, 2016 at 3:35pm PDT

On Monday, he posted a photo he'd taken of Crawford - seemingly in the same thigh-high boots - with her 15-year-old daughter and fellow model Kaia Gerber to Instagram.

Saturday, he'd posted a photo of Gerber leaping up between open glass doors, the ocean stretching behind her. He'd captioned: 'While mum is in hair and makeup we get to run around. Watch as this adorable young lady becomes a super star in the coming years. She's so cool it's an inevitable outcome. @kaiagerber.'

This Thursday night, Crawford's hair stylist on the shoot, Dennis Gots, uploaded a black and white photo of her standing at her mark, looking ready for the camera as he ran a brush through her wavy hair.

That night, her makeup artist on that shoot, Tamah Krinsky, had uploaded the same photo Sulcer did, effusing in her caption: 'Oh hey, I forgot to mention, I spent my Saturday with the incredible Cindy Crawford!'

Though she referred to the shoot only as a 'Special project coming soon!' and Sulcer's caption had included the hashtag, '#secretproject,' Sulcer did also add the hashtag '#vogue.'

Whether that was a hint about the new photos, or merely a nod to Crawford and James' well-known professional history with the magazine, is unclear.
From her breasts to her bottom, there is no part of Kim Kardashian that hasn't been the subject of plastic surgery rumours.

Now the reality star is addressing the latest reports - denying that she has had a nose job.

'People think Ive had my nose done. I havent,' she tells the autumn edition of Wonderland magazine, on whose cover she stars.

'It's contouring!' Kim Kardashian DENIES having a nose job... but admits it does look 'smaller' in an interview with Wonderland magazine

Who nose what's changed: Kim is seen today, left, and back in 2006, right

Kim says her nose just wasn't as contoured in decade old photos like the one on the left

However, she admits: 'It does look smaller. Maybe its the contour I use.'

Kim, whose father was of Armenian heritage, even told the magazine that she felt her nose made her look more 'ethnic'.

'I used to hate this bump on my nose, she said in the interview. 'Hated it. Now I love that it makes me look more ethnic.'

Making a point? Kim, whose father was of Armenian heritage, told the magazine that she felt her nose made her look more 'ethnic'

Cream lover: Here Kardashian reclines on a kitchen island with a can of whipped cream in her mouth and surrounded by desserts in a bizarre photo shoot

Pom pom queen: In another image, she hides her breasts underneath a large fluffy pink bra attached to a sheer crop top as she pulls on her disheveled hair with a pink brush

Kim also opened up about life with Kanye West. As a father, she says, he is 'hand's on, but hes not a night guy'.

And while he is 'great' with three-year-old North, babies are not really his thing.

When Kanye was asked by Kim to watch Saint, she found the father sleeping on their bed.

'Im like, "Thats not how this is supposed to go!"'

The tabs! In another shot she sits on her bed with the covers of weekly magazines featuring her on the wall

And Kim also admitted life isn't always easy with Mr West.

She was pregnant with their daughter North and 'miserable' while he was recording the Yeezy album in 2013, she shared.

'He had this aggression. You can hear it. He wasn't used to this life with me,' she explained. 'He was super famous before, but the paparazzi life is a different world.'

So Ophelia of her: The pinup looks like a modern version of Shakespeare's doomed character from Hamlet

Accompanying Kim's interview was a highly stylised photoshoot by Petra Collins.

In some of the images the mother-of-two is sucking on a whipped cream can as she spreads her legs on a kitchen counter. She is also seen modeling a pink fur bra.

And in another shot, which was released on Friday, the 35-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is modeling a dress with marijuana leaves on it.

Where are the heels? Kim wore orange fuzzy slippers instead of her normal platforms

Eye see you: The siren looks in a mirror as candles burn in the background and she has a tabloid under her Sudoku

Best asset: Her famous derriere is surrounded by a white daisy chain heart as she strikes a pose in a pink Juicy Couture tracksuit in another photo for the magazine

Best pout: For the Wonderland cover, the reality star, 35, looks like a wacky bride in long white veil with white satin two-piece, white fishnet stockings and thigh-high white boots
Jonathan Cheban has been providing a lot of laughs on Keeping Up With The Kardashians lately as he ribs best friend Kim and her mom Kris Jenner.

And it looks like the former publicist may have gotten a raise because he wore a very expensive top as he joined Kylie Jenner and her boyfriend Tyga for dinner at Catch in West Hollywood on Thursday.

The E! star wore a Dolce & Gabbana hoodie that retails for a staggering $1,000.

He doesn't shop at Ross: Jonathan Cheban wore a $1,000 hoodie when he went to party with Kylie Jenner at Catch in West Hollywood on Thursday

Hee hee: Cheban has been providing a lot of laughs on Keeping Up With The Kardashians lately as he ribs best friend Kim and her mom Kris Jenner

All work and... all play! Here the former Spin Crowd star was seen shooting KUWTK with Kim in Miami on September 15

The reality star paired the top with ripped grey jeans and brown boots.

And he brought the bling too.

Cheban had on two Cartier Love bracelets with diamonds on them and a diamond encrusted watch, which suggests he has been taking style tips from Tyga lately.

He did get a lot of use out of the thing: Here he showed the top off with Mel B and her husband Stephen Belafonte at the opening of Serafina in LA, also on Thursday

Let's hope this top is cheaper: Jonathan was seen in a Kurt Cobain shirt on Wednesday in LA

So nice he wore it twice! He also had it on the day before at Craig's

Kylie also looked her best.

She wore a leather dress and accessorized with a brown leather handbag, and nude strappy heels as she headed to dinner at Catch LA.

The reality star also shared some Snapchat videos as she got ready to celebrate best pal Jordyn's birthday later in the evening.

'We're going out for Jordyn's birthday night, at twelve,' she said on her Snapchat story Thursday night.

Sexy look: Kylie Jenner wore a tight leather dress with sheer sleeves while out in West Hollywood on Thursday

New 'do: Kylie showed off her platinum blonde hair as she headed to dinner

'What are you going to wish for tonight on your birthday?' she asks in the clip.

'Peace and love,' says her pal.

'Okay,' replies Kylie, adding a smiley emoji to the video.

Whoops! The KUWTK suffered a bad hair moment as she was caught in a gust of wind

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star wore her new platinum blonde hair down in waves over her shoulders.

She added gold rings and long gold nails for their night out.

Kylie was joining Tyga at he launch of his fashion collaboration with designer Daniel Patrick, called Daniel patrick x T  Raww.

Sexy look: Kylie Jenner wore a tight leather dress as she attended the launch of boyfriend Tyga's new fashion collaboration in West Hollywood on Thursday

Besties: The reality star got ready to celebrate BFF Jordyn Woods' birthday at midnight

Kylie's fun-filled night on the town came as reports emerged that she is set to be questioned about her boyfriend's finances.

Celebrity jeweller Jason of Beverly Hills is attempting a recoup a $200,000 debt from the rapper, and now his expensive gifts to Kylie have prompted questions.

According to TMZ, Kylie - who has received luxury cars from her beau - has agreed to be questioned by law firm Abir, Cohen, Treyzon, and Salo over all of her gifts from him.

Birthday wishes: Kylie shared a bathroom selfie with her bestie

The website reports that the couple are scheduled to meet privately with the lwayers in the coming weeks - and face arrest if they failed to show.

Earlier on Thursday, Kylie spent the day hanging out with her famous siblings Kendall Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian, sharing the fun on Instagram.

'Blondies,' she captioned a snap of Khloe planting a kiss on her cheek.

Khloe also posted a group shot, writing 'sistas from different mistas.'

Smooch: Kylie shared a cute snap of sister Khloe Kardashian giving her a kiss on the cheek as they hung out earlier on Thursday

Family time: Khloe shared a group shot with Kourtney, Kendall and Kylie
Shoo-in World Bank chief unopposed but not uncriticized

The way is now clear for a second term for the American president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim.

After a first term hailed by some Bank member states but marked by internal discord, Kim this month became the only candidate running for his own succession.

In keeping with an unbroken tradition, the US nominee will again fill the presidency at the World Bank, while the International Monetary Fund remains in European hands as Christine Lagarde, also unopposed, began a second term as managing director in July.

After a first term hailed by some World Bank member states but marked by internal discord, the way is now clear for a second term as bank president for Jim Yong Kim Alex Wong (Getty/AFP/File)

After nominations opened, no other country took the risk of trying to upset this established order -- unlike in 2012, when the Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala threw her hat in the ring to be leader of the development behemoth, which comprises 189 member states and employs 15,000 people.

Still, Kim's record since taking office that year is not spotless.

A medical doctor and former president of Dartmouth College, Kim won plaudits for mobilizing the Bank against the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa and taking action against climate change, as well as for setting a goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030 all while expanding World Bank lending.

But he also had to contend with a high degree of internal dissent, stemming from an unpopular reorganization and a controversy in 2014 over bonuses granted to senior Bank officials.

The World Bank Staff Association last month denounced what it called a "crisis of leadership," and in an open letter several former officials lamented what they said was the lack of a clear strategy. The Economist and Financial Times opposed automatically reappointing Kim and called for a more open process.

- 'Show of force' -

Despite all this, poor and developing countries still chose to support a second term for Kim, 56, who will sit for interviews with the Bank's board before being formally crowned next month. His second five-year term is due to begin in July next year.

An informal leader of the emerging markets, China has praised Kim's "impressive achievement and leadership" even if Beijing set about creating its own development bank to counter the Western hegemony of the World Bank and IMF.

"It reveals the power of incumbency. Kim has spent more than four years forming close relations with key actors in the emerging-market countries," said Scott Morris of the Center for Global Development. "The staff are not in the position of reelecting him. It's up to the shareholders."

Other more critical observers say the selection process was biased, hurriedly begun in the dead of summer and locked down by the United States, the Bank's largest shareholder.

Almost immediately after the window for nominations opened, the US Treasury offered its support for a second term for Kim, helping to discourage any other candidacy.

"The US show of force has cooled off any serious candidate who might have been thinking of applying for the job," said Paul Cadario, a former Bank official and now a distinguished fellow at the University of Toronto.

By taking charge, the United States also doubtless sought to nip in the bud any potential World Bank leadership contest ahead of the US presidential election, which is scheduled for November 8.

Bank officials say the calendar for the selection process was set by the executive board and is in keeping with past practices at the Bank.

"The member states are happy with the overall picture of the World Bank and they don't want to change its leadership at this time even if there are management challenges inside and if the morale is very low," said Ian Solomon, a former US executive director at the Bank and chief executive of consulting firm SolomonGlobal.

Kim's critics hope the member states will at least be aware of the discontent in the air.
Obama's Vietnam noodle visit sparks feeding frenzy

Four months after US President Barack Obama plonked down on a plastic stool at Bun Cha Huong Lien for a bowl of Hanoi's signature pork noodles, the restaurant is cashing in on customers eager to taste what all the fuss is about.

Previously a mainstay among a mostly local customer base, hungry foreigners are now coming in droves to the restaurant dubbed "Obama bun cha" for the Hanoi lunch staple: grilled pork patty and bacon in a sweet broth with rice noodles.

"People come here because they are curious about why Obama chose my restaurant," said owner Nguyen Thi Lien, who has been running the eatery for 23 years.

Customers wait for tables inside the Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant in Hanoi Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP)

Eager to tap the star power of her recent VIP diner, Lien has introduced a $4 "Combo Obama" lunch special of noodles, a side of deep fried spring rolls and a Hanoi beer -- but swears she has kept her prices the same.

"So many have come and we cannot serve them all," she said at the two-storey restaurant, which is now plastered with photos of Obama and his dinner guest, globetrotting US chef Anthony Bourdain.

The pair stopped by during Obama's May trip to Vietnam -- the third by a sitting president since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 -- to film a scene for Bourdain's CNN show "Parts Unknown" which airs Sunday.

In a teaser for the episode, Bourdain lauded the US leader for his chopstick skills as he expertly scooped up a mouth of noodles during an evening off from his diplomatic duties.

Obama seemed impressed with the local fare.

"This is killer, this is outstanding," he said.

The pork pit stop has seen the number of customers double, according to Lien, and the restaurant appears set to become a fixture on Hanoi's tourist trail.

"I saw that Obama had been here, saw that Anthony Bourdain had been here, and I generally follow their advice, figured they'd have good taste, came here and found it to be true," American tourist Andrew Lala told AFP.

Customers eating under a picture showing US President Barack Obama eating during his visit to the Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant last May in Hanoi Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP)

Grilled pork, spring rolls and rice noodles displayed at the entrance of the Bun Cha Huong Lien restaurant in Hanoi Hoang Dinh Nam (AFP)
Third night of protests in US city amid heavy security

Protesters took to the streets for a third night in the US city of Charlotte on Thursday amid heavy security aimed at preventing more clashes over the fatal police shooting of a black man.

Hundreds marched to the city police station carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful," but the atmosphere was far calmer than the previous two nights.

Pressure was growing on police to release video of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American, whose killing on Tuesday sparked the unrest.

Hundreds marched to the city police station in Charlotte, North Carolina, carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful" Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

Scott's death was the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States.

North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, and several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers were deployed to reinforce local police protecting city infrastructure and businesses.

An overnight curfew was also in place.

"We are going to be a lot more proactive," Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney told a news conference. "We made 44 arrests last night because we are not going to tolerate the behavior."

A protestor shot by a civilian in Wednesday night's protests died in hospital on Thursday, local media reported.

- 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 refused to release police video of the incident.

However, members of Scott's family watched the footage on Thursday, raising "more questions than answers," their lawyers said.

No gun is visible in the video, which shows Scott stepping backward when he was shot, one of the lawyers told CNN.

"His hands are down by his side. He is acting calm," Justin Bamberg said. "You do see something in his hand, but it's impossible to make out from the video what it is."

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.

But the footage indicates the officer identified as having shot Scott -- Brentley Vinson, who is also black -- was justified, he added.

"The officer perceived his failure to comply with commands, failure to drop the weapon and facing the officers as an imminent threat," he told Fox News on Thursday.

- Protesters 'seething' -

A handful of protesters confronted police on Thursday night. However, many marched past officers who posed a less intimidating presence on the streets despite their greater numbers.

"Black lives don't matter in this country," said a 34-year-old protester with a mask around his neck who identified himself only as "Amen-Ra."

"We're coming together to make them matter, to force America to make them matter -- either through violence or peacefully."

Scott's shooting came on the heels of another fatal police shooting of a black man, Terence Crutcher, in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Friday.

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 to the Charlotte mayor and US Congresswoman Alma Adams Thursday, 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.

North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, and several hundred National Guard troops were deployed to reinforce local police Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

Racial tension mounts in the US Jean Michel Cornu, Vincent Lefai (AFP)
Gabon on a knife-edge as court mulls vote outcome

The streets of Libreville were empty late Friday, with residents fearing a new bout of bloodshed as the Constitutional Court prepared to rule on who will be Gabon's next president following bitterly-fought elections.

With the country in political limbo for nearly a month, concern has been growing that a ruling in favour of President Ali Bongo could spark a fresh wave of opposition protests.

The court was expected to rule Friday on whether to uphold Bongo's wafer-thin victory in the August 27 elections or to overturn it, according to plaintiffs.

Incumbent Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba attends prayers at the Assan II Mosque in Libreville on September 12, 2016 Florian Plaucheur (AFP/File)

The decision "will be announced at 10.30pm (2130 GMT)," said Jean-Remy Bantsantsa, a lawyer for defeated challenger Jean Ping, who filed a legal challenge earlier this month to demand a recount.

"They have just phoned me," Bantsantsa said.

Bongo will speak to the press after the announcement, a spokesman for the presidency said.

Ping, a career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, is hoping to end the Bongo family's 50-year grip on power in this oil-rich country of 1.8 million people.

Across Libreville, the atmosphere was on a knife-edge with riot police deployed at key junctions in order to head off any more unrest should the judges decide against 73-year-old Ping.

A former spy chief and cousin of Bongo who recently came out against the president was arrested in the city Friday, according to a security source.

Leon-Paul Ngoulakia, 58, was detained while travelling in a vehicle carrying "a large sum of money along with leaflets inciting sedition", according to the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

- 'Judgement Day' -

Along Libreville's seafront, trucks carrying paratroopers and soldiers, their weapons at the ready, rumbled alongside cars, shared taxis and armoured vehicles on a road which passes both the court and the presidential palace.

Officers in riot gear had begun fanning out through the city on Thursday, and by Friday morning, long queues could be seen outside banks and cash machines.

"Everyone is panicking, everyone is afraid," explained Jean Rodrigue Boukoumou, a teacher who like many others was waiting to withdraw his money to stock up on food.

"We want to withdraw our money to be able to buy provisions. We have families to feed if the country descends into chaos," he told AFP, expressing a widely-held fear.

"Judgement day" blared the headline in one newspaper, while another front page led with: "The hour of the last judgement is upon us."

"Until the results are announced, you are requested to avoid going anywhere until further notice," the embassy of France said on its website in a notice to its 10,000-strong community in the country.

Ping has warned the country could face serious instability if the court rejects his appeal for a recount.

But the government has warned Ping, a former ally-turned-opponent, that he would be held responsible if fresh violence breaks out, and could find himself arrested if he crosses "the red line".

- Court under huge pressure -

The court met on Thursday and has retired to consider its verdict. Under the constitution, there is a 15-day deadline for resolving electoral disputes, which technically expires on Friday.

"The case is under deliberation," said the court's president Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, a former beauty queen and one-time mistress of Bongo's father.

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".

And his entourage reacted furiously after Mborantsuo gave an interview earlier this month in which she said it would be "rare" to decide on a reversal of the results.

The nation erupted in protest after Bongo was declared the winner following an election mired in allegations of fraud.

During the ensuing chaos, demonstrators set fire to the parliament and clashed violently with police, who arrested around a thousand people.

Opposition figures say "more than 50" people were killed in the violence, but the government gave a figure of three dead.

In his legal challenge, Ping asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, a stronghold of the Bongo family, where the president won more than 95 percent of the votes and turnout was declared to be more than 99 percent.

EU observers have said there was a "clear anomaly" in the province's results.

On Tuesday, lawyers for the two sides said they had agreed to a recount although they disagreed over the scope of it.

Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping a career diplomat and former chairman of the African Union Commission, has filed a legal challenge and demanded a recount of the August election results Steve Jordan (AFP/File)
Out with hunks: fashion breaks codes for male models

Muscular, classically chiseled male models are a dying breed as men are ever more chosen for thinness, even androgyny, in a fashion world playing with the notion of gender.

It only takes looking back a decade to male fashion shows -- at Versace, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton or Gucci -- to see the change on the catwalk.

Shoulders have lost their squareness, chests have sunk.

A model displays fashions during the Michael Kors Spring 2017 Runway Show during New York Fashion Week Angela Weiss (AFP/File)

Back then, "male models were a little bit bigger... not so, so skinny," said Tricia Romani, head of the Canadian branch of the Wilhelmina international modeling agency.

Hedi Slimane, while at Saint Laurent and Dior, was among the designers who transfigured the dominant vision of the masculine look into lank, languorous and unique.

"For high fashion, that's definitely what they want. Very thin, edgy-looking guys," Romani said.

"And they're designing the clothes in that way so if you had a model that was big and muscular, that wouldn't fit."

Skinnier, the new ideal male model is also taller, hitting up to six feet two inches (1.90 meters), said Neil Mautone, founder and owner of the agency Red Model Management.

Along with the fading ideal of muscle is the classically beautiful face, formerly in demand for men as well as women.

Today, according to Romani, "a male model can be sort of interesting looking, or edgy or different" and be hired even if he does not fall into "a category of plastic, beautiful models."

With the growing power of male fashion, seen in the 2015 launch of the first men's shows in New York Fashion Week, demand for male models has exploded.

Between 10 percent to 15 percent of male models find enough work to be employed full-time, combining runway shows, advertising, catalogs and magazines, Romani said.

The top-end models can earn more than $1 million a year, people in the industry say, though the best-paid female models can make about 10 times more.

- Man, woman, who cares? -

Responding to the growing market, model agencies and designers are trashing stereotypes and broadening their palettes, an approach that is also boosting ethnic diversity, Romani noted.

The new ideal look, the evolution of men's fashion and the current focus on gender have blurred the lines between men and women.

That was more evident than ever on the New York catwalks last week.

Several shows were decidedly "gender fluid," parading out clothes that could be worn by either sex.

The streetwise New York brand Hood By Air, a pioneer of the trend, was joined by Dutch studio Maison the Faux and Baja East, a New York-based company known for relaxed luxury apparel.

For Maison the Faux, undoubtedly the most radical of them all, the men walked the runway wearing bras and girdles.

"Society always puts people in boxes and I think that doesn't make the world a better place," said Tessa de Boer, one half of the design team at Maison the Faux.

The Wilhelmina agency has among its models a 26-year-old person who refuses to identify with a gender and goes simply by the name Lex.

The model notably has worked for N-p-Elliott, where Scottish designer Nicholas Elliott conjures up avant-garde, asexual clothes.

"Being so androgynous, to me, is a blessing," Lex told AFP in an emailed response to questions. "It increases my ability to participate in endless projects without limitation to my gender."

"If men and women are equal, then what does all that matter?"

On the New York catwalks last week several shows were decidedly "gender fluid," with Maison the Faux undoubtedly the most radical of them all Angela Weiss (AFP)

Hedi Slimane, while at Saint Laurent and Dior, was among designers who transfigured the dominant vision of the masculine look into lank, languorous and unique Martin Bureau (AFP/File)
Pressure mounts to release video of Charlotte shooting

Investigators in Charlotte faced mounting pressure Friday to release footage of the fatal police shooting of an African-American man, after protesters defied a curfew and marched through the North Carolina city's streets for a third straight night.

The death Tuesday of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was the latest in a seemingly steady string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across America.

The victim's family -- who like many in Charlotte dispute the police assertion that Scott was armed -- have viewed police video of his shooting and are leading calls for it to be made public.

Protesters walk past riot police blocking off a ramp to a highway during a demonstration against police brutality in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 22, 2016 following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by police two days earlier Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

"I do believe the video should be released," Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said at a press conference. But she stressed it should not be immediate, and that the timing of the release would be crucial.

"When there are key pieces of evidence still being gathered, if one piece is released early it can jeopardize the integrity of that investigation," she added.

Police here are refusing so far to release the body-cam and dash-mounted video, arguing among things that this might interfere with a parallel state probe into the incident.

"If I were to put it out indiscriminately and it doesn't give you good context, it can inflame the situation and make it even worse," argued Charlotte police chief Kerr Putney.

"It will exacerbate the backlash. It will increase the distrust," he added.

- No 'panacea' -

"I know the expectation that video footage can be the panacea, and I can tell you that is not quite the case."

Charlotte's handling of the case stands in stark contrast to a similar police shooting last Friday involving an African-American man in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

There, the video has been released and the white officer involved has already been charged with first degree manslaughter.

In Charlotte, the officer identified as having shot Scott, Brentley Vinson, is black.

Hundreds of people gathered on Charlotte's streets Thursday night for passionate but largely peaceful protests. Several times the crowd broke into chants of "Release the tapes!"

North Carolina's longtime attorney general, Roy Cooper, came out Friday in favor of just that, saying it was important to "continue in the pursuit of the truth" and in building trust, while improving transparency.

"One step toward meeting both goals is for the videos in this case to be released to the public."

One risk, the mayor said, is that if witnesses to the shooting see the video they might change their account of what happened.

City hall is in talks with investigators and "I think it is only a matter of time" before the video is released, Roberts told CNN.

Joining the appeal for the release were the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, the US black community's main civil rights organization.

Scott was shot and killed in an apartment complex parking lot during an encounter with police officers searching for another person wanted for arrest.

Police say Scott was armed with a handgun. His family says he was holding a book.

No gun is visible in the video, which shows Scott stepping backward when he was shot, one of the family lawyers told CNN.

"His hands are down by his side. He is acting calm," Justin Bamberg said. "You do see something in his hand, but it's impossible to make out from the video what it is."

The mayor said she has seen two videos of the incident and agreed there was something in Scott's hand.

Asked if it was a gun, Roberts said "the visual clarity made those videos inconclusive."

Police chief Putney has said a handgun was recovered at the scene, and that no book was found, contradicting the family's assertion.

He said the video footage does not provide "absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun," but he stressed that the footage indicates the officer was justified in shooting Scott.

"The officer perceived his failure to comply with commands, failure to drop the weapon and facing the officers as an imminent threat," Putney said on Fox News.

- Curfew -

North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, and several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers were deployed to reinforce local police protecting city infrastructure and businesses.

Roberts said a midnight curfew in Charlotte will remain in effect Friday night.

In Thursday's protests, hundreds of people marched to the city police station carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful." But the atmosphere was far calmer than the previous two nights.

Several hundred protesters remained on the street after curfew, but security forces took a hands off approach and did not enforce the restriction.

Meanwhile Putney said police have arrested a suspect in the killing of protester Justin Carr, who was shot during Wednesday night's unrest in Charlotte.

Map of Charlotte in North Carolina, showing latest developments in unrest triggered by a police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott Jonathan Storey, Jean Michel CORNU, Gal ROMA , Vincent Lefai (AFP)

Protesters chant slogans during a march in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 22, 2016, the third night of protests following the fatal police shooting of a black man Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

Hundreds marched to the city police station in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful" Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

Civil rights leaders try to calm down protesters in front of riot police during a demonstration in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday over the fatal police shooting of a black man Nicholas Kamm (AFP)
EU ministers scramble to salvage US trade deal

European trade ministers scramble Friday to salvage talks on a massive free trade deal with the US amid growing calls in key powers France and Germany to abandon negotiations.

Ministers from the EU's 28 member states meeting in Bratislava will attempt to patch over deep differences after tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged European cities this week angrily calling for the EU to walk away from the US accord.

Defending free trade deals has become increasingly fraught for leaders, with the rise of populists such as US presidential candidate Donald Trump blaming globalisation for stolen jobs and falling wages.

People hold balloons reading "Stop TTIP" during a demonstration outside the European Union headquarters in Brussels Thierry Roge (BELGA/AFP/File)

Also under fire in the Slovak capital is a trade deal with Canada that opponents say is an attempt to set a dangerous precedent before completing the much bigger accord with the US.

On its last gasp is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (or TTIP)-- a free trade deal between the European Union and United States which would create the world's biggest market of 850 million consumers stretching from Hawaii to Lithuania.

But the deal, under negotiation since 2013, has become a hot potato as key elections approach in the United States, France and Germany, with the goal of sealing the agreement by the end of the Obama administration all but abandoned.

TTIP "becomes less and less likely as time goes on," said Cecilia Malmstroem, the EU commissioner for trade who will be in Bratislava.

"There will a treaty with the US but maybe after a natural pause to give time to a new administration," Malmstroem told RTBF radio in Belgium.

There are deep-seated fears in Europe that the deal would undercut the 28-nation bloc's standards in key areas such as health and welfare.

TTIP is most firmly opposed by France, where Trade Minister Matthias Fekl said the socialist government no longer supports continuing negotiations and urges Europe to walk away.

Fekl complains that the US side has failed to offer anything "serious," especially on sensitive issues such as protecting geographical labelling for renowned farm products, including Champagne or Roquefort cheese.

- 'Credibility challenge' -

In Germany, TTIP has split the ruling coalition, with Chancellor Angela Merkel still the treaty's biggest backer in Europe but her socialist partners, led by Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, dead set against it.

Hopes remain for CETA, however, the deal with Canada that has already been negotiated, but it has had to overcome unexpected hurdles in Germany, where Gabriel's socialists put up last minute resistance.

Similar opposition has flared up in Austria and Belgium, but ministers backing the deal hope to greenlight the treaty so that it can be signed with Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau at an EU-Canada summit on October 27.

CETA would then go on for ratification in national and regional parliaments across the EU, a tricky and likely time consuming process.

"The failure of CETA would be a huge challenge to our credibility in the world," said Markus Beyer, head of the EU's most powerful lobby, BusinessEurope.

"You simply will not find another place in the world that shares the same values to this degree," he added.

Fears of a failure of CETA have waned since German socialists narrowly backed the deal at a party conference last week.

This despite more than 160,000 demonstrators thronging seven major cities across Germany on Saturday. Thousands more protested outside EU headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday.

EU-US Trade

The TTIP trade deal will create the world's biggest market of 850 million consumers stretching from Hawaii to Lithuania Paul J. Richards (AFP/File)

TTIP is most firmly opposed by France, where Trade Minister Matthias Fekl said Paris no longer supports negotiations and has urged the European Union to walk away from the trans-Atlantic deal Matthieu Alexandre (AFP/File)

Defending free trade deals has become fraught for leaders, with populists like US presidential candidate Donald Trump blaming globalisation for stolen jobs and falling wages Mandel Ngan (AFP/File)
Indian accused to learn fate in Scarlett Keeling trial

Two Indian men charged with raping and causing the death of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling on a Goa beach in 2008 will finally hear the verdicts against them later Friday.

Fifteen-year-old Keeling's bruised and semi-nude body was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state, popular with Western hippies, eight years ago.

Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho were 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.

Tourists visit Anjuna beach in Panaji where British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling was raped and killed in Goa in 2008 Indranil Mukherjee (AFP)

"The culpable homicide charge is the most important charge because I believe that she was murdered," Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown told AFP ahead of the verdict.

The teenager's death became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system.

Police initially dismissed Keeling's death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped.

It showed that Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but has been dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as "Masala Mike", also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case.

He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party.

Her body was found on the morning of February 18, 2008.

Police allege that 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.

They deny all of the charges, claiming that the teenager died an accidental death after taking drugs of her own volition.

The verdict is due to be delivered at the children's court in Goa's state capital Panaji at 02:30pm (0900 GMT).

Placido Carvalho (R), an Indian defendent in the case of the rape and death of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling in Goa in 2008
Obama set to veto 9/11 victims' bid to sue Saudis

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."

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 Zach Gibson (AFP)

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.

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.

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 Jose Luis Magana (AFP/File)
Lebanese shun pricey, polluted beaches for trips abroad

Lebanese like Hamza al-Sees should have no problem finding a beach to while away the summer in a country stretching along the Mediterranean.

But as private developers have gobbled up seafront land and families complain of ever-more polluted waters, many Lebanese say it is cheaper and cleaner to fly abroad than go to the beach at home.

"I went to Cyprus for five days, stayed in a luxury hotel and enjoyed the beauty of the Cypriot coast," said Sees, who hails from Lebanon's southern beachfront city of Sidon.

Sunseekers relax by the pool at a beach resort in the coastal Lebanese town of Anfeh, north of the capital Beirut Patrick Baz (AFP)

"For the ticket, the hotel and all the expenses -- including transport, food, drink, clubs and activities -- I paid $1,000," the 23-year-old shopkeeper said.

"I even bought gifts and souvenirs for my family," he said, adding it was the second year in a row that he and friends had made the trip.

In Lebanon, by contrast, expenses start piling up long before beachgoers even dip into the water.

"The costs start with the valet parking at these beach spots," Sees said.

"Then you have the entrance fee, which won't be less than $30, and then the cost of just juice, water and a normal meal would be at least $40."

For Lara Aoun, 34, a five-day getaway to Cyprus to escape Lebanon's polluted seafronts was well-worth $500.

- 'Swim alongside bottles' -

"The sea in Lebanon and Cyprus is the same, but there the beaches are clean and free," Aoun said.

"Here we either swim alongside bottles and cans at the free beaches, or pay a fortune at private resorts," she said, describing the options along Lebanon's 220-kilometre (130-mile) coastline.

Open dumping of solid trash is common in Lebanon, which has been rocked by a waste management crisis since the summer of 2015.

The "overwhelming presence" of factories along Lebanon's coast has also resulted in severe water pollution, including with toxic materials, according to a 2012 report from Lebanon's University of Balamand.

And more than 150 kilometres of coastline was contaminated in 2006 by an oil spill resulting from the Israeli bombardment of a major power plant south of Beirut, the report added.

The increasing number of Lebanese looking for beaches abroad has prompted travel agencies to organise charter flights to attract more clients with cheaper packages.

Hassan Dahir, owner of the Five Stars travel agency, said Turkey's seaside resorts of Marmaris, Bodrum, Antalya and Alanya have become top destinations for Lebanese, followed by Cyprus and Egypt's Sharm al-Sheikh.

"You can go to Marmaris in Turkey for five days, stay at a mid-range hotel, and spend $425, including food and drink," he said.

Dahir said an average of 10 charter flights a week -- each carrying 150 to 190 passengers -- were taking off to various beach destinations abroad between June and September.

- 'No real public beaches' -

Much of the problem stems from a dearth of clean and free public beaches or swimming pools at home.

"Public beaches in the usual sense of the term don't exist in Lebanon," said Mohammad Ayub, executive director of the civil society NGO Nahnoo.

Lebanon "is one of the rare countries that allows construction on its public coastal land," he added.

But many of the resorts that now restrict access to Lebanon's coast are unlicensed, built on land that was obtained during the country's 1975-1990 civil war.

A 2012 report by the Ministry of Transportation said around five square kilometres of the coastline was now built up, most of it illegally.

"All the state agencies and politicians are offenders... and the solution is to cancel the law that allows investment on the coast," Ayub said.

Activists have protested against developers building on the last remaining public beaches, including earlier this month in the seaside village of Kfarabida.

Hundreds gathered on its rocky shore in northern Lebanon, calling on the government to "save our beaches".

"The government must turn this place into a natural reserve," said blogger and activist Nadine Mazloum.

For those who can't afford to travel overseas, Lebanon's few public beaches are the only option.

This year, the public beaches in Tyre and Naqura in southern Lebanon have overflowed with visitors, despite a lack of facilities.

And sun worshippers have also flocked to Anfeh, in the north, where restaurants sit on the shoreline, offering visitors sea access in return for their custom.

"We've gotten to know Anfeh to avoid the pollution and high prices," said Rose Matteh, sitting with her family at one of the restaurants, which are painted blue and white to resemble Greece's Santorini.

"Elsewhere, we end up paying $80 to enter and another $80 for food. At least here we can eat, drink and enjoy the sea for only $80."

Sea-side beach resorts in the coastal Lebanese town of Tabarja, north of the capital Beirut Patrick Baz (AFP)

Local youth swim next to floating rubbish and waste in the coastal Lebanese town of Anfeh, north of the capital Beirut Patrick Baz (AFP)
Taiwan's summer slump as Chinese visitors stay away

Taiwan's tourism sector suffered the worst summer in 13 years due to a slump in Chinese visitors, officials said Friday, as ties with Beijing deteriorate.

It was the island's weakest August performance since an outbreak of the killer respiratory disease SARS in 2003.

Taiwan saw a boom in mainland tourists under former Beijing-friendly president Ma Ying-jeou, with Chinese visitors accounting for about 40 percent of the total 10 million visitors in 2015.

Thousands of tourism industry workers took to the street in Taiwan September 12, demanding the government address a slump in visitors from China as cross-strait ties deteriorate Sam Yeh (AFP/File)

But since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen was elected in January, relations have turned frosty and the number of Chinese tourists coming to Taiwan has dropped, with speculation Beijing is turning off the taps as a means of pressuring Tsai.

Taiwan is self-ruling but China still sees it as part of its territory.

Beijing wants Tsai to acknowledge there is only "one China", as did her predecessor Ma, paving the way for eight years of rapprochement and trade deals.

In August, the total number of tourists to Taiwan fell 3.4 percent to 863,540 from last year, despite a 30-40 percent increase in Japanese and Korean tourists, the Tourism Bureau said.

"It was the first monthly decrease this year and the first decrease for August peak summer time since 2003, when Taiwan's tourism was hit by a SARS outbreak," said Lynn Lin, deputy director of the bureau's planning division.

Chinese visitors fell 32.4 percent to around 248,600 from August 2015, including a nearly 55 percent decline in group tourists, according to the bureau.

Local tourism operators have said the industry is in crisis, with hotels only half-full and thousands of tour buses sitting idle.

Observers believe the decline is due to China limiting tour groups to Taiwan amid rapidly cooling relations under Tsai's government.

The island's tourism sector was also badly hit when a deadly bus crash in July killed an entire tour group from China's northeastern city of Dalian.

More than 10,000 tourism industry workers took to the streets of Taipei earlier this month to demand the government address their woes, including offering tax reductions, extending loan deadlines and reducing or waiving visa fees for Chinese tourists.
Air raids pound rebel-held Aleppo as Syria army begins assault

Syrian and Russian aircraft pounded rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Friday, a monitor said, after the army announced a new offensive aimed at retaking all of the divided second city.

An AFP correspondent in the opposition-held east of the city reported intense bombardment both from the air and by ground artillery.

It came after the Syrian army announced late on Thursday that it was launching a new offensive to retake rebel-held parts of the city.

Destruction following an air strike in the rebel-held Ansari district in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on September 23, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP/File)

A military source said the bombardment was in preparation for a ground operation.

"We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment," he told AFP.

"This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground."

An army officer in Aleppo confirmed that the ground assault had yet to begin.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least 30 strikes on rebel-held districts during the night and early on Friday.

The Britain-based monitoring group said at least 10 people had been killed, among them two children, and dozens wounded.

It said more dead were feared buried under the rubble.

The AFP correspondent said the scale of the destruction was the heaviest he had seen in years of fighting in the city and was overwhelming rescue teams.

He said two civil defence centres were among the buildings hit in the bombardment, reporting artillery barrages, barrel bombings by helicopters and strikes by fighter jets in quick succession.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said Russian warplanes were taking part in the strikes alongside Syrian aircraft.

"The Syrians are dropping barrel bombs and the Russian planes are launching strikes," he told AFP.

He said it was the prelude to "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."

A truce deal hammered out between Russia and the United States briefly halted the violence earlier this month, but it collapsed after just a week without any of the promised deliveries of desperately needed relief supplies.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura warned: "What is happening is Aleppo is under attack and everyone is going back to the conflict."

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial and industrial hub but has been ravaged by fighting and roughly divided between government control in the west and rebel control in the east since mid-2012.

Rebel districts have been under siege by the army for most of the past two months after troops overran the last supply lines.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

Syria aid convoy Gal Roma (AFP/File)

Syrian pro-regime fighters patrol the Ramussa area south of the city of Aleppo George Ourfalian (AFP)
Williamson leads New Zealand reply on rain-hit India Test

Skipper Kane Williamson led from the front Friday as New Zealand replied strongly with 152 for one against India on a rain-hit second day of the first Test in Kanpur.

Williamson, who came to the crease after the early wicket of Martin Guptill, put on a 117-run second wicket partnership with Tom Latham to make major inroads into India's first innings total of 318.

At stumps, New Zealand had reduced the deficit to 166 runs, with Williamson unbeaten on 65 and Latham also well set on 56 when rain stopped play after tea to wash out the final session of play.

New Zealand's captain Kane Williamson (seen here) put on a 117-run second wicket partnership with Tom Latham during the second day of the first Test match between India and New Zealand in Kanpur on September 23, 2016 Prakash Singh (AFP)

The batting duo tackled the Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja with aplomb as they used their feet and the sweep shot to great effect at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium.

"We are confronted by two very good spinners who know the conditions well and are going to challenge you at different times," New Zealand's batting coach Craig McMillan told reporters.

"Both guys soaked that (constant appealing) up really nicely throughout that partnership and whenever they got a scoring opportunity they made the most of it.

"That is one of the keys, you don't allow Ashwin or Jadeja to bowl 12 or 15 balls at one person. You have to find a way a way to get down the other end and both those guys did that really nicely today."

Williamson survived a scare when a Ashwin ball hit the back of his helmet. The back flaps which provide extra support to the skull fell onto his stumps, but didn't dislodge the bails.

Latham also rode his luck after Jadeja got the left-handed batsman caught at short leg, but replays showed the ball hitting the helmet grille of fielder Lokesh Rahul.

The decision was referred to the third umpire who gave Latham not out as according to the rules, external protective gear cannot come into play while taking a catch.

The duo got to their respective fifties soon after, although off-spinner Ashwin and left-arm spinner Jadeja continued to trouble the batsmen.

"They stuck to their game plans and when the Indian bowlers missed we jumped all over it," said McMillan.

"I thought the way the rotated the strike with that left and right-hand combination throughout the partnership was crucial."

- Guptill falls -

Umesh Yadav was India's sole wicket-taker after he trapped Guptill lbw for 21 in the first session of play.

Guptill started with positive intent as he struck three boundaries in his 31-ball stay before being undone by Yadav's pacy, in-swinging delivery.

Despite New Zealand's strong position, India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar said the hosts could claw their way back into the game if they can break the partnership early on when play resumes on Saturday.

"It's a matter of a wicket. We have to be patient. We will have to wait for that one breakthrough," said Bangar.

"There were a few close calls in second session. It's a matter of putting pressure back on them."

Earlier overnight batsman Jadeja played a useful 42-run cameo for the hosts, who started the day on 291 for nine.

Jadeja struck seven fours and a six during his unbeaten knock as he entertained the crowd at Kanpur's Green Park.

Medium-pacer Neil Wagner got Yadav caught behind for nine to end up with two wickets in the innings. Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult claimed three apiece.

New Zealand's Tom Latham plays a shot during the second day of the first Test match between India and New Zealand at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on September 23, 2016 Prakash Singh (AFP)
Bomb kills three police in restive Thai south

Three police officers were killed Friday by a roadside bomb in Thailand's far south, police said, as peace talks appear to falter in the insurgency-plagued region.

The kingdom's Muslim-majority "deep south", an area bordering Malaysia, has seen near daily bombings and shootings since the most recent wave of rebellion erupted in 2004.

More than 6,600 people -- mostly civilians -- have died in an underreported conflict that pits ethnic Malay militants against security forces from Thailand's Buddhist-majority state.

Thai police and army personnel inspect the scene of a bomb attack which left three police officers dead in Thailand's restive southern province of Yala on September 23, 2016 Katawut Chum (AFP)

On Friday three police officers in their late 20s were killed after a bomb struck their car in Yala province, wrecking the vehicle and leaving a large crater in the road.

"The bomb weighed between 50 and 60 kilos," said Colonel Rakchart Ruangcharoen, a police commander in Krongpinang district.

After detonating the bomb, which was hidden in a drainage pipe beneath the road, assailants opened fire on the officers from the surrounding jungle, he added.

One officer was critically injured in the shootout.

Remote and surrounded by densely forested hills, Krongpinang is an insurgency hot-spot where mistrust for Thai security forces runs high.

Thailand's ruling junta says it has tried to restart peace talks with the Muslim militants since it took power in 2014.

But the negotiations have failed to gain traction, while attacks continue to strike across the region.

The rebels are also widely believed to be behind an unprecedented string of bomb blasts on tourist towns outside their conflict zone in August, killing four people and wounding dozens, including foreigners.

But Thai authorities have avoided linking the August attacks to the southern insurgency.

Critics have accused the junta of professing support for peace talks but refusing to consider devolving any political power to the region -- a key pillar of the rebels' demands.

The junta "appears interested primarily in mere semblance of dialogue," said a report published this week by International Crisis Group.

"An earnest attempt to decentralise power, the best hope for the resolution of the conflict, is unlikely to materialise under the current government," it added.

The talks have also been hampered by divisions in the shadowy insurgent network, the report said, stressing that the rebels' negotiators have shown little ability to control fighters on the ground.
Indian court clears pair over Scarlett Keeling killing

Two Indian men were cleared Friday of the rape and homicide of 15-year-old British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling whose bruised and semi-naked body was found on a Goa beach eight years ago.

Friends and relatives of the two accused, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, cheered as the verdict was read out in a packed courtroom in the state capital Panaji.

Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown said she was devastated by the outcome and promised to fight to overturn the verdict.

British teenager Scarlett Keeling was killed while visiting the Indian resort of Goa in 2008

"I am reeling. It's been eight years of agony. I feel devastated and will definitely be challenging the verdict," McKeown, who looked shell-shocked as the ruling was delivered, said outside the court.

D'Souza and Carvalho had been 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.

They both broke into smiles as Judge Vandana Tendulkar told the packed courtroom: "I find them not guilty of all charges."

MacKeown told AFP she was aghast that they had also been let off the lesser charges, saying she had no faith in the Indian legal system.

"The judicial system will support the criminals, not the tourists or victims. It seems that guys here can operate above the law and get away with murder," she said.

The softly-spoken judge's verdict was barely audible over the din of journalists and ceiling fans in the tiny courtroom which was painted pink.

The pony-tailed D'Souza was sitting just yards away from MacKeown when the verdict was read while Carvalho sat behind her at the back of the courtroom.

A stunned MacKeown had trouble leaving the courthouse as she had to cope with a media scrum as she was escorted out by her lawyer and an aide from the British High Commission.

Scarlett's body was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state, popular with Western hippies.

- 'Get on with my life' -

The teenager's death became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system.

Police initially dismissed her death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped.

It showed that Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but was dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as "Masala Mike", also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case.

He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

An angry MacKeown told reporters after the verdict that his decision not to testify had swung the culpable homicide verdict, branding him a "despicable coward".

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party.

Her body was found on the morning of February 18, 2008.

Police alleged that 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.

They denied all the charges, claiming that the teenager died an accidental death after taking drugs of her own volition.

India's Central Bureau of Investigation brought the case so it will now be up to them to decide whether to appeal the verdicts to the Goa bench of Mumbai's Bombay High Court.

MacKeown said she would come back to India for any appeal but wondered "if it was worth it".

"I just want to go home and be with my kids really and get back to my life," she told AFP.

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)

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)
Guinea-Bissau opens slave memorial with history, tourists in mind

The museum's first display spares little: a naked slave kneels with her hands tied, right shoulder freshly branded with her owner's mark by a white man with sleeves rolled to his biceps.

The town of Cacheu on the coast of Guinea-Bissau was a Portuguese trading post where millions of slaves saw west Africa for the last time, bound, branded and shipped off to the Americas.

A new memorial has opened to commemorate the exiled sons and daughters of this impoverished nation, not only to recall Portugal's brutal venture into Africa but also to establish itself on the historical tourism circuit.

A display including a whip at the museum on transatlantic slavery in Cacheu, Guinea-Bissau supported by the Mario Soares foundation Fabien Offner (AFP/File)

"The idea is to show that Cacheu was the first place where Europeans practised transatlantic slavery on an industrial scale," said Alfredo Caldeira, who heads the archives of the Mario Soares foundation -- named after the late Portuguese president -- which helped create the memorial.

Among the items on display are wooden collars that slaves were bolted into two by two and a huge, rusty pot where slaves' rations were cooked.

"Despite its size, it wasn't enough to feed everyone. The portions were very small and the dishes quite basic. It was all cooked quickly so they could get back to work," said tour guide Joachim Lopes.

After taking in the horrors, retail therapy is at hand, with t-shirts and caps splashed with a chain logo available from the shop.

"The tourist aspect is important," said Caldeira. "But the main thing is to allow these people to rediscover a collective memory and dignity."

- Cultural potential -

Cacheu is home to fewer than 10,000 people today, but was the capital of Portugal's former colony from the 16th century onwards, trading in people until the late 19th century.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Africa in exploratory missions dispatched in the early 15th century. They would go on to trade, with Brazil's help, an estimated five million of the 11 million humans believed to have traversed the Atlantic, according to historians.

The idea for the memorial came in November 2010 when the first "Quilombola" festival was held in Cacheu, a name that refers to communities in Brazil formed by escaped slaves.

Their descendants from Brazil and the Caribbean had made an emotional pilgrimage to the land of their ancestors after identifying their roots through their DNA.

"They told us their stories. A lot of people cried that day. Some of them asked themselves if they were kin. We danced, we hugged, we shook hands," said high school teacher Augusto Joao Correia.

The Cacheu memorial's founders now hope for success akin to neighbouring Senegal's celebrated Goree island, another Atlantic "point of no return" for slaves that has become a must-see for visiting heads of state and celebrities.

"Despite its contested position as a hub for the slave trade, Goree is key for tourism in Senegal, visited by several US presidents," said Djiguatte Amede Bassene of the African Research Centre for the Slave Trade (CARTE) based in Dakar.

"Elsewhere in Africa, other countries are asking: 'why not us'?"

Cacheu may also have in its sights a UNESCO project linking and promoting sites of historical interest and research into the slave trade, in which Goree is already involved.

The European Union donated 519,000 euros ($579,000) to the Cacheu project, 90 percent of its total cost, with the specific aim of increasing the cultural potential of such sites as a source of sustainable income for the country.

- Rare hope -

Lined with palm trees and painted a brilliant white, the three years of work by Portuguese architects have culminated in an impressive structure that stands out in a quiet, crumbling town that suffers in the rainy season.

The edifice was once the headquarters of the Casa Gouveia, the name of the Portuguese colonial-era firm that traded all kinds of goods, including people.

"In this building, local and European products were exchanged for men. Several of the objects testify to that," said the memorial's coordinator Cambraima Alanso Cassama.

Development of the site has not been without controversy.

A four-storey salmon-pink hotel has sprung up a few hundred metres (yards) away, but developers are accused of destroying human bones buried where the foundations were laid.

Other marks of the past are left to rot: the "bridge of no return" -- the slaves' final boarding point -- has partially collapsed and flounders among the rigging and nets of fishermen.

Regardless, the memorial is a rare spark of hope for Cacheu's residents: the World Bank describes Guinea-Bissau as one of the world's "poorest and most fragile countries". A series of coups and economic crises have also left it vulnerable to drug smugglers.

And the country's slave-trade story remains largely untold. One of the last traces was a 500-peso bank note that showed slaves lining up to board two vessels on the beach.

The bank note, however, dropped out of circulation when Guinea-Bissau joined the CFA-franc zone in 1997.
Paul Simon, Tom Morello lead music drive against poverty

Pop-folk legend Paul Simon and hard-edged guitarist Tom Morello on Thursday led a drive by musicians to fight poverty, bringing promises of greater action to help the world's most vulnerable.

The two headlined a first night of the Global Citizen Festival, which will culminate with a live-broadcast concert Saturday from New York's Central Park featuring Rihanna and Metallica.

The five-year-old festival, which distributes tickets for free to fans who lobby leaders to support international development, held the more intimate first concert to highlight the causes at stake.

Paul Simon (R) performs onstage during Global Citizen: The World On Stage at NYU Skirball Center on September 22, 2016 in New York City Angela Weiss (AFP)

Interspersed with celebrity appearances, activists spoke of key, if unglamorous, challenges to development -- such as sanitation, with more than 650 million people around the world lacking safe drinking water, according to UN figures.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte of The Netherlands, a country with a long history of fighting floods, announced $50 million for the UN's Water Supply and Sanitation Collaboration Council.

"It's like a Rubik's Cube," Rutte, speaking to the concert by video, said of the planet's development and environmental issues.

"A change on one side has a knock-on effect on everything else. But I say, let's go for the blue side first because water is the beginning of everything," he said.

Several companies including Microsoft, HP and Western Union also announced charitable efforts in support of refugees amid the bloodshed in Syria.

- 'Here Comes the Sun' -

Global Citizen, which says its supporters have taken more than six million actions such as petitioning leaders since 2012, takes inspiration from the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. The two shows were organized in New York by ex-Beatle George Harrison to support masses left destitute by a ruthless Pakistani military campaign and devastating cyclone.

Simon presented an inaugural Global Citizen award to Harrison's son Dhani and widow Olivia -- before playing a cover of Harrison's most famous song, "Here Comes the Sun."

The former half of Simon and Garfunkel, who has flirted with retirement, gave a light, folksy take on the Beatles classic as he played guitar with fellow strummer Mark Stewart.

Morello, best known as the guitarist of leftist rockers Rage Against the Machine, predictably delivered the most charged performance of the evening.

Backed by The Kenyan Boys Choir, Morello -- who recalled that he is partially of Kenyan heritage -- led an intense "This Land Is Your Land," often called the alternative US national anthem.

Morello -- who sang an oft-forgotten verse by the song's Marxist writer Woody Guthrie attacking private property -- urged fans to fight for justice "without compromise or apology."

"Aim for the world you really want... one where you don't have to be afraid of being blown up by a drone in the Middle East or being killed by a cop here in the United States of America," he said.

Morello later dazzled the crowd with a soaring solo, briefly playing the guitar with his mouth, on Bruce Springsteen's "The Ghost of Tom Joad."

Kesha opened the concert with Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," belting out a full, rich timbre in place of the rock legend's scratchy voice.

Kesha has become a hero to fans for fighting, so far unsuccessfully, to end her contract with producer Dr. Luke, whom she accuses of rape. He denies the charges.

Dedicating the song to all people fighting for their rights, Kesha said: "I would just beg of you to please never give up hope."
Erdogan says US arming Syrian Kurdish militia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States of sending more weapons to a Syrian Kurdish militia in defiance of Ankara's repeated insistence it is a "terrorist" organisation.

Although the US views the the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as its most significant ground ally against jihadists, Ankara says the fighters are "terrorists" linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which for decades has waged an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Erdogan said late Thursday that three days earlier the US sent "two planes with weapons" to Kobane in northern Syria for the YPG and its Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing.

In a speech in New York after attending the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said Washington was mistaken in using the Syrian Kurdish militia the YPG as an ally in the fight against IS Greg Baker (AFP/File)

In a speech in New York after attending the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said Washington was mistaken in using the YPG as an ally in the fight against IS.

"If you think you can finish Daesh (IS) off with the PYD and YPG, you cannot, because they are terrorist groups as well," he said in remarks posted on the presidential website.

He added he had raised the issue of the alleged weapons delivery in talks with US Vice President Joe Biden but said Biden insisted he had no information.

Erdogan added the US sent arms to Kurdish militia during the battle for Kobane, a Kurdish-majority town, between IS and the YPG in 2014, saying half of the weapons fell into the hands of IS extremists.

The president's accusations risk causing further tension between the NATO allies over Washington's support for the YPG in its fight against IS.

Previously, the US has insisted that any military equipment provided to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the past has gone only to Arab fighters.

There are about 30,000 fighters in the SDF which is made up largely of Kurds, but also has a significant Syrian Arab component.

General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that the US was considering arming the SDF who would join the offensive to retake the IS stronghold of Raqa.

But Dunford said that the US would work "very closely with our Turkish allies" to assuage Ankara's concerns over the Syrian Kurds' long-term political prospects.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Thursday it was "out of the question" for Ankara to join any operation to take Raqa if it included the YPG or PYD.

Turkey has over the last month sent dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops into Syria to back pro-Ankara Syrian rebels fighting IS and the YPG.
UN eyes alternate aid delivery route for Syria's Aleppo

The UN said Friday it was considering a different route to send desperately needed aid to east Aleppo, to circumvent the blocked main supply route as new air raids pounded Syria's second city.

"We are trying to see by all means available how we can reach east Aleppo," Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, told reporters in Geneva.

He said the lack of access to the estimated 250,000 residents of rebel-held east Aleppo amid renewed air strikes and fighting was "tragic."

Damaged Red Cross and Arab Red Crescent medical supplies are seen in a warehouse 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/File)

The UN had hoped to send aid from Turkey and along the key Castello Road into east Aleppo, militarily encircled since early July.

As part of the now broken ceasefire pact agreed between the US and Russia, the UN had expected assurances that the Castello Road would be clear and safe.

But those assurances have not come, and the Syrian army has announced a new offensive aimed at retaking all of the divided second city, with Syrian and Russian aircraft pounding the area on Friday.

"What has been happening in Aleppo is not a situation where you can confidently say, yes we can confidently drive a humanitarian aid convoy into that carnage," Laerke said, describing the situation as "grim."

The UN resumed deliveries on Thursday after a pause in the wake of a strike on a humanitarian aid convoy in Syria's north that killed 20 civilians and destroyed 18 aid trucks.

- Route via Damascus? -

Laerke explained that the UN was now considering sending aid along a much longer route through Damascus, but that when such a convoy could move would depend on the security situation on the ground.

"That is still being planned for. When that will happen, frankly that is out of our hands," he said.

In the meantime, 40 trucks are still sitting at the Turkish-Syrian border waiting to move if the situation improves.

The United Nations humanitarian taskforce for Syria, Jan Egeland, told reporters Thursday that the food in those trucks would go bad within days, but Laerke said that statement was incorrect.

"The food in those 40 trucks is fit for consumption for several months," he said.

Laerke said that a convoy of 23 trucks had successfully delivered aid, including medical supplies, for 35,000 people to the besieged Damascus suburb of Moadamiyat al-Sham.

The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives since 2011, and forced more than half the population to flee their homes.

Syria aid convoy Gal ROMA (AFP)
India buys 36 Rafale fighter jets to counter China

India signed a deal Friday to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets for 7.9 billion euros ($8.8 billion), France's biggest ever such sale, as it seeks to bolster its military against an increasingly assertive China.

Defence experts say the aircraft, manufactured by France's Dassault, will bring a much needed boost to India's air force as it struggles to renew its Soviet-era military hardware.

India, the world's top defence importer, is conducting a $100-billion upgrade of its military hardware, facing border disputes with its northern and western neighbours, China and Pakistan.

India, the world's top defence importer, signed a deal to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault Miguel Medina (AFP/File)

"Rafale will significantly improve India's strike & defence capabilities," tweeted India's Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar shortly after signing the deal with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.

Friday's agreement follows years of tortuous negotiations and represents a substantial reduction from the 126 planes originally mooted.

But it is still France's biggest ever aviation defence deal in financial terms and was hailed as a vote of confidence by French President Francois Hollande, whose administration has lobbied heavily for the Rafale.

"The agreement... is a mark of the recognition by a major military power of the operational performance, the technical quality and the competitiveness of the French aviation industry," he said in a statement.

It is the biggest order for the Rafale after Egypt agreed to buy 24 of the jets in 2015 and Qatar purchased the same amount later that year.

- 'Flying coffins' -

The highly versatile aircraft is currently being used for bombing missions over Syria and Iraq as part of an international campaign against the self-styled Islamic State jihadist group.

It has also been deployed in the past for air strikes in Libya and Afghanistan.

The first planes will be delivered in 2019 and the 36 jets will form two new squadrons of the Indian airforce, which is trying to renew its dwindling fleet of Russian MiG-21s -- dubbed "Flying Coffins" because of their poor safety record.

The air force currently has around 32 squadrons, each comprising 18 aircraft, but has said it needs at least 42 to protect its northern and western borders with Pakistan and China.

India has signed a number of major defence deals since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in 2014.

The Rafale purchase was first mooted under the previous administration in 2012, but faced major delays and obstacles over the last four years.

India entered exclusive negotiations on buying 126 Rafale jets four years ago, but the number of planes was scaled back in talks over the cost and assembly of the planes in India.

Modi announced on a visit to Paris last year that his government had agreed in principle to buy the jets as India looks to modernise its Soviet-era military.

But it continued to be held back by disagreements such as Delhi's insistence that arms makers invest a percentage of the value of any major deal in India, known as the offset clause.

Hollande again pushed the deal on a visit to India in January, when he was Modi's guest for Republic Day celebrations, but officials privately acknowledged that price had become a sticking point.

The Rafale jet fighter Paz PIZARRO, Patrice DERE, Alain BOMMENEL (AFP)

French defence minister Jean Yves le Drian (left) and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar signed the the deal to purchase 36 French Rafale fighter jets in New Delhi on September 23, 2016 Roberto Schmidt (AFP)
Holocaust historian 'will quit US' if Trump is elected

Pulitzer prize-winning historian Saul Friedlander, a world authority on the Holocaust, said Friday he would leave the United States if Donald Trump was elected president.

The 83-year-old Israeli-American writer, who escaped the Nazis by being hidden in a Catholic boarding school in France, described Trump as a "dangerous crazy".

He said the controversial Republican candidate could win November's election because of Hillary Clinton's "tendency to lie and to hide things".

Israeli-American writer Saul Friedlander, who escaped the Nazis by being hidden in a Catholic boarding school in France, describes Trump as a "dangerous crazy" Christophe Archambault (AFP)

"One cannot exclude Donald Trump winning even though he is a dangerous crazy," he told AFP.

"He says whatever comes into his mind."

Friedlander's magisterial two-volume history of Nazi Germany and the Jews charts Adolf Hitler's rise to power in a period where populism was rising across the world as it is today.

"We don't know what (Trump) thinks," said the writer, whose parents perished in Auschwitz after being handed over to the Germans by French police as they tried to escape to neutral Switzerland.

"At the same time, there is a huge swathe of Americans, mostly poor, angry whites, who dream of having him in the White House.

"He is kind of a release valve for their anger against the 'establishment' represented by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"Because she has, unfortunately, a tendency to lie and to hide things," he said, referring to her recent bout of pneumonia, which her campaign was only forced to disclose after she was seen stumbling into her car.

- Rising anti-Semitism -

"Trump, by comparison, seems totally open and frank, even if he has not published his income tax returns."

Friedlander, who is based in Los Angeles, also warned of the rise of anti-Semitism and of Holocaust denial.

"Negationists are, in general, anti-Semites, and I am utterly opposed to debating with them. It gets you nowhere, they will always find a so-called detail showing that all these stories of gas chambers were a joke.

"They are obsessed by the idea that Jews could have invented the story of their extermination," said the author, whose new books, "Reflections on Nazism" and "Where Memory Leads", have just been published in France.

The historian -- who left France for Israel after World War II and worked as an assistant to former president Shimon Peres -- has been very critical of the Jewish state's treatment of the Palestinians.

"But I am also worried about the rising movement, particularly on US university campuses, questioning Israel's right to exist."

- Build peace not settlements -

He said extremism on both sides had done "profound damage" to the chances of a Middle East peace settlement.

"I remain a supporter of a two-state solution, but my friends in Israel say that if a Palestinian state is created on the West Bank, it will be in the hands of Hamas, like Gaza. Then Israel will be surrounded by people determined to destroy it, they say.

"However, if we want to build peace, we have to halt settlement building, destroy wildcat settlements and abandon others," Friedlander said of Israeli construction on land seized during the 1967 Six Day War that the Palestinians want for a future state.

"We have to do that at least to show good faith.

"If not, we risk losing the values of justice and equality that were once at the heart of Israel and Zionism," he added.
Laos failing to curb illegal wildlife trade: monitor

The illegal trade in pangolins, helmeted hornbills and other wildlife products is thriving in Laos, a monitoring group said Friday, urging the Southeast Asian nation to crack down on a lucrative commerce largely fuelled by demand in neighbouring China.

The authoritarian country has long been top transit hub for the smuggling of wildlife products, with widespread corruption and weak law enforcement allowing the criminal activity to flourish.

Wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC said Friday that endangered species such as pangolins and helmeted hornbills were being openly sold in Laos and that law enforcement against the illegal trade remained threadbare.

Wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC says that endangered species such as pangolins (pictured) and helmeted hornbills are being openly sold in Laos Christophe Archambault (AFP/File)

"Lao PDR clearly needs to address these issues as a matter of urgency or risk becoming dubbed the wildlife smuggling capital of Asia," TRAFFIC's Southeast Asia senior programme officer Kanitha Krishnasamy said in a statement.

Elusive and scaly ant-eating pangolins are critically endangered and ranked as the most trafficked mammal on Earth with more than a million traded in the past decade, according to conservation groups.

They are sought after in China and other parts of Asia for their meat, skin and scales.

The meat is considered a delicacy while the skin and scales are used in traditional medicine and to make fashion items like boots and shoes.

TRAFFIC researchers said they found thousands of scales for sale in northern Laos during a survey earlier this year and that more than 5,600 pangolins linked to Laos have been seized between 2010 and 2015.

Many of those animals were smuggled in from Thailand and taken into China or Vietnam.

Products from the critically endangered helmeted hornbill are also widely available in Laos, according to TRAFFIC.

Many shops selling the precious animal parts were operated or staffed by ethnic Chinese employees and prices were often listed in yuan or dollars, the group said.

The statement comes after a mission by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to Laos in July which also raised alarm bells about illegal trade in rhinoceros horn, elephant ivory and other wildlife products.

It said no arrests or prosecutions over wildlife products have occurred since 2012, adding that there are "significant loopholes" in national laws.
African American Museum in Washington: a century of delays

A century after the project was conceived in the throes of racial segregation, and a few months before the first black US president leaves office, the African American Museum in Washington opens Saturday.

Here are key facts about the first national museum devoted entirely to showcasing African Americans' life, history and culture.

- 1915: A project 101 years old

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will be the Smithsonian's 19th and newest museum Preston Keres (AFP/File)

The effort to open, in the US capital, a museum dedicated to the history of the black community "began more than 100 years ago," said the Smithsonian Institution, a public-private complex that runs most of the museums in Washington.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will be the Smithsonian's 19th and newest museum.

Former African American soldiers, civil-war veterans of the US Colored Troops and subjugated to racial discrimination, formed in 1915 a "Committee of Colored Citizens of the Grand Army of the Republic" to create a monument that would celebrate their community's contribution to US history.

"This joyous day was born out of a century of fitful and frustrated efforts to commemorate African American history in the nation's capital," said Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the new museum, at a news conference.

- 2003: George W. Bush signs project

After years of false starts and political warfare, legislation co-sponsored by John Lewis, a major leader of the civil rights movement and US congressman representing the southern state of Georgia, finally was approved by Congress, paving the way for the museum.

The bill was signed into law by Republican President George W. Bush in 2003.

"Opening the museum has involved the efforts of presidents and members of Congress," the Smithsonian noted.

In 2006, the institution allocated a building site on the National Mall, the grassy esplanade -- home to major museums and monuments -- stretching from the US Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial.

- 2012: Ground is broken

Ground was broken for the 400,000-square-foot (37,000-square-meter) building in February 2012. In November 2013, the first two objects -- among the most powerful -- were installed in the partially constructed building: a restored railway car from around 1920, used during the segregation era, and a tower from a prison in the southern state of Louisiana.

In October 2014, the last structural piece was installed, and three months later the work on the exterior, featuring lacy, bronze-colored panels made of cast aluminum, was finished.

- 2015: Opening announced

The September 24, 2016 opening date was announced on February 2, 2015, even before the installation of the windows and the 3,600 exterior panels weighing 230 tons.

- September 24, 2016: Dedication

President Barack Obama, who leaves office in January, will attend the dedication ceremony and is expected to deliver a speech.

His predecessor, George W. Bush, also will attend.

"Now at last, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is open for every American and the world to better understand the African American journey and how it shaped America," Bunch, the museum director, told reporters.

The historic dedication "honors the dreams of many generations and thousands of people who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make this dream a reality," he said.

- Half a billion dollars

The museum cost $540 million. Half of the funds, or $270 million, were provided by US taxpayers, while the remainder was raised from private donations.

- 34,000 objects to view

The museum has more than 34,000 objects -- nearly half of which were donated -- that it will selectively display on its seven levels and in its 12 galleries. Only about 10 percent of the objects will be on permanent display.

According to the Smithsonian, the museum has built "a collection designed to illustrate the major periods of African American history, beginning with the origins in Africa and continuing through slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights era, the Harlem Renaissance and into the 21st century."

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC opens on Saturday Preston Keres (AFP/File)

An exhibit is displayed during a press preview at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC on September 14, 2016 Preston Keres (AFP/File)

A helmet from the World War I Harlem Hellfighters is on display during a press preview at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC on September 14, 2016 Preston Keres (AFP/File)
Palestinian wounded trying to stab Israelis in W.Bank: army

Israeli troops on Friday shot and wounded a Palestinian teenager who the army said was attempting to stab Israelis at a bus stop in the occupied West Bank.

"An assailant attempted to carry out a stabbing attack at the Elias junction, near the community of Kiryat Arba," a military statement said.

"Forces at the scene shot the assailant, who is receiving medical treatment."

Israeli security force stand guard at a site where a Palestinian tried to stab Israeli soldiers before being shot to death at a checkpoint, east of Hebron, on September 20, 2016 Hazem Bader (AFP/File)

Palestinian security sources said he was aged 14.

Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek hospital, where the Palestinian was receiving treatment, said in a statement that he arrived "with gunshot wounds to the chest and leg" and was in serious condition, sedated and on a respirator.

An army spokeswoman told AFP that Israeli civilians had been waiting at the stop with soldiers standing guard nearby and it was not known who was the intended target.

Kiryat Arba is an Israeli settlement in the southern West Bank close to the flashpoint Palestinian city of Hebron.

The incident occurred at the same spot where a week ago two Palestinians rammed a car into the bus stop, lightly injuring three civilians before troops killed one of the assailants.

His female companion was shot in the stomach and taken to a Jerusalem hospital in serious condition.

The latest incident was the 10th since September 16, when 28-year-old Jordanian citizen Saeed Amro tried to stab police officers in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and was killed by a policewoman on the spot.

The Elias junction car ramming followed later the same day.

The upsurge of the past seven days has shattered several weeks of relative calm.

Elsewhere Friday, soldiers opened fire on the "main instigators among dozens of Palestinians throwing stones and rolling burning tyres towards the security fence" between Israel and the Gaza Strip, a military spokeswoman told AFP.

The army said one Palestinian was hit, but Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said six were wounded, one of them gravely.

Violence since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

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 the 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.
Russia, Pakistan to carry out first joint military exercise

Russia and Pakistan will carry out their first joint military exercise this weekend, the Pakistani military said Friday, at a time of heightened tensions between Islamabad and nuclear-armed rival India.

The exercise is being seen as a demonstration of closer defence ties between the two countries after they signed a military cooperation pact in 2014.

It comes after intense drills by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) earlier this week that officials said had been long-planned, including landing combat aircraft on the Islamabad to Lahore motorway.

Pakistan is holding a military exercise with Russia as the country traded angry words over an attack on an Indian army base in disputed Kashmir that Delhi has blamed on Islamabad Aamir Qureshi (AFP/File)

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak(istan) for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise from 24 September to 10 October 2016," military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa tweeted Friday, without giving further details.

Pakistani defence and security analyst Hasan Askari said the exercise "signifies Russian desire to expand their options in South Asia", adding it was the "natural" result of closer Indian ties with the US.

Islamabad has also been negotiating with Moscow a deal to buy combat helicopters. "These helicopters were to be supplied this year but now they are likely to arrive in 2017," Askari said.

On Thursday the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched Highmark Exercise, shutting down sections of the motorway leading out of the capital to land "several" combat aircraft for the first time in six years, a senior security source told AFP.

The drill came as India and Pakistan traded angry words over an attack on an Indian army base in disputed Kashmir that Delhi has blamed on Islamabad.

But Pakistani officials said Highmark is a routine exercise, with a senior security official telling AFP that preparations -- including setting the dates it would take place -- had begun around one year ago.

The drill is aimed an enhancing "operational preparedness", the official said, and will continue for several weeks followed by months of evaluation.

Earlier in the week the Pakistani military briefly closed airspace above the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region neighbouring Kashmir.

Foreign ministry spokesman Nafees Zakariya said in Islamabad Thursday the moves were regular and routine.
Missiles blast Aleppo as Syria army readies ground assault

Missiles rained down on rebel-held areas of Syria's Aleppo on Friday, causing widespread destruction that overwhelmed rescue teams, as the army prepared a ground offensive to retake the city.

Forty-five civilians including several children were killed and dozens wounded in the raids on eastern Aleppo by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group.

The intensity of the bombardment, which included artillery barrages and barrel bombings by helicopters, brought new misery to the estimated 250,000 civilians besieged by the army.

A Syrian man carries the body of an infant retrieved from under the rubble of a building in the al-Muasalat area of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo following a reported airstrike on September 23, 2016 Thaer Mohammed (AFP)

The escalation came after US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to reach an agreement with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Thursday on terms to salvage a failed ceasefire.

The two met again on Friday at the United Nations and made what Kerry said was "a little bit of progress" on resolving their differences on Syria.

"We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period," Kerry told reporters.

Asked at the UN earlier whether the truce could be reinstated, Lavrov simply said: "You should ask the Americans."

He later told the UN General Assembly that US-Russian agreements aimed at ending the Syria conflict must be salvaged, saying there was "no alternative" to the process.

"Now it is essential to prevent a disruption of these agreements," Lavrov said.

Thursday's Kerry-Lavrov talks in New York broke up after Russia refused US demands that it promise to immediately ground the Syrian regime's air force.

- 'Partition card' -

Also in New York, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "playing the card of a partition" of his country with the Aleppo offensive.

The Syrian opposition coalition, meanwhile, condemned what it termed the regime's Russian-backed "criminal campaign... targeting the besieged residential districts of Aleppo".

An AFP journalist in rebel-held east Aleppo reported relentless air raids and artillery fire overnight and Friday morning.

Medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which supports hospitals in Aleppo, said the city's residents "already suffocating under the effects of the siege, have yet again come under horrific attack".

"In many areas, the wounded and sick have nowhere to go at all - they are simply left to die," said Carlos Francisco, the MSF head of mission in Syria.

An AFP correspondent inside the city said the barrage had flattened entire apartment blocks, overwhelming rescue teams from the White Helmets civil defence organisation.

In the Al-Kalasseh district, three buildings were levelled by a single strike, and rescue workers tried frantically to reach survivors using a single bulldozer and their bare hands.

The White Helmets' headquarters in the Ansari district was badly damaged and a second centre operated by the group was also hit.

Rescue workers told AFP their stock of diesel was down to 2,000 litres (530 gallons), forcing them to ration fuel and make choices on when to intervene.

Also in Aleppo province, the Observatory reported 15 deaths including 11 children in a Russian raid on the rebel-held town of Beshkatine and 11 killed in raids by unidentified aircraft on Islamic State group stronghold Al-Bal.

- Ground assault -

The bombardment came a day after the Syrian army announced an offensive to recapture east Aleppo, which has been held by the rebels since mid-2012 but has been surrounded by government forces since July.

The army urged civilians to distance themselves from "the positions of terrorist groups" and pledged that fleeing residents would not be detained.

A high-ranking military source confirmed that the bombardment was preparation for a ground assault.

"We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment," he told AFP.

"This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground."

The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives and displaced over half the country's population since March 2011.

In a bid to relaunch peace talks, Kerry and Lavrov announced a ceasefire on September 9, with Moscow responsible for forcing government troops to stand down and allow in UN aid convoys.

Washington was supposed to pressure rebel forces to respect the truce and distance themselves from jihadists, but the ceasefire fell apart acrimoniously and the Syrian army declared it over on Monday.

UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said Thursday's failed talks were "long, painful and disappointing" and warned of escalating violence.

In Geneva, the UN said Friday it was considering a different route to send desperately needed aid to east Aleppo to circumvent the blocked main supply route.

But Lavrov said in New York: "We will not be able to improve the humanitarian situation without the rooting out of the terrorist groups."

Syria aid convoy Gal Roma (AFP/File)

Destruction following an air strike in the rebel-held Ansari district in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on September 23, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP/File)

United States Secretary of State John Kerry, center attends a meeting with Middle East principals at the United Nations on September 23, 2016 in New York Bryan R. Smith (AFP)
Five things to know about Syria's Aleppo

Once an economic powerhouse, Aleppo and its surrounding countryside have suffered some of the bloodiest violence in Syria's five-year conflict that has cost more than 300,000 lives.

Here are five facts about the northern city, which has been roughly divided into a regime-controlled west and a rebel-held east since July 2012 and where the government said Thursday it had launched a new offensive.

- War comes to Aleppo in July 2012 -

Destruction following an air strike in the rebel-held Ansari district in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on September 23, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP/File)

In April-May 2011, thousands of students demonstrated in Aleppo, which had so far been spared the unrest in Syria since mid-March.

While the student protests were brutally crushed, rebels took control of several parts of Aleppo province which they would later use as launchpads for a massive July 2012 offensive on the city.

The army fought back with tanks, leaving Aleppo divided into east and west.

The first air strikes in Syria's war followed.

Since then, Aleppo has been split between zones controlled by the rebels and those by the regime, with its province divided up between regime, rebels, jihadists and Kurds.

- Major stake in conflict -

Aleppo, Syria's second city, is strategically vital to all sides in the conflict and the army has made its conquest one of its priorities.

Aleppo's fate is seen as key to the outcome of the war and a possible Russian-backed ground offensive against the rebel-Islamist alliance which controls the east of the city could be a potential turning point.

- A devastated city -

The once-flourishing city with its globally renowned old town and souk markets has been reduced to a site of devastation.

Since December 2013, the army has been using brutal barrel bomb strikes from helicopters and military planes, targeting opposition-held residential neighbourhoods, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activists.

Use of this particularly destructive weapon has been denounced by the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations.

Rebels have retaliated with deadly rocket fire on regime-held neighbourhoods.

Medics say health conditions in the rebel part of the city, where several hospitals have been hit, are alarming and that medical staff are falling victim to the regular bombardments.

- Last supply route severed -

Since July 17, Aleppo's rebel neighbourhoods, home to around 250,000 people, have been totally under siege, after regime forces cut off the last supply route.

The noose has since tightened for the inhabitants, faced with food and petrol shortages as well as soaring prices.

Following a September 12-19 ceasefire which failed to allow the delivery of humanitarian supplies, missiles rained down on rebel-held areas on Friday as the army prepared a ground offensive to retake the city.

The UN's humanitarian chief, Stephen O'Brien, said Monday he was "pained" that aid convoys had not deployed to eastern Aleppo.

According to the Observatory, at least 130 civilians were killed between July 31 and September 8, while more than 700 fighters also died.

- Ancient city -

Provincial capital Aleppo is one of the world's oldest cities to have been constantly inhabited since at least 4,000 BC, thanks to its strategic position between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq.

The manufacturing centre, renowned for its textiles, is situated at the crossroads of major trading routes, and numerous civilisations succeeded each other on its soil.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986, Aleppo's citadel, a jewel of Islamic military architecture in the Middle Ages, was built in stages over three centuries from the 10th century.

It was damaged by a blast in July 2015. Two years earlier, fighting destroyed the minaret of the Ummayad mosque and before that a fire ripped through the ancient souk, partially destroying it.
Mali leader warns UN about 'terrorist' gains

Malian President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita told the United Nations on Friday that "extremist and terrorist" groups were growing in his war-torn country where increased clashes were slowing peace efforts.

"Tangible progress has been achieved" since peace accords were signed in 2015, Keita told the opening of an international meeting on Mali on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

But the "growth of terrorist acts and banditry" in the center of the country" and "the growth of extremist and terrorist groups" affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group are undermining peace efforts, he said.

Ongoing international military intervention since January 2013 has driven Islamist fighters away from major population centres in Mali Souleymane Ag Anara (AFP/File)

The president also spoke about increased trafficking in weapons, drugs and migrants and "clashes between signatory members of the accord."

Clashes between Malian armed groups in defiance of the peace deal killed at least a dozen people on September 16 in the restive Kidal region of northern Mali, sources on both sides of the violence have said.

"All these factors create a harmful environment," Keita said, despite stressing his commitment to the peace accord.

The country will convene a national conference of understanding later this year to "bring about a common vision," he told the meeting.

"It is vital, essential to accelerate implementation of the agreement," said French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, hailing the progress made since 2013.

Northern Mali fell into the hands of jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda in early 2012.

A French military intervention in 2013 drove Islamist fighters away from major urban centers.
Myanmar probes handling of child slavery case

Myanmar's president Friday ordered an investigation into how authorities handled the case of two girls who say they were enslaved and tortured for years by the owners of a tailor shop.

The teenagers were rescued this month and their story has gripped a country appalled by the abuse they suffered and the police's failure to intervene earlier.

The girls, aged 16 and 17, said they spent five years working as housemaids at the shop in downtown Yangon where they were beaten, burnt and deprived of sleep and food.

Myanmar's president Htin Kyaw has ordered a report on how authorities had handled the case of two girls who said they were enslaved by the owners of a tailor shop Wang Zhao (AFP/File)

Their families said police refused to help them free the girls on multiple occasions.

They were rescued this month after a local journalist alerted the human rights commission.

On Friday, Myanmar's president Htin Kyaw ordered a report on how authorities had handled the case.

"The President's office has instructed the home affairs ministry to report in detail on how Kyauktada police station officials took action," his office said in a statement.

"The President's office has... been studying the performance of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission," it added.

The girls were just 11 and 12 when a friend took them to Myanmar's bustling commercial capital with the promise of good jobs as housemaids.

AFP reporters who visited them in their tiny village this week saw evidence of horrific wounds on their bodies, including scars from where they say they were stabbed with scissors and branded with a hot iron.

One of the girls' fingers were twisted at strange angles -- she says they were broken as a punishment by her captors.

The head of their village told AFP they are now under police protection at a Yangon police station.

Their family has been paid around $4,000 in compensation by the shop owners, who were arrested on human trafficking charges this week.

The girls are among tens of thousands of children from poor rural areas sent to work as domestic helpers for Myanmar's growing pool of wealthier, urban middle-class households.
UN Mali mission uncovers arms cache near restive city

The United Nations' Mali mission announced Friday the discovery of a large arms cache in the flashpoint city of Kidal, where rival groups have clashed in recent weeks over the country's shaky peace deal.

The most recent fighting -- between pro-government group GATIA and ex-rebels from the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) -- left around a dozen fighters dead on September 16 near the northeastern city.

A spokesman for the UN mission, known by the acronym MINUSMA, said in a statement that "MINUSMA's land, air and helicopter operations were able to identify a significant cache of weapons in the In Tachdait area, located 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Kidal."

Ongoing international military intervention by the UN's mission to Mali has driven Islamist fighters away from major urban centres, but large tracts of the country are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops Souleymane Ag Anara (AFP/File)

"This weapons cache also contained a substantial stock of munitions, including 107 mm and 122 mm rockets used during indirect attacks on towns or the fabrication of IEDs (improvised explosive devices)."

The weapons dump was destroyed where it was found, the mission added, without clarifying to which group it had belonged.

An Algeria-led international mediation team, which includes the UN, EU, African Union and the regional bloc ECOWAS, has said it was "deeply concerned" by the recent clashes and threatened sanctions targeting those responsible.

GATIA said this week that it had pushed the CMA out of two key villages in the region -- Inekabawatane, and In Khalil, a strategic frontier settlement that sees the transit of all imports from Algeria to northern Mali.

Northern Mali fell into the hands of jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda in early 2012.

The militants benefited from the fall of Libya's longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, when weapons flowed out of the country in the intervening chaos into Mali.

Ongoing international military intervention since January 2013 has driven Islamist fighters away from the major urban centres they had briefly controlled, but large tracts of Mali are still not controlled by domestic or foreign troops.
Japan PM seeks Cuba's help amid N. Korea nuclear 'provocations'

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded a visit to Cuba Friday with condemnation of North Korea's nuclear "provocations" and a request for help from Pyongyang's ally Havana to pursue a "world without nuclear weapons."

Abe, the first Japanese premier to visit Cuba, discussed the nuclear question in meetings with both Fidel and Raul Castro, the brothers who have ruled the communist island since 1959.

"Japan, the only country to suffer a nuclear attack in war, is determined to continue working to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, with the help of Cuba and the rest of the international community," he told a press conference, speaking through a translator.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) is received by Cuban President Raul Castro (L) at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana, on September 22, 2016 Adalberto Roque (AFP/File)

The comment came after Abe condemned North Korea's recent nuclear weapons tests in his meeting Thursday with President Raul Castro.

"North Korea continues provocations including nuclear tests and the launch of ballistic missiles, which is posing a different level of threat to the region and Japan," he told the president, according to a readout of their conversation from the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

"I know Cuba has had a friendly relationship with North Korea. Having said this, I would point out that the peace and stability of East Asia is crucially important for Japan."

He invited Castro to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese cities leveled by US atomic bombs at the end of World War II, to witness firsthand the destruction of nuclear weapons.

The Cuban leader said he "strongly wished" to accept the invitation before stepping down in 2018, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Abe also pressed for new efforts on nuclear disarmament in his meeting with former president Fidel Castro, Cuban state media reports said.

Japan said Abe had also asked for the Cuban government's "understanding and cooperation" on the sensitive issue of Japanese citizens believed to have been kidnapped by North Korea to train spies for the reclusive communist state.

North Korea caused outrage in Japan when it admitted in 2002 that it had kidnapped 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 80s to train agents in the country's language and customs.

Five of those were allowed to return home but Pyongyang has insisted, without producing solid evidence, that the eight others died.

- Baseball diplomacy -

Abe arrived in Cuba Thursday, a day after addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

There, he also hammered home Japan's concern over North Korea's test earlier this month of what Pyongyang called a miniaturized nuclear bomb suited to a long-range warhead.

Abe told leaders gathered at the UN that the world has to find "new means" to stop North Korea's nuclear program.

"The threat has now reached a dimension altogether different from what has transpired until now," he said.

Arriving in Havana, Abe said he wants to "open a new page" in Japanese-Cuban relations, after the historic rapprochement between Havana and Washington, Tokyo's close ally.

To that end, he announced a new sports exchange program in which Japan will send coaches to train Cuban baseball players -- a shared passion -- and invite Cuban gymnastics coaches to Japan.

He also broached Japan's call for UN reform, thanking President Castro for his "renewed support" for Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council.

Turning to China -- another Cuban ally with problematic relations with Japan -- Abe told Castro he was "seriously concerned" with Beijing's actions in the East and South China Seas, which include building artificial islands capable of hosting military airbases.
Kerry says 'bit of progress' with Lavrov on Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Russian opposite number on Friday and made what he said was "a little bit of progress" on resolving their differences over the Syrian crisis.

"We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period," Kerry told reporters at the United Nations, one day after international envoys failed to find a way to revive a US and Russian-brokered truce.

Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have met several times this week in New York, including on Thursday as joint chairs of the 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG).

United States Secretary of State John Kerry, center attends a meeting with Middle East principals at the United Nations on September 23, 2016 Bryan R. Smith (AFP)

But they have failed to agree on a way to revive the deal that they had reached in Geneva on September 9, under which Moscow would ensure its ally Bashar al-Assad honors a ceasefire and Washington would rein in Syrian rebels.

Both men are due to leave the city later Friday but there has been no sign of an agreement, with Kerry demanding that Moscow order Syria's air force to be grounded and Lavrov accusing the opposition of breaking the truce.

"I met with the foreign minister, we exchanged some ideas and we had a little bit of progress," Kerry said.
Mid East peace 'Quartet' hears from France and Egypt

The diplomatic "Quartet" piloting efforts to nudge Israel and the Palestinians towards a negotiated solution to their conflict on Friday heard from France and Egypt on their parallel peacemaking efforts.

The Quartet -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- is tasked with overseeing international peace efforts, but both France and Egypt have expressed an interest in helping out.

Washington, in particular, has been hesitant to endorse a French role on what has traditionally been US diplomatic turf. But with the conflict on the ground only getting worse, the US has agreed to welcome fresh ideas.

The Mid East peace "quartet", comprised of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (2nd L), Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry (2nd R) and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, meets to review peace efforts Bryan R. Smith (AFP)

"Our goal is still the same: It's to organize an international conference before the end of the year with both parties present," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini met at the United Nations in New York to review their efforts.

They were joined for the latter part of their discussion by Ayrault and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

"All agreed on the importance of close and continuing coordination of all efforts to achieve the common goal of the two-state solution," the Quartet said in a statement released after the talks.
Lavrov says US-Russian agreements on Syria must be saved

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the United Nations on Friday that US-Russian agreements aimed at ending the war in Syria must be salvaged as fighting raged on the ground.

Lavrov said there was "no alternative" to the Russian and US-led peace process and insisted that "now it is essential to prevent a disruption of these agreements."

The foreign minister addressed the General Assembly after holding talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on reviving a ceasefire in Syria that was shattered this week.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 23, 2016 Timothy A. Clary (AFP)

The Syrian army declared an end to the truce on Monday following a US-led coalition strike on Syrian soldiers near Deir Ezzor that Washington said was unintentional.

The US-Russian ceasefire deal was further endangered by an attack on an aid convoy in Aleppo province on Monday the left 20 dead and destroyed 18 trucks.

The Russian foreign minister called for an "unbiased, impartial investigation of the incidents in Deir Ezzor and Aleppo that undermine these agreements."

The Syrian crisis will not be resolved unless the United States and its allies rein in opposition rebels fighting alongside the Islamic State group and the Al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, Lavrov said.

"We will not be able to improve the humanitarian situation without the rooting out of the terrorist groups," he said.

From the UN podium, Lavrov asserted that Russia's military intervention helped "prevent the collapse of statehood and disintegration of Syria" that would have plunged the Middle East further in chaos.

Kerry told reporters that there had been "a little bit of progress" during talks on the effort to put the ceasefire back on track.

Discussions have focussed on a US proposal to ground Syrian and Russian planes over designated areas, which Kerry said would restore "credibility" to the ceasefire plan.
Nigeria's Buhari appeals to world for aid

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari appealed Friday for the international community to help relieve the growing humanitarian disaster triggered by the Boko Haram insurgency in a plea for aid at the UN General Assembly.

Warnings about food shortages caused by the conflict in the country's northeast and the broader Lake Chad region have intensified in recent months, with humanitarian organisations cautioning of a looming famine.

Speaking in New York, Buhari said that the devastation wrought by Boko Haram had been compounded by climate change.

During his UN address, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that devastation created by Boko Haram had been compounded with climate change Drew Angerer (Getty/AFP/File)

"We are renewing the call for re-dedicated international action to end the humanitarian needs of victims and address the root causes of terrorism itself," Buhari said.

"(The) complexities and severity of humanitarian crises across the world have increased in recent times, resulting in devastating repercussions.

"The dual impact of climate change and terrorism-cum-insurgency has created deeper implications for peace and security."

Lake Chad, straddling the borders of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon in West Africa, is shrinking, leaving surrounding communities without freshwater.

Humanitarian organisations have compared the scale of the Nigerian disaster to the 2011 crisis in Somalia, when "more than a quarter of a million people died" amid a prolonged drought.

Two years later, the UN admitted that the international community did not act quickly enough, saying "the suffering played out like a drama without witnesses".

In Nigeria, where there are millions of people at risk, some on the ground fear that the situation could be worse than the one that blighted Somalia.

There are more than 6 million people facing the threat of "severe hunger", said a coalition of 15 humanitarian organisations in a statement on Friday.

Of those, over 65,000 people are "already living in famine in pockets of northeast Nigeria, and over one million people are one step away from famine," said the organisations.

"If organisations can't reach communities in areas trapped by the conflict, we will be looking at a far greater disaster than we are currently facing," Yannick Pouchalan, Action Against Hungers country director for Nigeria, said in the statement.

Boko Haram has been pushed back following a military offensive by Nigerian and regional forces, but the scorched-earth policy of the jihadists has ravaged an already destitute region.

In July, the United Nations said nearly 250,000 children under five could suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year in Borno state alone and one in five -- some 50,000 -- could die before the end of the year.

The UN regional humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer, has said $385 million (345 million euros) more is needed for northeast Nigeria alone.
Aerial pesticide 'key driver' of Zika's end in Miami

The use of a controversial pesticide, sprayed from overhead on a Miami neighborhood, was a "key driver" in ending the local spread of the Zika virus there, US health officials said Friday.

Aerial spraying with naled, which is banned in the European Union, and with a larvicide called Bti provided a "one-two punch" that helped wipe out Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, said Tom Frieden, chief of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wynwood was ground zero for the first US outbreak of locally transmitted Zika, a virus which can cause birth defects and has spread rapidly through Latin America and the Caribbean.

Florida Governor Rick Scott visits Wynwood, which was where the first US outbreak of locally transmitted Zika was recorded, to announce that the Zika zone is expected to be lifted following 45 days of no ongoing active transmission Joe Raedle (Getty/AFP/File)

From June 30 to August 5, 2016, there were 29 people with Zika virus infection who were likely exposed within about six blocks of the hipster art district north of downtown Miami.

Ground-based applications of pesticide showed little effectiveness, and mosquito counts stayed high, raising concern that they might be difficult to kill.

But aerial spraying led to a "rapid dropoff in the mosquito count," Frieden said, describing the data as "really quite striking."

"At this point, aerial application appears to be our strongest tool," Frieden told reporters on a conference call.

"Aerial spraying appears to be a -- if not the -- key driver in this progress."

- Short-term health unharmed -

A complete report on the situation was released in the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"No increases in short-term health effects were associated with spraying," it said.

Calls to poison centers did not increase, nor did visits to emergency rooms compared with time periods before the spraying occurred.

The Zika outbreak is not over in Florida. Miami Beach continues to experience local spread of Zika, and aerial spraying has begun there, too.

The mainland United States has so far counted more than 3,300 travel-associated cases, meaning they involve people who were infected elsewhere.

Zika can be spread by the bite of an infected mosquito or by sexual contact.

Florida is so far the only US state with local transmission, and has 95 such cases and more than 680 travel-related infections. A total of 90 pregnant women in Florida have been diagnosed with Zika.

The virus is linked to the birth defect microcephaly, which causes newborns' heads to be abnormally small, and rare adult-onset neurological problems like Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

The US territory of Puerto Rico, which has seen more than 19,000 cases of Zika, recently decided not to pursue aerial spraying, Frieden said.

- Controversial tool -

Naled has been used in the United States since 1959 as a common tool for mosquito control, despite concerns about its risks for human and environmental health.

The European Union prohibited its use in 2012, but the US Environmental Protection Agency assures it is safe if sprayed sparingly.

Some Miami residents have protested the use of naled, citing concerns for human and animal health.

Reports also surfaced earlier this month in South Carolina that millions of bees were killed after an aerial spraying of naled, following the confirmation of four Zika cases there.

Frieden said he understood concerns about the potential risks, but said that officials used an "ultralow volume" of less than one ounce per acre, and sprayed early in the morning to minimize exposure to people and bees.

Since there is no vaccine to prevent Zika, the evidence that aerial spraying could work was a boon to public health efforts.

Such an approach "has never before been proven to stop the spread of human disease," Frieden said.

"This really does herald a new era for control of local transmission."

Director of the CDC, Dr. Tom Frieden says he understands concerns about controversial aerial spray, but confirms that officials used an "ultralow volume" of less than one ounce per acre, and sprayed early to minimize exposure to people and bees Joe Raedle (Getty/AFP/File)
Afghan security forces, Taliban reach impasse: US general

Afghan security forces have reached something of an impasse with the Taliban, which has been unable to expand its grip on Afghanistan but still holds large parts of the country, a US general said Friday.

Army General John Nicholson, the US commander in Afghanistan, said local forces during the summer fighting season had thwarted a Taliban attempt to take over Kunduz province, and had improved security in Helmand, western Kandahar and Uruzgan.

Afghan forces currently control or "heavily influence" 65 to 70 percent of the population, the Taliban controls about 10 percent in mainly rural areas, and the rest is contested, Nicholson told reporters.

Afghan security forces speak amongst each other as Chairman of The High Peace Council of Afghanistan, Pir Sayed Ahmed Gailani (front-C) looks on after signing a peace agreement in Kabul Shah Marai (AFP/File)

The top US military officer, General Joe Dunford, told lawmakers Thursday that the situation in Afghanistan was "roughly a stalemate."

"The Taliban have not been successful in achieving the goals that were outlined in their campaign plan, which they typically make public in the spring of each year, and on balance the Afghan forces are holding," said Dunford, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Nicholson said another way to "think about stalemate is you've reached some sort of equilibrium."

A resurgent Taliban dealt Afghan security forces serious blows in 2015, the first year the local forces led security operations in Afghanistan, taking over from NATO.

More than 5,000 Afghan police and troops died last year alone, and they have confronted multiple challenges apart from just the Taliban -- including attacks from the Islamic State group (IS) and Al-Qaeda.

The Taliban even managed to briefly capture the major city of Kunduz last year, jolting confidence Afghan government forces could hold their own.

The Taliban threat forced President Barack Obama to slow plans to draw down US troop numbers at the end of this year. Some 8,400 will remain in the war-torn country in 2017, compared with 5,500 initially planned.

Most US forces in Afghanistan operate under the NATO banner and work as trainers or advisers to Afghan forces.

Around 40 NATO members and partner countries currently contribute to the overall force of nearly 13,000.

The Obama administration also announced looser rules making it easier for US troops to proactively target the Taliban and assist Afghan forces, instead of waiting to respond to an attack.

Nicholson also described the current situation with IS, which is trying to expand its self-declared "caliphate" in Khorasan Province, with Jalalabad as the capital.

"They've been frustrated in that by us, and the operations in July have pushed them down into the mountains of southern Nangarhar," Nicholson said.
Quake in eastern DR Congo kills two

Two people were killed on Friday when a mild earthquake shook a city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to an early toll, a regional official said.

The quake, whose epicentre was in neighbouring Rwanda, had a magnitude of 4.8, monitors said.

It rattled homes in Bukavu, the main town in South Kivu province.

Bukavu is the main town in the Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province Federico Scoppa (AFP/File)

"The provisional toll is two dead, both of them men... and five injured -- three girls and two men," the provincial minister for health, Nash Mwanza Nangunia, told AFP.

Two homes collapsed and others suffered cracks, he added.

The quake struck at 1510 GMT, according to the Natural Science Research Centre in Lwiro, west of Bukavu.

On September 11, at least 16 people died and more than 250 were injured in a 5.7-magnitude earthquake that struck northwest Tanzania, adjoining DR Congo.
US, Russia fail to renew Syria ceasefire deal

The United States and Russia failed Friday to renew their pact to impose a ceasefire in Syria after a week of bitter diplomatic battles at the UN General Assembly.

Despite the ferocity of the exchanges and the heavy fighting continuing on the ground, world powers at the meeting agreed the US-Russian talks must continue.

But, as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov prepared to leave New York, it was clear the sides remained far apart.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and United States Secretary of State John Kerry speak during the International Syria Support Group meeting, September 22, 2016 in New York Bryan R. Smith (AFP)

The Russian minister said it would be "senseless" to restore a truce because the United States has failed to separate moderate rebel groups from terrorists.

"We're all in favor of the ceasefire, but without the separation of Nusra, or rather the opposition from Nusra, the ceasefire is meaningless," Lavrov declared, referring to the jihadist group the Al-Nusra Front.

Russian-backed Syrian forces ended the week-old ceasefire on Monday and launched an offensive against Aleppo, where US-backed rebels mingle with Al-Nusra members.

The powerful Al-Nusra Front, which rebranded itself as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in July when it split from the Al-Qaeda movement, is not party to the ceasefire.

"Any truce, seven days, three days, would be senseless," Lavrov said, claiming that "groups close to Al-Nusra" had launched 350 attacks during the week-long ceasefire.

Lavrov also alleged that rebel forces had refused to retreat from the key Castello Road leading into Aleppo, as had been foreseen by the September 9 US-Russian plan.

He complained about Washington's "absolute inability" to make good on its promise to convince the opposition to obey the terms of the truce and separate from Al-Nusra.

"We understand that this is a difficult task, but everything is difficult in Syria," he said.

"We want to see any sign that the coalition has influence on those that are on the ground. I don't think it's asking for much," he added.

And the Russian foreign minister slipped into conspiratorial territory, darkly suggesting the US side might be trying to protect Al-Nusra as a force against Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"I want to be mistaken," he told reporters innocently.

"But it seems that maybe some people want to spare Nusra and to keep it for a later stage, when the notorious 'Plan B' might be announced."

Earlier this year, Kerry briefed US lawmakers that if negotiations with Russia failed then he would suggest a "Plan B" -- reportedly tougher US military involvement.

Kerry, too, has not minced his words, suggesting this week at the UN Security Council that his long-term sparring partner Lavrov was speaking from a "parallel universe."

But on Friday, after they met for their latest fruitless encounter, he again tried to put an upbeat spin on the dialogue, suggesting there was room for maneuver.

"We have exchanged some ideas," he said. "I think we made a little bit of progress. We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period."

- Historic responsibility -

But the US position has also hardened, with Kerry declaring on Thursday that Moscow must force Assad to ground its air force if the truce is to be revived.

"Let me be clear: The United States makes absolutely no apology for going the extra mile to try to ease the suffering of the Syrian people," he said.

"But we can't be the only ones trying to hold this door open. Russia and the regime must do their part, or this will have no chance," he declared.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault was not impressed by his colleagues' efforts, sharing his frustration at the failure of their secretive dialogue.

"The American-Russian cooperation has reached its limits. This method is not working. Discussions will continue but they seem interminable," he told reporters.

"The United States has a special responsibility, which has a historic dimension. We ask them to rise to it -- it's time to turn to a more collective approach."
Obama vetoes bill allowing 9/11 victims to sue Saudi

President Barack Obama on Friday vetoed a bill allowing 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia, risking a fierce public backlash and rare congressional rebuke.

While expressing "deep sympathy" for the families of the victims, Obama said the law would be "detrimental to US national interests."

The White House tried and failed to have the legislation -- which was unanimously passed by Congress -- scrapped or substantially revised.

People look over the north memorial pool during the 15th anniversary of September 11 at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, on September 11, 2016 in New York Bryan R. Smith (AFP)

Terry Strada, whose husband Tom was killed in World Trade Center Tower One, told AFP the 9/11 "families are outraged and very disappointed" by Obama's decision.

She vowed that the group would now lobby "just as hard as we possibly can" to have Congress overturn the decision.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has already painted Obama and his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton as weak on terrorism, described the decision as "shameful."

"That President Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace."

"If elected president, I would sign such legislation should it reach my desk."

On that point at least Trump was in agreement with Clinton, who, according to her campaign spokesman Jesse Lehrich, would also sign the bill.

Obama now faces the very real prospect of Republican and Democratic lawmakers joining forces to override his veto for the first time in his presidency.

Such a rebuke -- which Congressional sources say could come as early as next Tuesday -- would mark Obama's last months in office and show the White House to be much weakened.

Obama has issued 12 vetoes during his presidency and none have yet been revoked.

New York Senator Chuck Schumer -- a Democrat with close ties to Obama and who cosponsored the bill -- insisted that is about to change.

"This is a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress," he said.

"If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable."

- Lobbying furiously -

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.

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.

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.

- Sovereign immunity -

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 involvement in the attacks.

The White House insists Obama did not veto because of concerns over ties with Saudi Arabia, saying it is worried the bill would set a dangerous legal precedent, undermining the principle of sovereign immunity.

The European Union and a host of countries have expressed similar concerns.

But that technical legal argument will struggle to be heard over emotive accusations that Obama is putting relations with Saudi Arabia before 9/11 victims.

The White House will now hold out hope that the override could be delayed until after the November 8 election, when the politics may be less toxic and minds may be changed.

Congressional sources said White House appeals to security-minded senators like Dianne Feinstein may yet be enough to avoid the rebuke.

The rubble of the World Trade Center smouldering following the collapse of the towers Alexandre Fuchs (AFP/File)

President Obama now faces the prospect of Republican and Democratic lawmakers joining forces to override his veto for the first time in his presidency Zach Gibson (AFP/File)
Photos from North Korea have emerged showing Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a syringe factory while his foreign minister squared up to the US at the United Nations.

Despite his lofty status the young leader didn't sport any safety gear-unlike a factory worker behind him who has his face (aside from his eyes), hands and his torso completely covered in a medical suit.

Kim Jong-un, who assumed power after his father Kim Jong-il passed away in 2011, was touring around the facility, called the Taedonggang Syringe Factory, in the country's showcase capital Pyongyang.

That's a good one. Kim Jong-un inspects a syringe at the Taedonggang Syringe Factory in the capital Pyongyang. Unlike the worker behind him the leader nor his delegates are wearing protection

Many syringes. North Korea's Supreme Leader peers at boxes of syringes as officials make notes

North Korean state television (KCNA) says Kim Jong-un was accompanied by Colonel-General So Hong Chan and WPK Organization Guidance Deputy Director Jo Yong Won.

Whilst touring the factory the leader was said to have 'recollected with deep emotion the undying exploits leader Kim Jong-Il performed for the development of the factory.'

KCNA said Kim associated the factory with 'Kim Jong-Il's noble loving care for the people.'

He said he has plans to modernize the facility.

'The party will take the necessary measure to ensure that more good quality syringes are produced so a sufficient number can be provided to service members and civilians,' the KCNA broadcast continued.

On Friday, the day before the photos were released foreign minister Ri Yong-ho went on the offensive at the United Nations telling delegates that 'going nuclear' is his country's only way to defend itself and vowed to further bolster its nuclear military forces.

Speaking to the General Assembly in New York, Ri Yong-ho said his country will 'continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality.'

He spoke just two weeks after North Korea's fifth and most powerful nuclear test provoked worldwide condemnation, prompting the UN Security Council to begin work on a new sanctions resolution.

Ri Yong Ho Minister for Foreign Affairs for North Korea addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York

'Going nuclear armed is the policy of our state,' Ri, who has been foreign minister since May, told the world gathering.

'As long as there exists a nuclear weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK (North Korea), our national security and the peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence,' he said.

In his address, Ri acknowledged that the nuclear tests 'may not be easily understood by European countries,' which he said were now 'less sensitive' to security concerns decades after the end of the Cold War.

But the foreign minister said North Korea 'had no other choice but to go nuclear,' to defend itself 'from the constant nuclear threats from the United States.'

He also said the tests are a demonstration of the 'strongest-ever will' of North Korea's ruling party and people.

People watch a television news report about North Korea's latest ground test for a rocket engine, at a railway station in Seoul on September 20

After the latest blast on September 9, Pyongyang claimed it had significantly advanced its ability and tested a miniaturized nuclear bomb for a warhead that could be mounted on a missile.

Japan and South Korea used their addresses at the General Assembly this week to raise alarm bells over the threat from North Korea.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe demanded that the world find a new way to confront Pyongyang after a decade of UN sanctions failed to change its behavior.

'The threat to the international community has become increasingly grave and all the more realistic,' he said Wednesday. 'It demands a new means of addressing it, altogether different from what we applied until yesterday.'

North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Joug-un. He assumed power while in his 20s after his father Kim Jong-il died in December 2011

South Korea's Foreign Minister Yung Byung-se suggested that the North could be stripped of its status as a member of the United Nations for refusing to accept the Security Council's decisions.

'I believe it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving UN member,' he said in his address on Thursday.

However, such a proposal is likely to be opposed by China, Pyongyang's ally, which has repeatedly called for a de-escalation of tensions.

North Korea's membership in the United Nations-the only major international forum where Pyongyang has a voice-dates back 35 years to when the two Koreas were admitted simultaneously.

China, which is in negotiations with the United States on a new sanctions resolution, is also pushing for a resumption of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.
Push for Iraq's Mosul to start in a few weeks: UK minister

An offensive to encircle Iraq's second city of Mosul should begin "in the next few weeks", Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Friday, after a visit to the country.

Mosul has been held by Islamic State jihadists since June 2014 and British jets are part of a US-led coalition flying missions against them in Iraq and Syria.

"Though Mosul is a large and complex city, it will fall and will fall soon. I expect the operation for its encirclement to begin in the next few weeks," Fallon said in London following a three-day trip to Iraq.

In preparation for the assault, British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said that Iraqi forces were moving into a tactical assembly area Hadi Mizban (Pool/AFP/File)

He added that Iraqi forces were moving into a tactical assembly area in preparation for the assault.

"We ought to be able to get Daesh (another term for the IS group) out of Iraq over the next few months -- the remaining months of this year and next year," Fallon added.

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.

The drive will involve Iraqi soldiers and police, pro-government paramilitaries and Kurdish peshmerga fighters -- forces that in some cases have not operated together before and do not have unified command structures.
China's Li calls for 'win-win' cooperation with Canada

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang called Friday for strong relations with Canada as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the important trading partner.

"We have no excuses," Li told a Canadian-Chinese business council in Montreal. "China and Canada must have win-win cooperation."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Li announced Thursday an agreement to begin talks aimed at reaching a free-trade agreement. They set a target of doubling trade by 2025.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shake hands before the State dinner at the Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec Lars Hagberg (AFP)

China is Canada's second-largest trading partner after the United States, with trade last year exceeding Can$85 billion ($64.5 billion USD).

Li highlighted the reboot in bilateral relations after a decade of cooling under the previous Canadian administration, calling for "a new golden decade" between the two countries.

Li's visit to Canada came a month after Trudeau made a trip to Beijing looking to "renew and deepen" Sino-Canadian 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 on Thursday.

Trudeau echoed that optimism Friday.

"This last month of strong collaborative engagement represents a new era in the China-Canada relationship," the Canadian premier said.

"I'm excited to develop and maintain a real partnership that will benefit all our peoples for generations to come."
The Latest: Lawmakers want perjury inquiry over VA hospital

DENVER (AP)  The Latest on members of Congress asking prosecutors for a perjury investigation involving cost overruns at a Denver-area veterans hospital (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has formally asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether Veterans Affairs Department executives lied to Congress to conceal massive cost overruns at a Denver-area hospital.

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)

Twenty-one members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee made the request Thursday in a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

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 phone Thursday. Fiotes didn't immediately return a phone message.

The hospital, under construction in suburban Aurora, is expected to cost around $1.7 billion, nearly triple the 2014 estimate.

VA officials declined to comment on the lawmakers' letter, and the Justice Department didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

___

2:50 a.m.

Some lawmakers say federal prosecutors should investigate whether a former Veterans Affairs Department executive committed perjury when he testified about the cost of a new Denver-area VA hospital.

Florida Rep. Jeff Miller, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Colorado Republican Rep. Mike Coffman said Wednesday the Justice Department should investigate Glenn Haggstrom's statements to Congress in 2013 and 2014.

Haggstrom didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

The VA's internal watchdog released a report Wednesday saying Haggstrom knew the project was veering toward huge cost overruns but didn't tell lawmakers that.

Haggstrom was the department's top official in charge of construction projects nationwide. He retired in 2015.

The hospital, now under construction in suburban Aurora, is expected to cost around $1.7 billion, nearly triple the 2014 estimate.
University of Utah unveils $45M entrepreneur institute

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  In one corner of the first floor of this bright, open building with a modern industrial feel is a shop room. On the other end of a floor they call the "garage" are a series of small glass offices with white boards and 3D printers. The upper floors of University of Utah's new $45 million Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute are dorm rooms and open spaces with flat-screen TVs and picnic tables, each themed for students studying focused on careers in design, gaming or outdoor adventure.

The facility unveiled Thursday is designed to foster a creative environment to help students launch startup companies. The mantra adorns large banners around the building: "Live. Create. Launch."

Molded after offices of Silicon Valley companies, it is part of a nationwide trend of colleges and donors spending millions on institutes aimed at stirring up innovation by pairing bright young minds together in a collaborative environment. Wichita State, the University of Iowa and Northwestern University are among other universities that have opened or are planning similar buildings.

People walk around the new Lassonde Studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (Spenser Heaps/The Deseret News via AP)

At Utah, 400 students made the cut from 1,300 applicants to become the institute's inaugural residents. Six out of ten are male, and they come from more than 45 majors.

The building was paid for entirely with student housing fees and private donations, including a major contribution from the building's namesake, mining magnate Pierre Lassonde, who earned an MBA from the university in 1971.

Utah officials toured about 30 creative centers where people live and work together to gather ideas, including Stanford's design program, the IBM design studios and a hippie colony in California called the Rainbow Mansion, said Taylor Randall, dean of the university's David Eccles School of Business.

Randall was among several speakers during a grand opening gala Thursday attended by hundreds Thursday, including many who donated. He invited everyone to come back during a lunch hour to see what the project is all about.

"You'll see white boards and ideas on those white boards and students coming up with crazy things," Randall said. "And you know what: A lot of those crazy things are going to happen."

Troy D'Ambrosio, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, said putting students together in this environment helps them solve each other's problems and accelerates how quickly they can reach their goals.

Colby Russo, a sophomore resident who runs his startup clothing company from one of the offices, said he dreamed of studying here since a university official gave a presentation to his Salt Lake City high school class several years ago.

Russo, who grew up in Costa Rica before moving to Utah, loves that he can shoot off a request in a Facebook group to get help from a designer on a new clothing design and get dozens of responses quickly from people who live in the same building.

"Living here is amazing," said Russo, 20, founder and CEO of Evok Clothing Collective. "It's such an open space for creativity."

University of Utah graduate student Aaron Dessin, right, who lives in the new Lassonde Studios, shows his parents, Andrea and Marc Dessin, the building during an unveiling ceremony at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (Spenser Heaps/The Deseret News via AP)

Pierre Lassonde, University of Utah alumni and namesake of the new Lassonde Studios, talks to student Moses Butera, right, during an unveiling ceremony for the new building at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. (Spenser Heaps/The Deseret News via AP)
Phoenix chief: 3 officers resign after man forced to eat pot

PHOENIX (AP)  Three Phoenix police officers have resigned after a man alleged they forced him to eat marijuana found in his vehicle to avoid going to jail, Chief Joseph Yahner said Thursday.

A fourth officer, Jeff Farrior, was demoted from lieutenant to sergeant for being aware of last week's incident and not taking appropriate action, Yahner told reporters.

"Their actions are appalling and unacceptable. This conduct is against everything that we stand for," Yahner said.

This undated photo provided by the Phoenix Police Department shows Officer Jason E. McFadden. McFadden is one of three Phoenix police officers who have resigned after a man alleged they forced him to eat marijuana found in his vehicle to avoid going to jail, Chief Joseph Yahner said Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. A fourth officer was demoted for being aware of last week's incident and not taking appropriate action, Yahner told reporters. (Phoenix Police Department via AP)

Police identified the three officers who quit as Richard G. Pina, Jason E. McFadden and Michael J. Carnicle.

Two of them are being investigated both criminally and by the department, Yahner said, adding that the third officer is considered a witness to the act and is the subject of just the administrative investigation.

Yahner said all of the officers' video cameras were turned off and did not record the incident in which a 19-year-old Phoenix man was stopped for a traffic violation around 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 13. The man, whose name was not released by police, was issued a citation and had his car towed.

He later told a patrol supervisor that the officers demanded he eat the marijuana, estimated to be about a gram, or go to jail.

The man reported feeling ill after ingesting the marijuana of an unknown potency, but didn't need any medical attention, a police spokesman said.

Yahner called the allegations about the officers' actions "disturbing and upsetting."

The three officers who quit were all in their first year with Phoenix police and were probationary employees, according to Yahner.

"I was going to fire them. They chose to resign," he said.

Yahner declined to discuss details of the criminal and internal investigations.

This undated photo provided by the Phoenix Police Department shows Officer Richard G. Pina. Pina is one of three Phoenix police officers who have resigned after a man alleged they forced him to eat marijuana found in his vehicle to avoid going to jail, Chief Joseph Yahner said Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. A fourth officer was demoted for being aware of last week's incident and not taking appropriate action, Yahner told reporters. (Phoenix Police Department via AP )
Cheers erupted as lights slowly began to flicker on across Puerto Rico overnight as the US territory struggled to emerge from an island-wide blackout following a fire at a power plant that caused the aging utility grid to fail.

More than 390,000 of 1.5 million homes and businesses served by the power utility had electricity restored by late Thursday, with cries of, 'The lights are back on!' echoing through some neighborhoods.

Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said he expected more than half of customers to have power by Friday morning.

Motorists illuminate a storefront with their headlights as they drive in to buy bread after a massive blackout, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Thursday

Customers stand in line at one of the few open cafeterias on Roosevelt Avenue, in San Juan

'The number is rising rapidly,' he said, adding that 90 percent of customers will likely have power by Saturday. However, he cautioned: 'Problems may arise. I don't want to create false expectations.'

The blackout hit the entire island of 3.5 million people early Wednesday afternoon and prompted Garcia to activate the National Guard and declare a state of emergency.

Public schools remained closed on Friday, and heavy storms that hit the island Thursday afternoon knocked out power to some areas where electricity had been restored.

While those with power celebrated a return to normalcy, others lamented having to face another night in darkness with no air conditioning in the tropical heat.

Most Puerto Ricans don't have generators, and many expected to once again drag mattresses out to balconies and porches to spend the night outside.

Vehicle lights illuminate a street as homes and businesses were plunged into darkness

People buy ice during a massive blackout in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that caused air conditioning to stop working

A woman carries a bag of ice that she bought at El Angel Ice Plant during the massive blackout

'It's been horrible,' said San Juan resident Elizabeth Maldonado, adding that she was resigned to another sleepless night. 'I take showers every three hours at night to stay refreshed.'

For those who could afford it, hotels offered special rates for residents that were quickly snapped up.

As sunset approached on Thursday, long lines formed at ice plants, supermarkets and gas stations. Elsewhere, people crouched around power outlets at generator-powered supermarkets and malls to charge cellphones.

Traffic lights remained dark most of Thursday, and police officers stood in the streets directing traffic all day, some in heavy downpours. Workers at the main international airport filled out luggage tickets by hand.

The governor said at least one person died the first night from exposure to carbon monoxide after setting up a personal generator.

Edgardo Colon picks up his gas container after filling it with diesel for his generator, in San Juan, Puerto Rico

The blackout hit the entire island of 3.5 million people early Wednesday afternoon

Customers stand in front of a goods store during a massive blackout in San Juan

Puerto Ricans faced another night of darkness Thursday as crews slowly restored electricity

A 76-year-old man was taken to the hospital in good condition after spending the night trapped in an elevator at a government building, Garcia said. In addition, four police officers were hit while directing traffic but were expected to recover.

Localized power outages are common in Puerto Rico, which has an outdated energy infrastructure, but widespread failures such as this are extremely rare.

The Electric Power Authority said it was trying to determine what caused the fire at the Aguirre power plant in the southern town of Salinas.

The fire apparently knocked out two transmission lines that serve the broader grid, which tripped circuit breakers that automatically shut down the flow of power as a preventive measure, officials said.

Executive director Javier Quintana said a preliminary investigation suggests that an apparent failure on one transmission line that might have been caused by lightning caused the switch to explode.

Garcia rejected suggestions the blackout was caused by maintenance problems that have plagued the utility for years, largely a result of the island's economic and fiscal crisis. He said the switch where the fire happened had been properly maintained.
New laws and rulings could cause Election Day confusion

ATLANTA (AP)  With more than 120 million Americans expected to cast ballots for president this fall, the nation's voting process seems more convoluted than ever and rife with potential for confusion come Election Day.

Voting rules vary widely by state and sometimes by county, meaning some Americans can register the same day they vote, while others must do so weeks in advance. Some can mail in a ballot, while others must stand in line at a polling place that might be miles from home. Some who forget photo identification can simply sign an affidavit and have their ballot count, while others must return with their ID within a few days or their vote doesn't matter.

Fourteen states have new voting and registration rules in place for this election, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law. Legal challenges have led to a multitude of recent court rulings that have blocked or struck down some provisions and upheld or reinstated others, scrambling the picture further.

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, the Rev. Moses Colbert poses for a photo at his church in Gastonia, N.C. As Americans prepare to cast ballots for the next president, the voting process has never been more convoluted. A federal appeals court over the summer struck down several parts of a North Carolina law that not only required voters to show photo ID but also reduced early voting and eliminated same-day registration during the early voting period. Colbert, a black pastor from Kings Mountain, N.C., was among those who challenged the law after finding himself unable to vote in 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The new rules and the rapidly shifting landscape have already caused confusion, and some experts fear problems on Nov. 8.

"You would think that by 2016 we would have gotten our act together, but in fact it seems things are as litigious and confusing as ever," said Rick Hasen, an expert on election law and professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Law.

The battle over voting mirrors the larger battle for political power in the U.S.

While Democrats and Republicans have both supported efforts to expand access, particularly online registration, it's largely been Republicans who have been pushing restrictive laws, such as those requiring voters to show photo identification before casting ballots.

Supporters say such measures are aimed at preventing fraud; critics say such laws fall most heavily on the poor and minorities, who might not have driver's licenses or could find it difficult to obtain the documents needed.

Recent court decisions have rolled back some of the more far-reaching restrictions but have also created headaches for state and local officials who need to make sure they are complying with the latest rules.

In Wake County, North Carolina, election officials prepared two training manuals for their poll workers  one with the state's voter ID requirements and one without. (Voter ID was ultimately struck down over the summer.)

Advocacy groups worry that confused poll workers might, for example, demand documents that are not required. They also fear that all the publicity surrounding voter ID laws might lead some people to stay home because they mistakenly think they won't be able to vote.

"In periods of change, it can often lead to a lot of confusion for voters as to what the rules are, and for election officials, too," said Wendy Weiser with the Brennan Center, pointing to problems in 2012 in places like Pennsylvania, where the state's voter ID law was put on hold and then struck down. "There were also voters in Ohio, New Jersey who mistakenly thought  hearing the news from Pennsylvania  that they had to show ID, too."

The Supreme Court opened the way for some of these measures in 2013 when it struck down a part of the Voting Rights Act that required certain states and local jurisdictions with a history of discrimination  particularly in the South  to get Justice Department approval of any changes in their election laws.

Soon after, Republicans in North Carolina passed a package of measures that not only required voters to show photo ID but also reduced early voting and eliminated same-day registration during the early voting period.

Moses Colbert, a black pastor from Kings Mountain, North Carolina, was among those who found himself unable to vote in 2014 as a result of the changes. Colbert had recently moved to Cleveland County from nearby Gaston County after his wedding.

Shortly after the move, he went to the local motor vehicle office to update his address and voter registration information. Yet when it came time to vote, Cleveland County officials told him he wasn't registered there and to go back to Gaston County. When he did, Gaston County officials wouldn't let him vote because the address on his driver's license no longer matched the address on his voter registration form. Before the changes, Colbert would have been able to update his registration during the early voting period.

"I was just numb, so we had to fight," said Colbert, 62, who became a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the North Carolina law. "I believe we are standing on the shoulders of so many who died before us for the opportunity to vote. I grew up in the 1960s. This is not something I read about in a book."

In July, a federal appeals court struck down several parts of the North Carolina law, saying they "target African Americans with almost surgical precision." Republican officials have said discrimination was not their intent. A divided U.S. Supreme Court declined in August to take up the case.

Texas officials have agreed to spend $2.5 million on voter outreach before Election Day as part of an agreement to amend its voter ID law after a court found it discriminated against minorities and the poor.

Elsewhere, an effort by Democrats in Ohio to restore "golden week," when people could register and cast ballots at the same time, failed after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene. Earlier this week, a federal judge ordered North Dakota to return to a system it had in place before the Republican-led Legislature imposed a tougher voter ID requirement four years ago; voters there who do not have a state-required photo ID can once again sign an affidavit swearing they are a qualified voter.

An ongoing Kansas court fight has focused on whether a group of as many as 50,000 residents could vote because they did not submit citizenship documents, as required under state law, when registering at motor vehicle offices or with a federal form. Federal courts had previously ordered the state to count their votes in federal elections. The secretary of state's office had sought to toss out their votes in state and local races  something a state judge has since blocked.

Confusion also persists in Wisconsin, which has been in turmoil since Republican lawmakers backed a voter ID law in 2011.

It was initially blocked by the courts, then went into effect for the presidential primary in April. In July, a federal judge left the voter ID requirement in place for the fall contest but struck down more than a dozen other election changes, including limits on early voting hours and locations.

It's been estimated that as many as 300,000 Wisconsin voters may not have the required photo ID. Molly McGrath, with the national group VoteRiders, has been working with homeless people and others to make sure they have the proper ID and are registered to vote.

"There's a tremendous amount of unawareness and confusion about the law," McGrath said. "You can't help but think: Is this confusion a bug or part of the design?"

Republicans who have pushed the various voter ID laws reject any suggestion of discrimination.

"Voters in Wisconsin support voter ID, and our administration will continue to work to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat," Gov. Scott Walker said last month.

___

Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

___

Follow Christina Almeida Cassidy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Christina.
Smithsonian museum also tells story of black cuisine

WASHINGTON (AP)  Jerome Grant grew up in Fort Washington, Maryland, but also visited his stepfather's family in Hampton, Virginia, and spent summers with his Jamaican grandmother in Philadelphia.

Those experiences helped shape the palate of the executive chef of the Sweet Home Cafe, part of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum for African-American History and Culture, opening this weekend. The cafe offers an opportunity to educate, with cuisines representing different regions of the country.

"We view our cafe as an exhibit that coincides with the museum," Grant said. "Looking at our culture and following the migration of our people throughout the United States, you see how we've influenced a lot of things, including food. A lot of our menu items tell a story."

FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2016 file photo, Carla Hall, the Chew co-host and Top Chef alum, poses for a photo inside the North Star Cafe at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. The museum, opening later this month, will be an experience aimed at feeding the soul, literally. The Sweet Home Cafe is the museum's restaurant, with a menu featuring culturally authentic fare and modern-day-inspired foods. The restaurant is a journey through the agricultural south, Creole coast, northern states and the Southwest. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

To visit the cafe is to experience black culture through food and fellowship, which has always been central to what it means to be black in America.

The Agricultural South station features recipes traditionally thought of as soul food: chicken and waffles, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, barbecue chicken and candied yams. They are dishes that feel like home for many African-Americans, most of whom live in the South, or have relatives who were Southerners before they migrated North in the early 20th century to escape segregation and find work.

The Creole Coast station offers fare popular in many restaurants today, like shrimp and grits or Louisiana catfish po' boys. But diners may not know that dishes from the area are inspired by West African, Native American, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Acadian cultures.

Chef Carla Hall, co-host of ABC's "The Chew," serves as culinary ambassador for Sweet Home Cafe. She said she sees the space as a place for people to decompress after experiencing the weight of four centuries of black history.

"It's not just an amenity to the museum," she said. "This is very much a part of our experience. We cooked a lot of different people's foods, but when we brought it into our home, we made it in a particular way that was uniquely ours."

Hall's face lights up as a bowl of shrimp and grits, one of her favorite dishes in the cafe, appears.

"Oh, my God, I love this so much," exclaimed Hall, a Nashville, Tennessee, native. "Those are REAL grits."

Hall said she hopes visitors, especially African-Americans, also go to the restaurant and learn something new through food about a culture they thought they knew.

The North station features dishes brought by freed blacks and those who escaped slavery, including a Caribbean-style pepper pot, a stew with meat or fish and vegetables, and an oyster pan roast inspired by Thomas Downing, the son of slaves who went on to become known as New York's Oyster King and offered his cellars as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Influenced by Native American and Mexican cultures, the Western station includes Son of a Gun Stew, with braised short ribs, turnip, corn, potato and sundried tomato, and a pan-roasted rainbow trout stuffed with cornbread and mustard greens.

As important as the food is the communal experience the cafe offers, as its name suggests. The walls of the cafe's dining hall are decorated with images and quotes highlighting black America's relationship with and influence on food. On one wall is a large photograph of protesters from the Woolworth's lunch counter sit-ins of the 1960s in Greensboro, North Carolina, a reminder of an era when blacks dined separately from whites.

Grant said Sweet Home aims to be just that for all who visit.

"I want you to be able to set this table and have food you can identify with that really wraps all of it together." Grant said. "For us, food is a sense of community. It's everything."

___

Errin Haines Whack covers urban affairs for The Associated Press. Follow her on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous.
Lead crisis in housing project was actually no surprise

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP)  When the mayor in this industrial town ordered the evacuation of a 40-year-old public-housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, many people wondered: How could the problem have been overlooked for so long?

The complex, in a blighted corner of Indiana just across from Chicago, had been built on ground once occupied by a lead-products factory. Some yards had lead levels more than 70 times the federal safety standard.

The abrupt order to remove more than 1,000 residents, including about 700 children, made headlines across the country.

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2016 file photo, Joseph Russell, 2, rides his tricycle outside his home at the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, Ind. The mayor of this industrial town ordered the evacuation of the 40-year-old public housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes.(Jonathan Miano/The Times via AP, file)

But it turns out the hazard wasn't  or shouldn't have been  a surprise to anyone in public office in East Chicago or responsible for the safety of the West Calumet Housing Complex.

A review of public documents and news coverage dating back to the 1960s shows officials at half a dozen local, state and federal agencies were aware residents were living on and playing in lead-tainted soil, though some of the most alarming readings weren't widely known until recently.

In 1985, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management found elevated lead levels in yards just east of the complex, according to department records. The same year, the Indiana Department of Health found high lead levels in blood samples of some residents' children. Even at low levels, exposure can cause nervous system damage and lowered IQs, according to experts.

In 2008, an EPA memo described "an imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health, welfare and the environment."

Instead of prompting urgent action, the situation in East Chicago instead became an example of how longstanding problems can linger indefinitely in some industrial hubs and how environmental cleanups are often grindingly slow, hamstrung by high costs and the fact that the companies responsible for the pollution have long since gone out of business.

"It's mind-boggling. You have so many people who could have and should have done something," said state Sen. Lonnie Randolph, an East Chicago native who's represented the city since 2008. "The bottom line is somebody just didn't care."

The history and local politics of East Chicago, a poor, largely black and Hispanic community of about 30,000, also played a role. People were unlikely to complain about factories that provided their livelihood, some here say, and the town's top public officials have often been corrupt.

The housing authority director who chose the site in the late 1960s was indicted years later for taking kickbacks from the developer who built the project, records show. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and agreed to testify against other defendants.

Two of the last three mayors were convicted of corruption. The third, defeated in 2004 after serving more than 30 years, was cited in a malfeasance lawsuit against the city administration that resulted in a $108 million judgment.

The city councilman for the project has been jailed since last fall on a murder charge.

The evacuation order came in the wake of a highly publicized scandal in Flint, Michigan, where local and state officials were accused of making a lax response to lead contamination of the local water supply. Nine have been charged or taken plea deals after an attorney general's investigation.

East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland has refused interview requests, deferring to City Attorney Carla Morgan, who says officials acted quickly after learning the latest soil sampling results in May.

She also told AP that the problems had been aired in public hearings over the years.

"The public knew everything we knew," Morgan said.

However, in 2010 the EPA interviewed 25 residents and noted in a report that "the majority of people said that they knew little or nothing about the site."

For years, the signs welcoming people to East Chicago proclaimed the city the "Industrial Capital of the World."

One of the industries was the Anaconda Lead Products plant, which operated from at least 1938 to 1965. Just to the south sat the sprawling U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, or USS Lead, which salvaged lead from old car batteries and scrap metal. Lead dust filtered by the smelter's smokestacks was piled on the ground, open to the wind.

Smoke in the air "was a good thing, because it meant jobs," said Thomas Frank, who tried unsuccessfully to start an environmental movement in East Chicago after moving to his wife's hometown about 20 years ago.

In 1972, the city built the West Calumet Housing Complex, made up of three-story apartment buildings and brick duplexes with large lawns, on the old Anaconda plant site to provide housing for low-income residents.

Modern-day sensibilities would reject such an idea, but when the East Chicago Housing Authority was searching for sites, Executive Director Benjamin Lesniak said there was little available land except "in vacant areas which are surrounded by industries and undesirable residential areas," according to a 1966 Chicago Tribune article.

Blowing dust from USS Lead was probably responsible for most of the area's contamination, according to the EPA. But according to a city letter to the EPA, utility workers also found signs of toxic demolition debris from Anaconda under housing project homes. That was one of numerous red flags to emerge since USS Lead closed in 1985, according to documents reviewed by AP.

In 1991, USS Lead agreed to pay a $55,000 fine and place tarps over the lead dust piles. The factory buildings were demolished.

But it was almost another decade before the EPA conducted what it called "time-critical" removal of contaminated soil in nearby residential areas. The EPA planned to replace as much as 2 feet of topsoil with clean earth at 723 properties, at a cost of about $29 million.

Copeland, who took office in 2010, demanded the excavation go deeper. All the while, residents say they knew little about the seriousness of the threat. Public meetings on the issue appear to have been sparsely attended.

In May, after the EPA gave the city the results of testing last year that showed alarming hotspots, Copeland delivered the shocking news that everyone would have to leave.

EPA officials say they still stand by their original soil removal plan.

"We see this quite often," said Douglas Ballotti, deputy director of EPA's Superfund Division, citing many people who say, "Just get it all out of here."

"We have to look at it from cost-effectiveness," he said, since federal funds will have to cover most of the costs.

West Calumet residents, meanwhile, are struggling to find new places to live with the HUD vouchers they received, but tenants say some landlords won't rent to housing project residents.

Shantel Allen, whose yard is one of the most contaminated, said she's been notified that her 2-year-old daughter's blood lead levels were six times beyond what the Centers for Disease Control considers concerning.

Allen, who's married and has four other children, says the family's health problems  from ADHD to headaches  "make sense now."

"I'm upset because we were the last to know," she said.

___

Keyser reported from Chicago. Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

This Sept. 14, 2016 photo shows factories in East Chicago, Ind. The mayor of this industrial town ordered the evacuation of a 40-year-old public housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

FILE - This July 27, 2016 file photo shows signs around the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, Ind. The mayor of this industrial town ordered the evacuation of the 40-year-old public housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes. (John J. Watkins/The Times via AP, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 30, 2016 file photo, Shantel Allen, right, a resident of the West Calumet Housing Complex reacts with her husband, Charles during a news conference in Munster, Ind. The mayor of this industrial town ordered the evacuation of the 40-year-old public housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes.(AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim, File)

This Sept. 14, 2016 photo shows a train next to Ameristar Casino Hotel in East Chicago, Ind. The mayor of this industrial town ordered the evacuation of a 40-year-old public housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes.(AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

In this Sept. 7, 2016 photo, East Chicago resident Thomas Frank poses at his home in East Chicago, Ind., a city dealing with a severe lead contamination problem. For years, the signs welcoming people to East Chicago proclaimed the city the "Industrial Capital of the World." Smoke in the air "was a good thing, because it meant jobs," said Frank, who tried unsuccessfully to start an environmental movement in East Chicago after moving to his wife's hometown about 20 years ago. (AP Photo/Sara Burnett)

This Aug. 23, 2016 photo shows letters telling residents of the West Calumet Housing must relocate due to lead contamination in East Chicago, Ind. The mayor of this industrial town ordered the evacuation of the 40-year-old public housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

This Aug. 23, 2016 photo shows an empty playground and Carrie Gosch elementary school which has been closed due to lead contamination near the West Calumet Housing Complex in East Chicago, Ind. The mayor of this industrial town ordered the evacuation of the 40-year-old public housing complex this summer because of severe lead contamination, forcing more than 1,000 people from their homes. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)
National black history museum could spur interest locally

DETROIT (AP)  The dedication and official opening of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture won't just be celebrated in Washington.

On Chicago's South Side, it will be viewed during a free watch party Saturday at the 55-year-old DuSable Museum of African American History, one of the oldest museums of its kind. Officials there  and at other local and regional venues that offer more local stories on the struggles and contributions of blacks in the United States  expect the new national museum to spur interest and steer more visitors their way.

"It's become an incredible opportunity in terms of raising awareness," said Leslie Guy, chief curator at DuSable, where attendance dropped by nearly 20,000 visitors from 2014 to last year.

Charles Boyles looks at the exhibition at the DuSable Museum of African American History Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Chicago. The dedication of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture will be celebrated on Saturday in Washington and on Chicago's south side at one of the oldest museums of its kind. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

The dedication ceremony on Saturday at the $540 million museum on the National Mall is expected to be attended by President Barack Obama. Exhibits include a slave cabin from South Carolina, pieces of a slave ship, a reproduction of Oprah Winfrey's television show set and artifacts from Obama's first presidential campaign.

"There will be tens of thousands of people there in person and around the world watching," said Andrea Taylor, president and chief executive of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama. "Once people have that experience they will want to know more about what's happening in their local community."

The Birmingham museum gets about 150,000 visitors per year. Annual attendance at the African American Museum in Philadelphia rose from about 70,000 to 82,000 last year.

Both could see even more guests as people seek to learn more about black history.

The audience that needs to see and hear the stories of African-American struggles and contributions "is large enough for all of us," said Patricia Wilson Aden, president and chief executive of the Philadelphia museum. "It's not a matter of one versus the other. It's a matter of shared mission."

The museums in Philadelphia and Birmingham are part of the Smithsonian community, which means they have the opportunity to share with the new museum and access its collection and other Smithsonian exhibits and items.

Smaller museums can benefit "if the local directors are savvy enough to take advantage of this moment," said Farah Griffin, professor of English and African-American studies at Columbia University.

"The local museums don't have the kinds of resources the national museum has, so it helps to really focus on something," Griffin said. "They have to focus on their strengths ... tell a story in a way the national museum cannot."

But some like the bigger stage a national museum can provide.

Shirley Burke considered donating a violin that's more than 150 years old to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit before she and her family decided it deserved a larger audience and greater appreciation.

The violin was passed down through generations after being played by her great-grandfather, Jesse Burke, for his slave owners in Arkansas.

"Giving to the national museum will make it more visible and accessible to family members located all around the United States," said Burke, 73, a former administrator and teacher in Detroit's public schools.

The national museum  like local African-American history venues  has its place, said Juanita Moore, Charles H. Museum president and chief executive.

"African-American history is American history and it should be (in Washington)," Moore said. "I'm so proud that the beautiful edifice is there. It makes people excited about the stories we're telling."

Chief Curator Leslie Guy poses for a portrait outside the DuSable Museum of African American History Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Chicago. The dedication of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture will be celebrated in Washington and on Chicago's south side at one of the oldest museums of its kind. On Chicagos South Side, it will be viewed during a free watch party Saturday, Sept. 24, at the 55-year-old DuSable Museum of African American History - one of the oldest museums of its kind. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)

Chief Curator Leslie Guy poses for a portrait inside the DuSable Museum of African American History Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Chicago. The dedication of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture will be celebrated in Washington and on Chicago's south side at one of the oldest museums of its kind. (AP Photo/Tae-Gyun Kim)
Video shows deadly encounter between police, black man

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  Video of a deadly encounter between Charlotte police and a black man shows his wife repeatedly telling officers he is not armed and pleading with them not to shoot her husband as they shout at him to drop a gun.

The footage, recorded by Keith Lamont Scott's wife and released Friday by his family, offers a raw look at how the situation unfolded but does not show whether Scott had a gun as police have said. Uncertainty about the case prompted a fourth night of demonstrations through Charlotte's business district.

After darkness fell, dozens or people carried signs and chanted to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video that could show more clearly what happened. Police have said Scott was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book.

In this image taken from video recorded by Keith Lamont Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, Charlotte police squat next to Keith Lamont Scott as Scott lies face-down on the ground, in Charlotte, N.C. In the video of the deadly encounter between Charlotte police and the black man, Rakeyia Scott repeatedly tells officers her husband is not armed and pleads with them not to shoot him as they shout at him to drop a gun. The video does not show clearly whether Scott had a gun. (Rakeyia Scott/Curry Law Firm via AP)

The 2 -minute video released by the family does not show the shooting, though gunshots can be heard. In the video Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, tells officers that he has a TBI, or traumatic brain injury. At one point, she tells her husband to get out of the car so police don't break the windows. She also tells him, "don't do it," but it's not clear exactly what she means.

As the encounter escalates, she repeatedly urges police, "You better not shoot him."

After the gunshots, Scott can be seen lying face-down on the ground while his wife says "he better live." She continues recording and asks if an ambulance has been called. The officers stand over Scott. It's unclear if they are checking him for weapons or attempting to give first aid.

In the footage, Scott's wife states the address and says, "These are the police officers that shot my husband."

Representatives for the police department and the mayor's office didn't return emails from The Associated Press seeking comment on the family's video.

The video emerged hours before the protesters took to the streets Friday night, monitored by rifle-toting members of the National Guard. The group appeared smaller than previous nights.

Protesters called on police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting earlier this week. Marchers at the front of the group carried a banner that said "Just Release the Tapes."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Friday that there is footage from at least one police body camera and one dashboard camera.

The family of Scott, 43, was shown the footage Thursday and demanded that police release it to the public. The video recorded by Scott's wife had not been previously released.

State Attorney General Roy Cooper also called on Charlotte officials to release the video, saying doing so would help bring the community and law enforcement together. Cooper, a Democrat, is running for governor in November.

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.

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed documents to keep a curfew in effect from midnight until 6 a.m. each day until the state of emergency declared by the governor ends.

After the curfew took effect Friday, as on Thursday, 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.

Putney said Friday that releasing the footage of Scott's death could inflame the situation. He has said previously that the video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so.

"It's a personal struggle, but I have to do what I think is best for my community," Putney said.

During the same news conference, Roberts said she believes the video should be released, but "the question is on the timing."

Hillary Clinton has decided to postpone her planned trip to Charlotte on Sunday after Roberts told CNN that the Democratic presidential nominee should postpone her visit because the city's security resources were stretched thin. Clinton now plans to visit on Oct. 2.

Earlier in the week, the Charlotte protests turned violent, with demonstrators attacking reporters and others, setting fires and smashing windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants.

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 26-year-old Justin Carr. A suspect was arrested, but police provided few details.

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, said it's "impossible to discern" from the videos what, if anything, Scott is holding in his hands.

___

Associated Press writers Tom Foreman Jr., Mitch Weiss, Seanna Adcox and Jeffrey Collins in Charlotte, North Carolina; Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Jack Jones in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

In this image taken from video recorded by Keith Lamont Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, Charlotte police squat next to Keith Lamont Scott as Scott lies face-down on the ground, in Charlotte, N.C. In the video of the deadly encounter between Charlotte police and the black man, Rakeyia Scott repeatedly tells officers her husband is not armed and pleads with them not to shoot him as they shout at him to drop a gun. The video does not show clearly whether Scott had a gun. (Rakeyia Scott/Curry Law Firm via AP)

In this image taken from video recorded by Rakeyia Scott on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, her husband, Keith Lamont Scott, center, stands amid Charlotte police cars and other vehicles moments before he is shot by a police officer in Charlotte, N.C. In the video of the deadly encounter, Rakeyia Scott repeatedly tells officers her husband, who is black, is not armed and pleads with them not to shoot him as they shout at him to drop a gun. The video does not show clearly whether Scott had a gun. (Rakeyia Scott/Curry Law Firm via AP)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police chief Kerr Putney, right, gestures as Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts, left, watches in Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 during a news conference concerning protests and the investigation into Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts speaks in Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 during a news conference concerning protests and the investigation into Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. A third night of protests over the fatal police shooting in Charlotte gave way to quiet streets as a curfew enacted by the city's mayor ended early Friday. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police chief Kerr Putney, right, gestures as Charlotte mayor Jennifer Roberts, left, watches in Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 during a news conference concerning protests and the investigation into Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. A third night of protests over the fatal police shooting in Charlotte gave way to quiet streets as a curfew enacted by the city's mayor ended early Friday. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Protesters raises their fists as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Protesters raises their fists as they observer a moment of silence as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

A protester greets a member of the North Carolina National Guard as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Protesters shout as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Protesters walk past a member of the North Carolina National Guard as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

A protester holds a flag as he marches in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Criminal charges in Tulsa police shooting may prevent unrest

TULSA, Okla. (AP)  Less than a week after an unarmed black man was shot dead by a white police officer on a Tulsa street, prosecutors charged the officer with first-degree manslaughter, a decision that may prevent unrest in a city with a long history of tense race relations.

Officer Betty Shelby "reacted unreasonably" when she fatally shot 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16, prosecutors wrote in an affidavit filed with the charge Thursday. Police also quickly provided videos of the shooting to black community leaders and members of Crutcher's family before releasing them to the public.

Crutcher died from a "penetrating gunshot wound of chest," the Oklahoma state medical examiner's office said Friday, classifying his death as a homicide. Spokeswoman Amy Elliott said a full autopsy report and toxicology results are not yet complete.

This photo provided by Tulsa County Inmate Information Center shows Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby. Tulsa County jail records show that Shelby turned herself in early Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, hours after prosecutors charged her with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher. (Tulsa County Inmate Information Center via AP)

The swift action in Tulsa stands in contrast to Charlotte, North Carolina, where police refused Thursday under mounting pressure to publicly release video of this week's fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, another black man, and the National Guard was called in after violent protests. Demonstrations in Tulsa since Crutcher's death have been consistently peaceful.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett praised the police department for quickly providing evidence to District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler's office.

"These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails," Bartlett said in a statement, adding the city will "continue to be transparent."

Prosecutors' motivation may have been partly to allay outrage and avoid the kind of violence Charlotte has seen, said Phil Turner, a Chicago-based defense attorney and former federal prosecutor. "But I don't think the charge was only to give the crowd some blood. ... No. I think (prosecutors) must have thought charges were warranted," he said.

If convicted, Shelby faces between four years and life in prison. She was booked in the Tulsa County jail at 1:11 a.m. Friday and released 20 minutes later after posting $50,000 bond, according to jail records.

Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said her family is pleased with the charge, but she and her attorneys want a vigorous prosecution that leads to a conviction.

Family attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said, "the family wants and deserves full justice. Not only for this family, not only for Terence but to be a deterrent for law officers all around this nation to know that you cannot kill unarmed citizens."

Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, did not immediately respond to telephone messages seeking comment on the charges.

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.

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. Police said Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle.

The affidavit filed Thursday indicates that Shelby "cleared the driver's side front" of Crutcher's vehicle before she began interacting with him, suggesting she may have known there was no gun on the driver's side of the vehicle.

Shelby told 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," the affidavit said.

Prosecutors offered two possible theories: Shelby killed Crutcher impulsively in a fit of anger or wrongly killed him as she sought to detain him. Lee F. Berlin, a Tulsa-based defense lawyer and a former assistant district attorney in Oklahoma, said prosecutors could present both theories or may decide to move forward with only one and let jurors decide.

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 in the middle of a city street. Shelby did not activate her patrol car's dashcam, so no footage exists of what happened before other officers arrived.

The 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 says: "That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something."

Police Sgt. Dave Walker has said investigators found a vial of PCP in Crutcher's vehicle. Shelby's attorney 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 even if there were drugs in the car, it wouldn't justify the shooting.

In the videos, the officers surround Crutcher, who suddenly drops to the ground. A voice on the police radio says: "Shots fired!" The officers back away and Crutcher is left unattended for about two minutes before an officer attends to him.

Tulsa's troubled race relations dates to the 1921 race riot that left about 300 black residents dead. As recently as 2013, a City Council vote to rename the city's glitzy arts district, which had been named after the son of a Confederate veteran and Ku Klux Klan member, drew vehement opposition.

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 2015 shooting death of Eric Harris, who was also black and unarmed.

Kunzweiler, the Tulsa prosecutor, emphasized 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."

___

Associated Press reporters Michael Tarm in Chicago, Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Ken Miller in Oklahoma City contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Oklahoma City.

Protesters fill the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP)

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)

Over 100 protesters filled the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP)

Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, center, stands with Tulsa Sheriff's deputies before a news conference, 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)

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)

Protesters fill the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman 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)

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)

This undated photo provided by the Parks & Crump, LLC shows Terence Crutcher, left, with his father, Joey Crutcher. 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)
Imam in bombing suspect's hometown speaks against violence

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP)  An imam spoke against violence and in support of law enforcement during the first Friday prayer service since a local man was charged in last weekend's New Jersey and New York City bombings.

Imam Syed Fakhruddin Alvi urged the more than 100 men gathered at the Muslim Community Center of Union County to be vigilant in leading their families and children away from evil.

Mosque leaders called bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami, an Afghanistan-born U.S. citizen whose father is an active member of the mosque, misguided and said people who follow extremist teachings are criminals.

FILE - This September 2016 file photo provided by Union County Prosecutor's Office shows Ahmad Khan Rahami, who is in custody as a suspect in the weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey. Rahami worked as an unarmed night guard for two months in 2011 at an AP administrative technology office in Cranbury, N.J. At the time, he was employed by Summit Security, a private contractor. Rahami remained hospitalized Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, after a shootout the day before with police in New Jersey. (Union County Prosecutor's Office via AP, File)

"Nobody has any right to kill any non-Muslim," the imam said. "If anyone kills a non-Muslim citizen, paradise will be done for him."

Mosque members said Rahami's father frequently prays there, including this week after Rahami was injured by police in a shootout in Linden hours after he was named the suspect.

Rahami has been unconscious and intubated for much of the time since undergoing surgery, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a court filing. He will first face federal charges in New York when he is out of the hospital. A public defender has sought a court appearance for Rahami so he can hear the charges against him.

The suspect's father, Mohammad Rahami, said his son was a changed person after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2013. He said he told the FBI in 2014 about his son's apparent radicalization after household tensions led to a fight in which another of his sons was stabbed.

"I found a change in his personality. His mind was not the same. He had become bad, and I don't know what caused it, but I informed the FBI about it," Mohammed Rahami said in Urdu.

A senior FBI official pushed back against Mohammad Rahami's claim to have warned agents about his son.

FBI agents interviewed the father in 2014 after Ahmad Rahami's arrest on charges  later dropped  that he stabbed one of his brothers in the leg. The FBI initiated contact because the father had expressed concern to someone following that episode over his son's internet use and some of his associates.

But in interviews with agents, Mohammed Rahami "at no time" discussed his son's radicalization or potential interest in al-Qaeda, the Taliban or their propaganda, according to the FBI official, who wasn't authorized to discuss the case by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

When Ahmad Rahami was arrested, prosecutors said he was carrying a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other Muslim extremists, fumed about what he saw as the U.S. government's killing of Muslim holy warriors and declared, "Death to your oppression."

Mohammad Rahami said he and his family were in a state of shock following last weekend's blasts, which injured 31 people.

"I condemn the act of my son, and I am sad over injuries caused to people," he said, adding that he was cooperating fully with investigators.

Mohammad Rahami and his family live above a fried chicken restaurant he owns in Elizabeth. But last December he also rented a home in Roanoke, Virginia, landlord Renee Turk told reporters.

Ahmad Rahami purchased a 9mm handgun from a store in nearby Salem, Virginia, in July using a Virginia ID card and state fishing license, according to Jerry Cochran, the owner of Trader Jerry's.

At Mohammad Rahami's New Jersey mosque, leaders said they have taken extra precautions to protect congregation members, including informing law enforcement about their events and meetings. Friday prayer in Elizabeth draws the mosque's biggest crowd, including people from other towns.

Members of the mosque's community, made up of about 100 families, said their imam has lectured against extremism in the past.

Radicalization "has been going on in every corner of the world," mosque trustee Naqeeb Rana said. "We especially educate our younger kids on that matter and what the Islamic teachings are. What (extremists) are teaching is not Islam."

___

Ahmed reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Jessica Gresko, in Washington, contributed to this story

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)
Almost diplomacy: US ex-officials, NKoreans quietly meet

Officially, the United States and North Korea barely speak to each other, their communications often limited to public exchanges of insults.

The U.S. ambassador in Seoul is "a villain, a crazy person," a North Korean diplomat says. North Korea is a "wasteland" compared to South Korea, President Obama tells the United Nations.

But out of the limelight, and sometimes in secret, a small corps of former U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials, often working with academic specialists, meet regularly with high-ranking North Koreans. They have sat down in Singapore, Berlin, Beijing and elsewhere to discuss everything from the details of North Korea's nuclear program to concerns about the effects of international trade sanctions on Pyongyang. They have talked about the growing security fears in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, and about the timing of North Korean missile tests.

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, file photo, North Korean defectors prepare to release balloons carrying leaflets and a banner denouncing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for North Korea's latest nuclear test, in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea. Out of the limelight, and sometimes in secret, a small corps of former U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials, often working with academic specialists, meet regularly with high-ranking North Koreans. They discuss everything from the details of North Korea's nuclear program to the concerns on the effects of international trade sanctions on Pyongyang. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

If it's not quite diplomacy, it sometimes gets pretty close.

"The North Koreans understand that we're in no way representing the United States government. So sometimes, we can raise things that the U.S. government isn't able to," said Leon V. Sigal, a former State Department policy official and long a key player in what are commonly called Track 2 talks. "I can say to them, 'Hey, this is why the U.S. government is doing this.' And then probe and say to them: 'Look, what you're doing is not going to work. How about this?'"

The two countries did quietly hold a series of discussions, apparently late last year, but those came to nothing. Since then, North Korea has staged two nuclear tests and a flurry of missile tests, building an increasingly sophisticated arsenal, but there have been no known direct communications between Washington and Pyongyang.

While Track 2 talks are common between rival countries - Indian academics, for instance, regularly meet with their Pakistani counterparts - the North Korean discussions are often seen as a key part of Washington-Pyongyang relations.

To critics, the Track 2 North Korea meetings are a waste of time. Or worse, they allow Pyongyang to claim the high road - insisting it's seeking an avenue to peace - despite its years of cheating on past deals.

But John Delury, a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, said that with communication between North Korea and the U.S. almost non-existent, Track 2 talks have become a placeholder for government-to-government discussions. Informal talks are "a way for the North Koreans to send indirect messages," he said, and try out ideas they may be hesitant to suggest in official channels.

While Track 2 participants are rarely formally debriefed by U.S. officials, the substance of their talks is often widely shared among the small pool of experts - in government, academia and think tanks - who focus on North Korea. That information can then be used once official talks restart. "There's a lot that you pick up just by sitting in the same room," ranging from what issues are open to discussion to group dynamics, Delury said.

But what has emerged recently from Track 2 discussions? That depends on who you ask.

To Sigal, the talks have revealed a North Korea willing to discuss limitations on its nuclear weapons program, despite Pyongyang's public insistence that it is now a nuclear power.

"Even now, as bad as things are, it's clear" that North Korea is ready to talk, he said. He declined to spell out the details of his discussions, but said that a series of slow, reciprocal steps by both sides - "they would suspend certain activities, the U.S. would take certain steps" - could lead back to official negotiations.

In the end, he said, those negotiations may not be successful, but: "You don't know until the U.S. and the North Koreans sit down and try to work things out."

Some other Track 2 participants, though, say they've seen no sign of North Korean willingness to discuss denuclearization.

"During several meetings in recent months, I've raised the idea of a denuclearization dialogue with the North Koreans," Evans Revere, a former Asia specialist at the State Department, said in an email. "The response from them has been quite definitive . 'There will be no denuclearization; we are now a nuclear-weapons state; the time for denuclearization dialogue is over; you must learn to live with and accept this new reality.'"

Who is right? It's hard to know. North Korea's policy statements are rarely easy to interpret, with serious proposals sometimes buried inside bombastic propaganda, and experts regularly disagreeing about what message is intended.

Some North Korea watchers, for example, believe that Pyongyang held out an olive branch in July, when a story from the state news agency said the North wanted "the denuclearization of the whole Korean Peninsula." While the statement also included a long list of North Korean demands, some saw it as a first offer and a sign that Pyongyang was willing to start negotiating.

The U.S. government, though, has seen little that looks like an olive branch.

Anna Richey-Allen, the spokesperson for the State Department's East Asia and Pacific Bureau, said Washington is open to talking to Pyongyang. "But the onus is on North Korea to take meaningful actions toward denuclearization and refrain from provocations," she said in an emailed statement.

Years of broken agreements have left much of the world - and much of the U.S. government - unwilling to trust North Korea in negotiations. American officials are deeply hesitant about agreeing to direct talks with Pyongyang, fearing the political fallout if the North again reneges on a deal.

But as Pyongyang's arsenal continues to grow, with experts warning it could have nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States within a few years, Sigal says the U.S. must focus on those years when North Korea did stand by at least some of its agreements.

"Most people in Washington have an assumption that the North Koreans are bad guys - which is true enough - but also that you can't deal with them. I say that assumption is fundamentally wrong," Sigal said. "I think you have to be talking to them. And that's the purpose of Track 2."

___

Follow Tim Sullivan on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ByTimSullivan

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2015, file photo, Leon Sigal, left, director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project at the Social Science Research Council, speaks to reporters during a break in discussions with North Korean officials in Singapore. Out of the limelight, and sometimes in secret, a small corps of former U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials, often working with academic specialists, meet regularly with high-ranking North Koreans. They discuss everything from the details of North Korea's nuclear program to the concerns on the effects of international trade sanctions on Pyongyang. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, file photo, then North Korea's senior nuclear negotiator Ri Yong Ho, who is now North Korea's Foreign Minister, delivers a statement after meeting with U.S. officials in Singapore. Out of the limelight, and sometimes in secret, a small corps of former U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials, often working with academic specialists, meet regularly with high-ranking North Koreans. They discuss everything from the details of North Korea's nuclear program to the concerns on the effects of international trade sanctions on Pyongyang. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

FILE - In this March 5, 2007, file photo, Evans Revere, then president of the Korea Society and a former Asia specialist at the State Department, talks to reporters after a meeting with North Korea's deputy foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, in New York. Out of the limelight, and sometimes in secret, a small corps of former U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials, often working with academic specialists, meet regularly with high-ranking North Koreans. They discuss everything from the details of North Korea's nuclear program to the concerns of the effects of international trade sanctions on Pyongyang. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
Cruz to vote for Trump, whom he once called 'utterly amoral'

WASHINGTON (AP)  Ted Cruz announced Friday he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face that may help unite a deeply divided Republican Party months after the fiery Texas conservative called Trump a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral."

Cruz said he was simply following through on a promise to support his party's presidential nominee, even though the New York billionaire had nicknamed him "Lyin' Ted," insulted his wife and linked his father to the John F. Kennedy assassination.

But facing intensifying political pressure to back Trump, Cruz said he would cast a vote for Trump, while stopping short of an official endorsement in a statement posted Friday on Facebook.

FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2016 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas listen as Donald Trump speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Houston in Houston. Cruz announced Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face for the Texas senator who previously called the New York businessman a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

The distinction may matter little to voters, but helps Cruz save face among those supporters still unwilling to forgive Trump's heated attacks during their ugly and often intensely personal primary campaign. Cruz was booed by Trump supporters at the national convention for encouraging Republicans to "vote your conscience."

"After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," Cruz wrote Friday.

Trump accepted Cruz's support, describing it as an "endorsement" in a statement. That's even after Trump claimed he didn't want Cruz's endorsement immediately after the convention chaos.

"I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz," Trump said Friday. "We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again."

The development comes as a critical time in the 2016 presidential contest

The first debate is on Monday and Election Day is less than seven weeks away. Early voting has already begun in some states. Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton remain locked in a tight race as both struggle to unite their party's behind them. Trump, in particular, has been branded as a phony by hard-line conservatives, Cruz among them, who see him more as a political opportunist than a true Republican.

"This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth," Cruz said of Trump in May, hours before ending his campaign.

"Donald will betray his supporters on every issue," the Texas senator added, while calling Trump "utterly amoral," ''a narcissist," ''a bully," and "a serial philanderer," among other things.

Clinton addressed the shift on social media by posting a tweet from Cruz himself calling on Trump to release his tax returns. The Texas senator released nine years of his returns, while Trump has refused to release any.

Her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine took a dig at Cruz for expressing support despite the personal insults Trump rained down on him during the primaries.

"If somebody said that about my dad, they would never have me as a supporter for anything," Kaine said as he campaigned in Texas.

Cruz finished second to Trump in the primary and balked at previous promises to endorse the eventual nominee. On Friday, he cited two reasons for his shift.

"First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word," he wrote. "Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable  that's why I have always been #NeverHillary."

Cruz also faced intensifying political pressure from all quarters.

Since the convention speech, polls have suggested that Cruz's popularity was slipping nationally and in Texas  where he could face a primary challenger for re-election in 2018.

His base supported his refusal to back Trump at first, but the mood shifted recently. The vast majority of calls coming into Cruz's office had turned increasingly negative in recent weeks with many voters urging him to support Trump to prevent a Clinton victory, according to Republicans familiar with the situation. The Republicans spoke on the condition of anonymity because these were internal discussions.

At the same time, the large staff that worked on Cruz's presidential bid pushed him not to endorse. Most refused to accept jobs with the Trump campaign when offered following Cruz's departure from the primary campaign this spring. And as recently as this week, some warned they would not work for Cruz again if he officially endorsed Trump.

Cruz's decision also comes as he weighs the prospect of a 2020 presidential bid, where Trump's donors could play an important role. None are more important than the Mercer family, which backed a pro-Cruz political group this spring before becoming major Trump backers.

Trump's naming of Cruz ally, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, in his updated list of potential Supreme Court picks announced Friday helped ease tensions between the two camps. Trump also backed Cruz's position in a congressional squabble over internet regulation.

Yet bad blood remains.

The decision to announce his intention to vote for Trump, rather than endorse him outright, was seen as a compromise  even if voters see little distinction between the two. Other Republican leaders in difficult political situations, notably New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, have taken similar positions.

"Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans," Cruz wrote Friday. "And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way."

___

Weissert reported from Austin, Texas.

___

Follow Peoples on Twitter at 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

FILE - In this June 7, 2016 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ted Cruz announced Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, he will vote for Donald Trump, a dramatic about-face for the Texas senator who previously called the New York businessman a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Shale Insight Conference, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Pakistani police submit charges in UK woman's murder case

JHELUM, Pakistan (AP)  Pakistani police submitted initial charges to a court Friday against the father and ex-husband of a British-Pakistani woman accused of murdering her in a so-called "honor killing", court officials and a defense lawyer said.

Defense lawyer Mohammad Arif says the trial of Mohammad Shahid and Mohammad Shakeel will begin on September 27 for their alleged role in the murder of 28-year-old Samia Shahid, who was found dead in July at her family's home in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The two accused men appeared before a judge Friday. The woman's family initially claimed she had died of natural causes. But police now say her father stood guard while Shakeel raped her and afterward both men strangled her.

A Pakistani police officer, second right, escorts father Muhammad Shahid, right, and ex-husband Muhammad Shakeel of slain British-Pakistani woman Samia Shahid to a court in Jhelum in eastern Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Pakistani police have submitted initial charges to a court against the two men for holding their trial for killing her, court officials and a defense lawyer said. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

However, the woman's father strongly denied the allegations.

"This is a fake police story and nothing else. I loved my daughter too much and all allegations against me and my son-in-law are a pack of lies," Mohammad Shahid told The Associated Press outside the courtroom. Both he and Shakeel were handcuffed and had their faces covered with cloths.

Arif, who represents both men, told reporters that police during Friday's brief court hearing presented a list of all charges against his clients. He said the court will refer the case to another judge in Jhelum in order to start their trial.

Samia Shahid married her cousin Shakeel in 2012 but later obtained a divorce and eventually married Mukhtar Kazim and moved with him to the United Arab Emirates. After Kazim publicly accused his wife's family of killing her for marrying him against their wishes, police reopened the case and quickly concluded that Shahid had been strangled.

Kazim's lawyer Najful Hussain Shah told the AP that he would seek the death penalty when the trial begins.

Nearly 1,000 women are murdered in Pakistan each year for violating conservative norms on love, marriage and public behavior.

Pakistani police officers escort father Muhammad Shahid, second right, and ex-husband Muhammad Shakeel, third right, of slain British-Pakistani woman Samia Shahid to a court in Jhelum in eastern Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Pakistani police have submitted initial charges to a court against the two men for holding their trial for killing her, court officials and a defense lawyer said. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistani police officers escort ex-husband Muhammad Shakeel, bottom center, and father Muhammad Shahid, top right, of slain British-Pakistani woman Samia Shahid to a court in Jhelum, in eastern Pakistan, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Pakistani police have submitted initial charges to a court against the two men for holding their trial for killing her, court officials and a defense lawyer said. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Syria diplomacy: A US-Russia deal unravels and war revs up

NEW YORK (AP)  In a New York hotel room earlier this week, Russia thought it was close to a deal with the U.S. to revive a cease-fire deal for Syria.

A three-day period of calm would go into effect, accompanied by Syrian and Russian planes leaving the skies over northern Syria, according to a concept that Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov developed late Wednesday night. That would permit Syria's warring sides to reaffirm their support and prove their commitment to a U.S.-Russian plan for ending the civil war.

But neither government had signed off on the diplomats' plans, according to U.S. and Russian officials with knowledge of the private conversations in the Palace Hotel.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

And after Kerry consulted others in the Obama administration, he told Lavrov that the truce should last a week, said the officials, who weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.

Lavrov, according to one official, threw up his hands in exasperation.

"Originally, our American colleagues said, I believe on Wednesday, why can we not consider at least a three-day period," Lavrov said at a news conference Friday. "We checked with the military who know the situation on the ground. We accepted. But the next morning they said, 'Thank you very much, but we now need seven.'"

One senior U.S. official said Lavrov's account was misleading and that Russia issued several unacceptable conditions of its own. The official said Kerry and Lavrov never even reached a tentative understanding between themselves, let alone their governments.

Regardless of the differing accounts, the fallout from the failure was severe.

By Thursday afternoon, as Kerry and Lavrov met with more than a dozen European and Arab foreign ministers, Russia was helping Syria's government launch a fresh offensive on the already besieged city of Aleppo. An angry Kerry announced the news to the room after reading it off an aide's BlackBerry.

He then told reporters the cease-fire was over even as he said there could be no alternative approach.

Kerry on Friday said he held follow-up consultations with Lavrov and "we exchanged some ideas and we had a little bit of progress."

"We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way," Kerry said, toning down the outrage he had expressed with Russia's position a day earlier and in a Wednesday speech at the U.N. Security Council.

The week's breakdown in the diplomacy on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly occurred as violence in Syria accelerated. Several high-profile and deadly attacks suggested the war could be entering a darker phase.

First, an errant U.S. strike on a Syrian military contingent killed dozens. Twenty died when an aid convoy headed toward Aleppo was bombed  Washington blamed the attack on Moscow; Russia said it wasn't responsible. Then, four medics were killed in a bombing raid, presumably by Syria or Russia.

But the diplomatic failure also underscored a rapid plunge in U.S.-Russian cooperation on Syria. Just two weeks ago, Kerry and Lavrov culminated a marathon day of negotiations in Geneva with an announcement of a nationwide cease-fire that would be followed by a new military alliance between the former Cold War foes, targeting the Islamic State group and al-Qaida.

Much of the world hailed the outcome, and a rare calm followed over war-ravaged parts of Syria for several days. It didn't last.

Infractions by both Syrian President Bashar Assad and U.S.-supported rebels became increasingly regular. Aid barely reached anyone at all, despite much-hyped promises of unfettered humanitarian deliveries.

The U.S.-Russian counterterror partnership quickly disappeared from the table.

Washington and Moscow dug into seemingly intractable positions, including Kerry's insistence this week that Russia and Assad ground their air forces. A senior European diplomat said it was deemed important that Russia "decisively signal" a respite in the bombing.

Blaming rebels for the renewed violence, Lavrov rejected the additional demands.

Going beyond the Sept. 9 cease-fire deal is "senseless" unless U.S.-backed forces separate from agreed terrorist groups like the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, he said Friday.

In the same vein, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, another Assad ally, said the U.S. proposal would help "terrorists." Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem thanked Russia for its help "in the fight against terrorism."

Still, U.N. peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said somewhat vaguely: "The Russians, in my opinion, were genuine when they negotiated with the Americans."

The U.S.-Russian talks were "disappointing," de Mistura said in an interview Friday with Al-Jazeera, lamenting Syria's "return to open conflict."

The 5 1/2-year war has killed as many as a half-million people, contributed to Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II and allowed IS to emerge as a global terror threat.

___

Sarah El Deeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
India signs deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets

NEW DELHI (AP)  India on Friday signed an $8.78 billion deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in "ready to fly" condition, meaning they will be made in France.

The agreement to replace older planes in the Indian air force is a departure from an earlier plan to purchase 126 Rafales, mainly to be built in India.

The first of the Rafales, made by Dassault Aviation, will be delivered in three years and the last in 5 years, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

FILE - In this Jan.12, 2016 file photo, a Rafale jet fighter is catapulted on France's flagship Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf. India has signed Friday Sept.23, 2016 a $8.78 billion deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in ''ready to fly'' condition meaning the planes would be made in France. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

Talks between France and India over the purchase began four years ago. The deal, signed by Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian, includes a clause stipulating that Dassault will invest about 30 percent of the contract price in India's domestic aeronautics-related programs and 20 percent in the licensed manufacture of Rafale components, according to Rahul Bedi, an analyst for the Jane's Information Group.

India has become the world's biggest arms importer, with an economic boom enabling it to modernize its military. Major arms manufacturers are wooing the country as it replaces its obsolete Soviet-era weapons and buys new equipment.

The Indian air force has an approved strength of 42 squadrons with 16 to 18 aircraft each, but at present has only 32 squadrons, said Praful Bakshi, an aviation expert.

France has used Rafales in several combat missions in recent years: over Libya in 2011, in Mali last year and currently as part of the international campaign against Islamic State group militants in Iraq from a French air base in the United Arab Emirates.

FILE - In this June 19, 2015 file photo, a Rafale jet fighter performs its demonstration flight at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris. India has signed Friday Sept.23, 2016 a $8.78 billion deal with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets in ''ready to fly'' condition meaning the planes would be made in France. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File)

French Defense Minister Jean Yves le Drian, left, and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar shake hands after signing the deal to purchase 36 French Rafale fighter jets in New Delhi, India, on September 23, 2016. India signed a formal agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France's Dassault for a reported 8.78 billion dollars, one of its biggest defense deals in decades. (Roberto Schmidt/Pool Photo via AP)
EU-US trade pact under a cloud, Europe mulls change of tack

BRUSSELS (AP)  The outlook for a vast free trade pact between the European Union and the United States was bleak Friday, with EU ministers discussing whether to change their approach after conceding that a deal cannot be sealed before President Barack Obama leaves office.

After three years of negotiations, big differences remain over the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which is meant to lift trade barriers between the world's biggest commercial partners, spark sorely-needed economic growth and create new jobs.

"Completion of the negotiations with the U.S. by the end of this year is not realistic. So it is not realistic to reach final agreement by the end of President Obama's administration," Slovak Economy Minister Peter Ziga, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, told reporters after informal trade talks in Bratislava.

Protestors hold an Anti-TTIP inflatable banner during a demonstration against international trade agreements in Brussels on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. A demonstration was held in the European Quarter on Tuesday to protest against trade and investment deals such as TTIP and CETA. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

"We've had negotiations for three years and no chapter out of 30 chapters has been closed," Ziga said. "It will take a lot of time to get there."

TTIP, as the potential deal is known, is aimed at removing barriers to trade between the EU and the U.S. to boost economic growth and employment. The European Commission estimates that the pact could boost EU economic output by 119 billion euros ($133 billion) a year and that of the U.S. economy by 95 billion euros ($106 billion).

Thousands of people have demonstrated against the pact in Germany and Belgium over the last week. They fear the agreement is a threat to the environment and public health, and would give more power to big multinational companies.

Still, European officials were keen to seal a deal on TTIP before Obama leaves office in January. Looming elections in France and Germany are also weighing on the negotiations.

A new round of talks is scheduled for early October, but few hold hopes for a breakthrough.

"I don't necessarily see it as the last one but let's see how far we get," EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said.

Given the public opposition and slow pace of progress, some think now is a good time to pause and consider a fresh approach once it's clear who will hold office in the White House from next year.

"It would be reasonable, given that the subject has such a negative connotation now, to completely relaunch with a new name after the U.S. elections, with more transparency and clearer objectives, "said Austrian Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner.

In contrast, good progress has been made on the trade deal with Canada, known as CETA. Malmstroem's office will draw up a joint declaration to annex to the agreement to explain some elements, like public services as well as investment protection and arbitration. The plan is to sign the agreement at the EU-Canada summit in Brussels on Oct. 27-28.

"The Americans have not been willing to make offers the way Canada has so it's guaranteed there will be no agreement this year," said German Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel.

"If we do restart the negotiations, we'll have to see who the next American president is," he said.

On the other side of the Atlantic, U.S. analysts see little chance of a U.S.-European deal anytime soon.

"Very unlikely," Caroline Freund, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said. "Europe is struggling with Brexit and migration, and the TTIP is hugely unpopular in Germany."

There's a prevailing view that an agreement would be more likely under a President Hillary Clinton than a President Donald Trump.

"Even if a President Trump wanted a TTIP, it would be hard to get Europe to work with his administration," Freund said, noting Trump's comments that Britain would be 'better off without' the EU.

___

Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed to this report.

A man with a mask of United States Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a demonstration against the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Thousands of people are rallying in cities across Germany to protest against planned European Union trade deals with the United States and Canada. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

A man holds a poster during a demonstration against the TTIP and CETA trade agreements in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Thousands of people are rallying in cities across Germany to protest against planned European Union trade deals with the United States and Canada. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Queen guitarist Brian May protests Japanese dolphin hunts

TOKYO (AP)  Brian May, guitarist of British rock group Queen, is taking a stand against Japan's dolphin killing, saying the slaughter of animals should end in the same way society has turned against slavery or witch-burning.

"Every species, and every individual of every species, is worthy of respect," May told The Associated Press on Friday while in Tokyo for Queen's sell-out concerts at Budokan arena.

"This is not about countries. It's about a section of humanity that doesn't yet understand that animals have feelings, too."

Brian May, guitarist of British rock group Queen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. May is taking a stand against Japanese dolphin killing, saying the slaughter of animals should end in the same way society has turned against slavery or witch-burning. May spoke Friday while in Tokyo for a Queen concert. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Protesting the dolphin hunt in the small Japanese town of Taiji, documented in the Oscar-winning "The Cove," has become a cause for celebrities including Sting and Daryl Hannah. Taylor McKeown, a silver medalist swimmer in the Rio Olympics, who has long been fascinated with dolphins, is now in Taiji to monitor the hunts.

Ric O'Barry, the dolphin trainer for the "Flipper" TV series, started the protests against the Taiji dolphin kill, and stars in "The Cove," which depicts a pod of dolphins getting herded into an inlet and getting bludgeoned to death, as blood turns the water red.

The hunters in Taiji and their supporters defend the custom as tradition, although eating dolphins is extremely rare in Japan. The Japanese government also defends whaling as research.

May, who founded the "Save Me Trust" in 2009 to lobby governments on wildlife policy, said he opposes cruelty against all animals, including Britain's fox hunt and Spain's bullfights. Both were also defended as tradition, but that was a mere excuse, he said.

"I know Japanese people  so many. They're decent. They're kind. They're compassionate, but they don't know this is going on," May said of the dolphin killing. "These are mammals, highly intelligent sensitive creatures, bringing up their children like we do, and they are being slaughtered and tortured."

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/yuri-kageyama

Brian May, guitarist of British rock group Queen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. May is taking a stand against Japanese dolphin killing, saying the slaughter of animals should end in the same way society has turned against slavery or witch-burning. May spoke Friday while in Tokyo for a Queen concert. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Brian May, guitarist of British rock group Queen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. May is taking a stand against Japanese dolphin killing, saying the slaughter of animals should end in the same way society has turned against slavery or witch-burning. May spoke Friday while in Tokyo for a Queen concert. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Brian May, guitarist of British rock group Queen, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. May is taking a stand against Japanese dolphin killing, saying the slaughter of animals should end in the same way society has turned against slavery or witch-burning. May spoke Friday while in Tokyo for a Queen concert. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
Dutch lawmaker Wilders wants hate speech case dropped

AMSTERDAM (AP)  Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders appealed Friday for judges to throw out a hate-speech case against him, branding it a political prosecution that should not be handled in a criminal court.

"You can bring this charade of a political process to an end now," Wilders told judges in an emotional final statement to the court at a pretrial hearing.

The politically charged case comes just months before parliamentary elections that are due in March, which could see Wilders' Freedom Party emerge as the largest party. The party placed second in a poll of polls four days ago, narrowly behind the Liberal Party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. If the court allows the case to go ahead, Wilders' trial is expected to start Oct. 31.

In this Friday March 18, 2016 file photo Populist anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders shows a picture he took of the photographers as he appeared in court for a pretrial hearing at a high-security court on charges of inciting hatred, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Wilders was in court Friday Sept. 23 for a pre-trial hearing in his hate speech prosecution. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

The case against Wilders, who was acquitted in 2011 of insulting Islam, centers on comments made before and after Dutch local elections in 2014. At one party meeting he asked supporters whether they wanted more or fewer Moroccans in the Netherlands, drawing them into the chant of "Fewer! Fewer! Fewer!"

"We'll take care of it," he replied.

Wilders told the judges his comments were no worse than those of many other Dutch lawmakers, up to and including Rutte, in the fiery public debate in the Netherlands about the place of ethnic minorities in society.

"It's right that they aren't prosecuted," Wilders said. "But I don't understand why I'm prosecuted ... and they are not."

At a hearing earlier this year, prosecutor Wouter Bos said the case pits two key pillars of the Dutch constitution against one another: A ban on discrimination and the right to freedom of expression.

"The importance of freedom of speech is great," he said. "It is one of the essential elements of our democratic society." But, he added, "freedom of speech is not absolute."

Responding to that argument, Wilders' lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops insisted Friday that Wilders should be granted even more leeway in his freedom of speech because of his responsibility as a politician to discuss and offer solutions to problems in society.

And, ultimately, Knoops said, voters at the ballot box would judge Wilders and his comments.
Russia holds separate joint war games with India, Pakistan

MOSCOW (AP)  Russian soldiers have arrived in Pakistan to take part in the first joint military maneuvers, just as Russia has hosted Indian troops for counter-terrorism drills.

Russia's Defense Ministry said about 70 mountain infantry troops arrived in Pakistan Friday to participate in the exercise. The ministry said the drills starting Saturday will help "develop and strengthen military cooperation between the two countries."

The maneuvers coincide with a Russian-Indian military exercise launched Thursday at a military shooting range in Russia's far east, which involve 250 troops from each side.
Norwegian returns home after yearlong captivity Philippines

STOCKHOLM (AP)  A Norwegian man who was freed by militants in the Philippines has returned home after a year of jungle captivity.

Kjartan Sekkingstad arrived in Oslo on Friday, six days after being released by Abu Sayyaf extremists who had kidnapped him along with two Canadians who were later beheaded and a Filipino woman.

The 57-year-old Norwegian told reporters he had experienced "a year of terror," with little food, long jungle treks and a constant fear of being killed.

Released Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad delivers his statement after arriving at Oslo airport Friday, Sept. 23, 2015. Sekkingstad was freed by his Abu Sayyaf captors on Saturday to rebels from the larger Moro National Liberation Front, which has signed a peace deal with the Philippine government and helped negotiate his release. (Vidar Ruud/NTB scanpix via AP)

He recalled feeling "helpless" seeing his captors take away the first Canadian hostage to be executed "but there was nothing you could do."

Abu Sayyaf released Sekkingstad last Saturday to a rebel group, which handed him over to Philippine authorities.

Sekkingstad was kidnapped from a yacht club he helped manage in September 2015.
The Latest: Demonstrators stay out past Charlotte curfew

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  The Latest on unrest in Charlotte after the shooting of a black man by police (all times local):

12:05 a.m.

A curfew has taken effect for a second night in Charlotte with demonstrators still on the street.

A protester greets a member of the North Carolina National Guard as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Dozens of protesters continued to march in the city's business district past the midnight Friday curfew into early Saturday.

Police said they would take a similar approach to Thursday night, when they allowed demonstrators to stay out past the curfew as long as they were peaceful.

___

10:45 p.m.

Among the National Guard troops and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers patrolling the downtown streets was a Greensboro church choir literally sounding a call for peace.

A choir from the Citadel Church in Greensboro took over a street corner and began two hours of singing spirituals Friday night, drawing a crowd of clergy and curious onlookers who were moved enough by the songs to clap along.

The Rev. Gregory Drumwright directed the choir of approximately two dozen. He says the church membership is made up mostly of students from colleges in the Greensboro area, about 70 miles northeast of Charlotte.

Drumwright and his parishioners were dressed in white. He said that was because they wanted to be lights and "vessels of peace, vessels of righteousness, not rage."

___

10 p.m.

Hillary Clinton's campaign says she has decided to postpone her planned trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday after hearing from community leaders.

Clinton announced earlier Friday that she would travel to Charlotte in the aftermath of the shooting of a black man by a Charlotte police officer.

But Clinton's campaign now says that after further discussions with community leaders, the Democratic presidential nominee will postpone the trip to avoid straining the city's resources.

Clinton's decision came after Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts told CNN that Clinton should postpone her visit because the city's security resources were stretched thin.

Clinton now plans to visit Charlotte on Oct. 2.

___

8:45 p.m.

Hundreds of people are marching in downtown Atlanta to protest the recent fatal shootings of two black men by police.

Marchers took to the streets after a rally at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights museum Friday evening. Many held signs reading "Black Lives Matter" and chanted "We're ready, we're ready for y'all."

NAACP state President Francys Johnson and lawyer Mawuli Mel Davis led the protest. No police were present, but volunteers walked ahead of demonstrators and blocked off intersections for marchers.

The peaceful march in Atlanta comes after 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was fatally shot by an officer in Charlotte this week. In Oklahoma, 40-year-old Terence Crutcher was shot to death by Tulsa Officer Betty Shelby.

Shelby is charged with first-degree manslaughter.

___

8:30 p.m.

Dozens of demonstrators are out in Charlotte for a fourth night of protests after the shooting of a black man by a police officer.

Several dozen people gathered Friday night at a park and then marched through Charlotte's business district with signs.

One marcher had a sign that said "Just Stop The Killing," while another had a banner that said "Just Release the Tapes." Protesters have sought the release of police footage of the shooting earlier this week of Keith Lamont Scott by a police officer.

They were watched by National Guard members posted in front of many downtown buildings.

Three previous nights of protests included two that were chaotic. But Thursday, people marched through downtown in a largely peaceful protest.

___

8:15 p.m.

A downtown Charlotte hotel is sending its guests to other hotels in anticipation of a night of protests over the shooting death of a black man by a police officer.

WBTV in Charlotte (http://bit.ly/2cNY8rd) quoted an Aloft at EpiCentre employee as saying guests were being moved to other hotels Friday to "comply" with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, adding that the safety of guests is important. The employee also said the hotel wants to "protect our community."

An employee contacted by The Associated Press referred all calls to sales and marketing director Chuck Gardner, who couldn't be reached for comment Friday night.

The EpiCentre complex hosts the Aloft hotel, bars, restaurants and businesses. Several businesses there were damaged Wednesday when protests over the death of Keith Lamont Scott turned violent.

___

8 p.m.

The mayor of Charlotte is urging Hillary Clinton to postpone her announced visit to the embattled North Carolina city.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts told CNN on Friday that the Democratic presidential nominee should hold off coming to Charlotte and let the city recuperate from days of protest after the shooting of a black man by police.

Clinton's campaign said earlier in the day that she would travel to Charlotte on Sunday, one day before her first high-profile debate with Republican Donald Trump. Her campaign did not immediately release details of her visit to Charlotte.

Clinton also said police video of the fatal shooting should be released immediately.

___

7 p.m.

An attorney for the family of a black man shot by Charlotte police says his clients decided to release cellphone video recorded by the victim's wife as part of their quest for truth.

Charles Monnett said in a statement Friday that the family of Keith Lamont Scott still wants Charlotte officials to publicly release all video of the encounter "so that people can draw their own conclusions" about his death.

Monnett encourages the public to reserve judgment until all facts are known. He says the family continues to ask for peace in Charlotte.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney says there is footage from at least one police body camera and one dashboard camera. He has so far declined to release that video.

The video recorded by Rakeyia Scott does not show whether Scott had a gun.

___

5 p.m.

The mother of a black man killed by Charlotte police asks protesters to "give up the rioting" because it's worsened the situation.

The mother of Keith Lamont Scott told WCSC TV of Charleston, South Carolina, (http://bit.ly/2cWsNDF ) that he would not want the violence that followed his death Tuesday. Vernita Scott Walker of James Island says a peaceful walk is fine, but the rioting and looting "makes it bad for the family."

A third night of protests Thursday in Charlotte lacked the violence and property damage of previous nights.

Walker says she last talked to her son less than two hours before the shooting. She says she learned of his death from TV news.

Police say Scott was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book. His mother says it was the Quran, which he loved to read daily.

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2:30 p.m.

An attorney for the family of the black man shot by Charlotte police says newly released video recorded by the victim's wife does not prove whether the shooting was justified.

Instead, Justin Bamberg tells The New York Times (http://nyti.ms/2daBBaR), the video shows "another vantage point" of the incident, in which 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was fatally shot. Bamberg says he hopes Charlotte police release their own videos of the shooting. They've so far refused to do so. Police Chief Kerr Putney says there's at least one video from a body camera and one from a dashboard camera.

The police video could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting.

Police have said Scott refused repeated commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. It's unclear from the video shot by Scott's wife whether he had a weapon.

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2:30 p.m.

North Carolina's attorney general is calling on Charlotte officials to release police video of the shooting of a man by an officer this week.

In a statement from his campaign office Friday morning, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate says one way to pursue truth in the shooting of 43-yea-rold Keith Lamont Scott would be to release the videos to the public.

Scott was shot Tuesday afternoon by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer.

Police Chief Kerr Putney has refused to release the videos from at least one body camera and one dashboard camera, saying it could jeopardize the investigation. The State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case.

Cooper says releasing the video would help bring the community and law enforcement together.

Cooper faces Republican Gov. Pat McCrory in November.

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1:35 p.m.

In new video, the body of the man killed by Charlotte police can be seen on the ground, where officers appear to try to attend to him, but his actual shooting isn't shown.

The video, recorded by 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott's wife, recorded it.

Officers tell Scott to drop a gun, but it's unclear from the footage whether he has a weapon. Police have said he was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book.

In the video, Rakeyia Scott tells officers her husband doesn't have a gun, has a traumatic brain injury and won't hurt them. She says, "Keith, don't let them break the windows" as she urges him to exit his car. She further tells him, "don't do it," but it's not clear exactly what she means.

After the shooting, she tells officers "I'm not coming near you. I'm going to record though."

Scott's body is face down, and it's unclear whether the officers are trying to help him or check for a weapon.

She states the address and says: "These are the police officers that shot my husband."

___

1:10 p.m.

The New York Times has posted video of the deadly encounter involving police and a black man who was shot by an officer in Charlotte.

The video, posted on the newspaper's website Friday, was recorded by the wife of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott. The 2  minute video does not show the shooting, though gunshots can be heard. Before gunfire erupts, police repeatedly tell Scott to drop a gun.

His wife tells officers at the scene repeatedly that he doesn't have a gun and that he has a traumatic brain injury. At one point, she tells him to get out of the car so that police don't break the windows. As the encounter escalates, she tells them repeatedly: "You better not shoot him."

After the gunshots are heard, Scott can be seen laying on the ground while his wife says "he better live."

___

11:35 a.m.

Charlotte's police chief says there is at least one video from a body camera and one other video from a dashboard camera that captured the deadly shooting of a black man by an officer.

But Chief Kerr Putney continued Friday to refuse to release the video, which could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott.

Police have said Scott refused repeated commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. An attorney for his family, who viewed the video Thursday, says it's not clear from the video if he's holding anything, including a gun.

Putney said during a news conference Friday that he cannot release more information about the shooting because his department is not leading the investigation, which is being conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation.

___

11:25 a.m.

Charlotte's mayor says she does believe video of the police shooting of a black man should be released publicly, but she says it's a matter of when.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts said during a news conference Friday that "I do believe the video should be released. The question is on the timing." Police Chief Kerr Putney echoed her remarks, saying the video's release is "a matter of when, it's a matter of sequence."

Protesters and the family of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott have called on authorities to release the video, which could resolve wildly different accounts of Scott's shooting.

Police have said Scott refused repeated commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. An attorney for his family, who viewed the video Thursday, says it's not clear from the video if he's holding anything, including a gun.

___

11:20 a.m.

Police say they have arrested a suspect in the deadly shooting of a protester during demonstrations in Charlotte over an officer's killing of a black man.

Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference that the suspect was arrested Friday morning. He provided few other details about the arrest or the suspect but said that video led investigators to the shooter.

The protester was shot Wednesday night during a violent night of protests in Charlotte. Officials have since implemented a curfew that runs from midnight-6 a.m. They also have called in state troopers and the National Guard in an effort to maintain order. After two nights of unrest, Putney says Thursday night's protests were relatively peaceful.

___

9:30 a.m.

Two major employers in downtown Charlotte have their employees back at work after protests were more peaceful in the wake of the shooting of a man by a city police officer.

Both Duke Energy and Wells Fargo had employees return to work Friday, after three days of protests rocked the city after 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was shot by a police officer Tuesday afternoon.

Bank of America told its workers to stay home again Friday.

The large employers in the city kept their employees home Thursday, after protesters damaged a number of buildings in the downtown area.

___

The above item has been corrected to show that Scott was shot Tuesday, not Monday.

___

8:15 a.m.

President Barack Obama says recent reports of unarmed African Americans being shot by police "should be a source of concern for all Americans."

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Obama declined to address specific cases, although he noted that the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, had invited the Justice Department to investigate the shooting there.

Obama said protesters expressing their frustrations by looting or breaking glass aren't going to "advance the cause" of racial justice. He added, "my hope is that in days to come, people in the community pull together and say, 'How do we do this the right way?'"

He said "it's important for all of us to say we want to get this right."

___

6:20 a.m.

Charlotte police have released details on charges against five people in the protests that followed the shooting of a black man by an officer.

Police spokeswoman Cindy Wallace said in a statement that 19-year-old Ian Bowzer is charged with kicking in doors of the Hyatt Hotel downtown Thursday. Bowzer was arrested and charged with injury to real property.

Forty-nine-year-old Daniel Baker is accused of breaking into a downtown restaurant. Baker was arrested and charged with breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering.

It wasn't known if the men have attorneys.

Officers have warrants for two other people in that restaurant break-in. They are also charged with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and conspiracy.

Another man faces similar charges for a break-in at another downtown restaurant Tuesday.

Protesters raises their fists as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

A protester holds a banner against the North Carolina National Guard as he marches in the streets of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Protesters shout as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, to protest Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Protesters raises their fists as they observer a moment of silence as they march in the streets of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

A protester raises her fist as she marches in the streets of Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, over Tuesday's fatal police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

In this image taken from video recorded by Keith Lamont Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, Charlotte police squat next to Keith Lamont Scott as Scott lies face-down on the ground, in Charlotte, N.C. In the video of the deadly encounter between Charlotte police and the black man, Rakeyia Scott repeatedly tells officers her husband is not armed and pleads with them not to shoot him as they shout at him to drop a gun. The video does not show clearly whether Scott had a gun. (Rakeyia Scott/Curry Law Firm via AP)
The bodies of 162 people have been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast, two days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized while attempting to reach Europe.

Dozens more are feared dead, said Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira.

Survivors revealed how the ship had begun sinking almost immediately because the vessel was overloaded.

The bodies of 162 people have been pulled from the waters off the Egyptian coast. Pictured, rescue workers bring ashore bodies in Rosetta, Egypt

Many of the missing are believed to be children and women who were unable to swim away when the boat sank.

Wahdan el-Sayyed, the spokesman of the Nile Delta province of Beheira, provided the latest figures and said the search operation was ongoing.

Pictures posted on social networking sites showed dozens of bodies lined up in black plastic bags, and others floating near wooden fishing boats.

Videos showed that some fishermen were using nets to bring up the bodies.

Dozens more are feared dead, said Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira

In one video, a fisherman was heard shouting into his mobile phone that, 'the sea is littered with bodies.'

Many of those gathered at the shore where the bodies arrived appeared to be wearing surgical masks to protect them from the smell of decaying bodies.

Some brought chunks of ice to be placed on the bodies to prevent them from decomposing.

Authorities have struggled to give accurate figures for the number of people on board the capsized vessel.

The boat was nearly 7.5 miles from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta when it sank.

It had waited at sea for many hours - perhaps days - for smaller wooden boats carrying migrants to arrive from different points along the Egyptian coastline.

Survivors revealed how the ship had begun sinking almost immediately because the vessel was overloaded

Many of the missing are believed to be children and women who were unable to swim away when the boat sank

Survivors said that overcrowding caused the boat to capsize.

The head of the local council in the area, Ali Abdel-Sattar, said that the currents have carried the bodies of the victims many kilometers away from the site of the sinking.

'Today, four bodies, including two Egyptian children, were found 20 kilometers to the east,' he said.

He added that many of the migrants are believed to have been 'stored in the bottom of the boat, in the fridge.'

He said: 'Those are the ones who drowned first, most probably stuck, and their bodies might not be retrieved anytime soon.

'Those we found are the ones liberated from the boat. I believe many are stuck and now laying in the bottom of the sea.'

He said the boat may now have sunk to 16 meters below sea level.

Wahdan el-Sayyed, the spokesman of the Nile Delta province of Beheira, provided the latest figures and said the search operation was ongoing

The boat was located nearly 7.5 miles from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta when it sank. Pictured, a rescued migrant lies in bed as he receives treatment at Rashid hospital

The UN Refugee Agency, 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.

Egyptian officials said that over 160 people were rescued and that the majority are Egyptians, while the others are Sudanese and other nationalities, including Somalians and Eritreans.

The EU border agency, Frontex, recently said more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September this year, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year.

Yet UNHCR says that since 2014 there has been a steady increase in the number of people intercepted while trying to leave Egypt, with 4,600 people arrested this year, a 28 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

On Thursday, four people described as members of the vessel's crew were arrested over charges of human trafficking and manslaughter.

Survivors and relatives earlier said the boat sank around 5.30am on Wednesday, and that it took coast guards around six hours to come to the rescue

The head of the local council in the area, Ali Abdel-Sattar, said that the currents have carried the bodies of the victims many kilometers away from the site of the sinking

At a small pier called el-Borg, hundreds of families had gathered Friday, hoping to identify the bodies of their loved ones.

Women screamed and relatives pushed and shoved while swarming the ambulances heading to the hospital.

Fishermen said that they had difficulty collecting the badly decomposed bodies, with one saying, 'we didn't know how to pull them out.' The intense smell of decay filled the air and many covered their faces with masks.

Survivors and relatives earlier said the boat sank around 5.30am on Wednesday, and that it took coast guards around six hours to come to the rescue. Fishing boats in the vicinity were the first to provide help.

Many of the survivors were briefly detained by police. Some of those rescued were taken to hospitals, where they lay handcuffed to beds and under police guard.

The Egyptian news portal, Al-Youm al-Sabei, published interviews with several survivors who said that before their journey the migrants had been 'stored' for several days in chicken farms by the traffickers to evade police.

Some of the interviewees said the traffickers asked for $6250 per family, to be given on arrival in Italy

Some of the interviewees said the traffickers asked for $6250 per family, to be given on arrival in Italy.

After his release, survivor Ahmed Darwish said: 'My advice is that no one should undertake this risk, and especially anyone who saw these things, they will never do it again.'

The International Organization for Migration has said that this year over 3,500 have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, with this number 'rapidly approaching' the record death toll set last year.
Russia's Vladimir Putin again reshuffles his inner circle

MOSCOW (AP)  Russian President Vladimir Putin has reshuffled his inner-circle again, giving the parliament speaker's job to his chief domestic strategist, a man who oversaw a vote that further strengthened the dominance of the main Kremlin party.

Friday's move is the latest twist in a wider Kremlin shake-up that has seen many old-time Putin allies lose their positions to younger, lower-profile aides.

Vyacheslav Volodin, whom Putin nominated as the new speaker of the State Duma, oversaw this month's parliamentary election in which the main party supporting Putin tightened its grip on the lower house. Volodin replaces Sergei Naryshkin, whom Putin on Thursday appointed as the new chief of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR.

FILE- In this Monday, May 23, 2011 file photo, Russian then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, speaks with his then Chief of Staff, Vyacheslav Volodin, during a meeting in Pskov, northwest of Moscow, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday Sept. 23, 2016, nominated Vyacheslav Volodin, the Kremlin's deputy chief of staff who oversaw the vote, as the State Duma's speaker. Volodin replaces Sergei Naryshkin, whom Putin named the new chief of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service. (Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

While Volodin has largely stayed in the shadows, he is considered one of Russia's most influential officials, a puppet master who has directed the parliament's work and engineered elections. He was also widely seen as a driving force behind a string of draconian laws in response to massive anti-Putin protests in 2011-2012.

The 52-year-old has become known for his statement "there is no Russia without Putin."

The reshuffling marks a clear step down for the 61-year-old Naryshkin. The SVR is considered far less influential than another KGB successor agency, the Federal Security Service, known under its Russian acronym FSB, which focuses on domestic security issues like fighting terrorism, catching foreign spies and uncovering economic crimes.

Under Putin, a 16-year KGB veteran who served as FSB director in the late 1990s before ascending to the presidency, the agency has become increasingly powerful. Russian media speculated that the FSB is currently pushing to swallow several other agencies, including the SVR and the nation's top investigative body, the Investigative Committee.

If such a move happens, it would resurrect the old structure of the KGB, which was split into separate agencies after the 1991 Soviet collapse as Russia's first president, Boris Yeltsin, sought to limit its clout.

Naryshkin reportedly has known the 63-year-old Putin since the late 1970s, when both were students in the KGB academy, but it's unclear if he wields sufficient influence to fight the FSB's onslaught and preserve the SVR's independence.

Many other long-time Putin confidants recently lost their jobs.

Russian Railways chief Vladimir Yakunin, anti-narcotics czar Viktor Ivanov and Kremlin security chief Yevgeny Murov, all men in their 60s and all long-time acquaintances of the president, have been dismissed. Andrei Belyaninov, who knew Putin since both were KGB officers in East Germany, lost his position as customs chief after investigators searched his home and founds hundreds of thousands of dollars stashed in shoe boxes.

Last month, Putin also fired his long-time chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, whom he first met in the 1970s when they were both young KGB officers.

Many observers see the changes as a reflection of Putin's increasing weariness with the old guard and his desire to encircle himself with younger aides who fully owe their ascent to him.

"This marks Volodin's entrance into the federal political scene as a politician, nor just a bureaucrat, with far-reaching ambitions," Stanislav Belkovsky, a political consultant who once had links to the Kremlin, said Friday on Ekho Moskvy radio.

Volodin has no known links to the KGB or to any of its successor agencies. Trained as an engineer, he served as a regional lawmaker in his home Saratov region on the Volga River in southwest Russia before being elected to the federal parliament.

Volodin got the Kremlin job after his predecessor, Vladislav Surkov, was held responsible for failing to prevent massive protests in Moscow against Putin's rule that were fueled by evidence of vote-rigging in Russia's 2011 parliamentary election. The Kremlin responded with a slew of laws that introduced tough punishment for taking part in unsanctioned protests and new restrictions on non-government organizations.

This month's parliamentary election on Sept. 18 was generally seen as cleaner than the 2011 vote. Still, reports of alleged violations came from around the country on election day, including charges of ballot-box stuffing and "carousel voting," in which people are transported to several locations to cast multiple ballots.

Turnout was distinctly lower this time, less than 48 percent nationwide compared with 60 percent in 2011, reflecting broad apathy and dismay with the political process in Russia.

The Sept. 18 vote gave United Russia, the main party supporting Putin, 343 seats in the 450-seat lower house, a gain of more than 100 seats that raises it far above the two-thirds majority required to amend the constitution on its own.

Three other parties that had largely complied with the Kremlin's wishes saw their presence shrink: The Communists won 42 seats in the new Duma, a sharp drop from 92, the nationalist Liberal Democrats got 39 and the socialist Just Russia 23 seats.

While the three parties posture as the opposition, their fealty to the Kremlin was at full display Friday when Putin met with parliament leaders. They all enthusiastically supported Volodin's candidacy and were openly lobbying Putin to let them to keep the committees they led in the old parliament.

The Duma will vote to appoint Volodin the speaker when it meets next month.

While the speaker's job is nominally considered the fourth most senior position in the Russian officialdom  following the posts of the president, the prime minister and the upper house speaker  its holders have wielded little influence compared to Kremlin and Cabinet officials.

In his previous position, Volodin was considered far more influential than Naryshkin. Some pundits saw the speaker's job as a demotion for him, while others speculated he would use it to further raise his clout.

"The question now is if the job cuts Volodin down to size or he adds political weight to the speaker's job," wrote Tatyana Stanovaya of the Center for Political Technologies, an independent think-tank.

Dmitry Gudkov, an opposition politician who served in the old Duma, argued that the new job would give Volodin higher visibility and could be a sign that he's being groomed to succeed Putin sometime down the road.

"Volodin is an ideal choice for the Kremlin," Gudkov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of Central Election Commission in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Russia's parliamentary elections earlier this month saw the main party backing Putin sharply expand its grip on the lower house. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with leaders of parties elected to the parliament in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Putin has named Vyacheslav Volodin his top political strategist to serve as the speaker of the newly elected parliament after elections that saw the main pro-Kremlin party strengthen its grip on the lower house. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Greek police arrest 19-year-old Afghan as migrant smuggler

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP)  Greek police say they arrested a 19-year-old Afghan on suspicion of attempting to smuggle five Iraqis out of the country to Bulgaria.

A police statement Friday said he was arrested while allegedly guiding the Iraqis on foot toward the Bulgarian border.

A Greek official says authorities caught 107 people, mainly Syrian families, entering Greece across the Evros river forming the border with Turkey.

Children play among tents at Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens, which hosts about 600 refugees and migrants on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. . (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

The official said the group, which was found Wednesday and taken to refugee camps, apparently took advantage of low water levels on the river. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

In the eastern Aegean, 241 people reached Greek islands from the Turkish coast from Thursday morning to Friday morning, government figures showed.

A Syrian man sits inside his tents at Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens, which hosts about 600 refugees and migrants on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The Latest: Westbrook says fatal Tulsa shooting hits home

TULSA, Okla. (AP)  The Latest on an Oklahoma police officer's fatal shooting of an unarmed black man (all times local):

1:55 p.m.

Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard Russell Westbrook says "something has to change" in the United States following the recent police shootings of black men in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

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 NBA player made the comments Friday at the Thunder's annual media day.

Westbrook, who grew up in the Los Angeles area, says the Sept. 16 shooting of Terence Crutcher, an unarmed black man in Tulsa, hit home for him because of where he grew up and how he was raised.

Westbrook says it's important for him to speak up as an African-American man in the spotlight. He says he doesn't have answers, but he's committed to helping find them, and he will use his voice "as much as possible."

Thunder player Anthony Morrow, who is from Charlotte, called Tuesday's shooting of Keith Scott in his hometown a "sad situation."

___

1:40 p.m.

Funeral services have been set for the Oklahoma man who was shot and killed last week by a Tulsa police officer.

The family of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher says services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Antioch Baptist Church in Tulsa. A private wake is also planned for Crutcher, who was fatally shot Sept. 16 by Officer Betty Shelby.

The family requested contributions be made to a memorial fund for Crutcher's four children. As of Friday afternoon, the online fundraiser had more than $157,000 in contributions.

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1:25 p.m.

An attorney representing the Oklahoma police officer charged with first-degree manslaughter says his client drew her gun instead of a stun gun because she thought Terence Crutcher was armed.

Betty Shelby is charged in the Sept. 16 shooting death of Crutcher, who police say did not have a gun.

Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, said Friday that Shelby is trained in "de-escalation" and that she had been selected to train new officers at the Tulsa Police Department.

He says Shelby was so caught up in the encounter with Crutcher that she didn't realize backup officers had arrived. Wood says Shelby "didn't even hear her gunshot."

Prosecutors charged Shelby on Thursday. She surrendered to authorities early Friday and was released after she posted $50,000 bond.

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9:05 a.m.

The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office says the man killed by a Tulsa, Oklahoma, officer died from "a penetrating gunshot wound of chest" and his death is considered a homicide.

But spokeswoman Amy Elliott says a full autopsy report and toxicology results for Terence Crutcher are not yet complete.

Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby was charged Thursday with first-degree manslaughter in Crutcher's Sept. 16 death. An affidavit from District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler's office said the officer "reacted unreasonably" when she shot Crutcher, who did not have a gun.

An attorney for Shelby has said the officer believed Crutcher was using the hallucinogenic drug PCP, and a police spokesman has confirmed the drug was found in Crutcher's SUV.

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8:30 a.m.

A community college in Tulsa plans a remembrance ceremony to honor a 40-year-old man who was fatally shot by a police officer last week.

Tulsa Community College says a ceremony will be held at noon Friday honoring Terence Crutcher, who was a student there. Crutcher had been scheduled to begin a music appreciation class at the college on Sept. 16, though the course was canceled a day earlier because of low enrollment.

Crutcher was shot to death Sept. 16 by Officer Betty Shelby, who was charged Thursday with first-degree manslaughter.

President Leigh Goodson says Crutcher brought to the school "his talents, hopes and dreams of creating a successful life by dedicating himself to completing a degree."

Friday's ceremony will include a moment of silence and comments from Oklahoma state Sen. Kevin Matthews, the chairman of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus.

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8:05 a.m.

Kansas City police are trying to determine whether an officer posted on Facebook that the killing of an unarmed black man by a white Oklahoma police officer was a "good shoot."

The Ida B. Wells Coalition Against Racism and Police Brutality in Kansas City captured a screenshot of Donald Ebert's reply to an article about Terence Crutcher's death in Tulsa last week. The post reads: "Should have dropped the entitlement card and listened the first time. Good shoot."

Police Capt. Stacey Graves said by email Friday that police are "investigating for potential officer misconduct." Graves says Ebert works for the department and that police are investigating whether the post came from him.

The Associated Press left a message with the police union seeking comment Friday. Ebert's number isn't listed.

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6:55 a.m.

President Barack Obama says recent reports of unarmed African Americans being shot by police "should be a source of concern for all Americans."

In an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America," Obama declined to address specific cases, although he noted that the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has invited the Justice Department to investigate the shooting there.

Authorities charged a white Tulsa police officer Thursday with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting last week of Terence Crutcher, who was black and unarmed.

Obama said protesters expressing their frustrations by looting or breaking glass aren't going to "advance the cause" of racial justice. He added, "my hope is that in days to come people in the community pull together and say, 'How do we do this the right way?'"

He said "it's important for all of us to say we want to get this right."

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5:35 a.m.

An Oklahoma police officer charged with manslaughter in last week's shooting death of an unarmed black man has surrendered to authorities.

Tulsa County jail records show that 42-year-old Betty Shelby turned herself in early Friday, hours after prosecutors charged her with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher.

The records show Shelby, who is white, was booked at 1:11 a.m. and released at 1:31 a.m. after posting $50,000 bond.

District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler filed the charges Thursday afternoon against Shelby, saying the officer "reacted unreasonably" when she shot Crutcher, who did not have a gun.

___

1:30 a.m.

Less than a week after an unarmed black man was shot dead by a white police officer on a Tulsa street, prosecutors charged the officer with first-degree manslaughter.

That decision that may prevent unrest in a city with a long history of tense race relations.

Prosecutors wrote in an affidavit filed with the charge on Thursday that Tulsa officer Betty Shelby "reacted unreasonably" when she fatally shot 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16.

Phil Turner, a Chicago-based defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, says that in acting quickly, prosecutors may partly have wanted to allay outrage in the city and avoid the kind of violent protests Charlotte, North Carolina, has seen over another recent police shooting of a black man.

This photo provided by Tulsa County Inmate Information Center shows Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby. Tulsa County jail records show that Shelby turned herself in early Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, hours after prosecutors charged her with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher. (Tulsa County Inmate Information Center via AP)

Protesters fill the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP)

Over 100 protesters filled the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP)

Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, center, stands with Tulsa Sheriff's deputies before a news conference, 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)

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)

Protesters fill the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman 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)

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)
The Latest: 162 bodies recovered after Egypt boat tragedy

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP)  The Latest on the mass migration to Europe:

7:30 p.m.

An Egyptian official says the bodies of 162 people have now been retrieved from the sea, two days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants sank off Egypt's coast while attempting to reach Europe.

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)

Mohammed Sultan, the governor of Beheira province, said Friday dozens more are feared dead.

It remains unclear exactly how many people were on board the boat, which sank 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) off the Egyptian coast. Estimates range between 450 and 600 passengers. Egyptian authorities say 160 people were rescued.

Survivors say the boat was overcrowded, and it is believed that many of those killed were women and children who were unable to swim.

___

7:30 p.m.

Greek authorities say they have scrapped plans to use chartered ferries to house refugees and other migrants from a fire-damaged camp on the island of Lesbos.

The Moria camp suffered extensive damage in a fire that broke out late Monday. Nobody was injured, and Greek police said the fire was set by rioting residents.

The camp houses more than 4,000 people held there under a European Union-Turkey deal to stem migration.

The merchant marine ministry said Friday it was abandoning initial plans to charter ferries to house camp residents whose tents were burnt because Moria had in the meantime been restored to full operation.

Also Friday, Greek police said that seven Syrian refugees on Lesbos who voluntarily abandoned their bids to gain asylum in Greece have been flown back to Turkey.

___

4:40 p.m.

Egypt's state news agency says the total number of bodies pulled from the Mediterranean waters off the Egyptian coast has climbed to 148, three days after a boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized.

MENA quoted Wahdan el-Sayyed, the spokesman of the Nile Delta province of Beheira, as saying Friday that the search operation is still ongoing for more bodies of victims.

The migrants' boat capsized on Wednesday, nearly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta. Many of the dead are women and children who were unable to swim away when the boat sank.

Egypt has been a traditional route for migrants seeking to reach Europe by sea. The EU border agency, Frontex, recently said more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September this year, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year.

___

4:40 p.m.

Police have arrested an Albanian who allegedly helped 22 Afghans illegally cross the border on their journeys toward western European countries.

A statement Friday said that police arrested a 35-year-old man from the capital Tirana, who they say was transporting 22 Afghan citizens from neighboring Greece toward Kosovo. It didn't specify if he received money for the group transport.

The migrants are usually turned back to the country they came from, in this case to Greece.

Albania has toughened its laws on such charges and the suspect could face up to seven years in prison if he is convicted.

Albania has not been a major transit route for migrants through Europe so far.

___

3:00 p.m.

A senior Egyptian official says a total of 115 bodies have been 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.

Egypt has been a traditional route for migrants seeking to reach Europe by sea. The EU border agency, Frontex, recently said more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September this year, compared to 7,000 in the same period last year.

The migrants' boat capsized on Wednesday, nearly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta.

The UNHCR estimates 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.

___

2:50 p.m.

The U.N.'s migration watcher says the death toll among people trying to reach Europe by the Mediterranean this year tops 3,500 and is "rapidly approaching" the record level set last year.

International Organization for Migration spokesman Joel Millman says its count includes at least 51 people who died following a boat capsizing off Rosetta, Egypt, this week. That figure was expected to rise considerably.

IOM says more than 300,000 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year, mostly arriving in Greece and Italy. More than a million crossed in all of 2015, but the rate of deaths is far higher this year.

IOM has been recalculating its estimates of deaths on the Mediterranean last year, but currently believes that at least 3,675 people died on that sea in 2015.

___

1:40 p.m.

The United Nations' human rights chief has criticized Macedonia's treatment of migrants, calling on the country to end its "systematic policy of expulsion and detention."

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein expressed particular concern Friday for 180 migrants living in the transit centers of Tabanovce near the Serbian border and Vinojug near the Greek border since being trapped by Balkan border closures in March.

Zeid said there had been no assessment "of the necessity or proportionality of their de facto detention."

Tabanovce center head Goran Stojanovski told The Associated Press that 61 migrants lived in the center, which was of an open type where residents can leave at any time.

"We are doing whatever we can to provide all necessary medical and other care," Stojanovski said.

___

1:20 p.m.

Greek police say they arrested a young Afghan on suspicion of attempting to smuggle five Iraqis out of the country to Bulgaria.

A police statement Friday said the 19-year-old was arrested while allegedly guiding the Iraqis on foot toward the Bulgarian border.

In the eastern Aegean, 241 people reached Greek islands from the Turkish coast from Thursday morning to Friday morning, government figures showed.

A Greek official says authorities caught 107 people, mainly Syrian families, entering Greece across the Evros river forming the border with Turkey.

The official said the group, which was found Wednesday and taken to refugee camps, apparently took advantage of low water levels on the river to cross. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

___

1:10 p.m.

Dozens of bodies, many decomposed, are being pulled out of the waters off the Egyptian coast three days after hundreds of migrants heading to Europe drowned when their overcrowded boat capsized.

An Associated Press reporter in the Nile Delta city of Rosetta saw between 20 to 30 bodies early Friday morning brought in by fishing boats.

The death toll from the incident is at least 70 and will likely rise. Many of the dead are women and children who were unable to swim away when the boat sank on Wednesday.

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)

Egyptians wait on shore as coast guard boats arrive carrying 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)

Children play among tents at Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens, which hosts about 600 refugees and migrants on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. . (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

A Syrian man sits inside his tents at Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens, which hosts about 600 refugees and migrants on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

An Afghan girl counts in Greek the numbers on the wall during a lesson by a non governmental organization at a refugee camp in the western Athens' suburb of Schisto, on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Children play among tents at Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens, which hosts about 600 refugees and migrants on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. . (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

A Syrian man sits inside his tents at Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens, which hosts about 600 refugees and migrants on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Syrian children walk among tents at Ritsona refugee camp north of Athens, which hosts about 600 refugees and migrants on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Most of the roughly 60,000 refugees and other migrants stranded in Greece are living in "appalling conditions" and face "immense and avoidable suffering," rights group Amnesty International said in a report Thursday, slamming Europe's response to the refugee crisis. . (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A look at the EU-US trade talks and why they're faltering

BRUSSELS (AP)  Talks for a massive free trade deal between the United States and European Union, the world's biggest economies, appear to be on the rocks.

An accord was supposed to breathe new life into global trade, setting a shining example for other countries as they debate whether to knock down barriers to commerce or insulate their home industries.

But EU ministers were deeply pessimistic Friday that the talks for such a pact can be concluded under the current U.S. administration.

A man dressed like the Statue of Liberty attends a demonstration against the planned Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. Thousands of people are rallying in cities across Germany to protest against planned European Union trade deals with the United States and Canada. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Here are some questions and answers about the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, commonly known as TTIP.

___

WHAT IS TTIP?

TTIP aims to remove trade barriers between the EU and the U.S. to boost economic growth and employment. It would improve market access by limiting tariffs, ease regulation and set up rules on things like intellectual property rights, customs and sustainable development. A free trade pact would create a market with common standards and regulations across countries that together account for nearly half the global economy. So far it's involved 14 rounds of talks, hundreds of meetings, hours spent on the phones and proposals exchanged, discussed and redrafted. Most of it has been done in secret.

TTIP would have 30 chapters. Proposals for almost all of them are now on the table. It's made up of three main blocks - market access for EU and US companies, cooperation on regulatory issues, and global rules of trade.

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WHAT WOULD THE BENEFITS BE?

TTIP is expected to lower consumer prices and broaden the variety of traded goods and services. It would eliminate customs duties on goods personally imported to Europe from the U.S. or vice-versa. It would ease the cost of trans-Atlantic telecommunications and make it easier for regulatory agencies on both sides to trace data. The European Commission estimates that the pact could boost EU economic output by 119 billion euro ($133 billion) a year and that of the U.S. economy by 95 billion euros ($106 billion). It says that eliminating tariffs alone could add $180 billion to U.S. and EU gross domestic product in five years while boosting exports on both sides by about 17 percent. That could add about 0.5 percent annually to the EU's economic growth and around 0.4 percent to that of the U.S., helping to pay off public debt and bring down unemployment.

___

WHY ARE THERE PROTESTS IN EUROPE OVER TTIP?

Opponents in Europe argue that it would water down EU standards. European consumer groups worry that food in the U.S. is not produced to the same health and environmental standards as in Europe. Europeans also seem more concerned about their privacy and the protection of their personal data, and sanctions can be levied for abuses. Others worry that banned chemicals might find their way onto the shelves of European stores. The EU bans more than 1,300 hazardous chemicals, compared with around a dozen in the U.S. Another sticking point is the arbitration system, known as Investor-State Dispute Settlement, which some say could allow foreign companies to claim compensation from governments, and ultimately tax payers, if the firms believe a government action would harm their investments.

___

WHEN ARE THE TALKS LIKELY TO BE CONCLUDED?

Senior European officials say there is little likelihood of a deal before President Barack Obama leaves office next January  the deadline set by negotiators in Brussels and Washington. After that, France and Germany hold general elections, and no big movement appears likely before the formation of a new government, sometime around the end of 2017. Austria and France are already calling for TTIP talks to be put on ice until after the U.S. presidential elections, then relaunched with a new name and mandate given the toxic public reaction in Europe so far.

Eric Shimp, a former U.S. diplomat and now policy adviser at the law firm of Alston & Bird in Washington, says that a President Hillary Clinton might mean more movement in the talks. "You could see her seizing TTIP as a means to create jobs at home and solidify U.S. ties to EU in the face of growing Russian provocations," he said. Experts say a President Donald Trump could make the future of the talks more uncertain, as he has focused more on the negatives of global trade.

___

Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed to this report.

Protestors march during a demonstration against international trade agreements in Brussels on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. A demonstration was held in the European Quarter on Tuesday to protest against trade and investment deals such as TTIP and CETA. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

A small boy makes the peace sign as he marches during a demonstration against international trade agreements in Brussels on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. A demonstration was held in the European Quarter on Tuesday to protest against trade and investment deals such as TTIP and CETA. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Protestors march during a demonstration against international trade agreements in Brussels on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. A demonstration was held in the European Quarter on Tuesday to protest against trade and investment deals such as TTIP and CETA. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Anti-TTIP banners in front of EU headquarters prior to a demonstration against international trade agreements in Brussels on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. A demonstration was held in the European Quarter on Tuesday to protest against trade and investment deals such as TTIP and CETA. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Kenyan police accused of executing 3 women after attack

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Human rights activists on Friday accused Kenyan police of executing three women who allegedly attacked a police station this month after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group.

In one video posted on social media by a human rights activist, two of the women can be seen sprawled on the ground with severe burns on their bodies. A man with a rifle opens fire at them. Another video posted online shows a woman burnt and lying on her back while being questioned about the attack.

Police said they killed the three women on Sept. 11 after they attacked the police station in Mombasa with a petrol bomb and knife. Police said the women had pledged allegiance to IS.

FILE- In this file photo dated Sunday Sept.11, 2016, one of the bodies of three women who were shot dead by police, outside the central police station in the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya. Human rights activists with the Muslims for Human Rights group, on Friday Sept. 23, 2016, accused Kenyan police of executing three women who allegedly attacked a police station this month after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group. (AP Photo / FILE)

Activist al-Amin Kimathi demanded that the police officers responsible for the executions be prosecuted.

"They should have been arrested for the information they can provide," Kimathi said. "They are more valuable alive than dead."

Khelef Khalifa, the chairman of the Muslims for Human Rights group, said the police explanation does not add up.

"Why kill disarmed young girls instead of apprehending them, taking them to the court of law?" Khalifa said.

If anyone thinks that police executed the three women, they can take legal action and due process will be followed, said Charles Owino, a police spokesman. He said police considered the women to be terrorists and that the action taken was justified under the circumstances.

Police on Friday charged Hania Said Sagar, widow of Islamic cleric Aboud Rogo, who authorities say was a key recruiter for Somali extremist group al-Shabab, with failure to disclose information about the attack's alleged mastermind.
Officer in boy's fatal shooting helped save another's life

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  The Columbus police officer who fatally shot a 13-year-old black boy during an armed robbery investigation once helped save the life of another black boy the same age, police records show. He has also been involved in other shootings, including another fatality, in which he was cleared of wrongdoing.

Officer Bryan Mason, a member of the force for almost 10 years, shot Tyre King multiple times Sept. 14 after the boy ran from investigators and pulled out a BB gun that looked like a real firearm, police have said. The boy's death has inflamed tensions over the safety of blacks in Ohio's largest city and adds to a list of killings of black males by police that are attracting national attention.

Mason's prior shootings have been reported by The Columbus Dispatch and information from his personnel file has been reported WSYX-TV in Columbus. But an interview with a victim in one of the shooting cases, along with incident reports and police investigation documents obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request, give new details and provide more insight into Mason's history as an officer.

This June 22, 2015, photo provided by the Columbus, Ohio, Division of Police shows the division's official portrait of Columbus, Ohio, police officer Bryan Mason. Columbus, Ohio, police officer Bryan Mason, who authorities say fatally shot 13-year-old Tyre King on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, received high marks in performance evaluations and has been involved in other on-the-job shootings, according to his personnel file obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request. (Columbus Division of Police via AP)

Mason, who is white, was honored by the department for "quick actions" that helped save the life of a 13-year-old black boy who tried to hang himself in 2012. He and another officer immediately performed CPR until medical help arrived.

Mason, 31, was put on administrative leave immediately after Tyre's shooting  standard procedure after police shootings. His other shootings include the 2012 death of a white man holding another white man at gunpoint, two nonfatal shootings and the shooting of a dog that bit a fellow officer.

Attorneys for the boy's family have called for an independent investigation and question whether there's more to Mason's involvement in other shootings.

"How many shootings is too many before the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office and City of Columbus step in and ask the Department of Justice to investigate this shooting and this officer," attorney Sean Walton said in a written statement.

The head of the local police union defends Mason, saying he did what he was trained to do under the circumstances.

There are "some very bad people in this world doing very bad things, and Bryan is not afraid to go out and address those issues to make our community safer," said Jason Pappas, the president of the police union representing Mason. Pappas said the officer is assigned to a special team that responds to higher priorities in the city and provides support to officers on patrol.

Pappas said Thursday that Mason has apparently returned to work.

In his nearly four years as union president, Pappas said, he has not been aware of any disciplinary problems on Mason's part. He was part of citizen complaints to the department, as is often the case with officers, according to copies of internal affairs records. In most cases, his actions were found to be within police policy.

Pappas said Mason's shootings were all ruled justified, and he expects Tyre's will be, too.

Columbus resident Jason Blackburn said he owes Mason his life after the officer shot and killed the man who held him at gunpoint in December 2012.

"I have five children," Blackburn, 45, said in an interview. "And if it wasn't for him, they wouldn't have a father."

Mason gave the suspect three chances to drop his weapon, Blackburn recalled. "I was surprised he even waited that long."

Highlights from Mason's personnel file, incident reports, investigation records and other police documents:

 In 2009, Mason was among officers who returned fire on a white man who later killed himself. The suspect fired an AK-47 out of a window at officers after he fled from a traffic stop. One officer was shot in the cheek, and another was hit in a bulletproof vest. Mason earned a department award for his role in containing "the violent situation."

 In 2013, Mason shot a 22-year-old black man who allegedly ran from a vehicle during a traffic stop and then pulled a gun on the officer. A police review board found Mason's actions within policy. The man was shot in the hip and survived. He told police he never pointed the gun at Mason, records show. Mason told investigators he feared for his life.

 Mason has met or exceeded the police department's performance standards. A May evaluation notes that he "generally maintains composure under stress" and demonstrates "exceptional verbal skills" in defusing "potentially hostile situations."

 People he has helped have praised his actions. One woman said Mason and another officer showed understanding and care in helping her during a "psychotic breakdown." Another woman said Mason and other officers did "an outstanding job" in ridding a park of gang members.

___
Safety fears rein in march for immigrant driver licenses

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  Immigrants and their advocates plan to march through a cluster of Rhode Island cities this weekend to push state leaders to allow driver's licenses for people living in the country illegally.

But in a move that reflects the fragility of their cause during a national backlash against illegal immigration, they're avoiding the places where they need the most support: predominantly white suburbs home to the elected representatives who dominate the Legislature.

The Coalition for Safer Rhodes originally planned an unprecedented dayslong march across the smallest state. It would have been modeled after farm labor leader Cesar Chavez's 1966 pilgrimage across California's Central Valley. The group has now switched strategies, citing safety concerns after experiencing hostility and name-calling while passing out fliers in the suburbs and knocking on doors.

A t-shirt highlighting drivers licenses for all is displayed on a table during a community meeting at the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Providence, Rhode Island. Immigrant activists are planning a church-to-church march through a cluster of Rhode Island cities in response to years of political inaction on bills to grant driver's licenses to people in the country illegally. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

"We didn't want our people to be harassed," said march organizer Gaspar Espinoza, who expects at least 300 people to join the walk. "We had wanted to do this in rural Rhode Island and use temples of faith as stations, but a lot of our friends said, 'Why expose people?'"

Twelve states, including neighboring Connecticut, now grant driver's licenses to people in the country illegally. Many have provisions that prevent the special licenses from being used for anything except for driving. Advocates say along with improving immigrants' lives, the laws improve road safety by requiring everyone to pass a driving test and get insurance. Opponents say they encourage more illegal immigration.

Except for Republican-led Nevada and Utah, most of the states that enacted the laws are run by Democrats. Democrats control both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly, but after years of debate, legislative leaders have repeatedly blocked driver's license bills from moving to a vote.

"My opinion is the electorate across the state, the citizens of the state, are not in support of it," Democratic House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello said in May, in remarks that effectively halted the debate until lawmakers reconvene next year. "So we're going to respect what the majority of the citizens in the state want to do."

Estimates released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center found that in 2014 there were about 30,000 immigrants in Rhode Island illegally. Guatemalans were the largest group, followed by Dominicans and Cape Verdeans.

But most of the immigrants are concentrated in Providence and a handful of surrounding cities. Their statewide political power doesn't come close to matching their population.

Frustrated by political inaction, activists began crafting a plan to explain their cause to suburbanites who have little personal interaction with immigrant families. They instead became wary of increasing opposition at a time when Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who easily won the April primary, is appealing to many white voters with his promises to halt illegal immigration.

Republican state Rep. Doreen Costa, a Trump delegate who helped preside over the driver's license legislative hearings as vice chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, said most people in Rhode Island "just don't think illegals should be granted driver's licenses, plain and simple."

"If they want to march across the state, God bless them. But the problem is they don't have the support," Costa said. "They don't have the support in the General Assembly. They don't have the support in the entire state."

The North Kingstown resident said she didn't think people outside of Providence would be receptive to marchers, but she doesn't think they would be confrontational, either.

Espinoza isn't willing to take the risk of finding out. The activist said he was asking for signatures to support a driver's license bill outside a Cranston mall, not far from Providence, when two women swore at him and told him he doesn't belong in the United States. Espinoza, a naturalized U.S. citizen and Navy veteran, had fled with his family from Nicaragua's political turmoil in the 1980s.

Another activist, Sabine Adrian, said she was canvassing with two other women in North Providence this year when a shopper began yelling and angrily pushed a grocery cart at them.

"We just had some nasty experiences, so we thought it would be safer for the people in the march to stay closer to where folks are affected," Adrian said.

The 5-mile march is scheduled to begin 11 a.m. Sunday in a park in Central Falls. It continues through Pawtucket and into Providence, past the Rhode Island State House and ending at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Gaspar Espinoza, a Nicaraguan immigrant and U.S. Navy veteran, listens to activists and volunteers during a community meeting at the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Providence, Rhode Island. Immigrant activists are planning a church-to-church march through a cluster of Rhode Island cities in response to years of political inaction on bills to grant driver's licenses to people in the country illegally. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Activists gather, with a sign stating "Drivers License = Human Right" on the wall, during a community meeting at the Olneyville Neighborhood Association, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Providence, Rhode Island. Immigrant activists are planning a church-to-church march through a cluster of Rhode Island cities in response to years of political inaction on bills to grant driver's licenses to people in the country illegally. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
As Clinton, Trump tout parental leave, 3 states offer models

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)  As the two leading presidential candidates tout competing campaign proposals to provide paid leave to care for a baby, the three states that already have such programs show how it could work.

The proposals from Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump are significantly different in how they'd be funded and who they'd help. But they have a clear precedent: not just the dozens of other rich countries that guarantee time off to care for a child or a sick family member, but also California, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

"It's working fine in all three states," said Jane Waldfogel, a professor at Columbia University's School of Social Work who has studied the effects and said the benefits are greatest for lower-income workers who don't get any paid time off.

Ryan Smith, right, poses with his wife Sarah and children Ashton, 2, and Eden, 6 months, outside their family home, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Cranston, Rhode Island. Both of the Smiths were able to take advantage of paid family leave with the birth of their daughter Eden. As both leading presidential candidates tout campaign proposals promising paid leave to take care of a newborn baby, three states, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island, already have programs available to parents. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

California pioneered paid family leave in 2004, followed by New Jersey in 2009 and Rhode Island in 2014. New York will have the nation's most generous program when it launches in 2018, and many other states are considering similar laws that pay for the benefits in the same way they pay for disability insurance.

___

LEAVE FOR FATHERS

Fathers, who would be excluded from Trump's maternity leave program, are increasingly signing up for plans in the three states that allow paid family leave.

"A lot of moms can get stressed out with a newborn child," said Ryan Smith, of Cranston, Rhode Island, who took two weeks of state-paid leave this year to bond with his newborn daughter. "When there are two parents there, it's definitely better than one."

Of Rhode Island parents who have taken leave so far this year to care for a new child, 37 percent are men, the highest rate of the three states.

California has seen the rate of men participating rise from 17 percent in its first year to nearly 36 percent of the 250,000 parents who took it in the most recent fiscal year. New Jersey lags in participating fathers, with about 13 percent.

In all three states, fathers are also less likely than mothers to take the full amount of paid leave allowed.

___

A POPULAR PROGRAM

Rhode Island was the first state to guarantee disability leave in 1942, and the caregiving leave adopted in 2014 relies on the same pool of money that covers disability insurance. It's funded through employee payroll deductions, meaning businesses don't have to pay.

Business groups still opposed it because private-sector workers must pay into the fund even when their employers offer their own paid leave. But a survey of Rhode Island employers conducted by Waldfogel and other researchers last year found that a majority supported the new law.

Smith said that both he and his wife took Rhode Island's paid leave when their second daughter, Eden, was born in late March, and that they combined it with vacation. His employer, a bank, was so supportive that it filled in the gap of what the state program didn't cover, he said. The state-funded leave pays 60 percent of a person's salary for up to four weeks.

A survey by researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that the program is popular, with most who participate saying they were satisfied. Those who took leave said it made them less stressful and healthier and gave them more time for breastfeeding and taking the baby to medical check-ups. They were also less likely to miss work once they returned.

"That's the whole goal, to change the culture, to honor the importance of caregiving," said Barbara Silver, a psychologist who led URI's survey. "We can't have a healthy society unless we have healthy families."

___

QUESTIONING THE BENEFITS

Not all researchers are confident paid leave is helping young mothers.

A paper co-authored in 2014 by Solomon Polachek  an economics professor at the State University of New York at Binghamton who studied California's program  found that the number of young women in the labor force increased as a result of paid leave, but so did the number of young women who were unemployed, along with the duration of time they were unemployed when compared with men and older women.

"Basically what happened is this law induced more young women to enter the labor market or stay in the market as opposed to dropping out," Polachek said. "At the same time, companies looked at it and were a bit more reluctant to hire women."

That's not enough to worry paid family leave's champions, who question that study's methods and argue the societal benefits go far beyond employment numbers.

For now the program also gives Rhode Island an advantage in retaining a workforce to improve its economy, said state Sen. Gayle Goldin, a Providence Democrat who introduced the paid family leave legislation in 2013.

"I've had people tell me they moved to Rhode Island and got jobs and when they realized we had the benefit on the books, they decided to stay," she said.

___

THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES' PROPOSALS

Clinton's plan would guarantee 12 weeks of paid leave and cover about 67 percent of a person's salary, up to a certain cap.

Trump's plan, which his daughter Ivanka unveiled this month, would offer six weeks, but only to mothers who gave birth to the child. Unlike Clinton's plan or what the states provide, it would exclude men, adoptive parents and people caring for relatives who are seriously ill.

Clinton says she would pay for hers with higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans, while Trump says he would pay for his by cutting unemployment insurance fraud.

___

DIFFERENCES AMONG THE STATE PLANS

CALIFORNIA: Leave covers 55 percent of a person's salary for up to six weeks, and limits pay to $1,129 weekly. A new law passed this year will expand the pay to 60 percent of wages starting in 2018, or 70 percent for low-income workers. The program is funded through employee-paid payroll taxes. Just over 249,000 parents used it to bond with a child in the fiscal year that ended in June; nearly 36 percent were men.

NEW JERSEY: Leave covers about 67 percent of wages for six weeks, limited to $615 weekly. About 25,000 New Jersey residents used the state's paid leave to bond with a new child in 2014, the most recent year for which data are available; nearly 13 percent were men.

RHODE ISLAND: Leave covers 60 percent of wages for four weeks, limited to $817 weekly. It's funded by employee payroll taxes and run through the state's temporary disability program. It also includes job protection that covers more people than those protected by federal leave policies. Nearly 3,100 claimants used it for bonding with a child so far this year; 37 percent were men.

NEW YORK: Its family leave law won't take effect until 2018, but it will be the most generous of any U.S. paid leave program so far. It will provide 50 percent of wages for up to eight weeks when the program launches, and 67 percent of wages for up to 12 weeks by 2022, as well as job protection.

Ryan Smith, right, poses with his wife Sarah and children Ashton, 2, and Eden, 6 months, outside their family home, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, in Cranston, Rhode Island. Both of the Smiths were able to take advantage of paid family leave with the birth of their daughter Eden. As both leading presidential candidates tout campaign proposals promising paid leave to take care of a newborn baby, three states, California, New Jersey and Rhode Island, already have programs available to parents. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Activists in Germany rally against Donald Trump

BERLIN (AP)  An activist group built a wall in Berlin featuring the face of Donald Trump, then tore it down in a rally to encourage Americans overseas to vote against the Republican presidential candidate.

The group Avaaz built the cardboard-block wall Friday at the landmark Brandenburg Gate, not far from the spot where former President Ronald Reagan once famously called for Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall."

The ersatz wall carried an image of Trump and the message: "United to Stop Trump."

Protestors are tearing down a so called 'Trump's wall of hate' as part of a demonstration against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in front of the Brandenburg Gate at the Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Campaigner Meredith Alexander called Americans abroad the "secret swing state" and says her group is trying to ensure all eligible voters get and file their absentee ballots.

She says "there about 8 million of us who live oversees," but in the last election only 12 percent voted.

A woman with the face painted half and half with United States and German flag attends a protest where they are tearing down a so called 'Trump's wall of hate' as part of a demonstration against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Protestors are tearing down a so called 'Trump's wall of hate' as part of a demonstration against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in front of the Brandenburg Gate at the Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

A woman with the face painted half with United States and German flags attends a protest where they are tearing down a so called 'Trump's wall of hate' as part of a demonstration against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Protestors are tearing down a so called 'Trump's wall of hate' as part of a demonstration against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in front of the Brandenburg Gate at the Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

People attend a protest against US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

People attend a protest against US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Pariser Platz in Berlin, Germany, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Mourners remember Detroit officer who died after shooting

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. (AP)  Detroit's police chief on Friday posthumously promoted a 20-year veteran officer who died five days after being shot while chasing a suspect.

Police Chief James Craig announced the promotion of Sgt. Ken Steil to captain at the end of his funeral Friday at a suburban church. The announcement drew a standing ovation at the packed service.

Craig presented a plaque to Steil's wife, Joann, and their two young sons.

Detroit Police Sgt. Kenneth Steil's casket is carried to the hearse outside of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores, Mich., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Detroit's police Chief James Craig on Friday posthumously promoted Steil, a 20-year veteran officer, who died days after being shot while chasing a suspect. (Tanya Moutzalias/The Ann Arbor News via AP)

"This is a difficult day for me," Craig said during the service. "It's never easy saying goodbye. We all love Kenneth Steil."

Steil was nicknamed "Shark" for his diving skills. He was shot in the shoulder and died last Saturday of a blood clot. Marquise Cromer, 21, is charged with first-degree murder and was arraigned on Wednesday.

Steil's death was unexpected. Craig and Mayor Mike Duggan had talked to him during visits to his hospital room and described him as "upbeat" and "looking forward to going home."

Steil referred to a full recovery in a thank-you note written a few days before his death.

"My heart just broke" after learning about Steil's death, Duggan said.

George Brikho told The Detroit News that Steil, his brother-in-law, loved helping people and working for Detroit.

"We (told) him many times ... you did your time. You have children now. Take a desk job. Take an easy job," Brikho said. "He said, 'No, I can't do that to my guys. I want to be able to defend them if something bad happened.'"

Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. and Michigan flags lowered to half-staff Friday in Steil's honor.

Cromer's attorney, Sanford Schulman, told The Associated Press he met with Cromer Friday at the Wayne County Jail. Schulman said Cromer has a history of mental illness and is "overwhelmed" but acknowledges "it's a difficult day." Schulman added that Cromer's family has expressed its "sincere sympathy" for Steil's family.

A state trooper heading to the funeral was injured when a vehicle struck his motorcycle on a freeway. Officials said the trooper, Ali Hammoud, suffered broken ribs and a collarbone following a "road rage incident" involving two motorists. Authorities are searching for the driver responsible.

JoAnn Steil cries as she watches the casket of her husband Sgt. Ken Steil enter the hearse in St. Clair Shores, Mich., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Detroit's police chief on Friday posthumously promoted Steil, a 20-year veteran officer, who died five days after being shot while chasing a suspect. (ClarenceTabb Jr./Detroit News via AP)

Alexander Steil, son of slain Detroit Police Sgt. Kenneth Steil, hangs out of this father's police cruiser as the 'lights and sirens' funeral procession for Steil leaves St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores, Mich., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Detroit's police Chief James Craig on Friday posthumously promoted Steil, a 20-year veteran officer, who died days after being shot while chasing a suspect. (Tanya Moutzalias/The Ann Arbor News via AP)

Assistant Detroit Police Chief Steve Dolunt, center, salutes as Detroit Police Sgt. Ken Steil's casket is carried to the hearse during the funeral service held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in St. Clair Shores, Mich. Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Detroit's police Chief James Craig on Friday posthumously promoted Steil, a 20-year veteran officer, who died days after being shot while chasing a suspect. (Tanya Moutzalias/The Ann Arbor News via AP)

Chief James Craig, salutes Sgt. Kenneth Steil during the end of the service for the slain officer, in St. Clair Shores, Mich., Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Detroit's police chief on Friday posthumously promoted Steil, a 20-year veteran officer who died five days after being shot while chasing a suspect. (ClarenceTabb Jr./Detroit News via AP)

A large American flag is unfurled by Sterling Heights and Washington Twp. Fire Departments as mourners begin to arrive for visitation for Detroit Police officer Ken Steil in Sterling Heights, Mich., Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016. Steil died unexpectedly Saturday of a blood clot, five days after being shot in the shoulder. (Steve Perez/Detroit News via AP)

In honor of his memory, Detroit Police Sgt. Ken Steil's police cruiser,with a Shark decal added to the hood, sits parked outside the funeral home, in St. Clair Shores, Mich. Detroit's police Chief James Craig on Friday posthumously promoted Steil, a 20-year veteran officer, who died days after being shot while chasing a suspect. (Tanya Moutzalias/The Ann Arbor News via AP)
Skydiver heard loud noise before plane struck house

PHOENIX (AP)  One of four skydivers aboard a light plane that crashed into a suburban Phoenix home told investigators that he heard a loud noise before seeing damage to a wing that then became engulfed in flames, according to a preliminary report released Friday.

The National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report doesn't say what caused the Saturday evening fire and crash. The pilot suffered burns but others involved escaped serious injury.

NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said investigators may issue another report with additional observations and details within about nine months. A final report with analysis of the probable cause is expected in 12 to 18 months, Holloway said.

Wreckage from a plane that crashed into a home in Gilbert, Ariz., sits on a flatbed on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. Federal investigators are trying to determine what led the plane carrying several skydivers to crash Saturday. The pilot and four skydivers were able to parachute out before the aircraft struck the house. (Gary Hildebrandt/Gilbert Fire Department via AP)

The preliminary report said the plane was at its planned jump area and altitude above a Gilbert fair where they were to put on a pyrotechnic display when one skydiver "heard a loud noise and noticed damage to the airplane's left wing," the report said.

The skydivers jumped successfully from the airplane as the left wing became engulfed in flames, the preliminary report said.

The pilot radioed a distress call and then bailed out before the plane crashed in a residential area about a mile from the drop zone, the preliminary report said.

The couple in the home escaped without serious injury. The house was a total loss due to damage from the impact and subsequent fire.

The names of the skydivers have not been released, but the pilot has been identified as 31-year-old Ryan Kilgore.

Kilgore underwent surgery Tuesday at a hospital. His parents, Jan and Bill Kilgore of Spokane, Washington, told reporters that their son performed heroically aboard the stricken plane and was relieved to learn after the crash that nobody else was injured.
Kurdish separatists say their campaign in Iran will go on

KOYA, Iraq (AP)  The main Kurdish insurgent group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces "to protect and defend" Kurds living there, its deputy leader said, calling the fight necessary after the Islamic Republic's nuclear deal with world powers.

A string of recent attacks by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan mark the end of a 20-year cease-fire between its fighters and Iran, though Kurdish separatists have agitated for freedom for decades in the country's northwest.

This campaign comes as Kurdish power has grown elsewhere. Syrian Kurds have carved out a swatch of territory amid that country's civil war. Iraq's Kurds have also effectively expanded their autonomous zone as well by capturing towns and villages from the Islamic State group.

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, new recruits of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan train at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Kurds represent about 10 percent of Iran's population of 80 million people, many living in the country's mountainous northwest that borders Iraq and Turkey.

The area had been largely quiet since the 1990s under the cease-fire. But Kurdish resentments grew recently. In one incident, the death of a Kurdish maid at a hotel in the northwestern city of Mahabad in May 2015 sparked unrest by local Kurds as opposition groups alleged Iranian security forces somehow had a hand in it.

This year, clashes have erupted between Kurdish fighters and Iranian security forces, including the elite Revolutionary Guard, leading to casualties on both sides. The Democratic Party, which is known by its Kurdish acronym PDKI and operates out of the northern Iraq, claimed many of those attacks, which saw Iranian forces shell Kurdish positions just across the Iraqi border in response.

The PDKI's deputy secretary-general Hassan Sharafi said Iran's "repression" of Kurds forced it to respond.

"We see that they are being arrested, tortured, interrogated and jailed," he told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday in Koya, an Iraqi city near the Iranian border. "In order to protect and defend these people, we have decided to have a presence in the area instead of launching a regular war."

When Iran "signed the agreement with Europe and America on the nuclear program, they came to believe that whatever they do the outside world will not criticize them," he said. "Therefore, we were forced to take this path."

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment about the PDKI. Iranian official media have reported on the clashes as caused by armed groups backed by Iran's enemies, including Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, largely avoiding pointing to their Kurdish identity, apparently to avoid any sign of ethnic tensions.

Iran also faces occasional attacks from Baloch militant groups on its eastern border with Pakistan and ethnic Arab separatists in its oil-producing Khuzestan province.

The government of the Iraqi Kurdish autonomous zone has called for a halt to any attacks into Iran by Kurds in Iraqi territory. Meanwhile, a U.S.-led coalition also has been training Iraqi Kurdish fighters, known as peshmerga, to fight the Islamic State group. One Iranian Kurdish faction fighting IS has also been among those trained.

Sharafi, however, said his group is not receiving any foreign aid or support in its fight, which he repeatedly sought to describe as self-defense.

Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, said that while the PDKI campaign is an upsurge in violence, he did not expect it to spiral out of control because everyone's focus is on the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

"Tehran, the Iranian Kurds and Iraqi Kurdish leadership all have more pressing concerns to worry about," he said.

The Mahabad region saw a breakaway Kurdish republic backed by the Soviets briefly emerge after World War II and a Kurdish uprising in the years after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

A guerrilla campaign by PDKI fighters in Iran continued into the mid-1990s, while assassins a German court later said were directed by Iran's government killed the PDKI's leader and others at a Berlin restaurant in 1992. Ultimately, the PDKI declared a unilateral cease-fire with Iran in 1996 after fighting in northern Iraq between warring Kurdish forces backed by Iraq and Iran.

The new fighting now adds yet another combustible force in wider Middle East. For Bahnam Qadri, an 18-year-old recent recruit, the fight is essential and proves the presence of Kurdish fighters in Iran.

"I want to send a message to the Iranians that the injustice done to our people in Iran has to end," he said. "That the discrimination and the mistreatment has to end."

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Adam Schreck in Dubai also contributed to this report.

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a commander instructs new recruits of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan during training at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, new recruits of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan take a tea break after training at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, new recruits of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan attend a lecture on the group's political ideology and Kurdish language at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a new recruit of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan trains at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a new recruit of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan attends a lecture on the group's political ideology and Kurdish language at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a new recruit of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan attends a lecture on the group's political ideology and Kurdish language at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, new recruits of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan attend a lecture on the group's political ideology and Kurdish language at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Thats according to the deputy leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. He calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, Hassan Sharafi deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan speaks to The Associated Press at their base in Koya, northern Iraq. The main Kurdish opposition group in Iran will keep up its guerrilla campaign against security forces to protect and defend Kurds living there. Sharafi calls the fight necessary after the Islamic Republics nuclear deal with world powers.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Romania: ex-minister to quit as senator to allow probe

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  A former interior minister says he will resign his seat in parliament next week to face a probe on charges of manslaughter in the case of a policeman who died while escorting the politician.

Sen. Gabriel Oprea announced his decision on Facebook Friday, a day after thousands protested against parliament for voting on Sept. 19 not to lift Oprea's parliamentary immunity to allow an investigation.

The police officer died in October last year when his motorbike hit a pothole.

Public outrage over motorcades exploded after it emerged that Oprea used a motorcade five times a day while he was minister.
Death toll from rebel attack in eastern Congo rises to 10

BENI, Congo (AP)  The head of a human rights group in Congo says three more people have succumbed to their wounds after an attack by rebels in the northeast, raising the death toll to at least 10.

Jean-Paul Ngahangondi said Friday that two people remain missing after the attack overnight Wednesday in the Kasinga-Munzambayi locality about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Beni. He says a dozen homes and two military camps were burned and food and valuables stolen.

He says the U.N. peacekeeping mission has reinforced its presence in the area.

In this photo taken on Thursday Sept. 22, 2016, men carry people killed during a rebel attack in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo. Congo military official Mak Hazukay, said Thursday a rebel group attacked the village of Beni in the country's east, killing at least 7 people. (AP Photo/Al-hadji Kudra Maliro)

Congo's military has blamed Allied Democratic Forces rebels. The rebels have been accused of killing more than 700 people since October 2014 in the area.

They are among scores of armed groups that have been present in eastern Congo for years.

In this photo taken on Thursday Sept. 22, 2016, a woman, centre, reacts next to the body of a man killed after a rebel attack in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo. Congo military official Mak Hazukay, said Thursday a rebel group attacked the village of Beni in the country's east, killing at least 7 people. (AP Photo/Al-hadji Kudra Maliro)
More Iowa cities mobilizing for flooding along Cedar River

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths.

More rain fell Thursday night and early Friday in the area, and the National Weather Service said the threat of more rain and flash-flooding remained high along the Cedar River in northeastern Iowa.

Just across the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, residents of Victory, a tiny community at the base of a river bluff, were recovering from torrential rains, flooding and mudslides that caused two deaths.

The Cedar River rises between City Hall and East Bremer Avenue, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Tiffany Rushing/The Courier via AP)

Vernon County sheriff's officials said Friday that floodwaters filled 79-year-old Joseph Menne's pickup truck when the trailer he was pulling got stuck in 6 feet of water. Menne was reported missing about 7 p.m. Thursday, and his body was found about two hours later.

Authorities said another resident, 53-year-old Michael McDonald, died Thursday after his house slid down the side of a bluff and onto state Highway 35.

"In my 33 years in Vernon County law enforcement, this is the worst I've ever seen," Sheriff John Spears said at the site of the Victory cleanup. "This has been devastating."

Wisconsin emergency officials said preliminary estimates show the flooding over the last few days has caused millions of dollars in damage.

State emergency officials issued a news release Friday evening tallying the damage across a number of western counties. Richland County reported more than 40 homes have been damaged, with one destroyed. Vernon County officials are reporting between $2 million and $3 million in damage to roads and bridges.

Adams, Chippewa and Monroe counties each reported tens of thousands of dollars of damage to public roads and bridges.

In Iowa, Cedar Falls officials have been talking to residents about possibly evacuating low-lying neighborhoods. The dike system protecting downtown was expected to hold, but Public Safety Director Jeff Olson said it will be patrolled. The Cedar River was expected to crest in the area Saturday afternoon, at about 2 feet (0.6 meters) below the record crest of 102.1 feet (31 meters) in June 2008.

Waterloo has closed several storm sewer floodgates, activated lift stations and put up flood control walls at several spots downtown. Several downtown bridges may close, and the fire department has been lining up extra boats for water rescues.

Portable dams, barriers and pumps were being deployed around Cedar Rapids, where the expected Monday river crest was increased from earlier estimates to 25.3 feet (7.7 meters), still below the June 2008 crest of 31 feet (9.45 meters). But even at the lower level, street flooding was expected in several areas, including the downtown core.

"We're very concerned about the downtown," said Mike Goldberg, director of Linn County Emergency Management.

Mayor Ron Corbett told the residents to use the next few days to protect their homes and businesses with sandbags or make plans to move to higher ground if necessary.

Another eastern Iowa river, the Shell Rock, also has forced evacuations as it left its banks. Clarksville Police Chief Barry Mackey said that on Thursday night, water overtopped the levee that runs down the east side of the Shell Rock River, just west of the Butler County community of about 1,400 people. Several homes were surrounded by water, including his, Mackey said.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a disaster proclamation for 13 northeast Iowa counties affected by flooding. It activates the Iowa National Guard to assist in preparedness and in response when there's damage.

The proclamation also enacts a grant program for homeowners meeting poverty guidelines to apply for up to $5,000 in financial aid to repair damage to a home or car or to replace food or clothing lost in the flood.

In southern Minnesota, sandbagging was underway in St. Clair, where the Le Sueur River continued to rise.

Officials said the floodwaters have already far surpassed the levels they saw in 2010, and the river isn't expected to crest until Saturday at the earliest.

The floodwaters are threatening sewer lift stations, which officials said will likely cause basement flooding. The town's more than 800 residents have been encouraged to cover their drains, remove valuables from their basements, and not to flush their toilets or run water.

While more than 7 inches of rain fell on St. Clair from Wednesday night into Thursday, the main problem is that even more fell upstream in the Waseca area, and that water is now making its way downriver.

___

This story has been corrected to state that 7 inches of rain fell on St. Clair, not St. Cloud.

Train cars sit on track that buckled after flood waters from the Shell Rock River undermined the tracks Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, east of Main Street in Clarksville, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (John Molseed/The Courier via AP)

Flood waters rise nearthe 3rd Street East Bridge, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Tiffany Rushing/The Courier via AP)

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, residents lay down sandbags to protect the city's water treatment plant from the rising Le Sueur River, in St. Clair, Minn. (Pat Christman/The Free Press via AP)

Charley Johnson moves his furniture out of his house as flood waters continue to rise on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

Molly Boevers and her brother Clint fill sandbags along Center Street , Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP)

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, Lexi Mieden fills sand bags for use by residents threatened by rising floodwaters in Richland Center, Wis. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in multiple counties after authorities said anywhere from five to nine inches of rain fell in the western part of the state this week. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

A vehicle turns around as flood waters run over Ford Road, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Brandon Pollock/The Courier via AP)

Holly Cole, right, and Michael Ridenou, second from right, work to build sandbag walls at the Alley Cuts on Main building along West Main Street Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Manchester, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Jessica Reilly/Telegraph Herald via AP)

Waters from the Maquoketa River spill across West Main Street Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Manchester, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Jessica Reilly/Telegraph Herald via AP)

A truck drives through a flooded street in Greene, Iowa, on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

Residents look in flooded storefronts on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Greene, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, people overlook the flooded streets of downtown Gays Mills, Wis. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in multiple counties after authorities said anywhere from five to nine inches of rain fell in the western part of the state this week. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Pedestrians go over a bridge above the flooded Cedar River, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (John Molseed/The Courier via AP)

Workers from New Hartford fire and rescue ride along the Shell Rock River as flooding continues on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Greene, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, Billy Heisz and his wife, Grace, inspect the property of a family member which was encircled by rising floodwaters in Gays Mills, Wis. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in multiple counties after authorities said anywhere from five to nine inches of rain fell in the western part of the state this week. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Volunteers work to build a sandbag wall at the Alley Cuts on Main building along West Main Street, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Manchester, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Jessica Reilly/Telegraph Herald via AP)

Volunteers place sandbags around a pump near the St. Clair water treatment plant Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in St. Clair, Minn. Water from the Le Sueur River inundated the plant Friday morning. (Pat Christman/The Free Press via AP) /The Free Press via AP)

Two men check water levels near West Main Street Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Manchester, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Jessica Reilly/Telegraph Herald via AP)

Charley Johnson moves his furniture out of his house as flood waters continue to rise on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, Billy Heisz and his wife, Grace, inspect the property of a family member which was encircled by rising floodwaters in Gays Mills, Wis. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in multiple counties after authorities said anywhere from five to nine inches of rain fell in the western part of the state this week. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Workers from New Hartford fire and rescue ride along the Shell Rock River as flooding continues on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Greene, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, Lexi Mieden fills sand bags for use by residents threatened by rising floodwaters in Richland Center, Wis. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in multiple counties after authorities said anywhere from five to nine inches of rain fell in the western part of the state this week. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)

Tony Shook, left, Casey Yerkes, center, and Keyton Johnson, right, help to sandbag around downtown Greene, Iowa on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, people overlook the flooded streets of downtown Gays Mills, Wis. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in multiple counties after authorities said anywhere from five to nine inches of rain fell in the western part of the state this week. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal 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)

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)

The Cedar River rises into downtown Waverly between City Hall and East Bremer Avenue, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, in Waverly, Iowa. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream, while a Wisconsin town was recovering from storms now blamed for two deaths. (Tiffany Rushing/The Courier via AP)
The Latest: Wisconsin counts flood damage in millions

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  The Latest on flooding along rain-swollen rivers in Iowa and Wisconsin (all times local):

7:50 p.m.

Wisconsin emergency officials say preliminary estimates show flooding over the last few days has caused millions of dollars in damage across a number of western counties.

The Cedar River flows over the dam through downtown Waverly, Iowa on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Authorities in several Iowa cities were mobilizing resources Friday to handle flooding from a rain-swollen river that has forced evacuations in several communities upstream (Brian Powers/The Des Moines Register via AP )

State emergency officials issued a news release Friday evening tallying the damage. Richland County reported more than 40 homes have been damaged, with one destroyed. Vernon County officials are reporting between $2 million and $3 million in damage to roads and bridges.

Adams, Chippewa and Monroe counties each reported tens of thousands of dollars of damage to public roads and bridges.

Two people in Vernon County have died in the flooding.

___

5:20 p.m.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has signed a disaster proclamation for 13 northeast Iowa counties affected by flooding. It activates the Iowa National Guard to assist in preparedness and in response when there's damage.

The proclamation also enacts a grant program for homeowners meeting poverty guidelines to apply for up to $5,000 in financial aid to repair damage to a home or car or to replace food or clothing lost in the flood.

The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has coordinated the delivery of state resources to the affected communities, including more than 120,000 sandbags, 22 water pumps and 400 flood cleanup kits.

___

5 p.m.

Gov. Scott Walker plans to tour flood damage in a southwestern Wisconsin village.

Walker's office announced Friday that the governor would visit Gays Mills on Saturday afternoon.

The village of about 500 people sits on the Kickapoo River. Dozens of homes in the village were damaged by flooding in 2007 and 2008. The floods drove part of the village to relocate to higher ground.

WXOW-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2d4O3nG ) flooding over the last few days has left Gays Mills' downtown underwater, forcing village officials to reschedule the annual Apple Fest.

State emergency officials said Friday that state Highways 131 and 171 in Gays Mills were closed due to water over the roadway and a washout.

___

3 p.m.

Sandbagging is underway in the southern Minnesota town of St. Clair, where the Le Sueur River continues to rise after torrential rains earlier this week.

Officials say the floodwaters have already far surpassed the levels they saw in 2010, and the river isn't expected to crest until Saturday at the earliest.

The floodwaters are threatening sewer lift stations, which officials say will likely cause basement flooding. The town's more than 800 residents have been encouraged to cover their drains, remove valuables from their basements, and not to flush their toilets or run water.

While more than 7 inches of rain fell on St. Clair from Wednesday night into Thursday, the main problem is that even more fell upstream in the Waseca area, and that water is now making its way downriver.

___

This story has been corrected to state that 7 inches of rain fell on St. Clair, not St. Cloud.

___

10:50 a.m.

Authorities say a second person has died in the storms and flooding hitting western Wisconsin.

Vernon County sheriff's officials say 79-year-old Joseph Menne attempted to drive through floodwater on a road near his home on Thursday.

Investigators say he was in a pickup truck pulling a trailer that got stuck in six feet of water. The flood water eventually filled the pickup compartment. Menne was reported missing about 7 p.m. His body was found about two hours later.

The torrential rain and flooding also killed 53-year-old Michael McDonald in the same western Wisconsin county on Thursday, when his home slid down the side of a bluff and onto a highway.

The flooding and mudslides heavily damaged the small community where McDonald lived near the base of a bluff along the Mississippi River.

___

10:30 a.m.

Authorities in several eastern Iowa cities and counties are mobilizing resources to handle flooding from the rain-swollen Cedar River.

The river has already left its banks upstream, forcing evacuations in several communities upstream along its path through northeastern Iowa. More rain fell Thursday night and earlier Friday, and the National Weather Service says the flash-flooding threat remains high.

The weather service says more rain could change forecasts, and local officials say at least moderate flooding seems a certainty.

Just across the Mississippi River in southwest Wisconsin, residents of the tiny community of Victory are recovering from storms and flooding that caused one death. Authorities say local resident Michael McDonald died Thursday when his house slid onto state Highway 35.

___

6:30 a.m.

Residents of a tiny Wisconsin community along the Mississippi River are recovering after torrential rain and flooding ripped through the town and caused one death.

Heavy rain, flooding and mudslides have caused widespread damage in Victory, an unincorporated community in the Town of Wheatland. Authorities say 53-year-old resident Michael McDonald died after his house slid onto Highway 35 on Thursday.

Vernon County Sheriff John Spears says the community has been devastated and torn apart by the flooding.

The landslides and flooding closed roads throughout the area and contributed to a train derailment in Crawford County. Although the storms have moved away, the National Weather Service extended a flooding warning for Crawford, Vernon and Richland counties through Friday morning.
UN Security Council backs nuke test ban implementation

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry invoking North Korea's latest nuclear explosion as a "reckless act of provocation," the U.N. Security Council on Friday approved a resolution urging quick global implementation of a treaty that would ban tests of such weapons.

Kerry said universal adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty would result in a "safer, more secure, and more peaceful planet," as the United States and 18 other council members approved the resolution, with none opposed and Egypt abstaining.

Security Council approval comes as the Comprehensive Test Ban Organization set up to administer the treaty marks its 20th anniversary. CTBO chief Lassina Zerbo welcomed the vote, telling The Associated Press that "it will remind the international community ... that we have to finish what we started 20 years ago."

United States Secretary of State John Kerry votes to adopt a resolution regarding the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

European Union foreign policy coordinator Federica Mogherini said approval is "an important step" toward global enactment of the treaty. The Washington-based Arms Control Association called it "a very important reaffirmation of the global taboo against nuclear weapon test explosions and strong call for ratification" by key nations.

Yet Friday's move was mostly symbolic.

The U.S. remains one of the holdouts among the 44 countries that are designated "nuclear capable"  the United States, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan  that still need to ratify the treaty for it to enter into force.

North Korean leaders appeared in no mood to ratify any time soon, with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho vowing his country will expand its nuclear capabilities in defiance of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, he condemned Washington for flying two supersonic bombers over South Korea earlier this week, vowing "the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination."

North Korea, he said, "will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality in order to defend the dignity and right to existence and safeguard genuine peace vis-a-vis the increased nuclear war threat of the United States."

Even without ratification, the U.N.'s CTBTO already polices the world for any sign of nuclear tests with a global network of monitoring stations that pick up seismic signals and gases released by such events. But until those eight countries embrace the treaty it is supposed to administer, it cannot go on site to inspect for tests.

The White House has lobbied Congress for support since anti-treaty minded Republicans rejected ratification 17 years ago under President Bill Clinton, with Senate approval falling far short of the required two-thirds majority. But opposition remains strong, although advocates say that computer modeling and other cutting edge techniques make real testing obsolete.

The treaty "should remain dead," Sens. Tom Cotton and James Lankford declared this year, arguing that it would allow U.S. rivals to cheat while diminishing America's security in an increasingly hostile world.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, whose country has already ratified the treaty, said he hoped the next U.S. administration will demonstrate "more strength" in pushing for ratification.

Kerry said the U.S. administration already is doing what it can to educate new members of the Senate that "in today's modern world of virtual capacity and of computerization and artificial intelligence, we don't need to blow up weapons to know what we can do."

He said global implementation remained possible, citing the nuclear deal with Iran as an example of an achievement that "everybody thought was ... improbable." And Kerry focused on this month's North Korean bomb test  "a dangerous and reckless act of provocation"  in arguing for the need of a universally honored test ban treaty.
911 transcript: Club gunman said US must stop Syria strikes

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  The gunman responsible for the worst mass shooting in U.S. history told a police negotiator during a standoff at a Florida nightclub that the United States needed to stop its airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, according to a transcript of the phone conversation released Friday.

Omar Mateen identified himself to a 911 operator as the shooter at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando about a half hour after the massacre started and he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

"I want to let you know I'm in Orlando and I did the shooting," he said.

When a police negotiator called him back about a dozen minutes later, Mateen told the negotiator he needed to stop U.S. airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. A U.S. led coalition has targeted Islamic State group militants with airstrikes in those two countries.

"They are killing a lot of innocent people," said Mateen, a New York-born son of an Afghan immigrant. "What am I to do here when my people are getting killed over there? You get what I'm saying?"

When the police negotiator asked Mateen to tell him "what's going on right now," Mateen mentioned the killing of the IS military leader Abu Wahid, who died in a May air strike.

"That's what triggered it, OK?" Mateen said. "They should have not bombed and killed Abu Wahid."

Mateen also likened himself to Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, according to the transcripts. Three people were killed and more than 260 were injured when two bombs exploded at the marathon's finish line in 2013.

"My homeboy Tamerlan Tsarnaev did his thing on the Boston Marathon," Mateen said. "So, now it's my turn, OK?"

Mateen told the negotiator that he had fasted and prayed all day since it was the Muslim holiday, Ramadan.

He also told the police negotiator that he had planted bombs in a vehicle outside the gay nightclub. Mateen's statement ended up being false, but police officers took the threat seriously at the time.

The police negotiator told Mateen he wanted to help him and wanted to resolve the standoff peacefully. Mateen, a security guard who had once sought to become a police officer, hung up several times, but at one point he asked the police negotiator what year he had graduated from the police academy. The police negotiator didn't answer him.

"Look, you're annoying me with a lot of your phone calls," Mateen said shortly before hanging up.

This week, the city of Orlando has made public dozens of 911 calls, as well as the transcripts of three conversations Mateen had with police negotiators, after fighting with media groups seeking their release.

The June 12 nightclub attack claimed 49 lives and seriously injured 53 others.

The media groups had argued that the release of the records would help the public evaluate the police response to the massacre. The city had said the records were exempt from the state's public records law, both because they were part of an investigation and because some were graphic calls of patrons being shot and killed.

Earlier this month, the FBI, which is investigating the mass shooting, said that withholding the records was no longer necessary to its probe.

During a court hearing Friday, an attorney representing the city said almost two-thirds of the more than 600 emergency calls had been released and the remaining 229 calls were exempted under a Florida law that prohibits the release of records of someone being killed. The city classified as exempted all calls made from or going into the nightclub, said attorney Darryl Bloodworth.

Rachel Fugate, an attorney for the media groups, said the city's classification was too broad.

A hearing will be scheduled on the issue at another time. Family members and survivors may be allowed to express how they feel about the calls being released, Bloodworth said.

___
Restored historic ship returning to once-devastated seaport

NEW YORK (AP)  After a yearlong renovation, an iron-hulled sailing ship built in 1885 is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback after having the wind knocked out of its sails after Superstorm Sandy.

The Wavertree, one of the last large sailing ships made of wrought-iron and the largest still afloat, is scheduled to be moved Saturday to a South Street Seaport Museum berth at the southern tip of Manhattan.

Its return marks a major step in the recovery of the museum, a 49-year-old institution that interprets New York City's maritime history through exhibitions and a fleet of historic ships. The museum is set in an 11-block historic district of former mercantile buildings.

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, the Wavertree is under restoration at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair Co. in the Staten Island borough of New York. One of the last large sailing ships made of wrought-iron, and the largest still afloat, will again grace a berth of the South Street Seaport Museum when it returns on Sept. 24, after more than a year of restoration. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The museum was already on shaky financial ground when tourism in the seaport was hit by three consecutive blows: the 9/11 attacks, the 2008 Recession and major flooding when Sandy hit in 2012.

"Sandy was just a devastating body blow just as we were already beginning to recover from the other two. So that we're even alive is really miraculous," said the museum's executive director, Jonathan Boulware, a lifelong sailor and historic ship expert.

The museum's struggles parallel the seaport district's attempts to revive itself after the hurricane. While its brick and cobblestone bones survived the flooding, the district largely became a flooded-out shell. A shopping mall that drew tourist traffic, situated on a pier below the Brooklyn Bridge, was demolished.

Now the area, too, is getting back on track.

A new 300,000-square-foot retail center is under construction to replace the torn-down mall on Pier 17. A multiplex theater is set to open. Other projects include conversion of the historic Tin Building into a fish hall. Outdoor cafes have opened and a pair of acclaimed chefs, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and David Chang, have plans to open restaurants.

The Wavertree's return comes just weeks after the other flagship in the Seaport Museum's fleet, a huge 1911 four-mast sailing ship called the Peking, departed Manhattan for good. The museum couldn't afford to keep the ship and it is being given to an organization in Hamburg, Germany, where it was manufactured, Boulware said.

Even before Sandy, the museum had an operating deficit. At the city's request, the Museum of the City of New York, with a $2 million grant from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, took over management from 2011 to 2013. Boulware took the helm in 2015 after previously serving as its interim president.

While the seaport museum's fleet of ships and collections were largely undamaged in Sandy's flooding, the salt water damaged the museum buildings' electrical, heating, cooling and fire safety systems. State and federal grant money helped rebuild the infrastructure.

Since the storm, the museum has increased membership and attendance, rebuilt its education and public programming and reactivated an 1893 schooner as a sailing school vessel. In March, it opened its first exhibition since Sandy that examines the seaport's role in securing New York's place as America's largest city and its rise to become the world's busiest port by the early 20th century.

Boulware estimates it will take five to seven years before the museum is "where I want us to be in terms of attendance, programmatic diversity and institutional stability."

Amid the changes, the Wavertree will stand as the type of merchant ship that would have dominated the seaport in the 19th century. It plied the seas for 25 years carrying cargo to ports all over the world.

In 1910, a Cape Horn gale tore off its masts and the windjammer was sold and used as a floating warehouse in Chile and decades later as a sand barge in Argentina. The museum acquired it in 1968.

Over the last 16 months, the 325-foot ship got a mast-to-hull, city-funded restoration that included a steel deck to keep water out of the vessel.

Now that it's shipshape, visitors will be able to go aboard "and actually work the gear of the ship," said Boulware.

Steve White, the president of Mystic Seaport museum in Mystic, Connecticut, said it is important "to protect and preserve these vessels that are as iconic to American history as a Monet would be to the period of impressionism."

"These are our Monets, our Mona Lisas," he said. "They're very big and much more difficult to conserve but in our minds just as important."

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, the vast interior of the Wavertree's hull is shown in the Staten Island borough of New York. The three-masted sailing ship was first pressed into service in 1885, carrying goods between India and Scotland. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, a carpenter sands woodwork in the captain's quarters as part of the restoration of the Wavertree in Staten Island borough of New York. The historic three-mast sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, a shiny bronze railing is part of the restoration of the Wavertree in the Staten Island borough of New York. The historic three-mast sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, Vidal Lopez coils rope on the deck of the Wavertree in the State Island borough of New York. The historic three-mast sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, a rigger climbs a ladder of the sailing ship Wavertree in the Staten Island borough of New York. The historic three-mast sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Steve Kalil, center, president of Caddell Dry Dock, oversees the renovation of the sailing ship Wavertree, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in the Staten Island borough of New York. The historic three-mast sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback.(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, a restored stairway connects the captain's quarters to the deck of the Wavertree, under restoration in the Staten Island borough of New York. The historic three-mast sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, a rigger uses a Swedish fid to splice together ropes for the rigging of the Wavertree in the Staten Island borough of New York. The historic three-mast sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

In this Sept. 15, 2016 photo, the 19th century sailing ship Wavertree is under restoration at Caddell Dry Dock in the Staten Island borough of New York. The historic three-masted sailing ship is returning to New York City's seaport district Sept. 24 as the centerpiece of a museum that is making a comeback. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Maryland Gov. Hogan calls Israel trade mission a success

JERUSALEM (AP)  Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says his delegation has made several successful business transactions with Israeli companies during a weeklong trade mission.

Hogan said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that "there is a real synergy between this nation and our state."

Business, academic and Jewish leaders from Maryland accompanied the governor and administration officials. About 25 private-sector representatives made the trip. Meetings focused on cybersecurity, biotech and medical industries. Hogan says Cyberbit announced a partnership for a cybersecurity training center in Baltimore that will employ about 100 people.
Earlier this month an Israeli rabbi and an acolyte in the Orthodox Jewish community in New York were charged in a kidnapping and murder plot of a member of their sect for refusing to divorce his wife. The made-for-TV drama is just the latest case of a shadowy underground in the Orthodox community that works to use violence to end religious marriages.





Prosecutors in the office of Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, filed criminal complaints against 25-year-old Shimen Leibowitz and 55-year-old Rabbi Aharon Goldberg for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder for hire.





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A third man, Binyamin Gottlieb allegedly introduced the men to a private investigator to do the deed and is accused of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, Forward reported. The private investigator, however, went to the FBI and worked with investigators by taping meetings with the men, court papers said.





The suspects paid the private investigator around $60,000 to carry out the plan. According to the New York Post, Goldberg and Liebowtiz were arrested in Central Valley on 6 September as they plotted the grisly plan.





In a complaint filed at a Manhattan federal court, Leibowitz is quoted saying that their victim is a taxi driver who occasionally visits Montreal and could "miss a night, or even two or three" before his family raised an alarm. The Post reported that earlier plans included tricking him to travel to Pennsylvania or kidnapping him in the Ukraine and forcing him to sign a religious divorce known as a "get".





It was later decided that he should be killed. "In the back of my mind, it looks like, his parents will be happy when it happens," court documents say Leibowitz said on whether the intended victim's family would be concerned if he disappeared. The investigator replied: "If he's f***ing dead? Okay."





Gottlieb, who has been involved in resolving communal marriage issues in the Hasidic community, is an apparent expert in religious divorce issues, Forward reported. Meanwhile, Liebowitz is an immigrant from Australia and a member of the Satmar Hasidic community.





Prosecutors have filed criminal complaints against the men but the three have not been indicted. Therefore they have not entered pleas. They have been ordered to be held without bail.





In 2013, a similar case involving an Orthodox rabbi who led a kidnapping ring dominated tabloids in New York. Rabbi Mendel Epstein, a 70-year-old who was dubbed The Prodfather, charged expensive fees and used cattle prods to violently force husbands to grant their wives a get. Epstein is serving a 10-year sentence in federal prison in New Jersey.




GOP lawmaker: FBI gave immunity to top Clinton aide

WASHINGTON (AP)  Hillary Clinton's former chief of staff, Cheryl Mills, and two other staff members were granted immunity deals in exchange for their cooperation in the now-closed FBI investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, says a Republican congressman.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told The Associated Press on Friday that Mills gave federal investigators access to her laptop on the condition that what they found couldn't be used against her.

Democrats on the committee said Friday the immunity agreements were limited in scope and did not cover statements made to investigators or to potential testimony before Congress.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign stop in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Still, Chaffetz said he was "absolutely stunned" that the FBI would cut a deal with someone as close to the investigation as Mills. By including the emails recovered from the laptops in the immunity agreements, the Justice Department exempted key physical evidence from any potential criminal case against the aides.

"No wonder they couldn't prosecute a case," said Chaffetz, R-Utah. "They were handing out immunity deals like candy."

Copies of the immunity agreements were provided to the House oversight committee by the Justice Department this week under seal.

Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon accused House Republicans of "trying to make something out of nothing by rummaging through the files of a Justice Department investigation that was closed months ago without any charges whatsoever, and leaking selective details three days before the first presidential debate."

"Congressman Chaffetz continues to abuse his office by wasting taxpayer dollars to try to second-guess the FBI in what amounts to a desperate attempt to boost Donald Trump's chances against Hillary Clinton," Fallon said.

A yearlong investigation by the FBI focused on whether the Democratic presidential nominee sent or received classified information using the private server located in the basement of her New York home, which was not authorized for such messages.

FBI Director James Comey said in July that his agents hadn't found evidence to support any criminal charge or direct evidence that Clinton's private server had been hacked. He suggested that hackers working for a foreign government may have been so sophisticated they wouldn't have left behind any evidence of a break-in.

Chaffetz said in addition to Mills, others granted immunity include John Bentel, then-director of the State Department's Office of Information Resources Management, and Heather Samuelson, a senior adviser to Clinton.

Beth Wilkinson, the lawyer representing Mills and Samuelson, said the text of the immunity agreements show investigators considered her clients "to be witnesses and nothing more." Her office declined to provide copies of the agreements to AP.

"The Justice Department assured us that they believed my clients did nothing wrong," Wilkinson said. "At all points my clients cooperated with the government's investigation, including voluntarily participating in interviews with the FBI and DOJ."

The latest revelation brings the total number of people who were granted immunity as part of the FBI's investigation to at least five.

It had previously been reported immunity had been granted to Bryan Pagliano, a tech expert who set up Clinton's email server, as well as Paul Combetta, a computer specialist for a private firm that later maintained Clinton's email setup.

Chaffetz said he is looking forward to asking Comey questions about the immunity deals when Comey testifies Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee. Chaffetz is also a member of that panel.

Mills, who was among Clinton's closest confidants, voluntarily appeared last year for a lengthy interview as part of the House GOP's investigation into the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that left three Americans dead.

Pagliano and Combetta, however, have refused to testify before Congress by invoking their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. On Thursday, the GOP-led House oversight committee voted along party lines to hold Pagliano in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with its subpoena.

Friday evening, the FBI released 189 additional pages of documents from its investigation, including notes of agents' interviews with Mills, Samuelson, Bentel, close Clinton aide Huma Abedin and foreign policy adviser Jake Sullivan.

The highlights of the interviews were previously summarized in the FBI's investigative report released earlier this month. Many of the documents released Friday were heavily redacted by the FBI, but some provided new details about the agency's extensive investigation into Clinton's email use.

Included was a summary of FBI's interview with Marcel Lazar, a Romanian hacker who went by the name Guccifer. In it, Lazar admits he lied to a Fox News reporter about hacking Clinton's email server, though he had seen her private email address and some exchanges with her after successfully accessing the AOL account of Clinton friend Sidney Blumenthal in 2013.

The new FBI documents also reveal that Clinton occasionally exchanged messages with President Barack Obama, who used a pseudonymous email address. Those exchanges have not been made public among the tens of thousands of Clinton emails released thus far by the State Department.

Disappointed the FBI didn't recommend criminal charges, congressional Republicans are seeking to keep the issue of Clinton's email use alive through the November election. Clinton has called her use of the private server a mistake.

In a statement, the campaign of the Republican presidential nominee criticized both Clinton and the Justice Department.

"No one with judgment this bad should be allowed to serve as president of the United States or hold any public office," Trump spokesman Jason Miller. "What has become abundantly clear is that the Obama Administration is protecting Hillary Clinton from accountability at all costs because she will keep the rigged system in Washington in place."

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Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker contributed from Washington.

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Iraq oil fires could jeopardize Mosul mission

WASHINGTON (AP)  A fire at one of Iraq's oil fields could hinder military and humanitarian efforts as operations to recapture the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul get underway.

Black smoke continues to billow into the air from the Qayara oil field, damaged by IS militants last month as they fled the town, creating health risks for civilians and troops amassing there. The fires are also clogging up the skies in the area, where critically important airstrikes and aerial reconnaissance missions are taking place almost daily.

Located on the west bank of the Tigris River, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Mosul, Qayara has since become an important staging ground for military and humanitarian efforts ahead of the Mosul operation since it was recaptured by Iraqi forces last month.

This satellite image provided by PlanetLabs via AllSource Analysis shows oil fields burning in the Qayara oil field on Aug. 26, 2016, south of Mosul, Iraq, on the west bank of the Tigris River. The fire at one of Iraqs major oil fields could hinder military and humanitarian efforts as operations to recapture the Islamic State-held stronghold of Mosul get underway. Black smoke continues to billow into the air from the oil field, damaged by IS militants last month as they fled the town, creating health risks to civilians and troops in the area. The fires are also fogging up the skies in the area, where critically important airstrikes and aerial reconnaissance missions are taking place almost daily. (PlanetLabs via AllSource Analysis via AP)

"Stabilizing Qayara can't wait  it has to happen now," Lise Grande, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, told The Associated Press.

"Everything for the Mosul operation hinges on Qayara," she said. "It's the staging ground for military forces and it's where 350,000 of the 1 million people who are expected to flee (Mosul) will either find shelter or pass through."

There are slow-going Iraqi efforts to contain the fires, but nearly a month after the town was recaptured from the militants, smoke and toxic fumes continue to pollute the air in and around Qayara.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman, Assem Jihad, said Wednesday that IS militants set fire to 11 oil wells in Qayara to derail security forces and wreak havoc in the area as they fled. He said fires at nine of the wells have been extinguished, but two continue to burn powerfully.

"It does cause some problems. It certainly doesn't stop anything," Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the U.S.-led military coalition in Baghdad, said. "The Iraqis have asked for coalition help to determine what can be done to put those fires out. We'll do what we can to support them."

The images of smoke and flames from the oil wells are reminiscent of the oil fires in Kuwait after the Iraqi military reportedly set fire to hundreds of wells when Saddam Hussein invaded the neighboring Persian Gulf nation in the early 1990s.

"In putting out the fires in Kuwait, the firefighters used water pipes and pumped the water from the Persian Gulf to spray at the base of the fires," said Kourosh Kian, an expert in petroleum drilling and reservoir engineering.

Kian, a system engineer at GE Aviation, said the simplest method to extinguish these types of fires is to inject water under high pressure at the base of the fire. Since Qayara is on the Tigris River, there would be no problem with the water supply, he said.

Qayara and Najmah, the two main fields in the area with reserves slightly over one billion barrels, came under the control of the Islamic State when it captured Iraq's Nineveh Province in June 2014.

While Iraqi forces now remain in control of the area, it is far from stable. At the Qayara West air base, where hundreds of U.S. troops are working to advise and assist their Iraqi counterparts, a small rocket that contained a mustard agent landed, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress on Thursday.

A U.S. official, who discussed details of the incident on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said a small group of U.S. soldiers who inspected remnants of the rocket after it exploded found a black, oily substance on a fragment of metal. An initial test of the suspicious substance showed it contained residue of mustard agent, but a second test was negative.

Militants continue to dwell around the town to the west and along the eastern bank toward the town of al-Alam.

The Iraqi military, backed by coalition airstrikes and coalition advise-and-assist operations, looks to recapture more territory from the militant group, which at one point in 2014 controlled about a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria. U.S.-led coalition forces have launched more than 460 airstrikes around Qayara since August 2014 and more than 1,800 around the city of Mosul itself.

But for aid workers in the country, the fires are an immediate primary concern as they prepare for a potential mass influx of displaced people as Mosul operations get underway.

"There is also a major effort to stabilize Qayara," Grande said. "Hundreds of thousands of people who may flee Mosul are likely to come in this direction."

___

Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad and Robert Burns in Washington contributed to this report.

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Follow Vivian Salama on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/vmsalama

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This story has been corrected to change mile to kilometer conversion in 3rd paragraph.
The Latest: Congo FM insists elections will take place

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The latest on the high-level U.N. General Assembly meetings (all times local):

9:30 p.m.

Congo's foreign minister insists that elections will take place after technical problems are resolved.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Raymond Tshibanda, addressing the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting, said until then people should not resort to bloodshed.

Tensions have risen as indications have increased that President Joseph Kabila will stay in office after his term legally ends in December, sparking violent demonstrators.

Congo's electoral commission has said that November's scheduled presidential vote won't be possible, and a court has determined Kabila can stay in power until another election is organized.

"Any recourse to using violence should be strongly condemned and the perpetrators punished," Tshibanda said.

The U.N. Security Council earlier this week urged all parties in Congo to end violent clashes and open a peaceful political dialogue on the holding of elections.

The council has strongly condemned the violence that it said has led to the death of at least 32 people, including four police officers.

____

8:30 p.m.

The United Nations and Iraq have signed an agreement aimed at helping the Baghdad government tackle sexual violence in conflict, an issue that made headlines following the capture and rape of Yazidi women in 2014 by Islamic State extremists.

Zainab Hawa Bangura, the U.N. special envoy for sexual violence in conflict, and Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaffari, signed the joint communique Friday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting.

Bangura said the U.N.-Iraq collaboration will focus especially on challenges Iraq faces with accountability for sexual violence and bringing perpetrators to justice. To date, there have been no trials.

The U.N. envoy recalled visiting Iraq last year where Yazidi girls described being "inspected like livestock, sold in modern-day slave marked and then repeatedly raped by the fighters who bought them."

"I do believe that these crimes amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide,"

___

3:50 p.m.

The U.N. says international donors have pledged over $160 million for life-saving support for millions of people in west Africa whose lives have been thrown into turmoil by the Muslim extremist group Boko Haram  but that's just one-third of the amount needed for the rest of this year.

U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson called the upheaval in the Lake Chad Basin which straddles Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger "one of the worst crises in today's world" which must not become a "forgotten crisis."

Over nine million people across the basin urgently need humanitarian aid, he said, and 6.3 million aren't getting enough to eat.

At a high-level conference Friday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting, the U.N. said donors pledged $163 million of the $542 million needed this year. Major donors included Belgium, Italy, Britain and the United States.

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Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto says migratory policies around the world have failed, leading to the spread of terrorism.

Addressing the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, Szijjarto said the international community must make it clear that there is no excuse for violating the borders between two peaceful countries.

"The uncontrolled and unregulated mass migration offered opportunity for terrorist organizations to send their fighters and to send their terrorists to other countries and continents," Szijjarto said.

Hungary will hold a referendum on Oct. 2 in which the government hopes to gather political support for its opposition to any future EU plan to resettle migrants among member states. Hungary is also challenging the EU in court, hoping to prevent having to temporarily take in 1,294 refugees.

___

3:30 p.m.

Russia's foreign minister is warning that unless Nusra Front "terrorist" fighters are separated from the moderate opposition in Syria any new cease-fire is "meaningless."

Sergey Lavrov says that a new truce  whether for three days or seven days  would be "senseless" unless the U.S.-led coalition can prove it has influence on opposition forces fighting President Bashar Assad's government.

He also told a press conference Friday after speaking to the General Assembly's ministerial meeting said that by insisting on the delivery of humanitarian aid first, "you ... have a pretext not to move on political process" or separating the opposition.

"It's a very dirty game if this is done intentionally," Lavrov said.

Lavrov said Russia is convinced that separating Assad's opponents won't take long if U.S. and Russian intelligence official sit down with a map and agree on locations of Nusra. But he said U.S. opposition to intelligence sharing by senior U.S. military officials "increases suspicion that something is fishy."

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2:35 p.m.

South Sudan's First Vice President Taban Deng is dismissing the need for more peacekeeping forces in his country.

Speaking with The Associated Press on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, Deng said that a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for a 4,000-strong regional force "didn't take into consideration our concerns as a nation."

The resolution to provide security in South Sudan's capital and deter attacks on U.N. sites would make the regional force part of the U.N. peacekeeping contingent in South Sudan and raise its strength to 17,000 soldiers and international police.

"We have 13,000 U.N. troops in South Sudan who are sitting idle, not doing anything," Deng said.

South Sudan became independent in 2011, but civil war broke out between the Dinka and Nuer peoples in December 2013. It lasted until a peace agreement was signed in August 2015 but fighting, that has left tens of thousands dead and more than 2 million displaced, continues.

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2:30 p.m.

North Korea's foreign minister is vowing his country will expand its nuclear capabilities in defiance of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, saying hostile actions by the United States have left it no choice.

Speaking at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, Ri Yong Ho condemned the United States for flying two supersonic bombers over South Korea earlier this week, vowing "the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination."

He added that North Korea "will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality in order to defend the dignity and right to existence and safeguard genuine peace vis-a-vis the increased nuclear war threat of the United States."

Speaking at a meeting with Southeast Asian foreign ministers Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that every country has a responsibility to vigorously enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions to ensure North Korea "pays a price for its dangerous actions."

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12:50 p.m.

The international diplomatic "quartet" of Mideast peacemakers is calling once again for Israel and the Palestinians to take steps to resume stalled peace talks.

At a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, the top diplomats of the European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States urged the parties to create conditions for restarting "meaningful" negotiations toward a two-state solution. For the Israelis, this means a halt to settlement construction on territory claimed by the Palestinians. For the Palestinians, it means an end to incitement of violence.

The diplomats were also joined by the foreign ministers of Egypt and France whose countries have each proposed ideas to restart talks. The quartet said all participants had agreed on the importance of coordinating peace efforts.

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12:20 p.m.

France's foreign minister says he will be disappointed but not discouraged if an agreement isn't reached in New York on a new cease-fire in Syria, insisting: "We will continue to fight."

Given the "impasse" in U.S.-Russia negotiations, Jean-Marc Ayrault vowed to fight for France's proposal to create a cease-fire oversight mechanism involving a large number of countries that would be chaired by a U.N. representative.

He told a news conference Friday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting that he keeps asking Russia and Iran whether they favor a military or political solution.

"Every time, they respond to me that it's the political solution," Ayrault said. "But to have trust in that we need to look at the acts  and the acts are military ones up until now."

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11:50 a.m.

With the Paris Agreement on climate change poised to take effect, diplomats now head to Morocco to hammer out the difficult details of how to make it work and raise the $100 billion needed each year to meet its ambitious goals.

Morocco's Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said he expects to announce that countries accounting for over 55 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions have formally joined the treaty  the threshold needed to trigger the landmark agreement  when he presides over the 22nd U.N. Climate Conference in Marrakech that starts on Nov. 7.

"Once the treaty takes effect, the next steps will require concrete actions on the part of world governments to start implementing concrete policies in order to adapt," said Mezouar.

___

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho is escorted to the podium to address the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is escorted to the podium to address the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Germany's Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Germany ups financial support for Syria's White Helmets

BERLIN (AP)  Germany's Foreign Ministry says it is increasing financial support for the Syria Civil Defense group, also known as the White Helmets.

The ministry said in a statement Friday that it has raised its funding for the group this year from 5 million euros ($5.61 million) to 7 million euros ($7.85 million).

White Helmet volunteers are best known for rescuing civilians from bombed-out buildings.

On Thursday, it was named as one of the recipients of the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes referred to as the "Alternative Nobel," together with activists from Egypt and Russia and a Turkish newspaper.
Judge rules 37 years enough jail time for deputy's slaying

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP)  A man who's been locked up nearly 38 years for his role in the fatal shooting of a western Maryland deputy has served enough time, a judge ruled Friday  but he's not free yet.

Roberto Rezek, 68, of Fairmont, West Virginia, left a Hagerstown courtroom in custody to await proceedings on whether he still owes the state of Pennsylvania six to 12 years for his robbery, assault, theft and reckless endangerment convictions stemming from a 1977 incident in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Before he could be sentenced for those crimes, Rezek and an accomplice, Richard "Danny" Tichnell, broke into an Oakland, Maryland, army surplus store to steal guns in January 1979. Garrett County Sheriff's Deputy David Livengood interrupted their getaway and was killed by Tichnell in a shootout, according to Tichnell's testimony.

Both were convicted of first-degree murder, and Tichnell died in prison. Rezek was sentenced to life plus 15 years, but his conviction was reversed in 2011 because his trial judge gave improper jury instructions.

On Friday, Rezek pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, averting a retrial. He apologized to Livengood's family, saying he's a reborn Christian with an applied psychology degree that he earned in prison.

"I was a punk and I was a hoodlum," Rezek said. "I went out that night to steal guns and what happened is, a good man died."

Washington County Circuit Judge M. Kenneth Long said he was impressed by Rezek's progress: "I believe, in essence, justice has been served."

Long ordered a suspended life sentence, with credit for time served, and placed Rezek on five years' supervised probation.

Livengood's brother Edward urged Long to keep Rezek locked up.

"I know he don't want to die in prison," he said. "My brother didn't want to die in the streets."
Trump hotels settle with attorney general over data breach

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  The Trump Hotel Collection company has agreed to pay $50,000 and shore up data security after breaches exposed more than 70,000 credit card numbers and other personal data, the state's attorney general said on Friday in announcing a settlement.

In May 2015, multiple banks analyzed hundreds of fraudulent credit card transactions and determined the hotel group, one of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's businesses, was the last merchant with legitimate transactions, according to the attorney general's office.

Authorities said the company knew by June 2015 that hotels in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas and Toronto had been compromised but didn't notify customers for four months, a violation of New York business law requiring prompt notification. They said a hacker infiltrated the hotel group's payment processing system in May 2014.

"It is vital in this digital age that companies take all precautions to ensure that consumer information is protected and that, if a data breach occurs, it is reported promptly to our office, in accordance with state law," said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat.

Safeguarding customer data is a top priority, a Trump Hotels Collection spokeswoman said.

"Unfortunately, cyber criminals seeking consumer data have recently infiltrated the systems of many organizations, including almost every major hotel company," she said.

According to the attorney general's office, the company last March received additional reports of a second security breach, an investigation showing a hacker got unauthorized access last November and installed credit card harvesting malware on 39 systems affecting five hotels, including Trump SoHo New York.
The Latest: New Jersey imam speaks out against violence

The Latest on the Sept. 17 bombings in New York and New Jersey, the investigation and the case against a New Jersey man (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

A New Jersey imam spoke against violence and in support of law enforcement during the first Friday prayer service since a local man was charged in the New Jersey and New York bombings.

FILE - This September 2016 file photo provided by Union County Prosecutor's Office shows Ahmad Khan Rahami, who is in custody as a suspect in the weekend bombings in New York and New Jersey. Rahami worked as an unarmed night guard for two months in 2011 at an AP administrative technology office in Cranbury, N.J. At the time, he was employed by Summit Security, a private contractor. Rahami remained hospitalized Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, after a shootout the day before with police in New Jersey. (Union County Prosecutor's Office via AP, File)

Imam Syed Fakhruddin Alvi urged the more than 100 men gathered at the Muslim Community Center of Union County to unite and be vigilant in leading their families and children away from evil.

Mosque members say the father of suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami is an active member of the mosque and frequently prays there, including this week.

Rahami was injured by police after a shootout in Linden hours after he was named the suspect in Saturday's bombings. He is recovering in a hospital.

Leaders called Rahami misguided and say people who follow extremist teachings are criminals.

___

Noon

A federal judge has denied a public defender's request that the man charged in bombings in the New York City-region be appointed a lawyer. Prosecutors say Ahmad Khan Rahami has not officially been arrested yet by federal authorities.

Magistrate Judge Mark Falk on Friday ruled against New Jersey public defender Richard Coughlin's request.

Federal prosecutors opposed the request and say Rahami has been incapacitated at the hospital. Coughlin says he has no reason to doubt that.

Rahami faces federal charges for the bombs that exploded in New York City and a New Jersey seaside community and state charges after a shootout with police in New Jersey.

Rahami was shot multiple times in a shootout in Linden on Monday. Two officers were treated for minor injuries.

___

3 a.m.

The father of the man charged with setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey says he informed the FBI in 2014 about his son's apparent radicalization.

Speaking to The Associated Press early Friday in a telephone interview, Mohammad Rahami, father of alleged bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami, said his son underwent a personality change after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2013. Speaking in Urdu, Mohammed Rahami said his son's mind was not that same. He said his son had become "bad," and that he didn't know what caused it, but he informed the FBI about it.

The elder Rahami said he doesn't think the FBI took any action against his son at the time. He condemned the bombings and said he and his family were in a state of shock

___

Ahmed reported from Islamabad

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)
Mom who swore at meeting not guilty of disorderly conduct

PITTSBURGH (AP)  A mother of two who swore at a school board because she didn't think members were doing enough to address her concerns about bullying has been found not guilty of disorderly conduct.

Johanna Boratko, 41, appealed her conviction stemming from a Greater Johnstown School Board meeting in March. She acknowledges swearing as she stormed out of the meeting but had argued the frustrated utterance  the f-word followed by another crude term applied to the board as a group  was protected First Amendment speech.

A Cambria County judge who heard her appeal of the summary offense, which is similar to a traffic ticket, agreed.

Although Boratko's language was "inappropriate" and "probably offensive," authorities didn't prove she "intended to cause 'inconvenience, annoyance or alarm' as required by the statute," Senior Judge F. Joseph Leahey wrote. The judge also said using the f-word isn't "obscene" under the statute unless it's used in a sexual context.

Defense attorney Timothy Burns said Boratko was gratified by the ruling.

"We're not looking for the right to use profanity, but we want people to be comfortable in what they say to a school board or public officials," Burns said.

Board President Richard Unger previously said the school board planned to abide by the judge's ruling and use it to determine how to conduct meetings in the future.

School Superintendent James Cekada said Friday in an emailed statement that the school respected the judge's ruling.

"Our core purpose is to create a thriving community tomorrow by investing in every child's success today," Cekada said.

Boratko and her husband first raised concerns in February that their two sons were being bullied at the district's middle school. Boratko contends one son was so upset he began cutting himself, and she told reporters seven to 10 students had been picking on him for three years and telling him "he should just die."

Burns said Friday that it appears the board is addressing those concerns pro-actively, including using a video about bullying and suicide.

Boratko has said she "just lost it" when she went back to the board in March and was made to sit through "2 hours of a dog-and-pony show" that wasn't addressing her concerns.

Boratko had been ordered to pay more than $250 in court costs, but that money will now be refunded because she won the appeal.

Two other citizens, including a former school support staff employee who defended Boratko at the March meeting, have sued the district, saying its "public comment" rules are used to stifle debate and free speech. That lawsuit is still pending.
French rogue trader damages slashed to 1 million euros

VERSAILLES, France (AP)  Former French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel will not have to pay 4.9 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in damages to the bank that used to employ him, but a more modest 1 million euros ($1.1 million), a court ruled Friday.

The court said Kerviel was "partly responsible" for huge losses suffered in 2008 by Societe Generale through his reckless financial trades. But it also ruled that the bank's "deficiencies" in its management, controls and security systems contributed to the losses, which Kerviel would have had no realistic way of reimbursing.

"I'm hoping to get to zero (civil damages) in the end because I still think I do not owe anything to Societe Generale. The battle continues," Kerviel told reporters following the ruling. His lawyer David Koubbi said they will decide later whether to appeal Friday's decision.

Former trader Jerome Kerviel speaks to the media at the Versailles appeal court, west of Paris, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. A French court has cut the civil damages owed by former trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9 billion euros ($5.5 billion) to 1 million euros ($1.1 million). (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Societe Generale's lawyer Jean Veil said the bank was satisfied with the ruling. He said that the court's decision means the damages are now realistic and "enforceable."

In one of the biggest ever trading fraud cases, Kerviel was sentenced to three years in prison for nearly bringing down the bank with the losses, just before the financial market meltdown in 2008.

The 39-year-old was found guilty of forgery, breach of trust and fraudulent computer use for covering up bets worth 50 billion euros  more than the market value of the entire bank at the time.

In 2014, France's highest court upheld Kerviel's criminal conviction and three-year sentence, but annulled the 4.9 billion euros in civil damages, saying they were "disproportionate" and that the bank had its share of responsibility in its own losses.

The initial amount of damages, which were equivalent to the total losses reported by the bank in the fraud, was so huge that Kerviel wouldn't have been able to pay them anyway.

As a result, the top court ordered a new civil trial.

Kerviel says his managers were aware of his risky operations, which had initially earned the bank 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in 2007, weeks before turning sour in early 2008.

He claims the bank had quietly welcomed his unauthorized trades when they made money, but dropped him when they began making losses.

The lawyers for Societe Generale have said Kerviel used his computer, financial skills and fake documents to conceal his unauthorized trading from managers.

Also at stake for the bank in the new civil trial are big tax credits it received from the French state in compensation for the losses incurred from Kerviel's fraud. If Societe Generale is ultimately found responsible for faults in handling the Kerviel case, the French government could ask the bank to pay back the tax credits, reportedly worth 2.2 billion euros ($2.5 billion).

In a statement, Finance Minister Michel Sapin said he has asked tax authorities to look into the consequences of Friday's ruling for Societe Generale's tax situation and to "fully safeguard the interests of the state."

Societe Generale argued in a statement that the court decision "has no effect" on its tax position. Veil, its lawyer, said "it is ruled out" that the bank pay back the tax deduction to the state.

Kerviel's legal saga is expected to go on, with his lawyer now trying to have his client's criminal conviction overturned.

The battle is also about image and reputation, both for the bank and Kerviel, who has tried to portray himself as a victim of an improperly regulated banking sector and a crusader against the ills of the financial world.

___

Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.

Former trader Jerome Kerviel, right, and his lawyer David Koubbi, arrive at the Versailles appeal court, west of Paris, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. A French court has cut the civil damages owed by former trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9 billion euros ($5.5 billion) to 1 million euros ($1.1 million). Kerviel was "partly responsible" for huge losses suffered in 2008 by the bank Societe Generale through his reckless financial trades. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Former trader Jerome Kerviel, center, waits with his lawyers, background, in the Versailles appeal court, west of Paris, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. A French court has cut the civil damages owed by former trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9 billion euros ($5.5 billion) to 1 million euros ($1.1 million). Kerviel was "partly responsible" for huge losses suffered in 2008 by the bank Societe Generale through his reckless financial trades. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Mideast 'quartet' urges steps to resume peace talks

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The international diplomatic "quartet" of Mideast peacemakers called once again on Friday for Israel and the Palestinians to take steps to resume stalled peace talks.

At a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, the top diplomats of the European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States urged the parties to create conditions for restarting "meaningful" negotiations toward a two-state solution. For the Israelis, this means a halt to settlement construction on territory claimed by the Palestinians. For the Palestinians, it means an end to incitement of violence.

The diplomats were also joined by the foreign ministers of Egypt and France, whose countries have each proposed ideas to restart talks. The quartet said all participants had agreed on the importance of coordinating peace efforts.

European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini, left, United Nations General Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, second from left, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, second from right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pose for photographers before a meeting of the Middle East quartet at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Meeting later at a New York hotel, Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they had agreed to look at ways to promote peace and stability in the region.

"There are things we believe we can achieve in the next months and there are serious concerns we all have about security in the region," Kerry said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said he "perceived a new dynamic developing" after meeting with Arab leaders and others involved in the peace effort this week at the United Nations.

Ayrault has been trying to rally support for France's proposal to organize an international conference before the end of the year to present Israelis and Palestinians with a package of incentives if they reach a peace agreement.

He said diplomats have been receptive to the idea this week. "Our path, our approach, our methods are understood and appreciated," Ayrault said at a news conference before the quartet meeting.

He acknowledged there was little encouragement to be found in the speeches that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a day earlier to the U.N. General Assembly. The two leaders presented starkly different visions of the path toward restarting peace talks.

Ayrault sidestepped a question about whether Israeli and Palestinian leaders have been receptive to the idea of an end-of-year meeting, saying "there is a still a lot of work to be done to achieve this conference."

In his speech, Abbas accused Israel of "continuing to evade" the international conference proposed by France.
Guide to fatal shooting of unarmed black man by Tulsa police

TULSA, Okla. (AP)  A white Oklahoma police officer has been charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose vehicle broke down in the middle of a Tulsa street. If convicted, Betty Shelby faces a minimum of four years in prison.

Prosecutors allege that Shelby "reacted unreasonably" when she opened fire Sept. 16 on 40-year-old Terence Crutcher. The charges were filed just days after the release of dashcam and aerial footage, 911 calls and police radio traffic. Here's a look at key elements of the case:

___

This photo provided by Tulsa County Inmate Information Center shows Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby. Tulsa County jail records show that Shelby turned herself in early Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, hours after prosecutors charged her with first-degree manslaughter in the death of Terence Crutcher. (Tulsa County Inmate Information Center via AP)

THE VIDEOS

Authorities provided two videos  one from a police helicopter and the other from another officer's dashboard camera. Both show Crutcher walking with his hands in the air toward his stopped SUV, which is straddling the center line. A female officer is following him.

As Crutcher approaches the driver's side, 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. Someone on the police radio says, "I think he may have just been tasered." Almost immediately, a woman's voice yells on the radio, "Shots fired!" Crutcher is left lying on the pavement.

The officers slowly back away. Crutcher, his white shirt stained with blood, lies on the ground for nearly two minutes before an officer begins to examine him. Emergency medical responders arrive about four minutes after the gunfire.

A preliminary autopsy report showed that Crutcher died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Toxicology results are not yet complete, according to the state medical examiner.

___

THE OFFICER'S ACCOUNT

Shelby, who is free on bond, has not spoken publicly about the shooting. Her attorney, Scott Wood, has said Crutcher repeatedly ignored Shelby's commands and did not respond to her questions.

Wood said Shelby, who has completed drug-recognition training, thought Crutcher might be under the influence of PCP. The officer was also concerned about Crutcher repeatedly reaching toward his pockets because a person with a weapon often touches it to make sure it's still there, Wood said.

The attorney said the officer drew her handgun after Crutcher walked toward the police car's passenger side and started to put his hand in his left pocket.

Another officer arrived and drew his stun gun, the lawyer said, adding that the stun gun and handgun were fired simultaneously because both officers perceived the same threat.

Wood said Crutcher's head was tilted but his eyes were on Shelby. She opened fire when Crutcher's "left hand goes through" the SUV window, he said.

___

THE CRIMINAL CHARGES

Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter. She surrendered early Friday and was released on $50,000 bond. An affidavit alleges that she became "emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted" and escalated the situation with Crutcher.

"I do not know why things happen in this world the way they do," Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said. "We need to pray for wisdom and guidance."

First-degree manslaughter covers killings that happen in the "heat of passion." In a separate case, a Tulsa reserve deputy who last year killed an unarmed suspect after mistaking his handgun for his stun gun was charged with second-degree manslaughter, which addresses "culpable negligence." Robert Bates is serving a four-year prison term.

___

THE POLICE STATEMENTS

Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan has said that Crutcher did not have a gun on his body or in his SUV. A police spokeswoman initially told reporters that Crutcher refused requests to put his hands in the air. After the footage suggesting otherwise was released, spokeswoman Jeanne MacKenzie said she was relying on reports from officers.

Authorities have held back many details, citing the investigation, but police confirmed the discovery of PCP in Crutcher's vehicle and that Shelby was carrying a stun gun but did not use it.

___

THE FAMILY'S POSITION

The family and their attorneys say the video clearly shows Crutcher wasn't threatening the officers. The attorneys also provided an enlarged photo from the police footage that appears to show the SUV's window rolled up, which would contradict Shelby's claim that Crutcher was reaching inside his vehicle.

Whether Crutcher possessed or used drugs is also irrelevant, the lawyers said.

"If a case like this with clear video can't be appropriately dealt with justly, then what case can be?" attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons has said. "Once people lose hope in our justice system, everything else falls down."

___

THE CONTRAST WITH CHARLOTTE

The swift action in Tulsa stands in contrast to Charlotte, North Carolina, where police have refused to release video of the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, another black man, and the National Guard was called in after violent protests. Demonstrations in Tulsa since Crutcher's death have been consistently peaceful.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett praised the police department for quickly providing evidence to the district attorney.

"These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails," Bartlett said.

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)

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)

Quinton Dixon, Oklahoma University graduate student, speaks to protesters who filled the food court chanting "Black Lives Matter" in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 in Norman, 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. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP)
Nonprofit: Chelsea Manning faces 2 weeks in solitary

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP)  A transgender soldier imprisoned in Kansas for leaking classified information to the WikiLeaks website faces up to two weeks in solitary confinement in part for attempting suicide, according to a nonprofit group that has been supporting her.

Chelsea Manning was sentenced late Thursday to 14 days in solitary confinement for a July suicide attempt and for having a "prohibited" book, "Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy," by Gabriella Coleman, according to a statement from Fight For the Future. The statement was backed by one of Manning's lawyers.

Seven of the 14 days were suspended, but could be added to the sentence if Manning gets "in trouble" in the next six months, according to comments from Manning in the statement. She also said she can appeal the sentence and no date has been set for when the discipline would begin.

Army spokesman Wayne Hall said Friday in an emailed statement it "would be inappropriate for the Army to comment at this time."

Manning is serving a 35-year sentence at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth. She was arrested in 2010 as Bradley Manning and was convicted in 2013 in military court of leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents to WikiLeaks. Manning was an intelligence analyst in Iraq at the time.

The ACLU also filed a lawsuit in 2014 against the U.S. Department of Defense over its refusal to treat Manning's gender dysphoria.

Fight for the Future campaign director Evan Greer said Friday that Manning dictated the information to a supporter who provided it to Fight for the Future.
Puff Daddy donates $1 million to Howard University

WASHINGTON (AP)  Puff Daddy is donating $1 million to Howard University, where he once was a student.

The rapper and music mogul, whose real name is Sean Combs, made the announcement alongside Howard President Wayne Frederick at his Bad Boy Records reunion tour show Thursday night in Washington, D.C., where the historically black college is located.

Howard says the money will go toward creating a Sean Combs Scholarship Fund, which will award money to undergraduate business majors with a financial need. The school also says recipients will get an internship with one of Combs' companies and mentoring through Combs Enterprises.

FILE - In this May 10, 2014, file photo, entertainer and entrepreneur Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs arrives to the 2014 Howard University graduation ceremony at Howard University in Washington. Combs announced a $1 million donation to the school on Sept. 23, 2016, during his concert in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
Adult son of MSNBC's Joe Scarborough fractures skull in fall

NEW YORK (AP)  MSNBC host Joe Scarborough says his son is doing "much better" after suffering a fractured skull Thursday.

Scarborough's "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski said on Friday's program that 25-year-old Andrew Scarborough was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in New York after falling down a flight of stairs. Brzezinski says the younger Scarborough's condition is "touch and go" but says he has been stabilized.

Joe Scarborough missed Friday's show, but said on Twitter that Thursday was "a frightening day and long night." The former congressman says Andrew was able to respond to a neurologist's questions. He said the doctor "ended by asking him his favorite team." Scarborough said Andrew replied, "The Red Sox, who've won 8 in a row."
Alexander Levy takes big lead after incomplete round 2

BAD GRIESBACH, Germany (AP)  Frenchman Alexander Levy set a course record and opened up a six-shot lead before fading light shortened the second round of the European Open on Friday.

Levy will have to complete his round on the ninth hole on Saturday. Half the field will go out early Saturday for the second round, before the third round can start. Morning fog delayed start of play on both days so far.

Levy shot a 9-under in the morning for a course-record 62 as he completed the first round and was at 17-under when play was halted in the evening.

He made 17 birdies in 35 holes to open up a commanding lead over German Martin Kaymer, who also has one hole to play.

Robert Karlsson of Sweden and Englishman Ross Fisher, his playing partner, were also at 11-under  with three holes left to complete.
William, Kate bring young prince, princess on Canada trip

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  Canadians were thrilled when Prince William and Kate traveled across the country as newlyweds five years ago. Now, they will get a glimpse of the couple's young children, Charlotte and George, as they travel overseas for the first time as a family of four.

The trip to Canada starting Saturday marks the first official overseas jaunt for 1-year-old Princess Charlotte. Her older brother Prince George, 3, is an old hand at royal travel, having already visited Australia and New Zealand on an official tour.

While the public will only see the children once at the departure on Oct. 1 and the media will only see the kids a few times during an eight-day visit, Canadians are excited about seeing them.

FILE - In this July 8, 2011, Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch the annual Calgary Stampede parade in Calgary, Alberta. Canadians were thrilled when Prince William and Kate traveled across the country as newlyweds five years ago. Now, they will see the couples young children, Charlotte and George, as they travel overseas for the first time as a family of four. The trip to Canada starting Saturday marks the first official overseas jaunt for 1-year-old Princess Charlotte. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

"That brings an extra level of excitement to the visit," Victoria Monarchist League of Canada member Bruce Hallsor said.

As newlyweds for their first official trip as a couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge won raucous cheers and endeared themselves to Canadian crowds with a skillful mix of royal pomp and playful informality. On this visit the royals will visit British Columbia and the Yukon after accepting an invitation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will host them this weekend along with his wife Sophie.

While Australia, Jamaica and Barbados have talked about becoming republics, there is less debate in Canada about replacing Queen Elizabeth II as the figurative head of state. Canadians are somewhat indifferent to the monarchy, but most have great affection for the queen, whose silhouette marks their coins, as well as her grandsons and Kate.

The trip is Prince William's second to the Pacific Coast province of British Columbia. He accompanied his father, Prince Charles, and his brother Harry in 1998, 11 months after the death of their mother Princess Diana.

Crowds of frenzied teenage girls greeted the princes in Vancouver, cementing William's status as a teen heartthrob. Eighteen years later, William arrives with a wife and family.

The children will not be with their parents as they are welcomed to Canada at British Columbia's ornate government buildings in the provincial capital of Victoria. And the kids will stay behind in Victoria while their parents travel.

Far from Victoria's marbled halls and manicured lawns, the royal couple will move to Vancouver on Sunday for a visit to the city's gritty Downtown Eastside, a dozen square blocks of poverty and addiction. They'll have tea with residents at Sheway, a support program for pregnant women and new mothers dealing with addiction and other challenges. William's mother Diana was on hand when Sheway's precursor opened in Glasgow, Scotland in 1991.

"I'm certain that's something that's present in William's mind," Hallsor said.

Sheway client Kelly Hamilton said excitement at the center is growing in anticipation of the royal visit.

"If I were picked (to have tea), I'd be very nervous, she said. "I wouldn't want to discuss my past addiction with the prince."

Hamilton said she hopes the visit will raise awareness of the center's work.

The royals will then visit an immigrant welcome center where they will meet with a newly arrived refugee family from Syria. More than 30,000 Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada since Trudeau was elected last fall.

On Monday, the royal couple head by floatplane to the isolated coastal aboriginal community of Bella Bella. There, William will visit the now-protected, 24,711-square-mile (64,000-square-kilometer) Great Bear Rainforest. On Wednesday they'll visit the Yukon and Thursday the royals will be back in Victoria for a private children's tea party with military families.

___
Cate Blanchett reveals the extraordinary ways she got into character for her role in new film Tar - as she's tipped to land her second Best Actress Oscar
More than half the country fears a Donald Trump presidency, and only about a third of Americans believe he is somewhat qualified to serve in the White House.

A new Associated Press-GfK poll has underscored the roadblocks facing the Republican presidential nominee as he tries to overtake Hillary Clinton in the final sprint towards Election Day.

But only a third of voters would be excited to see his Democratic rival move into the White House .

The poll revealed that most voters oppose the hard-line approach to immigration that is a centerpiece of the billionaire businessman's campaign, while two thirds believe he is racist.

They are more likely to trust Clinton to handle a variety of issues facing the country, and Trump has no advantage on the national security topics also at the forefront of his bid.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio on Wednesday. In the final sprint to Election Day, Donald Trump faces a daunting series of roadblocks in the minds of Americans as he tries to catch up to Hillary Clinton

An infographic shows how voters perceive the two presidential candidates

Trump undoubtedly has a passionate base of support, seen clearly among the thousands of backers who fill the stands at his signature rallies. But most people don't share that fervor.

Only 29 per cent of registered voters would be excited and just 24 per cent would be proud should Trump prevail in November.

Only one in four voters find him even somewhat civil or compassionate, and just a third say he's not at all racist.

'We as Americans should be embarrassed about Donald Trump,'said Michael DeLuise, 66, a retired university vice president and registered Republican who lives in Eugene, Oregon.

'We as Americans have always been able to look at the wacky leaders of other countries and say "Phew, that's not us." We couldn't if Trump wins. It's like putting P.T. Barnum in charge. And it's getting dangerous.'

The nation is sour on Clinton, too. Only 39 per cent of voters have a favorable view of the Democratic nominee, compared to the 56 per cent who view her unfavorably.

Trump undoubtedly has a passionate base of support, seen clearly among the thousands of backers who fill the stands at his signature rallies. Trump supporters are pictured September 14 in Ohio

Less than a third say they would be excited or proud should she move into the White House.

'I think she's an extremely dishonest person and have extreme disdain for her and her husband' said one registered Republican, Denise Pettitte, 36, from Watertown, Wisconsin. 'I think it would be wonderful to elect a woman, but a different woman.'

But as poorly as voters may view Clinton, they think even less of Trump.

Forty-four per cent say they would be afraid if Clinton, the former secretary of state, is elected, far less than the 56 per cent who say the same of Trump.

He's viewed more unfavorably than favorably by a 61 per cent to 34 per cent margin, and more say their unfavorable opinion of the New Yorker is a strong one than say the same of Clinton, 50 per cent to 44 per cent.

That deep distain for both candidates prompts three-quarters of voters to say that a big reason they'll be casting their ballot is to stop someone, rather than elect someone.

'It's not really a vote for her as it's a vote against Trump,' said Mark Corbin, 59, a business administrator and registered Democrat from Media, Pennsylvania.

Roughly half of voters see Clinton at least somewhat qualified, while just 30 per cent say Trump is.

Even when it comes to what may be Clinton's greatest weakness, the perception that she is dishonest, Trump fails to perform much better: 71 per cent say she's only slightly or not at all honest, while 66 per cent say the same of Trump.

Forty-nine per cent say Clinton is at least somewhat corrupt, but 43 per cent say that of Trump.

'Whatever her problems are, they don't even come close to him,' said JoAnn Dinkelman, 66, a Republican from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who will cross party lines and vote for Clinton. 'Everything that comes out of his mouth that is fact-checked turns out to be a lie.'

Only 39 per cent of voters have a favorable view of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton (pictured Monday in Philadelphia), compared to the 56 per cent who view her unfavorably

Trump finds no respite with voters when it comes to what he vows to do as president, either.

Nearly 6 in 10 oppose his promise to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, and only 21 per cent of his supporters and 9 per cent of registered voters overall are very confident he would succeed at fulfilling his promise that Mexico would pay for the construction.

Six in 10 believe there should be a way for immigrants living in the country illegally to become U.S. citizens  a view that Trump opposes.

'The wall isn't the answer. It's not feasible and Mexico won't pay for it,' said Timothy Seitz, 26, a graduate student at the Ohio State University and a Republican. 'We should be leaders. We shouldn't cower from others and cut ourselves off in the world.'

Beyond immigration, voters say they trust Clinton over Trump by wide margins when it comes to health care, race relations and negotiations with Russia.

She also narrowly tops Trump when it comes to filling Supreme Court vacancies, as well as another of the billionaire's signature issues: handling international trade.

Forty-nine per cent say Clinton is at least somewhat corrupt, but 43 per cent say that of Trump. People are pictured listening to Clinton talk on September 15 in Washington

Trump is narrowly favored on creating jobs, 39 per cent to 35 per cent, while in general, voters are about equally split on which candidate would better handle the economy.

Voters are slightly more likely to trust Trump than Clinton on handling gun laws, 39 per cent to 35 per cent.

Voters are closely split on which candidate would better handle protecting the country and evenly divided on which would better handle the threat posed by ISIS.

And Americans are much more likely to say they trust Clinton than Trump to do a better job handling the U.S. image abroad.

The AP-GfK Poll of 1,694 adults, including 1,476 registered voters, was conducted online September 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 plus or minus 2.7 points.

Respondents were first selected randomly using telephone or mail survey methods and later interviewed online.
Wounds heal slowly in Colombian town engulfed by rebels

PUERTO RICO, Colombia (AP)  It's a sweltering afternoon and two young women cool off with a juice at a bright green-painted store and watering hole as a few mules relax in the shade. The peaceful scene typical of any tropical village in Colombia makes it hard to imagine this as the site of one of the most-remembered massacres in the country's bloody civil conflict.

At around 2:40 p.m. on May 24, 2005, members of an elite guerrilla platoon swept silently into town by boat, hopped on the back of a red pickup truck and drove a few blocks through a small police barrier to a house where a town hall meeting was taking place. They burst in with a machine gun spraying bullets and in less than 10 minutes killed seven people, including four city council members.

"They entered without God or law and started firing in every direction," remembers Maria Luisa Celis, who survived the attack on her fellow council members by hiding in the kitchen.

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, men drink beer at a store in the house where, in mid-2005, seven people were gunned down by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, in Puerto Rico, southern Colombia. On May 24, 2005, members of an elite guerrilla platoon swept silently into town by boat, hopped on the back of a red pickup truck and drove a few blocks through a small police barrier to a house where a town hall meeting was taking place. They burst in with a machine gun spraying bullets and in less than 10 minutes killed seven people, including four city council members. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

As President Juan Manuel Santos prepares to sign a historic peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, those who for years who were besieged by guerrillas operating nearby are uneasy about the future. While opinion is divided in this town ahead of an Oct. 2 referendum on the accord, even supporters resent seeing guerrilla commanders who terrorized their town for years now touting themselves as peacemakers and being rewarded with a political future.

FARC leaders on Friday gave their unanimous support to the peace agreement at their final conference as a guerrilla army, taking place in a vast savannah one town away.

"The war is over," said rebel leader known by his alias Ivan Marquez.

"Tell Mauricio Babilonia that he can let loose the yellow butterflies," said Marquez, referring to a fictional character in Nobel prize-winning novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "100 Hundred Years of Solitude."

The FARC has apologized and met with victims of other emblematic killings, but has never said it's sorry or explained its motives for the attack in the town of Puerto Rico. But local residents believe it may have had to do with the community's close association with the Turbay family, a local political dynasty whose prominent members were all wiped out by the guerrillas.

"The FARC wanted to annihilate the Turbay family," said Wilmar Castro, an official who now works for the city council.

The province of Caqueta, where Puerto Rico is located, has long been a FARC stronghold. Marquez, the chief rebel negotiator, was born in Caqueta. Two of his comrades on the seven-member secretariat, the group's top decision-making body, have deep roots in the province.

It's also the base of operations for one of the FARC's most-violent units, the Teofilo Forero mobile column, which carried out the attack on Puerto Rico as well as the kidnapping of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and the bombing of an elite social club in Bogota that left 36 dead.

The 2005 massacre was neither the town's first nor its last brush with political violence. Two other council members had been killed earlier in 2005 and the remaining seven, including Celis, fled the town with their families after the attack. Some 200 residents reportedly took up exile in Canada. Three of the town's mayors were also killed by the FARC between 2001 and 2009.

The number of violent attacks on the town has declined in recent years as the U.S.-backed military offensive over the past decade pushed the rebels deeper into the jungle. Residents say they're no longer afraid to speak freely against the warlords and the last major security incident, when police found a vehicle carrying almost a ton of explosives near the town, occurred over a year ago.

But the FARC's presence is still felt. Castro, who arrived in the town in 2008, says that a few weeks ago guerrillas told shopkeepers in a rural area that they needed to fork up cash to the FARC in the form of "peace contributions." In July, the FARC's maximum commander, alias Timochenko, ordered his troops to stop extorting all businesses in areas where it is dominant.

"Even those selling hot dogs had to pay vaccines," Castro said, using a popular slang term to describe extortion payments collected by the FARC. "The guerrillas are used to mocking the state and society."

Resentment is also directed toward the government. Celis said she's seen no assistance despite having to uproot her family. She and others have sued the state for neglecting its duty to provide protection for city officials.

On the day of the attack, there was no sign of police even though because of security concerns the town hall meeting had been moved a block away from the police station to the house that is now being used as a store. The government agency that attends to needs of the conflict's millions of victims did not immediately return a request for comment.

Whether or not the town endorses the peace deal in the referendum, residents say they don't believe the FARC will change.

Gildardo Martinez, a barber and brother of a council member killed before the 2005 attack, said he still doesn't know how he'll vote.

"God says we have to forgive and I'm very faithful," said Martinez during a short conversation between two haircuts. "But I'll never forget how they assassinated my sister."

___

AP Writer Libardo Cardona contributed to this report from Bogota, Colombia.

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, soldiers patrol in Puerto Rico, southern Colombia. Puerto Rico sits one town away from a vast, desolate savannah known as Yari Plains where leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, have been gathering this week for their final conference as a guerrilla army. The town has long been a guerrilla stronghold and base of operations for one of the FARC's most-feared units, the Teofilo Forero mobile column, which attacked Puerto Rico's city council killing four of it members, kidnapped former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and bombed an elite social club in Bogota that left 36 dead. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a horse drawn cart makes its way along a street in Puerto Rico, southern Colombia. The province of Caqueta, where Puerto Rico is located, has long been a FARC stronghold. The rebel leader known by his alias Ivan Marquez and chief rebel negotiator for the peace agreement, was born in Caqueta. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, families gather around a Ferris wheel at the main square in Puerto Rico, southern Colombia. The province of Caqueta, where Puerto Rico is located, has long been a FARC stronghold. Its also the base of operations for one of the FARCs most-violent units, the Teofilo Forero mobile column, which carried out the attack on Puerto Rico in May 2005, killing seven people, including four city council members. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, barber Gildardo Martinez takes care of a client, at his shop in Puerto Rico, southern Colombia. Martinez's sister, a city council member, was murdered in 2005, six weeks before rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, attacked a house where a town hall meeting was taking place killing seven people, including four city council members. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Ivan Marquez, chief negotiator of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, announces that the group's 10th conference ratified the peace deal with the Colombian government in Yari Plains, southern Colombia, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. FARC leaders on Friday gave their unanimous support to the peace agreement at their final conference as a guerrilla army. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Justice: Changing course on the bench is not weakness

WASHINGTON (AP)  Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy says a willingness to change course on the bench is not an indication of weakness, but rather a sign of "fidelity to your judicial oath."

Kennedy told a meeting of international lawyers in Washington Friday that judges must be willing to re-examine their premises. His remarks sounded like a partial explanation of his votes in two recent cases involving race, in which he uncharacteristically sided with liberal justices.

Kennedy has rarely voted to uphold racial preferences in more than 28 years on the Supreme Court. Yet he cast the crucial vote and wrote the court's opinion in June to allow the University of Texas to consider race in admissions. He also was the decisive vote in 2015 to preserve certain kinds of housing discrimination claims.

FILE - In this July 15, 2015 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy speaks in San Diego. Kennedy says a willingness to change course on the bench is not an indication of weakness, but rather a sign of fidelity to your judicial oath. Kennedy told a meeting of international lawyers in Washington Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, that judges must be willing to re-examine their premises. His remarks sounded like a partial explanation of his votes in two recent cases involving race, in which he uncharacteristically sided with liberal justices. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)

"To re-examine your premise is not a sign of weakness of your judicial philosophy. It's a sign of fidelity to your judicial oath," Kennedy said at the International Bar Association meeting at which he discussed the importance of the rule of law in the United States and abroad.

He spoke with dismay about a decline in the level of civil discourse, which he termed hostile and fractious. "I'm not talking just about the elections. That's part of it," he said.

Kennedy is now the longest-serving justice since Antonin Scalia's death in February.

He often sparred with Scalia over the role of foreign law in Supreme Court decisions. Scalia said it had no place at all.
Utah heir-tracing firm pleads not guilty in antitrust case

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  A Salt Lake City company specializing in the little-known business of tracking down heirs to unclaimed inheritances pleaded not guilty Friday in a federal antitrust case that's part of a wider U.S. Department of Justice probe into the industry.

Kemp & Associates is accused of conspiring with fellow heir-tracking companies for more than 14 years so the firms wouldn't have to compete with each other and driving up costs for heirs who are rightly entitled to the money.

The company and executive Daniel Mannix have denied any wrongdoing. Their lawyers contend the firm provides an important service for people who wouldn't otherwise know about estates they are entitled to, often from long-lost relatives.

Mannix and the company are each facing one antitrust count. Each defendant could face a fine of up to $1 million or twice the loss to the victims. Mannix could face up to 10 years in prison.

A two-week trial was set for late November, though that's expected to be delayed because of the complexity of the case.

Defense attorneys declined additional comment Friday.

The industry defends its practices, saying it has helped heirs secure millions of dollars in inheritances. Companies like Kemp employ workers who sift through probate filings in search of people who have recently died and who may have missing or unknown heirs.

Using court records, genealogical documents and other public data, they track down whoever would be the beneficiaries, then reach out to them and offer to help them document their connection to the deceased and claim the money that would otherwise go to the state.

If they're successful, the company collects a fee.

The firms typically withhold details like the name of the deceased or the amount of the inheritance until after they secure a contract.

Though the companies stand behind their business practices, they also tacitly acknowledge their calls can raise eyebrows. Firms' websites include frequently-asked-question sections with rhetorical queries like "How do I know this is legitimate?" and "Is this some type of scam?" along with answers meant to reassure potential customers their methods are sound.

The probe led by Chicago prosecutors has resulted in plea deals with a California company and two executives. Prosecutors say Kemp and Mannix colluded with one those executives.

The charges allege the companies worked together so they wouldn't have to compete with each other to offer the best price or service.
6 Portland health providers give $21.5M for homeless housing

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Five major hospitals in Portland, Oregon, and a nonprofit health care plan said Friday they will donate a combined $21.5 million toward the construction of nearly 400 housing units for the city's burgeoning homeless and low-income population  a move hailed by national housing advocates as the largest private investment of its kind in the nation.

The money from the private health care providers will be part of a larger $69 million capital construction plan that comes as the booming Pacific Northwest city struggles with a seemingly intractable homeless problem that has become more visible in the past few years and poses a political quagmire for local leaders.

Earlier this month, hundreds of people were evicted from an informal tent camp on a nature trail on the city's east side, and the city has fielded thousands of complaints on a hotline for residents as leaders debate repurposing an abandoned warehouse and a vacant jail as temporary shelters.

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2016 file photo, Deitra Schmer watches as her granddaughter, Andrea Brown, brushes her hair and grandson Adrian Atkinson, right, look on in Schmer's tent in a homeless encampment along the Springwater Corridor bike and pedestrian trail in Portland, Ore. Five major hospitals in Portland and a low-income, nonprofit health plan are donating a combined $21.5 million to build nearly 400 housing units for the city's homeless population, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus,File)

"I'm incredibly excited about the impact that this project will have, but what I'm even more excited about is the example that we are setting," said Joe Robertson, president of Oregon Health & Science University. "Most of the story is already written by the time these people show up in our health system, so we have to do something and do it in a manner that is different than what we've done before."

In addition to the money from the health care providers, the city housing bureau will chip in about $9 million and Central City Concern  a nonprofit provider of low-income housing that will own and manage the three new buildings  will finance the remainder of the $69 million through tax credits, loans and private fundraising.

The investment comes at a critical time for Portland. The city is booming but skyrocketing rents, cripplingly low vacancy rates and a severe shortage of affordable housing created such an urgent situation earlier this year that the city made it legal for six months to sleep on city streets.

Nearly 1,900 people sleep outside each night; 88 homeless people died on the streets in 2015, up sharply from 56 the year before.

The housing will feature a total of 382 housing units in three apartment complexes in strategically targeted areas of the city, including a North Portland neighborhood where many residents have been displaced by rapid gentrification.

One site will include a medical clinic for people with mental illness and drug addiction along with additional hospital-style housing for homeless people who are dying, recovering from serious illness or surgery, or transitioning from a mental health crisis.

Construction is expected to begin in 2017 and the housing should be completed by 2018.

Hospitals and hospital systems elsewhere in the country have opened low-income housing, but the donation announced in Portland would be the largest and most expensive nationwide, said Robert Friant, spokesman for the New York City-based Corporation for Supportive Housing. The nonprofit group champions low-income housing and works in 40 states and 300 cities nationwide.

Studies have shown that 70 percent of a person's health outcome is determined by social factors, such as their housing status, income, level of education and support network, he said. The hospitals in Portland should benefit in the long-run by driving down the number of expensive emergency room visits and other reactive care needed by those placed in the housing, he added.

"That stability that comes with a home allows them to make regular doctor's appointments," Friant said. "We've had people who've had to spend months in a hospital because they've been homeless and their health has deteriorated."

It's a story that Isabel Hartshorn knows well. The 36-year-old mother was homeless in Portland for eight years before getting an apartment and starting training recently as a carpenter. When she was on the street, she once got such a bad cough she broke a rib.

"I had walking pneumonia for days. There was nothing that they could do about it," she said. "I had to walk around like that. There wasn't shelters available."

In addition to Oregon Health & Science University, donors include Adventist Health, CareOregon, Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health and Providence Health & Services-Oregon.

____

Follow Gillian Flaccus on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/gflaccus
Calendar says autumn, weather says summer in California

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Just days into autumn, a summer-like heat wave descended Friday on California accompanied by strong winds and low humidity that brought increased fire danger to the parched state.

Powerful Santa Ana winds whipped up late Thursday, bringing down trees and knocking out power to residents in Los Angeles.

Potentially stronger northeasterly gusts up to 55 mph (89 kph) were expected into the weekend from Monterey south to San Diego, according to the National Weather Service.

A group walks a dog on a path at Fort Funston in San Francisco, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. The San Francisco Bay Area will see weekend sunshine and temperatures in the 70s and 80s. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Drivers were urged to use caution on mountain roads.

Temperatures climbed and could hit triple digits in parts of Los Angeles, the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento. The San Francisco Bay Area was expected to see weekend sunshine and temperatures in the 70s and 80s.

Red flag warnings were issued in mountain and valley areas into Sunday, as forecasters predicted humidity levels could slip below 15 percent.

Fall often brings high fire danger to Southern California because of seasonal winds. Several years of drought have further heightened the flammability of brush.

"Traditionally, late September through mid-November is Santa Ana season," Cal Fire Chief Thom Porter said. "Many of the state's largest and most damaging wildfires coincide with this time of year."

Longtime Pasadena resident Mona Teebay said she notices it every fall.

"The fire kind of affects your life," the 57-year-old woman said. "You always have fall activities disrupted."

Teebay said she believes poor air quality exacerbated by smoke from nearby wildfires caused her 23-year-old daughter to develop asthma as a baby.

And wildfires often forced her daughter's summer camps to be cancelled, she said.

Some communities stationed additional fire crews in danger areas to deal with the increased risk.

The hot weather and gusting winds could make for difficult conditions for crews battling wildfires already burning, including two at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

A blaze that broke out Thursday forced the evacuation of buildings on the sprawling Central California base, several miles from another fire that has burned for several days.

To the north, a wildfire burning for two months on California's scenic Big Sur coast surpassed $200 million in firefighting costs, becoming the costliest to fight in U.S. history, according to data released this week.

The fire in Los Padres National Forest blackened 185 square miles (479 sq. kilometers) of timber and brush.
Lawyer for man killed by cop in Wal-Mart to meet with Lynch

DAYTON, Ohio (AP)  The attorney for the family of a man fatally shot by police at a Wal-Mart store is scheduled to meet with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch at the end of this month, two years after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into the shooting.

Attorney Michael Wright, who represents the family of John Crawford III in a federal wrongful-death lawsuit delayed by the department's investigation, told the Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/2ctqeKm) he is meeting with Lynch on Sept. 30.

"We would hope that they would give us a little insight with regards to the investigation on why it's taking so long," Wright said Thursday.

Department of Justice officials didn't immediately return calls for comment Friday.

Officers went to the Beavercreek Wal-Mart on Aug. 5, 2014, after a man called 911 to report, in a recorded call, that someone was walking around waving an apparent rifle and "pointing it at people." Police said they believed Crawford had a real weapon and didn't respond to commands to put it down. Crawford had an air rifle from a store shelf.

Officer Sean Williams, who shot Crawford, was cleared by a Greene County special grand jury a month after the shooting.

Wright had sent a letter to Lynch in July asking the Department of Justice to wrap up its investigation by the end of August.

"We want the investigation to either move forward or to stop," Wright said. "Because at this point, it is preventing us from doing anything in this case."

Wright wants to depose Williams and another officer, but a federal judge has allowed the officers to avoid that process because of the Department of Justice investigation.

"I don't know who's not doing what, but something has to be done," Wright said. "Something has to be done to prevent the types of killings that we are seeing day in and day out in this country."

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is based in Bentonville, Arkansas.

___
Army suspends Fort Riley commander, launches investigation

FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP)  The U.S. Army says it has suspended the commander of Fort Riley and launched an official investigation, though no details have been provided.

Army spokesman Col. Patrick R. Seiber announced Friday that Maj. Gen. Wayne Grigsby has been suspended as commander of the 1st Infantry Division at the Kansas base. He declined further comment. An Army spokeswoman also declined to disclose the nature of the investigation.

About 17,000 troops are stationed at Fort Riley. Grigsby assumed command of the base in August 2015, after 31 years of military service that included a stint as commander of the Combined Joint Task Force in East Africa.
Trump adds names to Supreme Court wish list

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP)  Donald Trump has added 10 names to the list he says he'd use to fill Supreme Court vacancies if he becomes president, including a U.S. senator whose inclusion helped secure a bitter rival's endorsement.

The announcement of the new names Friday, three days before the first presidential debate, appeared to be another attempt by the Republican nominee to solidify support among conservatives still reticent about his candidacy. And it appears to have worked.

Hours after the list was unveiled, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a one-time rival, finally announced he'd be voting for Trump, after declining to do so during a stunning speech at the party's national convention. In a statement posted on Facebook, Cruz specifically cited Trump's Supreme Court list and its inclusion of his friend and colleague, Utah Sen. Mike Lee.

FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2013 file photo, Sen. Mile Lee, R-Utah, right, and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas participate in a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Donald Trump has added 10 new names to the list of judges he says he'll choose from to fill Supreme Court vacancies if hes elected to the White House. The release, just days before the first presidential debate, appears to be yet another attempt by the GOP nominee to solidify support among conservatives still reticent about his candidacy. Among the new names: Conservative Lee, a close friend of former Trump rival Ted Cruz. Both have yet to endorse Trump for the presidency. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

The expansion also adds several minority judges to Trump's previously all-white list, including Venezuelan-born Federico Moreno, a 64-year-old judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. It includes an African-American judge, a South Asian judge and a female judge who served in the Marines.

In May, Trump unveiled his original list of 11 federal and state court judges as potential replacements for the late Justice Antonin Scalia. At the time, he was trying to rally conservatives and clinch the nomination.

He and his allies have repeatedly cited control of the Supreme Court as a top reason why Republican skeptics should rally around his candidacy.

"We have a very clear choice in this election. The freedoms we cherish and the constitutional values and principles our country was founded on are in jeopardy," Trump said in a statement.

Trump has sometimes varied in his descriptions of the names  at times suggesting they would serve more as a guide to the kinds of judges he'd select rather than a definitive list.

But on Friday, Trump assured the names were set. "This list is definitive and I will choose only from it in picking future justices of the United States Supreme Court," he stated.

That commitment and Lee's inclusion appear to have sealed the deal with Cruz, one of Trump's most high-profile holdouts.

In a Facebook post announcing his decision to endorse a man he'd once called a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral," Cruz called control of the court the most important issue at stake in the election.

"For some time, I have been seeking greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that, releasing a very strong list of potential Supreme Court nominees  including Sen. Mike Lee, who would make an extraordinary justice  and making an explicit commitment to nominate only from that list," he wrote.

"This commitment matters," he added, "and it provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump."

Lee said he appreciated being considered, but added, "Right now I'm focused on my job in the Senate, where I'm in a good position to defend the Constitution by fighting against government overreach."

Lee is the second member of his family to appear on Trump's wish list. His brother, Thomas, who has served as a justice on Utah's Supreme Court since 2010, was on the original list.

"While my brother and I might disagree as to which list is better, they're both great," the senator joked.

Also on the list:

Charles Canady, a justice of the Florida Supreme Court. A former Florida Congressman, Canady was the prime sponsor of the first congressional effort to ban the procedure abortion opponents call "partial-birth abortion." He also served as general counsel to former Florida governor and Trump rival Jeb Bush, according to a biography from the conservative Federalist Society think tank.

Timothy Tymkovich, chief judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Tymkovich formerly served as Solicitor General in Colorado, where he argued several cases in front of the Supreme Court. Among them: Colorado's failed bid to preclude the state from providing legal protections for gays and lesbians.

Amul Thapar, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Thapar, who is of South Asian descent, has also served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington and in the Southern District.

Robert Young, chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. The only African American judge on Trump's list, Young previously served as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Keith Blackwell, a justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Blackwell previously served on the Georgia Court of Appeals and as deputy special attorney general in the state.

Neil Gorsuch, a judge of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Gorsuch previously served in the Justice Department as a deputy assistant attorney general.

Margaret Ryan, a judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The only woman added to Trump's list, Ryan is a Marine Corps veteran who was deployed to Philippines during an uprising and to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War.

Edward Mansfield, a justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. Mansfield previously served as a judge on the Iowa Court of Appeals.

___

Associated Press writers Mark Sherman and Erica Werner in Washington contributed to this report.

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2015 file photo, Florida Supreme Court justice Charles Canady speaksin Tallahassee, Fla. Donald Trump has added 10 new names to the list of judges he says he'll choose from to fill Supreme Court vacancies if hes elected to the White House. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon, File)

FILE - In this May 18, 2006 file photo, Amul Thapar, now a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky talks with The Associated Press in Lexington, Ky. Donald Trump has added 10 new names to the list of judges he says he'll choose from to fill Supreme Court vacancies if hes elected to the White House. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File)

FILE - In this July 16, 2010 file-pool photo, Judge Federico Moreno is seen Miami. Donald Trump has added 10 new names to the list of judges he says he'll choose from to fill Supreme Court vacancies if hes elected to the White House. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, Pool, File)
After 18-years, Moorhouse returns with ripping revenge tale

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The comeback tale of "The Dressmaker" director Jocelyn Moorhouse is a Hollywood story in its own right.

Twenty-one years ago, Moorhouse was handed the keys to the kingdom  or at least that's how it felt at the time. The young Australian director had one well-received film under her belt, "Proof," and was producing "Muriel's Wedding" for her husband, director P.J. Hogan, when she got a call from Steven Spielberg. He asked if she wanted to direct the generational drama "How to Make an American Quilt." The answer, of course, was yes.

"It was like the great hand of cinema had reached down and gone 'we'll take you now,'" Moorhouse said.

In this Sept. 19, 2016 file photo, Jocelyn Moorhouse, director and co-writer of the film "The Dressmaker," poses for a portrait at Broad Green Pictures in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Suddenly she was rubbing elbows with Anne Bancroft, Maya Angelou and the scores of other fierce female talents of all ages in that lovely ensemble film.

She was still editing "Quilt," and seven months pregnant with her second child, by the time she was meeting with Michelle Pfeiffer and Jessica Lange about her next project, the "King Lear"-inspired drama "A Thousand Acres." That went into production soon after.

It was a meteoric rise that few in Hollywood ever get. Then she left it all behind for nearly two decades. Her 2-year-old daughter, Lily, had been diagnosed with autism.

"That changed my life and nothing else mattered," Moorhouse said. "The film industry seemed extremely trivial compared to trying to work out the mysteries of my daughter's brain."

Then, in 2005, just as she was thinking about coming back, her son, Jack, got the same diagnosis and she wasn't sure she'd ever go back to directing. All of her energy, creative and otherwise, and money were focused on the kids.

As the years went by and the kids made strides, she started wondering if she could start up her directing career again. She had continued producing for Hogan and would direct little films for her children too. She also had a fourth child who was not autistic.

And then producer Sue Maslin called. A big fan of "Proof," Maslin wanted to see if Moorhouse would be willing to direct an adaptation of Rosalie Ham's "The Dressmaker ," now playing in limited release, about a woman returning to the small town that wronged her years ago.

"Jocelyn has the rare gift to be able to successfully walk the tightrope between comedy and tragedy on screen and no matter how fantastical, make it truthful at all times," Maslin said.

For Moorhouse, it was like another hand coming down saying "we want you back now." And she was ready.

She likes to describe the story as "'Unforgiven' with a sewing machine."

Moorhouse recruited Kate Winslet for the leading role and Judy Davis to play her estranged mother.

"(Davis and Winslet) both loved that it was very funny and very sad," she said. "I would say 'that's kind of how I see my life. It's a tragicomedy!' Live long enough and most people's lives are."

She also got her "Proof" star Hugo Weaving to play a cop with a secret and cast Liam Hemsworth as a strapping local who becomes smitten with Winslet's Tilly  a relationship with an age difference that she knows makes some men wince.

"Liam didn't. He's like 'uh, she's gorgeous. Of course, my character would go after her. She's the best thing to happen to this town. Why would I not want that woman?' And I said, 'you're absolutely right, young man.'"

"The Dressmaker" breaks all the rules of what one might expect, not least because it's a story told from a female point of view.

"It a very female film and some men might find that alien. As women, we are so used to watching films from a male point of view it's almost like we speak two languages. We're bilingual and we don't even know it. They're not. And that has to change," she said. "Eventually a man will be able to see a woman's film and not call it a woman's film."

Moorhouse lights up speaking about being "back."

"I was born to do this and not able to do it for a while. As soon as I got back into it, every day was a joy on set. I just kept smiling. Even if it was a terrible day, I thought 'my god! Thank god I'm a director again!'

Moorhouse has a handful of independent projects in the works, including a script she just finished about the marriage of composers Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann  and how a 20-year-old Johannes Brahms fell in love with the 37-year-old Clara.

Moorhouse loves highlighting the quiet subversion of these romances, saying she knows a lot of older women and younger men in relationships. Even her grandmother was 10 years older than her grandfather.

"Though if you listen to most blokes, they act horrified," she laughed.

She'd happily work inside the Hollywood system again too, as long as she had creative control.

"I want to be able to keep my voice now that I've found it again," she said. "I'm not going anywhere after this."

___

Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr

In this Sept. 19, 2016 file photo, Jocelyn Moorhouse, director and co-writer of the film "The Dressmaker," poses for a portrait at Broad Green Pictures in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

This image released by Broad Green Pictures / Amazon Studios shows director Jocelyn Moorhouse, left, and Kate Winslet on the set of the film, "The Dressmaker." (Broad Green Pictures / Amazon Studios via AP)

This image released by Broad Green Pictures / Amazon Studios shows Kate Winslet in a scene from, "The Dressmaker." (Ben King/Broad Green Pictures and Amazon Studios via AP)

This image released by Broad Green Pictures / Amazon Studios shows Kate Winslet in a scene from, "The Dressmaker." (Ben King/Broad Green Pictures and Amazon Studios via AP)

In this Sept. 19, 2016 file photo, Jocelyn Moorhouse, director and co-writer of the film "The Dressmaker," poses for a portrait at Broad Green Pictures in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Hungary says migration spreads terror

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Migratory policies around the world have failed, leading to the spread of terrorism, Hungary's foreign minister told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday.

Peter Szijjarto said the international community must make it clear that there is no excuse for violating the borders between two peaceful countries and do its best to keep migrants and refugees as close to their home countries as possible.

"The uncontrolled and unregulated mass migration offered opportunity for terrorist organizations to send their fighters and to send their terrorists to other countries and continents," Szijjarto said.

Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

He added that Hungary is "a Christian country" and expressed disappointment that the International Criminal Court has failed to respond to his country's requests to prosecute the Islamic State group for its persecution of Christians. He said because of the U.N.'s failure to act his country had developed a special secretariat to monitor the persecution of Christians around the world and work to help them.

Hungary will hold a referendum on Oct. 2 in which the government hopes to gather political support for its opposition to any future EU plan to resettle migrants among member states. Hungary is also challenging the EU in court, hoping to prevent having to temporarily take in 1,294 refugees.

The referendum has been criticized by rights groups for fomenting xenophobia and intolerance.

At a news conference on Thursday, Szijjarto rejected that criticism.

"International law says very clearly that the right to a safe life is a human right," Szijjarto said. "But it is not a human right to pick a country where you would like to live in."
Clinton struggles to make Obama's coalition her own

WASHINGTON (AP)  Hillary Clinton long planned to activate the vaunted Obama coalition to help carry her to the White House. But a rough month on the trail has exposed a big challenge  the Obama coalition belongs to Barack Obama.

Clinton's struggle to win over Obama's supporters  most notably young voters  has served as a reminder that many of them are more loyal to him than to his Democratic Party. Republican Donald Trump's recent rise in the polls helps demonstrate that Obama's two victories were more about one man in the right moment than any political realignment.

Rather than showing a formula for winning the White House for years come, as many Democrats hoped, Obama's coalition may fail to outlast his own presidency. If that happens, Obama  long known for his dislike of party politics  will share some of the blame.

FILE - In this July 27, 2016 file photo, President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wave to delegates after President Obama's speech during the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Hillary Clinton long planned to activate the much-vaunted Obama coalition to carry her to the White House. But a rough month on the trail has exposed a big challenge, the Obama coalition belongs to Barack Obama. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

"The enduring Obama coalition is a bit of an urban legend," said Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg. "It was very much shaped by that election in that period."

This hard reality is not lost on the president. After months of appearing coolly confident about Clinton's chances, Obama has begun to acknowledge the alternative and get out on the campaign trail on her behalf.

"This shouldn't be close, but it's close," Obama recently told donors in New York. His pitch to his most die-hard backers was telling: "I will consider it a personal insult, an insult to my legacy," if African American voters don't turn out.

Some part of Obama's public display of anxiety is an attempt to fight complacency. Even as Trump has gained in both national and battleground state polls, Clinton continues to have more paths to victory  a stronger campaign network and more money  than her opponent.

But Obama's comments acknowledge his personal connection that drove Democrats to the polls four years ago  one Clinton has struggled to match. It reinforces an argument that some Democrats have long made: Obama's election was a combination of biography, history and an electorate hungry for change.

"At the end of the day, Hillary Clinton has to be the one to inspire the Obama coalition to turn out, but President Obama can and will help," said Dan Pfieffer, a former Obama senior adviser. "These voters have only ever turned out when President Obama was on the ballot, so it is going to take work to have them turn out when he isn't."

Clinton's vulnerabilities have become glaring. Obama won two-thirds of young voters in 2009, and 60 percent in 2012, according to exit polls. But recent polls have found Clinton is not only shy of Obama's mark but also well behind John Kerry's level of support with young voters when he lost in 2004.

An Associated Press/GfK survey conducted last week showed Clinton with 48 percent of likely voters under 30, while Trump had 27 percent, Libertarian Gary Johnson had 14 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein 3 percent.

Clinton's troubles actually may be less with the Obama voters in that group than with their younger siblings. They came of age during the politically polarized Obama era, leaving them more willing to consider a third-party option.

"There is definitely a less partisan bent among those voters," said Jeremy Bird, Obama's national field director in 2012 and a Clinton consultant. "Part of it is frustration with party gridlock and distrust of institutions."

Clinton backers say she can still pull together a winning coalition, even with a diminished youth vote. She has strong support among Hispanics and blacks, core Obama voters, although at slightly lower levels. Meanwhile, Trump's candidacy has opened up opportunities for Clinton with college-educated voters and suburban white women, groups that appear to be turned off by his rhetoric and lack of foreign policy experience.

"If you look at where her vote is, and it's been pretty stable, college-educated women are a big piece of it," said Greenberg.

Obama could have done more to build up the party. The president notably formed his own shadow organization in his Organizing for Action  an extension of his campaign  to carry on his political agenda rather than depend on the Democratic National Committee. That model left scant resources for state parties to build grass-roots organizations or build a bench of up-and-coming politicians.

As the head of a political party, Obama's limits were repeatedly clear. He had little success in his efforts to campaign for others, even with the advantage of the White House. Republicans have seen gains in statehouses In two midterm elections. Obama's voters didn't show up  despite his urgent and personal appeals.

Clinton, a creature of another political era, has promised she won't take that tack

"It's time to rebuild our party from the ground up and if you make me the nominee, that's exactly what I will do," she said last year. "I hope you'll join me because we're building something that will last long after next November."
North Korea vows in UN speech to strengthen nuclear forces

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  North Korea's foreign minister condemned the United States on Friday for flying supersonic bombers over South Korea earlier this week and vowed his country will strengthen its nuclear capabilities in defiance of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

In a defiant speech before the U.N. General Assembly, Ri Yong Ho said the Korean Peninsula "has now been turned into the world's most dangerous hot spot which can even ignite the outbreak of a nuclear war." He blamed the United States and "its hostile policy" against North Korea.

Ri claimed that B-1B bombers the U.S. military flew over South Korea earlier this week crossed the demarcation line separating the two Koreas. The U.S. military has said at least one of two supersonic bombers that it flew over South Korea approached the border with the North Korea, an unusual occurrence in the world's most heavily fortified border.

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Cmdr. Dave Benham, U.S. Pacific Command spokesman, said Friday that the aircraft remained in South Korean airspace and "did not at any time cross themilitary demarcation line between North and South Korea."

The U.S. flyover was the second in as many weeks and came two weeks after North Korea conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test.

Ri said "the United States will have to face tremendous consequences beyond imagination."

He said the North "will continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality in order to defend the dignity and right to existence and safeguard genuine peace vis-a-vis the increased nuclear war threat of the United States."

North Korea's recent nuclear test, along with recent ballistic missile launches, have deepened concerns that it is moving closer toward obtaining the ability to put nuclear warheads on a variety of its ballistic missiles.

Speaking at a meeting with Southeast Asian foreign ministers Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that every country has a responsibility to vigorously enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions to ensure North Korea "pays a price for its dangerous actions."

Kerry also vowed that the United States would defend its own citizens against the North Korean threat and honor its security commitments to its allies.

Ri spoke days after the U.S., Japan and South Korea met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly gathering to discuss ways to force North Korea to comply with the U.N. resolutions, which prohibit Pyongyang from conducting nuclear and missile tests.

The three countries discussed work in the Security Council to tighten the sanctions and the possibility of taking measures of their own to restrict revenue sources for the North's missile and nuclear programs.

Ri dismissed the Security Council resolutions as unfair.

North Korea "had no other choice but to go nuclear inevitably after it has done everything possible to defend the national security from the constant nuclear threats from the United States," he said.

____

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report from the United Nations.
Rahm's Anti-Crime Speech Leaves Aldermen, Residents Unimpressed

By aaroncynic in News on Sep 23, 2016 11:15AM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel outlined his plan to address Chicago violence Thursday evening to a few hundred people in a gymnasium at Malcolm X College.

"For all the things that make Chicago great, for all the things that make us proud to call ourselves Chicagoans, the violence that is happening corrodes our core," Emanuel told the crowd. "It is not the Chicago we know and love."

Emanuelwho several times switched from appearing to choke up to pounding his fist on the podiumattempted to walk a fine line between his plan to add more police to the city streets and addressing the issues communities have with the force.

Respect is a two-way street, said Emanuel. "There cannot be a permission slip for people to taunt officers who are trying to solve crime in their community. We as a city have to have zero tolerance for that. Also, there can be no pass for an officer to be dismissing a resident who was recently robbed and turned to them for help. Both situations were caught on video and if were going to be where we need to be, that is not allowed and cant be accepted as a norm.

The mayors speech outlined what he dubbed the four ps, standing for policing, punishment, prevention and parenting. He leaned heavily on getting guns off the streets, mandatory-minimum sentencing and gang activity.

We need to stop the revolving door for repeat violent offenders, he said, later adding making sure that the most dangerous offenders receive appropriate sentences is an important step, but we also must do more to keep guns out of the wrong hands in the first place.



Rahm Emanuel / Photo: Aaron Cynic

While referencing the names of several people recently gunned down in Chicagoincluding Nykea Aldridge, who was shot and killed while pushing a baby strollerEmanuel did not bring up other incidents where the Chicago Police had shot and killed individuals, with the exception of a brief mention of Laquan McDonald.

We all know that this partnership has been tested in Chicago. It is a problem that has festered in this city for decades, said the mayor.

Though he spent some time talking about prevention and investment in Chicagos neighborhoods, Emanuels speech had few details about how exactly those items would play out. Furthermore, much of what he said seemed very familiar to other speeches he made in previous years. The mayor chose not to acknowledge the roles that massive closures of public schools and neighborhood mental-health clinics may play in violence.

I didnt feel we moved the needle forward on school issues, on the lack of jobs, mental health issues. And those were all things that his policies kind of put us in this position were in now, said Alderman Scott Waguespack.

We have to acknowledge how we got here, Waguespack continued. You dont just ignore what policies you had in place for the last few years. You start out by saying things that weve been doing havent worked, and we should focus on something that does work. Im not convinced the four ps are gonna be the solution.

Others were also less than impressed by Emanuels speech.

Jonathan Todd, who stood with a group of protesters outside Malcolm X College and has lived on the West Side for most of his life, said that he felt the speech was mostly theatrical.

None of these agencies (mentioned by Emanuel) are doing the work in the community, said Todd. This is all fluff. We dont have a way of paying for this type of stuff. He earmarked money we dont even have.

The mayor also failed to address larger structural issues, according to Todd. This problem is based on poverty, he said. Close those schools, no economic development, no infrastructure, youre gonna get crime. They know it.

Public policy consultant, community organizer and former mayoral challenger Amara Enyia also took Emanuel to task, saying its easy for him to deflect all responsibility for violence in this city on police or community members while conveniently sidestepping the fact that his administration has been at the helm of public policy failings that have directly contributed to the breakdown of the very fabric of so many parts of this cityof which rampant violence is the manifestation.

In fact, the biggest failure of Rahms speech is that, while name dropping a few tragic stories with which Chicagoans are all too familiar, nothing much of what he said can begin to address the structural problems weve faced for decades. Building a Starbucks, Whole Foods or Jimmy Johns in Englewood within a year wont solve the issues that have plagued the neighborhood for decades.

Until he can offer more specifics and accept more accountability, Emanuels words will remain just that: words.
President Barack Obama vetoed a bill that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.

Obama objected to the 'Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act' on Friday, warning that if US citizens are allowed to take the Saudis into court, then foreign countries could do the same to the United States.

Congress will try to override the president's veto as early as Tuesday. If the bill receives the two-thirds vote necessary in both the House and Senate, it will be the first of Obama's presidency.

Many families of 9/11 victims have campaigned relentlessly 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.

President Barack Obama has vetoed a bill that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia

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

Congress is expected to move rapidly, since lawmakers are eager to return home to campaign ahead of the November election.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office said the Senate would take up the override 'as soon as practicable in this work period.'

The bill would end the immunity foreign countries have from lawsuits in the US, and allow federal civil suits to be brought against countries if they are deemed responsible for a US terror attack.

But the president warned that the bill would be 'detrimental to US national interests' by chipping away at the concept of sovereign immunity.

Doing away with it could mean the same courtesy would no longer be extended to the US - opening up Americans diplomats and servicemen to lawsuits in foreign countries.

The administration was also apprehensive about undermining a longstanding yet difficult relationship with Saudi Arabia.

The Saudis remain a key ally in combating the spread of terrorism throughout the Middle East, and serve as a counterweight against Iran's influence in the region.

Just two days before, the Senate gave the green light to a $1.15 billion sale of military equipment to Saudi Arabia.

Some politicians backed the sale, saying the US needed to support its ally to maintain stability in the region, combat terror groups like Isis and al-Qaeda, and keep a check on neighboring Iran.

In a statement accompanying his veto message, Obama said he had 'deep sympathy' for the 9/11 families and their desire to see justice for their relatives.

But he also made the case for financial repercussions, writing: 'If any of these litigants were to win judgments  based on foreign domestic laws as applied by foreign courts  they would begin to look to the assets of the US Government held abroad to satisfy those judgments, with potentially serious financial consequences for the United States.'

THE POSSIBILITY OF OFFICIAL SAUDI INVOLVEMENT IN 9/11 The possibility of official Saudi involvement in 9/11 has hung over its diplomatic relationship with the US, since fifteen of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were Saudi nationals. In July, 28 declassified pages of a congressional report into were released, stating two of the hijackers were 'in contact with, and received support or assistance from individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government'. In August, CNN uncovered evidence of a link between the alleged al Qaeda operative and a company associated with a key member of the Saudi royal family, the former Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar bin Sultan. While the alleged association with Bandar does not provide direct evidence the prince was complicit in the 9/11 attacks, it does raise questions about Saudi Arabia's involvement. In a transcript released last week, accused al-Qaeda bomb-maker Ghassan Al-Sharbi told military officials at Guantanamo Bay that he believed an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family was part of an effort to recruit him for violent extremist acts before the September 11 attacks. Al-Sharbi is believed to have learned how to fly with the 9/11 hijackers but did not take part in the attacks. In April, it also emerged that his flight certificate was found in an envelope from the Saudi embassy in Washington. Shortly before his arrest in 2002, Al-Sharbi buried a bundle of documents, which is believed to have included the certificate. The cache was discovered by US authorities and details, written in a memo known as Document 17 in 2003 and released without fanfare by investigators last year. They were brought to the public's attention when an activist discovered them and wrote about them on his website in April of this year. According to the Times, activist Brian McGlinchey said: 'The envelope points to the fundamental question hanging over us today: to what extent was the 9/11 plot facilitated by individuals at the highest levels of the Saudi government?' Advertisement

The possibility of official Saudi involvement in 9/11 has hung over its diplomatic relationship with the US, as fifteen of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were Saudi nationals. Pictured, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Adel Al Jubeir

A senior Saudi Prince reportedly threatened to pull billions of dollars out of US assets if the bill became law, but Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir denied the reports in May.

He did say, however, that investor confidence in the US would shrink if the bill was enacted.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, one of the most prominent Democrats urging Obama to sign the bill, rallied behind an override and predicted Obama's veto would be 'swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress.'

'The families of the victims of 9/11 deserve their day in court, and justice for those families shouldn't be thrown overboard because of diplomatic concerns,' Schumer said.

Families of the victims spent years lobbying lawmakers for the right to sue the kingdom in US court for any role elements of Saudi Arabia's government may have had in the attacks.

Kristen Breitweiser, whose husband died in 9/11, told the New York Times: 'It is reprehensible that one man is standing between justice for the murder of 3,000 people and this legislation becoming law.

'The president and the Congress should be listening to American citizens, not a bunch of lobbyists who represent a foreign nation,' she said, in a reference to the powerful figures the Saudi government has turned to for support.

Both presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump said they would have signed the bill if they were in office.

The possibility of official Saudi involvement in 9/11 has hung over its diplomatic relationship with the US, since fifteen of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were Saudi nationals.

In July, 28 declassified pages of the 9/11 report were released, stating two of the hijackers were 'in contact with, and received support or assistance from individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government'.

Declassified documents revealed a link between an alleged al Qaeda operative and a company associated with a member of the kingdom's royal family, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, pictured

In August, CNN uncovered evidence of a link between the alleged al Qaeda operative and a company associated with a key member of the Saudi royal family, the former Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar bin Sultan.

While the alleged association with Bandar does not provide direct evidence the prince was complicit in the 9/11 attacks, it does raise questions about Saudi Arabia's involvement.

In a transcript released last week, accused al-Qaeda bomb-maker Ghassan Al-Sharbi told military officials at Guantanamo Bay that he believed an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family was part of an effort to recruit him for violent extremist acts before the September 11 attacks.

Al-Sharbi is believed to have learned how to fly with the 9/11 hijackers but did not take part in the attacks.

In April, it emerged that his flight certificate was found in an envelope from the Saudi embassy in Washington when they arrested him in 2002.

Shortly before his arrest, he buried a bundle of documents, which is believed to have included the certificate.

The cache was discovered by US authorities and details, written in a memo known as Document 17 in 2003 and released without fanfare by investigators last year.

They were brought to the public's attention when an activist discovered them and wrote about them on his website in April of this year.

According to the Times, activist Brian McGlinchey said: 'The envelope points to the fundamental question hanging over us today: to what extent was the 9/11 plot facilitated by individuals at the highest levels of the Saudi government?'

Prince Bandar (right) was a former Saudi Ambassador to the US known to have a very close relationship with George W. Bush. Pictured, the pair at Bush's Crawford ranch in Texas

Proponents of the bill, including the support group 9/11 Families United For Justice Against Terrorism, dismissed fears that the US could become the target of reciprocal lawsuits.

One sponsor, Republican Peter King, of New York, argued foreign governments cannot look the other way if terrorist activities are being plotted or launched from inside their borders.

In the run-up to Obama's veto, the White House said the system the US uses to identify and punish countries that support terrorism was set by law and is more effective than a 'patchwork' of legal decisions.

The Senate passed the bill in May, and the House voted on September 9, two months after Congress released the 28 declassified pages from a congressional report into 9/11.

Brian McGlinchey, director of advocacy for the website 28pages.org, said making the documents public 'strengthened the resolve of 9/11 families and other advocates of justice to bring about the enactment' of the bill.
Lawmakers want speedier release of bin Laden documents

WASHINGTON (AP)  The House intelligence committee pressed the Obama administration on Friday to speed up the release of documents and other materials seized during the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., said the 2014 Intelligence Authorization Act called for a complete declassification review of the documents within 120 days. The documents from the May 2011 raid came from information on more than 100 thumb drives, hard drives, cell phones, paper files and other materials  enough to fill a "small college library," Nunes wrote in a letter to intelligence officials, which his office released.

"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.

Nunes sent the letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan and Marcel Lettre, undersecretary of defense for intelligence. The letter calls for the materials to be quickly declassified wherever possible to give the public insight into al-Qaida's operations and tradecraft.

One batch of documents was released on May 20, 2015, and a second was released on March 1, 2016.

"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," the letter said. "The anemic pace of the declassification review and release of the Abbottabad documents is an insufficient response to congressional direction."
3 al-Qaida suspects killed in drone strike in Yemen

SANAA, Yemen (AP)  Yemeni security officials say a suspected U.S. drone has struck a car traveling in eastern Yemen, killing three suspected al-Qaida fighters.

They said the car targeted in the Friday attack was traveling in the province of Marib.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

This was the third U.S. drone strike in a week.

U.S. drone strikes have killed dozens of al-Qaida militants in Yemen as part of Washington's global campaign against the organization.

Al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have taken advantage of the chaos and lawlessness brought about by Yemen's ongoing civil war to expand their reach.
UK: British warplanes bomb IS to support Iraqi push on Mosul

AKROTIRI, Cyprus (AP)  British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says.

Air Commodore Sammy Sampson said Iraqi forces are confident they can retake the country's second-largest city from IS and that British warplanes will provide the needed support to get the job done.

"We'll stand by them. We'll support them. We will make it do-able for them," Sampson told reporters Thursday on a guided tour of the RAF Akrotiri base's operations.

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, a British soldier walks by a Typhoon aircraft before take off for a mission in Iraq, at RAF Akrotiri, near the southern coastal city of Limassol, in Cyprus. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

Sampson said the eight Tornado and six Typhoon aircraft flying out of RAF Akrotiri have in recent days destroyed numerous IS targets to pave the way for the start of the advance on Mosul in the coming weeks. Mosul is the IS group's last major urban stronghold in Iraq, 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad.

U.S. officials have said for some time that they expect the Mosul operation to begin in October.

One Typhoon strike last week hit an IS training camp just inside Iraq on its border with Syria, killing some 40-50 fighters, said Sampson. The aircraft later destroyed IS weapons stockpiles and rocket launchers north of Ramadi in support of Iraqi forces.

But Sampson, who commands the U.K.'s warplanes in the U.S.-led coalition against IS, said air strikes to start reclaiming territory from IS both in Iraq and Syria are far from new.

"We were striking targets to weaken (IS-held) Mosul from the very beginning of the campaign," said Sampson, who is based in the Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar.

Sampson said the same applies for the Syrian city of Raqqa, which the IS considers its de facto capital. He said air strikes in the Syrian city are "part of the plan" until the decision is made "how and when the liberation of Raqqa is going to be achieved."

Sampson said air power has made the difference in beating back IS over the last two years as the extremist group has tried to carve a caliphate out of Syria and Iraq.

"I've seen air power help transform the situation on the ground," said Sampson, adding that while IS militants were advancing aggressively two years ago, the group is now "on their heels, and we can see that every day."

"The air component and the air support have helped partner forces on the ground. And in many, many areas, those partner forces have stopped Daesh (the Arabic acronym for IS) dead in their tracks," said Sampson.

Air power has also lifted morale among Iraqi forces, he said, which has allowed them to retake the battlefield initiative from IS, knowing that they can rely on "the most sophisticated air package anyone has ever used."

He said a deflated Iraqi army that was once "intimidated" and "hesitant" to emerge from their garrisons and take the fight to the militants is now aware that air power has given them an "immense amount of capability."

"I do not think our relationship with our partner forces could be any better," said Sampson. "We have never failed them. When they want us, we are there."

Another key component of the air campaign is the intelligence that aircraft have been able to collect with sophisticated on-board equipment on how IS operates, which have allowed coalition forces to shift tactics to make the airstrikes more effective.

"We are adapting our processes, our procedures, our tactics, our understanding, every single minute of every day. I'm absolutely confident that we're outpacing Daesh in that area," said Sampson.

Since the start of the September 2014 air campaign against IS, Typhoon and Tornado jets based at RAF Akrotiri have dropped a combined 1,600 bombs and missiles on IS targets.

On a mission Wednesday, a Tornado dropped a Paveway laser-guided bomb and sunk an IS boat ferrying a truck bomb across Iraq's Tigris river. On the same mission, a Typhoon killed three IS fighters after hitting their bunker in a palm grove on the northern bank of the Euphrates with two bombs. An Associated Press reporter and photographer were among a handful of journalists permitted to fly aboard the U.K.'s Voyager tanker aircraft, which conducted midair refueling for those warplanes over central Iraq.

"Daesh is falling back and not making any advances, and air support has been a strong enabler of that," said a Typhoon pilot who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with British Ministry of Defense rules. "I can't think of anything better than helping someone trying to save their country."

____

Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.

___

This report was submitted to British military officials in the U.K. in accordance with security requirements and they ordered some deletions.

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a Typhoon aircraft refuel from a tanker aircraft during a mission over central Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, a Typhoon aircraft takes off from RAF, Akrotiri, near the southern coastal city of Limassol, Cyprus, British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In this Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a Tornado aircraft fly during a mission over central Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In this Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a Typhoon aircraft refuels from a tanker aircraft, during a mission over central Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In this Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a Typhoon aircraft refuels from a tanker aircraft during a mission over central Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, British soldiers stand on a Typhoon aircraft,before take off for a mission in Iraq, at RAF Akrotiri, near the southern coastal city of Limassol, Cyprus. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In this Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016 photo, a Typhoon aircraft takes off from RAF, Akrotiri, British air forces for a mission in Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In this Wednesday Sept. 21, 2016 photo, a Typhoon aircraft refuels from a tanker aircraft, during a mission over central Iraq. British Tornado and Typhoon aircraft stationed at a U.K. air base in Cyprus are pounding Islamic State targets ahead of a major offensive by Iraqi security forces next month to recapture the key northern city of Mosul from IS militants, a senior Royal Air Force officer says. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, Pool)
Prosecutors say she 'reacted unreasonably' and have charged her with first-degree manslaughter

One came as her ex-husband's new wife tried to 'discredit' her, Shelby said

Said she had smoked pot twice and had two protective orders against her

The Tulsa police officer accused of manslaughter for shooting an unarmed black man had once bashed her ex-boyfriend's car with a shovel after an explosive breakup.

Betty Jo Shelby, 42, disclosed the events in a job application she filed to join the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. She began working there in 2007 and stayed until 2011.

The ex-boyfriend, who has not been named, also took a shovel to her car in anger. Shelby was about 20 at the time and a protective order was taken out against her.

Shelby, who joined the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter after fatally shooting 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on September 16.

Betty Jo Shelby (pictured left in a mugshot and right in her police uniform), 42, said in a job application that she had once bashed her ex-boyfriend's car with a shovel

She admitted in her sheriff's office application that she smoked marijuana twice as a teenager.

The second protective order against her came in 2000 and followed one of Shelby's two divorces.

She said her ex-husband's new wife sought a protective order in an attempt to 'discredit' her character. In both cases, Shelby said a judge agreed to dismiss the orders.

Shelby's salary at the Tulsa Police Department was $53,747 as of May 31, according to a city spokeswoman. She was placed on leave without pay Friday.

Records show one 'use-of-force' report in 2010, drawing but not firing a gun while searching for a suspect, while Shelby still worked at the sheriff's office.

Shelby has been charged with manslaughter after fatally shooting Terence Crutcher, 40. Pictured, a woman protesting Crutcher's death holds hands with Tulsa officers on Thursday

Protesters filled the food court chanting 'Black Lives Matter' at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday (pictured), following Crutcher's shooting death

The police department refused the Associated Press' repeated requests to release her personnel records, but said she has not been subject to any disciplinary proceedings in her nearly five years.

Shelby completed de-escalation training but 'reacted unreasonably' when she fatally shot Crutcher, according to an affidavit prosecutors filed with the first-degree manslaughter charge.

She posted bond early Friday and now faces four years to life in prison if convicted.

Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, said Friday that she had a reputation of having a 'cool head on her shoulders.'

'This wasn't her first week on the job,' Wood said. 'Betty is a field-training officer. The department has picked her to train new officers, and people will tell you this isn't Betty Shelby to overreact to a situation.'

Shelby, who is white, was headed to a domestic violence call when she encountered Crutcher's SUV abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line.

She did not activate her dashboard camera when she first came across Crutcher and his SUV. But other video footage shows Crutcher walking away from Shelby and toward his SUV with his arms in the air. The footage does not offer a clear view of when Shelby fired the single shot that killed Crutcher.

More than 100 protesters gathered at the University Of Oklahoma on Thursday. Some of them are pictured lying down on the ground

Tulsa District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler is pictured on Thursday, when he announced that his office had filed first-degree manslaughter charges against Shelby

Wood said Crutcher escalated the situation by not communicating with Shelby, disobeying her commands and walking away from her.

'One thing about de-escalation, that's a two-way street,' Wood said. 'You have to at least have some open communication. There was none with Mr. Crutcher.'

Mark Sawa, a retired major with the Travis County Sheriff's Office in Austin, Texas, who trains police officers on use of force, said: 'If somebody is not contained, if they're walking away from you, your opportunity to defuse that encounter is greatly diminished if they're mobile and not stationary.'

He said that he couldn't fully assess how the situation got out of hand, as no video is available until after Shelby already has her gun drawn and Crutcher is walking away from her with his hands in the air.

Crutcher died of a gunshot wound to the chest, the state medical examiner's office said Friday, adding that the full autopsy and toxicology reports were not finished. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday.

Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, disputed that he was behaving belligerently toward Shelby.

'At the time he was shot, his hands were up, there was daylight, everyone can clearly see that he had no weapon in his hand whatsoever,' she said on Friday.

Shelby worked a convenience store clerk, an Air National Guard member and a teaching assistant before turning to law enforcement.

Shelby completed de-escalation training but 'reacted unreasonably' when she fatally shot Crutcher, according to prosecutors. Kunzweiler is pictured center with sheriff's deputies

She had garnered accolades due to her work in the community, according to Sergeant Patrick Stephens, a spokesman with the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93, of which Shelby is a member.

On August 28, she was featured in a Tulsa Police Department Facebook post after she located and returned property stolen from two residents; there's a photo of her posing with the pair, who brought her a bouquet of flowers.

Shelby's pastor, Benjamin Williams of the Glenpool Church of Christ in suburban Tulsa, described her as quiet, reserved and someone who 'doesn't fit the stereotype' of an extrovert police officer.

'It was big news to me a couple years ago that she was even in law enforcement,' said Williams. 'She's not brash or any of those things. I'd imagine her in a church pew anywhere in the country.'

Williams said he and Shelby talked this week, with Shelby asking whether she should stay away from church so as to not draw unwanted attention.

'Just not a self-absorbed person at all,' he said. 'I was really touched by that; she's thinking about how it would affect the church.'

Betty Shelby's mother-in-law, Lois Shelby, said her daughter-in-law is religious and is grieving for the Crutcher family.
VP says South Sudan isn't a 'dumping place' for peacekeepers

UNITED NATIONS (AP)  South Sudan's vice president dismissed the need for peacekeepers in his country, insisting Thursday that peace has been achieved after a civil war that broke out in 2013 and produced more than 1 million refugees.

Taban Deng said South Sudan does not need the 13,000 U.N. peacekeepers already in this country. He said a new Security Council resolution that called for 4,000 more peacekeepers "didn't take into consideration our concerns as a nation."

"We already have 13,000 U.N. troops in South Sudan who are sitting idle, not doing anything because there's a problem with their mandate, and there's also a problem with how they were selected," Deng said in an interview with The Associated Press on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

South Sudan's Vice President Taban Deng Gai addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)

He added that his country isn't "a dumping place" for peacekeepers "who can't really help."

"I don't think South Sudan needs peacekeeping," Deng said, insisting that it "isn't a failed nation."

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous disagreed with Deng's assessment, pointing out that South Sudan's government has made contradictory statements since the government signed a joint statement with the Security Council endorsing the additional troops.

"We don't have a clear situation but I can tell you we are sparing no effort to move toward generating a force because the Security Council has made it very clear that we should do so," he said.

"My country is peaceful, there is peace in South Sudan," Deng also declared, asking international donors to help it out with relief measures and nation-building initiatives.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described a starkly different scenario earlier this week at a high-level U.N. meeting on the humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

"For years, South Sudan has struggled to gain its independence. Now it's struggling for survival," Ban said. "Rarely have such high hopes been squandered so quickly."

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir appointed Deng in July to replace opposition leader Riek Machar, who was fired in a controversial decision and fled north to Sudan.

Deng said Machar is welcome to return to South Sudan. "He's South Sudanese, he can decide to come to Juba anytime," referring to South Sudan's capital.

South Sudan became the world's youngest nation in 2011, but civil war broke out between the Dinka and Nuer peoples in December 2013.

A peace agreement was signed in August 2015 but fighting continues. Tens of thousands have been killed.

____
The Latest: New Mexico man convicted in officer's death

LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP)  The Latest on the trial for a New Mexico man charged in the death of a Rio Rancho police officer ((all times local):

4 p.m.

A New Mexico man has been convicted in the shooting death of a suburban Albuquerque police officer during a traffic stop.

Jurors handed down a guilty verdict Friday against Andrew Romero after a short deliberation. The 29-year-old was charged with first-degree murder in the May 2015 death of Rio Rancho Officer Gregg Benner.

The case was moved from Sandoval County to 40 miles south in Valencia County because of extensive media coverage of the case.

In their closing, prosecutors said Romero was not too high on drugs to know what he was doing.

Defense attorneys say just because Romero's DNA was on the gun, it didn't prove Romero fired it.

Romero faces life without parole if convicted. Sentencing is scheduled in two weeks.

___

3:15 p.m.

The fate of a New Mexico man charged in the shooting death of a suburban Albuquerque police officer is now in the hands of a jury.

Jurors began deliberations Friday in a case involving Andrew Romero. The 29-year-old is charged with first-degree murder in the May 2015 death of Rio Rancho Officer Gregg Benner.

The case was moved from Sandoval County to 40 miles south in Valencia County because of extensive media coverage of the case.

In their closing, prosecutors said Romero was not too high on drugs to know what he was doing.

Defense attorneys say just because Romero's DNA was on the gun, it didn't prove Romero fired it.
A debt-ridden actor who killed two of his friends and dismembered one of them as part of a plot to steal money to pay for his wedding and honeymoon has been sentenced to death.

Daniel Patrick Wozniak, 32, will be put on death for the slaying of Afghanistan war veteran Samuel Herr and Julie Kibuishi in Southern California in 2010.

Orange County Superior Court Judge John Conley followed the recommendation of a jury he should be executed following the grisly deaths and his attempted cover-up.

Scroll down for video

Orange County Sheriff deputies lead Daniel Wozniak into Superior Court on Friday in Santa Ana, California

Wozniak (left), who killed Samuel Herr and Julie Kibuishi as part of a plot to steal money to pay for his wedding and honeymoon was sentenced to death Friday

Jurors had convicted Wozniak of the murders in December. A month later, a jury told prosecutors he should face capital punishment.

'At the cost of two human lives, the defendant chose not to get married inexpensively or to defer his honeymoon,' Conley said.

'He wanted to do it in style, and he was willing to kill two people he knew to accomplish this.'

Wozniak sits before being sentenced in Superior Court

Wozniak was debt-ridden in 2010 when he shot a neighbor, Herr of Costa Mesa, to steal $50,000 the Army veteran had saved from service in Afghanistan, prosecutors said.

Wozniak then used a ruse to kill Herr's friend, Julie Kibuishi, and tried to make it appear Herr had raped and killed her, then fled, prosecutors said.

He also dumped Herr's dismembered body in a park.

The scheme unraveled, and Wozniak was arrested days later.

Conley revisited many of the case's grisly details before the sentencing.

'Suffice it to say that even his defense attorney was constrained to calling it horrible, terrible and horrific,' the judge said Friday.

The likelihood Wozniak will be executed anytime soon is slim because of challenges over the California's death penalty.

No one has been put to death since 2006, and there are nearly 750 inmates on death row at San Quentin, where he is now headed.

Pictured are victims Samuel Herr (left) and Julie Kibuishi (right)

Superior Court Judge John D. Conley sentences Daniel Wozniak to death

As some of his son's fellow veterans of Afghanistan stood at his side, Herr's father, Steve Herr, said in court Friday that it's unfortunate the execution won't come quickly.

'You Dan are a coward and a poster boy for the need for an effective death penalty in California,' Herr said.
USOC, LA 2024 reach deal on key marketing agreement

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP)  The U.S. Olympic Committee and leaders of the effort to bring the 2024 Games to Los Angeles reached terms on a marketing agreement Friday, clearing a major hurdle nearly a year before those Olympics are awarded.

The Joint Marketing Program Agreement would shift a majority of the USOC's marketing revenue over to the host city for a period surrounding the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee requires the agreement to eliminate crossover sponsorships  for instance, the USOC pairing with one carmaker, while a host city pairs with another.

The inability to reach an agreement on the marketing deals until the 11th hour played into the failures of both the 2016 Chicago bid and the 2012 New York bid.

"We didn't want it to become an issue," USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said. "We made the decision, and realized that sooner is better than later."

In some instances, host cities have received up to 90 percent of a national organizing committee's sponsorship revenue.

Most Olympic committees have been quick to sign the JMPA, knowing the surge in interest sparked by a home Olympics will lure new sponsors and, more importantly, that their national governments will step in to make up the difference.

But in the United States, there's not as much room for growth in the sponsorship market, and the federal government has a long history of not providing funding to the USOC.

That puts the USOC is a spot of not having any clear path to make up the sponsorship shortfall, which has historically accounted for between 20 and 30 percent of its revenues ($141 million last year)  a good portion of which is used to fund Olympic athletes.

So, the USOC has to reach a different sort of deal; in this case, it would likely sign over between 70 and 85 percent of its revenue to Los Angeles.

The agreement won't be officially signed unless Los Angeles wins the bid at an IOC meeting next September. Its main competition is expected to come from Paris.

The agreement figures to take a potentially fractious issue off the table, as Los Angeles enters the final stretch of the campaign.
Brad Pitt: FBI 'evaluating' plane row claims

The FBI is considering an investigation into an alleged altercation between Brad Pitt and one of his children on a private plane.

Pitt's wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, and has asked for physical custody of the couple's six children.

According to reports, Pitt had been drinking at the time of the incident and s everal media outlets, using anonymous sources, have reported that the Ocean's Eleven star is under investigation by a child welfare agency after allegedly clashing with one of his children, reportedly his adopted 15-year-old son Maddox.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie pictured at Heathrow Airport

In a statement, the FBI said allegations involving an "aircraft carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children" had been referred to the agency.

"The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued," it added.

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating Pitt.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokeswoman said: "The LAPD is not handling any reports or allegations into child abuse against Mr Brad Pitt."

A spokesman for the force later said that a report of an incident on a plane involving Pitt had been passed to the FBI, but refused to confirm any details about the allegations.

Pitt was on a plane that landed at the International Falls, Minnesota, airport on September 14, local sheriff Perryn Hedlund said.

Jolie, 41, and Pitt, 52, known collectively as Brangelina, married in 2014 after 10 years together.

Jolie's lawyer Robert Offer said the actress had filed for the dissolution of the marriage "for the health of the family".

In legal documents filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, the Maleficent star asked for physical custody of the couple's children - Maddox, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10 and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. She also filed for Pitt to be granted child visitation rights and to share legal custody of the children.

Jolie is being represented by divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who helped in her divorce from Billy Bob Thornton and has represented Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard.

In a statement following news of the divorce, Pitt said he was "very saddened" and "what matters most now is the well-being of our kids".

The couple first met when they played married spies in the film Mr And Mrs Smith, when Pitt was still married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston.
Ex-Music Teacher Arrested For Hiding Camera In Elementary School Bathroom

By Sarah Gouda in News on Sep 23, 2016 2:29PM



Elliott Nott / Courtesy CPD

Albany Park man Elliott Nott, 41, has been charged with putting a motion-activated camera device in a bathroom at Ogden International Schools East Campus.

The accused worked as a music teacher at the school until shortly after the device was discovered, on Sept. 7th. According to a statement from Chicago Police, Nott has been charged with seven counts of unauthorized videotaping and one count of child pornography, all of which are felonies.

ABC 7 reports that Principal Michael Beyer assured parents that the device was not equipped to transmit images digitally. He also confirmed that security searched the entire building for additional devices and none were found.

Nott is scheduled to appear in bond court on Saturday.


Kane Williamson and Tom Latham enjoy century stand to lift New Zealand in Kanpur

Kane Williamson and Tom Latham's unbroken century stand put New Zealand in a promising position before rain brought an early close on day two of the first Test against India in Kanpur.

Williamson (65no) and Latham (56no) took the tourists to 152 for one at tea, in reply to India's 318 all out.

Rain then prevented any further play, leaving the Kiwis in an apparently favourable position - albeit with work still to do on a pitch expected to increasingly help home spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, pictured, figured in a century stand

Only seamer Umesh Yadav has managed a wicket as yet, however, Martin Guptill's early strokeplay ending when he was lbw pushing forward to a touch of inswing before lunch.

Williamson then refused to let India's two frontline spinners dominate and was repaid with a half-century from only 78 deliveries.

The New Zealand captain had one moment of concern, on 39, when a protective flap on the back of his helmet flew off as he was facing Ashwin. It hit the stumps, but did not dislodge the bails.

Headgear played a big part in an escape too for Latham. He was caught at short-leg off Jadeja, when a sweep bounced up off his boot on 47, but not out because the ball hit the close-in fielder Lokesh Rahul's helmet as he held it.

The left-hander reached his 50 in Ashwin's next over, from 119 balls.

India's last pair had earlier kept the New Zealand reply waiting.

Resuming on 291 for nine, Jadeja finished with an unbeaten 42 at almost a run a ball as he and Umesh Yadav took their last-wicket stand to 41 and the total beyond 300.
Northern Powerhouse peer quits Treasury and Tory benches

One of the architects of the so-called Northern Powerhouse project, Lord O'Neill, has resigned from the Government and quit the Tory benches in the upper house.

In his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Theresa May, the peer made pointed reference to his belief that the devolution of economic and financial controls to Northern cities, and a close business relationship with China, were both vital to the UK's post-Brexit success.

Lord O'Neill used the letter informing Mrs May of his decision to stand down as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury to note there had been speculation she was not keen on both areas of policy which were key themes of David Cameron's administration.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley, the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, who has resigned from the Government

However, the peer stated that despite concerns expressed regarding Mrs May's attitude to the Northern Powerhouse project and economic ties with China, both areas now appeared to be commanding the Prime Minister's attention.

Lord O'Neill told the PM he had primarily joined the Government "for the specific purpose of helping deliver the Northern Powerhouse, and to help boost our economic ties with key growing economies around the world, especially China and India and other rapidly emerging economies.

"The case for both to be at the heart of British economic policy is even stronger following the referendum, and I am pleased that, despite speculation to the contrary, both appear to be commanding your personal attention.

"I am leaving knowing that I can play some role supporting these critical initiatives as a non-governmental person."

The former Goldman Sachs chief economist, who also chaired the review into antimicrobial resistance and has just returned from the UN where delegates signed a landmark declaration to tackle the threat, took the unusual step of quitting the Tory benches in the Lords.

In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Lord O'Neill of Gatley said he is looking forward "to moving to the cross benches of the Lords".

Ed Cox, director of IPPR North, said: "It is a great shame that Jim O'Neill is standing down from this important role as he has been an important champion within government for the Northern Powerhouse. The Prime Minister has been very clear in her support for the Northern Powerhouse and IPPR North has always argued that the Northern Powerhouse is not so much a government programme as the sum total of economic activity that makes up our 300 billion economy.

"Ministers will come and go, but it is the businesses, innovators and investors in the North that will ultimately unlock our economic potential."

Former chancellor George Osborne has insisted the Northern Powerhouse initiative must go ahead, despite some critics of Mrs May fearing she is not keen on the project.

The PM has also been accused of sending conflicting, and economically damaging, messages to Beijing with her decision to review Chinese investment in the Hinkley Point nuclear power plant before giving her consent to the deal.

Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, said: "Jim's work on antimicrobial resistance, commitment to developing the Northern Powerhouse and emphasis on our relationship with China have played an important part in developing Government policy.

"I wish him all the best as he leaves the Government to pursue new projects and look forward to his contributions from the cross-benches."

Labour's shadow minister without portfolio Jon Ashworth said: "This is a huge blow for the Prime Minister and she's only got herself to blame.

"A much respected minister has not only walked out on her after just three months, but even more damning, has abandoned the Tory Party altogether over her divisive lurch to the right in attempting to bring back grammar schools. If Theresa May had any sense she would ditch this regressive policy now.
Memorial service held for 'gentle' backpacker killed in Australia

Hundreds of people have attended a memorial service for a "gentle, loving" backpacker who was stabbed to death in a hostel in Australia.

Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, was attacked at the Shelley's Backpackers accommodation in the Home Hill area of Queensland in August.

Smail Ayad, 29, is alleged to have killed Miss Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, and to have caused the injuries that led to the death of another Briton, 30-year-old Thomas Jackson.

An Order of Service is held outside St Mary's Church in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, ahead of a memorial service for Mia Ayliffe-Chung

The service at St Mary's Church in Wirksworth featured readings from the Bible and Koran, as well as a Buddhist chant and hymn Amazing Grace.

Giving the eulogy, Ms Ayliffe-Chung's mother Rosie Ayliffe said her daughter had a "gentle, loving soul".

She said: "I know the way Mia was taken from us has caused shock, not just in our small community - and what a blessing just now we have each other - but much further afield and across the world.

"Mia's friends in Australia are doing as we are: trying to find ways to make sense of her loss and to give comfort to each other.

"We have to remember the extraordinary bravery of Tom Jackson in trying to save Mia, a bravery from which we should take great comfort in this hour of darkness.

"Tom barely knew Mia and yet he paid the ultimate price to try to save her."

She continued: "Let his image be seared into your mind's eye and overcome the uglier ones you have inadvertently been exposed to.

"Know this: There is no religion on God's earth that would instigate a brutal, senseless act against an innocent young girl."

Canon David Truby, who led the service, said the service intended to offer "hospitality to people of all faiths" and that the reading from the Koran was a "gesture of reconciliation".

He told the service: "What all of us really would have preferred would be for Mia to still be with us, still exploring Australia in the way that she was, still making friends and simply enjoying life.

"Sadly that was not to be. Her life was taken from her in a few moments of crazed violence, and not just hers but Tom Jackson's too."

Speaking afterwards, he added: "People have come together to support the family - there is something wonderful about Wirksworth and its sense of community which we are all proud of here.

"She was a remarkable young woman, there's no doubt about that. I remember her being around in school days, she stood out amongst the crowd.

"The thing I remember about Mia was that she always had a smile on her face."

The service booklet included thanks to Mr Jackson, who died in Townsville Hospital a week after he was critically injured as he tried to shield Ms Ayliffe-Chung.
Fake Sheikh says court 'was looking for excuse' to drop Tulisa case

Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood blamed a court for using him as "an excuse" to drop the drugs case against pop star Tulisa Contostavlos, jurors were told.

Mahmood, 53, and his driver Alan Smith, 67, are on trial at the Old Bailey accused of tampering with evidence in the former X Factor judge's collapsed drugs case in July 2014.

Miss Contostavlos had allegedly arranged for The Sun undercover reporter to be sold half an ounce of cocaine by one of her contacts for 800.

Mazher Mahmood, dubbed The Fake Sheikh, arrives at the Old Bailey

But her case was thrown out after Smith changed his police statement to remove comments she allegedly made expressing disapproval of hard drugs.

She had allegedly said she had a family member with a drug problem as Smith drove her home to Hertfordshire after a boozy meeting with Mahmood at the Metropolitan Hotel in London.

In September 2014, Mahmood attended Charing Cross police station for a pre-arranged interview about the affair, his trial heard.

In a prepared statement to police, Mahmood defended his sting operation as "properly planned and lawful", the court heard.

He said the court had seized on an "apparent discrepancy" as it was "looking for an excuse to drop the case".

He stated: "The operation against Tulisa Contostavlos was properly planned and lawfully undertaken.

"Her co-defendant pleaded guilty and indeed has stated recently that he was amongst a number of people she contacted to buy drugs.

"In my view she had been involved in the unlawful supply of drugs and supplied me drugs in the circumstances where she was under no pressure to do so.

"As such I had no need to invent, suppress or manipulate evidence and did not do so.

"I believe the court was looking for an excuse to drop the case and seized upon an apparent discrepancy without proper analysis.

"By the end of my evidence I had no support from prosecution counsel and was subject to cross examination from the judge."

Mahmood, of Purley, south London, and Smith, from Dereham, Norfolk, deny conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
Daniel Radcliffe: I'd host Bake Off but would never go on Strictly

The ever-versatile Daniel Radcliffe said he would consider fronting the Great British Bake Off but that competing on Strictly Come Dancing would be a step too far.

The Harry Potter star joked to reporters that he would consider presenting the baking show with Paul Hollywood and the corpse character he plays in one of his two new films.

Speaking at the dual premiere of Swiss Army Man and Imperium, Radcliffe said he had heard about the "scandal" of the popular cooking show moving to Channel 4 from the BBC.

Daniel Radcliffe joked to reporters that he would consider presenting the baking show with Paul Hollywood and the corpse character he plays in one of his two new films

He said: "Host the new Bake Off? Ok. Yeah, great... so it will be me, my corpse dummy and Paul Hollywood doing some baking. I wouldn't be able to bake, but I would be there in support."

But the British actor said there was no way he would take part in Strictly Come Dancing, which his parents are "avid" fans of.

He said: "No, I would not go on Strictly. I love dancing and I'd love to do another musical at some point, but live every night, in front of the nation, every week? No."

The actor was speaking on the red carpet at the opening night gala of Empire Live at the O2 Arena in London on Friday.

The three-day festival will feature a series of screenings, Q&As with filmmakers and live reads and will include the first UK screening of Mel Gibson's new directorial effort Hacksaw Ridge.

Dressed in a navy-blue blazer and jeans, the Harry Potter star spent 20 minutes chatting and hugging screaming fans, posing for selfies and signing autographs.

In Swiss Army Man he plays a magical farting corpse who saves a suicidal man stranded on a desert island.

Asked if he could choose two people to abandon on an island, Radcliffe answered that he would pick the US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and a friend "so he has someone to talk to".

In Imperium, Radcliffe plays an FBI agent who goes undercover with a group of white supremacists.

The character shaves his hair off on screen, a style Radcliffe said he really enjoyed because "it was so easy and low maintenance".

The actor, who previously said he would not attend the stage production of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child for fear of drawing too much attention, said he would consider shaving his head again if it meant he could sit in the audience unnoticed.

He said: "I would consider it, but unfortunately shaving my head did not make me less recognisable.

"I would have thought that as well but unfortunately it seemed to... My hair gives me a little bit of cover and I think without my hair I'm just a big pair of eyes, and people recognise me from my eyes anyway, so that might not work."
Jeremy Corbyn looks to rebuild team following re-election as Labour leader

Jeremy Corbyn has been meeting key Labour MPs as he seeks to rebuild his frontbench team in the wake of his emphatic re-election as leader.

The veteran left-winger's decisive 62%-38% victory over challenger Owen Smith has strengthened his personal mandate and dramatically reduced the prospect of further attempts to unseat him in the near future.

Proposals to restore elections to the shadow cabinet in a bid to smooth the way for the return of moderates who quit in June made no progress at a meeting of the party's ruling National Executive Committee.

Jeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement

Mr Corbyn, who has set his face against the changes, remained tight-lipped as he emerged from the hour-long meeting in Liverpool, where Labour's annual conference begins on Sunday.

Deputy leader Tom Watson, who failed to secure NEC support for the reform earlier this week, said only that they had "started talking".

Mr Corbyn issued a plea for party unity after being confirmed in his position, and aides said he had spent part of the day talking with MPs including Parliamentary Labour Party chair John Cryer and popular backbencher Jess Phillips, who chairs the women's PLP.

Mr Corbyn issued a call for Labour MPs to "work together and respect the democratic choice that's been made". But critics said he should extend an olive branch by allowing MPs to elect the shadow cabinet and stamping out any threat of de-selections for MPs perceived as disloyal.

Mr Smith, who quit as shadow work and pensions secretary to fight for the leadership, said he would "reflect carefully" on what role he could play in Labour's future, but urged moderate MPs not to split the party. But Labour peer Lord Mitchell indicated he will make good on his threat to quit the party if Mr Corbyn remained.

Mr Corbyn said both he and his challenger were part of the "same Labour family" as he appealed for unity after receiving 313,209 of the votes cast, compared with 193,229 for Mr Smith.

He acknowledged he had a responsibility to take action to unite Labour, but added: "It is also the responsibility of the whole party - Members of Parliament, councillors, party members and our wonderful supporters across the country - to work together and respect the democratic choice that's been made."

Echoing the maiden speech of former Labour MP Jo Cox, who was killed earlier this year, Mr Corbyn said: "Always remember in our party, we have much more in common than that which divides us."

The Islington North MP defeated his challenger in all three sections of the 500,000-strong electorate - full members, supporters from affiliated organisations like the unions, and registered supporters who paid a 25 fee to vote.

But an opinion poll suggested that Mr Smith won a large majority (63%-37%) among those who were members before last year's general election defeat, in a clear sign of the shift to the left which has accompanied the trebling in Labour ranks to 550,000 over the past year.

The Pontypridd MP - who has ruled out a return to the shadow cabinet - said it was clear that the party had "changed" under Mr Corbyn's leadership. But he set his face firmly against a split, saying: "I call on those party members disappointed by the result and tempted to look elsewhere to stay with Labour, and to stay involved."

It fell to Mr Corbyn to heal divisions within the party and turn round its "dire" opinion poll ratings, said Mr Smith. "Jeremy has won this contest. He now has to win the country, and he will have my support in trying to do so."

Mr Corbyn insisted the party was already coming together, with "lots of MPs" signalling their support.

But he refused to support calls to rule out the de-selection of MPs, telling the BBC: "It is not my decision who is selected for a place or not. I am not a leader who imposes things on constituencies."

Union leader Len McCluskey of Unite, one of Mr Corbyn's key backers, said the party's MPs should now listen to its members and stop the "sniping, plotting and corridor coups". But Labour MP Wayne David, who resigned from the front bench during the June revolt against Mr Corbyn, said: "Jeremy's rhetoric was of unity and olive branches today. The acid test, however, is what that means in practice."

Another ex-shadow cabinet minister Lisa Nandy warned that Mr Corbyn - who visited a community cafe to cook with local children following his victory - needed to understand the scale of the challenge Labour was facing with the lowest level of support in opposition since 1935.

"If don't start taking this seriously we will not win again. What the exit polls show is that the party is very divided," she told BBC Radio 4's The World At One. Mr Smith had "won convincingly among the more established membership ... the activists and councillors who were going out knocking on doors."

Close Corbyn lieutenant Diane Abbott questioned the motives of MPs demanding a return to shadow cabinet elections, warning that party members would not accept "internecine warfare". Ms Abbott hinted critics of Mr Corbyn could now face a backlash from their constituency parties if they refused to fall into line.

"If you look at some of Jeremy's fiercest opponents in the party, their local parties nominated Jeremy. What MPs have to do is start listening to party members," she said.

Mr Watson said: "The most important thing is that both candidates said they want to bring the party back together, they want unity. I think we are looking at an early general election and that must now be our sole focus - taking on Theresa May and the Tories."

Former leader Ed Miliband - who introduced the electoral system which delivered Mr Corbyn's victory - called on the party "to unite and to focus on the country".

Liberal Democrat supporters circulated messages on social media with the hashtags #leavelabour and #joinlibdems, while newly-elected Ukip leader Diane James said the result gave her party an opportunity to become the "opposition in waiting".

Greens urged Mr Corbyn to enter talks on a "grassroots-led progressive alliance" to fight Tories at the next election, in an apparent call for an electoral pact.

But Conservative Party chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin said: "Labour are too divided, distracted and incompetent to build a country that works for everyone.

"Instead of learning lessons from the past, they have engaged in a bitter power struggle that will continue even after they've picked a leader."

Owen Smith congratulates Jeremy Corbyn at the ACC Liverpool.

The stage is prepared for the announcement for the Labour leadership contest between Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool

Seats reserved for Jeremy Corbyn supporters at the ACC Liverpool at the announcement for the Labour leadership contest between Corbyn and Owen Smith

Mr Corbyn called on Labour MPs to unite behind his leadership

Mr Corbyn said he had a responsibility as leader to unite the party at conference, in Parliament and across the country

Jeremy Corbyn celebrates his victory following the announcement of the winner in the Labour leadership contest between him and Owen Smith at the ACC Liverpool

Jeremy Corbyn waves to his supporters

Owen Smith leaves the floor following the announcement

All smiles as the leader keeps his place

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is congratulated by his wife Laura Alvarez

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is congratulated by fellow contender Owen Smith
'Full English Brexit' bad for Scotland's health, says Alex Salmond

Former first minister Alex Salmond has warned that a "full English Brexit" would harm Scotland's economy and cultural health.

The SNP foreign affairs spokesman also accused Prime Minister Theresa May of using the position of EU citizens as a "human shield" in negotiations.

He made the comments during a speech to celebrate the Saltire Society's 80th anniversary at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Alex Salmond gave a lecture to celebrate the Saltire Society's 80th anniversary

He said: "According to the new Foreign Secretary, full English Brexit will be served by early in the new year and will be consumed within two years.

"I think full English Brexit will be extremely bad for Scotland's economic and cultural health."

He said even allowing " for the appropriate level of buffoonery, and lack of homework" that "a fter 1,000 years of history we face the choice of others severing our relationships with the continent of Europe".

He added: "I'm certain that Nicola Sturgeon will discharge her responsibility.

"She is the only political figure since the European referendum that has displayed that she has a clear agenda and that is to maintain Scotland's position within the single market place and also to secure the position of her fellow European citizens in Scotland - a position currently being used quite disgracefully by our new Prime Minister as some sort of human shield in terms of bartering and negotiations of people's lives, a totally unacceptable position."

He said he believed that through negotiation the position of Europeans as citizens could be secured but is "not confident" that Scotland will be able to retain its position within the single market, despite saying it is a feasible solution.

The MP for Gordon added: "Reading the smoke signals coming from Westminster over the last few weeks we would have to come to the conclusion that such a flexible, sensible position is unlikely and therefore I'm fully expecting there to be a second referendum on Scottish independence in about two years' time."

He said it would be of "great interest how important people will regard Scotland's European connections", saying he hoped people will want them to be "retained and flourish".

In a question and answer session following the speech, he said he believed Scottish independence was "a question of timescale not of destination", saying he disagreed with some of his colleagues in believing that the European issue is of "fundamental significance".

Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill warned on Wednesday against a ''headlong rush'' to a second independence referendum, urging First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to instead ''await the optimum time'' for such a ballot.

Mr MacAskill, who stood down from Holyrood in May, said if Scots again voted to stay part of the UK ''glorious defeat would put the dream back catastrophically'' for independence supporters.

Mr Salmond also criticised the BBC, saying it reminds him of "Soviet Russia" in its approach to targets and that the lack of a Scottish national public service broadcaster had been a "major cultural and social inhibition of huge proportions".
Smart meters 'only lead to small savings on energy bills'

Smart meters are likely to save individual consumers only a small amount of money on their energy bills and the Government needs to work harder to convince households of the true benefits of the rollout, according to a report.

The Science and Technology Committee said it would be "easy to dismiss the smart meter project as an inefficient way of saving a small amount of money on energy bills" but evidence suggested there were major national benefits, such as a smarter and more secure grid and reduced pollution.

Smart meters have been promoted to consumers as a way to reduce their energy bills by checking their usage in real time via a monitor and avoid estimated bills as a result of the meter sending automatic readings to the supplier.

Smart meters have been promoted to consumers as a way to reduce their energy bills (Energy Retail Association/PA)

But the committee said there remained the "unresolved" problem of early meters installed in the first phase of the rollout losing their "smart" function when the customer switches supplier, noting that more than three million meters were already in place.

The committee's interim chairwoman, Tania Mathias, said: "The Government has known for years that early smart meters can lose their smartness if the customer switches supplier.

"Ministers merely have an 'ambition' to fix this by 2020. Taxpayers will be unimpressed with this situation, and timely action is needed."

She added: "The evidence shows that homeowners and businesses need to receive tailored advice about how they can benefit from smart metering.

"The 'smartness' comes from what customers can do with them - fit and forget would be a wasted opportunity."

The rollout will see suppliers offer smart meters to 53 million homes and small businesses across Britain by 2020.

The foundation phase began in 2013 and the mass rollout is expected to begin in earnest in the coming weeks after several delays.

Committee members also met with experts from GCHQ to discuss security around the meters, and Dr Mathias said: "GCHQ's involvement in designing the security for the smart metering system gives confidence that security is being taken seriously, but the Government will need to do more to convince and reassure customers that the technology is safe from being hacked."

The committee raised concerns that its first "evidence check" of the rollout was hampered by "regrettable" delays in the Government's response in some cases, and ministers were unable to supply statements in two areas where a lead department could not be identified.

It noted that the quality of some of the Government's responses raised concerns about its ability to communicate the evidence behind its policies, saying that: "At best, this suggests that some departments lack experience of communicating their evidence base. At worst, it could mean that some policies lack the necessary evidence."

Dr Mathias said: "Evidence should be at the heart of Government policy. It is a serious concern that the Government struggled to respond to our requests for evidence, and this can weaken trust in the Government.

"Whitehall needs to improve how it communicates its evidence base and hopefully will learn from this exercise."

A Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokeswoman said: " Smart meters will bring Britain's energy infrastructure into the 21st century - as the committee has made clear.

"The rollout will end estimated bills, help consumers save energy and money, and support a smarter energy system for decades to come."

Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Smart Energy GB, which is running the campaign for the rollout, said: "It's very positive to see the Science and Technology Committee recognising the critical role of consumer engagement in achieving the aims of Britain's smart meter rollout.

"And that it endorses Smart Energy GB's behaviour change approach to achieving this goal.
Hinkley Point a boost to UK steel, but not a game changer

By Maytaal Angel

LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - UK steelmakers are likely to win deals to supply the 18 billion pound ($23 billion) nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, although that may not be enough to bolster Britain's troubled steel sector, industry experts say.

Helped rising steel prices and a falling pound making exports more competitive <_.HRC-NEDSI>, UK steel firms are emerging from a crisis that has cost around 5,000 jobs, or a fifth of the workforce, since last October.

Britain approved the China-backed Hinkley Point project last Thursday.

But Britain's steel industry says it needs more infrastructure projects, 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," said Ben Orhan, senior economist at consultants His.

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 <_.RCB-NEDSI>, 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 say they might given that 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 pounds of manufacturing contracts ... and 64 percent of the (Hinkley Point) construction value is expected to come from British companies."

EDF has said the largest forgings, used in the nuclear reactors, will be procured overseas because UK steelmakers do not produce them.

French nuclear group Areva told Reuters it will supply forgings for Hinkley Point. In July, EDF signed a memorandum of understanding with Areva about acquiring a controlling stake in 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)
Photos: Protesters Smash Landlord Effigies At Renters Day Of Action

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 23, 2016 10:58AM



In one of more than 40 similar planned actions nationwide, dozens of protesters took to Daley Plaza on Thursday afternoon to speak out against the local affordable-housing crisis.

"Today, Sept. 22, 2016, is the first national day of renters action for dignity and respect.," said Antonio Gutierrez, of the Autonomous Tenants Union.

"We are here to declare a renters state of emergency, to take the streets to demand an end to rising rents, evictions and gentrification,"Gutierrez told the crowd. "Now more than ever, housing is not affordable for millions of people. Rents nationwide are rising while wages are stagnant, evictions are at an epidemic level, and our communities cannot wait for affordable housing any longer."

The demonstration was put together in partnership with ten tenants-advocacy groups, including Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Somos Logan Square and others.

"Working and low income people, communities of color, immigrants and the formerly incarcerated are the targets of this crisis. As housing becomes even more unattainable and our cultures and communities are displaced," Gutierrez added.

At different points in the demonstration, protesters formed a human line in front of the Richard J. Daley Center and smashed a piAata meant to represent Joel Barnett and Mark Fishman, of controversial property-management companies Barnett Capital LTD and M. Fishman and Co., respectively. M. Fishman hiked rents in Logan Square as high as $600 a month earlier this year.

A study this summer by the MacArthur Foundation found that nearly half of Chicago resident could not afford their housing and that people of color were found to be more skeptical of a housing rebound than whites.

"We demand with the rest of the nation a solution to the national housing crisis," Gutierrez said.
Total says to cut costs by a further $1 bln

By Bate Felix

PARIS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - French oil and gas giant Total raised its savings target and lowered its investment forecast on Thursday in further moves to weather prolonged oil price weakness.

The company is targeting cost savings of around $3 to $4 billion by 2018, Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne told investors in London. In February, the firm said it was aiming for $3 billion by 2017.

"We are very confident that we will reach this $4 billion. Most of it will come from upstream," Pouyanne said.

A reorganisation that has seen the creation of a unit to pool resources will enable the company to achieve the target, Pouyanne said. "The idea is to leverage on economies of scale across the group."

He said the company makes purchases of about $30 billion per year. Out of that, Pouyanne said it has identified about $15 billion which could be jointly procured by at least two businesses within the group.

Total also said it plans to reduce investment to between $15 billion and $17 billion per year from 2017 to 2020, $2 billion less than announced previously.

"This is a strong commitment on our part. We do not intend to go beyond this range even if there was a sudden upsurge in oil prices," he said.

Total said that level of investment will enable it to grow its output by an average rate of 5 percent per year from 2014 through to 2020, extending by a year its previous guidance.

The company said it was committed to lowering its breakeven price. "In 2017, cash flow from operations will cover Capex, including resource renewal, and dividend cash-out with Brent at $55 per barrel," Total said in its presentation to investors. (http://bit.ly/2cqXX7j)

Pouyanne said in July that oil prices remained volatile, but the company had gained from a recovery in Brent crude from the start of the year when it went below $28 per barrel to average $46 per barrel in the second quarter.

Brent was up 61 cents or 1.3 percent at $47.44 per barrel by 1759 GMT on Thursday.

Total said the discounted scrip dividend it has been offering, will end in 2017 if Brent is at $60 per barrel.

On divestment, Pouyanne said the firm has reached its objectives and does not see the need to do more. He confirmed that Total was looking at selling its Italian petrol station joint venture with Erg, while talks over the sale of its speciality chemicals and equipment division Atotech, were ongoing.

Sources close to the matter told Reuters on Thursday that CVC, Carlyle and a consortium comprising Cinven and BC Partners will hand in final bids in coming days.
RWE's Innogy eyes largest German IPO since 2000

By Christoph Steitz

FRANKFURT, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Innogy, the renewables, network and retail business of utility RWE, could fetch up to 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion) when it lists next month to become Germany's biggest IPO since the tech boom at the turn of the millennium.

Reeling from high debt, low wholesale power prices and a rise in renewable power, RWE and larger peer E.ON have come up with competing turnaround plans to split up their businesses. RWE's debt is 28.3 billion euros, E.ON's 25.5 billion.

By pooling and listing its healthy assets -- grids, retail and renewables -- as a separate entity, RWE, Germany's second-largest energy group, is hoping to attract investors who have dumped utility stocks in recent years.

With its focus on regulated assets, Innogy's business will be similar to that of E.ON, but with one key difference: E.ON, which last week spun off a majority in power plant and energy trading unit Uniper, will still carry the billions of liabilities related to the shutdown of its German nuclear plants.

In Innogy's case, that responsibility stays with parent RWE, removing a major uncertainty for potential investors.

"What's clear to me is that E.ON's assets are as good as Innogy's assets. However, there's an overhang for E.ON due to the nuclear legacy issue and a 47 percent share in Uniper, which makes it a less clean story," said Oskar Tijs, senior investment analyst at Dutch asset manager NN Investment Partners.

Innogy, which would be Germany's largest initial public offering since Deutsche Post went public in 2000, will issue 55.6 million of new shares while parent RWE will put up as many as 83.3 million existing shares for sale at 32-36 euros apiece, it said.

This would give it a market capitalisation of up to 20 billion euros, more than twice RWE's current value, showing the appetite for regulated assets, which account for 60 percent of its profits, and the discount on RWE's power generation assets.

"Finally, there's something investable in Germany's utility sector," Andreas Schneller, fund manager at Swiss utility specialist EIC said, adding he hoped to buy some of Innogy's shares.

Innogy said 940 million euros in binding purchases had already been placed and would be acquired by U.S. asset manager BlackRock on behalf of its clients, underlining the level of interest.

However, other investors said they would wait to see how the stock performed before buying it.

"I will certainly look at Innogy. But any decision to buy will be made once the price stabilises," said Angelo Meda, head of equity and portfolio manager at Banor SIM in Milan.

"In big spin-off deals like this, prices tend to be very volatile for a month or so as investors switch from one stock to the other."

Another fund manager, Ion-Marc Valahu at Clarinvest, said he wouldn't buy into the IPO because he already owns RWE stock, which he likes because of the dividend it offers.

Aching under 28.3 billion euros of net debt, RWE will hold 75-82 percent of Innogy following the listing, depending on the amount of shares sold, handing it a tool to raise cash by selling additional stakes in the future. It wants to remain a majority shareholder in the long term.

This stands in contrast to the restructuring process at larger peer E.ON, which wants to sell its remaining 46.65 percent stake in Uniper, but not before 2018.

RWE and Innogy have committed not to sell Innogy shares for a period of six months from the first day of trading, scheduled for Oct. 7. The offer period for Innogy shares will run from Sept. 26-Oct. 6.

RWE, E.ON and Uniper shares all closed about 1 percent lower on Friday. Sell-side analysts have an average "hold" rating on both RWE and E.ON, while Uniper is an average "buy".

($1 = 0.8925 euros)
German anti-immigrant AfD party gets 16 pct, highest ever, in new poll

BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party would capture 16 percent of the vote if a federal election were held now, according to an opinion poll on Friday which showed it drawing more support than ever before.

The poll released by public broadcaster ARD said Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives would get 32 percent of the vote, while the Social Democrats, junior partner in the ruling coalition, would get 22 percent. Together they would have 54 percent, enough for the ruling "grand coalition" to continue.

The AfD made huge gains in two regional elections this month and will now have seats in 10 of 16 state assemblies, benefiting from a backlash against Merkel's open-door refugee policy and the arrival of nearly a million migrants last year.

The next federal election is a year from now. The party's latest score of 16 percent is more than three times the 5 percent it would need to win seats in the Bundestag or parliament for the first time.

Founded in 2013 as a an anti-euro party, it has previously been strongest in eastern Germany, but has now broadened its appeal. It scored 14 percent of the vote in the previous ARD poll, carried out on Sept. 1.

A rueful Merkel on Monday took the blame for the regional election defeats and said she would turn back time if she could to better prepare Germany for last year's migrant influx.

The widespread backlash against her migrant policy has raised questions about whether Europe's most powerful leader will seek a fourth term next year. Given a dearth of options in her party, however, she is still the most likely candidate.

The latest ARD poll means that the AfD could become the third largest party in Germany, overtaking the pro-environment Green party on 12 percent.

The radical Left party would capture 8 percent of the vote, while the liberal Free Democrats (FDP) would win 6 percent, allowing them to move back into parliament, the poll showed.

The FDP is not currently represented in the Bundestag, but could be a potential ally for Merkel's conservatives.
UN envoy says Syria meeting 'long, painful and disappointing'

NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura described a meeting of the International Syria Support Group on Thursday as "long, painful and disappointing," adding that he wants to believe that Russia and the United States are serious about brokering peace.
Guatemala denounces corruption at U.N. while scandal brews at home

By Hugh Bronstein

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales gave a fiery speech against corruption at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, a week after a judge barred his son and brother from leaving the country due to a pending fraud investigation.

Morales, who rose to fame as a TV comedian, won office last year on a platform of fighting the corruption that has battered confidence in Guatemala and its Central American neighbors Honduras and El Salvador.

But Samuel "Sammy" Morales, an older brother and a close adviser to the president, and Jose Manuel Morales, one of the president's four sons, have been questioned in a case over suspicious business dealings.

"The rule of law is now unmistakably more vigorous than it was a year ago," said the president, whose 2015 campaign slogan was "Neither Corrupt, nor a Thief".

The scandal may dent Morales' image, which is based on setting himself apart from previous leader Otto Perez, who is in jail for fraud.

"2015 changed the course of history in Guatemala," Morales told the assembly. "There was a rejection of the perverse system of corruption that had undermined our development potential."

The current case involves payments linked to the mother of Jose Manuel's then-girlfriend in 2013.

The mother, who has not been identified, agreed to supply Christmas hampers to the national property registry, which is being investigated for suspected corruption, according to testimony given during a public hearing about the registry.

She instead sent the registry a $12,000 bill made out in the name of a local restaurant for 564 breakfasts, according to the attorney general. The breakfasts were never delivered, according to statements given by a witness in a public hearing.

Sammy Morales told local newspaper Prensa Libre last week that he got involved in the transaction as "a favor" to his nephew, but he denied it was part of a fraud scheme. No formal charges have been filed against Sammy Morales or Jose Manuel.

The president's landslide victory was attributed to popular discontent with Guatemala's political class and compounded by a U.N.-backed investigation into a multi-million dollar customs racket that reached deep into the previous administration.

The president said last week he would not interfere in the matter but expressed support for his relatives.

"My wife and I fully support our son and believe that my brother is an honorable man," he said in a televised address.
Anti-UAW worker group at VW Tennessee plant loses representation

By Bernie Woodall

DETROIT, Sept 22 (Reuters) - A worker group created as an alternative to the United Auto Workers union at Volkswagen AG's plant in Tennessee has failed to meet minimum membership requirements under the German automaker's labor policy, VW said on Thursday.

The UAW has been verified as representing at least 45 percent of workers at the plant, allowing the union members to meet regularly with management.

The American Council of Employees (ACE) was formed on the heels of a February 2014 election in which the UAW lost the right to represent all of the plant's 1,500 workers. Emboldened by the UAW's loss, a nucleus of anti-UAW workers who founded ACE had visions of becoming the dominant worker representation group at the plant.

On Thursday, VW announced that the ACE's membership among the plant's workers had fallen below 15 percent, the threshold for recognition by VW.

After the UAW loss in 2014, VW set up an unconventional policy that would allow more than one worker group to represent workers in plant affairs. This does not include the right to collective bargaining for worker wages and benefits, as the UAW has at U.S. plants of General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles .

The VW policy allows increasing levels of access to plant management based on a group's support level.

The UAW first was recognized by VW in December 2014. ACE won its recognition in February 2015.

Efforts to reach an attorney who has represented ACE workers were not successful. The group's founding members are no longer employed at the VW plant.

The UAW claims that it has support of a majority of VW Chattanooga hourly plant workers. It has not attempted another plant vote because, its leaders have said, it does not believe a fair election could occur because of strong anti-union Tennessee politicians and national lobbying groups that it says influenced the February 2014 vote.

VW's Thursday announcement does not affect the UAW's effort to represent a subset of about 165 workers at the Chattanooga plant, including the right to collective bargaining.

In December 2015, that subset of skilled trades workers who maintain plant machinery voted to join the UAW, but VW has refused to bargain with them.
Syria toxic gas inquiry report delayed; France, Britain urge U.N. action

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council has given an international inquiry five more weeks to complete its report on who is to blame for toxic gas attacks in Syria as U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, France, Britain and others push for those responsible to be punished.

The inquiry was due to submit its report this week, but Ban told the 15-member council in a letter, seen by Reuters on Thursday, that the inquiry needed extra time and wanted to delay its deadline until Oct. 21. The council has extended its mandate until Oct. 31.

In its most recent report to the Security Council last month, the joint United Nations and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inquiry said that Syrian government troops were responsible for two toxic gas attacks and Islamic State militants used sulfur mustard gas.

France, Britain and other council members want the body to act after receiving the next report, the inquiry's fourth.

"There have been two incidents documented by the UN/OPCW of the dropping of chlorine gas. How can we sit by and let that happen? Burning, blistering, barbaric chlorine gas being dropped on innocent people," British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told a Security Council meeting on Syria on Wednesday.

As the inquiry works to complete its report, it has identified two Syrian Air Force helicopter squadrons and two other military units it holds responsible for chlorine gas attacks, a Western diplomat told Reuters.

Some diplomats worry that the council could respond weakly or that the issue could be sidelined as the United States and Russia try to salvage a truce deal in Syria.

"Justice demands that no crime is left ignored even as an exchange for a truce," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the council meeting during the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders.

"It is up to the Security Council to act under Chapter 7 to condemn these attacks and sanction perpetrators. It is a moral duty and an obligation for the international community which wanted to ban chemical weapons," he said.

Chapter 7 deals with sanctions and authorization of military force by the Security Council. The body would need to adopt another resolution to impose targeted sanctions - a travel ban and asset freeze - on people or entities linked to the attacks

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Moscow and Washington. The Security Council backed that deal with a resolution that said in the event of non-compliance, "including unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone" in Syria, it would impose measures under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter.

Ban said that if the world did not pursue the perpetrators of brutal crimes in Syria it "would be a grave abdication of duty."
Japan PM raises North Korea nuclear program with Cuba's Fidel Castro

By Sarah Marsh

HAVANA, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the first Japanese leader to visit Communist-ruled Cuba, called for a strong and unified international response to North Korea's nuclear program in rare talks with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro on Thursday.

Cuba is one of North Korea's few diplomatic allies, along with China, and a fellow member of the non-aligned movement formed in 1961 by states wanting to avoid siding with the United States or the Soviet Union.

North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate this year and claims it has mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile, a worrying prospect for neighbours South Korea and Japan.

"The PM pointed out the necessity (for) the international community to respond to this rigorously in unity," Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Yasuhisa Kawamura told reporters after Abe's 70-minute meeting with Fidel Castro, the predecessor and elder brother of Cuban President Raul Castro.

Fidel Castro visited the site of the world's first atomic bombing Hiroshima in 2003 and left a message in the guestbook saying "May such barbarity never happen again". He told Abe the issue of Pyongyang's nuclear program should be resolved peacefully through dialogue, Kawamura said.

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. However, it is unusual for a Western leader to meet Fidel Castro, who usually only sees close allies.

The Japanese Prime Minister met Raul Castro later in the evening to discuss how Japan and Cuba could deepen bilateral relations, in particular in the commercial and economic spheres, Cuban state media reported.

Japan has a long history of trade with Cuba, importing seafood, tobacco and coffee while exporting machinery.

Abe said in an interview published in Cuba's Communist Party newspaper Granma on Thursday 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, with some of it now assigned towards development projects.

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 that 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.
Oil slumps 4 pct as no output deal expected for OPEC

By Barani Krishnan

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Oil prices tumbled 4 percent on Friday on signs Saudi Arabia and arch rival Iran were making little progress in achieving preliminary agreement ahead of talks by major crude exporters next week aimed at freezing production.

Also weighing on sentiment was data showing the United States was on track to add the most number of oil rigs in a quarter since the crude price crash began two years ago. Lower equity prices on Wall Street and other world stock markets was another bearish factor.

Brent crude futures settled down $1.76, or 3.7 percent, at $45.89 a barrel. For the week, it rose 0.3 percent, accounting for gains in the past two sessions.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell $1.84, or 4 percent, to settle at $44.48. On the week, WTI gained 3 percent.

Crude futures slumped after sources said Saudi Arabia did not expect a decision in Algeria where the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other big oil producers were to convene for Sept 26-28 talks.

"The Algeria meeting is not a decision making meeting. It is for consultations," a source familiar with Saudi oil officials' thinking told Reuters.

Earlier in the day, the market rallied when Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had offered to reduce production if Iran caps its own output this year.

Oil prices are typically volatile before OPEC talks and Friday's session was tempered with caution despite market sentiment on a high this week after the U.S. government reported on Wednesday a third straight weekly drop in crude stockpiles.

"A 'No Deal' result in our definition will be one where OPEC not only failed to get an explicit deal out of the meetings, but also failed to develop a forward plan," Macquarie Capital said in a note, referring to the Algeria talks. "This would be another epic fail by OPEC."

The Alegria talks are OPEC's second attempt for an agreement on production curbs, after a failed effort in May. The market has been skeptical of OPEC's commitment, though, as key members of the group, led by Saudi Arabia and Iran have been pumping at optimum levels to protect market share.

Non-OPEC member Russia, the world's largest oil exporter, also hit record highs in production this week.

The production spike, rhetoric from OPEC and recent declines in U.S. stocks have kept crude in a $40-$50 range after 12-year lows of around $26 set in the first quarter.

"Let us reiterate that we still don't expect that a fundamentals driven rally will be strong enough to drive prices above $50 per barrel until Q1 or Q2 of next year," Credit Suisse said in a note. "Equally, however, we don't see a good fundamentals-based case for prices to collapse and set new cycle-lows all over again."
Philippines seeks Duterte visits to Japan, China late Oct - foreign ministry sources

MANILA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Diplomats in the Philippines are in talks with counterparts in Japan and China to try and arrange visits for President Rodrigo Duterte at the end of next month, foreign ministry officials in Manila said on Friday.

Dates were still being worked out for the proposed trips, several officials said, remaining anonymous because they were not authorised to speak to media.
Man Charged With Groping Woman On Loyola Campus

By Sarah Gouda in News on Sep 23, 2016 4:27PM

Soroush Aflaki, 22, has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery in a public place after several women filed reports of being groped on Loyal Universitys Rogers Park campus.

Police say there were four reported instances of women being inappropriately touched on or near Loyolas campus in recent weeks. Aflaki has been identified as the man who touched a woman as she walked in the 6300 block of N Winthrop St., on Sept. 18. He was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged.

According to a Monday community alert from the Chicago Police Department, another student felt someone touch her buttocks at 10 p.m. on September 6th. She turned around and saw the offender riding away on a bicycle. Similar incidents were reported by two other women, which occurred late in the evening of Sept. 6th and on the morning of Sept. 7.

Aflaki is schedule to appear in bond court on Friday.
South Korea says time to reconsider North Korea's U.N. membership

By David Brunnstrom

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se accused North Korea on Thursday of "totally ridiculing" the authority of the United Nations through its nuclear and missile tests and said it was time to reconsider whether it was qualified for U.N. membership.

In an address to the annual United Nations General Assembly, Yun said the U.N. security Council should adopt "stronger, comprehensive" sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9 and close loopholes in existing measures.

"North Korea's repeated violations and non-compliance of Security Council resolutions and international norms is unprecedented and has no parallel in the history of the U.N.," Yun said.

"North Korea is totally ridiculing the authority of the General Assembly and the Security Council," he said.

"Therefore, 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."

Yun said North Korea had not only advanced its nuclear and missile capacity, but publicly threatened to use those weapons preemptively. He said it was the "last chance" to put a brake on its nuclear ambitions.

Yun also called for action against North Korea's violations of the rights of its own people, and said there should be greater focus on North Korean workers abroad and the possible diversion of their wages to weapons programs.

Discussions are already under way on a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution on North Korea after its latest nuclear test.

Analysts and diplomats say much depends on China's attitude.

China is North Korea's main ally, but has been angered by its repeated missile and nuclear tests and backed tough U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang in March. At the same time, it has repeatedly called for a return to international talks to resolve the issue, in spite of the skepticism of other world powers.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the General Assembly on Wednesday countries must remain committed to denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, while seeking a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue.

The United States said Li and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed in New York on Monday to step up cooperation in the U.N. Security Council and in law enforcement channels
Schaeuble defends Bavarian ally in twist to German coalition row

By Paul Carrel

BERLIN, Sept 22 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's veteran finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, jumped to the defence of her conservatives' Bavarian sister party in the latest twist in a row over migrants that is damaging her re-election prospects.

Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) have spent the last year locked in the dispute, which now centres on the latter's demand to cap the number of migrants coming into Germany at 200,000 a year.

Merkel, whose CDU suffered a drubbing in a state election in Berlin on Sunday, has refused to agree to such a limit. But the allies know they must reach a compromise soon that allows them both to save face and focus on next year's federal election.

Schaeuble defended CSU leader Horst Seehofer, a significant intervention from a senior conservative after other Merkel allies blamed the Bavarians' relentless attacks on her open-door refugee policy for the CDU's poor showing in the Berlin vote.

"It is an outrage to insinuate that Bavarian premier Horst Seehofer is against the dignified treatment of refugees," the finance minister told weekly magazine Wirtschaftswoche in comments released on Thursday.

"In Bavaria, there are fewer far-right attacks on refugees than elsewhere," added Schaeuble, who is not close to Merkel but used his popularity in their party to help her win backing for financial aid to Greece during the euro zone crisis.

Merkel, Seehofer and senior figures from their parties had a "constructive" meeting in Berlin on Thursday evening to try to narrow their differences, according to sources familiar with the meeting. No decisions had been expected on the migrant cap.

The conservatives did agree to tackle a new distribution of finances between the federal government and the states, a topic that has proven divisive in the past.

Schaeuble could be a CDU candidate for chancellor should Merkel not seek re-election next year, though he brushed off questions about whether he could seek the office or even the German presidency in a television interview last week.

"Why don't you ask me if I want to be Pope?" he responded.

Wheelchair-bound since a deranged man shot and crippled him in 1990, Schaeuble turned 74 on Sunday and cast himself as a loyal minister in the Wirtschaftswoche interview.

"I am fulfilling my duty as finance minister," he said.

Merkel, 62, said on Monday she would turn back time if she could to better prepare Germany for last year's migrant influx, when some one million migrants entered the country.

Her uncharacteristically contrite remarks were a clear attempt to mend fences with the CSU, though Seehofer is keeping up pressure on her to compromise on the migrant cap.

Jens Spahn, deputy finance minister and a senior member of Merkel's conservatives, told the Rheinische Post newspaper that the CSU proposed cap could even be too high, citing the failed integration in the past of some migrants with Arabic or north African backgrounds.

He also urged the EU to conclude an agreement with north African nations to ease the repatriation of those rescued at sea who fled for financial reasons and were later denied asylum.

CDU officials have played down any prospect of an immediate breakthrough, but the parties want to resolve the migrant row before a CDU congress in early December at which Merkel could announce she will run for a fourth term.
Philippines seeks Duterte visits to Japan, China next month

By Manuel Mogato

MANILA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Diplomats in the Philippines are in talks with counterparts in Japan and China to arrange visits by controversial President Rodrigo Duterte at the end of next month, officials in Manila said on Friday.

Dates were still being worked out for the proposed trips by the outspoken leader, several officials said, remaining anonymous because they were not authorised to speak to media.

A Japanese foreign ministry official confirmed plans were being made. China's Foreign Ministry did not confirm the trip, but reiterated its invitation for Duterte to visit "at an early date".

The Philippines' relations with Japan are warm but those with China have long been frosty over territorial wrangles in the South China Sea.

Duterte has repeatedly said conflict was pointless and he wants to get along and do business with Beijing.

Some analysts believe Duterte's uncharacteristic verbal restraint towards China, in contrast to his stinging rebukes of the United States, United Nations and European Union, shows he is hedging in pursuit of his goal of an independent foreign policy and reducing reliance on former colonial ruler Washington.

Duterte has lashed out against Washington, the EU and the United Nations for criticising his deadly anti-drugs campaign, in which nearly 3,000 people have been killed.

China and the Philippines are trying to find a way to break the ice after a verdict by an arbitral court in The Hague in July invalidated China's claims to most of the South China Sea and gave Manila the legal high ground in the dispute.

During a speech on Thursday, Duterte said he would go to China this year and, without elaborating, told Chinese businessmen: "You will see me often".

He reiterated he would not deviate from the court ruling but would seek a way out of a four-year deadlock at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and for China's coastguard to let Filipinos fish there unimpeded. The arbitration panel ruled that no one country can legally control the shoal.

"China has already said several times that it welcomes President Duterte to visit China at an early date," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters at a regular briefing.

"As long as both the Philippines and China continue to maintain the political will to reconcile our differences, there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome," Lu said.

A source in Duterte's office said it was possible former president Fidel Ramos, his new China envoy, could visit as early as next week to lay the groundwork for talks.

The relationship with Japan is far less complicated and Tokyo has agreed to provide 10 coastguard vessels to Manila to support its maritime security efforts.

Japan, a major investor across Southeast Asia, has been providing coastguard training and ships also to Vietnam, another country at odds with China over its maritime assertiveness.

The proposed October visits would be among Duterte's first as president in what has been a colourful, at times dramatic first three months in office.
U.N. aviation agency snubs Taiwan amid impasse with China

TAIPEI/MONTREAL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Taiwan has not been invited to the assembly meeting of a United Nations aviation agency, the latest sign of the pressure China is bringing to bear on the new independence-leaning government of the self-ruled island it views as a renegade province.

Diplomatically-isolated Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, which recognizes China. China, in turn, sees wayward Taiwan as fit to be taken back by force if necessary, particularly if it makes moves toward independence.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said arrangements for the assembly, scheduled from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7 in Montreal, did not follow the pattern ahead of a previous such meeting in 2013, when China had asked for Taiwan to be invited.

"ICAO follows the United Nations' 'One China' policy," the agency's communications chief, Anthony Philbin, told Reuters in an email. "While arrangements had been made for their attendance at the last (38th) session of the assembly, there are no such arrangements for this one."

Taiwan's foreign ministry and presidential office are expected to issue statements on the matter later on Friday.

China's foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment.

China's refusal to let Taiwan attend the meeting is politically symbolic. It comes as China pressures Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to concede to Beijing's cherished 'one China' principle, which implies Taiwan is a part of China.

Since May, when Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party, which traditionally favours independence from China, took power, China has suspended official communication channels with Taiwan, despite the island's request to maintain dialogue.

Rapprochement between China and Taiwan in the previous eight years, when the island's government was run by the China-friendly Nationalists, has started to fade under the DPP.
London nickel set for biggest weekly gain since July on Philippine supply risks

By Melanie Burton

MELBOURNE, Sept 23 (Reuters) - London nickel slipped on Friday, but was still on track for a nearly 9 percent gain, its biggest weekly gain since July, as markets braced for more Philippine mine suspensions amid an environmental crackdown on the sector.

A dozen more Philippine mines, mostly nickel projects, are at risk of being suspended in an ongoing environmental crackdown on the sector, the biggest supplier of ore to China's vast stainless steel industry. The result of the mine audit, twice delayed, is due next week.

"The market probably hasn't placed enough importance on the issues in the Philippines and the (likely) recommendations for further closures just highlights how susceptible this market can be to short covering," said analyst Daniel Hynes of ANZ in Sydney.

"That in combination with the much better than expected (China) economic data has been the real driver of prices... we believe nickel is primed for further gains over the next few months."

Benchmark nickel on the London Metal Exchange slipped by 1 percent to $10,555 a tonne by 0222 GMT, having logged gains of 3.1 percent in the previous session when it hit $10,661, the highest since August 12. Prices are on course for an 8.5 percent weekly advance, the biggest weekly rise since the start of July.

LME copper edged back 0.5 percent to $4,830 a tonne, having logged a 1.9 percent advance in the previous session when it also topped out at a six-week peak of $4,858.50 a tonne.

On the Shanghai Futures exchange, copper posted 0.6 percent gains, while ShFE aluminium rose 1.1 percent.

Premiums for Shanghai copper have climbed to the highest since May at $55-65, as industrial activity ramps up after summer.

In news, four U.S. steel producers will file petitions with the U.S. Commerce Department charging Chinese producers with diverting shipments through Vietnam to avoid American import tariffs, a law firm representing one of the U.S. producers said.

Japanese manufacturing activity expanded for the first time in seven months in September, a preliminary survey showed on Friday, in a tentative sign that economic growth could pick up pace.

PRICES

Three month LME copper

Most active ShFE copper

Three month LME aluminium

Most active ShFE aluminium

Three month LME zinc

Most active ShFE zinc

Three month LME lead

Most active ShFE lead

Three month LME nickel

Most active ShFE nickel

Three month LME tin

Most active ShFE tin
Japanese tourist dies in jet-ski accident in Australia

SYDNEY, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A Japanese tourist died after she lost control of her rented jet-ski and hit a moored boat in northern Australia on Thursday.

The 27-year-old woman was riding with her husband and an instructor in Cairns, northern Queensland, when she hit the side of the tourist boat, the Seven Network said.
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.
Jets pound rebel-held Aleppo after army offensive declared - rescue worker, monitor

BEIRUT, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Warplanes targeted rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo on Friday in a second day of heavy bombardment hours after the army announced the start of a military operation there, rescue workers and activists said.

The Syrian military, which is backed by the Russian air force, said late on Thursday it was starting a new operation against the rebel-held east, which is home to at least 250,000 people and was also targeted in heavy air strikes on Thursday.

The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday, and there was no word on casualties.

Ammar al Selmo, the head of the civil defence rescue service in eastern Aleppo, told Reuters a squadron of five warplanes was in the skies over the city, identifying them as Russian.

A fresh wave of bombing had started at from 6 a.m. (0300 GMT), after heavy overnight attacks, he said. "What's happening now is annihilation," he said.
UK insurer Novae says finance head to step down

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Lloyd's of London insurer Novae Group Plc said its finance boss Charles Fry would step down from the board on Friday and leave the company at the end of October.

Novae, which covers property, casualty, marine, aviation and political risk, appointed Reeken Patel as interim CFO while the company searches for a permanent replacement.
Slovak Republic - Factors To Watch on Sept 23

BRATISLAVA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Slovak financial markets on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Slovak Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA======================== Real-time economic data releases.................. Summary of economic data and forecasts......... Recently released economic data................ Previous stories on Slovak data.......... **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/1C/events-overview ==========================EVENTS=============================== BRATISLAVA - Informal meeting of EU trade ministers will discuss TTIP and CETA. Related stories: ==========================NEWS================================ TRADE TALKS: Austria and France will on Friday propose ending the current round of trade talks between the United States and the European Union, and starting fresh talks under a new name, Austrian Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner said. Story: Related stories: For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX Main currency report TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets News editor of the day: Jason Hovet on +420 224 190 476 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
Double Door Owners Look To Open New Music Venue In Logan Square

By Stephen Gossett in News on Sep 23, 2016 6:34PM

Update, 9/27:

In a statement emailed to Chicagoist on Tuesday, Sean Mulroney, Joe Shanahan and other parties confirmed that they are indeed attempting to relocate Double Door to the Logan Square State and Savings Bank building.

The buildings co-owner, Mike Hagenson, said in the statement, "Double Door is considering relocating to Logan Square, and is currently meeting with the local community to discuss the issues relevant to the community and that project."

Mulroney noted the thrill of working on a "restoration project": "We feel compelled to protect our employees and the artists that perform here by maintaining the cultural diversity of Double Door. We looked at a number of other properties in the area, but the Logan Square State and Savings Bank stood out because its a restoration project. The building itself is a landmark building. To restore such an iconic neighborhood building with a civic and cultural purpose making it open to the public is incredibly exciting.

Shanahan expressed a desire to see the venue strongly support his prospective new neighborhood: Double Door is an iconic presence in the Wicker Park neighborhood, and we want to ensure it provides the same to Logan Square. As weve stated in the past, the venue has always made it a priority to give back to the neighborhood by hosting a number of fundraising events and culturally varied nights such as Cumbiasazo! Dance Party and Fabitat, just to name a few. Its important to us that we work with the alderman and the Logan Square residents to create something that is important for the neighborhood community and city as a whole."

Original:

Two longtime mover-and-shakers of the Chicago music scene reportedly have designs on opening a new music venue in Logan Square.

Joe Shanahan, of Metro and Smart Bar, and Sean Mulroney, of (the legally embattled) Double Door, are looking to open the live-concert space at the Logan Square State and Savings Bank (2551 N Milwaukee Ave. and 3061 W Logan Blvd). Curbed reported in February that the historic building "may be the focus of a new mixed-use proposal in the coming months." The space is located just southwest of the Logan Monument, near New Wave Coffee and Rocking Horse.

According to Logan Square Preservation, Mulroney and Shanahan seek a concert area that will accommodate 650 concertgoers along with two bar spaces. Jonathan Splitt Architects were cited in the report to restore the landmark, but they told Chicagoist nothing has yet been finalized.

Meanwhile, Double Door co-owners Mulroney and Shanahan are still embroiled in a legal battle to keep that iconic venue's door(s) open. A judge ruled in July that Double Door must vacate the space, then determined operators had at least until the end of the year before having to leave. Earlier this month Mulroney and Shanahan reportedly filed an appeal against the initial ruling.

Chicagoist could not immediately reach Mulroney or Shanahan for comment.

[H/T Reddit]
France's economy slows 0.1 percent in second quarter - INSEE

PARIS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - France's economy slowed 0.1 percent in the second quarter after growing 0.7 percent in the previous three months, a revised estimate by the INSEE national statistics agency showed on Friday.

It is the first time the euro zone's No. 2 economy has contracted since the first quarter of 2013. The statistics agency had previously said economic growth was flat at 0 percent in the April to June period.
U.N. agency snubs Taiwan, recognising Beijing's "one China"

By Allison Lampert and J.R. Wu

MONTREAL/TAIPEI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A U.N. aviation agency has snubbed Taiwan by not inviting it to its assembly in Canada, the latest sign of pressure China is bringing to bear on the new independence-leaning government of an island it views as a renegade province.

Diplomatically isolated Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, which recognises "one China" centred on Beijing. China, in turn, sees self-ruled Taiwan as fit to be taken back by force if necessary, particularly if it makes moves toward independence.

Since May, when President Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party, which traditionally favours independence from the mainland, took power in Taiwan, China has suspended official communication channels.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said arrangements for the assembly, scheduled for Sept. 27 to Oct. 7 in Montreal, did not follow the pattern ahead of a meeting in 2013, when China had asked for Taiwan to be invited.

"ICAO follows the United Nations' 'One China' policy," the agency's communications chief, Anthony Philbin, told Reuters in an email.

"While arrangements had been made for their attendance at the last (38th) session of the assembly, there are no such arrangements for this one."

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said it had approached China about the issue in early August with a "pragmatic and positive" attitude, but was "flatly rejected".

"We solemnly call on China to open its heart and think seriously as it may face serious consequences for its one-sided actions," it said in a statement.

Taiwan Foreign Minister David Lee told reporters diplomacy had never been an easy task for Taiwan, formally known as the "Republic of China".

"In the foreseeable future, I am not expecting this to change substantially," he said.

China's refusal to let Taiwan attend the meeting comes as China pressures Tsai to concede to Beijing's interpretation of the one China principle, which includes Taiwan as part of China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that as an "inseparable part of China" Taiwan had no right to participate in the assembly, and that Taipei's attendance in the past was based on "temporary arrangements".

"At present, our position is extremely clear. The prerequisite for Taiwan to participate in any international activity is for it to agree to the 'One China' policy and for this to be resolved through consultation," Lu told a regular press briefing.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communist forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island.
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."
Saudis offer oil cut for OPEC deal if Iran freezes output - sources

DUBAI/LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has offered to lower its own oil production if rival Iran agrees to cap its output this year, in a major compromise ahead of talks in Algeria next week, three sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

The offer, which has yet to be accepted or rejected by Tehran, was made this month, the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Riyadh is ready to cut output to lower levels seen early this year in exchange for Iran freezing production at the current level, which is 3.6 million barrels per day, the sources said.

"They (the Saudis) are ready for a cut but Iran has to agree to freeze," one source said.
HSBC walks U.S. regulatory tightrope over $10 bln of 'trapped' capital

By Lawrence White

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Britain's HSBC is seeking to release billions of dollars of capital tied up in the United States without upsetting the country's politicians and regulators, senior sources at the bank said.

HSBC, which has been in the sights of U.S. regulators over breaching anti-money laundering rules, has more than $20 billion of capital in the United States earning a slim 1 percent return, of which up to half could be returned to the holding company via asset sales, analysts and investors say.

The bank's investors are currently missing out on higher profits and more secure dividends as a result of this hefty U.S. balance sheet. The bank earns a return on equity of just 1.4 percent on this, compared with 5 percent for HSBC globally and 13 percent for major U.S. commercial bank rivals, according to Deutsche Bank research.

"The issue is a valid one, as it appears that the capital in the USA is earning low returns," said Richard Marwood, Senior Fund Manager at Royal London Asset Management, which owns HSBC shares. "As shareholders we are concerned about where companies deploy capital and what the long term returns on that capital are."

HSBC holds so much capital in the United States, in part, because after the 2008 financial crash and the collapse of Lehman Brothers, U.S. regulators and others around the world made foreign banks operating on their soil boost capital to bolster their strength.

This trend has forced banks, including Barclays, Deutsche Bank and HSBC, to hold billions of dollars more in their U.S. businesses, putting pressure on profitability.

It also partly relates to a drawn-out sale process for Household, the consumer lending business HSBC bought in 2003 in an ill-fated $16 billion deal.

The bank's ability to take capital out of the United States is subject to it submitting plans to do so to the Federal Reserve.

HSBC passed an annual U.S. stress test in July, paving the way for the bank to remit a maximum of $2.5 billion of excess cash in 2017 to its holding company in Britain with the full approval of the Fed.

"Any return of capital would always be subject to receiving a non-objection from the Federal Reserve," HSBC chief financial officer Iain Mackay told Reuters in a telephone interview.

POLITICAL CLIMATE

The U.S. authorities have a track record for being tough on European banks and have imposed big financial penalties on some for past misdeeds.

HSBC struck a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in 2012 with the U.S. Department of Justice under which it would not be heavily punished for failures in anti-money laundering efforts, subject to the bank committing to improve controls.

"The DPA, which could drag out, and outstanding investigations probably mean the U.S. authorities would be more comfortable that capital stayed within the U.S.," another major HSBC investor said.

The Federal Reserve Board and the Department of Justice declined to comment.

Some of the HSBC sources, who declined to be identified, said taking more capital home would also prove a challenge when the political climate in the United States is hostile to banks, and there is the added uncertainty of the Nov. 8 presidential election.

HSBC has $33 billion dollars of capital allocated to its North American businesses, according to a Deutsche Bank analysis on Aug. 30, of which just $6 billion, mainly the Canada business, is making a healthy return of 9 percent.

"...the scope and scale of capital HSBC has allocated to North America is sub-optimal for shareholders and needs to be revisited," Deutsche analysts wrote.

Analysts and investors have different views on how much capital the bank could free up while still keeping a viable U.S. business, but they put the range at $5-10 billion dollars.

HSBC pays dividends to investors from its holding company HSBC Holdings Plc, whose ability to pay out has come under pressure partly as a result of weaker revenues and also regulatory demands to retain capital.
Poland set for government re-shuffle next week - PM

WARSAW, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Poland's prime minister said on Friday she would announce a reshuffle next week, saying time was up for "the golden boys", a reference to young male politicians in the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party who have rapidly built careers in business and politics.

"There will be changes in the government," Beata Szydlo told public radio. "I will inform (the public) next week about what the systemic and personnel changes will be," she said.

Her words, almost a year after the conservative and eurosceptic PiS party won election, suggested a major shake-up.

She did not say which ministers may be axed, though a local tabloid Fakt on Friday saw Finance Minister Pawel Szalamacha as a likely victim.

PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who exerts huge influence behind the scenes, indicated earlier this year that he was not satisfied with Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski and Health Minister Konstanty Radziwill.

There was also fresh speculation that Kaczynski, who earlier this year described the Szydlo government as an "experiment", might step into the top government job.

"I would be glad if there was a change and Jaroslaw Kaczynski became the prime minister. I appreciate Szydlo, but Kaczynski is the highest class politician," Marek Suski, a senior member of PiS told private Radio Zet on Friday.

STATE-RUN FIRMS

Poland suffered its biggest contraction in investment for almost four years in the second quarter of this year, data showed in August, as political uncertainty discouraged firms from spending at a time of reduced European Union aid.

The planned government reshuffle follows the dismissal last week of Treasury Minister Dawid Jackiewicz.

Szydlo has said she dismissed Jackiewicz as part of a wider plan to close the ministry down. But before her decision Jackiewicz had been criticised by some PiS politicians for appointing his colleagues as executives and managers in some of the state-run firms.

Szydlo's reference to "golden boys" was tipped at PiS male current and former politicians and managers in state-run firms in their 30s or 40s, who have made quick careers since the PiS rose to power as well as managers who ran firms when the Civic Party (PO) and its coalition partner PSL were in power.

"There has been too much information regarding the state-run companies which has raised our concerns. (...) Ownership control has to be strengthened. The time of golden boys in state-run companies, as it was in the time of PO and PSL, is at an end," Szydlo told public radio.

Jackiewicz has supervised such companies as copper producer KGHM, chemical maker and insurer PZU . Sources told Reuters that he had planned to fire KGHM's chief executive officer Krzysztof Skora.
Avtovaz sees Russian auto sales at 2 million in 4-5 years

By Jack Stubbs and Gleb Stolyarov

TOGLIATTI, Russia, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Russia's biggest carmaker Avtovaz sees the country's auto market remaining at its current level in 2017 with total sales recovering to around 2 million cars a year in four to five years, CEO Nicolas Maure told Reuters.

"We expect that the 2017 market will be flat," Maure told Reuters in his first extended interview with foreign media since taking command of the struggling automaker in April.

"In four to five years ... we see a market which could go back up to 2 million units, driven by a general economic recovery."

Avtovaz is majority owned by French carmaker Renault and its Japanese alliance partner Nissan. Maure previously headed Renault's Romanian venture Dacia.

After a decade of annual sales growth in excess of 10 percent, Russia's car industry has become one of the most high-profile casualties of an economic crisis fuelled by lower oil prices and Western sanctions over Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

Sales plunged 36 percent in 2015, according to the Association of European Businesses lobby group, and hit a 10-year low in April this year with 121,272 vehicles sold. PricewaterhouseCoopers expects 1.1 million cars will be sold in Russia this year.

Speaking in Avtovaz's hometown of Togliatti, a city 800 km (500 miles) southeast of Moscow on bank of the Volga river, Maure said a new export strategy would be submitted to the company's board in the next two months.

"The plan, roughly speaking, is to return to 10-20 percent of overall turnover as exports," he said. "Ten percent we should reach within three years, 20 percent will take a bit more time."

Avtovaz, which has about 20 percent of the Russian light passenger vehicles market, makes Lada saloon cars and also manufactures Renault and Nissan badged vehicles under contract.

Its main foreign markets are former Soviet Union countries and Egypt, but it has seen exports hit by the conflict in Ukraine and a rise in levies on imported cars in Kazakhstan.

Avtovaz sold a total of 269,096 vehicles in 2015, down 31 percent on 2014. It did not provide separate export figures. The company forecasts total sales of around 260,000 this year.

Maure said at a rouble exchange rate of 72 to the euro - the currency Avtovaz uses to import some foreign parts - there would be no need to raise Lada prices.
Policy flip-flop? Indonesia nickel smelter investors fret over possible rule changes

By Wilda Asmarini and Fergus Jensen

JAKARTA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Indonesian nickel smelter investors fear the government of President Joko Widodo will change rules that have supported prices of the metal, and put up to $12 billion in its budding smelting and mineral processing industry at risk.

Indonesia banned metal ore shipments in 2014 to push firms to build smelters and shift exports from raw materials to higher-value semi-finished and finished metals.

The ban cost Southeast Asia's largest economy - the world's top nickel ore exporter at the time and a major supplier of bauxite or raw aluminium - billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Indonesian government officials have several times said they are studying export rules and the possibility of a policy revision that could allow nickel ore and bauxite shipments to resume. It was not immediately clear when details of any such revision would be released.

Any "relaxation", though, would be a major policy shift that some investors say would breach Indonesia's laws and destabilise refined nickel prices that are up nearly 20 percent this year, potentially undermining development of the nation's newly flourishing nickel smelter industry.

One of the newcomers, the Tsingshan Bintangdelapan Group - a Chinese-Indonesian venture producing nickel pig iron that also opened its first stainless steel plant this year - is expected to soon overtake Brazil's Vale as Indonesia's top nickel producer.

Alexander Barus, chief executive of the group, said he was getting calls from investors worried about prices declining if ore exports restart.

"We've already brought in $6 billion. Three smelters have been built, power plants and a port. There's no way we can take this back," Barus said.

Since Indonesia's 2014 ban, the Philippines has taken over as the world's top exporter of nickel ore - most of which goes to China - keeping the market in check.

But plans by Manila for its own ore export ban and moves to shut mines in an environmental crackdown have underpinned this year's price rally.

POTENTIAL 'DEVASTATION' FOR SMELTERS

Around $12 billion - mostly from China - has been committed to 27 smelter projects for various metals across Indonesia over the last four years, some of them already under construction, said Jonatan Handojo, executive director of Indonesia's main smelter industry association.

Indonesia's nickel output could climb by 36 percent to 217,500 tonnes this year, and to 363,000 tonnes in 2017, said another industry group, the Indonesian Smelter and Minerals Processing Association.

Any policy change that would undercut the nickel market or raise questions about regulatory certainty could quickly change that outlook.

For Vale, which has itself invested around $3 billion in Indonesia and will produce 80,000 tonnes of nickel at its Sorowako smelter facility this year, a policy shift would do more harm than good.

"If nickel ore exports resume, even in a limited amount, it would be devastating for many nickel smelter investors," said Nico Kanter, chief executive of Vale Indonesia.

Not everyone would be upset with looser rules on nickel ore exports, however. Indonesian state miner Aneka Tambang , formerly a nickel ore exporter, has been seeking other revenue streams since the ore export ban came into effect.

"We need revenue to attract bank loans," Antam CEO Tedy Badrujaman told reporters. Annual exports of up to 20 million tonnes of low-grade nickel ore could help Antam attract smelter project financing amid tighter lending to the sector, Badrujaman said.

Still, Handojo, whose company Indoferro developed the first nickel pig iron smelter in Indonesia, said the country risked losing smelter investors to the Philippines and New Caledonia.

"No investors will want to come to Indonesia because its regulations change," Handojo said.

"Indonesia will be rubbed off their lists."
Austria expresses modest goals for migration summit

VIENNA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern hopes a weekend summit he is hosting will spur the European Union to address its migration crisis more quickly, but he expressed only modest concrete goals for the meeting in an interview published on Friday.

The Saturday meeting of 10 national leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will focus on migration along the Balkan route, a path into Europe that Austria and others largely shut down this year, leaving thousands stuck in Greece and infuriating Athens.

While overall arrival numbers in the EU have fallen, partly due to a deal between the EU and Turkey under which Ankara prevents migrants from embarking for Europe from its shores, the future of that deal is uncertain. The bloc has been split over measures aimed at providing a more lasting solution.

"The meeting is an attempt to accelerate the decision-making process in the EU," Kern said in an interview with Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

"We need to jointly define where we must put in place rigid border security - not only in Greece," he said without elaborating. Leaders should also discuss the situation outside Europe and help countries with large numbers of refugees, like Lebanon, he added.

EU leaders vowed at a summit a week ago to strengthen protection of Bulgaria's border with Turkey and intensify cooperation between their security services.

But Austria, which last year took in 90,000 asylum-seekers, more than 1 percent of its population, says it could not cope with another such wave of arrivals, and wants far more wide-ranging action to ensure that does not happen.

There has been tension between Germany's Merkel and ex-communist eastern states which have refused to take in asylum-seekers, many of them Muslims.

But Merkel, who let in a million people last year, has said she now accepts their arguments for "flexible solidarity", by which they could help in the migrant crisis in ways other than by taking in refugees.

The migration crisis has buoyed anti-immigration parties across Europe, including in Austria, where the far-right Freedom Party is running first in opinion polls and its candidate has a good chance of winning a presidential election this year.

Kern's comments did not suggest any breakthrough was likely at Saturday's meeting, which will also be attended by European Council President Donald Tusk.
Injured Serena pulls out of Wuhan, China Opens

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Wuhan and China Opens due to a persistent shoulder injury and is targeting a return to action in next month's WTA Finals in Singapore, the world number two said on Friday.

The 34-year-old American, 22-times grand slam singles champion, has played only eight tournaments this year and lost her spot at the top of the world rankings to German Angelique Kerber.

"I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete at the Wuhan Open or the China Open due to continuing issues with my right shoulder," the 34-year-old said in a statement.

"I have been practising and playing but my shoulder is still not fit for tournament play. I am focused on getting ready to compete at the WTA Finals in Singapore."
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 gradudate 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.
U.S.-based cleric urges Europe act to stop "catastrophe" in Turkey

ROME, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A U.S.-based Turkish cleric accused by Tayyip Erdogan of treason said the President was using a failed coup to promote himself as a national hero and urged Europe to intervene to prevent "catastrophe" as purges from the army to the judiciary proceed.

Fethullah Gulen, who denies backing the July putsch, suggested in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa Europe's leaders had done too little in criticising Erdogan over the arrest of tens of thousands, from the army and journalism to the judiciary and arts, and the suspension of some 100,000 people.

"Internal pressure from refugees, the proliferation of radical groups, the persecution of tens of thousands of civilians, Erdogan's rash self-proclamation as national hero... should compel European leaders to take effective action to stop the...government's move towards authoritarianism," he said.

He did not say what form such action might take.

Erdogan has long been by far the most popular politician in Turkey - a popularity critics say he has abused to extend his powers and clamp down on dissent. After the failed coup his popularity rose still further.

Turkey hosts nearly three million refugees from war in Syria. Implementing a deal the EU struck with Turkey to stem the flow of illegal migrants to Europe has been delayed by disputes over Turkey's anti-terrorism laws and the post-coup crackdown.

"Reinforcing democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in Turkey is absolutely necessary to manage the refugee crisis and the fight against (Islamic State) in the long term. If this doesn't happen, Europe risks finding itself with an even bigger problem, a catastrophe," Gulen said.

Gulen was once a close ally of Erdogan, but the relationship has become openly hostile in recent years, culminating in Erdogan accusing Gulen of orchestrating the July coup.

More than 240 people were killed in the July 15 coup. Gulen denies any involvement and has condemned it.
Russia and Pakistan to hold first joint military exercise

ISLAMABAD, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Former Cold War-era rivals Pakistan and Russia are due to hold their first ever military exercise this month, Pakistan's military said on Friday, in another sign of shifting alliances in South Asia.

During the Cold War, Pakistan spent a decade helping the United States funnel arms and fighters into neighbouring Afghanistan to help insurgent groups fight Soviet soldiers following their 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.

At the time, the communist Soviet Union was closely aligned with Pakistan's arch-enemy India, while the United States was a staunch supporter of Pakistan.

Pakistan's top military spokesman, Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, said a "contingent of Russian ground forces" arrived in Pakistan for a two-week exercise beginning on Saturday.

About 200 military personnel from both sides would be involved in the exercises, Pakistan's Tribune Express newspaper said, citing military sources.

Pakistani media last year reported Islamabad had bought four Mi-35 attack helicopters from Russia in a first military deal of its kind between them.

While ties between Russia and Pakistan are growing closer, Pakistan's relations with the United States have cooled. Washington accused Islamabad of harbouring Afghan Taliban fighters, something that Pakistan denies.

The United States has also improved ties with India, which

Pakistan views warily.
South Africa unveils test-tube buffalo, plans IVF rhino

By Ziyanda Yono

MARBLE HALL, South Africa, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Almost 40 years after the first human test-tube baby was born, South African scientists have produced something bulkier: the first Cape buffalo brought into the world by in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Pumelelo the buffalo bull calf was born on June 28 and was unveiled to the world this week at a game farm north of Johannesburg in South Africa's Limpopo province.

The technique holds hope for far bigger and more endangered species such as the northern white rhino - only three of them are left on the planet.

"This success is of major importance for the prospective breeding of endangered species, and that is the reason why we are undertaking this work," said Morne de la Rey, a veterinarian and the managing director of Embryo Plus, which specialises in bovine embryo transfers and semen collection, mostly for the cattle industry.

Proud parents are biological mother and egg donor "Vasti" and sperm donor "Goliat", which is Afrikaans for Goliath - in his bulky case, no misnomer. The baby bull has a surrogate mother which has taken to him.

He could grow to 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) or more.

Cape buffalos are notoriously bad-tempered and dangerous animals and Vasti was sedated when her oocytes, or egg cells, were extracted using a technique similar to that used on human donors.

Game farming is big business in South Africa but those involved in the project said the main concern was conservation.

"The object is certainly not to reproduce buffalo of superior genetics ... the goal is the conservation of species," said Frans Stapelberg, the owner of the farm where Pumelelo was born.

The project will now focus on the northern white rhino and the trio who remain on the planet on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The San Diego Zoo is partnering with that effort.

There are around 18,000 to 20,000 southern white rhinos left, mostly in South Africa, but they are being relentlessly poached for their horns to feed illicit demand in Asian countries such as Vietnam, where they are a prized ingredient in traditional medicine.
Azerbaijan's SOCAR to hold Greek gas grid deal talks in Athens

BAKU, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR plans to hold talks with Greek officials over a deal to buy Greek natural gas pipeline operator DESFA, SOCAR's president said on Friday.

In 2013, SOCAR agreed to 66 percent of the crisis-hit gas supply grid operator for 400 million euros ($448.5 million). But the deal stalled after SOCAR was ordered to sell 17 percent of DESFA to a third party to satisfy EU competition authorities.

Complicating the sale further, Greece passed a law in July raising DESFA's gas tariffs from next year by a much lower amount than expected.

"Our delegation will hold negotiations in Greece on September 27-28," Rovnag Abdullayev told reporters.

SOCAR officials say the company was ready to go ahead with the deal but DESFA's price should be substantially cut. SOCAR's letter of guarantee for the acquisition expires on Sept. 30.

Italian gas grid operator Snam is still interested in buying a 17 percent stake in DESFA from SOCAR to satisfy the EU competition conditions, the Azeri company has said.

DESFA's sale is part of a privatisation programme required under Greece's international bailouts and is expected to raise 188 million euros for state coffers this year.
Brookfield-led group to pay $5.2 bln for Petrobras natgas unit

By Jeb Blount

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-owned oil producer Petrobras agreed to sell 90 percent of a natural gas pipeline unit to a group led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc for $5.2 billion, the companies said Friday.

The move is part of an asset-sale program at financially troubled Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as Petrobras is formally known, designed to reduce the company's $125 billion of debt, the largest in the global oil industry.

The Brookfield-led consortium agreed to pay $4.34 billion for Nova Transportadora do Sul SA, or NTS, when the deal closes and $850 million in five years, according to Brookfield and Petrobras.

The investor group includes two sovereign wealth funds, China's CIC Capital Corp and Singapore's GIC Private Ltd.

For Ricardo Pinto, chief executive of natural gas consultancy Gas Energy in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the sale represents an important step in opening up a Brazilian gas market that has stalled despite increasing gas production.

"Brazil's gas market has been held back by government regulation and Petrobras' dominance of the transportation market," he said. "While the sale will have little immediate impact on gas volumes, it opens the market and Petrobras up to competition."

Reuters reported the main terms of the deal between Petrobras and Brookfield, including the sale price, on Sept. 6, citing sources with direct knowledge of the transaction.

The sale, which is still subject to approval by shareholders and Brazilian regulators, expands Petrobras' asset sale plans.

On Tuesday Petrobras added a program to sell $19.5 billion of assets and partnerships between 2017 and 2018 to an existing plan to sell $15.1 billion of assets in 2015 and 2016.

Petrobras' preferred shares, the company's most-traded class of stock, fell 2.21 percent to 13.69 reais in Sao Paulo, as world oil prices slumped on reports Saudi Arabia does not expect the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, to cut output at a meeting next week.

Under the accord, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Ltd will invest at least 20 percent of value of the deal, while Brookfield Asset Management has an initial investment of about 30 percent.

NTS transports natural gas in south-central Brazil and provides the country's most populous and industrialized states - Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro - with natural gas from Bolivia and Brazil's offshore oil and gas fields.

Rodrigo Costa, Petrobras' general manager for natural gas, told reporters the sale of NTS would not affect existing natural gas contracts, which expire between 2025 and 2031.

He said transport prices for that gas will be set by the contractual terms.

Petrobras, though, will not have exclusivity in pipeline usage, Costa noted, though at the moment the company has contracted 100 percent of NTS capacity.

Its Transpetro shipping and pipeline company has a management and maintenance contract with NTS that will continue in effect, he added.
In Denmark, au pairs risk abuse in name of "cultural exchange"

By Ana P. Santos

COPENHAGEN, Sept 23 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Dressed in a red-and-black lumberjack shirt, jeans and sneakers, she looked more like 16 than her actual age of 19.

The petite au pair wrung her hands as the policeman took her statement.

"He didn't rape me, but he kept saying he wanted to have physical relations with me and wanted to kiss me," she said. "That's still wrong, isn't it?"

"Of course it is," the policeman said.

The young Nepalese woman had come to Denmark to live with a host family as an au pair through a scheme billed as a cultural exchange programme.

Common in Europe, such programmes allow young people, usually women, to immerse themselves in an overseas culture while helping with child care in exchange for food, accommodation and a modest allowance.

In Denmark, rights groups say inadequate protections leave au pairs vulnerable to labour exploitation and sexual harassment.

For the woman in the red flannel shirt, who declined to be identified, problems had started right from the beginning.

When her host father met her at the airport, he held her hand, telling her "this is how Europeans are". When he sent her text messages asking to visit her room late at night, she wanted a way out.

Another au pair told her she could leave her host family and look for another, but she worried about not finding one immediately since it would mean having to fly back to Nepal, penniless and with debts.

She had paid a broker there $6,000 to find her host family. "He created a Skype account and pretended he was me. He arranged everything. The Nepalese au pairs I've talked to here all paid between $4,000 and $6,000 to their brokers."

With the help of the Au Pair Network, a consortium of labour and religious support groups funded by the Danish government, she found the courage to go to the police, who are now investigating.

"DOMESTIC WORK"

"Au pair" is French for "on equal terms". The earliest programmes in Europe date back to the years right after World War Two when it was one of the few ways young women could travel abroad and earn cash.

In 1969, the Council of Europe adopted protocols to standardise conditions governing the placement of au pairs.

Rules vary slightly by country. In Denmark, au pairs must be unmarried and aged 18-29. They live with host families and are supposed to do "light household chores" for no more than 30 hours a week, giving them time to immerse themselves in language and culture.

In exchange, they get a $600 monthly allowance and free accommodation.

The reality is that many end up working as de facto domestic servants, vulnerable to sexual harassment or worse, support groups said.

Reports of abuse and maltreatment prompted the Philippines, the biggest source of au pairs to Denmark and Norway, to ban participation in the programme in 1998.

Still the au pairs came.

Denmark and Norway continued to issue au pair visas. Interviews with former Filipino au pairs revealed that many allegedly bribed Philippine airport officials called "escorts" with as much as $500 to clear them through immigration.

Others arrived on tourist visas and changed them to au pair visas once they found host families.

The Philippines lifted its ban in 2012 when it forged agreements with 13 countries introducing protections such as seminars to inform young people of their rights and closer monitoring of allegations of abuse.

Those European countries were Denmark, Norway, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Iceland, Austria, Finland and Italy.

The latest data from the Danish Immigration Service shows that more than 80 percent of the 2,000 au pairs who come to Denmark on average each year are from the Philippines. The rest are from emerging economies like Nepal, other European Union countries and the United States.

"On paper, it is a cultural exchange but in practice it is more of a domestic worker programme," said Jean Gocotano, spokesperson for the Au Pair Network. "Some host families even say they prefer an au pair with domestic work experience."

For many Filipino women, being an au pair in Europe is still better than being a domestic worker in the Middle East or Hong Kong where they earn between $400 and $500 a month.

"The cultural programme was not my priority," said Imee, who came to Denmark from the Philippines as an au pair in 2011. "I just wanted to leave. I was tired of my low-paying job packing pineapples."

Imee, who declined to give her full name, paid a "consultant" in the Philippines $1,500 in "research fees", which included looking for a host family, preparing her papers and training her to answer interview questions at the embassy.

"Applicants wouldn't be able to get that amount of money easily," said Hans Cacdac, head of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency. "They will have to borrow that from someone else."

In its Global Wage Report for 2014/2015, the International Labour Organization pegs the average monthly wage in the Philippines at $202.

According to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), the government agency that oversees the au pair programme, charging fees is classified as illegal recruitment.

"The au pair programme is not an employment scheme," said Ivy Miravelles, officer in charge of the CFO migration integration division. "However, it cannot be denied that there may be entities that abuse the programme and mislead participants for financial gain."

INDEBTED

A 2014 survey of 90 au pairs by Radio 24 SYV Denmark showed that around 30 percent had paid someone between $225 and $1,000 to get them to Europe.

"Many of the au pairs come here already indebted, making them more pressured to make the host family relationship work," said Andreas Riis, au pair coordinator of Caritas Denmark, one of three support organisations that make up the Au Pair Network.

Helle Stenum, a researcher at Denmark's University of Roskilde and author of several books on the au pair programme, said "the fact that your residence permit is tied to your employer is a well-known trap for the labour market".

Lawmaker Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, a member of Denmark's far-left Red Green Alliance, was also critical.

"Au pairs have no rights when they get fired," she said. "They have no protections under Danish labour law because it is not considered work."

Another lawmaker, Merette Riisager of the Danish Liberal Alliance, defended the programme.

"It provides economic and cultural benefits to women who would normally not have the means," she said.

The Au Pair Network is now handling 166 cases and complaints, most of which are claims for unpaid wages.

"We have to acknowledge that the programme is being misused on both sides, with the au pairs at more of a disadvantage," said Riis from Caritas Denmark.

"We need to end the programme, or change it to one that has stronger labour protections for au pairs."
Edcon banks on simple fixes after South Africa's largest buyout flops

By TJ Strydom

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Tasked with turning around South African retailer Edcon, which had been on the verge of collapse just a few months ago, its management thinks it can apply simple fixes after Bain Capital walked away with nothing from its African venture.

The team led by Bernie Brookes, an Australian appointed in September last year, have much working to their advantage at Edcon, whose owner Bain Capital handed control to creditors in this week's $1.5 billion debt to equity swap deal that slashed its heavy debt-load by nearly 80 percent to 6 billion rand ($450 million).

In South Africa's largest ever private equity deal at the time, Bain took Edcon private in a 25 billion rand, (then $3.5 billion) highly leveraged buyout in 2007 but slower earnings growth and a weaker rand made the euro-denominated bond repayments unaffordable.

Under Brookes the company has trimmed its head office and plans to grow profit by boosting in-store credit sales and pushing its own clothing brands, while cutting back on pricy international labels.

"At least now they have the cash flow to enable them to do something because up until now they have been so starved of cash they couldn't do anything," Wayne McCurrie, a portfolio manager at Momentum Asset Management.

Edcon, which vies for market share with The Foschini Group , Truworths and international chains such as Inditex's Zara, H&M and Cotton On, suspended interest payments on two euro and dollar-denominated bonds in April to boost liquidity.

A 425 million euro bond - originally pitched in late 2013 as a bridge to an initial public offering - was written down last year in a distressed exchange offer.

'A LOT TO FIX'

For Brookes, who spent nearly a decade at Australia's biggest department store chain Myer taking it from a buyout to a listing, overhauling Edcon's capital structure would free him up to focus on dressing up the 87-year-old company for a stock market floatation in three to four years.

"The interest burden of the company went as high as 4.2 billion rand a year, now our interest payment is roughly half a billion rand," Brookes said.

And importantly, around 70 percent of Edcon's debt is now in the local currency, compared to only 30 percent before the swap, making the retailer much less vulnerable to the volatile rand, and no debt repayments are due until 2019.

Speaking at Edcon's headquarters, whose foyer was displaying stacks of discounted duvets and sets of cheese knives, Brookes said a three to four years of hard work lay ahead.

"There is a lot to fix," said Brookes, pointing at Edcon's waning credit sales.

Getting customers to buy on in-store credit is vital for Brookes' stated goal of growing the company's annual sales by at least 2 percent until its heads back to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Up to two thirds of South African fashion retailers' sales are on in-store credit cards, but tighter lending criteria by Barclays Africa, which bought Edcon's debtors book for $1 billion in 2012, choked off growth.

Barclays declined to comment, but Brookes said Edcon would now grant credit to customers who might have been too risky for the bank.

"Our credit book has declined by nearly 30 percent over the last four to five years," he said. He declined to give the size of the book but said it was "only a few hundred million (rand)".

PRIVATE LABELS

Another key area for Brookes will be building up sales of labels owned by Edcon, which had taken a back seat under former chief executive Jurgen Schreiber, who brought in a range of global brands such as Tom Tailor to fend off competition from international retailers such as Gap and Zara

With the rand falling by about 60 percent since 2013, imported brands have become too expensive for Edcon to pass on costs to consumers in a fiercely competitive market.

Brookes said his company would cut imported labels to 12 from 37, replacing them with its own private brands such as Kelso and J-Exchange.

"We are moving our own labels like Kelso to the front of the store," said Brookes. The company will keep River Island, TopShop, Accessorize and TM Lewin.

COST CUTS

An immediate focus area has been to clear old stock after suppliers in recent months became reluctant to do business with Edcon on grounds that it might not be in a position to pay, Brookes said.

Edcon, which sold its fast fashion Legit chain for 637 million rand, also plans to cut the number of advertising agencies it uses from to three from 192. It has already reduced head office staff by 35 percent.

But the owner of the Edgars, Jet and Boardmans stores needs to arrest a decline in sales - down 1.3 percent to 27 billion rand last year.
To fight hunger, Somali farmers turn to Ugandan roots

By Kagondu Njagi

SELELE, Uganda, Sept 23 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Amina Shale, a Somali farmer, says worsening droughts and ever more unpredictable weather are making getting a crop ever harder.

"It can take a whole year before the rains come," she complained. "Growing crops like tomatoes is very tiring because I have to water them at least twice a day."

But Shale now has some new ideas about how to cope, thanks to a trip to visit the neighbours.

She and 26 other Somali farmers traveled to eastern Uganda last month to see how sweet potatoes are turning into a climate-resilient boom crop for that East African nation.

Uganda is now the leading producer in the region of root crops, which researchers say are much tougher in the face of worsening climate-change-related problems such as drought and flooding.

Some roots, like cassava and sweet potato, are being processed into flour and increasingly used for everything from doughnuts to wedding cakes.

That is helping boost incomes and ensure food security - something urgently needed in Somalia, where 40 percent of people are acutely food insecure, according to an estimate by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Today, few Somali farmers know of - or grow - crops like sweet potatoes or cassava, Shale said. She plants vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, kale and pawpaw.

But during the FAO-backed trip to Uganda, she saw how root crops require less irrigation - and she is now considering switching, she said.

On both sides of the border, farmers are struggling with problems brought on by more erratic weather, including new or worsening pests and diseases attacking traditional staple crops.

Extreme weather is also causing more of the crops that are harvested to rot quickly, said Akello Christine Ekinyu, a Ugandan farmer from Odowo who now grows and processes cassava and sweet potato.

Ekinyu, one of the hosts for visiting Somali farmers, said the crop switch had helped lift her family out of poverty.

"I built a new brick house with the income I got from these crops," beamed Ekinyu, wearing a gold dress and matching headscarf.

In a day, she said, she can make about 100,000 Uganda shillings ($30) selling cassava and sweet potatoes, compared to $2 when she worked day jobs in town. That has been enough to send her two children to university, she said.

NEW SOURCES OF INCOME

The key, she told the visiting Somalis, is to find ways to process crops to increase their value, such as turning cassava or sweet potatoes into finished products like flour.

She learned to do this after joining the Soroti Sweet Potato Producers and Processors Association in Uganda.

Echabu Silver, the group's chairman, explained that "instead of consuming or selling the cassava when it is raw, farmers should process it, turn it into new products and then sell it at a higher price."

That could be anything from crisps and doughnuts to flour for wedding cakes, he said.

Tony Ijala, manager of Cassava Adding Value for Africa, a project led by the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich, said cassava is increasingly no longer grown for home consumption only, but also sold at markets.

"Even retired Ugandans are planting - and deriving an income from - cassava instead of relying on their extended families," he said.

Building markets for the new crops has taken time, however.

Akorir Helen Mary, former secretary general of the Arapai Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Uganda, said the organisation's members lost 15 tonnes of cassava flour - worth $4,500 - in 2012, due to a lack of buyers.
Mali leader warns UN: Qaeda, Islamic State gaining ground in country

By John Irish

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita warned the United Nations on Friday that the failure to fully implement a nationwide peace accord was helping al-Qaeda and Islamic State-affiliated groups spread their influence in the country.

U.N. peacekeepers are deployed across northern Mali to try to stabilize the vast region, which was occupied by separatist Tuareg rebels and al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants in 2012 before France intervened in 2013. Tit-for-tat violence between rival armed groups has distracted Mali from fighting Islamist militants and the country has become the deadliest place for U.N. peacekeepers to serve.

"We have to admit that several factors are contradicting our will and effort," Keita told a high-level meeting on Mali at the annual United Nations General Assembly. "In particular the extension of terrorism and banditry in the centre of our country which is even putting into question the stability and security of neighbouring countries because of the desire of terrorist groups affiliated to al-Qaeda and Islamic State seeking to expand."

Keita said Islamist militants were using the slow implementation of peace accords to "manipulate" and "destroy" links between different ethnic groups in Mali.

A clash in the north this week between pro-government Gatia militia and the Tuareg separatist Coordination of Azawad Movements highlighted the fragility of a U.N.-backed deal signed last year between the government and northern armed groups meant to end a cycle of uprisings.

"We must redouble our efforts," Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, whose country leads mediation efforts in Mali, told the meeting. "It's terrible that signatories of the accord are involved in the fratricidal killings."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, whose country has thousands of troops spread across West Africa to hunt down militants, said the security situation was "in general satisfying despite asymmetric attacks."
Turkish journalist detained over "subliminal coup messages" - media

ANKARA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A prominent Turkish journalist was detained for trial on Friday, accused of participating in a coup by sending out subliminal messages to rogue troops who tried to seize power, media said.

Ahmet Altan, also a popular a novelist, was first held for questioning with his brother Mehmet Altan two weeks ago, both of them accused of sending out the messages during a TV talk show a day before the abortive July coup, state media reported.

Ahmet was freed on Thursday, but a prosecutor then argued he might flee and he was formally detained, pending trial, according to the P24 news website that he writes for. Mehmet never left custody.

Both will face trial "for trying to overthrow the government or prevent it from carrying out its duties," media outlets said.

Turkey has detained more than 100 journalists since July 15, when soldiers commandeered tanks and fighter jets, bombing parliament and other key buildings in an attempt to seize power.

The brothers, outspoken critics of President Tayyip Erdogan, allegedly disseminated "subliminal messages suggestive of a coup attempt" during their TV appearance on July 14, the state-run Anadolu Agency said at the time of their first detention.

Ahmet Altan, former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Taraf newspaper, has denied the charges in a post on P24, calling them "nonsense".

The government blames followers of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen for masterminding the coup, but he denies involvement.

Some 100,000 police, soldiers, judges and civil servants have also been sacked or suspended on suspicion of links to Gulen, drawing criticism from rights groups and Western allies who fear a wider attempt to silence dissent. Tens of thousands of civil servants are in custody.

Turkish officials reject the criticism, saying the extent of the crackdown is justified by the gravity of the threat to the Turkish state on July 15. Those found not to have links to the coup plot will be released, officials have said.

Left-leaning Taraf, one of dozens of media outlets closed since the coup attempt, was once supportive of Erdogan's policies and his ruling AK Party. It has denied financial links with the Gulen movement.
Second European carrier looking at TUIFly deal - labour representative

BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A second European carrier could be interested in a stake in German charter airline TUIFly, part of travel and tourism group TUI, following interest from Britain's easyJet, a TUIFly labour representative said on Friday.

A German magazine reported on Thursday that easyJet is close to taking a stake in TUIFly as a way to ensure flying rights within the European Union should Britain leave the EU and not agree access to the bloc's single aviation area.

"There's another European airline to whom TUIFly could be sold," Martin Locher, TUIFly pilot and supervisory board member told Reuters on Friday.

He declined to name the airline, but said it was a non-EU carrier. He also said it was not clear if talks with easyJet were continuing.

EasyJet declined to comment. TUI Group was not immediately available to comment.

Both Locher and Andreas Barczewski, a member of the TUI Group and TUIFly supervisory boards, said any sale of TUIFly against the wishes of employees and unions would be resisted.

Management at TUI is reshaping the travel group, which was created in 2014 by the merger of London-listed TUI Travel and German majority owner TUI AG and is focusing on its tour operations, hotels and cruises.

Along with TUIFly, the TUI Group also includes airlines Thomson Airways, ArkeFly and JetairFly. TUI has said it is targeting 50 million euros ($56 million) in operational improvements at its airlines by the 2018/19 financial year.

Chief Executive Fritz Joussen said in August TUI was seeing pressure at the German airline due to overcapacity in the market.
Japanese PM says wants to deepen economic ties with Cuba

By Sarah Marsh

HAVANA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday that his visit to Communist-ruled Cuba, the first ever by a Japanese leader, had turned a new page in bilateral relations and the two countries would now deepen their economic relationship.

Abe, who met on Thursday with Cuban President Raul Castro and his predecessor and older brother Fidel Castro, said the issue of unpaid debt had long constrained this relationship.

Yet this was no longer an obstacle, he told a news conference in Havana, as the two countries had agreed on a plan to reorganize that debt. Some will become financing for development projects that could involve Japanese companies.

"This visit has turned a new page in 400 years of Japan-Cuba friendship," Abe said. "I met with Raul Castro and agreed to intensify our economic cooperation".

Many of Cuba's long-term trading partners are using debt forgiveness, swaps and new financing to try to win investment opportunities on the island ahead of their U.S. competitors in the wake of the detente between Havana and Washington.

"Cuba is an extremely attractive investment destination for Japan," Abe said. "As the U.S. has eased sanctions, Cuba has made efforts to improve its investment environment."

"I believe that this will prompt both trade and investment by Japanese firms," he added.

Cuba boasts a highly educated workforce, security and a strategic geographic position, he said. There was also a "huge demand for infrastructure" on the Caribbean island that could become a hub between Asia, the Americas and Europe.

Trading house Mitsubishi Corp told Reuters in July it was scouting for infrastructure projects at Cuba's Mariel special development zone, which stands to benefit from increased traffic through the renovated Panama Canal.

Abe said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would also be establishing a permanent office in Cuba and Japan would be donating 1.27 billion yen ($12.58 million) of medical equipment to the country.

The Japanese leader said he had agreed with Raul Castro to cooperate on various challenges in the international community, and had raised the issue of North Korea's nuclear program.

Cuba is one of North Korea's few diplomatic allies, along with China, and a fellow member of the non-aligned movement formed in 1961 by states wanting to avoid siding with the United States or the Soviet Union.

"The international community has to respond in a united way to this new stage of threat which is a blatant provocation by North Korea," Abe said, adding that the Chinese role was "extremely important".

"With North Korea there is no point in having dialogue for the sake of dialogue alone. We need to apply tough pressure to North Korea," he said.

The words Fidel Castro wrote in the guestbook at Hiroshima's site of the world's first atomic bombing when he visited in 2003, "May such barbarity never happen again", were deeply engrained in the hearts of the Japanese, Abe said.

The prime minister had also expressed his gratitude to Raul Castro for Cuba's support for Japan's candidature as permanent member of UN Security Council, his office said.
Ukraine says peace process at risk without EU sanctions

By Robin Emmott

BRUSSELS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Loosening the European Union's economic sanctions on Russia would wreck the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, because the measures are the West's only leverage over Moscow, Kiev's deputy foreign minister said on Friday.

Next month, EU leaders are set to discuss the sanctions on Russia's energy, financial and defence sectors, which were imposed after Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. Countries with closer ties to Russia, including Cyprus, Italy and Hungary, are pushing to lift some measures or even allow them to expire in January.

"The Minsk peace deal is under threat. If there are no sanctions, there is no way to pressure Russia to respect the process in any way," Vadym Prystaiko said of the accord sealed in 2015 in the capital of Belarus.

The Minsk peace agreement, brokered by France and Germany and signed by Russia and Ukraine in February 2015, calls for a ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and separatists backed by Russia, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line and constitutional reform to give eastern Ukraine more autonomy.

"For now, Russian-backed separatists have agreed to a ceasefire. But with one telephone call, Moscow can reverse the situation," Prystaiko told Reuters.

A September truce in eastern Ukraine has raised hopes for peace, although it failed to stem all the violence in the region. Shellings in the east of the country dropped to 246 in the first two weeks of September from more than 2,000 in August, Prystaiko said.

The conflict has killed over 9,600 soldiers, civilians and pro-Russian rebels since April 2014.

"There is no mechanism to prove that this peace process is working. The only way is for the EU to stick to what it has said: we lift the sanctions when Minsk is fully implemented," said Prystaiko, who met NATO envoys during a visit to Brussels.

Moscow's allies in Europe, including Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, say Russia is doing more than Ukraine to meet its obligations under the Minsk agreement. Fico told Reuters this month that the sanctions had not changed Russian policy in the east.

Prystaiko said that was because Russia was determined to hold sway over Ukraine by pressuring Kiev to adopt a federal system, in which each state would have a veto over Ukraine's hopes to join NATO and the EU.

Reforms tied to the Minsk accord include changing Ukraine's constitution to decentralise government. Prystaiko said that Russia was seeking to distort that to achieve its own ends.
Kenya charges radical Muslim cleric's widow over police attack

MOMBASA, Kenya, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The widow of a radical Muslim preacher was charged on Friday of helping three other women attack a Kenyan police station.

In what the first incident in Kenya to be claimed by Islamic State, the women entered Mombasa's central police station on Sept. 11 under the pretext of reporting a stolen phone. They stabbed one officer and set fire to the building with a petrol bomb before they were all shot dead.

A Kenyan court charged Hania Said Sagar, widow of sheikh Aboud Rogo - a preacher accused of supporting and recruiting for Somali Islamist group al Shabaab - with withholding information that could have prevented the attack.

Rogo was killed by gunmen in 2012, sparking days of riots in Mombasa by supporters who accused the police of gunning him down, something the police denied.

Police said they had evidence that Sagar had communicated with the three women before they launched the attack. They also had evidence of a mobile phone money transfer between her and one of the attackers.

"You knew Tasmin Yakoub (one of the three attackers) who was the mastermind of a terror attack at central police station, you failed to disclose information which could have prevented a terror attack," the charge sheet read.

Sagar denied the charge and the court ordered she be held until Monday when it will rule on a bail application.

She faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

Kenya has been cracking down on people they accuse of promoting militant ideas or planning and carrying out attacks, particularly in the coast region, where many Muslims live in the majority Christian African nation.
Argentina says telecom reforms to draw $20 bln; companies prepare

By Eliana Raszewski

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Even though new rules have not yet been implemented, telecom companies in Argentina are preparing for a more competitive market as the government expects reforms to attract $20 billion in investments over four years.

Telecom Argentina and Telefonica de Argentina have announced investments in recent months, while Argentina's largest media conglomerate, Grupo Clarin, is spinning off subsidiary Cablevision SA, saying in August it could better face competition as a stand-alone unit.

Communications Minister Oscar Aguad told Reuters companies, including Motorola and AT&T Inc, have expressed interest in investing in Argentina, which would mean better services and lower costs for consumers.

"As long as we are able to dictate a norm with clear rules, I think the figure of $5 billion a year is possible," Aguad told Reuters, adding that the investment level should continue for four years. The new rules take effect in 2018.

AT&T declined to comment while Motorola Mobility said Argentina is an important market and it continues to look for opportunities here.

The telecom reform is one of many changes on President Mauricio Macri's agenda as he tries to drive investment into an economy that was highly regulated, cut off from capital markets and therefore largely ignored by investors for a decade.

Shortly after taking office, Macri signed a decree to allow phone companies to offer paid television services, an area that has long been dominated by Cablevision, Groupo Clarin's internet, cable TV and data transmission subsidiary.

In addition to allowing telephone companies to enter the cable TV market, Macri's government plans to sponsor a new communications law next year that would encourage technological development and competition, according to Silvana Giudici, head of Argentina's telecom regulator.

Telecom Argentina, acquired in March by investment group Fintech, said in July it would invest some $2.6 billion through 2018, while a representative for Telefonica's local branch said it already invested $330 million in the first six months of this year. Fintech is owned by David Martinez, a Mexican financier.

Analysts said mobile brand Claro, owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, could also benefit from the changes.

"The audiovisual service will allow the company to improve its average revenue per user," said a Telefonica executive in Argentina who asked not to be identified.

The executive said the company is seeking more clarity on the reforms before investing in a fiber optic network that would deliver media content to households, however.

CHALLENGES

Telecom and Telefonica both remain at a disadvantage to Cablevision and other cable operators, which can offer internet and television through the same fiber optic cable.

Telephone companies would need to improve their network cables in order to deliver television.

In addition to Cablevision, telephone companies have to compete with satellite distributor DirecTV, Supercanal and some 1,000 small cable channels.

"It is very expensive to build a network, and to do it the companies need to know they will recover this cost," said Enrique Carrier, a specialist in communications technology with Carrier Asociados.

One result of the reforms could be more mergers and acquisitions. Local media and analysts have speculated that once the spin-off of Cablevision from Clarin is complete, it could merge with Telecom and offer a service known as "quadruple play" fixed-line and mobile phones, internet and television.

Spain's Telefonica SA, which owns Telefonica Argentina, has expressed interest in buying pay TV assets in Latin America, sources have told Reuters.

Telecom and Clarin both denied a merger was in the works.

Staying out of the cable market is likely not an option for phone companies wishing to remain competitive.
Sweden charges three over smuggling of 170 migrants through Europe

STOCKHOLM, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Sweden has charged three men with organising the smuggling of 170 migrants in minibuses from northern Italy across the EU's open-border zone to Scandinavia, prosecutors said on Friday.

Prosecutors said they believed the trio hired minibuses and drivers to transport the mostly Syrian migrants to Scandinavia from Milan train station in Italy in 2014.

"There they were simply walking around and asking if someone wants to go to Sweden or other parts of Scandinavia," presiding prosecutor Isabelle Bjursten told Reuters.

She said the suspects typically charged around 500 euros ($560) per person while often letting children travel for free, and earned around 150,000 Swedish crowns ($17,500), she said.

Police in Italy, Denmark, Germany and Austria stopped 15 of the mini-buses and camper vans in August and November 2014.

Of the three suspects, two have both Swedish and Iraqi citizenship while the third is a Syrian citizen, and they are between 35 and 37 years old, prosecutors said. If found guilty, they could get between six months and six years in prison. They were arrested in Sweden last year then freed pending trial.
Refugee exodus from Burundi sparks concerns 'overstretched' neighbours will not cope

By Lin Taylor

LONDON, Sept 23 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The number of refugees fleeing violence, abductions and torture in Burundi has passed 300,000, the United Nations said on Friday, raising fears neighbouring countries will struggle to cope with the influx amid rising political instability.

The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) urged the international community to "step up" efforts to curtail political unrest in the central African nation, and increase donations for basic services like food, medical aid and shelter.

In July and August alone, more than 20,000 Burundians have fled to neighbouring countries Tanzania, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Uganda and Zambia.

"We expect the number of arrivals will continue to rise in the remaining months of this year," UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said in a statement.

"These worrying trends will persist as long as a solution to the political crisis remains elusive, with far-reaching humanitarian consequences in Burundi and the region."

Sporadic violence has gripped Burundi since April 2015 when incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term, prompting protests and leading to often deadly clashes with police.

More than 450 people have been killed since Nkurunziza won a disputed election and third term in July. Opponents said his move violated the constitution and a deal that ended a civil war in 2005.

The conflict has alarmed neighbouring countries in a region where memories of Rwanda's 1994 genocide remain raw. Like Rwanda, Burundi has an ethnic Hutu majority and a Tutsi minority.

UNHCR said more than 81,000 Burundians now live in Rwanda, with children making up half of the refugees there, many of whom are unaccompanied.

Tanzania has the most Burundian refugees, hosting 163,084 people, while Uganda houses 41,938 refugees.

"The reception capacities of these host countries are severely overstretched and conditions remain dire for many refugees, most of whom are women and children," said Spindler.

With a record 21.3 million refugees globally, world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly adopted a political declaration on Monday in which they agreed to spend the next two years negotiating global compacts on refugees and safe, orderly and regular migration.
Germany, France hit back at Boris Johnson's "baloney" jibe

BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Germany and France brushed aside comments from British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson suggesting there was no link between the EU's principle of free movement and access to its single market, saying they could send Johnson a copy of the Lisbon Treaty and even travel to London to explain it to him in English.

Johnson, a leading Brexit advocate who is known for his colourful language, told Sky News television on Thursday that the EU's position that there was an automatic trade-off between what access to the single market and free movement was "complete baloney."

Asked about the remarks at a news conference in Berlin, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and his French counterpart Michel Sapin shot glances at each other before the German host responded.

"We just looked at each other because we're used to respecting foreign ministers a lot," Schaeuble said.

"If we need to do more, we will gladly send her majesty's foreign minister a copy of the Lisbon Treaty. Then he can read that there is a certain link between the single market and the four core principles in Europe," he added.

"I can also say it in English. So if clarification is necessary we can pay a visit and explain this to him in good English," Schaeuble said.
"We don't need to grow more food to cut hunger in Africa" - activist

By Alex Whiting

TURIN, Italy, Sept 23 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As a young university student of agriculture, Edie Mukiibi believed the latest hybrid seeds which promised bumper crops were the answer to improving the lot of maize farmers in his part of Uganda.

He persuaded many to buy the seeds, while working part-time promoting them in Kiboga district in central Uganda.

But the consequences were "terrible", he said. It was 2007, a year of drought, and the new seeds turned out to be less resilient than traditional varieties.

"The farmers lost almost everything - every bit of maize crop they had. When I went back to talk with the farmers I could feel their pain," Mukiibi said.

Even worse, the new crops could not be grown with any other crops, so the farmers were left with nothing to fall back on except the bills they had run up for the pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers the maize required, he said.

"This is when I started working with farmers ... to diversify (their) farming," said Mukiibi, now vice president of Slow Food International, a grassroots movement of farmers, chefs, activists and academics campaigning to improve the quality of food and the lives of producers.

He said he wanted to help farmers use "local seeds, local knowledge, and traditional ways of managing resources".

CAUSE OF MALNUTRITION

Large companies are increasingly taking charge of food production in Africa and pushing for greater quantities of food - but these are not the answer to cutting hunger in Africa, he said on the sidelines of Slow Food's annual festival in the Italian city of Turin which opened on Thursday.

"We need to think more about the real causes of malnutrition in developing countries, and we need to realise the problem is not production, the problem is how do we keep the food we have in circulation," Mukiibi told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

In Africa, food lost during or after harvest could feed 300 million people, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Mukiibi, who is based in Mukono district just east of the Ugandan capital Kampala, said people can go hungry in one part of Uganda while bananas are rotting in the fields and in stores in another part.

"We need to encourage small-scale producers that they are still important in the world of food," he said, adding that thousands in Uganda have lost access to land bought by foreign companies producing food for export.

Many are given jobs on the newly created industrial-sized farms.

Traditionally, Ugandan farms grow different crops on the same piece of land. Five acres may be planted with coffee and in between the coffee plants, bananas and cocoa are grown, as well as yams and beans for the family to eat, he said.

The crops support each other - in times of drought coffee plants extend their roots to banana plants which naturally hold more water, he added.
France, Germany warn against stricter capital rules for banks

By Michael Nienaber

BERLIN, Sept 23 (Reuters) - France and Germany warned on Friday against the introduction of new rules that would force banks to set aside more capital, saying this could choke off private lending and hurt growth prospects.

Speaking after a meeting of the German-French economic council in Berlin, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and his French counterpart Michel Sapin said it was critical that new Basel III rules did not put European banks at a disadvantage.

The Basel Committee made up of regulators from nearly 30 countries has come under intense pressure from the banking industry and European governments to rein in the reforms it is now completing.

The Basel III rules, which are aimed at making the global banking system more resilient following the 2008 financial crisis, could force banks to hold more and different types of capital to insulate themselves during downturns.

"We want to avoid specific disadvantages for European banks that may arise from Basel III," Schaeuble said during a news conference, in cautionary comments echoed by Jens Weidmann, the head of the German Bundesbank.

Sapin said both governments were "preoccupied" with the rules currently being discussed under Basel III and would prefer that, if changes were made, that they not increase capital demands for banks.

"Today the issue is to have enough capacity to finance the real economy and companies. And we shouldn't hamper them on this," Sapin said, adding that growth in Europe had improved but was not sufficiently strong.

Turning to France's weaker-than-expected performance in the second quarter, Sapin said Paris was sticking to its growth forecasts for this year and next.

"It's a disappointing quarter but it comes after an extremely strong, powerful quarter and absolutely doesn't affect our growth forecasts of around 1.5 percent for this year and next," he said.
 Flash

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday issued a decree dissolving the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA), Sudan's Ashorooq Net reported.

The decree relieved members of the DRA executive body and council in accordance with the Darfur peace deal, known as Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), the report said.

The DDPD duration has elapsed since last June when the Darfur people opted to keep the state's system and rejected the option of one region in the recent Darfur's administrative status referendum.

About two weeks ago, Sudan celebrated the end of the duration of the DRA in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur State in the presence of a number of foreign heads of states.

The Darfur peace was reached on July 14, 2011 between the government and the Liberation and Justice led by El Tijani El-Sisi.

However, major movements such as Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation movements have not joined the agreement as yet.
Singapore considers monitoring programme for babies born to women with Zika

SINGAPORE, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Singapore is exploring plans to establish a national surveillance programme to monitor the development of babies born to pregnant women infected with the Zika virus, the state-owned Channel NewsAsia (CNA) said on Friday.

Sixteen pregnant women have been confirmed to have the virus in Singapore, CNA said, quoting the Ministry of Health - a doubling of the eight cases reported on Sept. 11.

CNA said the ministry was keeping close tabs on the women.

While most people experience mild symptoms, Zika infections in pregnant women have been shown to cause microcephaly, a severe birth defect in which the head and brain are undersized. In adults, it can cause a rare neurological syndrome called Guillain-Barre.

Island city-state Singapore reported its first locally infected Zika patient on Aug. 27, and since then the number of reported infections has risen to 387 as of Friday.
Head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan says peace deal with warlord 'encouraging'

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said on Friday that the Kabul government's peace deal with warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar was an "encouraging" step that would bring a long-time belligerent into reconciliation with the government.

Army General John Nicholson told reporters at the Pentagon he was concerned about the high level of casualties among Afghan forces and had been working with Afghan leaders to adjust tactics to reduce them.
Yemen president vows at U.N. to 'extract Yemen from claws of Iran'

By Yara Bayoumy and Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi vowed at the United Nations on Friday to "extract Yemen from the claws of Iran" as he accused Tehran of impeding peace by intervening in the country.

A Saudi-led Arab coalition has been fighting Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015 in a bid to restore the internationally-backed Hadi to power after rebels took over the capital Sanaa, made gains in other provinces and forced Hadi's government to flee into exile.

Saudi Arabia sees Iran as the paramount threat to the Middle East's stability because of its support for Shi'ite militias that Riyadh says have inflamed sectarian violence.

Tehran views the Houthis as the legitimate authority in Yemen but denies accusations by Saudi Arabia and Yemen that it supplies the rebels with weapons. The Houthis say they are fighting a revolution against a corrupt government and its Gulf Arab backers.

"We shall extract Yemen from the claws of Iran, we shall raise the Yemeni flag over every foot of our precious Yemeni soil and we will lay the foundation for a just federal state," Hadi said in a speech at the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders.

U.N.-sponsored talks to try to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed last month and the Houthi movement and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh resumed shelling into neighboring Saudi Arabia.

"We tell the whole world in very clear terms that extremism and sectarian terrorism sponsored by Iran in the region has created and will create a terrorism counter to that," Hadi said.

Hadi defended a move to appoint a new central bank governor and move the bank's headquarters from the rebel-held capital Sanaa to the southern port city of Aden, the main foothold of fighters loyal to Hadi.

"We decided to move the central bank to the interim capital, Aden, in order to save what we could save so that the bank would not reach zero reserves," Hadi said.

Arab central bank governors said on Friday they supported the move.

The central bank has been the last bastion of the impoverished country's financial system in the civil war and is effectively running the economy, according to central bank officials and diplomats.
Goldman Sachs cutting nearly 30 pct of Asia investment banking jobs - sources

By Pamela Barbaglia

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs is cutting almost 30 percent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan in response to a slowdown in activity in the region, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The Wall Street bank is reducing the number of bankers working on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and equity and debt capital markets deals, the sources said. Most of the jobs cuts are likely to take place in Hong Kong, Singapore and China, where Goldman's main Asian offices are located, they added.

A Goldman Sachs spokesman declined to comment.

The total value of M&A deals across the Asia-Pacific region has dropped to $572.9 billion so far this year, from $745.7 billion in the same period of 2015, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Syrian military source says army not targeting civilians in Aleppo

BEIRUT, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The Syrian army is accurately targeting "terrorist positions and gatherings" in Aleppo, and did not target "any civilian place", a Syrian military source told Reuters on Friday.
Afghan peace deal with warlord an 'encouraging' step -U.S. general

By Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The Afghan government's peace deal with a notorious Islamist warlord is an "encouraging" step in the effort to resolve the country's conflict, the commander of U.S.-led international forces in Afghanistan said on Friday.

Afghan officials signed a peace deal on Thursday with a party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a move that inspired both hope and fear as it dredged up tensions dating back decades.

The militant faction of Hezb-i-Islami, led by Hekmatyar, has been battling to establish an Islamic state in Afghanistan.

"This is positive in the sense that this represents a group that is residing largely outside of Afghanistan that is now reaching a reconciliation agreement with the government which will eventually involve a reintegration into Afghan society," Army General John Nicholson told reporters at the Pentagon.

"This is one of the most important steps we see towards an eventual resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan," Nicholson said.

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.

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.

Fifteen years after the invasion of Afghanistan to topple the Taliban rulers who had harbored al Qaeda militants who attacked the United States, the Taliban have made major gains and are estimated to control more territory than at any time since 2001.

Ten percent of territory in Afghanistan is currently controlled or under the influence of the Taliban, with as much as another 25 percent being contested, Nicholson said.

A recent U.S. watchdog report said the Afghan government lost control or influence of nearly 5 percent of its territory between January and May, an indication of the challenges its forces are facing.

Nicholson added that he was concerned about the high level of casualties among Afghan forces, which mainly take place at check points that are often under-equipped.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford told a U.S. Senate hearing this week that the security situation in Afghanistan was at a "stalemate" amid concerns about the Afghan security forces' capabilities.
Germany urges protection of civilians in north Iraq offensive

By Sabine Siebold

ERBIL, Iraq, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Germany's defence minister urged parties to Iraq's conflict on Friday to protect civilians during the looming offensive by a U.S.-led coalition to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State (IS) militants.

Mosul, with an estimated population of 2 million when Islamic State seized it in 2014, is the largest urban centre under IS control. Its fall would mark Islamic State's effective defeat in Iraq, according to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

An onslaught by the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State, expected to begin as early as next month, could trigger a humanitarian crisis with 1 million or more people potentially fleeing Mosul, U.N. experts say.

"Protection of civilians must be one of the core concerns," German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after a meeting with Massoud Barzani, president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, in its capital Erbil.

She welcomed recent efforts by Kurdish peshmerga forces to coordinate military action against Mosul with the Iraqi army.

Von der Leyen said it would be critical to prevent acts of revenge once Mosul was recaptured and to seek reconciliation between Kurds, Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militias fighting alongside Iraqi government forces, and the majority Sunni Muslim population in the northern region.

Given the plethora of armed forces involved in Iraq's conflict, including Kurdish peshmerga and the Popular Mobilization Forces, a government-affiliated coalition of mostly Shi'ite militias, there is international concern that the offensive could unleash further sectarian violence.

Von der Leyen declined to say if Germany was increasing its aid to the Kurdish peshmerga in anticipation of the offensive.

"The goal now is to destroy Daesh. We will debate and decide what the detailed steps for afterwards when it's time," von der Leyen said, using the Arabic term for Islamic State.

She also announced plans to move Germany's training of the Kurdish forces closer to the front to save time, while still keeping German forces in the coalition away from any combat.

"It is our common goal to train the peshmerga as well as possible so they can rise to the challenge of crushing Islamic State in Mosul," she said. The German military was also prepared to train Iraqi forces, if needed.

Germany has 140 troops in the region working with 300 soldiers from other countries to train Kurdish forces on how to fight the ultra-hardline militants at close range.
Syria opposition: No indication Russia has interest in ceasefire

By Yara Bayoumy

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Syria's opposition and civil society members on Friday criticized what they viewed as Russian complicity in the bombardment of Aleppo, which has killed hope of reviving a ceasefire.

Warplanes bombed Aleppo on Friday with what residents described as unprecedented ferocity after the Syrian army declared an offensive to fully capture Syria's biggest city.

The war pits Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Arab Shi'ite militias, against Sunni rebel groups, including some supported by Washington, Turkey and Gulf Arab states.

Asked about the Aleppo bombardment, Bassma Kodmani, a member of the opposition High Negotiations Committee, said it was a "demonstration of the implications of the failure of yesterday's meeting."

The United States and Russia failed on Thursday at the United Nations to agree on how to revive a short-lived ceasefire.

"We can only say that the world is watching passively at the death of the Syrian population in Aleppo and a new wave of refugees," Kodmani told Reuters in New York.

"There's every indication that they (Russia) entirely condone the massive attack now on Aleppo and ... not only support it, they are part of it," Kodmani said.

U.S. President Barack Obama has been deeply reluctant to use more military force in Syria, a policy that has been the source of exasperation among some European and Gulf allies.

Kodmani said only a "credible threat of retaliation" would stop Assad's warplanes.

Russia and the United States on Sept. 9 agreed to a deal aimed at putting Syria's peace process back on track. It included a nationwide truce, improved humanitarian aid access and the possibility of joint military operations against al Qaeda-lined Nusra Front and Islamic State.

The truce effectively collapsed after a week when an aid convoy was bombed on Monday, killing some 20 people.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has tried to revive a deal with Russia, met with representatives of Syrian civil society groups on Thursday. They said the indiscriminate bombing of civilians must stop.

"Kerry and Obama's administration are going in circles ... talking to the Russians, thinking that the Russians will have any solutions and can contribute to the ceasefire. It's clear that the Russians will not do this," Mutasem Alsyofi of the Syrian Civil Society Declaration Initiative told Reuters in New York.

"And I don't know (how) someone keeps trying the same things and expecting different results," he said.

Russia, which intervened last year to prop up Assad, fears turmoil in his absence and thinks his regime is too fragile for major change, say multiple Russian foreign policy sources.

"We have to stop the regime from being able to use aircraft against civilians. This is a main part of any future policy," Seyoufi said.

Kodmani added: "I think if we say it's a moment of truth, it's a moment of truth for the international community, the United States, its allies, the U.N. And it's a tragic moment for the population of Aleppo."
Chile gets $100 million IADB loan to fight corruption

SANTIAGO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The Chilean government on Friday said it signed a $100 million loan agreement with the Inter-American Development to help the South American nation fight corruption and improve transparency in both the public and private sectors.

The loan is the second the bank has received in the last year aimed at helping reduce illegal activities. In December the IADB lent Chile $130 million for this purpose.

"The support the IADB is giving us for the implementation of the Integrity and Transparency Agenda allows us to quickly advance this raft of initiatives that we need as a country to separate business from politics," Finance Minister Rodrigo Valdes said in a statement.

Chile's business and political elite has been shaken by a number of wide-ranging corruption scandals in the past two years that have seen high-profile politicians sent to jail.

Many of the scandals involve illegally concealed political donations from companies in sectors ranging from mining to fishing, though they have also involved tax crimes and far-reaching collusion schemes.
Kerry sees a little Syria progress, Russia criticizes United States

By Lesley Wroughton and John Irish

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The United States said it made a little progress on halting the violence in the Syrian war in talks with Russia on Friday as Moscow blasted Washington for throwing its weight around the world.

"I met with the (Russian) foreign minister, we exchanged some ideas and we had a little bit of progress. We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said before a meeting Asia-Pacific ministers on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov used his nation's speech at the U.N. General Assembly to launch veiled attacks against the United States, quoting George Orwell's book "Animal Farm" to accuse Washington of saying all animals are equal but acting as if some are "more equal" than others.

"In the modern world, it is impossible to be guided by the philosophy of (the) antiheroes of George Orwell's anti-utopia Animal Farm where all animals are equal but some are more equal," Lavrov said without directly citing the United States.

"In the enlightened twenty-first century, it is simply indecent to mentor everyone around, reserving for oneself the right to use doping or launch unilateral adventures bypassing the U.N., or conduct geopolitical experiments that cost millions of human lives," he added.

Lavrov was apparently referring to tensions around accusations that Russian and U.S. athletes had taken performance-enhancing drugs and the U.S.-led wars in the Middle East.

A Russian-U.S. ceasefire agreement that was reached on Sept. 9 and went into effect on Sept. 12 collapsed on Monday with an attack on a humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo that killed about 20 people. The United States said Russian aircraft made the attack, while Russia denied involvement and the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, whom Russia supports, blamed "terrorists."
Haiti tells U.N. October election may help ease migration crisis

By Hugh Bronstein

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Haiti's October presidential election will be important to easing poverty, acting President Jocelerme Privert told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, as the United States toughens its stance toward a wave of Haitian immigrants.

More than 5,000 Haitians have entered the United States without visas this fiscal year through Oct. 1, according to Department of Homeland Security officials, up from 339 in fiscal year 2015.

"The credibility of the upcoming election is vital to break with the cycle of instability and uncertainty which has beset my country for too long," Privert said.

He said the government was aware of the many Haitians leaving to seek a better life elsewhere and that the Caribbean nation would need more international support after the Oct. 9 election.

"The new leaders will urgently need to address the structural problems which persistently undermine Haiti's effort to move out of underdevelopment," Privert said.

The United States, responding to a surge in Haitian immigrants, will end special protections for them dating back to a devastating earthquake there in 2010, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.

If conditions improve at home, fewer Haitians would risk the hazardous journey to the United States and Canada.

In February, Michel Martelly stepped down as president of Haiti without a successor, but only after a deal was reached for a provisional government. In the running next month is Maryse Narcisse, a medical doctor and longtime activist who could become the first woman to be elected Haiti's president.

U.S. immigration authorities along the Mexico-California border are struggling to find enough resources to interview and temporarily detain Haitian migrants, most of whom are traveling from Brazil.

Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela said this week that stability in Haiti is the best way to ease the flow.

"We have to pay attention to the electoral process in Haiti, to support its institutions and its economy. If not, there will be the new crisis in America. It's not going to be people from Central America or Mexico any more. It will be Haiti," Varela said in an interview.

Many Haitians who found work in Brazil through a visa program offered after the earthquake are starting to leave because of a recession and shrinking work opportunities now that the Rio 2016 Olympics has come and gone.
Goldman axing nearly 30 pct of Asia investment banking jobs - sources

By Pamela Barbaglia

LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs is cutting almost 30 percent of its 300 investment banking jobs in Asia outside Japan in response to a slowdown in activity in the region, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The Wall Street bank is reducing the number of bankers working on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and equity and debt capital markets deals, the sources said. It will be left with slightly more than 200 bankers across Asia.

Most of the jobs cuts are likely to take place in Hong Kong, Singapore and China, where Goldman's main Asian offices are located, according to the sources, who said the process was underway.

A Goldman Sachs spokesman declined to comment.

The company, whose investment banking revenue fell 11 percent to $1.79 billion in the second quarter, has been hit by a lacklustre environment for deals across Asia.

The total value of M&A deals across the Asia-Pacific region has dropped to $572.9 billion so far this year, from $745.7 billion in the same period of 2015, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Goldman said in July it had embarked on a cost-cutting plan that would save $700 million a year in response to a "challenging backdrop" for revenue.

It still tops the Asia-Pacific M&A league tables but in the first half of the year it came third after JPMorgan and Citi as the biggest bank by revenue in Asia, according to data published on Friday by industry analytics firm Coalition.

One of the sources said no managing directors in Asia were in the running to be made partners this year while three existing partners in the region had been stripped of their titles.

RETRENCHMENT

Goldman and other big investment banks are grappling with a harsh environment after the region's economies and markets failed to deliver sustained growth after the 2008 financial crisis. The banks' business has also been eroded by local competitors.

In 2015 Goldman reduced the number of its investment bankers in Singapore - a hub for Southeast Asia - to about 35 from 50, several sources said.

There have been further departures this year, including its Southeast Asia chairman Tim Leissner.

Many of Goldman's European rivals have announced plans to scale down their operations in Asia.

Barclays said in January that it would cut about 1,000 staff in its investment bank operations worldwide, with the bulk happening in Asia, while Societe Generale decided to close its equities research desk in India.

Other European banks including BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank are expected to scale back operations in non-core Asian markets while last year Asia-focused Standard Chartered shut down its equities franchise.
Since the Uri attack, there has been a growing demand in India for mighty retribution against Pakistan. In spite of bravado in his days as prime minister aspirant, Narendra Modi has come to realise the enormous risks attached to taking open, punitive action. However, following the Indian Army's usual practice of under the cover surgical retaliation will not provide any political dividend. So, there is a search for something spectacular, which will hopefully not go out of control. In this context, the abrogation of the Indus Waters Treaty has come into serious consideration.

The threat to stop sharing the Indus waters with Pakistan can be portrayed as a muscular response. Photo credit: Reuters

In the last couple of days, several hawkish Indian commentators have been advocating in favour of India withdrawing from this 65-year-old water sharing treaty unilaterally. This open and concerted demand for the abrogation of Indus Waters Treaty is something very new in the Indian public discourse. The threat is no longer limited to speculation in the Indian media.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup, in his media briefing on Thursday (September 22), has given clear hints about the Modi government's strategy of opening a new front against Pakistan: "For any such treaty to work, it is important there must be mutual trust and cooperation. It can't be a one-sided affair."

Modi had recently decided to raise the Balochistan bogey against Pakistan to dilute criticism about his failure to contain trouble in Kashmir. Following the same strategy, the Indus Waters Treaty is being put at stake to deflect public anger over his regime's failure to prevent the Uri attack. The threat to stop sharing the Indus waters with Pakistan can be portrayed as a muscular response.

Immediately after Independence, both India and Pakistan engaged in a conflict over their share of the river's waters. The hope of financial support from the World Bank for their much-needed irrigation infrastructure brought both the countries to the negotiation table in March 1952. After more than eight long years of hard negotiation, India and Pakistan reached an agreement on September 19, 1960.

The Indus treaty was an extension of the Partition process as it allocated the three eastern rivers of the basin - the Ravi, the Beas, and the Sutlej - to India, and the three western rivers - the Indus, the Jhelum, and the Chenab - to Pakistan. The average annual flow of eastern rivers was calculated at 33 million acre feet, while the western rivers made up 135 million acre feet of the basin.

The Indus Waters Treaty has stood the test of time for past 56 years, though, during this time, many questions have been raised about its survival, and both countries have expressed their differences on several issues. Still, the World Bank continues to showcase the treaty as a major success story of its credibility as a third-party negotiator in any river dispute.

The international community highlights this treaty to show that water has the potential to bring even two adversaries like India and Pakistan to a platform of cooperation.

The Indus Waters Treaty has survived two major wars between India and Pakistan (1965 and 1971) and the Kargil conflict in 1999. It is one of the successful examples of the two neighbours' diplomatic efforts to build a mechanism of sharing waters. However, as a cooperative water management mechanism, the Indus Waters Treaty has been far from satisfactory for both India and Pakistan.

Uncertainties over the interpretation of the treaty with respect to infrastructure development in the western rivers have become a major source of friction between India and Pakistan. On the other hand, water scarcity in the basin in the face of rapidly increasing demand has been the source of regional conflicts within India and Pakistan.

It is true that scarcity of water is fast deteriorating the Indus basin. Any prospect of the best possible use of the waters - the only long-term answer to the basin's growing thirst - has not materialised under the 1960 treaty.

Thus, it is necessary to work for a new Indus treaty that can address fast-evolving water-sharing challenges in the basin. The new treaty might also open up possibilities for Afghanistan and China, the two other riparian countries of the Indus waters that would be part of the new arrangement.

While it is necessary to work for its revision to pave the way for greater cooperation, it will be imprudent on India's part to unilaterally decide to disregard the1960 Indus Waters Treaty. In many ways, this will be an act of desperation in finding ways for retribution against Pakistan.

India needs to remember that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty is an international agreement. Unilateral withdrawal from it will bring global condemnation, and the moral high ground, which India enjoys vis-a-vis Pakistan in the post-Uri period will be lost. This will give the regime in Pakistan to turn the tables.

The uniqueness of the Indus Waters Treaty is it is the only international water treaty co-signed by a third party - the World Bank. Any form of India's open withdrawal from the treaty will automatically draw the World Bank into the dispute - and in support of Pakistan.

If India decides to withdraw from the treaty, Pakistan can also take India to International Court of Justice (ICJ) and, in all likelihood, win the case. The world court's decision in 1997 on the case concerning Gabcikovo-Nagymaros project on the Danube river between Hungary and Slovakia clearly establishes the importance of respecting the provisions of the existing international water agreements.

Fear of censure from the ICJ had also forced Malaysia to change its mind to backtrack from its threat in 2002-2003 to annul its water-sharing agreement with Singapore. So, India should think carefully before taking any step to rescind the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

If India decides to ignore international norms and treats the Indus waters as a weapon to punish Pakistan, it will unfortunately lead to huge human insecurity in the neighbouring country. At the same time, this will make India's own dams and reservoirs in the river system genuine military targets for Pakistan to retaliate. That will be a huge risk to take. Even the consideration of that risk had forced Turkey to say no to the American request in 2003 to strategically release more water from its dams to create trouble for Saddam's army.
The resignation of senior PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra as member of Parliament, as well as from basic membership of PDP, is a big blow to the party, especially at a time when it is facing deep crisis in Kashmir. It is also indicative of a shaky situation within the party.

Founded in 1998, Karra was one of the founding members of the PDP, its first general secretary, and was finance minister in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP-Congress coalition government (2002-2008) when PDP came to power in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time.

While there is no doubt that Karras resignation was motivated by his personal political considerations, however, it has again brought the problems of PDP to the forefront.

Karra cited repressive and oppressive policies of BJP at Centre and PDP-BJP government in the state, the terror unleashed by the central and state government to crush the current uprising in Kashmir that has gone on for more than two months now with no signs of an end, genocide of Kashmiris, CM Mehbooba Muftis complete surrender to Nagpur and Delhi, and PDPs becoming a facilitator for what he called RSS's long-cherished dream of "Hinduisation of the Muslim-majority state" as some of the reasons for his resignation.

It needs to be mentioned that the crisis, which started in the aftermath of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on June 8, 2016, has resulted in the killing of more than 85 people at the hands of security forces. More than 12,000 people have been injured and around 300 have lost their eyesight. Hundreds have been arrested and booked under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA).

The PDP's crisis needs to be understood on two counts - ideological and structural.

Ideologically, PDP, right from its inception, has been propounding what came to be termed as "soft-separatism"- favouring dialogue with Hurriyat and Pakistan, removal of AFSPA, protection of human rights, demilitarisation, increased cross-LoC trade, release of political prisoners and political resolution of Kashmir problem. And when it decided to tie up with BJP, it was accused of compromising with its ideology and paving way for "Hindutva and RSS forces" into the Valley.

The BJP, it must be mentioned, has historically had a completely opposite view on crucial issues related to J&K. Even during the 2014 Assembly elections, it mobilised voters, especially in Jammu and Ladakh regions, on the promise of abrogation of Article 370, taking a tough stand against Hurriyat and Pakistan, favouring AFSPA and so on.

The argument that was wrongly propagated was that for the development of the state, PDP had no option but to tie-up with the BJP. (Photo: PTI)

Two major arguments put forth in favour of this coalition by the PDP were: (a) the nature of the electoral verdict, and (b) for securing "developmental aid".

What the party conveniently forgot was that this mandate was the result of communal polarisation. BJP had garnered majority support in Jammu mainly by consolidating the Hindu vote. PDP, on its part, mobilised voters in Valley around two major issues - one, the failure (real, as well as perceived) of the NC-Congress government, and second - and more important - to keep RSS-BJP out of Kashmir. While, its decision to go with BJP came as a rude shock to its voters, it also divided the party internally.

This mismatch and reversal of decision by PDP was sought to be camouflaged by a well-meaning concept of "development". The argument that was wrongly propagated was that for the development of the state, in general, and the rehabilitation of 2014 flood victims, in particular, PDP had no option but to tie-up with the BJP, which was ruling at the Centre.

In other words what we were made to understand was that developmental aid and funds for the state will not come unless the state government includes BJP. At the very outset, it needs to be pointed out that this theory goes against the idea of federalism. What has made things worse is the fact that despite having BJP in the coalition, the state is still waiting for "development".

Now the PDP is in a dilemma. With BJP, it cannot pursue its policy of "soft-separatism". The alliance and diversion from its agenda has completely alienated not only its voters but even its workers. The state's response to the present crisis has deepened the alienation.

When PDP came into existence, there were certain leaders who came together to form a political party, with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as first among equals. Tariq Hamid Karra, Muzaffar Hussain Baig and a few other leaders were equally, if not more, important members, or rather pillars of the party.

The current uprising, which is the strongest in south Kashmir, has dealt a big blow to the PDP. (Photo: AP)

While everything went reasonably well during the first PDP-led government with Mufti Sayeed as chief minister and all important leaders, including Karra, with important portfolios, the situation changed completely after the 2014 elections.

The crisis within PDP was visible even before elections. The decision of PDP to nominate Tariq Karra and Muzaffar Baig as candidates for Parliamentary elections was seen by many as an attempt by the leadership to keep them away from Kashmir and its politics. Many new players were coming up and getting closer to the Muftis. Baig and Karra were seen as troublemakers and, therefore, necessary to be kept at arm's length from Srinagar.

The crisis was visible even when Mufti Sayeed was alive. When the process of coalition formation was on, with Haseeb Drabu at the forefront, Karra and a few other leaders vehemently opposed this decision. After the government formation, Muzaffar Baig and Tariq Karra warned Mufti of elements whom they termed as "dream sellers", essentially referring to some of the key members of his Cabinet.

After Mufti Sayeed's death, the crisis deepened even further. There is no denying the fact that after Sayeed's death, leaders like Baig and Karra would have been looking for a greater role within PDP and the government. However, there were elements which favoured Mehbooba as chief ministerial candidate, as well as keeping these leaders out.

When Mehbooba was busy working out the future course of action, there were strong rumours about some MLAs desperately working to cobble together an alliance with the BJP, even without Mehbooba. Tariq Karra openly accused first-time MLA and Cabinet minister in Mufti government, Altaf Bukhari, of spearheading an attempted coup.

"Altaf Bukhari tried to break the PDP into two factions. He tried to stage a coup. While our leader Mehbooba Mufti was exploring the possibility of a tie-up with BJP and had almost convinced BJP for some of the demands, he went out of the way and tried to cobble up an alliance towing along a group of PDP defectors. He is the modern day Kuka Parray [notorious renegade leader who led the counter-insurgency group called Ikhwan]", said Karra in an interview to a local newspaper.

Although PDP and BJP worked out a compromise formula called "Agenda of Alliance", focusing on inclusive governance and development of the state while keeping the controversial issues aside, the ideological differences kept surfacing from time to time, with BJP acting more as an opposition party than a coalition partners, making things worse for PDP.

This was visible immediately after the oath-taking ceremony by late Mufti Sayeed, when he thanked Hurriyat and Pakistan for peaceful election in J&K drawing sharp criticism from BJP. With every passing day the deep ideological difference started coming to the surface.

The "soft-separatism" stance of the PDP started finding it too difficult to withstand pressures of "hardline Hindutva". After Sayeed's demise, when PDP sat down to take a review of progress made on issues mentioned in the "Agenda of Alliance", there was nothing substantial to show. The situation remains the same today.

How Mehbooba Mufti is going to hold her party together is something to be seen in the future. (Photo:PTI)

The result was that while BJP was gaining in Jammu, PDP started losing its base in Kashmir. One of the important reasons for the rise of militancy in PDP's bastion, South Kashmir, is the party's alliance with BJP. PDP workers are dissatisfied and large number of them have resigned during last two months. It was in this backdrop that Muzaffar Husain Baig recently argued in favour of walking out of the alliance.

The current uprising, which is the strongest in south Kashmir, has dealt a big blow to the PDP. While it has been facing severe criticism for its policies during the last two months, locking down Kashmir on the eve of Eid-ul-Zuha came as a final blow. September 13, 2016 became yet another landmark in the unfortunate history of Kashmir.

For the first time in its recent history, the Valley was put under strict curfew on the occasion of the most important festival of Muslims. The government did this ostensibly to "protect" life and property of the people. However, death and injuries continued to visit Kashmiris. Three youth lost their life in security forces' firing, over 150 were injured and 4 youth were hit in both their eyes by pellets..

Ironically, while on the one hand, government is claiming that situation is returning towards normalcy and that is it only five per cent people who are agitating, still it did not allow people to perform their religious duties as per their choice. What is important to note is that even during the early period of 1990s, when there was absolute breakdown of law and order and militancy was at its peak, Kashmir was never put under curfew on Eid.

Karra cited lockdown on the eve of Eid as ultimate reason for his exit. There are rumours that some other leaders may also quit the party in the coming days. Though it is reasonable to believe that party will not face any serious crisis till it is in power, the real challenge will be once it is out of power.
AmerisourceBergen Corporation sources and distributes pharmaceutical products in the United States and internationally. Its Pharmaceutical Distribution segment distributes brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to various healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. It also provides pharmacy management, staffing, and other consulting services; supply management software to retail and institutional healthcare providers; and packaging solutions to various institutional and retail healthcare providers. In addition, this segment distributes plasma and other blood products, injectable pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other specialty products; provides other services primarily to physicians who specialize in various disease states, primarily oncology, as well as to other healthcare providers, including hospitals and dialysis clinics; and offers data analytics, outcomes research, and additional services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company's Other segment provides integrated manufacturer services, such as clinical trial support, product post-approval, and commercialization support; specialty transportation and logistics services for the biopharmaceutical industry; and sells pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, and various other products to customers in the companion animal and production animal markets, as well as demand-creating sales force services to manufacturers. AmerisourceBergen Corporation was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The following companies are subsidiares of Cigna: Accredo Health Group, Accredo Health Incorporated, Alegis Care, Allegiance Life & Health Insurance Company, Allegiance Re, American Retirement Life Insurance Company, Benefits Management Corp., Bravo Health Mid-Atlantic, Bravo Health Pennsylvania, Brighter, CareAllies, CareCore National LLC, Central Reserve Life Insurance Company, Ceres Sales of Ohio, Choicelinx, Cigna & CMB Life Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Apac Holdings Limited, Cigna Arbor Life Insurance Company, Cigna Beechwood Holdings, Cigna Behavioral Health, Cigna Behavioral Health of California, Cigna Behavioral Health of Texas, Cigna Bellevue Alpha, Cigna Benefits Financing, Cigna Brokerage & Marketing (Thailand) Limited, Cigna Cedar Holdings, Cigna Chestnut Holdings, Cigna Corporate Services, Cigna Data Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Cigna Dental Health, Cigna Dental Health Plan of Arizona, Cigna Dental Health of California, Cigna Dental Health of Colorado, Cigna Dental Health of Delaware, Cigna Dental Health of Florida, Cigna Dental Health of Illinois, Cigna Dental Health of Kansas, Cigna Dental Health of Kentucky, Cigna Dental Health of Maryland, Cigna Dental Health of Missouri, Cigna Dental Health of New Jersey, Cigna Dental Health of North Carolina, Cigna Dental Health of Ohio, Cigna Dental Health of Pennsylvania, Cigna Dental Health of Texas, Cigna Dental Health of Virginia, Cigna Elmwood Holdings, Cigna Europe Insurance Company S.A.-N.V., Cigna European Services (UK) Limited, Cigna Finans Emeklilik ve Hayat A.S., Cigna Global Holdings, Cigna Global Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Global Reinsurance Company, Cigna Global Wellbeing Holdings Limited, Cigna Global Wellbeing Solutions Limited, Cigna HLA Technology Services Company Limited, Cigna Health Corporation, Cigna Health Management, Cigna Health Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna HealthSpring, Cigna Healthcare Holdings, Cigna Healthcare Mid-Atlantic, Cigna Healthcare of Arizona, Cigna Healthcare of California, Cigna Healthcare of Colorado, Cigna Healthcare of Connecticut, Cigna Healthcare of Florida, Cigna Healthcare of Georgia, Cigna Healthcare of Illinois, Cigna Healthcare of Indiana, Cigna Healthcare of Maine, Cigna Healthcare of Massachusetts, Cigna Healthcare of New Hampshire, Cigna Healthcare of New Jersey, Cigna Healthcare of North Carolina, Cigna Healthcare of Pennsylvania, Cigna Healthcare of South Carolina, Cigna Healthcare of St. Louis, Cigna Healthcare of Tennessee, Cigna Healthcare of Texas, Cigna Healthcare of Utah, Cigna Holding Company, Cigna Holdings, Cigna Holdings Overseas, Cigna Hong Kong Holdings Company Limited, Cigna Insurance Middle East S.A., Cigna Insurance Public Company Limited, Cigna Insurance Services (Europe) Limited, Cigna Intellectual Property, Cigna International Corporation, Cigna International Health Services, Cigna International Health Services BVBA, Cigna International Health Services Kenya Limited, Cigna International Health Services SDN BHD, Cigna International Services, Cigna International Services Australia Pty. Ltd., Cigna Investment Group, Cigna Investments, Cigna Korean Chusik Hoesa, Cigna Laurel Holdings, Cigna Legal Protection UK Ltd., Cigna Life Insurance Company of Canada, Cigna Life Insurance Company of Europe S.A.- N.V., Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, Cigna Life Insurance New Zealand Limited, Cigna Linden Holdings, Cigna Magnolia Holdings, Cigna Myrtle Holdings, Cigna Nederland Alpha Cooperatief U.A., Cigna Nederland Beta B.V., Cigna Nederland Gamma B.V., Cigna Oak Holdings, Cigna Palmetto Holdings, Cigna Poplar Holdings, Cigna Sequoia Holdings, Cigna Spruce Holdings GmbH, Cigna Taiwan Life Assurance Company Limited, Cigna Walnut Holdings, Cigna Willow Holdings, Cigna Worldwide General Insurance Company Limited, Cigna Worldwide Insurance Company, Cigna Worldwide Life Insurance Company Limited, CignaTTK Health Insurance Company Limited, Connecticut General Corporation, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, CuraScript Inc., E-2 CIGNA CORPORATION - 2018 Form 10-K, ESI Mail Pharmacy Service Inc., ESI Partnership, ESI Resources Inc., Express Scripts Holding Company, Express Scripts Inc., Express Scripts Pharmaceutical LLC, Express Scripts Pharmacy Inc., Express Scripts Strategic Development Inc., FirstAssist Administration Limited, Firstassist Insurance Services Ltd, Great-West Healthcare of Illinois, Grown Ups New Zealand Limited, Health-Lynx LLC, HealthSource, HealthSpring, HealthSpring Life & Health Insurance Company, HealthSpring of Alabama, HealthSpring of Florida, HealthSpring of Tennessee, KDM Thailand Limited, LINA Financial Services, LINA Life Insurance Company of Korea, Life Insurance Company of North America, Loyal American Life Insurance Company, MCC Independent Practice Association of New York, Manipal Cigna Health Insurance Company Limited, Medco Containment Life Insurance Company, Medco Health Services Inc., Medco Health Solutions Inc., NewQuest, NewQuest Management Northeast, Olympic Health Management Services, Oz Parent, PT Asuransi Cigna, Provident American Life and Health Insurance Company, Qualcare, Qualcare Alliance Networks, Qualcare Captive Insurance Company Inc. PCC, Qualcare Management Resources Limited Liability Company, RHP (Thailand) Limited, Scibal Associates, Sterling Life Insurance Company, Tel-Drug, Tel-Drug of Pennsylvania, Temple Insurance Company Limited, United Benefit Life Insurance Company, Verity Solutions Group, Zurich Insurance Middle East, and eviCore 1 LLC.

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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.
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.
AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of prescription medicines. Its marketed products include Calquence, Enhertu, Faslodex, Imfinzi, Iressa, Koselugo, Lumoxiti, Lynparza, Orpathys, Tagrisso, and Zoladex for oncology; Brilinta/Brilique, Bydureon/Byetta, BCise, Byetta, Crestor, Evrenzo, Farxiga/Forxiga, Komboglyze/Kombiglyze XR, Lokelma, Onglyza, Qtern, and Xigduo/Xigduo XR for cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism diseases; Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere, Daliresp/Daxas, Duaklir Genuair, Fasenra, Pulmicort, Saphnelo, Symbicort, and Tudorza/Eklira/Bretaris for respiratory and immunology; and Andexxa/Ondexxya, Kanuma, Soliris, Strensiq, and Ultomiris for rare diseases. The company's marketed products also comprise Synagis for respiratory syncytial virus; Fluenz Tetra/FluMist Quadrivalent for Influenza; Seroquel IR/Seroquel XR for schizophrenia bipolar disease; Nexium, and Losec/Prilosec for gastroenterology; and Vaxzevria and Evusheld for covid-19. The company serves primary care and specialty care physicians through distributors and local representative offices in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. It has a collaboration agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to research, develop, and commercialize small molecule medicines for obesity; Neurimmune AG to develop and commercialize NI006; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop eplontersen, a liver-targeted antisense therapy in Phase III development for the treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis; Proteros Biostructures GmbH to jointly discover novel small molecules for the treatment of hematological cancers; Sierra Oncology, Inc. to develop and commercialize AZD5153. The company was formerly known as Zeneca Group PLC and changed its name to AstraZeneca PLC in April 1999. AstraZeneca PLC was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Cambridge, the United Kingdom.
Fidessa group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides trading, investment, and information solutions to the financial community worldwide. The company offers access to the trading community of buy-side and sell-side professionals ranging from institutions and investment banks to boutique brokers, and niche hedge funds. It operates in two business units, Sell-side and Buy-side. The Buy-side business unit offers systems to cover stages of the investment process for various asset classes. The Sell-side business unit provides solutions and tools to support the trading of cash equities and derivatives. The company also provides connectivity network and management services that connect counterparties across financial markets; and market data services tuned for trading and powering the buy-side and sell-side throughout the trading life cycle. In addition, it offers post-trade services; and open and bespoke training courses covering various aspects of product sets for the buy-side and sell-side. The company was formerly known as Royalblue group plc and changed its name to Fidessa group plc in May 2007. Fidessa group plc was founded in 1981 and is based in Woking, the United Kingdom.
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.
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. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. 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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C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. 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Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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FREDERICKSBURG  On a Sunday morning 20 years ago today, 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. (See box)

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.

Some 20 years ago, a 14-month period (March 1996 to May 1997) proved to be frighteningly deadly for area women and girls. During that time, three women and three girls were killed in the Fredericksburg region. Two other women were killed in the Shenandoah National Park, and their murders were unofficially linked to at least one of the local slayings.

March 2, 1996: Alicia Showalter Reynolds vanished after pulling off of U.S. 29 in Culpeper. Her skeletal remains were found on May 7, 1996, in a shallow grave at a remote logging camp in the Lignum area. She is believed to have been a victim of the Route 29 stalker, who at the time had reportedly been trying to lure female drivers to pull over under the fake guise of car troubles. The case remains unsolved.

June 1, 1996: Julianne Julie Williams, 24, and Laura Lollie Winans, 26, were both found slain at their Shenandoah National Park campsite. That case was considered to have a possible link to the Route 29 stalker. A suspect was arrested but the case fell apart and the charges were later dropped. The womens killings remain unsolved.

July 14, 1996: Thelma Scroggins, a 74-year-old retired mail carrier and church organist, was found shot to death in her Lignum home. Two teens were eventually convicted, based in large part on a confession by one, but he later recanted and a federal judge threw out the convictions. The case remains unsolved.

Sept. 9, 1996: Sophia Silva, a 16-year-old Courtland High School student, was abducted from the front steps of her Oak Grove Terrace home. Her body was recovered in King George just more than a month later, on Oct. 14. In 2002, her murder was linked to serial killer Richard Marc Evonitz, who committed suicide as police tried to arrest him for the abduction and rape of a South Carolina teen. Evonitz lived in Spotsylvania in 1996 and 97, but later moved to South Carolina.

Sept. 18, 1996: Anne McDaniel, 20, was reported missing. Her burned and bound body was found four days later near Lignum. Her murder remains unsolved.

May 1, 1997: Sisters Kristin Lisk, 15, and Kati Lisk, 12, were abducted from their Spotsylvania home. Their bodies were found five days later in Hanover County. Authorities determined that they were also killed by Evonitz.
After traveling more than halfway across the world, a delegation of civic-minded professionals from the Middle East and North Africa spent Thursday afternoon listening to the self-proclaimed greatest chicken salesman in America.

Alluding to recent trade missions hes conducted in countries such as Oman and Kuwait  where bans on Virginia poultry products were lifted last year  Gov. Terry McAuliffe met with the delegation being hosted by the University of Virginia Center for Politics Global Perspectives on Democracy Program this month.

Sponsored by the nonprofit World Learning and the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, the 25 government, business and nonprofit leaders from Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and the Palestinian Authority have spent the last two weeks visiting historic sites, meeting with local leaders and learning about American culture, history and civics.

Everyone in the group has come here not just for the welfare of their countries, but for the welfare of the entire world, said Mohan Lahdiri, an Algerian teacher. We are also here because we want to export the American government experience in terms of civic engagement and community service.

Prior to taking questions from an audience that included fellowship members and about a dozen UVa students, McAuliffe touched on Virginias economy and how hes trying to make it a major player in the global marketplace.

I've got to be careful because I'm under some nondisclosure [agreements], but I think you will see several major companies who will be making Virginia their United States headquarters in the very short future," he said, talking specifically about agribusiness and how Virginia soon might become relevant to some Middle Eastern business interests.

McAuliffe also touched on state politics, including a dispute with state Republicans over his executive order to restore voting rights to former felons.

Speaking about foreign policy and security in the Middle East and North Africa, McAuliffe said its imperative for the United States to assist the region by combating terrorism, educating youth and supporting economic growth by tapping into Americas great, entrepreneurial ingenuity.

Lets lean in, he said. In the Middle East, we can be manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines and blades.

Before his speech, members of the visiting delegation said they were excited to meet McAuliffe, and were impressed the governor would be so easily available to the public.

If you want to compare this to our countries, it's not easy to meet elected government officials, said Mahmoud Charari, a Palestinian refugee working with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Lebanon.

It's easy to meet with these important people, he said. And there are no obstacles or checkpoints between the citizens and officials.

I noticed civic engagement here. People are aware of their responsibilities as citizens and they do engage, while in my country it's a little bit neglected, said Abderrhmane Harbi, a business consultant from Algeria. I'm learning from this experience in order to go back to my country and spread the word and influence people to get engaged.

Henda Marafi, of Tunisia, said some countries in that region of the world are in need of young leaders who will look toward democracy as a means to bringing an end to dictatorships that have dominated the political landscape there.

Youth can make the change, she said, adding that unemployment, corruption and injustice are some of the main issues their leaders are tackling right now. We're trying to make our countries better.

Other members of the delegation said their time in the Charlottesville area has provided an opportunity to learn about American culture and history, as well as government.

Visiting the U.S. for a second time, Amani Khader Aruri, a Palestinian with the Arab AmeriCare Foundation, said she has relished the opportunity.

To be honest, I had different ideas about American culture and lifestyles, she said. I was surprised about the fact that people are accepting of others.

Mike Safadi, an agricultural engineer from Lebanon, said hes enjoyed visiting historic sites such as Montpelier and Monticello. Noting those site visits and discussions with local civil advocacy groups, Safadi said hes come to appreciate the nuances of domestic issues the U.S. still confronts.

To know more about how America was established, the Civil War and the segregation between the blacks and the whites ... It's like you're living inside the history, he said. I felt myself in the history when I visited all those places.

McAuliffe also spent his time in Charlottesville on Thursday campaigning for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. A few hours after meeting the Middle East and North Africa fellows, McAuliffe spoke at the Clinton campaign office on the Downtown Mall.
The debate over whether the city should relocate its two monuments to Confederate Gens. Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson continued Thursday, as the commission charged with exploring the option held its second community forum.

After the majority of speakers during the first of two public comment periods at a community forum last month said the city should keep the statues, and perhaps add new monuments or plaques to contextualize their historical legacy, a greater number of people calling for removal spoke out Thursday evening at Buford Middle School.

Of the approximately 25 people who spoke during the first comment period Thursday, about an even amount of people explicitly called for either removing or keeping the statue. Reflecting the seemingly equal representation of opinions, those who spoke passionately in either direction received considerable amount of applause from their respective supporters.

About five people suggested the city should add new monuments or memorials, but did not explicitly advocate for either option.

For the first 20 minutes of the meeting, nearly every speaker said they were in favor of keeping the statues, although a few of them acknowledged that action should be taken to offer some kind of diversity of historical viewpoints or narratives that tell the citys history.

I would ask that you and others respect my right to honor the lives of those men now forever silent, both Confederate and Union, who perished during our not so civil war, said Scott Payton, of Albemarle County.

Who speaks for them? For me, thats what these monuments and hundreds of others like them through the North and South represent.

Shortly after came M. Rick Turner, president of the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP.

Massive statues and memorials glorifying historical figures like Robert E Lee and Stonewall Jackson, while excluding contributions of African-Americans, serve to reinforce and narrow a distorted view of American history.

Alleging that not many African-Americans have been paying attention to issues of representation in memorials and otherwise, he said we owe it to our children, our community to stand up, speak out and weigh in on this question that will shape our social landscape and our future.

Noting that two prominent Civil War historians from the University of Virginia recently weighed in on the issue, suggesting the city not remove the statues, attorney Lewis Martin said the statues are historical evidence.

If you take those statues down ... do you think thats going to inspire the children of Charlottesville to talk about the Civil War, one of the two most important events in American history?

Others disagreed, arguing that the statues could be moved to a museum and outside the purview of public parks. A few more, however, said they simply couldnt agree with the statues in the park as a matter of American patriotism.

Lee and Jackson arent my heroes, said Dale McDonald.

A veteran himself, McDonald said he understands honoring war heroes, but not ones who fought against the United States.

Im offended as an American that we build monuments to people who fought to tear us apart, he said. You should be offended its in your city.

While Martin said he wishes the commission will do something to contextualize the statues and promote an understanding of other historical narratives throughout the city, Suzanne Michels said she believes that would be inadequate and result in only a token memorial to the African-American community.

I hope the statues can go, she said.

I think its very hard to put the statues in context. Maybe there are people who can figure out how that can happen, but its too big and too high for me to understand how that could be done.

At the end of the public comment period, attendees were given stickers to vote on large white padd that detailed various concepts the commission is considering for its final report, which is due to the City Council in November.

Those considerations include a few general ideas for supporting educational programming and new memorials and historical surveys, as well as what to do with the Confederate memorials.

City officials will provide a presentation on the results of the vote at the commissions next meeting, Oct. 6 at Clark Elementary School.
RICHMOND  Ahead of Donald Trump's rally today in Roanoke, relatives of Virginia Tech shooting victims said Friday that the Republican presidential nominee lacks the temperament to respond effectively to gun violence.

In a press call organized by Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign, four parents or children of people shot during the April 2007 massacre criticized Trump's recent comments in which he suggested that Clinton's bodyguards should be disarmed and "see what happens to her."

The group  three parents and one child of Tech shooting victims  also praised the response of Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine, who was governor of Virginia at the time of the shooting that killed 32 people and wounded 17 others.

Andrew Goddard, whose son Colin was shot four times but survived, said Trump has shown an "extremely cavalier attitude toward violence of any kind."

"If you are so blase about violence that you drop it for a joke or you drop it out as a provocation, then you don't have the temperament to control the most powerful military in the world," Goddard said.

Kaine, Goddard said, returned to Virginia from a trade mission in Japan and was at his son's bedside before anyone from Virginia Tech.

"It was obvious that he didn't need to be schooled in any of the reactions," Goddard said. "He was already there."

Peter Read, a military veteran whose daughter Mary was killed in the Tech shootings while studying to become an elementary school teacher, said Kaine and Clinton's careers "exemplify the kind of service to community, to state, to nation" that is valued in his family.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Trump has a record ever since he started to put his toe in the political waters of making outrageous statements, including statements that incite people to violence," Read said.

Read pointed specifically to Kaine's work to close a loophole in Virginia law that created gaps between mental health records and information used in background checks for gun purchases.

The Virginia Tech shooter, Seung-Hui Cho, purchased two handguns legally, despite being deemed a danger to himself by a court.

Goddard, Read and the call's other two participants  Lori Haas and Uma Loganathan  all have been public advocates for tighter restrictions on guns.

In a written statement, Republican Party of Virginia Chairman John Whitbeck called Friday's call "disgusting" and an "effort to politicize the tragedy at Virginia Tech."

"Virginians of all political persuasions came together after Virginia Tech and worked to strengthen our mental health care system and ensure that the failures leading up to that day never occurred again. Legislation closing loopholes in the law passed with unanimous, bipartisan support," Whitbeck said.

"Some things are beyond politics and out of bounds. Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine should be ashamed."

Trump's rally today in Roanoke is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Berglund Center arena.
RICHMOND  Alleging an intricate scheme to intentionally prevent competition and monopolize the market for a drug that treats opioid addiction, 36 attorneys general  including Virginias Mark R. Herring  have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Chesterfield County-based Indivior.

Filed Friday under seal, the suit claims that Indivior  formerly known as Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals  has engaged in product hopping, or intentionally changing a product to prevent generic versions of the drug, Suboxone, from entering the market.

This allowed Reckitt to maintain its monopoly over the product and get higher monopoly profits from its sales, a news release from Herrings office states.

Since 2009, annual sales of Suboxone topped $1 billion, the release continues, and the attorneys general allege that consumers have paid artificially high prices for the drug.

Indivior did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Suboxone contains buprenorphine and the overdose reversal drug naloxone. It is used to treat opioid addiction by easing addiction cravings. But in some parts of the state, buprenorphine is becoming the new top street drug. In Southwest Virginia, it is prescribed at more than eight times the national average.

Suboxone was introduced to the market in 2002 as a tablet, and its approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration came with market protection from competitors that lasted seven years.

But during that seven-year time frame, the attorneys general allege, Reckitt converted the market away from Suboxone as a tablet form to a dissolvable film, similar to a breath strip.

When a generic version of tablet Suboxone was finally approved, there was no brand-name Suboxone tablet left on the market for which the generic could be substituted, the release states.

The suit claims that the film provides no real benefit over the tablet, according to the release, and that Reckitt allegedly expressed unfounded safety concerns about the tablet version, delaying FDA approval of a generic version of Suboxone. Simultaneously, though, the company continued selling the tablet form in other countries.

The lawsuit accuses Indivior of conspiring with another defendant in the case, MonoSol Rx, a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company whose goal is to deliver drugs through film.

The attorneys general filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Pennsylvania, where a similar suit is already pending against Indivior by purchasers of Suboxone.

Reckitt rebranded as Indivior in late 2014. In the same move, it spun away from its parent company, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc  a massive United Kingdom-based company that has several well-known brands, from Frenchs Mustard to Lysol.

The 36 attorneys general are accusing Indivior of violating the federal Sherman Act and state antitrust laws, asking the court to stop the companies from engaging in anticompetitive conduct, to restore competition, and to order appropriate relief for consumers and the states, plus costs and fees, the release states.

Earlier this month, Indivior joined a slew of other Richmond-area companies and organizations in the newly-formed Opioid Awareness and Recovery Coalition.
On his appearance in the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang appealed to the international community to assist in denuclearizing North Korea and stresses their commitment of assisting such action through diplomatic dialogue with Pyongyang.

In his statement, Li said "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."

China, according to Li, has consistently called for the international community to resume multilateral talks to denuclearize the belligerent country despite the skepticism of the rest of the world powers. The country has become very angered by the North's recent missile test on September 9 despite being its major ally and trading partner, appealing for the UN to impose tougher UN sanctions on the country.

Li has also said that China and the US have already began talks regarding the creation of a new UN resolution that would strengthen currently imposed sanctions on North Korea. The two countries are also working together to track down Chinese firms who are allegedly assisting North Korea with its nuclear tests.
ROANOKE  The homicide of Blacksburg teen Nicole Lovell is being featured on Saturdays edition of 48 Hours.

The CBS television show is launching its 29th season with an episode that looks at several cases involving online predators who target young people through social media. A news release from CBS said that the episode, titled Killer App, explores the use of the popular Kik messaging app and other parent-proof platforms used by teens. The program is to air at 10 p.m.

Lovells family could not be reached for comment Friday.

Lovell, 13, disappeared from her apartment in the Lantern Ridge complex during the early hours of Jan. 27. Investigators say that she was lured from her home and killed. Former Virginia Tech student David Edmond Eisenhauer, who was then 18, faces charges of first-degree murder, abduction and concealing a body His trial is scheduled for March in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

A second former Tech student, Natalie Marie Keepers, 19, is charged with being an accessory before the fact to Lovells slaying, and with concealing a body. She also is scheduled to go on trial in March.

An online gaming friend of Eisenhauers has said that Eisenhauer sent him messages saying hed met a girl at a party, discovered she was underage and was trying to break up with her because he feared she would expose him. Eisenhauer asked for advice on how to hide a body, the friend, Bryce Dustin of Pulaski said in a May interview with The Roanoke Times.

Search warrants in the case indicated that Eisenhauer and Lovell communicated via Kik in the days before her death. It was the last of many social media accounts that Lovell apparently used, with a connection recorded at 12:39 a.m. on Jan. 27.

Montgomery County Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt said at a bond hearing that Eisenhauer and Keepers created a plan for Eisenhauer to coax Lovell out of her house for a date, then cut her throat. Keepers told police that she had helped put Lovells body in the trunk of Eisenhauers Lexus, Pettitt said.

Lovells body was found in Surry County, North Carolina, three days after she disappeared.
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.
A bull in a china shop could not have made a bigger mess than Gov. Terry McAuliffe did when he issued an executive order granting blanket restoration of voting rights to felons. The resulting Cleanup on Aisle Six has taken months. But give him credit for this much: He has jump-started a reform movement.

Democratic and Republican legislators have announced competing constitutional amendments that span the spectrum from a wide-open restoration for all convicts to a sharply limited proposal that some consider even worse than the status quo. If a final version makes it through the upcoming session of the General Assembly, it probably will split differences down the middle. That is not the ideal way to answer questions of individual rights and constitutional liberties, but it has often been the way the country has resolved such questions, as far back as the Founding.

Lawmakers will confront a decision tree that starts with whether to remove the felon ban completely. Convincing law-and-order Republicans that people who cant even obey the law  including habitual criminals, murderers, rapists, and child molesters  should have a hand in writing it will be a hard sell. Few states go that far.

Absent such a sweeping measure, the next question concerns whether the governor should retain the power to restore rights on an individual basis. The correct answer is yes. The commonwealth should have some mechanism to acknowledge and reward those who have turned their lives around, and gubernatorial discretion has proven a sensible way to go about it.

The next question concerns where to draw the line between those who regain their rights automatically and those who have to petition the governor. Many people intuitively draw the line between violent and nonviolent felons, but few bother to explain exactly why. Legislators who find that distinction useful should explain how it has a material bearing on the restoration of voting rights, jury service, and the like. Violent felons can be just as repentant  and in some cases perhaps even more so  as nonviolent ones, and both remain citizens regardless of the nature of their offense.

If the Assembly does draw a line between violent and nonviolent offenders, it has to decide what qualifies as a violent crime. Some may be tempted to include drug offenses  perhaps because the illegal drug trade contributes to violence, but also perhaps because counting drug offenses as violent crimes reduces the number of individuals eligible for automatic registration. The second rationale is unprincipled, and the first one seems tenuous.

Finally, legislators have to grapple with the gun issue. One proposal, by Del. Greg Habeeb, would automatically restore firearm rights to nonviolent felons who regain their political rights. Some Democrats balk at this idea; Del. Marcus Simon says the comparison of gun rights to voting rights is apples and oranges. He is right, but not in the way he thinks.

Gun rights are enshrined in the Constitution and, because they are based on the right to self-defense, are grounded in natural law: People have a natural right to defend themselves in all times and all places, regardless of political conditions. Voting rights, on the other hand, are synthetic: They depend for their exercise on membership in a democratic polity. A noncitizen has no right to vote in federal elections, but he still has a right to defend himself from being attacked. Hence gun rights are even more foundational than voting rights.

Many Democrats no doubt wish the gun rights of all Americans were curtailed far more than at present. But until they are, there is no valid argument for restoring to nonviolent felons the right to vote, but not the right to arms. McAuliffe and his supporters have vehemently insisted that the restoration of felons rights is not only a matter of principle but a moral imperative. The gun-rights question will determine whether they have the courage of that conviction.
home US Baptist leaders denounce USCCR religious freedom report as a 'moral & political disaster'

Leading Southern Baptists have voiced their concerns about the religious freedom report released earlier in September by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR). The report asserted that the phrases "religious liberty" and "religious freedom" were merely code words for different forms of intolerance.

"The phrases 'religious liberty' and 'religious freedom' will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance," the USCCR report stated.

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), characterized the language used in the report as a "logical, moral and political disaster."

Moore suggested that the current U.S. administration is engaging in a culture war against religious people by labeling the words "religious liberty" as a euphemism for unlawful discrimination. He contended that all the other freedoms cannot exist without the freedom of conscience.

"This hostile attitude toward tens of millions of law-abiding Americans is tragic, and my prayer is that it would quickly give way to a recognition that soul freedom is worth defending for all," Moore told the Baptist Press.

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, noted that the report received little public attention but he described it as a "bombshell."

In his podcast, Mohler voiced his concern that sexual liberty related to LGBT issues and gender identity had taken prevalence over religious liberty. He pointed out that the LGBT issues are not in the constitution while religious liberty is specifically declared in the document.

Mohler noted that the author of the report used scare quotes to refer to religious freedom and religious liberty. He asserted that by the use of quotes, the author was actually denying that religious freedom and religious liberty are "objective constitutional realities."

Gail Heriot, a member of the USCCR, has stated that she disagreed with majority of the opinions in the report.

"I'm troubled by the growing attitude that somehow anti-discrimination laws trump everything. We live in a more complex world than that," she told the Washington Times.
The 2016 IPCPR Trade Show saw the debut of Cattle Baron Cigars, a line launched by Montana-rancher Bryan Mussard earlier this year. While it was a small booth at the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show, there was no doubt the big heart that represents of the State of Montana was very much present.

Front and center was the companys self-title first release called Cattle Baron. Its a cigar that Mussard teamed up with Phil Zanghi to create, and its produced at the De Los Reyes factory in the Dominican Republic.

Cattle Baron features a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, a Dominican binder, and a combination of Dominican Seco and Nicaraguan Viso for the filler. The blend will be available in twenty count boxes in four sizes: Cowboys: 4 1/2 x 44; Stockyards: 5 x 52; Bulls: 4 1/2 x 58; and Trail Bosss: 6 x 54. From looking at the booth to the bands to the packaging, its very clear that there is a piece of Montana in each and every cigar.

Mustard also seemed quite a home at his first IPCPR Trade Show bringing a genuine enthusiasm to each visitor at the booth.

We caught up with Mussard just before the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show with an in-depth interview on Episode 187 of Stogie Geeks.

Photo Credit: Cigar Coop
Releases from NASA, NASA's Galex, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, HubbleSite, Spitzer, Cassini, ESO, ESA, NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory, Royal Astronomical Society, NRAO, Astronomy Picture of the Day, Harvard-Smithsonian Center For Astrophysics, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Gemini Observatory, Subaru Telescope, W. M. Keck Observatory, Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, JPL-Caltech, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, ICRAR, etc
What does it mean to be respected  at work, at school or in our broader community? How can we all work towards making Dalhousie a place in which everyone feels safe, proud and included?



These are the sorts of questions that staff, faculty and student leaders are hoping to raise next week with the universitys second-annual Respect Week. Taking place from September 26-30, the week features various events that celebrate diversity and inclusion and allow for reflection on everyones shared responsibility for establishing and maintaining a culture of respect on campus.



What is great about Respect Week is that people are not just coming together to celebrate, they are coming together to learn, says Jackie Dowling, education advisor with Dals Human Rights, Equity & Harassment Prevention office and one of the co-chairs of the Respect Week committee. Its about learning how pride, safety and inclusion do not always look they same for everyone. And it is when we take individual people, experiences and identities into consideration that we make real strides towards a culture of respect at Dalhousie.



The origins of Respect Week date back to the universitys annual Pink Day, an event that builds off similar events across Canada in which individuals wear pink to stand against bullying. Dalhousies been hosting Pink Day events each September for several years now, and this year is no different: faculty, staff and students are encouraged to wear pink or pick up a pink #DalRespect button on Thursday, September 29 and attend events happening across all four campuses, including BBQs, cake and more.

Full schedule: dal.ca/respectweek



But Respect Week doesnt just start and end with Pink Day. The Black Student Advising Centre and Multifaith Centre are hosting a motivation talk by Tracey Powell, vice-president of Walt Disney Resorts and Parks. The Centre for Learning and Teaching is hosting workshops on respect, collaboration and supporting transgender students. And on the Ag Campus, a World Coffee Cafe will explore respect for the environment and for farmers through a conversation all about coffee.

As well, Dal Get REAL is hosting a series of activities, including Compliments Day on Monday and Respect in Res sessions, safe spaces in which to talk about gender, sexual identity and creating an inclusive environment at Dal.

"Get REAL Dal is one of the many groups that work hard to promote a culture of respect and support around our campus and city all year long," says Get REAL coordinator Mike Murray. "Respect Week provides a series of fun and engaging opportunities for all of us to talk about pride, safety and inclusion on campus, and what these things mean on an individual level."

See the full Respect Week schedule and details on all planned events at dal.ca/respectweek.
Idea said it will continue to engage and expand capacity for the new operator.

New Delhi: With Trai keeping a tab on the point of inter-connect (PoI) issue between incumbent operators and Reliance Jio, Idea Cellular today said it has agreed to provide 230 per cent additional capacity to the new entrant.

Over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio allowing sufficient buffer for future, Idea said adding that it will "continue to engage and expand capacity for the new operator to allow seamless traffic flow between the networks".

Coming just days after Trai warned operators of action in case of service quality violation arising out of insufficient inter-connectivity points, the statement issued by Idea said quality of service for its customers is a "top priority".

"Idea Cellular recently invited Jio for a discussion to mutually resolve the traffic asymmetry. As quality of service for its customers is top priority, Idea has agreed to further enhance capacity in both access and long-distance inter-connection by providing over 230 per cent additional capacity, allowing for two-way calling between the networks," the Idea statement read.

Idea has now provisioned 1,865 ports for access, from 565 earlier  a 230 per cent increase in capacity. "Simultaneously, the NLD (national long distance) capacity is also being expanded by nearly 50 per cent. With this huge capacity expansion, over 2,100 ports will now be available for traffic between Idea and Jio, allowing sufficient buffer for future," it said.

Reliance Jio  which commercially launched its services on September 5 -- has accused the existing players of not releasing sufficient inter-connection points while the incumbents like Idea, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone have blamed the new entrant for unleashing a "tsunami" of free traffic on their networks.

After Trai's nudge, the operators have agreed to augment capacity on their networks to accommodate more Jio traffic, but have been seeking regulatory intervention to address the issue of "induced asymmetry of traffic".

Jio argues that that benefits of superior voice technology is being denied to its customers due to the network congestion and has blamed the "anti-competitive behaviour of incumbent operators" for the "poor experience" on its services.

Jio has claimed that it has been witnessing 75-80 per cent call failures over the last few weeks. It had said that over a period of 10 days alone, 52 crore calls failed cumulatively on the networks of the three incumbent operators Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular.
Mumbai: Amid concerns among staff about CBI scrutiny in some high-profile cases including in MCX matter, Sebi Chairman U K Sinha today assured that the employees need not worry as their interest is safeguarded under the Act governing the regulatory body.

Asked by reporters here after a board meeting of Sebi, Sinha also expressed his displeasure at the media coverage of the recent incident of CBI conducting searches at the premises of some Sebi officials as part of their probe into MCX case.

"I am the victim here," Sinha said, while saying that he was not happy with the way media has reported the matter. He also said that Sebi employees need not worry as there are provisions in the Sebi Act to safeguard their interest.

He was referring to Section 23 of Sebi Act under which no external agency should be able to seek depositions from Sebi officials without the consent of central government and Sebi Chairman.

The Sebi Employees' Association (SEA) has reportedly expressed concerns over the recent CBI searches at three of its members' residences.

In a letter to the Sebi Chairman, the body representing over 700 officials reportedly said these 'selective' searches were "shocking and disturbing" as the matter was years-old and involved decision-making at the highest level.

The association is said to have sought intervention by the Sebi board to ensure that they can discharge their duty without any fear of selective scrutiny.

As per reports, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) also plans to seek clarity from the Finance Ministry on the CBI scrutiny of its officers in various cases.

In the past also, CBI had registered a PE (Preliminary Enquiry) against former Sebi Chairman C B Bhave in the matter concerning grant of approval to MCX Stock Exchange, but later decided to close the case after the agency came to a conclusion that his role was not of serious nature to warrant registering a case.

Earlier this week, CBI arrested Jignesh Shah, who had founded MCX, in the case of alleged cheating and suppression of facts in getting Sebi extension to MCX Stock Exchange to continue as a stock exchange in violation of norms.
On Thursday, Apple Inc. confirmed the acquisition of a Hyderabad-based machine-learning startup Tuplejump Software Private Limited for an undisclosed amount.

Hyderabad: Hyderabads startup eco-system has got a big boost as it has witnessed the moment long overdue: A takeover of city startup by a big multinational company.

On Thursday, Apple Inc. confirmed the acquisition of a Hyderabad-based machine-learning startup Tuplejump Software Private Limited for an undisclosed amount.

Tuplejumps software specialises in processing and analysing big sets of data quickly. It will help Apple in improving its expertise in artificial intelligence.

Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans, Apple spokesman Colin Johnson told Bloomberg.

According to industry sources, the founders of Tuplejump  Rohit Rai and Satyaprakash Buddhavarapu  have joined Apple after the acquisition.

However, the exact date of acquisition is not clear as Mr Rohit Rais profile claims that he has been working for Apple since May and all the employees working at Tuplejump are currently based in the United States.

This deal is the third acquisition by the iPhone maker this year, after it bought Seattle-based Turi Inc. for $200 million and purchased Emotient, a company that uses AI to recognise and act upon facial expressions, for an undisclosed amount.

This acquisition, industry experts claim, will act as a big moral boost for Hyderabad startups firms.
Nine out of 10 Indians are employed in the informal sector, where labour laws are rarely enforced.

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi 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 September 22.

Prime Minister 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.

Labour Secretary Shankar Aggarwal 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 PM Modi's bid to boost the economy.

"We have to tweak the law. Employers want flexibility in hiring," Mr 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," Mr 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.

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.

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.

Nine out of 10 Indians are employed in the informal sector, where labour laws are rarely enforced.
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.

New Delhi: 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.

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.
Mumbai: Coming down hard on fraudulent investment advisers, regulator Sebi today proposed to ban trading tips via bulk SMSes and emails, as also to clamp down on games, competitions and leagues relating to the securities market.

Sebi also plans to curb unsolicited investment advice and promotion of investment products through electronic and broadcasting media platforms.

Besides, Sebi will have a re-look on the exemption from registration as an investment adviser, provided to mutual fund distributors and other registered market intermediaries, as part of an overhaul of rules governing investment advisers.

These proposals, approved by the Sebi board at its meeting here, are aimed at having "uniform standards" as well as address the gaps or overlaps in legal or regulatory standards governing all the intermediaries/persons engaged in providing investment advisory services.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) will come out with a consultation paper on these amendments. The regulator would look at "restriction on providing trading tips via bulk SMS, email, etc. and restriction on soliciting investors by offering schemes/competitions/games/leagues/etc. related to securities market," an official release said.

Besides, such activities would be covered under advertisement code as well as Sebi norms. While providing clarification with respect to investment product and investment advice given in electronic/broadcasting media, the regulator has proposed to look at the "applicability of advertisement code to be followed by any person including the investment advisers while issuing advertisement".

Further, Sebi would look at giving three years time to mutual fund distributors who seeks to migrate as an investment adviser in order to enable them to obtain necessary certification as well as comply with requisite norms.

Currently, there is exemption from registration as an investment adviser provided to mutual fund distributors and SEBI registered intermediaries for giving investment advice as an incidental activity to their primary activity.

Segregation of investment advisory services through a separate subsidiary within 3 years would also be looked at. The watchdog would make efforts to provide more clarity about the activities carried out by investment advisers and research analysts.

Other issues that would touched upon in the consultation paper are clarity on mode of acceptance of fee, "requirement of providing 'Rights and Obligations' document to the clients" and requirements for providing online investment advisory services and use of automated tools.

The regulator had notified the Sebi (Investment Advisers) Regulations, 2013 in January that year. Under those norms, exemption from registration as an investment adviser are there for certain entities who were providing investment advice as an incidental activity to their primary activity.
Mumbai: Since the time the 26-year-old actress and M S Dhoni: The Untold Story actor began working in Raabta, rumours of their romance started.

"The link-up stories and rumours are part and parcel of the film industry. It's my third film and one link-up story up is fine. I will deal with it," Kriti told PTI.

The Heropanti actress, being an outsider, is trying to get used to alleged link-ups with co-stars in Bollywood. "I am still getting used to it," she said, though she feels such stories divert focus from work.

"My film is yet to come. I think my work will speak for itself," Kriti said. Raabta, which marks the directorial debut of Dinesh Vijan, is scheduled to release on February 12 next year.

She also has Nikhil Advani's Lucknow Central opposite Farhan Akhtar, and Bareilly Ki Barfi with Ayushmann Khurrana and Rajkumar Rao.
Mumbai: The trailer of Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' released on Friday and the sheer amount of passion between the lead actors has been exciting fans across.

But one thing that's come to our notice was the strange omission of Fawad Khan's name from the starring credits in both the teaser and the trailer of the film.

Though the actor has been credited for being in a small yet pivotal starring role by Karan Johar, he's been omitted out of the credits despite of being prominently visible in the trailer.

There has also been massive domestic outrage led by the M.N.S. (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) asking for a blanket ban on Pakistani artists in the country, in the wake of the condemnable terrorist attack in Uri and the consequent sense of disdain in the country towards Pakistan.

'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' is scheduled to clash with Ajay Devgn's 'Shivaay,' this Diwali.
Mumbai: Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has issued an ultimatum to Pakistani actors and artistes to leave the country in 48 hours in the wake of the deadly attacks by militants killing 18 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri on Sunday. There have been some tension going between the neighbouring countries as India has blamed Pakistan for the attacks.

"We give a 48 hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artistes to leave India or MNS will push them out," said Amey Khopkar, MNS Chitrapat Sena president.

They have also claimed that they will not allow upcoming films Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees to release as they have Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively in them.

While Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is gearing up for release next month, Raees will be releasing next year.

Previously, Karan Johars Wake Up Sid had also landed in trouble with the political party for the use of Bombay instead of Mumbai.

His My Name Is Khan had also faced issues with the political party Shiv Sena, for comments Shah Rukh Khan had made around the release of the film.

While there is no doubt that the there is some conflict between the two countries currently, is banning films with Pakistani actors the right solution?
Mumbai: The news of Angelina Jolie filing for divorce from her husband Brad Pitt had led to several speculations related to the reasons behind her decision. While there were reports of Pitts growing proximity to his Allied co-star Marion Cotillard being the reason for the split, the actress denied it in a strongly worded Instagram post.

One of the other reasons cited has been a recent incident where Pitt, reportedly drunk, was physically and verbally abusive to one of his children on an aircraft when they were traveling from France to Minnesota, prompting Jolie to take this step.

And now the FBI has started a probe into these allegations. In a statement, FBI has stated that they are probing the incident in the aircraft. They also added that they are in the process of collecting more information into the incident and will evaluate if an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department has stated that they wont be conducting investigations into any incident involving Pitt as they have no report of any filings in his name.

Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, her partner of 12 years, on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences and has asked for joint custody of their six children.
Her first film was Madras Cafe in Bollywood, but Raashi Khanna found her true calling in the Telugu film industry. Now the pretty actress is set to make her Tamil debut opposite Siddharth in Shaitan Ka Bachcha, directed by Karthik G Krish of Kappal fame.

The shooting has begun and its a packed schedule. This is my first official stay in Chennai and Im simply loving it. I wish I had more time to explore. I am a lot into the cultural ethos of a place, elaborates Raashi, when we caught up with her at Tifara, where she was launching a new bridal collection.

When quizzed about her character in the film, she says, I cant give away too many details. But its truly exciting and different from anything I have done so far. I know everyone says that, but you will know what I mean when you see it! adding, Tamil is a beautiful language. I am enjoying this learning experience and whatever we have shot so far made me realise that I especially enjoy witty comedy.

The last two years have been crazy for Raashi with several films on hand  I am still a new kid on the block in terms of the south film industry. I have realised that in Tamil, there is great content being produced  atleast among the films that are being offered to me.

Raashi, who follows the works of Mani Ratnam, Gautham Menon, Pa Ranjith, Shankar, and Lingusamy, is all praise for her director as well  Karthik is a wonderful person. Ive enjoyed shooting under his direction. He has a great eye for detailing.

Any interesting characters she wishes to portray? I am a big fan of Mani sir's love stories; from Geetanjali (Telugu) to Alaipayuthey; all his films have beautiful women characters. I am greedy for such roles. Even if my character has just a 10 minute screen presence, but something to test my acting prowess, Im game for it, Raashi quips.

Grateful that the Telugu film industry has been so welcoming, she affirms, I have been here for two years and the love I get from fans across the state  and when I travel, is overwhelming. That is real success. I wish filmmakers would place more faith in me and provide the right platform to showcase my skills soon.
Rating:

Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Nargis Fakhri, Mohan Kapoor

Director: Ravi Jadhav

Theres nothing wrong with every Hindi film male actor worth his salt wanting to do a solo hero film. After all, in a multi-starcast film, the fruits of success get divided among many, and even if one actor performs well in it, he seldom gets his due. But can you imagine Riteish Deshmukh as the lead, that too sporting a ponytailed look of a musician in a mainstream film? The answer is: Anybody could be believable, provided the script has some meat, and he proves his mettle by being realistic. The moot point is: Can Deshmukh deliver? Perhaps, he could, if the screenplay allowed him to explore newer insights into a character. Banjo has an NRI musician Kris (Nargis Fakhri) flying all the way from New York to India after listening to a track her friend (Luke) in Mumbai had recorded, and sent it to her. In the song, there is the sound of banjo, in particular, that she finds so mesmerising that she would do anything to find the banjo player, and blend it as part of her single for a competition she wants to participate in.

Though not seasoned, the banjo artist Tarraat (Riteish Deshmukh) is not alone; he has a full-fledged band comprising car mechanic Grease (Dharmesh Yelande); newspaper vendor Paper (Aditya Kumar); and shehnai player Vajaya (Ram Menon). He himself counts on the commission he earns as an extortionist. Together, they decide firmly to establish an ensemble of musicians, to seek fame, success and respect. They also infuse their brand of music with the musicality that the festive spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi commands, and thus, try and create a sound that is a mishmash of rock, reggae and Marathi folk beats. Encouraged by Kris support and reassurance, they all get together. As a film Banjo fails to examine how these disparate musicians have found ways to work together and succeed as an ensemble. Its also a missed opportunity on the part of Deshmukh to get beneath the surface of the character he plays. Unmistakably, he is unsatisfying, offering a little bit of this and a little bit of that without ever making much of an impression.

Marathi director Ravi Jadhav, who has made good films in the past, such as Natarang, Balgandharva and Balak Palak forays into the Hindi film territory with a so-called musical about young boys that never really convince us. Not once you would think that the performances of these young enthusiasts from the slums could change the world: so inept and superficial they all look to explore the power of music to preserve tradition, shape cultural evolution or inspire hope. As a musical, Banjo is uneven, flawed, uninteresting, and even didactic, at times. Not every performed sequence is great, though some performances feature a lot of rock-band-like theatrics to gin up the excitement. And while the lead actors are supposed to be gung ho about performing, the narrative is not even punctuated by great music in a film that boasts of music as its theme; theres not a single song that is hummable.

The music in totality doesnt offer much in the way of reflection or insight into what these men go through. But I was disappointed for another reason too; nobody, it seems, knows what its about. Is it about talent vs the untalented? Or how the poor slum dwellers have no hope for their dreams to get realised? Or that one could become a celebrity with hard work and dedication? In between, names of the Bee Gees and Jimi Hendrix are thrown in to suggest that these boys could be as great someday. With a premise that could have turned into a rock solid story, this could have been a winner all the way. Sadly, the film attempts, to its detriment, to cover more ground than it can, in its 138-minute runtime.

The writer is a film critic and has been reviewing films for over 15 years. He also writes on music, art and culture, and other human interest stories.
Rating:

Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent DOnofrio Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Peter Sarsgaard, Haley Bennett

Director: Antoine Fuqua

The Magnificent Seven, inspired by Akira Kurosawas masterpiece, Seven Samurai, is really about eight people who come together to fight an evil force. Set in the Old West town of Rose Creek in the year 1879, this film is about how a ruthless industrialist, Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), in his pursuit of gold, brings an entire town to its knees by seizing the land. Newly widowed Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) enlists the help of Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington), a warrant officer/bounty hunter, who then assembles six more men to defend and liberate the town. This rat pack boasts of men from different walks of life  a gambler, an assassin, a sharpshooter, a tracker, a Mexican outlaw, and a Comanche warrior  who, initial monetary qualms notwithstanding, venture out for the thrill of it. They engage in skirmishes and train the townspeople to use firearms before the climactic battle takes place.

One aspect of the film that sticks out like a sore thumb is its historicity. Fuqua has commendably assembled a racially diverse cast in order to stay true to the demographics of 19th century America. However, were it not for Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), one would get the idea that the Civil War never took place. Robicheaux is a war veteran who suffers from (then undiagnosed) post-traumatic stress disorder. In alliance with Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee), he engages in blood sport to make money, but is haunted by nightmares. In a scene when he has to train the farmers of Rose Creek at a shooting range, his former militaristic persona takes over and he yells, You gotta hate what youre firin at. Hate it! But a demonstration of his skills as an adroit sharpshooter immediately leaves him visibly shaken and disturbed. And that is where the reference to a very recent and very crucial event in American history ends. The American Civil War was based on conscription; men across all social classes were drafted, but the men of Rose Creek  middle-aged in 1879, and therefore young boys during the war  are so inept with guns and rifles that not only can they not shoot their target, they also do not seem to know how to hold them.

Ive never shot anything that can shoot back, says a farmer to Chisolm. This is either history in the process of being forgotten, or a loophole in Nic Pizzolattos screenplay, who is otherwise known for brilliantly marrying cinema to television in the form of HBOs True Detective. Remaking any film is a Herculean task, and if the source in question happens to be one of the finest films ever made, the challenge increases exponentially. One such challenge is consolidating a three and a half hour long film for contemporary audiences used to 90-minute entertainers. The essence therefore, not unlike in translation, gets lost in the process, but also, like in translation, offers a new interpretation. Kurosawas film seamlessly embeds the plight of the peasantry in 16th century Japan with the heroics of the seven samurai; it reads like a Tolstoy novel. Fuquas Seven, as mentioned above, lacks this historicity. It becomes less about the farmers oppression in the face of capitalism, and more about a womans revenge for her husbands murder, and in so doing, Fuqua provides us with the eighth magnifique.

Discarding stereotypes, Emma Cullen is a spitfire who refuses to hide away, and picks up arms to defend all that is dear to her. The plot of the film remains taut and there are no unnecessary frills involved; Chris Pratts Josh Farraday makes eyes at Emma, but thats that. The ensemble cast does a decent job. Hawke shines in his traumatised role. Peter Sarsgaard, as the wily villain, makes the best of his very short time on-screen. Washington, in the lead role, however, seems a slightly out of place. Overall, the film is an earnest but tepid entry in the genre of the Western, and in spite of a new character, does not have a lot to offer that could qualify as memorable.

The writer is programmer, Lightcube Film Society
Pooja Hegde made her Telugu debut with Oka Laila Kosam in 2014 opposite Naga Chaitanya, after which she acted in Mukunda opposite Varun Tej. She then left for Mumbai to work in the Bollywood film, Mohenjo Daro.

The film was a disappointment for the actress as it didnt help her make a career in Bollywood. The actress is now all set to return to Telugu cinema with the film DJ: Duvvada Jagannadham opposite Allu Arjun, which is directed by Harish Shankar.

Despite rumours about the makers considering other female leads, Pooja Hegde seems to be the final choice. She will be working in a Telugu film after a gap of two years.

The shooting is scheduled to start on October 14, and is likely to release on April 8. With this, Pooja hopes for a positive turn in her film career.
A new study has found that Colorectal cancer can be cured in 90% of cases if discovered in time. (Photo: AFP)

New Delhi: Colorectal cancer can be cured in 90% of cases if discovered in time, finds a new study, reaffirming the crucial importance of its early detection.

Gastroenterologists who monitored 2,325 patients between 2000 and 2015 report that 85% of operations to treat the disease were conducted on advanced tumours.

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 five-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.

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.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday 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 that 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.
The sources said here that a special team of forensic experts from CFSL will soon be reaching Siwan to further the probe. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: CBI teams on Friday launched an operation to look for Mohammed Javed, another suspect in the murder of Siwan-based journalist Rajdeo Ranjan on May 13 this year.

Prime suspect Mohammed Kaif is in judicial custody after he surrendered in a Siwan court on September 21.

The agency which started probe last week has set up a camp office in Siwan where relatives of Javed were called to locate the alleged sharp shooter, agency sources said.

They said the teams have also gone to the residence of Javed and were looking for him at a number of other locations.

The sources said here that a special team of forensic experts from CFSL will soon be reaching Siwan to further the probe.

It has been four months since the murder and they will use the expertise of CFSL to recreate crime scene and pick up minute pieces of information and evidence as well as analyse the evidence collected by the local police.

The sources said the team is about to leave for Siwan very soon and will have some of the best hands to ensure that the case is solved as quickly as possible.

CBI had registered a case in the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan on September 15 against unknown assailants.

The sources said that former RJD MP Shahbuddin who was released recently on bail was under the scanner of Bihar Police which was probing the case till recently.

The case again came into limelight as a photograph appeared of absconding suspects Kaif and Javed with Shahbuddin after his release from Bhagalpur jail on September 7 on bail granted by Patna High Court.

They said it is suspected that the killing was the handiwork of some influential persons.

After the Bihar government recommended a CBI probe, the agency took over the investigation in the murder case which has been registered under the IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, murder and arms act.

According to the rules, CBI takes over same FIR which has been registered by the state police. However, the sources said, the investigation of the agency is completely free and it may arrive at any conclusion which may or may not be in concurrence with the state police.
New Delhi: In yet another case of mob justice, a 35-year-old man was tied to a pole, lynched and later, was found dead in a pool of blood in Delhis Jahangirpura area.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the incident happened on September 11, when Mahmood, a rag picker, was reportedly thrashed by his neighbours in the evening hours over allegations of stealing a pull cart.

Alleging that the police did not arrest anyone or register any case in connection with the incident, Mahmoods wife, Sahiba said, People took photographs and recorded videos when some men and women were beating my husband. I managed to get a video and photo and gave it to police.

A case of death by negligence was registered by the authorities.

The photo that Sahiba submitted to the police showed Mahmood tied to an electricity pole and being strangulated by a woman. Another woman can be seen in the backdrop holding what looks like a whip.

The mother of three added that she was informed of the attack by her friends, but did not know what transpired as she was told that he was rescued by the police and later let off.

Mehboobs body was found in a pool of blood, metres away from the spot where he was tied up and thrashed on September 12.

But the police rejected all allegations of mishandling the case. We have taken correct legal action, said DCP (northwest) Vijay Singh.
n upset Fiona Mackeown, the mother of British school girl Scarlett Keeling, comes out of the court. (Photo: PTI)

Panaji: "I am shocked," said a visibly distraught Fiona MacKeown, after a Goa court on Friday acquitted two local men accused of drugging and sexually abusing her teenage daughter Scarlett Eden Keeling, who was left to die on the Anjuna beach here eight years ago.

"It was quick and I am shocked. I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order," Fiona MacKeown told reporters outside the court hall after Goa Children's Court Judge Vandana Tendulkar let off both the accused Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho in the high profile death case, which dented the image of the popular tourist state globally.

Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho (R) after they were acquitted by a court in the British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling's rape and death case, in Goa. (Photo: PTI)

After Scarlett's death in February 2008, Fiona had lived in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case.

"We had been waiting all this time and it's just rubbish. India's whole judicial system has totally let me down," she told reporters.

"It took a huge effort for me to even get the police to register a complaint (in the case)," she said recalling her struggle to get justice for her 15-year-old daughter.

She alleged that the Goa police was not interested in prosecuting the killers of her child.

"It is clear that they (investigating agencies) are either incompetent or corrupt. I don't believe they are incompetent. And all I can say is that if any international tourist comes to Goa and gets murdered, they have no hope for justice in this system," she said.

Fiona also claimed that medical evidence confirms that her daughter was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after some criminals gave her alcohol and cocaine.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the judgment as "unfortunate", but said it will not hamper the image of the coastal state.

"I have just heard about the verdict, I have not gone through the entire judgment. I feel the outcome of the verdict is heartbreaking, it is very unfortunate. Unless, I go through the judgement I would not be in a position to detail my reaction," he said.

"It is a heartbreaking judgment. In a beautiful state of Goa, this unfortunate incident had occurred about 7-8 years back. And today when the result has come out, I feel that such a outcome of the case needs to be challenged in the higher court," the CM said.
Lucknow: A 35-year-old man from Uttar Pradeshs Etawah district died on Thursday after his wife bit him for refusing her permission to visit her parents in Fatehpur.

According to reports, Arvind was living with his wife, two children and mother Gulabi. On Thursday night, Arvind and Gomti had a heated argument over her visit to her parents place, following which she allegedly bit him on his neck, chest, and stomach.

The neighbours, who heard loud arguments and screams, tried reaching Arvind but were unable to, as the door was locked by Gomti and her children from the inside.

Gulabi later informed the neighbours about the incident, who on breaking open the door, found Arvind lying in a pool of blood with grievous injuries on his neck and shoulders.

"When the neighbours reached Arvind's house he was unconscious and after sometimes he started vomiting. He was then admitted to the district hospital before alerting the local police," said a police official familiar with the case said.

Meanwhile, Gomti had managed to escape with her kids. Arvind died of excessive bleeding due to his injuries.

Gomti has been charged with section 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC.
Ludhiana: A 34-year-old woman, who was on a post-dinner walk with her husband and 13-year-old daughter at around 10:30 pm, was stripped on road for a bet of Rs 8,000 on Monday in Jagraon.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, one of the three accused, all aged 20-25, stripped the woman, laughed at their act and then fled whistling. One of the accomplices was chased down by the womans husband and is under police arrest now, while two others are absconding.

Police registered a case and the three men have been charged under section 354-B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

These three were part of a group who used to harass her in the past too, but on Monday night they crossed all limits, said the womans husband in his complaint.

The victims husband nabbed Ravi Kumar, alias Golu, and also thrashed him. Search is on for the main accused, Manija, and another unidentified man.

It was done over a bet, though the FIR does not mention it yet, a police officer was quoted as saying on the condition of anonymity.
Faridabad: A woman suffered severe burn injuries after her husband allegedly threw acid on her while she was going to work at a house in Sector-11 in Faridabad, police said today.

Ritu was attacked by Neeraj, a resident of Mujesar village over personal differences, a police spokesman said.

"Neeraj married Ritu in 2013. However, for the past one year they were living separately following differences," the official added.

She has been admitted to the Badshah Khan hospital and her condition is stated as serious, the spokesman said, before adding the accused escaped after the incident.
New Delhi: In a tell-all confession to the police, Surender Singh, the man who stabbed a Delhi teacher over 30 times, has claimed that he was provoked into the brutal act after his victim mocked him for missing the first try.

Karuna, a 21-year-old teacher, was brutally stabbed to death in broad daylight by 34-year-old Surender, who attacked her over 30 times as passers-by looked on in north Delhi's Burari area.

According to a report, Surender, in his statement to the police, said that his first blow landed on Karunas bag, after which she mocked him for his inability to use a knife.

This prompted me to show her that I could use it very well," he reportedly told the cops.

Surender also claimed in his statement that he and Karuna were in a relationship since the last four years. As evidence, he showed the police pictures of them together, which were also posted on her Facebook wall.

Surender narrated that when he logged into her Facebook account, he came across chats with one Mohit, where Karuna had exchanged intimate messages and personal pictures.

"Mohit told me he was friends with her and hoped that I did not mind. He showed me pictures that she had sent him. I could not believe my eyes," Singh reportedly told the cops.

This enraged Surender, who sought a meeting with Karuna at the GTB Nagar station, where they met previously on many occasions.

They had an argument regarding the episode, after which Karuna was on her way back home, when Surender waylaid her and attacked her.
Tamil Nadu police have arrested two people in connection with the murder of a teenage girl at Appurasaputhur village in Tamil Nadu. (Representational image)

Nagapattinam: 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.

Chidambaram's Annamalai University MA first year student Arasan, 21, surrendered before police in nearby Porayar on Wednesday night while his college mate Rajmohan was arrested on Thursday, police said.

Deepika, 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 her marriage. 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 on Thursday morning. Both were produced before a court that 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.
BENGALURU: The 51st City Civil and Sessions Court has convicted a man, who had kidnapped and raped a 17-year-old minor girl several times after illegally detaining her for four months, to undergo seven years of imprisonment, on Friday.

The convicted is Sampath alias Sampangi Ramaiah, 37, who hails from Sondekoppa village in Magadi. He was 29 years old when he committed the offence and was working in a medical store, while the survivor was studying first PU.

Sampath was reportedly pestering the minor girl to marry him for two years, but she had turned down his proposal. On December 3, 2008, Sampath along with his associates kidnapped the girl while she was returning from her college in Yelahanka New Town. Later, he took her to various places in Chitradurga, Kamakshipalya, Nelamangala, Magadi and Tumakuru, where he illegally detained her in his relatives houses. The houses were in remote areas and he repeatedly raped the girl.

Four-and-a-half months after the kidnapping, the Yelahanka New Town police who were investigating the case based on the complaint filed by her father traced the accused to Ippadi village in Kunigal taluk of Tumakuru district. On April 15, 2009, the accused was arrested at Ippadi and the girl was rescued from a house in the town. Police Inspector of Yelahanka New Town station, M.S. Umesh, had filed the chargesheet in July 2009. Sampath was accused number one, while five others, who assisted him, were also named as accused. However, they are at large from the day the chargesheet was filed.

Sampath was charged under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her to marriage), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376 (rape) of the IPC. The 51st City Civil and Sessions Judge B.S. Rekha found the accused guilty under all the charges and awarded him seven years of simple imprisonment and a penalty of `5,000 under Section 376, one year imprisonment under Section 366, and three months of imprisonment under Section 342. Public Prosecutor M.N. Varad argued on behalf of the government.
The police managed to nab only Ayub Khan, while the others escaped. (Representational image)

BENGALURU: The RMC Yard police have arrested a gang of six men who allegedly committed robberies using stolen bikes. The gang members had attacked the RMC Yard police team when they tried to arrest them on Sunday.

The accused have been identified as Ayub Khan, 19, a resident of K.G. Halli, Khaja Moin, 23, of Bharathinagar, Nadeem Sharif alias Tablet, 23, of Shivajinagar, Mohammed Awez, 18, of Bharathinagar, Farhan Khan, 19, of Shivajinagar and Mohammed Khasif, 18 of Shivajinagar.

The inspector of RMC Yard and his team received information around 2.10 am on Sunday that a gang was trying to rob commuters by assaulting them with lethal weapons. The police team immediately rushed to the spot and tried to nab the accused, who allegedly tried to attack the policemen. In self-defence, Inspector Mohammed Mukharam had opened three rounds of fire in the air from his service pistol. The police managed to nab only Ayub Khan, while the others escaped.

Based on the information given by Ayub, the other five accused were arrested. The accused stole Pulsar bikes and used them in committing the offence. Eleven cases registered in various police station of the city have been solved with their arrest, the police said. As many as 20 mobile phones, four stolen Pulsar bikes, and cash, total worth Rs 3 lakh, have been recovered from the accused.

4 burglars arrested

In another operation, the RMC Yard police have arrested four notorious burglars and recovered stolen property worth Rs 31 lakh.

The accused have been identified as Ramesh, 31, of Kengeri Satellite Town, Rajesh, 38, of Kothanur, Manoj Kumar alias Munna, 33, of Kengeri Satellite Town and Bhagawan Lal alias Mewad, 36, of Kengeri.

The police said that the beat police found accused Ramesh moving around suspiciously. When questioned, he did not give satisfactory reply. When he was grilled, he confessed that he along with his associates had committed several burglaries. Based on his information, the other three were arrested. Eight cases registered in various police stations in the city have been solved with their arrest.

Stolen property worth Rs 31 lakh, including 784 grams of gold jewels, hardware fittings and two goods vehicles have been recovered from the accused.
New Delhi: As tensions continue to run high between India and Pakistan over the current situation in Kashmir, the al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has hit out at the Nawaz Sharif government for betraying Kashmiris

According to an Indian Express report, the AQIS released a statement criticising not just the Pakistani government, but also the army and intelligence agencies, accusing them of being unfaithful to the Kashmir cause for their own vested interests.

History testifies to the fact that fighting under the supervision and with the cooperation of Pakistani agencies is tantamount to wasting the fruitage of jihad and getting injustice on oppressed Kashmiris to increase, said a message which was released by the AQIS spokesperson Ustadh Usama Mahmood.

The message was released in English, Hindi, Bengali and Urdu to target Muslims in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Mahmood also made a direct appeal to Kashmiris to say goodbye to those who are milking the issue for political gains.

My dear Kashmiri brothers, is it not time that we say goodbye to those who have asserted sympathy and well-wishes, and yet want the Kashmir dispute to remain a dispute. Whether they be Satans parliament in the form of the UN, or traitors of the ummah in the form of the Pakistani military and government, the issue of oppressed Kashmiris is no more than a dirty game, and an ugly trade for these corrupt people, he said.

The AQIS in its message asserted following Pakistans path would only lead to failure, helplessness and agony and that their interest in Kashmir was only political and if their cause wasnt liberated from the influence of the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies, then this night of oppression on the Kashmiri people would not only become long; it would never end.

Keeping away the wound of Kashmiris from healing is part of their politics. Their business flourishes with the screams of mothers and sisters. Keeping the blazing fire burning in the valley of Kashmir safeguards their extravagant spending and enjoyment, the statement said.

In 2002, when the Indian Army approached the border and showed Pakistan Army a bit of force, the latter became completely submissive Showing resolve in the face of Indian military pressure and American discontentment is not part of their (Pakistan armys) doctrine to begin with, it added.
Guwahati: In a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations, the Indian Army on Friday gunned down at least six Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) rebels in Karbi Anglong district of Assam.

Informing that an army soldier was also injured in the encounter, defence spokesperson Lt Col. Suneet Newton said, the joint police and army team launched an operation at Banipathar area under Bokajan police station.

The militants who were holed up in a camp opened fire on being challenged, which was retaliated by the security forces, he said. In exchange of fire at least six KPLT rebels were neutralized, while an army man was injured, he added. The incident took place inside Nambar Forest reserve in east Karbi Anglong.

The Karbi Anglong superintendent of police said that two top KPLT leaders are also suspected to have been killed in the encounter as identification process was still on.

"The injured army personnel has been shifted to hospital, he said. One SLR rifle, one Insas rifle, three pistols and two grenades were recovered from the slain ultras.

The breakaway faction of the Karbi National Liberation Front, which declared ceasefire in 2010-11, has been operating as KPLT in the remote areas of Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district. The outfit was running a terror network in the area.
Both Mumbai and Chennai have been ranked among the fastest growing destination cities globally with at least 10 lakh overnight visitors this year.

Chennai: Chennai is among the five Indian cities that has made it to the top 100 destination cities for 2016 in terms of receiving overnight visitors. Both Mumbai and Chennai have been ranked among the fastest growing destination cities globally with at least 10 lakh overnight visitors this year. Mumbai ranked at 27, Chennai: 30, Delhi: 48, Kolkata: 62; along with Pune: 91 have made it to the top 100 destination cities for 2016 as per the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index 2016. Moreover, Mumbai and Chennai have stood out as the fastest growing destination cities globally with at least one million overnight visitors in 2016, ranked at number 14 and 19, respectively.

Mumbai is also the only Indian city to enter Asia Pacifics Top 10 Destination Cities in terms of international overnight visitors in 2016. Ranked at number 10, right after Shanghai, the city boasts of 4.86 million visitors along with a visitor spend of $3.6 billion for the year 2016, the study by global payments and technology company Mastercard, says.

Says Parag Bhatnagar, Vice President, Marketing, South Asia, Mastercard, With an evolving business landscape and thriving tourist destinations, India has been witnessing a high influx of overseas travellers for both business and other purposes. This trend also projects a huge potential for Indian cities to develop as global hubs for investment in terms of business and tourism alike.

Bangkok has emerged as the leading destination city. The Thai capital is projected to receive 21.47 million international overnight visitors in 2016, just ahead of second-ranked London, according to the sixth annual Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index. Interestingly, Asian cities make up half of the global top 10 cities  Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Seoul  and seven of the top 10 fastest growing destination cities  Osaka, Chengdu, Colombo, Tokyo, Taipei, Xian and Xiamen.
The Centre said the financial package of Rs 2.25 lakh crore would come into effect from the date of its announcement and was not applicable with retrospective effect. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Due to delay in the announcement of the special financial package by the Centre, the Andhra Pradesh state has lost huge funds over the last three years, while its debt burden has increased manifold during the period.

The Centre said the financial package of Rs 2.25 lakh crore would come into effect from the date of its announcement and was not applicable with retrospective effect.

As per the package, the Centre will release funds under Externally Aided Projects (EAPs) at the rate of 90:10 between the Centre and state.

After the bifurcation, i.e. from June 2, 2014, to August 31, 2016, the state government got Rs 2,235.82 crore as loan from the Centre under the EAP.

Had the Central financial package been announced in 2014, the state government could have got Rs 2,012.24 crore as grant from the Centre and its loan burden would have been Rs 223.58 crore. However, in the current situation, the state government owes Rs 2235.82 crore to the Centre.

For Centrally-assisted state plan schemes, the sharing pattern is different.

While the Centre will fully fund some schemes, for some it will be 50:50, 60:40 and 75:25 ratio between the Central and state governments.

Every financial year, the Centre releases over Rs 10,000 crore as its share for Centrally-assisted state plan schemes. The state government lost over Rs 6,000 crore in the last three years because of the delay in package announcement.

Similarly as per the 90:10 ratio, the state might have got Rs 3,000 crore more in 2015-16 fiscal. As the first quarter is already over, the state is likely to get only Rs 2,714 crore more in the current fiscal.

Under the revenue gap, the state government will get Rs 3,000 crore more for 2014-15 fiscal. The state had estimated the revenue gap at over Rs 16,000 crore, but the Centre estimated it to Rs 7,500 crore on the basis of the 14th Finance Commission report. The Centre will relea-se Rs 1,000 crore more for the construction of new capital city Amaravati.
Panaji: Goa childrens court on Friday acquitted two men accused of the rape and murder of 15-year-old British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling, whose bruised and semi-nude body was found on a Goa beach in 2008.

Friends and relatives of the two accused, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, cheered as the verdict was read out.

But Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown said she was devastated by the outcome and promised to fight to overturn the verdict. "I am reeling. It's been eight years of agony. I feel devastated and will definitely be challenging the verdict," she told reporters outside the court.

"We had been waiting all this time and it's just rubbish. India's whole judicial system has totally let me down," she added.

"Somebody murdered my daughter in this country and somebody must be held accountable."

D'Souza and Carvalho had been 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.

But they both broke into smiles as Judge Vandana Tendulkar told the packed courtroom: "I find them not guilty of all charges."

Scarlett's body was found on Anjuna beach in north Goa. The teenager's death in 2008 became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination.

Police initially dismissed her death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped. It showed that Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but was dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as "Masala Mike", also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case. He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party. Her body was found on the morning of February 18, 2008.

Police alleged that 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.

They denied all the charges, claiming that the teenager died an accidental death after taking drugs of her own volition.
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will host a 'Twitter townhall' on Friday where citizens can ask any question related to the state government on the microblogging site to him.

"Happy to announce that I am hosting a Twitter townhall on September 23," Rupani tweeted.

"People of the state can ask me any question related to the development or administrative work or any other issues regarding the state," Rupani said in a video message posted on Twitter.

"This is an attempt to build a bridge between people and the government and I am hopeful that through this programme, we will come to know many things and people will also be informed," he added.

According to the Chief Minister, due to social media it has become easier to communicate with the people directly.
The NHRC has issued notice to Uttar Pradesh government over reports of alleged callousness shown by authorities at a few hospitals. (Photo: AFP/Representational)

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (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.
Bengaluru: Karnatakas Legislative Council on Friday passed a unanimous resolution to only release water for the purpose of meeting basic concerns of Bengaluru and for the towns and villages that fall under the Cauvery basin.

The resolution was moved by MLC S Ravi from the ruling Congress party and was adopted soon after with the party sticking to its stance of not releasing any water for Tamil Nadu, without naming the neighbour.

"The resolution is unanimously passed after carefully considering the needs of the inhabitants of the state of Karnataka whose interests are likely to be gravely jeopardized if water in the four reservoirs is in any way reduced, other than for meeting the drinking water requirements of inhabitants in the Cauvery basin including the entire city of Bangalore," said the council while passing the resolution.

Read: Cauvery belongs to TN as well: AIADMK on Karnataka resolution

Opposition parties, including the BJP said they supported the Congress decision and would stand by the government during the crisis.

"It is unfortunate that the state has to pass a resolution to safeguard our own water. Perhaps, the Supreme Court has not understood the facts of the situation and hence passed orders of such grave nature. But the BJP, based on this firm decision of the government fully supports the resolution," said BJP leader Eshwarappa.

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.

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.

In Tamil Nadu, Opposition party DMK on Thursday urged the state government to follow suit and discuss the next course of action over the water sharing.
Mumbai: Amid tension in the wake of Uri terror attack, the MNS on Friday asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan to leave immediately, failing which their shootings will be stalled.

Actors like Mahira Khan (starring Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees') and "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" star Fawad Khan are hijacking the opportunities of Indian artistes, Shalini Thackeray, wife of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, said in a press conference.

She said these two actors have been served the ultimatum to leave the country.

In Karan Johar's "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", which is slated to release next month, Fawad is in a supporting role Mahira plays the lead role opposite SRK in 'Raees'.

However, Mumbai police assured the actors that they need not worry as they will be given protection.

Shalini, who is the general secretary of MNS, told PTI that their Chitrapat wing has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to all the Pakistani actors to leave the country. "We have started dashing off letters to Pakistani actors, whose country is allegedly sponsoring terrorism, to stop their acting business here.

"We would also issue letters to the producers on what grounds they are hiring the Pakistani actors, when there are ample number of actors here in the country and struggling to find an opportunity," she said.

In a country of 1.25 billion people where lakhs and crores struggle a lot for an opportunity to be launched in movies, these big brands are giving opportunity to Pakistani artistes, she added.

To a query on what MNS would do if the Pakistani artistes don't leave, Thackeray said, "Our workers would push them out... would not let them do their acting business." Mumbai police has, however, given an assurance to the actors not to worry.

"All foreign nationals who land in the country with valid documents issued by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra need not worry," Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order), Mumbai, Deven Bharti said.

Bharti also said that police will give proper protection to them as and when required.

Commenting on the development, Dharma Productions, which has produced "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", said it has to understand what the issue is about.

"We have not come across anything yet. If there is an issue, we need to understand the matter first, so we cannot comment anything," an official from Dharma Productions said.

The calls and messages to the makers of "Raees" did not elicit any response. This is not the first time that Pakistani artistes have been threatened in Mumbai.

Last year, noted Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali had to cancel his performance in Mumbai after Shiv Sena threatened him.
The Mumbai coastline was put on high alert after some suspicious men were spotted near a naval base. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: A day after five suspicious men clad in Pathani suits were spotted near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district of Maharashtra, the Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy has called off its search for the suspects. However, other agencies are still hunting for the men and Mumbai continues to remain on high alert.

As far as Indian Navy is concerned, operations based on yesterday's sightings of suspected terrorists are concerned are over. Sanitisation of naval areas has been undertaken. Navy is maintaining close liaison with local police/other agencies for further updates/developments, read a statement issued by the Indian Navy.

While at first, all naval officers were asked to be vigilant round the clock, the Navy now has directed them to go back to their normal shifts but has asked them to remain alert.

Insofar as the state of alertness is concerned, Indian Navy maintains a high state of alert/ tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances, the statement added.

Read: Mumbai: Sketches of Uran suspects released, search on for 'armed men'

While the Indian Navy has scaled down the high alert for its territory, senior Maharashtra police officials revealed that Mumbai continued to be in a high state of alert.

The Navi Mumbai police which has deployed the majority of its force in Uran is conducting continuous search operations for the second consecutive day.

Sketches of two suspects spotted by school children near Uran Navy base. (Photo: video grab)

On Thursday night, the police had released sketches of the two suspects who were spotted by school children, leading to a high alert being sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas.

"As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathani suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks," Naval spokesman Cdr Rahul Sinha had said.

It was two school students in Uran who had allegedly spotted five suspicious men on Thursday morning. A schoolgirl who was on her way to school at around 6.30 am saw five armed men near the Uran bus depot. Then, at around 6.45 am, a boy who was at home, getting ready to go to school, also claimed to have seen a group of armed men.

The children then 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.
Sketches of two suspects spotted by school children near Uran Navy base. (Photo: video grab)

Mumbai: 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 last night, police said on Friday. The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut today.

"As per the reports, five to six persons were sighted in Pathani suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks," Naval spokesman Cdr Rahul Sinha had earlier said.

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 (NSG) 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.
Congress MPs led by former Union ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and K.H. Muniyappa stage a protest at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday against the Supreme Court order to form Cauvery Management Board (Photo: KPN)

Bengaluru: The hotel industry was the worst hit in the last two weeks, with the ongoing Cauvery water agitation marring business. Due to bandhs and the volatile situation in the city, most hotels, bars and pubs remained closed. The days on which there was no bandh too witnessed dull business with people reluctant to step out of their houses.

As a result of the rioting, arson and violence, the city police clamped section 144 in 14 police station limits while the sale of liquor was banned affecting business. Scores of hotels, pubs and bars located in the Central Business District(CBD) witnessed a low footfall while the weekends which usually have the maximum footfalls also witnessed a new low.

Wonderla Resort, which has a water park and resort located on Mysuru Road, was shut for two consecutive days on September 9 and 10 following the tension on the Bengaluru- Mysuru Highway.

As the tension escalated in the area, we completely shut our operations for two days. However, the resort was re-opened on September 11. Since last weekend the situation has become better and we are expecting more crowds in the coming weekend, said Mr Francis, manager Wonderla Resorts.

Meanwhile shoppers to the citys malls and markets also dipped due to the row. When there was a total bandh, the estimated loss per day was Rs 20 to 25 lakh, said an employee of 1MG Mall. The occupancy at city hotels was badly affected as many cancelled their hotel bookings fearing violent reprisals.

Over the last few months, Karnataka has witnessed five shut-downs and this is the sixth bandh. Rs 160 to 170 crores per day is the loss to the state exchequer on account of less tax inflow on a bandh day. This is based on the average transactions which touch Rs 1600 to 1700 crores in a day and an average tax of 10%. said a senior official from FKCCI.
The rainfall was to the extent of 5 cm to 7 cm in these mandals as against the average rainfall of 1.5 cm in the district. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Heavy rain crippled normal life in AP on Thursday. Guntur, Prakasam, Kakinada, Kurnool and parts of North Andhra and Rayalaseema bore the brunt of the deluge.

Six people were confirmed dead in Guntur while a few more were washed away in the same district. One person was washed away in Visakhapatnam. Andhra Pradesh police along with NDRF was involved in several rescue operations.

Additional DG (Law and Order), R.P. Thakur said, "We used ropes to rescue people stuck in flash floods in several places. Our men saved several lives."

Thousands of people are stranded after record rain in parts of Guntur.

Thousands were evacuated from affected colonies in Narasaraopet and other towns. A 55-year-old man was swept away as water flow increased in Varaha River at Patharoad under Kotavuratla mandal in Vizag district on Thursday when he was bathing in the river.

The missing person was identified as Karri Appala Naidu, who was on Bhavani deeksha. Police have launched search operations.

Heavy rain lashed Paruchuru, Yaddanapudi, Marturu and Santamaguluru mandals of Prakasam district from Wednesday night. The rainfall was to the extent of 5 cm to 7 cm in these mandals as against the average rainfall of 1.5 cm in the district.

Saki Vagu located near Adusumilli was in spate, leading to the disruption of transportation between Parchuru and Guntur. Cotton and chilli crops in Parchuru were under a sheet of water.

Joint director of agriculture Murali Krishna ruled out any damage to the crops and maintained that rains were beneficial to the farmers cultivating black gram, cotton and paddy.

Gundlakamma vagu also overflowed between Akaveedu and Chollaveedu in Giddalur mandal and the situation is no different at Bollapalli and Veerabhadrapuram in Ardhaveedu mandal.

Kakinada and villages in the vicinity of Kakinada Rural experienced heavy rain on Thursday. Low lying areas are in knee deep water. There is waterlogging in many areas like Sambamurthy Nagar, Jagannaickpur, Cinema Road, 100 buildings and Madhuranagar.

The Bay of Bengal is rough and sea waters surged at Dummulapet, Mahakumbhabhishekam and Yetimoga. Kakinada recorded 133.8 mm rainfall on Thursday, the second highest in the district after Inavilli which registered 169.2 mm.
Rathore had challenged his conviction and the enhanced jail term from six months to 18 months before the apex court. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed the conviction of former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

A bench headed by Justice M B Lokur, however, modified the 18-month jail term awarded to Rathore to the period already undergone by him in custody.

Rathore was granted bail by the apex court in 2010 in connection with the case before which he spent around six months behind bars.

Rathore had challenged his conviction and the enhanced jail term from six months to 18 months before the apex court.

A sessions court had on May 25, 2010 enhanced Rathore's jail term from six to 18 months while allowing the plea of Central Bureau of Investigation and the Girhotra family.

Punjab and Haryana High Court had on September 1, 2010, dismissed his appeal challenging his conviction and the sentence, saying his conduct as a top official was "shameful.
The apex court directed the CBI to file a status report of its investigation before it on October 17, the next date of hearing. (PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed CBI to proceed with the investigation in slain journalist Rajdev Ranjan's murder case and directed the Bihar police to provide protection to his family.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also issued notices and sought response from RJD leader Shahabuddin, Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, the son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Bihar government on the plea of Ranjan's wife seeking transfer of the case from Siwan in Bihar to Delhi.

The apex court directed the CBI to file a status report of its investigation before it on October 17, the next date of hearing.

The bench directed the Superintendent of Police, Siwan to provide police protection to the Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan and their family.

Asha had moved Supreme Court seeking transfer of probe and trial in the case to Delhi alleging that media reports had shown two absconding killers of her husband in the company of recently-released RJD leader Shahabuddin and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav.

She had sought reliefs including a direction to CBI to take up the investigation forthwith in view of the fact that the proclaimed offenders, Mohd Kaif and Mohd Javed, have been spotted with Shahabuddin and the state Health Minister, where several cops were also present. Kaif surrendered in a Siwan district court of Siwan on Septmeber 21.

The scribe, working with a vernacular daily, was shot dead on the evening of May 13 in Siwan town by some sharp- shooters allegedly at the instance of then jailed RJD leader, the plea alleged, adding that despite being named by the family of the journalist, Siwan police did not name Shahabuddin in the FIR as a key conspirator.

It also alleged that the RJD leader was irked over some reports by the slain journalist on the issue of murder of three sons of Chandrakeshwar Prasad. Shahabuddin has been convicted and awarded life term in one of the cases.

Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him.
Slamming the Pakistani Prime Minister, Hussain said "every terrorist in Nawaz Sharif's dictionary is young and revolutionary leader". (Photo: PTI/File)

Kozhikode: Accusing Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of "misusing" the UN platform, BJP on Friday asked the neighbouring country to stop dreaming of Jammu and Kashmir.

Hitting out at Sharif for raising at the UN General Assembly session the Kashmir issue and killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain also urged Pakistan to concentrate on their internal affairs.

"Pakistan has raised the Kashmir issue at the UN. They have revealed their true colours. Nawaz Sharif has misused the UN platform. He was speaking like LeT chief Hafiz Sayeed. Pakistan should stop dreaming of Kashmir and think of saving Balochistan and Sindh," Hussain told reporters here.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to this coastal city for attending the BJP national council meeting where he is expected to speak on Uri terror attack, the BJP said Pakistan is the root cause of terrorism and it should change its name to Athankisthan".

Raking up Kashmir, Sharif had glorified 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.

Slamming the Pakistani Prime Minister, Hussain said "every terrorist in Nawaz Sharif's dictionary is young and revolutionary leader".

The BJP also accused Congress of indulging in petty politics on the Kashmir issue and asked the opposition to believe in Modi, his gover
New Delhi: As the Indian government lashed out at Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the UN on Thursday, describing Pakistan as "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," an online news portal made the sensational - if unverifiable - claim, that Pakistan's attack on Uri army base that had claimed the lives of 18 soldiers had been avenged with a cross-border raid that claimed 200 casualties. It said the raid was conducted "during the intervening hours of 20 September and 21 September."

While the online website Quint said it had verified the information from two independent sources, this newspaper was unable to get any confirmation from the armed forces by the end of Thursday.

The website claimed that "At least 20 terrorists have been neutralised in a daring cross-LoC operation by the Indian Army in response to the Uri attack," adding " two units of the elite 2 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)."

Indications that the Indian Special Forces struck across LoC came in the form of Pakistan declaring a no-fly zone over PoK on 20 September night, it added.

Sharif, spoke with the countrys Army Chief Gen, Raheel Sharif on Tuesday night ahead of his 'Kashmir' speech at the UN, and is speculated to have discussed this cross-border raid as well, the website said.
Hyderabad: Heavy rains in Hyderabad since last two days have thrown normal life out of gear as water entered low lying areas creating huge traffic blocks at important locations and junctions, forcing people to vacate their houses.

According to a release from Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raos office, he has instructed officials to use services of Army and Disaster management teams to control the situation.

Floods in several areas of Hyderabad 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.

Flat owners in apartment complexes are spending huge amounts to pump out water from their cellars and also to remove the silt.

Three more sinkholes opened up on Thursday, taking the total to five after just two days of rain.

Nearly 3,000 people have been displaced in the city and shifted to rehabilitation centres established in government schools, anganwadi centers and other government buildings.

Over 2,500 passengers of the Secunderabad-bound Palnadu and Falaknuma Express trains were evacuated mid-way at Bellamkonda in Andhra Pradesh, even as thousands of other passengers were stranded at different railway stations after rains cut off railway links between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the Guntur-Macherla section.

The railways cancelled 41 trains for Thursday and Friday and more are in the offing. Flash floods breached railway tracks at seven locations on the Nadikudi-Guntur section of Guntur division.

The GHMC has asked the Army for help in relief operations in the city. The GHMC has asked Army officials to inspect Begumpet, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet areas, especially low-lying colonies.
New Delhi: West Pakistani refugees on Friday urged the Centre to grant them domicile right in Jammu and Kashmir, and sought a special package for rehabilitation in the state besides a host of other benefits.



The demands were placed by a delegation of West Pakistani Refugees during their meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh here.



The charter of demands included citizenship right in Jammu and Kashmir, special package for rehabilitation in the state, right to vote and contest state Assembly elections, among others.



Allotment of land, special recruitment, right to education in technical/professional institutions, issuance of SC/OBC certificates are the other key demands of the team, an official release said.



The delegation also sought the appointment of a Relief Commissioner for West Pakistani Refugees to look into and redress their grievances.



While appreciating the sentiments of the members of the delegation, the Home Minister assured them that he will look into the matter and take necessary action.



Singh said the Home Ministry has appointed a nodal officer to exclusively coordinate with the refugee community for redressal of their day to day issues.



The Home Ministry is working on a suitable provision to overcome the problems faced by the West Pakistani refugees in terms of non-issuance of SC/ST/ OBC certificates by the state government, he said.



The West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India and they have the right to vote in Parliamentary elections.



However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the state Assembly and local bodies.



The conferment of permanent resident status to the West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir falls within the purview of the state Constitution, which will enable them for jobs under state government, for admission into the state technical/professional institutions and the right to purchase/ acquire land/immovable properties in the state, the release said.
Bengaluru: Former chief minister, S.M. Krishna has come out in the open saying he will support any decision taken by the state legislature on Friday to protect the interests of Karnataka on the Cauvery water issue. Mr Krishna made his stand public when Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah called on him on Thursday.

Mr Krishna categorically said the verdict of the Apex Court to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu dialy till September 27, should be defied. He said it was apporpriate for the Legislature to adopt a resolution to defy the order and the same resolution should be forwarded to the Union government. "Burying political differences, we have to stand by the state government at this juncture," Mr Krishna said.

Suggesting that the government extend the deadline set for farmers to pay the interest on farm loans taken by them, Mr Krishna said "When I was the chief minister, we paid compensation to farmers who lost their crops. This time, I think the government should extend the deadline set for payment of interest on farm loans by six months."

The veteran Congress leader categorically said the government should not release water to Tamil Nadu. "Allocate more funds to expedite the pending projects in the Cauvery basin. Withdraw cases filed against farmers and try to help farmers with compensation," Mr Krishna said adding that Centre should not shirk its responsibility of helping the state. He also suggested that the Karnataka government should write a letter to the Supreme Court chief justice explaining the factual position.
Bengaluru: Now that the Karnataka legislature has unanimously passed a resolution not to release Cauvery water for any other purpose than to meet the requirements of Bengaluru and the towns and villages of the Cauvery basin, can it be hauled up for contempt of court?

Some legal experts give an ambiguous response saying the resolution itself cannot invite contempt, but the state government could if it decides to act on it and goes against the Supreme Court order on releasing 6,000 cusecs of water every day till September 27 to Tamil Nadu.

It is the prerogative of the state Assembly to pass such a resolution. Neither the passing of it alone , nor any of those who backed it can be held in contempt. But if any further action is taken against the Supreme Court order on releasing water to Tamil Nadu then the state can be held in contempt, said Justice Ravi. B. Naik, a former judge of the Karnataka High Court.

Mr K.V. Dhananjay, a Supreme Court advocate, believes the state legislature has not made a very good move by passing a resolution defying the court's orders.

This resolution once again shows the Karnataka government hasnt fully understood the legal issues involved in the Cauvery dispute. The Karnataka legislature has no authority to direct the state government or its officers to violate the order of the Supreme Court. I fail to understand how it will be of any help to the state,  he said, also noting that the resolution had no legal validity.

It does not protect the Chief Secretary or the Irrigation Secretary of Karnataka in any manner, but only confirms the worst fears of people in the rest of India that Karnataka does not play fair with Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery water dispute. It is unnecessary and damaging, he maintained.

Both Houses of the state legislature at a special emergency session convened on Friday, approved the resolution deciding to release water only for drinking purposes.

United stand the Elders on Cauvery water release

For a change, the State Legislative Council did not witness the usual fireworks or allegations and counter allegations between ruling and opposition parties as they displayed unity on the issue of Cauvery-the lifeline of south Karnataka farmers, in the wake of Supreme Court directive to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

The opposition members spoke in one voice and extended their full support to whatever decision taken by the state government to save Cauvery water following poor storage in four dams owing to failure of the monsoon. Though, BJP had boycotted an all party meeting held on Wednesday to decide on the future course of action, on Friday they spoke in unison on the issue and urged the State government not to release a drop of water to TN come what may.

Leader of Opposition K.S. Eshwarappa, a strong critic of the Siddaramaiah government, surprised everyone by announcing his partys support to any decision taken by the government to protect interest of farmers and citizens. "We are with you..Don't release a single drop of water to TN. Preserve whatever water available in Cauvery basin dams to supply drinking water to Bengaluru, Mysuru and other villages". Congress members did not question BJP members on the PM's silence on this issue despite the CM writing eight letters seeking his intervention.

Who will ensure 270 tmcft for Karnataka?

Sarvodaya Party member, K.S. Puttannaiah wondered who would ensure Karnataka got its share of 270 tmc ft of water from the Cauvery river, while Tamil Nadu continued to demand its share. Participating in the discussion on the resolution denying the neighbouring state any more Cauvery water, in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, Mr Puttannaiah said 462 tmc ft of water had to be available in the Cauvery basin for supply to both states. Karnataka has released 16 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu, despite the people's anger against the government. This water would have been enough to meet Karnataka's needs for 80 days and saved its crops,'' he noted. Expressing his displeasure over the way the two states were handling the issue, he pointed out that their CMs had never discussed it.
Hyderabad: In another setback to the Telangana government that's eager to procure land for developmental projects, the Hyderabad High Court has stayed the GO Ms No 45 issued on July 22 last year to procure land for the proposed Green Pharma City project at Kurmidda of Yacharam Mandal in Ranga Reddy district.

Justice MS Ramachandra Rao granted the interim stay while dealing with a petition by Tellamalla Begari Venkataiah and eight others challenging the GO.

The petitioners told the court they were poor farmers and occupying lands assigned in the past by the governments for the landless poor. The GO issued by the present government ordering them to hand over the lands to the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation for establishment of pharma project, they said.

The farmers said if their lands were acquired through the Land Acquisition Act 2013, the state government would have to pay them adequate compensation. They contended that as per the provisions of the Act 2013, the state government would have to acquire the lands through it.

NS Arjun Kumar, counsel for the petitioners, told the court that the authorities have been trying to take away the lands by claiming that their names are not matching with the revenue records and also on the ground that they are not cultivating these lands. While granting the interim stay, the judge issued notices to the respondents.
IT Secretary Mr Jayesh Ranjan personally contacted the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC), HYSEA, TITA, Nasscom and few IT companies over the phone to explain the situation of roads in the city and urged them for allowing work from home on Thursday night. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Nearly 40 per cent of IT professionals worked from home on Friday due to heavy rains, waterlogging points and potholes on roads in the city.

As per estimations of the Telangana government, about 112 big and medium IT companies exist in the IT corridor at Gachibowli and surrounding localities, where about 4 lakh IT professionals and 12 lakh supporting staff are employed.

As per the request made by the Telangana government and Nasscom, all big and medium IT companies allowed their employees to work from home.

IT Secretary Mr Jayesh Ranjan personally contacted the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC), HYSEA, TITA, Nasscom and few IT companies over the phone to explain the situation of roads in the city and urged them for allowing work from home on Thursday night.

Based on his request, Nasscom on Friday circulated a letter among IT companies on the matter.

Telangana IT Association founder president Mr Sundeep Kumar Makthala said due to the initiations taken by the government, all the IT companies have avoided Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and allowed employees to work from anywhere.

The BCP system creates more burdens on other employees who attend offices. During Chennai floods and the recent agitations in Bangalore, IT companies adopted this system and burden was faced by techies across the country. The decision of IT companies in city on work from home lead to normality in productivity. Except staff from essential services like data analytics, cyber security, maintenance and security, 40 per cent of the techies have worked from home, he said.

Educational institutions, including schools, junior, degree and PG colleges in GHMC limits, remained closed on Friday with the government declaring a two-day holiday. Even almost all CBSE and ICSE schools as well as Kendriya Vidyalaya schools did not function. However, Army Public School and Bhavans schools functioned as usual.
The massive sinkhole at NTR Marg opened up three days ago. Officials had promised that repair works would start immediately and claimed the road would be fixed within a week. But it has been three days and work at the site has not started (Photo: S. Surender Reddy)

HYDERABAD: Sinkholes on major city roads have exposed the sub-standard works by road contractors selected by the GHMC. N. Raghuma Reddy, a former chief engineer of Roads and Buildings Department, said: Contractors responsible for road construction do not follow quality engineering in order to save money. When a road is dug up for laying of a pipeline, the dug-up portion should be filled with either sand or fine dust or chips of granite stone. But the contractors fill using the cheaper option of excavated mud. When it rains heavily and water percolates, the soil stops supporting the road.

Missing camber is another problem. Camber is a curve thats provided to stop water stagnation on roads. Mr Reddy added: Road rollers should be moved on road when it is still hot, preferably around 120C, because the particles get compressed leaving less space for water seepage. This reduces thickness of the road. But contractors, move the road rollers when the tar is a little cold so that its thickness does not dip  to save money.

Dr N.V. Ramana Rao, professor with JNTU-Hyderabad, said: The best example is airport runways, which face the impact of planes but have a long life. Cement or concrete roads are also good alternatives but, in that as well, specifications need to be maintained.

Satellites to track violators

Municipal Minister Mr. K. T. Rama Rao said on Friday the GHMC will be taking images of the nala network using satellites. He said the images would help identify encroachments.

A tribunal will be constituted to look into encroachments after a Cabinet-level meeting  to be held on September 26. A separate committee is also being planned  comprising the joint collectors of Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad and other officials. This Committee is expected to decide on how many un-authorised structures actually exist.
In view of Met predicting heavy to very heavy rains in next four days, the CM put the administration on high alert. (Photo: Sudhakar Reddy)

Hyderabad: The TS government has decided to seek financial assistance from the Centre for the extensive damage caused to life and property in Hyderabad and other parts of the state due to abnormal rainfall since past one week.

In another development, the state government has decided to extend ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the four people who died due to the heavy rains in Medak besides ex-gratia for crop loss, houses, cattle loss etc.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is in New Delhi, spoke to Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma and directed him to prepare a detailed report on the loss of life, extent of damage to property including roads, buildings, electric installations, crops, tanks, culverts, loss of cattle etc.

Mr Rao also spoke to municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao and enquired about the relief and rehabilitation work in Hyderabad city.

Expressing anguish over rain havoc, the CM directed all ministers, MPs, MLAs, party leaders and workers to be on the field and extend help to the rain-affected.

We need to collect all the information pertaining to damage due to heavy rains and floods in the state, he said.

Mr Rao decided to approach the Centre after completion of report on the damage to the life and property.

Following the CMs instruction, the Chief Secretary spoke to collectors of all districts and asked them to prepare reports on the damage and send it at the earliest to him. In view of Met predicting heavy to very heavy rains in next four days, the CM put the administration on high alert.

Meanwhile, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, who visited rain-battered Patancheru and other parts of Medak district, announced that the government would provide ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin.

After assessment of damage and reports from authorities concerned, ex gratia will also be paid for damage to houses, crops, cattle etc, he said.
AIIMS however today asserted that chikungunya "cannot cause death" and attributed "co-morbidity" as the factor which causes fatality in rare cases. (Representational image)

New Delhi: Chikungunya cases are still on the rise in the national capital as at least 2,000 blood test samples have tested positive for chikungunya at AIIMS only, where doctors are also studying the viral strain that is in circulation.

The national capital is and several other parts of north India are witnessing an outbreak of chikungunya after nearly 10 years and hospitals have reported at least 15 deaths including one at AIIMS, due to chikungunya complications.

AIIMS however today asserted that chikungunya "cannot cause death" and attributed "co-morbidity" as the factor which causes fatality in rare cases.

"1 out of 1,000 people, i.e., 0.1 per cent run the risk of dying due to chikungunya complications, and that too if the patient has co-morbid conditions. Chikungunya is otherwise non-fatal," Head of the Department of Medicine, Dr S K Sharma said.

AIIMS Director Dr M C Misra, and several other doctors from various departments today addressed a press conference before a public lecture on dengue and chikungunya fever at it campus here.

"If one analyses the deaths, attributed to chikungunya, being reported in Delhi, you would realise that most of them had co-morbid conditions, like hypertension or diabetes or kidney or other renal problems. Chikungunya as such cannot cause death," Misra said.

According to a municipal report, at least 2,625 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the national capital till September 17. Over 1,300 dengue cases and 19 deaths due to it have been also reported.

Dr Lalit Dar of Department of Microbiology at AIIMS, says, the rising cases of chikungunya after the 2006 outbreak could be due to "Delhi having a lot of migrant population and generation born after 2006."

"Since they were not exposed to the viral strain in 2006 and hence not grown immune, so they are getting affected by it," he said.

According to Dar, AIIMS laboratories have "tested 3,500 cases of chikungunya samples out of which 2,000 have tested positive, nearly 58 per cent. And, for dengue, out of 8,500 samples only 474 have tested positive."

"We are also studying the virus type for the last two-and-a-half months in our labs," he said.

On dengue Sharma said, "People should not chase platelet count for severity of the disease. And, in some cases, platelet transfusion can cause complications and even hepatitits B or C. The warning signs should be bleeding and brain complications, only then they should be taken up for transfusion."
A mobile phone and a sim card were recovered from him. (Representational image)

Jammu: A Pakistani national was on Friday nabbed by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border (IB) in Pargwal sector of the district.

BSF troops during patrolling captured a Pakistani national who had infiltrated into this side of the IB at around 5 AM, a BSF officer said.

A mobile phone and a sim card were recovered from him, the officer said, adding, he is being questioned.

The arrested person has been identified as Abdul Qayoom of Sialkote sector, he said.
They said a total of 10,059 tourists visited the valley between August 1 to 12. (Photo: PTI)

Srinagar: Tourism sector in Kashmir has suffered a loss of around Rs 3,000 crore as the 77-day ongoing unrest in the valley resulted in sharp decline of tourists.

According to preliminary estimates, tourism department officials said the key sector of state's economy has suffered a loss of around Rs 3,000 crore due to the unrest which broke out on July 9 following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces a day earlier.

"The tourism destinations and hotels both in private and government sector have been worst affected and most of the hotels are left with zero occupancy," they said.

While around three lakh tourists had visited Kashmir between July and September last year, the tourist footfall in the Valley for the corresponding period of the current year is just about a trickle, the officials said.

They said a total of 10,059 tourists visited the valley between August 1 to 12 against 89,243 tourists during same period last year.

The officials said several film crews who were scheduled to be in Kashmir for shooting of films during summers also changed their destination in view of the prevailing situation in the Valley.

Managing Director, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC), Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary said most of the Corporation's properties in Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Yousmarg and other destinations have two-four per cent occupancy which ought to have been 90-100 per cent around this time of the year.

Similarly, accommodations of Tourism Department and Tourism Development Authorities have also witnessed a shortfall of 90-95 per cent compared to last year.

"Not only the tourist arrivals, most of the major infrastructure projects which were to be taken up in Kashmir under Prime Minister's Development Plan (PMDP) have also come to a halt," the officials said.

They said Rs 400 crore were available to the department under PMDP for infrastructure development at new and existing destinations.

"Under this programme, the department had formulated projects for infrastructure development at Daksum, Doodhpathri, Kokernag, Verinag, Pahalgam and Salamabad (Uri).

All these projects are now in limbo because of the prevailing situation," the official said.

The people associated with tourism trade apprehend that the prevailing situation could adversely affect the tourist arrivals during the next year as well with disastrous implications for the local economy.
Kolkata: Stung by the paltry compensation offered to the martyrs of the Uri attack, angry twitterati took to the micro-bloging site on Thursday to express their discontentment with the West Bengal and the Bihar government.

Four JeM terrorists had attacked an Indian Army base in Uri sector of J&K on Sunday killing 18 soldiers. The terrorists were also eliminated.

The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the martyrs, while her counterpart in Bihar, Nitish Kumar, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh.

The announcement had triggered outrage among family members of the martyrs and the general public. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Onkarnath Dolui from West Bengal, father of Uri martyr Gangadhar Dolui said, The compensation amounts to sheer humiliation. The government has offered us Rs 2 lakh, the amount that it offers to the families of persons who die after consuming hooch. We will reject the money as well as the offer for a home guards job that will be offered to my younger son.

The family members of the other martyr Biswajit Ghorai did not comment on the issue, and said that they have still not recovered from their loss.

Lashing out at the Bihar chief minister for the compensation, Sangeeta Devi, the wife of Havaldar Ashok Kumar Singh, said, We are not beggars who need peanuts from the government. We are self-sufficient. Nitish Kumar should be ashamed of what he is giving us. A common man in the state who dies in an accident gets Rs 4 lakh compensation. My husband is a martyr. I don't need Nitish Kumar's financial assistance."

Soon enough tweets expressing outrage at the ridiculously low compensation started pouring out in Twitter, with the hashtag MartyrsNotBeggars trending in the social media platform.

Wondering the rationale behind the allocated sum, many drew attention to the fact that Mamata had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family of Mecca crane crash victim last year.

Other states that declared the compensation for the martyrs include Uttar Pradesh (Rs 20 lakh), Maharashtra (Rs 15 lakh) and Jharkhand (Rs 10 lakh).
Kochi: The suicide note of a woman in her thirties surfaced on Facebook on Wednesday night stating that she will commit suicide on September 27. The woman, a native of Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta posted that an Non-Resident Indian is subjecting her to online abuse and the cops, even after filing several cases, are not looking into the matter.

The woman also named Ernakulam Range inspector-general S. Sreejith in the Facebook post stating that he is supervising the case, but the investigation is not making any headway.

The post became a topic of discussion on Facebook on Thursday. When the reporter contacted IG Sreejith on Wednesday night he said he was not aware of the incident, but will look into the matter.

Subsequently on Thursday morning the inspector-general made efforts to track the case and zeroed in on complaints filed by the woman and others. He found that there were several cases connected with regard to disputes between a group of people.

These cases are related to the functioning of a Trust run by Dr Shanavas. Persons attached to the group split after the incident and many are engaged in disputes online. The police got three or four complaints, all relating to to cyber abuse, Mr Sreejith said. Dr Shanavas who died recently was a popular figure on Facebook.

Another lady from Pathanamthitta had also filed a complaint. I spoke to that lady in the morning and asked her to meet the woman who posted suicide note on Facebook. I gave assurances that the investigating officers will listen to all the grievances and will take action as per the rules, Sreejith said.

Sreejith also sought reports from Crime Branch of Police and Pathanamthitta superintendent of police. Since the complainant is living in Pathanamthiita which is not under my jurisdiction I have asked Pathanamthitta to give a report.

According to police former director-general of police T.P. Senkumar handed over the case to S. Sreejith who was with the Crime Branch then. Later, he was appointed as the Ernakulam Range IG so he was unable to monitor the investigation.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is uncertainty over the job opportunities to 50 nurses in Kuwait with attractive pay packages. While the foreign employer blames it on the lackadaisical attitude of NORKA-Roots, the state government agency alleges that the foreign employer has not yet met the mandatory requirements. It is said to be the first demand for nurses being received in the last one-and-a-half years after the centre restricted overseas recruitment of nurses through government agencies from last May.

Kuwait General Trading Company has sought to recruit 50 nurses with a monthly salary of 540 Kuwaiti Dinars (about Rs 1.2 lakh) at a hospital under the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC). The demand letter processed through e-migrant was formally sent to NORAK Roots on September 21. Though the representatives of the firm came down to Bangalore to conduct the interview, NORKA-Roots was yet to make the arrangements.

We have come with a panel of doctors to conduct the interview. But since NORKA-Roots is yet to make any arrangements for the interview, there is pressure on us to approach agencies in other states like UP, a member in the Kuwait delegation told DC. However, NORKA secretary Usha Titus, who is also holding charge of NORKA-Roots chief executive officer, said that the Kuwaiti firm sent the demand letter only two days backy.

They had not yet signed the agreement with NORKA-Roots for the recruitment or even sent the power of attorney for recruitment given by the employer. Information regarding malpractices in nursing recruitment could be passed on to NORKA-Roots or state Vigilance. Complaints could also be given over phone numbers 0471-2770500 or 18004253939 or by e-mail mail@norkaroots.net.
Agriculture is mainly dependent on water and it has sufficient now. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: While Hyderabad is battered by rains, agriculturists are a happy lot.

Heavy rains filled up rivulets, tanks and other water bodies besides increasing groundwater table this kharif. Barring some damage to crops, the rain ensured sufficient waters for the ensuing rabi too.

While kharif (43.43 lakh hectares) is dependent on monsoon, especially rainfed areas, rabi (12.53 lakh ha) is totally dependent on assured waters like rivulets, tanks and borewells.

Agriculture secretary C. Parthasarathy told DC that the heavy downpour over the past one week and fairly good monsoon in the past is a boon for agriculture.

Barring some damage, the rains are a big boon to farmers and agriculture. Agriculture is mainly dependent on water and it has sufficient now. The rivers, tanks and other water bodies, groundwater table have all gone up ensuring sufficient water for ensuing rabi too, he said.

Reports from nine districts to the Agriculture department indicated completion of sowing this kharif in 37.80 lakh ha or 87 per cent of the normal season area of 43.43 lakh hectares.

Ranga Reddy district, Nizamabad, Medak, Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Mahbubnagar reported coverage of sowings from 76 per cent to 100 per cent of the area.

Maize, red gram, green gram, black gram and soya bean has recorded 100 per cent sowing, jowar, groundnut, chillies, turmeric and onion between 76 per cent to 100 per cent, paddy, bajra, castor, sesamum, sunflower and cotton from 51 per cent to 75 per cent while other crops like Ragi, sugarcane and horse gram from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, an official said.
The Sena said late BJP leader Gopinath Munde would have shown the same courage as Pankaja (his daugther) had displayed by visiting Bhujbal. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: Taking a jibe at the NCP leadership in the backdrop of Pankaja Munde's visit to beleaguered former Deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal in a hospital, the Shiv Sena on Friday said Sharad Pawar should take "lessons on humanity" from the state Women and Child Development Minister.

Bhujbal, in judicial custody in an alleged money laundering case, is currently recuperating at state-run J J hospital after he fell ill a few days ago. The senior NCP leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March and was lodged in the Arthur Road Jail.

"We feel sorry for the state Bhujbal is in today. The NCP, for which Bhujbal wronged late Sena chief Bal Thackeray, has today left him in the lurch. We thus feel surprised at Pankaja Munde's courage to visit him in the hospital and inquire about his health," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

"Pictures of Bhujbal being leaked, showing his frail body are heart-wrenching, but the NCP bosses have displayed a complete lack of empathy," said the editorial, which also has allusions to Bhujbal's days as a hard-core Shiv Sena leader before joining the NCP.

"Everyone was praising Bhujbal in his 'acche din' (good days). All his bosses were in awe of speeches he made in the Legislature. But today nobody had gone to meet a tired Bhujbal," the editorial said.

"Bhujbal is behind bars for corruption and economic offences. While other NCP leaders may be out and enjoying themselves now, they should have met him to inquire about life inside jail and facilities provided there," it said.

The Sena said late BJP leader Gopinath Munde would have shown the same courage as Pankaja (his daugther) had displayed by visiting Bhujbal.

"Everyone has to pay a price for their wrongdoings. But, what is the harm in keeping humanity alive? (NCP leaders) (Praful) Patel, (Sharad) Pawar and (Sunil) Tatkare should learn something from Pankaja," the Sena said.

Pankaja called on Bhujbal on Wednesday and spent around half-an-hour with him.

The visit created a flutter in political circles, triggering speculations it was a deft move by Panakaja to flaunt the 'backward class card' by calling on Bhujbal, who also hails from the OBC background.
KOZHIKODE: The BJP may articulate its views on the Uri Army camp attack by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists at the conclusion of the national council meeting here on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also deal with the issue in his speech during the public rally to be held on the Kozhikode beach on Saturday evening. BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav told reporters on the sidelines of the national council meeting that the party understood the sentiments of the people. All the important issues, including the Uri terror attack, will be taken up at the appropriate level and revealed to the people within the next two days, he said.

Mr. Madhav denied the speculations regarding the border situation, including that that Russian troops had joined Pakistan for a combined show of strength and that Chinese forces too had come over. Many things have happened on the diplomatic level, he said and added, we will wait and see. Now so many things are floating around. In fact, this national council is different from the earlier ones as we are engaged in constructive thinking, he said.

The council will come up with various programmes for the next one year along with empowerment of the weaker sections under Antyodaya which was brought forth by Jan Sangh's former all -India national president Deendayal Upadhyaya whose birth centenary celebrations will be launched by Mr Modi on Sunday. Regarding the partys growth in Kerala, Mr. Madhav said it had secured 15 percent vote share, which is substantial. Earlier, at a meeting of the general secretaries and state organising secretaries, national president Amit Shah pulled them up for under-performing even after being in power for the last two-and-a-half years.

A top Kerala BJP leader told DC that within a year, 'Garib Kalyan,' a novel initiative propagated by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, would be implemented in all the BJP-ruled states. Amit Shah has asked the national general secretaries and organising secretaries that 80 programmes of Mr Modi would have to reach the downtrodden, said the Kerala leader.

The council meeting will resume at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday and end by 3 p.m. Mr Modi will address a public rally on the beach in the evening when he may raise the Uri terror attack Mr Modi will attend the 'Smriti Sandhya' at Zamorin's Higher Secondary School at 7.30 p.m. where there will be a reunion of the former Jan Sangh leaders who had attended its earlier session in 1967 when Deendayal Upadhyaya was elected as the all-India president. Political and economic resolutions will be passed by the national council on Sunday.
Americas President Barack Obama delivered his farewell speech, with the US presidential elections less than two months away, but Russian President Vladimir Putin skipped the UN General Assembly 71st sessions high-level segment September 20-26 in New York on the theme of Sustainable development goals: A universal push to transform the world, and the Chinese only sent Premier Li Keqiang. The other Permanent Five leaders were there, but the razzmatazz was clearly missing. But unaffected by that, Pakistans PM Nawaz Sharif, after some notional references to the theme, launched a tendentious attack on India. Pakistan wants peace but no preconditions were acceptable for talks as the talks are not a favour to Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir was the core of the dispute. The unrest in Kashmir Valley is an indigenous uprising. He alleged human rights abuses too, about which he was submitting a dossier to the UN Secretary-General. Finally he reiterated the Pakistani litany about India ignoring the 1948 UNSC resolutions mandating a plebiscite to determine the will of the people.

The atmosphere in India was already surcharged after the Uri terror attack, which caused the death of 18 Armymen. Prime Minister Narendra Modis pre-election rhetorical diatribes against the Congress came back to haunt him. His own core following, particularly the closed cycle of social media support, fed the public narrative with cries of instant and disproportionate retribution. Ram Madhav, the creator of the PDP-BJP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, now demanded a jaw for a tooth. With external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj due to address the UN session on September 26, India strongly rebutted Pakistan in New York, describing it was a war machine, and expressed shock over Mr Sharifs move for the glorification of Burhan Wani, a self-proclaimed Hizbul Mujahideen member, as a freedom fighter. Why have India-Pakistan relations slid so low since last years Christmas, when Mr Modi surprisingly landed in Lahore to interact socially with his Pakistani counterpart? The attack on the Pathankot airbase soon afterwards was surmounted by Pakistan agreeing to apprehend the masterminds. Mr Modi was embarrassed when he let Pakistani investigators come and even visit the airbase, but Pakistan stalled the visit of an Indian team to Pakistan.

In April last, Mr Sharif proceeded to the UK for medical treatment, returning only in July. January to July was also a period of political transition in J&K, following chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeeds death in January. His daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, dithered for three months before assuming office in April and had barely settled down when the Valley burst into spontaneous unrest over the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8. Pakistan had been longing for such an opportunity. The public ire in the Valley exploded over the mishandling of protests by Indian security forces, for which they were unprepared and ill-equipped. While Pakistan may have had little to do with the initial upsurge, it promptly fanned the disaffection by unleashing leaders of terrorist groups like Syed Salahuddin to issue calls from public platforms and by pushing jihadis across the Line of Control, to exploit the situation. Sometime thereafter the government in Delhi decided that its Pakistan policy needed recalibration. Mr Modis opening salvo, just before the August 15 Red Fort speech, came at an all-party meeting when he berated Pakistans poor human rights record in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In his Independence Day address, Mr Modi reiterated the same forcefully.

The battle was being taken to Pakistans interior to put it on the defensive. Was this the opening of what national security adviser Ajit Doval has called offensive defence? At any rate, it was a novel approach, testing new methods to deter Pakistan from using terror as a negotiating tool in bilateral ties. The problem with forward defence is that an attack like Uri triggers public opinion, already in an excited state, to seek instant retribution. After all, despicable as this attack was, it certainly was no 26/11 or even like the attack on Indias Parliament in December 2001, which could have had Indias top leadership taken hostage or killed. India is drawing international sympathy and support, that will last as long as India eschews blatant military action. But as a former Army Chief said on television recently, a covert attack across the LoC, punitively effective though it may be, cant be shared with the public and thus cant be cathartic. India should not also not delude itself that Pakistan is now totally isolated simply as the United States is lecturing it. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met Mr Sharif minutes before the latters UNGA address, and was quoted as saying: We support Pakistan and will speak for Pakistan at every forum.

In fact, he offered to mediate to settle India-Pakistan differences. Both countries need to step back from the brink. India must deal with the Valley unrest with empathy and shrewdness. Pakistan needs to recall that the Valley is not obtainable by methods that have failed in the past. Both may have domestic compulsions. Mr Sharifs Chief of Army Staff retires in two months and he would rather replace him. Tension with India would make that difficult. Mr Modi faces a crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly election by February 2017, where dalit-Muslim convergence due to his own partymens depredations could spell defeat for the BJP. While jingoism may help, a mishandled operation with Pakistan can play badly domestically. With winter fast approaching, a measured approach can restore some normality in the Valley. Militancy will also abate. India needs to wean Mr Sharif away from his Army and Pakistan away from China, into the arms of which it is being driven more deeply. Good strategy, as they say, can tolerate poor tactics, not the other way around. Mr Modi needs something more sensible than offensive defence.
As the success of the recent recruitment drive for the uniformed services in the Kashmir Valley shows, neither the separatist Hurriyat leadership nor the younger and relatively obscure pro-Pakistan elements who orchestrated and led the protests in the past two months are in a position to go on commandeering Kashmiri youth in the direction that Pakistan dictates. Earlier this week, some 10,000 young men responded to an advertisement for appointment as special police officers (SPOs). About half were from the South Kashmir districts where the recent disturbances have been the most severe. This is the part of Kashmir where a police station was burned down by pro-Pakistan elements.

The Hurriyat leaders and their cohorts issued threats that serving policemen should resign or face harm. Clearly, the youngsters have paid no heed. Its not just the police. A recruitment rally for the Army in Srinagar that ended on Thursday drew 12,000 young men. This shows up Pakistani propaganda that the Indian forces in the Valley are an army of occupation. Protest marches have been held across rural Kashmir in recent weeks and thousands were bulldozed into participating. By now the people are fed up and appear keen to return to normal life. Of course, this should not blindside us. Economic opportunities and employment are key issues. But theres a political dimension too in Kashmir. The terms of J&Ks accession to India have been made to erode and this hurts Kashmiri sentiment.
Within days of the terrorist attack on Uri, which killed 18 soldiers, and even as the government mulled over various options, some newspapers and digital platforms published a story about a secret operation by Indian elite forces who entered Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and killed 20 terrorists. Or, as one of the outlets said, neutralised them, which sounds impressively like military jargon. If true, this would have major repercussions, since it would effectively mean an incursion into Pakistani territory, even if in name that part is Azad Kashmir. The Army was quick to deny that such a raid took place. One of the websites, however, stood by the story, insisting it had confirmed the facts. Many other newspapers, channels and digital platforms chose not to write about it, mainly because it was non-verifiable. More than the story itself and its authenticity or lack of it, was the headline and hashtag used by one of the media sites, which called it, Uri Avenged, implying clearly that this was a tit-for-tat operation by India. This is muscular, nationalistic editorialising that aims to rouse passions in the reader, quite a contrast from the detached tone that the media used till not too long ago.

Those days are now gone. Headlines refer to soldiers as martyrs and heroes and journalists now sound like cheerleaders of the government. The social media is full of cyberwarriors with advice on how to annihilate Pakistan, speaking glibly of the nuclear option as the final solution. Television talk shows discuss military strategies on how best to enter a sovereign country, showing little or no understanding of international law. Thundering ex-generals, when they are not getting emotional, speak of breaking Pakistan into several parts. BJP spokespersons, never short of colourful rhetoric, declare blithely that the country will not be around to celebrate its independence day next year. And not to forget those who feel they have done their duty by forwarding a WhatsApp message about what patriotic Indians should now do.

Private citizens are well within their rights to express their views, however extreme and even if bordering on lunacy, but surely journalists should remain objective and refrain from such over-emotionalising? Their job is to report, calmly and accurately, not wave the flag or indeed, speak up for the government? The use of words like braveheart, martyr, heroes is an American import which has been swiftly accepted in India. I dont recall newspapers using such words earlier  soldiers were soldiers and that is it. The Kargil war, shown in real time on television, was probably the first occasion when journalists began valorising the Army, instead of dispassionately reporting what they saw and heard. Now, with the advent of the social media and a breed of journalists which probably thinks objectivity is a leftover from the Jurassic era, its all out into the open.

The counter-argument to this might be: arent journalists Indians too, should they not be nationalistic? Yes they are, and are free to harbour nationalistic feelings, but their professional commitment should always be to the news. Rah-rah journalism is pamphleteering and worse, panders to cheap and easy sentiment rather than inform and educate. Every Indian citizen will want the government to take some action against the perpetrators of the Uri terror attack, but when headlines begin to use words like avenged, it becomes provocative. Our TV talking heads, led by some perpetually angry anchors, appear to have not just called for war, but led the troops themselves and even declared victory. Analysts who should know better have become part of the shouting brigade. All this is good increases TRPs and unique visitors (and revenue and valuation too), but the intelligent viewer knows it is all a cynical exercise. That however is no comfort because it feeds into prejudice and jingoism of the worst type.

Ironically, the government itself, despite all the attendant noise, is handling things much more soberly. So far, the reaction has been muted, relying on diplomacy rather than the military. It is possible that some below-the-radar actions may be contemplated or even may have been conducted, but generally, apart from a few off-hand, fist-waving statements, no rash action has been taken. That may yet come, but so far the displays of uber-nationalism have come from the party, social media users and journalists. The media is supposed to ask questions of those in power. And there are many questions waiting to be asked about the Uri attack. For instance, the intelligence lapses  how and why did these happen? After the Pathankot attack, was security at military installations not beefed up? Shouldnt someone take responsibility for this? Try and think how the BJP would have gone after Manmohan Singh and his government had something like this happened under his watch. (You dont have to think too hard  just read up tweets by Narendra Modi and many others, including journalists, which are freely available online.)

And yet, we see hardly any questions or demands for accountability and needless to say, no resignations or sackings. The cohort of nationalist mediapersons, who only two and a half years ago were heaping criticism and insults on Dr Singh, seem strangely silent now. The bitter irony is that when a newspaper does write a story that does not align with the official narrative, the government demands that stories on defence be submitted for pre-verification. That is bureaucratese for censorship, which is unacceptable. Clearly, despite so much support from journalists, the government is still not satisfied and cannot tolerate even a smidgeon of sceptical questioning; it prefers blind supporters rather than professionals doing their job. This should worry all journalists  the portends for the future do not look good.
Crusaders Technologies India Pvt. Ltd, announces the launch of Crusaders PM 2.5 Air Quality Monitor exclusively designed to check the quality of the air in the environment at a very affordable price. It can be used for checking the air quality of indoors, cars, public areas, etc.

The product parts include: Main device having an Air inlet, Air outlet, display, charging jack and the package includes user manual cum warranty card and a USB power cable.

Crusaders air quality meter has PM2.5 laser meter, which can give real time reading for PM2.5 size of particle. It even consists of an auto-standby option in case of ideal time of 2 minutes along with an in-built Li-Ion rechargeable battery for long working hours.

How it works?

The switch On/Off button has to be pressed for three seconds; LED lights are up after one second and the PM 2.5 detector starts working. To switch off PM 2.5 Detector hold on the switch ON/OFF button for three seconds. PM 2.5 detector will automatically be switched off, if there is no activity for 2 minutes. Press switch button twice, PM2.5 detector will start working in super-mode, continuously monitoring the concentration of PM 2.5.

What is PM2.5?

PM 2.5 refers to particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter (40 times smaller in comparison to the diameter of 1 hair strand). The air we breathe contains millions of tiny particles made up of different materials in many different sizes, often requiring special microscopes to see them. The hair in the nose and the bends of the nostrils and throat help capture most of the larger particles. However, the smallest of the particles are not stopped by the nose and throat and can travel deeply into the air-exchange region of the lungs. The human lungs do not have defence mechanisms to provide protection from these tiny particles, enabling them to potentially pass directly into the blood stream or accumulating within the lungs and interfering with the air-exchange process.

On this occasion, Ankur Chawla, Director (Sales and Marketing) Crusaders Technologies India said, Our aim is to improve the life of millions of people through continuous Innovation. At Crusaders, products are designed according to the Indian Environment Conditions. And we feel the Laser PM 2.5 Air Quality Monitor will prove to be an effective and economical tool for diagnosing the air quality around us and will help us to take immediate measures to avoid its adverse effects thereby leading a healthier lifestyle.

Crusaders air quality monitor is available at a price of Rs 4,999/- across India.

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Telecom major Bharti Airtel on Friday launched a lucrative 90 day 4G Internet data pack to compete with new entrant Reliance Jios cheap 4G data offering.

Ajai Puri, Director  Operations (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel said With this pack these customers can stay online round the clock without having to worry about exhausting their data limits or going for frequent recharges.

The offer, however, requires existing users and new users are required to recharge worth Rs 1495 to avail three months worth free Internet data. So it is not absolutely free and users are required to pay the abovementioned amount.

The pack is currently available in Delhi and will be launched across other circles over the next few days.

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This photo taken July 9, 2016 shows a thumb drive delivered to the home of French software engineer Julien Ascoet outside the French port city of Nantes. Although the memory stick is branded, Ascoet says he doesnt believe the brand is in any way linked to the mysterious delivery. And Ascoet is not alone; there are signs that cybercriminals are experimenting with hand-delivery of malware to peoples homes. Australian police have drawn international attention by announcing that extremely harmful memory sticks have been left in mailboxes across the suburban town of Pakenham, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of Melbourne. (Julien Ascoet via AP)

Julien Ascoet was already suspicious when he pulled the plain white envelope from his mailbox this past July.

The letter had no stamp and was completely unmarked. Someone must have delivered it in person to Ascoet's home outside the French port city of Nantes.

"I opened it gingerly," the software engineer said in an online chat Thursday. "You never know what's inside. I was remembering an episode of (police procedural drama) 'NCIS' where they found a similar envelope with anthrax."

What Ascoet found was a memory stick with no note or explanation. It wasn't anthrax, but it could still be dangerous.

Memory sticks, also called thumb drives or USBs, are sometimes used to spread malicious software from computer to computer. This USB was branded, but Ascoet said the device appeared used and that he doubted there was any connection between the brand and the mysterious delivery.

Ascoet, who also works as a security researcher, eventually threw the device out  although not before photographing it and posting the picture to Twitter .

"Never EVER plug in such present," he said by way of caption.

Stories like Ascoet's are anecdotal, but as web users get wise to rogue links and booby-trapped attachments, there are signs that cybercriminals are experimenting with hand-delivery of malware to people's homes.

On Wednesday, Australian police drew international attention when they announced that "extremely harmful" memory sticks had been left in mailboxes across the suburban town of Pakenham, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of Melbourne. Pakenham Police Sgt. Guy Matheson said in a telephone interview Thursday that the unmarked thumb drives started showing up several days ago.

Disguised as offers for Netflix or a similar service, Matheson said rogue programs lurking on the drives instead held victims' computers hostage, demanding a hefty payment in the electronic currency Bitcoin as ransom.

Matheson said two or three people had fallen for the ruse.

The technique of dropping a malicious USB somewhere and hoping someone will pick it up and plug it in has long been favored by spies to hack into hard-to-reach computers, said University of Manchester doctoral student Nikola Milosevic, who has studied the history of malware. The New York Times reported that the infrastructure-wrecking Stuxnet worm spread to Iran's nuclear facilities using a thumb drive placed in the hands of an unwitting employee, for example. And despite the risks inherent in walking up to someone's house and dropping malicious software through their mail slot, leveraging people's inherent curiosity can mean a bigger potential payoff.

"People are more likely to put USB stick into their computer than click a link or open file sent by the unknown person," Milosevic said in an email. "This type of attack has the potential to have a high success rate."

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On September 21, WhatsApp told the HC that its new privacy policy does not infringe on the privacy of users and no third party can read the messages due to its end-to-end encryption.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday slammed WhatsApp, asking the OTT service provider to remove all information and data of users who have decided to delete their accounts and refrain against sharing it with Facebook.

The case was heard in the capital today after WhatsApp and Facebook were roped into a petition filed by two Indian students with regards to WhatsApps privacy policy on sharing the user data with its parent company Facebook Inc.

The High Court also asked the government and the TRAI to examine the feasibility of bringing messaging platforms such as WhatsApp under the regulatory framework.

On September 21, WhatsApp told the HC that its new privacy policy does not infringe on the privacy of users and no third party can read the messages due to its end-to-end encryption. When a user deletes his or her WhatsApp account, the information of that person is no longer retained on its servers, the company claimed before the Delhi High Court.

WhatsApp, which is opposing a petition challenging its new privacy policy, told a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal that a message is deleted from its server after it is delivered to the recipient and they may keep it on its server for upto 30 days, only in case the message is not delivered.

It said that if the message is undelivered even after 30 days, it is deleted. Senior advocate Pratibha M Singh, who was appearing for petitioners Karmanya Singh Sareen and Shreya Sethi, opposed the contention, saying WhatsApp was not giving "any choice at all" to the users so that their information is not shared on Facebook.

"They (WhatsApp) should give a full opt-out option to the users from their information being shared with Facebook and they should not be allowed to use the information for any purpose without the consent of the user," she said.

Singh also sought that the information of such users, who completely opt out of WhatsApp, should be deleted from the servers.

"What will happen if a user completely deletes WhatsApp," the bench asked senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for WhatsApp. "We are only concerned about the users who will opt out saying they do not want to accept the terms and conditions of the new policy. We do not want to go into other issues," the bench told Luthra.

Responding to this, Luthra said "no data will be shared if the user opts out. When you (user) will delete WhatsApp account, the undelivered messages will be deleted. We will retain nothing." The bench had said that it would pass appropriate order on September 23 on the PIL against the recent WhatsApp decision to share user data with parent company Facebook.

WhatsApp had made extensive changes to its privacy policy on August 25, the first time since it was acquired by Facebook, giving users the option of sharing their account information with the social network giant. It gave its users 30 days till September 25 to opt out of the policy.

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Demonstrators take to the streets of uptown during a peaceful march following Tuesday's police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte. (Photo: AP)

Charlotte: The southern US city of Charlotte has imposed a curfew effective midnight Thursday (0400 GMT Friday), on the third night of protests following the fatal police shooting of a black man, the city said.

"@CLTMayor and @CMPD have enacted a citywide curfew beginning Sept. 23 imposed at midnight until 6 am," the city tweeted, referring to Mayor Jennifer Roberts and the municipal police.

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. Still, the protests remained peaceful in the hours after night fell and a midnight curfew imposed by the mayor aimed to add a firm stopping point for the demonstrations.

Members of the National Guard carrying rifles were also deployed in front of office buildings to head off another night of violence in this city on edge.

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 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 waited until Thursday's 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 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."
Washington: As many as 75 former US ambassadors and top diplomats have endorsed former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, arguing that her Republican rival Donald Trump is "entirely unqualified" to be the next occupant of the White House.

The 70-year-old reality TV star is "ignorant" of the complex challenges that the US faces and has not shown any interest in "educating" himself, they said.

"(Trump) is entirely unqualified to serve as President and Commander-in-Chief. He is ignorant of the complex nature of the challenges facing our country, from Russia to China to ISIS to nuclear proliferation to refugees to drugs, but he has expressed no interest in being educated," the former ambassadors and diplomats said.

Several of them have been US Ambassadors to India (Thomas Pickering, Nancy Powell), Afghanistan and Pakistan (Wendy Chamberlin, Ryan Corker, James B Cunningham, Nicholas Platt, Thomas B Robertson).

Former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake, who till recently was the US Ambassador to Indonesia, are among the signatories to a letter endorsing Clinton.

The letter said Trump "entirely misunderstands and disrespects" the high officials in the foreign service and intelligence communities that could guide him to a right course of action on crucial questions of foreign policy.

"Hillary Clinton's handling of foreign affairs has consistently sought to advance fundamental US interests with a deep grounding in the work of the many tens of thousands of career officers on whom our national security depends," the letter said.
In this Sept. 27, 2000 file photo, actress Mia Farrow poses with her adopted son Thaddeus as they participate in the global summit on polio eradication at United Nations headquarters. (Photo: AP/File)

Roxbury: Actress Mia Farrow's India-born son Thaddeus Wilk Farrow died from a "suicide gunshot wound" to the torso, the Connecticut medical examiner's office said.

The state medical examiner's office determined the cause of death Thursday after an autopsy. No further details were revealed, reported USA Today.

Thaddeus, 27, was found gravely injured in his car on Wednesday in Roxbury "suffering from life-threatening injuries," according to the state police report.

He was taken to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. There was "no criminal aspect" to the death.

The "Rosemary's Baby" star broke her silence about Thaddeus' death with a post on Twitter in which she asked fans to lend their support to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

"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," Farrow posted.

"Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and words of kindness. If you or someone you love needs help, or if you want to support a group doing life saving work, please visit: https://afsp.org/."

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.
Three Sikh men who drove container trucks at the Port of Montreal had argued they had a right to wear a turban instead of a helmet based on Quebec and Canadian charter rights protecting freedom of religion. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Toronto: Three Sikh truck drivers have been ordered to wear hard hats at work by a Canadian court which ruled that no exception can be made for them as the men lost a 10-year legal battle against religious discrimination.

Three Sikh men who drove container trucks at the Port of Montreal had argued they had a right to wear a turban instead of a helmet based on Quebec and Canadian charter rights protecting freedom of religion.

In a ruling released Wednesday, Quebec Superior Court Justice Andre Prevost recognised that the requirement to wear helmets violated the mens' charter rights but ruled that safety should trump religion in this case, the Canadian Press reported.

He ruled the port's rules were justified because they protect workers against head injuries.

"The risks are not lower because the claimants are Sikh and wear turbans," he wrote in his decision.

"The safety obligations of the defendants are not less stringent, either, towards the claimants than towards other workers," the judge was quoted as saying.

In a case dating back to 2006, the men had argued they were victims of religious discrimination after they were no longer allowed to enter the port's terminals without protective headgear. The safety measures were put in place in 2005.

Originally an accommodation was put in place allowing the drivers to stay in their trucks while containers were loaded, but that was eventually deemed not commercially viable because it increased the loading time.

Julius Gray, the lawyer representing the three men, said he was disappointed by the decision but was encouraged that the judge recognised his client's charter rights had been violated.

Grey said he would meet with his clients next week to decide whether to appeal the decision.

"I personally believe it's a case that can be very easily and effectively appealed, so I hope that's what they'll do," he said.
Ahmad Khan Rahami, an Afghan-born US citizen was shot and severely injured during his arrest. (Photo: AP)

New York: The father of the man charged with setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey informed the FBI in 2014 about his son's apparent radicalisation, he said.

Speaking to The Associated Press on Friday in a telephone interview, Mohammad Rahami, father of alleged bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami, said his son underwent a personality shift after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2013.

Speaking in Urdu, Mohammed Rahami said his son was not the same after that trip.

"I found a change in his personality. His mind was not the same. He had become bad and I don't know what caused it but I informed the FBI about it," he said.

The elder Rahami said he doesn't think the FBI took any action against his son at the time. He said he and his family were in a state of shock following last weekend's blasts, which injured 31 people.

"I condemn the act of my son and I am sad over injuries caused to people," he said, adding that he was cooperating fully with investigators.

Rahami, an Afghan-born US citizen was shot and severely injured during his arrest Monday. He has been unconscious and intubated for much of the time since undergoing surgery, said Robert Reilly, a spokesman for the FBI's Newark office.

Prosecutors say Rahami, 28, planned the explosions for months as he bought components for his bombs online and set off a backyard blast. They say he wrote a journal that praised Osama bin Laden and other Muslim extremists, fumed about what he saw as the US government's killing of Muslim holy warriors and declared "death to your oppression."
New York: Remaining in the denial mode, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday termed as "India's long-time habit" the assertion that his country was behind the Uri attack.

He told Pakistani journalists in New York that India blamed Pakistan for the attack on army camp in Uri within a few hours of the incident and claimed that questions are being raised on New Delhi's "haste".

"Investigation into such incidents requires many days and weeks," Sharif was quoted as saying by the Geo TV.

He described allegations against Pakistan as "India's long-time habit", the TV channel said. He also claimed that India had never provided any evidence to prove its accusations.

His claim comes a day after Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi. He was told that India 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.

Sharif said that instead of hurling accusations on Pakistan, India should stop its "atrocities", claiming that it is involved in "serious human rights violations" in Kashmir.

"108 people have been martyred in Kashmir over the past two-and-a-half months and India is hurling allegations at Pakistan," the Prime Minister said.

According to the Pakistani media, Sharif said he had informed the leadership of the US, China, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey and some other countries about the prevailing "grave human rights situation" in Kashmir and "they all tried to understand Pakistan's position".

He said Turkey promised to send a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and a similar response was given by the Organisation of Islamic Countries.
The shooting recorded by dashboard cameras and a police helicopter, lead to heightened tensions between yet another US police department and African-Americans. (Photo: Youtube grab)

Chicago: Prosecutors in the southern US city of Tulsa on Thursday 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.

Watch:

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.

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.
At least 138 people are known to have died and nearly 400 are missing after torrential rain triggered major floods, devastating villages in the country's northeast. (Photo: AFP)

Seoul: South Korea on Friday ruled out giving aid to flood-hit North Korea, saying leader Kim Jong-Un would claim credit for any assistance following what Pyongyang calls the "worst disaster" since World War II.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) appealed Wednesday for $15.5 million in emergency funding to help North Koreans.

It warned of a "secondary disaster" in the impoverished country unless urgent assistance is provided.

At least 138 people are known to have died and nearly 400 are missing after torrential rain triggered major floods, devastating villages in the country's northeast, the UN said last week.

According to the UN, 140,000 people need assistance. The IFRC said about 70,000 remain homeless after tens of thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed.

UNICEF said Tuesday disease and malnutrition were rising, with health clinics reporting that twice as many children were seeking help compared to before the disaster.

If Seoul gave any help, "Kim Jong-Un would take all undue credit for it," Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee told journalists.

"Under these circumstances, I cannot shed the feeling that outside aid would be all in vain," he said while answering a question on whether the South would respond to appeals for aid.

Despite the UN appeal, the international community remains lukewarm, he said.

Earlier this week, the ministry rejected a request from NGOs to contact North Koreans to discuss possible aid. Unauthorised contacts are prohibited with possible jail sentences.

"While the North claimed it had suffered from the worst-ever disaster (since the end of World War II), Kim Jong-Un was breaking into big smiles at a rocket engine test site," Jeong said on Wednesday.

Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday hailed the "successful" test of new, high-powered rocket engine, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast.

The North's Red Cross on Thursday lambasted the South for a "smear campaign" after some South Korean media said discontent among North Koreans was rising as they were being forced into recovery work following the floods.

"It is elementary human ethics and universal practice to console the victims and render help to the disaster-hit area when flood and other disasters happen", it said.

"But the Park group is keen on groundless smear campaign, far from expressing sympathy over the pain suffered by the fellow countrymen", it said in reference to the South's President Park Geun-Hye.

The South regularly provided massive food to the impoverished North before the conservative government took power in 2008.
Wickremesinghe said arrangements have been finalised to make Sri Lanka a strong economic and technological hub in the Indian Ocean region, extending necessary support for naval, air, communication and business operations. (Photo: AFP)

Colombo: Sri Lanka is keen to join India's ambitious Sagarmala project that aims to harness its 7,500-km coastline and inland waterways and step up cooperation with four south India states to form a USD 500 billion sub-regional economy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said.

Wickremesinghe said arrangements have been finalised to make Sri Lanka a strong economic and technological hub in the Indian Ocean region, extending necessary support for naval, air, communication and business operations.

Delivering the keynote speech at the Colombo International Maritime Conference (CIMC) yesterday, he said the Sagarmala project is an advantage for Sri Lanka.

"Joining the Sagarmala is an advantage for us, not a disadvantage," the Sri Lankan prime minister said, ruing that in the last few decades, misled by socialism, India and Sri Lanka closed trade links and became "land-based economies".

"Sri Lanka supports India's Sagarmala programme of building ports around the country, and will use paradiplomacy to build stronger links with India," Wickremesinghe said.

The Sagarmala is aimed at harnessing India's coastline and inland waterways to boost industrial development. It was originally floated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2003 but its perspective plan was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April this year.

The ambitious project with a projected outlay of Rs 4 lakh crore is expected to reduce cost for transporting goods. It holds significance as maritime logistics is seen as a vital component of the Indian economy, accounting for 90 per cent of EXIM trade by volume and 72 per cent of EXIM trade by value.

Wicremesinghe also recalled Sri Lanka's strong historical links with Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

He said his government was planning to engage in paradiplomacy with the Indian states to integrate with their economies. Southern Indian states and Sri Lanka can form a USD 500 billion economy, he said but stressed that infrastructure developemnt alone woun't be enough.

"We must increase the training of personnel and employ modern shipping laws," he said. "Small steps, if enacted correctly, can lead to immense prosperity," he added.
Seoul: South Korea has elite troops on standby, ready to assassinate Kim Jong Un if the country feels threatened by North Korean nuclear weapons, the countrys defense minister revealed this week.

According to the CNN, when the South Korean minister was asked in parliament if there was a special forces unit already assembled that could eliminate North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, Han Min-koo said: Yes, we do have such a plan.

The minister said: South Korea has a general idea and plan to use precision missile capabilities to target the enemys facilities in major areas, as well as eliminating the enemys leadership.

It has long been suspected that such a plan was in place but the minister's candid answer surprised some. A president would want to have the option," Daniel Pinkston of Troy University told the CNN. Not presenting that to the president, not training for it and having that capability would be a mistake.

Han also stressed the need for continued conscription, saying the country needs at least 5,00,000 soldiers to guard against 1.2 million North Korean troops. South requires all able-bodied men to serve two years in the military, he said.

After Souths comments about eliminating Kim, the North hit back, accusing the US and South of driving the situation in the Korean Peninsula to the uncontrollable and irreversible phase of the outbreak of a nuclear war, ibtimes.co reported. The North lashed out at the South Korean puppet warmongers.
The court was told that the victims were first raped when they were barely five-years-old. (Photo: Pixabay)

Sydney: Two sisters from New South Wales in Australia, who were tied up, raped, molested and mutilated by their parents for a period of over 14 years, have spoken about the crime and have delivered powerful impact statements against the accused.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, the sisters, under the condition of anonymity, approached Sydney's district court and revealed that their father would often tie them up with a barbed wire and lock them up in a chicken coop for days. The victims said that they were abused between the age of five to 18.

The court was told that the victims were first raped when they were barely five-years-old. Prosecutors also said that one of the victims was raped by her father when her mother was in the hospital giving birth to her sister.

"My father inflicted evil," said one of the victims who had been abused the most by her parents. "He abused me in such ways I thought I was going to die," she recalled.

In their statements, the victims said that they often had to miss school as they were locked up either in a shed or the chicken coop for days at a stretch. They also said that they were often left without food or water.

The siblings recalled that they were sporting athletes and their father had even quit his job to train them in sports. But, he claimed that he 'owned' them.

The victim said that she will always remember her childhood as a living hell.

The victims father has been convicted of 73 counts of sex abuse while her mother has been charged with 13 counts of indecency towards her children.

The accused has pleaded not guilty. However, the judge said that the rape and abuse over the years was 'systematic' and that it should not go unpunished. The accused will be sentenced in October.
Tanveer Ahmed, a Sunni Muslim, had stabbed Asad Shah outside his store in the Shawlands area of Scotland in March for "disrespecting" Islam. (Representational image)

London: A 32-year-old Pakistani-origin Muslim man, serving a life sentence for the murder of a Scotland-based shopkeeper, has released extremist audio messages from his prison cell calling on supporters to behead "insulters".

Tanveer Ahmed, a Sunni Muslim, had stabbed Asad Shah outside his store in the Shawlands area of Scotland in March for "disrespecting" Islam.

The 40-year-old victim, who belonged to the Ahmadiyya sect and had been granted asylum in the UK after he fled persecution in Pakistan, later died in hospital.

Now Ahmed is reportedly encouraging others to do the same in his extremist messages, some of which appear to have been recorded and released after he was jailed for life in early August.

In Ahmed's most recent speech, uploaded to YouTube earlier this month, he celebrates sending Shah "to hell with the help of Allah".

"I have the honour of sending him to the hell forever," he says in Urdu, according to 'The Independent' newspaper. Ahmed goes on to call Ahmadi Muslims "frauds" for their beliefs and accuses them of "contaminating the faithful".

"Whoever and wherever is listening my voice must make a resolve to protect the finality of prophethood. We will save the Lord's followers from going down to the hell and will protect their faith," he says.

The message then calls on listeners to repeat a chant vowing to "offer their lives and souls", ending with "There's only one punishment for insulters: cut off their heads, cut off their heads, cut off their heads."

It was one of five messages, uploaded to the same YouTube account in May, June, August and most recently on September 7. They are believed to have been recorded on a mobile phone, possibly during a call made by Ahmed from Barlinnie Prison in Glasgow, Scotland.

At the time of his sentencing last month, Chief Superintendent Brian McInulty, of Police Scotland, described the attack as "utterly unacceptable and cannot be justified."

"Glasgow is a strong, united, multi-faith community that has immense pride in its diversity. Religious intolerance in any form is simply not tolerated in our society and Police Scotland will work in partnership with our communities to eradicate such behaviour," he said.
The 83-year-old Israeli-American writer, who escaped the Nazis by being hidden in a Catholic boarding school in France, described Trump as a "dangerous crazy". (Photo: AFP)

Paris: Pulitzer prize-winning historian Saul Friedlander, a world authority on the Holocaust, said on Friday he would leave the United States if Donald Trump was elected president.

The 83-year-old Israeli-American writer, who escaped the Nazis by being hidden in a Catholic boarding school in France, described Trump as a "dangerous crazy".

He said the controversial Republican candidate could win November's election because of Hillary Clinton's "tendency to lie and to hide things".

"One cannot exclude Donald Trump winning even though he is a dangerous crazy," he said.

"He says whatever comes into his mind." Friedlander's magisterial two-volume history of Nazi Germany and the Jews charts Adolf Hitler's rise to power in a period where populism was rising across the world as it is today.

"We don't know what (Trump) thinks," said the writer, whose parents perished in Auschwitz after being handed over to the Germans by French police as they tried to escape to neutral Switzerland.

"At the same time, there is a huge swathe of Americans, mostly poor, angry whites, who dream of having him in the White House.

"He is kind of a release valve for their anger against the 'establishment' represented by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

"Because she has, unfortunately, a tendency to lie and to hide things," he said, referring to her recent bout of pneumonia, which her campaign was only forced to disclose after she was seen stumbling into her car.

"Trump, by comparison, seems totally open and frank, even if he has not published his income tax returns."

Friedlander, who is based in Los Angeles, also warned of the rise of anti-Semitism and of Holocaust denial.

"Negationists are, in general, anti-Semites, and I am utterly opposed to debating with them. It gets you nowhere, they will always find a so-called detail showing that all these stories of gas chambes were a joke.

"They are obsessed by the idea that Jews could have invented the story of their extermination," said the author, whose new books, "Reflections on Nazism" and "Where Memory Leads", have just been published in France.

The historian -- who left France for Israel after World War II and worked as an assistant to former president Shimon Peres -- has been very critical of the Jewish state's treatment of the Palestinians.
His gang scammed 750 victims and attempted to steal from thousands more. (Photo: Representational Image)

London: A British-Pakistani conman, who was involved in a 113-million cyber-fraud and made so much money that he flew a team of valets from Scotland to Lahore to polish his fleet of luxury cars, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison by a British court.

Feezan Hameed Choudhary, 25, the 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 splurging on Rolex watches, jewellery, trips to Dubai and shopping sprees in Harrods.

He owned several luxury vehicles, including a Bentley and a Lamborghini, after the scam raked in more than 3 million a month.

He was so obsessive about his cars that he flew staff from Platinum Polish in Glasgow on an 8,000-mile round trip to luxury villa in Lahore to shine his fleet of Porsche Cayennes. 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 victims lives have been very upsetting for them, detective chief inspector Andrew Gould, head of Scotland Yards 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.

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.
COLUMBUS  Nebraska, where's that?

Columbus High School and Scotus Central Catholic have a few unfamiliar faces this year who are even more unfamiliar with their new surroundings.

There are two foreign exchange students at CHS and eight at Scotus, and they all agreed on one thing. When they learned they were coming to Columbus, Nebraska, they had no idea what that meant.

The teenagers rushed to a map to figure out where this state and city are located, but that's part of the fun.

All 10 students could have selected an exchange program that let them choose where they studied in America. Instead, they opted for the surprise.

Victoria Ranchin, a 16-year-old exchange student at CHS, wanted a true country experience. When she found out in May she would be headed to Nebraska, Ranchin was excited.

It was kind of like, Whoa, oh my God, where is this place? I come from a city of 14 million and now Im in a city of 22,000, but its nice, Ranchin said. This is what I wanted. I wanted the true American experience.

The students came from Brazil, China, Spain and Vietnam, but find solidarity in each other because they're learning a new culture together.

Some find the food to be the biggest change while others believe peoples personalities and manners differ the most from their home countries.

Thiago Pereira, 17, of Brazil, now a Scotus student, said his favorite part so far is the people and how open Americans tend to be, making it easy to befriend others.

Thong Vinh Hoi Le, also a Scotus student, disagreed, saying he was more outgoing back in Vietnam. The 17-year-old said he tends to be more quiet here, but that could change over time.

What are the best parts?

CHS student Xueer Yuan, 16, who pronounces her name Cher," said her favorite thing so far is the kingdom of the corn." In China, she can only get popcorn from KFC restaurants, but in Columbus she can buy popcorn all the time  and she does.

I eat a lot of it, she said with a giggle.

The exchange students from China agreed the absolute best part about being in Columbus is there is less school.

Yuan is used to 12-hour school days from February to November, with only a 15-minute lunch break.

I finally get to have a life, said Yuan, who attends school in China from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Changing my lifestyle has made me really enjoy life.

Scotus student Carolina Majem Garces, 15, of Spain, said she thinks school is harder in America. Coursework is sent home every day, something shes not used to.

Psht, she needs Chinese homework, retorted 16-year-old Scotus student Tommy Yu after explaining he has school back home in China from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

We lived at school back home, with only a half-day off every week, said Duke Lin, 15, of China, who now attends Scotus.

The students agreed American school is nothing like where they come from. And its not just the exchange students who benefit from the experience.

I think this program is really important to our school, said Scotus President Jeff Ohnoutka. They really add to our school. Not only do they come here to learn the American education system, but we learn from them as well. Great friendships are developed. The teachers get to know them and learn from them as well.

Cassie Jeffryes, the Nebraska and Iowa regional manager for the exchange program Educatius International, said Columbus is hosting the largest group of exchange students in Nebraska this year.
Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States of sending more weapons to a Syrian Kurdish militia in defiance of Ankara's repeated insistence it is a "terrorist" organisation.

Although the US views the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia as its most significant ground ally against jihadists, Ankara says the fighters are "terrorists" linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which for decades has waged an insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Erdogan said late Thursday that three days earlier the US sent "two planes with weapons" to Kobane in northern Syria for the YPG and its Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing.

In a speech in New York after attending the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said Washington was mistaken in using the YPG as an ally in the fight against IS.

"If you think you can finish Daesh (IS) off with the PYD and YPG, you cannot, because they are terrorist groups as well," he said in remarks posted on the presidential website.

He added he had raised the issue of the alleged weapons delivery in talks with US Vice President Joe Biden but said Biden insisted he had no information.

Erdogan added the US sent arms to Kurdish militia during the battle for Kobane, a Kurdish-majority town, between IS and the YPG in 2014, saying half of the weapons fell into the hands of IS extremists.

The president's accusations risk causing further tension between the NATO allies over Washington's support for the YPG in its fight against IS.

Previously, the US has insisted that any military equipment provided to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the past has gone only to Arab fighters.

There are about 30,000 fighters in the SDF which is made up largely of Kurds, but also has a significant Syrian Arab component.

General Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Thursday that the US was considering arming the SDF who would join the offensive to retake the IS stronghold of Raqa.

But Dunford said that the US would work "very closely with our Turkish allies" to assuage Ankara's concerns over the Syrian Kurds' long-term political prospects.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Thursday it was "out of the question" for Ankara to join any operation to take Raqa if it included the YPG or PYD.

Turkey has over the last month sent dozens of tanks and hundreds of troops into Syria to back pro-Ankara Syrian rebels fighting IS and the YPG.
28-year-old Samia Shahid, who was found dead in July at her family's home in Pakistan's Punjab province. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab)

Jhelum: Court officials and a defence lawyer say Pakistani police have submitted initial charges to a court against the father and ex-husband of a British-Pakistani woman accused of murdering her in a so-called "honour killing."

Defence lawyer Mohammad Arif says the trial of Mohammad Shahid and Mohammad Shakeel will begin on September 27 for their alleged role in the murder of 28-year-old Samia Shahid, who was found dead in July at her family's home in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The two accused men appeared before a judge on Friday. The woman's family initially claimed she had died of natural causes. But police now say her father stood guard while Shakeel raped her and afterward both men strangled her.
The prisoners demand that if their cases are being further delayed, the cases must be transferred to the court in the northern towns of Vavuniya and Jaffna which are Tamil- dominated. (Photo: Representational Image/AP)

Colombo: Some 20 Tamil political prisoners held in Sri Lanka have gone on a hunger strike protesting against their detention, prison officials said.

The prisoners, currently lodged in north central Anuradhapura prison have been on a hunger strike demanding their release since Wednesday, they said.

They demand that if their cases are being further delayed, the cases must be transferred to the court in the northern towns of Vavuniya and Jaffna which are Tamil- dominated.

Prison officials said they are considering transferring some of the prisoners on hunger strike to the Jaffna prison for the convenience of their relatives. The suspects held for LTTE activities are dubbed political prisoners by the Tamil groups.

Meanwhile the main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), said they welcomed the announcement by the government that 23 political prisoners, a separate group of Tamils, will be released through the process of rehabilitation.

"We urge the government to continue this process of re-evaluation and release the rest of the political prisoners also without delay," the TNA statement said.

The Ministry of Resettlement and Rehabilitation said the rehabilitation offer is being made to 23 of 96 suspects arrested over alleged links to the LTTE.
To tackle dengue and chikungunya outbreak in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday flagged off the Delhi governments 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 Ministers 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.



Experts advice



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.
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 last night, police said today. The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut today.



"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 (NSG) 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 yesterday sounded 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.
On a day when Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti was arrested and granted bail, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal once again hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for working overtime to get AAP MLAs arrested or get him implicated in false cases.





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 on Thursday.



A day earlier, Kejriwal reacted angrily on the ACB registering an FIR against him at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the DCW appointments case. The Chief Minister also announced the calling of a special Assembly session for discussing the issue.



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, the Chief Minister said.



It cannot happen without the Prime Minister's approval," Kejriwal added. The Chief Ministers outburst on Twitter against Modi on Thursday came in the backdrop of Bhartis arrest in the afternoon for allegedly manhandling security personnel at All India Institute of Medical Sciences and inciting a mob to damaged a part of the boundary wall of the hospital.



The MLA was granted bail in the evening. Another controversial MLA, Amanatullah Khan, who represents Okhla consitutency, was also granted bail on Thursday after one day judicial custody. Kejriwals verbal attack seemed to be linked to the arrest of both Bharti and Khan in allegedly false cases.



Khan was arrested by the Jamia Nagar Police Station earlier this month and in July on the complaint of a 32-year-old relative who alleged that he made advances towards her and put pressure to have sexual relations with him.



She said that she was also tortured for dowry by her in-laws. The woman added that even her husband, a brother-in-law of Khan, used to pressure her to have sexual relations with the MLA. Khan had denied the allegations.



Fourteen AAP MLAs, including sacked minister Sandeep Kumar, have been arrested over the past year and a half before being granted bail. Kumar is still in judicial custody.



Kejriwal has maintained that most of the legislators were booked under false cases in a bid by Delhi Police  controlled by the central government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi  to harass the party.
The renovation of a 700-year-old stretch of China's historic Great Wall in Suizhong county has triggered a public outcry and scrutiny over claims of poor workmanship.





The little-known Xiaohekou section, which has a reputation among hikers as the most beautiful original Great Wall, is a nationally protected cultural relic. The restoration occurred in 2014 and drew public attention after someone recently posted photos online.



In the photos, the wall appears to have been covered in a smooth, white material.Local authorities say it is sandy soil. But netizens thought it looked like cement, which seemed to destroy its original beauty and its status as a cultural relic.



Liu Fusheng, a local resident who claimed to have climbed the Xiaohekou section every day, said construction workers used cement mixed with white dust and sandy soil to flatten the walkway into a smooth surface, Beijing News reported.However, local authorities said that sort of speculation was inaccurate.



The cultural relics protection bureau of Suizhong county said the repair was an emergency project because the section might have collapsed in heavy rain. It said that the material used was sandy soil, not cement, state-run China Daily reported today.



The Liaoning provincial culture department also said the section had been in grave danger of being ruined by a natural disaster, such as a flood, so urgent project was undertaken to lay a protective cover on severely damaged areas. According to the department, the restoration work extends eight kilometres.



"There is no wall left in this section, only the stone foundation, which is badly damaged. The experts' suggestion was to put the original stones back and put a very thin cover on it for protection from dust and water," department spokesman Yang Shitao said.



Built from the third century B.C. to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall stretches over 21,000 kms. Over four million tourists visit the Great Wall every year as it is the centre of China's tourism campaign.



Each tourist pays about USD 17 to visit it at different places, especially in Beijing.According to SACH statistics, about 30 per cent of a 6,200-km section of the wall built in the Ming Dynasty has disappeared, and less than 10 per cent is considered well- preserved.



The Great Wall has faced threats from both nature and humans. Earthquakes, rain, wind and other natural elements have left the wall with many decayed and crumbling bricks.
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India today announced crossing the milestone of 15 lakh vehicles in its cumulative exports.





"These vehicles have been exported to over 100 countries including Europe, Latin America and Africa. Early this year, the company's premium hatchback Baleno, manufactured exclusively in India, became the first car to be exported from India to Japan," the company said in a statement.



MSI had started exports to Europe in 1987-88, when a small number of cars were sent to Hungary.



"Thereafter, exports have grown at a steady pace, as new models and markets were added from time to time. Although exports business is inherently subject to economic and policy changes in the destination countries, the company has been able to maintain an upward trend in exports over the years," it said.



MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said: "Maruti Suzuki has consistently maintained a presence in international markets, regularly offering new products and reaching out to new countries. Our products like Zen, A-Star, Maruti 800 and Alto have made a mark overseas, including in the most competitive markets of Europe."



In 2015-16, MSI's top five exported models were Alto, Swift, Celerio, Baleno and Ciaz. Among destinations, Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines, Peru and Bolivia were the top export markets .



MSI's newly launched light commercial vehicle, Super Carry, is also exported to South Africa and Tanzania and will be exported to SAARC countries in the future, it said.



The company's hatchback Zen, India's world car of the 1990s, took the company to many new markets. Exports were bolstered also by the iconic Maruti 800 and later, A-Star.



Alto, the company's best selling model in India for over a decade also has a sizeable presence in the export markets, having clocked over 3,90,000 sales cumulatively, MSI added.
The Supreme Court today confirmed the conviction of former Haryana DGP S P S Rathore in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.





A bench headed by Justice M B Lokur, however, modified the 18-month jail term awarded to Rathore to the period already undergone by him in custody.



Rathore was granted bail by the apex court in 2010 in connection with the case before which he spent around six months behind bars.



Rathore had challenged his conviction and the enhanced jail term from six months to 18 months before the apex court.



A sessions court had on May 25, 2010 enhanced Rathore's jail term from six to 18 months while allowing the plea of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Girhotra family.



Punjab and Haryana High Court had on September 1, 2010, dismissed his appeal challenging his conviction and the sentence, saying his conduct as a top official was "shameful.
Allan Vyhnalek was returning from a financial literacy workshop earlier this week when he noticed a combine harvesting soybeans along Interstate 80 near Kearney.

The machinery  the first hes seen in the fields this season  is a good sign for Nebraska farmers. Vyhnaleks presence at the financial training isnt.

The local University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator has attended multiple meetings over the past week or so focused on the financial crunch in agriculture and what the university can do to help farmers get through the tough times ahead.

This is a huge deal, said Vyhnalek, who knows that agriculture, the states top industry, directly impacts the Nebraska economy.

When farmers dont make money, they arent spending it at local businesses. And lower tax receipts lead to budget cuts at the state level, which is why the university called its emergency meetings.

Vyhnalek isnt concerned about yields as farmers begin the fall harvest.

The commodity price side is the bigger issue, he said.

Corn is selling for below $3 a bushel at area elevators and soybeans are around $9 a bushel.

The problem, Vyhnalek said, is production costs for corn producers are $3.50 to $4 per bushel, creating a net loss for farmers.

In Kansas and Oklahoma, some wheat producers considered not planting the crop after commodity prices dropped, according to Vyhnalek.

Nebraska farmers havent reached that tipping point yet, he said, but theyre getting close.

Clearly I think some people are going to be looking at alternative crops, he said. And theyll have to consider it.

However, Vyhnalek warned against making the switch from corn or soybeans too hastily. There must be a market for alternative crops before farmers begin putting them in the ground.

Its not always easy for corn and soybean guys to start raising something else, he said.

And farmers arent having any trouble raising corn and soybeans right now.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects Nebraska to produce a record 1.73 billion bushels of corn this year, up 2 percent from 2015, and 310 million bushels of soybeans, 1 percent more than last year.

Vyhnalek said theres some discussion within the industry about whether those figures are too high, but hes not questioning the projection for area fields.

From what I know from Platte County, were not going to hold down the average, he said.

The USDA rated just 6 percent of the states corn crop as poor or very poor as of Sunday, with 74 percent falling in the categories of good and excellent. Soybeans were rated as 77 percent good or excellent, with only 4 percent in poor or very poor condition.

Associate State Climatologist Al Dutcher said he expects to see decent yields across eastern Nebraska following a good growing season, although hot temperatures in June may have stunted growth in some cornfields.

Green snap was also a problem in the area after an early July thunderstorm produced winds in excess of 80 mph.

The challenge for eastern Nebraska farmers, Dutcher said, will be getting their crops out of the fields.

Widespread precipitation has soaked areas north of Interstate 80 over recent weeks, and a continuation of that weather pattern coupled with falling temperatures after this weekend could slow field work as harvest gets underway.

Thats where your delays come from, Dutcher said.

But, he added, the moisture will help soil conditions entering the spring planting season.
Protesters took to Charlotte's streets for a third straight night and defied a midnight curfew in the US city early today, amid heavy security aimed at preventing more clashes over the fatal police shooting of a black man.





Hundreds marched to the city police station carrying signs saying "Stop killing us" and "Resistance is beautiful," but the atmosphere was far calmer than the previous two nights.



Several hundred protesters remained on the street following the midnight (0400 GMT) curfew, but security forces took a hands off approach and did not enforce the restriction.



Pressure was growing on police to release video of the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African American, whose killing on Tuesday sparked the unrest.



But members of Scott's family watched the footage yesterday, raising "more questions than answers," their lawyers said. Scott's death was the latest in a string of police-involved killings of black men that have fueled outrage across the United States.



North Carolina's governor has declared a state of emergency in Charlotte, and several hundred National Guard troops and highway police officers were deployed to reinforce local police protecting city infrastructure and businesses.



"We are going to be a lot more proactive," Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney told a news conference. "We made 44 arrests last night because we are not going to tolerate the behavior."



A protestor shot by a civilian in Wednesday night's protests died in hospital yesterday, local media reported. Protesters held an impromptu vigil on the sidewalk where the man was struck by a bullet from a shooter who remained at large. They lit candles and offered prayers.



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 refused to release police video of the incident.



No gun is visible in the video, which shows Scott stepping backward when he was shot, one of the lawyers told CNN.
Islamist identity of states like Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is the "underbelly" inspiring terror outfits like ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hezbollah, US lawmakers have been told by a American Islamic forum leader.





"Political movements and the Islamist identity of states like the Islamic Republic of Iran or the Islamic Republic of Pakistan or the Wahabism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the underbelly inspiring the militant movements like ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hizballah," M Zuhdi Jasser, president of Phoenix-based American Islamic Forum For Democracy, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.



Jasser said it is as "equally foolhardy" in counter- terrorism and counter-radicalisation work to refuse to acknowledge the role of political Islam in the threat as it is to "villainise" the whole of Islam and all Muslims.



"However, those Islamist governments exploit the militancy of jihadists in order to dictate the ruling form of Islam," he said yesterday in his testimony before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, which organised a hearing on radical Islamist terror.



The lawmakers expressed concern over the mushrooming growth of terrorist organisations.



Congressman Mac Thornberry, Chairman of the Congressional subcommittee said events of the past few days remind how threat from radical Islamic terrorism is changing and how difficult it is to detect it and prevent it as well.



"In my view, we still have not dealt effectively with some of the root causes. We have not effectively dealt with the ideology that radicalises people here and around the world.

"It is essential, moving forward, that we not just try to muddle through, contain, try to prevent a catastrophe, but that we have a strategy that will be successful in dealing with the threat as it is evolving," he said.



Ranking Member Adam Smith said post 9/11, America pulled together all the different elements of US power, and allies, with the intelligence, law enforcement, military and built a very sophisticated operations centre and tracked al-Qaeda, first, of course, in Afghanistan, then into Pakistan, and Yemen, and elsewhere and has done a successful job of taking out their leadership and then minimising their ability to move forward.



"What we have not been successful at is turning back the ideology. And that is where other groups have popped up, and whether it's al-Qaeda or ISIL or Ansar al-Sharia, or any of... Boko Haram, dozens of different groups that adhere to this nihilistic, violent death ideology. That ideology has, quite honestly, spread since 9/11. There are more people adhering to it now than there were then," he said.
In a move that can bring the state in conflict with judiciary, Karnataka today virtually refused to spare any more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court with a special legislature session adopting a unanimous resolution to use water only for drinking purpose.



In an unprecedented move in the more than century-old Cauvery dispute with the neighbouring state, both the Legislative Assembly and the Council adopted the resolution not to provide water for any other purpose except to meet drinking needs, citing "acute distress" and "alarmingly low levels" in its dams.



"An impossible situation wherein it is not possible to comply with a court order has been created," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, as he wrapped up the day-long proceedings in the Assembly, which rallied behind the government cutting across party lines.



The resolution which did not refer to the apex court direction to the state to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu from September 21 to 27, came two days after the state cabinet decided to "defer" the release till today, following an all-party meeting on the issue.



Siddaramaiah maintained that the state was in "severe distress" and struggling to meet even the drinking water needs in the Cauvery basin while repeatedly stressing that his government held the judiciary in great respect and there was no intention to disobey the Supreme Court order.



"Nobody should construe as if we are challenging the Supreme Court," he said, adding, his government had equal respect for all the three organs-- legislature, executive and judiciary, "more so for judiciary."



"People have given us a mandate. We cannot defy it," he said, asserting, otherwise, "it would be a dereliction of duty on our part."



Prefacing his remarks on the water crisis in the state, Siddaramaiah said, "We have great respect for the judiciary. The intention is not to disobey the judicial order. We will not think of it even in our dreams."



The resolution highlighted the "state of acute distress", and said it was "imperative" that the government ensures that no water from the present storages be drawn "save and except" for meeting drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru.



The interests of the inhabitants of the state are likely to be gravely jeopardised if water in the four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin was in anyway reduced other than for meeting the drinking water needs of the people, it said.



The resolution in English moved by Opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar and in Kannada by Y S V Datta of JDS pointed out that the combined storage in four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin -- Krishnaraja Sagar, Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini -- had reached "alarmingly low levels at 27 TMC ft."



The Cauvery Supervisory Committee had on September 19 asked Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs from September 21 to 30, but the apex court had on September 20 doubled the quantum to 6,000 cusecs, to be released 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. Armed with an all-party meeting mandate, the state cabinet had on Tuesday decided to defer the release of water to Tamil Nadu and convene a day's legislature session amid escalating row between the two neighbouring states.



Siddaramaiah said the four dams as of today had a storage of 27.6 TMC of water but "from today to May end we need 24.11 TMC water for drinking purpose for cities, towns, villages in the Cauvery basin and the whole of Bengaluru city."



"This is only for human consumption, other than this we need to provide water to cattle and animals. Water also gets evaporated. While we are struggling to provide even drinking water till May end....this is our distress. They (Tamil Nadu) are asking for water for Samba crop," he said.



He said the Mettur dam in Tamil Nadu had 52 TMC ft of water while farmers in Karnataka were "making sacrifices (with no water for crops)." Siddaramaiah also said according to the National Water Policy, the priority was for drinking water, followed by irrigation and power generation.



"For us farmers are one-- be it in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka or Kerala," he said. Earlier, participating in the debate, Shettar said there was a situation where the House had to pass a resolution as the order of the court was a "non performable direction."



He said the House's action was in no way contempt of court as there have been court orders where they have held that failure to implement an order which is impossible cannot be contempt.



Also charging that the apex court had "exceeded its limits" in passing the latest order, Shettar said BJP will work with the government in opposing the constitution of Cauvery Water Management Board.



JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy said successive governments had always respected the judicial system and implemented orders despite being in a difficult situation. "We are moving this resolution with the sole intention of protecting the interest of our people," he said.



Also opposing the constitution of the board, he demanded that the Centre file an objection to it on September 27. Stating that the Supreme Court order was not in consistence with the Constitution, BJP member Basavaraj Bommai told the government, "Strongly present our case before the court during the next hearings, all of us are with you, we are ready for any consequences, including going to jail."
Two local men accused of drugging, sexually abusing and leaving British teenage girl Scarlett Eden Keeling to die on Goa's popular Anjuna beach in 2008 were today let off by a children's court here.



Goa Children's Court Judge Vandana Tendulkar acquitted Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho of all the charges in the eight-year-long high profile death case.



Carvalho and Samson had been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, sexual abuse and drugging.



The verdict was announced in a jam packed court hall.



Scarlett's mother Fiona Mackeown expressed shock at the verdict.



"I am shocked. I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order," Fiona told reporters outside the court hall here.



After her daughter's body was found, Fiona had lived in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case. She flew down to Goa from Davon (UK) to be present in the court for the final verdict.



CBI filed its chargesheet in the case in 2010 after the probe was handed over to the central agency from Goa Police on repeated pleas made by Scarletts family.



Goa Police was accused of trying to "hush up" the case. The 15-year-old's bruised and semi-nude body was found at Anjuna beach on Feburary 19 2008, following which the police had claimed it as a case of drowning, but later registered it as culpable homicide.



The case had grabbed international attention as British citizens used to be the largest number of tourists visiting Goa.



The investigating agency had charged Samson of sexually abusing the girl and leaving her to die on Anjuna coast while Placido was accused of providing narcotics to her on the fateful day.



"I am relieved. Justice has finally prevailed," said Samson while talking to reporters after the verdict.



The prosecution examined 31 witnesses, including the mother of the deceased during the trial.
A high-end Samsung smartphone caught fire inside a Chennai-bound IndiGo aircraft today, creating a scare among 175 passengers on-board but the plane made a safe landing.



The incident, concerning Samsung Galaxy Note 2 device, prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ask all airlines to ban the use of this series of smartphones inside planes, while the company officials have been summoned by the aviation regulator on Monday.



The fire was reported inside the IndiGo aircraft coming from Singapore at the Chennai airport.



Passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board, IndiGo said.



The crew found the smoke to be coming from the hat-rack of seat 23C after which the pilot alerted the ATC of the situation on board.



"Taking the precautionary measure, the cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin.



"The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per the Standard Operating Procedures prescribed by the aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung note 2 into a container filled with water in lavatory," it said.



The airline said the aircraft made a normal landing and all passengers were deplaned as per normal procedure.



"This equipment (Samsung mobile) will be further examined by the concerned departments. IndiGo has voluntarily informed the DGCA," the carrier said, while adding that safety was of the utmost priority and at no time it can be compromised.



The watchdog had earlier banned the use of Samsung Galaxy Note7 onboard an aircraft following a series of incidents of the smartphone's battery exploding in various countries. However, this is the first incident of the Samsung device catching fire onboard in India.

No immediate comments was available from Samsung.



The regulator would now issue a fresh advisory about these devices, while it has already asked airlines to advise passengers to switch off their Samsung Galaxy Note phones while on-board.
A six-year-old boy here has won the respect of President Barack Obama and thousands of others after he offered to take in a little boy who was injured after his home in Aleppo, Syria, was bombed.



The image of shell-shocked five-year-old Omran Daqneesh sitting alone in an ambulance, covered in dust and blood, shocked the world and inspired Alex, from Scarsdale, New York, to write a 3-page letter to Obama.



In a handwritten letter sent to the White House, Alex asked Obama to go and collect Omran and bring him to his house where "we will be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers, and balloons."



Alex said that Omran could be part of his family, and offered to be his brother. He said he would teach him how to speak English, to ride a bike and added that his sister Catherine would share her toys with him.



Obama read Alex's words aloud in a speech he gave at the United Nations earlier this week, before posting a video of Alex reading the letter himself to Facebook.

In his message, Obama asked people to read the letter to "understand why he had decided to share it with the world."



"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," the President wrote.



"We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were," he added. The post has collected more than 100,000 "likes" and been shared more than 60,000 times, with many Facebook users praising the compassion shown by Alex.



One Facebook user wrote: "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."



Another added: "I heard this earlier today, as read by my president. Even with that pre-conditioning, made me cry while reading it just now. Neither of these sweet little boys, someone's sons, are Skittles."



Donald Trump Jr., the son of the Republican presidential nominee, had sparked controversy on Monday when he compared Syrian refugees to a bowl of Skittles candies.



The generous offer from Alex comes as Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia have each produced more than 1 million refugees due to ongoing crises, according to the UN. Earlier this year, the world body's refugee agency said that the number of refugees and displaced people worldwide had surpassed 60 million for the first time.
The two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets would boost Indian Air Forces war fighting abilities; but the service would also face a big challenge in maintaining a complex inventory of eight different types of fighter aircraft.



The IAF currently flies MiG-21, MiG-27, MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, Jaguar and Mirage fighter jets as well as the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft. The French origin Rafale adds another platform to the inventory, making the maintenance job far more complicated for the IAF technical hands.



Successive IAF chiefs had warned the government against multiplicity of the inventory for the sake of better economics and performance. Multiplicity of platforms is a nightmare. If it were up to me, I would have a single aircraft type. But we dont live in a perfect world, former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik had stated in the past.



In addition, the IAF also flies several other types of transport and surveillance aircraft including C-17, C-130J, IL-76, IL-78, AN-32, Dornier and Boeing 737 and Embraer jets for VVIP flights. There are Hawk and Pilatus trainers and helicopters too.



The inventory problem, however, is unlikely to fade away in future with several aviation majors including Boeing and Lockheed Martin from the US and Saab Gripen and Dassault Aviation offering to manufacture their fighter jets in India if there is an assured order from the IAF.



It is 36 at the moment. We feel that we can create a strong industrial partnership in India. We know very well the large number of aircraft that the IAF needs, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier said in an interview soon after India signed an agreement with France to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets.



The aviation firms sense an opportunity because of the dwindling numbers of fighter aircraft. IAF has sanctions for 42 squadrons, but current strength is only 33 squadrons which includes obsolete versions of MiG variants.



More than 15 years ago, the IAF mooted a proposal to purchase 126 fighter jets anticipating the gap. After almost 10 years of tendering, trial, evaluation and negotiation process, the government scrapped that plan and decided to buy only 36 platforms. The government is yet to decide from where the remaining numbers would come.


The Supreme Court had told Karnataka to adopt the principle of live and let live. Going by it, Karnataka would submit before the court that it now wants to live and hence it is constrained not to release water to Tamil Nadu.





This is how Water Resources Minister M B Patil reacted after the government got the backing of the legislature on Friday to inform the court about its inability to release water.



On September 2, the court had asked the state to release water to Tamil Nadu. It had suggested that Karnataka follow the principle of live and let live. When contacted by DH, Patil said, We want to live now. We have the right to live. So we want water to drink. It has become Samba crop vs drinking water. The priority should be to supply drinking water.



Asked whether Karnataka has stopped releasing water to Tamil Nadu, he said, There is no question of releasing water. We will go by the legislature direction and save water for drinking, he added.



To a question whether farmers in the Cauvery basin too would not get water for irrigation activities, he said henceforth water will only be for drinking.
The Navi Mumbai Police on Friday released sketches of two suspects who were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district.



While the navy called off its search operation, the Maharashtra Police continued with door-to-door searches in the area. Several schools in Uran and neighbouring areas declared a holiday as a precautionary measure. On Thursday, schoolchildren had spotted five to six gun-wielding men moving suspiciously near the naval base, following which a high alert was sounded along the Mumbai coast and adjoining areas.



The police are conducting nakabandis and search operations... let them do their job, there is no reason to panic, said Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi. The Western Naval Command (WNC) - the sword arm of the navy - has called off its operation. As of now, our part of the operation is over. However, we are on stand-by mode, should any help be required by other agencies, a WNC official said. WNC facilities like INS Tunir and INS Abhimanyu at Karanja in Uran are of extreme strategic importance.



We are not taking any chances. The information, true or incorrect, cannot be dismissed just because it has come from children. Every person out here are eyes and ears of the police... we are continuing with the operation... our boys are there on the field, an official of the state intelligence department said, wishing anonymity.



The official said that the heightened level of alertness was useful because of the involvement of multiple agencies and crack teams like the National Security Guard, Force One and Quick Reaction Team, besides the police, intelligence agencies and armed forces.



In view of the Pathankot and Uri incidents, nothing can be taken lightly, the official said.

The statements of the two witnesses  a girl and a boy  are being corroborated from other sources. While one of them spotted two people, the other said there were five to six men. A team of officials spoke to them together and

separately.


An RTI activist in Uttar Pradeshs Rampur town, about 350 kilometres from here, had informed the police officials about an impending terrorist attack in Kashmir about ten days ago.





According to reports, activist Maroof Khan (name changed) had been informed about an attack in Kashmir by one of his Facebook friends, who lived in Oman, a country in the gulf.



The girl, who originally hailed from Patna in Bihar, had informed Maroof that several Pakistanis lived in her neighbourhood and that she had heard them talking about attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.



The girl told me that a man named Irfan Yunus, who was a resident of the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), had been sending money to terrorists in the region, the RTI activist said. Irfan hailed from Barnala village in Mirpur in PoK, Khan said quoting the girl. He said the girl had also given him her cell number and that she had spoken to the police.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Friday said one of the Supreme Court judges hearing the Cauvery water dispute case should have recused himself from hearing the case owing to conflict of interest.





Participating in the discussion on the Cauvery issue in the Assembly, Kumaraswamy said one of the judges hearing the case had earlier represented Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for several years as her advocate and thus it amounted to conflict of interest.



He pointed out that on an earlier occasion, Supreme Court judge Justice Jasti Chelameswar recused himself from hearing a batch of petitions related to the implementation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award filed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and others. Justice Chelameswar had stated that he did not want to be part of the bench as he had argued against Karnataka while representing Andhra Pradesh as its advocate.



Kumaraswamy said the state government had sincerely honoured court directions on release of water to Tamil Nadu on several occasions but the Constitutional authority had showed scant respect to Karnataka. He pointed that the state had released 52.719 tmcft water to Tamil Nadu since June this year from the total inflow of 125 tmcft into the Cauvery basin dams.



The state had stopped supply of water for irrigation to its farmers to honour the courts direction and yet it had got an adverse order. Our honesty and sincerity should not become our weakness and the time has come for us to take an hardline stand, he said.



Shettars take



Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar, who termed the day as historic, said the BJP will try and impress upon the Centre not to notify the Cauvery Management Board. The court has surpassed its jurisdiction by ordering the constitution of the board at a time when the original suit challenging the CWDT award is yet to be disposed of by a larger bench, he said.



Shettar said the court direction to Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu everyday between September 21 and 27 was practically not implementable.



Failure to comply with a non-performing order will not amount to contempt of court, the former chief minister said. The government and legal team should make proper preparations ahead of the hearing of the original suit scheduled to be taken up from October 18. Shettar and Kumaraswamy urged the state government to pay compensation to farmers of the Cauvery basin who have lost their standing crops due to shortage of water. Kumaraswamy said the government should pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 per acre to farmers.




The Karnataka Legislature seems to have followed Punjabs precedent in dealing with the Cauvery dispute with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.



In March, the Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution aimed at restraining sharing of water between Punjab and Haryana. The unanimous resolution, that the state did not have even a drop of water to share with Haryana, was in fact a step ahead.



Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also announced that the land acquired decades ago for constructing the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal will be returned to its owners.



Land owners then brought in heavy equipment machinery and started to fill the dry canal belt, till the Supreme Court intervened and stayed the decision to return land.



Interestingly, while Badal moved the resolution to denotify land acquired for the canal, he had in 1978 issued orders for acquiring the land.



The resolution came after the Supreme Court resumed hearing on the contentious issue in March. The apex court is hearing a Presidential reference after the former Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh passed The Punjab Termination of Agreements Bill in July 2004, annulling its water-sharing agreements with other states, thereby stopping the construction of the canal within its territory.



That the Congress lost the Assembly elections in 2007 despite projecting itself as a champion of Punjabs cause is a different story. While the part of the canal in Haryana was completed over 25 years ago and work on a major part of the canal in Punjab too was completed, but construction work was halted after militants gunned down two senior engineers and massacred about 30 labourers.



Poll games



As Punjab approaches election year, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) feels the SYL issue could offer it a distinct advantage. The Punjab government has churned out advertisements on its stand and plans to expose other political parties for overlooking Punjabs water interests.



Despite the SAD being in coalition with the BJP in Punjab, the BJP-led NDA at the Centre appears to be favouring Haryana where it formed its first-ever government. The controversy has also put the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in jeopardy. Political parties in Punjab accuse the AAP of double-talk.



The SAD leadership says that while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal opposed construction of the canal when he was in Punjab, elsewhere he spoke in favour of water for all and his government even filed a affidavit in the apex court favouring Haryana, thereby betraying Punjabis.


Panic gripped passengers on a Chennai-bound IndiGo plane on Friday when a high-end Samsung smartphone caught fire mid-air, but the plane made a safe landing.



This is the first incident of a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phone catching fire on air. The incident on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai has prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ask all airlines to ban the use of this series of smartphones inside planes. Samsung company officials have been summoned by the DGCA on Monday.



On September 9, the DGCA had asked fliers not to use their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones while flying, amid fears that its battery could explode or catch fire. The list will now include the Note 2 series as well.



Some passengers noticed smoke in the cabin and immediately alerted the cabin crew. The crew quickly spotted smoke coming out from the hat-rack of seat 23 C, an IndiGo statement said.



The cabin crew immediately informed the pilot-in-command, who further alerted the Air Traffic Control of the situation on board.



The cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers after observing smoke emanating from a Samsung Note 2 from the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin, the airline stated.



The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per the Standard Operating Procedures prescribed by the aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung Note 2 into a container filled with water in the lavatory, it added.



The aircraft made a normal landing at the Chennai airport and all passengers were deplaned as per normal procedure.



The smartphone will be further examined by the departments concerned. IndiGo has voluntarily informed the DGCA, the statement said.



Reacting to the incident, a Samsung spokesperson said, We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices. At Samsung, customer safety is our highest priority. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information, and are looking into the matter.



What they said...



IndiGo statement: The cabin crew observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung Note 2 which was placed in the baggage in the overhead bin. The crew discharged the fire extinguisher and quickly transferred the Samsung Note 2 into a container filled with water in lavatory.



Samsung spokesperson: We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices. At Samsung, customer safety is our highest priority. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information, and are looking into the matter.


India on Friday secured its biggest-ever defence deal when it signed a euro 7.87-billion (nearly Rs 59,000 crore) contract with France to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets.



The jets delivery will commence by September 2019 and the entire lot would be handed over to the Indian Air Force by April 2022.



Most of the vintage Russian-origin MiG aircraft would be phased out by then. The inter-governmental agreement formalising the contract was signed here between Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian.



While the average base price of each jet is euro 91.7 million (about Rs 686 crore), the figure shoots up to nearly Rs 1,640 crore per jet when the cost of the weapon package, supplies and logistics are taken into

account.



The warplanes most crucial weapon is the Meteor air-to-air beyond visual-range missile, which could be a potential game changer as it is capable of hitting a target at a distance of more than 100 km. This means targets deep inside Pakistan and China can be destroyed from the Indian airspace. It also has an accuracy of two metres.



The deal has materialised 16 months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Indias plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly-away condition during his April 2015 trip to France. The previous tender to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets was cancelled by the NDA government because the deal was becoming too costly to realise.



This is the first deal for procurement of fighter jets (for the IAF) signed in 20 years, which is unique in itself. Rafale is a potent weapon that will boost IAFs capability, Parrikar told reporters. Indias previous fighter aircraft purchase agreement was with Russia in 1996 to buy Su-30s off the shelf. Later, the technology was transferred to India for licensed production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.



Government sources said France agreed to maintain 75% serviceability of Rafale jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation. This means 27 of the 36 Rafale fighters would be battle-ready at all times. India has the right to impose penalty on the French plane-maker if this condition is not met.



Compared to older generation fighters, which can make three sorties in 24 hours, Rafale jets can make five sorties in the same time. Its engine replacement too does not take much time as only 30 minutes are needed for the task, while an Su-30 MKI takes about eight hours.



Inclusion of the Meteor missile makes the weapon package better than the one offered previously. Other air-to-ground missiles are Mica and Scalp with respective ranges of 70 km and 300 km. Through hard negotiation, the government has saved euros 328 million from the initial offer price.



To New Delhis advantage, the aircraft would come with several India-specific enhancements, including an Israeli helmet-mounted display. Inclusion of these requirements in the deal has led to a three-year waiting period to receive the first aircraft.
The uncertainty over the progress of the Krishna tunnel boring machine (TBM) has came to a dramatic end, but the wait for the 42-km Phase-I of Namma Metro to become fully operational will continue.





Marking the completion of the entire tunneling of Phase-I, the Krishna TBM boring from Chickpet emerged at the southern shaft of the Kempegowda (Majestic) station on Friday afternoon. This is an important development for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to meet the April 2017 deadline for Phase-I, but further delay cannot be ruled out.



Made by German firm Herrenknecht, the Earth Pressure Balance TBM was put to work at Chickpet on December 27, 2015. It took nine months to tunnel 747 metres. With this, the green line will be through from Nagasandra in the north to Yelachenahalli in the south.



April launch



BMRCL managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola told reporters that the final breakthrough would help them expedite the post-tunneling work on a fixed timeline without any uncertainty. The Krishna TBM faced a lot of problems due to the complex geology and dense population over the ground. There was uncertainty during the tunnelling. With the final breakthrough, we are now in a certain phase where the work could be planned in a fixed timeframe, he said.



The BMRCL has set a January-end deadline for trial runs on the remaining stretch from Yelachenahalli to Sampige Road via Majestic. As soon as the tracks are ready (where the Kaveri TBM broke through), we will send trains towards the Jayanagar side for the trial runs. We expect it to happen by the end of November and full-fledged trial runs will take place on this line once the second track is ready (where the Krishna TBM broke through), Kharola said.



The work on the Majestic interchange station will be completed by this December while the City Market and Chickpet stations would be ready by January, he added. The BMRCL chief reiterated that the entire stretch would be opened in April next year.



At present, the 8-km elevated line between National College and Yelachenahalli in southern Bengaluru, which were ready back in 2015, have been lying idle, because of the unfinished tunnelling and connectivity to Majestic.




The Gangammanagudi police on Friday arrested a 19-year-old girl on the charge of hitting an elderly woman with a pressure cooker lid.



The police said Priyanka assaulted her neighbour Subamma, 70, wife of a provision shop owner Kondaiah when she was alone at her house in Raghavendra Layout on September 19.



Priyanka went to Subammas house and picked up an argument with her. She told Subamma not to intervene in her personal affairs. In a fit of rage, she hit Subamma with the lid of a pressure cooker and a stick. She snatched Subammas gold chian and left the place, said the police.



Kondaiah who came home for lunch found his wife lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He phoned his son immediately. Kondaiah and his son checked on Subamma and assumed that she was dead. They thought it was a murder for gain as the gold chain was missing.



They informed the police control room, who in turn alerted the Gangammanaguddi police.

The police rushed to the spot and found that Subamma was alive. She was shifted to a nearby hospital and is said to be out of danger.



The police questioned a few local residents who told them that they had seen Priyanka coming out Subammas house. Based on information provided by Subbamma, the police arrested Priyanka and recovered the gold chain.



During the interrogation, Priyanka told the police that her marriage is scheduled to take place on October 15 and Subbamma was talking ill about her character, the police said. Priyanka had snatched Subbammas gold chain to mislead the police, said a senior police officer.




In what could be a boon in the treatment of patients from poor and economically weaker families, District Wenlock Hospital got 11 ventilators, on Friday.





With this, the total number of ventilators at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the government-run hospital has increased to 18, including the existing seven life-saving equipment.



Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) donated the ventilators worth Rs 1 crore under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, in association with Lions Club Valancia Mangalore, under 317D, at a programme organised at RAPCC Hall on the premises of the hospital.



Addressing the gathering, BEL Director (Human Resources) M L Shanmukh said, The public sector company with an annual turnover of Rs 7,500 crore has been spending 2% of its profit on CSR activities. In the last two to three years, the company has been spending Rs 28 crore to Rs 30 crore every year towards the very initiative.



Most of the funds are spent on health and environment-related activities, with the sole aim of catering to the needs of poor and also the rural population.



Dr Shantharam Shetty, renowned orthopaedic who has lent his service to Wenlock Hospital as an honorary surgeon for three decades, emphasised on warding off the misconception among the people about ventilators.



Recalling a film dialogue of actor Amitabh Bachchan, who refers to ventilator as a killer machine, Shetty said there is a perception among the people that patients are put on ventilator only during end stage of their lives. But in reality, it is a life saving machine, he added.



Heaping praises on the authorities at the Wenlock Hospital for changing the set image of government facilities, Shetty highlighted that with the increasing patient influx, the hospital provides treatment for free including the ventilators, that would otherwise cost not less than Rs 1 lakh at a private hospital in Mangalore and Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh in Mumbai.



Centenary project



District coordinator for Lions District 317D Navinchandra D Suvarna said, The ventilators were provided as part of the centenary year project. Apart from the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Karwar, the hospital also receives patients from Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts, besides neighbouring Kerala state.


Nebraska's largest health insurer plans to exit the individual Affordable Care Act market.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska on Friday announced it will stop selling ACA-compliant individual health insurance policies through the federal marketplace exchange.

CEO Steve Martin said the insurer has been "agonizing over the past several weeks" trying to figure out a way to make its continued participation work but couldn't come up with a solution.

"This was not an easy decision," he said.

Martin said Blue Cross Blue Shield has lost $140 million on its individual exchange business since inception and expects to lose another $20 million to $40 million this year.

As a mutual insurer owned by members, he said the company operates on 1 percent margins, aiming to pay out 99 cents or less for every dollar of premiums it brings in. On the exchange policies, it has averaged a payout of $1.56 for every $1 brought in.

Another year of those kinds of losses, and "we would be digging a hole we will never get out of."

Blue Cross had sought and received rate increases of more than 30 percent for 2017 rates, but Martin said those increases turned out not to be high enough to cover losses.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield becomes the second major health insurer to stop selling individual exchange policies in the state.

UnitedHealth Group, which is the second-largest health insurer in Nebraska, announced earlier this year it would stop selling such policies in the state next year.

Those defections leave only two insurers, Aetna and Medica, serving people seeking individual policies on the exchange.

Blue Cross's move affects only the 20,000 or so of its customers who have individual policies bought on the federal marketplace exchange. The insurer will continue to offer small-group plans on the exchange as well as off-exchange individual plans that were grandfathered in before the law took effect in 2014.

And Blue Cross officials did leave the door open to possibly returning to the exchange if some fixes to the ACA are made.

Lew Trowbridge, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, said the federal government has to close some of the loopholes that allow people to enroll during so-called special enrollment periods. Trowbridge said too many people are gaming the system, getting coverage when they are sick or injured and then dropping it after receiving treatment.

Another issue that needs to be fixed are the risk pools. There are too many old and sick people getting coverage and not enough young and healthy ones.

And Trowbridge said the states need to have more control over the design of health plans, rather than the federal government dictating a one-size-fits-all approach.

Martin said the federal government is trying to respond to insurers' concerns, "but it's too little, too late when we are on the razor's edge."

"We believe the law can be fixed," he said.

And if changes are made in the next year, Blue Cross will seek to re-enter the market in 2018, Martin said.
The San Dieguito Union High School (SDUHSD) board heard strong support for the new School of Universal Learning (SOUL) charter school at its Sept. 15 meeting. The hearing was the next step in the process for the districts first-ever charter school petition  the board will make a final decision on whether to approve the school at its Oct. 13 meeting, to be held at San Dieguito High School Academy.

In over 45 minutes of public comment, teachers, parents and young students said they would love to see a school like SOUL come to the Encinitas community.

One eighth grader at Diegueno Middle School spoke about being severely bullied in the fourth grade and being diagnosed with depression and anxiety. She said she has become fearful of going to school, crying herself to sleep at night and, two summers ago, feeling suicidal. She said she is so scared of going to high school that she has considered online school.

I know Im not alone but I feel alone. I dont tell many people for the fear of the embarrassment or the rumors, said the brave young student. I had lost hope but I now I have a glimmer of hope that maybe I might find a place where I fit in, where Im not constantly depressed. That glimmer of hope brought me here, its the reason Im talking to you.When I read about SOUL in the newspaper, I smiled. A real smile. It may not feel like much to others but it is a big deal to me. So I ask please, please approve SOUL.

SOULs co-founders Michael Grimes and Marisa Bruyneel are hoping to open the 7-12th grade school in 2017, with a capacity that would reach 600 students.

Our vision for SOUL is to create and prove a new model of education, one that emphasizes holistic education, connects students to their lifes passion and purpose, and enables them to develop the tools and skills needed to live their best lives, Bruyneel said.

They aim to create a conscious and intentional culture on a campus where students feel safe. A typical day includes their unique Integra program in which students start the day by setting their intentions and meditating, have a midday focus on self development and an end-of-the-day reflection session. Academics are a combination of experience-based and project-based learning and required electives, including entrepreneurship and essential life skills. Grimes said all of the Common Core State Standards will be mastered and students will be assessed with MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) tests and Smarter Balanced Assessment tests like all public schools.

The school expects to be fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and its courses University of California approved.

Were completely dedicated to ensuring the success and happiness of our students, teachers, staff and administration, Bruyneel said. We will honorably represent this district and prove a new model of education that will be exceptional in every way.

At the meeting, SOUL got an endorsement from Miles Durfee, managing regional director of the California Charter Schools Association, (CSSA) who has children in the district. His daughter attended Earl Warren and his son loves Pacific Trails Middle School, which Durfee considers a fantastic, innovative, tech-savvy school with engaged teachers. He said the district has phenomenal schools of choice, but he was able to have his kids attend them by moving to the area. He said he believes SOUL meets all the legal standards for charter schools and the CSSA has developed a great relationship with Bruyneel and Grimes, whom he finds to have the kind of passion that makes schools great.

I hope we can all work together to see another fantastic choice for 600 students, Durfee said.

In the boards questions to SOUL, SDUHSD Vice President Joyce Dalessandro wondered how deeply the charter school had investigated the districts Sunset High School.

Theres a lot going in this district and these are schools of choice, Dalessandro said, noting Sunset seems to achieve many of the goals they have presented.

Bruyneel said they are not comparing themselves to SDUHSD schools but offering something different. She said she has not seen the focus that they have in developing the whole child and their Integra program in SDUHSD schools. Bruyneel and Grimes also said that there were some alarming statistics at Sunset in terms of students not performing at their highest.

Having another option only helps meet more students needs, Grimes said.

Rick Ayala, Sunsets principal for the last eight years, said Sunset is technically a continuation school but he thinks there are a lot of misconceptions about that term  it is a school of choice, an alternative to the comprehensive high schools in the district.

Ninety-five percent of our students are here voluntarily for three reasons: Some are here to accelerate their progress to graduate early, some are here to recover credits and get caught up, and others because theyd rather be at a small school, said Ayala of the school that typically peaks at 160 students.

Ayala did not agree with the statements that his students were not performing or failing.

To me it just sounds like somebody asked SOUL a question and they had a knee-jerk reaction because they werent prepared to answer that question, Ayala said, noting no one from SOUL has ever spoken to him about the school or visited, which Grimes did acknowledge. My gut feeling was that was a jab at what we do without the person knowing what we do. To say that students are failing is an uninformed statement.

Ayala gave just one example of a former student who spent four years at Sunset, graduated early to attend UC Berkeley, where he graduated with honors, and is now attending Yale Law School.

The board also voiced concerns about the math curriculum and meeting state standards, the enrollment process, funding and the school location. Trustee John Salazar asked how the school will handle special needs students with a relatively small budget.

Grimes said the math curriculum being developed will specifically meet the state standards and noted that it is illegal for charters to have admissions requirements. As far as funding, they plan to launch a crowd-sourcing campaign in October and are eying the Pacific View property as a potential location. Grimes said for their budget, they are working with Charter School Management Corporation as their back-office provider for financial management and operations expertise.

One Encinitas resident, Justin Stockton, had questions about whether project-based experiential learning is achievable in large segments and also had concerns about the schools spiritual side after seeing the brouhaha created by yoga in the elementary school, he wondered about the legal challenges and the potential litigation with a school that takes that approach with public dollars.

Bruyneel said they have moved away from using the highly-charged word spiritual in their petition and have changed it to personal development. She said the school is in no way religious. She also noted that their class sizes will be small at a 25:1 ratio.

Tony Ricciuti, an Encinitas native who has 24 years of experience in education, praised the school for what they are trying to accomplish.

It breaks my heart everyday when kids come to middle school and theyve already been beaten. They tell you Im stupid or I dont know things and it makes me want to cry, Ricciuti said. Ive been trying to do the things theyre talking about doing within the public education systemI hope San Dieguito will open your arms and welcome them. If they dont, somebody will.

Robert MacPhee, an Encinitas speaker and facilitator who helps colleges and high schools like San Dieguito through his Excellent Decisions program, also complimented SOUL for the conversation they are starting.

Our young people are going out into an environment where they are faced with incredible stress and pressure, MacPhee said, noting students need to develop a strong sense of self to make decisions about issues such as binge drinking, drugs, bullying, sex and, as they heard that night, suicide. What Ive seen is that the students with the strongest sense of self, who really know who they are in addition to having all the academic skills, are the ones who are truly thriving.
After learning about an email encouraging short-term vacation rental owners to register as Del Mar residents, the City Council on Sept. 19 asserted the city would take the necessary steps to protect against voter registration fraud and ensure a fair election.

It is of the utmost importance that we do everything we can to make sure the election is fair, said Councilman Dwight Worden.

The upcoming election could help shape the council that makes a decision on the controversial issue of short-term rentals  an ongoing debate in Del Mar.

Short-term rentals are not specifically permitted or prohibited in the city. Still, the practice has been going on for decades in Del Mar.

With the recent proliferation of short-term rentals, however, the council is currently contemplating whether to ban or regulate them or, perhaps, let voters decide.

Supporters argue that short-term rentals benefit the community, serving tourists in the city, while opponents contend that rentals have changed the character of the community. There have also been complaints about noise, parking and trash.

There are three council seats on the ballot, something the Aug. 31 email blatantly points out.

Mayor Sherryl Parks and Councilmen Al Corti and Don Mosiers seats are up for grabs in November. Although Parks and Corti are running for re-election, Mosier is not seeking another term.

A group called Share Del Mar Alliance, which supports short-term rentals, sent the email to an undisclosed number of people, asking rental owners to change their voter registration to Del Mar.

The opposition is counting on the fact that many STVR owners live (and vote) elsewhere and we need to change this, states the email, whose authors name has since been redacted. We can. And its pretty easy. Im one of those and changed.

The email gives step-by-step instructions on how rental owners can list their property address as their home address and then list their actual residence as their mailing address in order to receive a mail ballot at their non-Del Mar home. The California Elections Code, however, states that people can only vote in the precinct in which they are domiciled.

The email also describes some council members and council candidates as supporters and others as opponents of short-term rentals.

We want a fair election and I want a fair election, said Corti, who was identified as a swing vote in the letter.

Corti said he was appalled and disappointed by the groups actions. After learning about the letter, he said he sent the group an email insisting he would help ensure the city has a fair election.

The effort by the Share Del Mar Alliance to have non-residents change their voter registration to Del Mar is not only a violation of the California Elections Code, but a direct threat to the integrity of our upcoming Del Mar election, said Del Mar resident and former San Diego County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.

As a longtime elected official, I know how important it is for citizens to trust that elections are fair, and I know that you, as elected officials, share my commitment to stopping voter fraud, she added. I certainly encourage all qualified citizens to vote, but please vote where you live. Dont try to affect the outcome of our elections by claiming to live here when you dont. Your domicile is where you and your family reside  not where you do business.

In an effort to identify and prevent voter registration fraud, Slater-Price requested the council direct city staff and citizens to work cooperatively and proactively with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, San Diego County District Attorneys office and California Secretary of State. She said that several non-residents allegedly registered to vote by listing their business address or the Del Mar Post Office address as their residence.

With the number of applications in a voter pool this small, it will be possible for us to go through and verify that everyone is, indeed, a resident, Slater-Price said. It will also send a clear and present message to everyone who might consider doing this to advance their own business purposes.

Del Mar resident Claire McGreal also asked that the Registrar of Voters verify all Del Mar residents who registered to vote on or after Aug. 31, when the email was circulated.

This is a very, very important issue, McGreal said. We must do whatever we can do to protect the integrity of our elections in Del Mar.

The email was first addressed publicly at the Sept. 6 council meeting, when council members received a red dot letter just prior to the meeting. Council members couldnt discuss the item because it was not on the agenda, but they agreed to address the issue at the next meeting on Sept. 19.

Following the Sept. 6 meeting, the citys administrative services director, Ashley Jones, said she forwarded the original email to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters. The Registrar of Voters, she said, has since notified the San Diego County District Attorneys office, which has started an investigation.

Thats still actively underway, Jones said at the Sept. 19 meeting. We will continue to provide any information or assist them in any way that they need us to.

Since the initial email, the sender sent a retraction on Sept. 8, urging recipients to not take any action in response to or reliance on my email.

Despite the retraction, council members wanted to make a clear statement to the community that people should not falsely register to vote in Del Mar. Therefore, the council made a motion to confirm its commitment to preserve the integrity of the local election.

The council encouraged city staff to continue to work closely with the Registrar of Voters, the district attorneys office and other authorities on any suspected illegal voter activity in the community. The council also encouraged city staff and community members to cooperatively work together to identify suspect addresses.

This needs to be very clear to everybody that this is not something we want in our community, Deputy Mayor Terry Sinnott said.
DAVID CITY  Customers arriving at Pizza Hut in David City on Wednesday found a sign explaining 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 restaurant 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 an increase in the state minimum wage and upcoming changes that will require previously exempt salaried employees to be paid for overtime hours they work. The rural economy has also been affected by the drop in farm commodity prices.

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 McDonald's 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 the restaurant market has changed, citing discount prices customers can find, social media coupons and other factors that make it 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 maintained its carry-out traffic, but dine-in business had decreased.

The restaurants 10 employees received a phone call about the closing, Staab said.

The company will work to create opportunities for the David City staff to work at the Pizza Hut restaurants 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, Minnesota, area was closing.

We have a lot of stores in rural markets that we hate leaving, Staab said.
By Diane Toomey

22 September 2016 (Yale Environment 360)  The few remaining species of native forest birds left on the Hawaiian island of Kauai have suffered population declines so severe  98 percent in one case  that some are near extinction. The cause of the collapse, according to a recent study in the journal Science Advances, is not alien plants or predators, but rather warming temperatures that have enabled non-native mosquitoes carrying deadly avian malaria to invade the birds high-elevation strongholds. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Eben Paxton, ecologist with U.S. Geological Survey and lead author of the study, says his groups research showed that the mosquitoes moved into the Alakai Plateau over the last decade, infecting the birds and pushing their populations to a tipping point. Were at the 11th hour, he says. Paxton cites a number of approaches for eradicating the mosquitoes, including releasing irradiated infertile males, altering the bacteria naturally found in these insects, and even using genetically modified mosquitoes. As he sees it, more than the birds of Kauai are at stake. The way that we view Kauai is that its an early warning system for the rest of the islands, he says. If we get it right on Kauai then, I feel pretty good about the prospects of some of the other islands. Yale Environment 360: You looked at the population trends for seven species of native forest birds by comparing the results of surveys done on the Alakai Plateau. You discovered a rather dramatic population decline in all six species of Hawaiian honeycreepers. What were your findings? Eben Paxton: What weve seen from going back to the 1980s is a gradual decline of forest birds. But its really accelerated in the last 10 to 12 years. From 2000 to 2012, weve seen a 64 percent decline in the core range of the birds and a 94 percent decline in much of the outer portions of their range. A number of these species now exist in very small core parts of their habitat in the interior of this mountain forest. e360: You name avian malaria, which is transmitted by non-native mosquitoes, as the main culprit here and say the rise in its incidence is due to climate change. Whats been the warming trend at these higher elevations on Kauai? Paxton: Theres a really strong relationship between temperature and the distribution of disease. These high elevation forests are too cool most of the time for diseases to develop. Global warming is allowing these mosquitoes to move further up in elevation. [more]
19 September 2016 (teleSUR)  Two U.S. congresspeople will propose in the coming weeks a bill that would see thousands of acres of Indigenous lands turned into oil drilling zones. Two Republican congresspeople are seeking to pass a controversial bill through the U.S. House of Representatives that would seek the first land grab of Native American lands in 100 years, members of the Ute nation have warned. The Utah Public Lands Initiative was proposed by Utah Congressperson Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz and seeks to roll back federal policy to the late 1800s when Indian lands and resources were taken from tribal nations for the benefit of others, the Ute Business Committee said in an article for the Salt Lake Tribune Saturday. Bishop and Chaffetz will present the bill to the House in a few weeks, and if it passes it would see 18 million acres of public lands in Eastern Utah downgraded from protected lands and turned into oil and gas drilling zones that are exempted from environmental protections, Think Progress reported earlier this year when the bill was unveiled. The actions of Bishop and Chaffetz would seek to divest the Ute Indian Tribe of their ancestral homelands, the committee added while also bringing back failed policies of tribal land dispossession that have had a devastating and lasting impact upon tribal nations for the past century. The bill proposes to make more than 100,000 acres of the Ute reservation lands for the state of Utah. This modern day Indian land grab cannot be allowed to stand, the committee argued. The nation further slammed the legislators for utterly failing to consult and work with leaders of the Native American community in drafting such a bill when it proposes taking away more than 26 percent of its lands. Representing more than a quarter of these eastern Utah lands, the tribe should have been a major participant in the development of any bill to address problems in federal land management. We were not, the committee warned in their article. [] The Utah Public Lands Initiative was proposed by Utah Congressperson Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz and seeks to roll back federal policy to the late 1800s when Indian lands and resources were taken from tribal nations for the benefit of others, the Ute Business Committee said in an article for the Salt Lake Tribune Saturday. Bishop and Chaffetz will present the bill to the House in a few weeks, and if it passes it would see 18 million acres of public lands in Eastern Utah downgraded from protected lands and turned into oil and gas drilling zones that are exempted from environmental protections, Think Progress reported earlier this year when the bill was unveiled. [ more ]

US Bill Seeks First Native American Land Grab in 100 Years

By Shaun Chapoose, Edred Secakuku, Tony Small, Ronald Wopsock, Bruce Ignacio, and Cummings Justin Vanderhoop

17 September 2016 In the next few weeks, Utah Congressmen Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz will attempt to push through the U.S. House of Representatives the first Indian land grab in over 100 years. HR5780, the Utah Public Lands Initiative, proposes to roll back federal policy to the late 1800s when Indian lands and resources where taken from tribal nations for the benefit of others. The actions of Bishop and Chaffetz would seek to divest the Ute Indian Tribe of their ancestral homelands and rekindle failed policies of tribal land dispossession that have had a devastating and lasting impact upon tribal nations for the past century. The Ute Indian Tribe strongly opposes H.R. 5780 due to the devastating effect it would have on our reservation and precedent that the bill sets for federal Indian policy. We were shocked to learn that the bill proposes to take more than 100,000 acres of our reservation lands for the state of Utah. This modern day Indian land grab cannot be allowed to stand. Bishop and Chaffetzs actions also defy common sense. The bill involves seven counties in eastern Utah. Our 4.5 million-acre reservation overlaps these counties and makes up 26 percent of the total land area covered by the bill. Representing more than a quarter of these eastern Utah lands, the tribe should have been a major participant in the development of any bill to address problems in federal land management. We were not. The National Congress of American Indians, the oldest and largest inter-tribal organization representing tribal nations throughout the United States, issued a resolution opposing the taking of our tribal homelands, and this was provided to Bishop and Chaffetz well in advance of the time the current legislation was introduced. Despite knowing of these concerns, Bishop and Chaffetz have proceeded to move forward with this legislation. Perhaps they dont understand their solemn obligation as representatives of the United States to fulfill the trust obligation to tribal nations, or maybe they just dont care. Other legislation introduced in the House Natural Resources Committee by Bishop has sought to turn back the clock by reverting to other past failed policies of the United States in its treatment of native peoples. Specifically, the congressman has sought to limit the full and final settlement of tribal reserved water rights throughout the West, has sought to change the well-established process for federal recognition of tribal nations and has sought to employ other tactics that seek to divide and create conflicts between Tribal Nations. It would appear that Bishop wants to eliminate the government-to-government relationship and trust that has been built up in Indian country through the work of this Democratic administration and other past administrations. Reverting to failed past federal policies of termination and assimilation will not serve to advance or benefit either Indian country or this country. If this is Bishops objective, he should resign his position as chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee for his failure to understand and uphold the obligations of the United States to tribal nations. If the congressmen had demonstrated sound leadership and accepted the Ute Indian Tribe as a full partner in the development of this legislation, we could have developed a Public Lands Initiative capable of passing Congress. After the November elections, the Ute Indian Tribe will still be here working to improve the management of our reservation. With these unlawful proposals to terminate our tribal homelands off the table, we need a Public Lands Initiative that benefits all of Utah, including the states oldest residents  the Ute Indian Tribe. The authors, members of the Ute Business Committee, are Shaun Chapoose, Chairman of the Business Committee and Uncompahgre Band representative; Edred Secakuku, Vice Chairman of the Business Committee and Whiteriver representative; Tony Small, Uncompahgre Band representative; Ronald Wopsock, Uintah Band representative; Bruce Ignacio, Uintah Band representative; Cummings Justin Vanderhoop, Whiteriver representative.
Hsinchu, Taiwan (Sep. 23, 2016)  eMemory, the global leader in logic-based embedded non-volatile memory (Logic NVM) announced today that it has received TSMCs Open Innovation Platform (OIP) IP Partner Award again. The selection was made based on comprehensive consideration and judgment. TSMC has honored eMemory with this award since 2010, rewarding eMemorys commitment to offering comprehensive logic NVM IPs in a variety of TSMC processes.

eMemorys comprehensive IPs have consistently received high appraisals from our mutual customers, said Suk Lee, TSMC Senior Director of Design Infrastructure Marketing. This award recognizes eMemorys ability to provide high-quality logic NVM IPs as well as excellent technical support and customer service.

eMemory President Rick Shen said, " We are honored to win the TSMC Open Innovation Platform's Partner of the Year Award in the categories of Specialty Embedded Memory IP again this year. With our long-term partner TSMC, we will continue to devote our efforts to providing flexible logic NVM solutions with user-friendly interfaces across a wide range of process platforms."

The eMemory partnership with TSMC began in 2003 and has seen the implementation of logic NVM solutions including NeoBit, NeoFuse, NeoEE, and NeoMTP across a range of TSMC process platforms. eMemorys efforts to develop NVM solutions in advanced process have resulted in significant achievements this year, with the NeoFuse IP completing qualification in the 16FF+ process and currently undergoing qualification in the 16FFC process.

To date, over 260 of eMemorys silicon IPs have been deployed on TSMCs Open Innovation Platform. eMemory has completed more than 1,000 new tape-outs, and a total of nearly 8 million embedded eMemory silicon IP wafers have been employed in various TSMC manufacturing process platforms for a broad range of applications, including IoT, smartphone, automotives, and consumer electronics.

About eMemory

eMemory (Stock Code: 3529) is a global leader in logic process embedded non-volatile memory (eNVM) silicon IP. Since it was established in 2000, eMemory has devoted itself to research and development of innovative technologies, offering the industrys most comprehensive platforms of patented eNVM IP solutions, including NeoBit (OTP Silicon IP), NeoFuse (Anti-Fuse OTP Silicon IP), NeoMTP (1,000+ Times Programmable Silicon IP), NeoFlash (10,000+ Times Programmable Silicon IP), and NeoEE (100,000+ Times Programmable Silicon IP), which are supplied to semiconductor foundries, integrated devices manufacturers (IDMs), and fabless design houses worldwide. eMemorys eNVM silicon IPs support a wide range of applications, including trimming, function selection, code storage, parameter setting, encryption, and identification setting. The company has the worlds largest NVM engineering team and prides itself on providing partners with a full-service solution that sees the integration of eMemory eNVM IP from initial design stages through fabrication. For more information about eMemory, please visit www.ememory.com.tw.






Vodafone and 4G operator Afrimax Group have announced a non-equity Partner Market agreement for Cameroon.

The two companies will launch LTE data services under the Vodafone Cameroon brand initially in Cameroons two biggest cities, Douala and Yaounde.

The roll out of Vodafone Cameroon for consumers and businesses will include the opening of Vodafone branded retail stores and kiosks in key locations, supported by a network of distributors and resellers offering an attractive range of LTE handsets and devices.

Vodafone Cameroon will offer small and medium enterprises a range of connectivity products including LTE and Wi-Fi mobile data services, fixed Internet and a suite of office solutions available at retail and through direct sales channels.

Vodafone Partner Markets Chief Executive Diego Massidda said: The next stage in our agreement with Afrimax for sub-Saharan Africa brings Cameroon to the Vodafone Partner Market family. I am delighted that consumers and businesses in Cameroon will now experience Vodafones high-speed data services.

Antoine Pamboro has been appointed by Afrimax as Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Cameroon, which will be headquartered in Douala. Afrimax Group Management Peter Langkilde, CEO and Rob Philpott, CFO commented: Launching Vodafone Cameroon is an exciting development for Afrimax and another big step towards our ambition of building the leading LTE-focused operator in sub-Saharan Africa.

The launch in Cameroon builds further on the framework agreement between Vodafone and Afrimax, announced in November 2014, to co-operate and explore potential Partner Market opportunities in a variety of territories in sub-Saharan Africa. As part of the agreement, Vodafone and Afrimax have already partnered to launch LTE services in Uganda and Zambia.
Using the Freestyle Libre flash glucose monitoring system, developed by Abbott Diabetes Care, appears to significantly reduce hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients, new research shows.

Flash glucose testing has even been found to be more effective in preventing hypoglycemia than self-monitoring of blood glucose using finger pricking, and apparently does so without raising HbA1c levels.

The Libre system is a novel glucose-sensing technology primarily aimed at type 1 diabetes patients that need tighter control of their blood sugar to delay the onset of diabetic complications and reduce exposure to hypoglycemia.

It comprises a small round glucose sensor worn for up to 14 days on the back of the arm and a scanner device that the patient waves over the sensor to obtain a reading of glucose concentrations every minute in tissue fluid surrounding the bodys cells.

Measurements can be taken through clothing and the sensor is also water-resistant.

With this system, patients are usually better informed with scans displaying both historical and current glucose trends, and thus more likely to reduce their time spent in hypoglycemia.

This has been tested in a multicenter, prospective, nonmasked, randomized controlled trial of the Libre published last week in the journal Lancet.

Researchers assessed the effectiveness of flash glucose monitoring compared with usual self blood glucose monitoring in 328 well-controlled patients (HbA1c below 58 mmol/mol or 7.5%) with type 1 diabetes from 23 European diabetes centres.

The primary outcome examined by the scientists was the change in time in hypoglycemia between the start of the experiment and after six months.

The results showed that for patients assigned to flash glucose monitoring, the mean time in hypoglycemia went from 3.38 hours per day at baseline to 2.03 hours per day at 6 months.

For the control group, using standard blood glucose testing strips, changes in the time spent in hypoglycemia were less significant, with a modest decrease from 3.44 hours a day to 3.27 hours a day by the end of the study.

Findings for flash glucose testing equate to a 38 per cent reduction in time in hypoglycemia.

For Dr Jan Bolinder, the lead author of the study, the marked reduction in time can be explained by the fact that when patients started using the Libre device, they instantly tripled their rate of self-monitoring.

Participants also reported experiencing less hyperglycemia and glucose variability while managing to stay longer in the optimum range.

Abbotts Freestyle Libre has been licensed for use in the European Union in 2014 as a replacement for finger-stick glucose monitoring in people with any type of diabetes down to four years of age.

It is now available in 28 countries, with almost 200,000 users globally, but cant be obtained in the United States yet.
It's that time of the week when we get you a list of the hottest, new movie and game trailers. So without further ado, let's get rolling.

Passengers Official Trailer

Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, Passengers is a hot new sci-fi movie set on a spacecraft enroute to a distant colony planet. The spaceship is supposed to be transporting thousands of people, but when their sleep chambers malfunction, two passengers are awakened 90 years earlier than planned.

Underworld: Blood Wars

Kate Beckinsale is back in yet another Underworld saga, and this time she has to fight till the end of the eternal war between the Lycan clan & the Vampire faction that betrayed her.

Max Steel

Teenager Max McGrath is struggling to know the purpose of his life when he discovers that his father has not only given him superpowers, but also an alien companion/guru called Steel.

Ghost In The Shell

Based on a Japanese anime, Ghost In The Shell is a sci-fi thriller starring Scarlett Johansson, who plays a cyborg policewoman attempting to bring down a nefarious computer hacker.

I.T. Trailer

Love the Internet of Things? Want to live in a fully automated home? Think again! Technology may give you a swanky home, but it also makes you vulnerable to all sorts of attacks! This is what happens when an I.T. consultant of a successful businessman starts to stalk his daughter and endanger his family.

Gears of War 4: Launch Trailer

One of the biggest video game franchises is back with a bang as a new saga begins! After narrowly escaping an attack on their village, JD Fenix and his friends, Kait and Del, must rescue the ones they love and discover the source of a monstrous new enemy.

Forza Horizon 3 Official Launch Trailer

29 E3 awards later, racing game Forza Horizon 3 now has a free Xbox One demo. Set in the beautiful Australian landscape, youre in charge of the Horizon Festival. Customize everything in your car, hire and fire friends, and explore the down under in over 350 of the worlds greatest cars, including the debut of the 2017 Lamborghini Centenario.

Dishonored 2  Creative Kills Gameplay Trailer

From the gritty streets of Dunwall to the shimmering opulence of Karnaca, every level in Dishonored 2 is a puzzle waiting for you to solve.

Tekken 7

Your favourite Tekken fighters are back and ready to rumble! If youve been a Tekken fan all your life, its time to rejoice as Tekken 7 is finally launching next year! Take a look at the trailer below.

Mafia 3 Official The World of New Bordeaux: Weapons

Check out all the awesome weapons you will be able to use in Mafia 3: The World of New Bordeaux. From handguns to machine guns, to sniper rifles, and bombs, Mafia 3 is the perfect recipe for mayhem.
Oil and gas investing company MX Oil announced its unaudited half-year results for the six months to 30 June on Friday - a period in which it once again made nil revenue, but continued its development programme.

The AIM-traded company did point out that Aje Field, part of OML 113, commenced production in May 2016, however, with the next phase of the Aje Field expansion being developed.

More than 7m of new funding was raised before expenses during the period, and the recent repayment of loan notes did reduce the firms gearing.

Its operating loss was significantly wider than the first half of last year, at 1.49m against 0.46m.

With the Aje Field commencing production, the year to date has been an exciting period for the company, said MX Oil CEO Stefan Olivier.

We continue to look at opportunities in Mexico whilst, at the same time, further opportunities are now presenting themselves in other parts of the world.

We are delivering on our objective to build a leading oil and gas investing company and I look forward to providing further updates on our progress.
AIM listed agricultural and forestry company Obtala sold its stake in Lifes Comfort Solutions retail outlets in Lesotho for just $100 to Rystabelz PTY, the latest divestiture of non-essential business ventures for the company.

The company is to dispose 72.69% of its stake in the retail outlets through its wholly owned subsidiary African Home Stores, with the deal expected to be completed within 90 days.

Chairman Miles Pelham said the disposal of Lifes Comfort Solutions marks the last divestiture of non-core ventures, leaving the company focused on its two remaining divisions - Tanzanian agriculture and Mozambican forestry.

The company would be able to focus on expanding production capacity within the two business divisions, while avoiding losses from retail operations.

A deferred consideration of $225,000 on the original October 2014 purchase, is payable in monthly instalments by African Home Stores with a final payment due in June 2017.

For the year 31 December 2015, Obtalas retail division, which included Lifes Comfort Solutions as its only trading entity, made losses before tax of about 750,000 on turnover of about 3.125m and had net liabilities of about 134,000.

Shares in Obtala were up 2.06% to 12.50p at 1052 BST.
Massive airstrikes rained down on the Syrian city of Aleppo once again on Friday as the army declared an offensive against rebel-held areas.

The Russian-backed Syrian army sent the warplanes over the country's biggest city, in attacks which have so far left at least 27 dead. A ceasefire that provided a rest from hostilities broke down on Monday.

Reuters reports that 250,000 people are still trapped in the opposition-held sector of Aleppo, and the army has given no indication that the airstrikes will stop any time soon.

Russia supports Bashar al-Assad's government, while the United States has backed the opposition in the conflict.

Aleppo was once the commercial capital of Syria, but has been ravaged by the bitter dispute which has killed an estimated 400,000.

The city is a key battleground in the war, with the government maintaining control of the western half, and the rebels mostly controlling the east.

Head of the civil defense rescue service in the rebel area, Ammar al Selmo, told Reuters the scene was one of "annihilation".

"What's happening now is annihilation in every sense of the word," he said. "Today the bombardment is more violent, with a larger number of planes."

Last week's ceasefire was thought to provide better access to humanitarian aid, but collapsed before an aid convoy was hit in an attack on Wednesday.
US presidential candidate Donald Trump has criticised the actions of violent protesters in Charlotte, North Carolina after three nights of rioting in the city.

Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by police in the city on Tuesday, sparking demonstrations that turned violent on Wednesday as a man was fatally shot.

The events have instigated once again the debate surrounding the treatment of those in the black community by the country's law enforcement.

During a campaign event in Philadelphia on Thursday, the Republican nominee addressed the issue.

"The rioting in our streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and ended now," Trump said.

He also accused Democrat rival Hillary Clinton of blaming the police for problems in cities in the United States.

Earlier on Thursday in a separate speech in Pittsburgh, Trump referred to the situation in Charlotte as being part of a "national crisis".

"This is a national crisis," Trump said during the speech. "We have to make our cities safe again."

Trump and Clinton will go head to head in the race for the White House in November.
European stocks fell as investors booked some profits following Thursdays Fed-fuelled gains and digested some mixed economic data.

At midday, the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.7%, Germanys DAX was off 0.2% and Frances CAC 40 was 0.5% weaker.

Meanwhile, oil prices were mixed amid reports that Saudi Arabia was ready to cut production if Iran agrees to freeze output at current levels of 3.6m barrels of oil per day. West Texas Intermediate was down 0.1% to $46.29 a barrel and Brent crude was 0.7% higher at $47.96. The next big focus for oil markets will be the OPEC meeting in Algeria next week.

IG's Chris Beauchamp said it was no surprise to see some profit-taking kicking in. "Risk assets such as stocks have been firmly in favour this week, with sectors such as mining doing particularly well. The key central bank meetings on Wednesday cleared the way for investors to move back into equities, and while the last week of September tends to be a tough one for stock markets, the way ahead look very congenial indeed."

Data released on Friday showed output from the euro area's manufacturing and services sectors fell to a combined 20-month low in September.

IHS Markit's composite purchasing managers' output index for the single currency bloc slipped from 52.9 in August to 52.6, pointing to the slowest pace of activity since January 2015.

Significantly, the average reading for the composite PMI dipped to 52.9 in the third quarter from the 53.1 reading for the prior three months.

That, the survey compiler said, "suggested that the economy is losing, rather than gaining, momentum."

The service sector PMI fell from 52.8 to in August to 52.1 versus consensus expectations of 52.8, hitting a 21-month low.

Meanwhile, an equivalent measure for the manufacturing sector improved unexpectedly to reach 52.6, beating expectations for a reading of 51.5 and up from 51.7 in August, hitting a three-month high.

In corporate news, Danish drug maker H. Lundbeck tanked after saying an Alzheimers treatment failed in a late-stage study.

Indivior tumbled as 35 US states filed a lawsuit against the drug maker alleging that it tried to keep generic versions of a drug off the market.

German lender Commerzbank nudged lower amid reports is was planning up to 5,000 job cuts.

On the upside, Anglo American pushed up after appointing Fortescue Metals Stephen Pearce as finance director following Rene Medoris decision to retire, as announced back in April.

Aryzta gained gorund after it said Gary McGann, currently chairman of Paddy Power Betfair, will join its board as chairman.

Italys Moleskin surged after Belgiums DIeteren SA said it will make an offer to buy the company.

Sports Direct surged after the retailer said Dave Forsey has resigned and will be replaced as chief executive by Mike Ashley.

Housebuilder Persimmon and its peers rallied after Liberum upped the stock to buy from hold as it turned more positive on the sector.
HSBC is seeking to release $20bn-worth of capital tied up in the United States without upsetting regulators, according to a report by Reuters.

In the past, the bank had been the focus of US regulators for the alleged breach anti-money laundering rules. The capital is earning a meager 1% return up to half of which could be returned to the holding company via asset sales according to analysts and investors.

The bank's investors are currently missing out on higher profits and more secure dividends as a result of this large US balance sheet. The bank earns a return on equity of only 1.4% compared with 5% for HSBC globally and 13% for major US commercial bank rivals according to Deutche Bank.

"The issue is a valid one, as it appears that the capital in the USA is earning low returns," said Richard Marwood, Senior Fund Manager at Royal London Asset Management, which owns HSBC shares. "As shareholders we are concerned about where companies deploy capital and what the long term returns on that capital are."

The bank has allocated $33bn dollars of capital to its North American businesses, of which just $6bn, mainly the Canada business, is making a healthy return of 9% according to an analysis by Deutsche Bank.

"[...] the scope and scale of capital HSBC has allocated to North America is sub-optimal for shareholders and needs to be revisited," said analysts at Deutsche.

Analysts and investors put the range on how much capital the bank could free up while still keeping a viable US business at $5-10bn.

HSBC Holdings Plc, where the bank pays dividends to investors from, has come under pressure from weaker revenues and regulatory demands to retain capital.

"While we would like to see returns increase, or failing that redeployment of capital into markets outside the U.S., it is for the company to best decide how to achieve this and how to manage its relationship with local regulators," Marwood of RLAM said.

Part of the reason for the amount of capital in the US was the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and the collapse of Lehman Brothers. US regulators and others around the world made foreign banks operating in the country boost capital in order to bolster their strength.

Barclays, Deutsche Bank and HSBC have all held billions of dollars more in their US businesses, which has put pressure on profitability.

The drawn-out sale of HSBCs consumer lending business in a $16bn deal has also contributed to the situation.

The bank's ability to take capital out of the United States is however subject to it submitting plans to do so to the Federal Reserve.

The Fed have so far approved a remit of a maximum of $2.5 billion of excess cash to its holding company in Britain in 2017 after the bank passed an annual stress test in July.
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Worldwide notebook shipment update - August 2016

Notebook Tracker data services. Please The DIGITIMES Research analysis you are trying to open requires subscription todata services. Please sign in if you wish to continue.

The top-5 notebook vendors and top-3 notebook ODMs saw their combined shipments rise 27% and 31% on month, respectively in August thanks to inventory preparation for the year-end holidays in Europe and North America, Windows 10's annual update, and mass shipments of Intel's Kaby Lake processors.
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.
Subscriber content preview

BEIJING (AP)  Chinese officials are conceding mistakes in the smoothing over of a much-loved 700-year-old section of the Great Wall of China in the name of restoration.

The widely mocked project involves an 8-kilometer (5-mile) unrestored section of the wall on which visitors are technically forbidden to tread.





. . .
New study ranks India lowly 143 in health parameters

On a day when the nation was shocked by the news of a woman patient being forced to eat a meal off the floor of a major hospital in Ranchi, a new index developed to assess a country's achievement in health ranks India at 143 in a list of 188 countries, six places ahead of Pakistan and way behind countries like Sri Lanka (79), China (92), war-torn Syria (117) and Iraq (128) (See: Shocking: top Ranchi hospital serves patient food on floor). The first global analysis that assesses countries on sustainable development goal (SDG) health performance was launched at a special event at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and published online in The Lancet.

The study by an international collaboration on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) analysed each country's progress towards achieving health-related SDG targets by creating an overall SDG Index score. Countries were then ranked by their scores to show which nations are closest to achieving the targets.

A nation's SDG index score is based on a scale of zero to 100. In 2015, Iceland topped the overall list with a score of 85. The nation with the lowest score was the Central African Republic - 20. The United States was ranked 28th with a score of 75, while the UK was rank 5th. India  with mosquito-borne diseases routinely raging through the capital Delhi - had a score of 42.

One of the health-related indicators is malaria. Countries like Sri Lanka, Iraq, Syria, Libya and others that have eliminated malaria scored 100 on that health indicator while India registered only 10 points.

Another indicator is under-five mortality. The target for achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) was 2015. India is close to achieving the MDG goal of 42 deaths per 1,000 births and, in 2014, registered 45 deaths per 1,000 births. On a scale of 0-100, India has a score of 39 on this front.

On safe hygiene practices, India had 8 on the scale of 0-100. India's highest score has been 93 on the 'war' indicator front that assesses age-standardised death rate due to collective violence and legal intervention per 100,000 population. Countries like Syria, Iraq, Libya and Pakistan have registered single digits.

The poor performance has prompted co-author of the study and senior researcher Dr Vikram Patel, Professor of International Mental Health at the Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, to point out that the reason why India continues to be one of the worst-performing countries in health is because its political and medical classes have persistently ignored public health principles which ultimately improve a nation's health, such as addressing social determinants of disease and ensuring high-quality, accountable, universal health care for people.

The SDGs are 17 universal goals, 169 targets and 230 indicators set by the United Nations in 2015 to guide a range of pressing problems including food and water security, poverty and climate change up to 2030. The SDGs follow and expand on the MDGs which lapsed at the end of 2015. Health is at the core of the SDGs and the third SDG aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being at all ages. Health-related indicators are present among 11 of the other 16 goals.

Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors (GBD) study between 1990 and 2015, Professor Stephen Lim from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, Seattle, and others estimated the current status of 33 of the 47 health-related indicators.

To enable easier comparison, they created a health-related SDG index with a rating of 0-100 that combines these 33 health-related indicators to measure progress for 188 countries between 1990 and 2015.
Airtel, BSNL take on Reliance Jio with cheaper 4G data packs

Bharti Airtel and state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) are launching competitive 4G data packs to take on competition from Reliance Jio's free voce and cheap data plans.

Bharti Airtel has launched a 4G data pack that offers free data for 90 days, a company statement said on Friday.

While the pack is available for Rs1,495 for existing users, new users can avail this offer through first recharge of Rs1,494, the statement said.

"Customers with 4G handsets generally consume large amounts of data and this proposition is specifically aimed at them. With this pack these customers can stay online round the clock without having to worry about exhausting their data limits or going for frequent recharges," said Ajai Puri, director of operations (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel.

The pack is currently available in Delhi and will be launched across other circles over the next few days.

State-owned BSNL is planning to follow Reliance Jio in offering free voice calling on its network, and at tariff plans that will be cheaper than the new entrant's. In fact, BSNL will be the first to cut tariffs to better Reliance Jio's offer, a top official said on Wednesday.

Also, unlike Jio's offer that is available for only 4G subscribers, the BSNL plan will be open to 2G and 3G users, which constitute the majority of mobile customers.

BSNL, has a strong market penetration and significant share in many key markets such as Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab and UP, will announce the zero-voice-tariff plans from January and these would be lower than the Rs149 entry price of Jio.

The services will, however, not be available in key markets such as Mumbai and Delhi that are serviced by MTNL.

However, the free-voice facility will also be available when a subscriber would use it outside the residence.

Shrivastava said that the plan will be offered to BSNL's mobile customers who also have a broadband connection at home. "The idea is to use the home broadband to route outgoing mobile calls through the landline network. We estimate that a large amount of time is spent at home, and so here we can ride on our wire-line operations," he said.
Single African migration accounts for all of world's races

It is now well established that modern humans evolved in Africa roughly 200,000 years ago. But how did our species go on to populate the rest of the globe?

The question, one of the biggest in studies of human evolution, has intrigued scientists for decades. In a series of extraordinary genetic analyses published on Wednesday, researchers believe they have found an answer.

In the journal Nature, three separate teams of geneticists survey DNA collected from cultures around the globe, many for the first time, and conclude that all non-Africans today trace their ancestry to a single population emerging from Africa between 50,000 and 80,000 years ago.

''I think all three studies are basically saying the same thing,'' said Joshua M Akey of the University of Washington, who wrote a commentary accompanying the new work. ''We know there were multiple dispersals out of Africa, but we can trace our ancestry back to a single one.''

The three teams sequenced the genomes of 787 people, obtaining highly detailed scans of each. The genomes were drawn from people in hundreds of indigenous populations: Basques, African pygmies, Mayans, Bedouins, Sherpas and Cree Indians, to name just a few.

The DNA of indigenous populations is essential to understanding human history, many geneticists believe. Yet until now scientists have sequenced entire genomes from very few people outside population centres like Europe and China.

The new data already are altering scientific understanding of what human DNA looks like, experts said, adding rich variations to our map of the genome.

Each team of researchers tackled different questions about our origins, such as how people spread across Africa and how others populated Australia. But all aimed to settle the controversial question of human expansion from Africa.

In the 1980s, a group of paleoanthropologists and geneticists began championing a hypothesis that modern humans emerged only once from Africa, roughly 50,000 years ago. Skeletons and tools discovered at archaeological sites clearly indicated that modern humans lived after that time in Europe, Asia and Australia.

Early studies of bits of DNA also supported this idea. All non-Africans are closely related to one another, geneticists found, and they all branch from a family tree rooted in Africa.

Yet there are also clues that at least some modern humans may have departed Africa well before 50,000 years ago, perhaps part of an earlier wave of migration.

In Israel, for example, researchers found a few distinctively modern human skeletons that are between 120,000 and 90,000 years old. In Saudi Arabia and India, sophisticated tools date back as far as 100,000 years.

Last October, Chinese scientists reported finding teeth belonging to Homo sapiens that are at least 80,000 years old and perhaps as old as 120,000 years.

In 2011, Eske Willerslev, a renowned geneticist at the University of Copenhagen, and his colleagues came across some puzzling clues to the expansion out of Africa by sequencing the genome of an Aboriginal Australian for the first time.

Clues in lock of hair

Dr Willerslev and his colleagues reconstructed the genome from a century-old lock of hair kept in a museum. The DNA held a number of peculiar variants not found in Europeans or Asians, raising knotty questions about the origins of the people who first came to Australia and when they arrived.

Intrigued, Dr Willerslev decided to contact living Aboriginals to see if they would participate in a new genetic study. He joined David W. Lambert, a geneticist at Griffith University in Australia, who was already meeting with Aboriginal communities about participating in this kind of research.

In collaboration with scientists at the University of Oxford, the researchers also obtained DNA from people in Papua New Guinea. All told, the team was able to sequence 83 genomes from Aboriginal Australians and 25 from people in Papua New Guinea, all with far greater accuracy than in Dr. Willerslev's 2011 study.

Meanwhile, Mait Metspalu of the Estonian Biocentre was leading a team of 98 scientists on another genome-gathering project. They picked out 148 populations to sample, mostly in Europe and Asia, with a few genomes from Africa and Australia. They, too, sequenced 483 genomes at high resolution.

David Reich, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School, and his colleagues assembled a third database of genomes from all six inhabited continents. The Simons Genome Diversity Project, sponsored by the Simons Foundation and the National Science Foundation, contains 300 high-quality genomes from 142 populations.

Examining their data separately, all three groups came to the same conclusion: People everywhere descend from a single migration of early humans from Africa. The estimates from the studies point to an exodus somewhere between 80,000 and 50,000 years.

Despite earlier research, the teams led by Dr Willerslev and Dr Reich found no genetic evidence that there was an earlier migration giving rise to people in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

''The vast majority of their ancestry - if not all of it - is coming from the same out-of-Africa wave as Europeans and Asians,'' said Dr Willerslev.

Some differences

But on that question, Dr Metspalu and his colleagues ended up with a somewhat different result.

In Papua New Guinea, Dr Metspalu and his colleagues found, 98 per cent of each person's DNA can be traced to that single migration from Africa. But the other 2 per cent seemed to be much older.

Dr Metspalu concluded that all people in Papua New Guinea carry a trace of DNA from an earlier wave of Africans who left the continent as long as 140,000 years ago, and then vanished.

If they did exist, these early human pioneers were able to survive for tens of thousands of years, said Luca Pagani, a co-author of Dr Metspalu at the University of Cambridge and the Estonian Biocentre.

But when the last wave came out of Africa, descendants of the first wave disappeared. ''They may have not been technologically advanced, living in small groups,'' Dr Pagani said. ''Maybe it was easy for a major later wave that was more successful to wipe them out.''

The new research also suggests that the splintering of the human tree began earlier than experts had suspected.

Dr Reich and his colleagues probed their data for the oldest evidence of human groups genetically separating from one another.

They found that the ancestors of the KhoiSan, hunter-gatherers living today in southern Africa, began to split off from other living humans about 200,000 years ago and were fully isolated by 100,000 years ago. That finding hints that our ancestors already had evolved behaviours seen in living humans, such as language, 200,000 years ago.

Why leave Africa at all? Scientists have found some clues to that mystery, too.

In a fourth paper in Nature, researchers described a computer model of Earth's recent climatic and ecological history. It shows that changing rainfall patterns periodically opened up corridors from Africa into Eurasia that humans may have followed in search of food.


A plaque will be unveiled in Carndonagh next month to remember one of Inishowens most colourful sons, American adventurer John Wallace Captain Jack Crawford, known as the The Poet Scout.

Were absolutely delighted that this unsung hero of Carndonagh is being honoured in this way, Maud Hamill, a member of the Ulster History Circle committee, said.

A plaque will be unveiled at 2pm on Saturday, October 1st in the Diamond in Carndonagh, at a house where Captain Jack lived as a boy. The family moved to the States in 1861.

Following the unveiling, Sean Beattie, editor of the Donegal Annual, will deliver a talk on Captain Jack at the Colgan Hall.

This will be the 207th blue plaque the Ulster History Circle has installed over the past 30 years and their first in Inishowen.

Born in Carndonagh in 1847, Captain Jack was one of the most popular performers in late 19th-century America, and a master storyteller about the Wild West.

He became a national hero after his daring, 350-mile ride to carry dispatches from the Battle of Slim Buttes during the Great Sioux War in 1876 to Fort Laramie in Wyoming for the New York Herald newspaper. His dispatches made the wire five hours ahead of the competition.

In the 1890s, he built the reputation that saw him become The Poet Scout, writing and performing poetry about the American West and its people.

His poetry is lovely, Maud said. Ive read it  its beautiful. He returned to the family home in Donegal in 1894 and gave a concert at the Carndonagh courthouse. He died in New York in 1917.

The voluntary Ulster History Circle covers the nine counties of historical Ulster, and has installed plaques in Raphoe and Ramelton, and in Cavan and Monaghan.

Maud said the Ulster Scots Agency nominated John Wallace Crawford for the honour and funded the plaque and thanked the Colgan Community and Heritage Group for their support.

Its a real community event, she said.
The new, five-year Donegal Road Safety Plan focuses the efforts of all involved in road safety and highlights the need for community support, the county council cathaoirleach said.

Road safety is not an issue for the authorities alone, Donegal County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Terence Slowey, said, in launching the Donegal Road Safety Plan, 2016-2021, at County House, Lifford, on Monday.

We cant do this in a vacuum, folks, the cathaoirleach said. Were all in this together.

The road safety plan sets out priorities for improving road safety in the county through a series of objectives in education, engineering, enforcement and evaluation.

The 59 actions detailed in the plan include initiatives to promote cross-border co-operation on road safety, continuing to develop the Road Safety Road Show for secondary-school students, reviewing speed limits in according with national guidelines and legislation and high-visibility enforcement.

Cllr. Slowey said, The plan also seeks to encourage every member of the community to play their part in reducing road collisions by taking responsibility for their actions and by sharing the road safely.

The report was produced by the Donegal Road Safety Working Group, an interagency group consisting of Donegal County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland. An Garda Siochana, Road Safety Authority, Donegal Youth Service, Donegal Education and Training Board, Pro Social Drivers Programme and HSE Ambulance Service.

At their monthly meetings, the Road Safety Working Group will monitor the plans progress and review indicators that will measure the activities under each relevant objective.

The road safety plan can be downloaded at www.donegal coco.ie under publications
October is National Bullying Prevention month. We have all heard the phrase bullying, but what does it actually mean? Bullying is defined as unwanted aggressive behavior; observed or perceived power imbalance; repetition of behaviors or high likelihood of repetition.

Bullying is unfortunately a reality for far too many in our communities both young and old. Much like any other form of violence, bullying is not isolated to any particular age group, gender or demography. Just about everyone of us can look back in our lives and recall a time where either we were personally bullied or witnessed one of our friends or schoolmates being bullied. Its hard to believe that with all of the advancements and awareness, this type of behavior still exists, but it does and with the advent of social media, it had actually gotten much worse. This is because unlike in the past, the bully not only impacts your life on the playground or classroom; they now are able to follow you into your personal life due to the constant presence of social media.

There is good news in that we have learned a great deal about what creates these bullies and how to neutralize their ability to isolate and intimidate. The key is for those in authority to respond to reports of bullying immediately to show without question that bullying will not be acceptable. That message needs to follow to our homes with the messages we send our children not only by what we say but by our own actions in how we treat fellow adults. Bullying is without question a learned behavior. It is learned on the playground, in the classroom and follows through to the workplace and social interactions as adults. We need to send a strong message to our own children, a message of empathy and compassion not of ridicule and rumor.

Who are at risk of bullying the most? Typically those who are bullied have one or more of the following risks:

Are perceived as different from their peers, such as being overweight or underweight, wearing glasses or different clothing, being new to a school, or being unable to afford what kids consider cool

Are perceived as weak or unable to defend themselves

Are depressed, anxious, or have low self esteem

Are less popular than others and have few friends

Do not get along well with others, seen as annoying or provoking, or antagonize others for attention

However, even if a child has these risk factors, it doesnt mean that they will be bullied. The important lesson is that we as adults set the tone for how the next generation will interact with each other. Chances are if we show acceptance of others, our children will show acceptance of others. If we engage in demeaning others or spreading rumors, our children will follow suit. So often we as adults underestimate the influence, we have not only on our own children but even those who dont know us but witness our behavior.

While school or workplace policies are an important component, the only way to truly decrease bullying is by denying the bully their victim. We do this by raising strong, confident, resilient children, and speaking out and supporting those who find themselves on the receiving end of this type of behavior. We are all teachers in life lessons and we teach by our actions. Lets all be aware of what we teach.
Home Four wheelers Tesla Sued In Norway  Model S Not Insanely Quick Enough? oi-Dennis James

The Tesla Model S is a car known for its stomach turning acceleration thanks to an acceleration mode which Tesla has labelled it insane.

However, 126 Tesla Model S P85D owners in Norway are suing Tesla claiming that the cars cannot match Tesla's claimed 0100km/h acceleration time of 3.3 seconds.

The unhappy customers also claim that the reason for the sluggish acceleration in their cars is the fact that the cars are actually producing 463bhp instead of the 690bhp figure quoted by Tesla.

Speaking to Bloomberg,Kaspar Thommessen, an attorney at Wikborg Rein law firm which is representing the disgruntled customers said, said the car 'has too low horsepower' and that 'affects the car's performance, according to the consumers.'



However, American carmaker Tesla Motors isn't backing down from its claims about the P85D's acceleration figures a spokesperson for the company, Even Sandvold Roland, said that car meets requirements 'according to the measurement method required by the authorities.'

The case will be heard before a court in the Norwegian capital of Oslo in mid-October and if the the P85D owners who complained of inadequate acceleration win they could be reimbursed as much as 50,000 kroner (Rs. 4.05 lakh) each.

Norway is one of Tesla's largest markets thanks to the numerous government subsidies on offer for electric cars. The Tesla P90D, the successor to the P85D is currently sold in Norway for 801,000 kroner (Rs. 64.94 lakh).
Home Off beat Three Days After Crash, Man Crawls To Safety oi-Sreejith

A man in Pennsylvania has survived a car crash that killed his girlfriend by crawling to a road three days after the accident. Kevin Bell, a 39-year-old man was found by Indiana state police along a US road. He and his girlfriend, Nikki K Reed, lost the control and the car went on to struck a tree.

Kevin's leg got severely injured, that prevented him from seeking help. Nikki died in the crash instantly. The couple had been reported missing by Reed's family. Family members said she had been expected to return home from a trip to Dover, Pennsylvania. That's where she had picked up Bell.

A friend of Reed's, Kristie Bevers said she had missed a call from her on Saturday. Kristie said, "It bothers me because I could've talked to her. I could've heard her voice one more time."

Bell did manage to crawl out of the car to a road three days after the accident. He was taken to the hospital by the police. His injuries are not believed to life-threatening, the police stated.
A Togher man is responsible for growing one of largest pieces of vegetable matter you'll likely ever see.

Since April, Micheal Byrne of Johnstown , Togher like many others has been busily tending to his pumpkin patch with one lone vision - to grow the heaviest pumpkin Ireland has ever seen.

On Sunday the 2nd of October, just a day after the All-Ireland replay in Croke Park, an All-Ireland of a very different flavour will take place in the Irish Military War Museum, Collon. Michael and his friend Patrick Sullivan from Collon will both make entries to the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off, and both have an enormous vegetable to show off.

Here Michael and Patrick's pumpkin will go toe to toe with other botanical behemoths from across the country. Giant pumpkins of up to 1000lbs will be weighed to see who will be this year's champion.

The giant pumpkin weigh-off will be ratified by Guinness World Records on the day. There is an open entry section to anyone with home grown pumpkins to participate in. What's more, participants are eligible for an international prizefund worth $1000's.
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.
LOL that suppose to be 011213 

I used to dream about holding hands with my significant other while walking on the beach. I thought walking alone on a place with such beautiful scenery is a very sad situation to be in. It never occurred to me that I will love walking on the beach on my own, just me, myself and I. It is. Have I actually grown to embrace my single blessedness?

Half of my 35th birthday was celebrated in a bus as I commute to Lingayen, Pangasinan. But reaching my destination, the time spent on the bus was all worth it. Being a city girl all my life, having to inhaling clean and fresh ocean breeze is such a luxury.

I love how time stops when in the province. Nobody is in a hurry. Everything is in their relaxed phase. Everything is calm and peaceful. You can get you head cleared in here in less than a day.

When I arrived at 5PM I head straight to the church to thank the Lord for a safe trip and for giving me another year of my life to enjoy! After that I went straight to the beach , where the Razalan Beach Hut is located. It is right in front of the beach line! I did not waste my time but went straight to the beach after putting my bags down my hut. I sat there for an hour marveling at the scenic sunset view with the roaring sea waves as my background. Right there and then my energy is restored . I am happy to be here!

Arriving at Lingayen, I had to drop by the church first and Thank God for a safe trip and for another year to my life! It was already sunset when I arrived which is a good thing the view was just amazing!

My lovely host for the night was Ms. Vanj Padilla, she is also a blogger and a social media consultant for the governor of Pangasinan. She is the chief operating officer of the Razalan Beach Hut, which is still on its development stage. I think Im the first official guest of its soft opening for public. I am excited for her resort, as there is so much potential in it.

With my tour guide and new found fried Vanj Padilla, she is so kind to let me intrude her weekend with my unplanned visit! Cheers to a lasting friendship!

Ms. Vanj and I had a nice talk over dinner. She prepared a special meal for my birthday. Super sweet. Too bad I forgot to take photos! I guess because I wasnt there as a blogger but as a tourist so I did not have that urge to take photos of everything! Haha! I was there to relax, work, home, lovelife, problems (if any) was out of my system. I was there to be me, myself and I.

We called it a night by 9MP. I went in my hut and took a long shower! I did not go outside the night as it was too dark. Yes, the place was very virgin and very provicial, night ends very early unlike in the city! But I have no complaints, my plan was to wake very early in the morning before sunrise and take a photo walk!

But since it was my birthday, text messages, private messages from Facebook and Twitter and inbox are pouring and I am not complaining. I fell asleep past midnight but I woke every hour because was excited to go out. I can hear the waves from my bed. I wanna sit by the bay and just take everything in! But I waited until the roosters called the sun out!

By 5am I was out of my hut. I went out for a walk on the beach alone!

I fell in love with the scenery of the sunrise. I seldom see it in the city as I often sleep late nights or even until the dawn breaks. Sunrise before 6am shots!

I settled in an area and stood where my feet can get wet of the waves but not my cam. I went trigger happy as the view of the sunrise crawling in the horizon was just breathtaking.The reflection of the sunrise on the beach was also gorgeous. It was like itWhen the sun was finally up I went for a stroll, a photo walk where I snapped at pretty little things I cam across to. From crabs who was upside down, to a live hermit crab, pretty sea shells by the sea shore, to dead jelly fish taken by the waves and drift wood. I even doodled on the pure gray sand!

Here is a video clip of the beach, it was a bit wavy that day but the sky was clear and the water was lukewarm.

I love my time in the beach, I didnt notice it was already past 8AM when I got back to my hut. I walked more than 3 hours which is amazing! It is already equal to an hour crossfit traing you get at Boot Camps Scottsdale

When I arrived Vanj was not there but her helper was there and brought me breakfast. A few minutes later Vanj arrived from church and she took me for a tour at the Lingayen Capitol. Another spur-of-the-moment tour ! Yay!

The Lingayen Capitol is one of the prettiest , if not the best municipality Ive been. The architecture is amazing, landscape is so lovely, people are so friendly and the place is super clean! She took me to the Capitol Park, to the Governors Residence, to the Lingayen City Hall, to the Sison Auditorial. We had a boat ride and ate brunch at the Capitol Resort Hotel, a government owned hotel at capitol area with just Php1,100.00 per night!

After our brunch we went back to our hut. The I took another walk by the beach, that was past 11am. I did not bring my phone or camera at the beach then. They needed to be charged.

That walk took about more than an hour. Surprisingly I did not get tired from my walks in fact it was invigorating .

It was a very windy when I reached the hut, when I got inside it drizzled, and then a minor sand storm. I took a long shower again and got ready for home.

I promised my host and myself that I will go back to this place this time with my family and friends. This place is worth the visit. Its one of the nicest beach Ive been, far more better than Anawangin Cove (I really dont know the hype about it, its not that pretty). Vanj said that beach was not even the best of Pangasinan. If I stayed a bit longer she would have taken me to one of their best beach in town, they call it their little Boracay as it has white sands and coral shores. I cant wait to see it. But for now I am very much satisfied with this beach and I recommend everyone to go see Lingayen Beach in one of your weekend trips, it is definitely worth it!

Tips To Enjoy A Getaway To Lingayen Beach in Pangasinan

How to get there?

From EDSA Cubao, Victory Liner Terminal, take the bus going to Lingayen, ask how many stops the bus you are riding will take as there is a long way and a shorter way. The longer way will take about more than 6 hours and have 5 stop-over. The short way will only take 2 stops and will take about more than 4 hours. Fare is just Php350.00 one way.

Or you can go there by air. Take any airline who goes to Lingayen Airport . It will only take about an hour one-way.

Where to stay?

I stayed at, you can rent their Nipa Hut house for, It has two bedrooms and a bathroom. Or you can stay at thethe roomgood for 2 adults and 1 child . From the Lingayen, Pangasinan Victory bus terminal you can take a tricycle to take you to Razalan if you are staying there you can just ask Ms. Vanj for pickup. You can also take a tricyce to the Capitol resorts. Both wont take longer than a 5 minute tricycle ride wit Php25.00 fare.

Where to eat?

Ms. Vanj highly recommend the Capitol Resorts Hotel restaurant ass, they also serve other dishes other than Pinoy dish. There is a restaurant bar by the Capitol area by the boating area. It is privately owned and operated . Operating hours is up to 2am. I havent tried eating there though butincluding the rower.

If you are planning a beach getaway, instead of going to the already crowded popular beaches in the South and North why not try to visit Pangasinan. This beach area I went to was not the best of Pangasinan there are far more better beach nearby and I cant wait to scout them all on my next visit!

How about you, have you been to Lingayen Beach? Do you also have special tradition or gift for yourself on your birthday?

Stay gorgeous everyone!

You may want to read about the 2013 Pangasinan Pistay Dagat here (click)
Anyone who has followed the state legislature in Michigan since Republicans assumed nearly total control in 2010 will tell you just how devastating their policies and laws have been to public education in our state. From stripping funding from schools to pay for enormous corporate tax cuts to taking away local control and handing it over to non-educator Emergency Managers appointed by our corporatist governor, no area has taken a bigger hit from GOP dominance that public education.

Much of this is the direct result of a concerted effort by the DeVos family, Michigans version of the Koch brothers, to shape education policy and lawmaking in Lansing. Just to give you an idea of how much influence they have, that single family was responsible for OVER HALF of the campaign donations given to Republicans in the final quarter of 2015, a truly astonishing  and frightening  display of brazen corporatist influence in state government. Their intentional efforts to replace traditional public education with a for-profit charter school model are neither subtle or concealed.

The progressive watchdog group Progress Michigan has launched an unprecedented effort to educate the voters in Michigan about the facts (and wealthy faces) behind the Republicans education plan. It is based around a new website GOPEducationPlan.com.

Progress Michigan describes this effort as the biggest education/accountability program they have ever conducted. Our aim is for Michiganders to not only know the truth about the GOP education plan, but to remind them that these elected officials are supposed to answer to their constituents, not wealthy donors. They have a voice in Lansing and were urging them to use it, Progress Michigan Executive Director explained. For six years the GOP leadership in Lansing  from Gov. Rick Snyder to his enablers in the legislature  have done the bidding of wealthy corporate special interests and their campaign donors while ignoring average Michiganders. Its time for the voice of the people to be heard when it comes to protecting quality public education.

This new program includes cable and digital ads, mailers, and door-to-door canvassing in 11 state house districts. The goal is to encourage residents to contact their elected officials and urge them to stand up for kids over corporatist influence of the DeVos family and their partners. The cable ads will run on popular channels such as MSNBC, TNT, USA Network and others starting today.

Heres the ad:

The new program will be targeting the following districts:

House District 21  Representative Kristy Pagan

House District 23  Representative Patrick Somerville

House District 25  Representative Henry Yanez

House District 30  Representative Jeff Farrington

House District 39  Representative Klint Kesto

House District 62  Representative John Bizon

House District 71  Representative Tom Barrett

House District 76  Representative Winnie Brinks

House District 91  Representative Holly Hughes

House District 99  Representative Kevin Cotter

House District 101  Representative Ray Franz

Please be sure to make the call to your state legislator to make your thoughts known about education policy in our state  855-265-1411. And text EDUCATION to 30644 to be kept up to date on this effort.

Its difficult to fight back against the enormous amount of money that these corporatists inject into our state government in order to buy influence and threaten legislators who dont toe the line laid down by the DeVos family. Combined with the corporate front group the Mackinac Center for Public policy, the bought-and-paid for legislature has run roughshod over public education in Michigan. Progress Michigan is literally the bulwark standing against complete corporate dominance of education policy and law in Michigan. Please consider helping support their important work by making a donation today. You can do that HERE.
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Following the release of the recent Textile Exchange organic cotton report, one statistic included in the figures immediately jumped out to our team of journalists. That was the brand new production figures for organic cotton in Ethiopia where previously no organic cotton fibres have been documented.

Since then we've been in touch with the certifiers concerned  ICEA  which has confirmed that 145 mt of organic cotton was grown on 900 hectares of a 4600 ha project in the Korcha area of the lower Omo Valley Ethiopia by Turkish company Else Group.
What is fracking?

Fracking is a process of blasting water, chemicals and frac sand deep into the earth to break up sedimentary rock and access natural gas and crude oil deposits. The fracking industry, which has sought to promote the practice as safe and controlled, has preferred the term hydraulic fracturing.

Fracking emerged as an unconventional, relatively new and extremely popular technique only about 20 years ago in the U.S., after advances in technology gave it an unprecedented ability to identify and extract massive amounts of resources efficiently.

Fracking is one of the most important environmental issues today, and its a prime example of how a new technology that offers immediate economic and political benefits can outpace (often less obvious) environmental and health concerns.

Why is fracking so controversial?

Modern fracking emerged so quickly, faster than its impacts were understood. Just as importantly, once scientists, health experts and the public started to object with evidence of harm it was causing, business and government succeeded in perpetuating a message of uncertainty, that more research was necessary, further enabling the full speed ahead fracking juggernaut.

How does fracking impact the environment?

Frackings supporters have pushed an environmental angle, insisting that natural gas can be a bridge fuel, a cheaper, cleaner option than coal before we have a large-scale transition to renewable energy. This claim has some merit, as natural gas does emit much less carbon dioxide than coal or oil. However, it is still a fossil fuel, adding harmful emissions while the climate crisis worsens. Moreover, fracking wells leak methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than CO2.

Water



In order to break up rock formations one to two miles deep, a fracking operation requires millions of gallons amount of water. After its used, the resulting wastewater, which contains chemicals is pumped back into injection wells, sent to treatment plants, or can be dangerously dumped or spilled.

In 2016 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report skewed friendly to industry in its language: Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States. The EPA acknowledged that drinking water contamination was possible, but ultimately came to this conclusion: Data gaps and uncertainties limited EPAs ability to fully assess the potential impacts on drinking water resources locally and nationally.

Earthquakes



According to the U.S. Geologic Survey, disposal of wastewater has caused an increase in earthquakes in the central U.S. Seismologists have reported that frackings initial blasting process can trigger earthquakes.

Air Pollution

In addition to methane, fracking releases many toxic contaminants into the air. EPA has acknowledged the public health threat, but a lack of urgent political pressure has sidelined the agency into advising on ways to control and reduce, rather than eliminate, the danger.

Toxic Chemicals



Fracking fluids contain unknown chemicals and known carcinogens such as benzene. Fracking companies havent been required to disclose their proprietary formulas, however. This is yet another example of how uncertainty serves as an enabling force. The EPA has identified more than 1,000 different chemicals used in fracking fluid.

Wildlife



Fracking can destroy wildlife habitats, pollute rivers and fisheries, poison birds, and use up water supplies that animals need to survive.

How does fracking affect the economy?



The fracking boom made the U.S. the worlds largest producer of oil and gas, reducing its energy imports from 26% to less than 4%. It has lowered oil and gas prices and created thousands of industry jobs. While fracking companies profited greatly at first, as prices dropped their margins collapsed. Many are now going bankrupt.

How is fracking regulated?



Congress has enabled the oil and gas industry to be exempt from such regulations as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Fracking surged during the Obama administration, which moved to protect water from fracking on federal lands in 2015. Subsequently, the Trump administration sought to roll back protections and expand fracking on federal lands.

Key Examples of Fracking in the United States

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale is the source for about 40% of shale gas production in the U.S.

New York

While the Marcellus Shale also runs through New York, the state has banned fracking.

Texas

Texas produces more crude oil than any other state.

North Dakota

The Bakken Shale in North Dakota has been one of the main sites for the fracking boom and subsequent bust, leaving behind extensive environmental damage.

A recent report found that all 50 states could provide 100% (or even greater) in-state renewable energy.

Other Countries



Outside the U.S., only Canada, China and Argentina have commercial fracking operations. A UN report in 2018 said that other countries were highly unlikely to produce at such a large scale as the U.S., due to political and cultural factors, and existing infrastructure.

The Future of Fracking

While renewables were considered a solution for peak oil only a decade ago, fracking changed the terms of the debate, with a new focus from environmentalists to keep it in the ground starting in 2015.

The Biden administration now stands at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis. Bidens stance on fracking is not yet entirely clear, but he has rejoined the Paris agreement and appears to take climate seriously. At the same time, he is sympathetic to workers in fossil fuel industries, was vice president during the fracking boom years under Obama, and may be more inclined to seek a gradual transition than one fast enough to help solve the crisis.
What Is Biodiversity?

Polar bears, honeybees, mango trees and coral reefs are all examples of the countless animal and insect species, plant life and ecosystems that comprise the planets vast biodiversity. Every living organism has a role to play in an intricate web of connectedness, no matter the size, and without them, there would be no life on Earth. Removing just one from the chain can send significant ripple effects throughout the system, even if those effects arent immediately felt. More crucially, every species lost increases the extinction risk to another connected species.

While biodiversity exists wherever there is life, there are some places on Earth that are considered biodiversity hotspots  specific areas that are teeming with native species that cant be found anywhere else in the world, from koalas in Australia to giant pandas in China. There are currently 36 areas that qualify as hotspots, but consider this: While that number comprises only 2.4 percent of the planet, those regions contain almost 43 percent of endemic species. But these hotspots are increasingly threatened by human activity and climate change.

Not only that, but a United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Report warned that about a million species currently face extinction, and for some its just a matter of decades. As it stands, a 2018 World Wildlife Fund report shared that the worlds vertebrate populations declined an average 60 percent in each category (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians) since 1970.

Why Is Biodiversity Important to Ecosystems?

Mangrove roots in Mochima, Venezuela. Humberto Ramirez / Moment / Getty Images

Think of biodiversity as acting behind the scenes of day-to-day life. Its natures way of providing clean air and water, food, resources (medicine, wood) and even climate protection. Yet consider that only 20 percent of Earths species  at most  have been identified by science. Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus began the daunting task in the 1700s, and since that time scientists have estimated that about 8.7 million unknown species exist, although only about 1.2 million species have been identified. Of that number, who knows how many critical ecosystem players have already gone extinct, or are critically endangered, before their role is even clear?

How Do Insects and Animals Impact Us?

Its impossible to discuss this without covering the sixth mass extinction. As the name indicates, there have already been five mass extinction events throughout history, with the last one wiping out the dinosaurs 67 million years ago following an asteroid strike. After each of the prior mass extinctions, which were mainly caused by environmental factors that eliminated as much as 95 percent of existing species, scientists estimated that it took millions more years before biodiversity regained pre-mass extinction numbers.

The difference today is that the current ongoing extinction threat could have been avoided since its a human-led catastrophe. A recent study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that more than 237,000 populations of 515 species have likely gone extinct since 1900, with many more not far behind; or, 100 times faster in the past 100 years compared to the more normal range of up to 10,000 years for some species. So what does that really mean?

Consequences

Without the proper number of species performing their daily tasks, the everyday aspects of life that we take for granted, including oxygen and a plentiful food supply, will worsen. For example, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed seven honeybee species as critically endangered. If all of the worlds bees were to disappear, there would be few insects left to pollinate certain plants, ultimately affecting global food supply chains and the economy. A recent study found that bees and other insect pollinators contributed 34 billion to the U.S economy in 2012 alone.

While the worst-case scenario has yet to happen regarding bees, the world is still dealing with the very likely connection between biodiversity loss and infectious diseases. Though still unproven, scientists are getting closer to linking habitat loss and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Less land increases the likelihood of diseases spreading from animal species, such as bats, to humans. Until habitat loss is properly addressed, experts warn that pandemics will only increase in severity and frequency.

Then there are the financial costs, which are twofold. A UN report found that governments around the world allocated between $78-91 billion a year on biodiversity goals, when in fact hundreds of billions of dollars a year are needed, the report estimated. Without spending more to tackle the issues, biodiversity loss will wind up costing the world up to $140 trillion a year.

Which Species Are Most At Risk?

A Toucan feeds on fruit offered on Aug. 24 2020 at an inn at km 110 of the Transpantaneira highway whose fire consumed everything around along with the wildfires that has already burned more than 16.500 sq. km of the Brazilian Pantanal. Gustavo Basso / NurPhoto / Getty Images

The IUCN Red List identifies which species are most at risk for extinction, including their numbers, direct threats and conservation efforts. The Red List estimates that more than 37,000 known species currently face extinction, including, but not limited to, 41 percent of amphibians, 36 percent of sharks, 33 percent of coral reefs, 26 percent of mammals and 14 percent of birds. The IUCN has categorized species into Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct. Among the most critically endangered are Amur leopards, vaquita porpoises, Sumatran rhinos and Cross River gorillas. In some cases, such as the vaquita porpoise, researchers believe less than a dozen exist in the wild.

Many other species, including those in the food chain such as Chilean sea bass and Atlantic bluefin tuna, are being pushed toward extinction thanks to popular consumer demand, which leads to overfishing.

Then there are the species that the world has permanently lost in the last 100 years, from the Tasmanian tiger, which was hunted to extinction (mainly for museum display purposes) to the Pinta giant tortoise, a Galapagos native that was hunted to extinction by the fishing industry. The last known survivor, Lonesome George, passed away in captivity in 2012. In more recent years, the media has been following the worlds last two remaining northern white rhinos. Both female, their kind is headed toward extinction, but scientists are attempting IVF using white rhino surrogates in the wild.

Yet the question remains, why are so many species going extinct or are threatened with extinction compared to previous centuries? As with most complex issues, theres no one explanation. Rather, a combination of population growth/overconsumption, the wildlife trade, pesticides, pollution, hunting, deforestation, wildfires, invasive species, big ag and climate change are among the larger culprits.

Habitat Loss

This category poses the largest threat to global biodiversity as rainforests to plains are cleared to make way for agriculture, housing and everything else that comes with modern-day living. Rainforests around the world especially suffered in 2020, having lost 12 percent of tree cover due in part to wildfires. Many of these wildfires in turn are caused by deforestation, with Brazil leading the way under far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to raze this resource for more profitable industries involving cattle and soy. As a result, Brazils deforestation loss hit a 12-year high in 2020 according to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This biodiverse hotspot is now at risk of losing endangered species such as the Amazonian jaguar, hyacinth macaw, pink dolphins and spider monkeys. Other major habitat loss threats throughout the Amazon come from gold mining and logging. Unfortunately, this scale of destruction isnt limited to the Amazon, with habitat loss taking a toll on species everywhere from Nepal and Borneo to China and Africa.

Big Ag

Ironically, the industry responsible for providing the worlds food supply is also a major contributor. Industrial agriculture is a main culprit behind habitat loss as increasing amounts of land are converted to feed growing populations. Compounding this is an overreliance on a small number of crops and animals to meet global food supply needs, placing some of these species at risk for extinction.

Population Growth

About 600 million people populated the planet in 1700 compared to 7.7 billion in 2019. Future projections put that number even higher, reaching 10.9 billion by 2021. This massive population boom has taxed Earths finite resources. While a Population Action International study has concluded that this boom is an indirect cause of biodiversity loss, its nonetheless a habitat loss driver as more land is needed every year for food and other resources, along with urban and industrial development.

Pollution

With increased land clearing and development comes increased pollution on a range of levels. This takes a toll on ecosystems in a myriad of ways: For example, chemical-laden water causes toxic algae blooms; rapidly changing climates make it difficult for many species to adapt; rising ocean temperatures bleach and kill coral reefs; oil spills kill fish, birds and other wildlife; and plastic pollution strangles or slowly kills wildlife that ingest it. Throw in noise pollution, light pollution, acid rain and pesticides, and its no wonder that many species are experiencing population declines due to decreased breeding and numbers.

Pesticides

Speaking of pesticides, these chemicals are most notably destroying bee populations. While theyre not the only reason, pesticides are a direct link. The Center for Food Safety found that some beekeepers have been reporting a complete loss of their colonies in recent years; at the same time, studies are showing a link between declining bee populations and pesticides: neonicotinoids in particular. Not only are these the most common insecticide, but neonicotinoids saturate an entire plant, not just the surface, proving especially toxic to bees. To put this in greater perspective, the United Nations Environment Programme has determined that 71 out of 100 crops are pollinated by bees, and these 100 crop varieties supply 90 percent of the global food supply.

Invasive Species

This category is another contributor to bee loss, but invasive species are increasingly threatening all manner of plant and animal life. Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that have been introduced, either intentionally or by accident, and inflict ecological damage to their new environments as they compete for resources and disrupt an established ecosystem. In fact, invasive species rank just behind habitat loss when it comes to biodiversity threats. A 2019 study revealed that out of 953 extinctions since 1500, more than 400 were attributed to invasive species. For example, simply introducing cats to New Zealand in 1769 led to the downfall of the Stephens Island wren by 1900. In more recent times, Florida has banned 16 invasive species, including popular pet iguanas, as a way to reduce ecological and economic damages.

Wildlife Trade

While some invasive species have been inadvertently introduced throughout the centuries, the billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade is another driver  both for introducing invasive species and biodiversity loss. A 2019 study predicted that the wildlife trade threatens almost 9,000 land species with extinction; this trade is the largest illegal market after drugs and weapons, with pangolin scales and elephant tusks among the markets most popular commodities.

Though not as large of a market, many plant-loving consumers are likely unaware that their latest acquisition could have been sourced via the illegal plant trade.

Hunting

Poaching (illegal hunting) fuels the wildlife trade, but legal hunting is also detrimental to species survival. During the Trump administration, many hunting regulations were scaled back, such as allowing hunters to shoot and kill bears and wolves in a wildlife refuge, along with their offspring, in their dens. Yet hunting easements arent limited to administrations. Idaho recently passed a bill giving hunters the greenlight to kill 90 percent of the states gray wolf population, which would reduce the overall number from around 1,500 to just 150. The endangered threshold is 100.

Overfishing falls into this category as well. Illegal fishing is a common practice, marine sanctuaries have opened up to commercial fishing and large numbers of marine life are getting caught up in fishing nets as unintended bycatch. Consumer demand has caused species such as beluga sturgeon, Atlantic halibut and bluefin tuna to land on the endangered list.

Climate Change

Certainly not least, this vast area encompasses enough issues for a separate discussion. In a nutshell, ever-increasing greenhouse gases are exacerbating the gamut of climate-induced events: rising seas, droughts, floods, wildfires, etc., all of which threaten plant and animal species just as much as they threaten human life.

Whats Being Done About It?

M/V Farley Mowat crew member Tomas, pilots a boat at the port of San Felipe, in the Gulf of California, northwestern Mexico, in 2018, as part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Societys operation Milagro IV to save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. GUILLERMO ARIAS / AFP / Getty Images

Despite the many extinction threats facing species, global and local entities are working to address the problem.

Global Action

The Convention on Biological Diversity formed in 1993 to protect biodiversity, and includes 196 participating nations. In 2010, the group set 20 biodiversity goals to meet by 2020. Unfortunately none of those goals have been met, although six targets were partially achieved, such as conserving protected areas and preventing invasive species. A recent UN report determined that its not too late for global leaders to take action, but that countries need to focus on sustainability in general, from food systems and oceans to land and infrastructure. The next opportunity for countries to address biodiversity issues will occur in October 2021 in China, when the UN Biodiversity Conference convenes to troubleshoot biodiversity loss.

Biden Administration

U.S. President Joe Biden formally announced a conservation plan in 2021 to protect 30 percent of the countrys land and water by 2030. Additionally, under Biden the U.S. has rejoined the Paris Agreement, ended permitting for the Keystone XL pipeline and halted oil leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Other recent biodiversity wins include Bidens plan to restore migratory bird protections, however, protecting gray wolves and monarch butterflies is still under review.

Wildlife Conservation/Tourism

There are numerous wildlife groups devoted to conserving biodiversity; some of the major players include the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, The Sierra Club, National Audubon Society and the Jane Goodall Institute. Meanwhile, conservation tourism remains a growing area, despite experiencing COVID-19 pandemic setbacks. For example, the African Wildlife Foundation has partnered with the Rwandan government to protect endangered mountain gorillas, resulting in a booming tourism industry. Elsewhere in Africa, wildlife safaris and game drives remain a critical way to bolster local economies while protecting species that are favored by poachers, such as rhinos and elephants. By no means limited to Africa, conservation tourism is helping to boost and/or protect the numbers of giant pandas in China, Bengal tigers in India, polar bears in Canada and giant tortoises in the Galapagos.

Captive Breeding

Zoos and animal facilities around the world have been participating in captive breeding programs since the 1960s, which are meant to increase populations of endangered species. While some programs breed animals that will remain in captivity, particularly zoos, others breed with the intention of introducing endangered species back into the wild. Not all attempts have been successful, but there are positive stories. Take the black-footed ferret, a North American species that was declared extinct in 1979. A captivity breeding program launched after 18 were found a couple years later; today, its estimated that 301 survive in captivity and another 340 live in the wild. The ferrets are also notable for the fact that theyre the first endangered species in the U.S. to be cloned, raising new hope for not just the ferrets, but other endangered species as well  even those that are extinct, such as the passenger pigeon.

Ocean Conservation

While theres overlap with general wildlife conservation groups, an equal number of conservation organizations are dedicated to protecting marine life: Oceana, Ocean Conservancy, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and The Cousteau Society are among those making a difference by addressing pressing issues that involve, but arent limited to, overfishing, coral reef bleaching, plastic pollution, commercial whaling and ocean acidification.

What Can We Do?

Greenpeace activists create a burnt smoldering rain-forest with a lifelike animatronic orangutan at the headquarters of Oreo cookies, in protest over their use of palm oil on November 19, 2018 in Uxbridge, England. Chris J Ratcliffe / Getty Images

Luckily, there are ways to make an impact on a smaller scale, and the more people that partake in these efforts, the greater the overall effect will be.

Support Sustainable Products and Food

Where possible, choose sustainably made goods, whether thats organic coffee from producers who eschew pesticides or furniture made from FSC-certified wood. (This designation certifies that the wood was sourced from well-managed forests.) Supporting local, organic farmers is another way to make a difference, along with understanding which types of seafood are more sustainable and being aware of eco-certification labels and what they really mean.

Avoid Palm Oil Products

Palm oil plantations have devastated large swaths of land across Asia, Latin America and Africa, although the majority of this popular vegetable oil is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia. Mass production comes at the expense of endangered species facing habitat loss: the Sumatran elephant, orangutan, rhino and tiger are now among the critically endangered as plantation land expansion continues unchecked. Consumers can fight back by avoiding products made with palm oil; however, this can prove difficult since the ingredient is prevalent in everything from makeup products and laundry detergent to chocolate and soap. Read labels closely, since many items disguise palm oil under other names, or use other names for palm oil derivatives. Vegetable oil, palmate and sodium lauryl sulfate are all clues that a product contains palm oil.

Eat a Plant-Based Diet

Another way to avoid palm oil is by switching to a plant-based diet. But this diet has much larger environmental benefits for biodiversity as it requires far less land usage and reduces reliance on a small number of animal species as a global food source. The world is currently using 80 percent of its agricultural land to raise livestock; consider how much biodiversity could be saved and preserved otherwise.

Become a Citizen Scientist

Its not uncommon for environmental organizations to seek help from average citizens to participate in all manner of projects. Whether its keeping track of cicadas, searching for penguin eggs or identifying coral reef damage, there are programs around the world that welcome assistance. Even better, its entirely possible to find projects that can be performed in your own backyard.

Takeaway

The world has reached a critical make-or-break point for preserving a million species at risk for extinction, some within the next few decades. The issue may seem overwhelming, much like climate change, but its not hopeless. As with anything related to the environment, getting involved at a local level, learning about the current issues and becoming a conscious consumer are good starting points for fighting back against biodiversity loss.

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.
One of Americas most outspoken deniers of the link between fossil fuel burning and global warming has refused $20,000 in bets that the planet will keep getting hotter.

Offering the two bets to Marc Morano, of the conservative think tank the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), is popular television science presenter Bill Nye, the science guy.

Nye said he was willing to bet Morano that 2016 would be one of the 10 hottest years on record. He also offered a bet the current decade would be the hottest on record.

Morano turned down both bets, telling DeSmog it was silly to take a bet when it was obvious the official records would show more global warming.

According to NASA measurements, 14 of the 16 hottest years on record have all happened since the year 2000. Last year, 2015, was also the hottest on record.

Nye offered the bets during a yet-to-be-screened interview requested by Morano, who is busy promoting his new Climate Hustle film.

Here is an excerpt of their exchange, including the bets offered by Nye to Morano:

https://youtu.be/hXqozz54-iU

As DeSmog has reported, Climate Hustle features a roll call of climate science deniers and is set to rehash old myths.

Show business bible Variety magazine reported as an exclusive today that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was endorsing the moviean exclusive based on a press release from March 31.

Variety failed to note how many of the views expressed in Climate Hustle run counter to the conclusions of major science academies around the world and 97 percent of climate scientists.

Morano is a regular guest on conservative-leaning media outlets, including Fox News, where he constantly challenges the overwhelming science linking fossil fuel burning to dangerous climate change.

Nye told DeSmog that in the interview he confronted Morano over his publishing of the email addresses of scientists, which he said had enabled harassment.

He told DeSmog: I also asked Mr. Morano about his own children and the world hes working hard to create for them. I asked him about his children growing up watching his tactics; he is a role model for them, after all.

Morano is planning to show clips from the interview with Nye at an invitation-only event on Capitol Hill on April 14.

At that event, Morano will record a panel discussion featuring former Alaska Gov. Sara Palin and Republican Representative Lamar Smith, who chairs the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology and has invited several climate science denialists to give testimony.

Like most high profile Republicans, Palin, who has endorsed Donald Trump as her partys presidential candidate, also refuses to accept the scientific evidence that fossil fuel emissions cause climate change.

In a 2014 video, Palin described global warming as a con job, saying, climate change is to this century what Eugenics was to the last century.

Moranos film will be shown in about 400 theatres across the U.S. on May 2 after a deal with SpectiCast, a company that usually broadcasts concert and theatre events to cinemas.

SpectiCast co-founder Mark Rupp described Climate Hustle as extremely timely and said the film was informative and engaging.

The April 14 panel discussion with Palin, Smith and featuring the Nye interview will be broadcast as a bonus during the Climate Hustle screenings.

Nye told DeSmog he agreed to take part in the hope it would encourage more journalists to ask U.S. congressional staffers, members of Congress and the presidential candidates themselves about their views on climate change.

Nye wrote in an email:

Each candidate has made remarks about climate change from time to time, but it has been quite a while since any professional journalist has directly asked the remaining conservative presidential candidates questions along these lines:

Why do you disagree with the enormous majority of the worlds scientists about the seriousness of human-caused global climate change?

Do you believe your own experience with weather provides a more accurate assessment of global climatic conditions than that of the worlds scientists?

Do you believe there is a conspiracy involved? If so, what evidence do you have of the conspiracy?

Nye said he had only been shown clips of the film, which will be distributed by Fathom Events.

Nye added:

From what [Mr. Morano] chose to show us, the film seems to be a series of interviews with traditional climate change deniers. As an on-cameral professional, I found Mr. Moranos performance stiff and not engaging. For me, the uneven performance added to the disingenuous and unprofessional nature of the film.

To push his case further, Nye showed Morano a chart (below) of land- and satellite-based temperatures which all showed a warming planet.

Morano told DeSmog: I did turn down Nyes temperature bets. I told him that according to the official surface temperature records of course 2016, with strong El Nino, would be one of the hottest or near hottest on record. I explained to Nye the official surface data always seems to be claiming hottest year. So a bet on the obvious was silly. The same goes for hottest decade bet.

This claim comes despite Morano promoting several apparent global cooling stories on his CFACT ClimateDepot website in recent weeks.

Morano said he was proud to publish email addresses of scientists and activists who make silly and outlandish claims or who express contempt for anyone who disagrees.

Morano added: Nye was getting very silly and basically saying that any skeptic who has kids will have to deal with their kids allegedly being embarrassed by their parent rejecting Al Gore and the UNs hyped climate views.

Kymberli Frueh, VP of programming at Fathom Events, said the company was working directly with SpectiCast, not CFACT.

She said the company brought a variety of events to the cinema and understood that each of our programming selections will not always appeal to everyone.

She added: The opinions expressed by any of our events do not necessarily reflect the views of Fathom. However, we support the right to freedom of expression and the civil, open exchange of ideas and viewpoints.

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(Photo: Zambia Tourism)The Victoria Falls forms a spectacular bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Zambia's Catholic bishops and the country's main umbrella for Protestant churches have joined forces to vehemently oppose the establishment of a government ministry of religious affairs.

President Edgar Lungu speaking at St. Andrew's United Church of Zambia announced Sept. 28 that he was to re-introduce a Ministry of Religious Affairs.

On Sept. 4, while visiting State Lodge's Divine Mercy Catholic Parish, in Lusaka, Lungu told parishioners that the Church in Zambia should not be threatened by the creation of the ministry of religious affairs as he said the ministry will harmonise State-Church relations.

Under the late President Frederick Chiluba Zambia in 1997 instituted a Religious Affairs Ministry, something that never conclusively got approved by the entire population, Zambia Reports stated.

The religious ministry suffered due to unclear terms of reference and its inability to garner support and consensus from churches and eventually, it was quietly phased out, Vatican Radio said.

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops together with leaders of the umbrella body of established Protestant Churches, the Council of Churches in Zambia said they strongly opposed the establishment of the new government ministry to be known as the Ministry of National Guidance and Religious Affairs.

Opposing the government's move, the two church bodies said they found the creation of a new ministry of religious affairs unnecessary and imprudent, Vatican Radio reports.

"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," said the two church bodies.

"After all, we believe that Zambians want their country to be a democracy rather than a theocracy," the statement notes.

PENTECOSTAL PASTOR NAMED

President Lungu, last week appointed Rev. Godfridah Sumaili, a Pentecostal pastor of Lusaka's Bread of Life Church as the new head of the ministry of religious affairs.

Sumaili was subsequently nominated as a Member of Parliament, by Lungu.

The Zambian parliament still has to ratify the appointment and the creation of the new ministry.

Although Zambia was declared a Christian nation in 1996, the constitution still retains a clause which recognizes the presence of other religions.

According to the current constitution, Zambia is a multi-faith country. However, this has divided Christians and a a third church body, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, supports the idea of a new religious ministry, according to Anadolu Agency.

http://aa.com.tr/en/africa/zambian-bishops-reject-religious-ministry-plan/649412

Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director, Rev. Pukuta Mwanza, on behalf of Pentecostal churches, last month, praised Lungu's initiative saying it would "promote Christian values and give more meaning to the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation."

Zambia is a landlocked Southern African country and its neighbors include Zimbabwe in the south, Malawi in the east, Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania in the north and Angola in the west.

Of Zambia's 16 million people around 75 percent are Protestants and 20 percent are Roman Catholic.
A former Mechanicsburg firefighter could be sentenced in November after pleading guilty Wednesday to setting multiple fires in Cumberland County last summer.

Collin Mitchell Miller, 23, was scheduled to go to trial in county court this week, but instead pled guilty to four counts of arson and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.

A former Silver Spring Township resident and Washington Fire Company volunteer, Miller is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 22.

The arson counts are graded as a second degree felony carrying a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison while the recklessly endangering counts are graded as a second degree misdemeanor carrying up to two years in prison.

A string of arson fires last summer had residents and business owners in Mechanicsburg Borough and Silver Spring Township worried their property might be next on the list of potential targets.

Weeks of anxiety came to a close on Aug. 6, 2015, when police arrested Miller who lived in the first block of North Locust Point Road in the township.

Miller was charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts tied to a fire at a residence on Millers Gap Road in the township and some of the other reported arson fires.

Investigators on Aug. 6 responded to the Millers Gap Road fire and ruled it arson. Township police said shoeprints found at the scene linked the fire to Miller who was reportedly seen in the vicinity by firefighters when they arrived at the residence.

Detectives from Mechanicsburg and Silver Spring interviewed Miller who admitted to breaking into the residence and setting it on fire, court documents state. He was also charged in connection with a July 3 fire in a vacant home in the 200 block of East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, and a July 15 fire at D&S Auto on East Simpson Street, which is also in the borough.

The fire at the vacant home charred some of the timbers in one corner of the historic Frankenberger Tavern, one of the oldest buildings in Mechanicsburg.

Soon after the arrest, the Washington Fire Company issued a statement assuring its full cooperation with law enforcement into the investigation involving Miller, who was suspended from the company. We will not let the actions of one individual define who we are and what we do, the statement read. The Washington Fire Company will continue to serve Mechanicsburg and the surrounding communities and its citizens with honor, dignity and devotion.
Meeting in the Maltese capital of Valetta, the Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank approved more than EUR 7.3 billion of new loans for investment in strategic infrastructure, the environmental and knowledge economy as well as private sector schemes across Europe and around the world, including ground breaking new projects in Malta. 18 of these loans, worth EUR 2.8 billion will be backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

Plans to extend the European Fund for Strategic Investments at the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe until 2020, proposed by the European Commission, were discussed for the first time and endorsed in principle by the Board of the European Investment Bank.

In the margin of the EIB Board meeting the European Investment Fund (EIF) also signed the first investment in Malta backed by the EU budget guarantee under the European Fund for Strategic Investments.

New investment for social housing and private sector - and Maltas first EFSI project under Investment Plan for Europe

During the two day meeting, the EIB also approved EUR 40 million of new support for social housing and private sector investment in Malta. Following the EIB Board meeting, President Hoyer and Professor Edward Scicluna, Maltas Minister for Finance, signed the first EIB loan to the Maltese Authorities for the co-financing of Maltas Operational Programmes for the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund for the 2014  2020 programming period.

The signature will pave the way for support by the European Investment Fund, the European Investment Bank Groups SME focused subsidiary, for small business lending by local banks acting as intermediaries. One of these two SME lending programmes is backed by the EU Budget guarantee under the Investment Plan for Europe. This means EFSI now supports projects in 27 EU member states.

The EIB and EIF have supported crucial investment in Malta for nearly forty years. This includes strengthening air and maritime connections, upgrading telecom and energy infrastructure, ensuring clean water supply and effective water treatment and helping Maltese companies to expand. This visit provides an opportunity to build on the strong relationship between Malta and the European Investment Bank Group. I welcome EIBs first support for social housing investment in our country and welcome the first lending with a local bank to support investment by local companies, said Minister Scicluna.

Malta also sees its first investment backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments launched this week.

The European Investment Bank is the worlds largest multilateral public bank and the board meeting included representatives of the banks 28 EU member state shareholders, as well as the European Commission. The board of the Luxembourg-headquartered European Investment Bank is convened once a year in the country that will next take the European Unions rotating presidency. Malta will hold the presidency from January to June 2017.

The diverse new projects discussed, approved and signed here in Valetta this week reflect the EU Banks engagement supporting key investment across Europe and around the world. I want to warmly thank the Maltese people and government for the kind welcome they extended to the European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund board members this week and on many previous memorable occasions. added EIB President Werner Hoyer.

Extending EFSI, Building on success

The EIB Board approved the principle of extending the duration of EFSI beyond the previous three-year horizon, as proposed by the European Commission on 13 September; This could entail an increase in the banks guarantee that will accompany an increase in the EU Budget guarantee and enable an extension of EFSI-backed financing by both the European Investment Bank and European Investment Fund. The amount of the EIB Groups support and the precise form of the extended Investment Plan will be discussed in the coming months as the European Commissions proposal undergoes the normal legislative process involving the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

The European Fund for Strategic Investments, one of the three pillars of the EUs Investment Plan for Europe that currently aims to unlock EUR 315 billion of new investment, is part of the EIB Group. Other pillars are the European Investment Advisory Hub, also run by the EIB Group, and the EUs drive to modernise and adapt EU regulation to facilitate investment.

Earlier this month, the European Commission presented its proposal to extend the European Fund for Strategic Investments beyond 2018. This will now be examined by the EU Council of Ministers and European Parliament before final details are agreed.

Speaking from Malta, Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank said, The Investment Plan for Europe is working well. But the job is far from completed. We will work with the Commission, Parliament and Council over the coming months to ensure that extended EFSI backed financing can continue as long as it takes to get investment going again in Europe.

Beyond Europes borders, supporting EU external action through Resilience Initiative

The Board discussed the EIBs new Economic Resilience Initiative for North Africa, the Middle East and Western Balkans. The initiative, endorsed by EU leaders in June, is now seeking more concessional financing from member states. Increasing engagement outside Europe under the EUs proposed External Investment Plan and the important role to be played by the EIB was a key focus of this weeks meeting. Following President Hoyers speech at the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants lending in countries most impacted by the refugee crisis was high on the agenda.

President Hoyer said, The EIB, as the EU Bank is committed to helping those affected by forced migration and to help build more resilient economies that tackle its root causes. Our Economic Resilience Initiative for the Southern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans, will have a particular focus on young people and women, with increased investment in socially important sectors like water, health and education  and crucially a significant stepping-up of support for entrepreneurship and the private sector, to create opportunities for refugees and local communities alike. This is a very concrete measure fully complementary with the External Investment Plan proposed by the European Commission.

Under this initiative, the EIB will increase its support to the Southern Neighbourhood, which includes countries in the Middle East and North Africa as well as the Western Balkans. The initiative will mean additional investments of EUR 6 billion, on top of the EUR 7.5 billion of EIB financing already planned for these two regions, the largest of any international financial institution.

The EIB estimates the initiative will trigger EUR 15 billion euros of additional investment in these regions up to 2020, taking the total EIB mobilisation of investment in the regions to some EUR 35 billion.

EUR 7.3 billion approved for 47 new projects: EUR 2.8 billion under EFSI

New financing totalling EUR 7.3 was approved by the board of directors - including EUR 1.3 billion to support new investment outside the European Union. EUR 2.8 billion of the new EIB financing will be backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments initiative.

New support for strategic infrastructure totalling EUR 2.2billion included backing for upgrading road links in Lithuania and Poland, new passenger trains for use in the UK, Belgium, Germany and the Ukraine and new schools across Ireland.

Following approval of the EIB Board more than EUR 1.3 billion of new EIB lending for resource efficiency and climate related investment is expected to support new windfarms in Belgium and Greece, small hydropower plants in Italy, and construction of new zero energy buildings across Finland.

Reflecting the EIB Groups strong engagement to support private sector investment new lending programmes with local banks and financial institutions in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as Malta, were approved.

Green light for 18 projects under the Investment Plan for Europe:

This weeks EIB board meeting follows a meeting of the EFSI Investment Committee, held on 20th September. It approved 18 projects which the Investment Committee had cleared for financing under the Investment Plan for Europe guarantee from the EU Budget.

Negotiations for the approved loans are expected to be finalised in the coming months. All projects, including those earmarked for support under the EU budget guarantee, need to receive approval of the EIB Board prior to loan contracts being finalised. Loans and guarantees approved by the Board of Directors will be finalised in cooperation with promoters and beneficiaries, and figures may vary.

Overview of projects approved by the EIB Board

Overview of projects approved by the EIB Board of Directors following positive assessment by the EFSI Investment Committee
Havana, Sep 23 (EFE).- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wrapped up Friday his two-day state visit to Cuba, during which he paved the way for Japanese companies to do business on the Caribbean island, where the thaw in relations with the United States has sparked renewed interest in the Oriental economic power.

Abe's presence in Cuba is the first visit to the Caribbean country by a Japanese government, though historic relations between the two countries go back 400 years to when the samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga had a two-day stopover at Havana in 1614 on his way to Europe.

Very different from that adventurous voyage, Abe's visit has been purely practical - he has sought to strengthen cooperation for development, establish educational ties and above all put Japanese companies to work in Cuba at a time when the island is bent on modernization.

"I want to cooperate with Cuba, joining forces as much in the public sector as in the private one," Abe told a press conference Friday in Havana, adding that "Japanese companies can, as reliable partners, make a notable contribution to a Cuba that is updating its socio-economic model."

"Cuba is an extremely attractive investment destination for Japan. As the U.S. has eased sanctions, Cuba has made efforts to improve its investment environment," Abe said, adding that "I believe that this will prompt both trade and investment by Japanese firms."

The Japanese prime minister went on to say that Cuba has a "huge demand" for infrastructure, transportation and energy, that the educational level is very high, and that the island has high quality human resources and safety for its citizens.

He said Cuba is therefore "an extremely attractive investment destination for Japan."

Abe's arrival in Cuba was preceded this week by his signing of a debt-forgiveness accord for Havana as part of a multilateral agreement reached between the Caribbean country and its creditor nations of the Paris Club.

That measure, according to Abe, creates a new scenario in bilateral economic relations.

He trusted that "trade and investments by Japanese firms" will also increase as the U.S. embargo is lifted further and as Cuba continues to make efforts to create a favorable economic climate.

Abe wanted his visit to stimulate and strengthen relations, and said that as Cuba's socio-economic modernization continues and its relations with the U.S. improve, the whole world is watching with great interest.

During his visit, the prime minister met with the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and with President Raul Castro, with whom he discussed strengthening cooperation for development and for different projects in the fields of food supply, infrastructure, education and sports.

During his official meeting with Raul Castro, Abe also asked for help in dealing with North Korea based on Cuba's good relations with that country and its influence with nations of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Relacionados El fiscal pide carcel para dos hombres que robaron a una familia en su casa haciendose pasar por policias
A Newville man has been found guilty of multiple criminal charges, including drug delivery resulting in death, for providing the fatal dose of heroin to three people.

Corey Palson, 26, was convicted Friday of three felony counts each of drug delivery resulting in death and drug possession with intent to deliver, as well as one felony count of conspiracy to commit drug possession with intent to deliver, according to court records.

On Nov. 18, a grand jury handed down an indictment against Palson alleging he provided heroin that resulted in the death of three people, including his girlfriend.

Palson told police in June that he had been transporting more than 1,200 bags of heroin labeled MOB into Cumberland County from Philadelphia multiple times per week, according to the indictment.

The deaths occurred in Middlesex, Hampden and Silver Spring townships, according to the indictment.

Palsons girlfriend, who died in Silver Spring Township, was killed in an automobile crash that was caused by the use of heroin Palson gave her, the grand jury found.

An investigation into the womans death by Silver Spring Township Police Detective Jared Huff helped tie the deaths together.

I went and actually contacted her boyfriend, which was Corey Palson at the time, and he didnt have anything to say to me, Huff told The Sentinel in January. I thought it was a little weird because his girlfriend had just died and maybe he would want to help me find out where this heroin had come from. It was my thought that she had overdosed on heroin at the time of the crash.

Huff found the other deaths related to MOB heroin when he searched a criminal database after speaking to Palson.

Palson was taken to Cumberland County Prison on Nov. 19, where he has been ever since.

He is awaiting sentencing.
Christian Showaker thought it was impossible to scramble without breaking an egg.

Yet his team raced to a first-place finish among a group of freshmen competing in a relay at Big Spring High School Thursday afternoon.

I was surprised, Showaker said recalling the challenge that required a student from each team to walk across dozens of eggs in bare feet and not crack a shell. It was fun, he added.

The entire ninth grade of about 206 students participated in a STEM Summit hosted by Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania. The goal was to inspire the freshmen to consider an academic focus on science, technology, engineering and math as they progress through high school.

The one-day career exploration program featured nine hands-on learning stations where students conducted experiments, participated in competitions or listened to a panel of experts.

The class of 2020 was divided into groups that circulated through the stations that changed every half-hour. Along the way the students learned lessons on chemistry, biology, physics, civil engineering and electrical engineering.

I like the fact that we are exploring, said freshman Samuel Pope, adding that the summit touches on areas not typically seen in classroom instruction. It really put my mind into it.

I thought it was fun and kind of neat, classmate Joseph Aulenbacker said. I want to do engineering before this, but this kind of reinforces it.

Biology teacher Travis Barnes saw the value of having the freshmen experience different areas of STEM early on. Maybe it will spark an interest, he said. Its a great way to allow the kids to have that hands-on experience that would stick with them for quite some time.

This is the second year Big Spring School District arranged to have Junior Achievement host a summit in the high school. A lot of the students who took it last year are excited about telling the kids this year, Barnes said.

It is too early to tell whether the summit held last year influenced members of the class of 2019 to focus on STEM courses. If it had, that influence should be more apparent in the junior and senior years when the students have more flexibility to schedule electives, Barnes said.

Lisa Black, career coordinator at the high school, helped Junior Achievement organize the summit. She hoped the freshmen made the connection of how current classwork in biology and math can relate to real-world jobs.

Ninth-graders have high energy, Black said. We want to keep them busy. They were engaged in every area.

Summit activities included a civil engineering competition where students had 20 minutes to build the highest tower possible using 26 pieces of spaghetti, a yard of masking tape and a marshmallow.

In chemistry, freshmen made a model of their hand using different colored polymers while, in electrical engineering, they raced against time to complete a circuit to switch on a light bulb.

We help them understand their future resides in their own hands, said Tom Russell, president of Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania. We use science, technology, engineering and math as a vehicle for helping students realize the importance of a high school education.

Often students go through high school unsure of a career path or even a clear direction, so they do not capitalize on the opportunities presented to get ready for life after graduation, Russell said. A lot of kids dont ever connect to what they are going to do. If they dont connect, they dont focus as much attention on high school.

An important part of the summit is the panels of experts who talk to students about their career journey, Russell said. We find people who didnt know where they wanted to go but discovered it along the way.

Its OK to be clueless, Russell added. You just need to take advantage of every opportunity to learn as much as you can. He said society today is paying youths a disservice when they tell them the only path to success in life is through a college education.

What that does is convince large numbers of students to give up on their high school education because they realize they are not college material, Russell said.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, STEM jobs are projected to grow twice as quickly as jobs in other fields over the next five years. The majority of high paying jobs in the future will have some STEM component.
Lib Van Victory : Defeat for Manx Labour Party



Liberal Vannin Party Logo

The Liberal Vannin Party are celebrating after winning 3 seats in the House of Keys General Election.



Party Leader Kate Beecroft retained her seat in Douglas South, while in Onchan, Julie Edge was elected in a seat former held by the Parties founder Peter Karran. Breaking new ground, the party also made a gain in Ramsey where former Chairman of the Towns Local Authority, Laurie Hooper was elected.

Kate Beecroft MHK told Energy FM the result will be a great advantage. (Play Clip)



In contrast the Manx Labour Party suffered a crippling defeat with their candidates finishing bottom in Arbory, Castletown and Malew and Douglas East, and finishing second last in Douglas North.

Media

Kate Beecroft MHK
Vietnam was just another stretch of tropical coastline from seven miles up and 150 miles out.

It was all green with nice sandy looking beaches, recalled Wayne Wachsmuth, 81, of North Newton Township. It looked like a nice place to visit.

Edging closer to target, the landscape changed and from his vantage in the cockpit of the B-52D bomber, the Butler County native could see towns, cities and villages take shape across the horizon.

There were roads cutting through the countryside linking supply dumps to mountain outposts. White stripes clearly defined by the necessity of war.

You didnt want jungle up to the edge of the road, said Wachsmuth, once an Air Force captain now a retired lieutenant colonel. The convoys could come under attack

So the U.S. military during the war defoliated the land out to 100 yards along the cart way denying the enemy the cover they needed to set up ambushes.

Rather Impersonal

A pilot on a heavy bomber, Wachsmuth never set foot in Vietnam but flew over hostile territory during 133 missions logged in between March 1966 and July 1968.

All but three missions were against targets in the South including base camps, ammunition dumps, truck parks and troop concentrations. The rest were aimed at cutting supply routes from Laos into the North.

Wachsmuth never saw the bombs drop or explode on target. Once while flying close to the Cambodian border, he had to execute a sharp and rapid turn. This allowed him a glimpse of the smoke rising up from the ground marking the aftermath of a bomb run.

The ordnance was dropped by radar off a return echo from the ground. Only the radar navigator near the center of the bomber could view the drop zone and thats if he was looking through the optical sight.

He would do that to see if there were any secondary explosions, said Wachsmuth as that was a sign of a direct hit on an ammunition or fuel dump. It was all rather impersonal.

Our effectiveness was strictly dependent on how good the intelligence was, he added. They tried to find where the sensitive points were. For example, experts once used the radio transmissions of enemy ground forces to hone in and triangulate the coordinates of a base camp.

Token Resistance

War had evolved since the generation before when bomber crews had to brave fighter planes and heavy flak in missions over occupied Europe and Nazi Germany.

The only sign Wachsmuth saw of anti-aircraft artillery was a single puff of black smoke that appeared suddenly off in the distance to one side of his aircraft during a mission over the Demilitarized Zone.

It was very inaccurate, he recalled. So far awayIt didnt make sense to pay attention to it.

There were tense moments on a few missions when the electronic warfare officer warned the crew the plane was being scanned by surface-to-air missile fire control radar. Nothing ever came of it except jittery nerves.

The enemy had to be careful to use radar sparingly as turning on the gear would risk detection by U.S. attack jets that could swoop in with anti-radar missiles.

At night, when we flew over there, you could see flares from different outposts where they might be under attack, Wachsmuth said. You could hear the emergency transmissions. Once in a while you could hear a beeper go off when a parachute opens up.

The beeper was a signal that the pilot or crew of a tactical aircraft had to bail out over the combat zone. The hope was rescuers could pinpoint a location to evacuate the downed airmen.

Three tours

Wachsmuth had three tours of duty over Vietnam. The first tour ran from March and September 1966 and consisted of about 53 missions flown out of Guam in the Pacific Ocean.

The typical mission profile called for a take-off time around 1 to 2 a.m. for the start of a six-hour inbound flight to the war zone. The goal was to hit the target around dawn in the hopes of catching enemy personnel either sleeping or in a concentrated area for maximum destructive effect.

The learning curve for bomber pilots flying out of Guam included a big dip in the almost two-mile long runway. It was downhill for the first thirdUphill for the second two-thirds, he recalled.

A B-52D at take-off weighed about 445,000 pounds including 200,000 pounds of fuel and 45,000 pounds of bombs. The sheer size of the aircraft required the pilot to pull all the way back on the flight control yoke to have enough lift to clear the edge of the runway.

Once at cruising altitude, the crew relied on auto pilot for level flight to a point just west of the Philippines where the B-52 was refueled in midair by tanker aircraft.

The pilot or co-pilot was at the controls for this delicate operation which involved the transfer of fuel by a way of a boom that connected the tanker with a receptacle on the bomber fuselage.

The bombers usually flew in a three-plane cell and dropped the bombs together onto a target box roughly 1000 ft. wide by 3000 ft. long. It only took the ordnance half a minute to reach the ground.

Some bombs were set to explode in an airburst just above the surface to kill soft targets like vehicles and troop concentrations. Others were set with a time delay fuse so that the bomb could penetrate and destroy underground bunkers and tunnel complexes.

Vietnam veterans who have witnessed a B-52 bomber strike have compared it to an earthquake with shockwaves going out miles from the point of impact, Wachsmuth said. It was exceedingly impressive. That was an awful lot of Hell.

After the drop, the bombers turned around for the return flight of six hours back to Guam.

Rules of Engagement

Wachsmuth was a co-pilot during his first tour and for part of this second tour which ran from April to May 1967. The following year he returned as a pilot in command of his own crew from mid-January to early July 1968.

As the war progressed, the number of launch points for B-52 bombers increased. Early on bomber missions were staged out of Guam but gradually bases were added in Okinawa and Thailand.

Bomber crews were frustrated at every turn by rules of engagement developed by a national command authority out of touch with conditions on the ground, Wachsmuth said. We could not hit everything in the Hanoi area. It had to be approved by the White House.

He added targets around Hanoi included a system of dikes along the Red River used to control flooding. The U.S. government announced early on the dikes would never be attacked from the air. The enemy took advantage of this and used the dikes to store fuel oil and gasoline drums.

Hai Phong port was also off-limits to B-52 bomber strikes out of fear that Russian ships were using the harbor as a base, Wachsmuth said. There was a sanctuary area 20 to 30 miles along the northern border with Red China which restricted the ability of U.S. aircraft to bomb a railroad line bringing in supplies to the North Vietnamese war effort.

The enemy also knew that B-52 bombers crews could not drop ordnance within 9,000 ft. of a friendly position. We didnt want to risk casualties, Wachsmuth said.

The North Vietnamese exploited this policy by building their support structure as close as possible to the front-line of a ground assault. They had an expression: If you are going to fight the Yanks, grab them by the belt buckle and be right up tight, Wachsmuth said.

During the siege of the Marine firebase at Khe Sanh, there were B-52 bombers flying support missions around-the-clock. Orders came down from the command authority to move the restriction on bombing near friendly forces from 9,000 ft. out to 3,000 ft. out.

This change in policy caught the enemy off guard and resulted in massive damage, Wachsmuth said. They took it in the shorts on that one.

Following his third deployment, Wachsmuth returned stateside to become part of the initial cadre of pilots trained on the FB-111 fighter-bomber. He served 30 years in the Air Force from 1957 to 1987.

Wachsmuth later worked as a licensed battlefield guide in Gettysburg from 1994 to 2014. He is married and has a grown son who works for the Air Force as a civilian.
On the night Amy Lou Buckingham was murdered outside her home in Tunnelton, West Virginia, Sharon Pingley retreated into her nearby home afraid.

The metal on wood ca chunk of the deadbolt lock provided little comfort that April night in 2015.

Buckinghams murderer, a man Pingley helped convict of stalking two years earlier, was on the loose only a few miles away, and she was worried she might be next in his crosshairs.

Fear, Pingley said, recalling that night. When we found out he killed that woman in Tunnelton, we didnt leave the house. We didnt leave until we heard hed been caught.

Buckinghams murder came after a grim warning Pingley had delivered to prosecutors two years earlier.

I said, You know there will be another (victim), she said. I hope my words ring in (the prosecutors) ears forever more. I said there will be another.

Murders

Buckingham never knew 28-year-old Timothy Davison of Maine. His murder along Interstate 81 near Greencastle in January 2014 triggered a long-fruitless multi-state manhunt.

In life, Buckingham and Davison were separated by nearly 1,000 miles, but in death they appear to be connected by one man  John Wayne Strawser Jr.

Time and time again, Strawser came to the attention of law enforcement, and time and time again, he walked away. With numerous victims and numerous arrests on his record, Strawser bucked the system, serving less than two weeks in jail.

He was not stopped until after he murdered Buckingham, and he now stands accused of killing Davison, who appears to have been at the wrong place at the wrong time that night on I-81.

Two people are dead, one man is implicated in both killings, and the criminal justice system tasked with protecting people appears to have failed them all.

If (the courts) would have done what they should have done, instead of slapping him on the flippin wrist, hed have been in jail and those two people would probably still be alive, said Elizabeth Butler, who Strawser was charged with stalking in 2013.

Court hearings in Butlers case would coincide within days of both deaths.

The night ... he killed Ms. Buckingham, he was only two miles from my home when he got loose from the cops, she said. My dad went through every roadblock, came to my house and got me and my daughter because I wouldnt take my vehicle out of the driveway. I was scared to death. ... I said Oh my God. Hes headed to my house. Im next. He was that close.

Strawser

Strawser grew up in Preston County, West Virginia, a rural area near Pittsburgh that borders Pennsylvania and Maryland. The area is quintessential Appalachia.

Roads bend and wind around the hilly terrain, rather than cutting through it. Homes, at times, appear out of place, as if they had been delicately set on top of the uneven landscape, not firmly secured to a foundation.

His grandparents lived right above us and his dad is just a gentle soul, Pingley said.

She reflected on times when Strawser and his siblings came to her home as children to get rhubarb to take to their grandparents home nearby to make a pie.

Pingleys husband served as Strawsers Boy Scout troop leader.

They were just normal, Pingley said. Maybe it was a little tougher growing up in Terra Alta (West Virginia). I dont know. I just never would have thought, no, I never would have thought.

As he transitioned into adulthood something changed in the little boy Pingley described as a little ornery.

By the time Treva Cline, the mother of Pingleys granddaughter, met Strawser in 2012, he was already well into a dark and violent pattern of behavior with his intimate partners. But Cline only knew him as her co-worker.

She didnt know about his multiple arrests for assault and stalking.

She didnt know about the women who sought court orders protecting them from him.

She didnt know one woman told authorities that Strawser threatened to cut her unborn child out of her, or that another accused Strawser of striking her child and pouring bleach over her clothes when she tried to break up with him.

She didnt know that during one fight Strawser stole a womans truck by jamming a pocket knife into the ignition.

She didnt know, because she said Strawser did not appear to be that kind of man.

Between 2000 and 2001, Strawser was charged with a cluster of offenses, including felony motor vehicle theft. In 2004, he was convicted of misdemeanor second degree assault, which was followed by a nearly four-year absence from the criminal justice system.

Beginning in 2008 there was an increase in the frequency of cases filed against him. Three women sought domestic violence and peace orders against him, and he was charged twice with theft between March 2008 and when Cline met him in 2012.

New relationship

When I first met him he was really friendly, Cline said. He just seemed like a nice a person. He talked about going places. He talked about going to the beach.

The two began hanging out and went on a few dates, but that friendly, nice person Cline met at work quickly changed.

He got really jealous, she said. I had just met him, you know. I only knew him two months and he was really jealous and got mad.

Strawsers jealousy and anger came to a raging boil one night in August 2012 when Cline was out with Pingleys son, the father of her child. The two had not been together for some time, but Cline said they continued to co-parent their child.

He began calling and texting. Strawser eventually showed up at her home, but she wasnt there.

(Cline) started seeing him less and less and was a little bit less interested in him, said Pingley, who lives next door. He starts stalking around. Hes in the area, always in the area. It was getting really annoying.

Pingley watched every time Strawser drove by the home, turning the outside lights on to let him know she had seen him.

After Pingley put her granddaughter and husband to bed, her dog began barking, alerting her that something outside wasnt right.

Strawser had tried to ring her door bell, but it didnt work.

She went to the door, looked outside and yelled to Strawser, who was making his way to Clines home.

When he turned and looked, it was the look. It could have been like that girl from The Exorcist, Pingley said. I knew it wasnt over, but I didnt know what he would go on to do.

She was right.

Strawser returned later that night and thrashed Clines car, ramming his pickup truck into it.

He destroyed my car, Cline said. He hit it multiple times with his truck. He took the valve stems out of the tires. He took my spark plug wires. The windshield was broken. He ripped out all the wires from under the steering wheel.

In total, Strawser did more than $3,500 in damage to the Honda Accord.

Texts

Strawser texted Cline telling her that he would call police and say she had hit him and fled the scene.

U either call me with n The next 2 mins or I will call The cops and have then Set at The church waiting on u 2 go 2 work, Strawser said in one text that was entered into evidence.

Fine I will call them say u hit me and left The scene I have ur tag, he said in another that accompanied a photo of Clines license plate.

To help sell the ruse, he even took parts of the car with him that he planned to use as evidence, including a side-view mirror. When Cline didnt respond he turned to threatening suicide, implying it would be Clines fault if he took his own life.

I so bably need 2 cry is so Unreal, he wrote in a text sent shortly after midnight. Where r u @.

Would u b the 1 2 come find me ? If I would shoot myself, he wrote less than an hour later. Plz my family couldnt/dnt need that.

By morning Cline went to the police and filed for an emergency protection order, but not before Strawser made contact a few more times.

I made u happy and I was the only 1 u was with sense May, a text at 9:18 a.m. said. Kinda hate 2 trust women and u just showed me again. Cant trust them. Thanks.

Cline became one of more than 12,000 people to report a domestic violence incident to police in 2012, according to West Virginia State Police.

On April 15, 2013, Strawser was sentenced in Clines case to six months in prison after pleading guilty to misdemeanor stalking.

That sentence was suspended and Strawser was placed on probation for two years.

Firearms

As part of his probation and the protection from abuse obtained by Cline, Strawser was ordered to not possess or own any firearms. In West Virginia, like Pennsylvania, firearms may be transferred to a family member or another person who does not live with the person required to surrender their firearms.

Answering questions from police after Buckinghams murder, Strawser said he had handed over numerous firearms to his sister after Cline obtained the protection from abuse in 2012, a process that typically requires the person to go to the sheriffs office, undergo a background check and fill out a form saying he was handing over the guns. That form was blank in Strawsers case file.

He didnt do any official transfer, it doesnt work that way in West Virginia, Preston County Prosecuting Attorney Melvin Snyder said. If you do it between family, you dont have to do any paper work. I can walk up and sell an individual in my family a gun for whatever and theres not paperwork done on that at all.

So, despite at that time Strawser being a convicted felon since 2002, which made it a misdemeanor for him to own or possess any firearms in the state of West Virginia, Strawser faced no charges.

Snyder appeared unaware of Strawsers 2002 felony conviction when asked about it in June.

The Sentinel presented case information about the conviction to which Snyder said, As to the Maryland conviction, if it was a felony, his possession of a firearm in West Virginia would be a misdemeanor crime.

A National Crime Information Center background check clearly listing the 2002 Maryland conviction was in the case files for the offense against Cline and the murder of Buckingham.

Less than three months after being sentenced in West Virginia, Strawser was charged with nearly identical charges  stalking and malicious destruction of property  only a few miles away in Garrett County, Maryland.

In this case, Butler filed for a protection from abuse order, telling authorities Strawser sexually assaulted her and was told not to come back to her home, court records stated.

He became angry, showing up a day later.

As Butler was drawing her evening bath, Strawser began pounding on the door. She hid inside her bathroom until he left. For hours afterwards, Strawser drove past her home, like a shark circling its prey.

He called and sent text messages. He went to the door and pounded on it again around 1 a.m., according to court records.

Around 2:30 a.m., Butler said she heard a loud bang and the sound of Strawsers car driving away. He continued to circle for another three hours, Butler told police.

He tried to deny everything, but I was sitting in my house, she said. I saw him do this. ... He texted me the same thing 13 times, Are you going to let me in or do you want me gone? Thirteen times he texted me the same thing.

It was not until the morning that she felt comfortable to go outside. When she did, Butler was greeted by a similar sight Strawser had left for Cline.

Strawser had scratched up her truck and broken out her tail lights, she told police.

Butler only went on one date with Strawser.

He changed my whole outlook on Facebook and how I post things, because I had made a comment and I was feeling down and he asked if he could take me to lunch, Butler said. In three days he done damaged my truck because I wouldnt sleep with him.

Cases

Butlers case didnt lead to a conviction. It was only after Strawser killed Buckingham that prosecutors pushed for the stalking charge, Butler said.

On Dec. 30, 2013  four days before Strawser is accused of killing Davison  Butlers case was placed on an indefinite postponement known as STET. In return for halting prosecution in the case, Strawser was to pay Butler $800 in restitution, which he has yet to do.

Strawser did more than $1,200 in damage to the truck, Butler said.

I wasnt OK that it was put on STET, Butler said. (Prosectutors) said I had to allow him time to come up with the money.

Butler said she wanted Strawser punished.

She said he continued to harass her even after she filed charges, but she received no relief from authorities.

He was driving up and down past my house 15 to 20 times a day, said Butler. There was nothing I could do about it. I had to deal with it, because I lived on a main road.

The ordeal with Strawser has changed the way Butler deals with relationships with men, she said.

From now on I do not care, if I date anybody Im going to look them up, Butler said. Im going to look them up before I date them.

A condition of Strawsers probation in the Cline case was he could not leave West Virginia unless he received approval from the probation department. Prosecutors in Maryland were aware of his conviction in West Virginia and were aware that he was on probation, according to court records.

Strawser made the STET deal with prosecutors the same day a second woman in Garrett County came forward seeking a peace order against him for stalking her since the previous month.

The second victim told authorities Strawser had been stalking her after the two broke up. She said she had ended the relationship because Strawser had become jealous and accused her of cheating on him on multiple occasions.

He showed up at her work, sent her text messages and even interrupted her while she was at the movies with her friend, she told police.

Strawser again threatened suicide since he knew it would worry me, she said. This time he sent a photograph of the bullet he planned to use.

Unpunished

Both women stated Strawser owned firearms. Butler  like several women before her  told police he carried at least one firearm inside his vehicle.

Why was a man with a clear pattern of violence and a growing list of alleged victims and charges allowed to remain unchecked?

Very often domestic violence isnt taken too seriously, said Judy King, executive director of the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center. Or, if someone stalks someone who is a former intimate partner, people dont take that too seriously. They dont connect the dots, even if the law says you must connect the dots, they dont.

Multiple attempts to contact Garrett County States Attorney Lisa Thayer-Welch via phone and email for explanation went unanswered.

The Preston County Probation Department refused comment as to why Strawsers probation was not revoked given the charges, citing that Strawser is currently awaiting sentencing for the Buckingham murder.

There is, however, no doubt what Strawsers sentence will be. West Virginia law requires Strawser be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

We used to always say the violence escalates over time and happens more frequently over time, and I think that is true, King said. Unless there is some kind of intervention, unless the law or someone, kind of pulls them up short and lets them know thats not OK, its working for them. Its pretty effective to get his partner to do what he wants, so why give it up?

Snyder said his office was not informed of the Garrett County charges, Strawsers probation was not revoked, he was not criminally punished for terrorizing either victim, and he again made it through the system largely unscathed.
For a long time in India, achievements have been linked to gender identities. For instance, you may hear women achievers sharing how they broke glass ceilings, and others will marvel how achievements like medals or promotions were won despite being a woman, or in spite of the pressures and discrimination that women face. Its perhaps a sign of our newly confident times that this simplistic argument is being challenged. In many ways, women now want to be recognised in their achievements outside of the gender box; they dont want to talk about glass ceilings, only their work. The question is problematised further with the ownership of what happens after a womans achievement; and how identities post-achievement are constructed and enforced.

The 2016 Olympics are a case in point. The two medal winners this year are women. P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik won medals in badminton and wrestling, respectively. They are now being hailed as Indias daughters, being feted with awards and prizes. Suddenly, it appears that everyone loves these girls, these daughters. Two problems have been articulated with this approach. The first is the articulation of a womans role vis-a-vis a man, that is, either as a sister, a mother, or a daughter. Can the woman not exist as just an individual, divested of familial roles? Is it not good enough for her to be a person, or must her personhood be delineated in the familiar, warm, and safe tropes of family?
It might seem strange to be still wanting to watch a 25-year-old television show, Losing the War with Japan, a documentary originally aired in November 1991 in the Frontline program of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), an American public broadcaster and television program distributor, claimed to be the USs largest public media enterprise. But lovers of history will, no doubt, back me up.

This is not simply an antiquated social TV documentary that dazzles us with facts about clothing, hairstyles and cars; rather, there are many interesting political lessons that we can still glean by viewing it. (Over two decades later, it is still available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL-EnJ6sPkw.)
When Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump face off in the first of three scheduled debates Monday at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, those in and around Carlisle can experience it as if they were going to the movies  literally.

Ken Matthews, an afternoon radio host for WHP580 News Radio, gathered the station, the theater and the Gun Gallery Inc. to hold a live-streaming event of the debate at the Carlisle Theatre Monday night. Along with the stream, Matthews will participate in a Q&A session.

The event is the first of its kind for the theater, according to JoAnn Curtis, marketing director for the Carlisle Theatre.

The theater is open to rent and people approach us with ideas all the time. This is something they wanted to do, so they approached us and we were open to the partnership.

Q. How does this technology change your capabilities here?

A. About a year ago the theater went digital, so that allowed us to bring things, such as this (the debate) to the screen. In previous years we couldnt live stream, but going digital gives us so much more we can do and improves the video quality and the sound quality.

Q. Is the event open to the public?

A. Yes, it is open to the public. Its open to the public except you just have to go to 580 WHP to register. Its free to register, and theyll email you back your confirmation. Ken Matthews has been giving away on his show VIP tickets, and all that was including was priority seating and concessions.

Q. What was the reaction by theater officials when approached with the idea?

A. We were excited. Were always excited to get people to the theater. They (580 WHP) have a really large listening audience and so this is was a great opportunity for us to be involved in the election, let people see the facility.

Q. How many people can fit in the theater at one time?

A. 960. Were setting our minimum expectations at 300 to 400, so if we get anymore we will be flabbergasted.

Q. Has the theater ever streamed anything like this before?

A. Debate no, but we have streamed the Emmys and various large theatrical award competitions, so were open to whatever the public wants to see here. Were open to whatever comes our way.
Every day, human activity affects marine ecosystems by discharging waters from urban and agricultural areas. Dutch users investigate what role iron minerals play in the health of these ecosystems, using the X-rays of the Dutch-Belgian beamline (DUBBLE).

Humans pump essential elements (nutrients) such as phosphorus into the sea through detergents, sewage and fertilizers. These nutrients change the ecosystem and eventually the minerals that can form in the seafloor. Algae thrive in an environment with a lot of nutrients, which can lead to dense growths of (toxic) algae. When the algae die and sink to the bottom, bacteria use up all the oxygen in the water when they eat the dead algae. This creates dead zones without oxygen and without life other than bacteria; fish, crabs, bivalves and others leave or die.

Peter Kraal in the field.

Peter Kraal at DUBBLE, preparing samples.

As disturbing as all this sounds, nature also provides solutions: iron in the seabed is very effective at removing phosphorus. But there is a hindrance, as Peter Kraal, researcher at Utrecht University (UU), explains: Human activity can change ecosystems in such a way that iron minerals become less efficient at removing phosphorus from the water.

So Kraal is at the ESRF this weekend, together with Case van Genuchten, a UU researcher and expert in drinking water treatment, and Simon Muller, a master student at UU. They experiment with various iron phases: We go to the lab and make different types of iron minerals. Then we stick them in sediments in an estuary with an oxygen-depleted seabed in the Netherlands, and two weeks later we look at how they have transformed, explains Kraal. The ESRF allows them to get an accurate picture of the structure of the iron minerals by using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) on the Dutch-Belgian beamline (BM26A).

The Dutch estuary where the samples are placed. The samples in the estuary.

The samples need to be kept in an environment without oxygen, so the team manipulates them in a plastic bag filled with nitrogen gas instead of normal air. In the bag, they make small pellets that are sealed and then brought to the beamline. For this experimental session, they have brought a total of 96 samples from eight different types of iron minerals that have been in the field.

Case van Genuchten (right) and Simon Muller (left) putting a sample in the Experimental hutch. The samples as powder.

Text by Montserrat Capellas Espuny
NATO-Russia relations are quickly rolling back to that of the Cold War era and Moscow blames it on outdated NATO rhetoric, as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented back in May, and added that the Cold War rhetoric is embedded so deep within the alliance that we were mistaken in thinking it was a thing of the past. EUBulletin has recently interviewed a senior NATO official (whose name we cant disclose for security and legal reasons) at NATOs Brussels headquarters, who gives a deep insight into the background of the most serious crisis in the Alliances relations with Russia since the end of the Cold War.

The 2014 annexation of Crimea froze the mutual cooperation and, as a NATO official stressed, the NATO will never recognize its illegal annexation. At the same time, one can assume that Russia will not let Crimea go so easily either. Crimea was indeed a game changer for the NATO-Russia ties.

In 2011, Russia was still labeled, as the interviewed senior NATO official pointed out, as a strategic partner in the Alliances strategic document. Prior to Kremlins military adventure in the Donbas region, both sides had cooperated in a number of important areas  they had led operations against drug trafficking, jointly trained the Afghan military forces and cooperated in counter-terrorism efforts. However, in late 2014, both sides suspended both the joint operation against chemical weapons in Syria as well as the Russia-NATO Council, although the Alliance has sought to keep the channels of communication open.

NATO sees Russia as a revisionist power. Following the annexation, this view has been reinforced by the increasing activities of Russian armed forces, including unannounced and internationally unobserved military exercises, so-called snap exercises. A snap Russian exercise that took place between 16-21 March 2015 eventually involved 80,000 personnel, 12,000 pieces of heavy equipment, 65 warships, 15 submarines, and 220 aircraft  that is the scale that could mimic a war with the United States and/or the Alliance.

As snap exercises are often unannounced, the troops involved in them find out only last minute and thus there is no time to invite international observers, the NATO official explained These exercises are, however, not the only thing that makes the Baltic countries increasingly unnerved when it comes to safeguarding their security. Between January and October 2014, as many as 40 Russian military vessels had been seen near Latvian territorial waters, compared to only one in 2010.

The lack of perceived security triggered by Russias military activity too close to the borders with the EU and NATO countries has prompted a change in attitude towards the membership in the Alliance. For example, even non-member countries that traditionally kept distance from the Alliance, such as Finland and Sweden, have seen a rising public support for more ties with the NATO and eventually also membership. Both countries are actually planning on expanding their defense cooperation to counter the increasingly assertive Russian actions.

In 2010 Ukraine, the then President Yanukovych decided to take Ukraines NATO membership off the table, which was most likely also in line with the general public opinion. However, as the interviewed senior NATO official stressed, while in November 2013, only about 13-14 percent of Ukrainians were in favor of the membership, it was as many as 50 percent in the post-annexation period. The Alliance has responded to this demand and enhanced its military presence on the Eastern border, especially the troops in the three Baltic countries and Poland  more precisely, the Alliance currently has four international battalions stationed there.

On top of the frozen diplomatic ties and increasing number of Russias military drills, the Alliance is also concerned about the media in the country. The main purpose of the Russian media is to confuse and blur the line between facts and fabrication, though, according to the NATO official, the Alliance does not think that it would be wise to counter the propaganda using a tit-for-tat approach, which could become be a trap.

In a best-case scenario, the Russian military activity and the dissemination of governments propaganda by its media are tools to distract the West from developments in Crimea and its own people to make them focus on the economic downturn that the country has been experiencing for a while. In a worst-case scenario, we might be witnessing a continuous strategy aiming to eventually invade the Baltics and lure both Europe and the Alliance into a hybrid conflict, which according to the senior NATO official, is the most likely type of an explosive conflict that could unfold.
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.
For the first time a British university, Oxford, tops the biggest world rankings table, putting it first among an elite 5% of global higher education institutions.The University of Oxford is number one in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016/2017, the biggest international league table to date.  It is the only global university performance table to judge world class universities across all of their core missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.The top universities rankings use 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons available, which are trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments.Indeed, the calculation of the rankings for 2016/2017 has been subject to independent audit by professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and for the first time this year, more than half a million books and book chapters have been included in the analysis of 11.9 million research outputs, meaning that arts and humanities research is better represented than ever before in the ranking, which includes institutions from 79 countriesIt means that Oxford, renowned as the oldest University in the English speaking world, has knocked five time champion the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) into second place. It is the first time a US institution does not take the top spot.This wonderful news recognises the extraordinary talent and dedication of all who work and study at Oxford. We are delighted with this affirmation of our global success and will be working hard to maintain our position, said Oxfords vice-chancellor, Professor Louise Richardson.She explained that Oxfords top ranking reflects its all-round strength in contemporary research and teaching and that it is at the forefront of the full range of academic disciplines, including medical sciences, science and engineering, humanities and social sciences.She also pointed out that knowledge transfer and the development of new technologies are among its key priorities. University researchers have launched more than 70 companies since 2005, more than any other university in the country, establishing the Oxford region as one of the most innovative in the UK.However, the North American powerhouse still dominates the list with 148 universities in the top 980 and 63 in the top 200. The rest of the top five is filled by Stanford University in third, the University of Cambridge in fourth, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in fifth.Elsewhere in the West, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich has cemented its position in the top 10, landing at ninth for the second year in a row. Last year the institution became the first non-Anglo-American institution to make the world rankings top 10 for a decade.Germany has also performed well in the table thanks to its institutions producing highly influential research, with 41 institutions overall, 22 of which make the top 200 and nine of which make the top 100, up from seven. Meanwhile, the Netherlands 13 leading research intensive universities have all made the top 200, the first time they have all made this elite group.But institutions in France, Italy and Spain and many parts of central and eastern Europe are losing ground as Asia continues its ascent; the world university rankings prove that Asias improvement in higher education is real and growing.Overall, 289 Asian universities from 24 countries make the ranking and an elite 19 land in the top 200, up from 15 last year. Chinas Peking University joins the top 30 in 29th place, up from 42nd last year, while Tsinghua University joins the top 40 in 35th place, up from joint 47th.Five of Hong Kongs six representatives make the top 200, more than any other Asian region while South Korea has also made great strides. And the National University of Singapore (NUS), Asias top university, is at 24th, its highest ever rank.
India, US, Afghanistan reaffirm shared interest in combating terrorism

Published: September 23, 2016

India, United States and Afghanistan have reaffirmed their shared interests in combating terrorism and advancing peace and security in the region.

In this regard, a trilateral statement was issued after meeting of their delegates in New York on the sidelines of the 71st session of UN General Assembly.

Key features of trilateral statement

Three countries reaffirm their shared interests in advancing peace and security in the region, as well as countering terrorism.

They have exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan and on regional issues of mutual interest.

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 Afghanistan government.

They welcomed the discussions focused on political, economic, and development goals in Afghanistan including the regional dimension.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2016

Topics: Afghanistan  India  International  National  Terrorism  UN  US

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Friday, September 23, 2016

If I have an alternating proprietorship, Can I use the hosts staff as independent contractors to assist me in alcoholic beverage production?

Yes, as long as the written agreement between the Host and Tenant provides for this situation and it is structured to be compliant with federal law. The key factors that the TTB will consider in evaluating the relationship include:

Authority of the independent contractor and

Who makes operational decisions?

The proprietor whose product is being manufactured must exercise its own decision-making authority. The Hosts employees may be consultants to the proprietor, but may not be the ultimate decision-maker. This is especially the case for day to day operational matters such as bottling, storage and management of the operations. To be compliant, the tenant producer must issue written work orders and operational guidelines. It is acceptable for the proprietor to give limited discretion and authority to the consultant, but it must retain ultimate decision-making control for itself.

Similarly, auditors and inspectors should be able to discuss all records and reports with the principals of the Tenant business. The Tenant proprietor cannot abdicate its responsibility to prepare records and reports, or to pay taxes, to an independent contractors employees or consultants. Doing so will be a violation for inadequate control.

It is important that the Tenant producer have separate records. A subaccount of the hosts records will not be adequate. The Tenant must independently have access and control of its separate records, without going through the account or records of another business. (Yes, a separate user ID is needed and will have to be purchased for internet web-based systems). Cooperation is a core value and practice within the craft beverage industry. However; the road ends here at record keeping. These duties are required of each business separately. Failure to comply is completely at the liability and responsibility of the Tenant for its operations at the altering premises. Getting caught risks the license and/or some hefty fines.

The last area of concern is with payment for the services. Many arrangements provide for a trade in product rather than a cash payment. While this is permissible, its a taxable payment that must be recorded on the books and all appropriate payroll and income taxes paid.

Owning and Operating a Brewery, Cidery, Distillery & Winery has become an Increasingly Nuanced Profession

Regulations, licensure and legal risks are always evolving, and working with an attorney who is up to date on the latest strategies is essential for advising you how to minimize and maximize opportunities.

Schedule your Business Strategy Session with by emailing our office at team@tracyjonglawfirm.com today

About Tracy Jong

Tracy Jong has been an attorney for more than 20 years, representing restaurants, bars, and craft beverage manufacturers in a wide array of legal matters. She is also a licensed patent attorney.

Her book Everything You Need To Know About Obtaining and Maintaining a New York Retail Liquor License: The Definitive Guide to Navigating the State Liquor Authority will be available next month on Amazon.com as a softcover and Kindle e-book.

Her legal column is available in The Equipped Brewer, a publication giving business advice, trends, and vendor reviews to help craft breweries, cideries, distilleries and wineries build brands and succeed financially.

She also maintains a website and blog with practical information on legal and business issues affecting the industry. Follow her, sign up for her free firm app or monthly newsletter.

www.TracyJongLawFirm.com

TJong@TracyJongLawFirm.com

Facebook: Tracy Jong Law Firm

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Sometimes writing about something that has gone wrong in one of the systems in our society can be a way to both deal one's pain and effect change. That's what Paul Brakke tried to do when he and his wife Carol experienced a nightmare in the mental health and criminal justice systems in Arkansas when she was unfairly prosecuted, after some neighborhood kids and their parents lied about her because they didn't like her. The kids felt she was interfering with their play since she complained about them playing in a dangerous intersection. Then, a prosecutor with kids in the neighborhood took up the case against her.

Brakke began writing to tell their side of the story and started looking at problems in the mental health and criminal justice systems to help understand how this had happened to them. He felt the book he wrote would have a special appeal to seniors and retired individuals because his wife was 71 at the time. Then, too, he felt older Americans might be less familiar with what goes on in the system, partly because there have been so many changes in the past few decades, due to new technologies and laws. He also felt they might not be aware of some of the major injustices in the system, because they are used to having good relationships with helpful cops, especially when cops defer to them and treat them respectfully because of their age. Thus, while seniors and retirees may read about some of the recent confrontations between blacks and cops in cities around America, they may think of these events as aberrations of the system. They may not realize the problems that occur throughout the system, and one of Brakke's reasons for writing the book was to start a dialog to promote change.

His wife's case was unusual, since normally the cops defer to an older white middle-class woman living in a desirable neighborhood. But they took the words of the kids and didn't investigate the facts to get his wife's side of the story, because of the influence of a prosecutor with kids in the neighborhood. As a result, he and his wife saw a side of the criminal justice system that seniors, retired individuals, and their families don't normally see.

Among other things, his wife was forced to endure two involuntary commitments to a psych ward, along with exile from her home, unjustified delays in setting a trial date, and the threat of a 16-year jail term. Eventually, given the pressures of the case, Brakke and his wife reluctantly agreed to move out of their home, at a great cost, to another community as part of a plea bargain in which all charges relating to an aggravated assault were dropped. But the case continued to haunt them,and his wife continued to suffer from post-traumatic mental health issues, including bouts of depression, many years after the case against her was settled. These pressures added on to the ordinary pressures that come with aging for anyone today. Brakke found it healing for him to channel the pain they experienced into examining the criminal justice system and thinking about how it might be improved.

Brakke thought this approach might be especially of interest to other older adults and their families, as a snapshot of what the system is like and what might be changed. In fact, he believed that seniors and retirees might be in a specially good position to join together to take some action, because they generally have more free time, since they have retired from their work and may be seeking other ways to contribute to their families and community. As he observed about his approach: "Consider this a call for seniors and retirees to step forward to look at what they might do in their own communities to help resolve some problems in the local mental health or criminal justice system. For example, they might call their police department or sheriff's office and ask how they can volunteer. They might call a local mental health facility and see if they might participate in various outreach programs. They might contact their local government offices and see what they recommend."

The book American Justice? might also give readers other ideas about how they can get involved to help fix the system. The chapters in Part II deal with the contributions of children's lies, abuses of the mental health system, prosecutorial misconduct, poor judicial behavior, the role of the media, police issues, collateral damage to families, and the criminal justice system as a whole. Each chapter includes several well-publicized examples and concludes with constructive suggestions for improvement. A final chapter calls for a national dialog and bipartisan political action to reform the system. So there are plenty of ideas to stimulate readers to want to get involved to do something. It's an approach that's much needed today.

As Brakke concludes the book, he urges everyone to "Think about what you might do to participate locally to help to make positive changes in the system." And if there is enough interest in a reader's community, he might be able to arrange a special event with his publisher, such as a local book signing.

The book is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/American-Justice-Paul-Brakke/dp/069271068X or directly from his publisher Touchpoint Press at http://www.touchpointpress.com.

He has also set up a website for the book at http://americanjusticethebook.com and a Facebook page for it at https://www.facebook.com/bookamericanjustice. The website includes some blogs he has been writing about criminal justice stories in the news, which you may find of interest.

Brakke invites readers to contact him if they have any questions about the book or about how they might participate in their own community in becoming part of the solution.

Contact:

Paul Brakke



Author, American Justice?



Little Rock, Arkansas



brakkep@gmail.com



phone (501) 707-8352



http://www.americanjusticethebook.com

Nancy Parker



The Professional Connection



Lafayette, California



professionconnection@att.net



925) 385-0608
Friday, September 23, 2016

Why You Need A Mentor

Mentors: Another One of Lifes Gifts:

Just when I stopped believing in myself, I found a mentor. I talked myself out of submitting every article I wrote. I questioned my abilities as a writer, and when I look back, I really should have questioned my writing abilities because they werent too good. Lets just say I have learned a lot in a few years, and there is always room for improvement. The point isyou need a mentor. A mentor is someone who encourages your curiosity and passion. A mentor sees your interest and fosters it because he or she has this same interest. To the left, I am pictured with one of my writing mentors. We share a passion for creating words and phrases that others can taste and savor. Each email I get from Mike includes at least one inspiring word usage, a subtle analogy, or a linguistic twist of humor; I marvel at his writing talent, and I believe he enjoys passing some of it on to me. We also like to roast the latest political hacks and solve worldly problems.

So, how do you get a mentor like Mike?

You can pay for one. This route works, but more often than not, when you really need a mentor, you cannot afford one. The best way I have found mentors in my life is to ask questions to passionate people and test the waters. Short, curt responses mean this person may not have the time to be a mentor, or she or he may not find teaching very enjoyable. Pass. Ramblers spend long periods of time talking about many topicssometimes the one you ask about and sometimes many others. Pass. Mentors find the sweet spot and engage in conversations while time passes like a shortened nights sleep. Bingo. This is the kind of mentor often desired. And, going in with no expectations helps the relationship blossom. Some of my mentors have stayed in my life for decades. Some stayed in my life for days. Each brought a perspective or conversation to my life that changed me forever. Its what mentors do.

If you have not looked for a mentor in your life and really wanted to go it alone, I challenge you to think again. Mentors saved me countless dollars and countless hours of lost sleep. They made me laugh, and they made me really get to know myself bettereven when I didnt want to.

Also, there are times when being a mentor presents itself. After being a mentor to many students and team members, I know why people like to be mentors: helping others feels good. The life cycle of mentoring fuels both mentor and mentee.

Mentors are like life advisors; they appear when you are ready and when you ask for them. If you are having trouble finding a good mentor, keep your eyes open and your curiosity at the forefront. Asking questions is a great way to open a conversation. Responding with good listening skills and a humble mind keeps the conversations flowing.

Good luck in finding your next mentor, and I hope you get the chance to be a mentor if you have not been one already.

Dr. Lisa Knowles practices in St. Johns, Michigan. She is the founder of IntentionalDental Consulting, a company that helps the dental profession learn ways to improve office communication, leadership, culture, and sustainability. Contact Dr. Knowles at IntentionalDental@gmail. com or at 517-331-3688. Visit her website at Beyond32Teeth.com for more information.

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Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel: The closest gambling destination is in Eagle Pass, where a view from one of the 249 rooms might include the Rio Grande River on the border. With 3,300 slots, poker games and tournaments and bingo Wednesdays through Sunday, youll find ways to drop some bucks and try to win a little. From San Antonio, the drive takes almost two and a half hours. But you can catch a bus (OK Tours from San Antonio or Rockport Tours from Corpus Christi) and leave the driving to a pro.

Louisiana: Once Interstate 10 crosses into Louisiana, the landscape is dotted with gambling choices, big and small. A couple of the biggest and most popular are Lauberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles (plus Baton Rouge) and the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana. You can get to Lake Charles or Kinder in under six hours.
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San Antonios city attorney sent a letter Thursday to the campaign of U.S. Rep. Will Hurd requesting that a political advertisement currently airing be removed or edited because it includes images of the citys military affairs director and deputy director.

Your campaign, Will Hurd for Congress, is currently running a television ad which includes at least two city of San Antonio employees, namely, Juan Ayala, city of San Antonio director of military affairs and Karen Rolirad, deputy director of military affairs, the letter says. Both city employees are shown in a way that they can clearly be identified, and that suggests they are endorsing or supporting your candidacy for U.S. Congress.

In his letter, City Attorney Andrew Segovia asks that Hurd, R-Helotes, either pull down the ad or edit it so that the city employees cannot be identified, noting that neither Ayala nor Rolirad recalls giving their consent to have their images shown in a campaign ad and that city policy prohibits city employees from participating in political activity while acting in their official capacities. The 30-second ad is airing in San Antonio on network television.

Hurd is seeking re-election against former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, in the 23rd Congressional District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso. It is considered one of the most competitive congressional races in the country.

Ayala, a retired Marine general, said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News on Thursday that he attended a town hall open house at the request of veterans support groups he works with and was there to hear discussion from veterans and the groups to get a pulse on what issues they face.

I had absolutely no expectation that my image would be used in a campaign ad, he said. Ill be more careful next time.

Justin Hollis, Hurds campaign manager, said the intent of the event was not disguised.

The campaign made it clear on camera and to the audience that filming was for campaign purposes, he said in a text message to the Express-News. Additionally, we had signs posted letting folks know they were being filmed for a political commercial as well as a sign-in process. Our sincerest apologies to those who may have been included and did not want to be.

Ayala said he commends all elected officials who support veterans, regardless of their political affiliation, but he cant be seen as taking sides.

I applaud Congressman Hurd, but I dont want my image on this thing, he said.

Ayala said he declined an earlier invitation to a rally for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton because it was a political event and he didnt want to be seen as favoring a particular candidate. But with the town hall meeting, Ayala said he thought he was attending an event focused on veterans. At the Hurd event, which was closed to media, the general said he recalled seeing cameras but didnt think much of it.

There were cameras everywhere, but any time there are elected officials, a member of Congress especially, there are going to be cameras, he said.

Lionel Sosa, an expert on political advertising, said he has not seen the ad but would advise the Hurd campaign to remove the images that show the city employees.

If I were the campaign and someone were to request it, I would remove it, Sosa said. Its not going to do me any good to keep running an ad that has someone being offended by that image.

At the same time, he said that those who dont want to appear in a video should speak up.

Any time youre being filmed, youve got to have the good sense to know that that film could go anywhere, Sosa said.

Whether the campaign has to get consent from the audience depends on who could access the event, Sosa said. At a public event, theres no requirement, but if the event is private, then the campaign should get consent, he said.

A posting on meetup.com by a local female veterans group was seeking members to attend. The posting says the group was invited by a representative from Hurds office, who is quoted as saying that attendees would be featured in a televised commercial. The post then notes that cameras would be present and that attendees could opt out. The post also required members to submit their contact information so they would be added to a guest list.

The campaign did not respond to a question about whether the advertisement would be pulled or edited as the city has requested.

jbaugh@express-news.net

Twitter: @jbaugh
The mother-in-law of Humberto Moreira, a former Mexico border governor who once led the countrys ruling party, has agreed to turn over her North Side home to the U.S. government, records show.

The civil lawsuit federal prosecutors filed last year was settled in secret court proceedings, but Bexar County property records made public Friday show that the Internal Revenue Service will take control of the house in the gated Greystone Country Estates at the intersection of Blanco and Huebner roads.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez signed off on prosecutors requests to seal the terms of their settlement with Herminia Martinez de la Fuente, Moreiras mother-in-law and the listed owner of the house since 2009.

The U.S. Attorneys Office asked that the documents be sealed in the interest of courtesy  unusual language that does not fully state what risk would come from the settlement being public. After the judge signed the seal order, Daryl Fields, spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office, said he could not comment on matters which the court has placed under seal.

The 3,900-square-foot house, complete with a swimming pool and hot tub, is appraised at $600,000. It will eventually be sold at auction, according to a redacted version of Rodriguezs order prosecutors filed with the county clerks office.

A lawyer for Martinez de la Fuente did not respond to a phone call and an email seeking comment.

Moreira was the governor for the border state of Coahuila from 2005 to 2011. The lawsuit against Martinez de la Fuentes house is part of a years-long investigation by federal and Bexar County authorities into allegations that Moreira and other officials stole hundreds of millions of dollars from the Coahuila government and laundered tens of millions of dollars in San Antonio and South Texas.

An affidavit by an Internal Revenue Service agent containing allegations about Martinez de La Fuentes purchase of the house was filed under seal, and remains secret. In one of the few publicly available documents in the case, prosecutors alleged the house was bought as part of a money-laundering scheme.

Moreira, who was arrested in Spain earlier this year before getting his charges thrown out, has not been charged with a crime in the U.S. In San Antonio federal court proceedings, however, two witnesses have accused him of taking bribes from drug traffickers and government contractors.

At least six people have been charged in federal courts in Corpus Christi and San Antonio in connection with the investigation. On social media and through his U.S. lawyer, Moreira has said he was not involved in any crimes. The Coahuila government has said it cant find evidence to support the U.S. governments allegations that former Coahuila treasurer Hector Javier Villarreal used money stolen from the state to buy property in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley.

Last month, the Treasury Department sold the first of eight properties that Villarreal turned over as part of his guilty plea to charges of money laundering conspiracy and conspiring to transport stolen money in foreign commerce. The North Pointe Shopping Center at Redland Road and U.S. 281 sold for $6.75 million. The other seven, some in the Rio Grande Valley and some in San Antonio, are slated for auction in late October.

Earlier this year, former Zetas financial operative Rodrigo Humberto Uribe Tapia testified that he was involved in paying millions of dollars in bribes to one of Moreiras top aides. Current Coahuila government officials and Moreira called into question Uribes testimony because he is a paid informant who claimed to be a hit man in a reality television show appearance.

In the plea agreement of Mexican media mogul Rolando Gonzalez Trevino, who admitted last year in a San Antonio federal court to conspiring to transport stolen goods as part of the Coahuila investigation, prosecutors alleged that the former governor traveled to San Antonio in 2009 to meet with Gonzalez.

Moreira is not identified by name in the document, but U.S. officials confirmed to the Express-News that hes among the unnamed co-conspirators who, according the plea agreement, met with Gonzalez at The Club at Sonterra to discuss using $1 million stolen from the state to buy some of the businessmans media holdings.

jbuch@express-news.net

Twitter: @jlbuch
AUSTIN  State officials are housing 37 foster care children with severe emotional and behavioral issues in a repurposed former juvenile detention center in northeast Texas, a decision a ranking Texas senator said Thursday amounts to the warehousing of troubled youths in the state's care.

Department of Family and Protective Services officials confirmed that the children, who are between ages 10 and 17 and are mostly from the Fort Worth area, have been relocated to the former Crockett State School and said more could be joining them. The center is licensed to hold up to 115.

Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for the agency, said officials believe the site is the most appropriate place for the youths.

Records show the Houston firm that operates the new center, Serenity House Inc., has had no administrative violations at a Houston location where it houses 71 foster care youths. That center has been licensed since 2006.

Even so, Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire, D-Houston, said the former detention center is the wrong place for foster care youths, even if it has been remodeled.

This is warehousing of troubled youth, pure and simple, and that's not a solution. Its just creating a new problem, Whitmire said Thursday. When they turn 18 and get out, they stand a high likelihood of becoming homeless or getting into more trouble and ending up in an adult prison.

Owner defends facility

Chris Brown, Serenitys owner and program director, said more than $800,000 has been spent remodeling the site that is now a completely different environment than when it was a detention center, even though the perimeter fence  minus the razor wire  remains in place.

We're offering a therapeutic home environment  out in nature, he said, a place where the youths feel safe.

Whitmire said he remains unconvinced. Even though Brown said he has professional treatment staff on site, the senator said the lack of specialized treatment professionals in Crockett was among the reasons the state decided to close the site and other lockups in remote parts of Texas.

Whitmire, who was instrumental in the closure of Crockett and two other state-run youth lockups five years ago, said he was alerted to the new program several weeks ago when the vendor that runs it asked him to sign off on also housing juvenile probationers at Crockett, along with the foster care kids. His response: Not only no, but hell no. Mixing a foster care population with a correctional population is an even worse idea than what the state is doing now. Brown said Thursday he no longer plans to house teenaged probationers at the site.

High-needs youth

The youths housed there are among the state's most troubled foster care children, officially classified as high-needs youth, who the state has not been able to place with foster families. Most have significant histories of assaultive behavior, many have been sexually and physically abused. Many also have multiple previous stays in youth jails and psychiatric hospitals for treatment of an assortment of troubles ranging from personality disorders to drug use to Aspergers and bipolar disorders.

Others have been reported as having suicidal or homicidal behavior, for setting fires, being aggressive or harming animals, as well as exhibiting sexually inappropriate or anti-social behavior. Many have bounced from one foster care family or facility to another, one with as many as 35 different placements.

One 16-year-old had 10 hospitalizations, multiple runaway incidents and three stays in juvenile detention, records show. A 17-year-old had multiple psychiatric evaluations for self-harming behavior and other issues, in addition to three stays in juvenile detention centers.

Michelle Deitch, a University of Texas senior lecturer and expert on juvenile justice and youth issues, questioned using the Crockett center for such high-needs youth.

It's very correctional  not a therapeutic environment, she said. I would be concerned about this.

In the past, state policy has been to keep troubled youths in treatment programs near their homes, not housing urban youths at remote rural centers, and keeping the treatment centers small to encourage a home-like environment. Brown said his treatment program is designed to be just that, at a facility that looks like a small college campus setting than a treatment center.

This is part of the treatment environment, he said. The kids feel safe there. Their rooms look like dorm rooms at college. The kids are happy.

Brown said he is negotiating to accept foster care children from East Texas, at a time when the state protective service agency needs additional beds in that area of Texas. Crockett is about 115 miles north of Houston.

The 60-year-old Crockett State School was closed in 2011, one of three state-run youth facilities shuttered because of declining numbers of teenaged offenders as the state ramped up a network of community-based programs as an alternative. The state gave all three sites to local officials to redevelop.

At the time of its closure, officials said Crockett held 115 youths and had 280 employees. Whitmire said the Crockett center like the others had been plagued by staffing shortages, including professional treatment staff needed to treat the emotionally disturbed youths who were housed there.

Changes in ownership

The 100-acre site across from Crockett High School sat vacant for nearly three years, until city officials tried to contract with a company to house state juvenile offenders there in a special treatment program. But legislative leaders, including Whitmire, killed that deal, and the facility sat empty once again. Frustrated local officials considered giving it back to the state.

County Judge Erin Ford said Serenity Place officials last spring proposed housing foster children at the site. Local officials in May signed a five-year agreement to sell the property to the Houston firm for $600,000, according to local news reports.

Department of Family and Protective Services records show the site was reclassified as a residential treatment center July 17, the same day it was licensed by the state to hold foster care youths. It had previously been classified as a detention center by another agency, officials said.

Opened in 1950 to house a vocational school for girls, and later a state residential home, Crockett became a juvenile detention center in 1975 to hold a growing population of male lawbreakers. In the years before it was closed, the Texas Youth Commission spent millions of dollars on upgrades.

State records show the Crockett center is far from the largest concentration of foster care youths that officials said now number more than 1,600 statewide. For years, Texas has struggled to find enough foster homes for all the children, amid reports of foster care youths staying in state offices and other temporary locations when available beds were full.

Brown said he thinks the new Crockett center will help the state solve that problem.

Whitmire said anyone questioning why foster care youths need proper care, and the dangers to Texans when they do not receive it, need look no further than the April 3 slaying of University of Texas communications freshman Haruka Weiser. Meechaiel Criner, a 17-year-old foster care runaway, has been charged with her murder.

mike.ward@chron.com
BUTLER, Pa.  Dawson and Marcia Dibbern moved from Massachusetts in 2000 to find land with cheaper taxes. They found their paradise on 80 acres in Butler County

The property is full of rolling hills and segregated pastures, and the long winding drive way up a steep hill leads you to the retired couple and their 17 cows. The heard is 3/4 to 7/8 Angus.

The Dibberns live on a set retirement income, so the goal is to keep inputs low. He accomplishing this by experimenting with adaptive grazing, and with a little help from his fellow farmers and NRCS, he is changing the face and method of his farm.

Grass farmer. Birdsfoot trefoil is my best friend, Im a grass farmer, said Dibbern

He started off rotating the cows to a new pasture once a week, then once every three days, then once a day, and now he is rotating them twice a day.

Ive spread seeds of Trifolium, Litem Clover and Birdseed Trefoil in the bare spots where the waterers have been and it comes up nice and thick, he said.

The longer grass has kept the fly problem at bay, he said. As well as rotating the cows so often, he stays ahead of the larva.

Benefits

He has 40 paddocks to build in more rest for the forages. Each paddock is an acre and a half.

This method allows you to graze cows with much taller pastures. Our standard method is to put in at 13 inches and take out at 3. The more you leave behind the more regrowth you will see, said Andy Graver, district conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

It is important to keep the pastures temperature below 80 degrees so cool season grasses can grow. The tall grass and native plants provide shade for the ground.

Tall grass and rotating pastures allows Dibberns calves to get to market weight as fast as grain-fed cattle.

I just took a bull to slaughter that was 20 months old and weighed 840 pounds, Dibbern said. Feeding no grain at all.

Dibbern is sold on this method of grazing, As a farmer I cant decide the market value of the animal, feed is the only cost to cut, he said. My pastures experience 66 days between rotations, giving them a chance to grow. Of the 80 acres, 40 of it is fenced and in the rotation.

My fields look like an abandoned strip mine, but with this strategy I could have one cow per acre or more, Dawson said. He admits to now needing more cows to eat the crop of foliage he has established.

Soil enhancement

We arent grain farmers or dairy farmers, we are all farming sunshine, Graver said. The more sunshine you harvest the thicker your forages.

In this method we bank on feeding what is left over to the microbes and enhancing the soil.

Russell Wilson, a farmer in Forest County, Pennsylvania, shared with the group that he hasnt mowed his pastures in four years. What you have above ground is what you have below ground, if you have a foot above ground the roots are likely a foot deep, Wilson said.

Another benefit of this adaptive grazing method is that it is essentially drought proofing the farm, with a 1 percent increase of organic matter the soil can hold an additional inch of water, Graver said.

Dibbern turned his animals out in May this year, and the pasture was shoulder high to them.

Questioning the method

A question came from the crowd about getting rid of the native thorns. Dibbern shared his experience of reading about and training his cows on how to get cows to eat weeds. They will eat anything you just have to train them, he said

What about digestive issues? The protein values in many of these forages are higher than alfalfa he shared, he has not seen any digestive issues.

How does the beef taste? With the right finish you cant tell the difference from grain feed. Wilson went on to clarify what the right finish means, Taking them to market at the correct weight and marbling.

For more information about adaptive grazing, contact your local NRCS and start a grazing plan, www.nrcs.usda.gov.
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.
Shropshire

A Full-Time position is available for an assistant herdsperson on a family dairy farm in mid Shropshire. We have a 250 dairy herd rearing own replacements together with a b...
A European approach to facing the challenges of climate change in ruminant agriculture

Dr Ruth Wonfor: IBERS, Aberystwyth University



Researchers at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University have recently led a European collaborative review summarising present research in mathematical modelling of European ruminant production under climate change.



The review highlights future developments and challenges to be faced.
A herd of rare White Park cattle could die out if its owners do not urgently acquire a new bull.

There are 13 White Park Cattle at Dinefwr in Carmarthenshire, Wales, characterised by their white coats and black noses.

However, action is needed to stop that number dropping.

Only 750 White Park breeding females remain on the planet, making the breed a rarer species than the Giant Panda.

The National Trust said they need to raise 36,000 to buy a new bull to prevent them from dying out.

Justin Albert, director of National Trust Wales, said the White Park cattle are "vital" to Dinefwr and important to Wales.

The National Trust said White Park Cattle are a living link to our very distant past

"Theyre a significant part of Welsh history that we want to protect and preserve, and well do all we can to ensure the breed continues to thrive and delight our visitors for generations to come," Mr Albert said.

Wyn Davies, who looks after them, said after four years of distinguished service, the current bull, Strelley Bendigo, has maximised his potential with the herd.

"A new male needs to enter the herd to preserve the bloodline and make sure the bulls bred on the land are true to species."

"I have had the pleasure of working with the White Park Cattle for the past 18 years and they are amazing animals. Dinefwr wouldnt be Dinefwr without them.

"I hope with the support of the public we can achieve our fundraising goal and together with a new young herdsman in the form of Rhodri the cattle will be safeguarded for future generations."

Living link to the past

The National Trust said White Park Cattle are a living link to our very distant past with records of them at Dinefwr dating back to the year 920 when they were referenced in the laws of Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good), who codified the laws of Wales.

"We are in a race against time to save the future of our famous White Park Cattle.

"The cattle have been at Dinefwr for over one thousand years, but we now need to urgently raise 36,000 to buy a new bull and introduce new females to keep the bloodline alive and #SaveTheHerd."

Richard Broad, field officer at the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), said the group fully supports the maintenance and future development of the herd of White Park cattle at Dinefwr.

"Based in the homeland of the breed in West Wales, the campaign is a beacon of hope for all rare breeds."
Arla Foods is raising its milk price to owners by 1.6ppl from 1 October.

This follows an increase in the September price.

In addition, there is also a positive currency impact as a result of the new quarters average exchange rate being introduced to the pricing mechanism.

This takes the conventional price to 21.65 pence.

Commenting on the decision, Arla Foods amba board director, Johnnie Russell, said this is the second consecutive month that Arla has increased its milk price.

"While the price is still not adequate, the one pence increase in September, coupled with the 1.6 pence increase in October, is good news for our farmer owners," Mr Russell said.

"It demonstrates the strength of our business model which allows us to increase the returns to our farmer owners in line with our formulaic pricing mechanism.

"Commodity markets, as well as yellow cheese markets in Europe, are continuing to strengthen, and prices across European retail markets also continue to firm.

"Milk production in the EU continues to slow down, and we expect this trend to carry on over the coming months."
Thousands of pounds will be raised for charity today on the UKs first ever British Hen Welfare Day.

Today (Friday, 23 September) marks the start of the British Hen Welfare Trusts fundraising appeal to help build a flagship re-homing and education centre.

Hundreds of people have signed up to hold a Free Range Friday today, at which they will be eating lots of cake in exchange for a donation for the charity.

And something a bit special has taken place at Hen Central, the charitys head office, in time for the big day.

Illustration students from Petroc college in Barnstaple took on the mammoth task of marking out, mowing and spray painting a 10m by 10m hen to mark British Hen Welfare Day.

Kim Jones, programme manager for foundation degree in illustration, plus degree students Hollie McDonald and Ally Kiddo spent hours at Hen Central along with Kims son, Will Jones, marking out the hen.

It was also filmed and photographed by Ian Kevern, from Skyz Ink, who was on hand with his drone while the hen was taking shape.

'We hope Free Range Fridays will go off with a bang'

Charity founder, Jane Howorth MBE, said: "We have been looking forward to this day for so long and our supporters always pull out all the stops to help us raise as much as we can for the charity.

"We know bakers have been going into overdrive getting cakes, biscuits, muffins and more ready for the day, and we hope all the Free Range Fridays go off with a bang.

"Id also like to say a huge thank you to Petroc and Ian for helping get our big red hen in place  it was a big ask but they really pulled it off!"

Kim added: "When the charity contacted us asking if we could help with their big red hen it was certainly one of the more unusual requests weve had.

"However, we like to give anything a go so rolled up our sleeves and got stuck in.

"We were really pleased with the result and, personally, Id like to thank Hollie, Ally and Will for their hard work in pulling it off."

British Hen Welfare Day is also about raising awareness of hen welfare and educating people about the eggs hidden in processed foods.

Everyone holding a Free Range Friday was asked to ensure any cakes they ate (whether homemade or shop bought) contained only free range eggs.
A farmer has been fined more than 23,000 after admitting a series of record-keeping failures which could have led to the spread of serious diseases.

Michael Dixon, of WR & JE Dixon, Beech House, appeared in front of the Carlisle City Magistrates and admitted to the failures.

The charges were brought by Cumbria County Council Legal Services on behalf of Cumbria Trading Standards following a detailed and lengthy investigation by Trading Standards officers into malpractice by the farming business.

Mr Dixon pleaded guilty to 12 specimen charges asking for a further 249 related offences to be taken in to consideration.

The court heard that the catalogue of failures could have led to the spread of bovine TB and BSE.

'Poor monitoring and recording practices'

During the 3 year investigation, Cumbria Trading Standards found that Mr Dixon had failed to apply for cattle passports within the specified time scale laid down by legislation.

He had manipulated the dates of birth of calves born on the holding by up to eight months in order to get a passport for them.

This led to further investigations, which revealed that the farming business had failed to report the movements of cattle onto and off its holding.

The business also failed to keep adequate records.

It came to light that cattle had been sold to unsuspecting farmers through local auction marts with a false date of birth rendering the animal worthless to the purchaser.

Fined 27,000 for offences

The Magistrates sentenced him for the 12 offences on summons and took account of the 249 other similar offences.

The lay bench accepted he was negligent and was of previous good character. They viewed them as serious offences in terms of public safety, traceability and disease control.

For the Cattle Identification Regulation offences he was fined 19,800, and for the Animal Health Act offences he was fined 3,750.

Fines totaled  23,550 and the court awarded costs of 3,500, therefore fines and costs totalled 27,050.

Councillor Janet Willis, portfolio holder responsible for Trading Standards, said: "The spread of disease can have a devastating impact on farmers and the rural economy.

"Although the fine may seem like a lot for one business, it is nothing compared to the potential cost to the local economy that Mr Dixon was risking through poor monitoring and recording practices.

"We recognise that the majority of farmers take their responsibilities seriously, but this sends a clear message to those who don't, that Trading Standards will thoroughly investigate and prosecute when necessary."
Milk and dairy enthusiasts, Charlie Thomas and Roseanne McEwan, have won the Milkman of the Year and the Marketing & Promotion Award respectively, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the UK dairy industry.

The much-coveted awards were announced during a festive evening at Haydock Park, Merseyside, for the Dairy UK Doorstep Conference which saw representatives from across the industry come together to celebrate the great tradition of doorstep delivery.

Charlie Thomas, aged 24, was nominated by his Creamline customers and judged by a panel from Dairy UK.

Milkman of the year 2016

The award, sponsored by Delamere Dairy, showcases the very best in the industry, and provides a great opportunity to remind the public of the heritage of the milkman and how they are a unique part of British culture.

Come rain or shine, Creamline milkman Charlie Thomas has delivered hundreds of pints of milk a week to his customers in Sale & Trafford.

Charlie said: I am absolutely delighted to have won the title. I would like to thank all who have nominated me and thank them for their support.

Theres no other job quite like it. I know my area like the back of my hand and its always good to see familiar faces on my route."

Marketing and promotions winner

"The community I know and work with are what get me out there  its great that I have a job that means Im so directly connected with my customers.

"I started to accompany my father on his milk rounds when I was 8 years old  and I learnt that a milkman must be punctual, have an eye for detail, and no matter the weather, smile."

Dr Judith Bryans, Chief Executive of Dairy UK, said: "Charlie is what doorstep delivery is all about. His customers are his friends and he always goes that extra mile to provide them with great products and service.

"He relishes the community spirit and provides trustworthy doorstep delivery service that many of our customers, especially the housebound, rely on."

The second winner of the evening, Roseanne McEwan, Brand Development Manager at Cotteswold Dairy, joined in 2015 and has used initiative to create a brand identity which has made a real impact on the business.

Roseanne said: "I am over the moon to receive this award and thank you for this recognition.

"I came into my role with no previous experience in brand development and marketing, but I have really enjoyed the creative process of developing a brand identity and creating a whole branding package for a product that I truly believe in."

Dr Judith Bryans added: "Roseanne is creative, positive and a real driving force when it comes to marketing.

"She has thrown herself into her role and created a strong brand identity for her company that she should be proud of."

Nigel Byham, Dairy UK Board member and Director of Byham's Dairy, said: "Charlie and Roseanne are great ambassadors for our industry  they demonstrate an unwavering passion and enthusiasm for their jobs and I would like to congratulate them both.

Steven OConnor, National Account Manager at Delamere Dairy, said: "We are delighted to sponsor the awards this year  both of which recognise the outstanding contribution that people across the industry have made.

"Doorstep delivery plays such a crucial role in our local communities and creative marketing initiatives are an important way of setting out a successful vision for the future."

The runner up for Milkman of the Year 2016 was Fred Tandy from Cotteswold Dairy, and runner up for the Marketing & Promotion award was Steve Neary, General Sales Manager from Creamline Dairies.
Researchers at the University of Surreys School of Veterinary Medicine are looking for pig faecal samples for a research project.

They have developed a new diagnostic test for detection of the giant roundworm Ascaris, a common parasite of pigs.

Ascaris infections can lead to reduced growth rates and milk spots on pig livers.

The standard diagnostic tests for Ascaris infection are not very sensitive and can miss infections.

The researchers believe the new test they are developing is likely to be more sensitive and could be used for rapid pen-side testing.

To validate the test they need pig faecal samples and are asking for help from anyone in the UK who keeps pigs.

Economic profitability reduced

The researchers said: "We will ask you to collect fresh pig faecal samples from pig pens or pastures and send them to us at the University.

"We will provide you with containers for sample collection and stamped addressed boxes for safe postage of the samples.

"We will test the faecal samples in our laboratory, using our new diagnostic test and the McMaster technique to give faecal worm egg counts."

Pigs get infected with Ascaris by ingesting infectious parasite eggs that are present in the environment.

Infections with the roundworm, and especially the larval migration phase, have shown to reduce the economic profitability of a pig farm.

The presence of this parasite on a pig farm reduces its productivity in a number of direct or indirect ways.

The decreased health status of pigs, as a consequence of roundworm infection, is reflected in general production parameters like daily weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and meat quality.
NFU Cymru has written to the Secretary for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, to outline priorities for 'Rural Development Programme' delivery during the period of the transition out of the EU.

At the recent NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board, the Wales RDP was a key focus of discussion and, in the context of the EU Referendum last June, farmers expressed concern that time was now running out for the RDP.

Key opportunities were considered for the RDP post-Referendum - with NFU Cymru saying the plan "must speed up", with delivery focused on "real, tangible benefits" for Welsh farmers.

Many farmers expressed support for investments on-farm through better resourced and more frequent application windows for the 'Sustainable Production Grant Scheme.'

Some want the development and roll-out of a new small scale Sustainable Production Grant Scheme to support many more farmers in Wales to make small scale investments.

"The evidence so far shows there is significant demand from farmers for farming related schemes"

The Rural Affairs Board concluded that ensuring contracts are developed and offered to all those who have expressed an interest for Glastir Advanced 2017 must commence ahead of the autumn statement.

Offering extensions to contracts to 2020 to all farmers who currently hold multi-annual agri-environment contracts, including Glastir Entry and Glastir Commons, was also spoken about

Farmers wanted a re-opening for Glastir Organics to support those wishing to convert to organic through the organic conversion process.

And finally, farmers supported continued investment in the environment through better resourced and more frequent application windows for the Glastir Small Grants Scheme.

'Very important to rural Wales'

NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board Chairman, Hedd Pugh said: "The maximum transfer from Pillar 1 to Pillar 2, makes the Rural Development Programme very important to rural Wales and as a result of the EU Referendum, swift implementation has now become critically important."

He added: "The evidence so far shows there is significant demand from farmers for farming related schemes, particularly those that support on-farm investment in infrastructure, the latest equipment and technologies and the multi-annual schemes provide the opportunity to secure the delivery of multiple environmental objectives.

"Having taken the time to develop these schemes, NFU Cymru believes that resourcing future windows provides the greatest opportunity to maximise the impact of RDP funds in the time left available."

Mr Pugh said RDP funds in Wales have a "very significant" contribution to make to the "vitality" of farm businesses which, in turn, "do much to support the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of rural Wales."

"It is vital that Welsh Government now works with industry partners on the implementation of RDP schemes and initiatives, to deliver transformational change and lasting impact on Welsh farms," Mr Pugh said.
A stranded sheep had a narrow escape this week after the RSPCAs specialist water rescue training waded into the River Leven to rescue her.

The animal welfare charity was called on Tuesday lunchtime (20 September) by a man who had spotted the ewe trapped on a small ledge in the river, in High Leven, Yarm.

She had fallen from the riverbank into the water and been trapped for at least three hours.

RSPCA chief inspector Mark Gent, inspector Nick Jones and animal collection officer Jamie Lee Pipes went to the scene to mount a water rescue.

CI Mark Gent said: "It looks like the sheep had fallen about 4ft from the embankment into the river before managing to scramble onto a tiny ledge to keep out of the water.

The RSPCA has around 100 specially-trained inspectors and officers who are equipped to deal water rescues

"Luckily she wasnt injured, just trapped and very frightened.

"She clearly couldnt climb to safety herself so, had the river levels have risen, she would have been at risk of drowning.

"I managed to wade out to her in a flood suit with support from land by my colleagues, grab hold of her and carry her to safety.

"She was very happy to run off back to her flock on dry land!"

The officers contacted the farmer and issued some advice about fencing for the field.

"Were just pleased this one had a happy ending and, with our advice issued, hopefully something similar wont happen again," CI Gent added.

The RSPCA has around 100 specially-trained inspectors and officers who are equipped to deal water rescues.

The charity also has a fleet of 35 inflatable boats, sea boats and portable roll away boats to help rescue animals as well as deliver vital supplies to stranded herds of horses and cattle during floods.
The UK government is "failing" to support farmers in the long-term according to the Liberal Democrats as new figures suggest around 4,000 West Country farms could go out of business after Brexit.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Mark Williams together with its UK leader, Tim Farron, has launched a "not a penny less" campaign.

Mr Williams claims the current guarantee of funding until 2020 'does not go far enough.'

"The subsidy regime is not something farmers welcome but it's a reality for the farming industry at the moment," he said.

Mark Williams is a Welsh Liberal Democrat politician and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ceredigion constituency

"There has been some concern in farming circles that those existing subsidies will be removed... this is a lifeline so I understand their anxiety.

"After the statement from David Davis in the House of Commons nearly a fortnight ago, assurances are still not there.

"The ramifications of many farming businesses going bust [are] huge for rural communities. It's at that point you factor in how feasible it is for village schools to stay open, as well as other service providers and bus routes."

He said that "on balance", he would prefer to see the Welsh Government, not UK ministers, keep control of farm support payments.

"I am calling on government to reassure farmers that they are not going to face cuts to the support they rely on," said Mr Farron

'Considerable dismay' among farmers

The party released details in conjunction with Defra data released earlier in the year which shows a stark warning regarding the amount of farms that could go out of business without necessary subsidies.

The Lib-Dems said 4,402 farms in the South West alone were at risk.

Nationally, it estimates 20,600 farmers would be driven out of businesses unless they continue to get financial support.

"Farmers making decisions now about buying livestock and investing for the future are being left in the dark about what will come after 2020," said Lib-Dem leader Tim Farron.

"I am calling on the government to reassure farmers that they are not going to face cuts to the support they rely on after 2020."

John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich said during a House of Lords debate that there has been 'considerable dismay' among farms since Brexit because of the threat to farm payments.

"The new Secretary of State will have to persuade the Chancellor that smaller farmers and hill farmers will not be able to carry on unless they are given stronger reassurances of support.

"In 2013, farmers received 2.6 billion under Pillar 1 and 637 million for agri-environment and rural development under green Pillar 2."

"How will the government ensure that British farmers continue to receive these payments?

"There are fears that direct payments will be significantly less under the new Government because of the continuing need for austerity.

"Farmers will have to receive this level of support or the whole fabric of rural society and the countryside will collapsewe heard of the situation in Wales."
The UK has backed a call for a cut in the use of antibiotics in livestock farming in order to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

World leaders met on Wednesday to tackle the growing threat of bacteria resistant to antibiotics that are making illnesses harder to treat.

Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, said: "There is a real risk that, if we do nothing, modern medicine as we know it will be undermined."

"There is a real risk": Andrea Leadsom, Defra Secretary

"The UK will work closely with different individual sectors to ensure that appropriate sector specific reduction targets are agreed by 2017 so that future reductions are greatest where there is most scope.

"Encouraging best practice and responsible use of antibiotics, which safeguard animal health and welfare, is a must," the government report said.

By 2050, if not tackled, it will kill more people than cancer, and cost, globally, more than the size of the current global economy (Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, 2014).

AMR threatens development goals

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi develop resistance against medicines that were previously able to cure them.

For the first time, Heads of State committed to taking a broad, coordinated approach to address the root causes of AMR across multiple sectors, especially human health, animal health and agriculture.

This is only the fourth time a health issue has been taken up by the UN General Assembly (the others were HIV, noncommunicable diseases, and Ebola).

The high-level meeting was convened by the President of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Peter Thomson.

"Antimicrobial resistance threatens the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and requires a global response," Mr. Thomson said.

"Member States have today agreed upon a strong political declaration that provides a good basis for the international community to move forward.

"No one country, sector or organization can address this issue alone."
Following the unexpected death Wednesday night of former Bismarck mayor Dennis Mayberry, 64, the long-time public servant is being remembered by friends, family and the city who loved him for his years of faithful civic leadership, devotion to country, concern for others and unwavering, dynamic Christian faith.

Mayberry spent his early years in Bismarck prior to moving to St. Louis with his mother after completing his freshman year of high school. In a 2014 interview that took place after his retirement as mayor, the always gregarious Mayberry said that he left his beloved hometown "kicking and screaming" and always regretted not graduating with Bismarck High School's class of 1970.

After high school, he served one tour in Vietnam as part of the Army Engineers for one tour in Vietnam from 1969-70.

in 1984, an ailing Mayberry  who was living in Florida at the time "keeping two jobs to pay the bills"  moved back with his family to the hometown he lovingly described as "that wonderful, wonderful town."

Hed been back in Bismarck about 10 years when someone first spoke to him about running for mayor.

I said, No, what I need to do is learn whats going on in this city, Mayberry recalled. You shouldnt run for office if all youre going to do is just walk in there blindsided. You should really find out whats going on at the meetings and in the city."

And that's exactly what he did, after which he made a list of all the things he wanted to accomplish as mayor if elected.

"It was a very long list and Im proud to say that Ive completed it all except for a few things, Mayberry said. "I feel pretty good. I feel like I can hold my head up. It was a good time, a great time and I feel like I was allowed to be a part of the growth of Bismarck."

Mayberry first became mayor in the mid-1990s and remained in that post until forced to leave office due to health issues. He later returned for another two-year term that ended in 2014 with his retirement and the election of Seth Radford.

"I was sitting with Dennis at his kitchen table the first night he was elected as mayor," Radford said. "He was mayor for our city for over 13 years and he did great things for our town. Dennis always had the city's interest at heart. When I was elected mayor, he passed things down to me and anytime I needed help Dennis was always there. He will be truly missed by me and all that loved him."

Mayberry was also a strong supporter of the city's former police chief, Dave Dickerson, who said about his friend of 40 years, "The biggest part of my law enforcement career was spent under the mayoral leadership of Dennis Mayberry. I sat in many city meetings with him and listened as he tried to make Bismarck a better place for everyone. He had such great passion for the city and such pride in his job. Dennis was always a man of his word, a man of integrity and a man of honor."

Asked what accomplishments as mayor he was most proud of, Mayberry listed the reestablishment of the city's Fourth of July celebration and Christmas tree lighting; paving city streets; upgrading the police department's fleet of vehicles; the opening of St. Francois County Ambulance District's House No. 5 by the airport; fixing the four-way stop; putting in the fountain at Bismarck School and securing the funds for the city's new wastewater treatment plant.

However, the one accomplishment he was most proud of was the city's Veterans Memorial.

The VFW Post 6947 worked their tails off to get that," he said. "We got two new monuments, we got all the concrete, we had a lot of things donated. In fact theres a plaque with all the names of people who donated to help us get that done. It took eight years to get that in place. We worked hard on it ..."

Along with serving as mayor, Mayberry was also an active member of Bismarck's VFW Post 6947 beginning in 1994.

"Of course, he worked," said friend, Joe Snyder. "He had a job and all that, but he came to meetings when he could. Then he got more involved. Dennis served as post commander of our VFW for five years. He got into it and found out how great it was. Later on he was asked to run for District 8 commander, which he did and he won that. He was District 8 commander for a year.

"The position that he held and loved the most was the commander of the Bismarck VFW Funeral Honors Team. He loved that. While he did other things  post commander, District 8 commander and chief of staff  he loved the honors team. He loved meeting the people who were grieving. He loved being able to console them  I think that was the minister in him coming out."

When 9/11 came along, Mayberry changed. He became a devout Christian. He and his wife, Sharon Quick-Mayberry, became active in church. He started a family gospel group called Final Phaze and worked tirelessly through the years keeping the doors of the Hands of Christ Ministries food pantry and Free Store open for those in their time of need.

Close friend and Final Phaze group member, Dennis Lee Boyd perhaps summed it up best.

"To know Bismarck, is to know Mayor Dennis Mayberry. He was involved in so many civic duties from the mayor at city hall, to the VFW and honor guard for fallen veterans. He loved to help out so many in need. His experience extended past his duties as mayor  from an experienced auto mechanic working on cars, to singing and playing guitars.

"The most meaningful things in Dennis Mayberry's life were God, his family, fellow veterans, his country and his community. He had a great sense of humor, and sometimes he was stubborn, but when things got serious he would fight for all he believed in and cared about."

In addition to his wife, Sharon, Mayberry is survived by his three children, Steven Pippin, Dennis Mayberry Jr. and Misty Mayberry-Lincoln; a number of grandchildren; other family members; and a host of friends.

As of press time, funeral arrangements were still pending with Shipman Funeral Home in Bismarck.
The idea of displaying and putting the tractors undercover initially came from local farmer Collin Penny, at a similar time retired farmers, Darcy Roberts and Trevor Mclean rescued one of the five unique tractors "Big Foot" from a farm in Esperance, and luckily there was enough interest then in the idea to push ahead.
"We are waiting on our last numbers, but once we have that, we will be able to look at this season and bite the bullet on how we will look at next year."
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What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you
A call about an intoxicated person driving on the highway ended with a traffic stop in a local drive-thru.

Desloge Police Chief James Bullock said Desloge Officer Jeff Womble received a dispatch for an extremely intoxicated person driving north on U.S. 67 in red Ford Focus with Nevada license plates at 11:53 p.m. Sept. 3.

Womble saw the car turning off of U.S. 67 into Desloge and onto Bush Lane.

Womble attempted to make a traffic stop and the driver (entered) the drive-thru at Jack in the Box, said Bullock. He continued to try to get the vehicle to stop following the driver into the drive-thru. The driver continued to go through, so Womble backed out and went down to the exit.

Bullock said Womble blocked the exit and stopped the driver, identified as a 29-year-old man with a Bonne Terre address.

Womble exited his patrol car and approached the man, as he spoke with the man he could smell a strong odor of alcohol, said Bullock. Corporal Dustin Cash and Officer Greg Northrup arrived to the scene to assist and as they were removing the suspect from the vehicle Cash saw in plain sight a pipe, two bags of pills and several small empty bags in the drivers side door.

Bullock said after they searched the car they found a large plastic bag in the center console that contained two smaller bags of the same type of pills and several hundred small plastic bags which are generally used for packaging drugs to distribute.

The man was arrested for felony driving while intoxicated persistent offender and driving while revoked, possession of controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, failing to use a turn signal and they are going to attempt to file a charge of distributing. Charges are pending.
Country

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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
The Federal Communications Commission fined Siemens Corporation and Siemens Medical Solutions $175,000 Thursday for failing to disclose corporate felony convictions as required by the FCCs rules.

Several Siemens companies hold FCC wireless licenses and were required to disclose on their applications prior criminal convictions for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and, separately, obstruction of justice.

The FCC charged Siemens Corporation and Siemens Medical in an administrative order and didnt go to court.

Siemens Corporation is a Delaware company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany-based Siemens AG.

In December 2008, Siemens AG paid $450 million in criminal fines to the DOJ and disgorged $350 million to the SEC for violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

As part of that enforcement action, Siemens AG pleaded guilty to two criminal counts of violating the internal controls and books and records provisions of the FCPA.

Three Siemens AG subsidiaries in Argentina, Bangladesh, and Venezuela each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the antibribery and books and records provisions of the FCPA.

Separately, in 2007, Siemens Medical  a Delaware company ultimately owned 100 percent by Siemens AG  pleaded guilty to a federal charge of obstruction of justice. It paid a $1 million fine and $1.5 million in restitution.

In that case, Siemens Medical admitted it lied to Cook County (Illinois) officials to win a $49 million hospital contract in 2000, and lied again in a civil court action to cover it up.

Siemens Medical told Cook County officials it was setting up a joint venture with a minority business to provide radiology equipment to a local hospital. But the joint venture was a sham deal and the minority business wasnt a true partner.

Under FCC rules, wireless license holders and some of their subsidiaries are required to disclose any felony convictions in their license applications.

Siemens Corporation and Siemens Medical failed to meet their statutory and regulatory obligation to timely disclose felony convictions on applications filed between 2007 and mid-2015, the FCC said.

A felony conviction is a serious offense that the Commission considers when deciding whether a company is fit to hold a license or other authorization, the FCCs Travis LeBlanc said.

It is our duty to ensure that any person or company that fails to submit candid, complete, and accurate information about their background  criminal or otherwise  will be held accountable, he said.

In addition to paying the $175,000 fine, Siemens Corporation and Siemens Medical agreed Thursday to adopt a compliance plan to prevent future failures to disclose the felonies at issue or any other material factual information in future [FCC] license applications.

The companies must also designate a senior manager as a compliance officer, develop a comprehensive training program, and report to the [FCC] regularly on compliance, the agency said.

* * *

The Federal Communications Commissions order and the consent decree In the Matter of Siemens Corporation et al released September 22, 2016 are here (pdf).

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
Rhys Darby has joined the cast of 'Jumanji'.

Rhys Darby

The 42-year-old actor will feature in the remake of the 1995 film of the same name, which starred the late Robin Williams, taking on the role of a character named Nigel.

Also announced to be joining the cast is 17-year-old Morgan Turner, who has scored an as yet unknown role in the production.

The former 'Yes Man' actor joins a cast that is already littered with stars such as 'School of Rock's Jack Black, 'Doctor Who' star Karen Gillan, and former Jonas Brother Nick Jonas. Dwayne Johnson is playing the part of Dr. Bravestone, and in addition to his starring role he is also producing the movie that is currently filming in Hawaii.

The news of the casting announcement comes after the semi-retired professional wrestler took to Instagram last week to share a video of the cast and crew getting blessed by a Hawaiian priest before filming took place.

The caption on the video read: "Before we embark our #JUMANJI journey here in Hawaii, we gathered our entire cast (here with me are Jack Black, Kevin Hart, our director Jake Kasdan and Karen Gillian) and crew together as our Hawaiian Kahu (priest) Cordell Keka blesses our film with powerful aloha spirit of laughter, enjoyment and love. (sic)"

The 'Baywatch' star also commented on how it takes an "amazing crew of everyone" to make a movie shoot run smoothly, something which Rhys and Morgan will now contribute to as they step onto the set.

Dwayne wrote: Our Kahu eloquently spoke and reminded us that even though our faces are the ones on screen, it takes an AMAZING CREW OF EVERYONE to make this movie work. And when we get tired from long work hours to always remember the joy, laughter and fun our movie will bring to families around the world. (sic)"
Prince William and the Duchess Catherine are to visit a charity that supports pregnant women battling addiction in Vancouver on Sunday (25.09.16).

Prince William and Duchess Catherine

One of the royal couple's first engagements will be a trip to Sheway, which has been looking after mothers-to-be since 1993.

The organisation's manager, Patti Zettel, says their visit to the centre will be a "wonderful closing of the loop" of the work Princess Diana, William's late mother, did when she was alive.

She said: "It shows a commitment to a particular group of marginalised individuals - women and addiction - for a quarter of a century now by the royal family."

While William and Catherine, both 34, will only stay for an hour, But Patti says it will be more than beneficial to the users of the facilities at Sheway.

According to BBC News, she said: "It's a validation that their lives and their experiences have meaning and that their stories deserve to be told."

William and Catherine will head to Canada with Prince George, three, and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte on Saturday (24.09.16) for the start of an eight-day visit.

The trip will be Charlotte's first foreign engagement and she is expected to get special treatment with officials at Government House planning to build her a lavish soft-toy nursery to play in.

What's more, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire have also arranged a meal plan for the youngsters.

Nanny Maria Borrallo will look after the pair while their parents carry out royal engagements, but the kids are expected to attend a children's party for military families in Canada.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson recently said: "This is a great opportunity for them to introduce their children to a major realm before things like schools make it difficult later on."
Prince William fears the Africa elephant will be distinct within the next two decades.

Prince William

The 34-year-old royal - who has been a patron of the charity Tusk since 2005, which funds conservation projects in Africa - gave a speech on Thursday (22.09.16) in which he expressed his concern that since 1982, when the Duke of Cambridge was born, there were one million of the large animals on earth, but in 2015 there are only 350,000 left.

Speaking at the Time For Change event at London landmark The Shard, William - who has three-year-old Prince George and 16-month-old Princess Charlotte with his wife Duchess Catherine, 34 - said: "By the time my daughter Charlotte was born last year, the numbers of Savannah elephants had crashed to just 350,000.

"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 say that rhino horn does not cure anything and does not need a legal market."

William attended a Tusk event last year and urged for protection of the "natural world"

At the time, he said: "People often ask me why I am so passionate about this cause. There are many reasons, but one of the most obvious is because of the human impact.

"As the world's population becomes more and more urbanised, an increasing number of people will grow up with little or no connection to the natural world. This will become a major challenge for conservationists. If people cannot see it, they will never learn to value it, or worse still will take little interest in looking after it."

"The planet and our natural resources is not something we can afford to squander."
HON PM BAINIMARAMA REMARKS AT THE FIFTEENTH COMMONWEALTH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTERS' MEETING





For Fiji, our contribution to UN peacekeeping operations are a fundamental pillar of our engagement with the world and of our identity as global citizens. Fiji will continue to play its part in the deployment of our men and women in uniform  military and police - to UN operations. Although far removed from the immediate threat of terror ourselves in Fiji, we continue to be committed to those who are vulnerable, wherever they may be. And we urged Commonwealth member governments to continue to stress the utmost importance of concerted international collaboration to counter violent extremism. It is one of the greatest challenges ever posed to our way of life in the democracies and we must fight it for the sake of our very survival.

Small States and Vulnerable StatesMr. ChairmanFiji believes that the extreme weather events and rising sea levels caused by climate change pose the biggest single threat to small and vulnerable states like our own. Which is why we have chosen to take a lead in global forums on this issue and are pressing home the urgency of collective action to arrest global warming.Fiji is proud to have been the first country in the world to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and lodge the ratification instruments. We urge every country that has yet to do so to follow our lead and I am pleased to see the Commonwealth also taking a lead on this issue.The position of Fiji and the other members of the Pacific Islands Development Forum is very simple. While we regard the Paris Agreement as an important first step, the cap on global warming that we agreed on there to arrest the negative impacts of climate change is not enough. Rather than a cap of two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels, we are pressing for a more ambitious target of a cap of 1.5 degrees.We are convinced that this more radical course of action  necessitating deeper cuts in carbon emissions  is absolutely essential. Because the latest scientific reports on warming clearly demonstrate that a two degree cap is not enough to save us.We are especially vulnerable in the Pacific in that three low lying countries  Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands  are destined on current projections to sink beneath the waves altogether. In Fijis case, we have already relocated three at-risk villages. We will need to move some more in the near future. But our biggest fear is the extreme weather events associated with global warming, of which we have had a terrifying recent experience.Seven months ago, the biggest cyclone ever to have made landfall in the southern hemisphere slammed into Fiji with winds of more than 300 kilometers an hour. Cyclone Winston killed 44 of our people and left many thousands homeless. And it left us with a damage bill of around 1.4 billion dollars or around 30 per cent of our GDP.Our tourism industry, which is our largest contributor to our GDP, was not severely affected as most of the properties remained intact. But as I told the General Assembly this week, we face the terrifying prospect of a single extreme weather event scoring a direct hit wiping out our economy and setting back our development for decades to come. It would also make it impossible for us to meet the Sustainable Development Goals that we have collectively promised to implement.So I appeal to the other Commonwealth countries to heed the plea of the Pacific nations for a more ambitious cap on global warming. And to help us place this on the global agenda.The other principle threat is to the health of our oceans and seas  the pollution, overfishing and loss of marine environments that threatens the welfare of coastal communities the world over. I ask you all to give your full support to the High Level UN Oceans Conference that Fiji and Sweden will be co-hosting in New York next June. We need urgent action to formulate a comprehensive and holistic global plan to save our oceans and seas. And Fiji believes that this is an area in which the Commonwealth can take a particular lead.I want to acknowledge the tremendous effort already being made by the Secretary General and the Commonwealth Secretariat in pursuing these agendas. But we must all put further effort into achieving the threshold required for the Paris Agreement to come into effect by persuading those nations you have yet to do so to complete the ratification process. And I urge you to consider the merits of the Pacific call for a lower global temperature cap as we prepare for Cop 22 in Marrakesh in November.We also need a firmer commitment from the developed world to give vulnerable nations access to the levels of funding we require to step up our adaptation and mitigation programs. And to enable us to meet our own carbon reduction targets.Peace and SecurityMr. ChairmanFiji welcomes the priority being given to peace and security on the Commonwealth agenda. With the increased global threat that terrorism and violent extremism presents, it is critical that the Commonwealth be seen to be doing its share to complement the work of the United Nations and in particular the Secretary Generals Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.
Dubai Holiday

An adorable picture of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and their little bundle of joy Aaradhya Bachchan from their Dubai holiday.

Abhi-Aish In Dubai

Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan posing with their friends after a lavish dinner in Dubai.

Abhi-Aish's Love Story

The love story of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan started on the sets of Mani Ratnam's Guru. It was also one of the most successful films of their career.

Kajra Re

Many people also believe that cupid struck them when they were shooting for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's famous item number Kajra Re from the movie Bunty Aur Babli.

Abhi-Aish's Friendship

Abhishek and Aishwarya met on the sets of the movie, Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, and later worked on another film, Kuch Naa Kaho. During this time, they were just friends.

Proposal

It was after the premiere of the film, Guru, in Toronto, when Abhishek Bachchan proposed to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in New York, and she immediately accepted his proposal.

Abhi's Confession

Talking about the same, Abhishek Bachchan had told a leading daily, "I was filming in New York for a movie. And, I used to stand on the balcony of my hotel room and wish that, 'One day, wouldn't it be nice if I was together with her, married.''

Abhishek's Interview

He had further added, ''Years later, we were there for the premiere of Guru. After the premiere, we were back in the hotel. So, I took her to the very same balcony, and I asked her to marry me."

Aish On Abhi

Talking about her darling husband, Aishwarya Rai had told a daily, ''He is original and real, like our relationship. There is nothing predictable or boring about our life.''

Aish-Abhi

She had added, ''We nurture each other. The gesture was spontaneous and meaningful. God has been kind to us. We can certainly afford those standard rocks. But do we need them?"
Varun Sharma, who was highly praised for his comic skills in Fukrey, is very excited about its sequel.

In an interview to a leading news agency, he said, "The preparation for Fukrey 2 is going on. Soon we are going to start the shooting. All of us are very excited to create the same kind of magic. Hunny, Choocha, Zafar, Lali and Bholi Punjanban (the characters in part one) will come together once again and we hope to create the same magic onscreen.''



"We hope that the sequel will able to make people laugh and receive love from the audience," he added.

Varun Sharma has also played an important role in Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon starrer Raabta.

Also Read: Kitni Hai Mushkil! Aishwarya Rai & Ranbir Kapoor's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil In Trouble; Here's Why!

Talking about the same, he said, "The shoot went very well. We shot in Budapest and the location was beautiful. I think it is a really nice story. Dinesh Vijan is a fabulous director. The camaraderie between Kriti and me was continuing from Dilwale. And it was too much fun working with Sushant Singh Rajput.''

Raabta is scheduled to release on February 12.
Actress Shailene Woodley will be honoured for her notable work on the environment over the matter of Climate Change, by the 'Environmental Media Association'. The actress has involved in the world environmental issues and made a significant contribution .

She has also made an active participation on the protests over the issue of 'Dakota Pipeline Access project' in North Dakota. The actress was actively involved and has been working on the matter for the betterment of the Earth's Environment and Climate Change issue.

"A strong proponent of climate change and individual responsibility, we couldn't be more proud to honour and share this young woman's authentic commitment and 'boots on the ground' rallying for social and environmental justice issues," CEO of EMA, Debbie Levin stated.

When asked about the environmental award, Woodley stated: "We must stand in solidarity and acknowledge our responsibility for not only those alive now, but for all generations to come."

"Protecting our Earth and its creatures is protecting humanity and its children. This EMA Futures Award shows me that there are millions of us who have been and are ready to stand up in the face of adversity and honour the home that has offered us the lives we know," added Woodley.
Actress Sofia Vergara reveals that she always requires a hot cup of coffee in the morning to start her day. She also adds that she doesn't even feel like talking to her husband Joe till she gets a cup of coffee.

Vergara states that Joe Manganiello, her husband, gets her a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, and especially if he has to discuss something important.

"The most important thing in our life is our coffee, first thing in the morning. He knows he shouldn't talk to me before I have coffee. Sometimes, if he has something important to tell me, he brings me the coffee, leaves the room, and five minutes later, he comes back to talk." Vergara said.

"He learned way before we got married, if not, he would not have been able to get married to me." Vergara added.

The actress goes on explaining her love for coffee and she says she mostly prefer the coffee black and strong.

"I like it black. I like it strong, I don't put sugar or anything in it - I really like tasting the flavor of the coffee. If I'm not going to the set early, I definitely have breakfast and coffee and then I exercise - I need to eat before, I have to have energy for the torture." Vergara added further.
Rating: 3.0 /5

Vijay Sethupathi's fifth movie of the year released today in more than 270 screens in Tamil Nadu. Directed by Manikandan of Kaaka Muttai fame, Aandavan Kattalai was one of the most anticipated Tamil films in recent times. So what does the film has to offer? Continue reading our review to know.

Bankrolled by GN Anbu Chezhiyan under Gopuram Films and Tribal Arts, Aandavan Kattalai also features Ritika Singh of Irudhi Suttru fame, Pooja Devariya, Nassar and Yogi Babu in important roles.

Aandavan Kattalai Plot:

Vijay Sethupathi sets his foot in Chennai with a dream of landing a job in London. Accompanied by Yogi Babu, Vijay approaches a local travel agency in an attempt to get his passport and other necessary documents required to fly out of the country.

Rest of the film deals with what people do in order to land themselves a job in foreign countries, which is supposed to elevate their social status. It also narrates how people get conned with a generous dose of comedy.

Performances:

One of the biggest strengths of Aandavan Kattalai is its cast. While lead actors Vijay Sethupathi and Ritika have done a decent job, the supporting cast walk away with all the accolades.

Performers like Pooja Devariya and Nassar manage to keep things realistic, but it is Yogi Babu, who apart from dishing out some rib-tickling sequences, has also contributed towards the drama side of things by emoting well in emotional scenes.

Ritika Singh scores in the second half. Kudos to the director for portraying her in a totally different avatar, which enables us to erase the Irudhi Suttru girl from our minds while watching this flick.

Technicalities:

Though the movie is aimed at creating an awareness about a contemporary issue (which it does), this Manikandan directorial may suffer because of its pace, for it is a tad too slow.

Having said that, slowness in the narration doesn't hamper the joy this movie delivers to its audiences.

Cinematography by Shanmuga Sundaram and editing by Anucharan is apt and goes along well with the screenplay. Music by K is average.

Overall View:

Manikandan knows how to deliver a movie with a sensible message intertwined with a bountiful of humor. Aandavan Kattalai is no different and this too, like Kaaka Muttai is an enjoyable ride.

Also Read: 'Thodari' Movie Review & Rating: Just Short Of A Pleasant Journey!
MONROE, Louisiana, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) has received the 2016 Asia Pacific Hybrid IT Strategy Award for the second consecutive year from Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting firm. The award, based on Frost & Sullivan's in-depth research and careful evaluation, recognizes CenturyLink's outstanding ability to deliver an integrated and comprehensive hybrid IT portfolio that includes cloud, colocation, managed hosting, network and managed services to meet rising demands for highly automated, efficient, reliable and flexible IT services.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140806/134213

According to Frost & Sullivan, hybrid IT is fast becoming the new normal across organizations in Asia Pacific. The increased utilization of data centers and cloud services in Asia Pacific has led to a gradual update or upgrade of companies' existing IT systems, which is giving rise to the hybrid IT environment. An enhanced customer experience and greater focus on business model innovation is also driving service providers to accelerate their pace of service innovation.

CenturyLink is a leading global hybrid IT solutions provider that powers the needs of 98 per cent of Fortune 500 companies. Frost & Sullivan analysts determined that CenturyLink's leadership in product innovation, coupled with a sound marketing and business development strategy, brought it to the top of the pack.

Sandeep Bazaz, Industry Analyst, Digital Transformation, Asia Pacific at Frost & Sullivan, said that CenturyLink has continued to invest in developing enterprise-class solutions to better serve the changing needs of business and also improve its service portfolio by acquiring companies in service lines of managed services, disaster recovery, cloud application management and database as a service. CenturyLink also provides cost-effective solutions and a strong partner ecosystem that has helped grow its customer base in the Asia Pacific region.

Last year, Frost & Sullivan also presented CenturyLink with the Company of the Year Award for the North American Cloud Industry, in addition to the Asia Pacific Hybrid IT Strategy Award.

"Frost & Sullivan's continued recognition is a clear testimony to CenturyLink's relentless pursuit of excellence and innovative capabilities to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers," said Gery Messer, managing director, Asia Pacific, CenturyLink. "We have a strong team and the right assets in place to help our customers embark and progress on their hybrid IT journey."

CenturyLink's increased commitment to Asia Pacific is reflected in the launch of the CenturyLink Cloud platform in Australia and its exclusive business partnership to provide advanced hosting and managed IT services to enterprises in India (Nxtra Data) earlier this year.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a global communications, hosting, cloud and IT services company enabling millions of customers to transform their businesses and their lives through innovative technology solutions. CenturyLink offers network and data systems management, Big Data analytics and IT consulting, and operates more than 55 data centers in North America, Europe and Asia. The company provides broadband, voice, video, data and managed services over a robust 250,000-route-mile U.S. fiber network and a 300,000-route-mile international transport network. Visit CenturyLink for more information.






Annual Silver Industry Premier Event

GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --From November 11-13, 2016, the 3rd China International Silver Industry Exhibition (SIC), the largest event of the industry, will be held at the Guangzhou Poly World Trade Center Expo. This exhibition will host over 350 global brands and showcase such sectors as rehabilitation services, intelligent elderly care, age-friendly buildings, healthy living, daily necessities for the elderly, and retirement services. It is estimatedthat over 50,000 professional buyers will be in attendance.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160914/407476

A Global Gathering Presents Tremendous Opportunities

Supported by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Australian Consulate, UK Trade and Investment, the French Consulate, and other consulates and commercial counselor's offices in China, the 3rd SIC will host over a hundred brands fromJapan, Australia, Taiwan, HK, Germany, France and more. The Japanese Pavilion, for example, will present over 40 leading brands including TOTO, Paramount Bed, Shiga-SH, Anjoy, Erecta, NAKA, TacaoF and Aiphone. Over 20 renowned Australian enterprises will feature their advanced home nursing and healthcare services plus healthcare consultation services and systems.Taiwan will bring over 30 reputable brands and enterprises such as Huijia, Bedding World, Jet Crown, and Nam Liong.

Five Exhibition Areas Showcase First-Tier Name Brands

The SIC's 30,000 m2 exhibition space is divided into five thematic exhibition areas:the International Zone, Barrier Free Living, Rehabilitation Services, Elderly Smart Care and Healthy Living. The Barrier Free Living area will showcase leading-edge furniture, building materials, bathroom items, architectural designer brands, products, digital technology and design solutions for the elderly. The Rehabilitation Services area presents high-quality safety products and services for the elderly, including known brands such asDa Fukang, Shidao and Guangdong Prosthetic Rehabilitation Center. The Elderly Smart Care area will feature the new concept "Internet + Smart Living for the Elderly" to showcase first class healthcare management systems, wearable health devices, smart home technology and products. The Healthy Living area will showcase the global pursuit and understanding of a healthy lifestyle, including healthcare and leisure, tourist and cultural services for the elderly.

Summit Forum Provides Insight into Industry Restructuring

The 2016 China International Silver Industry Summit Forum will be staged during the 3rd SIC. The forum will be keynoting on innovations and breakthroughs in the industry's supply-side reforms. A total of 20 sessions including the plenary, parallel and special sessions, and business matchmaking meetings will be held to provide forward-looking insight about the reforms, senior housing development and operation, overseas elderly care practices and cases, and innovations in professional training. It is estimated that over 10,000 representatives will participate.

Forum highlights include the China-Japan Silver Industry Seminar, organized in conjunction with JETRO, to provide exclusive matchmaking opportunities for the exhibitors and Japanese enterprises. The China-Australia Retirement Forum, jointly organized with the Australian Trade Commission, is to interpret new developments, policies and trendsin the silver industry of the two countries. Furthermore, "one-on-one" procurement sessions will be provided to pair reputable real estate developers and chain stores with suppliers and distributors to cut business deals at a highly-efficient, rapid and direct fashion.

Pre-registration for SIC has begun on the official website, www.silverindustry.cn/en,where visitors can obtain an exclusive bar code for quick entry to exhibition venues. Visitors with priority pre-registration shall receive their visitor pass in the mail from the organizer, FOC. Pre-registration before November 4 qualifies attendeesfor free tickets to forum sessions and other exclusive privileges-- this is truly an event worth waiting for!

Contact:

Ms. Xia Lingxu

Tel: +86(0)2089899600/+86 13570451966

E-mail: xialingxu@polycn.com








CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday. The NZ dollar fell to nearly a 5-week low of 1.0489 against the Australian dollar, a 1-week low of 1.5389 against the euro and a 4-day low of 0.7276 against the U.S. dollar, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.0448, 1.5322 and 0.7311, respectively. Against the yen, the kiwi edged down to 73.57 from an early high of 73.78. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.06 against the aussie, 1.55 against the euro, 0.71 against the greenback and 72.00 against the yen. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday. The yen fell to 2-day lows of 132.28 against the pound and 104.39 against the Swiss franc, from yesterday's closing quotes of 131.71 and 103.98, respectively. Against the U.S. and the Australian dollars, the yen dropped to 2-day lows of 101.24 and 77.34 from yesterday's closing quotes of 100.74 and 76.97, respectively. Against the euro and the Canadian dollar, the yen edged down to 113.43 and 77.49 from yesterday's closing quotes of 112.91 and 77.24, respectively. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 140.00 against the pound, 106.00 against the franc, 105.00 against the greenback, 79.00 against the aussie, 116.00 against the euro and 80.00 against the loonie. 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.
Opening ceremony at MHI Compressor do Brasil Ltda.(MCO-B)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Hideo Ikuno h.ikuno@daiya-pr.co.jp +81-3-6716-5277

TOKYO, Sept 23, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - On September 21 MHI Compressor do Brasil Ltda. (MCO-B), a Brazilian joint venture established by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation (MCO), a Hiroshima-based Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), held an opening ceremony at its Head Office in Piracicaba, in Sao Paulo state, to mark the launch of full-scale operations. Plans call for MCO-B to develop the Latin American market for compressors, with a focus on expanding sales of compressors for use on Floating Production, Storage and Offloading systems (FPSO), a market expected to see robust demand as Brazil develops deepwater oil fields. Initially the JV will work to strengthen its sales and after-sale servicing functions, to be followed by the commencement of local manufacturing in the near future.The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of stakeholders including MCO President Hiroaki Osaki and guests. Guests included the Japanese Consul General in Sao Paulo, the mayor of Piracicaba, and representatives of major local and overseas clients and engineering firms such as Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), Braskem S.A.MCO-B was established in March 2016 with MCO and MC having respective ownership stakes of 70% and 30%. The Head Office is located within a factory operated by NG Metalurgica Ltda. (NGM), a Brazilian machinery manufacturer in a business tieup with MCO. Preparations have been under way here since April toward launching operations on full scale. MCO-B has a sales office in Rio de Janeiro staffed by employees who previously handled compressor operations at two MHI and MC affiliates headquartered in Sao Paulo city: Mitsubishi Industrias Pesadas do Brasil Ltda. and Mitsubishi Corporation do Brasil, S.A. In this way, since MCO-B's launch efforts have focused on the creation of unified sales and maintenance systems.The opening ceremony was carried out in conjunction with the announcement of the start of full-fledged operations following the completion of preparation of sales and after-sale servicing structures manned by a total staff of 11. Going forward, collaboration with NGM, which performs some local assembly operations for orders placed for use within Brazil, will be further expanded, and maintenance, repair and other after-sale servicing functions will be strengthened to enable swift response to customer needs.Today Petrobras is undertaking a project exploring for oil in Brazil's offshore pre-salt layer. Over the long term, together with the broader Latin American market, considerable demand is expected for FPSOs, systems that require multiple compressors for gas compression, transportation, processing, etc. MCO meanwhile has been steadily building up its track record in the Latin American market. Since the 1990s the company has delivered more than 100 compressors and mechanical drive steam turbines; and since 2010, when it received its first order for carbon dioxide (CO2) gas injection compressors for installation on an FPSO, MCO has received orders for, and completed deliveries of, numerous compressors for FPSOs.The newly inaugurated MCO-B will also work closely with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor International Corporation (MCO-I), a Houston-based Group company that serves as a core manufacturing base for MCO in the Americas. Going forward, this collaboration will further boost the competitive position of MCO products within the Latin American compressor market.About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. ("MHI"; TSE:7011), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading heavy machinery manufacturers. MHI's diverse lineup of products and services encompasses shipbuilding, power plants, chemical plants, environmental equipment, steel structures, industrial and general machinery, aircraft, space rocketry and air-conditioning systems. For more information, please visit the MHI website at www.mhi.co.jp.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Contact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - September 23, 2016) - B&H is pleased to share Panasonic's announcement of the development of the Lumix DMC-GH5 Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless Camera, which is poised for release in early 2017. Succeeding the current video-centric Lumix GH4, the GH5 will revolve around an updated sensor design that is capable of recording DCI 4K 60p/50p video, as well as 4K 30p, 25p, 24p, and 23.98p recording with 4:2:2 10-bit sampling. The new sensor design also avails a 6K Photo mode that, similar to the current 4K Photo modes found in Lumix models, permits recording 18MP stills continuously at a higher resolution than 4K for improved printing and post-production capabilities. 4K Photo modes will also be improved, and will now feature a 60 fps shooting rate at 8MP. The Panasonic GH5 continues the legacy of the GH4 and other previous cameras in the GH-series, and is designed to serve both discriminating videographers, as well as photographers working in a multimedia capacity.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1283257-REG/panasonic_dmc_gh5_mirrorless_micro_four.html

18MP Digital Live MOS Sensor

Micro Four Thirds System

DCI 4K Video Recording at up to 60 fps

4:2:2 10-bit Internal Recording

6K PHOTO & 4K PHOTO Modes

Follow updates for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1283257-REG/panasonic_dmc_gh5_mirrorless_micro_four.html

B&H Photo is an authorized Panasonic dealer, with the most up-to-date Panasonic product information, product pricing and promotional offers.

B&H Photo has the highest review ratings among electronics retailers. Click here to view B&H reviews, awards and certifications with thousands of verified reviews. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/BHPhoto-Reviews.jsp

About B&H Photo Video

As the world's largest source of photography, video, audio, and the latest trending technologies, including drones, virtual reality, and 3D Printers, B&H Photo Video is known worldwide for its attentive, knowledgeable sales force, excellent customer service, and fast, reliable shipping. Visitors to the website can access a variety of enlightening articles and educational videos. B&H has been satisfying customers worldwide for over 40 years.

Customers making purchases on the B&H website can now make a split payment with multiple credit cards, a useful feature for those with limited credit on their individual cards. Previously, this method of payment was only available to customers when purchasing by phone or in store.

Many items can now be ordered online and picked up at our NYC SuperStore. Add any qualifying items to your shopping cart and select STORE PICKUP. You will then have an opportunity to indicate who will be making the pickup, if it is someone other than yourself. You'll receive an email (up to 45 minutes) after completing your order, indicating that your order is ready for pickup at the B&H SuperStore.

The B&H YouTube Channel has an unmatched wealth of educational photographic content. Our entertaining and informative videos feature product overviews from our in-house specialists, as well as photography industry experts. You can even view the B&H Event Space presentations from many of the world's foremost photographers and interviews with some of photography's most dynamic characters. Tap into this exciting resource by subscribing to the B&H YouTube Channel here. In addition to these videos, the B&H Explora blog presents new product announcements, gear reviews, helpful guides, and tech news written by product experts and industry professionals.

When you're in Manhattan, take a tour of the B&H Photo SuperStore, located at 420 Ninth Avenue. The expo continues all year round in the camera kiosks at B&H. Featuring the newest cameras, the kiosks are manned by manufacturer representatives, who are there to guide you and demonstrate the latest photographic technology. With hundreds of products on display, the B&H Photo SuperStore is the place to test-drive and compare all the latest photography gear.

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Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/22/11G115325/Images/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-GH5_Digital_Camera-9d4b9002511395878e41d205937934eb.jpg

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/9/22/11G115325/Images/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-GH5_Camera-d984437f4ae7b9a4a72081bec1063e04.jpg

Embedded Video Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6mKJyhtCO0

Bjorn Petersen

B&H Photo Video

212-615-8820

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/
DENVER, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Programmatic advertising technology company, Admedo, is climbing to new heights as its US presence expands to Denver, Colorado, to meet the needs of the city's boutique agency network.

Admedo operates globally, with headquarters in London. Its new offices in Denver represent the first phase in a plan to extend beyond New York and LA, where a solid 18-month base has been operating. The plan includes multiple presences throughout the Central Corridor, with Austin, Texas, cited as the next stop.

Preston Ketchum, EVP Admedo Americas, says of the expansion, "We've experienced some really amazing growth in the last twelve months, but we haven't been able to deliver the level of attention to clients outside the East and West Coast that we'd like to. We looked at the whole of the US, and said 'where do we need to be?' It turns out that Denver was a no-brainer. Location-wise, we're now within a few hours of all the key states, but the real pull is the remarkable boom in independent agency activity here - these are the types of creative, disruptive people we love to work with."

The importance of this expansion is underlined by its timing; with Q4 activity at the top of advertiser and agency priority lists from now until the end of the year, these companies will be seeking to ensure their advertising arsenal is ready for the pre-holiday season.

Many independent agencies, whose specialty falls outside digital media, are turning to programmatic as a tool to support or augment their existing tools and skill-set, but transparency and customization are big issues that slow down the adoption process. This is why Ketchum believes Admedo's flexible and entirely transparent setup are well-suited to the Denver agency scene: "There's a real gold rush happening here; these smaller boutique agencies want to grow without red tape, and they expect the control, support, transparency and technology to which enterprise agencies and brands have access. Admedo offers the in-house solution with minimum barriers to entry, whereas competitor tech stacks rely on restrictive contracts, and misleading results - good reasons to not get involved with programmatic - but we're trying to show that this isn't the way it has to be done".

Admedo has been providing agencies, advertisers, and publishers with programmatic advertising solutions for over three-years, and it is shaking up the industry with unrivaled transparency, ease-of-use and performance. In the DSP market, it is unique, delivering a seamless user experience and uncensored campaign insights, whilst operating without binding contracts.

Admedo's Denver offices are open at 3222 E 1st Ave, Denver CO 80206 and have an open-door policy for anyone stopping by or give us a call at 855 703 6200.

Contact: Preston Ketchum, preston@admedo.com, +1.843.683.2643
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

At the onset of the financial crisis in 2009, the members of the largest economies in the world launched a crusade against tax havens and banking secrecy.

Eight years later, IMD business school Professor Arturo Bris says the Swiss private banking industry has been unfairly treated and abused using questionable arguments extraterritoriality - KPMG reports that the number of private banks in Switzerland has declined 24% between 2008 and 2015. The US and the European Union have signed exchange-of-information treaties with many countries, and the list of tax havens has been reduced.

"What has probably been one of the most successful battles fought after the financial crisis - the elimination of tax advantages to individuals - has pursued the wrong target," said Professor Bris.

He points out that US, British and other taxpayers were actually defrauding in their home countries, not in Switzerland or the Cayman islands.

"In many cases, as was the case with Switzerland, banking secrecy was massively confused with tax advantages that are gained by charging lower rates to individuals. Tax competition may be considered unfair and undesirable when capital is movable and the wealthier can chose, by means of residency or through shell companies, the lowest possible income and wealth tax rates," he said. "However, this argument does not seem to hold for corporations."

Bris's point being made with the recent letter sent to leaders of the EU members from the Business Roundtable, a group of CEOs who account for $7 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 16 million employees. The letter expresses discontent about the recent decision of the European Commission that ordered Ireland to recover up to 13 billion from Apple, plus interest, for alleged tax savings that were unfairly granted by the government of Ireland. The letter was sent on behalf of CEOs from companies such as General Electric, JP Morgan Chase, Exxon Mobile and Johnson & Johnson.

"The letter makes two essential points," Bris said. "First, that the rule of law must prevail and that the Commission's demand on Apple is illegal; and second, that the US-based CEOs have the power to threaten the European Union with financial harm and pain by significantly reducing their investment."

Mr. John Engler, a former Michigan governor and signer of the letter as President of the Business Roundtable, makes no claim regarding the fairness of the European Commission's demands.

"I find it outrageous that Apple's tax rate in 2015 was 0.005% as the Commission has alleged. Yet I find it even more insulting in the disparity of the world that this shows, knowing that the demand comes from the US. How can those who have fought against personal tax havens in the last years now be so complacent with corporations such as Apple and other multinationals? These companies are clearly avoiding taxes to increase their competitiveness all at the expense of the countries where they operate," Bris said

Bris believes that in the coming years, tax policy will be one of the most effective tools that countries will use to ease income and wealth inequality. But the starting point has to be corporate - not personal taxes. Apple's tax rate is infinitesimal compared to the personal tax rates faced by any of its customers or employees. Bris says this is detrimental to world prosperity and competitiveness for three reasons:

First, because the vast majority of Apple's shareholders, who benefit the most from low taxes, are based in the US. Through globalization Apple is increasing the gap between rich countries (like the US) and the rest. What Nobel prize winner Angus Deaton has called "the Great Escape," will only be more difficult as nations that need tax revenues, especially those coming from large corporations, are deprived from them.

Second, because tax advantages to companies widen the gap between capital and labor income, they increase income inequalities within countries. Corporate taxes are taxes on capital income for individuals.

Third, because pre-defined advantages make the world less competitive. While these unpaid taxes in the European Union are probably benefitting Ireland (at the expense of other members of the EU), they are overall making the EU less competitive vis-a-vis the US and UK. It is therefore perfectly legitimate - I would even argue highly desirable - that the European Commission gets the unpaid taxes back.

Professor Arturo Bris is Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center.

About IMD

IMD is a top-ranked business school based in Switzerland and Singapore. We are the experts in developing global leaders through high-impact executive education and offer a Global Leader Index where executives can benchmark themselves. We are 100% focused on real-world executive development; we offer Swiss excellence with a global perspective; and we have a flexible, customized, and effective approach. (http://www.imd.org)

Contact:

Matthew Mortellaro

+41 21 618 03 52

Matthew.Mortellaro@imd.org


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.


OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP, BIP_UN.TO), along with institutional clients of Brookfield Asset Management (BAM, BAMA.TO), including CIC Capital Corp., GIC Private Limited and others announced that they have reached agreement to acquire a 90% controlling stake in Nova Transportadora do Sudeste S.A. for approximately $5.2 billion.



Nova is a system of natural gas transmission assets in the southeast of Brazil currently owned by Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.or Petrobras.



Brookfield managed entities will hold a controlling interest in the Consortium. Brookfield Infrastructure's investment will be a minimum of approximately 20% of the transaction, representing approximately $825 million of the transaction consideration payable on closing.



The remainder will be owned by institutional partners. Petrobras, as a 10% owner in NTS, will have customary governance rights commensurate with the size of its interest.



Under the terms of the transaction, the purchase price is payable in two tranches an up-front payment of $4.3 billion due on closing of the transaction, and the balance payable on the fifth anniversary of this closing.



Brookfield Infrastructure will fund its proportionate share of the up-front payment from existing liquidity.



As part of the transaction, Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to participate initially for an approximate 30% interest in the Consortium. Brookfield Asset Management expects to syndicate its holdings prior to closing of the transaction and Brookfield Infrastructure has priority rights to take up a portion of this syndication.



Initially, the pipelines will be operated by a subsidiary of Petrobras under a multi-year operations and maintenance contract. Over time, Brookfield Infrastructure will have the flexibility to transition NTS to a fully stand-alone operating business and internalize all management and operating functions, if desired.



Closing of the transaction remains subject to a number of conditions, and is targeted for December 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
MISSION, KS -- (Marketwired) -- 09/23/16 -- (Family Features) America's farmers have a unique opportunity to support and give back to their local community.

As part of the America's Farmers Grow Communities program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, eligible farmers can enroll between now and Nov. 30 to win a $2,500 donation to direct to an eligible nonprofit of their choice -- assisting organizations that provide important programs and services to rural America.

The program began in 2010, and since then farmers have directed more than $22 million to nonprofit organizations. This year alone, the program will award more than $3 million to local communities on behalf of farmers.

Recipients have used the contributions to fight hunger in their communities, purchase life-saving fire and EMS equipment for their local volunteer fire departments, support agriculture youth leadership programs, buy school classroom resources and other important initiatives.

"Thanks to farmer participation in the America's Farmers Grow Communities program, we've been able to make donations to thousands of causes farmers are passionate about and that have an impact in their local communities," said Al Mitchell, Monsanto Fund president. "We are honored to once again team up with farmers on this exciting initiative and are committed to supporting a broad range of organizations serving rural America."

To enroll or learn more about the program, farmers can visit GrowCommunities.com or call 1-877-267-3332.

About Family Features Editorial Syndicate

Established in 1974, Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for print and online publications. Our articles, photos, videos and web content solutions save you time, money and help create advertising opportunities. Registration is fast and free -- with absolutely no obligation. Visit editors.familyfeatures.com for more information.

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Michael French

mfrench@familyfeatures.com

1-888-824-3337

editors.familyfeatures.com




LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE,Belgium, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

IBA Launches Groundbreaking Online Platform to Gather the Leading Experts in Adaptive Proton Therapy and Create a Community to Develop Research Open Source Software

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, today unveils its unique platform, 'Leading the PATh', which gathers the leading experts in the field of proton therapy all in one place. It is anticipated that 'Leading the PATh' will enable the worldwide medical community to shape the most efficient Proton Adaptive Therapy (PATh), a proton therapy process which improves the accuracy of what is considered to be the most precise cancer treatment available today.

The platform www.leadingthepath.org will enable physicians, physicists, academics, researchers, industry experts, patient association advocates and policymakers from all over the world to exchange experiences, discuss best practices and enhance knowledge, to improve the next generation of proton therapy treatment.

This platform also includes access to a research software platform. This software will be distributed under an open-source license to foster creativity and innovation within the proton therapy community. In addition, users will be invited to access and test a software application that proposes a new example of proton adaptive workflow.

Damien Bertrand, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, says: "Open-mindedness and willingness to foster collaboration across the medical community has always been part of IBA's DNA. Sharing expertise and best practice will help the community win the fight against cancer. We are very proud to be part of this one-of-a-kind mobilization, and we remain determined to help our clinical partners alleviate the burden of the patients who are the center of our attention at all times."

Gery Gevers, Vice-president Research & Development, says: "With over 50% of the market share, IBA already serves the largest User Community in proton therapy. We firmly intend to continue our work to provide access to the best cancer treatment to as many patients as possible. Adaptive Proton Therapy should contribute significantly to the goal of treating the 20% of radiation patients who could benefit from proton therapy, rather than the 1% who are currently being treated."

About IBA

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBA's proton therapy solutions are flexible and adaptable, allowing customers to choose from universal full-scale proton therapy centers as well as compact, single room systems. In addition, IBA also has a radiation dosimetry business and develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry.

Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1,400 people worldwide, IBA has installed systems across the world. IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange NYSE EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB).

More information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com.

IBA is looking forward to welcoming you at ASTRO 2016. Don't miss the opportunity to meet some of the leading experts in the field of proton therapy. More information and program available at: http://www.perfectingcancercare.com/
CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - September 23, 2016) - Encana Corporation ("Encana") (TSX: ECA)(NYSE: ECA) announced today the completion of its public offering ("Offering") of 107,000,000 common shares ("Shares") of Encana at a price of US$9.35 per Share, for gross proceeds to Encana of approximately US$1 billion. In connection with the Offering, Encana has granted the underwriters, led by Credit Suisse Securities (Canada), Inc. and J.P. Morgan, a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to 16,050,000 additional Shares.

Encana intends to use approximately half of the net proceeds received from the sale of the Shares to fund a portion of its 2017 capital program. The remaining proceeds will be used to enhance Encana's balance sheet flexibility by repaying indebtedness under its credit facilities. The majority of the 2017 capital program is expected to be allocated to growing Encana's Permian production through increasing the number of rigs in the play, which is expected to result in approximately two times as many Permian wells on stream in 2017 as compared to 2016. The allocation of proceeds may vary depending upon numerous factors, including changes in commodity prices and increased capital efficiency.

The Offering was made by means of a base prospectus and related prospectus supplements. Encana previously filed with the securities commission in each of the provinces and territories of Canada a shelf prospectus and a registration statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Prospectus supplements describing the Offering were filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and with the SEC. The prospectuses and the related prospectus supplements contain important detailed information about the securities being offered. Before investing, you should read the prospectuses, the prospectus supplements and other documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada and the SEC for information about Encana and this Offering. Copies of the prospectuses and related prospectus supplements may be obtained: in Canada from Credit Suisse Securities (Canada), Inc., Prospectus Department (416-352-4520), 1 First Canadian Place Suite 2900, P.O. Box 301, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5X 1C9 and in the United States from Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Prospectus Department (1-800-221-1037), One Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, email: newyork.prospectus@credit-suisse.com; and J.P. Morgan, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: 866-803-9204, email: prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com. You may also obtain these documents free of charge by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

This news release does not provide full disclosure of all material facts relating to the securities offered. Investors should read the prospectuses, any amendments and the prospectus supplements for disclosure of those facts, especially risk factors relating to the securities offered, before making an investment decision.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities, nor is it a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, in any jurisdiction. Any sales will be made through registered securities dealers in jurisdictions where the Offering has been qualified for distribution.

ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - This news release contains certain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "FLS") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. FLS include: the exercise of the over-allotment option; the intended use of net proceeds of the Offering; and 2017 planned capital expenditures, including the anticipated allocation of capital, increased activity in certain assets and associated number of wells.

Readers are cautioned against unduly relying on FLS which, by their nature, involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause such statements not to occur, or for results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These assumptions include: Encana's actual 2017 capital expenditures will be consistent with its current plans; Encana's ability to access its credit facilities; that Encana will realize the anticipated benefits from the use of proceeds from the Offering; and expectations and projections made in light of, and generally consistent with, Encana's historical experience and its perception of historical trends, including with respect to the pace of technological development, the benefits achieved and general industry expectations.

Risks and uncertainties that may affect these business outcomes include: commodity price volatility; and other risks and uncertainties impacting Encana's business, as described in its most recent MD&A, financial statements, Annual Information Form and Form 40-F, as filed on SEDAR and EDGAR, or in or incorporated by reference into the prospectuses and the related prospectus supplements.

Although Encana believes the expectations represented by such FLS are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions, risks and uncertainties referenced above are not exhaustive. FLS are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, Encana undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any FLS. The FLS contained in this news release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

Encana Corporation

Encana is a leading North American energy producer that is focused on developing its strong portfolio of resource plays, held directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, producing natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs). By partnering with employees, community organizations and other businesses, Encana contributes to the strength and sustainability of the communities where it operates. Encana common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ECA.

SOURCE: Encana Corporation

Further information on Encana Corporation is available by contacting:



Investor contact:

Brendan McCracken

Vice-President, Investor Relations

(403) 645-2978



Media contact:

Simon Scott

Vice-President, Communications

(403) 645-2526
DUBLIN, Mar 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Automotive Biofuels Market 2017-2021" report to their offering.

The global automotive biofuels market to grow at a CAGR of 8.37% during the period 2017-2021.

The report, Global Automotive Biofuels Market 2017-2021, 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.

The latest trend gaining momentum in the market is biofuel production to go green. Ethanol today, even though touted as a green alternative to fossil fuels, is not environment-friendly in the true sense. The process used to convert sugarcane or corn into ethanol involves a host of steps, including milling, cooking, liquefaction, fermentation, and distillation. It is quite poignant that these very processes to produce such a green fuel, consume electricity and energy produced from coal or petroleum, thereby ultimately nullifying the green in the 'green fuel' tag that ethanol still enjoys.

According to the report, one of the major drivers for this market is stringent regulations for keeping a check on vehicular emissions is likely to drive use of automotive biofuels. Efforts are being made by governments worldwide to minimize the negative effects of global warming and reduce the GHG emissions. For instance, in the EU, the emissions from the heavy-duty trucks, buses, and coaches account for a quarter of the CO2 emissions from road transport. The European Commission has set norms to reduce emissions of heavy-duty vehicles in the coming years.

Key vendors



ADM

INEOS Enterprises

Neste

Renewable Energy



Other prominent vendors



Aemetis

AJ Oleo Industries

Algenol

Bangchak Petroleum

Chemrez Technologies

Others



Key Topics Covered:



PART 01: Executive summary



PART 02: Scope of the report



PART 03: Research Methodology



PART 04: Introduction



PART 05: Market landscape



PART 06: Market segmentation by type



PART 07: Geographic segmentation



PART 08: Market drivers



PART 09: Market challenges



PART 10: Market trends



PART 11: Vendor landscape



PART 12: Key vendor analysis



PART 13: Appendix



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/k8lh6k/global_automotive

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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PUNE, India, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report " Track and Trace Solutions Market by Type (Barcode Scanner, Plant Manager, Labeling, Monitoring & Verification), Technology (1D & 2D Barcode, RFID), Application (Serialization, Aggregation), End User (Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics) - Global Forecast to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market is projected to reach USD 2.81 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 17.3% from 2016 to 2021.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 210 market data Tables and 37 Figures spread through 220 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Track and Trace Solutions Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/track-trace-solution-market-158898570.html?utm_source=prnewswire

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The increasing focus of manufacturers on brand protection, growth in the number of packaging-related product recalls, and the need to ensure regulatory compliance are the key factors driving market growth. However, the high cost associated with the installation of serialization and aggregation solutions is restraining the growth of this market.

In this report, the market is majorly segmented by product type, technology, application, end user, and region. Based on technology, the market is segmented into 2D barcodes, radiofrequency identification (RFID), and linear barcodes. The 2D barcodes segment accounted for largest share of the healthcare track and trace solutions market. This is attributed to the increased use of 2D barcodes in packaging, as they have higher data storage capacities than linear barcodes. The RFID segment is estimated to register the highest growth primarily due to the growing demand for these systems in automated pharmaceutical distribution and electronic medical records.

Speak to our research experts:

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=158898570

In 2015, North America accounted for the largest share of the healthcare track and trace solutions market, followed by Europe. Technological advancements in the packaging industry, increasing brand awareness and growing awareness on anti-counterfeit packaging technologies among manufacturers in the region are driving market growth in North America. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth in this market majorly due to improving healthcare infrastructure and mandatory regulations for the implementation of serialization. In addition, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on strengthening their presence in emerging APAC countries.

The global healthcare track and trace solutions market is consolidated in nature, with the top five companies accounting for the largest market share in 2015. Some key players in this market are Axway Inc. (U.S.), Adents International (France), Optel Vision (Canada), Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (U.S.), Systech Inc. (U.S.), TraceLink Inc. (U.S.), Antares Vision (Italy), Xyntek Inc. (U.S.), Sea Vision Srl (Italy), Siemens AG (Germany), Seidenader Maschinenbau GmbH (Germany), and ACG Worldwide (India). These leading players have primarily focused on new product launches, agreements, collaboration, partnerships, and expansion for growth in the market.

Browse Related Reports:

Anti-Counterfeit Packaging Market by Technology (RFID, Coding & Printing, Holograms, Security Labels), Usage Feature (Track & Trace, Tamper Evidence, Overt & Covert Features), End-Use (Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive) - Global Forecasts to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/anti-counterfeit-packaging-advanced-technologies-and-global-market-129.html

Pharmaceutical Packaging Equipment Market by Package Type (Blister, Strip, Bottle, Tube, Aseptic Packaging, Wrapping, Labeling & Serialization), by Product Type (Tablet, Powder, Cream, Syrup, Aseptic Liquid, Aerosol) - Global Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/pharmaceutical-packaging-equipment-market-19845828.html

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm 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.

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FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK -- (Marketwired) -- 09/23/16 -- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, TJ Harvey on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced today an investment of over $400,000 to support the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA)'s efforts to introduce a new accounts receivable insurance tool.

CFA's two-year pilot project addresses a gap in the agriculture sector for individual transaction accounts receivable insurance. The insurance tool is designed to offer financial protection to farmers as they seek out new markets within Canada and abroad. The intent is to develop private sector delivered, accounts receivable insurance for up to twenty agricultural commodities in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with longer-term plans of expanding credit insurance across Canada to provide more certainty and ensure higher profitability.

Quick facts

-- Accounts Receivable insurance is a widely-recognized insurance product that protects a business from an unforeseeable non-payment of commercial debt. -- The project has been funded under the Growing Forward 2, AgriRisk Initiatives (ARI) which supports the research, development and implementation of new risk management tools for use in the agriculture sector. -- Growing Forward 2 is a five-year (2013-2018) policy framework for Canada's agricultural and agri-food sector, representing a $3 billion dollar investment by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments and it is the foundation for government agricultural programs and services.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is committed to working with industry and the private sector to explore tools that contribute to a resilient agriculture sector. This investment will help give farmers the confidence of guaranteed payment, which encourages them to take advantage of new sales opportunities to gain higher returns for their commodities and increase their profitability."

-- Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, TJ Harvey

"The Canadian Federation of Agriculture is pleased to undertake this project to develop tools that will improve the understanding of potential risks in agriculture and support the development of insurance protection for farmers in cases where a buyer doesn't pay their bill. CFA will work with its associate member, Farmers of North America, to share the results of the project and extend these insurance offerings across Canada."

-- Ron Bonnett, Canadian Federation of Agriculture President

Additional links

Growing Forward 2

http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/">AgriRisk Initiatives program

Canadian Federation of Agriculture

Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture

Contacts:

Guy Gallant

Director of Communications

The Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay

613-773-1059



Media Relations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

613-773-7972

1-866-345-7972




A blog about life under, and resisting, a dictatorship


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Donald J. Trump campaign announced the formation of a new group to provide advisory support to the GOP White House candidate on those issues and policies important to Catholics and other people of faith in America.



The Catholic Advisory Group is a key element of the Faith and Cultural Advisory Committee to the campaign. Joseph Cella, Founder of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, will serve as the Catholic Liaison for the members and the campaign.



The Campaign said the formation of this group represents Donald J. Trump's endorsement of a range of issues and policies important to Catholics and other Christians, and his desire to have access to the wise counsel of such leaders.



'On the issues and policies of greatest concern to Catholics, Donald Trump will fight for Catholics whereas Hillary Clinton is openly hostile to those issue of greatest concern to Catholics and will attack the core teachings of the Catholic Church,' said Congressman Sean Duffy.



According to him, Catholics are particularly concerned that Clinton, a Methodist, would pack the Supreme Court with 3-5 young ideological liberals whose decisions will have far reaching and long lasting implication for the Catholic Church.



The Catholic Advisory Group Members include former US Senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum; Matt Schlapp, Chairman, American Conservative Union; Francis Rooney, Former US Ambassador to the Holy See; Rev. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life; and John Klink, President Emeritus, International Catholic Migration Commission.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/23/16 -- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, will attend the opening ceremony of the sixth Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) at Toronto's MaRS Discovery District. Minister Bains will welcome ACE participants to Canada and deliver a keynote address with a focus on innovation and collaboration.

Note: There will be a brief media availability with Minister Bains following his speech. Date: Monday, September 26, 2016 Time: 8:30 a.m. Location: MaRS Discovery District MaRS Atrium 101 College St. Toronto, Ontario

Follow Minister Bains on social media.

Twitter: @MinisterISED

Contacts:

Philip Proulx

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Innovation,

Science and Economic Development

343-291-2500



Media Relations

Innovation, Science and

Economic Development Canada

343-291-1777

ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca




NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/11/16 -- International building contractor Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC has signed a seven-year lease with Bixby Land Company to occupy 9,875 square feet at Avalon, the innovative office building developed by Bixby at 1501 Quail Street in Newport Beach, Calif.

In fact, Balfour Beatty liked the creative buildout Bixby had designed for its own offices at Avalon enough that this became the space the new tenant chose to lease, furnishings included.

Balfour Beatty is relocating from 2 Park Plaza in Irvine, Calif., and will take occupancy early next year. Bixby will continue to operate its corporate headquarters at Avalon, relocating within the building to a suite of similar size.

Balfour Beatty was represented by Taylor Wood and Jeff Manley of CRESA, while Bixby was represented by Jay Nugent and Greg Puccinelli of JLL. Lease terms were not disclosed.

"This lease represents the depth and breadth of tenant interest for progressive work space, and surpasses the tenant profile we had in mind when we developed Avalon," said Aaron Hill, chief operating officer at Bixby.

The building's design appeals to firms that value a vibrant work environment for their employees. The entry features a high-volume atrium lobby accented with custom music tracks, and several tenant spaces offer full-height sliding glass doors that open to private outdoor decks or Juliet balconies.

Avalon features a second floor indoor/outdoor lounge, The Loft, where tenants can relax and recharge. The building is also dog friendly, provides beach cruisers for tenants' use, and has an electric vehicle charging station.

Bixby has signed previous leases at Avalon with XOJET and Brandtailers, and has three remaining suites available, including two spec suites of 4,216 square feet and 3,071 square feet, plus a 13,388-square-foot suite with its own private entrance and dedicated restrooms. The project is represented by Bob Thagard and John Harty of Cushman & Wakefield.

Separately, Bixby is nearing completion on the redesigned CERRO, a four-story office building at 27401 Los Altos in Mission Viejo, Calif., meeting the demand for professional office space in a supply-constrained South County submarket.

About Bixby Land Company

Bixby Land Company is a leading commercial real estate operator and investment manager with a portfolio of industrial, office and R&D properties of approximately $1 billion. The company invests in core industrial properties and develops office and R&D properties, all in select Western U.S. markets. For 120 years, Bixby Land Company has been committed to adding value for its investors and shareholders. www.bixbyland.com.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3065518



Nicole Inal

714-263-8731

nicole@ideahall.com



Randy Hall

714-263-8723

randy@ideahall.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Two leading Republican Senators have sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson questioning the administration's apparent efforts to expedite the processing of citizenship applications before the upcoming presidential election. The letter sent by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., cites an internal DHS email obtained by their committees. The email directs staff to process as many citizenship applications as possible 'due to the election year' and indicates that staff are being encouraged to work overtime. Grassley and Johnson raised concerns that the effort to rush the adjudication of naturalization applications could be politically motivated. '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,' Grassley and Johnson wrote. The Senators highlighted a recent report that found citizenship was mistakenly granted to 858 people from countries of concern despite facing orders of deportation under other identities. Grassley and Johnson also pointed to a similar push to boost the number of new citizen voters in 1996 that they claim endangered national security and public safety in order to provide Democrats with a strategic advantage. 'We sincerely hope history is not repeating itself,' they wrote to the DHS Secretary. 'Therefore, please explain what you are doing or will do to reassure adjudicators that naturalization applications should not be rushed for inappropriate political reasons.' A statement from Homeland Security suggested that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is only trying to handle a bigger than expected jump in citizenship applications this year. '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,' the DHS said. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton would potentially benefit from an increase in new citizen voters due to rhetoric from Republican rival Donald Trump that is often seen as anti-immigrant. 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.
POCATELLO, ID--(Marketwired - September 23, 2016) - Mountain America Credit Union partnered with Idaho Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to award a $500 grant to a teacher in Idaho. The 2016 Mountain America Credit Union Grant was a financial award based on an essay about the teacher's plans to use the grant money for programs in their K-12 classrooms.

The 2016 winner, Stormy Lee Heinz, is a new teacher at Pocatello High School. According to her application essay, she plans to use the money to buy books.

"We are proud to help teachers make a difference within their classrooms. This is also a great way to show how much we appreciate our partnership with the Idaho PTA," says Spencer Carver, SEG development manager at Mountain America. "Teachers who go the extra mile for students deserve to be recognized."

"We appreciate Mountain America supporting the Idaho PTA. Their efforts help make a difference for students, teachers, and parents," says Idaho PTA president Jeri Henley. "With these grants, teachers can enhance lessons in the classroom, without having to use funds from their own pockets. This is a win-win-win for teachers, students, and parents."

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, 86 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.

Media Contact:

Angela Nelson

(208) 493-0131

Email contact


Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal RFID blood monitoring systems marketreport until 2020. This research report also lists nine other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

The global RFID blood monitoring systems market is expected to grow at 22.96% during the forecast period.

The increasing need for effective monitoring of the blood products to reduce medical errors, and thereby reduce medical wastage is driving the market growth. RFID systems and tags provide effective monitoring of blood products and improve supply chain efficiencies. Also, the increasing adoption of RFID systems, particularly in the Americas and Europe, is expected to drive the market growth. For instance, in May 2016, Aegis Sciences Corporation employed an RFID-based solution to monitor the status of the blood and urine samples

In addition, the endorsements from blood banks and healthcare organizations are further expected to increase the adoption of RFID blood monitoring systems worldwide. For instance, in March 2016, Australia's National Blood Bank endorsed the use of Space Code's RFID system at the Liverpool Hospital in Sydney. Such endorsements have increased the penetration of RFID devices in blood monitoring

Competitive vendor landscape

The global RFID blood monitoring systems market is characterized by the presence of international and regional vendors. With the growing demand for effective monitoring of blood products, these vendors are pursuing organic growth strategies, thereby fueling the market growth. These vendors have developed new products that feature improved speeds and accurate monitoring. The vendors are also focusing on launching ultra-high-frequency RFID systems to improve the monitoring of blood products.

Barath Palada, one of the lead analysts at Technavio for research on patient monitoring devices, says, "The vendors are continuously promoting their products, which has resulted in increased adoption of RFIDs in hospitals and blood banks. Hospitals are increasingly adopting RFID systems to reduce errors and improve patient safety, prevent counterfeit products, improve patient flow management, productivity, and business process

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=51949

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Top five global RFID blood monitoring systems market vendors

Biolog-Id

It specializes in the development of traceability solutions for blood products such as plasma for fractionation, packed red blood cells, platelets, therapeutic plasma and chemotherapy injectables. The company provides RFID solutions for the handling and processing of frozen plasma, hospital transfusion process, and blood processing. Its applications are connected with a database and smart storage units, which enables hospitals and transfusion centers to manage products right up to the patient's bedside.

Mediware Information Systems

The company offers a BloodSafe suite, which enables healthcare facilities to monitor, distribute, store, and track blood products. It also offers LifeTrak software, which provides recruiting software products and capabilities for donor targeting and recruitment, unit testing, blood component manufacturing, donation management, inventory control, and sales and distribution.

S3Edge

The company offers products and solutions that help in providing greater visibility to blood products location, movement, and status. It automates blood bag check-in at donor sites, eliminates line-of-sight requirements for checking in blood products to the manufacturing process, and streamlines the process of preparing blood products for shipment to hospitals or transfusion centers. The company was partly funded by two grants from the National Institutes of Health, along with an early grant from the America's Blood Centers (ABC) Foundation for the development of iTrace.

SATO Vicinity

The company offers a broad range of RFID readers and trackers. Its solutions hold high potential for prevention of medical malpractice and loss caused at the hospitals due to thefts. It helps in shortening production lead time to achieve energy savings, improving traceability to reduce inventory shrinkage, or maintaining required temperatures to avoid spoilage/wastage. These solutions have the potential to reduce environmental impact significantly.

Terso Solutions

The company offers a wide range of RFID cabinet, RFID freezers, and RFID refrigerators. It expanded its line of RFID-enabled enclosures with the addition of a larger capacity freezer that is well suited for inventory management in research labs, hospitals, manufacturers and distributors, and crime labs. It has deployed over 1,600 RFID-enabled devices around the world. Hospitals can control material management costs, improve regulatory compliance, and manage product expiration dates by pairing Terso's hosted RFID inventory management solution with a proven higher capacity freezer.

The other prominent vendors are:

Honeywell

LogiTag

Mobile Aspects

Nordic ID

Solstice Medical

Stanley Healthcare

TAGSY RFID

WaveMark

Zebra Technologies

Browse Related Reports:

Global Vital Signs Monitoring Market 2016-2020

Global Blood Pressure Monitoring Testing Market 2016-2020

Global RFID Market for Industrial Applications 2016-2020

Do you need a report on a market in a specific geographical cluster or country but can't find what you're looking for? Don't worry, Technavio also takes client requests. Please contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

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Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
Surgical Theater, LLC, the market leader in virtual reality (VR) based healthcare services, announced today it has partnered with NordicNeuroLab to offer the Norway-based company's nordicBrainEx diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) processing application as part of Surgical Theater's Precision VR enterprise-wide medical visualization platform. The addition of NordicNeuroLab technology will allow Surgical Theater to further expand the detail and immersion into relevant anatomy, functional structures and delicate tissues needed in planning and navigating surgery.

On exhibit at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons meeting on Monday, September 26 to Wednesday, September 28 in San Diego, Calif., Surgical Theater will unveil at Booth #715 how nordicBrainEx's comprehensive functional MRI neuro imaging software integrates with the company's product portfolio powered by Precision VR. Working together, the two entities deliver novel, comprehensive and immersive patient-specific reconstructions that integrate with existing neurosurgical tools and technologies utilized in most hospitals today.

"Partnering with NordicNeuroLab was a natural next step for Surgical Theater," said Moty Avisar, CEO and Co-Founder of Surgical Theater. "Our Precision VR platform and nordicBrainEx complement each other while bringing vital imaging capabilities and valuable datapoints immediately to neurosurgeons in the clinic and operating room. This immersive view has become essential for surgical planning and navigation as well as a powerful tool for patient engagement."

Surgical Theater combines leading-edge fighter jet flight simulation technology with the patient's own medical imaging studies, such as MRI and CT, to create virtual and augmented reality reconstructions of the patient's exact anatomy and pathology. The result is the company's Precision VR enterprise-wide medical visualization platform providing patient-specific surgical planning and education experiences for medical professionals, with VR-empowered patient engagement capabilities.

Today, instead of the neurosurgeon pointing out the tumor or vascular abnormality on a flat, black-and-white 2D image used in most medical facilities, the Precision VR empowered surgeon and patient can swipe their fingers across a touch screen or slip on an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive VR headset, then walk or fly through the patient-specific reconstruction during a surgical consult. With the incorporation of the intuitive nordicBrainEx application, Surgical Theater also will be able to process DTI and MRI perfusion scans allowing Precision VR clinicians to perform additional evaluations of healthy brain structures, eloquent areas, and the targeted pathological tissues all on one system. Post processed DTI scans map the white matter pathways, or tracts, in the brain between the functional centers, which is extremely powerful to visualize when planning a surgical approach to the abnormality while also preserving critical structures within the brain.

"Transitioning from a 2D image on a flat screen to the 360 degree, immersive Precision VR perspective is groundbreaking for surgeons," said Robert Louis, M.D., neurosurgeon and Director of the Skull Base and Pituitary Tumor Program at Hoag Neurosciences Institute. "This powerful technology is changing how we prepare our patients and perform surgery by being able to 'fly-through' the actual surgical plan before making the incision. Seamlessly integrating nordicBrainEx's DTI capabilities further enhances the visualization of critical anatomy and augments decision processes which can have a dramatic effect on increasing patient safety and improving overall outcomes."

Much like Surgical Theater's platform of products, nordicBrainEx is compatible and capable of analyzing data from all major MRI vendors. The processed data and imaging can be incorporated into patient-specific VR reconstructions and saved into comprehensive reports that can be shared with patients, exported to existing neuro-navigation systems and utilized for rehearsal purposes or in collaborative and peer review environments.

"Like X-rays, CAT scans and MRI, DTI is quickly becoming an essential aspect in surgical planning," said Fredrik Isdal, NordicNeuroLab's Chief Executive Officer. "NordicBrainEx is designed to equip surgeons with seamless and immediate illustrations of functional tracts within the brain while minimizing the probability of error or variability in the quality of the results. With Surgical Theater, we found an ally in delivering integrated imaging solutions that were once out of reach to all but major research institutions."

About Surgical Theater

Surgical Theater is committed to providing virtual reality based healthcare services that bring enterprise-wide value to its partners. Surgical Theater integrates cutting-edge fighter jet flight simulation skill sets to redefine medical imaging and visualization capabilities that empower both patients and physicians throughout the treatment continuum. Surgical Theater's innovative imaging platform combines enhances multiple imaging modalities to create a comprehensive, virtual reconstruction for various levels of interaction and immersion facilitating a virtual tour inside the patients' own anatomy. Find out more at www.SurgicalTheater.net and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/surgical-theaterorFacebook at https://www.facebook.com/SurgicalTheater.

About NordicNeuroLab

With over a decade of experience, NordicNeuroLab (NNL) provides products and solutions that define the field of functional MR imaging. We understand the growing need for reliable and innovative tools in this growing field. As a result, we closely collaborate with research and clinical teams from both academic and medical centers, MR system manufacturers, and third party vendors to develop and manufacture hardware and software solutions that meet the needs of very experienced centers while developing training programs to make fMRI easy to adopt for more novice users. From state of the art post-processing and visualization software for BOLD, Diffusion/DTI, and Perfusion/DCE imaging to fMRI hardware for audio and visual stimulation, eye tracking, and patient response collection, NNL's products are used around the world by researchers and clinicians alike. Ultimately, we are dedicated to bringing the most advanced neuro-imaging tools to market while making functional MRI programs easy to implement. Find out more about NordicNeuroLab at www.nordicneurolab.com/ and at www.facebook.com/NordicNeuroLab.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160923005763/en/

Contacts:

Cunningham Associates

Gemma Cunningham, 949-637-4296

gemma949@yahoo.com

or

Shelle Murach, 714-206-4138

smurach@gmail.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - With the first presidential debate looming, the results of a new McClatchy-Marist poll show that Hillary Clinton's lead over Donald Trump has narrowed significantly.



The poll showed Clinton with a 48 percent to 41 percent lead over Trump among likely voters nationwide.



The seven-point advantage for Clinton is down sharply from the 15-point gap seen in a McClatchy-Marist poll conducted in early August.



In a four-way race, Clinton leads Trump by 45 percent to 39 percent, with Libertarian Gary Johnson at 10 percent and Green candidate Jill Stein at 4 percent.



'You wouldn't bet for Clinton,' said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. 'But you certainly wouldn't bet against her at this time.'



Miringoff said the 'stakes couldn't be any higher' for both candidates headed into the first debate next Monday at Hofstra University in New York.



McClatchy noted that Clinton benefits from the fact that voters trust her more than Trump to handle immigration, fight terrorism and manage the nation's economy, and they think she has the experience to do the job.



However, the former Secretary of State's weakness seems to be the public's skepticism of her honesty and trustworthiness.



'When it comes to specific areas of public policy, she seems to dominate those,' Miringoff said. 'When it comes to the qualities of a candidate she has some convincing to do.'



The RealClearPolitics average of recent national polls, which includes the McClatchy-Marist poll, shows Clinton with a 46.2 percent to 43.2 percent lead over Trump.



The McClatchy-Marist survey of 758 likely voters was conducted September 15th through 20th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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MONACO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/23/16 -- Safe Bulkers, Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: SB), an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, announced the election of two Class II directors at the Company's annual meeting of stockholders held in Monaco today.

Dr. Loukas Barmparis and Christos Megalou were elected Class II directors. The Class II directors were elected to hold office for a term ending at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2019 and until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.

Stockholders also ratified the appointment of Deloitte, Certified Public Accountants S.A. as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.

The annual meeting marked the conclusion of John Gaffney's 7-year tenure as a director of the Company. Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Polys Hajioannou thanked Mr. Gaffney for his service on the Board: "John has contributed enormously to the Company during his time as a director. He acted as a highly valuable advisor and fiduciary. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.'

Mr. Megalou, who is joining the Board, previously served as Managing Director at Credit Suisse in London and as Chief Executive Officer of Eurobank Ergasias S.A. He is currently the Managing Director of the Tite Capital Limited in London.

About Safe Bulkers, Inc.

The Company is an international provider of marine drybulk transportation services, transporting bulk cargoes, particularly coal, grain and iron ore, along worldwide shipping routes for some of the world's largest users of marine drybulk transportation services. The Company's common stock, series B preferred stock, series C preferred stock and series D preferred stock are listed on the NYSE, and trade under the symbols "SB", "SB.PR.B", "SB.PR.C", and "SB.PR.D", respectively.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and in the Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events, the Company's growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy, including expected vessel acquisitions and entering into further time charters. Words such as "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the demand for drybulk vessels, competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates, risks associated with operations outside the United States and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

For further information please contact:



Company Contact:

Dr. Loukas Barmparis

President

Safe Bulkers, Inc.

Athens, Greece

Tel.: +30 2 111 888 400

Fax: +30 2 111 878 500

E-Mail: directors@safebulkers.com



Investor Relations / Media Contact:

Nicolas Bornozis

President

Capital Link, Inc.

230 Park Avenue, Suite 1536

New York, N.Y. 10169

Tel.: (212) 661-7566

Fax: (212) 661-7526

E-Mail: safebulkers@capitallink.com




PLYMOUTH, MN--(Marketwired - February 10, 2017) - TruStone Financial Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the addition of Eric Benson as Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager of the Highland Park (St. Paul) location.

Eric joined the financial industry as a part-time teller where he quickly excelled and was promoted to the role of Branch Manager. With an impressive track record of increasing sales, improving client retention and growing customer bases -- Eric will prove to be an essential asset to the TruStone Financial team.

"Every day Eric conveys his passion and expectation for outstanding service and financial literacy," states Lisamarie Meyer, Vice President - Director of Minnesota Branches. "He understands the importance of being a good steward in the community and leading by example."

The Highland branch, located at 757 Cleveland Ave. S. in St.Paul, will continue to provide members and the surrounding community with financial solutions and a welcoming atmosphere -- with Eric at the helm.

About TruStone Financial

TruStone Financial is one of the fastest growing credit unions in the Midwest with assets of $1.16 billion and exceeding 102,000 members. There are 13 branches across Minnesota and Wisconsin. The credit union is headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. For more information and full membership criteria, visit TruStoneFinancial.org.

Contact:

Katie Grindeland

Senior Vice President, Director of Marketing and Communications

Phone: 763.595.4002

Katie.Grindeland@TruStone.org
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/07/16 -- The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, will host an event in Halifax on Tuesday with representatives from a variety of cultural sectors as part of the consultations on Canadian content in a digital world.

Representatives from the media are invited to take pictures at the beginning of the event. A media availability will follow Minister Joly's remarks.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

The details are as follows:

DATE:

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

TIME:

Artistic performance by David Myles and B-roll at 10:00 a.m.

Opening remarks from Minister Joly at 10:10 a.m.

Media availability outside the room at 10:40 a.m.

PLACE:

Halifax Central Library

Paul O'Regan Hall

5440 Spring Garden Road

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Stay Connected

Follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr, DigiCancon

Contacts:

Pierre-Olivier Herbert

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage

819-997-7788



Media Relations

Canadian Heritage

819-994-9101

1-866-569-6155

PCH.media-media.PCH@Canada.ca




Aceable, an Austin, Texas-based creator of the first state-approved drivers education app, raised $4M in Series A funding.

The round was co-led by existing investors Silverton Partners and Floodgate with participation from NextGen Angels, Capital Factory, as well as pro-rata investors and strategic investments.

The company intends to use the funds to expand into new industries that require professional certifications, while continuing to grow their drivers ed app state-by-state, including Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Indiana.

Led by Blake Garrett, Founder and CEO, Aceable is a mobile education platform that focuses on providing accredited drivers ed courses (in Texas and California) and now expanding into such as real estate, corporate HR, nursing and food safety  all areas where certifications are required.

To date, the company touts more than 300,000 users in Texas, California, Florida, Ohio and Illinois.

FinSMEs

23/09/2016
Cannabi-Tech Ltd., a Rehovot, Israel-based medical cannabis company, received an investment from Agrinnovation, an investment fund focused on agricultural inventions.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company will use the proceeds to fund its R&D activities and initial business development efforts.

Established in 2015 and based on research preformed in the laboratory of Prof. Oded Shoseyov (Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer) from The Hebrew Universitys Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Cannabi-Tech is developing an accurate device for the non-destructive detection, analysis and automated sorting of individual medical cannabis flowers.

The companys 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 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.

Dr. Guy Setton is the other co-founder and CEO of Cannabi-Tech.

FinSMEs

23/09/2016
Collaborative Solutions, a Reston, Virginia-based global Finance and HR Transformation consultancy, received a growth investment from WestView Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate strategic growth plans by enabling further innovation around its Cynergy deployment methodology and toolset, increasing the recruitment and development of its expert consulting staff, and expanding its presence globally.

Led by Carroll Ross, CEO, Collaborative Solutions is an independent Workday services partners, deploying Workdays solutions for Financial Management, HCM, Payroll, and Student, and providing strategic and change management services to 275+ customers including global Fortune 500 companies, medium-sized businesses, and education and government institutions that operate in more than 125 countries via its additional offices in Pleasanton, CA; Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA; Tampa, FL; New York City, NY; Toronto, Ontario and Dublin, Ireland.

Following the deal, the company will continue to be majority-owned and operated by its founders, with WestView Capital Partners joining Collaboratives Board of Directors.

FinSMEs

23/09/2016
Rittenhouse Ventures, a Philadelphia, PA-based venture capital firm, closed its second fund at $18m of committed capital.

Investors in Rittenhouse Fund II include Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Innovate in PA, run by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, along with individualsCEOs, investors, and industry experts.

The fund will continue to target investments in capital-efficient, Mid-Atlantic software companies that provide business-to-businesses solutions in healthcare, life sciences, finance, human resources, and general business services. It has already made seven investments including GSI Health, Kynectiv, Workplace Dynamics, Life.io, Haystack Informatics, WealthHub Solutions, and KickUp.

Led by co-founders and managing partners Saul Richter and Bruce Luehrs, the firm also supports portfolio companies through expertise in fundraising strategies, business operations, technical development, and market assessments. Rittenhouse Ventures also takes an active role in board leadership, connects entrepreneurs to its Directors Network, and hosts Portfolio Leaders Forum events.

Over the past eight years, Rittenhouse Ventures, which manages $33 million of assets (AUM), has made 18 total investments in regional software companies. The Rittenhouse Fund I portfolio already included Tabula Rasa Healthcare, Core Solutions, Halfpenny Technologies, and Take the Interview.

FinSMEs

23/09/2016
New Delhi - Moving towards rolling out GST from 1 April, the Centre and states on Thrusday agreed on a timetable for deciding on the tax rate and completion of legislative work but differences remained on the turnover limit for exemption from the new tax.

The first meeting of the newly constituted GST Council saw states like Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh demanding a larger say than one-state-one-vote principle that puts a smaller state on equal footing with a large manufacturing one.

While their demand was overruled, consensus also eluded first day of the meeting over the issue of exemption to dealers from the Goods and Services Tax (GST). While some states demanded traders with turnover of Rs 10 lakh or less be exempted, a large number, including Delhi, were in favour of the limit being fixed at Rs 25 lakh in a year.

With tax collected from traders being just 2 percent of the total tax collection, majority view was in favour of a higher exemption limit.

The GST Council, which is headed by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and includes representatives of all the 29 states and 2 union territories, will continue tomorrow.

At the meeting, draft rules regarding GST were circulated and threshold for exemption and compensation norm discussed.

Clarity on base year for compensating states for loss of revenue following implementation of GST, which is to subsume an array of central and state levies including excise, service tax and VAT, will be deliberated further on Friday.

Briefing reporters, Jaitley said the timetable has been set keeping the 1 April 2017 deadline in mind.

"The target also involves the passage of CGST and IGST law at the central Parliament and then by the state legislatures the state GST law in the winter session itself.

"Today, starting from September 22, we roughly have two months time till November 22 to resolve all outstanding issues and therefore a draft timetable was given which also have been adopted," Jaitley said.

The GST Council meeting, which will continue tomorrow, will discuss on the compensation formula and with regard to

the provision for cross empowerment, he said.

"With regard to composition we have finalised our proposal which has been unanimously accepted by the members.

With regard to threshold for exemptions, there are two sets of suggestions which have come. We have converged to those two different views and both on officers and ministers track we will continue the meeting tomorrow and thereafter so that we are able to converge to one particular figure as far as the exemptions are concerned," Jaitley said.

Also, doubts were cast over West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra being appointed vice chairman of the GST Council in absence of the state approving the Constitution Amendment Bill.

To get that chair and for any member to be eligible to vote on issues before the Council, their respective states

have to clear the Constitution Amendment Bill on GST.

A consensus on compounding or composition scheme was arrived at the GST Council meeting on Thursday which decided that traders with gross turnover cut-off of Rs 50 lakh will pay 1-2 percent tax, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia said.

The composition scheme provides for an easier method of calculating tax liability and it allows option for GST registration for dealers with turnover below the compounding cut-off.

The scheme has been introduced in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime to reduce the administration cost associated with collection of tax from small traders. Accordingly businesses below a turnover of Rs 50 lakh can pay taxes at a defined floor rate of 1-2 percent, which will be much lower than the GST rate.

The Council in its subsequent meetings would take up the issue of GST rate.

Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian in his report recommended a standard GST rate of 17-19 per cent.

The GST Council at the end of its meeting tomorrow will decide on the dates for the next meeting of the council.

"The Council will meet for a number of days in quick succession so that other issues such as fixation of the rate etc, and whatever is outstanding from today's meeting could be worked out.

"The meeting has been conducted and gone on in a true federal spirit and therefore what we have seen today is not

any form of division in political lines, obviously people have interest of their own governments and revenues and are entitled to that view point and out of that sense a consensus will finally emerge. I am more optimistic today about the spirit in which the functioning of the Council has begun," Jaitley said.

The next meeting of the GST Council is likely to decide on the Vice Chairman for the Council. The selection would be on the basis of consensus but if the consensus is not reached, the council may go for voting.

As regards exemptions, Jaitley said the Council deliberated on two view points and the council will work

towards converging on one limit.

He said that along with the ministers meeting in the GST Council, a parallel track of negotiations of the officers

would be held on the technical aspects.

"We have discussed threshold. For Delhi, we have said that the threshold for exemption should be Rs 25 lakh," Delhi

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.

Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said the Council meeting also decided that Empowered Committee will

continue if states want it to continue functioning.

It was also decided that state government officers can attend meeting on behalf of ministers and take part in

discussions but they will not have voting rights.

Adhia, however, said that it was decided that the empowered committee of state finance ministers, chaired by

Amit Mitra, could continue meeting but any discussion on GST would happen only at the level of GST Council.

The Council will on Friday discuss the issues of 'cross empowerment to avoid dual control' and 'threshold' with sates demanding that they be given the legal and administrative power for imposing tax on entities with turnover of up to Rs 1.5 crore.

During the meeting, while Uttar Pradesh opposed the Rs 25 lakh threshold, states like Haryana and Delhi supported the limit. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana demanded a threshold of Rs 10 lakh, Tamil Nadu said it should be kept at Rs 25 lakh.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said exemption limit was "work in progress".

"On the threshold limit, we have a constructive and warm discussion and there will be more thinking on that tomorrow," he said hoping for reaching finality on the issue at the meeting tomorrow.

States, he said, "have spoken their mind (that) we have to continue with federal polity of the country. States have

clear, strong message just as centre was cordial in receiving the ideas."

Sisodia said threshold limit for levy of GST was discussed at today's meeting.

He said the Delhi government pitched for keeping the threshold at Rs 25 lakh as if it is kept at Rs 10 lakh then a

trader doing Rs 60,000-70,000 business a month would come under its purview, "which would be anti-trader."

Some states have been demanding that small traders having annual turnover of up to Rs 20-25 lakh can be exempted from GST, but some are demanding that the limit be kept at Rs 10 lakh. The same limit should be Rs 5 lakh for special category and NE states.

Currently, the threshold for Value-Added Tax (VAT) is Rs 10 lakh in most states.

Before the meeting of the GST Council, Thomas Isaac wrote on Facebook that he was opposed to the provision that the

meeting of the GST council being called in a 7-day notice period which could be further shortened to only two days in case of urgency.

"The agenda gives me an impression that the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) will take unilateral decisions

given that the central government and the BJP-ruled states together form a majority in the council, there is no mention towards arriving a mutual agreement through broad discussions," he wrote.
Apathy towards a patient in one of the biggest government hospitals in Jharkhand has left people shocked.

Ranchi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), reported Dainik Bhaskar, served food to a patient on the floor after the hospital's kitchen staff claimed that they were all out of plates.

Palmati Devi, who had a fractured hand, was served rice, dal and vegetable on the floor which she was told to clean by the ward boys on Wednesday. The disturbing image was first published by Dainik Bhaskar. Social media was outraged at the apathy shown by one of the leading hospitals in the state, whose annual budget is approximately Rs 300 crore, Dainik Bhaskar reported.

A patient of the orthopaedic ward of the hospital, Palmati Devi did not have her own plate and when asked was rudely was told off by ward boys. After the incident, the ward boy who served her food on the floor has been sacked and disposable plates were ordered immediately.

Speaking to NDTV, RIMS director BL Sherwal said, "It's not a common practice but we have started an inquiry and will take action those who served the food on the floor and then forced her to eat from there."

Palmati's instance is one of the many other examples of hospitals' apathy towards patients. The most recent one being that of Odisha's Dana Manjhi who carried his wife's body after the hospital denied him a hearse to carry the body.

Dana Majhi had left the hospital with his wife's body in the wee hours of 24 August without informing anyone at the hospital. The hospital had a hearse but nobody informed the personnel concerned about the death of the woman or the need to carry the body to his village.

Majhi, however, had told reporters that he approached the hospital staff but they paid no heed. "I did not want to keep the body of my wife at the hospital for long and left the place for cremation as per tribal rituals at our village," he said.

The incident triggered nationwide outcry after Majhi, accompanied by his 12-year-old daughter, was seen walking with his wife's body on his shoulder on being allegedly denied a hearse by the hospital. An ambulance was arranged only after he had covered 10 km to take the body to his home at Melghara village, about 60 km from Bhawanipatna.

In another incident, a 12-year-old boy died on his father's shoulder in Kanpur after a hospital refused to admit him. Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, one of Kanpur's biggest hospital, refused to admit 12-year-old Ansh and delayed his treatment by 30 minutes which caused his death, Ansh's father Sunil Kumar alleged. The hospital authorities then allegedly told him to take his son to a children's hospital which was 250 metres away, Mid-Day reported.

And the list doesn't end here.
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New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has been asked by the National Green Tribunal to take "necessary" action against the industrial units operating unauthorisedly in the 'No Development Zone' around

the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

The Tribunal, however, asked the ministry to obtain its prior permission before taking any "coercive action" against three tea processing units operating within the No Development Zone near Numaligarh Refinery near the Kaziranga park, which is home to the largest population of one-horned rhinoceros.

A bench, which had earlier restrained MoEF from granting any fresh approval to the stone-crushing or other industrial units in the vicinity of the park, asked the ministry to take action against other industries in the No-Development-Zone.

"In view of the aforesaid directions (earlier orders), we direct the MoEF to go ahead with the investigation and submit a report before this Tribunal as early as possible.

"It shall also take such action as necessary in respect of other units which are functioning unauthorisedly within the No-Development-Zone, but they shall not take any coercive action so far as newly added respondents (three tea processing units) are concerned, without obtaining prior permission from

this Tribunal," said a bench of Tribunal's Acting Chairperson

Justice A S Naidu.

The tea processing units had approached the Tribunal to be made a party and to have their say in the case filed by Assam- based activist Rohit Chaudhary, seeking directions to stop quarrying and stone-crushing units around the national park.

The petitioner had alleged large-scale violation of the July 5, 1996 notification of MoEF which declared as "No Development Zone", the area within a radius of 15 kilometers from the petroleum refinery at Numaligarh near the national park.

The petitioner had alleged unregulated quarrying and mining activities in the 'No Development Zone' around the park and Tiger Reserve and Karbi-Anglong Elephant Reserve in Assam.

The Tribunal had earlier directed all industrial units to maintain status quo and on February 15, had restrained MoEF from granting fresh approvals to industries or stone-crushing unit or renewing the licences of existing ones, operating there.

On April 22, the Tribunal had sought a report from MoEF on industries functioning in vicinity of the park and asked the ministry to conduct a survey in the park's vicinity.

The petitioner has sought directions to the MoEF and the Assam government to identify stone-crushing and industrial units operating without approval in the 'no development zone' and to take necessary action against them including their closure.

The answers to petitioner's queries under the RTI Act had revealed that there are 19 stone-quarrying units in the region and 10 of them are within five kilometers of the national park while the rest are situated between five to 10 kilometers, the petitioner had said.

Kaziranga National Park is home to three-fourth of total Rhino population and largest concentration of endangered species like the swamp deer, wild-buffalo, elephants, tigers and Gangetic dolphins, the petition had said.

PTI
Ahmedabad: In the wake of a high alert sounded along the Mumbai coast after some men were seen moving suspiciously near a naval base on Thursday, 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 on Thursday, 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.
Very heavy rainfall, under the influence of a low pressure area over Bay of Bengal, has left Palnadu region in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh battered, and rail and road transport disrupted due to flooding. The NDRF has been deployed for rescue and relief operation.

This is the second time in less than a fortnight that Palnadu has witnessed very heavy downpour of upto 22.8 cm, which threw normal life out of gear.

Many passenger trains were cancelled on the 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 Friday.

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 KL 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 tmcft of water and the government has decided to fill it up to 30 tmcft 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 cusecs 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 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.

On Thursday, five persons were 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.

Rains continue in Hyderabad, Telangana, low-lying areas water-logged



On Thursday Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao instructed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to take the help of Army and NDRF for the relief measures if needed, as rains are lashing the city for the last two days.

Rao, who is in Delhi, spoke to GHMC commissioner B Janardhan Reddy on phone and asked to be "extra cautious" in view of the forecast of heavy rains in the next four days over Telangana, an official release quoted him as saying.

If necessary, help of the Army, NDRF, police and other agencies can be taken, the CM said.

Normal life in some low-lying areas of the city is disrupted due to the water-logging, and traffic has been hit badly due to the downpour.

Met department has said "heavy to very" rains are likely in isolated places during the next four days in the state.

Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao and some senior officials visited Allamthota Baavi and Mayur Marg in Begumpet which are inundated due to sudden overflowing of Begumpet nala. Rao also inspected relief camps set up by the Government.

A GHMC official said there was a rainfall of 20 mm in eight areas in just one hour between 1 pm and 2 pm on Thursday.

Water entered into some buildings in Nizampet and Bachupalli on the outskirts of the city.

On Friday, the Telangana government asked IT companies to allow their employees in the city to work from home so as to avoid venturing out in view of incessant rains here for past two days, even as help has been sought from the Army for rescue operation in some areas.

Following the heavy downpour which crippled normal life ,the state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions in Hyderabad on Friday and Saturday.

The government has sought help of the Army for rescue operation in some areas of the city, for which the Defence wing has agreed, a senior official of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation said.

"We sought their help and they also came forward. They have been given maps and other information of areas like Gachibowli, Nizampet, Alwal and Hakimpet. They are willing to swing into action whenever we call them, the GHMC official told PTI.

Telangana's Information Technology Secretary Jayesh Ranjan said they have sent an advisory to IT companies' association to either declare a holiday or allow their employees to work from home following forecast of heavy rains on Friday and Saturday.

"We have asked the association to send an advisory to all the IT companies located in the city. Accordingly, they issued advisory to all the IT firms. This is in the interest of safety of the employees. The response from companies is good," Ranjan said.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: CBI was on Friday directed to proceed with its probe into the murder of journalist Rajdev Ranjan by the Supreme Court which asked the Bihar police to provide protection to his family that has claimed threat to life from controversial RJD leader Shahabuddin.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan also sought the response of Shahabuddin, Bihar's health minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav and Bihar government on a petition by Ranjan's wife who has also sought transfer of the case from Siwan in Bihar to Delhi.

The RJD chief's son was seen in a photograph published in newspapers with one of the two sharp shooters of alleged gangster Shahabuddin.

"In view of that, we direct that the CBI may proceed with the investigation but not finalise it and shall file the status report before this Court on 17 October," the bench said, adding "Superintendent of Police, Siwan district, shall provide police protection to the petitioner and her family."

The counsel for Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan claimed before the bench that CBI has not even started its probe into the case due to "political influence" and "fear of Shahabuddin" as the state machinery was protecting the history sheeter, against whom there were 58 criminal cases according to Bihar government's 2014 affidavit in the apex court.

When the counsel said the case should be transferred to Delhi, the bench said "CBI shall continue the investigation there. Eventually, after hearing them, we may consider whether to transfer the case. There is no trial as of now. Let them investigate."

The counsel told the court that five persons were arrested by Bihar Police in connection with the case, but the two alleged sharp shooters of Shahabuddin were not.

"CBI did not dare to take up the investigation in the case due to fear of Shahabuddin. Two sharp shooters, Mohammad Kaif and Mohammad Javed, were seen with Shahabuddin and Health Minister

of Bihar Tej Pratap Yadav. Entire state machinery is protecting Shahabuddin," he alleged. Kaif surrendered before a Siwan court two days ago.

He said that Rajdev, a journalist, had written various stories about the "criminal deeds" of Shahabuddin and after RJD-JD(U) alliance came to power in Bihar, he was shot dead.

"Terror of Shahabuddin was so high that even the trial judge, who had convicted him in one of the case, has requested for transfer from Siwan to Patna," he alleged while seeking transfer of the case from Siwan to Delhi.

Reacting to the apex court's notice, Tej Pratap on Friday said in Patna that similar notices should have been issued against BJP leaders also whose photographs had appeared with a suspect in the case and other criminals.

Asha's counsel Kislay Panday also said an FIR should be registered against Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap for allegedly "harbouring and sheltering" Kaif and Javed, who were declared as proclaimed offenders in the case in which "hapless and helpless widow" ran from pillar to post for justice.

He said Kaif has surrendered before the police but Javed has not been arrested so far.

Panday said that Asha and two children of the slain journalist have been compelled to live in constant fear after Shahabuddin was released from Jail.

If the probe and trial of the case was conducted in Bihar, Shahabuddin and others would "terrorise the witnesses" due to which they would not get any justice, he contended.

In its order, the bench referred to submissions advanced by the counsel which said, "criminalisation of politics have been heavily commented upon and deprecated by this court in many a decision...and case at hand depicts a disturbing affair in that regard, for Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap, though (they) hold party position and position in the political executive, yet do not even think for a moment before associating themselves with such kind of anti-social elements and, in fact, sometimes render assistance."

The bench said "on perusal of the petition, it is prima facie discernible that the petitioner who lives with two small children, after losing her husband and the developments that have taken place in District Siwan, is in a state of continuous fear."

"It has been said that courage is the mother of all virtues and a man with courage can always sustain his or her dignity. But, sometimes, situations are created by certain powerful protagonists which instill fear in the mind of a citizen and that fear has the potentiality to usher in atrophy to the sense of dignity.

"It is also asserted in the petition that in the obtaining fact situation, this Court may direct for giving her protection by the competent authority failing which it is difficult to fathom, what kind of danger shall visit her," the bench noted.
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai after she complained of "fever and dehydration".

The 68-year-old AIADMK chief was taken to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai late Thursday night where her condition is stated to be stable now, the hospital's Chief Operating Officer Subbiah Viswanathan said, adding she is under observation.

"The honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu was admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai with fever and dehydration," he said in a release circulated to media by the state government in the wee hours on Friday.

"The honourable madam is stable and under observation," Viswanathan said.
When ordinary Muslim women demand legal abolition of the practice of unilateral divorce, it is not without reason. The Muslim Personal Law Board and their supporters are just not concerned with the tragic reality, where scores of Muslim women suffer tremendously owing to triple talaq. Their affidavit filed in the Supreme Court justifying triple talaq is a cruel joke steeped in sheer patriarchy. Evidently, they have no clue about the ground reality of injustice and violence in the form of triple talaq.

We were face-to-face yet again, with the reality, pain and vulnerability of young Muslim women, who have been unilaterally divorced at an emotionally-wrenching meeting in Bhopal last week. We heard heart-rending stories from Muslim women at a meeting convened by the BMMA Madhya Pradesh unit and feminist friends from Jan Pahel. The stories of about 30 women, all between the ages of 20-25, school dropouts barring one who was studying for B.Sc, some accompanied by small children, all of them unilaterally divorced and thrown out of homes by their husbands, left all of us absolutely shaken. These women came from the districts of Datia, Khargone, Chattarpur, Peepalgoan, Satna, Badwani, Bhopal and Khandwa to share their heartbreaking stories. It was remarkable that despite their horrendous ordeals they were determined to fight for justice. They wanted the practice of triple talaq to be abolished urgently.

As woman after young woman narrated her story we could see that the reasons for divorce were varied, and in some cases the women did not even know why they had been divorced. In most cases, the reasons were rather flimsy. One young woman was divorced because she did not bring enough dowry, another because she gave birth to a girl, yet another because she didnt have a beautiful face! In almost all cases, methods of divorce were even harder to digest. One girl was divorced while she was asleep at night. When she woke up, her husband told her that while she was sleeping he had divorced her and that now she should go back to her parents' house. One husband sent a message of divorce to his wife through her uncle (mamu). One woman was divorced right in front of her father after being beaten by a water pipe. One young wife was facing an intriguing situation as her husband had recorded an MMS clip of his wife being intimate with him; he now wants a divorce, otherwise he warns that he will make the MMS go viral.

The extent of this social malaise can be gauged from the fact that there are some villages, in which one mohalla has more than 20 girls who have been thus unilaterally divorced and are now staying with their parents, along with their children. There are families which have more than two women who have been divorced. These young women have faced tremendous violence in their marital family, even sexual violence from their husbands. The condition of some of them is really pitiable as they are not sure of their status, as they dont accept this one-sided talaq. They have been abandoned by their husbands who refuse to take them back. On their part, each of the girls is hopeful that one day her husband will come and take her back. A very frail, differently-abled girl from a very poor background was married off to a man who already had three children; after two years now, she has been divorced. She has nowhere to go and no means to feed herself.

We could see that most of the women were angry and wanted justice. While some of the girls wanted to go back to their studies and find economic independence, many wanted to go back to their husbands. The reasons are not hard to understand. They come from poor families in a patriarchal setting where girls get stigmatised when they return home after divorce. The parents are too poor to take the girl and her children back. There are other sisters to be married off.

The most disturbing reason given by the girls was that they were not sure if the second husband will turn out to be equally cruel or not, and therefore they preferred the known one. Since there is no guarantee of happiness in the second marriage (which they said is inevitable), they might as well struggle to go back to the former husband. And that is the reason why most girls refuse to accept the unilateral divorce given by their husbands. They do not want to belong to a future where they are being married and abandoned by husband after husband with no dignity and respect at the end of the ordeal. It is also the reason why some of them (at least five) have gone to court and have insisted on going back to their husbands. Some have also filed cases of maintenance and in some instances, cases under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act have been filed. All in the hope that the husband will be pressurised into taking her back. How they managed the lawyers fees was yet another story.

In almost all cases, methods of divorce were even harder to digest.

Triple talaq is not Quranic. Marriage is a social contract as per the Quran, with clear-cut verses calling for attempts at reconciliation and mediation in case of a marital discord. The Quran also emphasises the process to continue over a 90-day period. Yet, the most horrendous role is played by the local qazis and muftis as seen from the stories narrated by the women. All the women said that the unilateral divorce on the part of their husband had been approved by the local qazi. In a particular instance where even the husband was repentant and wanted to reunite, the qazi prevented him from doing so as it would amount to haramkhori. None of the qazis had tried to bring about reconciliation between the two, nor had they challenged the mens right to instantaneous unilateral divorce. No wonder the women were annoyed and livid with the qazis, as they had been instrumental in destroying their lives.

With all the young divorced women breaking down as they shared their ordeal, it was obvious that they were undergoing tremendous emotional and psychological trauma. They were feeling humiliated and robbed of their dignity. They felt used, physically and emotionally. The violence, especially sexual violence at such a young age has left many a woman traumatised. One of them bristling with anger and humiliation said, "My husband told me take this money and go away from my life. This is the value of your person while you were with me, take it and get out of my life." She was inconsolable, as she narrated this. It is a sad reflection of our community that a girl feels she has no choice but to go back to a person, who has not only divorced her unilaterally but also subjected her to immense physical and mental abuse.

We tried to have a discussion around why go back to such an unfair person. The vulnerability emanating from poverty and educational deprivation got highlighted. Several of them said that in their small town or village a girl has to be married and being single was unimaginable. They said that "hamara samaj ijazat nahi dega!" They feared being alone and understandably so. There is very little mobility or economic opportunities in small towns and villages, especially for a young woman. This is not to suggest that the picture is rosy in big cities.

We remain a patriarchal society and spend our lives under the stranglehold of patriarchal norms and rules. These norms demand young girls to be married off early, and to be divorced instantly as well if they are Muslim. We need to correct this power imbalance where a man continues to unilaterally divorce the wife. We need to address this common sense that a Muslim man can indulge in triple talaq as a right, and that it is up to the woman to run from pillar to post thereafter. Muslim women are entitled to legal and social justice. The women at the Bhopal meeting were expecting just that.

Noorjehan Niaz & Zakia Soman are Co-Founders of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday 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 on Thursday after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district.

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.

The Maharashtra CMO tweeted:

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

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 multi-agency search operations by multiple agencies.

The Navi Mumbai Police also released the sketch of one of the five suspects linked with the high alert.

According to India Today, a girl studying in Class X and a boy in Class IX in Uran had reported seeing masked men and had helped the Navi Mumbai Police come up with a sketch of one of the suspects.

The sketch was circulated to all investigating agencies and local informers are now trying to find the person in the sketch.

The CMO Maharashtra also appealed to citizens not to believe in rumours. At the same time, it advised them to inform police if they found "something unusual".

With inputs from PTI
A day after a high alert was sounded along the coast of Mumbai and adjoining areas on Thursday after a suspicious group of men were spotted near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, a second battalion of the National Security Guard (NSG) has been deployed at the site.

Fearing a similar situation to the 26 November, 2008 attacks in Mumbai, teams of the army, navy and air force have been deployed, as have teams of the police's crime branch, anti-terrorism squad and Force One, said sources. Senior officials of each of these departments are also on the scene. Schools in the region have reportedly remained shut and the area is on high alert.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has returned from a US visit, will be holding a review meeting on Friday afternoon, while Maharashtra Police DGP Satish Mathur will also be submitting a report to the government by then. It is also being speculated that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will be arriving in the city late on Friday night to take stock of the situation.

Earlier on Friday, the Navi Mumbai Police had released a sketch of one of the men spotted near the naval base, and is expected to be releasing more over the course of the day.
New Delhi: The AAP government on Friday moved Delhi High Court seeking direction to Lieutenant Governor (LG) to reconsider his decision scrapping appointment of Krishna Saini as the Chairperson of Delhi's power regulator DERC.

The application was moved before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath who were hearing two pleas challenging the appointment process of the Delhi government. Citing Transaction of Business Rules (TBR), the Delhi government said the LG should be directed to "reconsider his decision on the request of Council of Ministers of GNCTD".

The court has listed the application on 25 November. LG Najeeb Jung had on 21 September set aside Saini's appointment in March to the top post of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), as it was done without taking his approval as mandated under the rules and procedure.

The Delhi government has said that "the order of the LG has only found fault with the process that was followed leading upto/culminating in the selection of the DERC Chief and has not otherwise found him unfit for the post".

The application said the high court, in its 4 August judgement interpreting the inter-relationship between the LG and the Council of Ministers, had said that if the LG does not agree with a decision taken by Council of Ministers, he was required to refer the matter to the President of India.

It further said the "Cabinet of the Delhi government is proposing to request the LG to consider the matter once again and grant ex-post facto approval, which would be in the interest of the seamless and unhindered supply of electricity to the citizens of the national capital of Delhi and hence undeniably in public interest".
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 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.

On Thursday Siddaramaiah 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 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 last night decided to defer release of 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till 23 September 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 23 September at 11 am.

Meanwhile, principal opposition party BJP, which had boycotted Wednesday's all party meeting called by the Chief

Minister to discuss the Cauvery issue, 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.
A report prepared by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) validated claims made by BJP MP Hukum Singh who had earlier this year said that 250 Hindu families had fled Kairana in the Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh out of fear.

A probe team of the 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.

Kairana grabbed national media attention when BJP MP Hukum Singh released a list of 346 Hindu families which the MP claimed had left their homes and fled because of "threat and extortion by criminal elements belonging to a particular community.' As the issue flared up, political parties, especially Congress and Samajwadi Party, slammed BJP for trying to stoke communal tension in Uttar Pradesh ahead the state Assembly elections.

According to the 2011 India Census, Kairana's literacy rate is 47.23 percent and is dominated by Muslim community who constitute 70 percent of the community. Families belonging to the Hindu community are also in business and farming, whereas the poor work as labourers.

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 NHRC team comprised of deputy SP Ravi Singh and inspectors Suman Kumari, Saroj Tiwari and Arun Kumar.

Speaking to The Times of India, NHRC deputy director (media and communication) Jaimini Kumar Srivastava said that the 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 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 Wednesday. "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 team's findings.

"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," the report added. 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 team's findings.

However, in June this year, 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".

Interestingly, Samajwadi Party's defence came from party's freshly inducted national general secretary Amar Singh, who strongly defended Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and said that NHRC is a constitutional body and it would not be proper to comment on the report but there is always two sides to a story.

"There are two aspects of the (Kairana) issue. I do not understand why the BJP is raking up Kairana so much. Is it just because of the approaching elections in UP? Suddenly, they are so concerned about the Hindu exodus here, but let me ask them why are they silent over Kashmiri Pandit issue. They are in power in Delhi and also in Jammu and Kashmir but what are they doing for the resettlement of these Pandits? BJP must have a uniform approach. Forced exodus of any kind is bad," Amar Singh was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

"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 team's findings. A Uttar Pradesh government spokesperson when contacted, said, "We are yet to receive the NHRC notice. And, we will respond to it only after receiving it."

Immediately after the release of the report, a delegation of BJP MPs on Thursday, led by Hukum Singh, met the Meerut Zone IG demanding immediate action. Speaking to mediapersons, Hukum Singh said, "It is the victory of truth and I was always right about Kairana exodus People in Kairana are afraid of criminals but perpetrators are not afraid of the police I have told the IG to do fair a investigation in Kairana case, without considering any community or the ruling government."

Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh raised questions over the NHRC report on alleged migration of Hindu families from Kairana in Shamli district saying the findings are "meaningless". He said the NHRC team talked to a very limited number of affected families which raises questions over it credibility.

"The report by the Commission on exodus has no meaning. It was said 346 families had migrated from Kairana of which NHRC talked to only six and prepared its report...they could have talked to other families," he said replying to a question from reporters on the report here. Singh said migration is not a big issue. "People all over the world migrate to areas promising better avenues."

With inputs from agencies
Lucknow: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday visited places of importance of all faiths and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not paying heed to the problems of farmers.

Rahul, was in Lucknow as part of his 'Deoria to Dilli kisan yatra'. Her raised issues related to farmers, visited the Cathedral church, Raidas temple, Nadva (Islamic seminary) as well as a gurdwara and paid obeisance.

He met the rector of Nadva and president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board and also prayed at the cathedral besides interacting with students in the madrassa. He also held a road show in the run-up to the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh covering major parts of the state capital.

Rahul atop a bus along with state party president Raj Babbar and Congress' chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit held the road show, enthusing party workers and supporters.

"We have been forced to take out this yatra to highlight the plight of farmers. They are not getting the right price of their produce. Farmers are with us, this yatra will go up to Delhi where we will organise a meeting and tell Modiji what is in the heart of farmers," he said.

Promising that Congress will waive loans of farmers if it returns to power in the state, Rahul said that the Modi government has merely waived loans of big industrialists and so is not in a position to tell the people about it.

The Congress leader reiterated that his suggestion of bringing a 'kisan budget' which will also benefit the central government. He also recalled his agitation in Bhatta Parsaul in Uttar Pradesh and said attempts were made to snatch farmers' land there under the BJP government.

So far, Rahul has addressed 17 khat sabhas, 12 mega shows and over 500 public meetings during his yatra, a Congress leader said.
The latest issue to crop up in the strained ties between India and Pakistan is the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

India on Thursday made it clear that "mutual trust and cooperation" was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion came amid calls in India that the government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of the audacious Uri terror attack earlier this week.

"It cannot be a one-sided affair," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said 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".

The Indus Waters Treaty was brokered by the World Bank between India and Pakistan and was signed on 19 September, 1960. Under the treaty, control over six north Indian rivers were divided between the two countries. India got control over the rivers Beas, Ravi and Sutlej whereas Pakistan got control over Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

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.

Despite these differences, the Indus Waters Treaty is considered to be one of the most successful water-sharing agreements in the world today.

Even an article in Pakistani newspaper The Nation said that the advantages of the treaty outweigh the drawbacks. This is true despite the fact that even the rivers which come under Pakistani control do not originate in Pakistan and enter the country from India.

Indus originates in China, and Chenab and Jhelum originate in India. All the three rivers enter Pakistan from India. Moreover, more than half of the territory of Pakistan is part of the Indus basin which means that it is highly dependent on the three rivers coming from India for its water supply.

The treaty also gives India the right to use the waters of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum in a limited manner. India can use the water from these rivers for irrigation, transport and power generation, but of course, to a limited extent.

Despite these facts, the article in The Nation said that the construction of two mega dams due to the treaty "facilitated control of floods, provided water for irrigation and production of cheap and clean hydelpower. Pakistan became independent in matters of irrigational needs and the interlinking of rivers by canals provided more rational utilisation of waters in all six rivers."

Perhaps this is why the treaty has survived despite the 1965 and 1971 wars and the Kargil war of 1999.

The fact that India is even considering the option to abrogate a treaty which has survived two full-fledged wars and a limited war shows exactly how strained the ties between India and Pakistan are right now.

In an article in The Indian Express, BJP leader and former external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha said that India should abrogate the treaty with Pakistan "with immediate effect".

Many analysts are also of the opinion that the three rivers under Pakistani control are the lifeline for the southern Punjab region in Pakistan, which is the "nursery of terror groups" like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. "If Pakistan wishes to preserve the Indus treaty, despite its diminishing returns for India, it will have to strike a balance between its right to keep utilising the bulk of the river system's waters and a corresponding obligation (enshrined in international law) not to cause palpable harm to its co-riparian state by exporting terror," DNA quoted analyst Brahma Chellaney as saying.

According to Nitin Gokhale, strategic affairs expert of the Bharatshakti.in defence portal, India could revisit the treaty because it 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.

However, it is not as simple as turning off a tap to cut off the water supply to Pakistan. In fact, stopping the waters from flowing into Pakistan could harm India as this could cause floods in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

The DNA report also said that the three rivers under Pakistani control could not be connected to the other rivers because the Pir Panjal mountains insulated them from the rest of the country.

Even the UN is of the opinion that the treaty should not be abrogated. "In the second half of the 20th century, more than 200 water treaties were successfully negotiated. The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived two wars, and remains in force today," PTI quoted UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson as saying.

The abrogation of the Indus Waters Treaty might also end up increasing the intensity and frequency of terror attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists instead of reducing it.

With inputs from agencies
Rosetta: 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 kilometres (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.
People of Balochistan, Gilgit and PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) have thanked me a lot in past few days, I am grateful to them.  Prime Minster Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech.

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.  Brahumdagh Bugti of Balochistan Republican Party.

And, just a month after Independence Day, this is what the Baloch leader had to say.

We have decided that we will formally file asylum papers to Indian Govt. We will start work on it right away. We expect all kind of help from India.  Bugti

Modis reference to Balochistan and its people during his Independence Day speech opened the earlier uncharted gates for the exiled Baloch leaders, who applied for asylum in India barely a month after.

They are making unprecedented speech and remarks against Pakistan possibly to appease India more. It can also be seen as a show of loyalty towards India in these troubled times when the countries are caught in a blame game over the Kashmir violence that erupted after Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wanis death.

Bugti, on Thursday, said that Pakistan should be declared a terrorist state, reiterating the statements of some Indian politicians after reports that the MHA was examining his asylum application in India.

This seems to be working in his favour because as DNA reported, if the relations between India and Pakistan keep deteriorating, the Modi government may allow Baloch expats to establish their government in exile.

The report further said that Bugti can be provided a place the Bilochpura village of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, where many ethnic Balochis have been living since Baburs period

A NewsX report quoted some sources as saying, If Pakistan does not stop using terrorism as a state policy to harm India, the government can take a policy decision to give persecuted Baloch leaders and people the political space to seek freedom from Pakistans occupation.

Soon after his grandfather Nawab Bugti was killed in one of the numerous air strikes by Pakistan in 2006, Bugti founded the Baloch Republican Party. He is accused by the Pakistani government of leading the Baloch Republican Army, a separatist group designated as a terrorist organisation in Pakistan.

Bugti lived in exile in Afghanistan first and since then in Switzerland.

For the uninitiated, a government in exile is a political group which claims to be a countrys legitimate government, but is unable to exercise legal power and instead resides in a foreign country, according to Wikipedia.

To corroborate, according to the University of Chicago Law review, With respect to the governments-in-exile, two kinds of recognition have to be distinguished: one is the continuing recognition of the government existing in the country immediately preceding the occupation, and of their successors; and the other, recognition ab origine of a newly created governmental authority on Allied soil.

Reviewing it in the context of Bugti, Balochistan is legitimately a part of Pakistan, which nominates the head of the provice or the governor. The head of the government of Balochistan is the chief minister who is elected by the Balochistan Assembly.

Although the princely states which formed the Balochistan region did not willingly accede to Pakistan after the partition, the Khan accepted to merge with Pakistan, an article in The Nation said. Therefore, although grudgingly, Balochistan is a part of Pakistan.

Neither was Bugtis government in power before the accession to Pakistan nor can it be recognised as a legitimate government. Moreover, since 1972, the Balochistan Republican Party was never in power.

However, the review also states that, recognition may be extended to newly created governments without territory and without continuity. This is possibly what the Modi government is planning to do with Bugti.

Previously, Dalai Lama was welomed by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959. According to CNN, the Indian government took in the refugees and helped settle them in Dharamsala.

According to a PTI report, the Tibetan government in exile was set up by the 14th Dalai Lama after a failed uprising in China.

According to a report by The Diplomat, Nehru ignored Chinese Premer Zhou Enlais warning not to give asylum to the Dalai Lama. It also says that that the root of Beijings mistrust of Delhi began because of Indias decision to grant the monk asylum.

Nehrus welcoming of the Dalai Lama created a fissure between India and China that persists even today, the report read.

India manged to irk Pakistan and possibly create a permanent foe back in 1959. By granting an asylum to Bugti, will India exacerbate its relations with another neighbouring country?
New York: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the US of not complying with the landmark nuclear agreement that took effect in January, and said American credibility would suffer if the accord was not honoured.

In his UN General Assembly speech on Thursday, Rouhani criticised what he described as an American failure to adhere to obligations under the agreement, which relaxed many economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for verifiable pledges of peaceful nuclear work, the New York Times reported.

Rouhani said that despite the intense diplomacy that had achieved the agreement between Iran and big powers, there was "not a very stellar report card by the US when it comes to fulfilling the agreement."

He spoke a day after American export licenses were granted so that Iran could buy dozens of new planes from Boeing and Airbus, the biggest commercial transactions between Iran and the West.

Rouhani called this agreement a model for how to resolve disputes peacefully. But he coupled it with a warning against "illegal actions" by Washington.

He complained that American restrictions on banking and dollar transactions with Iran, which were unaffected by the nuclear agreement, have discouraged many banks from engaging with the country because they worry about possible penalties from the US, the New York Times said.

While the lifting of nuclear sanctions has enabled Iran to produce and sell far more oil, and its economy is growing faster than in other oil-exporting countries, the nuclear accord has not led to a trade and investment boom in Iran, according to analysts.
New York: Authorities have imposed a lock-down and evacuated people from New York's LaGuardia Airport after a car was left unattended outside of a terminal, police said.

According to police, a person drove a vehicle up to the terminal late Thursday night, jumped out, and ran away. There was no immediate description of the person or the vehicle, New York Daily News reported.

"LaGuardia Airport Terminal B is closed and passengers have been evacuated and vehicle traffic is being diverted away from the terminal," a Port Authority spokeswoman said, adding "This is to investigate an abandoned vehicle parked near the terminal. No further information available at this time."

Passengers said on social media that they were asked to move to the upper level of Terminal B of the Queens airport around 11.15 pm.

Last month, two terminals at John F Kennedy Airport were evacuated after reports of gunfire.

Officials later confirmed that the "gunshots" were in fact the sounds of a large group cheering on Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's run for Olympic gold.
New Delhi: On Thursday, various political parties 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 8 July, 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 on Wednesday 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 PTI.

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 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 Wednesday at the United Nations," he said.

BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma dubbed Pakistan as a terrorist state as it has been hatching conspiracies against India and sending terrorists to India but said it will not succeed in its devious attempts.

"Pakistan will never be successful in its devious attempts. We have isolated it across the world. Pakistan exports terror and terrorists like Osama bin Laden and Hafiz Sayeed are found there. Our armed forces and agencies will not allow Pakistan to succeed in its attempts," he said.

Rubbishing Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's speech at the UN, the Janata Dal (United) said he will deny all acts of terror sponsored by his country, adding that India must learn to accept this situation and proceed with its diplomatic, offensive and other measures.

He said Sharif will seek to claim total deniability on the acts of terror sponsored by Pakistan and no amount of evidence provided to his government will make him change his views and thus India must learn to accept this situation and proceed with its diplomatic, offensive and other measures accordingly.
Goa: Two Indian men charged with raping and causing the death of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling on a Goa beach in 2008 will finally hear the verdicts against them later on Friday.

Fifteen-year-old Keeling's bruised and semi-nude body was found on the popular Anjuna beach in the north of the small Indian tourist state, popular with Western hippies, eight years ago.

Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho were 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 culpable homicide charge is the most important charge because I believe that she was murdered," Keeling's mother Fiona MacKeown told AFP ahead of the verdict.

The teenager's death became international news, shining a spotlight on the seedy side of the resort destination and also drawing attention to India's sluggish justice system.

Police initially dismissed Keeling's death as an accidental drowning but opened a murder investigation after MacKeown pushed for a second autopsy which proved she had been drugged and raped.

It showed that Keeling had suffered more than 50 injuries to her body.

The trial began in 2010 but has been dogged by numerous delays, including hearings of just one afternoon a month due to a backlog of cases and a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings.

A key witness, Briton Michael Mannion, known as "Masala Mike", also refused to testify, dealing a huge blow to the prosecution's case.

He had initially spoken of seeing D'Souza lying on top of Keeling on the beach shortly before she died.

MacKeown and her family were on a six-month holiday to India when she, Keeling and her other daughters went on an excursion to the southern state of Karnataka, but Keeling later returned alone to attend a party.

Today is the verdict,I have faith in the judiciary, the CBI I think did a good job: Scarlett Keeling's mother pic.twitter.com/uXwlP0UFBo  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

Her body was found on the morning of 18 February, 2008.

Police allege that 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.

They deny all of the charges, claiming that the teenager died an accidental death after taking drugs of her own volition.

The verdict is due to be delivered at the children's court in Goa's state capital Panaji at 2.30 pm.
Srinagar: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has been informed that a "war-like" situation has developed along the Line-of-Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and security has been stepped up in the wake of an increase in incidents of infiltration from Pakistan following the militant attack at an army base in Uri that left 18 soldiers dead.

"It is a war-like situation here at the LoC in Uri. Even the movement of police personnel towards the LoC has been stopped and the constant mortar-shelling has been witnessed here for the past four days. Even Pakistan has evacuated people from a large area facing the Uri sector and is carrying out security drills," said a senior police official in Srinagar.

In a review of the situation, conducted by Mufti, the chief minister was informed by the police top brass that heightened militant activity has been witnessed from across the LoC in Kupwara and Uri. After Sundays militant attack at the Uri army base, constant shelling has been witnessed along the LoC and the exchange of fire has continued even during the night. The army has said that at least four infiltration bids have been foiled from across the LoC along the Nowgam sector in Kupwara and Uri for the last past four days.

Defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia said that the vigil has been stepped up along the LoC following the Uri militant attack. According to sources, there have been constant attempts by the militants to sneak inside. Two boys from Pakistan who have also crossed to this side have also been apprehended by the security agencies and questioning about their involvement in the militant activity is underway.

On Tuesday afternoon, the army had intercepted a group of militants at Bijhama in Uri and though there were initial inputs that 10 militants were killed however search operations still continue in the area and not a single body has been recovered as of now. Along the Nowgam sector in Kupwara source said that besides the death of one army jawan, Madan Lal, a militant was also killed but the body has not been recovered as of now.

"The search operations continue at both Nowgam and Uri," said Kalia.

Director General of Police, Law and Order, SP Vaid, said the Pakistani troops have occupied vantage positions at different places along the LoC in Uri due to which Uri has seen a stepped up militant activity.

The Uri area is surrounded by a mountain range and the peaks have been occupied by the Pakistani troopers due to which militants get the advantage of sneaking inside," he said.

According to sources even as a large area of LoC remains fenced and the army has set up IEDs near the fence to prevent the infiltration of militants into the Indian side, the militants are trying to sneak into this side through the ravines and drains.

"A large area of the LoC remains fenced but there are some areas which remain porous from where the militants are trying to sneak inside," said a senior official.

Security officials are apprehending that in case the infiltration attempts go up and some militants manage to sneak in the attacks on security installations within Kashmir will go up.

"Certainly the militant attacks have gone up. But handling the attacks inside and constant pounding along the border will be a tough challenge in the region particularly when the movement of militants in protest hit areas has increased," said a senior army official in Srinagar, adding however that forces are fully geared up to deal with the situation.
Chicago: 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 on Thursday, 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.
Who wrote the 'Ivy League of terrorism' rebuttal that demolished Pakistan's anti-India rant at the UNGA?

A brainstrust of 5 senior staffers sitting around Syed Akbaruddin's desk on the 4th floor of India's permanent mission to the US in New York's East 43rd St put their heads together to write up the 513 word stinger that has broken free from the trap of knotty officialese while Pakistan errs on the other extreme with cuckoo outbursts at its annual whine fest in New York City.

Syed Akbaruddin, a 1985 batch IFS officer, is Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations - the boss in the New York outpost.

The applause for India's strident tone, content and the brevity of the rebuttal on September 21 has been stirring.

Word cloud for People Like Us

Deception, deceit, lies, terrorism, toxic curriculum, sermons, preaching - the word cloud from Indias rap taps into the collective loathing Indians feel about Pakistans web of lies. No wonder then that the Eenam Gambhir slam dunk is taking a dizzy ride on social media platforms.

Commoners' lingo

The way politics is practised is changing everywhere - where truth and evidence are of secondary importance and popular trust in established institutions has crashed. By slamming Pakistans baloney so hard on the world stage, India is responding to the change in how audiences consume foreign policy and meeting them where they are, in language that is evocative yet blunt, something that appeals to outliers who are shunning elitism in droves.

Short attention spans have been fully factored in - a 500 worder for a Pakistan pushback is as good as it gets.

Four hours from start to finish

"It took 4 and a half hours from start to finish, after Nawaz Sharif spoke," a top official at India's UN mission told Firstpost in a detailed off the record conversation.

Theyre not telling who came up with the coolest line of the one pager - Ivy League of terrorism. We dont want to go into that but when we did come up with it, we knew we had a winner.

These five people are drawn from the inner circle at the mission here and of course, we consulted Capital ( New Delhi) while the draft got polished to a sparkle.

Who chose Eenam Gambhir?

What about the choice of Eenam Gambhir? Who took that call? The same person who played big daddy for the theme of the stern rejoinder settled on Gambhir as a natural choice.

"That decision (of Gambhir speaking) was taken well before we finished writing this. We wanted to make a few things very clear. Whoever speaks for us speaks for India. There's no question of seniority here. So we chose our youngest officer and anyway, she has been working on this. It's her area.

But the Gambhir read-out is not the starter piece for this new hauteur. That happened in July when Syed Akbaruddin took a meat cleaver to tear into Pakistans misuse of the UN forum  Pakistan; a country that covets the territory of others; a country that uses terrorism as state policy towards that misguided end; a country that extols the virtues of terrorists and that provides sanctuary to UN-designated terrorists.

The approach has been consistent now at least for the last few months - Akbaruddin pitched tent in New York early this year.

New style sheet

A top diplomat who oversaw the latest India offensive to the last detail admits there is a deliberate change in style. Diplomacy has to reach audiences spead across wide swathes of the world, not just Indians in a limited sphere of operation, he said.

That approach is now being hard wired into the content creation at the mission - sharper statements, smaller sentences, not long winded.

Incidentally, media and communication as an academic discipline are not new for Syed Akbaruddin - his father headed the journalism department at Osmania University for many years and later the research wing at FTII Pune too. Akbaruddin inks every official communication from the mission and so too for Indias reply at UNGA.

That there is very little traction for Pakistan adds to Indias confidence in these recent maneovers.

If they want to come to the United Nations and talk about India, we will do what we have to do. Our default position is that this has to be sorted out bilaterally, however if you (Pakistan) bring this to the UN, we have a counter narrative ready which is stronger, says the official.

Every paragraph of the India counter has at least one mention of the word terrorism  this was a consensus among the group of five.

Girl power

In 5 minutes of time, you cant put in too much. Its not a general debate statement. If we had too many themes, it would lose its bite, so we were clear that we keep it short and everything we did with the rebuttal was a conscious choice.

That includes the language, target audience, end game, closure and the choice of a woman to speak for India.

Apart from being chosen for being the youngest, Gambhir as the woman factor was strategy, not randomness.

They (Pakistan) talked about women and all that bluster, we said chalo, well send a woman in reply. The optics are not lost on us. We got it right. The whole world could see that the bullies were watching while Gambhir spoke."

"It wasnt like - achcha bhai, kisi ko bhi bhej do. We know exactly what our messaging was and how to deliver it for maximum effect. This is the voice a much more confident India, the official said.

That Pakistan uses the UN forum time and again to spin a tangled web of falsities does not impress the folks at Indias mission to the UN.

That they can come up with speeches like this and we all know that it finds no resonance - it means theres something terribly wrong with their diplomacy, the official said.

Like others, Indias top officials at the mission here know that Pakistans wacko stance at UNGA is a reflection of the state of domestic politics. They have a town with two sheriffs, so the way they turn out at world forums mirrors the contradictions within.

To fittingly answer politicians messing around in a global sandbox with assertions that have no basis in fact, India may have just found a new currency of rebuke - emotion, in short form.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is likely to raise the terror attacks in Uri and Pathankot in her speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) most likely on September 26.

Thats up next.
Huawei has announced that it will start to manufacture smartphones in India in collaboration with Flex starting next month. Starting from the first week of October 2016, the Flex manufacturing plant in Chennai will manufacture one of the Honor smartphones models.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister, Information & Technology, Law and Justice, made the announcement at Huaweis Make in India inauguration ceremony in New Delhi today.

The plant will have the capacity to make three million units by the end of 2017. In addition, Huawei will be strengthening after sales services in India with over 200 service centers, including more than 30 exclusive Huawei service centers in India. Huawei will also be partnering with more than 50,000 retail outlets by the end of 2016.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister, Information & Technology, Law and Justice said,

I would like to congratulate Huawei on their commitment to pursue their Make in India vision. The Government of India is pleased to see so much enthusiasm for our Make in India initiative. We are working towards making India an electronic manufacturing hub. As India is set to become the second largest smartphone market, our government would like to invite even more businesses to come and manufacture in India. This is an opportune time to start manufacturing from India. The smartphone landscape in India is growing every day and such initiatives by technology leaders will help accelerate the growth of local manufacturing industry in India.

Jay Chen, CEO, Huawei India said,

We have been present in India for the last 16 years and as part of our India focus, we have been consistently expanding our footprint in the market. This year especially has been of significance in our India journey. We recently launched our world class GSC in Bengaluru and the start of manufacturing in India is an affirmation of our commitment to India and supports the Make in India campaign. We are convinced about the growth potential and future of India and well keep looking for opportunities to increase our presence here.

Last month, Chinese smartphone maker LeEco kick started smartphone manufacturing in India. A total of 37 mobile manufacturing companies have invested in India in last one year.

Oppo, Xiaomi, Gionee, Vivo, HTC, Sony, Microsoft, LG, Lenovo, Motorola, Asus, Micromax, Celkon and Karbonn have already announced investments in the country to set up their manufacturing plants.
On September 20, Brazilian oil and gas giant Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras (ADR) (PBR -1.75%) 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, particularly Seadrill Ltd (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 Norwegian Statoil), which means the company's capital spending should fall. 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.
There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want. -- from Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

Calvin's statement above sums up the desire of millions of people who want to retire early. Furthermore, early retirement isn't necessarily a pipe dream, and it doesn't require you to be rich, either. For the vast majority of people who want to retire early, there's a simple recipe to achieve this goal:

Live beneath your means.

Keep debt low.

Contribute to your retirement savings early, heavily, and regularly.

If you really want to retire early, keep reading to learn more about how you can do it and some major pitfalls to avoid.

Merely saving for retirement will fail -- you have to invest

Short-term (think five years or less) money like an emergency fund is best kept in a savings account or CD. But when it comes to your retirement savings, you have to invest it if you want to generate the returns that will afford you an early retirement.

Here's a look at the returns from setting aside $5,000 per year over 30 years at different rates of return, including the 10% historical average return of the stock market versus the 2% you would get today from a high-yield certificate of deposit:

As you can see above, the "safety" of a certificate of deposit yielding only 2% (which is higher than almost any yield you'd find today) would leave you well short of the kinds of returns you can expect to get from the stock market. And even if your stock portfolio doesn't net you 10% annualized returns, you're still far more likely to outperform any kind of savings vehicle.

Two important points: Individual stocks can be very risky, and investing in the short term can lose you money. But investing in a diverse portfolio of stable companies for the very long term has consistently been the key to growing people's retirement savings.

Let's take a look at two other things that can make or break your ability to retire early.

Housing costs can boost (or ruin) your early retirement plans

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, housing expenditures make up the largest single expense for those over age 65, at $15,838 for those 65-74 and $13,375 for those 75 and older, in 2013. This was more than the next two categories combined.

It's going to be much more expensive to retire if you're still paying a mortgage or rent. Renters also lose out on the benefit of home equity to cover expenses, especially later in life, while retirees simply need to have more set aside to cover mortgage payments versus those who have paid off their homes before retiring.

That doesn't mean buying a home today is the right answer for everyone, particularly if you are likely to move often and won't be able to build equity before you move and sell. But if you are in a position to stay in place for the long term, buying a home and paying it off before you retire can mean significantly reducing the biggest expense most retirees have.

Be prepared for higher care spending

While out-of-pocket expenditures for things like housing, transportation, and food typically decline the older you get, the amount you pay for health and long-term care is almost guaranteed to go up. Not only do older people tend to need care more often, but it tends to be more expensive, often specialist care.

In addition, the older people get, the more likely they are to need non-medical in-home care, which isn't covered by Medicare or medical insurance. And according to the Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people 65 or over will need long-term care at some point. If you're married, there's a 90% chance either you or your spouse will need long-term care. If you want to retire early, making sure you'll have enough resources later in life to cover these increased out-of-pocket costs for care is critically important. According to the BLS, the average 65- to 74-year-old paid 19% more out of pocket for healthcare in 2013 than the average 55- to 64-year-old.

Also, you'll need to pay for private insurance in the gap between early retirement and turning 65, when you become eligible for Medicare.

Invest early and often, keep debt and expenses low, retire in comfort

You may have to make sacrifices today to reach your early retirement goals. Whether it's keeping your old car a few extra years, spending a week at the nearby lake instead of the Bahamas for your summer vacation, or dropping the premium channels from your cable service, lowering expenditures and increasing retirement contributions is probably the first place you need to start. However, there's a difference between frugality and being a pauper, and it's up to each of us to find the balance between spending to enjoy life today and investing for tomorrow.

If retiring early is the bigger priority for you, you probably have a lot of work to do. There's no better time to get started than right now.
Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM -0.46%) is a leader among gold-mining companies and one of the largest by market capitalization, but that's not reason enough to choose it as an investment. Let's look at some of its peers and evaluate its position among them.

The roundup

Its closest competitor by market capitalization, Barrick Gold (GOLD -1.10%), maintains operations on five continents; however, the company expects about 70% of its total gold production in 2016 to come from its five core mines in the Americas. At the end of 2015, Barrick Gold reported gold reserves of 91.9 million ounces; Newmont Mining, at the same time, reported gold reserves totaling 73.7 million ounces.

Unlike Newmont Mining, which is also involved in copper production, Goldcorp (GG) is a pure play on gold. Solely operating mines in the Americas -- Canada, the United States, Chile, and Argentina -- Goldcorp reported 40.7 million ounces of gold reserves at the end of 2015.

Smaller than Newmont Mining, though still deserving recognition, Kinross Gold (KGC -0.54%) operates mines in the Americas, West Africa, and Russia. The company reported reserves of 33.2 million gold ounces at the end of 2015.

Rounding out the peer group, Yamana Gold (AUY -1.54%) operates two mines in North America, where it has one in each Canada and Mexico. Additionally, the company operates seven mines throughout South America. More diversified in its mineral production than Newmont, which produces copper as well as gold, Yamana Gold maintains the production of three metals: gold, silver, and copper.

Between the disparities in market caps and mine locations, it may seem unfair to compare these companies against each other, but there is a way we can level the playing the field: considering the all-in sustaining costs (AISC). The mining industry's version of operating expenses, AISC accounts for multiple items, such as general and administrative costs, capital expenditures associated with mine development and production, and more.

Company 2015 2016 (Estimate) Barrick Gold $831 $760 to $810 Goldcorp $894 $850 to $925 Kinross Gold $975 $890 to $990 Newmont Mining $898 $900 to $960 Yamana Gold $842 $800

Not only did Barrick Gold outshine its peers last year in keeping operational costs in check, the company seems confident that it will be able to improve even further, squeezing ever more value out of its mines. Although Newmont appears to lag its peers at controlling its operational costs, its AISC doesn't necessarily raise a red flag. And investors should remember that this is just one metric to consider among several.

Take it from the top

Having identified some of Newmont's leading competition and how well they control operational expenses, let's delve deeper into the financials. First, we'll take a look at the companies' sales figures over the past five years -- in what has been a challenging gold market.

Because of the disparity in market cap among the companies in the peer group, it would be deceiving to solely look at how much the companies are reporting in sales. Instead, we'll get a truer sense of how well the companies are performing by looking at each company's growth.

Over the past years, the price of gold has dropped more than 13%; likewise, gold companies have struggled to grow revenue. As a result, when evaluating the companies in this peer group, we're looking for which company has suffered the least. Apparently, it's the two companies with the largest market caps that have found it the most difficult to keep up with the falling price of gold. Unlike Barrick, however, Newmont has succeeded over the past year in finding a way to turn the ship around and grow sales -- something that only it and Goldcorp have managed to do.

Free flowin'

In considering mining companies, one shouldn't overemphasize revenue growth, though. When the gold market goes south, some companies will curb production and try to improve efficiency in order to better handle the lower gold prices. So let's skip down toward the bottom line to see how well Newmont Mining stacks up against its peers.

Considering only the company's earnings per share, one might conclude that Newmont is the most successful at turning its gold to green. But this would be quite misleading. Though it's certainly a figure worth considering, the mining industry is a complicated business. Valuing a mine, for example, is far from an exact science. It's not uncommon for companies to report significant goodwill and asset impairment charges; consequently, earnings per share figures may misrepresent how well the company is actually operating.

A better choice would be to examine the companies in terms of their free cash flow. A metric much less susceptible to accounting tricks, free cash flow is something which many investors consider to be more reflective of a company's true performance.

Looking at how well these companies have improved in generating free cash flow, one finds that Newmont -- the only company to report positive EPS in this group -- is also the least successful at growing its free cash flow.

Barrick Gold and Goldcorp further illustrate the danger in only looking at EPS. The two companies reported, respectively, EPS declines of 154% and 316% on a trailing-twelve-month basis over the past five years. However, looking through the lens of free cash flow growth tells a much different story. On a trailing-12-month basis, Barrick Gold and Goldcorp have grown free cash flow by 58% and 50%, respectively.

The takeaway

As one of the world's leading gold producers, Newmont offers many compelling reasons for investment. But before picking up shares -- of any stock -- it's imperative that investors appreciate the company's competition. Conservative investors may be drawn to Barrick Gold -- a company, similar in size, to Newmont, for what it lacks in EPS it makes up for in free cash flow.

This isn't to say that Goldcorp, Kinross Gold, and Yamana Gold don't also warrant consideration. But any interested investor would certainly need to dig deeper and mine the financial statements.
Police-involved shootings spurred protests this week from Charlotte, North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump weighed in on the shootings during an interview with the FOX Business Networks Lou Dobbs.

Trump said that the U.S. needs more unity in order to see a cease in the number of violent protests.

We are very divided country in many ways, but we dont have unity and we dont have jobs and we dont have education. And we need things like jobs and education to get that whole situation taken care of or its only going to get worse, Trump said.

Trump said even though he is a supporter of the police, he believes the shooting in Tulsa, was a mistake and understands why the police officer responsible was being charged by prosecuters.

It looked like she [Police Officer] certainly did something very wrong and whether she choked, which happens people choke and maybe she choked or she couldnt handle the pressure or something went very, very wrong. But it just looked like that man did nothing wrong. I mean he walked with his hands up slowly; put his hands on the car. I just dont see how they could have possibly shot him, Trump said.
Cyber Security in Focus

-The Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO) hack, which took place in 2014 and compromised 500 million users, is now believed to be a state-sponsored cyber security attack, according to the company. The data stolen includes personal information such as names, emails, dates of birth and security questions/answers. This incident appears to be the largest publicly disclosed cyber-breach ever.

Tune in to Cavuto: Coast to Coast today at 12 p.m. ET for the latest on the attack and what you need to do to keep your personal information safe.

A bad week for tech companies?

-Social media giant Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) admitting it has been overestimating the average time users spent watching videos on its platform for two years. Facebook was only factoring in video views of more than three seconds, which led to the key metric being exaggerated by as much as 80%. As you can imagine, advertisers who have been investing millions based on this data, are not happy.

Trish Regan will have more on the Facebook fallout today at 2 p.m. ET. Dont miss it!

Last Ditch Effort?

-A new internal Obama Administration email, written by a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services executive, urges an unnamed recipient to swear in as many new citizen voters as possible due to the election year. Critics believe this push to naturalize new citizens is an attempt to give Clinton a boost in the polls.

Starting at 7 p.m. ET, Lou Dobbs Tonight will have experts react to this shocking news and what it could mean for the election!

The Big Showdown

-Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are preparing for their first presidential debate on Monday, September 26th! FOX Business will be there for all the action starting with a special episode of Lou Dobbs Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, live from Hofstra University on Long Island. Cavuto will also be live from the venue, with pre- and post-debate reaction!

And if you are still undecided

-Tune in to Stossel tonight at 9 p.m. ET for a Green Party Town Hall with Dr. Jill Stein! Stossel will ask her about all the issues that matter most to you.
Dividend investors regard tobacco giant Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) as a strong prospect, known for a favorable dividend policy that treats its investors much better than how most other stocks pay their shareholders. Yet many investors underestimate just how important dividends are to the value proposition Philip Morris stock offers, and it's easy not to understand the full magnitude of the company's payments of its income to shareholders.

Let's take a closer look at three things you need to know about Philip Morris and its dividend.

1. Philip Morris is a dividend payment leader.

Philip Morris is a large company, but it's far from the largest in the stock market. With a market capitalization of less than $160 billion, there are plenty of other stocks that are valued more highly. Yet Philip Morris still ranks among the leaders of the entire stock market when it comes to how much money it returns to shareholders in dividends.

The consumer staples sector of the S&P 500 as a whole has been a dividend stalwart for the overall market, ranking second only behind technology and paying out $14.3 billion in dividends during the second quarter. By itself, Philip Morris was responsible for more than 10% of the sector's total, paying $1.59 billion in common dividends during the quarter. That ranked only behind Procter & Gamble in terms of total cash dividend paid within consumer staples, a company with half again Philip Morris' market capitalization.

2. Philip Morris' dividend yield stands above its peers.

Philip Morris currently has a dividend yield of 4.1%. Although you can find plenty of stocks with higher dividends, what's rare is to find companies that are able to match Philip Morris' yield after becoming leaders in their respective industries and attaining megacap status.

Within the S&P 500, there are currently only three other stocks with market capitalizations of more than $100 billion that have higher yields than Philip Morris. They include telecom giants AT&T and Verizon, which have always had a history of making utility-like dividend payments to their shareholders out of the massive cash flow their respective telecom networks generate. In addition, Chevron currently has a higher yield, reflecting in part the more than 20% drop in its stock price since its 2014 highs in the aftermath of the plunge in crude oil prices.

3. Philip Morris has a perfect record of dividend growth.

Philip Morris has been an independent company for nearly nine years now, and in each of those nine years, it has made dividend increases. The tobacco giant has repeatedly stated its commitment to supporting a dividend policy that not only rewards shareholders with quarterly payouts but also boosts the size of those payouts over time.

That policy hasn't come without challenges. Currency-related headwinds have plagued Philip Morris' earnings for a couple of years now, and that has brought growth to the company's revenue and net income to a near-standstill at times. Philip Morris has responded by reducing the size of its dividend hikes, but it nevertheless hasn't stopped making at least small increases over the past couple of years. When conditions in the foreign exchange market reach a new equilibrium, Philip Morris investors hope that dividend growth will accelerate.

Philip Morris is a dividend powerhouse, and there are many ways in which the company stands out from the crowd for income investors. The three aspects discussed above make it clear that Philip Morris can be a valuable component of a dividend stock portfolio for those who want regular, reliable income from their holdings.

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.

Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Chevron, Procter and Gamble, and Verizon Communications. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image source: Getty Images.

Seaspan Corporation (NYSE: SSW) certainly catches the eye of income investors with an exciting yield of 11%. However, investors should not blindly buy into the company just because of its generous yield. Instead, they need to dig deeper into the containership lessor's financials to make sure that its lucrative income stream will not run dry. These charts should help investors gauge the safety of the payout.

We are No. 1!

The first thing investors should know about Seaspan Corporation is that it is by far the largest containership-leasing company in the world:

Source: Seaspan Corporation investors presentation.

As the chart shows, it has more than twice the TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity of its nearest rival. Furthermore, with 89 operating vessels and 115 total containership under management, it has a much-larger fleet than publicly traded containership-leasing competitorsCostamare (NYSE: CMRE) and Danaos (NYSE: DAC), which have 72 and 59 vessels, respectively. That larger size and scale provide the company with greater diversification because it has more ships earning revenue than rivals do, which better insulates it from losing a key customer.

Finally, that chart shows that Seaspan Corporation has the most future growth of the group, with more TEUs on order via newbuild vessels than all its peers, including Costamare, which is the only other peer with a large fleet of newbuilds.

Remarkably steady growth

Not only does Seaspan Corporation have visible future growth, but it has a history delivering meaningful growth, as these next four charts show:

Source: Seaspan Corporation investors presentation.

The company has added vessels to its fleet regularly over the past few years, which drove a steady increase in revenue. Earnings and cash flow, likewise, have risen rather consistently. In fact, cash flow available for dividends grew at a faster rate, going from 41% of revenue in 2011 to roughly 50% over the past year, driving dividend growth. In addition, it is worth noting that while the company generated $211.8 million in cash available for dividends, it only paid out about half that amount this year. This implies that the dividend is pretty secure as long as cash flow remains stable and the business does not need the money for other purposes.

Clear visibility for future revenue

As the first slide noted, the majority ofSeapsan Corporation's fleet is currently under long-term leases worth $6 billion that have an average length of 5.4 years. Overall, the company has a very balanced maturity profile, with some contracts extending out for decades:

Source: Seaspan Corporation investors presentation.

What is important to note about this chart is that the company does not have many near-term contract expirations. Further, those that are expiring this year are smaller vessels, representing just 2% to 3% of revenue. This suggests that the company's revenue should remain relatively stable over the near term, with upside as newbuild vessels enter service and Seaspan recharters expiring vessels to new contracts, potentially at higher rates.

Two things these charts do not tell investors

These six charts all imply one thing: Seaspan Corporation's financials are in pretty solid shape. That said, there is one component that they do not quantify, which is the risk that things do not go according to plan in the future. For example, the charts show that Seaspan Corporation has several newbuild vessels under construction. What they do not tell us is how the company will pay for them. Currently, the company has $570 million in remaining capital expenditure requirements against $410 million in available financing and $349 million in cash on hand, which would imply that it should not have any problem meeting these obligations, all else being equal.

Second, the charts show that the company's cash flow is relatively stable due to long-term contracts, assuming its customers fulfil their end of the bargain. That has become an increasingly critical risk after a key shipper recently filed for bankruptcy. It is a growing concern for rival Danaos because it leased eight of its vessels, worth $560 million of its $2.8 billion backlog, to that shipper. Seaspan Corporation, likewise, leased several vessels to the same customer, though these contracts represent a much-smaller portion of its revenue backlog. Still, Seaspan Corporation CEO Gerry Wang said of the event that "the fallout of Hanjin Shipping is like Lehman Brothers to the financial markets. It's a huge, huge nuclear bomb. It shakes up the supply chain, the cornerstone of globalization."

Investor takeaway

With a large, growing container fleet leased under long-term contracts, Seaspan Corporation's outsize dividend appears to be secure. That said, investors cannot overlook two critical risks to the payout: the company's ability to fund its newbuild backlog, and the fallout from the bankruptcy of a leading shipper. As long as those two issues do not impact its financials, the company should not have any problems maintaining its lofty payout.

A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, just click here.

Matt DiLallo owns shares of Seaspan. The Motley Fool recommends Seaspan. 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.
South Korea will announce new measures to bolster the shipping industry in October, finance minister Yoo Il-ho said on Friday, urging the swift unloading of cargo trapped on Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd's <117030.KS> ships.

Around 90 percent of Hanjin's container ships are expected to finish offloading cargo by the end of October, with vessels in close vicinity of Korea returning to ports here, Yoo said during a visit to a port in Busan to assess the Hanjin situation.

"The government will provide help through related ministries and offshore offices while it will also ask the court to help allow Hanjin to use the funds necessary for cargo offloading and to pay offloading fees for ships returning to Korea as a priority," Yoo said.

Some 35 vessels have offloaded cargo as of today, out of a total of 97 Hanjin owned and leased container ships, he added.

(Reporting by Christine Kim and Cynthia Kim; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Image source: Getty Images.

Options traders love volatility, because it can take options that are worth almost nothing and turn them into huge moneymakers overnight. One way of measuring how much volatility there is in the market is the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX for short. The VIX reflects the expectations that investors have about the volatility of the overall stock market as represented by the S&P 500 index. The higher the VIX is, the higher the expectation that stocks will move dramatically in one direction or the other in the near future. Below, we'll take a closer look at exactly what the VIX does and why investors should care even if they don't trade options.

Why the VIX is important for options traders

The CBOE Volatility Index measures expected volatility of the S&P 500 over a three-day target time frame. In order to calculate that measure, the Chicago Board Options Exchange looks at the price behavior of many different call options and put options on the S&P 500 index, using different strike prices and multiple expiration dates that incorporate the trading of weekly S&P options. A complex series of rules determines exactly which option prices get used in calculating the VIX, but once the options are chosen, the CBOE takes a weighted average to come up with the index value.

In general, the higher the value of the VIX, the greater the expected volatility. More specifically, for options traders looking to purchase calls and puts, higher volatility typically translates into higher options prices for a given option, all other things being equal. Volatility isn't the only important variable that goes into calculating option prices, but it does play a vital role in most option pricing strategies.

Why regular investors should pay attention to the VIX

For investors who don't intend to use options as part of their investing strategy, the VIX might seem to be irrelevant. However, the CBOE Volatility Index plays a role in the mindset of everyday investors. In particular, some have dubbed the VIX the "Fear Index" because of its tendency to rise when the market drops and to decline when the market rises. Theoretically, that tendency in the VIX shouldn't exist if the market were as likely to soar higher as to crash lower. However, historically, stocks have tended to have more dramatic moves to the downside than to the upside, and that explains the inverse relationship between the VIX and the stock market broadly.

Even though traders tend to interpret high VIX levels as danger points, long-term investors can use a high VIX reading as a signal to look more closely at stocks. Once the VIX has risen, some stocks might have had their share prices beaten down already, and others might have higher chances of falling to attractive levels than usual. Using the VIX as an early warning system to start looking for bargain opportunities has been a smart strategy over time, especially in recent years when long periods of low volatility were the norm rather than the exception.

That said, it's important to understand that the VIX has limited usefulness when you're looking at individual stocks. The VIX is related to the S&P 500 index, and so it measures volatility of the entire U.S. large-cap market. The CBOE actually calculates volatility indexes based on certain individual stocks, and they can differ greatly from the corresponding figures for the broader index -- even when those stocks are themselves constituents in that index.

The VIX is especially important to options traders, but it also has value for ordinary investors. By tracking the VIX, you can get a sense of the mood of the overall market and whether investors in the options market expect good times or bad ahead.

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.
Is DuPont focusing too much on agriculture? Image source: Getty Images.

Chemical giant DuPont (NYSE: DD) is optimistic about the future these days. True, its merger with fellow chemical titan Dow Chemical (NYSE: DOW) is still under regulatory review, but the company is expressing confidence that it will be approved by the end of the year.

In the meantime, though, DuPont still has a business to run...or rather, multiple businesses. However, it seems like its agriculture unit is getting the lion's share of the company's resources.Here's how that could be bad for DuPont investors -- and great for investors in rival 3M (NYSE: MMM).

The seeds of discord

For much of its lifetime, DuPont was strictly a materials-science company. The brand-name substances its labs created became household names all over the globe: products like nylon, Teflon, and Kevlar.

However, in recent years the company has been branching out into more lucrative sectors like nutrition and agriculture. It spun off many of its materials businesses -- including Teflon -- into a new company, Chemours (NYSE: CC), last year.

Now, the company plans to merge with Dow and then split into three separate companies. One will focus on agrochemicals, one on performance chemicals, and one on materials science. In an ideal world, DuPont would work to ensure the continued success of each of the three companies after the split. Recently, however, there have been troubling signs that the company may be focusing primarily on its agrochemical research and development while its other businesses fall by the wayside.

Growing the business

Healthy R&D spending is essential for any manufacturer, but particularly for a chemical company. And DuPont, even up until last year, was the gold standard, spending a higher percentage of its revenue on R&D than its competitors:

Data source: Company 10-Ks.

However, in the first half of 2016, DuPont cut its R&D spending to $850 million, from $975 million in 2015. CEO Edward Breen indicated in the second-quarter earnings call that it was likely to stay that way: "We're running around $1.7 billion in total spend, and that feels about appropriate."

With the company's guidance suggesting comparable sales to last year, that would equate to about 6.8% of revenue: still higher than its peers' 2015 percentages, but down historically. And once the company merges with Dow, even if the merged companies don't cut their combined R&D spending, the overall percentage will be even lower due to Dow's lower R&D expenditures. That should concern long-term investors.

You reap what you sow

Statements by the company seem to indicate that in addition to spending less on R&D overall, DuPont plans to concentrate its R&D spending on its agriculture business. In the Q2 earnings call, Breen had this to say about R&D and growth:

Zorvec, Leptra, and CRISPR-Cas genes are all agricultural products. Breen also references "increasing capacity" for existing materials like Tyvek and medical wrap, but not any R&D investment in those areas.

Lest you think that this was just an oversight on Breen's part, later in the call, he was asked specifically about the reduced overall R&D spending and replied (emphasis mine):

These statements, coupled with recent reports of layoffs and project cancellations at DuPont's materials-science research lab, paint a picture of a company focused on agricultural R&D to the exclusion of other areas.

If true, this would be fantastic for DuPont's major materials-science rival, 3M. Its total annual R&D spending would be larger than DuPont's, in numeric terms -- but since 3M isn't involved in agriculture or nutrition, it could also devote more money to developing materials. With labs in 36 countries, including a state-of-the-art research lab opened in Minnesota just last year, 3M employs 8,300 researchers worldwide.

Foolish takeaway

When one of your main rivals starts spending less than you on R&D, and focuses its remaining R&D efforts on areas where you don't compete, that's a very positive development for you. Investors in 3M should be cheered by this news.

DuPont investors, on the other hand, have good reason to be concerned. If DuPont's merger-and-split with Dow goes as planned, DuPont investors will be holding shares in three separate companies, only one of which involves agriculture. It would be smart to keep an eye on details of DuPont's R&D spending in the coming quarters. If this trend continues to worsen, the long-term thesis for the company could change...and not for the better.

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John Bromels has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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.

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.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - A coalition of 75 U.S. and Canadian native groups that opposes expansion of North American oil production will join a U.S. tribe's fight against the Dakota Access pipeline if tensions escalate, a regional Canadian chief said on Friday.

The Standing Rock Sioux oppose the 1,100-mile (1,886-km) pipeline being developed by Energy Transfer Partners LP , which they say threatens water supply and sacred sites.

An encampment in North Dakota against the $3.7 billion Dakota Access pipeline represents the largest Native American protest in decades and included one violent confrontation this month between protesters and security guards. [nL1N1BI1N2]

"I can tell you with great certainty that in the event there's an escalation of aggression on the part of the state or (U.S.) federal government, there will certainly be a response on the Canadian side from indigenous peoples," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said in a phone interview from Vancouver.

Phillip compared the potential for escalation in North Dakota to the 1990 Oka crisis, a land dispute between a Quebec town and a group of Mohawks that turned violent.

Indigenous supporters from Canada are already bringing supplies and financial donations to Standing Rock Sioux, which Phillip said he recently visited.

The Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion, made up of North American native groups that signed the treaty on Thursday, also opposes tanker and rail projects over environmental concerns.

Treaty Alliance is "absolutely" willing to illegally block construction of any pipeline proposals that proceed, including TransCanada Corp's Energy East pipeline across much of Canada and Kinder Morgan Inc's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in Western Canada, he said.

There are no conditions under which the group would support a pipeline, Phillip said.

Canada is assessing pipeline proposals as the country's energy-rich province Alberta reels from a crash in prices, partly due to insufficient means of moving oil to lucrative international markets.

In Canada, native groups are divided over pipelines, with some opposing them while others, who are producers themselves, want the energy industry to develop, said Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, which takes no position.

(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

A coalition of 75 U.S. and Canadian native groups that opposes expansion of North American oil production will join a U.S. tribe's fight against the Dakota Access pipeline if tensions escalate, a regional Canadian chief said on Friday.

The Standing Rock Sioux oppose the 1,100-mile (1,886-km) pipeline being developed by Energy Transfer Partners LP , which they say threatens water supply and sacred sites.

An encampment in North Dakota against the $3.7 billion Dakota Access pipeline represents the largest Native American protest in decades and included one violent confrontation this month between protesters and security guards. [nL1N1BI1N2]

"I can tell you with great certainty that in the event there's an escalation of aggression on the part of the state or (U.S.) federal government, there will certainly be a response on the Canadian side from indigenous peoples," Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said in a phone interview from Vancouver.

Phillip compared the potential for escalation in North Dakota to the 1990 Oka crisis, a land dispute between a Quebec town and a group of Mohawks that turned violent.

Indigenous supporters from Canada are already bringing supplies and financial donations to Standing Rock Sioux, which Phillip said he recently visited.

The Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion, made up of North American native groups that signed the treaty on Thursday, also opposes tanker and rail projects over environmental concerns.

Treaty Alliance is "absolutely" willing to illegally block construction of any pipeline proposals that proceed, including TransCanada Corp's Energy East pipeline across much of Canada and Kinder Morgan Inc's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in Western Canada, he said.

There are no conditions under which the group would support a pipeline, Phillip said.

Canada is assessing pipeline proposals as the country's energy-rich province Alberta reels from a crash in prices, partly due to insufficient means of moving oil to lucrative international markets.

In Canada, native groups are divided over pipelines, with some opposing them while others, who are producers themselves, want the energy industry to develop, said Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, which takes no position.

(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
It's been an emotional week in Charlotte, the city closest to home for most NASCAR teams and many of its top drivers.

Wednesday night, rioters broke out two windows in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte They also smashed windows at the NASCAR Tower office complex, as well as at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant adjacent to the Hall of Fame.

The looting and vandalism began after a what started out as a peaceful protest over the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, 43, at an apartment complex near the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Tuesday.



Friday morning at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Team Penske driver Joey Logano was asked about the incident.

"I'm not 100 percent sure what we can do," said Logano. "Obviously, we're trying to do things here today, but, yeah, there's an emotional reaction. A lot of times when you see things like this happen it's in a different city and you don't recognize where it's at, but when you see the NASCAR building getting vandalized and you see areas of the city that you know very well with just crazy things happening it makes you sick to your gut."

Like a lot of people, Logano said he struggled with an appropriate response.

"You don't know what to do and you kind of feel helpless," he said. "All we can do really is just say some prayers and hope that eventually everything calms down and everyone is able to come to some kind of peace at the end of this thing, and we can move on and move forward and make our world better. Right now, it's a scary situation.

"To me, I don't really know how to explain how I feel about it, but I know one thing is when I see buildings getting vandalized and things like that happening it's unacceptable in my opinion and we need to figure out how to control that and do it in a peaceful way, and I think we'd all come to a better understanding, for sure, of the situation," said Logano.

More NASCAR news from Foxsports.com
The United States Postal Service will be getting a special delivery next year. Fifty of them, actually.

The USPS has issued contracts to six suppliers to develop and build prototypes for the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle, which will replace the Grumman Long Life Vehicle (LLV) thats been in use since 1987.

Out of the fifteen companies that qualified to submit proposals, the six that were chosen are AM General, Oshkosh, Utilimaster, VT Hackney, Turkish commercial vehicle builder Karsan, and Indias Mahindra, which has a major technical center in Troy, Michigan.

None of the designs have been revealed, but the preliminary requirements called for right-hand-drive, sliding curbside doors for driver and cargo, a payload capacity of 1,500 pounds, interior height of six feet four inches, and an overall length of 19 feet. The USPS has prepared a generic rendering of what such a vehicle might look like.

Its also expected to have either an aluminum or composite body and deliver significantly better fuel economy and emissions performance than the LLV. The USPS says that half of the prototypes will feature hybrid or alternative fuel powertrains. VT Hackney will be teaming up with Workhorse, which has a range-extended electric chassis currently used for a United Parcel Service truck -- not to mention a drone-equipped concept -- while AM Generals submission will offer a zero emissions option.

Together, the six companies will build a total of 50 prototypes at a combined cost of $37.4 million. Theyre due by September, 2017, after which theyll undergo six months of testing in a variety of climates and environments. Production of the winning entry or entries is scheduled to begin in late 2018, but they could have some competition, as the USPS will soon issue a request for proposals for an off-the-shelf delivery trucks based on existing production vehicles that will also be evaluated for use in its fleet.
Backstreets back.

The boy band is back in the studio. Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson and A.J. McLean spoke with FOX411 about their success, and they reflected on the recent death of former manager Lou Pearlman. Pearlman died on August 19th in prison. The 62-year-old was serving a 25-year-sentence for a ponzi scheme.

Obviously on one side we are extremely grateful, McLean told FOX411. "We would not have had any of the opportunities at the beginning of our career if it had not been for Lou."

The band sued Pearlman back in 1998 to get out of their contract and then again in 2005 claiming the manager misused their money.



"Sadly, things turned out the way they did and it was unfortunate circumstance, but I think there is still a little bit of confliction with certain members," McLean said. "I think if we ever had an opportunity given to us before his passing, I think we probably would have asked why? but sadly that wont ever happen.

The boys are currently recording their 10th album, and Richardson said they are in the early stages.

We are experimenting. We are feeling it out. We are just getting cooking in the kitchen. We are excited!

Carter said the band has become "very good friends" with Florida Georgia Line after collaborating on a song for the country bands album as well. McLean added that ever since Richardson rejoined the Backstreet Boys after taking a short hiatus in 2006, the band has been running smoothly.

I truly felt the five of us had a chance to really be hands on and yay or nay anything about the record along with our management as well and really allow ourselves the freedom to be as creative as possible and that just opened the floodgates to now and where we are today."

And as McLean and his wife Michelle get ready to welcome their second baby, Carter revealed that having his son has made him more stable.

I love it. Hes just starting to giggle now. Its just amazing to see a human being, a life, and see him grow every single day. I think its definitely made me I think more stable and more committed to being the best father and Backstreet Boy and best example that I can be.

The band is currently partnering with Chex Mix as they created Snackstreet  a fictional band.

Richardson explained, Just like our fans growing up with us had their favorite Backstreet Boy, I think everyone kind of has their favorite Chex piece.
Brad Pitt is said to be lawyering up after the FBI announced they are evaluating whether or not to pursue an investigation regarding child abuse allegations.



The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued, the FBI told Fox News in a statement.

Pitt reportedly enlisted the help of attorney Lance Spiegel who has worked with celebrities like Charlie Sheen and Michael Jackson. His legal team already consists of Alan Hergott. A rep for Pitt did not return FOX411s request for comment. Spiegel was not immediately available for comment.

The Los Angeles Police Department 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 child abuse incident occurred on an airplane, the investigation is out of their jurisdiction so they handed it off to the FBI.

TMZ reported an investigation was launched after an anonymous caller reported a September 14 incident where Pitt allegedly got "physical" and "verbally abusive" with one of his children. People reported that Jolie and their other five children were present at the time of the alleged incident.

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.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Actor Jason Lee recently allayed concerns he was buying up land for the Church of Scientology in the small Texas town of Denton by telling a local website he no longer practiced the religion. Now, another ex-member says Scientology is bleeding members and that Lees defection is part of what former Scientology members say is a sign of the controversial churchs troubles.

Lees ex-wife and former Scientologist Carmen Llywelyn told FOX411 that Lee left the church three years ago, but didnt make a big deal about it.

I was asked in 2013 by a reporter what I thought about Jason leaving Scientology. At the time, I was definitely surprised but unsure, she said. I would have liked to think that by Jason also leaving that maybe certain aspects between us could've gotten cleared up. But it didn't.

Llywelyn said Lee talking publicly about his decision was good news. I was glad to hear that Jason came out and said he no longer practices Scientology, she said.

Lee joins a list of Hollywood personalities who have left Scientology, including director Paul Haggis, actresses Nicole Kidman, Katie Holmes and Leah Remini, who wrote a tell-all book, Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, denouncing the church, in 2015.

Llywelyn said the church considers celebrities as opinion leaders and put a lot of value on their ability to influence people. But that value may be diminishing.

Former high-ranking Scientologist Chris Shelton said the church has been skeptical of celebrity endorsements since Tom Cruises media whirlwind in 2005, when he infamously jumped on Oprah Winfreys couch, and had a painful interview with Matt Lauer.

They made a tactical decision to not use a celebrity to endorse the church, Shelton said. They made a decision to put a muzzle on them. We havent seen a prominent celeb in at least five to seven years. Tom Cruise wanted to be the savior of Scientology, but instead convinced everybody he was nuts.

Shelton said Lee had no choice but to publicly deny the rumors he was starting a Scientology facility in his new home state.

I feel like Jason Lee left (the church) a while ago, and started a new life and finally felt safe to say he left, Shelton said. He had to say that so people knew he wasnt a part of the religion anymore.

Shelton, a Scientologist for for 27 years before also exiting in 2013, said the church membership is on the downslope.

At most in 2009, 50,000 people were attending Scientology events, but now its about 20,000 people, said Shelton, who blogs about Scientology and other subjects at mncriticalthinking.com. But the church wont provide hard numbers.

Shelton said the availability of information about Scientology online led directly to the groups decline. The Internet was Scientologys Vietnam, Shelton said. Getting new people to join Scientology is almost impossible due to the negative news about it on the Internet.

Scientology was founded in 1954 by author L. Ron Hubbard. According to the official Scientology website, it is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of ones true spiritual nature and ones relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being. The church is currently led by David Miscavige and counts Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Jenna Elfman and Kirstie Alley among its current members.

FOX411 reached out to Jason Lee and the Church of Scientology but did not receive comment.


The long wait for Ronda Rousey to return to the UFC may soon be over.

The former women's bantamweight champion is currently in negotiations for her next fight in the Octagon with a potential matchup against Amanda Nunes as the likely opposition.

According to sources speaking to FOX Sports, Rousey has been offered a bout with Nunes as part of the UFC 207 card in Las Vegas on Dec. 30 but the fight is not set in stone yet.

At this point, the fight has only been offered but no bout agreements have been issued and negotiations are ongoing.

It appears Nunes is 100 percent on board with the fight and the timing in December as she looks to defend her title for the first time after submitting Miesha Tate at UFC 200 in July.

Nunes just recently teased that she had fight news coming soon and a matchup with Rousey would certainly be the biggest possible matchup for the new women's champion.

There are still a lot of moving parts to this deal, especially considering Rousey's return will likely be one of the biggest fights of the year for the UFC.

So while no deal has been struck, yet, it appears closer now than at any point in recent memory that Rousey appears to be ready to resume her career.

Rousey has been out of action since November 2015 when she fell by knockout to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in Australia.

Since that time, Rousey has made rare public appearances outside of a few events she has attended and the Olympic bronze medalist hasn't said much in regards to her return to action outside of general statements relayed via UFC president Dana White.

White did tease earlier this week when speaking to Globo in Brazil that Rousey's return could happen very soon.

"Yes, there's a big chance that Ronda Rousey will fight Amanda Nunes and I'm very confident that Ronda will probably fight before the end of the year," White said.

It's no easy task, however, as Nunes would enter the potential bout on a four-fight win streak, including a devastating performance over Tate as well as finishing Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann.

As of now, the UFC has made no official confirmation regarding Rousey's return to action.

This article originally appeared on Fox Sports.
A Colorado woman with special needs will be reunited with her therapy dog after the animal turned up five years later in Missouri  more than 850 miles away, she told The Post.

Kalli Mahaffey, 25, of Pueblo, Colo., said she thought her time with Missy the St. Bernard was over when the animal disappeared from her front yard shortly after she adopted her in 2011.

She was stolen from me, Mahaffey told The Post on Thursday. She was in the front yard. I let her out to use the bathroom and then I turned my back and she was gone.

Mahaffey said she searched for Missy, even filed a report at a local animal shelter. Her then-1-year-old daughter, Kaylee, had quickly fallen in love with the dog, and Mahaffey needed the animal herself to help with her developmental disabilities. But the dog never turned up.

Until last week, that is.

The dog was picked up as a stray on Sept. 14 by Jefferson County Animal Control officials in Missouri, some 860 miles away from Mahaffeys yard. Missy was then sent to a local groomer, who discovered an identification chip inside the dog. A friend of the groomer, Brandi Cross, of House Springs, Mo., then managed to track down Mahaffey in Colorado.

Click for more from the New York Post.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday that aerial spraying with the controversial pesticide naled in Wynwood helped curb the regions mosquito population, thereby halting active local transmission of the Zika virus. In a press release, the CDC declared that ground spraying to fight Zika was not sufficient to suppress active transmission in the arts hub of Miami, which was the first area of local transmission in the continental United States.

Health officials identified 29 people, including one in Broward County and 28 in Miami-Dade County, who were infected with Zika via local transmission from late June to early August. A cluster of those cases occurred in Wynwood.

Naled, which can be toxic to humans in large quantities, elicited protests from locals who were concerned about its dangers. Europe has banned the use of naled. However, active transmission did not stop until Florida health officials began an aerial spraying plan that included naled and bacillus Thuringensis, according to the CDC.

After mosquitoes persisted and infections continued despite ground-based spraying, aerial spraying knocked down mosquitos rapidly and was associated with interrupting transmission of Zika in Wynwood, CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden said in the release. When faced with the potentially devastating outcomes of microcephaly or other serious brain defects that Zika can cause during pregnancy, we must use the best available tools to prevent infection. According to EPA assessments, when used properly, aerial spraying with naled for mosquito control doesnt pose a risk to people or the environment.

Officials cleared Wynwood of active local transmission in Zika on Monday, as no new local cases have surfaced in the region since early August.
Recent attacks in the United States might leave some of us feeling especially afraid. People of faith might be tempted to think of the church as a place to flee, to escape the scary world. But I dont think this is the right impulse.

Not long ago, I was at St. Bart's Church in New York City for a meeting, and a few of us wandered through their beautiful church a bit before we started. It so happens that some work is being done on their magnificent pipe organ, and they had put up some caution tape. Danger!

I snapped a photo, and I posted it on social media with this caption: "Spotted at a church today. Every church should require a danger sign, for the Gospel is not meant to be comfortable!" It got a pretty big response. I think people picked up on the fact that it's not what we expect to see in churchesbut, at some level, they understood that the Gospel requires this kind of warning.

You see, the Gospel is dangerous. There's nothing whatsoever that's safe about being a disciple of Jesus in this earthly life. There's a reason Jesus and others in the scriptures are always saying, "Be not afraid!" We are meant to be secure in God's love for us, but we are also meant to be out in the world sharing God's love in extravagant, even dangerous, ways.

We are meant to be secure in God's love for us, but we are also meant to be out in the world sharing God's love in extravagant, even dangerous, ways.

My friend who serves as a priest in Europe said this the day after a Catholic priest was murdered during mass in his own church, "Today we open wide the doors of our church, because that is what we do." She has it right. Christians who serve as missionaries in dangerous places have it right. Congregations who care more about mission than maintenance have it right. Leaders who welcome change instead of clinging to the status quo have it right. Fire and police chaplains who run toward burning buildings have it right. Bold risks and brave actions are the stuff of the Gospel. Safety and comfort are not.

To be sure, it is understandable that wed be afraid. I lock my doors at night. I keep a wary eye out when Im walking alone. I get worried when I watch the news sometimes. But to all these situations, Jesus responds, Be not afraid.

The Christians place is wherever people need to hear a message of hope and love. Followers of Jesus will reject attempts to peddle fear for its own sake. When churches are beacons of grace and love, rather than comfortable museums, the Gospel is made real.

Bold risks and brave actions are the stuff of the Gospel. Safety and comfort are not.

The Bible says, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love (1 John 4:18). We are humans, so well never manager to reach perfection. Well always have a bit of fear with us, which is why we need those danger signs. The signs remind us to expect a bit of fear. But we can, if we allow God to work in our lives, be defined by hope and love, not hatred and fear.

The church needs a warning, because just when we might want to linger in safety and shirk our duty, the Gospel demands that we look out to where there is great need.

Be not afraid! It's easier said than done. But by God's grace, we can be people in whom love casts out fear.
Instead of parsing participles, a public high school English teacher has been using her classroom to wage an ugly propaganda campaign against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his supporters.

Basically, the only people who seem to be safe from this guy are white Christian males, the teacher said in a classroom discussion recorded by a student. Am I missing anything? Oh, American  white, Christian, male Americans.

The unidentified teacher at North Carolinas Cedar Ridge High School even made students watch speeches delivered by Hitler and had them compare them to speeches that Trump had delivered, outraged parents tell me.

Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a must-read for Conservatives!

A.P. Dillon exposed the teachers anti-Trump propaganda campaign on her popular blog, LadyLiberty1835. Click here to read Ms. Dillons transcript.

The Orange County School District told me they are aware of the recording and the classroom comments.

We take these issues seriously, the district spokesman told me. The matter is under review. We conduct our reviews in a manner fair to everyone involved.

The Trump-bashing came during a lesson on ethos and pathos.

He is in fact the master of pathos, the teacher told students. So who knows what his actual motives are but he is a master at manipulating his audience, right? He knows where the fears lie and he is going right after them.

Click here to get Todds book  the handbook you need to fight for traditional American values!

She went on to accuse the GOP nominee of poking the fryers under particular niches of people in this country -- people who are anti-Mexican, people who are anti-Muslim, people who are anti-woman.

Parents told me the teacher has been bashing Trump for quite some time and thats why students decided to secretly record her lessons.

My son was very uncomfortable, one dad said. He felt like she was attacking anybody who liked Trump or anybodys parents who liked Trump. She didnt say anything bad about any other politician.

Parents did not want to be identified because they feared retribution from the very liberal school district.

Most conservative parents dont want to fight the system because they know they are going to be shouted down, the dad told me. Every parent is reticent to speak out because we are afraid the school board will come after us. Weve seen them do that in the past.

Parents are accusing the teacher of outright indoctrination.

She compared the Hitler speeches to things that Trump says  stuff like nationalism to making the country stronger, a parent told me. They played a video showing Hitlers speeches  translated into English.

After the teacher found out she had been recorded, she demanded that students turn over their cell phones, one parent alleged.

She made the kids drop their phones in a basket by the door, the parent said. So we just told the kids to either take notes or record her on their laptops.

Whats happening at Cedar Ridge High School is a classic example of how the left is using the public school system against us. American classrooms have been turned into indoctrination centers for the left.

And the only way to eradicate this scourge in our public school system is for parents and taxpayers to stand up to local school boards.

Stand up to the academic bullies who are poisoning the minds of our young people.

Stand up to their enablers on the school boards. Vote them out of office.

Demand that your voice be heard.

Remember folks, silence in the face of evil is evil itself.
The liberal media generally approach conservatives and their leaders with condescension, mockery, and contempt. So its only fair that occasionally, conservatives turn that mockery around on them.

On Thursday night, the Media Research Center held its 2016 Gala and Dishonors Awards. As an MRC staffer going back to 1989, its seldom more rewarding to expose media bias than when a crowd of 800 conservatives laugh, clap, and stomp the floor at what you found over the preceding year.

Gala attendees vote, table by table, for the Worst of the Worst. At the end of the night, they pick a Quote of the Year. This year, it was an unforgettable blast from last October from then-MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry.

When her guest, Latino conservative Alfonso Aguilar, praised House Speaker Paul Ryan as a hard worker on October 26, the MSNBC schoolmarm took exception. I want us to be super careful when we use the language hard worker, because I actually keep an image of folks working in cotton fields on my office wall, because it is a reminder about what hard work looks like. So, I feel you that hes a hard worker, I do, but in the context of relative privilege.

Its seldom more rewarding to expose media bias than when a crowd of 800 conservatives laugh, clap, and stomp the floor at what you found over the preceding year.

The words hard worker were treated like some kind of racial offense. The stunned look on Aguilars face was priceless. He later told us That is the most absurd thing Ive ever heard.

On Friday morning, Harris-Perry sub-tweeted a response: Real violence, inequality despair are manifest & y'all trolling me about a year old misquote from a cancelled show? You'll be in my prayers.

The MRC crowd kept coming back to voting for MSNBC. In the Damn Those Conservatives to Hell Award, the voters selected Chris Matthews trashing Ted Cruz on February 10 on Morning Joe, that alleged oasis of calm and civility, Theres a troll-like quality to Cruz. He operates below the level of human life.

Please imagine how Matthews would consider those kinds of words to be racist if a conservative said Obama or Al Sharpton operated below the level of human life.

For the Hail Hillary Award, the voters picked Joy Reid, who replaced Harris-Perry on those weekend mornings. On April 8, Reid and Andrea Mitchell developed a case of the vapors when discussing Mrs. Clintons resume. These feminists always count Hillarys eight years as First Lady (and 14 years as the governors wife in Arkansas) as if they were actual government experience. You would have to go back to the Founding Fathers to find someone with a resume as distinguished as Hillarys:

Reid: If you look at Hillary Clintons qualifications, I mean, my God, since the Founding Fathers, has anyone tried to run for president with more on their resume?

Mitchell: John Quincy Adams, maybe.

Reid: Maybe John Quincy Adams. True, true, true. Jefferson, Adams, I mean you have to go back literally to the 18th century to find somebody with a more packed resume than Hillary Clinton.

Finally, the really tough competition is for the Celebrity Dumbass Award. HBO star Bill Maher won overwhelmingly by trashing the American system and the U.S. Constitution after he compared the Brexit vote to the Republicans preventing a gun-control vote: I saw David Cameron today. You know, Im up at 2:00 in the morning when this all happens. So I watched his whole speech and its like well, I lost the vote, I graciously leave office. Its like their system works so beautifully. We cant even get a vote on something that 90 percent of Americans agree on and cant get a vote. Our system sucks. It really does. The Constitution needs a page one re-write.

Maher is always welcome to Make America Great Again by moving to London.
Sen. Ted Cruz announced Friday that he will vote for ex-primary foe Donald Trump in November and urged others to do the same, reversing course to back the Republican nominee two months after he stunned the party brass by withholding his endorsement at the Cleveland convention.

Cruz and Trump were bitter rivals in the final stretch of the primary campaign. The Texas senators announcement of support, made on Facebook, comes just days before the first debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton.

Like many other voters, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election, Cruz said in his statement.

Noting that he urged voters in Cleveland to vote their conscience, he said: After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump.

Cruz said he made the decision because he wants to keep his word to support the Republican nominee  and he finds Hillary Clinton wholly unacceptable.

Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way, he said. A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you dont want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him.

Trump released a statement saying he was honored: I am greatly honored by the endorsement of Senator Cruz. We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again.

Yet Cruz's support was by no means a foregone conclusion.

After Cruz snubbed Trump at the Republican convention in July by declining to outright endorse him during his remarks, Trump blasted Cruz on the way out, saying he didnt even want his endorsement.

The convention capped a personal and nasty primary battle.

During that contest, Cruz called Trump a "pathological liar" and "utterly amoral." After Trump retweeted an unflattering picture of Cruz's wife Heidi, Cruz called Trump a "sniveling coward."

"This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth," Cruz said in May.



Trump, for his part, frequently referred to Cruz as "Lyin' Ted" and in May implied that Cruz's father Rafael helped President John F. Kennedy's assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

"His father was with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald's being  you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous, Trump said in an interview with Fox News. What is this, right prior to his being shot, and nobody even brings it up. They don't even talk about that. That was reported, and nobody talks about it.

Moving beyond their many feuds, Cruz on Friday cited several factors -- including the Supreme Court vacancy. "We know, without a doubt, that every Clinton appointee would be a left-wing ideologue. Trump, in contrast, has promised to appoint justices 'in the mold of Scalia,'" he said.

Cruz also praised Trump for releasing an updated list of potential Supreme Court nominees that includes Sen. Mike Lee. Cruz said he had sought "greater specificity on this issue, and today the Trump campaign provided that."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
EXCLUSIVE: The Romanian hacker who first exposed the clintonemail.com address and faces the imminent return to his home country told Fox News  in a letter from his jail cell in Virginia  that he breached the accounts of public figures in an effort to expose corruption but now considers that effort a failure.

I will not leave this beautiful country without saying that the Guccifer Project was a failed project, wrote Marcel Lehel Lazar, also known as Guccifer.

In neat handwriting and colorful language, the hacker used the correspondence to rail against Hillary Clinton and other figures while lamenting his own cyber-limitations and circumstances.

My departure is a matter of days, said the 44-year-old Lazar, who is expected to be flown at any moment back to his native country Romania to finish out a seven-year prison sentence. Prior to his extradition to the U.S. in March, Lazar had served three years of that sentence in a prison near Arad, Romania.

Justice Department officials, in announcing the hackers guilty plea this past May, described Lazar as a cybercriminal who sought fame by hacking Americans accounts.

Lazar, in committing his crimes, nevertheless demonstrated an astute ability in guessing passwords and command of using Russian proxy servers to harass and embarrass his victims. Those victims included high-level Romanian politicians, celebrities and at least 100 Americans including Colin Powell, Dorothy Bush Koch and longtime Clinton adviser Sidney Blumenthal. The Blumenthal breach first exposed the clintonemail account in March 2013.

Lazar was a voracious reader of biographies of public figures and claimed those he hacked had passwords that were easy to figure out.

After his hacking escapades for which he pleaded guilty to two U.S. federal counts, Lazar told Fox News in hours of recorded phone interviews and an in-person jailhouse meeting how he breached accounts belonging to Blumenthal and Powell.

His letter is imbued with references to conspiracy theories like the Illuminati, which he believes is an international cabal that controls world affairs and wants to expose.

And he takes rhetorical aim at Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee: Hillary Rodham Diane Clinton is one of the high priests, a goddess of this ocult, (sic) satanic, shadow group. One must see their evil and profoundly corrupt motive to understand what I am talking about.

As leaks continue to swirl around Clintons email practices while she served as secretary of state, Guccifer apologized to his fellow hackers in the letter to Fox News for his shortcomings.

Though I know I invested a great deal of time and effort trying to expose the crimes of the Rockefellers, the Bush Klan (sic) the Clinton, and many others, maybe my skills were NOT matching my faith, he wrote.

So I apologize in front of the unknown soldiers who struggle to take this fight against these monsters to a glorious end. Many of em are risking their lives, while doing this behind the computer screens, from inside or outside the system.

In May, Guccifer repeatedly claimed to Fox News during a series of interviews that he had successfully breached Clintons private server. Guccifer made the same claims to NBC News, which published his claims later.

In July, when FBI Director James Comey was asked about this claim before Congress, he testified, "He did not [gain access to Clinton's server], he admitted that was a lie.

However, Comey added: We do assess that hostile actors gained access to the private commercial email accounts of people with whom Secretary Clinton was in regular contact from her personal account.

The FBI file sent to Congress showed the server was targeted immediately after IP addresses from Russia and Ukraine attempted to scan the server on March 15, 2013, the day after the Blumenthal compromise, and on March 19 and March 21, 2013.

It is worth noting that in a portion of the highly redacted and recently released FBI report on Clintons email practices, page 32 noted Lazars use of screenshots in disseminating information. One of the screenshots captured list of 19 foreign policy and intelligence memos authored by Blumenthal for Clinton, it said.

Lazar was finally arrested in Romania in 2013. Among his Romanian victims is the former Minister of Information George Maior, who now serves as the current Romanian ambassador to the U.S.

The Romanian Embassy had no comment to Fox News about Lazar and said their media and press representative was on leave.

During Lazars Sept. 1 sentencing, U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris noted that Romanian prison conditions are much worse than in the U.S. Cacheris sentenced Lazar to a 52-month sentence in the U.S. but it is unclear when and how that will be fulfilled -- because in a move that appeared to surprise Lazars defense counsel Shannon Quill, it was announced that Romania wanted Guccifer sent back to finish his sentence right away.

Sounding somewhat concerned in the Sept. 15-dated letter, Lazar thanked Fox News for being present in the courtroom and weighed in on his countrys demand for his return: The Romanian authorities query that I have to be sent home 'right away,' is a silly hasty move, by the way.

Lazar continues to claim he is cooperating with U.S. authorities.
Omran Daqneesh's face, bloodied and bruised, has become an international symbol of the horrors inflicted on the war-ravaged northern city of Aleppo, Syria.

The 5-year-old Syrian boy -- rescued last month from a building hit by an airstrike -- might now have a home in the U.S. if a little boy from New York gets his way.

Alex, a 6-year-old boy from Scarsdale, N.Y., penned a letter to President Obama asking if Omran can come to the U.S. to live with his family and be his "brother." The Syrian boy lost his oldest brother when bombs came crashing down on his family's home in August.

The White House on Wednesday posted a video of Alex reading his letter out loud inside his parents' home -- drawing more than 13 million views in one day.

"Dear President Obama. Remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria?" the letter begins. "Can you please go get him and bring him to our home? Park in the driveway or on the streets and we'll be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers and balloons."

"We will give him a family and he will be our brother," Alex says.

The boy also mentions that he has a friend from Syria named Omar and says the three "can all play together."

"Catherine, my little sister, will be collecting butterflies and fireflies for him," he says. "We can invite him to birthday parties and he will teach us another language ... And I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it. I will teach him additions and subtractions in math."

Next to the video, posted to Obama's Facebook page, the president wrote: "These 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," he wrote.

Obama also referenced Alexs letter during his speech this week at the United Nations when addressing the international refugee crisis.

"He teaches us a lot," Obama said. "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 -- we can all learn from Alex."

The photo of a stunned and weary-looking Omar sitting in an orange chair inside an ambulance -- which was taken Aug. 17 -- encapsulates the violence inflicted on Syrians in Aleppo.

The boy had just been pulled from a damaged building after a Syrian government or Russian airstrike hit Aleppos Qaterji neighborhood. Omran was rescued along with two of his siblings and his mother and father from the rubble of their partially destroyed apartment building. His 10-year-old brother, Ali, died in a hospital days later.
A Republican congressman who represents the Charlotte area said Thursday that people are protesting in the city because they "hate white people."

U.S. Rep. Robert Pittenger, whose district includes parts of Charlotte and its suburbs, was asked by an interviewer for Britain's "BBC Newsnight" 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 also complained that the government has spent too much on welfare programs that ultimately hold people back.

He later released a statement apologizing for what he said, and his comments were condemned by Democrats.

"What is taking place in my hometown right now breaks my heart. My anguish led me to respond to a reporter's question in a way that I regret," he said in his apology statement.

Protesters massed on the Charlotte's streets for a third night Thursday, though the demonstrations were peaceful. Two previous nights included chaotic protests that damaged property, injured people and led to one death.

The protests stemmed from the shooting of a black man by a police officer Tuesday.

The North Carolina Democratic Party released a statement saying Pittenger's remarks were inexcusable and accused him of "fanning the flames of hate with his racist rhetoric."

Pittenger, who was first elected to his seat in 2012, won a razor-thin Republican primary this year after a recount, and he faces a Democratic challenger in the November election. His largely affluent district was redrawn under court-ordered redistricting and now includes poorer areas along the South Carolina border.
President Obama on Friday vetoed a widely supported bill that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia  setting up a showdown with Congress where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle aim to override the presidents decision.

Obama, vetoing the legislation just hours before it was set to become law, cited the potential for the bipartisan bill to backfire against the U.S., its diplomats and military personnel. While saying he has deep sympathy for 9/11 victims families, Obama said the bill does not enhance the safety of Americans from terrorist attacks, and undermines core U.S. interests.

But Congress was expected to move rapidly to try to override the veto, which requires a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate. A successful override would be the first of Obama's presidency.

With lawmakers eager to return home to campaign ahead of the November election, a vote could come as early as Tuesday. Even House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, an Obama ally, indicated support this week for an override, saying members believe the families should have their day in court.

Democratic New York Sen. Chuck Schumer called the veto a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office said the Senate would take up the override "as soon as practicable in this work period."

The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act sailed through both chambers of Congress by voice vote, with final House passage coming just two days before Obama led the nation in marking the 15th anniversary of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001.

The legislation gives victims' families the right to sue in U.S. court for any role that elements of the Saudi government may have played in the 2001 attacks. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals.

Families of the victims spent years lobbying lawmakers for the right to sue the kingdom in U.S. court. Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East, strongly objected to the bill.

Obama long had objected, too, warning that if U.S. citizens are allowed to take the Saudis into court, then foreign countries could do the same to the United States, its diplomats and its service members. The administration was also apprehensive about undermining a longstanding yet difficult relationship with Saudi Arabia. The U.S. relies on the Saudis as a counter to Iran's influence in the region as well as to help combat the spread of terrorism throughout the Middle East.

It remains unclear whether the White House has peeled off enough votes to avert a veto override, which would be a major defeat for the president.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An Ohio county chair for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump resigned and apologized Thursday after remarks she made in an interview about President Barack Obama.

Kathy Miller, who was coordinating Trumps campaign in the crucial Mahoning County, told The Guardian on Wednesday there was no racism in the U.S. until Obama became president. Miller made the remarks in part of a video series called Anywhere but Washington.

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, she said.

Miller also insisted there was no racism during the 1960s and said black people who have not been successful only have themselves to blame.

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, she told The Guardian. 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.

Miller, who was also an official Ohio elector to the Electoral College for the Trump campaign, apologized in a statement and also resigned from her elector position.

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. I have resigned as the volunteer campaign chair in Mahoning County and as an elector to the electoral college to avoid any unnecessary distractions.

The Mahoning chair for the Republican Party, Mark Munroe, said he contacted the Trump campaign immediately asking for Miller to be dismissed over her insane comments. The Trump campaign accepted her resignation Thursday.

We should not let those really inappropriate comments affect the Trump campaign, Munroe added.

Trump has spent the last couple of weeks asking black Americans for their support and asserting that Obama had failed the black community. Trump has been painted at times as sending mixed messages to the African-American community.

"The rioting in our streets is a threat to all peaceful citizens and it must be ended and ended now," Trump said at a rally Thursday night in Philadelphia. "The main victims of these violent demonstrations are law-abiding African-Americans who live in these communities and only want to raise their children in safety and peace."

Mahoning County is usually held by Democrats when it comes to the elections, but Trumps pitch to boost manufacturing and the economy as a whole as swung some Democrats to switch parties.

The Guardian reports some 6,000 Democrats have switched parties, supposedly to vote for Trump in November.

The latest Fox News Poll showed that Trump was holding a five-point lead over Clinton among likely voters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from The Guardian.
Some of the top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees said Thursday that theyve concluded that Russian intelligence agencies are making a serious effort to influence the U.S. presidential election.

A joint statement from Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Adam Schiff point a finger at Russia for the recent hacking of political computer systems, which have targeted Democrats and party-affiliated groups.

Federal officials have been investigating the cyberattacks at the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Election data systems in at least two states have also 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."

Russian president Vladimir Putin has repeatedly denied claims that Moscow was behind any of the security breaches.

Theres no need to distract the publics attention from the essence of the problem by raising some minor issues connected with the search for who did it, Putin told Bloomberg News earlier this month. But I want to tell you again, I dont know anything about it, and on a state level Russia has never done this.

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.

"When we have an adversary who so brazenly strikes at the heart of our democratic process, I think that indicates how low they believe the cost of that behavior is going to be," Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said Thursday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing where she questioned top military officials about the recent cyberattacks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Let Trump be Trump was the mantra that guided Donald Trump's successful drive to the Republican presidential nomination. But his team is taking a Let Hillary be Hillary approach to the first presidential debate.

Fox News has learned that the view inside Trump Tower is that the real estate mogul stands to gain by standing back and letting Hillary Clinton talk. And talk.

Whether it's a wise strategy to give the studied Democratic nominee even more time to show off her policy chops remains to be seen. But the GOP nominee is being advised to let Clinton speak as much as possible on the debate stage, with the thinking being that she could lose viewers the more she does.

I think both candidates face huge challenges. Both of them are not well liked by the American people. She's an accomplished debater. But she has a style that is oftentimes grating on people, said Karl Rove, former adviser to President George W. Bush.

The Clinton campaign is pursuing its own unique debate approach -- pre-emptively casting Trump as a "habitual liar."

They released a dossier Friday of his biggest "lies" and are trying to make sure the moderator and media hold his "facts" to the fire on Monday.

Debates are about each candidate laying out their vision for America, not making things up. Donald Trump has shown a clear pattern of repeating provably false lies and hoping no one corrects him. Voters and viewers should keep track: any candidate who tells this many lies clearly cant win the debate on the merits, Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri said in a statement.

The maneuvers are all part of the campaigns' careful strategizing for what could be the most important moments of the final six weeks: The three debates starting Monday.

Trump and Clinton have taken a different approach to preparing. Clinton has spent much of the past week hunkering down and hitting the books, while Trump has kept a rigorous campaign schedule.

Still, Fox News has learned that Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will be coming to New York Saturday to help Trump with debate preps during sessions at Trump Tower.

Both candidates want to make sure they know the answers to Monday's questions, as they will be challenged to speak to the most pressing issues facing the nation. But in the modern television debate, style matters as much as substance, if not more.

[Clinton] will come to the debate armed with a deep knowledge of the issues, but ultimately has to show she can be likeable. She has to come off as dismissive [of Trumps barbs] but not in a patronizing way, said Richard Himelfarb, an associate professor of political science at Hofstra University in New York, the site of Mondays debate.

The debate is going to be decided on body language, tone and temperament. It will all be about tone and demeanor and much less about substance, he said.

In the final days before the showdown, Trump has maintained his busy schedule, including a planned rally in Roanoke, Va., on Saturday.

In contrast, Clinton's last public appearance was on Wednesday. Hoping to show a lighter side, Clinton taped appearances for the comedy show Between Two Ferns, and NBCs The Tonight Show.

The campaign may hope to tamp down the frustration that was apparent during a Wednesday televised address to a gathering in Las Vegas of the Laborers' International Union of North America.

Having said all this, Why arent I 50 points ahead? you might ask? Clinton said in the remarks, raising her voice. Well, the choice for working families has never been clearer. I need your help to get Donald Trumps record out to everybody. Nobody should be fooled.

The former secretary of state has held numerous mock debates designed to prepare her for whichever Trump appears on the stage on Monday.

He can come on with a relatively genteel persona that is calm, Palmieri told Fox News. Or he can come in very aggressive and be aggressive in a way that you would not normally see a presidential, you know Republican nominee behave and so we're preparing for either one."

Fox News can confirm that two of the most experienced debate strategists  D.C. lawyer Karen Dunn and former Al Gore aide Ron Klain -- have been overseeing the Westchester County debate prep. Dunn famously told President Obama to "punch" Mitt Romney in the "mouth" after a lackluster debate performance in 2012.

The Clinton campaign and surrogates meanwhile are trying to get under Trumps skin by circulating a 19-page list of Trumps biggest lies and another with his Seven Deadly Lies. The goal is to prod the media to begin fact checking Trump on the issues before the debate, as well as in real-time.

Clintons camp also has been relying on the insight of Tony Schwartz, who co-authored The Art of the Deal with Trump.

Trumps son Eric suggested Friday that his father has no plans to change the debate playbook.

Hes spending a lot of time studying and he is taking it incredibly seriously. But at the same time you have to be yourself. You have to be true to yourself, you have to be true to your message," Trump said on Fox News.

FoxNews.com's Jennifer G. Hickey and Fox News' Peter Doocy, Jennifer Griffin, Doug McKelway, Serafin Gomez and Nicholas Kalman contributed to this report.
The team behind the record-breaking Solar Impulse 2 plane is looking to harness the aircrafts technology for a new solar-powered satellite.

One of the possible spinoffs is to produce an unmanned Solar Impulse to fly 20 kilometers [12.4 miles] high in the stratosphere, Solar Impulse Chairman Bertrand Piccard told FoxNews.com during an interview in New York. Its to provide cheap satellite for Wi-Fi, GSM connections, observation for agriculture  our engineers are working on that now.

Piccard was at the controls of Solar Impulse 2 when it reached Abu Dhabi in July, completing the final leg of the first solar-powered journey around the world. The plane, which set off from Abu Dhabi in March 2015, traveled 26,744 miles on its odyssey and racked up 558 hours of flight time.

The Solar Impulse chairman took turns with former Swiss military pilot Andre Borschberg to fly the single-seat plane around the world.

Now the Solar Impulse team wants to use the record-breaking flight as the launch pad for new technology. We have a very, very experienced team and we want to use all this expertise, in the technological point of view, to bring something new to the world of low-altitude satellites, said Piccard. With solar power it can stay up for years  if you have a problem you can bring it back down, repair, and send it back up.

There is no date set for the satellites launch, according to Piccard, who said that Solar Impulse needs an industrial partner to produce the craft.

Other organizations are also looking to deliver internet services via unmanned solar-powered aircraft, such as Facebooks Aquila drone. Last month Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave Pope Francis a model of the drone during a meeting at the Vatican.

Solar Impulse 2s epic journey highlights the importance of renewable energy such as solar power, according to Piccard. Today, there are a lot of modern clean technologies that are available for our world  its not just for the protection of the environment, its for industry, he said. We need to make these technologies much better known so that they will be better used.

Towards the end of their global odyssey Piccard and Borschberg announced a plan to create the International Committee of Clean Technologies (ICCT), which aims to provide independent energy policy guidance to governments and corporations.

Piccard explained that Solar Impulse is working on the ICCT statutes now and hopes to have the Committee set up by in time for the United Nations COP22 climate change conference, which takes place in Marrakech, Morocco, in November.

The goal of this International Committee is to stop talking about problems of pollution and start talking about solutions, and to advise governments and corporations on how to maximize job creation and fighting pollution at the same time, he said.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
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 drones could 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."

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.

Stek detailed his findings online July 4 in the Journal of Cultural Heritage.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A U.S.-bound Saudi Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Cairo airport Monday after an American passenger died on board.

The flight was travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to New York City when the 67-year-old passenger fell ill about two hours into the flight.

According to airline officials, the flight was passing through Egyptian airspace when the Arab-born American citizens health drastically deteriorated. A doctor examined him after the plane landed and pronounced him dead at the scene.

The man's body was removed from the plane and was transported to Heliopolis Hospital in Cairo. The flight resumed to New York City after a short delay.

No details have been revealed about the health condition of the passenger who died or what doctors declared as the actual cause of death.

The incident comes just days after the pilot of a Saudi Airlines plane accidentally sent out a distress call over a hijacking threat.

Saudi Airlines flight 872 was travelling from Jeddah when the pilot raised a false alarm which the sent the Philippines Airport into lockdown.

The pilot reportedly told air traffic control the plane was under threat as it carried passengers returning from Mecca.

The aircraft was isolated at Manila International Airport until officials confirmed it was safe.

This article originally appeared on The Sun.
New York's attorney general has announced a settlement with Trump Hotel Collection, saying the company has agreed to pay $50,000 and shore up data security after breaches exposed more than 70,000 credit card numbers and other personal data.

The attorney general's office says Friday that in May 2015 multiple banks analyzed hundreds of fraudulent credit card transactions and determined the hotel group was the last merchant with legitimate transactions.

Authorities say the company knew by June 2015 that hotels in New York City, Miami, Chicago, Honolulu, Las Vegas and Toronto had been compromised, but didn't notify customers for four months.

They say a hacker infiltrated the hotel group's payment processing system in May 2014.

The company, one of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's businesses, says safeguarding customer data is a top priority and that cyber criminals have hacked nearly every major hotel company.
An angry worker killed his bosses at an east Tennessee factory Thursday before turning the gun on himself, police said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the gunman as 45-year-old Ricky Swafford. Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler said Swffords body found in a bathroom dead of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The victims were identified as James Zotter, 44, and Sandra Cooley, 68, according to the TBI.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that all three were employees of Thomas & Betts Corp. Swafford had become angry during a meeting earlier in the day, left and came back with a firearm, police said.

Police didnt say what the meeting was about.

The paper reported that the shooting was reported around 4:15 p.m. at the factory. Police arrived to find people streaming from all exits, Ziegler said. The police chief said the shooter was apparently using a semi-automatic pistol, but he didn't know the caliber or brand.

Witnesses described "some attempted shooting in the front office and actual shooting deep inside the factory on the north side and the middle," Ziegler said.

"I don't think you ever want to think this will occur in your community," McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said at a news conference.

Thomas & Betts' headquarters is in suburban Memphis. It designs and makes electrical components for industrial, commercial, lighting and utility markets.

The plant doesnt have its own security.

Parent company ABB said in a statement Thursday night that the "loss is profound."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families during this difficult time," the statement said. "We will have grief counselors available to all of our employees at the facility. ABB is working closely with authorities to cooperate and assist in their investigation."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A six-year-old boy has moved President Obama and other world leaders with his offer of a home for a Syrian child who was pictured stunned and bloodied after a bombing.

Alex, from New York, wrote a letter to President Obama after seeing the shell-shocked photograph of Omran Daqneesh.

Omran's image made global headlines last month when he was pictured in the back of an ambulance after being rescued from the aftermath of a bomb attack in Aleppo.

Omran's photo inspired Alex to write to the White House with a plea: "Can you please go get him and bring him to our home?"

The little boy added: "We'll be waiting for you guys with flags, flowers and balloons. We will give him a family and he will be our brother."

Alex went on to describe how he would introduce Omran to a Syrian classmate named Omar.

He said they would all play together, teaching Omran English and also learning to speak his language.

"Since he won't bring toys and doesn't have toys, Catherine (Alex's younger sister) will share her big blue stripy bunny and I will share my bike and I will teach him how to ride it," says the six-year-old.

A video clip of Alex reading the letter was posted on the White House Facebook page and has been viewed almost seven million times.

Mr Obama also read part of the letter to world leaders at the United Nations Leaders' Summit On Refugees in New York this week.

He said: "Those are the words of a six-year-old boy - he teaches us a lot," at which point the leaders applauded.

"The humanity 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.

"We can learn a lot from Alex."

Click for more from SkyNews.
Youre company is growing so fast youre starting to imagine private jets and company junkets to the French Rivera. Its hard even to conceive of a situation that could turn your rapidly growing company into a smoldering pile of ash. The very idea that success might kill your company seems preposterous. Besides, the whole idea of success destroying a company is oxymoronic. Perhaps; except for one thing, unbridled and unmanaged success has destroyed more companies than a CEO with a meth problem and million-dollar signature authority.

Here are three ways that traditional measures of success can, in fact, torpedo a company:

1. Growth.

Growth can send your company up in flames in two ways: unmanaged growth and dissolution. Unmanaged growth is where the company executives see growth for growths sake as not just a good thing, but the only thing. Such buffoons believe that the goal of growth is growth, in and of itself.

You typically see this kind of blow up in companies whose growth strategies are growth by acquisition. Growth by acquisition is the practice of buying up smaller companies -- and thus acquiring their offices, customers, and revenue -- all the time growing, at least on paper. The problem with unmanaged growth is that when you gobble up a smaller firm you also inherit its problems. Even the best due diligence wont tell you when Al in accounting tends to get a bit over amorous after his third drink at the office holiday party, for example. Add to that the complexities of managing multiple offices, completely different cash flow needs, and having multiple corporate subcultures and you effectively have something like a pyramid scheme. To keep it going, you can only continue building the company, until it collapses in on itself.

The solution is to know when to restructure your company from true entrepreneurship to a professionally managed company. Unfortunately, the transition from entrepreneurial to professionally managed is often painful, so painful in fact, that many organizations wait until the damage to the company is beyond repair. Ive seen too many companies hit the big time, only to rapidly downsize, running from success like a dog with its tail between its legs.

The second problem with growth is dissolution of your talent. Some of your most loyal customers become fickle and projects that used to get sole-sourced now get put out for bid and you find yourself in the unenviable position of being the third company bid fluffer in the purchasing process. Dissolution works like this, your projects get bigger and bigger, but like any entrepreneur you dont want to admit that youre stretched too thin. Project deadlines get blown, the quality of the work -- once heralded as a hallmark of your industry -- becomes mediocre pabulum for which fewer and fewer companies are prepared to pay, and you spend more time and energy cleaning up messes and repairing relationships than you do focused on your core business.

Related: If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, It Is

2. Brain drain.

As you are more and more successful, your rising stars gain confidence, key experience, and may even be responsible of part or all of your key innovations. They are more marketable, that is. They are suddenly worth more money, sometimes more money than you can afford, a lot more. You can try non-compete and non-disclosure agreements but putting golden handcuffs on your brightest and best just breeds resentment and a desire to keep their best ideas to themselves. You have created what one of my colleagues used to call a velvet sweatshop.

Related: It's Inevitable That Good Employees Will Leave, So Plan for It

You may be tempted to throw money and promotions at the most talented, but corporate org charts look like pyramids for a reason: there are only so many chairs in the board room. Eventually you will have to let talented people pursue their own destinies. The result of all of this is dissolution. Your company doesnt have as many talented people as it did when it was smaller (and whats worse your competition now has the talented people you used to have). The demands of a larger company tend to result in a less valuable product or service: Its like pouring hot water in the soup, sure you have more soup but it sure doesnt taste as good.

Related: 8 Essential Growth-Hacking Tools to Build Your Business

3. Aggressive competition.

Nothing breeds enemies like success. Disgruntled employees who leave the company invariably show up working for the competition or, even worse, for key customers. Never under estimate the motivation of an ex-employee to torture and torment you. Consider this: the disgruntled employee knows your strategies and weaknesses, and which employees are worth luring away.

I once worked at a company that deliberately tolerated ineptitude in some long-time employees. The company always tried to fly underneath the radar because it feared an aggressive competitor would destroy the business if it knew how much money the company was making. Eventually it stumbled headlong into ruination because it kept slugs on the payroll, essentially so they wouldnt help the competition by revealing secrets and points of weakness.
At least one trip to Pakistan by New York-area bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami raised a red flag when he returned to the United States, prompting border officials to alert the FBI, Fox News has learned.



A Department of Homeland Security official confirmed to Fox News Friday that Rahami was questioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in March of 2014 upon his return to the U.S. from a 13-month trip to Pakistan. The FBI was notified about the interview months before Rahami's father told the FBI his son could be involved with terrorism.

The FBI told FoxNews.com earlier this week Rahami's father, Mohammad Rahami, later recanted the remark and that investigators had no basis for pursuing an investigation.

Typically, when someone is flagged like Rahami was, they are given a secondary interview and questioned further. That information obtained from Rahamis interviews was passed on to the FBI, according to the DHS official.

The information was likely sent to the FBI after being gathered by the National Targeting Center, a division of Customs and Border Protection that targets people and goods at all major ports of entry that pose potential risk to the United States. The NTC is credited with capturing failed Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad in 2010 as he was boarding a flight to Dubai from JFK.

It is not known what about Rahami might have raised a red flag, but the agency does track individuals who travel to parts of the world where ISIS or Al Qaeda are active.

Questions have been raised as to why there was no apparent follow-up by either DHS, which oversees Border Protection, while the FBI is part of the Department of Justice.

"What happened here, as was the case with other terrorists who came on the governments radar, like Syed Farook, Tamerlan Tsarnaev and others, is that our immigration system is producing alerts, and providing the opportunity to investigate suspicious people and activity, but the leads are not followed, Jessica Vaughan, director of policy research for Center for Immigration Studies told FoxNews.com. This is partly because our loosely-run immigration policy has flooded the works with too many people to monitor, and too many immigrant enclaves in which bad actors can melt into the background.

Vaughan adds that the current system perhaps enabled Rahami to fly under the radar.

I believe this oversight on the part of the FBI also stems from a policy emanating from the top that denies any connection between our immigration policy and these incidents of terror attacks, and therefore tends to dismiss or underutilize the national security value of immigration tools, she said.

Rahami, who has family in Afghanistan and married a woman from the region, made at least four trips to the area between 2005 and 2014, according to the The New York Times.

Other reports surfaced on Friday, which explains what the suspect may have been doing during one of his trips to Pakistan.

Rahami allegedly spent time in a religious seminary in Pakistan that was known to have ties to the Taliban, according to the UK newspaper the Guardian.

Government officials told the paper that Rahami spent three weeks in 2011 at the he Kaan Kuwa Naqshbandi madrassa in Kuchlak, a long-known hub for the Taliban insurgency. The official also said that Rahami also visited other sensitive areas, including Nushki, where former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor was killed during a U.S.-led drone strike.

Fox News Channels Bryan Llenas and FoxNews.coms Malia Zimmerman and Perry Chiaramonte contributed to this story.
Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, whos struggling to repair his tattered image, fought tears and pleaded with neighbors to support the citys police officers as he unveiled a three-part plan to fight the citys staggering violent crime and bloodshed.

We cannot afford to lose another generation to the gangs and to the streets and to the guns and to the violence, Emanuel said.

Emanuels plan is comprised of enforcement, investment and prevention. The controversial mayor struggled to keep his composure as he gave examples of the innocent victims who were shot and killed in recent weeks on the streets of Chicago including a 6-year-old girl who was playing on a stoop and a mother walking her children to sign up for school.

Every one of us was sickened by the recent murder of Nykea Aldridge while she pushed a baby carriage down the street to register her kids, Emanuel said. And what makes it even worse is that her murder might have been prevented if her alleged perpetrators had been given the sentence they deserve for previous crimes.

The enforcement part of the plan includes adding 970 new police officers to the force, promoting hundreds of police officers familiar with the streets to sergeants and lieutenants, seeking more federal help to assist in crime-fighting and supporting a bill that would ensure repeat gun offenders receive the strongest sentencing. The city released details of its plan the same week backlash erupted over police-involved shootings in Tulsa and Charlotte, where nights of protests led to riots.

Emanuel pleaded for Chicago to support its police.

While were going to add significant resources to our police department, no resource will match the resource of an officer knowing the neighborhood they work in supports their work, Emanuel said.

The Chicago Police Department has struggled to recruit and keep up with the attrition rate. CPD now has several hundred fewer officers compared to when Emanuel took office.

The mayor admitted Chicago police have to rebuild trust after allegations of racism and a series of videos showing white officers shooting and killing black teens.

They need your reassurance and they need to know that they have to earn the publics trust. They dont get a blank check, Emanuel said.

For investment, the city plans to require every officer to wear a body camera and carry a Taser. Officials also say they hope to install more gunshot-detecting cameras to the deadliest streets and spend millions providing intense counseling and mentoring to young, vulnerable men and boys who get sucked into gangs.

Many crimes being committed are by young men with gang affiliations, Emanuel said. To have any chance from killing each other and innocents, Chicago must provide an alternative for young men to join gangs.

For prevention, Emanuel said the city needed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. The mayor echoed his continued support for a bill that would hold Chicago gun stores accountable for selling to criminals and would also ensure repeat offenders face harsh sentences.

We need to stop the revolving door for repeat gun offenders. These violent offenders must know that their punishment will match the seriousness of the crimes they committed and the value and the sanctity of the lives they have taken from their fellow family members, Emanuel said.

In addition to mentoring, the city will provide job opportunities for those who typically dont have them and will expand its program that encourages and funds the expansion of retail and commercial businesses in abandoned neighborhoods.

Chicagos crime rate is on pace to reach figures not seen since the crack cocaine wars of the late 1980s. More than three thousand people were shot this year. The murder count has approached 550.

I go around this city. I see kids today, a look in their eyes, where the vitality, the hope and the purpose has been stolen from them because of the harshness of this city. It has been robbed from them and we cannot avert our eyes as a city any longer, Emanuel said.
Officials say a terminal at New Yorks LaGuardia Airport that was evacuated has been reopened after an abandoned vehicle was cleared.

Alana Calmi, a spokeswoman for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, says in a statement that Terminal B at LaGuardia was closed and passengers were evacuated late Thursday due to an abandoned vehicle near the terminal.

Strong military presence at Laguardia. Supposedly unattended vehicle in arrival area. Asking all to evacuate terminal B. pic.twitter.com/CWjIdVUYhB  Rachel Moylan (@rachelamoylan) September 23, 2016

All passengers leaving terminal B at Laguardia Airport. pic.twitter.com/88liFE6uk1  Rachel Moylan (@rachelamoylan) September 23, 2016

The vehicle was cleared a short time later.

The terminal was reopened after midnight Friday.


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The Latest on the Sept. 17 bombings in New York and New Jersey, the investigation and the case against a New Jersey man (all times local):

2:45 p.m.

A New Jersey imam spoke against violence and in support of law enforcement during the first Friday prayer service since a local man was charged in the New Jersey and New York bombings.

Imam Syed Fakhruddin Alvi urged the more than 100 men gathered at the Muslim Community Center of Union County to unite and be vigilant in leading their families and children away from evil.

Mosque members say the father of suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami is an active member of the mosque and frequently prays there, including this week.

Rahami was injured by police after a shootout in Linden hours after he was named the suspect in Saturday's bombings. He is recovering in a hospital.

Leaders called Rahami misguided and say people who follow extremist teachings are criminals.

___

Noon

A federal judge has denied a public defender's request that the man charged in bombings in the New York City-region be appointed a lawyer. Prosecutors say Ahmad Khan Rahami has not officially been arrested yet by federal authorities.

Magistrate Judge Mark Falk on Friday ruled against New Jersey public defender Richard Coughlin's request.

Federal prosecutors opposed the request and say Rahami has been incapacitated at the hospital. Coughlin says he has no reason to doubt that.

Rahami faces federal charges for the bombs that exploded in New York City and a New Jersey seaside community and state charges after a shootout with police in New Jersey.

Rahami was shot multiple times in a shootout in Linden on Monday. Two officers were treated for minor injuries.

___

3 a.m.

The father of the man charged with setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey says he informed the FBI in 2014 about his son's apparent radicalization.

Speaking to The Associated Press early Friday in a telephone interview, Mohammad Rahami, father of alleged bomber Ahmad Khan Rahami, said his son underwent a personality change after visiting Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2013. Speaking in Urdu, Mohammed Rahami said his son's mind was not that same. He said his son had become "bad," and that he didn't know what caused it, but he informed the FBI about it.

The elder Rahami said he doesn't think the FBI took any action against his son at the time. He condemned the bombings and said he and his family were in a state of shock

___

Ahmed reported from Islamabad
A New Jersey man has been charged with murder in the shooting of an 8-year-old girl who was caught in the crossfire.

Investigators say 18-year-old Camden resident Tyhan Brown was arrested Friday at his uncle's home in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Gabrielle "Gabby" Hill Carter was hit in the head by a stray bullet while across the street from her home in August in Camden.

Authorities say gunfire broke out when several men opened fire on an intended target.

It wasn't immediately known if Brown had an attorney to comment. U.S. Deputy Marshal Danny Shelton says he was arrested without incident. He is in jail while awaiting extradition proceedings.

His mother and another woman have been charged with hindering the investigation.
The village of Brentwood, on New Yorks Long Island, is nearly 2,000 miles from the Mexican border, but with four dead teenagers, it has become a flashpoint in the debate over federal immigration policies and their possible links to gang violence.

The murder last week of Brentwood High School students, Nisa Mickens, 15, and Kayla Cuevas, 15, and the discovery of two sets of human remains, males ages 17 and 19, in a wooded area adjacent to the Long Island Railroad have allegedly been linked to the MS-13 gang that has wreaked havoc in Brentwood.

Mickens' family said they believe gang members tried to kidnap Cuevas, and investigators say Mickens may have been killed trying to help her friend.

Suffolk County police said on Friday that the department was launching an "all-out assault" on gangs in the 11-square-mile town as well as in Central Islip and Wyandanch.



Area residents are worried and frightened given the notorious El Salvadorean gang's growth in the area, which they say has coincided with an influx of illegal immigrants.

Without a doubt the community is scared, but I know of instances where residents have heard things and have called police, says Ray Mayo, executive director, Brentwood Association for Concerned Citizens.

Mayo said that while he has seen a direct correlation between the infusion of Central American teens in the community and the increase in gang activity, the community is not putting up with it.

We have been in regular talks with the police to come up with some strategies, says Mayo.

He said residents are supportive of immigrants, even undocumented, who have come to Brentwood to better their lives and who are law abiding, paying their taxes, and striving towards citizenship. It is the other, growing and nefarious immigrant element that concerns Mayo.

Law enforcement officials say MS-13 is the largest gang on Long Island with Suffolk County cliques concentrated in the villages of Brentwood, Huntington, Copiague, Farmingdale, and Islip.

Suffolk County Legislator for Brentwood, Monica Martinez, a former teacher and school district administrator, says she has seen a transformation in recent years of this predominantly African-American and Hispanic working class community 47 miles east of New York City.

We have seen an influx of them to the district, one in which no child was denied access to an education, Martinez says. There is no indication that the current incidents have been a result of the influx of unaccompanied children.

Martinez said these types of incidents have occurred in waves.

We had a surge in 2012-2013 and unfortunately we are seeing it again, she says. Actually after researching a bit myself the sharpest increase in violent crime was in 2010,

Between October 2013 and July 2016 nearly 3,500 unaccompanied children from Central America were placed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Suffolk County, one of the highest placement areas in the country. The overwhelming majority are law-abiding and welcome, say residents. But some come with gang experience and others are ripe for recruitment, according to law enforcement sources.



Even before 2013, Brentwood was a hotbed for gang violence with skirmishes between MS-13, the Latin Kings and Bloods. Eventually, the Salvadoran gang claimed a violent stranglehold on the community.

Some of the more heinous acts of violence Brentwood experienced began in 2008, when members of MS-13 were involved in a non-fatal shooting incident in a Brentwood park. In 2009, several MS-13 gang members attacked suspected rival gang members at a house party killing one. This was followed in 2010 when the violence spun out of control.

MS-13 gang members, committed two murders and one attempted murder in February and March 2010. One member was convicted in connection with the murder of 21-year-old David Sandler and the attempted murder of 20-year-old Aaron Galan in Brentwood.

One of the prime suspects convicted in many of these violent crimes was already an MS-13 member in El Salvador when he entered the U.S. illegally.

Also in 2010, the Sailors clique of the MS-13 suspected that fellow member Rigoberto Gomez was cooperating with local law enforcement. As a result, the Sailors put a green light on Gomez, authorizing other MS-13 members to kill Gomez on sight.

In the early morning hours of Aug. 31, 2010, Hector Torres, then second in command of the BLS clique, together with a Sailors clique member, who has also been charged federally, spotted Gomez as they drove through Brentwood. They lured Gomez into the car, inviting him to smoke marijuana with them at a nearby park. Gomez was shot three times in the head and killed.

Most recently, before the Mickens and Cuevas killings, three teen age gang members were charged with the brutal gang rape of a 16-year-old girl by the Brentwood Country Club in 2015.

The discovery of four dead teenagers in one week, possibly at the hands of MS-13, has sparked outrage.

Lenny Tucker, president, Brentwood Association for Concerned Citizens, said the community was taken by surprise with the influx of Central American teens and is outraged at the impact the violence the gang has had on their community as well as the lack of attention paid by the federal government.

After all of the communitys hard work to keep our children safe, its disgusting, Tucker said. I dont think the federal government has done its due diligence or us any justice.

Tucker says the children coming into Brentwood have been exposed to violence in their countries and have a mindset of lack of control to violent behavior.

Mickens was buried Wednesday and Cuevas on Friday.


A female Tulsa police officer charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man was released on bond early Friday.

Tulsa officer Betty Shelby "reacted unreasonably" when she fatally shot 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16, prosecutors wrote in an affidavit filed with the charge on Thursday.

She was booked on the charge after slipping into the Tulsa County jail at 1:11 a.m. Friday. She was in custody for 20 minutes and then released on a $50,000 bond, according to jail records.

The Oklahoma state medical examiners office said Friday that Crutcher died from a "penetrating gunshot wound of chest.

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 a gun on him or in his vehicle.

The affidavit filed Thursday 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."

Shelbys quick arrest came after police acted quickly to provide videos of the shooting to black community leaders and members of Crutcher's family and then released them to the public.

The swift action in Tulsa, a city with a long history of tense race relations, stood in in contrast to Charlotte, North Carolina, where police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to publicly release video of the shooting of another black man this week and the National Guard was called in after two nights of violent protests. Demonstrations in Tulsa since Crutcher's death have been consistently peaceful.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett praised the police department for quickly providing evidence to District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler's office.

"These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails," Bartlett said in a statement. "We will continue to be transparent to ensure that justice and accountability prevails."

Phil Turner, a Chicago-based defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, said the motivation of prosecutors in Tulsa may have been partly to allay outrage and avoid the kind of violence Charlotte has seen.

"But I don't think the charge was only to give the crowd some blood. ... No. I think (prosecutors) must have thought charges were warranted," he said.

If convicted, Shelby faces between four years and life in prison.

Crutcher's twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said her family is pleased with the charge, but she and her attorneys want to ensure a vigorous prosecution that leads to a conviction.

Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said: "We are happy that charges were brought, but let me clear  the family wants and deserves full justice.

"Not only for this family, not only for Terence but to be a deterrent for law officers all around this nation to know that you cannot kill unarmed citizens."

Shelby's attorney, Scott Wood, did not immediately respond to telephone messages seeking comment on the charges.

Meanwhile, a community college in Tulsa planned to hold a remembrance ceremony to honor Crutcher.

The ceremony was scheduled to be held at Tulsa Community College at noon Friday.

Crutcher was a student there. He had been scheduled to begin a music appreciation class at the college on Sept. 16, though the course was canceled a day earlier because of low enrollment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A police officer fatally shot a man who had robbed a suburban Baltimore bank and injured a second man involved in the robbery, firing through the windshield of their oncoming car Friday, authorities said.

The shooting occurred as officers were seeking suspects Friday afternoon shortly after a bank robbery nearby, Baltimore County Police Cpl. John Watchter said. He added that both men are black.

No weapons were recovered from the car or were found at the scene, authorities said. They said the driver of the car died at a hospital and added the injuries to the second man, a passenger in the car who was taken into custody, didn't appear life-threatening.

County police spokeswoman Elise Armacost tweeted later that the injured passenger was wanted in three area bank robberies by the FBI and nicknamed "The Aviator" because of photos circulated by that federal agency showing the suspect sporting aviator-style sunglasses inside banks. The FBI only Thursday had said it was seeking the public's help in identifying "The Aviator."

Neither man's identity was immediately released.

Armacost also tweeted that the men had robbed a Wells Fargo Bank outlet earlier Friday about four miles from the shooting scene in Pikesville.

Wachter told reporters that a patrol sergeant had stopped traffic shortly after the bank robbery to try and block a likely escape route.

"That patrol sergeant encountered a vehicle in that line of vehicles," Wachter said. "At some point, the sergeant fired multiple times."

Armacost said the officer fired on the car "as the vehicle was coming toward the officer," adding that he fired through the front windshield.

Novelist Dan Fesperman, a former reporter for The Baltimore Sun, said he was driving nearby when he saw a police car parked sideways at an intersection, blocking traffic.

He told The Associated Press by phone he then heard gunfire -- "four quick pops in succession."

A green car was weaving in the road and surged into the intersection, coasted a bit and then smashed into a car ahead of him, Fesperman said. "Police came running up to the green car, smashed the window on the passenger side, (and) pulled out the guy." Officers handcuffed the man and took him away, he added.

Fesperman said he got out of his car, took a few steps and saw first responders "giving vigorous CPR" to another man. "(The man) had blood on his head, his shirt was off, and oxygen mask was on and they were pumping his chest," he said.

After the shooting, the car the men were riding in struck another car.

Wachter said one officer who responded to the shooting scene was wearing a body camera, and that the footage has been downloaded but has not yet been reviewed.

An FBI spokesman in Baltimore did not immediately return a call seeking comment about the developments Friday. The agency had issued a message Thursday appealing for the public's help in identifying the wanted person nicknamed "The Aviator." The message said he was being sought in three robberies this month in the area: Sept. 1 in Dundalk and Sept. 9 and Sept. 20 in Baltimore.

"While talking on his cellphone, the suspect approaches the counter, hands the bank employee a note announcing an armed robbery, and demands money," the FBI said. "After receiving money, he flees the location on foot." Photos circulated by the FBI of the wanted man showed him inside the banks, wearing aviator-style sunglasses and a cap.

The shooting comes two days after a man injured in a struggle with county police died. The man, Tawon Boyd, 21, and three officers were hurt Sunday in what police said was a violent struggle to restrain Boyd and take him to a hospital for an emergency evaluation. A county fire department medic administered a medication to calm him and he was taken to the hospital, where he died Wednesday. The police and fire departments are investigating his death, and an autopsy is pending. Boyd was black.

Boyd died the same day the county prosecutor announced he would not charge an officer who killed Korryn Gaines, a 23-year-old black woman. Police and prosecutors said Gaines pointed a shotgun at officers last month during a standoff at her apartment.
A half hour into the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, the gunman called a 911 operator and claimed responsibility for the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

Transcripts released Friday by the city of Orlando show Omar Mateen's first call to police from the Pulse nightclub and also disclose his conversations with police negotiators.

During his first call, Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and said: "I want to let you know I'm in Orlando and I did the shooting."

A dozen minutes later, a police negotiator called him. Mateen tells the negotiator the U.S. needs to stop bombing Syria and Iraq, adding, "They are killing a lot of innocent people."

The June 12 nightclub attack claimed 49 lives and seriously injured 53 others.
This story originally published on Feb. 8, 2016. It was updated on Sept. 23, 2016.

From video games to school work, it seems like kids do everything via smartphones these days.

Thanks to Aceable, this includes taking drivers ed courses.

The Austin, Texas-based startup, which launched in 2014, provides online driving lessons for teens ages 15 to 17.

Related: How to Take Advantage of Online Training Tools

Each video-based lesson includes interactive questions -- narrated by a sarcastic robot -- and has clearly been designed with its teenage audience in mind. Users will encounter more than one joke about Kanye West as they progress through the app, and those who complete the course have previously been rewarded with a gif featuring One Directions Harry Styles.

While the lessons count towards the 30-hour classroom requirement students must fulfill to earn their learners permit, the platform (thankfully) doesnt replace practice behind the wheel. After passing, students still need to book appointments with a state-appointed facility so they can take their actual driving tests.

The company announced today that it raised $4 million in a series A funding round co-led by existing investors Silverton Partners and FloodGate. The funds will be used to expand the company into new industries that require professional certifications, while continuing to grow its drivers ed program state by state, it said in a press release. Last year, the company raised $4.7 million in seed funding to help it expand nationwide, according to a Silicon Hills News article. It was a major victory for company founder and CEO Blake Garrett, who came up with the idea for Aceable after pitching another endeavor to a colleague: trivia question apps for books.

He said, you just need to stop doing this ... this is not a good idea, Garrett says. It felt like someone punched you in the stomach as hard as they could.

His colleague urged him to apply the same model to a topic that required actual, quantifiable learning in an area primed for an upgrade. Thats when the lightbulb went off.

Teens spend a ton of time on their mobile devices and the majority of them take drivers ed, a notoriously outdated process. Why not revamp the content and put it on mobile devices, so students can actually engage with the lessons?

From the beginning, the idea behind Aceable was to to deliver an experience that resonates with your audience, says the 32-year-old entrepreneur.

To date, about 300,000 people have taken its courses, which can cost up to $100. Most users are in Texas, although the company also operates in California, Florida, Ohio and Illinois and is working to bring its drivers ed courses to other states. So far, its been a fairly bumpy road.

The hardest part, Garrett says, is waiting for state approval. California, for example, recognizes web-based drivers ed courses, but not mobile ones. And some states, including New York and Massachusetts, dont permit online drivers education courses at all.

At least in part, these discrepancies are likely the result of a long-lasting debate on the safety of online driving courses. Theoretically, with online formats, theres less face time and more chances to cheat, although Aceable does have safeguards, such as a voice recognition tool that asks students to repeat particular phrase at random times throughout the course.

And Garrett points out teens cheat in the classroom, too. At the end of the day, if someone really wants to cheat, theyre going to find a way to cheat, he says.

Theres also the question of whether online courses are as effective. Allen Robinson, chief executive of a national organization that represents traffic safety educators, says that while he sees the value of online courses, especially for students who live far from classroom sites, in-person courses are preferable because the face-to-face interaction decreases the learning curve.

Garrett argues that his drivers ed courses are just as, if not more engaging, than the traditional format. As technology gets better and better it has the ability to provide an adaptive learning experience for each individual student, he says.

Though Aceables model isnt built for repeat customers -- once students complete the course they typically dont take it again -- word of mouth and returning families are big drivers of user growth.

But this also points to larger problem for Aceable: researchers from the Transportation Research Institute at the University of Michigan found that the percentage of young Americans seeking drivers licenses has dropped over the past three decades. This may hurt Aceables potential growth.

Related: School's in--Online

Garrett isnt blind to Aceables limitations. As a result, the company is considering additional certificate career-based courses, ranging from nursing to cosmetology.

For now, the focus is to continue making a difference by helping students feel confident and prepared when they eventually hit the road.

To find a business that comes with a great mission  its great, Garret says. To be able to make a positive social impact is awesome.
When tech is one-size-fits-all, easy to use and overly digital, it can cause us to lose touch with our humanity.

NewDealDesign, the studio that helped to develop the Fitbit, aims to simplify our devices. Gadi Amit, the companys principal designer and president, encourages his team to think differently about product design. However, he and his designers know that counterintuitive ideas, while important to consider, are not always the best ideas. Rather, theyre often a springboard for further innovation.

Thats part of the spirit behind Scrip, a concept device that NewDealDesign announced yesterday. Its an idea for a new way to conduct peer-to-peer payments -- and make transactions tangible and tactile in an increasingly cashless society.

Related: 8 Companies Making Payment Handling Easy

Throughout his career, Amit and his team have led the design for the Lytro camera, the recently suspended Google modular smartphone moonshot Project Ara, hardware for Intel, connected home devices and more. Not to mention, NewDealDesign is responsible for giving wearables a name with the Fitbit. A decade ago, pedometers were cumbersome and uncool. Now theyre sleek and trendy.

NewDealDesign prioritizes a patience for the process of iterating and reiterating, and Amit values people who are driven to devise surprising solutions. This, of course, is at the expense of speed and expansive growth, some of the primary virtues of tech entrepreneurs. In Amits view, a 40-person team in San Francisco can compete with a multi-office global design firm, in terms of the opportunities for interpersonal connections and collaboration.

Theres an element of serendipity in design, Amit tells Entrepreneur. "You throw three designers into a room, and they came each with one idea. Its not that one of these will be the right [idea], its that fourth and fifth and sixth and 10th idea that they brought after they interacted.

The intimate size of the team has helped the studio differentiate itself and stay true to its contrarian ideals. About six years ago, NewDealDesign introduced what Amit calls a dark horse theory to its creative process, which involves asking What is the opposite? among a sea of intuitive proposed solutions. This led the first Fitbit to be concealed in a womans bra rather than proudly displayed, and it carried over to later models, which still refrain from the macho flaunting of personal health stats. Project Ara rejected the monolith smartphone in favor of an adaptable, buildable one.

In addition to providing technology companies with simple and emotionally engaging design solutions, NewDeal has begun rolling out concept projects that seek to further advance tech while addressing human needs. The first of these, inspired by a Fast Company inquiry into the future of wearables, was Project Underskin. NewDealDesign explored the potential for an sensor implant that could monitor your health, perform tasks such as unlocking doors and trade information via near-field communication (NFC)

Scrip, this years project, is a copper-colored handheld object meant to store money. The idea is that, rather than paying with a credit or debit card or a service such as PayPal or Venmo, you would load some allotment of money from your bank account to your Scrip at an ATM, a bank or using your smartphone. You could then pay a friend across the table -- or make a purchase at an NFC terminal.

But Scrip is more than just another way to beam your funds. Its tactile surface serves to make its hypothetical users more mindful of the money theyre exchanging. For example, if you were paying $31 for something, you could swipe the Scrip to simulate handing over a $20 bill, a $10 and a $1. The device would become heavier for higher payments, a Braille-like pattern on its exterior would change to reflect each denomination of currency and the amount would be displayed on a tiny screen.

The project is about this worldview that we are moving into a cashless society, and all transactions are going to be in some kind of an ether or a few bits of energy moving around between servers, Amit says. Thats already been proven to be fallacy. For the last 30 years, people have been trying to get rid of cash, and cash is still holding very true to our life.

Cash prevails because its anonymous, untraceable and universal, Amit explains, but thats only part of the picture. When the NewDealDesign team decided to reinvent digital payments, they didnt intend to add friction for the sake of adding friction. They did their research.

Different payment methods inspire different neurological and behavioral reactions. The exchange of paper money, which is a social interaction, triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin, according to one study. Paying with cash inspires greater feelings of pain and loss than paying virtually, other research has found. And its no surprise, given that so many people accumulate credit card debt, that people tend to be less financially responsible when paying in the abstract.

Its very contrary to, if were really trying to solve transactions, the evolutionary path is like, make them easier, make them faster, make them less painful, says Jaeha Yoo, director of experience design at NewDeal. But wed hit this point: Is that really the right way to do this? We never questioned it before.

Related: Leverage Emotion to Design a Product They Can't Live Without

As of now, Scrip is not functional, but the team has built three models to showcase various possible physical states for the device. They provide the look and feel of money, from the shiny penny-colored exterior, to the round shape, to an engraved signature on the back that reflects the markings and sovereignty of banknotes.

We want people to appreciate it, says Yoo, who compares Scrip to a loadable transit MetroCard. This holds value. Its not just a blank, anonymous stone. Its actually designed and makes reference to money, but its not literally a coin anymore.

Amit and Yoo acknowledge that Scrip may never become a consumer product, but they hope to apply their findings about tactile interactions to future designs. From generating an abundance of ideas for each project to presenting a more deliberate way of exchanging money with Scrip, patience and thoughtfulness permeate NewDealDesigns work.

Its the whole process and the way we actually train ourselves to think outside proverbial technology world boxes, Amit says. Sometimes, were removing features or removing functions, but making it more appealing to the emotions or to the feel of the tactile. This is the way to actually crack a problem.
The U.S. general expected to take over the military's nuclear forces had a sobering assessment of North Korea's capabilities, telling Senate lawmakers on Tuesday that the rogue nation "will" build up the capabilities to hit the United States.

"What concerns me most is: They will get there. They're gonna get there. And then once they have those capabilities, what are they going to do with them? That's my biggest concern," Gen. John Hyten, commander of the Air Force Space Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hyten has been nominated to lead U.S. Strategic Command.

His comments came after North Korean state media reported the dictator Kim Jong Un oversaw a ground test of a new rocket engine and ordered a satellite launch preparation, an indication the country might soon conduct a prohibited long-range rocket launch.

The United Nations and others view the North's space launch development project as a cover for tests of missile technology, as ballistic missiles and rockets in satellite launches share similar bodies, engines and other technology. North Korea is also openly working on developing nuclear-armed missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

Kim directed the ground test of a high-powered engine of a carrier rocket for a geo-stationary satellite at the Sohae Space Center in the country's northwest, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Kim was quoted as ordering officials and scientists to complete preparations for a satellite launch as soon as possible, amid "the enemies' harsh sanctions and moves to stifle" the North.

Jeon Ha-kyu, a spokesman at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said South Korea believes the test was for a new engine for a long-range missile. South Korean media speculated the North could conduct a long-range rocket launch around Oct. 10, which is the 71st founding anniversary for the North's ruling Workers' Party.

Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, prompting South Korean and U.S. 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 was already slapped with the toughest U.N. 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.

North Korea has said it needs nuclear weapons and missiles to cope with U.S. military threats. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Syrian regime announced the start of a new offensive on the city of Aleppo Thursday, ignoring calls to stop bombing civilians, a senior administration official told Fox News Thursday.

Aleppo has seen some of the bitterest fighting in recent months, including the recent bombing of a United Nations convoy that killed at least 12 aid workers and 20 civilians. The U.S. has accused Russia of bombing the convoy, citing intelligence that placed two Russian jets in the area. Russia has denied responsibility, while raising a range of ulterior scenarios for how the caravan might have been struck.

Secretary of State John Kerry was informed of the Syrian military's decision to restart operations in Aleppo when his chief of staff showed him a headline on his BlackBerry during a meeting of the International Syrian Support Group on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

A furious Kerry then told the entire room, including his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, that "even while we are meeting here, they are doing this," a U.S. official told the Associated Press.

"The situation is far worse than we hoped it would be at this point," a senior administration official told reporters on a conference call Thursday. Another U.S. official described the meeting as "pretty contentious," and signaled the U.S. was finally losing faith in negotiating with the Russians.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Kerry acknowledged the current strategy wasn't working, even as he vowed to to press on with efforts to find a peaceful solution to the war between Syrian President Bashar Assad's Russian-backed government and U.S.-backed rebels.

"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.

One official said the U.S. was "not sure" the gridlock around the failed cease-fire agreement could be resolved, while another official added it would take extraordinary steps for Russia to preserve the agreement.

When asked what the Obama administration's next steps in Syria would be, one official answered candidly, "This is something were giving a lot of thought to ourselves."

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A homemade bomb planted in a road has killed three police officers in insurgency-plagued southern Thailand.

Police in Yala province said the bomb was detonated as the officers' car passed over it, wrecking the vehicle and killing the three instantly. Another officer was taken to a hospital with injuries. Police believe Muslim separatist insurgents were behind the attack.

More than 6,000 people have been killed since the insurgency flared in 2004 in Thailand's three southernmost provinces, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist country.
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Some Falkland Islanders are protesting a recent thaw of relations between Argentina and Britain over the disputed islands.

Argentina lost a 1982 war with Britain over the South Atlantic archipelago.

Both countries recently announced they would work to remove restrictions in the oil, fishing and shipping industries affecting the Falklands. They also agreed to increase the number of flights between the islands and Argentina.

But islander Faith Felton says that it's not worth the sacrifice of those who died defending the British overseas territory. She launched an online petition this week called: "Is your cheap holiday worth their lives?"

Argentina claims Britain has illegally occupied the islands since 1833. Britain disputes the claim and says Argentina is ignoring the wishes of the 3,000 residents who wish to remain British.
Islamic State fighters in Mosul are digging trenches and can be seen pouring oil in some of them to bolster their defensive positions in Iraqs second largest city ahead of an expected U.S.-backed Iraqi ground assault on the city, the U.S. military said Friday.

ISIS is preparing for hell on earth, said Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, who added that the terror group is moving large walls to slow down the invasion.

Burning oil or tires produces a thick black smoke that can block the view from overhead, making it difficult for U.S. aircraft to visually identify potential targets.



Dorrian said ISIS has been burning oil fields near a U.S. base in Qayyarah, located 25 miles south of Mosul. He said ISIS was using the smoke to mask movements.

Fox News is told if the stars align, the Iraqi-led ground invasion could happen as soon as the next few weeks in mid-October.

Dorrian would not comment on reports that the U.S. military was planning on sending 500 more troops to Iraq, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by Fox News on Thursday.

Located on the west bank of the Tigris River, about 40 miles south of Mosul, Qayyarah has since become an important staging ground for military and humanitarian efforts ahead of the Mosul operation since it was recaptured by Iraqi forces last month.

"It's the staging ground for military forces and it's where 350,000 of the 1 million people who are expected to flee (Mosul) will either find shelter or pass through," Lise Grande, the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, told The Associated Press.

There are slow-going Iraqi efforts to contain the fires, but nearly a month after the town was recaptured from the militants, smoke and toxic fumes continue to pollute the air in and around Qayyarah.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry spokesman, Assem Jihad, said Wednesday that ISIS militants set fire to 11 oil wells in Qayyarah to derail security forces and wreak havoc in the area as they fled. He said fires at nine of the wells have been extinguished, but two continue to burn powerfully.

The images of smoke and flames from the oil wells are reminiscent of the oil fires in Kuwait after the Iraqi military reportedly set fire to hundreds of wells when Saddam Hussein invaded the neighboring Persian Gulf nation in the early 1990s.

"In putting out the fires in Kuwait, the firefighters used water pipes and pumped the water from the Persian Gulf to spray at the base of the fires," said Kourosh Kian, an expert in petroleum drilling and reservoir engineering.

Kian, a system engineer at GE Aviation, said the simplest method to extinguish these types of fires is to inject water under high pressure at the base of the fire. Since Qayyarah is on the Tigris River, there would be no problem with the water supply, he said.

Qayyarah and Najmah, the two main fields in the area with reserves slightly over one billion barrels, came under the control of ISIS when it captured Iraq's Nineveh Province in June 2014.

While Iraqi forces now remain in control of the area, it is far from stable. At the Qayyarah West air base, where hundreds of U.S. troops are working to advise and assist their Iraqi counterparts, a small rocket that contained a mustard agent landed, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress on Thursday.

A U.S. official, who discussed details of the incident on Wednesday on condition of anonymity, said a small group of U.S. soldiers who inspected remnants of the rocket after it exploded found a black, oily substance on a fragment of metal. An initial test of the suspicious substance showed it contained residue of mustard agent, but a second test was negative.

Militants continue to dwell around the town to the west and along the eastern bank toward the town of al-Alam.

The Iraqi military, backed by coalition airstrikes and coalition advise-and-assist operations, looks to recapture more territory from the military group, which at one point in 2014 controlled about a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria. U.S.-led coalition forces have launched more than 460 airstrikes around Qayyarah since August 2014 and more than 1,800 around the city of Mosul itself.

But for aid workers in the country, the fires are an immediate primary concern as they prepare for a potential mass influx of displaced people as Mosul operations get underway.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The international diplomatic "quartet" of Mideast peacemakers is calling once again for Israel and the Palestinians to take steps to resume stalled peace talks.

At a meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, the top diplomats of the European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States urged the parties to create conditions for restarting "meaningful" negotiations toward a two-state solution. For the Israelis, this means a halt to settlement construction on territory claimed by the Palestinians. For the Palestinians, it means an end to incitement of violence.

The diplomats were also joined by the foreign ministers of Egypt and France, whose countries have each proposed ideas to restart talks. The quartet said all participants had agreed on the importance of coordinating peace efforts.
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Court officials and a defense lawyer say Pakistani police have submitted initial charges to a court against the father and ex-husband of a British-Pakistani woman accused of murdering her in a so-called "honor killing."

Defense lawyer Mohammad Arif says the trial of Mohammad Shahid and Mohammad Shakeel will begin on September 27 for their alleged role in the murder of 28-year-old Samia Shahid, who was found dead in July at her family's home in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The two accused men appeared before a judge on Friday. The woman's family initially claimed she had died of natural causes. But police now say her father stood guard while Shakeel raped her and afterward both men strangled her.
A nationwide poll puts support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party at 16 percent, up 2 percentage points to its highest level yet.

The nationalist party is benefiting from voters' unhappiness about the arrival of more than a million asylum seekers since early last year.

The survey, published Friday by public broadcaster ARD, puts support for Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats at 32 percent, down 1 point. The Social Democrats were down a point at 22 percent.

Merkel's chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, told ARD that her party's support would likely improve once citizens "see and feel that we've got a grip on these problems."

The poll by Infratest dimap questioned 934 voters between Sept. 19 and 21. Its margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
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Russia's foreign minister says it is essential "to prevent the destruction" of the U.S-Russia cease-fire agreement for Syria.

Sergey Lavrov told the U.N. General Assembly on Friday that it was vital to support U.N. resolutions calling for an end to the fighting in Syria and for a political settlement.

Lavrov said there must be "an unbiased and impartial investigation" of airstrikes that killed Syrian soldiers in Deir el-Zour and bombings in and around the northern city of Aleppo.

Lavrov said the Syria conflict cannot be resolved "without the suppression" of the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked fighters.
A top South Korean defense official admitted this week that Seoul has a plan in place to assassinate North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un.

The Asia Times reported that Defense Minister Han Min-koo made the remarks Wednesday during a parliamentary meeting in the countrys capital. He was asked about rumors circulating about such a plan.

If it becomes clear the enemy is moving to attack the South with nuclear missiles, in order to suppress its aims, the concept is to destroy key figures and areas that include the North Korean leadership, Han said. He said Seoul is considering launching a Special Forces unit to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Meantime, North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong Ho railed against the United States in his United Nations General Assembly address, warning the U.S. of "tremendous consequences" for its aggression and justifying Pyongyangs nuclear weapons program and nuclear tests to defend North Korea from American hostility. He said North Korea "had no other choice but to go nuclear inevitably after it has done everything possible to defend the national security from the constant nuclear threats from the United States which had continued over the century from the 1950s. Our decision to strengthen nuclear armament is a righteous self-defensive measure."

U.S. military experts raised concerns that Pyongyang is moving closer toward obtaining the ability to put nuclear warheads on a variety of its ballistic missiles, a growing arsenal that one day may include a reliable weapon that could reach the U.S. mainland.

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.

Pyongyang, in response to South Koreas reported plan, issued a statement a day later, calling the country "puppet warmongers" and saying that its "military provocations have pushed the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the uncontrollable and irreversible phase of the outbreak of nuclear war."

Fox News' Jonathan Wachtel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fifteen years after the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. military continues to pursue the terrorist organization's top leaders in eastern Afghanistan, a senior U.S. military commander told reporters in the Pentagon Friday.

"We continue to hunt them every day. And so, there are senior leaders, as far as the numbers, I really don't want to get into matters that would affect future operations," Gen. John Nicholson, in charge of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, said. "We see [Al Qaeda] in the east, stretching... to Zabul, Paktika, Ghazni area in the Southeast and then up in the areas to the Northeast which you are familiar with, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, there's some very mountainous area which lends itself to a sanctuary."

Al Qaeda isn't the only militant group holding ground in Afghanistan. The Taliban control roughly 10 percent of the country while another 25 percent is contested between Afghan forces and insurgent groups.

Nicholson says the other 70 percent of the country is controlled by the Afghan government. Thursday, Gen. Joe Dunford told Congress that Afghan security forces were in control of 70 percent of the country, leaving open the question about the remaining 30 percent.

Nicholson said he was concerned about "high casualties" the Afghan forces suffered against the Taliban in the past year, after they assumed a leading role fighting insurgent groups in that country. He called reports the Taliban had seized large portions of the country "exaggerated."

He said the Islamic State terror group's affiliate in eastern Afghanistan had been reduced to 1,200-1,300 fighters following the death of their leader in a U.S. airstrike. Nicholson said those operations would continue.

Asked about the connection between ISIS in Afghanistan and its parent organization in Syria, Nicholson admitted there were "linkages" beyond the name and described them in more detail.

"Leadership and strategic communications... we've seen some financial support and leadership and guidance going back and forth," between Afghanistan and Syria, he said.

Meantime, Afghanistan's government signed a draft peace deal on Thursday 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.

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 organizations.

Hekmatyar himself was designated by the U.S. as a "global terrorist" in 2003. He was blacklisted at Washington's request by the U.N. the same year, and has similar status with the British government.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries Celebrates and Honors Employees at Rally 2016

September 23, 2016 // Franchising.com // More than 1,500 Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries employees from Texas to Florida gathered at the Durham Performing Arts Center for the third annual Rally - an Oscars-type award ceremony to thank them for being a part of the Hwy 55 family. Hwy 55 locations were closed for the day to allow for franchise partners and hourly-wage employees to attend the Rally.

Hwy 55 is not a franchise concept, it's a true American success story and our employees are the reason why we are successful, said Hwy 55 president and founder Kenney Moore, who flipped every burger himself at Hwy 55 for the brands first two years of business. We appreciate what our employees do on a daily basis to make this the best burger company in the country. The Rally is our way to honor what they do.

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Hwy 55 has a long history of putting employees front and center as nearly 50 current franchise owners started as hourly-waged employees.

Awards presented at the Rally include:

Sales Increase Leader for 2015: Hwy 55 of Oxford, NC. Given to the store that showed the most improvement over the past year. This was the first year that the store was owned by Ryan Clark, who started working in the company as an entry-level employee.

Hwy 55 of Oxford, NC. Given to the store that showed the most improvement over the past year. This was the first year that the store was owned by Ryan Clark, who started working in the company as an entry-level employee. Andy's Foundation Humanitarian Award: Hwy 55 of Hampstead, NC. Given to the store that raised the most money for the Andy's Foundation last year. They raised over $7,000 and presented the Miracle League of Wilmington with a $2,000 check at the Rally.

Hwy 55 of Hampstead, NC. Given to the store that raised the most money for the Andy's Foundation last year. They raised over $7,000 and presented the Miracle League of Wilmington with a $2,000 check at the Rally. Frozen Custard Flavor of the Year: Hwy 55 of Jacksonville, NC. Mud Slide was the flavor. J.R. Cottle, owner, and Lee Webb, operator.

Hwy 55 of Jacksonville, NC. Mud Slide was the flavor. J.R. Cottle, owner, and Lee Webb, operator. Single-Unit Franchisee of the Year: Doug and Renita McPherson, Hwy 55 of Tarboro, NC. They also won Store of the Year last year.

Doug and Renita McPherson, Hwy 55 of Tarboro, NC. They also won Store of the Year last year. Multi-Unit Franchisee of the Year: Rich's Food Stores. Stores located in Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Burgaw, Hope Mills, Holly Springs, Dunn and Wallace, NC. All have exhibited huge turnarounds in service and quality in the past year.

Rich's Food Stores. Stores located in Apex, Fuquay-Varina, Burgaw, Hope Mills, Holly Springs, Dunn and Wallace, NC. All have exhibited huge turnarounds in service and quality in the past year. Store of the Year: Hwy 55 of Goldsboro (Wayne Memorial Dr.), NC; Hwy 55 of Lexington, SC. Given to the stores that exhibit excellence in operations, service, and the Love Your Neighbor mission. Hwy 55 of Goldsboro (Wayne Memorial Dr.) is owned by Matt Crawford, who started in the company in high school as an entry-level employee. Lexington, SC is owned by J.R. Cottle and Chris LaCoe, and is operated by Jay Webb.

With 128 units and growing quickly, Hwy 55 boasts a fresh, All-American diner experience with fresh, never-frozen burgers, premium sliced cheesesteaks piled high on steamed hoagies, and frozen custard made in-house every day. With its open-grill design, the kitchen's dedication and care when hand-crafting meals is front and center.;

Hwy 55 has resonated with the burger-loving public, while the restaurant and franchising industries have taken notice of the growing concept as well. Hwy 55 won BurgerBusiness.com's "Best Burger" in 2012 and in 2014, Franchise Business Review named Hwy 55 one of the best restaurant franchises in the country. The brand also was recently named a top 500 franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine and a "Next 20" restaurant brand by Nation's Restaurant News.

About Hwy 55

Hwy 55, a retro-themed diner that features fresh, never-frozen hand-pattied burgers, house-made frozen custard, and other classic favorites in a unique open-kitchen setting, was founded in Goldsboro, North Carolina in 1991. Hwy 55 reflects founder Kenney Moore's commitment to authentic hospitality and fresh food. Widely known in the state for its fresh food and service that exceeds expectations, the chain won BurgerBusiness.com's "Best Burger" in 2012. It also was recently named a top 500 franchise in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine and a "Next 20" restaurant brand by Nation's Restaurant News. HWY 55 currently has 128 locations in 10 states, Denmark and the United Arab Emirates. Like HWY 55 on at https://www.facebook.com/Hwy55burgers or follow us at https://twitter.com/hwy55burgers. For more information, visit https://www.hwy55.com.

SOURCE Hwy 55

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Two U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bombers this week made the closest-ever flight to North Korea to warn the communist country against any further provocations, the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) said Thursday.



North Korea conducted its fifth underground nuclear test on Sept. 9, despite international condemnations and sanctions imposed after the previous nuke detonation in January. The latest provocation came on the heels of the launch of three ballistic missiles four days earlier.



One of the two B-1B Lancers landed on Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, after flying over the skies of South Korea on Wednesday. The other returned to Andersen Air Base in Guam the same day.

"It was the first time a Lancer landed on the Korean Peninsula in 20 years (since 1996)," the USPACOM's website showed.The lone B-1B remains at Osan with the Ministry of National Defense saying it does not know when it will fly back to Guam. U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) declined to comment on the departure time."What we are showing today (Wednesday) is just one tool we have to choose from a wide array of options. The alliance grows stronger every day and we remain prepared to defend and to preserve the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region," Lt. Gen. Thomas W. Bergeson, 7th Air Force commander, said in a statement released by the USFK.Lt. Gen. Lee Wang-keun, South Korea's Air Force Operations commander, said, "Should the enemy provoke us again, the South Korea-U.S. combined forces will respond and eliminate the North's will and capability to fight."In response to the recent nuclear test by North Korea, the U.S earlier sent two of its four-engine supersonic bombers in a flyover on Sept. 13. At the time the two B-1Bs returned to Guam without landing at the U.S. air base.The B-1B Lancer, capable of reaching the peninsula from Guam in just two hours, is one of the U.S. military's three major multi-role, long-range bombers along with the B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit.There is the possibility that the U.S. will send B-52s and B-2s to Korea as well.In the past decade, Pyongyang has continued such provocative acts as nuclear tests and long-range rocket launches despite a wide range of U.N.-led sanctions.On Jan. 10, four days after the North's fourth nuclear test, the U.S. flew a B-52 bomber over South Korea. The B-52 can carry nuclear missiles and "bunker buster" bombs that are capable of destroying the North's underground facilities.These, including Wednesday's landing, are "just the first steps" in further strengthening the alliance between Seoul and Washington, the USFK said.North Korea, meanwhile, protested the flyover of the two B-1Bs, saying such actions could result in Seoul being turned into ash.The General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army (KPA) said that the provocation is testing the North's tolerance, and it has "pushed the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the uncontrollable and irreversible phase of the outbreak of a nuclear war," according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."The DPRK's access to the treasured nuclear sword is aimed to foil the adventurous nuclear war racket of the U.S. imperialists who have ceaselessly resorted to nuclear threat and blackmail against the DPRK for the last several decades," it said. DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."The nuclear warheads fired by the KPA as punishment will completely reduce to ashes Seoul, the center of confrontation with compatriots where Chongwadae is located and reactionary ruling machines are concentrated."The statement from the KPA also showed their anger against the U.S., saying the country can launch a strike at U.S. territory."Should they escalate the danger of military provocations by letting B-1Bs fly over the air of Korea, the KPA will sweep Guam, the base of provocations, from the surface of the earth," it said."The U.S. introduction of nuclear war means would put its aggressor forces' bases in the theatres of Pacific operations into a nuclear nightmare."The KPA said the only way for the U.S. and South Korea to avoid their attack is to "exercise prudence and self-restraint, refraining from infringing upon the latter's dignity and security." (Yonhap)
Bell County DUI Lawyer Texas DWI Attorney Belton Legal Advice Report Launched

A new report has been launched on DUI and DWI cases in the Bell County area, Texas. Criminal attorney F Edward Brown discusses the definition of a DUI and potential outcomes for the accused and the need for an expert criminal lawyer.

--

A Bell county lawyer has launched a report about winning driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases in the Texas area. The report outlines the definition of what a DUI is and what processes occur upon arrest. F Edward Brown advises that specialized lawyers will be able to navigate the legal system ensuring the best outcome for the accused.

More information can be found here: http://mybellcountylawyer.com.

F Edward Brown is a criminal attorney serving a wide area of Texas including Waco, Georgetown, Killeen, Fort Hood, Copperas Cove, Marlin, Rockdale, Bell, Lampasas and Milam areas. He provides cutting edge legal representation and practices in several areas of law such as personal injury, child protection, murder, possession of a controlled substance, traffic law violation and probation amongst many others.

The website contains a full profile and education history of F Edward Brown and potential clients looking for an attorney can find past client testimonials on the about page. There is also a contact page that lists full address, telephone number and a contact form for those wishing to make an enquiry. The website also contains many reports on different areas of law that might concern a visitor to the site.

The latest report on DUIs explains that under Texas law a person is deemed under the influence when a person does not present normal mental and physical behaviours after they have imbibed alcohol and/or drugs that can be either prescription or illegal substances. It is stated that it is a crime to operate a vehicle whilst under the influence of these substances.

The report goes on to say that DUIs are a common crime in urban and city areas where alcohol and drug availability is high and describes what would happen if a law enforcement officer pulls over a person deemed to be committing a DUI offense. It explains that an officer will make the accused walk a straight line test to determine balance and will then conduct a breathalyser test to determine alcohol levels.

It also outlines what the potential outcomes could be for the accused, such as fines, prison sentences and programmes to attend. It states that the best course of action is to hire an expert criminal DUI lawyer to help ensure the best outcome.

For more information regarding legal representation, interested parties can call 254-634-2587.

For more information, please visit http://mybellcountylawyer.com

Contact Info:

Name: Ed Brown

Organization: My Bell County Lawyer

Address:



Release ID: 133986

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CaptureStream Announces a New Streaming Media App for Recording from Netflix

( September 23, 2016 ) San Francisco, CA -- Netflix boasts over 30 million users in the U.S. alone and nearly 50 million users worldwide. Trips to Blockbuster and "Be Kind, Rewind" are something today's youth will never understand. Netflix has changed the world and the cable industry will never be the same.

With new series, cartoons and movies such as Narcos exclusive to Netflix, as well as other 3rd party programming being added monthly, Netlfix seems as necessary as any household utility. Allowing users to share their account with friends and neighbors has only increased their market share and deterred potential competitors from entering the online video streaming market.

Latin American Netflix users are finding more and more programming available in Spanish. While Germany and France have recently approved of Netflix entering the European market. Netflix is no longer a U.S. product, although still largely an English language product.

As streaming media technology has improved, so have the standards demanded by today's consumer. Much like iTunes once locked users into using their own file format and devices, Netflix is still seen as an online only video solution for people who benefit from fast internet connections. This is also quickly becoming a thing of the past developers, coders and application creators find new solutions to take Netflix global.

CaptureStream recently announced the addition of their latest application allowing users to record from Netflix, convert their recordings to compatible file formats and resolutions, and export their videos to their preferred mobile devices.

This will open up new viewing experiences for Netflix users who are traveling, or need to conserve precious bandwidth on their mobile devices. The application works by capturing the Microsoft Silverlight stream after Microsoft's Play Ready DRM has produced the image to the user's desktop, once activated the Netflix video will be captured in the background of the user's PC.

The CaptureStream team has also been working hard on several "Netflix hacks" to improve the users viewing experience. These include incorporating Netflix Search code's into the users Chrome browser, allowing users to search hidden categories without having to manually type the sub-category code.

Another one of their new Netflix hacks is called the "Netflix Party", this Chrome based application allows users to remotely watch videos together, the video is synchronized in such a way that both users will be watching the same video output at the same time. The Netflix Party also incorporates a chat box so that the fans can chat with each other non-intrusively while enjoying their movies.

Their most popular application for Netflix is a 3rd party development called Tunnel Bear, Tunnel Bear allows the Netflix users to view the Netflix library of another country. U.S. users traveling abroad can view their libraries in English while Spanish speakers can opt to access Spain's or even Mexico's Netflix library. This has been highly popular among U.S. civilian contractors and military personal serving overseas and is free for basic usage.

About CaptureStream 95175:

CaptureStream is a software development company specializing in media compatibility. Founded in 1999 CaptureStream has pioneered many first generation streaming media recorders and converters.

The development team is currently providing audio and video based solutions for popular mobile devices and media platforms such as Netflix, Hulu and others who originally created content using the Microsoft Silverlight file format.

The Microsoft PlayReady DRM is the common video file encoding format in conjunction with the VC-1 video codec. CaptureStream will continue to evolve with newer video streaming formats and have kept their previous streaming recorders compatible with newer versions of streaming media services.

For more information visit r



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Earlier this week Barack Obama delivered his final United Nations speech.



In addition to praising the bankster loan shark operations run out of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Obama called for global integration, code for a one-world government.



I believe that at this moment we all face a choice. 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 said.



In short, Obama has renewed the call to end national sovereignty.



The Council on Foreign Relations, often referred to as the real State Department, prefers to call it a transition to global governance or multilateralism.



In 2012, as the CFR unveiled the Council of Councils and its Challenges for Global Governance in 2013, Nicholas West deconstructed the globalist agenda. In addition to eroding national sovereignty through the promotion of free trade deals and treaties, the CFR has pushed behind the scenes for economic collapse, humanitarian intervention, destabilization of the Middle East, geopolitical reorganization, and control of the internet.



The agenda of global governance exists, and the move toward a one world government is being executed. The solutions being discussed at think tank conferences in a wide range of disciplines from geopolitics, to science, to health, to economics and communications are all beginning to coalesce into an overall agenda of centralized control. This fusion is manifesting at an accelerated pace in tandem with the rapid awakening of humanity to its condition of increasing servitude, writes West.



The current globalism in tradefrom NAFTA, CAFTA, and AFTA to the impending TPPserve as a template for the ongoing effort to globalize nations and destroy national sovereignty, according to Richard Haass, current CFR president and the former Special Assistant to George H. W. Bush and National Security Council Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs.



In 2010 Haass wrote states must be prepared to cede some sovereignty to world bodies if the international system is to function. This is already taking place in the trade realm. Governments agree to accept the rulings of the WTO because on balance they benefit from an international trading order even if a particular decision requires that they alter a practice that is their sovereign right to carry out.
Riverhouse Catering Unveils New 2016 Holiday Menus

With the holiday season not far off, new menus highlight some delicious options as clients prepare to make reservations for their own events, Riverhouse Catering reports

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With the holidays not far off, Riverhouse Catering unveiled special new menus designed to make the final months of 2016 especially memorable. From fine, butler-passed hors d'oeuvres like truffled creme fraiche polenta squares to entrees including pistachio nut dusted cod loin and pork chops Saltimbocca, the new Riverhouse Catering holiday menus reflect the company's "Dramatic. Bold. Passionate." approach to the craft.

With reservations for the busy upcoming holiday season filling up quickly, people and businesses throughout the area are encouraged to make their own at the Riverhouse Catering website soon. Whether for events at partner venues Nehemiah Brainerd House in Haddam; the New Britain Museum of American Art; Waterbury's Palace Theater; or private parties at clients' own locations, Riverhouse Catering always delivers food, service, and experiences that are anything but ordinary. With a full range of Food Management and Cafe Services also making it easy for businesses to treat clients or employees to something special over the holidays, Riverhouse Catering has something to offer to every organization.

"We've had a wonderful year here so far, with many weddings, corporate events, and private parties catered with great success," said Riverhouse Catering representative Dana Montanari, "As we come into the final stretch of 2016, we've developed some special holiday menus that will help make the most of this wonderful time of the year. From a new salad that celebrates Thanksgiving with cranberries and walnuts to a duck-breast appetizer that plays on a traditional Christmas favorite, we've got many delicious things for our clients to choose from. With the holidays approaching quickly, we invite everyone to stop by our website to look at the new menus and make catering reservations."

The American catering industry is a vibrant one, with average annual sales of over $8 billion nationwide, according to online research aggregator Statista. Studies conducted by catering industry authority Catersource found that an estimated three million catered events hosted 450 million guests in 2014 alone, ranging from small, intimate weddings to huge corporate meetings.

Riverhouse Catering is one of south-central Connecticut's most accomplished and highly regarded members of this important industry. With a deep commitment to making every event special, the company provides full-service catering for everything from weddings and private parties to corporate events. With highly experienced event consultants, chefs, servers, and others all coordinating to ensure that every detail is seen to in exceptional ways, Riverhouse Catering helps create memories that last for a lifetime.

The new Riverhouse Catering 2016 holiday menus reflect this drive to deliver outstanding experiences with every event. Whether by choosing from the menus as-is or by working with the company's Executive Chefs to create customized dishes and lineups, Riverhouse Catering clients can always be sure that their events will be special.

About Riverhouse Catering:

From weddings and private parties to corporate functions of any size, Riverhouse Catering sees to each detail to make sure that every event is special.

For more information, please visit http://www.riverhousecatering.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Trevor Furrer

Organization: Riverhouse Catering

Address: 55 Bridge Rd. Haddam, CT, 06438

Phone: 860-404-5051

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/riverhouse-catering-unveils-new-2016-holiday-menus/134086

Release ID: 134086

For more information visit r



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Dynamic Gift NZ Launches an Updated Clothing Range

Corporate clothing and uniforms are two of the many items found in the new apparel collection, reports DynamicGift.co.nz

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Dynamic Gift NZ proudly announces the launch of an Updated Clothing Range to better meet the needs of their clients. With the help of the 100 percent free design service, companies find they are able to create items that truly reflect the proper image for their business. With low prices, fast turnaround times and friendly, comprehensive service, Dynamic Gift NZ ensures clients are satisfied with each and every purchase made through the company.

"JD Power and Associates conducted a survey which found that uniforms help to project a professional image to consumers and likewise help to retain customers. Furthermore, the uniforms differentiate employees from other brands and companies and allow consumers to identify a person simply by what they are wearing. These are only some of the many benefits of corporate apparel that should be considered when deciding if this option is right for an organization," Lyn Chambers, spokesperson for Dynamic Gift NZ, states.

Individuals often associate employee uniforms with button up shirts that feature the company's name in embroidery and a patch with the employee's name. Numerous other clothing options are now offered, however, thus businesses need to take a second look at how they can ensure their brand stands out. Lined storm jackets, polos and utility shorts are only three of the many solutions offered today, as each organization has unique needs when it comes to their employee apparel.

"Regardless of which option is selected, companies find the uniform serves as free advertising, and many options currently available help to improve the safety of employees. What many don't realize is they do much more than this. Uniforms allow individuals to quickly identify people and whether or not they belong in a certain area and also promote team spirit among employees," Chambers continues.

Employees appreciate company uniforms for numerous other reasons. When uniforms are provided by a company, for example, the employee saves money. In addition, certain items have safety features, such as flame retardant vests, to ensure the employee is protected at all times.

"Visit the Home page today to learn more about the new clothing options offered. While on the site, be sure to check out all products currently stocked, as you may be surprised to find that the company has something that will be of benefit to you that you didn't even know was available. Contact them with any questions also, as they will be happy to help you find the perfect item for your needs," Chambers declares.

About Dynamic Gift NZ:

The employees of Dynamic Gift NZ love what they do and understand how to promote other companies in the best light. Many of the products are made in the company's own facilities, helping to keep prices low and reduce delivery times. Furthermore, the company offers an in-house design service to ensure clients receive exactly what they need to present their company favorably at all times.

For more information, please visit http://www.dynamicgift.co.nz

Contact Info:

Name: Lyn Chambers

Organization: Dynamic Gift NZ

Phone: 0800 177 666

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/dynamic-gift-nz-launches-an-updated-clothing-range/134077

Release ID: 134077

For more information visit r



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GTA Mortgage Agent Karla Drofil Joins with Sherwood Mortgage of Toronto

In a move to better serve clients in the Toronto, ON area, Karla Drofil has joined with Sherwood Mortgage Toronto, a well-known and respected brokerage firm with 12 years of experience in real estate.

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As part of Karla Drofil's ongoing effort to improve the brokerage services offered to clients, the Toronto, ON-based real estate agent has moved to a new brokerage firm, Sherwood Mortgage Toronto.

Sherwood Mortgage Toronto is known for its excellent service, fantastic rates and independent throughout the industry, with a history of serving its clients well. They have a new office location in the city as a way to both meet with clients and provide a solid resource base for their large network of independent brokers from across Canada.

Full details about the change can be viewed on the website: http://sherwoodmortgagetoronto.ca/ or by contacting the firm via Google search, phone or the many relevant social media sites.

Karla Drofil spoke highly of the change in brokerage firms, saying that it is great to be with the #1 Mortgage Brokers of Toronto. "Life is all about taking what you have learned from the past and making it count in a positive way in the future". With a track record as stellar as she has Sherwood hopes to take their brokerage goals to new levels by becoming the go to resource in both the Toronto and GTA regions.

She brings with her a deep understanding of all the changes in the mortgage industry and how that can affect new clients in both a positive and negative way. With full knowledge of the commercial end of the business Karla will be an excellent resource for those companies looking to either change an existing mortgage or start the process towards getting a new one.

This new partnership will provide services for home mortgages, commercial mortgages and reverse mortgages in particular, but all people who need brokerage services are welcome.

All those with questions are invited to get in touch with Karla Drofil via the website, http://sherwoodmortgagetoronto.ca/.

For more information, please visit http://sherwoodmortgagetoronto.ca/

Contact Info:

Name: Karla Drofil

Organization: Sherwood Mortgage Group

Address: 529 Wilson Avenue

Phone: (647) 496-1078

Release ID: 134025

For more information visit r



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Vincent Van Gogh trilogy sets now available at ArtZoe.com

Art Zoe has added two new Vincent Van Gogh Trilogy sets to its collection. Further information can be found at https://artzoe.com/ and https://artzoe.com/collections/vincent-van-gogh.

--

In a exciting change of pace, Art ecommerce Store "Art Zoe", will be celebrating the launch of its Vincent Van Gogh collection. Art Zoe has spent months ensuring that the Vincent Van Gogh collection is of the highest quality. It's reported the launch will take place on 21st of September.

Most competitors simply churn out art print after art print without really checking the quality of the product. Art Zoe is very different. Art Zoe prides itself on the fact that it focuses on launching a few products at a time. At Art Zoe, they believe too much too soon will hurt their ability to truly serve the customer. Art Zoe has opted to make sure the launch of the Vincent Van Gogh collection leaves the new customers overjoyed with the product.

Mr. Nelan, Founder of Art Zoe, says: "We wanted to put the Art Zoe brand out there. It should be really worthwhile and we're hoping people will see our love for providing famously affordable Vincent Van Gogh prints.. This launch should go great!!"

Art Zoe has always thrived on the idea of standing out and making a sincere commotion. It's all part of the fun and should win over art lovers to the Art Zoe brand. Art Zoe customers are contacted by the founder to ensure the prints were received in perfect condition. Art Zoe also hates shipping charges so that means free shipping anywhere in the continental United States!

When asked about the Art Zoe launch, Mr. Nelan said: "We think Art Zoe will be a huge success due to our commitment to our customers satisfaction.".

Vincent Van Gogh collection by Art Zoe is available now. To find out more, it's possible to visit https://artzoe.com/collections/vincent-van-gogh

For further information about Art Zoe, all this can be discovered at https://artzoe.com/

For more information, please visit https://www.artzoe.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Jake

Organization: Art Zoe

Address: 9800 Hillwood Parkway, Suite 140, Fort Worth, Texas,

Phone: (682) 312-3500

Release ID: 133566

For more information visit r



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Free Freightnet Membership

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So ridiculous. If you threaten the police with a weapon and don't disarm yourself when directed to and then you get shot it is 100% your own fault and you are a complete *******.Then you get our pathetic excuse for a leader condoning the criminal actions of those protesting an event that is 100% the victims own fault. disgustingHe's saying that because there doing just what he want's.This president has done NOTHING to improve their lives at all! He is the most divisive President! You would think that the first African American President would have at least tried to do something to improve the lives and safety of the poor inner cities. Why hasn't he addressed all the shootings and murders in the inner cities?!? Guess it doesn't fit his narrative of "transforming America"?!?The same reaction Obama and the bigoted DOJ had when NBP members interfered with voters in PA: convicted but not sentenced; the same response as when violent criminals get early release to repeat their violent crimes on innocent citizens; the same response when criminal illegal aliens repeatedly reenter America to perpetrate more crimes; the same response to acknowledged terrorists infiltrating America as "refugees". Notice a trend here?Once you accept that Obama hates America, everything he says and does finally makes sense.
Pitch Perfect 3 Release Date, News & Update: Vanessa Hudgens, Lea Michele, Leighton Meester Replacing Anna Kendrick? Rebel Wilson Bouts Elizabeth Banks?

Several fans are now excited for the upcoming premiere of the "Pitch Perfect 3" movie. Now, new reports are claiming that either Vanessa Hudgens, Leighton Meester or Lea Michele will be replacing Anna Kendrick in the third installment of the drama-musical series.

'Pitch Perfect 3' Release Date, News & Update: Vanessa Hudgens, Lea Michele, Leighton Meester Replacing Anna Kendrick? Rebel Wilson At War With Elizabeth Banks?

Rumor mills are claiming that "Pitch Perfect 3" might probably be replaced after Elizabeth Banks was substituted by Trish Sie due to some problems. Sources have claimed that Anna Kendrick is no longer returning in the third installment of the drama-musical series after she got tired of waiting for so long.

According to reports, either Vanessa Hudgens, Lea Michele or Leighton Meester could replace Anna Kendrick as the new lead star of the "Pitch Perfect 3" movie. Most fans know that there three actresses are equally talented, especially in singing. Hence, it comes to no surprise that their names are no being linked to the upcoming second sequel film.

Insiders revealed that Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson are currently at war with Elizabeth Banks, which is probably the reason why she gave up the "Pitch Perfect 3" director's chair. For some unknown reasons, the three actresses have reportedly had a fight while they were on the movie's story conference.

Though these reports could possibly be true, neither Anna Kendrick nor Rebel Wilson has confirmed anything as of yet. Elizabeth Banks, on the other hand, reportedly, wants to focus on her kids and giving up "Pitch Perfect 3" is one of her hardest decisions in life, Variety reports.

Well, whether there reports are true or not, there is no doubt that all of the three actresses -- Vanessa Hudgens, Lea Michele, Leighton Meester - are qualified to replace Anna Kendrick in "Pitch Perfect 3" if need be. However, fans are hopeful that the original casts will reprise their roles in the upcoming second sequel.

'Pitch Perfect 3' Release Date, News & Update: Hailee Steinfeld Leads New Batch of Barden Bellas? Trish Sie To Make Movie Livelier?

Meanwhile, GamenGuide has previously reported that Hailee Steinfeld could probably take the lead role in the upcoming "Pitch Perfect 3" movie. Most fans can recall that the characters of Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Britanny Snow have already graduated from high school.

Rumors are rife that Hailee Steinfeld is going to become the leader of Barden Bellas while Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Britanny Snow will act as their consultants. Other news claim that the "Pitch Perfect 3" will be livelier as it will include more dancing and stunts especially now that "Step Up" director Trish Sie is at the helm.

"Pitch Perfect 3" is expected to premiere in 2018. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for more "Pitch Perfect 3" news and updates!
iOS 10.0.1 Jailbreak New, Release Date & Update: Latest Apple OS RollOut Crackable After All

Apple rolled out iOS 10.0.1 which dampened any hope of an iOS jailbreak for the iOS 10. Pangu had that one last tool to release but the understanding was that the Cupertino company had foiled the Chinese groups exploits yet again.

That was until recently when Lucas Tedesco took the spotlight once again to show that iOS 10.0.1 is not 100% perfect. Tedescos latest breakthrough spread over Twitter recently wherein he showed off an iPhone 7 running iOS 10.0.1 jailbreak with Cydia 1.1.26 installed.

Take note that this is not the first time that Tedesco has come out to show off his hacking skills. He did it before with an iOS 10 jailbreak. He showed a couple of videos cracking the iOS 10, something he accomplished using the YaluX which worked on arm64ie.64bit devices.

Where are the actual iOS 10.0.1 jailbreaks?

Tedescos breakthrough of an iOS 10.0.1 jailbreak could be something only if it were actually available. Similar to the iOS 10 jailbreaks he showed off on video, there is no indication of him making the tool available publicly.

Tedesco follows a long line of independent hackers who have either kept the jailbreak to themselves or have simply faked everything to get some attention. Right now, the obvious search is for an iOS 10.0.1 jailbreak and it doesnt take a genius to note that his dish was a bit coincidental.

This is of course not meant to discredit Tedesco. However, limiting the iOS 10.0.1 jailbreak to himself comes more with questions that answers. Hence, his claim of an iOS 10.0.1 jailbreak is nothing more but a hoax until he does come out with a tool which the public can use.

Moving forward, there is no question that the Apple jailbreaking community will continue to hope for an official iOS 10.0.1 jailbreak tool. Pangu and TaiG are still the reliable sources for such though they seem to have heavily fallen behind.
Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Divorce: Deadpool 2 Actor Cheating With Morena Baccarin? Gossip Girl Actress Secretly Seeing Titanic Star Leonardo DiCaprio?

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have been hitting the divorce headlines again lately. Now, new reports are claiming that the "Deadpool 2" actor is very much willing to dump his wife for Morena Baccarin.

Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Divorce: 'Deadpool 2' Actor Cheating With Morena Baccarin? 'Gossip Girl' Actress Secretly Seeing 'Titanic' Star Leonardo DiCaprio?

Rumors are rife that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are currently having problems with their marriage. Sources have claimed that the "Deadpool 2" actor is cheating on his wife with Morena Baccarin.

According to reports, Ryan Reynolds is secretly hooking up with Morena Baccarin while Blake Lively is pregnant with their second baby. Insiders say that the "Deadpool 2" stars have been spotted together for several times even after they film for the eighth installment in the "X-Men" film series.

Blake Lively, on the other hand, is said to be seeing "Titanic" actor Leonardo DiCaprio behind Ryan Reynolds' back. Rumor mill is spreading that the rumored boyfriend of Rihanna has been taking advantage of his former ladylove while the "Deadpool 2" actor, who, at that time, was busy filming for the first "Deadpool" movie.

Though these reports could possibly be true, neither Ryan Reynolds nor Blake Lively has confirmed anything as of yet. Besides, the "Deadpool 2" actor seems to be really happy with his wife right now.

As a matter of fact, both Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are even excited for their second baby, which is expected to arrive before the year ends or early next year. So, fans of the "Deadpool 2" actor and the "Gossip Girl" star should take everything with a grain of salt until it has been proven true and correct.

Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively Divorce: Leonardo DiCaprio's Ex Joining Scarlett Johansson's Former Husband in 'Deadpool 2'? Hollywood Couple To Do A Lot of Bed Scenes?

Meanwhile, GamenGuide has previously reported that Blake Lively could possibly join Ryan Reynolds in the upcoming "Deadpool 2" movie. Sources have claimed that the co-star of Leighton Meester in "Gossip Girl" does not want to see her husband doing bed scenes with other women; so, she reportedly talked to the film's higher-ups and convinced them to add her to the already-star studded cast.

If these claims are true, Blake Lively is expected to make "Deadpool 2" a sexier especially with the fact that she will be working with her husband, Ryan Reynolds. Meanwhile, "Deadpool 2" is expected to premiere in 2018. Stay tuned to GamenGuide for the latest news and updates about the alleged Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively divorce.
Civilization 6 Release Date, News & Update: Rome Gets Better, Meaner Military Expansion? Trajan Leads The Way & Legion Builds Forts & Roads!

"Civilization 6" recently teased their fans with the release of Rome with Trajan as their leader. In history, he is an emperor from 98 to 117 AD who was successful in leading the greatest military expansion. It was so successful that he was declared as optimus princeps which means "the best ruler."

In "Civilization 6" Rome, the focus is on spreading and conquering other cities across the map. This is made possible by Legion which can build roads and forts. Is this unique feature of Rome better than Swordsman? iDigital Times reported that Legion is stronger and more expensive. It may not necessarily signify a meaner military expansion as it only has limited power.

Legion in "Civilization 6" Rome, though unique and strong, has limited power. Gamers can only build up to specific number. The Baths, which replaced Aqueduct, is a unique building which can provide more amenities and housing for its residents.

Other cities in "Civilization 6" usually start with a monument. But in Rome, it has one free building right in the heart of the city. One of its strength is its ability to quickly start a city with the help of Legion and the advantages of Baths. Once gamers sent their military across the map for expansion, they can establish and retain their grounds with the help of Forts.

The military expansion of Trajan in the 13th century was seen unmatched by any other emperor. In "Civilization 6," Rome defeated Dacia twice, Parthia, Armenia and Ctesiphon under the leadership of Trajan. His military skills in invading other cities were better and meaner, but he has a soft heart as well making him loved by his own people. He ensured that orphans and children in the poor communities are well taken care of.

Stay tuned to GameNGuide for the latest news and updates on "Civilization 6" which will be released on Oct 21.
'The Flash' Season 3 Air Date, Spoilers, News & Update: Barry Meets Tom Felton's Julian Albert In Paradox! Doctor Alchemy Connection Confirmed?

Fans have been speculating about Tom Felton's character in the third season of "The Flash". There were rumors that the "Harry Potter" star will portray the villainous Doctor Alchemy, but Felton was later confirmed to play a regular guy named Julian Albert. However, it looks like the unlikely character could cause some trouble for Grant Gustin's Barry Allen. Is Julian somehow connected to Alchemy and Iris West in "The Flash" Season 3?

Tom Felton's Julian Albert To Debut In 'The Flash' Season 3 Episode 2! Is He Connected To Doctor Alchemy?

There is just a few more weeks before "The Flash" Season 3 premieres on The CW, but more information about the series are still surfacing. ComicBook actually found the synopsis for the second episode, which will be titled "Paradox". The description for Episode 2 reveals that Barry Allen will meet Tom Felton's Julian Albert, who happens to have an "immediate disdain for Barry." Is it because Julian is somehow connected to new villain Doctor Alchemy?

Although the synopsis does not state Julian Albert's connection to Doctor Alchemy, fans couldn't help but speculate on the possibility. Some people also believe that Tom Felton's character is somehow aware that Barry Allen caused the change in the timeline. But is it possible that Julian's hate for Barry has anything to do with Iris West? Is Julian also interested in Iris and sees Barry as a threat in "The Flash" Season 3?

It is still unknown whether Julian Albert will be a villain connected to Doctor Alchemy, a possible love interest or maybe even a new good guy in "The Flash" Season 3. However, fans may find out soon enough. "The Flash" returns to The CW with the premiere episode "Flashpoint" on October 4. Tom Felton's debut will be in the second episode "Paradox", which airs on October 11.
Rotary got started in Long Beach in 1917 when seven local businessmen met with a New York Rotarian who talked about his club there.
SWEET HOME  Shrieks and laughter, punctuated by the spin and thwack from the foosball games, ring through the student commons during breaks at Sweet Home Junior High.

Underneath the morning madness, however, a quiet melody unfolds, drifting between the knots of kids trailing backpacks and September sweatshirts on their way to their first class.

Sometimes the music wraps a tendril around a student and draws him near for a moment or two. Sometimes it pulls one right over to the source: a baby grand piano bearing a sign that reads, in large letters: "PLAY ME."

Mornings start with melodies at Sweet Home Junior High because of that message. Donated by Will Garrett of Radiator Supply House, the baby grand inspires students to come experience its ivory-keyed inspiration each morning, afternoon and lunchtime.

On this particular Wednesday, it's Pachelbel's famed Canon in D, followed by snippets of Hans Zimmer's soundtrack from the movie "Interstellar," and then a riff or several from the video game series, "The Legend of Zelda."

Sure, they're interspersed with some decidedly unmelodic chords  some students can't resist simply slamming a hand on the keys in passing  but all of it is music to Principal Colleen Henry's ears.

"It's amazing to have it here," she said. "Just putting art out there and seeing how people interact with it  I think that's one of the great things about education, giving kids the tools and having them make their own meaning with it."

The piano had belonged to Garrett's mother and was part of her house in Medford. When Garrett and his siblings decided to join forces to give her a new one, the old baby grand needed a new home.

Garrett was already interested in making sure Sweet Home's schools had ready access to pianos. He donated an older upright last year to Hawthorne Elementary School, where children can play it during recess. And he set a "Play Me" piano downtown during the Oregon Jamboree this year for anyone in the community to try.

The junior high, which received the baby grand just after school started, happened to be next on his list. But Garrett said he isn't done. His goal is to get a piano in every school. He's keeping his eye out for a special one for Sweet Home High School next.

Garrett's three children, ages 10, 8 and 6, all play the piano. Garrett himself took lessons as a child, although these days he'll admit only to the occasional noodling around.

But not everyone was so lucky, he said, and you never know what might trigger a new passion in someone's life. So after seeing online videos of a man who made a hobby out of placing pianos on the sidewalks of various towns in Europe, he decided he could do the same.

He remembers the plan: Im going to wait until its summertime in Sweet Home and I'm going to throw one out on the street and just see what happens."

What happened was an act of vandalism that took that first piano out of service shortly after Garrett set it up. He learned about it while he was out of town on business. But before he could even make it home, he said, a church had replaced the instrument, which thrilled him no end  that meant the community had joined in his vision.

As for the schools, Garrett said, that idea grew partly from a regular safety meeting he holds at Radiator Supply House. He was sitting with several employees and asked them who played a instrument. Drums? Guitar? Anything?

"Not one person raised their hand," he said. Thats a bummer. And they're the younger generation, 20 to 35. And so I got this idea. Hawthorne Elementary, Im going to put one on the playground in a protected area just so kids can go out there and bang on it. How many kids out there in the elementary dont even know what a piano is?

Garrett hears from plenty of people who aren't sure about putting a piano on a playground, or outside a business, or in the hands of untutored middle-schoolers who might not be, shall we say, particularly gentle with the equipment.

He just tells such commenters that's not the point. With word about his project getting around, Garrett currently has a surplus of pianos, most of which have been sitting forlornly in a storage unit, unplayed by anyone at all.

"I'd rather see them go out there, six months, eight months, and get ruined than see these people take them to the dump," he said. Let the kids use them up.

And use them they do. At Sweet Home Junior High, seventh-grader Andra Gordon lays out the Hans Zimmer tunes with a practiced hand, though she's never had a lesson. "I just listen to songs and then play them," she said.

She works on an electric keyboard at home but prefers the sound of the baby grand. And it's fun, she said, to see random people get together to try a duet  which they do, from time to time.

"I think it brings students together," she said. "I actually met a few people just by hanging around and playing the piano."

Eighth-grader Zach Winney is one of those people. The 14-year-old joined Andra for a few tunes on this particular morning and said he likes the change in atmosphere the piano helps to bring.

"Kids are not, like, fighting much," he said. And people are encouraging, he said, when a newbie tries the instrument, often saying, "You're doing great."

The junior high offers band and choir, but students have to travel to the high school to participate because no music room exists in their building. And the district's elementary schools have no music program at all.

Increasingly, research is showing that learning music enhances the brain's ability to process other subjects, such as language and math. So in a way, Sweet Home educators say, the new piano is an important educational tool.

"It's something for them to look forward to at school. A connection," said Vice Principal Andy Price.

Added counselor Shelly Roe: "It's nice just to have an opportunity for kids to play an instrument."
LEBANON  Mike Miller had no intention of becoming a pastor. He didn't even go to church. He was studying theater lighting design and that was to be his career.

God, however, had other plans.

Miller, now 34, became the new pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lebanon as of Aug. 21. He succeeds the Rev. Edwin Rumerfield, who lost his battle with cancer in 2014 after 23 years at the church.

Miller said he's hoping both to help longtime parishioners grow in their faith as well as reach out to people like himself, who might not understand, believe, or even be familiar with the concept of Jesus Christ as a personal savior.

"It meant so much for me, coming from no church background, and living what I can now see as a life that pushed God out  I can see what a gift it is that Jesus loves me. And not just me. He loves every single one of us," Miller said.

Despite all the rebellion in the world, all the pain, all the evil mankind does against one another, Jesus went to the cross for all of it, he went on.

"I still have this heartfelt desire to share that, and God has equipped me to do that in the public ministry, as being a pastor."

Being a pastor was the last thing on Miller's mind when he first began making career plans, however.

Miller's mother had a Lutheran background. But growing up in Oakland, California, Miller never went to church and wasn't familiar with any sort of structured belief.

The closest he'd ever come to experiencing the notion of a higher power came in his 20s when he joined an Al-Anon 12-step group to help him cope with alcoholism in a family member. For the first time, he started thinking about what a "higher power" might mean in his own life.

He got into spirituality, he said, by "dipping my toe in ... and kind of fell headlong into following God."

Miller was living in Bellingham, Washington, by then, studying theater lighting design at Western Washington University. In 2005, he went with his mother to a Christmas service at the church nearest to his home  it happened to be Lutheran  but even then, he wasn't completely swayed.

Still, Miller continued to read the Bible and go to church, visiting a different Lutheran church with a friend. Before long, people started asking him when he would be becoming a pastor himself.

Theater takes a full-time commitment, something Miller found, increasingly, he wasn't able to give. "I felt pulled to something more," he said. "My heart was in my new faith."

So between his junior and senior years, he spoke with his pastor and dared to broach the question: Were his friends right? Should he think about becoming a pastor himself?

Yes, the pastor said: Based on everything he'd come to learn about Miller, that sounded like the right path.

So in 2008, Miller enrolled in Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He spent a year in Billings, Montana, doing an internship known as a vicarage, then accepted a call at a church in Clovis, New Mexico.

Four years later, however, he was looking forward to moving back to the Pacific Northwest. And he felt he was a person who met Bethlehem Lutheran's goal: to find a pastor who teaches from the Bible and wants an "authentic faith," and to do community outreach to bring that faith to others.

At Bethlehem Lutheran, he said, "We really focus on God's power to bring people to faith in Christ and enrich our lives."

Lutherans in general draw everything from Scripture and rest their teachings on what the Scriptures say, Miller said. Particularly, he said, "We are saved by grace, not by anything that we've done."

Bethlehem Lutheran is part of the Missouri Synod, which he said believes the entire Bible is God's word, in contrast to churches that may say the Bible contains God's word but also has room for debate on which parts are just human opinion.

"The division is something that deeply saddens me, because whenever people are taught that you can't trust the Bible as God's word, how can we know what God thinks of us or really be sure of our salvation?" he said.

That said, he stressed Bethlehem Lutheran is a place where all are welcome and accepted. Christians, as he preached on a recent Sunday, should not judge one another.

"All of us are together in humanity as being fallen into sin and needing Jesus to rescue us from hell by the shedding of His blood," he said.

"This is a welcoming place for every person."

Miller and his wife, Rebecca, have two children, Ian, 5, and Claire, 3.

In addition to continuing to get to know his parishioners and the community, he's planning to develop a website to help link the church more closely to the community

Both Miller and his wife said they've found the church and the community to be very welcoming, and they're ready to share that welcome with others.

"It comes out of the love that God shows us in Christ as a father," he said.
Deutsche Welle : African film evening

Foto: dpa

BONN Deutsche Welle will show African films on Monday evening; admission is free and the event is open to the public.

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Deutsche Welles African department invites the public to an African film evening on Monday, September 26. At 7 p.m., the film Gerreta will be shown in the Deutsche Welle building at Kurt-Schumacher-Strae 3. The film is about a father in Ethiopia who tries to find food for his son and is accused of stealing The film is in the Amharisch language with English subtitles.

As well, a documentary film will be shown, taking place in the border area between the Congo and Rwanda. It is called Rumeurs du Lac and will be in the French language with German subtitles.
Bonn homicide squad investigates : Euskirchen: Twelve-year-old with life-threatening injuries

EUSKIRCHEN A twelve-year-old student in Euskirchen was critically injured on Thursday. A Bonn homicide division is investigating - also against classmates.

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Police and public prosecutors said on Friday that a twelve-year-old boy was delivered to a Cologne hospital with life-threatening injuries on Thursday evening. According to initial information from investigators, the youth could have been the victim of a beating attack.

As part of the immediate investigation, there were indications that other students might have injured the twelve-year-old student, said police spokesperson Frank Piontek to the General Anzeiger. He said the circumstances as to how and why it came to such serious injuries were still unexplained. Because of this, a homicide division and prosecutors in Bonn have taken over the investigation as of Friday morning.

Doctors at the Euskirchen hospital contacted police at around 6 p.m. Thursday evening because the youth had been brought there with serious injuries in the afternoon. Police say a teacher had notified an emergency physician at around 2:30 p.m. because the student complained of severe pain and was dazed. According to General Anzeiger information, he is a student at the Gesamtschule (a high school) in Euskirchen.
SWEET HOME  Sweet Home received national recognition this summer when its Elks lodge became the first in its district  and possibly in Oregon  to receive the designation of All-American Elks Lodge.

Sweet Home Elks Lodge No. 1972 received a third place plaque for its size division for 2015-16, which was awarded at the national convention this past July in Houston, Texas.

The award is national-level acknowledgment of all the hard work the Elks have been doing in the past decade, said District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Ron Sharrah. It's an honor he was excited to share.

"What it means is that you're a successful lodge because you're active in your community and you participate in Grand Lodge programs," he said.

Contributions to the community are the reason for Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in the first place, he said, and the Grand Lodge recognizes those lodges that contribute the most.

"That's why we exist," he said. "We're a service organization."

The charter for Lodge No. 1972 dates to July 14, 1955. But a decade ago, it didn't look as though it was going to be able to keep up any kind of contribution. Membership was falling off and internal struggles were growing as the lodge coped with a federal lawsuit  later dismissed  alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

All of that is past, however. Current members have spent the past several years working hard on community outreach, publicizing scholarship and service efforts, and remaking the lodge into a welcoming place for all.

Much of the latter is evident in the new decor. With the help of several key individuals  among them Bonnie McCollum, Patricia Sharrah, Lewis Crane, Brenda Hollenbeck and former Elk Virgil Cramblett  the once-blank walls of the upper story kitchen and dining area have been transformed into a loving tribute to pioneer living and Sweet Home's early days.

Crane had a large box of antique kitchen tools, such as whisks and potato mashers, which McCollum hung in the form of mobiles and other whimsical displays. McCollum used a carving tool to design a sign for the kitchen that reads, "The chuck wagon." Swinging saloon-style doors lead to the bar area, where Hollenbeck hand-panted an elk with a majestic rack.

"We had a lot of fun with it," said McCollum, who decorated the walls with pictures designed to draw people in: old photographs from the construction of Foster Dam on one wall, publicity shots of John Wayne on another. "I'm really proud, because this has come a long way."

The Elks themselves have made a concerted effort to be welcoming, too, Sharrah said. In years past, a visitor might have been greeted with nothing but silence or a curious stare. Now, members are quick to introduce themselves, learn a little something about the newcomer and invite him or her to participate.

The lodge offers plenty of opportunities for participation, Sharrah said. A small sample of programs include college scholarships, drug awareness programs, the annual Americanism essay contest, a backpack snack program, holiday celebrations and an annual memorial service each December to honor those who left their ranks the previous year.

A giant event each year is the Back to School Fair, for which the Elks use a $2,000 Beacon grant to buy children school supplies.

Teachers themselves aren't left out, Sharrah added. A separate Promise grant helps cover the wish lists for their classrooms.

The Elks also help with building needs. To date, the lodge has donated some $60,000 in cash and in-kind work to help spruce up the Sweet Home High School auditorium.

The community has taken notice, Sharrah said. Back around 2008, Lodge No. 1972 had about 272 members. Now, it's at 480 and climbing.

Esquire Al Bashaw said he thinks the troubling times of a decade ago also scared people into activity.

"It's one of the few places in town you can hold a large gathering," he said. "They didn't want to lose it, thank God. They got busy. They got active and brought it back."

The All-American award is something lodges must apply for every year. It's up to Exalted Ruler Barbara Ross to keep the designation going.

Bashaw said the lodge is behind her. "Having got something like that, that inspires the membership to do more," he said.

Plus, he said, it's a point of pride. Smiling, he said, the Elks used to be known particularly for their steak dinners. "Now they've got something else to know us for."
Supermarket trouble : Kaisers risks going out of business

DUSSELDORF Discussion are underway to try and salvage something of the Kaisers Tengelmann supermarket chain. A first meeting produces no concrete results.

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For employees of Kaisers Tengelmann supermarkets, these are worrisome days. The small grocery chain is in danger of going under and 15,000 jobs are at risk. Discussions and negotiations to try and salvage the chain have not yet produced any positive results.

The Edeka supermarket chain had proposed a complete acquisition of the Kaisers Tengelmann stores and promised to secure all jobs, but Rewe took legal action against this proposal and the German antitrust division did not allow the deal to go through.

Rewe is concerned that Edeka would have too strong of a position, especially in the markets in Berlin and Bayern if it took over all the Kaisers Tengelmann stores. As well, it would then be the absolute market leader and this would be damaging for Rewe, whose employees would also be concerned about their jobs.

On Thursday, Rewe Chief Executive Alain Caparros proposed dividing the 400 Kaisers Tengelmann stores between the two bigger supermarket chains, Rewe and Edeka, saying this would alleviate concerns about unfair commercial competition and employee jobs would still be secured.

On Thursday evening, chief executives of Edeka, Kaisers Tengelmann and Rewe, along with union representatives met to discuss the future of the ailing supermarket chain and securing jobs. No agreement was reached but all parties said the goal was to meet again soon to continue talks.
Deutsche Telekom : More flexibility in work hours, better service

BONN A new model for customer service at Deutsche Telekom should make employee working hours more flexible and increase efficiency. Around 15,000 employees will be effected.

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Telekom announced on Thursday evening that it has taken action to improve its customer service. All of the service areas including customer service, technical support and grid expansion will be fused together under the leadership of Ferri Abholhassan who serves on the Board of Management and was former T-Systems Manager.

Until now, Telekom used a classic form of customer service where the different areas of service were divided. By bringing them all together under one roof, Telekom hopes to avoid duplicity of work and improve coordination. Around 15,000 employees will be affected by the organizational changes, according to labor union information.

Part of the new agreement will include more flexible working hours for service employees. The reorganization is to begin in 2017. In the coming year, employees will be able to increase their weekly working hours within a certain time period for up to four hours and receive either extra compensation or time off. Beginning in 2019, Telekom will also be able to reduce employee work hours up to four hours per week. This is meant to help Telekom address fluctuations in personnel needed for grid expansion.
Study finds that wastewater injections cause man-made earthquakes, but the risk can be reduced through monitoring

Injecting wastewater deep underground as a byproduct of oil and gas extraction techniques that include fracking causes human-made earthquakes, the lead author of new research from Arizona State University said Thursday.

The study, which also showed that the risk can be mitigated, has the potential to transform oil and gas industry practices, ASU geophysicist Manoochehr Shirzaei said, calling the findings very groundbreaking and very new.

Its a hot topic because injection and fracking is extremely important in terms of jobs, money and independence, Shirzaei, an assistant professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration, said.

The technique to extract oil and gas from rock using a high-pressure mix of water, sand or gravel and chemicals produces lots of wastewater, he said. This wastewater is disposed of through underground injections that have led to an increase in earthquakes across the United States, he said.

So now the goal, the scope of every scientist across the U.S.A., and maybe abroad, is to make that injection safer by reducing the number of earthquakes as much as we can, he said, explaining why the research was done.

Shirzaei was careful to say that the injection of wastewater can come from processes associated with oil and gas extraction other than hydraulic fracturing.

He said the study, published in the journal Science, shows that researchers can estimate how much pressure is increasing underground, providing a chance for wastewater injections to be halted before the buildup reaches a critical stage. The pressure, he said, eventually returns to normal, allowing the injections to resume.

Shirzaei said he already has plans to present the findings to state and industry leaders in Texas and Colorado. He said that no one from the oil and gas industry has seen the work because researchers wanted to maintain their independence.

The research could help reduce quakes like those felt recently in east Texas, which hasnt experienced such seismic activity historically. In May 2012, a 4.8 magnitude quake hit Timpson  the largest ever monitored in the region. Several more temblors hit the area over the next 16 months.

The quakes marked a significant increase in east Texas and in areas of the U.S. where unprecedented volumes of wastewater are being shot into deep geological formations.

About 2 billion gallons of wastewater get injected underground every day into about 180,000 disposal wells in the U.S., mainly in Texas, California, Oklahoma and Kansas, according to the official news release.

For the study, Shirzaei and co-authors William Ellsworth of Stanford University, Kristy Tiampo of the University of Colorado Boulder, Pablo Gonzalez of the University of Liverpool (UK), and Michael Manga of UC Berkeley focused on four high-volume wells used for disposing wastewater near the epicenter for the Timpson, Texas, earthquake, the release said.

The researchers used space-borne Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), a remote satellite-based sensing technique, to measure the surface uplift of the area near the wells, the release said.

Monitoring surface deformation using these remote sensing techniques is a proactive approach to managing the hazards associated with fluid injection, and can help in earthquake forecasting, Shirzaei said, according to the release. Our study reports on the first observations of surface uplift associated with wastewater injection.

The researchers then calculated the strain and pore pressure underneath the wells that resulted in the uplift and, in turn, triggered the earthquakes, the release said. The research found that seismic activity increased, even when water injection rates declined, due to pore pressure continuing to diffuse throughout the area from earlier injections, the release said.

InSAR uses a highly accurate radar to measure the change in distance between the satellite and ground surface, allowing the team to show that injecting water into the wells at high pressure caused ground uplift near the shallower wells, the release said.

In addition, the data show less seismic activity in denser rock where pore pressure was prevented from disseminating into basement rock, helping to explain why injection can, but does not always, cause earthquakes, the release said.

By integrating seismic data, injected water histories, and geological and hydrogeological information with surface deformation observations, the researchers have provided a definitive link between wastewater injection and earthquake activity in Texas, helping explain why injection causes earthquakes in some places and not others, the release said.

This research opens new possibilities for the operation of wastewater disposal wells in ways that could reduce earthquake hazards, Shirzaei said, in the release.

Reference:

M. Shirzaei, W. L. Ellsworth, K. F. Tiampo, P. J. Gonzalez, M. Manga. Surface uplift and time-dependent seismic hazard due to fluid injection in eastern Texas. Science, 2016; 353 (6306): 1416 DOI: 10.1126/science.aag0262

Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Arizona State University.
We know pterodactyls and other pterosaurs lived millions of years ago, but what about today? Many of people have witnessed creatures in the air that could only be described as some form of ancient dino-bird! Is this a case of misinterpretation or is it possible that such huge beasts could still exist and fly in our skies with very little detection?

Let's look at some regions that report these flying fossils -





Papua, New Guinea





An American family visiting Papua in 2015 got more sightseeing than they expected. They witnessed a pterosaur sighting. And they weren't the first.





Some experts have tried to talk this off as a fruit bat. I'm not sure that many people see a fruit bat and think pterosaur. The fact is, even large bats move their wings so fast, you don't see the pterosaur like definition of the wings. Others say they believe it is a ropen.









An area like New Guinea would be ideal for such a creature. If they survived the breaking up of the continents and continued on like some other creatures did, their ability to fly was what kept them from demise. The South Pacific with its chains of islands and distances and sea life would be an ideal situation for such a creature to fly back and forth, island mountain to island mountain and rest. It wouldn't be like over the United States, where a large continent of land would have people seeing it. Open ocean is a silent witness.





Africa











The Kongamato in Africa is a name given to a flying creature of unknown origin. ( LINK Explorer Frank Welland described it in his 1932 book In Witchbound Africa. The Kongamato (overwhelmer of boats), is described as a large, reddish creature with leathery wings, devoid of feathers. Eyewitnesses who are shown an illustration of the pterodactyl unanimously agreed to this identification of the Kongamato.

This creature is so revered there that the locals avoid the river or try to appease the creature in order to utilize the waterway.





New Mexico

The Santa Fe National Forest has gotten a local reputation for missing folks and pterosaur sightings and attacks. There has long been talk that the pterosaurs migrate from South America and up to the cliffs and back again depending on the time of year and breeding opportunities.





I highly suggest that if you're interested in ongong reporting of pterosaurs living in the world, check out this amazing site - LIVE PTEROSAUR . It is very thoughtfully put together with great intelligence.





Austria





This video shows a supposed sighting in Austria.









There is no need to just scoff at the notion until you do a little digging to see if they were even found in that region in the past. And, yes, they were!



(LINK) Disarticulated skeletal remains of an eudimorphodontid pterosaur from the Late Triassic of the Karwendel Mountains in Tyrol, Austria, are described and figured. It is the second record of Triassic pterosaurs from the Northern Calcareous Alps, after previous discoveries in the Southern Calcareous Alps of northern Italy.





This was about 208 million years ago. This was around the time of mass extinction, major volcanic explosions, and the breaking apart of the one continent, Pangaea. The sea creatures were first to start going extinct and reptiles. What is intriguing is the idea that some creatures remained, such as alligators and crocodiles and some dinosaurs are believed to have evolved eventually into birds. Why make an adaptation to being sky-bound rather than earth-bound? Well, it might have been the conditions of the time that they had the best chance of survival.





The pterosaurs that did remain were believed to have gone extinct 88 million years ago. It's hypothesized by experts that their size was too massive to survive and smaller bird-related creatures were doing better during that era. It does not mean, however, that they could not survive.













Let's look at the coelacanth. It was believed to have gone extinct 66 million years ago with other dino-era creatures. But, in 1938





The Natives in Africa reported huge hairy gorillas in the mountain region for generations. It wasn't until 1902 that the mountain gorillas were found and proven. All anyone knew of officially were lowland gorillas.




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.
Microsoft told to compensate after Windows 10 'affected' PCs News oi -GizBot Bureau

A British consumer watchdog has told technology giant Microsoft to compensate customers whose computers have been adversely affected by the Windows 10 upgrade.

Last year Microsoft rolled out a free Windows 10 update to all its customers. However, the widely accepted new operating system did not come out as good as people hoped it would.

SEE ALSO: Here's How You can Use Your PC Webcam as a CCTV Camera

Since Microsoft's Windows 10 update became available, consumer watchdog Which? received hundreds of complaints about the software, including repeated pop-ups regarding updates, various problems regarding printers, WiFi cards, working of speakers, files being lost and email accounts no longer syncing.

Many have complained about being "nagged" by Microsoft to install the new update and despite declining notifications, Windows 10 installed itself anyway, Mirror Online reported.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Deals and Offers: Check out the Top 10 Deals from Smartphones to TVs

Which? said there have also been complaints about poor customer service from Microsoft when users contacted the company about the problems they are having, the report said.

Of 2,500 people surveyed, who had upgraded to Windows 10, more than 12 per cent said they ended up rolling back to their previous version of the operating system.

More than half stated that this was because the upgrade had adversely affected their PC.

"We rely heavily on our computers to carry out daily activities so, when they stop working, it is frustrating and stressful," Alex Neill, Which? Director of Campaigns and Policy, was quoted as saying.

SEE ALSO: Lenovo Z2 Plus vs Xiaomi Mi 5 vs OnePlus 3: War Between Affordable Flagships

"Many people are having issues with Windows 10 and we believe Microsoft should be doing more to fix the problem," Neill added.

Which? is now calling on Microsoft to improve its customer service and compensate its customers where appropriate.

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A recent story in The Oregonian about how Measure 97 might affect the state's booming software industry offers another reason to be skeptical of the measure.

But the story also hints at the complexities surrounding debate over the measure.

Measure 97 is the proposal to levy a gross receipts tax on certain Oregon corporations. The 2.5 percent tax would be imposed on companies' sales above $25 million. It would be the largest tax increase in Oregon history, and would raise an estimated $3 billion a year. Supporters say the money would be spent on K-12 education, social services and other generally underfunded state programs, but the measure doesn't mandate that; the Legislature would have the final say on where the money would go, which is why there's increasing suspicion that the cash would wind up helping to fill the looming gaps in the state's public pension system.

The recent story by Mike Rogaway, the paper's technology reporter, noted how many (but not all) of the leaders in the tech industry are rallying against the measure.

Here's why: Even though Measure 97 proponents argue that the new tax would mostly be paid by out-of-state corporations, a quirk in the existing law means that Oregon software companies would be taxed on all of their sales, regardless of whether they occur in Oregon. That could be a big hit for the state's software companies  and could be a particularly tough hurdle for startups.

So no wonder that organizations such as the Technology Association of Oregon have come out against Measure 97. The president of the association, Skip Newberry, told The Oregonian that the association has worked in the past to lobby for increases in career education, which 97 in theory could help to fund. But he called the measure a "nuclear option."

Another tech executive told the newspaper that he agrees that the state needs to identify additional areas of revenue. But this executive added: "I just don't think jeopardizing the future of one of our most promising industries is the way to fix it."

Not everyone in the software industry is against the measure. Another tech executive said that, while he wasn't crazy about 97, the state needed to find more revenue to avoid becoming an "economic backwater." In other words, Measure 97 may be a bad idea, but in a state that has been unable to reform its tax system in any meaningful way, it's the only idea on the table.

And this executive, like others, noted that Gov. Kate Brown, who supports 97, has proposed making changes to it should it pass. Those proposed changes include adding an exemption for software companies. (In fact, both supporters and opponents of Measure 97 advocate adding that exemption, although the opponents hope that the exemption won't be necessary because voters will reject the measure.)

But there's no guarantee that the exemption, or any of Brown's other proposed changes to the measure, will fly in the Legislature.

All of which suggests a better course for Oregon voters, lawmakers and leaders: Reject Measure 97, not just for the harm it could do to the software industry, but for the damage it certainly would inflict on the state's business climate (not to mention its consumers, who likely would pay at least some of the increased taxes). And take this moment to renew serious discussions about how to overhaul the state's tax system. The situation is far too urgent for us to settle on a bad idea just because it's the only one we have. (mm)
Oracle beats Amazon Web Services in cloud database comparison News oi -GizBot Bureau

In a head-to-head comparison, global software and cloud major Oracle has beaten Amazon Web Services in cloud database comparison, Larry Ellison, company's Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, said on Wednesday at Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco.

During his keynote presentation, Ellison demonstrated that Amazon databases are 20 years behind the latest release of the Oracle Database in the Cloud.

SEE ALSO: Lenovo Z2 Plus vs Xiaomi Mi 5 vs OnePlus 3: War Between Affordable Flagships

Ellison showed that Oracle Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) is up to 105 times faster for Analytics workloads (than Amazon Redshift), 35 times faster for Online transaction processing (OLTP) (than Amazon Aurora) and 1000-plus times faster for mixed workloads than Amazon DBaaS.

Ellison also showed that the Oracle Cloud is optimised for running Oracle Database while Amazon Web Services (AWS) is not.

An Oracle Database running on the Oracle Cloud is up to 24 times faster than an Oracle Database running on AWS. Amazon Aurora, Amazon Redshift and Amazon DynamoDB only run on AWS.

"Oracle's new technologies will drive the Cloud databases and infrastructure of the future. Amazon are decades behind in every database area that matters, and their systems are more closed than mainframe computers," Ellison said.

The Oracle Database 12c Release 2 in the Oracle Cloud is now available along with the newly-launched Oracle Exadata Express Cloud Service.

SEE ALSO: Here's How You can Use Your PC Webcam as a CCTV Camera

This service provides the full enterprise edition of the Oracle Database running on the database-optimised Exadata infrastructure and is starting at $175 per month.

Oracle provides true workload portability across on-premises and cloud deployments, enabling customers to continue leveraging their existing investment, keep costs down and easily benefit from the efficiency of Cloud.

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Unwise to share intelligence with Russia on Daesh: Top US general

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 5:29PM

The top US military officer says it would be unwise to share intelligence with Russia if Washington and Moscow were to ever work together against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group in Syria.

Marine General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress on Thursday that the Pentagon 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 while testifying with US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

Dunford said any such coordination between the US and Russia against Daesh would be extremely limited.

US Republican Senator John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, fiercely criticized the possibility of future cooperation and called US Secretary of State John Kerry, who brokered a collapsed ceasefire agreement in Syria, "delusional" for seeking it.

"It would mean that the US military would effectively own future Russian airstrikes in the eyes of the world," McCain said.

The comments come amid increasing tensions between the US and Russia over Monday's deadly strike on a humanitarian aid convoy near the city of Aleppo. Both sides blame each other for the attack.

Meanwhile, Moscow has rejected a proposal by Washington which calls on Russia and Syria to stop flying their warplanes over Syria's battle zones.

A truce engineered by Washington and Moscow effectively collapsed after reports emerged of a US airstrike on Syrian soldiers in the east of the country and another attack coming from an unknown source targeting a humanitarian convoy in the northwestern city of Aleppo.

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Putin Names Duma Speaker As New Spy Boss

September 22, 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to appoint former parliament speaker Sergei Naryshkin as the chief of the country's foreign intelligence agency (SVR).

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on September 22 that Putin had asked Naryshkin at a meeting along with current SVR Director Mikhail Fradkov if he would take over the agency and that he had agreed.

"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 promptly head off threats that arise in relation to Russia, not to let them grow but on the contrary to act in such a way so that they don't arise -- to neutralize these threats at an early stage," Putin continued.

Naryshkin, 61, is a longtime supporter of Putin who also hails, like the president, from St. Petersburg.

Media reports say he previously worked abroad for the KGB before becoming a lawmaker. He was posted at the Soviet Embassy in Brussels in the 1980s.

Fradkov is a former prime minister who has led the SVR since 2007. He will reportedly become the chairman of the board of the state-run Russian Railways.

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia- putin-naryshkin-svr/28007297.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.

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Counter-ISIL Strikes Target Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Sept. 22, 2016  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 16 strikes in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIL oil wellhead.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike damaged an ISIL supply route.

-- Near Raqqah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL weapons factory and a barracks.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle, four oil tanker trucks, an oil tanker trailer and two oil wellheads. Six supply routes were damaged.

-- Near Manbij, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and damaged a checkpoint.

-- Near Mara, seven strikes engaged seven ISIL tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, a vehicle and an anti-air artillery system.

Strikes in Iraq

Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft as well as rocket artillery conducted 13 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Baghdadi, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a repeater tower and a bunker.

-- Near Mosul, four strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units and destroyed three weapons caches and suppressed a sniper firing position.

-- Near Qayyarah, four strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed 38 vehicles, four watercraft and a land bridge. A culvert entrance was damaged and a tactical unit was suppressed.

-- Near Ramadi, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two vehicles, two supply caches and a fuel tank.

-- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and an artillery system.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a checkpoint.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

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Coalition Has Momentum to End ISIL's Hold in Iraq, Syria, Dunford Says

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016  The coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has the momentum to end the terror group's hold in Iraq and Syria, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford also told the panel that he is worried about the joint force and the ability of the force to operate in the future.

The chairman testified alongside Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

The coalition, led by indigenous forces in Iraq and Syria, has made significant progress against ISIL, Dunford said. The coalition has also hit the group in other areas where it has established a foothold -- Libya, Afghanistan and West Africa, the chairman added.

"Coalition operations supporting indigenous ground forces  have disrupted core ISIL's ability to mount external attacks, reduced its territorial control, limited its freedom of movement, eliminated many of their leaders and reduced the resources that they had available," Dunford said. "Most importantly, the coalition has begun to discredit ISIL's narrative and its aura of invincibility."

More Challenges

While more needs to happen, he said, "it's clear we have the momentum in the military campaign."

The chairman backed up testimony from last week by the military chiefs. They spoke about readiness shortfalls in personnel, equipment and in modernization and research funding. "I fully concur with their assessment of the operational tempo and the budget challenges faced by each of the services and across department," he said.

While the challenges are present, the joint force remains the most capable and professional military in the world, the chairman said. "We can defend the nation, we can meet our alliance responsibilities and today we have a competitive advantage over any adversary," he added.

There are abundant challenges. On the nation-state side, Dunford said, Russia, China, Iran and North Korea continue to invest in military capabilities that reduce America's military advantage. "They are also advancing their interests through adversarial competition that has a military dimension that falls short of armed conflict," he said. "Examples include, Russian actions in Ukraine, North Korea's nuclear saber rattling, Chinese activities in the South China Sea and Iran's malign activities across the Middle East."

No Direct Confrontation

Each of these nations stays away from direct confrontation with the United States, Dunford said. Instead, he added, they use economic coercion, information operations, cyber capabilities, unconventional warfare and force posture, as semi-military strategies.

"Meanwhile, non-state actors such as ISIL and al-Qaida remain a threat to our homeland, the American people, our partners and our allies," the chairman said.

The joint force, Dunford said, "is engaged and responding to each of these strategic challenges," the chairman said. "We're focused on deterring potential adversaries and we're prepared to respond should deterrence fail. We also remain firmly committed to defeating ISIL and its affiliates wherever they may emerge."

And the joint force needs to be ready to engage any challenges moving forward, the chairman said.

"As the secretary said, we don't have the luxury of choosing between the challenges that we face today, or the challenges that we most assuredly will face tomorrow," Dunford said. "To meet tomorrow's requirements, we must take action today."

Dunford said the U.S. nuclear enterprise is aging and needs modernization. "At the same time, we must develop and enhance the capabilities in the increasingly contested domains of space and cyber," he said. "And we must also do all that while we preserve the edge in our conventional capabilities."

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Coalition forces conduct Exercise Black Alligator

US Marine Corps News

By Cpl. Levi Schultz | September 22, 2016

As the Marines approached the hill overlooking the combat town, machine-gunners took their positions to provide suppressive fire while engineers and rifleman made their advance on the facility. As the Marine Corps' premier combined-arms, live-fire training installation, this style of training is routine at the Combat Center. However, this exercise was made unique by the country the combatants serve.

In support of Exercise Black Alligator 16, the Combat Center is hosting 40 Commando Brigade of the British Royal Marines, comprised of more than 1,000 British Royal Marines and 150 Dutch Royal Army soldiers, for the duration of the 45-day training exercise that began Aug. 24, 2016.

"Black Alligator is two things principally," said Capt. Simon Long, training officer, 40 Commando. "It's a force-generation exercise, which allows us to develop our training all the way from squad-level to battle-group size live-fire, and it's also a great opportunity to integrate with the U.S. Marines Corps and conduct joint training."

With the end goal of achieving battalion-level live-fire in a combined-arms environment, Black Alligator incorporates all assets ranging from infantry and engineers to artillery and close-air support. Each element is tested through a series of validation ranges before they are brought together as a single fighting force.

"We start at the squad-level before moving up to the platoon level," Long said. "While that is going, we have a lot of different elements holding specialty-arms training; our mortars are doing mortar concentration, our artillery is doing artillery concentration, and our engineers are down in [Marine Corps Base] Camp Pendleton conducting training with 1st [Combat Engineer Battalion.] We then progress and combine those elements in combined-arms live-fire at the end."

Throughout the exercise, more than 300 U. S. Marines, including artillerymen, engineers and tankers conducted training alongside the coalition forces.

"U.S. and Royal Marines train side-by-side in several events during Exercise Black Alligator," said U.S. Marine Capt. Andrew Mirsch, exercise officer, G-3 Operations, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command. "The most significant combined training events are the Combined-Arms Live-Fire Exercise (CALFEX) and Final Training Exercise (FINEX)."

CALFEX, scheduled for Sept. 28 through Oct. 1, brings all the training together with a combined-arms live-fire attack that incorporates infantry, engineers, artillery, mortars, tanks and aviation fires. FINEX has a different focus, tasking the joint force with a clear-in-zone mission against an opposition force of U.S. Marine Corps role-players at Range 220, the Combat Center's largest Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain facility.

"[These exercises are] where we really test the commando both at the tactical level with the individuals on the ground all the way through with the decision making and of the highest levels of command," Long said. "We can do things out here that we can't do in the UK. While we don't have live-fire urban compounds, we can test all the way up to company and battle-group level."

According to Mirsch, the Combat Center provided the critical life support, logistics and infrastructure necessary to execute an exercise of this size. This included a variety of equipment drawn from MAGTFTC's Enhanced Equipment Allocation Pool.

"The equipment drawn by 40 Commando from the EEAP is particularly important to this exercise," Mirsch said. "It mitigates the need for British exercise forces to ship a battalion reinforced-sized gear set to [the Combat Center] from the U.K."

Exercise Black Alligator is held annually and will continue to promote operational forces readiness as well as strengthen relationships with coalition partners.

"Most importantly this is an opportunity to come out here and really train as we fight in austere desert environments while working alongside the U.S. Marine Corps," Long said. "We are really fortunate to receive support from 1st Tank [Battalion] and Charlie Battery with [1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment] alongside other assets. Black Alligator is a great opportunity to train as we fight but also to fight alongside our USMC brothers."

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U.S. fighter jet reportedly crashes off coast of Okinawa, Japan

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:32, September 22, 2016

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.

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US bomber flies near North Korean border

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:30AM

The United States has flown two supersonic bombers over South Korea for the second time, with one of them coming very close to the border with North Korea.

Media sources reported on Thursday that the bombers were of the B-1 type and flew over South Korea on Wednesday.

The US Pacific Command said the flight alongside the Korean demilitarized zone was the closest a B-1 has ever gotten to the border with the North.

The flyover was the second of its kind since North Korea carried out its fifth nuclear test less than a fortnight ago, although aircraft did not approach the North Korean border in the previous flight.

Just days after the September 9 nuclear test, two US Rockwell B-1B Lancer bombers took off from an American base in the US Pacific territory of Guam and performed a low-altitude flight over the Osan Air Base near the South Korean capital, Seoul.

American and South Korean warplanes also escorted the B-1Bs during the low-speed flight, which took place 77 kilometers (48 miles) from the Demilitarized Zone border with the North.

Washington said the demonstration was "just one example of the full range of military capabilities" that the US possessed to counter potential threats from North Korea in the face of the latter's nuclear and missile tests.

North Korea responded to the US demonstration of its military might by saying Washington's provocative moves were pushing the Korean Peninsula to "the point of explosion."

"These extremely reckless provocations of the US imperialist warmongers are pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula to the point of explosion hour by hour," the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Meanwhile, the CNN reported that US and South Korean forces are set to conduct a simulated attack on a nuclear facility next month. The two countries will also simulate military response scenarios to missile attacks, it said.

The joint military exercise, named "Red Flag," will take place in Alaska, the US from October 3 until October 21.

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Afghanistan signs peace accord with militant group

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:9AM

The Afghan government has inked a landmark peace deal with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of a militant group, following lengthy negotiations that could pave the way for him to make a comeback to political life.

"This agreement is signed after two years of negotiations between the High Peace Council (HPC), the leadership of the Afghan Government and the Hizb-i-Islami," said HPC Deputy Chief Habiba Sorabi, referring to the group headed by Hekmatyar.

"The peace negotiations have been successfully completed," she added during the signing ceremony in the capital, Kabul.

In the official ceremony, which was broadcast live on Afghan state television on Thursday, the peace accord was signed by the head of HPC, Ahmad Gilani, whose council has been mediating the negotiations during the past two years, the country's National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar, and Hekmatyar's representative Amin Karim.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the 69-year-old Hekmatyar must sign the accord if it is to be formalized. No timetable has yet been outlined by the government or the militant group for the formalization.

Hekmatyar, a former anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who waged a guerrilla war against the Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan, stands accused of leading a militancy that allegedly killed thousands of people, mostly civilians, in Kabul, during the 1992-1996 civil war.

In the wake of Taliban's reign of terror in 2001, Hekmatyar was designated a "global terrorist" by the US for his alleged links to al-Qaeda and the Taliban militant groups and was hence forced to go into hiding.

If the peace accord is finalized with the country's second-biggest militant group after Taliban, it would be a symbolic victory for Ghani, who seeks to revive peace talks with the much stronger Taliban, and who has so far failed to bring total peace to the country despite election promises to that effect.

Although the deal offers a ray of new hope for the conflict-ridden Afghanistan, 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 the peace accord, Kabul will offer Hekmatyar legal immunity in "all past political and military proceedings" and will release Hezb-i-Islami detainees.

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28 protesters, four police officers killed in Congo clashes: Police

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 7:18AM

Police in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) say 32 people have been killed during two days of clashes between protesters and anti-riot forces in the capital, Kinshasa.

Clashes erupted in Kinshasa when thousands of opposition supporters rallied against President Joseph Kabila and his bid to extend his term, but the march soon turned violent as security forces were deployed and fired live ammunition.

The clashes continued into the next day, when a number of people were burned alive by unknown assailants and some attacks were reported to have been launched on police positions.

But the deadly chaos apparently fizzled out on Wednesday, and normal life more or less resumed in Kinshasa. Traffic was lighter than usual in the capital and schoolchildren remained at home as a precaution.

The opposition claimed that a far greater number of people  over 100  had lost their lives in the unrest, rejecting the official figure announced by police.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said a total of 37 people had been killed, 20 on Monday and 17 on Tuesday. The New York-based human rights group said at least six police officers were among those killed.

Each side in the conflict has been blaming the other for the deadly violence in the capital. Congolese authorities have threatened to prosecute those who were behind the anti-government riots.

Opposition leader Moise Katumbi has called for sanctions to be imposed on the government for the killings.

"If there are sanctions, there is going to be stability in Congo. Without sanctions, they (the security forces) will continue killing people like mosquitoes," Katumbi said.

He said the UN must send an "independent commission" to the DR Congo to probe the deaths of protesters.

The UN Security Council, in a Wednesday statement, called on all parties to cease the clashes and to engage in an "open, inclusive and peaceful" political dialogue about conducting "credible elections."

It also urged the Congolese authorities "to exercise maximum restraint in their response to protests."

President Kabila has ruled the mineral-rich DRC since 2001. Under the constitution, he should relinquish power on December 20, but he allegedly seeks ways, including pushing back the elections, to extend his presidency.

For the past few decades, the DR Congo has been facing grinding poverty, crumbling infrastructure and a war in the east of the country that has dragged on since 1998 and left over 5.5 million people dead.

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One of the few good things that came out of this year's short legislative session was the deal that Sen. Sara Gelser struck to preserve at least some semblance of the fifth-year programs that many mid-valley high schools have pioneered.

Under these programs, high school students who have met all the requirements for graduation remain enrolled in their school districts for a fifth year while attending community college; using state school fund money, those districts cover all or some of their tuition and fees. The programs have scored some early success, particularly in helping those students (in many cases, often the first members of their families to attend college) get a head start on their postsecondary education.

But the programs come with a price tag and some legislators argued that it was unfair to use money intended for K-12 education to help pay for a 13th year for some students. And they noted, with justification, that the program wasn't financially sustainable.

The deal Gelser struck essentially attached sideboards to the fifth-year program, which now are dubbed "Post-Graduate Scholar Programs."

To control costs, students must first apply for the Oregon Promise tuition assistance program, which helps high school graduates and GED recipients pay for community college. They must also complete the federal form known as FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The idea is to control costs by trying to ensure that students also take advantage of other grants. The state allocated $10 million for the program and funded the program for only one year, but its primary proponent, Sen. Mark Hass, will be working hard to keep the program going.

But a problem has emerged with the Oregon Promise program: Many students are discovering that the program's promise  that the state would cover the costs of tuition at community colleges  is coming up a little short. State officials told The Oregonian this week that about 3,700 students will discover that they're on the hook for at least of their tuition.

Here's why: When legislators crafted the program, they capped the maximum grants at the average cost of tuition statewide and based that figure on a 12-credit course load. So students who are attending community colleges with above-average tuition and who also are taking more than 12 credits are discovering a gap between their tuition bills and what the program will provide. Hass said he wants to fine-tune the program to eliminate those gaps.

That's good. But we fear that some of the other gaps in the program are likely to continue: To qualify for the Oregon Promise, students need to have finished high school with a 2.5 grade point average or obtained a GED. And they need to enroll in a community college within six months of finishing high school. Those requirements keep the program off-limits to many students. In addition, the Post-Graduate Scholar Programs simply aren't able to offer the kind of counseling help to participating students that the fifth-year programs did  help that often proved essential to students during the critical first months of college.

Some mid-valley school board members have suggested that these gaps might prompt legislators to take a fresh look at fifth-year programs. While that would be welcome, we think it's unlikely, and Hass put his finger on the reason why in an interview with The Oregonian: The Oregon Promise program, he said, "is a basic no-frills plan that is all we could afford." With public pension bills starting to come due, and the prospect of a budget shortfall looming over next year's legislative session, we may be hard-pressed even to fill these smaller tuition gaps. (mm)
Maduro recall referendum not to be held this year: Electoral authority

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 2:39AM

Venezuela's electoral authority has announced that a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro will not be held this year in a blow to the opposition.

Following a Wednesday meeting with government and opposition officials, the country's National Electoral Council released a statement announcing that "the event could be held in the middle of the first quarter of 2017."

The ruling serves as a major blow to the country's opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), which was calling for the referendum to be held ahead of January 10 because it would set off new elections if Maduro lost.

If Maduro loses in a later vote, his vice president would complete his mandate, leaving the current socialist government in power.

The council also determined rules for the referendum, announcing that four million signatures - 20 percent of voters - must be collected over the course of three days between October 26 and 28.

The opposition has been calling for protests across the county to push for the recall referendum against the president.

Maduro, who has been under fire by his critics for causing the country's recession, blames the problems on an "economic war," which he says the opposition has waged with a helping hand from the United States in an attempt to bring about a coup d'etat in the oil-rich country.

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Afghanistan Signs Peace Deal With Hard-Line Militant Group

September 22, 2016

by RFE/RL

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

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghanistan-hekmatyar- peace-deal-signed/28006166.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.

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'Butcher Of Kabul' Returns As Afghanistan's New Hope For Peace

September 22, 2016

by Frud Bezhan

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.

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'

Hekmatyar's 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 won't 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 Hekmatyar's 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 wouldn't 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 Taliban's draconian imposition of a strict interpretation of Shari'a law.

"Hekmatyar's 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 group's 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, Iran's 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.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/butcher- of-kabul-returns-new-hope-for-peace- afghanistan/28006708.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.

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Russia to Supply Angola With Upgraded Mi-24P Attack Helicopters

Sputnik News

Russia to Supply Angola With Upgraded Mi-24P Attack Helicopters

15:05 22.09.2016(updated 15:18 22.09.2016)

According to reports, Russian Helicopters company plans to deliver a batch of upgraded Mi-24P attack helicopters to the Angolan air force later this month.

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.

 Sputnik

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Peace Agreement Between Afghan Government and Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG)

Press Statement

John Kirby

Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

September 22, 2016



The United States welcomes the peace agreement negotiated and signed between the Afghan government and representatives of Hizb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG). The only avenue to achieve lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan is through dialogue and negotiations.

The United States will continue 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 Afghan Constitution, including its protections for women and minorities. We commend the Afghan government on its achievement in forging an accord with HIG, and we look forward to supporting steps towards a comprehensive resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan.

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Palestinians still long for peace, but will never accept 'temporary solutions,' President Abbas tells UN

22 September 2016  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly to declare 2017 "the international year to end the Israeli occupation of our land and our people," and exert all efforts to end the decades of injustice imposed upon the Palestinian people and provide a unique opportunity for peace, stability and coexistence to prevail in the region.

In his address to the Assembly's annual general debate, president Abbas declared that "there is no way to defeat terrorism and extremism, no way to achieve security and stability in our region without ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine and ensuring the freedom and independence of the Palestinian people."

"Our hand remains outstretched for making peace," he continued, but noted that the question that keeps presenting itself over and over again is if there is any leadership in Israel that desires to make a true peace and "that will abandon the mentality of hegemony, expansionism and colonization, and that will recognize the rights of our people and will end the historic injustice inflicted upon them?"

Mr. Abbas said the 1993 Oslo Accords were intended to the end of the occupation and achieve the independence of the State of Palestine within five years, but Israel reneged on the agreements it signed and, to this moment, persists with its occupation and continues to expand its illegal settlement enterprise, which undermines realization of the two-State solution on the basis of the 1967 borders.

"The settlements are illegal in every aspect and any manifestation," he said, calling on the permanent members of the Security Council not to veto a resolution on Israel's settlements and the terror of the settlers being prepared in consultations with Arab countries and other friendly countries.

Mr. Abbas also pointed out that Israel continues its attempts to evade an international conference for peace, proposed by France, which has received the support of the majority of the world's countries.

"It remains our hope that such a conference will lead to the establishment of a mechanism and defined timeframe for an end to the occupation," he said, calling for support for the convening of this meeting before the end of this year.

"There is no conflict between us and the Jewish religion and its people," Mr. Abbas said, adding that "our conflict is with the Israeli occupation of our land."

"We respect the Jewish religion and condemn the catastrophe that befell the Jewish people in World War II in Europe, and view it as one of the most heinous crimes perpetrated against humanity," he said.

It has been 100 years since the notorious Balfour Declaration, by which Britain gave, without any right, authority or consent from anyone, the land of Palestine to another people, he said, explaining that this paved the road for the Nakba of Palestinian people and their dispossession and displacement from their land. Britain should bear "its historic, legal, political, material and moral responsibilities for the consequences of this Declaration, including an apology to the Palestinians.

Israel has violated UN General Assembly resolution 181 adopted in 1947, which is also known as the partition resolution because it called for the establishment of two States on the historic land of Palestine according to a specific partition plan. Israeli forces seized more land than that allotted to Israel.

Mr. Abbas appealed to UN Member States, as a follow-up to General Assembly resolution 67/19 that made Palestine a non-member Observer in the UN, to adopt another text to enable Palestine to present and cosponsor resolutions beyond the question of Palestine and grant it additional responsibilities to chair committees and international groups.

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Kabul Seals Key Peace Deal With Notorious Warlord

By Ayaz Gul September 22, 2016

Afghanistan's unity government, after months of troublesome negotiations, has signed a long-delayed draft peace agreement with the country's 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 Hekmatyar's 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 women's 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 Hekmatyar's 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 today's 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 country's 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 Ghani's 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.

(VOA's Mohammad Hashem Habibzada also contributed to this report.)

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India Hits Back at Pakistan, Calling Archrival 'Terrorist State'

By Ayaz Gul September 22, 2016

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.

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Somali Militants Attack Kenyan Police Station

By Mohamed Olad September 22, 2016

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.

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Rights Groups Call on AU to Stick With International Court

By VOA News September 22, 2016

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 AU's rejection of impunity, and with its decision to make 2016 as the AU's 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. Kenya's 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.

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ALBANY POLICE

Guitar theft  3:34 p.m. Wednesday, Oak Creek Christian Center, 5775 Columbus St. S.E. A guitar and a computer tablet were reported stolen from the main stage of the facility. The theft occurred sometime between Sunday morning and Monday morning.

LINN COUNTY SHERIFF

Water plant site theft  7:09 a.m. Wednesday, 37600 block River Drive, near Lebanon. Two 24-volt lights and fixtures worth $1,000 were stolen and wire was cut. The equipment was taken from the job site where a new water treatment plant for Lebanon is being constructed.

Child abuse arrest  1:09 p.m. Wednesday, 200 block Templeton Street, Brownsville. Authorities investigated a report of a female child who had been head-butted by an adult male and had other marks from her ear to her jawline. Ty Allen Jackson, 29, of Brownsville, was arrested. On Thursday afternoon, he was charged in Linn County Circuit Court with third-degree assault and two counts of fourth-degree assault  and all of the charges constituted domestic violence. The victim in the case was a girl younger than 10.
As DRC Tensions Rise, Central Africa Region Watches

By Anita Powell September 22, 2016

December 19, 2016, is a date hangs over Joseph Kabila's 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 nation's electoral commission, however, says it won't 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 nation's 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 it's 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, it's 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.

Uganda's 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 Africa's 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.

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Venezuela Election Authority Shoots Down Maduro Recall Bid

By VOA News September 22, 2016

Venezuela's National Electoral Council dismissed calls for a recall vote against unpopular socialist President Nicolas Maduro in 2016, but left the door open for activists seeking his ouster.

The electoral commission, after holding a meeting Wednesday with members of the opposition, said in a statement the referendum could be held as early as the first quarter of 2017, but only if they successfully collect about 4 million voter signatures  20 percent of total voters  during a three-day period next month.

Opposition leaders decried the decision to move back the date of the referendum, saying it is meant to keep Maduro in power.

"We reject the anti-constitutional elements of this announcement by the election board," said Jesus Torrealba, head of the opposition Democratic Unity coalition.

The conditions set for the timing of the referendum seem to back up Torrealba's claims. If Maduro lost the referendum vote prior to January 10, it would automatically trigger a new election. However, if it is held after January 10, Maduro's vice president would take over and finish out his term, which ends in 2019.

The government responded by accusing opposition leaders of forging signatures on its initial signature collection drive of one percent.

"There will be no referendum in 2016, it's not under discussion. They are cheats," the Socialist Party's No. 2, Diosdado Cabello, said on state TV.

The news of the postponed referendum came on the same day bus drivers took to the streets in protest against the country's deepening financial crisis.

Hundreds of bus drivers, about half the city's buses, clogged the streets of Venezuela's capital, Caracas, to demand higher pay and protection from violence.

The bus drivers said they plan to continue their protest Thursday if their demands are not met.

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Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Sept. 23, 2016  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted 14 strikes in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed two ISIL oil well heads.

-- Near Shaddadi, a strike destroyed inoperable coalition equipment.

-- Near Raqqah, two strikes destroyed two ISIL pump jacks.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes damaged 14 ISIL supply routes.

-- Near Manbij, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions.

-- Near Mara, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a bomb and a fighting position.

Strikes in Iraq

Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft as well as rocket artillery conducted 16 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Baghdadi, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions, a vehicle and a rocket rail.

-- Near Hit, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building.

-- Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed a bomb factory, a weapons cache and a heavy machine gun.

-- Near Qayyarah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units and destroyed two vehicles and a weapons cache.

-- Near Ramadi, two strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed four mortar systems, two vehicles and a supply cache.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed a heavy machine gun.

-- Near Sultan Abdallah, two strikes destroyed an ISIL weapons cache and a vehicle.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat it poses to Iraq, Syria, the region and the wider international community. The destruction of targets in Syria and Iraq further limits ISIL's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

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Afghan Security Forces Growing to Take Over Mission, General Says

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016  The Resolute Support mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces is producing tangible results, Army Gen. John W. "Mick" Nicholson Jr., commander of the Resolute Support mission and U.S. Forces Afghanistan told reporters at the Pentagon here today.

Having traveled here from his post in Afghanistan, Nicholson gave reporters an operational update and emphasized that Resolute Support, one of two missions in Afghanistan, has been particularly important as "we grow [the Afghans] to take over this mission for themselves."

The general noted the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan once totaled 140,000 troops, but now the troop strength is now about one-tenth of that.

"Our mission has changed from counterinsurgency to train, advise and assist," he said.

Afghans' Successful Operation Shafaq

The progress of Afghan security forces is particularly evident in their special forces, police special units and its air force among other elements in which the Afghans conduct the majority of their operations, he said.

Since the security forces' Operation Shafaq -- meaning dawn -- began about six months ago, its three phases so far have been successful, the commander said.

The first was the successful defense of Kunduz in April and May when the Afghans defended against a Taliban attempt to take the city, he said.

In June and July, the security forces successfully shifted to the south in Helmand, western Kandahar and Uruzgan to expand their security zone, Nicholson said.

Later in July, they successfully concentrated on Nangarhar in the east to conduct counter Islamic State of Iraq and The Levant operations, he said, adding that the operations were conducted by Afghan special forces enabled by U.S. counter-terrorism forces, and resulted in the deaths of the top 12 leaders of ISIL to include their emir, Hafiz Saeed Khan, and trading roughly 25 percent of the organization of their fighters and reducing their space in Nangarhar.

The general noted that when the enemy attempted to take several provincial capitals this summer, the Afghans were able to restore, stabilize and retain Lashkar Gah, Kunduz, and Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan.

"In every case, [ISIL] failed  [and] these have been important points of the campaign for the Afghans," he said.

Counter-Terrorism Vital in Region

"Of the 98 U.S.- or U.N.-designated terrorist organizations around the globe, 20 of them are in the [Afghanistan and Pakistan] region," Nicholson said, adding that's the highest concentration of different terror groups in any area in the world.

"While the numbers may be higher in some of these groups elsewhere, the concentration [of] groups in this region is important," he said, noting the second mission in Afghanistan is Operation Freedom Sentinel, which is primarily focused on counter-terrorism operations.

"Our presence there is critical to keeping pressure on these networks so [the enemy] cannot realize their international ambitions," Nicholson said.

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Jungle Warfare Training Center prepares Marines for operations in Asia-Pacific

US Marine Corps News

By Cpl. Janessa Pon | September 23, 2016

Since 1958, the Jungle Warfare Training Center has provided terrain and climate-specific training to units serving across the Asia-Pacific region.

This training area made up more than 17,000 acres of mountains and jungle, is the only one of its kin din the entire Department of Defense.

"JWTC is a unique and vital asset to the Marine Corps that allows Marines to train in a jungle environment," said Cpl. Matthew R. Byrd, an instructor with JWTC. "Marines who come out here get the chance to rappel the cliffs, patrol the jungle as well as get a feel for the tactical considerations of jungle operations. For the past decade, we have been operating primarily in desert climates and terrains, so this is the place Marines train in the jungle so we can operate efficiently in the Asia-Pacific region."

Throughout the vast expanse of the training area, Marines in training must trek through miles of steep hills, muddy slopes and flooded trenches.

"The terrain here is harsh," said Byrd, a Raleigh, North Carolina, native. "When Marines train here, they have to break through a lot of mental barriers. The initial shock of getting here and realizing just how much harder simple things like patrolling in the jungle are is a huge jump into the reality of combat operations out here in the Pacific."

The instructors of JWTC ensure Marines demonstrate proficiency in an array of tactical procedures, such as land navigation, patrolling and field medical care.

"JWTC is designed to carry out every stage of training from classroom instruction to practical application," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Gilbert Corpuz, an independent duty corpsman assigned to the JWTC. "One of the courses covered here is the Jungle Medicine Course, which reinforces Marines' field medical care skills and highlights some of the potential hazards that are common in jungle operations."

At the end of each course on JWTC, units in training must complete an endurance course which stretches over three miles of precipitous hills and trenches, along which Marines must overcome 31 obstacles.

"As Marines, we train how we fight," said Byrd. "When we see a problem, we adapt and overcome. On training day one, we introduce the units to the new environment and we give them the tools they need to adapt to it. Throughout the course, they must overcome mental and physical obstacles. When they complete the culminating event, we know that we have helped them become stronger, more adaptive warriors. Hard training makes hard Marines. It's a great feeling knowing that they left with more than they came with."

JWTC is one of the many installations at Okinawa that serve as a vital asset to MCIPAC by supporting MARFORPAC in its combat readiness in the Asia-Pacific Region.

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The Politics Of Fear: Referendum In Republika Srpska

By Gordana Knezevic September 23, 2016

Reality has been hijacked. Facts are twisted. Confusion reigns. Welcome to Bosnia.

A referendum called by the president of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, over a seemingly innocent question -- whether January 9 should be celebrated as the entity's Statehood Day -- is set to take place on September 25.

Many observers in the Balkans see it as a dress rehearsal for an attempt to secede -- and thus the opening of a Pandora's box in the region. The Bosnian Constitutional Court has asked Republika Srpska to reconsider the choice of January 9, because it excludes the entity's non-Serbian population. It is not only an Orthodox holiday but marks the day in 1992 when a renegade Bosnian Serb assembly declared an independent Serbian state in Bosnia. Ignoring that recommendation, Dodik has decided to proceed with the referendum. He confirmed as much in an interview with RFE/RL.

In a video clip aired on Banjaluka TV, a young man named Stefan says that he was born during the war, that his father was killed, and that all he has left is his faith, his Orthodox holiday, and his homeland. The message is emotionally charged, but it strays from reality. In the clip, Stefan's Serbian father is a victim and a freedom fighter. Yet by far the biggest victims of the war were Bosnian Muslims. It appears that no one ever told Stefan who was responsible for wartime concentration camps, who engaged in systematic ethnic cleansing -- including the genocide at Srebrenica -- or which side took UN peacekeepers hostage.

However, Dodik's referendum was pushed out of the headlines this week by an interview given by Sefer Halilovic, the wartime commander of the Bosnian Army, that was being portrayed by some as the biggest threat to peace in Bosnia.

Talking to TV 1 in Sarajevo, Halilovic said the subversion of the Dayton peace accords -- for instance, through Dodik's defiance of the Constitutional Court or his insistence on holding a referendum over January 9 -- is dangerous. Halilovic even suggested that Republika Srpska could disappear as a result (its existence being guaranteed by Dayton).

"We are not threatening anyone, but we will not allow anyone to break off a piece of Bosnia without trouble. ... I am asking for them to think carefully [about what they are doing]. Milosevic is dead, the Yugoslav Army is no more, along with its thousands of tanks, armored vehicles. ... Serbia cannot help Republika Srpska. We will not allow anyone to break up this country."

Halilovic is a retired general. He is running a fringe political party that has a single deputy in the Bosnian parliament. Even the Belgrade-based newspaper Blic admits that he is marginal character. Yet the Serbian foreign minister has chosen to make waves over Halilovic's irresponsible comments, while Serbian Prime Minister Alaksandar Vucic was considering cutting short his visit to the United States.

Bosnian professor Enver Kazaz explained the storm over Halilovic's comments in an interview:

"Dodik provoked Sefer Halilovic and exposed his political immaturity, which was then seized on by militant voices in Serbia as if the Bosnian Army was already massing along the border. In short, the current political establishment in the entire region is not to up to the job [and] is incapable of providing a vision of peace or contributing to the institutionalization of democratic practices."

Vucic told B92 on September 22 that he had been receiving private messages from (unnamed) world leaders urging him "not to react to the rhetoric coming out of Bosnia-Herzegovina." Vucic, speaking from New York, claimed that he had been told to ignore Halilovic, who is "irrelevant" and "a madman" but that he remained worried by the lack of public condemnation of Halilovic's comments and "because there are more than a few who share his attitude."

Vucic added that Serbia "respects Bosnia-Herzegovina's integrity" but will "not allow Republika Srpska to be destroyed."

It is not clear how his comments might have been meant to be construed any differently -- or as any less as a veiled threat -- than Seferovic's controversial remarks about protecting the integrity of Bosnia.

Meanwhile, Emir Kusturica, the controversial film director, wants to be sure that all the dirty laundry of the 1990s has been aired. In an interview with Srna, published by Nezavisne Novine, he said that the Bosniak member of the tripartite Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency, Bakir Izetbegovic, is following in the footsteps of his father, wartime Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic.

Kusturica claims that Izetbegovic's rejection of the "Cutileiro plan" -- the Lisbon Agreement that proposed the division of Bosnia into ethnic (Muslim, Serbian, and Croat) districts -- allegedly on the urging of U.S. Ambassador Warren Zimmermann, was responsible for the outbreak of the war in Bosnia in 1992. "The same is true now. Everything that Bakir Izetbegovic is doing is aimed at destroying peace in Bosnia." He also called on all Serbs to come out to vote on September 25.

Half-truths are sometimes worse than lies.

In April 1992, Izetbegovic rejected the plan to divide the country along ethnic lines, but the war was started by the Bosnian Serb leadership -- including Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic -- backed by the Yugoslav Army. What Kusturica did not say is that once Izetbegovic returned from another round of peace negotiations in Lisbon, on May 2, 1992, he was kidnapped by the Yugoslav Army at Sarajevo airport, the city was sealed off, and a full-scale war was unleashed by the Serb-led Yugoslav Army.

Kusturica, a Sarajevo native, was once celebrated as an award-winning film director. When he openly declared his support for Milosevic during the war in Bosnia, a former screenwriter, Abdulah Sidran, was under siege in Sarajevo. When people approached him to get his reaction, he stayed silent. When news arrived that Kusturica had been given a villa on the Montenegrin coast by Milosevic, Sidran was once again asked about it. His response was pithy: "The man is crazy. He gained a house and lost a city."

Arguably, the storm over Halilovic's statement is entirely artificial. The September 25 referendum, on the other hand, is very real -- and potentially a real threat to Bosnia's survival and to regional peace. Since the outcome is not in doubt, the choice of January 9 as Republika Srpska's official Statehood Day -- a red-letter day in the Serbian nationalist calendar -- will increase the gap between Serbs and non-Serbs in Bosnia.

Also real is the fear deliberately being sown by politicians -- fear that could stalk voters in the local elections on October 2.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/politics-of- fear-referendum-in-republika-srpska- statehood-day-dodik/28009309.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.

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Corruption in Afghanistan Has Become 'Unbeatable Force' Since 2001 US Invasion

Sputnik News

16:07 23.09.2016(updated 16:12 23.09.2016)

The international community and the Afghan government has failed to combat corruption because of a lack of political will, Mohammad Shafiq Hamdam, head of the Afghan Anti-Corruption Network, told Radio Sputnik.

Earlier this week the US government's Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) published a report which highlights the persistence of corruption in Afghanistan following the US invasion in 2001.

The watchdog reported that the High Office of Oversight (HOO), which was set up in July 2008 to combat corrupt practices within the Afghan government, has failed to counter corruption by high-ranking Afghan officials.

HOO was established by the administration of President Hamid Karzai in response to pressure from the US government and the international donor community to combat government corruption.

However, its advisors told SIGAR that "the HOO was never anything more than window dressing designed to keep the international community happy while the government bought more time."

The HOO was supposed to collect asset registration forms and verify the assets of government officials. More often than not, the agency did not collect or verify accurate information about the assets of top Afghan officials, including those of former President Hamid Karzai.

Mohammad Shafiq Hamdam, writer, political activist and head of the Afghan Anti-Corruption Network, told Radio Sputnik that the amount of corruption in Afghanistan has actually increased over the last 15 years.

"The level of corruption in Afghanistan is very high. There are many reasons, but the principal reason is a lack of political will to tackle corruption within the government and within the international community which is backing the Afghan government," Hamdam said.

Hamdam said that despite a series of international conferences on the development of Afghanistan, the country is still lacking a framework of accountability which could be used to hold the Afghan government to account.

"Afghan development has not met any of the benchmarks or tasks set by the international community to fight corruption and promote transparency," he said.

Corruption is also one of the reasons for continuing insecurity in Afghanistan, because of links between government leaders and warlords who control illegal poppy cultivation and armed drugs trafficking with south-central Asian countries.

"These warlords and corrupt leaders have been building their empire, and it's something which, unfortunately, I predict is an undefeatable force now," Hamdam said.

Hamdam said that terrorist groups like Daesh and the Taliban are even secondary to the problem of corruption, because Afghan corruption enables them to profit from the cultivation of opium poppies and trade in narcotics, which has increased tenfold in Afghanistan since 2001.

"In the Middle East, in Iraq, the coalition is targeting the (income) sources of ISIL (Daesh), which is oil. But what about the (income) source of al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, which is narcotics and (opium) poppies, and this has grown more than ten times since 2001."

 Sputnik

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Kyrgyz Leader Arrives in Moscow For Medical Treatment

Sputnik News

08:16 23.09.2016(updated 12:59 23.09.2016)

The president of the central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan has arrived in Moscow for medical treatment, the president's press service informed on Friday on the official presidential website.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev has arrived in Moscow for medical treatment, the president's press service informed on Friday on the official presidential website.

"On the recommendation of specialists and at the invitation of the Russian side, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev has arrived at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation in the city of Moscow today, September 23, to continue treatment with doctors who had previously conducted an examination and treated him for heart disease," the Friday statement says.

On Monday, a statement on the president's official website said the Kyrgyz leader would not attend the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York due to health problems.

On Tuesday, Atambayev's press service said that the head of state was on a short-term vacation for medical examinations in Turkey and planned to return to work on October 1.

On Wednesday, the president's press service said that Atambayev's condition was stable, but he remained in Turkey to continue medical treatment.

 Sputnik

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Security Council adopts resolution on countering terrorist threats to civil aviation

22 September 2016  The global aviation system is of vital importance to economic development and prosperity, and all States must strengthen, both individually and collectively, aviation security measures, in order to secure a stable and peaceful global environment, the United Nations Security Council declared today.

Adopting resolution 2309 (2016) at a meeting, this morning, on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, the Council called on States to work within the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure that its international security standards are reviewed and adapted to effectively address the threat posed by terrorist targeting of civil aviation.

Expressing particular concern that terrorist groups are actively seeking ways to defeat or circumvent aviation security, the 15-member body also called on all States to strengthen and promote the effective application of ICAO standards and recommended practices, and to assist ICAO in continuing to enhance audit, capacity development and training programmes in order to support their implementation.

In the resolution, the Council noted with concern that the "terrorism threat has become more diffuse," with an increase, in various regions of the world, of terrorist acts including those motivated by intolerance or violent extremism. The Council expressed its determination to combat that threat, and also expressed grave concern over terrorist attacks against civil aviation and over the fact that civil aviation may be used as a transportation means by foreign terrorist fighters.

Further to the text of the resolution, the Council called on all States to, among other action, ensure that effective, risk-based measures are in place at the airports within their jurisdiction; take all necessary steps to ensure that such measures are effectively implemented on the ground on a continuing and sustainable basis; ensure that such measures take into account the potential role of those with privileged access to areas, knowledge or information that may assist terrorists in planning or conducting attacks; and urgently address any gaps or vulnerabilities that may be highlighted by ICAO or national self-risk assessment or audit processes.

In addition, all States should strengthen security screening procedures and maximize the promotion, utilization and sharing of new technologies and innovative techniques that maximize the capability to detect explosives and other threats.

Specifically, under the terms of the resolution, States that are able to do so are urged to assist in the delivery of effective and targeted capacity development, training and other necessary resources, technical assistance, technology transfers and programmes.

Furthermore, the Council called on all States to strengthen their international and regional cooperation to boost information-sharing, border control, law enforcement and criminal justice to better counter the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and returnees.

By the terms of the resolution, the Security Council also encouraged continued cooperation between ICAO and the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate on identifying gaps and vulnerabilities relevant to aviation security.

In addition, the Council requested that its Counter-Terrorism Committee hold a special meeting within 12 months, in cooperation with ICAO, on the issue of terrorist threats to civil aviation.

In July 2014, following the crash of a Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine that killed 298 people on board, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2166 calling for an international investigation into the incident, and demanded at the time that armed groups allow unfettered access to the crash site and ensure that its integrity was maintained. Later that month, ICAO convened a special Task Force on Risks to Civil Aviation arising from Conflict Zones.

In September 2014, the Security Council adopted resolution 2178 in response to an unprecedented flow of foreign terrorist fighters and the growth of facilitation networks fuelling conflicts around the world. Under the terms of that resolution, the Council called on Member States to require that airlines operating in their territories provide advance passenger information to the appropriate national authorities in order to detect the departure, from their territories, of individuals designated by the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.

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Terror Threat Remains High 6 Months After Brussels Attacks

By September 22, 2016 2:22 PM

Marthe van der Wolf

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 wasn't 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

Bonte's 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.

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DPRK Red Cross Society Warns Park Geun Hye Group against Anti-DPRK Rhetoric

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, September 22 (KCNA) -- As reported, the strongest storm accompanied by downpour in the meteorological observation since the liberation of Korea hit several cities and counties along the Tuman River in the northern tip of Korea recently, causing huge damage.

A spokesman for the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society of the DPRK issued a statement Thursday.

It said:

The Park Geun Hye group of south Korea is using conservative media to misrepresent the stirring realities in the sites for the recovery from the flood damage, while talking about "hard labor", "burden of cost for recovery", "increasing discontent ", etc. The group even let human scum spread stories about "living of north's inhabitants" and scatter anti-DPRK leaflets to the areas of the DPRK side.

It is elementary human ethics and universal practice to console the victims and render help to the disaster-hit area when flood and other disasters happen.

But the Park group is keen on groundless smear campaign, far from expressing sympathy over the pain suffered by the fellow countrymen.

The group are made up of villains in whom nothing human can be found as they are steeped in misanthropy and hostility towards fellow countrymen to the marrow of their bones.

Those going against human ethics are bound to meet divine punishment.

The group will be made to keenly feel what a high price they will have to pay for committing hideous crimes against human ethics and humanitarianism as they are malignantly slandering the campaign for the recovery from the flood damage, obsessed with confrontation with compatriots.

We take this opportunity to serve a warning to the reptile media, hack writers and despicable human scum who are resorting to anti-DPRK smear campaign to serve Park nearing her death.

The army and people of the DPRK and all other Koreans will never pardon the Park group, hordes of the most wicked immoral ruffians going desperate in the moves to abuse even disaster met by fellow countrymen for escalating confrontation campaign. -0-

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U.S. Let B-1Bs Fly in Sky above S. Korea

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, September 22 (KCNA) -- The U.S. imperialists urgently let two B-1B nuclear strategic bombers fly in the sky above south Korea.

They let fly the bombers in the sky above south Korea to stage a drill for striking ground targets in the Sangdong firing range and then deployed one of them in the Osan Air Force base.

Foreign press reports commented that it was the first time that B-1B landed on the Osan Air Force base.

The U.S. imperialists openly claimed that B-1B was deployed in south Korea pursuant to the judgment that the flight of B-1Bs in the sky above the Korean peninsula is not sufficient to cope with the north's ceaseless provocations and threats and show the firm will for deterring escalating provocations to allies and that B-1B will take part in the "2016 event, the day of south Korea-U.S. combined air forces" to be held on Sept. 24 and 25.

The ill-famed B-1Bs are frequently flying over south Korea pursuant to the U.S. vicious scenario to make a preemptive nuclear strike at the DPRK when an opportunity presents itself anytime.

The U.S. imperialists are the chief culprit of a new war and the very one escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula as they are pushing the situation to the brink of war by ceaselessly introducing nuclear strategic bombers into south Korea under the pretext of the DPRK's bolstering of a nuclear deterrence for self-defense.

Dark clouds are bound to bring downpour.

The U.S. imperialist warmongers' ever-escalating military provocations will lead to the second June 25 war.

The situation on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity is becoming all the more tenser than ever before.

The reality goes to clearly prove that the DPRK's measures for bolstering nuclear attack capability are very just and no one can slander them.

It is quite natural for the DPRK to take a series of countermeasures in succession to shatter the ever-more undisguised moves of the U.S. to put pressure on the former.

The U.S. imperialists should clearly understand that their introduction of the above-said nuclear war means into south Korea means they are coming deeper within the striking range of the KPA.

It is easier than catching flies for the DPRK to wipe out the aggression forces present in south Korea as it has the strongest nuclear attack means capable of striking all the U.S. imperialist aggression forces in the U.S. mainland and the Pacific operation theaters.

We warn the U.S. not to act rashly as it goes reckless being unaware of its impending death. -0-

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US B-1 bombers approached North Korea's border: report

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 1:54PM

The two American B-1B strategic bombers that flew over North Korea on Wednesday had approached North Korea's border, US officials say.

The US Pacific Command broke the news on its website on Wednesday, noting that the flight was the closest a B-1 had ever gotten to the border.

South Korean media reported Thursday that both bombers flew over a front-line US firing range located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border.

One of the nuclear-capable supersonic bombers landed at Osan Air Base, near Seoul, the capital of South Korea -- a first in two decades. The four-engine bomber will stay at the base for an unspecified period of time.

North Korea has been at odds with the South since the end of the Korean War of the early 1950s. An armistice ended all military hostilities between the two Koreas back then, but no peace deal ever ensued, meaning that, while the two countries are not at war, they are not at peace, either.

Although the US has a record of sending advanced weaponry to the Korean Peninsula amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors, such flights near the world's most heavily fortified border are unusual.

On September 13, two other B-1 Lancer strategic bombers took off from an American base in the Western Pacific island of Guam and performed a low-altitude flight over Osan Air Base.

Four days before the bombers were dispatched to the volatile region, Pyongyang had conducted its fifth and biggest ever nuclear test on September 9, which, according to South Korea's meteorological agency, was almost identical to America's nuclear bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Washington said the demonstration was "just one example of the full range of military capabilities" that the US possessed to counter potential threats from North Korea in the face of the latter's nuclear and missile tests.

North Korea responded by saying Washington's provocative moves were pushing the Korean Peninsula to "the point of explosion."

Pyongyang says it will continue to develop nuclear weapons as a "deterrence" measure against America's military aggression.

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India's Border Force Refutes Reports of Pakistani Troop Mobilization

Sputnik News

17:49 22.09.2016

Some Indian newspapers have reported the increased movement of Pakistani troops along the international border and line of control.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  India's Border Security Force (BSF) has denied having informed the government of the increased movement of additional Pakistani troops along the border.

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 India's 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.

"The reports are mere misinterpretations of certain facts by a section of the media. They are untrue," said the official, who wished to remain unnamed.

Nevertheless, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reviewed at length the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the Uri attack. Following the meeting, instructions were issued to the Indian Army and the BSF to be exceptionally vigilant along the international border and the Line of Control respectively. According to sources, it was resolved during the meeting that any armed action would not be taken in undue haste as India would examine all possibilities of cornering Pakistan at the diplomatic and economic level prior to hostilities.

 Sputnik

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Rouhani urges UN, all JCPOA parties to help maintain, strengthen nuclear deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New York, Sept 22, IRNA -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the UN and all parties involved in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have to help uphold and strengthen the land mark nuclear agreement which is a symbol of dialogue and cooperation instead of disagreement at the international arena.

President Rouhani made the remarks in a meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

He said that it is a duty for all parties, especially the UN Secretariat, to maintain and reinforce the JCPOA.

President Rouhani urged the UN Chief to 'provide realistic and independent executive reports on the implementation of the Resolution 2231' in a way that would boost cooperation.

On 20 July 2015, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2231, endorsing the JCPOA under which Iran pledged that it would not seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons.

The JCPOA has prepared a good opportunity to show the power of dialogue and promotion of multilateral diplomacy and also prepared the ground for the UN to play a role in settling the disputed issues, President Rouhani said.

He stressed that Iran expected the 'UN Secretariat to play a supportive and facilitating role' in all phases of JCPOA implementation.

Noting that the atmosphere of the post-JCPOA era 'should be an atmosphere of cooperation,' President Rouhani said, if one party acts completely upon its commitments while the other party makes procrastinations that will be the worst damage to the JCPOA and the principle of dialogue.'

President Rouhani also touched upon major issues in the Middle East, especially the situations in Syria and Yemen.

As for Yemen, he said, continued military attacks and committing war crimes are highly the source of concern since all international conventions are constantly violated in that country.

He said that the war against defenseless people of Yemen has started on no bases and continued by bombarding women and children.

As for Syria, President Rouhani voiced Tehran's readiness to play its constructive role to help the crisis end in that country.

"In the fight against terrorism, the main principle is to maintain sovereignty and integrity of countries and under present conditions, humanitarian issues are the top priority" in Syria.

Noting that the UN should abide by its responsibility in dealing with the crisis in Yemen, President Rouhani said, the UN is expected to brave certain pressures and not to compromise the basic human rights principles in Yemen and the UN Chief should play his important role under present historic juncture.

He emphasized finding a durable solution for the crises in Syria and Yemen.

President Rouhani further referred to the UN Chief's appreciation for Iran's four-year chairmanship over the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and said, "During our presidency over NAM we tried to ensure the Movement becomes more active in fulfilling its goal."

He hoped that as an influential international body, NAM would act on and remain successful in abiding by its genuine goal and charter.

Ban for his part referred to Iran chairmanship over NAM and said, "I praise your extraordinary and brilliant job in presidency over NAM."

President Rouhani also said all parties should use all their capacity to make members adhere to their commitment.

1420**1394

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Iran, P5+1 foreign ministers to discuss implementation of nuclear deal

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 10:39AM

Foreign ministers of Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are meeting in New York Thursday to discuss implementation of a nuclear deal they reached last year.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the meeting, scheduled for 1700 GMT at the UN Headquarters, will be the first since the implementation of the deal in January.

On Wednesday, Araqchi and his counterparts from the so-called P5+1 group held discussions as a prelude to the ministerial meeting.

They discussed the modernization of Iran's Arak heavy water reactor plus Russia's cooperation with Iran on turning the underground Fordow facility into a nuclear research center, he said.

Araqchi said the two sides also addressed cooperation in the banking sector, as well as EU and US delays in resolving hurdles which foreign banks and financial institutions face for business with Iran.

The US government's license for sales of passenger planes to Iran by Boeing and Airbus was also brought up in the talks, with US officials saying the permit had been issued for some of the planes while the rest will be cleared for sales within the next few weeks.

Iran and the P5+1 signed the nuclear deal, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on July 2015. The deal went into effect on January 16, and resolved a long-running dispute over the Iranian nuclear program.

Under the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic has agreed to roll back certain aspects of its nuclear program  including the volume of its uranium stockpiles enriched to the 20-percent level  and has provided international atomic monitors enhanced access to its nuclear facilities.

In return, Iran's partners agreed to terminate all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

Some international banks, however, still shy away from financing trade deals and processing transactions with Iran fearing US penalties. The US has moved to ensure them that no such penalties would be imposed but has failed to be adequately convincing.

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US vows to change course on JCPOA: Rouhani

Iran Press TV

Fri Sep 23, 2016 3:4PM

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the United States has promised to change the way it is implementing last year's nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Tehran from New York on Friday, Rouhani added that the ministerial meeting of a commission established to monitor the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) confirmed that the US is not complying with the nuclear agreement.

"The Joint Commission verified the Islamic Republic of Iran's stance and did not see the US conduct as consistent with the JCPOA," the Iranian president said.

"In the ministerial meeting of the Joint Commission on the implementation of the JCPOA, all [sides] told the US what it is conducting is not consistent with the JCPOA and the US promised to rectify this trend," he added.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council  the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia  plus Germany signed the JCPOA on July 14, 2015. It went into effect on January 16, and resolved a long-running dispute over the Iranian nuclear program.

Under the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic has agreed to roll back certain aspects of its nuclear program  including the volume of its uranium stockpiles enriched to the 20-percent level  and has provided international atomic monitors enhanced access to its nuclear facilities.

In return, Iran's partners agreed to terminate all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

Some international banks, however, still shy away from financing trade deals and processing transactions with Iran fearing US penalties.

The Iranian president said the Islamic Republic has the right to make use of the opportunity created after the nuclear agreement's implementation and "seriously challenge any possible breach."

Rouhani was in New York to deliver a speech at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. On the sidelines of the event, he held talks with senior officials including the prime ministers of Italy, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Iraq, Pakistan, Japan and Greece and the presidents of France, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey. He also sat down with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The Iranian president attended a joint press conference following his speech on Thursday and met Muslim leaders and American intellectuals.

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US sources say Daesh resorted to chemical attack in Iraq

Iran Press TV

Wed Sep 21, 2016 8:59PM

Daesh Takfiri terrorists have launched a chemical attack against an air base in northern Iraq, US officials say.

The militants fired a shell with mustard agent at the Qayarrah air base south of the Daesh-controlled city of Mosul, the second largest in Iraq, on Tuesday, several US officials told CNN.

American and Iraqi troops are operating in the air base where the shell, either a rocket or artillery shell, landed.

The agent, however, is said to have a "low purity" and "poorly weaponized," an official said, with a second one calling it "ineffective."

"It was ISIS that fired at the base, since the terror group has been making mustard agent for some time," CNN said in its report, citing the Pentagon's assessment of the situation.

No one is said to have been hurt in the attack while none of the military forces there have been reported as being exposed to the dangerous agent.

US warplanes have been conducting airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq since August 2014. Some Western states have also participated in some of the strikes in Iraq.

The US-led coalition has done little to stop Daesh's advances in Syria and Iraq. Some analysts have criticized the US-led military campaign, saying the strikes are only meant to benefit US weapons manufacturers.

Daesh militants have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, such as public decapitations and crucifixions, against all communities, in Iraq and Syria.

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Iraqi forces reach center of key town near Mosul

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:19AM

Iraqi military and volunteer forces have reached the center of a strategic town near the Daesh stronghold of Mosul.

Iraqi army troops and pro-government volunteers on Thursday seized the center of Shirqat, a key town located 100 km south of Mosul, a source with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command in Salahuddin Province said.

The Arabic-language al-Sumeria television said Iraqi troops had taken control of the governor's office in the town and hoisted the Iraqi flag over the building.

The network also said the town had been "liberated." It seems, however, that areas of the town still remain to be purged of the terrorists.

Three army personnel were purportedly killed during clashes with Daesh terrorists in the town.

Army troops and allied fighters had earlier managed to free villages surrounding Shirqat.

Mosul, which is the second largest city in Iraq, has been under the Daesh control for more than two years.

Iraqi security forces have been closing in on the city in recent operations to retake it.

Violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh launched an offensive in the country in June 2014, and seized territory.

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Iran working on oil swap plan with KRG

Iran Press TV

Fri Sep 23, 2016 3:33PM

Iran says it is working on a plan to establish a crude oil swap scheme with Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) similar to the one already in place with Caspian littoral states.

Abdolrassoul Mirzaei, the board chairman of Roham Refinery, told the media that the plan envisages importing 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil from the KRG to be refined at Roham as well as Tabriz refineries.

Iran will accordingly deliver an equal volume of oil with close technical characteristics to international clients on behalf of the KRG at its southern ports, IRNA reported.

Mirzaei said Iran is to the same effect negotiating with an Austrian company over the development of Phase Two of Roham Refinery whose feed of 50,000 bpd will be provided through imports from the KRG.

The official did not name the Austrian company but emphasized that it could provide its refining license for Roham Refinery and could also invest in the project which is expected within the next three years.

The refinery will have the capacity to produce 300,000 tons of tar each year, Mirzaei added.

Iran announced in mid-August that it will soon resume a unique scheme to swap the crude oil of several Caspian states with its own in Persian Gulf ports  a scheme that had been halted since 2010.

Based on a multiple-year arrangement sealed with Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, Iran imported an average of 100,000-barrels per day (bpd) of crude into its Caspian ports and in return supplied equivalent volumes on behalf of its partners to their clients in the Persian Gulf. Iran would then use the oil it imported at its Caspian ports in its northern refineries and distributes the products across northern Iran.

The scheme was halted in 2010 after when Iran raised its operating fees.

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13 killed as Libya's unity government pushes to retake Sirte from Daesh

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 6:4PM

At least 13 people have been killed during fresh violent clashes between the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, medical and military sources say.

Medics at a field hospital set up on the outskirts of Sirte confirmed that at least three pro-GNA fighters had lost their lives in fighting around the last positions of Daesh militants in the troubled city on Thursday.

This is while GNA military sources said at least 10 Daesh militants were also killed in the latest fighting.

Meanwhile, the government media office said in a statement that GNA fighters were advancing around the last positions of Daesh militant group in the volatile region.

"Our forces are advancing on the last holdouts of Daesh," the statement read.

It also added that three car bombs driven by Deash terrorists were destroyed before reaching their targets.

The UN-backed government in Libya started a large-scale military operation in May to purge Daesh militants from Sirte, which is the hometown of former slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Daesh, which captured Sirte last year, had taken advantage of a chaos gripping Libya since 2011, when a NATO military intervention followed the 2011 uprising that led to the toppling and killing of Gaddafi.

Figures show more than 450 pro-government fighters have been killed and around 2,500 wounded since the operation began four months ago.

Forces loyal to GNA) have launched a final offensive to retake Sirte from Daesh terrorists.

Sirte, located on the Mediterranean coast, is the main urban center Daesh has managed to seize outside Iraq and Syria. Recapturing the key city would inflict a huge blow to the terrorist group in its drive to expand the militancy outside the Middle East.

The GNA, endorsed by the United Nations and several Western governments, has yet to fully establish its authority across Libya. The cabinet is made up of representatives from a parliament based in the east, which formerly enjoyed support from the UN, and a militia government based in the capital Tripoli in the west.

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US, Russia Stand Ready to Provide Lethal Aid to Libyan Security Forces

Sputnik News

20:14 22.09.2016(updated 20:28 22.09.2016)

According to a joint communique released by the US Department of State, 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.

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.

The international community, the communique continued, reiterates its support for Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) as the sole legitimate government of Libya, and will not recognize parallel institutions as such.

The joint communique on Libya was issued by the United States and Russia and dozens of other countries, including Algeria, Canada, Chad, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Niger, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, United Nations, the League of Arab States, and the African Union.

The Daesh outlawed in Russia and many other nations, gained a foothold in Libya in the turmoil following the 2011 ousting of the country's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

 Sputnik

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Pakistan accuses India of 'unprecedented arms build-up'

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 9:35AM

Pakistan has accused India of an "unprecedented arms build-up" along its border, warning that it would take all steps necessary to halt the move as tensions escalate between the two neighbors.

Addressing the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan would "take whatever measures necessary to maintain credible deterrence."

Sharif also blamed India for imposing "unacceptable preconditions" for potential peace talks over Kashmir to end the 27-year-long conflict between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

"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," the Pakistani prime minister said.

Tensions have risen after militants attacked an Indian military base in Kashmir, killing nearly 20 Indian soldiers on Sunday. The Indian army has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the assault, while Islamabad has denied any role.

Some Indian politicians and army veterans have called for a muscular response to the assault, including airstrikes on purported training camps on the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Kashmir.

Such a scenario would see a serious escalation between the traditional arch-rivals, which have already fought four wars since their partition in 1947.

Indian and Pakistani forces have been engaged in clashes in the disputed valley over the past months and accused each other of provocation.

In 2003, the two countries agreed to a ceasefire along the LoC in Kashmir and launched peace talks a year later. The process was suspended after over 160 people lost their lives in the 2008 terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai.

The restive Muslim-majority region has witnessed an increase in mass protests and violent attacks since early July, when Burhan Wani, a top figure in a pro-independence group, was killed in a shootout with Indian troops.

Tens of thousands of government troops have been deployed to the region and nearly 80 people have lost their lives in the ensuing crackdown. The crackdown, however, has failed to halt the protests.

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Russia, Pakistan to hold first joint military exercise

Iran Press TV

Fri Sep 23, 2016 3:50PM

Pakistan and Russia are set to hold their first ever joint military exercise, which is dubbed Friendship 2016.

Pakistan's top military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa said on Friday that a "contingent of Russian ground forces" had arrived in Pakistan for the two-week drill, which will begin on Saturday.

The joint military exercise will take place in mountainous areas with about 200 military personnel from both sides involved, Pakistani media reported.

Observers say the joint military exercise may be another clear sign of the gradual, yet complicated, shifting of alliances in the Asia-Pacific region.

Relations between Pakistan and the United States have cooled recently, while ties between India and the US have warmed up. Despite the long-standing cordial relationship between Russia and India, New Delhi's improved relations with the West have apparently prompted Moscow to approach Islamabad.

India has even requested Russia not to take part in the joint exercise. Moscow has rejected the request.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah said earlier this month that in response to current geostrategic developments, the two sides had agreed "to broaden defense and military-technical cooperation."

In late August, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Valery Gerasimov, met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan General Rashad Mahmood to discuss deepening military cooperation between the two countries. "The development of constructive relations between Russia and Pakistan is an important factor in ensuring regional stability and international security," Gerasimov told reporters.

Gerasimov also emphasized that Russia and Pakistan were planning an "intensive program" of joint activities in the months ahead including more military exercises, military exchanges, and talks at the general staff level.

Last year, Russia and Pakistan concluded an agreement over the purchase of four Mi-35M attack helicopters. The Russian helicopter is planned to replace Pakistan's fleet of US-made AH-1 Cobra helicopters.

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S.Korean president expresses worry about possible DPRK provocations

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:16, September 22, 2016

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.

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Tsar Putin? Zhirinovsky Raises Eyebrows With Remarks At Kremlin Ceremony

September 22, 2016

by Steve Gutterman

Was Vladimir Zhirinovsky calling for the restoration of the Russian monarchy, commenting on President Vladimir Putin's 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: Zhirinovsky's Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), the Communist Party, and A Just Russia.

Those three parties are widely known as the "systemic opposition" -- they do the Kremlin's 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. Putin's 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 Putin's who was named in the "Panama Papers" leaks in April. Media reports based on the leaked documents alleged that he had established 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.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia- zhirinovsky-raises-eyebrows-tsar- putin-kremlin-ceremony/28007114.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.

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Russia's TOS-1A 'Sunheat' Heavy Flamethrower Just Nearly Doubled Its Range

Sputnik News

14:51 22.09.2016(updated 16:11 22.09.2016)

The TOS-1A Solntsepyok ('Sunheat') heavy flamethrower needs little introduction. The system has been successfully deployed by the Syrian and Iraqi armies against Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorists. Now, the system has become even more deadly, with testing of new shells which would nearly double the system's range entering its final stages.

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."

The official explained that reengineering involving reductions in the weight and size of the new projectile compared with its predecessor, the M0.1.01.04M, allowed designers "to not only increase the range [of the system], but also the power of its thermobaric warhead munition."

The current effective firing range of the existing TOS-1A system is 6 km. The new shell will increase that to 10 km, that is, by 40%. The improved range is expected to be achieved in part via a new fuel/explosive mixture inside the shell.

The system has gained fame around the world in recent years, having been used to high effect in Iraq and Syria to destroy terrorist fortifications, troops and armored vehicles.

Speaking to Izvestia, military historian Alexei Khlopotov clarified that while "Solntsepyok is often mistakenly called an artillery system, in fact the system is an Assault Tank, operating alongside infantry formations. It's for this reason that its launchers are armored, and mounted on the chassis of [T-72 and T-90] tanks."

Not a flamethrower in the traditional, WWII-era understanding of the term, the TOS is a flamethrower in the sense that it lobs thermobaric warheads into enemy-held areas, setting them ablaze.

Explaining the need for the new long-range projectile, Khlopotov noted that "the experience of modern warfare has shown that the increased range of anti-tank systems makes the TOS-1A highly vulnerable. For this reason, they must be withdrawn from the forward edge of the battle area."

"Here," the expert emphasized, "it is worth taking into account the experience of the ongoing military operations in Syria, where insurgents have extensively used captured Cornet [anti-tank] systems, which have a maximum range of 5 km, comparable to the range of the [TOS-1A] heavy flamethrower systems." In effect, the new shell will enable the tank to operate outside the range of enemy anti-tank systems.

Still, the development of the new shell definitely does not mean that the old one will no longer find its uses. Respected military analyst and retired Colonel Viktor Murakhovsky explained to Izvestia that expanding the range of the TOS-1A's projectiles also means an increased dead zone  that is, the area around the system from which it is not possible to attack close-range targets.

The dead zone of the new 10 km rocket is 1.6 km, compared with one as low as 400 m for its predecessor. In other words, the older M0.1.01.04M projectile will definitely continue to be used, particularly in cramped combat environments. For longer range fire, Russia has the Smerch MLRS system, capable of firing between 70-90 km, (120 km with the 9M542 increased-range missile). That system has a dead zone of 20-25 km, meaning the TOS-1A, with or without its upgraded projectile, will definitely have its own niche.

 Sputnik

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US senators connive with Obama over Saudi arms deal

Iran Press TV

Wed Sep 21, 2016 11:16PM

The United States Senate finally endorses a military deal with Saudi Arabia worth of $1.15 billion despite initial opposition to the move forwarded by administration of President Barack Obama.

A legislation introduced to obstruct the move was killed by the lawmakers in a 71-to-27 vote Wednesday.

The bipartisan legislation had been introduced by Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy in an effort to stop dealing with an aggressor , engaged in war crimes in neighboring Yemen.

Back in August, the Pentagon said that the US State Department had approved the potential sale.

The deal was also strongly censured by human rights activists in the run-up to the 2016 US presidential election, in which Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are the main rivals.

"This resolution will say to the president that we disapprove of the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia," said Kentucky Republican Senator Paul, one of the lawmakers behind the resolution of disapproval, earlier.

According to Murphy, Saudi Arabia's Wahhabism is one of the factors contributing to formation of extremism and Takfirism across the region as well as the rest of the globe.

"If you're serious about stopping the flow of extremist recruiting across this globe, then you have to be serious that the ... brand of Islam that is spread by Saudi Arabia all over the world, is part of the problem," Murphy said.

Saudi Arabia launched a military aggression against Yemen in March 2015 in a bid to bring the country's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh, back to power and undermine the Ansarullah Houthi movement.

According to Chicago-based author and radio host Stephen Lendman, the White House's inclination towards making the deal with the monarchy, while it is engaged in war crimes in neighboring Yemen, surpasses far beyond just making profit.

"All of the wars in the Middle East are US wars with no exception," he told Press TV in a Tuesday phone interview.

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US bombed Syrian troops for an hour: Assad

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:11AM

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that US airstrikes on Syrian troops on Saturday were "intentional" and lasted for nearly one hour.

In an interview with the Associated Press conducted Wednesday, Assad said the attack targeted a "huge" area constituting of many hills, "so it was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claimed."

The US Central Command has said it may have unintentionally struck the Syrian airbase in Dayr al-Zawr while carrying out a raid against Daesh and that the strikes were stopped in less than five minutes when Russia called the US to halt it.

Daesh militants briefly overran government positions in the area until they were beaten back.

"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.

"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," he said.

"You don't commit a mistake for more than one hour," Assad said in the interview.

US behind collapse of ceasefire

Assad also blamed the US for the collapse of a ceasefire deal brokered with Russia.

The strikes contributed to the collapse of the truce and cast serious doubt on chances for implementing an unprecedented US-Russian agreement to jointly target Daesh.

Assad said Washington "doesn't have the will" to join the fight against Daesh, which the US, Turkey and their allies have cited as the reason for their military intervention in Syria.

Syrians who fled the country could return within a few months if the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar stopped backing militants, he added.

Assad said the war, now in its sixth year, is likely to "drag on" because of what he said was continued external support for Takfiri terrorists and numerous militant groups.

"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."

'US lies' about aid convoy attack

Assad also rejected accusations that Syrian or Russian planes struck an aid convoy in Aleppo and denied that his troops were preventing food from entering the militant-held part of the city.

"If there's really a siege around the city of Aleppo, people would have been dead by now," Assad said, asking how militants were able to smuggle in arms but apparently not food or medicine.

The attack on the aid convoy outside Aleppo took place Monday night, hitting a warehouse as aid workers unloaded cargo and triggering huge explosions.

US officials have oscillated between blaming the Syrian government and the Russian military for the attack. At one point, they have described a sustained barrage that included barrel bombs.

One Thursday, however, the AP quoted an unnamed "senior US administration official" who claimed a Russian-piloted aircraft carried out the strike.

Assad dismissed the claims, saying whatever American officials say "has no credibility" and is "just lies."

Russia has called for an independent investigation into the attack and has published a footage from a drone which apparently shows a militant vehicle towing a mortar alongside the aid convoy.

On Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry said an armed US drone was in the vicinity of the humanitarian aid convoy that was hit by the airstrike.

War 'savage'

Assad also brushed aside what is often described as eyewitness accounts to accuse the Syrian army, while acknowledging the war had been "savage".

"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."

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Syrian Army Announces Major Offensive Against Terrorists in Eastern Aleppo

Sputnik News

22:29 22.09.2016(updated 22:43 22.09.2016)

Syrian government forces have launched a major operation against terrorists in the eastern outskirts of Aleppo.

"The Syrian Army launched an offensive in the easter parts of Aleppo," reads a statement from the Syrian Army.

"We urge all civilians to stay away from the places with high concentration of militants and command posts of terrorist groups."

Earlier on Thursday, the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to begin its second meeting to discuss the ceasefire agreement reached between the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this month.

That ceasefire has been at risk ever since US-led airstrikes struck a Syrian Army position over the weekend, killing 62 servicemen and injuring 100 more. US Central Command has admitted responsibility for the strike, claiming it mistook the Syrian forces for Daesh terrorists. In addition to American fighters, the UK, Australia, and Denmark were also involved in the incident.

 Sputnik

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Assad Rejects Claims Syrian, Russian Forces Struck Aid Convoy En Route to Aleppo

Sputnik News

14:33 22.09.2016(updated 17:59 22.09.2016)

In an interview with Associated Press news Agency Syrian President Bashar Assad rejected claims that Syrian or Russian forces were behind the attack on the humanitarian convoy near Aleppo.

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.

"It was definitely intentional, not unintentional as they claim," Assad said in an interview with AP published on the Syrian presidency website.

"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 cannot commit a mistake for more than one hour," Assad stressed.

He maintained that Washington "doesn't have the will" to join Moscow in fighting terrorists in Syria as envisioned by a ceasefire agreement the two countries hammered out two weeks ago.

 Sputnik

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Daesh, Jabhat Fatah al Sham Shell Cities in Syria

Sputnik News

05:04 22.09.2016

Terrorists have shelled cities in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo, Damascus and Homs.

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.

On September 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry presented a new plan to regulate the conflict in Syria, which included a new ceasefire that came into force on September 12.

On Wednesday, Lavrov stressed that the September 16 attacks by US-led coalition forces on Syrian army positions at a military airport near Deir ez-Zor were a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the new ceasefire in Syria has been strictly adhered to only by the Syrian government forces.

 Sputnik

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Assad: Syrian Conflict Will 'Drag On' With No End in Sight

By Ken Bredemeier September 22, 2016

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.

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.

United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer and reporter Josh Fatzick contributed to this report.

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US General: 'Russians Are Responsible' for Attack on Syria Aid Convoy

By Michael Bowman September 22, 2016

America's 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 can't 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."

McCain slams Obama's Syria strategy

Defense Secretary Ash Carter also testified at the hearing, which featured sharp criticism of the administration by the committee's chairman, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona.

McCain, Barack Obama's 2008 opponent, said the "abject failure" of the president's Syria policy is emblematic of the "devastating legacy" he leaves for America on the world stage.

"Nowhere is America's 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.

"We're 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 ISIL's 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 Obama's 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.

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Google Reviewing Request to Blur Map of Disputed South China Sea Islet

By Ralph Jennings September 22, 2016

Google says it is reviewing a request from Taiwan to blur satellite images of the government's 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.

Taiwan's 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 whatever's 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 world's Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that the historical basis of Beijing's 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 sea's largest of about 500 islets, and Taiwan may be nervous about other claimants seeing what's 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, Taiwan's 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 it's an aggressive deployment or construction that's 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 Taiwan's 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.

Tsai's government may have asked Google to block imagery as a public relations gambit at home, as well, analysts say. Tsai's 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 it's domestic pressure, because it's 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."

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Turkish army targets Syria after rocket attack blamed on Daesh

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 2:20PM

Turkey has targeted Syrian border areas allegedly in response to a rocket attack on the southern Turkish border town of Kilis, which was blamed on the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

In a statement published on Thursday, the Turkish military said it had returned fire at Daesh targets.

The development came after a rocket hit a market area in the center of Kilis, wounding six people, including five children. Unidentified police sources said the rocket was fired from a Daesh-controlled area inside Syria. Footage aired by CNN Turk showed windows shattering and dust rising from smashed concrete as a result of the incident.

Local governor Ismail Catakli said in a statement that all the injured were Syrian nationals.

Meanwhile, Mayor Hasan Kara said none of the victims' injuries were life threatening.

Kilis hosts many Syrian refugees who have fled foreign-sponsored militancy in their homeland.

The Turkish town has come under repeated rocket attacks in the past few months, with 22 people losing their lives, over half of them Syrian refugees.

Thursday's incident comes almost one month into Turkey's unprecedented incursion into neighboring Syria.

On August 24, Turkish special forces, tanks and jets backed by planes from the US-led coalition launched their first coordinated offensive in Syria.

Damascus has denounced Turkey's military intervention as a breach of its sovereignty.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation, dubbed "Euphrates Shield," was aimed at "terror groups" such as Daesh and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a US-backed Kurdish group based in Syria.

Syria has been the scene of a foreign-backed crisis since March 2011. Turkey is said to be among the main supporters of the militant groups active in Syria, with reports saying that Ankara actively trains and arms the Takfiri elements there and facilitates their safe passage into the conflict-ridden country.

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Turkey Exerts New Influence in Syria

By September 22, 2016 9:58 AM

Jamie Dettmer

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.

Ankara's 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 Moscow's 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 People's 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. They've 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 Erdogan's play appears unfinished.

In Istanbul early this week, before traveling to the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, he told reporters that he's 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 Turkey's 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 Washington's 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 Erdogan's 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 Syria's 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 Ankara's 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 shouldn't 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 Turkey's 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 World's 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."

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Ukraine, pro-Russians agree on military pullback in three hot spots

Iran Press TV

Thu Sep 22, 2016 6:32AM

The Ukrainian government and the pro-Russia forces fighting each other in eastern Ukraine have agreed on a deal to withdraw troops from three battered front line areas.

Under a Wednesday deal, the two sides agreed to pull back their forces from the three small towns of Stanytsia Luganska and Zolote in the Lugansk region and Petrovske in the Donetsk region, which are each four square kilometers in size.

The military withdrawal, which will be monitored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), is scheduled to be completed within three days after its commencement at an unspecified date next month.

"After three months of insistent negotiations, today we finally agreed a framework document on pulling back forces and equipment," said Martin Sajdik, with the OSCE.

As part of a de-escalation project, the accord comes after the Minsk agreement, which was itself reached back in September 2014. The Minsk deal reduced the violence in the restive region but failed to put an end to the conflict.

"This document is intended to de-escalate the situation along the line of contact and effectively creates conditions to prevent the use of firearms," said Ukrainian government spokeswoman Darka Olifer, referring to the Wednesday deal.

"Its implementation in those three areas would allow the working-out of approaches for possible separation of forces along the entire line of contact," she added.

The conflict in Ukraine erupted not long after people in the country's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea voted for the territory to join the Russian Federation in March 2014. The West has branded the development as Moscow's annexation of the territory.

In April 2014, Kiev launched military operations to crush pro-Moscow protests in Donetsk and Lugansk.

The United States and its allies in Europe also accuse Moscow of having a major hand in the crisis in eastern Ukraine, a charge that Moscow denies.

The crisis has left more than 9,500 people dead and over 21,000 others injured, according to the United Nations.

Despite the original Minsk agreement as well as another deal also reached in the Belarusian capital in February 2015, the Ukrainian government and the pro-Russians have continued to trade fire along front lines, although to lesser degrees than when the conflict first erupted.

Also on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lashed out at Russia during his speech at the UN General Assembly.

"Never since the end of the Cold War have international norms and principles been unilaterally defied on such a scale and with such brutality," he claimed with rhetorical flourish.

"Even hypocrite Soviet leaders could hardly compete with the outright lies and manipulations deployed by the Kremlin," the businessman-turned-politician said in undiplomatic language.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Troop Withdrawal From Three Locations in Eastern Ukraine to Begin Thursday

Sputnik News

16:38 22.09.2016(updated 16:53 22.09.2016)

Kiev's envoy to the Contact Group on Ukraine said that 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.

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.

On Wednesday the sides to the conflict in eastern Ukraine signed a framework agreement on the withdrawal of forces at three locations along the line of contact.

The Trilateral Contact Group on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, that comprises Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), was set up in 2014.

 Sputnik

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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.
CHATHAM  Jason and Megan Woods became newlyweds on Oct. 17, 2015. Jason said they struggled that first year being married.

Not because of financial issues like most couples; but because Jason, a Pittsylvania County sheriffs deputy, was shot at during a traffic stop two weeks later.

The shooter, David Miller Frizzell, 53, of Axton, was found guilty of attempted capital murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony by a Pittsylvania County jury Thursday afternoon.

The jury recommended a prison sentence of 23 years for the retired Reidsville Police officer. He is scheduled to be formally sentenced Dec. 15.

 A weight has been lifted off of me, Woods, a four-year member of the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, said after the trial. Theres not a day that goes by that I dont think about this incident.

Woods said he now has post traumatic stress disorder from the shooting.

It has affected us pretty hard, Megan Woods said.

 The outcome is not what we had hoped for, said Denise Frizzell, the defendants younger sister, when the trial was over. It was a tragedy for all involved.

 Justice was not served today, she added.

Juanita Haley, Frizzells girlfriend, held onto a brown dream-catcher as she sat with the Frizzell family during the trial, shaking her head throughout the Commonwealths closing arguments to the jury.

Haley was driving an extremely intoxicated Frizzell on the evening of Oct. 30, 2015, when she was pulled over by Woods.

The vehicle was suspected of reckless driving in Axton, damaging the ground of a community park.

In describing Frizzells behavior that evening, John Light, his attorney, said we are not dealing with an individual who had too much to drink at the offices cocktail party. Frizzell was blackout drunk, Light continued. When pulled over, Frizzell got out of the vehicles backseat and opened the drivers door, pulling Haley out of her seat.

Woods commanded Frizzell to get back into the vehicle but he did not comply. Woods tased Frizzell, but it did not stop him.

Woods testified on Tuesday that Frizzell fired at him first. Woods returned fire, striking Frizzell in the thigh.

Frizzell formed the specific intent to kill when those shots went off, Pittsylvania County Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Erik Laub said.

Light said in his only closing argument that the case was slam full of reasonable doubt.

There was an absence of a motive from Frizzell to kill Woods, Light said.

 What possible motive did Frizzell, after serving in the Air Force and 26 years with the Reidsville, North Carolina, police department, have to kill a police officer, Light asked.

Frizzell was drunk as a skunk and walking comatose; how could someone so intoxicated form a premeditated thought to kill, Light asked.

There has been a lack of ability by the commonwealth to prove premeditation or how many shots were fired, Light argued.

Witnesses nearby said they heard five to six shots; Woods testified that he fired four shots and he didnt even know it, Light said.

 Maybe Frizzell fired five shots, maybe he fired none, Light said. Maybe this, maybe that  you have a reasonable doubt.

Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorney Bryan Haskins said Frizzells defense is Im too drunk to be held responsible for what happened that night.

 He made a conscious decision to pull Haley out of the vehicle and later reach in his pocket for a .38-caliber revolver.

Frizzell wasnt too drunk to where he couldnt recognize Woods; he even called him by his first name, Haskins said.

Virginia State troopers  brought in to do an independent investigation of the shooting  determined that physical evidence [shows] five shots were fired from Frizzells revolver as he was trying to cut down a deputy sheriff, Haskins said.

During the sentencing phase, Frizzell spoke twice. He declined to testify during the trial.

From the witness stand, he apologized to the Woods family, his family and friends in attendance, law enforcement and everyone affected by the shooting.

 I think Deputy Woods overreacted, Frizzell said of the incident. I dont think that justified the use of a Taser.

He addressed the jury again for his final argument. Frizzell, dressed in a black suit and red tie, stood at the podium in front of the jurors.

Frizzell told the jury he cried more in the last couple of months than he ever has in his life.

 If I ever get back out there, Ill be a better citizen, he told them.

He turned around and spoke to Woods and other police officers present in the courtroom. I was one of you guys.

Livingston reports for the Danville Register & Bee.
VANCOUVER, Sept. 22, 2016 - Northern Lion Gold Corp. (the "Company") (TSX-V: NL, Frankfurt: N3E) announced today that it has received the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") to proceed with the consolidation of its outstanding common shares (each, a "Share") on the basis of two (2) pre-consolidation Shares for each one (1) post-consolidation Share (the "Consolidation") previously announced September 1, 2016. As part of the Consolidation, the Board of Directors have also approved moving to an unlimited share capital.Accordingly, effective at market opening on September 23, 2016, the Company's Shares will commence trading on the Exchange on a post-Consolidation basis. Following the Consolidation, the Company will have approximately 1,481,184 Shares issued and outstanding.No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. In the event that the Consolidation would otherwise result in the issuance of a fractional share, such fractional share interest that is less than one-half of a Share will be cancelled and each fractional common share that is at least one-half of a Share will be changed to one whole Share. A Letter of Transmittal with respect to the Consolidation will be mailed to the shareholders of the Company post-Consolidation describing the process by which shareholders may obtain new certificates representing their consolidated Shares.The Company also announces that the Exchange has granted the Company an extension to the period by which the Company must satisfy its continued listing requirement deficiency or be transferred to the NEX referenced in the Company's September 1, 2016 news release. The Company is actively searching for opportunities with interested parties to create a value enhancing transaction that would enable the Company to meet the continued listing requirements.NORTHERN LION GOLD CORP.John LandoPresidentThis news release includes "forward-looking information", as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information includes, without limitation, exploration plans of the Company, receipt of all required regulatory approval, completion of the Consolidation, entering into any transaction and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development; the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; the Company's limited operating history; the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations; potential defects in title to the Company's properties; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; fluctuating prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition; and other risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information.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 RELEASESOURCE Northern Lion Gold Corp. with respect to Northern Lion or the contents of this news release, please contact the Company at (604) 669-2701 or toll free at 1 800 663 0510.
Vancouver, BC / TheNewswire / September 23, 2016 - Pursuant to the press release dated September 14, 2016, Nortec Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Nortec") (TSXV: NVT) is pleased to announce that the Company's Joint Venture earn-in partner, Avalon Minerals ("Avalon") of Milton, QLD, Australia, has announced results from the first drill hole, SMD001 on the Satulinmaki gold prospect, Tammela Project, Finland. The Satulinmaki prospect is located 5 kilometres north-west respectively of the Kietyonmaki lithium prospect (Figure 1). Avalon's press release can be referred to on:

http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20160922/pdf/43bcmwrx9rtdg6.pdf, http://avalonminerals.com.au/

Tammela Minerals Oy, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Nortec, controls 100% interest in the Somero 1 to 12 and Tammela 1 to 3 claims comprising the Tammela Project. The property hosts the Kietyonmaki Lithium prospect and the Riukka and Satulinmaki gold zones. Avalon has also submitted applications for two Exploration Reservations over an area of 117 km2 around the Somero and Tammela claims. These reservations form part of the Joint Venture with Avalon.

Highlights

-The first diamond drill hole confirms shallow gold mineralization.

-Individual assays up to 15.15g/t gold over 1m sampling interval.

-Drill hole SMDD001 has intersected; -7.0m at 1.24g/t gold from 9m, -10.0m at 1.13 g/t gold from 33m, and -1.0m at 15.15g/t gold from 57m.



-The drill hole is located adjacent to historical holes R413 and R414 which intersected, in separate shoots; -25.0m at 1.74g/t gold in R413 -3.0m at 5.87g/t gold in hole R414. R414 ended in mineralisation.



-A total of six holes have now been completed by Avalon at Satulinmaki and all have intersected altered and structurally complex zones coincident with the interpreted positions of gold lodes from historical drilling results.

-The current and historical drilling has now tested multiple parallel lode positions along a strike extent of 350m, and vertical extent of 150m below surface.

-Further assays from the remaining drill holes are pending with results from drill hole SMDD002 expected next week.

Detailed assays from the SMD001 drill hole are as follows:

-7.0m @ 1.24 g/t Au from 9m downhole -10.0m @ 1.13 g/t Au from 33m downhole -1.0m @ 0.62 g/t Au from 49m downhole -1.0m @ 15.15 g/t Au from 57m downhole

The intervals are within 50m of the surface and correlate with results from nearby historical drill holes, to define a series of steeply dipping gold zones. Drill hole SMDD002 has been drilled underneath these zones (see cross section below) and has intersected wide intervals of alteration and quartz veining with varying amounts of sulphide minerals. Assay results from SMDD002 are expected next week.

Six drill holes were completed at Satulinmaki, and a seventh hole is underway. Assay results from these additional holes are expected in the weeks ahead. These drill holes have tested several interpreted north-east trending sub-parallel gold bearing vein systems, along a strike extent of 250m and a vertical extent of 150m. The vein systems are open at depth and along strike.

The figures 2 and 3 below show the location of the drill holes, and a cross section showing the geology, alteration and mineralization incorporating drill holes SMD001 and SMD002. Drill hole SMD003 has intersected quartz veins and sulphides with broad zones of moderate to intense alteration. This drill was designed to test below the intersection in the historical hole R391 which returned 25 meters grading 3.17 g/t Au.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Location of Satulinmaki gold prospect, 4km NW of the Kietyonmaki lithium project.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Satulinmaki gold prospect showing interpreted NE trending gold bearing vein systems. Figure 3 cross section is shown through the main target vein. Collar positions of historical holes are shown with red dots and grey, green traces. Completed holes SMD001 to SMD007 are shown in white.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3: Cross section showing results from Hole SMDD001 and the target zone down plunge from mineralised horizons in historical holes R413 and R414.

Avalon - Nortec Heads of Agreement:

Details of the Heads of Agreement with regards to the formation of the Joint Venture Agreement between Nortec and Avalon can be referred to in the Company's press release dated May 19, 2016.

Avalon recently announced high grade results of 42.1m at 1.05% Li2O from 17.9m downhole, including 24.2m at 1.44% Li2O from 17.9m downhole and 9m at 2.00% Li2O from 29m downhole from Kietyonmaki lithium prospect (Nortec press release dated September 15, 2016). Historical drilling by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) identified a high grade lithium pegmatite deposit including diamond drill intersections of up to 18m @ 1.8% Li2O. This work will deliver a mineral resource estimate and preliminary metallurgical studies by the end of 2016.

About Nortec Minerals Corp.

Nortec is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Information on the Company's projects can be referred to on www.nortecminerals.com.

Mohan R. Vulimiri, M.Sc., P.Geo, CEO, Nortec Minerals, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Vulimiri has approved the corporate and technical content contained in this press release

On behalf of the Board of Directors, NORTEC MINERALS CORP. "Mohan R. Vulimiri" Mohan R. Vulimiri, CEO and Chairman

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept the responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains certain forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays and uncertainties not under the Company's control which may cause actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performances or expectations implied by these forward looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States.

Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Vancouver, September 23, 2016 - Battle Mountain Gold Inc. ("Battle Mountain" or the "Company") (TSX-V: BMG) advises that further to our news release of June 16, 2016 (the "June News Release"), the Company has issued a total of 6,126,185 additional shares to Gold Standard Ventures Corp. ("GSV"). GSV has now exercised all of its 5,240,717 warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire an additional 5,240,717 common shares of Battle Mountain (the "Warrant Shares") at a price of CAD $0.37 per share for an aggregate purchase price of CAD $1,939,065 (the "Warrant Purchase Price"). In addition to the Warrant Shares, 885,468 shares have been issued on the basis set out in the paragraph following.

The gross proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants are being applied by Battle Mountain to partially fund a buy-down (the "Royalty Buy-Down") of the existing royalty for gold and silver (the "Royalty") on Battle Mountain's Lewis Gold Project in Lander County, Nevada, U.S.A. from 5% to 3.5% and the conversion of the Royalty from a gross royalty to a net smelter returns royalty. GSV also advanced an additional CAD $416,170 to Battle Mountain (the "Additional Advance") to fund the balance of the Royalty Buy-Down. GSV has advised that the Warrant Purchase Price and the Additional Advance totalling USD $1,850,000 (translated as CAD $2,355,235) have been funded by GSV through a combination of USD $925,000 cash and 532,864 common shares of GSV at a deemed price of USD $1.7359 (CAD $2.21) per share paid by GSV directly to the arm's length holder of the Royalty. Battle Mountain has now settled the Additional Advance from Gold Standard through the issuance of 885,468 common shares of Battle Mountain (the "Additional Advance Shares") at a fair value of CAD $0.47 per share.

Prior to the issue by BMG of the Warrant Shares and the Additional Advance Shares, GSV owned 10,481,435 common shares of Battle Mountain. With the exercise of the Warrants and the issuance of the Additional Advance Shares, GSV now holds 16,607,620 common shares or approximately 28.2% of Battle Mountain's issued and outstanding common shares. In accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Additional Advance Shares are subject to a hold period expiring January 17, 2017.

GSV has advised that the Warrant Shares and Additional Advance Shares have been acquired by GSV as principal for investment purposes and that GSV has no present intention to acquire further securities of Battle Mountain although GSV may in the future and in accordance with applicable securities laws, increase or decrease its investment in Battle Mountain by acquiring or disposing of other securities of Battle Mountain, through the market, privately or otherwise, depending on market conditions or any other relevant factors.

GSV has agreed to vote its shares of Battle Mountain in accordance with the recommendations of Battle Mountain's board of directors until November 6, 2017 and give Battle Mountain prior notice of any sales of shares exceeding 2% of Battle Mountain's then issued and outstanding shares in any 15 day period for so long as GSV owns not less than 9.9% of Battle Mountain's issued and outstanding shares.

The Warrants now having been exercised, a report respecting the acquisition of the Warrant Shares and the Additional Advance Shares is being electronically filed by GSV with the applicable securities commission in each jurisdiction where Battle Mountain is reporting and will be available for viewing through the Internet at the Canadian System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com.

Additional Royalty reduction option

As set out in the June News Release, Battle Mountain and GSV have the collective right to further reduce the Royalty from 3.5% to 2.5% by paying the royalty holder the amount of USD $2,150,000, payable one-half in cash and one-half in GSV shares, for a two year period which may be extended for a further one year upon payment of an additional USD $250,000.

To find out more about Battle Mountain Gold Inc. please visit our website at www.battlemtngold.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Battle Mountain Gold Inc.

"Chet Idziszek"

Chet Idziszek, President

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility of the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release includes and is qualified by the Cautionary Statements following.

Cautionary Statements

This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations. All statements other than statements of historical fact herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and intentions of GSV with respect to the Company's securities, our future potential project economics and project attractiveness in the marketplace and our other future plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and future events and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time via SEDAR with the Canadian regulatory agencies to whose policies we are bound. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should conditions or our estimates or opinions change, other than as required by law. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks associated with mineral exploration, conditions in the capital markets, and operational and political risks. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.



Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.


Contributed photo Dozer TX will perform this weekend at Yaya's.

SHARE Contributed photo Dozer TX will perform this weekend at Yaya's.

I spoke to the members of San Angelo's premier punk rock band, Dozer TX, early one morning, literally right after they finished recording their new EP, which hasn't even been named yet. The EP is tentatively scheduled for release early next year.

"I'm very excited," said Miles McMillan Jr., the band's vocalist and bass player. "It's definitely the next step for us. We knew that we really had to make this album the best it could be."

The band will unveil its new songs with its show Friday at Yaya's. The all-punk lineup also will feature headliner Welcome Home, Fair Tides, Moonhead, Thick Thread, The First Part and a rare, special performance from local legend Zach Montemayor.

The concert is also a homecoming of sorts for Dozer TX, whose growing popularity has the band broadening its appeal beyond San Angelo's borders and performing frequently throughout Texas.

In addition to McMillan, the band includes Kevin Cale on vocals and guitar, Eli Kypfer on guitar and Mark Jimenez on drums.

"Initially we wanted the new record to be the other half to 'Sabotage,' " McMillan said, referring to the group's well-received previous record released in 2015. "But we decided to not look at it that way."

The result is songs with much more reflective lyrics and a more aggressive, raw punk sound. Cale and McMillan shared the bulk of the songwriting for the new EP, but other band members also made essential contributions, McMillan said.

In preparation for recording the new album, the band livestreamed its rehearsals on Facebook.

"It allowed people to give us feedback," McMillan said. "When you let people see the process, they can see that we're working and not just goofing around all the time."

It also made the band better prepared for the recording process.

"During the recording of 'Sabotage' we booked the recording time but didn't have all the songs ready," said McMillan, who noted that the approach was stressful and more expensive because the group had to pay for the studio time. "This time we went in ready, and I think it shows."

The new EP features five songs: "Smoke Screen," "Leech," Breathe Deep," "Centerpiece" and the tentatively named"Eli's Song," written by guitarist Eli Kypfer.

"We couldn't think of a name for it, so the band just started calling it 'Eli's Song,' " McMillan said. "We could still change the name, but we've gotten used to the title. It will probably stay 'Eli's Song.' "

The band's members, who have all performed separately in other groups, have known each other for several years and frequently discussed the idea of forming a band, McMillan said. In 2014 they decided to take the plunge.

"We all bring something different to the group," he said. "There's a lot of good chemistry."

IF YOU GO

What: A night of punk rock

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Where: Yayas, 610 Locust St.

Cost: $6

What else: Features San Angelo band Dozer TX, Welcome Home, Fair Tides, Moon Head, Thick Tread, The First Part and Zack Montemayor
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By Mayo Clinic News Network (TNS)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month and physicians want to raise awareness in the hopes of helping spur earlier diagnoses.

There are several types of ovarian cancer, which can include cancer of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the lining of the peritoneum. While anyone can be at risk, ovarian cancer is most common in women over age 50 and those women who are known carriers of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes.

The majority of ovarian cancer is sporadic but it is the fifth-leading cause of cancer deaths, due in part to the challenges with early diagnosis, says Dr. Carrie Langstraat, gynecologic surgeon at Mayo Clinic.

Common symptoms include:

 Abdominal bloating or stomach ache

 Back pain

 A feeling of fullness after eating

 Bowel changes

These are common symptoms that women often chalk up to other things and then they arent diagnosed until the cancer has progressed, Langstraat says. I always encourage women to follow up with their physician if their symptoms persist. The earlier we can diagnose ovarian cancer, the better we can treat it.

SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS

Ultrasounds and a blood test, known as a CA 125, may be useful in helping to determine a diagnosis. However, Dr, Langstraat says, there is not a great screening tool for ovarian cancer.

For women with BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations, who are at higher risk for ovarian cancer, a CA 125 test may be effective in looking for early signs, she explains. But overall, it is not accurate enough to use for ovarian cancer screening in all women since other things, including menstruation, can increase the CA 125 level. We would like to see a better screening testing for everyone.

ADVANCES IN CARE

Due to the nature of the disease, Langstraat notes that a majority of women have a recurrence. But new treatments are coming down the line that will hopefully contribute to a decreased risk of recurrence, she says.

Several clinical studies are underway looking at vaccines designed to prevent the recurrence of ovarian cancer.

Our hope is that soon we will have a better screening test for everyone and then be able to cure more patients up front, says Langstraat. But in the meantime, I tell my patients to stay vigilant and be an advocate for yourself.
Surrounded by about 100 custom flavor juices and sample tanks, Mallory Immethun, 20, vapes while awaiting customers at Stella Blues Vapors on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2016 in Fenton, Mo. (Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS)

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By Michele Munz St. Louis Post-Dispatch (TNS)

ST. LOUIS  Evan Wright, 18, started smoking cigarettes and cigars early in high school. He sometimes smoked three cigars a night and began to have serious breathing problems, he said.

A year ago, he started vaping, which delivers nicotine in an appealingly flavored aerosol without all the toxic chemicals that come from burning tobacco. His breathing problems went away.

Every day, I get the urge to go buy a cigar or a pack of cigarettes, but I pull out the vape and inhale the strawberry pina colada, and Im good to go, said Wright, of Des Peres, Mo.

On the heels of an ordinance that passed last Tuesday banning the sale of both tobacco and vaping products to anyone under the age of 21 in St. Louis County, vaping business owners say they are worried less about their bottom line than about 18- to 21-year-olds no longer having the option to use vaping to quit smoking.

A lot of them are vaping because they quit cigarettes, said Dru Fernandez, who owns Mape Vape in Maplewood, Mo. I dont know anybody who comes in here that starts vaping because they think its fun. Everybody that comes in here, they tell you a story that they used to smoke.

Fernandez said about 8 percent to 10 percent of his customers were ages 18-21. Hes not worried about the drop in customers when the law goes into effect Dec. 1, he said. My main concern is the principle of this. A vapor product is not tobacco. You are taking away the option for younger adults to have safer alternatives than combustive tobacco.

LACK OF INFORMATION

The two products are seen the same by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however. The agency recently extended long-standing restrictions on cigarettes to vaping products, also known as e-cigarettes. Minors were banned from buying the products starting in August.

The move was in response to the growing number of teens vaping. Between 2011 and 2015, e-cigarette use rose from 1.5 percent to 16 percent among high school students, and from 0.6 percent to 5.3 percent among middle school students, federal figures show. That means more than 3 million middle and high school students vaped in 2015.

Whether e-cigarettes are safer than conventional cigarettes or help people quit smoking remains unclear because of the lack of information on the new devices, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that deliver nicotine and other flavorings in a vapor instead of smoke. Because they deliver nicotine without burning tobacco, they appear as a less toxic alternative to cigarettes.

The deadly health consequences associated with smoking, such as cancer and heart disease, are linked to the inhalation of tar and other chemicals produced by tobacco combustion. The pleasurable, addictive properties are produced by nicotine.

The dangers of nicotine alone are debatable. Some research suggests nicotine may prime the brain to become addicted to other substances, according to the drug abuse institute. A California study suggests teens experimenting with vaping were six times more likely than their peers to transition to tobacco.

The vapor also has been found to contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, as well as metal nanoparticles with unknown consequences from repeated exposure.

St. Louis County is among 191 U.S. communities that have chosen to ban the sale of vaping products to anyone under the age 21, despite arguments by shop owners and former smokers that e-cigarettes serve as smoking cessation devices. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay indicated on Twitter two weeks ago that he would pursue similar legislation for the city.

Other physicians and health groups, such as the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association, also supported the county ordinance.

St. Louis County Councilman Sam Page said the ordinance will dramatically decrease smoking habits, and we will save kids lives.

I FEEL A LOT HEALTHIER

Despite the problems with e-cigarettes, however, major health organizations in England have found that vaping is about 95 percent less hazardous than smoking.

And while federal figures show vaping among teens has increased since 2011, smoking tobacco has decreased: by 4.3 percent among middle school students and by 15.8 percent among high school students.

Nearly nine out of 10 cigarette smokers first tried smoking by the age of 18, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Mallory Immethun, 20, of Fenton, Mo., said she started smoking cigarettes when she was 17. She smoked a pack a day, and her asthma worsened. When she started vaping nearly two years ago, she quit smoking immediately.

It just makes you feel so much better, Immethun said. I feel a lot healthier doing it.

Connor Schwieger, 18, of Maplewood, started smoking cigarettes when he was 14, also exacerbating his asthma. He began vaping about six months ago and kicked his tobacco habit.

I havent used my inhaler since, Schwieger said. Ive been able to play volleyball for three hours. Before I could only play for one.

Schwieger said many of his friends had also used vaping to quit smoking. No one he knows has ever moved on to cigarettes after trying vaping, he said, because vaping makes cigarettes so unappealing.

Ian Shepardson, 21, of St. Louis, started smoking as a freshman in high school and switched to vaping when he turned 18. I havent touched a cigarette in almost three years, he said. Vaping helped me quit.

The young adults also criticize having their choice taken away. At the age of 18, they can join the military, buy a gun, vote, gamble, apply for a credit card, get married or be sentenced to prison.

If I can put my life on the line, Wright said, why cant I inhale strawberry pina colada?
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By John Bacon And Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY NETWORK

The increasingly common practice of purchasing materials used in homemade explosives online is being eyed for renewed scrutiny by federal authorities in the wake of last weekend's bombing campaign in New York and New Jersey, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Thursday.

"We'll be reviewing ways in which suspects are gaining access to bomb components by way of the Internet," Lynch said.

Earlier this week, federal prosecutors alleged the lone suspect in the bombings, Ahmad Rahami, shopped on eBay beginning in June and as recently as August for igniters, ball bearings and circuit boards used in the assembly of devices planted at four separate locations, including Manhattan where 31 people were injured when a pressure-cooker device detonated Saturday evening.

EBay has said the company is cooperating in the ongoing federal investigation, yet acknowledged a central concern of law enforcement: "The types of items bought by the suspect are legal to buy and sell in the United States and are widely available at online and offline stores," the company said.

Meanwhile, Lynch said federal investigators in the bomb inquiry continue to examine Rahami's travels abroad, including extended visits in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he was born in 1988. He arrived in the U.S. in 1995. Authorities also have been questioning Rahami's wife, Asia Bibi Rahami, who returned to the U.S., late Wednesday after spending more than two months abroad, a federal law enforcement official said.

The official said the suspect's wife has been cooperative during questioning and there is no immediate indication she knew of her husband's alleged plan. Rahami's wife left the U.S. in June and was previously scheduled to return this month, the official said. Authorities believe she may be able to provide details about her husband's past travels abroad.
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By John T. Bennett, CQ-Roll Call (TNS)

WASHINGTON  Senate negotiations to avert a government shutdown remained mired Thursday, with the Senate's top Democrat indicating his party opposes key provisions in a Republican stopgap spending plan.

Republican leaders rolled out legislative text of a continuing resolution to keep the government running through Dec. 9 that was quickly rejected by Democrats.

"We're back where we were yesterday. We're in no hurry to go anyplace, OK?" said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "We have a lot of time."

With an agreement already in place to provide additional money in response to the Zika virus outbreak, Reid declared, "We can pass a 'clean' CR, we can do it in a matter of an hour or so."

But major stumbling blocks remain. Reid said Democrats will not agree to a CR that contains flood aid for Louisiana but does not address water contamination in Flint, Mich.

He accused Republicans of "refusing to legislate," saying President Barack Obama will not sign a measure with provisions he deems "ideological." Soon after, White House press secretary Josh Earnest echoed that sentiment.

The White House's "principle has not changed," Earnest said, saying Congress should send Obama a stopgap spending bill that is not used to "pass ideological riders into law."

Another major sticking point is language in the package blocking a Securities and Exchange Commission rule that could force corporations to disclose campaign spending. It is favored by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Reid's rebuttal: "The answer's no."

"The president will accept no riders," Reid said, repeating the White House's stance that any stopgap Obama gets be mostly free of controversial provisions backed by one party but opposed by the other. "If they want to get out of here, we've got Zika resolved. Do a clean CR and they can leave in 10 minutes."

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, echoed that McConnell's plan does not constitute an agreement with Reid and Democrats.

"I don't know what the alternative is," Cornyn said, accusing Reid of refusing to complete negotiations.

Yet another issue is whether to provide emergency funding for flood-ravaged Louisiana. On Thursday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards emerged from a meeting with McConnell and said the CR would include a "down payment" for aid to Louisiana in a CR proposal.

"I expect that he's going to make a proposal soon to move the CR through that has a significant down payment, and then we will be back in Congress during the lame-duck session trying to get the remainder of the funding that we need in the omnibus bill," Edwards told Roll Call.

Edwards declined to say the amount McConnell would include in his proposal, but said it would be a down payment on the community development block grants. He also declined to say when McConnell would move the CR and whether it would also include aid for Flint's water crisis.

Across the Capitol, House leaders are largely leaving the talks to the Senate. But it appears unlikely that chamber would erect new obstacles once it receives whatever the Senate finally comes up with.
Trump

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By Sahil Kapur, Bloomberg News (TNS)

WASHINGTON  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have been locked in a fierce election battle for months, but tens of millions of Americans will compare their presidential bona fides side-by-side anew on Monday.

The first of three debates promises to be a national sensation, contrasting two vastly different New Yorkers who are recognized around the world. Clinton, known for her extensive experience in government, is more comfortable discussing substantive issues than pitching her candidacy; and Trump excels as a self-promoter and an unsparing critic of his adversaries.

The Democratic presidential nominee is preparing for an unpredictable opponent who "hangs back a lot, picks his moments" and "may be aggressive," according to communications director Jennifer Palmieri. Her challenge: driving home her message to voters regardless of what he does, Palmieri said.

The Republican nominee is being advised by some in his orbit to put his rival on defense by questioning her judgment, intelligence and accomplishments, as well as confronting her over controversies such as the Clinton Foundation, her private email server, her paid speeches to Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms, and by accusing Clinton and her husband of exploiting the Haiti earthquake for personal gain.

But his advisers are also wary of him going too far, and coming across as a bully.

The debate at Hofstra University in New York comes six weeks before the Nov. 8 election, as Trump has closed the gap nationally and in numerous battleground states, with Clinton retaining an edge in the Electoral College.

"It's going to be a high-stakes drama," said Peter Hart, a leading Democratic pollster. "In an hour and a half or two, opinions get suspended and people look at the candidates, on large measure, afresh. There are a certain number of open windows for people to look and decide what they're feeling."

"Voters who say 'I worry that I can't relate to Hillary' will get an opportunity to see her. Voters who wonder if Donald Trump has the temperament or the knowledge to be president  they get to see that," he said.

In a Fox News interview Tuesday, Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway cited a recent forum hosted by NBC's Matt Lauer as a "very good preview" for what to expect from Trump during the debate. She said his answers to questions will be "concise and confident" in contrast to Clinton's "lengthy" and "lawyerly" responses.

Clinton told donors in the Hamptons last month she's unsure which Trump will show up to the debate: one who will try to be presidential and convey "gravity," or one hurling insults to "score some points."

"You have to assume, well he might approach the debate this way or he may approach it that way and he may be aggressive or he may lay back," Palmieri said. "That's hard to game out necessarily."

Trump has been practicing for weeks while traveling with his top advisers. This week alone, he spent time with Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani, Michael Flynn and Ben Carson, asking each of them between campaign events for their advice of potential questions for the debates, according to people familiar with his plans.

Trump aides have indicated that he isn't practicing with mock debate sessions where someone plays Clinton. He's campaigning through Thursday, and on Sunday he has reserved an entire day to prepare for the debate inside Trump Tower, according to people familiar with his plans.

Thus far, Clinton aides have declined to say who is playing Trump in her rehearsals or to say when and where she's preparing. She was at home in Chappaqua, N.Y., all day Tuesday, and  after a day trip to Florida on Wednesday  she has no campaign events scheduled through the debate.

Clinton is working with the team that helped her gear up for Democratic primary debates: Karen Dunn, Ron Klain, Bob Barnett, John Podesta, Joel Benenson, Jake Sullivan and Palmieri. Barnett is standing in for Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence in Democratic running mate Tim Kaine's preparations. Tony Schwartz, co-author of Trump's most successful book, "The Art of the Deal," is also assisting.

She has hinted that if Trump appears more restrained on stage, she'll remind voters of the former reality TV star's history of inflammatory comments and controversies. "He's trying to somehow convince people to forget everything he's said and done, and I don't think that he's going to get away with that," Clinton said in an interview that aired Monday on "The Tonight Show."

Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign manager, told CNN on Wednesday she's "going to have to spend some time probably correcting the record" during the debate because Trump "doesn't often tell the truth."

But she's also bracing for a more confrontational Trump to take the stage.

"I'm 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 bigotry that we've seen coming from my opponent. You know, I can take it," Clinton said Tuesday on "The Steve Harvey Morning Show."

Clinton, facing criticism for avoiding press conferences for over 270 days, has begun to do gaggles with reporters regularly in recent weeks. Trump, meanwhile, who used to do regular press conferences in the first half of 2016, has mostly avoided adversarial reporters lately in favor of regular interviews on the relatively friendly Fox News.

David Kochel, a Republican strategist and former top adviser to Jeb Bush's presidential campaign, said a blustery Trump "maximizes base turnout and keeps his people fired up," but "doesn't grow his electorate."

"Hillary's negatives are high enough that he could win over Trump-doubting Republicans and independents by showing a presidential bearing, similar to his appearance in Mexico City," he said.

"Hillary's main goal is to be natural, authentic, and show humor without a script  be 'likable enough.' She's a better debater than she gets credit for, but this debate will be far more about style than substance, because of Trump's outsized presence on the stage," Kochel said. "I would also have her prepped to needle at Trump's wildly overstated wealth, as that seems to be the one thing that most easily flusters him."

In the Republican primary, Trump demonstrated a knack for relentlessly branding his opponents  using labels such as "low-energy" Jeb Bush, "little" Marco Rubio and "lyin'" Ted Cruz  in ways that stuck and paid off for him. He frequently calls his Democratic rival "crooked Hillary."

Clinton, meanwhile, has focused heavily on criticizing Trump rather than making a positive case for herself. She's fluent in topics sure to come up in the debate and the lines of attack on her record she can expect from Trump, because they were part of the debates during the 2008 Democratic primary race. Those include her vote to authorize the 2003 invasion of Iraq, her shifting positions on trade and questions about her honesty.

In four one-on-one debates with President Barack Obama in 2008  and 17 others that included other candidates  Clinton showed her ability to go on offense and make it personal. She was able, at times, to rattle Obama enough to bring a candidate known for his cool demeanor to the brink of losing his temper.

Steve Schale, who managed Obama's 2008 campaign in Florida, said the debate on Monday will be critical in establishing the contours of the race in its final weeks.

"The only thing that matters is that first debate," he said. "If Trump succeeds at passing the presidential test  which I think is a huge lift, particularly standing toe to toe with Secretary Clinton  then we will absolutely be in a fight to the end. But if he falls short, the question won't be whether she will win, but by what margin."
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
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Next week's presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton could determine the outcome of the election. As polls show Trump leading in some swing states and closing the gap in others, it appears the only burden he must overcome is the one Ronald Reagan shared, looking presidential enough that voters trust him with so much power.

The way these debates have usually gone in the past is that the Republican candidate is asked about abortion, gay rights and other social issues and the Democratic candidate is asked about subjects that appeal to a wider range of voters.

Lester Holt, the "NBC Nightly News" anchor, will moderate the first debate. Here are some questions he should ask:

For Clinton: You once supported traditional marriage, but now favor same-sex marriage. Polygamists now want to be next in line to receive legal and cultural approval. Do you oppose polygamy, and if so on what basis? If elected president, how would we know you wouldn't change your mind on this issue?

Follow-up: What is your standard for defining right from wrong?

For Trump: You were pro-choice, you said, until you heard about a baby that was going to be aborted, but wasn't. You called the child a "total superstar." Do you have a utilitarian view of human life  that a baby is only valuable if it grows up to be a superstar  or is every life valuable?

For Clinton: You said you would have a "bunch of litmus tests" for Supreme Court nominees, including requiring potential nominees to have a commitment to preserving a woman's right to an abortion. Would you overlook qualified candidates because they oppose abortion?

Also for Clinton: You appear to have an interventionist foreign policy record. What is your standard for sending American forces into battle, especially in the Middle East where nothing ever seems to get resolved?

Follow-up: In one of your emails you praise Sidney Blumenthal's son, Max, for his virulent anti-Semitic and anti-Israel comments, favoring the dismantling of the State of Israel. Since Israel's enemies have also vowed to destroy the only democracy in the Middle East and one of the United States' few allies in the region, as president, would you support the Jewish state or demand that it give up more land to Palestinians when the land it has already relinquished has brought it no closer to peace?

For Trump: Many voters are worried about your praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who routinely behaves like the KGB agent he once was. Putin has invaded and occupied territories, censored the news and been accused of murdering his opposition. Why do you admire his leadership? Should you become president, what do you think your public praise of Putin will accomplish that will be in America's interests?

Follow-up: Under what circumstances would you use military force against Russia or our enemies in the Middle East?

For both candidates: North Korea is developing nuclear weapons that will fit on top of missiles capable of reaching the U.S. Would you authorize a missile defense system able to shoot down North Korean missiles, despite China's opposition to such a system?

For Clinton: The federal government took in record amounts of tax money in 2015  $3.18 trillion  but the debt is approaching $20 trillion, and you want to spend more. Why won't you propose cutting programs that aren't working?

For Trump: What agencies and programs would you eliminate or reform?

Public interest for the debates will be at Super Bowl level. These and similar questions would produce the information undecided voters need to cast their votes wisely.

The future of this country hangs in the balance.

Cal Thomas writes for the Tribune Content Agency. Contact him at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.
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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. 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 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 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 or not Congress can still efficiently provide public works to enhance private-sector efficiency.

George Will is a Washington Post columnist. Contact him at georgewill@washpost.com.
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The following editorial appeared in Wednesday's Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Weekend attacks in Minnesota, New York and New Jersey exposed yet another flaw in presidential candidate Donald Trump, whose policy approach to terrorism has yet to go much deeper than, "We'll knock the hell out of them."

Trump first spent some time congratulating himself for having called the New York explosion a bomb before investigators had confirmed it to be one. Speculation in the aftermath of an attack, especially the kind that prompts panic and backlash, is nothing to be proud of. Any ignoramus can do the same, but it's particularly unsettling when it comes from what could be the next president.

Other aspects of Trump's approach are just as disturbing. He has called for profiling, which would bring every brown-skinned, bearded or hijab-wearing person under suspicion while possibly allowing those who don't "look" Muslim to escape attention.

Instead of offering a calm voice and steady hand expected from leaders in times of crisis, Trump on Sunday night tweeted "Time to change the playbook!" But to what, exactly? We don't know, because Trump's stock-in-trade is unpredictability. He doesn't believe in telegraphing his moves to opponents or enemies. But that leaves voters in the dark as well.

After the Brussels attack, Trump said he would not take a nuclear strike out of consideration because, "I want them to think maybe we will use it." While other leaders took pains to keep their language neutral, Trump remained oblivious to panic and the backlash it can provoke, openly predicting more attacks because, "This country's weak."

That's another lie that goes against years of effort by this country and others around the world to stamp out terrorism. Was it weakness that took out Osama bin Laden? Does Trump imagine, in his hubris, that he is the first to call for stronger action? In 2014, Secretary of State John Kerry began assembling a coalition of nations that grew to dozens, all committed to the specific goal of "defeating the ideology, the funding, the recruitment" of the Islamic State. Since then there have been tens of thousands of airstrikes, drone deployments and ground action.

Strong alliances meant the United States was able to use air bases in southern Turkey for airstrikes while that country's army shelled Islamic State outposts in Syria. Sustained action on multiple fronts by coalition members has resulted in the Islamic State losing significant territory and revenue, its dreams of a sprawling caliphate in near ruins. Even now, Iraqi forces are preparing to liberate Mosul, its second largest city, from two years of Islamic State control.

Trump doesn't seem to have the faintest idea of the work, discipline and diplomacy that have gone into the efforts around the globe against the Islamic State. Has it all gone according to plan? No, but find the war that ever did.

His shallow grasp of facts in the wake of the attacks should be alarming to Americans. While others look for facts, Trump has already blamed the attacks on "our extremely open immigration system," even though Ahmad Khan Rahami was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Afghanistan who had lived here for years before setting off homemade bombs in New York and New Jersey. Meanwhile his son and confidant, Donald Trump Jr., was helpfully comparing refugees to poisoned Skittles.

Hillary Clinton has called for more airstrikes in Syria, the creation of a no-fly zone, better intelligence, better coordination with the tech industry to monitor social media and other elements that continue the grueling, incremental work of battling an enemy that bedeviled the West and Middle East for decades in one form or another.

The hard, unwelcome reality voters must deal with is this: There is no swift, bloodless, surefire plan for defeating terrorism, and Americans should beware those who claim to have one hidden up their sleeve  just out of sight.
Transcription

1 Iraq, the United States, and the end of the European coalition Gabriel Kolko Gabriel Kolko, the foremost historian of warfare, is the author of Another Century of War? 11 We are experiencing the equivalent of a geopolitical earthquake. The disintegration of the Soviet bloc permitted American unilateralism on a scale the modern world has never seen. But with its war against Iraq the United States for the first time openly massed its military power and then invaded another nation, justifying the war in the name of the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and regime change. At the same time, it staked the very future of its existing alliances NATO above all but also the United Nations. NATO s demise is a major outcome of the war against Iraq. Washington wished to recast its European alliance, especially after its war against Serbia in the spring of 1999 revealed that the NATO principle of unanimity among its 19 members was a major inhibition on its freedom of action, but today its European coalition is disintegrating prematurely for reasons it both failed to anticipate and deplores. America s unilateralism and bellicosity has compelled some of the most important European nations to assert their independence well before they were ready or likely to do so. Washington intended that NATO, from its very inception, serve as its instrument for maintaining its political hegemony over Western Europe, forestalling the emergence of a bloc that could play an independent role in world affairs. Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill, and many influential politicians envisioned such an alliance less as a means of confronting the Soviet army than as a way of containing a resurgent Germany as well as balancing American power. Publicly, the reason for creating NATO in 1949 was the alleged Soviet military menace, but the United States always planned to employ strategic nuclear weapons to defeat the USSR for which it did not need an alliance. But Washington believed that war with Russia was not imminent or even likely, a view that

2 12 Iraq, the United States and the end of the European coalition prevailed most of the time until the USSR finally disappeared. There was also the justification of preventing the Western Europeans from being obsessed with fear at reconstructing Germany s economy, and American military planners were concerned with internal subversion. But when the Soviet Union capsized over a decade ago, NATO s nominal rationale for existence died with it. But the principal reason for its creation to forestall European autonomy remains. NATO provided a peacekeeping force in Bosnia to enforce the agreement that ended the internecine civil war in that part of Yugoslavia, but in 1999 it ceased being a purely defensive alliance and entered the war against the Serbs on behalf of the Albanians in Kosovo. The United States found the entire experience very frustrating. Targets had to be approved by all 19 members, any one of which could veto American proposals. The Pentagon s after-action report of October 1999 conceded that America needed the cooperation of NATO countries, but gaining consensus among 19 democratic nations is not easy and can only be achieved through discussion and compromise. But Wesley Clark, the American who was NATO s supreme commander, regarded the whole experience as a nightmare both in his relations with the Pentagon and NATO s members. [W]orking within the NATO alliance, American generals complained, unduly constrained US military forces from getting the job done quickly and effectively. 1 A war expected to last a few days instead took 78 days. The Yugoslav war taught the Americans a grave lesson. Long before September 11, 2001, Washington was determined to avoid the serious constraints that NATO could impose. However much their premises differ, Bush s closest advisers all believe in an apocalyptic world. Some, such as Vice-president Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, are nationalists who believe America has overwhelming military power and should apply it. Others, such as Paul Wolfowitz, are neo-conservative ideologues, mainly Jewish academics and lawyers capable of articulating elegant Hobbesian justifications for the use of power and wars; many are personally close to Israel s ruling Likud party. Their focus is mainly on altering fundamentally Middle Eastern politics to provide Israel a friendly geopolitical environment. Yet others, including the president, are born-again Christians who sincerely believe the United States has a divine mission to reorder the world. The White House has little patience with the increasingly impotent realists and believers in traditional diplomacy in the State Department, much less those in the Central Intelligence Agency who believe that objective intelligence should influence foreign and military policies. Combined, this is an exceedingly dangerous intellectual cocktail to guide the most powerful nation on earth; its analytic basis for the application of power is highly romantic and dangerously irresponsible. Most of America s leaders are suspicious of foreigners, not just former enemies like Russia and China but also the major NATO allies, and they are quick often nonchalant to create adversarial situations with nations that criticise their blustering style in any way. It is really quite misleading to concentrate exclusively on the systematic ideas

3 Speak Truth to Power 13 and strategies of Bush s coterie, for the United States since at least 1949 has wanted military dominance, control over oil (principally at the expense of its British allies ), and the like power in the largest geo-political sense. The errors built into this overweening ambition, from military credibility to an ignorance of the political nuances and complexities of the nations the United States has sought to control, are many decades old. Like most persons who rise to the top in Washington, articulating great strategic designs comes easily to many of them. The real question is not systematic theories but the unintended consequences of grandiose, unrealistic ambitions and the loss of control over priorities: allies and proxies who collapse, as in the case of Thieu in Vietnam or the Shah in Iran, or become enemies as with the Muslim fundamentalists in Afghanistan or Hussein in Iraq. For America always loses control of its priorities, especially insofar as the major regions of the world are concerned, and its grand plans have invariably fallen apart and frustrated. This confusion and loss of priorities is best illustrated by the shifting importance of Asia in Washington s priorities. When the Bush Administration took power at the beginning of 2001 it was committed to a much more activist foreign policy in East Asia, and was especially resolved to confront China. Until September 11 China was the threat of choice to most of official Washington, a potential enemy big enough to justify the Pentagon s extravagant spending. The crash of an American spy plane with a Chinese fighter over Hainan island in April 2001 gave force to the imminent administration designation of China as the leading peer competitor to the United States. September 11 changed everything, and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have completely altered America s priorities. China is no longer of prime importance to it, and even North Korea s nuclear bombs remain a question it wavers on, and it is a challenge it is loath to confront soon because it lacks the military resources it is spread far too thinly throughout the world. The war in Afghanistan destabilized the Musharraf regime in Pakistan, and South Asia with it future relations between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan are more unpredictable than ever. As for the Western Hemisphere, which is essentially outside of the leading decision makers vision, Washington has neglected and thereby alienated Mexico and Canada its two neighbours and major trading partners to an extent which was completely unintended. One may look at America s resolve over the past two years and ultrasophisticated military equipment as a sign of strength as well as imperialist pretension, but it is also an indication of endemic confusion and a policy that will unintentionally lead to the diffusion of its power and create more weakness for it. This is the history of its improvised and often chaotic behaviour since The people who lead the United States today do not think in these terms, because priorities and their systematic application imply constraints and a recognition of the limits of power, if only to exploit its formidable resources more rationally. For these men, the only question over the past several years was of timing and how the United States would escape NATO s clear military

4 14 Iraq, the United States and the end of the European coalition obligations while maintaining its political hegemony over its members. They still want to preserve NATO for the very reason it was established: to keep Europe from developing an independent political as well as military organisation. Some of its members want NATO to reach a partial accord with Russia, a relationship on which Washington often shifted, but Moscow remains highly suspicious of its plans to extend its membership to Russia s very borders. When the new administration came to power in January 2001, NATO s fundamental role was already being reconsidered. What it did add at least as much out of ineptness as conscious policy was a readiness to smash the alliance if necessary. For apart from their penchant for action, which in itself is scarcely unique, its spokesmen have a completely incompetent sense of public relations, creating shock and opposition among friends as well as enemies and resistance to America s objectives well before it might otherwise occur. Although it would eventually have happened anyway, NATO s demise is a good example of this policy based on blunders whose unintended consequences then become decisive. President Bush is strongly unilateralist, and he repudiated the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, opposes further restrictions on nuclear weapons tests or land mines, and is against a host of other existing and projected accords. He also greatly accelerated the development of an anti-ballistic missile system, which will give the United States a first-strike capacity and which China and Russia justifiably regard as destabilising thereby threatening to renew the nuclear arms race. Downgrading the United Nations, needless to say, was axiomatic. The war in Afghanistan was fought without NATO but on the United States terms by a floating coalition of the willing, a model for future conflicts that will, according to Rumsfeld, evolve and change over time depending on the activity and circumstances of the country. It accepted the small German, French, Italian, and other contingents that were offered only after it became clear that the war, and especially its aftermath, would take considerably longer than the Pentagon expected. But it did not consult them on military matters or crucial political questions. Despite its military success, the Afghan war was a political failure for the United States. The country is today ruled by warlords, its economy is in a shambles, and even the Taliban is again attracting followers. The United States has never been able to translate its superior arms into political success, and that decisive failure is inherent in everything it attempts. Iraq is very likely to confirm this pattern; its regionalism and internecine ethnic strife will produce years of instability. Rational assessments of these repeated political failures would lead America to act far less frequently, and its vision consciously excludes alliances that will inhibit its actions. The war with Iraq is only the first step in the United States astonishingly ambitious project to recast the world. It has identified Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as members of an axis of evil. Even today there is growing and formidable pressure on the Bush Administration to destroy Iran s nuclear facilities, thereby courting an even broader regional war. But as its Nuclear Posture Review to Congress made clear in January 2002, Syria and Libya are also immediate

5 Speak Truth to Power 15 dangers, while China and even Russia remain a concern. The Iraq war is the beginning of a cycle. 2 On September 19, 2002 Bush proclaimed the United States commitment to fighting pre-emptive wars against rogue states that have weapons of mass destruction or harbour terrorists. His vision extends far beyond the constraints inherent in alliances, much less agreeing to conform to the decisions of the United Nations. This new era in international relations, with momentous implications for war and world peace, in fact began long before then, but it was inevitable that the unilateralists now in charge of America s foreign policy would bring it to its logical conclusion. Washington has decided that its allies must now accept its objectives and work solely on its terms, and it has no intention whatsoever of discussing the merits of its actions in NATO conferences. This applied, above all, to the war against Iraq a war of choice. The United States submitted the Iraq issue to the UN Security Council only because of a vain effort by Secretary of State Colin Powell to stem the unilateralism of the dominant entourage around President Bush, but the entire crisis revealed the impotence of traditionalists in the State Department. The Americans based their case for military action on the alleged existence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as well as Hussein s purported links with Al Qaeda terrorists. But Israeli intelligence reported to the United States that Hussein had no ties whatsoever to Bin Laden. The CIA concurred, and many of its analysts complained publicly that the White House was forcing them to lie on this issue. As for weapons of mass destruction, the United Nations inspectors did not find any and the CIA was convinced that by 1995 Hussein had few, if any, left. Much more important, he did not use them against the invading American army, which so far has not found any. The single most important US public justification for the Iraq war proved to be an utter falsehood. This catastrophic lie will haunt the United States for years to come, because although it proved in Iraq that it militarily could quickly defeat what was, at best, a second-rate army, it has no political credibility whatsoever. France saw the issue as primarily one of the rule of agreed international law in guiding international affairs of all nations, and regarded American behaviour as both arbitrary and unilateral. To this extent, the Iraq crisis was broader and impinges directly on NATO s future. The French and German refusal to support what was an obvious American obsession to eliminate a regime that it (and Israel) deplored was vindicated, although the Security Council could not constrain arbitrary and dangerous American action. But it embarked on war anyway. Its real goal was political regime change and it is the beginning of a cycle of interventions that may last years; its ultimate consequences are utterly unpredictable. The crisis in NATO was both overdue and inevitable, the result of a decisive American reorientation, and the time and ostensible reason for it was far less important than the underlying reason it occurred: the United States growing realisation after the early 1990s that while NATO was militarily a growing

6 16 Iraq, the United States and the end of the European coalition liability it still remained a political asset. The United Nations and Security Council were strained in ways that proved decisive, but the United States never assigned the UN the same crucial role as it did its alliance in Europe. The Iraq war was the final step in NATO s demise. Today, NATO s original raison d etre for imposing American hegemony which was to prevent the major European nations from pursuing independent foreign policies is the core of the controversy that is now raging. Washington cannot sustain this grandiose objective because a reunited Germany is far too powerful to be treated as it was a half-century ago, and Germany has its own interests in the Middle East and Asia to protect. Germany and France s independence was reinforced by wholly inept American propaganda on the relationship of Iraq to Al Qaeda (from which the CIA and British MI6 openly distanced themselves), overwhelming antiwar public opinion in most nations, and a great deal of opposition within the United States establishment and many senior American officers to the war with Iraq. The furious American response to Germany, France, and Belgium s refusal, under article 4 of the NATO treaty, to protect Turkey from an Iraqi counter-attack because that would prejudge the Security Council s decision on war and peace was only a contrived reason for confronting fundamental issues that have simmered for years. The dispute was far more about symbolism than substance, and the point was made: some NATO members refused to allow the organisation to serve as a rubber stamp for American policy, whatever it may be. War in Iraq forced the issue to a head, compelling major NATO members and Russia to resist Washington s leadership. Whether such a split was inevitable is now moot it happened. Turkey s problem was simple: the United States pressured it, despite overwhelmingly antiwar Turkish public and political opinion, to allow American troops to invade Iraq from Turkey in effect, to enter the war on its side. The United States wanted NATO to aid Turkey in order to strengthen the Ankara government s resolve to ignore overwhelmingly antiwar domestic opinion. The arms it was to receive were superfluous. But the Turks have always been far more concerned with Kurdish separatism in Iraq rekindling the civil war that Kurds have fought in Turkey for much of the past decade, and the conditions they demanded on these issues put Washington in a very difficult position from which it could not extricate itself. The United States naively took Turkey for granted, as it has for many decades, tying up its most modern armour division offshore its coast on the assumption it could also invade Iraq from the north. An important faction of the government deliberately protracted negotiations with the United States in the hope of preventing the war altogether. 3 Turkey s best and most obvious defence was to stay out of the war, which the vast majority of Turks wanted. After incessant haggling, it ended up doing so, and its relations with the U.S. are now very strained, perhaps irreparably. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Turkish troops are massed at the Iraq border and they will march if the Kurds keep Kirkuk, declare de facto independence, or in some way threaten Turkish interests. A crisis may not occur in the coming weeks,

7 Speak Truth to Power 17 but it is a constant threat in the future. For the United States it is a nightmare which can easily become reality. Geopolitically, the consummately ambitious American plan for restructuring the Middle East s politics, making it more congenial to itself as well as to Israel, is very likely to fail. Arab opinion even among those once friendly to the United States was overwhelmingly antiwar and passionately angry, a fact that will only increase terrorism s appeals and its dangers to Americans and their allies. The vast majority of Arabs believe that the outcome of the war on Iraq will be instability for the entire region. There is no longer an Iraqi balance to Iranian predominance in the Gulf region, a fact that has untold geopolitical implications. Saudi Arabia at the end of April asked the United States to abandon its ultra-modern bases quickly, which it has agreed to do, and the Saudis have made a grudging move to make peace with the detested Iranian Shia regime. Washington supported Hussein in his war with Iran throughout the 1980s, providing him credits, intelligence, and vital military support, solely to contain Iran, and now Iraq is incapable of playing that role. Turkey is likely to intervene, one way or another, to control the Kurds in northern Iraq what may occur there is wholly unpredictable and will be a vital question in the future. But while America will very likely keep a much larger military presence in the region for many years to come, using Iran as an excuse, it cannot oppose the Turks without shattering the illusion of its alliance with it and NATO. War with Iraq has created a vast number of uncontrollable geopolitical dangers throughout the region. Iran s role is of overwhelming importance to the United States and to Israel. It is militarily far more formidable than Iraq and will have nuclear weapons in due course the timing is much disputed. Iran s principal concern is Israel, its nuclear weapons and delivery systems, and Iran has neither the intention nor the technology to reach beyond it. The obvious solution is to create a nuclear-free zone enforced by international inspection, an option Israel is most unlikely to accept, and in late June Iran reiterated its commitment to a nuclear-weapons-free region. The war in Iraq is just the beginning, former prime minister Shimon Peres said on Israeli television last February. Will the United States drain the swamp in the region, as the neoconservatives advocate, even including Saudi Arabia among the regimes to be toppled? 4 Washington is divided on this specific issue but not on the question of its commitment to an aggressive foreign policy globally. What inhibits it most is Iraq s political chaos, which it may increasingly feel obligated to resolve before it confronts more wayward nations, and the immense costs of the American way of making war costs its former allies are unwilling to share. The End of Alliances America still desires to regain the mastery over Europe it had during the peak of the Cold War but it is also determined not to be bound by European desires or indeed by the overwhelming European public opposition to the war with Iraq.

8 18 Iraq, the United States and the end of the European coalition Genuine dialogue or consultation with its NATO allies is out of the question. The Bush administration, even more than its predecessors, simply does not believe in it nor will it accept NATO s formal veto structure; NATO s division on Turkey has nothing to do with it. Washington cannot have it both ways. Its commitment to aggressive unilateralism is the antithesis of an alliance system that involves real consultation. France and Germany are now far too powerful to be treated as obsequious dependents, and the meeting at the end of April between these two nations and Belgium although still vague in its implications is an important step in the direction of NATO s breakup and the creation of an autonomous bloc that Washington cannot control. These states also believe in sovereignty, as does every nation which is strong enough to exercise it, and they are now able to insist that the United States both listen to and take their views seriously. It was precisely this danger that the United States sought to forestall when it created NATO over 50 years ago. The controversy over NATO s future has been exacerbated by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld s attacks on Old Europe and the disdain for Germany and France that he and his close adviser, Richard Perle, have repeated. But the underlying problems over the alliance s future have been smouldering for years. Together, the nations that opposed a pre-emptive American war in Iraq and the Middle East an open-ended, destabilising adventure that is likely to last indefinitely will influence Europe s future development and role in the world profoundly. Although they do not have armies comparable to the American, they have great and growing economies. If Russia cooperates with them, even only occasionally, they will be much more powerful, and President Putin s support for their position on the war makes that a real possibility. Eastern European nations may say what Washington wishes on Iraq, but economically they are far more dependent on Germany and those allied with it. When the 15 nations in the European Union met last February 17 their statement on Iraq was far closer to the German-French position than the American, reflecting the anti-war nations economic clout as well as the response of some pro-war political leaders to the massive anti-war demonstrations that have taken place in Italy, Spain, Britain and the rest of Europe. There is every likelihood that the United States will emerge from this crisis in NATO more belligerent, and more isolated and detested, than ever. NATO will then go the way of the South- East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and all of the other defunct American alliances. The Bush administration does not believe it needs allies save on its own terms, and this erroneous presumption is changing the nature of global power and will lead to the United States being isolated. It is folly to guess the next American move, for the war in Afghanistan also destabilised Pakistan a nuclear power and North Korea is high on the President s list of evil states. Given its global ambitions and commitments, the United States may very well be drawn elsewhere, and soon. The men who lead it now are capable of anything. At the present time, the Pentagon is considering creating an American-trained and led

9 Speak Truth to Power 19 international peacekeeping force wholly independent of the United Nations and NATO. It has already discussed the option with some European and Latin American nations. Such a force would be a major step in reinforcing Washington s unilateralism and eliminate UN and NATO restraints on it. One way or another, however, NATO s importance for the United States will decline. The world has reached the most dangerous point in recent history, one full of threats of wars and instability unlike anything which prevailed when a Soviet-led bloc existed. The war against Iraq and those very likely to follow it are the logic of United States foreign and military policies, one that assumes it has a near monopoly of power, that emerged first after the collapse of Communism. The Bush administration has brought them to their inevitable culmination. There should be no doubt that the Cold War geopolitical legacies are ending and a new configuration of nations is in the process of being created. It is a mistake to think that America s quick defeat of the demoralised, corrupt Iraqi regime reflects its new technological military prowess rather than Hussein s political weakness. Rumsfeld wishes to trumpet the strength of the Pentagon s arms but this conclusion is scarcely justified by the facts. Military triumph, in any case, can scarcely be equated with political success and it is politics that counts most in the long run. The reality is that the world is increasingly multipolar, economically and technologically, and that the United States desire to maintain absolute military superiority over the world is a chimera. Russia remains a military superpower, China is becoming one, and the world should have confronted and stopped the proliferation of destructive weaponry 20 years ago. It can only be done, if it is still possible, by international accords and bodies such as the United Nations which the United States rejects as a constraint on its power. The United States has no alternative but to accept the world as it is, or prepare for doomsday. Unfortunately, there is not the slightest indication America will acknowledge the limits of its aspirations. The crisis in NATO and the dissolution of its dominant role in Europe reflects this diffusion of all forms of power and the diminution of American hegemony, which remains far more an unattainable aspiration than a reality. References 1. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and Gen. Henry H. Shelton, Joint Statement on the Kosovo After Action Review, Senate Armed Services Committee, Oct. 14, 1999, p Capital Hill Blue, Feb. 16, 2003; Washington Post, Feb. 7, 2003; New York Times, March 23, Washington Post, Feb. 28, Haaretz, March 20, 2003; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 5, 2003.

10 Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union Welcomes the European Network for Peace & Human Rights Best wishes for your work with activists in the Middle East and the United States Joe Marino General Secretary Ronnie Draper National President
No. 4: Republican Rick Snyder of Michigan

No. 3: Republican Chris Christie of New Jersey

No. 2: Democrat Dannel Malloy of Connecticut

No. 1: Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas

Last week, Maine Republican Gov. Paul LePage said he expects his party to lose control of the state Senate in November.He should know. If it happens, LePage himself will be a major reason."The governor has done all he can to make the legislative elections a referendum on himself and his policy positions," said Jim Melcher, a political scientist at the University of Maine at Farmington. "So more than usual, what people do in Maine has a decent chance to reflect how they feel about the governor."LePage has some strong supporters -- but probably not enough to give him the conservative majorities he seeks in both legislative chambers, said Melcher. The governor's habit of making controversial statements has become a drag on his party, with his approval rating below 40 percent.Something similar is happening in other states. A governor who is highly unpopular can hurt his or her party's brand and thus the chances of its down-ballot candidates.This week, Morning Consult released updated favorability ratings of governors across the country.LePage had the fifth worst ratings of any governor, with only 39 percent approving of his job performance. Here's a look at the rest of the bottom five -- and how they might affect elections this November:Snyder's approval rating is down to 33 percent, a continuing reflection of the anger over his handling of the Flint water crisis. Democrats are hoping this will help them post gains at the legislative level.Recognizing the risks, Snyder has made himself scarce."After the tornado of outrage over the Flint crisis died down, hes kept a pretty low profile, especially in an election year," said Roger Moiles, a Grand Valley State University political scientist. "I cant recall a period when weve heard less news from a sitting Michigan governor over a period of many months."Snyder is not welcome on the campaign trail. His absence, said Moiles, should help GOP legislators avoid being tainted by association.This week, though, a pair of political action committees associated with Snyder started running ads in six state House districts. But none of the six seats is considered competitive, so that might represent an attempt by the governor to start rehabilitating his own image rather than helping his party hold seats, said Susan Demas, editor and publisher of the newsletter"I think it's clear Snyder wanted to send a message that he's still here," she said, "but surmised he would hurt more than he would help in more competitive seats."Christie's already weak numbers fell further, with his approval rating dropping to 29 percent. And that was before another week of bad news for the governor.Federal prosecutors claimed on Monday that Christie knew all along about the scheme to close lanes on the George Washington Bridge to punish a political enemy. Also, Christie was criticized for maintaining that GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump hadn't long been pushing the "birther" rumor that President Obama wasn't born in the United States.None of this particularly matters in November because New Jersey holds its legislative elections in odd-numbered years.But last year, Democrats padded their already sizable majority in the state House. And Christie's unpopularity is expected to make it difficult for the GOP to hold onto his seat next year, when he will be term-limited out."Short on resources and resigned to campaigning with the shadow of Christie's record-low approval ratings over its head, the state Republican Party's best hope could be for the governor to step down early," wrote J.T. Aregood in theWednesday. He noted, however, that that isn't likely to happen.Federal and state investigators have been looking into campaign finance and ethics allegations involving the governor, his administration and the state Democratic Party. That comes on top of major companies from General Electric (GE) on down leaving the state Combine these problems with sluggish job growth and tax increases, and Malloy becomes the least popular Democratic governor in the country. His approval rating is just 29 percent."He's obviously the face of it all," said J.R. Romano, who chairs the Connecticut GOP.During a campaign appearance in Fairfield last month, Trump devoted a considerable amount of time lambasting Malloy, blaming him for losing GE and calling him "garbage."What was striking, said Romano, is that no Democrats came to Malloy's defense."That tells you the Democrats are trying to run as fast as possible from what they've created," he said.Republicans believe they have a golden opportunity to gain ground in both legislative chambers, perhaps even winning the four seats they need to take control of the state Senate. Most observers still believe that outcome is unlikely.A big question "is how effective will Republicans be in making this an election about ending one-party rule and about the unpopularity of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy," wrote Paul Choiniere in. "So far, I don't see Republicans doing a great job of this, but it is still relatively early."Brownback's aggressive tax-cutting agenda has left his state in a hole.On Wednesday, the Legislative Research Department released a memo stating that, despite two years' worth of budget cuts, Kansas still faces a shortfall. And that's not even counting the fact that the state again missed its own revenue projections over the past couple of months.That has made Brownback, who has an approval rating of just 23 percent, a liability for his legislative allies. In GOP primaries last month, a slate of moderates unseated a dozen conservatives aligned with Brownback. In November, Democrats are targeting Republican legislators who represent districts that voted for Paul Davis, Brownback's Democratic challenger in 2014."Many of these seats are held by staunch Brownback supporters who have consistently backed his agenda but who are distancing themselves in the campaign," said Patrick Miller, a political scientist at the University of Kansas. "I think that the behavior of those Republican incumbents certainly shows that they're concerned that Brownback makes them vulnerable if the Democrats can message around that effectively."The combination of newly-elected moderate Republicans and the potential gain of a few seats in each chamber by Democrats in November could strip Brownback of his working majority next year."It's pretty clear that Brownback will hurt right-wing legislators," said Burdett Loomis, Miller's KU colleague. "The consensus is that there will be some kind of moderate majority in both houses."
Protesters gathered in Charlotte for a third straight night Thursday, as National Guard troops patrolled the streets and the city instituted a midnight curfew in hopes of heading off the violence that erupted after a black man was fatally shot by police.Large crowds swept chanting through the streets, at one point surging onto Interstate 277 before police drove them back with tear gas."Move back! Move back!" police shouted, eventually restoring the free flow of traffic on the busy thoroughfare.While Wednesday's protests saw hotel windows smashed and demonstrators pushed back by tear gas and riot police, Thursday night's demonstrations unfolded without major incident.In some cases, citizens positioned themselves as buffers between the angriest demonstrators and the police."All we need is to let people know, stop killing God's people," one man shouted as he stood, raised above the cheering crowd.Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed a midnight curfew order early in the evening, but as the deadline came and went, protesters showed few signs of dispersing.At least 100 people continued to make their way through the streets, and police suggested the curfew would be enforced only if there were trouble."We hope things remain peaceful," said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Capt. Mike Campagna.By 12:30 p.m., police had made no curfew-related arrests.The night was not entirely without incident. Two officers were "sprayed with a chemical agent by demonstrators" and receiving medical attention, the Police Department said on Twitter without providing more details.The family of the slain man, 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott, on Thursday was allowed to watch police videos of the killing, and an attorney for the family urged officials to make the footage public.But Police Chief Kerr Putney said he had no intention of doing so."Transparency is in the eye of the beholder," he told reporters. "If you think I say we should display a victim's worst day for public consumption, that is not the transparency I'm speaking of."Police have said that Scott emerged from his vehicle with a gun and refused orders to drop it; Scott's family members contend that he was not armed.The ensuing unrest has left more than a dozen police and civilians injured and one protester dead.Clergy and activists who had protested the police shooting of Scott said Thursday they were planning more vigils and community meetings in hopes of quelling the violence.By early Thursday evening, military Humvees were parked in the streets.A crowd of hundreds worked its way from the area of the county courthouse and jail, west on East 4th Street and up North College Street, converging with another, smaller crowd gathered by the Omni Hotel."We want the tape," marchers yelled, calling for the release of video showing Tuesday's shooting by police. "If we don't get no justice, they don't get no peace!"They passed officers in neon-yellow shirts blocking the entrance to the Charlotte Transit Center.The protesters, a racially diverse group primarily in their 20s and 30s, paused by the site of the shooting before 10 p.m. as a small group lighted memorial candles outside the Omni."Justice is not justification," read a sign one protester held. "White silence = neglect," said another sign.Protesters headed down Main Street toward Interstate 277, aiming to shut down the highway. A few dozen reached the highway around the same time dozens of police emerged from vans in riot gear and fired tear gas.Protesters fled across the highway as a helicopter flew overhead.Not far away, a protestor prayed with a police officer and a marcher stopped to hug a guardsman.Two musicians -- one black, one white -- had set up an amp and were playing covers of pop songs, including DNCE's "Cake By The Ocean." They said they were playing for peace in Charlotte.The curfew was scheduled to run through 6 a.m. The city said it would be in effect each day until the city revokes it or lifts its state of emergency."We cannot tolerate any type of violence," North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said at a news conference Thursday."We're not going to let a few hours give a negative impact on a great city," the Republican governor said.Many businesses remained closed Thursday as major corporations -- Wells Fargo and Bank of America among them -- urged employees to stay away from their downtown offices. Cleanup crews and volunteers worked overnight to board up damaged buildings and sweep shards of glass from sidewalks. Protesters had thrown rocks at hotel and restaurant windows and sprayed "Black lives matter" on a wall outside a Hyatt hotel.Meanwhile, a North Carolina congressman apologized Thursday for a statement he made in an interview with the BBC, in which he said the violence in Charlotte stems from protesters who "hate white people because white people are successful, and they're not."Rep. Robert Pittenger, a Republican whose district includes parts of the city beset by protests, said later it was his "anguish" over the violence that led him to respond "in a way that I regret."Sharply different narratives have emerged not only around the original police shooting, but on the protests it sparked.Police said one protester, 26-year-old Justin Carr, was shot Wednesday and died the next day."Don't know how to feel!" his mother, Ann Carr, posted on Facebook on Thursday before he died."My baby is fighting for his Life! Please if your gonna protest do it peacefully! My baby was shot in the head for no apparent reason!"The victim was shot by another civilian, the city said on its Twitter account.Several protesters, however, said they saw police fire rubber bullets that hit the man.Two officers were left with minor eye injuries, three officers were treated for heat-related conditions, and eight civilians were injured, Putney said. Police arrested 44 protesters for failure to disperse, assault, and breaking and entering."This has been a difficult couple of days for the city of Charlotte," Mayor Roberts said at a news conference Thursday. "The events that we saw last night are not the Charlotte that I know and love. In Charlotte we have a long tradition of working together to solve our problems, of working collaboratively, and I urge everyone to continue that tradition."Roberts pledged that the city would conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting. "It's important that we have a full and transparent investigation of the original incident and we are working very hard in a collaborative way to ensure the integrity of that investigation."North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation has already begun to investigate Scott's shooting to determine whether charges should be filed against the officer who shot him. The local district attorney's office said in a statement that it has been in contact with the FBI and U.S. Justice Department, providing them "information to assist with their review of the matter."The shooting was captured on police video by a body camera and a dashboard camera.Justin Bamberg, an attorney for the Scott family, released a statement Thursday saying that the videos show that Scott calmly followed orders to exit his vehicle and that it was impossible to see whether he was holding anything.He was shot while slowly walking backward with his hands at his side, the statement said.Bamberg urged police to make the videos public.Scott did not own a handgun, let alone carry one, Bamberg said."We still don't know if there was or was not a gun even there," he said. "There are witnesses who are saying that no gun was there. There are witnesses who say that a gun was put there. There are witnesses who say that a gun may have been pulled out of the car. There is too much talk. We are here to get answers."Putney said the police video did not give him "absolute definitive visual evidence" that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun. But the "totality of all other evidence" supported "the version of the truth" that the police had given about Scott's death, he said."There's your truth, my truth and the truth. Some people have already made up their minds about what happened," he said.Scott was confronted Tuesday by police outside a Charlotte condominium complex.Brentley Vinson, the officer police identified as having shot Scott, is also black. He has been placed on administrative leave, a routine procedure following an officer-involved shooting.Police say Vinson was at a University City apartment complex looking for a suspect with an outstanding warrant -- not Scott -- but came upon Scott 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.
Description

GIS - 23 September 2016: The health imperative for women to be screened for breast and cervical cancers was the main focus of the message of the Minister of Health and Quality of Life, Mr Anil Gayan, yesterday at Sir Harilal Vaghjee Memorial Hall in Port Louis, in the context of the free breast and cervical cancers screening for female public officers initiative.

The health programme is organised by the Public Officers Welfare Council (POWC) under its health promotion programme with the collaboration of the Non-Communicable Disease Department of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life.

In his address Mr Gayan recalled that in Mauritius, cancer has become the third major health threat after diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Cancer represents the third cause of mortality in Mauritius, responsible for 13.3% of deaths in 2015, he said. The Minister added that the overall cancer incidence is on the rise mainly due to ageing of the population but also to rapid lifestyle modifications and environmental changes.

Speaking on the need for cancer screening with a view to saving lives and protecting the health of the individual through early detection, Mr Gayan stated that the screening exercise is very important as cancer at the beginning stage has no symptoms.  It is natural for anyone to entertain a degree of apprehension when going for any medical test, and this apprehension is multiplied a hundred fold when the screening is for cancer, but there is no other option than to be screened, underlined the Minister.

The Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms and Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development and Disaster and Beach Management, Mr Alain Wong Yen Cheong, was also present at the opening ceremony. He welcomed the initiative taken by the POWC, which he said is in line with the Ministrys vision to promote work-life balance, without any gender discrimination.

According to Mr Wong the Government, as the largest employer, has the obligation to provide to its employees a safe, healthy and risk free workplace where welfare maximisation prevails over other goals. He pointed out that emphasis has been on the human aspect of Human Resources with deep concern for staff well-being and commitment for mutually beneficial practices.

To this end, my Ministry has embarked on the implementation of, among others, the Occupational Safety and Health Management System designed to strengthen a safety and health culture in the Civil Service; and the Enhancement of Work Environment Programme to assist Ministries and Departments to make workplaces comfortable and tuned to productivity, Mr Wong said.

Over six hundred applications have been received from female public officers across all Ministries and Departments for screening which will be held at Emmanuel Anquetil Building and Atom House in Port Louis, and at the Civil Service House in Vacoas.
(TNS) -- Details from at least 500 million Yahoo accounts have been stolen, the company said Thursday, Sept. 22, 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 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.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
(TNS) -- Hacking into a phone is unlikely to physically hurt the victim. But hacking into a car?A security research team in China hacked into a Tesla Model S and said they took over the cars brakes from 12 miles away. A video released this week shows members of the research team being thrust forward as the remote hacker slammed the brakes on command.The demonstration took place in an empty parking lot. No one was injured.The team from Keen Security Lab, an arm of Tencent, also used a laptop computer to turn on the windshield wipers, retract the side view mirror and pop open the trunk, all while the car was moving.While the car was parked, the team took over the vehicles 17-inch touchscreen and dashboard display. Keens logo appeared on the screens, which appeared frozen and inoperable.The team said there was no mechanical connection to the cars computer system, nor had they modified any part of the car.Keen said it had reported its findings to Tesla, which in turn said it fixed the security holes quickly.The issue demonstrated is only triggered when the Web browser is used, and also required the car to be physically near to and connected to a malicious wifi hotspot. Our realistic estimate is that the risk to our customers was very low, the company said.As more cars connect to the internet and other computer networks, experts say, more hacking is inevitable.The Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday released guidelines on autonomous cars and safety, which addressed, in part, cybersecurity.The guidelines suggest that automakers follow established best practices to thwart hackers, and recommend that they report any and all discovered vulnerabilities whether they happen during testing or on the public roadways. Furthermore, the entire process of incorporating cybersecurity considerations should be fully documented.At this point, the guidelines are voluntary.Separately, Elon Musk, Teslas chief executive, tweeted that the company on Wednesday night will begin wireless updates to its Autopilot driver-assist feature.
(TNS) -- When it comes to protecting its power grid in Virginia from cyberattack, Dominion Virginia Power considers its long experience with hurricanes a helpful template."It's just another challenge," said Rodney Blevins, chief information officer and senior vice president for the biggest utility in the state and one of the biggest in the country."One of the things that's important to understand is ... we are obsessed with the reliability of the grid," said Blevins. "To the point where, in certain parts of the organization, you almost can't get people to talk about anything else."It matters little if the attack is cyber or physical, an act of God or bad actors at home or abroad, he said  the same corporate mission would kick in."It's the same outcome you're going to pursue," Blevins said.Cyberthreats to critical infrastructure for power, water and wastewater utilities were center stage Thursday as the three-day Cyber Physical Systems Summit concluded.Tangier Island is located twelve miles offshore, in the Chesapeake Bay. The island is a tightknit, culturally unique fishing community focused on commercial fishing and crabbing. A rapidly eroding shoreline, climate change and a rising sea level puts the island at risk to be completely underwater...Tangier Island is located twelve miles offshore, in the Chesapeake Bay. The island is a tightknit, culturally unique fishing community focused on commercial fishing and crabbing. A rapidly eroding shoreline, climate change and a rising sea level puts the island at risk to be completely underwater...The summit was held at Jefferson Lab in Newport News and drew cyberexperts, government officials, academics, military personnel and industry representatives from throughout the region to share information and war stories on a broad range of cybersecurity topics.Blevins said he became CIO at Dominion three years ago after spending nearly three decades in electrical distribution and as an incident commander."Which might seem to be an odd thing," said Blevins. "But the idea of having an incident commander in charge of the IT department at a time when the lights could potentially go out seemed like the right thing to do on the part of our chairman. And I'll tell you, I've learned quite a bit."Anyone can fall victim to an online data breach  even a federal security expert who specializes in preventing data breaches.In fact, Ron Ross of the National Institute of Standards and Technology said he was swept up in several breaches just last year.After several major data breaches in recent years, and especially after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, governments from federal to local have been similarly obsessed with security."Virginia takes an 'all hazards' approach to disaster preparedness," said Brian Moran, Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security.That approach is especially vital, he said, because the state has so many strategic federal and military assets.The state partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to launch a pilot initiative to spread cybersecurity awareness and conduct security assessments of water and wastewater groups, Moran said.On Thursday, utility experts ran through some of what they've achieved, including developing contacts with intelligence agencies."We focus a lot in sort of the perimeter in," said Nick Santillo Jr., chief security officer at American Water, a public utility headquartered in New Jersey. "That's sort of our defense base. But we have a lot of activity that happens at our perimeter. So we work closely with both the FBI and DHS around sort of who's knocking on our front door."The company gives the federal agencies data from its computer firewalls and denial logs, he said, and meets with them on a regular basis."Cybersecurity is an evolution," Santillo said. "It's a continuous improvement of process."Safekeeping the data of employees and customers from cyberattack is just as critical, said Barry Lawson, associate director for the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association.NRECA is a national trade group representing more than 900 electric cooperatives in 47 states serving more than 42 million customers."Data protection is just another part of operating a business," said Lawson. "When I talk to cooperatives, I'm trying to make sure they understand the risks of not protecting that information. There's reputational risk, there's legal risk. If you're found negligent, you really can have a major financial downfall. Some of our cooperatives are small enough that legal action along those lines could potentially financially do them in."The nonprofit scientific and educational group American Water Works Association, based in D.C., partnered with DHS and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a road map to cybersecurity, said Kevin Morley, the association's security and preparedness program manager.It's important to keep having discussions on cybersecurity, Morley said, "and frame this in the context of risk management versus risk elimination.""The idea that this framework is somehow a checklist of, well, if I do all these things, then I'm good, I can rest assured and can get some sleep  that's not a good way to look at this," said Morley."It's a dynamic threat environment. A dynamic playbook. That's why you have an incident commander guy running things at Dominion, right? It's an all hazards approach. You don't know what's going to be. I just think risk elimination needs to be moved away from the lexicon."The regional cybersummit was the first to be held in Virginia. It was hosted by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who has made cybersecurity the mission of his yearlong tenure as chairman of the National Governors Association.




Last month we looked at Ted Lieu's valiant crusade to wake members of Congress up to the dangers inherent in the American participation in the savage Saudi onslaught against Yemen. War monger and military-industrial complex whore Ed Royce has it tightly bottled up in the Foreign Affairs Committee but 4 senators brought it up on the other side of the Capitol yesterday. The resolution to disapprove of the $1.15 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia was introduced by Rand Paul (R-KY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Al Franken (D-MN) and Mike Lee (R-UT) and McConnell immediately introduced a motion to "table" (i.e., kill) it. McConnell's motion passed 71-27





Paul and Lee were able to deliver 2 more Republicans, Mark Kirk (IL) and Dean Heller (NV). The Democrats who voted against it included Harry Reid but generally it was the liberals like Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Baldwin, Mazie Hirono, Brian Schatz, Ed Markey and Tom Udall who were the pro-peace forces. Democrats who are part of the military industrial complex-- like Schumer, Feinstein, Warner, McCaskill, Menendez, Shaheen, Carper, Heitkamp, Donnelly, Coons, Manchin were happy to make common cause with war-mongers like Rubio, Graham, Cotton, Ayotte, McCain, Sessions, Inhofe, Toomey, Cruz, Blunt and, of course, Wisconsin's blood-thirsty Ron Johnson. Unforunately, liberals like Sherrod Brown (General Dynamics makes the 130 Abrams tanks on the Saudi shopping list in Ohio), Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse and, most disappointing, Jeff Merkley voted with the bad guys on this. As of last week, General Dynamics has spent $175,500 bribing senators this year-- $132,000 on Republicans and $43,500 on Democrats. (They also spent $855,250 in the House-- but we'll come back to that if the House winds up voting on Lieu's resolution at all.)





When you look at which senators have taken the most bribes from the military industrial complex, you find 18 current members having accepted over $500,000. Only two, Dick Durbin and Patty Murray, voted against killing the resolution.

 Richard Shelby (R-AL)- $1,824,541

 John McCain (R-AZ)- $1,751,818

 Barbara Milkulski (D-MD)-$944,510

 Thad Cochran (R-MS)- $880,686

 Jeff Sessions (R-AL)- $857,577

 Bill Nelson (D-FL)- $796,256

 Miss McConnell (R-KY)- $756,054

 Jack Reed (D-RI)- $735,432

 Jim Inhofe (R-OK)- $657,799

 Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)- $645,705

 Susan Collins (R-ME)- $603,851

 Lindsey Graham (R-SC)- $596,581

 Patty Murray (D-WA)- $568,104

 Dick Durbin (D-IL)- $548,017

 John Cornyn (R-TX)- $540,926

 Mark Warner (D-VA)- $508,818

 Dan Coats (R-IN)- $502,633

After Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski voted to continue shipping arms to the genocidal Saudi war machine, we asked Ray Metcalfe, the progressive running for her seat this year, what he would have done if he was in the Senate yesterday. He had a very sensible approach-- which is why Blue America has endorsed him and why we urge people to contribute to his grassroots campaign . "As a freshman Senator," he told us, "I would not profess to be all knowing on all questions. The first thing I would have would have been to consult with the people I trust the most, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Not having the advantage of their advice as a candidate for the U.S. Senate, here are my thoughts."

The civil war in Yemen is one more example of the centuries old civil war between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, with the Saudis supporting the Sunni and the Iranians supporting the Shi'a, and we have no business in such an endless war.



The Saudis have been bombing Yemen and not only killing civilians but de facto supporting the Islamic State and Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The Shi'as, called Houthis, have been fighting Al Qaeda and IS all along. I have always thought that Saudi Arabia was actually financing IS in Yemen.



Imagine if the Iranians were bombing Yemen! Kerry, Hillary, and Obama would be raising hell, as would the Republicans. We say nothing when the Saudis bomb Yemen.



The Saudis also invaded and occupied Bahrain to keep the Sunni king ruling the predominately Shi'a population there. Imagine if the Iranians invaded Bahrain to put the Shi'a in power, as they should be.



The Saudis also recently executed the leading Shi'a cleric in Saudi Arabia, and are holding numerous Shi'a political prisoners. Frontline, on PBS, recently did an expose on this.



I would have voted with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

In a press release, Amnesty International said they were glad that the debate has begun even if the Senate failed to act.

Ahead of todays vote, 64 Members of Congress urged President Obama in a letter to the White House to postpone the latest arms sale so that the U.S. Congress could properly debate the issue. Amnesty International USAs Board of Directors also sent President Obama a letter this month urging him to cancel the arms deal.



Todays vote is the latest example of the growing voice of dissent in Congress when it comes to the United States selling arms to Saudi Arabia, said Sunjeev Bery, Amnesty International USA Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. U.S. officials know that the Saudi government continues dropping bombs on civilian communities and yet the Obama Administration continues selling it weapons. This arms deal is bad for the people of Yemen, bad for the region and bad for U.S. foreign policy. President Obama should cancel it immediately.

The president of Oxfam America, Ray Offenheiser, told the media that the U.S. has been fueling the conflict in Yemen for half a year, threatening the lives of millions without any meaningful debate. "The parties fighting this war," he said, "including the Saudi-led coalition supported by the US, have demonstrated a startling indifference to civilian lives... [T]he courage and common sense of a minority of senators will be cold comfort to the millions of Yemenis struggling to survive without adequate food or health services amidst daily bombing and shelling. Today, millions of Yemenis are on the verge of starvation and more than 10,000 children under 5 have died from preventable diseases. Every tank, missile, and gallon of jet fuel supplied by the US to the Saudi-led coalition is a clear signal that the US is indifferent to Yemens misery."
Formula E boss Alejandro Agag has admitted he would "love" Felipe Massa to make the switch to the all-electric series.

Having recently announced his decision to retire, 15-year F1 veteran Massa said he would consider offers to race instead in DTM, WEC or Formula E in 2017.

Formula E boss Agag told Spain's El Confidencial newspaper: "When I heard he said that (about Formula E), I sent him a Whatsapp (message) and told him we should meet.

"I'd love him to come here. In fact, it's the teams who choose their drivers, but I would love for someone with such quality to come to us," he said.

"He (Massa) also mentioned DTM and WEC but the fact that a driver like him says he wants to come to us means that we are a real alternative for the big boys," Agag added.

More broadly, Agag has been linked with a role in F1 management, and not just because he is the Formula E equivalent of Bernie Ecclestone.

Formula E is co-owned by Liberty Global, a sister company to F1's new owner Liberty Media.

Asked if we will see him in the F1 paddock soon, Agag smiled: "I don't know.

"There are many rumours but there is nothing real and I have my moral responsibility to stay in Formula E. Let's see," the Spaniard insisted.

"I don't know what will happen because although Liberty Media and Liberty Global are different companies they have the same shareholders, but basically there have been no discussions."

(GMM)
An almost centurian's vehicle to expound at nonspecific intervals on his opinions regarding politics-local to international, health care, life,society,and perhaps religion plus periodic vignettes about Plainfield N.J. In addition to "blowing off",I enjoyed my second career as an amateur public advocate.
A man loads steel at a port in Hai Duong Province, outside Hanoi, Vietnam June 14, 2016. Vietnam with its growing market and income is now attractive to many European investors. Photo by Reuters/Kham/File Photo

A free trade deal is opening up the Vietnamese market to EU investors.

The upcoming E.U.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will open up the Vietnamese market, with 90 million people, to more European companies. While it will take time to evaluate opportunities against challenges for both sides, many have responded positively to the prospects of fewer business barriers.

In an email exchange Dr. Pierre-Michael Groning, Head of International Trade Policy at Brussels-based Foreign Trade Association, discusses the appeal of Vietnam, the future of economic ties, and Brexit. His association represents 1,900 plus retailers, importers and brands.

VnExpress International: You have said, in some media reports, that the E.U. free trade agreement with Vietnam (EVFTA) is even more important than the TTIP (with the U.S.), CETA (with Canda) and the agreement with Japan combined for retail enterprises. What makes Vietnam such a crucial market?

Dr. Pierre-Michael Groning: Vietnam currently stands for 8 percent of all imports of fast-moving consumer goods to the E.U. (second only to China), or merchandise worth 22 billion euros ($24.58 million). The country will definitely get a boost from the elimination of tariffs under the EVFTA, which would lower costs for importers and European consumers.

In addition, the EVFTA is more important for my members because the U.S., Canadian and Japanese markets are already very open for investment and exports. Therefore, when compared to these economies, Vietnam is a very promising new market of 90 million people and a growing middle class, that European fashion brands and supermarket chains are eager to tap into for both investment and retail operations.

But do you think E.U. companies are fully aware of the potential?

Yes, I believe that there is a high level of awareness, and many companies have already positioned themselves as first movers to soon benefit from the agreement. From what I see, the EVFTA has been having a very strong PR effect even before entering into force, and generated a lot of interest in the topic.

Do you have any suggestion for the Vietnamese government to improve the business environment? What are the biggest concerns that European companies may have?

Since the mid-1980s Vietnam has planned and implemented a highly successful reform process. As a representative of a business association, we would however always like to see further simplifications and less administrative burdens.

In Vietnam we also have the specific case of the Economic Needs Test on outlets for retail services, which we are glad that it will be abolished under the EVFTA. This having said, we encourage the Vietnamese government to move even quicker and remove this main obstacle to investment with immediate effect.

I believe that the economic cooperation between the two partners will develop even further. If you take the example of the E.U.-Korea FTA, the total volume of trade between the two sides increased exponentially since the entry into force of the agreement (from 69 billion euros in 2011 to 90 billion in 2015).

What can we expect to happen in terms of economic cooperation between Europe and Vietnam after the trade pact comes into effect?

Looking at the EVFTA, we estimate the total bilateral trade volume to reach approximately 100 billion euros by 2025 placing Vietnam in the category of top trading partners of the EU.

Furthermore, the EVFTA will enhance institutional relations and regular exchange at both the decision-making and working levels between authorities, which will aim at ensuring a smooth trading environment. What is also important for the European retail and import sector is that EVFTA will not only cover economic aspects of the agreement, but also has an ambitious sustainability chapter.

Will there be any possible challenges or obstacles to the implementation of the agreement?

Firstly, we have to get the ratification of the agreement, which will take time but I am confident that it will enter into force in early 2018. The next important step is then implementation of the agreement. The deal has several hundred pages of legal text and one can expect that there will be different interpretations of one or the other provision. It is therefore essential that there is good will on both sides and a close and continuous coordination to respect the letter and spirit of agreement.

What is your personal plan as head of International Trade Policy to promote the economic and trade relations?

My association and I are very pro-active on creating a positive dynamic for the ratification of the EVFTA. In addition, it is highly important to keep our 2,000 members informed about the deal and its expected benefits; for example, we are developing an easy-to-read guide for businesses on understanding the agreement and we have held webinars on the EVFTA to bring closer to a wider audience the positive aspects of the deal.

Secondly, and in a more general way, I advocate for improved trade and business relations between the E.U. and Vietnam through various channels at both government and business levels.

What are the main impacts of Brexit on the trade and economic cooperation between the Europe and Vietnam in the future?

This is a very important question, and I am of the opinion that Brexit should not affect the coming into force of EVFTA which is supposed to be ratified in 2017. By this time, it is highly likely that Brexit will not yet happen.

Once Brexit is a reality, then we expect that the U.K. will not be able to profit anymore from deal. However, the agreement should still remain in place for the remaining 27 E.U. member states and Vietnam. In this instance, the U.K. will need to negotiate its own deal with Vietnam, but this will take time. Overall, what we can see is that there is a lot of uncertainty, which shows that Brexit is an extremely risky endeavor.

Related news:

> Free trade between Vietnam and Eurasian economies to open on October 5

> Vietnam tries to find its feet in world of free trade

> Vietnam's leather and footwear firms told to join forces ahead of free-trade deals
Toxic residue from pesticides and insecticides has been blamed for Vietnam's spiraling cancer rate.

The Mekong Delta has long been the stronghold of Vietnams booming rice industry, and yields have increased significantly in recent years following the introduction of a third annual crop that is planted on the same land.

This practice means that nutrients that used to return naturally to the soil between the two traditional crops no longer have a chance to, so farmers have turned to chemicals.

Studies show that in the last 20 years, the amount of agricultural chemicals used to produce 1 kilogram of rice has jumped by 40 percent due to the extra crop.

Vietnam spends on average $774 million each year on imports of pesticides and insecticides, 90 percent of which come from neighboring China, Nguyen Lan Dung, a senior biologist, said on Thursday at a food safety forum.

To put this figure into perspective, agriculture contributes about $8.6 billion to Vietnams annual GDP while that figure in the U.S. stands at $170.8 billion, data from the World Bank show. However, the U.S. only spends an average of $593.9 million per year on agricultural chemical imports.

Vietnam imports about 100,000 tons of more than 4,000 different types of pesticides and insecticides, mainly from China, Dung said.

He pointed to a surge in food poisoning cases in recent years as an alarming sign that Vietnamese farmers are using too many chemical pesticides, fertilizers and preservatives to give their produce a deceivingly healthy appearance.

According to official statistics from the Food Safety Department, Vietnam has about 5,000-7,000 cases of food poisoning each year. Food poisoning, which claimed the lives of 23 people out of the 5,000 cases recorded last year, has shown no signs of abating with more than 2,000 cases reported in the first half of this year.

Cancer has become the leading killer in the country in recent years, and toxic chemical residue found in food has been blamed by authorities for the rocketing cancer rate.

Official statistics show that hospitals in Vietnam now receive on average 200,000 new cases each year. The number of cancer deaths in the country has climbed to 70,000 per year. Contaminated food is among the most common causes of cancer and is blamed for about 35 percent of cases.

Related news:

>Vietnamese government fails to get a grip on food safety

>Boozing leads to stomach cancer hike among young Vietnamese

>Food company threatens to sue authorities over cancer-threat claims
Investors were kicked off the project more than a decade ago for a port that never materialized.

The coastal resort town of Phan Thiet, 207km from Ho Chi Minh City, was once famous for its wild sandy beaches and fresh seafood, but now all that is left to greet tourists are deserted coastal resorts and villas.

Local fishermen said that in 2000, provincial authorities called on investors to pour hundreds of billions of dong (VND1 billion is equivalent to $45,000) into the construction of luxury resorts and villas in Mui Ke Ga (Ke Ga Cape), a poor fishing village at that time, to promote tourism in the province.

This brought a bustling atmosphere to the village, said a local.

In 2007, the ministry suddenly outlined a plan to build a $550-million deep water port that would incorporate Ke Ga. 12 investors and local residents were forced to halt construction to make way for the national seaport project.

The port project, however, remained on paper until 2013 when the then Prime Mister Nguyen Tan Dung decided to scrap it.

More than a decade has gone by and investors have yet to receive compensation, while their developments stand abandoned and derelict.

A representative from the Department of Planning and Investment in Binh Thuan Province said the projects had been suspended due to a lack of investment capital, and the province is thinking about revoking the land to reallocate to other investors.

Construction at Orchid Hill started in 2004 but was halted in 2007 after 90 percent of the work had been completed. The resort has been abandoned since 2007.

A building with a sea view has fallen into decay, and only wooden frames and pillars remain.

Located next to Orchid Hill Resort was Green World. The resort had been open for three years before it was shut down, and now local people take advantage of it to raise cattle.

Electrical equipment is useles after being left unused for so long.

Two ventilation systems have been destroyed by rain and sun.

A luxury room at Green World is covered in grass.

Furniture has been severely damaged. Binh Thuans Peoples Committee said that Green World is the most affected resort out of the 12 projects.

Adjacent villas are wrapped with layers of weeds so thick that the entrances cannot be seen.

From the far side, the buildings and villas look like haunted houses. The investors said they hope to receive compensation from the government soon so they can restart their projects.

Related news:

> Da Lat's century-old mansions to rise from oblivion

> Seven years, $67 million and town square remains unfinished in northern Vietnam
A man accused of using brass knuckles to hurt another man pleaded not guilty to two felony charges.

Joshua S. Moody, 31, of Green River appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Richard Lavery for an arraignment to aggravated assault and battery and burglary.

If Joshua is found guilty of both felonies, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000. A jury trial has been scheduled to take place Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.

According to court documents, on May 9, 2016, Green River Police officers responded to Wilkes Drive to check on a domestic disturbance repo...
The pillars and windows at the Sweetwater County Historical Museum will be the focus of some renovation work in the future.

The glaze used on the buildings windows was damaged as a result of the June hail storm, while ice melt is being blamed for the deterioration impacting the buildings pillars. According to Brie Blasi, executive director of the museum, said the pillars, as well as the stone tiles used for the museums steps, are made from a composite stone. Beneath the hardened exterior stone is mostly sandstone, which easily deteriorates when exposed to de-icing salts. However, c...
Joyce Virginia Patterson, 63, of Green River passed away at her home on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. A lifetime resident of Green River, Patterson died following a lengthy battle with cancer.

She was born May 18, 1953, the daughter of James D. Davis and Jennie V. Yeager Davis in Rock Springs.

Patterson attended schools in Green River and was a graduate with the class of 1971. She attended Western Wyoming Community College and received her associates of science degree in radiology.

She married Braden Patterson in Las Vegas, Nev., Aug.19, 1992.

Patterson was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

She was employed as an intermediate emergency medical technician for 39 years with the Castle Rock Ambulance District.

She also worked at the Green River Recreation Center as head lifeguard and taught swimming lessons.

Her interests included spending time with her family, horses, biking, swimming, running, guitar, music, helping people, rodeo and reading.

She was a member of the Green River Horse Corral Committee.

Survivors include her husband, Braden J. Patterson and mother Jennie V. Davis, both of Green River; father-in-law Fredrick Patterson, mother-in-law, Fay Patterson of Pensacola, Fla .; one son, Jay Patterson and fiance Angela Nemeth of San Antonio, Texas; two daughters, Shauna Giles of Denver and Alaina and Shawn Bolt of Green River; one brother, James D. Davis III of Green River; four grandchildren, Tyson and Dylan Giles of Denver, and Hayden and Breckyn Bolt of Green River; several aunts, uncles, cousins, two nephews and one niece.

She was preceded in death by her father, James D. Davis Jr. and son Jess Patterson, along with maternal and paternal grandparents

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Green River. Interment will be in the Riverview City Cemetery.

Local emergency responders providers plan to host a procession featuring police vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances from throughout the area. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the services.

Condolences may be left at the http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com.
Vickie Lee Blalock, 63, of Rock Springs, passed away at her home Sept. 11, 2016. A longtime resident of Rock Springs, Blalock died following a battle with cancer.

She was born on Oct. 2, 1952, in Rock Springs, the daughter of Hugh E. Williams Sr. and Lois Irene Powell Williams.

Blalock attended schools in Lyman and was a 1971 graduate of the Lyman High School. She also graduated from beauty school in Utah and received her cosmetology license.

She was employed at America's Best Value Inn as a hotel front desk clerk where she worked for 20 years until ill health caused her retirement.

Her interests included spending time with her family, especially her great grandson Evander Jackson. She loved to be in the comforts of her own home and enjoyed watching television.

She was quite a simple person and found happiness in the little things. Everyone in her life had their own unique special relationship with her and was many things to many people. She was kind and giving and always helped those around her.

Survivors include one daughter, Nichole Blalock of Rock Springs; two brothers, Danny Williams of Mountain View and Hugh Williams of Lonetree, Colo.; one sister, Betty Doan of Lyman; two grandchildren, Savannah Jackson and husband Patrick and Promyce Aulger, all of Rock Springs; one great-grandson, Evander Jackson; several nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews and their children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father; brother-in-law Jerry Doan.

Graveside services and interment took place Monday.
Recently I attended a meeting with the Bureau of Land Management on a proposed drill site in Fremont County.

The proposed unit and resulting test well have been in the planning stage for many years and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent to date with the preliminary work, scientific interpretation, leasing federal minerals, state minerals, and private minerals.

Now they need a drill permit.

It was clear the BLM was never going to issue the permit. At the end of the meeting I did ask the BLM officials if they could simply, at the start of this expensive process, tell the compan...
June 12 seemed like just another early summer Sunday.

At least, until 3:45 p.m. when a damaging hail storm passed through. In addition to the piles of hail and leaf covered streets the storm left in its path, it also left behind damaged roofs, siding and even a few broken windows.

Almost immediately after the storm, Green River Community Development started to see an increase in permits for re-roofing projects.

Of the 50 building permits issued in the month of June, nearly half (23) were issued for re-roofing projects.

The extent of structural damage within the city became more apparen...
Is the message that the nation is getting too fat beginning to sink in?

The answer is yes but, says the Trust for Americas Health, a nonprofit, non-partisan group that aims to protect the health of communities and make disease prevention a national priority. And a study of healthcare quality and quantity across the nation suggests some reasons why things are not improving uniformly.

Obesity is a disease, and for the last 13 years the Trust and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have monitored obesity rates in the country, focusing on the proportion of a states population that is...
Kyan Draper looks through a pile of Legos while holding a set of bricks he wants to use.

Legos, those ubiquitous Danish building blocks, have long been a popular toy line for children and teens who enjoy building whatever they imagine.

The Sweetwater County Library, looking to help foster a creative spark in children and host a fun activity, started its Lego Club Monday afternoon.

The club isn't the library's first foray into Lego-based activities. The library has hosted Lego parties in the past and the system's White Mountain branch in Rock Springs has hosted Lego clubs in the past. The Green River library, through previous donations, have collected enough bricks to fill two...
The South China Sea dispute is likely to be the focal point during Duterte's visit later this month.

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Vietnam next week and take part in discussions with local leaders on maritime disputes.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said that maritime disputes over the South China Sea (known in Vietnam as the East Sea) will be discussed during the visit, which is scheduled for September 28-29. The visit comes in response to an invitation made by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during the recent ASEAN summit in Vientiane, Laos.

Vietnam hailed the ruling of an international tribune in The Hague in July that decreed Beijing has no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources in the East Sea. The ruling came after the Philippines filed a case in January 2013 accusing Beijing of violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The three all claim the Spratly Islands, besides Brunei and Malaysia.

Sources from the Filipino government said the president also plans to visit Japan in late October and Beijing by the end of the year.

Duterte assumed office last June and has caused controversy with blunt comments about other countries leaders. Most recently, an insult directed at U.S. President Barack Obama prompted the latter to cancel a scheduled bilateral meeting.

He has also received criticism at home for a ruthless drug war that has killed nearly 2,000 people.

Related news:

>Japan emperor, empress to visit Vietnam in 2017: report

>Vietnam's PM to pay China first visit

>Obama's Vietnam noodle visit sparks feeding frenzy
Seniors may have noticed a new face at the Golden Hour Senior Center.

Summer Holdsworth took over the position as marketing and activities coordinator at GHSC about a month and a half ago.

Prior to moving to Rock Springs, Holdsworth worked in the oilfield in California. She said when the oilfield industry crashed, she didnt know what to do. Her best friend and godchild lived in Rock Springs and she decided to move closer to her friend.

I figured Id give it a shot and see how small-town life is, Holdsworth said.

Not only did Holdsworth work in the oilfield industry, but she worke...
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.
Greed gets the better of Chinese credit card scamsters in Vietnam

Not satisfied with over $25,000 in gold, they went back to the same shop to try again.

Police in Vietnams northern city of Hai Phong have arrested two Chinese men who allegedly used fake credit cards to buy gold and watches, news site Nguoi Lao Dong reported on Thursday.

Chen Jin Sheng, 26, and Liu Jun Peng, 31, both from China's Fujian Province, were found to have 25 fake Mastercard credit cards and two Point of Sale (POS) devices.

On August 27, they illegally entered Vietnam into the border province of Quang Ninh before heading to Hai Phong where they successfully used a fake card to buy gold worth VND597 million ($26,362) from a gold shop, according to the police.

They also used another card to purchase a watch worth VND20 million ($883) on the same street.

Chen and Liu received the cardholders' information from a hacker in China. On their second attempt on September 13, they were seized while using a fake card at the same gold shop in Hai Phong.

Related news:

> Cyber fraud unearths potential loophole at Vietnamese bank's security system

> Vietnam warns firms of email hacking, bank fraud risks

> Vietnam police swoop on Chinese gang suspected of multiple fraud
The YWCAs annual Player of the Year contest moved into its final four months with last years champion, Terry Lubman, continuing to pace a field of 70 players who had participated in at least 10 games since the first of the year.

Following play in August, the leaders average percentage score stood at 59.1 for 21 games. Jerry Jacobs was second with 58.2 percent for 26 appearances, followed by Jay Force, 57.8 for 25 games, Susan Vock, 57.4 for 19, and Elliot Ranard, 57.0 for 28.
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GREENWICH  Connecticuts two senators were at Greenwich Point Friday to drum up support for federal legislation designed to fund programs that help maintain Long Island Sounds water quality.

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy were briefed Friday on environmental issues by town officials and got a first-hand look at the commercial shellfish harvesting done by fisherman Ed Stilwagen.

But it was the politics of the Sound they were most concerned about. The Water Resources Development Act, which funds water development and safety projects across the country and includes a key provision called the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act, is awaiting renewal.

It has been approved in the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 95 to three. It still needs to pass the House of Representatives.

The act, which was introduced by both the Connecticut and New York delegations in the Senate, has expired. It continues funding for Sound water quality programs. Murphy said without the act, the future of the Sounds health depended on who the next president would be.

We had no authorizing legislation for all of the programs that protect Long Island Sound, including one that had worked out very well called the Long Island Sound Study, Murphy said. None of it had any statutory authorization behind it so the next administration could just decide to get rid of it if it wanted. This was really important to get through and get it reauthorized.

Murphy said the act includes projects to combat sea level rise, to study and remediate temperature change and a requirement that the President  whoever it is  come up with a plan to protect Long Island Sounds water quality, fish habitats and animal life.

This is a measure thats historic because it represents a recognition by the whole country that Long Island Sound is a national resource, Blumenthal said. It is a national treasure. It is precious and important, not only to New York and Connecticut but to the whole country. Its the largest estuary that we have and is vital not just to commercial and fishing uses and recreational importance but also to the enjoyment of quality of life that makes Connecticut and New York a center of the universe without any exaggeration.

The senators spent the sunny afternoon walking around the shellfish beds and chatting with local officials and experts and with Stilwagen about his clam-harvesting efforts in the Sound.

The tour was led by Sue Baker, one of the towns leading environmental advocates. A member of the Shellfish Commission as well as the Conservation Commission, she said there is a lot of value in visits from Murphy and Blumenthal beyond any partisan politics.

They need to go back to the Senate and advocate for the money to keep this estuary the priceless thing that is, Baker said, noting how political pressure was able to block the construction of the Broadwater liquefied natural gas terminal that had been slated to go in Long Island Sound.

The tour was attended by Shellfish Commission Chairman Roger Bowgen, Conservation Director Denise Savageau and town Director of Environmental Services for the Department of Health Michael Long. Bowgen spoke about the importance of clean water for commercial fishermen.

The only way we were able to get the shellfish beds open here was by cleaning up the water, Bowgen said. It took a long time to get the water quality to where it needed to be and it cemented in our minds how water quality here and everywhere else is of prime importance.

According to a survey of Greenwichs waters, Bowgen said, there are 1.4 billion clams in Greenwichs water; one clam can filter 20 gallons of water per day. There are 25 million oysters in Greenwichs waters, he said, and each mature oyster is capable of filtering between 50 and 100 gallons of water daily.

You combine water quality and you combine shellfish, Bowgen said. When you keep shellfish beds healthy, youre automatically cleaning up the waters.

Savageau said it was important to educate people on healthy waterways.

We know western Long Island Sound doesnt always score that high (on water quality report cards), but the work thats being done by the Shellfish Commission and the NOAA Lab allows us to say, Look what happens even in the western part of the Sound and even in the areas where the water quality isnt as good, Savageau said.

If you manage those shellfish beds near shore, you can significantly improve your water quality. Thats really, really important for people to understand, she said.

kborsuk@scni.com
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-makers 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 home.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
He will attend the International Wildlife Trade Conference hosted by Hanoi in November.

Prince William, the second heir to the British throne, will visit Hanoi on November 17 and 18 to attend the third International Wildlife Trade Conference, U.K. media outlets have reported.

The Duke of Cambridge is expected to meet local leaders as president of United for Wildlife, a coalition of major conservation groups.

According to media reports, he confirmed the trip while giving a speech at a recent event in London for African wildlife protection organization Tusk Trust. He is the trusts patron and main supporter.

"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," William was quoted as saying. "And at the current pace of illegal poaching, when Charlotte turns 25 the African elephant will be gone from the wild."

William has regularly spoken out against the illegal hunting of lions, elephants and rhinos. But his stance on trophy hunting has been at the center of controversy several times.

In 2014 the prince was criticized by international media outlets for taking part in a deer and wild boar hunt. In March this year, he was under fire again after defending regulated big game hunting.

Prince William is actively working to protect wildlife around the world. Photo by Reuters/Eddie Keogh

Related news:

> Vietnam to beef up fight against illegal wildlife trade

> WWF chides Vietnam on rhino horn trade, threatens sanctions

> In Princess Diana's footsteps, William and Kate visit Taj Mahal
The CDC says 23,000 Americans die a year from drug-resistant bacteria. Photo: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images

At its annual gathering this week, the U.N. General Assembly really threw down the gauntlet on companies that keep lagging in the fight against antibiotics in the food supply. To suggest a need for urgency, its moved drug-resistant bacteria into a very rare class: the same one occupied by AIDS and Ebola, marking just the fourth time ever that the U.N. has applied the word crisis to a health issue. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was pretty blunt about the fundamental threat he thinks the problem now poses to the planet:



If we fail to address this problem quickly and comprehensively, antimicrobial resistance will make providing high-quality universal healthcare coverage more difficult if not impossible. It will undermine sustainable food production. And it will put the sustainable development goals in jeopardy.

Two of the biggest instigators of this crisis are fast food (which requires ungodly amounts of meat) and factory farming (which must meet that ungodly demand in part by pumping animals full of antibiotics like its Miracle-Gro). Theres been a halfhearted attempt to go antibiotic-free in Big Food, but its not like changes that massive can happen overnight, and the problem will just keep worsening in the meantime. Estimates say antibiotic use in countries like Brazil, China, and Russia could double by 2030. Right now, about 700,000 people worldwide die every year from drug-resistant infections.

Advocacy groups argue other countries expect America to lead the way on this, but the signs are less than encouraging: Just this week, the Natural Resources Defense Council released its big yearly report that does an accounting of antibiotic use by restaurant chains. There was moderate improvement overall  Subway made good on its promises to source safer chicken, and Panera, Chipotle, and Chick-fil-A all continue to have better-than-average scores. But 16 of the top 25 failed outright, a group that includes places youd expect to be bringing up the rear (KFC, Arbys, Dairy Queen) and ones you might not (Starbucks).


Shortly after the South Korean government asked Samsung to extend its Galaxy Note7 refund period in the country, the company has said that the period - which had originally expired this Monday - would be extended until the end of this month.

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards - which oversees product safety and recalls - had expressed its displeasure on Samsung's plan to remove faulty Note7 units from the market, saying that it was inadequate as most Note7 owners in the country aren't even aware of the options they have.

For its part, Samsung also effectively accepted that it needs to do more as the company said the number of Note7 owners seeking a refund was "very low."

The agency has now also asked the tech giant and its battery suppliers to perform X-ray scans on the batteries being used in the phablet in order to make sure that there aren't any defects.

Via
Google has seemingly changed its stance on privacy as far as Allo is concerned, according to a report by The Verge.

Previously, the company had claimed end-to-end encryption for messages, but later it was revealed that it would only work for incognito chats. Now, as it turns out, all the messages sent in non-incognito mode will indefinitely be stored on Google's servers until you manually delete them.

This is seemingly done to improve Allo's Assistant feature, that provides responses to what you type. Having a previous chat history improves the machine learning experience, allowing the Assistant to provide better suggestions but this comes at the obvious cost of privacy. The Assistant is also the reason why regular chats aren't end to end encrypted, as it needs access to the messages, something it cannot do in incognito mode where the messages are encrypted.

There are legal ramifications to this as well, as law enforcements can now demand to see these messages and being non-secure can easily be handed over by Google.

Bottomline is, if you want to use all the features of Allo, know that it is not secure. If you want something secure, use Signal or WhatsApp that have forced end to end encryption on all chats and don't store information on their servers.

Source
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Sony announced the Xperia XZ at the beginning of this month. It will replace the Xperia X Performance as the company's flagship smartphone after just a few short months of that device being available.

Speaking of availability, the Xperia XZ will arrive in stock in the US on October 2. It will be sold by retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, and its recommended price is $699.99. Obviously for that amount you'll get an unlocked unit, which will work with GSM-based networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile (and all MVNOs operating on their infrastructure).

Expect the XZ to go up for pre-order soon, joining the X Compact which was announced alongside it. The smaller handset will be out sooner, though, on September 25. Sadly the Xperia XZ won't have a fingerprint scanner in the US, continuing an unfortunate trend for Sony's smartphones.

Source
Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh (R) and his assistant Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy stand at dock during their appeal trial in Hanoi, Vietnam September 22, 2016. Photo by VnExpress

The two bloggers were convicted in March and sentenced to jail for anti-state writings.

An appeals court in Hanoi on Thursday upheld jail terms for a Vietnamese blogger and his assistant, concluding that they had hurt the states interests with their posts.

Blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh was previously charged for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state and was sentenced to five years in prison in March this year. His assistant, Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, was given a three-year sentence.

They appealed the sentences.

During the 10-hour hearing on Thursday, Vinh said he was innocent. The two bloggers asked to be released immediately.

The court, however, rejected their appeal and upheld the original ruling.

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 news site.

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 ruling party, the government and the National Assembly.

Vinh was once a policeman and private investigator. He is the son of a late cabinet minister and former ambassador to the Soviet Union.

Related news:

> Vietnam appeals court to rule on bloggers case
Multi-GRAMMY Award, Stellar and Dove Awardwinning recording artist, Israel Houghton and NewBreed's most recent single "Chasing Me Down" has climbed into the Top 10 on the BDS Gospel National Airplay Chart. The inspirational song has been featured on the chart 24 weeks and counting.

"Israel Houghton and Tye Tribbett together are FIRE," said Galley Molina, CEO of RGM/NEWBREED. "It's always affirming as a record company to see a song that you love and believe in get this type of response ... we truly appreciate all the support at radio."

Firing up listeners with their live energy together, Houghton is joined by featured artist Tye Tribbett on the track. Israel & New Breed's "Chasing Me Down" (ft. Tye Tribbett) is the third single from the acclaimed GRAMMY-winning hit album, COVERED...ALIVE IN ASIA (RGM/NewBreed/RCA Inspiration). The album is also nominated for Urban WorshipAlbum of the Year at the upcoming 2016 GMA Dove Awards, taking place in October.

Kicking off on October 1st in Seattle, Israel Houghton will be performing live on Fred Hammond's 45-city Festival of Praise Tour which tours across the United States the remainder of the year, hitting Los Angeles, Detroit, Atlanta, New York, Washington DC, Houston, and more. For more on The Festival of Praise Tour please visit http://www.festivalofpraisetour.com.

ABOUT ISRAEL HOUGHTON

Israel Houghton is prolific worship leader, musician, songwriter, producer and recording artist. His music ministry has spanned over 22 years. Houghton is the recipient of six Grammy-Awards, 13 Dove Awards, 2 Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Music Award and many more. In 1995, Houghton formed New Breed Ministries that gave way to his debut releases in 1997 Whisper It Loud, and Way of the World. Since that time Houghton has released twelve solo and group CDs and has consistently been a commercial success with Billboard chart toppers New Season, Power of One, Jesus At The Center, and Covered: Alive in Asia. He achieved Gold-selling albums with Alive in South Africa, and Live From Another Level.

Tags : Israel Houghton Tye Tribbett chasing me down israel houghton new single israel houghton news
Published on 2016/09/22 | Source

Korean movie of the week "Revivre" (2014)

Advertisement

Directed by Im Kwon-taek

With Ahn Sung-ki, Kim Gyu-ri, Kim Ho-jung, Jeon Hye-jin, Yeon Woo-jin, Shin Young-jin,...

Synopsis

"Revivre" is about a middle aged man who is stuck between his dying wife and a younger woman he loves. It is based on a novel written by Kim Hoon which is also the Grand Prize winner of the 28th Top Literature Awards.

--

Vice President Oh is highly respected at his cosmetics company and is a faithful family man. One day, he finds out that his wife has been diagnosed with cancer and later spends every night on the hospital's extra bed to keep her company after her surgery. Although he is weary from taking care of his wife, he does not show it at work. However, a new female employee, Choo Eun-joo, starts Oh's mind stirring. Oh dreams of escaping his tedious and suffocating reality with Eun-joo. While in real life he has to go to the hospital and change his wife's diaper after work, Eun-joo's existence itself feels like a delight compared to his pitiful existence. Director Im Kwon-taek has directed several films that keenly look into human instinct, and Revivre is another one of them. The will to live, sexual instincts, the light and the darkness of life and fear and desperation about death are illustrated on the screen among other contradictory values, delivering the great director's wisdom and understanding. (NAM Dong-chul)

Release date in Korea : 2015/04/09

Read William's review on HanCinema

Available on DVD and Blu-ray from YESASIA
It's taken authorities five months to let people know what is and what is not safe to eat.

Authorities in the central province of Ha Tinh will distribute a list of 154 types of seafood caught from the seabed within 13.5 nautical miles of the central coast that health officials are warning locals to avoid.

The list will be posted at fishing ports and markets in the province, Nguyen Cong Hoang, director of Ha Tinh's Aquaculture Division, told VnExpress on Thursday.

The move comes after the Health Ministry on Tuesday warned the public against eating deep-sea marine life caught within 13.5 nautical miles of the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue in the wake of the infamous toxic spill in April.

Illustrated by VnExpress/Viet Chung

The Vietnamese government announced on June 30 that the Vietnamese unit of Taiwanese conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group was responsible for discharging toxic chemicals from its steel plant into the ocean, killing marine life and poisoning fish in the four central provinces.

The steel plant took responsibility for the disaster in June and pledged to pay $500 million to clean up the pollution and compensate those affected.

Related news:

> Vietnam unveals plan for inspecting seafood affected by toxic spill
September 22, 2016 | 08:23 pm PT

The Japanese bridge is among biggest attractions in the popular tourism site Hoi An. Photo by VnExpress

Tourists are asked to wait for their turn so that the historic bridge won't crack under pressure.

The Japanese bridge in Hoi An ancient town is now limited to only 20 visitors at a time, a new rule introduced to protect the 400-year-old iconic attraction from a possible collapse.

The authorities have notified travel agencies of the new policy, put forth around a month after officials agreed with scientists that the bridge needs a grand conservation plan.

The visitor quota would reduce impacts on the bridge before any such project could be started.

More than 100 experts at a conference last month agreed that the best way to restore the bridge is to dismantle the whole structure into parts, fix them and then put them back together.

The bridge, built by Japanese traders in the 17th century, graces Vietnam's VND20,000 bills. It is also called the Pagoda Bridge -- there is a small shrine that was built at one end of the bridge in 1653.

An average of 4,000 people visit the bridge every day. This has made it weaker despite several conservation efforts, including the last one 30 years ago.

The bridge spans some 18 meters across a canal that runs into the Thu Bon River. Many poles and beams supporting the structure have rotten and cracked, in most part due to heavy flooding in recent years.

Several beams have been replaced with iron ones, which have also deteriorated.

Japanese experts at the conference said they would provide technical advice if needed, assuring it can be repaired without affecting its appearance.

Related news:

>Hoi An plans to dismantle iconic 400-year-old bridge

>Hoi An's beach lands in TripAdvisor's top 25

>Hoi An, an ancient outpost turned Instagram heaven
The State is a Terrible Farmer...and Businessperson

by Keli'i Akina, Ph.D., President/CEO, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

If only someone involved had stopped and reflected on the historical success rate of state-led business ventures in farming.

You know, like Soviet Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and the Eastern Bloc.

Granted, the debacle currently being perpetuated by the Hawaii Agriculture Development Corp. doesn't reach those disastrous levels, but it shows why government systemically fails at running businesses.

Four years ago, the state acquired 1,200 acres of farmland--formerly used for growing pineapples--with the notion that it would be a good way to encourage diversified agriculture and help small farmers.

That all seems benign enough, except that the state missed one critical action that any private farming enterprise would have put before everything else: the state committed resources without a guarantee that it would have access to water.

So now, the vast majority of the land (1,000 acres worth) lies fallow, useless because you can't farm without water.

Of course, there are more than enough excuses to go around--the state cites procurement delays and the expense of bringing in water via pipes or wells. However, the simple truth is that the government messed up because it is shielded from a basic reality of business: success earns rewards and failure earns punishment.

A private interest, whether a single farmer or a corporate agriculture company, would likely be put out of business (and required to pay back debt) by such a colossal error. However, in government, rarely are individuals held accountable for their failed actions and rarely do heads roll. Instead, the taxpayer gets stuck with the bill and the government spins its lack of tangible results as part of its self-appointed "role" to, for example:

"Provide solutions to certain bottleneck issues facing the agriculture industry."

OR

"Transition former plantation land and water systems for diversified agriculture."

In contrast, an actual farmer--an actual businessperson--needs to achieve measurable goals in order to stay in business: 1. Make sure you have the land and the resources (like water) to grow crops. 2. Grow and harvest crops. 3. Make money.

The state shouldn't be in the business of doing business. And it should recognize that many of its own stated goals, such as solving "bottlenecks" or "diversifying industries," are better accomplished by people motivated by financial success and held accountable by the free-market reality that they must produce results or go out of business. More often than not, those responsible for failed government projects simply retire with guaranteed pensions or get promoted. Not much of a need to avoid failure.

Recently, the Governor spoke about his commitment to bolstering Hawaii's agriculture industry. Hopefully, this wasteful display will demonstrate that the best way to do so is to get government out of the way of free enterprise and leave the farming to the farmers and business to businesspersons.
RIN 1090-AB05

Procedures for Reestablishing a Formal Government-to-Government Relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This final rule establishes the Secretary of the Interiors (Secretary) administrative process for reestablishing a formal government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community to more effectively implement the special political and trust relationship that Congress established between that community and the United States. The rule does not attempt to reorganize a Native Hawaiian government or draft its constitution, nor does it dictate the form or structure of that government. Rather, the rule establishes an administrative procedure and criteria that the Secretary would use if the Native Hawaiian community forms a unified government that then seeks a formal government-to-government relationship with the United States. Consistent with the Federal policy of self-determination and self-governance for indigenous communities, the Native Hawaiian community itself would determine whether and how to reorganize its government.

DATES: This rule is effective [INSERT DATE 30 days AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE Federal Register]

PDF: FULL TEXT (172 pages)

* * * * *

COVERAGE:

* * * * *

Interior Department Finalizes Pathway to Reestablish a Formal Government-to-Government Relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community

News Release from US Department of the Interior September 23, 2016

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Department of the Interior announced today a final rule to create a pathway for reestablishing a formal government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community. The final rule sets out an administrative procedure and criteria that the U.S. Secretary of the Interior would use if the Native Hawaiian community forms a unified government that then seeks a formal government-to-government relationship with the United States.

This final rule provides the Native Hawaiian community with the opportunity to exercise self-determination by reestablishing a formal government-to-government relationship with the United States, said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. Throughout this two-year rulemaking process, thousands of voices from the Native Hawaiian community and the public testified passionately about the proposal. Today is a major step forward in the reconciliation process between Native Hawaiians and the United States that began over 20 years ago. We are proud to announce this final rule that respects and supports self-governance for Native Hawaiians, one of our nations largest indigenous communities.

The final rule builds on more than 150 Federal statutes that Congress enacted over the last century to recognize and implement the special political and trust relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community. It also considered and addressed extensive public comments during the rulemaking process, which included public meetings in Hawaii and the mainland United States.

Native Hawaiians have not had a formal unified government since the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893. In 1993, Congress enacted the Apology Resolution which offered an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States for its role in the overthrow and committed the Federal government to a process of reconciliation. As part of that reconciliation process, in 2000 the Department of the Interior and the Department of Justice jointly issued a report identifying as its lead recommendation the need to foster self-determination for Native Hawaiians under Federal law.

We heard from the Native Hawaiian community about the importance of this rule to preserving its culture and traditions, said Kristen Sarri, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget. This historic rule provides an opportunity for a Native Hawaiian government to exercise its inherent powers of self-government, self-determination, and economic self-sufficiency. It recognizes the special political and trust relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community and will help to more effectively implement the laws that Congress passed.

The decision to reorganize a Native Hawaiian government is one for the Native Hawaiian community  not the Federal government  to make as an exercise of self-determination. If a formal government-to-government relationship is reestablished, it could provide the community with greater flexibility to preserve its distinct culture and traditions. It could also enhance their ability to affect its special status under Federal law by exercising powers of self-government over many issues directly impacting community members.

The final rule, along with Frequently Asked Questions and other supporting documents, is available for review at www.doi.gov/hawaiian.

* * * * *

Grassroot Institute Criticizes DOI Rule for Subverting Will of Native Hawaiians

Watchdog group cites overwhelming Native Hawaiian opposition to federal recognition

News Release from Grassroot Institute

HONOLULU, HAWAII -- (Sept. 23, 2016) -- Today, the Grassroot Institute criticized the Department of the Interior for subverting the will of Native Hawaiians on the issue of federal recognition. With the announcement of the DOI's rule to facilitate the reestablishment of a formal government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community, the President has reignited a controversy that had begun to wane in the wake of Na'i Aupuni's dissolution.

"Native Hawaiians are on record as overwhelmingly opposed to efforts by the Department of Interior to recognize or establish a Hawaiian tribe or government," stated Keli'i Akina, Ph.D., President of the Grassroot Institute. "Every survey by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, from 1978 to the present, shows that Native Hawaiians want OHA to stop wasting money on federal recognition and, instead, to spend those millions on meeting the real needs of Hawaiians for housing, jobs, education, and healthcare. OHA and the DOI are on a crash course in their rejection of the will of the Hawaiian people."

The DOI proposed the rule in 2015, and the Grassroot Institute was among the many who submitted comments in opposition to the creation of a federal Native Hawaiian tribe. Grassroot's comments cited problems with the rule's Constitutionality, its attempt to usurp Congressional authority, and its divisive nature as only a few of the many reasons the rule should have been set aside.

Most of all, Grassroot cited the continual Native Hawaiian opposition to federal recognition, pointing out that by pushing for the creation of a Native Hawaiian polity, the rule would precipitate a legal challenge and fracture any sense of cultural unity among Native Hawaiian groups.

Dr. Akina continued: "With today's announcement, the bureaucrats in Washington have proved that they aren't listening to the Native Hawaiian people. We are still fresh from the disaster that was the Native Hawaiian Roll and the Na'i Aupuni constitutional convention. This rule only encourages OHA and the state to waste more time and resources on a problematic and unconstitutional nation-building effort."

* * * * *

Hawaiians Openly Reject President Obamas new rulea DOI invented process to create a Native Hawaiian Tribe

News Release from Protest Nai Aupuni, September 22, 2016

Press Conference 12 noon Sept 23, 2016 @ Iolani Palace

As President Obama announces his plans to federalize Hawaiians as a tribe, Hawaiian community leaders and groups who have for many years protested attempts to turn Hawaiians into Native Americans (the Akaka Bill), will hold a press conference Friday, September 23rd at 12 noon in front ofIolani Palace. They will restate their opposition to the Obama Administrations Department of Interior (DOI) rule change.

This change is intended to circumvent legal, congressional processes, and Hawaiian community input, said Healani-Sonoda Pale, founding member of the group, Protest Nai Aupuni and one of the organizers of the press conference. President Obama tasked his DOI to come up with a process that will allow him to use his Executive Order privilege and designate federally chosen groups of Hawaiians as recognized. Without any congressional oversight or congressional vetting, President Obama and his successor will confer immense power on a pseudo native government, Sonoda-Pale said. And this will allow the DOI to move forward with a process of creating land and resource settlements that typically follow legitimate, congressionally conferred federal recognition.

Two years in the making, the Obama/DOI rule change was created in response to Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamanaopono Crabbes May 5, 2014 letter to Secretary of State John Kerry. In it, he essentially questioned the legitimacy of US jurisdiction in Hawaii by requesting proof of how the Hawaiian Kingdom was legally annexed to the United States.

However, rather than answer the question, President Obama instructed the DOI to hold public hearings in Hawaii to discuss federal recognition. During the summer of 2014, hearings were held for 2 weeks on 5 of the Hawaiian Islands. Thousands of Hawaiians lined up, but only hundreds were able to testify. The overwhelming majority (over 95%) rejected the idea of a DOI Rule change and spoke powerfully in opposition to any Federal or State controlled process for sovereignty.

It feels like the overthrow all over again, says Kahaluu Kupuna and Protest Nai Aupuni member Kapu Lambert. The finalization of the DOI Rule forebodes more hardship Hawaiians. Many of our people are homeless and are at the bottom of every socioeconomic statistic in Hawaii. We cannot trust the State and Federal governments and their collaborators to do the right thing on our behalf especially when it comes to Hawaiian sovereignty and lands. I refuse to accept this Rule.

After tens of millions of dollars were spent by the state agency Office of Hawaiian Affairs to lobby for federal recognition, after 15 years of resistance to being federalized, we are now going to be saddled with being a fake tribe and federally designated so-called leaders, said Sonoda-Pale.

Asked why the US would want to federalize Hawaiians when, in fact, hundreds of tribes on the continent have been trying to get federally recognized for many decades, Sonoda-Pale said, Why? Because they want our land. They want to create a so-called universal land claims settlement of our Crown and Government lands, aka Ceded Lands. And further, she said, the United States of America, who has never been respectful of indigenous peoplesas we are seeing in North Dakota, is trying to dissolve our rights as a people to self-determination as defined by international law, and our human rights as indigenous people that have also been codified by the United Nations.

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A former HR manager of manufacturing firm Dingo Australia has been charged with fraud and tampering with records.



Appearing in the Dalby Magistrates Court, Beth Amanda Morris pleaded guilty to improperly using the company credit card 27 times and altering corporate records to make these expenses seem more legitimate.



The offences allegedly occurred between 12 July 2015 and 7 June 2016 involving purchases of everyday products such as petrol, beverages, clothing, groceries and dog food.



During this time, the total defrauded amount equalled $1,797.



In a statement to the court, defence lawyer Michael Bond said that Morris was remorseful. She had suffered extreme embarrassment and was subsequently moving to a new town to work.



Additionally, he said that Morris had been suffering from depression at the time and felt some hostility towards Dingo Australia.



As evidence, Bond issued three statements, one which allegedly claimed Morris was owed 164 hours of holiday.



However, Magistrate Kay Ryan said her state of mind and the references provided were no excuse for Morris actions.



The dishonesty that took place when you falsified the records of the company, when you tried to cover your tracks... that just says to me that you really thought about this, it wasn't just a one-off, he said.



The Court sentenced Morris to three months imprisonment, which was suspended for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay back $1,797 to her employer.



If you break the law by committing dishonesty offences (again), I guarantee you will go to prison, Ryan said.



HC has reached out to Dingo Australia for further information.




By Jessica Isaacs

Photos by Ken Ketchie

After 20 years at the helm of development for one of Blowing Rocks most coveted destinations, Marcia Greene bid farewell to her role as Chetola Resorts marketing director at a retirement party on Wednesday night.

Friends, family, colleagues and neighbors gathered at the resort to celebrate Greene and the lasting impact shes had on Chetola and on the town of Blowing Rock.

Kent Tarbutton, Chetolas owner, who has worked alongside the New York native turned Florida resident for the past two decades, stood up to share about her beginnings in the High Country.

Gosh, it was 19 years ago yesterday that Marcia took a job at Chetola  I had gotten here about six to eight months earlier and immediately hired the wrong person for her job. Gratefully  we got rid of that person real quickly. My family knew her boss down in Daytona, so when she came up Id already talked to him and he was like, Oh, send her back, send her back. He said, She does everything and I wont be able to live without her, but she doesnt want to be down here anymore and shes starting her life over and coming to the mountains.

I thought, does she know where she is? From the Manhattan world to the Daytona world to Blowing Rock. Well, I didnt need to spend hardly any interview time asking about her qualifications; we knew her boss and knew that she was way more than what I could afford to get, honestly. I knew that, so I spent very little time asking her the traditional questions and said, do you know where you are? Do you know that at 9 oclock at night youre not going out to dinner in Boone? This was like 20 years ago  so there was not much you could do at 9 oclock at night, and I was so worried about her being in the right environment and that she would want to stay with us here.

But, she said some magical words in the interview. I think my favorite that she said, and Ive used it over and over, is: A lot of places Ive worked, we take photographs and then we doctor up the photographs and people get there and go, Where is this place that Im looking at in the picture? It doesnt match up. She said, right out of the gate, I dont think I can take photographs that represent what we have here. Well, that sounded like a marketing director to me.

As he continued speaking to the guest of honor and a heartfelt crowd of her friends and family, Tarbutton shared more about the difference shes made at Chetola over the years.

I was going to write a speech until I realized that Id have to have her edit it, he said. If you think my writing sounds good, its because its gone through the marketing department. Lets just be frank and say it always looks better when Marcias got her hand on it.

Tarbutton continued to thank her for her continued commitment to the resort and the community, reiterating her ability to pull things off that may otherwise seem impossible without her leadership.

You can be a magician in creating a new formula or a new concept, but unless you can get the word out, its pointless, because no one knows its there. Marcia does an incredible job with that and always has, said Tarbutton. Along the way though, shes done more than that. Shes touched a lot of lives, and Im happy to be one of those lives shes touched and Im going to be forever grateful for that.

She is the master of words and shes been an incredible giver to Chetola. Her mark is definitely here and it stays. I love that.

Shortly thereafter, a teary-eyed Marcia Greene stood up to say a few words.

Theres no place on earth, as far as Im concerned, that could match up to working here. Its fantastic. Its like working for a family. He is a boss, but hes not a boss, and anybody thats in here that works at Chetola now will know that. Its like one big family, she said. Its been wonderful. I have loved my time here. I have loved working with my girls, which theyre here tonight and I have to say Im going to miss you terribly. Thank you, very much, for coming.

Before her closing off her last day at the resort and heading into retirement, she expressed deep gratitude toward the folks at the Bob Timberlake gallery and other Chetola colleagues with whom she has shared friendship over the years.

All of my friends that are here  as I look around the room, its been so wonderful working with all of you. All of you, she said. Youve made my job a delight, so thank you.

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Political violence has ravaged the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent days. Several dozen people have reportedly been killed in protests that erupted September 19th in Kinshasa against the efforts of President Joseph Kabila to remain in power beyond the end of his mandate this December.

The United States is disappointed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo electoral commissions (CENI) failure to announce an elections calendar today as called for by the DRC constitution, said U.S. State Department Spokesperson John Kirby, in a statement issued September 19th.

Mr. Kirby said the U.S. condemns all violence and calls upon all Congolese stakeholders to exercise restraint and avoid provocation, while reiterating that the DRC Government has the primary responsibility for protecting human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. These tragic events, he noted, underscore the need for a truly inclusive dialogue process aimed at reaching consensus on holding presidential elections as soon as technically feasible and guaranteeing the countrys first democratic transition of power.

In addition, Mr. Kirby stated, the United States believes that any individuals who are responsible for perpetrating violence or repression should be held accountable, and remains ready to impose additional targeted sanctions.

The United States continues to work with the DRC government, the political opposition, civil society, and the international community for a resolution that will address the concerns and interests of the Congolese people, who deserve a lasting peace. As a start, the United States government has called upon the DRC government to publicly promise that elections will be held next year, leading to the countrys first democratic transition.
Two Uber drivers have been fined and ordered to surrender their earnings to the state for the unlicensed practice of taxi traffic by the Helsinki Court of Appeal.

Two Uber drivers have been fined for the unlicensed practice of taxi traffic by the Helsinki Court of Appeal, reports Edilex, a provider of legal information.

Both of the drivers were also ordered to surrender their earnings in full to the state as their appeals against earlier decisions by courts of first instance were turned down on grounds that they had provided the service in a professional capacity and thus would have required a taxi licence.
Saastopankki has revealed that a 65.7 per cent of respondents to a survey it conducted between 30 June and 15 August expect to continue using cash five years from now, while no more than 4.4 per cent expect cash to become obsolete by 2021.

Finns are unlikely to stop using cash altogether in the near future even though cash use is undeniably on the decline, estimates Saastopankki.

The opinions naturally differ between the groups of respondents: 68.7 per cent of pensioners estimated that they will continue to need cash ten years from now. The corresponding share for students was more than ten percentage points lower, 57.8 per cent, the bank reports in a press release.

More than one-fifth, or 23.4 per cent, of respondents said they were unable to predict whether or not they will need cash five years from now, while 6.4 per cent said they expect cash to be in use five years from now but not ten years from now.

The use of cash will certainly continue to decline in the future, but I doubt it will stop altogether over the next 15 years, gauges Jani Eenola, a deputy managing director of Aito Saastopankki. He refers to an estimate published by the Bank of Finland, according to which the country will become a cashless by 2030 if the use of cash continues to decline at the current rate.

Saastopankki points out that the number of cash machines has decreased by one-third over the past ten years, whereas the use of contactless payment methods grew over ten-fold in comparison to the previous year in 2015.

Technological advancements and smartphones will enable mobile payment methods, but for cash to disappear altogether major changes and innovations in digital payment methods will be necessary, it estimates.

Finland, it adds, is not as close to becoming a cashless country as its fellow Nordics. In Denmark, for example, clothing shops, service stations and restaurants are no longer obliged to accept cash payments.

Roughly two-thirds, or 65.4 per cent, of respondents to the survey said they still need cash to prepare for unexpected circumstances, while no more than 3.4 per cent said they no longer use cash at all.

The survey also found that men are more likely than women to have cash on them, with 53.4 per cent of male respondents  compared to only 31.3 per cent of female respondents  saying they have at least 50 euros in their wallet.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
An inter-sessional meeting of the U.S.-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting was held on September 1, 2016 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting was Co-Chaired by Sri Lanka Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama and Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South & Central Asia Michael J. Delaney, representing the governments of Sri Lanka and the United States of America, respectively.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap and Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Global Markets and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Arun M. Kumar delivered opening remarks, praising the newly elected Sri Lankan governments commitment to democracy, accountability, human rights and economic reform while noting that there was significant scope to expand on the existing trade and investment relationship where the United States is the number one destination for Sri Lankan exports.

Ambassador Keshap noted that the United States, through a number of ongoing assistance programs, seeks to further strengthen the strong economic ties with Sri Lanka. A/USTR Delaney recalled USTR Ambassador Michael Fromans remarks during the April 28 U.S.-Sri Lanka TIFA Council meeting, in which he noted that the concrete and specific initiatives developed within the TIFA will strengthen Sri Lankas trade and investment regime and mobilize more of the Sri Lankan population to participate in a trade oriented economy.

Minister Samarawickrama highlighted the reforms that the Government of Sri Lanka is undertaking to improve the ease of doing business, facilitate greater exports, increase regional integration, attract foreign direct investment, and to support reconciliation.

At the conclusion of the April 28 TIFA Council meeting, a U.S.-Sri Lanka Joint Action Plan to Increase External Trade and Investment was adopted. Both sides affirmed their belief that the bilateral trade and investment relationship has great potential that can be realized through adoption of enabling measures jointly incorporated in the Plan.

This month, at the inter-sessional meeting, a wide-ranging implementation plan was agreed to provide for greater utilization of U.S. tariff preference arrangements; provide additional information on possible mechanisms to obtain preferential market access; plan for a U.S.-Sri Lanka Business Opportunities Conference; support youth entrepreneurs; enhance Sri Lankan capacity to export food items to the United States; and create further mechanisms to support Sri Lanka's goal to serve as a regional services hub. The two sides will work to finalize the implementation plan text in the coming weeks.
CARSON CITY -- The Attorney Generals Office of Military Legal Assistance @EASE program is hosting free, collaborative workshops with Nevada Legal Services dedicated to drafting wills and powers of attorney for Nevada veterans.

The @EASE program is the nations first attorney general-led, public-private partnership offering our military communities access to pro bono civil legal services. The @EASE program has won the Department of Defense Best Practices Award for best legislation and statewide pro bono services.

Attorneys from the Office of the Nevada Attorney General will be available to draft wills and powers of attorney. Representatives from Nevada Legal Services will be available to discuss legal issues relative to family law, bankruptcy, consumer issues, landlord/tenant and access/denial to public benefits. Nevada Department of Veterans Services Officers will also be present to answer and address benefit needs.

The next @EASE workshops in northeastern Nevada, 2017 are scheduled for:

Ely: 10 a.m.  2 p.m. June 10, 2017

Battle Mountain: 10 a.m.  2 p.m. Aug. 11, 2017

Winnemucca: 10 a.m.  2 p.m. Aug. 12, 2017

Workshops will take place at least once per month throughout the State of Nevada. The workshops are free and open to all Nevada veterans.

For more information on upcoming workshops, please email Hcooney@ag.nv.gov and visit nvagomla.nv.gov.
Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the murder of Gary Hutch in the brutal gun slaying near Marbella on Spain's Costa Del Crime that changed the landscape of gangland Ireland forever.

Hutch's murder kicked-off an unprecedented round of blood-letting, mainly orchestrated by the savage Kinahan cartel, that has led to nine additional murders and the fear of many more to come.

The feud led to gangland crime becoming a major issue in this year's general election campaign and has been at the forefront of the political agenda ever since.

Powerful

Health and homeless issues dominated the headlines in Ireland this day last year.

But in Spain, the Kinahan cartel was finalising plans to murder a former key member of the international organisation, considered to be one of Europe's most powerful crime networks.

Hutch was just five days shy of celebrating his 34th birthday when he was chased around a swimming pool at his private apartment complex in the Angel de Miraflores complex on September 24 by a gunman who cornered him and shot him dead.

There are several theories as to why the cartel executed one of its most senior members.

Gardai have learnt that the Kinahan cartel and Hutch mob had already been in dispute over a 4m cash haul.

The cash, the proceeds of a robbery by the Hutch gang, was given to the Kinahan cartel to launder. Instead, it was stolen.

This led to huge tensions between the two major criminal organisations which exploded when Daniel Kinahan survived an assassination attempt in 2014, which is suspected was organised by Hutch.

It has also been investigated whether Hutch was shot dead because he was accused of being a garda informer by the cartel and had been stealing drugs money from the mob.

Whatever the reason for his murder, there can be no doubt that it was a seismic moment that led to events that would touch many people's lives.

In the weeks after Hutch's murder, there was huge tension in Dublin and few informed observers believed that the call by Gary's mother Kay for "no revenge" at his funeral would be respected. Just weeks after Gary's murder, his brother Derek 'Del Boy' Hutch was the victim of a savage knife attack in Mountjoy Prison, which was ordered by the cartel.

In a retaliation attack, cartel associate Liam Roe survived an attempted murder in Dublin's Red Cow Hotel, which was followed by another brutal attack on 'Del Boy' Hutch in prison at the end of 2015.

Botched

On New Year's Eve, it emerged Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch survived a botched assassination attempt in a Lanzarote pub.

The feud exploded in spectacular fashion on February 5 when cartel member David Byrne was shot dead and two of his pals injured when five gunmen stormed the Regency Hotel.

Three nights after the Regency attack, Eddie Hutch, the older brother of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch was shot dead at his home in Dublin's north inner city as armed gardai patrolled nearby. Soon, more innocent lives were caught up.

Two victims of mistaken identity - Martin O'Rourke and Trevor O'Neill - were recklessly murdered by the cartel in their determination to wipe out associates of Gary Hutch.

The Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has set up specialist garda units to tackle organised crime in the capital.

A task force to address social issues and deprivation in the north inner city has also been established, and just last week there were dramatic scenes of unprecedented co-operation and joint investigations between gardai and international police forces.

Whether these are serious attempts to take down Dublin's feuding gangs or just the latest in a series of stop-gap measures remains to be seen.
Commuter chaos hit the city again today as Dublin Bus workers began two more days of strike action.

Despite the traffic congestion in the city, however, Transport minister Shane Ross has again ruled out opening the bus lanes in the capital to private drivers.

A spokesman for the minister said the advice from the National Transport Authority (NTA) was that the lanes had to remain operational even though the majority of buses will be off the road.

Services will not resume in the capital until Sunday.

By then the company has said they will be in a loss-making position for 2016.

"Dublin Bus has come through an extremely tough financial period in recent years due to the recession and has only just reached a stable financial footing," a spokeswoman said.

Responsibility

"We have a responsibility to our employees and to the taxpayer to manage our finances to safeguard the economic and financial stability of the company."

To date, strikes have cost the company 4m and stoppages today and tomorrow will cost an additional 2m, the spokeswoman added.

The remaining planned strikes will have a "catastrophic impact" on the company's financial position, she said.

Thirteen more days of strike action are planned, including on the All Ireland replay date next Saturday, October 1.

Last night, the company said it remained open to talks but added that the 15pc increase sought by drivers is not affordable.

Dermot O'Leary of the Nationial Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) said there has been "no change" to plans to strike on a number of days over the coming weeks.

He also criticised the Transport minister for his comments made earlier this week.

Mr Ross told a Dail committee this week that he will not act as a "Sugar Daddy" to end the dispute.

"I've said that I'm not going to produce the cheque book" he said.

"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."

In a statement last night the NBRU said it was "quite extraordinary" that a shareholder would "come out so publicly and chastise its own company".

Meanwhile, Siptu workers at Bus Eireann are due to be balloted for potential strike action in a protective ballot this month.

The ballot means staff will decide whether to strike if changes are introduced to the Expressway services.

The possibility of changes was raised by management this week despite an ongoing pay claim by workers.
A pensioner has admitted posing as an employee of Irish Water so he could burgle Dublin businesses.

George Courtier (66) stole from a restaurant, shops and a health clinic when given "free rein" to check plumbing, which he falsely claimed he was doing on behalf of the water company.

Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned sentencing when Courtier admitted a series of theft charges at Dublin District Court.

Gda Kevin Bambrick said he was called to Eurosaver on Talbot Street last January 16.

Courtier had told staff he worked for Irish Water and was there to check the plumbing.

Staff showed Courtier into a changing area and bathroom and he was "let go about his business".

He left after 10 minutes, and 90 minutes later a staff member noticed his iPhone was missing from his jacket. Courtier was identified on CCTV.

Gardai went to the accused's then address at Harcourt Street and found a stolen iPhone.

Wallet

Courtier went to a restaurant on Dame Street on the same day and said he was "an employee of Irish Water and was checking pipes and plumbing".

While there, he went to a staff area and stole 100 in cash and 7,000 rupees, which were worth about 95.

On October 19, 2015 he went to an ice cream parlour on Grafton Street and said he was a contractor for Irish Water.

He again asked to check pipes, and in the kitchen he made several attempts to open a bag on a bench. He made off with a wallet with 20 cash.

Courtier removed a purse from a drawer at a health clinic on Abbey Street on September 1, 2015, after again posing as an Irish Water worker.

Courtier, with an address at Lord Edward Street, also admitted other burglaries in the city centre, including one at the Royal College of Surgeons, St Stephen's Green, on October 19, 2015.

He claimed to be a contract cleaner and rooted around in lockers, but nothing was taken.

Courtier had 119 previous convictions and would pay compensation from pension arrears he was due, said his solicitor, Aine Flynn.
Many of the main players in the capital's deadly gangland feud are now based abroad.

The Kinahan cartel's number one target, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch (53), has rarely been seen in Ireland since he was photographed at his slain brother Eddie's funeral in February.

The head of the Hutch crime family, 'The Monk' is believed to be based in Holland and is under active death threat in the feud that has claimed the lives of his brother, two nephews and best pal in the last year.

Target

Ever since the feud started with the murder of Gary Hutch this time last year, the Hutch mob's chief target has been cartel kingpin Daniel Kinahan (39), the son of crimelord Christy (59).

Gardai believe that Daniel was the main target of the Regency Hotel gun attack, but he escaped injury in February's 'spectacular' shooting.

It is believed that Daniel is now based in Dubai with his father and younger brother, Christopher (36).

The Kinahans are suspected of restructuring their organisation and have moved assets from Spain to a free-trade zone in the United Arab Emirates known as Ras Al Khaimah.

Daniel Kinahan has not spent much time in Dublin since the funeral of his murdered close associate David Byrne (33) in February, but sources have revealed that apart from being in his Dubai base he has also made trips to Portugal and Birmingham in recent months.

Other cartel henchmen have spent more time in Ireland and these include first cousins Liam Byrne (35), 'Fat' Freddie Thompson (35), and Liam Roe (38), as well as convicted heroin trafficker Greg Lynch (32).

While Roe and Lynch have rarely left Dublin since the feud kicked-off, Thompson and Byrne have been dividing their time between Ireland, England and Spain.

All four gangsters have been the subject of surveillance and major garda operations in recent months which has included the arrests of Roe and Byrne for money- laundering offences linked to a massive Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigation which led to a large amount of jewellery, 29 cars, SUVs and six motorbikes being seized in raids in early March.

Other key members of the cartel - such as Ballyfermot criminal Kevin Lynch (48) and a notorious hitman-for-hire linked to a number of feud murders for the cartel - are currently based in Spain's Costa del Sol as the deadly feud continues.

Base

While many cartel members are based abroad, most of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's associates are still based in their north inner city Dublin base and gardai have had to spend tens of thousands of euro in overtime budgets just to keep them alive.

These include convicted armed robber Keith Murtagh (32) and The Monk's nephews Ross (24) and Jonathan Hutch (37), as well as The Monk's brothers John (63) and Patrick Hutch (55).

Murtagh and Jonathan Hutch have both survived botched assassinations which resulted in the gun murders of completely innocent men as the cartel's attempts to wipe out the Hutch clan continues.
Tony O'Brien, Director General HSE speaking to media following an ambulance fire at Naas general Hospital, Kildare.

Members of the emergency services following an ambulance fire at Naas general Hospital, Kildare

Members of the emergency services following an ambulance fire at Naas general Hospital, Kildare.

A 78-year-old man was killed after the ambulance he was in burst into flames following an explosion outside a busy Emergency Department.

A multi-agency investigation involving gardai, the Health Safety Authority (HSA) and the HSE has also been launched after what the HSE's Director General Tony O'Brien described as "dark day for the health services".

The tragic incident occurred shortly after 1.30pm yesterday afternoon at Naas General Hospital as the ambulance arrived at the Emergency Department.

Paramedics David Finnegan, aged in his 40s, and Stephen Lloyd, aged in his late 30s, were in the vehicle preparing to move the patient into the ED.

Explosion

However, as pensioner Christopher Byrne was being tended to, an explosion occurred, killing him and injuring the two emergency services personal.

The force of the blast was so severe that Stephen Lloyd was thrown across the tarmac, having left the drivers seat to open the ambulance side door.

Two Naas-based paramedics who witnessed the incident ran towards the burning ambulance and pulled David Finnegan, who was on fire, from the vehicle.

However, sources said, there was nothing that could be done for the elderly patient in the back of the vehicle.

Mr Lloyd was treated for burns but was discharged yesterday evening, while Mr Finnegan was kept in St James' Hospital as a precaution.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Four units from the Kildare Fire Service in Naas and Newbridge were called to the scene.

The emergency call was received at 1.33pm and the first unit arrived at the scene at 1.37pm.

HSE Director General Tony O'Brien expressed his sympathies to whom he had spoken with at Naas General Hospital following the tragic incident.

It is believed that an oxygen tank caused the explosion, and the HSE has said that checks will be put in place immediately.

"There is going to be an investigation under way, as is normal practice, by An Garda Siochana and the Health Safety Authority, as well as the HSE, but it does appear the fire started towards the rear of the ambulance," Mr O'Brien said.

"It does not appear to be related to the engine and currently, without prejudicing that outcome, we are currently focusing our concerns on the possibility, and I stress possibility, that this was oxygen-related."

Recovery

Mr O'Brien said they are confident of a "full recovery" for the ambulance driver who was hospitalised with burns.

"Two members of the ambulance service staff were injured while attempting to save the patient," he said.

"One of those has been discharged from hospital recently and the second staff member has been transferred to St James Hospital in Dublin where he is receiving care.

"We are confident of a full recovery but he will remain in hospital overnight as a precaution.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you that the patient's death was a direct consequence of the fire.

"If the fire had not occurred he would have not died. We express our sympathies with the family."

Mr O'Brien also said that the staff did everything they could.

"In addition, a series of checks are going to be carried out on all National Ambulance Service (NAS) equipment and that process has already been organised.

"This is clearly a very serious incident and I wouldn't want to downplay it in any way."

Health Minister Simon Harris was also at the scene.

"Like all of us, I was numb when I heard about this terrible tragedy," he said.

"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 HSE issued a warning to all ambulance staff yesterday evening in the wake of the incident to check on the oxygen tanks they are carrying to minimise the risk of another incident.

It also directed its supplier to undertake a programme of checks on oxygen in ambulances.

Staff were asked to re-familiarise themselves with the emergency ambulance evacuation procedures.

Managers and staff have been asked to give priority to the safety notice.

An action plan for the ambulance service was drawn up by the HSE earlier this year on foot of a highly critical report.
The Minister for Justice has insisted that Gerry Adams should cooperate with any garda investigation following claims accusing him of involvement in the murder of British spy Denis Donaldson.

The Sinn Fein leader was forced to hit back the allegations made in the BBC programme Spotlight over the killing in Donegal in April 2006.

The BBC carried the claims by another former spy that the murder would had to have been sanctioned by the politician.

Mr Adams has described the allegations as "lies".

He has also said he will consider legal action in relation to the claims.

The Real IRA, which has plotted to kill Adams on at least three occasions, previously claimed responsibility for the Donaldson murder.

"Of course if allegations are being made and if there is evidence, then I would appeal for anyone to come forward," Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald said yesterday.

"Of course the gardai will investigate if there is evidence. Everybody should cooperate with that investigation, including Gerry Adams," she added.

"Any matters brought to the attention of An Garda Siochana will be investigated fully and any appropriate steps will be taken thereafter," Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan added.

It comes following revelations that a veteran republican was questioned by police about the murder of Denis Donaldson after his fingerprints were found inside the cottage where the British spy was shot dead.

Donaldson (56) died when he was hit with two blasts from a shotgun at the family-owned cottage 7km from Glenties in April 2006.

Donaldon's death came almost four months after the Sinn Fein fixer admitted working for the British for the previous 20 years.

However, it has now emerged that gardai recovered the fingerprints of veteran Belfast republican Victor Notarantonio after the cottage killing.

It is understood those prints were recovered from a painting Donaldson had been working on at the time of his death.

When gardai failed to get a match for the prints, they were sent to the PSNI, which confirmed they belonged to Notarantonio, an outspoken critic of Gerry Adams.

Denied

When Notarantonio was questioned by police in the North, he claimed to have visited Donaldson at the cottage four weeks before the killing.

He vehemently denied any involvement in the murder, insisting he was a friend of Donaldson and that he had travelled to Donegal to seek his advice on a feud involving the Notarantonio family and another family at the time.

Notarantonio was released without charge.

Two weeks after his visit - in March 2006 - a reporter from a Sunday newspaper had traced Donaldson to the same cottage.

The British spy was shot dead a fortnight later.

Donaldson had been interned in the 1970s with Victor Notarantonio's father Francisco, who was later murdered by the UFF.
ELKO -- For veterans pursuing higher education after their service, transitioning to the college environment can be an intimidating process. Thats why many schools in Nevada offer a variety of programs to help veterans identify and apply for education benefits theyve earned, network with other veterans and plan for a future career.

Here is a list of services available for Elko veterans at Great Basin College Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and on most higher ed campuses across the state:

 Veterans Resource Centers provide a one-stop shop for veterans to get help with VA paperwork, network with other veterans and navigate their education.

 Priority registration allows veterans to expedite VA benefit payments for school and housing.

 Vet Success program provides VA benefits counselors on campuses across Nevada.

 Veteran career fairs give veterans a chance to meet with local employers.

 Peer-to-peer counseling allows veterans to receive guidance from peers with whom they can relate.

 Teachers are trained on how to talk to veterans and how they can help them succeed in the classroom.

For more information about veterans services and programs, contact Great Basin College VRC Coordinator Jacob Park at 775-753-2346 or email him at Jacob.park@gbcnv.edu.
Nevada JobConnect provides specially-trained staff who exclusively serve eligible Veteran customers. Veteran JobConnect Specialists are also Veterans of U.S. military service. With their knowledge of job search resources, they can assist their fellow Veterans with career advice, job searching, referrals to jobs and skills training. Qualifying Veterans may be eligible for priority referrals to specialized training and/or re-training opportunities through federal and state programs.

Every Nevada JobConnect office houses self-service resource centers that provide Veterans access to computers linked to Nevadas branch of http://Nevada.us.jobs and http://VetCentral.us.jobs along with a variety of employment, training, and career exploration software products. The resource centers are designed to be a user-friendly place where anyone can quickly learn to write a resume, brush-up on interviewing skills, and hone job-finding strategies  on their own or with staff assistance. Center staff is available to provide technical assistance as needed, and to provide access to electronic resume and job data banks.

Nevadas employers are strongly committed to providing job opportunities for Veterans through training, re-training, and on-the-job training partnerships. This exceptional private/public relationship is integral to providing a high caliber of employment services for men and women who have served this nation.

Employers looking for the right person to fill the needs of their companies should consider a Veteran. Veterans undergo extensive training while in the military. This translates to valuable skills usable by Nevada employers. Additionally, employers may qualify for tax incentives for hiring Veterans. To learn more visit www.nevadajobconnect.com or visit one of the ten locations statewide.
COMMUNITY

KING UNIVERSITY ALUMNI: Washington, D.C. 400 New Jersey Avenue, Hyatt Regency Washington in Thornton Room & Lounge. Sept. 23, 7:30 p. m.: Dinner on Capitol Hill invites Kings alumni to gather together. Cost $10 per person, RSVP by Friday, Sept. 16, Dawn McMurray 800-621-5464 or 423-652-6399.

TN AUTISM SOCIETY SOCIAL SCENE: Hampton, Tenn., Doe River Gorge. Sept. 29, 5:30 p.m.: Train ride departs at 6 p.m.; returns and parks at 7 p.m. Explore facility from 7-8 p.m. All families affected by autism are welcome. RSVP by Sept. 26 at http://www.meetup.com/East-TN-Autism-Social-Scene/events/234069898/. Cost: $5 per person cash or check preferred. Credit card accepted but takes time to process.

ST. ANNE SCHOOL: Bristol, Va., 300 Euclid Avenue in school gym, Sept. 24, 9 a. m.  3 p. m.: Craft Bazaar, vendors from all over the area, 276-669-0048.

GOODSON KINDERHOOK VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE: 19864 Benhams Road. Oct. 8, 5  9 p.m.: 3rd Annual Pickin and Grinnin fundraiser, BBQ and Hotdog dinner, music featuring, Boozy Creek Bluegrass Band, Cleveland Bluegrass, Mildred and Diane, The Rounders, and other, bring lawn chair, cake auction, 276-669-1251.

SPEEDWELL CEMETERY: Jonesborough, Tenn., 3326 Cherokee Road, Oct. 8, 9 a. m.: Prepare cemetery for the winter months, Speedwell Board of Trustees need volunteers, volunteers must bring on equipment to clean, call Elaine 423-257-2264 or Chad, chadfredb@gmail.com.

COMMUNITY INFANT MEMORIAL SERVICE: Mountain City, Tenn., 999 Honeysuckle St., Sunset Memorial Park, Oct. 15, 6 p. m.: Remember our little ones a service to anyone who lost a child during pregnancy or infancy, for any reason, office@communitymemorialbabies.com

KINGSPORT CAROUSEL: Kingsport, Tenn., Wednesdays  Saturdays, 17 p.m.: $1. 423- 343-9834 or www.EngageKingsport.com

ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS MEETING: Abingdon, Va., View United Methodist Church, 18416 Lee Highway. For more, call Sissy Frye or Brenda Jones at 276-783-8157 or 1-800-541-0933.Brenda Jones at 276-783-8157 or 1-800-541-0933.

PTERODACTYLS BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB: Johnson City, Tenn., 2801 Boones Creek Road, 3rd Saturday, 9 a.m. Contact David Robertson, 423-323-2046 or drobertson@btes.tv.

BRISTOL BINGO: Bristol, Va., 516 Birthplace of Country Music Way, Bingo Saturdays and Sundays, 6 p.m. early bird and 6:30 p.m. regular, sponsored by VFW Post 6975. 276-669-2446.

WATAUGA VALLEY FIFE & DRUM CORPS: Elizabethton, Tenn., Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, 1651 West Elk Avenue. Saturdays, 10 a.m. noon. The Fife & Drum Corps open to anyone ages 13 and up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary. Meet volunteer coordinator John Large at the visitors center. Lessons are free; call and let us know youre coming. 423-543-5808.

WASHINGTON COUNTY JAM: Abingdon, Va., 25236 Hillman Hwy., Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center, after-school program, or youth (4th through 8th grade) in Washington County, who are interested in learning traditional, old-time musical instruments and Southern Appalachian culture. Classes will run through May 2016. 276-6676-6180 or programs@swva4hcenter.org.

CHEER WITH THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: Johnson City, Tenn., Oakland Ave., Princeton Arts Center, Learn cheers, jumps, splits, tumbling, dance routines, builds with National Champion Taylor Melons. Beginners cheer, ages 3-6, $25 per month; Competition Cheer, ages 7-12, $60 per month. 423-283-5800 or email tricitiestalent@hotmail.com.

MOUNT ROGERS REGIONAL ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM: Providing free GED classes at the following locations and times: Marion Baptist Church on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m., Marion Senior High Library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m., Northwood High School - Room 105 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5- 8 p.m., Old Chilhowie High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-3 p.m. Classes and materials are free to adults 18 and older. 1-800-322-7748 or www.mrraep.com.

JACKSON THEATRE PHOTOS NEEDED: Jonesborough, Tenn., The Town of Jonesborough and the Heritage Alliance are seeking old photos of the Jackson Theatre in Jonesborough. Photos are needed for the exterior of the building or interior, and they can be of any time period going back to when the building was a furniture store in the very early 1900s. 423-753-1031 or virginiac@jonesboroughtn.org.

SENIOR CENTER MEMORIAL PARK COMMUNITY CENTER: Johnson City, Tenn., 510 Bert Street. Join the Senior Chorale Thursdays 10 a.m. No audition required. (423) 434-5750.

VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION: Abingdon, Va., One Partnership Circle, Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Oct. 5, Oct. 13, Oct. 19, and Oct. 27: Offering an opportunity to train as Master Food Volunteer, training includes, lunches, training material, apron, tote bags, and supplies. Application due Sept. 23, contact Sandy Yarber 276-619-4336.

FARMERS MARKETS

ABINGDON: Downtown Abingdon, Virginia, corner of Remsburg Drive and Cummings Street (!-81 Exit 17). Through November: Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1p.m. and Tuesdays, 3-6 p.m. More than 50 full-time vendors, offering local meats, eggs, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, wines, prepared foods, art and , plants and a couple food trucks. Haley Stewart, 276-698-1434; abingdonmarket@gmail.com or www.abingdonfarmersmarket.com.

BRISTOL: Downtown Center, 810 State Street. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon, Through Oct.; Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m. Through Sept. Vendor apps at Slater Center, 325 McDowell St., Bristol, Tenn. Accepts SNAP/EBT cards. 423-764-4026. Farmers Market closed Saturday Sept. 17, for Rhythm and Roots reopens Wednesday. September 21.

GLADE SPRING: Downtown Glade Spring, Virginia, 100 Town Square St. (I-81 Exit 29) Through Oct. 31: Saturdays, 9 a.m.-noon. Fruits, vegetables, flowering plants and cut flowers, mushrooms, honey, meats, eggs, herbs, lotions, baked goods and more. Paul Case, info@gladespringfarmersmarket.com.

MARION: Downtown Marion, Town Square Parking Lot, corner of Cherry and Chestnuts streets. Through Oct. 29, Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon. 276-783-4113.

FOOD PANTRY

THE TABLE: Bristol, Va., 1754 Kingmill Pike, Community Baptist Church, every fourth Friday 1  4 p. m.: Food pantry, donations are welcome, contact Pastor Todd Crusenberry, 423-646-8760.

PARKS

STEELE CREEK PARK: Bristol, Tenn., Wildlife Weekend annual event Oct 7 - 8, featuring variety of children activities, speakers, interpretive walks all relating nature, amateur photographers contest for all ages, entries will be displayed at Wildlife Weekend celebration, deadline for submitting photos Friday, Sept. 23, 4 p. m., application available Nature Center, Steele Creek Park or Tennessee Parks and Recreation Department, Slater Center on McDowell Street, Bristol, Tenn., 423-764-3336.

BREAKS PARK: Breaks, Va., Campground and Rhododendron Restaurant open. Boat dock closed. Front lobby at the lodge will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on week-ends. The administration office will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park lodging is open year round. Conference Center is open with regular catering services available. New activities: lodging packages with whitewater rafting excursions and elk tours. 276-865-4413 ext. 3201 or www.BreaksPark.com.

SYCAMORE SHOALS STATE HISTORIC AREA: Elizabethton, Tenn., 1651 W. Elk Ave. The park grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Visitors Center: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays. Visitor Center open weekends 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 423-543-5808 or www.sycamoreshoalstn.org, www.tnstateparks.com/SycamoreShoals.
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.

So far, central Virginia has been spared from the wrenching events that have wracked Tulsa, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Baton Rouge, and other metro areas. But that could change in a split second. Maintaining good relations between law enforcement agencies and the community before such a moment is the key to preventing a tragedy from becoming a disaster. In that task, the police and the community both have an equal part to play.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Ted Cruz, who endured catcalls at the GOP convention for pointedly withholding an endorsement of Donald Trump, executed a perfect backflip on Friday.

After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, he posted on Facedbook. He cited two main reasons. Last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word. Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable  thats why I have always been #NeverHillary.

News spread earlier in the afternoon that Cruz would soon throw his support to the nominee who taunted him as Lyin Ted throughout the primaries, linked his dad to the John F. Kennedy assassination, and tweeted unflattering photos of Cruzs wife. Politico cited sources close to Cruz, as did CNN.

Earlier Friday, Trump added Utah Sen. Mike Lee  Cruzs closely friend and ally in the Senate  to an expanded list of 21 potential Supreme Court nominees. That may have helped seal a deal.

Cruz has been one of the last holdouts among the 16 rivals Trump dispatched. Jeb Bush  mocked by Trump as low energy Jeb  has withheld his support. His father, former President George Bush, has told people privately that he will vote for Clinton.

Cruzs own disapproval of Trump ran deep.

Hours before he lost the Indiana primary and suspended his campaign in May, Cruz labeled Trump utterly amoral, a serial philanderer who has publicly bragged about bouts of venereal disease, and a pathological liar.

I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father, he told shouting, angry Texas Republicans at a tense, raucous breakfast. That was the morning after he took the stage at the GOP convention in Cleveland and pointedly urged Republicans to vote their conscience, without explaining whether, for him, that would mean voting for Trump.

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich came on stage moments after Cruz was booed off and tried to fill in the blanks. But the damage was done.

For Cruz, it was a risky move.

Like Trump and the other GOP candidates, he had pledged to support the eventual nominee, no matter who it would be and presumably with the understanding that presidential primaries are a contact sport.

The backlash among Texas Republicans didnt die down after that breakfast. Even Cruz lovers who werent so keen on Trump were flummoxed as the show of party disloyalty, and rivals have sensed vulnerability as he eyes re-election in 2018. House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, has allowed speculation to grow that he might challenge Cruz in the primary.

Still, if Cruzs refusal to endorse Trump was a calculated move, it wasnt necessarily a bad one. Within a few weeks, Trump was in a tailspin. Cruz looked like a man of integrity. Hed kept his options open as some who had jumped aboard the Trump train began to have second thoughts about the implications for their own fortunes.

Cruz and his aides insisted that the senator was trying to be magnanimous in Cleveland. To them, it seemed obvious  given his views on Clinton  that no Republican could cast a vote of conscience for the Democratic nominee.

Many of Cruzs top advisers have rejected Trump and vowed never to support or work for him. But there is some connective tissue between the camps. Trumps new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conaway, a conservative pollster, ran a pro-Cruz super PAC during the primaries. And his senior communication adviser, Jason Miller, held a similar role in the Cruz campaign.

A lot of his large donors have encouraged this, and the race is really close, and Trump can win, said Gary Polland, a former chairman of the Harris County Republican Party and a Houston public television political analyst.

The endorsement indicates that he realizes Trump could actually win, Polland said, and if that happens, You dont want to have somebody hostile towards you in your own party.

Cruzs detractors gushed venom as the news emerged. Dan Pfeiffer, a former top Obama strategist, called it a sign of panic by the most cravenly ambitious person in politics.
The National Rifle Association likes to say that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun. This vaporous aphorism, first intoned by NRA leader Wayne LaPierre four years ago, made an appearance this week on the NRAs Twitter feed  but it doesnt quite mean what the NRA thinks.

In an attack at a Minnesota mall last weekend, a knife-wielding assailant was shot dead by a former police chief named Jason Falconer. According to a biography on his companys website, in addition to his police training Falconer has attended some of the best firearms training schools in the United States.

After taking the weekend to formulate a response, and keeping in mind Twitters 140-character limit, on Monday the NRA the following: Jason Falconer is a gun owner, #NRA-certified instructor, and owner of a shooting range; a good guy with a gun.

Falconer is indeed all that  which is why his skillful response is such a comprehensive rebuttal to the NRAs habitual nonsense. By all accounts Falconer is a good guy, and his heroics saved lives. What made him effective, however, is that hes an expert guy.

The NRA is not suggesting that every aspiring gunslinger become an expert. Quite the contrary. The organization talks a lot about gun safety and runs training programs. But its priorities lie elsewhere  such as its demand that virtually every American have immediate access to firearms, without training or qualification or cause or background check, and that they be authorized to carry those firearms in public no matter how unskilled or reckless they may be. Thats one reason that there are countless cases of accidental shootings, rage-induced homicides and alcohol-fueled attacks for every rare instance of a good guy with a gun stopping a killing.

Its always dangerous to read too much into a slogan, even a catchy one. Still, it bears repeating: A guy with a gun and good intentions is not enough to stop a bad guy with a gun. As Jason Falconer showed, it also takes a guy whos good with a gun.
Benefits

For VA Benefits in Elko, White Pine, Eureka, and Lander Counties, and part of Humboldt County, contact NDVS Veteran Service Officer Deborah Gentry (the only Elko-based VSO) for VA Benefits applications and claims assistance for Service Connected Disability Compensation, Pension, DIC, Survivors Pension, Aid & Attendance/Housebound Benefits, Burial/Memorial Benefits for local cemeteries, Home Loan/COE applications and Healthcare enrollment.

Gentry make referrals to:

 For Voc Rehab information, veterans complete VA Form 28-1900. Those interested in filing for this benefit can make an appointment with a VSO for assistance in completing 28-1900

 Great Basin College/Jacob Park for VA Educational Benefits: 775-753-2310

 Northern and Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery for veterans to be buried/interned there:

1. Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery: 775-575-4441

2. Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery: 702-486-5714

PTSD Counseling

Counselor Brian Auker, MSW, travels to Elko twice a month from the Salt Lake City Vet Center to provide the equivalent of two days of counseling services for veterans.

Elko Health Care

Elkos VA Clinic offers Primary Care, and has a full service lab. Dr. William Ashworth is the Primary Physician, and Mental Health is provided by Jan Newran.

Multiple classes are provided at the clinic; COPD, Diabetics, Heart Failure, and Heart Health. These are provided through Telemed.

Get My Ride  Elko offers free van rides to VA appointments for veterans. Prior appointment is required for pick-up. You can contact them at 775-777-1428.

The Elko Vitality Center has been awarded a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist in Substance Abuse Treatment, and our Family Resource Center has information on WIC, and other family support services.

Elko Outreach Clinic

2719 Argent Ave. No. 9

Elko, NV 89801

775-738-0188

Parent Facility:

VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System

800-613-4012 x 6443

The Salt Lake City VA Medical Center

The Salt Lake City VA Medical Center provides health care services to Elko and Lander County residents through an Elko-based clinic, staffed with one full-time and one part-time professional, a Registered Nurse and a half-time Medical Technician.

When veterans call the Elko VA Clinic at 775-738-0188 clinic staff refer the veteran to Elko-based VSO Deborah Gentry for eligibility and enrollment. The Salt Lake City VA Medical Center provides tele-health services to Elko veterans.

A physician from the SLC VAMC visits the Elko clinic once a week each month. The rest of the month, veterans use tele-health or travel the three-to-four hour trip to the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center. (See the tele-health information following this article.

Transportation to/from the Salt Lake City is provided weekly by volunteer van drivers in Elko by calling 775-777-1428 and a van provided by the VA Medical Center by calling 801-582-1565 to transport veterans to appointments at the Salt Lake City center.

Ely Health Care Services

The Salt Lake City VA Medical Center has a contracted service with the Ely hospital to provide all services to veteran. The hospital has a VA medical center employee in Ely that coordinates health care services for veterans in White Pine County:

Gina Newton, 775-289-3001 x 131

Veterans have a choice to enroll with either the Reno or SLC VA Medical Center. If a veteran wants to use the Elko VA Clinic, he or she must first enroll with the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center. If, instead, the veteran chooses the Reno VA Medical Center, the closest clinic is in Winnemucca, open two days a week, every Monday and Tuesday.
Nevada Veterans Website: Resources at your Fingertips

Reaching Nevada veterans across the state is near impossible without the help of the world wide web. As a significant tool, www.veterans.nv.gov relays critical updates, important outreach details, and vital support with crucial links to resources. It is the platform that offers an estimated 250,000 veterans, their family members, and active military an information lifeline.

After nearly a year in development, the NDVS website 2.0 conversion offers more 'real-time' access to assistance than ever before. Take advantage of this resource. Get familiar with it and participate in the active features it offers, including:

ASK A VSO

Simply go to the Home page and click the Ask a VSO button. Veterans Service Officers are here to help. To contact a VSO, fill out the confidential form. Your question will be answered by a NDVS Accredited VSO.

To find VSO Locations across the Silver state, hit the Veterans Service Officer button found next to the Ask A VSO button.

NV VetNet - Sign Up NOW

With input from veterans across the state, NDVS is taking NV VetNet to the next virtual level. After months of reimaging and populating, we are 'live.'

Next-level efforts focus on added functionality, fresh and refreshed content, and a revised 2.0 NV VetNet (Formerly GreenZone). NV VetNet encourages Veterans, Family/Friends, Service Providers, and Community Supporters to actively post and participate in sharing information and reaching out to the wider community.

For those individuals or organizations already signed up with the online community, formerly known as GreenZone Network, the data has automatically been transferred. However, it's a good idea to review or update content.

Click here to be redirected to the NV VetNet link to register in the category matching your personal or organization designation of Veteran, Family Member, Service Provider, or Veteran Supporter.

Benefits & Services

The home page pull down menu titled "Benefits & Services" is the 'go-to' page for learn about up-to-date programs, services and assistance for veterans, active military and family members.

In 'Education' alone, there are 12 entries, including GI Bill Information, Veterans Scholarships and Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Services.

Under 'Housing Assistance,' find 10 individual listings, including a link to the Nevada Housing Division, Home Loan Guaranty and Hardship Assistance Grant information. Health & Wellness offers detailed information through links about Adopt a Vet Dental Program, Health Insurance, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Veterans Hospital Transportation Program, to name a few.

The subheads also include: NDVS Direct Services, Financial, Burial & Memorial, Women and Minority Veterans, and Military, Veteran, and Family Outreach programs and more.

In total, dozens of Nevada and Federal programs are just a click away.

Find the resource by going to the home page: veterans.nv.gov or

Capture the link and put it in your 'favorites' listing. When you have a question, there are many resources for you on line. When you want it.
ELKO  Do you know what a noxious weed looks like? After spending an hour with Stantec employees, this reporter does.

Every year, more than 8,000 Stantec employees volunteer their time during a day of service across the globe. In Elko, Chris Jasmine and Kat Becker spent a morning in late September mapping noxious weeds in an effort to help control their spread in northern Nevada.

The team covered several acres along North Fifth Street looking for Scotch thistle and tall whitetop.

Unlike cheat grass, theyre not quite as widespread yet, so theres still a chance to identify populations and get them treated, Jasmine said.

Jasmine said since they are an environmental company he and Becker decided to help the Humboldt Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area.

Humboldt Watershed Cooperative is dedicated to the management and control of noxious weeds. Jasmine and Becker used a GPS program on their cellphones to mark where the plants are located and then they share the data with the cooperative so the plants can be treated.

Noxious weeds are a threat to native plants, wildlife habitat, the sustainability of agriculture and water quality, Stantec stated in a press release. One of the main challenges to treatment is identifying areas of active infestation.

Jasmine said the plants need to be treated so they dont take over the landscape.

These one or two plants here turn into a monoculture like over there, Jasmine said about an area between Elko and the SnoBowl. Eventually this entire drainage bottom, that has all this nice, native grass in it, will turn into nothing but (tall whitetop).

Unfortunately, tall whitetop cant be taken care of just by pulling it from the ground. Jasmine said unlike the Scotch thistle, tall whitetop spreads by its roots. It has a larger and deeper root system than native grass. It can take over areas, especially during drought conditions.

If you dig it out, its impossible to get all the roots, he said.

If home owners have tall whitetop in their yard, they can use weed killers, such as Roundup, to get rid of the noxious weed. However, if they have a large amount of the plant, they can also call the cooperative to treat the plants.

Becker, who does GIS mapping for Stantec, said she spends most of her time in the office, so it was fun for her to get out of the office.

Everybody in the office had the opportunity to come out today and help, she said. Im learning a little bit today too.

The cooperative has an herbicide assistance program. For more information on the program go to humboldtweedfree.org.
The days are shorter, but not the list of things you can do.
American Veterans, by definition, were once U.S. soldiers who cared for those of us on the home front. With the introduction of the Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) Veterans In Care (VIC) program throughout Nevada, the time is now to care about our aging veterans in that same encompassing spirit of service.

Launched this spring, the VIC mission seeks to reach Nevada's veterans residing and receiving care and services in skilled care, residential care, and assisted living facilities.

VIC, administered by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services, a state agency, represents an outreach to more than 400 facility care providers across Nevada that care for veterans in residency.

So far, VIC has attracted participation by 61 facilities representing 923-plus veterans. The vision of VIC currently encompasses three related components: education regarding Benefits and Programs; Veteran Culture Education and Training for facility staff; and Quality of Life Recognition and Communication for veteran residents.

"Since early-August, we have held recognition events in five partnering care facilities from Reno to Las Vegas," Simons said. "These are the first visits for Nevada's Veterans In Care initiative to recognize veterans living in care facilities," said VIC Administrator Wendy Simons, NDVS Deputy Director of Health & Wellness.

"Over the next year, thousands of veterans in hundreds of care facilities will be publically honored and personally presented with a certificate of appreciation to thank them for their service to America and their role in advancing the universal hope of liberty, justice and freedom for all."

"We are continuing to reach out to providers to assure we have as broad a response as is possible," Simons added.

The outreach campaign, which provides NDVS the ability to collect data not previously available, was launched with a letter sent to all licensed administrators of licensed Nevada facilities. Simply, the letter requested the identification of veterans residing in their facilities, how many receive VA benefits, and those veterans enrolled in the VA medical center system.

The five inaugural care facilities included: Lake Mead Health and Rehab Center, Lass Vegas; Prestige Senior Living at Mira Loma; Carson Valley Senior Living and Brookdale Gardnerville Senior Community; and Brookdale North West Reno Senior Community.

More than 115 veterans were recognized in these appreciation ceremonies, which include presentation of individualized certificates, signed by NDVS Director Kat Miller, and a commemorative "Nevada's Heroes" lapel pin.

To learn more about Veterans in Care, contact Connie Johnson at NDVS/Reno: 775-825-9757, johnsonc@veterans.nv.gov.
Theyve served our country. Now that their service is complete, we all have the responsibility to support the men and women who have served us.

Today, U.S. service members transitioning out of the military and into civilian life have access to more services than ever before. Yet, many of them are unaware of or overwhelmed by the numerous benefits  federal and state, public and private  that are available to them.

Veterans should know they have help in navigating this complex system. The State of Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) has two new ways to connect veterans to services that provide assistance with education, employment and wellness.

First, the statewide online tool, Nevada VetNet, gives veterans, service providers, family members, friends and community supporters an online tool on the NDVS website: veterans.nv.gov to share information, post events and search for benefits.

Second, the Nevada Veterans Advocacy (NVA) program enlists veterans and non-veterans alike to complete an online training program free of charge that provides an overview of available resources, helping put more boots on the ground to direct veterans to services. (See accompanying 'veterans advocate' article elsewhere in this publication.)

This unique advocacy program was recognized with the 2016 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Pillars of Excellence Award for the most innovative State Practice, says Kat Miller, director of NDVS.

Miller wants to see all veterans connected to the benefits theyve earned, and wants veterans to know theyre not alone.

If everybodys working together, no matter who you are  public, private, nonprofit  youre able to steer that veteran to the correct resource, Miller says.

The key, of course, is participation. NDVS needs community members to enlist as Nevada Veterans Advocates and Green Zone Network members.

Nevada reaps great benefits by helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life. Veterans come home and serve as volunteers, community organizers, skilled workers and entrepreneurs. They bring strength to our state.

It is to the benefit of all Nevadans that we help our returning veterans successfully reintegrate into Nevada communities; they bring strength, discipline, tremendous work experience, a strong work ethic, and the desire to help others, Miller says.

For more information on how you can help, create a profile on Nevada VetNet and join the conversation.
Major opposition to marijuana question

Editor:

Finally. A bipartisan all out political campaign is launched against the pot industry written and financed Question 2 to legalize commercial marijuana in Nevada.

Strong statements of opposition to Q2 were made by Governor Brian Sandoval, Lt. Governor Mark Hutchison, Attorney General Adam Laxalt, Senator Dean Heller and 3 members of Nevadas House delegation.

The bipartisan nature of the opposition was underscored by the fact that both of Nevadas U.S. Senate candidates, Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto and Republican Dr. Joe Heck, went on record as No on 2. Two respected former Nevada governors, Republican Robert List and Democrat Richard Bryan, also voiced opposition.

The Coalition Against Recreational Marijuana, opposition to Q2, won important support from law enforcement  both the Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association and Nevada District Attorneys Association, and from public health advocates the Nevada State Medical Association.

The negative risks to the gaming industry for being in conflict with federal marijuana law caused the Nevada Resorts Association to announce opposition to Q2 as well. Very good news.

Jim Hartman, president

Nevadans for Responsible Drug Policy

Genoa
A Datura Stramonium plant, which contains scopolamine, a powerful drug.

Over the last two decades, there have been occasional reports in Spain of people, particularly women, being intoxicated with burundanga, a substance that causes amnesia and saps the victims willpower, leaving them exposed to robbery or sexual assault. But very few cases have ever made it to court because of the difficulty of proving the facts.

Now, for the first time, a confirmed case has been detected in Spain (see box below). But in Latin America, the dangers of burundanga are well known.

Scopolamine was once used as a painkiller during childbirth, along with morphine and chloroform

Burundanga is the popular name for a drug that contains scopolamine, which is used in medicine to treat nausea and motion sickness, among other conditions. But its side effects include drowsiness, a loss of inhibition and memory lapses.

In Colombia, police figures show that three crimes are perpetrated every day using scopolamine. The US State Department describes it as one of the most dangerous narcotics available, and estimates that there could be as many as 50,000 related crimes a year.

The drug is derived from Datura Stramonium, a plant that is easy to find in Spain and Latin America. In English it goes by a variety of names, the most common being Jimson weed.

It has white, trumpet-shaped flowers and seeds containing two alkaloids, hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The scopolamine is mixed with various other chemical compounds to create burundanga.

In the Colombian capital of Bogota it is possible to purchase burundanga for under $30 a gram. Getty

It is sometimes known as the zombie drug because it takes away the victims willpower. There are numerous reports of people who testified to police they were robbed or suffered brutal sexual assaults without remembering any of the details. Typically, the last thing they remember is taking a sip from a drink at a bar in the company of somebody they had just met, or being inside a taxi and having the driver suddenly shake a cloth in their face.

The powder has no flavor, no color and no smell, and criminals normally dissolve it in drinks or mix it in with food or tobacco. It is commonly used in bars and other night venues in Caracas and Bogota. Small-time crooks often use attractive women as a lure to attract men, whose drinks they then lace with burundanga.On the streets of Bogota, a gram of burundanga sells for less than $30.

There is a widespread belief that burundanga can also penetrate the skin to enter the bloodstream, but most experts have ruled out this possibility.

Scopolamine was once used as a painkiller during childbirth, along with morphine and chloroform. Its use was discontinued after women suffered from hallucinations and woke up without remembering anything about the delivery.

One of the main problems police face in cases involving the use of burundanga is that victims cannot remember anything. To make matters worse, the effect of burundanga means that they sometimes actively cooperate in the crime. There have been cases of people who reported being robbed at automatic teller machines, only to have security camera footage reveal that they took out the money themselves while surrounded by a group of people who appear to be their friends.

First confirmed burundanga case in Spain Nuno Dominguez A new study has just described the first confirmed case of burundanga intoxication in Spain. The incident took place in the spring of this year in Palma de Mallorca, on the Balearic Islands. A 36-year-old woman arrived at the ER in Son Espases University Hospital, exhibiting confused behavior, incoherent speech, mydriasis [very dilated pupils], blurry eyesight and unstable walking. A urine analysis found no traces of the most usual substances in these cases: cannabis, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine and opiates. Nor was any alcohol found in her body. The friend who had brought her to the hospital said she suspected that the patients husband  whom she was in the process of divorcing  might have laced her drink with some kind of drug. The patient confirmed this suspicion after recovering. It was a new situation for the hospital. Personnel at the toxicology unit there launched the protocol for chemical submission cases, and filed a judicial report. Two days after being discharged, the patient returned to the hospital for a check-up and said her ex-husband had admitted to the police that he used scopolamine against her after purchasing it online. The case was reported in the Spanish-language medical journal, Medicina Clinica.

English version by Susana Urra.
Hillel

Central Florida

Last year, when the calendar was switching from 5775 to 5776, we wrote that the times, they are a changin, and if last year was about changing, this year is about changed. More specifically, being changed,

as an organization

as a community

and as the home for Jewish life on campus.

Three years ago, we walked into a crisp, state-of-the-art building with the intent of creating a home. Mezuzzot were hung, furniture was purchased, and refrigerators were stocked with food and drinks. Our staff was excited and our students were... not coming. So we waited.

And we waited...

And we realized that home, much like Judaism, isnt a place. Home is a feeling.

So we changed.

We focused on being there for our students social, emotional and spiritual needs. We placed less of an emphasis on being cool, and more of an emphasis on being real. We recognized that our students were looking for authenticity and would not tolerate anything less than everything meaningful and beautiful in Judaismwhy should our students accept anything less than everything meaningful and beautiful.

We are the Jewish home for more than 6,000 college students, and we are the guarantee of the Jewish future. The home we create, and the home that is filled with our students, the Jewish community on campus, deserves to be Jewish and it deserves to be real.

And so do the rest of us.

Our custom, as Jews, is to wish everyone a sweet new year for Rosh Hashanah and a meaningful fast for Yom Kippur. Our wish to the community this year, is a year filled with authentic Jewish experiences, a fast filled with the meaning of 6,000 years of tradition, and, of course, a hearty Charge On!

Aaron Weil, Executive Director & CEO

Russell Goldberg, Chairman of the Board
Shalom, Friends,

On behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, we express our best wishes to you and your family for a sweet New Year 5777. According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the world, where our calendar begins. On this day, we are expected to conceive a plan, engage in a vision of the future and renew our commitment to shaping Jewish life.

And as we do on any birthday, we make wishes for the coming year. These are our wishes for the Greater Orlando Jewish community:

Our first wish is that we, as a community, build on the collaborative spirit that has flourished over the past few years. Federation will continue to play a leading role in this effort, bringing together local Jewish agencies, synagogues and organizations to work toward a shared vision and common goals. Through Federation's collaborative community grants and targeted programming, we aspire to nurture a spirit of cooperation that serves to enrich life for all Jews in Central Florida.

Our second wish is for members of our Jewish community to act on the values we embrace by volunteering, either for Federation or for one of Greater Orlando's Jewish agencies. Because time is so precious, contributing a day, an afternoon or even an hour to causes we care about can be one of the most generous commitments of all.

Third, we wish for a deeper connection with Israel and our extended Jewish family around the world. Your support of the Jewish Federation brings Jewish experiences to people of all ages. You make it possible to take care of poor, elderly Jews in Russia and provide opportunity to at-risk children in Israel. One of our most cherished wishes is that whenever a Jew is in need, anywhere in the world, they can count on Federation to help.

Olga Yorish, Executive Director

Next, we wish that members of our community continue to join us in uniquely Jewish experiences throughout the year. Federation's initiatives such as Our Jewish Orlando and Shalom Families give our young people these opportunities. Federation will continue to wholeheartedly support programs and institutions in Orlando that build Jewish identity and celebrate Jewish life.

Our last and most ardent wish is for a true and lasting peace for Israel and the whole world. We enter this New Year fueled by confidence and strength, both of which would not be possible without our friends in Greater Orlando. We thank you for helping us nurture and sustain the Jewish future.

L'Shana Tova UMetukah,

Rhonda Forest, President

Olga Yorish, Executive Director
RICHARDSON, Texas (JTA)Urbandictionary.com is an open-source site where the average citizen contributes definitions to new and old words and slang. As the High Holidays approach, Ive been contemplating the phrase epic fail. According to one entry on Urbandictionary.com, epic fail means complete and total failure when success should have been reasonably easy to attain.

Epic fail defines most of the sins I contemplate during the High Holidays. I should have been able to succeed, but I didnt because Im human and I have weaknesses. I spend the period that begins with the Hebrew month of Elul and culminates with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur thinking of the many times when I easily could have been more kind, patient and optimistic.

Its not that Im incapable of those behaviors; I have a normal psyche and can be a good person. However, as a human I failed to be my best self during the past year on numerous occasions.

I know Im not alone in my epic fail. Look at the stories were told about the Jewish people in the Torah.

The epic fail of the Jewish people was worshipping the Golden Calf, and the epic fail of Moses was smashing the Ten Commandments carved with Gods own finger. All the people had to do was wait until Moses returned with Gods law, but they panicked during their leaders absence and sought security in a golden image. All Moses had to do was reprimand the people. Instead he flies into a rage and smashes the holy tablets. They were capable of doing better.

Heres the good news. Elul, the month leading up to the High Holidays, is one of contemplation. According to the midrash, on the first day of Elul Moses began carving a second set of tablets with his own hands. Carving the second set of tablets is about starting over again after failure.

The High Holidays cycle demands that we examine the ways we have failed, but it also gives us the strength to start anew. On the first of Elul (Sept. 4 this year), we begin re-carving our own smashed tablets. Its hard work to hew meaning out of stone, but the effort leads to renewed relationship and hope for the future.

Some choose to gather in small groups before the holidays, using the time to spiritually prepare. Find out if your local synagogues offer Elul classes. If a class isnt possible, check out websites to help with your preparation for the High Holidays during Elul, including Jewels of Elul and Ritual Well.

On Rosh Hashanah, if I see the blisters on my friends and familys hands, Ill point to my own. Well nod knowingly and smile at one another. Well affirm the hard work that went into re-carving ourselves. Together, well celebrate the New Year as an opportunity to start all over again.

Rabbi Elana Zelony, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Torah in Richardson, Texas, is a fellow with Rabbis Without Borders.
Transitioning to an independent, assisted or skilled nursing facility can be challenging for many seniors, as it is never easy to lose a lifetime of independence. However, Jewish seniors face a host of additional challenges. Like their neighbors, they lose their independence, their homes, and access to friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage, their community, and their faith, just when they need them the most.

Imagine a lifetime of Jewish living heritage erased in a "home" where no one understands your culture. Like many American institutions, the bulk of senior facilities follow a "Christmas and Easter" calendar. While caregivers may receive training on the physical needs of their residents, few have been schooled in meeting the cultural and emotional needs of a diverse and growing senior population.

This is where the Jewish Pavilion steps in as a "mobile community center on wheels." We have been bringing community, culture and companionship to the doorsteps of senior living communities since 2001, serving as a resource that provides room visits, festive holiday celebrations, intergenerational and memorial programs to 400 Jewish residents in more than 70 facilities for seniors in long-term care. We also offer cultural diversity awareness education to their staff through training programs, which highlight the need to accommodate the elderly from many backgrounds. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion as loneliness knows no cultural borders, and thousands of seniors of all faiths attend and are welcomed into our programs each year.

Paul Stenzler, President, with his mother, Roz

Our Senior Help Desk has been an additional resource since 2012. The "Help Desk's" Senior Resource Specialist has helped hundreds of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues.

On Sunday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m., the Jewish Pavilion is hosting its annual fall festival, "Sunday in the Park," at Crane's Roost in Altamonte Springs. The event will feature The British Invasion; a Beatles tribute band. You and your family will have the opportunity to socialize, enjoy free food, visit over 100 vendors and receive prizes galore. Please make every effort to support the Pavilion by attending. Please visit our website to register at http://www.jewishpavilion.org

The Jewish Pavilion wishes everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

Paul Stenzler, President

Nancy Ludin, Executive Director
5776 was a year of positive change for the Rosen JCC in Southwest Orlando. In our first full year as an independent agency, we experienced tremendous growth in our programs and services, as well as our physical facility. Here are a few of the exciting things that happened at the Rosen JCC this past year:

 With the generous support of the Rosen Foundation, we completed the campus' second growth phase: construction of our facility expansion. The expansion included a 500-seat Rosen Event Center, seven additional classrooms for early childhood and youth programs, as well as new spaces for fitness activities.

 The Early Childhood Learning Center saw a significant increase in registration to accompany the additional spaces in our new classrooms. As a result, we started this school year with more students than in the past. We also achieved record enrollment in the Camp J summer camp program, J University after-school program, and memberships for our fitness center.

 We launched a series of new afternoon programs for senior adults, adding activities available every day of the week. Our first Film Festival was held in September, which will become an annual event.

 We held the first ever Israel Independence Day Celebration in Southwest Orlando--a collaborative effort with JFGO and SOJC. The event attracted over 300 people.

 Our Board of Directors welcomed nine new members, expanding to reflect our growing and diverse community.

Eric Lightman, Interim Executive Director

The past year also saw the departure of two longtime Rosen JCC staff members: Bonnie Rayman, our branch director and first executive director, took a position in South Florida to be closer to her family. Brenda Sher, our longtime early childhood director who oversaw the JCC's first satellite programs in Southwest Orlando, retired after a distinguished career of over 25 years with the JCC. We wish both well in their new endeavors and are grateful for the indelible impact they have had on our community.

While we take time during the holidays to reflect on the past year we also begin to look forward to the coming one. Rosh Hashanah is a time for both individual and organizational renewal. Our growth over the past seven years-from trailers parked behind the neighboring synagogue, to a flourishing and growing independent agency-is a reflection of our community and its dedication to our mission and values.

We thank you for your support of the Rosen JCC as we celebrate 5776 and look forward to 5777. We wish you and your family health, happiness and a sweet New Year.

L'shana tova u'metukah,

Jeff Imber, President

Eric Lightman, Interim Executive Director
Upon eating an apple dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah, the following prayer is recited: "May it be Your will, Adonai our G-d, and G-d of our ancestors, to renew for us a good and sweet new year."

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines the word renew as (1) to make (something) new, fresh, or strong again;

(2) to make (a promise, vow, etc.) again; (3) to begin (something) again especially with more force or enthusiasm.

Renewal. This is exactly what has taken place at the Jewish Academy of Orlando

over the past year. For the past 12 months, we have focused our attention on renewal. At the Jewish Academy of Orlando, we have renewed our commitment to Jewish education. We have renewed our focus on growth. We have renewed our commitment to excellence. We have renewed our focus on stability and viability.

Our focus on renewal is about making our school stronger. The strength of a school is found in many different areas: its teachers, its curriculum, its resources. By consolidating our school-program into our original space, we have recommitted to strengthening our program and our resolve to provide academic excellence to the Orlando Jewish youth.

Our focus on renewal is about the promise for the future. There is qualitative and quantitative data, which shows that the future leaders of the Jewish community in the United States are today's day school students! This is our mission and this is why we exist!

Amanda Jacobson Nappi, co-President

Our focus on renewal is to create an enthusiasm in our community about our school. Over the past few months, we have renovated our original space and we began the year excited and renewed for a new school year and a new beginning! We invite you to come visit us, see our new hallways, hear about our new programs and share in our enthusiasm!

Our theme at the Jewish Academy of Orlando this year is L'Ayla U'L'Ayla, two words, which are featured prominently in the High Holiday liturgy. While taking some liberties with the translation, L'Ayla U'L'Ayla means "Onward and Upward." As a school, as an essential component of our Orlando Jewish community, our school is moving onward and upward! We look forward to sharing with you our progress throughout the year and into the future.

L'Shana Tova Tikatevu! May it be a year of learning and growing for our entire Jewish community, and may we, together, move onward and upward!

Melanie Brenner, co-President

Amanda Jacobson Nappi, co-President

Alan Rusonik, Head of School
There is a lot of beauty to the traditional synagogue experience. However, a traditional High Holidays service just does not speak to some-especially many young adults.

"Buying seats for the High Holidays is super expensive," says Rachel Moses, a marketer for a Jewish non-profit from Mt. Washington, Md. "It also just doesn't feel like it's my place."

If you think like Moses-considering skipping the tickets, and celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur outside the traditional four walls of your family synagogue-JNS.org offers nine alternative ways to connect to the High Holidays without stepping foot in a shul.

1. Build community

Thomas Arnold, who works in homeland security and is from Pikesville, Md. says people often interpret Yom Kippur as a heavy day of repentance. In contrast, the day's prohibitions-things like fasting, not wearing leather footwear, not making love to your partner, refraining from taking a bath-are intended to help us think less about our own needs and more about those of others.

"The point is to understand there are people that don't have food, that don't have water, that don't have shoes to wear," explains Arnold, citing the eighteenth-century ethical Jewish book "Mesillat Yesharim: The Path of the Upright" by Italian Rabbi and philosopher Moshe Hayyim Luzzatto.

"We don't have sex, because there are people in the world who don't have partners and cannot connect in that way," Arnold says.

Arnold looks for people who are in need, lacking something or are lonely, and makes a point of giving to them during the High Holiday season. Sometimes he invites them over for a meal, and other times he just lends them a helping hand.

"On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, make it about other people," he says.

2. Celebrate around the table

Rabbi Jessy Gross, named by The Forward as one of the most inspiring rabbis of 2016, says some of her best holiday memories are not from the synagogue, but from places where people came together-like at her holiday table.

"Having meals with other people, especially if the person hosting can serve traditional Jewish foods, creates an opportunity... to celebrate Jewish food and culture," says Gross.

Shari Seidman Klein of Beit Shemesh in Israel, agrees. She cooks a holiday meal for her family, as well as for her children, a few of whom choose not attend traditional activities. Apples and honey, round raisin challah, and other sweet things bring the kids and their friends back to her dining room each year.

3. Change something

Klein says she often instructs her Hebrew school students, many whom are products of intermarriage, to use the High Holidays as a time to better themselves. She tells them, "Take on one thing for one day."

For example, rather than fasting on Yom Kippur, she recommended giving up candy, soda or something else they like to eat. Older individuals might decide to give up the personal comfort of watching TV, or they might make the higher commitment of refraining from talking badly about others.

"It's the idea of tikkun olam, bettering the world," says Klein. "That one thing on that one day can take you back to the basics of being - and thinking."

4. Do tashlich

One of Gross's favorite rituals in tashlich, for which all a person needs is access to a body of natural water such as a creek, pond or river. She recommends to take some bread or crackers, and spend some time by the water meditating or journaling.

"I like to think about where I have missed the mark or haven't reached my potential and cast this out," she says. "It is great opportunity to ... think about what you want as we evolve into the coming year. It's a process of spiritual cleansing and preparedness."

5. Find an alternative minyan

The Israeli organization Tzohar has been working to bring together the religious and secular Jewish communities in the Jewish state. In the central city of Lod, Tzohar's Executive Vice President Yakov Gaon says his organization found that many secular Israelis refrain from going to synagogue not because they don't want to pray, but because the service is too fast, politicized, costly or uncomfortable.

"They don't know how to dress, when to stand up or sit down," Gaon says.

About 15 years ago, Tzohar began creating alternative minyans in community centers, schools and gyms. The services bring like-minded people together. Each service is assigned a leader that announces the prayer page numbers to read, and explains what's happening in the prayers. Today, more than 56,000 people take part in these Yom Kippur services at 300 locations across Israel. An additional 1,500 people attend one of Tzohar's 60 Rosh Hashanah services.

6. Go to Israel

In general, traveling to Israel on the High Holidays is a more special experience than traveling to the Jewish state during nearly any other time of year, explains Arnold, whose daughter is studying in Israel for the year.

Arnold says Israelis have a reputation for being rude or pushy, but during the Hebrew month of Elul-the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah-Israelis tend to mellow out.

"It's like they know it instinctively," Arnold says with a laugh. "Their Jewish souls come out and they know it is the Yamim Noraim (High Holy Days) and they better get themselves together."

The whole country prepares with holiday festivals, music, delicious holidays foods and smells, he says.

7. Hold a discussion group

Skipping the rabbi's sermon? Write your own, and invite others to hear it. Klein has tapped into several online resources, such asMyJewishLearning.com, to provide fodder for discussion at the table, or for her son and his friends to discuss in an intimate setting. Gross, too, says that using online content and hosting a discussion group can help you learn about the holiday, and then share those insights with others.

8. Make an Elul reflection calendar

If you want to get an early start, make an Elul reflection calendar, says Gross.

Create a pie chart divided by the Hebrew months. Break each pie down by the number of days in that month. On each slice, record a guided meditation question, or something you want to work on. Then, every morning or before bed, read it and reflect.

Here, too, Gross says, there are plenty of online trigger questions if you need guidance.

8. Picnic

Mt. Washington's Moses says hosting or attending a holiday picnic brings people together, offering a venue to eat traditional foods and spend time in nature at the same time. While the children are playing, the adults can host the aforementioned discussion group, or meditate under the open sky.

9. Pray outside

In general, being outside is a good way to infuse spirituality into your holiday. Transform your backyard, a park, or forest into a synagogue and pray.

Most years, Moses attends Baltimore Hebrew Congregation's "Rosh Hashanah Under the Stars" program, which offers an alternative Jewish New Year get-together for members and non-members.

"There are thousands of people there, right under the stars, with no ceiling above you," says Moses. "You feel like you are one with nature, with each other and with God-whatever sense of God there is."

On years she cannot make the service, she and her family might travel to Ocean City, Md., instead.

"We'll just sit there and listen to the ocean," she says.
A family tribute...

I am writing this column on 9/11. When the World Trade Center's Twin Towers were hit by terrorists, three of the New York City firemen who died were Jewish. One of them was cousin Alan Feinberg. Alan was Battalion Chief of the 9th Battalion, Engine 54, Ladder 4 NYC. He was 48 years old, the husband of Wendy and the father of then 18-year-old Tara and 15-year-old Michael. Alan was rescuing victims in Tower 1 when it came crashing down. He was a wonderful husband and father with many loving family members who will always miss him.

Finally, a Shabbat service...

I read this in World Jewish Congress Digest (WJC), and pass it along to you: The nearly 900-year-old Kadavumbagam synagogue in the remote coastal Indian city of Cochin recently held its first Sabbath service since 1972.

Congregants came from four continents for what could be the last such observance in a region whose once-thriving Jewish communities have mostly migrated to Israel. Only about 30 Jews remain.

Jewish life along India's Malabar Coast dates back to the ancient spice trade that drew explorers from across the sea. However, Malabari Jews began leaving for the Holy Land in the 1950s, seeking better economic prospects and religious fulfillment. Some synagogues and Jewish cemeteries were handed over to the municipal authorities, often falling into neglect, or became the victims of redevelopment.

A reminder...

On Sunday, Sept. 25, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. there will be a jazz jam at the Altamonte Chapel, 825 E. SR 436, Altamonte Springs.

Drummer GREG PARNELL will perform and will be joined by JEFF BUSH on trombone and BOB THORTON on piano. ALAN ROCK is emcee. For further information, phone 407-339-5208.

Another reminder...

"All Hands on Deck," based on Bob Hope's 1942 USO tour to the troops, will be performed at the Winter Park Playhouse, 711 Orange Ave, Suite C, Winter Park, through Oct. 9th.

For ticket information, phone 407-645-0145.

Speaking of shows...

Theater at the J will present "Bye Bye Birdie" from Sept. 29-Oct. 9 at the Harriett & Hymen Lake Cultural Auditorium, Roth Family JCC, 851 N. Maitland Ave, Maitland. (See the article on page 1 of this issue to learn more about the play!)

A Jewish Pavilion mensch...

I received the following email from the Jewish Pavilion and pass it along: MARION BROMBERG has been visiting seniors weekly when in town at Health Center of Windermere since 2000. Marion has forged wonderful relationships with many of our elders. "She is the ideal volunteer, dependable, compassionate and giving", says NANCY LUDIN, executive drector. Ludin adds "Finding a diligent program director on the south side of town has been challenging because the 26 senior communities served are far apart and the number of volunteers and Jewish residents is small." Therefore, Marion has had to work with 5 different Jewish Pavilion program directors over the years, and she has worked exceptionally well with all of them. Marion has even helped orient new program directors when they come to Health Center of Windermere.

Resident Alvin (l) with Marion Bromberg at Health Center of Windermere.

When Marion and ED BROMBERG moved to this community, they became active and philanthropic from day one. They are generous supporters of every Jewish agency in town. You will never attend a gala without seeing their smiling faces.

Shout out...

I love BARBARA A. DIANA, certified ophthalmic technician at the office of wonderful eye surgeon Dr. ANDREW AZIZ.

Why do I love her? That's easy! She has integrity and principles and is determined to always do the right thing for her patients no matter what.

One for the road...

A Martian lands on 2nd Ave on the Lower East Side of New York. He goes into a Jewish bakery and asks, "What are those little wheels in the window?"

"Those aren't' wheels," says the storekeeper. "They're called bagels. Here, try one."

The Martian bites into the bagel and says "Hey! This would go great with some lox and cream cheese!"
By Penny Schwartz

(JTA)-Get ready: 5777 is arriving soon. And a new Jewish year means a fresh crop of top-notch Jewish books for kids.

This year, not one but two new Rosh Hashanah books are penned by Eric A. Kimmel, the master storyteller whose popular award-winning children's classics include "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" and "Simon and the Bear." His latest entries, "Little Red Rosie" and "Gabriel's Horn," are among the new crop of lively and engaging Jewish children's books for the High Holidays that reflect the wide range of today's American Jewish families.

Typically, most of the ink is devoted to Rosh Hashanah, which begins this year on the evening of Oct. 2. But there are fresh reads about many of the forthcoming holidays-one book, "Maya Prays for Rain," is a charming story about the little-known holiday Shemini Atzeret that comes at the end of Sukkot.

Want to make the new year extra sweet for a little one in your life? Check out the six books below.

"Rosh Hashanah is Coming!

" by Tracy Newman; illustrated by Viviana Garofoli

Kar-Ben; ages 1-4

Families can usher in the Jewish New Year with this colorful and lively toddler board book, the fifth in the Kar-Ben board book series on Jewish holidays by Tracy Newman and Vivian Garofoli (including "Shabbat is Coming!" and "Passover is Coming!"). Young kids braid a round challah, blow the shofar, set out apples and honey, and enjoy a juicy pomegranate as they get ready to celebrate the new year.

"Little Red Rosie: A Rosh Hashanah Story

" by Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Monica Gutierrez

Apples & Honey Press; ages 3-7

A confident young girl enlists the help of her numerous feathered friends to bake challah for the neighborhood Rosh Hashanah dinner. With an illustrated recipe in hand, Rosie gently leads a parrot, toucan and hornbill as they measure flour, add eggs, knead the dough and braid it into loaves. In one of Gutierrez's illustrations-sure to tickle young ones-poppy seeds fly through the air and land all over the kitchen table and floor.

"Who will help me clean the kitchen?" Rosie asks.

They all pitch in, and Rosie saves the day when she prevents the hornbill from toppling a teetering tower of dirty dishes. When the lovely loaves are baked, Rosie and her friends recite the blessing over the challah, and the neighbors who gather around the festive table all enjoy the bread.

"Maya Prays for Rain

" by Susan Tarcov; illustrated by Ana Ochoa

, Kar-Ben; ages 4-9

It's a warm fall day, and a spunky young girl greets her neighbors in her multicultural town. It seems like everyone is taking advantage of the sunny, dry weather by partaking in all kinds of outdoor activities. But when Maya learns that the evening's synagogue service for the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret includes a prayer for rain, she warns her neighbors to cancel their plans. Much to Maya's relief, however, she learns from her rabbi that the prayer is for Israel, where the rainy season is needed for crops and trees. "Amen," she pronounces at the end of the prayer.

The back page includes an explanation of the lesser-known holiday that comes at the end of the Sukkot celebration.

"Gabriel's Horn

" by Eric A. Kimmel; illustrated by Maria Surducan

, Kar-Ben; ages 4-9

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, a young African-American soldier knocks on the door of the apartment where a young boy, Gabriel, lives with his parents, who are struggling to hang on to their small antiques shop. The solider explains he is going overseas and has no one to care for his special horn that once belonged to his grandpa, a musician, and brings good luck. Gabriel convinces his reluctant mom they can care for the horn. The name on the soldier's uniform says Tishbi-the birthplace of the prophet Elijah, who is said to appear mysteriously on Earth, often disguised as a beggar who leaves behind him blessings of good fortune or health.

The theme of tzedakah-the Jewish obligation for charitable giving-shines through Kimmel's heartwarming tale as Gabriel's family selflessly shares its sudden good fortune through acts of kindness and generosity. Page after page, kids will wonder along with Gabriel if their newfound luck is related to the soldier and his tarnished, mysterious horn.

In a phone conversation from his home in Portland, Oregon, Kimmel told JTA that this book is a modern version of an old folktale based on a biblical Midrash. (A well-known version, "The Seven Years," was penned by I.L. Peretz.) Kimmel first retold the tale in his award-winning 1991 children's book "Days of Awe," and with "Gabriel's Horn" he revisits and contemporizes the story.

Kimmel said he continues to return to folk traditions because he sees them as the roots of so many stories.

"I really don't think kids today know them well, and often their parents and teachers don't know them, either," he said. "They are so powerful."

"Sky-High Sukkah" by

Rachel Ornstein Packer; illustrated by Deborah Zemke

, Apples & Honey Press; ages 3-8

Poor Leah and Ari. The two friends dream of having a sukkah of their own-but living in the city poses too many obstacles, their parents tell them. The kids reveal their sad predicament to Al, the neighborhood grocer, and explain that during the seven-day holiday, Jewish families build a hut that they decorate with fruits like the ones Al sells. But will Leah and Ari's dreams be answered when Ari's picture of a "Sky-High Sukkah" wins a Hebrew school drawing contest for a free sukkah?

This is an endearing story that concludes happily as Leah and Ari discover that building community is just as rewarding as building a beautiful sukkah. Zemke's lively illustrations capture the bustling urban neighborhood and brings to life the harvest holiday with bright reds, greens, purples and oranges.

"How It's Made: Torah Scroll

" by Allison Ofanansky; photographs by Eliyahu Alpern

, Apples & Honey Press; ages 3-8

What's a Torah scroll and how is it made? This fascinating photo essay is perfect for Simchat Torah, the holiday that marks the end of the cycle of weekly Torah readings and the beginning of the new cycle, giving kids and grown-ups a behind-the-scenes look at what is involved in this ancient Jewish tradition. The author and photographer break down the many people, steps and materials involved, from hand-stretched parchment, special inks, and feather and reed pens to the meticulous rules for the calligraphy. The photo-filled pages reveal intriguing facts (for example, there are 304,805 letters in a Torah scroll); DIY projects (ink making), and open-ended questions for further thought (for one, how do you fix mistakes?).
When it comes to paying off the national debt, not all Spaniards are created equal.

A new report puts Spains bloated national debt into context by measuring it in terms of how long each of the countrys 44 million people would have to work to pay it off. On average, each man, woman and child would have to devote an entire year of work to cancel the debt, according to figures released on Thursday by the Independent Fiscal Responsibility Authority (Airef).

Spains public debt-to-GDP ratio, which compares the amount of the debt with the size of the economy, hit 100.5% in June of this year. The Airef report noted that this is the third time in recent months that the threshold of 100% had been passed, a milestone that had not been seen in Spain since the 1898-1909 period. Between January and March this year, Spains national debt rose to 1.095 trillion.

On a positive note, Airef noted that the evolution of Spanish debt-to GDP is on a downward path

Spain is now the sixth-most indebted economy in the euro zone behind Greece, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus and Belgium, the watchdog noted.

The Airef report states that there are significant differences between the amounts owed by each of Spains regions, some of which are more heavily indebted than others. Residents of the western region of Extremadura are the worst off, and would each have to contribute 484 days of work to cancel their administrations share of the debt.

At the opposite end of the scale, people in Madrid would only have to put in 255 days, partly reflecting the capitals higher GDP.

The estimate was reached by taking the ratio of debt to GDP, then multiplying it by 365. The national debt was shared out based on the population and then divided by GDP. In other words, the report divides the amount required by each individual, including children and retirees, rather than by salaries.

On a positive note, Airef noted that the evolution of Spanish debt-to-GDP is on a downward path, and will be more so from 2018 onward. However, the report also warns that the EU target of a government debt-to-GDP ratio of no more than 60% will not be reached before 2036.

English version by Susana Urra.
Ilyse M. Kusnetz, PhD, age 50, of Orlando, passed away at her home on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, with her family by her side. A multi-faceted woman, she was born in Baldwin, New York ,on July 13, 1966, to Norman Kusnetz and the late Alberta Zwirn Kusnetz.

Ilyse earned her bachelors degree from the University of New Mexico and her masters degree in creative writing from Syracuse University. She went on to receive her doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in feminist and postcolonial British literature. A published poet, she received the T.S. Eliot Poet Award in 2014 for her book Small Hours. Her second book, Angel Bones, is due to be published shortly. Her work has appeared in Crab Orchard Review, the Cincinnati Review, Stone Canoe and other journals.

Ilyse relocated to the Orlando area in 2001 from Albuquerque to be closer to her mother. She was an English professor at Valencia College.

On Sept. 25, 2010, in Orlando, Ilyse and her husband, Brian Turner, also a poet and memoirist, celebrated their first wedding. That ceremony was followed by another ceremony in Nevada with family and friends in attendance.

In addition to her husband and father, Ilyse is survived by her brothers, Arthur of California and Ira of Oklahoma; and her sister, Susan of Albuquerque.

A breathtakingly beautiful person, she will be missed greatly by those fortunate enough to have been touched by her.

Arrangements entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 640 Lee Road, Orlando 32810.
Rabbi Rudolph "Rudy" Adler, a pillar of the Jewish community in Orlando for more than 50 years, passed away Monday morning, Sept. 19. He was 96 years old.

He was born in Kassel, Germany, and was a Holocaust survivor. For him, living through the Holocaust strengthened his faith in a ''supreme being... and the need for divine guidance and morality.'' He also believed that education was extremely important to fight against prejudice.

''I still feel that there's a lot of prejudice based on ignorance,'' he once stated. ''If more people would know about Judaism I think the prejudice would be less.''

Rabbi Adler was the rabbi of Congregation Ohev Shalom from 1960 to 1990. He then became COS's Rabbi Emeritus. He also had a weekly column, titled Rabbinical Thoughts, that ran in the Heritage Florida Jewish Newspaper for several years. Jews and non-Jews were always asking questions about Judaism and the column was a good medium to explain many things. Still, he always received many calls from nonmembers of the congregation with inquires. He always took the time to answer their questions. He loved teaching about his faith. To Rabbi Adler, it was just part of his job.

Because of his undying service to the Jewish community, the Heritage honored him with the Human Service Award in 2006. He is the only rabbi to receive this award.

"Rabbi Adler was known for his great kindness and his loving care of the members of our synagogue. With his wife Rose z"l, by his side, Rabbi Adler tended to the needs of this congregation," wrote Rabbi Aaron Rubinger in a letter to the COS members.

Rabbi Adler was so well known in the entire community that when he retired as rabbi at COS, that Friday was proclaimed by Orlando Mayor Bill Frederick as Rabbi Rudolph Adler Day in the city. An entire weekend was dedicated to special recognitions, culminating in a banquet.

Rabbi Adler and Rose always walked to the synagogue on Shabbat and stated that he would always walk to shul as long as he was able.

Myrtle Rutberg, a member of the congregation for almost 50 years at that time, told the Orlando Sentinel in 1990, ''In the 16 and a half years since I became a widow, he and Rose walked me home from synagogue every Friday that I attended services. They honored the fact that I wanted to do this, and they never let me go alone.''

Rabbi Adler was always reaching out to others through many different positions, on staff or as a volunteer. He served as a chaplain at the Orlando Naval Training Center, the former U.S. Air Force base, and a Winter Park nursing home. He also visited Jewish inmates at jails in Central Florida and the Florida State Prison near Starke. He saw visiting the inmates as "bringing them a little sunshine."

''It's part of human service, loving your neighbor and being kind, especially to the downtrodden, the less fortunate,'' he said. ''I think I can help them a little bit, bring them a little sunshine.''

In the Orlando Jewish community, Rabbi Adler was the founder of the Greater Orlando Board of Rabbis.

"His death is a great loss to his family, our synagogue, the Jewish community and the Orlando community at large," wrote Rabbi Rubinger. "He will be deeply missed by so very many."

Rabbi Adler is survived by his children, Paul and Parinaz Adler, Allan and Ann Adler, and Rae and Dr. Paul Wallach.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Ohev Shalom, followed by burial at the COS cemetery.

The family requests contributions in memory of Rabbi Rudolph J Adler to Congregation Ohev Shalom, 613 Concourse Parkway South, Maitland FL 32751.

Services were entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 640 Lee Road, Orlando 32810.
(JTA)-Like their constituents, the mainstream representatives of French Jewry are not known for passing up opportunities to express their opinion on subjects of national debate.

And Jewish institutions in France, like those in the United States, regularly comment on a host of issues, including divisive ones that lie beyond their immediate purviews.

The burkini ban was a notable exception.

In May, CRIF, the umbrella group of French Jewish communities, came out in support of police officers who had been accused by labor unions of brutality against protesters. And earlier this month, CRIF spoke out against bias attacks aimed at Asians in Paris.

Last year, at a Holocaust commemoration ceremony, French Chief Rabbi Haim Korsia urged the government to treat migrants from the Middle East according to the values of "humanism, universality and sharing," a move that angered many in a community and country traumatized by terrorist attacks by radical Muslims.

Yet the same establishment has remained either silent or equivocal throughout a highly polarizing debate on an issue with immediate implications for French Jews: the ban imposed by 30 municipalities against the donning of the full-body swimsuit called a burkini, which is favored by devout Muslim women because it conforms to their religious concepts on feminine modesty.

On Aug. 26, a French high court declared the bans illegal, setting precedent for other municipalities.

While nearly everyone in France, and seemingly the rest of the world, declared an opinion on the burkini, CRIF resisted calls to express a position for about a month. CRIF was mum even after its British counterpart, the Board of Deputies, labeled the ban's enforcement in Nice "police harassment."

It was only last week that CRIF President Francis Kalifat finally addressed the issue-but without taking a clear stand. He called for legislation that distinguishes between proper religious garb and symbols, and ones used politically.

Many French Jews see this ambiguity as a necessary compromise between religious freedom and national security. But the CRIF statement angered Jews across the political and communal spectrum. For some, the failure to vigorously defend minority religious rights showed moral infirmity by Jewish leaders and opened the door to action against Jews who wear distinctive clothing. According to this liberal critique of the establishment, the Jewish leaders set aside important civic principles only to avoid displeasing a rightist constituency and a government seen as beneficial to communal interests.

Other voices were unhappy that CRIF did not vigorously defend a prohibition that the government said was designed to counter the radical Islam that is threatening the very viability of French Jewry. Many of these critics, affiliated and direct constituents of mainstream French Jewish groups, have long argued that the communal bosses are living in ivory towers detached from the grinding reality of anti-Semitic violence.

The one prominent French rabbi who came out clearly in support of the ban, Moshe Sebbag, later backtracked, claiming quotes given to JTA were "taken out of context."

The about-face by Sebbag, the head rabbi of the Grand Synagogue of Paris, reflects the dilemma facing French Jewish leaders who are under internal pressure from both sides of the burkini debate.

"The burkini issue has divided the nation-and its Jews," said Yeshaya Dalsace, a well-known Conservative French rabbi from Paris. He denounced the barring of the swimsuit as "a ridiculous ban that erodes the state's credibility," though he conceded that the donning of a burkini at times is a "political statement."

While the divisions make the silence of French Jewry's establishment "understandable," it "doesn't demonstrate great courage," said Dalsace, a progressive outlier and longtime critic of the Jewish establishment in France.

To Bernard Rozes, a columnist for the news site Causeur, French Jewry's "ambiguous silence," as he defined it, on the burkini issue is "a paradox" considering that religious Jews wear clothes similar to the burkini.

But the Jewish drive in France to adapt to Diaspora communities, he argued, means adopting the local ideal of laicite-strict separation between religion and state to the point of forbidding religion in the public domain. For French Jews, "the state is the law," Rozes wrote in a column he penned Aug. 30.

But there may be more specific political reasons for French Jewish leaders to sit out the burkini debate.

Criticism on the burkini ban from the Jewish mainstream would be embarrassing to France's hard-line prime minister, Manuel Valls, who supported the ban as a measure against radical Islam and who is considered one of the most pro-Israel and pro-Jewish French leaders in recent history.

But the French Jewish mainstream's silence on the burkini ban does come with a price: It is alienating French Muslims. Amid radicalization and attacks by secularists and the far right on shared religious customs such as ritual slaughter and circumcision, interreligious cooperation is seen by many as more necessary than ever.

The Muslim Press news site is among several publications that called out French Jews for their position, or lack thereof, on the burkini.

"What is the difference between Muslim and Jewish traditional garb for women?" the news site asked in an op-ed on Aug. 29. "And why is one group allowed to display religious signs when another is not?"

Ultimately, though, the silence of French Jewry owed principally neither to hostility to Muslims nor fidelity to the state, but to an internal conflict on the issue, said Dalsace, the Conservative rabbi, whose Orthodox Jewish sister bathes in a swimsuit reminiscent of the burkini.

Among French Jews, the conflict defies division into blocs such as progressives vs. traditionalists or left vs. right, Dalsace said. Some left-wing seculars support the ban because they regard religious modesty as backward. Some haredi Jews, meanwhile, fear Muslim domination, but also worry that the ban would serve as a precedent for outlawing their own distinct garb.

"The community is divided, but so are the individuals who comprise it," Dalsace said. "As for me, I'm torn between the desire to have a country where religious customs are respected and upheld, and the desire to live in a country whose residents don't live in the shadow of jihadism."
Start on a family discovery journey with the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) as it continues My Jewish Roots a JGSGO Workshop Roadshow.

Join JGSGO for all nine remaining free workshops coming to locations throughout the Orlando metro area or participate over the Internet. Each participants family discovery journey will include directed hands-on labs that will lead to extending their family treeadding newly discovered ancestors and living cousins.

The second My Jewish Roots workshop, Connect to the Experts and Key Resources, will cover: the best opportunities to learn from others; how to stay current on the latest developments such as Facebook groups, Wiki pages, Jewish Genealogy on YouTube, and other resources to get your questions answered; and the best ways to bait for unknown cousins who may have information that youre missing.

Future workshops will cover: how to discover the ancestral towns outside of the U.S .; how to decide which DNA test to take, who to test, and with which company; understanding your DNA results; researching with Ancestry.com; researching family in the Shoah; and researching ancestral records in the native country.

JGSGO President Jerry Kurland noted, Two participants in our first workshop made major discoveries. If you have had any interest in finding your roots, this workshop series will bring you success.

Marlis Glaser Humphrey will lead the Connect to the Experts and Key Resources workshop. She is the president of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and president of the Florida State Genealogical Society (FSGS), a world-known lecturer, and has discovered all her ancestral shtetls. Humphrey and JGSGO mavens will assist workshop attendees as they start their family discovery journey on their own laptops.

Connect to the Experts and Key Resources with Marlis Humphrey will be held: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Roth Family Jewish Community Center, 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland, FL 32751. The workshop is free and open to the public. Bring your own laptop to participate in the lab portion. It is also possible to attend via the Internet. Pre-registration is required. Pre-register for either in-person or online participation at http://www.jgsgo.org/MyJewishRoots.

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Orlando (JGSGO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing genealogical information, techniques and research tools with anyone interested in Jewish genealogy and family history. For more information visit http://www.jgsgo.org and like us at http://www.facebook.com/jgsgreaterorlando. Questions? Email info@jgsgo.org.

The My Jewish Roots series of 10 monthly hands-on workshops hosted by the JGSGO is co-hosted by the Roth JCC, Rosen JCC, UCF Hillel, Congregation Ohev Shalom, and Temple Israel in rotation at their facilities and also joinable over the Internet. In addition to assisting attendees in discovering their family tree, these workshops will help the Orlando Jewish community get the most out of the upcoming 37th Annual International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. This premiere international conference will be held for the first time in Florida July 23-28, 2017 at the Disney Swan Hotel with local host JGSGO. For more information, visit http://www.jgsgo.org/MyJewishRoots.
(JNS.org) U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) spoke to an Israeli delegation this week about congressional support of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Israel National News reported.

I want to say to all the people of Samaria that they are beloved by the American people, and we believe that Judea and Samaria are not the West Bank but part of the state of Israel, Franks told the Samarian Regional Council delegation on Capitol Hill.

The councils chief Yossi Dagan visited Washington, D.C., to meet with more than a dozen Republican and Democrat legislators to discuss the U.S. support of Israels presence in Judea and Samaria.

There are people in the U.S. Congress who, no matter what, will continue to work on behalf of Judea and Samaria, who will continue to do whatever they can to fight on behalf of Israel and ensure that you will never feel alone in this world, Franks said in the meeting that

Dagan urged Congress to pressure the Obama administration to stop demanding that Israel freeze Jewish building in Judea and Samaria.

The pressure the American government is putting on the Israeli government to strangle settlement and block construction creates a situation where our children are forced to learn in caravans rather than normal buildings, like other children around the world, Dagan said.

Halting construction prevents children in Judea and Samaria from living close to their parents due to lack of housing, he explained.

The international pressure has also prevented Israel from expanding the water infrastructure in Samaria as needed, which at the end of the day means both Israeli and Arab residents were left without water for much of this past summer, Dagan added.
NEW YORK (JTA)When Rosh Hashanah came around last year, Rabbi Aaron Gaber wanted to grapple with an issue roiling the country. So he decided to focus his sermon on racism.

But several members of Brothers of Israel, a 120-family Conservative synagogue in suburban Philadelphia, werent pleased.

Some of the feedback from some of my congregants has caused us some consternation, Gaber said.

Congregants accused the rabbi of calling them racists, he recalled, which I didnt do.

This year, with the presidential election looming just one month after Yom Kippur, Gaber will pick a much more pareve topic for his High Holidays sermons: how congregants can be respectful to one another. He wont directly address the election. Instead he will relate to some of the rhetoric around the campaign.

One piece that Im looking to share with my congregation is a spirituality checkup, and to do quite a bit of reflection on who we are and what we represent as Jews and human beings, Gaber said. What does it mean to treat one another with respect?

Gabers congregation is in Pennsylvanias Bucks County, a politically divided area in a swing state. In 2012, President Barack Obama won the county over Mitt Romney by just 1 percentage point.

In skirting direct election talk on the High Holidays, Gaber will be joining rabbis in swing counties across America preferring instead to touch on the vote by speaking about values or personal conduct.

Spiritual leaders from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Florida noted that synagogues are legally prohibited from endorsing candidates. Anyway, they say, political talk should not come from the pulpit. Instead, when the rabbis address hundreds or thousands of congregants on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, they will encourage them to have compassionate conversations. Or they will talk about how the winnerRepublican or Democratcan be a moral leader after Election Day.

How possible is it to govern and to do so with honesty and with sensitivity? asked Rabbi Richard Birnholz of the Reform Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa, Florida, floating a potential sermon topic. I need to be a rabbi to my people. Its very easy to have politics or ideologyside takingget in the way of that, and then I cant really fulfill my real role, which isnt as a political or social activist, but as a rabbi.

The rabbis plans track with survey data of sermons at churches across the country. An August survey by the Pew Research Center found that 64 percent of churchgoers heard their pastor discuss election issues from the pulpit, but only 14 percent heard their pastor endorse or speak out against a candidate.

Rabbis in all four states said their synagogues had significant populations of voters for both parties. Some said political discourse had made the atmosphere at synagogue tense, while others dont feel the pressure. Assistant Rabbi Michael Danziger of the Reform Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati said the constant stream of campaign ads doesnt help.

I do think all of the tools to make conversation go off the rails are present here, said Danziger, who graduated rabbinical school this year. So much advertising, so much attention from the campaigns. I think it happens everywhere, but I think any rhetoric that might fuel the elements behind that stuff will certainly be present here, and at a fever pitch by November.

When they arent at the pulpit, rabbis from swing states have been politically active. Rabbi Sissy Coran of the Rockdale Temple, another Cincinnati Reform synagogue, touted a voter registration drive that the Union for Reform Judaism will be conducting in North Carolina. Birnholz teaches classes at his synagogue about biblical prophets using current events as context.

Gaber wants to work with the Philadelphia Jewish Community Relations Council to educate congregants about election issues. In December, he and Rabbi Anna Boswell-Levy of the nearby Reconstructionist Congregation Kol Emet signed a statement by the Bucks County Rabbis Council denouncing Republican nominee Donald Trumps proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Its worse than its ever been in my lifetime, Boswell-Levy said of the national political climate. I think that the way Trump speaks is incredibly troubling, and people react to it in very strong wayswhether theyre appalled or disgusted by him, or whether they feel that their views are validated by him.

And rabbis have also discussed politics throughout the year in smaller prayer services. Boswell-Levy feels she can address sensitive issues such as the global refugee crisis or protests in Ferguson, Missouri, at Friday night services, which draw a smaller crowd than the High Holidays.

Rabbi Yechiel Morris of the Young Israel of Southfield, an Orthodox congregation in suburban Detroit, criticized Trump earlier in the campaign and drew backlash. Sermonizing against Trump again during the High Holidays would be pointless, he said, as you dont need to repeat yourself.

I didnt focus so much on his politics, policies and things of that nature, but more on the character and language he uses, and how upsetting that is, Morris said. There were some members who felt I should not have highlighted that one particular candidate.

Rabbi Steven Rubenstein of the Conservative Congregation Beth Ahm, also in suburban Detroit, also thinks that politics from the pulpit serves little purpose. Involved congregants know their rabbis political leanings, no matter the sermon topic.

People are listening, and they dont need to be hit over the head, told what to do, he said. A very high percentage of the congregants would know who their rabbi would vote for without them saying it.
On Yom Kippur Day, Wednesday, Oct. 12, starting at 4:30 p.m., High Holiday services at Temple Israel will be open to the community (no tickets required) beginning with the afternoon prayer service of Mincha. All prayer services will be held in the main sanctuary.

Following Mincha at 6 p.m. there will be a community memorial service at which time all are invited to remember in prayer loved ones who are no longer with us. This service will also recall those who have perished throughout the ages. In addition, there will be a special remembrance for the victims of the Pulse massacre.

Neila follows at approximately 6:30 p.m., which is the final service before the proverbial gates are closed. At Temple Israel, this is a very special time where families/friends, one group at a time, are invited to come to the bimah where the ark will remain open to allow everyone to experience the awe of standing before the Holy Ark and Torahs. This can move us to reflect on our blessings and challenges and resolve to move forward in the new year with Gods help.

Maariv is scheduled for 7:25 p.m. followed by Havdalah and the final Shofar blast at 7:40 p.m. at which time the fast is over.

Temple Israels Sisterhood will, once again, provide its annual break the fast in the Roth Social Hall. All members of the community are cordially invited to join the Temple Israel family at this highly anticipated event.

For more information, please call the Temple Israel office at 407-647-3055 or go to the website at http://www.tiflorida.org/ Temple Israel is located at 50 S. Moss Road, Winter Springs, FL 32708.
The onset of autumn means cooler weather, fall flavors, and Sukkot. Temple Israel will celebrate all three with Dinner Under the Stars in their sukkah on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. This event is open to the community and takes place on a religious school day.

Temple Israel member Lauren Brown, who will be leading a team of volunteer cooks and servers, said, Our wonderful kitchen mavens are planning an exciting Sukkot menu of pumpkin soup, apricot chicken, harvest vegetables, and rice pilaf with kid-friendly options.

Some of those kid favorites include chicken nuggets and plain rice. Everyone will also enjoy a variety of desserts, plus soda, coffee, and tea.

The meal is $8 for adults, $5 for children under 12 years, and free for children 3 years and younger. Any prospective Temple Israel family is invited to attend for free with a reservation.

For more information and to register, visit www.tiflorida.org, call 407-9647-3055, or email office@tiflorida.org.
NEW YORK (JTA)Theyre all true, all those stories youve heard. The Jewish student questioned about whether her Judaism and involvement in the Jewish community would disqualify her from serving in student government. The Israel bashers who besieged a movie night put on by a pro-Israel group, forcing Jewish students to escape under police protection. The man from Students for Justice in Palestine who stood up at a rally of campus rape survivors and their allies and used his time at the microphone to attack Israel.

And, of course, the swastikasoh, the swastikasscrawled in dorm rooms, scratched into elevators, spray-painted on fraternity houses.

Its all true. And its become so bad that some suggest that first-year students be warned to brace yourselves for insane anti-Semitism.

Respectfully, I beg to differ.

In fact, there has never been a better time to be a Jewish college student. That is fact, not opinion.

Jews were not fully accepted into American higher education until the 1950s, when the quota system finally came to an end. In the 1960s and 70s, civil rights and anti-war activism often led to contentious relations between Jewish students and campus administrations. And how could anyone argue that life was better for young Jews before the turn-of-the-century advent of Birthright?

No, theres no disputing that recent yearswith Hillel active at over 500 colleges and universities, Birthright bringing 40,000 people to Israel each year and hundreds of millions of dollars pouring in to support Jewish life on campushave afforded Jewish students across the country a set of opportunities never before imagined.

And yet: the swastikas. The suspicions of Jewish dual loyalty that we had all thought long buried. And the hatred directed at Jewish students (but only, were assured unreassuringly, because they are Zionists, as if it were possible to cleave Zionism from Jewish identity).

Facing different but not entirely dissimilar challenges, many other oppressed and marginalized groups have called for trigger warnings, altered curricula and safe spaces to congregate and convalesce. This is certainly understandable. We want college students to feel secure as they enter this pivotal time in their lives.

Yet no matter how nobly intentioned, these measures do more harm than good. Jews spent decades demanding entree into the academy, and academic freedom and the marketplace of ideas have allowed Jews to thrive on the American college campus. We as a community would be poorly served by efforts to diminish those values.

The University of Chicago made headlines recently for sending its incoming students a note that read, in part: Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so called trigger warnings, we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual safe spaces where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.

The university is right. As Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote so many years ago, Fear of serious injury cannot alone justify suppression of free speech. Men feared witches and burnt women. It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.

Anti-Zionism is a liberal orthodoxy very much in vogue in progressive activist circles today. It is commonplace to find anti-Zionism enforced in groups concerned with LGBT rights, sexual assault prevention, climate justice and more. But anti-Zionism is deeply offensive to the majority of Jewish students who are moved as Jews to support the Jewish stateif for no other reason than because half the worlds Jews live there.

Yet students need not be sheltered from anti-Zionist opinions. We have nothing to fear from them. We must have confidence that the arguments for Zionism are compelling enough to surviveeven thriveunder intellectual scrutiny.

So, entering college freshmen and returning students, dont brace yourself for insane anti-Semitism. Prepare yourself, instead, to encounter ideas at odds with your own. Dont simply accept those ideas. Examine them carefully and critically before determining whether they are worth incorporating into your worldview.

And while you shouldnt be overly concerned about insane anti-Semitism, you should take care to look after your own Judaism. Get involved in Hillel. Enroll in a Jewish studies course. Educate yourself about modern Israel. The best defense of the Jewish state is not ratcheting up the rhetoric, its seeking out a strong Jewish community, enhancing your knowledge and identity, going on a Birthright trip.

Experiencing the marketplace of ideas at a university is a great privilege. Dont waste it.

Seffi Kogen is the American Jewish Committees assistant director for campus affairs.
Jew-baiting these days is a globally competitive field. The Middle East, Latin America and Asia could all put up credible candidates for the title of most notorious Jew-baiter. But if you ask me, its in Europe, the continent where modern anti-Semitism crystallized, where youll still find the most able and determined baiters.

Now, if I had to pick someone from that particular field, Id have to conclude that its a tie for first place.

From Hungary: step forward Zsolt Bayer, journalist, fascist apologist, a founder of the ruling Fidesz party, and a confidante of that countrys Putinesque prime minister, Viktor Orban. From Great Britain: step forward Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London, darling of Islamists both ShiaHezbollahand Sunnithe Muslim Brotherhoodand literally obsessed with the claim that the Zionist movement collaborated with Adolf Hitler during the 1930s. (His obsession has lasted so long, one wag on Twitter commented that hed devised a drinking game where he downed a shot of gin every time Livingstone mentioned Hitler, with the result that hes now living in a dumpster.)

I get that there are others who could stake a claim to the most notorious title. Like French comic Dieudonne Mbala Mbala. Or the leaders of Greeces neo-fascist Golden Dawn Party. Or the former British parliamentarian George Galloway. But I choose Bayer and Livingstone because together they neatly encapsulate the thematic fixations of post-war anti-Semitism: the undue political and economic influence of wealthy, powerful Jews, the insinuation that Jews invariably choose tribal conspiracy over national loyalty and the contention that the Jews themselves actively assisted the Nazi genocide that led to Auschwitz and Treblinka.

The latest controversy around Bayer erupted when the Hungarian government awarded him the prestigious Order of Merit of the Knights Cross. More than 40 previous recipients of the award returned their medals in protest at the honor being shared with Bayer, among them Andras Heisler, a senior Hungarian Jewish communal leader, and Katrina Lantos Swett, daughter of the late and much revered Congressman Tom Lantos, who survived the Holocaust in Hungary.

Their objections are not exactly complicated to figure out. Analysts of Hungarian politics like the veteran journalist Karl Pfeifer and the U.S.-based academic Eva Balogh have patiently documented Bayers ravings for an English-language audience. Bayer has argued, for example, that anti-Semitism is a natural state of mind for Hungarians because, as he tells it, the short lived communist republic of 1919 was all a Jewish plot. In another piece, he spat angrily at the limitless hunger of Jewish financiers. In yet another, perhaps his ugliest, he sniped at the British journalist Nick Cohen as a stinking excrement called something like Cohen, before concluding what a shame it was that Cohen and those like him were not all buried up to their necks at the forest in Orgovanythe site of a 1919 massacre of Hungarian communists, including several Jews.

Also noteworthy is Bayers loathing of the Roma minority, whose fate in modern Hungary is a largely ignored story of persecution and discrimination. In one screed reminiscent of a Hitler rant, Bayer spoke of the Roma gypsies as [N]ot fit to live among human beings. These people are animals and behave like animals. Like a bitch in heat, she wants to copulate with whomever and wherever. In Bayers mind, then, the racially-based demonization of Jews and gypsies, with its jarring misogynistic overtones, is alive and well.

Livingstone is cut from a different cloth. His animosity towards Jews avoids the racial vulgarities of Bayer. Instead, his approach, essentially unchanged since he became a major political figure on the British landscape, is to attack the emotional and political identification of the British Jewish community with Israel.

One way he does this is to accuse anyone raising concerns about anti-Semitism of doing so because of pro-Israel loyaltiesa trick dubbed The Livingstone Formulation by the British academic David Hirsh. Another is his fixation with imagery and language equating Israeli policies with that of the Nazis, something covered in detail by the political analyst Dave Rich in his superb new book, The Lefts Jewish Problem.

Most of all, Livingstone likes to manipulate the history of the Holocaust. He doesnt deny that Nazis murdered six million Jews, but he regards the Zionist movement as having played a critical role in enabling the Holocaust. When he repeated these claims earlier this year, in the midst of several anti-Semitism scandals already rocking the British Labour Party, the partys far left leader, Jeremy Corbyn, found himself with no choice but to suspend Livingstone from membership.

Yet far from apologizing, Livingstone continues to insist that he is historically correct, with all the zeal of someone who asserts that 9/11 was an inside job. But because Livingstone is a national figure, just as Bayer, his slanders cannot just be dismissed as the ravings of a lunatic. That is one reason why the Labour parliamentarian John Mann, a stalwart opponent of anti-Semitism, has just published a dossier in which he rebuts Livingstones dubious and dishonest portrait of wartime Zionists as equal negotiating partners of the Nazi regime.

As the dossier points out, Livingstone ignores vital facts, such as Hitlers statement in Mein Kampf that, While the Zionists try to make the rest of the World believe that the national consciousness of the Jew finds its satisfaction in the creation of a Palestinian state, the Jews again slyly dupe the dumb Goyim. But then again, given that Livingstone believes Hitler was already in power in 1932he became Germanys Chancellor in 1933his poor grasp of historical detail and historical meaning shouldnt be overly surprising.

No one should be under the impression that the writings and statements of Bayer and Livingstone pass effortlessly into mainstream discourse. Even among the legions of Israel critics, there is some acknowledgement that their respective claims have more in common with hate speech than with the serious study of history. Its quite conceivable that in other European countries like Germany or France, one or both of them would have been prosecuted for incitement.

To be clear, Im not recommending that either man be prosecuted; thats a decision for the authorities in their countries to make in respect of the law. The problem is both men are depicted as exotically controversial, with some grasp of truth, when they are in fact bare-faced liars.

Because, you see, to be a successful Jew-baiter, you cant be anything else.

Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org & The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He is the author ofSome of My Best Friends: A Journey Through Twenty-First Century Antisemitism (Edition Critic, 2014).
Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez at a party rally in Bilbao. FERNANDO DOMINGO-ALDAMA (EL PAIS)

After two general elections and the threat of a third looming ever closer, a nine-month political stalemate in Spain is taking its toll on all of the countrys political parties.

The conservative Popular Party (PP), which won the most votes in the December and June elections, but fell short of a majority both times, is no closer to finding the necessary allies to put together a fully functional government.

It makes no sense to sell out on our principles or to betray our ideological code

Emiliano Garcia-Page, premier of Castilla-La Mancha

And the main opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) is increasingly divided over whether it should try to cobble together an alternative majority through deals with regional parties  some of which favor independence from Spain  or whether it should simply let acting prime minister Mariano Rajoy form a minority government.

The secretary general of the PSOE, Pedro Sanchez, is becoming increasingly isolated in his defense of the first option. Six of the seven Socialists serving as regional premiers in Spain do not want Sanchez to attempt a coalition with the left-leaning anti-austerity Podemos, the emerging center reform party Ciudadanos, or others.

It would not even be the first time he has tried. Following the elections of December 20, 2015, Sanchez reached a preliminary deal with Ciudadanos, but the combined congressional presence with the Socialists was not enough for a majority and Podemos refused to join the alliance.

Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera has told Sanchez that he will not be supporting him. FERNANDO DOMINGO-ALDAMA (EL PAIS)

The deadlock led to a second national election on June 26, with similar results. This Thursday, at a party event in the Basque city of Bilbao, Sanchez made a public appeal to Pablo Iglesias and Albert Rivera, the leaders of Podemos and Ciudadanos respectively, to work together to throw out the government of Mariano Rajoy.

There are many things that unite us; its worth it. Lets get rid of the cross-vetoes and get a government of change, a government of democratic regeneration, up and running in this country, said Sanchez, alluding to Podemos and Ciudadanos complete refusal to work with one another.

But it seems like a growing chorus of voices within the PSOE is saying enough is enough. Some even hope that the outcome of the regional elections being held this Sunday in Galicia and the Basque Country, where the PSOE is not expected to do well, will make Sanchez change his mind.

Emiliano Garcia-Page, the regional premier of Castilla-La Mancha, said in an interview in the Spanish-language El Huffington Post that the Socialist Party cannot govern at any price, or give the impression that its only goal is to reach La Moncloa [the seat of government].

It makes no sense to sell out on our principles or to betray our ideological code, he added, alluding to many PSOE officials unease at partnering with Podemos, which is alone among the main parties in defending the right of Catalans to hold a referendum on self-rule in Catalonia.

There are many things that unite us. Lets get a government of change

PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez

For his part, Ciudadanos leader Rivera has already warned Sanchez that he will not be supporting him again, and asked him not to attempt an alternative governing coalition.

Nobody deserves a prime minister who wants to form a government at any price, who wants to bring together 44 parties, to rule with 85 seats in Congress and with a party that is clearly divided between those who want to go into the opposition and those who want power at any price, said Rivera.

Strain on Podemos

Podemos, which is made up of dozens of grassroots organizations, is also feeling the strain after nine months of deadlock. On Thursday, party leader Pablo Iglesias issued a statement that underscored his growing rift with the partys number-two official, Inigo Errejon, over the issue of whether to negotiate with the Socialists or not.

Podemos chief Pablo Iglesias is dealing with internal divisions of his own. OSCAR CORRAL (EL PAIS)

As long as I am secretary general, we are going to talk to the PSOE on an equal footing, insisted Iglesias.

Meanwhile, the acting prime minister of Spain appears to be sitting back and letting events play out.

Close aides said that Rajoy is neither surprised nor particularly alarmed at this latest attempt by the Socialist leader to put together an alternative governing coalition with separatists and extremists.

Rajoy has described this plan as nonsense but admitted that mathematically it could work in terms of congressional seats.

The acting PM has also admitted that he has no plan B to attract allies. Instead, he has adopted a do-nothing strategy while accusing other parties  particularly the PSOE  of the deadlock because of their refusal to support him.

If nothing changes, Spaniards will be called to vote in a third election scheduled for Christmas Day. Polls are predicting a historically low turnout, reflecting taxpayers growing weariness with their politicians.

English version by Susana Urra.
NEWARK, Del. (JTA)My social media exploded earlier this month with dozens of Facebook notifications, texts and group messages from across the country. JTA had published one of my favorite photos, with our University of Delaware Hillel students dressed in blue and yellow, their hands outstretched to form the Star of David.

The photo illustrated an article, an op-ed by Arnold Eisen, the chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary, titled Jewish pride on campus is under siege. Heres what your kids can do to fight back.

While Chancellor Eisen focused on what Jewish students can do to fight anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias on campus, the headline could have led readers to the false inference that the University of Delaware is an example of a campus under siege.

We certainly dont see our campus that way, and I doubt many of my colleagues at Hillels across the country and around the world believe they are under siege. In fact, the number of anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions activities on campus declined in the past academic year.

Because Hillel directors are on campuses every day, and have been for years, they have the relationships to effectively mitigate these incidents and minimize their effect on the daily experiences of Jewish students. My colleagues and I regularly meet with university administrators, student life deans, local law enforcement and our Jewish community partners to prepare for these incidents and respond proactively when needed.

While protests against Israel and anti-Semitic incidents are certainly unwelcome on campus, they have an unintended consequence of building and strengthening the Jewish community, and fortifying the resolve of students and community members to advocate for their beliefs.

Two years ago, when Students for Justice in Palestine promoted their Israel Apartheid week on our campus, we heard from students, alumni and parents with whom wed never had contact before. Many wanted to know what they could do to help, how they could get involved and what our plan was. Our local federation, Hillel International and other Israel partners all stepped in to make sure we and our students felt supported. They saw the help our campus was getting and rallied around engaging their peers in conversations about Israel.

The challenge of anti-Israel activities can also be an opportunity to revisit how Hillels discuss, debate and program around Israel. We have hired an Israel engagement associate, who specifically focuses on building bridges with students individually and other organizations on campus. We now have a stronger commitment to what we believe and to be heard, so that no one perceives theirs as the only side of the debate.

The results speak for themselves. More than half of the University of Delawares Jewish students are involved in Jewish life on campus. Between Hillel and Chabad, we send more than 200 students to Israel each year. We have more than 150 students in leadership positions or interning at Hillel, and more than 20 of those are focused on Israel.

While anti-Semitic and anti-Israel activities do occur, many of the same campuses that experience these negative moments are also places where Jewish life is thriving, and Jewish students are educated, engaged and taking pride in who they are and the community in which they associate.

Take Hannah Greenberg. When she came to U.D. as a freshman last year, one of her biggest fears was facing anti-Semitism on campus. Now she proudly displays a mezuzah on her dorm room door. Other students use it as an opportunity to ask questions and to learn more about different beliefs, not to bash Jews or Israel.

Being a Jew on campus has not lessened my pride, she told me. It has caused it to grow. Being faced with different ideas than your own does not cause pride to disappear. It gives you a reason to feel that pride, and to be proud of your beliefs and traditions.

Jewish students at the University of Delaware are proud to stand up for what they believe in. The strong Jewish community we have built is palpable from that photo. And that is the best defense for any attacks on our community and our homeland that are to come.

Donna Schwartz is the executive director of the University of Delaware Hillel.
When Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses came out in 1989, Viking Penguin, the British and American publisher of the novel, was subjected to daily Islamist harassment. As Daniel Pipes wrote, the London office resembled an armed camp, with police protection, metal detectors and escorts for visitors. In Vikings New York offices, dogs sniffed packages and the place was designated a sensitive location. Many bookshops were attacked and many even refused to sell the book. Viking spent about $3 million on security measures in 1989, the fatal year for Western freedom of expression.

Nonetheless, Viking never flinched. It was a miracle that the novel finally came out. Other publishers, however, faltered. Since then, the situation has only gotten worse. Most Western publishers are now faltering. That is the meaning of the new Hamed Abdel-Samad affair.

The Muslim Brotherhood gave Abdel-Samad all that an Egyptian boy could wish for: spirituality, camaraderie, companionship, a purpose. In Giza, Hamed Samad became part of the Brotherhood. His father had taught him the Koran; the Brotherhood explained to him how to translate these teachings into practice.

Abdel-Samad repudiated them after one day in the desert. The Brothers had given all the new militants an orange after they had walked under the sun for hours. They were ordered to peel it. Then the Brotherhood asked them to bury the fruit in the sand, and to eat the peel. The next day, Abdel-Samad left the organization. It was the humiliation needed to turn a human being into a terrorist.

Abdel-Samad today is 46 years old and lives in Munich, Germany, where he married a Danish girl and works for the Institute of Jewish History and Culture at the

University of Munich. In his native Egyptian village, his first book caused an uproar. Some Muslims wanted to burn it.

Abdel-Samads recent book, Der Islamische Faschismus: Eine Analyse, has just been burned at the stake not in Cairo by Islamists, but in France by some of the self-righteous French.

The book is a bestseller in Germany, where it has been published by the well-known publisher, Droemer Knaur. An English translation has been published in the U.S. by Prometheus Books, under the title Islamic Fascism. Two years ago, the French publisher, Piranha, acquired the rights to translate Abdel-Samads book about Islamic Fascism into French. A publication date was even posted on Amazon: Sept. 16. But at the last moment, the publisher stopped its release. Jean-Marc Loubet, head of the publishing house, announced to Abdel-Samads agent that the publication of his book is now unthinkable in France, not only for security reasons, but also because it would reinforce the extreme right.

For criticizing Islam, Abdel-Samad lives under police protection in Germany and, as with Rushdie, a fatwa hangs over him. After the fatwa come the insults: being censored by a free publishing house. This is what the Soviets did to destroy writers: destroy his books.

Abdel-Samads case is not new. At a time when dozens of novelists, journalists and scholars are facing Islamists threats, it is unforgivable that Western publishers not only agree to bow down, but are often the first to capitulate.

In France, for criticizing Islam in a column titled We refuse to change civilization for the daily newspaper, Le Monde, the famous writer, Renaud Camus, lost his publisher, Fayard.

Before he suddenly became unpopular in the Pariss literary establishment, Camus had been friends with Louis Aragon, the famous Communist poet and founder of surrealism, and was close to joining the immortals of the French Academy. Roland Barthes, the star of the College de France, had written the preface to Camus most famous novel, Tricks, the cult-classic book of gay culture.

Then a Paris court convicted Camus for Islamophobia (a fine of 4,000 euros), for a speech he gave on Dec. 18, 2010, in which he spoke of Grand Replacement, the replacement of the French people under the Trojan horse of multiculturalism. It was then that Camus became persona non grata in France.

The Jewel of Medina, a novel by the American writer Sherry Jones about the life of the third wife of Muhammad, was first purchased and then scrapped by the powerful publisher Random House, which had already paid her an advance and launched an ambitious promotional campaign. Joness new publisher, Gibson Square, was then firebombed by Islamists in London.

Then there was Yale University Press, which published a book by Jytte Klausen, The Cartoons That Shook the World, on the history of the controversial Mohammad cartoons that were published by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in 2005, and crisis that followed. But Yale University Press published the book without the cartoons, and without any other images of the Muslim prophet Mohammad that were to be included.

The capitulation of Yale University Press to threats that hadnt even been made yet is the latest and perhaps the worst episode in the steady surrender to religious extremismparticularly Muslim religious extremismthat is spreading across our culture, commented the late Christopher Hitchens. Yale was possibly hoping to get in line for the same $20 million donation from Saudi Arabias Prince Al-Wwaleed bin Talal that he had just bestowed upon George Washington University and Harvard.

In Germany, Gabriele Brinkmann, a popular novelist, was also suddenly left without a publisher. According to her publisher, Droste, the novel Wem Ehre Geburt (To Whom Honor Gives Birth) could be judged as insulting to Muslims and expose the publisher to intimidation. Brinkmann was asked to censor some passages; she refused and lost the publishing house.

This same cowardice and capitulation now pervades the entire publishing industry. Last year, Italys most prestigious book fair in Turin chose (then shelved) Saudi Arabia as its guest of honor, despite the many writers and bloggers who are imprisoned in the Islamic kingdom. Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and a 10-year sentence, and a $260,000 fine.

Many Western publishers are now also rejecting works by Israeli authors, according Time.com, despite their political views.

It was after Rushdies The Satanic Verses that many Western publishing houses first bowed to intimidation. Christian Bourgois, a French publishing house, refused to publish The Satanic Verses after having bought the rights, as did the German publisher, Kiepenheuer, who apparently said he regretted having acquired the rights to the book and chose to sell them to a consortium of fifty publishers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, gathered under the name UN-Charta Artikel 19.

Not only did Rushdies publishers capitulate; other publishers also decided to break ranks and return to do business with Tehran. Oxford University Press decided to take part in the Tehran Book Fair, along with two American publishers, McGraw-Hill and John Wiley, despite the request of Rushdies publisher, Viking Penguin, to boycott the Iranian event. Those publishers chose to respond to murderous censorship with surrender, willing to sacrifice freedom of expression on the altar of business as usual: selling books was more important than solidarity with threatened colleagues.

It is as if at the time of the Nazis book-burnings, Western publishers had not only stood silent, but had also invited a German delegation to Paris and New York. Is it so unimaginable today?

Giulio Meotti, Cultural Editor for Il Foglio, is an Italian journalist and author.
The Bankia branch in Barcelona which is due to have its assets seized. ALBERT GARCIA

A Spanish court has ordered officials to enter a Barcelona branch of Bankia to recover 26,925 in interests and legal fees incurred after the bank knowingly missold so-called preference shares to an 81-year-old customer.

The bank has refused to hand over the money, and the new ruling, the first of its kind, means that unless the branch in question returns the amount, court officials will be authorized to enter the premises on October 3 to recover money in cash, furniture and belongings.

The 81-year-old explained she understood she would be able to cash shares in after a year

Spanish banks sold more than 5 billion of complex financial instruments such as preference shares and subordinated debt to customers over several years in the first decade of the 2000s, promising them that they could recover their investments at any time.

Bankia alone sold roughly 5 billion in preference shares and subordinated debt, and only a portion of those will likely escape the enforced writedowns. The company began an arbitration process in 2013.

While Spain's nationalized lenders may be able to cope with compensation costs in the millions of euros, Bankia's bill will be the biggest as it sold more of the products than other lenders. And successful claims are only likely to rise as the government tries to quell public anger over how arbitration claims are handled by easing the process.

Bankia began an arbitration process with customers to pay back money in 2013

Earlier this year, in a decision that could affect tens of thousands of investors in Spain, the Supreme Court ruled that Spanish lender Bankia had to return the money spent by two citizens on shares in the bank.

The ruling is based on the fact that the prospectus advertising the banks stock market launch contained serious inaccuracies regarding the true state of the lenders finances.

In the case of the 81-year-old in Barcelona, Maria Rosa Bosch, the court noted that in 2002 the widow, a pensioner with few resources, bought preference shares worth 30,000 from Caixa Laietana, which was subsequently merged with Bankia. The manager of the branch, located in the Barcelona neighborhood of San Celoni, described the shares as guaranteeing high returns.

But nine years later, when the octogenarian needed money to help pay medical expenses for her daughter, who was suffering from cancer, she was told she could not cash them in. The daughter died in 2012.

A court ruled in the plaintiffs favor, concluding the bank had not provided sufficient information about the risks

Bosch took legal action. During the hearing, the 81-year-old explained that she understood the shares to be fixed-rate and that she would be able to cash them in after a year. Only one employee from her branch appeared in court, saying that she knew nothing about the case.

In April of this year, a Barcelona court ruled in the plaintiffs favor, concluding that the bank had not provided sufficient information about the risks involved in the share purchase. It annulled the contract and ordered the branch to return the money, with interest.

Bankia appealed against paying interest and legal fees, which amounted to the 26,925 the court has now ordered be recovered.

English version by Nick Lyne.
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Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghanis visit to New Delhi happened at a time when security situation in Afghanistan is worsening; relations between Kabul and Islamabad are tense and the peace process with the Taliban is in disarray. Unrest in Kashmir has resulted in a new low in relations between India and Pakistan. There is a leadership change in Uzbekistan. Radical forces are spreading in the region as shown by suicide bombing at the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan. The Afghanistan-India-US trilateral dialogue is going to take place in New York soon. Next month, a major international conference on Afghanistan will take place in Brussels. The Heart of Asia Ministerial is taking place in Amritsar on December 4. So Ghanis visit was not only an opportunity to take stock of bilateral ties but also work out joint strategies for the next phase of Afghanistan project.

Indias broad objectives in Afghanistan include orderly security, successful political and economic transition, and ensuring the safety and security of its assets and personnel. Increasing trade, transit, and energy links with Central Asia through Afghanistan are added objectives.

Read | Pakistan backing terrorists in a full-scale war, Afghanistan tells UNGA

Indias economic, political, and strategic linkages with Afghanistan have improved significantly. Indian projects of worth $2 billion have covered various sectors. Every year 1,500 Afghan students come to India on fellowships. Another 500 training slots are provided to officials. An additional $1 billion assistance was committed during the visit. With appropriate framework, India can also work out joint projects with other partners.

As Afghanistan ultimately has to stand on its own feet, trade and connectivity will prove more important than unsustainable foreign-funded development projects. In this connection, a traditional market for Afghan products is crucial. Last year, bilateral was $835 million with more than $300 million exports from Afghanistan to India. For many years, India is the number one export market for Afghan products. Precisely for this reason, Ghani is very keen that Pakistan allow two-way traffic for India-Afghanistan trade. Recently, when Pakistan closed the only land route for Afghan products destined for India, New Delhi helped Kabul by airlifting fresh fruits. Ghani is reported to have warned Pakistan that if they do not allow Afghan goods into India through their territory, they would close Pakistans transit route into Central Asia.

Read | Afghanistan set to sign peace deal with notorious warlord Hekmatyar

Although no announcement was made during the visit, India is also likely to increase its defence cooperation. Last year, four Mi25 attack helicopters were supplied to Afghanistan. More military equipment from India could be in the pipeline.

Close political ties with Kabul, strong goodwill among Afghan citizens and acceptance of India as an important regional player on Afghan matters indicate that Indias aid to Afghanistan has not gone waste.

Read | India maintains silence over Modi attending SAARC summit in Islamabad

Afghanistan is an international project. It is beyond the capacity of New Delhi alone to resolve the serious security and development challenges. However, enhanced Indian engagement at this point will be a big boost to policy-makers in Kabul. In the prevailing negative western discourse on Afghanistan, Indian experts and think-tanks can also help in changing the narrative towards a positive outcome.

Gulshan Sachdeva is professor at the School of International Studies, JNU

The views expressed are personal
Kozhikode beach in Kerala looked resplendent in saffron hues on Friday morning as the Bharatiya Janata Partys flags fluttered along the coastline and deep into the Arabian Sea water - as if to stamp its suzerainty beyond land.

At his rally on this beach on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to do some hard talk in stating his governments resolve to counter cross-border terrorism and separatist elements in Kashmir, which has been on the boil since the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in July.

It will be Modis first public speech after the Sunday terror attack on the Uri army base that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Top functionaries of the government and the defence forces have held a series of deliberations to prepare Indias response to the attack.

Modi is expected to delineate the broad contours of this response in his speech that will also set the set the tone for the BJPs resolution at the national council meet on Sunday. The contents of this resolution will come up for discussion at BJP chief Amit Shahs meeting with the partys central and state office-bearers on Friday afternoon.

Deliberations at the meeting of the BJPs apex decision-making body will also shape the partys strategy in the assembly elections in five states early next year. The resolution is expected to underscore the partys commitment to Dalits and other oppressed sections of the society, who form a large chunk of the electorate in the poll-bound states.

But all eyes are on how the Prime Minister responds to the nationwide public outrage over the Uri terror attack in his rally. And the BJPs rank and file might have reasons to expect something substantive from Modis speech on Kozhikode beach.

There is something intrinsically binding between Modi and the Arabian Sea. It was in the coastal state of Goa in June 2013 that the party declared him its campaign committee chief - overlooking the claims and aspirations of party veterans - which paved the way for his projection as the prime ministerial candidate.

It was in the same coastal state in April 2002 when Modi, who had been under pressure to resign as the chief minister after the communal riots in Gujarat, got a reprieve, thanks to the support of LK Advani despite Atal Bihari Vajpayees reservations. In 1995, it was in the coastal city of Mumbai that the BJP declared Vajpayee its PM candidate.

It is, therefore, something more than the wind to the fluttering BJP flags on Kozhikode beach. The sea brings rejuvenating breeze to the BJP and its top leaders. Or so it seems from past instances.

At a time when the party is on the back foot after the terror attack in Uri and a prolonged spell of unrest in Kashmir, the Kozhikode beach might bring something to cheer.
Indus water treaty of September 19, 1960, between India and Pakistan, is one of the most liberal water-sharing pacts in the world.

Under the treaty that was signed by prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan president Ayub Khan, the water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries.

The pact, brokered by World Bank, survived three wars fought between the two countries and constant strain in their bilateral ties.

There is now a clamour to use the pact to bring the neighbour to mend its ways after the Uri attack proved Pakistan is both unable and unwilling to stop its territory being used by terrorists against India.

Read | Mutual trust must for treaties like on Indus water to work, says India

But can India use the Indus water treaty to force Pakistan to pay the price for its sponsorship of terrorism against India?

Indus water-sharing pact in a nutshell

The Indus agreement deals with six rivers - the three eastern rivers of Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and their tributaries and the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and their tributaries.

Under the treaty, the waters of the eastern rivers have been allocated to India and New Delhi is under obligation to let the waters of the western rivers flow, except for certain consumptive use, with Pakistan getting 80% of the water.

Indus water treaty gives the lower riparian Pakistan more than four times of the water available to India. Despite such liberal terms, Pakistan and India have sparred over water.

Recent contention and Pakistans erroneous notions

Pakistan had issued a non-paper on the treaty to India in 2010, the year two neighbours fought over the treaty for long. It often makes an erroneous notion - of course by design - that the Indus water treaty permits limited use of water from the western rivers for purposes of domestic use, non-consumptive use, besides a water storage capacity of 3.6 million acre-feet (MAF).

Even when India uses the water from the western rivers to the maximum extent permissible in the treaty, it is not likely to use more than 3-4% of the annual mean flow of these rivers, which is 135 MAF.

New Delhi says Pakistans concern over the issue of pollution is taken care of in the article IV-10 of the treaty, which provides inter alia that each party agrees to take all reasonable measures before any sewage or industrial waste is allowed to flow in the rivers.

So, it suffices to say that India has given a most magnanimous water-sharing pact, hailed as a success model, world over. But it is a bad bargaining chip for India, which has got other tools.

Here are the reasons:

1. India is a lower riparian state when it comes to Himalayan rivers like the Brahmaputra

India has always cited how responsible it has been as an upper riparian state when it comes to the water-sharing agreement. Indus water treaty has remained the most demonstrable evidence of it.

Pakistans all weather ally China is the upper riparian state in the Brahmaputra, a river which flows into Indias northeast. Making any precedent in which an upper riparian state is overbearing can give hints to Beijing on the water-sharing issue which doesnt augur well for India.

And in any conflict situation, Beijing siding with its close friend is a forgone conclusion.

2. Kashmir issue will get another dimension

Water was at the centre of the Kashmir issue between the two neighbours as well. After Independence, India used water as a penalising measure but it didnt yield much result. India did that in April 1948 but restored water flow soon enough.

In 1951, Pakistan mounted an accusation that India water not releasing water to it, subsequently the two sides painstakingly put together the Indus water pact. The process for a water-sharing pact began in 1954 and ended with the Indus water treaty in 1960.

Any tampering with the pact would give Pakistan another propaganda to link it with Kashmir issue, which will further complicate the situation.

3. Pakistan wont mend ways with punitive measures

Any punitive measure from India such as turning off the Indus tap or tampering with the pact will be fodder for Pakistan to whip up anti-India feelings among people.

Pakistan as a state never learnt from three war defeats from India. Instead of mending ways, it went on an offensive to target India through radicalisation and raising a bunch of non-state actors.

India needs to think beyond such measures to make Pakistan see reason. As a mature country with a robust market and strong institutions, India has many other ways to put across its point.

4. Spillover impacts on other water-sharing pacts in South Asia

Water sharing accords are tough to arrive at. India is a part of three of the seven water-sharing pacts between countries in the region  the Ganges treaty with Bangladesh that took 20 years to hammer out, the Indus water treaty with Pakistan and the Gandak treaty with Nepal.

Unlike Indus, Teesta water sharing agreement of 2011 envisages a 50:50 water-sharing formula for the water of the river that is crucial to both north Bengal and the northwestern districts of Bangladesh. The pact has not been signed yet.

It is better not to create bad precedents on water-sharing pacts when arriving at such pacts is becoming an increasingly onerous task.

Footnote

What India did with Indias waters was Indias affair, was the curt reply from Indias first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru to a taunt from Pakistans founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah that he would rather have deserts in Pakistan than fertile fields watered by the courtesy of Hindus.

That is how the two countries reacted to a suggestion on joint river management from Cyril Radcliffe, the chairperson of the Punjab boundary commission tasked to divide the Punjab territory and water assets between the two south Asian neighbours.

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Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro giving a speech last week. HANDOUT (REUTERS)

More information El chavismo pospone el revocatorio y se enroca en el poder hasta 2019

Venezuelas National Electoral Council (CNE), which answers to the government of President Nicolas Maduro, announced on Thursday that there will be no recall referendum until February 2017, thus preventing any possibility of the countrys opposition taking power until the next elections are due, in 2019.

The recall referendum provides a mechanism to remove President Maduro, who took over from Hugo Chavez after his death in March 2013, and is the equivalent of a popular no-confidence vote. Opinion polls suggest the vote would support Maduros removal from office.

The opposition, which has organized the recall referendum, wanted the vote to take place before January 10, 2017. Under Venezuelas Constitution, this would have meant fresh elections if Maduro were to lose the plebiscite.

Shortages of food and medical supplies prompted nationwide riots earlier this year

Now that the vote will take place after that date, a successful recall simply means that the vice-president, Aristobulo Isturiz, would take Maduros place and serve out the remaining two years of his mandate.

Venezuelas opposition has reacted angrily to the news. The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) has announced it will meet in permanent session to convene a response. The government is not sending out a message of strength. On the contrary, it is on the point of falling apart, and has no support, either in the polls or on the street, said Jesus Torrealba, MUDs secretary general.

The CNE has also imposed strict limits on how the opposition can gather the 20% of votes (around four million) from the electoral register of each of Venezuelas states, which is the second stage of activating the recall referendum.

It has ruled that this process must take place between October 26 and October 28, between the hours of 8am and 12pm and again between 1pm and 4pm, with just 5,392 identity verification machines distributed at 1,356 polling stations.

Sadly, we will once again see people having to spend hours lining up, as we did when we collected the 1% of signatures to activate the first stage of the recall referendum, said Luis Emilio Rondon, the only member of the opposition who sits on the CNE.

The recall referendum is the equivalent of a popular no-confidence vote in Maduro

In June, after the opposition collected nearly two million signatures, the electoral council said all those who signed for a recall vote against the 53-year-old president had to return to the polling stations to verify their signatures through fingerprint detection.

The electoral council had rejected more than a quarter of the nearly two million signatures collected by the opposition. The first stage of the recall referendum process required 200,000 signatures.

The opposition is accusing the government of sabotaging the process through delays, obstacles and veiled threats. International mediators, including the Pope, are attempting to facilitate talks between the opposition and the government.

Meanwhile, Maduros popularity continues to wane on the back of the countrys economic crisis and the arrests of political opponents. Shortages of food and medical supplies are also taking their toll, prompting riots earlier this year throughout the country.

The majority of Venezuelans voted for the opposition in the December 6, 2015 parliamentary elections, thus giving it full control of the National Assembly. On September 2, MUD organized a huge march in the the capital that attracted thousands of people, despite government efforts to block access to the city center.

Another protest march in Caracas is planned for Friday.

English version by Nick Lyne.
Reading is no longer an isolated act. Through online and offline platforms, book lovers are connecting with fellow literature enthusiasts to make reading a social activity.

In July, Sharin Bhatti (33), an entrepreneur, went to the Mockingbird Cafe and Bar, Churchgate, for a Broke Bibliophile (BB) offline meeting. A Facebook group with over 900 members, BB is a virtual platform where members can discover deals for book purchases on e-commerce websites such as Flipkart and Amazon.

There were 20 to 25 people aged 18 to 25. We were asked to introduce ourselves, and speak about the books weve read, or are reading, and why we picked them. It was like a speed dating session, but about books, says Bhatti.

From one of Broke Bibliophiles previous meetings in Mumbai. (Photo: Vidya Subramanian/HT)

While others discussed Murakami and Salman Rushdie, Bhatti chose to speak about The Black Tower, a crime fiction novel by British author PD James. The genre is thrilling and allows for easy conversation. Its like an ice-breaker, she says.

Turns out her choice of book was perfect  there were people who hadnt heard of James or her works. Thats the whole point of book clubs, isnt it? You meet new people, discover new authors, expand your reading circle, says Bhatti.

This has been truer than ever over the last few months. Reading is no longer an isolated act. Through online and offline platforms, book lovers are connecting with fellow literature enthusiasts to make reading a social activity.

Log off

Sure, book clubs are hardly a new concept. Traditionally, members read a pre-decided book, and gathered around to discuss the writing, themes, characterisation, and takeaways.

ALSO READ: From pubs to art galleries: How poetry is getting cool again

Even today, the fundamental purpose of these book clubs remains the same. What has changed, however, is the method of networking, thanks to social media. For instance, originally, BB functioned as a Facebook-only group. In April this year, they first went offline with a multi-city meet-up (Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai).

The Reading social is an experiment to get Mumbaikars to read as often as possible. (Photo courtesy: The Reading Social )

The decision to meet in person was taken through a spontaneous online discussion. A few of us took the initiative to make it happen. Eleven people showed up at the first event in Mumbai. Now, we see 20 to 25 people, says Nirav Mehta, host, BB Mumbai Chapter.

BBs transition was only the beginning. Books on Toast (BoT) , which started as a city-based book donation drive in 2011, too, converted to a club. Previously it was a Facebook page that notified members about a location in Mumbai they could visit to donate books.

It was during these sporadic meetings that an idea was born. Every time people came together to give away books, they would always hang back and discuss the ones they were giving away. Thats when we realised the dearth of a dedicated platform for enthusiasts to come together, says Bhatti.

ALSO READ: Author Meghna Pants new book deals with women, violence and feminism

The Reading Social is a series of events where people get together to sit and get some quiet reading done. (Photo courtesy: The Reading Social)

Yet these clubs retain an online presence. This helps them reach a younger audience. BBs core demographic varies between the age group of 18 to 27, and sees students and young professionals. We get all kinds of people  even those whove read just one or two books in their lives and are looking for avenues to expand their reading, says Mehta.

Evolution is key

Keeping in mind the young audience, the clubs have evolved over time. None of them stick to the one-book policy. As a result, members have access to more books, and conversations are freewheeling. Youre free to obsessively praise your favourite author, recall which book changed your life, even bring up the dreaded Chetan Bhagat.

This freedom to choose any book, in turn, has these meetings doubling up as book swap platforms. This is a huge draw for bibliophiles whose salaries cant keep up with their reading habit, or who dont have the space in cramped Mumbai apartments.

Broke Bibliophiles core demographic varies between the age group of 18 to 27, and sees students and young professionals. (Photo: Vidya Subramanian/HT )

Moreover, meetings are often thematic  from popular series like Harry Potter to serious themes like Holocaust literature. BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) Bombay, for instance, always has a theme - books written by female authors and Indian authors, among others.

The biggest draw, however, remains the collective motivation to read as often as possible - an increasingly difficult pursuit in the age we live in. As an experiment in this direction, 28-year-old Sandeep Malhotra co-founded The Reading Social - a series of events where people get together to sit and get some quiet reading done.

The first edition, held last month at AntiSocial (Khar), saw 18 people with books and reading devices. It was ticketed at Rs 450. Were trying to build an audience now and see if we can hold reading fests later, says Malhotra.

ALSO READ: From the Rig Veda to Ruskin Bond: the history of nature writing in India

Books & Booze for you to choose! #mockingbird_cafe_bar #1000books#sixwordstory A photo posted by Mockingbird Cafe Bar (@mockingbird_cafe_bar) on Mar 14, 2016 at 11:53pm PDT

Readers corner

Its not only book clubs that are promoting a reading culture. Eateries, too, are doing their bit. Bombay to Barcelona (a cafe in Andheri) and Mockingbird Cafe and Bar (Churchgate) are encouraging people to grab a book with their bite. The latter has a collection of over a thousand books to choose from.

Amin Sheikh, owner, Bombay to Barcelona says, We have collected over 350 books [the cafe opened on August 15]. Patrons can pick up any book and take it home. When they return it, we ask them to write down their reading experience and a short review for others to refer to.

If youre someone who used to be an avid reader and lost the reading habit, now is the best time to get back to books. If millennials can choose literature over social media, anyone can.
23rd September

1) The Butler Did It

This play, which is part of the YouTheatre festival, pays homage to the crime novels of Agatha Christie. Starring Aditya Hitkari, Divya Palat and Michael Nazareth, the play is a mix of sarcasm, comedy and intrigue.

Where: Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point

Call: 2282 4567

Price: Rs 500

When: 8pm

2) Italian food festival

Savour a range of Italian dishes including pesto calabrese from Calabria, pesto genovese from Genoa, and pesto rosso from Piedmont.

Where: Foodhall, Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel

Call: 90041 06341

Price: Rs 200 onward

When: 11am onward

Read: Business cannot come before our kids, says Jamie Oliver

3) Street food festival

Craving street food? Choose from paneer chilli dry, aloo anardana tikki, subj potli samosa and hara bhara kebab, among other dishes.

Where: The Bayview, Hotel Marine Plaza, Marine Drive

Call: 2285 1212

Price: Rs 2,500 onwards

When: 7pm onward

4) Custom-made pizzas

Select from ingredients such as onion, tomato, garlic, mushroom and pineapple to make your own custom pizza.

Where: The Playlist Pizza, Gloria Apartments, St Baptist Road, near Mount Mary Steps, Bandra (W)

Call: 6555 4151

Price: Rs 1,000 onward

When: 12pm onward

Read: Meet the pizza champion: Giulio Adriani says the real Italian pizza is not greasy

5) From farm to fork

Kickstart your mornings with fresh farm delicacies that include buttermilk waffles and breakfast pizza.

Where: Farmer & Sons, Apollo Street, Bombay Samachar Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort

Call: 2262 4466

Price: Rs 2,000 onward

6) Pukhtan-E-Jyran

Relish delicacies that originated in the Awadh region of India. The menu includes kebabs, biryanis, tikkas and desserts.

Where: Sofitel Mumbai BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E)

Call: 6117 5000

When: 12pm onward

7) Woman, Thou a Mystery

Explore various moods and sentiments of women in different environments, through art by Vishal Sabley.

Where: Trident Art Walk Gallery, Hotel Tridents Shopping Arcade, Nariman Point

Call: 90043 20137

Entry : Free

When: 10am onwards

8) Design for Dignity

This Swedish design exhibition showcases products for individuals with special needs. Also on display is a photo exhibition, titled AccessAbility, featuring heartwarming stories of differently-abled Swedish and Indian individuals.

Where: LN Welingkar Institute, Lakhamshi Napoo Road, Matunga (Central)

Call: 2419 8300

Entry: Free

When: 11am to 4pm

An artwork by Sunil Das as part of The Bengal Train

9) The Bengal Train

This exhibition showcases works by 100 artists from West Bengal. The artwork, made using charcoal and watercolour, depicts iconic monuments and day-to-day life in West Bengal.

Where: The Art Hub, Atria Mall, opposite Poonam Chambers, Dr AB Road, Worli

Call: 6625 1333

Entry: Free

When: 11am onward

24th September

10) The Secret Headphone Party

Six DJs will play various genres like psy trance, trap and deep house. Party-goers will be given a pair of headphones. At this silent secret headphone party, you choose your music.

Where: Aqaba, Peninsula Business Park, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel

Call: 6151 2222

Price: Rs 1,000

When: 8pm onward

Read: How secret are the secret parties popping up on your social media?

11) Weaving Tales

Children can participate in this challenge which helps hone their senses. The session conducted by award-winning author Natasha Sharma ends with writing a piece on the overall experience.

Where: Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Rani Baug, Veer Mata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan, Byculla (E)

Call: 2373 1234

Price: Rs 500

When: 10.30am onward

Participants during the last edition of The Mud Rush

12) The Mud Rush

Get ready to test your physical and mental strength as The Mud Rush comes to Mumbai. Music and hot chai await you at the finishing line.

Where: Film City, inside Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagri main gate, Goregaon (E)

Call: 2840 1533

Price: Rs 500 onward

When: 6am

25th September

A still from Extremities

13) Extremities

This psychological drama revolves around Marjorie, a young woman who is attacked at home. She manages to catch the intruder and tie him up. By now, her two roommates arrive; while one of them (a rape victim) wants her to take law in her own hands, the other roommate insists on calling the police.

Where: The Hive, Huma Mansion, Chuim Village Road, Khar (W)

Call: 96199 62969

Price: Rs 150 onward

When: 8pm

14) An enchanted tale of Jack and the Beanstalk

Enjoy this classic, retold in a Broadway style musical, with your kids. It features foot-tapping music and dance.

Where: Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point

Call: 2282 4567

Price: Rs 750

When: 12pm onward

15) Kitchens of Kumortuli

Feast on a meal that is prepared during the festive season in Kumortuli (Kolkata) with recipes by home chef Priyadarshini Gupta. Think bhaja muger dal, chaanar dalna, and labra.

Where: TGFC Kitchen Dining, Versova, Andheri (W)

Call: 8879922831

Price: Rs 999

When: 12.30pm to 2.30pm
During his visit to Udaan Utsav, a nukkad natak competition in North Campus, Delhi University (DU), script writer and director Vivek Agnihotri showed up at the event, for he plans to cast some DU students in his upcoming film.

In my upcoming film, the emergency period and campus politics plays a major role. I have decided to mentor the final teams of this nukkad natak competition and if possible, I will choose some students for my next project, says Agnihotri.

Read: When Farhan Akhtars mom-dad attended his gig for the first time

The director is known for his movies like Hate Story (2012), Chocolate (2005), Buddha in a Traffic Jam (2016) and many more. Being a graduate from Indian Institute Mass Communication, Delhi, he feels the Capitals charm is unmatched.

He says, Due to my film, I have travelled a lot and visited around 35 to 40 universities. But there is nothing like DU. I am a graduate of Harvard University but even there I could not find the same charm. Whether its about students, studies, structure or lifestyle, DU jaisa kuch nahi. And I am not kidding.

Agnihotri is shocked to know that JNUs popular Ganga Dhabba might shut down. He says, I have been to JNU with Anupam Kher during the screening of my film but had not known that. This is sad. We should not promote fast food joints in campuses, because jo dhabe main bethkar chai peene ka maja hai, vo food joints pe nahi hai. I would not prefer the idea of promoting food chains over dhaba culture. Jo bonding dhabo main hoti hai vo alag hai, dhabo ki dosti lambi chalti hai aur vaha ki dushmaniya bhi jaldi hi khatam hoti hai.

Read: Harshvardhan is quite unlike his father Anil Kapoor, says Saiyami Kher

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Amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) gave a two-day ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors to leave India, failing which the party said it will force them out.

The party also threatened that it wont allow the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees in the country as the films feature Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, respectively.

The MNS Cine Workers Association, Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (CKS), issued the ultimatum. CKS president Ameya Khopkar said the presence of Pakistani artistes in India is not acceptable.

How can we allow Pakistani artistes to perform in India when their country is busy killing our soldiers? he said.

The MNS order will also apply to sportspersons and singers, the party added.

The party has also kick-started protests against Karan Johars film Ae Dil Hain Mushkil as it stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. The MNS said it is against the release of the film.

MNS vice-president Shalini Thackeray said wherever shooting for films or tele-serials with Pakistani actors was on after the deadline, MNS activists would go and stop them.

Read: Fawad Khan to star in Salmans next

We will provide adequate protection as and when required, joint police commissioner (law and order) Deven Bharti said following the threat.

The ultimatum comes close on the heels of both MNS and its bete noire, Shiv Sena, upping their anti-Pakistan stance, demanding snapping of all ties with the neighbouring country following Sundays attack on an army camp in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri that killed 18 soldiers.

Even in the past, the MNS and the Shiv Sena have opposed the presence of Pakistani artistes and players in India. They forced cancellation of Ghulam Ali concert in Mumbai recently and also opposed a T-20 match between the two countries.

Fawad Khan will be seen alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai and Anushka Sharma in Karan Johars Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Earlier this week, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had asked the BJP government to take revenge of the Uri attack even as New Delhi launched a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan.

In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamna, Sena had criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his celebrated international status would be of no use if he could not carry out a US-style attack on the country.

Watch: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil title track

Khopkar is known for his opposition to foreign artistes working in Indian films. Many members of his association even created ruckus on the film sets that employed foreign artistes.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

(With agency inputs)

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Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is all set to launch the second trailer of his directorial Mirzya in the Capital on September 27. He feels Delhi will always be a special place for him.

Read: Its natural Harshvardhan will get more attention, says Saiyami

I really love Delhi more than myself. I am from Delhi and have studied here. So, I am bringing my next back to my roots. This place is also a very big market for us. Whatever we do here spreads not just to the entire country but also to the entire world. That is the kind of prominence Delhi has got, says Mehra, who launched the first trailer of the film on Youtube .

Read: We bunked classes, fought with faculty in college, says Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra

Mehra, who has directed films such as Rang De Basanti and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, believes that the city has come a long way and has crafted its history in a beautiful manner.

Delhi is a melting pot for the rest of the country and even the world is coming here. It has carried such a beautiful history of Mughal era, the poetry and craft, he says.

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One night, a prostitute gets talking to a stranger. When she learns hes a writer, she makes a deal with him: in exchange for her body, he will write the story of all the prostitutes who died in the earthquake. Thats French author Makenzy Orcels Les Immortelles (The Immortals / Under the Peepal Tree) in a nutshell.

Now imagine meeting Orcel himself and having him read it out to you! Or Polands award-winning writer Jacek Dehnel reading out his work to you. Yes, you could speed date these two and eight other European writers and storytellers in a literary way, right in the Capital, at the Long Night of LiteratureS.

French author Makenzy Orcel will be reading his Les Immortelles (The Immortals / Under the Peepal Tree), at the literary do.

Not missing the importance of first impression, participating multilingual storyteller, poet and journalist Laila Wadia, who was born in India, but lives in Italy, says, First impressions take 5 minutes: in love, at work and with a book. So Im looking forward to a lot of wonderful first experiences that I hope might lead to long-term friendship and readership.

Ute Reimer-Bohner, director information and library services South Asia Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan, informs, The Delhi audience has been most enthusiastic about the event - a literary speed dating. It allows them to encounter a number of European authors from in different languages, in short time, in an almost private ambience. This year the night is going to be longer than last year.

Read: French author Makenzy Orcels Les Immortelles (The Immortals / Under the Peepal Tree) in a nutshell.

Bibliophiles get to listen to 10 authors, from 10 European countries, including: France, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Switzerland. Each author reads to an audience of about 12-15 people for 20 minutes. The group then moves to the next room to listen to another author.

Markus Kirchhofer, from Switzerland, is looking forward to the event. He feels it will help him grow as a writer.

The writers are as kicked about the event, as the bibliophiles. My expectations as a story teller are those of exchanging tales. I am not a writer. A writer writes. I am a storyteller. A storyteller interacts. My writing is italoangloindian, with no hyphenations, so I hope this translingual poetry I Will be presenting will resound with all those who believe that literature can transcend language, says Wadia.

Read: Most painful thing is to be called unpatriotic, says Sania Mirza at book launch

Markus Kirchhofer, from Switzerland, is already enjoying the warmth of people in India. He feels the experience will help any writer grow and adds, The format is something I havent experienced before. It sounds exciting because it allows a close and a more intimate interaction with the audience members. When the group is small - the exchange is special as there is a connection between the author and the audience. I will be reading from my first solo publication, a volume of poems titled Eisfischen (2014) and am going to read different poems - so each session will be different to the other. I am looking forward to this opportunity to engage with literature enthusiasts from India.

Catch it Live:

What: Long Night of LiteratureS

Where: Instituto Cervantes, 48, Hanuman Road, New Delhi

When: 23 September 2016 at 5:30 pm

Nearest Metro station: Rajiv Chowk Metro Station on Blue Line and Yellow Line

For entry: Entry by prior registration, write to longnightlit@gmail.com to register
Bharti Airtel Ltd, Indias biggest mobile phone carrier, will offer its prepaid customers three months of unlimited data for Rs 1,494 rupees ($22), escalating a price war after the entry of a new player.

The company will offer up to 30 gigabytes of data at 4G speeds and then slower speeds thereafter.

Carriers such as Bharti and Vodafone India are reducing prices after Reliance Jio Infocomm, a 4G telecoms venture backed by Indias richest man Mukesh Ambani, launched commercial operations this month, offering all services free until the end of the year.

Currently, one gigabyte of 4G data valid for about a month is priced at about 250 rupees or more. Most Indian cellphone users are prepaid, or without a monthly contract with their carrier.
Striking political consensus, the GST Council on Friday said businesses with an annual turnover of less than R20 lakh will be exempt from the goods and services tax (GST). The threshold will be R10 lakh in the north-eastern and hill states.

All decisions today were on consensus, there was no need of any voting, Jaitley said. All items including cess would be included in GST, he added.

At the end of the first meeting, the Council headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley also decided that state authorities will have jurisdiction over assessees with annual turnover of less than R1.5 crore. For those with turnover of over R1.5 crore, there would be cross examination by officers from either states or the Centre to avoid dual control.

However, the power for assessment of 11 lakh service tax assessees, who are currently assessed by the Centre, would remain with it. New assessees would be divided between the Centre and states.

All state finance ministers are members of the GST Council.

Meanwhile, Fridays meeting was a much more amicable affair compared to Thursdays.

The Council has also decided to keep financial year 2015-2016 as the base year for compensating states in case of any revenue loss to states following GSTs implementation. Decisions regarding revenue projection and compensation formula will be taken in the next meeting on September 30. The rates would be decided on separate meetings on October 17, 18 and 19.

We will try ad finalise the rates and slabs during our meeting on October 17,18 and 19,Jaitley said.

A panel headed by the chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian had recommended capping the GST rate at 18%.

States, however, continued to spar over revenue projection. How we will arrive at the revenue projection is a concern. We need more data to analyse the revenue growth under the new tax regime, said Abhishek Mishra, finance minister of Uttar Pradesh. Captain Abhimanyu, finance minister of Haryana, said his state had no concerns as the Centre has assured compensation in case of any loss.
This is not a great time to be Samsung. Certainly not a great time to be Samsung and fly.

Most frequent fliers treat airlines safety announcements and demonstrations as a banality. Yes, they say to themselves, we will first fix our oxygen mask before helping others do it. And then they bury their gaze a little deeper into their smartphones.

But these days if that smartphone happens to be a Samsung Galaxy Note 7, you will feel your back prickle at the end of the safety demo. The last line these days is that if you have a Note 7, you must keep it switched off through the flight, while the other phones can run in airplane mode. And whatever else you do, do not, under any circumstances, try to charge your Note 7 in the plane. This is done under instruction from the aviation regulator, after some of these phones were found to burst into flames when charged.

Well, if you are carrying one, you just hang your head a little lower, and take solace in that someone somewhere would be calculating the damage to his brand image.

Under normal circumstances, this would have made Apple ecstatic. The iPhone maker has been brawling with Samsung in various courts, having accused it of stealing stuff from the iPhone. The rejoicing still might be happening, but perhaps not too loud. You can put that down to a hiss.

News outfits and tech blogs are full of reports of users complaining of a hissing sound when they use their iPhone7, which Apple calls the best iPhone ever (which it may want to be read as the best phone ever). Apparently the noise comes from the back of the iPhone near the Apple logo.

There is a bit of a frenzy out there to figure out the reason for this supposed hiss, and how it might interfere with the use of the phone, particularly video and sound recording. Some have now come forward to say that the older versions of the iPhone and the iPad also make similar noises, only to different degrees of loudness.

Is it louder in the iPhone 7? Is that why it has become a talking point? We will know soon  HTs tech writer has just got hold of an iPhone 7.

Getting back to normal circumstances, the hissing, or anything bad about Apple, should have sent a wave of cheer in Google. Didnt Steve Jobs talk of waging a thermo-nuclear war against the internet giant? Except that Googles latest baby, the chat app Allo, is mired in its own sorrows.

As Fortune.com reported, many reviewers have been underwhelmed by the chat app, though it has a virtual assistant that may be one up on Apples Siri and Microsofts Cortana. But the underwhelmed reviews will not worry Google as much as the charges of flouting privacy norms.

Allo does not encrypt the chats end-to-end. (This is where WhatsApp shines in comparison, having encrypted its chats end-to-end just a little before Allo came out). So the Allo chats can be read by Googles virtual assistant - a thought that revolts privacy advocates.

What is #Allo? A Google app that records every message you ever send and makes it available to police upon request, tweeted Edward Snowden, the American whistleblower who in 2013 leaked secret information about the United States surveillance activities.

When Allo was first announced earlier this year, it was meant to raise privacy levels. But the version that has come out is seen to do the opposite.

So where are the top tech companies of the world going? Well, wherever they might be, they are going hissing, heating, and grappling.

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The US-based hotel chain Marriott International has become the largest hospitality operator in the country with 18,000 rooms which translates into more than 11 per cent in the domestic market, following its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts globally on Friday.

With this acquisition, the Taj Group, with over 14,000 rooms, has slipped to second slot. Prior to the merger, Marriott was the fourth largest hotel brand in the country while Starwood was the fifth.

The combined group has 15 brands, including the most premium Ritz-Carlton of Starwood and W of Marriott which is coming up in Goa, and 79 operational properties across 19 cities.

The group, which follow an asset light model with managed properties, will be opening 80 more properties in 34 cities over the next four years, Marriott Internationals Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific Rajeev Menon told reporters here this evening.

Marriott now has 30 brands globally with over 5,700 properties in over 110 countries. Some of its key brands include Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, St Regis, JW Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Westin, Le Meridien, Renaissance, Sheraton, Courtyard, Four Points, Fairfield Inn, Aloft, Element and Protea, among others.

The merged company will operate or franchise more than 5,700 properties and 1.1 million rooms, representing 30 leading brands from the moderate to luxury in over 110 countries. After acquisition, Marriotts distribution has more than doubled in Asia and the Middle East.

When asked whether the merger has all the regulatory approvals in place, Menons answered in the affirmative.

Menon also said post merger, all the brands of Starwood will remain as they are, and the change is in the legal entity of their management.
A group of young people at the Malecon in Havana, Cuba.

More information Cuba simboliza su apertura digital anunciando Wi-fi para el Malecon

The Cuban governments plan to roll out internet access on the island is one of the most attention-grabbing headlines in the countrys slow-moving process of political and economic liberalization. And the Raul Castro administration has just announced a project that perfectly symbolizes this shift in policy: paid internet access along the Malecon in Havana before the end of the year.

The plan will cover six kilometers along the capitals iconic pier, from Paseo del Prado to the mouth of the Almendares River, the western border of the downtown area. The government began to install Wi-Fi spots in Havana in July 2015 and extended the network throughout the busiest areas of the city. The authorities have also brought Wi-Fi technology to other Cuban cities.

An hour of internet connection costs two pesos convertibles, or $2, a huge sum for most people in the country

Internet access is an astronomical shift that opens up different communication channels, an important step for a country where nearly every person has relatives living abroad and a society that has not had any information from the outside world for 50 years.

Access, however, is still difficult to come by. An hour of internet connection costs two pesos convertibles, or $2, a huge sum in a country where government employees make $20-30 a month  even if more and more people are earning extra money through private businesses. Coverage is patchy and websites that criticize the Cuban government are blocked.

Still, the need to communicate and the proverbial Cuban inventiveness has led to a growing number of people using the internet more frequently throughout the day. The government says 5% of the population uses the internet but the actual number of users is probably higher, especially in Havana and other large cities. Programs that allow several people to connect to one users signal help overcome certain obstacles.

The government says 5% of the population uses the internet but the actual number of users is probably higher

For now, the government continues to restrict internet access at home. Only a few public employees  professionals such as doctors and state journalists  and members of the foreign press obtain that privilege. But the administration is expected to loosen restrictions in the future. Several months ago, authorities announced a plan for a pilot program that will install internet access in private homes in Habana Vieja. Companies such as Google are in contact with Cuban officials in case the government eventually decides to develop the necessary infrastructure.

With internet access, the Malecon will become an even more popular meeting place for Havana residents. The dike was built a century ago and the area nearby become the most popular strolling spot in the city. Its multi-purpose benches offer a place to sit down for a chat, a drink or just to contemplate. The Malecon became more than a parapet against the heavy sea, wrote Leonardo Padura. The Malecon represents the physical and psychological barrier where the dreams and possibilities of so many Cubans have ended or started. And now, once Wi-Fi is finally installed, it will become the leading frontier in Cubas march into the digital age.

English version by Dyane Jean Francois.
If there was any containment of tensions possible after the terror attack on the Indian Army at Uri on September 18, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shut the door on that with his speech at the United Nations. In perhaps the most inflammatory public comments of his current tenure - especially given the platform - Sharif remained silent on the attack, not even serving up a perfunctory condemnation. Instead, he hailed the Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a victim-hero. Given the gun-toting videos of Wani - who has come to represent a dangerous new phase of militancy in the Valley of local, educated boys picking up the gun - the attempts by Sharif to present him as some sort of peaceful protester was laughable.

Read: Word for word: Takeaways from Sharifs UN speech, Indias response

In a post 9/11 world haunted by the spectre of the Islamic State (IS) one has only to carefully watch Wanis videos to know that no global leader could support Sharifs UN eulogy to him. Surrounded by half a dozen militants all brandishing automatic weapons, Wani calls for Kashmiri youth to join the jihad that will eventually usher in a Caliphate - first in Kashmir and then globally. He warns the media to step in line or face the consequences. And he threatens those Kashmiris who join the police with death. In an age before the twin towers were brought down and al-Baghdadi became the worlds most wanted man, Sharif may have had some luck making a martyr out of Wani. But now all that foreign minister Sushma Swaraj needs to do when she speaks in New York next week is to play the Wani tapes. Wanis choice of words --- Caliphate, Jihad --- are too close to the idiom of the IS and other global Islamists for the world to express empathy. Sharif scored a giant self-goal.

Read: Full text of Nawaz Sharifs speech at UN general assembly

This is not to say - and some of us have been saying it for two months --- that India does not have a genuine problem of alienation and rage in Kashmir. But that is our own problem to resolve, not Islamabads to lecture us on. The fatal mistake the government made was for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to invest all his political capital and imagination in Islamabad, instead of in Srinagar. One longed to see a domestic version of a flamboyant gesture like Modis unannounced visit to Lahore in the Valley with our own people - but that did not happen.

Read: Watch young Indian diplomat deliver stinging riposte to Nawazs speech

The government wrongly calculated that the road to peace in Kashmir was via Pakistan. If anything, its the other way around. The best way to render Pakistan irrelevant is in fact to reach a settlement at home. Pakistans hold over the Kashmiri people has been exaggerated. During the recent unrest, I asked a young street protester who pointed my camera to a Pakistani flag flung over a street lamp, what its relevance was to them. He laughed and said, None. We put these flags up to irritate you people. But the crying need for a domestic Kashmir dialogue is a longer conversation for a different time; the Uri attacks have brought home the need for the Centre to find an authentic and consistent Pakistan policy.

Read: Full coverage of Uri Attack

So far there has been confusion and inconsistency in its approach to Islamabad - lurching wildly between romanticised notions of friendship (the hand-in-hand walk in Lahore), untenable red lines that had to be swiftly shifted (no dialogue if the Pakistanis met with the separatist Hurriyat Conference), wild leaps of faith (allowing Pakistani investigators, including the ISI, into the Pathankot air base where its own Deep State had attacked us) and now a clear intent to sever ties in the short term at least. Some of this seeming confusion is understandably the malleability that is required of smart diplomacy. But some of it  a substantive part - reflects political confusion. The missteps betray a conflicted identity: Does the BJP want to be the tough-guy it promised it would be while in Opposition; the Action Hero alternative to the Congresss more chocolate-boy wimpish instincts; or, does it want to be Vajpayee-esque in its optimistic and statesman-like determination to keep looking for solutions while hardening stands when needed.

The government is right in gauging that Uri is a tipping point. As the single largest such attack on security forces in years it has triggered seething rage among people. It is correct for the security forces to be given a free hand and autonomy in determining the appropriate response - covert, overt, localised at the Line of Control or otherwise.

But as India determines her next steps heres what we should all avoid at all costs  loose talk - either of war or cutting off the flow of the Indus water or cross-border raids. This is no time for delusional talk of peace either, please. Its a moment to hold our nerve and be cold and calculating instead of impetuous and hot-headed. War is too serious to be treated like an X-Box game. Leave it to those who know better - our military - to make their own assessments. In the meantime, a range of other options exist: Postpone the Saarc summit and allow it a NAM-like slow fade into irrelevance; strengthen other regional forums such as Bimstec that keep Pakistan out and yes, while I would never support using water as a weapon, go ahead and scrap the MFN status to Pakistan. If there is no response from Pakistan to the Uri evidence provided by India then think about recalling the Indian envoy or asking the Pakistani envoy to leave. In the meantime, please quit picking on Pakistani actors and artistes in the film industry. Threatening them is shameful. Action is about real targets, not fall guys.

And finally, a little silence wont hurt any of us. The gladiatorial thirst and thrust is good for studios and social media warriors. Not for those who actually have to go to battle.

Barkha Dutt is consulting editor, NDTV, and founding member, Ideas Collective

The views expressed are personal

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NEW DELHI: A 20-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide on Thursday evening by jumping down from the third floor balcony of a shopping mall. The incident was reported from east Delhis Anand Vihar. Police have recovered a plastic bag containing a packet of rat kill poison and Rs 5 in coins from the victims possession.

The identity of the woman could not be established till late in the night. The police could not also ascertain the reason behind the woman taking the extreme step as no suicide note was found either from her possession or from the incident site.

A senior police officer said that the incident took place around 7.30pm at Cross River Shopping Mall located near the Karkardooma Courts. Eyewitnesses told police that the woman was standing on the third floor balcony of the malls building. Suddenly, she climbed onto the railing and jumped down. She landed on her head on the concrete floor below and started bleeding profusely.

Some visitors at the mall raised an alarm and informed the police control room. A police team arrived at the spot and rushed the woman to Hedgewar hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
NEW DELHI: Lack of education and peer pressure are the major reasons behind children committing crimes, a report by child rights NGO, Butterflies, shows.

The research, Children and Crime -The Behind Story, which will be released on Friday. As many as 605 juveniles were interviewed for the report. Of these, 182 were inmates of minor detention centres in Delhi.

The report says that of the 182 children in correction homes, only 43 children were studying at the time of their apprehension.

School factors such as absence, under achievement and low school attachment/bonding are likely to get the children attracted and associated with deviant groups and get involved in violent acts, the report read.

Children from four states, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Delhi were interviewed for the report. In Kerala 22 out of 32, in Odisha 38 out of 107, and in Tamil Nadu 63 out of 284 children were studying when they committed crimes.

Among children who were in schools when they committed crimes, it was seen that either their academic performance was poor or the state of infrastructure or teaching facilities in schools were inadequate.

The study thus portrays that while the familial factors laid the root, the school propelled their deviance with their association with children of similar problems, the report read.

The study also showed that 58.8% delinquents in the Capital had committed crimes in groups. Kerala topped the list with 78.1% children committing crimes in groups.

It was seen that children who were friends with adults or children older than their own age had a higher chance of committing crimes early in their childhood.

Interviews with juveniles showed that many got addicted to alcohol, drugs and smoking from their associations with their older friends.

Association with adult people is likely to make them susceptible to exploitation and offences easily, the report read.

Evidences prove that the peers of these children in detention centres exhibited certain common features such as drop outs, experience of several vulnerabilities and deprivations and lack of adequate parenting.

Rita Panicker, founder and director of Butterflies said, If we do not listen to these children and their problems are not brought before the government, we will not be able to control juvenile crimes.

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NEW DELHI: 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.
New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal criticised the government agencies on Thursday over an overflowing garbage dumping site and a clogged drain in Inderpuri.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to Delhi government, Delhi Jal Board and North Delhi Municipal Corporation. The tribunal asked them to submit their replies before the next date of hearing.

Delhi has recorded 4,000 cases of dengue and chikungunya. There has been a criticism of the government agencies for failing to control the spread of the diseases and prevent breeding of mosquitoes.

It also asked the North civic body to immediately clean the drain and the dhalao. After seeing the original photographs, the court asked the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to clear the mess and maintain the garbage dumping site in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, lawyer for the petitioner Gaurav Bansal said.

The order came on a petition by Inderpuri resident Bharat Bhushan Uppal. The petition highlighted the pathetic attitude of government officials, which resulted in overflowing drain and dhalao. Both spots are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, the petition said.

The dhalao, on the main road of Inderpuri, is in dilapidated condition, have become almost open dumping site. The drain, too, is overflowing as the silt is due to fecal sludge, septage and other sewage sludges which comes out from nearby households and business establishments having no septic tanks or wastewater treatment facilities, the petition says.

Earlier on Wednesday, the green court had critiqued the government agencies for not taking strong measures to control the spread of dengue and chikungunya in the Capital. A committee headed by the Chief Secretary of Delhi government has been asked to formulate an action plan to control the outbreak.

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WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: 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 neighbours 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 support and indulge in cross-border terrorism against its neighbours.

India would not set a time-frame 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 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 gover nments 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.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh will soon return to his alma mater, Panjab University, to teach economics.

A parliamentary panel on Thursday responded to a query from Singh who had sought to know if his taking up the job will invite disqualification as an MP under a law that prohibits lawmakers from holding positions with monetary benefits.

We have cleared it. Manmohan Singhs job as a teacher will not attract the provisions of office of profit, said BJP MP Satya Pal Singh, the panels chief.

Read | 50 yrs on, Manmohan to be back as professor at Panjab University

The panel had asked the human resource development (HRD) and law ministries to respond to Singhs query. After it got written responses, the committee on office of profit met on Thursday to take a decision.

Sources said that since Singh will only draw a daily allowance of Rs 5000 and not a fixed salary, it will not be in conflict with the office of profit law. The Constitution prohibits legislators or parliamentarians from holding positions with monetary or other benefits.

Singh, a Rajya Sabha member from Assam, was Prime Minister for ten years till Narendra Modi succeeded him in 2014.

In March 2006, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi resigned as Rae Bareli MP after a controversy erupted over her heading the National Advisory Council simultaneously. She then returned to Parliament in May 2006.

Singh had acquired his Masters degree from Panjab University in 1954 and joined the institution as a senior lecturer in 1957 and went on to become a professor in 1963.

In April, the university announced that Singh will head its Jawaharlal Nehru Chair, which was vacant for a long period. Singh is likely to accept the offer.

Heres how Twitter reacted:

That's Dr. Manmohan Singh! The integrity & honesty of this man was once challenged by the charlatans around. #Proud https://t.co/RqSEEoKDU7  Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) 23 September 2016

I wish I can go back to college to learn from him



Is a teachers job an office of profit, asks Manmohan Singh https://t.co/zBWn7ss1LD  Harini Calamur (@calamur) 23 September 2016

Wonderful news heard in a long time. Manmohan Singh going back to his Alma mater to teach economics. Such an awesome experience to young.  Rohin Makkar (@Rohino) 23 September 2016

Manmohan Singh will return to university to teach. Good precedent. Some others can return to get real degrees



https://t.co/oeQGYbOgsz  SANJAY HEGDE (@sanjayuvacha) 23 September 2016

Mr. Manmohan Singh is returning to Punjab University as a Professor.A true academician; the country owes him a lot.  Dipan Ghosh (@dipanghosh) 7 April 2016

Dr.Manmohan Singh returns to Punjab University as Professor after 50 yrs - accepts Professorship for Jawaharlal Nehru Chair. Lucky PU.  Abdulla Madumoole (@AMadumoole) 7 April 2016

Heartening to know that former PM Dr Manmohan Singh will head JL Nehru chair of Punjab University. Welcome back Prof. Singh to teaching.  BS Chauhan (@bschauhan1512) 6 April 2016

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New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Somnath Bharti was arrested on Thursday for allegedly assaulting security staff at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), encroaching government land and disrupting peace at the hospital.

He was released on bail by a city court.

Bharti is the second AAP leader to be arrested in two days after MLA Amanatullah Khan was held on Wednesday afternoon on charges of sexual harassment.

The complaint against the Malviya Nagar MLA was filed by the AIIMS chief security of officer on September 9. The MLA was charged with rioting and damaging public property.

Bharti was arrested from his office in Green Park in south Delhi.

While the police sought 14-day custody, metropolitan magistrate Anuj Aggarwal said the chances of the legislator fleeing were remote and he deserved bail.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal reacted sharply and accused the BJP-led Centre of targeting the state government. 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 (sic), he tweeted.
To deal with the shortage of doctors in hospitals and dispensaries, the Delhi government has adopted the Centres order of increasing the age of retirement of non-teaching doctors to 65.

Good news for Delhi Govt Doctors. Enhancement of retirement to 65yrs done (sic), Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain tweeted on Friday morning.

The order came amid a dengue and chikungunya crisis in the capital. The two mosquito-borne diseases have already infected more than 4,000 people in total.

The order is applicable to all Central government doctors from May 31 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal to increase the age of retirement.

The move enabled the government to retain experienced doctors for a longer period and to provide better services in its public health facilities, particularly to the poor, who are entirely dependent on state-run facilities.

However, doctors above the age of 62 will not be allowed to hold administrative posts such as posts of the dean of a medical college, superintendent of a hospital or head of a department.

Read: Leaves cancelled, doctors, nursing staff overworked

After the age of 62, doctors will go back to their department as clinicians, sources said.

Currently, there are three cadres of doctors in Delhi government hospitals  teaching, non-teaching specialists and general duty medical officers.

The age of retirement for doctors of teaching cadre is already 65, for non-teaching specialists it is 62 and for general duty medical officers it is 60. After the order comes into force, all doctors will retire at the age of 65.

The move might impact the recruitment of young doctors. The aim of this move is to increase the number of doctors in government hospital. More posts would be created to accommodate new doctors. However, such procedures take time and hence, in the meanwhile, there might be some problem with recruitment, an official said.
Experts have voiced concern over not a single Indian educational institution figuring in the coveted top 200 list of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016-17, released on Wednesday.

India aced the rankings as far as South Asia was concerned, but only two universities from the country  the Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore (201-250 group) and the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (351-400 group)  could be seen in the top 400 of the 980-institution list. While the premier Bangalore institute moved up significantly in the list (it was in the 251-300 group last year), other establishments like IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur and IIT-Madras figured somewhere between ranks 401 and 500. IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Roorkee, for their part, appeared in the 501-600 band.

India has 19 institutes in the top 800, two more than last year, and 12 others between 801 and 980.

Though we may pat ourselves on the back because a record 31 Indian educational institutions  including 14 new names  have made it to the list, the picture does not look as rosy when we take the total area and population of India into consideration.

Read | With 31 institues, India tops South Asian list of global university rankings

So, why hasnt any Indian university or educational institution figured in the top 200 of the list? Deepak Pental, former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, cites the countrys lackadaisical approach towards improving the quality of education and research as the reason. The way things are going, we will not be able to improve our rankings even in the next ten years. Our universities places zero emphasis on improving teaching and research. Why do you think Chinese and Singapore universities have fared so well? Its because they are research-oriented universities. We, on the other hand, open institutes due to critical pressure, and quality becomes the first casualty, he said.

If we are to improve, we should change our attitude towards education and stop politicising it. We need to concentrate on specialised research to improve our ranking, he added.

A former IIT director seconded Pentals opinion. Quality is a major challenge, especially in research, which plays a major role in global rankings. We need to invest more in research and other allied activities to improve our ranking, he said on the condition of anonymity.

However, the human resource development (HRD) ministry seemed more optimistic about Indian educational institutions making a mark in upcoming lists. We have been devising plans to ensure that our educational institutions perform better. For instance, we have launched a new project called Vishwajeet thats aimed at improving the global ranking of seven IITs. These institutions will get better funding and infrastructure, helping them excel on all parameters. Our teacher-student ratio seems poor because we dont count our PhD scholars who take regular classes as faculty members. However, as they are globally counted as faculty members, we have decided to follow the same system. This will improve the overall ranking of our institutions, the HRD official said.

President Pranab Mukherjee, during a speech delivered at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in 2014, had decried the lack of quality in the India education system. We have made rapid strides in boosting our higher educational infrastructure  there are 723 universities and over 37,000 colleges in our country. However, many of our institutes lack quality that denies students world-class education, he had said. There is not a single Indian institution amongst the top 200 universities in the world. I do believe that some of our institutions are better than what the rankings project However, it is also a fact that an all-out effort to revamp our academic system is the need of the hour, Mukherjee added.

The list, topped by the University of Oxford (relegating the California Institute of Technology to the second position), continues to be dominated by US and European establishments. However, two new Asian universities  the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)  have made it to the top 100. Four other institutes from the continent  City University of Hong Kong (119th), University of Science and Technology of China (153rd), Fudan University, China (155th) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (192nd)  appear in the top 200.

#HTPoll | No Indian institute among top 200 global universities: Do you think the country's higher education is failing?  Hindustan Times (@htTweets) September 23, 2016

Besides this, two universities from China  Peking University (29th) and Tsinghua University (35th)  have moved up the ladder from the 42nd and 47th places respectively. The National University of Singapore, the top Asian university in the rankings, comes 24th  its best-ever rank.

Other universities from the continent to appear in the top 200 list are: University of Hong Kong (43rd); Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (49th); Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (54th); Seoul National University, Republic of Korea (72nd); Chinese University of Hong Kong (76th); Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (89th); Kyoto University, Japan (91st); Pohang University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea (104th); Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Republic of Korea (137th); and National Taiwan University (195th).

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Homebuyers in New Gurgaon sectors are questioning Hudas decision of not acquiring land needed for developing much-needed parks, green belts and a multi-purpose stadium in the area. They are demanding an inquiry to find out why the money collected as external development charge was allowed to be spent across the state and not in Gurgaon.

The homebuyers recall the promises of green areas, wide roads and world-class infrastructure made to them at the time of selling flats.

Seven years after the development of New Gurgaon and investment of millions of rupees, homebuyers say they are still living with agriculture fields around.

On Wednesday, Huda confirmed that it has dropped a plan to acquire 1,290 acres in sectors 76 to 115 due to shortage of funds. Although the authority plans to use land pooling and collaborate with land owners to acquire plots , the homebuyers are not convinced.

Read more: High cost of land acquisition slows down new Huda projects in Gurgaon

Sectors from 58 to 115 in Gurgaon are being developed by private builders. Huda will develop the master infrastructure from the money collected from the buyers.

I am planning to write to the chief minister and other authorities, seeking an inquiry as to why funds meant for Gurgaon were allowed to be spent in other areas. Now, Huda does not have funds to develop park and green belts. This is a setback for the homebuyers, said 82-year old Vedpal Bakshi, who has bought two properties along the Dwarka Expressway.

The buyers also want the government to get strict with the developers who have taken EDC from the buyers but not submitted the money to the authorities.

But what has enraged the homebuyers is the diversion of funds by government agencies to other areas, leaving Huda cash-strapped.

If the government took the money collected by Huda, the urban authority should get it back so that the money can be used for the purpose it was collected.

If the government is asking developers to create escrow account for every project, why is the public money being misspent, asked Romi Sikand, another buyer.

Read more: Cash crunch: HUDA drops plan to acquire 1,290 acre for open spaces in Gurgaon

Priti Nath, another apartment buyer, said the government should ask developers to pay the pending EDC at the earliest, and ensure that the money is used to develop infrastructure in New Gurgaon.

We paid such a high price to buy homes in a cleaner and greener part of the city. But neither the house nor the infrastructure has been delivered, said Nath.

Mridul Babbar, also a homebuyer, tweeted, Please help getting us our rights. 90,000 buyers paid EDC, IDC.

Huda officials, however, insisted that the government will opt for land pooling and other ways to develop open spaces.

The funds required to buy 1,290 acre is huge and the authority does not have the resources right now. But there are other ways to collaborate with owners, said Kulbir Singh Dhaka, Land acquisition officer, HUDA.

Haryanas additional chief secretary P Raghavendra Rao, who was in Gurgaon on Monday, said a large scale exercise is being carried out to monetise the assets of the authority.

We have identified properties that will be auctioned soon to generate resources, he told HT.

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The FBI has opened an investigation of Brad Pitt, amid news reports that the Hollywood actors abusive behaviour toward his children was what led wife Angelina Jolie to file this week for divorce.

Celebrity website TMZ reported that police have launched an investigation of Pitt, who reportedly began yelling and getting physical with his children on a private jet several days ago.

An FBI statement late Thursday confirmed that an investigation regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States -- specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr. Brad Pitt and his children has been opened.

However, the press release offered no additional details about the probe, other than to say that the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.

The Los Angeles Police Department, meanwhile, so far is not investigating Pitt.

We have no report in our record for any filings for Brad Pitt, we are not having any investigations regarding Brad Pitt, police spokesman Lorenzo Quezada told AFP.

Several media outlets reported this week that Pitt had been verbally and physically abusive toward at least one of his six children during an angry outburst that contributed to Jolies decision to end their marriage.

Jolie, 41, on Monday filed for divorce from Pitt, 52, citing irreconcilable differences and seeking custody of their six children.

Hollywood actors Brad Pitt (L) and actress Angelina Jolie (2nd R) arrive with their children Knox (beside Pitt), Vivienne (R) and Pax (C) at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan on July 28, 2013 (Reuters)

The two actors are among Americas biggest film stars. Together they came to be known as Brangelina -- Hollywoods most glamorous and celebrated couple in decades.

The A-listers wed in France in August two years ago, but have been a couple since 2004.

A copy of papers filed at Los Angeles Superior Court by Angelina Jolie shows her petition for divorce from her husband Brad Pitt in Los Angeles. (REUTERS)

They have three biological and three adopted children together.
Indian-American biologist Manu Prakash has won the prestigious MacArthur genius grant fellowship for 2016 for his low-cost inventions, including a foldable microscope built for less than $1, that have transformed scientific research in some of the worlds poorest regions.

Prakash, a graduate from IIT-Kanpur, is an assistant professor of bioengineering at Stanford University in the United States and was among the 12 people who won $625,000 award this year.

I am incredibly honoured and its quite a humbling moment. When I first got the call; I almost did not believe it, he told Hindustan Times over email.

Prakash, who studied computer science at IIT before finishing his masters and PhD in applied physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, first shot to fame when he built a paper microscope  foldscope -- that folded like origami with glass beads as lenses embedded in.

I think like a biologist but solve problems like an engineer. Fundamentally, I like solving problems, he told LA Times in an interview.

Read: Two IIT alumni among winners of prestigious MacArthur genius grant

Prakash says the microscope  part of an array of ultra low-cost scientific instruments -- has been distributed to 135 countries, where thousands of people have used them to explore diseases, map biodiversity and promote practical education in rural area.

My work is driven by pure curiosity; and while I delve in my own scientific inquiries - I also try to build and design tools that are affordable for people around the world to engage and experience the joy of science first hand, he told HT.

Manu Prakash said his interest in frugal science came from his childhood. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

Among the projects Prakash is working on right now includes a low-cost chip that can collect thousands of saliva droplets from mosquito bites to be screened for pathogens.

The invention would enable rapid and low-cost collection of surveillance data that can prove critical to staving off the kind of mosquito-borne disease outbreak that India is currently reeling under. The country has seen thousands of cases of dengue and chikungunya over the past two months with scores of deaths. I am filled with excitements for the things to come and new explorations, he told HT.

Prakash said his interest in frugal science came from his childhood, when he grew up in a resource-poor region and was often forced to scrounge to sustain his scientific interests.

In the years that followed, he constantly improvised on existing materials, including building a water computer  a system where water droplets trapped in a magnetic field could be manipulated to behave like one of the building blocks of the modern computer.

Among the projects Prakash is working on right now includes a low-cost chip that can collect thousands of saliva droplets from mosquito bites to be screened for pathogens. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

The MacArthur fellowships are awarded to people with exceptional creativity and the grant money is disbursed over five years to provide recipients with the flexibility to pursue goals without tight deadlines.

This years grants also included another Indian, New York University professor Subhash Khot, a theoretical computer scientist at New York University who is pushing the frontiers of computer design. Khot graduated from IIT-Bombay in 1999.

As computers come to drive ever more aspects of our lives, greater understanding of the limitations of computing is increasingly important. Khots continued ingenuity and tenacity will drive this important and fruitful area of research for many years to come, said the MacArthur fellowship citation.

Subhash Khot, an alumnus of IIT-Bombay, is one of the recipients of the 2016 MacArthur fellowships. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation)

Prakash told the Stanford University website that he almost didnt pick up the phone when the MacArthur Foundation called because he was tending to his 4-month-old twins. He also declined a phone interview request from HT for the same reason.

His many lines of research are driven by curiosity about the diversity of life forms and how they work, empathy for problems in resource-poor settings, and a deep interest in democratizing the experience and joy of science globally, said the MacArthur fellowship citation.

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Heavy rains wreaked havoc in parts of Hyderabad and its suburbs for the fourth consecutive day as water entered residential areas, submerged parking lots in commercial complexes and flooded the streets.

Storm water drains overflowed and water entered residential colonies in Nizampet, Balanagar and Alwal on Wednesday.

Parking lots in several commercial complexes had submerged while roads turned into rivers with three to four feet water.

Flooded streets near Mahboob Mansion Market Malakpet in Hyderabad on Thursday. (PTI)

Women slip in water on a flooded street amidst heavy rains in Hyderabad . (AFP)

Residents dry out their belongings following heavy rains caused flooding in the low-lying area of Quthbullapur on the outskirts of Hyderabad. (AFP)

People were confined to apartments in some flooded areas like Bhandari Layout in Nizampet.

Vendors were seen throwing drinking water and milk packets to those on first floor on Wednesday.

An Indian man speaks on his mobile phone outside his flooded home, following heavy rain in Nijampet a low lying area on the outskirts of Hyderabad on September 21, 2016. (AFP)

As heavy rains inundated the roads, there were traffic snarls in many key industrial, commercial and residential areas in almost all parts of the city.

Man tries to cross a waterlogged street in Hyderabad on Thursday. (PTI)

Mman carries his belongings along a flooded street, following heavy rain in Nijampet, a low lying area on the outskirts of Hyderabad on September 21, 2016. (AFP)

Man rides a motorbike through a waterlogged street in Hyderabad. (AP)

A view of a flooded School at Begumpet after heavy rains in Hyderabad on Wednesday. (PTI)

Guntur affected

Rivulets in Guntur district started overflowing on Wednesday. The water has flooded housing colonies in Sattenapalli town and nearby villages. Revenue officials have made arrangements to provide drinking water and food packets to the affected people.

Five persons were on Thursday killed in Guntur in rain related accidents.

Three were washed away in the Kuppaganji rivulet near Chilakaluripet.

One person was killed by lightning at Brahmanapalli village near Piduguralla, while another was killed when an uprooted tree fell on him.

Flooded Moazzam Jahi Market after heavy rains in Hyderabad on Thursday. (PTI)

Vehicles and people navigate their way through a waterlogged street in Hyderabad. (AP)

People wait outside the emergency block of a private hospital surrounded by floodwatwers, following heavy rain in Suraram, a low lying area on the outskirts of Hyderabad. (AFP)

Man walks along a flooded street following heavy rain in Nijampet, a low lying area on the outskirts of Hyderabad. (AFP)

Trains halted

Several express and passenger trains between Guntur and Secunderabad had to be stopped at several places as flood waters flowed over railway tracks.

Many passenger trains were cancelled on Nadikudi-Guntur section also.

Roads overflowing

About 40 passengers of an APSRTC bus were rescued after it was stuck midstream on a causeway at Krosuru as flood water gushed in from Utukuru rivulet. Locals used ropes to rescue the stranded passengers.

Three teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the Palnadu region for rescue and relief operations.

A memebr of the housekeeping staff moves an oxygen cylinder through a flooded ward of a private hospital, following heavy rain in Suraram. (AFP)


At least six militants belonging to the Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) group, including two of its top leaders, were killed during an encounter with security forces on Friday morning in Karbi Anglong district of Assam.

An army personnel was injured during the operation.

A joint team consisting of army men and local police launched an operation at Banipathar area at around 1 am on Friday.

Militants exchanged fire with security forces inside the forest area, superintendent of police Debojit Deuri told PTI.

Six KPLT militants were killed, while an army man was injured, Deuri said.

Two top leaders of the group were killed during the encounter, claimed Deuri, adding, soon they will start identifying the dead militants.

One SLR rifle, one Insas rifle, three pistols and two grenades were recovered from the militants, he said.

KPLT was formed in 2010-11 by a breakaway faction of the Karbi National Liberation Front after the KLNF declared ceasefire. The group is active in the remote areas of Bokajan.
Union minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale on Friday said the Constitution should be amended to provide 25% quota to the poor among the upper castes such as Patels and Marathas.

I will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss this issue with him, Athawale told reporters in Vadora during a a memorial function for Dalit icon B R Ambedkar.

I am in favour of 25% reservation for the economically backward sections among the upper castes from the general quota, he said, adding that he, thus, favoured 75% reservation overall.

Patels under Hardik Patels leadership are demanding reservations in Gujarat, Jats are demanding reservations in Haryana, Rajputs and Gujjars have made same demand in Rajasthan. I am of the opinion that all these communities should be given reservation, he said, adding that the Marathas were making the same demand in Maharashtra.

To increase the quantum of reservations, constitutional amendment should be made, he said.

He also made it clear that he was firmly opposed to the Maratha communitys demand of repealing the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

If there are any specific suggestions for minor changes which would stop its misuse, my ministry will definitely examine them, he said.

Gujarat culture minister Rajendra Trivedi, BJP MP Ranjanben Bhatt and several Dalit leaders were also present during the function.

If people insist on repealing the Act, then they need to first take steps to ensure that atrocities (on Dalits and tribals) do not happen, he said, while condemning the rape and murder of a Maratha girl, allegedly by Dalit youths, at Kopardi in Maharashtra which triggered the ongoing Maratha protest.

Athawale, who heads RPI (A), said he has taken up the issue of alliance with the BJP for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections with party president Amit Shah to prevent Mayawati from coming to power.

We want to field 30 candidates in UP, he said.

He also alleged that the Mayawati-led BSP had grabbed his partys symbol elephant, and vowed to take it back by approaching the Election Commission and pointing out BSPs failure to win a single Lok Sabha seat in UP in 2014 polls.

On the Uri terror attack, Athawale said, Prime Minister Modi means business and India will give a befitting reply.

On the flogging of Dalit youths by cow vigilantes at Una in Gujarat, Athawale expressed satisfaction over the investigation.

I have met (Gujarat) chief minister Vijay Rupani and requested him to allocate a large chunk of land here for building a huge memorial of Dr Ambedkar, he said.

He said a decision on increasing the scholarships for Dalit and OBC students will be taken very soon.
Bihars health minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Friday reiterated that he could not be held responsible for each person he was photographed with as there was no way for public representatives to know the credentials of each of the hundreds who seek a snap with them.

He was responding to a Supreme Court notice on photographs showing him with Mohammad Kaif and Javed Mian, alleged sharp shooters and suspects in the murder of Hindustans journalist in Siwan, Rajdeo Ranjan.

I am a public representative and get photographed with hundreds of people. How can I know who is a criminal? Is it written on somebodys forehead that the person is a history sheeter? he asked.

Read | Bihar health min Tej Pratap Yadav seen with yet another murder suspect

Yadav went a step further to suggest that the BJP also ought to be given a notice as many of its top leaders have been seen in photos with criminals recently.

The apex court had issued the notice to Yadav on Friday while hearing a petition filed by Ranjans wife, Asha, who is seeking a transfer of the murder case to Delhi.

If the SC has issued a notice, I respect it, Yadav said.

In her petition, Asha Ranjan said she feared for her life and those of her family as the suspect Kaif is not under arrest and was even photographed with a state cabinet minister.

Reports said the apex court also served a notice to Siwan strongman Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was also photographed with Kaif after his recent release from jail.

Some day ago, Kaif surrendered in court in an extortion case after police apparently mounted pressure on him and attached his property to the case. He was also questioned for Ranjans murder, a case that has been taken over by the CBI now.

Meanwhile, state spokesperson for the Janata Dal (United), Ajay Alok, also reiterated that it was difficult for politicians, actors and celebrities to ascertain the credentials of people being photographed with them.

In these times, it has become common for people to get photographed with bigwigs. And, its the case with leaders of all political parties. Even BJP leaders were seen in pictures with Kaif, he said.

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In the midst of much-publicised BJP national council meet in north Kerala port city Kozhikode, an important ally of the party -- Bhartiya Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), a political outfit of backward Ezhavas, on Friday threatened to desert the saffron camp accusing it of ignoring coalition dharma.

BDJS supremo Vellapally Natesan warned that the alliance would break unless the BJP leadership fulfils promises made to the party.

Interestingly, this is happening at a time when party chief Amit Shah is desperately scouting for allies to widen the party base in the southern state.

The coalition will not work if the BJP leadership continues to ignore the BDJS. It has to meet the promises made when we agreed to work together. We have been waiting but we are running out of patience now, said Natesan. The two had entered into a coalition a few months before the May assembly elections in which the NDA improved its vote share from 7 to 15 per cent.

Talking to HT, Natesan said, We have been waiting all these days. But our patience is running out. Party cadres are also upset with the continued silence of the BJP leadership, he said.

However, he refused to disclose what promises the BJP leadership had made.

He said his party has to suffer a lot when it decided to ally with the BJP.

Now, our cadre is openly asking us what have we got by aligning with the BJP. We never expected such a treatment, he said, adding his son Tushar Vellapally will attend the NDA meeting to be convened by Amit Shah on Monday.

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Border Security Force said that they opened fire after following suspicious movement near Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmirs Kupwara district.

A BSF spokesman said that the movement was noticed in the forests of Keran near LoC in Kupwara.

We opened fire and they also retaliated. But it has stopped since then, said the spokesperson. The official added that the forces have launched a search operation in the area.

North Kashmir has witnessed a heightened military activity after 18 soldiers were killed in an attack by militants on an army base in Uri sector on LoC on September 18.

Since then, security forces say they have foiled multi-infiltration bids in various sectors of north Kashmir.

On Thursday, army said two infiltration bids by militants were foiled along the Line of Control in the Nowgam sector.

An army official said it has enhanced its vigil in view of the increased infiltration attempts on LoC. On the intervening night of September 21-22, two separate groups trying to sneak in were intercepted and forced to flee, the official said.

Earlier on September 20, army claimed to have foiled infiltration bids in Uri and Nowgam sector. A soldier was killed in Nowgam in the operation.
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 Courts 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 courts 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 Supreme 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 also met governor Vajubhai Vala and former chief minister SM 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 peoples interest in mind.

He said government has taken a decision and we are all with it, completely.

Stating that Krishna has supported governments 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 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.
The government is set to oppose the controversial triple talaq divorce route for Muslims during a hearing in the Supreme Court next week, ditching a neutral stand on the politically sensitive tradition that the government says has no place in a secular country like India.

According to Muslim personal law based on the Sharia, a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq thrice, a practice seen as discriminatory against women.

Sources in the Union law ministry said that the government will base its stand on the example of around 20 Islamic nations that regulate matrimonial law.

If regulating matrimonial law in an acknowledged Islamic country is not a contravention of Sharia (Muslim personal) law, how can it be in a secular country like India where the Constitution is supreme? a top government, functionary who is part of the governments deliberations on the issue, reasoned.

India allows different communities to practise certain personal laws  in areas such as marriage and property  but has uniform criminal laws.

Read: Triple talaq must pass the constitutional test in Supreme Court

A group of ministers including Union home minister Rajnath Singh, finance minister Arun Jaitley, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, defence minister Manohar Parrikar and women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi decided that the issue be looked at as a gender justice issue.

A campaign against triple talaq has been decried by Muslim clerics, with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board telling the SC on September 2 that personal laws cannot be re-written in the name of reforms.

In case of a discord, divorce was a better option available to a Muslim man than resorting to criminal ways of getting rid of her (wife) by murdering her, AIMPLB said, sparking controversy and inviting sharp criticism from womens rights groups.

The law ministry which is drafting the governments response will tell the top court that triple talaq is concerned with non-discrimination with a woman and the dignity of an individual which permeates the entire scheme of fundamental rights under the constitution.

According to the governments new perspective on the matter, the fundamental right to religion cannot be confused with allowing a practice that is unfair, unreasonable and discriminatory.

Read: Muslim women rise against triple talaq

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that despite citizens turning into netizens due to technology and obliteration of traditional boundaries, the family continues to be the countrys biggest strength.

Technology has turned citizens into netizens, traditional boundaries are being obliterated and our thinking is fast changing. Still, between the citizens and the society, we have a unit that we call the family, which traditionally has been our biggest strength, Modi said at the launch of vice-president Hamid Ansaris book Citizen and Society at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the Capital.

We should be proud to be a country of so many dialects and languages, and so many different faiths, living in harmony. We have this legacy which we need to protect and promote, added Modi

Releasing the book, President Pranab Mukherjee urged Indians to actively engage in important issues facing the country so as to protect and advance the Indian democracy.

The book reminds us about the responsibility bestowed upon us as citizens and many a time we have failed to discharge those responsibilities. We cannot forget that without effective engagement, we cant achieve success and protect our democracy. Democracy is always noisy and our democracy is more noisy. But it always pays if we engage ourselves with issues, said Mukherjee.

Sometimes, I wonder when I look at how we are managing a country of 3.3 million square km, having 128 crore people, seven religions, 122 languages and 1,800 dialects and yet under one system, one flag and one Constitution.

It cannot be preserved, protected and advanced automatically. I thought it would be my duty to draw the attention of the Indian citizens to these aspects which our Vice President has done with elan, Mukherjee added.
The Indian Navy ended its security operations on the sightings of suspected elements on Friday, but the Maharashtra police and other agencies continue their vigil in the region.

Mystery continues over the sightings on Thursday of around five-six suspected terrorists, who were described by local school students as masked, wearing Pathani suits and carrying weapons, sending the entire security apparatus in a tizzy.

Sanitisation of the naval areas has been undertaken. Indian Navy is maintaining close liaison with local police, other agencies for further updates, developments, a defence spokesperson said in Raigad this evening.

About the state of alertness, he said the Indian Navy maintains a high state of alert/tight vigil at all times in consonance with the prevailing circumstances.

Since Thursday, multiple security agencies continued their hawk-eyed vigil on Friday to apprehend the unknown persons sighted in Uran town, and police later released sketches of two suspects.

Official sources in the state government said that the combing operations by the local authorities are in the final stages and nothing worthwhile has been found so far.

However, the police will continue to remain in a state of alertness in Uran town, which has a population of around 31,000, and the Uran sub-district has around 140,000 people spread in 53 villages and four small towns, on the mainland around 50 km from Mumbai.

Security at all critical installations and sensitive locations in Mumbai and adjoining Raigad, Navi Mumbai, has been beefed up with police road blocks and vehicle searches, fishermen were on the lookout in Arabian Sea and aerial-surface combing operations were taken up in different parts.

At least two to four schoolchildren had reported spotting some unidentified persons - ranging from one to five - wearing masks, Pathani suits and carrying weapons around 7 a.m. on Thursday.

They informed their teacher, who in turn alerted the police and the entire security apparatus swung into action within hours.

Schools, colleges, shops and establishments in Uran and surroundings remained shut for two days as security officials searched the area.

Returning from a trip to the US late on Thursday night, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to the people not to panic as adequate security arrangements were in place in Uran.

Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale said that police and other security agencies have launched operations to trace the suspects.

Till now, the version of two witnesses (students) could not be confirmed, efforts are on, Nagrale said.

Meanwhile, huge deployment of police was witnessed in parts of south Mumbai, road blocks and checking of select vehicles continued overnight in an efforts to detect the missing suspects.

Security has been intensified at Raj Bhavan, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the BARC, DAE, Mantralaya and surrounding VVIP areas, key railway terminus and stations, prominent beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu, various oil and fertilizer companies installations on the eastern coast of Mumbai, the naval harbour, JNPT and MbPT, etc.

The two-day operations were described by security personnel as the highest ever state of alert after the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror strikes.
The central government has made a mess of a previously successful strategy to tackle militancy in Kashmir, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has said, holding a BJP-PDP alliance responsible for creating a space for terrorists.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Gandhi said the Congress had a clear plan for Kashmir -- bring young people into the mainstream, generate employment and isolate Pakistan diplomatically  that had ended violence and helped India.

We broke the backbone of terrorism into three to four pieces and brought peace. We confined Pakistan, tied their hands and almost packed them, the Congress leader told HT late on Thursday.

But, he added, the BJP had diverted from the successful plan by not talking to local people and not including smaller countries in a global campaign to isolate Pakistan. They dont have an understanding of the basic tools. Every single person says the prime minister does not listen.

The Congress leaders comments came after two months of violence in Kashmir that has claimed 86 lives and left more than 10,000 people injured with widespread protests and discontent against the government and army.

Analysts say the surge in anti-India sentiment had undone decades-long efforts to curb militancy that first broke out in the Valley in 1989. India holds Pakistan responsible for the surge in violence and bilateral relations have rapidly plummeted, especially after an attack on an army base in Kashmir that killed 18 soldiers last Sunday.

But Gandhi pinned the blame on the BJP-PDP coalition, saying the coming together of the ideologically divergent parties was a strategic disaster that opened the doors for militants.

He said the PDP had a role in bringing dissatisfied youngsters and potential militants into the political system but that had been destroyed by the presence of the BJP  seen in the Valley as an anti-Kashmiri force.

By aligning with the BJP, the PDP has almost been finished, he told HT. The alliance was an anti-national act done for political opportunism. It cost India tremendously.

Since violence broke out following the July 8 killing of insurgent leader Burhan Wani, the BJP has grown increasingly unpopular in the Valley and top PDP leaders have spoken out against the alliance.

Gandhi blamed Modi for the escalation in violence, saying the prime minister was mistaken in not visiting countries associated with the Non-Aligned Movement and enlisting their support to isolate Pakistan.

The Congress leader said when former PM Manmohan Singh used to discuss the Kashmir issue with the local people and senior officials Now the PM does not talk. The people are afraid of the PM, he said.

I was shocked when a senior official said the PM knows his mind. No one can tell him otherwise. How will they make a strategy? The PM is already decided.

The 46-year-old detailed the Congress Kashmir strategy of isolating Pakistan, engaging the youth, carrying out panchayat polls, generating jobs and linking women to the banking system through self-help groups.

We ensured dissatisfied Kashmiris found an entry point to the political process from panchayati raj institutions on one side and the PDP on the other. I used to visit Jammu and Kashmir periodically. I had taken leading industrialists Ratan Tata and others. This was very successful.

The Congress successfully fought terrorism in Kashmir. Tourists started visiting in large numbers.

He said the Congress will support a concrete strategy on Kashmir that denies Pakistan any opportunity to harm India.

Geopolitical strategy cannot be based on events. Its not a game. You have to take into account and respect the views of people who have experience. The PM does not do that and India is paying a price.

Read| Rahul Gandhi says no alliance for UP polls; feels sad young Akhilesh failed
Days after the Uri attack, France on Friday said it stands with India in the fight against terrorism and expressed resolve to strengthen counter-terror cooperation with it.

The French position was conveyed by its defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he called on him here.

During the meeting, Le Drian expressed condolences for the victims of the cross-border terrorist attack in Uri on September 18, a PMO statement said.

He also expressed resolve to strengthen bilateral counter- terrorism cooperation with India, the statement said.

Le Drian briefed the Prime Minister on the current status of bilateral defence cooperation.

Read | All you need to know about the Rafale jet deal

The minister was India to sign the inter-governmental agreement on the purchase of 36 Rafale aircraft from France. Modi, who welcomed the deal, called for its speedy and timely implementation.

India and France signed the Euro 7.87-billion (Rs 59,000 crore approx) deal for 35 Rafale fighter jets, equipped with latest missiles and weapon system besides multiple India-specific modifications.

The agreement was signed by Indias defence minister Manohar Parrikar and Le Drian 16 months after Modi announced plans to buy the fighter aircraft in flyaway condition during his trip to France.

Also read | India needs more than Rafale to match China: Defence experts
Heavy rains battered Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours bringing normal life to a grinding halt and causing severe damage to crops and properties.

The capital city of Hyderabad, which has been hit by incessant rains for the last four days, is the worst affected with several residential colonies and apartments inundated due to overflowing sewers and storm water drains.

Rainfall ranging from six to 22 cm was recorded in the last 12 hours in several areas of the city.

The Telangana government announced a high alert in Hyderabad with the met department forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. It declared a holiday for all educational institutions and asked software companies in Cyberabad to allow their employees to work from home for the next 24 hours.

Streets flooded after heavy rain near Mahboob Mansion Market Malakpet in Hyderabad. (PTI)

Further, the system will continue to move in the west direction, moving closer to Telangana. With this, more torrential rains will continue to lash entire Telangana including Hyderabad during the next 48 hours as well, met officials said.

Following the request from the government, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Indian Army swung into action on Friday morning to evacuate people from the low-lying areas in Hyderabad. So far, they have evacuated 500 families to the safer places.

Several flights scheduled to depart from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad have been rescheduled by two to three hours to due to inclement weather.

The water level in the historic Hussainsagar lake, which has already crossed its full tank level (FTL) of 514.3 ft, is nearing the danger mark with the inflow of 5,000 cusecs. Authorities are able to release 4,000 cusecs through its sewers.

It resulted in inundation of several residential localities like Ashoknagar, Gandhinagar, Narayanguda, Bagh Lingampalli and Nallakunta.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation opened an emergency cell to receive SOS calls from people caught in the floods. Control rooms at all the zonal and circle offices of GHMC will function round the clock.

The GHMC authorities evacuated people from over 1,000 dilapidated buildings in the city, fearing that they might collapse any time due to heavy rains.

Several other cities in Telangana are also on high alert against the flood like situation. Places like Ranga Reddy, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar and Medak are also witnessing heavy rains.

Women receive assistance as they make their way through floodwaters following heavy rain in Nijampet, a low lying area on the outskirts of Hyderabad on September 21, 2016. (AFP)

Five killed in Andhras Guntur

The situation in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was also grim with coastal districts like Guntur, Prakasam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, besides Kurnool in Rayalaseema, facing a flood-like situation.

Guntur district was the worst hit with towns like Narasaraopet, Pidugurall and Sattenapalli areas caught in floods due to the breach of tanks and overflowing streams.

Five people, including a woman and two children, lost their lives after being swept away in the waters. At least 5,000 people have been rescued and brought to relief camps.

The Andhra Pradesh government deployed helicopters to rescue people who got stranded in the marooned villages.

The Guntur-Hyderabad highway has also been cut off after the flash floods in the Guntur region. Several trains plying on this route have been cancelled due to the inundation of the railway tracks.

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A visibly distraught Fiona MacKeown said on Friday that she was shocked. Moments ago, a Goa court had acquitted two men accused of drugging and sexually abusing her teenage daughter, Scarlett Eden Keeling.

I was not expecting acquittal. I was expecting conviction. I will challenge the order, MacKeown told reporters after Goa Childrens Court Judge Vandana Tendulkar let off Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho in the eight-year-old case.

Keelings family comes from Bideford in southwest England. She had been on vacation in India with her mother, her mothers boyfriend, and her six siblings. Her family was traveling elsewhere in India when she died.

Police initially said Keeling drowned because she was drunk, but pressure from her family forced a second autopsy that indicated she was likely killed and may also have been raped.

After Keelings death in February 2008, MacKeown had lived in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case. She testified during the trial that she did not believe her daughter drowned because she was a good swimmer.

MacKeown alleged she knew that the Goa police were not interested to prosecute the killers of Scarlett, who was left to die on the Anjuna beach in Panaji.

It took a huge effort for me to even get the police to register a complaint (in the case), she said, recalling her struggle to get justice for her 15-year-old daughter.

It is clear that they (investigating agencies) are either incompetent or corrupt. I dont believe they are incompetent. And all I can say is that if any international tourist comes to Goa and gets murdered, they have no hope for justice in this system, she said.

Placido Carvalho (L), one of two Indian dependents in the case of the rape and death of British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling in Goa in 2008. (AFP)

Mackeown claimed that medical evidence confirmed that her daughter was grievously assaulted, raped and murdered after some criminals gave her alcohol and cocaine.

Goa chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar termed the judgment unfortunate, but said it will not hamper the image of the coastal state.

I have just heard about the verdict, I have not gone through the entire judgment. I feel the outcome of the verdict is heartbreaking, it is very unfortunate. Unless, I go through the judgement I would not be in a position to detail my reaction, he said.

It is a heartbreaking judgment. In a beautiful state of Goa, this unfortunate incident had occurred about 7-8 years back. And today when the result has come out, I feel that such an outcome of the case needs to be challenged in the higher court, he said.

But friends and relatives of the two accused cheered as the verdict was read out in a packed courtroom. The two men were allegedly seen drinking at a bar with Keeling the night she died were arrested and tried on charges of culpable homicide and sexual assault.

I am very happy that I am acquitted and all the charges are false, Carvalho said.

Dsouza added: I am happy that justice prevailed.

Vikram Verma, the victims lawyer, said, They stand acquitted of all the charges and the judgment was not ready, it is being still typed thats what the judge has informed. We will have to look into ingredients of the judgment.
The army engaged unknown assailants on Friday as they hunted militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in northern Kashmir. They also found two minor boys hailing from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Uris Gawathan area .

Faisal Hussain Awan and Ahsan Chudhary, both aged 16, are from Muzaffarabad and were caught by soldiers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantary and the Border Security Force (BSF).

The teenagers, students of Shaheen Model School, had run away from away from their village after being accused of harassing a local girl and fearing reprimand by family.

Faisal told police officials that he was son of a carpenter from Potha Jhandgran in Muzaffarabad district while Ahsans father works as a cook in Saudi Arabia.

Sources say the boys have been handed over to police and are likely to be repatriated back in a day or two.

After investigating thoroughly, it was found that the boys are telling the truth and are not in India for any untoward activity, an official, who did not want to be identified, said.

Sources say calls were made across the border to corroborate the boys story.

Elsewhere in Kupwara district, the BSF said they opened fire after observing some suspicious movement near the LoC on Friday.

We opened fire and in retaliation there was an exchange of fire which has since stopped, said a BSF spokesman, adding that a search operation had been launched in the area.

There has been heightened military activity in North Kashmir after 18 soldiers were killed in militant attack on an army base in Uri sector along the LoC on September 18.

Read | Prepare for the worst: The Indian State is in retreat in Kashmir

Since then, security forces claimed to have foiled multiple infiltration bids in various sectors of north Kashmir, including two attempts in Nowgam sector.

On the intervening night of September 21-22, two separate groups trying to sneak-in were intercepted and forced to flee back, an army official said, adding that they have increased vigilance.

Earlier on September 20, the army claimed to have foiled infiltration bids in Uri and Nowgam sector. A soldier was killed in Nowgam in the operation.

Kashmir have been in constant state of unrest for more than two months, owing to the protests following the killing of Burhan Wani, a militant commander, on July 8.

Read | Kashmir unrest: Curfew imposed in parts of Srinagar, restrictions continue

For more on the Uri attack, click here

For more on the unrest in Kashmir, click here
The NDA government has kept the suspense alive whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Islamabad to attend the SAARC summit in November.

India not staying away from the SAARC foreign ministers meet at New York on Tuesday sends out mixed signals about whether Modi will attend the groups summit in November.

The suspense comes amid the rising tension between the two nations following the terrorist attack in Uri in which 18 Indian soldiers were killed.

India raised the attack at the South Asian (SAARC) foreign ministers meet in a bid to put pressure on Pakistan for using its territory for terrorist activities against India in the presence of its immediate neighbours.

Read: Uri attack leaves Modi little choice but to have a real Pakistan policy

The meeting on Tuesday in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting, had the political leadership of both India and Pakistan coming together for the first time since the attack.

Minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar stressed how terrorism from across the border continued to harm India and destabilise the region at the meeting. The minister sought the support of the grouping in addressing the threat of terrorism.

According to officials, Pakistan didnt respond to the Indian ministers statement, but all the other ministers who attended the meeting offered India condolences.

Read: Pak sends junior officials to Saarc meeting in Delhi, tries to snub India

Meanwhile, India has been getting a great deal of support from two fellow SAARC countriesAfghanistan and Bangladesh.

What also helps India is the fact that Pakistans ties with both Afghanistan and Bangladesh are on a downward spiral.

However, India has kept the suspense on whether Modi will attend the summit of the SAARC grouping.

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A 52-year-old Congress leader was allegedly hacked to death by unidentified miscreants in broad daylight in Sullia near Mangaluru on Friday, police said.

The deceased, Ismail Nelyamajalu, was the Congress minority wing local Karavali Valaya (coastal unit) president.

Police said Ismail was about to reach his car after completing his Friday prayers at a mosque at Irvanadu in Sullia when miscreants attacked him with machetes. He died on the spot.

Two years ago, Ismail and his wife Waheeda Ismail, who was the president of Bellare Gram Panchayat were attacked by miscreants. The latest attack could be a sequel to it, police said, adding that it could be personal and no communal angle had been revealed yet.

Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, ASP Dushanth and other officials visited the spot.
Karnatakas legislature on Friday refused to share Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu, potentially setting the state on a collision course with the Supreme Court days after violence rocked capital Bengaluru over the sensitive issue.

Both the legislative council and lower house adopted similar resolutions saying that the river water will be used only for meeting drinking water needs of villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and Bengaluru.

The resolutions, however, did not mention the top courts order directing the state to release 6,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water to the neighbouring state till September 27.

The legislatures decision came nearly two weeks after an earlier apex court order sparked large scale violence in state capital Bengaluru where mobs targetted Tamil-speaking speaking and their properties. Sporadic violence has continued since then across the state, large parts of which are facing water shortage.

For chief minister Siddaramaiah, who gave an impassioned speech in the assembly, a face-off with the judiciary could prove costly given past instances of the states attempts to take on the top court on the more than century-old dispute.

Rebel JD(S) MLAs stage a protest on the Cauvery issue at Vidhan Soudha in Benglauru on Friday. (PTI)

In 1991, then chief minister S Bangarappa had tried to circumvent a Cauvery interim award through an ordinance. Later in 2002, another chief minister SM Krishna too had refused to release water to Tamil Nadu. The apex court struck down the ordinance and forced Krishna, who was in danger of being hauled for contempt of court, to comply with its order.

What makes the situation different now is that the entire state legislature has unanimously taken a stand against an apex courts order, experts pointed out.

Legal experts quoted in various newspapers and television channels here have varying versions of what can happen -- from tying the apex courts hands in the matter to outright dismissal of the government and assembly.

Siddaramaiah, however, insisted that the resolution was not a defiance of the Supreme Court.

We have great respect for the judiciary. The intention is not to disobey the judicial order. We will not think of it even in our dreams, he said during the assembly debate.

People have given us a mandate. We cannot defy itit would be a dereliction of duty on our part.

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu reacted sharply, saying the issue was being politicised by the Karnataka government because they are going to face elections very soon.

Cauvery belongs to us as well, not only to Karnataka. The water has to come to Tamil Nadu, ANI quoted AIADMK leader CR Saraswathi as saying.
Violence erupted yet again in Kashmir on Friday, leading to the death of a 22-year-old in Baramulla district, authorities said.

The Valley has been caught in bloody clashes between civilians and security forces after militant commander Burhan Wani was gunned down in an encounter in July. Since then, Kashmir has been under curfew  the longest continuous lockdown yet  entering day 77 on Friday.

Waseem Ahmad Lone of Nadihal area in Sopore died of a bullet injury, a senior doctor at the district hospital in Baramulla told Hindustan Times. He was injured in clashes that broke out across several parts of Kashmir after the noon congregational prayers.

To contain the situation, prayers at several important mosques in the Valley were disallowed.

Clashes were further reported from some areas of Srinagar city. In Bandipora district, they got more intense as people started pro-azaadi protests after prayers, locals said.

Clashes also broke out in Budgam districts Chrar-e-Sharif town and at Anantnags Kokernag, where scores of people were reportedly injured.

Read | Kashmir unrest: Curfew imposed in parts of Srinagar, restrictions continue

With Lone, the death toll from the violence touched 87, including two police officers, while hundreds have been injured and maimed by pellet shots.

Friction between locals and security forces stem from the civilian deaths and injuries, but is also fed by a pro-independence azaadi movement that gained momentum after Wanis death.

Kashmir separatists have been releasing weekly protest agendas; following Fridays clashes, they called for marches to various tehsil headquarters across the Valley.

Read | Talk peace: Dialogue alone can draw Kashmir out of the abyss

Due to the officially imposed restrictions and protest shutdown called by the joint separatist leadership, all educational institutions, main markets, public transport and other businesses remained suspended.

The separatist leadership extended its protest programme till September 29, but relaxed the strike on some days, unlike the previous week.

For more stories on Kashmir, click here
A water-sharing dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the Mahandi is heating up after months of Centre-brokered negotiations couldnt break a deadlock over the construction of controversial reservoirs.

Chhattisgarh wants to build six dams and inter-link some Mahanadi tributaries for better irrigation and storage of water for the lean months. Odisha says the dams will deplete water in its main reservoir, the Hirakud dam.

At a meeting of the two states at the Union water resources ministry last week, Chhattisgarh alleged that the under-construction barrages will have a total capacity of 274 (million cubic meter) MCM, much less than the amount of water lost from the Hirakud dam due to siltation.

The differences are huge between the two states and could not be resolved, a Union water ministry official said.

Read | Centre steps in to solve Mahanadi river water dispute

The Hirakud was built over the Mahanadi in 1957 to hold 5,518 MCM but has lost nearly a fifth of this capacity due to gathering silt. This means that the dam cant store excess water and that water is wasted.

What we are taking from Mahanadi is not from Odishas share. In fact, the live-storage capacity of our dams have also done down by 345 MCM due to siltation and storage capacity of new barrages would be less than that, a Chhattisgarh government official said.

Chhattisgarh also claims Odishas own data shows non-monsoon water flow in the river has increased, meaning that the new projects dont pose any danger to the Hirakud Dam.

But Odisha has contested this claim, saying Chhattisgarh had erred in treating the impact of each project separately and not in an integrated manner.

Water resources ministry officials say Odisha wants a cumulative impact study of all projects developed by Chhattisgarh on the flow of water to the Hirakud dam, rather than individual, on the grounds that these projects dramatically reduce the water flow.

We have assured Odisha that the CWC will examine their claim that water flow to Hirakud dam will reduce if Chhattisgarh is allowed to build the projects, the ministry official said.

Read | India can avoid water wars in the future by mixing old and new solutions

Chhattisgarh, half of whose area falls in Mahanadi river basin, says some of these projects were approved by the Central Water Commission after seeking comments from Odisha and wouldnt affect water flow. In addition, survey on four projects diverting water from Arpa river, a tributary of Mahanadi, and Pairi-Mahanadi river linking project has also started.

Complicating matters is a growing political rivalry between the Biju Janata Dal  which is in power in Odisha  and the BJP, which rules Chhattigarh.

The BJD has turned the Mahanadi dispute into a political issue to hit the BJP that aspires to form next government in one of the poorest states of India. Odisha chief minister Navin Patnaik has already met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party MPs stalled Lok Sabha proceedings for a day, accusing the Centre of being biased in favour of Chhattisgarh.

Also read | Glimpse into future? India, brace for more Cauvery-like water wars

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is relying on a damaged global positioning system (GPS) device to track the journey of a group of militants suspected to have travelled from Pakistan to attack an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Mapping of the cross-border journey assumes importance as the militants left very little evidence to suggest their Pakistan connection, which will reinforce Indias claims that the attack was carried out by militants based in the neighbouring country.

Islamabad has denied any role in the attack that left 18 soldiers dead at Uri. Two damaged GPS sets have been recovered from the attack site. One of the sets has been given to the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) for retrieving data. The investigators also found a handset similar to those used by militants in the past.

Read: Pakistan has nothing to gain from Uri attack, says its foreign office

This is not the first time that non-local militants have been caught with smart gear that helps them not only cross the border without local guides but keeps them off the security surveillance radar. A senior police officer said Pakistan-based militant organisations are using technology in their operations since 2010.

Instead of using satellite phones, the militants are using cognitive radio communication devices that are difficult to track and smartphones with software mimicking popular social networking sites.

Earlier militants needed a local guide to cross over, the guide could be co-opted and most of the bids were foiled that way, an officer said but now GPS can help the militants reach their destinations without any help.

Once near the target, the militants use the specially developed smart phones having software named after commercially available mobile apps  like Skype becomes Skipe.

Read: Besides diplomatic manoeuvring, govts Uri action plan includes military options

The apps help them remain in touch with their handlers without being detected by the armys technical surveillance, the official said, adding that a new app called Calculator used to communicate between a small group of militants was found on the smartphones. The app leaves no trace of the messages exchanged unlike WhatsApp or WeChat.

A senior officer also said that the apps are indigenously developed by Lashkars information technology cell and are frequently changed. Most of the apps can be downloaded from off-air network created specifically for them, he added.

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With atrocities in the garb of cow vigilantism on the rise, the countrys watchdog for minority protection has cautioned the government about its communal fallout and asked it to issue a strong statement against such outlandish behaviour.

We believe that there is a need for a very strong statement from the highest levels of the government, stating that such outlandish behaviour will neither be tolerated nor can it go unpunished and that the secular credentials of India will be protected by the State at all costs, National Commission for Minorities (NCM) chairperson Naseem Ahmad wrote in a letter to home minister Rajnath Singh.

The panel reminded the government that even as law and order is a state subject, the central government would be well within its powers to ask the states to handle such situations with a heavy hand and to enforce sense of security among the minorities in all seriousness.

From the lynching of Md. Akhlaq in Dadri last year on the suspicion that he was consuming beef to gau rakshaks killing a Muslim youth in Ahmedabad to biryani policing in Haryana, many cases of violence against minorities by these self-styled custodians have been reported.

We wish to bring to your kind notice the increasing violence against Muslims by the so-called vigilante groups and the fear that this is creating across the country. The commission has been receiving petitions and has prepared reports on some of these incidents, wrote Ahmad.

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The information and broadcasting (I&B) ministry is looking into a complaint against a foreign news agency for referring to militants who attacked a Kashmir army base last week as rebels.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar filed a complaint against the American agency, Associated Press (AP), that described the September 18 attack as being carried out by suspected rebels instead of taking cue from the official statement which said four heavily armed terrorists.

The attack, which has become the latest flashpoint between India and neighbouring Pakistan, left 18 soldiers dead in northern Kashmirs Uri sector. India, which accused Pakistan of sponsoring the militants, mounted a diplomatic offensive at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, US.

Read | Uri attack: Sartaj Aziz says Indias allegations against Pak baseless

Read | Word for word: Takeaways from Sharifs UN speech, Indias response

Seeking firmer guidelines on terror reporting by media and their strict enforcement, the Rajya Sabha MP wrote: There was wilful and deliberate misreporting by AP, in terming the terrorists as suspected rebels, even as its whole report was based on facts extracted from the official statement.

There are guidelines, but they should be enforced, Chandrasekhar later told Hindustan Times, adding that if conventional media is not regulated, it will be impossible to regulate social media, which has an enormous ability to propagate untruth.

The Centre revised the guidelines for reporting terror attacks after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

These include news channels being barred from relaying live pictures of the attacks; the terrorists who carried out the Mumbai attacks received inputs from their handlers who were following the counter-operation on television.

Minister of state for I&B, Rajyavardhan Rathore, responded to the MP on Twitter saying the complaint will be examined, but also noted that there are laid down guidelines.

For more stories on the Uri attack, click here
Promila* was 16 when the attacks started on her Facebook account. It began innocently, she thought: a simple message in her other account from a faceless profile saying one thought she was beautiful. Promila never said anything to her parents because she wasnt supposed to be on the social media platform.

A week later, the messages began increasing in volume and intensity. The person no longer thought she was pretty, but a snob, a s***, and told her that hed get you to being such a stuck-up b****. She blocked the account on Facebook. But, minutes after she did this, another faceless account started sent her a message.

U thnk you lose me like this? ill make ur life hell, b****.

Thats when Promila decided to tell her mother Aastha*.

My daughter was shaken, Aastha said, speaking to HT. We were angry she hadnt listened to us and made a profile on Facebook behind our backs. But, she was so shaken then that scolding her was not our priority.

They went to the nearest police station and registered a complaint. That was three years ago.

Read | My daughter found him wherever she went: Burari stalking victims mother

But, before that, Aastha made Promila delete her Facebook account. Ive always been wary of these platforms, the mother said, adding that she had some idea that her daughter was on the platform but who can control everything a kid does these days?

A day later, Promilas friends got a request from a new profile with her picture and name on it. Most of them accepted, she recalls. It was the same photo that I used to use and all the information was the same as well. Only my best friend called me up to ask how come my parents had let me come back. And then I was like, Im not on Facebook!

62% teens at risk

According to the 2016 Norton Security Report, over 62% of Indian teenagers are at a high risk of being cyber-bullied or stalked on online social media platforms. A little over half of Indian adults believe that their kids could come to harm online.

As the number of Indians on the internet increases, NCRB data shows that incidences of cyber stalking are also on the rise. From 99 cases registered under the IT Act in 2007, the number rose to 105 in 2008, the next year the number of crimes was at 139. The numbers have only spiked with 758 cases being registered in 2014.

Aastha says she was one of them. We were careful about her online presence, but we werent very strict. I mean, teenagers dont listen anyway. Her friends were on FB, Instagram. Our wifi password was my husbands phone number. Ill be honest: we just thought something like this could not happen to us. It happens to other people, you know

The police registered Promilas complaint under the Internet Technology Act 2000 for crimes of cyber-stalking and impersonation through creation of a fake profile. Then the family waited. Two years, they prayed daily for the police to catch the faceless terror stalking their lives.

Read | Stalker stabs 22-year-old Delhi woman over 20 times on busy street

It felt hopeless at times, Aastha recalls. In those two years, the fake Promila profile was shut down because of the familys complaints 20 times, the mother recalls. As soon as we complained about one, another profile would pop up.

Messages containing cuss words and abusing the receiver were sent by this profile to all of Promilas friends, then Aasthas friends, and finally, to colleagues of Promilas father, Amit  a well-to-do businessman.

Im a big s*** because my father touches me, said one message that went to a client of Amit, he recalled.

Response can be fast

For the South Delhi family, it felt like the police were twiddling their thumbs. Only they were not. Speaking to HT under the condition of anonymity, the Investigating Officer of Promilas case recalled how he put in his best efforts to find the culprit.

Arre, bacchi thiof course we tried our best. Who wants their daughter to go through such abuse? I have a child at home. I understood their problem. We wrote to Facebook to trace the accounts, and no one would respond. The police station ultimately asked the cyber cell for help, the IO said. Their expertise was there on such matters.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (cyber crime) Anyesh Roy says that police stations are now equipped to handle online offenses, but they do come to the cyber cells for technical help.

Some platforms, like FB, know the cyber cell officers as they deal with them more regularly than the police. They know our emails  like .gov or .nic.in  and so, perhaps that is why, they respond faster to our requests for information.

Read | Dear Indian films, stop portraying stalking as cool and romantic

Roy said online platforms had a hierarchy and the response was especially fast if there was imminent threat to life.

The IO confirms this as his experience. Well, we got information in just one month.

Stalkers are known faces

The fake Promila turned out to be a boy of 18 who lived in the familys neighbourhood. In fact, it was a boy Promila knew. The boy had seen the girl in the market; they knew each other. It wasnt exactly friendship, but acquaintance, the IO recalls of the interrogation of the suspect.

Roy confirms that in such fake profile and bullying cases, the victims know the culprits. In fraud cases it is usually strangers, but in these kind of cases (fake profile creation) usually the perpetrator knows the victim. Its personal.

According to the latest NCRB data, 98% of all those accused of cyber-stalking/bullying are men under the age of 30. Roy says even in the capital, the accused are usually men who are between 20 and 30 years old. NCRB also notes that revenge, emotional motives like anger and wanting control, and outraging a womans modesty accounted for 1,734 of the 7,003 cyber crime cases in 2015.

Cyber law expert Pawan Duggal sums it up. Stalking and cyber bullying represent twin sisters of harassment in the cyber space. They are being done increasingly by people who are choosing to use this area to harass the person who is either known to them or whom they are infatuated with. Most of the time cyber stalking takes place to hurt an individual or to get retribution. Unfortunately, the law is a mute spectator as cyber stalking continues to rise.

* Names changed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to break his silence on the governments response to the terror attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir when he speaks at a public rally in the Kerala town on Saturday.

BJP sources said the PM is expected to deliver a strong message to Pakistan and also to separatist elements in Kashmir Valley during his speech on Calicut beach, resplendent in saffron hues on Friday with fluttering BJP flags along the coastline and deep into the Arabian Sea waters.

Immediately after the Uri attack, the PM had in a tweet vowed not to let the perpetrators go unpunished. Many other ministers and BJP functionaries talked tough, with home minister Rajnath Singh terming Pakistan a terrorist state.

But the government has refrained from directly blaming Pakistan for Sundays attack, even as there is growing clamour in the country for giving a befitting response.

In his address to party office-bearers in Kozhikode on Friday, BJP president Amit Shah said the partys ideology brought it to power and its time to walk the talk on promises it made while in opposition.

His remark was interpreted in party circles as an indirect reference to the BJPs aggressive posturing against Pakistan, accusing then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of being weak in responding to terror attacks during the UPA regime. At the same time, Shah cautioned the party office-bearers that as the ruling party, the BJP has to behave responsibly.

Modis address will set the tone for the partys resolution to be adopted by its national council, the apex decision-making body, the next day. Shah is also expected to follow suit with aggressive rhetoric against Pakistan when he opens the party session on Sunday.

In an indication of the things to come in the next two days, the party fielded general secretary Ram Madhav- whose jaw-for-a-tooth demand following the Uri attack pleased many a hardliner -- to brief the media on Friday.

We appreciate and understand the sentiments of the country. So many things have happened in the past three days, especially diplomatically, he said in response to a query about the NDA governments plans on post-Uri attack that has drawn public outrage.

He refused to field further questions about the terror attack saying, Prateeksha mein anand hai (there is pleasure in waiting).

His evasive approach to questions about the Uri attack was a strategy not to pre-empt the PM and the partys council on Pakistan.

He was at pains to explain that while the party would discuss all contemporary issues (suggesting terror attack and unrest in Kashmir), the BJPs main focus was on the poor and the downtrodden.

Opposition parties have been accusing the BJP and the NDA government of being anti-poor and anti-Dalit, citing the suicide by Hyderabad university Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula last year and beating of Dalit youths at Una in Gujarat early this year.

Dalits constitute one-third of the electorate in Punjab and one-fifth in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand -- the three states that go to polls, along with Goa and Manipur--in February-March next year.

This year will be dedicated to the welfare of the downtrodden, said Ram Madhav.

The political resolution will majorly focus on our efforts towards the welfare of the downtrodden section of the society, he said, adding that it will set a new trend for all political parties as the BJP council meeting will be dedicated entirely to constructive programmes for the poor.

Also read: Top BJP leaders gather in Kozhikode, may redraw national security policy
A Samsung Note 2 smartphone caught fire inside a Chennai-bound international flight of IndiGo on Friday with 175 passengers on board, leading to a major safety scare.

The scare prompted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue an advisory to airlines, asking them to caution passengers to avoid using Samsung Note series phones on board.

The aviation safety regulator also ordered a probe and summoned Samsung officials on Monday.

The aircraft landed safely after the crew retrieved the smoking phone from an overhead luggage rack and put it in a container filled with water in the lavatory.

The incident happened on IndiGo flight 6E-054 from Singapore to Chennai when the plane was about to land around 7.45am. The airline said passengers alerted the crew after smelling smoke in the cabin.

The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23C, it said. A fire extinguisher was also used, although IndiGo clarified there was no fire but sparks were observed.

Its not yet clear whether the phone was switched off, in airplane mode or was left on by the passenger.

The incident comes barely a fortnight after the DGCA banned flyers from carrying the latest Samsung phone, Galaxy Note 7, in check-in bags. The regulator prohibited the phones use on board after Samsung announced this month to recall millions of this make over batteries catching fire.

We are aware of an incident involving one of our devices. At Samsung, customer safety is our highest priority. We are in touch with relevant authorities to gather more information, and are looking into the matter, said a Samsung spokesperson.

The Note 2 was launched in late 2012.

IndiGo too made a similar assertion about safety beings its utmost priority.

This equipment (Samsung phone) will be further examined by the departments concerned, the airline said.

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The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to RJD leader Shahabuddin, Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav and the Bihar government in connection with the murder of Siwan journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra asked the CBI to proceed with the investigation of the scribes murder and directed the Bihar police to provide protection to his wife, Asha Ranjan, and her family.

The apex court directed the CBI to file a status report on October 17, the next date of hearing.

Asha had moved Supreme Court seeking transfer of probe and trial to Delhi alleging that media reports had shown two absconding killers of her husband allegedly in the company of recently-released Shahabuddin and Tej Pratap Yadav.

She had also pleaded for a CBI investigation after the proclaimed offenders, Mohd Kaif and Mohd Javed, were allegedly spotted with Shahabuddin and the state health minister.

According to the plea, Shahabuddin was the brain behind the scribes death. But the police did not name him in the FIR.

The plea said, Shahabuddin was irked over reports by Ranjan on a murder case in which he was convicted and awarded life term.

Ranjan worked for Hindustan -- a sister concern of Hindustan Times and one of Bihars largest circulating newspapers -- for 20 years. The scribe was shot dead on May 13 in Siwan.

Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna high court on September 7, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10 after eleven years in prison.

Kaif surrendered in a Siwan district court on Septmeber 21.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday night that an attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri could be the result of the recent unrest in Kashmir, as he sought to distance his country from the brazen strike that killed 18 soldiers.

Indian officials have pointed to the involvement of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammad, which was also blamed for the Pathankot airbase attack in January. With New Delhi attempting to isolate Pakistan diplomatically over the Sunday attack, Islamabad has harped on the Kashmir crisis to counter the charges.

On his way back to Pakistan from New York, Sharif made a stopover at Britains Luton Airport where he addressed a news conference and alleged 108 people have died and thousands have been injured in the Kashmir unrest triggered by the killing of a militant leader.

If this is not barbarism, what is it? They dont talk about this barbarism and oppression, Sharif said.

Kashmir has been on the boil since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. Pakistani leaders have criticised India over the unrest and accused the neighbour of using excessive force. But New Delhi has slammed Islamabad for interfering in its internal affairs and backing terrorism.

Anything can happen as a result of this. This attack in Kashmir in which (Indian) soldiers were killed --- there could have been a reaction by Kashmiris, Sharif said, speaking in Urdu.

So to blame us within 12 hours (of the Uri attack), that Pakistan is responsible, I think this was not appropriate.

The Uri attack -- in which soldiers killed four militants -- has led to calls for an aggressive response against Pakistan, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to punish those behind the cowardly and despicable assault.

In the face of criticism, Sharif made a fresh offer of peace talks to India on Wednesday even as he called for an independent inquiry and a UN fact-finding mission into rights violations in Kashmir.

Sharif, in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, described Hizbuls Wani as a young leader murdered by Indian forces who has become the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada.
After the Uri army base attack on Sunday that has escalated tension between India and Pakistan, security forces  Border Security Force (BSF) and the army  say they are fully alert all along the 198-km long international border (IB) and 744-km long Line of Control (LoC), to thwart any mischief by Islamabad.

The BSF, which has the operational responsibility of the IB, has deployed more men on the sensitive border. Following the attack in Uri that left 18 soldiers dead, Pakistans defence minister Khawaja M Asif on the same day had reportedly threatened to use nuclear weapon against India if Pakistans security was threatened.

We have deployed additional battalions on the border and we are fully alert to the situation, said BSFs Jammu frontier inspector general DK Upadhaya. He, however, ruled out any abnormal activity on other side of the border by Pakistan.

Going by the visible observation, there is no abnormal activity on their side as such but there have been movement of their commanders in the past few days. But, as of now there is no build-up on Pakistani side, said the IG.

However, an Intelligence source said there has been marginal increase of soldiers of Pakistan Army in the posts of Rangers. Pak Rangers guard their side of the international border and Pakistani Army is the second line of defence there.

One to two soldiers from Pakistan Army are being observed in their posts, he added. Besides this, there are two to three groups of suspected ultras, who have been seen opposite the Hiranagar sub-sector and in the Akhnoor sector in the past few days. They may attempt intrusion to enter our territory and then stage attacks, he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, two days after the Uri attack, Western Army Commander Lt Gen Surinder Singh had visited border areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua and emphasised on the need to ensure high degree of alertness.

He had reviewed the deployment in the entire region and appreciated efforts being made by all the security agencies to enhance the levels of preparedness.

International Border from Paharpur in Kathua to Chicken Neck area of Akhnoor falls under Western Command headquartered at Chandi Mandir.

Even as Pakistan Army has been covertly active on their side of the IB, Indian Army has upped security on the LoC. Army has been on a high alert. We are keeping an eye on the adversary and the borders are being guarded strictly, said an army officer.

At least three brigades have already been moved in the state to assist the state government in restoring normalcy and at the same time to beef up the LoC.
District and sessions judge Deepak Gupta on Friday granted anticipatory bail to music composer Vishal Dadlani in case relating to alleged denigration of Jain muni (monk) Tarun Sagar.

Earlier on September 19, the court had stayed his arrest till September 23 and had asked him to join the investigations.

Dadlani had filed the anticipatory bail plea on September 17 through advocate Umresh Gandhi. Earlier, Dadlani had moved an application in the Punjab and Haryana high court for quashing of the complaint which the court had declined.

On August 29, the Ambala police had booked popular music composer Vishal Dadlani and Congress party national spokesperson Tehseen Poonawala for allegedly posting offensive posts allegedly denigrating the muni, relating to the speech he had made in Haryana assembly on August 26.

A local resident, Puneet Arora, had alleged that his religious feelings were hurt due to the post by Dadlani and Poonawala. The FIR was registered against the duo at Cantt police station under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between classes), 295-A (maliciously insulting the religion or religious belief of any class) and 509 (uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC.

On September 21, the composer had apologised to the monk at Chandigarh and had joined the investigations by recording his statement before the investigating officer here.
The Akhilesh Yadav government transferred 15 IAS officers, including two senior bureaucrats, considered close to former cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav on Friday.

The move comes at a time chief minister Akhilesh and his uncle Shivpal are locked in a tussle that threatens to disrupt the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Read | Seven Akhilesh loyalists sacked by Shivpal, more quit in protest

Aradhana Shukla, the principal secretary from the public works department (PWD) -- a ministry that Akhilesh had stripped Shivpal of a fortnight ago -- has been shifted to the transport department in the same capacity. Instead, Sudhir Garg, the principal secretary of mining, was moved to replace her.

The charge of officer on special duty (OSD), Noida, was also withdrawn from Shukla.

Further, PWD secretary Anurag Yadav was made secretary of the khadi and rural industries department.

Both Shukla and Yadav are considered close to Shivpal who was divested of key portfolios on September 13, triggering a feud in the SPs first family. Most of the departments, except the PWD, were returned to Shivpal on September 17. Akhilesh kept the PWD portfolio with himself while giving 14 departments to his uncle.

Speculation of Shukla and Yadavs transfers were rife in bureaucratic circles after the chief minister took charge of the PWD.

The CM reviewed the working of the PWD on September 19 and directed officers to complete the pending projects on schedule.

All the district headquarters will be connected with four-lane roads. The Varanasi-Shakti Nagar highway will be completed by November 15. The Bridge Corporation has been directed to complete all the projects by November, he said.

Read | Mulayam manages a tenuous truce, Akhilesh determined to have his say

He expressed displeasure over the delay in the projects and warned the officers of action.

Talking to Hindustan Times on the condition of anonymity, a senior officer said, The chief minister is aware of the fact that roads will play an important role in fighting anti-incumbency and pave the way for his return to power. There are five months to go for the assembly election. If he completes the urban and rural road projects before polls, it will send a positive message to the people. Before launching the road and bridge projects, he wants the officers loyal to him on important posts.

Roads were an important factor in Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars return to power for the third consecutive time. Akhilesh wishes to do a Nitish by launching massive road and bridge projects before the elections. He is monitoring the expressway, state highway and rural roads project regularly, a SP leader said.

Read | Shivpal might have been right about not making Akhilesh CM, hints Mulayam

The central government is also pumping funds into roads to woo the voters. Recently, Union minister for roads transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, launched several projects in Gorakhpur, Meerut, Varanasi and Lucknow. The chief minister planned to counter the centres roads with his projects like the Agra-Lucknow expressway and district highways, the party leader added.

To read more on the Yadav family feud, click here
As policemen kept on combing Dhar and supporters used their clout to find the whereabouts of BJP MLA Kalu Singh Thakur, the disgruntled legislator returned on Thursday from what he called a self-exile to escape threats from a contractor.

On Wednesday, Thakurs family had lodged a case at Manday police station after two of his supporters were arrested for allegedly damaging about a dozen trucks of PD Agarwal Construction Company at Dhamnod town and Sarai. The MLA was opposed to construction of the 75km-long Nagda-Gujari (two-lane) road by the company.

Back from his solitude for mental peace at his Dhar farmland, the first-time BJP MLA alleged that he was being harassed by contractor PD Agarwal, and that his repeated complaints to the administration fell on deaf ears.

I will leave Dhar and shift to Bhopal because my life is in danger. I will come back to Dharmpuri when a proper probe will be ordered against the contractor, said the MLA.

The MLA added Agarwal, with support from a sitting BJP MLA, is involved in sub-standard works and is harassing farmers. When I raised voice against the contractors work, a false case was lodged against my personal assistant and driver and they were arrested. I went to Agyatvaas (exile) because of despair, the MLA said.

In 2014-15, the Income Tax (I-T) department had carried out a massive search operation against PD Agrawal in Mhow, Pithampur, Indore and several other places. IT sources said investigations into the case are on.

Agarwal rubbished the allegations and said he was willing to help in the probe. The MLA is harassing me and his supporters damaged my property. I am a small-time contractor and he is a ruling party MLA. How can I harass him?

Sources said Agrawal is in good books of a senior BJP leader of Indore and has bagged government contracts for road construction worth crores of rupees in Madhya Pradesh. It is not easy to register case against supporters of a sitting BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh. Agrawal has strong support within the BJP, a local BJP leader of Dhar said seeking anonymity.
British model Jaime-Lee Faulkner, who was crowned Miss Universe Great Britain 2016, spent hours with acid attack survivors at Sheroes Hangout Cafe in Agra. On Thursday, she also visited the Taj Mahal and found it amazing. She highly praised the efforts being made by the acid attack survivors who are on their own running the Cafe on Fatehabad Road in Agra. Faulkner came down with her manager and crew members of Not In Vain, a documentary being shot at Sheroes Hangout.

It was amazing and better than what we had visualised, she said while talking about her visit to the monument of love. Its such a blend of cultures as people from different nations gather to see the marble wonder and also get a chance to witness a world of its own at Taj Mahal.

She then went to Sheroes Cafe- a hangout managed by Chhanv foundation and run by the acid attack survivors. Later, Jaime also got mehendi applied on her palm and took a quick round of the cafe. The visitors met the survivors, including Ritu, Rupa,Geeta, Neetu, Rukaiyya and Madhu. It is indeed amazing to see their confidence. They are not only standing on their own feet but also providing jobs to others, said Faulkner. Faulkner also had lunch with her team at Sheroes, informed Ketan Dixit, spokesperson for Chhanv Foundation.

After getting mehendi applied on her palm, Faulkner took a quick round of the cafe. (Raju Tomar/ HT Photo)

 India is a country of vibrant culture and this trip to Agra will always be close to my heart, said the British model ,who will be representing Great Britain at the Miss Universe pageant 2016.
Aandavan Kattalai

Director: K Manikandan

Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Ritika Singh, Pooja Devariya, Nasser

Rating: 3/5

Director Manikandan, who gave us the lovely film called, Kaaka Muttai on the travails of two little boys angling for a pizza, takes us this time to a completely different theme in Aandavan Kattalai. Vijay Sethupathi -- in his usual subdued performance (that has often reminded me of Marlon Brando) is a bit more evocatively expressive here as Gandhi, a strapping youth who journeys from a village near Madurai to Chennai in search of a British visa. He plans to get a tourist permit, enter the UK and find work. But there are obstacles. The travel agent who promises to arrange the visa insists that the papers can be easily had if Gandhi were to be married, and so he thinks up of a fictitious name, Karmeghakuzhali.

Unfortunately, the visa does not come through, with Gandhi true to his name, refusing to lie at the British Consulate. But as fate would have it, his new employer in Chennai, a master of a drama company (Nasser), gets an invitation to perform with his troupe in England. He wants Gandhi, whom he presumes to be a bachelor, to go along. The man is in a fix and his tryst with the passport office begins, his attempts to get his wifes name erased leading to one hurdle after another with crooked lawyers and court clerks making merry. One advocate suggests that Gandhi file for a divorce through mutual consent, and, well, he has to find a woman whose name is also Karmeghakuzhli.

Vijay Sethupathi, in his usual subdued performance, is a bit more evocatively expressive here as Gandhi. (VijaySethupathi.Official/Facebook)

A bit of farfetched coincidence, Karmeghakuzhli (Ritika Singh), a television anchor, crosses Gandhis path, and as the title of the movie -- Gods Will (in English) -- conveys, what follows is precisely that.

Singh is quite a natural, at her fiery best that we saw of her as a fisher-woman-turned-wrestling champ in Irudhi Suttru (paired opposed Madhavan), and evokes the right chemistry with Sethupathi -- who is now evolving into a more communicative self in a work that need not have been 150 minutes long. And it could have excised the buffoonery at the beginning with Yogi Babu as Gandhis friend. But yes, Manikandan has been bold enough to get his film going without songs -- though the background score is often bawling for attention.

Watch the trailer of Aandavan Kattalai here:

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Banjo

Cast: Riteish Deshmukh, Nargis Fakhri

Director: Ravi Jadhav

Rating: 3/5

Most Bollywood heroes prefer Switzerland or New Zealand or similar scenic locations for dream sequences, but Nand Kishor alias Tarrat Bhai (Riteish Deshmukh) isnt one of them. He likes to sweep the Mumbai streets with his beloved even in a beautifully planned and executed dream song. After all, this is what he has seen.

Chris (Nargis Fakhri) leads a privileged New York life. She has the luxury of opting music as a career, unlike Tarrat and the members of his Banjo team, who play on the streets of Mumbai for survival.

A Banjo band is little known even in the music circuit. Banjo has never been seen as an instrument that can replace guitar as the lead string. Truth be told, it was always a middle-class instrument, in this case, a lower-class. But, defiance, rebel and grit form the strings of banjo, and thats where it scores over heavy-sounding percussions.

Riteish Deshmukh and Nargis Fakhri come together for National Award Winner Ravi Jadhavs Hindi film debut . (YouTube)

Some laugh, some just nonchalantly watch when Tarrat comes out of the gutter in the introductory scene. He might be a motor-mouth, but helplessness is written all over his face. He cant hide the fact that he extorts money for the local corporator, or he is a drunkard, or he has been a loser throughout his life.

But, he plays banjo at local Ganpati festivals and thats a sight to behold. There, he is the master and the universe takes cues from his notes. One such performance has reached Chris and now she is in India to make music with his team. Other team members are Grease (Dharmesh Yelande), Paper (Aditya Kumar) and Vaajya (Raja Menon).

Its about crowded streets, roaming dogs, filthy bylanes, hopelessness and rearing spirits. Director Ravi Jadhavs world is a glossy version of usual Mumbai chawl life. Tarrat and his gang dress like others of their age group, and you may not find any difference when they are in a mall, but they return to their houses in the evening to find that nothing has changed. Its still the same dull, hard life.

Banjo is a film by someone who can see Mumbai with indigenous eyes. Scratch the filters and its as raw as it always was. Nargis plays Chris in the 137-minute film. (YouTube)

So, it doesnt come as a surprise when two rival banjo gangs physically fight over the money they receive after playing at a Ganpati pandal. Money is what keeps them ticking. Otherwise they drink, even during their performances.

Though Riteish has a suave look, he has tried his best to shed it. He might be playing a typical Bollywood hero, but vulnerability crawls into his actions. In fact, this side of his personality overpowers the hero one. The songs and the mood set up by Jadhav do the rest.

Read more film reviews here

Banjo begins on a promising note and Manoj Lobos camera glides you through dirt, agony and compassion. Lobos filters may do the trick for people who cant face harsh realities with bare eyes. Jadhav probably believes in serving vada paav in a silver foil. You get introduced to key characters with some peppy numbers thrown in between. The canvas is spread, and the actors are ready to take the leap of faith. The constraints of commercial cinema kick in right here, and the film takes the safer route.

Watch the official Banjo trailer below:

A good musical drama suddenly changes into an average formula tale of a hero with a golden heart, villains who can consider a sudden change of mind, heroine with a knack for dancing and stretched dialogue-baazi.

This loosens the noose that was so intelligently set. The second half keeps dragging for no apparent reasons. At one point, you even feel like watching another film in the ABCD franchise. Thankfully, Jadhav realises it in time, and resorts again to the underdog story.

Had this 137-minute film refrained from long cross-conversations and forced conflicts in the second half, it could have struck a better chord.

Riteish has come out of his comfort zone and thats the best thing about Banjo. The actor who plays Corporator Patil in the film is also worth a mention.

Its a film by someone who can see Mumbai with indigenous eyes. Scratch the filters and its as raw as it always was.

Show patience in the second half, and it may work for you. Theres a lot to like in Banjo.

Interact with Rohit Vats at Twitter/@nawabjha

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The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has proposed that practising yoga should be made compulsory for all corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). In a notice of motion, MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande suggested that corporators should be made to do asanas and surya namaskar on five days in a month along with civic school students. The proposal is likely to be discussed in the general body meeting on September 30.

Deshpande said that corporators have to interact with several people in a day, making them susceptible to various infections. If making yoga compulsory for students is being proposed, then why cant corporators be made do asanas? In fact, they must practise yoga along with students studying in civic schools in areas under their jurisdiction. Corporators failing to do so should be disqualified, said Deshpande.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has called it MNSs political stunt and said that these cannot be the grounds for disqualification of corporators. This is dadagiri. The proposal makes no sense. You cannot compel any corporator or disqualify him on these grounds. We will discuss this with the mayor, said Rais Shaikh, corporator, SP.

Controversy

The BJPs proposal to make yoga compulsory for civic school students created a controversy last month. The SP termed the proposal an attempt to saffronise education and mix religion with education.

It has also moved Bombay high court over the resolution passed by the BJP-Sena majority in BMC.

Civic chief Ajoy Mehta is yet to take a decision on the resolution.

The BMC runs 1,188 primary and 49 secondary schools in Mumbai, which includes around 400 Urdu-medium schools.

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Security forces across Mumbai scrambled to full alert after some school children reported that they has seen suspicious men near a naval unit in Uran.

Uran, which lies east of Mumbai in Raigad district, across Dharamtar creek, is important because it is home to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port trust , an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation plant; a naval base and an arms depot. Mumbai has been on high alert since yesterday and search operations are still underway.

Soon after the 26/11 terrorist attack various agencies collaborated to figure out potential landing points across Mumbai. According to the Mumbai police, there are 66 landing points across Mumbai.

Heres how Mumbais coast has been guarded since the 26/11 terror siege exposed the chinks in the citys security.

INDIAN NAVY

After 26/11, the Navy was made the nodal agency for 15 central agencies and state agencies to co-ordinate coastal security. The Navy now forms the first line of defence and is on constant alert monitoring the sea through aerial surveillance and patrol from 22 nautical from the coast.

The navys Western Naval Command is headquartered in Mumbai and includes:

INS Angre  Provides shore-based logistics and administrative support for the Command. It is like a mother ship that controls and oversees the functioning of a wide array of diverse units and facilities.

INS Shikra  Strategic Helicopter gun ship base of Indian Navy

INS Aswini  Naval Command Hospital

NOFRA - Naval Officers Residential Area, which includes the Naval Transport Pool, Naval Dockyard, Indian Naval Sailors Home Sagar and INS Abhimanyu - MARCOS base (at Uran)

INS Hamla  Logistics training establishment

INS Agnibahu  missile boat base

INS Trata  Missile battery base

Mazagon Docks Limited

INDIAN COAST GUARD

The Indian Coast Guard is one agency that has undergone dramatic changes since 26/11. With a mandate to patrol the sea between 12 nautical miles and 22 nautical miles from the coast, Coast Guard has state-of-the-art weaponry and equipment. It has also augmented its air and surface fleet to a large extent.

MUMBAI COASTAL POLICE

The third tier of security continues to be the weakest link as the state government continues to neglect coastal security. Mired in red tape, delays and lack of knowledge of how to operate at sea, Mumbais coastal police needs radical changes if it has to effectively patrol the sea up to 12 nautical miles from the coast
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The Uran schoolgirl who claimed to have seen armed men in masks on Thursday morning stood by her statement on Friday, while the police intensified search operations along the coast. The police control room also received half a dozen phone calls from people in around Uran, who also claimed to have seen armed men at various places.

A source in the Navi Mumbai police told HT that the girl was called in for a second time on Friday. We did so to see if there would be any discrepancies in her statement. However, she repeated exactly what she had told us the day before, said the source, who was present during the girls questioning.

The girl told the police she had seen five masked men in black Pathani suits in Kumbharwada while she was on her way to school early on Thursday morning. All of them were carrying backpacks, with the barrel of a gun protruding from each, she said. Though she couldnt understand exactly what they were saying, she said they talked about attacking her school and an ONGC plant in the area before splitting into two groups.

The police however, did not call in the schoolboy who claimed to have seen an armed man on Thursday. Half an hour after the girl saw the five masked men, the boy claimed he saw an armed man running down a hillock and climbing back up it immediately. The distance between the two sightings is no more than 70 metres. However, the girl said the men wore masks, while the boy said the man he saw wasnt wearing one, the source said.

Another source said hours after the alleged sightings, the Navi Mumbai control room received six calls from members of the public who also claimed to have seen armed men in and around Uran. An elderly woman claimed that she saw an armed man lying in wait behind some bushes along the Uran-JNPT road. Another person claimed he bumped into a stranger while walking down the road towards Mora jetty. He said the man pulled out a gun and put it on his head, telling him to run away, the source said.

Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale said that the state of high alert will continue until the police complete their search and combing operations to sanitise the entire coastline, which houses several vital installations, including the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and a naval base.

Early in the day, senior officials from the National Security Guard held discussions with top officials from the Navi Mumbai police at Uran and also questioned the girl. The Quick Response Team, Force One and the local police conducted a joint combing operation of residential areas and hotels along the coast.
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Pakistani warplanes landed on a highway linking Peshawar and Rawalpindi on Thursday as part of an exercise, fuelling speculation that the armed forces were preparing for possible hostilities with India.

A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesman said F-7 and Mirage jets touched down on the M1 Motorway, a 155-km highway, as part of the Highmark exercise, media reports said.

Pakistani social media users posted footage of a jet landing on the highway.

Highmark, one of the PAFs largest wargames, is expected to end on September 24.

Despite officials insisting that the exercise was planned in advance, the closure of the airspace and flights by combat jets led to rumours that Pakistans armed forces were preparing for a possible Indian attack, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Despite the air exercise, most Pakistani analysts and commentators ruled out a military confrontation .

We are seeing a lot of tough talking but whether that translates into anything more substantial is doubtful, commented leading analyst Lt Gen (retired ) Talat Masood. He said India-Pakistan ties have now settled into a comfortable pattern which usually has its high and low points. The only fear this time was whether India would want to break the pattern due to pressure on the Modi government.
September 12 was a day many Bangaloreans cannot forget. After news of the Supreme Court ordering Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily, reports trickled in that Kannada activists were going around localities and forcing shutters down.

Parents panicked after they got messages that their children had to be picked up from schools as buses would not operate. Television channels started beaming visuals of attacks on Tamil-owned establishments and Tamil Nadu-registered vehicles. Public transport services were withdrawn and arterial roads jammed.

On Mysore Road, the highway that leads out of Bengaluru and intersected by the Outer Ring Road and on a tolled highway called Nice Road, Tamil Nadu-registered trucks were being targeted. In full view of rolling TV cameras, protesters flagged them these trucks, assaulted their drivers, broke windshields and set them afire.

That day, more than a 100 vehicles were burned down. The cosmopolitan Bangalorean was shocked -- it was the day the fringe had taken over the city.

But who are these fringe groups? Who was behind the large-scale violence? It is largely believed that they are Kannada activists.

Chief among them is activist Vatal Nagaraj. He is Bengalurus original pro-Kannada activist but does not have a rowdy following. In fact, he has been an MLA several times from Chamarajanagar district till people got tired of his antics. He gets good press because his forms of protests are innovative: he brings farm animals, drums, and cycles and is good on empty rhetoric as his speeches can be lapped up but not inspiring enough to make an onlooker pick up stones. The only time he probably found support of the average Bangalorean was when he declared that he would collect bottles of urine and throw it in front of the chief ministers office as a form of protest to stop people urinating in public and asking the government to build more public urinals. There is an old joke that if Vatal removes his trademark black hat, nobody will recognise him. But, he has his band of supporters and cannot be wished away.

Pro Kannada activists were arrested for trying to stage a protest over the Cauvery dispute, at Gandhinagar in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo)

Then there are two factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a forum to protect Kannada language and its people. Originally founded by TA Narayana Gowda, it split into two with the breakaway faction led by Praveen Shetty. Both men are aggressive, can collect small groups at short notice and be vociferous in their protests. They are bold enough to smash panes and people and are not scared of the police.

Then there is Muthappa Rai, a reformed goon who has political ambitions and has formed group called Jaya Karnataka. He too has a sizeable following but the group is not aggressive.

So which of these groups were behind the mindless violence that Monday?

When national TV reporters tracked them down, none of them owned up.

Police now say the woman who allegedly led a mob to burn down 42 buses of transport company KPN at an unguarded parking lot was apparently biriyani and given Rs 500 to do the job. But, this is typical of police propaganda to pin the blame on hapless individuals while the leaders who instigate the riots get away scot-free.

The KRV evolved as there was a chink in Vatal Nagarajs armour: the taste of raw violence when faced with adversity. It was good for unemployed local youth or those with jobs driving autorickshaws.

Over the years KRV has vandalised many properties and played a role in every Cauvery-related riot and was instrumental in bashing up Marathi activists who wanted to merge Belgaum with Maharashtra. In fact, thats what their website proudly states under a sub-head listed about their achievements.

KRV members drape themselves with trademark yellow and red scarves -- the colours of the Karnataka state flag. The two KRV factions have little to differentiate them, apart from their egos. They are into real estate and operate autorickshaw stands in the city that are either adorned with their boards or if space permits, a flag post with the Karnataka flag.

The KRV is so strong that even government departments fear them. The Bangalore Development Authority got into trouble for paying KRV Rs 2.5 lakh as donation and a police case has been registered against BDA finance officials for sanctioning the sum. That they take donation, a euphemism for extortion; it is not a secret. They are capable of `settling cases in favour of a particular person. At one stage, they became so bold that they used to call up Congress party leaders demanding why so and so had not been given tickets to contest? Can you imagine a fringe group interfering in a national party, said a state minister who didnt want to be named.

The KRV factions say outsiders in Bengaluru have to learn Kannada, but the only lesson they can impart is a thrashing.

Men make their way past a burning lorry in Bengaluru. (Reuters File Photo)

They have not spared even IT companies in Indias Silicon Valley. There are more than three instances when such companies were targeted when their employees allegedly made comments on social media about Kannada speakers.

In 2008, KRV activist attacked candidates from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh appearing for a railway exam in Karnataka.

Not to be left behind is Muthappa Rai, who started Jaya Karnataka, a group he started to give legitimacy to his business and to help him in his political ambitions. Rai, a former Syndicate Bank employee, took to crime and later moved to Dubai.

From there he controlled a gang who would bump off those who did not fall in line while he ran an extortion and real estate racket. However, he wanted to reform and allegedly struck a deal with the powers-that-be in Karnataka and was extradited from Dubai in 2005.

Living in an isolated but well-guarded farmhouse, Rai cleared his name first and then started his real estate business. He was either discharged or acquitted in every heinous crime he allegedly was part of and the state never appealed to a higher court. Ironically, today his office-cum-hotel shares a boundary wall with the Intelligence Bureau office in Bengaluru which once kept a tab on him and his activities.

Probably they do even now as he has made his political moves. He started Jaya Karnataka but could not get hold of a credible issue and capitalise on it. He started a magazine that folded up soon. Now, he owns Praja TV, a Kannada news channel.

But, if all these pro-Kannada activists who are virulently anti-Tamil had not orchestrated the riots, then the poser to the police would be: Who did it? Its nobodys case to find out. Till the next mob gets all fired up. And this week has given them another opportunity as the Supreme Court has ordered the release of 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily while Karnataka says it faces a drought.

Police arrest Kannada activists who were trying to enter the railway station to stop trains during their protest over Cauvery water issue, in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo)

The author is a freelance journalist in Bengaluru. The views expressed are personal.
The 17-year-old girl, who allegedly committed suicide by jumping off of a mall in East Delhi on Thursday evening, was identified as a BBA student and daughter of a sub-inspector with provincial armed constabulary at Ghaziabad.

Police sources said that according to the suicide note the girl left behind, she stepped out of home on Thursday morning after an altercation with her parents.

After the girl went out of her house around 11.30am on Thursday, her father lodged an FIR under section of kidnapping (section 363 of IPC) against an unidentified person at the Indirapuram police station around 5.30pm. The police said that the girls family hails from Baghpat in Western UP.

In his FIR, the girls father alleged that an unidentified man had sent some obscene messages on his daughters mobile phone and the same person also sent some photographs of his daughter.

The man was after my daughter for the past two years. He was regularly sending messages on WhatsApp and sent messages to my son and even on my mobile phone. He continued to send messages even as we changed numbers. We dont know him personally but he belongs to Rajasthan, he said.

Due to this issue, my daughter was under severe depression since many days and left the house. After we received information about the suicide, we went to Delhi and identified her body, he added.

The Ghaziabad police said that the girl left a suicide note addressed to her parents. In the note, the girl stated that her mother said something which broke her heart.

I hid things as I never wanted to disturb you... I admit that I made a mistake by speaking to him... and my mistake cannot be rectified now. All this drama started because of me and will now end with me... the note said.

The Ghaziabad police said that they found photographs of a young man and the girl, which were taken in a public place.

The girls family told us that they dont know the man. They have given us several mobile numbers from which he sent messages. We are trying to trace the man with the help of the mobile numbers. We are investigating the case, said Atul Yadav, circle officer (Indirapuram).
Like dengue, chikungunya cases have also increased in frequency in the city. From six cases on September 20, the number has rise three-fold to 18.

Of these, 13 have been admitted at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and five have been reported at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.

However, as in the case of dengue, there is considerable difference in the numbers that is getting treatment and the numbers that the UT health department has cared to admit.

The health department claims that there are only nine confirmed chikungunya cases in the city.

Three fresh cases of chikungunya has been reported by GMCH 32.On field investigations it was observed that two are imported (from Delhi and Rajasthan) and third gave a wrong address so which brings to total number of chikungunya cases to nine.

20 new dengue cases, count touches 204

On Thursday, total 20 new cases were reported from various health institutions which includes 12 new cases and 8 confirmed amongst probable cases, reads a press statement.

Three deaths due to dengue have been reported over the past two days from health institutions  two from

Punjab (one Derabassi, one Manoulisurat village both in SAS Nagar district) and one from Ladwa village in Kurukshetra, Haryana.

If we look at the data, then of 204 people who got infected with dengue, almost 60% would be in 21-30 age group. Because of their choice of clothes (half-pants, sleeveless shirts) they get exposed to mosquito bites, said Dr Gaurav Aggarwal, anti-malaria officer.

Dr Ram Singh, internal medicine, GMCH-32, said, Though dengue is impacting people of all age groups, but we are seeing more number of young patients at the out-patient department.

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Deputy commissioner Varun Roojam on Thursday assured all help to unidentified and attendant-less patients admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev (GND) Hospital here. He said he would be calling a meeting of non-government organisations (NGOs) to address the issue.

Two months ago, a maggot-infested nameless patient had died in the hospital due to lack of personal attention. The hospital authorities had then urged the district administration authorities and NGOs to send their representatives and help out the hospital.

Citing staff shortage and a heavy rush of patients, medical superintendent Dr Ram Sarup Sharma said, We have not declined any kind of medical help to anyone, patients are welcome, but we need volunteers to come forward for the help of the patients who are without attendants.

The hospital authorities stated that normally if a patient is admitted to the hospital, there is someone accompanying him, but in some cases, people admit the patients without anyone with them to be taken care of in the hospital. It becomes extremely difficult for the regular staff to manage everything on their own.

Reacting on this, Roojam told HT,I am aware of the situation, yes, the hospital authorities have written to me about the problem being faced by them. I verbally communicated to the NGOs earlier on this, but now I would be sending a written reminder and a meeting of their representatives would be called to discuss the matter and find a solution to it.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh said on Thursday that SADs ship was set to sink as people of Punjab were waiting to throw the government out of power.

Addressing a Kisan Chetna rally outside the mini secretariat, he said that for 10 years, the government had squeezed the farmers so hard that they were resorting to suicides. He promised that on coming to power, the Congress would waive-off all farm debts.

Apprehending harassment to farmers during the coming paddy season, Amarinder said chief minister (CM) Parkash Singh Badal had, till date, not clarified as to how he was going to procure the produce or pay the farmers as banks had refused to release cash credit limit for the same. Mere opening up mandis will not serve the purpose. You should have the money in your coffers to pay to the farmers, he said, asking the CM to approach the Prime Minister for a bail out.

The situation in Punjab today is such that no Punjabi feels safe. The sooner the government goes the better it is for the state, he added.

Amarinder said the current situation was a natural consequence of indulgence of the Badals in things other than governance. The way they have destroyed Punjab, they deserve no mercy, he said.

He also warned people against voting for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) saying they were worse than the Akalis. He asked AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal to clarify whether he was in the race for Punjabs chief ministership or not. Making people like Sukhpal Khaira to speak for you hardly serves any purpose, he said asking Kejriwal to be bold enough and declare himself if he was contesting from Punjab or not.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa pushed for a separate Kisan budget as proposed by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi in UP a few days ago, stating that it would help the government consider the minutest details of its agriculture policy and plan solutions to agrarian crisis.

Raising the issue of farmers debt, he said that after organising Kisan Chetna rallies in all districts of Punjab, Congress parliamentarians and senior leaders would hold programme at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to highlight the gravity of farm crisis and press the central government to waive-off farmers loans worth `72,000 crore.

Congress general secretary and chairperson of the Campaign Committee Ambika Soni; AICC incharge for Punjab Asha Kumari; AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary; former PCC president Mohinder Singh Kaypee also addressed the dharna.

Before making his speech, Capt Amarinder observed a two-minute silence in memory of the martyrs who died while defending the country in a terror attack in Uri sector.

Blaming Badal for sacrilegious attacks on religious scriptures in the recent past, he said God will not forgive him and he will go to hell.

He further said, I promise that on coming to power, Congress will hold enquiries in drug smuggling and put Badal and Majithia behind bars.

Before wrapping up his speech, Partap Singh Bajwa gave a parting advice to Amarinder, Ambika Soni and Asha Kumari that they should give equal importance to A and B line leadership and try to take everyone along.

Saarean nu naal lai ke challoge tan bache rahoge (Youll be safe if u take everyone along), he remarked.
Upset over not being heard by the government during the Pakka Morcha (indefinite protest) outside the deputy commissioners office here, protesting farmers on Thursday marched towards the residence of Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia to gherao it, but the cops foiled their bid.

Stopped from approaching Majithias residence, around 500 agitators under the banner of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC) sat in dharna at a place, which is at a few meters from the residence, located at Green Avenue locality blocking a road also. The protesters included a sizeable number of women.

Simultaneously, the Pakka Morcha has been also been continuing since Monday. Deputy commissioner Varun Roojam, police commissioner Amar Singh Chahal and sub-divisional magistrate Rohit Gupta approached the agitators, but the farmers did not lift the dharna.

Harpreet Singh, a spokesperson of the farmers organisation, said the government had not made concrete efforts to meet their demands, despite chief minister Parkash Singh Badals assurances in this regard at various meetings. He said Amritsar deputy commissioner and police commissioner are doing nothing except paying lip service to them, in view of this, they had decided to gherao Majithias residence.

President Satnam Singh Pannu said, Now, the protest will continue outside DC office as well as at the Green Avenue till their demands, including relief of `10 lakh each to families of the farmers who have committed suicide due to debt are met.

Till the filing of the report, sit-ins continued at both places. Due to the blockade and sloganeering against the government, the residents are suffering a lot. Led by senior officials, including DCP J Elanchazhian and ADCP-1 Harwinder Singh, a heavy police force has been deployed to prevent the agitators from approaching the ministers residence.

The other demands include implementation of the Swaminathan panel report on the minimum support price (MSP) of food crops and fixing of MSP for all varieties of basmati besides government procurement.
An 18-day investigation into the murderous assault on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader brigadier Jagdish Gagneja (retired) failed to yield any solid clue, Punjab Police officers admit.

The police response was slothful from the August 6 evening when two men came on a motorcycle and shot Gagneja in the abdomen near Jyoti Chowk in Jalandhar. This inactiveness gave the killers an ample time to escape. Instead of going on a hunt, all key cops, from a station house officer to police commissioner Arpit Shukla, camped overnight at the private hospital where a wounded RSS leader lay.

Also read | Discontent in Sangh Parivar over attacks on Hindu leaders

The incident was in a series of high-profile attack cases in the state, all of which remain unsolved. We were clueless. Thats a fact. We could not pick up any conclusive evidence to develop the investigation. The police probe never really took off, a senior cop who was on different crack teams said. On August 24, to save its face, the state government had to move the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The only clue to the assailants was the security-camera footage, in which they have their faces covered both before the shooting and afterwards. The registration number of the getaway motorcycle was another lead. But it turned out to be of a tractor.

The footage analysis in Gujarat also was unfruitful. We know the route the two attackers took to the crime spot. We could not trace their escape route. This was another weak spot, a police officer said. As the government started getting impatient, the investigators tried to prove the involvement of Khalistani terrorists abroad but were unlucky.

Desperation forced them to interrogate arrested Shiv Sena activists. Finally, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal blamed a foreign hand, while his deputy and son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, kept claiming that the criminals will be caught soon.

The case went to the CBI on the grounds that it has national and international ramifications.

The transfer notice doesnt refer to the international conspiracy angle.

What made the police investigation difficult

1) Instead of going after attackers, key cops gathered around a wounded RSS leader in hospital

2) Police know the attackers entry route but not their escape route

3) In security-camera footage, the attackers never remove their masks

4) The registration number of the getaway motorcycle is of a tractor

5) Foreign-hand theory bombed

6) Interrogation of Shiv Sena leaders yielded nothing

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The death of senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader Brig Jagdish Gagneja (retd) on Thursday, 45 days after he was shot at by two bike-borne assailants in Jalandhar, is a grim reminder of the failure of investigating agencies to nab his killers.

Though the state BJP chief Vijay Sampla has expressed satisfaction over the handing over the investigation into the attack on Gagneja to the CBI, a section of BJP leaders are critical of the partys lethargic approach towards taking up the cause of the safety of Hindu leaders in Punjab with its indifferent ally  the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Must read | Over a month after attack, Punjab RSS vice-chief dead, case unsolved

A palpable disenchantment has set in among the RSS cadre in Punjab. There is demoralisation. The BJP is part of the ruling alliance and killers of Hindu leaders are roaming free. BJP has failed to instill confidence among the RSS cadres and with elections barely four months away, the enthusiasm with which the RSS supports BJP is missing, said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

On Thursday, state BJP chief Vijay Sampla, however, said that all was well with the BJP-RSS ties. The government has done all it could. Initial investigation led the Punjab Police to believe that there are international agencies and elements involved in the attack, which are beyond their reach. The investigation was handed to the CBI only after we talked to the SAD. The CBI is now probing the case and I am hopeful it will soon show results, he said.

Jagdish Gagneja (HT File )

Attack on Gagneja, 68, who died at a Ludhiana hospital on Thursday, was one among the series of systematic attacks on Hindu leaders in Punjab in the past few years. In April, two motorcycle-borne assailants gunned down Punjab Shiv Senas labour wing chief Durga Prasad Gupta in Khanna. February saw two attacks on Shiv Sena leaders. In January RSS leader Naresh Kumar was shot at in Ludhiana.

The government has, as part of the subsequent steps, offered security to various BJP and RSS leaders. Under attack, however, is Sampla, whom other BJP leaders blame for keeping a soft stance towards the SAD. Unlike the Shiv Sena whose workers took to the streets after the attacks on their leaders, RSS does not go about raisings slogans. They can only look up to the BJP to take up their concerns with the government. Sampla was given security along with bullet-proof vehicles by the state government. Did he even find out what security RSS leaders got? asked another BJP leader.

Replug | HT ANALYSIS | Gagneja case: Badal arrests poll damage with CBI investigation

When asked about the strengthening of his security, Sampla retorted, I was offered the bullet-proof vehicle by the chief minister. If anyone is upset with it, Ill surrender it. But it is wrong to say that RSS is upset with the BJP. It is only the creation of the media.

Acknowledging that there is a simmering resentment within the RSS, many BJP leaders predict that it will not affect the BJP in the polls. RSS workers are nationalists and completely dedicated. They cannot shift to Congress or the Aam Aadmi Party. They will work hand-in-hand with the BJP when it comes to polls, said the BJP leader.

I am also from the RSS and we do whatever the Sangh orders us to do, said Dinesh Kumar, the state BJP general secretary (organisation). This is not the way to look at these attacks. These have to be seen as attempts to disturb the peace in Punjab. The focus should be to ensure that Hindus and Sikhs live in harmony, he added.

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The thundering aircraft in the skies over Pathankot in the wee hours of Friday led to panic and curiosity among the people about a possible war. And, a tweet of a Pakistani journalist about F16s in action on the other side of the border added fuel to the fire.

The aircraft sorties are a routine in Pathankot and people generally are least bothered about them, but residents are concerned nowadays amid talks of revenge after the Uri terror attack.

The curious residents were seen on rooftops watching aircrafts flying over their heads, most of them nearly convinced that its war.

Also read | Winged spy lands on house in Mukerian

Many residents said they remained glued to the TV channel airing the story of F16 aircraft flying over Islamabad late on Thursday evening as tweeted by a Pakistani reporter.

I slept at 3am as aircraft continued to thunder over our homes till 2am, said Vimal Kumar, who lives near the air force station here.

Aircraft make sorties everyday here, but the tense situation in the country made us believe that there was something wrong, he added.

I kept watching TV till late night, said Sanjay Kumar, another resident, who also spent the night in panic. We are more curious and worried because we live near the air base and the military installation. I have seen wars in 1965 and 1971 and Pathankot was one of the enemy targets, he said.

None of the Air Force officials was willing to tell anything, but senior superintendent of police Rakesh Kaushal said that people must not get panicked with such types of activities as the forces keep themselves ready to deal with any situation.
In yet another aversion to the dalits, as many as 40 Dalit families are being forced to live in insanitary conditions in Lubana Teku village, leading to poor health of the colony residents.

Three newly-wed daughters-in-law of the residents had to be convinced by the panchayat and senior villagers to come back after they had left due to the continuous stink and unhealthy conditions at the colony.

The drain carrying sewage water from Dalit Colony passes through a small piece of land, which is being claimed by the neighbouring villages of Lubana Karmu and Lubana Teku, leading to a dispute over the right to dispose water there.

The dispute of ownership remains unsolved as the administration claims that the measurements can be done only after the harvest of paddy crop.

The Teku villagers have protested a number of times for a solution and the administration has asked the panchayat of Karmu not to block the drain.

Meanwhile, water is being disposed off in a small pit, and the overflowing water is being accommodated by the neighbouring farmers to maintain peace.

How long will the farmers accommodate the water? There are times when they need their fields to remain dry, said the residents, asking for a permanent solution to the issue.

For the rest of the villagers, both the villages have a common water disposal pond in Karmu, but the Dalit Colony drains remain disconnected from these.

Both the villages stand against each other and a tensed environment prevails here, but no permanent solution is worked out by the administration, says villager Krishan Kumar

Lubana Teku panch Bharpoor Singh said that the technical problems, in connecting the affected colony drains with other drains in the village, is because the colony is situated on a 4-feet lower side. Also, Karmu residents are not allowing the drainage of the colony water to join the common puddle through their drains which are just 20 feet far, he added. We are poor, so how will we lift our houses up by four feet? said the colony residents.

On the other side, Lubana Karmu sarpanch Amrinder Singh said, We have not denied to dispose water in the common puddle, but if it has to pass through our village, it should go through underground sewage pipes only. And the cost has to be incurred by their panchayat. Unlike us, they have 120 acres of panchayat land and they received grant from the state government. But the administration is suppressing us only.

Police were deployed after struggles, to allow the disposal of sewage water from Dalit houses of Lubana Karmu, to the common puddle. Here too, Dalits are the only sufferers, said a dalit of Teku requesting anonymity.

Similar story of Thuhi

In Thuhi village as well, the Dalits are forced to live between two puddles. Former SDM Harpreet Singh Soodan had directed the block development and panchayat office, on August 16, to prepare the estimate for shifting the puddle to the villages outer side within 15 days; but the villagers claim that nothing has moved ahead since then. Not even the estimate has come up.

The villagers stood against each other with weapons last week, when the affected dalits allegedly temporarily blocked the disposal in the newly-opened puddle around their colony. The whole village is a sufferer of the poor drainage system, said Gurmeet Singh of Thuhi.

The caste division is fuelled by a few politicians with the help of the administration, and the government is watching all this mutely, he added.

The block development and panchayat office (BDPO) could not be reached for a comment despite repeated attempts.
Advocates of the Amritsar Bar Association (ABA) have demanded complete snapping of ties with Pakistan after the killing of 18 soldiers in a terrorist strike in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir.

Holding a Lalkar rally from Amritsar to the Attari-Wagah border check post on Thursday, the advocates raised slogans against Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his PML-N government.

Amritsar Bar Association representative Pardeep Kumar Saini told ANI, We are protesting against Pakistan and for the killing of 18 soldiers in Uri. Through this protest, we are challenging Pakistan as to why they attacking behind our backs. Instead, if they are courageous enough, they should attack from the front, and then, we will see who will be killed, whether Pakistani terrorists or us?.

The protocol that we will follow is total shutdown. We do not want any relations with them, he added.

On Sunday, a militant attack on an army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, has claimed the lives of eighteen soldiers.

While 17 soldiers died on Sunday, the army confirmed that one more critically injured soldier succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, pushing the death toll to 18.

The armed militants lobbed grenades into their tents and barracks, while the soldiers were sleeping.

The ensuing fire led to a large number of casualties. Twenty-eight injured soldiers are being treated at a military hospital.
A white pigeon with an Urdu inscription on its wings dropped in a house in Mukerian sub-divisions Motla village late Thursday, raising suspicion that it could be a spy from the neighbouring country.

Mukerian deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Bhupinder Singh told HT that only names of the days were stamped on the wings. (Harpreet Kaur/HT Photo)

One Naresh Kumar informed the police on Friday that a sick looking pigeon had landed in his house last night. Kumar picked it up in the morning and spotted something written on its tail feathers. The police then found someone who could decipher the code. Mukerian deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Bhupinder Singh told HT that only names of the days were stamped on it.

We sent the bird for an X-ray to verify if something was hidden inside but nothing suspicious was found. As a precaution, we are keeping the avian in our custody for the time being, he said.

Mukerian is 35 km from Pathankot, which remains on a high alert after the airbase attack.
In Mumbai, not only do television stars enjoy immense popularity but a few of them also earn more than their Bollywood counterparts. Back home, the scene isnt the same. However, Yash Dasgupta is an exception. The actor made his Bengali television debut with Bojhena Se Bojhena (2013-2016), and today is a household name. His character, Aranya Singha Roy, in the show still enjoys popularity among girls and housewives. Naturally, that makes Yash hopeful about his fans watching his debut Bengali film. I am happy that I have such a huge fan following despite having done only one Bengali show. Aranya Singha Roy continues to enjoy popularity, he chuckles.

Interestingly, there have been quite a few actors in Bollywood such as Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Sushant Singh Rajpuit and Ayushmann Khurrana, who started with television and then made it big in films. However, Yash is one of the few actors from Bengali television industry, who has managed to get the perfect launch pad for making film debut. The actor has been roped in by one of the biggest production houses in Kolkata for its Durga Puja release, which is being directed by Birsa Dasgupta. Yash knows that a lot is riding on him, but that doesnt make him anxious. In fact, he is happy that the films songs have become a hit with the audience.

Yash Dasgupta became a household name after doing Bhojena Se Bojhena on Bengali television. (Star Jalsa)

Before doing Bengali television, Yash was seen in Hindi television shows such as Bandini, Basera, Na Aana Is Des Laado, and Adaalat. Yash says that during that time one of his friend joined Punjabi films. That prompted Yash to look for an opportunity in Bengali film and television. I started watching Bengali films. I watched several films of Dev. Soon, I got an offer for Bojhena Se Bojhena, says Yash, who grew up in different cities because of his parents transferable jobs.

The actor was also keen on doing Bengali films, but given that he had problems with his Bengali diction, he decided to brush up his Bengali before foraying into films. The best thing about Aranya Singha Roys character was that he could speak in English whenever he wanted to. So, whenever I found difficulty in pronouncing a Bengali word, I replaced it with an English word on the show. But now, I can speak chaste Bengali, smiles Yash, who will be seen playing a gangster in his debut film.

Yash Dasgupta will be seen opposite Mimi Chakraborty in his debut film, Gangster. (Shree Venkatesh Films)

Yash says that his character Guru in the film is introvert, much like the one he played on television. However, things change once Guru falls in love with a girl (Mimi Chakraborty). The film has been extensively shot in Istanbul and unfortunately the crew was left stranded during an attempted military coup in Turkey. Gurus character has three different shades. The audience will also get to watch various shades of Yash through Guru, he says.

In the last few years, most newcomers in Bengali cinema have been launched in remakes. But Yash is happy that he is entering filmdom with original content. In fact, it was Yash, who approached the producers with the idea. I am not against remakes but if I have to work in remakes, it should be better than the original one. I am glad that I am starting off with an original subject. I have been involved with the film since the scripting stage, he says.

Watch the trailer of Gangster here:

Ask him if he will go back to television again, and he smilingly says, If my films dont do well, then I will do TV. I want to concentrate on films right now. Since I have done TV, I can never disown the medium. In fact, whatever I am today is because of television, he signs off.

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop

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Do you often find yourself counting the number of likes your photos and posts get on Facebook? if so, then may not be leading a purposeful life, say researchers.

According to a new study, the rush of self-esteem that comes with the ubiquitous thumbs-up on social media may be limited for people who live with a sense of purpose.

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 ones self-esteem on them.

Otherwise, when one receives few likes, he or she can feel worse and the individuals self-esteem would be contingent on what other people say and think and over time thats 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.

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About 75 former US ambassadors and top diplomats have endorsed former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, arguing that her Republican rival Donald Trump is entirely unqualified to be the next occupant of the White House.

The 70-year-old reality TV star is ignorant of the complex challenges that the US faces and has not shown any interest in educating himself, they said.

(Trump) is entirely unqualified to serve as president and commander-in-chief.

He is ignorant of the complex nature of the challenges facing our country, from Russia to China to ISIS to nuclear proliferation to refugees to drugs, but he has expressed no interest in being educated, the former ambassadors and diplomats said, using an acronym for the Islamic State terror group.

Several of them have been US ambassadors to India (Thomas Pickering, Nancy Powell), Afghanistan and Pakistan (Wendy Chamberlin, Ryan Corker, James B Cunningham, Nicholas Platt, Thomas B Robertson).

Former assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake -- who was the US ambassador to Indonesia -- is among the signatories to a letter endorsing Clinton.

The letter said Trump entirely misunderstands and disrespects the high officials in foreign service and intelligence communities that could guide him to a right course of action on crucial questions of foreign policy.

Hillary Clintons handling of foreign affairs has consistently sought to advance fundamental US interests with a deep grounding in the work of the many tens of thousands of career officers on whom our national security depends, the letter said.
US senator Ted Cruz endorsed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Friday, saying he is the only candidate who can stop Democrat Hillary Clinton from winning the White House on November 8.

A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honouring that commitment. And if you dont want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him, the former Republican presidential candidate said in a long statement.

Cruz, a senator from Texas who is a favourite of the conservative Tea Party movement, was one of Trumps last challengers for the Republican presidential nomination to drop out of the race.

When Cruz addressed the Republican National Convention in July in Cleveland, where Trump accepted the nomination, he declined to endorse Trump and was essentially booed off stage by the New York businessmans supporters.

During the heated primary battle, Trump had insulted Cruzs wife, Heidi, for her physical appearance. His wild suggestion that the senators father was linked to President John F Kennedys assassin prompted Cruz to denounce Trump as a pathological liar.

In July, Trump had said, I dont want his endorsement. But on Friday, the New York businessman said he was greatly honoured to have Cruz backing him.

We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again, Trump said.

Cruz cited the possibility of Democrats taking control of the US Supreme Court as a major reason why he decided to drop his opposition to Trump.

Trump earlier in the day released the names of 21 prominent conservatives and said he would pick from this list in nominating a replacement for conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February.

The senate has refused to take any action on President Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland, chief judge of the federal appeals court in Washington, to fill the vacancy.

In this Feb 25, 2016 file photo, Sen Ted Cruz listens as Donald Trump speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate at The University of Houston in Houston. (AP)

One of the names on Trumps list was that of US senator Mike Lee of Utah, a key ally of Cruz.

Cruz said that for some time he had been seeking greater specificity on Trumps views toward filling the opening on the court, which is currently deadlocked between four right-leaning and four left-leaning jurists.

He said Trumps list provides a serious reason for voters to choose to support Trump and that Lee would make an extraordinary justice.

Cruz noted his qualms about Trump, saying, I have struggled to determine the right course of action in this general election.

But in the end, he decided, Trump is the only thing standing in the way of a Clinton presidency that he said would be devastating to the United States.
Federal prosecutors and New York police are investigating former US representative Anthony Weiner following a media report that he engaged in sexually-explicit cellphone and online messages with a 15-year-old girl, officials said on Thursday.

The probes came after DailyMail.com, the online version of a British newspaper, on Wednesday published an interview with the unnamed girl, who described months of online and text exchanges with Weiner in which she said he asked her to undress and touch herself.

Weiner, 52, did not respond to requests for comment. He told the Associated Press on Wednesday that he had likely been the subject of a hoax.

A New York Police Department spokesperson said the police are looking into the allegations and are investigating.

The office of US attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose in Charlotte is reviewing all materials relevant to the matter, spokesperson Lia Bantavani said.

Manhattan US attorney Preet Bharara and the FBI are also investigating, according to a law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The investigations mark the latest in a series of scandals involving Weiner, a Democrat who represented a New York City district in Congress but resigned in 2011.

Last month, Weiners wife, Huma Abedin, one of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clintons top aides, said she was separating from her husband following another scandal.

Anthony Weiner and his wife Huma Abedin attend a news conference in New York. (Reuters File Photo)

Her announcement followed a New York Post report that Weiner had sent lewd photos of his bulging underwear -- one while he was in bed with their toddler son -- via Twitter to another woman.

His resignation in 2011 came in the wake of a scandal that arose from him accidentally posting a close-up of his underpants on Twitter.

Weiner denied for more than a week that he had sent the photo and intended it for a young woman, claiming instead that his Twitter account had been hacked.

After several women came forward to say they too had shared sexually charged exchanges with the married congressman, Weiner admitted he lied.

When Weiner later made an unsuccessful run for New York City mayor, explicit photos surfaced in July 2013 that he had sent under the pseudonym Carlos Danger to a young woman in Indiana.
India and Russia kicked off a joint military exercise in Vladivostok on Friday that will see troops training for counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous and jungle terrain.

This is the eighth edition of Exercise Indra, which has been held by the two sides since 2003. Each side has fielded 250 soldiers for the 11-day wargame, which is aimed at achieving interoperability in joint operations.

Russias Eastern Military District and Indias armed forces will create a joint group for an operation to identify, block and eliminate hypothetical groups of terrorists and illegal armed groups. Aviation and artillery units will be involved, Russian military spokesperson Vladimir Matveyev said.

Besides soldiers from Russias 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, a unit of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Troops will participate in the drill.

The Indian Army described the Indra exercise as one of the major bilateral defence cooperation initiatives between India and

Russia. During the opening ceremony, Brig Sukrit Chadah, the head of the Indian contingent, highlighted the need for jointness between the two nations to defeat terrorism.

The exercise in Vladivostok began as a contingent of Russian troops arrived in Pakistan for the first joint drill by the two countries.
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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

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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

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The real Arvind Kejriwal didnt make an appearance, his reel version did.

The Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was scheduled to be in Canada this summer, apparently to address the large Punjabi diaspora before the Punjab assembly elections, due next year.

But the visit was cancelled, apparently because Canadian rules forbid foreign politicians from running electoral campaigns in the country.

Instead, disappointed AAP supporters in Canada had to be content with their leader appearing in a documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The official reason is that Kejriwal had other commitments. But an AAP member explained: the real cause was because Captain happened.

The reference was to Punjab Congress chief and former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singhs planned trip in April, which was aborted after the hardline group, Sikhs For Justice, approached Global Affairs Canada to bar him from canvassing in the country. Singh was forced to call off the Canada leg of his North American tour.

That appears to be an eye-opener for the AAP. The partys convener in Punjab, Gurpreet Ghuggi, recently completed a visit to the US. He bypassed Canada.

In effect, Kejriwal may be trying to avoid the embarrassment Singh suffered.

In an emailed response, Global Affairs Canada stated: Foreign electoral campaigns in Canada run counter to well-established Canadian policy  We expect foreign states to ensure that any activity planned in Canada involving their governments or elected officials is in full accordance with this Canadian policy.

As a consolation more than two dozen AAP activists attended the world premiere screening of the documentary, An Insignificant Man, at the Toronto fest.

Its a very good movie. Being an AAP supporter, it was good revision for me about what all happened (prior to the 2013 Delhi assembly elections). I feel now theres no need to worry. We are more optimistic and confident, party volunteer Sudeep Singla said.

The partys national secretary Sumesh Handa called the screening at TIFF an honour to the common man.

The documentary could become part of the partys outreach campaign. At the very least, Kejriwal could well be travelling around Canada  as a projected image in a cinema.

The AAP convenor in Canada, Jaskirat Mann, said the party has nearly 10,000 registered members in the North American country and the number of supporters would be five times more.

The party raised nearly Rs 50 lakh from donors in Canada in August and volunteers were engaged in kirtans, picnics and kabaddi tournaments to shore up support, she said.

Theyre creating more fuss all over, but everything is really good at ground level, she said from Punjab, the state shes touring now.

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South Korea ruled out giving aid to flood-hit North Korea on Friday, saying leader Kim Jong-Un would claim credit for any assistance following what Pyongyang calls the worst disaster since World War II.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) appealed on Wednesday for $15.5 million in emergency funding to help North Koreans.

It warned of a secondary disaster in the impoverished country unless urgent assistance is provided.

At least 138 people are known to have died and nearly 400 are missing after torrential rain triggered major floods, devastating villages in the countrys northeast, the UN said last week.

According to the UN, 140,000 people need assistance. The IFRC said about 70,000 remain homeless after tens of thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed.

Unicef said on Tuesday that disease and malnutrition were rising, with health clinics reporting that twice as many children were seeking help compared to before the disaster.

If Seoul gave any help, Kim Jong-Un would take all undue credit for it, unification ministry spokesperson Jeong Joon-Hee told journalists.

Under these circumstances, I cannot shed the feeling that outside aid would be all in vain, he said while answering a question on whether the South would respond to appeals for aid.

Despite the UN appeal, the international community remains lukewarm, he said.

Earlier this week, the ministry rejected a request from NGOs to contact North Koreans to discuss possible aid. Unauthorised contacts are prohibited with possible jail sentences.

While the North claimed it had suffered from the worst-ever disaster (since the end of World War II), Kim Jong-Un was breaking into big smiles at a rocket engine test site, Jeong said on Wednesday.

Nuclear-armed North Korea on Tuesday hailed the successful test of new, high-powered rocket engine, a move Seoul said was designed to showcase its progress towards being able to target the US east coast.

The Norths Red Cross on Thursday lambasted the South for a smear campaign after some South Korean media said discontent among North Koreans was rising as they were being forced into recovery work following the floods.

It is elementary human ethics and universal practice to console the victims and render help to the disaster-hit area when flood and other disasters happen, it said.

But the Park group is keen on groundless smear campaign, far from expressing sympathy over the pain suffered by the fellow countrymen, it said in reference to the Souths President Park Geun-Hye.

The South regularly provided massive food to the impoverished North before the conservative government took power in 2008.
Missiles rained down on rebel-held areas of Syrias Aleppo on Friday, causing widespread destruction that overwhelmed rescue teams, as the army prepared a ground offensive to retake the city.

Nearly 30 civilians including several children were killed and dozens wounded in the raids by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group.

The intensity of the bombardment, which included artillery barrages and barrel bombings by helicopters, brought new misery to the estimated 250,000 civilians besieged by the army.

The escalation came after US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to reach an agreement with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Thursday on terms to salvage a failed ceasefire.

The two met again on Friday at the United Nations and made what Kerry said was a little bit of progress on resolving their differences on Syria.

Were evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period, Kerry told reporters.

Asked at the UN earlier whether the truce could be reinstated, Lavrov simply said: You should ask the Americans.

He later told the UN General Assembly that US-Russian agreements aimed at ending the Syria conflict must be salvaged, saying there was no alternative to the process.

Now it is essential to prevent a disruption of these agreements, Lavrov said.

Thursdays Kerry-Lavrov talks in New York broke up after Russia refused US demands that it promise to immediately ground the Syrian regimes air force.

Assad playing partition card

Also in New York, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of playing the card of a partition of his country with the Aleppo offensive.

An AFP journalist in rebel-held east Aleppo reported relentless air raids and artillery fire overnight and Friday morning.

Entire apartment blocks were flattened, overwhelming rescue teams from the White Helmets civil defence organisation.

In the Al-Kalasseh district, three buildings were levelled by a single strike, and rescue workers tried frantically to reach survivors using a single bulldozer and their bare hands.

The White Helmets headquarters in the Ansari district was badly damaged along with an ambulance and a fire engine. A second centre operated by the group was also hit.

Rescue workers told AFP their stock of diesel was down to 2,000 litres (530 gallons), forcing them to ration fuel and make choices on when to intervene.

Also in Aleppo province, the Observatory reported 15 deaths including 11 children in a Russian raid on the rebel-held town of Beshkatine and 11 killed in raids by unidentified aircraft on Islamic State group stronghold Al-Bal.

The bombardment came a day after the Syrian army announced an offensive to recapture east Aleppo, which has been held by the rebels since mid-2012 but has been surrounded by government forces since July.

The army urged civilians to distance themselves from the positions of terrorist groups and pledged that fleeing residents would not be detained.

A high-ranking military source confirmed that the bombardment was preparation for a ground assault.

We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment, he told AFP.

This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground.

Preparing ground operation

The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives and displaced over half the countrys population since it erupted in March 2011.

In a bid to relaunch peace talks, Kerry and Lavrov announced a ceasefire on September 9, with Moscow responsible for forcing government troops to stand down and allow in UN aid convoys.

Washington was supposed to pressure rebel forces to respect the truce and distance themselves from jihadists, but the ceasefire fell apart acrimoniously and the Syrian army declared it over on Monday.

UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said Thursdays failed talks were long, painful and disappointing and warned of escalating violence.

In Geneva, the UN said Friday it was considering a different route to send desperately needed aid to east Aleppo to circumvent the blocked main supply route.

In Damascus, an analyst close to the regime said it was no coincidence that the Aleppo assault began as the New York talks broke down.

In Aleppo, negotiations are being conducted by fire, he said.

The Americans must understand that so long as they dont implement their commitments, particularly for the rebels to distance themselves from... (jihadists), the Russians and the Syrian army will advance.
Russia sentenced an elderly decorated space engineer and university instructor to seven years in prison for state treason, an official said on Friday.

A spokesman for Moscow City Court told AFP that the entire case against Vladimir Lapygin was top secret.

The verdict was pronounced on September 6, he said.

Russian media said Lapygin is in his late 70s and spent months under house arrest after his initial detention in May 2015. He was reportedly accused of giving Russian secrets to China.

Russian agencies said Lapygin taught at Moscows Bauman State Technical Institute. Information on the universitys page suggested he advised graduate students in the mechanical engineering department.

Lapygin is also an employee of Tsniimash, the Central Research Institute of Machine Building, which develops rockets and is administered by the Roscosmos space agency.

In 2014, he received a medal for his contributions to Russias economy and defence capabilities.

Lapygin is just the latest person convicted for state treason and espionage in a list of Russians and foreigners which has been growing rapidly since 2014 and has included an air traffic controller, a housewife and a former intelligence officer.
A Russian mechanised infantry unit arrived in Pakistan on Friday for the first military exercise between the two Cold War rivals, with reports suggesting part of the high altitude drill would be conducted in territory claimed by India.

Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, head of the Pakistani militarys media arm, tweeted photos of the Russian troops after they flew into an airbase in Rawalpindi, squelching speculation that Moscow would call off the wargame in the wake of the terror attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri.

A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan for first ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (two weeks) from September 24 to October 10, Bajwa said. The Russian contingent was warmly welcomed by senior Pakistan Army officials before it left for the training venue.

About 200 soldiers from each side will join the two-week exercise Druzhba 2016 (Friendship 2016), which is expected to focus on high-altitude warfare.

Russias state-run Tass news agency reported on Friday the exercises opening ceremony would be held at the Pakistan Armys High Altitude School in Rattu, Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday. A statement issued late on Friday night by the Russian embassy in New Delhi, however, said the only venue of the exercise is Cherat in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

The statement said the drill will not be held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir or any sensitive or problematic areas like Gilgit-Baltistan.

A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6  Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 23, 2016

New Delhi had conveyed to Moscow its concerns that part of the drill would be held at a military facility in Gilgit-Baltistan, which was part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and is claimed by India. Following the Uri attack that killed 18 soldiers, sections of the Indian media reported that India had prevailed on Russia to call off the exercise.

External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup referred to plans for manoeuvres in Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday and said this was part of Indian territory. New Delhis well known sensitivities had been conveyed to Moscow, he said.

Earlier reports in the Pakistani media too said the exercise will be conducted at the High Altitude School at Rattu and at a special forces training centre at Cherat.

Russian troops after they arrived in Rawalpindi on Friday for the first joint exercise with the Pakistan Army. Part of the drill will be conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan, which was part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state and is claimed by India. (ISPR)

The drill reflects the growing military-to-military ties between Pakistan and Russia, whose relations were strained for decades following the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. The two sides have taken several steps to improve defence relations as Indias military procurements moved away from Russia to the US and Israel.

Russia lifted a long-standing arms embargo and signed a landmark military cooperation agreement with Pakistan in 2014. Last year, the two sides finalised a deal for four Mi-35 attack helicopters  a move that angered India. Since then, reports have suggested that Pakistan is interested in acquiring more military gear from Russia, including Su-35 combat jets.

The Pakistani media reported the joint exercise indicates a steady growth in ties between the two countries. Pakistans envoy to Russia, Qazi Khalilullah, said the exercise also reflected the increased cooperation between the two sides. This obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defence and military-technical cooperation, he told a Russian news agency.

The chiefs of Pakistans army, navy and air force have also visited Russia over the past 15 months.

In a related development, Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif on Friday inaugurated state of the art facilities at the National Counter Terrorism Center located near Kharian. The center trains local and foreign army units for counter-terror operations.
South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-se accused North Korea on Thursday of totally ridiculing the authority of the United Nations through its nuclear and missile tests and said it was time to reconsider whether it was qualified for UN membership.

In an address to the annual United Nations General Assembly, Yun said the UN Security Council should adopt stronger, comprehensive sanctions on North Korea after its fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9 and close loopholes in existing measures.

North Koreas repeated violations and non-compliance of Security Council resolutions and international norms is unprecedented and has no parallel in the history of the UN, Yun said.

North Korea is totally ridiculing the authority of the General Assembly and the Security Council, he said.

Therefore, I believe it is high time to seriously reconsider whether North Korea is qualified as a peace-loving UN member, as many countries are already questioning.

Yun said North Korea had not only advanced its nuclear and missile capacity, but publicly threatened to use those weapons pre-emptively. He said it was the last chance to put a brake on its nuclear ambitions.

Yun also called for action against North Koreas violations of the rights of its own people, and said there should be greater focus on North Korean workers abroad and the possible diversion of their wages to weapons programs.

Discussions are already under way on a possible new UN sanctions resolution on North Korea after its latest nuclear test.

Analysts and diplomats say much depends on Chinas attitude.

China is North Koreas main ally, but has been angered by its repeated missile and nuclear tests and backed tough UN sanctions on Pyongyang in March. At the same time, it has repeatedly called for a return to international talks to resolve the issue, in spite of the scepticism of other world powers.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told the General Assembly on Wednesday countries must remain committed to denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, while seeking a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue.

The United States said Li and US President Barack Obama agreed in New York on Monday to step up cooperation in the UN Security Council and in law enforcement channels

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday the threat posed by North Korea was substantially more serious than in the past and demanded an entirely distinct response.
An official of Donald Trumps campaign has resigned over remarks she made blaming the election of President Barack Obama for racism in the country, as the Republican nominee tries to court African Americans.

I dont think there was any racism until Obama got elected, Kathy Miller, an official of the Trump campaigns unit in Ohio told The Guardian in an interview.

She added, We never had problems like thisNow, with the people with the guns, and shooting up neighbourhoods, and not being responsible citizens, thats a big change, and I think thats the philosophy that Obama has perpetuated on America.

The remarks couldnt have come at a more sensitive time as protests continued over the fatal shooting of two African-American men in separate incidents in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, this week.

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, Miller said in the interview.

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.

Miller quit on Thursday after apologising for her inappropriate remarks.

The misstep came at a time when Trump is trying to court African-Americans who have voted Democratic for decades. He famously started by asking them to give him a chance as, he argued, Democrats were taking their support for granted.

What do you have to lose? he had asked.

On Thursday, Trump described protests in Charlotte a national crisis and called for a national anti-crime agenda to deal with racial tensions.

There is no right to engage in violent disruption or to threaten the peace and safety of others, Trump said in a speech in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, adding the people who suffer the most in these situations are law-abiding African-American residents who face other challenges. He slammed the protestors for lawless conduct, and praised the police.

His Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, has been more measured, and appealed for better police-community relations.
A computer hacker who helped the Islamic State by providing names of more than 1,000 US government and military workers as potential targets was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Friday.

The sentence was much higher than the 6-year term sought by defence lawyers, who argued that their client, Ardit Ferizi, meant no real harm and is not a true supporter of the Islamic State.

He was a nonsensical, misguided teenager who did not know what he was doing, said public defender Elizabeth Mullin. He has never embraced ISILs ideology.

Ferizi, 20, a native of Kosovo who was arrested last year in Malaysia, is the first person convicted in the US of both computer hacking and terrorism charges. He admitted hacking a private company and pulling out the names, email passwords and phone numbers of about 1,300 people with .gov and .mil addresses. The Islamic State published the names with a threat to attack.

At Fridays sentencing hearing, Ferizi struggled to explain why he did it when asked directly by US district judge Leonie Brinkema for an explanation. He said that it all happened very quickly.

I feel so bad for what I did, he said in Albanian-accented English. I am very sorry for what I did, making people feel scared.

Prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence of 25 years.

The defendants conduct has indefinitely put the lives of 1,300 military members and government workers at risk, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Van Grack.

He disputed the idea that Ferizis crime was a whim. Before turning over the names to the Islamic State Hacking Division las year, he operated a website devoted to propagating the Islamic States propaganda. In online conversations, Ferizi defended the Islamic State, and when he gave the 1,300 identities to the Islamic State, he knew he was putting them in would-be terrorists crosshairs, Van Grack said.

This was a hit list. The point was to find these individuals and hit them, to strike at their necks, Van Grack said, mimicking the language the Islamic state used when it published the names.

Van Grack quoted a letter from one of the victims, who said she has an easily identifiable name and is now nervous when she interacts with Muslims, something she feels guilty about. And Van Grack cited another terror case in northern Virginia, in which the defendant, Haris Qamar, allegedly staked out two of the addresses of people in the list who lived near him in the town of Burke.

Mullin countered that nobody on the list has actually been harmed, and said that much of the information Ferizi helped disseminate was publicly available anyway.

Court papers describe a difficult life for Ferizi, who was nominally raised as a Muslim and was just 4 years old when NATO airstrikes forced Serbian forces to withdraw from the territory, which subsequently became independent. Ferizis uncle was murdered and his father was kidnapped during the war, according to letters written by Ferizis family.

As a teenager, Ferizi got in trouble for hacking into Kosovar government databases, but he avoided jail. Ferizi went to Malaysia to study cybersecurity, but continued his hacking activities and developed worsening mental health problems, defense lawyers said.

He met an Islamic State recruiter over the internet while he was trying to expose online pedophiles, his lawyers said.
A 6-year-old American boys letter to Barack Obama, President of the United States, asking to host a young Syrian boy has gone viral.

On Thursday, Obama shared the video of 6-year-old Alex from Scarsdale in New York, reciting the letter, on his Facebook page. It has garnered 14 million views since then.

Alexs letter referred to Omran Daqneesh, a 5-year-old Syrian child who was filmed sitting dazed and covered in soot and blood after being pulled from the rubble of his home in Aleppo, Syria, last month.

In his letter, Alex said he wants Omran to come live with him and his younger sister Catherine and that they would all play together and he will be our brother.

Alex went on to say that he would introduce Omran to a friend at school who is also from Syria.

The video gives the viewers a tour of Alexs home as he reads about sharing his toys with Omran, inviting him to birthday parties and hoping he will teach us another language.

Five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, with bloodied face, sits inside an ambulance after he was rescued following an airstrike in Aleppo, Syria. (Reuters)

Omran was rescued with his three siblings and his parents after an airstrike. His eldest brother died in the hospital due to injuries.

Obama, in his speech on refugees on Tuesday, said: We can all learn from Alex.

The humanity that a young child can display who hasnt learned to be cynical, or suspicious, or fearful of other people because of how they look or where theyre from or how they pray, said Obama.

Obama has the habit of reading 10 letters from Americans every day, chosen by his staff from the thousands sent over phone, Facebook and e-mail.

6-year-old Alexs letter to Barack Obama. (White House)

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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 doesnt know yet whether shell 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 its off for at least a month.

Rubins and her two crewmates  a Russian and Japanese  cant 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 shes not in space, home is Houston, Texas, but in this case, the absentee ballot lists her address as low-Earth orbit.

Its very incredible that were able to vote from up here, she said, and I think its 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 shes 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. Shes 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 wont 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, NASAs 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.
Armenia's govt after sacked oligarchs (video)

The dismissal of tycoon ministers in Armenia can increase the image of the executive body. However, it is not enough to solve the problems in the country. "Should the problem lie in the personality of ministers, all problems in Armenia could have been solved long ago. We found only 20 normal people, appointed ministers and found everything settled with the move," economic analyst Hayk Gevorgyan told A1+. "I think you cannot solve the problem by changing one person or appointing someone who is responsible for the sector," said economist Vilen Khachatryan. " It is also necessary to have a team that will implement the given program," he added. Hayk Gevorgyan is well aware of the businesses owned by the dismissed ministers. Experts believe that 40 percent of Armenia's economy is in the shade and the question needs to be studied seriously. "In addition to becoming a subject of study, I think criminal cases are to be initiated in connection of them. People should receive what was stolen from them, and charges should be filed against certain persons if we are speaking about real radical changes," he said. The government says one of its objectives is to create equal opportunities for all companies. Economist Vilen Khachatryan thinks the fight against monopolies should start from the protection of businesses against competitors' harassment. Asked whether the changes in the Cabinet can lead to serious changes, Hayk Gevorgyan said, "Senseless structural changes have been made in government. If they think they can change something by changing the names of ministries, then they can rename the ministries every week" Speaking about [Prime Minister] Karen Karapetyan's harsh treatment of several ministers, the economic analyst reminded about the upcoming parliamentary elections.
TRIPOLI: Marriage contracts of the Islamic State (IS) unearthed by pro-government forces battling the group in Libya reveal 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 but were slowed down by snipers and suicide bombings.
BEIRUT: 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 US 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.

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.

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 US 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.
Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler both had harsh words against Angelina Jolie in the late night show on Wednesday 21. Certainly, Aniston was expected to respond on her ex-husband's divorce but it came from Handler.

The 41-year-old comedian Handler said, "Brad and Angelina always said they wouldn't get married until everyone could get married...And I always said I wouldn't get married until they got divorced, so I'm officially accepting proposals. I'm ready."

Handler spoke on rumors that part of the problem was that Brad was allegedly drinking and smoking too much weed. She said, "I wonder why he would need to self-medicate? Maybe because he could have been spending the last 12 years at Lake Como hanging out with George Clooney and Matt Damon instead of being stuck in a house with 85 kids speaking 15 different languages. Oh yeah, because he married a f--king lunatic, that's why."

Aniston, 47 has mostly taken the high road on all things Jolie,41 and Pitt, 52, keeping a dignified silence on their relationship that first began infamously on the set of their now iconic spy thriller "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" in 2004. Pitt was still married to Aniston at the time of the movie. They quietly tied the knot in August 2014 at their estate in France, reported the Sydney Morning Herald.

Brangelina's divorce was the perfect opportunity for Handler to speak out, confirming that she was on the side of Aniston. She hinted that she has still got more to say on their divorce.

"But we should all respect their privacy during this very difficult time," she said. "So this will be the last time I speak of this on TV. You can follow me on Twitter."

According to Us Weekly's report Aniston said "it's karma for you," when she heard about the Jolie-Pitt demise. Watch the video.

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Yahoo urged their users to immediately reset their passwords following reports that over 500 million account information were compromised.

The incident happened as Yahoo nears the completion of its multi-billion dollar sale to Verizon.

The account information may have include names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords and encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers.

The company said that it was working with law enforcement agencies as it started to hunt for the perpetrator.

Yahoo however denied that the breached was an inside job, saying there is no evidence that the "state sponsored actor" is currently in Yahoo's network.

While it vows to notify potentially affected users, Yahoo said changing passwords remains the best option. It also urged users to check their accounts and observe for suspicious activities.

It however said that its ongoing investigation suggests that stolen information did not include payment card data, bank account information, and payment card data.

"The company further recommends that users avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails and that they be cautious of unsolicited communications that ask for personal information," the statement added.

The breach first caught the headlines last August when hacker "Peace" went in the dark web announcing the sale of over 200 million Yahoo accounts. "Peace" use to offload hacked data from MySpace and LinkedIn.

In May 2013, over 22 million accounts of Yahoo Japan were leaked online but no user data was compromised.

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OnePlus 4 is speculated to give Apple iPhones a tough challenge. The specifications of the upcoming OnePlus 4 include a RAM and build-in storage along with other improved features and it might be released in mid-2017.

After the phenomenal success of OnePlus 3, the Chinese mobile makers are all set to launch the next version, OnePlus 4. Users can expect a 8GB RAM along with a 256GB external storage option via microSD card, The BitBag reported. It must be mentioned here that Apple iPhone 7 has a RAM of 2GB and Samsung Note is said to have a 4GB RAM. This makes OnePlus 4 not just interesting but also remarkable in terms of features, that is amazing.

Coming to the camera, it is speculated that the upcoming OnePlus 4 will have a 23 MP camera, which is more powerful than OnePlus 3's 16 MP camera.

It is also expected that OnePlus 4 will be powered by a Snapdragon that is the most powerful at the time of its production, just like OnePlus 3, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset. Rumors suggest that a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 chipset would be powering OnePlus 4.

The 8GB RAM along with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 chipset makes OnePlus 4 the perfect competitor for Apple's iPhone 7 as well as for other premium brands that are available in the market.

Moreover, it is also being anticipated that OnePlus 4 will come with the pre-installed operating system, Android 7.0 Nougat as Goggle has already revealed this latest operating system.

Based on trends, it is being estimated that the price of OnePlus 4 will be something around $400. This is because, OnePlus 3 had the price tag of $399, OnePlus 2 has the price as $389 and One Plus was priced at $349, reports TechTimes.

OnePlus 4 is expected to hit the markets sometime around mid-next year or it may even come in a few months early in 2017.

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Passenger airlines disappearances stand as a major problem in satellites communication systems. But two United States companies are looking forward to push their innovative lost aircraft tracking solution to success, which can solve mysterious disappearances of passenger flights as in the case of the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines MH370.

The solution of sudden disappeared airlines without any signs of disappearance is quite a tedious task. This problem served as the key focus by US company Aireon LLC and FlightAware in developing the Aireon GlobalBeacon system, which sends tracking signals to the satellites instead of sending to ground stations. There are chances of losing planes' locations over oceans or remote areas - if the signal is sent to the ground station. This technology is set to be operational by 2018.

GlobalBeacon will employ ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast) low-orbit satellites operated by Iridium Communications Inc to track flights. Aireon initially conceived to help air traffic controllers' route planes more efficiently. FlightAware, for its part, will introduce its tracking product alongside the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)'s meeting in Montreal, Canada.

The best advantage of the new developed airline tracking system is that the signals will not be lost and will make the location data from space-based receivers available to airlines so they can track their planes in near real-time on a web-based tool.

As per reports, FlightAware CEO Daniel Baker said that whether the plane flies over the ocean, desert, or North Pole, should not be worried as the new tracking system will give real-time information on the planes' location and every details of it.

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On nighttime of September 20, members of the terrorist organization Al-Nusra Front launched a major offensive against the Syrian army in the area southwest of Aleppo, as confirmed by the Russian defense ministry. Militants used mortars and rockets to fire at the building of the Military Academy "where [there are] cameras to observe a truce in the southwest of Aleppo," the statement said.

Aleppo, once Syria's commercial and industrial hub, has been divided roughly in two since 2012, with the government controlling the west while leaving the rest to the rebels.

The Russian center in Syria confirmed that the Al-Nusra Front occupied the neighborhood Al Shuqayyif and the one-mile Castello Road. These rebel-held areas saw the heaviest air strikes in months overnight, as a week-old truce collapsed.

An AFP news agency journalist reported that his entire street in the Bustan al-Qasr district was left burning after warplanes dropped incendiary bombs.

13 people, including three women and three children, are believed to have died, according to Rami Abdul Rahman, the UK-based monitoring group's director.

The Aleppo Media Centre said the fires were caused by "incendiary phosphorus bombs". Video footage posted by it and another pro-opposition activist group, Thiqa, showed intense blazes lighting up the night sky.

Fighting also erupted in the southern district, where rebels are attempting to break a siege by government forces. They have suffered heavy losses in manpower and equipment in Aleppo attempts at conquest Card 1070, these roads Castillo.

Two million people are caught up in the battle for the city, and delivering aid to them had been a key part of the cessation of hostilities agreement brokered by the Russia and United States. However, no deliveries have taken place so far.

A deadly attack on an aid convoy and Syrian Arab Red Crescent warehouse outside Aleppo on Monday, for which Moscow and Washington have blamed each other, prompted the UN to temporarily suspend deliveries across Syria.

But following the pause, a convoy on Thursday entered Muadhamiya, a suburb of the capital, Damascus, where some 40,000 people are living under siege, the UN tweeted.

A spokesman hopes the UN will reach Aleppo "in the near future."

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If most people thought that quantum internet or quantum computers are impossible, Canada and China just reached a scientific breakthrough that proves that at least quantum teleportation can and did happen in their facilities.

Quantum teleportation is the phenomenon wherein the quantum state of a particle affects the quantum state of another through the property commonly known as entanglement. This property states that changing the quantum state of one particle will alter the quantum state of another particle that it is entangles with.

To better understand quantum teleportation, Yahoo! News provides a scenario:

Imagine, if you will, three people: Alice, Bob and Charlie. Alice wants to send information to Bob. In order to do so, she prepares a photon she wants to teleport and sends it to Charlie, while Bob entangles two photons and sends one of them to Charlie.

When Charlie receives the two photons, one each from Alice and Bob, he carries out what's known as a Bell-state measurement, which actually forces the two to become entangled. This, in turn, causes the photon Bob has to collapse into the state of Alice's original photon, thereby teleporting quantum states between Alice and Bob, who can, in theory, be separated by a distance of miles.

The teams from Canada and China achieved quantum teleportation. The Canadian team was able to send quantum information 6.2 kilometers away of Calgary's fiber optic network and the Chinese team achieved 12.5 kilometers through a slightly different configuration.

"The two experiments can be seen as milestones on the path to a long-term goal, namely to build a fibre-based quantum internet connecting large cities," said Johannes Kofler at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Munich, as reported by New Scientist.

The significance of this scientific breakthrough lies in the heart of the evolution of communication wherein information can travel far faster than how it does right now. Quantum computers will be able to do operations faster than imaginable. Quantum internet would allow you to dive into the world of web faster and with better security.

Though it might not be the teleportation that science fiction introduced, the idea of quantum teleportation is no less awe-inspiring.

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The Gaia satellite of the European Space Agency shared the most detailed 3D map of the Milky Way galaxy. The Gaia satellite has been circling beyond the earth's orbit snapping pictures of the Milky Way.

With the largest billion pixel camera in space, it is able to gauge the diameter of a human hair at the distance of 1,000 kilometers as per phys.org. The previous best map was plotted by ESA's Hipparcos satellite between 1989 and 1993. With it the data scientists will be able to position nearly 1.142 billion stars.

It has located a billion stars with only half way through its mission with still a long way to go. The data also allows scientists to estimate motions and distances for nearly 2 million stars, as described in the New York Post by astronomer Anthony Brown of Leiden University. He stated that it will let them "investigate our place in the universe, from our local neighborhood, the Solar System, to galactic and even grander, cosmological scales."

The one billion stars it has located is just one percent of the Milky Way's stellar population, our galaxy holds an estimated 100 billion stars. The Gaia satellite is yet to collect data about each star's luminosity, temperature and chemical composition in the future. The satellite was launched in December 2013 and has been circling the sun nearly a million miles and beyond the Earth's orbit ever since.

Mapping the position of the Milky Way's stars, it allows scientists to calculate the distance between the Earth and each star. This has resulted in a substantial undertaking and has never achieved anything so complete or precise before.

The Gaia has produced an image of the Milky Way and beyond, it can also plot the movement of the stars by scanning each star about 70 times. By opening a new chapter in astronomy it is certain to generate hundreds of scientific studies.

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There goes a huge merchant fleet of UFO spaceships. Zipping through the Milky Way, it was spotted in a solar image taken by NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). It was an exciting moment for UFO seekers to spot a merchant fleet passing through the inner solar system, in order to touch base on some alien star system, they surmise.

The image was captured on September 17, 2016, and was uploaded by Streetcap1 in a YouTube video on September 18, 2016, titled "Alien Ship Passes Satcam."

The image reveals that a couple of fleets are meeting inside the inner solar system, even as they are passing on their way to another star, says Streetcap 1. There is a "circle formation of UFOs" just near the main craft, or mothership. There is also one, small craft in the middle of it.

It seems that the fleet was snapped by SOHO cameras just when different parties came together near the Sun. It looks like they were conducting "ceremonial salutations" just before they set off on an expedition.

"Notice the circle next to the main craft has a small craft at the center," explains Streetcap 1. "Standard alien greetings approach formation with the boss in the center."

Other UFO hunters said that it is not a military fleet that is made up of battleships, but merely a fleet of merchant vessels that are transporting cargo in a busy trade route, moving along the inner solar system.

This sighting recalls a February 2016 scene, when there was a giant alien structure entering our solar system. It was seen first near Jupiter's moon Europa, and had hundreds of alien crafts. That fleet was perhaps an "exploratory expedition" sent to our part of the Milky Way by an advanced "spacefaring" race.

UFO blogger Scott C. Waring said in UFO Sightings Daily blog, September 21.

"There is a main mothership, three medium ships (yellow circle), and 10 tiny craft (red circles) following it. Look how the long thin nose of the medium craft (above) is the same as the nose on the mothership below it," he says. "It looks like they are travelling together because there is safety in numbers..."

Perhaps the merchant vessels were flying together to protect precious cargo against "interstellar pirate vessels".

UFO seekers believe, that the regular UFO traffic seen on SOHO images makes it clear that a major interstellar highway is passing through our inner solar system. The Sun appears to be a "major stopover" for interstellar UFO ships.

Critics have dismissed the arguments, pointing out that the fleets in the SOHO image were mere "flaws in the digital imagery." But the UFO seekers said that the "symmetric structure of the objects" makes it clear that they were three identical crafts that had "unmistakable aerodynamic features flying in a line formation."

The main reason for the stopover at the Sun is thought to be for pumping up energy. UFO hunters feel that there is always a continuous traffic of UFO fleets that stop at the Sun in order to pull out the energy from its vast reserves.

YouTube/Streetcap 1

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After the recent Falcon 9 rocket explosion, space enthusiasts are wondering how long will it take for SpaceX to bounce back in action. Questions have been raised about the efficacy of Elon Musk's company but the team is confident of returning soon and is also reported to be getting support from NASA for its ambitious Mars project.

SpaceX spokesman Dex Torricke-Barton has said that SpaceX expects to return to flight in November and also hopes to identify the cause of the rocket explosion, reports The Motley Fool. The assertion definitely reflects optimism, and given the track record of the company, it looks like the claim might be true.

In the past, the company has come out from setbacks and now that Musk plans to reach the red planet by 2018, it seems very likely that they are trying hard to upgrade their equipment and expertise. However, Musk's rivals are not buying these claims. Last week, Tory Bruno CEO of United Launch Alliance (ULA) hinted that SpaceX would be out of commission between 9 and 12 months.

Meanwhile, it is being said that NASA is on board with the Mars colonization plan of SpaceX, reports Nature World News. Stories surfaced that the American space agency will play a critical role in helping SpaceX develop a new technology called "supersonic retro propulsion."

During a teleconference, NASA's commercial spaceflight director Phil AcAlister discussed the elements of the agency's partnership with Musk's company. It was revealed that the US space agency uses the cargo rockets of SpaceX to supply goods to the International Space Station.

AcLister also said that they are just a consultant to SpaceX and provide very specific areas of expertise. SpaceX shares data with NASA and the latter's engineers provide advice to the former's researchers.

Still, it is notable that the space agency thinks highly of the Mars colonization mission of Musk. In its view, the mission is a good investment and has the potential to succeed.

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Two children from Indian Hills Elementary School in Jurupa Valley, Southern California were identified by a resident specialist to have a condition medically known as Hansen's disease, commonly known as leprosy.

Results from the National Hansen's Disease Laboratory Research Program came this week showing the students tested positive of the ailment, according to Riverside County public health officials.

In addition, local health representatives stressed that it is exceedingly not easy to go down with leprosy. They also indicated that there is no reason to be alarmed since the child's classmates are far from danger and the classrooms had all been sanitized from the time when the initial diagnoses came up.

One of Riverside County's public health officers, Dr. Cameron Kaiser said, "It is incredibly difficult to contract leprosy. The school was safe before this case arose and it still is."

Statistically, the U.S. has recorded about 200 cases of leprosy occurring per year wherein over 95 percent of the country's populace is naturally impervious to it, eMedTV posts.

Leprosy is widely known, and feared for the matter, as an extremely contagious plague. It makes the victims suffer from shedding body parts. However, it should be noted that it is transmissible only through extended contact and is practically treatable with the use of antibiotics. It does not spread through short-term physical contact like shaking hands or even sexual intercourse.

In any case, the ones most susceptible to the illness are the family members who have regular contacts with the untreated victim, and people who travel to places like Brazil, Angola, and India wherein leprosy is pretty common.

District Superintendent Elliot Duchon said in a short interview with Riverside's Press-Enterprise that, "the only way to protect the two students is for nobody to know who they are." Health and school personnel will not say anything regarding who the child was and how he or she acquired the disease.

As a standard operating procedure, the school sent out e-mails to parents notifying them of the hospital's diagnosis. Duchon was present at the school last Thursday afternoon to provide concerned parents the answers they need.

Sadly, there is a lot of misconception about Hansen's Disease. What is even more upsetting are the widespread of fake stories about toes or fingers falling off the body, which adds to the stigma victims face from the society. This stirs fear causing some countries to quarantine victims.

Leprosy has been a problem experienced in most of the world's tropical places with around 250,000 cases of new infections being reported every year. And just like tuberculosis, it can be dormant for years prior to harming the nerves and body.

It normally takes around a year or two years to cleanse the body against all the germs. Antibiotics typically eradicate the bacteria making it non-contagious within days. Disability, deformity, and even nerve damage comes into play if the problem is left untreated from the get-go.

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Piers Morgan interviewed His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, for Good Morning Britain on Thursday to talk about outstanding world issues such as the war on ISIS, Syrian refugee crisis, and yep, Mr. Donald Trump.

The affairs that both men discussed were very crucial issues in the world today, but, let's face it, the highlight of the exchange was the one regarding Donald Trump.

No, probably not Mr. Trump himself or whatever controversy he's involved but that was one excellent impersonation done by a man of such stature and spirituality in this world.

The 81-year-old icon mentioned that he never met the controversial presidential candidate but would love to visit him if ever he was invited.

"That depends you see on him, if he invite me then I would go." he said.

Nonetheless, he didn't waste any time on mocking him.

When Morgan asked the Dalai Lama on his thoughts about Mr. Trump, the reply was unexpected yet brilliant, saying: "I don't know, sometimes when you see him, the way his hair... [puts hand on forehead]... and his mouth is small [mimics Trump's mouth]... that is my impression of him but I don't know."

The interview went on to the other topics mentioned earlier. His Holiness shared his thoughts on them in his typical peaceful and humble reflection.

When Piers asked the Dalai Lama what he thought about ISIS, he said "Genuine Muslim practitioner will not create bloodshed."

His message to the extremist group was "I think there is too emotion, they should cool down."

Regarding the refugee crisis in Syria, he said, "Main effort should go to help own country bring peace. In Syria, Libya or even Afghanistan. Generally the people always feel that one day they will return. Should rebuild their own country."

As the interview moved forward, they even talked about Kim Kardashian and her army of followers on Twitter.

The Dalai Lama said: "Why? If she have more followers, good, no problem."

"Such famous people. I think, no ability to compete [with] my wisdom."

Overall, the interview was a success and the Dalai Lama proved to be once again not just an enlightening but also a very entertaining individual. It even ended with a selfie taken by Morgan with His Holiness.

Many viewers immediately took to Twitter praising the interview and focusing on, of course, the Dalai Lama's brilliant performance as Mr. Donald Trump.

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South Korea admitted its plan to have the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, assassinated should they feel threatened of a nuclear attack.

The revelation came from the South Korea's defense minister Han Min-Koo, during a parliamentary session last Wednesday in Seoul. He also disclosed that they have an elite group armed with a special strategy that is ready for an assault anytime. His candid admission and confirmation that a plan is in place came out as a surprise to some.

CNN quoted the South Korean official as saying, "South Korea has a general idea and plan to use precision missile capabilities to target the enemy's facilities in major areas as well as eliminating the enemy's leadership."

According to the NY Daily News, military experts and activists from the international community are deeply concerned of North Korea's upgrading of its nuclear tests in the past few weeks. The fifth and most powerful among the nuclear tests conducted was on Sep. 9.

Minister Han added that the operation of South Korea's elite troops to target the North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-Un, would be a part of the 'Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation' (KMPR) plan.

The defense ministry of South Korea said they are gearing for the "worst case scenario" as they expect North Korea to hold its sixth nuclear test.

In a meeting held a week ago between the foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan, the U. S. Secretary of State and the United Nations General Assembly, they commented that the most recent nuclear test of North Korea "would not be left unanswered."

Conservative activists also set the portrait of North Korean Kim Jong-Un on fire in protest of the nuclear test in South Korea conducted this month.

This was condemned by the US, Japan and South Korea as they likewise long for the new and effective measures by which the communist state will be isolated.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits.

Tuesday, October 25, 4:30  7 p.m.

Orr Area EMS Open House

Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798.

Orr Fire Hall

4540 Lake St., Orr

Tuesday, October 25, 12  6 p.m.

Essentia Health Job Fair

Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org.

901 9th St. N., Virginia
Long-term capital appreciation and on-going income, coupled with perceptive timing and commitment to success will ultimately make for a highly profitable return on investment. This is why hotel investors purchase limited service properties. But it does not mean that you have to limit everything that isn't immediately suggested in this formula.

One of the secrets to limited service property success comes from top-down brand directives. Expertly developed, franchise guidebooks detail everything you need to know about the running of your establishment and provide an operations manual for your team to follow. Sounds great, right? But are these operating procedures enough? Location aside, why do some properties perform far better than others?

One has to realize that the brand standards are only the beginning. A property rarely dominates a coveted location on its own for a long time before the competition comes sweeping in. Just when you seem to have it all worked out, a new property under a different flag pops up next door. Or, maybe you're the new kid on the block trying to break into that prime spot. In either case, value-adds are essential to prevent competitive locations from devolving into a price war.

You need to look beyond the minimum brand standards detailed in your franchise agreement. You need to use your imagination and ingenuity to create points of difference for your property. It doesn't necessarily have to add a lot of expense, but it will require some time investment from your management team. Below are several different approaches, all of which have been proven by properties in operation around the world.

Sense of Arrival

Most hoteliers intrinsically understand the concept of a sense of arrival. Broadly defined, this is what the guest sees the moment they arrive at the threshold of your establishment. The goal here is to quite literally wow your arriving guests from the get-go to both reaffirm their hotel selection and to reassure them that they're in for good times ahead. A strong first impression is critical because it sets the tone for the rest of the visit, whether that be a positive or, hopefully not, a negative framing.

Walk through your front door as if you were a guest to ensure that the 'performance' is flawless. If it is done well, guests will be excited about their stays and all of their preemptive doubts will be alleviated. Your arrival routine may even include an upsell routine to a better room type. Train your front desk staff on the proper welcome address, creating eye contact and, as obvious as it may sound, smiling. Make this part of your operational code.

Lastly, a bowl of fresh apples on the counter says a lot. Apples are bright, fresh, delicious and nutritious. Disregarding the healthy component, you may opt for straight-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies and let the sugary goodness waft through the air. These are but two examples of little extras you can insert to heighten the welcoming experience. Flowers, art, cleanliness, air fresheners and even the channel you select on the lobby lounge flatscreen monitor can all make a difference.

Say Hello

A friendly greeting from staffer to guest can never go wrong, no matter the circumstance. It's easy; it's fast; it's a sign that you are always welcome and ready to serve. Even better would be to follow-up the salutation with a simple, "How are you?" or, "Can I help you with anything?"

And yet, at many establishments outside of the five-star or ultra-luxury brackets, the only greeting I get is the perfunctory one at check-in  an instance where I approach the front desk and not the other way around where an employee goes out of his or her way to offer assistance. While I wouldn't expect a housekeeper or maintenance worker to drop everything to cater to my every immediate whim, stopping for a second to greet me is nonetheless uplifting.

Questions without a yes or no answer are even better as they imply a more descriptive response. In any case, always initiate conversation and greet guests everywhere, not just at check-in, on approach to the front desk or when seated at a restaurant.

But more so than speaking the words, the true power of hello lies in how the words and any subsequent questions are spoken  that is, the tone. For this, an attitude of warmth cannot be understated. Speak slowly and smile. Making a guest feel welcome with each and every encounter is an unassuming trick to boost guest satisfaction. And, best of all for you as an owner, it's free!

The Lobby: Your Third Space

The modern hotel is not only a place for a good night's sleep, but also one to see and be seen. Lobbies all over the world are being refitted to accommodate a renewed vigor for what is collectively known as 'The Third Space' or 'The Third Place', denoting a public locale that serves a hybrid role somewhere between the home and the office. The third space is one of productivity but also relaxation; one of quiet reflection but also socialization. If this explanation is too cryptic, go to your nearest Starbucks to see how the pros do it.

To transform your lobby into an environment conducive to this sort of interaction need not be costly. I am not advocating a capital investment, but rather a creative one. Some of these ideas may require a bit of coordination and extra effort, but ultimately they will provide your property with distinctiveness and sense of community.

One approach is to develop a relationship with a local fine arts college. Allow students to hang their best works in the lobby. For many of these budding artists, it will be the first time their art has had public exposure. With a little dose of presentation skills, this newfangled art gallery space will create excitement for your guests. Who knows, a student may actually sell a work and forever sing your praises!

If art isn't your forte, you might consider turning your lobby into a hall of fames for local sports. Although not initially as pleasing as the previous suggestion, looking closer may reveal quite a few professional superstars who got their start in your region. Their stories will heighten interactivity and give the guest a better understanding of the area. Beyond this, you can sponsor a local team or, at the very least, reach to them to see if they have any memorabilia or archival photography for you to borrow. In this sense, it's less about the stars and more about the evolution of the community through sports.

If your property is heavily oriented towards families, then this Third Space better be attuned to your core demographic  families with young kids. This may include a television at children's eye level, likely two to three feet off the ground and preset to an appropriate channel. Buffer the area with kid friendly chairs and play toys.

Local Breakfast

A typical limited service property offers a complimentary breakfast ranging from pastries and coffee to something more extravagant including waffles, an omelet station, or buffet. In all cases, just because you are obligated to serve breakfast with a mind towards low unit costs does not mean that you shouldn't splurge a little.

This monetary expenditure must be incredibly focused, though, in order to prevent overages. And to this end, nothing is better at the present than local, authentic specialties.

First off, what is your region known for above all else, and can it be applied to breakfast? Are there any nearby purveyors you can partner with? Consider local jams, jellies and honey as these can be stored long-term. Next, look to cheeses, artisanal breads, muffins pastries, cured meats or fresh produce.

Create signage to promote these products and don't be afraid to present unusual flavors. Remember to promote your local producers and share their story so they feel the love and will reciprocate in kind. An easy way to do this: Print a Google map of the area surrounding your property and simply flag each of your suppliers. The next level up would be to commission a graphical reproduction with short descriptions in place.

Pets Are Profit

Does your property accept pets? According to the ASPCA, 37-47% of Americans have dogs and 30-37% have cats. These are serious numbers! If only a small percentage of those percentages actually travel with their pets, it's still a number large enough for you to not ignore.

Whereas I cannot tell you to start accepting four-legged friends or not (likely a top-down decision from the brand), those properties that do should make the most of it. Plan a 'doggie' welcome basket. Create a pet registry at the front desk as well as a fun dog-cat menu of items that can be left in the room, including a help guide showing veterinarian locations, toys and treats.

I am often asked if it is appropriate to levy cleaning surcharges for having an animal in a room. The answer is yes, and the amount that can be billed is independent of the room rate. Typically, I have seen rates in the range of $25 to $50 (or more) per stay. Some hotels charge this 'pooch premium' every day. Either way, most guests are already expecting an extra when they bring their pets. The key is to not make it too exorbitant.

Local Expert Handouts

Let's face it, who knows more about your local area: you or your guests? The answer is simple. And if it is ever 'the guest' then you really have to step up your game!

Just like my earlier suggestion for breakfasts, it's time to demonstrate your expertise. Invest in some mini-folding maps. These are sold by a variety of suppliers and can also serve as a key card envelope. When open, the map provides two sides. Consider a jogging map on one side with the other side reserved for a property overview. Sell advertising space on the maps to offset costs.

Next, solicit local stores to provide discount coupons. Many will do this because they realize that tourists are pure incremental business. Put the coupons in a small folder and call it a local passport. When tied in with the map previously described, you have the makings of a local shopping package.

Some Final Words

Owning a limited service property is a tremendous opportunity to become a community leader, so embrace it through your actions. Encourage local service groups to hold their meetings in your groups space. Each year, offer an internship to a summer student from a community college. Donate old furniture and soft goods to a shelter. Meet with local media and share stories. Above all, have fun with it and you will be rewarded in more ways than you can imagine!

Larry Mogelonsky

Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited

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The Hub at Le Mridien Etoile Le Mridien reinterpretation of traditional lobby.

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.

From the birthplace of the brand, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts  part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT)  yesterday 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.

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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.
A day after the announcement that Tulsa County cop Betty Shelby will be tried in court for first-degree manslaughter, the police officers mugshot has surfaced online. Betty Shelby, the cop who shot and killed Terence Crutcher, a 40-year-old black preacher, turned herself in to the authorities around 1AM on Friday morning, but has since been released on bail. As reported by The Daily Mail, her bond was set at $50,000.

Outrage was sparked nationwide by the shooting of Terence Crutcher, on account that the late preacher appeared to have had his arms up at the time the trigger was pulled. The Tulsa police claim Crutcher was reaching inside his vehicle for a weapon, although his family refutes this, saying Crutcher does not own or carry firearms. No weapon was found in his vehicle. You can watch the disturbing video footage below.

Betty Shelby
New York State authorities are reporting a record drug bust after confiscating 33 kilos (73 pounds) of heroin, as well as 2 kilograms (4 pounds) of fentanyl and a gun with the logo of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel on it..

According to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the massive seizure, an estimated street value of $13 million, is the largest in New Yorks Organized Crime Task Forces 46-year history.

25 people in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Arizona were indicted as a part of Operation Dirty Dope, which broke up the alleged national heroin smuggling ring. Newsday reports that the investigation began in 2015, after State Police were put on to a spike in the heroin trade in Brentwood, Long Island.

Long Island is facing a very severe heroin and opioid problem, he said. Of the investigation, he added, It was pretty much a countywide problem. It started off in Brentwood, but it was a huge problem out there.

The drugs were reportedly stashed inside very intricate secret compartments in cars and vans before being transported through Tucson, Arizona to the Bronx, across the East coast. The culprits would allegedly cut up the heroin with nail polish remover, novocain, chicken anesthetic and boric acid before distributing it on the streets.

Per Newsday:

Schneiderman said the compartments to conceal the drugs were a very sophisticated operation. In one example, he said, opening the drug-containing trap required turning on the windshield wiper, turning on a blinker, then activating a window switch in the right direction.

Authorities say all but one of the Suffolk County defendants were arrested during the raid, except for Manuel Torres who remains at large.

Drug Bust
Speaking to the media yesterday afternoon, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin expressed concerns about law enforcement in our country and demanded that all 50 state attorney generals call for a review of their policies and training policies for police and law enforcement.

This is not an isolated conversation, he said. This is not isolated just to some specific parts of our country. We see that now. And the advancement of technology has proved that, from the video of Rodney King in 1991 to numerous incidents that we now have visual evidence of today. Now, this is not an indictment of our law enforcement agencies. I just want that to be clear. We know that theres a select fewa very minute fewof law enforcement who are not abiding by those laws and policies. However, we also know that there are laws and policies that are in place that are not correcting the issue that we have in our society right now. As an American, a black male, in this country, he said, Im suggesting, callingIm demanding that all 50 state attorney generals call for a review of their policies and training policies for police and law enforcement to eliminate militaristic cultures while putting a higher emphasis on deescalation tactics and crisis management measures.

Baldwins statement came just after Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting 40-year old Terence Crutcher last Thursday. While Baldwins message was certainly triggered by those events, he also noted that his father is a police officer and has told him first-hand about the disparity across the country when it comes to police training.

My fathers a police officer, he said, and hes told me numerous times about his training and how theyve gone through what they call verbal judo, which is essentially them trying to deescalate the situation. From what I understand, and from what hes told me and his experience in homeland security, is that that method of training is not consistent throughout the entirety of the United States. And thats an issue.

Washington State Attorney General, Bob Ferguson reached out to Baldwin after hearing of his press conference and the two appear to be on the cusp of a sit-down to discuss his concerns.

Baldwin also transcribed his speech and posted it via twitter, which you can check out in full below.

Doug Baldwin
Sell-by dates dont mean anything, do they?

This is a Public Service Announcement, courtesy of Bridget Jones: yes, they really do. Particularly when it comes to condoms. Everyones favourite single woman finds herself pregnant at forty, with two men who could possibly be the father. One is her erstwhile love, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), who Bridget has broken up with since last we saw her in 2004. The other is a dishy American (Patrick Dempsey), whose affectionate good nature provides Darcy with real competition  and Bridget with some serious confusion.

The return of Bridget Joness Diary helmer Sharon Maguire as director has a palpably effervescent effect on the material. Eschewing the shark-jumping antics of Beeban Kidrons Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason, this installment focuses on Bridgets endearingly klutzy personality.
The Chicago hip-hop artist, who is known for his poignant, political lyrics, releases his new song against the backdrop of protests from the Black Lives Matters movement across America.

Following a week of uproar in America over the deaths of unarmed black men Keith Lamont Scott and Terence Crutcher by police, Common's new single 'Black America Again' is a furious protest against educational problems, wage inequality and the failures of the prison system in America. The song features a coda from Stevie Wonder and ad libs from Public Enemy's Chuck D.

The music video, produced by Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper, shows archival footage of police brutality, including footage of the last moments of Alton Sterling before he was brutally executed by police officers.

'Black America Again' is the lead single from Common's new album which will feature appearaces from John Legend, Jay Electronica, The Internet, and Anderson .Paak. A release date for the album has yet to be announced.

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You can listen to 'Black America Again' here:
The big boys upstairs have got this planned out.

You may have heard rumors about the Disneys plans for the Star Wars franchise. The very first anthology film, Rogue One, will release before Christmas, and well see untitled Episode VIII release around the same time next year. The plan seems to be to continue this pattern, with two years between each episodic main series film, and an anthology piece every other year as well. After Episode VIII, the next film will be about a young Han Solo, which sounds like a movie that would be impossible to make. Thats why Phil Lord and Chris Miller, since their skill as directors is to make great movies out of unlikely ideas.

According to Disney CEO Bob Iger, the group already has plans for films up through 2020, which will see the release of a third anthology film. He has confirmed that Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm president, and the rest of the group has begun plans for the franchise for 2021 onward.

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Disney purchased Lucasfilm for $4 billion back in 2012. Considering the value of the Star Wars brand, it was a well calculated move, and Disney is the sort of business juggernaut that could wield the brand name.
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SEOUL, South Korea - 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 $45 million to help the shipper unload cargo stranded offshore.

The announcement comes a day after Korean Air Lines' board approved a $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.

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 crisis.

South Korea's Yonhap News cited a South Korean court as saying that Hanjin Shipping needs $157 million to unload cargo at ports. Including fees for transporting cargo to final destinations, the company needs $245 million, Yonhap said.

Dozens of ships around the world have been 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.

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.

Hanjin Shipping began providing food and other daily necessities to sailors who have less than 10 days of food left.
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CONROE - International corporate travelers in fast-growing Montgomery County will save time and money with the opening of a Customs and Border Protection facility at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport.

The nearly $3.2 million inspection station will allow authorized fliers returning home from many countries to fly here directly. Previously, they had to stop at another airport to clear Customs, then reboard for the final leg, adding time and expense.

Officials said during a grand opening tour Thursday that the facility will benefit existing corporate clients in the area and could help lure new businesses.

Many executives won't even entertain the idea of bringing their corporate jets to airports that lack Customs, said Gil Staley, CEO of The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership.

It's a new tool for recruiting companies to The Woodlands, and it could help the region compete with similarly qualified areas that also have the inspection facilities, such as Sugar Land.

"It would only enhance their decision," Staley said. "We look for every opportunity to be competitive."

In one recent 18-month period, 165 planes landed at other airports to clear Customs before proceeding to Conroe-North Houston, known before last year as Lone Star Executive Airport. Airport Director Scott Smith said the demand will only grow as the region continues to develop.

"What comes with economic development is aviation," he said. "Always does."

The 3,300-square-foot facility was funded by a public-private partnership. It has a full-time Customs officer from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Arrivals mostly come from Mexico, Central America and Canada.

It is the latest of several airport expansion projects. In 2009, Conroe-North Houston opened an air traffic control tower. Last year, it extended its runway from 6,000 feet to 7,501 feet.

The moves were spurred by economic as well as population growth.

The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, which tracks organizations with more than 100 employees, reported the number of major employers in the area has grown to 65 organizations employing 32,508 people this year.

In 2007, there were 44 organizations employing 19,624 people.

Montgomery County's population grew 18 percent to 537,559 residents in 2015, up from 455,764 in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It added 2,547 new businesses overall between the first three months of 2006 and the same period in 2016.

The number of people working in the county grew to 166,000 during that period from 106,000, said Patrick Jankowski, senior vice president of research for the Greater Houston Partnership, citing the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

Jankowski said the Customs facility "helps reduce a hassle factor" for corporate travelers.

Charles Perez, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's area port director for Houston airports, called it a "jewel in your back pocket."

Smith said the facility was funded by many entities: Assets management firm Black Forest Ventures provided $600,000 and an airplane parking area it had previously built, Conroe Industrial Development Corp. provided $750,000, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership provided $50,000 for IT equipment, the Shenandoah Municipal Development District provided $25,000 for IT equipment and Montgomery County paid for the rest.

"Even though it's not in The Woodlands boundaries, it's still our community's airport," Staley said.
No shortage of news in the Sept. 19, 1948, Houston Chronicle. The Sunday edition here was 15 cents and a hefty 128 pages thick.

* Today it's the Elder Street Artist Lofts, but back then Houstonians simply knew it as Old Jeff Davis Hospital.

And it wasn't even a hospital. Not like the newer Jeff Davis Hospital on Allen Parkway anyway.

On Saturday night, three boys armed with cap pistols entered the juvenile detention ward located there and "rescued" five girls. One of the intruders was a 19-year-old who sprang his 14-year-old wife from the facility.

This was getting to be normal thing for the two. The married girl first came to the attention of authorities when they learned she had married her husband just days before her 14th birthday. Citing authorities, the Chronicle said, "state law prohibited marriages, even with parental consent, when the bride is less than 14 years old."

The head start on matrimony landed her in the county-run Mary Burnett Home for Girls. She didn't stay long though. Good ol' hubby helped her escape from there. They were all found soon enough and husband was fined $25 for the trouble.

Perhaps sensing she was a flight risk, authorities sent the young bride to the state girls' school, but she was soon back in Houston at Old JD hospital. There, she hatched her escape plan on a note written in lipstick.

But freedom was short-lived. It didn't take long for authorities to catch up to the group. About 24 hours later, police the youths involved in the escape in a wooded area near where West 11th crosses White Oak Bayou. But the married couple managed to flee police, possibly heading to San Antonio.

FPG/Getty Images, Hulton Archive

* Throngs of Houstonians were disappointed Saturday afternoon when -- as part of Air Force Day activities -- a scheduled B-36 fly-over didn't happen.

It wasn't a total loss. A formation of six F-51 fighters from the Texas Air National Guard did put in an appearance over the skies of Houston. But everyone apparently wanted to see the bomber, aka the "Peacemaker, " judging by the phone calls that came into the Chronicle newsroom that evening.

The sight of a six-engine behemoth over the city would have made for an impressive sight, for sure. The B-36 had a wingspan of 230 feet, the longest of any combat aircraft. By comparison, the B-52, which brought intercontinental-range bombers into the jet age, has a general wingspan of 185 feet.

"'Mechanical difficulties,' a schedule arranged too tightly to take account of unforeseen headwinds, and inclusion of an extra city on even this tight schedule combined to rob Houstonians of the treat of seeing for the first time 'the world's biggest bomber,'" the paper reported.

Just to needle the Air Force a little further, the Chronicle said "the B-36 visit had been publicized highly in advance by air force [sic] public relations officers as a feature of Air Force Day."

A military official said the plane would make up for the snub by flying over Houston in the coming days.

Our front pages: Check out the news that made headlines years ago through our look at past front pages

* Relief was coming to Houston streets as city officials said traffic lights were coming to some of the city's busiest intersections.

Some of the streets getting these newfangled signals were Travis at Lamar, Dallas and Polk; Navigation at Jensen and Canal; Houston Avenue at White Oak; and North Main at 20th.

* At the northeast corner of Waugh and West Dallas, officials with the Carnation Company were preparing for the grand opening of the company's new milk and ice cream plant.

An open house was scheduled along with other merriment in the coming days.

A Whole Foods Market sits on this spot today.

* Page One filler item of the day: A traffic officer in Columbia, S.C., happened upon this note on the windshield of a car that had overstayed its welcome at the parking meter: "I've gone to picture show; Put nickel in meter."

To which the officer left this response: "Sorry, I'm broke. Ticket on steering wheel."
AUSTIN - State officials are housing 37 foster care children with severe emotional and behavioral issues in a repurposed former juvenile detention center in northeast Texas, a decision a ranking Texas senator said Thursday amounts to the "warehousing" of troubled youths in the state's care.

Department of Family and Protective Services officials confirmed that the children, who are between ages 10 and 17 and are mostly from the Fort Worth area, have been relocated to the former Crockett State School and said more could be joining them. The center is licensed to hold up to 115.

Patrick Crimmins, a spokesman for the agency, said officials believe the site is "the most appropriate place" for the youths.

Records show the Houston firm that operates the new center, Serenity Place, has had no administrative violations at a Houston location where it houses 71 foster care youths. That center has been licensed since 2006.

Even so, Senate Criminal Justice Committee Chairman John Whitmire, D-Houston, said the former detention center is the wrong place for foster care youths, even if it has been remodeled.

"This is warehousing of troubled youth, pure and simple, and that's not a solution. It's just creating a new problem," Whitmire said Thursday. "When they turn 18 and get out, they stand a high likelihood of becoming homeless or getting into more trouble and ending up in an adult prison."

Owner defends facility

Chris Brown, Serenity's owner and program director, said more than $800,000 has been spent remodeling the site that is now "a completely different environment" than when it was a detention center, even though the perimeter fence - minus the razor wire - remains in place.

"We're offering a therapeutic home environment  out in nature," he said, a place where the youths "feel safe."

Whitmire said he remains unconvinced. Even though Brown said he has professional treatment staff on site, the senator said the lack of specialized treatment professionals in Crockett was among the reasons the state decided to close the site and other lockups in remote parts of Texas.

Whitmire, who was instrumental in the closure of Crockett and two other state-run youth lockups five years ago, said he was alerted to the new program several weeks ago when the vendor that runs it asked him to sign off on also housing juvenile probationers at Crockett, along with the foster care kids. His response: "Not only no, but hell no. Mixing a foster care population with a correctional population is an even worse idea than what the state is doing now." Brown said Thursday he no longer plans to house teenaged probationers at the site.

High-needs youth

The youths housed there are among the state's most troubled foster care children, officially classified as "high-needs youth," who the state has not been able to place with foster families. Most have significant histories of assaultive behavior, many have been sexually and physically abused. Many also have multiple previous stays in youth jails and psychiatric hospitals for treatment of an assortment of troubles ranging from personality disorders to drug use to Asperger's and bipolar disorders.

Others have been reported as having suicidal or homicidal behavior, for setting fires, being aggressive or harming animals, as well as exhibiting sexually inappropriate or anti-social behavior. Many have bounced from one foster care family or facility to another, one with as many as 35 different placements.

One 16-year-old had 10 hospitalizations, runaway incidents and three stays in juvenile detention, records show. A 17-year-old had multiple psychiatric evaluations for self-harming behavior and other issues, in addition to three stays in juvenile detention centers.

Michele Deitch, a University of Texas senior lecturer and expert on juvenile justice and youth issues, questioned using the Crockett center for such high-needs youth.

"It's very correctional  not a therapeutic environment," she said. "I would be concerned about this."

In the past, state policy has been to keep troubled youths in treatment programs near their homes, not housing urban youths at remote rural centers, and keeping the treatment centers small to encourage a home-like environment. Brown said his treatment program is designed to be just that, at a facility that "looks like a small college campus setting" than a treatment center.

"This is part of the treatment environment," he said. "The kids feel safe there. Their rooms look like dorm rooms at college. The kids are happy."

Brown said he is negotiating to accept foster care children from East Texas, at a time when the state protective service agency needs additional beds in that area of Texas. Crockett is about 115 miles north of Houston.

The 60-year-old Crockett State School was closed in 2011, one of three state-run youth facilities shuttered because of declining numbers of teenaged offenders as the state ramped up a network of community-based programs as an alternative. The state gave all three sites to local officials to redevelop.

At the time of its closure, officials said Crockett held 115 youths and had 280 employees. Whitmire said the Crockett center like the others had been plagued by staffing shortages, including professional treatment staff needed to treat the emotionally disturbed youths who were housed there.

Changes in ownership

The 100-acre site across from Crockett High School sat vacant for nearly three years, until city officials tried to contract with a company to house state juvenile offenders there in a special treatment program. But legislative leaders, including Whitmire, killed that deal, and the facility sat empty once again. Frustrated local officials considered giving it back to the state.

Houston County Judge Erin Ford said Serenity Place officials last spring proposed housing foster children at the site. Local officials in May signed a five-year agreement to sell the property to the Houston firm for $600,000, according to local news reports.

Department of Family and Protective Services records show the site was reclassified as a residential treatment center July 17, the same day it was licensed by the state to hold foster care youths. It had previously been classified as a detention center by another agency, officials said.

Opened in 1950 to house a vocational school for girls, and later a state residential home, Crockett became a juvenile detention center in 1975 to hold a growing population of male lawbreakers. In the years before it was closed, the Texas Youth Commission spent millions of dollars on upgrades.

State records show the Crockett center is far from the largest concentration of foster care youths that officials said now number more than 1,600 statewide. For years, Texas has struggled to find enough foster homes for all the children, amid reports of foster care youths staying in state offices and other temporary locations when available beds were full.

Brown said he thinks the new Crockett center will help the state solve that problem.

Whitmire said anyone questioning why foster care youths need proper care, and the dangers to Texans when they do not receive it, need look no further than the April 3 slaying of University of Texas communications freshman Haruka Weiser. Meechaiel Criner, a 17-year-old foster care runaway, has been charged with murder in her death.
A new poll shows Hillary Clinton is beating Donald Trump in Houston. Dan Patrick challenges Ted Cruz on his stance on Trump, claiming that if he and other Republicans do not back the presidential nominee, they will be left behind. Texas voter registrations are at an all-time high, but does that signal a record turnout in the November general election?

Plus, growing concerns about police shootings of African-American men and a federal judge's new warning to Texas to mind it's Ps and Qs on Voter ID. And finally, is being Between Two Ferns helping Clinton's image?
A local foundation that supports the Houston School District has placed additional Chromebooks into classrooms, increasing its contribution to 180 of the devices.

During the annual Give Ozarks Day in May, the Houston Education Foundation had a goal of raising funds to add 30 Chromebook computers to Houston School Districts upper elementary classes. When Bob Burch, a 1967 HHS graduate, offered to purchase 30 of those units, it allowed the foundation to generate enough funds to add 60 new Chromebooks for use in the fourth and fifth grades.

A check for $13,140 was recently presented to Dr. Allen Moss, superintendent of schools, for purchase of these units. They were incorporate into the classrooms at the beginning of this school year.

Several businesses and individuals contributed to make this possible. All of their support over the last decade has helped fund projects such as this through the foundation.

The foundation was established in 2006 to support and strengthen education experiences for Houston R-1 students. In 2015 and 2016, 180 Chromebooks have been acquired through the foundation for use for students in fourth through twelfth grade.

Having HHS alumni, like Bob Burch, local businesses and so many individuals step up to support the school through our foundation over the last decade has been an inspiration to see. A lot of progress has been made above and beyond what is corporated into the schools annual budget each year, said Joe Richardson III, foundation president.

The foundation swore in three new board members at its August meeting. They are Dr. Tom Dunn, Lesa Kinney and Melissa Fockler.

The board meets the third Tuesday of each month.

Donations are tax-deductible and can be sent to: Houston Education Foundation, P.O. Box 102, Houston, Mo. 65483.
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Mergers and acquisitions are very common these days with the briskly evolving business environment. During such tough times how do organizations keep employees focused, productive and feeling secure instead of stressed, fearful and fighting for survival? Our cover article Navigating The Choppy Waters Of Mergers Or Acquisitions by Sherra Buckley talks about 4 key strategies to engage and retain employees during mergers and acquisitions. Managing peoples performance is key to every managers success. It is often the cause of their failure. Why? Something has gone badly wrong if managers cannot get the basics of people management right. The answer lies in the five greatest mistakes that managers make. Read Jeremy Francis article Managing Peoples Performance to know more. Team building is a delicate and time-consuming process. Anyone can put together a group of talented people, but it takes a dedicated team leader to bring everyone together effectively. One of the most important considerations you must make is whether or not an applicant fits into your companys culture. The right person will build upon what youve created, but the wrong person can bring it all down very quickly  and culture can take an awfully long time to rebuild. Read John Tschohls interesting article Conducting The Orchestra to know more. At least once a year, most business owners sit dow...
HR software that automates the flow of key HR processes  like vacation requests, sickness notifications or timesheet approvals  is hugely popular with HR and line managers. Instead of time-consuming manual processes or disconnected emails, todays online HR systems route requests and approvals to the right people at the right time; automatically update the relevant data; and send out reminders if needed. With intuitive, online self-service from PC, tablet or phone as part of the mix, this process automation is equally appreciated by employees. They enjoy the freedom of being able to request time off, submit timesheets, complete performance reviews or update their personal information at a time that suits them, and know that the system will automatically ensure that anyone that needs to know or take action will be informed. When HR Processes dont Flow, Productivity Suffers However, when key staff members are away, perhaps home sick or on vacation, it can all go wrong if your HR system doesnt let you flex your approval processes to fit. Time off requests dont get approved; timesheets pile up; sick notifications are ignored; performance reviews falter and frustration builds. Employees are doing what youve asked, but the information is stuck in the system, with no place to go. With most HR systems, HR administrators can step in and take ownership of stalled processes. However, that&rsquo...
As a manager, being pulled in every direction is basically your MO. The rigor of scheduling is no exception: as soon as you sit back with your freshly minted schedule, the objections start rolling in. One employee requested off the whole week, another has a last-minute doctor appointment, and yet another is increasingly frustrated over her lack of busy dinner shifts. Youre at wits end trying to please everyone, while still meeting business demands. A lack of quality scheduling can negatively impact employee morale, with one study citing an increase in work-family conflict when employees work irregular hours. Beyond employee morale, your customers can actually suffer from irregular scheduling, too  customer loyalty diminishes when guests dont interact with the same employees regularly, and service may suffer if you dont have strong workers scheduled on each shift. How can you satisfy your employees needs and retain your best workers without spending so much of your valuable time scheduling? Know your Employees Crafting a schedule that satisfies both your business needs and the needs of your employees begins by knowing the people who work for you. Take time to sit down with each of your employees for a quick check-in to learn about their lives outside of work, and take notes. Ask them questions about which of their responsibilities could potentially interfere with arriving on time. Pay clos...
The FBI is assessing whether or not they will launch an investigation into the child abuse allegations against Brad Pitt.

They are now gathering information about an incident that occurred last week, where the 52-year-old actor allegedly got verbally abusive and physical with his and Angelina Jolies children aboard the familys private jet.

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Since the alleged incident occurred in the air while the family was travelling from France to the United States, the case falls under FBI jurisdiction.

The FBI confirmed to BBC: 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.

An initial report from TMZ stated that the Los Angeles Police Department and L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services were investigating the incident. However, on Thursday, the LAPD denied any involvement in the case.

We are not investigating any case, nor do we have any allegations against Mr. Pitt, Sgt. Barry Montgomery told The Hollywood Reporter. 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.

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Pitt and Jolie with their eldest son, Maddox, at the 2013 Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Governor Awards, in Los Angeles.

On Monday, Jolie filed for divorce from her husband of two years, citing irreconcilable differences. However, both TMZ and People magazine hinted that the split was due to parenting conflicts over the couples six kids: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox.

A source told People, They always had disagreements when it came to disciplining the kids. With all the kids, it did tend to get chaotic many times.

While Jolie has not spoken out about her divorce, her longtime manager, Geyer Kosinski, released a statement on her behalf, saying, Angelina will always do what's in the best interest of taking care of her family.

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Jolie is now asking for physical custody of the couples six kids and asking the judge to give Pitt visitation rights.

Also on HuffPost
Back-to-school season is here and that means its time to start packing our kids' lunches. Some parents dont mind the task, but for others, sandwich-making is a tiresome process that theyd rather pass off to their significant others.
Nadia Aboulhosn, the blogger-turned-model who is becoming known mononymously as Nadia, has set the plus-size fashion world on fire.

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She has been blazing her own path in the industry with her edgy aesthetic and style, so much, in fact, that she was approached by leading Canadian plus-size retailer, Addition Elle, to design her first capsule collection last year.

Now, the fashion icon is back at it again designing another collection with Addition Elle, which showed at New York Fashion Week this month.

The pieces of the collection are filled with '90s influences and reflect Aboulhosn's flair for street style. Available in sizes 12 to 26, they include items such as bodysuits and leggings, each versatile enough to be dressed up or down with the ease of adding the right accessory or topper, such as a denim jacket.

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I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Nadia, to find out her inspiration for the collection, the story of her journey in the industry, as well as any advice she had for her younger self.

Keep reading for the interview.

What is your earliest fashion memory?

My earliest fashion memory was getting wheat [Timberland boots] and wearing them to my eighth grade dance, because I wasn't fond of heels. Oh, how times have changed!

You knew you were going to be in fashion in one way or another. What was your initial plan? How did it change?

My initial plan was to be a journalist, but once I began blogging, I wanted to design. I wanted to go to FIT in New York to get a fashion degree, but they ended up denying me. As soon as they denied me and one door shut, it felt like another was opening. That's when American Apparel and Seventeen Magazine wanted me to model for them. I thankfully could acknowledge that something was happening and I needed to go for it.

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What was the moment that you knew everything had changed (on your path to becoming an influencer)?

The moment I knew everything changed was when I got spotted on the one train headed to my first job in New York. Back then, no one would really approach me. They'd just write me on social media, "Hey, I saw you here, but was too shy to come up to you."

Why did you decide to design your collection with Addition Elle? And what has been the most rewarding part of designing your collections?

Designing with Addition Elle wasn't even a question in my mind. Roslyn Griner, [vice president of marketing and visual display at Addition Elle], has a vision most don't. She's always thinking: what's the next step? Her and I have a lot of the same big picture vision. We want more for people and the industry. Addition Elle's lookbooks look like an editorial straight from a magazine. My favourite thing about designing with them, is bouncing ideas off one another. I'll say I want something to be a certain way design-wise, and they don't hesitate. I said I needed denim in this collection, and I really would love the front to lace up like a thigh high boot, and they were like, "Wait, we need to do this."

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We love your street style aesthetic and how that translated into your first collection with Addition Elle. How will that play a role in this collection?

My street style is more in this collection than the first one. Each month I feel like my style is changing. So this collection embodies everything I love: mesh, bodysuits, oversized denim, lace[-up] jeans. I'm into minimal pieces that are statements on their own. This collection is just that.

The collection has a heavy '90s feel to it. What inspires you most about the decade?

I was born in 1988, but my true childhood was '90s. And some of the best models were walking runways in the '90s. The fashion then was so specific on runways. The music in the '90s definitely inspired me. I remember watching JLo music videos [thinking], "I need everything she's wearing." And the crazy thing is that I STILL want everything she was wearing back then, but just now in 2016.

How has designing your second collection with Addition Elle been different than the first?

This time I really tried thinking outside of what isn't in stores already.

You have really helped to blur the lines between plus and straight sizes, and have always challenged the notion that just because someone is plus, they have to conform to a certain set of rules. What is your hope for the future of the fashion industry as a whole?

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I like the idea of blurring the lines between "straight" and "plus," because fashion isn't just about size. I want more designers and brands to carry their sizing all the way up so everyone can have pieces that are always fashion forward rather than feeling excluded.

You have made such a huge impact on the body positivity world with what appears to be simply being yourself. How have you seen the change in the community since you have been a part of it?

I've seen a lot of change. I've seen new girls' careers blossoming that probably wouldn't have been as easy six or seven years ago. I've seen more girls truly being themselves on social media, not afraid to wear whatever they want. It's been really amazing to see and I'm happy I could even take a tiny part of that.

What is the most common thing that you have had readers/followers say they wish they had your "confidence" to wear? What is your advice to them?

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Even when it comes to bodycon pieces or crop tops, girls are afraid to wear them. Or even to show off their legs. To be honest, back when I started all of this, I wasn't considered conventionally beautiful. I just didn't care what people said or thought, because I felt good about myself and I focused on the things I liked about my body rather than what I didn't.

What is the number one thing you are tired of hearing?

"You shouldn't be wearing that."

What piece of advice would you give your younger self when styling her first outfit?

Stop making rules up for yourself that don't exist.

Every woman, with no exceptions, deserves to feel comfortable in her own body, and to believe that the world is made just as much for her as the next person. That's why with "My Curves Have No Bounds," we're going to get real and talk about our bodies, what we put on them, and how we feel about everything in between. We want to break down the barriers and outdated notions that plus-size women encounter everyday. So check back every other week for more from "My Curves Have No Bounds," by Amanda Montgomery of Latest Wrinkle.

Follow Huffington Post Canada Style on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!

Also on HuffPost

Nadia Aboulhosn x Addition Elle See Gallery
If you're looking for that next amazing panoramic photo to post on Instagram, look no further.

Torontos Scarborough Bluffs has a killer view of the skyline from a vantage point unlike any other in the city.

In this feature from Like a Tourist, host Dan Rodeo helps local Torontonian, Amanda Edwards, face her fear of heights and the payoff is breathtaking.

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It was scary as hell, but now I can say I did it, says Edwards.

Also on HuffPost
OTTAWA  Prime Minister Stephen Harpers office once approved $93,000 in moving expenses for a senior staff member.

The figures, provided by the Privy Council Office, note that between 2008 and 2010, one person costs were covered to the tune of $92,918.59. (The figure was later adjusted to $92,952.71). The bulk of the money  $78,613.10  was disbursed in 2008-2009.

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Between 2006 and 2015, Harpers office spent a total of $324,800.05 on relocation expenses for 18 staff members.Two individuals had moving costs approved for close to $50,000  $49,332 in 2009-2010 and $48,238 in 2010-211. All other expenses were less than $37,000 with most being well under $5,000.

In comparison, documents tabled in the Commons earlier this week showed taxpayers paid $1.1 million to move some four dozen political staffers to Ottawa after the Liberals won the election last fall  including $207,000 to move two of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus closest aides.

Harpers former chief of staff, Guy Giorno, moved from Toronto to Ottawa in 2008.

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Guy Giorno is seen in Ottawa in 2010. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/CP)

He told HuffPost in an email that he wasnt sure what his relocation costs were, because items such as the real estate agents commission and moving van costs were paid directly by Brookfield  third party that handles the relocation of all public servants, including the including the Canadian Forces and the RCMP.

Giorno initially said he thought his total was in the $40,000 range but later told HuffPost he believes it may have been closer to $79,000. I have asked PCO for my figure but not received a response, he told HuffPost.

Nigel Wright, who succeeded Giorno as Harpers chief of staff in 2010, told HuffPost he received about $17,000 directly from Brookfield for his moving costs but believes the total figure was closer to $20,000.

Click for full size

Grits using the taxpayer as their personal ATM

On Friday, the Conservatives hammered the Liberals in question period over news that Trudeaus chief of staff, Katie Telford, and principal secretary, Gerald Butts, would be returning a substantial sum after acknowledging that a large part of their relocation costs had been unreasonable.

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Conservative House leader Candice Bergen said the Liberals had finally admitted that theyve been using the taxpayer as their personal ATM.

The Prime Ministers friends admitted that they claimed tens of thousands of dollars of inappropriate expenses which the prime minister signed off on. This clearly shows a lack of judgment on behalf of the prime minister, she said.

Government House leader Bardish Chagger said it has been standard practice since the 1970s to reimburse moving costs of senior officials and their families.

The previous prime ministers office approved over $300,000 in relocation expenses including one relocation at a cost of $93,131, she said. We know that these policies need to be updated, that is why our prime minister is taking action, she added, noting that Trudeau had now asked the Treasury Board to draft a new policy that will affect all government employees.

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PMs aides sorry

In a Facebook statement Thursday, Butts and Telford, said they were sorry for their relocation costs and the controversy that had erupted.

In the interests of living up to Team Trudeaus values of transparency and accountability, they said were releasing a breakdown of their families eligible expenses  $126,669.56 for Butts and $80,382.55 for Telford  refunding payment for a significant portion of them, and taking full responsibility for the whole series of events that led to this point.

From the Facebook post:

In the case of the Telford/Silver household, our expenses were: Moving logistics: $10,735.50 Real Estate Commission, fees and employer taxes: $44,149.40 Personalized cash payout and incidentals: $23,373.71 Administration fees: $1577.94 Travel: $546.00 In the case of the Butts household, our expenses were: Moving logistics: $14,636.39 Real Estate Commission, fees and employer taxes: $47,103.56 Personalized cash payout and incidentals: $20,799.10 Land transfer tax, legal fees and insurance: $25,141.31 Temporary rental lodging (apartment) : $18,247.60 Administration fees: $468.60 Travel: $273.00

The pair, who moved separately with their families to Ottawa from Toronto after the 2015 election, said they followed all the rules of a federal relocation policy that has been in place for senior political staff and public servants "for decades."

"As this process relates to us, we were eligible to be reimbursed for a bunch of costs that we don't feel comfortable about," Butts and Telford wrote. "While the rules were clear and we followed them, we both know that's not always enough."

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They said they will both reimburse the "personalized cash payouts and incidentals" they received, not feeling comfortable accepting funds that were not the actual costs we paid to third parties to make the move happen.

Butts will also repay a large part of the land transfer tax for his new million-dollar Ottawa home. He said he felt it was unreasonable to be reimbursed for anything above what would have been the cost of the tax on an average house price in Ottawa in 2016.

Telford is renting a home and had no land transfer tax reimbursements.

She will repay $23,373.71 and Butts will repay $41,618.62, Trudeau's spokeswoman said.

While some exempt staff and public servants are eligible for a wide range of reimbursement related to moving costs  everything from day care and car rentals to real estate fees and legal costs  the Policies for Ministers Offices make it clear that it is at the discretion of the minister  in this case, Trudeau  to approve moving expenses.

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While ministers offices mostly approved relocation costs under $30,000, there were several exceptions:

At Global Affairs, Julian Ovens, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dions chief of staff, received $119,825.69 in moving costs. The relocation costs for eight other political staff, however, amounted to only $26,241.67.

At Industry Canada, Elder Marques, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains chief of staff, received $113,799.08 in relocation expenses.

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna approved $75,894.22 to one staffer.

Small Business Minister Bardish Chagger, now also the Government House leader, offered one staffer $69,625.42 to move.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould approved $55,356.65 to one employee, and $125.08 for another.

Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi also approved one payout of $50,233.65.

Butts and Telford, in their Facebook post, said they would not be asking other senior staffers to repay their expenses, but on Friday, Marques said he would be returning $22,467 and Ovens said he would be returning $32,130.

In line with Gerry and Katies lead, the chief of staff has reviewed his expenses in addition to those of his office, all of which were submitted and reimbursed in good faith. Accordingly, he is now in the process of reimbursing $32,130 representing the personalized cash payout and the land transfer tax differential, a statement from Dions office said.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, former fisheries minister Hunter Tootoo, Immigration Minister John McCallum, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, Treasury Board President Scott Brison, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr, and Science Minister Kristy Duncan, did not approve  or may not have been asked to approve  any relocation costs, the documents suggest.

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CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed the total as $93,131,90. The Privy Council, which provided the figure, said the error was due to an extra amount belonging to another file. The corrected reimbursement total is $92,952.71.

With files from the Canadian Press

Also on HuffPost
For many woman who bought a bottle of Clairol's Nice 'n Easy box 512 hair dye in 1975, it was, quite simply, a hair dye that would transform their locks into a beautiful dark auburn shade. To others, however, this box of hair dye, with the campaign slogan "Born Beautiful" written across the box, meant so much more.

Thanks for being #BornBeautiful, Tracey Norman. You remain beautiful to this day. So @glaad youre being celebrated! A photo posted by @clairolcolor on May 13, 2016 at 2:17pm PDT

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But little did these customers know, the gorgeous black woman on the front of the Clairol box was keeping an extraordinary secret of her own.

Yes, she was "Born Beautiful." And yes, she was born a boy.

That stunning face on the box belonged to Tracey Norman, the first African-American transgender model.

She was making history. She was living a dream life. And she was holding on to her truth, hoping no one would out her.

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But that did happen. And her career came to an abrupt halt.

Tracey Norman was shot by Irving Penn and fronted ad campaigns without anyone realising she'd been born male. Photo by Peter Hapak. #traceynorman #trans #transgender #model #peterhapak #fashionphotography A photo posted by The Times Magazine (@thetimesmagazine) on Mar 11, 2016 at 9:42am PST

Norman's career began in 1975 at The Pierre Hotel in New York City by chance. One morning, Tracey followed a group of well-known black models into the hotel. She waited. And then came a meeting with American fashion photographer Irving Penn and Italian Vogue. They instantly fell in love with her look and Tracey started working immediately. She didn't dare tell them her secret.

And she felt no need to.

A photo posted by J A W B R E A K E R (@jawbreakernyc) on Dec 16, 2015 at 4:38pm PST

In a phone interview with HuffPost Canada Style, Tracey recalls not being concerned about addressing her identity as a transgender woman at the beginning of her career. For her, she was living the life she always dreamed of.

"When youre young, you dont have fear. I was living my life as a woman and working as a woman, so I wasnt thinking in terms of being transgender until I knew that my truth was eventually going to come out," Tracey said.

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"But in the beginning, I wasnt concerned with that for some reason because it was all new and exciting and I was living this dream life and also trying to better my life. It was an opportunity for me to better my life," she added.

Being frequently compared to Beverly Johnson, a ruling supermodel at the time and the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American Vogue, Norman's career began to move at a rapid pace landing job after job, including a big opportunity with Clairol in the mid-'70s.

The "Born Beautiful" range of hair-dyes were specifically for women of colour. Norman was the face of the hot-selling Dark Auburn, Box 512 for six years and her contract was renewed twice. This was a milestone in Norman's career and women all over America worshiped her striking looks.

"Thats just a really big deal, for any black model, and then for her to be trans is beyond amazing," Laverne Cox recalls in a groundbreaking interview about Tracey with The Cut. "I cant tell you how many hours I stared at that photo of her on that Clairol bottle and that caption, Born Beautiful.' Yeah, we are born beautiful."

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But it was during a beauty shoot with Essence magazine that Tracey's biggest fear finally came true.

"I was literally in front of the camera," Tracey told HuffPost Canada Style, recalling the story of when editor-in-chief Susan Taylor stopped the shoot after learning from an assistant about Norman's transgender identity.

"Suddenly the left side [of the room], where they were talking, it felt very negative. And [Taylor] shut down the set," said Norman.

She continued, "I went home, and literally the next day when I called to find out my next booking, my work stopped. They never confronted me. They never asked me questions. It was just, my work literally stopped. And when that happened, it was quite depressing. And like I said prior to, I was just trying to better my life and because of their hatred, my life took a drastic turn."

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Now the real Tracey is shining through! Learn more about her incredible journey back to Clairol. Link in prole. A video posted by @clairolcolor on Aug 19, 2016 at 12:08pm PDT

But now, after a 30-year hiatus, Tracey "Africa" Norman's modelling career is coming full circle. The now 63-year-old makes her incredible return to modelling in the new "Colour As Real As Your Are" campaign for Clairol Nice 'n Easy and the experience has been "rewarding and fantastic."

"I'm so excited to represent the company again. It's been a fantastic reunion for me," said the woman who is now the face of Nice'n Easy shade 6N - Natural Medium Golden Blonde.

Since Tracey's beginnings in the fashion world, there has been progress in the realm of trans visibility in thanks to models such as Andreja Pejic, Carmen Carrera, Lea T and Hari Nef, who have all graced either the runway or major fashion campaigns. And for the first time in her career, Tracey herself feels accepted.

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"To be honest with you, I never imagined this would happen to me," Tracey said in the telephone interview. "So its been quite rewarding and I appreciate this large company for accepting me and allowing me to be the real me. Its been an absolutely humbling experience."

A photo posted by Gallery Aferro (@gallery_aferro) on Apr 27, 2016 at 6:41pm PDT

When asked what she wants people to learn from her new role in the "Colour As Real As You Are" campaign, Tracey said "Words do hurt, such as my story and when my truth was told."

"All I was trying to do was to better my life. And because of that, I wasnt able to."

Since her infamous interview with The Cut and becoming the face of Clairol, Norman has since gone on to cover Harper's Bazaar India's "Nine Wonders of the World" issue while make history in the process. Alongside Geena Rocero, Filipino American supermodel and the founder of advocacy campaign Gender Proud, the pair are the first two transgender models to cover the glossy.

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Tracey's story shines light on how important is it to have transgender models front the industry and for them to know their identity does matter.

For that, we say thank you for your fearlessness, Tracey Africa Norman.

To watch Tracey talk about her story with Clairol, check out the video below:

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Ryuichi Sato via Getty Images Woman looking away, close-up, elevated view

I was 16 when I had my first full panic attack. I sat clutching my French horn (yes, I played the French horn), waiting for a solo in a school band performance, and found I couldn't catch my breath. My stomach and chest felt impossibly tight. This wasn't an average case of nerves: my entire body responded to the fear of playing music publicly with what I now understand to be chronic anxiety. I felt I might die.

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I managed that day to slow my breathing just enough so I could finish my solo without the audience knowing that, moments before, I'd had the intense urge to run away or barf. And I went on to reason away many similar moments, hiding them from myself and others. It took me the next 20 years, earning a PhD in the sociology of mental health, becoming a parent, undergoing three kinds of therapy, working in a national mental health organization and liaising with youth mental health advocates to identify that I went through intense anxiety as a teenager and young adult.

I still do experience anxiety from time to time, though I've learned to live with it in a healthier way -- through acceptance, a willingness to receive love from friends and family, and treatment from qualified professionals.

It's clear we need psychological services to be better woven into our public health-care system across Canada.

For me, figuring out and seeking treatment for my anxiety has been a healing and affirming process. But I often wonder: how would my childhood and teenage years have been different if I had a vocabulary for understanding my anxiety? If my parents, siblings or friends did? If I had early access to therapy or other kinds of treatment -- or even just a way to talk about my anxiety and resulting depression? As a teenager, I rightfully found it difficult to find a language for something shrouded in silence and discrimination.

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Given what we know as researchers about the prevalence of mental health problems and illnesses in Canadian youth -- in 2011 an estimated 1.04 million young people ages nine to 19 were living with a mental illness, which means almost one in four -- there's a strong case for giving primary health care a larger role in mental health.

If young people can't access services in the community because of long wait times, or find support through a family doctor, they end up in emergency rooms -- which only increases wait times and drains existing resources.

As research also shows, psychotherapies and clinical counselling are cost effective and improve outcomes for many people living with mild to moderate depression and anxiety, if they're provided by qualified people and delivered early. It's clear we need psychological services to be better woven into our public health-care system across Canada. Comprehensive and integrated community-based care can meet young people where they are: in schools, at work, or even online.

But if we're going to advocate for community-based care, we need to identify which communities need specific supports, and why. The fact that I eventually accessed the right help for anxiety is, after all, a matter of privilege. My gender, race, sexual orientation, class and education afforded me tremendous access.

We live in a country where some populations are chronically underserved by our current health system and face disparities in their health status; First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth are foremost among them, and youth suicide is in full crisis in many northern and remote communities across Canada. And if you're a young person who is also LGBTQ2S, living in poverty, or a newcomer to Canada, you are more likely to face unique mental health challenges early in your life.

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Attending carefully to these social determinants of health -- and truly listening to young people who experience inequality, poverty, and systemic barriers to care, without tokenizing them -- is crucial if we want to improve how our mental health system cares for youth.

I regularly find hope and optimism when I engage with the Mental Health Commission of Canada's Youth Council, a group of exceptional young people who have lived experience with mental illness -- either personally or through a family member or friend. They embody the principles of recovery and resilience and are open, lively, smart advocates for systemic change. Most of all, by engaging in advocacy projects, informing us as policy makers, and speaking to their peers and to the media to break the stigma around mental illness, these inspiring young people are finding new vocabularies for what it means to live through mental health issues early in life.

I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge Maddie's family, who, under terrible circumstances, have courageously furthered the difficult conversation about youth suicide in Canada. Thank you for sharing your story about Maddie, for inspiring others to speak, especially youth, and for your own strength and resilience in the wake of loss. My love and respect to everyone who has been directly or indirectly affected by suicide.

If you or someone you know is at risk please contact your nearest Crisis Centre or call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 to speak to a counsellor.

Frame Of Mind is a new series inspired by The Maddie Project that focuses on teens and mental health. The series will aim to raise awareness and spark a conversation by speaking directly to teens who are going through a tough time, as well as their families, teachers and community leaders. We want to ensure that teens who are struggling with mental illness get the help, support and compassion they need. If you would like to contribute a blog to this series, please email cablogteam@huffingtonpost.com

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Frame of Mind: Youth Mental Health Issues And Suicide In Canada See Gallery
"It's approximately one and one half hours from Paris to Reims in good traffic." our driver says in very good English. After a 7 hour flight from Toronto to Paris' Charles de Gaulle, that was my cue to perhaps close my eyes and shake off some jet lag that would surely hit at some point - but I was in France! I am one of four writers from across Canada partaking in the Moet-Hennessy France Brand Experience in Champagne and Cognac. We will come to know each other very well as we will be constant companions over the next seven days along with the National Brand Manager Champagnes for Moet-Hennessy, Veronique Gonneville.

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Two of my fellow writers are with me in our shuttle to Reims. After some "getting to know you" chit-chat, the van gets very quiet. We are fading and the five hour time change coupled with little sleep on an overnight flight is starting to creep in. I lay my head against the window and watch the scenery go by. It's overcast with low slung clouds as we drive by rolling farmland and tiny villages - typical early March weather for northern France. Strange trees with balls of leaves litter the landscape and I make a mental note to find out what they are called. Until then I name them "ball trees."

Reims is situated northeast of Paris in the Champagne-Ardenne region and home to four UNESCO World Heritage sites, one of which is Notre-Dame de Reims - a French Gothic style cathedral that rises above the city like a Phoenix. During WWI, the Cathedral was commissioned as a hospital and endured relentless shelling by the Germans leaving important parts either burned, damaged or lost. In 1919 the rebuild began and it's been ongoing ever since. From 987 to 1825, nearly every French king was crowned in Our Lady of Reims, and to say it holds a significant place in French history and French hearts would be an understatement. The last coronation here was Charles X on May 29, 1825. For wine lovers, however, Reims is the cornerstone of bubbly Champagne!

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Traffic is a non-issue and we arrive at our hotel in good time.Hotel de la Paix is situated conveniently in the heart of Reims, but it's a Sunday, and like most of France, everything is closed. We have a few hours of free time, so I decide to do a little exploring to shake my legs out and get acclimated to the time-change. We will be picked up at 6:30 for a welcome dinner hosted by Moet & Chandon. The Champagne starts to flow this evening!

Le Parc les Crayeres is a two star Michelin restaurant in Reims and I enter the dining room with a little trepidation. As most of my friends will attest to I am not an adventurous eater and the French love their decadent cuisine. My fingers are double crossed as we sit down and I repeat to myself "everything is enjoyable with Champagne." This is the beginning of a week long Mantra I repeat to myself before every meal. The noise level in the restaurant is almost nil and each plate is served with white gloved precision. We enjoy a six course meal and each presentation is a work of art. Raw scallops with a fruit chutney centre in the shape of a flower paired with 2006 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut. A breast of pigeon that looks as though it has been dipped in dark chocolate with white chocolate drizzle paired with 2006 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut Rose. Eating pigeon is definitely a first for me and it will most likely be the last time. I would describe it as very tender with a mouth-feel similar to liver. I think I was hoping for something closer to chicken in taste and texture but alas, not all birds are created equal. The only non-sparkler of the evening is a Domain Henri Gouges Nuit-Saint-Georges Les Georges 1er Cru 2010 - also a good pairing with pigeon. For me, however, it was more memorable sipped on it's own. This red Burgundy was decanted two hours for us making it as smooth as a red satin ribbon.

Almost 4 hours later I arrive back in my hotel room, my head swirling in bubbles of Champagne and more than ready to sleep. I drift to sleep with thoughts of what tomorrow will bring dancing in my head. We will be travelling to Hauvilliers for a private tour of the Abbaye, parc and Cloitre of Dom Perignon with a tasting of Dom Perignon 2005. A private Moet & Chandon cellar visit with a Maison Ambassadeur is scheduled for the afternoon with a tasting of Grand Vintage blanc and Rose 2006 to cap off the visit. Morning will come quickly and if my first evening in Champagne is any indication, this is going to be a heady, fun-filled week ahead. Stay tuned.,,

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My friend, Nigel, once told me that if he and his family were about to be crushed by a giant boulder rolling towards them, the kids would throw Daddy in the boulder's path, cling to their Mommy and breathe a sigh of relief that she was unharmed. Daddy would be dead, which might suck for a minute, but Mommy the Universe would still be there.

"Kids gravitate towards their moms, and even though kids love their dads too, it just isn't quite the same," Nigel said with a gap-toothed grin.

He's right too.

When I met the future mother of my children there was one specific quality that made me fall in love more than all the rest; Michelle was from a small town in the country. She also had a way of pointing out my big city shortsightedness. You can't teach that. You really can't.

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Photo by James Di Fiore

No offence to all you city and suburban kids, but there's something about a person who is from a small town, a small town with just one restaurant and a part time mayor, a farmer's market and a burgeoning yard sale scene. People in small towns seem unspoiled by the world, naturally empathetic, and blissfully unaware of all the things people in cities seem to fret over. They are not easily offended, they do things without being asked, and they visit without calling first. That last one is a positive trait, in case you are confused.

So, after a lifetime of urban and suburban living, my family and I are now living in my partner's hometown for one year, and I can't remember the last time I felt completely certain about a life altering decision.

Our new home is a quaint little place called Killaloe, an old mining and paper mill town famous for it's Polish settlements and Vietnam draft dodgers. It is also the official birthplace of Beaver Tails, which has to count for something. Michelle grew up here, and her mom is a retired schoolteacher, which means whenever I am in town I can mention her last name and voila, instant ice-breaker.

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She has fond memories; memories that are adorned by lakes, forests, and deer instead of big box stores, coffee shops and feral cats.

When we lived in the city I used to schedule breaks from being at our apartment. I would leave the house and wander my neighbourhood, seeking for something interesting or just a solid hour of conversing with someone, anyone. It's just who I am; I need conversation of any kind to feel sane. In the city this personal necessity can often double as a minefield where triggered activists unload on unsuspecting chatterers, pouncing on language rather than staying on ideas.

Not so in the country. And while it is easy to poke fun at the lack of sophistication or modernity of country folks, what you can't deny is an authenticity that seems almost extinct in the city.

But I did not move my family here as a private protest on social justice types. Not even close.

The truth is this was Michelle's idea. I work from home, and she's on maternity leave, but ever since the birth of our son just over two years ago, Michelle has been longing to return home. I finally understand why.

I've never really had an affinity with where I grew up. I tend to associate my hometown with my teenage angst or as the place where dysfunction poisoned my family life. Truth is, I couldn't wait to get out of dodge. And when I left, I never looked back. Not even once.

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Michelle has a decidedly different take on where she grew up. She has fond memories; memories that are adorned by lakes, forests, and deer instead of big box stores, coffee shops and feral cats. Of course she has some bad memories too, but, unlike me, none of her bad memories are directly related to the surroundings she was in when she experienced those bad moments. But for me, the site of a big box store or even a Coffee Time can still make my stomach turn. If only I had a campfire to curb my teenage angst, in other words.

My son turned two in August, about two weeks after my daughter was born. Two days ago we packed up the car and drove back to Killaloe. We drove to get away from Toronto, and to get closer to each other. We drove through Peterborough County, through Bancroft and the Madawaska Valley, and eventually pulled into our dirt driveway leading to our modest cottage on Round Lake. We unpacked the car, hustled the kids inside the house, gathered everyone onto our bed and had our very first family meeting in the sticks.

The kids didn't know it, but they were nestled inside the first day of a childhood I wished I had, and one that Michelle had always spoke of with pride. Michelle is the superhero that keeps this family of misfits together, by the way. She has to deal with me, after all; a writer still dreaming of a day when he becomes the breadwinner of the family he never thought he'd have, juggling various ideas to better himself before his children are old enough to notice. She would say I am being ridiculous, and that the kids love me and that everything was going to be OK.

Perhaps if my family ever did come across the boulder from Nigel's anecdote, I'd save the kids the trouble of sacrificing their old man by tossing them into Michelle's indestructible arms, tipping my cap and laying down on the boulder's path. Then again, I bet Michelle's wand-waving hand would somehow snatch me from death's grip with seconds to spare, just to make sure the kids didn't have to see their father do something so shortsighted.

Hell, she probably wouldn't even get a crease on her cape.

But as the author of our current lifestyle switch, Michelle has cemented the assumptions I carry with me about country folks. They continue to be the most authentic, practical, and naturally wise people I've ever known. What they see in city folks like me, I'll never know.

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Oh, and happy birthday Michelle. See you by the campfire.

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Police in riot gear look on as demonstrators pass by during an organized march in Toronto. (Photo: AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

People like to excuse police violence by claiming that it's just a few bad apples. Perhaps that's true, but then who is electing the police union leaders who make it their job to defend these bad apples?

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See, here's the thing about bad apples -- if you don't root them out, then the whole barrel will rot.

If the police union was really protecting the police force, then they'd be the most outspoken critics of police brutality and unnecessary police-involved shootings. But they're not.

In fact, they're warning the public about journalists who dare question these bad apples. This is a real thing the Peel Regional Police Association tweeted earlier this week.

One must be careful ... be wary....of an 'advocate' masquerading as a Journalist. Very Careful. @DesmondColehttps://t.co/QECjAX5tGO  Peel Regional PA (@peel_pa) September 21, 2016

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You may recall Desmond Cole from his award-winning Toronto Life article "The Skin I'm In" about his experience with being black in Toronto where he's been stopped by police over 50 times for no reason.

The success of that article led to his current job as a biweekly columnist at the Toronto Star. His, yes, journalism job is to have strong opinions, and I don't see the Peel TPA warning against Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington when he writes about how great carding is.

But that's how police unions roll.

The world's largest police union, America's 330,000-member Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), endorsed Donald Trump in spite of opposition from black cops.

Then they blasted their own chosen racist candidate for daring to posit that Tulsa, Oklahoma police officer Betty Shelby may have "choked" when she shot Terence Crutcher on Thursday. Two days later, Shelby was charged with first-degree manslaughter.

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Still image captured from a video from Tulsa Police Department shows Terence Crutcher after being shot during a police shooting incident in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sept. 16, 2016. (Photo: Courtesy Tulsa Police Department/Handout via REUTERS)

The FOP, which was the subject of Black Lives Matter protests this past summer, has lobbied against bills ending the transfer of military equipment like tanks to police departments and "sought to impede efforts to gather data on deaths in police custody," according to Huffington Post reports.

"This is about making visible an institution that often works in the shadows and is often allowed to cover up the accountability process when it comes to police killing black bodies and black lives," protestor Jonathan Lykes, co-chair of the Black Youth Project 100's D.C. chapter, said at the time. "We're just trying to shine a light on that picture. We're trying to do it in a coordinated way."

This week over in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the streets have seen days of unrest over the killing of Keith Scott, there has been a dispute over whether the late father was reading a book while waiting for his son, as witnesses claim, or holding a gun, as police claim.

The police chief has said the video, which has not been released to the public, has no "absolute, definitive, visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun."

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But that didn't stop the police union boss from contradicting his supposed boss in an attempt to publicly exonerate the police shooter.

Charlotte Frat. Order of Police spokesman: Dash cam video shows #KeithLamontScott "armed when he exited the vehicle" https://t.co/NUCBRFkvYa  New Day (@NewDay) September 22, 2016

This follows the M.O. of other police unions who have opposed dash cams and body cams, as well as opposing the release of any official footage. As news host Joy Reid said on The Rachel Maddow Show on Sept 22, "police unions are fighting to have less and less disclosure. They believe that the presence of cameras is actually making officers reticent to do their jobs and putting them in legal jeopardy."

But police unions are not just opposed to cameras, they're also opposed to criticism.

The Las Vegas police union has tried to get Black Lives Matter buttons banned from courtrooms.

And though they eventually backed down, the Santa Clara Police Officer's Association threatened to deny policing to San Francisco 49ers games over Colin Kaepernick taking the knee during the national anthem.

In a letter to the 49ers management, the police union threatened to "not to work at your facilities" unless Kaepernick was "disciplined" over "these intentional acts and inflammatory statements" such as when "your employee further insulted all law enforcement officers in America by stating, 'There is police brutality. People of colour have been targeted by police.'"

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Mike McCormack, head of the Toronto Police Association, reacts to verdict in the trial of Const. Babak Andalib-Goortani, accused of assaulting G20 protester Adam Nobody with a weapon. (Photo: Keith Beaty/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Toronto Police Association president Mike McCormack has also reacted against claims that people of colour are being racially profiled. As I've written before, last spring he attacked the premier for saying that systemic racism exists. His double-speak argument is that since the police don't keep racial data, there's no empirical evidence and therefore no proof that it exists.

"But what I want to ask the premier is for her to show us the data that she is referring to when she says we still have systematic racism in our society," McCormack railed to the Toronto Sun. "If she has data to show there is such a racism problem in policing or any of her departments, then the question I have is what is she doing about it?"

Then, for good measure, he added, "It's not true and it's not acceptable to suggest it."

Of course, that didn't stop him for using anecdotal data to preposterously claim last January that a prohibition on carding (due to the racial profiling of its practice) increased gun violence.

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But that's par for McCormack's course. After Const. James Forcillo was found guilty for the attempted murder of the successfully killed Sammy Yatim, he told the press the verdict "sends a chilling message to our members, and that's going to be a challenge for our frontline members."

Fair enough, but I would hope the police are up to the challenge of not killing people unless there is literally no other option.

The crowd chants at the Black Lives Matter rally at Toronto Police Headquarters at 40 College in Toronto. (Photo: Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

He also sent a memo to the rank-and-file that said "be aware that even if you carry out your duties lawfully, to the best of your ability and training and requirements of law, your actions may be subject to review. The Association questions how our members can effectively carry out their duties if they don't have the confidence and support from the [Toronto Police Services Board], City Council and the Province."

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And he has dismissed Toronto City Council asking for a review of the Special Investigations Unit, which investigates police violence, as "political masturbation" and blew off Black Lives Matter as a "special interest group" -- their special interest being, apparently, not getting shot by police.

This was echoed in Ottawa when Abdirahman Abdi was killed by cops in the summer. Ottawa Police Association President Matt Skof told CBC that discussions of race were "inappropriate," adding "I'm worried that the conversation is even occurring, to be quite candid."

Police associations are not technically unions because police are banned from forming them -- their job description gives them too much bargaining power in case of a strike. But they fulfill the basic labour organization functions of a union.

Police unions are going to have to start upholding their members' honour and stop defending these rotten cops.

Public-sector workers should be allowed to collectively bargain, even if they are armed, and it would be hard to object to TPA's other official objectives such as "promote and advance the social, wellness and economic welfare of its members" and "generate public and political interest on the vital importance of police work in the everyday life of our community."

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But the most important objective, the one that the TPA and all other police unions should remember right now as images of black bodies killed by blue uniforms fill our screens is:

Uphold the honour of the police profession

Yet, as retired LAPD sergeant Cheryl Dorsey admitted to Vice News last year, "Police unions are much like police chiefs. When an an officer is caught doing a very bad thing, they start to circle the wagons. 'That's their job, that's their story.' They stick to it no matter how nonsensical it is and how much it insults our sensibilities, no matter how unreasonable it is to a reasonable person."

If the police want to restore confidence in their ability to protect and serve everyone, including people of colour, then their police unions are going to have to start upholding their members' honour and stop defending these rotten cops.

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Zahia, Sarah and Hanadi fled the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus. They now live in the Beddawi refugee camp in Tripoli. Photo: Pablo Tosco/Oxfam

Written by Melanie Gallant, Oxfam Canada Media Officer

At this time last year I was visiting informal Syrian refugee settlements in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Now, as I begin watching beautiful fall colours appear on Ottawa trees, I am reminded that refugees in those settlements will begin worrying about surviving yet another winter in cold makeshift tents.

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Although I missed being with my own family for Thanksgiving, I will forever be thankful for the many moments when women who had lost everything shared what little they had with me. Little cups of sugary coffee in hand, we sat in circles on tarp floors and they opened up their lives and hearts to me, sharing painful, yet hopeful stories about life as a refugee.

I am proud to see Canada's leadership in welcoming tens of thousands of Syrian refugees and hope that we inspire other rich nations to open their doors.

A whole year has passed since then, and with the failure of yet another ceasefire in Syria, I know that life for these women will not be getting any easier.

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Syrian women in Lebanon talk of life and the challenges they face living as refugees. Photo: Melanie Gallant/Oxfam

The UN and Obama summits on refugees and migration that took place earlier this week in New York could not have come at a more crucial time. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that 65 million people have fled their homes because of conflict, persecution and violence; the highest level since records began.

I am proud to see Canada's leadership in welcoming tens of thousands of Syrian refugees and hope that we inspire other rich nations to open their doors. I also welcome the increase in humanitarian aid announced by Prime Minister Trudeau this week.

But resettlement and money alone will not resolve this crisis.

Women and girls fleeing conflict, crisis and natural disasters face specific threats -- including human trafficking, exploitation and sexual violence. These risks are often made even worse by others factors like age, race or disabilities.

The global refugee crisis, which has so many negative impacts on the rights of women and girls, needs a feminist solution.

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Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that refugee programs in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Greece and the Balkans are failing to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, and that access to sexual and reproductive health services for displaced women are below minimum standards or in many cases, non-existent.

Despite these challenges, displaced women are forming organizations that work tirelessly to support aid delivery and protection efforts, such as establishing safe spaces for women and children.

Last week I met Muzna Dureid, a Syrian human rights activist who is in Ottawa as part of The Nobel Women's Initiative sister-to-sister mentorship program.

Muzna Dureid is a Syrian human rights activists who works with women and girl refugees inside Syria and in neighboring countries.

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She works as a Project Coordinator for the Badael Foundation, an organization committed to the development and strengthening of civil society groups in Syria. Muzna, who fled her home just south of Damascus after several members of her family disappeared, is channeling all her energies into ending child marriages and ensuring that perpetrators of violence against women and girl refugees are held to account.

I asked her what she thought about the summits.

"I hope that world leaders will think of the challenges faced by women and girl refugees at their meetings in New York City," she said. "All refugees have a difficult life, but for women it is even harder. Many girls are forced to get married when they are very young, and there are a lot of problems with violence and people taking advantage of women when they are in bad situations."

Oxfam has witnessed and supported the resourcefulness, resilience and courage of women like Muzna who work on the frontlines of humanitarian responses. They are a key part of the solutions to a growing global displacement crisis. Yet in many ways they remain voiceless, marginalized and their efforts often receive little support or recognition from donors and policymakers.

We are still waiting to see what Canada's commitment to putting women's rights at the heart of our international assistance will deliver.

"I am happy that people are talking about the problems of refugees, and what I would say to leaders is: You need to support us, because we are the ones who know the situation and can work with those who need the most support, like women and girls," said Muzna.

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She added, "I want to believe that this will happen, but I worry that once again it is just words and women and local organizations will not really get more support."

I told Muzna that progress is being made. Canada for example, has pledged to take a feminist approach to international assistance and humanitarian responses. This would mean more support for local organizations like hers, and a higher percentage of aid dollars going specifically to programs that address the needs of women and girls.

There are many crises in the world forcing people to flee their homes. In South Sudanese refugee camps, women are at high risk of sexual violence when they leave in search of wood to make fires to feed their families. Photo: Kieran Doherty/Oxfam

We are still waiting to see what Canada's commitment to putting women's rights at the heart of our international assistance will deliver. But I am hopeful for Muzna, for the many courageous women I met last year in Lebanon, and for all other women and girls forcibly displaced from their homes that Prime Minister Trudeau will seize future opportunities to move from words to concrete actions.

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An important first step would be to ensure the meaningful participation of women in the negotiations for the Global Compacts. If women and girl's needs, challenges, insights and skills continue to be ignored, any attempts to solve the global refugee crisis are bound to fail. And we so urgently need them to succeed.

Melanie Gallant is Oxfam Canada's Media Relations Officer. Follow her on twitter @melgalla

Learn more about Oxfam's work in Syria and neighboring countries here.

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Rick Madonik via Getty Images TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 21: Liberal candidate Raj Grewal works the riding by canvassing for support in Brampton East (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

In the spring of 2014, households across Brampton opened their doors to find anti-immigration flyers targeting the Sikh community. It made many in my home riding feel vulnerable and unwelcome. This, of course, was their intent.

The effect of these flyers was no different than the recent anti-Islam vandalism of the Cold Lake,Kingston or Quebec City mosques; the anti-immigrant posters spotted on York University's campus or even the anti-Asian race riots in Vancouver over 100 years ago. Each instance of discrimination was rooted in mistrust, intolerance and fear. Each instance was unacceptable then, and is unacceptable now.

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The vast majority of Canadians have a long-standing tradition of rising to the occasion to denounce such acts and make diversity work for all of us.

Amid increasing praise of Canadian diversity on the global stage, this week's incident was a stark reminder that Canada is not without its challenges at home. Discrimination still exists and the racist posters that surfaced across the University of Alberta campus this week were a reminder of that fact. The posters featured a picture of a Sikh man and disparaging captions targeting Sikh values. As a turban-wearing Sikh, the hatred and ignorance that motivates such material is very close to home for me and the broader Sikh community.

This week, our prime minister spoke at the UN and stated

"Strong, diverse, resilient countries like Canada didn't happen by accident and they won't continue without effort. Every single day, we need to choose hope over fear and diversity over division."

The vast majority of Canadians have a long-standing tradition of rising to the occasion to denounce such acts and make diversity work for all of us. But diversity requires effort. It requires all of us to consciously through our words and actions, oppose discrimination, bigotry and racism in all its forms, whether based on a person's ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age. It requires us to take pride in our identities, and most importantly, it requires us to collectively #MakeitAwkward.

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It doesn't make us any less Canadian to simply point out the unacceptable nature of any statement that lacks sensitivity. Rather, it is who we are as Canadians, because in my Canada no matter where you come from, what you believe in, who you love or what you look like, Canadians will always have your back.

It is no coincidence that over 22 years after Pritam Singh Jauhal, a turban-wearing Sikh soldier was denied the right to enter a Surrey legion hall on Remembrance Day, a turban-wearing Sikh is serving as the Minister of National Defense. Getting here required effort but anything worth having always does.

I am a proud Sikh, a proud Canadian and I am most proud that I live in a country that doesn't make me chose between the two.

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Exterior pictures of the GM Oshawa Car Assembly Plant as a 11:59 p.m. strike deadline looms on Monday, Sept. 19th in Oshawa. (Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

The tentative collective agreement reached between General Motors, Canada and Unifor on September 19 thrust the pension issue, defined benefit (DB) versus defined contribution (DC) plans, back into the public spotlight.

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Under a DB plan, workers are guaranteed a specific amount of monthly pension income based on employee/employer contributions and the worker's years of service. The employer is obligated to ensure the plan is fully funded to meet this pension promise.

On the other hand, DC plans are basically savings plans that do not guarantee a fixed amount of monthly income; they depend on the vagaries of the stock market. The employer has no future obligations with respect to security of retirement income for former employees, which is why bosses fight so hard to convert DB into DC plans.

Recently, Canada Post Corp clashed with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) in a high-profile, year-long and futile attempt to force the union to sell out future employees by accepting a much inferior DC pension plan.

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CUPW President Mike Palacek fought to preserve a defined benefit pension plan for Canada Post workers like the one seen here. (Photo: Ryan Remiorz/CP)

During tough negotiations, CUPW President Mike Palacek wrote an inspirational letter to future employees of Canada Post, dated 2036. In it he "reminded" them of the sacrifices made by past generations of postal workers who fought for the good wages, benefits and DB pension plan that they enjoy. His message was really addressed to his current membership, urging them to be strong and not to sell out the future generation of workers.

His members rose to the occasion. They preserved the DB pension plan for the workers of 2036 and beyond.

Palacek understood that if his union folded and accepted "two-tier bargaining," where future workers are denied the same wages and benefits as current employees, that the cancer would spread like wild fire into every workplace in the country, across public and private sectors alike.

Young workers will see this deal as the "boomer generation" pulling up the ladder behind them, selling out the next generation without a fight.

The arguments advanced by employers and right-wing lobbyists about the ongoing viability of DB plans are bogus. RBC Investor & Treasury Services conducted a study of 120 DB pension plans in 2014. It found an average 14.2 per cent return on investments. DBRS, a Toronto-based rating agency, reviewed 64 major pension plans in 2014 and found they were funded at 94.7 per cent levels -- well above the 80 per cent range viewed as the danger zone for pension funding.

When asked in April 2015 about General Motors' push for new hires to accept the lesser DC pension plan, Unifor President Jerry Dias said, "This is a huge fundamental issue for us as an organization... defined benefit pension plans would come under pressure at all employers that have them." He added, "If you take a look at the profitability of the industry today, there is no need for them to make that kind of a request." GM announced it is on track to meet its 2016 financial target of 10 per cent returns on investment.

The "fundamental issue" Dias was wrestling with in his 2015 interview was this: if Unifor agreed to scrap DB plans for new hires in GM, it would result in the eventual end of DB plans for the entire auto industry and beyond.

Jerry Dias, seen in this file photo, provided General Motors with a concession that may lead to the erosion of defined benefit pension plans among auto industry workers and beyond. (Photo: David Cooper/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

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Despite the known consequences of such a move, he inexplicably signed a tentative agreement with a profitable GM -- providing what is arguably the biggest concession ever given to a major employer in Canada -- which will have serious ramifications for every union collective agreement in the country.

The Ford Motor Co. and FCA (formerly Chrysler) will now expect the same concession from Unifor. This is very bad news for public-sector unions. Right-wing propagandists like the Fraser Institute will rush to cite this concession to push their agenda to end DB plans in the public sector.

Clearly, young workers will see this deal as the "boomer generation" pulling up the ladder behind them, selling out the next generation without a fight. Two-tier bargaining divides the membership and weakens the union from within. It makes it all the more difficult to organize young workers when they see the older generation giving concessions to employers that previous generations fought so hard to gain -- essentially screwing them out of a secure future.

Will GM workers retiring in 2036 on poverty-level DC pensions look back at the deal struck in 2016 by their union and say we should have fought harder and used that 96 per cent strike mandate to protect our pensions?

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School children hold candles and placards during a vigil for the soldiers who were killed after gunmen attacked an Indian army base in Kashmir's Uri on Sunday, in Agartala, India, Sept. 19, 2016. (Photo: REUTERS/Jayanta Dey)

The recent terrorist attack on an Indian army base in Uri, Kashmir -- resulting in 18 soldiers' deaths -- has strained the relationship between India and Pakistan once again.

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India summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner in Delhi and presented to him evidence of Pakistan's role in the Uri terror attack.

India's Foreign Secretary Jaishankar called in Pakistan's High Commissioner in Delhi and demanded that Pakistan lives up to its public commitment to refrain from supporting and sponsoring terrorism against India.

Fuelling India's concerns, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called a terrorist, Burhan Wani, a hero in his speech in United Nations' General Assembly Meeting in New York last Wednesday.

India's Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar criticized Sharif for glorifying Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, and said India will not succumb to the blackmail tactics of a Pakistan government that seems eager to use terrorism as policy.

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Akbar himself is a renowned author and intellectual. His remarks that Sharif's speech was one full of threatening bluster, rising immaturity and complete disregard of facts are not wrong.

Sharif didn't only glorify Burhan Wani, he also dragged out the Palestinian Intifada theory:

"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."

Pakistan's non-condemnation of the Uri attack in Sharif's speech is another alarming sign from the Pakistani establishment.

In the past, Sharif was quite reluctant to talk about the Kashmir issue, but it looks like the Pakistani army has put its words in Sharif's mouth.

On one hand, Sharif and the Pakistani establishment talk about their victimhood in the hands of terrorist organizations, but on the other hand, the following known terrorist organizations are operating in Pakistan -- allegedly with the support of Pakistan army and its intelligence agencies. Lashkar-e-Taiba/ Jamaat ul Da'awa, United Jihad Council, Harkatul Mujhaideen, Hizb ul Mujhaideen, Jaish-e-Muhammed, Harkat-ul-Jihadi-Islami, Lashkar-e-Omar, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Lashkar-e-Islam, Sepah-e-Muhammad, Sepah-e-Sahaba, Hizbut Tehrir, Islam Mujahidin, Jaish-e- Islam, Islamic Jihad Union, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Haqqani Network are few names in the list.

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It's true that Pakistan and Pakistanis themselves are victims of terrorism, but this terrorism has been nourished by the Pakistani establishment itself.

The Pakistani establishment destroyed Pakistan in 1971 through its breakdown. This establishment is again seeding an environment ripe for another breakdown by destabilizing the region's peace, putting innocent Pakistanis' futures into question.
Dougal Waters via Getty Images Profile of female hiker on Atlantic coastline.

The word 'travel' is too often associated with unproductive time off from what you 'should' be doing. But UniversityHub has another perspective for you. We sat down with Katie Idle from the Study and Go Abroad Fair to highlight 5 ways that travel can boost someone's resume. The fair is kicking off this weekend in Vancouver and Edmonton, and travelling to four other cities across Canada. Pre-register for free online.

1. Study Abroad

There's no need to put your education on hold to go travel -- you can do both! Why not consider taking a whole degree abroad? Some undergraduate programs, such as in the UK, Australia and South Africa, are only three years as opposed to the traditional four-year degree program in Canada -- and Master's programs/ MBAs are often one year only! One year of earlier graduation means one year more of earning full-time employment salary.

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Or, if you're not ready for a whole degree program abroad, consider taking a semester or international exchange. "Speak to your university to find out about credit transfers and grades - don't worry, they can help you with all of that. You just need to choose where you want to study, pack your bags, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime," says Idle.

"The Study and Go Abroad Fair is a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with universities from around the world. Be brave - check out universities from the non-English speaking countries as well."

2. Gain Work Experience

Canadian businesses are more international than ever. Applying to a job out of university or college with international work experience on your resume will separate you from the crowd. You'll learn a ton about how an industry works in a different part of the world, get to work with teams from a different culture, and get to enjoy non-work time in a place you'd normally vacation to.

Companies operate seamlessly across borders, and people need to do the same, which is why working or studying abroad is so important. Students who work abroad come home with new perspectives on the world, and an invaluable understanding of how it works.

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"Check out International Experience Canada. Did you know that if you are 18-35, you can get a work permit for 32 different countries!" notes Idle.

3. Accomplish Something Unique

If you think travel is all about eating banana pancakes and lying by the beach, then you're very mistaken. Travel is all about stretching yourself in ways you wouldn't each day. What's an adventure you've always had on your bucket list? Maybe it's summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro or sailing across the Caspian Sea -- whatever it is, it will be sure to add some 'oomph' to the 'additional interests' section of your resume.

Idle tells us to "Check out Australian Working Holidays to experience the true Australian 'outback'. You never really know what you are capable of, until you get out of your comfort zone."

4. Volunteer Abroad

Voluntourism is the new hot topic in travel. There's no better way to supplement your own holiday with giving back to others who need it most. This might be volunteering at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand or a school in Peru -- whatever you choose, it will definitely be a life changing experience.

"A couple of years ago, Adrianna, from a small town in Alberta, won the Study and Go Abroad Grand Prize Draw - a volunteer trip to Africa. She came back saying that it was a life-changing experience for her, and as a result she totally changed her career plans. There's something about taking a set period of time and devoting it almost entirely to other people -- you get so much back from an experience like that, it lasts a lifetime." tells Idle.

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"Visit Uniterra at the fair to find out about short and long-term volunteering opportunities."

5. Learn a Language

Learning a language is one of the smartest moves you can do to become an employable young professional. But it's incredibly difficult to truly grasp a language -- particularly in a short period of time -- when you aren't fully immersed. What if when you hopped on the bus, turned on the TV, tried to read a restaurant menu, or ordered a train ticket, you had to read, listen, think and speak in a different language. You'll be forced to learn it merely to make everyday life easier for you!

"Language is the biggest thing that separates cultures" says Idle "so when you learn a language, you can experience a culture and connect with people like you never would have otherwise. It's a truly special thing. Check out Languages Abroad and EF Language Centres at the fairs. Both teach many different languages in some really interesting destinations."

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The five things you need to know on Friday, September 23, 2016

1) CHASING SHADOWS

Ahead of tomorrows big reveal in Liverpool (spoiler alert, Jeremy Corbyn will win), the issue of who will serve in his shadow ministerial team rumbles on.

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I hear internal party data analysis suggests that Jez will win by a margin of 65% to Owen Smiths 35%, which if true would be an even bigger landslide than the 59% of last year. And if he does get a bigger mandate, some key allies are advising him to use it to stamp his authority on the PLP.

Some moderate MPs suspect their worst fears are being confirmed about Corbyns reluctance to grant them a say over the Shadow Cabinet. Late last night, despite a ruling from the NEC, the leader still hadnt met Tom Watson, Rosie Winterton or John Cryer to discuss the Shad Cab elections idea. It could be that with everyone travelling north today, Corbyn waits until after his re-election to even hold the meeting.

A clutch of former ministers have already decided not to return if Jez bins Watsons Shad Cab elections plan. The Guardian reports that Rachel Reeves, Ian Murray and even Lou Haigh are all ruling out a Shad Cab post without a PLP mandate. The refuseniks will co-exist with Corbyn but not step up to the top team, its claimed. However, other big names like Keir Starmer and Dan Jarvis, as I reported a week ago, are still in play.

Meanwhile, Im told Gordon Brown has been urging Labour MPs to get on board and join Corbyns team, not least so they can work from within to persuade the leadership to broaden its appeal and craft credible policies. Plenty of Corbyn-sceptic trade unionists, council chiefs and local CLPs have also been telling MPs to swallow their objections and join the shadow team. But Unisons Dave Prentis says in the Times that the leadership "must be open to letting the partys best talents oppose the Tory government".

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Roll on Liverpool.

2) THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE

Its been a while since Boris has caused trouble, but rest assured hes never far from the headlines.

Theresa May has had to issue a gentle reprimand after the Foreign Sec had told SkyNews he expected her to trigger the official Article 50 exit process in the early part of next year. Of course, Donald Tusk let slip that May herself had said shed trigger it maybe January or February, but its still not great to hear your own Cabinet minister confirm it.

More damaging was Bojos fast-tracked timetable as he said she could get a Brexit deal by 2018. I dont actually think we will necessarily need to spend a full two years. But lets see how we go, he mused.

No10 sources tell the Sun: The decision to trigger Article 50 is hers. She will be doing it at a time when she believes it is in the best interest for Britain. The Prime Ministers position has not changed. The Telegraph online had a joint byline on the story featuring and Boris Johnson.

A new BBC documentary on Brexit quotes Sir Alan Duncan saying Boris wanted to lose the EU referendum narrowly so he could position himself as heir apparent to Cameron, without the mess of Brexit. Boris is on the Marr show this Sunday (as well as Jezza), so get your popcorn ready.

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Meanwhile, the FT reports that when asked who was in charge of Brexit, Philip Hammond replied Its all very difficult. Oh, and Nigel Lawson told LBC that Mark Carney should quit for fuelling fears of recession post-Brexit.

3) HOW MUCH WOULD, I WOULD CHUCK, CHUKA?

The shifting sands of Labour politicians trying to grapple with Brexit can be tricky to navigate. Jonathan Reynolds yesterday joined Rachel Reeves in saying curbs on EU migration were the clear demand from the voters in June.

And then Chuka Umunna stepped up, telling HuffPost 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.

The words from the former Shad Cab minister and keen Remainer prompted a big online reaction, with some saying he may as well go and join UKIP. Some Labour MPs thought it was just a blatant pitch for Tory Eurosceptic votes ahead of the Home Affairs Select chairman election. Was he really saying he WOULD be prepared to chuck the UK out of the single market to get EU migration curbs? Or had he misspoken?

Last night, Umunna issued a clarification, which critics say sounded a bit like the cake-and-eat-it stuff he ridiculed in the EU referendum. I have always been totally consistent in saying that Britain must be a member of the Single Market, on which thousands of jobs and rules protecting workers rights rely. At the same time, we need an alternative to free movement as we know it. The government should aim for both in its EU negotiations.

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BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR

Watch Prince Harry do the dab (its a dance move, grandma) for some Scots schoolkids

4) DIRTY BUSINESS

Theresa Mays determination to distance herself from the Cameron era - and to be seen as an enemy of irresponsible capitalism - continues. The PM yesterday quietly wound up the Business Advisory Group that was established by her predecessor.

May told the dozen or so business chiefs, including Legal & General chief executive Nigel Wilson and Virgin Money chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia, that their advice was no longer required by No.10.

The prime minister will seek to draw on a range of advice from businesses big and small, one official said. Small business, many of which were more likely to back Brexit than Remain, is pleased.

5) BUTTON HOLED

Its been a good week for Kezia Dugdale after she secured a vital place on Labours ruling NEC. The soft left Scottish Labour leader was delighted to also get full autonomy for the party north of the border, with control over Westminster selection, CLPs and policy.

But Dugdale, who took the risky move of backing Owen Smith for leader this summer, is at the centre of a huge row over a Holyrood vote yesterday that saw the SNP narrowly avoid defeat on a key policy.

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Plans to take 100m from council tax and give it to schools were passed on the casting vote of the speaker, after Dugdale failed to register her own vote. She says she did press the button on the electronic voting system, and her colleague saw her do it. But complaints that there was a technical fault were dismissed by the Holyrood authorities, who said: We have checked the voting consoles in the chamber. We are satisfied that the system is working properly.

Cue ridicule from the SNP, who say that Dugdale isnt even competent enough to press a button. And cue muttering from Labour who find the whole thing rather suspicious.

COMMONS PEOPLE

Our weekly Commons People podcast is out. Hear us chew the fat on the Labour leadership, Tim Farrons big day, Labours movement on freedom of movement and mental health spending. Click HERE to tune in.

Oh and we are taking the podcast live to Labour and Tory conferences, where it becomes a CommonsPeople Pubcast (cos were doing it from a pub, geddit). Join us with Wes Streeting MP and Alison McGovern MP, at 6pm on Monday at The Crown Hotel, 43 Lime St, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 1JQ.

If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox.
With the UK's creative industries worth a staggering 84bn to the UK economy, there has not been a better time to enter the world of Digital VFX or animation.

Visual effects and games in particular are a great British success story, but the pathways into the industry are not always clear.

When students look to make their first steps towards becoming a VFX or animation professional they face a number of challenges. Identifying the right course to provide the desired training is one of the biggest.

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Many students simply do not know what it is they would like to do in VFX, a rapidly-evolving industry with many specialisms to choose from. For the layperson with little experience in the field, making an informed decision can be difficult.

An intensive short course covering the main areas of the industry can be a good initial solution. These generalist courses will give the student a solid foundation in VFX and animation from no base at all. The fast-paced nature of the course means students will get to learn something new every day, offering great variety.

Often these courses have very few entry requirements. However, just a little basic preparation can help students really make the most of their training. Becoming familiar with different file formats, being able to tell a tiff from a jpeg, as well as learning some file management techniques and simple photoshop skills, can really help students to get ahead.

A longer generalist foundation course has additional benefits for those seriously looking to get into the industry. Graduates with a broad understanding of the VFX and animation sector will likely be employable more reliably than highly specialised professionals seeking work in a fluctuating market, where demand comes and goes. The extended length of the course will nonetheless offer the possibility of developing good skills in a particular area to those seeking to become specialist down the line.

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When making decisions on workflow and techniques, graduates with a broader understanding of the industry bring a well-informed and rounded perspective, with knowledge of how the different pieces of the VFX and animation puzzle fit together. A general course will also have plenty of variety, meaning that students need not commit to a particular specialism upfront, but can nurture their specialist interests over time.

This said, a specialist course can really boost the careers of those who already have a basic foundation in VFX and animation. Given the investment involved in undertaking a specialist course, it is important for students to know that they are a ready for the commitment.

A good way of judging readiness is to build a showreel, illustrating VFX projects and achievements made to date. Sharing the showreel with a professional can help identify strengths and weaknesses. The showreels of other juniors and graduates also offer a useful point of comparison.

Asking and acting on feedback on work is an essential skill for any VFX professional. It is important not to get emotionally attached to the work, so that it can be viewed objectively. Given that the VFX industry is evolving so rapidly, every professional needs to learn something new each year to keep up. If you do not like learning, this might not be the right job for you!

It is also essential to be somebody that people enjoy working with. Animation can be a tough job, and no one will want to do it with you if you create additional issues, so being a problem solver and a good communicator goes far. Proactivity, in identifying new techniques, potential collaborators and interesting projects, is also a good quality to have.

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KCNA KCNA / Reuters

Freedom of religion or belief is widely violated around the world, in various ways - through violent persecution or imprisonment of religious minorities, discriminatory or restrictive laws, or incitement to hatred. Authoritarian regimes, religious extremists and criminal gangs are among those who flagrantly abuse freedom of religion or belief. Yet despite the widespread nature of religious persecution, there are few countries in the world that totally deny freedom of thought, conscience and religion, a basic human right set out in its fullest form in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In most countries, churches, mosques and temples exist and can worship, even if severely restricted or threatened. The exceptions are Saudi Arabia, The Maldives, Eritrea and the world's most closed nation, North Korea.

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With the exception of four churches in Pyongyang - two Protestant, one Catholic and one Russian Orthodox - Christians in North Korea have to practise their faith in secret. If discovered worshipping or possessing a Bible, they are taken to one of the notorious prison camps and in some cases executed, or otherwise forced to endure dire conditions of slave labour and torture for many years.

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I have visited the four churches in Pyongyang, and while one can never peer into the soul of the congregations, they are believed to be Potemkin-style 'show' churches' for the benefit of foreigners. There are reports of the worshippers being bussed into the churches every time foreigners are visiting.

Three key policies in North Korea lie at the heart of the regime's total denial of freedom of religion.

Firstly, the Ten Principles for the Establishment of the One-ideology System, a set of regulations introduced by Kim Jong-Il in 1974 and revised by the current Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un three years ago to consolidate his power and legitimise his succession. North Korean school children are taught the Ten Principles at school. One North Korean, when asked what was most memorable about Kim Il-Sung or Kim Jong-Il during his school days, replied: "I remember learning that he was sent from heaven, a leader of the people and a leader of the world." Citizens are required to evaluate themselves daily on whether they have been living up to the Ten Principles. Kim family portraits are hung in homes and displayed in public spaces, cleaned regularly and inspected by the authorities.

Secondly, North Korea has a system of social classification which determines everything, including access to education, health care and jobs. The songbun system divides the people into three classes - the 'core' or loyal class, the 'wavering' class and the 'hostile' class. This classification is determined at birth and reflects a person's family background. Anyone suspected of religious belief or with a history of religion in their family is classified as an enemy of the state and placed in the 'hostile' class.

Thirdly, the policy of 'guilt by association'. When a person commits a political crime, their children and grandchildren are punished with them. So even if a person is not religious, but has Christian relatives, they can be detained.

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Christians are most targeted, because they are perceived by the regime to be following a foreign religion and are thus suspected of espionage. And the punishments can be extreme. Documented incidents include Christians being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed by a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled underfoot. Buddhists, Shamanists and Cheondoists - followers of a native Korean religion - are more tolerated, perhaps because they are seen as a more indigenous belief system, although they also face discrimination and restrictions.

North Koreans who flee the country to China often encounter religion there for the first time, due to the significant number of Christian humanitarian workers involved in helping refugees. But if they become Christian, and are arrested by the Chinese authorities and forcibly repatriated to North Korea, they face a desperate fate - severe torture, and long years in a prison camp. Pressure needs to be increased on China to end its policy of forced repatriation, and use its influence with Pyongyang to bring about change. Today is Save North Koreans Day, when people around the world will deliver a letter to Chinese embassies calling on China to stop sending North Koreans back to their deaths.

Almost a decade ago, CSW published a very detailed report - North Korea: A Case to Answer, A Call to Act - which was among the first human rights reports to call for a United Nations inquiry into crimes against humanity in North Korea. The UN eventually established that very inquiry, chaired by the Australian judge Michael Kirby, and in 2014 they published a damning report, accusing the regime of crimes against humanity and calling for a case to be brought to the International Criminal Court. Justice Kirby has drawn comparisons with the Holocaust. The report noted that "there is almost complete denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as the right to freedom of opinion, expression, information and association".
If fashion is a language, Ashish Gupta's Spring Summer 17 collection at London Fashion Week spoke of multi-cultural defiance in reaction to the post-Brexit toxic anti-immigrant sentiment and violence reverberating throughout Britain and more broadly, much of the western world. In this collection Ashish celebrated his Indian heritage and proudly declared immigrant status in Great Britain.

#LondonIsOpen was the closing mood, following a luscious procession of adorned Hindu-god-like models, men and women, swept along by an elegantly ambiguous sexuality, at least in this western context.

It was a celebration of craft and colour and a reminder that fashion is most powerful when it has something to say. In the spirit of that, I'll let Ashish's Spring Summer 17 collection do the talking.

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Makeup: Isamaya Ffrench at Streeters with Maybelline

Hair: Ali Pirzadeh and team at CLM Hair & Makeup (hair products by Toni and Guy)

Manicurist: Michelle Humphrey and team at LMC for Nailsinc London

Set Design: Thomas Petherick at CLM

Casting: Troy Fearn and Mischa Notcutt at TM Casting

Animal Handler: Andrew Stephenson at Zoolab

Press and images: Village

Ashish Gupta: "Special Thanks to my mum"

***************************
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As women we are blessed aren't we? We're the ones who get to give birth and it's truly an awesome privilege and an experience that is deeply personal and profound. There's a pressure though, I think, for women to take childbirth in their stride, after all we've been doing it since time immemorial, doing our duty and 'just getting on with it'.

I hadn't heard of birth trauma until after I gave birth to my daughter and was googling what on earth might be wrong with me. I certainly had no idea it's possible to suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following childbirth, that was something I'd only associated with people returning from war. However, studies from Australia and the UK indicate that between 1%-6% of women suffer symptoms of PTSD after giving birth (Creedy et al. 2000, Ayers & Pickering 2001) and in the UK up to 34% of women report their birth as traumatic (Soet et al. 2003). The real numbers may be higher though, as large scale studies in this area haven't been carried out. Indeed, there is currently no agreed definition for birth trauma amongst the great minds in the medical world. Beck (2004) states that birth trauma is in the "eye of the beholder", so the woman's perception of the birth is key, and that rings true for me.

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On paper my birth was straight forward, however my perception was anything but. The main characteristic of my labour was the speed of it; a roller coaster four and a half hours of constant mind numbing pain and feeling totally vulnerable, helpless, and completely out of control. I was terrified at the prospect of interventions and what the physical damage might be afterwards. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a gory 'tell-all' about when labour goes wrong because I don't think that's particularly useful. My point is to share what life was like after having a traumatic birth. There's a stigma, I feel, around presenting childbirth and what follows in a negative way because we're meant to be strong, instantly love our babies, and be grateful when we come out of it OK, but the reality doesn't always match up.

After the birth I felt like I'd been hit by a train. I didn't want to be poked, prodded, or touched anymore and the thought of anything else that might cause the slightest discomfort or pain made me panic. I refused to have stitches for my tear, a choice that would continue to haunt me even though my midwife reassured me I was healing fine, and I refused to breast feed in hospital so missed out on precious moments of bonding. At the time I thought I must be crazy, why was I reacting this way? I now know I wasn't mad, it was a normal response to a traumatic event. Dr Georgina Clifford (Director at the London Trauma Specialists) explained to me that when women feel such a loss of control over their bodies during childbirth, pushing people away afterwards is a way of attempting to reclaim it.

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I was a total mess in the days and weeks following the birth. I couldn't find any way to relax and felt constantly on edge. Each time I remembered the birth it made me shudder, and I was so ashamed that it had been such a disappointing experience, as if I'd somehow failed. I didn't feel worthy of being a mother. Nap times provided some relief but it was short-lived because I knew when she woke up I'd be back on duty again. The cycle was relentless and I just wanted to get off the ride. Intrusive thoughts also came every now and then and that was definitely the scariest part of dealing with birth trauma, and for me the biggest taboo. What kind of woman thinks of harming their child? Again Dr Clifford reassured me that intrusive thoughts were normal under the circumstances, but it's one of those things I don't see any other women admitting, we just seem to suffer in silence.

I believe my experience of childbirth was the catalyst to a downward spiral of Post Natal Depression (PND). I was struggling to come to terms with the birth, totally sleep deprived, and with raging hormones in a body I no longer recognised. All this plus dealing with the biggest transition I'd ever had to tackle in life, becoming a stay at home mum which in itself was isolating, another thing to throw into the mix. PND also compounded my feeling of failure; again I'd got motherhood wrong.
STR via Getty Images

A year ago this week, European leaders agreed on an emergency relocation programme to relieve the pressure of countries, including Greece, where tens of thousands of refugees were stranded in appalling conditions across the country.

Following the closure of the border between Greece and Macedonia, effectively blocking routes to other European countries, thousands of people became trapped in Greece, hopeless and exhausted after gruelling journeys fleeing conflict and persecution.

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One year on, European leaders have spectacularly failed. A recent briefing from Amnesty International highlights that a pitiful 6% of the commitments to relocate refugees have been fulfilled. The UK chose not to participate in the programme.

A large proportion of the refugees are from Syria and as a former Syrian refugee myself and now a British citizen, I am angry and ashamed at this acute lack of political will.

Nobody wanted to leave Syria. I am from Tartus, a beautiful city on the Mediterranean coast. But I was imprisoned for four years and tortured because of my journalism and human rights work, so I fled to the UK in 1999. Back then, I had no idea how many more would follow or how lucky I was.

I started volunteering in Greece last year when thousands of refugees began arriving in the Mediterranean. In fact, I rescued members of my own family who arrived by boat, including my brother who fled Syria fearing for his life, with his heavily pregnant wife. She was petrified of losing her baby as people trampled on her belly in a panic to get out of the boat. Thankfully they are all alive and well living in Germany.

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One year on, the situation is much worse in Greece. Over 60,000 are stranded in dire conditions. I recently visited as a volunteer and in my capacity as advisor to Amnesty International UK's 'I Welcome' refugee campaign. I went to a refugee camp in the north of the country and to the capital, Athens,

Arriving in Cherso refugee camp, near the Macedonian border, I saw mothers and emerging from their wet and muddy tents after a heavy night's rain. I asked one woman how she was feeling and she despondently replied, "My family is divided, my husband is in Aleppo and we are here." This mood was reflected across the camp with the general conversation being about divided families and the news of bombing in Syria. Another woman said: "We are dying a slow death here."

I ask her daughter, Rasheeda, 10, whether she goes to school and she answers, "I am not happy here, no children are happy here. We do not have a school here."

Cherso refugee camp is one of four new refugee camps recently opened up in response to the massive overcrowding in Idomeni refugee camp close to the Greek and Macedonian border.

And it is just one more sad and shocking example of the appalling response by the international community.

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During my tour of the camp, I met a Kurdish Syrian family. The couple have three children, one son and two daughters. The youngest daughter was born amid the deplorable conditions in the Idomeni camp, designed to hold 2,500 people but at one point home to more than 15,000.

Their second youngest daughter who is seven was extremely thin, weighing little more than two and a half stone. According to the family, she is unable to cope with living in the camp and barely speaks. She is obviously ill but there is very little medical care available in the camp.

The situation has been so bad in Idomeni and Cherso that they want to go home to Syria. And we all know how bad the situation is there. "We have lost hope in Europe, we have lost trust in Europe," the father said after a long deep breath.

I also met a little boy, aged 12, who was sexually harassed by a man in the camp. He too was silent and broken. When he smiled, his smile was just a thin string across his face. The abuser stayed in the camp for four weeks after the incident. The family complained to the army but they said there's nothing they could do.

As a father myself, it breaks my heart to see young children living in such desperate conditions and vulnerable to all kinds of abuse.

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I went to the port in Athens to see how the situation had changed from the previous year but I realised that many of the people who had been living in tents there, were now living in an abandoned hospital building.

The building was occupied by activists who brought the refugees in, but shortly after they moved in, three men with sticks took over the building and stole all the supplies. The day I visited, the refugees inside were scared that Golden Dawn, a fascist group, would come and attack the building.

Amid all this fear and chaos, a baby girl was born. The father was happy but anxious for their future.

As I climbed up the stairs, the fear and uncertainty was palpable.

People started asking me, "Have you heard any news, any update about our situation, we are really exhausted". People just want to start rebuilding their lives but they are living in squalor and fear, with many of them separated from their loved ones.

I met Nour, a 16-year-old boy from Deir Ezzor who was anxious as he had no credit in his phone to call his parents back in Syria. When I offered to help he refused and said, "Looks like I have to get used to not speaking with them. I have to get used to their absence." His words made me shiver, really shiver.

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On the second floor of the building I met a mother who was living there with her four children. Her husband was put in prison on the Turkey border when he had tried to stop a fight but the police thought he was one of the aggressors.

They fled Syria after their 12-year-old son was killed after a car exploded close to their home. Assad's forces had arrested the father on many occasions.

She described the journey from Damascus to Turkey as the "journey of hell" having to deal with numerous people smugglers and armed groups along the way, including the ISIS and Nusra Front.

She said that her heart could not take any more when they arrived in Turkey. "When I crossed to Greece, I thought I could try and rebuild our shattered lives, after the death of our son," she explained. "That I could build some kind of future for our other children. But we ended up here, in the terrible Europe." And then she started crying.

The mother has to wait for her husband to come back, for the borders to open, for "Europe to feel ashamed".

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And ashamed is exactly how world leaders should feel after the failure of the important UN Summit for Refugees last week in New York.

Theresa May talked about the importance of a global response to the refugee crisis but she did not offer any more resettlement opportunities and of course, the UK is playing no part in this emergency programme to relocate refugees from Greece. All world leaders must urgently step up to their responsibilities and offer dignity and safety to the people who have fled violence and persecution and survived perilous journeys to Europe. And they must prioritise reuniting families who have been separated and torn apart.

I saw too much suffering in Greece and this pain shatters my heart. I do not like to be angry but I am full of anger and I am disgusted by this terrible indifference.

The people I met last week were full of warmth, compassion and dignity, despite their despair and exhaustion, and they deserve so much more.
There are so many wonderful picture books this summer/autumn, I could have written this feature four times over. But here are twenty of the very best.

A Child of Books by Sam Winston and Oliver Jeffers (Walker, 12.99)

This story about a girl who takes a boy on an adventure to discover the pleasures of reading and sharing books is easily a contender for the most beautiful children's book of the year. The stunning typographical landscapes - comprised of the text of children's classic novels - make this every book-lover's dream book. A truly magical work of art.

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Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts (Abrams, 10.99)

The third book by Beaty and Roberts is another gem. Ada Twist is a little girl who asks questions about everything, which drives her parents mad, until they realise she's a scientist in the making. Written in playful rhyming verse, it's joyfully illustrated by the genius of David Roberts.

The Storm Whale in Winter by Benji Davies (Simon and Schuster, 6.99)

Author-illustrator Benji Davies (The Storm Whale and Grandad's Island) is fast establishing himself as a leading light in children's picture books. This return to the story of Noi, his dad, and their six cats by the sea is another gem that'll have your little one wanting to sail the seas and befriend their very own baby whale.

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Mango and Bambang: Tiny Tapir Trouble by Polly Faber and Clara Vulliamy (Walker, 8.99)

Aimed at middle-grade readers, the Mango and Bambang books are perfect read-aloud stories for younger children too. Like the first two books in the series, Tiny Tapir Trouble (featuring a very cute but very naughty baby tapir) is charming, funny, beautifully illustrated and has more wisdom about family than most adult fiction. Should rightfully win lots of prizes.

Zog and the Flying Doctors by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Scholastic, 12.99)

From Donaldson and Scheffler - the undisputed dream team of children's picture books - comes a sequel to Zog. The dragon and his friends cure many sick animals, but when the King tells Princess Pearl that girls can't be doctors, she has to prove him wrong. Another brilliantly witty and perfectly rhyming Donaldson classic with a feminist twist.

Midnight at the Zoo by Faye Hanson (Templar, 6.99)

Following on from her stunning debut, The Wonder, this is another exquisitely illustrated and sumptuous tale from Hanson as two children find themselves left behind in a magical midnight zoo.

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Bee: Nature's Tiny Miracle by Britta Teckentrup (Little Tiger, 10.99)

A gorgeous book about the wonderment of bees and pollination told in simple rhymes and delicately illustrated by the multi-talented Teckentrup.

Oi Dog! by Kes Grey, Claire Grey and Jim Field (Hodder, 6.99)

A sequel to the phenomenally successful Oi Frog!, this vibrantly illustrated and brilliantly funny rhyming book will have kids laughing out loud.

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Sleeping Beauty: A Mid-Century Fairy Tale by David Roberts and Lynn Roberts (Pavillion, 12.99)

A fabulously feminist updating of the classic tale, set in the 1950s and strikingly illustrated by uber-talented David Roberts.

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel (Chronicle, 10.99)

Any book that provokes a conversation about perspective with a three-year-old has to be a good thing. This inventive book - in which different animals see a cat, and we view it from each of their perspectives - is both thought-provoking and fun.

Goodnight Everyone by Chris Haughton (Walker, 12.99)

There's something genuinely magical about the new book from Chris Haughton: reading it before a little person's bedtime makes them very sleepy indeed. Boldly illustrated in a vibrant palette, this might just be every parent - and child's - dream book.

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Fred by Mick and Chloe Inkpen (Hodder, 11.99)

A sequel to last year's charming I Will Love You Anyway, this is a poetic tale of a naughty puppy who is learning words but struggles to understand that 'Fred' is his name. Certain to have children in fits of giggles, but also a book with a heart of gold.

The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard, 11.99)

A charming rhyming tale about a koala averse to change who discovers that taking small risks can lead to big adventures. The Australian landscapes and animals are vividly depicted by the hugely talented Field.

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Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World by Kate Pankhurst (Bloomsbury, 6.99)

This brilliant introduction to some of history's most inspiring women - from Jane Austen and Mary Anning to Emmeline Pankhurst and Rosa Parks - is an absolute must-have for every young person's bookshelf.

Botanicum by Kathy Willis and Katie Scott (Big Picture Press, 20)

Following on from the beautifully produced Animalium and Historium comes this stunningly illustrated guide to plant life. The perfect gift for anyone from three to ninety-three.

Insect Emporium by Susie Brooks and Dawn Cooper (Red Shed, 12.99)

The perfect book for lovers of beetles, bugs and butterflies, this vibrantly illustrated compendium is a joy both to read and to browse.

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Undercover: One of These Things is Almost Like the Others by Bastien Contraire and Meagan Bennett (Phaidon, 12.95)

There's huge fun to be had in this graphic odd-one-out book: can you spot the umbrella among the ice-creams?

Little People Big Dreams: Amelia Earhart by Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Maria Diamantes / Maya Angelou by Lisbeth Kaiser and Leire Salaberria (Frances Lincoln, 9.99 each)

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These brightly illustrated biographies are the perfect introduction to inspiring figures from history. Marie Curie and Agatha Christie are due to be published in the same series next year.

The Curiositree: Natural World by AJ Wood, Mike Jolley and Owen Davey (Wide Eyed, 17.99)

There are dozens of beautiful nature books on the market, but this is stand-out: focussing on how and why animals look, behave and live as they do, it's both information rich and beautifully illustrated. Also check out Atlas of Animal Adventures from the same publisher.

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Charles Darwin's Around-the-World Adventure by Jennifer Thermes (Abrams, 11.99)
Poaching is the illegal killing or capturing of animals, and has been around for as long as the first man decided that any animals found on his land could be killed only by him and his men. The offence back then, in the Middle Ages, was normally committed by poor peasants who needed food and nutrition. With the rise of feudalism in Europe, the number of private landowners blossomed and poaching became more difficult, demanding a more organised and vicious approach. Gamekeepers were hired to protect the landowner's assets from poachers - but not from hunters.

Hunting is the legal form of killing or capturing wild animals and, up until fairly recently, was encouraged, even celebrated, as a form of masculinity and power. The early 1900s saw the first law of its kind to recognise and protect an animal from hunting: the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but it wasn't until 1973 that the Endangered Species Act enforced the conservation of any animal classed as endangered or threatened. The global ivory ban soon followed in 1989. Hunting is now stringently regulated according to the species' population, with rigorous defence systems in place that try and match the highly organised crime of poaching.

The problem

Poaching is no longer a crime against the nobility but it is a crime against wildlife. Animals are poached for their hide, fur, scales, horns, teeth, blood, bones and flesh, normally to be sold to clients for reasons ranging from medicinal to culinary. The illegal wildlife and plant trade is estimated to be worth a total of $70-213 billion a year, with elephant ivory valued at $2,142 per kg, and rhino horn over $60,000. As such, rhino poaching has increased 8,900% from 2007-2015, from 13 to 1,175, causing the Western Black Rhino to be declared extinct in 2011. Powdered rhino horn is used extensively in traditional Asian medicine, supposedly to cure a variety of illnesses from fevers and headaches to cancer. Their blood, urine and skin is also used in some folk medicines. There is no scientific evidence to support any of this.

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Elephants are hit for a number of reasons. In China, there is a massive market for ivory, which they use for jewellery, ornaments and furniture, but there is also high demand for their skin and meat. 30,000 African elephants were estimated to be killed for their ivory in 2012. The year before, around one in twelve African elephants were killed by poachers. Paul Allen's Great Elephant Census found that approximately 100,000 elephants have been killed in the past four years alone, which is incredibly sad.

A ridiculous fact is that the poaching of tigers for captivity and their skins has led there to be more tigers in American backyards than in the wild. No matter how they're phrased, the statistics all point to the demolition of the giants of our wilderness. The numbers for rhino poaching, in particular, are still increasing year-on-year. The figures can be seen here. Five of the remaining rhino species are on the IUCN's redlist, with three classified as 'critically endangered'.

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What's being done

The main problem the war against poaching faces is that terrorist and militia groups depend upon the financial income of illegal environmental trade. Ivory provides funds to militia groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to gangs that operate in Sudan, Chad and Niger. These kind of groups control the areas using violence and force and prevention is difficult.

However, there are a multitude of wildlife conservation groups at work, and there is a massive amount of support amongst governing bodies in Africa. Organisations such as Save the Rhino and Save the Elephants operate on the front-lines as well as helping to publicise the threats to these animals. In April this year, Kenya's president burnt 105 tonnes of seized ivory, containing the tusks of 8000 elephants, to send out a message to poachers and traders. The horde was worth $105 million on the black market.

The advancement of science and technology is also helping the fight. Scientists have developed an idea to trace fingerprints on ivory that will be able to link certain people to the illegal trade, making it easier to track down and sentence culprits.

Sadly, however, the war is still waging strong. Park rangers are simply outgunned when faced with the criminal gangs that operate in the wilderness. More than 1,000 rangers have been killed in the past decade. And still poaching increases.

What can you do?

Firstly, be mindful of what you buy. Ivory is a banned material since 1989, so shun it on all levels. The demand for exotic leathers and furs, whilst interesting, encourages poaching and should also be avoided. Raising awareness can seem futile but it's so important that everybody knows what is happening to the wild animals of our planet. They are an essential part of our ecosystem. Elephants, for example, alter wild landscapes to create water channels and protect communities from wildfires. Whole ecosystems will be comprised at their demise.

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You can donate to the cause through charities such as Save the Rhino and Save the Elephant, or you can directly get involved through volunteering at home or abroad.
September 25, 2016, is International Ataxia Awareness Day. Chances are you won't have heard of ataxia as an illness in its own right, but you might have heard of it as a symptom of other disorders like MS. That's why this September, charities are coming together to draw attention to the disease and reach out to sufferers around the world.

Like most people, I didn't know what ataxia was until I was diagnosed with a rare form of episodic ataxia in May this year, one month before my 25th Birthday. I've learned since then that the ataxias are a group of rare degenerative neurological disorders, characterised by progressive symptoms that impact co-ordination, hearing, balance, vision, and speech.

It doesn't sound much fun really - and it isn't. But greater awareness might help someone else get diagnosed earlier than I was, so here's how it happened for me.

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Mystery Illness

Looking back, it's clear that I showed some hallmarks of ataxia from a young age. Although I had no obvious developmental problems, I did suffer from from attacks of extreme vertigo with sickness, double vision, and muscle rigidity, that struck every 4 months for days at a time.

These attacks meant that I was seen by various doctors as a child, but their regularity is unusual - even for ataxia - and after years being treated by an incredible paediatric neurologist at the Sheffield Children's Hospital, a firm diagnosis was never reached. Growing up, I learnt to accept them as an anomaly I'd always have to plan my life around, and even though they were distressing, they never impacted my life day-to-day.

Because of this, a year and a half ago I wasn't at all worried about them. I'd just finished four years at the University of Sheffield, graduating with a BA in English Language & Literature and an MA in Broadcast Journalism. I'd also started working at a publishing company and a pub part-time, and was hoping to afford a solo six-month trip to India that I'd been quietly planning for years.

Then, just as I'd started to put some money aside, the first strange symptoms began to appear. The extreme tiredness I'd put down to doing too much at university became harder to ignore. Gradually, I noticed that my muscles were beginning to ache and a persistent 'fogginess' descended over my thoughts. A burning and tingling sensation down the left side of my face and in my hands slowly became the norm, along with severe muscle stiffness and weakness, agonizing headaches, and constant blurring in my left eye.

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Happy New Year

By the time New Year came round I'd developed a persistent tremor in my left hand and experienced my first hemiplegic migraine. Although I know now that these migraines often occur with ataxia, all I knew then was that my left arm had suddenly become so weak I could hardly move it, and that when I tried to form a sentence my words became jumbled and my speech started to slur.

The doctors were worried I'd had a TIA - a mini stroke - but an MRI scan revealed no sign of one, and I was sent home. More months passed in this way, until one day in March when I woke up dizzy one morning, and I've been dizzy every day ever since.

On paper, these symptoms seem like I should have had a referral to a neurologist quickly. But in reality, anxiety, stress, and even hormone fluctuations can cause similar symptoms, and ataxia is so little understood that no-one made the link between the attacks I'd always suffered from, and the new symptoms I was struggling with.

Rare Diagnosis

It was only after a year of pushing my GP for a referral that I finally saw a neurologist in May this year. After so long spent without answers, he was able to tell me that I'd been suffering from multiple migraine variants and vestibular nerve damage, caused by the episodic ataxia I'd unknowingly had all my life.

Having a name for my illness is, in some ways, comforting, but no-one wants to be diagnosed with a progressive disease at the age of 24. For me though, the prognosis isn't that bad. Episodic Ataxia Type 2 - the most likely cause of my symptoms - may account for less than 1% of cases, but it's also only slowly progressive, and I do have some hope of improvement.

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Even so, the last year has been a struggle, and many ataxia sufferers aren't as lucky as I am. Earlier diagnosis and proper symptom management is vital in preserving an ataxia sufferer's independence for as long as possible, and charities like Ataxia UK, who provide information, support, research funding, and advice for people coping with ataxia, are invaluable in helping sufferers to lead normal lives.

For now, I hope that with vestibular rehabilitation I'll be able to manage my new symptoms for a long time - and I'm still hoping to get to India one day. For other sufferers of more serious forms though, far more support and awareness is needed.
I'm a bisexual man, no - I'm not lying, no - I'm not confused and no - I'm not gay.

I can safely say that at 25 years old, I am aware of what turns me on and what doesn't.

What's more, I LOVE being a bisexual man. Finding people sexy and interesting regardless of gender is a huge privilege. I've had some fun, met some interesting people and ultimately my life has gotten so much better since coming out as bi.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don't believe in bisexuality - the concept of choosing a person instead of swearing your allegiance to one type of genitalia is simply too much for some to comprehend. As a result, my life is a never ending loop of me answering the same ridiculous questions.

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As it is BiVisibility Day, I thought I would take the opportunity to answer the top 15 questions I am asked so that once and for all the ignorant have their answers:

Top 15 questions bisexuals are asked:

Be honest you're gay right?

No, I'm bisexual, are you losing your hearing? What we have is a HUGE problem where men that are gay say they are bisexual to test the waters before finally coming out. Tom Daley and Ollie Locke being prime examples. This means that people now assume every bisexual man is on his way to becoming gay. The truth is these men were NEVER bisexual, they were always gay - they just didn't know/accept it at the time. I'm Bisexual and will be for the rest of my life - that's what the sexuality means.

What we really need now (In the modern world) is a new word to define those years of sexual exploration/confusion/denial because that word is NOT Bisexual!

You must prefer one or the other?

I get that this is tricky for some straight and gay people to understand but no I don't have a preference. Gender to me is irrelevant and that's not me trying to be a beacon of equality, it's just how my brain is wired. I date people for who they are not because of their genitals.

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How many girls have you slept with compared to guys?

This is by far the most biphobic question of all. It usually follows me saying I don't have a preference. What people are hoping to get out of this question is my track record so they can say 'ow you've slept with way more women then guys? You're probably straight.' I don't have a preference! Stop trying to use my sexual history against me to justify your biphobia!

So you'll sleep with anyone?

Just because I don't select by gender doesn't mean I'm not selective. When you have double the options of an average person your 'type' becomes more specific. Think of it as being rich. If you had millions of pounds in the bank would you buy everything in the shop? Or would you develop a more refined taste for extraordinary, well-crafted items? That's what being bisexual feels like, you're looking for that rare, interesting and unique person, everyone else is boring.

Are you just confused?

No -It's pretty straight forward, 'I like men and women.' There, I just summed it up in four words. If you can't get your head around that Its probably YOUR intellect that needs examining.

Maybe you just don't know what you like yet?

Without being crude or oversharing - I've been with more than enough people to know exactly what I like.

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But if you're dating a girl doesn't that make you straight?

No having a girlfriend changes my relationship status not my sexuality.

What does your girlfriend think?

Well much like a black man wouldn't date a racist, I'm not dating someone biphobic. The truth is my bisexuality makes my girlfriend like me that much more. She knows I'm not with her because I'm a lad and I'm obsessed with what's between her legs. She knows I'm with her for the person she is.

Don't the women you've sleep with find it weird that you've slept with men?

No, they're benefiting from it. Bisexual men are statistically better in bed. Let's face it, straight men can only understand sex from one perspective, bisexual men understand it from both. Plus if I'm with a guy and he has some good moves - I'll steal them.

Don't you miss sex with one when you're dating the other?

If you've ever been having sex with someone and thought to yourself 'I wish you were someone else' you're not doing it right and have clearly made some bad life choices. I've never found myself in that situation.

One way to explain this is how some men find blondes and brunettes attractive, if a guy gets in to a relationship with a brunette is he going to cheat on her with a blond just because he misses it?

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No!

Yes, when I'm in a relationship I'll be on the tube and think 'she's hot' or 'he's hot' but that's as far as it goes. I'm in a relationship for a reason, I'm not going to cheat, I have this weird thing called self-control.

Bisexual men are more likely to cheat though right?

Cheating is a personality trait not a sexuality trait.

So you're part of the LGBT community?

I would love to consider myself part of the LGBT community but sadly I can't in good conscious put my faith in these groups. Gay men are statistically more biphobic than straight people and many have a real lack of respect for Bisexuals. LGBT groups have proved time and time again that they haven't a clue what bisexuals want or how to look after them.

Why are you making such a big deal out of your sexuality?

Because people constantly tell me that I'm confused. Because people constantly tell my girlfriend I might be gay. Because people think they know more about what turns me on than I do. The UK has no famous bisexual men and a real lack of respect for bisexuals in general. I talk about my bisexuality because I want the younger bisexuals to at least have someone out there who understands and loves his life as a bisexual. The UK has no bisexual magazines, venues or socialising apps, where are the young bisexuals supposed to go to learn more about themselves and meet others like them?

Are you ashamed of your sexuality?

Hell no! My life is awesome!
Picture courtesy of Aldeburgh food and drink

It's the annual Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival this weekend, where Suffolk producers gather to showcase what they grow, rear and make. I say Suffolk, but we let a few other East Anglians in too, if they ask nicely. I'm biased but I think it's the best food festival in the country. For sheer quality it's unbeatable.

Friends will know I can talk for Britain, let alone Suffolk, and for the third year running I'll be acting as one of the comperes as some of the country's top cooks take to the stage to demonstrate their skills. I get to meet my food heroes, taste their recipes and occasionally chop their onions (only if they're desperate).

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This year the lovely venue of Snape Maltings plays host to a wide range of chefs (this list may be subject to last-minute changes) including Dan Doherty of Duck and Waffle, the restaurant at the top of the Heron Tower in the City of London. Dan's signature dishes include a foie gras creme brulee and a spicy ox cheek doughnut.

Toast Hash Roast Mash, published by Mitchell Beazley, contains the sort of dishes Dan says he likes to cook for friends and family.

So I thought I'd try out a recipe: a chicken and sweet potato hash with harissa and feta, just the sort of thing you might want to cook after a day wandering the stalls and watching the demos at the Maltings. Marinate the chicken the day before if you can.

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Chicken, Harissa, Feta and Sweet Potato (serves 2)

Picture copyright Anders Schonnemann

Ingredients:

2 chicken legs

3 tablespoons harissa

Sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper

1 large sweet potato

Olive oil

2 spring onions, finely sliced

Small can (about 200g/7oz) of sweetcorn, drained

25g (1oz) butter

2 eggs

Zest of 1 lemon

50g (1oz) feta cheese

Method:

Preheat your oven to 180C fan/200C conventional oven/400F/gas mark 6.

Cut the chicken legs through the middle, separating the thighs and drumsticks. Put them into a bowl, then add 2 tablespoons of the harissa and massage it into the flesh. Season with salt and pepper. Put the chicken into a roasting tray and roast for 45 minutes.

Pierce the sweet potato and wrap it in foil. Put it into the oven alongside the chicken and bake for 45 minutes. When the chicken is cooked, take it out of the oven and leave it to rest on a wire rack. Remove the potato and set it aside to cool.

Heat a splash of olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the spring onions and cook for 3-5 minutes until soft, without letting them colour. Add the sweetcorn and the final tablespoon of harissa and cook for a further 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

When the potato is cool enough to handle, peel away the skin and cut into roughly 2cm (1 inch) pieces. Flake the chicken, including the skin, into similar sized pieces, then add the potato and chicken to the frying pan with the spring onion and sweetcorn. Give a good stir and allow to saute together for 5 minutes.

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LYING 700km off the coast of Africa is a small island paradise, its authenticity still perfectly preserved despite growing tourist demand.

Madeira is the sun-kissed destination giving the likes of the Canary Islands and Marbella a run for their money.

The island is a part of Portugal, though it sits closer to Morocco in the North Atlantic Sea.

Boasting a tropical climate with warm temperatures that extend through March and November, the island attracts sun-seekers year round.

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While the destination has typically been a popular go to for over 50s, its strong food and wine culture coupled with adventure opportunities is putting in on the map for young travellers.

Whether you fancy a luxurious getaway lazing by the sea, or exploring the depths of lush forest in a jeep safari, Madeira can cater to all.

If you're going for a long weekend or a lengthier stay, here are the must-do's to soak up all of Madeira's magic.

A photo posted by Lizzie Mulherin London (@lookingforlizzie_) on Sep 6, 2016 at 3:10am PDT

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To eat and drink

Enriched with volcanic minerals, the fertility of Madeira's soil is nothing short of remarkable. Tomatoes grow alongside avocados and grapes, which share vines with multiple types of passionfruit.

Living off the land has never been so nourishing, and the local cafes and restaurants certainly know how to make the most of it.

For lunch: Beerhouse Restaurant

With panoramic views of the crystal-clear sea from the capital of Funchal, the Beerhouse Restaurant is an idyllic place to sample the Island's authentic dish, black scabbard fish with friend bananas.

For dinner: Restaurante do Forte

Set inside a 17th Century castle, the unrivalled views over the Funchal bay are matched by the menu.

For a truly memorable experience, the restaurant offers a meal package including pick up in a vintage Rolls Royce.

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Treat yourself: Il Galo D'Oro Restaurant at The 5* Cliff Bay Hotel

Headed up by Executive Chef Benoit Sinthon since 2004, the restaurant was awarded the first and only Michelin Star in Madeira and has held it annually.

The mouth-watering menu features Mediterranean and Iberian influences, and their wine list has received international acclaim.

A photo posted by Lizzie Mulherin London (@lookingforlizzie_) on Sep 5, 2016 at 1:10pm PDT

To play

Whether you're into extreme activities or prefer more leisurely, the nature-loving hub has something for all adventurous appetites.

Jeep Safari Tours are offered by numerous companies, and are a great way of seeing the rich forest and dramatic terrain the island is known for.

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For a spot of sealife spotting, Rota dos Cetaceos offers speedboat rides and guaranteed dolphin encounters.

Kite surfing, caving and rafting are also on offer throughout the island.

To stay

The steep and dramatic landscapes of the island make it relatively easy to find a room with a view, for all budgets.

In central Funchal, the Golden Residence Hotel offers a sea view apartment with buffet breakfast included from 102.50.

If you're looking to go a bit more luxe, the Cliff Bay Hotel will provide a truly unforgettable stay.

To get there

Monarch offers year-round flights to Madeira from Birmingham and London Gatwick airports with fares starting from 59 one way (109 return).

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JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images

Commentators and politicians have interpreted the lessons of the Brexit referendum in many different ways. Free movement of persons was also plainly a factor. But I refute those for whom the vote was a clear popular mandate to sacrifice single market access on the altar of "migration". For me the result was first and foremost the symptom of social inequality, stagnating wages and a middle class which felt threatened and whose concerns were not properly listened to. It was also the product of an urban-rural divide, of a generational and geographical divide. The referendum did nothing to mend these divides. It amplified them.

The main lesson for the European Union is that we cannot win the trust of its citizens by repeating the idealistic vision of globalisation which has held sway for decades. Globalisation is increasingly being seen not as opening up a world of opportunities, but as causing a race to the bottom and eroding our core values. It is now perceived by many as a threat to jobs, state finances and social systems. Therefore we need to guarantee protection to EU citizens as a strong bloc.

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We can only achieve this by being united and by equipping the EU with the instruments needed to carry out the functions attributed to it. Take just one recent example: the European Commission's decision in the Apple competition case. Big corporations are playing "divide and rule" with national governments, confronting them with the threat of relocating to the lowest bidder in terms of fiscal rules and oversight. Only through joint, firm and European action can we prevent such abusive practices. And the European Commission is delivering. In this case like in so many others, citizens do not ask whether the decision was supranational or intergovernmental: they just want to see things done.

But if the issue of how to shape globalisation is key for the EU, it will be no less important for the UK after Brexit. British politicians will have to sketch out how Britain will sail in the turbulent waters of the 21st Century. The United Kingdom helped to deepen and strengthen the EU single market and open it to other trading partners in the world. It was the UK that decided to leave a Union that it had helped to shape, not the other way around. Will Britain outside the EU remain the outward-looking nation which so many of us know?

Most of my colleagues in the European Parliament hope so. And I suggest they listen carefully to their voice. Contrary to how it is sometimes portrayed, the European Parliament is not out on some punitive mission - and I would like to set the record straight on this. The institution over which I preside is tackling Brexit in a level-headed and fair manner without the slightest hint of retaliation. The nomination of the British Commissioner last week is a fitting example. The European Parliament will play its role to the full in setting the new relationship between the EU and the UK - not least because we must consent to any withdrawal treaty and subsequent treaty setting out the full relationship.

The European Parliament, like all the other EU institutions, is abiding by the principle "no negotiation before notification". This may seem irritating but it is in fact common sense. It was the UK's decision to have a referendum. The European Parliament fully respects the result of this referendum but it is not up to the EU institutions to draw conclusions about what the UK should do. We first need the UK to tell its partners formally what future its sees with them.

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It is understandable that such a complex task as the triggering of Article 50 is not a mere formality and requires detailed preparations. But what we can't afford to do now is press the pause button on EU activity when it is in the midst of a migration and refugee crisis and when the EU must complete its Economic and Monetary Union. Moreover, if Article 50 is triggered too late, we run the risk of facing European elections in the UK in 2019 at the very same time as it is leaving the EU. That would be a very difficult thing to explain to UK and to European citizens! That is why I called on Prime Minister May to notify the UK's departure from the EU as soon as possible.

It is the interest of both sides to come to a fair deal. However I am convinced that the best possible deal with the EU is membership of the EU. Any other arrangement necessarily entails trade-offs - there will be no a la carte menu on offer for the UK. I also see a clear majority in the European Parliament for insisting that the fundamental freedoms are inseparable, i.e. no freedom of movement for goods, capital and services, without free movement of persons. I refuse to imagine a Europe where lorries and hedge funds are free to cross borders but citizens cannot. I cannot accept any hierarchy between these four freedoms.

Looking at Europe and beyond, perhaps the single most important issue in the upcoming negotiations will be trade. I think many tend to underestimate the complexity and delay involved in the UK setting up its own trading relationship with the EU and the world. We also need a setup through which we can continue to project our core values on human rights, democracy and the rule of law towards other continental blocs. On foreign policy we must stay close partners. This also applies to security and defence policy: although the EU loses a key Member State, paradoxically, such a separation could give the necessary impulse for a closer integration of the remaining Member States. And there are many ways in which the UK could engage and contribute to such a new more coordinated EU of 27 without standing in the way of such integration.

We cannot shape a new European future at such a time of fragility by indulging in nostalgia - none of us, including the UK, can bring back the past. The European Parliament and myself are committed to keep the European Union and its Member States fit for the challenges of the 21st Century: to increase citizens' rights, their freedom and their security. I believe a close relationship between the EU and the UK is instrumental to ease this task, but clarity is needed. The ball is in the British camp.

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Neil Hall/PA Wire

Sometimes even a greybeard old hack like me is sickened by the obscenity of the world in which we live.

Sickened by the obscenity of Western governments selling arms to warring parties and then building walls to keep out the desperate families fleeing from their bombs.

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Sickened by the weasel words of governments that pledge to help those same desperate families when they have no intention of fulfilling their pledges.

And sickened by the obscenity of political leaders playing petty power games instead of trying to end the wars that condemn hundreds of thousands of our fellow human beings to an early death.

Yes, I know moral outrage is easy. But we still need more of it, if for no other reason than to demonstrate that we have not entirely lost our capacity for outrage.

Have you heard Theresa May say one word about the indescribable catastrophe that has engulfed Yemen?

Have you heard Jeremy Corbyn utter a single word of condemnation of the unconscionable air strikes, allegedly by Russian warplanes, that destroyed an aid convoy - an aid convoy! -- headed for the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo? Perhaps he is still stuck in a 1970s time warp in which all that is bad in the world is the fault of the US. Would that it were that simple (not that it ever was, of course).

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Perhaps Mrs May has been struck dumb by the knowledge that the bombs being dropped on Yemen by Saudi warplanes, destroying hospitals, schools and refugee camps, and killing hundreds of civilians, may well have been made in the UK, sold by the UK, and for all we know, given that British military advisers are working closely with the Saudi armed forces, targeted with the help of British officers.

To his credit, Mr Corbyn said as much in the Commons a couple of weeks ago, when he challenged Mrs May: 'The British Government continue to sell arms to Saudi Arabia that are being used to commit crimes against humanity in Yemen.' Her response was breath-taking: 'Actually, what matters is the strength of our relationship with Saudi Arabia. When it comes to counter-terrorism and dealing with terrorism, it is that relationship that has helped to keep people on the streets of Britain safe.'

And on Channel 4 News on Thursday night, a woefully unconvincing Boris Johnson could manage nothing better than platitudes: he was 'concerned' about what had happened in Yemen but 'as things stand at the moment, we don't think there are breaches of international humanitarian law.'

The Saudis have been bombing Yemen for more than a year, ever since they intervened in that country's civil war to prop up the government against Shia rebels who they insist are being backed by Riyadh's regional rivals, Iran. The UK government has continued to supply arms and to licence the sale of more arms to the Saudis throughout this period. According to the international relief organization Oxfam, by doing so it has been guilty of breaking international law.

Still not outraged? Then, if you have not already done so, I urge you to watch this heart-rending report from Nawal al-Maghafi of the BBC. But I should warn you: it is deeply distressing.

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Yemen and Syria are very different countries. But what they have in common is this: they have both become battlegrounds on which Saudi Arabia and Iran have chosen to fight for regional supremacy. Arab versus Persian, Sunni versus Shia, US-supported desert kingdom versus Russian-supported (at least in Syria) Islamic republic. Both countries have become seething cauldrons of bloodshed and misery.

Our response? Mrs May says the priority is to ensure that none of the victims make it to our shores. Mr Corbyn presides over a party so dysfunctional that its own staff have been sent guidance on how to deal with 'aggressive or potentially violent behaviour' at its own conference, by its own members.

(The Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, to his credit, was appropriately outraged by the government's policy on refugees at his party's annual conference this week, but with only eight MPs to their name, the Lib Dems' influence is bound to be somewhat limited.)

At the UN this week, Mrs May's priorities were to encourage other nations to do more to keep out refugees, and to reassure them that - Brexit notwithstanding - UK plc is still 'open for business'.

And by the way, if you think moral outrage has no place in politics, take a look at the US Democratic party senator Elizabeth Warren on the attack against an American bank chief executive, John Stumpf of Wells Fargo. Here's just a taste for you (the bank has been accused of creating millions of bogus accounts to drive up its share price):

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'Here's what really gets me about this, Mr. Stumpf. If one of your tellers took a handful of $20 bills out of the cash drawer, they'd 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 ... This just isn't right.'
University students often get a bad rap. According to Metro, they spend four times more on alcohol than on food. A survey reported by The Telegraph found that the average student spent 200 on alcohol and getting into bars during their first week at university. The Daily Mailgoes even further, claiming that students booze for 19 hours a week, with those in London spending 2,457 a year on nights out, and that 73% admit to skipping lectures to nurse a hangover.

But is the popular depiction entirely fair? New research shows that students are investing major time and energy, on top of their studies, in rather more responsible ways. The study found that almost half (47.1%) spent at least four hours a week on activities to improve their chances of future success in the graduate job market. Methods cited included attending networking events, gaining relevant unpaid work experience, and doing voluntary work either in the UK or abroad. Just over 8% reported spending more than ten hours a week on these activities, which adds up to at least 1,560 hours over the course of a three-year degree -- an impressive figure.

A changing economic landscape seems to be behind these results, with recent tuition fee hikes, grant reductions, and a perception of cut-throat competition for graduate jobs. 30.9% of those surveyed said they were concerned about the level of debt they would incur, and so wanted to use their time constructively. 52.4% said they were prompted by awareness of a very competitive job market and a desire to give themselves the best possible chance of getting a job after university. Their concerns may well be justified: employers receive around 39 applications for every graduate role.

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Some jobseekers are turning to more creative methods of attracting the attention of prospective employers. One survey asked 2,000 hiring managers to share the most unusual methods candidates had used to stand out from the competition. Successful techniques included performing a musical number on a guitar about why they were the best candidate, repairing a piece of company equipment during the interview, and sending a message in a bottle. Unsuccessful techniques included back-flipping into the room, doing a tarot reading for the interviewer, and dressing as a clown.

Three months after graduating, Emma Clifford had only scored one interview, so she took out an ad in a taxi -- underneath the fold-down seats in a London black cab. And according to the BBC, hundreds of young British graduates are going to even greater lengths to boost their CVs, by travelling to China for work experience. They report that Chinese companies are keen to take on free Western interns and the cultural know-how they can bring.

But there are methods of getting ahead that don't necessitate a move to China. One graduate, Adam Pacitti, rented a billboard, which read "I spent my last 500 on this billboard. Please give me a job." He conducted a viral social media campaign around it, complete with his own personalised "Employ Adam" website. He subsequently received 60 job offers. Another, Alec Brownstein, wanted to work in advertising, so he purchased the names of his favourite creative directors on Google AdWords. When one of his targets Googled themselves ("Everyone Googles themselves", reasoned Brownstein), they'd see an ad with his details at the top of their search results, directing them to his personal website. All but one of the people whose names he purchased called him, and he ended up with a job offer.

As the above examples show, a digital approach to job seeking can yield great results. Almost two thirds (64%) of HR decision makers from UK businesses think that a personal website, rather than the traditional paper CV, could become the main

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way they differentiate between job candidates in the next five years. Graduates have clearly caught on to this too, with 57.7% agreeing with the statement, "A personal website is a great way to showcase what I accomplished while at university." In fact, 13.6% said they had already set up a website to promote their abilities to prospective employers while at university, and another 24.6% said they planned to do so.
When I saw the photo of Aylan Kurdi, like many, I was overcome with emotion. Then my thoughts raced: that, but for the grace of God, could have been me. Not on the sands of a Turkish beach, but in the dust of a Pakistani desert.

At three years old, I fled Iran with my family. I had been one tiny misstep from death. So today, I observe the world - and respond to that image - not solely as a refugee lawyer for the Canadian Department of Justice, but also as a former refugee.

In the aftermath of Iran's Islamic Revolution, my uncle was imprisoned, tortured, and executed solely on account of his membership in the Baha'i Faith. In danger for our own lives, my parents, sister, and I were forced to flee our homeland. We made the treacherous journey on foot into Pakistan where, with the help of the UNHCR, we spent a year eking out a transitory existence as urban refugees. Then Canada became our adopted home.

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The process of our integration began before we stepped foot on Canadian soil: it began in the hearts and minds of those who welcomed us. In the small town where we settled, my family was the object of questions and the subject of conversations. But the conversations included us.

Canadians were mindful of the value we brought to them and were genuinely interested in benefiting from our presence. So we exchanged everything from recipes to worldviews, earning each other's trust in the process. My parents availed themselves of opportunities to become active in the community. Canadians regarded them as examples of resilience and determination. It was a steep learning curve, to be sure, but we also laughed a lot!

Growing up, I felt like a transplanted seedling. Nourished by the fertile soil of respect, I embraced all aspects of my identity, including as a member of the '1.5 generation.' I pursued an education in law in order to contribute to the society that gave me the gem that is justice.

Now, I sit on the other side of the table that I sat at so many years ago. Integration is an ongoing adventure, and I often reflect on the responsibilities I hold.

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Recently, I reunited with the Canadian immigration officer who interviewed my family in Pakistan thirty years ago. I showed him the worn-out immigration document that brought me to Canada. On it he deciphered the letters of his signature, which he no longer recognized. To him, they spelled his name. To me, they spelled freedom. They still do.
"Freedom of speech is only free if you're a lib...if you're views differ then you're a racist, a misogynist, a sexist or whatever else it is that they claim you are! That woman should not be allowed to teach. Clearly she cannot be trusted to grade those students fairly. If any of them are in her class they should be taken out immediately!"

"We don't pay teachers to critique students or their parents political views. All across America we are trying to stop bullying by other kids and now it's being done by a teacher? Shame on her."

"She should be fired, she has no right to pass judgement (sic) on our children's views or the views of their parents. I don't care if it was about Clinton or Trump, her pushing her opinion on our children is disgusting. She should be ashamed!"

"Disgusting. . What other bullying and public shaming does she inflict on her students when no one is there to protect them? No parent should allow their child to remain in her class."

"These pigs are indoctrinating our children into their warped way of thinking from the first day we let them go to these communistic, unionized, cesspools, to the day they leave collage (sic). Then we wonder how our society has lost it's religion (sic), patriotism and brotherhood."
School's back in session, and lessons abound. In the Mineola School District in New York, the students of Jackson Avenue School are learning the important lesson of empathy, one gallon of water at a time.

Over 250 third graders learned about the plight that other children face in underdeveloped countries after reading One Well:The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss and decided to take action.

Teachers at the school shared with their classes how other children their age must walk over 12 miles just to gain access to clean water. The students hadn't known that everyone couldn't just turn on a faucet at home.

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They learned that families depend on their children to bring water, often the water is not clean, and that many families suffer from lack of water. They also learned how important it is to conserve water in their own house, and how to avoid wasting the precious resource.

They had so many questions: how heavy is a bucket of water, how far is 12 miles, and how does it feel to walk that far carrying buckets of water. And their most important question: How can WE help?

Enter the "Walk For Water."

Check out the Walk for Water in this video:

Walk for Water is an annual event, championed by Superintendent Michael Nagler. Each 3rd grader carried a gallon of water a mile, so they could experience just a portion of what other kids across the globe have to endure to access clean water.

They felt the weight of a gallon in their tiny hands as they walked the mile, never complaining but often remarking, "I can't believe this is what the other kids have to go through."

After they finished their walk, the children donated the water to Island Harvest Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America network of food banks. Community Outreach and Food Drive Specialist Doreen Principe explained that the water would go to some 28 local food pantries, senior centers, and children's agencies on Long Island. They would gladly share the water among the homeless, those not well enough to travel to the food bank for food and water, and those who on a hot day would appreciate the water immensely.

Once the water was safely in the Island Harvest van, we jumped in our cars and followed it. I wanted to give a firsthand account of distribution to the selfless children, so they knew their water was going to good use.

We followed the water to EAC Network's Hempstead Senior Center, the first of 28 stops on Long Island, where grateful Senior Citizens were waiting. They each got a cup of water, and were so tickled to learn that the water was donated by the children to learn empathy.

I was interested to learn that the book One Well is part of a curriculum available to all schools in the United States, as part of ELA G3:M4:U1. If you don't know what that means, it's part of the Common Core Curriculum, for which all resources must meet certain standards in grades K-12.

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If you're interested in adopting One Well into your child's curriculum, along with the other empathetic books in the Unit, speak to your SuperIntendent about ELA G3:Module 4: The Role of Freshwater Around The World. If he or she is as wonderful as Dr. Nagler, the book & activity will be implemented in no time.

Says Rochelle Strauss, the author who started it all, "When I wrote One Well, my hope was to inspire readers to get involved and take action, but to see firsthand the impacts my book had on this incredible group of students and teachers is truly amazing. They are the real change makers and hopefully will become an inspiration for others to take action, too."

As the wonderful students, staff, and community of Mineola School District will show you, "Walk For Water" teaches lessons that go well beyond books. And as Principal Janet Gonzalez said, "the lesson of empathy is SO important for us to teach our children."

It's a lesson that every single one of us can learn and put into practice, one drop at a time.

For more celebrities, causes, & incredible nonprofit organizations, please visit Spotlight On Giving.

For booking, spotlight suggestions, & inquiries email Info@SpotlightOnGiving.com
Think of Denmark and most people will probably picture images of LEGO building blocks, bicycles and blonde people. For us Danes this is not a surprise as we admittedly are a tiny nation, with the population of Maryland that usually doesn't draw a lot of attention on the world scene. Due to this fact most people do not realize that Denmark is actually a superpower of the seas. Like Marvel's Antman we might have the stature of an ant, but we pack a massive punch in terms of global trade.

Danish ship owners operate more than 1,800 ships, which makes Denmark the 8th largest shipping nation in the world. Danish shipping companies are active in all segments - from dry bulk, oil tankers, offshore and containers. On top of this we are a world leader in maritime technology known for our innovative technological solutions, eco-efficient services and maritime safety equipment. This is why most large cargo ships today are equipped with Danish maritime technology, products or equipment. To give an example more than 70 pct. of two-stroke ship engines installed on vessels worldwide are designed in Denmark.

As around 80 percent of all trade in goods is transported by ship it is likely that you are surrounded by things, which has been transported by Danish ships without even knowing it. Maybe your phone came from Asia, your coffee from Africa and your desk might originate from Europe. The label might say "made in", but how did the product actually arrive in the store?

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Most people almost never pause to consider the global supply chains that tightly weave the world economy together, which creates both business opportunities and delivers cheaper goods to consumers all around the world. Shipping is the backbone of world trade and offers the infrastructure that has created the modern economy. And tiny Denmark plays its part in this intricate and complicated system of world trade.

It is no accident Denmark ended up being a key player in the maritime industry. We are a seafaring and outward-looking nation eager to engage with new partners. And we provide high quality maritime technology products and solutions to shipyards and ship owners all over the world. It is also no coincidence that the relationship between the US and Denmark historically has been built on close maritime ties. During WWII Danish ship owners sent their ships into American waters so they could serve as part of the allied merchant fleet while Denmark was under occupation and the world at war.

Later the ships returned and shipping was integral to building the modern trading system, which is a core tenet of the transatlantic cooperation between US and Europe. In fact, the US is today the second most important market for the Danish shipping industry.

The US is also an important market for the Danish maritime technology industry and the market will become even more important in the future in light of the increased focus on environmental and climate friendly shipping. Danish maritime manufacturers are considered as global frontrunners in areas such as ballast water treatment systems and technologies that prevent air pollution from ships.

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Denmark and other shipping nations might have helped provide the infrastructure, but it was US political leadership that set out to create a global economy where trade could flow freely across borders. This is something we should keep in mind today, especially as protectionism and anti-globalization have been returning topics in the debates during the US presidential election.

Both the US and its trading partners have benefited enormously from the integration of the world economy through trade liberalization. We fully acknowledge that there have also been costs, which are felt harder in some communities than other. But it is beyond doubt that free trade has brought enormous benefits and that increased levels of protectionism would be a grave mistake. Not just for a tiny maritime superpower but also for US businesses and consumers.
Image: Some analysts believe a U.N. secretary general from Eastern Europe would stand up to aggressors better than the outgoing Ban Ki-moon. Author: Kremlin.ru

Over the last few days, world leaders have been flocking to New York to take part in the 71st meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, where crises such as the Syrian conflict and the surge in European refugees are dominating the public agenda.

The leaders have also been discussing another momentous topic in the backrooms of the U.N. headquarters: who will succeed Ban Ki-moon when he leaves the organization's secretary-general post at the end of the year.

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The 71st General Assembly session began on September 9, and runs through the end of the month.

In his farewell address to the assembly this week, Ban took the uncharacteristically confrontational approach of blistering world leaders he believes have either precipitated or perpetuated some of the world's great crises.

He didn't name those leaders, but he might as well have -- because he listed the crises they have been complicit in: Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Libya, South Sudan and North Korea.

He failed to mention that many leaders think his own laid-back style exacerbated the crises. He has simply been too hands-off, his detractors have maintained. He has failed to step in forcefully on too many crises, they contend.

The next secretary general, some pundits say, should be from an area that has produced leaders who have stood up to aggression in the past quarter century: Eastern Europe.

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Those who make this argument ask: Where was Ban during the Georgia crisis, the Ukraine crisis, and the Syria crisis?

Russia has either spawned or worsened some of them in an attempt to rebuild itself into a global political and military power, many international political analysts say.

A lot of them believe that Russia could be a threat to stability in the years to come, and that the best secretary general to deal with the threat is someone who knows the Russians well: an Eastern European.

Those supporting an Eastern European for the post also note that the United Nations has never chosen a secretary general from the region -- a slight that needs to be rectified.

A key question is which Eastern European would make the best secretary general.

Two who were in the race early on have dropped out after the Security Council gave them little support in the preliminary rounds of voting for the candidates: Croatia's Vesna Pusic and Montenegro's Igor Luksic.

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Eastern Europeans still account for about half of the remaining candidates, however.

Russia's favorite is Vuk Jeremic.

That's understandable. He's from Serbia, Russia's lone strategic ally in the Balkans.

Jeremic's hostility to NATO is well documented, and so is his opposition to Western military forces helping rebels defeat the late Libyan dictator Mummer Gaddafi's troops in the first Battle of Benghazi in 2011.

The Wall Street Journal stunned many Americans with a recent endorsement of Jeremic's candidacy.

But any of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- can veto a candidate, and Washington would likely scuttle Jeremic's chances.

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak has gained a reputation as a diplomat who can handle complex issues deftly, but he is on the wrong side of two issues, the West believes.

He has consistently supported Prime Minister Robert Fico's opposition to Slovakia accepting Syrian refugees.

Slovaks "have not been exposed to Muslims, and they are frightened" by them, Lajcak said.

In addition, Lajcak has supported Fico's position that the European Union should ease sanctions it slapped on Russia for annexing Crimea and sending troops to eastern Ukraine to help prevent Ukrainian forces from defeating the separatists there.

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Lajcak's Syrian-refugee and Russia-sanctions positions make him a darling of Moscow but a secretary-general candidate Washington would likely veto.

The West has welcomed the secretary-general candidacy of Moldova's Natalia Gherman, who is pro-European Union and pro-NATO, but she's made little headway in the preliminary rounds of the secretary-general voting.

That's too bad, because the former acting prime minister has spoken with conviction on the need for a deeper relationship between Eastern Europe and its Western partners.

She has also been vocal about the need to strengthen NATO to prevent Russia from trying to regain its dominance over Eastern Europe and to threaten European security in general.

In the doubtful event that she achieves a higher ranking in the next round of the secretary-general balloting, her pro-EU and pro-NATO positions might lead to a Russian veto.

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A candidate whom both the United States and Russia might support is Irina Bokova, a former member of the Bulgarian parliament who also was the country's acting foreign minister.

Although she is one of the most pro-Western of the Eastern European secretary-general candidates, official Russian media coverage has indicated that Moscow might find her acceptable.

I hope that's true, because she has worked hard to empower women and to promote democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression.

And she has U.N. experience, running one of its largest and most important of the organization's operations, UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

In my opinion, those credentials make her Eastern Europe's strongest secretary-general candidate.

One of her most important contributions was playing key roles in helping Bulgaria transition from communism to democracy.

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A NATO fellow, she was also an early advocate of Bulgaria joining the EU and NATO.

And as director general of UNESCO, she took strong stands on Crimea and the Donbass region remaining in Ukraine.

One measure of her devotion to empowering women is that under her leadership UNESCO has continued to enhance its reputation for appointing women to top positions.

Ironically, another Bulgarian may pose the biggest challenge to Bokova's secretary-general chances.

News reports have indicated that Kristalina Georgieva, the vice president of the European Commission, may seek the secretary general's post.

She just engineered a special 108-million-euro European Commission grant to the Bulgarian government to buy equipment to protect Bulgaria's borders -- a move that helped her secure Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's support for her U.N. ambitions.

If she becomes a secretary-general candidate, the academic and former World Bank administrator, who has never worked as a diplomat, will find a well of opposition from those uncomfortable with her cozy relationship with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, however.

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Last week Orban publicly praised her and announced that Hungary would support her nomination.

If might have been better for her if Orban hadn't endorsed her. Many Western leaders despise him as the most anti-democratic, hate-filled and racist leader in Europe today.

The fifth round of the Security Council's voting for secretary-general candidates will take place Monday.

With more than three months until the end of 2016, it won't be the last round.

This year's campaign has been more open and transparent than any before, but I'm still concerned.

In my judgment there's been too little public scrutiny of the strengths and shortcomings of the candidates. I'd like to see more probing from journalists and civil society.

A strong U.N. secretary general -- one who calls out aggression and demands that the global community stand up to it -- can play a leading role in making the world a better and more peaceful place.

One who wrings their hands over aggression without doing anything will only embolden the aggressors.
By AsiaToday reporter Jina Koh - While the United Nations Security Council passed the resolution in March, which imposed tougher sanctions against North Korea following a series of nuclear and missile tests, many predict that the effectiveness of the sanctions will be questioned unless cash flow to the North is cut off.

Although China has recently tightened sanctions against the North, by freezing Hongxiang Industrial's assets for allegedly aiding North Korea nuclear weapons program and arresting more than 10 business executives for North Korea trade, but it is uncertain whether they will fully join sanctions against Pyongyang that lead to tangible results. While China seemingly took a major action against the North with U.S. cooperation, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang did not address new sanctions against the North, but only emphasized the need to resolve North Korea's nuclear provocations through dialogue during a keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

There is also a possibility that Hongxiang Group, which has reportedly carried out imports and exports worth a total of $532 million in 2011-15 with North Korea, worked as a channel for transferring cash to the North from countries other than China. The Tokyo Shimbun reported Friday that the North Korean government ordered a company operated by an official related to Japan's Jochongnyeon, or pro-Pyeongyang federation of Korean residents in Japan, to transfer $150,000 in 2010 and designated an account of Hongxiang Group chairwoman registered in Hong Kong.

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Apart from Hongxiang Group, there are still more potential cash flow channels. According to monthly data released by China's General Administration of Customs on Wednesday, trade between China and North Korea stood at US$628.29 million in August, up 29.9 percent from $483.35 million a year ago. In the figure, China exported $336.95 million worth of goods to the North in that month, up 41.6 percent on-year, and imported $291.34 million worth from the North, up 18.7 percent from a year before.

"After a joint analysis on North Korea's trade data for the past 18 months, we've found there is a considerable number of North Korean companies that are legally conducting trade activities with Chinese or Southeast Asian countries are either owned by or affiliated with sanction-targeted enterprises, that they practically work as channels to evade sanctions," the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in South Korea and the C4ADS research group in Washington said in a report released Monday.

Some claim that the cash payment from the U.S. to release detained Americans in Iran flowed into North Korea. During the U.S. Senate Banking Committee hearing on Wednesday, former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey suggested that Iran could use the cash to buy nuclear weapons from "cash-starved" North Korea. The U.S. government is facing skepticism over its $1.7 billion cash payment to Iran to release detained Americans back in January. The U.S. government denied these allegations but if it's true, we should take note that the payment was in 'cash'.

Cash traded between countries are primarily used for terror or illegal fund. The U.S. diplomacy magazine Foreign Policy reported Tuesday that the payment to Iran was "all cash" and that cash transactions raise serious terrorism financing risks. According to the Financial Action Task Force, the Paris-based international body that sets global standards for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, "the physical cross-border transportation of currency ... [is] one of the main methods used to move illicit funds, launder money, and finance terrorism."

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As a result, cutting off the mass flows of cash into the North is the most effective measure to pressure the North. Dr. Emanuel Pastreich, professor at Kyung Hee University, pointed out that the possibility of North Korea's illicit cash flow is a "serious problem" in an interview with AsiaToday. He said, "Temporary measures cannot resolve the issue. While maintaining and strengthening the existing system, a new financial system should be set up."
This is part two of a three-part series on sponsorship as a force for fueling innovation in leadership development. In this article, co-authors Mike Fucci, Chairman of the Board of Deloitte LLP, and Audrey Murrell, associate dean of the University of Pittsburgh's College of Business Administration, discuss sponsorship from the perspective of the sponsoree.

As busy professionals, we're often consumed by the task at hand. With our nose to the grindstone, we don't look up to see the possible senior leadership role five to 10 years down the road. We don't take the time to expand our network, forgoing opportunities to strengthen relationships with influential decision-makers. Assignments that could fill a gap in our skillset often just aren't on our radar.

In essence, we neglect to nurture our careers.

That's where a sponsor comes in.

A sponsor--a senior leader or influential individual with a broad understanding of the organization--can help high-performing professionals assess their strengths and blind spots, and can advocate on their behalf to put them in positions to develop more fully as a leader.

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In Part 1 of our series, we discussed the value of sponsorship from an organization's perspective. But what does it mean to the professional being sponsored? In an effective sponsorship, the sponsoree hopefully gets a trusted, long-term relationship with a senior leader or key influencer within the organization who has a wealth of knowledge about the organization and the industry.The sponsoree can tap into this knowledge to calibrate a career path and fine-tune goals for specific positions.

Sponsorship is a leadership development mechanism designed to offer a sponsoree many career benefits, including: opportunities to expand their network; exposure to executives enterprise-wide; insight into the organization's culture; a clear understanding of the expectations associated with the pathway to leadership; and the backing of a senior leader or key influencer for an elevated and critically important role in the organization.

Through our experiences in the corporate world and in higher education, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of sponsorship on individuals' careers. We know it opens their eyes to experiences they have not considered and can expand the individual's social network. This is both the beauty and the power of sponsorship.

Most professionals think they know what their next job should be. Chances are, they are thinking vertically. Sponsorship lets them see in all directions. A sponsor can look both vertically and horizontally in an organization, which uncovers more options and opportunities for the sponsoree. A sponsor can also provide critical feedback on how to best prepare for and take advantage of these opportunities.

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Studies show that sponsorship can be a turbo charger for careers. According to a recent Deloitte report, individuals who have the active support of sponsors within their organization are more likely to advance in their careers. Moreover, sponsorship can improve the chances of more stretch assignments, more promotions, and pay raises by up to 30 percent, according to the report.

Some of the work by Audrey Murrell has shown that the impact of sponsorship is especially important for supporting diversity and inclusion efforts within an organization. An innovative approach called inter-organizational formal mentoring shows that facilitating sponsorship relationships as a component of formal mentoring programs is an essential element of diverse talent pipeline development. The connection between sponsorship and diversity has also been shown to exist through research and practice activities by Catalyst, Inc. Sponsorship as part of formal mentoring programs is an essential element of developing diverse talent and future leadership within the organization.

Based on the feedback we get from students and professionals who have experienced a sponsorship, we know it's a priceless relationship. Invariably, it creates a more versatile, knowledgeable, and satisfied professional who's poised to lead.

At its core, sponsorship is about relationships. It's a bond built on confidence and trust. It depends on the exchange of knowledge and sharing of networks. Because sponsors put their reputation on the line, they need to be confident the sponsoree has the potential to grow and the drive to excel. And because sponsorees don't know what they don't know, they need to trust their sponsors to help guide them on their professional path. It's a give and take, and is well worth the effort.


Image credit: PhotoDune

Your website is often the first interaction most people have with your business, and it must reflect your brand, values and customer service levels. Many companies hesitate to spend money updating their sites but are losing more in hidden costs then they would pay to bring it up to current standards.

Poor Perception Means Lost Sales

As with clothing, website designs have fashion trends and consumers judge sites by how well they meet the latest standards. The evolution of site designs is a combination of new technology options, social trends, and proven effectiveness. While starting a website can be daunting these pros far outweigh the cons.

Outdated websites often have inaccurate product, service, staff, and contact information. Viewers of your site are comparing it to your competitors, and you will come out the loser. When a potential customer or employee views your outdated site they will have many

that can include:

You are going out of business

You will have horrible customer support

Your company is not cutting edge

Your company is technologically incompetent

You won't be able to keep my data secure

Any one of these perceptions will cause a viewer to click off your site, and you have potential lost a sale. Avoid this problem by developing an updated, streamlined site that is accurate, engaging, and easy to use. This upgrade will make you money and better reflect your organization.

Older Technology Limits Your Reach

An older website limits your ability to reach and

. It cannot support newer functions that are expected by users such as:

Client login to view online profile, history, etc.

Quick checkout process

Online quotes

Databases for statistics and reports

Newsletters, blogs, vlogs

Social media links

Your site must be easy to use, provide relevant information and allow you to engage your audience. While people may be loyal to a brand, the underlying relationship is person to person. You must use social media, blogs, newsletters, and customer conveniences to create positive experiences that lead to loyalty and increased sales.

Older Sites aren't Mobile Friendly

More shopping is done on mobile devices than ever before, and these numbers will grow exponentially over the next few years. The ability of your site to be viewed on mobile devices does not mean that it works well on these platforms. Old websites create user

when viewed on phones, tablets, and pads because they:

Load too slowly

Display text too small to read

Display pictures too small to be useful

Provide limited product information

Have a cumbersome checkout process

Raise questions about data security

Your website must be updated to translate well between a computer and mobile device. If you experience strong digital sales, you may want to create a site specific for mobile users.

Low Website Rankings Means Less Traffic

Potential customers need to find your site and old sites or site pages are ranked lower than new ones, making them nearly invisible to viewers. Using technology called spiders or Google bots, Google searches for websites and includes new ones into their database. Well-structured websites allow these bots to find all relevant data and make it available to the public. Poorly designed sites can unintentionally block pages or information which means they are not included in a search. The newer the site, the fewer problems you will have and the higher your rankings. To keep rankings high, it is important to periodically update pages, add new ones or otherwise keep your site relevant.

Security Issues

Cybercrime is rising and can take many forms. If your site is old, has outdated security measures, is not well maintained, a breach can occur. Breaches result in annual losses of 7.7 million dollars, and most attacks are perpetrated by members of an organized syndicate.

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If you think your company is too small to be at risk, think again. Most hackers are not looking for money but information, including social security numbers, birth dates, addresses and credit card or banking information. If you have employees and customers, you can be targeted, especially if your systems are easily breached. Updating your website must include an upgrade in your security protocols to protect your stored data and your company from lawsuits.

Bottom Line:
This quote from Einstein is one of my favorites because it is absolutely true. But I have to admit that after all these years of trying to put this idea into practice honestly and whole heartedly, I'm learning to go about things differently when it comes to other people's business, even with right intentions. I spent most of my life trying to help people from harming themselves or others, and by going over things with them, hoping they'll be clearer about something. I've especially supported people who don't have a voice or who don't have anyone else to stand up for them. I really believed this was my particular, lifetime responsibility! In a way, I was practicing law without a license. How silly of me to be so daring! This familiar cycle of standing up for the right cause is now even more apparent to me in the upcoming presidential election. It's as though my entire life focus has been observing too many people not standing up for what's in this election. I seriously should have taken up law! This would have at least given me the proper degree and the training to help support the right causes and give them a voice for all those years! Instead, I have done my homework and research, and have found that, without a doubt, Hillary Clinton has a flawless and impeccable background. I'm with her.



Nevertheless, even though the poll numbers seem to rise against us at times, I believe that right will win out in the end. I feel that there are more people who really know the difference between right and wrong, and will see the difference between the candidates, and vote intelligently and for the right candidate. Each time I'm afraid of what might go wrong in the election, I try to remember how this has happened to me many times before, and that grace always comes through in the end. My fears are also soothed by President Obama and other highly respectable, esteemed Americans who are supporting Hillary Clinton. Many of my friends, as well as fellow writers and authors, remind me that they are with her too and that truly, "We're Stronger Together."
By Darryl Lorenzo Wellington

I won't be present at the Saturday opening of the Smithsonian's 400,000 square foot National Museum of African American History and Culture. I won't be in attendance when President Obama delivers his dedicatory speech.

But I will be there in spirit. I will still peruse the museum's collections online and study striking photographs of the 3,500 artifacts in the present exhibition. (The museum has a whopping 40,000 total pieces). The items represent moments in our history that are so raw, yet so iconic: Harriet Tubman's hymnal, Nat Turner's personal Bible, a pail Martin Luther King soaked his feet in after the Selma march. One of the items is a prominent statue of Thomas Jefferson backed by the names of the slaves he owned, with text informing museum visitors that Jefferson owned his own children. It reminds me that I'm old enough to remember when Southern history buffs, even some historians with real credentials insisted that the claim that Jefferson fathered children by Sally Hemmings, one of his slaves, was fiction.

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I'll eventually make a pilgrimage to Washington, DC. When I do, it won't simply to be to visit a museum. It will be the next step in a pilgrimage that lasts a lifetime for many black African Americans --- a pilgrimage toward truth and reconciliation of what it has meant and what it means to be black in this country.

The journey for me began during my Southern childhood which transformed me into a history buff, both because history was so much in the air (in Savannah, GA, where I was born, and Charleston, SC, where I spent my young adulthood) and because of the way history was told was biased toward protecting white sensitivities.

One incident in particular stands out in my memory. My 7th grade social studies teacher was Ms. Whitaker. Ms. Whitaker paired the class into groups representing the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. We had been instructed to creatively reenact the making of the US Constitution, with our own debates, arguments, and resolutions. For instance, by majority vote, we decided the United States would be governed by three presidents (a three-heads-are-better-than-one-philosophy) and one house of Congress. We eventually debated slavery. The class (which was a mostly white "gifted learners" group, with a handful of blacks) unanimously voted slavery down.

The decision clearly upset Ms. Whitaker, who claimed we were "thinking too much the way people think today" and ordered us to vote again. Of course, influenced by Ms. Whitaker's chagrin, the white students changed their votes. The black students (like myself) had no intention of changing, persevered in making a moral point and lost the second vote.

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I remain to this very day baffled, and more than a little hurt by this bizarre incident. What was the real lesson? Was Ms. Whitaker trying to instill racial disunity? I believe looking back that our initial vote upholding the sentiment that slavery contradicted the ideals of the Republic pained or offended Ms. Whitaker in a way she couldn't tolerate and refused to accept.

Even the word "slavery" was anathematic in the South throughout the 1970s and early 1980s and the word "slaves" was avoided. The many historic plantation tours in Georgia and South Carolina often downplayed human subjugation by referring to plantation "servants" rather than slaves. It was a milieu that was littered with monuments to the Confederacy and streets named after Confederate generals, but calls for memorials honoring black accomplishments during Reconstruction, or civil rights leaders who dismantled segregation were called divisive.



In high school, I educated myself about black history, in spite of what often seemed like a concerted effort on the part of supposedly integrated Southern institutions to encourage short-sightedness or amnesia. My high school American history lessons conveniently ended with Eisenhower's election (therefore avoiding discussing the modern civil rights era). At 16, I enthusiastically joined the local movement supporting a Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which officially became a federal holiday in 1983. Yet many states refused to implement it for over a decade. South Carolina was especially recalcitrant, becoming the last state to endorse a special King Day holiday in 2000.

As I grew into adulthood, I watched as black studies became a new field finding a foothold in colleges across the country. And I knew what I wanted. I wanted history. Not the blind versions of American history, which during my high school years left me disappointed by subterfuges and omissions. I wanted black American history.

Racism permeated the South throughout my adolescence. But there was also a quite racist, but arguably "well-intentioned" sentiment that black school children coming up in the 1980s would be better off not knowing the truth behind slavery's brutality or segregation's systemic disenfranchisement -- that historical distortions were kinder than reality.

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This condescending sentiment that black history is dispensable still lingers on today. I hear it echoed whenever someone learns that I am a student of black history and says, (it happens too often) "Why do you want to limit yourself like that?" or "Why don't you study something universal?"

Answer: Because like a heart surgeon, or a urologist, I'm a specialist.
Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate for president, filed a petition with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday to change his name to "None of the Above" in hopes of becoming eligible for future presidential debates and to improve his chances of winning the presidency on November 8.

Johnson said he made the decision after learning that he would not be allowed to participate in the first presidential debate with Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican Party candidate Donald Trump on September 26.

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The Commission on Presidential Debates said candidates had to be polling at least 15 percent in national polls. The commission said that Johnson was at 8 percent.

"It's a rigged game," Johnson said in response to the commission's decision.

Johnson told reporters he had considered changing his name for several weeks but waited to see if he was going to be eligible for the first debate. After learning he was not, Johnson decided he would join the "rigged game," as he put it, with some skullduggery of his own.

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," Johnson said with a laugh.

Johnson's pollster Con "Spin" Fabulist told him that None of the Above was polling at 17 percent in national polls, trailing both Clinton and Trump but still above the 15 percent threshold to participate in the debate. The commission, however, requires that anyone participating in the debate "must be an actual person."

The second presidential debate is October 4.

If Johnson became None of the Above, Fabulist told him, his polling numbers would rise to more than 20 percent.

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Political analyst Ralph Upchuck of Upchuck Politics called Johnson's decision to change his name a "brilliant" strategic decision.

"Johnson is a candidate with low polling numbers. None of the Above has high polling numbers but is not a candidate," Upchuck said. "By becoming None of the Above, Johnson becomes a candidate with competitive polling numbers and none of the baggage of either Clinton or Trump."

Fifty five percent of registered voters have an unfavorable opinion of Clinton and 57 percent have an unfavorable opinion of Trump, according to one poll.

By contrast, only 8 percent of registered voters have an unfavorable view of None of the Above. Seventy-two percent have a favorable view and 20 percent have no opinion.

Johnson, a two-term governor of New Mexico who is in his first presidential campaign, said he felt sure he would pick up ground in the polls simply by sharing a stage with Clinton and Trump.

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"I could sit down between Clinton and Trump and do nothing but drool and play with a dead mouse for two hours," Johnson said, "and I'd probably pick up 10 points."

If the Federal Election Commission approves Johnson's petition, he would still face the daunting task of having his name changed on the ballots in each of the 50 states so close to the election. But, fortunately for Johnson, many states already have None of the Above listed on the ballot.
Worried that the Syrian refugee crisis is slipping from the daily news and our conscience, businessman and philanthropist Frank Giustra challenged Canada's creative community to share unforgettable stories of displacement, loss and hope.

"To effectively address the refugee crisis, we need the power and action of many," he told us.

In June, his charity, the Radcliffe Foundation, launched a competition for Canadian filmmakers to produce a one-minute film that raises awareness about refugees and inspires Canadians to action.

Craig was asked to help judge submissions, alongside director Adam Egoyan and musician Sarah McLachlan and others. From 10 entries, they chose the top three. Now, from September 14 to 23, Canadians can vote for their favourite. It won't take long--Craig watched the videos on his phone in the back of a taxi--and we promise these will be the most powerful and moving three minutes of your week.

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The winning film will be screened at the Vancouver Film Festival, September 29 to October 14, and Guistra hopes broadcasters and movie theatres will pick it up and show the video to spread awareness.

The one-minute format was chosen to fit modern viewing trends. "People today, especially the younger generations, consume news and information through shorter pieces, I saw the need for a short film that could engage this audience," says Giustra.

Although just one winner will be chosen, the three finalists are more powerful when viewed together. They form a triptych that beautifully illustrates, from beginning to end, the refugee crisis and Canada's potential impact.

Begin with Helpful Hand, directed by Vancouver's Alexandru Nagy. Without words, the simple but gorgeous animation immerses you in the fear, despair and hope of one little girl fleeing carnage for Canada. This short film captures the potential within every refugee when they're given a hand up (as opposed to a handout).

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Those granted asylum arrive in Canada with little more than the clothes they wear. Helping meet their many needs isn't just a job for our governments and refugee sponsors. We can all play a part.

Humanity, directed by another Vancouverite, Zeeshan Parwez, is an empowering call to action that captures the many ways Canadians can continue to make a difference in the lives of those we have granted refuge--from donating clothes and household items to helping refugees find jobs and connect with community services.

And thirdly, Show the World by documentary company The Cutting Factory. The film interviews Ian Crerar, an entrepreneur from Kingston, Ontario, who says he "won the lottery" when he sponsored a Syrian family. In one shot, the Syrian and Canadian families are crammed around a tiny table, sharing a meal. There's no fear or clash of cultures. "At the end of the day, good people are good people, and we all have the same moral values," says Crerar.

Those heart-warming images of shared joy, of two families from different worlds discovering they're just the same were incredibly moving and put this film over the top for us.

In the face of the refugee crisis, Canada is in a much different position than the nations of Europe. We do not have hundreds of thousands of desperate people crashing upon our shores. Ours is a burden of conscience, as we can choose who and how many we welcome.

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What will we do with that choice?

That's the question for Canadians to answer: are we done with the 30,000 refugees we've welcomed into the country, or will we do more?

The message in these films is that, if we choose to do more, we will show the world what a truly compassionate nation looks like.

Voting ends Friday, September 23, so vote NOW for your favourite refugee story at: http://refugeestories.viff.org/
All wars end. Syria's violent conflict will stop when combatants have realized an end-state that preserves their core interests. The United States can advance a settlement by presenting a proposal to the country's warring factions, which devolves power from the central government to Syria's regions. Cooperation through the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) is preferable, but the U.S. must be prepared to act on its own if ISSG members, especially Russia, are obstructing progress.

What will Syria look like after the war? The 1980 Taif Accord, which ended Lebanon's civil war, is a model for power-sharing.

A settlement would preserve Syria's sovereignty, while decentralizing authority to an Alawite canton around Damascus and stretching northwest to Latakia. Sunni Arabs would have control in the south and east. Kurds would have domain in the north over Kobani, Afrin and Jazeera provinces. Devolving governance, economic affairs, and local control of natural resources would go a long way to remedy the root causes of conflict.

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A settlement must have milestones and a timetable for political transition. Parties may be able to accept Bashar al-Assad as president in the near term. They will, however, demand a date for elections to replace him.

Stabilization will require security guarantees. Security will also allow an orderly and dignified process for displaced persons to go home.

Billions will be needed for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. The ISSG can evolve into a Peace Implementation Council.

Syrians will demand transitional justice, given the level of human rights abuses and pervasive crimes against humanity. Assad and his Alawite circle will want amnesty arrangements. Others will insist on accountability. Balancing competing demands can be achieved through security sector reform.

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The Islamic State and the Nusra Front are the primary spoilers. ISIL is not interested in state-building unless it involves a caliphate. The U.S. will have to intensify efforts targeting jihadists.

International stakeholders are also potential spoilers. The U.S. should be steely eyed, assessing Russia's role. In Syria, Russia is a strategic adversary. Russia fuels conflict because its importance is greater when there is war. Russia's recent bombing of a UN aid convoy exposed its duplicity. Russia must be sidelined if it foments conflict or undermines negotiations.

The U.S. should try to wedge Iran from Russia, using Iran's influence in service of a settlement. However, Iran's support for Hezbollah makes it an unlikely peace partner.

Turkey's invasion and occupation of Syria complicates the path to peace. Turkey will be reluctant to abandon its self-imposed buffer zone.

A durable settlement must require all foreign forces to withdraw, giving way to a peacekeeping operation sanctioned by the UN Security Council. Countries who have supported proxies in the war lack integrity as peacekeepers.

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The "ripeness theory" establishes that peace can be achieved when combatants grow weary of fighting and can visualize an end-state that upholds their core interests. According to the ripeness theory, parties are ready to make peace after exhausting unilateral means to achieve their goals. A stalemate on the battlefield, such as the stalemate that exists in Syria today, creates propitious conditions for conflict resolution.

The Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) was initiated at a moment of ripeness in Bosnia's war when the parties were exhausted by fighting. While there was a contact group institutionalizing international cooperation, the U.S. was the ultimate arbiter.

Diplomacy backed by a credible threat of force was essential to ending Bosnia's war. Since President Barack Obama has made it clear that the U.S. will not get sucked into Syria, a more robust role will have to wait for the next administration.

Ending Syria's national nightmare is possible if the President-elect is clear minded about the end-state and can convince combatants that a settlement is in their interest. Projecting power and influence are integral to U.S. leadership, making America a more effective force for good in the world.
Common sense didn't take hold after the first test came back Positive, even though the automatic, more specific second test, something with "Blot" in the title, came back Negative. I wasn't listening to the specifics my doctor gave me on the phone, only his words "Can you come into the office"? Talking on the street, I only wanted to hear reassuring words. His voice was quivering; I was sure of it. "Would you like counseling?" he added, to which I half-shouted "No!," and hung up.

False Positives are common nowadays, and I knew that; it happened to me once before, and despite my straight, young, Upper East Side's doctor's naivete in most manners HIV-related, and despite my daily PrEP dose, and such articles related to Truvada, I'd erred on the wrong side of reason and my fate was sealed. The Internet is there to help us find answers, but if you're determined to indulge guilt it's merely an enabler. That first test, taken on a clear Friday summer day in a sunny office building, was piercing through my skin to prick me. There was cum glued-on tight; it had been festering for weeks.

No second test mattered, at least in the forefront, because I'd been reckless, tossing aside a lifetime of Negative good luck and hard work, for one simple unsafe, spur of the moment fuck, anal penetration and all. I was never to learn, and I'd be shamed, not for being Positive--half of my friends are living with HIV--but for being sexually arrogant. For unabashedly enjoying the spontaneous, on the floor, in his office in the middle of a thunderstorm, bareback freedom with a man so sexy I had to be punished for the simple perfection of the moment. I already knew he was living with another man, he was cheating, which meant I was disposable and dirty; that guy. Thousands have died for my singular sin--friends. Why should I, the insatiable infant, be spared?

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There wouldn't be death--those days are mostly gone--but there would be the disdainful looks and talk from doctors who prescribed medicine, help that could be going to the truly needy, but wasted on me, the adult who played like a spoiled child, wiping away a generation of progress in favor of getting off with no rules.

AIDS guilt for men of my generation isn't a thing so much as it is an implant. We're punished for that too, not by our peers but by our millennial friends, understandably not wishing to be defined by death. And we're not punished by their selves, but by their reflections. I know them too, have sexual contact with them--how could I not--and many simply walk in and undress and bend over and receive; it's no big deal. Many specifically ask you to breed them, which alone sounds like a 1980s gay science fiction horror story.

It's just, now, again, anal sex, as I remember it being when I was a teenager and had a muscular, blond 24-year-old acting teacher tell me about the uninhibited joys of a place called Fire Island. I wanted him to take me with him because I knew, as he serenaded me with whispered tales of liberation, gay men deserved paradise. I saw in his eyes that he'd seen its flicker. That was in San Francisco in the summer of 1981.

The guilt we get is from our HIV-Positive friends and colleagues, not in what they say or how they treat us, which is as equals, but in our own interpretation of their reversed prognosis. Do they think we feel different? Special? Privileged? There's so much cruelty in the gay world I wouldn't blame them. I still have men ask me if I'm "clean." I generally answer that, yes, I've bathed today.

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Our illustrative lives go both ways. I once wrote an article centered around HIV, and many assumed it meant I was Positive. It wasn't my intention nor my concern to clarify. One reader told me he was sick of Positive men lumping themselves together in one group, as if "we" represented all gay men over the age of 40. I group all gay men in one category: works in progress.

There's too much background for us, for me, to simply indulge in the new, happy narrative of gay sex without creating a quiet horror story of my own. I'm not religious, nor was I raised with any belief that sex was wrong. Yet those feelings of sin can't help but creep in, from some other hiding place, from a world that punishes fulfillment, can't quite let us have it in one piece.

I grew up on the Hollywood Bible, and I think of Angie Dickenson in Dressed to Kill, slashed to death in an elevator after having sex with a stranger, a man she just discovered has an STD. She didn't deserve it, but do we all await such a fait for the improper? Janet Leigh got stabbed in that Psycho shower after stealing money--and having daytime hotel sex with a dark-haired heartthrob--and Glenn Close was shot to death by the wife of her ex-lover in Fatal Attraction, the sexual predator taken down in favor of love and family. We all applaud when morality wins. FA came out in 1987, and has often been reinterpreted as a cautionary AIDS tale. You fuck around, you die.

My narrative held all the elements of tragic storytelling and just as much truth. Studies vary on the effectiveness of PrEP, but usually hover around the 90 percent plus rate, on the higher end if you never skip a dose--I don't. Condoms aren't 100 percent perfect either, yet we still say "Safe or Bare" when discussing sexual specifics. I prefer "Raw or Wrapped." And the second test that came back Negative, called a Western Blot, is considered highly reliable by the doctors I've consulted.

My head knew that, and it knows HIV is now treatable, yet the drama unfolded. I sent a message to the man I'd been with, wanting him to reassure me that he was Negative, and he didn't respond. Was he hiding something? The iMessage didn't even say "delivered." Had he blocked me? Irrational folly is a favorite leftover of AIDS debris. About a week before the initial test I confided in a friend that I'd been having the most fulfilling sex of my life, a good solid year of a few amazing lovers and glorious nights. When something sounds too good to be true...

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After five days of waiting for my doctor's insisted third test results--if I were a woman in a Victorian novel, this would be the point where I'd "taken to bed"--I called my doctor and suggested I go back in and take one of those prick tests, with results that come back in about 20 minutes. An hour later, after sitting in the waiting room for less than that time, the sweet young nurse came out and gave me a thumbs up and a smile, like I'd gotten 100 percent on my driver's license exam. I left, called my doctor, and walked home on yet another beautiful Friday summer day.
Here in Chicago, our most trusted meteorologist, Tom Skilling, informs us that we've experienced 100 days this year of temperatures of 80 degrees or higher. That's just shy of the record of 108.

On planet Earth, 2016 is shaping up to be the hottest on record. Already, from January through June, we've experienced the hottest six months on record, according to NASA. And scientists are concluding that, as psychologists have researched for years, hotter temperatures are leading to more aggression.

We can see this specifically on the campaign trail, where barely coherent Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is blowing a lot of hot air. Since August, he has twice implied physical threats of violence to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. First in early August, he suggested that "second amendment people," whatever that convoluted phrase means, would take care of things should she be elected. Then this month, he threatened Clinton again, falsely saying she wanted to do away with the second amendment and that because of this her Secret Service detail should disarm.

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Trump is making this election the nastiest ever. If all that is righteous and good falls through and he is actually elected president, his reign--because that's what it would amount to--would usher in disaster. Aside from the political consequences, he would bring certain climate disaster. According to his campaign, he would put an oil executive in his cabinet as the head of the Department of Interior. He claims that climate change is a hoax and it shows. Meanwhile, on the side of reason, Clinton would mobilize a World War II-like effort to stop climate change.

The fact that Trump talks and thinks like a grade school bully on most issues and can't grasp any nuance leaves him hard-pressed to lead America forward on climate change. And electing Trump would prove disastrous to steps already taken to mitigate the growth in temperature-raising greenhouse gasses.

One such legacy of President Barack Obama's administration is the Clean Power Plan, a major provision in the United States' international efforts to turn around global climate trends. President Obama touted the plan at the Paris climate conference at the end of last year but the the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear arguments next week on its legality thanks to the efforts of renegade polluting states. The plan seeks to cut pollution from power plants 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. According to Javier Sierra of the Sierra Club, "By 2030, according to the EPA, the CPP would prevent 3,600 premature deaths, 1,700 heart attacks, 90,000 asthma attacks and the loss of 300,000 school and work days every year. Also annually, the plan would save us all some $54 billion in health care costs, prevent the emission of 870 million tons of carbon and drastically reduce the dumping of toxic compounds, such as sulfur and nitrogen oxides."

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Two new reports -- one from a journalist, the other from an investment research firm -- confirm in stark terms that former ITT Tech CEO Kevin Modany, his top lieutenants, and the company's board of directors have only themselves to blame for the company's collapse.

ITT shut its campuses and declared bankruptcy after the U.S. Department of Education, citing a range of questionable business practices, banned the company from enrolling new students using federal grants and loans. In a typically self-pitying, remorseless statement, ITT blamed all its woes on the Department. The Wall Street Journal editorial board, which consistently, vociferously, and bizarrely defends a for-profit college industry that gets close to 90 percent of its revenue from taxpayers and engages in widespread waste, fraud, and abuse, joined in, calling the Department's action an "execution."

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Bradley Safalow of PAA Research shared his firm's report, released today. Safalow, who for years has closely followed the for-profit college sector, has consistently warned investors that ITT's business model was unsustainable. But the report is not some shallow victory lap -- it's a detailed confirmation of everything ITT did wrong: (1) it charged sky-high tuition; (2) its educational quality was "abysmal" with "shockingly low" spending on instruction; (3) it took about 95 percent of its revenue from government sources, and depended on putting the financial risks on the government and outside lenders; (4) it spent billions on executive compensation and stock buybacks to boost the company's share price; (5) it engaged in risky schemes to try to stay in compliance with federal rules.

Safalow notes, in particular, that in recent years ITT decided to target lower income students, an approach, he writes, for which one would expect a "company to INCREASE its investment in educational services and student support." Instead, ITT "did the exact opposite, which yielded the expected result-awful outcomes..." When your school is that bad, no amount of deceptive recruiting and public relations can mask it, especially as the public has become increasingly aware of for-profit college scamming. As a result, fewer and fewer people wanted to enroll at ITT Tech. No students, no money.

A new piece on Gizmodo by Michael Nunez, "How ITT Tech Screwed Students and Made Millions," tells the same story, but adds reporting from the ground level. (My only quibble is that "Millions" should be "Billions.") Nunez spoke with dozens of ex-students and faculty "about the school's predatory recruiting and lending practices, and the inner workings of a pervasive scam that affected tens of thousands of students across 136 campuses in 38 states."

ITT recruiters used the notorious "Pain Funnel," with escalating hurtful questions aimed at pressuring students to sign up. Student after student say ITT misled them about the actual costs of attending.

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Once enrolled, students found the educational quality at ITT to be awful -- outdated databases, materials, and technologies; instructors with little knowledge or experience.

One student who spoke with Nunez, Mario Valladares, attended ITT in Seattle from 2008 to 2012, studying video game design. He borrowed $65,000 in federal loans and $7,000 in private loans, and, with mounting interest, he now owes more than $200,000. Instead of a design job, he works as a game tester. As Valladares notes, "You don't even need a high school diploma to be a game tester."

The stories accumulate of ITT grads with worthless degrees: Veronica, who studied electrical engineering at ITT, is now a telemarketer making $5.95 an hour; she says employers for better jobs would laugh when they saw ITT on her resume. Zach is a Comcast cable guy, a job for which only a high school diploma or GED is needed. ITT counted many of these jobs as successful placements.

A group of courageous ITT students announced a debt strike last week, saying they won't pay back their federal loans because the Department of Education let them down by bestowing its Good Housekeeping seal on fraudulent ITT. Of course they're right.

The challenges for existing ITT students in finding a new road ahead are daunting. At least the Department of Education is doing more to help this time, and many community colleges are stepping up. Unfortunately, many scam artists are also moving in, from predatory debt relief assistance operations to other predatory for-profit colleges whose pious offers to help ITT students are disgraceful.

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The broader challenge is addressing the reality that, even if predatory ITT and predatory Corinthian are now shuttered, there are many other predatory for-profits, including a significant number under law enforcement investigation, that continue to sign up students, using taxpayer dollars, every single day, without having implemented sufficient reforms to make the investment valid. Or, as Nunez puts it, "There are plenty of other schools out there that want 'your ass in a class' and don't seem to care what happens next--as long as you're paying."

Getting the truth out is key to making sure that Washington policymakers, investors, students, and others make the right choices going forward. Or, in Safalow's words, "The manner in which the narrative surrounding [ITT's] unraveling is framed will likely have a large impact on US higher education policy prospectively."

The Department of Education's move late yesterday to shut down the lax, compromised accrediting body, ACICS, which certified the quality and integrity of ITT and Corinthian, increases the obstacles for other bad actors, colleges and accreditors alike, to keep doing their bad work. That is another step forward in cleaning up this orgy of greed and deception and moving career education in a direction that will truly help students and our economy.
The Convention of International Trade in Animals (CITES) is the organization that monitors, restricts or allows and licenses trade in animals. Within days now, world wildlife experts will be gathering in Johannesburg at the CoP 17 meeting, the event that determines the next round of changes in status. In reality it is a sideshow of what species will be tipped to go extinct next and who has the political clout to win the battle for (or against) these 35,000 species.

It is here that the major hunting lobbies fight for the right to shoot lions, (despite them being down in population number by 95% over the last 60 years) and polar bears (now back open to be hunted, despite their desperate lives on melting icecaps).

There seem to be three species that deserve our attention right now, the three pillars of Africa: lions, elephants and rhinos. Each is in trouble. Next week we hope that sanity, and not politics, will prevail. I wonder if this age of consuming of wildlife will ever be over.

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Stopping the killing of these animals for sport seems like a good way to reduce the destruction. Many hunters will tell you that it is all about conservation. Sadly the argument has more holes in it than Cecil the Lion, with less than 0.27% of the average hunting country's GDP coming from hunting, and even then little or nothing going back to conservation or to the surrounding communities. 'Sport' hunting is probably responsible for about  of the annual decline in lions alone. This is something we can stop. And we should. The hunting era is over.

But what is the next era?

On September 22nd, World Rhino Day, the two African rhino species may well be even more pivotal in determining what that next era is. Rhinos are trapped in a political quagmire where the world is pretty unanimous that killing rhinos to chop off their horns, to grind up into powder and mix with miscellaneous other things, from cow hooves to latex, to cure cancer is probably an awful idea. But there is a market for this rubbish. Poaching has increased phenomenally over the past 10 years. Just a decade ago Africa lost 6 rhinos a year. In 2014 that official number was up to 1,215. Then governments with high poaching decided to stop releasing figures but to say that the good news is that the 'increase in poaching was decreasing.' That is not a very comforting statement, especially when a 'decrease in the increase' of poaching may well be because of a decline in rhinos and they are now hard to find. Easy right? Ban it, shut it down.

Well a faction of, largely white farmers in South Africa argue that they have been successful in raising rhinos and they want to farm their horns. The argument then takes a turn. Some want to sell the horns to the East to fund conservation, others say it is their right to farm and sell no matter what. (The latter are more honest.) In fact, this is an argument that won in the Constitutional court in South Africa. Now Mr. De Beer can sell his horns to Mr. Claasens, but no one is sure what the end use will be because no one in the world, outside of China, Vietnam and Thailand thinks it is useful for anything at all. It isn't. There is strong evidence that consuming animal products like this could contaminate you, and there is nothing like a good dose of TB or Brucellosis or some other exotic disease to dampen your libido, not heighten it (as reported in the case of rhino horn!)

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While this debate is going on people like the infamous Mr. Nivara, in Mozambique continue to operate into South Africa with relative impunity with organized poaching rings consisting of bands of three men: a shooter, a porter and a runner/water carrier.

The cost of horn on the streets of Vietnam is now over $108,000 a kg, that is worth three times what gold is (and cocaine.) A poaching unit receives about 8-12% of that, so the take home income is still a lot higher than an honest job in the Mozambique town of Masingier, where many live. It is in these dark markets of the world that the poaching and rhino trades carry on.

If we lift that ban on rhino horn the market suddenly gets a lot bigger and swells to nearly 2 billion people. The last rhinos (24,000) are never going to be able to produce this amount of legal horn, so the surge of demand will drown our wild rhinos in a short time. The gathering next week will send a signal to the world and to the poachers and traders. It will be a similar message that was delivered years go, when CITES agreed to allow some ivory trade. In advance of the announcement, just on rumor of it, ivory poaching soared and we saw ivory poaching increase to a scale where we now lose nearly 100 elephants a day and ivory prices increased 10 fold virtually overnight. This is a balance between risk and reward. If we increase the reward (making it legal, pushing prices up) we make it a lot more attractive to poachers. On the other hand, if we increase the risk, and reduce the reward, that is the formula for killing poaching and reducing the threat to these endangered species.

One way to do that is to move rhinos to greater protection. And that is what we are doing right now with Rhinos Without Borders, moving 100 rhinos to Botswana where the protection is bordering on severe. In fact, there is a shoot to kill policy on poachers, and while we will all see increased poaching levels everywhere in Africa, it is still the safest and most protected place in Africa. Moving rhinos and distributing the DNA from prior bottleneck situations in their past is a great and very well accepted conservation method, but mostly this is about actually doing something rather than standing by and hanging our heads in collective shame as the rhinos, these lumbering, almost dinosaur-like giants walk their way into extinction. I am not sure that there should be an international body for trading in animals come to think of it. Hasn't that era of trade come and gone as well?

Link to the Great Plains donation site: https://gopro-greatplains.charity.org/
In the original 1960s The Magnificent Seven, seven gunfighters assembled to help a Mexican peasant village fight off villains. That's the basic premise. This 2016 version is an update that blends old classic Westerns with a new Western genre. What's on view in this kick-ass cowboy movie are solid production elements, alpha male acting, gritty direction and tense and compelling storytelling.



(Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures)

The cast of the western The Magnificent Seven.

For those who aren't old enough to remember the first M7, Russian-born actor Yul Brynner played the lead gunfighter and the other six were largely icons of the time: Steven McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, along with Brad Dexter and Horst Buchholz.

Screenwriters Richard Wenk and Nic Pizzolatto have created a unique blend of innovative action sequences and macho characters. The former wrote action-heavy movies like The Equalizer and The Mechanic. The latter, was a novelist and short story writer before he became a scribe for HBO's True Detective series.

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It's 1879, somewhere in the West. The small town of Ross Creek is at the mercy of a gold mining baron, Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), who is practically stealing the land from underneath the locals. Bogue: "I came here for greed." When the landowners complain, he and his men shoot them, their wives and children. Their mistake is killing the husband of Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett).

Mrs. Cullen hires a gunslinger, Sam Chisolm (Denzel Washington) who hunts criminals for money. He's classier than an ordinary bounty hunter, but not by much. Chisolm is reluctant to take on the assignment, until he learns the name of the scoundrel who killed her spouse and menaces her town.

One by one Chisolm assembles his team of killers: Josh Faraday (Chris Pratt) a con man/gambler. Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), a former Confederate army marksman and his Asian partner Billy Rocks (Lee Byung-hun), who throws knives with pinpoint accuracy. Jack Horne (Vincent D'Onofrio) a big burly man. Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), a tall imposing Mexican gunman. And Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier), a Native American who shoots arrows that don't miss. As the men ride into Ross Creek blowing away henchmen, they send Bogue a clear message: Get out of town.

The multi-racial cast is a pleasant update. In the '60s version Eli Wallach, the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland, played the Mexican lead villain. Thankfully, casting choices are different these days. Six out of the seven don't carry enough extra psychological baggage to give them depth. But Hawk's character is the exception. His Goodnight Robicheaux, the ex-Confederate soldier who's suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), struggles with viable inner turmoil, even when he's being philosophical: " What we lose in the fire we'll find in the ashes."

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With Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) as the director, you can count on well-choreographed action scenes and perfectly measured out violence--and that's what you get. Fuqua is up to the challenge of making the classic western genre relevant today. His direction exhibits a respect for the work of the original film's director John Sturges, and for the legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa who directed and wrote Seven Samurai, the 1954 film that spawned The Magnificent Seven dynasty.

The director's efforts are near perfectly augmented by above-par technical elements. The West looks especially dusty and sunny through Mauro Fiore's (Training Day) lens. Production designer Derek Hill built the dust bowl town from the ground up outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The duds the men wear look like they were bought in Tombstone's general store (Costume designer Sharen Davis, Ray and Dreamgirls). James Horner and Simon Franglen's musical score is grandiose enough to compete with the heavy action sequences.

In a career that spans decades, on camera and on the stage, Denzel Washington has never played a cowboy. Clad in black with a stare that could kill buffalo, his domineering performance kicks up a lot of prairie dust that settles on every character, every scene. It's his movie and the supporting cast looks great around him. Hawk's performance is the most complex. Sarsgaard is the most evil. D'Onofrio is very eccentric, which throws the whole group off in a very entertaining way. Haley Bennett as the determined widow underscores the relentless determination of the crew to overthrow outright tyranny.

The new gold standard for Hollywood Westerns has ridden into town. It's respectful of the past, while it blazes into the future of a genre that is as American as covered wagons.
Teacher: So far, we've been discussing how the Greeks viewed this life given their view of the afterlife, then whether the belief in the afterlife today affects one's view of this life, and now, for our last question, can you be a good person if you don't believe in an afterlife? Take a minute to gather your thoughts. [Long silence]

Student: I'd like to challenge the wording of the question. Instead of "can you be a good person if you don't believe in an afterlife?" I'd like to change it to "can you be a good person if you do believe in an afterlife?" Why is it automatically assumed that only those who believe in an afterlife can be good when a lot of people who do believe in it are criminals? I question the premise that believing in an afterlife necessarily makes one a good person.

As you have those who believe in an afterlife who are good, you also have others who aren't. Likewise, as you have those who don't believe in an afterlife who are good persons, you also have others who are rotten apples. Believing or not believing in an afterlife has nothing to do with being good.

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Student: You can be a good person simply because you want to be a good person. Believing in an afterlife has nothing to do with it. You just have to want to do the right thing because it is the right thing. Most people are decent, while some of them aren't, but not because they do or don't believe in an afterlife, but because they're just nasty persons, either because they were born that way or were raised in a bad environment. If you fix their environment, give them jobs, and get them out of poverty, they'll be more apt to be good because it's poverty that causes crime.

Student: Like middle-class white-collar criminals? [General snickering]

Student: I think that human motives are enough to be good. Those who are good because they believe in an afterlife aren't necessarily good because they want to be good, but because they're afraid of what will happen to them if they aren't good, either in this life or the next. And fear of punishment is a primitive reason for being good.



Student: I disagree. I don't see how it's possible to be good unless you do believe in an afterlife. There's a lot of temptation out there, and human reasons aren't strong enough. It's easy to talk about being good, but human nature's weak, and when things get tough, human motives aren't enough to stop a person. You need a stronger incentive, like fear of the consequences of going to jail or going to Hell, and if that's what it takes, so be it. What's wrong with fear if it keeps you from wrongdoing?



Student: That's a good point. Everyone's full of good resolutions on New Year's Eve when they're in an upbeat mood, but when something comes along that challenges those resolutions, good intentions aren't enough. A resolution is just something you say to feel good rather than actually being good.

Anyone can say they're going to do something, but when the opportunity presents itself and nobody's looking, good intentions go out the window. You really have to be a strong person to be good, and that takes self-control. If you find someone's wallet with a few thousand dollars in it and return it without taking any money, that's a good person.



Student: I think it's how you're brought up. If you're taught that you're evil and have this constantly drummed into your head, it doesn't take long before you start believing this, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You become what you're taught to become.

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If you're brought up to think that you are a good person, on the other hand, you'll look at yourself differently and behave differently. You'll tough it out and rely on yourself. It mayn't be easy, but you'll keep trying. It's like Alcoholics Anonymous! It's a struggle to keep sober, but you can do it.

Student: But what about prisoners who have a religious experience that turns their life around? They've done some terrible things, then start talking to the chaplain, read the Bible or Koran, and slowly become a new person.



Student: Nobody doubts that they've had some kind of experience. What is questioned is the interpretation of that experience. They may call it a religious experience, but others will call it mind games. The prisoners buy into what they believe is God's help, and it's this belief that gives them the strength to change, but the strength actually comes from within themselves. It's like that old song lyric: "Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man that he didn't already have." People are taught to depend on the Wizard, when it should be themselves.

Take Beauty and the Beast, for example. Bad boy meets nice girl, falls in love with her, and she with him, so that he's slowly changed from a hairy-ape kind of guy to a refined young gentleman like myself. [General laughter] But it's her love and belief in him that transform him from a beast into a civilized person!

Student: I'm not sure I understand why human reasons wouldn't be enough to lead a good life. Take the idea that virtue is its own reward. You don't drink, do drugs, or dissipate yourself, not for some religious reason but because refraining from these activities keeps you from an early grave. Or you keep to the right path because you don't want to go to jail. Or you're good because you want to be kind to people or help them, or it's the right thing to do, or it gives you a good feeling, not because you'll go to heaven for it.

Student: But some people are good because they do love God and want to please him by doing his will.

Student: But why not be good because it's the right thing to do? Being good because you love God and want to please him is fine, of course, but why not because you just want to help people? Why bring God into it when just being human should be enough? It's like they lack a human compassion gene and need a religious reason to be good. Why not help your fellow human beings because it's simply part of your basic humanity?

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Student: I don't think you understand. Would most people give up their entire lives to become missionaries and live among the poor in foreign countries out of love for their fellow human beings? If it were that easy, why don't more people do it? [Silence]

Because missionaries are motivated by a love of God and believe that being a missionary pleases him. You have to admit that giving up a comfortable middle-class lifestyle is pretty extreme. Doing good because "it's the right thing to do" just wouldn't cut it. You need more than a human motive in cases like this. Missionaries do it because they see God in the people they're helping.

Student: Some people just have a temperament for "doing good" because it gives them a warm fuzzy like helping an old lady across the street, and that's great. They're helping people, but I'd say that's their temperament. It's something that comes easily to them and doesn't really cost them anything. I think that something's good only if it costs you something or goes against human inertia, not because it gives you a fuzzy feeling, which is kind of self-serving when you think about it.

But not everybody's like that. It takes real effort to be good because they're surrounded by so much bad example, and for these people a good feeling when doing good would leave them cold. These people need a religious motive that will help them overcome a natural human disinclination to help total strangers on the other side of the world, a motive like believing that God wants them to. [Silence]

Teacher: What about these examples? You give millions to charity because you want the publicity. Somebody else does the same thing, but anonymously. In both cases people are helped. Are they both good deeds? Or you do something which you think will help people and then, through no fault of your own, you end up hurting them. Or, conversely, you want to hurt people and then something happens and you wind up helping them? Are these good deeds? Or the only reason you help people is that you want them to think you're a good person or that it will help your business?

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Student: No disrespect, but I think we're looking at this all wrong. Everything we've been discussing so far has been in terms of personal morality which, while important, pales in significance when compared to far more important issues like polluting the environment, bank fraud, corporate crimes, contributing to global warming, corrupt government, and social injustice, all of which cause widespread human suffering. These are very important matters that affect millions of people!

Why don't these kinds of crime receive the same degree of attention that individual crime does on the 6 o'clock news? It's like somebody wants us to ignore these larger social crimes that affect an entire community or population by stressing personal morality like the Ten Commandments to distract us from going after the real criminals? Why don't the media, the courts, government, and the churches speak out continually against these crimes where whole communities suffer rather than fixating on someone who robs the corner store?

Student: Well, you first have to reform people's personal morals before they'll stop committing those larger crimes.

Student: I don't think so. You just have to put them in jail, because these people will never reform. It's like waiting for Godot - it's just never going to happen, no matter how long you preach the Ten Commandments.

Student: I think that people can change as individuals, but not when they belong to institutions, which bring out the worst in people. Institutions resist change by buying off their critics! You can't change institutions, but you can put their leaders in jail! [Silence]

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Student: Not to change the subject, but say there were magical rings that could make their wearers invisible, so that they could do whatever they wanted without detection. If someone had such a ring, would they continue to be good? [Long silence]

Student: Well, if you're asking whether people are good only because they're under surveillance, the answer's simple. Remember back in middle school when the teacher stepped out of class for a moment to speak to someone who had come to the door, and all hell broke loose? [General laughter]

Student: Be serious. If you were invisible and entered someone's home to listen to everything they said and did or to rob them, that would be wrong.

Student: But that's not what the question is asking, but would people be good if they could be invisible and get away with being bad?

Student: I'm sure that some of them would because they were never good to begin with, but only playacting, but this is really frightening. [Silence]

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Student: It's kind of creepy when you think about it -- having someone invisible right in your home and eavesdropping on whatever you said and whatever you did like Big Brother, as though we were living under constant surveillance in some kind of police state.
It's hard for small, local businesses to succeed in big cities when they are surrounded by huge corporations that compete for the same markets. It takes some time for a company to make a name and a reputation for themselves, but they still have to pay the bills.

I interviewed Binu Girija, Founder of Way.com, which stands for What Amazes You. They have been connecting thousands of both local and major vendors with customers and tourists looking for more fun and less hassle in their lifestyle. Movies, concerts, culinary experiences and family activities are just a few taps away with way.com. And your lifestyle hassles to experience fun are taken care of. For example, parking near the fun made simple and easy or airport shuttling to your Hawaiian getaway at the tap of a button. They have witnessed firsthand how important it can be for small businesses to have a helping hand in getting connected with customers. Binu is going to help us understand some of the struggles small businesses face, and how they can overcome them.

What do you think is the biggest struggle for small, local businesses?

Awareness is a big struggle. Without, or with limited marketing budget, it takes time and a lot of creative thinking to build awareness of your brand. You need to standout to be noticed. You need to find what makes you unique. What best represents who you are as a business, your core identity. This is a journey for small businesses, not something that happens overnight.

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What is the best way for local businesses to attract customers?

Amaze every first-time customer. When you deliver an amazing experience, you win. You get existing customers to socialize your services. To talk to their friends and family about what you did so amazingly well for them. You create word of mouth. You attract customers at no cost. This is the ideal way to attract new customers and build a sustainable business in our local community.

By connecting customers to local businesses, how do you think you are benefitting small communities?

I believe we are benefitting communities in several ways. We help small business owners gain the awareness I was talking about in my answer to your first question. We drive traffic to small businesses' doors that can turn into repeat business. We help grow our local business community. This also creates new local employment opportunities. As businesses grow, they need to increase their workforce to keep on being successful.

Why do you think it is so hard for smaller businesses to attract tourists to their businesses?

Tourists do not live locally by definition. It's hard to capture a volatile audience. Sustainable business is built over time on repeat customers, power users as we call them in the mobile world. So to capture a tourist audience, you need to be aggressive on the short term promotions you put out in the marketplace. This is a way to catch them on the fly if the image makes sense.

By offering discounts or promotions, do you think customers are more likely to support local businesses, rather than chain stores that offer lower prices?

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Yes, as I mentioned it, aggressive short term promotions, such as coupons, can be a good way to get prospective customers at your door. You can actually create a strong incentive for people to engage in a first time experience with your product or service. Now, you have a chance to delight them to turn them into regular local customers. You will need to exceed their expectations, when compared to what they have experienced at chain stores, to win them over for the long run.

How can small businesses make sure that they turn first time visitors into repeat visitors?

Do something amazing for them. This is by the way what we seek to communicate in our tagline for way. We deliver What Amazes You. On tap lifestyle services to make your life simpler. More fun. Less hassle. You only have one shot at that. So don't waste it. Do one thing so exceptionally well that you will turn every first time visitor into a lifetime customer.

What do you think is the most important thing a company can do to make a good first impression on their customers?

Exceed their expectations. When you deliver the best experience, you wow your customer. You create an emotion that will persist in customers' mind for a very long time. You build your awareness from delivering exceptionally well on your brand promise. This is very important for any company to understand. A key to unlocking ongoing business growth.

Where can someone reach you at?
Water and sacred land protectors near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota are facing a formidable foe. Months of prayerful and peaceful protest have come under additional assault with the sale of private land adjoining the protest area to Dakota Access LLC. The Dakota Access Pipeline now owns the Cannonball Ranch, where there are known and unknown burial grounds. This puts additional mapping of spiritual sites essential to tribal identity in jeopardy. Adding to the insult and uncertainty, there is a 1500-foot easement on either side of the property, according to protest spokespeople.

In an emotional appeal yesterday at the Protecting Native Land and Resources, Rejecting North Dakota Pipeline Forum, Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II invoked the memory of Sitting Bull as he pleaded for a future that includes clean water for future generations.

Sitting Bull came from Standing Rock and one the most famous quotes that he has is, "Let's put our minds together and see what we can build for our children." So today as this is the topic, something that guides us in our decision-making as leaders: We are putting our minds together so that the kids, the ones not yet born, have something better than what we have today.

At the same forum, Archambault broke the news that the Cannonball Ranch was sold to the pipeline company.

So the owner of the Cannonball Ranch, where we're demonstrating, what we're protecting, has now been sold to the pipeline company so it's really disturbing to me because the intention is all wrong. Without having any further review and without understanding what the process was... it's not fair. It's not right and the company is going to try to move forward without any consideration of tribes.

This move by DAPL interests is more than unfair, especially since the Sioux Nation has followed the letter of the law in opposing this assault on their safety and sovereignty. Prayers have been met with attack dogs, blockades re-routing traffic routes to the reservation, low flying planes constantly buzzing the encampments of the water protectors, and the militarization of roads by the National Guard.

The whole world is watching, but will goodwill overcome the deep pockets of DAPL interests?

This week, the Tribal Chairman spoke before a United Nations human rights forum in Geneva Switzerland. Archambault addressed the 49-member Council in a brief testimony where he asked "all parties to stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline."

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Sovereign rights established by treaty are ignored on a daily basis. The courts have failed the Sioux Nation.

The land sale explains in part why the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a gag order that comes from the Washington D.C. Headquarters, according to a source we spoke to at Corps headquarters.

Last week the Corps issued a Special Use Permit to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. In somewhat obtuse language the press release said the permit "allows the Tribe to gather to engage in a lawful free speech demonstration on Federal lands designated in the permit.

The "special permit" issued to the tribe for assembly and free speech on the south side of the Cannonball River, but not the north side where the main camp is established, now makes sense. The permit cited vague "grazing rights," but it seems clear now that the Corps knew about the imminent land sale and the easement.

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In another "fait accompli" similar to the bulldozing of ancestral gravesites, DAPL has signed the papers and transferred the money. Another worthless "treaty" with the People, fraught with trickery, can now be added to the misery inflicted upon the Sioux Nation.

Constant emails and phone calls to the press officer in charge of inquiries regarding the special permit have gone unanswered. Phone messages left for personnel in other departments go unreturned. It seems the gag order remains in full effect.
In 2005, after I had applied for the Masters in Mediation program at Woodbury College, I sat down with the Admissions Director for an informational interview. "Would the program involve much conflict?" I asked her. In retrospect, how embarrassing. A mediator's main job is to be calm in the midst of sometimes stormy conflicts, helping disputants move toward mutually acceptable solutions.

I got in the program anyway and fell in love with conflict theory, my first deep foray into brain science and human behavior. One of my favorite books was The Power of A Positive No by William Ury. For many of us, saying "no" is just as welcome as entering into conflict. In fact, it sometimes is entering into conflict, or at least bringing the dispute to light -- even if the whole thing is only within our own heads ("no, you cannot have that cake!" "but I want it!"). Ury makes saying "no" much easier by asking us to consider, when we say no, what are we saying "yes" to?power-of-positive-no

That may be a simplification of Ury's book, but this basic question has served me well whenever a no was emotionally difficult, inconvenient, and/or requiring some level of sacrifice. Though Ury's subtitle, "Save the Deal, Save the Relationship and Still Say No," focuses on interpersonal conflict, I have found the positive no formula helpful in many situations. For example, I have said no to quite a few things that I previously enjoyed -- nail polish, hair driers, meat (mostly), clothing driers, etc. -- because the "yes" is so much bigger: a clean, livable climate for future generations. Then again, we all are in relationship with the climate, with the generations who will follow us, even with our own consciences. Maybe it is all about relationships after all.

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In any case, this is not just a personal tool -- saying no to get to yes can be powerful with big picture disputes as well. The Standing Rock Sioux protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline is an inspiring example. I don't want to speak for the determined water protectors, but what I see is a strong no to the pipeline, no to fossil fuel infrastructure, and no to the possibility of a devastating pipeline break and oil spill -- all based on an unwavering yes to water, to life, to future generations, and to sacred lands and spiritual traditions.

Of course, a positive no is more complex than simply focusing on yes, because we all are in relationship with one another. It is often both desirable and advisable to consider other options. For the global climate action movement, for example, it is insufficient to just say no to the hardworking women and men in the fossil fuel industry. We do need to say no to fossil fuels, for sure -- but these folks need jobs and incomes. For sure. Thus the climate action movement also advocates for a just economy with alternative livelihoods for these families and communities -- such as, building green energy infrastructure.

On a personal happiness level, sometimes yes is just yes. Whether it's practicing meditation, being a better listener, or simply smiling more, many positive psychology tools don't require saying no.

Frequently, though, no has an important role to play. I love pretty clothing and shiny trinkets, but I can usually reject their lure thanks to my well-rooted yes to saving the planet as best I can. My no to stuff is sometimes challenging, but it ultimately makes me happy for at least three reasons:

Our brains are not happy when we act in discord with our values and morals. Doing what my own brain believes is the right thing increases my happiness. The happiness hit from buying stuff is short lived. There are always prettier clothes and shinier trinkets. Limiting my spending also means liberating some of my time. Since I am not working simply to pay a department store credit card, I am freer to choose a career based on passion, not paycheck.

Sometimes the yes precedes an inevitable no

. When my daughter was nearing the end of her pregnancy, I absolutely said yes to driving from Vermont to Alabama to be there for her in the weeks before and after she gave birth. This meant saying no to the Happiness Paradigm Store and Experience, an enterprise I had started less than six months earlier. I shut it down for two months, just when I should have been building the new business. Instead, I built a closer relationship with my daughter and a deep, deep bond with my grandchild. It was a good happiness choice for us all.

Back to the systems level, I think the power of a positive no may be even more helpful as we move toward a gross national happiness paradigm. To embrace policies and political and economic philosophies based on a holistic "yes!" to the maximum well being for all people and the planet will require some really tough "no's" to the dominance of a consumerism-obsessed, money focused, growth economy-insistent, gross national product way of thinking. To state the obvious, it will not be easy.

Big jobs are easier broken into bite size pieces. The Bhutanese, who have a gross national happiness system in place, have done that for us, dividing the big picture into nine "domains" -- areas where government policy can best support well being. The nine are: psychological well-being, physical health, time balance, community vitality, education, culture, environment, good government, and standard of living.

Not that any of these is really bite sized. Still, this division makes it a bit easier to envision what to say no to, and what the yes might be. Take trust in government for example. I suspect there is a broad consensus for saying no! to the corrupting influence of money in politics, in order to say yes to healthier democracy. However, since, campaigns will still need to be financed, the no is insufficient without an alternative vision -- like public financing of congressional campaigns.

This example, like so many others, provides no panacea. Money will find a way to seep back in. John Gardner, the founder of Common Cause, once quipped that those who reform systems and those who scheme to undermine those reforms should make an appointment to meet up several years after the reforms are passed -- because, by then, it will time for new reforms.

Obviously, gross national happiness advocates are not trying to create a utopia. Rather, while we say no to a framework that no longer supports well being for either people or the planet, we say yes to new definitions of success that are more complete, more sustainable, and much happier for many more people.

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America has the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world. We do not possess "one of the highest" corporate rates. Our corporate rate is number one.

Our combined federal and state tax rate is more than 39 percent. China taxes businesses at a rate of 17 percent. The European average is 25 percent. The United Kingdom is 20 percent. Ireland is just 12.5 percent. It is often nice to be the biggest or largest, but not when the issue is "who has the highest tax rate?"

America is also one of the few countries with a worldwide taxation system rather than a territorial system. If you are an American company, you pay taxes when you earn income overseas and then our government taxes you again. Together those two uniquely stupid and destructive policies are forcing American companies to move overseas through a corporate inversion or leaving them vulnerable to be purchased by foreign firms.

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The solution should be obvious -- fix these two problems by passing pro-growth tax reform. In their recently released "Better Way" Tax Reform blueprint, House Republicans call for updating the tax code to 20 percent - 5 below the European average, and implement a territorial system that ends the double taxation of our businesses.

Every 0.1 percent of additional economic growth can lead to as much as $286 billion in extra federal revenue - all without raising taxes - so this plan smartly prioritizes economic growth and simplification.

In contrast, Obama has refused to act over the past eight years and has derided the American competitiveness problem as a "race to the bottom." Hillary Clinton is set to follow his lead and continue to ignore the problem.

Hillary has already proposed more than $1 trillion in new taxes and looks set to follow Obama's path in pushing for destructive policies. Clinton has also called for an exit tax on businesses that are forced to leave the country and has suggested further complex regulations to crack down on businesses.

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Year after year, the Obama White House claimed they understood the high rates were making it impossible, or difficult, for American companies to compete. But instead of addressing the problem, Obama called for a new tax on income earned by American businesses overseas and new regulations to trap our businesses.

Now, in his final months of office Obama is using the inversion "problem" as an excuse to push excessive regulations that give unaccountable IRS officials power over business investment decisions. These new debt-equity regulations will do nothing to stop the underlying problem that is driving inversions.

Inversions are occurring because our tax code is outdated that business cannot compete with foreign competitors. In the past decade, close to 50 American businesses have left the country through an inversion while we have also lost $179 billion worth of assets through acquisitions by foreign competitors.

Other countries understand that they have an opportunity to steal our businesses and high-paying jobs and are aggressively introducing pro-growth tax systems. 31 of 34 countries in the developed world have reduced their rates this century. We have not. The United Kingdom plans to reduce their corporate tax rate to 18 percent by 2020. Dozens of our competitors have proposed or created "innovation boxes" that give a lower tax rate to businesses that create high paying, IP intensive jobs.

The problem is only going to get worse if we do nothing. Obama has refused to act to address America's competitiveness problem throughout his presidency, and Hillary has already shown she will be no different. New regulations will only compound the problem and result in more of our iconic businesses leaving or being acquired.
In April 2015, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu met in Dharamsala for a historic conversation about joy. The Book of Joy (on sale now) chronicles the week-long discussion. Learn more at bookofjoy.org and on social media with hashtag #sharethejoy.

"This question comes from Micah in South Africa. She asks, 'How can you be of service to people, nature, and causes in need without losing yourself completely to a crisis mentality? How can we help the world heal and still find joy in our own life?'"

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"My younger brother, here, go first," the Archbishop said.

"I think you know better."

The Archbishop laughed. "This is the first time, please note, that he said I know better."

"Is the question about Africa?" the Dalai Lama inquired.

"No, this is about the world."

"Okay," the Dalai Lama said, preparing to answer. "Now, I am always sharing with people that the problems we are facing today are very difficult to solve. An entire generation has been brought up with a certain mentality, with a certain way of life. So when we think about the future, how to build healthy humanity, we really have to think about how we create a new generation of citizens with a different kind of mind-set. Here education really is the key. Christianity has wonderful teachings, so does Buddhism, but these teachings and approaches are not sufficient.

"Now secular education is universal. So now we must include in formal education of our youth some teaching of compassion and basic ethics, not on the basis of religious belief but on the basis of scientific findings and our common sense and our universal experience. Just complaining about the present situation is not much help. It is very difficult to deal with our current world crises because of our basic mentality. As you mentioned, your father was usually a very good man, but when he was drunk he behaved badly. Today I think many human beings are drunk. They have too many negative emotions like greed, fear, and anger dominating their minds. So they act like drunk people.

"The only way out of this drunken stupor is to educate children about the value of compassion and the value of applying our mind. We need a long-term approach rooted in a vision to address our collective global challenges. This would require a fundamental shift in human consciousness, something only education is best suited to achieve. Time never waits. So I think it is very important that we start now. Then maybe the new generation will be in a position to solve these global problems in their lifetime. We, the elder generation, have created a lot of problems in the twentieth century. The generations of the twenty-first century will have to find the solutions for them."

"I mean, people are fundamentally compassionate," the Archbishop said, coming back to one of his core points.

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The Dalai Lama jumped in. "Yes. That is the basis of our hope."

"I am speaking," the Archbishop shot back, playfully.

The Dalai Lama laughed.

"Even the most selfish person," the Archbishop continued, "must have a modicum of compassion for his family. So we're not speaking about something alien. We are saying that we have discovered that we are interdependent."

"Actually, Archbishop," I said, trying to bring our focus back to the topic, "this question is for people who feel that interdependence profoundly and are so compassionate that it makes them world-sick and heartsick. This person wants to know how she can find joy in her life while there are so many who are suffering."

"Yes. Very good," he said, looking down and reflecting on the question. "As an old man, I can say: Start where you are, and realize that you are not meant on your own to resolve all of these massive problems. Do what you can. It seems so obvious. And you will be surprised, actually, at how it can get to be catching.

"There are very many, many people--I mean, my heart leaps with joy at discovering the number of people--who care. How many people walked in New York City for the environment? Imean, it was incredible. Nobody was going to pay them anything. But there they were in droves. There are many, many people who care. And you will be surprised when you begin to say, Well, I would like to do something relating to the aged. You will be surprised at the number people who come forward and want to help. Why are there so many NGOs? I mean, it is people who say, We want to make a better world. We don't have to be so negative.

"Hey, remember you are not alone, and you do not need to finish the work. It takes time, but we are learning, we are growing, we are becoming the people we want to be. It helps no one if you sacrifice your joy because others are suffering. We people who care must be attractive, must be filled with joy, so that others recognize that caring, that helping and being generous are not a burden, they are a joy. Give the world your love, your service, your healing, but you can also give it your joy. This, too, is a great gift."

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Net zero energy buildings--those that are responsible for the production of as much (or more) clean energy as they use annually--have been gaining momentum around the world, and continue to grow in popularity. Companies like REI, which recently completed a net zero distribution center in Arizona, are using net zero buildings as a way to save energy and money while deepening their brand's commitment to sustainability. We at Rocky Mountain Institute built our net zero headquarters, the Innovation Center, in Basalt, Colorado to show that a high-performance building could be achieved in the coldest climate zone in the U.S.

Despite these and other success stories, a common perception remains that achieving net zero energy, is too expensive or comes at a prohibitively higher cost than conventional construction. This perceived cost barrier is the primary reasons why net zero remains a niche market.

By 'thinking bigger,' and approaching net zero at the scale of an entire college campus or community, the economics change. You can optimize technologies and costs to achieve a better outcome than what can be achieved by taking a building-by-building approach to net zero (or making each individual building net zero in it's own right). We are starting to see this concept take hold with planned net zero districts like Fort Collins's Fort ZED and Arizona State University. But even at this scale, the perception that they cost more will prevent this idea from ever really taking hold.



A new business model presented by Rocky Mountain Institute in An Integrated Business Model for Net Zero Energy Districts debunks this perception and demonstrates the financial, performance, and environmental opportunities of net zero developments. When the concept of net zero is applied at a district scale, the benefits expand as quickly as the district's carbon footprint shrinks. Net zero developments can be structured to cost the same as traditional, lower-performing developments to build, and over time they can produce new income for developers and investors without transferring any additional cost burdens to property owners or their tenants. For cities looking to attract high quality tenants, net zero developments are a draw because they are better for occupants and the environment, offering improved performance, cleaner air, and more resilient communities.

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The paper's model was developed for a 180-acre mixed use development on a former industrial site in Pittsburgh to help establish the community as a leader in sustainability, resilience, and revitalization. By attracting top tenants, it can help catapult the city as a whole--which is already experiencing its own revitalization and tech boom--to new heights in innovation and leadership. What's more, this net zero development will use 450 billion btu less energy per year compared with the base-case design, saving 60,000+ metric tons of carbon emissions and delivering on the development's commitment to environmental stewardship.



Capturing "Quadruple Bottom Line Benefits"

Committing to and delivering a financially viable net zero energy district requires buy in from and coordination among many parties, including municipal governments, investors, developers, architects, utilities, and anchor tenants. Fortunately, net zero districts can put in place certain measures that present unique and powerful value propositions for more stakeholders than a typical development project, helping these players rally behind shared outcomes and increasing the likelihood of success. Here's a breakdown of the "whys" and "hows:"

Developers: Get a leg up on the competition, with a better product at the same cost

Net zero districts can be built at or below the cost of conventional developments by shifting on-site renewable energy ownership to a third-party (like a power purchase agreement where someone else owns the the panels themselves, and you purchase the clean energy they produce at a lower cost than purchasing them from the electric utility), establishing a district-wide heating and cooling system (instead of installing heating and cooling capacity in individual buildings), and creating on-bill financing mechanisms to recover the incremental cost of energy efficiency installed in individual buildings. These cost elements removed from the first cost of individual buildings become an incremental third party investment opportunity Additionally for the developer high-performance buildings will typically yield higher sale prices or rents, especially so when not burdened with a higher first cost.

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Investors: Take advantage of a low-risk, high-reward, and environmentally responsible investment opportunity

Net zero energy business models are financially attractive to investors because the large capital

investments in solar photovoltaics (PV), district heating and cooling, and energy efficiency are repaid over time on utility bills, generating a steady return that benefits from enhanced credit because of the utility-customer relationship.

Tenants: Get a better, cutting-edge space at a lower cost

For tenants, net zero districts are attractive not only because the sum of their payments for supply of solar PV, district heating and cooling, and energy efficiency can be lower than the simple energy bill in conventional developments, but also because the buildings are healthier and more comfortable for occupants. As an added benefit, tenants can also burnish their sustainability credentials.

District-scale developments are uniquely positioned to be a major driver of the next generation of high-performance buildings--while slashing the carbon impact of building stock and creating cleaner, more resilient communities and cities. When the design of these developments is approached holistically, net zero can be achieved without introducing the risk of financial compromise. Each element of this business model may not pertain to every large-scale development, but implementing certain components of the model can still be valuable, making such developments attractive to investors, developers, and tenants alike--increasing the likelihood that better buildings and communities scale now, and quickly.
Rowan Douglas

Chairman, Willis Research Network

Australian rugby legend Michael Hawker, who by that time was running the major underwriter IAG, once described insurance as the 'ultimate community product'. Over a decade later, as I sat in a converted Berlin gasometer supporting German G7 proposals to extend climate risk insurance to 400 million people by 2020, those words chimed loudly.

Insurance is the big new idea. It's been around for ages but we've forgotten all about it. That's about to change. In June 2015, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon opened the first ever UN Insurance Sector Summit in New York, in recognition of the central role that insurance will play in delivering climate security, long-term investment and sustainable development for all.

From weather risk to health, from the smallest microinsurance customer to the largest corporate client, insurance creates an inspiring international support system. It provides a way to manage and share risk between populations at local and global scales, via public, private and mutual mechanisms, enabling us to care for one another and thereby underpin our human dignity.

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Supporting and nurturing human dignity and meaningful human lives is at the heart of inclusive capitalism. The risksharing that insurance brings is essential to this. But, even more important perhaps, is the detailed and sophisticated understanding and management of climate and seismic risk that the insurance sector has developed over time.

We face unprecedented levels of natural disaster risk, mostly, but not entirely, due to our increasing exposure to climaterelated extremes. This will increase. Much of this risk is not factored into either corporate or investment decision-making. For this current and future risk to be adequately managed - and for capital to flow in ways that will ensure resilience - it must first be adequately evaluated and accounted.

As a way of ensuring their own resilience to climate and disaster risks, re/insurers have developed sophisticated models for managing natural catastrophe risk. For almost a quarter of a century these have also been used by insurance regulators, auditors, credit rating agencies and investment analysts to ascertain and verify that insurers are secure and can keep their promises.
I was in the Twin Cities this week to speak about racial equity and "Building A Bridge to a New America" at Augsburg College, a Lutheran college committed to diversity, where almost 50 percent of the incoming freshman class are students of color. Just as we delved into honest and hopeful conversations about action for racial justice -- as we have in meetings in 30 cities now -- this week's terrible news brought us back to the dire and urgent nature of new national and local conversations on racism, white privilege, and the killing of people of color by law enforcement.

When I saw the video from the police car and helicopter of Terence Crutcher's killing, I felt such profound grief and, yes, outrage once again. Here was yet another black man -- another father of young children -- who from all appearances was complying with police instructions and posed no imminent threat, his hands up and in plain view; seconds later, he was crumpled on the ground next to his stalled car. The video evidence also suggests that the law enforcement officers who shot him waited more than two minutes before attempting to render medical assistance. The audio from the helicopter is telling: "That looks like a bad dude, too. Probably on something," a voice says from the air. Does anybody really believe that police would have drawn such a conclusion if Terence Crutcher had been a white man slowly walking back to his stalled car?

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Keith Lamont Scott's death in Charlotte on Tuesday came on the heels of public outrage over Crutcher's death. While there are conflicting narratives -- police have said Scott was armed, while witnesses maintain he was reading in his car -- the community is understandably outraged. Protests that began peacefully unfortunately turned violent Tuesday and Wednesday nights, prompting the mayor to declare a state of emergency and the governor to deploy the National Guard.

The pain and rage felt by the black communities in Charlotte and Tulsa is something we all need to understand and empathize with. Community leaders, including local clergy I have spoken to, are feeling the emotions on the ground and are calling for transparency and justice and for peaceful protests. The lack of trust felt by communities of color toward law enforcement is so deep and has so often proven justified.

The protests that break out on the streets in the aftermaths of killings are not just about the latest individual case, but the lack of trust in a system of policing and criminal justice that justice needs to be put back into. The protests are about accountability in an age where police who use excessive force and act outside the law that they pledge to protect are almost never held accountable.

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In Minnesota, I came prepared to reflect with the community there on the painful and prominent local examples of deadly interactions between the police and people of color. Philando Castile's inexplicable killing by a police officer this summer shocked the nation as its aftermath was streamed live by his girlfriend Diamond Reynolds, with her little girl's devastating words of comfort "I'm right here with you, mommy" seared into the memories and consciousness of so many of us.

But we also found ourselves discussing the very complicated issues raised by the stabbings at the St. Cloud mall. Dahir Adan, a 20-year-old young man who immigrated from Somalia as a 3-month-old baby with his family, stabbed 10 people at the mall -- none fatally -- before being shot and killed by an off-duty police officer. In the hours after the attack, a news agency for ISIS claimed responsibility, though so far discussions with Adan's family and the people who knew him have yielded little evidence to explain how, why, or if he had been radicalized or inspired by the terrorist group. The stabbings happened in the context of a town that has a sizeable Somali population that has sometimes found itself targeted for racist and Islamophobic abuse. Somali teenagers at local high schools have seemingly been among the most frequent targets for this abuse, staging a walkout a few months ago to protest what they described as constant bullying. Whether Dahir Adan was ever a target of such bullying is unknown, as is what ultimately motivated him to go on violent rampage.

Displays of unity among white and Somali St. Cloud residents were reported this week, but so was anti-Somali and anti-Muslim backlash, including a restaurant owner in the southern part of the state posting a sign reading "Muslims get out," and reports of trucks with white men waving Confederate flags roaring through Somali neighborhoods in St. Cloud. We need to remember that it can be simultaneously distressing to know that some Somali youths in Minnesota have been radicalized online -- with some leaving the country to join ISIS or al-Shabab -- but also morally repugnant to blame, intimidate, and abuse the Somali immigrant community as a whole.

All of these incidents point to the need for trust-building and trust earning between law enforcement institutions and communities that face not just historical oppression but current oppression. That trust building starts with honest "truth talks" like those that happened today at Berea College in Kentucky, where I gave a convocation. The two texts I used: the words of the police officer in the helicopter who looked down at Terence Crutcher and labeled him " a bad dude;" and with Romans 2:11, which says "God does not show partiality."

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But our policing and criminal justice system undeniably does show partiality. And until that changes, we will suffer the police-caused deaths of more black and brown people -- and more conflict and violence.

I remember thinking that my new book America's Original Sin would be painfully timely -- but the pain gets worse and worse. In the context of these continuing horrific events, conversations about race and faith are needed more than ever. I am told that many discussions are already happening, using the book as a conversation starter within, between, and outside of congregations. To build on that momentum, I am providing a space to have these conversations together -- online. I'd like to encourage all of you to join me in continuing and deepening discussions around the issues I explored in America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America. Next Thursday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m., you can join me on Facebook Live for the first in a series of conversations that we're calling " Race, Faith and 2016." We will talk each Thursday night between now and Election Day about how issues of race and faith are playing out in society today and are reflected in this fall's political campaigns.
The war of terror being fought by ISIS has a parallel battle of information - a battle for hearts, minds and recruits on the one hand, and to amplify the terror and the horror on the other. And that battle is a very 21st-century one. Digitally-led; driven by imagery; massively branded and targeted, it is, brutal, efficient and effective.

By any stretch, they have an 'impressive' media operation and that sophistication feeds the fear. These people are not hot heads with guns; these are people with a plan, and the ability to carry it out. This doesn't fit our template of a terrorist. Terrorists don't have editorial schedules and branded content and defined attempts at user engagement. But look beyond the horror and the incongruity, and this all becomes strangely familiar.

ISIS recognised very early on the opportunity that the digital revolution provided. The ability to create and distribute content is a democratising and liberating force, but its power was grotesquely reflected back to us in the use of videos and photographs of atrocities and their adoption of a range of platforms: from social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook, peer-to-peer messaging apps like Telegram and Surespot and content systems such as JustPasteit.

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The fluid organisation of ISIS was reflected in its media operations, with accounts and content created, distributed and uploaded right across their intended Caliphate, from West Africa through the Middle East. Last year, the Quilliam Foundation estimated that ISIS releases an average of 38 news items a day - and that includes 20-minute videos, audio clips, photo essays and prose in a range of languages that match its geographical ambitions.

The digital-only output is driven by the most basic of modern truisms - the world is getting more digital and, rather more importantly, more mobile. We're no longer tethered to desktops and laptops. The growth of the mobile web (and mobile apps) means that information can be received everywhere, and at any time, and that radically shifts the way an organisation communicates - leaning heavily on video and short-form content and delivering 24/7, rather than the old press office model of scheduling around media print and broadcast schedules.

Mobile-led content is no longer inferior in quality to traditional broadcast - huge improvements in production tools have seen to that, and the growth of far greater connectivity means that the content can be viewed increasingly easily too.

With mobility comes sociability - the digital spaces in which we spend our time are now based around service (Uber, Amazon, etc.); around aggregation (Spotify) or around user content and conversation (YouTube, Twitter, Vine and the rest). The large information brands occupy less and less of our attention. Where content used to be in the hands of the few - newspapers, radio and TV, it's now in the hands of the many, and it's shared amongst the many too. So ideas which would have been stifled through a lack of oxygen even ten years ago can now fly, driven by people who would never have had a platform or an audience, but who now have huge reach to drive their messages. It is the most complex information economy we've ever seen and it's getting more and more complex, and driven by increasing data and understanding (and therefore targeting of the vulnerable demographic). It gives us all freedom of speech, but that doesn't come without a cost.

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And that's the stuff that's easy to track - the rise of the messenger apps, the chat apps, the VOIP apps means that the conversations that were once easy to follow from the outside suddenly go underground.The assumption is that messenger apps will overtake social networks to become the world's most active social platforms in the next 18 months. That provides a huge challenge in this context. The conversations are private, and often encrypted, so you can track or join conversations as you can on social. It's harder to insert yourself into those spaces.

Put this landscape into a digital marketing agency in London or New York, and they'd be wholly comfortable. The use of social media by ISIS is actually pretty standard: There is a progression for all brands from ISIS to Red Bull (with apologies to them too for the comparison) which goes from brand awareness (the shock and awe) to first contact (the call to arms, often fuelled by religious fervor) to repeat contacts (grooming, and again based on a call to religious duty) to recruitment (which is when the conversation moves to the messenger apps). That moves the customer, the target from awareness to interest to desire to action. And it's done through outreach and targeting and through "good'' content amplified through social media, which also provides the platform for engagement and contact.

The challenge for Western agencies, working both overtly and covertly is therefore to disrupt that flow. In public channels, that can be done by offering counter-narratives. In messenger-style apps, that's necessarily covert work, done by proxies - agents and trusted third parties, who could also be unwitting carriers of those messages.

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So it becomes a battle of ideas, and that starts with perception of the 'brand'. You might think that there needs to be no "brand awareness" of ISIS. They are already pretty famous. But the awareness they drive is a different one to that presented on the TV news. It's a classic brand dilemma - the media portray you differently to how you want to be seen, so how to create a different image for those you want to recruit to your side. Step one is the classic media conspiracy approach - you can trust nothing that these people tell you, except the bits we like, of course. So the pictures of atrocities, which they like, are encouraged. At the same time they build an idea of the life of those recruits - the Jihadi cool approach, which is all black t shirts, sunglasses and guns. It is, in short, aspirational.

The counter-narrative to this has been designed to show that the reality of life as an ISIS fighter is grim. Hunger, suffering and death are about as good as it gets. But there's no point the government telling you this - the people they are targeting don't trust them, their messaging is often clumsy and culturally leaden-footed. What works better is a trusted third party. if it's ISIS, then that third party would almost need to share the religious and cultural values of the demographic we're fighting over. The work of the Quillam Foundation provides one such example, not least because they can also offer a viewpoint of an alternative choice - a view of the West in which Islam can flourish, rather than fight.

After awareness comes contact, often religious calls to arms or to duty. The sort of siren call that lured three British girls from Hackney to Syria. Again, the counter-narrative has been about the reality, with the deliverers having the credibility to deliver - take Sara Khan's open letter to the Muslim girls of the UK, pointing to a rather different reality, and, again, to a different way for girls in such a position to live their lives, just as devoutly, but not as violently.

In that context, the attitude of social media companies (the hosts of such messages) is important. While Facebook and Twitter maintain that they delete terrorist and sympathetic accounts from their platform, they are still heavily reliant on users flagging those accounts. At the same time, wholesale deletion can be counter-productive, removing the opportunity for security agencies to track individuals and head the hints they are giving about planned activity. There's no easy answer.

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Google, meanwhile, has been experimenting with adding links to terrorist-related searches which push users to the counter-narrative. That's no small thing for them - they rely on us believing that they are an agnostic deliverer of search results (however much that is gamed by the SEO process). But they claim success in significant numbers of users being diverted to content designed to push them away from ISIS and the like.

But all too soon, the conversation has moved from public to private - the encrypted messenger services. This is where it gets tricky. If the connection is made here, then the real one-to-one or one-to-few persuasion starts in personal conversations or group chats. By the time the connection is being made on surespot, Telegram, Threema and other platforms, then it is getting serious. And persuading the platforms to tackle the issue is tricky. All of them would lose their business model the second they handed over conversations or data to security agencies.

This is where the conversation gets detailed, the persuasion heavy and the opportunity to turn it to detail and logistics becomes tempting. It is, in short grooming. There are groups where the instructions to either travel to war zones or to undertake action in their own countries is detailed and frightening. This is hard core. Infiltration would seem to be the only response. The use of a trusted messenger to divert messages can interrupt the flow of conversation, niggle away at the trust and break the bonds that people have created. Tricky, detailed, morally-compromising work. By the time it gets to that stage, it's beyond the triteness of branded social media campaigns and into a different kind of work.

The step beyond that - the action taken is not the purchase of a pair of running shoes, but the purchase of a weapon or a ticket to Syria. By that stage, the logic of the consumer funnel has fallen away, these are not rational decisions, not by 'normal' measures at least. The ideal of the content strategy to encourage peaceful behaviour moves from 'optimistic' to fanciful'. The logic of the consumer wars only goes so far in this model of real wars.

But when the digital campaigning is so powerful, it needs challenging, otherwise the recruitment flow will never slow. Aping the mechanics of the digital agency - offering an alternative brand, and backing that with an alternative narrative which both undermines the Jihadi hero story but also offers an alternative for those disaffected youths to choose, is a tiny part of the battle. Yet without it, the value of the military victories can seep away. While the mythology of the Holy War is allowed to persist, the battle against ISIS may be won, but the battle against its ideology will not.
Millions of people around the world could be lifted out of their daily hardship and misery if the money lost to corruption was invested in sustainable development. Every year an estimated $1 trillion of illicit financial flows leave developing countries in the form of tax evasion, embezzlement, bribes, money laundering and smuggling.

That's why Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 focusses on delivering justice, stopping illicit financial flows and ending corruption and bribery. It shows that world leaders have finally recognised the devastating effects corruption has on good governance and development. It is the poorest and most vulnerable that suffer most from corruption in our societies.

Transparency International's research has demonstrated that widespread bribery is associated with higher maternal mortality rates and more children dying before they reach the age of five. Half of school children do not complete primary school in countries where bribery is common. In the poorest countries, one out of every two people has to pay a bribe to access basic services like education, health and water.

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So where are we now? We are a long way from the times when corruption was the word that was never spoken in the corridors of power. Today it is almost impossible to open a newspaper anywhere in the world without reading about a grand corruption scandal, be it on the Brazilian state oil giant Petrobras and the powerful construction companies or the former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

The fact that corruption is so omnipresent in the news gives an idea of the huge amount of corruption that affects the world today, but is also a sign of progress. It shows that brave investigative journalists, courageous prosecutors and anti-corruption activists around the world are uncovering corrupt networks and want to change the system.

Yet there is still too much impunity for corruption. In today's ever-more connected world, the corrupt can move stolen public funds often with a single keystroke. They can start secret companies and use them to buy expensive properties and luxury goods. The Panama Papers showed just how easy, widespread and devastating this can be.

We urgently need all countries to require much higher levels of transparency so we know who owns and controls companies registered in their territories. We need to sanction the professionals - the lawyers, the estate agents, the bankers and the accountants - who look the other way or even enable corruption.

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Countries need to work together to make this happen. To fight transnational crime, international cooperation on investigations, prosecutions, and anti-corruption legislation is essential. That's where the SDGs, the international community, the United Nations and civil society should come in.

On the one year anniversary of the SDGs it's time for everyone to do the math on solving the problem of poverty and inequality and to take action on corruption and organised crime. Policies for development and policies for anti-corruption must finally be one in the same.

We - as citizens and as civil society - need to be able to hold our governments accountable to their commitments. Too often the data presented by governments to the United Nations is biased or does not show the full picture, as we have clearly seen in the case of Venezuela. This proves the importance of having an active and engaged civil society that is given space to monitor government commitments.

We need to make sure that the right indicators are used to monitor and measure progress on all fronts and across all countries. We need participatory channels to measure progress (or lack thereof) on introducing appropriate laws to fight corruption. We need to protect the victims and witnesses of corruption by insisting on safe mechanisms to report it.

Ultimately, the only way to judge the Sustainable Development Goals' success, is for people around the world to feel that their lives have markedly improved. If they are faced with corruption in their daily lives this will not happen.

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The barometer of the success of the SDGs will be the number of real people, living real lives, who say that they are not asked for a bribe, that the courts treat them fairly and that those who are found to be corrupt are punished. When kleptocrats and their enablers stop looting the states affecting the poor, then sustainable development will be a reality.
Last weekend, I joined world leaders gathered in Canada as governments and the private sector came together to pledge more than $12.9 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria. As the largest ever replenishment of the Global Fund, this was an incredible milestone for global health and testament to how far we've come in the fight against three of the world's deadliest diseases. Fifteen years ago, AIDS, TB and malaria seemed unstoppable, killing nearly six million people every year. Today, due to increased investments in a coordinated response to these diseases, deaths from AIDS, TB and malaria have declined significantly, prompting optimism that we can end these epidemics in our lifetimes.

But we cannot achieve this goal without reducing the disproportionate impact of these diseases on women and girls. AIDS and TB are among the leading causes of death for women of reproductive age, and malaria in pregnancy is a major driver of maternal morbidity worldwide.

That's a big reason why women and girls feature so prominently in global development frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals. It's also a big reason for the widespread support for the Global Fund. Not only does the Global Fund dedicate more than half its resources to programs that benefit women and girls, it also focuses on tackling the underlying causes of discrimination and inequality that make them especially vulnerable to these diseases.

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For example, the Global Fund works to ensure that women and girls have a strong voice in designing health programs that meet their unique needs. In fact, nearly half of all decision-makers in Global Fund grant committees are now women. These programs also include a special focus on increasing access to health services for women who are especially at risk, including transgender women and sex workers.

The Global Fund equips women and girls with the skills and opportunities they need to make a difference in their communities. In Ethiopia, thanks to funding provided by the Global Fund, 38,000 female health workers have been trained to bring essential services to rural communities, and more women are accessing prenatal care and prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. As a result, the number of pregnant women accessing HIV treatment in Ethiopia has increased dramatically, from 2 percent in 2009 to 55 percent in 2013.

Additionally, the Global Fund works with countries to strengthen their overall health systems. It encourages them to integrate maternal and newborn health care with HIV, TB and malaria programs, making it easier for women to address all their health needs in one place. It also helps countries to develop national strategies that address the cultural and social barriers women and girls face when accessing health services.

These programs work. In twelve key African countries where the Global Fund invests, AIDS-related deaths in women declined by almost 60 percent between 2005 and 2015. More women in these countries are accessing and staying on treatment and millions have received services to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. As a result of Global Fund programs, more women are also being diagnosed and treated for TB, and more women and their families have insecticide-treated nets to protect them from malaria.



The new resources committed to the Global Fund will be essential to building on these efforts and further improving the health and livelihoods of women and girls. But it's only one piece of the puzzle. We need to continue to support countries' efforts to integrate Global Fund programming with global efforts to improve the lives of women and girls - including the new global strategy of the UN's Every Woman Every Child initiative.

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We also need to work across sectors to ensure we have the greatest possible impact. Collaboration among civil society, governments, affected communities, development partners and industry will be key for translating commitments into health programs that save lives. And if we're successful, we will make a significant difference in the health and lives of women and children everywhere, and ultimately end AIDS, TB and malaria for good.


Photo, Tino Veneziano

It was an anxious moment in world affairs: October 1986. Demonstrations and tensions marked discord around wide-ranging topics. In an initiative that was at the same time inspiring and admired and intensely controversial, Pope John Paul II invited leading religious leaders from the world's leading religious traditions to a carefully orchestrated event in Assisi, a symbolic Christian center long linked to the message of St. Francis. The World Day of Prayer for Peace, on October 27, 1986, gathered 160 religious leaders. They spent the day together, fasting and then, individually and side by side, they prayed for peace. Thirty-two Christian religious organizations and eleven other non-Christian world religions participated.

The power of the event was twofold: the symbolism of religious leaders standing together with a peaceful, silent call for peace resonated. And it marked a new presence of religious voices in world affairs, a presence that has expanded and evolved ever since. It was controversial both because of a tendency to cynicism about dialogue and personal and moral approaches to the gritty affairs of states, and because bringing religious leaders together was (and is) no easy matter, given the many differences that separate their beliefs and practices. The visible domination of men in religious leadership circles jars many who are inspired by the spirit of Assisi.

But the 1986 Assisi day of prayer was not destined to be a single, symbolic event, a footnote in history and theology texts. Instead, each year since then religious leaders have gathered in different cities to pray, side by side, for peace, and to raise prophetic voices about the state of the world and to demand action. These remarkable meetings are organized by the lay Catholic Community of Sant'Egidio, in cooperation with the Vatican, with a stunning care to the human relationships that are involved and an eye to the many trouble spots in the world. Each meeting, whether in Sicily, Naples, Tirana, or Warsaw, echoes the 1986 meeting in its focus on prayer to deepen one's faith and the vivid symbolism of religious leaders standing and praying side by side.

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The world's complex tensions are reflected in a steadily widening agenda as the meetings, also termed a Pilgrimage of Peace, have progressed. Active conflicts, whether in Syria, Iraq, Africa, and Israel/Palestine, are a constant focus. But the conviction that "development is the new name for peace" means that HIV and AIDS, poverty, marginalized groups, hunger, the situation of refugees, and the dangers of climate change are also discussed, in a rich array of panels. And each meeting concludes with witnesses to the harsh realities of conflict, a common declaration of commitment, transmitted through children to world leaders, and lighting candles together as a symbol of hope.

This year was special because it marked the 30th anniversary of the 1986 event. Once again Assisi was the site and a far larger group of religious leaders participated. Assisi offered its special beauty, plus a rainbow during the opening ceremony, followed by a downpour that soaked many participants, and bright sunshine for the closing day. The Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomeo of Constantinople, known as the "Green Pope" because of his passionate advocacy for the environment, was a leading participant, among some 600 invited leaders. Other notable leaders included Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Olav Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, many Catholic Cardinals and bishops, a large Orthodox group, a different Japanese religious leaders, and senior Jewish leaders. The leaders of the Indonesian NU and Mohammadia as well as other Muslim voices were present (unsurprisingly, with no specific single voice).

And Pope Francis participated actively, humbly as is his style, but, rock-star that he is, drawing large admiring crowds. Among the several messages and meditations he gave, the following illustrates the spirit: "The victims of war, which sullies people with hate and the earth with arms, plead for peace; our brothers and sisters, who live under the threat of bombs and are forced to leave their homes into the unknown, stripped of everything, plead for peace." And at the closing ceremony: "God asks this of us, calling us to confront the great sickness of our time: indifference. It is a virus that paralyzes, rendering us lethargic and insensitive, a disease that eats away at the very heart of religious fervor, giving rise to a new and deeply sad paganism: the paganism of indifference."

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The 2016 meeting faced the challenges of a vast agenda of complex, horrific problems across the world that urgently need to be addressed. Syria and refugee crises loomed large but terrorist attacks, including the brutal murder of Father Jacques Hamel in France, memories of the Holocaust, and the bitter struggle in Central African Republic were vividly present. When prayers were offered for ongoing conflicts, the list was troublingly long.

There were countless inspirational messages - reminders of the calling for peace and the common human longing to set war and conflict aside. There were also sober reflections on the need for each person and each faith tradition to look inside and recognize individual faults and responsibilities.

A common theme was set by Pope Francis: "Our religious traditions are diverse. But our differences are not the cause of conflict and dispute, or a cold distance between us. We have not prayed against one another today, as has unfortunately sometimes occurred in history. Without syncretism or relativism, we have rather prayed side by side and for each other." And the broader agenda was evoked by Patriarch Bartholomeo: "But peace also needs justice. Justice is a world economy renewed, that cares for the needs of the poorest; it is paying attention to our planet's situation, safeguarding its natural environment, which is the work of God for believers, but also a Common Home for everyone. It also means to safeguard the cultural, religious, and artistic traditions of every people of the earth"

To conclude with more words of Pope Francis: "We never tire of repeating that the name of God cannot be used to justify violence. Peace alone is holy. Peace alone is holy, not war!...Today we have pleaded for the holy gift of peace. .. Peace means Welcome, openness to dialogue, the overcoming of closed-mindedness, which is not a strategy for safety, but rather a bridge over an empty space. Peace means Cooperation, a concrete and active exchange with another, who is a gift and not a problem, a brother or sister with whom to build a better world. Peace denotes Education, a call to learn every day the challenging art of communion, to acquire a culture of encounter, purifying the conscience of every temptation to violence and stubbornness which are contrary to the name of God and human dignity."
In a week of dark news dominated by a senseless terror attack, police shootings, and the increasingly divisive presidential campaign, there was a moment at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York that instead showed humanity at its most aspirational and generous and reminded us what extraordinary things we are capable of when we put aside narrow self interest and work together.

That moment? When over 60 nations formally accepted the Paris Agreement to fight climate change reached at last year's COP 21 summit. The number is significant because for the agreement to go into force, at least 55 nations collectively responsible for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions must, in the words of the UN, "have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession." With these 60-plus nations - who together account for 47.5 percent of emissions and include major economies like the US, China, and Brazil - now on board, we've crossed the first threshold.

Crossing the second is likely to now only be a matter of weeks, if not days with momentum for all 195 signatories to accept the agreement building with the force of a 20-ton boulder careening down a mountainside. And when we do cross that line, the world will have its first truly international framework to address climate change in effect as a matter of global policy. "Awesome" does not begin to describe the achievement.

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Many factors, of course, contributed to us being here today in sight of an accomplishment that only six years ago - with the collapse of previous climate talks in Copenhagen painfully fresh in the memory - felt like a distant dream. But one in particular stands out as essential to the achievement that began in Paris and really came into focus during the UNGA and the discussion of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during this week's meeting.

That factor, of course, is clean energy. The seventh SDG calls for world leaders to "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." And if we're serious about stopping climate change and pursuing a truly sustainable path for development that not only lifts millions out of poverty but gives people everywhere the chance to shape their own future, then expanding clean energy has to be the cornerstone effort.

Why? The answer begins with the simple fact that no solution to the rising temperatures that have seen 15 of the 16 hottest years on record come this century is possible without a global shift from the dirty fossil fuels driving climate change to clean, renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

By limiting global average temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius (while aiming for 1.5 degrees or less), as the Paris Agreement requires, we lessen the chance that catastrophes like Super Typhoon Haiyan - which destroyed some 1.1 million homes in the Philippines, displaced 4.1 million people, and caused the region hundreds of millions of dollars in damage - become regular facts of life, crippling development in nations just getting on their feet. We give people everywhere a better shot at making good lives where they live, without being forced to flee recurrent disasters like mega-droughts. And on and on.

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Even with these benefits being so clear, efforts to expand renewables globally face significant barriers, beginning with a widespread lack of understanding of the economics of clean energy today, due in no small part to the culture of denial fostered by the fossil fuel industry. Since the climate movement's earliest days, the industry and its allies have employed denial as a tactic to stymie progress. Denying the truth of climate science was the first salvo. Now we see the same tactic at work in economic denial as the industry perpetuates a dangerous myth that renewable energy is a luxury disenfranchising hardworking people struggling to make ends meet.

Other unfortunate barriers to widespread deployment of renewable energy exist as well, including the assumed political risk of supporting clean energy initiatives. However, as we cut through the myths and tell the real story, these flimsy barricades to progress will fall, paving the way for a booming and vibrant clean energy economy that will bring positive economic consequences on a global scale.

The good news is that these barriers are already beginning to fall - and economic denial is becoming ever more untenable - because renewables are becoming cost-competitive with oil, coal, and natural gas in more and more regions around the world. The result is that rather than disenfranchising hardworking citizens, affordable clean energy is instead playing a key role in solving energy poverty around the world, sparking innovation and creating opportunities for communities at all stages of development. In India, for example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made solar an integral part of his plan to bring electricity to the 400 million Indians living without it. In Africa, off-grid solar is poised to become the next "hot market" for investors, according to Fortune magazine, thanks in part to innovators like D.Light that have sold over 10 million solar lanterns in regions where many earn less than $2 a day.

The economic benefits of clean energy aren't limited to developing nations either. Here in the US, forward-looking policies like the Clean Power Plan will save Americans an estimated $55 to $93 billion in climate and health benefits per year by 2030 while also cutting average annual electricity bills by 8 percent.

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But perhaps the biggest vote of confidence in the economics of clean energy comes from the growing numbers of major corporations from Apple to Bank of America to Ikea shifting to 100 percent renewable electricity to power their businesses. One factor driving these shifts is undoubtedly moral concern for the planet, but the fact remains that Fortune 500 companies would not be embracing clean energy at the level and pace they are unless doing so made compelling economic sense too.

Encouragingly, people on all continents are increasingly seeing renewables as the way forward and calling on their leaders to make a clean energy future a reality. We saw this last year when over 6 million came together to call for a strong climate agreement in Paris. And we saw it again this year in Brazil, where my own organization, The Climate Reality Project, and Brazil Branch Manager Alfredo Sirkis joined local partners in the Ratifica Ja campaign, bringing millions together to create a broad popular and political consensus on climate action leading to the nation's formal approval of the Paris Agreement this month.

But despite these successes and reasons for hope - and there are many more - we have more work to do. Yearly investments in clean energy need to increase to $1 trillion per year (and last year reached only about a third of that figure). We need the leadership of dedicated public servants, government figures, activists, and concerned citizens to push for structure and incentives to bring clean energy solutions to a truly global scale.

The question isn't whether humanity can afford to shift from dirty fossil fuels to clean energy. With the cost of solar continuing to plummet and projected to drop even further, as just one example, we know we can. And when we consider the alternatives - with one scenario by Stanford University researchers projecting that unmitigated climate change could cost the world as much as 20 percent of GDP - it becomes clear we must. As much as the fossil fuel industry wants to deny this reality, the truth is right in front of us. People around the world are calling out for truly sustainable development, powered by affordable clean energy. It's time for our leaders to listen.

To learn more about The Climate Reality Project, visit the organization's website: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/

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Julie Hamilton

Julie is the Global Chief Customer and Commercial Leadership Officer and Senior Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company. In this role she works closely with and supports the Company's global customer partners while building commercial strategies and customer capabilities across the global system. Julie brings a deep appreciation and understanding of the Company's global customers and the strategies that must be executed in the market every day to ensure that the Company's customers, bottling partners and the Company itself all thrive and grow.



Julie joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1996 and has held a variety of sales, marketing and operational positions including Group Vice President North America Walmart Team, Vice President Global Customer Development, Group Director for Global On-Premise Customers, Director of Marketing in the North America Retail Division, Group Manager for the Worldwide Marketing Partnership with Blockbuster and Brand Development Manager of Still Beverages.



Julie grew up in Genoa, Italy, Seattle and St. Louis. She attended high school in LeMans, France, studied at Vanderbilt University and London's Imperial College of Science & Economics and graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism.



Currently, Julie serves on the boards of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Network of Executive Women in Retail and Enactus. As a champion of women in business, she served as President of the Coca-Cola Women's Forum from 2005- 2007 and continues to mentors fellow associates and youth in the community.

How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?

My parents shaped my values and work ethic. They set high expectations and held me accountable. Like all great parents they were also empathetic and supportive, and gave me the room to learn from mistakes. They always had my back and worked enormously hard to create an environment for my success. Their example has really helped define my management style.



I also had the privilege of living in Italy as a child, attending high school in France and doing some college coursework in London. And I've lived all over the U.S. - from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest to the Southeast. This diversity of life and cultural experience really helped me at such a global and diverse company as Coca-Cola.

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How has your previous employment experience aided your tenure at Coca Cola?

Prior to coming to Coke, I spent time in domestic and international sales at Anheuser-Busch. I learned a lot about the supply chain, distribution and retail complexities of the beverage business. I experienced the power of a lot of great people who were very committed to stewarding a very respected global brand and the importance of building relationships with retail customers.



What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at Coca Cola?

I've had the great fortune of working on so many interesting aspects of our business - from helping manage key customer relationships to working on the Walmart account team to running the Chairman's office. While they've all been extraordinary experiences, there was nothing like the day-to-day challenges and exhilarations of working side by side with Muhtar Kent, our Chairman and CEO. He is, without question, a brilliant and tireless force of nature. I learned more from Muhtar in that role as his executive assistant than I have in my entire career.

What advice can you offer to women who want a career in your industry?

First, take the initiative to learn all you can. Study the industry. Learn who the leaders are and where the opportunities lie for each of the major companies. Once you've done your own diligence, reach out and make contact through your own personal network or through broader industry networks. Be willing to do any job to get your foot in the door and never stop learning about the business. In October I'm speaking at an event in London, run by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF). The event, the Future Leaders Programme, has been established over 60 years and has top talent drawn from across the industry - a real opportunity for rubbing shoulders and networking with both retailers and manufacturers in our industry.

What is the most important lesson you've learned in your career to date?

Relationships make the world go 'round. Work on that skill. Refine it. Never lose it. And never, ever take it for granted.



Similarly, don't forget to give back. Helping those who wish to follow your footsteps is hugely important. The CGF Future Leaders Programme gives me the opportunity to do just that, we share ideas together and I have the opportunity to help develop and mentor the next generation of leaders in this exciting industry, in fact I am able to learn from them too!



How do you maintain a work/life balance?

I am very deliberate in this regard. I know that personal renewal - and taking time for myself - is not only good for my physical and mental well- being but it's also critical to my job performance.

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What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?

Work, life and family issues are always going to challenge women just as they do men. I think the issues we see today are less gender-specific than they were a few generations ago. We all have to wrestle with balance, workload, career progression, continuous learning and all the issues that define the workplace of 2016 and beyond.

How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?

It's made a huge difference. It teaches you the art of being selfless and of giving back and creating a legacy. These are all important attributes for leadership and mentorship is a critical part of leadership development.

Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

There are just so many. Ones that immediately come to mind are Margaret Thatcher and her courageous resolve and commitment to her ideals, Condi Rice for her determination and ability to make any subject her own speciality, and Denise Morrison, President and Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Soup Company - she's a truly great leader. And then of course there were all the women leaders at Coca-Cola who came before me and opened so many doors and led the way.
The top priority of world leaders gathered at the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 71), was combating global terrorism. The United Nations is a platform that can rally global and multi-lateral support, cooperation and efforts for counterterrorism. Although other topics were discussed, the critical question of the day shared by many nations was, as a global community, how could we battle terrorism?

A constructive, multilateral and modern approach is needed to battle modern methods of terrorism conducted by state or non-state actors.

Action needs to be taken, however the most non-productive approach would be to make accusations or play the blame game. It wastes time, incites rivalries, and only feeds the very violence that we are trying to overcome. For instance, Iran's approach of pointing fingers at everyone- except for the Iranian government, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), its staunchest ally Assad, and its proxies- is not a solution. It is a simplistic, short-sighted approach that can only lead to failure. In his UNGA speech, President Rouhani blamed the world powers for terrirosm. Such behavior strengthens animosity between countries at a time when the entire global community needs to work together to stop further bloodshed.



The countries that Iran is demonizing and blaming for all acts of global or domestic terrorism are the US, the UK, and Saudi Arabia, among others. Contradicting this is the fact that each of these countries has contributed various resources in the battle against terrorism whether Iran agrees with it or not. Again, the issue is not as simplistic as the Islamic Republic attempts to project it.

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Let's take one country- The Kingdom- that Iran is vehemently blaming, for example. All the points and data that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef gave at his speech on Wednesday at the United Nations General Assembly, are factually correct whether Iran disagrees with it or paint it differently. For example, to combat radicalism, according to Prince Mohammed bin Nayef his country "has launched Mohammed bin Nayef Counseling and Care Center and its top clerics have been issuing religious edicts prohibiting terrorism or joining terror groups. Saudi has been attacked by terrorists more than 100 times...[Riyadh] is now part of 12 international agreements to fight terrorism," and it heads in "partnership" with the United States and Italy a group combating ISIS funding. Addressing underdevelopment is crucial as well as "the kingdom ranked the third country worldwide in terms of providing humanitarian relief and development assistance, having provided over the past four decades about $139 billions in aid." According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: "In only a few years' time, Saudi Arabia's soft strategy to combat extremism and terrorism [under the supervision of Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef] has generated some very promising results." According to the Washington-based Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee, SAPRAC, Prince Muhammad Bin Nayef's efficacious strategy in combatting terrorism made him a target for assassinations by terrorists. For more detailed efforts of Mohammad bin Nayef's initiatives, one can read this report. These efforts were applauded by President Barack Obama who stated "I can say that, on a personal level, my work and the U.S. government's work with Crown Prince bin Nayef, on counterterrorism issues has been absolutely critical not only to maintaining stability in the region but also protecting the American people". Further illustrated by the comments of the former Director General of the CIA Leon Panetta: "Mohammed bin Nayef plays an indispensable role protecting the kingdom founded by his grandfather. As intelligence chief, he decimated al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, penetrating plots, cracking down on funding and promoting deradicalization."

The US, the UK, and Saudi Arabia are not perfect when it comes to many issues which still need improvement. I explained more in this article. Nevertheless, at least, they are taking concrete steps and donating millions of dollars to the fight against terrorism; For example, according to Muhammad bin Nayef and several other resources including the United Nations, "The Kingdom also provided resources to the United Nations' counter terrorism center, including funds of over $100 million".

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This demonstration can be an inspiration to other countries to join in this fight as well. Instead of making accusations or placing blame, Iran would be better served by demonstrating what it has offered to the fight against terrorism, such as the amount it has donated, what programs it may have in place, and any other concrete approaches Iran may have initiated.

If there is to be any progress made to battle global terrorism, it has to be a multilateral and unified effort. The focus should be on the establishment of a new comprehensive, locally and internationally coordinated counter-terrorism strategy. Action is needed. Not after trivial vendettas have been settled, not after Iran has pointed a finger in every direction but at itself, but right this second. In my humble opinion, I believe the most comprehensive plan would be a one that concentrate on tacking the ideology of the terrorist groups, the poverty on global scale, the underdevelopments in many parts of the world, and application of affective social media. Alongside this multi-front strategy, "inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue must guide efforts to eliminate incitement". Every nation and government can contribute to this instructive plan to overcome global terrorism by achieving unification of all forces.

_______________________

Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is an American political scientist, president of the International American Council on the Middle East, business advisor, and best-selling author. Harvard-educated, Rafizadeh serves on the advisory board of Harvard International Review. He is regularly quoted and invited to speak on national and international outlets including CNN, BBC World TV and Radio, ABC, Aljazeera English, Fox News, CTV, RT, CCTV America, Skynews, CTV, and France 24 International, to name a few. Dr. Rafizadeh is frequently invited to brief governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as speak, as a featured speaker, at security, business, diplomatic, and social events. He has been recipient of several fellowships and scholarships including from Oxford University, Annenberg, University of California Santa Barbara, Fulbright program, to name few. He analyses have appeared on academic and non-academic publications including New York Times International, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Farred zakaria GPS, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, The Nation, The National. Aljazeera, The Daily Beast, The Nation, Jerusalem Post, The Economic Times, USA Today Yale Journal of International Affairs, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, and 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 Persian, English, and Arabic. He also speaks Dari, and can converse in French, Hebrew. More at Harvard.

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.
Deborah Kaufman and Alan Snitow's ambitious and energetic new film "Company Town" sounds the alert about threats of economic change to San Francisco. "Company Town" focuses on two beloved areas of the City - The Mission District and Chinatown. Both neighborhoods have offered cheap housing and blue collar employment to waves of immigrants. Both areas have produced vibrant cultures that make them attractive to locals, tourists and newcomers of all kinds. In the public mind, they are as iconic San Francisco as the Golden Gate Bridge.

But the features that have made them attractive, now threaten them. Tech workers have flocked to live in the Mission District. San Francisco Examiner reporter Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez takes us on a walking tour of his family's generational neighborhood. New, expensive stores and restaurants now make the cost of living prohibitive. Housing prices rise as steeply as the luxury condos dotting the Mission landscape. Tech Buses barrel down crowded Mission Streets carrying their well paid passengers from their trendy new homes down the SF peninsula to their pampered workplaces in Silicon Valley.

A short bus ride up from the Mission, Chinatown is also threatened by displacement caused by new industries and wealth. Long the gateway to San Francisco and the United States from all over Asia, Chinatown has also provided low cost housing and less skilled work in assembly, retail or service jobs. But as in the Mission, new development raises prices and uproots immigrant families. Low income housing is converted to use as de facto hotels of short term stays, primarily through the growth of Airbnb.

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Brian Chesky, founder and CEO of Airbnb, explains how his company throws a lifeline to middle class families that are squeezed by rising prices into the monetizing of rooms or their entire homes into short term rentals. Chesky justifies this exploitation of their living spaces claiming that this new "sharing economy is profound and could be one of the greatest inventions in human history." Chesky must miss the era of child labor and weekend work. His cohort Billionaire investor Ron Conway tells critics that "it is completely false that Airbnb is part of the problem." Perhaps Conway has overlooked data showing how thousands of longtime residents have been displaced as their once affordable homes have been converted into de facto hotels.

Kaufman and Snitow have not overlooked any of this. They are not here to present a false duality and claim impartiality. They are here to present a city fighting for its economy and soul. Gordon Chin (Founder of Chinatown Community Development Center), Shaw San Liu (Chinese Progressive Association) and political activist Jeffrey Kwong all detail the sweeping changes taking place in their community. . . the push of outside money coming in to displace longtime residents and poor immigrants. Single Room Occupancy residents are not just evicted for just cause, but on any pretext possible including for the traditional drying of clothes outside their units or for posting New Years Greetings on their doors.

"Company Town" ultimately focuses on community pushback in the Board of Supervisor elections of 2015. With San Francisco's governing board evenly divided, the electoral race in District Three promised to tip the Board towards or away from pro-development control. We follow incumbent Julie Christensen, backed by Mayor Ed Lee and large corporate interests, battling former Supervisor Aaron Peskin, supported by a coalition of neighborhood groups, to and through innumerable meetings, campaign events and the colorful streets and characters of the City.



Christensen proclaims herself the champion of compassionate change, bank rolled by new economy cash. She attacks Peskin as an old fashioned, back room, wheeler and dealer. Her campaign runs ads alluding to Peskin's notorious drunk dialing episodes, his history of trying to go around the charter mandated governing process through repeated late night calls and meetings where he has bullied City managers and workers, threatening their jobs. Peskin generally sticks to issues, although exposing Christensen wearing her backers around her neck like an albatross anvil.

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While Kauffman and Snitow do an excellent job framing the issues, election and dramatis personae, they are perhaps overly generous to both Christensen and Peskin as central to the City's future. And they end their film much too early. We want to know if Peskin will be ultimately successful in curbing displacement, preserving the City's vibrant characters and creative texture, keeping San Francisco livable and reigning in his notorious temper which earned the diminutive Peskin the sobriquet "Napoleon of North Beach."
Well, the Debates are upon us.

In the Atlantic magazine, James Fallows has perfectly dissected for us Donald Trump's mastery of TV politicking, as demonstrated in the Republican nomination process. One can only hope Hillary Clinton's debate-advisers have read and inwardly digested his dissection. For it's scary how effective Trump has been, shattering all predictions.

How best can Hillary counter a performer of Trump's loose-cannon/fireworks caliber? Fallows analyzes Trump's tactics and skillset - but he doesn't offer much in the way of advice to our Democratic nominee.

For what it's worth, then, let me offer a few suggestions.

The first is: Hillary, be yourself!

Several years ago I was dragged by my wif to sign up for evening classes in acting, since there was a shortage of men, and the class looks as if it would have to be cancelled. Well, I didn't emerge an actor - the aspiration of most of my fellow students - but I did learn to "be myself" on television or the stage. My editor called me a few weeks after the course was over. I'd appeared on "Morning Joe," to discuss - and debate - my new book, American Caesars. ""You looked completely relaxed talking about the lives of the last twelve presidents!" he said. Clearly he was amazed!

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I told him of the classes I'd just attended - and how our teacher, Stan Edelson, had told me not to try to impersonate anyone else, or pretend to be anyone else - angry, or emotional or cold or defensive. "Find what's in you that relates to the subject, the role - and go with it!" he'd instructed.

Second: humor. With a hundred million people or more watching, it'll be a tense moment. But remember, you won't be facing a local audience, you'll be talking to small groups of individuals in their homes, listening to you - nervously! Humor can break the ice. Not false humor, or a forced joke: just a determination to enjoy the chance to talk with your neighbors, your colleagues, your fellow citizens, in the context of a great American tradition that goes back to the Revolution and to Lincoln's debates - a tradition where sincerity, above all, is on trial. Pricking a balloon or provoking a laugh or a smile is human - it grounds us, and helps put us at ease.

Third: as I've written recently on this blog [America Strong], you're not alone, Hillary! To my mind the reason the Democratic convention was so successful was that it wasn't all about Hillary: it was about a Democratic party, and a Democratic team. That's your strength! So in the debates, talk about the issues with reference to your colleagues, proudly: from Senator Kaine to Senator Nelson, Senator Warren to Senator Kerry, Senator Klobuchar to Senator Manchin, Senator Booker to Governor Brown... After all, many of these will be in your cabinet, if you are elected!

Fourth - which is really an extension of the third: tell us something of the people you've worked with, over the years - and across the aisle. The people - not the positions, in other words. Tell us about them - as people, and as leaders - so that we see and welcome your experience as a team player - from the Governor's Mansion in Little Rock to the White House, and from the Senate to the State Department - not always successfully, but gathering experience, insight, friends, fellow Americans, allies. Every named person you can describe for us, within the context of the subjects you address, becomes a part of your profile in our minds - not only Team Clinton, but Experienced Team Clinton, through the people you reference.

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And fifthly: no lecturing, please! Barack Obama, as presidential candidate, had to overcome the inevitable race test as the first potential black president. You must do so as the first potential woman president: the gender test. Lecturing won't make that voting challenge easier for people who are nervous; sincerity will, though. Not a pulpit, but a chair at the family table.

Sixthly: keep it simple! So many of the issues that face us as a society and as a nation are complex. While acknowledging their complexity, we look to a leader willing to think positively, not negatively - and who is seeking realistic, not pie-in-the-sky solutions we can understand. Viewers will appreciate your honesty in this respect, more than mastery of detail about issues and problems.

Seventh: self-deprecation! Too many people feel you cannot admit to mistakes, or being wrong. There's nothing the matter with being wrong, if you are sincere in trying to do right! Prove them wrong in thinking you cannot admit error or failure on the path to better outcomes.

Finally: embrace history! Think of your earlier autobiography! Think of all you've now seen in your life, in terms of the changes in our society, our economy, our world! Challenges our nation has faced again and again, and which we'll continue to face - as a team. Team America.
By Laura Jane Quirk

In Ireland zucchinis are "courgettes", fries are "chips, chips are "crisps", a woman is a "vessel", and her body can be state-controlled.

Sorry, what?

In 2016, Irish women are fighting for the right to have full bodily autonomy from the state. On the Emerald Isle, locked into the Irish Constitution, is the Eighth Amendment which gives the unborn fetus equal rights to a living woman.

In 2012 Savita Halappanavar lost her life due to doctors refusing to terminate her unviable fetus. Her husband Praveen, suffered devastating loss due to draconian Irish law. Women seeking abortions must leave the country, many choosing to travel to England, and face the procedure alone with no access to medical follow-ups once home.

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This journey was recently documented on the Twitter account Two Women Travel. This option of course is the lesser of two evils as some women do not have the ability to travel. The women who cannot make that journey may face a horrifying reality which no woman should be forced to face. Specifically, I am referring to a 2014 case in which a young, suicidal, immigrant woman was denied an abortion at eight weeks and forced to continue that unwanted pregnancy by the state. She was then subjected to a caesarean section at just 25 weeks.

Ladies and gentlemen I give you modern Ireland. It's a nightmare.

This Saturday September 24th there will be a global protest, supporting the women of Ireland, calling for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, and highlighting the chains which hold their bodies hostage to the Irish state. Check out this Facebook page to find out if there is a Repeal protest happening near you.
Will America see Donald Trump's tax returns before the election? The answer can be yes - if President Obama acts now.

For months the Republican presidential candidate has said both that he would release his paperwork but it's off limits because he's facing an IRS audit. So, on the advice of his attorneys, Trump will not make his returns public.

Among the public, many believe Trump's worries are entirely real. After all, who among us has ever had a conversation with the IRS which was a fun event?

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So is there a solution, one which will satisfy the presidential tradition of tax disclosure while at the same time addressing Trump's worries about penalties and costs?

You bet.

The answer to the Trump dilemma can be found in Article II of the US Constitution. There it plainly says that the President "shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment."

Give Trump A Presidential Pardon

If Trump is worried about the legal and financial ramifications of releasing his returns then to resolve such concerns President Obama must offer Mr. and Mrs. Donald Trump a full, free, and absolute pardon. The pardon - to paraphrase wording from Gerald Ford's 1974 pardon of Richard Nixon - shall include all offenses against the United States which Mr. and Mrs. Trump committed or may have committed or taken part as a result of federal income tax returns filed during the period from January 1, 2006 through September 1, 2016. This pardon shall only apply to returns from Mr. and Mrs. Trump which are; one, posted in full on the Internet for the general public to see; and two, posted online prior to October 15, 2016.

Can the President do this? Sure. Not only can Obama pardon Trump, there's nothing Congress or the courts can do about it.

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"The power to pardon is one of the least limited powers granted to the President in the Constitution," explained the Heritage Foundation in defense of the 2007 pardon of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Jr. by President George W. Bush.

So there you have it. The solution to Trump's IRS worries is very simple: For the good of the country let him win. With a presidential pardon, he will have no legal or financial jeopardy and can confidently release his returns. In turn, the public will have a chance to see his financial records in the same way that they have viewed the tax filings for every candidate going back to Richard Nixon.
Can businesses drive societal change for the better through collaboration? There are numerous examples that this can be true.



Just a few weeks ago, the local chapter of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development the Chilean organization ACCION hosted a seminar with the title - Collaboration - no exit!..

It was not only the discussion and dialogue they brought onto the stage and into the 1,000 people strong audience that attracted me. It was the commitment to foster a societal discourse for the betterment of the Chilean society that is currently challenged by scandals, fraud and social unrest against a pension system that feels insecure to many Chileans.

ACCION is a non-profit organization leading a business community of 165 local and multinational companies operating in Chile engaged on Sustainable Development. Every year, they hold a seminar on the latest trends on sustainability and related topics, which is considered the country's most influential event in the field, attended by an audience above 1,000 people and broadcasted via on-live streaming.

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I had followed their invitation to give a keynote speech on the art of leading collectively as a cornerstone for a paradigm shift towards collaboration - within companies and across the sectors of society. But moreover, I had followed an emotional urge to take my firm believe that better collaboration will take humankind into the future into a country that has born two of the world's most influential systems thinkers: Humberto Maturana and Fransceso Varela. Their work has greatly contributed to a gradual shift in realizing that the universe, and life in its very essence is cooperative. Life is collaborative. It is complex, interdependent and constantly in the process of "self-making". Holding that view goes a long way in overcoming some of the challenges the world is facing today, because we, as human beings, carry the same cooperative capacity within us.

Despite the opposite message dominating the daily news, my last 20 years of strategically advising international cross-sector multi-stakeholder initiatives showed me that this cooperative capacity can be enhanced and invigorated. Meaningful ways to co-create can become a day-to-day activity - in business and society.

Accion is part of a global community of people who want to make a difference in the world - for better businesses, resilient societies, and a thriving natural environment. I believe that this human faculty - to collaboratively negotiate the path into the future - is what we need if we want to create a sustainable future that works for 100% of humanity and the planet as a whole.



Every journey begins with a single step.

But every journey to contribute to better co-creation starts small and in humble beginnings.

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This is the way my journey also started.



I grew up in the western part of the divided city of Berlin in Germany, close to the boarder. At times, when playing with my friends, we heard shootings from across the border. When I asked my dad about it he explained that these were bullets shot by soldiers trying to prevent people from escaping the eastern part of Germany. I did not ask any further questions, I simply began to daydream. In my dreams, people on both sides of the Berlin wall took each other by the hand and walked over the boarder peacefully. Nothing dramatically followed; they just laughed and danced together joyfully.

Twenty three years later my dream came true. Not because of my individual dream but because so many people had a similar dream. And many of these people did what needed doing - they worked together to change the world - and collectively they did change it!

The human faculty of jointly overcoming constraints, of daring to risk the impossible, and of supporting each other to persist never left my mind. It became my underlying life quest to find out what it takes to bring this faculty to the surface.



We are on a quest to understand the deeper meaning of life

It is lived human connectivity that changes the world. Such lived connections create better societies, improve businesses and enhance productivity.

It is this purpose and meaning that gets us up in the morning and that makes us feel grateful when we lie in bed and review our day.


Photo via Getty Images.

Most places are named after other places; just ask New Jersey, New York, New Haven, New Orleans, New Hampshire, etc. There's not usually a ton of creativity involved. But for every "New [Insert other place]," there's a place with a more, um, unique name.

According to The Huffington Post, The Estately blog recently compiled a list of the most bizarrely-named cities, towns, and unincorporated communities in the United States. Some are puzzling; others are downright regrettable.

Food names are, in my humble opinion, some of the most beautiful words in the English language (no one can dispute the sonic appeal of "bacon.") Naturally, there are a lot of places named after foods. Take a trip to Bacons, Delaware or Raisin City, California. Breakfast lovers can head down to Two Egg, Florida or Toast, North Carolina.

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Other land-claimers opted for more encouraging names. Places like Happyland, Connecticut, and Confidence, Iowa seem like wishful mantras.

And then there are the names that are simply inexplicable. Paint Lick, Kentucky is perplexing. Should we be licking the paint? Is the whole town edible? Similarly, we can't help but feel that Humansville, Missouri must have been named by an ambitious pack of rats. ("That's where the humans live, Frank! It's Humansville!")

Props and giggles to whoever named Buttzville, New Jersey. I personally use "Buttzville" to refer to places like the DMV and the dentist's office. Who knew it was a real place? Apologies to the fine residents of Buttzville.



Photo via Estately.
September 20, 2016

Letter to all Permanent Missions and

Observer Missions of the United Nations

Re: The Islamic Republic's continuing violations of the United Nations' Charter, Covenants and Resolutions.

Your Excellency,

I would like to extend my warmest congratulations on the opening of the 71st session of the United Nations' General Assembly, the annual gathering of nations that strives to bring about and preserve global peace, security, and respect for international law and human rights for billions of people.

Today, one of the greatest challenges facing the international community continues to be the ongoing crises in the greater Near and Middle East, which sharply escalated four decades ago with the establishment of the theocratic regime of the Islamic Republic in Iran.

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Since its inception, this regime has been the principle contributor to and antagonist of the deterioration of regional stability, and increasingly a threat to global peace and security.

Fourteen months ago, we conditionally gave our approval to the P5+1 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); however, we did so based on the then-perceived necessity to prevent war, while firmly stating that this agreement did not address the ongoing human rights violations committed by the theocratic regime, the export of terrorism, and the direct involvement in regional conflicts.

While it supports tyranny, war and terrorism across the region, the theocratic regime continues its oppression at home against the Iranian people with greater vigour and savagery. These continuing human rights violations are well documented by the alarming reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Dr. Ahmed Shaheed).

Since the JCPOA, Dr. Shaheed's reports have documented an increase in discrimination, apartheid, oppression, executions, arbitrary and summary arrests, torture and imprisonment of human and civil rights activists, juveniles, women, religious and ethnic communities, and anyone who dares to question or is perceived to be a cultural, religious, civic and political threat to the supremacy of the theocratic state.

The Islamic Republic sustains itself through terror, abuse, conflict, and war. The theocratic state was founded on the principle of Khomeini's belief that war is a divine gift bestowed upon the Islamic Republic by God. It is therefore incumbent upon the United Nations to be vigilant and aware that the theocratic state welcomes and indeed encourages conflicts, for it is only through these means that it can consolidate its hold over Iranians and extend its influence in the region.

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The ever-increasing, harsh oppression of the Iranian people is ample evidence that the theocratic regime is afraid of its own people. The continuous and flagrant violation of international laws and covenants by the regime is ample evidence that it rejects international law and joining the community of nations as a responsible member, for this would mean the end of the theocratic state.

Within Iran, the Islamic Republic is a well-documented oppressor of the Iranian people, it has destroyed the Iranian economy, destroyed the delicate eco-system and environment, and - like the Taliban and ISIS - has carried out a sustained effort to destroy our rich Iranian culture and heritage. Outside Iran, the theocratic regime has turned our beloved homeland into a pariah state by repeatedly violating international laws, rejecting the universal declaration of human rights, supporting terrorism and degrading regional and global peace and stability.

The Iranian people need and deserve better. The international community continues to bear the responsibility to monitor and bear witness to the human rights violations in Iran and hold the theocratic regime accountable for exporting regional instability. Most importantly, the international community must support the Iranian peoples' ongoing efforts to seek and realize their democratic aspirations.

We ask for and need all member nations to join us in our campaign, "United for Freedom", against the ongoing human rights violations committed by the Islamic Republic, and in support of the freedom of all the political and prisoners of conscience in Iran.

Such a united and focused emphasis on human rights in Iran by the international community at large, and the United Nations in particular, will pressure the theocratic regime to modify its ever increasing repressive tactics and give an opening to the beleaguered Iranian people to voice their aspirations. The Iranian people need to know that the world is watching and willing to support their democratic ideals.

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Moreover, the best way to limit the theocratic regime's support of terrorism and war in the region is by pressing it on its human rights abuses at home: the more the Iranian people are empowered at home and have a real voice, the more we can expect to see different policies inside and outside Iran.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest considerations.

Reza Pahlavi

President
His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the worldwide Shi'a Ismaili community and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network addressed an audience of change makers, political leaders and keen observers of the global condition on the evening of September 21st at Toronto's distinctive Telus Centre for Performance and Learning. The marquee event of the inaugural Six Degrees Citizen Space conference organized by the Institute of Canadian Citizenship brought together luminaries, artists and prominent voices from Canada and around the world to debate, discuss and reflect upon the core issues of our contemporary world: inclusion, belonging and citizenship.

The Aga Khan was in Canada to receive the inaugural Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship for his life's contributions and steadfast commitment to the ideals of inclusion and belonging. The prize awarded to a true global citizen, one who transcends the narrow ties of nationalism in hopes of improving the lives of people around the world, honoured the Aga Khan's commitment to helping the world understand pluralism better as well as the ability to realize this vision through his multi-agency Aga Khan Development Network, which operates in more than thirty countries in the domains of health, education, social and economic development, culture and disaster relief.

In her opening remarks, former Governor General of Canada, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, for whom the prize is named, referred to the Muslim leader as a beacon. "He has become a light in much of the world's conflicting darkness," she remarked, speaking of the Aga Khan's commitment to enhancing the quality of life of millions of people from around the world at a time when poverty and displacement from war and natural disasters are ravaging many of the world's underprivileged regions, stripping peoples and families of of their dignity, contributing to a deep sense of uncertainty about their futures and ultimately confiscating from the most marginal of communities, their right to hope and optimism. For the Aga Khan, development is not charity, but rather an enabler, a participatory process that empowers its beneficiaries, putting the destiny of families and communities in their own hands, ideally with life changing, generational consequences.

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At the policy level, the Aga Khan continues to create spaces for dialogue, respect and understanding in an increasingly fractious world. This is not only true in Asia and Africa, where many programmes of the Aga Khan's development network operates, but also in Western Europe and North America, where insular forces and sentiments are reversing years of progress in making these regions inclusive and welcoming.

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Giving the 2013 Global Centre for Pluralism Lecture

In Canada, which His Highness described as a "country of opportunity," he has invested in a number of significant institutions whose outlooks have far reaching aspirations. The Global Centre for Pluralism, a partnership with the Government of Canada located in the nation's capital, seeks to advance pluralist mindsets around the world, to understand how pluralism operates and under what conditions it fails, and to find ways to export the values of cosmopolitanism to places where it is most needed. The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, while showcasing the arts and cultures of Muslim civilizations, past and present, aims to educate Muslims and non-Muslims alike about the sheer diversity, beauty and richness of artistic production that is and has been a hallmark of the Muslim world. The Museum also attempts to highlight moments of exchange and cooperation between the Muslim world and other civilizations which have resulted in new forms of artistic production, knowledge and expression. Through initiatives such as these, the Aga Khan aims to redress the clashes of ignorance so prevalent in the world, instead bridging the divides in knowledge that have separated peoples of different cultures, languages and religions rather than bringing them together.

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The Award-Winning Aga Khan Museum

For His Highness, pluralism is an essential value, not unlike human rights, and is the precursor to global citizenship. Approaching his sixtieth anniversary in his office as Shi'a Imam, a position he inherited from his grandfather in 1957, the Aga Khan has been witness to massive transformations in the world, not only in the spheres of technology but equally so in the political realm. More than 60 nations have appeared on the global map since that period; what were once colonies are now countries and what was once one peoples sharing a common culture and landmass have now been bifurcated into multiple territories and national identities. As these states march forward into the future, they face their own challenges. One of which has been that entire regions, cultures and populations within these countries do not have access to the basic needs of security, health and education. Nor do many aspirant families feel that things will get better. As a result, more mobile citizens are increasingly looking for opportunities outside the continents of their birth, sometimes at great risk. Coupled with the massive acceleration of human movement due to war and natural disasters, migration has become one of the most challenging issues of our time. Not everybody is open to welcoming "the other" within their midst.

"The task is not merely learning to live with that diversity, but learning to live with greater diversity with each passing year."

"One enormous challenge, of course," observed the Aga Khan, "is the simple fact that diversity is increasing around the world. The task is not merely learning to live with that diversity, but learning to live with greater diversity with each passing year." The Aga Khan fully recognizes the frustrations of the pluralism story. The challenge, he noted, was that as we become aware of the diversity of the world we live in and come into contact with people who are different than us, difference becomes a source of conflict rather than an opportunity. "We talk sincerely about the values of diversity, about living with complexity. But in too many cases more diversity seems to mean more division; greater complexity, more fragmentation, and more fragmentation can bring us closer to conflict."

It is not just proximity that creates this awareness, and often tension. Technology and media, while seemingly bringing us together, recognized the Aga Khan, often pull us apart, feeding ignorance and insularity. The antidote, however, isn't ignoring difference. "We often hear in discussions of Global Citizenship that people are basically alike. Under the skin, deep in our hearts, we are all brothers and sisters - we are told - and the secret to a harmonious world is to ignore our differences and to emphasize our similarities. What worries me, however," said the Aga Khan "is when some take that message to mean that our differences are trivial, that they can be ignored, and eventually erased. And that is not good advice. In fact, it is impossible."

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"Pretending that our differences are trivial will not persuade most people to embrace pluralistic attitudes. In fact, it might frighten them away. People know that differences can be challenging, that disagreements are inevitable, that our fellow-humans can sometimes be disagreeable," he continued.Too often people think that embracing the values of Global Citizenship means diluting or compromising one's own bonds to country or peoples. This is not the case emphasized His Highness. Rather, "the call of pluralism should ask us to respect our differences, but not to ignore them, to integrate diversity, not to depreciate diversity. The call for cosmopolitanism is not a call to homogenization. It means affirming social solidarity, without imposing social conformity. One's identity need not be diluted in a pluralistic world, but rather fulfilled, as one bright thread in a cloth of many colours."

How one goes about achieving this is no easy task. He ended the evening with a recipe-of-clarity-and-wisdom in charting a future for global citizenship: "a vital sense of balance, an abundant capacity for compromise, more than a little sense of patience, an appropriate degree of humility, a good measure of forgiveness, and, of course, a genuine welcoming of human difference."
With the advent of Donald Trump, what was once covert in the Republican message has become overt. Yesterday's dog whistle is today's screaming siren. Case in point: anti-immigrant bigotry, which was most recently expressed in Donald Trump Jr.'s recent "Skittles"-themed Twitter attack on Syrian refugees.

Think about that. Don Jr. compared people who are fleeing horrific violence to ... tiny candies. This emotional inability to distinguish human beings from inanimate objects, and therefore to empathize with their suffering, seems to border on the sociopathic. Even Wrigley, the candy's manufacturer, distanced itself in a statement that said: "Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don't feel it is an appropriate analogy."

But anti-immigrant arguments aren't always based solely on fear or dehumanization. Economically vulnerable populations are often told that immigrants "take our jobs" and drag down wages.

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Is it true? The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine appointed an interdisciplinary task force to look at that question. It found that, on the contrary, "immigration has an overall positive impact on long-run economic growth in the United States."

Immigration, the report says, has "little to no negative effects on overall wages and employment of native-born workers in the longer term." Native-born teenagers who have not finished high school may work fewer hours, at least in the short term. (They won't lose jobs.)

As far as the downside goes, that's pretty much it.

On the upside, "the prospects for long-run economic growth in the United States would be considerably dimmed without the contributions of high-skilled immigrants" who create jobs for highly-paid and lower-income workers alike. And the study found that recent immigrants tend to have more education than earlier immigrants.

"Immigrants," the report concludes, "are integral to the nation's economic growth."

But if immigrants aren't weakening wage growth and job prospects, who is? Perhaps no group bears more responsibility for the plight of the middle class than billionaires. An IMF study confirms that increasing inequality, especially at the very top of the wealth and income scale, is weakening economic growth.

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"In contrast," the report found, "an increase in the income share of the bottom 20 percent (the poor) is associated with higher ... growth." And higher growth means more jobs.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, a world-leading expert on inequality, writes, "Our middle class is too weak to support the consumer spending that has historically driven our economic growth." But instead of ensuring that lower-income and middle-class people share in economic growth, the opposite has been happening: even after last week's improved economic news, most of the economy's gains are still going to the wealthiest Americans.

The 0.01 percent -- the 16,000 wealthiest Americans -- have as much wealth as 80 percent of the nation's population, some 256,000,000 people. Their shared wealth comes to $9 trillion. And at the end of 2015, a mere 536 people in the United States had a collective net worth of $2.6 trillion.

Why?

We now know what we have long suspected, thanks to political science research published at Princeton University: political decision-making in this country is driven by corporate and ultra-wealthy elites, not by the democratic majority. This oligarchical usurpation of influence has led office holders at all levels to implement policies that kill jobs, depress wages, and increase inequality.

These policies include government spending cuts, tax giveaways to the wealthy and corporations, bad trade deals (which Trump says he opposes; he team suggests otherwise), and economically destructive deregulation.

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Billionaire cash is also impeding efforts to reduce the climate change and environmental destruction that has already caused irreparable harm to the planet - harm that could rapidly accelerate if the climate-denying Trump becomes president.

Know what also reduces inequality, helps create jobs, and raises working people's wages? Unions. It isn't immigrants who are weakening the collective bargaining power of the American worker. Billionaires like the Koch Brothers are financing anti-union court cases and flooding our political system with cash to eliminate one of the 99 percent's most effective tools for economic self-improvement.

Right-wing corporations and billionaires are conducting class warfare on the 99 percent and environmental warfare on the planet. That's why we need to enact a new, broad agenda: higher taxes on the wealthy, an increased minimum wage, strengthened workers' rights, sweeping environmental measures, and greater government spending for critical needs like infrastructure health, and education.

To safeguard democracy, we'll also need fundamental campaign finance reform.

To be sure, not all billionaires are trying to take your job, cut your pay, steal your democracy or destroy your planet. Donald Trump claims to be a billionaire. (Who can know for sure?) But we can't condemn all billionaires because of what Trump and his ilk have done. They're human beings, for God's sake, not pieces of candy.

And about those candies: We now know that the Skittles photo in Donald Jr.'s tweet was taken by a refugee and used without payment or permission. The immigrant who took that picture is contributing to the cultural and economic life of his nation.

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She's sexy, she's experienced, and she's not shy about using her mature charm to lure in eager younger men. She's a Cougar, and for most people in modern society, she is an utter mystery.

She seems to casually defy all of the traditional relationship patterns and norms. She isn't necessarily interested in settling down for a safe and comfortable relationship like women her age are "supposed" to do. Instead, she seeks out the amorous affection of men five, 10, or 20 years her junior. She's lively and bold, and just because she's older, it doesn't mean she's set in her ways. Quite the opposite. She's in touch with her sexuality and confident enough to try new things, but she also knows exactly what she likes -- and chances are, if you're lucky enough to spend time with her, you'll find that she has excellent taste.

Some people love and admire women like her, while others can't stand the thought of such a "backwards" age difference in a romantic relationship.

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As a woman who has had a lot of fun on cougar dating sites, I can assure you that age is not as important as people make it out to be and that as long as there is mutual consent, respect, and curiosity, this kind of non-traditional arrangement is incredibly positive and empowering. It's not weird, it's not uncomfortable, and -- this will come as a surprise to many people -- it's not a new idea.

While the term "Cougar" is relatively new, the concept of women engaging in sexual, romantic relationships with men significantly younger than themselves goes all the way back to ancient times.

In 428 BC, for instance, the ancient Greek playwright Euripides premiered a scandalous play called Hippolytos, about an older woman named Phaedra who falls hopelessly in love with a younger man. It's a tragedy, so it doesn't end particularly well, but audiences were thoroughly shocked and titillated by the plot. That was nearly 2,500 years ago, and we're still just as confused and curious about an older woman pursuing, dating or marrying a younger man today.

Later, in the 1700s, the most powerful woman in the world made a name for herself as a brilliant and aggressive leader as well as a "sexually insatiable" woman who shocked the world by defying social taboos of all kinds. Her name was Catherine the Great, and she famously defied her conservative culture by having affairs with men like Alexander Vasilchikov, a handsome Russian aristocrat 15 years her junior.

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Even Benjamin Franklin had something to say on the topic. In 1745, he wrote a letter to a younger male friend who was reluctant to get married. Franklin urged him to give in and get married for the sake of social appearances, but advised that, if the young man were absolutely set against it, he should choose a mistress who was significantly older -- and he had a list of eight reasons why older women were better than younger mistresses!

As you can see from these few examples, Cougars have a long history, although unfortunately, most of it is lost to the past, thanks to restrictive marriage customs and the fact that no one keeps formal records of romantic trysts or affairs of the heart. What we do know for sure, however, is that many women throughout history knew exactly what modern women (and men!) are beginning to understand today -- that age is just a number and sexual expression should not be hindered by arbitrary social rules.

Cougars have always been an irresistible mystery, and maybe society will never fully understand the appeal. To all who are brave enough, though, to pop that bubble of social propriety, know that your delightfully deviant fun is part of a proud tradition of confident, independent women who decided that having exciting, passionate, and uninhibited romances was much more interesting than "acting their age."

Earlier on Huff/Post50:
In the military, core values are a matter of life and death. Each service branch has their own set and they are ingrained--usually, from day one--in those who serve. In the Navy, I learned that honor, courage, and commitment were key to every single thing I did in every facet of my life. I also learned that if I strayed from those values, I could be putting my country, the mission, my unit, my shipmates, and my own life at risk.

I've long admired Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth for her drive, determination, and clear adherence to the core values inherent in so many combat veterans but clearly absent in her opponent, incumbent Senator Mark Kirk.

It seems silly that a veteran would make things up about their record. We all know that journalists, political operatives, and fellow veterans are going to be paying attention to a high profile U.S. Senate race. Yet, it has happened time and again. Specifically, it keeps happening time and again in the case of Sen. Mark Kirk.



Sen. Kirk has repeatedly lied about his record. He claimed to have fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom--that was a lie. He claimed to have been awarded "U.S. Navy Intelligence Officer of the Year"--that was a lie. And he said he deployed to Afghanistan--which is true, but he only spent three weeks there, as opposed to a full 6, 9, or 12+ month deployment. Misrepresenting yourself after being called out over and over again for half-truths is bad business. Much of this came out in 2010, but just this week it was discovered that his website was inaccurate again.

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When I separated from the Navy after 12 honorable years, I took the values with me. I've never misremembered my record. I've never made up combat experience. I also generally don't talk about the things that I did on my deployments. I certainly never made things up about my occupation in the military. Tammy Duckworth doesn't do that either. In fact, she is well-known for taking a veteran to task over abuse of the benefits system. She did this because she values integrity.

And the thing is, I'm not some shining example. The norm for veterans is humility in service--the very definition of service is self-sacrifice, and putting others before yourself. You needn't look further than Boston-area Congressman Seth Moulton. When he ran for congress, he didn't mention that he was decorated for valor. Twice.

So why in the world does Senator Mark Kirk do it and get away with it? His repeated lies, not only about his service but foreign policy as a whole topic, are directly in conflict with the military's core values. I was but a lowly enlisted man and last I checked, officers are to be held to a higher standard. For what it's worth, senators should be, too.

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In my mind, my fellow veterans from Illinois have an obligation. Do we want someone who lacks character deciding whether or not to take our country to war? Do we want a man who lacks integrity weighing intelligence to decide on matters of homeland security? Do we want someone who lacks the courage to give an honest account of his military service considering how we can best take care of the bravest among us returning home from war? I know I don't.

This is the year to right this wrong. Illinois veterans need to show every single one of the more than 40,000 new Sailors graduating each year from Navy Boot Camp, located in a suburb of Chicago, that we not only appreciate their willingness to serve, but that in return, we will hold accountable those who disregard the core values that keep them alive and the mission accomplished.

I hate to see my home state struggling with this. For me, there is only one choice. Congresswoman Duckworth is a war hero. We all know her story, and it is clear that she embodies the core values we expect to see in those who serve, whether in uniform or on the floor of the United States Senate.

In short, she's the kind of legislator the great state of Illinois--and its veterans--deserve.
Teleconsulting isn't new, but it is breaking ground in new industries. The innovative ways people are using the internet to communicate are stunning...it's a level of connection and interaction most of us couldn't have imagined 30 years ago. Except Gene Roddenberry, maybe. He was way ahead of his time.

Today, all kinds of companies are using telecommunications in weird and wonderful ways. James Vincent used an iPad robot to work in an office 3,500 miles away. Great story. Very Sheldonesque.

Here are some other innovative ways companies are telecommuting.

Ridgeway Mechanical

Most of us think of plumbing as a manual (and often messy) job. But Ridgeway Mechanical in Atlanta is not your typical plumbing outfit. They've gone hi-tech in some pretty darn interesting ways.

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Don't get me wrong, plumbing is always going to involve manual labor. An iPad can't put in a new toilet or replace a broken drainpipe under your house. However, what if you could save that plumbing trip - and the fee involved - with a teleconsult? When you call the company, you get a personal consult with a plumbing expert via Facetime who will diagnose your problem, run through some simple DIY troubleshooting, tell you how to shut off your water, and schedule an appointment if necessary.

The plumbers in the field also use iPads to figure estimates and issue invoices, help with leak detection, underground visuals, measurements, and help complete their work in half a dozen other ways.

Medical Consultations

The field of health is crowded with teleconsulting, and it's been a boon to doctors and patients alike. Teleradiology, for example, makes it possible for a specialist to assess a patient's condition from any location. Making it possible for an American doctor to get a second opinion consult from a specialist in Sweden. In the near future, we may even see telerobotic surgeries performed by remote doctors.

In the Classroom

This year, Apple rolled out Classroom, a program that gives teachers control over all the apps in the classroom to keep students focused and on track. The app allows teachers to open books, videos, or other learning aids on student iPads, to see what the students are browsing when they are supposed to be working, and to lock their screens if Candy Crush is more interesting than the lesson.

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As this technology becomes more prevalent, future students might go to school part time, and attend from home part time, an idea that would save the education system money by halving the necessary space and bus services needed, and it would also relieve the teacher shortage, but it could put a terrible strain on working parents.

On the other hand, teleschool would solve the problems for kids with social anxiety or long-term illness, and allow a kid with an injury to attend without having to navigate crowded hallways on crutches.
When Trump or Clinton becomes president next year and considers how to reassert American power in the region, the most important face looking back will be that of an unassuming man who started working in his family's furniture shop at 12, was evicted from his home on three occasions, and was best known just four years ago as the mayor of a city the size of Cleveland. In truth, Joko Widodo, known here as Jokowi, was as unlikely a candidate to be elected President of Indonesia - which he was, in 2014 - as there's ever been. Yet there is no nation in southeast Asia better positioned to provide the counter-weight to China and Russia that America needs in the South China Sea than the world's fourth-most populous country, one that's not only strategically located in the region but growing economically in ways that will increase its ability to assert its interests. And there is no nation in the world that provides a more powerful example in this era of global extremism and instability than the world's largest Muslim-majority democracy which, at 250 million strong, proves every day that democracy and Islam can not only co-exist, but thrive. If the story of the Obama years was about America's supposed pivot to Asia - which critics say is sinking--the story of the next eight years needs to be America's pivot to Indonesia. And after two years of false starts and concerns about his leadership, Jokowi is ready for his close up. And not a moment too soon. As we were starkly reminded last week by China and Russia's seventh joint naval exercises since 2005, tensions are rising in the South China Sea, and Indonesia is right in the thick of it. The trouble started in 2010, when Beijing, trumpeting a widely debunked 1953 map that laid claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea as Chinese territory, declared "indisputable sovereignty" over the same territory. That came as news to the five other nations, including Indonesia, which the international community has long recognized as the owners of the land and water being claimed by China today. But that hasn't stopped China from throwing its considerable weight around the past six years, constructing oil platforms, boarding ships, and, most ominously, seizing islands claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines - on which it has put up buildings, constructed airstrips and huge aircraft hangars, and deployed military planes and other armaments. In July, an international tribunal in the Hague rejected China's claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea - through which half of the world's nautical trade passes - ruling in favor of the Philippines in a maritime dispute. China has responded with more bluster, vowing that it will "never stop" construction while all but daring the international community to force it to leave. And "it's not hard to understand why," a journalist here tells me. "More than half of China's reserves go through the South China Sea. It's a weak spot and it's vital that they have control." China also continues to build up its coast guard and fishing fleets, which is where Indonesia directly enters the fray. Over the past five years, there have been a number of clashes between Chinese fishing vessels and the Indonesian navy over the Indonesia-owned Natuna islands, which China now also claims. As one journalist recently observed, "Beijing uses these fishing ships as a kind of militia to harass and block other nation's vessels from accessing the vital trade routes and fishing grounds." Indonesians have had enough. Beginning in late 2014, led by Jokowi and Fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti, this island nation has taken the extraordinary step of blowing up more than 220 seized fishing vessels in public events that have sent an unmistakable message to Beijing. In June, to reinforce that show of strength, Jokowi made a high-profile visit to the Natunas. "Taking sides on the South China Sea issue is not something we traditionally do," a respected editor says to me. "We won't take the U.S. side on this. But we may lean." However, a well-connected consultant confides that "Jokowi recently told (me) in a private meeting that he is now ready to face South China Sea issues. He is interested in China now and being assertive." It fits with other moves the President has made that reflect a growing strength. Dismissed in 2014 as an inexperienced puppet for the leader of his party, the former President Megawati Sukarnoputri - memorialized in the Wall Street Journal headline, "Mega's Message to Jokowi: I'm the Boss" - Jokowi was criticized for rubber-stamping controversial allies of Megawati's for his cabinet. That, too, is changing. He recently brought back Sri Mulyani, a bold reformer whom Jokowi had exiled to the World Bank for ruffling feathers, as finance minister. He also appointed a widely respected police chief and shuffled a powerful gatekeeper to a different post. "Jokowi is frustrated and needs good people to assert authority," says a well-placed confidante to the President, who adds that Jokowi's profile began to change when he built a stronger relationship with the military a year ago. "He is tired of this political drama that has been going on since he became president. He is consolidating power." It's a moment tailor-made for the U.S. to strengthen relations with Jakarta. How? Three ways. First, our next President should visit Indonesia as soon as possible, and make clear: while Obama's focus was on expanding alliances with Japan and Korea, facilitating change in Myanmar, and improving relations with Vietnam and India, the top priority for the next four years is Indonesia. That's especially important for Clinton, whose time as Obama's Secretary of State left people here "skeptical of her" one insider confides. A substantive presidential visit would bolster her standing and signal that the U.S. is serious about pivoting to Indonesia. Second, the U.S. should support Indonesia's emerging assertiveness on South China Sea issues. That includes offering Indonesia more maritime capabilities so that it can stand up for itself at sea - including, modernized Coast Guard vessels and training. Former Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono believes this is something Trump would do, expressing confidence "Trump will win and he will change." Finally, the next Administration must articulate a creative strategy for our economic relationship that contrasts with China's strategy of "exploit and extract." There is a fear here that Indonesia's growing dependence on China - it recently ranked 10th in a Forbes list of the "Top 10 China-Dependent Countries" - could compromise its assertiveness on the South China Sea. U.S. economic and business-to-business engagement should offer a vision that empowers, instead of extracts from, Indonesia. That means investing in education and development, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, and giving Jakarta an alternative to China in its race to improve its gridlocked economy. It also means finding a way to make the proposed trade pact between the U.S. and 11 Pacific rim nations, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership--which is projected to bring $26 billion in trade to Indonesia--work. Lastly, no matter who wins in November, there is one thing the next President should do: invite Jokowi to visit and work to secure an invitation for him to address Congress. The last, and only, time an Indonesian leader spoke to Congress was in 1956 - when Trump was nine, Clinton was eight, and Jokowi was five years from being born. Sixty years is too long. It's time to bring the relationship between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest Muslim-majority democracy into the 21st Century--no matter who sits in the Oval Office.
Editor's note: The following is a roundup of stories related to policing and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Police and protesters clashed last night in Charlotte after Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old African-American man, was shot and killed by a police officer.

Lamont's death followed a shooting last week in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where another African-American man, Terrence Crutcher, 40, was also killed by a police officer.

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Police brutality, and the response of groups such as Black Lives Matter, have drawn renewed national attention to issues of race and policing in America. Here are highlights of The Conversation's coverage of these issues.

Violence takes a toll

Through social media, millions of Americans witness images of the death of African-Americans. For African-Americans, the repeated experience of watching these events can have profound impact on their well-being. As pediatrician Nea Heard-Garris, researcher at the University of Michigan, writes about the impact on black children:

"Children can be impacted by traumatic events if they identify with the victim regardless of geography. Think of how youth of color everywhere may identify with these events, based on the ages and races of the victims... we need to protect our children from being the indirect victims of these events as well."









REUTERS/Jason Miczek





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Addressing the problem of anti-black police violence also requires taking into account the traumatic and long-term deadly effects on the living, who are often women. Christen Smith, professor of Anthropology and African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, writes:

"We know from the stories of black mothers who have lost their children to state violence that the lingering anguish of living in the aftermath of police violence kills black women gradually. Depression, suicide, PTSD, heart attacks, strokes and other debilitating mental and physical illnesses are just some of the diseases black women develop as they try to put their lives back together after they lose a child."

Nor are police immune from the effects of violence. A study by John Violanti of the University of Buffalo, State University of New York found that police have a 69 percent greater risk of committing suicide than other working populations.

"The top five most stressful events that police reported were, in this order: exposure to battered or dead children, killing someone in the line of duty, fellow officer killed in the line of duty, situations requiring the use of force and physical attack on one's person."

Searching for solutions

Those seeking solutions have scrutinized police departments for their training, practices and culture. Addressing the masculine, aggressive disposition promoted in many departments may be key to reducing police violence, according to research from Frank Roody Cooper, a professor of law at Suffolk University.

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"An awareness of the way cop macho leads to "contempt of cop" punishments will not prevent all police uses of force. Training machismo out of police officers' habits would be worth the effort, though, because it would allow the deescalation of many potential police-civilian conflicts."

Police brutality against blacks in the civil rights era, as is the case today, is effective in galvanizing minorities around other core issues facing their communities, writes Garrett Felber, a scholar of 20th-century African-American history and social movements at the University of Michigan:

"The issue at stake, then, is how to take this opening and not only begin to secure justice for the lives lost to police violence, but also to expand on questions about what it means to value black life."




With the release of a new film about Edward Snowden, the man who revealed secret documents detailing a massive U.S. government spying program, the debate about his character continues. That includes a renewed effort to encourage President Obama to pardon him. But, as Snowden himself might point out, what should give us pause is government intelligence agencies' power.

The extent and scope of their ability to intercept communications and collect information is mind-boggling. "Snowden" the movie lays bare National Security Agency surveillance programs that show little regard for citizen privacy, and the duplicitous statements the NSA makes about its activities.

The movie's narrative tells the story of Snowden himself (fictionalized and dramatized somewhat), including his military training, his medical discharge and his work in the intelligence community. It provides a new vehicle for the layperson to learn about how the government uses modern communications technology.

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The movie doesn't take a nuanced view of why intelligence agencies do what they do. Nor does it provide sufficient context about the NSA's practices in relation to those of agencies in other countries. Its portrayal of the technology involved (and of U.S. government efforts to apprehend and prosecute whistleblowers) is, however, mostly accurate.

Collection, but not inspection

The film discusses three distinct aspects of the NSA's efforts: data collection, analysis and the legal basis for surveillance. The movie accurately shows the agency's systems for collecting bulk data from across the country - through direct connections to the networks of major telephone and internet companies, including AT&T, Verizon, Google, Microsoft and Facebook. The suggestion, though, is that not only are data collected on all citizens, but - misleadingly - that all citizens are being investigated continuously.

Given the volume of communications, and the constantly changing threat landscape, intelligence agencies can't respond to every lead they get in real time. Under its PRISM program, the NSA collects data on every citizen, including emails, web-browsing histories, social media activity records, voice and video chat records, phone calls, text documents, images and videos.

Rather than monitor that immense stream as information flows through it, the agency archives it so as to be able to search it later, as new leads arise and investigations begin. The movie does not make clear this important distinction

between having the ability to spy on every citizen and actually doing so.

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Simplifying data mining

The film also depicts the NSA's XKeyScore system, which can tap into all the data being collected. The information revealed by Snowden includes details on how XKeyScore can analyze the massive data trove, finding connections between people and matching voice patterns, among other abilities.

In the movie, scenes where analysts use XKeyScore suggest that just by typing very basic data about individuals (such as a name or email address) into an on-screen form, analysts can easily find exactly what they are looking for. This is a bit misleading. Data mining is a very challenging problem, especially in a set so large as to contain every communication in the U.S. Lots of innocent data surround a very small amount of what might be called useful intelligence.

Data mining can help narrow down a large batch of information to a more manageable amount, but human analysts - not a computer search screen - are the key to discerning actionable intelligence. Rules and constraints govern who has access to the information. What analysts actually do is also closely supervised. A further limit on the abilities of technology and human analysts alike is that truly dangerous people are very careful to cover their tracks, using temporary email accounts and strong encryption on their transmissions.

What's in the law?

The movie also strongly suggests that all of the NSA programs are illegal. While they are controversial, the legality of these programs is an unclear, and even moving, target. The 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act provides legal procedures for physical and electronic surveillance and collection of communications between foreign powers and their agents in the U.S.

It also allows surveillance of American citizens and permanent residents suspected of espionage or terrorism. While the law was designed to collect data from specific individuals, the NSA has used its powers to justify mass data collection and analysis.

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Some federal laws have been changed in the wake of Snowden's revelations, in some cases retroactively legalizing practices that might have been illegal. The NSA itself has also made changes to some of its programs, due more to the public - and congressional - outcry against them than their legality.

As a result of Snowden's disclosures, the NSA has stopped its bulk collection of phone records and limited surveillance of leaders of foreign allies. It has also offered more transparency to Congress on some of its efforts, and reduced the length of time it stores information on individuals.

The international context

Snowden's revelations will make it harder for U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct this sort of diplomatic surveillance, but does not similarly affect other countries' practices. The world's awareness of the level of spying conducted by the U.S. has also provided legitimacy to citizen-monitoring efforts in less democratic countries such as China and Russia.

Is there any real privacy?

The impact of all this information has been enormous, both for the U.S. government and Snowden's own personal life. Since releasing the information to the world, he has been holed up in Russia, with only temporary permission to stay. His American passport has been revoked. He cannot move around freely or communicate easily, for fear of U.S. covert agents seeking to apprehend him - or worse.

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The movie doesn't depict much of his Russian life, a decision that tends to reinforce the film's message that there is no privacy anymore. If it showed more about how Snowden communicates now, it might provide useful insights into how Americans - and others around the world - could potentially use encrypted software to communicate without being subject to government surveillance.

What it does show of secure communications is a good start, though. Not surprisingly, Snowden suggests using software that prevents tracking of user activities such as browsing, shopping and communicating. He also recommends using the Tor network, which anonymizes data by sending it through a series of encrypted computer links. He suggests whistle-blowers use tools like SecureDrop to communicate with journalists anonymously.

"Snowden" the movie shows the long reach of the government in collecting intelligence on its citizens, and the fight of one disillusioned citizen against that unrestricted and unacknowledged governmental power. It highlights some of the complexities of the intelligence world, and the challenges of collecting information in the internet-dominated world.

Finally, it portrays the challenges in the personal life of a highly driven individual who followed his convictions in pursuit of social justice. Whether he is a patriot or a pariah depends on the lens you use - but he has certainly brought to the fore important discussions of privacy and cybersecurity for ordinary citizens, as well as free speech and government surveillance power.





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These reflections were written in reaction to the tragedies that took place over the summer, but they are especially relevant given the recent bombings in NY/ NJ and the deaths of Tyre King, Terrance Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott.



Duwain Pinder, Joint Degree Student at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School

My clock stopped shortly after July 4th with the murders of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, two African-American men killed by police officers.

After reading and reflecting on these headlines, I immediately felt vulnerable. I was reminded how quickly my life can end with one "wrong" move. The combination of my skin color, my gender, and this country's history of oppression make it exceedingly easy for me to be labeled as a threat and killed. My worst moments would be broadcast to justify my killing. My killer would likely not be convicted, much less indicted. To prevent this outcome, I make sure that my Harvard crest is visible and smile when I see police officers. But the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and the countless other black men gunned down by those sworn to protect and serve are constant reminders that there is no amount of "good behavior" that can guarantee I won't meet this end. This can happen to me. It can happen to my brother, my dad, and any other black man in America at any time and in any place.

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After the vulnerability, I felt numb. My numbness stemmed from the constant barrage of stories on social media highlighting the deaths of black men and black women who have been killed with little or no rationale. In order to function, I have created a coping mechanism: read a few articles, process and compartmentalize my emotions, post something semi-thoughtful on social media, and move on. Through this process, I have subconsciously accepted the murder of other African-Americans as normal.

Finally, I felt and continue to feel heartbroken. I'm heartbroken because I know this will happen again. I'm heartbroken because so much of the conversation following these tragedies focuses on the individual occurrences rather than the structural problems. I'm heartbroken because much of the blame for these murders is placed at the feet of rap music, baggy clothes, and black-on-black crime rather than on racism. I'm heartbroken because the same implicit biases that lie beneath these tragedies also lie beneath inequalities in other areas such as hiring, affordable housing, and public health. I'm heartbroken because the solutions to these issues seem to be beyond the reach of our current political discourse. And I am devastated that if and when I have a son, he will have moments during which he feels vulnerable, numb and heartbroken for this same reason.

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At times of emotional distress, empathy is what I desire most from others. However, I often do not meet this need for those around me. On the other side of the world, there was a terrorist shooting in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the hometown of one my classmates; 20 hostages were murdered. I saw that headline, paused briefly, and moved on. Not until I saw my classmate a few weeks later did it hit me that his family and friends could have been affected and that he was probably in a similar emotional state as I am when an instance of police brutality occurs in the United States. Even though fortunately, he and his family were safe, I could have and should have paused longer than one second, moved the abstract into the real and into the individual, and reached out to him. Too often, I am too focused on what affects me to notice what is affecting others. This summer's tragic events made it abundantly clear to me that only noticing what affects us individually is not enough.

Our natural instinct is to withhold empathy only for special situations. When a family member or friend is diagnosed with a disease or our hometown is hit with a natural disaster, we naturally summon up reserves of empathy to support those in need. However, when a tragic event happens outside of our natural scope of relationships, we guard our emotions. When we scroll through headlines and view lives as abstract statistics rather than deep, meaningful existences that can never be replicated, we hoard our empathy for good reason. If we internalized every headline, dissected the implications of every story and summoned empathy for every tragedy, we would be emotionally exhausted unable to operate and live fulfilling lives. Our instinct is to stockpile our empathetic tendencies for when we will truly need them. However, by doing this, we sell ourselves short. We discount our capacity for empathy and we underestimate the situations that require our compassion. In truth, there are many large and small interactions that would be improved if we extended our capacity to be empathetic. We have that power. We have the ability to transcend our instincts and show empathy to others.

"EMPATHY IS SIMPLE BUT IT IS ALSO EXTRAORDINARY"

After the latest rounds of police brutality, while processing my emotions through conversations with my black friends and keeping it together during my internship, a hopeful thing happened. A few of my non-black friends sent me a text message saying "I know this week has probably been really tough for you. I don't know what I can do, but I'm here if you need anything". And I would always respond "Sending me this message means so much to me... thank you". This act of reaching out mattered because empathy is simple but it is also extraordinary. When everything is going well in your world, it matters when you simply take the time to stop, take notice of the pain and suffering of others, and reach out.

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Empathy matters. It enables us to recognize and understand the emotions of others when happiness occurs and when tragedy strikes. It pushes us to reach out when someone is in need. It impels us to speak less and listen more. I need more of it. We all need more of it.

Empathy impacts the bottom line. A recent study by businessolver, a supplier of employee benefits solutions, showed that 60% of CEOs say that they are empathetic but only 24% of their employees agree. 56% of employees say that they are more likely to stay with a company when management shows empathy. Additionally, the study showed that 42% of customers have refused to buy products from non-empathetic organizations.


By Jodie Archer and Matthew L. Jockers

1

THE BESTSELLER-OMETER, OR, HOW TEXT MINING MIGHT CHANGE PUBLISHING

Back in the spring of 2010, Stieg Larsson's agent was having a good day. On June 13, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nestthird in the series from a previously unknown authordebuted at number one in hardback in the New York Times.You can imagine the lists would have been a pleasing sight over morning coffee. Hornets' Nest straight in at the top, Dragon Tattoo at number one in two paperback formats, and The Girl Who Played with Fire a roundly satisfying number two. This had been going on for forty-nine weeks in the U.S., and for three solid years in Europe. It would have been hard not to be smug.

The following month Amazon would announce Larsson was the first author ever to sell a million copies on the Kindle, and over the next two years sales in all editions would top seventy-five million. Not bad for an unknown political activistturned-novelist from a little Scandinavian country, especially one who had chosen a rather uncharming title in Swedish and had written some brutal scenes of rape and torture. Men Who Hate Womenor The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as it was renamed in Englishwas the sensation book of the year in more than thirty countries.

The press didn't understand the success. Major newspapers commissioned opinion pieces on what on earth was going on in the book world. Why this book? Why the frenzy? What was the secret? Who could have known?

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Answers were lackluster. Reviewers scratched their heads about it. They found fault with the novel's structure, style, plotting, and character. They groaned over the translations. They complained about the stupidity of the reading public. But still copies sold as fast as they were printedwhether you were in the UK, the U.S., in Japan, or in Germany; whether you were male, female, old, young, black, white, straight, or gay. Whoever you were, practically anywhere, you knew people who were reading those books.

That doesn't happen very often in the book world. The industry might enjoy a phenomenon breakout like Larsson once a year, if that. E. L. James has been the biggest breakout since, with Fifty Shades of Grey, and unlike Larsson she was available for a big publicity tour. Larsson had died before publication. The level of sales his trilogy achieved without even the backing of its author was supposedly just unfathomable. Freakish. Unpredictable.

Let's consider some numbers. A company in Delaware called Bowker is the global leader in bibliographic information and the exclusive provider for unique identification numbers (ISBN) for books in the U.S. Their annual report states that approximately fifty to fifty-five thousand new works of fiction are published every year. Given the increasing number of self-published ebooks that carry no ISBN, this is a conservative number. In the U.S., about two hundred to two hundred twenty novels make the New York Times bestseller lists every year. Even with conservative numbers, that's less than half a percent of works of fiction published. Of that half a percent, even fewer hit the bestseller lists and stay there week after week to become what the industry calls a "double-digit" book. Only handfuls of authors manage those ten or more weeks on the list, and of those maybe just three or four will sell a million copies of a single title in the U.S. in one year. Why those books?

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Traditionally, it is believed that there are certain skills a novelist needs to master in order to win readers: a sense of plot, compelling characters, more than basic competence with grammar. Writers with big fan bases have mastered more: an eye for the human condition, the twists and turns of plausibility, that rare but appropriate use of the semicolon. These are good writers, and with time and dedication almost all genuinely good writers will find their audience. But when it comes to the kind of success involved in hundreds of thousands of people reading the same book at the same timethis thriller and not that thriller, this potential Pulitzer and not that potential Pulitzerwell, unless Oprah is involved, that signals the presence of a fine stardust that's apparently just too difficult to detect. The sudden and seemingly blessed success of books like the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Help, Gone Girl, and The Da Vinci Code is considered very lucky, but as random as winning the lottery.

The word "bestseller," by the way, has always been a book world term, and as a word it is relatively young. It first entered the dictionary in the late nineteenth century, about the time of the first list of books ranked by consumer sales. While it should be a neutral term, it has developed some connotations that are likely misleading. The literary magazine The Bookman started to print "Sales of Books during the Month" in 1891 in London and in 1895 in New York after the International Copyright Act of 1891 slowed down the distribution of cheap pirated copies of British novels. Until then, no sales statistics had really been possible. From the beginning, the listswhich were printed in each major city and typically reported the top six sellers of the monthwere about two things that were new to the book world. The bestseller lists were about sales as the only criterion for inclusion, and a proxy recommendation system for what to read next. These recommendations were based not on the choices of a select few reviewers or publishers, but on the choices of everyday fellow readers. The reader's choice was and still is the only vote. The term "bestseller," then, should carry no intrinsic comment on quality or type of book, and is not a synonym for either "genre" or "popular fiction." While the word has often been used pejoratively by some members of the literary establishment, who have felt that the collective taste of the reading market signals bad literature, the data itself suggests a less subjective and more balanced truth. Bestsellers include Pulitzer Prize winners and Great American Novels as well as books by famous mass-market writers. The list can house Toni Morrison and Margaret Atwood alongside Michael Connelly and Debbie Macomber. This is why the bestseller list is such a rich cultural construct and so dynamic to study.

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Obviously there's a lot of value in writing one of those books. There's a lot of value in finding those books as an agent or editor. There's a lot of value for retailers, toothe top few titles alone are why some retailers are able to stay in business and keep selling books at all.

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Of course, we are talking for now of value in monetary terms. Imagine a seven- or even eight-figure advance for finally getting onto the page that book you are always telling your friends is inside you. Not many authors command that kind of clout in one territory, but they are certainly around. And you can glamorize the impoverished artist with his pen and notebook as much as you like, but wouldn't it be nice to think of the story you just made up as appearing on bedside tables, beside bathtubs, and on commuter iPads and Kindles in different languages all over the world?

The key sellers of a given year bring the glamor and the drama. They represent the houses in the Hamptons, the fancy cars and diamond tiaras of the literary domain. Hit the lists and stay there for a while and you will be revered, respected, loathed, and condemned. You might be asked to judge a prize or review other books. Maybe your movie rights will be optioned. People will be talking.

Wouldn't it be fun if success weren't so random?

White Swans

The bold claim of this book is that the novels that hit the New York Times bestseller lists are not random, and the market is not in fact as unknowable as others suggest. Regardless of genre, bestsellers share an uncanny number of latent features that give us new insights into what we read and why. What's more, algorithms allow us to discover new and even as yet unpublished books with similar hallmarks of bestselling DNA.

There is a commonly repeated "truth" in publishing that success is all about an established name, marketing dollars, or expensive publicity campaigns. Sure, these things have an impact, but our research challenges the idea it's all about hype in a way that should appeal to those writers who toil over their craft. Five years of study suggests that bestselling is largely dependent upon having just the right words in just the right order, and the most interesting story about the NYT list is about nothing more or less than the author's manuscript, black ink on white paper, unadorned.

Using a computer model that can read, recognize, and sift through thousands of features in thousands of books, we discovered that there are fascinating patterns inherent to the books that are most likely to succeed in the market, and they have their own story to tell about readers and reading. In this book we will describe how and why we built such a model and how it discovered that eighty to ninety percent of the time the bestsellers in our research corpus were easy to spot. Eighty percent of New York Times bestsellers of the past thirty years were identified by our machines as likely to chart. What's more, every book was treated as if it were a fresh, unseen manuscript and then marked not just with a binary classification of "likely to chart" or "likely not to," but also with a score indicating its likelihood of being a bestseller. These scores are fascinating in their own right, but as we show how they are made we will also share our explanation for why that book on your bedside table is so hard to put down.

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Consider some of these percentages. The computer model's certainty about the success of Dan Brown's latest novel, Inferno, was 95.7 percent. For Michael Connelly's The Lincoln Lawyer it was 99.2 percent. Both were number one in hardback on the NYT list, which for a long time has been one of the most prestigious positions to occupy in the book world. These are veteran authors, of course, already established. But the model is unaware of an author's name and reputation and can just as confidently score an unknown writer. The score for The Friday Night Knitting Club, the first novel by Kate Jacobs, was 98.9 percent. The Luckiest Girl Alive, a very different debut novel by Jessica Knoll, had a bestselling success score of 99.9 percent based purely on the text of the manuscript. Both Jacobs and Knoll stayed on the list for many weeks. The Martian (before Matt Damon's interest in playing the protagonist) got 93.4 percent. There are examples from all genres: The First Phone Call from Heaven, a spiritual tale by Mitch Albom, 99.2 percent; The Art of Fielding, a literary debut by Chad Harbach, 93.3 percent; and Bared to You, an erotic romance by Sylvia Day, 91.2 percent.

These figures, which provide a measure of bestselling potential, have made some people excited, others angry, and more than a few suspicious. In some ways that is fair enough: the scores are disruptive, mind-bending. To some industry veterans, they are absurd. But they also could just change publishing, and they will most certainly change the way that you think about what's inside the next bestseller you read.

We should make it clear that none of the books we reference were acquired based on our model's figures, and figures, beyond the ones you'll read about here, have never been formally shared with any agent or publishing house. We should also be clear that these figures are specific to the closed world of our research corpus, a corpus we designed to look like what you'd see if you walked into a Barnes & Noble with a wide selection to choose from. Agents and editors do a good job of putting books in front of consumersit's not as though we are short of things to read. And some individuals in publishing have a particular reputation for the Midas touch. But remember that the bestseller rate in the industry as it stands is less than one-half of one percent. That's a lot of gambling before a big win. Note, too, that year after year, the lists comprise the names of the same long-standing mega-authors. Stephen King is sixty-eight. James Patterson is sixty-eight. Danielle Steel is sixty-eight. As much as fans are still thrilled by another new novel from one of these veteran writers, it is telling that the publishing world has not discovered the next generation of authors who will similarly enjoy thirty to forty years of constant bestselling. Nor did the industry find, despite the thousands of manuscripts both rejected and published annually, a runaway bestseller for 2014 (Dragon Tattoo, Fifty Shades, and Gone Girl had been the standout hits of previous years), and neither did it publish a manuscript to impress the Pulitzer Prize committee in 2012. Why?

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Well, it is a universal wisdom that bestsellers are freaks. They are the happy outliers. The anomalies of the market. Black swans. If that is the truth, then once you find a bestselling writer, why put your money anywhere else? Why put your millions on a new twenty-year-old writer instead of Stephen King? How could you possibly know if a new literary author is worth the sort of investment worthy of a future big-prize winner?

...continue reading



Copyright  2016 by Jodie Archer and Matthew L. Jockers







JODIE ARCHER bought and edited books for Penguin UK before decamping for the doctoral program in English at Stanford University. After her PhD, she worked at Apple as their research lead on literature, and has since consulted with many writers and businesses about literary success. She is now a full time writer.
ASTON, PA - SEPTEMBER 22: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Sun Center Studios September 22, 2016 in Aston, Pennsylvania. A national poll released yesterday shows Trump trailing Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by 6 points in a four-way matchup. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Donald Trump wants to make the internet great again. Problem is, the GOP nominee doesn't know enough about the internet to understand what, if anything, that means.

On Wednesday, Trump's campaign came out against an Obama administration plan to relinquish U.S. control of one important aspect of the internet: the supervision of domain names. The plan is to remove the U.S. government control of that function and transfer it more fully to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, a global body.

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Trump's sometime-nemesis Sen. Ted Cruz is threatening to hold the government-spending bill hostage unless Congress rejects Obama's plan. Cruz wrongly states that the ICANN transition would "empower countries like Russia, China and Iran to be able to censor speech on the internet, your speech."

On this Trump agrees. "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," a Trump campaign spokesman said in a statement. "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."

But Trump and Cruz are wrong. In an Op-Ed published in the Washington Post, Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Daniel Weitzner write, "ICANN, in fact, has no power whatsoever over individual speech online... The actual flow of traffic, and therefore speech, is up to individual network and platform operators."

They should know. Berners-Lee is credited with creating the standard that opened the World Wide Web to everyone with an idea and a connection. Weitzner, as director of the MIT Internet Policy Research Initiative, has devoted his career to protecting the free flow of information online.

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According to Berners-Lee and Weitzner:

The global consensus at the heart of the internet exists by virtue of trust built up over decades with people from all over the world collaborating on the technical design and operation of the network and the web. ICANN is a critical part of this global consensus. But if the United States were to reverse plans to allow the global internet community to operate ICANN independently, as Sen. Cruz is now proposing, we risk undermining the global consensus that has enabled the internet to function and flourish over the last 25 years.

Berners-Lee and Weitzner aren't politicians. Scare-mongering for political gain isn't their thing. The opposite is true for Trump and Cruz, whose ignorance about internet policy is on par with their desire to win points by spreading fear about internet censorship.

But it's Trump who has repeatedly threatened to shut down the internet to keep Americans safe from terrorists. He's offered few specifics about how this might be acheived.

Cruz fashions himself as a champion of internet freedom, but pushes initiatives that actually undermine the open internet. Earlier this year, he signed on to legislation that would take away Net Neutrality protections, which ensure that internet users can connect and communicate with anyone else online. His campaign against ICANN may succeed in grinding a divided Congress to a halt, but his censorship concerns aren't remotely valid.

Scare tactics aside, the transfer to ICANN will have no influence over the internet-censorship decisions of countries like China, Iran, Russia and Turkey. The repressive behavior of these countries is a huge problem, but it's not tied to the service that manages domain names.

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Is it too much to expect politicians who dabble in internet policy to know something about the internet? A little knowledge can go a long way toward keeping the network small "d" democratic, open and available to everyone.
Denmark and the United States are close partners within both politics and trade. The United States is the world's largest economy and a growing market for Danish companies.



The United States and Denmark continue to strengthen our economic ties and in 2015 exports from Denmark to the United States totalled 14.7 billion USD. The U.S. market is Denmark's most important export market outside the EU.



It is therefore our great pleasure to accompany Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince Couple of Denmark on this important visit to the United States. This time, the Crown Prince Couple will be leading a sizeable business delegation of 60 Danish companies from sectors such as sustainability, healthcare, agriculture & food and the maritime industry.



Denmark has already established itself as a significant partner within these sectors. We may be a small country - just about the size of the state of Maryland. But our economy and our businesses are highly focused on markets abroad - not least in the U.S. And Danish companies have established more than 650 companies and offices here, adding more than 60,000 jobs to the American economy.



But we are not just here in the U.S. to reaffirm existing ties. We also want to cultivate them so they can grow even stronger, and we see a strong potential for increased cooperation.



Denmark and the U.S. agree on many things - first and foremost we are both dedicated to the values of free trade, with as few limitations and bureaucratic impediments as possible.



The Danish government see a TTIP agreement as a central tool to strengthen economic growth and to develop further our already long-term and close trading relations with the United States. Therefore, we must continue to promote positive public opinion about TTIP - especially when it comes to the many difficult issues related to agriculture and food.



However, it is important that the final agreement delivers substantial economic benefits and is ambitious in areas such as regulatory cooperation, public procurement, and sustainable development. So we cannot give up - even though negotiations are hard and the political environment is complex. We need to stay focused on our common goal: Free trade across the Atlantic to the benefit of both our countries.



A strengthened partnership between the United States and Denmark in these strategically important fields will benefit both countries in terms of economic growth, job creation and in- and outgoing investments.



The strong trade and business relations between the United States and Denmark have generated positive results on both sides of the Atlantic. Ranked first in six of the 10 annual editions of Forbes' "Best Countries for Business", Denmark is known for a high level of freedom, and a transparent and efficient regulatory climate. This favorable business environment has attracted many American companies to Denmark and with the visit this week we seek to expand this partnership even further.



This article is part of a series of articles about the #RoyalVisitUSA. On September 27-30, a Danish business delegation, presided over by T.R.H. the Crown Prince Couple of Denmark, will be traveling to the U.S. for one of the most comprehensive trade missions from Denmark to date. The delegation represents 60 innovative Danish companies from the Healthcare, Agriculture and Food, Sustainability and Maritime sectors - all of which are leading economic sectors in Denmark. Joining the delegation are the Minister for the Environment and Food, the Minister for Business and Growth as well as five of Denmark's leading trade organizations. More than 650 Danish companies have subsidiaries in the U.S. These companies contribute to U.S. growth and job creation and employ more than 60,000 people nation-wide.
Crossposted from UN Women.

Women entrepreneurs from refugee and host communities in Lebanon are using their unique skills and creativity to build their own model of social stability in Lebanon while launching economically viable businesses.

Refugee and rural women in host country, Lebanon, learn to create, brand and commercialize high-quality handicrafts, organic and agro-food products as part of the UN Women Fund for Gender Equality project. Photo: UN Women/Joe Saade

When we were forced to leave our country, I never thought that a community in Lebanon would accept and treat me as an active member, the way I have been at the Kfeir Womens Working Group, says Hiba Kamal, an 18-year-old refugee from Syria who travelled to Lebanon with her family five years ago fleeing instability in her own country.

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Kamal is among more than 1.5 million refugees from Syria and its neighbouring countries, hosted by Lebanon. The massive influx of refugees accounts for 25 per cent of the total population in Lebanon and puts unprecedented pressure on the Lebanese economy. There is an ever-increasing demand for public services and significantly stronger competition for limited resources and employment.

Hiba Kamal, a Syrian refugee, learns needlework technique from a Lebanese woman at a workshop by Amel Association, supported by UN Women Fund for Gender Equality. Photo courtesy of Amel Association

The protracted refugee and migrant crisis has led to increased tensions between host and refugee populations, especially in the poorest areas, where refugees tend to concentrate. There is a higher risk of insecurity, sexual and gender-based violence [1].

Women, both Lebanese citizens and refugees, often suffer more discrimination due to the prevalence of prejudiced laws and cultural stereotypes. They are frequently either restricted at home, or relegated to finding low and unstable income within the informal sector without social protection.

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To improve womens access to employment and markets, the Amel Association, a grantee of UN Womens Fund for Gender Equality, implemented a three-year project from 2012  2015 in the south of Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut. The project has impacted over 1,000 rural and refugee women, who have learned how to create, brand and commercialize high-quality handicrafts, such as embroidery and accessories, organic and agro-food products, following the highest quality and sanitation standards.

By mixing traditional techniques, materials and designs, the participants of the MENNA project create unique and marketable products under the MENNA brand. The interactive workshops where refugee and Lebanese women learn and work together has also created spaces for dialogue and coexistence. Photo: UN Women/Joe Saade

Through interactive sessions, where refugee and Lebanese women learned and worked together, the programme also created spaces for dialogue and coexistence to build social stability. The [Lebanese] women started teaching me their traditional needle work and I was genuinely happy to share with them all the traditional practices that I had learned from my mother and grandmother in loom work, shares Kamal. By mixing traditional techniques, materials and designs, participants link their cultural heritage and history with the products, making them unique and highly marketable.

We started seeing real results of our work when some of the women started creating their own products and started exhibiting them. They grew stronger, more confident and set inspiring examples for other women in the area, says Safaa Al Ali, Programme Manager at the Amel Association.

The organization facilitated an alliance with 13 other civil society organizations and cooperatives doing similar work to create the first economic network for women in Lebanon, called MENNA (meaning from us in Arabic language). Today, more than 300 refugee and rural Lebanese women producers sell soaps, candles, accessories and handicrafts directly to the public in a shop in Beirut also named MENNA.

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I came to Lebanon as the crisis began in Syria five years agoit was hard to find a suitable job as a refugee and I could not access the formal business sector, shares Mona Hamid, a 51-year-old Syrian refugee living in the suburbs of Beirut. By joining the MENNA network at Amel, I gained skills to sell and promote my items at local businesses and also showed them at exhibitions.

The success of the initiative prompted Amel to create a MENNA catering service in February 2016, opening up more income-generating opportunities for women.

Over 1,000 rural and refugee women have learned to create, brand and commercialize their products. Photo: UN Women/Joe Saade

The MENNA brand has brought together Lebanese and refugee women in a way that has benefited entire communities. The importance of this project is that it respects the culture and skills of refugee women and assists them in integrating into the host community. It is a model that works, not only to make women agents of their own economic empowerment in a fragile context, but also as a way that brings them together to work for a common goal, thus building social stability and sustainable peace, notes Rana El-Houjeiri, Programme Specialist for UN Womens Fund for Gender Equality in Lebanon. The Fund is now building upon the success of this project by supporting similar initiatives in Lebanon and other countries in the Arab States region.

Notes
Crossposted from UN Women.

In the past two decades, an annual average of 172,000 Filipino women [ 1 ] have left the country as migrant workers, in the quest for decent work and adequate income. While majority of male Filipino migrants are production workers, women migrate predominantly as domestic workers and are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. But when safe migration opportunities are provided, women thrive and contribute valuable services and income.

A global programme by UN Women, Promoting and Protecting Women Migrant Workers Labour and Human Rights, supported by the European Union and piloted in the Philippines, works to build the capacities of migrant womens organizations and networks to better serve and assist women migrant workers. UN Women spoke with migrant women returnees and community leaders from La Union province, over 260 miles from Manila, where the programme supports various migrant womens organizations. These are their stories.

I migrated to the Middle East as a domestic worker because my husband was about to lose his job due to poor health. I worked long work hoursI was the only domestic worker for a household of tenand endured verbal abuse. There was a time that I didnt receive any salary for several months, shares 55-year old Virginia Carriaga.

After two years of abuse, Carriaga escaped from her last work place in Lebanon, and sought assistance from the Philippines Embassy. Prior to her repatriation, in the two months that she spent at the Embassy-sponsored shelter in Beirut, she became a spokesperson for other women migrant workers. Today, Carriaga is a successful business woman, owner of a variety store in Balaoan, with the assistance and trainings that she received from the government and women migrant workers organizations.

Primitiva Vanderpoorten, a retired nurse who worked in the United Kingdom for several years, invested her income in properties in her home country. Today she offers her resort hotel in Luna as a venue for meetings of Bannuar Ti La Union, an organization for women migrant workers, where she is a member: Even as a nurse, I experienced offensive remarks from patients. They would ask why I was in their country and that I should go back to my country.

My son did not finish high school and got involved in delinquent activities. He resented me for leaving him in Philippines. Have I been a bad mother, I asked myself, shares Virginia Estepa, a 62-year-old former woman migrant worker who now works as a health worker at the barangay (smallest unit in the community) in Naguilian. Like many others, Estepa migrated overseas to provide for her family. As women migrate for work, leaving behind their children, the social cost of the impact on their children is often less known or understood. Research shows that fathers, grandmothers and the extended families care for children left behind.

UN Womens programme, piloting in three countriesPhilippines, Mexico and Moldovaprovides trainings to organizations and women migrant workers groups to strengthen their advocacy skills, knowledge on migrant womens rights, organizational development, strategic planning and enterprise governance. Women migrant workers organizations and groups have been instrumental in providing information that enables women to migrate safely and know how to report abuse or seek assistance.

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The training on organizational development was particularly useful for Carmelita Nulledo, 52, a former domestic worker from Singapore and Hong Kong and now a farmer and volunteer in various organizations. From the action planning during our training, we have proceeded with mapping and simple surveys in the community. This will generate data about migrant women and inform any local planning and policies to address the needs of women migrant workers, she shares. Like many of the migrant women impacted by the project, Nulledo volunteers at the local assistance desks for migrant workers and their families. I had a positive migration experience, and now I am motivated to help others, she adds.

Women migrant workers organizations in the Philippines also provide reintegration assistance to returnee women migrants by providing livelihood and business trainings, and helping them access assistance programmes, such as scholarship for education and training, enterprise development funds, business counseling, legal and psychosocial services provided by the government under the national law and through local ordinances.

Delilah Dulay, 40, works as a master cutter at the Aringay Bannuar Garments Production, which is funded by the Department of Labour and Employment and the local government of Aringay in La Union province and provides decent work for migrant women returnees. Dulay had migrated to Qatar to improve her income. She landed with a domestic workers job where she barely slept for two hours every day and was paid significantly less than the salary she was promised. Upon her return to La Union, Dulay underwent trainings through Bannuar Ti La Union as part of the UN Women project and learned about her rights and gained skills as a garment worker.

Being a member of a women migrant workers group helps me and the others find our confidence in facing day to day life and its challenges. We have a common bond stemming from similar experiences, she says.

Edna Valdez, 58, worked for four years as a domestic worker in Hong Kong under harsh conditions. Today, she is the President of Bannuar Ti La Union. The main challenge for women migrant workers is that they dont know what rights they have. Even when there are laws and services in place, they dont know how to claim their rights or access support. Thats why we lobby the local government units to set up Migrant Desks at each municipal office, in compliance with the national law, where migrants and their families can access information and support, says Valdez.

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Today, she volunteers at the Migrant Desk at San Fernando City La Union three times a week, refers women migrant workers to relevant government units for legal assistance and reintegration support. She also delivers trainings to prospective women migrant workers to help them identify the warning signs and risks of trafficking and illegal recruitment, and how to access legal assistance and support if they are abused.

As of June 2016, 118 women migrant workers have been trained on their rights, and an additional 45 on entrepreneurship management and 49 on organizational development. The pilot programme has developed critically needed capacity of women migrant workers and their groups so that they are able to build upon the gains made so far and continue to advocate for women migrant workers rights at the local and national levels.

Credit for all photos: UN Women/Norman Gorecho

Notes
There has been a tremendous evolution in the practice of web design over the last two decades. Even some of the critics prophesying about the dead of web designing as a profession still comes to the conclusion that the work of designers will continue to be relevant in our world. Here is an example. In his controversial article published in UX Magazine in 2015, Sergio Nouvel used five symptoms to make his case on why web design is a dead profession. It is, however, surprising that Sergio' conclusion in the same article still stress that fact that the demand for UX designers will continue to be on the rise. I agree with the fact the days where web developers and web designers will create designs using Photoshop and later slice them into HTML are long gone. However, I am of the opinion that web designers with vast experiences and the knowledge will continue to remain highly valuable. Here are six reasons why we cannot at any time consider web designing as a dying profession:

1.Web Security And Maintenance



Having secure websites is essential for safeguarding the reputation of any serious company. Similarly, website design, structure, and maintenance are crucial to search engine optimization (SEO). Hacker always seeks to take advantage of vulnerable websites that have outdated security details. Vulnerability in security may either leak sensitive information of clients or infect the computers of the website visitors. Therefore, one of the requirements a firm need to consider in choosing an SEO company or web designer is the maintenance of their website and the frequency of security updates. Since not many people are technically shrewd to patch up the security of their websites and perform maintenance activities they require the services of a professional web designer. Complex websites such as those that collect customers' information or the e-commerce websites, require having an experienced web designer who is always updated.



2.Specialized Online Branding

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In a recent conversation with Nirmal Gyanwali, a web design experts in Sydney, he made the submission that the roles of a web designer are facilitating the delivery of quality content and specialized branding messages to website visitors. I came to agree with this because it explains why large corporation's web designers are part of the marketing team and not the IT department. In her recent articles on web design trends of 2016, Nicole Boyer, a professional web, and graphic designer made the point that the ability of a web designer to design pages that forward the brand of the company is very vital. This, therefore, leads to the integration of the marketing and web design. Since the wall that existed between marketing and technology has long been broken down, web designers should diversify their skills by learning about content, marketing, and branding.



3.Specialized Web Functions

With the rapid evolution of technology, almost anything that we do on a daily basis is linked to use the internet web design and development has not left untouched. This, therefore, means that the skills and knowledge of any web developer should evolve. Web developers need to diversify their knowledge to learn new skills such as android coding, customized blogging, and customized apps among others. To say the least web design is not a dying career but an evolving one just like any other.

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4.Online Branding and Marketing Expertise.

Having a digital marketing strategy facilitates an efficient budgeting of the necessary marketing activities, the right online marketing activities and the scheduling of appropriate content distribution. Though there are marketing planners that are readily available on the online platform, the knowledge and experience of a web designer who is an active help to get the best from your marketing activities.

5.Web Design As An Art

Web design is still viable as a profession to those who are willing to learn new ideas and incorporate them into their designs. Today people talk about user experience to refer to the feel, look, and the content that the website visitor expect when they visit a particular website. According to Nicole Boyer, the expectations of the web visitors will continue to grow when it comes to the feel and look of the website. Elements such as fonts, backgrounds, infographics, color schemes, videos, and layouts will continue to increase in importance in web design. Therefore, web designing remains a viable career to those that take the opportunity to learn.



6.Quality vs Standard Websites.

A big proportion of the content that is found on the internet today is produced by a framework such as Drupal, WordPress, Blogger and any other. These frameworks just provide standard as opposed to quality websites that are foundational and shortcuts that enable you to save time and money. The web technological advancement in the last decade has made readymade templates of almost anything possible. There are now themes with templates for any kind of website you could imagine. Nonetheless, there are still intricacies involved in making a website relevance for conversion that is still difficult to be achieved with the mere use of templates. An example of this is web design for AdWords relevance. According to Haris Bacic, automation will never replace the need for quality websites though it may lower the opportunities for the web designers who provide these services. Though most small business owners are simply interested with web presence only and getting more time for content development, there are still many chances for professional web designers in the market.

In conclusion, web designing is alive and well and will continue as long as the designers are willing to adapt to the emerging trends in the industry.


This blog is co-authored by UN Secretary-General's Special Envoys on El Nino and Climate: Mary Robinson and Ambassador Macharia Kamau; and Oxfam International Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima.

As a weather phenomenon, El Nino is a complex concept to grasp. Cyclical ocean temperature changes affect other weather patterns in complicated ways, resulting in drought, floods and more severe storms. To further complicate matters, El Nino is now also interacting with climate change in ways that we do not fully understand.

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But when you look a mother in the eye as she tells you that she can't feed her baby due to the drought, El Nino's human cost is suddenly very clear. And when you remember that this mother is one of more than 60 million people affected by the 2015-2016 El Nino, it's clear that we are watching a massive but neglected humanitarian crisis unfold.

Over the past six months we have met with communities in dusty villages in Ethiopia, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, just some of the dozens of countries around the world that have been most affected by El Nino-linked drought and other environmental impacts.

Women like Victoria Sanchez Perez in Honduras have told us that when her family's corn crops failed due to the drought, it meant they suddenly had no food or source of income. Now Victoria and her family are faced with selling literally all of their belongings in order to pay for food.

A lack of food or clean water affects every aspect of a person's life

In East and Southern Africa, some one million children already require treatment for severe acute malnutrition due to El Nino-linked drought. For these children access to treatment is literally a matter of life or death. Water shortages have also caused movements of people across arid regions in search of basic needs, disrupting education and livelihoods and creating greater protection risks. Women and girls are disproportionately affected as they are often responsible for fetching water, and may have to travel longer distances and take on greater risks, making them susceptible to exploitation in return for food.

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People living with HIV and AIDS are especially vulnerable to food insecurity due to increased nutritional needs. Schools are closing; dehydrated or sick students are unable to focus on their studies. Malnutrition-linked stunting in childhood can also affect lifelong development and wellbeing. Poverty, inequality, competition over scarce natural resources and instability will likely deepen the crisis, threatening human security, undermining the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and undoing hard-won development gains.

Significant funding gaps remain

Donors and many national governments of affected countries have contributed generously but significant funding gaps remain. Five billion dollars is needed to address this urgent humanitarian crisis - but less than two billion has been received. In practical terms a funding gap of this size means that far too many people will be going hungry and thirsty; far too many people will not have the support they so badly need.

El Nino-affected communities must not be forgotten. They need immediate and intensified assistance that takes into account long-term impacts.

Tomorrow's problem may be even worse

As we have travelled to these countries and met with communities, governments and those providing assistance, the thing that's weighed most heavily on our minds is that this devastating El Nino is just a glimpse of what is yet to come. The 2015/2016 El Nino was a window into a climate future that is less predictable and more extreme. Although El Nino is not caused by climate change the two are locked in a deadly dance, stepping in time as human-induced climate change continues its march. We must do everything possible to drastically reduce the fossil fuel emissions that are driving the climate crisis. This means urgent mitigation action by developed countries and provision of the necessary financial support to ensure that developing countries can develop without emissions. But even if we are successful, future weather events like El Nino and its equally troublesome sister La Nina will be more frequent and severe than ever before.

This 'new normal' demands a different way of doing things, both in our actions to reduce and adapt to the impacts of climate change, but also in the ways that we prepare for, and respond to, these climate-linked threats. If we fail to do this, already vulnerable communities will become trapped in a never-ending cycle of environmental shocks and partial recovery.

So what's the solution?

The bottom line is this; when communities require humanitarian assistance for predictable weather events it means our resilience building and preparedness efforts have not succeeded. Communities are telling us that El Nino, La Nina and other weather events should not just be about humanitarian response, the focus should also be on risk-informed development that prioritises prevention, resilience and preparedness. All the evidence tells that this type of early action works, and that it provides exponential returns in terms of human dignity, safety and wellbeing, as well as countries' overall economic and social development.

In order to help communities prepare for, and respond to, this new climate reality, we need to look closely at the way that we operate as an international community. Donors, the UN, NGOs, civil society and communities themselves must work in partnership with national governments of affected countries.

We collectively must break this cycle - and we can. We know what needs to be done to prevent droughts and other weather threats from becoming disasters. We have the technical know-how. And now we are building the political will.

Two of us, Mary Robinson and Ambassador Macharia Kamau, have been appointed as UN Secretary-General's Special Envoys on El Nino and Climate. We will be hosting a meeting today at the UN, focused on alleviating the suffering of this current crisis, and dealing better with the next environmental threat. Winnie Byanyima will be speaking at the event on behalf of the NGO community.

We want to build agreement on defining clear roles and responsibilities for action

We're developing a blueprint for action that will help to guide the way, laying out the key steps that affected governments need to take to build their resilience to these episodes. UN agencies and humanitarian partners are also developing procedures for turning early warning into early action.

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This means that long before an environmental threat rears its head, communities will be ready - and we will be ready to support them, in partnership with the governments tasked with protecting and caring for their people.

We have no time to waste

It is likely that the next climate-linked humanitarian disaster will be upon us even before communities have recovered from El Nino. Our development and humanitarian systems need to be climate-proofed and fit for purpose. If we fail to act now we will be letting down our most vulnerable communities and undermining the foundation principle of the Sustainable Development Goals - of no one left behind.

We have a moral duty to ensure that children and vulnerable communities are not devastated by the effects of El Nino. If we do not succeed in our mission we will be letting down those that need us most and the impacts will be felt for generations.
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.
The fast growing world of connected devices  the internet of things  poses a risk to privacy according to a global study by Canadas Privacy Commissioner.It found that the privacy communications of internet-connected devices is generally poor and fails to inform users about what personal data is being collected and how it is being used.With the proliferation of the Internet of Things, the activities, movements, behaviors and preferences of individuals are being measured, recorded and analyzed on an increasingly regular basis. As this technology expands, it is imperative that companies do a better job of explaining their personal information handling practices, said Commissioner Daniel Therrien.Included in the sweep, which was undertaken across 25 jurisdictions, the Commissioners office looked at health & wellness devices such as popular fitness trackers and blood pressure monitors.The aim of the sweep was to raise awareness of privacy issues and to encourage better compliance with privacy regulations by organizations using connected technologies.The Sweep demonstrates the ongoing commitment of privacy enforcement authorities to work together to promote privacy protection around the world, Commissioner Therrien said. Past Sweeps have shown us that education and outreach alone can often go a long way towards effecting positive change for privacy.Home insurers in the US are focusing on customer satisfaction as competitive pricing is generally keeping premiums stable according to a JD Power survey.Average premiums have remained relatively constant and in 2016 average $1,186 for homeowners insurance and $259 for renters.Insurers have shifted their competitive focus to improving communication, process efficiency, and being easier to work with as a way to solidify and grow their business, said Valerie Monet, director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power. Improvements in processes and customer service benefit everyonethe customer and the insurer. When competing on price, its incredibly difficult to provide an outstanding customer experience.Customer satisfaction metrics for both homeowners and renters have shown a 17-point increase in 2016 compared to 2015.The report highlights the importance of agent and broker interactions but warns that disruptors to the industry will place even greater importance on customer interactions.New entrants into the market, such as on-demand insurance, will likely result in shifts in customer expectations.Customer satisfaction is going to be more important than ever before for competitive position and growth, said Monet.A former insurance salesman from Pinson, TN has had his license revoked after admitting to the fraudulent sale of unlicensed investment securities.Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance also fined Barry Hubert Bynum $3,000 for the sale of $100,000 of Certificates of Investment through an unlicensed broker-dealer company called Estate Security.The scheme was uncovered when one buyer tried to cash-in the investment and found there was no money.
NSI Insurance Group on Wednesday acquired New York-based specialty insurance broker KMH Insurance Services.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.NSI Insurance Group is one of the countrys premier privately-held insurance agencies. The company offers commercial and personal insurance throughout the U.S. and in 40 countries.KMH specializes in insuring commercial marine vessels, commercial marine liability, luxury boats and personal watercraft. The company also has expertise in insuring equine customers.Following the transaction, KMH president Kathryn Hoff and the companys employees in its Hamptons, New York City and New Jersey offices will immediately join NSI.KMH expands our presence in the Northeast, and Kathryn Hoff brings a wealth of experience to our firm, NSI Insurance Group CEO Oscar Seikaly remarked. We are delighted to have Kathryn and her talented team on board.Joining NSI gives our firm the depth of resources necessary to serve the evolving needs of our clients, said KMH president Hoff. We decided to partner with NSI because of their sterling reputation and a shared focus on customer service.
The Independent Investor: The Impact of One Bad Apple

For years, the mantra of Corporate America has been that they are drowning in government rules and regulations. Small business has echoed that refrain, as has Wall Street. The problem is that these same entities continually shoot themselves in the foot.



Over the last two weeks, thanks to Wells Fargo in the banking sector, and Mylan Labs in pharmaceuticals, Corporate America has once again reminded us of that business just can't be trusted. In the case of Wells Fargo, over 2 million fictitious customer accounts were opened over several years in order to meet sales goals.



Critics say Mylan Labs' 500 percent increase (since 2007) in the cost of a device called EpiPen that treats severe allergic reactions is simply another case of rampant greed within the drug industry. They are not alone. Gilead Sciences and Valeant Pharmaceuticals have both been caught instituting similar price hikes on some of their drugs. And who can forget Martin Shkreli, the former head of Turing pharmaceuticals, who jacked up the price of a life-saving drug, Daraprim, from $13.50 to $750 per tablet (while giving the finger to all of us on tape).



Not only has the public reacted with anger over these incidents, but it has kept the idea alive that existing rules and regulations are justified. What's worse is that many politicians will use these events to pile even more restrictions on the nation's corporations.



Hell hath no fury compared to a politician with a meaty issue in an election year. Senators from both parties jostled for air time on Tuesday during a hearing over Wells Fargo's indiscretions. To say that Wells' chief executive officer was trashed up one side and down the other would be an understatement.



CEO John Stumpf, once the "pretty boy" of the financial industry, due to his company's relatively clean bill of health during the financial crisis, was vilified for going easy on the bank's leadership while firing thousands of lower-level workers. Legislatures used terms like "gutless leadership", "fraud" and "out of touch" executives to decry management's response to the scandal.



Next week, it is Mylan Lab's turn to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Heather Bresch, the CEO of the massive pharmaceutical company, will be on the hot seat. Politicians running for re-election will be vying for the microphone. Expect to hear how she and her company are guilty of price gouging among other charges.



While the hearings and their aftermath might provide entertaining reading, the consequences of these cases of corporate greed may have far-reaching effects on all of our industries. There is a great deal of truth in the complaints of many businessmen, especially small businessmen, that Federal, state and local regulations are making it almost impossible to run a profitable business, but at the same time, one bad apple after another pops up justifying the chains that bind the entire cart.



After the 2009 financial crisis, a flood of new regulations and reforms swamped the banking industry. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act were signed into law in 2010. Among other things, it created yet another agency: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.



The Federal Reserve was given more power as were a slew of other governmental agencies. Lending practices, reserve requirements, trading restrictions and countless more new regulations were foisted on the banking industry. The idea behind this avalanche of rules and regulations were to ensure that "never again" will Americans be subjected to these "too big to fail" bailouts.



Hillary Clinton has already promised to deal with these outrageous pricing issues in the drug sector. As such, does anyone want to guess the chances of reducing regulations on either the pharmaceutical or banking industry? As long as industry continues to shoot itself in the foot, what else can one expect?

Bill Schmick is registered as an investment adviser representative with Berkshire Money Management. Bills forecasts and opinions are purely his own. None of the information presented here should be construed as an endorsement of BMM or a solicitation to become a client of BMM. Direct inquires to Bill at 1-888-232-6072 (toll free) or email him at Bill@afewdollarsmore.com.
Superior Court Briefs: Sept. 19 - Sept. 22

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, September 19.

Brian Whittaker, 32, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute - his second offense - conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

He was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 25, 2016.

Kelly McLenna, 50, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on her behalf on a single count of larceny from a building.

She was released on personal recognizance. The charge is association with an alleged theft of money from Zenner's Package and Variety in Pittsfield on April 22, 2016.

Khrystyna Nielson, 25, of Pittsfield had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of oxycodone, and possession of clonazepam.

She was released on $500 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 25, 2016.

Jeremy Levernoch, 34, of Hinsdale had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, and possession of clonazepam.

He was released on $1,000 bail. The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on July 25, 2016.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Tuesday, September 20.

Devon James Jr., 26, of Wilbraham pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

He was ordered to serve two and a half years at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the possession of heroin with intent to distribute charge. He was given a concurrent one-day sentence on the other charge.

The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on April 18, 2015.

Austin Litchfield, 19, of Peru had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of attempt to commit murder.

He was released on $1,000 bail. The charge stems from an incident in Savoy on June 13, 2016 involving a 27-year-old man.

Joshua Litchfield, 27, of Peru had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of assault by means of a dangerous weapon.

He was released on personal recognizance. The charge stems from an incident in Savoy on June 13, 2016 involving a 27-year-old man.

Jennifer Thurston, 44, of Adams had not guilty pleas entered on her behalf on 29 counts of uttering a false check, 29 counts of forgery of a check, and a single count of larceny, an ongoing and continuing offense over $250.

Thursday is accused of taking approximately $23,000 between December 15, 2015 and April 1, 2016 from Jiminy Peak while employed there.

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 22.

Jose Liriano-Vasquez, 30, of Pittsfield was found guilty by a jury on single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin.

He was ordered to be held without bail pending sentencing. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant at his Harvard Street home on June 18, 2015.

He found not guilty on a single count of possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
'Bridget Jones's Baby': Sweet, Cute and Crawls

While the average gestation period for human women is nine months (280 days to be specific), it sure seems to take a lot longer in the sweet, cute but oh-so-slow moving "Bridget Jones's Baby."

Folks who just absolutely love this franchise, featuring Renee Zellweger's intrepid single gal, perhaps won't mind the ultra-dawdling exposition, wherein she takes inventory of her unmarried life thus far. As iterated by her properly British, office-seeking Mum, while still (accent on the still) unwed, she has a great job as a TV news producer, and a nice flat. But then there's the truth.



Tsk, tsk. Maybe things will take a turn for the romantically brighter which, after all, is why we're here. This sister is in a funk. Where's the knight in shining armor, the little cottage in the country, and the baby, or two? Although Bridget has lost all that weight, and yes it'll soon be replaced by her impending delicate condition, for the time being she looks great. A lively quick- step to work on a sunny London day fetches her several whistles and a few long looks from some rather nice looking blokes. Still, in her 43rd year, she has resolved to jokily call herself a spinster.



The idea is to join her pity party, and from that nadir of her happiness to cheer her on as she goes once more into the breach in search of everlasting love, or at least some reasonable facsimile thereof. However, non-commiserators would here be better served if director Sharon Maguire had simply furnished a quick-clip update of Miss Jones' social status without the supporting treacle and the accompanying, not so funny jokes. In other words, get on with it, lady.



Everything is perfunctory, with a long road leading us to a destination that holds no particular fascination. The story is, after a foray to a music festival where she meets and becomes infatuated, for one night, with millionaire mathematician/love quantifier Jack Qwant (Patrick Dempsey), and a subsequent tryst with almost-divorced, former lover Mark (Colin Firth), she is in a family way but with, alas, no family. We will spend the rest of the film wondering who the baby daddy is, and trying to decide which of the two would be the best husband and father.



I'm not so sure this is the right message to send to young viewers, but with the fertilization of an egg, Bridget Jones goes from disconsolate, self-described old maid to highly sought after mother of the heir to one of these suddenly very competitive suitors. These guys have cash. Each has his own way of fluttering his feathers in the hope of convincing her lady fair that he'd be the ideal consort. Of course it'd be a lot simpler if the 43-year-old, termed a geriatric mother by Emma Thompson's Dr. Rawlings, would submit to the medically recommended amniocentesis.



But then the guessing would be over, leaving the resultantly threadbare plot without its gossipy padding, and hence provide nothing to speculate or muse about for the next hour. So expect the usual one-upmanship from both possible dads, none of it especially novel. Of course, as if it's not enough of a challenge to navigate through this poppa quandary, the three screenwriters deemed it best to have Bridget stressed by a new, young, unsympathetic and ratings-crazed boss (Kate O' Flynn). Naturally, other, smaller problems smell their way to this vulnerability.
Fire Chief Paul Goyette points to good location for a smoke alarm at the Kestyn residence. The Fire Department installed alarms in a dozen homes through Red Cross program. Adams firefighters pose with Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Mary Nathan, right, before heading out to install smoke alarms. PreviousNext

Adams Firefighters, Red Cross Install Free Smoke Detectors

ADAMS, Mass.  Firefighters took to their trucks Tuesday evening not to put out a fire, but to hopefully prevent one by installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

The Fire Department teamed up with the Red Cross to install free smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in 12 homes this week funded through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.

Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Mary Nathan said the program is five-year initiative looking to decrease the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 25 percent.

"We are in our third year and we have already had success throughout the country and in Western Massachusetts," she said. "Also, we know its a great program."

Fire Chief Paul Goyette said the program is a first for Adams and after communicating with the Red Cross, the department quickly put out fliers to inform residents.

He said early detection is critical in saving lives and property.

"Early detection is always critical not only for life safety but for keeping the fire small," Goyette said. "Fire doubles in size about every 30 seconds. This is huge not only in trying to save the residents but the building."

Goyette said he felt people underestimate the importance of detectors and often take out the batteries to power other utilities. He said this program will definitely make the community safer.

Stan and Elizabeth Kestyn of Orchard Street were first on the list. Firefighters checked their home for bad detectors and placed new ones in optimal locations.

Stan Kestyn said he thought the program was important and signed up right away.

"It's great, and I'd like to see other towns follow the same thing," he said.

His wife agreed.

"We saw it in a flier and thought it would be a good thing," she said. "We are older and this is a huge help."

Goyette said a fire department does more than just fight fires.

"There is more to a fire department than just fighting fires, and this is community service," he said. "This is prevention and when a pager goes off we answer the alarm but we would rather not even get to that point."
Norman Rockwell Museum Welcomes New Board of Trustees Members

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass.  Norman Rockwell Museum welcomed new members to its Board of Trustees and National Council during the museums annual meeting held on September 16.

Robert Babcock, Peter Blum, Terry Burman, Marian Raser, and David Schwartz were elected as new trustees, starting this fall. New members for the National Council are Elizabeth Bender and William Zavarello, Douglas Clark and Ruth Ann McNeese, and Tucker Reed.

We are extremely pleased to welcome such a talented group of new board and National Council members to Norman Rockwell Museum, said Board Chairman Robert T. Horvath. Their diverse talents and networks will help us continue to reach new audiences and advance the legacy of Norman Rockwell and American illustration art.

In addition to Horvath, the museums Board of Trustees Officers include President Alice Carter, First Vice President Jamie Williamson, Treasurer John V. Frank, and Clerk Peter Williams. Brian Alberg, Alexander Brown, Anthony Consigli, Walter and Mary Jo Engels, William Hargreaves, and George and Valerie Kennedy were also re-elected to three-year terms.

New Trustees

Babcock has been the market president of central and western Massachusetts of TD Bank since December 2010 and is responsible for managing retail, commercial and small business banking and lending teams. He has more than 30 years of experience in commercial banking in Massachusetts. He joined TD Bank in 2001 and has served in a variety of commercial lending leadership roles, including Regional Vice President for Central Massachusetts. Babcock and his wife have five children and live in Northborough, Massachusetts where he is an active member of the community, serving as a board member for The Barton Center for Diabetes Education, Inc. and the Mohegan Council Boy Scouts of America. He also has volunteered for many years fundraising for a local group that supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Babcock is a graduate of Nichols College in Dudley, Mass.

Blum is a founding partner and president of Mayo Capital Partners, an equity investment management firm with $600 million of client assets under management since 2002. he worked for 22 years at Salomon Brothers as an equity trader and salesperson in the New York, London, and Boston offices, and was appointed managing director in charge of the equity business in Boston. In 1997 he left Salomon Brothers for GMO, a Boston-based investment management firm, as Managing Director and member of the Management Committee. Blum currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the World Peace Foundation and is also on the Board of the Concord Conservatory of Music. He served as a Trustee at Trinity College for ten years until 2012 and served as a board member at the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest. He graduated from Trinity College with a B.A. in Psychology in 1972 and earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1976. Blum and his family live in Boston, and also have a summer home in Arlington, Vt., where Norman Rockwell was an occasional dinner guest of his grandparents.

Burman served as CEO of Signet Jewelers, Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda between 2001 and 2011. From 1995 and 2001 he served as Chairman and CEO of Signets U.S. division. Signet operates as the worlds largest specialty retail jeweler with 1,900 stores worldwide and an annual revenue of $3.5 billion in 2011. After graduating from The University of Southern California with his bachelors degree in business administration in 1968, Mr. Burman served as lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Navy until 1971. Upon leaving the service, he began his successful career as an industry-acclaimed retail executive with Roberts Department Stores in Los Angeles. Burman currently serves as chairman for the corporate board of Tuesday Morning and as a board member of Abercrombie and Fitch and Learning Care Group. He also serves as a board member of St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, where he was the former Chairman of the Board. He served as Chairman of the Board at Zale Corporation from 2013 to 2014. Burman has received many awards and recognitions during his distinguished career, including the American Gem Society Lifetime Achievement Award (2010) and the Marguerite Piazza Healing Rose Humanitarian Award (2009) for outstanding dedication to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. He lives in Lenox, Mass.

Raser, of Pittsfield, Mass., is a Boston-area native who graduated from Emerson College majoring in communications. She is also a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and a third-generation jeweler who has been designing jewelry since childhood. Her jewelry has been featured in fashion shops, museums and jewelry shows all over the East Coast, from New England to Florida. Rasers designs range from antique to contemporary, and sometimes a blend of both. She had the concession of estate and one of a kind jewelry in all six of the Cohoes fashion stores located in Virginia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and two in New York and traveled the world for many years to find these pieces. She is married to Marshall Raser, president of Carr Hardware & Supply Co. a six-store chain with locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. They have one adult son, Barton Raser, who is co-owner of the hardware business.

Schwartz is a technology expert consulting to individuals and small businesses on technology needs. He formerly taught high school science and math in eastern Massachusetts and was also the staff trainer and a math teacher at Hillcrest Educational Centers in Lenox. His passions range from politics and reading to running and hiking with his dog. A graduate of Wesleyan University, he and Nan Thompson, the vice principal of the regional elementary school, are neighbors of the Museum in Stockbridge. Schwartz also has homes in New York and Florida. He is the son of late artist Sol Schwartz, whose work was previously exhibited at Norman Rockwell Museum.

New National Council Members

Bender and Zavarello reside in Akron, Ohio. Bender is a surgeon with several publications in medical journals, having recently been awarded "Best Doctor for Surgery" by Cleveland Magazine in 2012. Zavarello is a founding partner of his own law practice, and holds distinctions in Super Lawyers and Top Attorneys in Ohio. They are longtime members of the Cleveland Art Museum and the Bennington Museum in Vermont.

Clark and McNees live in Saratoga, Calif., with their family. Clark is managing partner of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR). Since joining the firm in May 1993 as a litigator, he has focused primarily on securities litigation, representing defendants in more than 70 class and derivative actions. In addition to serving as managing partner of WSGR, Clark has also chaired the firm's Compensation Committee and served as a member of many other key committees, including the Policy Committee.

Reed resides in New York City. He is the President of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. Tucker is the grandson of the esteemed late illustrator, Walter Reed.
Page Content



Montreal and New York, 23 September 2016  World governments must continue to make significant efforts in order to counter evolving and emerging threats, especially from terrorist groups, ICAOs Secretary General stressed at the United Nations Security Council ministerial session yesterday.



The high-profile landside airport attacks in Brussels and Istanbul earlier this year were a tragic reminder of the enormous challenges faced in securing public areas, the inseparability of aviation security and national security, and of the economic and social consequences of terrorism, remarked Dr. Fang Liu, ICAOs Secretary General, who characterized the security situation as both promising and challenging.

Improvised explosive devices concealed in baggage and cargo, MANPADS, drones, cybersecurity, and insider threats were among the current priority security challenges, Dr. Liu noted in her briefing. She also commented that these can be mitigated through the effective implementation of ICAOs Security Standards, and that this requires complex coordination with national and multilateral bodies. The required coordination can be complex and challenging at times, she pointed out, mainly due to variation among State coordination mechanisms, and that greater coordination among domestic national agencies is needed.

An important aspect of our work involves mobilizing political will for the improvement of national capacities, Dr. Liu said. Security Councils focus will serve to heighten the efforts by the global community on aviation security, encourage intensified political engagement by the States to effectively implement ICAO's Security Standards and to support ICAOs technical assistance activities to the States in need.

As a major component of the ICAO No Country Left Behind (NCLB) initiative, ICAO is putting tremendous effort into technical assistance efforts aimed at helping States meet the challenges of effective threat prevention and risk mitigation, but greater commitments and contributions are needed to fully address current gaps in the international framework.

To help coordinate this work more effectively at the global level, ICAO will be asking its 191 States to endorse the development of the first-ever Global Aviation Security Plan at the agencys 39th Assembly which begins next week.

Under ICAOs new Global Aviation Security Plan, States, regions, industry and other stakeholders will be unified through a strategic framework that offers clarity on priorities for aviation security enhancement, Dr. Liu remarked, noting that it will provide ICAO with invaluable support in achieving its aviation security objectives, and in effectively contributing to the UN Security Council resolutions as well as the UN Global Counter-terrorism Strategy.

The ICAO Secretary General made a briefing to the UN Security Council upon the invitation of its President. On that same day, the Security Council unanimously adopted Res 2309 on countering terrorist threats to civil aviation.

During that ministerial session chaired by Mr. Murray McCully, Minister for Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, the speakers, including Mr Boris Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom; Mr Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States commended the work of ICAO and called for all States to work within ICAO to ensure that its Security Standards are continuously reviewed and adapted to address the terrorist threats: the resolution also calls upon States to support ICAO to continue to enhance audit, capacity development and training programs.

Resources for Editors

ICAO - Security and Facilitation

Contacts



Anthony Philbin

Chief, Communications

aphilbin@icao.int

+1 (514) 954-8220

+1 (438) 402-8886 (mobile)

Twitter: @ICAO



William Raillant-Clark

Communications Officer

wraillantclark@icao.int

+1 514-954-6705

+1 514 409-0705

Twitter: @wraillantclark




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Ambassador Le Anh speaking at the meeting (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

More than 40 veterans were present at the meeting, of a total of nearly 100 people across Belarus and the list of more than 200 Belarusian soldiers who had been side by side with Vietnamese soldiers to repel bombings by American planes from 1965 to 1972.

Belarusian experts arriving in Vietnam at that time were mainly in units operating artillery, missile and aircraft. The young soldiers in the old days are now about 70 years old. They were all cheerful because this was a rare opportunity for them to meet each other.

Vietnam is the only country with a tradition of organizing annual meetings and paying tribute to the Belarusian veterans doing international duty.

Speaking at the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Le Anh praised and thanked the contributions of the Soviet veterans in general and Belarusian veterans in particular to the cause of protection and unification of Vietnam. The Ambassador wished the Belarusian veterans health, happiness, and that they would continue to contribute to the Vietnam  Belarus friendship.

The experts recounted moving stories about the resistance war, comradeship among the soldiers and the people. Songs about the war in Russian language were sung, rekindling memories, which they will never forget.

They also talked about visits to Vietnam a few years ago organized by Vietnams Ministry of National Defence for Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian veterans, who were received by the State President, the Minister of National Defence of Vietnam and visited places where they had been in and engaged in combat. These veterans wore medals and badges, honours presented by the Ministry of National Defence, the Service of Air Defence - Air Force of Vietnam with great pride.

Respecting the past and the good sentiment of the soldiers of the two countries, Colonel Uporov Dmitry, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, under the Ministry of National Defence of Belarus, confirmed that the friendship and the good cooperation between the two countries would further develop, including the military field. Along with the veterans, the Colonel thanked the Vietnamese Embassy in Belarus for organization of annual traditional meetings and hoped that it would be maintained regularly.

"Our love for Vietnam is still intact and will be passed on to younger generations," are words from the heart of the Belarusian comrades./.
Davao Doctors Hospital is the first hospital in the Philippines to offer GE Healthcares wide-bore MRI system for enhanced diagnostic capabilities. The facility will also install a high-definition, low dose CT scanner.

Two private Mindanao hospitals operated by Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. (MPHHI), the healthcare unit of conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments, Corp., have recently announced their purchase of advanced medical technologies developed by GE Healthcarean investment which aims to improve disease detection and treatment in the Philippiness southernmost island.

Cutting-edge imaging systems for enhanced patient comfort

With the need for a comprehensive healthcare system in the country, the demand for quality medical imaging also increases. GEs first wide-bore MRI system in the country will be available at Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH), one of the largest hospitals in Davao City and considered the most modern medical facility in Mindanao.The Optima MR450w is an innovative imaging system that provides uncompromised image quality, improved workflow and helps to maximize patient comfort. With a wide-bore MRI, technologists can reposition patients less often and cover more anatomy, especially for claustrophobic or larger patients.

Our vision in Davao Doctors Hospital is to be the unparalled health institution beyond borders, so we keep on upgrading our technology platforms especially in the field of radiology, Raymund Del Val president and CEO of DDH said. We want to make sure that we give the best patient care and the best clinical outcome. Having the latest technology and equipment will allow us to perform complicated cases better and in a shorter amount of time.

Meanwhile, DDH Chief Finance Officer Paul Camangian sees the partnership as a growth opportunity for both parties. The planned upgrade of medical equipment affirms Davao Doctors Hospitals commitment to its vision. On the other hand, this also marks GE Healthcare's reentry in the MPHHI Group which we hope will develop into a long term and profitable business collaboration.

Aside from the Optima MR450w, the 250-bed hospital will also be home to GEs Discovery NM/CT 670 Pro in the country. This CT technology is designed to enable physicians to perform advanced hybrid and standalone CT procedures, delivering excellent imaging performance at low dosage and reduced scanning times.

West Metro Medical Center to install GE Healthcares multi-modality technologiesa CT scanner, fixed and mobile X-ray, surgical C-arm, ultrasound, anesthesia machine and infant warmerto improve access to quality healthcare services in Zamboanga City.

Wide-range of multi-modality technologies

About 400 km from Davao, the West Metro Medical Center in Zamboanga City will install GEs wide-range of multi-modality equipment which includes a CT scanner, fixed and mobile X-ray, surgical C-arm, ultrasound, anesthesia machine and infant warmer.

The 110-bed health facility is one of the most recent additions to MPHHIs chain of private hospitals in 2015.

West Metro is quite serious about our mission of improving access to quality healthcare in Western Mindanao. This is why we are quite meticulous with how we do things, including choosing our medical equipment, said Yen Delgado, Marketing Manager of West Metro. We are happy to have GE as a partner in giving people of Western Mindanao access to better healthcare services.

Our focus at GE Healthcare is to provide technologies and solutions that will help our customers address their needs, said Ivan Arota, Country Manager of GE Healthcare. We are honored to complement the steadfast commitment of Davao Doctors Hospital and West Metro to create long-term value and measurable impacts that will improve patient care in this part of the country.

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Debt Collector Banned from Collection Business

Washington, DC - A debt collection companys former vice president will be banned from the debt collection business under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTCs complaint against Commercial Recovery Systems Inc. (CRS), its president Timothy Ford, and its vice president David Devany, filed on its behalf by the Department of Justice in January 2015, alleged that the companys collectors falsely claimed the company would sue debtors, garnish their wages, levy their bank accounts, or seize their property unless their debts were paid, in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

In April 2016, the court entered summary judgment against CRS and Ford, banning them from debt collection and prohibiting them from misrepresenting material facts about any good or service. The federal court will determine the amount of civil penalties against Ford.

Under the stipulated final order announced today, Devany is subject to the same prohibitions as CRS and Ford. The order imposes a $496,000 civil penalty judgment that will be partially suspended upon Devanys payment of $10,000. The full judgment will become due immediately if he is found to have misrepresented his financial condition.

The action against CRS and its officers is part of Operation Collection Protection, an ongoing federal-state-local crackdown on collectors that use deceptive and abusive collection practices.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the stipulated order for permanent injunction as to defendant Devany was 3-0. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division entered the order on September 21, 2016.
President Obama's Memorandum on Climate Change and National Security

Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "I have been focused on climate change for decades  not just because Im a proud environmentalist, but because scientists have been crystal clear that climate change is likely to have significant security implications over the world, including in the United States.

"As Secretary of State, I have seen and heard firsthand how it is already beginning to have an effect on security and stability.

"President Obama has understood this from the start, doing more than any president in history to address this global challenge.

"Today he built on the progress his administration has made by signing a Presidential Memorandum on Climate Change and National Security, establishing a framework for federal agencies to collaborate to ensure that climate change-related impacts are fully considered in the development of national security doctrine, policies, and plans.

"As the recent report from the U.S. National Intelligence Council underscores, the nations intelligence community has found that climate change impacts are likely to present wide-ranging national security challenges for the United States and other countries over the next 20 years. Were already beginning to see the devastating effects of weather-related disasters, drought, famine, and damaged infrastructure on communities around the world.

"Add to that an increased risk of conflict over water and land, and the large-scale displacement due to rising sea levels, and its not hard to see why the Pentagon has deemed climate change a "threat-multiplier," exacerbating the pressures and challenges far too many countries are already facing.

"Weve already begun to take critical steps at the State Department.

"Last fall I launched a task force of officials from across the State Department to ensure that foreign policy planning and priorities take climate impacts into account and proactively work to address them.

"This task force is building out an implementation plan based on its examination of how we can better integrate climate resilience into international development, consider a strategic response to the contribution of climate change to migration, and coordinate U.S. engagement with international responses to climate security issues.

"Theres no question: Climate change is one of the most concerning challenges facing the world today, and, together with our partners throughout the Obama Administration, the State Department will continue to ensure it receives the attention and the action it warrants."
FTC Charges Fake Prize Scheme Operators With Fraud

Yuma, Arizona - The Federal Trade Commission has charged the operators of a fake prize scheme with mailing phony prize notifications that tricked people into thinking they had won $1 million or more if they paid a $25 fee to collect the prize. Those who paid received nothing.

These defendants relied on a shady international mail network to deceive consumers with offers of guaranteed cash prizes, said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection. But whether the offer is made by phone, email, or regular mail, the same warning applies: If you must pay to collect a guaranteed cash prize, the only guarantee is that prize promoters win and consumers lose.

According to the FTC, the defendants targeted hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly consumers with their mass mailing campaign. As alleged in the FTCs complaint, the defendants mailed the prize notifications from fictitious companies stating the recipients name and noting,  . . . this is NOT a preliminary or qualification letter of cash prize status; YOU HAVE WON A CASH PRIZE! Many of the notices had official-looking logos, stamps, or seals and instructed consumers to fill out a form and return it to a post office box in the Netherlands, along with a $25 check, money order or credit card information to charge the $25.

According to the FTC, consumers personal information was used for additional fake prize mailings and also sold to other schemes, causing many consumers to be inundated with more deceptive cash prize notifications and other offers. Many consumers paid multiple fees amounting to substantial sums of money in response to repeated mailings promising prizes.

The defendants are Millenium Direct Incorporated, also doing business as MDI Lists; David Raff; Ian Gamberg; and Terry Somenzi, also d/b/a Paulson Independent Distributors, International Procurement Center, Phelps Ingram Distributors, and Keller Sloan & Associates.

The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint was 3-0. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

The FTCs action is part of an international initiative against mass-mail fraud. Mass-mail fraud has been identified as a major financial threat by the International Mass-Marketing Fraud Working Group (IMMFWG), a network of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies from several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Europol, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The IMMFWG is co-chaired by the FTC and the Department of Justice. Other recent actions against mass-mail fraud have involved law enforcement agencies from Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Sixteen Governments Recommit Support to Embattled Civil Society Organizations

Washington, DC - On September 19, the United States and Estonia chaired the sixth annual donor meeting of the Lifeline: Embattled Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Assistance Fund in New York, New York. The governments of Australia, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States are pleased to announce additional financial support from Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, and the United States and continued funding from the Netherlands and Norway through their multi-year pledges.

While the main work of Lifeline will continue, the donors agreed to focus financial and diplomatic efforts over the next year on activists who have been retaliated against for engaging with the United Nations. The donors recognized the work of the Secretary-General on reprisals, most recently in his August 2016 report, but committed to working with the United Nations system, specifically at the Human Rights Council, on a more systemic approach to preventing and responding to reprisals. The donors will meet again in the spring of 2017 to discuss their efforts.

Launched in July 2011 in Vilnius on the margins of the Community of Democracy Ministerial, Lifeline provides emergency assistance to CSOs when they are threatened or attacked because of their advocacy work, as well as funding for short-term initiatives that allow CSOs to remain resilient and to fight back against regulatory and extralegal barriers. The Fund has provided targeted assistance to 943 CSOs operating in 98 challenging countries; 70.9 percent of respondents receiving emergency assistance report that assistance allowed them to resume their work with few or no limitations. Together, the donors have committed $21 million for activities between 2011 and 2019.
Afghanistan-India-U.S. Consultations

New York, New York - Delegations from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of India, and the United States of America met on September 21, in New York City, on the margins of the 71st United Nations General Assembly, 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.

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. The meeting provided a forum for the U.S. 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.
The opening ceremony of the class (Photo: VNA)

"Fun to learn Vietnamese" class, the Vietnamese teaching establishment of VietKidsNZ in Wellington, New Zealand, has officially begun operation as an example. The organizing committee of the class includes voluntary teachers who are encouraged by the Vietnamese Embassy and the enthusiastic response of the Vietnamese community.

According to the teachers, the organization of a Vietnamese class has been a desire for a long time of the Vietnamese community there. Although there are a large number of Vietnamese families living and working there, they cannot teach the mother tongue to their children effectively due to limited conditions.

To meet the practical aspirations of the community, the leaders of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Wellington, New Zealand and some active members of the community have been determined to organize the second Vietnamese class in Lowerhutt to facilitate Vietnamese language development of young generations and children born in New Zealand, since the year of 2000 up to the present.

The goal of the class is to create favourable conditions for the children in the community to communicate, read and write Vietnamese language in daily life.

VietKidsNZ was established in 2014 with the goal of preserving Vietnamese language and culture for Vietnamese children in New Zealand.

Participants are children aged 2 and above. They are divided into two groups of under five years and over five years. Each group of children has a separate program designed in interactive form of learning through play, with the time of learning from one to two hours, one day per week in order to encourage children to use Vietnamese language as much as possible.

The program includes topics on family, history, cuisine and national festivals, along with physical activity, intellectual games, folk games and storytelling. Each child participating in the program has a separate profile to record their learning process and ability to use their own language.

Participating in activities of VietKidsNZ is also an opportunity for parents to meet, exchange and share experiences of bringing up children and other useful information with each other via the "parents corner".

Besides, VietKidsNZ also organizes cultural events towards the origin and good traditional values of Vietnam for the entire community, such as the organization of International Children's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year Festival, which have significantly contributed to connecting the Vietnamese community in New Zealand.

Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Viet Dung said the organization of the second Vietnamese class in Wellington marked the development in the Vietnamese community in New Zealand.

The Vietnamese community in the land of kiwis was established in the late 1970s. They mainly lived and worked in big cities such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. So far, there are about 6,600 Vietnamese people and 2,000 students and graduate students in this nation. The positive integration of the Vietnamese community there has made certain contributions to the socio-economic development and cultural diversity of New Zealand.

After two years, VietKidsNZ has made certain achievements, and it is hoped this will be a typical model that can be replicated in other countries in order to further develop a Vietnamese language and culture community abroad./.
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Transformers have little regard for buildings, routinely punching holes in skyscrapers. Their latest outing brings a whole new level of building disrespect, at least in the eyes of patriots, though, as Winston Churchills former home of Blenheim Palace has been repurposed as a Nazi base for filming.

The Grade ii listed Oxfordshire country house flew swastika flags for Transformers: The Last Knight, pictured in The Sun, with SS stormtroopers marching in its forecourt.

Before you ask, I have no idea why Hitlers in a Transformers film. It does increase the amount I want to see this film by 100% though (mecha Hitler?).

I know its a film, Col Richard Kemp, ex-commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told the tabloid. but its symbolically disrespectful to Churchill. He will be turning in his grave.

Tony Hayes of Veterans Association UK added that he thought people who experienced the Second World War would be appalled by this.

Churchill is buried about a mile from Blenheim Palace, which is currently owned by distant relative Jamie Spencer-Churchill, the 12th duke of Marlborough.

Last year, Amazon Prime caused controversy by covering the New York subway in Nazi insignia to promote its series The Man in the High Castle.
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Denzel Washington may have racked up over 50 performances throughout a career spanning three decades, but he's only just about to star in his first sequel.

The actor has just officially signed on to appear in a follow-up to The Equalizer, Antoine Fuqua's big-screen version of the 80s TV series that was released in 2014.

Slashfilm reports that he will reprise his role of Robert McCall, a retired soldier who returns to his violent life after colliding with a group of violent Russian gangsters. It is unknown whether any of the film's other cast members, including Chloe Grace Moretz and Melissa Leo, will return.

Which recent movies will become classics? Show all 21 1 /21 Which recent movies will become classics? Which recent movies will become classics? Birdman - Undoubtedly Alejandro G. Inarritus masterpiece will surely be remembered for years to come - fiercely original in its concept, brave in its single take(esque) format and the perfect satire of a very specific and bizarre era of cinema we find ourselves in. What perhaps was so astonishing about this Best Picture Oscar winner was that in spite of its experimental format and lofty intentions, it still also managed to be hugely entertaining, and is eminently rewatchable. - Christopher Hooton Fox Searchlight Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? There Will Be Blood - Potentially Inherent Vice feels like its been forgotten already, The Master was great but too weighty for some, but There Will Be Blood is the Paul Thomas Anderson film that comes up time and time again in pub film conversations, whether theyre between cinephiles or more casual fans. A blank yet brutal indictment of lucre, Daniel Day Lewis gave one of his best ever performances as oil man Daniel Plainview, and Jonny Greenwoods fearsome score is still being performed live several years after its release. But mainly, I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP! - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Avatar - Probably not Its undeniable that James Camerons gargantuan blockbuster Avatar will find its place in the cinematic history books. With a worldwide gross of over 2.7 billion, its currently the highest earning film of all time - even Star Wars' The Force Awakens return couldn't topple it. But will it actually be remembered fondly? Its ground-breaking special effects already betray the first signs of aging, and though its use of 3D was revolutionary at the time, its now so pedestrian as to be found in a Glee concert movie. What is there to revere then? The patronising narrative re-hash of the plot to Dances With Wolves? Or the bit where two cat-aliens had sex by plugging their hair braids into each other? - Clarisse Loughrey Which recent movies will become classics? Whiplash - Within its own genre at least Whiplash was perhaps the most buzzy, "have you seen it yet?" film of 2014, and winning major Oscars off a budget of $3.3 million was no mean feat. Damien Chazelle managed to make a film about drumming absolutely edge-of-your-seat stuff, and succeeded by not patronising his audience - trusting that even if they didnt understand the music theory detail, they would still be able to revel in it. Unfortunately, it might just be too small a film to be remembered as a classic, but will certainly be circling the top of best movies about music lists for some years to come. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Skyfall  Depends whos Bond next Best Bond of all time? Skyfalls slick, true, but its status as an icon seems heavily premature. Were still clinging onto the Craig era, and its hard to argue that Skyfall doesnt do the same; trading its entire dramatic tension on the premise that weve long been deeply attached to this grizzled Bond and equally grizzled M. In Silvas personal vendetta, or in the neat metaphors of Skyfall Lodges crumbling exteriors and Bonds crumbling interiors of a post-Vesper Lynd world; its only once the franchise has moved on to new pastures that well truly start to see whether Skyfall can go the distance. Doesnt help that Spectre was a bit of a disappointment, though. -CL Which recent movies will become classics? Mad Max: Fury Road - A gutsy yes Yes, its a madly confident move to already claim Fury Roads going to a bonafide classic within its first year of release, but Fury Road is a mad movie. 36 years after its original incarnation, George Miller returned to the wasteland to conjure the greatest adrenaline hit of the cinematic decade. Breathlessly edited, hued with the colours of dust and dirt and rage; packed to the brim with practical stunt work unseen in the digital age. Plus, its a film that actively dismantles the patriarchy through a gun-slinging, metal-armed Charlize Theron. If its not remembered as one of the greatest blockbusters of its time, itll certainly be remembered as one of the gutsiest. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? The Great Beauty - No, but it damn well should be It won the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in 2014, but this Paolo Sorrentino masterpiece is still unknown to most. It centres on a group of aging intellectuals partying on rooftops across Rome to Eurodance, and within this frame of superficiality it manages staggering profundity. The dialogue is rich, the cinematography sumptuous, and if Fellini is considered classic, this fellow Italians work certainly should be too. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Little Miss Sunshine - Within its own genre, yes The Sundance Effect has unfortunately developed a near plague of insufferable, self-conscious mawkishness over the years. Misfit boys finding new meaning to their existence in the arms of pink-haired manic pixie dream girls; sun-dappled bike rides as the latest band to feature a ukulele solo play softly in the distance. Some have indeed come off this false and cloying (Zach Braffs Garden State), others smarter and keener (last years Me and Earl and the Dying Girl); but as the fires of kook devour all in sight, there will always remain one film left standing in the ashes: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris Little Miss Sunshine. One scene that guarantees its elevation above the rabble sees teenager Dwayne (Paul Dano) realise hes colour-blind, and thus will never be able to achieve his dream of becoming a jet fighter. Danos meltdown here is so raw, and so positively tragic, that itll be a hard job to ever forget that epic f-bomb as the years pass. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? Lost in Translation - I'll still be watching it in my 80s at least Really a perfect movie. The casting couldn't have been better and Sofia Coppola conveys the choking feeling of an overly air-conditioned hotel room like no-one else. So many of the shots were beautiful in their simplicity. Bill Murray making a nice crisp, clean golf shot before walking off down the course. The flower arranging scene. Bill lightly grabbing Scarlett Johansson's foot and this subtly serving as the film's 'kiss'. It's the unconventional romance at the heart of the film that makes it so great, though, which is as much about companionship as physical and emotional love. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Crash - Hahahahahahahahaha Seriously, how did it win that Oscar? Even the director doesn't know. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Pans Labyrinth - Absolutely Guillermo del Toro dreams on celluloid; hes a weaver of fairy tales in an age where innocence is presumed dead. Its through innocence, through innocent eyes, that we witness the darkest excesses of human nature in a way that so exposes the incomprehensibility of evil committed in the pursuit of power. Through young Ophelias perspective we watch the horrors of Francos Spanish regime play out, the barbaric cruelty of her stepfather Captain Vidal; she fears not the horned faun who lives in the labyrinth when its so clear her own patriarchal figurehead is the true monster. And though its finale may be heart-breaking, del Toro still allows innocence a certain victory. Victory through Ophelias eyes, those pure and hungry enough to see beyond the borders of her bleak reality to find an escape from the seemingly unstoppable monstrosities of adulthood. - CL Warner Bros. Which recent movies will become classics? Im Still Here - When everyone realises its genius Initially admonished for being exploitative of Joaquin Phoenixs condition, it was astonishing that, when this Casey Affleck-directed mockumentary was revealed to be a hoax, most critics didnt give it a second review, and those who did still disliked it. In hindsight this was so much more than a prank. Phoenix stayed in character as a failed actor turned hip-hop artist for months on end. This dedication wasnt for nothing either (unlikely say, DiCaprio in The Revenant), Im Still Here is actually a very funny, moving and subtly satirical film, and definitely original. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Boyhood - I doubt it While it too was an unprecedented piece of cinema, Boyhood for me faded from the memory very quickly. Dismissing this film as essentially a puberty timelapse might be a little harsh, but the set-up did ultimately come off gimmicky and as a coming of age story it failed to resonate. Admirable, but not a classic - CH Universal Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? The Social Network - Yes I was less than thrilled at the prospect of a movie about Facebook, but then pleasantly surprised upon watching it. A holy production trinity of David Fincher (director), Aaron Sorkin (screenwriter) and Trent Reznor (score) told a story that changed all of our lives with such panache. Texting, the internet, social media etc are so prosaic that many authors and filmmakers disingenuously leave them out of their stories, but here they were central and yet still the film was engrossing, stylish and human. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Django Unchained - Hell yeah/hell maybe Swiping its titular characters name from a 1966 Spaghetti Western directed by Sergio Corbucci, Tarantino utilised his trademark flair for ultra-violence and nihilistic humour to create the perfect meeting point between revisionism and classicism. Django channeled brutality in the name of righteous fury, allowing the freedom fighting slaves of a pre-Civil War Deep South their own legendary cowboy of the John Wayne or Clint Eastwood type. - CL Which recent movies will become classics? The Tree of Life - A few people will kid themselves its classic Terrence Malicks experimental drama couldnt really have been more ambitious or tried to chip away at a bigger chunk of existence. As such, it was automatically lauded by many who didnt really know what to make of it, but looking back, was it worthy of the praise? The Brad-Pitt-is-a-family-man-in-the-50s plot strand was actually pretty unremarkable, and were it not for the brazenness of the extended shots of the universe being formed I doubt it would have made top ten lists the way it did. - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Her - Yes, as a historical document Films depicting the future remain fascinating decades later because they show, in retrospect, how we wanted the world to progress and what developments we simply couldnt have conceived. As such Her will definitely still be getting talked about in years to come, whether or not we do indeed end up falling in love with our computers. (Also see: Ex Machina) - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Any of the space movies? Maybe Interstellar We seem to get a big budget space movie annually these days, and while none of them really have the creativity of Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar stands a chance of staying atop VOD libraries. Gravity and The Martian, while technically brilliant, were pretty forgettable, and dont get me started on Sunshine. Interstellar was very impressive though, and if a Christopher Nolan films going to stand out Id rather it be this one than - CH Which recent movies will become classics? Inception - Please no Yes, its insanely watchable and the plot zips along nicely, but seriously, can we stop pretending people falling backwards off chairs and out of camp, alpine sub-dream worlds amounts to anything more than an overly convoluted, albeit pretty, action movie? - CH Which recent movies will become classics? The Wolf of Wall Street - Not compared to Scorseses earlier work If theres a burden of the artistic revolutionary, its that revolution is only ever momentary in its form; Martin Scorsese made his mark back in 1973 with Mean Streets, and its one thats been difficult to paint over in the 43 years which have since passed. The Wolf of Wall Street faults itself only in being pure Scorsese; its a film which trades purely in the breathless, macho style already so entrenched in cinematic culture. Essentially, Scorseses own genre-defining genius has doomed to obscurity any latter work which dares to fold into the directors own natural form of expression; its made derivative any work which doesnt actively rebel against what hes been most celebrated for. A tough reality, but a reality nonetheless. - CL Paramount Pictures Which recent movies will become classics? Nymphomaniac - Maybe if Part II hadnt happened Even the truest of arthouse directors are culpable for the whims of Hollywood franchises. Yes, with his dual Nymphomaniac films, Lars von Trier managed to ruin the potential classic of his career by needlessly stretching his narrative across two films; churning out the NC-17 answer to Peter Jacksons Hobbit trilogy in the process. Strip Nymphomaniac of the controversy and media hysteria surrounding its use of pornographic actors in its sex scenes; and theres a torn, throbbing soul at its centre. For all its salaciousness, von Triers exploration of the crippling effects of shame society burdens those, especially its women, who dare seek sexual pleasure is genuinely haunting. Thats in Part I, however; by the time Joes life story sees her grow from Stacy Martin into Charlotte Gainsbourg, von Triers epic dissolves into the bang of a drum in continuous, endless cycles. Shes horny and sad; we got it, Lars. - CL



Director Fuqua's new film - a remake of 1960 classic western The Magnificent Seven - is released in cinemas today (23 September) and stars Washington in the lead role alongside Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke and Haley Bennet. During the film's promotional trail, he revealed he hasn't seen John Sturges' original.

Washington won an Oscar under the direction of Fuqua in 2001 film Training Day. His other list of credits includes Philadelphia, Man on Fire, Inside Man and American Gangster.
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I think even if I had 1,000 guesses and the fate of humanity rested on it, I would never land on Jamie T as a person who nearly starred opposite Emma Watson in Beauty and the Beast.

An incredibly different choice to Downton Abbeys Dan Stevens, who ultimately landed the role, Jamie revealed his Hollywood acting sojourn that never was in an interview with Q this week.

"I've been asked to do musicals, he said, and I got asked last year to audition for Beauty And The Beat. They said Emma Watson's playing the Beauty and we want you to audition for the Beast."

"I was like, 'Come on, y'know... then I called back and asked, 'How much?'"

Imagine. Belle kisses the Beast as the last rose petal falls, his monstrous visage metamorphosing into Jamie f*cking T. The pair then launch into an up-tempo version of Tale as Old as Time, complete with stabs of guitar and a rapped verse from Jamie.

The musician would have joined Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, Josh Gad, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Kline, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Audra McDonald and Luke Evans on the cast of the Disney film, which opens in cinemas on 17 March, 2017.

Instead, he released his fourth album Trick this month, which debuted at No. 3 in the charts.
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Its no small thing to be deemed the voice of a people, but its something which happens to Aziza Brahim all the time.

In the mid-Seventies, her pregnant mother fled the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara alongside tens of thousands of Saharawi people, ultimately settling in a refugee camp in the Tindouf region of Algeria. It was here that Brahim was born.

At 11-years-old, she travelled to study in Cuba on a scholarship, returning to the camps a decade later. She then rose to prominence in the West African music scene, before moving to Europe to tour with a number of other musicians, eventually emerging as a solo voice in the late Noughties.

Such a varied upbringing, both geographically and culturally, naturally informs Brahims musical outlook today. She still takes much from her roots  the repetitive, hooky grooves which define the guitar rock of West Africa are certainly there, but without that angular rigidity. Instead, theres a Latin fluidity which sculpts those edges into something distinctively beautiful. Its expertly translated into the live setting and then enhanced by Brahim and her backing band. On Baraka, a song from the acclaimed album Abbar el Hamada, released last March, the percussive element  comprising a drum kit as well as instruments from Senegal and Mali  is arresting, but tempered by the acoustic guitar.

And then theres that voice. Its so commanding and textured that often Brahims one voice almost seems choral as it floats and echoes around this North London chapel. It is at times haunting, like during an intro to Lagi, in which we go back and forth between her voice and a wandering guitar, and at others it is tranquil. Her lyrics speak for the displaced Saharawi people, often lamenting the 1,700-mile, minefield-laden wall which prevents them travelling back into their homeland, but also offering words of hope  on the celebratory groove of Calles de Dajla, she imagines liberation in the Western Saharan city of Dajla. Of course, its all sung in a mix of Hassaniya Arabic and Spanish, so youd expect the majority of those in attendance cant understand precisely what shes saying, but Brahims emotion is so viscerally obvious here that her sentiment isnt lost. And so it doesnt seem undue to say that Brahim is the voice of the Saharawi people, especially in this part of the world  the intertwining of hurt and searching optimism which run throughout tonights performance poignantly define the life of a refugee.
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A Google Doodle is celebrating Britains 358-year love affair with tea  the hot drink that has become a defining part of our international identity.

But despite having had over three centuries to master the process of brewing tea, there apparently remain a significant number of people in Britain who are making it wrong.

According to tea experts at University College London, a worrying majority of the cups of tea we consume may have been prepared incorrectly or inadequately.

How to brew the perfect tea

A study carried out by the British Science Association revealed the alarming information.

As part of this years British science week, they asked over 1,000 adults about their tea-making habits and found that Britons were failing to brew their tea for the required amount of time, which they claim is up to five minutes.

An average of 60.2 billion cups per year are consumed every year in Britain, but the survey revealed that as many as 80 per cent of us have been doing it all wrong.

Mark Miodownik, Professor of Materials and Society at University College London, said: This may be controversial, but the British do not understand how to make tea! Or at least theyre not doing it properly. And its because they dont understand the variables.

He blamed impatience for our inability to allow tea leaves to properly infuse.

Expediency is causing us to throw chemistry out of the window, he said. Were not allowing our tea to brew for long enough to release the flavours properly.

Could this be the reason why our national beverage has seen a steady decline in popularity in recent decades?

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According to data published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published earlier this year, since 1974, weekly tea purchases have crashed by almost two thirds, from 68 grams per household per week, to just 25 grams.

This equates to roughly eight cups of tea per household a week, down from 23 a week in the 1970s.

In 2015 the British Standards Institution released a guide called preparation of a liquor of tea for use in sensory tests, which contained everything you need to know about making the perfect cup of tea.
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Palmer Luckey, the young billionaire who created Facebooks virtual reality headset, has been funding a secret meme factory to support Donald Trump.

Mr Luckeys group aims to help boost Mr Trumps chances in the US election by using meme magic to convince people to vote for him.

The group is known as Nimble America and was revealed in a post last week on Reddits The Donald forum, which is one of the central organising places for supporters of Mr Trump online. The group made clear at launch that it was looking to use memes to support the Republicans bid.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. 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What weve been able to accomplish here has been amazing and much bigger than any of us and certainly much bigger than Reddit, a moderator wrote in introducing Nimble America. Weve proven that shitposting is powerful and meme magic is real. So many of you have asked us, how we can bring this to real life.

In response to the post, a user called only NimbleRichMan stepped forward to ask whether he could help out with donations to it.

You and I are the same, the user, now revealed to be Mr Luckey, wrote. We know Hillary Clinton is corrupt, a warmonger, a freedom-stripper. Not the good kind you see dancing in bikinis on Independence Day, the bad kind that strips freedom from citizens and grants it to donors.

Recommended Read more Donald Trump says America is about to lose the internet

The post has since been deleted, along with the original announcement, but it ended with a rallying cry to use meme magic to support Mr Trump.

Lets generate some success of our own, NimbleRichMan wrote. Make America great again with your meme magic, centipedes of The Donald!

Many Reddit users initially questioned who could be behind the group and its supportive account. The mystery led to fears that the group was a scam  using the interest in Donald Trump on Reddit to collect money that then wouldnt be used.

But just as that controversy started, Mr Luckey stepped forward to make clear that he was behind the NimbleRichMan account and that the group was genuine.

It still isnt clear exactly what Nimble America actually plans to do with the cash, or how it will look to influence the election. But it presumably involves creating memes and shareable images to increase the reach of Mr Trump and his policies.

 Dalai Lama mocks Donald Trump

Mr Luckey has said that hes just a funder of the group  not involved with its actual but just funding what he thought was a funny idea. He seems more involved with it than that, however, being listed as its vice president on its website.

Its something that no campaign is going to run, Mr Luckey told the Daily Beast about the posters the group plans to run

Ive got plenty of money, Luckey he said to the website. Money is not my issue. I thought it sounded like a real jolly good time.

Mr Luckey made the money that he is using to fund Nimble America by selling his virtual reality company, Oculus, to Facebook.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has obliquely spoken out about Donald Trump, but another investor, Peter Thiel, has publicly lent his support to Mr Trump too.
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A new type of synthetic alcohol has been discovered which could allow people to enjoy the sociable effects of a few pints, but skip the hangover that usually follows.

The new drink, known as 'alcosynth', is designed to mimic the positive effects of alcohol but doesnt cause a dry mouth, nausea and a throbbing head, according to its creator Professor David Nutt.

The Imperial College Professor and former government drugs advisor told The Independent he has patented around 90 different alcosynth compounds.

Two of them are now being rigorously tested for widespread use, he said  and by 2050, he hopes alcosynth could completely replace normal alcohol.

It will be there alongside the scotch and the gin, they'll dispense the alcosynth into your cocktail and then you'll have the pleasure without damaging your liver and your heart, he said.

They go very nicely into mojitos. They even go into something as clear as a Tom Collins. One is pretty tasteless, the other has a bitter taste."

By researching substances that work on the brain in a similar way to alcohol, Professor Nutt and his team have been able to design a drug which they say is non-toxic and replicates the positive effects of alcohol.

We know a lot about the brain science of alcohol; it's become very well understood in the last 30 years, said Professor Nutt.

 A bottle of wine a day is not bad for you and abstaining is worse than drinking, scientist claims

So we know where the good effects of alcohol are mediated in the brain, and can mimic them. And by not touching the bad areas, we don't have the bad effects.

Advocates of alcosynth believe it could revolutionise public health by relieving the burden of alcohol on the health service.

According to Alcohol Concern, drinking is the third biggest risk factor for disease and death in the UK, after smoking and obesity.

"People want healthier drinks," said Professor Nutt. The drinks industry knows that by 2050 alcohol will be gone."

The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 10. Poland Results from an OECD report The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 9. Germany The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 8. Luxembourg Rex Features The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 7. France The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 6. Hungary Rex Features The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 5. Russia AFP/Getty Images The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 4. Czech Republic The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 3. Estonia Rex Features The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 2. Austria Getty Images The 10 countries that drink the most alcohol 1. Lithuania AFP/Getty Images

"They know that and have been planning for this for at least 10 years. But they don't want to rush into it, because they're making so much money from conventional alcohol.

Early experiments into alcosynth, such as those reported on by BBCs Horizon in 2011, used a derivative of benzodiazepine  the same class of drugs as Valium.

Mr Nutt said his new drinks did not contain benzodiazepine, and their formulas would remain a closely guarded, patented secret.

Recommended Read more Student debt worries causing depression and alcohol dependency

However, the huge cost of funding research into the drug and regulatory concerns mean it could be a long time before people can order an alcosynth cocktail at their local pub.

Professor Nutt, who was sacked from his position as the government drugs tsar in 2009 after he claimed taking ecstasy was less dangerous than riding a horse, said he was unsure if the use of synthetic alcohol would be restricted by the new Psychoactive Substances Act, which came into force in May.

Its an interesting idea, but too much in its infancy at the moment for us to comment on, a Department of Health spokesperson told The Independent.

I dont think wed give money to it until it was a little further along, said the spokesperson. "If [Professor Nutt] were to apply for funding, it would go through the process of everything else and would be judged on its merits.

It would be great for producing better workforce efficiency if no one was hungover, they added.

According to Professor Nutt, the effects of alcosynth last around a couple of hours  the same as traditional alcohol.

 World's first cloud bar

He said he and his team have also managed to limit the effects of drinking a lot of alcosynth, so in theory it would be impossible to ever feel too 'drunk'.

We think the effects round out at about four or five 'drinks', then the effect would max out, he said.

We haven't tested it to destruction yet, but it's safer than drinking too much alcohol. With clever pharmacology, you can limit and put a ceiling on the effects, so you can't ever get as ill or kill yourself, unlike with drinking a lot of vodka.

Researcher Guy Bentley worked with Professor Nutt on a new report by the liberal think tank the Adam Smith Institute into alcosynth regulation.

Professor David Nutt (Rex Features)

Mr Bentley told The Independent he hoped to persuade the government to accept the drug as a way of reducing the harm caused by alcohol.

[The report] is trying to spark what happened with e-cigarettes and tobacco, but with alcohol," he said. "Professor Nutt has been experimenting on this for a long time, but I thought to myself - where is it? I wanted my hangover-free booze.

However, not everyone was as keen on the new discovery.

Neil Williams, from the British Beer and Pub Association, said alcosynth was not necessary, as there are other ways of avoiding a hangover.

There are plenty of low-strength drinks, particularly beers, he told The Independent. We should all drink in moderation so we shouldnt need to have a hangover anyway.

Id want to know more about it before I tried it myself, he said.
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Online shopping giant Amazon has been fined 65,000 at Southwark Crown Court after being found guilty of attempting to ship potentially explosive and dangerous goods by air.

Earlier this week, the British branch of the internet shopping company was convicted at Southwark crown court on four charges of causing dangerous goods to be delivered by air after being prosecuted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The company transported lithium-ion batteries and flammable gas areosols, destined for flights within and outside in four shipments between January 2014 and June 2015.

The breach of safety regulations could have put travellers lives at risk.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and hoverboard.They are not permitted in the hold of a passenger jet in case they explode.

The items were found by Royal Mail officials as part of routine screening before being boarded on planes bound for Jersey and Northern Ireland.

The safety of the public, our customers, employees and partners is an absolute priority. We ship millions of products every week and are confident in the sophisticated technologies and processes we have developed to detect potential shipping hazards. We are constantly working to further improve and will continue to work with the CAA in this area, Amazon said in a statement released on Friday.

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Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. 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Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty

Amazon initially faced 11 counts, but the company was cleared of one charge and six will stay on file after a jury failed to reach a verdict.

Air Navigation Regulations stipulate how packages must be handled when transported by air and have stringent rules on packing, marking, labeling and documentation.

A recent investigation by ProPublica, which looked at 250 Amazon products over several weeks, found that Amazon's algorithms push customers towards more expensive products.

Amazon told the researchers that the algorithms are complex and consider many different factor.

Additional reporting by PA
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A French court has cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000).

The court in Versailles, outside Paris, ruled on Friday that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades.

Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along.

Recommended Read more Jerome Kerviel leaves prison on conditional release

In June, a public prosecutor said the bank had left the door open for Kerviel to act illegally.

The disgraced trader was sentenced to three years in prison for nearly breaking the bank with record losses, just before the financial market meltdown in 2008.

The 39-year-old has been found guilty of forgery, breach of trust and fraudulent computer use for covering up bets worth 50bn  more than the market value of the entire bank at the time.

Kerviel had amassed the stock market bets using fake hedges and false documents before the French bank discovered them in January 2008. Societe Generale unwound the positions at a loss of 4.9bn, prompting Daniel Bouton, the banks chief executive to label Kerviel a terrorist.

Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty

Kerviel has attempted to cast himself as the victim of a corrupt financial system, claiming bank bosses were fully aware of the bets he was making and only voiced concern when they started losing money.

He served five months of his three-year sentence for abuse of trust.

In June, an employment tribunal awarded Kerviel half a million dollars for unfair dismissal. Two weeks later, a prosecutor criticised Societe Generale for multiple, long-standing failings.

If Societe Generale is ultimately found responsible for faults in handling the Kerviel case, the French government could ask the bank to pay back the 2.2bn tax credits it gave the firm to compensate for the trader's losses.
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A new offshore wind facility to be built off Englands east coast wil be game changing for the UKs renewable energy supply, Dong Energy has claimed.

The Danish renewable energy company said on Thursday it would invest in a multi-million pound facility at the mouth of the River Humber as part of a drive to develop the area as the main hub for Englands offshore wind industry.

Dong, which was valued at $15bn in June and has installed more wind turbines at sea than anyone else, plans to expand its presence by building a facility allowing it to service at least three of its future wind farms in the North Sea, including a 580MW wind farm off the Norfolk and Lincolnshire coast.

The hub, which could be completed in 2018, will be located about 15 miles from where Siemens has invested 160m in a blade-manufacturing facility in Hull about 30 miles south, helping to raise the profile of the Humber region as a key investment spot for the industry. Dong said it expects to invest about 6bn in the region by 2019.

This new operational hub in Grimsby will be a game-changing industry first, raising the bar for the way we serve offshore wind farms, Brent Cheshire, UK chairman for Dong, said.

It will generate direct and indirect job opportunities in the Humber region, as well as opportunities for the local supply chain. 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 6bn.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

The hub will host service boats designed by Rolls-Royce Holdings that will allow technicians to remain at sea for at least a month, improving the rate at which turbines can be serviced.

The vessels include a gangway for easy access to the turbines, removing the need for technicians to scale the towers on ladders. The first vessel, built by Norways Ostensjo Rederi, will arrive late 2017, according to the statement.

If the project receives planning permission, the hub will service the Dongs Westermost Rough, Race Bank and Hornsea Project One offshore wind farms, as well as future projects nearby, according to the statement.

Bloomberg
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European Union ministers today admitted that a giant EU-US trade deal is dead in its current form, with drastic change needed to salvage any hope of a deal going ahead.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership has sparked a widespread backlash and now lies in tatters in the wake of massive protests across the continent.

Austrian Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner said that the pact now has, such negative connotations, that the best hope was to completely relaunch with a new name after the US elections.

Recommended Read more TTIP has failed but here are the trade deals about to take its place

Mitterlehner also demanded more transparency and clearer objectives. Negotiations for the free-trade zone have so far been held behind closed doors.

Slovak economy minister Peter Ziga, was similarly pessimistic, saying that a new start or some new approach [was] needed, while EU trade commissioner  Cecilia Malmstroem said the likelihood of a deal was becoming smaller and smaller, as she entered the talks.

Several EU representatives blamed US intransigence for the gridlock. The deal now has only a small chance of success unless the United States starts to give a bit of ground, Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said.

The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP Show all 6 1 /6 The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP The NHS Public services, especially the NHS, are in the firing line. One of the main aims of TTIP is to open up Europes public health, education and water services to US companies. This could essentially mean the privatisation of the NHS. The European Commission has claimed that public services will be kept out of TTIP. However, according to the Huffington Post, the UK Trade Minister Lord Livingston has admitted that talks about the NHS were still on the table Getty The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP Food and environmental safety TTIPs regulatory convergence agenda will seek to bring EU standards on food safety and the environment closer to those of the US. But US regulations are much less strict, with 70 per cent of all processed foods sold in US supermarkets now containing genetically modified ingredients. By contrast, the EU allows virtually no GM foods. The US also has far laxer restrictions on the use of pesticides. It also uses growth hormones in its beef which are restricted in Europe due to links to cancer. US farmers have tried to have these restrictions lifted repeatedly in the past through the World Trade Organisation and it is likely that they will use TTIP to do so again Getty The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP Banking regulations TTIP cuts both ways. The UK, under the influence of the all-powerful City of London, is thought to be seeking a loosening of US banking regulations. Americas financial rules are tougher than ours. They were put into place after the financial crisis to directly curb the powers of bankers and avoid a similar crisis happening again. TTIP, it is feared, will remove those restrictions, effectively handing all those powers back to the bankers Getty/Bloomberg The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP Privacy Remember ACTA (the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement)? It was thrown out by a massive majority in the European Parliament in 2012 after a huge public backlash against what was rightly seen as an attack on individual privacy where internet service providers would be required to monitor peoples online activity. Well, its feared that TTIP could be bringing back ACTAs central elements, proving that if the democratic approach doesnt work, theres always the back door. An easing of data privacy laws and a restriction of public access to pharmaceutical companies clinical trials are also thought to be on the cards AFP/Getty Images The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP Jobs The EU has admitted that TTIP will probably cause unemployment as jobs switch to the US, where labour standards and trade union rights are lower. It has even advised EU members to draw on European support funds to compensate for the expected unemployment. Examples from other similar bi-lateral trade agreements around the world support the case for job losses. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the US, Canada and Mexico caused the loss of one million US jobs over 12 years, instead of the hundreds of thousands of extra that were promised Dave Thompson/Getty Images The 6 reasons why we should be scared of TTIP Democracy TTIPs biggest threat to society is its inherent assault on democracy. One of the main aims of TTIP is the introduction of Investor-State Dispute Settlements (ISDS), which allow companies to sue governments if those governments policies cause a loss of profits. In effect it means unelected transnational corporations can dictate the policies of democratically elected governments AFP/Getty

The Americans have not been willing to make offers the way Canada has so it's guaranteed there will be no agreement this year, said German Economy Minister and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, adding that if talks could be rekindled under a new US president, they would need a different attitude.

In August Gabriel said that TTIP had failed but no one is really admitting it.

On the other side of the Atlantic, analysts see little chance of a deal any time soon. Very unlikely, Caroline Freund, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said. Europe is struggling with Brexit and migration, and the TTIP is hugely unpopular in Germany.

After three years of secretive talks, seemingly intractable differences remain over issues such as working conditions and agricultural practices. For example, Europe bans washing chicken with chlorine and routinely treating cows with growth-promoting hormones, practices which are common in the US.

Detractors also say the pact will erode wages and working conditions, as well as give corporations the power to sue nation states for introducing regulations that harm their businesses.

Under a similar trade deal the government of Ecuador was ordered to pay German oil company Occidental $2.3 billion for, apparently legally, terminating a contract.

On Saturday, more than 300,000 people protested against TTIP, while on Tuesday thousands demonstrated outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.

Guy Taylor, trade campaigner with Global Justice Now said the death of TTIP is a victory for the ordinary people across Europe who stood alongside trade unions, civil society groups, activists and consumer watchdogs to prevent this massive corporate power grab."
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A top US military commander has confirmed that a shell fired at a US military base in Iraq contained a chemical agent.

We assess it to be a sulfur-mustard blister agent, Marine General Joseph Dunford, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the US Senates Armed Services Committee.

No one was injured in the rocket attack on Tuesday on Qayyarah, the US de facto base outside the Isis stronghold of Mosul.

Initial testing came back positive for trace amounts of a mustard agent, and samples were sent for further examination.

Mustard gas is a powerful irritant that targets the skin, eyes and airways, and can kill in large enough or highly concentrated enough amounts. Symptoms can take up to 24 hours to appear.

Maj Gen Joseph Dunford said that Isis chemical weapon capabilities were rudimentary, but added that the attack was a concerning development.

The terror group has been suspected of attempting to make crude chemical weapons across its territory in Iraq and Syria by intelligence services.

In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Smoke rises after airstrikes by US-led coalition planes as Iraqi security forces advance against Islamic State extremists in Fallujah, June 15, 2016 AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Iraqi security forces advance during heavy fighting against Isis militants in Fallujah, Iraq, on 14 June AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia militia say that moving resources from Fallujah towards the area near Mosul was a 'betrayal' of the battle for the city GETTY In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Hospital sources said 18 bodies were recovered from the river over the weekend AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Up to 60,000 civilians were feared trapped in Fallujah at the start of the Iraqi operation AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters hold an Isis flag in an operation east of Fallujah  the terror group has lost ground in both Syria and Iraq AFP/Getty In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters hold their weapons as they gather near Falluja, Iraq, June 4, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Pro-government forces bid to take back ground from Isis in Fallujah MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Smoke billows on the horizon as Iraqi military forces prepare for an offensive to retake the city AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah A member of the Iraqi security forces fires artillery during clashes with Isis militants near Fallujah, Iraq, 29 May, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Iraqi government forces fire a rocket near al-Sejar village, north-east of Fallujah, on May 26, 2016, as they take part in a major assault to retake the city from the Islamic State group AFP/Getty In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters and Iraqi security forces advance towards Fallujah Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

Recent US coalition-led air strikes have hit several locations thought to be used as mustard gas production sites.

Mosul in northwest Iraq is home to two million people and is the countrys second largest city. It was captured by Isis in June 2014, when the group rapidly expanded across the country and declared the creation of a caliphate.

Iraqi forces have been gearing up for a major offensive to retake the city from Qayyarah, backed by the US.

Iraqi president Haider Al-Abadi has vowed to regain control of Mosul before the end of the year.
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The FBI has confirmed it is evaluating an alleged incident involving the actor Brad Pitt on a private jet transporting Pitt, his estranged wife Angelina Jolie and their children.

Jolie filed for divorce on 19 September and requested physical custody of their six children Maddox, 15, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10 and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. She asked for Pitt to have joint legal custody and visitation rights. The Independent understands Pitt will seek joint custody.

Initial reports suggested Pitt was being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department. A report by TMZ claimed the altercation involved one of his children and was physical and verbal.

However, a spokesperson for the LAPD denied it was investigating Pitt, telling the Independent: We only found out through calls this morning, we contacted divisions that would be handling it and theyve said no.

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 LAPD later said the case had been referred to the FBI.

Pitt denies any allegations of any abuse against his children, a source close to the actor has said.

In a statement, the FBI said allegations involving an aircraft carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children had been referred to the agency.

The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued, it added.

 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: A timeline of their relationship

The source close to Pitt told The Independent: He takes the matter very seriously and says he did not commit any abuse of his children. Its unfortunate that people involved are continuing to present him in the worst possible light.

I think the most important thing is the fact that he is co-operating and that he takes it seriously, he recognises it is a serious matter and he is willing to do whatever will be best for his family.

The source said Pitt has refrained from directing any negativity in order to resolve the divorce as quickly as possible for the sake of their children.

Recommended Read more The actress accused of an affair with Brad Pitt speaks out

The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating Pitt.

Pitt was on a plane that landed at the International Falls, Minnesota, airport on 14 September, local sheriff Perryn Hedlund told the Associated Press. Jolie lists the date of separation in her divorce filing as 15 September.

Jolie is being represented by Laura Wasser, the divorce lawyer dubbed the 'disso queen' who helped in her divorce from Billy Bob Thornton and represented Johnny Depp in his acrimonious divorce from Amber Heard.

Jolie did not respond to requests for comment.
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One of Chelsea Handler's jokes has fallen flat after the outspoken comedian used Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts children as material.

Unlike Samuel L Jackson, an actor already weary of unceasing Brangelina speculation, Handler has had much to say on the news that Jolie was filing for divorce from Pitt after two years of marriage, bringing their 10-year relationship to an abrupt end.

After making a number of jokes at Jolies expense on her Netflix talk show, Chelsea, the comedian then looked to their sons Maddox and Pax, adopted from Cambodia and Vietnam respectively.

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

As the mom of three internationally adopted children who are mine all mine, and as a human...no, just, no, said one.

Comments made by Handler, who is close friends with Pitts ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, in 2011 caused similar rumblings. Handler had branded the actress a homewrecker during a stand-up show but she dismissed the backlash as the media blowing her jokes out of proportion and said she would never speak for or on behalf of Aniston.

Ive been making fun of Angelina Jolie since she made out with her brother, Handler said referring to Jolie kissing her brother James Haven on the lips at the 2000 Academy Awards.

Her representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Chelsea Manning has been convicted of charges following her suicide attempt and says she will have to serve a period of time in solitary confinement.

The former US soldier and whistleblower released a statement today after appearing before a three-member disciplinary board.

In the statement released on her Twitter account, Manning, who is transgender, said she presented evidence and questioned witnesses during the hearing. The board took 30 minutes to make their decision, according to her statement, and sentence her to disciplinary segregation.

Manning is serving a 35-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas for leaking classified documents. Manning says her gender dysphoria led her to try to kill herself in July and briefly went on hunger strike earlier in September until the army approved her transition surgery.

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.

Her lawyer Nancy Hollander said the sentence could harm Manning's mental health. She told The Independent: Forcing Chelsea back into solitary confinement as a punishment for her suicide attempt is extremely worrisome to me and counterproductive to Chelsea's mental and physical health. Essentially she is now being tortured as punishment for an act of desperation."

In her statement, Manning said: I waited nervously for the board to vote. I was acquitted of the Resisting The Force Cell Move Team charge.

I was found guilty of the 'Conduct Which Threatens' charge. This charge was for the suicide attempt.

I was found guilty of the 'Prohibited Property' charge, which was for an unmarked copy of Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy, by Gabriella Coleman.

My punishment is 14 days in solitary confinement. Seven of those days are 'suspended'. If I get in trouble in the next six months, those seven days will come back.

"There is no set date set for this to start. After I receive the formal board results in writing, I have 15 days to appeal. I expect to get them in the next few days.

"I am feeling hurt. I am feeling lonely. I am embarrassed by the decision. I dont know how to explain it.

"I am touched by your warm messages of love and support. This comforts me in my time of need.

The US Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
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She drew crowds outside the Max Mara shop on opening day of Milan Fashion Week, and indulged fans with selfies.

Then she opened and closed the Max Mara show on the second day of womenswear previews for next spring and summer on Thursday, and took top billing at Fendi.

But in between, things took an ugly turn when a former Ukrainian television reporter grabbed her from behind and picked her up in the air as she left the Max Mara venue. Video posted on the website TMZ shows her wriggling free and confronting the assailant, who ran away.

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. He has pulled similar pranks before, targeting Kim Kardashian, Brad Pitt and America Ferrera, once landing in a Los Angeles jail for two days.

Meet the stars of Instagram Show all 10 1 /10 Meet the stars of Instagram Meet the stars of Instagram Charlie Barker Barkers following is greater than the combined circulations of Hello! and OK! magazines Meet the stars of Instagram Charlie Barker Barker says: I wanted to get a tattoo on the palm of my hand and because it was painful I was like, 'what do I believe in enough to get tattooed on my hand for the rest of my life?', and I was like  Hello Kitty Meet the stars of Instagram Charlie Barker With a photographic glimpse  or at least suggestion  of a life of colour and attitude, Barker has earned the sort of fame that only exists on Instagram Meet the stars of Instagram Brian Whittaker Sixteen-year-old Whittaker has a quarter of a million followers Meet the stars of Instagram Brian Whittaker Whittakers style and physique make him popular, but conversations with girls typically end when they ask his age Meet the stars of Instagram Brian Whittaker An image of Whittaker's dog on Instagram. Whittaker says he has made new friends in real life, and thousands more on Instagram, many of whom he messages Meet the stars of Instagram Olivia Knight-Butler Twenty-year-old Knight-Butler has 15,000 followers Meet the stars of Instagram Olivia Knight-Butler Knight-Butler calls her account a channel, and fills it with fashion and lifestyle shots Meet the stars of Instagram Olivia Knight-Butler Knight-Butler says: There are followers who like my photos without fail, and they're mostly younger girls who want to know about my life. Meet the stars of Instagram Olivia Knight-Butler Knight-Butler had eating problems when she was 15 and 16. A need to be best at everything bled into social media and she later had to decide if Instagram was part of the problem or solution Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

Police in Milan said they had no immediate indication a formal complaint had been filed.

Despite the disruption, Hadid appeared in perfect form on the Fendi runway hours later.

Associated Press
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A former MEP for a Hungarian far-right party is emigrating to Israel four years after he discovered he had Jewish roots.

Csanad Szegedi had been a rising star in the anti-immigration party Jobbik, which had been accused of anti-Semitism, when he admitted his grandmother was a Holocaust survivor in 2012.

Following the discovery of his familys tragic history, the 34-year-old renounced all ties to the party and converted to Judaism.

Now he told Hebrew language newspaper Maariv he is waiting to become an Israeli citizen so he contribute to the fight against anti-Semitism.

Mr Szegedi, who had previously claimed Jewish people were buying up the country, said: Israel is an amazing country, and I believe that every Jew who lives in the Diaspora seriously considers making aliya (emigrating) to Israel, at least once in his life.

There are many more positive elements than negative elements in being a Jew, and the biggest gift for any Jew is the existence of the State of Israel.

After the nightmares that my relatives underwent in the Holocaust, my family and I very much want to be part of the positive dream that Israel constitutes for us.

He refused to rule out participating in Israeli politics saying he followed it closely and had the political bug but had not joined any political party yet.

How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon on the Serbian side of the border, near Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee throws a bottle of water towards Hungarian riot police after they used water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian armoured personnel carriers are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian police spray water cannon on migrants at the "Horgos 2" border crossing into Hungary, Serbia How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee reacts after Hungarian riot police use water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee gestures as Hungarian riot police use water cannon to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border A refugee throws a stone towards Hungarian riot police after they used water cannon and pepper spray to push back refugees at the Hungarian border with Serbia near the town of Horgos How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees protest as Hungarian riot police fires tear gas and water cannon on the Serbian side of the border, near Roszke How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Migrants shout slogans as they stand in front of a barrier at the border with Hungary near the village of Horgos, Serbia How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen run as they are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Hungarian riot policemen are deployed at the border crossing with Serbia in Roszke Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees stand in front of a barrier at the border with Hungary near the village of Horgos, Serbia Reuters How Hungary welcomes its refugees - in pictures Serbia-Hungary border Refugees wait at the Horgos 2 border crossing EPA

He said: Right now, I am acting in the arena that I am familiar with, Hungary and Europe, in order to raise awareness on the issue of anti-Semitism and to work for the betterment of Israel, as a sort of compensation for the past.

However, I have a lot of years of experience in politics and I would be happy to contribute my experience to Zionist organizations in Israel as well.

Mr Szegedi, who was a member of Jobbik between 2006 and 2012, was reportedly also a member of the Hungarian Guard.

The group, which was banned by the courts in 2009, formed in 2007 and wore black uniforms with striped flags recalling the Arrow Cross - a pro-Nazi party which governed the country during the Second World War.

In all, an estimated 550,000 Hungarian Jews were killed during the Holocaust - most of them being sent to death camps such as Auschwitz.

Mr Szegedi, who was raised as a Christian, spoke of his shock when he was confronted about his origins in 2010.

He initially tried to cover it up but later said he had spoken to his grandmother about her experiences and realised the Holocaust had actually happened.

He said: It was then that it dawned on me that my grandmother really is Jewish

I asked her how the deportations happened. She was in Auschwitz and Dachau and she was the only survivor of an extended family.
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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.
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Pippa Middletons iCloud account has been hacked, it has emerged.

It is believed a number of personal photos of the Duchess of Cambridge's sister have been accessed in the unlawful hack, including images of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

In a statement issued by her lawyers, Ms Middleton confirmed her account had been unlawfully accessed. Her representatives say the hackers are trying to sell the private photographs to publications.

It is believed up to 3,000 photos may have been stolen.

It is not yet known who is behind the hack.

Photos leaked are thought to include images of the royal children, including wedding dresses and private parties.

Ms Middleton, 33, is an author and columnist. She has penned a number of party planning and cookery books including 'Celebrate' and 'Heartfelt'.

She and her fiance James Matthews have asked for their privacy to be respected in light of the news.

In July she announced her engagement to Mr Matthews, a hedge fund manager. They are expected to marry next year.

It emerged yesterday that details of more than 500m people were compromised in a hack on Yahoo. The company said a "state-sponsored" actor hacked into its network in 2014 and stole details. Stolen information included names, email addresses, telephone numbers and dates of birth. The company said payment data and bank account information were not stolen.

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

In 2014 a major hack saw the personal photographs of a number of high profile figures stolen after their iCloud accounts were compromised. Victims of the hack included Jennifer Lawrence.

The Independent has sought comment from Apple but has not yet received a response.

More follows
Formula One will continue to hold two four-day pre-season tests at the Circuit Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in February and March, it has been confirmed.

Barcelona has long hosted the official pre-season tests, but there had been suggestions that one or both tests should be moved to Bahrain in the Middle East to take advantage of warmer and drier weather.

"Our preference would be a hotter location," Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery explained earlier this month. "It would be better to head somewhere with a representative temperature, and in Europe we don't get that.

"In Barcelona, for example, the temperature is quite a bit below what you would get during a race, so we'd prefer to go somewhere like Bahrain."

However Formula One teams have decided to stick with Barcelona for 2017, apparently deciding that it remained the most practical option available to them according to Motorsport.com.

The first test will be held from Monday February 27 until Thursday March 2, with a second test scheduled for the the following week from Tuesday March 7 until Friday March 10.

The first pre-season test will be the first time that the 2017 regulation cars are seen by the press and public, although teams will also be able to run private shakedowns before that.

The Australian Grand Prix is expected to be confirmed as the first race of the 2017 season in Melbourne on March 26.

From the cockpit: Felipe Nasr on lights and shadows in Singapore

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: Nicolas Carpentiers checks out the latest innovations seen in Singapore

2016 Singapore Grand Prix - Driver ratings

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
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If we actually end up discovering aliens then theyll probably just wipe us all out, Stephen Hawking has said.

When we made contact with any aliens it would probably be like when the Native Americans first met Christopher Columbus. And, in that case, things didnt turn out so well for the people being visited, Professor Hawking has said.

Stephen Hawking made the warning in a film posted online, Stephen Hawkings Favorite Places. It showed him taking a spacecraft across the cosmos, visiting different locations across the universe.

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

One of those places is Gliese 832c, a planet 16 light years away that some have speculated could contain life. But it might not be a good thing if it does, he told viewers.

Recommended Read more Stephen Hawking warns over Brexit attitudes towards money

As I grow older I am more convinced than ever that we are not alone, he says in the video. 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.

Its far from the first time that Professor Hawking has warned about the risk of chatting to aliens. When he helped launch the Breakthrough Listen project last year, he warned that any alien that we did actually hear probably wouldnt be interested in killing us  precisely because it would have barely any interest in us at all.

Any civilisation that could actually read a message we sent out would need to be billions of years ahead of us, he said. If so they will be vastly more powerful and may not see us as any more valuable than we see bacteria.

And aliens arent the only powerful species that Professor Hawking has warned might kill us just because we are so insignificant that they cant think to do otherwise.

 Hawking launches alien search

He has also said that artificial intelligence could eventually become so clever that it will accidentally kill us.

The real risk with AI isn't malice but competence, Professor Hawking said last year. A super intelligent AI will be extremely good at accomplishing its goals, and if those goals aren't aligned with ours, we're in trouble.

You're probably not an evil ant-hater who steps on ants out of malice, but if you're in charge of a hydroelectric green energy project and there's an anthill in the region to be flooded, too bad for the ants. Let's not place humanity in the position of those ants.
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A former taxi driver who murdered two young women has been sentenced to a "whole life order", meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Christopher Halliwell, 52, is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Sian O'Callaghan, 22, whom he abducted in his taxi as she made her way home from a night out in Swindon in March 2011.

He confessed to killing Ms O'Callaghan and took police to her body before offering another one and leading them to where he had buried missing prostitute Becky Godden in January 2003.

Mr Halliwell later denied murdering 20-year-old Ms Godden, claiming she had been buried by two drug dealers, but was convicted following a two-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, at which he represented himself.

He smirked at Ms Godden's family as the jury of six men and six women returned their verdict on Monday following fewer than three hours of deliberations.

Retired High Court judge Sir John Griffith Williams sentenced Halliwell to a whole life order on Friday.

Police told the court during the trial that Halliwell had confessed to picking up a sex worker from the streets of Swindon between 2003 and 2005, before having sex with her then strangling her. He showed police where Ms O'Callaghan's body was buried.

Becky Godden-Edwards body was found in a field in Gloucestershire in 2011 (PA)

The body of Ms O'Callaghan, who had gone missing while on a night out with friends in Swindon in 2011, was found semi-naked in undergrowth in Uffington, Oxfordshire after Halliwell took police to the spot.

While in Uffington, the jury heard that Halliwell had told detective superintendent Steve Fulcher who was leading the investigation that they needed to have a chat.

The court heard that Halliwell had told detective superintendent Fulcher the exact spot where Ms Godden was buried and her remains were subsequently found hidden in the middle of nowhere in Eastleach, Gloucestershire.

Police believe Halliwell abducted Ms Godden from Destiny & Desire, a nightclub in Swindon town centre close to where he took Ms O'Callaghan, in January 2003.

Both were taken in a taxi, prosecutor Nicholas Haggan QC told the hearing.

Halliwell's whole life order, meaning he will die in prison, adds him to a grisly "who's who" of the most reviled criminals in Britain.

He joins the likes of one-eyed police killer Dale Cregan, paedophile Mark Bridger and Moors murderer Ian Brady when he was handed the life means life sentence.

According to the Ministry of Justice, 54 other prisoners are serving whole life orders, although that does not include those serving their terms in secure hospitals.

Also on the infamous list is the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and club bouncer Levi Bellfield, who was handed the term for murdering two young women and trying to murder a third.

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. 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Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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Steve Wright will also die behind bars for the murders of five prostitutes in Ipswich, as will Michael Adebolajo, one of the two murderers of soldier Lee Rigby.

There are only two women on the list.

Serial killer Rose West was convicted in 1995 of a murder spree with husband Fred at the Cromwell Street House of Horrors in Gloucester.

She is joined by Joanna Dennehy who was described in court as arguably the most dangerous female prisoner in custody. She was jailed at the Old Bailey in February 2014 for murdering three men and stabbing two more.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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An alarming tripling in the death toll from legal highs in prisons has seen 58 inmates lose their lives in incidents related to the drugs in less than three years, the Prisons Ombudsman has revealed.

Nigel Newcomen said that between June 2013 and January 2016 there were 58 fatalities where the prisoner was known, or strongly suspected, to have been using legal highs before their death.

The toll of 58 deaths in 30 months was three times higher than the previous figure of 19 legal high-related deaths, recorded over a similar length of time between April 2012 and September 2014.

The statistics are alarming, Mr Newcomen told an audience at Newbold Revel Prison Service College in Warwickshire, And go up every time I give one of these talks.

Prisoners, he said, were dying from legal high-related murders, as well as psychotic episodes and suicides triggered by the drugs, which are known officially as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).

I am clear, said Mr Newcomen, That NPS have been a game-changer in terms of reducing safety in prison. Our work on NPS has added to the widespread concern that these substances pose serious risks to safety in prison, not least the risk of fatalities.

In a frank admission of how the authorities are struggling to deal with the legal highs trade in prisons, Mr Newcomen added: I and my staff are not experts on NPS. Nor is expertise all that easy to find. NPS are made up of a wide array of relatively new and regularly changing substances, for which testing is still in its infancy.

Mr Newcomens strongly-worded speech is a further indication of the chaos being caused in prisons by legal highs, which the Government controversially banned in May. It also comes a day a day after Justice Secretary Liz Truss announced a nationwide programme of pioneering new tests for legal highs in prisons, which she said would provide staff with more powers to stem the flow of these appalling new drugs.

The Howard League for Penal Reform, however, immediately called this a misguided attempt to punish drugs out of prisons, and said it risked causing more deaths and more mayhem in a situation characterised by a December report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons which warned that legal highs were now the most serious threat to the safety and security of the prison system.

In particular synthetic cannabinoids known as Spice or Mamba have been causing havoc.

With their precise chemical formula being changed constantly by back street manufacturers, their effects are wildly unpredictable.

 Legal Highs in Newcastle

They have rendered some prisoners violently psychotic towards warders or fellow inmates, and had dangerously toxic effect on others  to the extent that in some areas ambulances have to be called to legal high-related incidents in a prison so frequently that the outside community has suffered from a shortage of paramedics. Inmates have nicknamed the ambulances that arrive at the prison gates mambulances.

This difficulty in detecting legal highs has made them easier to smuggle into jails than other drugs. This in turn has added to the problems of their unpredictability, because many prisoners switch to them in jail because of their greater availability, despite never having tried them and having no idea what will happen when they take them.

World's 10 deadliest street drugs Show all 10 1 /10 World's 10 deadliest street drugs World's 10 deadliest street drugs Whoonga Whoonga is a combination of antiretroviral drugs, used to treat HIV, and various cutting agents such as detergents and poisons. The drug is widely available in South Africa due to South Africas high rate of HIV sufferers, and is believed to be popular due to how cheap it is when compared to prescribed antiretrovirals. The drug is highly addictive and can cause major health issues such as internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and ultimately death Getty World's 10 deadliest street drugs Scopolamine Scopolamine is a derivative from the nightshade plant found in the Northern Indian region of South America (Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela). It is generally found in a refined powder form, but can also be found as a tea. The drug is more often used by criminals due its high toxicity level (one gram is believed to be able to kill up to 20 people) making it a strong poison. However, it is also believed that the drug is blown into the faces of unexpecting victims, later causing them to lose all sense of self-control and becoming incapable of forming memories during the time they are under the influence of the drug. This tactic has reportedly been used by gangs in Colombia where there have been reports of people using scopolamine as way to convince victims to rob their own homes World's 10 deadliest street drugs Heroin Founded in 1874 by C. R. Alder Wright, heroin is one of the worlds oldest drugs. Originally it was prescribed as a strong painkiller used to treat chronic pain and physical trauma. However in 1971 it was made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Since then it has become one of the most destructive substances in the world, tearing apart communities and destroying families. The side effects of heroin include inflammation of the gums, cold sweats, a weak immune system, muscular weakness and insomnia. It can also damage blood vessels which can later cause gangrene if left untreated World's 10 deadliest street drugs Crack cocaine Crack cocaine first came about in the 1980s when cocaine became a widespread commodity within the drug trafficking world. Originally cocaine would have attracted a high price tag due to its rarity and difficulty to produce, but once it became more widespread the price dropped significantly. This resulted in drug dealers forming their cocaine into rock like shapes by using baking soda as a way of distilling the powder down into rock form. People were doing this because it allowed for them to sell cocaine at a lower quantity and to a higher number of people. The side effects of crack cocaine include liver, kidney and lung damage, as well as permanent damage to blood vessels, which can often lead to heart attacks, strokes, and ultimately death World's 10 deadliest street drugs Crystal meth Not just famous because of a certain Walter H White, but also because it is one of the most destructive drugs in the world. First developed in 1887, it became widely used during the Second World War when both sides would give it to their troops to keep them awake. It is also believed that the Japanese gave it to their Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. After the war crystal meth was prescribed as a diet aid and remained legal until the 1970s. Since then it has fallen into the hands of Mexican gangs and has become a worldwide phenomenon, spreading throughout Europe and Asia. The effects of crystal meth are devastating. In the short-term users will become sleep depraved and anxious, and in the long-term it will cause their flesh to sink, as well as brain damage and damage of the blood vessels World's 10 deadliest street drugs AH-7921 AH-7921 is a synthetic opioid that was previously available to legally purchase online from vendors until it became a Class A in January 2015. The drug is believed to have 80% of the potency of morphine, and became known as the legal heroin. While there has only been one death related to AH-7921 in the UK, it is believed to be highly dangerous and capable of causing respiratory arrest and gangrene World's 10 deadliest street drugs Flakka Flakka is a stimulant with a similar chemical make-up to the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts. While the drug was originally marketed as a legal high alternative to ecstasy, the effects are significantly different. The user will feel an elevated heart rate, enhanced emotions, and, if enough is digested, strong hallucinations. The drug can cause permanent psychological damage due to it affecting the mood regulating neurons that keep the minds serotonin and dopamine in check, as well as possibly causing heart failure World's 10 deadliest street drugs Bath salts Bath salts are a synthetic crystalline drug that is prevalent in the US. While they may sound harmless, they certainly arent the sort of salts you drop into a warm bath when having a relaxing night in, they are most similar to mephedrone, and have recently been featured throughout social media due to the zombification of its. The name comes from the fact that the drug was originally sold online, and widely disguised as bath salts. The side effects include unusual psychiatric behaviour, psychosis, panic attacks and violent behaviour, as well as the possibility of a heart attack and an elevated body temperature World's 10 deadliest street drugs Purple Drank One of the more unusual drugs around at the moment, purple drank was popularised in 90s hip hop culture, with the likes of Jay Z and Big Moe all mentioning it in their songs. It is a concoction of soda water, sweets and cold medicine, and is drunk due to cold medicines high codeine content, which gives the user a woozy feeling. However it can also cause respiratory issues and heart failure World's 10 deadliest street drugs Krokodil Krokodil is Russias secret addiction. It is believed that over one million Russians are addicted to the drug. Users of krokodil are attracted to the drug due to its low price; it is sold at 20 a gram while heroin is sold for 60. However, krokodil is considered more dangerous than heroin because it is often homemade, with ingredients including painkillers, iodine, lighter fluid and industrial cleaning agents. This chemical make-up makes the drug highly dangerous and likely to cause gangrene, and eventually rotting of the flesh

Confirming previous reports that some inmates are being coerced or persuaded into becoming Spice pigs to test new batches of drugs, Mr Newcomen said: There are cases of prisoners being given spiked cigarettes by others who want to test new batches of NPS, as a way of gauging the effect before taking it themselves.

In other cases, prisoners have even been used as unwitting NPS guinea pigs, sometimes just for the amusement of onlookers.

Prisons dealers have also been using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including using drones to drop packages of legal highs to inmates.

With legal highs cheap to buy on the outside, and easy to sell for a high price on the inside, said Mr Newcomen, In custody the potential profits to be made from NPS make them attractive to organised and semi-organised crime. These features compound the difficulty of reducing supply and demand for NPS in prisons.

Detailing how inmates were now dying in legal high-related incidents, Mr Newcomen said 39 of the 58 newly revealed fatalities were self-inflicted: some involved psychotic episodes potentially resulting from NPS. For others, NPS use or associated drug debts appeared to exacerbate vulnerability triggering suicide and self-harm.

Two deaths, he said were murders: Both involving prisoners killed by a punch from another prisoner. In one instance, the victim had links to NPS. In the other, the perpetrator was linked to NPS.

Five deaths were the result of drug poisoning.

Legal highs, said Mr Newcomen, could also hasten the fatal effects of underlying health concerns. Nine of the 58 deaths were classified as natural cause deaths where the deceased was thought to have been an NPS user at the time of death.

In three further deaths, the cause of death could not be confirmed, but legal highs could not be ruled out as a possible cause.

Citing graphic examples of how legal highs could increase levels of bullying and violence in jails, Mr Newcomen said: The use of NPS often results in prisoners getting into debt with prison drug dealers. This in turn creates the potential for increased self-harm or suicide among the vulnerable, as well as adding hugely to security and control problems.

Outlining the new legal high testing programme, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said that after successful trials in 34 jails, mandatory testing for killer drugs which have flooded prisons will begin from next week.

The programme, it was claimed, would make the UK Prison Service a world leader in testing for designer drugs like Spice and Mamba, and ensure that English and Welsh jails test for more dangerous substances than any country in the world.

Ms Truss said: I am determined to do all I can to make our prisons places of safety and reform. Today's decision gives governors and staff more powers to combat this threat and stem the flow of these appalling new drugs.

Frances Crook, the Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said, however: The rising death toll in prisons shames the nation and underlines the urgent need for reform.

It is disappointing, therefore, that the new Secretary of State for Justices first major announcement is a misguided attempt to punish drugs out of prisons  a policy that has signally failed for many years.

Mandatory drug testing has been used for more than a decade. It hasnt stopped drugs getting into prisons, but it has inflated the market and made them more lucrative to sell inside.

More than one million days of additional punishment have been imposed on prisoners in the last six years, for a range of misdemeanours including drug use. This approach has only succeeded in creating a downward spiral, pushing people into deeper currents of crime and exacerbating overcrowding.

She added: Action needs to be taken to deal with drugs in prisons, but getting it wrong by doing the wrong thing only risks making it worse and could cause more deaths and more mayhem.

Solving the problems in our overcrowded prisons requires imaginative thinking and bold action to stop throwing so many people into these failing institutions.
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The majority of women workers say period pains affect their productivity at work but less than a third tell their boss, a survey has found.

More than half (52 per cent) of women workers taking part said period pains have a negative impact on their ability to work, while just 27 per cent had told their boss period pain was responsible, according to the YouGov findings.

Of that 52 per cent, nearly a third had taken at least one day's sick leave as a result.

The survey, which questioned 1,000 women for BBC Radio 5 Live's Emma Barnett programme, found 90 per cent of the women reported having period pain at some point.

Earlier this year a company in Bristol introduced a period policy in an effort to give women more flexibility and create a happier and healthier working environment.

Community interest firm Coexist, which has a largely female workforce, was the first company in the UK to introduce a policy to allow women leave if they are suffering.

It said employees of the firm would be expected to make up time taken off for period pain, but could stay at home while they were suffering without having to produce a sick note.

Coexist has has not yet revealed the effects its policy has had on productivity.

Studies have shown that women generally struggle to concentrate when they are suffering from period pain, becoming slower and less accurate.

John Guillebaud, professor of reproductive health at University College London, suggested in February that period pain can be as bad as having a heart attack.

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He said: Men dont get it and it hasnt been given the centrality it should have. I do believe its something that should be taken care of, like anything else in medicine.

Dr Imogen Shaw, a GP specialising in womens healthcare, welcomed his comments, saying: I wouldnt say [period pain] has been hugely investigated," before adding that the issue would be taken more seriously if men experienced it.

According to the NHS, period pain is common and a normal part of the menstrual cycle, with most women experiencing it at some point in their lives.
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Larry Sanders, the brother of the US Senator Bernie Sanders, has been selected by the Green Party to contest a by-election in David Camerons former constituency.

Mr Sanders, who will fight the Witney by-election for the Greens, announced his decision to run one week after the former Prime Minister announced he would resign as an MP following his fatal defeat at the European Union referendum.

The Sanders brothers were born in Brooklyn before Larry moved to Britain in the 1960s after studying at Harvard Law School. It is not the first time Mr Sanders, however, has run for a parliamentary seat  at the 2015 general election he secured 4.4 per cent of the vote in the nearby Oxford West and Abingdon seat.

Mr Sanders, the Greens health spokesperson who has lived in Oxford since 1969, will use the by-election to fight against NHS privatisation and campaign for proportional representation after he was selected by the West Oxfordshire Greens. According to the Greens he has served a local councillor and spent eight years as leader of the Oxfordshire council Green group.

The major political parties are in disarray, Mr Sanders said in a statement. The policies of the last 30 years, shifting resources and power from the majority to the richest, culminated in the illegality and greed which crashed the economy in 2008. The Green Party has pledged to make Britain a fairer and less divided nation.

We need to show that we dont want Britain to be the most unequal country in Europe. We dont want unmet health needs to increase when we already have too few doctors, nurses, and hospital beds.

We dont want the Government to impose unworkable contracts on 50,000 precious doctors, when it is clear that the supposed reason for the contract, a seven day hospital service, cant be done at present funding.

This is a rich, capable and decent country. We can do better.

Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Show all 15 1 /15 Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Andrew Harnik/AP Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Darren McCollester/Getty Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Mary Schwalm/Reuters Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Brian Snyder/Reuters Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Brian Snyder/Reuters Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Brian Snyder/Reuters Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Brian Snyder/Reuters Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Brian Snyder/Reuters Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Andrew Harnik/AP Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Andrew Harnik/AP Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Darren McCollester/Getty Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Andrew Harnik/AP Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Andrew Harnik/AP Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Andrew Harnik/AP Bernie Sanders campaigns with Hillary Clinton Andrew Harnik/AP

However, unless Mr Sanders manages to inject a degree of left-wing activism into the conservative stronghold of Witney, it is unlikely hell be in the House of Commons in four weeks time. At the 2015 general election Mr Cameron, albeit the Prime Minister at the time, secured 60 per cent of the vote while the Greens trailed behind in fifth place with a five per cent share.

David Camerons heir in the constituency was also announced on Thursday as 37-year-old Robert Courts  a devoted champion of the area, according to the party. Commenting on his selection, Robert Courts, added: I am hugely honoured to have been selected as the Conservative candidate for Witney and West Oxfordshire.

For the last 15 years we have had a brilliant MP and public servant in David Cameron and it is wonderful that he and his family plan to stay local.
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The president of the European Parliament has stepped up his criticism of Brexit uncertainty, saying the Government had been in "no way prepared" for the task.

Martin Schulz also described the impact of a key member leaving the European Union as a disaster for us and for the United Kingdom.

This week, Mr Schulz pressed Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and start the exit talks as soon as possible, on a visit to Downing Street.

However, speaking during a lecture at the London School of Economics today, he said: "It is absolutely clear, and it became for me every day clearer, the complexity of the whole exercise is enormous.

"And what we saw was a Government here in London expected a majority for staying in.

"And they were, it was my feeling, no way prepared for the Leave majority."

Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Show all 12 1 /12 Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Brexit protest: Thousands march in London A woman poses with a home-made European Union flag as Remain supporters gather on Park Lane in London to show their support for the EU in the wake of Brexit PA Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Remain supporters demonstrate in Parliament Square PA Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Tens of thousands of people gathered to protest the result of the EU referendum PA Brexit protest: Thousands march in London A majority of people in the capital voted to remain in the European Union Reuters Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Protesters chanted: What do we want to do? Stay in the EU PA Brexit protest: Thousands march in London The march follows a similar rally in Trafalgar Square that was cancelled due to heavy rain  but which tens of thousands of people turned up to anyway Reuters Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Britain voted to leave the European Union in a referendum by 52 per cent to 48 per cent Reuters Brexit protest: Thousands march in London But support for the Leave campaign in urban areas and among young people was significantly lower Rex features Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Marchers gathered at Park Lane at 11am and marched towards Parliament Square PA Brexit protest: Thousands march in London Some protesters held up baguettes in a display of affection for our continental neighbours PA Brexit protest: Thousands march in London The disparity between different parts of the country has promoted a four million signature petition calling for a second referendum and even a renewed push for Scotland to cede from the UK PA Brexit protest: Thousands march in London The events organiser, Kings College graduate Kieran MacDermott, wrote: We can prevent Brexit by refusing to accept the referendum as the final say and take our finger off the self-destruct button" Reuters

Mr Schulz suggested he was leaving Britain with not much more of an idea of what Brexit will look like when it finally emerges.

He said: Honestly, I leave London with a feeling that the Government is undecided about how and when they should trigger Article 50, also with the feeling that they perceive, more and more, the European side - the 27 institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg - can't wait too long."

In an hour-long talk and question and answer session about Brexit and the future of the EU, Mr Schulz described Britain's departure as a failure and a lose lose for the UK and the EU.

He said: A G7 country, the second economy of the European single market, a permanent veto of the security council leaving the European Union is a disaster for us and for the United Kingdom.

The vote had divided British society like no other event I can think of, he said, adding: "Many people are looking on with concern at the rise in xenophobic violence and hate crime over here.
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Downing Street has asserted its authority over Boris Johnson after he strayed from the official line and speculated on when the Government would eventually trigger Article 50.

A Number 10 source told The Independent: The Governments position has not changed  we will not trigger Article 50 before the end of 2016 and we are using this time to prepare for negotiations.

It comes after Mr Johnson suggested Britain could leave the bloc by the end of 2018 and predicted it would take less time than the two years maximum allowed under the Lisbon Treaty. But the Government indicated triggering Article 50, the untested protocol for leaving the EU, would ultimately be Ms Mays decision.

Speaking in New York, where he was attending the United Nations summit, Mr Johnson appeared to go against the Governments often-repeated line that they will not give a running commentary on the Brexit negotiations.

He added: 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 dont actually think you need to spend the full two years, but lets see how we go.

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

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.

 What is Article 50?

However, it is widely believed that the process of leaving will take at least the full two years. Further time can be granted, but only if the other 27 EU states unanimously agree to grant an extension.

The Foreign Secretary also hailed fantastic opportunities for free trade, pouring scorn on warnings that the EU will play tough in the Brexit talks.

His comments came after Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, arrived in Downing Street and urged Ms May to get the process of leaving the EU moving. He 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.
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George Osborne today urged Theresa May not to pursue a hard Brexit, arguing the public did not vote for a future that makes the country permanently poorer.

In a shot across the Prime Ministers bows, the former Chancellor warned of the dangers of putting up economic barriers in Brexit talks  with the heaviest price to be paid by precisely those who already feel the most marginalised.

Mr Osborne  sacked by Mrs May in July  also branded Leave campaigners who believe other EU countries will easily agree to a favourable Brexit deal for Britain as naive.

Intriguingly, the warning  in a speech delivered in Chicago  came as Mr Osborne, in a separate interview, made clear he still wanted to be Conservative leader one day.

Twisting a phrase used by Boris Johnson, when asked about his leadership ambitions, he told the Financial Times: If the ball came loose at the back of the scrum, I wouldnt fumble it.

Recommended Read more Osborne takes swipe at May in first interview since being sacked

Mr Osborne also made clear he intended to put himself at the head of the campaign for what is known as a soft Brexit"  maintaining the closest possible economic links with the EU.

That is likely to put him on a collision course with the Prime Minister, who has made clear that cutting immigration  rather than membership of the single market  will be her priority in the Brexit talks.

Speaking in Chicago, Mr Osborne pointed to evidence that only 6 per cent of Leave voters backed Brexit because they believed it would make the country better off.

He said: Precious few Leave voters thought the country would be more prosperous outside the EU.

This was not a popular mandate for less free trade or for a more closed economy. We should bear that in mind as we approach the decisions that lie ahead.

The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Show all 6 1 /6 The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Brexit The big one. Theresa May has spoken publicly three times since declaring her intent to stand in the Tory Leadership race, and each time she has said, Brexit means Brexit. It sounds resolute, but it is helpful to her that Brexit is a made up word with no real meaning. She has said there will be no second referendum and no re-entry in to the EU via the back door. But she, like the Leave campaign of which she was not a member, has pointedly not said with any precision what she thinks Brexit means Reuters The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address General election This is very much one to keep off the to do list. She said last week there would be no general election at this time of great instability. But there have already been calls for one from opposition parties. The Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2010 makes it far more difficult to call a snap general election, a difficulty she will be in no rush to overcome. In the event of a victory for Leadsom, who was not popular with her own parliamentary colleagues, an election might have been required, but May has the overwhelming backing of the parliamentary party Getty The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address HS2 Macbeth has been quoted far too much in recent weeks, but it will be up to May to decide whether, with regard to the new high speed train link between London, Birmingham, the East Midlands and the north, returning were as tedious as go oer. Billions have already been spent. But the 55bn it will cost, at a bare minimum, must now be considered against the grim reality of significantly diminished public finances in the short to medium term at least. It is not scheduled to be completed until 2033, by which point it is not completely unreasonable to imagine a massive, driverless car-led transport revolution having rendered it redundant EPA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Heathrow expansion Or indeed Gatwick expansion. Or Boris Island, though that option is seems as finished as the man himself. The decision on where to expand aviation capacity in the south east has been delayed to the point of becoming a national embarrassment. A final decision was due in autumn. Whatever is decided, there will be vast opprobrium PA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Trident renewal David Cameron indicated two days ago that there will be a Commons vote on renewing Britains nuclear deterrent on July 18th, by which point we now know, Ms May will be Prime Minister. The Labour Party is, to put it mildly, divided on the issue. This will be an early opportunity to maximise their embarrassment, and return to Tory business as usual EPA The 6 most important issues Theresa May needs to address Scottish Independence Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are in no doubt that the Brexit vote provides the opportunity for a second independence referendum, in which they can emerge victorious. The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood has the authority to call a second referendum, but Ms May and the British Parliament are by no means automatically compelled to accept the result. She could argue it was settled in 2014 AFP/Getty

Pointedly, Mr Osborne then added: Brexit won a majority. Hard Brexit did not.

The former Chancellor said Britain faced its most important decisions since the Second World War, adding: Get them wrong  consign Britain to a relationship with our neighbours that makes us permanently poorer and more insecure  and the people most likely to pay the price will be precisely those who already feel the most marginalised.

And he turned his fire on Brexit ultras, saying: I find some of the take-or-leave-it bravado we hear from those who assume Europe has no option but to give us everything we want more than a little naive.

We need to be realistic that this is a two-way relationship: that Britain cannot expect to maintain all the benefits that came from EU membership without incurring any of the costs or the obligations.

Mr Osborne backed Mrs May over her cautious Brexit timetable, agreeing she was right to take her time and reject calls to trigger Article 50 this autumn.

But he also warned it is highly unlikely that France and Germany  facing important elections next year  would conduct serious negotiations until the autumn of next year.

He said: Nothing serious happens until the French and, especially, the German governments take a view  and both countries will be preoccupied with their own domestic elections.

If that is the case, then EU demands for Britain to compete its exit by the middle of 2019 will be in jeopardy  given the two-year timetable for the Article 50 process.

In his interview, Mr Osborne made clear he would be taking a backseat, saying: I am not going anywhere  I want to see what happens next.
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An outspoken hedge fund manager has described the moment he cashed in millions on Britains vote to exit the European Union and said he felt fresh as a daisy.

Speaking to the BBC on the morning that Britains decision to exit the bloc became clear  and as David Cameron prepared to resign as Prime Minister  Crispin Odey, a somewhat jubilant hedge fund manager, had just made 220m by betting the markets would collapse in the event of a Leave vote.

Theres that Italian expression, he told the broadcaster. Al mattino ha l'oro in bocca  the morning has gold in its mouth  and never has one felt so much that idea as this morning really.

Laughing to the camera, he added: I still think tomorrow they are going to take it all away from me. Ive lived for too long in the Euro world. You might have been up all night but, you know, Im feeling fresh as a daisy.

Mr Odey, who was briefly married to Rupert Murdochs daughter Prudence, was a Leave supporter who, before the EU referendum, saw his personal fortune plummet by 200m  turning him from billionaire to multimillionaire. According to the Sunday Times rich list, published in April this year, Mr Odey suffered a sharp decline in wealth to 900m after profits tumbled at his hedge fund, Odey Asset Manager.

The financiers comments came in a BBC documentary entitled Brexit: A Very British Coup?, and appeared alongside Alan Duncan, a Government minister, doing an impression of the former London mayor  and now Foreign Secretary  Boris Johnson appearing flustered on the morning after the referendum. Also featured is the then Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, flaunting his Union Jack socks and expressing his desire for a pint to be named after him.

All I need is the right beer named after me. Thats all we need. A proper British pint. A pint of Farage please.

Brexit: A Very British Coup? is broadcast on BBC 2 at 9pm on Thursday night
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Jeremy Corbyn has beaten Owen Smith to remain leader of the Labour Party. Here are the latest updates:

Please allow a moment for the live blog to load

Mr Corbyn had been the clear favourite to win the election, urging Labour MPs to unite behind him if he is returned as party leader with an even bigger mandate from grassroots members.

The victor said both he and Mr Smith were part of the same Labour family as he appealed for unity after winning 61.8 per cent of the vote.

He thanked voters in the contest for their trust and support after receiving 313,209 of the votes cast, compared with 193,229 for Mr Smith.

After private talks this week with senior MPs on Labour's moderate wing, Mr Corbyn is expected to seek to rebuild his frontbench team in the wake of the expected confirmation of his position.

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 resignation of more than 40 frontbenchers in June left him unable to fill all his shadow ministerial posts and reports have suggested that as many as 14 may be ready to return following the apparent failure of Mr Smith's bid to unseat him.

But others, including Hilary Benn, Yvette Cooper and Chuka Umunna are thought likely to focus on their bids to secure the chairmanship of influential parliamentary committees, which will allow them to take prominent roles scrutinising Theresa May's government from outside Mr Corbyn's camp.

Labour's ruling National Executive Committee was due to meet after the result is announced, having put off a decision earlier this week on proposals to restore elections to the shadow cabinet, which might have given some centrist MPs a route back into Mr Corbyn's team.
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Keith Lamont Scott enjoyed sitting in his car.

In the mornings, he would park outside his house. But in the afternoon he would move the white Ford Expedition to the shade of nearby pine tree and wait for his daughter to return from school. He walked with a cane, but either he, or his wife, made sure they were there every day.

This fixed routine on Tuesday placed the 43-year-old at the right place at the wrong time. Officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, seeking to issue a warrant on another individual, approached Mr Scott after claiming to have seen a weapon in his possession.

Relatives of Keith Lamont Scott said was sitting in a car with a book (Facebook)

They shouted at him to get out of the vehicle and drop his weapon, said neighbours, before a series of shots rang out and Mr Scott fell to the floor. When his daughter later clambered off the yellow school bus, she encountered a taped-off crime scene and the news that her father was dead.

The shooting of Mr Scott and the disputed nature of what happened  the police insist he was carrying a gun, while his family said he did not have one  has triggered angry protests in Charlotte, which on Tuesday and Wednesday turned violent. It has also drawn attention to the seemingly endless stream of incidents in which black and minority suspects lose their lives at the hands of American police officers.

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

As officials began an inquiry into the death of Mr Scott, the US Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, urged for calm and understanding. She said she was sending members of the Department of Justice to Charlotte to offer assistance.

Mr Scott lived in a suburban community called The Village at College Grounds. The complex of homes and apartment buildings is about ten miles east from the glimmering towers and offices of Charlotte, which in the past two decades has become famous as a centre for banking, education and sport.

Members of Keith Lamont Scott's family gather outside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse (EPA)

Kendall Reynolds, 24, a neighbour, said he heard shouts, and then the shots, as he was walking his dog. He ran over and saw Mr Scott on the floor, his head moving up and down.

I feel like scared is too easy a word, he said. I saw a neighbour lose his life on my doorstep.

On Thursday, as people from across the state came to pay their respects for Mr Scott and sign a condolence book at a makeshift memorial set up where he died, his friends and neighbours spoke of their pain and anger.

He was a good guy. This place is full of kids and lots of parents in this place just let the kids run wild. But Keith would be watching out for all of them, said one neighbour who asked not to be named. He said he had spoken with Mr Scott for 30 minutes on Monday evening.

It was their mutual pleasure to stand on their respective stoops and smoke a cigarette, he said.

 Keith Scott's neighbour recounts the shooting

He may have had a gun. I have three. This is not the safest place in the world, said the neighbour. But do you really think he would have been playing with a gun while he was waiting for his daughter?

Another neighour, Amir, said he worked nights and slept during the day. He was woken by the sound of gun shots on Tuesday and learned what had happened. I heard them shouting Drop the gun, drop the gun, he said. Then there were four bullets. After that, it settled on me what had happened.

Didier Kapanda, had just collected his son from the bus on Thursday afternoon. He said he regularly saw Mr Scott waiting for his own children. Im very angry at this, he said. Mr Kapanda, who is black, said he did not believe his neighbour would have been killed if he were white.

Mr Scott had a criminal record. In 2004, he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Most of the charges were dropped and he pleaded guilty to a single, lesser offence.

His friends and neighbours believe the police, and others, are seeking to tarnish his record to distract from what has happened. He had a history. But that was a long time ago, said the neighbour who asked not be named.

For a number of years, Mr Scott worked for an insurance firm and represented other employees in negotiations with management. More recently he suffered a motorcycle accident that left him with an injured jaw, and trouble walking. It meant he could not work.

Annette Alexander worked with Mr Scott when he was a security guard in the nearby town of Gastonia. On Thursday, she signed her name in the condolence book.

He was pleasant and respectful, she said. He said hello and did his job.

Another woman, who gave her name as Meka, was picking up her children from the bus. She said she parked next to Mr Scott almost every afternoon.

This is our spot. This is the bus stop, she said, as another bus stopped and more children got off.

Meka, who is black, said she knew Mr Scott as a decent man, and was angered by the image some media was painting of him. She said she had moved to the neighborhood for the benefit of her children, but now she was both scared and angry.

Why could you not ask questions? she said of the police officers who approached Mr Scott. You had to open fire?
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Several hundred people defied a midnight curfew as protests in the city of Charlotte continued for their third successive night.

Unlike on the two previous evenings, however, the demonstrations on Thursday were apparently entirely peaceful. The only encounter with police came when some protesters 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.

The demonstrators - protesting over the shooting dead of a black man by police on Tuesday - eventually dispersed at around 1.40am. Before doing so, they huddled together and raised their right fists into the air.

"Don't forget our message," said one of the protest leader, who gave his name as Chewy Torres. "Last night the news showed us looking like looters. We have to know what we stand for. We have to respond with love."

Mayor Jennifer Roberts had signed documents on Thursday night to put in effect a curfew in the North Carolina city from midnight until 6am. But as midnight passed, several hundred protesters continued to march and chant and it became clear that police would not enforce the rule while the crowds remained peaceful. The presence of up to 100 members of the clergy among the protesters was credited by many as helping keep things peaceful.

No peace, no justice, went one of the chants. No racist police.

The family of Mr Scott has asked for calm (Facebook)

Dominique Smith said he had been walking for more than five hours and had to be up for work at 6am. "I reckon I've only had about five hours of sleep since the shooting happened."

The demonstrations followed the shooting on Tuesday of a black man, Keith Lamont Scott, by a police officer. Officials have claimed that he was aarmed, but his family has insisted he was sitting in a car and reading a book as he waited for his daughter to return from school.

On Thursday evening, the family of Mr Scott disputed claims that he represented a threat to officers, after they were shown videos of the moment he was killed.

 Protests erupt after officers kill black man in North Carolina

Relatives of the father-of-seven watched the two videos of his shooting by a black police officer on Tuesday afternoon, after they requested officials in the city of Charlotte to let them see them.

Charlotte Police Chief Kerr Putney said earlier on Thursday he woud not release the body and dashboard camera video while the criminal investigation into Tuesdays shooting continues. He agreed, however, to show it to the family.

Yet relatives of the 43-year-old said the video should be make public. Many demonstrators also demanded that the footage be released for the sake of transparency. "If they released the video, it could solve a lot of problems," said one young man, Mike Trapp.

In a statement, family lawyer Justin Bamberg said though the videos were difficult to watch, their release would serve transparency and the greater public good.

In the video, Mr Scott can be seen exiting his vehicle in a calm manner, and he did not aggressively approach police, the family said.
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Kentucky police have arrested yet another nefarious-looking clown as the number of states allegedly terrorised by these big top lurkers grows to six.

Middlesboro Police arrested 20-year-old Jonathan Martin, who is accused of causing public alarm outside an apartment complex in the town, 130 miles south of Lexington. Martin was crouching in a wooded area near the complex in a full clown costume and mask, according to police documents obtained by WDRB.

Upon my stopping when I saw the clown, he started running towards a vehicle at Cumberland Village, the arresting officer wrote in a report.

Martins arrest comes as reports of clowns stream into local police departments in as many as six states; so much, in fact, that other departments have taken to warning area residents against the stunt.

Dressing as a clown and driving, walking, or standing in public can create a dangerous situation for you and others, nearby Barbourville Police wrote in a Facebook post. While dressing up is not in and of itself against the law, doing so in public and thereby creating an unnecessary sense of alarm is illegal.

Many people find clowns rather frightening (Don Emmert/Getty)

Earlier this month, North Carolina residents reportedly spotted a sinister-seeming clown near their apartment complex, when one neighbour decided to chase off the lurker with a machete.

I looked again and there was a clown, white face, red hair, polka dot yellow shirt and, like, inflatable Aladdin pants, blue, the man said. I had my firearm, bookbag, and machete in my hand. Instinct, I got kids.

In Georgia, reports of a clown duo attempting to lure kids into their van turned out to be a hoax.

The interstate scare even caught the attention of It author Stephen King, who immortalised frightening clowns with the character Pennywise.

Kids love clowns, but they also fear them; clowns with their white faces and red lips are so different and so grotesque compared to normal people, he told the Bangor Daily News. The clown furor will pass, as these things do, but it will come back, because under the right circumstances, clowns can really be terrifying."
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The husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox has spoken out against a new wave of populists and extremists, including Donald Trump, for inciting hatred and fear.

Brendan Cox, who attended the New York United Nations summit on refugees this week, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that the aberration of his wife being killed in the UK happened within a context of anti-immigrant rhetoric that made such a crime more likely.

Ms Cox was murdered on 16 June in her home constituency of Batley and Spen in Yorkshire, just one week before the UK voted to leave the European Union.

Her husband, who was left to take care of their two young children, Cuillin and Lejla, wrote in the newspaper that the current atmosphere and rhetoric partially contributed to his wifes death, rather than the suspects reported mental illness.

This is not just a British problem. The rise of the populists and extremists  who tell people that the problems they face are because of some other group  is a global phenomenon," he said.

In France, the National Front leader, Marine Le Pen, smears Muslims. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban peddles hatred of refugees. In Britain, the former leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, spreads prejudice toward Romanians. And in the United States, the Republican presidential nominee, Donald J Trump, insults Mexicans and Muslims.

He also pointed to history to show how quickly hate is normalised, and the danger of staying silent.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall  and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

The fight against hatred and division is a defining issue of our time; no institution can afford to sit it out and hope for the best, he said.

We have powerful support, but much of it is too passive; we must build stronger coalitions.

Since the death of his wife, Mr Cox said he has focused on raising his children and advancing what Ms Cox believed in: helping Syrian refugees, addressing peoples concerns about security and immigration and bringing communities together to gain mutual understanding.

It is the good that must come out of the horror, he wrote.

He acknowledged that the UN summit in New York would not change the plight of refugees overnight, and that a long-term plan was needed.

This week, president Obama agreed to welcome 110,000 refugees in 2017, an increase of 60 per cent on the last year.

This is what leadership looks like, said Mr Cox on Twitter.
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One of the most conservative members on Donald Trumps expanded list of potential supreme court justices and an ally of Ted Cruz has already hinted he would not accept the nomination.

Utah senator and Tea Party favourite Mike Lee, a politician who has spoken out against abortion and gay marriage, said he would not take up the role.

"Right now I'm focused on my job in the Senate, where I'm in a good position to defend the Constitution by fighting against government overreach. Both lists that I've seen from the Trump campaign are fantastic.

"While my brother and I might disagree as to which list is better, they're both great," said Mr Lee, as reported by Reuters.

Mr Trumps first list of justices in May included Mr Lees bother, Utah spree court justice, Thomas Lee.

Mr Cruz said at the recent Republican National Convention that he refused to act like a "servile puppy dog" and endorse the nominee.

Mr Trump's expanded list of 10 names, revealed Friday, includes one woman, Margaret Ryan, a judge of the US court of appeals for the armed forces.

Mr Lee was the only person on the list who does not currently work in the courts.

"This list is definitive and I will choose only from it in picking future justices of the United States Supreme Court," Mr Trump said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.

Carrie Severino, who worked as a clerk for conservative supreme court justice Clarence Thomas, praised Mr Trumps decision, as reported by Politico.

"Conservatives should be very pleased by the steps he has taken, and if he lives up to his promises we will have a Court that truly puts the rule of law ahead of political preferences."

The gap in the supreme court justice roster came about when former associate supreme court justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016.

His death left eight justices, four of which are left-leaning.

President Obama has nominated justice Merrick Garland, chief judge of the US court of appeals in Washington.

So far the Republican-led senate has refused to conside confirming him.
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Three employees died in a shooting at an East Tennessee factory on Thursday afternoon.

The shooting was reported around 4:15pm and the gunmans body was found in a restroom at Thomas & Betts Corp. after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound, The Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

Police said the shooter used a semi-automatic pistol, however, authorities were unable to identify a motive at this time.

The motive for the gunman to specifically target the two other people is still unclear, Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler said told reporters. We dont know who he is.

All three of the victims were believed to be employees of the factory.

Witnesses told police that the shooting occurred deep inside the building on the factorys north side.

"We cannot confirm any information on any of the victims, Chief Ziegler told the media. We have not even gotten the investigators in there."

Thomas & Betts designs and makes electrical components for industrial and commercial markets. Mr Ziegler also said the company sent teams of employees to assist those left in the building.

McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said the scene at the factory was secure, You dont want to believe it, but you respond and you do your duty."
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No one really knows what happened the night a disabled black man was shot dead by a police officer in Charlotte  a killing that has sparked three nights of riots in North Crolina and reignited racial tension in the US.

Despite the murky facts surrounding the case, it is the criminal record of Keith Lamont Scott that has become the focal point of the American right-wing press.

Media outlets such as the Inquisitr, and blogs, like The Conservative Treehouse and Powerline, have highlighted that Mr Scott had a "lengthy criminal record" and "history of violence" including convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Powerline said while it might be true that Mr Scott was likeable and a family man, his 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."

Mr Scotts death has led to two days of violent protest in Charlotte, after protesters refuted police claims that Mr Scott was armed. According to the police, Mr Scott got out of his car armed with a handgun and did not drop it when asked. Kerr Putney, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police chief, said Mr Scott was shot because he posed a threat.

The family of Mr Scott has asked for calm (Facebook)

However, protesters have said that Mr Scott, a father of seven, wasnt armed and was carrying a book. Women identifying themselves as Mr Scott's sister and daughter told local media that Mr Scott did not have a gun. He wasnt messing with nobody, his sister said. The footage from a body camera worn by the policeman who shot Mr Scott, has not been released to the public, but was shown to Scott's family. The family said they have "more questions than answers" after seeing the footage.

This isn't the first time that the right-wing media has been accused of racial bias. Critics said it was convicted rapist Brock Turner's "whiteness" that lead to the media highlighting his swimming success and minimal prison sentence.

A state of emergency has been declared in Charlotte as violence continues.
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A North Carolina congressman who said that the protesters in Charlotte hate white people apologised a few hours later.

US representative Robert Pittenger said on BBC Newsnight said there was nothing "racial" about the killing of Keith Scott, and that despite a "welfare state", black people are having children "out of wedlock" and it is a "tragic break-down of society".

Within hours, the 68-year-old representative, whose district includes areas of Charlotte, said he regretted his remarks.

Recommended Read more Family dispute police version of events after seeing video of shooting

During the interview, he was asked about what was going through the minds of the people who were protesting against the police killing this week of Mr Scott.

"The grievance in their mind is the animus, the anger," he said.

"They hate white people because white people are successful and theyre not. I mean, yes, it is, it is a welfare state.

"We have spent trillions of dollars on welfare, and weve put people in bondage so they cant be all that they are capable of being."

The Donald Trump supporter said that the policies of former democratic president Lyndon B Johnson have had an effect over the last 50 years, making black people "angry".

His comments were called "ignorant" and "foolish".

In a series of posts on twitter, the congressman apologised, saying his "anguish" over the situation in Charlotte had prompted him to answer the question "in a way I regret".

He said he wanted to discuss the "lack of economic mobility for African Americans".

Mr Pittenger then talked to CNN, saying he had been repeating comments from protesters that he had heard on television, but did not personally believe that black people hate white people.

"I was only trying to convey what they were saying and yet, it didn't come out right, and I apologise.

"I have many, many good friends in the African-American community," he said.

His remarks come shortly after Mr Trump started his outreach to African American voters.

Mr Trump's top aide, Michael Cohen, told CNN last month that there is an "African American problem" in the US.
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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 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. 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 Black Lives Matter 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.

The Associated Press
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The Oklahoma police officer charged with manslaughter after shooting an unarmed black man was involved in two domestic incidents before she joined the force.

Tulsa Countys District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said Betty Shelby had been indicted over the death of Terence Crutcher after his car broke down in the city last week.

A court filing by prosecutors alleged Shelby had acted unlawfully and unnecessarily by shooting the 40-year-old when he refused to follow her instructions and said she had become emotionally involved to the point that she overreacted.

Video footage released by the police force on Monday shows Mr Crutcher being surrounded by four officers before being shot by one - later identified as Shelby.

Police witnesses said Mr Crutcher had refused to comply with commands to raise his hands and had reached inside the vehicle, although the footage appears to show him walking towards the car with his hands up.

Shelby's attorney Scott Wood said Mr Crutcher had failed to listen to her commands and appeared to be acting under the influence of drugs.

Tiffany and Terence Crutcher (Courtesy of Crutcher Family/Parks & Crump, LLC/AP) (Courtesy of Crutcher Family/Parks & Crump, LLC/AP)

He said Mr Crutcher did have his hands up but then moved unexpectedly to the side of his vehicle, prompting Shelby to fire her gun and a colleague to shoot his taser as a precaution.

Shelby joined the Tulsa police force in 2011 and had worked for the County Sheriffs Department for four years prior to that.

On her initial application form in 2007, which was released to the public on Monday, Shelby circled yes when asked if she had ever possessed and used illegal drugs.

The sheriff's office later released a letter from Shelby in which she described using marijuana twice at parties when she was 18, NBC News reported.

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

Shelby also admitted to two previous domestic-related incidents that had involved the courts.

The 42-year-old said she and her then-boyfriend had damaged each others cars during a break-up in 1993.

The pair had temporary restraining orders filed against each other that were subsequently dismissed.

Shelby also admitted that her former husbands new wife had filed a request for a protective order against her in 2002, accusing the future officer of making harassing phone calls although Shelby denied the allegation.

The protective order was later dismissed by a judge who, Shelby said, saw that I was not guilty of the accusations made against me.

Mr Crutchers death is the second high-profile shooting of a black man in the US in just a week after Keith Lamont Scott was shot dead while sitting in a car in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday.

The city erupted into three nights of rioting as people protested what they perceived to be systemic racism rife within the local police force.
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Three residents of a housing complex in New Jersey are launching legal over religious rules that ban men and women from using the swimming pool at the same time for 11 hours each day.

A Country Place, the 376-home community in Lakewood, recently changed its rules to accommodate the majority of its residents who practice the Orthodox Jewish faith. Now, several residents are upset after receiving $50 fines for violating the revised pool policy, The Asbury Park Press reports.

"It is you that is unfair to the vast majority of our residents. The vast majority of people would abolish any mixed swimming because that is the will of the majority," officials with the condo association wrote in a letter responding to complaints.

ACP is a private association and as per counsel we are well within our rights to serve the vast majority of the community, the letter stated. You are inconsiderate of the majority and wish for minority rule. That is not our community.

The complainants, Marie Curto and Diana and Steve Lusardi, were issued the fines earlier this summer after refusing to leave the pool during single-swimming hours. Their lawsuit claims the pool policy, which allows men and women swim two hours each day, violates the anti-discrimination provisions in the federal Fair Housing Act and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

The Lusardis said theyve been "harassed, intimidated and have received threats of violence within their community due to their complaints regarding the pool," the local newspaper reports. Mr Lusardi added that nearly a dozen of his community members plan to pay his fines because they believe the policy is unfair, "Two dozen people are ready to pay my fine because they don't think it's right.

Both parties are due in the states Superior Court on November 4.

This isn't the first time the struggle over single-sex pool time became an issue on the East Coast. In September, Hasidic women called to reinstate female-only swim hours at the Metropolitan Recreation Center in Brooklyn after the Parks Department decided to cut the four day policy to just two days out of the week.
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Hillary Clinton plans to capture or kill Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as part of a major intelligence surge if she becomes president.

A Clinton administration would devote significant resources to the hunt for al-Bagdhadi in conjunction with a long-proposed intelligence surge to also quell the uptick in domestic lone wolf attacks.

In the days leading up to the first presidential debate between Ms Clinton and Donald Trump, her Republican rival, an apparently Isis-inspired bomber injured 29 people in New York and planted a series of explosives in New Jersey.

Mr Trump has criticised both Ms Clinton and Barack Obama for enabling  and even co-founding Isis  through failed, gentle policies, without having supplied details of his plan to do something extremely tough against the Islamist extremist group.

While the Clinton campaign has not offered much in the way of detail, they offered a brief glimpse into their decapitation strategy  hearkening back to Barack Obama's successful campaign to execute Osama Bin Laden while Ms Clinton was Secretary of State.Hillary Clinton hopes to decapitate Isis by taking out leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi

In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Smoke rises after airstrikes by US-led coalition planes as Iraqi security forces advance against Islamic State extremists in Fallujah, June 15, 2016 AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Iraqi security forces advance during heavy fighting against Isis militants in Fallujah, Iraq, on 14 June AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia militia say that moving resources from Fallujah towards the area near Mosul was a 'betrayal' of the battle for the city GETTY In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Hospital sources said 18 bodies were recovered from the river over the weekend AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Up to 60,000 civilians were feared trapped in Fallujah at the start of the Iraqi operation AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters hold an Isis flag in an operation east of Fallujah  the terror group has lost ground in both Syria and Iraq AFP/Getty In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters hold their weapons as they gather near Falluja, Iraq, June 4, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Pro-government forces bid to take back ground from Isis in Fallujah MOADH AL-DULAIMI/AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Smoke billows on the horizon as Iraqi military forces prepare for an offensive to retake the city AP In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah A member of the Iraqi security forces fires artillery during clashes with Isis militants near Fallujah, Iraq, 29 May, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Iraqi government forces fire a rocket near al-Sejar village, north-east of Fallujah, on May 26, 2016, as they take part in a major assault to retake the city from the Islamic State group AFP/Getty In pictures: Iraq battles to drive Isis out of Fallujah Shia fighters and Iraqi security forces advance towards Fallujah Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters

She really would put a concerted focus on that, really going after [al-Baghdadi] in particular, Laura Rosenberger, a senior foreign policy adviser for Ms Clinton, told The Guardian.

After 9/11, counterterrorism efforts concentrated on large-scale attacks. Yet, as extremists make use of the Internet and more isolated attacks sprout domestically, a Clinton administration would best benefit from narrowing the scope of any intelligence surge.

The post-9/11 architecture was designed largely for identifying complex plots. Were in a different world now, where the lone wolf attackers may not even be directed by or coordinated with a terrorist group, they may simply be inspired by them, Ms Rosenberger said. We need to adapt for that reality while still not taking our eye off the ball of identifying potential complex attacks.

Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with US national security officials as soldiers carry out the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden (White House)

But overall, the intelligence surge would expand sharing efforts between the US and European governments, focusing on financial assets, weapons, and the flow of jihadists. And as Isis and other extremist groups move into cyberspace, a simple bombardment  as Mr Trump proposes  will not be effective.

The surge raises questions about spying, as the Clinton administration would expand domestic surveillance to local law enforcement agencies. Although campaign advisers suggest the principles of the intelligence surge would be to execute more targeted spying as opposed to bulk data gathering.

Clintons advisers also described a balancing act between increase in security and maintaining civil liberties, and assured appropriate safeguards to any surveillance programmes, citing the US Freedom Act of 2015, which limits but doesnt prohibit domestic spying.

So those kinds of principles and protections offer something of a guideline for where any new proposals she put forth would be likely to fall, Ms Rosenberger said.

But some experts believe that Ms Clinton is offering only minimal changes to a counterterrorism apparatus that needs to be completely redone.

In essence, they want to do more of the same and tweak it around the edges instead of taking a step back and asking: What are you getting for your money and can we be doing ultimately differently and better? Pat Eddington, civil liberties and national security analyst at the Cato Institute, told the Guardian.

Malcolm Nance, author of Defeating Isis alluded to a future with a more abstracted version of the islamist extremists of today.

The most critical thing to remember is in the next year, Isis caliphate will most likely collapse, he said. They will transition from my physical state into what I call a ghost caliphate.

The ideology will go underground and be spread almost exclusively through the Internet."
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Ted Cruz has backed Donald Trump to be the US' next president.

After much speculation, the Texas senator and one time rival for the Republican nomination made the announcement on his Facebook page.

The pair haven't always been the best of friends and shared many heated moments in the race to the White House but on Friday, Mr Cruz announced that he'd be voting for Mr Trump come November.

"After many months of careful consideration, of prayer and searching my own conscience, I have decided that on Election Day, I will vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump," he wrote on his Facebook page.

He added that he's making the decision for two main reasons."First, last year, I promised to support the Republican nominee. And I intend to keep my word. Second, even though I have had areas of significant disagreement with our nominee, by any measure Hillary Clinton is wholly unacceptable, thats why I have always been #NeverHillary."

Both Mr Cruz and Mr Trump refused to attack each other at the onset of the election cycle, but as it went on, they traded insults.

Mr Cruz called the Republican nominee a pathological liar and earned himself the nickname "Lying Ted" from Mr Trump.
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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 countrys 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 UNs list of foreign terrorist organisations.

Hekmatyar himself was designated by the US as a global terrorist in 2003. He was blacklisted at Washingtons 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 Kabuls High Peace Council, Ahmad Gilani, national security adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar, and Hekmatyar's representative Amin Karim. Hekmatyars 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.

Notorious warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, set to make his political return despite a history of war crimes and after years in hiding. (AFP/Getty)

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 Talibans 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 Unions 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 Hekmatyars 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 Afghanistans 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 UNs mission in Kabul welcomed the deal as a step closer to peace.

Mr Ghanis office tweeted his hope that others would be encouraged to join the peace process.

Mr Atmar called on Afghanistans international partners to end sanctions against Hezb-i-Islami to ensure the success of the deal.

Hekmatyars mujahideen fighters have been largely pushed to the sidelines of Afghanistans 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 Hekmatyars 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.

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

New York-based Human Rights Watch issued a statement referring to Hekmatyar as one of Afghanistans 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 EUs 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
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The destruction and suffering caused by nuclear weapons has been laid bare in a moving collection of photographs taken after America dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki in August 1945.

Last year, celebrations were held to mark the 70th anniversary of the detonation of the fat man bomb over the Japanese city, killing tens of thousands and leading to the end of the Second World War.

Now poignant images captured in the aftermath of the attack, showing the devastated city, its surviving inhabitants and US troops, are being auctioned this week.

The bombing of Nagasaki Show all 5 1 /5 The bombing of Nagasaki The bombing of Nagasaki Yosuke Yamahata's photographs of Nagasaki the day after the atomic bombing An arch is the sole landmark following the attack Image copyright Shogo Yamahata, provided courtesy of Bonhams The bombing of Nagasaki Yosuke Yamahata's photographs of Nagasaki the day after the atomic bombing The city is unrecognisable Image copyright Shogo Yamahata, provided courtesy of Bonhams The bombing of Nagasaki Yosuke Yamahata's photographs of Nagasaki the day after the atomic bombing Survivors wander through the desecrated landscape Image copyright Shogo Yamahata, provided courtesy of Bonhams The bombing of Nagasaki Yosuke Yamahata's photographs of Nagasaki the day after the atomic bombing A mother and her child appear in a state of shock Image copyright Shogo Yamahata, provided courtesy of Bonhams The bombing of Nagasaki Yosuke Yamahata's photographs of Nagasaki the day after the atomic bombing A woman breastfeeds her baby amid the rubble Image copyright Shogo Yamahata, provided courtesy of Bonhams

Among some 250 photographs in the album compiled by an American military policeman are 24 haunting shots of a city in ruins taken by Japanese military photographer Yosuke Yamahata.

Mr Yamahatas pictures appeared in Japanese newspaper the Mainichi Shimbun two weeks after the atomic bomb was dropped.

But the originals were confiscated by the American military under strict censorship rules, according to RR Auction, which is selling the rare album.

They re-emerged fifty years later in 1995, when some of the negatives were restored to reveal never-seen before pictures of the bombs devastating effects.

The rare photographs are expected to sell for around $50,000 (38,000)  just two years after they were last auctioned at Bonham's.

Photographs showing Nagasaki devastated by the atomic bomb on the pages of the photo album being auctioned by RR Auction (RR Auctions)

Upon hearing the news of the bombing, Mr Yamahata took a train to the city along with the writer Jun Higashi and the painter Eiji Yamada, arriving at 3am the following day.

Having been instructed to document the destruction for military propaganda purposes, he worked from dawn to dusk, taking around 119 photographs on two different cameras.

A photo from the collection (RR Auctions)

But, unbeknown to Mr Yamahata at the time, one of his cameras had a faulty shutter device - the images to be auctioned are thought to include 12 taken from the original negatives of this defective camera.

They show a city riven to the ground and dotted with dazed and blackened survivors.

Writing later about what he had experienced that day, Mr Yamahata described Nagasaki as hell on earth.

He said: The appearance of the city differed from other bomb sites: here, the explosion and the fires had reduced the entire city (about four square kilometres) to ashes in a single instant.

Relief squads, medical and fire-fighting teams, could do nothing but wait. Only the luck of being in a well-placed air raid shelter could be of any use for survival.

He went on: Even if the medical and fire-fighting teams from the surrounding areas had been able to rush to the scene, the roads were completely blocked with rubble and charred timber. One had not the faintest idea where the water main might be located, so it would have been impossible to fight the fires.

Telephone and telegraph services were suspended; the teams could not contact the outside world for help. It was truly a hell on earth. Those who had just barely survived the intense radiation-their eyes burned and their exposed skin scalded-wandered around aimlessly with only sticks to lean on, waiting for relief.

Not a single cloud blocked the direct rays of the August sunlight, which shone down mercilessly on Nagasaki, on that second day after the blast.
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Prosecutors in the Philippines are calling for the death penalty to be reintroduced as punishment for alleged Australian child rapist Peter Scully.

Mr Scully, 52, is accused of directing horrific videos involving rape and torture and selling them through the dark web. He is being investigated for a total of 75 charges, including the alleged rape of an 18-month-old girl. He has pleaded not guilty.

"If I had my choice it would be death for Scully. I want it to happen," chief prosecutor Jaime Umpa said, according to Fairfax Media.

He added: "We have to send a strong message to others that if they come to the Philippines and torture and abuse our children in this way they will be investigated with the full force of the law, and executed."

Peter Scully of Australia arrives at court in the Philippines last year (STR/AFP/Getty) (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, a court heard that Mr Scully allegedly directed a video called Daisy's Destruction, which shows a baby girl being sexually assaulted and physically abused, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Police also accuse Mr Scully of burying an 11-year-old under the floor of a house he was renting after he made a video of him raping her then strangling her to death, news.com.au reports.

Two of his victims were allegedly recorded digging their own graves while being continually raped. "They were the most devastating thing I have ever seen," Ruby Malanog, one of the two lawyers prosecuting Mr Scully, said.

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

"I cried when I was watching them," she added. "It was hard to believe what I was seeing ... that somebody could do those things to children."

Mr Umpa said that unless the death penalty was reintroduced, prosecutors would push for Scully to be given a maximum life sentence for human trafficking, in addition to 10 years for each of the five sexual abuse charges  a total of 100 years in jail. However, Philippine law means Mr Scully would be released after serving 30 years and deported to Australia for the rest of his sentence.

Capital punishment was outlawed in the Philippines in 2006 following opposition from the Catholic Church, but President Rodrigo Duterte, who has built a controversial tough on crime reputation that includes encouraging the vigilante murders of drug users, has called for criminals who commit serious crimes including rape to be executed.
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Two men have been cleared of raping a British schoolgirl and leaving her to die on a beach in Goa.

Scarlett Keeling, 15, had been on holiday with her family in the popular Indian resort town of Anjuna when she attended a Valentines Day party in 2008.

Her partially undressed body was found on the beach the following day, showing bruises and signs of an attack.

Scarlett Keeling, 15, whose body was found Anjuna beach in the north of Goa in February 2008 (PA)

Two local men, Samson DSouza and Placido Carvalho, were accused of raping and assaulting Scarlett before leaving her unconscious to drown.

On Friday, judge Vandana Tendulkar cleared them of charges of rape and culpable homicide in a brief court hearing, which reportedly lasted less than a minute.

The two defendants were also acquitted of causing injury or death through supplying drugs and destroying evidence.

It came after a series of delays in the eight-year long case, which saw a change in prosecutor.

Fiona MacKeown, Scarletts mother, is planning to launch an appeal following the acquittal.

Fiona MacKeown (C), the mother of murdered British schoolgirl Scarlett Keeling, looks on as she leaves the Childrens Court in Panaji on September 23, 2016 (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

I am disappointed with the verdict and I will definitely move to the higher court, she said.

Speaking to Sky News before the ruling, she described her daughters death as every parents worst nightmare.

Its bad enough to lose a child to murder without it being dragged out so long, she added.

They hoped Id get tired and get fed up of waiting or wouldnt come back. They were wrong.

Prosecutors alleged Carvalho and DSouza had plied Scarlett with drugs, raped her and left her unconscious on the beach where she subsequently drowned.

A post-mortem examination showed there was ecstasy, cocaine and LSD in the teenagers body but the defendants claimed she had taken the substances willingly.

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 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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 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City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. 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Their friends and relatives cheered as they were acquitted in court, with DSouza telling reporters he was happy with the verdict, adding: Justice has prevailed.

His defence lawyer, Marvin DSouza, said the investigation had been influenced by diplomatic pressure and trial by media.

An initial police investigation found Scarlett had drowned accidentally but a second post-mortem sparked a new probe after finding she was drugged and raped.

Scarlett, from Bideford in north Devon, suffered 50 separate injuries in the attack.

The court case started in 2010 but progressed slowly, hampered by a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings and a key witness refusing to testify for the prosecution.

Scarletts family were on a six-month trip to India at the time of her death. Her mother, her partner and siblings were visiting Karnataka at the time but Scarlett returned early to attend the party.

Additional reporting by PA
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A 12-year-old boy accused of raping a six-year-old girl has been allowed an adjustment to his bail conditions so he can go on a family holiday.

The boy is one of two 12-year-old boys charged with allegedly assaulting and raping the young girl in a toilet block at their primary school in Sydney, Australia.

According to court documents the girl was allegedly attacked between 24 June and 16 August this year. They also state the alleged rapes and assaults took place between 8am and 4pm, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The boy is accused of raping the girl twice in separate attacks and is further accused of indecently assaulting her three further times with the other 12-year-old boy.

The boys were arrested at Chatswood Police Station on 30 August and suspended from school when police were alerted by the girls parents to the incident after it took place.

Recommended Read more Boy of 12 denies raping six year old girl in primary school

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.

On Thursday, the boys defence lawyer James Viney pleaded not guilty to the charges on his behalf as the boy made his first appearance in the Childrens Court.

Mr Viney also applied to adjust the boys bail conditions, which stipulated he must stay with his parents at their home in northern Sydney, so he could go a week-long family holiday.

Magistrate Louise McManus granted the adjustment and ordered a brief of evidence to be served by November, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The boy was also excused from attending his next date in court.

Concern about the presence of the reporters in court was also heard by the magistrate.

Mr Viney mentioned the "delicate age" of the boy and of him encountering a barrage of media.

Magistrate McManus expressed concern about the impact of a large media presence and said the court tried to make the legal process as informal as possible for children.

The case has been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions. and will next go before court on 24 November.

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 on 20 October.
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Two Belgian police officers have been detained on accusations of aiding illegal immigration in France after driving van full of refugees to the border, sparking a diplomatic row between the two countries.

Belgian authorities said they were transporting migrants back to the neighbouring country but had not meant to cross into it.

The officers were at a border crossing near the northern French commune of Nieppe on Tuesday when an alarmed lorry driver heard noise coming from the unmarked vehicle.

 UK officials visit Calais 'jungle' for talks on child refugees

He called police, who found 13 refugees from Syria and Iraq inside. They were reportedly aiming to reach the UK by journeying to Calais but had boarded a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction.

The two Belgian officers were briefly detained but released after interviews, with the asylum seekers, who include three children, being kept in custody for checks.

A spokesman for Frances Nord department said: French authorities have expressed their utter disapproval following this initiative, which does not comply with the usual working practices between France and Belgium.

Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister, summoned the Belgian ambassador to express his indignation on Wednesday.

He also phoned his Belgian counterpart, Jan Jambon, sparking an angry response from Belgiums SLFP police union, who are threatening to strike over the row.

Its president, Vincent Gilles, told the Associated Press the two officers had only passed a few yards into French territory and were held for four hours without a lawyer or interpreter.

He said the group of refugees had been detained in Belgium on Tuesday and that police were ordered to take them to the border so they could leave the country safely rather than walking along motorways.

Inside the camps in Calais Show all 20 1 /20 Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais A Kurdish child and her father get out of their tent in the makeshift migrant camp in Grande-Synthe near Dunkerque Inside the camps in Calais Kurdish migrants works around the tents of the makeshift migrant camp in Grande-Synthe near Dunkerque Inside the camps in Calais Volunteers from Holland set up a bridge of fortune over the mud using pallets of the makeshift migrant camp in Grande-Synthe near Dunkerque Inside the camps in Calais Refugees walk among tents in a makeshift camp as containers (rear) are put into place to house several hundred migrants living in what is known as the "Jungle", a squalid sprawling camp in Calais Inside the camps in Calais A makeshift camp is seen in front of containers (rear) put into place to house several hundred migrants living in what is known as the "Jungle", a squalid sprawling camp in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais The camp near Calais harbour where refugees from the Middle East and central Asia congregate to attempt the crossing from France to the UK Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Most of the temporary residents in this camp are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria or the Kurdish administered regions Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Camp residents cook and share food at their site just outside Calais Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A group walk through the camp near Calais Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Most of the temporary residents in this camp are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria or the Kurdish administered regions Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A 16 year old immigrant from Eritrea tries to brace himself against the rain and cold by sheltering under the road bridge Justin Sutcliffe Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Rubbish strewn on the ground near one of the campsites Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A man stands among the tents at the campsite just outside Calais, France Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais A camp near Calais harbour where migrants from the East africa congregate to attempt the crossing from France to the UK. Most of the temporary residents in this camp are from Eritrea. Inside the camps in Calais Asylum seekers in Calais Graffiti depicting the dangerous journey trying to smuggle onto a lorry to the UK

Our colleagues did not notice they had passed the border by around 50 metres, Mr Gilles added.

The union has given official notification that it will mount a 24-hour strike next week unless Mr Jambon arranges a meeting with police.

Georges Aeck, the commissioner of Ypres police in Belgium, was outraged.

We didnt do it for money, this isn't human trafficking, he told Belgian broadcaster RTBF. We only gave them a hand. We took them a little way in the direction they wanted to go.

Tensions between France and Belgium have lingered since the Paris attacks, which threw border controls into the spotlight after suspect Salah Abdeslam was allowed through checks while fleeing to Brussels on the night of the atrocity.

Many of the attackers had links to Belgium, where the plot was prepared, and Belgian counter-terror agencies have been accused of failing to prevent the massacres or catch those responsible.

Border controls were reintroduced between the two countries in February amid continued security concerns and concerns over a possible influx of asylum seekers evicted from the Jungle camp in Calais.
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German politicians have approved a law making it illegal to have sex with prostitutes without using a condom, among other regulations on the sex trade.

Brothel owners will be obligated to draw customers attention to the law and advertising unprotected sex will be banned.

The new law aims to tighten regulation of prostitution in Germany, which has been legal since 2002 but marred by continuing human trafficking, abuse and stigmitisation.

It makes licensing mandatory for all brothels to ensure they comply with minimum legal standards, hygiene and health and safety regulations.

A sex worker at the bar of Berlin's Artemis brothel 04 May 2006. (AFP/Getty Images) (AFP)

Anyone attempting to open a commercial premises for prostitution will undergo checks attempting to crack down on the involvement of gangs, traffickers and criminals.

Prostitutes must also register with local authorities, gaining a certificate that must be renewed every two years, and attend an annual health advice session.

For sex workers under the age of 21, certificates will only be valid for one year and they must check in with public health authorities every six months.

Any violations of the law  by pimps, buyers or prostitutes - can be punished with fines between 1,000 (860) and 50,000 (43,000), with authorities able to withdraw brothels licences.

The Bundesrat, Germanys upper house of Parliament, approved the measures on Friday following a previous vote in the Bundestag.

The law will now be sent to President Joachim Gauck for his signature, before coming into force on 1 July 2017.

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. 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Manuela Schwesig, the minister for women and families, said sex workers had been defenceless against the power of brothel owners but hoped the new law will protect them from exploitation and violence.

Elke Ferner, the secretary of state for women and families, previously praised the measures, saying: Finally, there will be better protection for women and men who are involved in prostitution."

But the plans have been criticised by some campaign groups who argue that increased bureaucracy will worsen a widespread lack of trust between prostitutes and authorities, making them less likely to co-operate with police or report abuse.

In a joint statement, Germanys BesD sex workers union and Amnesty International said the law does not protect prostitutes.

"The registration requirement is discriminatory, is violates data protection laws and brings the risk of workers being forcibly outed, said Fabienne Freymadl, chair of BesD. This will force many women and men into illegal sex work, where they are at heightened risk of human rights violations.

Legislation in 2002 forced sex workers to pay tax and allowed them to work as regular contracted employees, but led to the rapid growth of unregulated brothels, prompting calls for tighter controls.

Some states have subsequently brought in their own regulations, including mandatory condom use already in place in Bavaria and Saarland.
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A Muslim woman has left her job in Sweden after being told she must shake hands with her male colleagues.

Fardous El-Sakka had been working as a supply teacher for Kunskapsskolan, a group of independent schools in Helsingborg, since August.

The 20-year-old had chosen not to shake hands with her male colleagues and instead preferred to put her hand on her heart and bow as a greeting.

But when one of her male colleagues took offence, Ms Sakka was ordered to go to a meeting with the principal and told she must conform to the institutions "core values" if she wanted to remain working there.

Helsingborg Kunskapsskolan principal Lidijia Munchmeyer told Swedish newspaper Expressen that the man in question felt tremendously discriminated against.

She said: The school doesnt differentiate between people or treat them differently. Thats what we advocate from our students, so the staff also have to do that.

But Ms Sakka, who stopped working at the school immediately, drew the case to the attention of the Equality Ombudsman. As a member of the Unionen teaching union, her case was subsequently referred to them instead.

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

Ms Sakka told The Local it was the first time anyone had ever objected to her not shaking their hand and said she did not think she would be able to return.

She said: Its a special school for me because I was a student there. But I dont think I can see a way back there now.

In a statement reported by The Local, Ms Munchmeyer stressed that the school did not fire Ms Sakka and that she chose to leave after I explained what the schools core values are.

I 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, she added.

Recommended Read more Muslim woman abused on French beach for wearing burkini

The incident comes just months after a Swedish city councillor was forced to resign after refusing to shake hands with a female journalist due to his religious beliefs.

Green Party politician Yasri Khan said shaking hands with someone from the opposite sex was too intimate and instead chose to put his hand over his heart.

The affair prompted a race row in Sweden where Mr Khan dismissed his critics as Islamophobic and his detractors said his behaviour was insulting to women.

The Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, even waded into the debate saying that in Sweden, you shake hands with both women and men.
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A Muslim woman who received a job offer in Norway was subsequently told she could only take on the role if she was prepared to remove her hijab.

A series of text messages revealed the 21-year-old - who wished to remain anonymous - was offered the job as a nursing assistant in Oslo on the condition that she remove her headscarf, Norwegian newspaper NRK reported.

She is said to have politely declined the job offer, saying the Islamic headscarf was "a big part of her identity" and something she could not give up.

The incident took place in January but the woman has only just shared her story publicly, providing a screenshot of the text to a Norwegian media outlet.

The text message from the municipality, sent on behalf of the employer, reportedly read: "Hi, I have spoken with [name redacted] and he said that if you are comfortable with working without the hijab then you can have the job with him.

"Is that something that could be relevant for you?"

In response, the woman is said to have written: "I must unfortunately decline. [The hijab] is a big part of my identity and I can not give it up."

Speaking to NRK about the incident, the woman said: "I was sorry and disappointed. I was unmotivated to seek other jobs and I see now in retrospect that it has gone beyond my mental well-being.

"I've always thought that Norway is so wonderful and that I have the same opportunities as any Norwegian, but I now realise that it is not as idyllic as I thought."

Norway's Equality and Discrimination Ombudsman has recently seen an increase in complaints about religious discrimination.

There have reportedly been 45 complaints about religion, with around ten of these cases about hijab and five of them linked to the workplace.

A local council spokesperson told NRK: "The Organisation against Public Discrimination (OMOD) believe public institutions must take these matters seriously.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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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. 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"Over the past six years OMOD dealt with four cases where public institutions have violated discrimination law."

The report follows a case earlier this year in which a hairdresser in Norway threw a woman out of her salon because she was wearing a hijab, saying she did not want this evil inside the salon.

The 47-year-old was later found guilty of discrimination by a Norwegian court and fined 10,000 kroner (1,150) plus 5,000 kroner (575) in court costs.
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Debris amid the destruction of the Syrian Red Crescent and UN aid convoy attack which killed 20 people and destroyed humanitarian supplies destined for thousands of Syrian civilians matches Russian-manufactured equipment, open data experts have said.

Bellingcat, a UK-based organisation of self-taught open data experts and citizen journalists, well regarded for their work geolocating and identifying weapons in the Syrian conflict, say that news agency pictures and pictures taken by rescue workers of the aftermath of the attack clearly show the tail section of a OFAB 250-270 high explosive fragmentation bomb.

Images and analysis provided courtesy of Bellingcat

Image and annotation provided courtesy of Bellingcat

The device is extensively used by Russian aircraft assisting Bashar al-Assads regime in Syria and not used by aircraft manufactured in NATO countries or by American Predator drones, the report added.

While Bellingcat said the pictures prove it was an air strike that hit the convoy, founder Eliot Higgins told The Independent it was too early to say yet whether Russian or Syrian planes had carried out the attack.

Both the Russian and Syrian governments have denied involvement in Mondays incident, which destroyed 18 of 31 trucks and around 100 tonnes of blankets, food and medical equipment and destroyed a health clinic.

The Russian Ministry of Defence released drone footage which it said showed a militant pick up truck carrying a heavy mortar travelling next to the convoy. Russian officials claimed that the device must have started large fires, which were responsible for the damage.

 Russia denies Syria aid convoy attack with release of footage

Conflict Intelligence Team, a similar outfit to Bellingcat based in Russia, claims to have debunked this explanation, saying that geolocation tagging proved the vehicle passed the convoy hours before the attack took place, and six kilometres away from the site of the incident.

Eyewitnesses reported the attack as coming from the sky. In video from the scene, the sound of aircraft passing overhead can be clearly heard.

Two unnamed US officials said that intel showed two Russian Su-24 bombers were in the vicinity of the convoy within one minute of when the attack took place. Another source told the Wall Street Journal that two Russian planes were tracked taking off from a nearby Russian base.

 Syria: UN aid convoy hit by airstrikes in Aleppo

Several Russian bloggers have disputed Bellingcats identification of Russian-made bombs, claim, pointing out that the debris might not necessarily date from the aid convoy attack, or been planted there, or that the pictures are fakes.

Higgins said the response was fairly typical of pro-Kremlin social media commentators whenever there's any evidence of something that reflects negatively on the Kremlin or Assad.

According to them every cluster bomb, barrel bomb, chemical weapon attack, and mass killing was staged by Syrian activists to fool the Western media, he said.

The Syrian and Russian defence ministries could not be immediately reached for comment.
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An intense wave of bombings unleashed on Aleppo by the Syrian government will be backed up by ground forces, a Syrian military source has said.

President Bashar al-Assads forces announced a new offensive on rebel held parts of the city late on Thursday, as peace talks between several world powers in New York failed to make any conclusive headway.

The unnamed source told state media on Friday that the attack will be a comprehensive one involving preparatory air strikes and boots on the ground that could go on for some time.

Aleppo, Syrias largest city, has been the scene of some of the six-year-long conflicts fiercest fighting. Regime bombing, assisted by Russian fighter jets since 2015, have levelled whole neighbourhoods and killed thousands.

The Syrian army and its allies have not launched a ground offensive on the city since 2012. The fresh round of intense strikes and reports of clashes on several edges of the city have sparked fears that a ground operation could be aimed at unseating rebels from Aleppo once and for all.

"Capturing Aleppo would be highly advantageous to Assad, solidifying his control of so-called 'useful Syria'. But it would have to be a monstrous campaign. An atrocity of this sort would resonate in history," a diplomat close to the International Syria Support Group process said.

Besieged residents said that they had never seen anything like the current renewed air campaign. Ammar al-Selmo, the head of the local civil defence rescue service, also known as the White Helmets, told Reuters, Whats happening now is annihilation.

 Syrian girl rescued from rubble in Aleppo

A young girl was pulled alive from the rubble of a building on Friday  with volunteers using their bare hands to scrape away masonry and debris as five-year-old Rawan Alowsh cried intermittently, according to footage broadcast by Sky News. None of her family were thought to have survived the attack.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) estimated that 40 air strikes hit Aleppo overnight on Thursday, destroying the citys main water pumping station.

Shelling continued throughout the day on Friday. The White Helmets, a volunteer workforce, said three of their four operation centres had been targeted, and two were now out of operation, as demand for their services increased.

At least 80 people died on Thursday, a member of the citys forensic team told AP, but Fridays bombing has been so intense that it has been impossible for monitors to safely document new injuries and casualties.

Approximately 250,000 people remain trapped in east Aleppo under siege conditions.

The situation in Aleppo on 23 September, with regime attacks and territory seen in red, rebels in green, Kurds in yellow and Isis in black (Liveuamap)

The Syrian army source said that all military operations would aim to avoid harming civilians and allow them to flee from the terrorists.

The army made attempts to advance in several districts but was repelled, said Zakaria Malahifji, a Turkey-based official for one of the main Aleppo factions. The Observatory said the army had made some progress in a southern district of the city.

The latest bombings showed that the aim of the Syrian government and its allies was to split the country, France's foreign minister has said.

The bombings of the last few hours in Aleppo show the regime is playing the card of dividing Syria and its supporters are letting it happen, Jean-Marc Ayrault said at the United Nations.

Elsewhere in Syria on Friday, the city of Homs, once one of the most active anti-regime cities in the country, finally conceded defeat.

Approximately 300 rebels and their families in the last rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Waer were evacuated north, after accepting amnesty and surrendering to Assads forces.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov are due to meet again in New York on Friday to try and stake a path to peace in Syria's multisided conflict.
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Hamas should be removed from the EU's terrorism blacklist, a top European Court of Justice (ECJ) advisor has recommended.

In 2014, the court ruled that the Palestinian Islamist movement should be taken off the list on technical grounds.

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 on Hamas members.

At the time, Israel recalled Europe's treatment of Jews in the Holocaust and denounced the bloc's "staggering hypocrisy".

Hamas in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Hamas in pictures Hamas in pictures December 2014 Hamas top leader in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniya (L), spokesman for the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obaida and Mussa Abu Marzuq (R) greet supporters during a parade marking the 27th anniversary of the Islamist movements creation in Gaza City Hamas in pictures December 2014 Hamas gunmen display their military skills during a rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the militant group AP Hamas in pictures December 2014 Masked members parade in a rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Hamas militant group AP Hamas in pictures December 2014 Palestinian militants from the Ezzedine al-Qassam brigade, the armed wing of Hamas, carry mock-rockets as they march during a rally to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Islamist movements creation, at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the Central Gaza Hamas in pictures November 2014 Palestinian young members of the Hamas' Popular Army parade during a graduation ceremony in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip Hamas in pictures November 2014 Members of Hamas security forces march during their graduation ceremony at the fisherman's port in Gaza City AP Hamas in pictures August 2014 Abu Abida (3L), spokesman for the armed wing of the Hamas speaks during a Hamas militants parade in Shejaiya Hamas in pictures August 2014 A Palestinian man kisses a Hamas militant sniper during a parade by Hamas militants in Shejaiya Hamas in pictures August 2014 Palestinian militants from the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades (L), Hamas' armed wing, attend a rally in Gaza City, following a deal hailed by Israel and the Islamist movement as 'victory' in the 50-day war Hamas in pictures August 2014 Palestinian mourners gather during the funeral of three senior Hamas commanders in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. Israeli warplanes killed three top Hamas commanders in southern Gaza inflicting a heavy blow on the movement's armed wing after failing to kill its top military chief

The advocate general at the European Court of Justice, whose advice is usually followed closely by judges, recommended they reject an appeal by the Council of EU member states against the 2014 court ruling.

Discussing Thursday's recommendation, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said: "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, which controls the Gaza Strip and has fought Israel for three decades.

 UN: Israeli demolitions displace more than a thousand Palestinians

The advocate general has also recommended that the Tamil Tigers be removed from the blacklist.

The Sri Lankan government provided evidence, which the court found lacking to support sanctions against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Members' assets remain frozen pending the appeal.

Both Hamas and the Tamil Tigers argue they were engaged in legal wars against Israel and the Sri Lankan government.

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 European Court of Justice said its justices were beginning their deliberations on the case and there was no set date for a ruling.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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A man is suing the Emirates airline after having to sit next to an overweight passenger during a nine-hour flight.

Giorgio Destro, from Padua in northern Italy, said that after he settled into his seat next to the window, he was amazed when the overweight man took the seat next to him.

He said he asked to be moved, but could not be re-seated as the aircraft was fully booked.

Mr Destro claims he suffered for the duration of the flight from Cape Town to Dubai, and was so uncomfortable he could not even use his seat for most of the journey.

According to Italian website Matino, Mr Destro said: Ultimately for nine hours, I had to stand in the aisle, sit on seats reserved for the aircrew when they were free, and in the final phase of the flight, resign myself to suffer the spillover of the passenger at my side.

He tweeted a photograph of himself sitting next to his unwanted travel companion, who he said listened to music, watched films, and slept.

Mr Destro, who is a lawyer and used to work with the Italian consulate in Cape Town, is now suing the airline.

He claims that after landing he immediately contacted Emirates, who he says eventually replied, but offered no apology or any kind of compensation.

He is asking for a total of 2,759.51 in compensation for the flight, including 759.51 as a refund for the ticket and a further 2,000 in damages.

In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai An Emirates plane erupts in flames after crash landing at Dubai International Airport on 3 August 2016 jamesdxb/Instagram In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Footage showed a fireball bursting from the plane after it crash landed at Dubai International Airport In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Smoke rising after an Emirates flight crash landed at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016. AP In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Emirates plane crash lands at Dubai International Airport YouTube In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai An Emirates Boeing 777-300 at Dubai International Airport on 3 August 2016. EPA In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Emirates airlines Boeing 777-300 A6-EMW plane flight number EK521 from Trivandrum to Dubai lays on the ground in Dubai airport after being gutted by fire EPA In pictures: Emirates plane crash-lands in Dubai Dubai International Airport after an Emirates Airline flight crash-landed, the UAE August 3, 2016. Reuters

The hearing has been scheduled for 20 October in Padua.

Emirates said it was unable to comment on this particular case as it is an ongoing legal matter.
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Syrian government and Russian warplanes are targeting rebel strongholds in east Aleppo in the second day of intense bombing after the army announced a new campaign, rescue workers and activists on the ground have said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) estimated 30 air strikes took place from midnight on Friday.

Ammar al-Selmo, the head of the local civil defence rescue service, or the White Helmets, said five jets he identified as Russian began a fresh wave of bombing at around 6am.

What's happening now is annihilation, he told Reuters. Its as if the planes are trying to compensate for all the days they didnt drop bombs [during the ceasefire].

Incendiary bombs are among the weapons that fell from the sky like rain, as several activists have described it, causing major fires. The White Helmets said several people had been confirmed dead at Aleppos hospitals, but there are no precise figures. SOHR said at least 14 have died so far.

The rebel-run Aleppo Media Centre said 20 people have been killed, and the city's main water pumping station has been destoyed.

A man carries an injured girl after airstrikes on the rebel held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo (REUTERS)

The Syrian military announced a new operation against rebels in east Aleppo - where 250,000 civilians live under siege conditions - late on Thursday.

John Kerry accused Russia of existing in a parallel universe at the United Nations this week (Reuters)

The decision came as US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov emerged from what a UN mediator described as long, painful, difficult and disappointing talks in New York on restoring the recent ceasefire.

In pictures: Aleppo bombing Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Aleppo bombing In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man reacts as he stands on blood stains at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria, April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damage of the airstrikes in the rebel-held area of Aleppo on April 28 Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damaged the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following an air strike on a rebel-held of Aleppo on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Civil defence members search for survivors after an airstrike at a field hospital in the rebel held area of al-Sukari district of Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported air strike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Soukour in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers remove a baby from under the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians help a wounded youth following an air strike on the Fardous rebel held neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate people from a damaged building following a reported airstrike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tareeq al-Bab in the northern city of Aleppo

Russia and the US brokered a deal on September 9 which included a truce between the Syrian government and a coalition of rebel forces, aid deliveries for Aleppo, and possibly joint military action against Isis and al-Qaeda linked groups.

The deal collapsed after an American coalition led air strike accidentally hit a Syrian army base near Isis territory, and an aid convoy near Aleppo was attacked, killing 20 volunteers and Syrian Arab Red Crescent workers.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied that his forces or Russian allies were behind the attack.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday he dismissed US claims the regime bombed the convoy as lies, adding that it was not strategically sound to target humanitarian workers and that he is morally committed to his peoples interests.
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The Syrian army have announced a start of a new offensive on Aleppo, leaving the hopes of renewing a ceasefire in tatters.

State media has reported the army intend to attack the rebel-held city, signalling a further escalation to the bombing campaign by Russian and Syrian jets which has already intensified in the last 24 hours.

The military headquarters in the city has reportedly urged civilians to avoid areas where terrorists are located.

It is not yet clear if the attack will be a ground operation or a series of air raids.

A spokesman for the Nour el-Din el-Zinki rebel factions in Aleppo said government forces had not managed to make any advances in the city in the last 24 hours.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the recommencing of raids on eastern Aleppo this week, saying at least 14 people, mostly civilians, had been killed so far.

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 the start of the week Syrian air forces have increased their bombing raids of rebel-held areas.

The Syrian American Medical society said one of its facilities had been hit and the UN said another clinic had been destroyed, killing several medical staff and civilians, the Guardian reported.

Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian President, denied his government were responsible for the attacks.

We dont attack any hospitals. This is how we can help the terrorists, if we attack hospitals, schools, and things like this, he told the Associated Press.

The seven day ceasefire agreed by the US and Russia collapsed last week as the two nations continue to push for a lasting ceasefire.
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Once upon a time, Amsterdam was the undisputed king of cannabis tourism, and a trip to its coffee shops was a rite of passage for any self-respecting grass-head. But since four US states  Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington  legalised both the medical and recreational use of marijuana, the green travellers map has started to shift.

And with five more states set to vote on full legalisation in November  Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada  new pot-friendly tourist initiatives like the bud and breakfast phenomenon look set to spread even further.

So, as the US prepares to overtake Amsterdam as the reefer-lovers go-to holiday hotspot, we take a look at some of the latest offerings from these new peddlers of particularly dope getaways.

Los Angeles: Haute cannabis cuisine

LA-based Chris Sayegh, styling himself as The Herbal Chef, cooks elaborate multicourse meals infused with THC, the principle mind-altering ingredient found in cannabis. Yep, these are munchies on a higher level. And before you question why youd want to eat several courses overpowered by the funky taste of the bud, Sayegh actually uses THC extracts that dont flavour the food, but provide a more brain chemistry-twiddling experience. Interested parties can book private dinners or keep an eye on his web page for news of the events he holds regularly at Californian event spaces. Sample dishes include succulent wagyu and foie gras custard.

Menus from USD$200-500 per person, must be aged 21 or over; theherbalchef.com

The Herbal Chef Chris Sayegh cooks haute cuisine with THC (Chris Sayegh)

His munchies bring real meaning to the term "high-end" (Chris Sayegh)

Portland: Pot tour by bike

Incredibly, the hipsters of Portland are touting a herbal tour on two wheels, which seems slightly counterintuitive (what pot-head can be bothered to peddle after a few puffs?). Nevertheless, Pedal Bike Tours offers an 11-mile ride through the history of the citys commercial cannabis industry, with stop-offs at the best head shops and even some suggested pairings for the sweetest and saltiest snacks to go with your high.

Three-hour tour from USD$69 per person, must be aged 21 or over; pedalbiketours.com

The potheads of Portland are more active than most (Pedal Bike Tours/Facebook)

Seattle: CannaBus Tour

The Big Bus tour company could have some quite serious competition on its hands now that an enterprising Seattle soul has launched the CannaBus concept. This guided tour takes punters to the citys first licensed grow facility where you can opt to buy any of its three core strains (Berry Haze, UW Purple and Cinderellas Dream) or even seasonal specials. Then its on to a high-end cannabis store for what they might term in the business some seriously top shelf sh*t.

Two-hour tour from US$25 per person, must be aged 21 or over; theoriginalcannabus.com

Seattle's CannaBus takes tokers to a grow facility and top-shelf weed store (The Original CannaBus/Facebook)

Denver: Bud and breakfast

Colorado Cannabis Tours has its market cornered with a range of offerings: listings of bud and breakfast hotels with smoke- and vape-friendly rooms (guests are also often served cananbis-infused breakfast items); activities and classes that run the gamut from puff, pass and paint to puff, pass and pottery, plus tours of growing facilities and the art of glass blowing. They have some competition in the form of rival My 420 Tours, though, who offer a sushi, sake and joint rolling class as well as a bus tour that pumps pot smoke into a passenger area bathed in green LED light.

Both Colorado Cannabis Tours and My 420 Tours offer classes and tours from USD$49 per person, must be aged 21 or over; coloradocannabistours.com and my420tours.com

Cannabis tours will typically include visiting a legal growhouse (Colorado Cannabis Tours/Facebook)

Alaska: Cannabis lodge

A trip into the near-impenetrable beauty of Americas last great wilderness and largest state, Alaska, is on many a bucket list  and now you can add getting baked to the experience, too. Bowman's Bearcreek Lodge offers log cabins in the small town of Hope (pop. around 192), a popular weekend retreat for residents of Anchorage. As well as enjoying activities like white water rafting, whale watching, hiking and biking in the surrounding area, guests are free to blaze up on their cabin decking and around the nightly campfire. Be aware this is BYO.

From USD$250 per night, must be aged 21 or over; bowmansbearcreeklodge.com
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The central trestle table spanned the entire length of the canvas awning, around which sat 30 men, women and children all studiously scoffing. Some were sampling cheese and saucisson, others drinking wine, while the most energetic were tucking in, at 7 a plateful, to pieds et paquets, a Marseille culinary speciality consisting of stuffed sheeps feet and tripe cooked together in a rich wine and tomato sauce. It smelled wonderful. As to what it tasted like  well, I thought I would leave that for another day. I was eating later. At least that was my excuse.

The Les Vendanges Etoilees festival celebrates the local produce of Cassis (Cook and Shoot)

Here in southern Frances Cassis, this feast marked the third and final day of Les Vendanges Etoilees, a culinary and vinous jamboree which loses something in its English translation of starry grape harvest. Its held at the time of the wine harvest in part to show off the celebrated wines of Cassis. And dont make the same embarrassing mistake that I did and ask where exactly the Creme de Cassis is made. Thats a Burgundy liqueur that takes its name from the blackcurrants (cassis) and not the town.

Cassis wine, in fact, has the oldest registered AOC (designation of origin) in France, and is a crisp white that swims in the face of the rose thats all-conquering in the rest of Provence. Cassis is known for being fresh, full-bodied and possessing herby, almost marine notes, probably because its grapes are grown so close to the Med.

The region's top chefs take rare leave of their kitchens to give demonstrations at the culinary jamboree (Cook and Shoot)

A 22 all-in-one ticket for Les Vendanges Etoilees, this year taking place between 23 and 25 September, entitles the visitor to a plate of food and a glass of vino. You can then top up, at extra cost, as you see fit. The day before, local chefs  many with national reputations (these were the stars of the festivals title)  had been persuaded to leave their kitchens and provide cooking demonstrations. Today, though, was just about eating and drinking.

Among the local produce vendors, I spotted mother-of-two Lou Moujou busy selling poutargue  salted and cured fish roe packed into orange-coloured slabs  alongside foie de lotte, a marinade of monkfish liver thats known as the marine, and perhaps more ethical, foie gras. Another specialty at her stall was anchoiade au fenouil, an acquired taste for the unrefined English palate (imagine Gentlemans Relish with a slightly fishier and oilier feel, and the consistency of smooth peanut butter), but Lou said her children were brought up on it: When they were babies they preferred it to anything else.

The harbour at Cassis, girded by picturesque pastel houses (OT Cassis)

Elsewhere, there were stalls selling ceramics, books  Le Canard, a culinary history of the duck by Philippe Tredgeu, was the most prominent - and cake, with pain depice, a sweet loaf made, as are local biscuits, with lavender appearing the most popular. The busiest place was, of course, the bar.

But its fair to say Cassis makes an excellent destination with or without its gala of gluttony. The town has that rare ability to appear unspoilt, attractive and alluring even at the height of summer when its a magnet for tourists and day trippers. Narrow winding lanes packed with pattiseries, epiceries, charcuteries, specialist boutiques, bars and restaurants (be warned, youll want to stop and study each one) lead down to an almost impossibly picturesque harbour, with yachts and boats slowly bobbing in a blue sea.

All this is framed by wooded hills beyond. Despite the shops and the restaurants, it lacks the obvious and more commercial aspects of, say, Cannes or Nice and appears less of a millionaires playground than St Tropez.

The art deco chateau at Clos Sainte Magdeleine vineyard, set between the Mediterranean and Cassis (Clos Sainte Magdeleine, Cassis, Provence. All rights reserved, 2016)

To the east, the landscape begins to rise, leading to the towering sea cliffs (falaises) that overlook the town. Cassis wine comes from a small group of dedicated winemakers such as Jonathan Sack, 38, a fourth generation vintner, whose Le Clos Ste Magdeleine vineyard clings to the vertiginous slopes of Cap Canaille, Frances highest falaise. There can be few vineyards with as dramatic a setting as this. Supplying the cherry on the cake is the familys 20th-century art nouveau chateau finished in red and brown, which overlooks the sea and the town. Up to 2,500 visitors  with an increasing number coming from outside France  eagerly visit this vineyard every year.

The vines of Clos Sainte Magdeleine cling to the slopes of sea cliffs that plunge into the sea (Clos Sainte Magdeleine, Cassis, Provence. All rights reserved, 2016)

Down in the cellars of the main wine buildings, though, its all 21st century, with stainless steel vats and the latest fermentation techniques producing a wine thats exported all round the world. The Japanese, Jonathan told us, were his latest and keenest customers. It goes very well with sushi, he said. We sampled wines that seemed to distil the sunshine and Mediterranean tang evident outside.

Its also the perfect accompaniment for the seafood dishes available in a variety of bistros and restaurants that jostle for space overlooking the towns sunlit harbour. Lunch saw us at one of those, La Poissonnerie (6 quai Jean Jacques Barthelemy, 00 33 442 171 56), which apart from offering an almost endless supply of excellent fish dishes also provides the towns most memorable character.

The restaurants owner, Eric Giannettini, is the current head of a family of fish lovers and purveyors who moved here from Naples in the 1850s. A promising career studying biology in Paris ended when he came back to look after the family-run business. A superb English speaker (I prefer the English to the French. They are more direct, he says in his beguiling way), he is also a gifted raconteur. Having your meal cool slightly while you listen to him talk is a small gift to pay for such spirited and sparkling conversation.

Cassis is said to contain distinctive mineral notes as a result of its proximity to the sea (Clos Sainte Magdeleine, Cassis, Provence. All rights reserved, 2016)

A final impassioned speech recalled his contempt for the Parisian nouveau riche who, he declaimed, come to his town for their second homes but add nothing to the towns character. He ended the speech with a JFK-like flourish. One asked me what Cassis has to offer, he said, failing to mask the disdain in his voice. I said do not ask what Cassis can do for you, but ask instead what you can do for Cassis. With that and the shadow of a smile lingering on his lips, he made perfect theatrical exit, stage left.

Getting there

John Clarke was a guest of Railbookers, (railbookers.com; 020 3780 2253), which offers a five-night holiday to Avignon and Marseille from 529 per person. They can also tailor-make your holiday to include car hire and excursions.

Eurostar (eurostar.com; 01233 617575) offers direct rail routes from London St Pancras to Avignon and Marseille, up to five times a week during the summer, from 54.50 one-way.

easyJet (easyjet.com; 0330 365 5000), Ryanair (ryanair.com; 0871 246 0000) and British Airways (ba.com; 0344 493 0787) offer flights to Marseille Provence Airport.

Seeing there

Les vendanges Etoilees (les-vendanges-etoilees.com) in Cassis forms part of Fete de la Gastronomie Provence (myprovence.fr/fete-de-la-gastronomie), which will take place in 15 locations around Provence between 23 and 25 September. Tickets prices range between 10-22.

Le Clos Ste Magdeleine vineyard (clossaintemagdeleine.fr/index.php/en) on the outskirts of Cassis is open daily from April to September for tours and tastings. Prices are from 12 per person, including two wines.

More information

ot-cassis.com
The Ukrainian government and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman have supported the reduction in the starting price of Odesa port-side chemical plant at a privatization tender to $150 million, Head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPF) Ihor Bilous has said.

"We want together with the government, and the prime minister supports me, to start [the sale of the plant] albeit at a level of $150 million, but this is the starting price," he said on the air of Channel Five.

Bilous added that investors who were interested in the first tender, when the starting price was UAH 13.175 billion (about $527 million), "have not disappeared."

"Others will come when they see the starting price," the SPF head considers.

He found it difficult to predict the final price at the tender, noting the need to take into account the company's $300 million debts, as wells as the need for at least $50 million of working capital, but stressed that the final decision on the sale at the price set at the tender will be made by the Cabinet of Ministers.

As reported, the State Property Fund scheduled a tender for the sale of 99.567% in Odesa port-side chemical plant with a staring price of UAH 13.175 billion for July this year, but it failed due to no bids.
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North Korea is about as low as a country can get in the international reputation stakes. One of the worlds most secretive states, it frequently makes headlines for its nuclear testing, and its terrible human rights record.

Visitors are unlikely to see this side of the country; tourism is tightly controlled and limited to organised groups. However, the experience can take a dark turn for those who dont follow the rules, such as the American tourist jailed earlier this year for apparently trying to steal a propaganda poster.

Yet, there are destinations that are just as bad  if not worse  for tourists to visit.

The top 10 most dangerous countries in the world Show all 3 1 /3 The top 10 most dangerous countries in the world The top 10 most dangerous countries in the world 1. Syria Getty Images The top 10 most dangerous countries in the world 2. Iraq Getty Images The top 10 most dangerous countries in the world 3. Afghanistan AP

Honduras

Crime and violence are a serious problem throughout Honduras and the country has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, the FCO warns. Avoid walking around Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and other main towns and cities on mainland Honduras. Indeed, the city of San Pedro Sula is among the worlds most dangerous, with the second-highest murder rate of any city in the world (after Caracas, Venezuela). According to the FCO armed attacks on cars and buses are common, including vehicles leaving the citys airport.

Military police guarding the cathedral in San Pedro Sula (Getty Images)

Chad

Chad came absolute bottom of the 2015 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, which ranks countries in categories such as safety and security and international openness. The government has also declared a state of emergency in the Lake Chad region in response to cross-border attacks by Boko Haram.

 11 most corrupt countries in world

Lake Chad has been threatened by cross-border fighting with Boko Haram (Getty Images)

Pakistan

There are many countries we could list here for their treatment of LGBT people, but among those that criminalise homosexuality is Pakistan, where it is punishable by up to life in prison. The country was also among the 10 least peaceful in this years Global Peace Index. Even Lonely Planet, which will usually strive to find the good in even the most difficult corners of the world, says of the country: "People used to say that the risks of travel to Pakistan were overhyped by the media, but recent years have seen a marked upsurge in political and sectarian violence. Most foreign governments now advise against all travel, or all but essential travel, to large areas of the country, and in many places, foreign visitors are required to travel with an armed escort."

Eid celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan (Getty Images)

Somalia

The FCO advises against all travel to conflict-ridden Somalia, warning, Terrorist groups have made threats against westerners and those working for western organisations. The country was also named the most corrupt in Transparency International's 2015 Corruption Perceptions Index.

A member of Somalia's security service in Mogadishu (Mohamed Abdiwahab/Getty Images) (MOHAMED ABDIWAHAB / Getty Images)

Click here to view the latest travel offers, with Independent Holidays.
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This week Mastercard released its Global Destination Cities Index, which provides a ranking of the 132 most visited cities around the world.

Measured by the number of international overnight visitors, the study, now in its seventh year, predicts which countries will be the most visited in 2016.

From the AsiaPacific region to Europe to the Middle East and Africa, here are the 20 cities set to see the most visitors this year:





20) Prague, Czech Republic - 5.81 million international visitors

Prague (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

19) Shanghai, China - 6.12 million international visitors

18) Vienna, Austria - 6.69 million international visitors

17) Osaka, Japan - 7.02 million international visitors

Osaka (Getty)

16) Rome, Italy - 7.12 million international visitors

15) Taipei, Taiwan - 7.5 million international visitors

14) Milan, Italy - 7.65 million international visitors

Terrace suites at the Mandarin Oriental

13) Amsterdam, Netherlands - 8 million international visitors

12) Barcelona, Spain - 8.20 million international visitors

The University of Barcelona, which welcomes a large number of Erasmus students every year (Getty iStock)

11) Hong Kong, China - 8.37 million international visitors

10) Seoul, South Korea - 10.20 million international visitors

9) Tokyo, Japan - 11.70 million international visitors

Tokyo's Shinjuku district

8) Istanbul, Turkey - 11.95 million international visitors

7) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 12.02 million international visitors

6) Singapore - 12.11 million international visitors

Singapore (Alamy Stock Photo)

5) New York City, USA - 12.75 million international visitors

4) Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 15.27 million international visitors

(Design by ZAS Architects / Image by Plompmozes (Design by ZAS Architects / Image by Plompmozes)

3) Paris, France - 18.03 million international visitors

2) London, England - 19.88 million international visitors

1) Bangkok, Thailand - 21.47 million international visitors

Bangkok

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.
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Like many Brits, I take a keen interest in American politics, and I watched on in horror as Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination for president. Here is a man who bullied and insulted his way through the primaries without offering any sort of substance whatsoever. Along with his deplorable statements about Mexicans, Muslims, women and virtually every other demographic under the sun, he has also demonstrated some extremely disconcerting and un-conservative policy positions on both domestic and foreign affairs.

At the height of Obamamania in 2008 when I was just 15, I was the only person at my school who backed the Republican candidate John McCain. At university in 2012, I was one of the very few students supporting Mitt Romney. George W Bush, a president almost universally reviled in the UK, is among my contemporary political heroes. My views and attitudes may have matured somewhat since 2008 but my position on the political spectrum remains unchanged: firmly right-wing.

For the first time in modern history, the Republican Party now has a presidential candidate who attacks rather than champions free trade and free markets. While the Republicans used to be known for their desire to promote democracy abroad and confront dictators, their nominee is now cosying up to Putin and questioning the validity of Nato.

Donald Trump is no conservative. Anti-trade, anti-liberty, pro-dictator and fiercely nativist; he is an authoritarian populist who occupies a unique twisted corner of the political spectrum. Despite this, however, he enjoys support in the UK, not just from a number of Ukip activists but also from many in the Tory grassroots.

As an active Tory member myself, I find it deeply disconcerting to see fellow conservatives supporting Trump's candidacy. There is a striking lack of overlap between Trump's values and the values of the Conservative Party, or indeed the Republican Party. For many it is a classic case of supporting what they see as the lesser evil, although it is hard to see in this case how Trump could possibly be the lesser evil. Clinton after all is a relatively moderate democrat and in some areas more conservative than Trump  she is no socialist firebrand like Bernie Sanders.

Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 1 /14 Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didnt know the air conditioner didnt work and sweated like dogs, and they didnt know the room was too big because they didnt have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On immigration: "I will build a great wall  and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me and Ill build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best. Theyre sending people that have lots of problems. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists." Getty Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images Donald Trump's most controversial quotes On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

Astonishingly, many on the right are welcoming Trump's hijacking of the Republican Party with open arms. In one revealing exchange with a Trump supporter (and fellow Tory), I was told that Trump would "stand up to the liberal establishment" and that by refusing to support him that meant that I too was part of this liberal elite. Never mind the fact that Trump has long been close to the Clintons and backed John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.

It is understandable that many on the right are drawn to Trump. His tough talk on terror and political correctness can be appealing, particularly when some leaders refuse to acknowledge the nature of the threat we face. But it is all just bluster and empty slogans. Far from defeating terrorists, Trump's policies would only embolden them. When President Bush embarked on the War on Terror 15 years ago, he took tough action but also made the point of stating clearly that the West was not at war with Islam as a whole and that indeed we needed Muslims on our side. Strength is not buzzwords and indiscriminate hate  it is standing up to a very real threat while preserving the principles we hold dear.

As conservatives we stand for certain values: democracy, smaller government, free markets and the rule of law. Time and time again Trump has shown little regard for these values and principles. He is poisoning our movement and corrupting our ideology. This is not about ideological purity; rather it is about saving it from oblivion. If Trumpism prevails, conservatism could forever become tainted with the stench of hate and authoritarianism. If the price of defeating it is a Clinton presidency then that is a steep price worth paying.
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Last week the fatal police shooting of Terence Crutcher made him the latest in an immeasurably long line of black men and women murdered by the police. And after footage of the shooting went viral, news broke recently that the officer who shot Crutcher will face charges of first degree manslaughter. For many, it appears this is something to celebrate. Although it will not bring Crutcher back, and there is certainly no guarantee of a conviction, this charge represents hope of justice and redemption. Perhaps this shows that the US has a racial conscience after all.

But while this charge is certainly better than no charge at all, we should be wary of seeing it as a quick-fix solution. If attention is only focused on charging an individual officer, we surely lose sight of the much bigger picture. Through this lens we might see Crutchers murder as only the fault of one trigger-happy police officer who does not see the value of black life, rather than a system that devalues black lives all over America.

This sort of discourse is in the interest of the US power structure. We are encouraged to see the murder as the fault of an individual bad cop rather than the foreseeable and predictable realities of a rotten system and a rotten police force. With the footage having gone viral, and racial inequality in the spotlight, those in power will be only too happy to individualise the problem, making this one officer the scapegoat. The charges are necessary to maintain the illusion of a racially just society.

The story of an individual bad cop helps to maintain the myth of a tolerant and post-racial society, one that doesnt need a Black Lives Matter movement. The charges create an illusion of progress, without doing the meaningful work needed to bring about real change. Rather than engaging in the introspection that the US (and the UK) so desperately needs, attention is shifted conveniently, the whole issue can then be dismissed after a single court case.

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

Individual manifestations of racism are part of the picture, but not the whole picture. Systemic racism permeates the police force particularly, and society generally. We shouldnt be given convenient excuses to forget that.

When we consider that black Americans are killed by police on an almost daily basis, it should be clear that Crutchers death is not an isolated occurrence. Black deaths at the hands of the police are so frequent that, in a news cycle that seems to be permanently on repeat, Crutchers murder is already becoming old news. As attention turns to the Charlotte killing of Keith Lamont Scott, the names might change, but the narrative remains a disturbingly familiar one.

We will not see an end to racial oppression if we only charge officers, but never change the system from which their actions arise. As the Macpherson report and subsequent reports have shown us in the UK  and as is so patently obvious in the US  our police forces are institutionally racist.

With the genealogy of US police forces stretching back to the need to control and oppress black populations through slave patrols, it should not be a surprise that racism remains deeply ingrained. Police continue to harass, abuse and murder black people every day  and although this is certainly more prevalent in the US, its a problem in the UK too.

 Terence Crutcher: Unarmed black man with his hands up killed by Tulsa police

Anti-racist efforts must remain focused on institutional change. Of course there is no reason why this cannot be reached alongside individual prosecutions, but we must see the bigger picture. Nothing hampers racial progress more than the illusion of racial progress.

So let us not be distracted by the quick (and often attractive) fix of persecuting an individual. For real racial justice, and a future where black lives matter, our efforts must focus on the disease, not just the symptoms.
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Airstrikes that hit the wrong target have always been justified or denied by the perpetrators with a rich blend of hypocrisy and lies. It was interesting to see this tradition of deliberate mendacity being not only maintained, but outdone in Syria over the last week. The US was seeking to explain how it had come to kill at least 62 Syrian soldiers fighting Isis in the besieged government-held city of Deir Ezzor a week ago and the Russians evading responsibility for an air attack on a UN aid convoy killing 20 people outside Aleppo five days later.

The explanation of US military officials was splendidly ingenious. As dutifully retailed by CNN, they said they believed a likely scenario was that the personnel hit were prisoners of the regime, perhaps military personnel being detained, although that is not certain.

The initial signs indicated that they were dressed in civilian clothing. They may not have had the typical weapons of a Syrian military unit but rather trucks with weapons mounted on top of them. It is also not known if they were deliberately placed there to potentially deceive the coalition.

 UN talks on Syria end without breakthrough

For students of war propaganda this is a wonderful piece of obfuscation. No evidence is produced for the likely scenario in which supposition is heaped on supposition. Its purpose is instead to mask, or throw in doubt over, the obvious fact that someone had committed a blunder and ordered an attack on a long established Syrian Army position near Deir Ezzor airport. This sort of smoke screen is not designed to last very long, but to blunt criticism during the first crucial few days when the story is still at the top of the news agenda. Then a few weeks or even months down the road, there can be a grudging admission of the truth, or part of it, when it will barely get a mention at the end of newscasts or be relegated to page 24 of the newspapers. An old PR adage says that the best way for the perpetrator of some disaster to limit the damage to himself or herself is to first say no story and then say old story. It still works.

The Russian explanation of the attack on the UN aid convoy on 19 September is also well worth studying as an example of the propagandists art. It is important to make your explanation detailed and interesting because it will be competing with a reality which, in the nature of war, will be murky and confusing. The Russian news agency Tass quoted a senior Russian official as saying that analysis of video records from drones of yesterdays movement of the humanitarian convoy across Aleppo territories controlled by militants has revealed new details. It is clearly seen in the video that a terrorists pickup truck with a towed large-calibre mortar is moving along with the convoy."

This was good stuff. Suggesting that there was an understandable reason to imagine they were attacking a legitimate target  though it had to be admitted that the large calibre mortar had somehow disappeared by the time of the attack. But the Russians made the mistake of producing too many exculpatory stories at the same time, claiming there were no Russian or Syrian planes in the area  in which case why suggest the legitimate target scenario? Other Russian explanations were that there had been no attack at all and, if there had been, it had been carried out by jihadis and, in any case, all the damage was done from the ground and not from the air.

The crucial point is never to leave a vacuum of information when a story is at the top of the news agenda because that vacuum will be filled by your enemies (if it has not got wide media attention it may be better to ignore it because a rebuttal may serve only to give the story legs). It does not matter if what you are spouting is nonsense because it only has to hold up for two or three days and probably less (the UN aid convoy attack was swiftly overtaken as a news story by the riots in Charlotte, North Carolina). An advantage for the propagandist is that it is easy to make up a lie, but it can take much more time and effort to convincingly refute it.

Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Show all 11 1 /11 Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Turkey's two million Syrian refugees There are already over 2.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, but their current camps can only hold 200,000 people ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Turkish citizens protest a new deal, also criticised by human rights activists, which will see refugees who arrived in Greece after March 20 be sent back to Turkey AP Photo/Emre Tazegu Turkey's two million Syrian refugees An estimated 80% of Syrian refugee children already in Turkey are unable to attend school BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Refugee children beg for water near the Turkey-Syria border. Turkey has been accused of illegally deporting asylum-seekers back to Syria BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees In Turkey, no-one from outside Europe is legally recognised as a refugee, meaning the 2016 deportations may not meet international legal standards for protecting vulnerable people BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees A refugee child cries as she is searched by police at the Syria-Turkey border, where 16 refugees (including three children) have been shot dead in the last four months BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Many refugees are living rough on the streets of cities such as Istanbul or Ankara (pictured) ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Turkish soldiers use water cannon on Syrian refugees BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Syrian refugees shelter from rain in the streets of Istanbul BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees A derelict building housing Syrian refugees in Istanbul Carl Court/Getty Images Turkey's two million Syrian refugees Turkey houses around half of all the refugees who have currently fled Syria Carl Court/Getty Images

The truth is that air attacks fail to hit the right target regularly, though not often with such diplomatically disastrous consequences as last week. Air forces emphasise that with smart bombs they can hit targets with far more accuracy than ever before, but they seldom stress that the targeting is based on intelligence which may be flawed or misinterpreted. The misinterpretation may take place far away in some operations centre or it may be some partisan local source peering through binoculars.

Most intelligence comes from local ground forces. The RAF says that the reason that it has only launched 65 airstrikes in Syria over the last nine months compared to 550 in Iraq is that it lacks partners on the ground in Syria while in Iraq it has the Iraqi Army and the Kurdish Peshmerga.

Bombing blunders have a certain amount in common in all recent wars. In 1991, I went to the Amariyah shelter in Baghdad where sometime earlier the US had dropped two smart bombs that had incinerated 400 people, mostly women and children. The US had supposed it was a command centre based on radio signals and local informants. The reliability of these spies could be judged by several disastrous attempts, based on their information, to kill Saddam Hussein and his senior lieutenants who turned out to be nowhere near at the time.

In 2009 I reported on an airstrike in three villages in Farah province in south west Afghanistan, which had killed 147 villagers. It had started when there was a fight between local Afghan police and the Taliban in which the police had come off the worst. Three of their vehicles had been destroyed. Because they were frightened  and perhaps as an act of vengeance  the police (though they must have got a US Special Forces officer to sign off on this) had called in airstrikes that had destroyed the mud brick walls of the compounds and left craters 20 feet deep. The first US military explanation of what had happened, repeated by US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates, was that the Taliban themselves were responsible.

Despite the depth of the craters and the total destruction of the villages, the US officials in Kabul claimed that the Taliban, angered by lack of support locally, had gone from house to house tossing in grenades. It was an obvious lie, but, as in Deir Ezzor and Aleppo last week, it served its purpose of obscuring what had happened for a few days.
In the speaking notes, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, the Taoiseach expressed warm 'congratulations' to British Prime Minister Cameron, who has since resigned. Photo: Chris Radburn

Taoiseach Enda Kenny prepared a draft speech welcoming Britain's decision to "remain in the EU" and congratulating the then-Prime Minister David Cameron, new documents reveal.

Mr Kenny had prepared to say he was "delighted" the UK decided to remain in the EU and described the vote as a "positive result for us all".

In the speaking notes, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, the Taoiseach expressed warm "congratulations" to British Prime Minister Cameron, who has since resigned.

"I am very pleased the United Kingdom has decided to remain a member state in the European Union. This was a very hard fought contest," the Taoiseach's statement said.

"The union must now focus on the real challenges it faces in promoting its people's prosperity and security.

"But happily, in facing these challenges, we will stand together as a union of 28 member states, ready to engage, to negotiate and to chart a way forward on behalf of all of our citizens," it added.

Minister for European Affairs Dara Murphy prepared a similar draft speech to be delivered on June 24 - the day after the referendum paving the way for Britain to leave the EU.

Outcome

Mr Murphy was to deliver the speech ahead of a meeting of Europe Ministers in Luxembourg which took place the day after the vote.

The FoI documents also reveal extensive preparation for both outcomes of the referendum.

The strategy for a 'Leave' vote included a Whatsapp group which was to be set up to allow key staff members communicate with each other about ministers' media appearances.

The schedule also showed Mr Kenny was due to contact EU and Opposition leaders on the morning of the vote result, after which he would call his own Cabinet ministers.

A questions and answers briefing note prepared before the British vote said it would "be difficult to imagine a situation" where there would be no customs border between the North and South of Ireland if the UK leaves the EU.

Contingency plans and actions were also prepared ahead of the vote.
Britain must put its list of Brexit demands on the table as soon as it invokes Article 50 to leave the European Union, Finance Minister Noonan has warned.

Mr Noonan spoke at the Irish Embassy in London before meeting Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond to discuss Brexit negotiations.

It came on the same day as UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said that he expected Article 50 to be invoked early next year.

Mr Noonan said: "Brexit holds out a possibility of damaging the UK economy. And if it damages the UK economy, it damages the Irish economy.

"There's 1.2bn worth of goods crossing the Irish Sea every week, with 400,000 jobs depending on it, so we have common interests and I want to meet him to get an insight into the approach that the British government and he himself will adopt, after they invoke Article 50.

"Because I think there's an alignment of interests, and acknowledging the fact that we have separate interests as well, we may be able to help each other.

Insight

"Then of the course there's the whole issue of Northern Ireland, the border and the peace process and so on. So we've a lot of issues to discuss."

Mr Noonan said he had "no particular insight" into when Article 50 would be invoked and believes it is a "matter for the British government", not the Irish government.

He said: "We understand that they're not going to do it this year, but there's speculation that they may do it early next year.

"Whenever they do it, they have to be clear with our colleagues in Europe about what they want.

"If there's a long ask-list, the rest of us need to know what their priorities are, as soon as Article 50 is invoked."

The Fine Gael minister confirmed that trade tariffs and cross-border trade were points of discussion with Mr Hammond.

He said: "We think it'd be pretty ludicrous to have a hard border within 40 miles of Dublin Airport, and it would be the only land border between the UK and the EU so we want to make sure things remain pretty much are they are and people can go north and south without hindrance."

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson spoke to Sky News about the anticipated time frame for Article 50, which would trigger the process of Britain leaving the EU.

The Foreign Secretary said he expected Article 50 would be invoked in early 2017 and Britain would "take back control" with a global free trade package and a deal on financial services.

"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," he said.

Meanwhile, in Cork, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said Ireland will consider a special free trade zone with the UK if Brexit results in a complex UK split from the EU and the Single Market.

But he warned: "I have said repeatedly that I just don't see any upside in Brexit for Ireland."
UK property giant Hammerson still requires clearance from the European Commission for its deals to acquire stakes in both the Ilac Centre and Pavilions Shopping Centre in Dublin.

And the the group has also told investors that Dundrum Town Centre - of which it owns 50pc - has the potential to generate annual rent of 93m by 2021. That's 42pc more than the rent potential it currently has.

Hammerson acquired 50pc stakes in Dundrum, the Ilac, and the Pavilions after paying 1.85bn for 2.6bn worth of loans connected to the developments.

Hammerson and German insurer Allianz acquired the so-called 'Project Jewel' loans from Nama, with all of the loans associated with developer Joe O'Reilly and his firm, Chartered Land.

While Allianz is now a joint owner in Dundrum, Hammerson also acquired the 50pc stakes in both the Ilac, and the Pavilions in Swords.

Irish Life owns the other 50pc of the Ilac. It also owns 25pc of the Pavilions, with IPUT owning another 25pc. Hammerson also secured sole ownership of a prime Dublin city centre development area, and development land beside the Pavilions.

Hammerson told investors in Dublin this week that Irish Life waived its pre-emption rights in relation to the Ilac, and that the pre-emption engagement with Irish Life and IPUT in relation to the Pavilions in Swords has now begun.

Both the Ilac and Pavilions stake acquisitions are subject to competition approval from the European Commission, it noted.

In February this year, the European Commission approved the acquisition of joint control of Dundrum Town Centre by Hammerson and Allianz.

However, submissions have not yet been made to the European Commission by Hammerson regarding its acquisition of the 50pc stakes in both the Ilac and the Pavilions in Swords. They will be made in due course, it's understood.

In its investor presentation, Hammerson said that Dundrum Town Centre is now the largest shopping centre in its portfolio, and the second-busiest, with a footfall of 18.3 million people a year.

The centre generates passing rent of just under 60m, and 76pc of leases at the centre are subject to upward-only rent reviews.

Hammerson said that recent rent reviews at Dundrum secured an average 11pc increase, which was ahead of expectations.

The biggest rent increase settled so far was made by Next, whose rent rose 18pc. House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer have each agreed to a 2pc rise.

Hammerson said it intends to "secure robust evidence of rental growth by 2019 to support [the] 2020 rent review cycle".

The company also wants to create more space for major space users at Dundrum, such as Penney's, BT2, H&M, Next and River Island, to meet demand to upsize their existing outlets.
Project Eagle was the 1.3bn Northern Ireland loan portfolio from Nama

AN IRISH property firm has bought a large shopping centre in Scotland which had been part of Project Eagle.

Wirefox, based in Co Down, is run by Bernard Eastwood, the grandson of former bookmaker Barney Eastwood.

It bought the Scottish property from US vulture fund Cerberus.

Wirefox director of asset management Michael Wright said it's "business as usual" at the firm following the Brexit vote.

The Southergate Centre in Dumfries was on sale for 6.75m (7.8m), but it's understood it went for less than the asking price.

Project Eagle was the 1.3bn Northern Ireland loan portfolio from Nama.

The portfolio was sold to Cerberus in 2014.

Michael Wright said the deal follows the firm's purchase of several Belfast city properties such as Longbridge House, and Oxford and Gloucester House. The company has also bought three residential developments in Scotland.
Four separate repair providers spoke to the Irish Independent and claimed that Aviva's business was pulled within six weeks of the notice being served

Car repair workers across Ireland have accused insurance group Aviva of "dismantling a gold standard in auto repair that has taken years to build".

Over the summer, Aviva insurance informed repair shops that the company would cease using their services within three months. Aviva told the Irish Independent that the move is ensure its repair service is centralised and efficient.

Documents seen by this newspaper show the company informed the repair providers it would be terminating their existing relationship within three months, but insisted the providers would continue to receive Aviva customers until the expiration of the contract.

Four separate repair providers spoke to the Irish Independent and claimed that Aviva's business was pulled within six weeks of the notice being served.

Many of the providers insist that the move will have the effect of making their businesses unviable.

One Cork based repair shop owner told the Irish Independent: "This wipes 30pc off my business straight away. I've been with Aviva for over 20 years. That 30pc is essentially the profit that I earn, so without it I really won't have a viable business."

The new firm taking over Aviva's repair operations is Accident Repair Management (ARM). The listed directors for ARM are Paul Plunkett and Robin Sutton. Mr Plunkett is a director of nine separate auto shops across the country, with premises in Wexford, Donegal, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway and Dublin. Mr Sutton is a director of three auto shops in Galway, Limerick and Dublin.

A number of repair shop owners said the decision to centralise Aviva's operations has the potential to decimate the industry. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to outstanding contractual arrangements with the insurer.

Concerns have also been raised that the move will narrow the options for consumers.

"The existing providers give a very personal service that is localised and these repair shops are well known in their areas and trusted by the local communities. Also, these shops have a lot experience in dealing with people who in many cases have been through a traumatic experience.

"That personal touch and trust now will no longer be available to those people because of Aviva's decision to change," said one repair shop owner based in the Midlands.

Aviva said in a statement "Aviva does not believe there will be negative implications for the auto-repairs industry in Ireland as we are still repairing the same volume of cars in the market."
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin has met with Foreign Minister of the Federation of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis Mark Brantley at the 71st UN General Assembly, and the parties signed an agreement between Ukraine and Saint Kitts and Nevis on the mutual abolition of visa requirements, the press service of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations has said.

"The provisions of this treaty provide that the citizens of Ukraine and the citizens of the Federation of St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis, using valid travel documents, can enter, exit, transit and stay up to 90 days without a visa in the territories of St. Kitts and Nevis and Ukraine respectively," the report reads.

The implementation of the document provisions, according to the authority, will contribute to the development of bilateral relations between the states, allow establishing contacts in socio-economic, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres.
Lovin Dublin founder Niall Harbison has accused Failte Ireland of plagiarism and has sought legal advice over the State bodys use of its Dublin- a breath of fresh air logo.

Mr Harbison said it was tough having your every move replicated by a State body in Visit Dublin.

The allegations came as a shock to Failte Ireland, which said it was mystified by the statement.

"Failte Ireland is somewhat surprised at Nialls comments. Our new Dublin brand and logo is almost a year old and Niall was a member of the Grow Dublin Taskforce and would have had an opportunity to provide his own input when the logo was being designed, a spokesman for Failte Ireland told the Irish Independent.

However, the Lovin Group boss denied his input in the design of the logo.

Thats not true; I sat in on the first session and then left immediately. I was invited to join it so I sat in on the first session and then left, Mr Harbison told Independent.ie.

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The tourism body launched the Dublin - A breath of fresh air in October of last year. The campaign was started to reposition the city and county and secure its appeal to overseas for the long-term.

The 1m campaign is funded by Failte Ireland, four local Dublin authorities and a collection of private-sector partners.

Failte Ireland said the two parties had done a pilot piece of work that had been co-branded. The State's tourism arm also said Lovin' Dublin had produced content for it, which had been shared through its channels.

"For over a year since the new brands launch he has never raised any issue with us regarding its look or design. He had plenty of opportunities to do so as he has been working a lot with our Dublin team over the last year or so while his Lovin Dublin brand and our own Dublin  A breath of Fresh Air brand have teamed up on a number of occasions," the spokesman said.

Failte claims the pair had worked quite closely and had a good relationship, with Mr Harbison making proposals to the body as early as a month ago.

"Indeed, as recently as last month we had communications from Niall with a view to discussing how we might work with his Lovin brand across all of our three brands (Wild Atlantic Way, Irelands Ancient East and Dublin) in 2017 and he never raised any issue regarding the logo. In that context, his tweet is slightly disappointing and somewhat mystifying," the spokesman said.

Mr Harbison said he was unsure if this was the case.

It is understood the entrepreneur had approached Failte Ireland with suggestions but the body wanted to postpone the talks until 2017.
Ireland has shaved 0.5pc off its growth forecast for 2016 as well as 2017 ahead of a budget due next month that will aim to "Brexit-proof" the economy from further damage, the minister for public expenditure said on Thursday.

Ireland is considered especially vulnerable to the knock-on effects of Britain's decision to leave the European Union due to their close trade ties, even though the export-focussed Irish economy has staged a strong recovery after completing an international bailout in 2013.

Dublin had predicted gross domestic product growth of 4.9pc this year and 3.9pc in 2017 before Britons voted in a June 23 referendum to quit the EU - a move that prompted Irish Finance Minister Michael Noonan to flag a likely 0.5pc cut in the forecast for next year.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe told Reuters that Noonan had brought updated forecasts to the cabinet this week that confirmed an identical hit for 2016.

While this does not impact Ireland's budgetary plans for 2017 and 2018, it could reduce the 9.1 billion euros (7.81 billion pounds) of so-called "fiscal space" earmarked for tax cuts and spending increases for the following three years, Donohoe said.

"We can't quantify what that is yet for two reasons. The first one is, we have to be very careful looking at forecasts for 2019, 2020, 2021 and beyond, given the uncertainty there at the moment," Donohoe said in an interview.

"The second reason is we are trying to put in place measures that might mitigate some of the growth shock that we might face because of what's happening with Brexit ... - measures to grow the productive capacity of our country in the mid-term to act as a buffer to the inevitable challenges our economy will face."

Donohoe and Noonan are therefore examining how their Oct. 11 budget for 2017 can "Brexit-proof" the economy.

CHALLENGES

Spending requests from ministers seeking extra funds for state industrial bodies or concerned about the impact of the weakened British pound on exporters are all being anchored around Brexit, Donohoe said.

For this reason Donohoe said he had committed 43pc of all capital spending till 2021 to July's plan to tackle Ireland's chronic housing shortage because larger cities "will not have the ability to grow in line with their potential" without it.

Donohoe said similar infrastructure deficits after years of underspending meant that if fewer funds were available in future years than expected, he would favour prioritising capital spending over current spending or tax cuts.

The government increased its capital budget for the next six years by almost 20pc in June - just before the Brexit vote - when Donohoe said he would consider an even higher level of investment at a review due next year, depending on economic growth. On Thursday he said any further increase was unlikely.

Some clarity on Britain's intentions regarding its future relationship with the EU's single market would greatly help that kind of planning but, regardless of the nature of Brexit, the consequences for Ireland will be difficult, Donohoe said.

"I approach all these (budget) discussions with the mindset of 'we're going to have challenges'. What we are working to quantify is the magnitude of those challenges," he said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she will not invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty that launches divorce proceedings before 2017. She has given no details on Britain's negotiating position but British media have speculated that the country could leave the EU's single market, a scenario likely to harm its trade ties with the bloc, including Ireland.
The net asset value of investment funds resident in Ireland hit almost 1.5 trillion during the second quarter of the year, according to the Central Bank.

It said it represents a 4.3pc, or 61bn rise, on the previous quarter. A strong quarter for global shares accounted for 11bn of the rise, following revaluations of equity holdings of investment funds domiciled here.

Total revaluations - which included debt holdings - resulted in a 39bn rise, while the amount of money that flowed to investment funds here hit 22bn in the three months to the end of June. The total, as opposed to net assets, of investment funds resident in Ireland in the period amounted to 1.78 trillion.

"Over the second quarter, investment funds experienced a positive revaluation of 3pc overall, although this was higher for bond funds at 6.8pc," according to the Central Bank.

"Equity funds were broadly flat over the quarter with a positive revaluation of just 1pc. Hedge funds, in contrast, reported a negative revaluation of 1.7pc during the quarter," it said.

The bank said the 11bn positive revaluation in equity holdings of investment funds were generated "despite global equity and currency market fluctuations towards the end of the quarter following the Brexit vote".

Shares issued by US non-financial corporations experienced a positive revaluation of 8bn, it said. But holdings of shares issued by UK non-financial corporations recorded a negative revaluation of 667m.

Overall debt holdings saw a 9pc rise over the quarter, driven by transaction inflows of 33.5bn, according to the data.

Investment funds in Ireland held 174bn of UK government debt at the end of the quarter, accounting for 51pc of total government debt holdings in the period.

Inflows of 12bn to UK government bonds were recorded in the quarter, continuing a positive trend in prior quarters.

Sterling-denominated investment funds account for 21pc of the Irish-domiciled funds in the period. Overall, net transactions of 7.3bn flowed into these funds during the quarter, the bank said.

However, sterling-denominated equity and hedge funds, which between them accounted for 28pc of the total sterling-denominated funds in the period, reported a 974m net transaction outflow during the quarter.

As at end of the second quarter, holdings by households (including non-profit institutions), and non-financial corporations, accounted for 9pc of the total net asset value of Ireland-domiciled investment funds, of which just 1pc was reported on a first counterparty basis as been held by these entities in Ireland. Holders are reported on a first counterparty basis. Therefore, holdings by households may actually be higher, as some of those holdings are held in nominee accounts within banks and or other financial intermediaries.
Here are the main business stories from this morning's papers:

Irish Independent

* 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.

* Ireland will escape being hit with an extra 280m in EU budget contributions due to the 26pc spike in the country's wealth which was dubbed "leprechaun economics".

The huge surge in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) caused by multinational companies' accounting changes was revealed in late July. What was expected to be a 7.8pc increase in GDP for the year 2015, was suddenly shown as a 26pc increase.

* UK property giant Hammerson still requires clearance from the European Commission for its deals to acquire stakes in both the Ilac Centre and Pavilions Shopping Centre in Dublin.

And the the group has also told investors that Dundrum Town Centre - of which it owns 50pc - has the potential to generate annual rent of 93m by 2021. That's 42pc more than the rent potential it currently has.

The Irish Times

* A number of multinational catering firms are benefiting from a temporary tax incentive introduced in 2011 to help the tourism industry.

According to a report in The Irish Times, the 9pc reduced VAT rate is being used by companies like Aramark, Google's Compass, and Sodexo.

* The Comptroller and Auditor General has said Nama was never designed to make a profit, despite the bad bank saying it has lost out on 220m on the sale of Norther Irish assets last week.

In documents seen by the Times the C&AG also defended its role as the only auditor of Nama.

* Three quarters of UK firms are considering Ireland as a gateway into Europe following the UK's decision to leave the European Union.

A survey from 200 business leaders in the UK also points to a lot of contingency planning, with nearly 60pc saying they have already began planning ahead of Brexit.

Irish Examiner

* Irish mobile security company Adaptive Mobile has uncovered an Apple hack that affected thousands worldwide.

Through work with North American clients the company revealed the hack after months of research.

* Ireland received a welcome jobs boost on Thursday after three company's announced the creation of 250 new roles.

The new jobs are based across Ireland with Glanbia, KN Network Services, and Biopharma Engineering.

* A large majority of UK firms are open to switching to Dublin once Article 50 is triggered and begins the process of the UK leaving the EU.

According to a new study from William Fry 75pc of respondents said they were considering Ireland as a gateway to Europe.
Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell-OConnor with Biopharma Engineering directors and staff yesterday. Photo: Naoise Culhane

three companies announced yesterday that they are to add to their Irish headcount.

The State's biggest telecommunications company, Eir, is to add 100 new jobs as the firm ramps up its operation for further rolling 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 (KNNS) 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 KNNS 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."

KNNS employs around 1,500 people in Ireland and the latest spate of jobs will add to the firm's relationship with Eir.

"KNNS has worked closely with Eir since 2004 and has expertise in the rollout of fibre broadband networks, not only in Ireland but internationally," KNNS managing director Damien Gallagher said.

Read More:

Meanwhile, shopping search engine Yroo is to create 33 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.

"We've seen such a rapid adoption in a very short period of time because we're 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."

Yroo lets customers shop for 100 million items from over 7,000 merchants with the service now supporting eight different languages.

Elsewhere Irish firm Biopharma Engineering is to add 70 graduate jobs in Dublin and Cork, primarily in the areas of engineering and project management.

The Cork-headquartered firm has doubled its workforce over the last year.

Biopharma co-founder John O'Reilly said the firm's new Dublin office allows it to service clients better.

"Our company has delivered capital projects worth more than 500m for our clients and we continue to scale in terms of markets, capabilities and ambition."

Enterprise Ireland cleantech manager Stephen Hughes praised the company for nailing down tenders for jobs in Ireland. "The reputation of Ireland as a supplier of high-end engineering services to the world's pharmaceutical industries has been built over time through high levels of investment and continues to grow," Mr Hughes said.

"Biopharma Engineering has developed its own reputation through winning many major contracts in Ireland and is now winning business overseas with targeted customers in a number of key markets," he said.
David McRedmond, the former chief executive of TV3, is to be the new chief of An Post, the State-owned postal company that has faced a fundamental shift in its business as consumers continue to migrate to digital communications.

Mr McRedmond succeeds Donal Connell, who retired last May after 10 years in the role.

Mr McRedmond, who will serve a seven-year term from the beginning of October, said his job will be to ensure that the postal company meets the "seismic market changes head-on with boldness and creativity".

An Post maintains a network of 1,150 rural and urban post offices - 250 fewer than the 2007 peak. It has a number of strong subsidiaries, icluding the Gift Voucher Shop, whose One4all vouchers dominate the market.

However, it has struggled to secure a major take-up in the new Eircode system and traditional mail volumes are expected to be 50pc below their 2007 peak in less than five years.

Mr McRedmond, who served a chief executive of independent broadcaster TV3 from 2006 until its sale to Liberty Global last year, said it is "an honour and a rare opportunity "to be able to lead such a major organisation.

"The company has a magnificent history and is a great and much-loved brand," said the one time candidate for the position of Director General of RTE.

"My job will be to ensure its future is as bright as its past, meeting the seismic market changes head-on with boldness and creativity.

"I have been convinced by the board's dedication to the task of ensuring An Post is central to a dynamic, open Irish economy."

Read More:

Mr McRedmond, who was appointed after a competitive search process overseen by the board, joins An Post with a diverse corporate background. Before his appointment to TV3, he was commercial director of Eircom (now Eir) and managing director of Eircom Enterprises.

Mr McRedmond began his career in retail, working as an industry executive in the UK and United States where he held senior roles such as operations director of Waterstones and managing director of WH Smith Travel Retail.

The Dubliner is a director of the Ireland Funds and non-executive chairman of Powerscourt Media (Ireland), the public relations consultancy. An Post chairman Dermot Divilly said he was "delighted" to have attracted a "business leader of the experience" of Mr McRedmond to lead An Post through the "challenging industry and technology environment" in the years ahead.

"I have been impressed by his ability to lead transformational change in companies across several adjacent sectors such as retailing, telecoms and media," said Mr Devilly.
THOUSANDS of people face the prospect of "unexpected hardship" in retirement, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said.

It blamed what it called official indifference and the complacency of financial institutions for eroding the value of pensions.

Senior ICTU official Fergus Whelan said there was now an urgent need for a universal pension scheme. This should be mandatory for all workers who do not already have a supplementary pension plan.

Speaking ahead of a major ICTU conference on the future of pensions provision next Thursday, Mr Whelan said 200,000 people face hardship in retirement.

"It is our clear view that only a new mandatory scheme for all workers and employers stands any chance of success."

He said the universal system in place in Australia was a good model.

Mr Whelan said many at work today will slide into poverty in retirement, while others will barely make ends meet.

"But this will not happen because they failed to make adequate provision for their retirement. Instead, they are victims of poor regulatory oversight, official indifference and complacency in the financial sector."

He said the Pensions Authority's most recent report reveals that from a peak of 1,500 healthy defined benefit pension schemes a few years ago, with nearly 300,000 active members, only 429 vulnerable schemes remain, covering little more than 100,000 active members.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar said he was planning to make a priority of reforming the pension system after the Budget. But major change will be extremely difficult to implement, he said.
TWITTER shares soared over 18% on reports that tech giants including Google are circling the social media site.

Twitter is said to be in talks with several companies and could receive a bid soon, business broadcaster CNBC reported, citing sources.

Google and Salesforce.com are said to be among the firms eyeing the microblogging site.

US-listed Twitter shares were up 3.38 US dollars at 21.95 US dollars per share.

The social media site has faced growing criticism over earnings momentum, amid sluggish user and advertising growth.

Poor performance even prompted co-founder Jack Dorsey to return to the helm as chief executive back in 2015.

Twitter has since made a notable move towards video and live streaming partnerships under his leadership.

Still, the company reported its weakest revenue growth since its stock market flotation in 2013 back in July, with second quarter revenue rising 20% to $602m

It managed to add three million new users, which only accounted for a 1% jump from the first quarter.
A handful of European tech firms are testing the appetite for initial public offerings (IPOs), taking their lead from a modest rebound in listings in the US after a two-year slump.

Danish credit card payments processor Nets and Dutch online food ordering firm Takeaway.com plan to list on their home markets this month while Spanish mobile phone tower business Telxius and German online pharmacy Shop Apotheke Europe are eyeing IPOs in October.

According to data from venture market research firm CB Insights, European tech IPOs have been thin on the ground in recent months while venture capital has also crumbled.

The rush last year to mint "unicorns" - firms valued at over $1bn - led to a worldwide crash in venture capital funding that is continuing to drag on the creation of new startups, especially in Europe, while weighing on stock markets.

The market for new tech listings in Europe retreated from five IPOs in the second quarter of 2015 to just one a quarter later and it has attracted only modest interest since then, with many planned listings being cancelled.

While not yet a flood of household names, larger tech firms in Europe are watching the upcoming listings to see if prices hold up enough to justify their own IPOs, rather than letting investors cash out through a merger with a bigger company.

"The market is in a place where quite a few European companies can see IPOs happening at a premium compared to their last investment rounds," said venture investor Alexander Frolov at Target Global.

Europe remains a hot-bed of very early stage "seed" investments, typically under 1m, which account for 49pc of all funding rounds in Europe, far more than in other regions.

But the region lags well behind the United States and Asia in terms of larger investments for companies looking to expand.

This is partly due to far lower levels of investment in the region compared to Silicon Valley or keen Asian tech markets.

A run of successful European tech IPOs means venture capitalists could be back with bigger investments in the next generation of bright ideas. That's not happening yet.

Instead, venture funding in Europe fell to $2.8bn in the second quarter, down 20pc from the first quarter of the year, according to an analysis of funding trends by KPMG International and CB Insights.

That's just a tenth of the $27.4bn in global venture capital funding last quarter.

North America boasted six times more funding and Asia three times as much as Europe.

The availability of capital translates into the size of new tech players emerging in each region. Industry insiders and academic experts say the biggest issue for Europe is the funding gap that exists between firms achieving early success and proven winners with track records and sustained growth prospects that can become global players.

A major hurdle keeping European firms from becoming the world's next Facebook or Alibaba is the far more risk adverse nature of public investors, and a tradition of private market investors selling companies early through merger deals. (Reuters)
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine at a meeting on Thursday supported the draft resolution No. 5157 by 230 votes to dismiss 412 judges from office.

"Our faction decided to support the draft regulation and to allow nearly five hundred judges to exercise their right to resign," the author of the draft resolution from Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction, Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy and Justice Ruslan Kniazevych said during discussion of the relevant draft resolution.

The decree provides termination of one of judges due to their reaching the age of 65, two judges - for failure to fulfill their duties for health reasons, and six - in connection with the submission of resignation on their own. The remaining 403 judges were dismissed in connection with their submission of resignation. The list includes nine judges of the Supreme Court of Ukraine, six judges of the Supreme Administrative Court, 18 judges of the Supreme Economic Court and eight judges of the Supreme Special Court on reviewing civil and criminal cases.
A job advert for a mate on a small passenger ferry has asked for applicants "who cannot get out of bed in the morning" and "who are easily bored" not to apply.

Jeremy Clarke, general manager of the Gosport Ferry in Hampshire, posted the advert for a "yard mate or pontoon boy" which states that the role would also not suit: "Those of a delicate position. Those who enjoy idling.Those who are not willing to learn. Those who simply cannot take instruction.

"Those who enjoy non-prescription drugs. Those who drink excessively. Those who cannot get out of bed in the morning. Those who do not enjoy the idea of being a sailor. Those who are easily bored."

Mr Clarke said that he posted the advert because he was fed up with time-wasters unwilling to carry out the work required.

He said: "It was an effort to reduce the wasted time spent interviewing people who weren't suited to the job. I am sure they are out there but I haven't been able to get the right people."

Mr Clarke explained that although the job had unattractive elements such as cleaning up vomit on a Saturday night, the company provided good prospects and a clear career structure up to the position of ferry captain within 10 years.

He added that the advert had asked for candidates aged between 16 and 22 to enable them time to work their way up the career ladder.

He said: "To become a good captain takes a lot of time but I need them to know that it's not particularly agreeable work but we all have to start somewhere and for the right boy or girl it's a great opportunity."

Mr Clarke added that he currently had about 20 applications for the position including from applicants aged in their 40s.

The Gosport Ferry was started in 1875 and carries more than 3 million passengers each year across Portsmouth Harbour, enabling them to avoid the 14-mile round trip by road.
The comedy genius behind Monty Pythons Terry Jones has been diagnosed with dementia.

The news came as Bafta Cymru announced he had been given the special award for outstanding contribution to film and television.

A representative for the writer and director said: "Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia.

"This illness affects his ability to communicate and he is no longer able to give interviews. Terry is proud and honoured to be recognised in this way and is looking forward to the celebrations."

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Organisers are hoping he will still be able to attend the ceremony next Sunday night at St David's Hall in Cardiff.

He will be accompanied by a family representative but is not expected to speak at the event.

Known to many as one of the Pythons, he was born in Colwyn Bay and has gone on to write and direct drama, present documentaries, compose operas and write short stories.

Hannah Raybould, Director of BAFTA Cymru, said: We are very much looking forward to celebrating the work of Terry Jones during the ceremony with a look back at his work from 1969 to the present day.

Jones and the other Pythons got together in 1969 and wrote and performed Monty Pythons Flying Circus until 1974.

He co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Terry Gilliam, and was sole director on two further Monty Python movies, Life of Brian and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Original Song Written for a Film in 1984.

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He directed Personal Services and in 1989 wrote and directed Erik The Viking.

Later Jones wrote, directed and played Toad in The Wind In The Willows and also wrote the screenplay for Jim Hensons Labyrinth.

Video of the Day

He also co-wrote and directed Absolutely Anything last year.

Jones has presented numerous TV documentaries and his first foray into the world of opera, Evil Machines, based on a collection of his short stories, premiered in Lisbon in 2008 and a crowd-funded publication of the book was later released.

He has recently completed his latest novel The Tyrant & the Squire which completes a trilogy.

The book is being launched through crowd-funding publishers Unbound,nwhich first launched his work five years ago, once enough pledges have been made.

The firm said: "Completing this trilogy has meant a great deal to Terry and wed love to be able to present a finished copy to him in time for his 75th birthday next February."

The 74-year-old secretly married his second wife Anna Soderstrom in a ceremony in London.

He became a father again at the age of 69 to his daughter Siri.

He was previously married to his wife of 42 years, and mother to his two older children, Alison Telfer.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Janette Benaddi, Helen Butters, Niki Doeg and Frances Davies became record breakers when they rowed across the Atlantic (Welcome to Yorkshire/PA)

The story of four working mothers who became record-breakers when they rowed across the Atlantic could now be told in a movie.

Helen Butters, Janette Benaddi, Frances Davies and Niki Doeg received a heroes' welcome on their return to their home county of Yorkshire after completing the 3,000-mile race in February.

The four friends - known as the Yorkshire Rows - became the oldest women to row across an ocean when they crossed the finish line of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in Antigua.

On Friday, they confirmed a book telling their story - Four Mums In A Boat - will be published by a division of HarperCollins UK next year.

And they said the London-based production company Archery Pictures had optioned the film rights.

The women Tweeted: "@yorkshirerows are thrilled to announce our story is being published by @HQstories @HarperCollins you can preorder now!"

And they added: "@yorkshirerows r excited 2 announce archery pictures have optioned our story for a movie."

The women, who all have children at the same school and became friends after taking up rowing at a club in York, formed the plan to take part in the race around three years ago at a boat club dinner.

During their 67 days at sea, the team encountered a hurricane, power failures, attacks from flying fish, seasickness and injuries.

They also revealed they had to row naked after running out of clean clothes and said an equipment failure had left them steering by hand and one rower down at all times.

After their return, the women laughed about which film stars could play them in any movie.

Benaddi, 51, and Butters, 45, joked that they wanted Renee Zellwegger and Kate Winslet to play them but said they would have to master a Yorkshire accent first.

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Archery's Pip Williams told deadline.com: "I was truly inspired by the story of these women who prove that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it.

"Their positive outlook and humour brings warmth to what is ultimately a hugely formidable challenge and achievement."
Will Young with his dance partner Karen Clifton, who will be paying tribute to David Bowie when he takes his first spin on Strictly Come Dancing at the weekend. Photo: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Naga Munchetty with her dance partner Pasha Kovalev as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 20, 2016. Photo credit should read: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.

Ore Oduba with his dance partner Joanne Clifton as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. Photo: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire

Tameka Empson with her dance partner Gorka Marquez as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. Photo: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Greg Rutherford with his dance partner Natalie Lowe as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 20, 2016. Photo credit should read: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.

Louise Redknapp with her dance partner Kevin Clifton as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. Photo: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Danny Mac with his dance partner Oti Mabuse as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 20, 2016. Photo credit should read: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only Undated BBC handout photo of Melvin Odoom with his dance partner Janette Manrara as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 20, 2016. Photo credit should read: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.

Self-confessed "control freak" Naga Munchetty who has admitted to having reservations about appearing on Strictly Come Dancing as "spinning around in sequins" could be at odds with her serious persona as a newsreader. Photo: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire

Laura Whitmore with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice as they prepare for this year's Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1. Photo: Jay Brooks/BBC/PA Wire

The time is nearly upon us: the 14th series of Strictly Come Dancing will begin tonight at 9pm on BBC One.

What can we expect?

There are so many contestants during this opening show that their performances have been split over two nights: half dancing on Friday and the remainder taking on the dancefloor on Saturday.

Although the couples will still be trying to impress the judges, there's no public vote this week  so no eliminations and hopefully fewer nerves in the room.

The couples have had the past three weeks to practice their first routine and get in shape since the series launched at the end of August.

Who are the contestants?

There are 15 brand new contestants taking to the floor for Strictly 2016, but the most talked about so far are Will Young, who is no stranger to televised talent contests after winning Pop Idol on the brink of the Millennium, and Ed Balls, who very much is a stranger to televised talent contests despite previously being an MP.

Other hotly tipped celebrities include Louise Redknapp and Laura Whitmore.

Who will be hosting?

Familiar favourites Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will return to host the series as usual, while Zoe Ball will present It Takes Two, the Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show, on Monday at 6.30pm on BBC Two.

What about the judges?

This year offers your last opportunity to witness Len Goodman deliver his delightful and damning verdicts to the contestants before he steps down from Strictly. He'll still be the lead judge until his swansong and is joined this year by the usual team of Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell, all of whom are staying put.

Video of the Day

And when is Saturday's show?

Tune in to BBC One at 6.30pm on Saturday to catch up with the rest of the contestants.

What's happened so far?

We got a hint of the contestants' dancing prowess at the launch show in August, but according to resident Strictly ogler Michael Hogan Claudia Fragapane, Will Young, Louise Redknapp, Greg Rutherford, Daisy Lowe and Laura Whitmore are the ones who are within a chance of doing well.

Off stage, everybody's sharing their views on this year's most intriguing contestant, Ed Balls. Tonioli delivered the damning statement that Balls was "going to be the next Ann Widdecombe".

"I don't think the nation is ready for another one," he added. "I still haven't recovered from the first one. I think I called her the Dalek in drag. He has to top that. Ed  you have to top the Dalek in drag. I want you to be like a hippopotamus in Fantasia."

While Tonioli ruled out Balls's chance of winning ("As much as being elected prime minister"), the former MP wrote a response in The Telegraph on Friday: "Now the hippos in Fantasia are actually quite good, so if Katya can do for me what Disney did for them, our dance will be a triumph."

Balls will be dancing the waltz for his Strictly debut.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (left), Maisie Williams, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner and Kit Harrington of HBO's "Game of Thrones" pose backstage with their award for Oustanding Drama Series at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Reuters/Mike Blake

Game of Thrones actor Alexander Siddig is not very happy about the unceremonious way in which his character, Dornish ruler Doran Martell, was killed off in the first episode of season six.

In fact, the actor is so unimpressed, he has suggested that the showrunners eliminated Martell several episodes earlier than intended  either because Siddig was making the character too popular, or because the actor inadvertently offended someone on set.

There was an enormous amount of fan excitement when I got named to be on the show, and everyone was like, Oh my god, yes, Doran Martell. Hes going to be great as Doran Martell. That might have been the kiss of death, the actor told Startrek.com in a new interview.

Maybe they didnt want quite that much attention on that character. Maybe they thought, Well, lets prove that were going to stray from the books. Were going to do something else, and he will be our first example of that. So maybe that could have been the case. Or maybe I just screwed up. Maybe I said the wrong thing to the wrong person.

Whether you loved or loathed the Dorne-set elements of last seasons Game of Thrones, the first episode of the 2016 series was an undeniably shocking one: Martell and his guard Areo Hotah were murdered by the passionate, warlike Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) and one of her three dangerous daughters, Tyene.

The additional murder of Martells son Trystane (carried out by Ellarias other two daughters) meant that an entire dynasty  one of the leading Westerosi houses  was effectively wiped out.

For fans of George RR Martins books, in which the Martells are still alive and playing an active role in several plotlines, it was a particularly significant change.

But the shows divergence from the novels (which it has now overtaken) has arguably increased public speculation about future storylines, creating a secretive climate in which fervent speculation, spoilers and leaks are the order of the day.

Expand Close Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (left), Maisie Williams, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner and Kit Harrington of HBO's "Game of Thrones" pose backstage with their award for Oustanding Drama Series at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Reuters/Mike Blake / Facebook

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Whatsapp Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (left), Maisie Williams, Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner and Kit Harrington of HBO's "Game of Thrones" pose backstage with their award for Oustanding Drama Series at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Reuters/Mike Blake

According to Siddig, this culture is part of a wider, internet age-led trend.

I think the secrecy is kind of understandable, but also there is an element of hype about it that makes it the more secretive it is, the more special it is. And certainly Game of Thrones plays that, he said.

Controversially, the actor also indicated that he believes HBO may have deliberately leaked episodes, perhaps in order to increase the media furore surrounding the show.

So, for example, last season, I believe that the first few episodes were stolen and downloaded online, and everybody got to see them before the show actually aired, and everybody was furious at HBO and whatnot, he said.

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I am almost positive that those four episodes were leaked by HBO themselves. So there is an enormous amount of spin going on. I cant tell you that for sure; thats just my opinion, but its games; everybodys playing these games.

Four episodes of Game of Thrones were leaked online ahead of the start of the 2015 season. Since then the show, which is one of the world's most pirated, has refused to issue advance press screeners.

HBO have not yet commented on the allegations, but the network would not have made any money from the leaked episodes.
After much anticipation Gogglebox Ireland finally hit screens on Thursday night and it didn't disappoint.

Gogglebox is one of those rare shows that people of all ages can happily consume. The premise may seem strange (you're essentially watching other people watch TV... on TV). But their candid, funny and often revealing reactions are what makes it so enjoyable. The UK version is already popular with Irish viewers but now we have our very own and after weeks of anticipation viewers agreed that the show lived up to its hype.

TV3 introduced viewers to ten households, including the 'new O'Donovan Brothers' the Tully twins from Cavan, Cabra gal pals Jamie, Lindsay, Ashley and Grainne, as well as Castleknock retirees Angela and Eileen and Liberties duo Tracie and Anita. Their analysis of the week's TV was as Irish as it gets with comments on everyone's appearance from Sharon Ni Bheolain to Cher and arguments over cups of tea.

"Let me in my seat" how many households does this happen in? #GoggleboxIRL  TV3 (@TV3Ireland) September 22, 2016

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It shows us that it's nice to sit back and watch TV with your best friends and a glass of wine. While at times the families seemed a little awkward, we're sure that their confidence will grow as the series progresses.

The first episode was an instant hit with viewers and pulled in a total of 392,000. 152,000 on average watched the show on TV3 with viewing figures peaking at 189,000. It was particularly popular with the 15-44 age group, commanding a 19 percent viewing share.

Guarantee those Cavan lads used the one bag for the two cups of tae. #GoggleboxIRL  Frank Craig (@FrankCraig13) September 22, 2016

It also got people talking on Twitter with #GoggleboxIRL among the top trending topic on the social media app last night. Moments like Eileens Michael Tea Higgins tea cosy, the Cavan twins battling a fly and the Cabra girls description of Marty Morrissey as looking like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever were particular highlights.

Although some people weren't happy that the girls couldn't understand Morrissey's appeal.

There were tears too, of the opposite kind, as viewers were emotionally moved by scenes from Smalltown, which tugged on the heart strings of homes all over the country.

We're already counting down to next week's episode.

The boys have a grand setup #GoggleboxIRL pic.twitter.com/wFQMZJjbvj  Beat 102 103 (@beat102103) September 22, 2016

Will that pesky fly make a return?
Armed gardai arrested a 25-year-old man who was carrying an axe on the grounds of a hospital in Cork.

Local gardai and members of the Regional Support Unit attended the incident on the grounds of a hospital at Sarsfield Court, Glanmire, Cork on Tuesday September 20 2016 at approximately 4.15pm.

Gardai said a bladed instrument was recovered at the scene.

The arrested man (25) was brought to Mayfield Garda Station and later charged in connection with the investigation.

He appeared before Cork City District Court on Wednesday September 21 where he was remanded on bail to appear at Cork City District Court at a later date.
Gardai from Ardnacrusha were called to the scene, which was later sealed off. Stock picture

A major investigation has been launched after a bone, believed to be human, was discovered near a river in Co Clare.

The Irish Independent has learned that the suspected shin bone was found in Doonass, Clonlara, at 1.30pm yesterday. Gardai from Ardnacrusha were called to the scene, which was later sealed off. Forensics officers examined and photographed the site, which is close to the River Shannon.

The suspected body part was then brought to University Hospital Limerick where tests will be carried out to establish if the remains are human.

A source said: "This was a most unusual discovery. The bone was found near a river but it was on dry land. All indications are that it was a human shin bone."

A Garda spokesperson said: "We are investigating a possible human bone found at a river bank at 1.30pm on Thursday. The scene has been photographed and it's been taken away to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick to verify if it is human."

The scene is near Limerick city where a number of people have been reported missing over the last 20 years.
A DUBLIN taxi driver has appeared in court in Northern Ireland charged with human trafficking.

Chee Seng Chan, 51, from Greenlawn, Dublin, is accused of arranging and facilitating the travel of a woman into the UK for sexual exploitation last May.

Speaking through an interpreter, the Malaysian national told a judge at Belfast Magistrates' Court he understood the charge.

Chan was arrested in Belfast by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's (PSNI) human trafficking branch.

A detective constable from the specialist unit said he believed he could connect him to the charge.

Outlining objections to bail, the officer alleged Chan was a member of an organised crime gang.

Police also had concerns he could flee the jurisdiction to avoid a lengthy jail term, if convicted; could interfere with the main witness in the case and may attempt to destroy evidence presently online.

The detective said: "We believe he is part of an organised crime gang and as such could obtain documents that would enable him to leave the island of Ireland."

District Judge Fiona Bagnall was told PSNI investigations were continuing and that attempts were being made to identify other alleged gang members and potential victims.

Interpol is also involved.

The PSNI officer said he believed Chan could reoffend if bailed.

"Human trafficking is lucrative and we believe, if released on bail, he would take that up again," he said.

Throughout the brief hearing, dark-haired, unshaven Chan stood in the dock with his arms by his side flanked by two prison guards.

His defence solicitor Mark Crawford described the case as "weak".

The lawyer said police had not yet obtained a "crucial" piece of evidence, namely a signed statement from the alleged victim, who is understood to be living in Taiwan.

Chan has strong ties to the Republic of Ireland, where he works as a taxi driver, the court heard.

Mr Crawford added: "He is an Irish citizen. He has an Irish passport. He obviously likes it here; he likes the weather."

Refusing bail, the judge said there was a genuine risk of flight and that potential evidence could be pursued or destroyed.

However, Judge Bagnall said: "There needs to be a lot of diligence as to how this case is progressed."

Chan is due to appear again via videolink on October 17.
Eddie Johnson, the husband of Sinead Ni Dhulaing Johnson, told a Medical Council inquiry in Dublin of his wifes suffering after she had taken an excessive dose of chemotherapy medication for more than two weeks. Stock Image/Getty Images

The husband of a deceased RTE producer told of his wife's distress and discomfort in the months following the prescription of an excessive chemotherapy dose.

Eddie Johnson, the husband of Sinead Ni Dhulaing Johnson, told a Medical Council inquiry in Dublin of his wife's suffering after she had taken an excessive dose of chemotherapy medication for more than two weeks.

Mr Johnson said his wife, who produced children's television shows at RTE, was prescribed 350mls of chemotherapy drug Temozolomide - over twice the correct dose - on August 13, 2008, by a medical oncologist referred to as Dr A throughout the inquiry.

Ms Ni Dhulaing Johnson should have only been prescribed 135mls, to be taken in the form of a 150ml tablet daily, the inquiry heard on Wednesday.

Dr A, who works at the Beacon Hospital in south Dublin, is facing allegations that an incorrect dose of Temozolomide was prescribed to Ms Ni Dhulaing Johnson on August 13, 2008.

It is also claimed that Dr A then failed to disclose in a timely manner that an incorrect dose of the medication had been prescribed.

Mr Johnson said yesterday his wife began taking the chemotherapy tablets on 20 August but, within a couple of days, "didn't feel right".

On September 5, Ms Ni Dhulaing Johnson met with Dr A. The doctor said that, because Ms Ni Dhulaing Johnson's blood count was low, she should stop taking the chemotherapy, so she did.

Ms Ni Dhulaing was admitted to the Beacon hospital on September 9. Mr Johnson said that it was only on September 19 that Dr A told him about the mistake regarding the excessive dosage, and apologised profusely.

Mr Johnson said yesterday that by the beginning of October, "Sinead had hit rock bottom".

On Wednesday, Eileen Barrington SC said there was no suggestion that Dr A's mistake caused or hastened Ms Ni Dhulaing Johnson's death. The inquiry continues today.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has stated the country's government is unlikely to ratify the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine, taking into account the results of the April referendum, in which the Dutch opposed this agreement, BBC Ukraine has reported.

"I think we won't ratify [the agreement]," he said, speaking in the parliament.

Due to the fact that, in accordance with the EU standards, before entering into force the agreement must be ratified by the government of each EU member state, Rutte expressed hope Ukraine will be able to continue negotiations with the other 27 EU countries.

According to the edition, observers note that the Netherlands has the choice: either to ratify the association agreement, regardless of the plebiscite, or agree with the other EU countries that the agreement or some of its provisions will not apply to the Netherlands.

Some 61% of Dutch citizens, who came to the polling stations, voted against the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU at a referendum held in the Netherlands on April 6. The turnout was 32% with the quorum being 30%. Legally the outcome of the referendum is not binding for the government.
A Monaghan man has appeared Friday evening at an out-of-term sitting of the Special Criminal Court charged with IRA membership.

James Joseph Cassidy (53), of Tullycollive, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the IRA, on September 21st this year.

Sergeant Kieran Regan, of Carrickmacross garda station, told the court that at 5.46pm Friday he arrested Mr Cassidy on Main St, Carrickmacross.

The detective cautioned Mr Cassidy, to which the accused man made no reply, the court heard.

Sgt Regan said that he informed Mr Cassidy he was to be brought before the next sitting of the Special Criminal Court and detained him at Carrickmacross garda station.

He then transported Mr Cassidy to the Special Criminal Court, the court heard, and showed him the charge sheet.

Again, Mr Cassidy made no reply, the sergeant said.

During the brief hearing, Mr Cassidy sat in a grey sweatshirt, with his arms folded. When asked by the court's registrar to stand up, he remained seated. He did not speak when asked to confirm his identity.

Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding with Judge Aileen Donnelly and Judge Gerard Haughton, remanded Mr Cassidy in custody until next Thursday, September 29th, when a bail application is expected to be made.

Referring to the accused man, the presiding judge said, "If this is to be an application, I hope he finds his tongue."
A Co Kildare couple and their two children will be put out of their home by bailiffs next Friday after failing to pay a 3million bank debt, the High court was told today.

Mr Justice Robert Haughton told John and Dolores Quinn, of Woodside House, Dunnstown, Brannockstown, Co Kildare, that he was unable to help them.

The family live in a five-bedroom bungalow on about three-quarters of an acre outside Kilcullen. The property failed to sell at auction in February last.

Barrister Rudi Neuman, counsel for Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank that the couple owed the bank just over 3million and that the Co Kildare Sheriff would be executing a possession order next Friday.

The court heard that the couple borrowed 2,839,000 from the bank in November 2006 and the debt had been secured by mortgage over their principal private residence in Dunnstown.

Judge Haughton, in sworn affidavits from the bank, was told that the couple had defaulted on repayments and now owed the bank 3,165,479 which included arrears of 1.307,000. The last payment on the mortgage had been 2,200 in June 2010.

The bank issued Circuit Court proceedings at Naas for possession in August 2014 and, following adjournments, the County Registrar made an order for possession in July 2015 with a six months stay until February 2016.

After the Quinns had failed to discharge the debt the bank obtained an Execution Order and the Sheriff had recently warned them he would be taking possession of the property and evicting the Quinns next Friday.

In the High Court today Mr Quinn said that for a number of reasons he had neglected appealing the County Registrars order and as a result was not out of time. He asked Judge Haughton to extend time to allow an appeal to the High Court.

Judge Haughton said the proper line of appeal from the County Registrar was to the Circuit Court and he did not have the jurisdiction to deal with the matter. He refused Mr Quinns application and stated he would not make an order for costs against him and his wife.

In the absence of new legal intervention the County Sheriff can from midnight on Thursday next move to evict the Quinns.
An elderly rapist is taking a Supreme Court challenge against a law denying him the right to receive his State pension while in jail.

An elderly rapist is taking a Supreme Court challenge against a law denying him the right to receive his State pension while in jail.

The prisoner (76) claims his Constitutional rights are being infringed by the law and that he has been "left practically destitute" as a result of it.

He complained it has left him without money to spend on items in the prison tuck shop, clothing or electrical goods, such as an XBox or a DVD player.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is serving a 12-year sentence after being convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against a member of his family.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear his case after the man failed in a High Court action against the Minister for Social Protection and the Attorney General earlier this year.

The sex offender had been receiving the pension since 2006, when he turned 66, but it was cut off in March 2011 when he was convicted. The payment was halted under section 249 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, which disqualifies people from receiving the State contributory pension while they are incarcerated.

The law impacts on between 30 and 40 inmates each year.

In legal submissions, the man claimed the decision had left him broke, with no other means of income, other than a prison gratuity of 11.90 per week. His family was not giving him any money.

He claimed he had to rely on clothing provided by the Prison Service and St Vincent de Paul.

A wrist injury meant he was unable to work in prison, which would have qualified him for an additional allowance of 3.50 per week.

Earlier this year, Mr Justice Donald Binchy rejected arguments that the man's constitutional right to property was being infringed upon by the law.

The judge also rejected arguments he was being discriminated against, contrary to Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He also rejected other arguments put forward, stating the man was being detained in a well-run, modern prison with a high standard of care for inmates.

The Supreme Court determined that the man's appeal of that ruling could "leapfrog" the Court of Appeal and go straight to the Supreme Court due to the "exceptional circumstances" of the case. In a determination, it said it was important for clarity to be brought to the issue of whether excluding prisoners from the contributory old age pension was consistent with rights guaranteed by the Constitution and the ECHR.

In 2011, the man received a 15-year sentence, with the final three years suspended, for 14 counts of rape. He also received a 10-year sentence for 60 counts of sexual assault.

The sentences are running concurrently. With remission, he is due to be released in 2020.

A previous court hearing heard claims the man had refused to cooperate with a programme for rehabilitating sex offenders, but he has disputed this.
The health minister who has described herself as obese is winning her own battle of the bulge.

Minister for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, joked yesterday that she is looking forward to just being overweight.

Expand Close Kathryn Thomas. Picture Andres Poveda / Facebook

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Whatsapp Kathryn Thomas. Picture Andres Poveda

It will mean her healthy lifestyle, since taking up the post, will take her out of the obese zone.

She told the Irish Independent yesterday that she is adopting a basic regime of smaller meal portions and daily exercise - the same recipe for weight loss promoted by the TV programme 'Operation Transformation' fronted by Kathryn Thomas.

"I have so far lost 14lb," said Ms Corcoran Kennedy.

She said she had another 14lb to go but is taking it at a regular pace.

A key part of her strategy is to work exercise into her day and make the most of opportunities to be active.

Before the summer recess Ms Corcoran Kennedy said: "I eat healthily with a lot of fruit and vegetables but my weakness is that I am not taking enough exercise.

"It is something I need to consciously work on. I have to make it part of my day.

"I let regular exercise slip and I have to get my act together. I love to swim but that has gone by the wayside."

Health Minister Simon Harris, who is slim, said he is conscious of exercising and carries a pedometer to measure daily steps. He is often surprised at the end of a busy day how little he has walked.
Schoolchildren will be particularly targeted and food companies which tender to provide meals in schools will have to ensure they are subject to 'portion control' Getty Images

Calorie counts on menus will be mandatory from next year because so many restaurants, hotels and cafes have refused to voluntarily display the information.

The move is part of the Government's new strategy to tackle the country's obesity crisis which Health Minister Simon Harris admitted is a "ticking timebomb."

Expand Close Obesity specialist Prof Donal OShea. Photo: David Conachy / Facebook

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Whatsapp Obesity specialist Prof Donal OShea. Photo: David Conachy

He said: "Obesity is largely preventable but the solutions are not simple and the challenge is great. We know 60pc of adults and one in four children in Ireland is either overweight or obese."

The plan, which will run over ten years, has 60 actions with a timetable for each - but as yet there is no funding to implement key measures.

It will be heavily reliant on the money generated from a tax on fizzy drinks due to come into effect in 2018.

There will be a voluntary industry code of practice on food advertising, promotion and marketing.

It relies on food companies to voluntarily make changes in the amount of sugar, salt and fat in products. But the minister said they would legislate if they are not made healthier.

The aim of the the plan - which promises to put the nation on weighing scales - aims to see a downward trend of 5pc in the nation's excess weight over the decade.

Read more: Revealed: New plan to stop Ireland becoming the fattest country in Europe

It wants a 10pc reduction in the gap in obesity levels between the highest and lowest socioeconomic groups who have the worst problem .

Schoolchildren will be particularly targeted and food companies which tender to provide meals in schools will have to ensure they are subject to "portion control."

Schools will be encouraged to get children more active during the day and designate certain days as "walk to school days".

There will be professional development support on physical education for teachers.

A revised food pyramid will be unveiled in the coming weeks. which Minister for Health Promotion Marcella Corcoran Kennedy says will encourage people to eat less bread, potatoes and cereals and more fruit and vegetables.

A national activity plan published earlier this year aims to increase the number of people taking exercise by 50,000 a year.

Obesity specialist Prof Donal O'Shea, inset below, who treats patients who are obese, warned "the bomb has already exploded" for many patients he sees.

"They are people who don't go out any more. Their lives are dominated by obesity."

He welcomed the long- awaited plan and said he was particularly pleased there are timelines attached the actions.

The proposal to appoint a clinical lead - a specialist in obesity - in the HSE to oversee its implementation was also encouraging he added.

He hoped it will not gather dust like the task force report on obesity of a decade ago which was "dead in the water" after a year.

And he warned that if it is not acted on, the country is "goosed" because of the scale of the problem.
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into the death of an elderly woman who died on a trolley in a Galway emergency department last week.

The 88-year-old woman was brought to University Hospital Galway from a Connemara nursing home last Wednesday after she was referred by a doctor.

However, as the hospital was at full capacity at the time, the elderly woman, who had a history of cardiac issues, was left waiting on a trolley for a number of hours in the public waiting area.

It is understood the woman may have suffered a cardiac event and passed away on the trolley.

A statement from the Saolta Hospital Group, which manages the hospital, said an external review of the case would take place.

"The circumstances of this case will be reviewed externally in conjunction with the National Ambulance Service.

"The Saolta University Health Care Group and the National Ambulance Service have offered the family concerned our deepest sympathy and will be communicating directly with them in relation to the review process," it added.

The review will be carried out by an ED consultant from outside the hospital group.

It will look at the events which took place upon the patients arrival at the hospital.

It will also consider the manner in which she was brought to hospital and the initial referral to hospital.

Local councillor Padraig Conneely said he wants the matter investigated separately by HIQA.

"For a woman in her 80s to die on a trolley in such a public place is undignified and monstrous. It goes to show that the Emergency Departement at UHG is not fit for purpose and it raises questions about the entire system of the HSE.

"We need a thorough investigation into this matter and HIQA needs to be involved in this," he added.
The ambulance is taken away from the scene. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Locals in the small Kildare village of Suncroft are struggling to come to terms with the tragic death of Christopher Byrne.

One man, who was friends with Mr Byrne (78), said he had been left devastated.

Expand Close HSE director general Tony OBrien addresses the media at Naas General Hospital, Kildare. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins / Facebook

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Whatsapp HSE director general Tony OBrien addresses the media at Naas General Hospital, Kildare. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

"We are only just after hearing about what happened. To be honest, I'm in absolute shock," he said.

Mr Byrne lived in Ard Brid, a cluster of houses where people were said to know each other well.

It is an area populated with mostly mature residents, who have been left in disbelief about what happened.

"He was the nicest man you could ever meet. He really was just a gent," the man said.

"He was the nicest man in the world, I just don't know what else to say. It's terrible and an absolute tragedy," he added.

Another local woman said she had seen an ambulance at the house after 1pm and had been praying for Mr Byrne.

"When I heard the news on the radio, I feared the worst. Isn't it only dreadful?" she said.

"I saw the ambulance pull up there, so the man was in my prayers," she added.

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Whatsapp Staff prepare the damaged ambulance to be taken away for further examination. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

It is understood the ambulance had responded to a 999 call.

Read more: 'Possibility' cause of fatal ambulance explosion was 'oxygen-related'

Read more: Elderly patient dead, two crew members hospitalised after ambulance catches fire outside hospital

News of the tragedy was only starting to trickle through and some expressed shocked that it was a local man.

"I heard someone talking about it earlier in the bar.

"It was just something I'd overheard, but I didn't know he was from around here. It's so sad to hear that," said a woman in the local pub, The Well.

A family member was too distressed to speak when approached at Mr Byrne's home yesterday.

The family have requested privacy to grieve.
A total of 111 citizens of Ukraine are held hostage by the illegal armed groups operating in the east of Ukraine, the press center of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) has said.

"There are still 111 hostages kept by the Russian side, nine of them are on the territory of the Russian Federation. 499 people remain unaccounted for," the statement says.

The SBU also said that 3,082 people were released by the forces of the security services, including 1,484 civilians and 1,598 soldiers and law enforcement officers.

SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday said that more than 3,000 people have been released since the start of the conflict.

"Our center managed to free 3,082 people from captivity in cooperation with volunteers and assistance of patriotic citizens," he said.
Caroline Donohoe, the widow of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, gets a posthumous gold Scott Medal from Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan. Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan has said the force is determined to catch the gang that murdered Det Garda Adrian Donohoe.

The courageous garda was posthumously awarded the gold Scott Medal, the organisation's highest honour yesterday. It is the first gold medal since 2007 and was handed out at a ceremony at the Garda College Templemore, Co Tipperary.

Expand Close Garda Thomas Dalton, of Leixlip Garda Station, gets a Bronze Scott Medal from Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan, watched by his proud wife Niamh and children Lucy (3) and Oisin (19 months). Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Garda Thomas Dalton, of Leixlip Garda Station, gets a Bronze Scott Medal from Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan, watched by his proud wife Niamh and children Lucy (3) and Oisin (19 months). Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin.

Det Donohoe's widow Caroline accepted the award on behalf of her late husband to a standing ovation from the audience of approximately 300 people.

Det Garda Joe Ryan, who was on a cash escort with Det Garda Donohoe when they were ambushed in Co Louth on the night of Friday, January 25, 2013, was also awarded the Scott silver medal.

They were two of 14 gardai commended for their courage and selflessness in the line of duty, values which the commissioner said epitomised gardai.

Noirin O'Sullivan said An Garda Siochana were determination to get justice for their murdered colleague who "made the ultimate sacrifice".

"It is absolutely our determination that the people that murdered Adrian will be brought to justice.

"Adrian Donohoe made the ultimate sacrifice but that doesn't diminish in any way the sacrifice and dedication and the bravery, the courage that the other members of AGS have shown who have been honoured here today," Ms O'Sullivan said.

Killers

The Garda Commissioner also defended the length of time the investigation has taken, saying that help is needed from the wider community to bring the killers to justice.

The ceremony was attended by Det Donohoe's family, members of the Dundalk garda division, some 200 trainee gardai as well as senior officers from across the country.

Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald also spoke at the event, which she said gave a "sombre reminder" of the risks gardai take on a daily basis to protect Irish communities.

"Every day of the week they put their lives at risk for our safety.

"That's what we're acknowledging here today as well as the circumstances surrounding the death of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe."
A major investigation has been launched after a bone, believed to be human, was discovered near a river.

Independent.ie has learned that the suspected shin bone was found in Doonass, Clonlara, Co Clare at 1.30pm on Thursday.

Gardai from Ardnacrusha were called to the scene, which was later sealed off. Forensics officers examined and photographed the site which is close to the River Shannon.

The suspected body part was then brought to University Hospital Limerick mortuary where further tests will be carried out to establish if the remains are human.

The scene, on the border with Limerick, remains sealed off.

A source said: "This was a most unusual discovery. The bone was found near a river but it was on dry land. All indications are that it was a human shin bone."

A garda spokesperson said: "We are investigating a possible human bone found at a river bank at 1.30pm on Thursday. The scene has been photographed and it's been taken away to the mortuary at University Hospital Limerick to verify if it is human."

The scene is close to Limerick city where a number of people have been reported missing over the last 20 years.
Day five of the Dublin Bus strike has brought more inconvenience for commuters in the capital.

Traffic volumes were higher at an earlier time of the morning than not they normally would be, but AA Roadwatch said levels of chaos and panic were lower than the first day of the strike, leading to an opinion that morning travellers were either not coming into town at all or have organised their travel plans to adapt to the strike.

Dublin Bike stands across the city were empty as more people used the free cycle scheme to cross town in the absence of the double deckers.

One punctured bike remained at the Heuston stand, giving commuters hope until they got close and saw it was useless to them.

And traffic seemed to moving more freely than in the early days of strike action.

Traffic is getting heavier earlier in the day, but we have certainly noticed a difference between today and the first day of strike action, said an AA Roadwatch spokeswoman.

People seem to have made different arrangements with work or have opted not to travel on strike days, she added.

But at Heuston station the effects of the bus strike were clearly visible again as crowds spelled out of the main station and tried to get Luas trams to the city.

Wave after wave of workers from commuter towns in Kildare found themselves stranded on the Luas platform because the trams stopping at them were packed to capacity and could not take on more people.

Molly Claffey (18) from Clonsilla said she usually gets a bus into town to go to college.

I didn't get the train in today because I thought it would be claustrophobic, so my dad offered to drop me here at the Luas stop in Heuston instead.

I thought it would be easy enough to get a tram but I was wrong. Three of them have gone by now and I couldn't get on any of them because they are crowded, she explained at 8.20am, just as another surge of commuters spilled from the main station onto the Luas platform.

Im going to get a taxi now. The strike is costing me money and I wish it would get sorted out soon, said Molly, whose patience with the bus drivers was beginning to wear thin.

Two commuters who travel daily from Portarlington also found themselves stranded on the Luas platform for the want of a bus.

Arlene Foy (32) usually gets the 145 from Heuston to the city. Her friend Gemma Lawlor (34) gets the number 90.

Today we have to rely on the Luas because of the bus strike. We are already late because the Portarlington train was delayed by ten minutes, and now we can't get on a Luas and there are no buses, said Gemma.

Arlene said that while they sympathise with the bus drivers, the commuters are the ones suffering the inconvenience.

Kevin Conroy (37), a wheelchair user, travels by train from Sallins to Heuston, and then gets a 145 to college in the city.

But on the Luas platform he was finding it impossible to travel.

On the first day of the bus strike there were Luas staff here who helped me onto a tram, but theyre not here today and I've had to let three trams go by because I couldn't get onto them, he said.

The bus strike is a disgrace. Shane Ross would want to get involved in sorting it out because the commuters are suffering, he added.

There was also evidence of clever commuters using different ways to get around town.

Google worker Daniel OFarrell (22), was making use of his skateboard to get to work from Islandbridge.

I skate to the Luas and get that to the Convention Centre and then skate to my offices, but today because of the bus strike the Luas is packed so I may have to skate all the way, he said.

Student Monika Kalovec (35) was very annoyed at the bus strike.

I normally get the 27 bus to DCU but today I came in from Crumlin on the Luas to Heuston and now I have my folding bike and I will have to cycle, she said.

The whole public transport in Dublin annoys me, she said as she hurriedly unfolded her bike and set off for college.
A Dublin man whose best friend was murdered has spoken of his double heartache after his girlfriend was killed in a horror car crash.

Kiara Baird (19) died alongside mother-of-three Maria Wallis (38) when the car they were travelling in rolled over and hit a lamp post outside Ballybofey, Co Donegal, on Wednesday.

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The women were returning home from a college beautician course at nearby Finn Valley college.

The 24-year-old driver from Tallaght has been released from hospital.

Kiaras boyfriend, 23-year-old John Brennan from Crumlin, told the Herald he had been left heartbroken for the second time in months after pal Paul Curran died from injuries sustained in a stabbing incident at Seagull House, Rutland Avenue, in Crumlin in July.

Kiara was stunning, said John, who had been dating her since 2014.

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She was the most beautiful girl in the world and I loved her. She was always working and trying to do better for herself.

Kiara was just like any other girl like that; she loved life and was the life and soul of the place. Im still in shock. I cant believe shes gone.

I lost my best friend Paulie (Curran) 11 weeks ago and now this has happened. Kiara was my princess and I know Paulie will look after her for me.

Kiara, who was originally from Clondalkin, died alongside Maria when the car in which they were travelling went out of control on a bend on the Glenfin Road, on the outskirts of Ballybofey, Co Donegal at 4.15pm on Wednesday.

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 wouldnt change that, but times have changed a lot since then and Tracy didnt want her children reared in the city, said Declan.

Theres 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 with emotion.

Im 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 dont know what happened in the crash. I dont want to be a person looking for any blame. All I know is Kiara is gone. All I know is we miss her, Declan said.

Gardai have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information in Dublin or Donegal on the incident to contact them at Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 9167100, the Garda Confidential Line, 1800 666111 or any garda station.
TRANSPORT Minister Shane Ross did not object to plans to cut Bus Eireann workers' pay and terms and conditions and subcontract routes to make 7m savings.

Sources revealed that he had a detailed briefing with management including Chief Executive Martin Nolan on September 11 and raised no objections.

The minister received a far more detailed briefing than was given to unions earlier this week.

It is understood that he has given management a mandate for the plan to restructure the company by turning Expressway into a subsidiary.

It has also been revealed that the company wants to reduce the number of full time staff at Expressway from 550 to between 400 and 450. However, some of these may be redeployed or take voluntary redundancy.

The company has never had compulsory redundancies but has not ruled them out as it expects to lose 6m this year.

Sources said the number of support staff will be reduced and there will be a smaller managementer team.

Unions are balloting for industrial action over the plan.
Former loyalist terror leader Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair has vowed not to let his enemies ruin his son's funeral.

Adair's son Jonathan Jr, is due to be buried in Troon, Scotland today following his death from an accidental overdose while celebrating his release from prison.

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Whatsapp Adair's son Jonathan Jr, is due to be buried in Troon, Scotland

A number of Adair Sr's associates and supporters in Belfast were expected to travel to Troon for the funeral, despite warnings from loyalist paramilitaries to stay away.

Members of the UDA - the terror group that expelled Adair from Northern Ireland 13 years ago - recently threatened Adair's supporters with "repercussions" should they attend the funeral.

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Speaking for the first time since his son's death Adair said he would not let his haters stop him from burying his son in peace and dignity.

"The support I have had from back home has been overwhelming," he said.

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"If a few individuals are trying to stop people attending (the funeral) it's because they are afraid of me.

"They are afraid of me regrouping and coming after them."

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The former UDA Shankill leader said his son's death has left him in a "bad place" and he wants to make sure he is buried in "peace and dignity".

Jonathan, nicknamed 'Mad Pup', was found dead near his father's home on the west coast of Scotland after a drugs binge.

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Ambulance crews were unable to revive the 32-year-old.

He had been photographed just hours earlier with his partner Jasmine Johnstone, the mother of his young son, celebrating his release from prison.

He had been jailed earlier this year for motoring offences at HMP Bowhouse in Kilmarnock.

The eldest son of Johnny and Gina Adair, Jonathan had been living in Templehill, Troon for a number of years.

He was 18 when he fled the Shankill with his parents in 2003 after his father was expelled from Northern Ireland by the UDA.

After a failed bid to take over the entire UDA resulted in a bloody feud, Adair Sr was ordered to leave Belfast or face execution at the hands of his former comrades.

Adair Sr, who served a 16-year jail sentence for directing UDA terrorism, still has supporters in Belfast.

However, according to a loyalist source they were warned by members of the UDA not to attend the funeral. "A warning went out shortly after the death that there would be consequences for anyone who travelled to Troon for the funeral.

"They were told anyone travelling from Belfast would be put out of Belfast.

"It's a disgrace they are stopping people paying their respects," the source said.

However, Adair hit out at those behind the threats and accused them of being afraid of him.

"It'll be just a few individuals (warning people not to attend the funeral). Those individuals fear me," he said.

"I have no interest in those people whatsoever. They are just police informants.

"The support I have had has been overwhelming back home."

He added: "If it's the case they are trying to stop people (going to the funeral) it just shows they have no intelligence or integrity.

"They have destroyed a good organisation from within. They are just a bunch of informants and backstabbers.

"They have more to fear of me than I have of them. They fear me regrouping and coming after them. My message to the volunteers back home, 'Stay away from them if you can'. They are nothing but informants."

Adair said he was expecting a big turnout for the funeral "going by the feedback".

"I just want to bury my son. I want to bury him with dignity and in peace," he said. "I am not in a good frame of mind to go into what happened right now.

"I am not in a good place at all."

Adair Jr had been in and out of jail ever since the family fled Northern Ireland. He served a five-year sentence for dealing heroin and crack cocaine.

Over the years he became heavily dependent on drugs.

In 2014 he was jailed for wrecking the flat of a reality TV star who refused to sell him cannabis.

The year before Jonathan had been cleared of a gun raid at a party and in 2012 was the target of a failed bomb plot. He was also facing trial later this year on drugs charges, and had been released from prison for motoring offences the day before his death.

He and his father were very close, often socialising together. However, when Adair Sr ruled the UDA in the lower Shankill he had Jonathan kneecapped for assaulting a shop assistant during a filling station robbery. This was after Adair had beaten him for stealing the purse of an 84-year-old woman during a burglary.

After the punishment shooting Adair denied ordering the attack saying: "What man in his own mind would do a thing like that to his own son? Had I known prior to this I would have had my son on a ferry away from here as fast as possible."
Members of the emergency services examine the ambulance following the devastating fire at Naas General Hospital. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

An elderly man was killed after the ambulance he was in burst into flames following an explosion outside a busy emergency department.

A multi-agency investigation involving An Garda Siochana, the Health Safety Authority (HSA) and the HSE has also been launched after what the HSE's director general Tony O'Brien described as "dark day for the health services".

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The tragic incident occurred shortly after 1.30pm yesterday at Naas General Hospital, Co Kildare, as the ambulance arrived at the emergency department (ED).

Paramedics David Finnegan, who is aged in his 40s, and Stephen Lloyd, aged in his late 30s, were in the vehicle preparing to move the patient into the ED.

However, as elderly patient Christopher Byrne was being tended to, an explosion occurred. The force of the explosion was so severe that Stephen Lloyd was thrown across the tarmac, having left the driver's seat to open the side door.

Three separate investigations are now under way after the shocking incident.

Read more: 'Possibility' cause of fatal ambulance explosion was 'oxygen-related'

Two Naas-based paramedics who witnessed the incident ran towards the burning ambulance and pulled David Finnegan, who was on fire, from the vehicle. However, there was nothing that could be done for Mr Byrne.

Mr Lloyd was treated for burns but was discharged yesterday evening, while Mr Finnegan was transferred to St James's Hospital in Dublin as a matter of precaution. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Tony O'Brien expressed his sympathies to the deceased man's family, who he had spoken with at Naas General Hospital following the tragic incident.

Four units from the Kildare Fire Service stations in Naas and Newbridge were called to the scene. The emergency call was received at 1.33pm and the first unit arrived at 1.37pm.

It is believed that an oxygen tank caused the explosion, and the HSE has said that checks will be put in place immediately.

"There is going to be an investigation under way, as is normal practice by An Garda Siochana and the Health Safety Authority, as well as the HSE, but it does appear the fire started towards the rear of the ambulance," Mr O'Brien said.

"It does not appear to be related to the engine and currently, without prejudicing that outcome, we are currently focusing our concerns on the possibility, and I stress possibility, that this was oxygen-related."

He said they are confident of a "full recovery" for the ambulance driver who was hospitalised with burns.

"Two members of the ambulance service staff were injured while attempting to save the patient," he continued.

Discharged

"One of those has been discharged from hospital recently and the second staff member has been transferred to St James's Hospital in Dublin where he is receiving care.

"We are confident of a full recovery but he will remain in hospital overnight as a precaution.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you that the patient's death was a direct consequence of the fire. If the fire had not occurred, he would have not died. We express our sympathies with the family."

Mr O'Brien also said that the staff did everything they could. "In addition, a series of checks are going to be carried out on all National Ambulance Service (NAS) equipment and that has already been organised. This is clearly a very serious incident and I wouldn't want to downplay it in any way."

Paramedic representatives last night called for an immediate examination of the ambulance fleet after the fatal fire.

Read more: Elderly patient dead, two crew members hospitalised after ambulance catches fire outside hospital

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."

Union bosses at Siptu offered condolences after the patient's death and said a number of other similar vehicles have been destroyed in fires, three of them in 2008 and 2009, and another in 2014.

Fianna Fail TD James Lawless, who visited the hospital, said the paramedics and the staff should be commended for their response to the tragic accident in what was an "unprecedented situation".

"David is a very decent man, he is very involved in the campaign for Naas Community National School.

"He is well liked by his colleagues," he said.
MARY Lou McDonald has called for the BBC to provide Gardai with the name of the source who claimed Gerry Adams sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson.

The Sinn Fein Deputy leader made the remarks as she defended Sinn Fein president Mr Adams amid the allegations that were reported on the broadcasters Spotlight documentary earlier this week.

Mr Adams has denied any involvement of Mr Donaldsons murder, calling the allegations lies and said he will consider legal action in relation to the claims.

Ms McDonald called the allegations a ball of smoke made by an anonymous person who she described as a self-proclaimed informant and therefore party to the agenda of the British State.

The Dublin Central TD was asked if the Spotlight programme makers should identify their source to the Gardai and replied: yes, I think they should.

She said she is mindful that journalists jealously guard their sources.

But Ms McDonald added: I think in circumstances like this where theres a live Garda investigation if people claim that they have information or evidence of course the appropriate people to bring that forward to is An Garda Siochana.

BBC Northern Ireland this afternoon released a statement saying that it will continue to protect the identity of Spotlights source.

As stated in the programme, the sources identity must be protected for reasons of safety, a spokeswoman said.

Ms McDonald said that The Gardai have to do their job in investigating Mr Donaldson's death adding that his family deserve to know exactly what happened.

The people who carried this out need to be brought to book, she said.

Ms McDonald pointed out that Gardai investigating Mr Donaldsons death have not questioned Mr Adams.

The Gardai have had no reason to interview Gerry Adams on these matters because Gerry has no involvement. Thats the simple fact, she said.

Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald previously said Mr Adams should cooperate with any Garda investigation.

If allegations are being made and if there is evidence, then I would appeal for anyone to come forward," Ms Fitzgerald said.

"Of course the Gardai will investigate if there is evidence. Everybody should cooperate with that investigation, including Gerry Adams," she added.

The Real IRA, which has plotted to kill Adams on at least three occasions, previously claimed responsibility for the Donaldson murder.

Donaldson (56) died when he was hit with two blasts from a shotgun at the family-owned cottage 7km from Glenties in April 2006.

His death came almost four months after the Sinn Fein fixer admitted working for the British for the previous 20 years.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin and Foreign Minister of Sweden Margot Wallstrom at a meeting in New York on September 22 discussed the development of bilateral relations, as well as the importance of maintaining the sanctions against Russia and facilitating of the work of the Special OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine.

"During the meeting the sides discussed issues of development of bilateral political dialogue, in particular, the organization of bilateral high-level visits on the eve of the next meeting of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers in the autumn of this year ... Wallstrom noted the importance of maintaining the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation, increasing their efficiency and also facilitating the work of the OSCE mission in Ukraine in the context of monitoring the implementation of the Minsk agreements," according to the statement of the Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs released on Friday.

In turn, Klimkin thanked his Swedish counterpart for her consistent support of Ukraine in its opposition to Russian aggression, as well as for the provision of humanitarian and technical assistance.

The Foreign Ministry said that Swedish and Ukrainian foreign ministers discussed further cooperation of Ukraine and Sweden in the UN Security Council framework, the membership of which Sweden will occupy in 2017.
Children's Minister Katherine Zappone is coming under increasing pressure to ensure her childcare plans for the Budget cover middle-income earners.

As she thrashes out the threshold at which parents become eligible for subsidised childcare with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, Fianna Fail has said any measures brought in should cover a couple earning a combined 60,000.

The plan being proposed by Ms Zappone will see subsidies paid directly to creches.

A sum of 47,000 has been reported as a possible combined income threshold for parents, though the Department of Children has stressed it's just one model being looked at. While Ms Zappone is understood to be seeking to maximise the threshold she can secure, ultimately it will depend on the sum allocated by Mr Donohoe's department.

Read more: 'Middle classes must get childcare relief too'

Fianna Fail children spokeswoman Anne Rabbitte said her party's preferred option for supporting childcare is a tax credit for parents - which she would still like the Government to consider. However, she said that a 47,000 income threshold for a subsidy "isn't enough".

"If you're a nurse and a guard . . . you're still deemed outside of it so is that really supporting middle Ireland? No, is the answer to me."

She added: "I think we certainly should be looking at 60,000 as a starting base so as we could get more people into the net."

Ms Zappone said her plan is to begin supporting low-income families who require higher subsidies but that her "ambition" is that every family will benefit from more childcare support "to some degree". She said the previously announced expansion of the free-pre-school scheme will see families save 1,500 more per year.

She was asked on Newstalk if middle income workers can look forward to relief on childcare costs in the Budget.

Ms Zappone said: "I am in negotiations with Minister Donohoe and would be hoping that . . . there will be some for them as well."

Mr Donohoe said his Department is "engaging very substantially" with Ms Zappone on the matter but declined to offer details. He said he had a "productive" meeting to discuss the Budget with Fianna Fail's Dara Calleary on Wednesday.
Shop owner Alan Buckley put a toilet and toilet roll outside his shop after the incident

A Dublin shop owner is hunting for a man who repeatedly defecates outside his shop in Finglas.

Clever Buys owner Alan Buckley from Finglas told Independent.ie that he didnt believe it until he saw the CCTV footage.

Someone keeps coming up and sh**ting outside the shop, he told Independent.ie.

Its very upsetting, youd want to have your breakfast before you come in because youll not eat again after looking at it.

He pulls up in a car in the middle of the night, does his business and then drives off.

The first incident occurred near the Clever Buys shop on Clune Road last Thursday September 15 and occurred again on Wednesday September 21.

I havent got a clue why hes doing it. Hes doing it in a public area outside a row of shops. Its disgusting, said Alan.

The first one was just horrible, the smell and all. Youd swear a horse did it. If I hadnt seen him do it on CCTV, I wouldnt have believed it.

Alan said theres no excuse for this kind of behaviour.

You can do it in a bush or in a 24-hour shop. We have the cheapest toilet roll in town.

Alan said during the second incident the man was there for 45 minutes.

I think sh**ting in the street isnt his only problem, said Alan.

From CCTV Alan described the man as in his late 30s.

Its very strange. He doesnt look homeless or anything, he said.
A boy, who is believed to be three years old, fell from an apartment block at Granary Court in Edenderry Picture: Arthur Carron

A young child is in a critical condition after falling from an apartment in Co Offaly this morning.

The boy, who is believed to be three years old, fell from an apartment block at Granary Court in Edenderry at around 11am.

Gardai in Edenderry are treating the incident as an accident.

A passing motorist is understood to have come to boys aid after witnessing the fall.

Its understood that together with the childs mother, the man brought the boy to a local medical centre where he was attended to by a doctor before an ambulance arrived.

A witness who was in the centre at the time said; A woman came in and said a baby was after falling from a window and could they bring him in there.

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The witness, who asked not to be identified, said the child was conscious and moaning when he arrived.

The three-year-old was originally rushed to Crumlin Childrens Hospital in Dublin, but was subsequently transferred to Temple Street Childrens Hospital due to the severity of his injuries.

The incident is currently under investigation by gardai, who were not made aware of the fall until this afternoon.

A garda spokesperson confirmed that they are investigating the fall, which occurred at approximately 11am this morning.

Local councillor Noel Cribbin, who lives near the scene, expressed his sympathies with the young childs family and wished for a full recovery.

The main thing at this point is that the child recovers. My thoughts are with his family at this time, Mr Cribbin said.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Tullamore Garda Station on 057 93 27600.
Q: My parents have left their assets to myself and my brother in their will. My brother took over the family business and is being left it entirely, which makes sense. I am getting the family home, which is worth about 450,000. It turns out he'll hardly be paying any tax on his bequest due to different reliefs, etc, but I will be on mine - this seems unfair. Is there anything I can do?

I don't think there is, unfortunately. When bequests are received as inheritance, there are specific reliefs for farm and business assets to avoid them having to be sold off outside the family. The same doesn't apply to residences.

Christine Keily of Taxback.com explains: "Based on the information provided, it is likely that your brother would be looking to avail of 'business relief' which reduces the taxable amount of the gift/inheritance to just 10pc if certain conditions are met, including:

the relevant business property or interest is received by the beneficiary as a gift or inheritance;

the person providing it possessed it for a certain period (two years in case of inheritance);

the beneficiary cannot dispose of that property for a period of six years or any capital acquisitions tax (CAT) saved at the time of the gift/inheritance must be repaid to the Revenue."

It would appear, therefore, that once all the relevant conditions are met, your brother will be able to reduce the taxable value of his inheritance significantly more than you can. Unfortunately, there is really nothing that can be done to avoid this once the inheritance has taken place. For you, the current tax-free threshold is 280,000 assuming no other gifts or inheritances have been received. This may be increased in the budget but, today, it would result in a tax of 56,100.

Q: I am starting a new business which, at least initially, will be run from my home. I'm converting the garage and turning one of my bedrooms into an office. I also need to have a separate entrance for suppliers and put up a small sign. I've secured a bank loan and support from the Local Enterprise Office together with redundancy money. However, are there other issues I need to consider?

There are lots! I asked Brian McNelis of the Irish Brokers Association for advice and he says you should advise your existing home insurer that a business is going to be run from the home. Structural changes can be a rating factor.

Although you may be covered, some insurers restrict 'business' occupation to a home office or surgery, so a separate business policy may be required. The specialist in this area is Kidd Insurances, which has a 'Homeworkers' plan which may suit you.

An insurer will want information on the type of business (manufacturing, retail etc), turnover, whether you have employees, public access and if product liability cover is required (e.g. if it were to cause damage).

Whether you import/export will have insurance and tax implications. If you are supplying advice to customers, you may need 'professional indemnity' cover, or 'cyber' cover if you are storing customer data. Otherwise, your considerations should take account of the cost and time to reconfigure the property, which also needs to be insured during the works. Builders' liability will not cover homeowners liability. Before you start, however, check whether planning permission is required.

I'd also draw your attention to Capital Gains Tax which, if you ever sell the house, may become liable. As you are changing the use of your property, Revenue will deem the commercial parts to be separate from your Principal Private Residence. Generally, no CGT arises when you sell your home, but is chargeable on commercial entities. What they usually do is separate out the non-residential parts and apply the tax, which is currently 33pc.

Sinead Ryan: The Ryan Review

With more flags raised than on St Patrick's Day, the Fine Gael think-in finally came to an end in sieve-like fashion.

Ministers were falling over themselves to promise first-time buyers help in the forthcoming Budget without being remotely specific about what it might be.

Simon Coveney suggested a sort of a grant... maybe. Or a tax rebate thingy, or equity swaps, or something. With no irony at all, he added: "Any measures we take need to be clear, easily understood and easy to implement."

Maybe they'll stun us with a helicopter drop and hand out cash like lotto tickets at the Department of Finance.

Or maybe they'll stop messing about in the property market once and for all. (That last line was a joke). The result may well be that the market completely clogs up (which, in fairness, wouldn't be a big leap from where it is now), until everyone waits with bated breath for Mr Noonan to spill the beans on October 11.

Intent on screwing up the independence of the Central Bank, whose draconian measures on deposits and income-limited lending were designed specifically to put a halt to ministerial gallops, Fine Gael is now in danger of doing exactly what Fianna Fail did and overheat a market which doesn't need it.

The CBI will be eye-rolling now at the politicking going on and, if it has any sense, will ignore the lot of them.
BACK in the 1990s, the Department of the Environment (DoE) issued a bulletin telling us house prices were falling in Dublin. Except they weren't. They were soaring. We were heading into what would become the biggest property boom in Irish history - and our own Government was telling us prices were falling.

Scouring the data at the time, I noticed that an unusually large number of new apartments were being sold off the plans - in that year, around 30pc of the homes sold in Dublin were apartments. These tended to be one or two-bedroom abodes and priced a good deal cheaper than houses. I asked DoE officials whether it could be possible that a surge in the number of cheaper homes sold might have had a disruptive effect on the average house price figure. Could they have artificially pulled it down? It turned out that this had been the case. The method by which the data was mined and analysed was subsequently changed to take the apartment distortion into account.

This episode showed that our State-produced house price data was not reliable. On top of this, the DoE stats were released a full half year behind the market - dangerous if ministers needed data to help them react to a sudden upset.

In March 2007, I published a story in a Sunday newspaper asserting that house prices were starting to fall in Ireland. The lack of reliable Government statistics on prices at the time meant that my story relied instead on data supplied by a company which made its money from property advertising online.

Daft.ie, an online web portal whose business would continue to grow in the years ahead, had specialised in advertising rentals, but had expanded to advertising houses for sale also - to such a degree that I deemed its data to be reasonably representative. The story was published under the headline: "First evidence of falling prices." Coverage like this at the time, including George Lee's Boom - broadcast just months before - and Richard Curran's Future Shock programme, screened months later, came in for a barrage of criticism from the heavily-vested property sector - banks, agents of developers and politicians.

The Government was led by Fianna Fail, a party which was heavily funded from the construction and development sector as characterised by the famous 'Galway Races Tent'. Vested sectoral interests were labelling people who talked about a property correction as being "naysayers" - fifth columnists who could damage Ireland's economic prospects by "talking" the apparently thriving economy "into a hole."

The Daft.ie data wasn't perfect because it was based on asking prices - the opening gambit in a bargaining process. Homes rarely achieve asking price - in a declining market, they achieve less; in a rising market, they achieve more. But I judged at the time that the Daft.ie data that showed declining asking prices was enough to confirm that the market was indeed in a downturn.

But again it was the absence of independent, up to date and reliably assessed State-produced housing market data - something provided as a given in every other European country - that gave the vested interests the oxygen to attack reports that appeared from that time detailing a falling market.

It has since emerged that many vested interests knew what was going on and were trying to buy themselves 'bail-out' time.

One estate agency chain (Hamilton Osborne King) silenced its own economist, Derek Brawn, when he tried to issue reports stating that prices had turned downwards. Brawn left his job and would later write a book detailing his experiences. Brawn and others suffered personally because there were no independent and up to date and reliable independent State-produced statistics to back up their claims.

Move on to 2013. Ireland is emerging from the debris. This time stories written by journalists concerning lack of stock, queues at new home schemes and of the threat of an emerging housing crisis are being described as "cheerleading" - this time on behalf of property market interests.

They are not taken seriously by a Fine Gael-led Government. State statistics at this point do not include cash sales, which at the time accounted for more than half of transactions taking place in the market. Based on mortgages drawn down, the stats are also roughly two to three months behind what the market is doing. So once again, in 2013, State statistics are not giving the State an accurate picture at a vital time.

But on Wednesday, the CSO launched a new property price index - the most comprehensive yet - which will produce sales statistics analysing the national market and micro markets right down to Eircode level. The new index includes cash transactions. Its importance to Government policy making, to the market and to the punter cannot be underestimated.
An Italian passenger is suing Emirates after having to "suffer" sitting next to an obese man for a nine-hour flight.

Giorgio Destro, a lawyer from Padua in northern Italy, asked if he could change seats a few hours into the Cape Town to Dubai flight because the overweight passenger next to him was taking up some of his seat space.

The UAE airline told him the plane was fully booked and did not offer compensation or an apology, according to an Italian newspaper.

Read More

"For nine hours, I had to stand in the aisle, sit on seats reserved for the cabin crew when they were free, and in the final phase of flight resign myself to suffer the 'spillover' of the passenger at my side," he told Mattino Padova.

The "gold member" flyer is reportedly asking for 2,759.51 in compensation - 759.51 as a refund for the flight, and a further 2,000 in damages.

L'avvocato Giorgio Destro ha fatto causa ad Emirates per il suo ultimo viaggio in aereo, particolarmente scomodo. Posted by La Zanzara - Radio 24 on Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Mr Destro, who has previously worked for the Italian Consulate in South Africa, took a selfie at the time which showed the arm of the passenger apparently encroaching on his space (below, from Facebook).

An Emirates spokesperson told MailOnline the airline was unable to comment as it was an ongoing legal matter.

The case hearing, scheduled for October 20th in Padua, rekindles the debate about how airlines should deal with oversized passengers.

In 2013, a passenger who weighed about 24 stone was reportedly asked to step off the flight from Chicago to Denver after being told it was overbooked.

The traveller alleged a cabin crew member asked whether the 34-year-old was aware of the companys customer of size policy, which encourages passengers who "encroach upon any part of the neighbouring seats" to purchase a second seat prior to travel.

In 2009, an image of an obese passenger squeezed into an economy airline seat was reportedly taken by a flight attendant to illustrate to airline managers the difficulty of dealing with passengers who cannot fit into seats.

Read more:

Read More

Read More

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Finance Minister Michael Noonan.Irish citizens pay more in tax than their counterparts in Spain, Sweden, Britain, Switzerland, the US and Singapore  but get little in return in terms of public services. Photo: Tom Burke

Most of the time, Ireland doesn't really 'do debates'. There is no debate about the EU, for example. We react to decisions made by the EU, like the recent ruling against Apple, but we don't seem to have any vision about the kind of EU we want to be in because we never have a debate about that.

There is no debate about immigration. It's assumed that it is a good thing, full stop, end of argument. We are not allowed to have an opinion about how much immigration is a good thing, or about the kind of migrants we want (high skilled, low skilled, etc)?

There is only the barest of debates about whether it is better to cut taxes or increase public spending. The overwhelming weight of opinion that we hear on the airwaves favours increased public spending. It is 'virtuous' to want increased public spending and it is 'greedy' to want tax cuts.

To make matters worse, what debate there is about public spending versus tax cuts takes place in an environment loaded with assumptions that favour public spending.

The Irish Tax Institute has just issued a document on the amount of personal tax people pay here at various levels of income compared with other countries. The paper is called 'Perspectives on Ireland's Personal Tax System' and is required reading for every politician in the country, and also for every journalist with any interest in the tax and public spending debate.

Before getting into the meat of the paper, however, we need to tackle the meaning of the term 'progressive taxation'. 'Progressive' is a nice sounding word. If a country has a 'progressive' tax system that is surely a good thing, and when it has a very 'progressive' tax system, like Ireland's, that must be even better.

But when the word 'progressive' is used here, it doesn't mean 'progress', it simply means that the more you earn, the more tax you pay. In a steeply progressive system in this sense, higher earners pay vastly more tax than lower earners.

Ireland, it turns out, has the second most 'progressive' tax system among all developed countries. Don't take the Irish Tax Institute's word for it. This comes from a Department of Finance analysis of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) figures.

Our tax system loads the tax burden on to medium and higher earners to a much greater extent than even famously egalitarian countries like Denmark, Sweden or Norway.

Here is how steeply 'progressive' our tax system is: someone on 25,000 pays 5.6 times more tax than someone on 18,000. Someone on 35,000 pays 11 times more tax than someone on 18,000, and someone on 75,000 pays 44 times more tax than someone on 18,000.

The top 1pc of income earners now pay 22pc of all personal taxes while the bottom 50pc of earners by next year will be paying just 3.6pc of all personal taxes.

What this means is that public spending is being loaded on to a relatively small number of people. Apart from any issues around fairness, is this even practical?

The Tax Institute paper looks at someone on 55,000 and the amount of tax they pay in various countries. The Germans, Dutch and French are absolutely hammered.

But the Irish person on that wage pays more in tax than their equivalents in Spain, Sweden, Britain, Switzerland, the US and Singapore.

Singapore is famously low tax. A Singaporean on 55,000 pays 5,396 less in tax than an Irish person on the same income. But guess what? Singaporean public services on the whole are excellent. They have a good health system and a good education system.

This brings us to the subject of value for money. We aren't getting it. Everyone thinks we spend too little on health. But according to EU figures, at the height of the boom, we were spending far more on health than anyone else in the EU as a percentage of gross national income (GNI).

Even after the cutbacks, we still spend more than anyone aside from Denmark, which spends only fractionally more as a percentage of GNI than us.

But according to the EU, despite all this spending, Ireland ranks only in the middle third when it comes to life expectancy at birth and at age 65, and in the bottom third among EU countries when it comes to avoidable hospital admissions and cancer survival rates.

This is very, very bad and it means we need health reforms far more than we need more spending drawn from the taxes of a group of people already paying too much tax.

The Irish Tax Institute in its paper asks some very pertinent questions. Among them: is there a point at which a country's personal tax system becomes overly progressive; and do high tax rates above the average wage impact on our competitiveness and create issues around incentive to work, labour costs and ability to attract talent and skills?

The first question is related to fairness. Is there a point at which some people are being asked to pay too much tax, especially given the poor quality of public services they often get in return?

The second question is a practical one. Are high tax rates eventually counterproductive?

These are the questions that ought to be asked every time there is a debate about increased public spending versus tax cuts. Finally, in the absence of a party that really champions the taxpayer, maybe the time has come for a taxpayers' alliance to create real pressure for a fairer tax system.
When it comes to the horror of war as revealed to us on a daily basis from Syria, have we reached a stage of mute helplessness? As retiring UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said this week in his farewell speech to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York: "Just when you think it cannot get any worse, the bar of depravity sinks lower."

He was referring to the air strike on the UN/SARC humanitarian aid trucks at the village of Urum al-Kubra, west of Aleppo, when at least 20 people were killed. The convoy was delivering essential aid to the civilian population when it was attacked and caused the suspension of all aid conveys into Syria amid diplomatic fury over the breach of the Russia/UN-negotiated truce.

It would be difficult to disagree with the statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that this was an "attack on humanity", while there is dispute about who is to blame. But set against the scale of human misery and suffering in war-torn Syria, language loses all meaning. A clearly exasperated US Secretary of State, John Kerry, was scathing of Russian bad faith and called for a ban on all Syrian and Russian flights in the key areas to restore some credibility to the shaky truce so that aid can be distributed.

It's difficult to square the fragile peace efforts with the now routine TV images of men women and children being pulled out from under the rubble of buildings demolished by cluster bombs, and white-helmeted volunteers clawing with bare hands to save lives. We gape as frantic medics operate in makeshift facilities, treating the wounded, mostly civilians bombed in their own homes and hospitals.

Millions of Syrians are living in this hellish environment, cut off from supplies, caught in the crossfire of parties to an unwinnable proxy war. At the other end of the appalling spectrum, we see refugees in overcrowded camps or scrambling off unseaworthy boats trying to escape the grotesque reality of staying put in Syria. These unfortunate people are caught between staying and being bombed or leaving and risking their lives on the treacherous journey. Both options are horrific, with uncertain endings.

Millions have fled the country, mostly to neighbouring countries like Jordan and Turkey. Millions have gone further, seeking refuge in Europe; thousands drowned making the crossing in flimsy boats. Those who make land face more hardship, bureaucracy and mixed welcomes. Many end up blocked at barbed-wire borders or detained in crowded camps. This is a total denial of refugee rights under international law. What dispute can there possibly be about the status of civilians fleeing the six-year-long Syrian war? There is no dispute. What there is, regrettably, is an abject failure of political leadership in Europe to share the burden of those seeking refuge under international law.

The surge of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and other conflict zones like Eritrea has paralysed and divided the European body politic like never before. Some countries will take none; others, like Germany and Sweden, have been hospitable and generous to their own detriment. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is paying the electoral price for her open welcome of over a million refugees last year.

Implementing a coherent EU share-out of the refugees has proven impossible. A scheme agreed in September 2015 to ease pressure on Italy and Greece, where most refugees first land, has been a spectacular flop. Under that scheme, the Irish Government agreed to accept 2,600. To date, a total of just 69 people - all of them Syrian - have come to Ireland from Greece but none have come from Italy. A further 15 out of 32 participating states have received no migrants from Italy. So a scheme which was to relocate a modest 160,000 in the EU has only resulted in approximately 5,000 being accepted, with France receiving most at 1,656. Austria, Poland and Hungary received none.

The scale of displacement of people into Europe is the worst since World War II. Undoubtedly, the ongoing security threat in Europe following terrorist attacks is complicating the relocation of refugees from Syria. There is a conflict here between two imperatives. One is the duty to give protection to refugees and the other is the security of individual member states. But some states are using the security argument to deny their international obligations. Anti-migrant sentiment was central to the Brexit vote in the UK and has fuelled the growth of ultra-nationalist parties right across Europe.

Other more longstanding refugee schemes run by the UNHCR have worked better. Ireland has taken 377 refugees under this programme and indeed most of the 1,000 Syrians in Ireland have come under this programme since the war started in 2011. But we could do a lot more and it was a relief to hear the Tanaiste recommitting Ireland to accept 4,000 refugees under the EU scheme. She regretted that, for reasons outside Ireland's control, only 870 refugees will have been resettled here by the end of 2016. The admission of such a low intake was embarrassing for the Government while Ireland was co-chairing the first UN summit on refugees and migrants in New York.

Ironically, while sentiment here at home is very supportive of receiving Syrians fleeing the war, there has been little or no political pressure on the Government to step up to the plate. But the Government should recognise that the right thing to do is not always popular and can be challenging politically.

US President Barack Obama, speaking on the refugee crisis, urged world leaders to avoid isolationism. Since the start of the war, the US has taken 53,804 Syrians. In a veiled reference to presidential candidate Donald Trump, whose anti-migrant views are well known, Obama said "a nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself".

Ireland should play its fair part in the refugee crisis in line with our longstanding humanitarian values. Moreover, our race memory of mass migration and forced displacement predisposes us to be generous.

Refugees coming from Syria should and will be fast-tracked and given asylum without bureaucratic delays, as is their entitlement. Ending the Syrian war must be the priority for the international community but in the meantime, Irish arms should embrace desperate people.
Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko is scheduled to visit Brussels on October 20-21 to discuss the ratification of the Association Agreement, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev has said.

Yeliseyev said at a briefing on Friday that the visit is being prepared.

"During this visit we will, of course, raise the issue of ratification, searching of a mutually acceptable compromise on the ratification of the Association Agreement with the EU and our Dutch partners," Yeliseyev said.

"We are arranging Poroshenko's visit to Brussels scheduled for October 20-21," the Presidential Administration's Facebook page said.
Much of the discussion in recent days around the Government developing a new State-subsidised childcare programme has focused on how this move, if it happens, will impact on "squeezed, middle-income" families.

Let's start by getting one thing straight: parenting, arguably the hardest job in the world, is undoubtedly made all the more stressful when trying desperately to make ends meet. It's a challenge that many of us experience or can identify with. After all, Ireland's childcare costs are the highest in the OECD area and are utterly crippling to many families. This clearly needs to change.

This is a debate about a service for children. At all times, what is designed and proposed must be for their benefit and advantage, above all else. The care and education given to children in creches and preschools, helps them to flourish. In the first five years of life, children's brains develop faster than at any other time, setting the foundation for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing.

A strong economy needs people's skills, creativity, motivation and knowledge to grow too. Investment in young children has high economic and social returns. Parents, whatever their income and employment status, are children's primary educators. The family, in its many different and wonderful forms, is the natural environment for a child's development. Children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds or who live in poverty - where there is no money to buy books or crayons, for example, or where there may be literacy issues - are already behind the starting line in terms of their development. These children reap the benefits of high-quality care because they have much more to gain.

One in eight, or 140,000, children in Ireland experience poverty - a number that doubled during the recession. In practice, this means a child not having a warm coat in winter or not having a square meal every other day. Children living in poverty tend to live in families where there is no employment, or where their parents work part-time or irregular hours.

As we look ahead to Budget Day on October 11, one of the best weapons that the Government has in its arsenal to address child poverty is to subsidise childcare. This is a proven way to support parents to get jobs, keep jobs, and have a better standard of living than on the dole.

The promised, phased introduction of a new system of subsidised childcare for the under-threes paid directly to providers is long overdue. Given the reams of research, the Children's Rights Alliance is crystal clear that if budgetary choices must be made, children at risk of poverty must get first dibs.

Well and good, but where does this leave all other children, including those who live in squeezed, middle-income families? Surely they are entitled to access the same high-quality care and education? Absolutely, they are.

Allow me to dispel a myth. The "squeezed middle" is a political concept without any basis in fact. In truth, the middle ground is households earning far less than the suggested 30k-70k range, and according to the Central Statistics Office, they actually earn between 30k-48k. We know that 62pc of households - the majority and therefore the "middle" - earn less than 50k. This is nearer the eligibility threshold that has been mooted by the Government.

Meanwhile, just 20pc of households earn more than 80k. Most middle-income families stand to gain from what we hope will be announced in the Budget. As we understand, the full rollout of an income-based approach across all income brackets will take a number of budgets to implement and must start in Budget 2017. This must be the ultimate goal so that all children benefit. As the umbrella organisation for children in Ireland, this is something that the Children's Rights Alliance is advocating for and monitoring closely. We want every child in Ireland to benefit from high-quality care and education. Affordability for families is also the key to making work pay - to balance working and parenting.

I see the implementation of paternity leave as a very positive move. The extension of the free pre-school year to two years is also really good for children, and helps with affordability for parents. Both of these are available to all children aged three and upwards, whatever the income or employment status of their parents.

We need to support parents better by providing paid parental leave for mothers and fathers, allowing them the choice to be home with their child for the first year of life. We need to be far more ambitious in providing flexible working terms for all parents, both in single- and two-parent families. We will be scrutinising the plans laid out in the hotly anticipated 'National Strategy on Early Years' to be shortly published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone.

Undoubtedly, Ireland's performance on childcare and education has improved in the last decade. But this is from a pitifully low base and we still lag behind most other EU and OECD countries.

Getting this right is about far more than subsidies, it is about children and what is best for them.

Tanya Ward is chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance
Several questions arise from the BBC Northern Ireland 'Spotlight' programme on the murder of Denis Donaldson. Why did the IRA kill him? The easy answer is that it was executing an informer, as it had done many times before. But the war was over. The arms had been decommissioned. Donaldson was no further obvious risk if the IRA machine was going to be dismantled.

Killing him to deter others from informing made little sense, if there was to be less criminal activity to inform on.

Of course, the IRA would go on importing weapons from America, so secrets had to be protected, but there was another possible motive.

The movement, we now know, was riddled with informers. The RUC in the mid-1990s believed that the Provisionals had about 600 members. Dennis Bradley's estimate, having seen the files, is that the British state had even more informers - at least 800.

Had Donaldson not been killed, other informers might have seen the chance to come out and declare that they had been working for the state, clear their consciences, explain themselves and trust that they would not be shot.

Was the killing of Donaldson designed to prevent a flood of informer disclosures that would have shamed the IRA?

Here's another question.

Just a little over a year before the murder of Denis Donaldson, the PSNI received intelligence that the Provisional IRA had robbed the Northern Bank and made off with 24m. The Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Orde, disclosed that information to the media.

After the murder of Donaldson, the Special Branch had an agent - at least one - who knew that the Provisionals had killed him, yet the police chose not to disclose that and let the blame rest with the dissidents.

They had one strong reason to be coy. The IRA had completed its decommissioning, or as much as it intended to complete, and only one further obstacle remained to Sinn Fein being accepted as a partner in the executive by Ian Paisley's DUP. That obstacle was the refusal of Sinn Fein to endorse the police.

After the Northern Bank robbery and the shocking murder of Robert McCartney in January 2005, the Provisionals were discredited as never before and brought under enormous pressure to concede to keeping within the law.

Had it been known that they had murdered Donaldson a year after the murder of Robert McCartney, their credibility would have been eliminated and the political process would have died.

One has to suppose that this prospect featured in the decision of the police to let people imagine the Provisionals had nothing to do with the murder. Paisley was waiting for a Monitoring Commission report in October of that year to clear the IRA.

Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's envoy to Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, later wrote: "It didn't look like an authorised operation and the furore died quickly, with everyone apparently determined not to allow the murder to knock the peace process off track."

If Adams, as is claimed, really did sanction that murder, he was taking an enormous risk. He was in danger of being left stranded, months after decommissioning, with no political gains to show for his decades-long project.

One of the illuminating claims of the 'Spotlight' programme came at the end, from former head of RUC Special Branch Raymond White.

White said that the IRA had realised in the "late-1970s, or early-'80s" that the armed campaign would fail and that it had to put its energies into political activism.

He says the republicans had put their best efforts into their war and worked out that this wasn't enough.

Consider the implications of that claim. They are that the whole IRA campaign after that was not a war for the ejection of Britain from Ireland, but something else.

In the early-'70s, the IRA really believed that it could make Northern Ireland too hot for the British to handle and the province would be dropped. This assumption was wrong.

As a British official put it to Adams on the flight back from talks with William Whitelaw in July 1972, the British army lost more soldiers in road accidents than were being killed in Northern Ireland.

In the late-'70s, the period which White referred to, the IRA had men and armaments, but it did not have a strategy.

This was when Adams, its chief new theorist, came out of Long Kesh, having been interned in 1973 and then convicted of attempting to escape.

He did a few things straight away. He ended the feuding with the Official IRA. He put to rest the myth that the Brits were leaving, something that naive republicans had been encouraged to believe. And he urged the bolstering of Sinn Fein, under the direction of the IRA, of course.

From then on, the two wings of the movement would take separate courses. Adams believed, one presumes, that they would have a symbiotic relationship; that each would help the growth of the other. But one thing is clear: whereas, in 1970, the IRA was recruiting huge numbers, by the late-1970s, it preferred to stay small. In Long Kesh, the IRA had trained for the combat conditions of the civil war that would inevitably follow the British withdrawal it naively anticipated and the contradiction was clear; that once the IRA had lit the fuse, it would be for others to contain the blast and clean up afterwards.

The IRA had no future without a political party so big that it could not be excluded in the way that the IRA inevitably would be.

The IRA's fate was to be a bargaining chip in future negotiations and it would only be possible to deploy it in that way if it was kept small and under control.

In 1986, Adams appeared on Brian Garret's programme on Radio Ulster with the SDLP's John Hume, the first effort to establish dialogue between the parties.

Adams offered talks to Hume and Hume spurned them, saying that he wanted to talk to the people in charge of the IRA. This is perhaps the only instance of Adams being accused in public of not being the leader of the IRA.

Adams repeated the nature of his problem twice on the programme.

"There are, and one wouldn't profess otherwise, there are certain contradictions between armed struggle and electoral support and we have seen some of that in the past."

So, Adams had acknowledged that the IRA was working against the interest of his political project, though, at the same time, he said that it was for the IRA alone to decide on its strategy.

The man was living at the heart of a massive paradox, or he was backing two horses against each other.

But he surely saw that the tension between the political and military projects would grow and that a choice would have to be made between them.

Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the IRA campaign was a steady drumbeat of bombs and shootings - mostly kneecappings. This is absurdly called a "war".

And when Sinn Fein's growth peaked among those who would tolerate that drumbeat, it stopped. The function of the guns and explosives after that was to provide a bargaining counter. The refusal to decommission delivered more political gains than the weapons in use had.

Read backwards, this seems to have been the fulfilment of a cunning plan hatched in Long Kesh in the late-1970s to make the IRA a political tool of Sinn Fein and take power through politics.

However, life is never that simple and predictable.

But Adams is either one of the cleverest of strategists, or the luckiest.

Today, hundreds of former agents in Belfast and Derry and Tyrone and South Armagh could illuminate the whole murky story for us, but they remain silent, knowing that to talk now is still too dangerous.

The shooting of Denis Donaldson was a message to them: keep your head down and say nothing.
Richard Curran, in writing about a new development plan for rural Ireland [Farming Independent], states that regeneration of the major regional towns holds the key to any future success.

Developing farming alone will not be nearly enough, as farmers' numbers continue to decline year on year, as incomes and profit margins become a real challenge for the industry. Rural economies are becoming more and more dependent on vibrant cities and towns in the provinces, as people commute to work in ever increasing numbers.

The development of the larger towns, such as Tralee, Ennis, Tuam, Longford, Athlone, Roscommon, Castlebar, Ballina, Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon, Donegal and Monaghan, must be prioritised.

This must involve the introduction of broadband, decent schools, the establishment of more and more foreign multinationals, the expansion of health services, reopening of the government department offices closed in recent years, the maintaining of library services in every county where they are currently under threat, and establishing once more bank branches and garda stations in rural Ireland.

This would be an enormous help in providing much-needed jobs, and a huge boost to the national economy. By the year 2030, it is estimated that approximately 60pc of the population will reside within 25 miles of the east coast.

That concentration of people will bring economic prosperity to the entire eastern region, as bigger populations get a greater share of the national cake. It can also cause many social problems, such as a lack of adequate health and housing services, etc, in the years ahead.

The social argument should not be about rural or urban bashing, but rather the creation of progressive policies that would facilitate the bringing of job opportunities and prosperity to our cities, towns and villages in a nationwide, balanced recovery.

One would hope that rural Ireland would be supported and begin to recover in the coming years, and not be left out on a limb, to plough a lone furrow.

Tom Towey

Cloonacool, Co Sligo

Scholarship vs rankings

Regarding Liam Collins's article which referenced the latest Times Higher Education rankings, from which TCD was excluded, (Irish Independent, September 22), I have no problem with university rankings. We all have to make account of ourselves and we all have to deliver.

And we have to face the Harvards, Stanfords and Princetons of this world in open competition. But in universities, only great scholars, not managers and administrators, can deliver.

And we still have great scholars in TCD (as in UCD). But we cannot go on blaming funding for our failure. TCD, in particular, has not been adequately funded since 1921.

Perhaps we ought to give bonus points for universities that have fought in the centre of a revolution, as did TCD under Captain Ernest Alton, DU OTC, Professor of Latin (Provost, 1942-1952) on April 24 and 25, 1916 until the cavalry arrived from Nottingham and Derby via Liverpool and Kingstown/Dun Laoghaire.

Trinity was founded by an English Queen in 1592 and by tradition is the equal of Oxford and Cambridge. Perhaps we have not been sufficiently appreciated in Ireland over the years, for Trinity has always been an Irish university, not a British university, except in a narrow political sense from 1800-1921.

I am glad to see my old university, Oxford, as the World's No 1 in the centenary of 1916. But I have been in Trinity long enough (since 1968) to be proud of our own academic achievements since 1916. Our heads are unbowed. We shall soon be back where we belong, with the wholehearted support of the Irish people in the land of saints and scholars.

Gerald Morgan

The Chaucer Hub

Trinity College Dublin

Escaping the EU yoke

Was it around 1875, or 1912,or even 1967 when home rule was deemed Rome Rule?

It's no longer a point of contention, thankfully, but where next? For me, the question is how can we get out from under the yoke of Europe? Do we really need a revolution as happened in 1916? I hope not.

Germany, France, Italy and others view Ireland as financial fodder. They have no interest in the country's welfare. We must stand on our own feet again and make our political representatives responsible and accountable for their actions.

Dancing barefoot at the crossroads was a vision of Eamon de Valera - keeping the peasants ignorant, and therefore the source of a cheap labour force, was all part of the plan then.

But we don't live in isolation. We know what's going on. We can see the deception of the parish pump promises.

Maybe, just maybe, if the Irish people were asked today should we leave the EU, like Britain has had the courage to do, our EU masters might get a big surprise. But, as with the Lisbon treaty referendum, we might be ordered to think again.

What weaklings we have become.

Daniel McColgan

Gorey, Co Wexford

Make building homes profitable

A crazy idea has been floated by a former lord mayor suggesting housing people on boats (Irish Independent, September 22).

The only problem with housing is the cost of building - the Government tax take means no builder can make a profit.

Just reduce the levies and VAT (hotels, from five star right down to one star, got a VAT reduction) and give some profit to the house builder and, like any business, the construction industry will take off.

Five percent of all sites becomes social and affordable housing. In south Dublin, there are thousands of acres of land with planning permission for thousands of houses, but no building

No one, from Luas workers to the highest-paid Google director, will work if they don't stand to make a profit.

Fast, temporary builds do not work; instead, the State should get on with allowing builders to do their job for a profit. The Exchequer's coffers will be swelled, the builders will be employed, and last, and by no means least, houses will get built.

Mary Berry

Carrickmines, Dublin

Existence of God

Philip O'Neill (Irish Independent, Letters, September 21) notes that when Blaise Pascal, the brilliant French physicist and writer, doubted his beliefs and prayed for the simple faith of the Breton fisherwoman, he was not praying for ignorance but enlightenment.

When Pascal, the pioneer mathematician of probability theory, was asked by one of his students about the probability of the existence of God, he replied, "If you decide to lead your life on the probability that God does not exist, you do yourself a great disservice."

Kevin Heneghan

St Helens, Merseyside, UK
Drama on and off stage and for all ages will be provided by An Tain Arts Centre in the coming weeks.

First up sees the highly acclaimed 'Scorch' by the Belfast based Prime Cut Productions in An Tain on Friday September 23.

Inspired by recent court cases, and written by Stacey Gregg, it tells the story of first love through the eyes of a gender-curious teen.

Amy McAllister has been much praised for her role as Kes, a teenager who has to first get get to know herself as she falls in love and ventures into the real world away from the computer screen,

Scorch won Best New Play at the 2015 Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards, the Fringe First Award 2016 and has been nominated as Best New Play for the Writer's Guild of Ireland ZeBBie Awards.

It comes to Dundalk as part of an UK and Ireland tour. It recently had a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival where it won two awards and will play in during the Belfast Theatre Festival in October.

Tickets are 15, concessions 12.

Young audiences will get the chance to discover the magic of theatrical make believe when everyone's favourite, Bosco is joined by large puppets to present the much loved story of Hansel and Gretal on Saturday, September 24 at 2pm.

The Lambert Puppet Theatre is now widely recognised as the premier touring puppet theatre company in Ireland. Paula Lambert was the voice of Bosco on TV for seventeen years and Bosco is still a firm favourite with younger children.

This promises to be an excellent way to entertain the kids and a family ticket for two adults and two children under ten is 30.

A challenging production with a difference comes to the Long Walk Shopping Centre for the week beginning Monday September 26 when Upstate Theatre Project invite audiences to step back to the not so distant past when people with mental health problems or who didn't conform to society's expectations were assigned to the local psyciatric hospital

Upstate Theatre Project, worked with the award-winning director Louise Lowe and the community of Ardee, to develop an immersive historical experience exploring health care in 20th Century Ireland.

The performance is set The Bell Room where staff went for a break during their shift, until such time as they were summonsed back to the wards by a patient ringing the bell.

Audiences can listen to the conversations recorded from former staff members at St Brigid's and the community in Ardee and get an insight into a time when issues surrounding mental health were not as well understood as they are nowadays and the challenges faced by both staff and patients.

The Bell Room has been conceived to be experienced by one audience member at a time and the performance takes twenty minutes.

It comes to Dundalk after successful runs in Ardee Library and during the Drogheda Arts Festival. Tickets are 3.

Tickets for all shows can be booked through www.antain.ie.
The picturesque fishing village of Annagassan will host its fifth annual Taste of Togher Food Festival this Saturday, September 24th from 12pm.

Admission is free to the taste tempting event which will is an ideal opportunity to sample food and crafts from throughout this coastal area.

The Argus has learned there will also be an international flavour to the 2016 festival as the Viking village of Annagassan is connecting with Catoira, a Viking town in Gallicia, Spain to celebrate their historic roots, and great love of food of course!

The mayor of Gallicia is set to travel to the village for the festival, which will also be attended by MEP Mairead Mc Guinness

It feature a wide range of local products and produce to try, from cheese and honey to jam, cupcakes and more.

Locally produced drinks to sample include cider, beer and mead!

Dermot Seberry, lecturer of culinary arts and gastronomy, a food writer, a former International 5 Star Chef and director of Food Tours.ie will stage a cookery demonstration.

The 'Star Biz for 2016' is the renowned Dunany Flour (www.dunanyflour.com) and there will be a presentation on bread making from Leone on making perfect organic bread.

This year the festival, which will utilise the whole village, will also include an outdoor activity area run by Celtic Adventures and a local craft fair.

The Glyde Inn will host the food village and demonstrations while the local crafts area will be located in Slans.

The festivities will continue late into the evening as there will be music from 9.30

For more information on this hugely popular event, including the variety of foods and crafts which will be available just visit the festival website: www.tasteoftogher.com.
The students of third and sixth year art classes had a real treat last week in St Louis Secondary school.

Local artist Gerry Clarke visited the school and gave a fascinating demonstration on several techniques using watercolours.

He brought in a huge selection of his work to show the budding art students using a wide range of media from pencil to charcoal.

Students also got the opportunity to study this work and ask questions on the methods used.

'This is of great benefit to the 6th years for their Still life/ Imaginative composition exam and for any 3rd years that choose painting for their 2D studies,' said art teacher Susan Irwin, who welcomed Gerry to the school.

'Hopefully it will be the first of many visits by Gerry and we thank him for inspiring our girls in their artistic work.'

She added that he also mentioned to us that his ancestors, the Eastwood' owned the castle which is situated on the school grounds at one time, so there was a great connection with the school.

'We had a thoroughly enjoyable & informative morning and really appreciated Gerry giving up his time for our students,' said Ms Irwin.

Leaving Cert Art student Jessica Murphy said she was 'delighted to have had the opportunity to watch Gerry work so closely and to be able to ask questions on technique.'

'It was so fascinating watching Gerry. He was able to create a load of separate elements on the page, add a few brushstrokes, and all of a sudden the picture was complete! It was almost like magic.

From a student's point of view, it made me appreciate and understand watercolours because for me personally, it was one thing I've always struggled with in art; but watching Gerry has made me consider doing watercolour for my Leaving Cert.'

She added: 'I definitely think now that every art student should get the opportunity to watch an actual artist at work- it gives you a whole new insight into the job, and how, without a doubt, some people are born to do it!'
Brian Byrne, with Sean Brown and Owen Hanratty, who played the Bagpipes during the 5th year celebration barbecue at Dundalk Men's Shed, Seatown

The pioneering members of Dundalk Men's Shed celebrated five years since the group was set up at a special event in their Seatown base last week.

As one of the first of its kind in Europe, the Dundalk project has been a pilot of sorts for the 349 similar groups that have sprung up around Ireland, north and south, since then.

An extraordinary group which has continued to evolve as it grew from just a handful of founding members to over 90, the Men's Shed movement has, according to it's current Chairman, one simple goal 'to give us a reason to get out of bed in the morning.'

Dubliner Brian Byrne has been living in Dundalk for many years, and like many men, found his life dramatically altered after retirement.

'I think many people find that once you leave work, you lose that regular contact with the friends you had there too.'

'Coming here to the shed gives us all a purpose and camaraderie, and for many a chance to develop skills that they never even knew they had.'

Self taught art, crafts and woodwork classes are a key part of the Shed movement, with members sharing their skills to encourage the talent of others.

'We have guys who had never painted, or sketched before, creating these fabulous pieces,' said Brian as he gave the Argus a tour of the studio last week.

He explained the hugely varied backgrounds of their membership, from professionals to tradesmen and taxi drivers to musicians.

With a diverse range of talents to boot, the members have even formed their very own choir, which regularly performs in the Dundalk area.

The very next show is on Tuesday next, September 27th in the Marshes shopping centre, between 1 and 2p.m.

The group even have a bagpipe player among their ranks, something which has proved a little difficult for the rest to pick up!

Lifetime piper Sean Brown admits 'it takes a long time to master' as the unique sound bellows out from their Seatown studio.

The craft was, he explains, a family tradition, with him growing up watching his own father play. Over 60 years later Sean is sharing his passion for the pipes with Owen Hanratty at Dundalk Men's Shed, and the two are hoping to train a few more pipers in the group!

'We have guys who come here for different reasons, some just for a coffee and a bit of company,' said Brian.

As they toasted their first five years with a barbeque on Thursday last', the 'shedders' as they have become affectionately known are rightly proud of the journey they have taken. But most of all, they celebrate the friendships.

'There are a lot of people on there own at home, and this is a place to come to,' said Brian..
The Marist Fathers, who first arrived in Dundalk in 1859, recently celebrated 200 years of the Society's existence since it was founded in Lyon, France in 1816.

A number of Marist priests who served in St. Mary's College, Dundalk and the Holy Family parish attended the chief celebration which took place in Fourviere Basilica, Lyon, on July 23rd.

They were among almost 2,000 members of the worlwide Marist family - priests, sisters, brothers and laity - thronged the basilica for the commemoration. Marist missions throughout the world were also represented. Chief celebrant was an Irishman, Superior-General Fr. John Hannan.

The decision of the Marist Fathers to come to Dundalk in 1859 was influenced by their experiences in England. Having earlier ministered among the poor in the East End of London, they were struck by the levels of poverty and suffering of the Irish who had emigrated there during and after the Famine.

Following consultation with the Archbishop of Armagh, they settled on Dundalk as their first house. They bought Church Hill House and later built the first Marist church beside it. The opening of St. Mary's College soon followed in 1861. It was the first English-speaking Marist school in the world.

In Dundalk, the Marists' bicentenary also saw the opening in April of the new state of the art St. Mary's College building on the existing campus, replacing the original 1861 building among others. The school, with a current enrolment of 700 and a staff of 50, looks forward to a new era in Marist education in the town.
The North East Branch of The Irish Patchwork Society, which holds its meetings in Kilkerley Community Centre, is having a display in The Marshes Shopping Centre on Saturday 24 September from 10am to 6pm.

There will be quilts and other small items made by the members on display. New members are always welcome, so you are come along and have a look.

St Peter's Home going for gold

The best of the best in the Irish business community have created an exciting but orderly queue as the nominations for The National Q Mark Awards 2016 have been revealed.

The black tie ceremony, which will take place on Friday September 30, will see over 150 companies converge on Dublin's Double Tree By Hilton Hotel to battle it out for the much coveted Q Mark Awards.

In the queue for Best Nursing Home for Quality Management Systems is St. Peter's Nursing Home, Castlebellingham.

Jewellery, iPad stolen in burglary

An iPad, along with some jewellery, was stolen during a burglary at a house at Grove Road, Carlingford some time between 9.30am and 1.30pm on Friday.

In addition, the cupboards and bedrooms were ransacked during the incident.

And a house at Cortial, Kilkerley was broken into some time between 5pm on Saturday and 9am the following morning. A stone was thrown through a window at the back of the property and rooms and cupboards were ransacked, but nothing was taken.

Number of cars broken into

Gardai are investigating thefts from a number of cars in and around Blackrock at the weekend. The incidents happened between Saturday night ans Sunday morning. A car parked at Fane View was broken into and a USC cable was stolen between 8pm and 3pm.

And at Kingswood on the Blackrock Road, the glovebox of a car was rifled and a digital camera stolen. At Cocklehill, a car was rifled, but nothing was taken between 9pm and 11am.

Anyone with information about these or any other crimes is asked to contact Dundalk Garda station at 042 9388400 or the Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.

Give families a break

Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd, has said that subsidising childcare would help to give families in Louth a break. Mr O'Dowd was speaking on the matter as the government was briefed on a potential new scheme of childcare subsidies, being considered for the Budget.

He said: 'Government discussions on a new scheme of subsided childcare, whereby the State would pay a portion of the childcare bill directly to the childcare provider, is extremely welcome. I urge the government to act on this in Budget 2017'.
One Ukrainian serviceman has been injured but none have been killed in Donbas in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman for military issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said.

"A sniper injured one soldier. That happened near Taramchuk [in the Mariupol sector]," Motuzianyk said at a press briefing on Friday.

He added that the Donbas militants were marring the truce and using heavy weapons.

The regional situation is controllable although "the number of provocations has grown," he said. According to Motuzianyk, the militants "are using mortars, and snipers have become active." "The Ukrainian army holds its positions and is ready for deterrence," he said.

The militants used an infantry combat vehicle in the Luhansk sector, he said. "One shot was fired from a grenade launcher towards Ukrainian army positions; that happened near Popasna. A sniper was active near Novo-Oleksandrivka," the ministry spokesman said.

According to him, the militants fired eight mortar mines near Avdiyivka and on the outskirts of Horlivka in the Donetsk area.

The number of shelling incidents has declined in the Mariupol region, but the militants used small arms and machineguns near Maryinka, Starohnativka and Talakivka, he said.
It might be something of a cliche that the Irish answer to any problem is to offer a cuppa tea, but it's hoped that this tradition will help people to talk about mental health issu4es.

There is still time to sign up for Suicide or Survive's annual 'National Tea Break' campaign entitled 'tea and talk'. It aims to get the nation talking about mental health, in the run up to World Mental Health Day on October 10. This year they are making a special appeal to the people of Co Louth to get involved.

The campaign, which is in its fifth year, encourages friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and community groups to come together and arrange a relaxed tea or coffee break with the intention of talking about mental health and breaking down stigma.

The campaign is being run by Suicide or Survive, which deliverers innovative suicide prevention, mental health and wellness programmes in communities and workplaces throughout the island of Ireland.

After registering for a 'party pack' volunteer organisers will get information on the necessary steps involved in hosting a 'tea break', which also hopes to raise funds for Suicide or Survive's programmes.

People can register to get involved in the campaign by going onto www.suicideorsurvive.ie, by calling 1890 577 577 or by emailing Jacqui@suicideorsurvive.ie.
A barrister, disqualified in July from keeping animals for five years, after she was prosecuted by the Department of Agriculture, has returned to court to have the conviction and ban set aside.

The case against Donna Sfar with an address at Oaklawns, Dundalk went ahead in her absence, and the applicant, who works for the Revenue Commissioners, said it should not have been heard as she was not able to attend as she was ill.

The original Department of Agriculture brought 19 summonses against her under the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013, which covered three dates in July and August 2014 at land Sfar owns at Balregan, Kilcurry including 'causing unnecessary suffering to animals, failing to provide them with water and food, straying animals, and failing to comply with an animal health and welfare notice'.

A retired veterinary inspector gave evidence of finding sheep and pigs in poor condition on the one-acre holding, and of how he had to euthanise 'on the spot' a sheep being eaten alive by maggots.

Eight sheep and nine pigs were seized and although one lamb died immediately thereafter the other animals were treated successfully.

Judge Brennan convicted Sfar of on all the summonses and as well as the disqualification order which was requested by the department, he fined her 90 for each offence and ordered that she pay 1,500 euro in costs and 500 expenses.

Last week Sfar who represents herself, applied to have the orders set aside and asked a re-hearing of the case before a different judge in the event that Judge Brennan failed to excuse himself, as she said he is 'the only judge to have convicted her and she claimed they had all been quashed'.

Sfar said due to a leg infection she was unable to attend court on July 7 and said that she would 'not under any circumstances ignore the court'.

However, Judge Brennan said he wanted to clarify that Ms. Sfar had not made any application to the court for an adjournment when he was sitting the previous day.

She replied that she had spoken to the court clerk, but Judge Brennan said she had not spoken to the court.

He also refused her application for a copy of the audio recording of the court the day before the original hearing, saying he had no power to do so - the case was not listed on that day and she had no business before the court on that date.

The Department of Agriculture's barrister said the prosecution was specially fixed for hearing on July 7 and he alleged Sfar had 'attempted to avoid it going ahead at the eleventh hour'.

He said that she has taken 22 separate sets of judicial review proceedings against the State which are paid for by the tax payer.

Sfar said she would take the case to the Court of Human Rights and the European Courts of Justice, and said her 'right to be heard is a fundamental constitutional issue'. She claimed that her right to private property had been violated and told the court: 'I will not surrender. I resolve to get justice'.

Judge Brennan said he would give his decision later this week.
Some of Dundalk Grammar School Transition Year students after receiving their Junior Certificate results in Donegal Adventure Centre, where they spent 4 days (13th-16th September) doing outdoor activities. A great start to TY!

St. Vincents students Ruth Clarke, Bronagh Cassidy and Aoife Begley who each achieved an incredible 11 As at Higher Level in their Junior Certificate Exam

Dundalk students who got their results for the last traditional Junior Certificate exams were pleased with their performance, particularly pupils at Bush Post Primary and St Vincent's, a number of whom scored spectacular results.

Three students at St Vincent's scored 11 As each - Aoife Begley, Bronagh Cassidy and Ruth Clarke, while it was a 'perfect ten' for Bush student, Peter Suresh, prompting principal Kevin Joyce to say he is an 'outstanding student'.

Peter, from Rockmarshall, Jenkinstown, is, Mr Joyce said: 'an exceptional student and this is an extraordinary achievement'.

The principal said: 'We're very proud of him and all our students who achieved brilliant results. He is such a well-grounded and well-rounded young man and totally unassuming. Throughout his years so for in Bush Post Primary, Peter has been no stranger to awards, winning in almost every category possible. No doubt the future is very bright and promising for him'.

Peter put his success down to hard work, his family and the excellent support he received from his teachers during the three years.

When asked about his plans for the future, he said: 'I am thoroughly enjoying the transition year programme and will decide where my future lies towards the end of this year. Right now, I'm just delighted and relieved'.

Meanwhile St Vincent's principal Deirdre Matthews said the triple 11 As were 'outstanding'. She said the students were 'thrilled and delighted' with their remarkable scores and added: 'There are always other girls' work which doesn't reach the headlines but their achievements are to be congratulated too'.

She said she was particularly happy that science and maths results were high once again this year. 'The Junior Cert is a very good experience of a State examination for the student and is a preparation for the Leaving Cert'.

A very pleased Lorraine Quigley, principal at Dun Lughaidh said: ''Hot on the heels of highly successful Leaving Certificate results, we in St Louis Secondary School awaited the arrival of the Junior Certificate results with confidence.

'We were not to be disappointed as student after student secured multiple A grades across the board in higher level subjects.

'In addition to the core subjects of Irish, English and Maths where our students scored highly, once again the school's tradition of excelling in the STEM subjects, modern European languages and the arts was upheld.

'It was business as usual as classes continued for all at 9am on Thursday, putting the rite of passage through Junior Cycle on the shelf and propelling students on their onward senior cycle journey.'

At Colaiste Ris, principal Padraig Hamill said the students there had excelled in the Junior Cert. He said: 'There wasn't the great hype around the country that there was in previous years. Results were handed out here and students went and met their families and talked about the results and they were pleased'.

With change coming next year in the form of a revised junior cycle English exam and assessment, Mr Hamill said there were interesting times ahead, especially in light of the stance of the union, the ASTI, which represents the majority of Dundalk second level teachers and their fundamental disagreement with the government on the implementation of the new regime, in addition to the dispute over the Croke Park agreement hours.

Mr Hamill said: 'I'm not exactly sure what's going to be done about it, but it will be resolved, disputes always get resolved eventually'.

At De la Salle College students were also celebrating success in the Junior Cert, with principal Patricia O'Leary saying 'Overall the students were really happy with the results, with some scoring multiple A grades.'

She added that it was widely recognised how significant the junior cycle was in preparing students for the Leaving Cert.

'It should not be underestimated just how important it is, and for that reasons we should be careful how we bring in change.'

Ms. O'Leary said it was 'unfortunate' that the new junior cycle system was being introduced amid industrial relations upheaval.

'Unfortunately it hasn't been a smooth run in, but we will see how it pans out. We all want our students to do well, that's the main concern.'
Householders in Louth will pay the same local property tax in the coming year, after councillors voted in favour of retaining the status quo. Proposals to cut the tax by 15% or 1.5% were rejected after officials warned that cutting the tax could impact on Louth County Council's ability to recruit staff and provide services,

CEO Ms Joan Martin told Monday's meeting that there had been no submissions on the issue following a public consultation period.

It was up to the councillors to leave the tax unchanged or to raise or lower it by an amount of up to 15%, she informed them.

She recalled that they had voted to reduce the tax by 1.5% last year and if the councillors decided to leave it as it is, they would be 140,000 better off, which would give them the chance to decide how to spent it, suggesting class 3 roads and the possibility of 50/50 schemes.

There were, she said, very few areas for the council to raise money other than the local property tax, the only other ones being parking, rents and rates,

Cllr Kevin Callan proposed that there would be no change, noting they had all received communications from people about class 3 roads.

A plea for the council to look at other ways of saving money, such as tackling the open spaces in Muirhevnamor which lead to people vacating houses, was made by Cllr Kevin Meenan. He called for 'a brain storming session' so that they could 'look outside the box' and give people the break they deserve.

The local property tax was branded as 'totally unfair' by Cllr Tommy Byrne, who said that people were being fleeced and suggested they cut it by 1.5% again this year.

Cllr Emma Coffey asked what was the reality of recovering the historical debt of the 17million owed in rates.

Ms Martin replied that while the outstanding rates were a 'huge debt' on the council, their situation wouldn't improve if they collected it tomorrow as the money has already been spent. Louth, she pointed out, was languishing at the bottom of the league for rate collection, along with Donegal, partly because of having large urban areas, but also because some people can't pay, and there were others who won't pay. 'A lot of people don't want to pay anything to the establishment, whether it's us or the government,'

She added that they were substantially increased the number of staff working in the area of debt collection and were seeing a welcome and steady improvement in collection rates.

Cllr Frank Godfrey said there were 15,000 unemployed in the county and they had the power to reduce the tax by 15% which would help them.

Ms Martin warned that if members passed a 15% reduction, the council would have to cut services and wouldn't be able to recruit staff for the first time in 10 or 12 years.

'If you were to reduce the LPT I would have to consider whether I could employ clerical officers or replace staff,' she said. She also pointed out that they were now operating on a budget of 95/96million compared to excess of 150million before the recession.

Cllr Edel Corrigan claimed the council was missing out on opportunities to save money, citing problems with illegal dumping off the Ecco Road in Dundalk. 'I don't think the public should miss out any more by our misspending,'

The CEO took exception to that remark, retorting that littering only occurs because citizens throw it out and the council would never have to clear up if every citizen disposed of their litter and domestic waste.

Cllr Mark Dearey stated that they had been thrown into this 'annual Punch and Judy' situation by the LPT legislation and his commitment was to maintaining services.

Cllr Alan Cassidy proposed that they reduce the LPT by the largest amount possible.

Cllr Jim Tennety said that if they cut the rate by 15%, it was those who have wealth that would benefit the most. He noted that the council was now in a recruitment phase and would also have to address the issue of pay increases for their low paid workers next year.

A 15% reduction would take 1.4million out of the budget and everything would have to be looked at, said Ms Martin.

A proposal by Cllr T Byrne to reduce the LPT by 1.5% was rejected as was Cllr Cassidy's proposal to cut it by the maximum of 15%, while Cllr Callan's proposal that it remain the same was carried.
A woman who threatened to kill a female paramedic who was treating a young person in a Dundalk estate has been placed on probation for a year, with a number of conditions.

At an earlier sitting of the district court, Christine Reid, (44), 124 Castle Ross, admitted a summons for threatening or abusive behaviour arising out of the incident at Woodview Park on August 17 last year.

A female paramedic, who was in a vehicle and not an ambulance, had arrived on the estate following an emergency call about a youth who had taken a suspected overdose.

While the paramedic was walking the teenager towards the emergency vehicle, Reid 'verbally interfered' with her and was asked to 'step back'. The defendant replied: 'I'm sick of you speaking to me like that'. The paramedic later told Gardai she 'didn't know this woman from Adam'.

Reid told her she would 'put in a 999 call to lure her back and kill her in the back of the ambulance'. Inspector Martin Beggy said the words 'sounds very serious for the charge in front of the court' which was threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, under the Public Order Act.

Inspector Beggy said the paramedic 'would have had concerns at that time because she goes to calls on her own'. He said Reid seemed to think there was a 'attitude' from the paramedic. Reid told Gardai she regretted the comments she made and apologised in her statement to officers.

The defendant has a number of previous convictions including for theft. Solicitor Niall Lavery said he hoped 'it's understood that the words (from Reid to the paramedic) were not sincerely meant' and added Reid had taken alcohol on the day.

He said the defendant knew the young man who was being attended to and knew she should have kept away and it was 'entirely inappropriate for her to be doing this and she is thoroughly ashamed'.

She had not come to the attention of Gardai since this incident and co-operated with officers. Mr Lavery said Reid 'disputes what was said, but she is not in a position to contest it because she had been drinking'.

Mr Lavery said Reid has six children and he hoped this incident was ' a blip'. Reid had addiction issues in the past and has 'lost a number of family members in the recent past'. In addition, ' she accepts that she continues to deal with temptation and has been undergoing counselling for a period of time'.

The case had been adjourned for a probation report, which recommended that Reid be placed under their supervision for a year. Judge Brennan imposed the recommendation on conditions, including that Reid continues to attend all Probation appointments, engages with addiction service and doesn't re-offend.
Arklow-based technology firm Profitsflod.com is to host a free information day at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel in Dublin on September 27.

The event has been organised to celebrate the success of the firm's product range with five implementations of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software so far this year.

Guest speaker, Tony Pottle of Exel Computer Systems will present the latest version of the software launching over the coming weeks.

Aimed at manufacturing and field service companies nationally, this free event is designed to give companies considering the transition to ERP for the first time and those evaluating a change in existing systems the opportunity to explore our products in action in a group setting.

Strategic breaks throughout the course of the event, including coffee breaks and lunch (included) will encourage informal networking giving people the opportunity to share ideas and strategies to help in the selection process.

Pre-registration is required for this free event See www.profitsflow.com/ERPevent or call 01 244 9580 for details.
Home Instead Senior Care Wicklow, based in Bray, has been named National Champion in the European Business Awards, sponsored by RSM; Europe's largest business competition set up to celebrate business excellence and best practice in the European business community.

The Awards, now in its 10th year, is supported by business leaders, academics and political representatives from across Europe, and this year engaged with over 33,000 businesses from 34 countries.

Home Instead Senior Care has been chosen after the first phase of judging by an independent panel. They were evaluated on the core EBA values of innovation, ethics and success and will now go through to the second stage of the competition, which includes a video and a public vote.

Home Instead Senior Care is Ireland's largest home care provider, providing care for over 4,000 people throughout the country. Its mission is to enhance the lives of older people and their families.

Ed Murphy, Founder and CEO of Home Instead Senior Care in Ireland said 'We're very proud to be selected to represent Ireland as a National Champion. The European Business Awards is widely recognised as the showcase for Europe's most dynamic companies and we are now looking forward to the next round of the judging process where we can explain in more depth how we are achieving business success.'

Adrian Tripp, CEO of the European Business Awards said 'Congratulations to Home Instead Senior Care who have been selected to represent their country as National Champions. They are central to the success of Europe's strong business community, and have shown the core principles we look for of innovation, ethics and success.'

The next round requires the national champions to make a presentation video, telling their unique story and explaining their business success. The Awards' independent judges will award the best of this group the 'Ruban d'Honneur' status and the selected companies will then go on to the Gala Final in 2017.

Separately, in a two stage public vote, the videos will be hosted on the European Business Awards website, and the company who receives the most votes in their country will become the 'National Public Champion'.
Jackie Byrne's 50th birthday at the Boomerang: Jackie with her family and friends

Jackie Byrne from Cois Sleibhe in Bray walked in to a surprise party in Boomerang bar on Quinsboro Road recently.

Jackie's children had told her they were going for a quiet meal nearby, but their uncle just wanted to see her in Boomerang for a moment to give her a card for her 50th.

However all of her family members and friends were waiting to have a big celebration to mark the occasion.

'She nearly died,' said Jackie's friend Trish, adding that a cousin whom Jackie hadn't seen in years came all the way from England for the happy event.

The attendees included Jackie's mother Teresa, her children Louise, Daniel and Kevin, her siblings, and her many friends.

Everyone thought about Jackie's late sister Teresa on the night and others they had lost over the years.

The cake was in the shape of a Kerry jersey, as Teresa is mad about the GAA and supports Kerry.

There were platters of food served to the guests, as well as slices of cake. Jackie used to work in Supervalu and some of her former colleagues came to the event.

She had a great night and really enjoyed music performed by a musician in the bar. He sang 'Happy Birthday' to her a number of times, and dedicated several songs to the birthday girl.
The head Ukraine's Security Service Vasyl Hrytsak has said the location of 57 hostages captured by illegal armed gangs is established.

"For now, we have know where 57 [hostages] are held, if they haven't been transferred to another place," Hrytsak said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

The information was sent to the office of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, the SBU head said.

The SBU says militants currently hold 111 citizens of Ukraine captive. Nine of them are in the Russian Federation. Some 499 individuals are unaccounted for.
Wicklow women in business are invited to attend an upcoming network event organised by Local Enterprise Office Wicklow as part of National Women's Enterprise Day.

The event takes place at the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co Meath on Wednesday, October 19 to celebrate the success stories of Irish female entrepreneurs and to encourage more women across the region to access enterprise supports for starting or growing a business.

Special guests will include Alison Banton, owner of Brooke & Shoals, a Greystones-based home fragrance company with a production unit in Kilcoole. Alison has a fascinating story of growing her business from her shop in Greystones, to selling on board Aer Lingus aircraft and working with LEO Wicklow, to now exporting to Europe and beyond as an Enterprise Ireland client.

Alison will also represent Co. Wicklow as a panellist on October 19 at the Mid East NWED event in Trim. All current and aspiring women in business in County Wicklow are urged to attend and listen to Alison's practical tips and inspiration.

Sheelagh Daly, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Wicklow said 'Through financial assistance, microfinance loans, mentoring, training and networking, the Local Enterprise Offices in Local Authorities supported 1,000 more female-run enterprises last year, compared with 2014.'

Director of Services with the Enterprise and Corporate Services Department at Wicklow County Council, Mr. Thomas Murphy, encouraged local Wicklow female entrepreneurs to engage with the supports provided by LEO Wicklow, saying 'There is a wide range of enterprise supports on offer and so we're encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners to find out about those supports at the regional event on National Women's Enterprise Day 2016.'

Tickets for National Women's Enterprise Day events can be booked through www.nwed.ie
News that biopharma firm GE is to invest 150 million in a new manufacturing campus in Ringaskiddy has been broadly welcomed as a massive boost for the economy of the county.

The firm, which plans to build four pre-fab manufacturing plants on its GE Biopark, expects that more than 500 new jobs will be in place by the time of its completion.

Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality David Stanton described the announcement as great news for the Cork area.

"This very significant investment by GE in a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing campus and manufacturing training centre in Ringaskiddy is great news for the Cork area. This project is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, through IDA Ireland and is to be located at the IDA Ireland site at Loughbeg.

"The new GE Biopark Cork, when operational, is expected to be home to more than 500 new jobs when fully operational, 400 of these with biopharma companies and a further 100 employed directly by GE. In addition to the biopharma jobs at the plant, I understand that it is anticipated that the construction phase of this project, subject to planning approval, could create up to 800 jobs when it begins in mid-2017", Minister Stanton said.
Fourteen years after they first applied for funding for a vital extension and the staff and pupils of Dromclough NS have finally moved into its bright new spaces at the rear of the existing school.

Complete with a big hall, a new staff room, a learning support room and offices it signals the start of a bright new chapter in the life of Dromclough.

It follows a previous extension built in 2014 comprising four classrooms, a computer room and learning support rooms.

"We're thrilled to finally move into this new space and it means now that our pupils no longer have to leave the main school building to attend classes in prefabs as the whole school is now self-contained," Principal Mary Majella O'Connor said.

Ms O'Connor meanwhile credited former Dromclough pupil Jimmy Deenihan with having honoured his committment to approve funding for the extension as his first duty in cabinet. The development was approved the very morning after he took office as Arts Minister in 2011.
Fermoy Musical Society will hold a Fashion Show and Cabaret at the Corrin Events Centre on Thursday, September 29.

The event, which will be compered by Claire Cullinane, will incorporate local business stands and a wine reception sponsored by Carry Out. It will feature the latest catwalk fashions courtesy of local outlets including Hickey's, Carma Boutique, Joe Murphy's Suzsa Boutique and Shaw's Fashions.

Tickets, priced at 15, are available from committee members and many of the above shops. Proceeds from the will be used to offset the cost of the society's latest production, 'Hot Mikado', which will run at the Fermoy Community Youth Centre from November 5.

Killavullen run

The annual Killavullen Vintage Tractor run will be held on Sunday next, September 25. This year's event is dedicated to the memory of Michael O'Sullivan. It will leave Killavullen hall at 10.30am and head to Doneraile, Buttevant, Mallow and back to Killavullen for 3pm where refreshments will be served. This year's proceeds will go to the Mercy Hospital Cancer Unit.
Following on from a long tradition of recruiting the best rugby players from around the world, this year Kanturk have reached out to the Southern Hemisphere and drafted in Ethan Roycroft from New Zealand.

The Te Arocha native, who has played several seasons with the Cobras in New Zealand, will join the Kanturk forward unit. Director of Rugby Michael Murphy has earmarked a role for the Kiwi at either number eight or hooker, due to his versatility and his signature move, his spinning line-out throw.

Roycroft stated that he sees playing in Ireland as a stepping-stone to his dream of playing with a South Hemisphere rugby franchise.

While only recently arrived in North Cork, Ethan paid tribute to the reception he has received. "This has been a very exciting trip for me to Europe, I have blended into the team seamlessly and the people of the town of Kanturk have been very welcoming," he said.

Outside of rugby, the Kiwi hopes to work on his other passion in North Cork as an apprentice plumber. "Ireland is a bit different but I am willing to learn, make new friends and share my experiences," he said.

Ethan joined Kanturk in their league season opener on Saturday.
Meath County Council has an ambitious aim - to be Ireland's most innovative and proactive Local Authority.

This week they took another step closer to achieving this goal.

"Over 33,000 people per day commute out of Meath to work in other counties. We want to change that. We want to give local people the opportunity to both work and live in the county. We are launching #MakeItMeath, a campaign that aims to attract Irish and international companies to locate in Meath. We want to create jobs for local people in their local community" explained Meath County Council's Chief Executive Jackie Maguire.

The first step in the campaign started this week with the launch of www.MakeItMeath.com.

This website showcases all the attributes that Meath offers to business. Jackie continued: "Meath ticks all the boxes for companies looking for a new location. We have a highly educated and skilled workforce. We have land, industrial premises and office space to suit all types of business. With the airport, seaport and superb motorway network our connectivity to the rest of the world is second to none. Finally, we have the right approach. Our dedicated Business Team is ready to work in partnership with companies, making it easy for them to Make It Meath."

The new website will be supported by a dynamic social media campaign across Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Two new videos promoting Meath are also available to view on YouTube.

Director of Economic Development Kevin Stewart continued: "Here in Meath County Council we take our role in the economic health of the county very seriously. The provision of sustainable public services relies on healthy local economies with high quality jobs and good employers. This campaign will be an on-going process to promote Meath, attract business to the county and help us create jobs for local people."

Small and medium sized enterprises in Meath are already supported by the team in the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), headed up by Joe English. The LEO provides advice, support, training and capital grants to small and medium enterprises. For more information visit www.localenterprise.ie

Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr. Maria Murphy concluded "We are not sitting back hoping that companies will choose Meath. We are going out there to market Meath and attract attention to this wonderful county. We hope that local people will help us spread the word to colleagues, friends and relations across the country and across the world.'
Brad Pitt has denied allegations he was abusive towards one of his children on a private jet transporting the Pitt-Jolie family.

On Thursday, the FBI confirmed it was gathering facts in order to determine whether to pursue an investigation after allegations involving an aircraft carrying Pitt and his children were referred to the agency.

Pitt, 52, was reported to have clashed with his oldest child Maddox, 15, during the alleged incident on 14 September. Angelina Jolie, 41, filed for divorce on 19 September and listed the date of separation in her divorce filings as 15 September.

Media outlets quoting anonymous sources claimed Pitt had been drinking during the flight. A report by TMZ claims Pitt lunged at one of his children and connected in some fashion with his son.

Speaking to People, a source reportedly with knowledge of the situation said there was an argument between the actor and Jolie which resulted in a parent-child argument when one of their children stepped in, which then escalated.

However, the source said Pitt was adamant it did not reach the level of physical abuse, that no one was physically harmed.

He did not hit his child in the face in any way. He did not do that; he is emphatic about that. He put his hands on him, yes, because the confrontation was nose to nose and was spiralling out of control.

A source told the Independent that Pitt understood the seriousness of the matter and is cooperating. He is willing to do whatever will be best for his family.
Actress Daisy Ridley attends the 88th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 28, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley has revealed she deleted her Instagram account because of the "pressure" of posting to millions of followers.

Ridley, who played Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, quit the social media app last month after reportedly receiving online abuse following a post about US gun violence.

Speaking at the Student Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Ridley said she had a "lot of growing up to do" and had no immediate plans to return to the photo-sharing site.

"I felt a pressure being on it," she told the Press Association.

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"I was like 'I need to post. Oh my God, it's been this many days'. It's actually been kind of nice not to be on it.

"I'm 24. I have a lot of growing up to do. I have to deal with loads of stuff myself personally. For that to be projected with millions of people watching, that is like a bit of an extra pressure.

"I think some people handle it well. Just right now it's not for me but who knows."

Ridley, who had 2.3 million Instagram followers before leaving the site, was reportedly targeted by online trolls after she shared a photo of herself after the 2016 Teen Choice Awards.

She had been joined at the ceremony by teenage relatives of victims of mass shootings in Orlando, Newtown and San Bernardino.

In an Instagram post, Ridley wrote: "As I sat in the audience yesterday tears were streaming down my face at the tribute to those that have been lost to gun violence."

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She signed off the message with the hashtag "stoptheviolence".

Ridley had previously taken to Instagram to say she would "not apologise" for her body in response to criticism on social media that she was too thin.
Jenna Coleman will not relinquish Queen Victoria's throne as the hit ITV drama has been green-lit for a second series.

Sunday night prime-time drama Victoria launched in August, with Doctor Who star Coleman playing the young monarch in the early years of her reign - flanked by Rufus Sewell as prime minister Lord Melbourne and Tom Hughes as husband Prince Albert.

Victoria has been a ratings hit, beating the BBC's period drama by averaging 7.7 million viewers, according to ITV figures.

The new series will bring Victoria into the next stage of her reign as she manages scandals, crises and the struggles of family life.

Writer and series creator Daisy Goodwin explained: "Even though she reigned in the 19th Century, Victoria is a heroine for our times.

"In the next series she faces the very modern dilemma of how to juggle children with her husband and her job.

"As Victoria will discover, it's hard to be a wife, a mother and ruler of the most powerful nation on Earth."

Damien Timmer, of production company Mammoth Screen, promised a series " packed full of extraordinary real life events, with constitutional crises, scandals at court and personal challenges aplenty for the Queen and Prince Albert."

Victoria is set to launch in the US in January and programme makers will be hoping it echoes the success of period drama Downton Abbey, which gained a fan following in America.

ITV's director of television Kevin Lygo said: "Mammoth and Daisy Goodwin have brought the characters so vividly to life in this series, and we're thrilled with the reception for Victoria.

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"We're pleased to be able to confirm that Jenna Coleman and Tom Hughes will return to continue the story on ITV."
OSCE SMM to monitor compliance of disengagement agreement in Donbas, but it needs full access to these areas  Hug

The Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) mission in Ukraine welcomes the signing in Minsk of the framework agreement on the disengagement of forces and weapons in three sectors in Donbas, the First Deputy OSCE SMM chief Alexander Hug has said.

"Were welcoming the signing of the agreements on disengagement in three sectors  The OSCE's SMM will monitor compliance and conduct verification of the agreements on both sides of the line of demarcation," Hug said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

Hug emphasized that without an appraisal of his mission and through verification it would be impossible to say whether the agreement was being carried out.

He said the SMM has enough resources to conduct thorough monitoring of the disengagement of forces and weapons in Petrovske, Zolote and Stanytsia Luhanska.

"We have the resources and the support of 57 OSCE member states. We conduct visual and acoustical monitoring. The signatories of the agreement must carry out their duties  to ensure access of monitors and draw back forces and hardware," he said.

Hug said that during the course of fulfillment of the monitors' mandate there have been many instances when they were not allowed access to certain areas.

"Even on the day of the signing of this agreement our monitors faced limitations on where they could travel in Petrovske and Zolote  two of the three sectors mentioned in the agreement reached in Minsk," Hug said.

In this connection he noted that armed forces and formations on the ground close to these areas must be notified immediately that there should be no restrictions on the movement of SMM patrols.

"Only then can we verify that the sides have actually pulled back weapons and personnel from these areas. With access, we can monitor. Through monitoring we can verify. With verification, there is trust, and with trust, there is complete compliance and full disengagement. We would also be very grateful if you could mention the need for access in the headline" Hug said.

On September 21 members of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk signed a framework agreement on disengagement of forces and hardware in three sectors of Donbas. The document envisages establishing of three security sectors on the line of demarcation [between Ukrainian government forces and combined Russian-separatist armed groups] in Donbas over an area not less than four square kilometers. The OSCE SMM is to monitor the agreement.
The FBI is gathering information about an alleged altercation involving Brad Pitt on an aircraft carrying the actor and his children.

Pitt's wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, and has asked for physical custody of the couple's six children.

Several media outlets, using anonymous sources, have reported that the Ocean's Eleven star is under investigation by a child welfare agency after allegedly clashing with one of his children.

In a statement, the FBI said allegations involving an "aircraft carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children" had been referred to the agency.

"The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued," it added.

The reported incident is an alleged altercation between Pitt and a family member, a source said.

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating Pitt.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokeswoman said: "The LAPD is not handling any reports or allegations into child abuse against Mr Brad Pitt."

A spokesman for the force later said that a report of an incident on a plane involving Pitt been passed to the FBI, but refused to confirm any details about the allegations.

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Pitt was on a plane that landed at the International Falls, Minnesota, airport on September 14, local sheriff Perryn Hedlund said.

Jolie (41) and Pitt (52), known collectively as Brangelina, married in 2014 after 10 years together.

Jolie's lawyer Robert Offer said the actress had filed for the dissolution of the marriage "for the health of the family".

In legal documents filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, the Maleficent star asked for physical custody of the couple's children - Maddox (15), Pax (12), Zahara (11), Shiloh (10) and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. She also filed for Pitt to be granted child visitation rights and to share legal custody of the children.

Jolie is being represented by divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who helped in her divorce from Billy Bob Thornton and has represented Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard.

In a statement following news of the divorce, Pitt said he was "very saddened" and "what matters most now is the well-being of our kids".

The couple first met when they played married spies in the film Mr And Mrs Smith, when Pitt was still married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston.

Jolie was previously married to Thornton and British actor Jonny Lee Miller.
Marion Cotillard has said she is expecting her second child with French actor and director Guillaume Canet (AP)

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.

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.

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"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.

The film's producer, Graham King, is previously reported to have said: "Brad and Marion immediately had the utmost respect for each other, so once they delved into their characters, their chemistry was electric."
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.

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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.
Time Lord Peter Capaldi will make a special appearance in new Doctor Who spin-off series Class.

The young adult adventure, written by Patrick Ness and set in the Doctor Who universe, will launch on Saturday October 22 when the first two episodes are released on BBC Three.

In a Facebook live-stream with the show's stars, producer Derek Ritchie revealed: "The Doctor is in!"

Class is set in Coal Hill School, which acts like a beacon for monsters across all of space and time.

Charlie (Greg Austin), April (Sophie Hopkins), Ram (Fady Elsayed) and Tanya (Vivian Oparah), alongside their physics teacher Miss Quill (Katherine Kelly), must fight against the creatures who are struggling to find a way through to Earth.

Capaldi appears in the opening episode, For Tonight We Might Die, and Hopkins admitted to "fangirling" over the Doctor Who actor on set.

"When he was on set the energy was electric, and I think we were all quite blown away and in awe," she said.

"Fangirling! It was like a masterclass watching him. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. He's so charismatic and he's got his lines in front of him but what you see as the finished product, it's all him. He turns it and makes it his own. It's beautiful to watch."

Her co-star Austin added: "H e walked on set and we didn't really know he was there, he kind of just crept on and was like, 'Oh hi guys. I'm Peter, how are you doing?'.

"And watching him take the script from the page and transform it into something real is just beautiful to watch. He's a madman, I think, just in the best possible way."

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Capaldi, who plays the 12th Doctor, said in a statement: "The Doctor Who family is growing, and it's fantastic to be able to welcome the young new cast of Class in to the Whoniverse."

The cast also warned that fans should expect the young adult audience to be "very dark" and not suitable for young children.

Hopkins explained: " I think people expected it to be for a much younger audience than it is.

"Here's an example: on the first day of the special effects and prosthetics, there was so much blood we felt sick. It is something the Doctor Who universe maybe hasn't seen before in regards to how raw it is, and gritty."

Ritchie said fans could expect a "brand-new take on the Doctor Who universe".

"We have awesome monsters, we have big concepts, we go to wonderful places," he said. "But at its heart, it is the story of our gang, and we follow that story so closely.

"Every aspect of their lives we investigate and that makes it really unique, because we see these people in their real lives dealing with the most insane things every single week and still trying to go to the prom and still trying to have a relationship and still trying to pass their A-levels while the most bonkers things happen to them that change their lives forever.

"So it's incredibly heartfelt, it's incredibly urgent, it's incredibly real. I think it will feel like a really unique but very grounded part of the Doctor Who universe."
It was a season of belts and bows, ruffles and florals. As she exited London Fashion Week (LFW), Irish designer Simone Rocha was hailed a heroine for her compelling collection, full of historical romance.

The 30-year-old mum-of-one delivered stunning patchwork florals and lavished quirky shoulder bows on her alternative bridal looks.

Irishman Paul Costelloe explored block colour ruffles, while Preen combined ruffles with florals, and Donatella Versace - well, she introduced us to the boob belt!

The leather innovation at Versus literally buckles up the chest and flattens the boobs. Personally, I'd prefer a good bra.

Belting was big across the shows, and some of the most wearable came from Costelloe, whose cummerbund belting story in greige worked a treat, a shade darker than his natural linens.

I've come back from LFW lusting after trench coats. Simone Rocha did a variety of styles, including a cute, puff-sleeved version in white borderie anglaise for summer. However, for now, I like her take on a short, buff-toned one, utilitarian chic worn with clouds of tulle.

Burberry, the iconic home of trench coats, treated us to variations on a theme with leg of mutton sleeves in an animal print. The mac was worn over a high-necked blouse, a current trend that shows absolutely no sign of disappearing next year, so a wise buy in the tail end of 2016.

I strongly suspect that high street will pay commercial homages to Burberry's Hussar-style military jackets and this ornate braiding style, known in the trade as 'frogging', also had a crush factor at OSMAN, who did a fab modern twist.

Colourwise, there were lots of monochromes, red, pink, blush and so much mellow yellow, it put us all in a good mood - especially that mango hue from Donatella.

There's lots of school uniform striping around this season, and take note, it's set to continue into 2017 with outstanding looks from Johnny Coca. If you're not buying into the posh boarding school designer blazer, why not seek out vintage, old-school ties to add a vibrant belt to a dressing gown/kimono coat? That's another 2016 favourite going nowhere fast.

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Earrings were big and summer dresses were definitely long at LFW, so a smart purchase now would be one from Ganni, a new Danish label at Arnotts.

The gauzy dress look with big knickers is not for everyone but with party season around the corner, it's inevitable that the exhibitionists will be out and will take the look into 2017.

Richard Malone from Wexford wowed with his striped collection and they're even dubbed his favourite hue 'Malone blue'. Richard's name was on everyone's lips after his show, so he represents an exceptionally clever investment for those fashion fans who look spotting talents of the future.

Gingham is another childhood fabric finding favour next season. Henry Holland of House of Holland did it with a masterly touch.

Shoulders and clavicles will again be very much on show next summer, so keep up the exfoliating and display gleaming polished skin. David Koma's off-the-shoulder dresses were sensational at Sunday's show.

Finally, there was just no getting away from plaits. I'm not talking coiffed looks but long, skinny ones. Look and learn from Fyodor Golan.
A British man who lived as a goat for three days is among the winners of this year's Ig Nobel prizes for scientific research.

Thomas Thwaites designed prosthetic limbs that allowed him to walk on all fours and graze with goats on a farm in the Alps.

He published his research in a book entitled GoatMan: How I Took A Holiday From Being Human and his work was recognised at the annual awards, parodying the Nobel Prizes, which are given out for the most unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research.

Mr Thwaites, wearing his prosthetic limbs, said the award was a "huge honour" as he collected the prize at a ceremony at Harvard University in the US.

He said: "I got tired of all the worry and the pain of being a human and so I decided I would take a holiday from it all and become a goat."

Mr Thwaites shared the biology prize with another British author, Charles Foster, who also spent time living as a variety of animals.

His work, Being A Beast, saw him take on the perspective of a badger, an otter, a fox, a red deer and a swift.

Mr Foster, a fellow at the University of Oxford, told the audience: "We have five glorious senses. Normally we use only one of them - vision. It's a very distorting lens because it's linked to our cognition. That means we get only about 20% of the information that we can squeeze out this extraordinary world.

"Animals, by and large, do a good deal better.

"In an attempt to see woods as the really are without that distorting lens of vision and cognition, I tried to follow five non-human species; badgers, foxes, otters, red deer and ridiculously swifts.

"It increased my understanding of what their landscape is really like rather than landscapes coloured by our colonial impressions of what those landscapes should be like.

"It also generated in me a good deal of empathy for these animals and we can do with a little more of that."

Volkswagen also got an honourable mention, winning the chemistry prize for "solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions by automatically, electromagnetically producing fewer emissions whenever the cars are being tested".

The German car manufacturer was embroiled in a scandal after it emerged millions of its vehicles were fitted with software known as defeat devices to cheat emissions tests.
A tarantula rescued by firefighters after a fire broke out in Cedar Road, Southampton (Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service/PA)

A tarantula has been rescued by firefighters after a fire broke out in its owner's house.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the property in Cedar Road, Southampton, on Wednesday where they found the spider in its vivarium in a first-floor bedroom.

Firefighters using breathing apparatus, jets and ventilation were able to rescue the arachnid as they battled the blaze.

Crew manager Ally Hicks said a heating pad in the spider's home had malfunctioned and was believed to be the cause of the fire.

He said: "We removed the spider and could see the heat pad had melted part of the tank.

"We then handed it over to the RSPCA, it had its legs very close to its body so it was difficult to see how big it really was."

Hampshire firefighters previously rescued 60 pet spiders, some of which were venomous, in a house fire in Basingstoke in December last year.
Two men have been cleared of raping a British schoolgirl and leaving her to die on a beach in Goa.

Scarlett Keeling, 15, had been on holiday with her family in the popular Indian resort of Anjuna when she attended a Valentines Day party in 2008.

Her partially undressed body was found on the beach the following day, showing bruises and signs of an attack.

Two local men, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, were accused of raping and assaulting Scarlett before leaving her unconscious to drown.

On Friday, judge Vandana Tendulkar cleared them of charges of rape and culpable homicide in a brief court hearing, which reportedly lasted less than a minute.

The two defendants were also acquitted of causing injury or death through supplying drugs and destroying evidence.

It came after a series of delays in the eight-year long case, which saw a change in prosecutor.

Fiona MacKeown, Scarletts mother, is planning to launch an appeal following the acquittal.

I am disappointed with the verdict and I will definitely move to the higher court, she said.

Speaking to Sky News before the ruling, she described her daughters death as every parents worst nightmare.

"It's bad enough to lose a child to murder without it being dragged out so long, she added.

"They hoped I'd get tired and get fed up of waiting or wouldn't come back. They were wrong."

Prosecutors alleged Carvalho and D'Souza had plied Scarlett with drugs, raped her and left her unconscious on the beach where she subsequently drowned.

A post-mortem examination showed there was ecstasy, cocaine and LSD in the teenager's body but the defendants claimed she had taken the substances willingly.

Their friends and relatives cheered as they were acquitted in court, with D'Souza told reporters he was happy with the verdict, adding: Justice has prevailed.

His defence lawyer, Marvin D'Souza, said the investigation had been influenced by diplomatic pressure and trial by media.

An initial police investigation found Scarlett had drowned accidentally but a second post mortem sparked a new probe after finding she was drugged and raped.

Scarlett, from Bideford in north Devon, suffered 50 separate injuries in the attack.

The court case started in 2010 but progressed slowly, hampered by a public prosecutor withdrawing from proceedings and a key witness refusing to testify for the prosecution.

Scarlett's family were on a six-month trip to India at the time of her death. Her mother, her partner and siblings were visiting Karnataka at the time but Scarlett returned early to attend the party.
Grounds to believe Caparol Ukraine director's murder ordered, linked to his work

The version of a contract killing is considered in the case on the murder of the Caparol Ukraine director, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said.

"There are serious grounds to believe this is a planned contract killing with the use of several dummy cars where Browning rare guns were used," Avakov told reporters in Sloviansk, Donetsk region.

He said the investigators have the evidence the murder was connected with his professional activity.

"The first studies give reason to state the murder was connected with the professional activity of the director who had a conflict that has been observed in his family for several months," Avakov said.

As reported, at noon on September 20 a call from a passer-by was made. The passer-by said he found an unknown man who was dead in Krushynka settlement of Vasylkiv district.

The police established that the killed man was a local resident and a Ukrainian citizen.

The pretrial investigation is underway.

Earlier the National Police in Kyiv region confirmed to Interfax-Ukraine that the director of Caparol Ukraine was found dead in Vasylkiv district.
Brian May speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Tokyo (AP)

Brian May has condemned Japan's dolphin hunting, saying the slaughter of animals should end in the same way society has turned against slavery or witch-burning.

The Queen guitarist and animal rights campaigner said: "Every species, and every individual of every species, is worthy of respect."

May, in Tokyo for Queen's sell-out concerts at Budokan arena, added: "This is not about countries. It's about a section of humanity that doesn't yet understand that animals have feelings too."

Protesting against the dolphin hunt in the small Japanese town of Taiji, documented in Oscar-winning film The Cove, has become a cause for celebrities including Sting and Daryl Hannah.

Taylor McKeown, a silver medalist swimmer in the Rio Olympics, who has long been fascinated with dolphins, is now in Taiji to monitor the hunts.

Ric O'Barry, the dolphin trainer for the Flipper TV series, started the protests against the Taiji dolphin kill, and stars in The Cove, which depicts a pod of dolphins being herded into an inlet and getting bludgeoned to death, as blood turns the water red.

The hunters in Taiji and their supporters defend the custom as tradition, although eating dolphins is extremely rare in Japan. The Tokyo government also defends whaling as research.

May, who founded the Save Me Trust in 2009 to lobby governments on wildlife policy, said he opposes cruelty against all animals, including foxhunting and bullfighting. Both are also defended as tradition, but that is just an excuse, he said.

"I know Japanese people - so many. They're decent. They're kind. They're compassionate, but they don't know this is going on," he said of the dolphin killing. "These are mammals, highly intelligent, sensitive creatures, bringing up their children like we do, and they are being slaughtered and tortured."

AP
Jerome Kerviel was sentenced to three years in prison for nearly bringing down Societe Generale with the losses (AP)

French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel will not have to pay 4.9 billion euros (4.2 billion) in damages to the bank that used to employ him, but a more manageable one million euros (860,000), a court has ruled.

The court said Kerviel was "partly responsible" for huge losses suffered in 2008 by Societe Generale through his reckless financial trades, but it also ruled that "deficiencies" in the bank's management, controls and security systems contributed to the size of the losses, which Kerviel would have had no realistic way of reimbursing.

"I'm hoping to get to zero (civil damages) in the end because I still think I do not owe anything to Societe Generale. The battle continues," Kerviel told reporters following the ruling.

Societe Generale's lawyer Jean Veil said the bank has not decided whether to appeal. The court's decision is now "enforceable", he said.

In one of the biggest ever trading fraud cases, Kerviel was sentenced to three years in prison for nearly bringing down the bank with the losses, just before the financial market meltdown in 2008.

The 39-year-old was found guilty of forgery, breach of trust and fraudulent computer use for covering up bets worth 50 billion euros (43 billion) - more than the market value of the entire bank at the time.

In 2014, France's highest court upheld Kerviel's criminal conviction and three-year sentence, but annulled the 4.9 billion euros in civil damages, saying they were "disproportionate" and that the bank had its share of responsibility.

The initial amount of damages, equivalent to the total losses reported by the bank in the fraud, was so huge that Kerviel would not have been able to pay. As a result, the top court ordered a new civil trial.

Kerviel says his managers were aware of his risky operations, which had initially earned the bank 1.4 billion euros (1.2 billion) in 2007, weeks before turning sour in early 2008.

He claims the bank quietly welcomed his unauthorised trades when they made money, but dropped him when they began making losses.

Lawyers for Societe Generale have said Kerviel used his computer, financial skills and fake documents to conceal his unauthorized trading from managers.

Also at stake for the bank in the new civil trial are big tax credits it received from the French state in compensation for the losses incurred from Kerviel's fraud. If Societe Generale is ultimately found responsible for faults in handling the Kerviel case, the French government could ask the bank to pay back the tax credits, reportedly worth 2.2 billion euros (1.9 billion).

Kerviel's legal saga is expected to go on, with his lawyer trying to have his client's criminal conviction overturned.

The battle is also about image and reputation, both for the bank and Kerviel, who has tried to portray himself as a victim of an improperly regulated banking sector and a crusader against the ills of the financial world.

AP
A three-year-old boy has survived alone for three days in a remote forest in the Russian region of Siberia, braving near-freezing temperatures and woodland teaming with wolves and bears.

A major search was launched for Tserin Dopchut after he disappeared while playing with dogs near his family home in the small village of Khut in the Tuva republic's Piy-Khemsky district.

Expand Close Rescuers search for missing Tserin Dopchut (Sholban Kara-Ool/ Facebook ) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rescuers search for missing Tserin Dopchut (Sholban Kara-Ool/ Facebook )

Tserin was not wearing a coat and was carrying only a small bar of chocolate when he wandered into the taiga - snowy coniferous forest that covers large areas of Siberia - on 18 September.

More than 100 people were involved in the search including police and rescuers from the Russian Emergency Ministry, the Siberian Times reports.

A helicopter was also used to help explore the 120 square km search area.

Head of the Tuva republic, Sholban Kara-Ool, said the boy was finally found on Wednesday when he recognised his uncle's voice calling his name and called back.

He said the boy survived by eating his own supply of chocolate and sheltering in a dry area under a tree.

The regional emergencies' chief, Ayas Saryglar, described the situation as "very dangerous".

"There are wolves, and bears in the forest," he told the Siberian Times. "The bears are now fattening for the winter. They can attack anything that moves. In addition, it is warm during the day, but at night there are even frosts.

"If we consider that the kid disappeared during the day, he was not properly dressed - only a shirt and shoes, no coat."

The boy has been dubbed "Mowgli" by locals after the child-hero of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

"The whole village is throwing a party to celebrate his survival. He was given the second name of Mowgli," said Mr Kara-Ool.

'It is now predicted he will become a rescuer himself, because he showed incredible stamina for his age by surviving for so long alone in these cold woods."

According to local media, doctors said the boy has not suffered any injury from the incident.

In June, a seven-year-old Japanese boy was found alive in bear-infested woods, six days after being left there by his parents as punishment for bad behaviour.

Yamato Tanooka's parents initially said he had got lost before eventually admitting briefly abandoning him for being naughty.
Undated handout photo issued courtesy of the Crown Office of the scene after a collision in Glasgow, as speeding drink driver Steven Bennie admitted causing the death of Mary Laurie, known as Marie, in the crash as she returned home from her son's wedding

Undated handout photo issued courtesy of the Crown Office of the scene after a collision in Glasgow, as speeding drink driver Steven Bennie admitted causing the death of Mary Laurie, known as Marie, in the crash as she returned home from her son's wedding

Undated handout file photo issued by Police Scotland of 57 year old Mary Laurie, also known as Marie, as speeding drink driver Steven Bennie admitted causing the death of a mother in a crash as she returned home from her son's wedding

A speeding drink driver has admitted causing the death of a mother in a crash as she returned home from her son's wedding.

Mary Laurie, also known as Marie, was making her way back from the celebrations in November last year when the taxi she and her husband had just entered was hit by a car being chased by police in Glasgow.

Expand Close Undated handout photo issued courtesy of the Crown Office of the scene after a collision in Glasgow, as speeding drink driver Steven Bennie admitted causing the death of Mary Laurie, known as Marie, in the crash as she returned home from her son's wedding / Facebook

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Whatsapp Undated handout photo issued courtesy of the Crown Office of the scene after a collision in Glasgow, as speeding drink driver Steven Bennie admitted causing the death of Mary Laurie, known as Marie, in the crash as she returned home from her son's wedding

The 57-year-old, from Easterhouse, lost consciousness minutes after being thrown through a window of the cab in the collision at the junction of Edinburgh Road and Springboig Road.

Her family listened in court as they heard the man driving the car, 21-year-old Steven Bennie, reached about 80mph in a 30mph zone as he tried shake off the police pursuit.

During the chase, Bennie - who was behind the wheel without having a full driving licence - ignored red lights and had swerved to avoid another vehicle.

He also repeatedly ignored his passenger's request to let her out of the car prior to the crash, which left Mrs Laurie's husband James with seven rib fractures.

Bennie, who was 20 at the time, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Bennie, of Pettigrew Street, Glasgow, also admitted driving while over the legal alcohol limit and driving without the right licence and insurance.

He will be sentenced next month.
A killer taxi driver who murdered two young women has been sentenced to a whole life order.

Christopher Halliwell, 52, is already serving a life sentence for the murder of Sian O'Callaghan, 22, who he abducted in his taxi as she made her way home from a night out in Swindon in March 2011.

Expand Close Rebecca Godden / Facebook

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He confessed to killing Miss O'Callaghan and took police to her body before offering "another one" and leading them to where he had buried missing prostitute Becky Godden in January 2003.

Halliwell later denied murdering Miss Godden but was convicted following a two-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, at which he represented himself.

He smirked at Miss Godden's family as the jury of six men and six women returned their verdict on Monday following less than three hours of deliberations.

Retired High Court judge Sir John Griffith Williams sentenced Halliwell to a whole life order on Friday.

Passing sentence, the judge described Halliwell's account of Miss Godden being buried in the field by two drug dealers as a "cock and bull story".

He added: "Your account of the circumstances in which she met her death bears all the hallmarks of a contrived explanation designed to avoid conviction in the hope that the minimum term you are presently serving will not be increased.

"But the account in which you advanced so glibly with little or no regard to the truth made no sense at all.

"I have had the opportunity of observing you throughout the trial and listening to your evidence. I have no doubt that you are a self-centred and domineering individual who wants his own way. You are both calculating and devious."

The judge told Halliwell he would die in prison and as he was led away, he said: "Thank you."

The judge said Halliwell had robbed Miss Godden of a "potentially fulfilling life".

"I am satisfied your conduct amounted to abduction.

"Rebecca Godden did not want to go with you and would certainly not have gone with you had she known you were prepared to rape her and to use violence if she did not do as you told her," he said.

"There was clearly sexual conduct and your offending was aggravated by your concealment of the body.

"I observe that you lied to the jury about the circumstances of the murder of Sian O'Callaghan, just as you lied to the jury about the circumstances of the murder of Rebecca Godden.

"A feature of your evidence which I would not have been alone in considering greatly unfeeling was the contradiction in your claims that you wanted to spare the family of Sian O'Callaghan further grief and yet you did not take the police straight to her body, and despite your confessions to Superintendent Fulcher, you made 'no comment' answers when you were interviewed about her murder.

"You then pleaded not guilty and so compounded and added to the grief of her family.

"You have put the family of Rebecca Godden through similar anguish, first confessing to her murder and then answering no comment to all questions in interview.

"After what must have been hours of trawling through the prosecution papers, you devised a cock and bull story about two drug dealers.

"I cannot add to your sentence for such cynical indifference to the concerns of the families but it is clear to me that there is nothing which can mitigate your sentence.

"I am satisfied that there are real similarities between the two murders. The fact that some nine years elapsed between them probably reflects the absence of opportunities.

"I have concluded both murders involved the abduction of the victim and sexual conduct and both were aggravated by the concealment of the bodies.

"I am satisfied your offending is exceptionally high and satisfies the criteria for a whole life term. Were I to impose a minimum term it would be of such length that you would in all probability never be released.

"I sentence you to life imprisonment and direct there will be a whole life order."

The judge said he was satisfied Halliwell knew Miss Godden and their relationship was "not conventional".

He said: "I consider it unlikely that you were besotted with her. In my judgment your behaviour towards her was controlling. You used her for sex whenever you wanted to, taking advantage of her vulnerability as a drug addict and prostitute. She had little or no time for you."

In the early hours of January 3 2003, Halliwell drove up to outside the Destiny and Desire nightclub in Swindon and "summoned" Miss Godden, the judge said.

"That could only have been because you wanted her to go with you for sex, but she was clearly not interested. A row developed during which she yelled at you, clear evidence that she did not want to go with you.

"She returned again to her friend but you did not drive off and so it was that she went to your taxi and got into a rear seat. Rebecca Boast describes her as 'huffed' - that is to say annoyed - and I conclude she joined you unwillingly.

"You then drove to somewhere private, most probably to the south of Swindon and to Savernake Forest, where eight years later you took Sian O'Callaghan.

"What happened then must be a matter of inference. I take at my starting point the evidence of your injuries when you were examined later that day by your GP - a broken little finger and scratches to your face.

"I reject your evidence that you had been involved in a fight with a would-be passenger. I conclude you must have attacked Rebecca Godden - that attack must have been prompted by her refusing you sex.

"When she put up a struggle you killed her. You clearly intended to kill her. I add that I am certain she struggled desperately in an attempt to save her life but she was physically no match for you."

The judge said Halliwell then buried Miss Godden's naked body - having first removed her clothing to destroy forensic evidence - in an "isolated" field.

"You returned again and again over the following years to make sure that her body was not visible in that shallow grave," the judge said.

"When on March 24 2011 you realised you had no chance of avoiding detection for the murder of Sian O'Callaghan, you very briefly allowed the little conscience you have to prompt your confession to the murder of Rebecca Godden.

"I consider that but for that confession, there is every prospect that Rebecca Godden's remains would not have been found, but such mitigation that provides is overweighed by your subsequent behaviour.

"Following your arrest you answered 'no comment' to all questions and you have since sought to manipulate, first to the police investigation and then the court process, in a futile attempt to avoid the punishment you so richly deserve."

Before he was sentenced, Halliwell, who was wearing an open neck pale blue shirt rolled up to his elbows, refused the opportunity to offer any mitigation.

Before rising, the judge praised Miss Godden's family for their "quiet dignity and courtesy".

Addressing them, he said: "You have had to live with every parent's nightmare of a missing child and then the discovery that she had been dead for some years, buried naked in a field.

"You have been deprived of the opportunity we all want to say farewell to our closest and dearest. And then you have had to live through the criminal processes as Christopher Halliwell was brought eventually to justice.

"There must have been moments when you wondered whether the case would ever be completed. If I may say so, you have behaved throughout with quiet dignity and courtesy.

"I hope that you will feel justice has been done and while that cannot bring Becky back, that may at least bring you some solace.

"I will include Mr and Mrs O'Callaghan because this trial must have been an ordeal for them as they had to relive the evidence of how Sian died. They too behaved with dignity and courtesy. I pay tribute to you all."
A teenage Syrian asylum-seeker arrested in Germany was planning a bomb attack on behalf of Isil, it has emerged.

The 16-year-old, named only as Mohamed J under German privacy laws, was arrested at a refugee shelter in Cologne on Tuesday.

Police said yesterday he had been in contact with an Isil handler in the Middle East who told him how to make an explosive device and where to plant it.

The teenager's arrest came hours after the German interior ministry warned that jihadist sympathisers were targeting child asylum-seekers as potential recruits.

"We had to act decisively to protect the population," Jurgen Mathies, the Cologne police chief said.

Police were first alerted to changes in the boy's behaviour in June by the mosque where he regularly prayed.

"It was reported that the boy was behaving weirdly, he would only eat fruit, anything else was unclean," Mr Mathies said.

"He was also praying more. He would face in a different direction than is usual for Muslim prayer."

Earlier this month, the mosque contacted police again to say that the boy was spending hours praying and communicating with someone on his phone using instant messaging.

Police began monitoring the teen's mobile phone and online activity and were shocked when they discovered he was in contact with an Isil handler about how to build a bomb.

"The turbocharged radicalisation of the boy is alarming," Ulf Willhun, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said.

"They also explained to him where to place explosive devices for an attack, and addressed the alleged legitimacy of killing according to Isil."

The decision was taken to act immediately to prevent any risk of a terror attack. Police special forces stormed the refugee shelter and took Mohamed J into custody.

Isil claimed responsibility for two terror attacks by asylum-seekers in Germany in July.

A teenage Afghan refugee injured five people in an axe attack on a train before being shot dead by police, and a rejected Syrian asylum-seeker killed himself and injured 15 others in a suicide bombing.

Both left messages in which they pledged allegiance to Isil.

Authorities know of 340 cases in which extremists tried to make contact with asylum-seekers since October last year, the interior ministry said in a written answer to a parliamentary question.

Unaccompanied child refugees are particularly susceptible to approaches, the ministry warned.

The arrested teen is not an unaccompanied minor. He came to Germany with his parents and sister eight months ago.

He has denied the charges against him.

Chancellor Angela Merkal, pictured, has come under even more pressure over her open-door refugee policy as the campaign for Germany's federal elections next year begins to take shape.
Hungary's prime minister has called for the EU to "round up" illegal immigrants and deport them to guarded camps "on an island or North Africa".

The comments are likely to further inflame tensions with other EU governments who say Budapest's ultra-hard line on migration flouts both international law and fundamental European values.

Viktor Orban made the comments as he lashed out at Angela Merkel's refugee policy, saying it was unfair for Berlin to try to distribute migrants across EU member states.

"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," Mr Orban told Origo, a Hungarian news website. "Those who came illegally must be rounded up and shipped out," he 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 added.

It is not the first time Mr Orban, pictured, has caused controversy with his hardline rhetoric against migrants, whom he has previously called a "poison". He has ordered the construction of a razor wire fence along Hungary's southern border, suggested hanging "pigs' heads" on it, and has said he would refuse to take the share of refugees Hungary is obliged to accept under EU law.

His government is sponsoring a referendum to be held on October 2 on whether Hungary should reject EU quotas to resettle migrants among member states.

Hungarian media have reported that he may push for fundamental amendments to the Lisbon Treaty if a large majority of Hungarians back him in the referendum.

His rhetoric has been met with increasing frustration by other European governments, who accuse him of flouting both EU law and fundamental European values.

This week, Nordic countries called for Hungary to be punished over its hardline stance on the immigration crisis. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden co-signed a letter expressing their "great concern" at Budapest's refusal to act by the Dublin rules, under which refugees must seek asylum in the first EU country they enter.

They called on Dimitris Avramopoulo, the EU migration commissioner, to "take measures" promptly against Budapest's violation of EU law.

Earlier this month, Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's foreign minister, said Hungary should be suspended from the European Union for violating democratic core values and treating refugees like "animals".

Austria has also threatened to bring a case against its neighbour in the European courts.

The British embassy in Budapest yesterday raised concerns with the Hungarian government after it issued an official leaflet describing parts of London as "no-go areas" because of immigration.

The leaflet included a map showing around 900 "no-go areas" in European cities with large immigrant populations, including London, Paris and Berlin.

"This leaflet is clearly inaccurate," the Foreign Office said. "There are no areas in the UK in which the laws of the UK cannot be enforced."( Daily Telegraph London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Ukraine is expecting a delegation from the United States headed by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker next week, deputy head of the presidential administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev has said.

"A large U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will come to us next week. It will be accompanied by representatives of the U.S. National Security Council, the Department of State, with whom we will continue the dialogue. We will try to coordinate our positions on all the issues, including global security," Yeliseyev said at a briefing in Kyiv.
Russia's foreign ninister Sergey Lavrov, left, and US secretary of state John Kerry have failed to revive the Syria ceasefire. (AP)

A bombing campaign has intensified in rebel-held districts of Aleppo, targeting several neighbourhoods as the Syrian government launched a new offensive in the city.

The intense bombing and the declaration of a new offensive come as diplomatic efforts failed to salvage a ceasefire that lasted nearly a week before giving way to a new level of violence.

Residents and activists said the bombing, which began in earnest late on Wednesday, has been unprecedented, targeting residential areas, infrastructure and the award-winning volunteer civil defence group known as the White Helmets.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 27 civilians, including three children, were killed in about 30 raids that began overnight.

A member of the city's forensic team, Mohammed Abu Jaafar, said he had documented nine deaths since late on Thursday, including five women and two children. Abu Jaafar said it was impossible to document casualties and injuries on Friday because of the intensity of the bombing.

Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the Syrian Civil Defence, said three of the group's centres had been targeted in the air bombing campaign that usually accelerates after dark.

By Friday morning, one centre in the Ansari neighbourhood in the southern part of the rebel-held district had been put out of service after it was hit. Ambulances and the one fire engine that serves the rebel-held part of Aleppo had been damaged.

In another centre, Mr Alhaj said, a bomb fell in the courtyard of the centre and the extent of the damage was not clear.

"It is really critical. (Syrian president Bashar Assad's air forces) have directly targeted civil defence centres," Mr Alhaj said. There were no reported casualties among the group's volunteers.

"I have not seen in my life such bombardment. It is very, very intense," Mr Alhaj said.

"The regime tried to advance in several neighbourhoods in Aleppo," he said, adding that rebels have so far repelled all attacks. He said the attack on civil defence centres had delayed and hindered their work since some vehicles were destroyed.

Amid the intense campaign, it has become even more deadly for the civil defence teams to move. Already suffering from a shortage of fuel, their vehicles have been hard pressed to meet the increased demand on their services.

For hours on Thursday, the teams searched to save civilians who were buried under rubble in several neighbourhoods.

A Syrian military official said air strikes and shelling in Aleppo might continue for an extended period and the operation will expand into a ground invasion of rebel-held districts.

Other residents reported that one of two water stations feeding the city had been hit. A pro-government TV station, Addounia TV, blamed the armed groups for targeting the water station in Bab al-Nairab which feeds both sides of the contested city.

The station said pumping from the station has ceased, but said work had begun to fix it. It was not immediately possible to verify or assess the extent of the damage or independently confirm who hit it.

After a contentious two-and-a-half hour meeting with colleagues in New York, US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said they would meet again on Friday in a bid to find a way forward.

Despite a week of diplomatic talks and attempts to seek consensus, developments on the ground in Syria seem to have overshadowed prospects for bringing about calm.

AP
A mother has defended her decision to dye her six-year-old daughter's hair blue, purple and yellow after a wave of online criticism.

Mary Thomaston, a hairdresser from Florida, dyed her daughter Lyra's hair after she had begged for weeks to have mermaid hair.

She posted pictures of Lyras hair transformation on Instagram  with many people commenting that she was far too young to have her hair dyed.

One mother said: Sometimes we forget theyre little and not a little doll.

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Thomaston said she would only do it if Lyras school was okay with it, and after being granted their permission, she applied a non-permanent turquoise dye to her daughters hair.

Dont worry folks, itll wash out. She wasnt harmed in the process. Its hair Itll grow back! she responded on Instagram.

Speaking to The Luxury Spot website, she said: I say why not let them have fun while theyre young.

Who knows what type of job she may end up with, but a lot of them wont allow unnatural colours. When you think about it that way, its actually the perfect time to let them experiment with colour.
In one breath yesterday Donald Trump was lamenting a "lack of spirit" between whites and blacks, and encouraging racial unity; in the next he was demanding that one of America's largest cities adopt "stop and frisk" policing tactics.

He confronted racial tensions after police-involved shootings of black men in Oklahoma and North Carolina. The North Carolina governor activated the National Guard after another night of violent protests.

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 there's a lack of spirit between the white and the black," he said in a phone interview on Fox News's 'Fox and Friends'. "It's a terrible thing that we're witnessing."

The comments come as both presidential candidates court 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 KKK leader David Duke earlier in the year and has repeatedly promoted tweets by white supremacists during his White House bid.

Hillary Clinton has come under fire for saying half of Trump's supporters belong in a "basket of deplorables" because they are racist, sexist, homophobic or xenophobic.

The Democratic nominee has made curbing gun violence and police brutality a central part of her candidacy.

Ms 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".

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.

Clinton had no public events yesterday as she focused on preparing for next week's opening debate. But her campaign unveiled plans to spend $30m (26m) on digital advertising as she seeks to connect with young voters - including young African-Americans and Latinos - who increasingly get their news online instead of from live television.

She addressed racial tensions, albeit in a humorous way, in an interview released yesterday on comic Zach Galifianakis's web programme, 'Between Two Ferns'.

"When you see how well it works for Donald Trump, do you ever think to yourself, 'Oh maybe I should be more racist?" Galifianakis asked her. Clinton smiled and shook her head, but did not answer.

Later, the comedian asked what Trump might be wearing 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.

Yesterday, Mr Trump attacked plans for the US government to relinquish oversight of the internet's governing body, warning it could threaten the web's freedom and lead to Russia and China censoring the web.

The US presidential candidate has thrown his weight behind a campaign to block Barack Obama from transferring control of the domain name system, which controls website addresses, to an international consortium.

The DNS is effectively the web's address book, ensuring that typing an address directs a browser to the correct website. While it has been operated by Icann, an international non-profit organisation, the body has been ultimately answerable to the US government for 18 years.
Stacey Konwiser had been working with tigers at the Palm Beach Zoo for three years (Palm Beach Post/AP)

A zookeeper cried for help into her radio before she was fatally attacked by a Malayan tiger, an autopsy report has showed.

Stacey Konwiser was a zookeeper in Florida who was killed in an attack in the tiger enclosure on April 15.

The 38-year-old woman died of a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular and other neck injuries, the Palm Beach County medical examiner reported.

The New York Daily News reports how the 12-year-old tiger had been at the zoo for two years on loan.

Konwiser had entered the tigers' night house, an area where they eat and sleep, to prepare for a presentation.

The area is not visible to the public.

The tiger's cage was supposed to be locked during the visit, but it was open.

It is understood Konwiser's view of the animal may have been blocked by a large box inside the enclosure.

Her co-workers rushed to the enclosure when they heard her screams and discovered the tiger standing over her body.

Officials at the zoo have defended their decision not to shoot the tiger, claiming they believed a bullet could strike Konwiser or frustrate the tiger.

They attempted to unsuccessfully lure him into a cage before shooting him with a tranquilizer.

Paramedics reached the woman 17 minutes after the attack.

She was pronounced dead when she arrived at the hospital.
Pakistani police have submitted initial charges to a court against the father and ex-husband of a British-Pakistani woman, accused of murdering her in a so-called "honour killing".

Defence lawyer Mohammad Arif said the trial of Mohammad Shahid and Mohammad Shakeel will begin on Tuesday for their alleged role in the murder of 28-year-old Samia Shahid, who was found dead in July at her family's home in Punjab province.

The two accused men appeared before a judge on Friday. The woman's family initially claimed she had died of natural causes, but police now say her father stood guard while Shakeel raped her and afterwards both men strangled her.

The woman's father strongly denied the allegations.

"This is a fake police story and nothing else. I loved my daughter too much and all allegations against me and my son-in-law are a pack of lies," Shahid said outside the courtroom.

He and Shakeel were handcuffed and had their faces covered with cloths.

Mr Arif, who represents both men, said police presented a list of all charges against his clients, during Friday's brief court hearing. He said the court will refer the case to another judge in Jhelum to start the trial.

Ms Shahid married her cousin Shakeel in 2012 but later obtained a divorce and eventually married Mukhtar Kazim and moved with him to the United Arab Emirates. After Mr Kazim publicly accused his wife's family of killing her for marrying him against their wishes, police reopened the case and quickly concluded she had been strangled.

Mr Kazim's lawyer Najful Hussain Shah said he would seek the death penalty.

Nearly 1,000 women are murdered in Pakistan each year for violating conservative norms on love, marriage and public behaviour.

AP
Egyptians wait on shore as a coastguard vessel arrives carrying the bodies of migrants from a boat that capsized in the Mediterranean (AP)

At least 162 bodies of migrants have been pulled out of the water off the Egyptian coast after hundreds drowned when their overcrowded boat capsized.

Egypt's state news agency MENA quoted Wahdan el-Sayyed, spokesman for the Nile Delta province of Beheira, as saying that the search operation is continuing for more bodies.

The migrants' boat capsized on Wednesday, nearly 7.5 miles from the Nile Delta port city of Rosetta. Many of the dead are women and children who were unable to swim away when the boat sank in the Mediterranean.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that the boat was packed with 450 people, while MENA said earlier that the number might be as high as 600.

"UNHCR is deeply saddened by the loss of life after yet another boat capsized in the Mediterranean," the UN refugee agency said in a statement.

Of the 150 people rescued, UNHCR said the majority are Egyptians, Sudanese and other nationalities including Somalians and Eritreans. Four people described as smugglers were arrested on Thursday and authorities are investigating.

Egypt has been a traditional route of migrants to Europe by sea, but since 2014, UNHCR said, there has been a steady increase in the number being intercepted while trying to leave.

EU border agency Frontex recently said more than 12,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Egypt between January and September, compared with 7,000 in the same period last year.

More than 4,600 people of different nationalities were arrested this year, UNCHR said, a 28% increase on last year.

At a small pier called el-Borg, hundreds of families gathered hoping to identify the bodies of their loved ones. Women screamed, and relatives pushed and shoved while swarming the ambulances heading to hospital.

Fishermen said they had difficulty collecting the badly decomposed bodies, with one saying: "We didn't know how to pull them."

The intense smell of decay filled the air and many covered their faces with masks.

Survivors and relatives said the boat sank nearly eight miles from the Egyptian coast and it took the coastguard around six hours to reach the scene. Fishing boats in the vicinity were the first to provide help.

The head of the local council in the area, Ali Abdel-Sattar, said water currents have carried bodies many miles from the site of the sinking. "Today, four bodies, including two Egyptian children, were found 20 kilometers to the east," he said.

He added that many of the migrants are believed to have been "stored in the bottom of the boat, in the fridge".

"Those are the ones who drowned first, most probably stuck, and their bodies might not be retrieved any time soon," he said, adding: "Those we found are the ones liberated from the boat. I believe many are stuck and now laying in the bottom of the sea."

He said the boat may have sunk more than 50ft below sea level.

The UN's migration monitor said the death toll among people trying to reach Europe by the Mediterranean this year has passed 3,500 and is "rapidly approaching" the record level set last year.

The International Organisation for Migration said more than 300,000 migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean this year, mostly arriving in Greece and Italy.

More than a million crossed in all of 2015, but the rate of deaths is far higher this year.

The IOM has been recalculating its estimates of deaths in the Mediterranean last year, but believes that at least 3,675 people died.

AP
The Ukrainian presidential administration expects the European Parliament to approve granting Ukraine a visa-free regime with the EU soon.

"We proceed from the fact that Ukraine has met all of the 144 necessary criteria and we look forward to a swift decision of the European side to fulfill its obligations," Deputy Head of the presidential administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

According to him, last Saturday Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a telephone conversation, during which Poroshenko raised the issue of Germany's support for Ukraine's getting the visa-free regime as soon as possible.

"We have received the undeniable support of the German side in this matter, but you know that the EU, in particular in the European Parliament, is currently holding a debate on the terms of the suspension of the visa-free regime in the event of threats of increasing the number of refugees and asylum seekers," he said.

At the same time, Yeliseyev said that this was in no way Ukraine's problem, but a general problem of illegal immigration and the EU security.
Donald Trump has stepped deeper into America's race debate, warning 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," the Republican US presidential hopeful declared at a rally in suburban Philadelphia.

"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."

The comments came hours after a white Oklahoma police officer was charged with manslaughter over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose vehicle had broken down in the middle of the street.

That and the police shooting of a black man in North Carolina have sparked fierce protests that continued to simmer on Thursday night.

Mr 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 he 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," Mr Trump declared at an energy conference in Pittsburgh.

"And if you're not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you're watching on television at night."

Mr Trump's campaign rejected the interpretation that he was talking about the protests seen on cable TV news.

"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.

Mr Trump also raised eyebrows on 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, he clarified that he had been referring only to murder-plagued Chicago.

Democrat rival Hillary Clinton did not address escalating racial tensions as she prepared for her first debate-stage meeting with Mr Trump.

She jabbed at her opponent, albeit in a humorous way, in an interview on comic Zach Galifianakis' web programme 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.

At his evening rally, Mr Trump hit back, accusing Mrs 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.

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 Klu Klux Klan 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, Mr 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, chairwoman 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 congressman 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". He later apologised.

Mrs Clinton has made curbing gun violence and police brutality central to her candidacy.

She said on 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".

AP
Betty Shelby has been charged with first-degree manslaughter over the death of Terence Crutcher (Tulsa County Inmate Information Centre/AP)

A white police officer charged with manslaughter after she killed an unarmed black man has been released on a 50-000-dollar (38,000) bond.

Betty Shelby shot Terence Crutcher, 40, on September 16 on a street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was charged with first-degree manslaughter after police released graphic videos, saying in court documents that she "reacted unreasonably".

The affidavit filed with the charge said she escalated 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".

The swift action in Tulsa stood in contrast to Charlotte, North Carolina, where police refused under mounting pressure 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 more violent demonstrations.

Demonstrations in Tulsa since Mr Crutcher's death have been consistently peaceful.

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 him.

Her lawyer has said Mr Crutcher was not following police commands and that she opened fire when the man began to reach into the window of his vehicle.

Mr Crutcher's family immediately discounted that claim, saying the father-of-four posed no threat to officers. They also pointed to an enlarged photo from police footage that appears to show Mr Crutcher's SUV window was rolled up. Police said Mr Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle.

The affidavit filed on Thursday also indicates that Shelby "cleared the driver's side front" of Mr Crutcher's vehicle before she began interacting with him, suggesting she may have known there was no gun on the driver's side of the vehicle.

The affidavit says Shelby told 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".

Mr Crutcher was wearing "baggy clothes" but Shelby "was not able to see any weapons or bulges indicating a weapon was present", the affidavit says.

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".

If convicted, Shelby faces between four years and life in prison.

Mr Crutcher's twin sister Tiffany Crutcher said the family was pleased criminal charges were filed and called for a vigorous prosecution that would lead to a conviction.

"Our goal now is to ensure that this never happens to another innocent citizen," she said. "We're going to break the chains of injustice. We're going to break the chains of police brutality."

Shelby, who joined Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, was on her way to a domestic violence call when she encountered Mr Crutcher's vehicle abandoned on a city street, straddling the centre line. She did not activate her patrol car's dashboard camera, so no footage exists of what happened between the two before other officers arrived.

AP
Many old-time allies to Vladimir Putin have lost their positions to younger aides (AP)

Russian president Vladimir Putin has reshuffled his inner-circle again by giving the parliament speaker's job to his chief domestic strategist, a man who oversaw a vote that further strengthened the dominance of the main Kremlin party.

It is the latest twist of a lasting Kremlin shake-up which has seen many old-time Putin allies lose their positions to younger, low-profile aides.

Vyacheslav Volodin, whom Mr Putin nominated as the new speaker of the State Duma, oversaw this month's parliamentary election in which the main party supporting the president tightened its grip on the lower house.

Mr Volodin replaces Sergei Naryshkin, whom Mr Putin appointed as the new chief of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, on Thursday.

While Mr Volodin has largely stayed in the shadows, he is considered one of Russia's most influential officials, a puppet master who has directed the parliament's work and engineered elections. He was also widely seen as a driving force behind a string of draconian laws in response to massive anti-Putin protests in 2011-12.

The 52-year-old has become known for his statement "there is no Russia without Putin".

The reshuffling marks a clear step down for 61-year-old Mr Naryshkin. The SVR is considered far less influential than another KGB successor agency, the Federal Security Service, known under its Russian acronym FSB, which focuses on domestic security issues like fighting terrorism, catching foreign spies and uncovering economic crimes.

Under Mr Putin, a 16-year KGB veteran who served as FSB director in the late 1990s before ascending to the presidency, the agency has become increasingly powerful. Russian media speculated that the FSB is pushing to swallow several other agencies, including the SVR and the nation's top investigative body, the Investigative Committee.

If such a move happens, it would resurrect the old structure of the KGB, which was split into separate agencies after the 1991 Soviet collapse as Russia's first president, Boris Yeltsin, sought to limit its clout.

Mr Naryshkin has reportedly known 63-year-old Mr Putin since the late 1970s, when both were students in the KGB academy, but it is unclear if he wields sufficient influence to fight the FSB's onslaught and preserve the SVR's independence.

Many other long-time Putin confidants have recently lost their jobs.

Russian railways chief Vladimir Yakunin, anti-narcotics tsar Viktor Ivanov and Kremlin security chief Yevgeny Murov, all men in their 60s and all long-time acquaintances of the president, have been dismissed.

Andrei Belyaninov, who has known Mr Putin since both were KGB officers in East Germany, lost his position as customs chief after investigators searched his home and founds hundreds of thousands of dollars stashed in shoe boxes.

Last month, Mr Putin also fired his long-time chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov, whom he first met in the 1970s when they were both young KGB officers.

Many observers see the changes as a reflection of Mr Putin's increasing weariness with the old guard and his desire to encircle himself with younger aides who owe their ascent to him.

Mr Volodin has no known links to the KGB or to any of its successor agencies. Trained as an engineer, he served as a regional lawmaker in his home Saratov region on the Volga River in south-west Russia before being elected to the federal parliament.

He got the Kremlin job after his predecessor, Vladislav Surkov, was held responsible for failing to prevent massive protests in Moscow against Mr Putin's rule that were fuelled by evidence of vote-rigging in Russia's 2011 parliamentary election.

The Kremlin responded with a slew of laws that introduced tough punishment for taking part in unsanctioned protests and new restrictions on non-government organisations.

The Duma will vote to appoint Mr Volodin as speaker when it meets next month.

While the speaker's job is nominally considered the fourth most senior position in the Russian officialdom - following the president, the prime minister and the upper house speaker - its holders have wielded little influence compared with Kremlin and cabinet officials.

AP
Agents of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) on Friday detained the director of LLC Zaporizhia titanium and magnesium combine (ZTMC) as part of an investigation on charges of abuse of office by the combine's top managers, which led to large-scale embezzlement.

"Agents of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine under procedural supervision by prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office together with SBU Security Service officers in Zaporizhia region on September 23 detained the director of Zaporizhia titanium and magnesium combine. The detention took place as part of an investigation launched by NABU detectives in June 2016 on charges of abuse of office by ZTMC officials, which has resulted into embezzlement of funds in especially large amounts," the NABUC's press service said.

The detained official will be issued a notice of suspicion of committing a crime under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code (misappropriation, embezzlement of property or seizure of assets through abuse of office).

The investigation established that in 2014-2015, a co-owner, Tolexis Trading Limited, allocated UAH 880 million for the modernization of production facilities at ZTMC under an agreement on LLC establishment.

However, as the NABU press service said, the company's director, abusing his official position, embezzled most of the cash acquired (UAH 492 million) by transferring it to third parties. In particular, some funds were transferred to OJSC Holding Company Energomerezhi (Power Networks), OJSC Zaporizhiaoblenergo, OJSC Commercial Bank Nadra, and OOO Syntez Resurs to repay ZTMC's debts to those entities. At the same time, these payments had to be handled by Tolexis Trading Limited on the terms stipulated in the agreement on ZTMC's establishment.

In the case of a conviction by a court, the detainee is facing imprisonment for a term of from seven to 12 years with the seizure of property and deprivation of the right to occupy certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years.

LLC ZTMC was created in 2013 by the State Property Fund of Ukraine on behalf of the state (owns 51% of equity capital) and Cyprus-based Tolexis Trading Limited (49%). The latter undertook to pay debts of the state-owned enterprise, the basis of which the LLC was created. The investor was obliged to inject $110 million into the introduction of advanced technology and equipment of domestic and foreign firms.

ZTMC is Europe's only producer of titanium sponge.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini at a meeting in New York on September 22 stressed the importance of the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the full range of measures - the cease-fire, the withdrawal of weapons and the OSCE monitoring.

"The parties have discussed the progress of the implementation of the Minsk agreements, Ukraine's progress in holding internal reforms and the issue of introducing a visa-free regime for Ukraine by the EU.

Klimkin noted the crucial importance of improving the security situation in Donbas for the further progress in implementing the full range of measures, including through the introduction of effective cease-fire, withdrawal of weapons, as well as the full control by the OSCE of the whole of the territory of individual areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the Ukrainian-Russian border," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service reported.

For her part, Mogherini confirmed the European Union's strong support for the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the "Normandy format" activities for the restoration of the territorial integrity and peace in Ukraine. In addition, she reaffirmed the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russian.
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Acting Head of Kharkiv Regional State Administration Yulia Svetlychna has announced the possibility of opening Kharkiv region's office in the European Union will be considered during the eighth International Economic Forum "Investment. Innovation. Kharkiv initiatives."

"Unveiling plans for the future, I can announce that in recent months there has been demand for opening of Kharkiv region's office in the European Union. We'll consider this option at the forum," she said, addressing forum attendees on Friday.

Later, answering questions from journalists, she said that the point at issue is the creation of representative offices in several EU countries.

"In Europe, there is demand for small and medium-sized entrepreneurship. We've found one of patriots in Kharkiv region who is ready to maintain Kharkiv region's office in Italy. We're also mulling two more EU member states," she said.

She also said Kharkiv region plans to open another office in the United States, namely in New York. The first one opened earlier in Washington.
Ukraine and the Netherlands have agreed to enhance cooperation in the development of inland waterways and port infrastructure.

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan announced this after a meeting with Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine Kees Klompenhouwer which took place in Kyiv on Friday, the press service of the Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine reported.

Ukraine and the Netherlands have agreed to launch the Dnipro Development Initiative, which will involve cooperation in the development of inland waterways in Ukraine. They reached a preliminary agreement to organize the visit of representatives of Ukrainian government agencies in charge of water infrastructure management to the Netherlands to learn local experience in this area. The officials also discussed the issues of public-private partnerships in infrastructure. The Netherlands is ready to send experts on public-private partnership to work in the Public-Private Partnership Office under the Infrastructure Development Ministry.

Omelyan also invited Dutch companies to participate in development of infrastructure of Ukrainian ports.
Dozens of Marion county nonprofits will receive funding to expand their community programming thanks to generous support from the Indianapolis Foundation. The Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), announced $1.86 million in grants would be awarded to 42 organizations through the Community Crime Prevention Grant Program.

The grantees were chosen based on a few key factors, one being evidence of established programming that prevents violent crimes among residents, provides prevention or intervention services to adults or youth facing unique challenges, improves neighborhood safety and partners with public agencies to help or prevent crime. Preference was given to organizations that serve African-American males age 1424 or people who have had interaction with the justice system  in particular, those in any of the Indianapolis Department of Public Safetys six focus areas. Those areas are located around 16th Street and Tibbs Avenue, 29th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets, 34th and Illinois streets, 38th Street and Sherman Drive, 42nd Street and Post Road, and New York Street and Sherman Drive.

Alicia Collins, CICFs community collaborations manager, shared that prior to being given stewardship over the fund in 2013 by the City of Indianapolis, the foundations attention in this area was lacking.

Before crime prevention, we werent focused on public safety efforts. Ive been in community development work for a long time. How safe you feel and the level of crime are foundational pieces of a community that is thriving or a community that is on the verge of shifting the other direction, she said.

The foundation recognized that we werent doing any (crime prevention) work, and its all interconnected with self-sufficiency, education and access to quality food. Its all connected, and it needs to be in the conversation.

Tamara Winfrey-Harris, CICFs vice president of marketing and communications, added that this action is helping to expound upon their overall organizational aim. Its a reflection of our mission to make the quality of life in Marion County better. Crime prevention is part of that.

Among this years grant recipients are Brookside Community Church of Indianapolis, Fathers and Families Resource/Research Center, Flanner House of Indianapolis and Southside Youth Council/Reach for Youth.

David Cederquist, pastor of Brookside Community Church, said the crime prevention funds will assist in the creation of a re-entry hub that will provide holistic support for ex-offenders seeking to acclimate back into society. Brookside will receive $20,000 from the grant to help double the programs reach. Last October, Wells Fargo donated a house to the church, which was then rehabbed using an $80,000 gift from a private funder. The house became home for a group of men who were recently released from prison and had nowhere else to go.

We believe the church has a lot to offer to re-entry, Cederquist said. What we are finding are men who dont have family  maybe their parents passed while they were incarcerated, or they were in the foster system and they really dont have support at all. As a church, the body of Christ is called to be a family, so we facilitate these program partners and were moving to build up the re-entry program for those who are looking for a faith-based foundation.

Currently, Brookside works with the Boner Center, Marion County Health Department, Narcotics Anonymous, Ilas House Financial Health Federal Credit Union and Recycle Force to connect residents of the transitional facility to life skills training, financial education, substance abuse counseling and job placement.

Beginning Oct. 3, Brookside will launch a re-entry worship service in partnership with the Department of Correction geared toward those with offenses that prevent them from attending traditional services. Were hoping they can find emotional support, spiritual support, he said, adding that other churches are welcome to join them in this effort. There are multiple avenues that were trying to create that revolve around re-entry to help the recidivism rate around our nation.

Flanner House of Indianapolis also has a focus on re-entry, in addition to the myriad community programs they offer, including a childhood development center, senior citizen center, public library branch and food access assistance (nearly 4,000 pounds of organic produce has been donated to the community this year alone through a partnership with Brandywine Creek Farm and Easleys Farm).

For Flanner House Executive Director Brandon Cosby, the work is deeply personal. Almost eight years ago, his brother passed away shortly after being released from prison. In Cosbys mind, the loss could have been prevented.

Im a firm believer that if our society was actually willing to accept the fact that individuals have paid for the mistakes they made and deserved to be in the position to move forward in a productive way, my brother would still be here, he said.

Currently, Flanner House offers technical and soft skills training to male and female ex-offenders seeking to join the workforce. Volunteer organizations come in to conduct mock interviews, and every third Thursday of the month a job fair is held in their building at 2424 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.

There are a number of different organizations and programs that are offered throughout the city that are all focused very similarly, saying that they are targeting individuals for re-entry, but they dont have the historical relationship with that individual, their family or the Black community as a whole. We do have the historical credibility with the community to reach out, and we are unbelievably grateful that CICF sees us in that capacity, said Cosby. Without the kinds of resources that CICF is providing us, we would either be completely unable to or significantly limited in the kind of programming and offerings that we make available.

To see a full list of the 2016 crime prevention grant recipients,click here .

RECIDIVISM RATES IN INDIANA

 Male offenders had a higher recidivism rate when compared to female offenders. Of male offenders released in 2011, 38.9 percent returned to the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC), versus 29.9 percent of female releases.

 The recidivism rate for African-American offenders was 41.7 percent that year.

 The younger the offender is at the time he/she is released, the more likely they are to return to the IDOC. Also, offenders serving less than five years with IDOC represent more than 90 percent of all recidivists.

 Of all offenders who recidivated, approximately 52 percent returned to IDOC for the commission of a new crime, compared to approximately 48 percent who returned for a technical rule or court supervision violation.

 Offenders who had zero conduct violations during their incarceration period were more than 30 percent less likely to recidivate compared to offenders who had at least one conduct violation.

 Offenders who received visits from family or friends while incarcerated were 14.4 percent less likely to recidivate compared to those who did not receive any visits.

 Offenders who participated in a work release program were nearly 31 percent less likely to return to prison, compared to offenders who did not partake in a work release program.

Source: Indiana Department of Correction, 2014
Harambe is not a Patronus, JK Rowling clarifies.

Its amazing how Rowling keeps everyone on their toes with so many revelations on Twitter. The Harry Potter author tweeted on her page nullifying suggestions that the killed gorilla was among the forms of advanced magic that could be used to shield people from Dementors.

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.  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 22, 2016

On her website, Pottermore, Rowling tweeted an image of Cincinnati Zoo, where the primate was one of the rafts. Later in a tweet, she put an image appearing to depict the late animal as a Patronus.

She then tweeted that she was forced to clarify that Harambe is not a Patronus.

"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."

I thought it was very funny, btw.  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 22, 2016

In May this year, a male silverback was shot dead in Cincinnati Zoo when a 3-year-old child fell into his enclosure.

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.
1. MNS gives deadline to Pakistani actors to leave India in 48 hours.

According to the latest reports, MNS has given an ultimatum to actors and artistes from Pakistan, such as Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, to leave India. A leader of the party issued a 48-hour deadline, after which he said MNS would "push them out".

2. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil trailer is finally out and it looks beautiful!

Finally, the trailer of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is here, and seems like this one is going to be a complicated, yet beautiful tale of love and friendship.

3. Deepika Padukone talks about her evolution in Bollywood.

Recently, Deepika spoke about how she wants to look ahead in life and grow with every experience.

4. All four of The Big Bang Theory stars are the world's highest paid TV actors!

Forbes list of TV's most paid male actors is out, and the top four of them are from the very same show - The Big Bang Theory. Yes! How cool is that?!

5. Sarah Jane Dias's holiday pictures in Croatia look spectacular!

Actress Sarah Jane Dias was recently on a vacation there and her holiday pictures will make you want to head there right now!
There's no doubt about the fact that Deepika Padukone has come a long way in Bollywood. It's been a decade since she arrived in the industry, and today she's one of the top actresses in Bollywood. Not only that, we all know that now she's also all set to make her Hollywood debut with xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. And recently, Deepika spoke about how she wants to look ahead in life and grow with every experience.

She said, "Yeah, I feel that often, and I think that is the way to be. I dont want to be where I was 10 years ago. You want to learn, you want to grow, you want to learn with every experience. I mean I will look at this (an old cover shoot) and say Oh my God I look so different, but you evolve."

paper

From being a sportsperson to modelling to acting, Deepika has evolved and come a long way. When asked about the new thing she has learnt in the last couple of months, she said: To cook Italian food. Wow! That sounds interesting, Deepika!
i never thought i'd say this but, there's a peacock eyeing my burger...  #breezervivid #traveldiaries #travel #croatia #dubrovnik #peacock #burger #lol

A photo posted by sarahjanedias.com (@sarahjanedias) on Sep 18, 2016 at 4:47am PDT
In what looks like the biggest breach ever in the history of the internet, Yahoo on Thursday reported a cyber crime, affecting as many as 500 million users.

Yahoo discloses two-year-old data breach of 500 million users https://t.co/JUXmrDIqNU  billboard (@billboard) September 23, 2016

Information of all the users was stolen from its network in 2014 by what they believe was a state-sponsored professional.

According to Yahoo, the data stolen includes email ids, passwords, phone numbers, date of birth and encrypted passwords, but they cant say if unprotected passwords, payment card data and bank account information are stolen or not.

This is the biggest data breach ever, said well-known cryptologist Bruce Schneier.

A lot of things are yet to be discovered and revealed and that is why no one is sure about the harm that such breach might cause. Users, however, remain paranoid and helpless in this situation.

newyorker

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.

Yahoo was recently in talks with Verizon, which wanted to buy Yahoos core internet properties for $4.83 billion. This is another reason why a lot of users believe that Yahoo kept the information under folds.

Will Yahoos data breach derail Verizon deal? https://t.co/cZEYbaZv9v   Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 23, 2016

Companies often take months or even years to report suspicions of breaches - if they report them publicly at all - holding the information back from customers, business partners and even potential new owners of a company.

"Yahoo is working closely with law enforcement on this matter," Company Chief Information Security Officer Bob Lord wrote in a blog.
You might remember Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who revealed extensive internet and phone surveillance by US intelligence. A lot of people contemplate over whether hes a patriot or a traitor, but the truth can only be found in his deeds.

The US government charged Mr Snowden with theft of government property, unauthorised invasion of communication, and wilful communication of classified information privy to the government. Hes known for acting uptight on the right to information, and thats exactly what he did recently.

During the Athens Democracy Forum at the National Library in Athens, Edward warned people and asked them not to use Googles Allo- an instant mobile messaging app.

Snowden claims that it allows the company to read and see everything that you share.

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

On May 18, Google announced the app and on September 21, 2016, it launched it for Apple and Android users. This app could act as an alternative for WhatsApp.

The app comes with a robot that observes and stores everything that is written or shared and then keeps the data for future analysis to improve the app.

However, according to Google, they are only aiming at improvising the app and making it a better experience for users. The app can read through conversations and try and work out how people talk  it can then use that data to suggest what they might want to say to their friends.

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

Furthermore, just like your Gmail, Google might use the data to feature ads in the future. Since the personal chat may have specific keywords or sensitive data, it will be easier for Google to place ads accordingly.

optimaitalia

And this is what differentiates it from other services like iMessage or WhatsApp. Conversations on Allo will be read and stored, thus theres a fair chance of them being accessible by law.

Snowden had already called Allo "dangerous" after it was revealed at Google's I/O conference earlier this year.
Russian forces arrived in Pakistan for its first ever joint military drill that begins on Saturday. The military exercise in which around 200 Russian army men are participating, was earlier reported to have been cancelled in the wake of the killing of 18 soldiers in the September 18 terror attack on an Indian army base in Jammu and Kashmir.

AFP

"A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pakistan for first ever Pak-Russian joint exercise," tweeted Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces.

Gen Asim Bajwa/Twitter

A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6  Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) 23 September 2016

The two-week military drill named 'Friendship 2016' is the first between the two former Cold War rivals. It will continue till October 7, according to the Pakistan media.

Militaries of the two countries have not revealed much about the drill. But it is said to take place in "mountainous areas".

Gen Asim Bajwa/Twitter

"This obviously indicates a desire on both sides to broaden defense and military-technical cooperation," Pakistan's ambassador to Russia, Qazi Khalilullah, told a Russian news agency last week.
Parents of a seven-year-old girl in Bapod on the outskirts of Vadodara lodged a complaint against a doctor on Thursday alleging he had prescribed her a medicine meant for animals.

swisegeek/Representational Image

Vibha Chandwani felt nauseous and suffered a bout of vomiting but recovered as she was treated on time. The incident took place eight days ago.

"On September 14, Vibha's mother took her to Dr Jagdish Shah's clinic on Waghodia Road seeking treatment for head lice. Shah examined the girl and gave her a PIPZET H syrup that he had in the clinic. He also prescribed her a lotion to be applied on the scalp," police said.

The girl consumed the syrup that night and vomited after a while. The next day, her father Jitendra Chandwani examined the syrup bottle and noticed a warning on its label which said,'Only for animal use'. He immediately took her to another doctor.

ilnews/ Representational Image

Cops visited the clinic on Thursday and questioned the doctor. "Dr Shah admitted to have given her the syrup, but claimed that he wasn't aware that it was only for animal use. We seized two more bottles of the syrup from his clinic," a police officer said.

A complaint was registered against the doctor for causing harm to human life, but he was not arrested.
The Navi Mumbai Police have released the sketch of one of the suspicious men who were spotted by two schoolchildren at Uran, 47km from Mumbai. The sketch has been made with the help of the description provided by the two schoolchildren.

TOI

In a significant development, Maharashtra home department has confirmed that it is probing seizure of an abandoned boat on September 7 near Uran. Massive search and combing operations are underway to locate the suspected men.

Mumbai and its adjoining areas are on high alert after the students separately reported seeing up to half a dozen masked, armed men with backpacks. The sighting, coming four days after the Uri Army camp attack, witnessed the Navy, which has an armament depot and commando base at Uran, on the mainland coast off Mumbai, issuing its highest alert and searching its camp inch by inch.

BCCL

National Security Guard (NSG) commandos flew in and joined the Navy's Marcos commandos, Navi Mumbai policemen, Force One commandos and other security personnel in a combing operation. Nobody has been apprehended till now.

The entire region is highly sensitive in view of the close proximity of the Western Naval Command HQ 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.

BCCL

Around 6.30am on Thursday, a boy on his way to GS School at Kumbharwada locality in Uran spotted a masked man with a firearm. Twenty minutes later, a 16-year-old girl, also on her way to the school, spotted five-six masked men in black pathan suits with weapons and backpacks.

She overheard them talking about "school" and "ONGC" (which has a large base at Uran) and splitting into groups. She reported it to her teacher, and the information was shared with ONGC officials. The police were alerted by ONGC.

BCCL

With information about the armed men coming from two different students who spotted the suspicious men at different times and described them similarly, security agencies took the tip seriously and informed the Navy. The Marcos commandos spoke to them as well as the police.

"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.

In view of #securityalert adequate arrangements are in place. #Mumbaikar s need not panic & start their day tomorrow as any normal day.  Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) September 22, 2016

Soon after the Uran police learnt about the suspicious men, Navi Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale arrived with over 500 cops. Security was stepped up at the ONGC refinery and the naval base at Mora, and the combing operation began.

BCCL

Navy's Seaking helicopters joined for aerial surveys of Uran town, its adjoining coastal areas and the eastern seafront of Mumbai, which boasts of vital installations like BARC and the naval western command headquarters.

The news about the suspected terrorists spread fast, resulting in the closure of schools and colleges in Uran and nearby areas. Shops too downed shutters for the day. The Uran court was evacuated. Additional chief secretary (home) K P Bakshi said the Centre had been briefed and national security adviser Ajit Doval was keeping a close watch on the situation, he said.

BCCL

The Navy has issued its highest alert, putting all its personnel on duty. "Under the State-1 alert level, the different naval establishments and bases in and around Mumbai are being meticulously checked and searched inch by inch. No chances can be taken," said a Navy officer.

Police has also released another sketch of the terror suspect.
In what is turning out to be a serious nightmare, residents of Hyderabad are staying on high grounds after a flood-like situation has been declared in the city. School have stayed shut and office-goers advised to work from home until the water recedes. But this is no holiday as people are unable to move out of their homes even in cases of emergency.

The water level in the Hussainsagar is touching 513.78 metres which is dangerously above the full tank level (FTL) of 513.41 metres.

#HyderabadRains

The #HussainSagar lake at the full tank capacity of 513.4 metres#AIRPics: Lakshmi pic.twitter.com/B1AY1Uv2Mu  All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 23, 2016

The Hyderabad district authorities evacuated people living in areas abutting the Hussainsagar lake and issued a possible flood alert. They said areas like Domalguda, Ashok Nagar, Himayathnagar and a few slums in Musheerabad mandal may get affected in case of more rains.

The authorities have requested the help of the Army for possible rescue operations today.

Begum Bazar, One of the biggest commercial markets in Hyderabad, totally inundated. #HyderabadRains pic.twitter.com/XTgkTSNjYc  We Are Hyderabad (@WeAreHyderabad) September 23, 2016

"Sensing the danger, we have evacuated nearly 500 families from two major slum areas - Arundhati Nagar and Sabarmathi Nagar - which are severely affected due to floods. These two areas are located near an open nala (behind NTR Stadium, Indira Park). We have kept all the evacuated families in a community hall and are providing them meals," Musheerabad mandal tehsildar, S Ramulu, told TOI.

A member of the National Disaster Response Force has been kept on standby for relief operations.

The four mandals are Khairatabad, Himayathnagar, Musheerabad and Shaikpet, have been identified as the ones to be most -affected by the flood. Evacuation efforts are in progress.
Palmati Devi, a patient admitted in the Orthopedic ward with a broken hand was made to eat food served to her on the hospital floor. This after the kitchen staff of the hospital refused the request of the poor woman who did not have a plate, to give her one.

2. A Whopping 4,000 Vehicles Broke Down In Hyderabad Rains In The Last 24 Hours

4,000 vehicles broke down on city roads over the last 24 hours and an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles were damaged with flood water entering them, officials said. Meanwhile, about 4,500 calls and social media messages were received by traffic cops in last two days pertaining to traffic problems.

3. Thanks To Skewed Sex-Ratio, Gujarat Now Also Has 9 Lakh Single Men Waiting To Be Married

Census 2011 data revealed that there are 11.83 lakh unmarried youth in 25-34 age group out of which 9.16 lakh are men and 2.67 lakh women. This effectively means that for every two unmarried women, there are seven unmarried men in 25-34 age group. In all, there are 17.75 lakh unmarried men and women over 25 years of age in Gujarat.

4. Samsung Note 2 Catches Fire On Chennai Flight, DGCA Asks Flyers To Be Careful With Samsung Devices

More bad news trickles in for Samsung. After a string of devices exploding or catching fire for an allegedly faulty battery, now a Samsung Note 2 phone emitted smoke after reportedly catching fire on a domestic flight landing into Chennai on Friday morning.

5. Karnataka Legislature Passes Resolution, Will Release Water Only To Bengaluru And Cauvery Basin

The Karnataka legislature on Friday passed an unanimous resolution to not release Cauvery water for any other purpose than for the basic requirements of Bengaluru city and the towns and villages which come under the Cauvery basin.
The poor state of affairs of government hospitals across the country is nothing new. Overcrowded wards, broken beds and unhygienic bathrooms have come to become an accepted reality of our hospitals.

But every time you think you have seen it all, something even more shocking is sure to pop-up.

The latest comes from Jharkhand, not from any hospital in some interior areas, but from Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi the largest government medical facility in the state.

Telegraph

According to a report in Dainik Bhaskar, Palmati Devi, a patient admitted in the Orthopedic ward with a broken hand was made to eat food served to her on the hospital floor.

This after the kitchen staff of the hospital refused the request of the poor woman who did not have a plate, to give her one.

Dainik Bhaskar

What is even worse is that she was made to clean the floor, before they 'served' the food - rice and daal.

Speaking to NDTV, BL Sherwal, Director of RIMS said an inquiry has been launched into the incident.

"It's not a common practice but we have started an inquiry and will take action those who served the food on the floor and then forced her to eat from there."
The Karnataka legislature on Friday passed an unanimous resolution to not release Cauvery water for any other purpose than for the basic requirements of Bengaluru city and the towns and villages which come under the Cauvery basin.

BCCL

At the legislative council, within 45 minutes, after the resolution was moved by MLC S Ravi from the Congress party, the Council passed the resolution saying: "The resolution is unanimously passed after carefully considering the needs of the inhabitants of the state of Karnataka whose interests are likely to be gravely jeopardised if water in the four reservoirs is in any way reduced, other than for meeting the drinking water requirements of inhabitants in the Cauvery basin including the entire city of Bangalore."

ALSO READ: With The Cauvery Issue Getting Out Of Hand, Here Are The Major Disputes India Faces Currently

TOI

Barring the error of naming Bangalore, instead of the officially changed name of Bengaluru, the resolution reiterated the government stand of not releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu without naming the other state.

Supporting the resolution, BJP opposition leader K S Eshwarappa and JD(S) floor leader Basavaraj Horatti said the government's firm stand was welcomed and that both the parties cutting across political lines will stand behind the government in this period of crisis.

"It is unfortunate that the state has to pass a resolution to safeguard our own water. Perhaps, the Supreme Court has not understood the facts of the situation and hence passed orders of such grave nature. But the BJP, based on this firm decision of the government fully supports the resolution," said Eshwarappa.

During the course of the short debate, Eshwarappa admitted the BJP did not participate in the recent all party meeting but attributed their absence to the previous all party meetings having seen the state release water.

BCCL

"However, albiet delayed, the decision of the government to call for the special session and pass a resolution to not release further water is well appreciated and accepted by the BJP," he said.

Seven time MLC, Horatti, said his party also supported the decision to not release water for anything else barring that for the drinking purpose of Bengaluru city and the Cauvery basin.

"It is heartening to see the entire state having unified in its struggle on the river crisis of Karnataka, be it the Mahadayi row or the Cauvery issue. The resolution will serve as an example to the entire nation and the JD(S) fully backs this resolution," he said.

BCCL

The resolution reads that the house was aghast with the dipping levels of water in the four Cauvery basin reservoirs and noted that the combined storage levels of Krishna Raja Sagara, Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini have "reached alarmingly low levels with only 27.6 TMC of water".

The resolution by the house directed the government that in this state of acute distress "it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storage be drawn, save and except for meeting the drinking water requirements of the villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and for the entire city of Bruhat Bengaluru."
The deal for 36 French Rafale fighter jets has finally been inked today. This will give the Indian Air Force a potent strike platform with which it can carry out nuclear strikes.

India and France on Friday signed the Euro 7.87-billion deal for Rafale fighter jets, equipped with latest missiles and weapon system besides multiple India- specific modifications that will give the IAF cutting edge capability over arch rival Pakistan.

BCCL

The deal was signed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian sixteen months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India's plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly away condition during his trip to France.

The deal comes with a saving of nearly 750 million Euros , gained through hard negotiations by the Indian side, over the one struck during the previous UPA government, which was scrapped by the Narendra Modi government, besides a 50 per cent offset clause.

BCCL

The 50 per cent offset clause means that Indian businesses, both big and small, will gain work to the tune of over three billion Euros.

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, comes 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.

BCCL

The features that make the Rafale a strategic weapon in the hands of IAF include 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.

BCCL

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.

BCCL

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.

Associate supplies for the 36 fighter jets will cost about 1800 million Euros while performance based logistics will cost about 353 million Euros.
At least six Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militants, including two of its top leaders, were killed and an army man was injured in an encounter with security forces in Karbi Anglong district of Assam.

newscrab/representational image

On specific information, the joint police and army team launched an operation at Banipathar area under Bokajan police station and at around 1 am the militants exchanged fire with the security forces inside a forest, Superintendent of Police Debojit Deuri told PTI.

Six KPLT were neutralised in the encounter, while an army man was injured. Two top leaders of the underground outfit were suspected to have been killed in the encounter.

BCCL/representational image

One SLR rifle, one Insas rifle, three pistols and two grenades were recovered from the slain ultras, an Army official said.

BCCL/representational image

KPLT, formed in 2010-11 by a breakaway faction of the Karbi National Liberation Front after the KLNF declared ceasefire, is active in the remote areas of Bokajan. KPLT is formed with an objective of carving an Autonomous Karbi State (AKS) out of Assam. It has its base in Dima Hasao district of Assam and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to reconsider the bail plea of Subrata Roy, hours after it had ordered that the Sahara chief be sent back to jail.

AFP

The court agreed to reconsider Sahara's plea for continuance of bail to Subrata Roy and two other directors after Sahara apologised unconditionally for the intemperate language used by its counsel Rajeev Dhavan.

"I regret Dhavan's uncalled for statement and tender unconditional apology from core of heart, Subrata Roy told the top court.

Appearing for Sahara, Kapil Sibal also tendered personal apology and promised that this would never happen again.

BCCL

Earlier today, the top court had cancelled the interim bail to the Sahara chief and sent him and two others back to Tihar jail. SC passed the order irked by the arguments of senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan. Sahara immediately withdrew him and apologised through senior advocate Narendra Hooda.

The bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur deplored Dhawan's manner of addressing the court and said some people play with dignity of the court.

AFP

The CJI said there are some senior advocates who are disrespectful to the court.

"Seriously considering withdrawing designation of such lawyers," the CJI said.

Shahara counsel apologised and said Dhawan exceeded the brief given to him and made unnecessary comments. SC said it will always presume that every statement made by Dhawan was on the instruction from Sahara.

After profuse apology from Sahara, SC asks it to move fresh application seeking bail for Roy from court. Till then Roy would be taken to jail.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's protege and close associate Balkrishna, the CEO of Patanjali Ayurved has entered India's richest 100 club while Flipkart's co-founder Sachin and Binny Bansal didn't make the cut. Balkrishna is at 48th position in Forbes list with a net worth of USD 2.5 billion and 97 per cent holding in Patanjali Ayurved.

IndiaTimes

 The childhood friend of politically well-connected yoga guru Baba Ramdev, makes debut thanks to his 97 per cent holding in fast-growing consumer goods outfit Patanjali Ayurved, which they co-founded in 2006, Forbes said while releasing its annual India rich list.

Also Read: A Billionaire With Fake Degrees And Passport - This Is Patanjali's CEO Achrya Balkrishna

With revenue of USD 780 million, Patanjali sells everything from herbal toothpastes and cosmetics to noodles and jams. Though Ramdev holds no shares in Patanjali, he is the companys de facto brand ambassador, while Balkrishna runs operations.

Among much else, Balkrishna also oversees 5,000 Patanjali clinics, the Patanjali University and a yoga and Ayurveda research institute. He says that Patanjalis profits are donated to various trusts and charities, the magazine said. While Reliance honcho, Mukesh Ambani topping the list for 9th consecutive year, six newcomers have found themselves in the list while 13 whose names were there in list failed to make cut this year.

Also Read: Love It Or Hate It, Ramdev Just Made Patanjali Into A 5,000 Cr Company In Just 10 Years

Those moving out of the list included e-commerce giant Flipkarts co-founders Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. Last year, Sachin and Binny Bansal were ranked 86th with a net-worth of USD 1.3 billion. The minimum amount to make the cut was enhanced from last years USD 1.1 billion to USD 1.25 billion and that's where the Bansal due of Flipkart are out of the list.

IndiaTimes

The 13 who lost their place in the list include textile figure Balkrishan Goenka. Meanwhile, six others who made the cut include India's youngest entrepreneurs - Bhavin (36) and Divyank (34) Turakhia, who sold their ad tech firm Media.Net for $900 million in August. Pawan Munjal, the two-wheeler tycoon takes his father's spot, Brijmohan Lall Munjal, who died last November.

Also Read: Patanjali's CEO Acharya Balakrishna Is Now Among The Richest People In India

Forbes said the list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, analysts and regulators.
Uncle David has a regular spot outside a bank, in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Hes frequented this place as he often sits there to sell soft toys to make his daily ends meet. So much so that he has become a popular face in the area.

He was 50 when he relocated to the city so his child could go to a school and have access to proper education. In order to keep the cash flow coming, he quit his well-paying job and started selling soft toys.

However, once a customer came to place an order and never returned.

He was then left with more toys than he could sell, having bought them from a wholesaler.

Finding it difficult to sell them all, he just sat in a corner and tried when a famous blogger from the city spotted him.

He took this to Facebook asking for help and within minutes people flooded in to buy his toys.

Please help Uncle David, someone ordered 250 Pokemon toys from him but never turned up to collect them. Now poor Uncle David's hard-earned money is stuck with his stock. Please share this post and help him," the post read.

"The response was fantastic. Within two hours, 190 toys were sold and eventually the balance was also sold," said a grateful Uncle David, who added that he was very appreciative of the public support, but would not accept additional payment for his toys.

"My son [is] still in college and because I married late, he is only 20-years-old. So, he's still furthering his education."

He was diagnosed with cancer last year but it has been cured. After the overwhelming response, he plans to keep selling these toys.
Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com.

A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets.

Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials.

If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details.
A recent cholera disease outbreak recorded in the Isolo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, of Lagos state, has claimed six lives according to the Lagos State Government.

The State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Jide Idris while giving update on the outbreak in a news conference on Wednesday, said two out of the six victims were dead on arrival. He added that 36 cases have been successfully managed in various hospitals across the state while four people are currently responding to treatment.

According to the commissioner, the main source of the outbreak has been traced to local consumption of Salad called Abacha, a staple food of the residents of Isolo council area.

Some domestic wells within the communities are also suspected. Sample of Abacha salad and well water have been collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory for analysis.

Samples were collected from 15 cases and taken to the central public health laboratory, Yaba. There were no growths, however continuous culture yielded Vibro cholerae from 7 out of 15 samples. The Vibro cholera was late confirmed to be Ogawa strain, he explained.

The report of the analysis revealed the presence of vibro cholerae, Salmonella species and E. Coli in abacha and one of the two well water samples.

26 cases of the disease were managed at Isolo General Hospital and Lagos Mainland Hospital, he explained, 22 have been discharged, one died while three are still on admission at Lagos Mainland Hospital.

All the three cases are still on admission and in stable conditions. 17 of the cases were managed at private health facilities in Isolo. Out of the 17 cases three died.

All 14 cases on admission have been discharged, he said. He noted that the symptoms of the disease includes nausea, profuse diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, leg cramps, and in severe cases leads to dehydration, coma or death.

The risk of contracting the disease is mainly by poor water and environmental sanitation, including open defecation, he alerted.

Calling on Lagosians to imbibe personal hygiene and other control measures instituted by the state government, he said, Lagosians should endeavour to wash their hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after using the rest room.

Boil water before drinking, especially if you are not sure of the source of water.

He also appealed to Lagosians to stop open defecation, which has been linked to outbreak of cholera and diarrhoea.
6 people have been confirmed dead in a recent outbreak of Cholera disease in the Isolo area of Lagos state. Commissioner for Health in Lagos state, Jide Idris, at a press conference, disclosed that investigations so far showed that the main source of the outbreak is from the consumption of the African salad popularly called Abacha.

Some domestic wells within the communities are also suspected. Sample of Abacha salad and well water have been collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory for analysis. Samples were collected from 15 cases and taken to the central public health laboratory, Yaba. There were no growths, however continuous culture yielded Vibro cholerae from 7 out of 15 samples. The Vibro cholera was later confirmed to be Ogawa strain.The report of the analysis revealed the presence of vibro cholerae, Salmonella species and E. Coli in abacha and one of the two well water samples. Jimoh disclosed that out of the six cases, two were brought in dead. He stated that a total of 36 cases have been successfully managed in various hospitals across the state while four people are currently responding to treatment. Symptoms of Cholera disease includes nausea, profuse diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, leg cramps, and in severe cases leads to dehydration, coma or death. Speaking further, Jimoh said The risk of contracting the disease is mainly by poor water and environmental sanitation, including open defecation. Lagosians should endeavour to wash their hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after using the rest room. Boil water before drinking, especially if you are not sure of the source of water.
MMM Nigeria which boasts on its website of over 500,000 members is a time bomb about to explode.

All of the public discussions even on social media about the high rise of the Ponzi scheme in Nigeria are focused on the impact it has on enriching their lives and filling their pockets in a time where the economy is in turmoil.

But this focus on the benefits of the scheme diverts attention from the fact that it is still a Ponzi scheme.

By the way, many might wonder what a Ponzi scheme is. A Ponzi scheme is a form of fraud in which belief in the success of a non-existent enterprise is fostered by the payment of quick returns to the first investors from money invested by later investors. This is how MMM works!

MMM may be new to Nigeria but it isnt new to the world. The scheme has been in existence since 1994. It was created in Russia by Sergei Mavrodi, his brother Vyacheslav Mavrodi, and Olga Melnikova. The company grew rapidly after it was able to attract money from private investors due to promises of annual returns of up to a thousand percent! By this, it was able to let the public believe its shares were a safe and profitable investment. The company at its peak was taking in more than 100 billion rubles (about $50 million) each day from the sale of its shares to the public.

However what happened next? On July 22, 1994, MMM offices were closed by the Russian police for tax evasion. For a few days the company attempted to continue the scheme, but soon ceased operations. At that point, MMM was owing between 100 billion and 3 trillion rubles to the investors (from $50 million to $1.5 billion). This led to 50 investors committing suicide having lost all of their money in the scheme.

MMM also began its operations in South Africa. Here, it claimed a 30% per month return through a social financial network. The group was later identified by the South African National Consumer Commission as a possible pyramid, and accounts of its clients ended up being frozen.

Now MMM has created a website in Nigeria putting forward the same claims it made in South Africa. And it is not a coincidence that the scheme was introduced at a time of economic hardship in the country.

Many Nigerians have been attracted to its promises. There is no doubt that some have reaped from the scheme (getting their 30% interest return).

There is a state of euphoria among its investors who have been able to invite newcomers to the scheme.

But what surely comes next is a crisis. BOOM! The bomb explodes when the smart investors in the scheme realise that the high and rising interests are unsustainable and they, therefore, begin to pull out of the scheme. This will definitely collapse the structure of the scheme and thereby cause panic leading to more pull outs. This would later lead to the 1994 Russian scenario, hopefully with no suicides.

What happens next after this, one might again ponder.

Trust Nigerians, someone would have to be blamed. The government, politicians, the media, speculators, and even fellow MMM investors. Someone or people would be blamed for the calamity and the government would be requested to provide relief for their problems.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) have constantly been warning Nigerians against the scheme but to no heed, with many raining insults to the money regulatory bodies.

It is a question of when, and not whether the MMM scheme will reach its point.

But one thing is clear. The longer the time bomb ticks, the larger will be the bang and damage when it explodes.

An African proverb says, a fly that refuses advice of it to stop perching on a corpse follows it into the grave.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Friday in Abuja inaugurated an Air Force Girls Comprehensive School it established to improve girl child education in the country.

Special Guest of Honour, the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, cut opened the ribbon to inaugurate the school at the Air Force Base, Abuja.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, praised the Chief of Air Staff and other personnel of the Service for the remarkable project.

Adamu who said the present administration had resolved to make education accessible for the good of the country, noted that one of the major factors militating against girl child education in the country today was poverty as well as cultural and religious believes.

These factors have clearly undermined the role of the girl child who naturally is meant to be a friend, a teacher, a confidant, a councilor, a mother and the hand that feeds.

Available records from the NBS showed that the girl child education as compared to boys is ratio one to three in some states and two to four in others. This clearly shows the disadvantage position of the girl child in the area of education.

It had become imperative to improve on the girl child education in the country, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sidique Abubakar, said in his remarks

He thanked Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA) for their vision about the project.

As chief of Administration, I was actively involved in the genesis of this project and NAF had to come in due to their inability to complete the project, he said.

He said provision of quality education to families and personnel of the Force had been an invaluable tool for the motivation of officers and men for higher performance, commitment to duty and effective service delivery.

In building this school for girl child education, various thoughts came to my mind, first, there was the need to enhance the welfare of personnel which is a key driver of my vision.

Our experience of fighting insurgents in the North-East indicates the exploitation of girl child education due to low literacy level.

Against this background, we thought it wise to establish the school as our modest contribution to the presidents efforts at enhancing the Girl Child Education In the country.

With the opening of this school, it will shield them from societal vices because when you open the door of a school you open the door of liberty,the COAS said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Osun Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA) are working to provide relief materials to victims of flood disaster in the state.

Mr Olanipekun Olanrewaju, the General Manager, OSEMA on Thursday in Osogbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the agency in collaboration with NEMA is working to bring succour to victims.

Olanrewaju said that OSEMA, which is saddled with the responsibility of providing relief materials to victims of disaster, had already sent official report to NEMA, through its Zonal Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.

He said with the assistance of the state government and NEMA, OSEMA would provide relief materials to victims of the flood disaster soon.

The general manager, however, said there were procedures to follow for the distribution of relief materials.

He explained that victims of the flood have to formally request and present their case to the agency with photographs of their property that were damaged during the disaster attached.

Olanrewaju said without making request and providing photographs evidence of the affected or damaged property, it would be difficult for the agency to determine who to assist or provide with relief materials.

He reiterated what Gov. Rauf Aregbesola said, that the flood was caused by indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the waterways and water channels by residents.

According to him, the disaster should have been avoided, if people of the state dispose their wastes properly.

He said the state government was embarking on dredging and re-channelling of blocked waterways, canals and rivers in the state.

Olanrewaju said that structures along or on the waterways, obstructing free flow of water would all be demolished soon.

He said OSEMA had been sensitising the people of the state to the dangers of blocking rivers and waterways with refuse.

The general manager equally called on residents to change their habit and attitude, urging them to stop dumping refuse into the waterways and drains.

NAN recalls that five communities were flooded on Sept. 13 in Osogbo, while a middle-aged man was reported to have lost his life in the flood incident, after his vehicle was drowned in a river.
Nigerian music legend, King Sunny Ade turned 70 on Thursday, September 22, 2016.

SEE ALSO: 5 FACTS ABOUT KING SUNNY ADE

In celebration, the septuagenarian held a thanksgiving service at the church and then a house party at his residence in Ondo State. The party was well attended by his wives, family members and friends including music icon, Ebenezer Obey, the Olu of Itori Oba Fatai Akamo and other royal fathers.

See photos below:
How to spot early tell-tale signs of Dementia. The first symptoms of dementia could begin as many as 12 years before patients are diagnosed, research shows. Forgetting to turn off the lights, mislaying objects around the home or coming back from the shops without something you meant to buy could all be early warning signs. Researchers in America found that 80 per cent of patients who went on to develop the illness noticed their memory was slipping years earlier. On average they first became aware of these slips nine years before being diagnosed, but in some cases it was 12 years. Although experts urge patients not to worry if they occasionally mislay the keys, they should speak to their doctor if they are often forgetful. There is currently no cure, but researchers are increasingly hopeful of finding new treatments that can be given to patients very early on or before the disease takes hold. Scientists at the University of Kentucky studied 531 pensioners with an average of 73 who did not have dementia. They were all asked whether they had noticed their memory slipping, such as forgetting items on the shopping list, mislaying personal belongings or neglecting to turn off the lights. Over the next ten to 12 years the patients were asked the same questions and they also underwent tests and scans to diagnose dementia. The study, published in the journal Neurology, found that one in six patients went on to develop dementia, of whom 80 per cent had noticed lapses in their memory several years earlier.

Dr. Tichard Kryscio, who led the research, said that what was notable about the study was the time it took for the transition from when people first realised they were having problems with their memory to when they were actually diagnosed with dementia. That suggests that there may be a significant window of opportunity for intervention before a diagnosable problem shows up. Certainly, someone with memory issues should report it to their doctor so they can be followed. Our study adds strong evidence to the idea that memory complaints are common among older adults and are sometimes indicators of future memory and thinking problems. Doctors should not minimise these complaints and should take them seriously.

However, memory complaints are not a cause for immediate alarm since impairment could be many years away. Unfortunately, however, we do not yet have preventive therapies for Alzheimers disease or other illnesses that cause memory problems. Many people will experience a decline in memory as they age, and this single study adds to evidence showing that some people who experience mild memory loss in older age go on to develop dementia. Although we all forget things from time to time, memory loss in dementia is more severe than occasional bouts of forgetfulness.

Source: Vanguard
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.

Cattle Market Fades on Friday Barchart - Fri Oct 28, 4:39PM CDT Live cattle futures ended the weeks last trade day down by 35 cents to $1.02 with soon to expire October down the most. Cash trade picked up later in the week with some Friday catch up sales mostly... LEV22 : 150.375s (-0.68%) LEZ22 : 153.000s (-0.28%) LEG23 : 156.325s (-0.33%) GFX22 : 177.875s (-0.14%) GFF23 : 180.375s (-0.04%)

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%)
High schools have turned out to be the toughest nut to crack in the quest to improve U.S. education. While drop-out rates have fallen, they're still too high, while student engagement lags and academic gains have been difficult to achieve beyond primary school.

None of this is surprising to the many critics of high school, who've long complained about cookie-cutter approaches that fail to engage restless young people on the cusp of adulthood.

So it's been interesting to watch a top-tier philanthropistLaurene Powell Jobs, working through the Emerson Collective (her vehicle for philanthropic giving)embark on an ambitious effort to redesign the American high school. There is a huge gap between what students want for their future and what their schools are offering, Powell Jobs said when the project launched last year. Initially slated for $50 million, the collective recently put up $100 million for 10 new model high schools (some completely, some reimagined existing schools) across the country.

Weve written before about how Powell Jobs is an unusual suspect in education philanthropy. While she's been aligned with the education reform movement, she's nevertheless found her own path, focusing on modernizing the ways students learn. She's most well known for launching the nonprofit College Track, which serves low-income students of color with after-school tutoring and extracurricular programs to improve their college readiness and retention.

The investment in new high schools is very much in keeping with her atypical approach. And judging by the response to the first call for applications, over 700 of which came in, Powell Jobs has really struck a chord. What the winning schools have in common seems to be their flexible use of time and their focus on personalized learning through the use of technology and alternative approaches to teaching. Some, like the New Harmony High School in Louisiana offer unique opportunities for experiential learning. That school "will teach students about real-world skills related to coastal restoration and urban planning by bringing students out into the middle of the wetlands of Plaquemines Parishon a barge."

Overall, the so-called "super schools" are a pretty diverse lot, including both traditional public schools and charters, as well as schools in rural areas and urban centers. (See the full list here.)

The investment was made under the auspices of Emerson Collective spinoff XQ Institute, managed by former Obama administration alum Russlynn Ali. Ms. Ali left Obamas Education Department to lead grantmaking at the Emerson Collective in 2012. Now, XQ Super Schools (as it's called) is operating on the ever-more intriguing frontier of school design. While other funders like the Carnegie Corporation continue with their school design investments, Powell Jobstapping a $17 billion fortuneis adding some powerful reinforcements.

XQ Institute has taken great care to frame the investment as a true partnership between the institute and the fledgling schools, in which XQ will drive other non-monetary resources (experts, policy advocacy, talent, etc.) to nurture the schools development over the next few years.

While school design is red hot right now in education reform, not everyone is completely excited about Powell Jobs' new effort. Critics like Rick Hess at the American Enterprise Institute were quick to highlight past failed attempts at school redesign such as the New American Schools Development Corporation (NASDC), a similar attempt by a privately funded nonprofit to engage in whole-school reform in response to President George H.W. Bushs 1991 call for new model schools. Hess backed up his assertion with AIR and RAND evaluations of the NASDC schools, which showed that the vast majority of the new schools made very little impact on student achievement. Hess also questioned the faddish nature of school redesign efforts and the celebratory XQ announcement (filled with high levels of edu-jargon) as a repackaging of promising ideas but not quite the super schools that they have been billed.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this initiative unfolds. Among other things, it will be interesting to see how XQ will measure and publicize results along the way.
To create a new institute focused on societys pressing energy problems, Dartmouth has accepted $80 million from a powerful oil family surrounded by controversy. Such a gift seriously undermines the credibility of such an institute.

When a really good school like Dartmouth College decides to take on the future of energy as a priority for its faculty and students, you would want it to be rigorous and independenta beacon guiding the way as we grapple with climate change, sustainable development and environmental justice.

And you know what? Dartmouths new Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society may very well turn out to do some great work.

But $80 million, half of the institutes funding, comes from Irving Oil and the powerful family behind it, which is surrounded by controversies environmental and otherwise. This casts serious doubt over the initiatives credibility before it has even started.

As sums in philanthropy balloon and universities across the country augment their budgets with multibillion-dollar fundraising campaigns, a lot of concerns about academic integrity, or at least the appearance of impropriety, have followed. Some of these are knee-jerk responses, and large donations can be credited for launching many admirable endeavors, including academic work on energy and sustainability all over the country.

Related:

But now and then, a donation is so blatantly suspect in the context of the gifts purpose that it threatens to undercut the intent and integrity, or at least the perceived integrity, of the project at hand.

In the case of the Dartmouth gift, Irving Oil and the Irving family are deeply financially connected to the problems the institute seeks to solve, and not in a good way. Irving Oil is a Canadian oil and gas company that owns, among many other things, the countrys largest oil refinery. The company and its chairman, Arthur Irving, are behind a controversial pipeline proposal that critics say would bring huge increases in tar sands oil production and carbon emissions.

Its hard to believe the university would shrug that off as a cosmetic conflict, as Robert Hansen, the Dartmouth business professor who headed the task force behind the initiative, did in recent local news coverage. Campus environmentalists, who are in the midst of organizing Dartmouth to divest from its fossil fuel holdings, had a different word for ithorrific.

Its one of the more questionable examples of private money flowing into academia weve seen, in fact, and it raises all kinds of questions about the growing role of industry in campus funding.

Maybe the gift wouldnt be so troubling if we werent at such a tipping point for climate change. Its a historic moment for global emissions reduction efforts, and universities are playing an important role, both in their campus organizing efforts and faculty and student research.

Energy and/or sustainability centers have popped up at schools all over the country in recent years. While you would hope any academic center studying the field would prioritize climate change, an institute dedicated to energy can actually be a lot of things. Some set out explicitly to find low- or no-carbon solutions, like at MIT, while others are even advancing oil and gas research.

Dartmouths institute seems to be somewhere in the middle. Climate change and cutting carbon emissions are not explicitly part of its mission, which is to be a driver in the creation of ideas, technologies, and policies that will improve the availability and efficient use of energy for every person on the planet. But the presidents announcement does directly address sustainability and climate change. And Dartmouth environmental science professor Ross Virginia says, The institutes focus is a great combinationits not energy alone, its energy and how it connects to people, to society, to broad issues like climate change and environmental justice. Theres no other problem facing our global society thats as important.

All of this is to say that the institute sounds well intentioned, and theres a good case that the schools liberal arts background can provide an interdisciplinary advantage.

And Dartmouth leadership clearly views a partnership with an oil company as a plus. The schools announcement praises Irving Oil, calling it an early adopter of technology that improves environmental performance of their products, and Dartmouth alum Arthur Irving a visionary leader.

When the Valley Newsasked Hansen, the professor who helped land the funding, about the potential conflict, he defended Irvings involvement:

Oil companies, Hansen said, are as interested as everyone else in adapting to the sweeping transformation of the energy sector. I dont think thats the right way to frame this discussion. The future of energy, Ill guarantee you, is going to involve business, and its going to involve large companies. The world of academia needs to bring the outside world in, including energy companies, and understanding what they do, he said. Hansen said that a practical view of the institute shouldnt include holding Irving Oil accountable for its history. The past is past, he said. We are concerned about the future.

OK... but the large company he speaks of here isnt simply involved. Its funding half of the whole thing. And were not talking about a company that dabbled in oil and gas, which is now trying to nobly steer the world away from fossil fuel-driven disaster. This isnt some third-generation Rockefeller heir trying to right the familys wrongs.

Consider that Arthur Irving and Irving Oil are playing a central role in the development of the proposed $15.7 billion Energy East oil pipeline, able to carry 1.1 million barrels of crude a day, according toNational Observers extensive coverage. It would be a windfall for the companys refinery and export operations.

As with the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, theres strong environmental and indigenous community opposition, and those against the pipeline charge that the company is blithely unaware, failing to engage with communities affected. By one estimate, Energy East would expand tar sands oil productionthe countrys fastest-growing source of GHG emissionsby up to 40 percent, transporting a third more than Keystone XL would have.

Dozens of groups and even the Quebec government have come out against the pipeline. According to the NRDC: The pipeline would also bring a significant increase in carbon pollution, equivalent to the annual emissions of as many as 54 million passenger vehicles, and lock in high-carbon infrastructure expected to operate for at least 50 years.

The broader Irving family controls hundreds of companies, with brothers Arthur and J.K. Irving each helming one of its main corporate entities; they have also been caught up in multiple scandals in their home province of New Brunswick, which you can read all about here, including environmental violations related to spills and air pollution. Also troubling in the context of the Dartmouth gift is the Irvings notoriety for exerting their influence or throwing their weight around.

Even if youre making a pragmatic case for the oil industry being involved in the transformation of the energy sector, this does not seem like a company that would be a good ally in working toward a low-carbon, sustainable and just energy future.

Especially as Irving companies expand into New England, is this really a name Dartmouth wants on a new institute thats setting out to shape the worlds energy future? Can faculty and students be comfortable with the fact that such an endeavor is launching with $80 million from this company and family? I really wouldnt be.

Even if we assume that the donors here will not attempt to exert one iota of influence on the work of the centerand to be clear, I dont mean to question the integrity of the faculty involvedwhat kind of a message does this send about the work the school is doing? Isnt there some residual chill resulting from source of the funding?

Universities no doubt face an increasing need to raise outside funding to stay competitive and expand their research, but as we see more of these donations in the tens, even hundreds of millions of dollars, these are the kinds of questions beneficiaries need to reckon with.

In the schools announcement of the Irving Institute, the president of Irving Oil Ian Whitcomb says, When industry and academia work together, we all stand to benefit.

Im not so sure thats the case, and if Im in Dartmouths administration or faculty, thats whats keeping me up at night.
In the bleak economic landscape of southeastern Michigan, a funder-backed effort, the New Economy Initiative (NEI) offers a ray of hope for Detroit. According to recent analysis by Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, $96.2 million in grants since NEIs inception have led to $2.9 billion in economic gains and 17,490 new jobs. Those are great numbers for a region that rarely gets positive news coverage for anything economic. It's also a striking example of the leverage power of well-targeted philanthropic dollars.

Still, NEI faces a tough battle. Between 2000 and 2010, the initiatives home region lost over 300,000 jobs, and while several neighborhoods of metro Detroit have seen some reinvestment, the situation is still dire. But a formidable coalition backs NEI. In our previous coverage, we discuss how the project got its start in 2007 as a coalition between ten funders committed to rejuvenating entrepreneurship throughout the rust belt, with an emphasis on the area around Detroit.

Since NEI got up and running, additional funders have swelled the ranks. The current list includes many of the nations biggest anti-poverty philanthropies, including (brace yourself) the Ford, Knight, C.S. Mott, Hudson-Webber, Kresge, Fisher, Skillman, Surdna, Kellogg, and William Davidson foundations. The McGregor Fund, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and the newly rich Ralph C. Wilson Foundation round out the list of donors.

In conjunction with the analysts heartening report, Ford, Knight, and McGregor recently pledged $5 million, $3 million, and $500,000 respectively toward NEI's current fundraising goal of $28.5 million. This follows the funders initial $100 million commitment in 2007 and another $35 million in 2014, strengthening an effort for economic rejuvenation that has fostered 1,610 new companies in the Detroit area alone.

NEI takes a support the supporters approach. As its president Pam Lewis told us, Much of NEIs success lies in identifying, building, and strengthening connections among the various resources that help entrepreneurs convert ideas into successful enterprises. That involves a two-pronged strategy: grants to local organizations supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, and convening the grantees and entrepreneurs to learn from each other.

In this, NEIs work mirrors many of the big foundation backers in its commitment to systems thinking and network building. But NEI is somewhat unique. Its focus is on job growth and capitalist stimulus, not direct aid to underprivileged communities.

The demographics of its entrepreneurs are also distinct: Of nearly 4,500 companies receiving NEI-funded services across southern Michigan, 31 percent are owned by women and 39 percent by people of color. An estimated 29 percent are in the tech sector, which means 61 percent arent. In other words, NEI isnt your usual startup incubator. For the curious, NEI just released a lengthy but reader-friendly reportdetailing its approach, impact, and stakeholders.

We often define southern Michigan by what it lacks. NEI takes the opposite position, identifying and funding regional assets. These include a large population of engineers, abundant creatives, and top-tier universities, all the legacy of Detroits former glory as a manufacturing powerhouse. Though it didn't last, that 20th-century prosperity made for a racially diverse city with a strong middle class. It remains to be seen whether efforts like NEI can catalyze something similar in this century.

Related:
Onelio Almeida, 63, was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty in the self-storage shooting death of his estranged wife, Juanita Almeida, 44. Almeida killed his wife on June 25 during an argument at his storage unit at Flag City Mini Storage in Findlay, Ohio. Though he admitted guilt, Almeida claimed the shooting was an accident during court proceedings on Wednesday, according to the source.

After the couple began to argue, Almeida picked up a loaded 9-millimeter handgun that was in the storage unit. He told the court the gun went off while he was trying to remove a bullet. He fired one shot into a washing machine inside the unit, after which his wife began running. He then reportedly shot her once in the back and once in the head, according to investigators.

Almeida said he hid the gun before going to police. It was recovered in Allen County, Ohio, officials said. Juanita Almeidas body was found lying face down between storage units. I did it, and I have to face the consequences, Almeida said during proceedings. Thats it.

Almeida was charged with murder with a firearm specification, an unclassified felony, along with tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. A charge of repeat violent offender was dismissed as part of plea negotiations, the source reported.

Almeida previously served 16 years in prison after his conviction for voluntary manslaughter in the 1987 death of his ex-girlfriend, Laura Schade, 19. That incident also involved a gun, according to the source. Almeida was released from prison in the Schade case in 2003 but was detained in county jail by the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which tried to deport him to his native Cuba. Almeida filed a lawsuit in 2004 seeking his release. He married Juanita Almeida in October 2007.

Almeida told the court he became institutionalized during his previous incarceration and was ready to return to prison. Judge Reginald Routson imposed the sentence jointly recommended by the defense and prosecution. Almeida will be 83 before the Ohio Parole Board will review his case.
Canadian self-storage operator StorageVault Canada Inc. has agreed to buy four self-storage facilities and a portable-storage business either owned or related to Access Self Storage Inc., one of its major shareholders, for nearly $48 million. The deal, which is expected to close by Sept. 30, includes one Access facility in Toronto and three properties in the Montreal market owned by Depotium Self Storage Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Access. It also includes 110 portable-storage containers owned by 1934255 Ontario Inc., a company of which Access is a major shareholder, according to a press release.

StorageVault announced in August it was pursuing $45 million in Access assets. Though the properties included in the deal appraised for $49.2 million, the parties agreed to keep the purchase price at $47,985,000. StorageVault will pay for the assets by issuing 7,954,545 common shares at an aggregate price of $7 million, with the remaining sum paid with cash and through mortgage financing, the release stated.

The deal was approved on Aug. 30 by an independent acquisition committee related to StorageVault but remains subject to approval by the operators board of directors and creditors as well as TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto stock exchange. Its also still subject to closing conditions, including due diligence and environmental site assessments.

StorageVault has been aggressively pursuing acquisitions in recent months. The company agreed to buy a facility in Calgary, Alberta, and another in Ottawa, Ontario, for $19 million in August. In July, it agreed to purchase another facility in Calgary for $22 million. The latter deal is expected to close by Oct. 7, the release stated.

StorageVault last year acquired Cubeit Portable Storage Canada Inc. and seven storage facilities from Access in a $51 million deal.

Access Storage operates about 75 self-storage facilities comprising more than 4 million square feet and more than 1,000 portable-storage containers. It owns facilities in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec, with its Quebec locations branded as Depotium Mini-Entrepot, according to the company website.

StorageVault operates several self-storage facilities and more than 3,200 portable-storage units in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
A rally in global equity markets fizzled on Friday with the MSCI all-country index declining, pulled down by falling prices in Europe and Asia, while oil rose on speculation that leaders of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries might agree to a production cap. Gold bulls drove prices slightly higher for a fourth consecutive day following the decision by the Federal Reserve to refrain from tightening rates. In the U.S., while futures for broad stock indices and Treasuries were little changed, there were some signs of concern among some market participants despite the fact that the CBOE volatility index, or VIX, declined on Thursday, According to Jefferies quantitative strategist Kenneth Chan, the week ending on September 21 saw a pull back by U.S. stock investors, with $7.5 billion in equity funds liquidated, the heaviest in 12 weeks. Financial-sector funds experienced the most significant withdrawals.

Erdogan criticizes U.S. foreign policy. In public comments in New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly session, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized U.S. handling of military aid for Kurdish fighters against the Islamic State who, he claims, also have ties to anti-Turkish groups. He also reiterated the Turkish request that Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric who is an ally-turned-critic of the Erdogan administration living in Pennsylvania, be extradited by the U.S. Erdogan holds Gulen at least partially responsible for the attempted military coup earlier this year.

Facebook confirms inflated viewing metrics. Following a Wall Street Journal report, Facebook yesterday confirmed to clients and investors more details over an error that caused improperly calculated viewing metrics for advertisements. According to the social-media giant, the problem had been corrected with no improper charges to customers. The move comes after many advertisers pressed the company for more details.

CBOE moves to acquire Bats. A Bloomberg report yesterday revealed that CBOE Holdings, the parent company of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, has held discussions with executives at Bats Global Markets over a possible acquisition. Kansas-based Bats, which went public earlier this year and saw its share price climb by more than 40 percent, is the second-largest U.S. equity-trading venue. Such a move would significantly diversify the CBOE beyond its core derivatives offerings.

New York indicts Cuomo allies. Yesterday the office of State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman unveiled charges against SUNY Polytechnic Institute President Alain Kaloyeros on the same day that Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara also charged Kaloyeros and eight others with fraud relating to contracts for state building projects. Several of the firms involved are key backers of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Over the past decade Kaloyeros has garnered political capital with Albany over plans to make western NY State a viable competitor for West Coast tech hubs.
A Melbourne man has been refused an insurance payout after a prospective buyer of his motorbike took the vehicle for a test drive and never came back.Warren Harrison posted an advertisement on Gumtree to try and sell his $22,000 Ducati motorbike and met with a potential buyer, using the name Steve Williams at his home in Melbournes east, the Daily Mail reported.Williams arrived in a stolen Nissan Pajero and agreed to take the bike for a test run after signing a waiver as he told Harrison he had left his ID at home.Within 20 minutes, Harrison received a text from Williams saying he had been pulled over by the police at a local petrol station and needed Harrisons assistance.Harrison arrived at the petrol station but Williams had already left with an accomplice sent back to Harrisons home to collect the car.He sounded so genuine, it really suckered me in, Harrison told Nine News. Swann Insurance , Harrisons insurance company according to Nine News, refused to pay the claim as they do not cover vehicles stolen whilst being tested by a prospective buyer, The Daily Mail report said.Their mindset is that because I handed the keys over, the bike is not stolen and because it is not stolen there is no claim, Harrison told Nine News.There's no use beating myself up about it, Harrison continued. He sounded so genuine.
Half of the participants currently enrolled in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) are getting disability support for the first time, proof of the huge demand for disability services across Australia, it has been reported.According to NDIS quarterly report, the most common disability type was autism and related disorders, which represents 30 per cent of participants across Australia, Fairfax Media reported.Braedan Hogan, policy manager at autism advocacy organisation Amaze, told Fairfax Media that the previous disability system was a crisis-driven, band-aid approach, where people had to fight for funding.Hogan said many autistic children did not qualify for the support, which became apparent when these children reached school and needed interventions such as speech pathology.So far, about 2.4 billion has been committed to fund the 35,600 people enrolled to the NDIS scheme. One in 10 people has a support package worth more than $100,000, while 70 per cent have a package below $30,000, the report said.And despite computer bungles that have affected the NDIS payments and plan approvals, about 95 per cent of the trial participants said they had a good or very good experience.
Officials in a Jersey shore town say they need more time to consider a proposed $369,000 settlement with a gay former police officer who filed a discrimination lawsuit.

The Press of Atlantic City reports the Cape May City Council was scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to approve the payment. But city attorney Anthony Monzo says no decision was made.

Steven Pascal claimed in his 2013 suit that the police department created a hostile, anti-gay work environment and unjustly fired him.

Monzo says a decision on the draft settlement is taking longer than expected because the citys insurer wont pick up the full payment. The city would have to pay $50,000 under the proposed settlement.

Information from: The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.)

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Topics New Jersey
Kansas has launched a campaign against texting while driving that includes a contest for university fans.

The Kansas Department of Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer announced the campaign. The campaigns message, Dont Text #Just Drive, is being promoted through a contest.

The campaign will focus on getting 40,000 to 50,000 Kansas residents to sign the #ItCanWait pledge indicating they wont text and drive. The pledges include the opportunity for people to show which of the six Kansas Regents universities they support.

Theres been a lot of talk about distracted driving and texting while driving, Selzer said. Whats different about this program is its a contest that actually will be fun to participate in.

Universities are planning various programs to encourage students, faculty and alumni to pledge. According to Selzer, a simulator that demonstrates how difficult it is to text and drive will be sent to the universities.

Selzer says theres been a long-term decline in accidents with fatalities until about a year ago, when numbers started to spike.

According to an observational study by the Kansas Safety Traffic Resource Office, distracted driving increased from 9 percent to 10 percent in 2016.

Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer said the Shawnee County Sheriffs Office supports any program to bring more attention to distracted driving issues.

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Topics Kansas
The owner/operator and management company for a Columbus Texas Roadhouse restaurant will pay $1.4 million and furnish significant equitable relief to settle a class sexual harassment suit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.

EEOC had charged East Columbus Host LLC and management company Ultra Steak Inc. with victimizing a group of female employees as young as 17-years-old by subjecting them to sexual harassment and then retaliating against them for complaining.

According to EEOCs lawsuit, the manager of the restaurant in the Reynoldsburg section of Columbus, Eric Price, harassed women and teen girls working in server, hostess and other front-of-the-house positions.

In the suit, EEOC identified 12 victims of his abuse who suffered unwelcome touching, humiliating remarks about their and other females bodies and sexuality, and pressure for sexual favors in exchange for employment benefits or as a condition of avoiding adverse employment action.

EEOC charged that the harassment began in 2007, continued for over three and a half years until the manager was fired in May 2011, and was coupled with retaliation against employees who opposed the abuse.

Although the companies owners and individuals with high-level authority received multiple complaints about the managers abusive conduct throughout his employment, they failed to take prompt, effective action to put a stop to the abuse, EEOC said. Price was not fired until May 2011, when he was seen on a surveillance video touching a 17-year-old female employee in his office at the restaurant during work hours, the agency charged.

EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. East Columbus Host, LLC d/b/a Texas Roadhouse and Ultra Steak, Inc., Civil Action No. 2:14-cv-1696) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

In addition to the $1.4 million in monetary relief to the victims, the five-year consent decree resolving the lawsuit requires the companies to offer reinstatement to injured women identified by EEOC in agreed locations and positions. The decree prohibits the companies from rehiring the offending manager.

The decree further requires East Columbus Host and Ultra Steak to put in place an electronic record-keeping system to track all gender discrimination and retaliation complaints of any kind and includes mandatory reporting of any allegedly discriminatory or retaliatory adverse employment action, such as failure to hire or promote.

Further, the companies must provide training to all employees on discrimination and retaliation. Supervisory, management, and human resources personnel are to be trained on their duty to monitor the work environment; how to receive and investigate complaints of harassment or discrimination; and how to respond to complaints effectively with corrective action.

East Columbus Host and Ultra Steak also are required to report to EEOC on how they handle any internal complaints of gender discrimination or retaliation, and they must post a notice about the settlement at all restaurants covered by the decree.

The investigation was conducted by the Philadelphia District Office of EEOC, which oversees Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and parts of New Jersey and Ohio. The legal staff of the Philadelphia District Office of EEOC also prosecutes discrimination cases arising from Washington, D.C. and parts of Virginia.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits Ohio
The Iowa Insurance Division reported that insurers and self-insured employers in the state are being assessed $8 million to in order to pump up the coffers of the states Second Injury Fund.

The IID said sufficient funds are not available to meet the liabilities of the fund. The assessment amount is due by Oct. 17, 2016.

Iowas Second Injury Compensation Act requires employers to compensate a worker with a prior injury who suffers a work-related second injury as if there were no prior injury.

The Second Injury Fund compensates the worker for the additional disability of the combined effect of the two injuries.

The benefits are limited to the value of that permanent disability that exceeds the value of the two affected members separately. The benefits are not payable until after the employer, or insurance carrier, has completed payment of benefits for the second permanent partial disability. The original injury does not have to be work-related to qualify for these benefits.

The Second Injury Fund also provides benefits in the event that a second injury to an arm, leg, eye, hand, or foot leads to or causes the victims death. When this happens, the fund pays $12,000 to $45,000 to designated survivor(s), depending on whether the deceased had dependents or not. Funds for death benefit payments are received from the employers insurance company. The employers insurance company pays a fee when an individual is killed on the job in Iowa.

Source: Iowa Insurance Division

Topics Iowa
Wisconsin-based independent insurance agency, Robertson Ryan & Associates (RRA), announced it has hired Garrett Maloney, Robert Flath and Brittany Swinton.

Maloney joined RRA as a vice president and is based in the Waukesha office. He is an insurance agent for property/casualty personal and commercial lines, health/life and employee benefits. Before joining RRA, Garrett Maloney worked in underwriting for Travelers Insurance in the greater Minneapolis  St. Paul area. His father Terry Maloney and brother Ryan Maloney are also agents with RRA.

Flath is vice president of Bonds and is based Waukesha. He brings more than 30 years of insurance and bond experience to RRA. He holds has the Chartered Property Casualty (CPCU) designation and is an Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB).

Swinton joined the firm as a customer service representative. She has more than 10 years of commercial lines insurance experience and is based in the downtown Milwaukee office.

Robertson Ryan serves the entire U.S. from 14 branches in Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Source: Robertson Ryan & Associates Inc.

Topics Wisconsin
The Texas Department of Public Safety says it will regularly review traffic stop data to ensure minority motorists arent being stopped and searched at higher rates than white drivers.

DPS now will review traffic stops for individual troopers, rather than assessing aggregate numbers, the Austin American-Statesman reported

The decision comes after the newspaper reviewed 14 million DPS records from 2009 to 2015, finding that Hispanic motorists were 33 percent more likely to be searched than white drivers and black motorists were more than twice as likely to be searched than white drivers.

For years, DPS has asserted its troopers dont conduct the illegal practice of profiling motorists based on race or ethnicity. DPS Director Steve McCraw repeated the pledge Sept. 20 during an appearance before a legislative panel, adding that he welcomes ideas to ensure profiling doesnt happen.

We do take racial profiling seriously, I can assure you, McCraw said. Theres no other agency that holds its people more accountable than the DPS. If theyre engaged in misconduct, we will act on that.

The newspapers review found 231 troopers searched minority motorists at least twice as frequently as white ones, and were less likely to find contraband.

Were going to commission someone to look at the data in more detail, McCraw said. And when I say in more detail, it means all minorities, it means all demographics across the state, and it includes gender.

Forty drivers in the last five years have accused DPS of racial profiling and the agency has ruled in favor of its troopers in each case by determining profiling did not occur, the Statesman reported.

The paper previously found some areas of DPS performance compared favorably to departments elsewhere. For instance, the agencys search rate for all drivers has dropped significantly in recent years and is relatively low compared to other agencies. In Missouri, law enforcement officers statewide searched black motorists at nearly triple the DPS rate.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is extending a state of emergency for five West Virginia counties devastated by floods in June.

Tomblin announced the extension until Oct. 21 for Clay, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas and Webster counties to ensure that state resources are provided to rebuild homes, businesses and communities. That includes demolition and stream cleanup efforts.

The declaration was scheduled to expire Wednesday, three months after floods killed 23 people and destroyed homes, businesses and infrastructure.

An emergency declaration expired Wednesday evening for Fayette, Roane and Summers counties.

At one point, 44 of West Virginias 55 counties were under a state of emergency.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood Virginia
Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to investigate a sewage spill in St. Petersburg.

Heavy rain during Hurricane Hermine overloaded the citys sewer systems, sending millions of gallons of sewage to flow into streets and waterways.

In a news release Wednesday, Scotts office said the City of St. Petersburg dumped about 150 million gallons of raw and partially-treated sewage and wastewater into Tampa Bay and Boca Ciega Bay.

Also on Wednesday, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman announced he was replacing two top city wastewater officials.

And U.S. Rep. David Jollys has called for a federal environmental probe.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida
Streets appeared calm early Thursday in downtown Charlotte after a second night of violent protests over the deadly police shooting of a black man, although at least three major businesses were asking their employees to stay home for the day as the city remained on edge.

Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Duke Energy all told employees not to venture into North Carolinas largest city after Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency Wednesday night and called in the National Guard after Charlottes 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.

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 departments Community Relations Service has been deployed to other cities roiled by tense flare-ups between police and residents.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jennifer Roberts told ABCs Good Morning America on Thursday that city officials are talking about imposing a curfew.

Anger has continued to build over the shooting of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott by a black police officer on Tuesday afternoon and the wildly different accounts about what happened from authorities and Scotts family and neighbors.

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 Charlottes 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 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, dont 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.

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. 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. Scotts 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 Scotts 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 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.

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 Wednesdays 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 plainclothes 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 doesnt 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.

Putney said he is working to honor the request from the family of Scott to view the video. Its 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, Putney 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.

Meanwhile, the state prosecutor in Charlotte will ask the State Bureau of Investigation to look into the shooting.

District Attorney R. Andrew Murray said in a statement Thursday that he was making the request for a state investigation at the request of Scotts family.

___

Associated Press writers Josh Replogle, Stephanie Siek, Tom Foreman Jr., Jonathan Drew, Martha Waggoner, Steve Reed and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement North Carolina
Exxon Mobil Corp. will pay $12 million for environmental damages caused by a pipeline break that spilled 63,000 gallons (238,474 liters) of crude into Montanas Yellowstone River and prompted a national debate over lax pipeline safety rules, officials said Wednesday.

The payment settles claims from the U.S. and state governments that the 2011 spill harmed natural resources as it fouled an 85-mile (137-kilometer) stretch of the famous river that flows through southern Montana.

Court approval is pending.

The pipeline break upstream near the town of Laurel killed fish and wildlife and prompted a monthslong cleanup.

A U.S. Transportation Department investigation found Exxon workers failed to heed warnings that the 20-year-old pipeline was at risk from flooding.

Gov. Steve Bullock, Attorney General Tim Fox and representatives of the U.S. Justice Department were scheduled to announce the deal Wednesday morning at the site of the pipeline break in Laurel. The Associated Press obtained details in advance.

Montanans deserve and expect Exxon Mobil Pipeline Co. to be held accountable for the damages they caused to Montanas Yellowstone River, our communities and our economy, Bullock said in a statement.

The settlement money would be used for restoration work and to improve recreational access to the waterway, Fox said.

Montana will receive $9.5 million from the settlement, and the federal government will get the remaining $2.5 million.

Exxon has previously said it spent $135 million on cleanup and repair work. Separately, the company has paid $2.6 million to resolve federal safety and state pollution violations.

Penalties against Exxon for federal Clean Water Act violations stemming from the 2011 spill have not yet been levied. An investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency continues, agency spokesman Richard Mylott said.

The accident sparked a national discussion over the adequacy of safety rules for thousands of pipelines crossing beneath rivers, lakes and other waterways. Many of those pipelines were installed decades ago in shallow trenches and can be left exposed when floodwaters scour river bottoms.

In the years since the spill, and at the urging of safety regulators, oil and pipeline companies, including Exxon, have re-installed some lines at greater depths to reduce the risk of accidents.

However, there still are no regulatory mandates for lines to be deeply buried. In January 2015, another shallow pipeline broke and spilled 30,000 gallons (113,559 liters) further downstream along the Yellowstone near the town of Glendive.

A consent decree detailing terms of Wednesdays settlement was to be filed in U.S. District Court in Montana. The deal will be finalized pending a 30-day public comment period and court approval.

Related:

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Topics USA Energy Oil Gas Pollution
New Mexico failed to collect at least $193 million in taxes on insurance premiums over the past five years, even as the state struggles this year to close a major budget shortfall, according to an independent review of collections.

New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller said the unpaid premium taxes can still be recovered and are likely to far exceed $200 million based on a sampling of underpaid taxes by five insurance companies. Pursuing the unpaid taxes might ease pressure to cut programs or raise taxes, said Keller and other state officials.

New Mexico ended the fiscal year in June in a fiscal deficit and expects revenue to fall more than $400 million short of covering this years $6.2 billion general fund spending plan. Executive agencies have been directed to trim spending by 5 percent as lawmakers prepare for special legislative session as soon as next week to resolve the shortfalls.

This is probably the largest accessible piece of money that the state has identified in several years, Keller said. Theres more money out there. We dont even know how much.

Tax collections on health, property, life and other insurance premiums are overseen by a division of the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance. Keller criticized the agency for relying too heavily on taxpayers and the honor system to ensure accurate payment.

Insurance Superintendent John Franchini said Wednesday that his agency plans to perform a close audit of certain portions of our premium tax collections within 30 days and bill unpaid balances.

He also said a civil investigation initiated in December 2015 still is underway by his agencys fraud bureau into insurance companies and premium taxes. He described the investigation as ongoing and very detailed but declined to provide further details.

The missing $193 million was outlined in a state-commissioned review by audit and accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen. That review says tax-filing errors were not caught because of problems with computer software, internal agency controls and inadequate staffing.

Franchini said three people currently staff the division that oversees insurance premium tax collections, when it should have six. He said his agency hopes to quickly stop underpayments by adopting a system of tax-collection standards, rules and web-based computer software overseen by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and used by more than 40 other states.

I think our system is broken and were trying to fix it, Franchini said. He also said blamed tax collection problems on outdated state regulations.

New Mexico collected $208 million in premium taxes during the fiscal year that ended in June.

Charles Sallee, head of program evaluation for the states Legislative Finance Committee, said the full extent of unpaid premium taxes remains unclear until more of the industry is surveyed.

The state should be collecting what is owed, particularly given the states fiscal situation, he said. Well obviously be working with the insurance superintendent to find out how much and when.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mexico New Mexico
(Xinhua) 20:42, September 22, 2016

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiangon 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.
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Seven students, each one representing a region where the revolution of the Communist Party of China originated, attended a flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sept 22. Representing students from 230 primary schools in memory of the Chinese Red Army, the students were invited to Beijing to talk with the national flag guards in honor of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the end of the Long March. It was the first time that students from remote and rural areas of China attended the ceremony. (Photo/People's Daily Online)
The 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, commonly known as COP22/CMP12, will take place from 7 to 18 November 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco. The IPU and the Moroccan Parliament will organize a Parliamentary Meeting in conjunction with the Climate Change Conference in Marrakech. The Meeting will be held with a view to providing parliamentarians with an opportunity to obtain first-hand information on the main issues and orientations of COP22/CMP12, interact with government negotiators directly involved in the UNFCCC decision-making process, gain better knowledge of the recommendations included in the IPU's Parliamentary Action Plan on Climate Change and discuss ways of ensuring speedy operationalization of the 2015 multilateral deal on climate change, known as the Paris Agreement, through its ratification or other forms of domestic legislative action, as appropriate.

The Parliamentary Meeting will take place on Sunday, 13 November, on the premises of the Palmeraie Palace Hotel and Conference Centre. It is possible to book rooms at preferential rates in the Palmeraie Palace Hotel. Please use the on-line booking facility as described in the instructions provided by the hosts. The hotel can only guarantee bookings at preferential rates if they are made before 31 July 2016. Important notice. The IPU and the host Parliament are not in a position to facilitate accreditation to COP22/CMP12 and provide visa support for entry into Morocco. These matters should be dealt with by each delegate individually, as part of the overall COP22/CMP12 accreditation procedure. About the draft outcome document: The Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Meeting in Marrakech, Mr. Ahmed Touizi, member of the House of Councillors of Morocco, appointed by the host Parliament, has prepared a preliminary draft of the outcome document, as presented below. IPU Members are invited to examine the preliminary draft and provide comments and observations on its form and content by 1 November 2016 at the latest. Participants of the 135th IPU Assembly will also have an opportunity to discuss the preliminary draft outcome document during the session of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade. The session will take place in Geneva on 25 October 2016. The rapporteur will then finalize the draft and the IPU will publish it on its website on 7 November.

Due to the close proximity of the dates of the IPU Assembly and the Parliamentary Meeting in Marrakech, it will not be possible to invite new amendments on the revised draft outcome document. Delegates to the Parliamentary Meeting in Marrakech will be able to submit additional amendments on the spot in an individual capacity. Those amendments should be editorial and should not impact the documents overall scope or nature. The draft outcome document will be presented to the closing session of the Parliamentary Meeting on 13 November with the intention of adopting it by consensus.
Update 9pm: Naas General Hospital has confirmed that its Emergency Department (ED) reopened at 9pm this evening, with the Department now receiving both walk-in attendances and ambulance admissions.

Update 8pm: Minister for Health Simon Harris has released a statement tonight.

Firecrews at the scene of the fire in Nass. Pic: Rob Moore

"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 will now take place. My thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the deceased man and with the injured paramedics."

Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has also offered their condolences.

Dr Susan OReilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Midlands Hospital Group said:

I wish to extend my sincere condolences on behalf of the Group to the family of the deceased. I also wish to acknowledge the two paramedics from the National Ambulance Service who, despite their injuries, responded heroically in the immediate aftermath of the incident. We understand that one of the paramedics has since been discharged from hospital; the other is under observation but is in a stable condition. We wish both a speedy recovery.

Update: 6.30pm Union representatives at Siptu have called for an immediate examination of the ambulance fleet following the patient's death.

Organiser Paul Bell said: "Firstly, 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."

Ambulances normally carry up to six sealed cylinders of different types of potentially flammable gas to treat patients at a scene and while transporting them.

They carry oxygen and also an analgesic gas and air mix for pain relief.

Michael Dixon, chair 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."

Update: 6.05pm HSE Chief Tony O'Brien has told reporters at Naas General Hospital that the engine does not appear to have been responsible for the blaze.

He said: "It does appear that the fire started towards the rear of the ambulance, in other words it does not appear that this was related to the engine.

"Without prejudicing that outcome, we are currently focusing our concerns, or our actions, on the possibility - and I stress the possibility - this was an oxygen-related incident.

"As a result, a safety action notice has been issued to all National Ambulance Service personnel in relation to that issue, in particular vigilance, as I want to stress in this case the staff did everything they possibly could."

Two paramedics were injured in the incident and one of the paramedics, in his 30s, was initially treated at the scene before being taken to the specialist burns unit in St James' Hospital in Dublin for treatment to severe injuries.

The second paramedic, also believed to be in his 30s, was treated in Naas but his injuries are believed to be minor.

Earlier: An elderly male patient has died after an ambulance burst into flames at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare.

The fire happened at around 2pm at the entrance to the Emergency Department of the hospital.

A man who was in the ambulance at the time was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Garda spokesman said a medic was also injured and his condition is not believed to have been life-threatening.

Fire crews from Naas attended the scene.

Witness Rob Moore was inside the hospital when the fire alarm sounded and rushed out to see what was happening.

"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.

Scene at Naas General Hospital where a man has passed away following an ambulance catching fire. pic.twitter.com/LqgLdp3G8u  Robin Schiller (@11SchillRob) September 22, 2016

"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 who 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.

Both the Gardai in Naas and the HSE are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the fire.

The area has been sealed off for a technical examination and the emergency department has been temporarily closed.

We are live at Naas Hospital following reports that a person has died after an ambulance caught fire. More on our news at 4pm. pic.twitter.com/9vmgc0L9ny  Kfm Radio (@kfmradio) September 22, 2016

The HSE confirmed that the Emergency Department has closed temporarily, while the hospitals emergency plan was put into action, meaning all staff and patients have been evacuated.

Any members of the public seeking access should visit their GP first and if necessary attend another Emergency Department.

The HSE said: "The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has implemented appropriate diversion protocols and patients are being taken to alternative hospitals.

Some of the smoke from the fire at Naas hospital. Pic via Kevin Killick on Twitter.

"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."

Louise O'Reilly, Sinn Fein spokeswoman on health, said the fire was "an unfortunate demonstration of the abdication of responsibility by the Health Minister and the Department (of Health) in ensuring that these services have the support and resources they need.

"The paramedics and personnel want to ensure quality of care and patient safety and this cannot happen without a commitment from the minister in terms of resourcing.

There is a need for (Health Minister) Simon Harris to make a statement on this and he must make himself available to discuss how he intends to fund these services in the budget."

The Health Service Executive had 7.5m to buy 47 new emergency ambulances last year.

Rules require any ambulance over seven years old to be replaced for safety reasons.
An intense bombing campaign has targeted several areas in the rebel-held part of Aleppo city, just hours after the US and Russia ended any pretence of their ceasefire for Syria remaining in force.

The air campaign overnight came after Syria's military command announced it was launching operations in Aleppo's rebel-held eastern quarters, raising concerns of imminent ground operations.

Rami Abdurrahman, of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that government troops seized buildings on the frontline, pushing back rebel fighters in the southern al-Amiriah district.

Ibrahim Alhaj, a member of the Syrian Civil Defence, confirmed the government troop movements.

He said the bombing targeted two civil defence centres, putting one out of service.

After days of increasing violence in Syria, US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov were set to hold more talks on Friday in a bid to try to resuscitate the ceasefire.

But after three days of private and public diplomacy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Kerry bluntly told reporters: "We can't go out to the world and say we have an agreement when we don't."

As the diplomats huddled in a New York hotel, Syria's military command announced it would restart operations in Aleppo.

According to one official present in the gathering, Mr Kerry was informed of the news when his chief of staff showed him a headline on his BlackBerry.

A furious Mr Kerry then told the entire room, Mr Lavrov included, that "even while we are meeting here, they are doing this", said the official.

Mr Lavrov told Russian media that consultations would continue to "guarantee" the ceasefire.

But even as Mr 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 US-backed rebels, he acknowledged the current strategy was not working.

"We can't be the only ones trying to hold this door open," Mr Kerry said. "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 air strikes, including a Russian one earlier this week that the US 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," Mr Kerry said, describing a "moment of truth" for Syria, Russia and all those trying to halt the bloodshed.

Mr Lavrov had sought a three-day pause in fighting to revive the ceasefire but US 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 could violate the agreement.
(Global Times) 10:50, September 23, 2016

The US think tank, Center for American Security, has launched a website called "China Owns US." One of its latest articles asks if the Communist Party of China (CPC) would allow a US company to "buy Chinese radio stations - thereby allowing it to control content on the airwaves" and "acquire Chinese movie theater chains and film studios - allowing it to then promote American values." The article claims it will not happen in China but China is doing all of these in the US.

In a video which begins with shots of Tiananmen Square in 1989, the website accuses the Chinese government of controlling "what Chinese see and don't see," highlighting that "the Hollywood has recently started censoring itself in order to increase their chances of getting access to China's market."

The video concludes that China wants to "gain the ability to censor movies seen in the US," as China's Dalian Wanda which has "ties to the Communist Party" is buying Hollywood film studios and cinemas.

The website alleges that China's G&E Studio, a subsidiary of China Radio International, controls the broadcasting time of at least 15 US radio stations, and highlights the Chongqing Casin Enterprise Group's purchase of the Chicago Stock Exchange and Shuanghui International Holdings' acquisition of the world's largest US-based pork producer.

It concludes that "by granting Chinese companies and the Chinese government relatively unfettered access to America's free-market economy," the US is allowing China to "project its soft power on the American people."

A rough look at the US influence in China suggests that Chinese institutes should probably launch a similar website and name it as "US Swallows up China" or "US Holds China Tight."

Almost all foreign movies screened in China are made by Hollywood, and the majority of translated books sold in China are published in the US. For Chinese overseas students, the US is a popular destination. Chinese cars, smartphones, the Internet, and computer software have to rely highly on the US technology. The Chinese should have freaked out.

China's GDP is only about 60 percent that of the US, and the latter maintains absolute advantages in high technology and creativity. Chinese enterprises are not allowed access to the key US industries. It is interesting that some Americans are so sensitive and agitating against Wanda's purchase of their movie theaters.

Japan was once accused of "buying the US" when it was investing heavily in the real estate sector there, but look at how the Japanese ended up with? With increasingly active two-way investments, the Sino-US trade is the largest bilateral trade in the world. The two countries are intensifying negotiations on the Bilateral Investment Treaty which will bring the bilateral economic cooperation to a new level. But if one side keeps viewing investment from the other with suspicion, how can the scope of Sino-US business be expanded?

In recent years, the Chinese have seen more examples of Americans being narrow-minded and petty. We hope they are only a minority of Americans.
The study by corporate law firm William Fry quizzed 200 firms on their post-Brexit intentions. Among those taking part were HSBC, Lloyds of London, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock Asset Management, JP Morgan and a number of US hedge funds.

While the survey doesnt delve into fixed plans for individual firms, it found that 59% of respondents are currently undertaking Brexit contingency planning that may involve changing the geographical location of their business.

Of that number, 75% said Ireland is amongst the places under consideration; although Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands are also strong contenders. Over half of the respondents said significant spending plans are being held up on account of Brexit uncertainty.

Eavan Saunders, a senior partner at William Fry, said the company would expect to see movement sooner rather than later. Big companies are not going to wait around for all the Brexit uncertainties to play out.

Theres too much at stake for them and they cant afford to expose their businesses to such uncertainty, she said.

The biggest selling point for Ireland, amongst such firms, is the English-speaking population and the cultural similarities to the UK and US; although locations like Frankfurt hold the advantage in providing direct access to a domestic marketplace.

Welcoming the survey, IDA chief Martin Shanahan said: Irelands stability, the certainty on EU membership and, therefore, access to the European market  coupled with the strong value proposition that Ireland already offers  will be important in the period ahead.

Reuters yesterday reported that the Lloyds of London insurance market is actively working on plans to move some of its business to long-term EU locations; with Dublin heavily linked.

However, addressing a high-level meeting on EU trade policy in Bratislava, yesterday, Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly warned of the potential negative effect Brexit may have on Irish SMEs.

The planned exit by the UK from the EU is a grave concern for Irish SMEs as the UK is our largest trading partner in the Union. The consequences of a Brexit and ensuring Ireland can continue to trade with its neighbour, in any eventuality, is the foremost issue for Irish exporters now, he said.

Meanwhile, Irelands ambassador to Britain Dan Mulhall said that Irelands regulatory regime is dependable and of high enough quality to attract such large firms looking for new EU bases.

In recent days, the Central Bank announced that it is restructuring its activities to appropriately deal with the potential movements of service providers from London to Ireland, he said.
Working with clients in North America, the firm, which helps mobile operators detect and block mobile attacks, revealed the hack after months of research.

AdaptiveMobile believes hackers in China have compromised thousands of North American Apple customers iCloud accounts before sending spam touting counterfeit goods to recipients also based in China.

While some 3,200 customer accounts have been hacked, up to 100,000 end users may have been on the receiving end of the spam messages, according to Cathal McDaid, the head of AdaptiveMobiles threat intelligence unit.

We can say confidently in North America, at least 3,000 people have had their iCloud accounts hacked and used to send text messages. And around the world, I would say certainly several thousand people have been affected by this, he said.

Then on the other side, anything up to possibly 100,000 people are receiving these types of messages because weve seen hundreds of thousands of messages being sent in just a two-month period in July and August.

No Irish users are understood to have been affected, to date.

The company, which works with the likes of Vodafone, Three, and BT in the UK, has been able to help stop the attacks as they are detected but a complete solution will require Apples intervention, said Mr McDaid.

The other main solution would be to see if Apple can do something on this side  maybe make it more difficult to pair a new device and make some sort of method where you get asked for confirmation before a new device can be paired because I dont think this particular outcome and behaviour was foreseen when they initially developed this whole system.

An Apple spokesperson was not immediately available to comment.

AdaptiveMobile employ 163 staff globally, with 60 based in Dublin.
The largest growth plans were unveiled by KN Network Services, a partner of telecoms company Eir.

Eir said its partner company will recruit 100 staff, including polling crews, cabling technicians and fibre splicers over the coming three months as a result of the rollout of fibre broadband.

The jobs will be based nationwide and will bring the total number of Eir staff and contractors working on its broadband rollout to rural Ireland to 800.

Engineering design firm Biopharma Engineering detailed its intention to hire 70 additional staff in Cork and Dublin over the coming three years as it opened its first office in the capital. The company, headquartered in Cork, employs 80 staff.

Meanwhile, global nutrition group Glanbia has launched its 2017 graduate programme which create 50 new positions. The roles will be largely-based in Dublin and Kilkenny but with scope to work from the companys overseas offices too.

The new positions will include opportunities for graduates in areas including accounting and finance, computer science and IT, digital media, engineering, procurement, supply chain, marketing, human resources and food, nutritional and agricultural science.

Further good news came courtesy of Toronto-based shopping search engine, Yroo which is to grow its Irish operations with the creation of 33 jobs over the next three years.

The company said hiring is at an all-time high with 450% growth since it was founded less than two years ago.
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... well 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".

H/T: BREAKINGNEWS.IE
A total of 99 appeals against decisions of Caranua  otherwise known as the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board  were lodged during 2015, up from 47 in 2014.

It comes after the Irish Examiner revealed in April that almost two complaints a week were made against Caranua last year by survivors of institutional child abuse.

The vast majority related to disrespectful/poor treatment. However, others include failure to protect confidentiality, discriminatory treatment and failure to meet timeline.

The appeals officer, Patrick Whelan said the 110% increase in appeals last year was on one level hardly surprising because of increasing public awareness about Caranua.

The organisation was established in 2013 to oversee the fund which has been pledged a total of 110m by religious congregations to assist survivors of child abuse at industrial schools and other residential institutions. A total of 96m had been received by mid-2016.

The religious orders have given a commitment to pay over the remainder before the end of 2017.

It is estimated that around 15,000 individuals who as children experienced child abuse in an institutional setting and who received financial compensation through settlements, the courts or the Residential Institutions Redress Board are eligible to access the fund for specified approved services such as health, education and housing supports.

Since the establishment of the fund over 41.6m has been paid to almost 3,000 survivors.

Around 60% of all eligible survivors are based in Ireland and a further 33% in the UK.

Mr Whelan pointed out the number of appeals was still only a tiny proportion of applications made to Caranua for funding last year.

Around 13,000 applications for financial assistance were made in 2015  up from 6,500 in 2014.

Mr Whelan said a majority of appeals related to home improvements or repairs with many claimants also raising issues about the manner in which Caranua processed their applications.

Of 66 cases finalised by the appeals officer last year the original decision of Caranua was affirmed in 61% of appeals. Around 25% were referred back to Caranua for further specific action.

Just 4.5% of appeals were upheld while 9% were either discontinued or withdrawn.

Mr Whelan welcomed the fact Caranua had accepted recommendations he made last year to extend the services for which the fund could be used.
The Healthy Weight for Ireland plan covers the 10-year period to 2025 and sets targets to be achieved.

Chris Macey, head of advocacy at the Irish Heart Foundation, said the plan contains multiple measures to tackle obesity.

He pointed to the development of guidelines for planners around no-fry zones, a national nutrition policy, the appointment of a clinical lead for obesity, and a special focus on disadvantaged areas for health promotion programmes.

But we need to ensure that the implementation paralysis that has accompanied previous policies is not repeated, said Mr Macey.

Its a worrying sign that there is currently no dedicated funding for the strategy, while we already know that one of its key measures, the imposition of a sugar-sweetened drinks tax, has been postponed until 2018 at least, despite overwhelming public and political support.

The foundation is also concerned about the significant role given to the food and beverage industry in the strategy.

The only way such a plan could work is if the industry takes action that puts the interests of public health above its own corporate interests. Sadly, this is not going to happen, said Mr Macey.

The Irish Beverage Council criticised the call for the immediate introduction of a levy on sugar-sweetened drinks, claiming there is no evidence an additional tax on soft drinks would achieve the desired public health outcomes.

Its director, Kevin McPartlan, said the soft drinks industry had invested heavily in the reformulation of their products over many years to reduce the amount of sugar and number of calories they contained.

We will continue with this work, but our capacity to invest further is reduced if our sales revenue suffers through a discriminatory tax on soft drinks, which account for just 3% of calories consumed in Ireland, he said.
We cant reduce this all to resourcing, Mr Harris insisted when he launched the Healthy Weight for Ireland plan to secure a 5% reduction in peoples average weight over the next decade.

The minister pointed out that elements of the plan did not require extra spending  they were about changing practices, engaging with interested parties, and delivering change.

But, he said, there was a need to have a Healthy Ireland Fund and the plan was very clear about that.

Obviously, I cant announce the estimates today but I will reflect the priority that we are attaching to this plan in the HSE Service Plan 2017.

Mr Harris said the Government had cleared the strategy, and wanted to get on and deliver it. However, specific details of the funding needed for next year and each of the following year would be part of the estimates process.

Asked about people waiting for life- saving bariatric surgery, Mr Harris said the additional 500m in health funding for hospitals had resulted in a rise in the number of procedures that could be carried out this year, but it was nowhere near enough.

The minister said there was a commitment in the Programme for Government to provide 50m for waiting list initiatives each year and reducing the waiting list for bariatric surgery was one area he wanted to look at.

Simon Harris

Mr Harris said it would be up to the Department of Finance to introduce a timeline for the introduction of a sugar tax on sweetened drinks.

The Programme for Government has made it very clear that we wish to see a sugar-sweetened drinks levy in place  I would like to see that in place sooner rather than later.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan said last week he would introduce a sugar tax in 2018, in line with similar plans in Britain.

The chair of the Royal College of Physicians of Irelands policy group on obesity, Donal OShea, said obesity was Irelands greatest public health problem and required urgent action.

Dr OShea, who spoke at the launch of the obesity policy and action plan in Dublin Castle, said he was delighted that timelines were attached to it. So if this is dead in the water in a years time through lack of funding, I will be here saying it, he declared.

The RCPI were especially pleased that a new clinical lead for obesity would be appointed in the HSE soon.

Dr OShea said there was tremendous support for the plan because everyone knew that if it was not it was not implemented, we were goosed.

He wanted Ireland to be the best country to grow up in and that could only happen if there was an anti-obesity action plan like Healthy Weight for Ireland.

Dr OShea said 376 people were awaiting bariatric surgery at the weight management clinic at St Columcilles Hospital, in Loughlinstown, Dublin. The number of bariatric surgeries carried out to the end of July was 34, and the target for the year is 70.

Key plan points
CUH group chief executive Tony McNamara confirmed the date yesterday in a report to the HSEs Southern Regional Forum.

Following completion of initial design and engagement with Cork City Council, it is intended to engage with local resident groups, said Mr McNamara. The current anticipated date for an operational helipad on-site is December 2017.

Following a detailed site evaluation process, aviation consultants have selected a site in the north-eastern corner of the campus, which is currently a staff car park.

It is understood the site complies with strict clinical requirements and aviation regulations and is suitable to accommodate the Coast Guards S-92 search-and-rescue helicopters, and the Irish Air Corps Augusta Westland 139 and Eurocopter 135 aircraft.

BREAKING: HSE plans to have a helipad operational at CUH #Cork by December 2017. Will have detailed report in tomorrow's @irishexaminer https://t.co/hUcY6caUZ7  Eoin English (@EoinBearla) September 22, 2016

However, it is understood that talks are ongoing between the HSE, Irish Aviation Authority, and the National Aeromedical Service about suitable flight paths in variable weather conditions.

It is also understood that once talks with HSE staff about the loss of the car parking spaces conclude, a Cork City Council planning application will be lodged.

The details emerged yesterday in a reply to questions from Fine Gael councillor John Buttimer.

Mr McNamara confirmed that a design team has been appointed in recent weeks to advance the helipad project. The team will include aviation consultants to ensure it complies with aviation requirements.

Mr Buttimer welcomed the 2017 target date but said it is essential that the helipad is delivered sooner rather than later.

We need to keep the pressure on, he said. We have been here before, with potential sites identified and nothing happened. Now the money has been allocated, a site identified, and a design team appointed. I will be seeking regular progress updates over the coming months to ensure this happens.

In advance of the helipad project, a hospital chimney stack will be demolished as part of a separate hospital energy efficiency scheme  a move which will also facilitate possible flight paths into the proposed landing site.

The hospitals original helipad was decommissioned more than 13 years ago for the construction of its emergency department.

My motion for the HSE South Regional Health Forum tomorrow. Have been advocating for years for a helipad at CUH pic.twitter.com/jK9u3wgIUP  John Buttimer (@johnbuttimer) September 21, 2016

Since then, medevacs to CUH have landed at either Cork Airport, or on Bishops-town GAA club fields located close to the hospital.

Public representatives and clinicians have been pushing for years for the reinstatement of a permanent on-campus helipad to minimise the extra risks posed to critically ill airlifted patients.

As recently as Tuesday, three infants were airlifted to CUH via Cork Airport after a burns accident in West Cork.

The Irish Examiner reported in July that capital funding of 1.8m had been approved for the development of a new helipad, and that the HSE was poised to lodge a planning application before the end of the year.

CUH is the only Level 1 trauma centre in the country, with over 40 acute medical and surgical specialities on campus. It is the tertiary referral centre for the HSE South, and the regional area including Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Waterford, and Kilkenny, serving more than 1.1m patients. CUH has more than 65,000 attendances at its emergency department every year, making it one of the busiest hospitals in the country.

As medical advances continue, the number of patients being transferred by air into CUHs neurosurgical and cariothoracic units, and out of its neonatal units, is likely to increase.
Speaking at the partys think-in at Dublins Mansion House, Mr Howlin would not rule out re-entering government after an election, whenever that may be.

Labour has dropped from 37 elected TDs after the 2011 election to just seven. The think-in, which continues today, is likely to focus on rebuilding the party.

Mr Howlin encouraged people to join the party but said he does not simply want to boost numbers.

I want people to give us their ideas, to be a campaigning party, he said. We are much diminished in Leinster House, we are small in number in both Dail and Seanad so we are going to have to be a campaigning party outside of Leinster House too.

Other topics up for discussion include the housing crisis, employment, and new ways of looking at Irelands economic progress.

Mr Howlin said last night that Labour is still relevant in the current Dail despite its lack of members.

I dont know who is relevant in the current three-ring circus that constitutes Dail Eireann, he said. We have a Government that has no power, we have an opposition that is really in government, and we have an assembly of others who actually dont want power.

Brendan Howlin

In all of that, I think we can be very relevant. We not only identify problems but we table solutions to them. We will be relevant to people, ordinary people who want a future for themselves and their families.

Asked whether the party would consider entering a coalition government in future, Mr Howlin said: Labour is a party of governing. We have always stepped up to the plate because there is no point having the best policies in the world if they are not implemented.

He said the party would need to regroup but that, in the right circumstances, Labour would enter government again.

Also refusing to rule out going into government with the Social Democrats, he said Labour had entered government in 2011 going into a collapsing economy with unemployment heading to half a million. It wasnt a business as usual time.

Mr Howlin said that the party was forced to put on hold many of its progressive policies because you cant spend money that you dont have.

Looking to the upcoming budget, Mr Howlin told party members that housing would be a key priority.

Being able to afford a home  not just a house  has been a totemic freedom in our society since the land was returned to us over 100 years ago, he said in his opening speech.

It is representative of peoples ambition and sense of wellbeing  one of the key things parents want for their children. And for the record it is a bigger problem than social housing too.
[File photo]

Most Chinese people continue to view Sino-Japanese relations as very important, although many admit that ties between the two countries remain troublesome, a recent survey showed.

Some 70.8 percent of respondents said they believe that bilateral relations are important or very important, a very slight increase from the 70.1 in 2015. However, 78.2 percent said bilateral ties are currently unhealthy, up 11 percent from 2015. Some 33.8 percent said Sino-Japanese relations have worsened significantly. The survey results were released by China International Publishing Group and Genron NPO, a Japanese non-profit organization, on Sept. 23 in Tokyo.

Territorial disputes, maritime resource conflicts and historical disagreements remain major obstacles. Some 44.8 percent of respondents even expressed concern over a possible military conflict between the two countries, up 13.7 percent from 2015.

Meanwhile, the survey noted that 23 percent of respondents said they believe bilateral relations will improve, up 5.5 percentage points from last year. Specifically, some 30.8 percent said China and Japan could co-exist peacefully and develop together, while 14.4 percent said the two powers would remain at odds. The percentages were 19.4 and 24.8 respectively in 2015.

With regards to improved ties, survey respondents showed that the most preferable solution was to restore political trust (27.9 percent), followed by strengthening cooperation on global issues, such as climate change (26.3 percent). Some 22.4 percent said they expected the two countries to enhance their economic ties, while 10.3 percent said they hoped to see more cooperation on security.

Over 57 percent of respondents were in support of the countries cooperation on global affairs in Asia. Specifically, 41 percent said they hoped China and Japan would focus on northeast Asian peacekeeping, while 34.4 percent hoped for greater attention paid to trade and investment.

Some 67.3 percent of respondents said they believed it was crucial for the two countries to work together on global issues such as peace in the Middle East and North Africa, and economic cooperation with developing countries. On more general economic matters, 61.5 percent said they see the two economies as complementary, up 10 percentage points from 2015.

The survey is an annual project of the international Beijing-Tokyo Forum, which is scheduled to open in Tokyo on Sept. 27. Founded in 2005, over 600 guests and representatives from China and Japan are expected to attend this years event.

The survey was conducted in China between Aug. 13 and 24 in 10 Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai. A total of 1,587 ordinary Chinese citizens and 612 company heads, government officials, scholars and experts took part in the survey.
A research team from Trinity College Dublin and Aston University in Britain found people with intellectual disability were commonly prescribed medicines described as having anti-cholinergic activity.

These medicines block a key neurotransmitter called acetylcholine which is involved in passing messages between nerve cells.

While this action is necessary in some cases, it can lead to side effects including confusion, memory impairment, bladder problems, falls, increased heart rate, anxiety and restlessness.

The IDS-TILDA study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, found about 30% of the people studied were taking high levels of medicines with anti-cholinergic activity. Half of people with intellectual disabilities in the study were taking medicines with definite anti-cholinergic activity.

Anti-psychotics accounted for over one-third of the medicines with a high anti-cholinergic score being taken by people with intellectual disabilities.

The authors said the study highlights the need for comprehensive, regular reviews of medicine use to avoid inappropriate prescribing of multiple medicines, particularly anti-cholinergic medicine combinations.

They also said initiatives to address concerns about the use of medicines with high anti-cholinergic activity in people with intellectual disabilities will also likely benefit all older people, particularly those with dementia.

Principal investigator for IDS-TILDA and dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Trinity College Prof Mary McCarron said the findings were of serious concern.

People with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of more chronic illnesses as they grow older when compared to the general population.

On the one hand, appropriate medication can help improve both longevity and quality of life.

On the other hand, the use of multiple medications, in particular of psychotropic drugs, something more common in older adults with intellectual disabilities means that anti-cholinergic related side effects are of serious concern, she said.

Lead author and assistant professor in pharmacy practice at Trinity, Maire ODwyer said the side effects from anti-cholinergic medicines can have a significant impact on quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities.

If someone is experiencing daytime drowsiness and chronic constipation among other side effects, that is bound to affect their ability to exercise, to socialise, to engage in society and go about their day-to-day activities , she said.
However, he is giving no clues if he will help address shortfalls in Budget 2017 next month, in which he is under growing pressure to begin reversing several years of public funding cuts to the sector.

In this weeks Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, University College Dublin dropped out of the top 200. NUI Galway and Royal College of Surgeons improved to join UCD in the top 250, and other lower-ranked institutions maintaining their positions.

However, with the negative impact of funding and staffing cuts on their scores in some ranking indicators, the Irish Universities Association (IUA) says an immediate 75m injection of extra funding is needed in the upcoming budget just to begin rebuilding quality and ensuring sustainability.

The same amount would be needed in the non-university higher education sector, its budget submission said. The IUA pointed to the 21% drop in total funding for each university student since 2008, but said the portion which comes from the State has been halved.

Education Minister Richard Bruton

Andrew Deeks, president of UCD which fell 29 places to 205th in the 2016 THE rankings, said the national funding system is broken and the cumulative effect of a lack of investment has now reached a tipping point.

Fianna Fail is pushing for a major increase in Government funding to third-level in Budget 2017 but has so far devised no party policy on the longer-term funding question.

The working group chaired by Peter Cassells recommended options in its report in July, including a study now, pay later fees loan system, with which the Government could begin to address the long-term issues.

However, while Mr Bruton accepts action must be taken, he will not bring proposals to Cabinet until a political consensus is reached from discussions of the Cassells report by the all-party Oireachtas Education Committee. The committee has not yet pencilled in any dates for hearings or meetings with witnesses on the matter.

A spokesperson for Mr Bruton told the Irish Examiner that the minister would like the group, chaired by Fianna Fail TD Fiona OLoughlin, to consider the report as quickly as possible.

This is a very important issue and theres a commitment in the Programme for Government that the Oireachtas Committee would consider the Cassells report, said Mr Bruton. We would like them to consider this as a matter of urgency.

Fianna Fail education spokesman and committee member Thomas Byrne said the issue needs long consideration, but he expects it to be early next year before members thrash out what they hear from interest groups and experts at various meetings planned between now and years end.

Mr Brutons spokesperson indicated that a recommendation on a preferred funding system would be well in time for Mr Bruton to bring a plan to fellow ministers in good time to finalise any changes for the budget in a years time, which could possibly see any new funding mechanism in place for 2018.

However, considerations for next years education budget, which he is discussing with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, remain closely guarded.
Bernard Ring, aged 28, of 122 Kilbarry Place, Farranree, Cork, was remanded in custody on Tuesday to appear before Cork District Court again yesterday.

His solicitor, Diarmuid Kelleher, said, In ease of the State, he will be pleading guilty to all matters.

Inspector Mary King said the matter was in court yesterday for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions and that these were as yet unavailable.

Insp King asked to have the case adjourned until October 6, with the accused remanded in continuing custody to appear in court by video link from prison.

In Rings unsuccessful application for bail on Tuesday, it was alleged that a gas cylinder and a mirror were thrown on top of armed gardai during a hostage situation at a house in Cork, and a threat was made to throw a 25kg dumbbell down a stairs.

Detective Garda Malcolm Walsh arrested Ring and charged him with three counts related to September 20 on St Marys Avenue, Gurranabraher.

It is alleged that he held his mother and her partner hostage at St Marys Avenue and that the front door was barricaded. It is alleged that he made threats that he was not going to be taken alive.

Taser and pepper spray had to be used in order to effect the arrest, the detective said.

Mr Ring is accused of three counts, namely producing a dumbbell, mirror and gas cylinder in the course of a false imprisonment.

Co-accused, Gavin Ring, aged 26, of 5 St Marys Avenue, Gurranabraher, Cork, has previously appeared in court on an assault charge arising out of this case.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said there was no application for bail by Gavin Ring yesterday.

He said that if there was to be a bail application by the accused, the State would be put on notice 24 hours in advance.

Det Garda Hickey said the single charge against Gavin Ring, arising out of the investigation, was one of assault causing harm to John Joe Nevin at 5 St Marys Avenue, on September 20.
Property in garda custody ranges from a jet ski in Dublin, to chalices in Co Longford. Gardai in Trim are hoping to reunite a blue wheelchair with its owner.

People can view photographs of the property from each Garda station at www.garda.ie, and if they think they own it, there are contact details on each image.

There are hundreds of items that the gardai want to reunite with their owners, but gardai decided that a special effort was needed.

On Garda National Property Recovered Day yesterday, people could attend selected Garda stations around the country to see photos of property in garda custody.

Arrangements can be made to view the property at a later date, if necessary.

People could also get help and advice from crime prevention officers, crime victims services and members of Age Action Ireland at some stations.

Assistant Garda Commissioner, Jack Nolan, said some of the construction machinery recovered was brand new.

Gardai also have many pieces of jewellery that they want to give back to their owners. Among the pieces are a variety of engagement rings.

Commissioner Nolan said people should mark their property, and there were many ways to do that.

We are very keen to push using the Eircode that everybody has been supplied within the last year or so, he said on RTE radio yesterday.

Commissioner Nolan also encouraged everyone in the building industry to mark their property.

Both gardai and the Irish Farmers Association were involved in a project called thieftstop.ie, with members provided with a unique security identification number that they can use on their machinery.

I know that the Construction Industry Federation are very keen to work with An Garda Siochana, again in creating unique identifiers on building equipment belonging to their members.

His message to everyone is: Mark your property so we can get it back to you.
GSOC chair Judge Mary Ellen Ring told the Oireachtas justice committee on Wednesday that, despite progress in handing over information, there is a lot of room for improvement.

She said the attitude of Garda HQ to its requests for information or documentation was that we get it when we get it.
The action has been brought by Noeleen Farrell who the court heard was deemed in 1998 by Dublin City Council (DCC) as having a housing need. She has been in receipt of rent supplement since then.

As no local authority house was available for her then she moved into private accommodation where she remained for four years. She had to move in 2002. She sought housing assistance from DCC but was deemed not to have enough points to qualify for a house.

She remained in the private rental market and in receipt of rent supplement. She went to live at an address at Greencastle Avenue, Coolock, in Dublin 17 with her teenage son and says she informed DCC of the move.

In 2006 she was visited by an agent of DCC, which she believed to be a review of her housing application. She was subsequently informed that this was a new application and that her time on the housing list prior to 2006 would not be counted toward her current application.

She appealed that decision, which was refused by DCC in June. DCC said it had conducted a review of its housing needs in 2005 during which it wrote to her at the address it had on file for her. DCC said the letters were sent to the address she had lived in up until 2002 when she had to move out. DCC has failed to produce these alleged letters and has said they were destroyed. Because of the lack of response, DCC said Ms Farrells application for housing was cancelled.

Her barrister, Siobhan Phelan SC, said if Ms Farrell had been credited with the total amount of time she has been on the housing list she would be near the top of that list.

Counsel said there was urgency in the case because Ms Farrell has been served with a notice to quit by her landlord and was at immediate risk of being made homeless.

Counsel said it is Ms Farrells case that DCC were wrong not to give Ms Farrell credit for the time spent on the list prior to 2006.

In her action against Dublin City Council, Ms Farrell seeks an order quashing the councils refusal to credit the household times before September 2006 as part of her application for housing. She also seeks various declarations including that the decision was an error of law and that it is both irrational and unreasonable. She further seeks a declaration that the decision is a breach of her Constitutional rights as well as her rights under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Permission to bring the action was granted, on an ex-parte basis, by Ms Justice Miriam ORegan. The judge made the matter returnable to a date in October.
Hollywood, 50, said that he could not turn his back on Bake Off.

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 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.

Mel and Sue

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.

Love Productions, which makes Bake Off, said Berry would be missed. We respect Marys decision not to join the next chapter of the Bake Off story, it said in a statement.

We are immensely grateful to her for all her work and for her recognition today that Love Productions had made a unique and brilliant format from day one with Bake Off. The whole family, crew and team that made Bake Off for the BBC, and who will now make it just as brilliantly for C4, will miss her.

The BBC is believed to have offered Love Productions 15m a year to keep the programme, but the amount is reported to have fallen 10m short.

The BBC said it made a very strong offer to keep the show but we are a considerable distance apart on the money.

Channel 4 has signed a three-year agreement with Love Productions.

Berry said: 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.

Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry

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.

Perkins and Giedroyc released a joint statement last week to reveal they were not moving. We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was, they said. 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.

Weve had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps.

Were not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success.

Twitter reacts

Former Great British Bake Off contestant Martha Collison has compared the news that Mary Berry will not follow the show to Channel 4 to the abdication of a queen.

Collison, who at 17 was the youngest contestant on the show when she made it to the quarter-finals in the fifth series, wrote on Twitter: The queen of baking has abdicated. Will the world ever be the same again?

The queen of baking has abdicated. Will the world ever be the same again?  #GBBObreakdown #MaryBerry pic.twitter.com/itcgzJOYEJ  Martha Collison (@marthacollison) September 22, 2016

Richard Burr, who was a finalist in the same series, added: Crikey! That tent @Channel4 have bought is looking emptier and emptier...

The Hunger Games star Sam Claflin lent his support to Berry, writing: The Great British Baker is Off? My egg is broken. Mary Berry is just pure class. Class move.

The Great British Baker is Off? My egg is broken. Mary Berry is just pure class. Class move. #bbc #GBBO  Sam (@samclaflin) September 22, 2016

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott cheered Berry on with a reference to co-judge Paul Hollywoods nickname for her, saying: Well done Mary Berry! Or can I call you Bezza?

Mary Berry: Soggy bottoms, boozy doughnuts, and hefty sausages

Mary Berry secured a spot as a national treasure in the UK when she joined co-judge Paul Hollywood on the first series of The Great British Bake Off in 2010.

The veteran TV cook has been at the centre of many memorable moments during her time on the show, from soggy bottoms to fondant-related death stares, and her penchant for a trendy jacket.

Here are some of Berrys highlights as she announces she is leaving the popular baking show when it moves from the BBC to Channel 4.

Soggy bottoms: Berry is perhaps best known for her kind yet critical judgments on the bakers attempts. Her most famous sign of disapproval is to remark on a bake  usually an undercooked pastry  with a soggy bottom. On a show known for its cheeky innuendos, this was the standout.

Boozy doughnuts: Berry has won legions of fans for her fondness of bakes that include alcohol, and in the fifth series she was incredibly impressed with baker Luis Troyanos boozy doughnuts.

After taking a sip of the rum-laced cocktail doughnut, Berry pulled a delighted face and said: I mean, why are we bothering with the doughnuts?



Sausage jokes: During the latest episode of Bake Off, a social media stir was caused as contestant Candice Brown handed Berry a large black pudding sausage. The octogenarian judge showed some gusto as she gladly took the foodstuff in her hand as Brown told her to feel the weight of that.

Style icon: By the third series of Bake Off, Berry had secured her place as an unlikely style icon as she swapped cardigans for trendy and often brightly coloured blazers. In 2014, during a broadcast of the programme, a printed jacket from Marks & Spencer had sold out in one hour due to Berry wearing it on the episode.

Berrys death stare: In series five, Berry made headlines for her ice-cold gaze, directed at baker Enwezor Nzegwu in reaction to the use of store-bought fondant in his biscuit. It was dubbed the fondant death stare on social media, and Nzegwu was eliminated at the end of the episode.

The great Jaffa Cake debate: The debut episode of the current series saw Berry chastise Hollywood for dipping a Jaffa Cake into his tea before eating it, leaving fans on social media in hysterics.

Unimpressed, she told him: We dont do that in the south, you know.
Mr Coveney also admitted the Government was running to stand still as the numbers of people exiting homelessness are being replaced with greater numbers of people without homes.

Launching the Governments action plan on homelessness, he committed to ending the use of hotels or B&Bs for emergency accommodation by the middle of next year.

The Irish Examiner understands the cost to the State of hotels and B&Bs being used for emergency accommodation in Dublin City alone is 46m annually.

But the numbers of homeless are still not falling. While 1,350 exited homelessness in the first half of this year, figures in August show there were more than 6,600 people using emergency beds.

There is still a huge challenge in tackling homelessness, admitted Mr Coveney: That is more people being taken out of homelessness in Ireland this year than ever before, ironically at a time when we have more people who are homeless.

Simon Coveneny

We are running to stand still in some ways at the moment and so further acceleration is needed to start reducing those overall numbers.

The plan recommits the Government to building 1,500 rapid-build units by 2018. But this will take time because of planning, preparing sites for builds, and dealing with local concerns.

You need to create acceptance amongst communities so you dont get people blockading it like you had with the Ballymun site for a while. And like we will have with some of the new sites I expect, which were going to push through, said Mr Coveney.

Up to 330 rapid-builds could be finished by the end of this year. Such projects are under way in Ballyfermot, Drimnagh, Belcamp and Finglas. The plan also commits to using a special 70m fund to initially make 1,600 vacant units available for those in need of homes.

It was also announced that a special transport voucher system will be put in place for families, a scheme which will be launched next month.

Elsewhere, increased supports will be made available for drug addiction, mental health problems, and homeless children in schools. Many agencies and charities welcomed the action plan.

Responding to the announcement, campaigner Fr Peter McVerry questioned why the rapid builds would take so long to construct.

Barnardos charity welcomed free transport and pre-school care for children, but also said families need access to hygienic cooking facilities, laundry facilities and a safe space for kids to play.

The Simon Communities said commitments made by Cabinet members are very welcome.

Focus Ireland said more needed to be done to halt the rise in the number of families becoming homeless.
One in three bosses say they would not encourage an employee to report a wrongdoing in the public interest where the disclosure might harm the private interests of their organisation.

Fewer than half of employees, meanwhile, feel safe reporting a concern or believe their employer would act on their disclosure.

The findings are from a survey of 900 employees and 350 employers carried out for Transparency International Ireland, which shows a gap between stated attitudes towards whistleblowers and practical support for them.

While 95% of employers say it is important for their organisation or industry that employees speak up about wrongdoing, and 93% say disclosures would be acted on and the whistleblower would not suffer, 66% have not put any procedures or policies in place to support whistleblowing.

Only 57% have no reservations about employing someone who exposed wrongdoing in a previous job and just 16% have a whistleblowing hotline or designated person to receive reports.

TI Ireland released the survey findings as it launched a new free legal service for employees concerned about wrongdoing at their workplace.

The Transparency Legal Advice Centre will provide free consultations with solicitors and can be accessed through the confidential Speak Up helpline on freephone 1800 844 866.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which drew up the whistleblower legislation, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, is helping fund the Speak Up helpline. Minister Paschal Donohoe said he is encouraged by the number of employers who back the principle of whistleblowing.

Nevertheless, these results suggest much more needs to be done to raise awareness of the Protected Disclosures Act and to ensure organisations have measures in place to act on reports from their staff and make sure whistleblowers dont suffer, he said.

A primary aim of the legislative framework that the Government put in place for protected disclosures is to ensure that workers feel safe when speaking up.

The move to create legal protections for workplaces came after the Garda whistleblower controversies but also in the wake of the various banking scandals where it became clear that low and middle level staff often had concerns about practices but had no way of safely reporting their misgivings.

Another initiative launched by TI Ireland yesterday, the Integrity At Work programme, is inviting all employers in the public, private and non-profit sector to join up to avail of information and training to make their workplaces whistleblower-friendly.

TI Ireland chief executive, John Devitt, said it is important that neither employers nor employees are nervous of whistleblowing: We tend to hear about those stories where people have suffered. They tend to make the headlines. But a sizeable proportion of the workforce have reported a concern and they havent suffered.

Its important to point out that there is a good chance that people in the course of their careers will encounter wrongdoing at work and it is perfectly normal for them to share that information, he added.
Speaking at Templemore College yesterday, where Det Garda Donohoe, 44, was awarded a gold Scott Medal posthumously, Ms OSullivan said the fact the investigation had been ongoing for more than three years was frustrating.

Five men suspected of carrying out the murder during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union, near Dundalk, on January 25, 2013 are known to gardai.

Three, including the gunman, have moved to the US and a fourth is based around the border counties.

The pregnant girlfriend of the suspected gunman is with him in New York.

Ms OSullivan said she would encourage anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward.

I am conscious there are people living in the local community that may have that final piece of the jigsaw and I would encourage anybody who has any tiny piece to get in touch with the local gardai in confidence. Its very important that the investigation is sequenced in a way that will get the best result and the outcome we all want to see, she said.

Investigations are very tedious. They have to be done very meticulously; mistakes cannot be made.

And sometimes the length of time can be very frustrating. Frustrating for the men and women, some of whom were colleagues of Adrian, who have to continue that work.

Its very frustrating for all of us in An Garda Siochana, but we have to make sure that the evidence is put together that sustains a prosecution. It is absolutely our determination that the people that murdered Adrian will be brought to justice.

Presenting the gold Scott Medal to Det Garda Donohoes widow, Caroline, who was accompanied by the couples two children, Niall and Amy, Ms OSullivan said the courage shown by Det Garda Donohoe and Det Garda Joe Ryan, who was on duty with him, typified the bravery which distinguishes An Garda Siochana from other professions.

Gardai, she said, walk towards danger to protect people.

Today we walk on the shoulders of giants, she said.

There was sustained applause when the commissioner turned to Det Garda Donohoes children and said: Your dad was one of the bravest, most courageous members of An Garda Siochana.

Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said it was a difficult but proud day for the force.

Courage, she said, comes naturally to An Garda Siochana, and the force draws its strength from the people and community.

Ms Fitzgerald said the awards bring home the wide range of circumstances in which members of An Garda Siochana are called on to risk their lives to protect others.

The work of An Garda Siochana is as important today in sustaining our democracy as in the early days of the State, she said.

Commissioner Noirin OSullivan with Garda Gerard Flaherty (retired), who received a commendation. Picture: Don Moloney

Ms Fitzgerald joined the commissioner in appealing to people to come forward with any information regarding the crime which took the life of Det Garda Donohoe.

Det Garda Ryan, 51, a native of Mayfield, Co Cork, who was with Det Garda Donohoe when the attack was carried out, received a silver Scott Medal for showing exceptional courage, involving risk to his life in the execution of his duty.

Bronze Scott Medals were awarded to Garda Liam OLeary, 52, a native of Killeagh, stationed in Carrigtwohill; Garda Thomas Dalton, 35, a native of Maynooth, stationed in Leixlip; and Sgt Paul Johnstone, 50, a native of Louth and stationed in Dublin.

Garda OLeary was off duty on September 25, 2013, when he tackled and over-powered a man armed with a knife. The criminal had carried out a robbery at a filling station shop in Carrigtwohill when the garda heard the man shouting for help.

The culprit ran from the scene and, about 200m away, Garda OLeary caught up with him and during a violent struggle, wrestled the knife from the attacker before arresting him.

Garda Dalton apprehended a man who had held up a pharmacy in Leixlip brandishing a gun.

Sgt Johnstone tackled two men wearing motorbike helmets after he immobilised their motorbike as they tried to speed off after carrying out a robbery.

Garda Thomas Dalton with his wife Niamh and their children Oisin, 9 months, and Lucy, 3, after he received a bronze Scott Medal at the commendation ceremony at Templemore. Picture: Don Moloney

First-class commendations were awarded to Det Garda Stephen Ryan, 46, Shannon; Det Garda Mortimer Flaherty (retired), 61, a native of Moyvane, stationed at Shannon; and Sgt David Condren (retired), 54, a native of Clontarf and stationed at Killaloe.

All three were involved in the rescue of a father and his three children from a house fire in Purcell Park, Shannon, in 2005.

The man, aged 30, and his children  twins aged 7 and another aged 3  were in the house when it was set alight. On arrival at the scene, the gardai formed a human chain to rescue the children and their father.

A woman was subsequently charged with starting the fire.

First-class commendations were also awarded to Garda Sean OMahony, 37, Athy; Garda Kevin Joyce, 42, Athy; Det Garda Dara Diffily, 47, Naas; Garda Fiona Butler, 32, Naas; Garda Ronan OReilly, 37, Finglas; and Det Garda John Kennedy, 30, Kilkenny.

Fire rescue

A garda yesterday spoke for the first time of a dramatic rescue during which he and two colleagues saved the lives of a father and his three young children from a blazing house in Shannon, Co Clare.

Retired garda Gerard (Mortimer) Flaherty from Moyvane, Co Kerry along with former colleagues, Sergeant David Condren (also retired) and Det Garda Stephen Ryan received first class commendations at the Garda College in Templemore for their bravery.

Mr Flaherty, aged 60, who now lives in Newmarket on Fergus recalled the events:

I can remember the day well, the 25th of September 2005. It was just before six oclock in the morning.

We were all on duty in the station in Shannon when a call came in that there was a house fire in Plunkett Park.

The three of us rushed to the house and there was smoke coming from the upstairs part.

A man and his children were trapped inside. We tried to get in by the back door, but couldnt. We then got a ladder and put it up to a top bedroom window.

Stephen went up to the top of the ladder, I was below him on the ladder and David was at the bottom.

The father then handed the three children out one by one and we passed them down the ladder to safety and we then got the father out.

Only for an alert neighbour raising the alarm quickly they would have perished in the fire which was developing very quickly.

It had started in a downstairs sitting room and in minutes the whole house was engulfed. We formed a human chain down the ladder and got them out before the fire brigade got to the house.

A woman was later prosecuted for deliberately starting the fire.

It happened a long time ago and its great to meet my colleagues from all those years ago here again today, Mr Flaherty said.
Tsinghua University and Peking University both made the decision to offer honors degrees in the new academic year. The schools' honors degrees are expected to become the highest level of academic recognition at the undergraduate level in China.

At Tsinghua University, in order to be eligible for the honors degree, students have to fulfill 148 course credits.

Students who graduate with honors will earn not only the graduate diploma and bachelor certificate, but also an honors degree certificate specially issued by the university. It is estimated that less than 10 percent of students will get the special degree.

Yang Bin, deputy chancellor of Tsinghua University, explained that many undergraduate students have a fairly inflexible course load. The implementation of the honors degree will grant students more flexibility in course selection and research.

Honors degrees has been a staple of British, Australian and Singaporean universities for many years.
The 1916 Proclamation stated a commitment to cherish all of the children of the nation equally and oblivious of the differences which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.

In many ways, cultural events marking the centenary have become an opportunity to examine the successes and failures of Irish society in this regard.

Maybe, we really need to look at how Irish society is now, 100 years after that proclamation, clearly not cherishing everyone equally, says Evelyn Grant, broadcaster and music educator. Theres a lot of tokenism going on.

CIT Crawford College of Art and Design, with the Crawford Art Gallery and Cork City Council, is marking the centenary with Perceptions 2016: The Art of Citizenship, an exhibition of works by disabled artists who work in supported studios, taking place in 10 venues across the city. It will also feature a symposium on the notions of citizenship that are the underlying theme of the exhibition.

Grant, a regular contributor to Lyric FM and conductor with Cork City Pops Orchestra, has always had an interest in music and disability arts advocacy, so, while she may have strayed into a different discipline, that of visual arts, for her involvement as host for the conversational aspects of Perceptions 2016, she says many of the issues are still the same.

Crawford Art Gallery

While the focus on issues of equality for women during the centenary year is welcome, she believes, its an easier issue to look at than the profound and sustained inequalities still experienced by disabled people.

We as a society really have to ask ourselves what our attitude is to the creative potential of people with disabilities, she says.

I always felt it was a rights thing. I always felt that people with disabilities should have the right to perform music as much as anybody else. Teachers should be able to deliver that to them; its different with visual art to an extent, but the concept is still the same.

Some of the artists who will exhibit have been involved in the Expanding Realities project, a network of three supported studio groups: GASP Cork, Art in Motion (AIM) Bristol, and Debajo del Sombrero Madrid. Supported studios bring together visual artists with disabilities and their non-disabled peers to share skills.

Im so taken with the quality of the work and the intention in it, says Grant. Weve people going at it, like fully-invested professionals, who are totally sincere and serious about their work. All the artists benefit from working with one another. Instead of keeping people with a disability occupied, its about finding the ability in people and really giving them an opportunity to go in-depth and be professional. Thats what supported studios offer.

If youre a musician or artist and you can support a fellow member of society to fulfil their creative potential, then youre just being an active citizen, as far as Im concerned.

Louise Foott and Maeve Dineen : Perceptions 2016 : The Art of Citizenship from Culturefox.tv on Vimeo.

A cornerstone of visual art is its ability to enrich our experience of the world by giving us a glimpse into the inner lives of others. Is it necessary to be aware of an artists intellectual disability to appreciate their work?

There are two schools of thought, says Grant. Some say that every painting we look at, we approach with a narrative or context that we apply ourselves. We project our own values and ideas onto things, even at a subliminal level. So, some people say that we need a context.

Other people will consider this a form of outsider art, but in a way, all of those delineations need to be looked at again; whats outside, and whats inside? Why do we need to talk about bringing people inside in the first place?

On Oct 25-26 Evelyn Grant will host a symposium on the notion of citizenship within the context of the ongoing Perceptions 2016 exhibition at the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork
IF you thought charcoal was only useful for starting barbecues, think again.

The black stuff is the beauty industrys hottest ingredient right now, but were not talking the same bricks you buy at B&Q.

Activated charcoal is produced with a special heating technique that causes the substance to become porous, meaning it can be used to trap chemicals.

The first time I saw charcoal was in a Korean doctors consulting room, he used it to purify the air, says Katalin Berenyi, co-founder of Erborian.

Then I saw it in Korean spas. It lined the ceilings of the steam rooms and was used to trap impurities.

It can do exactly the same for your skin, which is why weve seen heaps of new product launches with charcoal featuring high up on the ingredients list.

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Activated charcoal absorbs oil up to 200 times better than any other ingredient, meaning not only do Biore Charcoal Pore Strips, 13.99 for six, suck out all that nasty stuff from your pores, they leave skin feeling less greasy too.

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The 17-year-old still has time to change her mind. The closing date is September 28 but she now wants to focus on her Leaving Cert to qualify for studying for her potential career, a career inspired in particular by one of her four entries to the exhibition.

As a third year student at Desmond College, in Newcastlewest, Emily designed and built a lightweight sleeping bag for the homeless, made of metallic bubblewrap, which would trap air bubbles to increase warmth and be fire and rain resistant.

That project to this day is still continuing; its being made by homeless men in Dublin and its a huge source of pride in my life that I am taking an active part in helping these people move on with their lives, she tells Feelgood.

Theres a charity in Dublin called the Mendicity Institution and they employ homeless men. There are eight of them being paid 10 an hour to make the sleeping bags and that helps them get back into working life and gives them a sense of pride and responsibility, which enables them to move forward.

And in the last two years three of the homeless men have actually moved on to full-time employment and also have accommodation, so thats one of the best parts about it, she says.

The bags are being distributed to homeless charities in Dublin and a few months ago Emily went over to refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk and distributed 70 of them.

Its great to see that it didnt just end with the Young Scientist. I know it started there, but it did move forward and it is something I will continue on in the future when Ive gone past school level; it has really influenced the way I look at the world and what I want to do later in life, she says.

I know I want to continue helping people the way this project has. I want to study psychology and I hope that with that degree I will be able to help these people on a more emotional level, rather than just their physical needs  to be able to find the root of the problem of homelessness.

Aside from the satisfaction of forming ideas and then working hard on a project throughout the year, Emily says attending the actual exhibition is extremely rewarding.

When you do go up and go through that door for the first time there is this amazing atmosphere  that you are part of something huge.

There are so many stalls and you know that every single person there has done the same amount of work as you have.

You know you are going to see all these amazing wonderful ideas, that you probably would never have thought of yourself and meet all the other students from around the country.

Its nice to meet people who have the same levels of motivation as yourself, she says.

Her school, Desmond College, is one of the most represented in the exhibition each year  going back 50 years.

Emilys mentor, Donal Enright, a computer science and business teacher won the Analog Educator of Excellence award at this years exhibition for the second time.

Over the years our students have been encouraged and assisted in their efforts by subsequent principals, facilitated by a whole staff, as well as receiving the necessary back-up from parents and the wider community, he says.

We take particular pride seeing our students metamorphose into confident young adults, who are brim full of self esteem, as a result of their efforts.

And the skills they learn from partaking in the exhibition equip them to take responsibility for their learning and research later, as college undergraduates and further on in their chosen careers, he says.

Head of the exhibition, Mari Cahalane has seen the many benefits teenagers gain from the extracurricular activity.

As well as engaging students in the fascinating world of science and technology, the exhibition challenges students to imagine a big idea and bring it to life through research and development in a practical way, outside of the classroom.

"Whatever their passion  sport, social media, animals, humans, numbers or outer space  as long as your idea fits the criteria, we want to see it, he says.

There are other benefits too: Students gain so many life skills by entering a project. They learn critical skills like planning a project, working to a timeline and writing the proposal.

"If they are part of a group they learn to be part of a team and to collaborate and work with others, she says.

When a student qualifies to take part in the RDS in January they have to present their projects to their peers, the judges and to the general public and this really boosts their self-confidence.

"There are also, what Mari calls, the softer skills that are gained through participation, like making lifelong friendships and gaining confidence through interacting with so many other people.

* To make the entry deadline on September 28, students can submit a one-page proposal outlining their idea via www.btyoungscientist.com

Take the plunge

Mari Cahalane, head of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, gives 10 reasons why its worth taking the plunge to enter:

1. Its about more than science, its about learning and discovery. Projects can be about anything youre passionate about, be it sport, social media, beauty, animals, human behaviour.

2. You get the chance to represent your school and local community at the exhibition in the RDS in January, which is a real honour. You could be featured in the local and national media and if you win, you will feature on every news outlet in the country.

3. It shows a real passion for science and an ability to think for yourself, which is a crucial life skill.

4. For teachers, its a fantastic way to get students inspired in subjects like science, technology, engineering and maths, not to mention a great achievement for your school if you qualify for the exhibition.

5. Although a love for science and technology lies at the heart of all the entries, there is a prize fund of over 25,000 and trips to the USA to be won for students and teachers.

6. If you qualify you will get to spend four days in Dublin showing your project to more than 50,000 visitors, making new friends and enjoying the craic at our dedicated student club each evening.

7. You get the opportunity to meet some of Irelands best-known faces. Every year the exhibition is visited by stars of TV and radio, leading politicians, sporting giants and more.

8. If youre lucky enough to win, youll go on to represent the competition at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists, which takes place in Tallinn in Estonia in 2017. The winner will also win 5,000.

9. Its a brilliant extra-curricular activity to put on your CV or application form for college/ university.

10. It could be start of an amazing future in science.
Yep this is a remake of the 1960 Western which was based on Akira Kurosawas Seven Samurai from 1964 which was itself culled from a folk tale of fighters protecting farmers. So it hasnt been an original concept for many a year.

Taken on its own, this Antoine Fuqua directed film is a good amount of fun. The men making up the team have a distinct range of personalities and Denzel Washington makes is an engaging as ever in his leading role, looking nowhere near his 61 years.

Pretty much everyone gets some screentime and some even manage to raise themselves above stereotype. Chris Pratt is pratty, Vincent DOnofrio is excessively weird and the rather great Byung-hun Lee pulls off a memorable turn.

Then theres Ethan Hawke, here reteaming with Washington and Fuqua more than 15 years after Training Day. Its pretty clear hes starring in a much more dramatically intense movie and the fella really gives his all on character work thats well beyond whats required for this kind of picture.

Supporting players are fine- Hayley Bennet is a guest-star in Hawkes melodrama and mostly does whats required of her while displaying an alarming amount of cleavage. Baddie Peter Sarsgaard is fine too, managing to make us wish for his speedy demise.

Its all fine, which is a pleasant enough surprise in the realm of the remake. And then the final action scene kicks off and it peaks into excellent.

In a world chock full of CG and fast-cutting its rare to see chaos mounted with such clarity. Its a single action sequence which unfolds over at least 30 minutes in a single location with a small team of fighters.

The geography is clear, the battle lines comprehensible and the tally of dead quickly ratchets up. I got to experience this in IMAX and the sound of the explosions and gunfire was truly spectacular, while plenty of real-life stunts really brought the battle to life.

Its certainly the highlight of the film, as well it should be given the legacy it has to live up to, and features enough differences to what has gone before to make it well worth seeking out, especially for action fans.

See it on the biggest, and loudest, screen you can.

4/5

-Daniel Anderson
Social housing, rapid-building, supports for drug addiction, and cash to use vacant homes were among details explained at Government Buildings.

Among those at the launch were campaigners for the homeless on the front line, including Fr Peter McVerry, who knows better than most what will and wont work.

This plan is more of an update on promises made last July. At the centre of it is a commitment by Housing Minister Simon Coveney to end the use of emergency accommodation, such as hotels and B&Bs, for the homeless by the middle of next year.

He is hanging his political career on the plan. And he was not lacking detail on the numbers of housing units and initiatives planned to tackle homelessness.

But the key to success will be when the numbers sleeping rough, the families living in B&Bs, and those people with no home start to decrease.

Fr McVerry put it aptly yesterday to Mr Coveney: It is the most detailed plan on housing and homelessness that we have ever seen and thats commendable, but as you said yourself, until we see the monthly figures of homelessness reducing then I reserve my applause.

Fr Peter McVerry

The campaigner noted that figures for homelessness keep rising. Indeed, figures last week show that up to 2,000 children are now homeless in Dublin.

The plan says there are 300 rapid-build homes under construction  1,500 of these will be built by 2018.

Up to 1,350 people have exited homelessness so far this year. Furthermore, up to 1,600 vacant housing units will be made available for families. A new scheme to pay for bus fares for homeless families will also be launched soon.

The reality, though, as Mr Coveney said, is that despite the progress, reducing the actual numbers and making a big difference is unlikely to happen anytime soon. In fact, the minister admitted that the Government is indeed running to stand still.

Simon Coveneny

Already, estimates for emergency beds for the approaching winter have been increased by an extra 230. So, the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.

Fr McVerry also had some interesting observations: those without a home are nervous about taking up private rented accommodation in case they fall off the social housing list. Furthermore, some emergency housing shelters are dorms where people trying to escape drug addiction are sleeping next to drug dealers. Some young people are safer on the streets, said Fr McVerry.

This is the complexity of the problem.

The last Fine Gael government promised to end it. Will this one?
THIS month marks the first anniversary of the State funeral of Thomas Kent  the 13th man executed in the aftermath of the 1916 Easter Rising.

It took this funeral to get Irelands forgotten patriot into the public domain. His body lay buried in a shallow, well-maintained grave in a corner of Cork Prison yard for over 99 years and could only be visited once annually by family and friends.

Over the years, his family sought to have his body brought home for re-internment in the Castlelyons family grave. Following ground testing, exhumation and DNA confirmation, their hard-won wish was granted with a dignified, emotional funeral attended by dignitaries from Ireland and abroad.

This true Irish patriot was at last being recognised and honoured. His coffin was fittingly draped in the tricolour as the cortege wound past his Bawnard home, travelling over areas so familiar to him during his many fights for the rights of his fellow Irish people.

As the only leader who had fought in the Land War as well as 1916, Thomas Kents life was very different from the other executed men. Furthermore, all the Kent family were involved, including Thomass mother, and all were arrested.

They were the only family who gave their home for Ireland: Their home was a wreck after the shootout, whereas in Dublin it was public buildings that were destroyed. Also, Thomas was the only man from Munster executed in Cork.

Thomas Kent was the fourth eldest of nine children born to tenant farmers, David Kent and Mary Rice. He was only 10 when his father (aged 44) died in 1875. Due to rent difficulties his widowed mother took a lesser lease on Bawnard House and farm, and moved there with her seven sons and daughter. Her eldest daughter had died in 1873.

Steeped in the IRB and Fenian tradition, Thomas was intelligent. In his early teens he joined his older brother Edmond in the Land League. At 17, he emigrated to Boston and worked as a clerk in a publishing and furnishing business.

Once he joined the Irish Philo-Celtic Society his life changed radically. He became involved in the formation of an Irish School. His brother, James, joined him, and later David, then John.

By June 1889, Thomas had founded his own publishing company. He was leading an active social life and had a girlfriend. Suddenly he returned home for the impending trial of his four brothers charged with orchestrating a boycotting campaign. The court case, spread over nine days, resulted in Edmond, William and David receiving harsh hard labour sentences.

So Thomas stayed to help Richard (14) and his mother on the farm and got caught up in Land League issues. On several occasions the Kent brothers spent many lonely nights in gaols. They were national heroes. Their sacrifices, along with those of other tenant farmers, ultimately defeated an unjust system.

Thomass Fenian cousin, John Curtin Kent, was involved with Tom Clarke. Through this connection Tom Clarke inducted Thomas into the IRB. He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and soon became Commandant of the Galtee Battalion. With his brothers he threw his energies into training and founding new companies.

Thomas Kent

In January 1916, Thomas and Terence MacSwiney were charged with making seditious speeches and possessing ammunition. During the trial, a letter Thomas had written stated: As a Volunteer, I am prepared to defend my country to the last drop of my blood against all comers Both men spent time in jail.

Thomas wrote to his Fenian cousin Curtin Kent in New York: Youll be glad to know that our cause is impregnable. We were never so strong [nor] had such an honest and determined leadership determined to be free.

Dedicated to stage a major rising in the south, Thomas and his brothers David, William, and Richard, equipped with arms, ammunition, and a marching kit, left home for a safe house and awaited orders from Dublin headquarters. He expected to link with the Limerick Brigade, then extend north-wards towards the river Shannon.

By May 1, when the Kent brothers got no word, they returned home under cover of darkness. They believed nobody had seen them. After a happy reunion with their mother and a meal, the family felt secure and settled for the night. Tired after their days of alertness and hiding, the Kents rested easily. But not for long.

Under Head Constable Rowe a number of men armed with rifles, bayonets, and ammunition left Fermoy barracks in two trucks around 2.30am on May 2 and headed towards Bawnard House.

The stillness in the house was disturbed by a thunderous knocking. William jumped out of bed, pulled on some clothes, stuck his head out the window and called, Whos there? The reply was quick, Police! Come down! He ran to Toms room, shook him. The place is surrounded.

Alerted, the brothers grabbed their guns. Again the police banged loudly on the door and roared, Open the door for the police! Defiantly, Tom and his family shouted, We are soldiers of the Irish Republic  there is no surrender! The police opened fire.

Acting on Eoin MacNeills initial order to defend and prevent themselves from being disarmed, the Kents replied.

As the fighting from outside grew in fury, Thomas and his brothers continued to respond. They moved from window to window. Their mother, Mary, assisted in loading the weapons and with encouragement. William had a single-barrel shot gun; at one stage a cartridge jammed in the breach when he tried to fire.

His mother whipped the gun from him, went to the stairs, took out a stair-rod, pushed it up the barrel, released the cartridge, and handed the gun back to William. The fighting and fury continued, lasting over four hours, with military bombardment, including a machine-gun.

Here was one family in the south standing against an empires might. There was not a pain of glass left in any window; there were bullet marks everywhere  the house was a wreck. David had two fingers shot off and when he received a gaping wound in his side and as his mother tried to bandage him, Thomas shouted, Get a priest and a doctor! Weve a man dying. When the ammunition ran out they had no alternative but to surrender. During the arrest of the family, Richard, a famous athlete, made a run to clear the hedge, but he was shot and mortally wounded. A policeman, Constable Rowe had also been shot.

All were arrested. Under heavy military escort William and barefooted Thomas were forced to walk the rough stone-road behind the cart on the five-mile journey to Military Barracks at Fermoy

At the trial on May 4, 1916, in Cork Detention Barracks, William was reprieved and Thomas was found guilty under the Defence of the Realm Act.

Two days later, the ultimate punishment was endorsed. General Maxwell signed an order sentencing him to death.

On the eve of his execution, Thomas refused a lavish meal. He prayed with Fr Sexton.

At dawn on 9 May the handcuffed and bare-footed Thomas walked proudly. He refused to be blind-folded as he faced a firing squad drawn from the Scottish Borderers; he went to his doom, a Rosary Beads in his hands.

David, when slightly cured, was tried by general court martial on June 14, convicted and sentenced to death. Maxwell, conscious of public opinion, commuted the sentence to five years penal servitude.

On January 5, 1917, just over seven months after the Bawnard shooting, Mary Kents body was brought back for the first time since the incident to the still wrecked Bawnard house. William, the only son left there, had begun to make it somewhat habitable. David, in Dartmoor, was not allowed out for the funeral.

Meda Ryan is historian and author of 16 Lives: Thomas Kent, published by OBrien Press
THOSE who think events in Syria cannot get worse are dead wrong, US secretary of state John Kerry said this week. Hes correct, of course.

Going forward, however, the United States faces a really horrific choice. And its very far from clear what the right answer should be.

In many ways, Mondays air strike on what should have been a protected UN humanitarian aid convoy was nothing new. Humanitarian and medical actors have been bombed repeatedly in recent years by both Syrian and later Russian forces on a scale and with an accuracy that looks entirely deliberate.

The death toll in this case was shocking and tragic  an estimated 20 fatalities, including the local director of the Syria Red Crescent Society  but not particularly unusual compared to events elsewhere in the war.

The fact it came so soon after what had been touted as a potentially landmark  if limited  US-Russian deal to stem the bloodshed has, however, ratcheted up its political importance.

Indeed, if it was a calculated attack on that particular target  which Western officials seem to believe it was  then it looks and feels like a deliberate challenge, one to which Washington and its allies must now choose their response.

Unfortunately, there are only two real options, both of them terrible. Either the United States takes what happened on the chin without any real response, essentially opening the door to Moscow and Damascus further ramping up action and essentially driving any remaining neutral humanitarian workers from the field. Or it takes action to stop it, perhaps by declaring a unilateral no-fly zone over some key areas and then enforcing it militarily, if necessary. Even if it means blasting Russian jets from the sky.

US soldiers

The odds of the latter happening still seem relatively slight. Washington has no desire to wind up in a shooting war with the Syrian regime, let alone the Russians. Nor, frankly, should it. If the defining mantra of the Obama administration has been dont do stupid stuff, then relative inaction could easily be seen as the most prudent course.

In striking such a clearly marked humanitarian target so transparently, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad  or whoever made the actual decision, perhaps on a lower level  posed a challenge to the White House in particular.

Either act to stop them, or stay out of the way as Moscow and Damascus take the steps they believe necessary to fight the war to an end. (Moscow denies direct involvement in the strike and the truth remains opaque  as it almost always does in such cases.)

In many ways, of course, thats been the larger picture almost from the beginning. Like authoritarian  and, indeed, many other  rulers throughout time, Assad and Putin have always believed that governments should be able to do whatever it takes to retain or restore stability and order.

That doesnt mean they are necessarily opposed to providing humanitarian aid, medical relief or other basic services. Indeed, they can be effective political weapons in their own right. Witness Russias rebuilding of Chechnya in the aftermath of its bloody secessionist campaign. There, the Russian military and security state wanted to send a clear message: Fighting it would bring defeat, but there were deals to be made and paths to prosperity and peace if the right actions were taken.

In Syria, both the government and increasingly the Russians have been determined to push back against the Wests rules.

There is probably a broader agenda behind those pushes as well. If the West in general and the Obama administration in particular have achieved anything in Syria, it has been about humanitarian access, removing chemical weapons and clearly establishing that they should not be used. Every time those red lines are blurred, its a political defeat for the outgoing president  at least that is how it is perceived.

That, of course, suits Moscow just fine. Indeed, it suits anyone  from Putin to Assad to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, who benefits politically from the ever-growing narrative of broader decline in the values and geopolitical power of the West in general and the United States in particular. They like it when the West looks weak, or simply hypocritical.

That hypocrisy is genuinely there. The world is a complicated place, and thats never truer than in time and place of conflict. Thats why, while the United States could use its overwhelming military force to smash Russian and Syrian aircraft from the skies and devastate Assads military machine, that would only go so far. Indeed, if recent history is anything to go by, it could simply prolong the war and leave Syria even more chaotic.

America and its allies probably will beat Islamic State. But the fact the Islamist threat to the West is seen as so much more important than the much greater loss of life in the broader Syria conflict will also have been noticed.

European states, of course, are increasingly desperate for a solution. Syrian migrants will not return while the battle rages  or perhaps not even while Assad remains in control. But that in itself does not bring a solution closer.

The United States has no shortage of civilian blood on its hands  most of it, admittedly, accidental. It has bombed hospitals before in error, inflicted sanctions, and opened up wars that have yielded no shortage of other deaths.

Indeed, it may have been the apparently mistaken airstrike this weekend, killing some 60 Syrian military personnel, that prompted Moscow or Damascus to strike Mondays convoy.

The awkward truth is this. None of the sides fighting the Syria war currently have the combat power to win outright.

Eventually, it will come down to a deal. But not yet  and probably never under Obama. This close to the end of the US presidents term, the warring parties are already looking to his successor. They have nothing to lose by waiting another four months, even if many innocents die.

If there was a US original sin in Syria, it was tacitly encouraging the opposition to rise up in 2011.

If it lacked the will to intervene decisively  which was the case then, and almost certainly remains the case now  it should have signaled that clearly from the beginning, including to those first few revolutionaries taking to the streets.

If Obama joins the war in earnest now, it may well be too little, too late. And even if Washington unleashes all the power of its arsenal, it may just make matters worse.

Peter Apps is Reuters global affairs columnist, writing on international affairs, globalisation, conflict and other issues.
The date for the US election is creeping closer and with it the growing fear that a man so obnoxious he almost defies description will end up as president of America.

There are more than 320m people living in the US and while unscientific, it seems as if there are that many, if not more, globally, wishing for an outcome where Donald Trump does not end up in the White House with his finger on the nuclear button;.

The election takes place on November 8, which gives Hillary Clinton six weeks to save us from this nightmare scenario. That is no easy task in an election where the greatest casualty so far has been the truth. Fact-checking appears to have become an almost redundant process, in what commentators have dubbed this post-truth political world. The Trump supporters, who are in, as Clinton described it, the basket of deplorable, appear to have little if no regard for truth.

There are simply too many examples of Trumps porkies; their utter disconnection from truth and accuracy too numerous to list. But its worth remembering just one particular instance from earlier this year. Following a Trump town hall meeting in Wisconsin, the Huffington Post examined a 12,000 word transcript. They found 71 separate instances in which Trump made a claim that was inaccurate, misleading, or deeply questionable. In other words, one falsehood every 169 words or 1.16 falsehoods every minute. The meeting lasted an hour. Yet a poll this week for Bloomberg Politics found that only 25% rated Hillary as honest, compared with 26% for Trump.

Despite acres more evidence of Trumps utter disregard for the truth, it is Clinton who gets the most stick for an apparent lack of honesty. Granted, she does not help her own case. The most recent example of this was her bout of pneumonia, which she only fessed up to after a near-collapse at the 9/11 memorial.

Donald Trump

Rather than concentrate on the impressive fact that she had powered on regardless of feeling so unwell, the coverage mainly surrounded the secrecy with which it was handled. As David Axelrod, once President Obamas top political adviser, tweeted at the time: Antibiotics can take care of pneumonia. Whats the cure for an unhealthy penchant for privacy that repeatedly creates unnecessary problems? he tweeted.

The truth is that Clinton is far more open than Trump in many important ways, such as having published her tax return and a detailed medical report. However, there is no escaping the fact that, since the early days of husband Bills political career, her natural reaction has been to conceal rather than reveal.

The tendency towards secrecy goes back as far as Whitewater, the failed real estate investment in Arkansas, up to the Benghazi attack when she was secretary of state, through to the using of a private email server during her time in that office. But to put that in context, this is also a woman who has been under attack from the time her husband sought public office, whether it was for wanting to keep her own surname, to pursuing a career after she had a baby, to the way she dressed and styled her hair. It almost seems too obvious a point to make, but there was also the humiliation she suffered when her husbands sexual encounters with a White House intern made international headlines and ended up in his impeachment.

There is the additional, seemingly contradictory, factor of how the Clintons do amazing work globally through their eponymously titled foundation, but equally have been accused of frequently taking money from world leaders keen to win influence with them.

Karen Tumulty, national political correspondent with the Washington Post, recalls in a WNYC Studios On the Media podcast how, almost two decades ago, she was doing her first ever cover story for Time magazine on Clinton turning 50. One of her main problems, as she recalled it, was trying to humanise her.

Tumulty spoke of how incredibly charming and funny Clinton can be off the record but the minute a reporter opens a notebook the gates come down. On a foreign trip, Clinton was out for dinner with a bunch of journalists, including Tumulty, where she was absolutely charming.

Her daughter Chelsea had recently started college and she told them of how she missed her so much that she would sneak into Chelseas bedroom in the White House and sit there and mourn her absent daughter. One day the door opened and it was Bill. He had been doing exactly the same thing.

Tumulty asked if she could have the story on the record for the Time cover, but was told absolutely not by Clintons team, who said she never spoke about Chelsea on the record.

All was for naught until, a few days later, I did a phone interview with the president, said Tumulty. One leading question, he was going to drop that story on me so fast, and he did. I was able to use the anecdote because Bill totally understood what I was going at here, just one kind of humanising little anecdote. But she is just so defensive on stuff like that.

It is in many ways understandable that Clinton seems to believe the media is an unsatiable monster  remaining satisfied with morsels of information for only very brief periods and then always demanding more. But the flip side is that this is a woman who has been dealing with the media for almost four decades and she should surely be a little smarter by now in how she manages this all-important relationship.

The clock is ticking all to quickly towards polling day and the first presidential debate with Trump is on Monday. It is expected to be the most watched televised political debate ever. Whatever else he may lack, Trump certainly has the showmanship for such an occasion. Clinton, not a naturally gifted public speaker, is going to have to be at the top of her game.

She has acknowledged that people have questions about her. Some of it is justifiable interest, such as the email servers, other stuff, such as her marriage, could come under plain nosiness. It is also clear she would rather have root canal dental treatment than reveal more of herself, or to be seen to explain certain actions.

It may be on this rock that she perishes. If she does, the rest of us will be left looking at President Donald Trump.
Burma Burma Army Offensive Continues in Kachin State: KIA Spokesman

KIA soldiers on the front line in 2012. / The Irrawaddy

The Burma Army conducted airstrikes on Friday in Kachin States Waingmaw Township, continuing a weeklong offensive against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), a KIA spokesperson has told The Irrawaddy.

Offensives against the KIAs Brigade 5 have been ongoing since earlier this week, while military maneuvers have increased against other KIA brigades2, 3 and 4in Kachin and northern Shan states for months, according to KIA spokesman Lt-Col Naw Bu.

Naw Bu said two helicopter gunships shot at the Lai Hpau Bum [or Lai Hpau post] for about 30 minutes, starting at 2 p.m. on Friday.

He told the Irrawaddy that since Tuesday, Burma Army troops used 120 mm and 105 mm artillery to attack Lai Hpau and nearby outpost Nhkaram, which are about three kilometers away from the Myitkyina-Bhamo highway.

The KIA troops are a security unit, used to defend the KIA headquarters in Laiza, which is about 30-40 kilometers from the current area of engagement.

Since fighting renewed in June 2011after a 17-year ceasefire between the former military government and the KIAthe Burma Army has used its air force and artillery to attack the Laiza headquarters and its surrounding units numerous times.

The KIA has not yet signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA), which is a necessary step to take part in the national political dialogue at the decision-making level. However, leaders from the KIAs political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization, joined the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conferencealso called the Union Peace Conferenceheld in late August.

Naw Bu said that the offensives could be an effort to put pressure on the KIA to sign the NCA, in order to implement the Burma Armys plan to bring the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of non-state armed groups, which was raised by military representatives during the Union Peace Conference.

He added that the KIA would have to continue defensive actions against the Burma Army troops. The combined forces of the governments Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 381, LIB 121, Infantry Battalion (IB) 360, IB 50, IB 260 and IB 29 are stationed in the area. Since mid-2011, many locals in the area have fled their homes and those displaced are still unable to return.

The Irrawaddy tried to contact the government, its National Reconciliation and Peace Center and military spokespersons but they could not be reached for comment.
Herve Ladsous , UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, was at a reception held by China's permanent mission to the UN to mark the 89th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on July 27, 2016. (Xinhua Photo)

On Sept. 21, a team of Chinese police officers officially passed the UN selection process to serve as the first standby Formed Police Unit (FPU) in the organization's history.

In an effort to follow through on President Xi Jinpings pledge to establish a standby peacekeeping force of 8,000 troops for the UN in September 2015, the FPU was arranged by the Ministry of Public Security to improve the UNs rapid deployment abilities. The unit consists of two anti-riot squads. There are a total of 160 members, among whom 50 have previously been stationed in countries including Haiti and Liberia for peacekeeping missions, Beijing Youth Daily reported.

All the members have to go through three rounds of selection. Though various positions may have different requirements, we all have to master English, as the peacekeeping missions have a high standard for language proficiency, said Lu Yanchen, a 27-year-old border solider from southwestern Chinas Yunnan province.

China has set a high standard for its peacekeeping FPU. During the past few days [of the selection process], I have noticed that the team is professional, and many of its members have rich experience in peacekeeping. They are fully prepared, and can be sent for missions swiftly once there is need, said Ata Yenigun, chief of the UN Police Selection and Recruitment Section, in an interview with Beijing Youth Daily.

On average, China contributes more troops to UN peacekeeping missions than any other permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Burma Sule Square Developers Slapped With Harsh Fines

Sule Square, in downtown Rangoon. / JPaing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  In what is believed to be one of the first harsh punishments handed down to Rangoons developers, the citys municipal body has said that Sule Square project developers will face fines of over 2 billion kyats (around US$1.6 million) for breaching building regulations in the construction of the 23-floor structure.

The Sule Square commercial complexbeing built adjacent to the existing Sule Shangri-La Hotel, formerly known as Traders Hotelincluded two extra floors for which the developers did not have permission to add.

The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)s initial approval for the project was issued in January 2013 and was based on the original project proposal, comprising two basements, 20 floors and a penthouse. The revised plan submitted by the developer just before the end of March this year included one basement and 23 floors, though the building maintained the same heightjust over 302 feetat which the YCDCs approval was granted.

Apart from the two extra floors, the most apparent differences are smaller scales of a public space and public toilets. The projects original proposal promised a public space of over 5,000 square feet and nearly 900 square feet for public restrooms. But the projects revised plan scaled down both of those designswith only 1,300 square feet allotted for public space and 500-600 square feet for restrooms.

But after negotiating with the YCDC in last month, the developers agreed to modify the public space and public restrooms as originally proposed.

They will pay over 2 billion kyats in fines for all the differences from the initial approval that they were constructing, U Than Htay, head of Yangon City Development Committees (YCDC) building department, told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

Aung San Win, secretary of the YCDCs High-Rise Inspection Committee, said last month that there had been about ten findings which were different from the plan YCDC initially approved.

The complex is expected to open in late 2016.
Business Insiders Share Mixed Opinions About Future of Real Estate and Construction Sectors

High-rise construction can be seen in the distance behind the Olympic Tower in downtown Rangoon. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Contrasting expectations have emerged from Burmas real estate industry as the National League for Democracy-led government attempts to persuade more foreign investors to enter the countrys market.

After State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis visit to US last week, marked by President Barack Obamas promise to lift economic sanctions on Burma, some of those working in property development described experiencing new hope for their sectors.

The real estate and construction market is developing rapidly, said U Kyi Lwin, a member of the Myanmar Engineering Society, at a press conference on Thursday for the upcoming Myanmar Build & Decor Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Rangoon in early October.

U Kyi Lwin cited reports that total investment in real estate and construction had reached US$8.2 billion in 2015 and it is expected to increase to $13.5 billion by 2020.

But while rapid growth in Burmas real estate market is expected by some, many are still waiting to see results, said U Than Oo, managing director of Mandine Real Estate Agency.

The construction and real estate market is still cooling down, as demand is low due to the slow economy here since last year, he said, predicting that FDI [foreign direct investment] will not come rapidly to the country. I dont think many investors will come [in the near future]the market situation is not good at the moment.

Demand is down, too, U Than Oo said.

Some say the real estate market has gone back to normal because of the countrys change, but its not true: the market is still declining even though prices are not going up, he said.

U Myo Myint, managing director of MKT Construction Co., said he feels that a rapid change in governmental policies on construction could harm the industry and concern foreign investors, who fear a market stagnancy later down the line.

The new government, he said, has abolished some construction policies practiced by the previous government, which he said could deter potential international partners.

If every new government fulfills the pledges of its predecessors, potential foreign investors will not be hesitant to invest, U Myo Myint said. No government will be in office for eternity. There will be changes. We dont mean that policies should not be changed, but if they take effect retroactively, there will be negative impacts, he added.
[Photo/Chinanews.cn]

The first capsule hotel in the Chinese mainland recently opened its doors in Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. The 309-square-meter hotel has 38 beds, 10 of which are imported from Finland. It also offers toilets and private shower areas. Coffee and meals are available for purchase.

The aim of the capsule hotel is to provide cheap, basic overnight accommodations for passengers in transit who do not require the services offered by conventional hotels.
Powerline Communications (PLC) or Broadband over Power Line (BPL) is a little known technology that allows for the transmission of broadband Internet access to be conducted along existing national grid power cables, instead of the telephone network, and into your home or office; It does this by separating out the electricity and internet service into two separate wavelengths. The technology has been trialled multiple times in the UK and was once seen as a potential saviour for the country's rural coverage woes.

Unfortunately PLC technology is also notorious for producing high levels of interference (especially at higher frequencies) that can disrupt other services, such as the radio, and often resulted in serious conflicts with the national telecoms regulator. On top of that the cost of deployment and service delivery is also known to be high.

The UK government officially recognised many of these shortcomings during the release of their national broadband strategy, 'Britain's Superfast Broadband Future', at the start of December 2010. So far PLC's limitations have hindered its ability to grow and meant that it has been unable to keep pace with the faster and significantly cheaper broadband solutions being delivered over telephone lines.

It's also important not to confuse PLC/BPL with HomePlug (HomePlug AV etc.) or Powerline Ethernet adapters, better known as Power Line Adapters (PLA), which merely convert a buildings existing power cables into a form of extended Local Area Network (LAN); although they do extend from the same fundamental technology.
Friday, September 23rd, 2016 (10:51 am) - Score 2,554

The CEO of cable operator Virgin Media, Tom Mockridge, and other members of his senior management team have been roasted by staff this week after a Q&A session revealed a strong level of internal dissatisfaction, not least with the alleged faceless change drivers at new owner Liberty Global.

We are people not numbers, said one employee. Shortly after that another member of VMs disgruntled staff added, We have worked really hard under the threat of redundancy for nine months with very little communication, only to find out yesterday that we are being TUPEd to another company.

Much of the venom appears to have been placed firmly at the feet of Liberty Globals 15bn acquisition of Virgin Media in 2013 (here) and as a result of that the company is now going through another phase of internal reorganisation, as well as a touch of subcontracting.

[Liberty Global] seems to be ripping the very soul (and people) out of the company and everything that was good  about it. Theres no excitement or engagement about what we are working to become  Morale is at an all-time low. Are you aware that people no longer get made redundant or re-deployed, they get LGd, explained another member of staff.

Mockridge agreed that Virgin Media needed to improve its communication with staff, although he also suggested that such pain was expected for a company that is currently ploughing 3bn into the Project Lightning roll-out of their Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) broadband and TV network to another 4 million UK premises by 2019. Mockridge added that this would help Virgin Media to take on BT and Sky and transform the UKs [broadband] and telecoms infrastructure.

Tom Mockridge, CEO of Virgin Media, said: Virgin Media is growing strongly for the first time in a decade because of the investments weve secured from Liberty Global and because weve kept our customer-focused attitude inspired by Richard [Branson].

In fairness such internal problems, which have been laid bare for all to see by Channel Register, are not uncommon among businesses that go through a large degree of restructuring and reorganisation following a major acquisition (been in that boat). But usually the public dont get to hear about it. We have reached out to Virgin Media for an official comment and are awaiting a reply.
Major: Communication

Hometown: Brazil, IN

Student Media Involvement: Syc Creations

Favorite Food: Burgers with everything but mustard

Fun Fact: He really loves superhero movies, and wants to make his own someday
(Xinhua) 18:23, September 23, 2016

CHENGDU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China is going to upgrade its national judicial examination to ensure the legal system secures the very best talents, as part of judicial reforms.

According to central government guidelines, by 2017 the current judicial examination will only be open to graduates majoring in law or people who have worked in law-related fields for a certain number of years. Accordingly, this year's exam, scheduled Saturday, is likely to be the last chance for many to take the exam.

The reforms have led to a record high number of people applying to take the exam this year. In Sichuan Province alone, the number of applicants surged to nearly 30,000, up 23 percent on 2015.

Unlike other exams, the national judicial exam, organized by the Ministry of Justice, is designed to bring talent into the country's political and legal system, said Wang Xiaoming, deputy secretary general of Beijing Municipal Government.

"The quality of the candidates passing the exam affect the basis of China's legal system," he said.

Initiated in 2002, the national judicial examination has been dubbed "China's hardest exam" as the pass rate is as low as 20 percent.

Many people take the exam year after year, in the hope of finding a legal job, and attendees range from 17 to 70 years old

Figures show more than 4 million people had taken the exam by the end of 2013, but only 300,000 of them entered legal professions.

CALLS FOR REFORM

Yang Hao, a law graduate with a master's degree from Sichuan University, spends eight hours per day preparing for the exam, which covers several areas, including criminal, civil and international law.

"I'm confident I can pass it this time," he said.

Yang failed the exam in 2013. In contrast, one of his schoolmates who majored in history - a self-described "law illiterate" - passed the exam after attending a cramming school that cost 8,000 yuan (1,200 U.S. dollars).

Wan Yi, who used to work designing the exam, said the current examination paper, mostly multiple-choice questions, does not properly screen talent, as non-legal majors can get a high score and pass the exam, but still fail to meet standards required to practice law.

"It's ironic for both the examination system and legal education," Wan said. "The exam now tests one's legal knowledge, instead of his or her comprehensive understanding of the law."

Wang Song, a judge at a court in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, said incompetent legal personnel not only mislead clients, but also waste hearing time by bringing obstacles to court.

"In a case of contract dispute worth 100 million yuan, a lawyer at a court could not even distinguish between basic legal concepts ... and he also did not remember related articles of law," Wang said.

Accordingly, there have been calls to upgrade the examination so that only excellent legal candidates are picked for the country's legal system, especially in the last two years as China steps up judicial reforms.

As requested by the fourth plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held in October 2014, 48 reforms were designed to improve the judiciary, including litigation reform to prioritize trials, letting judges assume lifelong responsibility for cases they handle and holding judges accountable for miscarriages of justice.

The reforms should create a stronger legal system, improve the professional threshold and encourage exchanges between legal practitioners and researchers.

MORE EXPECTED

According to national guidelines released in late 2015, the reformed judicial examination will not only specify qualifications of applicants, but also change from the current multiple-choice questions to more subjective ones involving case analysis to test applicants' understanding of law and capacity to apply it.

Other systems related to selecting legal elites, such as pre-service training, judge and prosecutor selection, recruitment of public servants and legal education, are also listed on the reform agenda.

Tang Wei, head of Wuhou District People's Court in Chengdu, said a judge needs to communicate with related parties, control the hearing progress and learn skills such as interrupting and stopping statements of parties at court if necessary. All these are absent at school courses, and cannot be evaluated through examinations, he said.

"From law students to judges, one needs far more than mere examinations," he said.
9 Successful Digital Disruption Examples

The long and winding road toward cellular carrier use of unlicensed spectrum took three steps this week. Whether those steps are forward, backward or sideways is unclear, however.

The topic is contentious. Cellular companies currently use licensed spectrum, which is expensive. Unlicensed spectrum is open to all, and is dominated by Wi-Fi. Indeed, the fact that the unlicensed spectrum is free, and freely available, is one reason that Wi-Fi has thrived.

There is no legal reason that cellular companies cant use unlicensed spectrum. The problem is that their technology grew in a landscape in which cellular companies had sole rights to the spectrum they used. Therefore, techniques enabling sharing of spectrum as a good neighbor never evolved. The ongoing issue is whether the Wi-Fi sector and the cellular players can work out a mutually suitable approach or whether it will have to be mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The major news this week was the release of a test plan by The Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA). Thats good news to those who want to see the issue resolved. The bad news is that there was grousing on the part of the cellular players, though they supposedly helped prepare the test regimen, according to Computerworld:

In announcing the test plan, WFA said its development was a cross-industry effort and incorporated ideas from both sides. But LTE-U backers, including Qualcomm and an industry group called Evolve, have charged multiple times that the process took too long and was slanted toward Wi-Fi. WFAs first workshop took place last November. Carriers have eyed limited deployments of LTE-U this year.

The jury is still out. The Evolve site has a short statement saying that the test plan is being reviewed. The Qualcomm site doesnt mention the test plans release. Based on the two groups reaction in the past, the tea leaves are not positive. Of course, comments should be considered in a political as well as technical context.

The second piece of news this week is that Qualcomm has asked the FCC to approve a years extension to its LTE-U tests with T-Mobile in Washington, California, Nevada and Texas. The tests, in the 5 GHz frequency band, involve small cells and mobile devices. They are aimed at testing equipment and are only in the downlink mode, according to WirelessWeek.

Qualcomm also wants to test the Wi-Fi Alliances test plan at a T-Mobile facility. That, according to the story, could be more noteworthy:

While the extension itself may seem unremarkable, the continued commitment to use the Wi-Fi Alliances test plan is notable given Qualcomms vocal misgivings about the validity of recent iterations of the plan.

It is fair to point out, however, that a possible rationale is to be able to compare results between the tests and those using the Wi-Fi Alliance recipe.

The third piece of news in a busy week in the LTE-U world is that cable industry consortium CableLabs and Liberty Global  a company with cable roots  have joined the MulteFire Alliance. MulteFire aims to help LTE seamlessly use unlicensed spectrum.

Commentary on the move at FierceCable suggests that recruiting cable-oriented organizations is a reasonable goal for MulteFire, which was started last year by Qualcomm. The story said that other new members are SpiderCloud Wireless, Athonet, Baicells and Casa Systems. The latter is a vendor with many cable relationships.

A lot happened this week in the universe of organizations sparring over the conditions under which LTE will be allowed to use unlicensed spectrum. What isnt completely clear is whether that is any closer to happening.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.

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Pluto was removed from the list of planets in the Solar Sytem before but was added again. Pluto was believed to be an icy planet before until several records of emission were discovered. The astronomers were shocked and investigated the Dwarf Planet.

"We've just detected, for the first time, X-rays coming from an object in our Kuiper Belt, and learned that Pluto is interacting with the solar wind in an unexpected and energetic fashion," said Carey Lisse, an astrophysicist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL).

X-Rays Detected From The Dwarf Planet

From February 2014 up to August 2015, Chandra pointed four different regions where X-rays are emitted. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory in Pluto suggests some activities in the Dwarf Planet and that is the release of X-ray from some parts of Pluto.

Astronomer Scott Wolk was doubtful with the suggestions of the scientists. Wolk even explained, "Before our observations, scientists thought it was highly unlikely that we'd detect X-rays from Pluto."

New Horizon scientists aim for the composition of the atmosphere in the Dwarf Planet. New Horizon carries an instrument to check and monitor Pluto which is named Solar Wind Around Pluto. Though it is a positive sign that Pluto is emitting X-rays, there isn't enough solar wind produced, considering the distance from the sun.

After Trial and Error, Astronomers Aimed To Gather More Data

Thanks to Chandra, which has been visiting Pluto and its moons, the emissions were recorded and data were sent to NASA. Though the energy is low, it is still considered as a release of radiation. Contradicting to the description before that Pluto was just made of ice.

Several theories are tested because Pluto is far from the Sun to produce X-rays. The astronomers are still into deep investigation and inquiries with this latest discovery. Lisse, the lead researcher, and his colleagues are trying to identify what other gases are present in the exosphere of Pluto. Thanks to SWAP, the gathering of data still goes on.

There are two things that the scientists are confident about: Pluto is not just an icy planet and gases are present on its surroundings. Still the question is, how does it emit X-rays?

For now, Pluto is still a mystery that needs to be solved and astronomers are still figuring out how the planet releases radiation.
Over the years, smoking has been proven to cause dreading diseases that can lead to death. After a series of testing and deeper experimentation, scientists have found out another dangerous effect of smoking on human's DNA.

"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 Roby Joehanes of Hebrew SeniorLife and Harvard Medical School.

Reviewing results from blood samples taken from almost 16,000 people, the researchers also have proven that for those who stopped smoking, their DNA modification was back to normal after five years.

"Although this emphasizes the long-term residual effects of smoking, the good news is the sooner you can stop smoking, the better off you are," said study author Dr. Stephanie London, deputy chief of the epidemiology branch of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

DNA Methylation

A study published online in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics found that smoking leaves its "footprint" on the genome through DNA methylation, the process by which cells control gene expression.

The researchers found out that the smokers have methylation patterns that can alter almost 7,000 genes due to smoking and if smokers quit, some genes are returned to normal but others are permanently damaged. The genes affected are the source of heart diseases and cancers.

Identifying the DNA-related genes can be the first step of evaluating the smoking pattern of the patient. London said, "We could use this type of data to estimate people's previous smoking. No one says they smoke when they don't, but they say they don't smoke when they do, so we could use these signals to find that out."

Though DNA return back to normal after five years of quitting smoking, some damages retain up to 30 years. Researchers were able to determine the gene that is highly affected and concluded that they are still at risk of getting life-threatening diseases.

Smoking And Its Long-term Effects

Dr. Norman Edelman, senior scientific advisor for the American Lung Association, said the new research raises alarming issues. Edelman wants to study how the genes and smoking are related and raise awareness of what smoking can do.

"The message here is that smoking has an enormous, widespread impact on your genes," Edelman explained. "Most of it is reversible, but some is not. So if you smoke, you're going to alter your genetic makeup in a way that's not totally reversible."
Apple approached the McLaren Technology Group. Apparently, according to Financial times, the leader in smartphone technology is planning to buy the British automotive manufacturer.

Apple is said to me more interested in making a large investment on the automotive manufacturer rather than an outright acquisition.

"There's no takeover, no strategic investment," representative of McLaren confirmed.

McLaren, maker of supercars, runs a British Formula 1 racing team. It also does research on data collection, data analysis, and manufacturing processes.

McLaren makes limited cars that costs around $1 million and up. According to Financial Times, the company has made over 1,600 cars only last year

McLaren Technology Group is approximately 1 billion ($1.3 billion) to 1.5 billion, according to the report.

When F1 was sold at $8.5 billion to Liberty Media, McLaren lost 22.6 million revenue out of 265 million in 2014.

Though McLaren is not profitable, Financial Times pointed out that their expertise could provide insights to Apple's dream of developing a car.

McLaren is a leader in dealing with novel automotive materials such as carbon-fibre and aluminum which is a favourite of Jon Ive, Apple's lead designer.

Apple has a famous car department under the name of Project Titan.

It has been said that Apple is working on an automotive project. The vehicle is said to be an electric car, self-driving car, or even a minivan. The project is rumoured to have started on February 2015.

Apple is reported to have hired a complete automotive team - a number of automotive engineers and designers. The team has a facility far from its Cupertino, California headquarters. The reason being the loud noises produced in dealing with car technology.

Recently however, it was reported that Apple has let go of its automotive team and is instead looking to partner with a company in order to build a car that will rival electric car companies.

Financial Times further confirms that McLaren will be Apple's largest acquisition after it purchase of Beats, the headphone company for $3.2 billion in 2014.

Apple's purchase of Beats aided them in building their own wireless headphones - the Airpods, as launched earlier.

McLaren is said to provide the same expertise to Apple in the automotive industry.
Surprising as it may seem, but it is true. A researcher demonstrated how to unlock an iPhone password by spending just around $100. This is contradictory to the amount that the FBI spent in unlocking one, used by a shooter in San Diego  which is approximately $1.3 million. In comparison, the amount spent by the hacker is only a little percentage of the amount FBI used in their investigation.

As cited in The Guardian, a computer scientist from Cambridge University stated that an iPhone could be hacked by buying items that are low in price and could be seen easily.

The process of hacking was made through NAND Mirroring. Sergei Skorogobatov countered the statement of James Comey, an FBI Director, saying that the process is feasible and it is possible to crack information of any iPhone item up to Apples iPhone 6.

He released a video and a paper regarding the entire process. Skorogobatovs video implied that there are 10,000 possible combinations that can be examined in just an estimated time of 41 hours or less than two days.

The items used, according to the source, can be bought online  through Amazon or Alibaba in approximately $100. This is inversely proportional to the total FBI budget intended to break into the information of the gunman, Syed Farook.

In the site VICE News, news publications announced that they filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the FBI in federal courts looking for records related to the items the FBI had bought to unlock the iPhones code.

Earlier, FBI and Apple had an argument as to the private information stored on the iPhone used by the gunman. But Apple, living up to its statements, disagreed with the process stating that it could affect and threaten the security of iPhone users.
If you have a waterproof phone like the all-new Galaxy S7, iPhone 7 or Sony Xperia XZ, things could really be different for you. It's an incredible feature. However, what really makes a phone be water-resistant? And exactly how "waterproof" are these phones?

Whether you're comparing the pros and the cons of Apple's new iPhone or just wanted to know more about the water resistance of your phone in general, here are the answers for you.

How does water resistance work?

Advanced, weak glass screens are posing a difficult issue for water-resistance, because manufacturers are unable to attach them to its own frame. So manufacturers utilized a surprising and simple method: using glue. Lots and lots of glue.

They may be called tapes, seals, or adhesives, but they are all essentially the same. Manufacturers are using a sticky, rubbery, and also a glue-like substance to make an air-tight seal that will cover every hole and essentially make your phone waterproof.

It isn't airtight, but instead water-tight

It is important that some phone parts are not totally sealed. Speakers need air to enter and also get to leave the phone because making vibrations with the help of the air is how they are able to make sounds.

Also, if a phone is totally sealed, the pressure in the interior of the phone won't be equivalent to its outside surface, making an opportunity for its own pressure to get out of the phone's seals while letting water in.

It is not literally waterproof

The problem now is, none of the mentioned methods are sufficient to keep the water out totally. That means there are no totally water-resistant phones out there. "With enough pressure, water will travel through; it's just a matter of how much is needed," iFixit's Havard said.

Waterproofing isn't in your warranty

You definitely need to be aware of this. Despite the fact that these companies guarantee their phones are water-resistant, none of their warranties protect against water damage. In fact, Apple, Sony and Samsung all expressly say that water damage isn't covered.
"NCIS: New Orleans" Season 3 fans got a lot of events to anticipate. From Agent Percy and Lasalle's blooming romance to Agent Gregorio's dark secrets that could be revealed in season 3.

The introduction of Agent Tammy Gregorio played by Vanessa Ferlito is also the exit of Agent Meredith Brody played by Zoe Mclellan. According to reports, Agent Brody's departure is a "creative decision" which will be incorporated into the story in Season 2. And this happened when Agent Brody started a romantic relationship with Homeland Security Agent who was later on identified as a traitor. This is where Agent Gregorio comes in as the person who will investigate if any of the other agents are compromised.

However, Agent Gregorio has secrets herself that will cause an uproar in Season 3. "She's causing an uproar. She's out of control. They don't really know at first, though, with what's going on," Ferlito said.

Next is the romantic story of Agent Percy and Lasalle that was already obvious at the last episodes of season 2. Shalita Grant, the actress who plays Percy, says "the first few episodes would reveal more about their growing affection for each other."

NCIS Season 3 will be filming this week in Harahan, Louisiana and residents are advised the filming to cause some noise disturbances to the community. Officials issue a warning "Specifically, the sequence on Thursday, which will be filmed between noon and 8 p.m., will include special effects explosions" Local police and fire officials will be on sight to monitor the filming.

"NCIS: New Orleans" is a television series that collaborates police procedures with military drama. The series' executive producer are Mark Harmon, Jeffrey Lieber, James Hayman and Gary Glasberg who also wrote the pilot. It is the third franchise of the series "NCIS" and set in New Orleans. On March 25, 2016, the series was renewed for a 3rd season that premiered on September 20, 2016.
Bad news for Blue Bell ice cream lovers. The company announced some of its products may have been contaminated with Listeria bacteria and consequently issued a voluntary recall for two of their offered flavors: No Egg Cookie Dough and Cookie Two Step.

Listeria monocytogeneses or simply Listeria bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to young children and people with weak immune system. Listeria is also known to cause miscarriages and still births to pregnant women, while healthy individuals affected by it can suffer from nausea and fever.

No Incidents Reported From Latest Blue Bell Listeria Scare

According to reports, the affected Blue Bell products were produced in the company's Sylacauga, Alabama plant as they were created using a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by Aspen Hills, a third party supplier.

The products were distributed in ten states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

According to the statement of Blue Bell posted on their Facebook page: "No illnesses have been reported to date, but Blue Bell is taking this step because we remain committed to producing a safe, high-quality, great-tasting ice cream for you and your family to enjoy."

Though the Blue Bell's products undergo a test that requires samples of negative tests before they can be displayed and sold on market, the company reportedly just did this precaution step to avoid further damages.

Not The First Time

It can be recalled that a similar incident happened in early 2015, when Blue Bell had a Listeria outbreak and stopped their production. Thanks to Sid Bass, oil millionaire, Blue Bell resumed their production late 2015.

However, Marion Nestle, a professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University, asked, "You can make a mistake once but for a company to make a mistake twice?" referring to Blue Bell.

Company lawyer Bill Marler negotiated a settlement with a Florida man who got sick after eating Blue Bell ice cream that tested positive for listeria. On Sept. 21, Marler wondered if the supplier, Aspen Hills, is also the one responsible for the "test and hold" method ensuring product safety.

This is not the end for Blue Bell, though. As Marler put it, the company has other "bigger concerns than the lister-bacteria recall."
The A-list couple just received its greatest gift this year.

It was no secret that the frontman of Maroon 5 and Victorias' Secret supermodel are primed for parenthood. Levine said in a guesting on Live with Kelly and Michael last April. "Over the moon", he continued as per multiple sources.

It was in May 2012 when Prinsloo and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine began dating. They were the talk of the town once the news was brought out. Levine married Prinsloo in Mexico on July 19, 2014. Levine, 37, and Prinsloo who is 27 announced last March 2016 that they are expecting their first child. Today, they welcomed their baby girl named, Dusty Rose.

In mid August, the Namibian beauty and supermodel shared and teased a beautiful picture of herself in a polka dot bikini, displaying her baby bump. "34 weeks" she added as she captioned the image.For the past few months, Prinsloo religiously documented her first pregnancy. Sharing it to the world with her growing belly via her Instagram account.

The pregnancy also triggered the cancellation of Maroon 5's show in Hartford, Connecticut in September 19. In their official website, the band didn't cloak as to why the concert was canceled. However, we are pretty sure that most of the fans are thrilled that the frontman of the band is about to become a dad.

In a recent interview, Levine said he wasn't nervous and quoted "I'll probably be a lot more freaked out when I see the baby and I'm like, Oh, there's a baby now!' ". "I want to have 100 kids," Levine said in August 2014. "I want to have more kids that is socially responsible," he added.

Starting a family was and always has been the priority of the couple when they got married. They've been finding time and ways on how to start growing their family. And now they have a beautiful angel that completes the Levine family.
Tests conducted from Sept. 19 to 21 at the China Peacekeeping Police Training Center. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

China is now the largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping among UN Security Council members, involved with 10 of the current 16 peacekeeping operations led by UN's department of peacekeeping operations, with over 2,600 Chinese soldiers taking part.

Many of these missions have taken place in Africa, where it has been reported that a senior PLA official has promised to increase support in Africa last month, according to CCTV.

Senior Colonel Zhou Zhe, deputy director of the peacekeeping center headquarters in Beijing is quoted by New Vision as saying, "China, as a major power, is committed to global stability through peacekeeping efforts, together with our partners."

Now, 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.

Pictured are the round of testing conducted from Sept. 19 to 21 at the China Peacekeeping Police Training Center, where UN officials tested the 160 new peacekeeping candidates on their language abilities, driving skills and use of weapons. They carried out interviews and assessed test scores on strategic subjects.

This all fits into a plan to overhaul the peacekeeping department focusing on what's being called the three P's-Planning, Pledges and Performance, says CCTV.

President Xi Jinping pledged 8,000 troops for UN peacekeeping last year around this time, with Premier Li Keqiang urging nations to make a concerted effort toward both short-term and long-term sustainable development goals in his speech UN General Assembly on Wednesday, further pledging $300 million in additional aid to the UN.
Naruto Shippuden has its innate ability of impressing its fans with surprising details especially with its alleged series finale, episode 476.

Manga Series Has More Episodes To Offer

Contrary to prior reports that Naruto Shippuden episode 476 is the last episode of the popular manga series, new spoilers have surfaced that the phenomenal anime have more storylines to show.

Following episodes 476 & 477 that will be aired back-to-back on September 29 is episode 478 (698th episode of entire Naruto anime series) slated for an October 6 release. It is titled Unison 'Wakai no Ini' that will deal on the aftermath of Naruto & Sasukes battle and their plans of restoring the Shinobi world.

Episode 479 is expected to recap the events that took place after the 4th Great Shinobi War. Joining Boruto, Sarada, Mitsuki on the series finale on October 13 are the new generations of ninja.

In addition, TV Tokyo was reported to air a special episode of "Naruto Hidden" this fall which is a compilation of stories that occured between the last Shinobi war and the epilogue.

Episode 476: The Last Battle To Air in Full Color

The highly anticipated battle between Naruto and Sasuke will come to fruition next week. Both skilled fighters are expected to showcase their powers and forces to destroy each other.

The preview of the said episode was released in black and white; however, the upcoming episode "The Final Battle" will be in colored form designed with the same color smearing system applied by the animation team in the past fight scenes of the show. The showrunner verified via his Twitter account that the hour-long special episode that will highlight both episodes 476 & 477 isn't going to be in black and white.

It looks like the followers of the hit Japanese anime have a lot of reasons to be happy with more Naruto episodes to watch out for.
Yahoo Inc. disclosed on Thursday, Sept. 22, potentially the largest data breach on record, a massive hack involving at least 500 million stolen accounts.

500 Million Yahoo Accounts Stolen

According to The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo believes that the 2014 massive security breach has carried on by a "state-sponsored actor." The attack is believed to be state-sponsored because of its resemblance to previous hacks traced to Russian intelligence agencies.

Yahoo announced that it is working with law enforcement on investigating the matter. So far, no evidence was found that the state-sponsored actor is still in Yahoo's network.

The company said that hackers may have stolen email addresses, encrypted passwords, names, dates of birth, telephone numbers. However, the most valuable user data such as bank account information and payment card data did not appear to have been compromised, according to Yahoo.

Reuters reports that well-known cryptologist Bruce Schneier stated that it is too early to evaluate what impact the hack might have on Yahoo and its users, but it seems that this is the biggest security breach ever. Compared to other corporate breaches, the size of the 2014 attack on Yahoo was unprecedented.

Schneier added that many important questions are still without answer, including details on the identity of the state-sponsored hackers behind the 2014 data breach. It is also still unclear when Yahoo first discovered the hack and why it took the company two years to make its findings public.

The Yahoo breach could prompt the businesses and government alike to increase digital defenses, according to Dan Kaminsky, a well-known Internet security expert. He said that "five hundred of the Fortune 500 have been hacked" but nothing changed except maybe the fact that these security breaches are getting disclosed publicly.

Yahoo is currently negotiating a deal with Verizon. The mobile carrier company is interested to acquire Yahoo, but it is unclear how the disclosure of the 2014 data breach might affect the negotiation.
The highly-anticipated RPG, Persona 5, has just rolled out in Japan a week ago and the numbers are remarkable. Media Create, a sales tracker, shows that around 337 thousand copies - and counting, were sold just a week after its release (specifically Sept. 12 to 18), dominating the sales charts. Go Persona 5!

This puts Persona 5 on the fastest selling spot for the Persona series in its 20 years of existence, PersonaCentral.com reports.

Famitsu sales tracker reports that sell-through rate for the PlayStation 4 version was between 80 to 100 percent while the PS3 garnered 60 to 80 percent.

Sales Comparison For All Persona Games

A basic comparison of the Japanese opening sales can be viewed below for all Persona titles initial release numbers. All data are taken from Famitsu sales tracker except for Persona 5.

To learn more about the Persona series sales data, view this infographic from PersonaCentral:

Atlus' bestselling single launch of all time in Japan, ever since the company was established 30 years ago (April 1986), is the first installment: Persona for the classic PlayStation (PS1) with a record of 391.5k copies sold. Persona 5 is likely to surpass this in the weeks if not days to come.

Software Sales From This Week

Presented below is data showing the top 10 selling games in Japan dated from Sept. 12 to 18, 2016, courtesy of Media Create (thru NeoGAF).

Persona 5 has just been launched for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan on Sept 15, 2016. It will have its North American and European release on Feb. 14, 2017 followed by Korean and Chinese releases on the same year.

Are you excited about Persona 5 coming to your country? How are you enjoying the Persona series so far? Is the 5th title going to surprise us or will it be the same old Persona game?

If you notice the date for next year, this will be the perfect gift for your better half, it's Valentine's Day! Hit us with your comments below.
Lots of players -- most especially those who own Sony's console -- were bummed when Bethesda finally announced the cancellation of Fallout 4 PS4 mods. To some degree, the community felt like the studio failed them. Add to that, the tech giant didn't opt to release any explanation as to why the implementation never happened, thus the neverending confusion. Now, it's been believed that this was actually due to the video game company's exclusivity deal with Microsoft.

According to Express, Sony's decision to cancel Fallout 4 PS4 mods (even Skyrim) resulted from Bethesda's supposed exclusivity deal with Microsoft. This, along with the studio having failed to meet a certain agreement, is the main reason why modding features won't ever arrive.

Bethesda, nonetheless, denied the accusations, stating that this has nothing to do with the cancellation of Fallout 4 PS4 mods. That, in one way or another, the company has no exclusivity deal of sorts with the Xbox One console owner.

Pete Hines, in particular, shed some light on this ongoing rumor behind the status quo of Fallout 4 mods. He iterated that never did the studio plan to sign an exclusive contract with Microsoft. That, in fact, they have always wanted for the mods to be released on all gaming platforms back in June.

The absence of PS4 mods in Fallout 4 (and also in Skyrim) has brought major disappointments to the community. This is most especially that Farming Simulator 17 -- also a game from Bethesda -- is confirmed to feature a mod support for the aforesaid console.

Hines, nevertheless, explained that Fallout 4 mods are quite different with Farming Simulator 17 in a way. The term "mods," as he pointed out, mean a lot of things. That what the devs do with FS 17 is completely unique from how things work in F4.

It should be noted, though, that Bethesda is looking for a workaround that'll help bring Fallout 4 mods to reality. While this is something that fans can look forward to, the guarantee of its existence is close to none. After all, as what many suggests, Bethesda has to work hand-in-hand with Sony if they really want this thing done.

What are your thoughts on Fallout 4 PS4 mods being cancelled? Do you believe that the studio really has an exclusivity deal with Microsoft? Be sure to let us know what you're thinking at the comment section below!
Apple has been making its presence felt in Asia. That includes China and Japan. Now, the tech giant will open a store in South Korea. The intense rivalry between Apple and Samsung has become more evident.

An Apple Store In South Korea

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has been planning to open its first retail store in South Korea. This can be detrimental to Samsung if this move succeeds, as the South Korean tech giant has already suffered from the worldwide Galaxy Note 7 recall. Samsung now has to deal with competing against Apple in its home turf.

Some reports actually state that Apple's Korean unit has just signed a lease for a property. In fact, they have paid a $1.44 million deposit. According to the Korea Times, the lease will run until Feb. 29, 2036. However, the opening date is not yet known.

The property is said to be in Garosu-gil road. It's an area in Seoul's Gangnam district. Gangnam is home to Samsung's three-story D'light store and one of its main office buildings.

Apple has not confirmed this report, however.

Apple's Market In South Korea

Consumers in South Korea have always bought iPhones from third-party suppliers. Apple has authorized these vendors and carrier partners to sell their devices.

An Apple spokesperson said the company hasn't made any announcements regarding a store in South Korea. Apple devices are sold via authorized third-party vendors, as well as carrier partners. The company already has a presence in several countries in the region, including China and Japan.

A mobile industry expert told Korea Times that the company is putting an effort into the Korean market. Apple is keen on fixing the problem of its poor A/S support. That has been the huge criticism of their Korean costumers.

Samsung's Reign In Their Home Turf

According to the Digital Trends, Samsung accounts for about 23 percent of South Korea's economy. This is where Samsung has one of its strongest markets. 88 percent of South Koreans own a smartphone, according to the Pew Research Center. This is the highest percentage in the world.
About nine months after LinkedIn completed a similar redesign of its mobile apps, the professional social network is finally redesigning its homepage on the desktop computer version.

LinkedIn's New Design

According to Fortune, the long-awaited redesign is just a first step in LinkedIn's attempt to attract users into spending more time on its service. With the new design, the professional social network also shows an obvious desire to become more appealing to millennials by adding the kind of features the younger users already use elsewhere in their messaging apps.

The new LinkedIn designs include new messaging features, a new look for the main feed and a chat bot that can help with chores like scheduling meetings. These are all some clear attempts to bring LinkedIn's features into the modern era of consumer apps.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, at a press event at the company's San Francisco office, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner spoke about the updates in the desktop computer homepage version. He explained that the changes are in accord with the professional social network's declared mission "to make the world more productive and successful."

Among the upcoming changes is a simpler design for Linkedn's main feed that allows users to access their own profiles, get the latest updates from their connections and check messages. The new design contains buttons at the top left corner of the homepage for the various sections, being more like LinkedIn's mobile app.

LinkedIn is also introducing a chat bot. This is a feature that lately has been increasingly adopted by other social media companies such as Facebook. The chat bot in LinkedIn can help users who are exchanging messages and decide they want to meet up. The bot can make scheduling meeting easier by finding mutually available times in their Google calendars.

This week, LinkedIn has also integrated Lynda.com's vast training library into its main site, according to CIO. All premium subscribers will have access to this new LinkedIn Learning service and an enterprise-focused version is also on the way.
Tesla Motors Inc. consumers in Norway are demanding a refund from the U.S. electric-car manufacturer, claiming that the car models that they bought that was endorsed with an "insane mode" feature of acceleration didn't accelerate as fast as they expected it to be.

An estimated number of 126 Norwegian owners of the Tesla Model S P85D performance version are demanding an immediate refund after the supposed "insane mode" featured model only peaked at 469 horsepower instead of the promised 700 hp, according to Kaspar N. Thommessen, a lawyer at Wikborg Rein law firm.

The Complaints

The car "has too low horsepower," the lawyer stated in a recently e-mailed answer to numerous questions. "And of course, it affects the car's performance, according to the consumers." Tesla dismissed the accusations.

"The car meets requirements according to the measurement method required by the authorities," explained Even Sandvold Roland, a Tesla representative. The Oslo District Court stated that it has already scheduled hearings and court meetings for the case in December.

Norway Is Promoting Electric Car Usage

Norway is one of the largest market sellers for the Model S Sedan, in part for state budgeting that encourages their people to opt for electric-car purchases instead. Tesla not making sales on the P85D version there anymore, while the inheritor P90D costs $96,700.

The former model was popular for its so-called "insane mode" acceleration feature after it was released and dispatched about two years ago. Norway's Consumer Disputes Commission administered last June that five of the P85D buyers who filed a complaint about inadequate acceleration should be paid as much as 50,000 kroner each for the trouble.

Tesla Conducts Their Own Test

Tesla's conducted their own tests and separate investigations showed the P85D can step up from zero to a hundred kilometers per hour in only 3 seconds. That implies that the performance that was promised "have always been accurate," Sandvold Roland said in an e-mail.
The Note 7 explosion saga may finally be going to a halt now that the replacement units are in and the device is about to re-enter the mobile market. However, this doesn't mean that the company is already safe from criticisms. In fact, it's still hard to determine how much time it would take for the stain on its image to come off. However, if there is one thing that is for sure, it would be that the company is taking these things seriously. According to rumors, Samsung might even have a lot of new surprises for their next flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Rumors

It looks like fans are in for a treat as Samsung is likely going to treat the S8 as its token of apology for its consumers. According to recent reports, the company might go all out on its next flagship to cleanse its name from the damage done by the Note 7 controversy. Here's what's been heard about the Galaxy S8 so far.

Samsung Galaxy S8 To Come With Immaculate Display For VR Compatibility

It is quite rumored that Samsung will give at least one of its Galaxy S8 variants a 4K display that will have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. This will not only provide the most vivid screen there is, it will also make VR integration a much more pleasurable experience.

Samsung Galaxy S8 To Have Two Curved Screen Variants

It has been mentioned many times that Samsung might finally be ditching the flat screen unit for the Galaxy S8 release. According to a report by Forbes, the company might go for two curved screen variants that differ in size. Instead of having a difference in physical shape, the S8 devices might focus on their internal differences.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Will Ship With A Dual Lens Camera

Although rumored to be shipped in the Note 7, it looks like the dual lens camera system would instead show up in the Galaxy S8. Skipping the Note 7 in using the dual lens camera might have been a good decision for the company considering the losses that they have already been through without using that technology.

Samsung Galaxy S8 To Ship In Advance

An IBTimes report said that Samsung might be releasing the Galaxy S8 in advance, at least according to different analysts. One analyst said that if Samsung is to delay its S8 release to the end of Q1 2017, the potential for revenue in the mobile business division might get worse in that year. Another one also said that Samsung could fix the sales challenge brought about by the Note 7 by releasing its new flagship, instead of trying to increase the sales of the Note 7.

Conclusions

Although solid announcements from official Samsung representatives are still scarce, it is safe to assume that the company is planning something big for its next flagship release. If indeed Samsung is to release the Galaxy S8 earlier than expected, then it will be in no more than five months. However, if the release date is still the same as the other Samsung S smartphones, then fans could expect the Galaxy S8 to be launched sometime between February and March next year.
It's natural for several planets to revolve around one star. So, it's actually rare to have an alien planet orbiting more than one star. Now, astronomers have actually confirmed the said unique star system. They used the Hubble Space Telescope to observe a phenomenon called gravitational microlensing.

The said phenomenon is the bending of light caused by strong gravity around objects in space.

The Exoplanet And The Two Stars

The circumbinary planet is located 8,000 light years from Earth toward the center of the Milky Way. The exoplanet was first spotted in 2007. Astronomers first thought that it's orbiting only one star. However, the images showed a third object, according to Space.

They were not able to identify that other object, though. They revealed that those ground-based observations suggested two scenarios. David Bennett of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said that it could be a Saturn-mass planet orbiting a close binary star pair. Or it could be a Saturn-mass and an Earth-mass planet orbiting a single star.

The Use Of The Hubble Telescope

The researchers have gotten a better view by using the Hubble Space Telescope. It was able to take high-resolution images. Astronomers have found an answer for the binary-star system. They have discovered that the brightness meant two closely orbiting red dwarf stars.

A two-planet single-star model is not possible. Based on the researchers' data, the brightness is neither too bright nor too faint. This is what the authors stated in The Astronomical Journal. Bennett added that the two-stars and one-planet model is consistent with the data.

According to the Seeker, the two red dwarfs are orbiting one another only 7 million miles apart. The giant exoplanet orbits the stars at a distance of 300 million miles. It completes one orbit around the binary every seven years.

The Hubble has been really useful in this discovery. They plan on using it to search for more exoplanets.
(Xinhua) 19:51, September 23, 2016

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent headquarters of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was held on Friday in Beijing.

The headquarters will be located in the north of Beijing, between the Olympic Forest Park and the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2019, the bank said in an online statement.

Speaking at the ceremony, AIIB President Jin Liqun said,"This Bank sets out to be lean, clean and green, and there is no better site in Beijing to highlight our green commitment than alongside the beautiful Olympic Forest Park."

The AIIB has been using temporary offices on downtown Beijing's Financial Street since beginning operations in January.

Jin expects the headquarters to serve as a new city landmark and provide a solid foundation for the bank's development.

The first chairman of the AIIB board of governors and Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei and Mayor of Beijing Wang Anshun attended the ceremony.

The AIIB is a not-for-profit bank initiated by China and supported by a wide range of countries and regions. With authorized capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars, it aims to provide financing for infrastructure improvement in Asia.

In June, the bank approved its first four loans, totaling 509 million dollars, to fund power, housing and transportation projects in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistanand Tajikistan.
It looks like the membership subscription price for PlayStation Plus has gone higher. Starting Sept. 22, PlayStation Plus membership has increased its price. Before, PlayStation Plus subscription was only $49.99 per year. Now, it has been increased to $59.99 per year. It is now equal with the price for Xbox Live. PlayStation Plus' monthly subscription has remained at $10, but the three-month plan package has increased to $35.

In Canada, the annual subscription for the PlayStation Plus is even higher, since it is now priced at $70 CAD. The monthly subscription is at $12 CAD, and $30 CAD for a three-month subscription. This increase was done for the first time since the launching of PlayStation Plus subscription service in 2010. The price increase was not only done in North America, but also in Canada.

Reports from Gaming Target said that it is also possible to buy more years of subscription for practical purposes. Sony has not yet released any information behind the reason for this price increase. It was in the hope of its subscribers that the amount, obtained from this increase, will go to Sony's efforts in improving the PlayStation Network - so that a faster and more reliable service will be experience by its users.

As cited by Play Station Lifestyle, Sony discussed last month about their new pricing - saying that the new pricing will reflect the current market conditions. They added that this price increase will enable them to continue providing an exceptional value to their members. They also further justified that discontinuing the subscription should be done by turning off the auto-renewal in the account settings before September 22. This month's PlayStation Plus has included free games such as Journey, Lords of the Fallen, Amnesia, Memories, and more.
Superman died in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and fans may be wondering when they will see the Man of Steel fly once more.

Warner Bros. answered fans' questions by teasing that the man from Krypton will surely make an epic comeback in the forthcoming "Justice League" movie.

Cavill lent further support to this claim with his latest Instagram and Facebook posts. His teaser not only gave a glimpse of the next DC film but also some real heroics that will surely warm the heart of fans.

He revealed that two special guests from the Make-A-Wish Foundation visited the set of "Justice League."

The Superman actor took a break from filming and welcomed two children named Orin and Summer from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Cavill warmly accommodated the kids saying that they are real superheroes.

Cavill said in his post: "I had the good fortune of meeting some real Superheroes last week. Orin, your strength is exceptional and Summer your support is a rock that is irreplaceable. You are both inspirations to us all!"

Cavill and the children were apparently in Warner Bros. studios in London where "Justice League" is still in heavy production. Despite the busy schedule of the actors, the production team generously spent some time with the children.

While hanging out in the studio, Cavill and the kids posed next to new cardboard standees of the six Justice League heroes.

Cavill and the boy, Orin, did the classic "hands on the hip" pose next to the Superman and Cyborg cutouts.

The girl named Summer did the Wonder Woman "arms up" pose beside the Wonder Woman and Aquaman cutouts.

The forthcoming "Justice League" movie will feature Ben Affleck, Cavill and Gal Gadot as Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, respectively.

Joining the core members of the League are Jason Mamoa as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Ezra Miller as The Flash.

Zack Snyder, who directed "Man of Steel" and "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," also took the director's chair for "Justice League" which will hit theaters on Nov. 17, 2017.
The plot of the Uber Scam is simple: drivers upload creepy profile pictures to prompt users to cancel their booked rides.

The internet and the news centers in China have been filled with reports about a number of Uber drivers who are using zombie-like profile pictures to scare customers in the hope that they will cancel their rides. As per Uber rules, a small fee will be collected from every ride cancellation after which the money will go to the booked driver's account.

Drivers (referred to as "ghost drivers") who place distorted, unsettling photos on their Uber profiles are cropping up the China Uber app, and reports of increasing complaints from victims are now starting to alarm Chinese residents.

"It was at night and from the driver's location I was expecting the driver to arrive very soon. The map showed the driver just passed me, but there was no car around," Veaer Wang from Shandong province told the Financial Times. "The road was very narrow and there's no way a car could have passed me without me seeing it."

Apparently, the scam aims to scare passengers who booked through their Uber app into cancelling their rides, which has a corresponding penalty.

Local reports about these "ghost drivers" are causing some residents to think it's an organized scam, reports the Guardian. The said drivers will collect a certain amount of yuan (less than a dollar) for a cancellation fee.

A back-up plan is also planned in the event that riders aren't scared off by the profile pictures. In this second scheme, the "ghost driver" will accept the ride but will collect a short ride fee before the rider even sees the car.

Pieces of evidence are currently being gathered by Uber to support the move to eradicate the behavior from its system and services. Reports also showed proofs of Uber's initiative of refunding people who complain about being ghosted. Uber said during an interview with a Chinese media that the company has a "zero-tolerance attitude to scamming behavior."

Moreover, Uber has implemented a facial recognition technology that will match the profile picture showed on the Uber app with what the company holds on file.

Theories also came out that the scam came as a result of Uber's transition period since it announced its partnership with rival company Didi Chuxing, Sixth Tone reports.


Verizon, which is finalizing its $4.8 billion purchase of Yahoo, said late Thursday it was notified of the massive data breach at Yahoo only in the last two days.

Verizon said it would evaluate what it will do next. In an emailed statement, the company acknowledged that it now has only "limited information and understanding of the impact" of the hack.

Yahoo earlier in the day blamed the attack on a "state-sponsored actor"without further elaboration and said its ongoing investigation indicates that information from at least 500 million user accounts was stolen.

Yahoo didn't comment immediately on how the hack and its aftermath might affect its sale to Verizon.

Analysts said Verizon most likely won't move to break its planned Yahoo deal, which is still subject to regulatory review. But Verizon might want to lower the price it is paying because it wasn't notified of the hack sooner and doesn't yet know the full liability Yahoo and Verizon would face from victims of the hack.

"Within the last two days, we were notified of Yahoo's security incident," said spokesman Bob Varettoni. "We understand that Yahoo is conducting an active investigation of this matter, but we otherwise have limited information and understanding of the impact. We will evaluate as the investigation continues through the lens of overall Verizon interests, including consumers, customers, shareholders and related communities. Until then, we are not in position to further comment."

Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics and a recognized security expert, said Verizon should still buy Yahoo and "maybe get an adjustment on the price." But Entner said that Yahoo's hack was "not something that is preventable."

"If a nation state wants to break into your data, they will," he added. "It's only a question of when, not if. Security is only a question of time."

Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said acquisition contracts always include clauses that affect the final price of a deal. "There are mitigation clauses that can increase or decrease the final price," he said.

"It sounds like Yahoo kept Verizon in the dark along with the rest of us," said Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates. "If I were Verizon, I'd be particularly anxious. If they acquire Yahoo as planned, they will be assuming all liabilities for any damages that the data breach caused."

Gold add that Yahoo obviously has "no idea" yet what the liabilities could total. With that in mind, the carrier may decide to delay the acquisition until the full ramifications are known.

"That would be the cautious and sensible thing to do," he added.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he was troubled that the Yahoo breach occurred in 2014 and yet the public is only learning details of it today. He called for a federal law to create a uniform data breach notification standard.
Google Fiber won a victory in Nashville as the city's Metro Council approved an ordinance called One Touch Make Ready, that would speed up the company's fiber-optic cable installations.

The ordinance, passed Wednesday night by a voice vote, gives Google Fiber and other ISPs quicker access to utility poles for deploying fast broadband with fiber-optic cable.

Without the measure, each ISP has had to send out a separate crew to a utility pole to move its own line to make room for a new one. The ordinance would permit a single company to make the wire adjustments on a pole instead of waiting for existing providers  competitors like Comcast or AT&T-- to make the changes, which could take months.

Mayor Megan Barry is expected to sign the measure into law, but is also expecting a legal challenget. AT&T is reportedly the most likely to file a lawsuit, and Barry said protracted litigation could delay implementation of the law and, therefore, fiber access for citizens, according to The Tennessean.

AT&T could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, Google Fiber posted an upbeat update to a previous blog. Its a great day for Nashville, the blog said of the councils vote. This will allow new entrants like Google Fiber to bring broadband to more Nashvillians efficiently, safely and quickly.

Google Fiber said it launched in Nashville in April, although progress on the rollout has been sidetracked by the work on the ordinance.

Deploying fiber-optic cable on utility poles and underground is a costly and time-consuming process even when competition from other providers doesnt pose disruptions. In August, a Wall Street Journal report said Google Fiber was hoping to rely on wireless technology instead of fiber in about 12 major cities to reduce its costs. Google Fiber officials did not comment to Computerworld on that report.

Google Fiber has reached six metro areas, starting first in Kansas City in late 2012.
With Oracle now trying to get back on track with advancing enterprise Java, the company is seeking rapprochement with factions that had sought to advance the platform on their own. The two groups involved are mostly amenable to patching up the relationship.

Oracle's Anil Gaur, group vice president of engineering, said this week he had already been in touch with some of the concerned parties. The two factions include Java EE Guardians, led by former Oracle Java EE evangelist Reza Rahman, and Microprofile.io, which has included participation from Red Hat and IBM.

Microprofile.io even has set out to develop its own profile for microservices in enterprise Java. Gaur said he sees the Microprofile efforts as complementary to what Oracle is doing. "I would like to see somehow them bringing back what they're learning to the Java EE platform," he said

Oracle sees Java EE Guardians one of several Java user groups and communities around the world that the company has worked with. Gaue expressed a desire to "join forces" with Java EE Guardians to help shape the future of Java EE.

Both Microprofile.io and Java EE Guardians arose due to the perception that Oracle was neglecting Java EE. In response, Oracle revealed intentions to refit EE for cloud computing and microservices. The company further detailed its plans this week at the JavaOne conference in San Francisco, involving the upcoming releases of Java EE 8 and EE 9.

At Microprofile.io, Red Hat's Rich Sharples was pleased with what Oracle has in mind for Java EE, for the most part. "We -- Red Hat -- think that the EE 8 definition is fine. Pretty much what we were hoping for," he said. "EE 9 looks way too ambitious and is probably unrealistic. We'll see."

Red Hat and others from Microprofile continue to talk to Oracle about ultimate alignment, with the main contention not about technical vision but about the process to get there, Sharples said. "We don't think the JCP [Java Community Process] has kept up with the times -- moves too slowly, not open enough -- and puts too much dependence on Oracle."

Java EE Guardians, however, is still standing by the JCP. "The Java EE Guardians already has and will continue to constructively engage Oracle through the JCP," Rahman said. "Our principal focus in the next few weeks is to help get the word out on Oracle's Java EE 8 and 9 survey [at] glassfish.org."

Oracle's Java EE proposal "seems by and large on the mark, but we should wait for the survey results to see what the community really needs," said Rahman. "For the same reasons, it's very premature to comment on the quality of the preliminary ideas presented on Java EE 9. It may be that many of the ideas in Java EE 9 are not ready for standardization, though some clearly are."

Suggestions to drop Java Message Service (JMS) 2.1 and MVC in Java EE 8 might dissatisfy some members of the community, according to Rahman. Oracle wants to roll back to JMS 2.0 while work would stop on the MVC Java Specification Request. "As has always been the case, the Java EE Guardians may choose to try to ask for specification ownership transfer on these bodies of work or progress work on these and other fronts outside the JCP in pure open source," said Rahman.

Gaur said he did not view what has been happening with Java EE, with groups splintering off on their own, as a fork of the platform. Neither Java EE Guardians nor Microprofile.io has viewed the situation as a fork, either. Companies like Red Hat and IBM have developed Java technologies on their own and brought them back to the platform: Red Had built Contexts and Dependency Injection (CDI) Bean Validation, while IBM built batch capabilities.

Oracle's plan involves two major upgrades to EE developed in parallel. Java EE 8 is due in late 2017, followed a year later by version 9. Asked if having these two upgrades occur in one year was too ambitious, Gaur stressed a need to stay abreast with fast-changing technology. "If you look at the cloud world, things move very, very fast. So we need to keep up the pace. Otherwise we become irrelevant."
(Xinhua) 20:30, September 23, 2016

LONDON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has urged his country and Britain to further deepen their mutual political trust and boost exchanges in various areas.

Du Qinglin, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, made the remarks while meeting with British political leaders during his four-day visit to Britain.

He said Sino-British relations had been generally stable and healthy in recent years.

China stands ready to work with Britain to deepen their political mutual trust, communication, and exchanges in various areas to advance the development of bilateral relations in a better and more stable manner, Du said.

The Chinese official also said the Communist Party of China is willing to further strengthen its friendly exchanges with major British political parties in parliament to inject fresh impetus into bilateral relations.

During his stay in Britain, Du met with officials including British Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt and Leader of the House of Lords Natalie Evans.

The British officials said they attach great importance to Britain-China relations and hoped to have closer high-level exchanges and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

They also said the two sides should enhance their pragmatic cooperation in various areas and promote coordination and communication in global affairs.

Du also attended the ninth China-UK Leadership Forum which he hailed as an important platform where parties and statesmen of the two countries could have in-depth communication and learn from each other.

The forum meets annually and alternates between the two countries. It aims to discuss, debate and establish positions on key issues both on a bilateral and international basis, and build lasting relationships between statesmen in both countries.

Chinese and British leaders have recently reaffirmed that Sino-British relations were in a "golden era."
(Xinhua) 09:18, September 23, 2016

OTTAWA, Sept. 22 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Thursday that China and Canada have agreed to strengthen their ties in economic, trade and other fields, and to begin exploratory talks for a potential free trade agreement.

Li, who is on an official visit to the North American nation, made the remarks when meeting journalists together with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau.

"We have reached many new consensuses in economic and trade area," said Li, adding that China is willing to import frozen beef from Canada and the two sides have reached an agreement on Canada's canola exports to China.

Li also said that the two sides discussed cooperation in finance, tourism, law enforcement, as well as between their local governments.

"The exchange of visits within one month showed that China-Canada relations are entering a new stage," said Li who referred to Trudeau's recent official visit to China, adding that "it's rare in the bilateral ties, and conforms to the interests of both countries as well as the expectations of the international community."

Li arrived in Ottawa on Wednesday. His visit to Canada is the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years.

The Chinese leader said the two sides agreed that they have broad common interests and sound cooperation. The development of the bilateral ties is in the interests of both Chinese and Canadian peoples as well as the world' s peace and stability.

"We have decided to strengthen exchanges in all levels and in multiple mechanisms. We have agreed to establish high-level financial dialogue mechanism," Li said.

The Chinese leader also noted that they have discussed their differences, saying that it is normal for China and Canada, two countries with different national conditions and in different development stages, to differ.

He added that what's more important is to manage their differences, knowing that their common interests far outweigh differences, Li said.

"We are very pleased about the nature and the stability we have been able to bring to the Canada-China relationship," said Trudeau at the joint press conference. Trudeau said the two sides agreed to double the bilateral trade volume by 2025, and the economic relations between the two countries have huge potential that can create decent salaries and jobs. Trudeau added that maintaining stable relations with China is in the interests of both countries. He is looking forward to bringing more opportunities for Canadians through relations with China.

Before the joint press conference, the two leaders also attended a signing ceremony for 14 bilateral cooperation documents.

The two countries signed an agreement on the sharing and return of forfeited assets, a joint statement on the cooperation in third-party market, a protocol for frozen beef to be exported from Canada to China, an arrangement in cooperation in combating crimes, an arrangement for enhanced cooperation in tourism, and others.

Earlier, Trudeau held a welcome ceremony for the Chinese premier, and held talks with Li, which represents the formal launch of an annual dialogue mechanism between the two heads of government established during Trudeau' s China trip.

Li on Thursday also met with Canada's Senate Speaker George Furey, Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan and the General Governor David Johnston.
Japan has reportedly killed at least 333 minke whales this year, out of which are 200 pregnant females, all for the sake of 'scientific purposes.'



According to National Geographic, the International Whaling Commission has banned whaling for commercial purposes way back 1986, but Japan is using 'scientific studies' exemption to cover up for their whaling activities. Minke whales, which are the smallest member of the rorqual family of whales, received attention since the depletion of larger whales in the recent decades.

An international court ruling in 2014 doubts the legitimacy of the scientific explorations, but Japan revised the program to be 'more scientific.' The 333 caught whales is already two-thirds lower of its quota for research and scientific legitimacy of the program.

According to whaling program manager of nonprofit organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation Astrid Fuchs, Japan is using the caught whales to prove that the minke whale population is healthy enough for regular whaling. It is reported that the research targets young and pregnant adult female whales in an effort to understand their populations in the Antarctic Ocean. It aims to collect data for the best methods for managing minke populations.



In Think Progress' interview with biologist and professor University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Andrew Brierly doubts the legitimacy of the science behind the whaling program. He added that "the science is not sufficiently persuasive and yet they go ahead and shoot whales."



Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research confirmed this with The Guardian, citing that it was a "scientific" expedition in the Southern Seas. Out of the 333 minke whales killed, 230 of them were females, and more than 90 percent were pregnant. The agency said the expedition took place without protests from anti-whaling organizations.

Experts say that Japan's covering up the purpose of the Antarctic mission since the meat still ends up on the market.
NAIROBI, Sept. 22 -- The China-Africa Development Fund(CADFund) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kenyan government to develop 20,000 housing units for civil servants.

Speaking at the launch of a new CADFund office in Nairobi, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Housing James Macharia said Chinese investments have stimulated economic growth in the east African nation.

"Kenya has witnessed huge Chinese investments in the last decade. The signing of an MoU with China-Africa Development Fund to develop 20,000 housing units for our civil servants is a testimony to our strong partnership," Macharia said.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa and senior executives from CADFund witnessed the signing of the MoU.

Operated by the China Development Bank (CBD), CADFund's main tasks include supporting Chinese business and investing in Africa. It has a capital reserve totaling 10 billion U.S. dollars.

So far, CADFund has enlarged its investment portfolio across Africa in areas like agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure development and industrial parks.

Macharia said Kenya is keen to partner with Chinese financial institutions to modernize transportation infrastructure and develop new residential premises.

"China's Exim Bank and CADFund have a proven track record in infrastructure development. The setting up of CADFund offices here in Nairobi is very crucial," Macharia remarked, adding that Kenya will strengthen engagement with the private sector to develop new roads and social amenities.

Chi Jianxin, Chairman of CADFund, said that priority will be given to development of railways, roads, ports and industrial parks in Africa. He revealed that CADFund has invested in 87 projects across 36 African countries.
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(Xinhua) 09:35, September 23, 2016

MAPUTO, Sept. 22 -- China will help Mozambique establish an industrial park as an effort to increase job opportunities in the southern African country, according to Chinese Ambassador Su Jian.

Ambassador Su told Mozambican Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario on Wednesday in Maputo that China is willing to continue supporting the country in different domains including increasing job opportunities through the establishment of an industrial park.

The ambassador said the Chinese government would send a group of specialists to Mozambique next year to help establish the industrial park.

"Mozambican government has already identified a number of potential locations. With that defined, potential Chinese and Mozambican companies can be invited to the initial phase of the project," said the ambassador.

China is one of the major foreign investors in Mozambique and has been implementing a number of moves that tend to help Mozambique overcome the challenges it is going through in the economic domain.

Those moves include debt relief and loans with low or no interests as part of the Chinese and Mozambique strategy to strengthen cooperation. Enditem
Today

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Tomorrow

A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Cypriot Acting President Demetris Syllouris(L) delivers a speech during a gathering celebrating the 67th anniversary of the National Day of China in Nicosia, Cyprus on Sept. 22, 2016. China has always been a trustworthy and reliable friend, on whose assistance Cyprus can always count, Cypriot Acting President Demetris Syllouris said on Thursday, addressing a gathering celebrating the 67th anniversary of the National Day of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhang)

NICOSIA, Sept. 22 -- China has always been a trustworthy and reliable friend, on whose assistance Cyprus can always count, Cypriot Acting President Demetris Syllouris said on Thursday, addressing a gathering celebrating the 67th anniversary of the National Day of China.

Syllouris, the Speaker of Parliament who is deputizing for President Nicos Anastasiades, now attending the United NationsGeneral Assembly, said China and Cyprus share many common elements, like the struggle for national independence, freedom and dignity.

"Cyprus has often relied on China's support to defend its inalienable rights, when their value and very existence was questioned," Syllouris stressed.

"During times of dire need, China was there to offer more than just mere words of encouragement," Syllouris said.

He also mentioned China's increasing role in global affairs and its position as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

"Its constructive role in world affairs acquires more weight and substance, given that we live in turbulent times," he added.

Syllouris said that Cyprus looks forward to further forging and strengthening the two countries' friendship and cooperation, especially in areas like investments and tourism.

China's Ambassador Huang Xingyuan said that, China and Cyprus share the same policy on issues concerning core interests of the two countries.

"'One China, One Cyprus' is our common policy. We understand and support each other on issues concerning our core interests," the ambassador said.

He added that China appreciates the valuable support from Cyprus on the Taiwan issue, Tibet-related issues and Xinjiang-related issues, while China, reciprocating, actively supports an early reunification of Cyprus.

The anniversary celebration was attended by many Cypriot government officials and citizens, as well as Chinese living in Cyprus.

"Yet China and Cyprus have more in common than that," the ambassador said, mentioning the similarity of lyrics in the national anthems of the two countries, a long history, a splendid culture and peace-loving peoples.

Both China and Cyprus experienced colonial aggression and liberation movements and are also expecting the reunification of their countries, he added.

"Currently, China-Cyprus relations maintain a good momentum of development with frequent high-level exchanges, reinforced mutual political trust, expanding pragmatic exchanges, cooperation in various fields and mutual understanding and support in international affairs," Ambassador Huang said.

He also mentioned President Anastasiades's visit to China last year to attend a conference on the Silk Road and his successful meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"This visit has opened a new chapter in bilateral ties between China and Cyprus," he said, expressing hope that direct flights between the two countries will start soon.
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By Tom Engelhardt | ( 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.

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 Americas 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 hadnt grown a little rusty when it comes to the drone strikes in Pakistans tribal borderlands that its 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.

Put another way

You must be kidding!

The Race for the Generals: I mean, whos 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

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 eBays Womens 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).

Still, enough is enough, dont you think? So let me stop here and, just for the hell of it, join me one last time in chanting: You must be kidding!

Tom Engelhardt is a co-founder of the American Empire Project and the author of The United States of Fear as well as a history of the Cold War, The End of Victory Culture. He is a fellow of the Nation Institute and runs TomDispatch.com. His latest book is Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World.

Follow TomDispatch on Twitter and join us on Facebook. Check out the newest Dispatch Book, Nick Turses Next Time Theyll Come to Count the Dead, and Tom Engelhardts latest book, Shadow Government: Surveillance, Secret Wars, and a Global Security State in a Single-Superpower World.

Copyright 2016 Tom Engelhardt

Via Tomdispatch.com



related video added by Juan Cole:

The Ring of Fire: Trumps Pay-To-Play Bribery Scam Is Getting Uglier
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Mahmoud Abbas, president of Palestine, is asking Britain for an apology for its having in 1917 issued the infamous Balfour Declaration. He wont get one. The difference between the North Atlantic countries and the rest of the world is that the former are still committed to some key colonial arrangements made at the height of imperialism, which are perceived still to benefit the West in its grand strategy. Virtually no one in the rest of the world actively supports (as do the US and the UK) the continued expropriation of the Palestinians except the North Atlantic crowd, who perceive Israel as their human air craft carrier menacing the Middle East. (I know that the US and the UK occasionally make tut tut noises about Israeli squatter settlements on Palestinian land; these noises cannot be taken seriously given the billions in aid and other backing they proffer Tel Aviv).

On the occasion of this entirely justified demand by Palestine, Ill share a couple of my posts that delve into the significance of that declaration, which led to settler-colonialism in the British Mandate of Palestine and to the current Apartheid state in Israel-Palestine and the statelessness and oppression at the hands of Israelis of millions of Palestinians. This extended colonialism is unparalleled in the whole world: no other colonial power now existing is keeping millions stateless and without the right to have rights. And let me point out that British authorities were told by the European Powers after Versailles that the Balfour Declaration was *not* the basis for a legal claim of Zionist Jews to Palestine and that, moreover, British high officials agreed with this objection. That is, the legislative history does not even support the conventional Zionist interpretation of Balfour to begin with. See Lord Curzons memo below:

 . . . I [had] mirrored a map of modern Palestinian history that has the virtue of showing graphically what has happened to the Palestinians politically and territorially in the past century. Andrew Sullivan then mirrored the map from my site, which set off a lot of thunder and noise among anti-Palestinian writers like Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic, but shed very little light. (PS, the map as a hard copy mapcard is available from Sabeel.) The map is useful and accurate. It begins by showing the British Mandate of Palestine as of the mid-1920s. The British conquered the Ottoman districts that came to be the Mandate during World War I (the Ottoman sultan threw in with Austria and Germany against Britain, France and Russia, mainly out of fear of Russia). But because of the rise of the League of Nations and the influence of President Woodrow Wilsons ideas about self-determination, Britain and France could not decently simply make their new, previously Ottoman territories into mere colonies. The League of Nations awarded them Mandates. Britain got Palestine, France got Syria (which it made into Syria and Lebanon), Britain got Iraq. The League of Nations Covenant spelled out what a Class A Mandate (i.e. territory that had been Ottoman) was: Article 22. Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognised subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory [i.e., a Western power] until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory. That is, the purpose of the later British Mandate of Palestine, of the French Mandate of Syria, of the British Mandate of Iraq, was to render administrative advice and assistance to these peoples in preparation for their becoming independent states, an achievement that they were recognized as not far from attaining. The Covenant was written before the actual Mandates were established, but Palestine was a Class A Mandate and so the language of the Covenant was applicable to it. The territory that formed the British Mandate of Iraq was the same territory that became independent Iraq, and the same could have been expected of the British Mandate of Palestine. (Even class B Mandates like Togo have become nation-states, but the poor Palestinians are just stateless prisoners in colonial cantons). The first map thus shows what the League of Nations imagined would become the state of Palestine. The economist published an odd assertion that the Negev Desert was empty and should not have been shown in the first map. But it wasnt and isnt empty; Palestinian Bedouin live there, and they and the desert were recognized by the League of Nations as belonging to the Mandate of Palestine, a state-in-training. The Mandate of Palestine also had a charge to allow for the establishment of a homeland in Palestine for Jews (because of the 1917 Balfour Declaration), but nobody among League of Nations officialdom at that time imagined it would be a whole and competing territorial state. There was no prospect of more than a few tens of thousands of Jews settling in Palestine, as of the mid-1920s. (They are shown in white on the first map, refuting those who mysteriously complained that the maps alternated between showing sovereignty and showing population). As late as the 1939 British White Paper, British officials imagined that the Mandate would emerge as an independent Palestinian state within 10 years. In 1851, there had been 327,000 Palestinians (yes, the word Filistin was current then) and other non-Jews, and only 13,000 Jews. In 1925, after decades of determined Jewish immigration, there were a little over 100,000 Jews, and there were 765,000 mostly Palestinian non-Jews in the British Mandate of Palestine. For historical demography of this area, see Justin McCarthys painstaking calculations; it is not true, as sometimes is claimed, that we cannot know anything about population figures in this region. See also his journal article, reprinted at this site. The Palestinian population grew because of rapid population growth, not in-migration, which was minor. The common allegation that Jerusalem had a Jewish majority at some point in the 19th century is meaningless. Jerusalem was a small town in 1851, and many pious or indigent elderly Jews from Eastern Europe and elsewhere retired there because of charities that would support them. In 1851, Jews were only about 4% of the population of the territory that became the British Mandate of Palestine some 70 years later. And, there had been few adherents of Judaism, just a few thousand, from the time most Jews in Palestine adopted Christianity and Islam in the first millennium CE all the way until the 20th century. In the British Mandate of Palestine, the district of Jerusalem was largely Palestinian. The rise of the Nazis in the 1930s impelled massive Jewish emigration to Palestine, so by 1940 there were over 400,000 Jews there amid over a million Palestinians. The second map shows the United Nations partition plan of 1947, which awarded Jews (who only then owned about 6% of Palestinian land) a substantial state alongside a much reduced Palestine. Although apologists for the Zionist movement say that the Zionists accepted this partition plan and the Arabs rejected it, that is not entirely true. Zionist leader David Ben Gurion noted in his diary when Israel was established that when the US had been formed, no document set out its territorial extent, implying that the same was true of Israel. We know that Ben Gurion was an Israeli expansionist who fully intended to annex more land to Israel, and by 1956 he attempted to add the Sinai and would have liked southern Lebanon. So the Zionist acceptance of the UN partition plan did not mean very much beyond a happiness that their initial starting point was much better than their actual land ownership had given them any right to expect. The third map shows the status quo after the Israeli-Palestinian civil war of 1947-1948. It is not true that the entire Arab League attacked the Jewish community in Palestine or later Israel on behalf of the Palestinians. As Avi Shlaim has shown, Jordan had made an understanding with the Zionist leadership that it would grab the West Bank, and its troops did not mount a campaign in the territory awarded to Israel by the UN. Egypt grabbed Gaza and then tried to grab the Negev Desert, with a few thousand badly trained and equipped troops, but was defeated by the nascent Israeli army. Few other Arab states sent any significant number of troops. The total number of troops on the Arab side actually on the ground was about equal to those of the Zionist forces, and the Zionists had more esprit de corps and better weaponry. The final map shows the situation today, which springs from the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank in 1967 and then the decision of the Israelis to colonize the West Bank intensively (a process that is illegal in the law of war concerning occupied populations). There is nothing inaccurate about the maps at all, historically. Goldberg maintained that the Palestinians original sin was rejecting the 1947 UN partition plan. But since Ben Gurion and other expansionists went on to grab more territory later in history, it is not clear that the Palestinians could have avoided being occupied even if they had given away willingly so much of their country in 1947. The first original sin was the contradictory and feckless pledge by the British to sponsor Jewish immigration into their Mandate in Palestine, which they wickedly and fantastically promised would never inconvenience the Palestinians in any way. It was the same kind of original sin as the French policy of sponsoring a million colons in French Algeria, or the French attempt to create a Christian-dominated Lebanon where the Christians would be privileged by French policy. The second original sin was the refusal of the United States to allow Jews to immigrate in the 1930s and early 1940s, which forced them to go to Palestine to escape the monstrous, mass-murdering Nazis. The map attracted so much ire and controversy not because it is inaccurate but because it clearly shows what has been done to the Palestinians, which the League of Nations had recognized as not far from achieving statehood in its Covenant. Their statehood and their territory has been taken from them, and they have been left stateless, without citizenship and therefore without basic civil and human rights. The map makes it easy to see this process. The map had to be stigmatized and made taboo. But even if that marginalization of an image could be accomplished, the squalid reality of Palestinian statelessness would remain, and the children of Gaza would still be being malnourished by the deliberate Israeli policy of blockading civilians. The map just points to a powerful reality; banishing the map does not change that reality. 

And here is the concluding document for this discussion:

I posted Tuesday on the legal implications of the League of Nations recognition of Palestine as a Class A Mandate, i.e. a former Ottoman territory nearly ready for national independence, to which the mandatory authority (i.e. Britain) was to lend administrative assistance in its attainment of independence. I received some strange mail from fanatics afterward, insisting that the British Mandate of Palestine was not recognized as a Class A Mandate. A scholar also wrote me to point out that unlike the case with Iraq and Syria, the British brought the Balfour Declaration into the Mandate document. The latter is true, but not relevant to my point, since the League of Nations interpreted the language of the declaration differently than did the Zionists. Others complained that the map starts in the mid-1920s after the British had already hived off Transjordan. But so what? If Class A Mandates were almost ready for independence, why couldnt some portion of them be granted independence first? The French also split the Mandate of Syria into two parts, Syria and Lebanon. What has that got to do with anything?

The legal history does not bear out any of these objections to my argument. The following British archival document makes it very clear that the British were forced by France and Italy not to disregard the interests of the over 90% of their mandate that was Palestinian, and that London revised its Mandate document under pressure as a result. The League of Nations created and granted the Mandate, contrary to what Balfour kept sputtering (he was not even in office 1922-1924). What the victorious Powers and the League of Nations wanted has to be part of the interpretation of the Mandates charge. The League of Nations wanted the British Mandate of Palestine to serve the Palestinians in accordance with their status as Class A. It envisaged a Palestinian state. Indeed, Sir Herbert Samuel, the first governor of the British Mandate of Palestine, urged that the future government of Palestine be required to repay any loans raised during the Mandate for its development. So they envisaged a future government of Palestine, which they assumed would be overwhelmingly Palestinian.

As for the language about a Jewish homeland, by that was not meant a territorial state on Palestinian land. Curzon is clear that although the Powers at the Versailles conferences after WW I recognized a Jewish connection to Palestine and the Balfour Declaration, this was far from constituting anything in the nature of a legal claim . . . He also reports that the Powers said that while Mr. Balfours Declaration had provided for the establishment of a Jewish National Home in Palestine, this was not the same thing as the reconstitution of Palestine as a Jewish National Homean extension of the phrase for which there was no justification . . .

So here is the Memorandum of Lord Curzon, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, concerning League of Nations Class A Mandates in November 30, 1920. British National Archives, Catalogue Reference: CAB/24/115. Crown copyright. (Note that I am not reproducing the entire document, leaving out some discussion of arrangements in Iraq):

MANDATES A.

MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. [Lord Curzon].

A FINAL decision about Mandates A is required. The Assembly of the League of Nations is concerned about their submission to the Council, and will probably not allow the gathering at Geneva to come to an end without a decision being taken on the point.

It is understood that the Council of the League is likely to hold a meeting while at Geneva to consider these Mandates, and it has been informed that they will be submitted without further delay. The Mandates concerned are those for Syria, Mesopotamia and Palestine.

The French Mandate for Syria is drawn on the same lines as ours for Mesopotamia, though not actually identical with it. There is nothing in it to which we desire to object.

The Mandate for Mesopotamia has passed through several stages, tending in each case to further simplification. It has been shown to, and approved by, the French and Italian Governments, to whom we were under a pledge at San Remo to submit it In its last printed form this Mandate was approved by the Cabinet a few weeks ago . . .

As regards the Palestine Mandate, this Mandate also has passed through several revises. When it was first shown to the French Government it at once excited their vehement criticisms on the ground of its almost exclusively Zionist complexion and of the manner in which the interests and rights of the Arab majority (amounting to about nine-tenths of the population) were ignored. The Italian Government expressed similar apprehensions. It was felt that this would constitute a very serious, and possibly a fatal, objection when the Mandate came ultimately before the Council of the League. The Mandate, therefore, was largely rewritten, and finally received their assent. It was also considered by an Inter-Departmental Conference here, in which the Foreign Office, Board of Trade, War Office and India Office were represented, and which passed the final draft.

In the course of these discussions strong objection was taken to a statement which had been inserted in the Preamble of the first draft to the following effect:  Recognising the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and the claim which this gives them to reconstitute Palestine as their National Home.

367 [4996]

It was pointed out (1) that, while the Powers had unquestionably recognised the historical connection of the Jews with Palestine by their formal acceptance of the Balfour Declaration and their textual incorporation of it in the Turkish Peace Treaty drafted at San Remo, this was far from constituting anything in the nature of a legal claim, and that the use of such words might be, and was, indeed, certain to be, used as the basis of all sorts of political claims by the Zionists for the control of Palestinian administration in the future, and ;2) that, while Mr. Balfours Declaration had provided for the establishment of a Jewish National Home in Palestine, this was not the same thing as the reconstitution of Palestine as a Jewish National Homean extension of the phrase for which there was no justification, and which was certain to be employed in the future as the basis for claims of the character to which I have referred. On the other hand, the Zionists pleaded for the insertion of some such phrase in the preamble, on the ground that it would make all the difference to the money that they aspired to raise in foreign, countries for the development of Palestine. Mr. Balfour, who interested himself keenly in their case, admitted, however, the force of the above contentions, and, on the eve of leaving for Geneva, suggested an alternative form of words which I am prepared to recommend.

Paragraph 3 of the Preamble would then conclude as follows (vide the words italicised in the Draft-;

 and whereas recognition lias thereby (i.e., by the Treaty of Sevres) been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine, and to the grounds for reconstituting their National Home in that country.

Simultaneously the Zionists pressed for the concession of preferential rights for themselves in respect of public works, &c, in Article 11.

It was felt unanimously, and was agreed by Mr. Balfour, that there was no ground for making this concession, which ought to be refused. . .

During the last few hours a telegram has been received from Sir H. Samuel, urging that, in order to facilitate the raising of loans by the Palestine Administration, which will otherwise be impossible, words should be added to Article 27, providing that on the termination of the Mandate, the future Government of Palestine shall fully honour the financial obligations incurred by the Palestinian Administration during the period of the Mandate. This appears to be a quite reasonable demand, and I have accordingly added words (italicised at the end of Article 27) in order to meet it. With this explanation, therefore, I hope that the Mandates in the form now submitted may be formally passed and forwarded to the Council of the League.

C. OF K. November 30, 1920.
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By Kamal al-Ayash | Ramadi | ( Niqash.org) |  

Locals are struggling to get rid of the explosive booby-traps the Islamic State left as they withdrew from Ramadi. For one group of daring locals, defusing the bombs has become a lucrative new job opportunity.

In the central Iraqi city of Ramadi, it is no longer unusual to see individuals who look like ordinary civilians dismantling improvised explosive devices left behind by extremists as they withdrew from the city late last year. In fact, the extremist group known as the Islamic State, or IS, left behind so many improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, that the military and local security authorities dont have the manpower or time to defuse them all. And locals, who know their way around a bomb, have been quick to take up the slack.

Some of them are former members of the military, others are moonlighting from the police or army to make some extra money and some are ordinary civilians with mechanical or engineering backgrounds who have learned how to defuse the IEDs, often using less sophisticated methods than dedicated bomb squads.

Faleh al-Marsoumi got involved in the lucrative new trade because it was taking far too long for authorities to come to his home and remove the booby trapped explosives. The usual procedure involves asking engineers who work for the local authorities to come and dismantle the dangerous devices.

To defuse the IEDs, I only need relatively simple tools, such as a few screwdrivers, pliers and some electrical wiring.

Having heard that there were unofficial bomb disposal experts now working in the city, al-Marsoumi decided to pay one of these to clear his property. He had heard that the bomb disposal crews gathered on the outskirts of the city and that one could request them to come and work, in a similar way that one could employ freelance construction workers and manual labourers.

I asked taxi drivers and store owners near where the disposal experts were supposed to gather but they were all afraid to introduce me to these specialists because what they do is against the law, al-Marsoumi says.

Unable to find any of them al-Marsoumi decided to educate himself. I watched some videos on the Internet about how to remove IEDs, he says somewhat ingenuously about how he learned the job; he was actually already working in electrical engineering, at a generator repair workshop in the central city so he had some experience in the field. Al-Marsoumi started by removing the IEDs he found on his property and then helped out friends in their houses. Eventually he began charging for his services  and this has proven so lucrative that he quit his repair job and now IED disposal is his only work.

There are three of us now working together and we charge some of the lowest prices in the market, al-Marsoumi told NIQASH. There are some who charge double what we do.

To clear a house the team charge between US$300 and US$700. Clearing a car of IEDs costs US$200.

We work in three stages, al-Marsoumi explains. First we go and inspect the site, then we find the explosives, then we defuse them. The property owner is responsible for calling the security forces to take away the components and the actual explosives and bury them. Even with our primitive equipment we have been able to defuse around 1,500 IEDs. This is a noble profession, al-Marsoumi concludes.

Its also a dangerous job and at the moment it is not legal either. But al-Marsoumi and others who work defusing IEDs believe that it might not be against the law for long. They are talking about founding their own companies as soon as the government does what they believe it will do, and privatizes the tasks.

We know that local authorities and the central government have been negotiating with international specialists and we believe it is going to become legal for Iraqis too, al-Marsoumi explains.



Mines on display in Iraqi Kurdistan

Another Ramadi man doing this job is 53-year-old Amir al-Suwaydawi. He used to serve in the Iraqi army under Saddam Hussein but was one of those who lost their jobs after the US-led invasion of Iraq, when the army was largely disbanded. When the extremist IS group were first driven out of Iraq, al-Suwaydawi used to help guide military engineers to where the IEDs were hidden. Many of these were former colleagues. However, when he saw how the various engineering teams worked, watching how they dismantled the IEDs, he realized he could do the job too. He also realised it could provide him with a new source of income.

I figured out that I could do this and that I only needed relatively simple tools, such as a few screwdrivers, pliers and some electrical wiring, al-Suwaydawi says. The job also requires experience and courage  and I have both of these.

Al-Suwaydawi describes himself as a good magician, removing the effects of black magic in his home town.

Because the work is not legal, al-Suwaydawi says that he and other IED-experts only get jobs via word of mouth and that their network is a closed one based on trust. Its obvious that the job is dangerous too. We have lost friends and colleagues, al-Suwaydawi admits. Often as a result of inexperience and recklessness.

There are a lot of people getting into this business, adds al-Marsoumi, and some of them are motivated by greed. They dont have any experience with explosives, they just want to make money, he says. And many have died because they dont know how to deal with explosives, al-Marsoumi notes. We have also lost many brothers who did not learn from the experiences of others, which could have saved their lives and allowed them to avoid problems  most importantly, tribal problems.

Having the support of their own tribes is very important to those who work defusing IEDs. Society in Anbar is dominated by tribal customs, clan connections and tribal justice. This means that if, for example, a member of one tribe hurts or kills, or damages the property of, the member of another tribe, then there must be some sort of retribution, often financial. Tribal connections are an important safety net for the men doing this work, in case they make a mistake or fail to defuse an IED properly.

Another of the men working in the defusing trade is moonlighting from his regular job with the local police. The man, who wished to be known only as Abu Haffar (in English, the master of digging), said he enjoyed his part-time work a lot because he didnt have to take orders and there were no set routines.

I am running my own business and its a lucrative one, he admits. I never dreamed Id be doing this for a living but I do know a lot about explosives and I also have a data base that guides me, showing how to deal with different kinds of explosives.

It takes a toll; Abu Haffar points out he knows that some of the other people working in this sector have to take drugs to steady their nerves. Without them they wouldnt be able to work, he adds.

Its a dangerous adventure, this job, he concludes.

Via Niqash.org
VANCOUVER, Sept. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - Intact Gold Corp. (TSX-V: ITG) (FSE: 1A5) (the "Company" or "Intact Gold"), is pleased to announce it has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") dated September 21, 2016 with Yellowstone Resources Ltd. ("Yellowstone") an option to acquire 100% interest in and to certain mineral properties, together with the surface rights, mineral rights, personal property and permits associated therewith (collectively, the "Sheep Creek Property" or the "Property"), located in the Kootenay Land District 12km southeast of Salmo, BC.

About the Sheep Creek Property:

The Sheep Creek Property consists of 68 Crown Granted Claims, and 8 mineral cell claims totaling 1400 ha combined which are owned 100% by Yellowstone Resources. Intact Gold has also acquired 100% of 2 mineral cell claims through staking in the area adding an additional 340 ha to the project. The total project area of 1740 ha is centered 12 km east-southeast of Salmo and 40 km south of Nelson in British Columbia.

Highlights of the Project are:

A historic resource described as*: Proven: 40,114 tons of 0.390 ounces Au per ton Probable: 35,172 tons of 0.530 ounces Au per ton Possible: 126,294 tons of 0.284 ounces Au per ton Marginal: 27,561 tons of 0.154 ounces Au per ton The grade is not cut and is calculated at one-meter mining width



* Details of the historic resource are summarized from:

Price, B. (P. Geo.), 1988. Geological Summary Report Nugget Mine Sheep Creek Area prepared for Gunsteel Resources Inc.

The reader is cautioned that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current resources and Intact Gold is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources. The resource/reserve categories disclosed in the historical estimates are not consistent with current CIM definitions. While we believe the estimates were completed to the standards of the day they do not use current mineral resource and reserve categories as required by NI 43-101. The historic resource includes 1300 tons at 0.150 ounces per ton in the proven category which is a stockpile owned by an unrelated 3rd party and not included in this transaction.

Historic reported production on the property constitutes approximately 85% of the whole camp: 632,590 ounces of gold with an average grade of 15.12 g/t Au from the Reno, Queen, Goldbelt, Nugget, and Motherlode mines 252,461 ounces of silver

Total Land area of approximately 1400 ha including 68 Crown Grants and 8 Mineral Cell Claims

The Sheep Creek area was initially identified by regional prospecting in 1896 after the discovery of multiple mines and showings in analogous rocks throughout the Kootenay Lake area, most notably the Bluebell Mine. The first production at Sheep Creek was in 1900, with peak production of the area being reached in 1913 and a decrease in 1916 due to high war-time mining costs and a fixed gold price. Production continued until the 1950's with several mines and mills being commissioned during that period. The whole sheep creek area has recorded production of 741,515 ounces of gold from 1900-1951 including the adjacent Kootenay Belle mine, production from mines within the project area is reported to be 632,590 ounces of gold (1,301,719 tonnes grading 15.12 grams per tonne gold).

The Sheep Creek area is underlain by a thick sequence of Lower Cambrian and Upper Proterozoic argillite, quartzite, limestone and schists belonging to the Kootenay Arc series. The tightly folded stratigraphy is intruded by several granitic stocks, elongate quartz-porphyry sills and numerous lamprophyre dykes. Two north trending anticlines are the dominant structures in the area.

Gold mineralization is concentrated in en-echelon type quartz veins within northeast striking, steeply-dipping faults. Vein mineralogy consists of milky-white quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and lesser sphalerite, galena, pyrrhotite and rare visible gold. The most promising mineralized zones develop where the veins cross the axes of two north trending anticlines largely in brittle quartzites of the Upper Nugget and Upper Nevada members. In general, the veins are considerably narrow in the Argillaceous Reno Formation but wider shoots developed in some highly metamorphosed areas like the Reno Mine. There are at least 55 known veins in the area, of which approximately 34 have had some level of production.

Information from historic mining reports, publications and exploration programs are currently being interpreted and compiled to further the project.

Agreement Terms

Intact Gold will have the option to acquire 100% of the Sheep Creek Property in consideration for:

(a) Payment to Yellowstone of an aggregate amount of $600,000 to be paid upon the following:

a. $50,000 Upon approval of the Transaction by the TSXV b. $50,000 - 6 months after approval of the Transaction by TSXV c. $25,000 - 12 months after approval of the Transaction by TSXV d. $25,000 - 18 months after approval of the Transaction by TSXV e. $125,000 - 2 years after the execution of the Definitive Agreement f. $100,000 - 3 years after the execution of the Definitive Agreement g. $125,000 - 4 years after the execution of the Definitive Agreement h. $100,000 - 5 years after the execution of the Definitive Agreement

(b) Issuance to Yellowstone of an aggregate amount of 3,500,000 shares to be issued upon the following:

a. 1,000,000 - 2 years after the execution of the Definitive Agreement b. 1,000,000 - 4 years after the execution of the Definitive Agreement c. 1,500,000 - 5 years after the execution of the Definitive Agreement

Forty (40) of the claims may be subject to a historic net smelter return royalty of 5%, and twenty-one (21) of the claims may be subject to a historic net smelter return royalty of 4.5%, both in favour of arm's length third parties.

Qualified Person

Brandon Macdonald, P.Geo, is the qualified person as defined in NI 43-101, that has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release. The contained information regarding past production is historical in nature and has not been confirmed.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF INTACT GOLD CORP.

Per: Anthony Jackson, President and CEO

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is 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. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding expectations of management regarding the acquisition of the Property. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking information is subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that the Company may not have the funds necessary to make its payments pursuant to the Agreement, that the TSX-V may not approve the transaction, and other factors beyond the control of the Company. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward-looking information in this news release.

The reader is cautioned that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current resources and Intact Gold is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources.

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 Intact Gold Corp
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 23, 2016) - Sienna Resources Inc (TSXV: SIE) (FSE: A1XCQ0) (OTCBB: SNNAF) wishes to announce that representatives of the company will be presenting at the MINExpo in Las Vegas, September 26-28 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. The show is held every four years and is one of the largest mining shows in the world, with attendance expected over 25,000. Management welcomes all shareholders to come and speak with President Jason Gigliotti in person at the show.

Sienna Resources has also recently been cleared by FINRA and is now fully quoted on the OTC Markets under the new symbol SNNAF.

Jason Gigliotti, President of Sienna Resources Inc. stated, "We are pleased to be presenting at one of the largest single concentrations of mining industry experts and investors in the world. We are excited to present our Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project at this show, especially in light of the show being in the direct vicinity of our property and Tesla's Gigafactory. We are also very pleased to have heard that our neighbour, Pure Energy has had more success on their recent deep drill program. The most significant aspect being that this was Pure's deepest drilling to date and ended in brine at depth. Considering Sienna's property is located in the deepest sections of this basin, we are very optimistic about our planned future work program and that our premise of the brine sinking to the bottom of the basin is receiving more positive evidence."

The President adds, "We are also very fortunate to be able to engage GeoXplor, who have the most intimate knowledge of Clayton Valley. The GeoXplor team have been instrumental with the development and discovery regarding the lithium brine deposit that Pure Energy Minerals Limited has, and we look forward to utilizing their experience and expertise to develop our Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project. GeoXplor has proven to be the preeminent Clayton Valley lithium brine discovery team. We are very excited to start up our program as Sienna is located in the deepest sections of the basin that holds the only lithium development in Nevada."

Sienna's "Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project" is located directly between and bordering Pure Energy Minerals Limited and Lithium X Energy Corp. The "Clayton Valley Deep Basin Lithium Brine Project" is located in parts of the deepest sections (refer to the map) of the only lithium brine basin with a producing operation in North America (Albemarle's Silver Peak Mine).



To view an enhanced version of the Clayton Valley Depth of Basin Map, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/854/22713_a1474633213482_74.jpg

John Rud M.Sc. Geologist and a Principal of GeoXplor Corp states that "We look forward to working with the Sienna team as their project is located in the deepest sections of the Clayton Valley Basin, the only producing lithium brine basin in North America, with no company to date, testing these deeper sections. Their (Sienna's) efforts in this regard is something we are very excited about."

If you would like to be added to Sienna's email list please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or our twitter account at @SiennaResources.

Contact Information

Tel: 1.604.646.6900

Fax: 1.604.689.1733

www.siennaresources.com

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"Jason Gigliotti"

President, Director

Sienna Resources Inc.

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 press release.
Vancouver, BC / TheNewswire / September 23, 2016 - Pursuant to the press release dated September 14, 2016, NORTEC MINERALS CORP. (the "Company" or "Nortec") (TSXV: NVT) is pleased to announce that the Company's Joint Venture earn-in partner, Avalon Minerals ("Avalon") of Milton, QLD, Australia, has announced results from the first drill hole, SMD001 on the Satulinmaki gold prospect, Tammela Project, Finland. The Satulinmaki prospect is located 5 kilometres north-west respectively of the Kietyonmaki lithium prospect (Figure 1). Avalon's press release can be referred to on: http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20160922/pdf/43bcmwrx9rtdg6.pdf, http://avalonminerals.com.au/

Tammela Minerals Oy, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Nortec, controls 100% interest in the Somero 1 to 12 and Tammela 1 to 3 claims comprising the Tammela Project. The property hosts the Kietyonmaki Lithium prospect and the Riukka and Satulinmaki gold zones. Avalon has also submitted applications for two Exploration Reservations over an area of 117 km2 around the Somero and Tammela claims. These reservations form part of the Joint Venture with Avalon.

Highlights

The first diamond drill hole confirms shallow gold mineralization.

Individual assays up to 15.15g/t gold over 1m sampling interval.

Drill hole SMDD001 has intersected; 7.0m at 1.24g/t gold from 9m, 10.0m at 1.13 g/t gold from 33m, and 1.0m at 15.15g/t gold from 57m.



The drill hole is located adjacent to historical holes R413 and R414 which intersected, in separate shoots; 25.0m at 1.74g/t gold in R413 3.0m at 5.87g/t gold in hole R414. R414 ended in mineralisation.



A total of six holes have now been completed by Avalon at Satulinmaki and all have intersected altered and structurally complex zones coincident with the interpreted positions of gold lodes from historical drilling results.

The current and historical drilling has now tested multiple parallel lode positions along a strike extent of 350m, and vertical extent of 150m below surface.

-Further assays from the remaining drill holes are pending with results from drill hole SMDD002 expected next week.

Detailed assays from the SMD001 drill hole are as follows:

7.0m @ 1.24 g/t Au from 9m downhole

10.0m @ 1.13 g/t Au from 33m downhole

1.0m @ 0.62 g/t Au from 49m downhole

1.0m @ 15.15 g/t Au from 57m downhole

The intervals are within 50m of the surface and correlate with results from nearby historical drill holes, to define a series of steeply dipping gold zones. Drill hole SMDD002 has been drilled underneath these zones (see cross section below) and has intersected wide intervals of alteration and quartz veining with varying amounts of sulphide minerals. Assay results from SMDD002 are expected next week.

Six drill holes were completed at Satulinmaki, and a seventh hole is underway. Assay results from these additional holes are expected in the weeks ahead. These drill holes have tested several interpreted north-east trending sub-parallel gold bearing vein systems, along a strike extent of 250m and a vertical extent of 150m. The vein systems are open at depth and along strike.

The figures 2 and 3 below show the location of the drill holes, and a cross section showing the geology, alteration and mineralization incorporating drill holes SMD001 and SMD002. Drill hole SMD003 has intersected quartz veins and sulphides with broad zones of moderate to intense alteration. This drill was designed to test below the intersection in the historical hole R391 which returned 25 meters grading 3.17 g/t Au.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1: Location of Satulinmaki gold prospect, 4km NW of the Kietyonmaki lithium project.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 2: Satulinmaki gold prospect showing interpreted NE trending gold bearing vein systems.

Figure 3 cross section is shown through the main target vein. Collar positions of historical holes are shown with red dots and grey, green traces. Completed holes SMD001 to SMD007 are shown in white.



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 3: Cross section showing results from Hole SMDD001 and the target zone down plunge from mineralised horizons in historical holes R413 and R414.

Avalon - Nortec Heads of Agreement:

Details of the Heads of Agreement with regards to the formation of the Joint Venture Agreement between Nortec and Avalon can be referred to in the Company's press release dated May 19, 2016.

Avalon recently announced high grade results of 42.1m at 1.05% Li2O from 17.9m downhole, including 24.2m at 1.44% Li2O from 17.9m downhole and 9m at 2.00% Li2O from 29m downhole from Kietyonmaki lithium prospect (Nortec press release dated September 15, 2016). Historical drilling by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) identified a high grade lithium pegmatite deposit including diamond drill intersections of up to 18m @ 1.8% Li2O. This work will deliver a mineral resource estimate and preliminary metallurgical studies by the end of 2016.

About Nortec Minerals Corp.

Nortec is a mineral exploration and development company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Information on the Company's projects can be referred to on www.nortecminerals.com.

Mohan R. Vulimiri, M.Sc., P.Geo, CEO, Nortec Minerals, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Vulimiri has approved the corporate and technical content contained in this press release

On behalf of the Board of Directors, NORTEC MINERALS CORP. "Mohan R. Vulimiri" Mohan R. Vulimiri, CEO and Chairman

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept the responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This press release contains certain forward looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, delays and uncertainties not under the Company's control which may cause actual results, performances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the results, performances or expectations implied by these forward looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States.

Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 23, 2016) - Austral Gold Limited ('Austral' or 'the Company') (ASX:AGD)(TSX VENTURE:AAM) is pleased to provide an update of current activities at its 100% owned Guanaco Mine and Amancaya project in Chile. Construction of a new agitated leach and Merrill-Crowe circuit at Guanaco is well advanced and is expected to be completed prior to the end of the year. The Company is planning to undertake a Pre-Feasibility Study and Technical Report for the combined Amancaya and Guanaco project. Infill drilling for this study commenced in September at Amancaya.

Stabro Kasaneva, Austral CEO, stated "I am very happy to report on our efforts to advance the potential combination of Guanaco operations with our high grade Amancaya project. We are moving forward on a number of fronts to commence a Pre-Feasibility Study that we expect will justify our faith in the Amancaya project and its potential to substantially extend the life of mine of Guanaco."

Guanaco Agitated Leach Plant Progress Report

The Company budgeted US$16.5 million to the construction of this plant, which has been funded by local banks and free cash flow from Guanaco operations. The decision to build this plant was based on internal studies focused on treating Amancaya production at the Guanaco plant. Construction began in May of 2016 but no economic analysis has been completed to date and the Company expects to complete and test the plant by the end of the year. Internal bottle roll studies have indicated that recoveries of gold could be improved relative to recovery from the current heap leach, but the decision to construct the new plant was not based on a feasibility study. As a result, economic and technical viability of the new plant remains subject to uncertainty and there can be no assurance that the Company can achieve any particular level of recovery of minerals or improve the cost of such recovery.

Prefeasibility Study

Austral is planning to undertake a Pre-Feasibility Study and Technical Report (the "Amancaya and Guanaco Technical Report") on operating the Guanaco operation and Amancaya project as one operation. The Company is pushing ahead with development activities at the Amancaya project to allow for completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study during calendar year 2017. Infill drilling commenced in early September with an initial plan for 94 drill holes (13,321 m), which are expected to be completed before the end of the year.

The drilling is aimed primarily at upgrading the resource of 64,200 t @ 10.19 g/t Au and 32.72 g/t Ag indicated category and 1.665 million tonnes inferred category @ 7.2 g/t Au and 53.1 g/t Ag reported in the Company's National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical report titled Guanaco Gold Project, Antofagasta Province, Region II, Chile, NI 43-101 Technical Report, which had an effective date of November 24, 2015 and which was amended June 30 2016, and filed on July 25, 2016 on the Company's profile on www.sedar.com).

The Company intends to truck production from initial open pits then from underground operations at Amancaya to the new Guanaco plant. The Company plans to incorporate treatment of production from the Guanaco operation and possible retreatment of some of the heap leach pads into the planned Pre-Feasibility Study.

Qualified Person's Statement

Dr Robert Trzebski is a Director of Austral Gold Limited. He has a degree in Geology, PhD in Geophysics, Masters in Project Management and has over 20 years professional experience in mineral exploration, project management and mining services.

Dr Trzebski is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AUSIMM) and qualifies as a Qualified Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.' Dr Trzebski consents to the inclusion of the resources contained in this announcement.

About Austral Gold

Austral Gold Limited is a growing precious metals mining, development and exploration company building a portfolio of high quality assets in Chile and Argentina. The Company's flagship Guanaco project in Chile is a low-cost gold and silver producing mine with further exploration upside. The company is also operator of the Casposo mine in San Juan, Argentina, which is currently being recommissioned. With an experienced local technical team and highly regarded major shareholder, Austral Gold is strengthening its asset base by investing in new precious metals projects in Chile and Argentina that have near-term development potential. Austral Gold Limited is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX VENTURE:AAM) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:AGD). For more information, please consult the company's website www.australgold.com.au.

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.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "potential", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar import also identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include those concerning the Company's faith in the Amancaya project, its expectations that the new agitated leach and Merrill-Crowe circuit will be completed prior to the end of the year, that recoveries of Au can be improved relative to the recovery currently recorded from the current heap leach and that construction of the plant can continue to be funded from operations at Guanaco, its expectation that the current 94 hole drill program can be completed by the end of the year and its belief that Guanaco and Amancaya can be operated as one project. All of these forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; uncertainty of production, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, the state of the capital markets, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, the rate of mineral extraction, the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine or mineral property, the availability of capital and other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's continuous disclosure documents filed on SEDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and management's assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral's forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Vancouver, British Columbia / TheNewswire / September 23, 2016 - Adamera Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: ADZ) held its Annual General Meeting on September 15th, 2016. Elected members of the board include Yale Simpson Mark Kolebaba Geir Liland and Bernard Kahlert.

Yale Simpson has been appointed Chairman of the Board. Mr. Simpson has been a director of Adamera and its predecessor Diamonds North since 2002. Yale Simpson has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Geological Engineering) from the University of British Columbia, Canada and is a professional geologist. Yale has more than 30 years' experience as a senior geologist, exploration manager and CEO of companies involved in precious metals projects in Australia, Africa, Eastern Europe and South America. Those companies included Pennzoil Company, Chevron Exploration, Australmin Holdings, Argosy Gold Mines and Black Swan Gold Mines Ltd. He was Co-chairman of Extorre Gold Mines Ltd., a successful spinout from Exeter, which was bought by Yamana Gold Ltd. in 2012. His particular expertise is in strategic resource planning, financing and corporate communications. In addition to Adamera Minerals Corp. Yale is currently a director of Rugby Mining Limited, and the Co-Chairman of Exeter Resource Corporation.

In addition, Adamera has granted 3,175,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company pursuant to the Company's stock option plan. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.08 per share for a period of 10 years and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Adamera Minerals Corp. is exploring for high-grade gold deposits within hauling distance of the operating Kettle River Mill in Northeastern Washington State. The company's strategy is to fast-track the discovery to production process by exploring close to a mill in need of ore. Adamera is exploring several projects with a goal to become the dominant mining/exploration company in the area through discovery.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Mark Kolebaba

President & CEO

For additional information please contact:

Tel: (604) 689-2010

Fax: (604) 484-7143

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.Adamera.com

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy

of this release. Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, including statements

relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties inherent in resource exploration and development. As a result, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

Copyright (c) 2016 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Advocacy groups on Thursday filed a lawsuit [complaint, PDF] challenging the redrawn boundaries for North Carolinas congressional seats. Plaintiffs are arguing [AP report] that the district lines were influenced by politics. Some of the parties involved in the suit are the League of Women Voters [advocacy website] and Democratic voters. They claim [AP report], unlike previous plaintiffs in similar suits, that they have a method to measure excessive partisanship. The lawsuit is requesting that the current map be discarded and new lines be drawn for the districts. The lawsuit claims that the current map did not consider race. These allegations come after a federal lawsuit [press release] was filed last month of illegal partisan gerrymandering.

Voting rights remain a controversial legal issue in the US. In June a three-judge panel upheld [JURIST report] North Carolinas voting districts. In April the US Supreme Court upheld [JURIST report] a redistricting decision in Arizona as not discriminatory. Earlier that same month a panel of federal judges rejected a motion by Representative Corrine Brown challenging the current congressional district boundaries in Florida [JURIST report]. Last year the court ruled [JURIST report] that the Elections Clause of the US Constitution permits the state of Arizona to adopt a commission to draw congressional districts. In April of last year the court threw out [JURIST report] a North Carolina court ruling that upheld Republican-drawn electoral districts for state and congressional lawmakers.
International human rights groups, including Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy websites], issued a joint letter [text] on Thursday to the permanent representatives of member and observer states of the UN Human Rights Council urging them to support the High Commissioners call for an international, independent investigation into civilian deaths and injuries in Yemen. Pointing out that nearly 3,800 civilians have been killed and more than 6,700 wounded since March 2015, the letter claimed that the council has missed critical opportunities to address alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Yemen. Numerous kinds of human rights and humanitarian violations were cited by the letter including, airstrikes that have repeatedly hit homes, hospitals, markets, civilian factories and schools; laying of internationally banned antipersonnel landmines; arbitrary detention of civilians; raiding offices of non-governmental organizations, and blocking of the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to civilians. Stating that No valid human rights-based reason has been identified that would justify failing to create an international inquiry, the groups warned that If the Council once again fails to create an international inquiry, it will have shirked its mandate to promote accountability, failed to help provide victims of violations in Yemen the justice to which they are entitled, and undermined its own credibility as the Council marks its tenth anniversary.

The rapidly deteriorating situation in Yemen has sparked significant international concern. Last month the UN High Commissioner for human rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein [official profile], called on the international community [JURIST report] to establish an independent international body for conducting comprehensive investigations of human rights violations in Yemen. According to a report [text, DOC] from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released in August, the civilian death estimate was at only 2,800 in January [JURIST report], which would mean that approximately another 1,000 have died in as little as nine months. The report further indicates that an approximate 7.6 million people, including three million women and children, are currently suffering from malnutrition and at least three million people have been displaced from their homes. The OHCHR condemned [JURIST report] a string of rocket and mortar attacks against residential areas and markets in Taizz, Yemen, from June 3 to June 8. In March UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] warned [JURIST report] that the use of cluster bombs by the Saudi-led coalition against neighborhoods in Yemen may amount to a war crime. In January the UN World Food Programme [official website] appealed to all the parties involved in the Yemen conflict to allow the safe passage of food [JURIST report] to the city of Taiz. In October AI called for [JURIST report] an independent investigation into possible war crimes surrounding the destruction of a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders in Yemen.
(File photo)

On Sept. 20, a white dog bit and injured dozens of people in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. On Sept. 22, a reporter from Beijing Youth Daily called the Chaoyang Police Department and was told that a white dog matching the description given by the dog's victims had been caught; however, they havent yet confirmed that the dog in custody is the same one that bit so many innocent bystanders.

Mr. Li, one of the victim's, said that he was out with a friend in the Guangqumen area around 2 p.m. when a lean, white dog suddenly appeared and bit his ankle. Right after, the dog ran away. Mr. Lis friend said that Li called the police at once and even followed the dog a distance in an effort to find its owner. He also witnessed the dog bite a child and then a security guard.

On the evening of Sept. 20, Beijing's Center for Disease Control and Prevention released news that a total of 30 people had been bitten by the dog, and subsequently treated with a rabies vaccination and outpatient service. After receiving several reports, police hurried to the scene to catch the dog.

On Sept. 22, the Chaoyang Police Department told Beijing Youth Daily that a white dog has been caught; however, they havent confirmed whether this dog is the one responsible for the recent incidents.
[JURIST] Human rights groups Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International (AI) and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) [advocacy websites] on Thursday reported [report] that justice still has not been achieved for the victims of the violent protest in Khartoum in September 2013 in which some protesters were killed. Saying that [a]lthough it seems like Sudan has succeeded in sweeping the horrific violence of September 2013 under the carpet, victims families still demand justice, ACJPS urged the Sudanese government to hold those responsible accountable. As many as 185 protesters were killed protesting anti-austerity measures and many more were killed or unlawfully detained, some even facing torture during their detention.

The human rights situation throughout Sudan has drawn global condemnation of Sudans political leaders. In March HRW reported that female rights activists [JURIST report] in Sudan are facing harassment, violence and other rights abuses. Earlier this month South Africas Supreme Court of Appeal upheld a lower courts ruling that the state broke the law by not detaining [JURIST report] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir despite an International Criminal Court order to do so. In February a UN human rights expert called for an end [JURIST report] to conflict in Darfur between the Sudanese government and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid, which may have led to human rights abuses and violations of international law.
[JURIST] Ukraines high court on Tuesday dismissed [Sputnik International report] an appeal by Gazprom [corporate website] finding it groundless. The court decided to uphold [Ukraine Today report] the USD $3.4 billion fine against the company handed down by Ukraines Anti-Monopoly Committee, which alleged that the company abused its monopoly position in the gas transit market. Gazprom appealed the fine, and the Supreme Court [official website] refused to open the case.

Last year, the European Commission issued [JURIST report] a Statement of Objection to Gazprom, accusing the Russian gas giant of abusing its position as the dominant source of gas in Central and Eastern European in breach of EU anti-trust rules. According to the Commission, Gazprom wass the dominant gas supplier in a number of Central and Eastern European countries. Its market share well above 50% and in some cases up to 100% in these markets. The European Commission believes Gazprom is breaking EU antitrust rules by implementing a strategy to partition Central and Eastern European with the goal of perpetuating unfair pricing policies in EU member states. Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) prohibited the abuse of a dominant market position, which may affect trade between Member States.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein [official website] warned [press release] Thursday that conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will deteriorate unless there is accountability for the atrocities against civilians. Earlier this week there was an attack in Kinshasa that resulted in the deaths of civilians and police officers. Additionally, the commissioner found that in response to these events, the police were conducting raids that violated the autonomy and human rights of civilians by preventing their free movement. The commissioner warned that these were clear violations of fundamental rights and democratic principles. He cautioned that unless there is unity among the country to prosecute those responsible these atrocities, they may continue.

I am deeply saddened by the recent explosion of violence in the capital Kinshasa. The high number of civilian casualties, the burning of the headquarters of several political parties and the continuing high tension together provide a stark warning that a large-scale crisis could be just around the corner. 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 pledged his offices support in aiding the Congolese government in their investigations.

The DRC and surrounding regions have seen a high level of conflict in the past several decades contributing to increased concerns about human rights abuses and displacement of civilians. Zeid and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] expressed concern [JURIST report] in April over reports coming out of the DRC regarding an apparent government security operation in an area of southern Brazzaville known as the Pool. In January Ban urged African leaders to avoid using loopholes and undemocratic constitutional changes to cling to power [JURIST report]. Last year protests and demonstrations [JURIST report] took place across the DRC to oppose the proposed changes in the law that would allow DRC President Joseph Kabila to extend his presidential term past the allotted two-year limit, and the government was accused of using excessive force against these protesters.
[JURIST] Independent UN human rights expert Alfred de Zayas [official profile] said [press release] Thursday that [a]rms deals are a major threat to security, peace and human rights. De Zayas, the UN Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, explained that the arms deals often bring with them the risk that the weapons will be used in a manner contravening international law and human rights treaties as well as the possibility that they will be used to commit war crimes. He urged states to abstain from engaging in arms deals, adding that those who do engage in arms deals cannot be granted military aid and instead stressed that these nations should work collaboratively on resolving the root causes of local, regional and international conflict, often emerging from the unrepresentative nature of governments, great injustices and inequalities prevailing in the world, the race for natural resources and the asymmetries of trade relations.

This is not the first time that arms deals have come under fire. In March two human rights groups called [JURIST report] for the US, UK and France to stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia due to accusations and evidence that the weapons are being used in attacks against Yemen. Also in March the Dutch parliament passed a bill [JURIST report] that would ban weapon exports to Saudi Arabia. In May Amnesty International [advocacy website] urged [JURIST report] EU officials to adhere to a 2013 suspension on arms transfers with Egypt in order to prevent human rights violations.
UN experts condemned [text] Australia Friday for its laws allowing indefinite detention of intellectually disabled persons facing criminal charges. Under the current law, if a person is found unfit to plead to a charge against them, they may be held in custody for an unspecified amount of time. Such prisoners may not come before a court until they are found to understand the idea of criminal responsibility. The legislation, the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Defendants) Act 1996 [text, PDF], led to an Aboriginal man being detained for 10 years without having the charges against him determined. Marlon James Noble was conditionally released in 2012. The UN urged Australia to amend its law and provide Noble with, an effective remedy. The UN highlighted that Australia has ratified its Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [materials], requiring each nation to recognize the equal legal rights of disabled people on par with all other citizens.

The promotion of rights for persons with disabilities is a critical issue around the world. Last month the UN released a statement that women with disabilities face discrimination and are often excluded from freely participating in society [JURIST report]. Earlier that month the US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit against the state of Georgia alleging the unnecessary segregation of persons with disabilities in state programs, services, and activities [JURIST report]. In April the advocacy group Human Rights Watch (HRW) claimed France is failing to provide adequate mental health care [JURIST report] and appropriate conditions for prisoners with psychosocial disabilities.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] on Thursday called on [press release] the international community to intensify its efforts to protect cultural treasures against enemy combatants in regions devastated by conflict. Ban specifically directed attention to attacks on cultural heritage sites in the Middle East, North Africa, Yemen and Mali among others, and termed such kinds of attacks war crimes. The UN has been making its own independent efforts to restore and rebuild damaged sites. In Timbuktu, a city known for its rich history and cultural heritage sites, UNESCO [official website] helped rebuild 14 mausoleums and in the process recovered hundreds of thousands of ancient manuscripts. Pointing out that Combatants that attack cultural treasures want to damage more than artefactsthey aim to tear at the fabric of societies, Ban stated: Today, I call on the international community to intensify the global response to attacks on cultural heritage. We have a strong legal basis that we must apply through action to protect treasures and end illicit trafficking. When we Unite for Heritage, we will advance our broader campaign for a more just, peaceful and sustainable future.

Last month the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] opened its first trial [JURIST report] for the destruction of historical and religious monuments. Malian Justice Minister Malick Coulibaly had said in July 2012 that he would ask [JURIST report] the ICC to open an investigation into the destruction of Timbuktus mausoleums. Minister Coulibalys announcement came after ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told reporters [JURIST report] that attacks by Islamist rebels on religious monuments in Mali would not be tolerated and destruction of tombs of ancient Muslim saints in Timbuktu likely amounted to war crimes. Conflicts in Timbuktu took place against a background of significant domestic turmoil, as Malian soldiers took control of the government and suspended the constitution in March of that year, leading to what Amnesty International characterized as the nations worst human rights crisis [JURIST reports] since it gained independence in 1960.
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Dallas, TX, USA, 09/23/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/

Every summer, we hear about tragedies involving the deaths of young children who are left in hot cars, says John Helms a criminal defense lawyer in Dallas. Texas is one of 19 states with laws specifically aimed at leaving children unattended in cars. Texas law applies regardless of whether the child is harmed and regardless of whether the car or the weather is hot.

Section 22.10 of the Texas Penal Code makes it a class C misdemeanor if a person intentionally or knowingly leaves a child younger than seven in a car for more than five minutes unattended by someone at least fourteen years old. Again, it makes no difference whether the child was harmed in any way or whether the car or the weather was hot.

As hard as it may seem to believe, there are some situations in which parents or caregivers accidentally forget that their young child is in the car. If the parent or caregiver truly does not mean to leave the child and does so purely by accident, this is a defense to this statute, but not necessarily to others, as explained below.

If a child is abandoned (no specified time limit) in a car intentionally, and this exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of harm, the person abandoning the child can be charged with the felony offense of abandonment of a child under Texas Penal Code section 22.041(b). Whether the risk of harm is unreasonable will depend on all of the circumstances, but a prosecutor could certainly argue that there is an unreasonable risk of harm based on high temperatures and the amount of time the child is left adds criminal lawyer Helms.

In situations involving an even higher degree of risk, a person can be charged if he or she intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence places a child in imminent danger of death or bodily injury. This describes the felony offense of endangering a child under Texas Penal Code section 22.041(c). In cases involving leaving a child in a car, whether there is an imminent danger of death or bodily injury again depends on all of the circumstances, including the temperature, the childs condition, and how long the child was left unattended.

The crimes described above apply even if the child was not actually injured. If a child is left in a car and suffers bodily injury or serious bodily injury as a result of actions that are intentional, knowing, reckless, or criminally negligent, the person leaving the child can be charged with the felony offense of injury to a child under Texas Penal Code section 22.04. The seriousness of the felony depends on the seriousness of the injury and how badly the person acted in leaving the child.

Prosecutors have a lot of discretion in deciding what crimes to charge when children are left in cars. The laws are complicated and full of terms that are vague as in imminent danger and serious bodily injury. Sometimes, prosecutors may be overly aggressive in bringing charges, and anyone accused of leaving a child in a car should consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. In this type of case, a top criminal lawyer will investigate quickly to uncover all of the facts and circumstances that may be important for defending the case.

If you, a family member or someone you know has been charged with a crime or have been convicted and need help with an appeal in the Dallas area, contact John Helms a criminal defense lawyer in Dallas at (214) 666-8010 or fill out the online contact form. You can discuss your case, how the law may apply and your best legal options to protect your rights and freedom.

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Dallas Criminal Lawyer John Helms

214-666-8010

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-helms-69172699

source: http://johnhelms.attorney/criminal-defense-lawyer-dallas-explains-laws-leaving-kids-hot-cars/

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

Armenias armed forces have 15 times violated the ceasefire on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops over the past 24 hours, said Azerbaijans Defense Ministry Sept. 23.

Armenian army was using large-caliber machine guns.

The Armenian armed forces stationed on nameless heights of the Krasnoselsk district opened fire at the Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gadabay district.

Positions of the Azerbaijani army also underwent fire from the Armenian positions located near the Marzili village of Azerbaijans Aghdam district, Garakhanbayli village of the Fizuli district, Mehdili village of the Jabrayil district, as well as from the positions located on nameless heights of the Goranboy and Fizuli districts.

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.
Criminal Defense Lawyer Asks  Should Being Poor Mean You Have To Stay In Jail?

Dallas, 09/23/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/

No one should be punished for being poor says Texas criminal defense lawyers Broden & Mickelsen.

In many parts of the country, being too poor to make bail leaves criminal defendants with just one option: Sit in jail while their case is pending. Its a scenario that happens over and over again. An individual gets arrested and charged with a crime  usually something relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. At their bail hearing, the judge sets bail, sometimes in the hundreds, sometimes in the thousands. When they cant pay, they are stuck in jail until their case moves forward. In the meantime, their job, their children, and their other responsibilities exist in a sort of limbo.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, and reported by NBC News, its a practice that has gone on for far too long. Recently, the Justice Department claimed that incarcerating the indigent due to an inability to pay is unconstitutional.

If you have been charged with a crime and held in jail because you could not make bail, contact a Texas criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. You have important rights. If your rights have been violated, the criminal defense lawyers at Broden & Mickelsen can help you defend them.

A Texas-Sized Problem

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Unfortunately, its not always a good thing. In Harris County, reports have surfaced of individuals being incarcerated on minor charges, simply because they could not afford the bail set in their case.

According to several sources, many criminal defendants in Harris County have suffered harsh consequences due to a lack of funds. One 22-year-old woman nearly lost her job after she was kept in jail for two days for driving without a license. She could not afford the $2,500 bail set in her case. In another case, a young, pregnant mother with two older children, including a child with a disability, was told to come up with $5,000 bail money or remain in jail.

The jail in Harris County is the largest in Texas and the third-largest in the United States. One source claims that an overwhelming 77 percent of all inmates in the jail are there because they could not afford to pay bail. Out of 8,600 individuals processed into the jail in any given month, 6,800 are detained because they cant pay.

Justice Department Says Enough Is Enough

The indigent bail problem extends far beyond Texas. The Justice Department set forth its opinion on the issue in a case pending in Georgia. In that case, Maurice Walker was incarcerated for six nights after he could not pay $160 bail for a misdemeanor offense of being a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol.

According to the Justice Department, Walkers incarceration was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and reminiscent of the debtors prisons commonly described in Charles Dickens novels written in the Nineteenth Century.

The Justice Department also said there are other methods to guarantee a persons appearance in court, especially when the individual has been charged with a minor, non-violent offense.

Jailed Because You Could Not Pay Bail? Call a Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer

No one should be punished for being poor. Its not a crime to struggle to make ends meet. At Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer Broden & Mickelsen, we defend the rights of people who have suffered at the hands of a justice system that does not always treat everyone fairly. If you have been the victim of unjust bail practices, we can help. Contact us or call 214-720-9552 to discuss your case with a Texas criminal defense lawyer today.

source: http://www.brodenmickelsen.com/blog/dallas-criminal-defense-lawyer-asks-should-being-poor-mean-you-have-to-stay-in-jail/

Social Media Tags:Poor Criminal Defendants, Criminal Defendants Who Cannot Bail, Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Aygun Badalova - Trend:

Azerbaijan stands alone in a sea of chaos in global affairs, CEO of the US Caspian Group Holdings Rob Sobhani told Trend Sept.23.

Its [Azerbaijani] leadership has been wise, independent, responsible and forward thinking. If the people of Azerbaijan have the choice to vote for more of the same via a referendum, then it is their right and no one can criticize them, said Sobhani commenting on criticism of Azerbaijan by western institutions and organizations on the eve of the referendum on making amendments to the constitution.

What is important to realize is the total ineptitude of Western powers at solving more pressing issues such as global terrorism, the crisis in Syria and its subsequent refugee crisis, he said.

The expert pointed out that over 250,000 Syrians have lost their lives, 4 million people are homeless, Africa is struggling with massive poverty and North Korea is on the verge of starting a nuclear war with its neighbours.

In this situation, the Western media should praise, not criticize Azerbaijan for being a stable country, with religious tolerance and at peace with its neighbours, added Sobhani.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @AygunBadalova
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

Austrian Airlines intends to resume flights to Baku, said Austrias Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz.

Kurz made the remarks during the meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, US.

Austrian Airlines suspended flights to Azerbaijan in December 2015.

Azerbaijan has a favorable business atmosphere and Austrian companies are interested in investing in the country, noted Kurz.

The Austrian minister said also that his country will make efforts to resolve the existing conflicts, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, during its chairmanship at the OSCE in 2017.

Kurz expressed his intention to visit Azerbaijan as the future OSCE chairperson-in-office and discuss bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the Azerbaijani side.

The chairmanship at the OSCE will pass to Austria in January 2017.

During the meeting, the parties also noted favorable opportunities for the expansion of the Azerbaijani-Austrian political dialogue and economic cooperation.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

Opening ceremony of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve, restoration of which was funded by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, has been held in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

The Azerbaijani first lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva attended the event.

Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva were welcomed by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo Daniel Panov and other officials. The ceremony started with the unveiling of a memorial plaque.

It is my honor to attend this event, said Veliko Tarnovo's Mayor Daniel Panov.

He thanked Azerbaijans first lady on behalf of the residents for this project.

Panov highlighted the history of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve. The mayor noted that restoration of the ancient monument was a lasting desire of the Bulgarian people, adding that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation made this dream come true.

He presented keepsakes to the Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, Leyla Aliyeva and the Bulgarian Premier Boyko Borissov.

President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her gratitude to the mayor and residents of Veliko Tarnovo for sincere reception and hospitality.

Mehriban Aliyeva congratulated the people of Bulgaria on the occasion of the country's Independence Day and wished them peace and prosperity. She also congratulated them on the opening of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve after restoration.

She said the Heydar Aliyev Foundation was happy to contribute to the renovation of this cultural and museum center.

"Trapezitsa Reserve is the national wealth of the Bulgarian people, and is also part of the European cultural heritage. That's why I want to reiterate that we and our Foundation are very proud that we contributed to the restoration of this historical and cultural heritage of world significance," Mehriban Aliyeva said.

Saying Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of civilizations, the first lady hailed multiculturalism and tolerance in the country.

Guided by the principles of cultural diversity, tolerance and mutual respect, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is implementing projects to support cultural heritage all over the world. I am very glad that one of our projects is implemented in a friendly country  Bulgaria, she added.

Mehriban Aliyeva praised strategic bilateral relations between the two countries, and expressed her hope that this project will also contribute to the strengthening of bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.

She thanked those who contributed to realization of the project, particularly, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the country's ambassador to Azerbaijan Maya Hristova.

Addressing the event, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov highlighted the development of friendly ties between the two countries. He expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva and the Foundation's Vice-President Leyla Aliyeva.

He described the event as a strong bridge of friendship between the two countries. He noted that the ancient cultural monument which was restored through support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation will contribute to the development of Azerbaijan-Bulgaria friendship.

The event participants then viewed the Cultural Heritage Center, which was created in the area of the Reserve. The center highlights the history of Veliko Tarnovo and Trapezitsa, as well as the second Bulgarian khanate and features various exhibits on the archaeological researches and the Middle Ages.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation then presented the Azerbaijani and Bulgarian versions of the postage stamps which reflect the conservation and restoration of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve.

Agreement "On conservation and restoration of Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve and construction and repair of its technical infrastructure" was signed in Sofia in 2015.

Under the agreement, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation carried out the restoration and preservation of the 150-meter long Western Wall of a historic monument, the construction of 700-meter long tourist alley, the creation and provision of a cultural center, the repair and preservation of three churches in the territory, and the creation of a transportation infrastructure for visitors.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

The circles concerned over Azerbaijans development and its growing prestige, become active every time when an important event is held in the country, Valeh Alasgarov, deputy speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, told Trend Sept. 23.

He added that Azerbaijans continuous development, improvement of its image, security and stability in the country always bother some circles.

Therefore, when major events are held in Azerbaijan, those circles, under the pretext of democracy, organize a smear campaign against the country through media outlets and network of various NGOs, Alasgarov said.

He said the Sept. 26 referendum is an internal affair of Azerbaijan.

People will come to polling stations and vote by expressing their will, Alasgarov said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to hold a referendum on amending the Constitution on Sept. 26, 2016.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

Today, when the world still experience the impacts of global economic slowdown, energy, transportation and other interrelated components of connectivity are becoming more promising for economic and trade growth of our countries, said Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.

Mammadyarov made the remarks at the extraordinary session of Council of Ministers of the ECO (Economic Cooperation Organization) member states in New York, US.

Therefore, it is important to highlight the development of transport and connectivity issues in general among priority areas, as an essential prerequisite for the regional trade development, he noted.

Azerbaijan together with regional and international partners has contributed to regional cooperation by initiating and implementing energy and transportation projects, said the minister.

We are actively participating in implementation of the International North-South and East-West Transport Corridors, he added.

Mammadyarov said also that the establishment of the Trans-Caspian International Route and construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway project, expected to be operational next year, are among the important projects.

We are convinced that an early completion of the Gazvin-Rasht-Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) railway project, which is a part of the North-South Transport Corridor, will give a new impetus to economic growth, expand transport opportunities for involved countries, as well as the whole region, said the minister.

Another promising sphere of common interest is enhancing synergy in sustainable development, including in the area of sustainable energy resources in line with the new 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he noted.

We are closely observing the recent trends and developments for establishment of ECO regional electricity market, said Mammadyarov.

Azerbaijan also initiated the establishment of Data Information Network (DIN) on Renewable Energy Sources in Baku, according to the minister.

Azerbaijan through its practical activities continues to contribute to the goals and objectives of the ECO, he said.

This year we will host the 4th ECO Business Forum that will contribute to enhance intra-regional trade and investment, as well as economic growth and development in the ECO region, he added.

Among priority areas of cooperation within the ECO is development of regional activities to tackle environmental challenges. As a part of this agenda Azerbaijan has joined to global efforts on combating climate change towards global climate resilience via submission of its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and signing of Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Current fruitful cooperation in science and research increase the capacity of ECO in identification and preparation of ECO projects, noted Mammadyarov.

In this connection, we believe that the early establishment of the ECO Research Centre in Baku will give its contribution to ECOs future development via elaborating efficient economic projects, research programs, as well as economic patterns for the regional states, he added.

Also we deem it expedient to promote the implementation of regionally beneficial projects and closer cooperation with UN specialized agencies and international financial institutions to successfully implement economic projects of regional character, he said.

We should focus on core priorities common for the member states and the whole region, inter alia, transport, alternative energy, trade and investments, agriculture, information technology and tourism, noted the minister.

At previous Council meetings we stressed the necessity to find creative ways and means to improve the existing mechanism of cooperation within the organization, said Mammadyarov.

He also noted that the new ECO Vision 2016-2025, which is currently under elaboration, needs to reflect the interests of all member states. This reforming process should aim to enhance efficiency of current institutions and activities within the ECO.

Azerbaijan supports the reforming process that through joint efforts can provide a possibility for elaboration of actions for further development of the ECO, he said.

Without the settlement of protracted conflicts and ensuring security and stability in the region, ECO will fail to reap the benefits from comprehensive regional cooperation, noted the minister.

The ongoing military occupation of the Azerbaijani territories by Armenia still remains as a major source of instability and impediment to the economic development, said Mammadyarov.

The withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories and ensuring the return of the refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes will not only contribute to peace and security in the South Caucasus, but also enhance full-fledged intra-regional cooperation, he added.
KEARNEY  A felony drug distribution charge has been dismissed against a Kearney man after a judge ruled the means in which a police officer entered the mans home was illegal.

Jesse Nunns, 21, was charged in January with felony distribution of marijuana after 5 ounces of the drug was found in his Kearney apartment. Buffalo County District Court Judge Bill Wright dismissed the charge against Nunns Aug. 2 without prejudice, which means the charge could be refiled by the Buffalo County Attorneys Office.

At 1 a.m. Jan. 4, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper went to Nunns Kearney apartment after receiving information that Nunns was distributing marijuana. Without a warrant or an invitation from Nunns, the trooper entered Nunns home and questioned him about his drug activity.

The officer also located and took about 5 ounces of marijuana from a bedroom in Nunns apartment. Wrights decision noted the officer and Nunns had two separate accounts of the incident.

Wright ruled under circumstances of the case Nunns believed he was unable to refuse a search of his residence by the officer. However, the judge ruled Nunns shouldve had the opportunity to refuse the search.

State law says homeowners can refuse a search of their home any time by a law enforcement officer when the officer doesnt present a search warrant.

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A meeting on the national referendum on amendments to the countrys Constitution to be held on September 26 was conducted at the Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS).

Opening the meeting, BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov emphasized importance of the forthcoming referendum to be held upon a decree by the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev. According to the decree, the draft Referendum Act On making amendments to the Constitution of Azerbaijan shall be put to a referendum on September 26, 2016. As Elmar Gasimov pointed out, the referendum shall become an important event in the social and political life of Azerbaijan as well as a further step in the implementation of new reforms in the country. Speaking about the changes and amendments to be included into the Constitution, he said that they would serve to improvement of the prosperity and well-being of Azerbaijani citizens, better protection of their rights and freedoms, and further consolidation of the statehood.

Elmar Gasimov expressed confidence that all citizens of Azerbaijan would support the amendments to be introduced into the Constitution and called everyone to vote for the brighter future of the country. Other speakers also expressed their support to the amendments to the Constitution and said that they intend to actively participate in the referendum.
OMAHA  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska said Friday it wont sell individual health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplace next year because of continuing losses.

Blue Cross departure removes the states largest health insurer from the individual marketplace, leaving only Aetna and Medica Health to offer individual policies on the Nebraskas exchange for 2017.

Steve Martin, the chief executive of Blue Cross, told The World-Herald that the company has lost $140 million on the exchange policies since 2014. If the trend continued, losses could total $250 million by the end of 2017, he said.

As of this year, around 20,000 people out of Blue Cross of Nebraskas 750,000 clients have individual exchange policies.

The decision wont affect the thousands of Nebraskans covered by Blue Cross group policies through their employers or people who plan to renew their pre-Affordable Care Act individual policies.

State and federal rules require companies to submit proposed policies and rates for approval well ahead of time. Blue Cross had proposed substantial rate increases for 2017 and received approvals, but those rates were based mostly on 2015 claims.

If the planned 2017 rates turned out to be too low, Blue Cross would have lost money next year, too, company officials said.

Friday was the deadline for insurance companies to sign agreements with the federal government to offer policies on the exchanges. Open enrollment on the exchanges starts Nov. 1.

Martin said too often federal officials let people buy insurance just before they are due to receive an expensive health treatment and then drop their coverage immediately afterward. As a result, many of them pay no premiums when they are well, only when they are sick.

Last month Aetna announced it would drop out of the insurance marketplaces in 11 states because of losses, remaining only in Nebraska, Iowa, Virginia and Delaware.

UnitedHealth Group decided earlier this year to drop its Nebraska and Iowa individual coverage, and Humana reduced its participation to 11 from 15 states, which did not include Nebraska or Iowa. More than a dozen insurance cooperatives have shut down in the past few years, including the one that served Nebraska and Iowa.

Wellmark, the Iowa affiliate of the Blue Cross network, did not take part in the Iowa exchange in 2014, 2015 or 2016 but last October announced that it would offer policies on the exchange for 2017 in 47 of the states 99 counties  not including Pottawattamie County and Council Bluffs.

Other companies due to be on the Iowa exchange are Aetna, Gunderson Health and Medica, which is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

The exchanges are a centerpiece of the federal health insurance law, also known as Obamacare. They are intended to let millions of people who dont qualify for group insurance shop for policies and receive guaranteed coverage, no matter what their health.
Premier Christy Clark speaks at the opening of the new Okanagan College trades centre in Kelowna on Thursday morning. She later sat down for an interview with The Daily Courier.
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A joint project of the University of Siegen of Germany and Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) on EE-KEY-AZ Entrepreneurship Education: a Key to Job Creation and Employability in Azerbaijan has become the winner of the contest held by the Head office of the German Academic Exchange Service- DAAD in Germany. Meetings and trainings with the academic staffs, young research fellows and students participation are planned to be held in both Azerbaijan and Germany within the project granted. At the same time winter schools and workshops are to be held in both countries. Business planning, innovation management, logistics, e- commerce, risks management and other fields will be covered within the trainings. The project covers all levels of higher education. The development of a joint graduate program is also placed main targets of the project.

The competition of A Small Business Plan planned to be held among the young scholars will help the employees conducting research in this area. And the Financial Consultant Clubs will give the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students the opportunity of forming as consultants. Research fellows will get a chance of passing internship in different companies of Germany and Azerbaijan. Another interesting aspect of the project is the integration of the employees involved to trainings in alumni database to be established.

The execution of the project will start in October of 2016 and last for four years. Note that, UNEC is the only higher education institution participating in the competition as a partner from Azerbaijan.
The top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, Rodrigo Londono, also known as Timochenko, fourth from right, talks to the group's main negotiator Ivan Marquez, as Calros Antonio Lozada, right, and Pablo Catatumbo, second from right, stand by during the closing event of the FARC's 10th conference in Yari Plains, Colombia, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. FARC leaders gave their unanimous support to a peace agreement reached last month with the government. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

Trend:

Silk Way West Airlines opened direct cargo flights between Baku and the largest transportation hub in the United States - Chicago (Illinois).

The first flight from Heydar Aliyev International Airport to O'Hare International Airport was carried out on September 18.

Starting from October 2016, regular transatlantic flights of Silk Way West Airlines on this route will be operated twice a week with one of the most modern cargo aircrafts - Boeing 747-8F Freighter.

Thus, the airline will further increase its presence in the freight transportation market in the United States.

It should be noted that on April 6, 2016 the governments of Azerbaijan and the United States signed Open Skies air transport agreement, which allowed to liberalize air transport market between the two countries.

Silk Way West Airlines operates regular flights to various regions of the world  Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, using the Heydar Aliyev International Airport as a transit hub, connecting the continents with one another. Today, Azerbaijan's civil aviation has announced itself as the official air carrier of the Great Silk Road project connecting East and West.
Details added (first version posted on 13:04)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR doesnt exclude the possibility of issuing bonds in the countrys national currency  manat  in the future, SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev told reporters Sept. 23 in Baku.

Abdullayev said that among the population there is an increasing interest in dollar-denominated bonds issued on Sept. 20.

He also noted that the new emission of dollar bonds can be issued in the near future, even in 2016.

SOCAR president added that the bond yield within the second emission will be determined at a level below five percent and didnt specify its volume.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

The Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has paid compensations worth over 258.06 million Azerbaijani manats (AZN) to depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank, Parabank, Caucasus Development Bank, AtraBank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Gandjabank and Texnikabank, ADIF said in a message Sept. 23.

The official exchange rate on Sept. 23 is 1.6292 AZN/USD.

Acceptance of applications from insured depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank and Parabank began Aug. 1 and the payment of compensations has been carried out since that day.

Compensations to the insured depositors of Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank are being paid starting from Aug. 23. Payments are being carried out at the branches of those closed banks.

AtraBanks clients can obtain compensations at those branches, where they concluded agreements to accept deposits. Those people, who concluded agreements at the Khazar branch, should apply to the banks main office.

Depositors of Caucasus Development Bank receive compensations at the banks main office.

Payment of compensations to insured depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan has been carried out since Jan. 29, 2016: these payments are being carried out at branches of Muganbank and Rabitabank. Clients of Ganjabank receive compensations since Feb. 4 at the branches of Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank.

ADIF started payment of compensations to insured depositors of Texnikabank since Feb. 12: clients receive compensations at the branches of Muganbank, Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank.

Depositors of Parabank received 32.42 million manats out of the total compensations of 43.79 million manats, and depositors of Zaminbank received 46.91 million manats. The compensations paid to DekaBanks depositors amounted to 2.76 million manats out of the payments total volume of 5.59 million manats.

KredoBanks depositors received compensations worth 16.87 million manats out of the compensations total volume of 30.21 million manats.

The compensations paid to depositors of Caucasus Development Bank amounted to 1.63 million manats. Depositors of AtraBank received 12.6 million manats out of the total compensations of 13.9 million manats.

Depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan received compensations worth 24.09 million manats out of the compensations total volume of 24.2 million manats.

The compensations paid to depositors of Gandjabank and Texnikabank amounted to 0.93 million manats and 119.87 million manats out of the total compensations of 1.5 million manats and 122.6 million manats, respectively.

The licenses of all the nine banks were cancelled during 2016 as their assets were not classified in line with the law, they didnt create adequate reserves and the aggregate capital of these banks doesnt meet the minimum requirements [50 million manats]. In general, they havent fulfilled the regulators instructions.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23



By Aygun Badalova  Trend



Despite public optimism regarding the upcoming meeting of oil producers in Algiers, sources from several key OPEC states say they cannot join any coordinated action on output, International Oil Daily (IOD) reported.



The informal OPEC meeting is expected in late September in Algiers. 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 from 26-28 September.



Earlier Algerian Energy Minister Noureddine Bouterfa said that OPEC may turn its planned informal meeting in Algiers into a formal session as it seeks ways with other producers to cut crude supplies by one million barrels a day to re-balance markets and stabilize prices.



At the same time Irans position regarding oil production freeze deal remains unchanged  the country would need to reach the pre-sanctions outpul level of some 4 million barrels a day before joining any potential agreement.



Aside from questions around which countries should be excluded, member states also have not been able to agree on which month would be a reference month for any freeze, sources told IOD.



Delegates from OPEC quartet Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar and Algeria held a technical meeting in Vienna on Thursday, as a precursor to the Algiers event, with the intention to come to a common view on the market. But sources say the officials found little common ground.



The gathering was described by one Gulf OPEC delegate as a "waste of time".
An investigation is underway at a local elementary school after a student alerted administration of a pocket knife on campus.

The incident happened at Borchers Elementary on Tuesday morning.

According to the United Independent School District, a fifth grade student was in possession of the weapon.

No one was injured, but parents of students who were around the child with the knife were sent letters notifying them of the investigation.

"The letter was sent to the fifth grade students because the incident was during when all of the class was together," says Rocio Moore, of United ISD. "That's why it only involves the fifth graders."

Depending on the conclusion of the investigation, the District will use the Code of Conduct as a guide to determine adequate punishment.

For now, they ask parents to talk to their children about the consequences of taking weapons to school, and they encourage them to check their backpacks regularly.

If you would like to see the letters sent to parents on this issue, you can click and view the attached document.
The State of Texas is receiving millions to help pay for advanced placement tests.

The announcement came Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Education.

They awarded $28.4 million to 41 states and the District of Columbia.

This money will help pay in part for the AP exams of students from low-income backgrounds.

Laredo's school districts say funding from the federal and state government has been helping cover part, if not all of the fees for the tests to help high school students save money in college.

L.I.SD. students who qualify for assistance are able to take the exam free of charge.

The cost breakdown works differently for the district with a higher concentration of economically disadvantaged students.

The levels of funding per state are determined based on the state's estimates of the number of tests taken by students from low-income families.
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Spider man gets a spider lizard buddy



With his tough stance and red and blue colouring, he could be mistaken for comic book hero Spiderman. But on closer inspection the web slinger 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. Read More...


Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sept. 23

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao met with Turkmenistans President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to discuss the countrys development priorities and reiterate support for the governments efforts to diversify the economy, said the ADB in a message.

Nakaos first visit to Turkmenistan also includes meetings with Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers in charge of foreign affairs, economy and finance, hydrocarbon sector, electricity and construction sectors, and the Chairman of the Board of the Central Bank of Turkmenistan and ADB Governor.



Policies to expand manufacturing, promote local value chains and integrate them into the global ones are critical to create stronger and more balanced growth in Turkmenistan, said Nakao. They will reduce the countrys dependence on the hydrocarbon sector and will help to create jobs for its growing working-age population.



Turkmenistans economy relies heavily on oil and gas, which account for over 85 percent of the countrys exports. The earnings from hydrocarbon exports are expected to remain weak in the medium term due to low global energy prices. Nevertheless, the countrys economic growth is projected to average about 6 percent in 20162017.



The ADB has provided strong support for the TurkmenistanAfghanistanPakistanIndia (TAPI) Natural Gas Pipeline, serving as the TAPI secretariat since 2003 and as transaction advisor since 2013. Once completed, the pipeline will export up to 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The pipeline will provide Turkmenistan with a larger market for its gas exports and generate greater revenues to support high value-added economic activities in the country.



For the next phase, the ADB will be pleased to act as financial advisor to mobilize resources from other financial institutions. The ADB will also consider financing shareholder equity in the TAPI project company, and provide non-sovereign loans and credit enhancement. Since 2010,

Turkmenistan has also benefited from the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program through transport and energy projects.



Since Turkmenistan joined ADB in 2000, ADBs assistance has focused on modernizing the transport sector and increasing the countrys share of regional trade. The ADB provided $125 million to finance the NorthSouth Railway Project - signalization of 288 kilometers of railway between Chilmammet and Buzkhun - has improved the transport link for regional trade from Turkmenistan to Kazakhstan, Iran, the Persian Gulf countries, Russia, and South Asia.



ADB is in the midst of preparing its new country partnership strategy with Turkmenistan for 20172021 to help the country achieve its national development agenda, as reflected in the governments National Program of Social and Economic Development 20112030. To support efforts to diversify the economy the ADB plans operations in regional infrastructure, access to finance and potentially education in the social sectors.



ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members  48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including co-financing of $10.7 billion.
Staff from The Taxback Group in Kilkenny recently donned their county colours to support their counties and a great local cause.

The Fr McGrath Centre, a multi-faceted family centre providing a comprehensive list of programmes, services and supports to families and individuals, were the sole recipients of all proceeds from this initiative in The Taxback Group.

Pat Brennan Chairperson of the Fr McGrath Centre said they were thrilled to get a call from The Taxback Group and to receive such a donation from the company. This will be put towards our Junior Leader training programme where young teenagers train and then work with younger children on our activity programmes, he said.

The event is the latest activity in The Taxback Groups annual 50,000 Corporate Social Responsibility programme for 2016. The Taxback Group has supported over 300 initiatives since inception of its CSR programme.

Now in its ninth year, The Taxback Group CSR programme provides support to community initiatives all over the world. Group Marketing and Communications Executive Eoin Lyons says Its always an honour to see our donations having a positive effect in our communities. Although we are a global business we have a responsibility to give back to the communities in which we operate and we are truly passionate about projects such as the Fr. McGrath centre, Mr Lyons said.
* Mining NPL at 6.77 pct in July vs 3.82 pct a year ago

* C.bank gov says concerned about rising overall NPLs

* Banks raise provisions, cut loans to mining sector

By Eveline Danubrata and Glenys Kirana

JAKARTA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Bad loans in Indonesia's mining sector nearly doubled in July from a year earlier, the latest data from the financial regulator showed, despite the efforts of banks to step up provisions and scale back lending.

Gross non-performing loans (NPL) in Indonesia's mining and quarrying industry rose for the fourth month in a row to 6.77 percent of total loans in the sector in July, according to Indonesia's Financial Services Authority. That compares with 3.82 percent a year earlier. ( )

Overall, non-performing loans made up 3.18 percent of total loans in the banking sector, up from 2.70 percent a year earlier. Still, that was below the 5 percent threshold set by the regulator as a gauge of the health of the country's lenders.

Miners of commodities ranging from coal to copper in Southeast Asia's biggest economy have been struggling to service their debt as sluggish demand and an oversupply hurt cash flow.

Indonesia's central bank governor Agus Martowardojo told reporters on Thursday he was concerned about rising NPLs, without singling out the worst-hit sector. Several lenders have set up "special units" to improve their loan quality, but "there are banks that still need more time", Martowardojo said.

Indonesia's largest bank by assets, PT Bank Mandiri Tbk , said in July it will strengthen its risk management and restructure certain loans after reporting a 29 percent drop in first-half net profit due to a sharp increase in provisions, or funds kept aside by the bank in anticipation of bad loans. Mandiri more than doubled its provisions to 9.9 trillion rupiah ($756.3 million) from 4.0 trillion rupiah a year earlier.

PT Bank Central Asia Tbk has some exposure to mining support businesses such as transport and heavy equipment, but it can keep its NPL below 1.75 percent, President Director Jahja Setiaatmadja said in a text message on Friday. ($1 = 13,090.00 rupiah)

(Reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Glenys Kirana; Additional reporting by Nilufar Rizki and Cindy Silviana; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
MOSCOW, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Russia's Finance Ministry plans to submit its three-year budget to the government in October, which envisages no increase in taxes, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told a finance forum on Friday.

He also said the ministry was proposing a return to the so-called "tax maneuver" in the oil sector, which was on hold this year. Siluanov also said that a proposed budget rule envisaged saving revenues when oil prices are above $40 per barrel.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly and Alexander Winning; writing by Katya Golubkova; editing by Dmitry Solovyov)
Singapore Aug headline CPI falls 0.3 pct y/y, down for 22nd straight month



SINGAPORE, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Singapore's headline consumer price index fell in August, dragged down by declines in the costs of housing and transportation, data showed on Friday. The all-items consumer price index (CPI) in August declined 0.3 percent from a year earlier, after falling 0.7 percent in July. It marked 22 straight months of declines for the index, and compared with a 0.4 percent median slide forecast in a Reuters survey. Singapore's core CPI rose 1.0 percent in August from a year earlier. The median forecast was for a rise of 1.1 percent.

(Reporting by Masayuki Kitano; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

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.

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HANOI, Sept 23 (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 0422 GMT.

Sept 23 Sept 22 USD/VND mid-point 21,942 21,944 USD/VND interbank 22,311/22,312 22,305/22,320 USD/VND unofficial 22,300/22,315 22,300/22,315 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.10/36.38 36.12/36.40

Interbank offered rates Overnight 0.4-0.7 0.4-0.7

1 week 0.4-0.8 0.4-0.8

1 month 1.7-2.4 1.5-2.2

3 months 3.3-4.2 3.2-4.2

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)
(Adds details, quote, context)

MOSCOW, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Russian investors were cut off and foreigners were given priority in Russia's sovereign Eurobond top-up of $1.25 billion, Andrei Solovyov, head of debt capital markets at VTB Capital, told Reuters.

The deal was solely arranged by VTB Capital, and asset management investors bought around 51 percent of the issue, with the rest split between hedge funds, pension funds, insurance companies and others.

Asked if separate talks with Euroclear were needed for the top-up, as Euroclear had not joined the first issue of $1.75 billion in May and had started serving it only in July, Solovyov said that separate negotiations had been held and they were fewer difficulties than in the first issue.

"We are very happy that investors took independent decisions in this deal," he said when asked about possible pressure from the United States. Russia's economy is under Western economic sanctions due to Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis.

(Reporting by Katya Golubkova; editing by Ralph Boulton)
CARACAS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA said on Friday that Maroil Trading Inc has won a $138 million contract to remove a large pile of petroleum coke at the Jose solids terminal in the eastern state of Anzoategui.

Petcoke, a byproduct of upgrading tar-like Orinoco oil into lighter crude, has accumulated quickly at Jose since a 2009 fire temporarily halted its export. The large black dunes have drawn criticism from environmentalists and nearby communities.

PDVSA rejects environmental criticism as a smear campaign by enemies of Venezuela's socialist government.

The company has awarded several contracts to clean up the petcoke mounds in recent years, but little progress has been made, according to union sources and workers at Jose.

Maroil is run by Venezuelan shipping magnate Wilmer Ruperti, according to the businessman's LinkedIn profile.

Ruperti rose to prominence during a 2002-2003 oil industry shutdown by providing shipping services that helped late President Hugo Chavez regain control of the sector. He has since become a vocal supporter of the ruling Socialist Party.

Opposition critics frequently describe Ruperti as an opportunist who has used political connections to obtain business deals.

Neither Maroil nor Ruperti could immediately be reached for comment.

PDVSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the company, the petcoke's commercialization or the time frame for the removal of the pile.

Details of the tender were not immediately available.

PDVSA said 2.5 tonnes of petcoke are derived from every 100 barrels of upgraded extra-heavy crude from the oil-rich Orinoco Belt. The international price of the product is about $35 per tonne, it added.

(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Additional reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club



By Andrew Binion of the Kitsap Sun

PORT ORCHARD  Kitsap County is seeking to shut down operations at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club, again, claiming the club's application for an operating permit stalled and expired after county officials sought addition information and corrections.

Now county attorneys contend the Central Kitsap club is operating without a permit, in violation of county ordinance, despite being allowed to continue shooting activities at the club while its application was pending.

Retired Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jay Roof has continued hearing issues related to the club's operating permit. He is scheduled to hear the request Sept. 29, according to documents filed Thursday.

Reached by phone, the club's executive office, Marcus Carter, said he was not aware of the newly scheduled hearing and had not had a chance to read the county's latest request to Roof but said that the club's operating permit application was sufficient and that the county is holding it to a different standard than other clubs.

"It doesn't surprise me, but it saddens me," Carter said, noting that the club relies on volunteer labor and expertise. "They just want to break the club financially. After all, the Prosecutor's Office doesn't have to think about money, we do."

The issue is over the club's operating permit  the club also is in litigation over a land-use permit  for which the club submitted an application in March "under protest."

County commissioners approved in 2014 the ordinance requiring shooting ranges to get permits, and shooting on the range had been halted until the application was submitted. After the submission, shooting was allowed to resume on the range while the application was pending.

County Fire Marshal David Lynam, who was assigned to review the application from the gun club, sent the club a letter in May saying the permit application was deficient and detailed what needed to be fixed, according to the documents.

This effectively paused the county's review of the gun club's application, and gave the club 90 days to correct the application in its entirety. According to the county ordinance, the club also could have requested an extension, county attorneys wrote in documents.

Carter said that the requirement the fixes be resubmitted in their entirety was onerous for a volunteer-driven club and that it was never explained the club could request an extension.

Carter said the club has reached out to the county and has tried to work on a solution, but documents say the club never responded to the request to fix problems with its application.

The 90-day period to fix the application expired in early August, and the club was sent a letter saying its pending application had effectively expired, and the club would have to reapply.
SHARE Charles Dean Bryant

By Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun

A man charged this week in the killing of a 24-year-old Texas woman once lived in Central Kitsap and had several run-ins with the law here, according to Kitsap County court records.

Charles Dean Bryant Jr., 30, is accused of capital murder in the death of 24-year-old Jacqueline Vandagriff in Grapevine, Texas, a suburb in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He's been jailed on $1 million bail.

Vandagriff's body was found the morning of Sept. 14 in an area known as Acorn Woods Park, according to the Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling. The city's fire department had extinguished a fire there in a blue kiddie pool when her dismembered body was discovered. Police said an accelerant was used to set the blaze.

The department said a "round-the-clock" investigation ensued, culminating in Bryant's arrest four days later. He was living in Haslet, a city about 20 miles west of Grapevine. Eberling said police in Texas had encounters with Bryant as far back as 2010. Court documents said he had lived in Grapevine.

Bryant was arrested by Bremerton police in May 2008 after he and another man were accused of throwing a pickle at a motorcyclist passing the duo on Almira Drive, according to Bremerton Municipal Court records. He was living at an address on Conifer Drive in Central Kitsap, the documents say. The officer noted he also had a warrant for fourth-degree assault in Kitsap County, stemming from a 2004 incident. Court documents associated with that case have been destroyed but the charge was not domestic violence-related. Bryant also has a warrant for his arrest for third-degree theft, a misdemeanor, in Clark County.

A charge of reckless endangerment was ultimately dropped by Kitsap County prosecutors in the Bremerton case due to insufficient evidence, court documents say.

In early September, Bryant was arrested on suspicion of stalking an ex-girlfriend, according to the homicide warrant for his arrest in Grapevine. He posted bail Sept. 9, days before police say he was spotted at two area bars with Vandagriff. Police pieced together their whereabouts that night using social media posts, by pinging her cellphone's location and by viewing video surveillance at the bars.

Police served a search warrant at his home, finding Vandagriff's purse in the trash there. They found a "round patch of dead grass where it appears a kiddie pool would have recently been but is no longer present." Surveillance video also showed Bryant purchasing a shovel at Walmart at about 5 a.m. Sept. 14, and detectives found "evidence someone started to dig a hole in his backyard," his arrest warrant said.

Bryant worked at the bar The Urban Cowboy Saloon in Fort Worth, and the bar acknowledged on Facebook Monday that he'd been fired for not showing up to his shift Sunday  the day he was arrested on suspicion of the homicide.

Vandagriff was a student at Texas Woman's University studying nutrition.

"Jacqueline exemplified the spirit of learning and service that is the hallmark of our TWU community," the university said. "She lived her life with a desire to serve others through her interest in nutrition."
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept.23

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

The new head of the EU delegation in Uzbekistan Latvian diplomat Eduards Stiprais took office, said the message from the EU delegation in Tashkent.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini approved Stiprais head of the EU delegation in Uzbekistan in late August 2016.

Prior to his appointment to Uzbekistan, Stiprais served as deputy secretary of state -. political director of the Foreign Ministry of Latvia.

Stiprais became the third EU ambassador to Uzbekistan since the opening of the diplomatic mission in Tashkent in 2011.

Uzbekistan and the EU signed an agreement on 'Partnership and Cooperation ' in 1996. Diplomatic representation of the EU in Uzbekistan opened in 2012.

The amount of EU financial assistance to Uzbekistan in 2014-2020 was approved in the amount of 168 million euros. These funds will be directed at improving irrigation infrastructure, introduction of renewable energy sources in agribusiness, promoting the program to create new jobs in the regions.
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Janice McLemore, Silverdale

The pick for president is clear

Hillary Clinton represents my gratitude for being born an American. At our best, we are thankful for our good fortune, generous, thoughtful, united, and have a positive can-do attitude. Hillary Clinton's career has been about our pledge to "one nation under God with liberty and justice for all." Where there are problems, she has worked to solve them. She represented us well on the world stage as Secretary of State.

Donald Trump, however, threatens us, igniting our anger at each other and claiming that America is no longer great. His career has been about building his inherited wealth. He refuses to release his tax returns that would reveal how he has increased his wealth and to what he has contributed for the general good. His political career was launched on the false claim that President Obama is not a citizen. He continues by "trumping up" charges that Hillary Clinton should be "locked up," denying the conclusion of the FBI. He calls those who disagree with him "losers" and "criminals." He threatens Clinton's safety by calling her bodyguards to put down their guns and see what happens. His most admired world leader seems to be Putin, whose ally Assad has prolonged the war in Syria, which has killed 470,000 people, including many of his own citizens.

The choice is clear. Vote for Hillary Clinton and the America we love, "one nation under God with liberty and justice for all."
The Herald reports:

Treasury has painted an improving picture of the beleaguered convention centre project. Yesterday it released a performance report on major Government projects throughout New Zealand, including four of the citys anchor projects. The convention centre has moved from a red rating to a much-improved amber delivery confidence rating from its previous report. But Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Gerry Brownlee was yesterday scathing of the Treasury analysis, in spite of the improved report, saying it was done by people who fluff about the place pontificating. He said he had little respect for the reports or their analysis. It is a rating system Treasury do for themselves, he said. Mr Brownlee has blasted previous Treasury reports as disrespectful, calling a November report on anchor projects utter tripe.

I think these comments are inappropriate.

It is fine for Ministers to disagree with advice and say things like Treasury are looking at the project through a narrow set of parameters and I think when you look at the overall project it is fine.

But this comes close to a personal attack on the staff who produced the report, and Gerry also goes over the top in attacking the reports as somethign Treasury do for themselves. Treasury do these reports because their Minister and/or the Cabinet decided they should be produced. It is not something they are producing as some sort of rogue agency.

As I said at the beginning, it is fine to disagree with advice and analysis, but Ministers should not shoot the messengers.

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A lot of people have asked me about voting for the Wellington Mayoralty and how best to vote to get the Mayor they want. As Wellington uses STV this is an important question as beyond doubt the election will be decided on second, third, fourth preferences etc.

Now the technically correct answer is to rank the eight candidates in order from 1 to 8 based on who you think is best to worst. That is what I will do as I have managed to form opinions on all eight candidates.

But you dont have to rank all eight, and in many cases it is unnecessary. What is important is the rankings between the candidates who can win. So if you arent sure whether to say rank Johnny Overton higher or Keith Johnson higher, then dont worry  you dont need to (even though you can).

Looking at the eight candidates, two are not currently even on (a) Council  Overton and Johnson. They have no realistic chance of winning, so you dont need to really worry about ranking them. Because it is almost impossible they will be one of the last two candidates remaining when all preferences are allocated.

The same tends to go for Helene Ritchie and Andy Foster. Theyve both been on Council since the 1970s and 1990s respectively and I cant see any scenario where they could win, or be one of the last two or even three. You can rank them if you want, if you especially support or oppose them, but it almost certainly wont matter.

My view is that the election preferences will come down to a choice between Justin Lester and one of Nick Leggett, Jo Coughlan and Nicola Young.

Now if you back Justin Lester, then just rank him number one. To some degree your other preferences arent that important. He is very likely to be one of the final two, so his preferences will not get redelegated.

Now if you dont back Justin Lester, what do you do?

What is important is that you rank Leggett, Coughlan and Young with your top three preferences, above him  the safest option is to rank them 1, 2, 3 or 2, 3, 1 or 3, 1, 2  assign those three your top three ranks. One of them will go into the final preference round against Lester. You dont need to rank Lester or any of the other candidates. You can if you want to, but what is important is those three candidates are ranked higher than Lester and given your top three rankings (if you do not want Lester to win). It means that as two of them get eliminated their support consolidates behind the remaining candidate.

As for who between those three you should make 1st, 2nd and 3rd  well that is up to you. They all have some good strengths and Id be happy with any of them as Mayor. Rank the one you think is best 1, second best 2 and third best 3. But if you do not want a Labour Party controlled Mayor, the important thing is they get your top three rankings.

Now if you want Lester that is fine, and as I say it is easy  make him 1. I wont be ranking him in my top three because he is a party controlled candidate. If he was an independent Id be far more likely to give him a higher rating. I have no problems with Justin Lester personally and in fact have appreciated some things he has done such as calling me to discuss issues around e-voting when the Council was about to vote on it.

But by standing as a Labour candidate he is bound by the party rules to vote in accordance with the local Labour caucus. That means if Labour gets two Councillors as well as the Mayor, a Labour Mayor is constitutionally obliged to vote as his two colleagues instruct him. He cant vote based on what he genuinely thinks is best for Wellington. I dont support party tickets for Council where Councillors are bound to vote in accordance with their private caucuses. Fine to have a ticket with some core policies you agree on, but I want Councillors and a Mayor who are free agents.

Anyway regardless of who you support, make sure you return your ballot papers and vote. Who get elected does matter. Different Mayors and Councillors will mean different decisions on how much your rates increases, and what they are spent on.

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Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Sept. 23

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

Acting Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev met with Kazakhstans First Deputy Prime Minister Askar Mamin Sept. 22, Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA) reported.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the issues on practical implementation of agreements reached during Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayevs visit to Samarkand on Sept. 12, 2016, in particular, on the further expansion of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, according to the agency.

The parties also discussed the efficient use of the two countries markets and increase the volume of bilateral trade turnover up to $5 billion.

Askar Mamin expressed Kazakhstans readiness to take joint measures to enhance the full and mutually beneficial bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

During the meeting, a number of specific proposals and measures prepared by the two parties experts  setting up joint trade houses to promote competitive industrial products, support for mutually beneficial projects by national banking and financial institutions, and activation of cooperation between the customs services, holding joint business forums and visits  were approved.

Shavkat Mirziyoev and Askar Mamin noted the need to continue mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of transportation and transit, including through the exchange of tariff preferences for freight traffic and implementation of new joint projects that will improve the competitiveness of regional transportation corridors.

The trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan totaled $3 billion in 2015.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Dalga Khatinoglu  Trend:

While Lukoil is studying Irans Ab-Teymour and Mansouri oil fields based on a confidentiality agreement, the Russian company is keen to develop these fields itself as well, Mehr reported.

Both fields are among the 49 fields which Iran offered to foreigners based on the newly designed model contracts, called the Iran Petroleum Contract or IPC.

Oil fields Type Oil in place (BSTB) Current production (b/d) Total estimated production (KBbl/d) API Mansouri Onshore 15.142 60,000 To be proposed by contractor 20-25 Ab Teymour Onshore 15.258 60,000 To be proposed by contractor 22-22.5

Irans Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh held talks with Lukoils CEO Vagit Alekperov on cooperation in the oil industry Sept. 19.

Lukoil has discovered Anaran oil block with 500 to 600 billion barrels of reserves, in Iran, which consists of several fields, including Changouleh and Azer, but Mehr reported Sep. 21 that the company is keen to develop Ab-Teymour and Mansouri fields, not other projects.

Iran is preparing to issue a tender on the mentioned two fields in the near future.

Mehr quoted Alekperov as saying that Lukoil is waiting for the finalizing of the IPC.

It is not clear whether Iran has agreed to sign a development agreement with Russian company out of tender or not.
Tehran, Iran, Sept. 23

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

In the first session of JCPOA Joint Committee, the foreign ministers of the group 5+1 reprimanded the US for misconduct in implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

The ministers in the meeting strongly noted the US that what they do is not exactly in agreement to the JCPOA and that they should revise their work, when the US vowed to improve the procedure, Rouhani said upon arriving in Tehran from New York, IRIB news agency reported September 23.

In New York to attend the UN General Assembly, the foreign ministers of Iran and the group 5+1 (the US, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) met as the first session of the JCPOA Joint Committee to review the implementation of the deal.

While Iran is to make changes to its nuclear program under the JCPOA, the world powers are to ensure that Iran benefits from the lift of economic sanctions. Tehran, however, has been saying the US has failed to uphold the spirit of the deal by blocking its assets and not helping foreign banks and companies resign their fear of punishment for doing business with Iran.

In late April, a US court blocked nearly $2 billion of Iranian assets in the States. The court said the money had to go to the American victims of terrorist attacks, including the 1983 truck bombing of a Marine Corps barracks in Beirut. Investigators of the court concluded that Iran was responsible for that attack, which Tehran has denied.

The United States also left Iran hanging for airplanes it had bought from Boeing and Airbus. The US Treasury permitted the transfer of the airplanes to Iran only on September 21  nearly nine months after Iran made deals with the companies.

Iran has had a hard time convincing foreign banks, insurance companies and manufacturers abroad to come forth for business for they fear being punished by the US Treasury.

Tehran says the US has been violating its commitments under the JCPOA.
Laura Daily, the senior vice president of retail at Cracker Barrel, works in the company's retail development center at its Lebanon, Tenn., headquarters Sept. 15, 2016. (Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean)

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By Lizzy Alfs, USA TODAY NETWORK  Tennessee

You might be surprised to find fashion-forward apparel and wooden platters hand carved by artisans in the Philippines next to Yankee Candles and Christmas decorations at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores.

But the old-fashioned chain known best for Southern food and trinkets has slowly expanded its retail mix to lure a new, much younger demographic.

Thats how trendy T-shirts and vinyl records landed in stores known better for rocking chairs and quilts.

I like to say, Were your grandmothers Cracker Barrel but were not, because theres all those things that were hip back then that are becoming hip again, said Laura Daily, Cracker Barrels senior vice president of retail.

The 641-unit chain that started 47 years ago as a single store on Highway 109 in Lebanon hopes to tap into the tremendous buying power of millennial consumers, who just this year overtook baby boomers as the largest living generation, according to the Pew Research Center.

Like many other longtime brands, Cracker Barrel is now seeking to target younger shoppers while still appealing to its older loyal customer.

With a brand that has a following that has roots as deep as this its that constant how much can you push it? You dont want to alienate the guest who loves us and who has been using us for years, Daily said.

Cracker Barrels attempt to reinvigorate its brand is visible across departments, from its use of social media platform Snapchat for marketing purposes to exclusive music releases with artists such as NEEDTOBREATHE.

In an earnings call in September, Cracker Barrel CEO Sandra Cochran said the company plans to broaden its relevance to millennials and multicultural communities through enhanced marketing messaging, menu innovation and new retail merchandise. The company reported revenue rose 2.5 percent to $2.91 billion for the fiscal year ended July 29, but it plans to slow menu price increases in fiscal 2017, citing a challenging period in the restaurant and retail industry as consumers become more selective.

In 2016, Cracker Barrel debuted Holler & Dash Biscuit House in hopes of capturing sales in the booming fast-casual segment that continues to steal market share from family dining chains like Cracker Barrel and casual dining restaurants like Logans Roadhouse.

Fast-casual eateries typically offer higher-quality food than fast-food restaurants and customers usually order at a counter. The segment has grown an average of 7 percent to 9 percent every year since 2007, far outpacing growth in the overall restaurant industry, according to NDP Group.

NDP Group restaurant industry analyst Bonnie Riggs said millennials, those between the ages of 19 and 35 according to Pew Research Center, are enticed by fast-casual restaurants such as Panera Bread and Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe because they want quality food prepared with fresh ingredients offered at a low price point.

Middle America just cant afford to go to restaurants on a regular basis, and when the price-value relationship gets out of whack, they retrench even more and thats what were seeing (in the overall restaurant industry), Riggs said.

Cracker Barrel opened two Holler & Dash restaurants in Alabama this year with plans to open four to five additional locations during fiscal 2017. The restaurant serves biscuit sandwiches, salads, grit bowls and more, priced under $10.

Daily said that same price-value relationship thats luring millennials to fast-casual eateries is helping to drive sales at Cracker Barrels retail stores. At the companys Lebanon headquarters, Daily and her team work months in advance to develop the companys retail mix at the retail development center.

Lately, younger shoppers have been drawn to the vintage soda wall with options that include Cheerwine and Ale-8-One, artisan home decor, stained-glass lamps, retro T-shirts and vintage candies like Necco Wafers and Double Bubble.

We have made a concerted effort to attract a younger generation. It makes sense, though, when you have family dining, theyve been dining with their parents, they grew up.  Now that millennial generation is solidly in their 20s and 30s and theyve started their families and were a name theyve trusted, Daily said.

Cracker Barrels music program also has been a success for the company, which includes exclusive releases and online music videos from Country Music Hall of Famers to rock bands and Christian music legends sold at its retail stores. Cracker Barrel recently added vinyl to its collection, and the company also partners with music artists for exclusive retail collections, such as the new Rockin R By Reba with Reba McEntire.

Music is a big part of our brand, Daily said.

The key to a successful retail mix, she said, is listening to the consumer, testing and learning from failures. For example, after finding fashionable tunics were flying off the shelves, the company introduced faux fur vests last year and surprisingly, it worked. This holiday season Cracker Barrel will have a Victorian-inspired pink and white fashion tree as one of its four Christmas themes.

You would think, Cracker Barrel is that fashion forward? But it works. Well see. This will be totally new, Daily said.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Founded in 1969 in Lebanon

The company operates 641 stores, with many locations positioned near highway exits to target travelers.

Revenue rose 2.5 percent to $2.91 billion in fiscal 2016.

Company plans to open seven to eight new Cracker Barrel stores and four to five Holler & Dash stores in fiscal 2017.

Top sellers at the retail stores are apparel and food.
SHARE Joe Grimes has been promoted to executive vice president, Generation, and chief nuclear officer at TVA (TVA). Mike Skaggs has been promoted to executive vice president, Operations, for TVA, it was announced Thursday, Sept. 22. (TVA)

By News Sentinel Staff

A little more than three weeks after announcing the pending retirement of its No. 2 executive, TVA has elevated two employees to executive vice president positions.

Between them, the two executives will be in charge of all the responsibilities that Charles G. "Chip" Pardee holds as TVA's chief operating officer, TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said Friday.

Pardee announced in late August that he intends to retire at the end of the calendar year.

TVA President and CEO Bill Johnson, in a news release, announced the promotion of Joe Grimes to executive vice president of Generation and chief nuclear officer and Mike Skaggs to executive vice president of Operations. The changes are effective Oct. 3.

"In the spirit of continuous improvement, we continually evaluate our organizational structure to ensure it most efficiently and effectively supports our mission of serving the people of the Tennessee Valley," Johnson said in the news release.

"Naming Joe and Mike as leaders of these strategic business units enables us to provide strong leadership continuity, sustain our performance improvements and build on the progress we've made while keeping rates low and reliability high as the industry and consumer behaviors evolve," he said.

Grimes will assume leadership of Power Operations along with Generation Construction, Projects and Services in addition to Nuclear, which he has led since joining TVA in 2013, according to the news release.

TVA credits Grimes' leadership with the nuclear operating team improving its performance, citing his focus on safety, communications, regulatory standards and workforce development.

Grimes has more than 30 years of experience in utility operations, maintenance and engineering management, and has worked in support of nuclear and fossil energy generating stations across the country.

When he joined TVA, Grimes replaced Preston Swafford, who was retiring as head of TVA's nuclear fleet. Grimes, Swafford and Pardee have all worked for Exelon Generation or its subsidiary Exelon Nuclear, which operates one of the largest nuclear fleets in the world.

As executive vice president of Operations, Skaggs will oversee Safety, Transmission and Power Supply, River Management, Natural Resources, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, TVA Police, and Continuous Improvement.

Skaggs has over 25 years of leadership experience in the utility business, 22 of those years at TVA.

Skaggs most recently led the team bringing online the first new nuclear generating unit of the 21st Century at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.

When TVA announced in 2012 that the Watts Bar Unit 2 nuclear reactor project was more than $1.5 billion over budget and three years behind schedule, Skaggs was made project manager and kept the effort consistently on track in terms of a revised budget and schedule.

Pardee came to TVA in 2013 as the federal utility went through a period of reordering under Johnson, who became TVA president and CEO that year.

Pardee joined TVA as Chief Generation Officer, exercising control over the coal and gas divisions, river operations, renewables, generation construction, power supply, fuels and nuclear operations.

As the reorganization continued that year, Pardee was made head of Operations.

Last year, Pardee made $2.98 million, making him one of the nation's highest paid federal employees. Total compensation for Grimes was $2.10 million and for Skaggs was $2.05 million.
Once upon a time, the average-sized American religious congregation had two telephones that really mattered.

There was the office telephone, answered by a secretary or receptionist during business hours. It was the job of this gatekeeper  who, over time, became an expert on life in the flock  to tell the shepherd which calls were urgent and which could wait.

The other telephone was at the pastor's home. Many people knew that number, but they also knew it was not business as usual to dial it.

"People knew they never should call the pastor's home number unless it was a real emergency," said the Rev. Karl Vaters of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley, Calif. "There was a boundary there, and people tried to help protect the pastor's time at home. That boundary was there to help protect his family and his ministry."

These days, both of those telephones, for all practical purposes, have been replaced by cellphones for the pastors and members of small congregations  usually defined as those with under 200 people attending the main worship service. For most clergy, the cellphones in their pockets are always there, always vibrating to remind them of cares and concerns that rarely, if ever, go away.

It was the one-two punch of cellphones and email that first pulled clergy into the social-media age, followed by digital newsletters, Facebook pages and constantly changing congregational websites. Even in small churches, the work of the "church secretary" has evolved from answering the office telephone and preparing an ink-on-paper newsletter to serving as an all-purpose online networker.

"The old boundaries are vanishing and, for pastors in some parts of the country, they're almost completely gone," said Vaters. "That mobile phone is always with you. ... Once your church passes 200 members, you have to manage things in a different way. You just can't afford to be as accessible to all those church members all of the time."

So what happens today when a member of a congregation rings the pastor's cellphone? Vaters recently addressed that question in a post at Christianity Today's Pivot blog for small-church leaders. The blunt headline: "Why Most Pastors Aren't Answering Your Phone Calls."

For starters, there are too many calls to answer, and about half of them are sales calls from businesses, he noted. Church members also tend to forget that many modern pastors no longer have desk telephones because they no longer have traditional offices or staffs. Many clergy, especially in missions and new church plants, have other full- or part-time jobs to help them pay the bills.

Meanwhile, some clergy are proactive and use text messages and emails to arrange personal meetings in "third places," such as coffee shops. They try to work calls into their time-management plans, reaching as many people as possible.

"The irony is that those face-to-face meetings are often interrupted by telephone calls," said Vaters. "So what are you supposed to do, take that call when you're actually praying with someone?"

But there are other reasons for pastors not reach for that mobile phone. Some laypeople need to learn that "some things can wait," he said. Then there was this angle in his commentary: "It's not you, it's us (except when it's you)."

Most of the time, pastors are not ignoring calls, "but sometimes we are. Let's face it, some people are a drain on resources," wrote Vaters. "It doesn't mean we don't love and care for them. ... This is not a typical reason for a slow response from a pastor. But it can be a valid one."

Then there's one more thing. "Some pastors are lazy and rude," he added. These shepherds need to realize that, one way or another, members of their flocks deserve responses when they try to reach them. Even calling back to tell them "no" is better than leaving them feeling ignored.

Church members should know "that he's not ignoring me, he's not being mean to me," said Vaters. "They have to learn that you're trying to set important boundaries. ... You're trying to spend less time in some conversations that are really not all that urgent, in order to make room for the calls that really are  that really matter."

Terry Mattingly is the editor of GetReligion.org and Senior Fellow for Media and Religion at The King's College in New York City. He lives in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
SHARE Andrew Edens will demonstrate techniques and patterns for designing a reclaimed wood feature including this barn-style door at an Ijams Nature Center workshop.

MUSIC ON THE LAWN

Floyds Garage Antiques, 3019 Amherst Road, hosts its last concert for the summer from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Syndi Stinnet will perform on the front lawn, Cooks on the Curb will have food for sale. Bring a lawn chair. More: 865- 850-5752, https://www.facebook.com/events/100183557109385/

RECYCLED LUMBER CLASS

Ijams Nature Center is again offering a free workshop on reclaimed wood feature walls and sliding barn doors. Andew Edens of Smoky Mountain Vintage Lumber will run the class from 2-3 p.m. Sept. 25. Register to save your spot by calling 865-577-4717, ext. 110.

Info: http://ijams.org/events/

OAK RIDGE CONCERT

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park and the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association will host a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra's 72nd season opening concert. The concert will be at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for young adults ages 19-29. Students 18 and under are admitted free. The concert will feature many pieces associated with the National Park Service. There will also be music performed by the Oak Ridge High School String Quartet preceding the symphony.

NATIVE AMERICAN FEST

East Tennessee State University will host its annual Native American Festival today and Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Amphitheatre.

The event will include a hoop dancer, flute music, storytelling, arrowhead-making and various forms of dance, including Women's Jingle Dress, Fancy Shawl, Buckskin, Northern Traditional and Southern Straight dances. Such skills as stick ball, fire by friction, and shell-, stone- and wood-carving will also be demonstrated.

Festivities will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today and from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 24. Saturday's events will be followed by a 6 p.m. stick ball game.

Info: 423-439-6633 or mcstaffts@etsu.edu

MOTH-ers NIGHT OUT

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will sponsor a MOTH-ers Night Out program to learn about moths and other nocturnal insects from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. It is located at 901 S. Illinois Ave. (Hwy. 62) in Oak Ridge.

After an introductory program in the Visitors Center, participants will venture outdoors to observe the insects that have been attracted by black lights.

Bring your camera, your kids, a magnifying glass and a flashlight. The program is appropriate for all ages.

Info: 865-483-3571

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SHARE

Beaver Dam celebrates 230 years

Beaver Dam Baptist Church will celebrate its 230th anniversary at a Homecoming Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 2.

The church's History Team has created a book that looks back not only at the history of the church but also includes many events that took place in the community and nation during the same period. It will be distributed at the celebration along with a commemorative coin designed for this event and donated by Home Federal.

The celebration will begin with two morning worship services at 9 and 10:45 with current and former ministers participating. An old-fashioned homecoming lunch will follow at noon. After lunch there will be a commemorative tree planting, games for children and youth, and special music by gospel and bluegrass groups.

Crabb to perform at Pigeon Forge venue

Adam Crabb from The Gaither Vocal Band will perform at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, along withThe Coffmans,The Shireys and Children Of The Promise at the Music Road Convention Center in Pigeon Forge. Tickets are $14 or $10 for veterans.

Info: 865-237-3214

Colombian pastor to speak in the area

A major negotiator between leftist guerrillas and the government of Colombia to bring peace amid that nation's nearly 70-year civil war will speak locally.

The Rev. Luis F. San Miguel, pastor of Community of Hope Presbyterian Church, Bogota, will appear both at Maryville College and in congregations in Knoxville and Maryville. He will address the conflict that has killed 220,000 and has devastated the nation with violence by Marxists, right-wingers, and cocaine cartels.

In October Colombians will vote on a peace agreement that will include disarmament, tribunals for justice, amnesty, and acts of forgiveness.

San Miguel and other religious leaders have stood alongside political prisoners and peasants threatened with death. The pastor leads a peace project for the Presbytery of Uraba, Colombia, and coordinates an interfaith movement in Bogota.

San Miguel will bring his message to Maryville College's chapel at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4. At 6:30 p.m. that day he will speak at New Providence Presbyterian Church, Maryville.

On Oct. 5 he will appear at 6:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville. His schedule includes an 11:30 luncheon talk at Westminster Presbyterian, Knoxville; and a 6:30 p.m. at Bethel Presbyterian, Kingston.

On Saturday, Oct. 8, San Miguel will address the 11 a.m. women's retreat of the Presbytery of East Tennessee at Knoxville's First Presbyterian Church.

Other programs coming up include:

Mount Harmony Baptist Church: A Yard Sale to help benefit the church will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. 819 Raccoon Valley Road NE, Heiskell, 1 mile west of Interstate 75 at exit 117.

Victory Temple Church: Prophetess Teresa Davis will pray for the sick during all services on Sunday, Oct. 2, through Saturday, Oct 8. The Sunday services will be at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday services will be at 7 p.m. The service on Saturday, Oct. 8, will be at noon. 306 East Broadway St., Lenoir City. For more information, call 865-986-3026.

Seekers of Silence: Edgar Miller, retired newspaper editor, foreign correspondent and journalism teacher, will speak on "The God Beat: The Challenge for News Media in Today's World" at the Saturday, Oct. 1, meeting of SOS, an ecumenical-interfaith group whose meetings are open to all and free of charge. Gather at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and conversation. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. Church of the Savior, 934 N. Weisgarber Road.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Morristown: The From Africa to Appalachia Foundation is presenting Gospel Fest III at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the park, with a variety of choirs and soloists from five area communities. Rev. Bo Simpson of Thorn Hill will emcee the free event. Craft vendors, free refreshments and door prizes will all be part. Bleacher and bench seating will be available, or guests may bring their own chairs. Door prizes will be given away at the end. For more information, contact Patty Gracey, FATA secretary, at 423-327-2747.

Young's Memorial AME Zion Church in New Market: Church's food booth at Old Time Saturday in Jefferson City on Saturday, Oct. 1, will sell sandwiches and plates of catfish, whiting fish, pulled pork barbecue and chicken wings.

Young's Memorial AME Zion Church in New Market: The New Market Community Choir will celebrate their 20th choir anniversary at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, with the Young's Memorial Adult Choir, Macedonia Baptist Church Choir (Newport), The Newport Male Chorus, special guest musicians Luke James and Casey McClintok, and Rev. Alex Phipps (Pastor of Belmont AME Zion Church) as master of ceremonies. 1083 W. Old AJ Highway in New Market. For more information, call 850-8208 or 387-6046.

Beech Grove Baptist Church: Homecoming Service, 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25. Brother Brandon McCormack will preaching and the special singing is by Sacred Calling. Lunch will follow. 2733 Toole's Bend Road. For more information, call David McCormack at 531-7797.

Catholic churches in the Knoxville area: Learn more about the Catholic faith, as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults inquiry sessions begin this month in all Catholioc churches in the Diocese of Knoxville. The information on the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church is provided in an informal setting conducive to dialogue and support for an individual's faith journey. For more information, call the Diocese at 584-3307.

First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Of Oak Ridge: The church's second Family Falloween will be 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. The event is free with free registration for children and their families to participate in games, contests and trunk or treat. Participates are encouraged to dress in their favorite costume. All children must register the night of the event at registration table to receive an official wrist band to participate. The event will be in the parking lot and on the front lawn of the church located at 127 Lafayette Drive, Oak Ridge, on the corner of Lafayette Drive and Laboratory Road. For more information or directions, call 483-8433.

St. Therese Catholic Church in Clinton: Fall rummage and bake sale 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Parish Hall. 701 S. Charles G. Seivers Blvd. Donations gratefully accepted during office hours, Monday-Thursday from 9-2. For more information, contact Pat Nageotte at 865-463-7200.

The Remnant, Knoxville: Will host several members of the Deo Gloria Family Church in Durban, South Africa, founded by Apostle Deborah Bell on Sept. 25, including Bell and her wife Prophet Marietjie-Geldenhuys. 3617 Chapman Highway. For more information, call 740-7795.

The Troy Burns Family: Gospel trio will appear in Madisonville at Notchey Creek Baptist Church at 11 a.m. and Bethlehem Baptist Church at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2. For more information, call 423-253-7900.

Christ United Methodist Church: Free BBQ and Bluegrass Festival at the church 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, rain or shine. The entire community is welcome. Bluegrass groups Highway 33 and Caney Creek Co. will perform. The church is providing free barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, snacks and beverages to introduce area residents to the church and let them know what it has to offer. Cornhole, children's fun and games, a climbing wall and other activities will be available. 7535 Maynardville Highway. For more information, call 865-922-1412 or email office@christumcknox.com.
SHARE Chef Bruce Bogartz poses for a portrait at Primo Italian Restaurant on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (ADAM LAU/NEWS SENTINEL)

By Mary Constantine of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Tony Cappiello, developer of Primo Ristorante Italiano, has announced that Bruce Bogartz has left the eatery through "mutual agreement."

Chef Amy Carpenter has taken the reigns as chef. She was previously with Bistro by the Tracks and the former Vinnie & Me Trattoria Italiano.

In a news release Cappiello states that Bogartz helped to transform Primo into a premier dining facility and that he hopes to collaborate with the chef in future endeavors.

On Bogartz part, it's mentioned that he will be seeking other career interests both locally and regionally.

"I am very pleased to have contributed in creating Primo and leave it in very capable hands," the release states.

The eatery, located in the Sunsphere, opens at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Make reservations by calling 865-249-7321.
SHARE First Baptist Church of Athens Pastor Jason Clark leads a vigil for the victims of the Thomas & Betts plant shooting Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at the McMinn County Courthouse. Two supervisors  James Zotter and Sandra Cooley  were fatally shot by co-worker Ricky Swafford, who then killed himself. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL) People pause for prayer during a vigil for the victims of the Thomas & Betts plant shooting Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at the McMinn County Courthouse. Two supervisors  James Zotter and Sandra Cooley  were fatally shot by co-worker Ricky Swafford, who then killed himself. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL) People pause for prayer after a vigil for the victims of the Thomas & Betts plant shooting Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at the McMinn County Courthouse. Two supervisors  James Zotter and Sandra Cooley  were fatally shot by co-worker Ricky Swafford, who then killed himself. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL) Rob Plemons, center, takes part in a vigil for the victims of the Thomas & Betts plant shooting Friday, Sept. 23, 2016, at the McMinn County Courthouse. Two supervisors  James Zotter and Sandra Cooley  were fatally shot by co-worker Ricky Swafford, who then killed himself. Plemons said his mother, Jodie Richie, is a Thomas & Betts retiree and knew both victims. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL) Related Photos Photos: Remembering the victims of the Thomas & Betts plant shooting

By Hayes Hickman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

ATHENS, Tenn.  Employees at the Thomas & Betts manufacturing plant said they count each other as family, which left them all the more confounded why one of their own killed two supervisors and then himself in a workplace shooting Thursday.

In lieu of answers, dozens of current and former staffers gathered outside the McMinn County Courthouse a day later among a crowd of about 200 residents to grieve and pray in the noonday sun.

"When you're working there it's just like you're with your family. You're there more than really you are with your family," said Kathy Black, a team leader with 26 years' experience at the plant who knew both victims and their killer.

The shooting was reported about 4:15 p.m., a little more than an hour after Black said she had left and the second-shift employees had begun their workday.

Authorities say Ricky Swafford, 45, became angry and left a meeting with his bosses, Sandy Cooley, 68, and Jim Zotter, 44. He returned soon after with a gun and shot both, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Swafford later was found in a bathroom at the factory, dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"All of them were great people. I worked with them for 20 years," Black said. "Sandy Cooley was just like a mother to everybody who worked there. Jim Zotter, he was a great guy, too  family guy."

Cooley had retired earlier this year but returned a couple of months ago to help train Zotter, who had been promoted as her replacement, Black said. Cooley and Zotter both had children and grandchildren, she said.

Zotter's wife also works at the factory and had left with other day-shift staffers shortly before the attack.

Swafford was single and worked as a press operator, according to Black.

"Ricky Swafford, he was a quiet guy, but he was a great guy also. You just wouldn't think he'd do anything like this," she said.

Authorities have given no specifics about the meeting among the three that preceded the shooting. Co-workers at Friday's prayer vigil said they never knew Swafford to have any problems with others.

"I still don't understand why. But I do understand why  I know God does everything for a reason," said Chester Brown, a maintenance electrician at Thomas & Betts for the past 22 years. "What I'm saying is, it's time to pray. It's time to come together in unity and love."

Rob Plemons, whose mother retired from Thomas & Betts, called Cooley and her husband longtime family friends.

"This stuff's not supposed to happen here," Plemons said. "My heart goes out to the victims, and the perpetrator, that we can forgive him and come together stronger as a community from this. That's the thing I want to see.

"Maybe this is what's supposed to be the catalyst to bring us together as a community."
By Hayes Hickman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

ATHENS, Tenn.  Authorities on Friday would not detail the nature of a meeting that preceded a manufacturing plant worker's deadly shooting of two supervisors and then himself.

The shooter appeared to have targeted only the two victims who were found dead inside an office at the Thomas & Betts Corp. plant in Athens, northeast of Chattanooga, about 4:15 p.m. Thursday, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Police identified the victims as James A. Zotter, 44, and Sandra H. Cooley, 68, both supervisors at the plant.

The shooter, Ricky Swafford, 45, had become angry during a meeting earlier in the day, left and came back with a gun, police said. His body was found inside a plant bathroom.

At a news conference Friday morning, Thomas & Betts' area operations manager Pat Joyce said the plant, which is across the street from McMinn County High School, will remain closed during the investigation.

"Every employee will be paid during this time of grief," Joyce said. "We lost colleagues in a senseless act of violence. We have absolutely no understanding of what motivated the perpetrator."

At the news conference, TBI spokeswoman Susan Niland would not specify the purpose of the meeting that preceded the shooting.

"There are no appearances at this point that he had this plan," Niland said.

She said no other shots appear to have been fired inside the plant.

The TBI's Violence Crimes Response Team with forensic scientists arrived in Athens from Nashville on Thursday night to process the shooting scene. Agents continued to collect evidence Friday, according to the TBI.

The bodies of the two supervisors, as well as the shooter's, were taken Friday to the Regional Forensic Center in Knoxville for autopsies, according to the TBI.

Niland said authorities also continue to interview people who were at the plant during the shooting.

Swafford had worked at the plant for more than 15 years, Niland said, although she would not specify what his job was.

She said Swafford had a handgun carry permit. He apparently had no criminal history, she said.

Joyce said the company has an employee policy concerning firearms. He would not specify the policy and deferred all questions to law enforcement.

Authorities at the news conference would not specify whether employees were allowed to bring uns onto plant property.

In recounting the shooting, Niland said only that Swafford became agitated during a meeting with the supervisors earlier on Thursday, abruptly left the meeting, returned shortly with the gun and opened fire. Swafford shot both supervisors and then continued walking through the plant, according to the TBI.

Some employees were able to warn others of an active shooter and leave the building, according to the TBI. Others locked themselves inside interior rooms.

She would not say whether Swafford retrieved the gun from his vehicle.

Joyce said the plant has approximately 330-350 employees. Thomas & Betts Corp., with headquarters in the Southwind area of suburban Memphis, designs and makes electrical components used in industrial, commercial, lighting and utility markets. The 118-year-old company is a unit of Swiss industrial conglomerate ABB and reported about 1,300 employees in the Memphis area in 2015.

The company, which ABB acquired in a $3.9 billion buyout in 2012, has been based in Memphis since 1992.
By Travis Dorman of the Knoxville News Sentinel

ATHENS, Tenn.  An angry worker at the Thomas & Betts Corp. factory killed his bosses in the factory offices Thursday and then turned the gun on himself, police said.

Athens Police Department officers responded just after 4:15 p.m. to reports of a shooting at the plant at 260 Dennis St., across the street from McMinn County High School, Police Chief Chuck Ziegler said. They met a flood of Thomas & Betts employees "streaming out of the plant from all of the exits," the chief said.

Officers found three bodies inside the factory, including the suspected shooter. The shooter was found in a bathroom in the plant, dead of what "appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound" from a semi-automatic pistol, the chief said.

Police identified the victims as James A. Zotter, 44, and Sandra H. Cooley, 68, both supervisors at the plant. The shooter, Ricky Swafford, 45, had become angry during a meeting earlier in the day, left and came back with a gun, police said.

Police didn't say what the meeting was about.

Swafford apparently opened fire first in the front office of the building, but no one was hurt, the police chief said. He then continued into the plant, Ziegler said.

Witnesses described "some attempted shooting in the front office and actual shooting deep inside the factory on the north side and the middle," he said. No other workers were hurt.

Police called in the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to assist with the crime scene.

"Up until now, all we've been able to do is identify all of the people who were witnesses, who saw or heard or were involved in the situation," Ziegler said. "We have investigators from all the different (agencies) interviewing them at this time."

The plant does not have its own security, he said.

Officers also responded to the high school and placed it on lockdown as a precaution, although the few students present after school "were never in any danger," McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said.

"Everybody's since been released, and they are in good shape going home," the sheriff said.

Ziegler, who plans to retire in December, said he can't recall a similar case of mass violence in the community.

"All you can say now is people are in shock," he said. "I had several personal longtime friends in there when the shooting was going on."

Eric Morrow, who lives less than a mile from the plant, said he drove to the factory as soon as he heard about the shooting and saw employees running for their lives through the parking lot.

"A couple people went across the road into the trees to hide," he said. "It was a scene that you're not prepared for."

Thomas & Betts Corp., with headquarters in the Southwind area of suburban Memphis, designs and makes electrical components used in industrial, commercial, lighting and utility markets. The 118-year-old company is a unit of Swiss industrial conglomerate ABB and reported about 1,300 employees in the Memphis area in 2015.

The company, which ABB acquired in a $3.9 billion buyout in 2012, has been based in Memphis since 1992.

The company said counselors will be on hand at the plant today.

"Our loss is profound," company spokesman Chris Shigas said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families during this difficult time."
Tehran, Iran, Sept. 23

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes the deal that was recently signed between the government of Afghanistan and Hezb-i-Islami, Iranian Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Reza Bahrami said.

The Hezb-i-Islami was founded by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in late 1970s. During the Soviet War in Afghanistan, Hekmatyar and his party operated near the Pakistani border against the Soviets.

The party is highly centralized under Hekmatyars command and until 1994 had close relations with Pakistan.

Praising the deal as a step towards peace, the Iranian ambassador hoped that it leads to similar pacts with other groups in Afghanistan, ISNA news agency reported Sept. 23.

Any talk that the government holds with opposition groups and leads to some political agreement is a step forward and we hope these steps to peace increase in number, he said.

Afghanistan on Sept. 22 signed a peace agreement with Hezb-i-Islami paving the way for the armed group's commander, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to make a political comeback despite allegations of war crimes during the 1990s.

Government officials praised the 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 Afghanistan's civil war to play a role in the country's already divisive politics.

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.

The agreement will come into force when it is formally signed by Ghani and Hekmatyar, for which yet no date has been set.
SHARE Frazier Lee Savage

By News Sentinel Staff

KNOXVILLE  A jury convicted a Detroit man on Thursday who authorities say was selling heroin and prescription pills in Knoxville.

Frazier Lee Savage, 43, was convicted of possession with intent to sell and deliver heroin and alprazolam, or Xanax, in a drug-free zone and of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a news release from Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen.

On March 5, 2015, Knoxville Police Department officers found Savage at a Super 8 Motel, 341 Merchant Drive. When officers served Savage with an outstanding warrant from Michigan for assault with intent to murder, they discovered 11 grams of heroin, 26 alprazolam pills, digital scales and other drug paraphernalia, according to the release.

"Because we have such a large number of opiate addicts in East Tennessee, there is a large demand for heroin and prescription pills," Allen said. "Until we turn the corner on this epidemic, we will continue to see dealers come from out of state to prey upon the addiction of citizens in our community."

Savage faces 12-20 years in prison without parole due to his prior felony convictions in Michigan, the release states.

More details as they develop online and in Friday's News Sentinel.
SHARE Christopher Grippe

By Tyler Whetstone, tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com

East TN inmate charged with smuggling child porn into prison

KNOXVILLE  A Canadian man has been arrested for allegedly sharing child pornography with an East Tennessee inmate serving time for sexual exploitation of a minor.

Peter Ritchie, 44, has been charged with possessing, distributing and making child pornography, according to a Knoxville Police Department news release. Inmate Christopher Grippe, 28, allegedly smuggled an electronic device into prison and met via social media with Ritchie.

According to the release, Grippe was in the midst of serving an eight-year sentence for sexual exploitation of a minor at the Morgan County Correctional Complex. He has been charged with distribution and possession of child pornography. He will be arraigned Oct. 3 and faces 15-40 years in prison if convicted.

The investigation was handled by KPD's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

More details as they develop online and in Saturday's News Sentinel.
SHARE Dustin Dotson (KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

By Tyler Whetstone, tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com

A former Knox County school janitor has pleaded guilty to three counts of solicitation of a minor after he solicited explicit photos of underage girls over Facebook messenger.

According to a release by District Attorney Charme Allen, Dustin Dotson, 37, pleaded guilty to contacting three girls ages 11, 12 and 13 and requested nude photos of them on Facebook.

On June 13 Knoxville Police Department Investigator Chris Jones with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was contacted by a parent of the 13-year-old girl who said Dotson had inappropriately messaged her daughter, according to the release.

Jones received permission to obtain the girl's Facebook account to conduct an undercover investigation. During the investigation Dotson requested photos, according to the release.

Allen encouraged parents to talk to their children about the dangers of social media.

"If you see behavior like this, report it to law enforcement so predators can be stopped before more harm comes to a child," he said.

Dotson was employed as a janitor at Inskip Elementary School before being fired by Knox County Schools after his arrest.

Dotson was hired by Knox County Schools in November 2014 and began working at Inskip in July 2015. All school system employees are undergo a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation fingerprint background check for any criminal history and verification that they are not on the state sex offender registry.

Dotson will be sentenced Dec. 15.
The Knoxville Police Department will take reports of clown sightings seriously, taking appropriate action against anyone making false reports, threatening the public or disrupting daily activities, according to a KPD news release.

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By Tyler Whetstone, tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com

In the wake of a circus of social media threats around East Tennessee involving clowns, an 11-year-old student at Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge has admitted to making online threats, authorities said.

According to a news release from the Oak Ridge Police Department, the threats were made Friday morning against students at Jefferson Middle. Oak Ridge police and Oak Ridge Schools staff interviewed students who might have known about the threats.

Oak Ridge police spokeswoman Sarah Self would not say whether the threats involved clowns.

The student will face "administrative sanctions," according to the release.

"(We) will aggressively and immediately investigate any prospective threat of violence or disruption made against Oak Ridge Schools' facilities and processes," Police Chief James Akagi said. "School staff was instrumental in cooperating with (police) requests to immediately arrange for interviews of students and parents, which led to such a quick resolution."

Reports of clown sightings began in South Carolina in August and have since spread across the Southeast, scaring children, teenagers and parents while frustrating police left to juggle countless false reports. Students in Hamilton, Claiborne and Anderson counties have been among those charged with making threats involving clowns.

More details as they develop online and in Saturday's News Sentinel.
By News Sentinel Staff

Two Anderson County High School students were arrested this week after authorities said they made clown-related threats on social media.

"Threats and postings such as this on social media are taken very seriously and anyone posting such threats will be arrested and charged," Anderson County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said in a news release Thursday. "These postings are not 'pranks,' and those responsible will face consequences as to their actions."

A 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl face charges in Anderson County Juvenile Court of making the threats, according to the release.

Both will be expelled pending a hearing by school administrators, according to the release.

The threats, which claimed clowns were coming to perform violent acts at the school, were similar to those made in Claiborne County on Wednesday, and in Knoxville and Red Bank on Tuesday.

Authorities are not clowning around with the threats and "will continue to have an enhanced presence in our schools to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and parents," according to the release.
Ron Bezon, soup kitchen manager at St. Mary's Catholic Church, places a portrait of Gwendolyn Jackson at the spot where she ate breakfast six days a week. Jackson, 67, was found raped and beaten to death June 6, 2012, on the side porch of the church at 155 Market St. She was hit in the head multiple times with a brick that was found at the crime scene. "She's just a beautiful lady, wonderful lady; kind, compassionate, had her Bible with her everyday," Bezon said. "We'd go to Bible studies; never had a mean word to say about anybody." (Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

By Jody Callahan, USA TODAY NETWORK  Tennessee

For more than 13 years, a serial killer targeted women living in the margins in Memphis and one in Knoxville, yet for much of that time, no one knew he even existed. This is the fourth installment of a five-part series.

Follow along as the case develops and the killer is uncovered.

****

MEMPHIS  It was such a common sight  Gwen Jackson huddled under a blanket on the side porch of downtown's St. Mary's Catholic Church  that Ron Bezon didn't think much of it as he stepped past her the morning of June 6, 2012.

"I thought she was sleeping so I went in," said Bezon, who runs the church's soup kitchen. "Then my assistant manager came in and said, 'Ron, I think something's wrong with Gwen. I can't wake her.' We found out she'd been bludgeoned in the back of the head. She was dead for several hours."

That morning, 67-year-old Jackson became the fourth and final known victim of a serial killer who had been operating mostly in Memphis, for at least 13 years.

The killer had raped and murdered Marie Cole in Memphis in 1999, and raped and nearly killed Jessie Lee Maples in Knoxville in 2008. He raped and killed Valerie Ector in Memphis in 2011 and now, he had raped and killed Jackson.

This time, he'd left behind a clue that would lead directly to his capture.

****

No one really knows where Jackson was from. Public records indicate she may have been born in Iowa on May 21, 1945, but a search for family members was fruitless. In her telling of the story, she wound up in Memphis by accident.

"She said that she was on her way to another destination and the bus that she was on broke down in Memphis," said Martin Johnson, the assistant manager who couldn't wake Jackson that morning. "She got delayed here and it just ended turning up into a longer time than (she ever thought) it would be.

Jackson had been living in Memphis for more than a decade by the time she was killed, with much of that time spent on the streets. She rarely talked about her past, but hinted it had been a rough life.

"She'd been hurt a lot in her life. She'd been abused by men. It was a hard life for her," said Eric Peterson, the former priest at St. Mary's. "She was really quite a lady for all she'd been through."

Lee Blair met Jackson when he worked for the church, and got to know her well.

"She was an angel, a saint among us," he said. "She would always greet you. No matter how bad your day was going, you could've been in a horrible mood, but when you saw Gwen and how positive she was ... . She was so happy and upbeat and positive all the time."

Nancy Thielemier, an employee at St. Mary's, saw Jackson almost every day.

"I went on a trip one time and said, 'Gwen, what can I bring you back? I'm going to Italy.' She said, 'Just a book of pictures. I'd like to see a place I'll never see.' I brought her a photo book from Italy," Thielemier said. "She would tell me, 'I'm keeping my book in lots of plastic so it won't get wet.' She cared about her possessions, the few that she had."

****

Minutes after Memphis police homicide detective W.D. Merritt saw Jackson's body, he had an inkling about the case.

Jackson had been bludgeoned in the head. She was naked from the waist down. She had been covered with a blanket.

He knew Joe Stark had been working Valerie Ector's homicide from August 2011, and that Stark's case had been linked to the Jessie Lee Maples attack in Knoxville in 2008. He knew that the killer had left each of those victims in a similar state.

"I immediately think about his case," Merritt said. "I knew enough about his case to know that he had the connection to Knoxville and all of that."

With that in mind, Merritt and his fellow detectives began working the scene. They examined the body. They interviewed the church staff. And like the Ector murder, they found a video camera pointed at the scene. But just as in that case, the camera wasn't working.

They bagged Jackson's possessions, scattered around the area where she slept. Bug spray, sandals, a toothbrush, sugar packets, an umbrella, sunglasses.

They expanded their search out from the body. That's when one officer came to Merritt with a hunch.

"He said, 'Hey Sarge, I want to show you something that I found around the corner.' He takes me all the way around the corner of the church," Merritt said.

The officer had found the place where the killer had dug up the brick he used to batter Jackson. The one that left two marks on her skull and a broken jaw.

That spot was opposite the church from where Jackson's body was found. That told Merritt one thing: the killing was almost certainly premeditated.

"There's no doubt in my mind that he planned to kill her," Merritt said. "He probably went over there and saw her, got that brick intending to go over there and kill her."

****

While it's not uncommon for some of Downtown's homeless to suffer from mental-health issues or addiction problems, that wasn't the case with Jackson, everyone said. She'd had a hard life, but she managed to avoid the pitfalls that plague many of those on the streets. She was never arrested here, she wasn't an addict, and she'd even managed to get off the streets and into a house for a while.

"She was working toward getting a job. There was somebody that was working with her toward that," said Lisa Anderson, the pastor at Colonial Cumberland Presbyterian who met Jackson through the church's winter shelter program. "She would talk about this being a temporary thing for her, that she's had rough times but she'd always pull herself back up. She never talked as if she was going to be homeless her whole life."

Thielemier remembered one of the rare times Jackson asked her for money.

"She had aspirations that a lot of people just don't have, homeless or otherwise. She came in one day and said, 'May I borrow $3.50 (for bus fare)? I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do with it. They have a course going on at the library. I want to take the course and do this course on writing. I want to write a book. I've always wanted to write a book on homeless people.' "

Then Jackson asked for a little more money, for a reason that moved Thielemier.

"She said, 'After I take the course, I want to go to McDonald's. I want to get a hamburger and a Coke and I want to sit there and eat it, like everybody else does.' "

Thielemier gave her the money.

After Jackson was killed, no one claimed her body. The St. Mary's community took up a collection, raising more than $1,000, to give Jackson a decent burial. She's buried at Elmwood Cemetery.

Before she died, Jackson asked Thielemier a favor. Jackson had a prized possession, a fancy watch someone had given her. It probably wasn't worth much, but she kept it close. She asked Thielemier if she would put it in the church safe, to make sure it wasn't stolen.

The watch remains in that safe today.

****

Crime scene investigator Eric Carlisle has been poring over crime scenes for 21 years, and one valuable lesson he's learned during that time is collect everything.

So when Carlisle saw an empty 24-ounce can of Olde English malt liquor in a brown paper bag on the periphery of the crime scene, he collected it.

"Anytime we work what we call a mystery homicide, we don't know what's evidence and what's not evidence," Carlisle said. "It's better to go ahead and collect it even though it might be trash. You never know, so we collect anyway."

Carlisle took that bag and dozens of other pieces of evidence back to the lab. He processed the can, but found nothing and turned to the bag. He submerged the bag in a liquid chemical used to bring out fingerprints. He put it in an incubator. He pulled the bag out, then dried it with a household steam iron.

And there it was, tinged purple from the treatments. A fingerprint near the lip of the bag.

"I didn't think it was that good of a print. It had ridge detail, but I didn't think it was enough. It wasn't like a full print, more like a partial," Carlisle said.

The print went to analyst Robert Winston, an expert in the field who spent decades with the FBI before coming to Memphis. Winston fed the print into the computer. Analysts usually request about 20 possible identities for a print, then make the final match with their own eye.

So Winston had his 20 names, and his magnifying glass. He looked at them, one by one.

He found a match.

"The points on the paper bag," Winston said, "and the points on his fingers were the same."
Bill Johnson, TVA's president and chief executive officer, is defending the utility's new policy on floating homes like these sitting on Norris Lake reasonable since existing floating homes do not have to be removed for 30 years. SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SENTINEL

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By Michael Collins of the Knoxville News Sentinel

WASHINGTON  Members of a congressional panel took issue Friday with a new Tennessee Valley Authority policy that requires removal of floating homes from public waterways controlled by the utility.

Rep. Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, blasted the policy as "an arbitrary decision" that would harm tourism-dependent communities and as an unnecessary distraction from the TVA's mission of producing low-cost energy.

"This is yet another example of the federal government getting involved without seriously evaluating the consequences," said Meadows, R-N.C.

Even the committee's top Democrat, Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, said that while he agrees with TVA's position that no one has permanent "squatting rights" on public waters, the utility should find a compromise that will protect reservoirs without harming families who already own floating homes.

Bill Johnson, TVA's president and chief executive officer, said the utility's board considers the new policy reasonable since existing floating homes do not have to be removed for 30 years.

Allowing them to remain beyond that time frame would be tantamount to giving a few people indefinite property rights to reservoirs that are intended for public use, Johnson said.

Despite a barrage of protests from owners of floating homes and marinas, TVA adopted the new policy last May. The policy prohibits new floating homes and requires that the roughly 1,800 existing homes on the 13 TVA-managed reservoirs be removed by 2046.

Floating homes are different from houseboats because they are anchored in place and don't have an engine that would allow them to move under the own power. If moved, they must be towed.

Several members of Congress are working to block the new TVA policy.

Meadows has introduced an amendment that would prohibit TVA from eliminating floating homes if they comply with TVA's safety and environmental codes. The amendment, part of the Water Resources Development Act, could get a vote as early as next week.

The Senate already has passed its version of the water resources bill, which includes a similar amendment.

At Friday's hearing, floating-home owners argued the new policy is unfair since many of them are descendants of families who lost property to TVA when it created the reservoirs decades ago.

"My family followed the rules, did the paperwork, paid the fees and brought the homes up to decent standards," said Laura Sneed, a resident of Cherokee, N.C., and co-founder of Fontana Families for Floating Homes. "Yet we too are being punished and are going to lose something we legally had the right to own."

Nearly all of the floating homes are moored in waters already leased by marinas and thus are not taking up space in public waters, said Michael Wilks, who owns a floating home on Norris Lake in Campbell County and is president of the Tennessee Valley Floating Homes Alliance.

Marina owners pay TVA to lease the waters, and the floating homeowners pay the marinas to sublease mooring space, Wilks said.

The uncertainty created by the new TVA policy will cause the value of those homes to plummet and will leave the owners unable to sell them, he said.

Under questioning from Meadows, Johnson could not say how many complaints TVA has received about floating homes  an admission that clearly irked both Meadows and Connolly.

Connolly warned that bad public policy often results from government reaction.

"I'd hate to think all of this is about making three people happy," he said of the new policy.

But Michael Butler of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation said his group supports the policy, arguing that the floating homes raise safety and environmental concerns when not installed properly and amount to de facto private ownership of public waters.

Meadows said he expects Congress to prohibit TVA from enforcing the policy and urged the utility to seek a compromise.
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The Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office urges older adults and their caregivers to avoid fire dangers.

"Addressing basic safety precautions such as changing the battery in a smoke alarm can become difficult as we age," Fire Marshal and Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said in a news release. "It's important to check in regularly with the older adults in your life to ensure they're living in a fire-safe environment and that they know what to do should a fire occur."

Adults 65 or older comprised 39 percent (27 fatalities) of 70 residential fire deaths in Tennessee last year, according to the fire marshal's office.

Reduced mobility may slow older adults' escape time, and diminished hearing could make it difficult to hear a smoke alarm, the release said.

Some older adults may have hoarding tendencies. In 2015 there were five fire fatalities in Tennessee in which hoarding was a contributing factor, according to state data.

Some tips for fire protection:

Sleep on the ground floor to make emergency escape easier. Look for apartments with an automatic sprinkler system.

Have smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. Install smoke alarms in hallways and in every bedroom. Test smoke alarms regularly and replace smoke alarms that are 10 years old or older.

Maintain a home fire escape plan with two exits from every room and a safe meeting place outside. If you or someone you live with cannot escape alone, designate someone to help.

Keep a bedside phone with emergency numbers to communicate with emergency personnel if trapped inside by fire or smoke. Keep glasses, hearing aids and walking aids near the bed.
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By John Shearer of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Radek Sikorski has had a diverse career, from Afghan war correspondent to high-level elected and appointed positions in Poland's government.

But his perspective on that part of the world has remained the same in at least one area  Russia has a habit of being a menace.

"The Russians did something that hadn't been done in 25 years  changing borders by force," said Sikorski in an interview Wednesday before delivering the second Ashe Lecture of the fall at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy. "Some of us think that's unacceptable."

Sikorski, who rose to become minister of foreign affairs and Marszal of the Sejm (speaker of the lower house) in Poland, said Europe is in a period of transition, with populism on the rise. That has been demonstrated, he said, with events such as the recent Brexit vote, in which the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.

With upcoming elections in France, Germany and the U.S., the dynamics in Europe could continue to change.

Regarding the U.S. election, Sikorski said candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump couldn't be more different in their outlook on Europe.

"Clinton would be a president that builds on the established institutions of NATO," he said. "Mr. Trump seems very comfortable in his relationship to Mr. (Vladimir) Putin (the Russian leader), who in our mind is not exactly a democrat."

Sikorski was brought to Knoxville in part due to his old friendship with former Knoxville mayor and lecture honoree Victor Ashe. Sikorski said when Ashe was serving as U.S. ambassador to Poland, he was well accepted not only nationally, but also in the areas away from Warsaw, where people knew him to be a former mayor. "Victor Ashe is well known and well liked personally in Poland," Sikorski said. "He is still remembered very fondly in Poland."

Sikorski said the country's economy has grown 30 percent in the past quarter-century. Poles consider their nation an influential member of the European Union and tend to be pro-American.
File photo: Gov. Bill Haslam

Gov. Bill Haslam has pleased and peeved both sides of the refugee resettlement issue. In May, Haslam earned ire from the pro-refugee camp when he declined to veto a resolution passed overwhelmingly in the Legislature that allowed the state to sue the federal government for sending refugees to Tennessee without consulting the state.

Last week, Haslam said he no longer opposes refugee resettlement, citing increased understanding of the vetting process the feds and their partner, Catholic Charities, use to place refugees, no doubt angering the anti-resettlement resisters. This, of course, was before news broke of the feds' "mistake" in granting citizenship to more than 800 immigrants who were scheduled for deportation.

Then there was the Afghan Muslim immigrant who planted bombs in New York and New Jersey, one of which injured dozens. It was also before the Somali Muslim immigrant went wild with a knife in Minnesota, stabbing nine in a shopping mall. In the aftermath of all that, Haslam's middle-of-the-road stance exposes him to oncoming traffic from both directions.

And places him in just the right place.

Judeo-Christian conscience commands us to welcome aliens and strangers. Jesus said so in his call for his followers to care for the "least of these." The Hebrew bible says to love the "stranger who sojourns." The writer of the book of Hebrews said we're to "show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

From October 2015 through mid-September this year, Catholic Charities' Office for Refugees reports 1,318 refugees arrived in Tennessee. Eighty-two settled in Chattanooga, 168 in Knoxville, 185 in Memphis, and Nashville received the most, 883. Iraq (263), Congo (239), Somalia (176), Burma (141) and Syria (118) were the most prevalent countries of origin.

Given the chaos in the Middle East, the failure of the feds to properly screen and protect our borders, the strains on the economic and social systems refugees could cause and, no doubt, the potential for terrorists to masquerade as refugees  see "refugee" rapists in Germany and multiple "refugee" terrorist attacks in France  it is absolutely prudent for Haslam and the Legislature to take steps to protect Tennessee people and purses by filing suit against the federal government.

With no trace of irony, humility or contrition, President Barack Obama told moving refugee stories at the United Nations General Assembly this week. Then, this: "More than 65 million people have been driven from their homes, which is more than any time since the Second World War," Obama said. "Among them are more than 21 million refugees who have fled their countries, everything and everyone they've ever known, fleeing with a suitcase or the clothes on their back."

Obama spoke of wars. He did not speak of his failure to project American power diplomatically and militarily. The global refugee crisis is a failure of leadership, specifically his failure. Obama drew a red line. Assad violated it. Refugees rushed out. Putin rushed in. Chaos came to Europe. Tennessee receives refugees. Hopefully, we've learned from this.

At least Haslam has. Hence, his prudent way.
The European Union foreign policy chief says Iran is complying with the nuclear deal reached between Iran and G5+1 last year, IRNA reported.

The common assessment is that Iran is living up to its commitments under the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Federica Mogherini told a press briefing following a meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and the P5+1 group of countries  Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany  at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday.

We have three reports from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) confirming that Iran has taken all the steps it had to on nuclear related issues. As you know sanctions, nuclear related sanctions, were all lifted, she said.

We all reaffirmed very strongly the political importance, the historic political importance, of this agreement that has shown to the world and to ourselves that even the most difficult issues can be solved through dialogue and diplomacy and with a win-win approach, overcoming the zero sum game approach that sometimes block us in some of our talks and negotiations, the EU foreign policy chief said.

Mogherini said the issue of Irans ballistic missiles was not discussed during Thursdays meeting, because Tehran's missile tests are not a breach of the JCPOA.

The top European diplomat highlighted that parties at the meeting also addressed the removal of hurdles which foreign banks and financial institutions face for business with Iran.
Tennesseans play an outsized role in the debate about the future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. Much of our congressional delegation is bloviating alarm and predicting the program's demise. Their pronouncements, however, are the last gasps of corporate spin.

Corporate giant Aetna announced in mid-August it largely will be pulling out of the federal exchange, selling policies through it only in Delaware, Iowa, Nebraska and Virginia.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander took the cue and lambasted price hikes and fewer providers. He blurted that families "should not have to pay the price for a terrible health care law." U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, a physician, stammered Obamacare must be repealed. "It hasn't worked from the get-go. People didn't want it. It's failing just like we thought it would," he opined.

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, also a physician, drafted what he calls a "conservative, market-based alternative." The irony is that the ACA is a market-based plan, one similar to proposals by Bob Dole, Mitt Romney and the Heritage Foundation. Roe's plan is repackaged radical-right bromides that largely do nothing to address health care availability and cost.

OpenSecrets tallies campaign contributions. Alexander has taken in his career $3,139,850 from the health care industry. DesJarlais and Roe each exceed the half a million bucks plateau.

Incidentally, Aetna Chief Executive Officer Mark T. Bertolini is an odd poster boy for the notion of struggling health insurance companies. Securities and Exchange Commission data show his 2014 total compensation at more than $15 million, with 2015 rising to more than $17.2 million.

Wendell Potter grew up in Mountain City, Tennessee, and edited the Daily Beacon at UT, graduating in 1973. He spent many years in journalism before doing public relations, first for Humana and later for CIGNA. A fateful trip to a Remote Area Medical clinic led to what he calls "a crisis of conscience." He left CIGNA in 2008 to become a leading critic of insurance industry abuses.

Potter offers a more honest look at recent developments, noting insurance companies gained from increased enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans. He writes, "Aetna and its competitors are rolling in the federal dough. But, because of the self-serving desire on the part of the for-profit companies' executives to exceed Wall Street's expectations every three months, they're not willing to tolerate for another New York minute an Obamacare risk pool that, in their opinion, is crowded with too many sick people."

Fortunately, non-profits such as Kaiser Permanente are sticking with ACA, knowing that long term the growing pools of the insured will include healthier people. A recent Gallup survey found the proportion of Americans without health insurance is down to 10.8 percent, down from 14.8 percent in 2008; 15.5 percent of adults report having trouble paying for health care or medicine in the last 12 months, a decline from 2008's 19.7 percent.

Obamacare consumers in some parts of the country will have fewer choices next year, but having few choices is better than no choices, as in the bad old days of pre-existing conditions. Those who sought to repeal the ACA, went to court to weaken it, opted not to set up state exchanges, hurt their own constituents by refusing to participate in expanded coverage and opposed public options now shed crocodile tears for the underinsured. These corporate shills should be left crying in the corner.
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The rich history of Knoxville's Church Street United Methodist Church will continue to capture its members' attention for the rest of the year, even though they soon will be busy looking to the future with plans for expansion.

The church, a landmark in downtown Knoxville, celebrated its 200th anniversary recently with singing, preaching, smiling and surely a lot of awe at its distinctive past.

As Bishop Richard Looney, the church's interim senior pastor, noted at the bicentennial festivities on Sept. 18, "Imagine surviving the Civil War, two world wars, a disastrous fire, a Great Depression, conflicts in Asia and the Middle East  and now worldwide terrorism. Through it all, Church Street has been a beacon of hope and a testimony to the faithfulness of God."

The church had its beginnings in 1816 on East Hill Avenue as the first Methodist church in the city, 13 years after a Methodist church was started in Knox County. The Knoxville church had 68 members. Twenty years later, a new building was completed on Church Street (now Church Avenue).

Looney's comments about surviving the Civil War relate to the church's role in that horrific conflict, including a split among members who supported different sides. During the war, the church also was used as a hospital and a stable.

According to the church's timeline on its website, the split over the war caused a number of members to join the northern branch and form a separate First Methodist Church. A property dispute wasn't settled until almost 20 years later in favor of Church Street.

The "disastrous fire" was a blaze on Feb. 19, 1928, that began at the close of the Sunday night service and destroyed the church. While a new building was being constructed on Henley Street, the congregation worshipped in downtown theaters and held Sunday school classes in other downtown buildings.

The first services in its new building, its present site at Henley and Main streets, were held on Jan. 28, 1931, and its first stained-glass window, designed by artisan Charles J. Connick of Boston, was dedicated 10 years later.

The expansion plans, the first in 30 years, will begin in March with a groundbreaking on the first phase, estimated to cost about $8 million. Notably, the plans do not include building a bigger church but making the church more accessible to a growing number of members who live downtown and could walk to church.

The second phase of the project will improve the infrastructure of the building and add an elevator. In phase three, the church will add a parking structure on the current lot.

The church had to earn approval for every plan and design from the Downtown Design Review Board. Rick Emmett, downtown coordinator, said the church's plans mean the area around it likely will continue to improve.

Amy Cathey, chair of the church building committee, emphasized the spiritual mission of the church, adding that the expansion is a way to honor the church's place in the community.

In its 200th year and beyond, this church that has meant so much to Knoxville will continue to pursue its mission and offer its many gifts to the community.
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Democrats apparently failed to learn a simple poem, usually learned by heart by most students at some point during their elementary school experience. It goes like this: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." So call me all the names you want. Apparently it makes you feel good or superior or less evil or something, but it hurts me not one whit. So just to save people like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama a little time in the future thinking up names to call their fellow Americans, perhaps this will keep you from wasting your time: I hereby go on record as having been deplorable before being deplorable was cool. And being a Republican long before Clinton named Republicans as the enemy she's most proud to have. And being a bitter clinger before bitter clingers were deplorable. And a tea party member before that. And an American patriot before, during and after it all. Call me all the names you want because in the end the only name that matters to me is proud American citizen, a name I will never tire of being called.

Don DeVan, Knoxville
A view of the Sunsphere in downtown Knoxville. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL)

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By News Sentinel staff

Today in the Knoxville area, the forecast calls for more sunshine and hot weather with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

Night skies should be 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 91 and calm winds.

Next week, the region will see cooler conditions, with lows around 50 degrees by Wednesday night, and some chances for precipitation.

Here's an extended outlook, via the National Weather Service in Morristown:

Saturday: Sunny with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s.

Saturday night: Mostly clear with lows in the lower to mid-60s.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with highs in the mid- to upper 80s.

Sunday night: Partly cloudy with lows in the mid-60s.

Monday: Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s.

Monday night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid-60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Tuesday: Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 70s.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear with lows in the lower 50s.

Get weather warnings or alerts by signing up at MyKnoxnews.com, and follow @KnoxvilleWX on Twitter for Knoxville-area weather information.
The UN Special Envoy to Syria claims that the United States and Russia must work on a tight timetable of mere days to reach a new agreement on a Syrian ceasefire, Sputnik International reported.

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.

De Mistura noted that the ISSG meeting failed to make progress on reinstating the Syria ceasefire because the two sides were unable to meet their prior, September 9 commitment to address the "ambiguity of al-Nusra and the issue about grounding the Syrian Air Force."
Kim Ha-neul, left, and Lee Sang-yoon in "On the Way to the Airport" / Courtesy of KBS



By Park Jae-hyuk

"On the Way to the Airport," a KBS drama that premiered Wednesday and looks to be the romance series of the fall, is being criticized by some viewers for justifying adultery.

Actors Lee Sang-yoon and Kim Ha-neul star as a married man and woman who are in rocky relationships with their spouses, who start to console each other.

Kim, returning to the small screen after four years, plays veteran flight attendant Choi Soo-ah and Lee plays part-time university lecturer in architecture Seo Do-woo.

In the first episode, Choi and Seo meet because their daughters were roommates in Malaysia. When Seo's daughter abruptly dies in a car accident, Choi comforts him on the way from Malaysia to Korea.

The teaser for the next episode implies the two will become closer, spending more time together.

"This drama basically depicts a subtle relationship between two people, which is hard to define with specific words," said director Kim Cheol-kyu during a press conference at Amoris Hall in Times Square, southern Seoul, Tuesday. "Mature societies naturally accept friendship between a married man and a married woman."

Actors Kim and Lee said it is up to the viewers to judge whether the drama is seen as a story about adultery.

Viewers praised images showing the beauty of Incheon International Airport and the background music played on a piano. They also commented on Kim, who plays a mother's role for the first time as an actress.

However, most viewers questioned the relationship between Choi and Seo.

"If the two met each other after a divorce, it would be okay," a viewer commented online. "But the drama seems to glamorize adultery as the two still have spouses."

Despite the criticism, the drama ranked second in the ratings, beating its competitor "Shopaholic Louis," MBC's romantic comedy that premiered on the same day. "Jealousy Incarnate" of SBS topped the rankings in the same time slot.

"On the Way to the Airport" airs every Wednesday and Thursday night at 10:00 p.m.
By Choi Sung-jin



A North Korean propaganda machine has indirectly urged South Korea to provide aid to help ease flood damage in its northeastern region, citing the North's "wholehearted support" for the flood-stricken South more than a half century ago.



"In September 1959, unprecedented rainstorms and floods swept the entire South Korea," said Naenara (Our Country), a North Korean media outlet, reporting in detail the "cabinet decision No. 60," which was adopted to provide help to recover from flood damage in the South.



"The great Marshal Kim Il-sung, who is concerned about South Korean people struggling in shanties with the snow and rain, and worries about South Korean farmers even with the slight rise of rivers, has sped up the adoption of the cabinet decision No. 60 to save flood victims in the South as soon as possible," it said.



The propaganda outlet reported that the North Korean founder wrote down specific aid items and their amounts, including 30,000 bags of rice, 1 million feet of fabric, 100,000 pairs of shoes and 100,000 sacks of cement.



"The Great Leader was lost in deep thinking about how to stabilize the lives of South Koreans suffering under the U.S. imperialists and their South Korean puppets and now hit by a natural disaster," the paper said. "And then the leader added the phrase, North Korea will always welcome South Koreans defecting to the North and guarantee comfortable lives for them.'"



The propaganda machine went ahead with unconvincing claims that South Korean victims were so deeply moved by the aid that they admired the Great Leader as their "savior and the sun of all Koreans."



The North Korean media outlet's reiteration of an episode of more than 50 years ago seems to be aimed at expressing regret about the recent decision by the South Korean government not to provide any help to the flood-ravaged North unless it stops nuclear and missile provocations, North Korea watchers here said.



Opposition parties and civic groups have called for humanitarian aid to the North, which is suffering the worst floods since the regime's foundation. Some have suggested the two Koreas use it to reconnect severed inter-Korean ties, but to little avail.



In September 1959, typhoon Sarah hit South Korea, leaving 848 dead, 2,533 missing and 373,459 homeless. The floods in North Korea this summer have killed 138, with 400 missing and 20,000 houses destroyed, according to a United Nations estimate.






By Chung Hyun-chae



The prosecution is considering requesting an arrest warrant for senior prosecutor Kim Hyung-joon, 46, who is suspected of taking at least 15 million won ($13,577) in kickbacks in return for influence peddling.



Kim was summoned Friday by the prosecution for questioning about the money-for-influence allegations.



The questioning came 16 days after the prosecution set up a special investigation team to look into corruption allegations against him.



Investigators are focusing on verifying the allegations as well as confirming the circumstances and background of the bribery case.



Kim is suspected of contacting fellow prosecutors at the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office who handled a fraud and embezzlement case involving Kim's high school alumnus, also known as Kim, to let him off, after receiving the money from him.



The prosecution arrested and indicted the businessman Kim on charges of embezzlement and fraud. He is suspected of embezzling 2.3 billion won from his firm and swindling 12 subcontractors out of 5.8 billion won.



The prosecutor's bribery case was disclosed by the businessman who claimed that he bought drinks for Kim Hyung-jon at hostess bars on multiple occasions, adding that he has acted as a "sponsor" of the prosecutor for a long time.



The senior prosecutor denied his friend's remark, calling it groundless.



Kim's corruption scandal comes only a few days after the prosecution announced reform measures to root out corruption among law enforcement officials.



Kim is not the first incumbent prosecutor to be investigated by the prosecution.



Including Kim, three prosecutors were summoned for questioning this year alone.



In July, an investigation was started into another senior prosecutor Jin Kyung-joon over allegations that he took kickbacks from Nexon founder Kim Jung-ju. He was dismissed by the Ministry of Justice in August, becoming the nation's first incumbent senior prosecutor to be sacked for corruption.



Kim Dae-hyun, a senior prosecutor who caused his subordinate prosecutor Kim Hong-young to commit suicide by verbally and physically abusing him, was also dismissed in August.



Judges are no exception.



The most recent case involved Kim Su-cheon, a senior judge at the Incheon District Court, who was arrested on charges of taking bribes from a businessman in return for a lenient ruling for his company.



In January, Choi Min-ho, a then-incumbent judge, was sentenced to three years in prison for receiving 260 million won from a private moneylender in Seoul.



A series of corruption cases involving prosecutors and judges over the past few months have destroyed public trust in the justice system.



According to a survey of 1,000 adults conducted by the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper last month, more than 70 percent of the respondents said they do not trust the prosecution, and 87 percent of these also said that the prosecution's power should be restricted.
By Chung Hyun-chae



The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday that it will host a job fair on Sept. 27 at COEX in southern Seoul in cooperation with the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) to provide job opportunities for foreign residents.



"We expect the job fair to be a win-win strategy for both jobseekers and companies as they want each other," said Moon Jong-hyun, director general of the business development division at the SBA.



"In line with the globalization trend of local companies, we will keep trying to expand the job fair in cooperation with the city government."



Sixty-three local businesses, including promising small- and medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations, will participate in the fair.



They include Hyundai Steel, Hyosung ITX, Daekyo Group, Hanbiro, a software firm, and Cebu Int'l Academy.



The organizers will provide booths for the companies.



"It will offer a good opportunity for companies planning to recruit foreigners who understand the political and economic situations in present-day Korea as well as Korean culture and language," an SMG official said.



According to the city government, most foreigners who said they are willing to participate in the fair have wide-ranging backgrounds in various sectors including research, software and business.



Any foreign resident or student who is seeking a job can register for the job fair on the day of the event. Participants need to bring their ID cards, resumes and a cover letters.




Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Korea, H.E. Riyad Almubaraky, center, and Education Minister Lee Joon-sik, fourth from left, and other participants gather during a reception to commemorate the 86th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Hyo-jin



By Kim Hyo-jin



Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Korea, H.E. Riyad Almubaraky, hosted a reception to celebrate his country's 86th National Day at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Thursday.



Hundreds of foreign envoys, businessmen and government officials, including Education Minister Lee Joon-sik, attended.



"Our kingdom joined the ranks of advanced nations and enjoys prosperity and stability," the ambassador said during his opening speech.



"Our great national system was established based on the adoption of an Islamic constitution and is an achievement made by our belief in the oneness of Allah, the Holy Koran and His Prophet Muhammad."



Almubaraky expressed hopes for a brighter future for the country with its "Vision 2030" plan, a road map for economic development unveiled earlier this year.



He underlined that Saudi Arabia and Korea have enjoyed historical bonds of friendship based on economic and cultural links spanning centuries.



"I am pleased that the two countries have nurtured a special bilateral relationship throughout history since we established diplomatic ties," he said.



Saudi Arabia celebrates Sept. 23 as its National Day to commemorate the unification of the kingdom in 1932. Saudi Arabia and South Korea established diplomatic ties in 1962.



"South Korea has the firm intention to further develop our bilateral ties," Lee said in his congratulatory speech.



"We hope to diversify bilateral exchanges not only economically but also in medicine, education and health care, and support each other's development."
By Park Si-soo



Chung-Ang University will host a music festival at its campus in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 27.

The "Four Season Art Fest" will begin at 7:30 p.m. in a concert hall on the second floor of the college of Korean music building. The one-hour concert is free and will feature the school's undergraduates majoring in Korean music and traditional dance.

"The school will continue to play its role in promoting traditional music and dance to Anseong residents by hosting high-quality cultural events," a school official said.
UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura said that the Syrian ceasefire agreement brokered by International Syria Support Group co-chairs, the United States and Russia, has been sabotaged by actors on both side of the conflict, Sputnik International reported.

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.

Were those two steps implemented, "you would see a different Syria the day after, and we would have [humanitarian aid] convoys moving," he added.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Thursday that North Korea is "totally ridiculing" the authority of the United Nations by pursuing repeated military provocations in defiance of global condemnation, calling into question its qualification as a member of the world body.



In his keynote speech at the U.N. General Assembly underway in New York, Yun also urged the U.N. Security Council to adopt "stronger" and "comprehensive" sanctions to punish the North for its fifth and most powerful nuclear detonation test conducted earlier this month.



"It is crystal clear that North Korea, as a serial offender, has manifestly failed to uphold its pledge to abide by the obligations in the U.N. Charter, particularly to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council," Yun said.



"Therefore, I believe that it is high time to seriously consider whether North Korea is qualified to be a peace-loving U.N. member, as many countries are already questioning," he added.



Yun raised the qualification issue for the North in an apparent bid to put more pressure on Pyongyang in addition to diverse punitive measures being discussed following the North's fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9. This marked the first time that South Korea officially has taken issue with the North's membership since both joined the U.N. in 1991 simultaneously.



The UNSC is currently working on drafting a fresh resolution to make it much harder for Pyongyang to get its hands on money and materials that can be used to help its nuclear and missile development programs.



South Korea has been intensifying its diplomatic drive to drum up support for stronger punitive measures than previous ones including Resolution 2270, adopted after the North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January.



"The Council should adopt stronger, comprehensive sanction measures that go beyond Resolution 2270. It should close the loopholes in that resolution and further expand and reinforce existing sanction measures," Yun said.



"In this context, we need to answer a more fundamental question. North Korea's repeated violations and non-compliance of Security Council resolutions and international norms is unprecedented... It shows that North Korea is totally ridiculing the authority of the General Assembly and the Security Council," he added.



Yun expressed concern that the North's fifth nuclear test demonstrates that its nuclear programs have neared the "tipping point," citing its power and the test interval that has been reduced significantly over the past years.



He also worried that the North's next nuclear provocations "may come even sooner than we expect," raising the sense of urgency and suggesting that time is running out.



"My president warned that unless we put a brake on Pyongyang's nuclear ambition today, we will come to regret it tomorrow. This is our last chance," he said.



Yun also drew attention to the dire human rights situation in the North. Among other things, he criticized the North Korean regime for being bent on developing weapons of mass destruction at a time when its people are suffering after the worst flooding in decades.



"North Korea's fifth nuclear test not only revealed its unambiguous nuclear ambition but it also exposed its utter disregard for its own people. At a time of the worst flooding in decades, North Korea went ahead with the nuclear test in the hardest hit region," he said.



"It is estimated that North Korea has spent at least US$200 million on this year's nuclear tests and missile firings, a sufficient sum that could have been used for flood relief," he noted.



Yun called for "action" to prevent human rights abuses in the North and hold those behind all of this accountable.



The minister underlined the need to tackle human rights abuses of North Korean people working abroad, in particular, as well as a possible diversion of the money that they are earning to the development of weapons of mass destruction.



"We need to sharpen our focus on North Korea's so-called state-sponsored forced labor abroad. There should be greater scrutiny of the human rights of North Korean workers abroad and the possible diversion of their wages into North Korea's WMD programs," he said. "The international community should pay attention to the yearnings of North Koreans for freedom and human dignity. They deserve greater access to the realities of the outside world." (Yonhap)




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 Tom Plate



Perhaps you're not going to believe this. The fact is that if a poll were taken of American public opinion about Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, Putin would get the higher recognition rating, and easily.



Two cheers for Putin? In part, credit Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. With odd consistency in a campaign otherwise peppy with inconsistency, the garrulous New York real estate mogul has been peddling the notion of Russia's autocratic president as a great leader, inspiring some Republican Americans to whine (utterly without irony) that President Barack Obama is no Putin.



And what a lovely thing that is!



"Few leaders have caused more suffering and conflict today than Vladimir Putin. It shows just how far down the rabbit hole some Trump fans will go to defend their guy," sighed one dispirited Republican national security expert. "It's a national case of Stockholm syndrome, one that makes decent Americans turn their backs on values and traditions that they've held dear for their entire lives."



There are deeper reasons why hardly anyone in America knows Xi.



Against Putin, Xi lies second, not because he is not as "strong" a leader (he is undoubtedly the more formidable, more steeped in the complexities of Chinese civilisation); but because he is not as readily categorisable or as identifiable. At a seminar with China Daily journalists in Beijing, I once asked if most Chinese citizens could summon up the name of the US president; and they looked at me as if I were nuts  of course they could! I then asked if they could guess the percentage of Americans that could name their leader. A guess came in at "50 per cent?" I tried not to laugh: "Sorry, it would be less than 10 per cent." The journalists gasped in dismay, and, as an American, I was embarrassed.



Blame our national ignorance entirely on our news media  why not? Almost everyone, from academics to taxi drivers, makes it the go-to culprit for almost everything. But there are deeper reasons why hardly anyone in America knows Xi, and we might as well start with this: if China's obviously talented president does care a great deal about his international image, he might try harder to soften it.



He is certainly no baby-kisser like former premier Wen Jiabao, or self-effacing press conference jokester like, say, Wen's predecessor Zhu Rongji. In all fairness, Xi is obviously no faceless bureaucrat putting in time to retirement; and in conversations with Chinese officials, I hear only praise for his bold strikes against corruption. But in America there is doubt  doubt as to whether his campaign aims to destroy, impartially, only the corrupt.



One expert's view: "Within China, President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign has targeted previously untouchable members of the ruling Politburo Standing Committee, though it remains unclear whether the campaign is motivated by a desire to truly root out corruption or to weaken Xi's political opponents." That assessment comes from Kurt Campbell, a famous US diplomat, in his valuable book, The Pivot: The Future of American Statecraft in Asia.



The truth of the matter is that Xi is the most important world leader that Americans know least about, when as head of China he should be a world leader about whom they are at least knowledgeable.



Might China's public diplomacy do a better job of conveying what Xi is trying to do? For all anyone knows, Xi may have the softest heart and sharpest brain of anyone in his fifth-generation class. Or he might make Putin look like a positive pussycat by comparison  who knows? Does Xi receive the best possible advice on America from the experts in his party and government on which he must draw? Sometimes leaders are told by their minions only that which it is known they prefer to hear.



In life, as we say, timing can be everything. Xi took power as general secretary of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the CPC Central Committee in the aftermath of the convulsive worldwide economic downturn of 2008-2009, triggered mainly by serious evils in the ethics and operating systems of Wall Street America. Here is the problem: since this epiphany of evil, almost everyone from the mainland I talk to views the US as in historic decline. But, in fact, are America's best days only yesterdays? I wish some Chinese would not be so quick to count America out. After all, China's elite still sends a generational avalanche of its children to our colleges and universities, and there's good reason for this. It's that many in China's moneyed elite are smart, not dumb, in advancing their children's prospects. It would be a serious error if the government were making decisions on the simple-minded presumption that America were slowly crumbling like some exhausted cracking wall, when its elite is dramatically voting with its tuition checkbooks the other way.



It is painful to believe that China and Xi do not respect the US. The flap over Obama's disembarking from Air Force One upon landing at Hangzhou for the G20 summit last week cannot be anything but a regrettable one-off botch job. With characteristic forbearance, Obama reacted to the tempest on the tarmac with a well-considered shrug.



Too bad some Americans jumped on the incident as if looking for a serious punch-up opportunity with China. Foremost among the jumpers was Trump. Presumably he figured that his hero Putin would have reacted with more machismo. But the US president's cool conveyed self-confidence, not frailty. It's bullies who lose their cool. Smart Americans have figured Putin out; but, alas, Xi, from an entirely different system with different political values, is still a mystery, at least to Americans.



Columnist Tom Plate, Loyola Marymount University's distinguished scholar of Asian and Pacific studies, and vice-president of the Pacific Century Institute, is the author of the "Giants of Asia" book series.




More data is being released showing jobseekers feel worse now than they did in the late 1990s, one of the darkest periods in Korea's economy, when it sought a bailout package from the International Monetary Fund.



A Statistics Korea report released this week showed that the number of long-term jobless people hit a record high in August amid the protracted economic slump. A total of 182,000 Koreans were jobless for six months or longer as of last month, up 62,000 people from August 2015. Last month's year-on-year rise in the long-term jobless marked the biggest jump since the so-called IMF period in 1999.



The portion of the long-term unemployed out of all jobless people has been steadily rising. In August, they accounted for 18.27 percent of the unemployed, marking the biggest proportion since September 1999.



The finding comes on the heels of other depressing data that showed that the unemployment rate for people aged between 15 and 29 reached 10.3 percent in June, the highest figure for that month also since 1999.



The rapid increase in the number of people out of job for a prolonged period and massive youth unemployment  with one out of 10 in their 20s jobless  attest to a huge failure of President Park Geun-hye's job creation policy.



The Park administration has been incompetent in coming up with fundamental measures to expand jobs across all sectors. The government's short-sighted measures have done little to alleviate one of the worst unemployment crises in 20 years. The government spent almost 2 trillion won last year on projects related to youth employment, but most of these projects have had limited effects, such as a cash allowance program for young jobseekers announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor last month. These kinds of hasty measures have undercut the people's confidence in the government's sincerity to do something about the plight of the unemployed.



The youth unemployment crisis will only worsen amid the protracted economic slump. Hit by weak exports and sluggish consumption, Korea's economy grew 0.8 percent in the second quarter of this year. Due to the economic downturn, even big companies are reluctant to hire. The latest data shows that almost 50 percent of conglomerates have curtailed their recruitment plans.



The government and the National Assembly should work together to approve bills necessary to ensure more effective job creation, expedite labor reform and improve the people's livelihoods.




Time to update outdated farming policies



A high-level meeting of government and political parties convened Wednesday to discuss measures to relieve problems from rice overproduction.



One of the measures they decided to review was whether to reduce land exclusively assigned for farming by relaxing the rule on rice cultivation areas that has been in force since 1992.



The so-called exclusive farm land scheme was introduced to keep rice production at a stable level and limit the use of farming areas for development purposes. But there are growing calls for an overhaul of the plan since it does not reflect the changes that have affected Korean farmers and consumers since 1992.



Gradually reducing the rice cultivation area is a sound policy decision to deal with the rice production glut, which has become a chronic problem for the nation's agricultural industry. There is too much rice being produced while Koreans simply do not eat as much rice as they used to. Korea's rice consumption hit a record low of 65.1 kg per person in 2015.



The discrepancy in supply and demand has led to plunging rice prices, which has strained the livelihoods of farmers. According to an association of rice producers, prices plunged to a record low this year, standing at 33,886 won per 20 kg, which is 10 percent lower than the figure for 2015. Rice prices are actually lower than what they were 20 years ago. According to the latest government data, a consumer paid 136,713 won for 80 kg in 1996, whereas this year, it cost 135,544 won for the same amount. Considering that overall consumer prices have increased over 70 percent over 20 years, rice farmers have experienced a particularly harsh fall in prices. As a result, their average income has also consistently decreased.



This causes the government to have to spend huge amounts of money on extending financial support for rice farmers and storing large stockpiles of rice. Just last year, the government spent more than 1.3 trillion won for subsidies for rice famers while the rice stockpile reached an all-time high of 2 million tons.



All these problems highlight the need for a fundamental overhaul of the rice farming industry. Reducing rice cultivation land and gradually cutting down on rice production is a necessary first step. This also makes much sense since Korea's rural regions are aging at a swift pace and the farming population is consistently diminishing. Relaxing the law on restricting farming areas will open the doors for new opportunities and developments and contribute to the growth of Korea's rural sector.



The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has not been very forthcoming about the proposal for fear of backlash from farming associations. It is important for the agriculture ministry to collect the opinions of the farmers on this issue as well as exchange ideas with them for other ways to overhaul the farming industry.



Reducing rice cultivation, however, is not a fundamental solution. New Agriculture Minister Kim Jae-soo should instruct his ministry to come up with measures for more innovative ventures in Korea's agricultural scene that is beneficial for farmers and consumers.




By Kim Ji-myung

The May 2008 issue of National Geographic featured an article on the Dong ethnic group who live in an enclave nestled in the luxuriant mountains of Guizhou Province, China. Headlined "Village on the Edge of Time," novelist Amy Tan's narrative of her journey to this remote and poor corner almost read like poetry.

The Dong people have no written form of their language, which they call Kam. Songs are their record of traditions and a mythic history that is a thousand years old, or so the songs themselves suggest, Tan writes.

Not only the story but the photos had a sharp impact on my mind. What I especially remember is one of the bridges, which the writer described as "a covered bridge that was fanciful, outlandishly so for a small village of rice farmers whose income is less than a hundred dollars a year. The bridge was as formidable as a dragon, with a scaly roof for its body and cupolas for its head and spine." She viewed it "with the awe of a child who has just seen a fairy-tale place jump out of a book." For their beauty they are called flower bridges and for their practicality, wind-rain bridges, a handy shelter from the elements, Tan wrote. Benches run along both sides of the bridges, making them an ideal resting spot for old comrades, a playground for children and a work space for carpenters when dark clouds churn." Yes, her description matches the photographs of the bridge structures quite well.

It was around that time that I happened to learn about the Gyeongju Palace project, which is now known as the "Silla Dynasty Excavation and Restoration Project." The document about this project I read first was the report of a survey tour to China by a group of local professors and city officials. Their purpose was to gather whatever information or data was available, either texts or drawings, on ancient-style wooden bridges. The photos of bridges in the report were exactly the same style that was narrated by Amy Tan in Guizhou.

There have long been a few stone pillar foundations on the bed of Gyeongju's peaceful Nam-cheon or "South Stream," designated as Local Historical Monument 457. These have been known by archeologists and local tradition to be relics of the ancient Woljeong Bridge, south of the ancient Wolseong-gung Palace, probably leading to its main gate over the stream that functions as a natural moat.

Later, I heard that a few small pieces of burnt wood and roof tile shard were found in the area, which hinted that it had been a large wooden bridge with a roof.

Although the 12th-century book "History of the Three Kingdoms" tells us that the bridge was built during the reign of Silla King Gyeongdeok in the 8th century, there are no records about the size, shape or materials of the bridge.

However, the mayor and the citizens of Gyeongju were not thwarted by the lack of supporting documents; discussions among expert groups and consultations with international bodies were conducted.

I know that a ranking UNESCO expert strongly advised against building anything on the extant stone bases. He recommended constructing a museum or a display hall near the site, so that the original rocks and stones could preserve authenticity. But the truth is, no one wants to see a newly built bridge based on imagination alone.

After that, I had no chance to hear about what happened with this project. But whenever I visited Gyeongju, I could see high fences concealing the construction site of the new Woljeong Bridge. It is reported that a 66-meter ancient-style covered bridge was completed over the stream after construction work between 2008 and 2013. It is not like the simple covered bridge structure of the American movie "The Bridges of Madison County," but a solid wooden structure with two double-decked gate pavilions on both ends. The gates themselves are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017.

A local media reporter wrote, probably based on the city's press release, that the Woljeong Bridge is "treasured as a historical artifact in that it may have functioned as an artery in the city, and it enables us to presume the size and characteristics of the royal city."

In his 2009 article "International Principles of Preservation," Michael Petzet of ICOMOS discusses the generally accepted modern principles of preservation, restoration and renovation of historic sites.

The aim of restoration is "to preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historic value of the monument and is based on respect for original material and authentic documents."

What really matters are cases when there is nothing authentic at all in the work of "restoration." I think we would better name such project as "re-building heritage" and "construction" or "re-construction" projects to avoid a fallacy in nomenclature, or simply to avoid deceiving ourselves.

The recent earthquakes around Gyeongju have made us think once more about the irreplaceable value of heritage sites and artifacts in Gyeongju. More than 55 cases of damage have been reported, including a slight slanting of the Cheomseong-dae Observatory Tower, a damaged railing stone of the Dabo-tap Pagoda and partial damage to the roof and ridge of the main hall of Bulguk-sa temple.

It may be opportune for us to pool resources and wisdom on how better to preserve our authentic cultural heritage there rather than build new structures.
China has an obligation to prevent the export to North Korea of items banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions, a senior White House official said, following revelations that a Chinese conglomerate has shipped to the North "dual-use" items that can be used in its weapons programs.



Earlier this week, joint research by South Korea's Asan Institute and the U.S. Center for Advanced Defense Studies found that China's Liaoning Hongxiang Group exported aluminum oxide, which can be used in uranium enrichment, to the North in recent years.



The research findings also showed that the Chinese trading firm has been selling other "dual-use" items, such as aluminum ingots, ammonium paratungstate and tungsten trioxide, all of which can be used in the North's missile or nuclear programs.



"China has an obligation to implement fully the sanctions that have been passed at the U.N. Security Council, including preventing the export to North Korea of a variety of goods and technologies," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said, though he said he's not familiar with the allegations involving the Chinese conglomerate.



"When we see concerns about that we do raise them directly with China," he told reporters late Tuesday.



On Wednesday, Jon Wolfsthal, senior director for arms control and nonproliferation at the White House's National Security Council, also said that U.N. resolutions clearly ban the exports of any items that can be used for its nuclear and missile programs "even if it's a pencil."



"It doesn't matter if it's a pencil or an ounce of gold or a boatload of coal," Wolfsthal said in response to a suggestion that the aluminum oxide that the Chinese conglomerate exported to the North is not enough to help build nuclear weapons.



"Everything that North Korea does we believe is linked or supportive of their weapons of mass destruction program and that trade is to be prohibited unless it can be demonstrated conclusively that it is to support humanitarian purposes," he told reporters after a Wilson Center seminar.



The official declined to discuss the specific case involving the Chinese firm, including whether or when the U.S. Treasury Department provided related information to China and when the U.S. is expected to take legal action against the firm.



Rhodes said that the U.S. hopes to see China fully implement U.N. sanctions and discuss with Beijing "appropriate responses to this cycle of provocations, which could include additional sanctions."



"We want China to understand that in the long run it is going to be less secure if we see this pattern of provocation out of North Korea, both because of the instability of having a nation like North Korea pursuing a nuclear program and a ballistic missile program, but also, frankly, because there are things that China objects to like our deployment of the THAAD missile defense system," he said.



Obama discussed these issues when he held talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang earlier this week, Rhodes said.



"I think China has grown more serious, they've taken steps that they've never taken before in terms of the previous U.N. Security Council resolution and the nature of their condemnations of North Korea's actions. But we want to continue to see follow-up from them," he said.



Wolfsthal said the U.S. and China are working hard on a new U.N. sanctions resolution.



"It's something that even through the U.N. General Assembly process, we're engaged in very concertedly very attentively. It's something that it's a top priority for the president and our entire administration because of the priority we view addressing the North Korean nuclear threat," he said.



The official said, however, it's difficult to say when a draft resolution will be put together. He also said the U.S. will not "let the clock dictate whether or not we get a good or better resolution" because the goal is to increase the pressure and improve the sanctions regime on the North.



"China is in agreement with us that what we've tried in the past has not worked, that improved sanctions, implementation and expansion is the only way we will convince North Korea to return to negotiating table," the official said.



"If sanctions' aren't increased, North Korea will only become bolder and the United States and its allies will have to take increased military steps which China also views as a challenge and something that we think can be avoided if we can get firm implementation of sanctions in the near term," he said. (Yonhap)




By Lee Min-hyung





Chris Anderson, 3D Robotics CEO

Cloud computing will become the mainstream of an emerging robotics industry, as the internet-based data processing technology makes robots smaller, cheaper and more intelligent, according to 3D Robotics CEO Chris Anderson.

"The next chapter of drones will be to take full advantage of cloud robotics, and in doing so, will start to use many of the same technologies and infrastructure as autonomous cars," the British-American journalist-turned-entrepreneur said in an interview, Wednesday.

"Cloud robotics is really about ensuring robots are connected to the internet and pulling down from a database at all times," he added.

He stressed that robots also share the same platform as smartphones, so cloud-converged robots will follow the same footsteps of smartphones.

"Smartphones are getting smaller and cheaper. The reason for that is because they harness the cloud. Robots can also be smaller devices connected to massive information online. That is why drones and cars are built on the same platform as smartphones."

3D Robotics is a California-based unmanned aerial vehicles manufacturer. Anderson made his Korea visit on the sidelines of this year's Innobiz Global Forum in Seoul. Innobiz Association, in collaboration with the government-led Small and Medium Business Administration, has held the annual technology forum for five years, inviting globally-renowned tech celebrities each year. The latest keynote speakers at the forum include Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and futurist Alvin Toffler.

The forum named Anderson as this year's speaker in recognition of his impact on the global drone industry.

The 55-year-old drone company chief is best known for his bestselling book "The Long Tail." In business and marketing, the long tail refers to the notion that large numbers of products in small quantities take up a similar or more market share than small numbers of bestsellers.

Citing the long tail perspective, Anderson underlined the importance of fostering more long tail developers for the growth of the IT industry. He said the U.S. could have globally-renowned IT firms  such as Google and Apple  due to its "open" environment which is related to the long tail.

Open systems are the key to America's success in the IT industry, as for example, open clouds enable open systems which will then create more developers and more innovation, he said.

"The secret is the instinct towards openness, embracing long tail developers and companies. This will encourage entrepreneurialism which feeds more developers and firms again."

Deregulation: global trend

Korea is famous for its industry-leading mobile and internet infrastructure, but critics have long pointed out that the country has so far failed to take full advantage of such an environment, as the country still heavily relies on one-sided development in traditional manufacturing businesses such as electronics and shipbuilding.

Excessive government regulations have been cited as the reason blocking the country from embracing balanced development in the hardware and software sectors.

"Any country that does not take the same approach (deregulation) will fall behind," he said. "At this point, the path is very clear and almost all countries can follow. For example, Japan really wants to push the drone industry for its upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2020. They are going to change, and they will come up with the same approach for deregulation."

The growing numbers of drone users here voice complaints, citing complex and strict regulatory hurdles. But Anderson expressed optimism for the growth potential of the nation's drone industry, as industrial robots are becoming more widely used in such areas as agriculture and construction.

For the deregulation, he advised Korea to follow the same path as Wi-Fi, opening the skies for small and low-risk drones with minimal regulatory barriers.

"Give the industry a sandbox and it will innovate massively. In general, innovation is around the ask forgiveness, not permission model, which does not do well in overly regulated markets," he said.
The gunman was found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound, Associated Press reported.

At least three people are dead in Athens, Tenn. after a lone gunman opened fire inside a factory on Thursday, authorities said.

The unidentified shooter killed two people inside a Thomas and Betts plant building about 4 p.m. before fatally shooting himself, WBIR reports. The male suspect was an employee at the factory, Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler said at a news conference. His 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 the gunman used a semi-automatic pistol.

Its unclear what prompted the violence or whether the shooter knew his victims. The incident is under investigation.
Austria and France will on Friday propose ending the current round of trade talks between the United States and the European Union, and starting fresh talks under a new name, Austrian Economy Minister Reinhold Mitterlehner said, Reuters reported.

"The free trade talks with the USA should begin again under a new title and with different substantive headings," including greater transparency, Mitterlehner told Germany's Die Welt newspaper.

He said he and French Trade Minister Matthias Fekl would push for a new start to the WTO's Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) at a meeting of EU trade ministers in the Slovakian capital Bratislava.

He said the talks should resume after the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8.

Washington and Brussels are officially committed to sealing the free trade deal before President Barack Obama leaves office in January, but their chances of doing so are being eroded by approaching elections on both sides of the Atlantic and Britain's vote in June to leave the European Union.

Fekl last month said he would request a halt to TTIP talks at the ministerial meeting after German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel declared that they were "de facto dead".

The French minister told the Handeslblatt newspaper that the United States had demanded too much and not compromised enough.

"A crazy machine is moving here, the negotiations are a failure, nobody believes that they will come to a successful conclusion," he was quoted as saying.

French business lobbies called on Thursday for the TTIP talks to be extended.

Mitterlehner said officials needed to ensure that investment protections modeled on the European system were included in the future free trade pact, and that it would not have a negative impact on standards, pensions or the healthcare system.

"TTIP has become a metaphor for the exuberant dealings of big corporations. That has a negative connotation. We hope for a good deal, but it has to be approached differently," Mitterlehner told the Welt newspaper.

"We don't have the backing of everyone, but many colleagues are supporting us privately," he said.

Ending the TTIP talks for now could also help ensure passage of a separate free trade deal with Canada, he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

The new EU summit without participation of the UK will be held February 3 in Valletta, Malta, a diplomatic source in Brussels told RIA Novosti September 23.

The source said Brexit is one of the main issues to be discussed by the EU summit.

An informal meeting of the leaders of 27 EU countries without the UK was for the first time held in Bratislava, Slovakia, on September 16. The meeting discussed the Brexit.

Britains Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Thursday he expects the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to be triggered early next year, but the British Prime Minister Theresa Mays office declined to confirm this information.

The Article 50 states that any EU member can withdraw from the Union. For this, the EU member must formally notify Brussels of such an intention, followed by withdrawal negotiations.
Its crucial to avoid the collapse of the US-Russia agreements on Syria, meaning a fair and impartial investigation of the Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor incidents is needed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at the UN General Assembly in New York, Russia Today reported.

"The main thing now is to prevent the collapse of those arrangements [between Russia and the US], objectively and impartially investigate the undermining incidents in Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo, particularly, that theres many who want to sabotage the agreed approaches to the Syrian settlement, Lavrov said during the general debate at the 71st Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Earlier in September, US-led coalition planes bombed Syrian government troops in Deir ez-Zor, and a few days later a UN humanitarian convoy was attacked in Aleppo.

The minister stressed that its essential to fulfill the UN Security Council [UNSC] demand to dissociate the so-called moderate opposition from the terrorists. Here, special responsibility rests with the US and the members of their coalition.

Their refusal or inability to do this in the present circumstances cant but strengthen the suspicion that its being attempted to remove Jabhat al-Nusra out of harms way and that the plans for a regime change are still on the table, he said, adding that it would be a grave violation of the UNSC resolution.

Lavrov reiterated that resolving the crisis in Syria will be impossible without the suppression of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist groups, which joined them. Its the key to strengthening the cessation of hostilities and achieving a nationwide ceasefire.

Open sabotage of the political process by some representatives of the opposition abroad, which occurs as their patrons turn a blind eye, has a negative impact on the reputation of the UN and, again, suggests that the reason here is rooted in the desire to create a pretext for attempted regime change, he said.

According to the Russian FM, it is also unacceptable to delay the start of intra-Syrian negotiations without any preconditions, as envisaged by resolution No. 2254 of the UN Security Council.
Israeli and Palestinian authorities must take positive steps to reduce violence and settlement activity or a two-state solution will never become a reality, the Quartet said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier in the day, representatives of the Quartet  including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini  met to discuss a path forward on the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

"The Quartet stressed the growing urgency of taking affirmative steps to reverse these trends in order to prevent entrenching a one-state reality of perpetual occupation and conflict that is incompatible with realizing the national aspirations of both peoples," the statement, issued by the US Department of State, said.

The Quartet cited Israeli settlement activity, illicit arms-build up in Gaza along with resurgence in violence from both sides, as factors hindering the path to any possible solution.

The statement directed Quartet Envoys to continue engaging with Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders on efforts to implement recommendations found in the Quartet Report of July 2016.

The foreign ministers of Egypt and France joined the second part of the meeting to brief the Quarter on their respective efforts to support the Middle East peace process.

In July 2016, the Quartet issued a report with recommendations for creating the conditions to resume meaningful talks between Israel and Palestine to end the occupation that began in 1967.
Baku, Azerbaijan. Sept.23

By Orkhan Quluzade  Trend:

Turkish police stepped up security measures in the mosques of Gaziantep province in the south of Turkey because of the threat of terrorist attacks by the terrorist organization 'Islamic state' (IS), Haber 7 reports Sept.23.

According to the newspaper, the police received intelligence about the preparation of terrorist attack by the IS in the Ulu Cami mosque during Friday prayers.

Security forces cordoned off the mosque building, people were checked using special detectors.

Early, the US Embassy in Turkey has warned its citizens of a possible terrorist attack in Gaziantep province.

More than 50 people were killed in a suicide attack in Gaziantep on August 21.

Earlier, Turkish media reported that militants of the terrorist organization IS use Turkish province of Gaziantep on the border with Syria as a reference point, noting that there are 'schools' related to the IS in Turkey.

Follow the author on Twitter: @o_quluzade
A Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani, has described proponents of sale of the countrys national asset as economic predators and profiteers who want to take advantage of the situation in the country.

Mr. Sani, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, said in a statement to Premium Times today that Nigerias capitalist forces raped Nigeria to recession and now they want to kill and bury it.

Mr. Sani, from Kaduna State, condemned the suggestion as being against the interest of the nation. He said privatization in Nigeria has not delivered the much anticipated efficiency and services other than enrich a few fronts and their masters.



There is currently nothing to show for the sale of government houses, (and) firms. The advocates of sale of our collective national asset simply want to dispossess Nigerians and expand their business empire.

They call themselves private sector and business men; they refused to invest in agriculture, solid minerals or science and technology, they simply want to buy off profitable public asset.

There are no captains of industry in Nigeria other than crony businessmen, rent seekers, commission agents who depend on patronage from government.

Mr. Sani said the countrys businessmen prefer to buy off ready-made oil wells and gas from the Niger Delta, instead of investing funds to find oil and gas in Lake Chad and Benue trough.

He called on Nigerians to rise up against any attempt to sell the countrys asset, arguing that, Selling our national asset to stem recession is like selling ones lungs to buy food.

Recession should excite innovation and ideas and not justify roguery. . Nigerias poor have always lived under systemic recession and depression and on the edge of extinction, he said.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Cambodia has close relations with China. (Photo : Getty Images)

In a bust conducted by the Cambodian police, 13 Taiwanese nationals and 50 mainland Chinese citizens were deported, despite protests from Taiwan.



The telecom and internet scam ran by the Chinese and Taiwanese nationals have led to extortion of billions of dollars and some victims have committed suicide.



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Since November, China has cooperated with police in Kenya, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia to bust 65 telecom fraud rings since November, according to the ministry. This lead to the arrest of 1,168 suspects, including 347 Taiwan residents.



The Chinese Ministry of Public Security from Beijing released the report. All deportees are in the custody of the ministry.



Cambodia is a close ally of China and does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state, but a province of the mainland. Taiwan does not have a representative office in Cambodia.



A senior a senior official in Cambodia's immigration department, Uk Heisela, said that Taiwan has not been in touch with Phnom Penh regarding the Taiwan nationals.



He said, "All victims are in China."



Upon receipt of reports of the arrests, the Taiwan government dispatched Liang Kuang-chung, director-general of Taiwan's office in Ho Chi Minh City. Liang traveled to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to argue that the Chinese nationals should be deported to Taiwan.



However, China argued that all deportees should be sent to China. The Taiwanese scammers have allegedly scammed Chinese citizens as well.



The Chinese government was accused by Taiwan for hindering the victims to seek proper representation.



The negotiations took 20 days.



Rights activists in Taiwan said that China is using its economic influence as a lever to control political affairs in Cambodia.



As of 2013, China has a total of $10 billion in Cambodia, on sectors of agriculture, mining, infrastructure projects, hydropower dams and garment production.


The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

Read more
President Xi pushes for anti-corruption manhunts overseas. (Photo : Getty Images)

Pursuant to the call of President Xi Jinping's call to crack down on corrupt government officials, the government wants to step up its campaign and start chasing offenders overseas.



The drive is called "Sky Net" and the government has been active in looking for officials who fled the country to evade corruption charges. The campaign started in 2014.



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China has been trying to get international support for the initiative. Some countries were reluctant to support the campaign as the Chinese government failed to provide evidence.



An unnamed public security official said, "While the previous priority was collecting evidence in overseas manhunts, the recovery of assets acquired illegally in China will be a new anti-corruption initiative in the coming months."



The task was "very difficult," admitted Huang Shuxian, deputy head of the graft-busting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.



The government plans to work with the Central Bank to trace the billions of dollars that were transferred from China to various international accounts.



The unnamed official said that they foresee that many will be arrested in Europe and South America.



He said, "Several more fugitives will be extradited from Europe and South America in the near future."



In 2015, the government already gave "light punishments" to accused officials while 80,000 were given heavy penalties.



Another campaign launched in 2014, called operation Foxhunt, resulted in the return of 700 suspected economic fugitives. The operation of the campaign was published by the state newspaper.



The operation involved repeated phone conversations with the accused in returning to China. However, officials realized that face-to-face interventions were more effective.



"My experience is that the effect of face-to-face persuasion and persuasion by telephone is totally different," Li Gongjing, an official for public safety, said.


This article appears in the September 23, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

APPEAL TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A New Paradigm for the

Common Aims of Mankind!

by Helga Zepp-LaRouche

[PDF version of this article]

Sept. 16It is crucial that the General Assembly of the United Nations, now convening in New York, build on the progress that the G-20 Summit has achieved under Chinas leadership. That summit has set a course toward a new financial architecture, and the chance is greater than ever that all nations can participate in the building of the New Silk Road on the basis of win-win cooperation, and that the productivity of the world economy will rise on the basis of innovation, thus overcoming poverty and the consequences of war.

The main problem, however, is that the West continues to cling to the status quo of a uni-polar world and the neo-liberal financial system, although both of those objectives have been unachievable for along time. The rise of Asia signifies that one nation will no longer be able to set the rules, and therefore solutions must be found through dialogue and negotiation. The neo-liberal system is in the throes of an existential crisis.

The first tactic of the globalized uni-polar outlook, the policy of regime-change and alleged humanitarian interventions, has cost the lives of millions of people, brought untold suffering to millions more, destroyed entire regions, thus creating the breeding grounds for the spread of terrorism, and has set off huge waves of refugees.

The wars against Iraq and Afghanistan alone, according to the study of Professor Neta Crawford of Brown University, have cost five trillion dollars, and have yielded this devastating result.

The second tactic of the globalized uni-polar world has been to maximize the profits for the banks which are supposedly too big to be allowed to fail (TBTF). This has led to an unbearable gap between rich and poor. The TBTF banks, with their insufficient capital base, must pay the full sum of their fines for criminal methods, and declare bankruptcy, instead of being bailed out.

Now, a new meltdown threatens, with even more catastrophic consequences than the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, because central bank schemes and methods of financial manipulations have been exhausted and are no longer effective.

In that context, two reports released in Great Britain offer an extraordinary opportunity to re-assess and correct the current policy. After the Chilcot Report, which laid the blame on Tony Blair for the illegal Iraq war which was built on lies, a commission of the British Parliament has levelled no less scathing charges against former Prime Minister David Cameron for the war in Libya, which was carried out on erroneous assumptions and led to political and economic collapse, inter-militia and inter-tribal warfare, humanitarian and migrant crises, widespread human rights violations, the spread of Qaddafi regime weapons across the region, and the growth of ISIL in North Africa.

RT screen grab

On the role of the United States, the report states that, The United States was instrumental in extending the terms of Resolution 1973 beyond the imposition of a no-fly zone to include the authorization of all necessary measures to protect civilians. In practice, this led to the imposition of a no-drive zone and the assumed authority to attack the entire Libyan Government command and communications network.

That same overall review of the current policy should, of course, include the implications of the 28 pages of the official Joint Congressional Inquiry Report, which deals with the circumstances of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the JASTA bill, which necessitate a completely new investigation.

This failed policy has caused:

 the millions of dead and injured

 the traumatized children and soldiers (including in the nations waging war)

 the destruction of cities, villages, infrastructure and irreplaceable cultural wealth.

In light of this horrendous suffering, it is not only appropriate, but a moral obligation for the countries that took part in these wars in the different coalitions of the willing, to examine the political process in their parliaments and to fully participate in the reconstruction of the regions that have been devastated. This will not bring the dead back to life, but the admission of guilt and a genuine change of policy towards development would give the people living there today hope for a future.

The status quo cannot be maintained. As a result of both policies of globalization, there has been an enormous loss of trust among the populations in the trans-Atlantic world. Right-wing populist and right-extremist parties are rapidly gaining strength. The conditions of the 1930s threaten to reappear in a new form, the European Union is crumbling, and the refugee crisis will not be solved by securing the external EU borders, but will only force refugees to be relocated and removed from the news. The U.S. economy is collapsing, while the society is more than ever torn and overtaken by violence. Either this process will lead to an escalation of the confrontation with Russia and China, and to the extermination of mankind in a great war, or the leading politicians in the West will have to have the moral integrity to correct the errors of the past.

The Solution

To come back to the positive proposition at the beginning of this appeal, the course has been set toward a way out of this crisis of civilization since the G-20 summit. Not only has China presented a new level of cooperation that is not based on geopolitics, but rather on a policy that is in the mutual interest of all. It has also pledged to industrialize Africa and other low-income countries, an approach that could both solve the refugee crisis and eliminate the terrorist environment. Clearly, the extension of the New Silk Road to the Middle East and Africa both requires and will bring about growth rates of seven to ten percent.

The Club of Rome has promptly stepped in with a new report under the cynical title of One Percent Is Enough, which would lead to population reduction, a fascist policy for which the Club of Rome is infamous. The UN recently emphasized that Africa needs a growth rate of at least seven to eight percent. When one of the authors of the Club of Rome report, the Norwegian Jorgen Randers, made the absurd statement that My daughter is the most dangerous animal in the world, because she consumes 30 times more energy than a girl in a developing country, it reveals the bestial image of man on which the Club of Rome bases its argument.

Man, in contrast to all other creatures, is able to use his creative potential to continually discover new insights into the laws of the universe. This is called scientific progress. The unlimited process of perfecting the human mind corresponds with the laws of the physical universe, which develops to ever higher energy-flux densities. We are not in a closed system on the Earth, as the Club of Rome and similar organizations claim, but rather, our planet is an integral part of the Solar system, the Galaxy, and the Universe, about which space research is discovering more and more. This research yields many advantages for Earth itself, and it is therefore excellent that China announced at the G-20 summit, that it would share with developing countries the most advanced research results of its space and lunar exploration projects.

Mankind has arrived at a crossroads. If we continue to walk the well-trodden paths with the same old policies, the world will come apart. If, on the contrary, we can agree on the common aims of mankindan economic and financial order that serves the well-being of all mankind, and which makes possible a decent life for every person on this Earth, the securing of raw materials and energy through higher technologies such as thermonuclear fusion, the exploration of space to safeguard our planet, and a renaissance of classical culturesthen we will be able to usher in a new, better era in the history of our species.

The General Assembly of the United Nations is the fitting place, where the new paradigm of our one mankind, based on that which comes before all the differences among nations, must be established and celebrated.

This statement has been translated from German.
This article appears in the September 23, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

LAROUCHE PAC FIRESIDE CHAT WITH DENNIS SPEED

The Remedy for the Evil of Obama

[PDF version of this article]

The following edited excerpts are taken from the weekly LaRouche PAC National Fireside Chat of Sept. 15, 2016. The guest speaker was Dennis Speed, a leader of both the LaRouche PAC and the Manhattan Project.

Bill Roberts: Everyone should know that the JASTA bill passed unanimously out of the House last week, after earlier passing the Senate unanimously. Of course, this is something that 9/11 widow Terry Strada and many Congressmen have fought for over years, to have justice for the victims of 9/11, and their families and loved ones, by bringing the Saudi Kingdom to justice for their role in 9/11. As far as we know, Obama is still threatening to veto this, and we shouldnt be surprised if he tries some trick to push this back and defeat it. The only question should be: why have the American people tolerated this man, who is a murderer, and has protected the greatest mass murder of Americans in the history of the United States.

So, many of you have participated over the last weekend in the living memorial that was organized in New York City. Dennis may have more to say about this, but this was organized to address this very question, of the cowardice in the American population, the capitulation to fear and evil, to allow people to break from that and make them conscious of how theyve been behaving, and to establish a higher standard within them to recognize why they were allowing such behavior. Im going to leave it at that, and ask if Dennis would like to say something at this point, or go directly to questions.

Dennis Speed: I want to say something about the change that has occurred as a result of the last week. Lyndon LaRouche is the most important living thinker of our time. Of course, all great thinkers never die, but Lyn happens to be here with us in the flesh and is able to inspire people to forms of creativity they did not know were possible. This is important to understand, and it is important to think about.

Now, theres one particular matter Id like to bring to peoples attention. From at least 1973, and actually before that time, LaRouche expressed, in various written forms, his love of and appreciation for the ideas of Percy Shelleys A Defence of Poetry, and Id like to refer at the beginning of our discussion, to the first paragraph of that writing by Percy Shelley. Often we refer to it, and we talk about the idea of man having profound and impassioned conceptions respecting man and natureconceptions that at certain periods of time are able to be received and imparted at an extraordinary rate. In other words, things that people could not learn for decades, they can literally learn in days or weeks. But the thing that distinguishes Lyn, and what hes done, is that hes dedicated his life to the idea of providing the means by which the individual can focus on the idea of creativity, that which distinguishes man from beast, and can access directly his individual or her individual creativity and change the world.

Now, this isnt done by some act of individual, arbitrary will. It isnt done in the ways that people normally think at all, and I think Lyn is the best one to express the fact that his notion of human identity is not at all the same idea as that which most people have of what is human. The human identity is not biological. What Einstein represents as a thinker, and I think in a different way what Shelley represented as a thinker, is what Lyn often refers to.

And I only wanted to refer to one element of what Shelley is talking about. Hes speaking here about the difference between reason and imagination. And he says:

According to one mode of regarding those two classes of mental action which are called reason and imagination, the former may be considered as mind contemplating the relations borne by one thought to another, however produced; and the latter, as mind acting upon those thoughts so as to color them with its own light, and composing from them, as from elements, other thoughts, each containing within itself the principle of its own integrity.

That is, imagination is a compositional process of the highest order. When we speak about music, for example, this is the concept that the Mozart Requiem and the Requiem performances that John Sigerson conducted, I think, attempted to convey. That we are capable of inventing something new, and that musical composition is a case of that, that the workthe Requiem in this particular case, of Mozartor the works of Bach, or others, invent something never before seen in the Universe.

They are not recombinations of earlier thoughts. They are not recombinations of earlier physical principles. Its an introduction as a completely new principle, using the imagination. And when that is done, the thing that is done, by introducing this kind of imaginative, creative principle, cannot die. It is immortal. And it is the way in which mankind accesses the principle of immortality which characterizes the Universe itself and the being of the Universe or the Composer of the Universe.

Now, I think whats important about stating that, and thats the best I can state it;Lyn would have I think a better conception of that,but the reason for saying this is that it is from this standpoint that the only efficient method of strategy comes. A discussion about anything lower than that is actually not human, and that matters such as issues, the kind of issues that we tend to be plagued by in the so-called political campaigns are not human. Many of the statements of the kinds of things that people talk about, however validating they seem to be in themselves, are not human statements.

If we start talking about things like police brutality, for example, or the way that most people discuss poverty, for example, or the way that most people discuss other so-called human needs, it is not a human way of discussing it. Youre discussing these things devoid of the imaginative or creative principle, which can be brought to bear as a strategic idea.

Now, what the Chinese have been doing, what Vladimir Putin has been doing, these ways of approaching the idea of strategy, which are congruent with the way in which LaRouche has approached strategy his entire life, this gives us a human economics, a human politics. This is to be contrasted with what we presently have coming from Obama, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and much of what we see through the rest of the world as a whole.

So the intent of what we did with our musical performances was to raise the standard in the United States, raise, if you will, the guidon of reason of humanity, and so, these were not musical performances. This was a form of creative intervention, which was intended to allow, or to set the stage for further development or advancement of the outlook that was expressed, for example, by Vladimir Putin last year at the United Nations, or at the G-20 Summit that the Chinese just hosted at Hangzhou. This is what were doing. This is our approach. This is the way we have, if you will, attempted to reorient political life in the United States. And its the beginning of a set of actions that we will be taking in the future.

So I just wanted to say that, and now we should open up and go to any questions or any statements that people have. And well do our best to answer the questions.

What is the Manhattan Project?

Question: Hi, this A, here in New York. What I wanted to raise to you, Dennis, is running parallel to the building for the audience for the past two weeks or so, where we know that upwards of easily 10,000 leaflets were distributed in New York, with a distribution of the broadsheet, which had also picked up in its massive distribution. So here are two seemingly on one hand parallel operations taking place, yet we have this tremendous turnout and effect in New York.

Can you talk with us about how these two elements are really the same thing, and as well as, where do we go now? With the UN in town, with all the overview that was just provided us, whats our next move forward, lest we rest on what we accomplished this weekend?

Speed: Well, let me just say this. The first thing to remember is that the process thats under way in New York is the Manhattan Project. Lyndon LaRouche created this in the fall of 2014. He saw the initiative and saw the potential, and urged us to work with him, and in the first phases of that work, much of it was not ignoring what he said, making sure that you would go back to the drawing board. You thought you were doing the right thing, you would come back, he would give different advice about it, and what happened with that, as we began to do that, it became rather natural for him, for LaRouche directly, to initiate a process of dialogue with a group of people in New York.

Library of Congress

Now, this was his way of resurrecting Alexander Hamiltons idea of the Presidency of the United States. He recognized that it was necessary to have a Presidential orientation and that there was no President available. And that Obama has to be removed from office, but that the American people had largely, through a failure of nerve and other problems, walked away from this task.

So, Lyn created the dialogue process. The dialogue process led in various ways, for various people to work with LaRouche, and then the various things that happened, whether that be the broadsheet or other matters, were the natural capabilities that became available.

Now, I dont want to be too sequential, because in one sense thats too formal. The truth of the matter is, that were in a situation where the United States needs a future. LaRouche has provided the conception of the United Statess future for decades, but, specifically, and in the context of the Obama Presidency, it became urgently necessary that the fact that Obama must not be President of the United States a single day more, must be emphasized, and re-emphasized. Despite the fact that people, out of despair or cowardice would believe the opposite.

So if you look at whats now just happened: Youve had in July the 28 pages being released; you had the Sept. 9th passage of JASTA, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act; and now you have had many other things that have begun to happen. And now, of course, the prospect or the possibility of Obamas impeachment is being brought to us by Obama himself.

Now the important thing here is to recognize that what LaRouche was saying was possible, and people believed to be impossible, from basically April of 2009, now becomes manifest in its own way, as being the natural course of things! So how come he knew this, when other people didnt know it? This is what we mean by human politics, or the human principle of creativity.

So I would just put it that way, and the issue is not falling back, the issue is different. The issue is people should simply recognize that this had been something that LaRouche said were going to do, said could be done, and were now sitting there with the evidence, if you want to put it that way, of the truth of that principle, and its just a matter of activating other American citizens to take advantage of that fact. Thats what I would say.

Question: Hi Dennis, this is R out in Oregon. Im trying to think about all of this while youre giving the briefing. I wonder, Im just musing to myself, is Obama in check or checkmate? Because if he signed JASTA, hes admitting that hes covered up Saudi complicity for the last eight years. And if he refuses to sign, hes standing down and thumbing his nose at the entire delegation of the Congress of the United States assembled. And neither one of those looks like a promising option for him.

But could you reiterate perhaps, what you opened with, and maybe say something else about Shelley and the creative principle in this situation?

Speed: Well lets just get the thing with Obama straight. Remember that Obama is never checked, because Obama is not deploying as a human being. Obama is deploying as the agent of the British Empire. Now, what has happened is that we have created a certain kind of trap, and since he acts from a bestial standpointhe has a bestial identityhe behaves like a beast. So hes in, in that sense, a position to be taken down, but thats not going to happen unless the American people act. For example, you can not act through the electoral process presently. You can do things, you can address the issue of Obama through the electoral process, in some respects. Not through Trump or through Hillary, but through the process that were conducting. So lets take, for example, the issue of JASTA or some of these other things. Its not that these issues in themselves bring Obama down. Its simply that his nature is revealed. The nature of the British operation that spawned him, controls him, and deploys him. Thats what has happened.

So Obama is not going to give in. Obama is not going to somehow relent. Obamas not going to somehow, say to us, Oh yeah, youre right. Ive got to act like a human being. That isnt going to happen. But what is true is that weve done our job and gotten the country to a certain point, and . . .

Lets just be straightforward: Many of the people who have often been on the phone calls, are no longer really on these phone calls in the same way, because they were either angry, or frustrated by the idea that, when they would ask us to endorse Donald Trump, for example, or other such things, we would say no. We would say, No, because he isnt human. And then they would get mad, because Well, you say Im not voting for a human being, that kind of insults me. Well, but the problem involved is that Donald Trump doesnt really exist, just like Obama doesnt really exist. Youre not dealing with anything human. It doesnt mean that Trump might not say something correct at some point. Or someone else may say it. But the issue of Obama is the British Imperial system and the destruction of what that represents: Its not human.

Now, what Shelley represented and why Lyn emphasized this very, very earlyand hes always emphasized this. If you look at the people Lyn has worked with in politics, and in other fields, theyre always people who distinguish themselves in whatever field as being creative, imaginative minds. And so whether were talking about the violinist Norbert Brainin, the scientist Robert Moon, or were talking about the French Resistance fighter Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, or were talking about Hulan Jack, the former Borough President of Manhattan, or Fred Wills, the former Foreign Minister of Guyana,there are many different people we could cite; the economists, like Taras Muranivsky in Russia; or scientist Pobisk Kuznetsov from Russia; whoever it is that LaRouche has been close to, has distinguished themselves as a fundamentally creative mind, that stand above the practices and actions of many other people in their fields.

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Whats the issue? If you want a President of the United States, a Hamiltonian President of the United States, a President like a Franklin Roosevelt, its got to be that you activate the principle of creativity, and you lead the American people from that standpoint. This doesnt mean youre necessarily popular. But it means youre correct, youre right, and people recognize that, and theyll follow that.

So the issue of Obamano Obamas not in check. Thats obvious: Hes still there. If Obama were in check, he wouldnt be in office. So, no, hes not in check. The point of the thing is that if the American people are willing to dispose of the vampire-like Barack Obama, who is deployed on behalf of a principle of evil, then he can be removed from office. But if youre terrified of the vampire, and you refuse to take the necessary measures, which people all know about, of how you get rid of vampires, then he will continue to do what his nature causes him to do. So this is the important thing to understand: Its his nature for Barack Obama to do what hes doing. You are not going to change that, because he has no inclination to act in a human fashion.

So hes not in check! And every day that goes by that he is still in the Presidency, the entire world is threatened. What happened with Cameron, indicates what could happen with Obama, at any moment, were the American people mobilized behind what Lyn is saying. So I think thats the important thing to understand. And you cannot do that, by merely attempting to quote/unquote vote for the lesser of two evils, be that Trump or Hillary, and there is where the cowardice of a lot of people, including even people in our own networks, continues to be manifest. We tried to address that with the concerts, and I think we did the best we could.

What is Creativity?

Question: Hello, this is L from Michigan. Id say its a pretty big story, David Cameron resigning or getting impeached in the British Parliament or whatever, and I didnt read it anywhere else, except reading it on LaRouche PAC site. How did that happen, how did they come to that conclusion? And what type of evidence is compiled, or can be compiled against Obama, and hows it going to get to all the people, because were not going to be hearing it on the media or the news or radio or anything like that. Wheres the evidence compiled? You know, credible evidence compiled for the impeachment? I know that LaRouche PAC has quite a bit of evidence, but it doesnt seem like its official. Whos going to compile the evidence and bring this, and get the people to understand that this is serious stuff? That these are impeachable crimes? That this is treason being committed by our elected officials?

Speed: The evidence for Barack Obamas impeachment is his existence. Now this is not a problem, and despair is not necessary. We dont have to compile anything! Let me explain why thats true: First of all, Terry Strada and the families of 9/11 have placed, through various assistance that we and others gave, Walter Jones, Senator Graham, many other people, we placed the matter of 9/11, and therefore Benghazi and many other crimes committed after 9/11, squarely in front of the American people. And for example, in the same way that once the Congress decided that it would tell Obama that it would no longer appeal to him to get the 28 pages, but they would simply take the prerogative of congressional action on behalf of the American people, and if necessary read the contents or express the content, on the floor of the Congress without Barack Obama, at that point the 28 pages got released!

Now, it wasnt quite so simple as I just said, but in other words, whereas for years, the supposed assumption was well, weve got to somehow appeal to the President, and if the President deigns to do it, maybe well get the pages from him. But that wasnt the case. It was cowardice that was stopping the pages from being released, and a procedure was not requiredwhat was required was to have the courage, and then the procedure, shall we say, would suddenly appear.

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So this issue of we have to compile the evidence as to why Obama has to be impeachedNo we dont! Everybody in America knows that Obama should be impeached. But they dont have the guts to do it. And thats why people keep running behind one or the other of these candidates and saying, thats my responsibility as an American, Ive got to vote; Ill vote for the lesser of two evils. But thats cowardice: Because the truth of the matter, first of all, is neither of those candidates may even exist on Election Day to be voted for! We dont know whether Hillary Clinton is going to get through this. We dont know whether Donald Trump will get through this. Thats the truth! But one thing we do know, is that Barack Obama is still there!

So the issue for us is that were in a position, right now, to remove Barack Obama. We dont have to do anything other than insist that it must be done, and we do that by two means: One, take things weve already developed in advancetake what were doing, for example, on Glass-Steagall. Thats in front of both Houses of Congress right now. We have, of course, JASTA. And its been made clear, if he tries to go to a veto of that, well, does that show the American people? If the entire Congress has stated that those Saudis or others should be, in fact, held accountable; if Obama tries to stand up against that unanimous will of the American people, how can anyone deny, or doubt, that he clearly stands on the side of the treason against the United States?

So theres no need for us to do the various things that people are claiming they need to do! No! What is needed is, the courage to act in the way LaRouche has insisted ever since April of 2009, and insist that he be removed from office.

Question: Hello, Dennis, this is C from California. My question is the nature of evil and also that the cowardice that youre talking about, is that the empirepeople just are not born evil. They are made evil. One of the ways that its done is to come through the cultural environment, but also through television and the whole culture we have, people literally what they see is not a world that they think that they can deal with, and then they take various avoidancesas you say, cowardice. But its not that the individual person, its not an individual thing. Its actually a psychological manipulation. And people dont remember Trist and these guys; the guy coming out of World War I, that they devoted a science of controlling, let us say, the visualwhen I say the visual I mean, what people see; they dont see the future. They can only see whats there. Can you comment on that?

Speed: OK. Well, yes, there is something called the Tavistock Institute for Human Relations, and yes, theyre the brainwashing process. But the way Lyn talked about this, and had us illustrate it, now maybe twenty-two years ago, was in a thing called The Palmerston Zoo. We gave a panel at one of the conferences, a group of us. And we tried to described how Lord Palmerston had designedusing ideological studiesthe way in which the various elements of humanity in various areas of the world were self-controlled by ideology, by poisonous ideology which people refused to liberate themselves from.

oil portrait (1771) by Anton Graff, University of Leipzig collection

One of the reasons why Lyndon LaRouche has often emphasized the figure of Moses Mendelssohn in the case of Germany, is that Moses Mendelssohn,of course very poor, and Jewish, and limited in various ways,he was from the ghettoassimilated the highest levels of culture, of German culture, but also of other cultures, and became the exemplar, together with Lessing in their joint work with others like Kastner, and others, of what would become the actual modern, European Classical music tradition. It was through the work of Mendelssohn and Lessing, and Kastner and others that Bach, for example, was preserved, creating the essential ability to get to Mozart the knowledge of Bach. The knowledge and the rebirth of the focus on Bach, which came through the Mendelssohn family itself, and Felix Mendelssohn in particular, through his 1829 resurrection of the St. Matthew Passion.

Now, Im citing that merely before Im about to then hit you with the other element, which is, yeah, people are not born evil. But heres the problem: Everyone has a responsibility, individually, as to whether or not they accept being evil! And so, yeah, you may not be born that way, but to simply claim that people are manipulated into being evilNo. No! Thats the whole issue, actually, of the nature of evil in the world.

The individual free will, and this is true for Barack Obama just as its true for everybody else, allows you to make a choice as to whether or not that becomes your identity. In the case of Barack Obama youre dealing with something which may not be pure evil, but it is impure evil. Its like saying, well, Dracula is not born evil. Well, but Dracula is a vampire, hes undead! So, Barack Obamawere talking about the living dead, the undead! So, yes, youre correct that he was perhaps not born evil, but hes something which is unborn.

Were not talking about the simple question of his mother, and the things we said before; that was also highly unfortunate. And yes, people get very nervous when you say these kinds of things, for other reasons which I dont find valid around Barack Obama. But I think whats important, is to recognize that we wouldnt be concerned about him if he didnt hold office, that is, any office, ever, if he had not held office.

But he did. And so, we have to recognize that the problem of one day more of the existence of the so-called Presidency of Barack Obama, is one day more that the human race is held hostage to evil!

So, the real point is, that theres a moral obligation on the part of the rest of us, to stand against that, in a completely and utterly uncompromising way. Thats the issue. Not the fact that the British or others are capable of manipulating that evil against human beings. Our point has to be: We reject the conception that human creativity on the part of each and every one of us does not carry an obligation to fight against evil. And for many people thats their first access to creativity, to say: I will fight against evil, and I will figure out how to defeat it.
PRESS RELEASE

China Brought G20/Win-Win World Development Perspective to the UN Institutions This Week; Hosted a Forum, and Released New Report

Sept. 22, 2016 (EIRNS)On Sept. 19, the eve of the opening of the UN General Assemblys General Debate (presentations by national leaders), China hosted an exceptional event at United Nations headquarters, where Chinas win-win development perspective was put forward to leaders of 16 international organizations. Prime Minister Li Keqiang moderated the roundtable, titled, "The Sustainable Development Goals: A Universal Push to Transform Our WorldChinas Perspective." The occasion marked a new point forward in the advancement for the paradigm of policies of mutual benefit through economic growth, as China promoted at the G20 in Hangzhou earlier this month.

The participants at the event included UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and the heads of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, and many others. Soon afterward, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark signed the first-ever UN agency Memorandum of Understanding with Chinas One Belt One Road project.

Li announced to the gathering that China had released on Monday, its national plan for carrying out the "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," which last years 70th session of the UN General Assembly had adopted as a goal. China is the first nation to issue such a plan, and it lays out commitments for both domestic and international activity for economic growth to succeed worldwide. The Executive Summary of the new plan is explicit about Chinas role:

"With Chinas efforts, G20 has placed the issue of development in a prominent position in its global macro policy framework for the first time, to optimize development policy coordination. It is the first time that G20 members have jointly drafted a collective action plan on the 2030 Agenda to inject political impetus into the global implementation progress on the 2030 Agenda. And it is also the first time that G20 has discussed the issues of Supporting Industrialization in Africa and Least Developed Countries to actively respond to demands of development countries, especially African countries..."

Chinas masterful use of the G20 framework, to further the stated UN goals for ending mass poverty by 2030which the 2015 UN General Assembly adopted as its "Sustainable Development 2030 Agenda"was readily acknowledged by many of the UN agency leaders at the roundtable. After all, Chinas success record on UN goals is clear. Li spoke of how, over the 15 year period of the UNs Millennium Development Goals, "China has lifted over 400 million people out of poverty, reducing the mortality of children under five years old by two thirds, and that of pregnant women by three fourths," Xinhua reported.

It is happily apparent that China has judoed the once odious "sustainable" term, which has been promoted for decades in the green genocide movementespecially since the 1992 UN "Conference on Environment and Development" in Rio de Janeiroto mean undercutting physical development, and deterring population growth, i.e., creating conditions for people to die.

Instead, China is using "sustainable" in its new plan and G20 role this year, to signify advancement of science, economic, social and cultural activitythe necessary conditions for "sustainability" of a growing population and universe.
PRESS RELEASE

Hand-to-Hand Combat Heightens in Battle To Make JASTA Law, Now

Sept. 22, 2016 (EIRNS)Leaders of the 9/11 families continued their aggressive lobbying on Capitol Hill on Thursday, holding non-stop meetings with offices in the Senate and the House, with the message: Ensure the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA) bill becomes law immediately, over a President Obama veto, if required. Their pressure is being backed up by calls into Congress from constituents around the country, joined by voices of local newspapers, such as the Jacksonville Journal Courier, telling Congress to override a veto.

An overwhelming, bipartisan Congressional override of an Obama veto of JASTA would be a given, were this merely a domestic U.S. fight. But JASTA is a life-and-death issue for the United States Anglo-Saudi enemies, as the British Daily Telegraph made explicit in its June 6, 2016 article declaring that JASTA "is a threat to Britain and its intelligence agencies."

Saudi lobbyists held a crisis meeting on Monday on how to head-off JASTA becoming law, and top White House officials met the next day to do the same, the New York Times reported today. White House press spokesman Josh Earnest reiterated, this Thursday afternoon, that Obama will veto JASTA by the Friday deadline, even as the The Hill featured a story about Democratic Congressmen cringing over the damage this Obama veto will wreak upon the Democrats in the upcoming election. Barack Obama is not a Democrat, but a British agent.

The New York Times article, titled "Fight Between Saudis and 9/11 Families Escalates in Washington," put the fight this way:

"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 Saudis had already spent $5 million this past year "to buy influence in Washington," the Times reported. Now they have hired former Senators John B. Breaux (D) and Norm Coleman (R) to lobby against an override, and added "top PR firm" Sphere Consultinga firm which brags that it specializes in taking "aggressive approaches to crisis situations," most notably for its Wall Street clients fighting criminal charges"to their already high-powered mix of lobbyists and consultants, including the Podesta Group, DLA Piper, Hogan Lovells and the BGR Group."

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud had the chutzpah to call for the United Nations to join in fighting the adoption of JASTA, which he denounced as "a serious threat to the sovereign rights ... a breach of principles established in international law," in his Sept. 21 address to the UN General Assembly.

The European Union backed up the Saudis, sending a scandalous "demarche" to the State Department, which called upon the White House "to act in order to prevent the JASTA bill from becoming law," and, if it does become law, "to act to obtain the stay of proceedings as required" should the law effect "State sovereign immunity." Helga LaRouche commented that for the EU to complain about a loss of sovereignty is a bad joke, given the EUs systematic destruction of its members sovereignty.

Saudi lobbyists made that EU "demarche" public this week, and circulated the widely-reported "open letter" issued by former security/defense officials writing of unnamed dire consequences, "chilling effects," etc., should the law be enacted, according to the New York Times. Lawyers Jack Quinn and Sean Carter, representing the 9/11 families, responded immediately with a letter to the Congress, the Times reported. Their message:

"It is increasingly apparent that these false reciprocity arguments reflect nothing more than a desire to protect the Saudis from having to answer the legitimate claims of the 9/11 families, whose loved ones were murdered on September 11, 2001." As of this writing, the Senate leadership is set to call a vote to override an Obama veto before the Congressional recess, and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has said that

"if they pass it, then its going to come over here and well pass it.... I do think the votes are there for the override."

But as American statesman Lyndon LaRouche admonished today, "It is clear we have to be a countervailing force" against the British empire forces, and succeed; this is a time when we can win.
PRESS RELEASE

Some Fightback in South Korea vs. THAAD

Sept. 22, 2016 (EIRNS)The Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly asked the government to bring the issue of U.S. deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to the Assembly, "as it is a state affair of great importance," according to Xinhua. Speaker Chung Sye-kyun told a press conference that such an issue should be discussed between the government and the parliament, although President Park Geun-hye has maintained that it needs no parliamentary ratification.

The Assembly will have to finance the purchase of the site for the THAAD once a site is determined, giving them some leverage.

Speaker Chung said the South Korean governments lack of communications with its own people and neighboring countries caused troubles domestically and diplomatically, which can damage national interests, as reported in Xinhua.

President Park Geun-hyes vision of Koreas participation in the now unfolding development of Eurasia, has been severely undermined by her capitulation to Obamas demand that the THAAD system be deployed, although it is clear that the system is useless against North Korea, and is only aimed at Obamas encirclement of Russia and China with a gargantuan war preparation.
Comic-Con International 2016 - Preview Night (Photo : Getty Images)

In October 2015, there were reports that Uber drivers in China deliberately went offline to create artificial shortages and jack up fare in key Chinese cities.



The latest scam involves Halloween with Uber drivers sporting zombie makeup to scare passengers. Upon seeing the scary profile photos of the Uber drivers, some passengers back out of the deal and cancel which gives the driver the right to charge them a cancellation fee ranging from 8 to 15 yuan.



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The scam has been reported in Tianjin, Qingdao, Xiamen, Beijing, Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Suzhou, according to NBD News.



For passengers who were not scared by the ghost or zombie makeup of their ride-hailing drivers, they complained that the drivers started their trips on the app before they rode the vehicle which added a few yuan to their fare, Quartz reported. Another scam is for the driver to cancel the trip which means the passenger has to pay the Uber driver a few yuan, adding in turn to the number of trips made by the driver, pointed out Sixth Tone.



The gouging by drivers could be because of the reduction of their subsidies provided by Uber before to use the ride-hailing platform. It used to be up to 300 yuan for every 30 trips and 400 yuan for every 40 trips but was reduced in June. By having shorter but more trips, Uber drivers stand to earn more than having longer trips.



Zhuang Chunhi, from the public relations department of Uber China, said the company is working to stop those anomalous transactions. The transport firm is collecting all kinds of evidence against erring drivers and would pass it on to the public security department.



Zhuang added that cab riders fleeced by abusive Uber drivers should report the incident to customer service so they could be refunded their fare.






WIESBADEN, Sept. 22, 2016 (EIRNS)German Gen. Herald Kujat (ret.), former chairman of the NATO Military Committee (2002-05), told Bild-Zeitung yesterday:

"Currently, there is not only a war being waged with weapons, but also of words. Obviously in Washington, the agreed-upon cooperation with Russia in Syria organized by Secretary of State Kerry, has not been met with unanimous support. There is therefore the appearance that the Kremlin is being made responsible for the attack on the aid convoy, even though so far, there is no concrete evidence."

"Both of the tragic events of the last days are thus strong arguments for the implementation of the agreement between the United States and Russiaand not against it."

Bild continued, "Kujats assessment is that tighter military cooperation of both countries would make it possible to move forward with the fight against the Islamist terror groups in Syria and resume the peace discussions."
In February this year the authorities in Bangladesh took Shamsuzzoha Manik, a 73-year-old publisher, into custody for publishing a book titled Islam Bitorko (Debate on Islam). His arrest and the shutting down of his stall marked a sour moment in the nations largest book fair, Ekushey Boi Mela, held annually at Bangla Academy in honor of the International Mother Language Day. While the book, deemed to be offensive to Islam, has been taken out of circulation, seven months later the publisher remains behind bars.

Maniks imprisonment adds to a series of recent attacks on freedom of expression in the country, which have included a number of killings perpetrated by extremist groups. There are laws that allow the government to ban or confiscate any publication that may be considered blasphemous. The law extends to any form of publication  in print or online  and led to the arrest of four bloggers in 2013 for hurting religious sentiments with their blog posts. Self and state-censorship coupled with lack of protection for writers at risk have meant free speech and freedom to publish are in dire straits.

Bangladesh is not unique in facing the threat of terrorism, which is now a global issue, but it is sadly the only country where writers and publishers are specifically on the hit lists of the killers.

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Free speech in the country, however, is not new to scrutiny and undermining. In 1973, poet Daud Haider was taken into protective custody after one of his poems  critical of religious beliefs  brought him death threats. Two months later Haider was asked to leave the country and consequently became a stateless person in neighboring India, until he managed to leave for Germany where he resides to this day. During his exile, some of the great American writers, including Susan Sontag, Kurt Vonnegut and Sharon Olds, supported his case.

Throughout the 90s, there have been several others who faced various degrees of intimidation and threats for speaking and writing their views, most notably Taslima Nasreen, a writer in exile with a number of her books banned in the country; and one of the leading Bangla poets, Shamsur Rahman, who was attacked in his home in early 1999.

It was, however, a fatal attack on Humayun Azad, a well-known writer and a professor of Dhaka University, which proved to be a turning point in the nature of threats against writers in Bangladesh. This was in February 2004, and machetes came out against the pen. Five years before the attack on Azad, Ahmed Sharif, another scholar of Bangla literature, had died after leading a peaceful life, in spite of his many controversial remarks on Islam. Azad and Sharif may have had similarly outspoken atheist views, but their fates were so different in the end.

So what had changed between the 90s and the early 2000s? Apart from the increasing Islamist intolerance in the country, which was helped by a new government in power with strong alliance with the Islamic fundamentalists, a spate of Bangladeshi writers found the blogosphere a wonderful space to express their views. Bloggers felt a sense of freedom online to participate in conversations spanning all kinds of topics, ranging from cultural to socio-political. One of the Internet communities of free thinkers and rationalists that gained early popularity was Mukto-Mona, founded in 2001 by Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-American online activist. In February 2015 Roy was hacked to death during the Ekushey Boi Mela.

Today that space is rapidly shrinking. Bloggers in Bangladesh face a twofold blow: a draconian Internet law that can be used by the authorities against them at any time, and the ominous threats from extremist groups that monitor the blogs and social media networks. Those threats extended to an array of independent publishing houses that were born in the last decade.

Authorities with the body of Faisal Arefin Deepan, a secular publisher killed in a 2015 machete attack at his office. (A.M. Ahad / Associated Press )

Among the new generation of publishers, Ahmedur Rashid Tutul, who survived a brutal machete attack in his Dhaka office in 2015, is now in exile in Norway. At a round table jointly organized by English PEN and PEN International this summer in London, Tutul expressed his concerns for the safety of handful of remaining publishers that would publish critical, noncommercial books. Since the loss of Faisal Arefin Dipon, a publisher who was hacked to death on the same day Tutul was attacked, the publishing community are not willing to take risks and writers, too, are aware of either not choosing or avoiding certain topics that may be considered sensitive. In essence, the environment for independent publishing is sadly not there anymore, Tutul said.

The attacks on the bloggers and publishers have also affected Dhaka Literary Festival (previously Hay Festival Dhaka), of which Im one of the three directors. Now in its sixth year and the largest international literary gathering in Bangladesh, the festival  a nonprofit entity  doesnt require tickets for entry. The idea is to encourage the younger generation to attend and be part of the dialogues and panels that are programmed both in Bangla and English. In support of the event, leading writers and journalists came from all over the world to the capital, Dhaka.

But in 2015, the festival had to cope with 19 international speakers pulling out at the last minute, all citing security fears. Travel advisories issued by foreign embassies and high commissions had strongly recommended not traveling to Bangladesh. Those international travel advisories have grown more severe since the July 1 attack in the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe. It was the worst terrorist attack in Bangladeshs history: five militants killed 20 hostages, which included 18 foreigners, and two policemen. Situated in an affluent neighborhood of the city, the cafe was popular with the expat community. The attack, soon claimed by Islamic State, was clearly targeted at foreigners. It is inevitable that the travel advisories, since July, are stating the possibility of further terrorist attacks in the country.

Although a similar threat level applies to many European cities, Dhaka  by virtue of its location and being a relatively unknown quantity among the worlds capitals  is prone to suffer significantly more. In the short run, it has become a less attractive destination for foreign investors and visitors. Like last year, it will possibly affect the number of international speakers attending the Dhaka Literary Festival in November. To expect writers to be any more courageous than others would be unfair. However, in spite of the assurance of state-level security, it remains a struggle to convince some of the writers to come to Dhaka. On this point, it is important to note that to this date no terrorist attack in Bangladesh has breached even minimal state-level security, something that cannot be said about many of the Western cities that suffered in recent times.

Not surprisingly, there have been calls to postpone or cancel the literary festival this year. The local literary community members feel stifled but they are keen to come together, as they realize the need for hosting such events is now higher than ever. The festival stands as one of the few creative and intellectual spaces for literary expression in the country, and the only one curated with an international program. Last year, in spite of the cancellations, 51 writers and journalists from 14 countries attended the festival, along with local writers, some of whose names have been on the hit list as declared by the killers.

Nonetheless, the literary conversations need to be happening throughout the year, and without fear.

On a positive note, the government has pledged its support, as it did last year, to ensure a smooth running of the festival in November. In addition, since the July 1 attack, we have seen commendable efforts to root out extremist groups, including successful raids, and measures to strengthen domestic security. These are highly applaudable steps, though one hopes the government would take a similar attitude with regards to free speech and freedom to publish in the country.

For now the price for those remains ridiculously high: imprisonment or death.

Ahsan Akbar is a writer and director of Dhaka Literary Festival. He divides his time between Dhaka and London, and is currently at work on a novel. Twitter: @kobial
Noted investor Warren Buffett once warned that investing in airlines was a death trap.

He may be rethinking his view on the airline industry now that the trade group for the worlds carriers has predicted that the industry will pocket a record $39.4 billion this year.

Alexandre de Juniac, director-general of the International Air Transport Assn., told a gathering in Singapore pn Thursday that the $39.4 billion in net profit for 2016 represents the second year in a row that the industry will generate a return on investment higher than 9%.

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It seems that we are living in extraordinary financial times, he said.

By comparison, the airline industry reported $5 billion in combined profit in 2006, with a return on investment of 4.7%, according to the IATA.

De Juniac attributed the robust earnings to lower fuel costs and resilient demand from air travelers. Jet fuel prices in the U.S. have dropped more than 50% in the last two years.

De Juniac noted that 60% of the worlds airline profit are generated by U.S. carriers.

But he warned that the industrys good times could come crashing down if fuel prices surge or an act of terrorism kills demand for air travel.

These are realistic  if not pleasant  questions, he said. I am not making any predictions by asking them. But they should point us in the direction of vigilance.

Airline critics, including passenger advocates, say airlines have not set aside enough of their earnings to lower fares and increase legroom for economy travelers.

For example, Flyersrights.org, a nonprofit passenger rights group, has collected nearly 35,000 signatures on a petition that asks, among other changes, that Congress impose a minimum legroom standard on all U.S. carriers.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter

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Paula Schneider, the chief executive tasked with turning around American Apparel Inc.'s flagging business, is leaving, according to two sources close to the company.

Chelsea Grayson, the companys general counsel and chief administrative officer, will take the reins as CEO on Oct. 3  opening yet another chapter for the Los Angeles clothier that has been wracked by turmoil in recent years.

American Apparel also recently saw the departure of Chairman Paul Charron, a former CEO of Liz Claiborne who had joined the board in March. He was succeeded by fellow board member Brad Scher, founder of consulting firm Ocean Ridge Capital Advisors.

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Schneiders exit comes as American Apparel is looking for possible buyers, said the two sources, one of whom was not authorized to comment and the other of whom did not want to publicly discuss a sensitive matter. The company has hired Houlihan Lokey, a Los Angeles investment firm, to explore a possible sale.

Schneider, a longtime retail executive, was brought on in January 2015 after American Apparels board ousted founder Dov Charney as chairman and CEO. She intended to bring order to a company saddled with debt and losing money. Over her nearly two-year tenure, American Apparel filed for bankruptcy protection and was taken private.

A source close to the company said Schneider is leaving for personal reasons. But in her resignation letter to the board, obtained by Womens Wear Daily, Schneider said selling the company may hamper its turnaround efforts.

The sale process currently underway for all or part of the company may not enable us to pursue the course of action necessary for the plan to succeed nor allow the brand to stay true to its ideals, Schneiders letter said. Therefore, after much deliberation, and with a heavy heart, Ive come to the conclusion it is time for me to resign as CEO.

Scher sought to reassure employees that Schneiders departure would not affect the companys day-to-day operations, according to a letter to workers obtained by The Times.

Business will continue as usual, he wrote. You will keep your current salary, and at the same hours. Everyone will come to work, do their jobs and get paid on payday.

Grayson, the incoming CEO, joined American Apparel nearly two years ago, at the same time as Schneider. Her background is on the legal side of mergers and acquisitions, not retail. In his letter, Scher described Grayson as having a deep understanding of the business.

American Apparel still manufactures all its clothes in the United States, mostly in downtown L.A. But according to two sources close to the company, it is looking to move that work to a lower-cost part of the nation such as Tennessee or North or South Carolina.

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Why do customers flock to one dress and ignore another? Stores turn to heat mapping to figure out.
When Combatant Gentlemen opened its first permanent location in Santa Monica Place in July, the store had many elegant touches: a sleek design, spacious fitting rooms, even an on-site tailor.

It also boasted a modern tool invisible to the average shopper: cameras equipped with heat mapping software.

The Irvine-based menswear company hoped the extra data on the movements of its shoppers would give its first bricks-and-mortar shop an edge. And indeed, over two months, heat mapping has found that Southern California guys flock to cotton suits  a sharp contrast to Combatant Gentlemens online customers, who mostly gravitated toward wool items, said Vishaal Melwani, chief executive.

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When those suits were moved to the front of the store, he said, they started selling like hotcakes.

Heat mapping, which at its most basic uses video images to visually illustrate the location and density of people, is becoming an increasingly sophisticated tool for retailers. Combatant Gentlemen is among the hordes of merchants adopting heat maps to better understand how customers shop in bricks-and-mortar stores and add more allure to the in-store experience.

Now mobile phones, ceiling sensors and even weight-sensing shelves help create richer and more nuanced snapshots of customer behavior; that additional data, on top of shopper movements, allow for increasingly detailed heat maps. (Heat mapping refers to hot and cold zones for customer activity, not actual body heat.)

We can tell which ones are getting touched a lot, what stuff is touched but not selling.  Cliff Crosbie, senior vice president of Prism Skylabs

Some firms are even combining heat maps with facial analytics to parse out which displays or products appealed to what slice of customers by determining age and gender.

There is so much tremendous interest in this tracking, because stores are essentially flying blind, said Chris Petersen, chief executive of retail consulting firm Integrated Marketing Solutions. They dont have all the bread crumbs you leave on a website.

Thats become especially important as once-dominant retail chains see their customers turn to online rivals. In the second quarter, e-commerce sales jumped 15.8% compared with the same period a year ago; retail sales overall grew only 2.3%, according to the Census Bureau. Mall anchors such as Macys, Nordstrom and Sears have been struggling.

For technology firms that supply the software and cameras, heat mapping is becoming a big business.

Prism Skylabs has raised $24 million in funding since launching in 2011. The San Francisco start-up, which primarily works with retailers, installs cameras with heat mapping software and provides analytical services.

Cliff Crosbie, senior vice president of global retail for Prism, said many retailers come with a specific problem in mind. One furniture company wanted to know how many people sat on what kind of sofas. A sportswear company was eager to learn which shoes on a wall were grabbing shopper interest.

We can tell which ones are getting touched a lot, what stuff is touched but not selling, Crosbie said, which helps retailers zero in on specific problems. Maybe the price is too high. Maybe the quality is not good. Maybe you dont have a size 5 in stock.

Over five years, Prism has attracted more than 350 retail customers in 80 countries. The company makes money by charging a licensing fee for every camera it installs. It charges extra for additional analysis of the data.

Some companies have seen immediate results from using heat mapping technology.

Two years ago, San Francisco candy chain Lolli and Pops rolled out a new box of assorted sweets  which initially flopped, said Marc Schwarzbart, vice president of inventory management and technology.

Many retailers would assume that either the product was a failure or that the price was too high. But by examining heat maps, Lolli and Pops discovered that fewer than 10% of shoppers were walking past the display holding those candies; a table was partially blocking that path.

After the table was moved a few feet, foot traffic rose to more than 30% of shoppers. We saw a dramatic increase in sales, Schwarzbart said. It never had anything to do with the product or the price.

Such data can be used to inform merchandising decisions, which have traditionally been based on employee experience and gut instinct, Schwarzbart said. The company is trying to figure out what to do with the front portion of its stores  the heat maps proved they tend to be a dead zone because most shoppers do not veer immediately left or right when walking into a store.

Its something we are still testing and debating: whether its a space you almost give up on and you put products [that are] so specific in need that people who want it will find it, he said. The competing view is you put a product so popular up there, once people dont find it elsewhere in the store they will find it there.

Heat mapping technology is rapidly improving, analysts said. When combined with analytics software, it can uncover a surprising amount of data about shoppers.

Cisco uses weight-sensing shelves and cameras equipped with mirrors to help track the entire life cycle of a product, from its placement among a row of goods all the way to the cash register, said Shaun Kirby, chief technology officer of Cisco Consulting Services.

The technology giant is also working with start-ups, including one that calculates shopper demographics by looking at their feet, Kirby said.

Just by looking at the make and style of the shoe, he said, this company can tell to within 70% accuracy the age range and gender of the shopper.

Other companies are focusing on faces, which is even more telling.

Earlier this month, Kairos rolled out software that analyzes facial movements to determine feelings  translating into a specific emotional readout for retailers, said Stefanie Genauer, Kairos chief revenue officer.

An in-store display, for example, can hold a customers attention for several minutes, Genauer said, but its difficult to determine their reaction  until now.

Somebody could be there and not have a positive feeling, she said. Was there joy or surprise? Or was it this is disgusting. I dont like this at all.

Combatant Gentlemen has combined heat maps with radio-frequency identification tags in all its clothes, giving the company a detailed picture over time of what products are selling, what items are being tried on and abandoned, which racks are luring customers and which arent.

By using the technology in several pop-up stores, Combatant Gentlemen found that West Coast customers, for example, like to put together their own outfits, while East Coast shoppers tend to buy an entire outfit as displayed on the mannequin.

Those insights, Melwani said, will be applied in designing the four shop-in-shops inside Bloomingdales that the brand is opening this fall, including one at South Coast Plaza.

As a young company, you have to be able to do this quickly, Melwani said. Bigger companies use merchandise planners. We dont have the money for that.

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Early analysis of debris and data from SpaceXs launch pad explosion suggests that a large breach took place in the cryogenic helium system of the rockets second-stage liquid oxygen tank, the space company said Friday.

The Hawthorne space company said it still has not determined the root of the incident and that all plausible causes are being investigated.

We will work to resume our manifest as quickly as responsible once the cause of the anomaly has been identified by the Accident Investigation Team, SpaceX said in a statement on its website. Pending the results of the investigation, we anticipate returning to flight as early as the November timeframe.

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SpaceX said it has ruled out any connection between the explosion three weeks ago and the June 2015 disintegration of a rocket laden with supplies for the International Space Station, an incident that was blamed on a failed strut assembly in the Falcon 9s second stage that was holding down a helium tank.

But the news Friday means the company should take a careful look at the second stage of its rockets, said Marco Caceres, senior space analyst at the Teal Group, an aerospace and defense market research firm.

Theres a pattern, he said. It wasnt the same thing, but theres a pattern of things going wrong with a certain part of your rocket.

The fiery failure that occurred at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is being investigated by SpaceX, with participation from NASA, the U.S. Air Force and other industry experts. It is being overseen by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Getting back to flight safely and reliably is our top priority, SpaceX said on its website. The data gathered from the present investigation will result in an even safer and more reliable vehicle for our customers and partners.

SpaceX has said its launch schedule is filled with 70 missions worth more than $10 billion.

The explosion destroyed a Falcon 9 rocket and a communications satellite set to launch Sept. 3. SpaceX said the incident occurred while the rocket was being fueled ahead of a routine pre-launch static test fire.

Two weeks ago, company Chief Executive Elon Musk described the launch pad explosion in a tweet as the most difficult and complex failure the company has ever had. He said at the time that the rockets engines were not on.

On Friday, SpaceX said inspections of the companys Space Launch Complex 40, where the explosion occurred, show that substantial areas of the launch pad were affected.

However, the Falcon support building adjacent to the pad, as well as the tanks and plumbing that hold the super-chilled liquid oxygen and kerosene fuel farm were unaffected.

The launch pads control systems were also found to be in relatively good condition, SpaceX said.

The state of the launch pad is good news for the company since important systems werent affected, Caceres said.

SpaceX said the modifications to its alternate launch pad at Cape Canaveral are still set to finish in November, and Caceres said he expected the company to launch from there.

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

For more business news, follow me @smasunaga

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1:10 p.m.: This article was updated with comment from an analyst and additional detail about the investigation.

This article was originally published at 12:35 p.m.
Curtis Jeter recalls fearing for his future when his new landlord told him he must move from his South Los Angeles apartment because the building in the gentrifying neighborhood would no longer be for rent.

In early August, when Los Angeles developer CIM Group offered the West Adams resident $8,000 if he left his rent-controlled unit within 30 days, Jeter quickly signed a buyout agreement.

Hed have to leave anyway, he figured, and better some money than none. The cash would pay for storage, give him time to find a place and, eventually, put down a deposit on a new apartment.

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What Jeter didnt know was he didnt have to go anywhere. And if CIM eventually did make the required legal filing to demolish the building or perhaps convert the units into condos, hed get much more: specifically, $19,700 and the option to live there for another year.

Now, the 63-year-old retiree who relies on Social Security said the $8,000 is running low and he has yet to find a permanent home.

I knew I would be OK for two months and two months is almost up, he said. I didnt know I had the right to get anything else.

CIM did not respond to a request for comment. But tenant advocates say Jeters story is increasingly common in a red-hot Los Angeles real estate market, where property owners look to speed rehabs or redevelopments of rent-controlled properties by ridding them of long-term tenants who pay far below market rent and have strong protections against eviction.

The practice, known as cash for keys, is sparking street protests and action from the Los Angeles City Council, which this week approved a plan to crack down on the practice, which can be unethical if not illegal.

Many renters dont realize theyre not required to sign the agreements and they can often get much more money and time if they wait for landlords to formally file to remove their units from the rental market. That kicks in protections under the states Ellis Act, which allows tenants to stay four months to a year longer, depending on their age. They are also due required relocation payments that range from $7,600 to $19,700, an amount determined by the length of tenancy, age and any disabilities.

Until that notice is filed, tenants of rent-controlled buildings cannot be evicted as long they pay rent, follow their lease and dont damage or use their unit for illegal purposes. They can not be forced out for renovations.

By contrast, tenants of buildings not under rent control can be told to leave in 30 or 60 days.

Tenant groups contend that unethical landlords are even using the threat of an eviction to coerce a buyout, only to turn around and re-rent the units at a higher price after renovations. The Ellis Act prohibits units taken off the market following evictions from being rented again for five years, but that prohibition does not apply to buyouts.

We are seeing this [buyouts] primarily to re-rent, said tenant-rights attorney Elena Popp.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter 

The nature of L.A.s rent control law, which primarily applies to multifamily buildings built before October 1978, means big bucks are at stake for both tenants and landlords.

When a tenant first moves in, landlords can charge as much as they want, but annual increases are limited, currently to 3%. Comparatively, average L.A. rents rose 11.5% to $2,278 last year  even including rent-controlled units, according to real estate firm Zillow.

That spread means long-time tenants can pay far below market rent, and in todays drum-tight market may have to pay two to three times more for a new apartment  a disparity that quickly saps even Ellis-mandated relocation fees.

Larry Gross, executive director of Coalition for Economic Survival, said low-income residents often dont know their rights and get offered less than they are owed under Ellis, if anything at all.

They get screwed, he said.

Tenant groups say buyouts are becoming more common. Though there is no data on how often they occur, over the last three years as Ellis evictions soared, half of the nearly 2,700 units landlords removed were vacant, according to city records.

Our concern is those tenants were either coerced out or bought out, Gross said. We assume this is just the tip of the iceberg.

On Tuesday evening, around 40 advocates and residents fighting to stay in their homes marched down Beverly Boulevard in Koreatown to protest buyouts in the area. To chants such as Tenants and neighbors under attack, what do we do? Fight back! Fight Back! passing cars honked in approval.

Landlords and their representatives will lie to you and tell you that you have to accept the voluntary vacate or cash for keys, a member of the L.A. Tenants Union bellowed into a microphone. You have rights.... Dont sign, dont move and dont take the money.

You have rights.... Dont sign, dont move and dont take the money.  L.A. Tenants Union member

Sometimes landlords or management companies revert to strong-arm tactics to coerce tenants to sign, especially immigrant residents who speak only Spanish, alleged Trinidad Ruiz, a protester and member of the tenants union.

They are believing everything these people are saying, Ruiz said. What they say is, We are going to turn off your power, we are going to call immigration on you. 

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council took action to help such tenants, voting to have the city attorney draft an ordinance to require landlords to file buyout agreements with the city and inform tenants of their rights when offering such deals.

The ordinance would allow tenants to change their minds within 30 days of accepting a buyout. If a landlord fails to notify tenants of their rights, the buyout could be negated at any time, with owners subject to prosecution or a civil suit from tenants.

The Apartment Assn. of Greater Los Angeles said it supports the notifications, but opposes the proposal over fears that individual buyout agreements would be public once filed with the city.

Harassment absolutely should not be taking place and people should know their rights, said spokesman Fred Sutton. But public disclosure of private agreements is concerning.

The proposed ordinance still must return to the Council for final approval.

Tenant advocate Gross said the measure would help tremendously, though its not a cure-all.

There is still room to get around this if a tenant doesnt know their rights, Gross said.

Teresa Cedillo, 48, who had joined the Tuesday protest, said she was one of those tenants.

She signed a $10,000 buyout agreement in May after she said she was harassed and told different explanations for what would happen to the rent-controlled unit shes called home for 16 years. She said a representative of her new landlord first told her she had to pay for renovations if she didnt sign, and later that the building would be demolished.

I signed it because every day, she was showing up at my door, said Cedillo, who pays about $630 for the single unit she shares with her son. I felt desperate, so I signed it.

At the moment, Cedillo still lives at the East Hollywood unit and is working with Popp to get more money. You have to sign or the sheriff will evict you, Popp said Cedillo was told.

Gary Goren, co-owner of Cedillos building, said hes offering buyouts so he can renovate a run-down property, calling Cedillo and Popps version of events totally false.

He said he told tenants, including Cedillo, that they didnt have to accept a buyout, though he acknowledged he wasnt present every time his representatives discussed the issue.

Its all about the money, he said, contending that Cedillo was very happy with the buyout until an attorney arrived.

But Cedillo said she doesnt know where she will go. Similar units nearby are going for $1,200  $570 more than her current home.

If she rented one of those, her current buyout money would be exhausted in about 18 months.

Ive been looking, but I cant find anything because its so expensive, Cedillo said in Spanish.

andrew.khouri@latimes.com

Follow me @khouriandrew on Twitter

Times staff writer Ben Poston contributed to this report.

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Pressure mounted on Wells Fargo & Co. Friday following its fake-accounts scandal, as the bank faced new calls to allow affected customers to file lawsuits and for the board of directors to rescind the pay of a key senior executive.

The demands came just one day after Chief Executive John Stumpf resigned from a Federal Reserve advisory panel.

Senators had pushed for Stumpf not to be reappointed, saying it was inappropriate for someone who presided over improper sales tactics to be giving advice to an agency involved with bank regulation.

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Stumpf has been under intense fire since the bank this month agreed to pay $185 million to settle investigations by Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency into an aggressive sales culture that led bank employees to open as many as 2 million accounts that customers didnt authorize.

The Justice Department is investigating possible criminal charges, and some senators have called for a Labor Department investigation into whether the bank failed to pay employees overtime when they worked late nights and weekend to meet sales quotas.

A group of Senate Democrats continued to attack Wells Fargo on Friday, publicly calling on Stumpf to stop enforcing mandatory arbitration clauses in the agreements for customer accounts that were not authorized.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) had pressed Stumpf on the matter at a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing Tuesday, arguing that it was unfair not to allow those customers the ability to file lawsuits against the bank.

Stumpf said at the time that he would have to talk to my legal team.

Brown said Friday that he and his colleagues want relief for bank customers and more answers from Wells Fargo.

If Wells Fargo really does want to look out for the customers, if they really are in fact sorry, as the CEO said, for these unauthorized accounts, they ought to let the court system work if these people who were wronged want to bring suit, he said.

The Democrats sent a letter to Stumpf on Friday, requesting more information about the arbitration clauses, including how many customer complaints about fake accounts were forced into arbitration proceedings.

Brown was among those writing to Stumpf, along with Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Richard Durbin of Illinois, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Al Franken of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

A spokeswoman for Wells Fargo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Also on Friday, an activist investment group that is part of the Change to Win union federation wrote to Wells Fargos board, asking it to rescind at least part of the compensation earned by the executive who oversaw the employees who opened unauthorized customer accounts.

The letter from CtW Investment Group, which is a Wells Fargo shareholder, adds to the pressure on the bank to claw back some of the approximately $100 million earned by Carrie Tolstedt, the companys former head of community banking.

Wells Fargos stock has declined by about 8% since the settlement was announced on Sept. 8.

On Thursday, five senators called for Stumpf not to be reappointed to the Federal Advisory Council, a 12-member body that meets four times a year with the Feds Board of Governors to discuss banking and economic matters.

Stumpf had represented the Feds San Francisco district, where Wells Fargo is based, since 2015.

He made a personal decision to resign and notified the Fed on Thursday, Wells Fargo spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn said.

His top priority is leading Wells Fargo, she said.

Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, organized the letter to the head of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco asking that Stump not be reappointed to the advisory council when his term expires on Dec. 31.

It would be ironic if the Federal Reserve, a key federal banking regulator tasked in part with ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of consumers in financial transactions, continued to receive special insights and recommendations from senior management of a financial institution that just paid a record-breaking fine to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for unfair and abusive practices that placed consumers at financial risk, they wrote.

The letter also was signed by Warren and Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, both of Oregon.

Their call was backed by Fed Up, a coalition of labor, community and liberal activist groups that has pushed to reduce the influence of bankers on Federal Reserve policies.

Commercial banks already have too much influence within the Federal Reserve System, the coalition said Thursday. The coalition also asked its members to sign a petition calling for Stumps immediate dismissal from the advisory panel.

Stumpf, as the CEO of a bank accused of unfair and abusive practices, should have no role advising the Federal Reserves Board of Governors on policies affecting working families, Fed Up said.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

Follow @JimPuzzanghera on Twitter

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UPDATES:

12:35 p.m.: This article has been updated with comments from Sen. Sherrod Brown.

11:05 a.m.: This article has been revised throughout and updated with information about a letter from Senate Democrats asking Wells Fargo to stop enforcing mandatory arbitration clauses in the agreements for customer accounts that were not authorized.

10:15 a.m.: This article has been updated with information about a request to reduce the compensation of Carrie Tolstedt, Wells Fargos former head of community banking.

This article was originally published at 9:50 a.m.
The moment is shrouded in secrets.

Cuban artist Belkis Ayons family home sits on a quiet street of central Havana, the charm of the house belying the mysteries of her death. White shutters open to leafy banana trees and crowing roosters. A warm, mango-scented breeze wafts through the central hallway, which is lined with the artists storied prints.

But a certain heaviness also flows through the house. In 1999, at just 32, one of the most important Cuban artists of the decade shot herself in the head with her fathers gun. Ayon didnt leave a suicide note, but she did leave behind a prolific body of work that explores the dark mythology of Abakua, an all-male, Afro-Cuban secret society not unlike the Masons.

Today, three generations of Ayons family live here, looking after her oeuvre. In the living room, Ayons sister and niece talk about the enormous unframed prints that are nearly as tall as the wall theyre tacked to. The haunting black-and-white artworks will travel for an exhibition at the Fowler Museum at UCLA opening Oct. 2; but on this humid May afternoon, the works are on view for visitors to the house who seem equally drawn to and frightened by the imagery. The prints are teeming with graphic renderings of snakes and fish and goats; dark silhouettes and ghostly-white figures with oblong heads and empty, almond-shaped eyes take part in Abakua rites and rituals.

The work is powerful but can be scary too, Ayons older sister, Katia Ayon Manso, says in Spanish through a translator. The clean precision in the lines and the high level of her work reveal the mastery she reached in printmaking.

Ayon was a pioneer of large-scale printmaking and collography, a complex, labor-intensive technique using intricately collaged cardboard plates. She rose in the contemporary art world in the 1990s, a period of dire poverty in Cuba after the fall of the Soviet Union, when supplies for artists were hard to come by. Her innovative, multi-paneled works boldly mine the insular brotherhood of Abakua through a distinctly feminist lens and offer veiled commentary on contemporary Cuban politics and culture.

Our intention is to keep Belkis legacy alive.  The artists sister, Katia Ayon Manso

Belkis Ayon at the Havana Galerie, Zurich, Aug. 23, 1999. (Fowler Museum at UCLA) (Test)

Forty-three of Ayons works  from when she was in high school to the year she died  will be on view in the Fowler exhibition Nkame: A Retrospective of Cuban Printmaker Belkis Ayon. Although the artists work is included in the collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A. and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and even though she has shown in American art galleries ever since her first U.S. exhibition at L.A.s Couturier Gallery in 1998, the Fowlers Nkame is the first U.S. museum retrospective of her work.

Its an important moment, Fowler Director Marla Berns says. At this time of reopening of diplomatic relations between America and Cuba, its important for people to learn more about Cuban culture and artists of great talent that they may never have heard of before because of the limited access weve had to Cuba. A larger American audience will now become aware of Belkis Ayon, both as an Afro-Cuban artist and one of the most accomplished contemporary printmakers anywhere.

The Fowler exhibition is something Ayons niece, Yadira Leyva Ayon, never could have imagined even just a few years ago. As she gives a tour of the house, where the chirping of parakeets in brightly colored cages fills a courtyard off the kitchen, Leyva Ayon says improved U.S.-Cuba relations helped the exhibition to come together relatively easily.

Now, its like a whole world of possibilities in front of us, she says.

Ayons 74-year-old mother, a slip of a woman barely 5 feet tall, shuffles by in purple slippers and a bright smile, then disappears into her bedroom to watch Cuban game shows on a static-y black-and-white TV. Nearly every patch of white wall space here is covered with Ayons works, but theyre just the tip of the iceberg  the artist worked fast and focused, her family says, creating more than 200 editions, each print consisting of up to 18 individually made panels.

La consagracion II (The Consecration II), 1991. (Fowler Museum at UCLA) (Test)

After Ayons death, her sister, Ayon Manso, gave up her career as a doctor to look after the artworks left behind. Conservation of the paper works, in a humid country where temperature-controlled, museum-grade storage isnt widely available, has been a constant battle. But the family does the best it can, storing the prints in custom-built, cedar wood flat files stuffed with mothballs and moisture absorbers, providing as much protection as in some museums in Cuba.

Ayon Manso misses practicing medicine, she says, but our intention is to keep Belkis legacy alive.

At this, Leyva Ayon surveys her aunts works on the walls. Her eyes well with tears as she recalls the tragic day Ayon died.

She shot herself in my grandmothers [former] house, in the bathroom, Leyva Ayon says. When they returned from the hospital, my grandmother had her shoes covered in blood. I realized something very bad had happened with my aunt.

Leyva Ayon takes a moment to compose herself.

Its so difficult for us to talk about, it was shocking for everyone, she says, adding that her aunt was known for her big laugh. She had a big ha-ha mouth. Super-noisy.

Why the artist with the cheery demeanor and boisterous laugh took her own life remains a mystery.

She was like a light bulb who lit up a room, says L.A. gallerist Darrel Couturier, who spoke to Ayon on the phone just two days before she died. We made arrangements to meet in Philadelphia, and she sounded great and fine and happy. She was going to begin doing work in color again at the Brandywine Graphic Workshop there. If she was depressed, she never showed that side of herself.

Even as a child, Ayon was bursting with energy and cheer  so much so that her mother enrolled a 7-year-old Belkis in a painting workshop in Old Havana to calm her. She took to art immediately. In high school, at San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts, Ayon became fascinated by Abakua. She dedicated her work to the narrative of the secret society, which Nigerian slaves brought to Cuba and which is now recognized as a religion in the country.

Ayon related to one of the central figures in the Abakua myths, the strong Princess Sikan, whom she saw as her alter ego. But whereas Sikan was killed for revealing secrets, Ayon kept Sikan alive and thriving in her artworks, a survivor.

Ayon boldly experimented in her art. Shortly after graduating from Havanas distinguished Instituto Superior de Arte in 91, she switched to working only in black, white and gray largely because the stark palette heightened the drama in her prints. She used a variety of materials on each printing surface, or matrix  soft paper, cardboard, sandpaper, vegetable peelings, acrylic paint  that left gradations of ink. She painted over parts of the matrix to create raised surfaces and carved into other areas, creating grooves to trap the ink. Then she ran the matrix and paper through a hand-cranked printing press.

La familia (The Family), 1991 (Fowler Museum at UCLA) (Test)

The result, a reverse impression of the matrix, was a rich tapestry of crackles and swirls, floral patterns, circular and geometric shapes, along with human and animal forms. All were layered on top of an enigmatic, storied narrative brimming with crosses, halos and other religious iconography, as well as art history references.

Eventually Ayon headed up the printmaking department at ISA, and she served as the president of the artists division of UNEAC, the national union for artists and writers. In 1993 she took part in the Venice Biennale and the same year was awarded the international prize at the International Graphics Biennale in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Nkame, organized by the Belkis Ayon Estate and Ayon Manso with the Fowler Museum, was guest-curated by Havana-based curator Cristina Vives-Figueroa. The show is divided into five sections grouped around the developmental stages of Belkis work, following an intensified interest in Abakua.

The introductory section in the show spotlights one of Ayons signature works, the six-panel La Cena, (The Supper). In the work, Ayon has replaced the Jesus figure at the center of the table with Sikan, glowing in all white, and most of the male apostles are replaced by women. The original matrix it was made from hangs opposite it.

La cena (The Supper), 1991. (Fowler Museum at UCLA) (Test)

The second section focuses on the artists early work, the third on the role of Sikan in Abakua, the fourth on her largest-format prints and the fifth on her latest work, medium-sized circular prints from 1998 that are more self-referential.

Ayons family says it hopes to one day open a proper museum in Havana of Ayons work and, with the ongoing opening of Cuba, to continue to organize international retrospectives, showing the work as far and wide as possible.

Presenting Nkame, which means greeting or praise in the language of Abakua, in Los Angeles is the first step.

Its like a [tribute], Leyva Ayon says of the exhibition.

Here in Cuba, we always keep hope for everything, she says. And we have hope that now, so many people will see Belkis work. Its important for our culture and our family. She was a very outstanding artist and person. And this way, we keep her alive.

------------

Nkame: A Retrospective of Cuban Printmaker Belkis Ayon

Where: Fowler Museum at UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Drive North, Los Angeles

When: Oct. 2 to Feb. 12; museum is open noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays

Admission: Free

Information: (310) 825-4361, www.fowler.ucla.edu

deborah.vankin@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @debvankin

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In Havana, following a USC museum director in search of great Cuban art
At a White House ceremony Thursday afternoon, President Obama awarded the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal to actor Morgan Freeman, composer Philip Glass, Zoot Suit playwright Luis Valdez, musician Wynton Marsalis and 20 others.

But Los Angeles Philharmonic music director Gustavo Dudamel should have been given the National Medal of Spontaneity.

The Venezuelan conductor had been summoned to Washington, D.C., to deliver the keynote speech to the recipients later that evening at a private dinner at the National Gallery of Art and conduct a wind quintet from his Youth Orchestra Los Angeles.

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But first: Dudamel sat in on the afternoon awards ceremony and luncheon at the White House, where he met the president and witnessed a performance by another set of musicians, the Marine Chamber Orchestra.

Dudamel was beyond impressed, he told L.A. Philharmonic president Deborah Borda, who was sitting next to him. So much so, that he was soon conducting them himself.

During the luncheon Gustavo remarked that the Marine Chamber Orchestra was very good, Borda said in a phone interview. So I asked the conductor whether she would like to have Gustavo Dudamel conduct.

The two conductors rifled through their music and found Mozart Symphony No. 25 (Little G-Minor)  the score that opens the Milos Forman film Amadeus.

So Gustavo conducted the first movement, Borda said, and suddenly the entire place fell quiet. It was a moment of magic.

That night, as Dudamel spoke about the need to fund childrens arts programs, he described coming to Los Angeles his first year as the L.A. Phil conductor and meeting a 12-year-old boy who wanted to join the Youth Orchestra.

The 11 miles Adam had traveled from home must have been the most important trip of his life, Dudamel said. Simply put: the boy who left South Central that afternoon was not the same person upon his return.

The Youth Orchestra then played arrangements of Gershwins Prelude No. 1 and Abreus Tico-Tico no Fuba.

But only after Dudamel had made his impromptu conducting debut at the White House.

deborah.vankin@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @debvankin

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China Daily Life - Weather (Photo : Getty Images)

Great Wall of China Cemented (Photo : YouTube)

In March, a local cultural relics authority reported that the four-year renovation project of the Western Great Wall of China on Gansu Province was 95 percent complete, costing 195 million yuan.



Other parts of the Great Wall also underwent repair recently, but CNN reported on Wednesday that the Xiaohekou section, a stretch of the landmark was covered in a smooth white trail of cement. The use of modern construction materials  which made the iconic tourist destination ugly  was done in 2014 on orders of the Cultural Relics Bureau of Suizhong County, although the use of cement was only discovered now.



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The repairs were done because of the bad state of that stretch of the 700-year-old wall near the border of Liaoning and Hebei Provinces. However, social media users and cultural advocates condemned the restoration work done.



In Sina Weibo, Chinas microblogging site, netizens used the hashtag #The most beautiful, wild Great Wall flattened# which trended. Dong Yaohui, deputy director of the Great Wall of China Society, described the restoration work as very badly done. He lamented, It damaged the original look of the Great Wall and took away the history from the people.


They are images in which Los Angeles can see itself, the side that doesnt make it onto the picture postcards: Broken-down trucks in wide empty lots, the improvised architecture of freeway-side homeless encampments and municipal spaces that seem to offer their residents little more than disdain.

In the photographs of Anthony Hernandez, there are no swaying palm trees or cinematic sunsets. Instead, for half a century, this born-and-bred Angeleno has trained his unblinking lens on another L.A.  a city of the aged, of the working class, of the destitute.

Cities are hard places, the low-key Hernandez says of his work. Theyre not very accommodating, especially Los Angeles.

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For much of the 20th century, street photography was often associated with the dense cities of Europe and the Northeastern United States  particularly New York, where figures such as Diane Arbus, Bruce Davidson and Helen Levitt elevated the act of the impromptu street shot into high art. But Hernandez  now 69, and looking stately with a crown of white hair  helped give the form a distinctly Los Angeles cast.

What Anthony did is to think about what street photography would mean in Los Angeles, says Erin OToole, associate curator of photography at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He taps into the geography, into the way people use the streets, the way that they function in public. For the last half-dozen years, OToole, also born and raised in Los Angeles, has been organizing Hernandezs first-ever museum retrospective, which opens at SFMOMA this weekend.

More than 120 images will be on display  early street photographs shot around downtown, abstracted vistas of homeless encampments and the so-called Automotive Landscapes, black-and-white pictures that depict the un-sexy side of car culture.

He has created something completely unique that is geared at the urban landscape of Los Angeles  that openness, says OToole, which can be daunting if youre trying to make street photography in a New York way.

Hernandez didnt set out to re-imagine street photography when he first picked up a camera as a teenager in the late 1960s.

The reason I started photographing in downtown Los Angeles was not because of the work of other street photographers, he says. Its because I grew up there. Naturally, if Im going to take pictures, Im going to take pictures of places I know.

That knowledge  of Los Angeles functions and dysfunctions  translated into a staggering array of work that almost immediately caught the attention of the art world when it emerged in the 1970s.

Yet Hernandez, widely admired within the photographic community, is little known by the general public. OToole says some of that may have to do with the fact that Hernandez doesnt teach and receive the institutional support other artists have.

But some of it may have to do with the photographers nature: quiet, retiring, not the sort to tell swashbuckling tales about crawling around homeless encampments with a large-format camera, though that is what he does.

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Anthony Hernandez stands before his mural-sized print South Central, 2015, at SFMOMA. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times )

On a trip to New York in the 1970s, he met the legendary Arbus for lunch at a coffee shop.

She was concerned, asking, How are you making a living?  he recalls. I was 22 or 23. I wasnt making a living. She said, You should try and get magazine work. She said, When you meet somebody, you cant stop talking. Just keep talking. I said, What do you mean? She said, Dont stop talking, and they will give you some work. 

I never did it, Hernandez says with a modest smile. I was a little too shy at that point to be out there trying to hustle to become a commercial photographer.

Unruly days

Some people know they are going to be artists their whole lives. Not Hernandez.

He grew up on L.A.s Eastside  in Aliso Village, then Boyle Heights  the son of a machinist and meatpacking worker. As a teen, he was unruly; for a time, he ran with a local gang. But during his senior year at Roosevelt High School, a friend gave him a photography manual hed found in the bathroom at East Los Angeles College.

I didnt know anything about art and I had no interest in going to college, says Hernandez, seated over a cup of coffee by a mural-sized print of his work at SFMOMA. The idea of photography  the only thing I could think of was maybe Id become a fashion photographer and I would make a lot of money and meet a lot of beautiful women.

He enrolled in a photo course and was seduced by the process  when you go in the dark room and make your first print, its magical. Then he found the work of Edward Weston, the early 20th century lensman known for his sensuous still lifes and nudes.

I discovered Edward Westons book recalls Hernandez. They were these little brochures, but with high-quality reproductions  His work was a big inspiration.

Hernandez realized he wanted to make art, but the instructors at East L.A. College, they were trying to get people interested in photography to make a living. When I found Weston, I realized they couldnt help me.

He began to experiment with street photography, capturing a young woman hanging out under a bridge and a pair of taciturn young Mexican men at a bus station.

In 1967, he dropped out and hitchhiked to New York  where he visited museums and went to jazz concerts, even catching a gig by Miles Davis. But soon after he landed, his mother informed him that his draft papers had arrived. He was going to Vietnam.

During the war, Hernandez worked as a medic. (That experience, you realize life is very fragile, he says.) He nurtured his artistic dreams with a subscription to Artforum, sent by his Aunt Dolores, who supported her nephews creative ambitions.

When you leave, the Army gives you this wooden box, and its locked, and you put your things in there and they ship it back to the States, he says. I put all my Artforums in there.

Back in the U.S., Hernandez pursued photography with renewed zeal. He settled near MacArthur Park (where he and his wife, novelist Judith Freeman, still live) and devoted himself to capturing the fleeting public-private moments of L.A. dwellers: a man observing his reflection in a store window; a group of young women staring warily at his lens.

Inspired by Westons photos of a nude figure on a beach, he too hit the coast  but instead of sun and surf, he delivered unflinching reality: the sprawled figures of recreational sunbathers and homeless alike, in poses that are at once feral and contorted.

By the early 70s, his work had caught the eye of John Szarkowski, the influential photography curator at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art, who arranged for him to meet Arbus and Garry Winogrand. But one of Hernandezs biggest breakthroughs came in the late 1970s, when he turned his attention to cars  or, more accurately, the industrial sites that surround them: garages, junkyards, body shops. I started thinking about what else I could do in L.A., says Hernandez. Well, L.A. is an automotive landscape.

And it was one he knew intimately. Before he became a regular recipient of grants and residencies, the artist worked odd jobs, including sanding cars at a body shop off Figueroa.

Hernandezs innovation with the auto series also lay in his approach. In the late 70s, he swapped out his 35mm, good for stealing quick on-the-street images, for a large-format 5x7 Deardorff that checked in at roughly seven pounds  not counting the tripod required to balance it.

Its a downright impractical camera for taking street pictures, but Hernandez got it down to a science. I could take a picture in a minute, he says. If it didnt look interesting, I keep walking.

And walking was a big part of it  around Hollywood, downtown and L.A.s industrial guts, hauling the Deardorff with him wherever he went. One day, I walked from Santa Monica to where LACMA is, photographing, he recalls. Then I got tired and took the bus home.

The effort was worth it. The larger Deardorff negative could record wider spaces at a greater resolution, allowing Hernandez to shoot broad panoramas without losing detail. This had the effect of making his images of L.A.s industrial sprawl look almost painterly, even when the focus was unforgiving grit.

In one photograph, from 1978, he captured an expired ice cream truck in a junkyard, its friendly form at sea in an ocean of automotive refuse. Behind it, electrical towers loom through a gray haze. You can practically smell the grease.

Other artists were interested in car culture, but they depicted shiny cars and speed, says OToole. This was about dead cars or cars that they are trying to revive. Its what you see in a lot of his bodies of work  places that are overlooked.

As Hernandez scoured the city for automotive sites, he began to photograph people at bus stops: Seniors, members of the working class, milling about at unsheltered stops alongside garbage-strewn hillsides and bare industrial streets.

Says Hernandez: Its looking at how people use Los Angeles or dont use Los Angeles.

This is a theme that unites many of the series he has produced since  in particular, the multiple projects he has devoted to exploring the grim living conditions of the homeless.

One 1988 image features the poignant sight of a prim new pair of shoes sitting alongside a filthy mattress. Another, from 2010, shows a concrete wall covered in blistering paint, an image taken from the point of view of the individual who might have lain beside it. It is shelter of the coldest, grimmest sort.

OToole says that combing through Hernandezs archive to organize the retrospective revealed an artist who is constantly forcing himself out of his comfort zone.

That is something he hasnt stopped doing. Hes currently at work on another Los Angeles series, in which he employs the architecture of bus shelters to create abstracted city scenes.

Someone said  I think it was Joan Didion  that to get Los Angeles, you need a pair of sunglasses and to like to drive, says Hernandez. I would say thats completely wrong. You may need the sunglasses. But you dont need the car. You need to walk.

Anthony Hernandez

Where: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 3rd St., San Francisco

When: Opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 1

Info: sfmoma.org

Twitter: @cmonstah.

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Since becoming a full-time correspondent on 60 Minutes, Bill Whitaker has traveled to Cremona, Italy, to report on Stradivarius violins; to France for a story on newly discovered Picassos, and to Myanmar to sit with Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Yet after two years of frequent passport-stamping, hes still captivated by the 7th Avenue line subway that takes him from his home in Harlem to his CBS News office on the West Side of Manhattan.

For your $2.75 you get a show, the former Angeleno said as he prepared for the news magazines 49th season. Its the catwalk of humanity, walking up and down the platform and cars. I havent been here long enough for it to be an irritant. Its kind of cool.

Observing people is a passion for Whitaker, 65, who has made the most of his chance to do it in-depth on 60 Minutes, where pieces running 10 minutes or longer still prevail in the era of viewers devouring video snippets on their smartphones. In his second season, he had 20 original stories on the program, the most of any correspondent.

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Always among the networks most prolific reporters, Whitaker was a fixture on the CBS Evening News for more than 30 years, the last 20 out of the Los Angeles bureau. His office has framed courtroom sketches from the O.J. Simpson trial, the story that put him in living rooms across the country every night for a year. (It consumed my life, he said.) Hes covered presidential campaigns, profiled show business legends, reported live from the field on disasters in Japan and Haiti, and during the early stages of the war in Afghanistan. According to one longtime colleague: Anywhere he went he brought calm and strength.

I was content: Bill Whitaker on his life in Los Angeles as a CBS correspondent. But after changing coasts for 60 MInutes, hes loving New Yorks catwalk of humanity. (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times )

When based in Los Angeles, where much of the city is making the slow commute home when the CBS Evening News airs, Whitaker was able to live in relative anonymity for someone who was on television all the time. His two children graduated from Harvard-Westlake, and his home in the Hollywood Hills was a short drive from the CBS bureau.

I was content, he said in the mellifluous voice that now often gets him recognition wherever he goes. I was happy with my work and with my life. I did think I was going to retire out of the Los Angeles bureau.

But his life and his coast would change after 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager asked him in 2013 to do a story for Showtimes 60 Minutes Sports. Rather than pick the low-hanging fruit of interviewing a well-known pro athlete, Whitaker wanted to come up with something different. He headed to Belize and then British Columbia for two weeks to profile fly fishing guide April Vokey.

Shes Hollywood beautiful, curses like a sailor, can drink with the best of them and catches fish better than anyone else there, he said. Soon Whitaker was back in Fagers office to talk about joining the venerable Sunday edition of the program.

April Vokey is the reason Im sitting at this desk, he said. A framed poster on the wall of his office has her quote from the piece: Adventure may hurt you but monotony might kill you.

Fager wishes he brought Whitaker on as a full-time correspondent sooner. But as the most coveted job in television news, openings at 60 Minutes come through only involuntary departures. The deaths of long-timers Bob Simon and Morley Safer, who cut back on his output in his final years, created the need to add another veteran to the ranks.

Bill Whitaker in a sound booth at the offices of 60 Minutes. (Jennifer S. Altman / For The Times )

When filling the job, Fager also knew he had some work to do on the diversity front. Before Whitaker joined the program in 2014, the program did not have a full-time African American correspondent since the death of Ed Bradley in 2006.

We lost Ed and we didnt have a person of color, Fager said. It was a secondary concern but it was an important one. Bills great reporting came first. Hes a great storyteller with an incredible body of work from covering the world as a reporter. Hes beginning what will be a great long run.

Only at 60 Minutes can an executive say that about a 65-year-old.

Whitaker, who looks at least a decade younger, grew up in a home where TV news held a near-sacred status.

My father  he was a welder in a shipyard outside of Philadelphia  was a news junkie, he said. Hed come home from work, take a shower and sit down in front of the television and it was like church. We kids all had to be quiet so he could watch the news. The news at the time was important. It was the Vietnam War. The civil rights movement. Watergate.

Whitaker brought that sense of responsibility to the viewer when he joined the CBS Evening News. But once he got to 60 Minutes, he did need to work on one aspect of his presentation.

I was a notoriously bad dresser, he said. Seeing the now sartorially splendid Whitaker when he often opens 60 Minutes, its hard to believe he required a fashion intervention by a longtime producer and a photographer at the Los Angeles bureau to replace his uniform of blue jackets and khakis with designer suits and ties. They took him to a shop at Sunset Plaza where Whitaker now drops in every time he is back in Los Angeles to visit.

After all, hes just getting started.

60 Minutes

Where: CBS

When: 7 p.m. Sunday

Rating: TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children)

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

stephen.battaglio@latimes.com

Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
Its a rare film that can dredge up nostalgic fondness for 2002s awful National Lampoons Van Wilder, but Total Frat Movie manages to rise to the dubious occasion.

The second of two releases this weekend concerned with white frat boys behaving badly (the other is the more serious-minded Goat), this wildly unfunny gross-out comedy concerns the efforts of a fraternity at the fictional Mason Dixon University to get its charter reinstated three years after it was revoked.

Not that plot would matter to a young male audience expected to be distracted by the bevy of objectified females who parade around topless or are categorized as either nasty or evil.

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Ostensibly taking its inspiration from a popular college lifestyle website, the film was shot in Toronto by veteran music video director Warren P. Sonoda with Canadian tax breaks.

Speaking of Canadians, the presence of comedian Tom Green as the colleges kooky Dean Kravitz offers the sobering reminder that even as bad as Total Frat Movie gets, it still falls short of being Freddy Got Fingered bad.

-------------

Total Frat Movie

Not rated

Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

Playing: Laemmles NoHo, North Hollywood

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 
The restaurant table was a little wobbly, so Holly Hunter did what every 58-year-old Oscar-winning actress in an elegant outfit would do: she folded up a packet of papers and got down on the floor to fix it.

Does that work? she asked in her trademark Lowcountry accent, as she extended her arms and neck to get the balance right. A mischievous smile danced on her lips as she gazed across the room to a team of publicists and assistants  half-expecting, half-seeking their horror.

Satisfied with the furniture equilibrium, she sprang back upright. Now, where were we?

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Hunter had been in the middle of talking about her new movie, Strange Weather, a Toronto International Film Festival premiere in which she gives one more standout performance amid a lifetime of them. The Georgia native headed west, to Mississippi, in Katherine Dieckmanns film so she could play Darcy  a professor and grieving single mom who embarks on a road trip to track down her late sons business rival.

Both the role and the performance are so specific they might well be called Hunter-ian: at once strong and human, her signature hybrid of vulnerable and unbreakable.

Where the actress has been more figuratively, however, is less clear.

Long before the recent immigrant wave to television, Hunter led a charge of high-end film actors, particularly women, seeking out more fertile terrain when she began starring as a wild-child detective in Saving Grace nearly a decade ago.

But since the TNT show went off the air in 2010, Hunter has been lightly heard from. No big return to cable or a Netflix series; no major film role. Just teasing glimpses, such as the doomed Senator Finch in this springs Batman v. Superman.

Saving Grace was a full stretch-out  literally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, she said of the 45 hours of television she made from 2007-10. And I needed to take a year-and-a-half off when it was over.

Then when I decided to go back [to film] again, she continued, there was a rude awakening. It was, [darn] theres a pause in material.

For a time few actors crafted cinematic characters as rich, subtle and downright rootable as Hunters. Her versatility stretched from Raising Arizona to Broadcast News to The Firm to The Piano  a range that would be strikingly wide even if she hadnt covered it in all of just six years. Her blend of resilient and resourceful became not just a calling card but an archetype.

Yet the actress has been more scattershot in the roughly two decades since her Oscar win for The Piano in 1994. By virtue of not being named Meryl Streep, Hunter doesnt land the few lead parts that studios still offer women over 40. Like her contemporary and Home for the Holidays director Jodie Foster, she has been forced to become more improvisational as her career has worn on.

After Grace, she was able to gather some supporting parts  including in Diablo Codys Paradise and David Gordon Greens Manglehorn  but nothing of great prominence or meat. The fallow period has even led to a kind of cultural vacuum and public rebuke, like a 2013 piece in the Atlantic that declared weve all failed Holly Hunter.

If she carries any self-pity, though, shes not showing it. Thats just the rhythm of the feature business these days. And not just for women. I mean, even a guy whos 27 and hot will tell you its hard to get great roles. I dont suffer the decisions the studio world makes.

She said she remains keen to define success differently at this stage of her life. Hunter starred in a Terrence Malick movie, next years star-heavy ensemble Weightless (A completely original experience that wasnt without rewards  I dont care if I get cut out of the movie). She has worked occasionally in theater and alludes to her family life in New York, where she has long made her home with her husband, the British actor Gordon MacDonald, and their twin sons, now 10. My life, she said, has a great degree of dimension without making movies.

Just the same, she sparked to making a new one when Dieckmann came along. The avant-garde director  credit her for the groundbreaking Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete; blame her for the R.E.M. video of Shiny Happy People  wanted to craft a story of a woman with a certain earned pluck, someone whose trials had not led to embitterment or cliche.

Usually a woman over 40  let alone 50  is either alcoholic or depressed or sex-starved or nuts. Or theyre totally buttoned up and up and conservative and boring, Dieckmann said in an interview. And I wanted  and Holly jumped at the chance to do  something that wasnt any of that. Hunters eagerness was apparent on the first day of shooting, when she rode to set on a Razor Scooter.

What I found fascinating was this complicated character going through something completely human; its just utterly bathed in humanity, Hunter said of Strange Weathers Darcy, who lets loose bits of humor, wisdom and toughness with a kind of charm, but also a lack of concern about how it will land with its recipient. Theres a lack of a filter that I found beautiful. This is a character who is not editing herself.

Hunter herself has an industry reputation for directness  Southern spunk, would be the diplomatic way to put it. Dieckmann says that Holly does not suffer fools  she just doesnt have the time for that.

I guess Im more of a direct person than an indirect one, Hunter said, directly, when asked about that reputation.

Then, weighing the value of a different, more Hollywood-specific way of communicating, she added, But there is something about the circuity, if thats a word, that I appreciate. Sometimes you have to marinate instead of making a quick decision. I appreciate my instincts but my instincts can be dead wrong. Circumspection can give you time.

Hunters fallow period may, unfortunately for fans, continue. Lead roles are still not imminently in the cards. And Strange Weather, an indie even by indie standards, currently has no U.S. distributor.

But she said the film worlds realities have not deterred her. What I keep having to ask myself is Do I still want to act? Do I still want to reveal? And I do.

She allows herself an ever-so-slightly frustrated gaze across the pond. If you look at Isabelle Huppert and Juliette Binoche, you see people who are doing some of the best work of their lives. So much European cinema has open arms to stories carried by women in their 40s, 50s and 60s. And America is a little behind in that.

But a moment later she returns to a more Zen view.

When you experience profound things in life, you go across certain thresholds, she said, referring both to the Darcy character and her own experience.

And those test you. But they give you a different perspective about yourself and your place in the world. With longevity comes nothing is going to kill me; I cannot irreparably damage my career. Those days are over. The most I can sustain are fender benders.

1 / 6 Actress Holly Hunter photographed in New York on June 3, 2015. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 6 Holly Hunter holds her Oscar for lead actress in The Piano in 1994. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 3 / 6 Holly Hunter, second from left, with fellow members of the Cannes Film Festival jury Jeff Goldblum and David Cronenberg and a guest at opening ceremony on May 12, 1999. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 4 / 6 Holly Hunter arrives at the American Society of Cinematographers Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 20, 2000. (Lucy Nicholson / AFP) 5 / 6 Holly Hunter arrives with her then-husband, director Janusz Kaminski, at the premiere of his film Lost Souls at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Oct. 11, 2000. (Lucy Nicholson / AFP) 6 / 6 Holly Hunter photographed in the Los Angeles Times photo studio for her movie Strange Weather at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12, 2016. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

On Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT
The Exorcist, which premieres Friday, is the Fox networks second series this season to be based on a 20th century film franchise. (Legal Weapon debuted Wednesday). It also doubles the number of current Fox shows with a demonic foundation, joining Lucifer, in which the Devil runs a Hollywood nightclub and solves crimes.

A different, more downbeat brand of devilry is afoot in The Exorcist, which takes off from William Peter Blattys bestselling 1971 novel and director William Friedkins 1973 film. Its not a remake; the events of the original are nodded to, historically, in a briefly seen newspaper clipping. And these characters have different names and particulars. But it mirrors Blattys basic structure.

As in the book and the movie, there is a woman (Geena Davis) worried about a daughter (Brianne Howey) who has been sullen and strange, and a house full of thumps, noises and eeriness. And there are two priests, one older and battle-tested (Ben Daniels), the other young and uncertain (Alfonso Herrera), who will eventually join forces to investigate, perchance to exorcise.

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The series adds a husband (Alan Ruck), suffering fitfully from dementia, and a second daughter (Hannah Kasulka, perky). Neither sister is 12 years old, happily (they are older). And we move from a Washington, D.C., townhouse to a suburban Chicago spread.

This was exotic stuff when it first appeared. The novel spent 57 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list; the movie was nominated for a slew of Oscars and introduced what might be called the Judeo-Christian horror genre. With some exceptions, Lucifer and his subalterns had been portrayed in pop culture as relatively harmless figures of fun  Im looking at you, Hot Stuff, you diapered devil.

Monsters came from science, or from being bitten by other monsters; religion had little to nothing to do with it. But Blatty, who trusted in the supernatural reality of the 1949 case that inspired his novel, took his good and evil seriously, calling The Exorcist an argument for God.

Though the young priest in the Fox show suggests to the troubled mother that demons are a metaphor, an invention of the Church to explain things like addiction, mental illness, the series wastes little time in declaring him wrong: For here is the old priest in a Mexico City slum, battling a demon for the life of a boy in scenes made to remind us of its pedigree: pustular child tied to a bed, speaking to a priest in the voice of an Irishman, levitating. The Old Rotating Head Trick.

Director Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) keeps the pilot chilly and drear, not overdoing the shocks and special effects. (Anyone who finds the going slow I would direct to the Friedkin film, which much of the time is positively mopey.) There are tense and spooky moments, to be sure, and a couple of scenes, one featuring a raven and another a rat, I found too disturbing to really watch, though Im sure no actual animals were harmed during their filming, or possibly used at all.

Daniels has something of the air of the weary gunfighter strapping on his six-shooters, or holy water and crucifix, as the case may be, and Davis, whom you should watch in anything, projects an interesting mix of will and fragility. If nothing else, their presence promises to make the series watchable, but its a creditable job all around. If you like this kind of thing, youll likely like this thing of its kind.

Still, just how much exorcism one series (and one family) can bear is an open question. Perhaps the next season, if one comes, will take the priests to some new thrilling case of possession. Or maybe the demons will open a nightclub and solve crime. Theres precedent.

The Exorcist

Where: Fox

When: 9 p.m. Friday

Rating: TV-14-LV (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14 with advisories for coarse language and violence)

robert.lloyd@latimes.com

On Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd

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The Los Angeles County Museum of Art announced this week that its fall 2016 Wear LACMA collection will include wearable items inspired by Japanese ceramics, the street-lamp sculpture permanently installed in front of the museum and a 1959 painting by Jay DeFeo.

The art-meets-fashion mash-up, launched in 2012, recruits local design talent to create limited-edition items inspired by artwork in the museums permanent collection. The upcoming installment, which will be available to purchase in November, is set to include the following items:

Oliver Peoples has designed sunglasses inspired by Chris Burdens Urban Light (2008) installation of street lamps. (We have yet to see the sunnies  photos will be forthcoming  but theyre described as unisex sunglasses with amber gold-tone photocromic mineral lenses [and] clear frames.) Burdens popular display of lights also will be featured on the sunglasses case.

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Pam & Gela, the newest endeavor by Juicy Couture founders Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, has created a mini-collection of womens T-shirts and a jacket that features crane and blossom motifs plucked from 19th and 20th century ceramics found in the museums collection of Japanese art.

Each Wear LACMA offering includes jewelry. Past collections have included exquisite pieces by Jennifer Meyer (inspired by an Ed Ruscha painting), Irene Neuwirth (inspired by a jeweled mother of pearl snuffbox commissioned by Frederick the Great of Prussia) and Anita Ko (inspired by a reading table and porcelain bottle from Koreas Joseon period).

This time its a suite of jewelry that includes necklaces, bracelets and earrings created by Lisa Eisner. The inspiration, fittingly, is The Jewel, a 1959 painting by DeFeo.

LACMAs Sept. 20 announcement included a comment from Eisner about her inspiration: Every time I visit LACMA, I pay homage to Jay DeFeos The Jewel. This painting resonates with me in a spiritual way like when one goes into a beautiful church in Italy. The sculptural element of the work  the layers and layers of building up and breaking down, the sunburst middle and the rays beaming out to the edges  it completely moves me with its energy and beauty.

Over the years, the Wear LACMA program has enlisted an impressive roster of local design talent, including George Esquivel, Monique Lhuillier, Rodartes Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the Elder Statesmans Greg Chait, Gregory Parkinson and Libertines Johnson Hartig.

Starting Nov. 7, the new Wear LACMA goods are set to hit the shelves of the museums store at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. and will be sold at lacmastore.org, with proceeds benefiting the museum and its programs.

For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me @ARTschorn.

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Recently, UNESCO designated Tucson as a capital of gastronomy, naturally inspiring articles on the Arizona citys long food heritage, as well as local chefs use of ingredients from the Sonoran Desert like amaranth, cactus pads, tepary beans and cholla buds, a superfood of de-spined, dried cactus flowers that end up in salads, escabeche and as pickled garnishes in cocktails. Noticeably absent from the Tucson Pride talking points, however, was the chimichanga, which is not a locally sourced ingredient but certainly a regional star: a deep-fried burrito stuffed with steak, chicken or what-have-you. By most accounts, the chimi was invented in Tucson and is no less integral a part of the citys fabric.

Exactly where it was created and by whom resembles the decades-old Los Angeles war between Coles and Philippe The Original over who first came up with the French dip sandwich. As for the chimis origins, there are multiple tales, each emphatically told as truth, and some of which even creep beyond Tucsons city limits and into other parts of Arizona.

The chimichanga at El Gran Burrito (Mariah Tauger / For the Times )

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Theres a chimi creation myth that starts at the citys Club 21, another that stars a place called Michas. Then theres Woody Johnson, owner of Macayos in Phoenix, who always maintained that his culinary light bulb went off when he wanted to repurpose a batch of day-old burritos and decided that frying them was a great way to go.

But the woman often regarded as the chief architect of the modern chimichanga is Monica Flin, a madcap fortysomething who owned and lived at El Charro Cafe, a restaurant in downtown Tucson. The origin story that Flins great-grand-niece Carlotta Flores grew up on involved Flin sometime in the late 1940s or early 50s whipping up a midnight snack in the kitchen, when one of the many nieces she was babysitting bumped into her, thus dislodging the bean burrito she was holding.

It flew up in the air and ended up in the vat of hot oil, says Flores, the current owner of El Charro. To protect the ears of her young, pajama-clad charges, the story goes, Tia Monica censored her own frustration and instead of barking out a well-known expletive in Spanish, she twisted it around so the word came out chimichanga.  Some say the changa part  which means female monkey  was in honor of the six rascally nieces who witnessed the accidental dawn of what became El Charros signature dish. Others say chimichanga is a nonsense word like thingamabob.

The way that Flores brushes off the competing claims, though, is that the dates back up El Charros bragging rights. Our restaurant was founded in 1922, says Flores. Im not saying other people didnt serve some form of [fried burrito]. But dont they say that the greatest flattery is a recipe thats been changed up a bit and made their own?

The Flores family has a lot to be flattered by, then, when it comes to the endless varieties of the chimichanga, an obsession of the comic book antihero Deadpool, and now so popularized that they can be found in the frozen food aisle at your local supermarket and next to the Doritos Loaded in the grab-and-go section at 7-Eleven convenience stores.

At El Gran Burrito, chimichangas come three to an order. (Mariah Tauger / For the Times )

You can find chimichangas in Highland Park at My Taco and at La Taquiza Mexican Grill in South L.A.; theres even a chimi on the menu at Glorias in Culver City, though the restaurant specializes mostly in comida salvadorena. At Tacos Por Favor, a family-style restaurant in Santa Monica, ordering a chimichanga is asking for a burrito heart-stopper  its crispy-fried shell holding a heavy package of meat, rice, beans and cheese. And near a noisy, not-yet-gentrified corner in East Hollywood next to a Metro stop is the 24/7-operating El Gran Burrito, where more manageably sized chimis come three to an order and are filled with al pastor, carnitas, carne asada, lengua, cabeza or chicken.

Whats served at the small taco counter Sonoratown, on 8th Street in downtown L.A., is daintier and perhaps more reminiscent of owner Teodoro Diaz-Rodriguezs upbringing in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico: Its a rolled flour tortilla about the size of a womans palm thats been filled with shredded chicken, cheese, roasted tomatoes and Anaheim chiles. Diaz-Rodriguez and co-owner Jen Feltham list it on the menu as a chivichanga, what chimis are sometimes called in Mexico. (It means that it has goat in it, insists Flores, pointing out that chivo means goat in Spanish. But lets not quibble.) Sonoratowns isnt fried, but sauteed in a cast iron skillet and then toasted on a mesquite grill.

Not minding that chefs have put their own stamp on her aunts oops-a-daisy brainstorm doesnt mean Flores cant rattle off reasons why El Charros chimichangas are a time-honored classic. Theres the fact that theyre deep-fried in oil until theyre as crispy and golden on the outside as a Chinese egg roll. Whatever goes inside the chimichanga  and there are at least 10 or so possibilities at El Charro  should be hot. Otherwise, when you go to bite in the middle, somethings going to be cold, Flores says, adding that chimis found in Los Angeles often contain too many ingredients.

When you order a chimichanga in Arizona, theres just the very basic component of meat that youve ordered inside and sometimes beans. I think it tastes better  first, you get the crunch value, then the flavor of whats inside.

Of course, the cornerstone of any great chimichanga is a handmade Sonoran-style flour tortilla, once a rare sight in Los Angeles. The closest thing in our city to the thin, stretchy flour tortillas so ubiquitous in southwestern Arizona is at Burritos La Palma, which has a brick-and-mortar outpost in El Monte and shows up every Sunday at the outdoor food market Smorgasburg in downtown L.A. Regrettably, chimichangas arent on its bare-bones menu, which offers a selection of willowy burritos of bean and cheese, beef birria, chicken tinga, chicharron or shredded beef. But theyre so tightly rolled that theyre practically begging to be taken home, fried in hot oil and eaten with a fiery salsa. One bite, and the spirit of Tia Monica will have you forming new words.
The Rev. Eric Shafer interrupted me before I could even get my first sentence out.

I understand you are opening a shelter for homeless college stu

Its really exciting, exclaimed Shafer, who is pastor of Santa Monicas Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. The coolest thing in the world!

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Shafer and his church have joined forces with Bruin Shelter, a new charity started by UCLA graduate students to help alleviate homelessness among college students. This is believed to be one of the first shelters for college students run by college students.

Wow, said Barbara Duffield of the National Assn. for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. That is pretty cool. We are seeing different approaches to the issue of college students who are homeless, and this is definitely a novel one.

Last week, I joined the ebullient, 66-year-old Shafer for a tour. He said he didnt really think twice about joining forces with Bruin Shelter, that his church supported it, as well as the local neighborhood association. Why wouldnt we do this? Its what we should do based on Gods love for all people. We are doing it as an example to other communities of faith, and we are doing it to tweak UCLA into doing what they should be doing.

We walked into the churchs vaulted multipurpose room, then up a flight of stairs in the back to a loft, which has been furnished with five bunk beds and a few other pieces of furniture. Thirty people applied for a bed through Bruin Shelters website, said Lauren Dy, 25, a UCLA social welfare graduate student and co-president of the group. Nine have been selected: five from UCLA and four from Santa Monica College.

If all goes well, on Oct. 2, the cozy space will become their home for 11 hours a day, between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. There will be hot meals, and at least two volunteers on site at all times.

Though no one knows exactly how many college students are homeless, it is most certainly in the tens of thousands here in California. A recent Cal State University survey found that 1 in 10 of the systems 460,000 students are homeless. Nine beds, of course, will hardly make a dent.

I think of that old cliche about the man on the beach with a thousand starfish, Shafer said, throwing them back in one by one, and someone says, Why are you doing that? It doesnt mean anything. And he says, Means a lot for this one.

::

Just after I met Shafer, I began to hear rumblings that the city of Santa Monica was not on board with the shelter. For a city that is lampooned by Harry Shearer as the home of the homeless, this came as a surprise.

City officials told me Wednesday that the shelter does not comply with a laundry list of California building and safety codes, as necessary as they are inflexible.

We recognize that this is a hard balance to strike, said Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole, but we have to be vigilant at enforcing the laws that protect the health and safety of everyone.

His main concern, he said, is the staircase that leads to the loft. It is not wide enough, per state codes for residential buildings. Nor is it clear, he said, that the loft is strong enough to withstand the load of all those students, beds and belongings. We could probably figure that out, but it requires more analysis, he said.

The shelter also lacks required showers, though it has bathrooms (and students will have access to their respective school gyms).

Shafer said he wasnt worried about the lofts structural integrity; it was built to hold the churchs 60-person choir. As for exits, he said, besides the stairwell, the loft has two fire ladders for emergencies.

Cole sounded genuinely torn, loath to criticize the good works of a pastor whom he described as a valued and treasured community leader.

It would be one thing to say, we dont want homeless people in our church, Cole told me. That is not our attitude. If they could even minimally comply, or we had a reasonable plan for getting to that, we would enthusiastically support them.

There is also a larger, philosophical problem, he said.

To the average person, its Why dont you provide a cot? A cot is better than sleeping under a bridge. But we have been providing cots for 30 years, and the problem is worse and more intractable than it was.

The solution to homelessness, Cole said, is finding permanent supportive housing.

Of course, you would think that such a thing exists on every university campus in the country. Generally speaking, we call these things dorms.

::

I cant fault Santa Monica College for failing to provide housing; after all, like most community colleges, it was conceived as a commuter school. But what about UCLA? Has that great institution fallen down on its obligation to provide housing?

Not at all, said UCLA Dean of Students Maria Blandizzi.

UCLA does not have a homeless shelter, per se, but it has many resources available to students in dire financial straits. It offers two weeks of emergency housing in residence halls for those in crisis, and lots of other kinds of help  with food, with counseling, with figuring out financial aid when they are dependent on parents in the eyes of the government but in reality are not receiving family support.

Are there students out there saying, The university is not helping me, or Its not affordable? I am sure there are. Could we do better? Yes, we could. But do we do a lot? Yes, we do.

Some students, she said, are simply loan averse. I cant make a student take out a loan, just like I cant make them wear shoes.

We recognize that UCLA has taken steps, but we can all do better, said Louis Tse, a former UCLA mechanical engineering graduate student who dreamed up Bruin Shelter, which has about 80 volunteers. He was shocked by how many people he saw living on the streets when he moved to Los Angeles from Arizona in 2011.

Its everywhere and unavoidable, he said, including on campus, where students curl up on couches in common areas, or couch surf. More than a year ago, Tse gave up his apartment and began living out of his car to save money for Bruin Shelter, which has raised about $35,000. Tse, 27, who was recently hired by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to work on the 2020 Mars rover project, has put in a fair chunk of that amount himself.

When he and shelter co-founder Luke Shaw, 25, a fellow engineering graduate student, finally connected with Mt. Olive a few months ago, it seemed like a perfect fit.

For the city, not so much.

But given the commitment of these students, the passion of this pastor, and the citys goodwill, I have faith theyll be able to work something out.

robin.abcarian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AbcarianLAT

To read the article in Spanish, click here

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At his murder trial this summer, Beong Kwun Cho claimed he was doing his childhood friend a favor when he shot him in the back of his head on the side of a deserted street in Anaheim.

Cho, 57, tearfully testified in his own defense, saying his friend of four decades, Yeon Woo Lee, wanted to commit suicide and had asked him to pull the trigger.



For the record: This story was updated to add details.

His friend, Cho said, had orchestrated a plot to make his death look like a botched robbery, wanting his family to be free of the social stigma of suicide and for them to receive life insurance payouts.

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Jurors weighing his fate appeared to accept his account, sparing Cho of a murder charge and instead finding him guilty of voluntary manslaughter.

Only two people were out on that dark road in Anaheim Hills that night, and only one of them is here to tell what happened.  Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals

On Friday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals said he had thought long and hard about the extraordinary case before deciding what price Cho should pay for that alleged favor: 10 years in prison.

The reality is ... only two people were out on that dark road in Anaheim Hills that night, and only one of them is here to tell what happened, the judge said. But evidence in the case, he said, painted a compelling picture that perhaps this was not a first-degree murder.

Goethals handed down the sentence after an emotional victim impact statement from Lees daughter, Jumi Lee, who asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 21 years. Cho, she said, was maligning her father after murdering him, and her family was fearful of Cho returning to South Korea after completing his sentence.

Dressed in black, Lee said her father was a man with a positive and strong mind who came to the U.S. to seek out business opportunities so that her family might immigrate to California.

But he came back home as cold ashes, said Lee, who traveled from South Korea to give her statement.

That the killer was her fathers longtime friend, she said, added a feeling of severe betrayal on top of her familys loss. Chos claims about her father being suicidal and manipulative, Lee told the judge, are worsening the wound which is still wide open.

Cho, speaking after Lee, wept as he sought forgiveness.

If I could give my life to apologize I would, he said, telling the judge, I will humbly accept any punishment, whether its 21 years or the death penalty.

Lee, a South Korean national, was found dead in early 2011 lying next to his rental car with a flat tire and jack, a gunshot wound to the back of his head and an oversize footprint on his back. Cho told police, and later jurors, that it was his friend who procured the gun, purchased size 13 shoes and punctured the tire to stage the scene of his death.

If I could give my life to apologize I would.  Beong Kwun Cho

Chos attorney, deputy public defender Robert Kohler, wrote in sentencing papers that Chos account was supported by overwhelming evidence presented at trial: surveillance footage at a gas station where the men met up and the Wal-Mart where Lee bought the shoes; Lees DNA, not blood, on the barrel of the gun indicating he himself had handled the firearm; testimony from a third friend who said Lee had a domineering personality and had wielded outsize influence over Cho for decades.

Lee, Kohler contended, manipulated and coerced his longtime friend into going along with his plan, going as far as sexually assaulting Chos wife to motivate him to go through with it. In his testimony, Cho said he thought his friend would eventually abandon the plan, and only fired the gun in the heat of the moment when Lee made insulting remarks about his wife and daughter, referencing the assault.

He did not care anything at all about the world he was leaving behind or who he hurt in his wake, the attorney wrote. This incident would never have happened had it not been for Mr. Lees desire to commit suicide.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Simmons said Friday that Cho made a deliberate choice to kill his friend, execution-style. He got a a huge break in the jurys manslaughter verdict, the prosecutor said.

Mr. Cho made a decision that night. Mr. Cho could have walked away and Mr. Lee would still be alive, Simmons said.

At trial, the prosecutor argued to jurors that even if Lee was suicidal, Cho was guilty of premeditated murder. The steps he took  putting on black gloves, making the muddy shoe print on Lees back and pulling the trigger of the Smith & Wesson  made it so, Simmons contended.

Goethals said he was sympathetic to Lees familys pain, but said based on evidence presented at trial, the jurys verdict was fair.

The judge said hed mulled over the case for weeks, weighing, among other things, how to factor in what he called a cultural defense from Chos attorney. A sociology professor testified for the defense about the shame and stigma attached to suicide and sexual assault in Korean society.

Its hard to imagine a person born and raised in American culture convincing a jury this was a voluntary manslaughter, he said. When immigrants come to the United States  ultimately they have to adhere to the laws of the United States and the state of California.

In the end, Goethals said the mitigating and aggravating circumstances in the case were about evenly balanced, and said he elected to sentence Cho to the mid-range prison term for voluntary manslaughter including an enhancement for using a firearm. Cho will receive six and a half years of credits, for time served and other adjustments.

victoria.kim@latimes.com

For more California news, follow me on Twitter @vicjkim

To read the article in Spanish, click here

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UPDATES:

6:35 p.m.: This article was updated with further details.

This article was originally published at 11:55 a.m.
With the flick of a lighter, a 12-year-old boy riding a push scooter set fire to the crafts section of a Barstow Walmart this week, causing at least $1 million worth of damage, police said.

The boy rode off after setting fire to the merchandise around 2 p.m. Wednesday, police said. He was found later that day in a neighborhood nearby and arrested on suspicion of arson, said Barstow Police Lt. Chris Kirby.

The giant retail store at 621 Montara Road has remained closed due to water, fire and smoke damage throughout the building, he said.

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Thats a substantial loss for Walmart, Kirby said, adding that the incident also required many firefighting resources.

The boy wasnt with his parents when he set the fire, police said.

Surveillance video showed the boy  who was wearing a backpack and green T-shirt with distinct markings  igniting the crafts and then riding out of the store on his scooter, Kirby said.

Several Walmart employees attempted to douse the flames with fire extinguishers but were unsuccessful, police said. Three employees suffered from smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene.

Eventually, firefighters from Barstow Fire Protection District were able to snuff the blaze.

After discovering that the fire was likely arson, police began talking to witnesses and looking at evidence. They searched surrounding neighborhoods for the boy.

Finally, police spotted the boy as he rode his scooter near Rimrock Road and Opal Street.

He was taken into custody and his parents were notified, police said. He has not been identified because he is a minor.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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Greenpeace Reports Nearly 200 Died in China in Chemical Explosions from Jan to Aug

Residents in Tianjin are gripped with fear as chemical plants mishandle operations and lead to deadly explosions. (Photo : Getty Images)

Greenpeace reported that there have been 232 incidents of chemical accidents causing factories to explode. These accidents have brought 199 deaths and 400 injuries.



The environment activist group is calling for China to "radically overhaul" the "appallingly under-regulated" chemical industry.



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Cheng Qian, a member of Greenpeace, said, "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."



The group reported that 33,265 chemical facilities are found near the country's coastal areas. China needs to provide more transparency to industry data.



The accidents that have occurred recently have been a result of the government's struggle in rules on acquiring, producing, storing and disposing of dangerous chemicals. Experts believe that 2011 data is outdated and that rules published at that time should be reviewed and tightened.



A chemical plant in Tianjin exploded on Wednesday that killed four workers. The plant is owned by Wanhua Chemical and produces chemicals to make foam and paint.



The deadliest explosion in China occurred last year and killed 165 people and injured almost 800 people. The explosion caused $1 billion in damages.



The government punished 49 individuals responsible for the chemical plant for poor safety practices and lack of oversight.



The company which owned the plant, Ruihai International Logistics, was also accused of handling dangerous chemicals without a license.



Chemical warehouses in Tianjin store as much as 700 tons of sodium cyanide, used in mining to separate gold and silver from the rock.



These chemical facilities are prohibited from operating if they are less than a kilometer from business or residential areas. However, there are still chemical plants that violate this rule.



Residents in Tianjin fear that there is still remains of sodium cyanide in the city's water and air.


An Orange County Superior Court judge Thursday threw out the California Coastal Commissions approval of a Laguna Beach apartment building, citing in part commissioners violation of public disclosure laws.

The decision again casts a spotlight on some commissioners haphazard adherence to Coastal Act requirements that they promptly report contacts with developers, environmentalists and others that occur outside official proceedings.

Judge Kim Dunning found that six commissioners who voted on the apartment project in January 2015 should not have done so because they had not properly disclosed so called ex-parte meetings involving the proposal.

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When commissioners do not satisfy the statutory requisites, they lose the right to participate in the hearing and the vote. These consequences are not to be dismissed as technicalities, they strike at the fundamental fairness and integrity of the process, Dunning wrote.

See the most-read stories in Local News this hour 

The judge also found that the Laguna Canyon proposal did not conform to local coastal plans that call for small-scale development and maintenance of the canyons rural character.

With 30 residential units, plus work space, plus retail space, plus a 47-stall parking garage, all on a parcel smaller than one acre, the Project does not qualify as small-scale or rural. It would be a stretch to label the project suburban, but easy to label it urban, Dunning stated in the 19-page ruling.

Commission spokeswoman Noaki Schwartz said her agency was reviewing the order and did not have further comment.

Commissioners are required to file disclosure forms within a week of an ex-parte contact. If meetings occur within seven days of a hearing on the matter, commissioners must report them orally at the hearing.

The judge devoted five pages to the various ways commissioners had not followed the rules in the Laguna Canyon case: Disclosure forms were not in the commissions official files before the hearing, were signed and dated more than a week after the contact or were nowhere to be found in the administrative record.

If that were the only issue, Dunning would have revoked the development permit and ordered the commission to rehear the project, according to the decision. But in light of the finding that the project violated local coastal standards, the proposal is dead, said attorney Julie Hamilton, who represents Friends of the Canyon, the group that challenged the project.

The developers attorney could not be reached for comment.

Ralph Faust, the commissions general counsel from 1986 to 2006, said that to his knowledge Thursdays ruling was the first to cite ex-parte violations as a basis for overturning a commission decision.

Hamilton, who worked as a commission planner years ago, said the ex parte problems became apparent at the projects 2015 hearing.

A member of Friends of the Canyon had checked commission files a week before the hearing to see which commissioners were being lobbied on behalf of the development  so the group could contact them and urge a no vote.

Only one disclosure was in the file. But at the hearing, commissioners reported a number of meetings that should have been disclosed earlier.

Little did I know that disclosures were going to be the thing, said Hamilton, who filed the court petition in early 2015, nearly a year before commissioners dismissal of Executive Director Charles Lester heightened public and media scrutiny of the powerful coastal panel.

That attention has led to allegations of extensive ex-parte violations. A lawsuit served this month against five commissioners accuses them of violating disclosure requirements a total of 590 times during the last two years.

If courts uphold those allegations, individual commissioners could face civil penalties that, in two cases, could total more than $5 million.

Several other lawsuits are challenging coastal development permits partly on the grounds that commissioners improperly disclosed their ex-parte contacts.

Theyve gotten a lot of heat lately, Hamilton said. Hopefully it will change the approach they take.

bettina.boxall@latimes.com

Twitter: @boxall

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UPDATES:

3:00 p.m. This article was updated with additional details.
Health officials in Riverside County confirmed Friday that an elementary schoolchild has Hansens disease, also known as leprosy.

The child appears to have contracted the rare disease from someone that had been diagnosed with Hansens disease who had prolonged, close contact with the child, said Barbara Cole, director for disease control for the Riverside County Department of Public Health.

Leprosy is spread through coughing and sneezing but requires that people spend long periods of time together, like living in the same household, experts say.

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Cole could not provide details about how the child became infected but said the child lives in Jurupa Valley  in the western part of Riverside County  and the patient who spread the disease does not live in the county.

Cole said she expected the child to recover.

Earlier this month, health officials were notified that two children who attend Indian Hills Elementary School in Jurupa Valley might have Hansens disease, but only one case was confirmed, Cole said.

Theres no indication that the second child has Hansens disease, she said.

Jurupa Unified School District officials sent a letter home to inform parents about the possible cases and also disinfected a few classrooms, but the district is taking no further precautions, officials said.

We dont feel theres a risk at the school, and its safe for children to attend, Cole said.

Cole said national health guidelines dont consider schools or workplaces the types of environments where leprosy is likely to be transmitted.

If patients go untreated, leprosy can be a devastating and contagious disease that causes nerve damage as well as skin lesions.

Despite the stigma around the disease, experts say that patients dont need to be isolated and are easily treatable with antibiotics.

Approximately 95% of the population is naturally immune to the bacteria that cause leprosy. If someone is taking the recommended antibiotics, the bacteria stops being transmissible after just a few doses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

None of our recommendations to the school or parents have changed, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside Countys public health officer, said in a statement. It is incredibly difficult to contract leprosy. The school was safe before this case arose, and it still is.

In 2014, there were 175 new cases of the disease in the United States, 20 of which were in California, according to the National Hansens Disease Program.

Though rare in the U.S., leprosy is widespread in countries such as Brazil and India. The majority of patients reported with leprosy in the United States each year were not born in the U.S.

soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com

Twitter: @skarlamangla

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A plan for turning a former rail yard next to the Los Angeles River into park space, wetlands and other amenities could cost more than $252 million, city analysts said in a report Thursday.

The City Council voted in May to allocate $40 million for the purchase of the vacant site, which is owned by railroad company Union Pacific and referred to as Parcel G2. But the overall project, including the removal of contaminated soil, could reach six times that amount, according to the 91-page report.

Mayor Eric Garcetti has championed the G2 project for years, describing the property as a crown jewel of a larger, 11-mile river restoration initiative. He and the council must decide over the next few weeks whether to move ahead with a purchase of the site, which sits on the north side of the river next to Rio De Los Angeles State Park.

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Asked about the estimates, Garcetti said through an aide that he remains committed to the purchase of the property. The G2 site will create 41 acres of much-needed green space in the heart of L.A., said his spokeswoman, Connie Llanos.

Councilman Gil Cedillo also renewed his support for the G2 purchase, calling the project an issue of environmental justice for his Eastside district. In a statement, he said the G2 site would provide his constituents in Cypress Park and other nearby neighborhoods a critical access point to the river.

This is a long-term project that is not going to happen overnight, Cedillo said. We must take it step by step, and first and foremost is securing the land.

Thursdays report makes clear that the 11-mile river project, which stretches from the northern end of Griffith Park to downtown Los Angeles, will be considerably costlier than it was billed two years ago. The price tag for the overall initiative  purchasing land, ripping out concrete, adding water cleanup features, reintroducing native habitat, among other things  is expected to reach nearly $1.6 billion, the report says.

The river project was portrayed as a $1-billion initiative two years ago. At that time, city officials voiced hopes that the cost would be split 50-50 with the federal government, primarily the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Now, city analysts say Los Angeles could find itself shouldering 76% of the financial burden. But they point out that city leaders could choose to pursue some projects in the 11-mile river plan and not others.

At the G2 site, the biggest cost is expected to be soil cleanup, which has been estimated at more than $120 million, according to the report prepared by City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana and Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso.

The rail yard is on the northeast bank of the river, near some of the waterways more picturesque sections. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times )

Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., voiced concerns about devoting so much money to one section of the city. Politicians at City Hall should initiate a broader discussion of the G2 site and the larger river project, he said.

The city needs to analyze whether this is a fair amount for 41 acres, Close said. And No. 2, is this a location that really needs the parkland the most? There are areas of the San Fernando Valley that have been asking for parkland for decades.

Santana said the report to the council lays out two choices for the citys elected leaders: buying the property or not buying it.

Theyve adopted an [environmental impact report] to restore the river. This is a first major step in that direction, he said. Its our job to present them with the immediate cost, as well as the potential long-term cost of this investment.

Santana said the city will need to spend the coming years identifying federal, state and local funds to cover the cost of the G2 project. So far, the federal government is expected to provide $25.4 million. State Sen. Kevin de Leon identified an additional $25 million for the site last year.

Garcetti and the council have until Oct. 31 to open escrow on the G2 site. If that deadline is missed, the property could be subject to a new appraisal, resulting in a higher purchase price, Santana said.

Supporters of the river restoration say the city would make a huge mistake in passing up on the purchase. If the city does not buy the G2 site, Union Pacific will sell it to some God-awful industry, theyll pave it over and thatll be it, said Joe Edmiston, executive director of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

I think the people of Los Angeles want to have a restored river, he added.

Parcel G2 was for several decades part of the Taylor Yard railroad complex. The property was used as recently as 2006 for fueling and maintenance operations, according to an environmental review prepared in 2014. Soil and groundwater at the site contains arsenic, lead and other contaminants.

The City Council voted to begin property negotiations with Union Pacific in December 2013. In an email, Union Pacific spokesman Justin Jacobs said his company has completed negotiations with the city and is awaiting a decision by the council.

david.zahniser@latimes.com

Twitter: @DavidZahniser

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A customer threw a cup of urine on a McDonalds employee in Victorville after she misquoted the cost of a Bundt cake, authorities announced this week.

Detectives released surveillance camera images Tuesday that showed a man holding a white cup in his hand as he peered into the drive-through window of the McDonalds restaurant in 12000 block of Mariposa Road.

San Bernardino County Sheriffs detectives said they are looking for the man in the July 26 attack and asked for the publics help to identify him.

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Det. Mike Mason told KNBC-TV the customer was sitting in the back seat of a silver, four-door car that pulled up to the restaurants drive-through.

The passenger, along with another man and woman in the vehicle, ordered Bundt cakes, and then became angry when the employee said she misquoted the price of the desserts, the TV station reported.

After buying the cakes and driving off, the man returned, walked up to the window and started yelling at the employee, the detective told KNABC-TV.

Thats when he threw the cup of liquid -- which investigators later determined was urine. The urine-thrower then ran back to the car and drove off.

The employee was drenched in urine, and some even entered her mouth, the TV station reported.

Anyone with details about the man is urged to call Mason at (760) 241-2911.

veronica.rocha@latimes.com

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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Can police prevent hate crimes by monitoring racist banter on social media?

Researchers will be testing this concept over the next three years in Los Angeles, marking a new frontier in efforts by law enforcement to predict and prevent crimes.

During a three-year experiment, British researchers working with the Santa Monica-based Rand Corp. will be monitoring millions of tweets related to the L.A. area in an effort to identify patterns and markers that prejudice-motivated violence is about to occur in real time.

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The researchers then will compare the data against records of reported violent acts. The U.S. Department of Justice is investing $600,000 in research by Cardiff University Social Data Science Lab, which has been at the forefront of predictive social media models

Cardiff University professor Matthew Williams said the research is designed to eventually enable authorities to predict when and where hate crime is likely to occur and deploy law enforcement resources to prevent it.

The insights provided by our work will help U.S. 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.

His labs previous research in the United Kingdom found that Twitter data can be used to identify areas where hate speech is occurring but where no hate crimes have been committed. This can be useful, researchers said, in neighborhoods with many new immigrants, who are unlikely to report the crime because of fear of deportation.

In 2012, an estimated 293,800 nonfatal violent and property hate crimes occurred in the United States, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. About 60% of those were not reported, the Justice Department found.

Of course, there is a big difference between someone spouting off on Twitter or Snapchat and an actual hate crime.

It is a great idea in the abstract. But it is not the panacea you might think, said Brian Levin, executive director of Cal State San Bernardinos Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. The problem is the correlation and reliability.  There are many different forms of social media.

Levin, who has tracked both Middle Eastern terror groups and local neo-Nazi organizations, also noted that some hate groups dont advertise their work on social media.

Local tensions may arise to fly and be absent from social media, he said. Some segments of the community shun social media  so examining social media as a predictor can be a bit like having one screwdriver and sometimes it doesnt work.

Predictive policing already is in use at the Los Angeles Police Department and other agencies. The LAPD uses a predictive policing algorithm to deploy officers to locations where prior crime patterns strongly suggest similar crimes may occur. As crime during the last two decades has dropped dramatically across the nation and Los Angeles, police commanders are increasingly looking for any edge they can get in cutting crime.

L.A. County is particularly useful because a huge volume of social media produces massive data sets that increase the accuracy of predictive models over traditional crime analysis and trend-chasing, said Pete Burnap, from Cardiff Universitys School of Computer Science and Informatics.

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, he said.

Traditional predictive police modeling has paired historical crime records with geographical locations and then made a probable calculation to predict future crimes. But Twitter and social media-based models work in real time using what people are talking about now. The algorithms look for particular language that is likely to indicate the imminent occurrence of a crime.

British researchers began looking at cyber-hate in the aftermath of the killing of British Army soldier Lee Rigby at the hands of Islamic extremists on a London street in 2013. Analysts collected Twitter data and tested a text classifier that distinguished between hateful and antagonistic responses focusing on race, ethnicity and religion.

The British researchers are building a completely new hate speech algorithm designed specifically for Los Angeles. They said thats necessary because of the linguistic and cultural difference between L.A. and London.

We will also gain access to 12 months LAPD recorded hate crime data, he said.

The idea, he added, is to see whether an increase in hate speech in a given area is also statistically linked to an increase in recorded hate crimes on the streets in the same area, Williams said.

In addition to potentially predicting crimes, the researchers hope their work might shed light on hate crimes that are now not reported.

We know that official reports of hate crime from police probably underestimate how common hate crime really is  but we dont really know by how much, or which types of hate crimes are most seriously underreported, said Meagan Cahill, senior researcher at Rand Corp. said. Using Twitter data from Los Angeles County as a test case, this research will help create better knowledge about hate crime. And, we hope it will ultimately contribute to more hate crime prevention by police and other agencies alike.

richard.winton@latimes.com

Follow @lacrimes on Twitter

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The wife of KABC-TV chief meteorologist Dallas Raines has been charged with assaulting their 25-year-old daughter during a drive home from a country club, authorities said.

Danielle Dannie Raines, 58, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a Pasadena courtroom to the felony charge of assault likely to produce great bodily injury, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office.

Raines and her defense attorney could not be reached for comment.

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The case relates to an Aug. 31 incident that began at a country club in La Canada.

Prosecutors allege Raines had been drinking wine with her daughter at the country club and became belligerent, striking and pushing her daughter. The daughter, whose identity was not released, had been preparing to drive her mother home.

During the ride home, Raines allegedly assaulted the daughter, who stopped the car on the side of the road, prosecutors said.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jodi Taksar alleged in a statement that Raines beat the victim once parked on the side of the road and attempted to strangle her daughter.

Sherriffs deputies arrested Raines about 4:40 a.m. on Aug. 31, according to jail records. After posting $30,000 bond, Raines was released from custody about 2:30 p.m. that day, jail records show.

If convicted, Raines faces up to four years in state prison.

Raines, a writer, is active in local philanthropy and recently served on the organizing committee for the Community Scholarship Foundation of La Canada Flintridge.

Raines and her husband  the tanned, kinetic meteorologist for Eyewitness News broadcasts  live in Pasadena.

The couples profile took a public and dramatic turn in the early 1990s, when they were victims of a stalking plot by a former LAPD officer.

Martha Cane wrote repeated love letters to Dallas Raines, professed her desire to have his baby, called Danielle Raines an evil woman and vowed to break up their relationship.

Cane was convicted in 1993 of the misdemeanor stalking charge.

Unfortunately with anyone on TV, thats what we have to put up with, Raines told The Times then. Its just part of being in the public eye.

But this lady is an ex-LAPD officer. Obviously shes been trained in weapons fire, and thats frightening. She threatened my wife. We became very concerned with that.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno.

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Powerful winds blew across Southern California on Thursday, knocking out power and downing trees, giving a preview to a weekend that was forecast to bring soaring temperatures, low humidity and Santa Ana winds.

The mixture of weather  coupled with the effects of the years-long drought  will elevate the risk of wildfires during the first weekend of fall, a season when the Southland typically sees its biggest wildfires.

The strongest winds were observed Thursday evening in the Antelope Valley, Central Coast and inland mountains, where gusts reached 35 to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

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Saugus saw a peak wind of 45 mph and Santa Barbara Island saw a max speed of 52 mph. Earlier in the day, Palmdale Airport had gusts that reached 52 mph.

The gusty winds next rolled into the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills.

In West Hollywood, the powerful winds downed a tree in the 1000 block of Laurel Avenue, damaging at least two parked cars. Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies asked motorists to avoid the intersection.

The Interstate 5 Freeway corridor in Los Angeles County could see gusts of up to 60 mph, forecasters said.

Scattered power outages were reported, but it was unclear if the wind had caused the loss of power.

A total of about 3,000 customers lost power near Windsor Square, Larchmont Village, and Harvard Heights, according to the Department of Water and Power.

About 525 Southern California Edison customers lost power across the Southland, including more than 360 in Los Angeles County. Twenty customers in San Bernardino County lost power because of the wind, according to the utility.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties that extends through the weekend, cautioning that the strong winds and temperatures up to 105 degrees would lead to a heightened risk of wildfires.

Because of a high pressure system building during the weekend, temperatures will bring widespread warmth, according to weather officials.

Inland areas are expected to see highs of 90 to 100 by Sunday, while coastal mountains and valleys will see highs between 90 and 105, according to the National Weather Service.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno.

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A pioneering physicist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who helped build a key tool for studying the universe and played a role in the project that created the first atomic bomb has died, a lab official said Thursday.

Edward Joseph Lofgren led the development, construction and operation of the Bevatron, an early particle accelerator at the lab. A giant machine that smashes atoms, it was used to find the antiproton, a discovery that led to a Nobel Prize. This research helped scientists study how todays universe was created and grew.

Lofgren also was involved in the Manhattan Project, the federal governments successful effort to build an atomic bomb.

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Lofgren died in Oakland on Sept. 6, lab spokesman Glenn Roberts Jr. said. He was 102.

Before his retirement in 1979, Lofgren also served as associate laboratory director, and he was the first director of the newly formed accelerator division.

Born Jan. 18, 1914, and the youngest of seven in a family of Swedish immigrants, he moved to Los Angeles at age 13. He later enrolled at UC Berkeley, arriving by bus with two suitcases and $200. He had read about and become increasingly interested in its Radiation Laboratory and the cyclotron developments there.

He earned an undergraduate degree in 1938 and then enrolled as a graduate student. In 1940 he joined the Radiation Laboratorys staff as a research assistant. One of his duties was assisting in the development of techniques for medical isotope production.

Lofgren left his studies to become a full-time employee of the Radiation Lab and led development of the ion sources for the Calutron. He spent much of the early war years in Oak Ridge, Tenn., assisting in the development of the Calutron farm there to enrich uranium-235 for the Manhattan Project, which built the first atomic bomb, according to friend and former colleague Jose Alonso.

Lofgren moved in fall 1944 to Los Alamos, N.M., where he joined a group working on detonators for the atomic bomb, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory website.

He earned his doctorate from UC Berkeley in June 1946.

Alonso, who worked for Lofgren for five years but knew him for more than 40 years, said that even a week before his death his innate interest in the world hadnt faltered. Alonso recalled how Lofgren was explaining how San Francisco fog was generated and why it was there.

He was always wanting to teach, Alonso said.

Lofgren is survived by his three daughters: Helen Lofgren, Laurel Phillipson and Claire Lofgren; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In the shaky video she shot on her cellphone, Rakeyia Scott can be heard trying to save her husbands life.

Dont shoot him! she shouts to the Charlotte, N.C., police officers who surrounded her husband this week in the parking lot of a condominium complex. He has no weapon.

As police officers scream at 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott  Drop the gun! Drop the gun!  his wife tells them: He doesnt have a gun.

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Soon four shots can be heard, followed by Rakeyia Scotts screams.

Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? Did you shoot him? she screams as she walks closer to the scene, still recording with her phone. He better not be dead, he better not be  dead.

Soon, she was using the phone to call 911, her husbands body splayed on the ground.

Attorneys for the Scott family on Friday released the first publicly available video of Tuesdays shooting as Charlotte continued to reel from days of protests that have focused, in part, on city officials refusal to release police footage of the incident.

Release the tapes! has become a familiar refrain on Charlottes streets. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for an end to the rioting in Charlotte, while Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton zeroed in on the video, calling for release of the footage without delay.

Suspect arrested in Charlotte protesters shooting death, chief says 

The debate in Charlotte has once again highlighted the uneven level of transparency that exists in cases of police shootings across the U.S.

Days earlier, police in Tulsa, Okla., had quickly allowed the public to see disturbing video of another line-of-duty shooting, this one involving a white police officer and a black motorist who died with his hands in the air.

Many cities do not have fixed policies about when to release crucial footage of a police shooting, and such killings frequently turn into chaotic political struggles. In many cases, family members, activists and social media users turn up the pressure on local officials, as happened Friday in Charlotte, by releasing their own footage.

The public now may have media tools as good as or better than those of the police. Encounters with police are sometimes now live-streamed as they happen, a tactic clearly intended to influence the outcome in real time.

After a shooting, members of the public can release their own footage when they believe that police have not described an incident truthfully.

Such pressure is unusual for police investigators, who in other kinds of cases are typically allowed to hold off on releasing video recordings of an incident. The reasons are many. A video of a crime, for example, can often be used to test whether a suspect is lying or a witness is remembering an incident accurately.

Indeed, release of a video may cause confusion about whether a witness is describing what they saw during a crime or what they saw on the video.

Charlotte police Chief Kerr Putney has said release of the official video would be counterproductive and could potentially compromise the integrity of the investigation  though in a small concession, he did permit Keith Scotts family to view it.

Its not that I want to hide anything, Putney said at a news conference Friday morning. I want to be more thoughtful and deliberate. If I were to put it out indiscriminately and it doesnt give you good context, it can inflame the situation, exacerbate backlash, increase distrust.

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)

Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts said she believes the tape should be made public, though not necessarily right now.

I lean towards transparency in everything our city does, Roberts said Friday, but she emphasized that the question is one of timing.

I know theres a delicate balance when theres an ongoing investigation. If one piece is released early, it can jeopardize the integrity of the investigation, she said. If you have already seen something on the Internet, it can cloud your memory, it can alter what you think you saw.

In July, North Carolina lawmakers passed a law that prohibits the release of footage taken by law enforcement without a court order. That law does not go into effect until Oct. 1, however.

Scotts fatal encounter with the police began Tuesday afternoon when officers confronted him outside a Charlotte condominium complex. Police say Brentley Vinson, a 26-year-old black officer, was looking for a suspect with an outstanding warrant  not Scott  and approached Scott shortly before 4 p.m.

According to the police account, Scott stepped out of the truck with a gun, and 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 weapon and posed an imminent deadly threat.

Scotts family has insisted he was holding not a gun, but a book.

Neither the official video, as the police describe it, nor Scotts wifes cellphone footage appear to answer the question definitively. Putney has said that while the police video footage doesnt offer absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm Scott was pointing a gun, the totality of all other evidence supported the police account of his death.

Rakeyia Scotts cellphone footage, which is shaky and taken for the most part from behind police vehicles, also does not clearly show the moment when her husband was shot by police. In the video, Rakeyia Scott tells the officers he has a TBI, a traumatic brain injury.

Hes not going to do anything to you guys. He just took his medicine.

In the video, Rakeyia Scott also directs orders to her husband as officers move in, with one of them asking for a baton.

Keith, dont let them break the windows! she says, her voice quivering.

Come on out the car, she insists. Keith, dont do it!

Keith, get out the car, she says again, her voice rising. Keith, Keith, Keith  dont you do it!

After the shots are fired, Scott is seen splayed on the ground, not moving, and surrounded by officers. His wife then calls 911.

On Friday, Putney pushed back against expectations that the police footage of Scotts death will be a panacea.

I can tell you that will not be the case, he said, adding that investigators are still interviewing witnesses and reviewing evidence. The process is painstakingly slow sometimes. Its going to take them some time to piece together everything that happened.

Kaleem reported from Charlotte, Jarvie, a special correspondent, from Atlanta, and Pearce from Los Angeles.

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UPDATES:

5:54 p.m.: This article was updated throughout.

1:05 p.m.: This article was updated with information on the arrest of a man in the fatal shooting of a black demonstrator in Charlotte, N.C., and additional comments from the citys police chief, Kerr Putney, and an attorney for the Scott family.

11:50 a.m.: This article was updated with details of the video.

This article was originally published at 10:55 a.m.
Michael Jordan, easily the most famous resident of Charlotte, N.C., was so concerned about the divide between African Americans and police that he donated $2 million this summer to support programs that would foster greater trust.

The donations, split equally between the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, were aimed at solving a national problem. But Jordan didnt have to go far to see the need, and this week the entire country watched as Charlottes racial tensions spilled into violence.

The violent protests that erupted after police fatally shot an African American man have exposed the rift in this fast-growing community of 800,000 people, which has prided itself on being a diverse and prosperous Southern powerhouse.

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Protesters and activists say the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott on the citys northeast side was merely the tipping point in growing divisions between white and black, rich and poor, police and racial minorities.

Scott was the sixth person to be fatally shot by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police since September 2015. The others were a Latino man, an Asian man and three black men. With one exception, all the officers involved in the prior shootings were white; the other was black.

Its a repeated thing where the cops keep on shooting black people. Nobody can tell you a white person who got shot by police, said Nicole Blackwell, 24, who was among demonstrators Thursday night in downtown Charlotte, where police faced off in riot gear against demonstrators. It just keeps happening over and over. At what point is it going to stop? We want equality, she said.

A demonstrator in Charlotte, N.C., this week. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Before Scotts death, police-community relations had already been frayed in 2013, when a white officer shot a 24-year-old unarmed man dead after he crashed his car into a residential area a few miles from where Scott died. After the officers trial last year ended in hung jury, the state did not retry the case and the victims family settled a $2.25-million civil lawsuit.

Police have attempted to patch up their relationship with residents since then, establishing partnerships with clergy and the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People to hold forums with community groups and informal meetings in black neighborhoods.

But Scotts death seems to have put a halt to any progress.

To the police chief whom we had worked with very closely in the past: Shame on you, Corine Mack, president of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg NAACP branch, said at a news conference Thursday. In an earlier news conference, Chief Kerr Putney had vowed to conduct a full investigation into the shooting, but suggested that some residents had already discounted the polices side of the case.

Theres your truth, my truth and the truth. Some people have already made up their minds about what happened, he said.

Residents in the city, whose population has swelled over the decade as young professionals and families moved in for jobs in the booming tech, banking and nonprofit sectors, swayed this week between shock and a lack of surprise as storefront windows were smashed, police cruisers were trampled and a protester was fatally shot on a downtown street. Police in riot gear released tear gas and nonlethal grenades into the crowds.

I dont condone whats happening, but I understand it. People are getting more and more frustrated, said Gerald Johnson, who runs the Charlotte Post, an African American newspaper, and leads Black Lives Matter Charlotte. Everyone looks at us as this trendy place, this diverse place, this wealthy place. But there is even more poverty with racial division, and the divide is getting deeper.

The citys police have been trying for years to have a better relationship with the African American community, but maybe it is not working as well as it could, said Johnson, 69, a lifelong resident of the city, whose Black Lives Matter group is not affiliated with the national activist organization of the same name.

Johnson said concern over police shootings elsewhere, and a decision by Charlottes police chief to not release a video of Scotts shooting, have only stoked the tensions in a progressive city known as a mecca for middle-class black Americans.

A growing black community makes up 34% of the citys population, which is close to half white, but African Americans hold a disproportionately small amount of Charlottes wealth and have long complained of aggressive policing in their neighborhoods, which dot the west side and poorer east side. The south side is wealthier and whiter; the north side, where Scott was shot, is more mixed and middle class.

Tensions mounted Tuesday night, hours after the officer shot and killed Scott, 43, who was confronted after police arrived looking for another person with an outstanding arrest warrant.

According to police, 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. The officer, identified as Brentley Vinson, is black, authorities said. He has been placed on leave.

On Thursday, police showed two videos of the shooting to Scotts family, and the State Bureau of Investigation said it had opened an inquiry into the shooting. The familys attorneys said in a statement that it was impossible to discern from videos whether Scott had a gun and demanded that the videos be made public.

Gene Nichol, a professor at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill who has studied race and poverty in Charlotte, said he believed the riots were not only a response to the police shooting but a consequence of growing inequalities in the city that have come with its transformation from a provincial capital to popular location for Fortune 500 companies and skilled workers from across the East Coast and South.

The citys poverty rate has almost doubled since 2000. The income disparity is potent, Nichol said. About 70% of black households make under $60,000 a year, while almost 60% of white ones make more than that. The median income for white families is 86% higher than blacks and Hispanics.

The poverty is concentrated and racialized. Charlotte has had probably the fastest rising concentrated poverty rate among major American cities.

Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Public Life at the University of North Carolina, said the city has also had to deal with scars of segregation. For a while, it had one of the most desegregated schools systems in the country. But a decade ago, as a result of court action, a federal judge released the Charlotte school system from its previous desegregation order. Now it has one of the most segregated schools systems.

Robert Dawkins, the state organizer of SAFE Coalition NC, a grass-roots advocacy group set up in 2013 to promote police accountability, said the city and its police force had made some progress in recent years, but there was more work ahead.

After the 2013 police shooting of Jonathan Ferrell, the 24-year-old unarmed black man, SAFE worked with Charlotte police and the City Council to change police policy, pushing for more oversight, police body cameras and officer training in conflict de-escalation and implicit bias.

Dawkins credited the current and former police chiefs, both African Americans, with working with the community to try to change police culture. Police said this week that the officer who shot Scott was not wearing a body camera and was in plainclothes, but other uniformed officers who were with him were wearing cameras.

Theres a lot of work going on. Its not the policy thats concerning so much as the implementation. There always seems to be a difference between policy and practice, Dawkins said.

Some attempts to hold Charlottes police officers more accountable, Dawkins said, have been thwarted by state legislators. After activists were successful in getting city police equipped with body cameras, North Carolinas predominantly Republican General Assembly passed a law this summer that allowed police to keep video from public release in current cases unless theres a court order. The General Assembly has also refused to pass a bill that would allow Charlotte to give its police oversight board subpoena power.

Its frustrating, Dawkins said. Even when the chiefs trying to be progressive, hes stuck by General Assembly restraints.

jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com

Kaleem reported from Charlotte. Special correspondent Jarvie reported from Atlanta.

UPDATES:

5:45 p.m.: Updated to reflect that protester who was shot has died.

This article was originally posted at 5:05 p.m.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the General Assembly at the United Nations on Sept. 21, 2016 in New York City. (Photo : Getty Images)

China pledged to give $100 million more than it gave last year to the United Nations to fund global sustainable development in 2020, Premier Li Keqiang announced in New York on Monday.



In addition, the Chinese government will contribute $18 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in the next three years, Li said at the United Nations headquarters.



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The premier made his remarks during his roundtable address on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Global Process and China's Practice, which was hosted by China's permanent mission to the U.N.



According to Li, China gave a total of 1.76 billion yuan ($264 million) in 2010, 2011, and 2012 to various international development agencies and the Global Fund.



The amount donated by China to U.N. development agencies in 2015 was not immediately available as of press time.



LI added that sustainable development is a common cause for the world, and he called for the international community to tackle unbalanced development, promote inclusive economic growth, and jointly address global challenges like public health and climate change.



"China will continue to make unrelenting efforts to promote sustainable development and will actively participate in cooperation with the international community in this area," he told participants of the event, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.N. General Assembly President Peter Thomson, and the heads of other international organizations.



Li said China brought 400 million people out of poverty in the past 15 years and reduced the mortality rate for children younger than 5 by two-thirds and the mortality rate for pregnant women by three-fourths during that time.



The premier also highlighted China's recent approval of a road map for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a blueprint adopted by the U.N. in September last year to eradicate poverty and hunger, promote equality, and protect the environment in the years leading up to 2030.



Helen Clark, head of the U.N. Development Programme, said the agency looks forward to continuing its work with China to support the country's rapid progress in achieving its sustainable development goals.



China is showing its determination to lead on implementation by being among the countries that participated in the first national voluntary reviews at this year's high-level political forum for sustainable development, Clark said.



Haibing Ma, a senior research associate and China program manager at the Worldwatch Institute, told China Daily that China's rapid economic growth has become one of the positive loading forces for the global economy, which is good for sustainable development goals.



China's pledge showed its contribution as a major country to global governance and its aid to disadvantaged groups around the world, said Wang Yusheng, a researcher at the China Foundation for International Studies and Academic Exchanges.



As China's economic strength grows, it can increasingly help other developing countries to alleviate poverty and eliminate hunger, he added


Ardit Ferizi wasnt your typical Islamic State soldier. He didnt travel to Syria or launch a lone wolf style attack. He contributed in his own way  by hacking.

The teenage computer prodigy last year broke into a well-known U.S. retailers computers, swiped information on tens of thousands of its customers and provided a list to Islamic State of more than 1,300 names of those believed to be government and military personnel.

Within weeks of the June 2015 hack, the group published the identities as part of a kill list, urging homegrown extremists to hunt and murder the military and government officials. The publication sent chills through those on the list and represented a propaganda coup that allowed Islamic State to boast of being able to reach directly into Americans computers, watching your every move.

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In court papers and in interviews, U.S. officials say the case highlights how fast the terror threat is evolving in the age of computers and social media, especially for a terror group urging its followers to carry out lone wolf attacks when given the chance. It also revealed Islamic States global reach  Ferizi, a citizen of Kosovo, used a computer in Malaysia to hack the U.S. retailer and then forwarded the data to Islamic State operatives in Syria, who called on followers to strike the workers where they lived.

This is the blended threat, said John Carlin, the Justice Departments top national security prosecutor. Terrorism is now occurring at the speed of cyber, and they are exploiting Western-made technology and social media platforms.

Ferizi, who was arrested in Malaysia not long after the successful hack, was extradited to the United States. He was sentenced on Friday to 20 years in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to terrorism and hacking-related charges.

Standing before a U.S. district judge in Alexandria, Va., on Friday, Ferizi wore a green jail jumpsuit and spoke in a quiet voice, saying he was very sorry for what happened, making people scared.

His lawyer, Elizabeth Mullin, portrayed him as a troubled, misguided drug user who did not subscribe to Islamic States radical ideology and didnt understand the consequences of his actions.

Federal prosecutors disagreed, pointing to excerpts of messages between Ferizi and well-known Islamic State recruiters that they said left little doubt he understood his work could be used in deadly ways.

This was a hit list, said Special Assistant U.S. Atty. Brandon L. Van Grack said. This wasnt about stealing money from these people.

Ferizi, 20, was born in Gjakova, Kosovo, and raised in a middle-class family who endured ethnic cleansing at the hands of the Serbs in the late 1990s, his lawyer wrote in court papers. As a 4-year-old, Ferizi and his family were forcibly removed from their uncles home by Serbian police and watched helplessly as the uncle was executed, according to the papers.

After NATO intervened in the war and stopped the fighting, Ferizi returned to a somewhat normal life and got interested in computers. By the age of 10, he was a hacking prodigy and eventually assumed the online persona of Th3Dir3ctorY, the leader of an Albanian hacking collective responsible for breaking into government databases in Israel, Serbia, Ukraine and elsewhere, court papers show.

Ferizi, who struggled with undisclosed mental health problems, kept getting into trouble and was caught hacking into a Kosovo government database, court papers show. Hoping to turn his life around and improve his computer skills so he could earn a legitimate living, he moved to Malaysia to attend college.

While there, he communicated via Twitters direct messaging system with two well-known members of Islamic State, Tariq Hamayun and Junaid Hussain, both British citizens who were fighting and acting as recruiters for the terror group in Syria. Both men had been in communication with jihadists linked to terror plots, federal officials say.

The FBI found Twitter records, for example, showing that Hamayun had been communicating with one of the two men who were fatally shot by police while trying to attack a prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland, Texas, in May 2015. Drawn to the Islamic States rhetoric, Ferizi at first administered a website that published the groups violent videos and literature. He next passed along some stolen credit card data to Hamayun, who complimented the effort and said the credit card information was good enough to do some damage.

U sound like a good person, Hamayun messaged Ferizi in April 2015, according to excerpts of their Twitter direct messages included in court filings. Plz brother come and join us in the Islamic State.

Two months later, Ferizi hacked into the U.S. retailer, which is not identified in court papers, and began stealing the identities of tens of thousands of customers.

Proud of his work, he boldly emailed a representative of the company, demanding $500 in Bitcoin, an online currency, to relinquish his access to the companys computers and to explain how he had broken into them.

The companys representatives reported the hack to the FBI, thinking they were the victims of an all-too-common cyberattack and extortion scheme. As the FBI traced the intrusion to Ferizi, the hacker was narrowing more than 100,000 identities down to 1,351 that had military and government email addresses.

He next sent the information to Hussain, who was a member of Islamic States cyber unit. Two months after that, Hussain and the Islamic State unit published the identities, bragging, We are extracting confidential data and passing on your personal information to the soldiers  who will strike at your necks in your own lands!

Clearly proud of Ferizis work, Hussain told the hacker he was helping Islamic State to hit them hard.

God willing, Ferizi replied in Arabic, punctuating the message with a smiley-face emoticon.

Hussain then urged the young man to come to Syria to join his elite group of cyberterrorists.

We can work together here, the recruiter promised. u will stay in the base. free food. free electric. free gas.

Ferizi never got the chance. Not long after that exchange, Hussain was killed in a U.S. airstrike, and the hacker was captured.

@delwilber

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Obama vetoes bill paving way for 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia, setting up a possible override
President Obama vetoed legislation Friday that could allow Americans to sue Saudi Arabia over whether it supported some of the Sept. 11 hijackers, potentially triggering the first veto override of his presidency.

Obamas veto was the 12th in his eight years in office. But given the breadth of support for the bipartisan measure  it passed unanimously in both the House and Senate  the veto could be the first lawmakers are able to overcome with an override vote.

That step is not assured, though. The administration has begun courting lawmakers, particularly fellow Democrats, who may agree with the spirit of the legislation but could be swayed to Obamas side by arguments about the potential geopolitical ramifications of the bill.

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The legislation would revive a lawsuit brought by families of Sept. 11 victims against the Saudi government by clarifying a 1976 law governing the principle of sovereign immunity. The measure specifies that foreign governments could be held liable in American courts for terrorist attacks in the U.S.

The White House has warned that the legislation could prompt legal and economic retaliation from foreign governments. It has raised the specter of the U.S. government being sued in courts all over the world, and pointed to Saudi Arabias threat to sell off hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. debt and other assets, though the effectiveness of that has been called into question.

Enactment  could encourage foreign governments to act reciprocally and allow their domestic courts to exercise jurisdiction over the United States or U.S. officials  including our men and women in uniform, Obama said in a nearly 1,300-word veto message.

He said he had deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks, and said his administration was committed to their pursuit of justice.

But, he said, the legislation could harm U.S. counterterrorism efforts by taking such matters out of the hands of national security and foreign policy professionals and placing them in the hands of private litigants and courts.

The law would also likely further strain relations with Saudi Arabia, a critical Middle East partner with whom the U.S. is already on rocky ground.

For years, the nations have been bound together by U.S. dependence on Saudi oil and a shared suspicion of and isolation of Iran. Now, U.S. dependency on the Saudi oil reserves is on the wane, and Obama has shaken the foundations of the partnership by engaging in diplomatic talks with Iran that resulted in a deal to limit its nuclear program.

And though the Saudis have for decades counted on the U.S. to bolster stable regimes in the Arab world, the U.S. hasnt followed the advice of Saudi kings in recent years, notably on Iraq and Egypt.

Obama is trying to sell his complicated argument against a more straightforward emotional plea by 9/11 victims families. Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York, the No. 3 Democrat in the chamber and typically an ally of the White House, called Obamas veto a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress.

But White House aides say lawmakers have been open to concerns raised in private conversations.

Its politically inconvenient, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said of the bill. But when it comes to the stakes and the impact that this could have on our national security, the presidents willing to take some political heat in order to try to do the right thing and stand up for a principle that has an impact on the safety and security and risk thats faced by our service members and diplomats around the world.

The Senate will move to a potential override vote as soon as practicable, said a spokesman for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Congress first priority in the next week will be passing a new government funding measure before the current one expires Sept. 30. If lawmakers put off an override vote until after an extended campaign recess set to begin in October, it would offer the White House more time to make its case.

It floated right through the Senate, it seemed like  why wouldnt you want people to be able to sue?  and through the House. Now people are stopping and actually reading it, said Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), the minority whip.

There was always a thought this would never go anywhere. And it did. The administration takes it seriously, and I will, too, he added.

The victims relatives have lobbied aggressively for the proposal. Supporters of the legislation say it will help bring closure to the victims of the nations deadliest attack by allowing them to prosecute even its potential government sponsors.

They say the sovereign immunity law had been previously interpreted to allow such cases to proceed until 2005, without the kind of repercussions the administration now warns about.

Hillary Clinton, Obamas former secretary of State and the junior senator from New York at the time of the attacks, would sign the legislation if she were president, her campaign said Friday, complicating White House efforts to win over Democrats to help sustain a veto.

Secretary Clinton continues to support the efforts by Senator Schumer and his colleagues in Congress to secure the ability of 9/11 families and other victims of terror to hold accountable those responsible, spokesman Jesse Lehrich said in a statement.

Republican nominee Donald Trump likewise said he would sign the legislation if president, while condemning Obamas action.

That President Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace, he said.

The U.S. government does not hold Saudi leadership accountable for the attacks, and there there is no evidence in the 9/11 Commission report that the kingdom backed Al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden. But the panel did determine that some senior leaders supported extremist causes, and that monitoring all such funding remains elusive.

If a president vetoes a bill, it can still become law with an affirmative vote by two-thirds of both the House and Senate. In 2015, the Senate fell just short in an effort to bypass Obama and approve the Keystone XL pipeline, an early priority of the chambers new Republican majority.

Even as McConnell indicated he believed there was still overwhelming support for the legislation, he helped lead opposition to another vote this week that would impact the U.S.-Saudi relationship: a resolution that aimed to block a proposed $1.15 billion arms deal with the Gulf power.

Its important to the United States to maintain as good a relationship with Saudi Arabia as possible, McConnell said.

President George W. Bushs final two vetoes were each overridden by what was then a Democratic-led Congress in 2008, including a major agriculture bill and legislation to prevent reduced doctors payments under Medicare.

Times staff writers Lisa Mascaro and Christi Parsons contributed to this report.

michael.memoli@latimes.com

For more White House coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter.

Their young world crumbled. Now the children of 9/11 look back

9/11 attacks reemerge as a critical test of U.S.-Saudi relationship

Saudi Arabia is threatening to sell $750 billion in U.S. assets. Talk about an empty threat.

UPDATES:

3:15 p.m.: This story was updated with comment from Donald Trump.

2:30 p.m.: This story was updated with comment from Obama and reaction.

This story was originally published at 1:20 p.m.
Less than a week after an unarmed black man was shot dead by a white police officer on a Tulsa, Okla., street, prosecutors charged the officer with first-degree manslaughter, a decision that may prevent unrest in a city with a long history of tense race relations.

Tulsa officer Betty Shelby reacted unreasonably when she fatally shot 40-year-old Terence Crutcher on Sept. 16, prosecutors wrote in an affidavit filed with the charge on Thursday. Police also acted quickly to provide videos of the shooting to black community leaders and members of Crutchers family and then released them to the public.

Anger grows in Tulsa as police release video of fatal shooting of unarmed black man 

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Crutcher died from a penetrating gunshot wound of chest, the Oklahoma state medical examiners office said Friday, classifying his death as a homicide. Spokeswoman Amy Elliott said a full autopsy report and toxicology results are not yet complete.

Shelby was booked in the Tulsa County jail at 1:11 a.m. Friday and released 20 minutes later after posting $50,000 bond, according to jail records.

The swift action in Tulsa stood in contrast to Charlotte, N.C., where police refused under mounting pressure Thursday to publicly release video of the shooting of another black man this week and the National Guard was called in after two nights of violent protests. Demonstrations in Tulsa since Crutchers death have been consistently peaceful.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett praised the police department for quickly providing evidence to District Attorney Steve Kunzweilers office.

These are important steps to ensure that justice and accountability prevails, Bartlett said in a statement. We will continue to be transparent to ensure that justice and accountability prevails.

Phil Turner, a Chicago-based defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, said the motivation of prosecutors in Tulsa may have been partly to allay outrage and avoid the kind of violence Charlotte has seen.

But I dont think the charge was only to give the crowd some blood. ... No. I think [prosecutors] must have thought charges were warranted, he said.

If convicted, Shelby faces between four years and life in prison.

Crutchers twin sister, Tiffany Crutcher, said her family is pleased with the charge, but she and her attorneys want to ensure a vigorous prosecution that leads to a conviction.

Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons said: We are happy that charges were brought, but let me clear  the family wants and deserves full justice.

Not only for this family, not only for Terence but to be a deterrent for law officers all around this nation to know that you cannot kill unarmed citizens.

Shelbys attorney, Scott Wood, did not immediately respond to telephone messages seeking comment on the charges.

Dashcam and aerial video of the shooting and its aftermath showed Crutcher walking away from Shelby with his arms in the air. The video 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.

Protesters fill the food court chanting Black lives matter in the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma on Thursday in Norman, Okla. (Steve Sisney / The Oklahoman via Associated Press )

But Crutchers family immediately discounted that claim, saying the father of four posed no threat to the officers. And police said Crutcher did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle.

The affidavit filed Thursday indicates that Shelby cleared the drivers side front of Crutchers vehicle before she began interacting with Crutcher, suggesting she may have known there was no gun on the drivers 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.

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. Lee F. Berlin, a Tulsa-based defense lawyer and a former assistant district attorney in Oklahoma, said prosecutors could present both theories or may decide to move forward with only one and let jurors decide.

Berlin also said he thought ongoing tests by the state medical examiners office would be enough to delay the filing of criminal charges.

So, yes, I was surprised it came back quickly, he said, adding that he and other Tulsa attorneys he spoke with thought any charges against Shelby were unlikely.

Shelby, who joined the Tulsa Police Department in December 2011, was en route to a domestic violence call when she encountered Crutchers vehicle abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line. Shelby did not activate her patrol cars dashboard camera, so no footage exists of what first happened between the two before other officers arrived.

The police video shows Crutcher approaching the drivers 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 Crutchers vehicle. Shelbys attorney, 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 Crutchers family said the family didnt know whether drugs were found in the SUV, but that even if they were, it wouldnt justify the shooting.

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.

Crutchers shooting followed a long history of troubled race relations in Tulsa, dating to the citys 1921 race riot that left about 300 black residents dead. As recently as 2013, a City Council vote to rename the citys glitzy arts district, which had been named after the son of a Confederate veteran and Ku Klux Klan member, drew vehement opposition.

Earlier this year, a white former volunteer deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriffs 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.

But Kunzweiler, the Tulsa prosecutor, emphasized the citys peaceful reaction in the aftermath of Crutchers shooting.

Its 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, he said.

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UPDATES:

9:10 a.m.: This article has been updated with a report from the Oklahoma state medical examiners office.

This article was originally published at 6:50 a.m.
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.
Trump and Clinton agree. Both oppose Obama veto of bill letting Sept. 11 families sue Saudi Arabia

The Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls found rare common ground Friday in opposing President Obamas decision to veto legislation that would give Sept. 11 victims families standing to sue the Saudi government over the deadly attacks.

But there was a marked difference in tone as they expressed solidarity with supporters of the bipartisan legislation.

In a statement, Donald Trump blasted Obamas veto as one of the low points of his presidency.

That President Obama would deny the parents, spouses and children of those we lost on that horrific day the chance to close this painful chapter in their lives is a disgrace, he said.

In his veto message, Obama expressed sympathy for families of victims, but warned the legislation could prompt retaliatory moves by foreign governments.

.@realDonaldTrump echoes @HillaryClinton in saying he'd sign JASTA if president. But his stmt denounces @POTUS veto as "disgrace" pic.twitter.com/rvOibMrVMl  Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) September 23, 2016

Clinton, Obamas former secretary of State and New Yorks junior senator during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, did not comment publicly herself. But a spokesman said Clinton would sign the legislation if she were president.

Referring to New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, spokeswoman Jesse Lehrich said in a statement, Secretary Clinton continues to support the efforts by Sen. Schumer and his colleagues in Congress to secure the ability of 9/11 families and other victims of terror to hold accountable those responsible.

Clintons support for the legislation potentially complicates White House efforts to win over Democrats ahead of an expected override vote next week.

Read More
American voters have a clear choice on Nov. 8. We can elect an experienced, thoughtful and deeply knowledgeable public servant or a thin-skinned demagogue who is unqualified and unsuited to be president.

Donald J. Trump, a billionaire businessman and television personality, is the latter. He has never held elected office and has shown himself temperamentally unfit to do so. He has run a divisive, belligerent, dishonest campaign, repeatedly aligning himself with racists, strongmen and thugs while maligning or dismissing large segments of the American public. Electing Trump could be catastrophic for the nation.

By contrast, Hillary Clinton is one of the best prepared candidates to seek the presidency in many years. As a first lady, a Democratic senator from New York and secretary of State in President Obamas first term, she immersed herself in the details of government, which is why her positions on the issues today are infinitely better thought-out than those of her opponent.

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Against a Mitt Romney or a John McCain, Hillary Clinton would almost certainly be The Times choice. Against Donald Trump, the question answers itself.

 Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have been hitting the campaign trail hard with only a few weeks left before election day.

She stands for rational, comprehensive immigration reform and an improvement rather than an abandonment of the Affordable Care Act. She supports abortion rights, wants to raise the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour, hopes to reform the sentencing laws that have overcrowded American prisons, would repair the Voting Rights Act and help students to leave college without enormous debt. Abroad she would strengthen Americas traditional alliances, continue the Obama administrations efforts to degrade and ultimately defeat Islamic State and negotiate with potential adversaries such as Russia and China in a way that balances realism and the protection of American interests. Unlike Trump, Clinton accepts the prevailing science on climate change and considers the issue to be the defining challenge of our time.

Perhaps her greatest strength is her pragmatism  her ability to build consensus and solve problems. As president, she would be flexible enough and experienced enough to cut across party lines and work productively with her political opponents. As first lady, she worked with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) to create the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which provides healthcare coverage to more than 8 million children. As a senator, she was instrumental in persuading a Republican president to deliver billions of dollars in aid to New York after September 11. As secretary of State, she led the charge to persuade nations around the world to impose the tough sanctions on Iran that led to the landmark nuclear agreement, and she negotiated a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Electing Trump could be catastrophic for the nation.

Throughout her public career, beginning with her work in the 1970s for the Childrens Defense Fund, Clinton has advocated for women, children, the poor and minorities. She fought for what came to be known as Hillarycare 15 years before Obamacare became a thing; she has been outspoken in defense of womens rights around the globe, including in her powerful and influential speech in Beijing in 1995 proclaiming that womens rights are human rights.

Clintons long history of advocacy and public service stands in stark contrast to Trumps record of virtually no leadership at all. Hes famous and wealthy, a TV personality, a showman  but what in his resume suggests he is qualified to lead the country? In the coming weeks, Trump will no doubt try harder to appear presidential, but surely voters wont forget the long litany of insults, lies, threats and ignorant statements he has made about everyone from Mexicans and Muslims to a disabled reporter to Sen. John McCain, to the family of a dead Muslim-American soldier, to a federal judge, to President Obama.

Trumps ignorance of the issues is manifest. He has called climate change a hoax and vowed to renegotiate the Paris climate accord. Obamacare would be repealed and replaced with something great. His signature proposal is to construct a wall along the southern border of the United States  and have Mexico pay the billions of dollars involved. Mexico, unsurprisingly, insists it will not. As for the 11 million immigrants already in the country illegally, they will either be rounded up and deported (though experts say that will cost billions of dollars, disrupt the economy, divide families and require massive violations of civil liberties) or perhaps some will be allowed to remain, living in the shadows.

Trump doesnt take Americas global alliances seriously, he has cozied up to Russian strongman Vladimir Putin and he has promised to bring back waterboarding and worse. His pronouncements, though vague and sometimes contradictory, raise the specter of an iron-fisted leader taking action based on gut impulses  rather than a president seeking common ground among citizens in a politically polarized country.

In the style of earlier demagogues like Huey Long and George Wallace, Trump has aimed his misleading and mean-spirited diatribes at a struggling and frustrated segment of society  apparently touching a chord with voters who have experienced years of stagnant wages, whose jobs are threatened, who feel betrayed by Washington and nostalgic for a more prosperous past. To these voters Trump bashes immigrants and free trade and rails about law and order, promising to make America great again and assuring them that he alone can solve their problems. But those who put their hope in Trumps politics of resentment and fear are making a terrible mistake.

The more rational wing of the Republican party has been appalled by the direction in which the GOP is moving, and its braver members have spoken up. Mitt Romney called Trump unfit. Michael Bloomberg endorsed Clinton. Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham, Meg Whitman and Brent Scowcroft have all declined to support their partys nominee, as have many others. Fifty national security experts who worked in Republican administrations wrote earlier this year: Mr. Trump lacks the character, values, and experience to be president. He weakens U.S. moral authority as the leader of the free world. He appears to lack basic knowledge about and belief in the U.S. Constitution, U.S. laws, and U.S. institutions, including religious tolerance, freedom of the press, and an independent judiciary.

Some voters who do not like Trump worry that Clinton, too, has serious shortcomings. And of course she does; all politicians do. She has a penchant for secrecy that has caused her significant problems, not least in the investigation of her ill-advised decision to use a private email server for her official communications as secretary of State. It is true that her family foundation took millions of dollars from foreign leaders and overseas business people while she was in Obamas cabinet, creating the potential for conflicts of interest. She and her husband have spent years among the rich and powerful and have grown at home in that favor-trading world in a way that makes many voters uneasy. This page has criticized her in the past for adjusting her positions to match popular opinion and for being a little too comfortable with the use of military force. And at least on the hustings, she lacks the authentic, lets-have-a-beer personality that many voters seek in a candidate.

To be a great president, she will have to struggle to overcome her own weaknesses. But compared with Trumps infirmities as a candidate, her failings are insignificant. Its absurd  and perilous  to portray this election, as so many are doing, as a choice of the lesser of two evils or to suggest that her flaws are in any way on a level with his.

Neither Libertarian Gary Johnson nor Green Party candidate Jill Stein offers a serious alternative to the major-party candidates. Even voters who have questions about Clinton must recognize that neither Stein nor Johnson stands a chance of winning  and that a vote for either is merely one less vote for the only candidate who can defeat Trump. Besides, neither is a better candidate than Clinton; both were interviewed at length by The Times editorial board, and despite certain superficial appeal, neither comes close to matching Clintons qualifications, expertise or understanding of the political process.

The election of Hillary Clinton as the first female president of the United States would surely be as exhilarating as it is long overdue, a watershed moment in American history after centuries of discrimination against women. But thats not the chief reason to vote for her. She deserves Americas support because she is the overwhelmingly better candidate. Against a Romney or a McCain, she would almost certainly be our choice. Against Trump? The question answers itself.

Every presidential race is described as defining and historic. This time, its true. Americans must not sit this election out, but cast their votes for Hillary Clinton over her dangerous Republican opponent, Donald Trump.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

Hillary Clinton speaks to the L.A. Times editorial board about war, women and her ability to navigate partisan obstructionism

Jill Stein tells The Times editorial board why she thinks voting Democrat or Republican makes little difference

Possible presidential spoiler Gary Johnson speaks to The Times editorial board about siphoning votes from Hillary Clinton

Love Trump or leave Trump?

Top GOP security advisors warn Trump is dangerous
A growing chorus of politicians and national security experts have questioned whether it would be safe to have Donald Trumps finger on the nuclear button. But are they asking the right question?

In an open letter, 50 leading Republican national security experts warned that Trump possesses dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be president and commander in chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Or, as Hillary Clinton put it in her speech accepting the Democratic nomination: A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.

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Indeed, it would be very dangerous for an unstable, ill-informed person to have control of the nuclear arsenal.

Implicit in these admonitions, however, is the notion that it is OK to have a normal person in charge. In fact, many of Trumps critics explicitly endorse the idea that nuclear weapons, in the right hands, constitute an effective deterrent to nuclear attack by other powers and are the best, even the ultimate, guarantors of our national security.

Their argument  for the continued maintenance of a nuclear arsenal capable of destroying human civilization  depends on the assumption that these weapons only exist to persuade other nuclear powers not to attack, and that we will never actually use them.

The normal leaders of nuclear weapon states have already decided that under a variety of circumstances, nuclear weapons can and will be used.

Unfortunately, the 2010 U.S. Nuclear Posture Review explicitly rejects the notion that the sole purpose of U.S. nuclear weapons is deterrence, and the U.S. has threatened to use them many times. Leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, for instance, the U.S. refused to take the nuclear option off the table. Russian nuclear policy is even more dangerous, explicitly endorsing the early use of nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional war with NATO.

Pakistan has a similar nuclear doctrine that envisions the early first use of nuclear weapons if it should find itself in another war with India.

So the normal leaders of nuclear weapon states have already decided that under a variety of circumstances, nuclear weapons can and will be used.

Even if none of these nuclear powers ever makes a deliberate decision to use its nuclear arsenal, there is a very real danger that these weapons will be deployed because of miscalculation or computer error.

An article published this summer in the journal Space Weather described for the first time how a solar flare in May 1967 knocked out communication with a number of key radar installations in the Arctic. The U.S. military incorrectly concluded that the Soviets had disabled these early warning stations as the opening move in a surprise attack and prepared American nuclear armed bombers for takeoff. War was averted at the last minute when the Air Force received information about the true cause of the black out.

There have been at least five other major episodes when computer errors or misinterpretation of intelligence data led either Moscow or Washington to prepare to launch a nuclear war in the mistaken belief that the other side had already initiated an attack. The most recent of these took place in 1995, well after the end of the Cold War.

Furthermore, studies have shown that we dont need to have a full-scale nuclear war to destroy human civilization. Even a very limited nuclear war, confined to one corner of the globe, would have disastrous consequences across the planet. The use of just 100 Hiroshima-sized bombs  less than 0.5% of the worlds nuclear arsenal  against targets in urban areas could loft enough soot into the upper atmosphere to disrupt climate worldwide, cutting food production and putting 2 billion people at risk of starvation.

For the nuclear weapon states, these are most inconvenient truths. They view their nuclear arsenals as tools to project national power that they do not want to give up. All nine are currently spending enormous sums on upgrading their arsenals, and they have shown a fierce opposition to the efforts of non-nuclear weapon states that wish to legally prohibit the possession of these weapons.

Commenting on the Cuban missile crisis, the most dangerous moment of the Cold War, former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara said, It was luck that prevented nuclear war. Nuclear weapons do not possess some magic power that keeps them from being used. We have survived the nuclear era so far because of an incredible string of luck, and we cannot expect that luck to last forever. Sooner or later, if we do not get rid of these weapons, they will be used and they will destroy us.

The right question for us to ask is: Should anyone be able to press the nuclear button? And the right answer is a resounding No.

Ira Helfand is co-president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Robert Dodge is president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

MORE FROM OPINION

Hillary Clinton would make a sober, smart and pragmatic president. Donald Trump would be a catastrophe.

Vote for Johnson, elect Trump. Clintons youth turnout problem and what Tom Steyer can do about it.

President Trump would have significant conflicts of interest with Trump the businessman
Premier Li met with Obama earlier this week. (Photo : Getty Images)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed Beijing's opposition to plans by Washington and Seoul to deploy an advanced missile-defense system in South Korea during his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in New York.



"It is hoped that all parties will avoid taking actions that lead to escalation of the tense situation," Li said.



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The premier met Obama on the sidelines of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.



The U.S. and South Korea agreed earlier in July to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the Korean peninsula, drawing criticism from both Beijing and Moscow. THAAD radar has a maximum reach of 2,000 km and could cover portions of China and Russia.



Tensions on the peninsula further intensified earlier this month after Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test in an area near the China-North Korea border.



Li said China endorses the U.N. Security Council's plan for an additional response to the nuclear test by North Korea.



Beijing remains steadfast to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, ensuring peace and stability, and resolving issues in the region through dialogue and consultation, Li said.



According to a White House statement issued on Monday, both Obama and Li "resolved to strengthen coordination in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."



Zhang Tuosheng, director of the research department at the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies, said that China should continue counteracting the THAAD deployment plan while strengthening cooperation between the US and South Korea in pushing for denuclearization of the peninsula.



"No efforts should be spared to resume the Six-Party Talks [responsible for the negotiations], and even if the resumption is unlikely, support should be given to other dialogue promoting peace on the peninsula and denuclearization," Zhang told China Daily in an interview.



Jia Xiudong, a senior researcher in international affairs at the China Institute of International Studies, said the North Korean nuclear tests and the US-South Korea plan to deploy THAAD are "pushing the peninsula situation to a deadlock, which serves no interest of any party."



The root cause of the nuclear issue is the mutual distrust brewing between the U.S. and North Korea, and the only way out is to resume dialogue, Jia said.



During their talk, Li and Obama also discussed upon bilateral trade and investment as well as global issues including sustainable development, refugee crises, and international peacekeeping.


Hillary Clintons in trouble with the young. Its not that theyre flocking to Donald Trump, who trails her in every poll of millennial voters. Instead, shes losing their allegiance to Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson.

The oddity  and potentially, the tragedy  of all this is that many young Americans defining beliefs are dismissed or opposed by libertarians generally and Johnson in particular. But then, Johnsons appeal is less a testament to the popularity or credibility of his program than to the fact that hes become the none-of-the-above option for disgruntled citizens.

The recent Battleground Poll of swing states makes clear the extent of Clintons woes. When compared only to Trump, Clinton performed well among millennials: 68% trusted her more than him to defend the middle class, 64% to handle foreign policy, and 61% to manage the economy. But in a four-way contest with Trump, Johnson and Green Party nominee Jill Stein, she commanded just 46% support, with 26% for Trump, 18% for Johnson and 5% for Stein. In every poll that has broken down its respondents by age, Johnsons level of support among the young is several times higher than among their elders.

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Because Clinton appears to lose more votes to Johnson than Trump does, those who opt for the pox-on-both-your-houses candidate could well put the Republican in the White House.

Theres much [that Gary Johnson is] proposing that would be anathema to millennials if they only knew about it. Somebody needs to call that to their attention.

Clinton has responded to her millennial deficit by talking to audiences of college students about Trumps racism and xenophobia, and by sending Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren to campaign for her in swing states. She needs to do more: affirming and reaffirming her support for free public college tuition for poor and middle-class students, for raising the minimum wage, for clean energy and tighter environmental regulations to arrest climate change. But that wont suffice, either.

To date, the case that Clinton and her advocates are making to the young stresses the vast differences in policy and temperament that separate her from her Republican opponent, and that voting for Johnson only helps Trump. Its understandable that her campaign hasnt gone after Johnson  that would only raise his profile and give him more credibility. But theres much hes proposing that would be anathema to millennials if they only knew about it. Somebody needs to call that to their attention.

To be sure, Johnson supports the legalization of marijuana  way cool. Less cool is his position on climate change. Although he acknowledges that it is both real and at least partly man-made, he believes government should take no action against it, leaving the solution, in the classic libertarian manner, to the market and the private sector. As if it werent the private sector, in response to the markets incentives, which created global warming in the first place.

Then theres Johnsons position on what government can do to make college more affordable and enable students to matriculate without piling up mountains of debt. Or, more accurately, the absence of a position. He doesnt have one, since the very idea of such government interference runs counter to the libertarian creed.

Or consider Johnsons tax plan, which calls for eliminating the income tax and substituting a national sales tax  a massive shift of the tax burden away from the wealthy to the 90%, a group that includes the overwhelming majority of 20-somethings.

While Clinton campaigns against Trump, who will wage the campaign to win back her potential supporters who have strayed to Johnson?

There is, in fact, already a large-scale independent campaign on her behalf that targets young people in eight swing states, and it is funded by Tom Steyer, the California billionaire, mega-donor to environmental and other progressive causes, and possible candidate for governor in 2018. In partnership with the Service Employees International Union and other labor groups, Steyer is funding nearly 40% of a $55-million campaign to win young peoples votes for Clinton  focusing, as he recently told MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell, on issues of economic justice, environmental justice [and] racial justice.

Thats a focus that allows for plenty of positive contrasts between Clinton and Trump. Not to mention Clinton and Johnson.

Harold Meyerson is executive editor of the American Prospect. He is a contributing writer to Opinion.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

MORE FROM OPINION

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Running backs love an open field, cab drivers a well-timed series of green lights.

Demagogues love straw men. Like, say, the Obama administrations diabolical plan to hand control of the Internet to Vladimir Putin.



For the record: An earlier version of this blog post incorrectly identified the entity in charge of the master list of major Internet domains as the Internet Assigned Names Authority. It is the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.

There is no such plan  and neither the United States nor any other country controls the Internet, at least not outside their borders. Yet you wouldnt know that if you listened to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) talk about the administrations move to transfer the Internet Assigned Names Authority, which manages the master list of major Internet domains (.com, .net, .edu and the like), to a California nonprofit, the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers, on Oct. 1.

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This issue is far, far down in the weeds of technology policy, and yet it became such a flashpoint on Capitol Hill that it almost made its way into the short-term funding bill needed to keep the government open past Sept. 30. Cruz appears to have been stymied, however; Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has instead offered a clean spending bill with no room for such disputed policy riders.

It would be nice to say that clear heads and rational thought prevailed, or that Republicans started to doubt Cruzs position as soon as Donald Trump threw his weight behind it. Trumps national policy director, Stephen Miller, echoed Cruzs arguments in a statement Wednesday saying, The U.S. should not turn control of the Internet over to the United Nations and the international community. President Obama intends to do so on his own authority  just 10 days from now, on October 1st, unless Congress acts quickly to stop him.

Instead, it appears that Cruz was undone by the clock. With senators on both sides of the aisle seeking to add riders to the bill, several of which were contentious, the measure was headed for a drawn-out fight. And with vulnerable incumbents eager to get back to the campaign trail, McConnell decided that a clean bill  which Democrats had demanded  represented the path of less resistance.

Thats a good thing, because the Internet Assigned Names Authority (IANA) transition issue is hard to explain, which plays right into the hands of the Internet-giveaway fabulists. Theres a grain of truth to Cruzs story: The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration, an agency within the Department of Commerce, controls IANA. And the things IANA oversees, including the master list of domains and some key data-transmission protocols, help assure that the Internet functions as a seamless global network of networks, not disparate regional islands of data.

But the federal government hasnt run IANA for years. Instead, it hired the Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to do that, with a minimum of supervision. ICANN was formed to make sure the entities with the largest stakes in the Internet  telecommunications companies, online service providers, researchers, equipment makers and, yes, governments  would jointly have a say in the creation and management of domains.

Retaining control over IANA would admittedly keep a bit of leverage the federal government can use to bend ICANN to its will. And ICANN does have its faults. But U.S. leverage of the Internet is the problem, not the solution. Repressive regimes have been trying to persuade the United Nations and other international groups to assert authority over the Internets standards and protocols, in part because they argue that the U.S. government shouldnt have a unique relationship with a global communications network. Putting the Internet under the U.N., not transferring IANA to ICANN, would truly open the door to Russia and China censoring the Internet outside their borders by giving them and their allies more power to manipulate Internet standards.

This countrys representatives have held those efforts at bay, mainly by arguing that the current multistakeholder approach to Internet governance is more fair and true to the Internets spirit than a government-led alternative. Canceling the plan to turn IANA over to ICANN would signal that the United States doesnt really believe in multistakeholder governance, so why should anyone else?

Thats a far more complex and nuanced picture than the one Cruz has drawn. But for now, at least, it appears that the Senate wont be blocking the IANA transfer because of a straw man.

jon.healey@latimes.com

Twitter: @jcahealey
Hows this for a conundrum: A teenage boy identified in court documents as S.R.I.C. was being pressured by gang recruiters in his native Guatemala, but he kept refusing to join. When one gang member sliced his leg as an inducement and other gang members threatened to kill him and the rest of his family, S.R.I.C. fled to the U.S., eventually joining his father, a lawful permanent resident on the path to citizenship, in Los Angeles.

Did S.R.I.C.s experience in Guatemala qualify him for asylum? Maybe, maybe not. That decision is up to an immigration judge. But S.R.I.C. had more options beyond seeking asylum as he faced a deportation hearing nearly two years ago. Since his father was soon to become a U.S. citizen, he could wait to apply for legal status as a family member  though he would have to do that from outside the country. He also could apply for a waiver. But he had to decide quickly which path to pursue. Once he turned 18, if he remained in the U.S. more than six months after his birthday, he would lose the chance to get legal for several years.

Complicated? Very. And when the result of the immigration court fight is potential deportation to the place where he feared he would be killed, the stakes were high for S.R.I.C. Yet under immigration law, S.R.IC. and other minors, from infants to teens, facing deportation do not have a right to a lawyer, which meant the impoverished Guatemalan native, who had no knowledge of how the U.S. immigration court system worked, would have to face off alone against an immigration prosecutor trained in the byzantine immigration codes.

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To protect the interests of children who must struggle through that system, the problem demands action now.  Judge M. Margaret McKeown

The ACLU and other immigrants rights groups went to bat for S.R.I.C. and other minors, but a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling this week bounced the case, despite clear sympathy from the court. The issue was procedural  the plaintiffs, the courts ruled, had to go through the immigration court system first, though the plaintiffs had argued that system wasnt designed to entertain their claims to a right to a government-appointed lawyer.

The clearest and fastest solution, Judge M. Margaret McKeown argued in an unusual concurring opinion, is political, and to protect the interests of children who must struggle through that system, the problem demands action now.

The courts may eventually address the right to representation, she wrote, but it shouldnt have to.

I cannot let the occasion pass without highlighting the plight of unrepresented children who find themselves in immigration proceedings, McKeown wrote. While I do not take a position on the merits of the childrens constitutional and statutory claims, I write to underscore that the Executive and Congress have the power to address this crisis without judicial intervention. What is missing here? Money and resolve  political solutions that fall outside the purview of the courts.

The surge of unaccompanied minors at the Mexican border overwhelmed the immigration court system, she said, even prompting the government to describe the situation as a humanitarian crisis. The government has added money to private-sector and pro bono programs, and increased the number of judges and support staff, but the task still exceeds the capacity, to the detriment of justice, let alone fairness.

These programs, while laudable, are a drop in the bucket in relation to the magnitude of the problem  tens of thousands of children will remain unrepresented, McKeown wrote. A meritorious application for asylum, refuge, withholding of removal or other relief may fall through the cracks, despite the best efforts of immigration agencies and the best interests of the child.

As for S.R.I.C., he eventually found a lawyer who identified a path for him based on family relief, and the government dropped the deportation case to give him time to pursue it through the Citizenship and Immigration Services. His case stands as evidence of why providing lawyers to minors, especially, facing deportation is crucial. A study two years ago by Syracuse Universitys Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse found that three of four unaccompanied minors represented by lawyers won permission to remain in the U.S., compared with 15% of those facing the court alone.

Uncalculated is the amount of injustice done to deserving but unrepresented minors returned to risky environments when they could well have had a legal right to stay in the U.S.  if only they had someone to make the right arguments for them.

Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com

Follow my posts and re-tweets at @smartelle on Twitter
To the editor: Once again the LAUSD Board has made what I believe to be an irrational decision based on misinformed input from a small group of parents.

( Schools will start closer to Labor Day, Sept 21)

This is Los Angeles: its hot in August, its hot in September, its hot in June.

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Starting school earlier allowed students to finish final exams before winter break and gave high school students more academic time before Advanced Placement exams.

It also allowed for a few more vacation days during the busy Thanksgiving and winter holidays.

And now, in a misguided attempt to compromise between the best interest of students and the demands of parents who dont want to change their vacation plans, school will still start before Labor Day, will end further into June, and there will be fewer vacation days throughout the year.

Jason Harley, Los Angeles

::

To the editor: For more than 35 years, Ive taught in Los Angeles Unified School District. Before then, I was a student here.

Im frustrated and disappointed with LAUSDs decision to again change the school calendar to start closer to Labor Day.

For some, this change seems minor, but it speaks to a larger trend in education that keeps me up at night.

This decision places high school students at a disadvantage because they will have less time to prepare to get into the college of their choice.

Also, just last year LAUSD surveyed teachers like me regarding the school calendar  and those results showed that teachers preferred an earlier start date.

Our voices were not heard.

Linda Hoffman, Los Angeles

::

To the editor: The quality of LAUSD students education critically depends on when the school year begins: delaying the school year to begin later in September avoids the duration of school days spent in excessively high temperatures, thus providing a more comfortable environment for students for learning.

As a former LAUSD student who suffered hot temperatures during physical education, I believe LAUSD should avoid subjecting children to dangerous heat.

Dominique Durso, Porter Ranch

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is backing GOP nominee Donald Trump for the presidency, setting aside their bitter rivalry because Hillary Clinton must be defeated, he said Friday.

Our country is in crisis. Hillary Clinton is manifestly unfit to be president, and her policies would harm millions of Americans. And Donald Trump is the only thing standing in her way, Cruz, who came in second in the race for the GOP nomination, wrote on Facebook.

A year ago, I pledged to endorse the Republican nominee, and I am honoring that commitment. And if you dont want to see a Hillary Clinton presidency, I encourage you to vote for him.

The endorsements emphasis on defeating Clinton could help serve as armor against any flak Cruz got for abandoning his opposition to Trump, which he had long described as principled. The move was also seen as an act of political expediency by a Republican known to be eyeing the 2020 race if Trump loses in November.

Still, it was a remarkable step given how brutal the contest became between Trump and Cruz.

After initially getting along in the unusually large field of Republicans vying for the nomination, the pair grew increasingly vicious toward each other as the race intensified. Trump dubbed Cruz Lyin Ted, mocked his wifes appearance and falsely insinuated that the senators father might have been involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

By the time Trumps nomination appeared inevitable, Cruz was calling him utterly amoral, a pathological liar, a serial philanderer and a narcissist at a level I dont think this countrys ever seen.

The tension came to a head at the Republican National Convention. Cruz, speaking in prime time, pointedly refused to endorse Trump and infuriated the crowd when he urged delegates to vote your conscience, echoing a slogan used by anti-Trump delegates. In response, Trump said he didnt want Cruzs endorsement and threatened to launch a super PAC to take down the Texas senator when he ran for reelection.

As the summer wore on, Cruz began facing pressure from fellow Republicans who noted that he had pledged at the start of the primary season to support the partys eventual nominee.

Evidence of a thaw began emerging in recent days. Trumps running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, met privately with Cruz last week in Washington. Cruzs campaign manager, Jeff Roe, told reporters Wednesday that Cruz found Trumps recent campaigning encouraging.

"Watching Donald run a better campaign lately has been helpful to him," Roe said.

Hours later, the Trump campaign announced its support of a legislative priority of Cruzs, stopping the Obama administration from handing over control of Internet domain names to international stakeholders.

Cruz tweeted his thanks to Trump.

https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/778704296791543810

Trumps campaign manager responded with praise and pulled Cruzs campaign manager into the conversation.

https://twitter.com/KellyannePolls/status/778706695925080064

Internet freedom was among six policy reasons Cruz cited for backing Trump. The others were Supreme Court nominations, Obamacare, energy, immigration and national security.

These are six vital issues where the candidates positions present a clear choice for the American people, Cruz wrote. If Clinton wins, we know  with 100% certainty  that she would deliver on her left-wing promises, with devastating results for our country. My conscience tells me I must do whatever I can to stop that.

Trump said he was greatly honored by Cruzs endorsement.

We have fought the battle and he was a tough and brilliant opponent, Trump said in a statement. I look forward to working with him for many years to come in order to make America great again.

Even so, the 733-word announcement was not a full-throated endorsement  Cruz did not use the word endorse until the final paragraph. He released it on a Friday, virtually guaranteeing it will be overshadowed by Mondays highly anticipated debate between Trump and Clinton.

But Cruz did praise Trumps expanded list of potential Supreme Court nominees released Friday, as well as what Cruz described as Trumps increased focus on freedom, such as emphasizing school choice to help lift minorities out of poverty.

The endorsement was politically convenient, with little to no downside, said Craig Robinson, an influential conservative blogger in Iowa, the state where Cruz won the first-in-the-nation caucuses in January.

As the race tightens up, you dont want someone to be able to point to you and say, Hey, youre the reason we lost. Or you surely dont want a sitting president in the White House who could help fundraise for your primary opponent, he said.

But some of Cruzs most devout supporters worried about what the endorsement could mean for his political future, given that one of his chief attributes for them was his unwillingness to compromise on his principles.

The conservative graveyard is littered with the remains of would-be champions, who buried themselves after misspending their political capital, and choosing the wrong hills to die on, Steve Deace, a conservative Iowa radio host, wrote in Conservative Review on Friday. As someone that knows, respects and loves Ted Cruz, my fear is his endorsing Trump risks adding his name to that tragic list. And given the fact Cruz is one of the last remaining constitutional champions we have, if he falls he wont fall alone.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

Clinton is cramming, Trump is riffing: Here's how the nominees are preparing for their last big chance to sway voters

Even the swing states where Trump and Clinton are tied aren't enough to hand him a win

The presidential race in Arizona was already tight. Then voters started noticing Gary Johnson

UPDATES:

2:40 p.m.: This story was updated with reaction.

1:05 p.m.: This story was updated with more comments from Cruz.

This story was originally published at 1 p.m.
As both candidates prepare for Monday nights televised debate, heres where the race for president stands:

Donald Trump still has a possible path to victory, but Hillary Clinton has survived one of her worst stretches in the campaign with her lead in key states narrowed, but still intact.

That sets up the central fact for Monday night  Trump needs to find a way to change the course of the race, and the debate remains his best, maybe last, chance to do so.

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Good afternoon, Im David Lauter, Washington bureau chief. Welcome to the Friday edition of our Essential Politics newsletter, in which we look at the events of the week in the presidential campaign and highlight some particularly insightful stories.

WHY THIS DEBATE COULD MATTER

Legend has it that Ronald Reagan entered his only debate with President Jimmy Carter  on Oct. 28,1980  behind in the race, asked Americans, Are you better off now than you were four years ago? and triumphed.

Not quite. Reagan was already ahead of Carter by the time the debate took place. He gained more ground in the days afterward and turned what might have been a narrow victory into something closer to a rout, but the debate didnt turn the outcome.

They seldom do.

Typically, most people watch debates to cheer on their preferred candidate. The perceived winner often gets a small, short-term boost in polls, but that fades fast. Part of what helped Reagan was that the 1980 debate took place just a week before the election, before his surge could ebb.

There are exceptions. In 1960, the first televised debate, between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, might have been decisive  in one of the closest elections in history, almost anything could stake that claim. The same goes for the debates in the modern eras other closest race, the 2000 campaign between Al Gore and George W. Bush.

This debate might join that short list. Polls show lots more voters than usual  about one in five  remain undecided between Trump and Clinton. Many, especially those younger than 30, have flirted with third party candidates or thought about staying home. An even larger share of voters has a chosen candidate but remains unsure.

Voter frustration with and anger about the campaign has grown, new data showed this week.

Trump faces huge doubts about his suitability for office: In the latest Associated Press/GfK survey, for example, only about one-third of voters said the word qualified applied to him. (Half said the word racist applied).

If he can convince a significant share of those uncertain voters that hes not what they fear, the race could get a lot tighter.

Clinton continues to leave many of her supporters cold. Her problem isnt so much the large share of voters who view her unfavorably  most of those are Republicans whose dislike is deeply partisan. What worries Democratic strategists remains the lack of enthusiasm among supporters. That endangers the turnout Clinton and other Democratic candidates need in order to win.

If Clinton can give the fence sitters a reason to vote for her, her lead could grow. As Mike Memoli reported, Clinton has seemed to recognize in recent speeches that she wont inspire young voters simply by reminding them of their reasons for disliking Trump.

But the reality that the race has tightened could, by itself, boost turnout. Overall, thats more likely to help Clinton.

Meantime, as Evan Halper and Noah Bierman reported, both candidates are deep into preparations  Trump at his country club in New Jersey and his office in New York, Clinton at her home in Chappaqua, N.Y.

WATCH WITH US MONDAY NIGHT

Heres a summary of the two candidates debate strategies, strengths and weaknesses. Well be assessing each round as the debate proceeds. For video of key moments, assessments of the candidates, fact checks and more, stay with Trail Guide on Monday night.

And 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.

WHERE THE RACE STANDS

Trump got a boost in polls last week while news coverage focused on video clips of Clinton stumbling into a van as she labored with pneumonia.

But as our USC Dornsife/L.A. Times tracking poll shows, the Republican surge faded as Clinton, looking healthy, rejoined the campaign trail and Trump fumbled around with his history of birther conspiracy theories regarding President Obama.

The tracking poll, which consistently has shown more favorable results for Trump than most other surveys, continues to give him a small, but diminishing, edge. But other national surveys released this week show Clinton holding a lead averaging around 5 points.

As important, polls of battleground states show Clinton holding onto her lead where she needs it: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Virginia, Colorado. Those are Clintons firewalls.

Even if Trump can sweep Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Iowa and Nevada, all of which current polls show as tossups, hed still need to break through that wall somewhere to get a majority of the Electoral College.

Trump also still has problems in some red states, including Arizona, where Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson has attracted considerable support, Melanie Mason reported.

The Clinton campaign continues to raise and spend record amounts. Wheres it all going? Building a huge operation to get out the vote is a big part of the answer, Halper reported.

Also, I explained Wednesday 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.

PLAY STRATEGIST ON OUR ELECTORAL COLLEGE MAP

As our interactive electoral map shows, Clinton currently leads in more than enough states to secure the White House.

Winning requires 270 electoral votes. How to get there? Weve updated the map with our best estimates. Now you get to play political strategist and try out as many scenarios as you like.

THE POLICY AND GENDER GAPS

The two candidates have vast differences on policy, not just in what they advocate, but in how they go about refining their ideas, Noam Levey and Memoli reported.

Few areas show that gap more fully or with greater consequence than climate change, Michael Finnegan reported from Florida, where local governments are spending billions to cope with rising sea levels.

Trump has pledged to reverse almost all the Obama administrations policies on global warming, most of which were put in place by presidential authority and could be overturned the same way.

But campaigns also try to sway voters by touching emotions that run deeper than policy preferences. Cathy Decker took a sharp look at how the Trump campaign has used language about gender to shape the way voters see Clinton. Many female voters resent those remarks, but not all do, she found.

FOLLOW OUR TRACKING POLL

The USC Dornsife/L.A. Times tracking poll has been tracing Trumps and Clintons trajectories since early summer. The poll shows a tighter race than many other surveys. Why is it different? Here are several of the reasons. and heres what the poll tells us about Trumps potential path forward.

QUESTIONS ABOUT TRUMP, CLINTON? WEVE GOT ANSWERS

Where they stand on issues, what theyve done in their lives, their successes, their failures, what their presidencies might look like: Weve been writing about Clinton and Trump for years, and weve pulled the best of that content together to make finding what you want to know easier. So check out All Things Trump and All Things Clinton.

LOGISTICS

If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up.

That wraps up this week. My colleague Christina Bellantoni will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in the 2016 campaign with our Trail Guide, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics.

Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com.
Is an initiative proposing to give Costa Mesa voters a say over some local development projects more or less restrictive than similar measures adopted elsewhere?

How long would it take projects to pass muster with both the city and residents, should the law go into effect? How much growth would be allowed under the measure? Should the city place a competing measure on the ballot?

Questions like that are among those that Costa Mesa City Council members want answered before they officially add the initiative to the Nov. 8 ballot.

Under the proposal, development projects that would be subject to voter approval include those requiring a general plan amendment or zoning change and, on top of either of those, entail construction of 40 or more dwelling units or at least 10,000 square feet of commercial space.

Proponents have said the measure would help ensure smart growth in the city by giving the public a voice on whether to greenlight some larger projects. The initiative, driven by the group Costa Mesa First, already has gained enough signatures to go before voters in November, but the council still has to vote to place it on the ballot.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley said studying the ins and outs of the measure is important so we can have some kind of objective analysis.

Kyle Woosley, president and chief executive of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, urged the council to also study the measures possible economic ramifications.

We just want the City Council to take 30 days to study  the impact on attracting quality new businesses and, more importantly, retaining employees, because we all know the effects unemployment has on a city, Woosley said.

Woosley, along with officials from the South Coast Metro Alliance and Mesa Water District, submitted letters urging the council to study the initiative further.

Meredith Nixon, a senior staff attorney for the California Department of Developmental Services, also sent a letter questioning how, or whether, the initiative would affect proposals for new construction at the site of the existing Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa.

The city has retained Keyser Marston Associates Inc. to prepare a report addressing questions raised Tuesday.

The report, which is expected to cost about $15,000, is due by the next council meeting April 5.

Costa Mesa First organizer Cynthia McDonald said she would prefer that the city save the money to order the report and send the initiative straight to the ballot, where its going eventually.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer, who raised several issues with the language of the measure, floated the idea of adding a different, competing growth initiative to the ballot.

I think maybe the public would like to have control, but they maybe dont want something as Draconian as this, Righeimer said. So I want to make sure they have a choice.

Council members are expected to discuss the idea of an additional ballot measure April 5.
Two UC Irvine researchers have received a nearly $1.3-million grant from JDRF.

Elliot Botvinick and Jonathan Lakey will use the money to optimize their design for a pancreatic islet implantation device, which could eliminate the need to take lifelong anti-rejection drugs.

Perhaps the greatest challenge in the field of islet transplantation is to make the metabolic benefits available to patients with Type 1 diabetes without the need for chronic immunosuppression, Lakey said in a statement. I believe that this approach has great promise for realizing our goal, and this welcome support from the JDRF should speed our progress.

Mariners Christian enters year two of fundraising for Gulu

Students of Mariners Christian School in Costa Mesa plan to begin their second year of fundraising to help communities in Gulu, Uganda with a Lunch on the Lawn event Friday at campus for Mariners families to attend.

In June, the school collected $25,000 for the Christ the Center Ministries in Gulu, which helped build two classrooms in a middle school and fund a feeding program.

This year, Mariners goal is to help build a chapel and auditorium for the school.

Mesa grad hired as O.C. fairgrounds executive

Adam Carleton has been hired by the O.C. Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa as its new vice president of finance and administration.

Carleton will oversee the state-run fairgrounds accounting, finance, purchasing and contracts, and also establish financial and administrative programs, policies and controls, according to a news release.

Carleton, a Costa Mesa High School and Orange Coast College alumnus, lives in Huntington Beach. He has bachelors and masters degrees from Cal State Long Beach.

I am thrilled and honored to be part of this world-class venue, Carleton said in a statement. It is a wonderful facility with a host of activities. Orange County is a dynamic area with a diverse population, and I look forward to putting my business experience to work so more of our community can enjoy the O.C. Fair & Event Center.

Chabad Center to host free High Holiday services

The Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Newport Beach is hosting free community High Holiday services and childrens programs.

The services are geared to the tens of thousands of unaffiliated Jewish families in Orange County, according to a news release.

Many families dont attend services because the synagogue environment is foreign to them, said Rabbi Reuven Mintz in a statement. There is a need to reach out and ensure that they too are welcomed to services on these holiest days of the Jewish year.

For reservations and more information, visit www.JewishNewport.com or call (949) 721-9800.
The Laguna Beach Police Department remembered one of its fallen officers with a ceremony at the police memorial near the departments headquarters Wednesday.

About 90 people attended the event at 505 Forest Ave. to honor Officer Jon Coutchie, who died in 2013 while on duty.

Coutchie, 41, was riding his motorcycle on South Coast Highway at 11:45 p.m. Sept. 21, 2013, when he struck a pickup truck turning left onto Cleo Street. Authorities said Coutchie was thrown from his motorcycle and died at the scene.

Wednesdays ceremony marked three years to the day when Coutchie died. He had been with the department four years and was an Army Ranger veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The police memorial honors two Laguna officers killed while on-duty  Coutchie and Gordon French, who died in 1953 after being shot by a prisoner attempting to escape from the police station.

bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce
Six candidates for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District board exchanged thoughts Wednesday on term limits, earlier school start dates, the high wages of district administrators and parent involvement during a forum presented by the Harbor Council PTA and the League of Women Voters.

An audience of about 30 filed into the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center to hear current trustees Vicki Snell, Martha Fluor and board President Dana Black and their challengers  Amy Peters, Leslie Bubb and Michael Schwarzmann  sound off on various district topics.

Three of the boards seven seats are open. Snell and Schwarzmann, a Costa Mesa resident who directs an accounting and technology firm, are running for Trustee Area 1. Fluor and Peters, a Newport Beach businesswoman, are running for Trustee Area 3. Black and Bubb, Newport Beach trainer of teachers, are challenging one another for Trustee Area 6.

During the two hour-long forum moderated by League member Charlotte Pirch, candidates each took turns answering questions written on note cards by event attendees.

Among the first ones asked was what the candidates would do to improve and maintain parent involvement. Fluor said the idea that parent involvement is low at Newport-Mesa Unified is a misconception.

If you walk onto Whittier campus, for example, theres a parent center where many come in to help their students, Fluor said. The same thing is happening on many of our schools.

Bubb believes that parent involvement can increase if principals, school board members or superintendents include them in establishing a vision for what needs to be accomplished at schools.

Communication is the key to getting anything done  not in the form of, This is what were doing and, This is where this event is' communication is talking about why something is important and getting people involved in the process of creating that, Bubb said, adding that ice cream socials and potlucks help build a sense of community and bonding between people.

As the candidates were asked about how high salaries paid to administrators could be justified, a few murmurs were drawn from the crowd.

If youre at a company and you want to hire a CEO, you want to pay that CEO like other successful companies  and its the same at the district, Snell responded. Our superintendent, he is not making the most of all the superintendents in Orange County.

Snell called Supt. Fred Navarros annual salary this past school year, recently upped to $275,945, in the middle. The district serves about 22,000 students.

We dont just come up with the salary on the top of our heads, she added. We look at what superintendents are making throughout the state of California.

In the same year, the Irvine Unified School District, which has about 30,000 students, Supt. Terry Walker earned $275,516 while Supt. Gregory Franklin of Tustin Unified School District, which has around 24,000 students, earned $320,190.

In the business world, your salary is based on performance, and if you have under-performed for your schools or your district or your business, you dont get a raise that year, Peters said. When you see your top officials getting raises after firing their human resources officer  thats not good business practice.

If you want a community of people that believe in you and students that are successful, you cant have this top-down-style management.

Black said she is curious as to why people want the best but they dont want to pay the best. She also mentioned that if the district wants to attract potential administrators or teachers to Newport Beach or Costa Mesa, then the district has to be able to pay them in accordance with the high cost of living in both cities.

As Schwarzmann expressed his support for beginning the Newport-Mesa school year earlier to August, Peters and Bubb backed him up.

I believe starting the school earlier will give students more time to prepare for standardized [and Advanced Placement] tests, Schwarzmann said. If other schools are starting two, three, four weeks earlier, then they get two, three, four more to study for the test. Why dont we give our kids the best chance?

When discussing board term limits, the incumbents shared that while theyre open to exploring the idea, attaining thorough knowledge of the district takes years on the board and that the longtime trustees have established a history and wisdom of the district.

Earlier in summer, the challengers proposed board term limits to trustees, saying that the panel needs new blood, fresh perspectives and that habitual incumbents hold organizations back.

The school board, however, voted in July to table any further discussion about term limits until after the November election.

alexandra.chan@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
A company sign is displayed outside Marriott's headquarters in Maryland, U.S. (Photo : Getty Images)

Marriott International Inc's deal to buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc has received the approval of Chinese antitrust regulators, which paved the way for the merger to become the world's largest hotel chain, Reuters reported.



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More than 40 countries, including the United States and Canada, have approved the deal and the review by China's Ministry of Commerce was the last remaining clearance for the deal, according to the report.



Data released last month by research firm Euromonitor International showed that the merged group has a market share of 4.1 percent, making it the largest hotel operator in China, followed by Homeinns Hotel & Management at 4 percent and China Lodging Group at 3.9 percent.



Anbang Insurance Group Co was also interested to team up with Starwood, but it withdrew from the bidding with Marriott in April.



Since China implemented its anti-monopoly law in 2008, the Ministry of Commerce has turned down two transactions, compared with the previous 1,447 unconditional clearances issued, data compiled by Norton Rose Fulbright, a law firm, showed.



The report said the deal was approved in April by shareholders of both Marriott and Starwood.



The merging of the two companies raised their valuation to $36 billion, with control to more than 5,500 hotels with 1.1 million rooms.



With the deal, Marriot will have greater access to industry markets in Europe and Latin America, as well as compete with apartment-sharing startups such as Airbnb.



The transaction between the two companies is expected to be completed before Sept. 23, when the market opens.



In late morning trading on Tuesday, Sept. 20, Marriott shares climbed 3.4 percent at $70.68 while Starwood reached 3.2 percent high at $77.47.



At least 30 brands, which include Marriott's Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard and Renaissance Hotels with Starwood's St. Regis, Sheraton and W Hotels, will be joined together by the deal.



Marriott's chief executive Arne Sorenson said the company has chosen Starwood because of its global presence, strong rewards program and popularity among younger travelers. He added that the expected merger with Starwood will help them save $250 million in annual costs within two years.



"By combining these two platforms, we will be a bigger buyer of tomatoes or reservations or systems," Sorenson told investors in April. "All of the hotels will benefit from that."


A 74-year-old woman was robbed outside an ATM in Costa Mesa and suffered a broken hip during the altercation, authorities said.

The victim was withdrawing money from a Bank of America ATM near the Vons grocery store at 2701 Harbor Blvd. when she was confronted by Simon Yousif, 24, a local transient, around 8:17 p.m. Wednesday, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Dan Miles said.

Yousif is suspected of grabbing her wallet, but as she tried to defend herself, she fell to the ground and suffered a broken hip, Miles said.

The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Several witnesses at a nearby apartment building told officers that they had seen a suspicious man running toward Orange Coast College, Miles said.

Police followed the tip and found Yousif crouched behind a tree on the south side of Adams Avenue, west of Pinecreek Drive, Costa Mesa police Lt. Greg Scott said.

Yousif allegedly attempted to flee from police, but an officer apprehended him.

Scott said Yousif was in possession of the victims money, identification and Social Security card.

Yousif was arrested on suspicion of strong-arm robbery and taken to the Orange County Jail. His bail was set at $50,000.
UC Irvine professor Greg J. Duncan has devoted his career to answering some of the most critical questions facing our society today:

 How greatly does poverty affect a childs future prospects?

 To what extent does it influence educational outcomes?

 How can we assure that all children receive a quality education that will lead to opportunities in the labor market?

These are far from esoteric musings. With a Ph.D in economics from the University of Michigan, where he spent 25 years before moving to Northwestern University and then to UCI eight years ago, Duncan isnt some starry-eyed idealist.

Indeed, as a scholar his objective is to expand our understanding of the effects of poverty, particularly on children, and to identify effective ways to tackle educational inequality and create economic opportunity for those from deprived backgrounds.

Im an economist, so I look at benefits and costs, he said. I do worry about people who think that any dollar spent is a good dollar.

Over his long career, Duncan has won awards, served on boards and written or co-written several books, all dealing with some aspect of the intersection of poverty, inequality and education.

His latest book, Restoring Opportunity: The Crisis of Inequality and the Challenge for American Education, co-authored by Harvard education professor Richard J. Murnane, was published last year.

In Restoring Opportunity, Duncan and Murnane discuss the widening educational and achievement gap between high- and low-income kids and illustrate the disparities through the stories of four boys.

They also profile specific schools and programs across the country that are successfully providing opportunities for children from impoverished backgrounds.

Now Duncan is involved in some potentially important and influential research.

Together with other social scientists and neuroscientists from several prestigious institutions, Duncan seeks to break new ground and, hopefully, provide educators and policymakers with information crucial to efforts to improve the prospects of children from disadvantaged circumstances.

In their summary of the study, the authors note that many smaller-scale studies have demonstrated differences in cognitive and brain development between low-income and affluent children, while other research has documented how income disparities affect childrens school performance.

Yet, they wrote, there has not been a rigorous study of how income supports for families affect the brain function and development of infants and toddlers, and many scholars and policymakers remain skeptical that poverty itself is harmful to childrens development.

In an effort to clarify that picture, they will attempt to discover whether targeted intervention, such as tax or income-enhancement policies, can make a difference for very young children from impoverished families.

The study will identify 1,000 low-income mothers with newborns in diverse communities. Some will receive $4,000 cash payments each year for the first three years of their babies lives, while another group will get just $240 a year.

The families will be closely tracked to see how they spend the money, what type of child-care arrangements they have and how other factors such as stress and parenting methods may play a role. After three years, the children will be examined for cognitive and brain development.

Several million dollars has been raised from private sources to fund the study, but the researchers are waiting to hear about a recently submitted government proposal. If the government funding comes through, they hope to begin in about a year.

Duncan is accustomed to the need for patience where academic research is concerned. During his more than two decades at Michigan, he was involved in a project that ultimately tracked 5,000 families to learn how much growing up poor affected children. That study continues without him, but he still draws from its findings.

He has also increasingly looked at specific patterns related to income disparity. For instance, he said, gaps between the academic outcomes of poor students and affluent ones are expanding in part because low-income kids are increasingly segregated into disadvantaged areas.

They attend schools in neighborhoods where its harder to hire good teachers and students move in and out frequently, creating classroom disruptions. He also cites the growing disparity between the amount spent on educational enrichment for high-income versus low-income kids as a key factor in their development.

Duncan is concerned that the disparity is being exacerbated as we develop into an economy that values highly skilled high-tech workers. The emerging skills gap could create a self-perpetuating cycle that feeds increasing inequality.

The way schools have been set up, the way high schools have been set up, isnt good enough anymore, he said.

The answers, Duncan believes, will lie not with any of the silver bullets promoted by various interest groups  voucher-style programs, increased funding, new organizational structures or initiatives to buy laptops for students.

Rather, he said, educational outcomes can be demonstrably improved by concentrating on the fundamental learning experience through strong support for teachers, continual high-quality training, a focus on analytical skills and critical thinking, and sensible, well-designed systems of accountability.

And its increasingly apparent that educational inequality starts from the youngest ages. While its not impossible to overcome that gap later on, Duncan argues that its more effective and efficient to intervene early. Its a point wed do well to remember as we continue to wrestle with the thorny issue of how to guarantee superior education for the children most in need.

PATRICE APODACA is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach.
Mesa Water District and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District should consolidate to reduce the size and cost of local government.

As a Mesa Water director who serves on the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), I want to ensure that our community has the facts about Measure TT and accurate information about how public agency consolidation works.

Measure TT was put on the Nov. 8 ballot after a study by Arcadis U.S. Inc. showed that combining Mesa Water with the sanitary district could result in a one-time, up-front cost savings of $15.6 million and annual savings of $2.7 million. The savings are real and substantial.

If consolidation occurs, Mesa Water plans to pass the savings on to you, our ratepayers, as an immediate rebate of up to $650 per customer and by reducing your sewer rates up to 28%.

As a non-binding advisory measure, the purpose of Measure TT is to get the publics feedback on whether Mesa Water and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) should pursue consolidation.

Why not pursue consolidation to achieve potential cost-savings and benefits for customers?

Public agency consolidation is a common process performed in the publics best interest to ensure local representation and the provision of high-quality, transparent government services at the lowest possible cost.

In almost all cases throughout Orange County, public water and sewer services are combined and provided by one local government agency. Mesa Water and the sanitary district share an almost overlapping service area and it would be irresponsible to ignore the possible efficiencies of combining water, sewer and trash collection services under one financially strong public agency.

Some CMSD directors have spoken out against Measure TT and claim it is a hostile takeover attempt and a power grab by Mesa Water. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Only OC LAFCO has the legal authority to consolidate public agencies, and only after it conducts an extensive study and public hearing process. If Measure TT passes, it simply shows strong public support for a comprehensive study  similar to the study by Arcadis  that could be initiated by LAFCO.

The commission would look at both districts most current independently audited financial information and other data as part of a broad, deep study that is required before consolidation could occur.

Is the sanitary district trying to preserve its political positions? We deserve better from our CMSD board members and an explanation as to why they would not support an advisory vote that simply seeks guidance from the voters who are customers of both agencies.

The choice is up to you: do we pursue consolidation to reduce the size and cost of local government, resulting in millions of dollars of cost-savings and more efficient services, or do we maintain the status quo?

For more information about Measure TT and the Special Districts Shared Efficiencies project, visit MesaWater.org/SDSE.

JAMES R. FISLER serves as a Mesa Water District director and on the Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission.
This November, dont be fooled by Proposition 57s title, Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act.

The ballot measure supported by the governor is intended to empty Californias prisons by reducing felony sentences.

Its proponents claim Proposition 57 only reduces the sentencing requirements of non-violent offenses. In reality, the proposition allows for the reclassification of many additional crimes from violent to non-violent status.

Proposition 57 would authorize the immediate release of up to 16,000 convicted criminals. And despite Proposition 57s claims, it would reduce the sentence of more than just non-violent offenses.

Proposition 57 would sanction a new designation from violent to non-violent for the following crimes:

Rape of an unconscious person.

Assault with a deadly weapon.

Taking a hostage.

Domestic violence involving trauma.

Lewd acts upon a child.

Failing to register as a sex offender.

Arson causing great bodily injury.

Discharging a firearm on school grounds.

False imprisonment of an elder.

Public safety is a very important issue to our residents and businesses. The citizens of Newport Beach should be concerned about the recategorization of violent criminal offenses and modification of felony sentences that will result if Prop. 57 passes.

No on 57  Stop Early Release of Violent Criminals is endorsed by the Newport Beach Police Assn., Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

To learn more, visit Stop57.com. Together we can keep our city safe from violent predators.

KEVIN MULDOON is mayor pro tem of Newport Beach.
Should police and firefighter unions get involved in city council races?

Is it a conflict of interest to have them endorse and help elect candidates who ultimately will negotiate their contracts?

And with cities facing unfunded pension liabilities, how can taxpayers be sure these newly elected council members will have their best interests in mind, rather than those of the unions to whom they owe a debt?

As I examined this issue in Costa Mesa last week, readers weighed in.

Though some felt there were inherent conflicts here, the majority did not.

Citing the long-running contentious relationship between the current council majority and these public safety unions, as well as the issue of understaffing, those who didnt see a conflict felt the firefighter and police unions should endorse candidates.

But Newport Beach has a different political dynamic.

Newport historically has had an amicable relationship with public safety unions. Understaffing hasnt been an issue residents continually voice concerns about.

So who did the Newport Beach Police Assn. and the Newport Beach Firefighters Assn. endorse ?

Both backed candidates Lee Lowery, Will ONeill and Brad Avery over Mike Glenn, Jeff Herdman, Fred Ameri, Phil Greer and Shelley Henderson.

I found the unions choices here interesting since all of the candidates chosen were also endorsed by the Orange County Republican Central Committee and signed the Republican pledge not to accept money from labor.

Since Lowery, ONeill and Avery are represented by political consultant Dave Ellis, I asked him about this.

They are not taking union money, he said, and are happy to take the endorsements.

So how do these unions plan on helping candidates theyve endorsed?

Bobby Salerno, president of the firefighters association, says his group hasnt decided what will we do to support. He didnt provide information on how much the union spent in past races or whether members will walk precincts in this one.

Vlad Anderson, head of the police association, said his organization will put out fliers but members are unlikely to walk precincts. And, he made clear, the fliers would not attack candidates who are not supported by the union.

Anderson also had no idea what his union will spend this election cycle.

Though unions arent handing checks to candidates, which conveniently gets them around the GOP pledge, I wonder how this will play with staunch Republican voters.

I asked Anderson and Salerno why they chose the candidates they did.

Anderson mostly talked about ONeill saying he said he aligned himself with the association, was well versed in finances and had a lot of the information the other candidates didnt share.

Anderson confirmed that all the candidates  except one  were interviewed.

In all the years Ive been in the association, usually people respond and want to sit down and talk, says Anderson, but Shelley Henderson never responded.

Anderson told me most of the questions asked in the endorsement interview were financial: the current city budget status, future growth, goals and paying off unfunded pension liabilities.

Salerno says the firefighters endorsements went to those who they felt to be the best fit on council and would listen.

He says council members need to be educated on what we do, and that understanding contracts was just a small piece of the pie.

Salerno and Anderson feel there is no conflict of interest in their endorsements because their members have a vested interest in the community.

We are more stakeholders than any officers. We are part of the community and take pride in that, Anderson said, Its more than just policing, its a partnership.

How many members of these organizations actually live in the cities they protect?

Anderson says no one in his association lives in the city.

They cant afford it, he said.

Salerno says very few firefighters live here.

As Ive stated before, the big issue facing Newport voters isnt high crime or understaffing, as it is in Costa Mesa, its whether to expand or dismantle the Team Newport concept currently driving the council.

Its clear what public safety unions want to happen here.

ONeill, Avery and Lowery are part of the Team Newport concept, but dont take my word for it, look at the bottom of the home page of Residents for Reform website- supporter of Team Newport.

These guys are pictured with Councilman Marshall Duffield, eerily dressed alike in white shirts and blue blazers.

Looks like team uniforms to me www.residentsforreform.com/

--

BARBARA VENEZIA lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com.
Leonard DeGrassi, a longtime Glendale resident and educator whose passion was art, passed away on Sept. 2. He was 88.

DeGrassi taught art history at Glendale Community College for decades, sharing his deep knowledge of architecture and the visual arts using nothing more than his memory, never relying on prepared notes.

After a full days work, art would continue as the main topic at home around the dinner table, said his daughter Maria Colosimo.

Born on March 2, 1928, DeGrassi was the only child of Romulus Grassi and Anna Sofia Grassi. After spending his early childhood in Minnesota, DeGrassis family moved to Hollywood in 1937.

As a teen, DeGrassi developed a talent for speaking, and won several oratorical competitions. In 1946, his second-place win in a national competition in Boston helped him earn a four-year scholarship to USC, according to his family.

By 1956, with a bachelors and masters in art history, a teaching credential and a bachelors degree in fine arts in painting and drawing, DeGrassi left a teaching job in Redlands for one at Toll Junior High School in Glendale.

At Toll, hed meet his wife, Dolores Marie Welgoss, a Latin and world history teacher

They married in 1961, and would later have one daughter, Maria, and one son, Paul.

In 1962, DeGrassi began teaching at Glendale Community College.

DeGrassis friend, Dennis Doyle, recalled how his knowledge spanned from Egyptian hieroglyphics to Greek columns, to Babylonian architecture.

Whenever he was asked about the meaning of art, DeGrassi would reply: Art is there to show us who we are.

When the colleges board of trustees closed its Sept. 13 meeting in DeGrassis honor, Supt./President David Viar noted that in 1987, when college officials first handed out a distinguished faculty award, the recognition went to DeGrassi.

After spending more than a decade in retirement, DeGrassi got a call in 2007 from Glendale Community College English Professor Michael Harnett, who asked DeGrassi to return to the campus to co-teach a humanities class that fused the cultural arts  DeGrassis expertise  with literature  Harnetts focus.

DeGrassi agreed, and went on to teach the course through 2014.

While Harnett would prepare several sheets of notes for the class, DeGrassi would rely on his encyclopedic knowledge of art, Harnett said.

He would just stand up and say what he knew so well. It was just a really wonderful time. It didnt feel like a class. It just felt like two friends sharing what they knew with the people who were there. It was one of those things where you knew it was really special, he said.

For Harnett, part of DeGrassis legacy is in the way he elevated the people around him.

I think he made people be better, Harnett said.

Speaking of DeGrassis students, he added: They knew that he cared. They did their best for him.

Through the end of his life, Degrassi remained active by meeting friends for lunch, attending the opera, or dining out, Colosimo said.

He always stayed in connection with friends. So many students of his became friends, she said.

She observed her father as a genuine listener.

He always listened to everybody, and listened to them as though what they were saying truly mattered. He was that way since I was 2. He made me feel whatever I was talking about was important, she said.

Funeral services were held Sept. 17 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.

Degrassis wife, who went on to teach for more than 40 years at Toll, passed away in 2003.

He is survived by his children, Maria and Paul, and grandchildren, Joseph and Daniel Colosimo, and Leonardo and Eliana DeGrassi.

--

Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
Re: Starbird, sons, sue city over sidewalk, Sept. 17. On Sept. 13 I came before Glendale City Council to inform the public that the former city manager, Jim Starbird, had filed a $1-million claim against the city.

Starbird claims that while pushing his wife in a wheelchair the chair hit an uplifted sidewalk, thrusting his wife forward. She struck her head on the concrete, which caused a severe concussion, and she died shortly thereafter, the News-Press reports.

After the incident, city officials spray-painted the elevated portion of sidewalk bright orange. As Starbirds attorney pointed out, that simple fix years ago would have prevented the accident.

Years ago, concerned citizens Herbert Molano and Richard Espiritu came before the council week after week, asking for an aggressive policy for sidewalk and road repairs. Mr. Espiritu was very passionate about ADA compliance.

Council members Friedman and Najarian, who bestowed accolades upon Starbird upon his retirement, would often remain silent when these two gentlemen came before the council with complaints and generally waited for a reply by then-City Manager Starbird. He generally stated all was under control.

It appears Starbird was a miser when it came to finding money for sidewalk and road maintenance, but never had a problem finding money for generous salaries and pensions for his beloved CalPERS union workforce.

We are sorry for the loss of Starbirds wife, a very respected person in the community, but the claim against the city brought on by Starbird and family is appalling and unconscionable.

When city manager, he had plenty of time and opportunity to fix our sidewalks and roads. Starbird will be suing Glendale taxpayers for his mistakes.

Mike Mohill

Glendale

..

Did Starbird fix sidewalks?

Re: Starbird, sons, sue city over sidewalk, Sept. 17. First of all it is very sad to lose a family member by an accident that could have been avoided.

Nonetheless, I was amazed by the suit against the city by former Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird, for damages in the amount of $1 million. Did Mr. Starbird use that part of the street frequently?

I was wondering if during Jim Starbirds 14 years of managing the city of Glendale, all the sidewalks in the city were in perfect condition. If not, were there were any lawsuits for such accidents, and if yes, what was the amount of monetary damages paid by the city?

Vahe Kabakian

Glendale

..

Cycling in Glendale isnt safe, period

Our city is in the process of trying to develop safe training and safe passages for pedestrians and bike riders. The most important thing officials are failing to tell parents is that there is no guarantee of safety for anyone crossing or riding a bike on the streets with 3,500-pound cars and drivers always in a hurry and on some kind of device taking their attention away from safe driving.

Any parent who allows a small or young child to ride their bike to school in this kind of traffic has to be out of their mind. Do not let anyone tell you, regardless of who they are or how much money they are spending, that it is safe.They have never lost a child to being hit or run over by a car. If they had, the program would be dont do it. Take it from parents who have had this happen to them and have lost a child to a hit-and-run driver. This letter is in memory of our son Jeffery A. Moorehouse.

Larry and Patricia Moorehouse

Glendale

..

Armenia needs continued defense

The 25th anniversary of Armenias independence was celebrated at the Armenian Consulate on Sept. 15. The prideful unity, along with Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), proves we can triumph in honor. Let the world repeat: Long live Mother Armenia for peace to be on earth!

Glendale Mayor Paula Devine congratulated Armenias and Artsakhs independence and the arts and culture of Armenia. Arevik (Little Sun) Junior Ensemble, from Armenia, sang the Armenian National Anthem. While remembering her recent trip to Armenia for the Pan-Armenian games, Devine admired our nation of so much heart and recognized us as a vibrant community of diligent people for our families and country.

Wilsonian Armenia protects our borders, however it is now under the hands of the perpetrators. Maintaining Armenias safety and defending her is important, as constant border attacks will soon expand. Lets give voice to the nation and continue President Woodrow Wilsons 1920 legacy to obtain the return of our lost lands.

Our turquoise sky, our clear waters, the flood of light, the summer sun and the proud winter borealis  our age-old stones  our ancient etched books which have become a prayer (Yeghishe Charents, Ode to Armenia). Should we lose our quarter of a century independence, Armenias natural beauty will dissipate or be demolished.

Rachel Melikian

Glendale
The last flock of La Canada kids heading to college this fall  the ones who are enrolled in UC campuses and other schools where classes started this week  have now flown the coop.

In Tactics 101, the first thing you learn is not to be a creature of habit. Being predictable was the demise of the Army of the Potomac when they crossed the Rappahannock River at the battle of Fredericksburg. Robert E. Lee knew exactly what General Burnside would do.

Regardless of what I was taught in the military, I keep to my habits. I sometimes cringe when friends and neighbors come to Starbucks for their morning coffee and say to me some version of I knew Id find you here. I have a rationale regarding why I typically sit in the first chair at the bar. It has nothing to do with the fact that I cleared fields of fire.

At Starbucks there are days when I feel like a bartender. Maybe its the consistency of my presence that encourages people to express whats on their mind. Today, I listened to the lament of a grieving sister, a police officers commitment to community service, a childs excitement about high school, and a commanding officers meticulous analysis of a Marine regiments readiness. These encounters all occurred between 6 and 7 a.m. I didnt get much writing done.

Lately, Ive been listening to the lament of parents as they speak about their child leaving for college. They open the conversation by asking how our daughter, a freshman, is doing at Texas. I realize the question becomes the pathway that allows them to verbalize their own feelings about their child leaving home. Im just a punk from the Bronx and I have few answers. But I never underestimate the power of listening with the intent to understand. Listening has the ability to turn a life around. The most basic of all human needs is to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.

Its always sad when someone leaves home. When children leave for college, they return home as different people. In our home, Kaitzer began preparing Sabine and Simone to leave for college before they left for kindergarten. I recall her countless conversations with the girls when she stressed responsibility, accountability and the importance of making good decisions. She even tried to explain Erik Eriksons stages of social-emotional development. It was like watching paint dry. But as a father, I would do my part in preparing my girls. I taught them how to use a can of Mace.

Our children leave home to follow their dreams and their road is riddled with potholes. Its rarely paved with Technicolor bricks. Theyll surely fall flat on their faces now and again and we wont be there to cushion the impact. Friedich Nietzsches Thus Spoke Zarathustra tells us to prepare them well and give them the accountability, responsibility and wisdom to decide their fate.

I understand why parents grieve when their child leaves for college. Moms and dads know that whats behind their child is not better than whats in front of them. Our biggest fear is that our children will eventually realize this themselves. Coming into ones own is a euphoric experience and you cant typically do that at home.

When I left for college, I thought fate was a mistress. It was, but it was a hard mistress. I was not prepared for the beast that was about to pick me up by the throat. But I only wish there had been a way for me to know that I was experiencing the good old days before I actually left them behind.

--

JOE PUGLIA is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us.
With a salvo of rockets fired from a bridge over the River Duero, a metal gate swings wide, and a 1,200-pound bull bolts out through the smoke.

He careens through this cobblestone warren on Spains central meseta plateau, pursued by thousands of flag-draped revelers. Ole! they scream and scramble after him.

The animal, foaming at the mouth, flees into a dusty field dotted with junipers, only to face a phalanx of horsemen armed with spears, ready to kill him.

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This spectacle has played out in the town of Tordesillas, about 115 miles northwest of Madrid, the capital, at a festival on the second Tuesday of September nearly every year since medieval times. Tradition calls for the bull to be stabbed to death as he staggers around the field alternately trying to charge at, and escape from, his bemused predators.

But this year, the law called for the bull to survive  and the people of Tordesillas, lots of them, were furious.

Its not that were against animals, said retiree Trinidad Vazquez, 60. Its that were in favor of our local traditions, our history, our way of life.

The regional government of Castile and Leon in May outlawed the final bloody act  the killing of the bull  at what has been known as Toro de la Vega, one of Spains most emblematic and controversial festivals. Everything else was to stay the same  the rockets, the run, the wild chase.

The governments decision, which applies only to this one local festival officially renamed Toro de la Pena, after the towns patron saint, Virgen de la Pena, came after years of protests and lobbying by animal rights groups.

Men on horseback ride through a pine tree forest during a festival event with a bull in Tordesillas, Spain, on Sept. 13, 2016. (Daniel Ochoa de Olza / Associated Press )

Bulls are still killed at hundreds of other small-town festivals across Spain, but this one gained notoriety as being particularly cruel and thus became an early flashpoint for the animal rights debate. Even Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco prohibited Tordesillas from holding its annual festival for four years in the 1960s, after negative publicity abroad.

Bullfighting  in which bulls also are stabbed and bled slowly, then killed  is still legal in all but two of Spains 17 regions (Catalonia and the Canary Islands). Its widely practiced, though turnout at bull rings nationwide has dwindled since the 2008 economic crisis.

Over the past year, as the left-wing party Podemos has gained seats in municipal and regional legislatures, at least 17 Spanish cities have cut funding for bullfights, or banned them locally.

Several other countries that practice bullfighting also are seeing changes. In Mexico, for example, three states have banned bullfighting in recent years, and a fourth is considering it.

Some animal rights activists said they see the change at Toro de la Vega, as many people still call it, as a small but significant step toward banning blood sport in Spain altogether.

In some ways, they said, it reflects a change in Spanish public opinion, a generation after Spaniards embraced democracy, migrated to cities for work, joined the European Union and began to cast off traditions associated with their poor, rural past. An Ipsos Mori poll this year found that 19% of adults in Spain support bullfighting, with 58% opposed. Its a rural-urban divide, and generational too.

Growing up in a small town, I felt like Spain was two countries living in the same moment. Its like I live in the 21st century, and you still live in the 15th century. But we are changing really, really fast, said Silvia Barquero, president of PACMA, a Spanish animal rights political party established in 2003.

During the summer, the political party sent activists undercover to film another festival in Toledo, south of Madrid, where a baby bull was tortured and stabbed to death by drunken revelers. The video, posted online, is graphic and disturbing. You can hear children cheering Ole! off-camera, as the disoriented animal vomits blood, before dying. The footage went viral, with 20 million views on social media in the first 24 hours, Barquero said.

The party encouraged anyone angry about what they saw in the Toledo video to attend an anti-bullfighting march Sept. 10 in Madrid. Several thousand turned out. It was the largest such demonstration in years.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Madrid on Sept. 10 for the largest anti-bullfighting march the city has seen in years. Some of the placards read: Bullfighting, school of cruelty and Torture  neither art nor culture. (Lauren Frayer / For The Times )

Torture is not culture! protesters chanted. Some homemade signs read Bullfighting, school of cruelty while others showed illustrations of a wounded bull.

But not everyone has agreed with the animal rights activists. In 2013, Spains conservative government passed a measure declaring bullfighting part of Spains cultural heritage worthy of protection. It allows public funds to be used to promote and protect bullfighting and other bull-related festivals, like the Running of the Bulls each July at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona.

Many lawmakers vowed to overturn the measure, but a political deadlock has prevented any action.

Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy calls himself an aficionado of bullfighting.

About an hour before this years festival in Tordesillas  the first since the bull-killing ban took effect  Vazquez, the retiree, joined thousands marching along the bulls roughly half-mile route, carrying a banner that read: Tordesillas will not surrender.

Theyve unfairly singled us out, and distorted our festival. We deserve some respect, she said, shaking her fist.

Behind them, a loudspeaker affixed to the town hall piped out a romantic ballad about killing brave bulls. People shooed away reporters. Many said theyre disgusted with politicians, the animal rights movement, the media  and political correctness altogether.

As the festival drew to a close, the moment arrived when the bull normally would have been stabbed to death. Some festival-goers brandished lances, vowing to kill the animal anyway, risking arrest.

Mounted police moved in. So did dozens of animal rights protesters, who had carpooled from Madrid, to ensure the killing ban was enforced. Outnumbered by thousands of festival-goers, they hid behind police lines, trading barbs with the men with spears.

Cowards! each group yelled at the other.

But just then, the sky opened up  drowning out all the rival insults, and dousing everyone with the first rain in several months. The dusty field turned into a big mud puddle. Loyalists from both sides ran for cover and found themselves shivering, shoulder-to-shoulder in silence, under the same tent awnings.

At that moment, handlers escorted the bull  a husky black 5-year-old named Pelado  to a nearby corral without any interference. He was the first animal in centuries to survive this spectacle.

Frayer is a special correspondent.

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A Cervantes tour of Spain: Real places from the fictional world of Don Quixote
As rescuers in the Syrian city of Aleppo searched for survivors between bursts of bombardment, the father of one trapped toddler tore frantically at the debris.

An onlooker warned him to be careful to avoid further injuring the child: Hes crying  go slowly, go slowly!

And then the little boy chimed in, trying to calm the adults: All right, Daddy. All right.

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Seconds later, video showed him being lifted free  one of the many harrowing images posted Friday by pro-opposition activists as the eastern sector of Syrias largest city was pounded for a second day by intense airstrikes.

The onslaught by Syrian government forces and their Russian backers again coincided with talks on the sidelines of the General Assembly in New York aimed at reviving a cease-fire that collapsed this week. The United States and Russia, which had brokered the truce this month, appeared to remain at loggerheads Friday over how to mend it.

Each blamed the other for the breakdown, but both insisted they wanted to salvage the cease-fire.

In Aleppo, activists and witnesses described powerful explosions that rocked opposition-held neighborhoods in the divided city, leaving gaping craters. And humanitarian aid groups were among those hit.

Ammar Salmo, head of the Aleppo branch of the volunteer civil-defense group known as the White Helmets, said several of the groups centers were hit in the latest round of bombardment and one of its members was killed.

He put overall fatalities at more than 80; other activists said they expected the toll to rise. Medical facilities were overwhelmed with the injured, and the United Nations reported that the destruction of pumping stations had reduced the water supply to a trickle, raising the threat of waterborne diseases.

Aleppo, a onetime cultural treasure and commercial center, has become a crucible of suffering  but is also seen by both sides as a strategic prize. If the government were able to regain control of the rebel-held eastern sector, it would mark the wars most serious setback for the opposition.

Syrian state media, which had announced the start of the Aleppo offensive Thursday, quoted a military official as saying that the bombardment was the prelude to a planned ground incursion  a scenario that most observers believe would lead to an urban bloodbath.

The surge of violence in recent days shattered a brief lull brought about by the cease-fire that took effect Sept. 12. The talks in New York had been intended to shore up the truce and lay the groundwork for peace talks, but instead descended into mutual recriminations.

Addressing the General Assembly on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed opposition attacks against Syrian government forces for undermining the truce. This is not the way a cessation of hostilities should be maintained, he said.

And Lavrov assigned larger blame to the United States and its allies for a bleeding Middle East, saying Western policies had spawned chaos and disorder across the region.

Secretary of State John F. Kerry, who met again Friday with Lavrov, has had harsh words as well for Syrian President Bashar Assad and his Russian backers. In an acrimonious open session of the U.N. Security Council this week, Kerry decried word games  with respect to war and peace, life and death.

As has been the pattern in more than five years of brutal warfare in Syria, civilians in Aleppos rebel-held areas bore the brunt of the violence, huddling in homes that provided little shelter against what activists described as unrelenting strikes by warplanes and helicopters. Russian airpower has been a crucial factor in propping up the Assad government.

Moscow has rejected Kerrys call for a no-fly zone over key aid routes in northern Syria. The renewed conflict, including a deadly strike on a U.N. aid convoy outside Aleppo on Monday night, also has blocked the delivery of most humanitarian supplies to opposition-held areas, though one convoy reached a besieged district outside Damascus on Thursday.

Times staff writer King reported from Washington and special correspondent Bulos from Baghdad.

ALSO

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Egyptian officials arrest crew members after smugglers boat capsizes off Mediterranean coast, killing dozens

A massacre is inevitable: Punishing siege drags on for two Shiite villages in Syria

UPDATES:

2:35 p.m.: This story was updated with additional comments and details about the bombardment.

This article was originally published at 8:35 a.m.
China Builds and Delivers New Patrol Vessel to the Nigerian Navy

NNS Unity (Photo : Nigerian Navy)

The "NNS Unity," an offshore patrol vessel built by China for the Nigerian Navy, has made its maiden sea voyage and is now en route to Nigeria.



It departed China Sept. 21 and is due to arrive in Nigeria in the first week of November.



Upon joining the Nigerian Navy, NNS Unity will strengthen the navy's campaign against maritime crimes in Nigeria's territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea. Areas that hitherto weren't covered by other Nigerian Navy ships can now be patrolled by NNS Unity.



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The new ship will no doubt enhance the navy's effectiveness and responsiveness to the maritime security challenges within Nigeria's waters, said Chief of Policy and Plans Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani.



He conveyed the appreciation of the navy to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for approving all steps taken towards the departure of NNS Unity.



NNS Unity will pay port calls on friendly nations en route to Nigeria. This will boost the existing cordial relationship with sister navies around the world and the Gulf of Guinea, in particular.



The handing over and departure ceremony in China was attended by Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy Isa Misau; Chairman, House of Representative Committee on the Navy, Abdulsamad Dasuki; Representative of the Honourable Minister of Defense, Rabi Tedman; the Consul General of Nigerian Mission in Shanghai and senior officers of the Nigerian Navy.



NNS Unity is a P18-class corvette, which is the export version of China's Type 056 corvette of the People's Liberation Army Navy. It's the first P18-class corvette delivered to Nigeria. Other P18s are being built for Bangladesh.



The Type 056 entered service in February 2013. It's suited for mid-range missions and littoral duties but not for major blue-water combat operations.



The Type 056 has crew of 78. It has a top speed of 46 km/h and a range of 6,500 km at 30 km/h.


Ammar Hammood was shopping at the market when he got word that his 9-year-old son, Haidar, had been shot by a sniper while playing near his house in the northwestern Syrian town of Fuah.

Hammood pushed his way out of the market, so panicked he could barely see. When I got to the hospital, I found his mother there crying and screaming, he said.

The bullet had entered below Haidars left armpit, furrowing a wound in his stomach, liver and intestines. It broke a rib as it exited from the other side.

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After hours of surgery, doctors said the boy would survive. He was luckier than many of the more than 80 people  15 of them children  killed or wounded by rebel snipers over the last six months in the besieged villages of Fuah and nearby Kefraya.

Dozens of towns have been all but destroyed in the 5 1/2-year conflict over Syrias future, but this has been a different kind of suffering. A punishing siege imposed by Islamist rebels has cut off these two sister towns in northwest Syria for the last 18 months, leaving them at the mercy of truck bombs, mortar barrages, and the terrifying staccato of sniper fire.

The two towns lie in Idlib province, a predominantly Sunni Muslim region southwest of Aleppo. In March 2015, the entire province was overrun by a powerful jihadist coalition known as the Army of Conquest.

The exception was Fuah and Kefraya, two Shiite villages whose roughly 17,000 residents have remained, even under a devastating blockade, loyal to the government. For most, there has seemed to be little choice: Shiite Muslims are seen as apostates by Islamist hard-liners, and the Army of Conquest has threatened to wipe them out.

Sniping can happen around the clock, 24 hours a day, and its happening daily.  Mohammad Hassan Taqi, head of the townsa crisis committee

A massacre is inevitable  maybe not for everyone, but certainly for the young men. They are always sending them threats on walkie-talkies, said Mohammad Hassan Taqi, head of the towns crisis committee.

But all the possibilities are there: killing, rape, imprisonment of some, to be used as bargaining chips with the government, he said.

The plight of these two Shiite towns says much about how Syrias sectarian mosaic has been fractured since the onset of the war. In a country where Shiite and Sunni villages were once spread across the landscape in relative harmony, more and more Syrians are being uprooted into sectarian blocs, their borders becoming new fault lines in the greater Sunni-Shiite conflict.

A key to the fate of Fuah and Kefraya  and one of the only things keeping the towns intact  is the Four Towns Agreement, a complex truce forged in September 2015 linking the fate of the two Shiite communities in Idlib province to that of Zabadani and Madaya, a pair of Sunni towns controlled by Syrian rebels near the capital, Damascus. Those towns have also been subjected to a relentless siege, in this case by pro-government forces, that has left residents on the verge of starvation.

The deal calls for a tit-for-tat arrangement: Any assistance entering or people evacuated from one pair of towns must be matched in equal measure by help to the other pair.

The agreement was brokered by some of the powerful outside forces engaged in the Syrian conflict: Turkey, a predominantly Sunni nation advocating for the Army of Conquest, and Shiite Iran, which helped the Syrian government work its priorities into the deal.

Shiite residents in Fuah and Kefraya have always been minorities in a country dominated by Sunnis, but religion never divided them from their neighbors in the past, said Mayada Aswad, an activist from Latakia whose parents still live in Fuah.

Students went to the same schools, people would open businesses with each other.  It was all normal, said Aswad. There were family visits and, yes, intermarriage.

Now, residents say most of the violence targeted at them comes from the direction of Binnish and Maraat Misrin, two Sunni-majority communities less than two miles away.

The Sunni villages have the advantage of higher terrain, granting rebel snipers a commanding view against which barricades can offer little protection.

Sniping can happen around the clock, 24 hours a day, and its happening daily, said Taqi, of the crisis committee.

Taqi was one of more than a dozen current and recent residents of Fuah reached by telephone or through social media. The Times also reviewed a crisis committee report that details the increasingly dire situation created by the lengthy blockade.

The continuing threat of sniper fire has altered the way the townsfolk go about their lives, forcing them to navigate alleyways, or cut passageways in the walls of buildings or trenches on the sides of roads.

A third of all homes in the two towns are uninhabitable, and half the schools are out of commission, according to the report, delivered to government authorities this month.

The main market in the village center is safe, but it has nothing but frustration, said one resident, a woman who did not give her name for fear of reprisals.

The siege, coupled with war merchants and thieves ready to take advantage of the situation, has made most items too expensive even when they are available, she said. Im better off than most, and Im not able to provide vegetables and milk for my daughter all the time.

The market now often features spoiled food because there isnt any other option, residents say.

The United Nations has been unable to deliver aid to the area since April 30, in part because of fighting in the vicinity, but also because the Four Towns Agreement requires assistance to enter the four towns at the same time  a standard that has been difficult to achieve.

In August, Jan Egeland, an advisor to the U.N. special envoy for Syria, said residents were in a seeming free-fall.

Fuah and Kefraya do receive some supplies via government air drops, but food, fuel and medicine are still scarce.

All pharmacies have closed in the market, and the planes only provide the most essential medicines, said Iyad Baghdadi, a pharmacist living in Kefraya.

The planes come sporadically, he said, and many times air supplies dont land intact. The other day, they dropped 36 barrels of fuel. Only two were usable.

The long siege has torn families apart.

The woman who complained about prices in the market said her husband had fled to Germany after being kidnapped in 2012. She and her daughter had hoped to join him, but a month later, the rebels blitzed through nearby Idlib city and she was trapped.

We had high hopes in the [Syrian] army and lied to ourselves that it wouldnt last long  but now my daughter hasnt seen her father for two years, she said. She thinks hes dead and doesnt believe its him when he speaks to her on the phone.

The last time Aswad, the activist in Latakia, saw her parents was in 2013. Although her mother is ill, she has not been able to bring her out.

There is also mounting pressure among Sunni opposition forces to break the Four Towns Agreement and wage an all-out offensive against Fuah and Kefraya.

You want to liberate Syria? Go to the  Shiite colonies in the heart of Sunni areas, shouted Faisal al-Qassem, an opposition supporter and host of a talk show on the Qatari news channel Al Jazeera. Kefraya and Fuah, theyre sitting right there in the middle of you. Why dont you go and forcibly expel them like [the government] did to you? Why dont you go there and [annihilate] them?

The only reason weve left those criminals alone is because theyre less important to us than the shoe of a child in Madhya and Zabadani, replied one guest, Abdul Monem Zain al-Din, an Islamist scholar who describes himself as a general coordinator of the opposition factions.

Residents of the besieged towns, in any case, see little hope that things will ever be as they were.

The truth is Fuah will be erased from the Earth, said Abbass Zaid al-Din, an accountant in Fuah. It will remain only as a memory of those residents who left it years ago.

Bulos is a special correspondent. Follow @nabihbulos on Twitter.

ALSO

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Kerry lashes out at Russia, calls for grounding of all aircraft over humanitarian routes in Syria
All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
Hillary Clinton is toppling Donald Trump by a nearly 4 to 1 margin among Hispanic voters, giving her a larger overall lead among that sector than even the staggering 44 points President Obama topped Mitt Romney by in 2012.

A new Wall Street/NBC News/Telemundo poll finds Clinton topping Trump by 48 points among Latinos at 65 percent to 17 percent. Pollsters noted the survey included a larger sample of Hispanic voters than other polls previously conducted by the organizations as a means of gaining a better understanding of the group's thoughts.

When third-party candidates Gary Johnson (9 percent) and Jill Stein (2 percent) are added to the mix, Clinton still holds a 48-point lead over Trump at 65 to 17 percent.

Promised Change

After Obama's trouncing of Romney Hispanics, Republican leaders publicly voiced concern about the way their party is perceived by many minorities and vowed to do more Hispanic outreach.

Despite that pledge, Trump launched his campaign by deriding Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals and since then has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants if he is elected.

He has also vowed to build a massive wall along the Mexican border to further keep immigrants out of the U.S., which he has insisted he will force the Mexican government to pay for.

In all, nearly eight in 10 Hispanics polled expressed negative feelings regarding Trump, including nearly seven in 10 who had "very negative'' feelings.

By comparison, back in 2012, only 35 percent of Hispanics expressed such "very negative" sentiments about Romney.

Immigration Among top Issues

With the issue of immigration reform long being one of the most contentious issues of the election season, pollsters found three in five Latinos indicate they have a high interest in going to the polls in November.

At one point, Trump appeared to be softening his hardline stance on immigration, meeting with Hispanic leaders, forming his own advisory council and even traveling to Mexico to meet with Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto.

But in a subsequent and highly anticipated speech on the subject of immigration, Trump doubled down on his vow of mass deportations, adding "Day 1, my first hour in office, those people are gone."

In addition, 68 percent of those surveyed in the Wall Street/NBC poll agreed they are convinced Clinton would be better on the issue of immigration.

The survey was conducted Sept. 15-20 and included 300 Hispanic registered voters. The margin of error for that group was plus or minus 5.66 percentage points.
Sony Xperia XZ (Photo : YouTube / Sony Xperia)

Sony Xperia XZ and Sony Xperia X Compact smartphones that were announced at the IFA 2016 event at the start of this month will be soon available for purchase in U.S. The pricing and release dates of both the smartphones for the U.S. have been officially confirmed.



Sony Xperia XZ Price, Release Date

The Sony Xperia XZ will be available unlocked in the U.S. with a price tag of $699. Its sales will begin in the U.S. on Oct. 2. The unlocked device supports GSM networks such as AT&T and Mobile. Buyers can purchase the smartphone through retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and others, Phone Arena reported.



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The Sony Xperia XZ is a flagship smartphone that features a 5.2-inch display that offers Full HD resolution. It is packed with Snapdragon 820 chipset and 3 GB of RAM. It has a native storage of 32 GB and carries support for microSD card.



Its rear camera is of 23-megapixel and the front panel has a 13-megapixel selfie snapper. The rear camera is equipped with features like 5-axis video stabilization and 4K video shooting. Other features include USB Type-C port and fingerprint scanner. It has a battery of 2,900 mAh capacity.



Sony Xperia X Compact Price, Release Date

The Sony Xperia X Compact unlocked version will start selling in the U.S. from Sept. 25 with a pricing of $499. Like Xperia XZ, the X Compact will work on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile and it will can be bought through retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, Android Central reported.



The Xperia X Compact has a 4.6-inch HD display and it is powered by Snapdragon 650 chipset and 3 GB of RAM. Its internal storage is 32 GB and it supports up to 32 GB of microSD card on its expansion slot.



It also features a 23-megapixel rear camera and a selfie shooter of 5-megapixel. It is also equipped with USB Type-C and fingerprint reader. The device is fueled by 2,700 mAh capacity battery.



Both the smartphones sport IP68 certified chassis that protects them from damage caused by dust and water. These devices come loaded with Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and Xperia UI.



Here is a hands-on video of Sony Xperia XZ:






The future (Photo : USAF)

Concepts for the American's sixth generation fighter jet that should service in the 2030s emphasize attributes dedicated to operating within and defeating the anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies favored by both Russia and China.



The concepts, however, agree on one point: this next gen fighter or fighters for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy will be armed with solid state airborne lasers in turrets rotating a full 360 degrees that can shoot down enemy drones, manned aircraft such as fighters and incoming missiles.



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One offshoot of the shift to lasers will likely be the end of the small, incredibly fast and highly maneuverable fighters that epitomize aerial combat. No sixth gen jet, no matter how fast or highly maneuverable, can dodge multiple laser beams striking it almost simultaneously at the speed of light.



Once detected by a laser armed U.S. fighter, an enemy fighter stands a good chance of being shot down no matter how desperately it to evade destruction with mind-numbing turns and other high-g maneuvers.



The only way to survive will be evading initial detection; staying outside the range of the U.S. laser jet and confusing the sensors a laser relies on the detect and lock onto a target long enough for the intense laser beam to take lethal effect.



In April 2015, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) released a report concluding the next-generation Air Force fighter should be larger and bear more resemblance to a bomber rather than a small, maneuverable traditional fighter.



It analyzed over 1,450 air-to-air combats since 1965 and found long-range weapons and sensors dramatically decreased instances of dogfighting.



With the increase of air defense systems using electronic and infrared sensors and high-speed weapons, traditional designs relying on small size, high speed, and maneuverability might be less relevant and easier to intercept. The solution is a larger fighter than can be packed with the offensive and defensive systems it needs to win and survive.



This fighter will be much larger than an F-22 or F-35, and will rely on enhanced sensors, signature control, networked situational awareness and very-long-range weapons such as lasers to detroy opposing aircraft before being detected.



Larger planes will also have greater range, allowing them to be stationed further from a combat zone, have greater radar and IR detection capabilities, and carry bigger and longer-range missiles.



There's also the possibility that if US laser jets are going to be big and not too maneuverable, there's no need for this aircraft to be manned.


Tourism Continues In Bali Despite Terrorism Concerns (Photo : Getty Images)

Another Chinese who has been involved in sex trafficking of women from China to the U.S. to work as prostitutes in massage parlors is now in the hands of the law.



The extradition of Wei Li from California to Hawaii came just days after U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley sentence Hui Li, a Chinese woman, to 12 months and one day for the similar offense of sex trafficking. Hui, who was arrested at Honolulu International Airport on Friday upon his extradition from California was arrested as part of the U.S. government crackdown on illegal massage parlors that actually are brothels, reported ABC.



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Hui is charged with racketeering for owning or operating an illegal prostitution business in California where he was arrested in April and fought extradition. His bail was set at $200,000, while his co-accused, Biyu Situ, who used to own the Mayflower Massage parlor, now defunct, is free on a $100,000 bail. Biyu is facing the same charges with trial in a state court set in November.



Besides the racketeering charges, Situ also is facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to brine a Department of Homeland Security investigator so her business would be protected from raids of law enforcers and help in acquiring American citizenship.



Keith Kaneshiro, a Honolulu prosecutor, said Wei is now detained at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Besides the mainland, Wei also allegedly brought Chinese women to Hawaii to become sex trade workers in massage parlors at the Pacific island.






Sep 22, 2016, 4:54pm ET

Tesla sues Michigan to fight for direct sales

The company claims General Motors pressured the state to adopt legislation to ban direct sales.

Tesla Motors has filed a federal lawsuit against Michigan legislators and governor Rick Snyder over the state's ban on direct sales to consumers.

The company made the first move toward a lawsuit nearly a year ago when it applied for a dealer license for a showroom in Grand Rapids. The state stalled for months but eventually rejected the application, setting the stage for a legal showdown.

State officials claimed the rejection was warranted because state law explicitly requires a dealer to have a contract with an automaker to sell vehicles. Essentially the argument rejects Tesla's attempt to be its own franchisor, despite having no third-party franchisees with which to compete.

"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," Tesla wrote in its lawsuit, according to a Detroit Free Press report.

The company claims "particularly egregious protectionist legislation" was passed by the Michigan legislature in 2014, implementing a ban on its direct-to-consumer sales model and "effectively giving franchised dealers a state-sponsored monopoly on car sales." The California-based automaker has also accused General Motors of pressuring legislators to adopt the ban.

Such legislation has been rejected in many states and prompted criticism from the Federal Trade Commission. Michigan serves as an important battleground as Tesla fights for the right to sell directly across the entire country, which could become increasingly important as the automaker attempts to fulfill its 500,000-unit sales goal in the next few years.
There was some serious struttin' going on Thursday at the Crayola Experience in Easton.

Crayola held its fourth annual Wrapped in Color fashion show and runway competition to raise money for Northampton County Special Olympics.

The evening featured 20 child models wearing creations fashioned by nine child designers, ages 6 to 11.

The looks were inspired by Rockin' Paper, the Crayola Experience's newest attraction.

Prizes included a modeling contract with Image International Modeling & Acting Center, of Allentown, and an internship with Carol Hannah of "Project Runway" in her New York City fashion house.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
Creepy clown 2

Says one observer of the spooky clown phenomenon that's sweeping the nation: "With clowns in particular, what makes it scary is clowns are ostensibly funny and child-friendly. So it is even spookier to think of them as unfriendly and evil." (NJ Advance Media file photo)

1. Creepy clown hysteria is sweeping the nation.

It's everywhere now. A trickle of mysterious clown sightings in August has turned into a gusher that has social media in a frenzy. Creepy clown sightings have spread to dozens of states. Two were reported in Easton within a span of 12 hours Wednesday and Thursday, following reports earlier in the week from Pottsville, Pa., and Huntingdon County, near Harrisburg.

2. What makes a clown creepy?

Where should we start? Makeup. Mimicry. Silence. The frightening clown is a twist that's at the root of terror, according to Charles J.D. Kupfer, associate professor of American studies and history at Penn State Harrisburg. He told pennlive.com the contrast between good and evil is provocative.

"With clowns in particular, what makes it scary is clowns are ostensibly funny and child-friendly," he told the website. "So it is even spookier to think of them as unfriendly and evil."

3. How did all this start?

The evil clown figure goes back years. Professional clown entertainer Neal Fehnel, of Palmer Township, says novels such as Stephen King's "It" in 1986 and the 1988 cult fllm "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" brought the idea of the evil clown to the mainstream. More recently, the FX Network's "American Horror Story" has a recurring storyline that features a scary clown.

4. There's a word for fear of clowns

It's called coulrophobia, an extreme fear of clowns -- although it's not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association or the World Health Organization.

5. Have creepy clowns hurt anyone?

Not so far as we can tell.

Police mugshot of serial killer John Wayne Gacy Jr.

The recent spate of sightings gained steam in Greenville, South Carolina, where residents of an apartment complex reported people in clown makeup were terrorizing residents. Worse, they said, children were being lured by people in clown costumes into nearby woods.

Authorities investigated and weren't able to confirm any of that.

At this point we feel compelled to mention that 1970s serial killer John Wayne Gacy Jr., who was convicted of 33 murders, had worked as a clown at charity fundraisers and children's parties.

6. Easton police found no evidence of clown activity

Locally, police in Easton said they were called Wednesday night to Canal Street for a suspicious person in a clown costume near Lehigh Manor Apartments. When police questioned the woman who notified them, she said she hadn't seen the clown herself but heard children talking about seeing one in the neighborhood.

The next morning, Easton Area Middle School students on a school bus reported they saw a group of clowns walking near St. Joseph's and St. John streets. Police checked out both reports and found no evidence of a clown -- not even a squirting flower or a bright red hair.

Even so, the middle school and other schools were abuzz with clown stories. Halloween should be interesting again this year.

State police in central Pennsylvania put out a call for folks this week to notify authorities if they see anyone in a clown costume on private property. (NJ Advance Media file photo)

7. What should you do if you see a creepy clown?

Take a picture and send it to the email address below. And best to notify authorities, too.

State police in central Pennsylvania urged folks to call police if they see anyone dressed as a clown on their property.

"The public is advised to use restraint and allow the police to handle the situation," state police at Huntingdon said in a news release.

8. Are there laws against being a clown?

No, but there are laws that govern harassment or public alarm. Best to leave it to the authorities to sort out if anyone's doing any law-breaking.

Neal Fehnel as Balloons the Clown performs at Pioneer Park in Easton during National Night Out on Aug. 2, 2016. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

9. How do legitimate clowns feel about all this?

Judging from Neal Fehnel's reaction, they're not too happy.

Fehnel's Balloons the Clown has booked parties and special events for decades in the Lehigh Valley. The persona of the evil clown has given the profession a black eye, he said.

Of the current sightings, he says, such imposters need to be prosecuted. And he's not kidding.

"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," Fehnel said. "Nobody's impersonating an insurance salesman for the same kind of compromise."

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

8
UPDATE: Wanted armed, dangerous man surrenders, police say



Authorities were looking for a Lehigh County man after an incident in which a round from a long gun was fired into a home in Northampton County, police said.

Michael William Belcher (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Michael William Belcher, 36, of Orefield, is considered armed and dangerous, Lehigh Township police announced in a news release Thursday night.

Township police responded at 3:49 p.m.. Thursday to the incident in the 4200 block of Mountain View Drive.

Belcher may be driving a darker Subaru with Pennsylvania license plate JWV-6247, according to police.

Lehigh Township police ask anyone with information to call the department at 610-317-0808.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Heroin.jpg

Heroin use is illustrated. Two alleged Phillipsburg-area heroin dealers were arrested this week following a monthlong investigation, police say. (Courtesy image | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Authorities say two alleged Phillipsburg-area heroin dealers are behind bars after a monthlong investigation.

On Wednesday night, authorities arrested 18-year-old Al-Fatir T. Kelly after searching his home in the 1100 block of Monroe Drive in Greenwich Township, according to news releases from Greenwich and Phillipsburg police.

Kelly is charged with a total of five counts each of drug possession and possession with intent to distribute, four counts of unlawful distribution and one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was sent to the Warren County jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

On Thursday, 25-year-old James J. Kerns was arrested near his home in the 400 block of Watson Place in Phillipsburg, town police said.

Kerns is charged with four counts each of drug possession and possession with intent to distribute, two counts of unlawful distribution and one count of possession with intent to distribute within 500 feet of public housing. He was sent to the Warren County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Kerns' charge of intended distribution near public housing carries a potential sentence of 10 years in state prison. All other charges could result in sentences of up to five years.

The Warren County Prosecutor's Office assisted in the investigations.

Weights and values of the drugs recovered in the two searches were not immediately disclosed, though Greenwich police said 240 bags were recovered from Kelly's home.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A fun afternoon for a good cause is promised on Sunday September 25, when the Laois branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind host a dog walk in Portlaoise.

The Laois branch is hold ing the fundraising walk to celebrate their thirtieth birthday.

Richard Connell from Portlaoise is a branch member since the start.

It will be a fun family day out for dogs and their owners. We hope to provide free advice on petcare, prizes for the best dogs, and hopefully a special guest, he said.

The walk sets off from the Petmania store in Portlaoise Retail park at 2.30pm.

It will go in a short loop via the Southern Circular road, Stradbally road, New Road and then back to Petmania.

Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcomed along, as long as they are on a lead and sociable.

The Laois branch started 30 years ago when a small group met in the Horse and Hound pub, now Grellan Delaneys.

Soon afterwards the first person in Laois received a guide dog.

Since then many have had their lives changed says Richard.

Guide dogs make an enormous difference and give people independence. Right now five people in Laois have guide dogs and one family has an autism assistance dog, with a waiting list for more dogs, he said.

It is expensive to produce a guide dog.

 It costs 38,000 to train and monitor a dog over its working life of about nine years, and the service is free to clients, he said.

In total, there are 18 clients of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in Laois, as many people have taken part in Independent Living Skills Programs, Orientation and Mobility Programs and a next step program.

The national charity relies on 80 percent of its income from donations.

People in Laois have been very supportive over the past thirty years, said Richard, who himself has climbed mountains around the world to raise money for the charity.

Sponsorship cards are now available in Petmania to fill out, or a donation can simply be made on the day of the walk.

For more information contact Richard on 087 2776450 or see www.guidedogs.ie
Ireland's youngest Paralympic athlete Nicole Turner returned to a joyous reception at Colaiste Iosagain Portarlington this morning.

Almost 1,000 of her fellow students packed the school hall and chanted let's go Turner let's go! as they had done while watching Nicole's events in Rio, live in on the big screen in school.

She was presented with an engraved plaque by the Principal Seamus Bennett, and took to the stage herself to thank the school.

Thank you all, for all the messages I got, the video of you supporting me really guided me on, said Nicole, 14, who is starting second year.

Her mother Bernie was presented with a bouquet by vice principal Siobhan Higgins for being one of the best mammies in Ireland.

Bernie told the students about Nicole's rise to success, from the shock of her diagnosis of dwarfism at the age of 6, to qualifying for five finals in Rio.

She proves that if you have a disability and you enjoy sport, if you work hard you can achieve your dream, and there's always Tokyo, her proud mam said.

Ms Higgins said Nicole has inspired staff and students to use their gifts well and follow their dreams.

How proud we are of a pocket rocket called Nicole, she said.

Nicole spoke to the Leinster Express afterwards.

Today was unbelievable, I was really excited to come back, I would like to thank the school for all their support, they even fundraised to help with going to Rio, she said.

She is taking a welcome break from training.

I have been training solid for a year and a half. I was exhausted when I got home, but I've picked up now. I will start back competing in the new year, she said.

She has a positive message to others with a disability.

If you're good in sport, keep it up and you will get something out of it, she added.

The town will host a homecoming for Nicole in the Community Centre this Saturday at 4pm.

See next Tuesday's Leinster Express for more.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan met George and Amal Clooney during his trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York during the week.

The Portlaoise based Minister is representing Ireland at the UN General Assembly, and his encounter with the celebrity couple took place earlier in the week when the Clooneys attended a roundtable on refugees at the UN .

George Clooney's ancestral homestead is reportedly in Abbeyleix, and his father has visited the town.

It is believed that his ancestor ancestor Sarah Clooney lived and worked in the factory that made carpets for the Titanic.

Minister Flanagan has had a busy programme of engagements in New York.

He addressed the United Nations General Assembly and met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

His schedule also included an address to the Irish Consulate in New York on Brexit, Northern Ireland and immigration and diaspora issues, as well as meeting a number of fellow Foreign Ministers and UN Special Envoy, Mary Robinson.

Minister Flanagan also spoke at The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and has met with Irish and Irish American community and business figures in New York.
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Since 1999, 23 September has been a day to recognize and celebrate bisexuality, bisexual history, bisexual community and culture, and all the bisexual people in our lives.

The day has gone by various names: Celebrate Bisexuality Day (or International Celebrate Bisexuality Day), Bi Pride Day, but has really become well-known to a broader audience in recent years as Bi Visibility Day. This has been extended in America to the whole week being known as Bi Awareness Week (and to some extent internationally, thanks to the internet; its been #biweek all over Twitter).

So Why Do Bisexuals Need Their Own Day?

Most non-bi people probably assume bisexuals are sufficiently included in other days, like Pride or IDAHOBIT (the International Day Against Homophobia, BIphobia and Transphobia). The councillors among you might have had requests for your town hall to fly the rainbow flag at such times.

But bisexuals suffer for being lumped in with LGBT all the time. Bisexuals experiences tend to differ not just from heterosexuals but from gay men and lesbians as well.

As well as homophobia, bisexuals face particular prejudice and discrimination specifically because of their bisexuality. This is called biphobia, and its at least as likely to come from lesbian and gay members of the LGBT community as it is from people who are straight and cisgender (ie people who dont identifying with any part of the LGBT acronym).

Academic research collated in the Bisexuality Report found that bisexual people have worse problems in areas like mental health, domestic violence, and homelessness than straight, lesbian or gay people. This has been found to be true in the UK and internationally, and is linked to experiencing biphobia and bisexual invisibility  being left out, misunderstood, or unsupported by both heterosexual and homosexual people has a strong effect on bisexuals.

Its important to note that there isnt anything inherently more difficult or damaging about being attracted to more than one gender. Its not bisexuality itself that causes the problems, its the stigma associated with bisexuality. The Bisexuality Report found that attitudes towards bisexual people are more negative than those towards other minority groups. Bis are stereotyped as promiscuous, untrustworthy, or greedy  not just in their relationships but in ways that can harm them at work, when seeking health care, and other everyday experiences where a straight or gay persons sexuality wouldnt be considered to dictate their personality or behaviour, but a bisexual persons does. Bisexual invisibility means bisexual people are generally not represented in mainstream media, policy, legislation and within lesbian and gay communities.

What Can Lib Dems Do to Support Bisexuals and Bi Visibility?

As a Lib Dem, youre already part of a party thats making sure bisexuals are acknowledged as distinct from lesbian and gay people, thanks to LGBT+ Lib Dems work in everything from making sure we use language that doesnt exclude bisexuals (like same-sex marriage instead of gay marriage, since not everyone who wants a same-sex marriage is gay) to helping Jo Swinson put out Bi Visibility Day messages when she was our Minister for Women and Equalities.

Since 23 September often happens to be during Autumn Conference, Lib Dems have taken advantage of this when possible, such as having a flashmob in Bournemouth last year, and joining with Brightons 2012 event of videos, speakers, games and colorful cake. And if we happen to be home from Conference by the twenty-third, as we are this year, check here for events you can support nearby.

Some places in the UK have flown the bi flag at the town hall to commemorate the day or week, including Bolton since 2015, Brighton since 2012, Oxford for the first time this year, and Wakefield all #biweek, also its first time. If your towns not one of those, feel free to ask your local council, or fellow councillors, to do the same!

I spent a lot of time at the LGBT+ stall at our most recent Autumn Conference, and in that time talked to more than one person about bisexuality and biphobia. This is very much a current and pressing issue for bisexual Lib Dems. If youre not already a member, you might consider joining LGBT+ Lib Dems and help make sure bisexuals are acknowledged, supported and, yes, visibleall year round!

* Holly is an immigrant, bisexual, disabled, and probably can tick most other diversity boxes that you have handy.
MORE women are being encouraged to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, manufacturing and design, under a new collaboration with the University of Limerick.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has entered into 10 partnerships around the world to encourage the increase of undergraduate women enrolling in STEM2D (science, technology, engineering and math) related disciplines.

UL is the only Irish university to be chosen to participate in the companys global initiative.

The new programme will focus on increasing the number of undergraduate women enrolling in STEM programmes at UL and those graduating with STEM degrees.

Dr. Leisha Daly said that they are increasingly aware of the fact that only one quarter of people currently working in STEM related careers in Ireland are women.

This collaboration will seek to identify the barriers that currently exist and facilitate programmes that will allow for greater female participation in STEM.

By partnering with UL and offering a mentoring support programme, we can provide role models that will promote and encourage STEM on campus, specifically amongst female undergraduates and post graduates, said Dr Daly.

Speaking on behalf of UL, Dr. Mary Shire, Vice President Research, said UL has the highest number of females in professorial roles in Ireland and is one of the first Irish universities to have achieved an Athena Swan award. Supporting greater female participation at undergraduate level in the STEM subjects is a vital part in promoting greater diversity at all academic and professional stages, said Dr Shire.

Currently only 25% of people working in STEM related careers in Ireland are women. In the 2016 Leaving Certificate cycle, 5,254 boys sat the engineering exam, compared with just 315 girls  or under six per cent. Less than seven per cent of all technical roles in Europe are filled by women.
LIMERICK city councillor Cian Prendiville has this week called on third level institutions and Limerick City and County Council officials to discuss provisions for more affordable, quality student accommodation.

At this weeks metropolitan district meeting, the Anti-Austerity Alliance councillor said that the current accommodation crisis has let students with no homes in the first few weeks of college.

In the first week, there were some students who were, effectively, homeless. One student, whom I was speaking to, had to travel all the way from Galway to University of Limerick. That is madness, he said.

He said that houses that were once 65 are now 150 per week. He added that a number of landlords are demanding advanced yearly payments, which often add up to 5,000.

The councils senior project manager, Seamus Hanrahan said that it is supportive of establishing a forum to afford an opportunity for the different sectors to exchange views on the challenges and opportunities relating to student accommodation in the city.

As part of the Rebuilding Ireland action plan for housing and homelessness, the council will work with organisations to prioritise and progress viable projects in key urban areas, at the end of this year.

By the end of the year, a funding mechanism will be established for Limerick Institute of Technology to support the development of student accommodation.

At the end of 2016, an assessment will be carried for the provision of additional student accommodation on local authority- and publicly-owned lands.
IRELAND must protect its corporation tax rate, Fianna Fail deputy Niall Collins has warned, following the ensuing controversy over the EU's 13bn tax ruling against Ireland.

The European Commission this month ordered that Ireland should receive up to 13bn from Apple, arguing that the favourable tax arrangements the company devised with Ireland constituted illegal state aid between 2003 and 2014.

Speaking in the Dail, the Limerick deputy said Irelands foreign direct investment policy impacts on every community, either through direct or indirect employment. For every direct job, up to four spin-off jobs are created.

Our foreign direct investment policy over the years has been significantly successful in attracting pharmaceutical, technology, life sciences, manufacturing and financial services companies.

All the big global names have a presence in this country, providing valuable employment. One cannot overstate the importance of these companies to our economy and how they have been attracted through our State agencies.

He said he supports the Governments appeal of the European Commissions finding, which is also being appealed by Apple.

We hear of a sweetheart deal for Apple. How can anyone with any degree of credibility, either inside this Chamber or outside, make such a claim?

We must stand up for our national reputation. I support all of the Governments endeavours to protect our national reputation. Apple has 6,000 employees in this country with further significant investment planned for Athenry.

What is also troubling about this judgment is its retrospective nature. This is somewhat hypocritical of the European Commission. We all recall how, at one stage, the Commission promised retrospective recapitalisation of our banks but welched on it.

Now it wants to collect taxation retrospectively. Again, another contradiction. The people know one cannot write legislation which impacts people retrospectively as it is unconstitutional. I cannot create a tax rate and retrospectively collect it from the people.

Some want to take the 13 billion and run, waving away the fact Apple will appeal it. The money is not available and there is uncertainty about how much is owed to the US and other countries. The argument to take the money and fund the health service for the year is a complete puff of smoke. We must protect our corporation tax rate.

It should be remembered that we applied a 10% corporation tax rate to manufacturing companies at one stage. We also had the successful Shannon free zone and similar zones elsewhere where a zero rate of tax applied. Low rates of tax are central to our highly successful foreign direct investment policy, which funds our public services and provides jobs. The Government is right on this issue on which I support its endeavours.
THE average rent in Limerick city now stands at 848 per month - about 4% higher than at the peak in 2007.

However, demand for good quality rental accommodation continues to outstrip supply due to a number of factors including a lack of new landlords entering the market and reduced building activity in the wake of the property crash.

That is according to Tony Wallace of Rooney Auctioners' new property management department.

He says the pool of tenants renting property in Limerick city has never been so diverse. Previously we would have had professional couples or singles renting in the city. Now you have people who may have emigrarated over the last few years and who have experienced the rental market in the UK, the UK, Australia or elsewhere where ownership isnt an expectation and they are coming home and saying maybe I will rent for a while.

There has also been a growth in family lets with families from outside Ireland coming into the market looking for larger properties to rent.

Another group is what he describes as the unintended tenants - young families who may have bought apartments during the boom time and find themselves in negative equity and therefore unable to sell. As the family grows, many of these people are opting to rent a larger house for themselves while letting out their own property.

The last couple of years have seen another new category of renter entering the market - senior staff with some of the multinationals operating in the region looking for good quality accommodation to rent for a period of time.

But with the supply of good quality accommodation at a premium, he believes there is a need now for more incentives to encourage investors back into the rental market.

Landlords' margins remain extremely tight, he says, citing high overhead costs, property tax and high rates of tax on income. That is stopping new landlords coming to the market and it is stopping new accommodation being offered.

We need more action from Government. We need some sort of incentives or reductions in tax to lure landlords back, he says, pointing out that in Limerick 80% of the landlords own just one or two properties.

Tony admits that property has been something of an obsession for him ever since he was a child. He knew from an early age that he wanted to work in the property business and after completing his leaving cert, he set about realising this ambition.

I didnt quite get the points for the LIT property degree in 2006 so I went to the bank and got a loan to buy a suit. I knocked on every single auctioneers door and said I will work for free - just give me a chance.

Having served his apprenticeship, he got what he describes as his big break in 2007 when he got a job in property management. From there, he went on the complete a number of courses, eventually getting accepted into fourth year in LITs management degree.

Serving such an extensive apprenticeship in the business has equipped Tony with in-depth knowledge around all the legislation governing the property business such as the Residential Tenancy Act and the Housing Standards regulations. Based in Rooney Auctioneers' offices on O'Connell Street, he is on hand to advise on these and all others aspects of property management.

Contact Tony Wallace at 061-401076 or 087-2621760 or email twallace@rooneys.eu.
UNIVERSITY Maternity Hospital Limerick has launched Irelands first major initiative that aims to reduce the incidence of infant mortality, and raising awareness through educating parents on how to care for their newborns.

The Baby Box programme will see mothers who complete e-learning classes, provided with a free baby box for their infant to sleep in.

The online education element is inclusive and accessible; easy to follow and available in 17 languages, reflecting the growing diversity of Irish maternity hospitals. Women booking in at ante-natal clinics will be given details on how to sign up for the e-learning at the Baby Box University.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death, is the sudden unexpected death of an apparently well infant and for which there is no explanation. About nine out of 10 cases occur in the first six months of life, with a greater risk for premature and low-birth-weight babies, a spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group stated.

The use of Baby Boxes has been credited with helping reduce infant mortality rates in Finland, where they have been in use for over 75 years.

Dr Mendinaro Imcha, consultant gynaecologist/obstetrician welcomed the new project at UMHL, describing it as a proactive approach to improving the health and safety of the newborn child and parents.

We are combining tradition with current technology and supporting the newborn childs family with online educational material covering a broad range of essential topics on ante and postnatal care.

For more on the initiative, see Tuesdays Limerick Chronicle.
LIGHT Moves, Irelands only festival of dance on film, which takes place in Limerick, is back for another outing.

The festival, returning for its third year, boasts a programme that showcases beautiful, thought-provoking and cutting-edge new work across various venues from November 3-6.

This year's festival will feature artists from home and abroad and is an opportunity for audiences both local and international to watch, learn, film, compose, dance, discuss and participate in screendance.

The programme will include Irish and world premieres, performances, installations, workshops, labs and talks from leading artists and thinkers from across the world and details were announced last week at Dance Limerick  with festival curators Mary Wycherley and Jurgen Simpson joined by special guest Professor Mel Mercier, chair of performing arts at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, to officially launch it.

We invite you to delve into the rich diversity, boldness and vibrancy of screendance; film experienced through the lens of movement and choreography, said the curators.

Light Moves will take place in locations across Limerick, including Dance Limerick's home in John's Square with the historic St John's Church, Belltable Arts Centre and Limerick City Gallery of Art. It is produced by Dance Limerick in partnership with DMARC (Digital Media and Arts Research Centre) at the University of Limerick.

The festival includes a special focus on work from Ireland, a participatory project for older people and screenings for young audiences.

Highlights include Jonathan Burrows and Matteo Fargions 52 Portraits, two films by Tacita Dean, the festivals featured artist, three feature-length screenings at the Belltable  Terrence Malick's To The Wonder, Milky Way from Benedek Fliegauf and Michelangelo Frammartino's Le Quattro Volte  with a keynote address by Dr Laura U Marks of Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, plus a selection of the best new short films for children from around the world.

Light Moves Festival of Screendance 2016  Trailer from crude media productions on Vimeo.

See www.lightmoves.ie.
Sep 22, 2016, 11 PM

By Michael Baadke

Legendary jazz musician John Coltrane was born 90 years ago today, on Sept. 23, 1926.

A native of Hamlet, N.C., Coltrane began playing alto saxophone in high school before joining the U.S. Navy near the end of World War II. Stationed in Hawaii, he performed with a swing band on base and with them made his earliest recordings.

After his service, Coltrane played tenor sax with bandleader and saxophonist Eddie Cleanhead Vinson before joining the Dizzy Gillespie band and then hooking up with trumpeter Miles Davis in the 1950s. Coltrane and Davis recorded off and on for several years, creating classic sides with the Davis band.

Coltrane also formed a group of his own, and the subsequent recording sessions from 1957 onward resulted in a string of acclaimed albums, including Blue Train (1957), Giant Steps (1960), and A Love Supreme (1965), often cited as Coltranes masterpiece.

His evolving improvisational style in the 1960s unfortunately coincided with serious health setbacks, leading to his death from liver cancer at age 40 in 1966.

Coltranes many musical honors include being named Jazzman of the Year by DownBeat magazine in 1965, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

He was also honored on a 32 stamp issued Sept. 1, 1995, as part of the Jazz and Blues Musicians set in the Legends of American Music Series (Scott 2991).
Stamp to look for from 51 years worth of Spanish Sahara issues: Tip of the Week

Sep 23, 2016, 1 PM

The Spanish Sahara 5-peseta 500th Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Isabella I airmail stamp (Scott C17) is a good buy in the grade of fine-very fine and unused hinged condition at $35 or more.

By Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Although they were never as widely collected as British and French colonial issues, Spanish colonies have an active and dedicated following.

One of the most interesting Spanish colonies is Spanish Sahara. The colony comprises a chunk of the Sahara desert lying along the Atlantic seaboard of North Africa.

Spain founded the colony in 1888 and abandoned it in 1975. It was quickly occupied by the Kingdom of Morocco. Moroccos claim on the territory has not received de jure recognition. Most of the native population now lives in refugee camps in the Algerian desert.

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Spanish Sahara issued its first stamps in 1924 and its last in 1975. Many of the stamps feature local fauna and are popular with topical collectors. On April 22, 1951, Spanish Sahara issued a 5-peseta airmail stamp to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Queen Isabella I (Scott C17).

The stamp design shows an African woman holding a white dove superimposed on an outline map of Africa. The stamp was not widely distributed. It also had production problems, and most of the stamps produced are not well-centered.

The 2017 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue values the stamp in the grade of fine and in mint never-hinged condition at $25. It is a good buy in mint never-hinged condition and in the grade of fine at around $20. Unused hinged examples in the grade of fine-very fine sell for $35 or more.
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Filmed by Dawn Hamilton.

Ben Kowalewicz, Jon Gallant, Jordan Hastings of Billy Talent sit down with Katrina in Twitter HQ Canada to discuss their new album Afraid of Heights. They talk about opening for Guns N Roses at the Rogers Centre, their relation with Ian as bandmate and producer, Aarons battle with MS and working behind the scenes. The crew tells us about their upcoming Live at the Bovine video, the bands longevity, and fans breaking down barricades at What The Fest.

See photos of Billy Talent at WTFest!
The security cooperation between Egyptian and the British authorities is moving in the right direction to resume UK flights to the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, the UK foreign secretary told his Egyptian counterpart, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told his counterpart Boris Johnson during a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA that Egypt aims to provide the necessary guarantees and security procedures in Egyptian airports to ensure tourists' safety, according to the statement by ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Egypt's FM highlighted the importance of setting standards to facilitate undertaking the required procedures.

Johnson said that he would give special attention to the matter, adding that he is aware of the economic consequences of such a matter for Egypt.

The UK along with several other Western countries suspended flights to the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh following the downing of a Russian airliner over central Sinai in October last year which killed all 224 people on board.

Egypt's President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi met with British Prime Minister Theresa May earlier in the week in New York,and they discussed the security procedures and efforts undertaken in Egypt's airports and agreed on working on the resumption of British flights to Sharm El-Sheikh.

The British prime minister further expressed support of Egypt's economic reforms policies urging the developing of bilateral relations on the political and economic levels, according to the Egyptians.

El-Sisi returned to Egypt early on Friday after attending the the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

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Authorities have recovered tens of victims' bodies in the boat disaster during the last 24 hours but many are still missing

The death toll from the capsizing of a migrant boat off the coast of Egypt has risen to 162 on Friday afternoon after Egypt's naval forces retrieved 107 bodies in the past several hours, with the authorities expecting to recover more bodies in the coming hours.

The boat, which capsized on Wednesday, was carrying migrants of a number of nationalities heading to Italy.

Eyewitnesses estimated the boat was carrying around 450 migrants, 300 over an estimated maximum passenger capacity of 150 people.

A total of 164 people have been 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.

According to survivors' testmonies, after the boat sank, they remained in the water for seven hours before being discovered

On Thursday, Egyptian prosecutors ordered the arrest and detention of the four crew members for four days pending investigation over charges of human trafficking, wrongful death, wrongful injury and using a fishing boat for another purpose.

In recent years, thousands of refugees and migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean in search of better jobs and opportunities.

The Egyptian Mediterranean coastline has been one of the main departure points for migrant boats.

Egyptian security forces have foiled many irregular migration in recent months.

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Egypts administrative prosecution has opened on Friday an investigation into officials at the state-owned Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) following the airing of an old interview by mistake with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

The state-owned TV channel aired an interview last Tuesday by the American public broadcasting Service (PBS) with El-Sisi dated last year, instead of PBSs most recent interview with El-Sisi earlier this week.

Following the airing of the old interview, the head of state TV sacked its head of news department, Mostafa Shehata.

Shehata will be among those officials to be investigated by the prosecution.

The airing of the wrong interview, according to the prosecution statement, negatively affected the states prestige domestically and internationally and enraged Egyptians at home and abroad.

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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

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Taste, smell, vision, hearing, touch and awareness of one's body in space? Yes, humans have at least six senses, and a new study suggests that the last one, called proprioception, may have a genetic basis.

Proprioception refers to how your brain understands where your body is in space. When police ask a drunken person to touch their finger to the tip of their nose, they're testing the sense of proprioception.

Previous research in mice has suggested that a gene called PIEZO2 may play a role in this sense, according to the study. The PIEZO2 gene tells cells to produce "mechanosensitive" proteins. Mechanosensation is the ability to sense force, for example, being able to feel when someone presses down on your skin. It also plays a role in proprioception, according to the study. [7 Weird Facts About Balance]

To understand the gene's effect in humans, the researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified two young patients who had very rare mutations in the gene, according to the study, published Wednesday (Sept. 21) in the New England Journal of Medicine. The patients also had joint problems and scoliosis, the researchers noted.

The patients were asked to perform several tests related to movement and balance, according to the study. In one test, for example, the researchers found that the patients had a great deal of difficultly walking when they were blindfolded.

In another test, the patients were asked to reach for an object in front of them, first with their eyes open and then while blindfolded. Compared with people who did not have the gene mutation, the patients had a much harder time reaching for the object when blindfolded, the researchers found.

Other tests showed that the blindfolded patients with the gene mutation had more trouble guessing the direction of movement of their arms and legs when being moved by the researchers. They also had more trouble feeling the vibrations from a buzzing tuning fork placed against their skin, compared with the control participants.

In a different experiment, one patient said that the feeling of someone gently brushing the skin of the forearm was prickly, as opposed to a pleasant sensation that's normally reported.

The findings suggest that the patients who carry the mutations in the PIEZO2 gene are "touch-blind," Alexander Chesler, a principal investigator at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the lead author of the study, said in a statement.

"The patient's version of [the gene] PIEZO2 may not work, so their neurons cannot detect touch or limb movements," Chesler said.

Other parts of the patients' nervous systems, however, were working fine, according to the study. The patients could feel pain, itch and temperature normally, the researchers said. In addition, their brains and cognitive abilities were similar to those of the control subjects.

The researchers said that the PIEZO2 gene has been linked to genetic musculoskeletal disorders in previous studies. Indeed, the findings of the new study suggest that the gene may be required for normal skeletal growth and development, the researchers said. Another possible explanation is that the sense of touch and proprioception play a role in skeletal development, they wrote.

Originally published on Live Science.
A majority of Americans now say that a U.S. president should release all of his or her medical information. In earlier years, those who held this opinion were in the minority, according to a new poll.

The poll, which was conducted by Gallup last week, found that a slim majority of Americans, 51 percent, said that a president should release all medical information that might affect that person's ability to serve in office, whereas 46 percent said that a president should have the right to keep those medical records private.

The new poll results are a change from the results in 2004, when just 38 percent of Americans said that a president should release all of his or her medical information, and 61 percent said that a president should be able to keep those records private, according to Gallup.

This shift in stance was especially apparent among Republicans. In 2016, 66 percent of Republicans said that a president should release his or her full medical records, compared to just 34 percent in 2004. Among Democrats, in 2016, 47 percent said that presidents should release all their medical information, compared to 42 percent in 2004. [Top 10 Ailing Presidents]

The new poll results come as both U.S. presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, have faced calls to release their full medical records. On Sept. 14, Clinton released a letter from her physician that provided details on her current health and medication, and Trump appeared on The Dr. Oz Show to discuss several results from a recent physical exam.

According to the poll, most Americans think both Clinton and Trump are healthy enough to be president, although a slightly higher percentage said this of Trump compared to Clinton. Seventy-five percent of poll responders said that Trump is healthy enough to be president, and 62 percent said that Clinton is healthy enough to be president.

However, participants' political leanings may have influenced their response to this question. Nearly all Republicans, 96 percent, said Trump is healthy enough to be president, but just 27 percent of Republicans said the same of Clinton. In contrast, 89 percent of Democrats said Clinton is healthy enough to be president, but 54 percent of Democrats said the same of Trump.

The results are based on phone interviews with 1,033 U.S. adults, Gallup said. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Original article on Live Science.
Warplanes launched some of the heaviest air strikes yet on rebel-held areas of Aleppo on Friday after the Russian-backed Syrian army declared an offensive to fully capture Syria's biggest city, killing off any hope of reviving a ceasefire.

Residents said the streets were deserted as the 250,000 people still trapped in the besieged opposition-held sector of Aleppo sought shelter from jets. The army said the operation would include a ground attack, and could last "for some time".

The rebels and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring body described raids by warplanes they said must belong to Russia. Residents also spoke of attacks by helicopters using bombs made from oil drums, a tactic usually attributed to the Syrian army.

"Can you hear it? The neighbourhood is getting hit right now by missiles. We can hear the planes right now," Mohammad Abu Rajab, a radiologist, told Reuters. "The planes are not leaving the sky, helicopters, barrel bombs, warplanes."

The intense bombardment left no doubt that the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad and its Russian allies had spurned a plea from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to halt flights to resurrect the ceasefire, which lasted a week before collapsing on Monday.

A rebel commander said the blasts were the fiercest the city had faced.

"I woke up to a powerful earthquake though I was in a place far away from where the missile landed," he said in a voice recording sent to Reuters. His group had "martyrs under the rubble" in three locations.

In a late night announcement on Thursday, the Syrian military announced "the start of its operations in the eastern districts of Aleppo", and warned people to stay away from "the headquarters and positions of the armed terrorist gangs".

Elaborating on this on Friday, a military source said the offensive would be a "comprehensive one", with a ground assault following air and artillery bombardment. "With respect to the air or artillery strikes, they may continue for some time," it said.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian or Syrian militaries detailing Friday's air strikes.

The Syrian army's declaration of the offensive coincided with international meetings on Syria in New York, the latest diplomatic efforts officially intended to revive the truce, which was brokered by the United States and Russia.

Its collapse, the same fate as all previous efforts to halt a 5-1/2-year-old war that has killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians, has doomed what may be the final bid for a peace breakthrough before President Barack Obama leaves office.

"ANNIHILATION"

The Syrian government, strengthened by Russian air power and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias, has been tightening its grip on rebel-held districts of Aleppo this year, and this summer achieved a long-held goal of fully encircling the area.

The government already controls the city's western half, where fewer people have fled. Before the war, the city held nearly 3 million people and was Syria's economic hub.

Recovering full control of Aleppo would be the most important victory of the war so far for Assad, who has sought to consolidate his grip over the western cities where the overwhelming majority of Syrians lived before fighting drove half of the nation from their homes.

The Observatory said there were at least 40 air strikes since midnight.

Ammar al Selmo, the head of civil defence rescue service in opposition-held Aleppo, said three of its four centres in Aleppo had been hit. "What's happening now is annihilation in every sense of the word," he told Reuters. "Today the bombardment is more violent, with a larger number of planes."

The U.S.-Russian agreement marked their second attempt this year to halt the war. It was supposed to bring about a nationwide ceasefire, improved humanitarian aid access, and a joint U.S.-Russian effort against Islamist militant groups including Islamic State (IS) and the Nusra Front, long al Qaeda's Syrian wing.

"LONG, PAINFUL, DIFFICULT"

But the ceasefire collapsed into renewed bombardments on Monday, including an attack on an aid convoy that Washington has blamed on Moscow, which denies involvement.

Assad remains defiant, saying on Thursday he expected the conflict to "drag on" as long as it is part of a global conflict in which the groups fighting him are backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and the United States.

On Thursday at the United Nations, the United States and Russia failed to agree on how to revive the ceasefire during what U.N. Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura called a "long, painful, difficult and disappointing" meeting.

The International Syria Support Group, including Moscow, Washington and other major powers, met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders in New York.

"We have exchanged ideas with the Russians and we plan to consult tomorrow with respect to those ideas," Kerry said, expressing concern at the reports of the planned new Syrian offensive. "I am no less determined today than I was yesterday but I am even more frustrated."

Western states have backed Kerry's call to ground warplanes to create the right conditions for the truce. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault described Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's response to that proposal as "not satisfying."

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A U-2 spy plane that crashed in northern California earlier this week, killing one of the two pilots, focused attention on a normally clandestine aspect of the U.S. military. The U-2 plane has a long and storied history that stretches back to the late 1950s, but how is the reconnaissance aircraft used today?

U-2 planes have been flown by the United States and other nations for more than 60 years, as both a spy plane and an instrument of science. They key to the aircraft's longevity is its robust and efficient design, said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at Teal Group Corp., which conducts research and analysis on the aerospace and defense industry. He added that Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, the man who designed the U-2, "got it right."

"Those designers at the Lockheed Skunk Works deserve their legendary status," Aboulafia told Live Science. [Supersonic: The 11 Fastest Military Airplanes]

What sets the U-2 apart is its ability to fly higher than any other aircraft for long periods, which is what makes it a good spy plane, he said.

And spy planes are still relevant today, even in the age of satellites. "Satellites are an additional layer," Aboulafia said. "But they can't be retargeted quickly. They are in whatever orbit and they can't be moved, and they are easily blocked by bad weather." Spy planes, on the other hand, have a lot more flexibility. "They can be easily moved from one part of the Earth to another, at any time," Aboulafia said.

Spy in the sky

By the time the first U-2 flew in 1955, the problem of gathering intelligence was becoming more acute. Spy planes were in operation as far back as World War I, when aircraft were used to take photos of enemy positions. But during the Cold War, the U.S. government wanted a way to fly over what was then the Soviet Union without being detected or shot down.

In fact, the U.S. had been flying spy planes into the USSR as early as the 1940s, according to Gregory Pedlow and Donald Walzenbach, authors of "The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974" (Military Bookshop, 2013).

Pedlow and Walzenbach said the USSR didn't have complete radar coverage of its borders or interior at that time, and modified B-47 bombers would fly in to take photos of sensitive targets, and then fly out. Moscow protested these flights but didn't shoot any down (though they fired warning shots). That changed in 1950, when the USSR shot down a U.S. plane over the Baltic Sea. Later that year, with the outbreak of the Korean War, Moscow adopted a policy of shooting down aircraft that violated its airspace. [Flying Saucers to Mind Control: 7 Declassified Military & CIA Secrets]

The U.S. Air Force asked aircraft companies to submit designs for a plane that could reach altitudes of 65,000 to 70,000 feet (20,000 to 21,300 meters), and just as important, be able to stay there for long periods. One of the changes to previous designs was that the plane didn't have to be equipped with the heavy armor or weaponry that were the hallmarks of military planes before, Pedlow and Walzenbach wrote.  Such specifications added weight, and made it more difficult to design a plane that could fly high enough.

It was Johnson's design that won out. To make the plane efficient at high altitudes, he adopted long and straight wings rather than a swept-back design, to improve lift at relatively low speeds (for a jet). The airframe also wasn't as strong or as heavy as the usual military-grade models, allowing for higher flight with less fuel. Johnson's design also dispensed with conventional landing gear and a pressurized cabin.

In operation

The U-2 was introduced into military service in 1957. Even after the USSR shot down one of the planes in 1960, the aircraft was still used in a number of conflicts such as the Vietnam War, providing intelligence to the U.S. and its allies. (The Christian Scence Monitor reported that a U-2 was even stationed in Cyprus in 2011, to monitor the no-fly zone established in Libya). In 1971, NASA started using U-2s as part of the agency's Earth Resources Aircraft program, flying the plane over the United States to gather scientific data. While NASA no longer uses the original U-2 model, a modified U-2, called the ER-2, still flies for the agency.

The first U-2s carried large-format cameras, but the sensors on board have grown much more sophisticated over the years, as have the controls. The engines, avionics and surveillance equipment have all been updated as technology has improved.

"You can fit a lot more [monitoring instruments] on them now than you could then," Aboulafia said. [7 Technologies That Transformed Warfare]

According to the U.S. Air Force, the U-2 carries an "electro-optical infrared camera, optical bar camera, advanced synthetic aperture radar, signals intelligence and network-centric communication" for reconnaissance flights.

But the U-2 is still a notoriously difficult aircraft to fly, Aboulafia said, even though the only remaining part from the 1950s version of the plane is the airframe.

The U-2 still conducts reconnaissance missions; there are two flying in the Middle East on any given day to monitor the Islamic State, reported the Los Angeles Times. The plane flies high enough to "peer in" to airspaces where they might not be allowed, as it's no longer a good assumption that radar can't detect the planes or that a surface-to-air missile can't hit them. (Although, the kind of missile that could reach a U-2 is more likely to be in the repertoire of a major military power than a small group of militants in a remote area, Aboulafia noted.)

In September 2015, 60 years after the U-2 was introduced, Lockheed Martin said it would unveil a replacement for the venerable spy plane, called the TR-X. According to a report from Defense News, the Air Force hasn't formally committed to it, though there is a plan to retire the U-2 in 2019. That may not happen, though, as the U-2 has already outlasted some of the planes that were supposedly more advanced, including the Lockheed SR-71, which could reach similar altitudes and travel at 3.5 times the speed of sound. The SR-71 was retired in 1998 because it was too expensive to fly regularly.

Original article on Live Science.
Most functions attributed to the soul can be explained by the brain, say many psychologists.

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Many people today believe they possess a soul. While conceptions of the soul differ, many would describe it as an "invisible force that appears to animate us."

It's often believed the soul can survive death and is intimately associated with a persons memories, passions and values. Some argue the soul has no mass, takes no space and is localised nowhere.

But as a neuroscientist and psychologist, I have no use for the soul. On the contrary, all functions attributable to this kind of soul can be explained by the workings of the brain.

Psychology is the study of behaviour. To carry out their work of modifying behaviour, such as in treating addiction, phobia, anxiety and depression, psychologists do not need to assume people have souls. For the psychologists, it is not so much that souls do not exist, it is that there is no need for them.

It is said psychology lost its soul in the 1930s. By this time, the discipline fully became a science, relying on experimentation and control rather than introspection.

What is the soul?

It is not only religious thinkers who have proposed that we possess a soul. Some of the most notable proponents have been philosophers, such as Plato (424-348 BCE) and Rene Descartes in the 17th century.

Plato believed we do not learn new things but recall things we knew before birth. For this to be so, he concluded, we must have a soul.

Centuries later, Descartes wrote his thesis Passions of the Soul, where he argued there was a distinction between the mind, which he described as a "thinking substance," and the body, "the extended substance." He wrote:

 because we have no conception of the body as thinking in any way, we have reason to believe that every kind of thought which exists in us belongs to the soul.

One of the many arguments Descartes advanced for the existence of the soul was that the brain, which is a part of the body, is mortal and divisible  meaning it has different parts  and the soul is eternal and indivisible  meaning it is an inseparable whole. Therefore, he concluded they must be different things.

But advances in neuroscience have shown these arguments to be false.

Stripping humans of the soul

In the 1960s, Nobel laureate Roger Sperry showed that the mind and our consciousness are divisible, therefore disproving that aspect of Descartes' theory.

Sperry studied patients whose corpus callosum, the superhighway connecting the right and left hemispheres, had been severed by surgery aiming to control the spread of epileptic seizures. The surgery blocked or reduced the transfer of perceptual, sensory, motor and cognitive information between the two hemispheres.

Sperry showed each hemisphere could be trained to perform a task, but this experience was not available to the untrained hemisphere. That is, each hemisphere could process information outside the awareness of the other. In essence, this meant the operation produced a double consciousness.

Thus, Descartes cannot be correct in his assertion the brain is divisible but the soul, which can be read as the mind or consciousness, is not. In his effort to prove the existence of the soul in humans, Descartes actually provided an argument against it.

Rather than investigating rats with souls, psychologists stripped humans of theirs. In 1949, psychologist D.O. Hebb claimed the mind (opens in new tab) is the integration of the activity of the brain.

Many neurophilosophers have come to the same conclusion as the psychologists, with Patricia Churchland more recently claiming there is no ghost in the machine.

The brain does it all

If the soul is where emotion and motivation reside, where mental activity occurs, sensations are perceived, memories are stored, reasoning takes place and decisions are taken, then there is no need to hypothesise its existence. There is an organ that already performs these functions: the brain.

This idea goes back to the ancient physician Hippocrates (460-377 BCE) who said:

Men ought to know that from nothing else but the brain come joys, delights, laughter and sports, and sorrows, griefs, despondency and lamentations. And by this  we acquire wisdom and knowledge, and see and hear, and know what are foul and what are fair, what are bad and what are good, what are sweet and what are unsavoury

The brain is the organ with a map of our body, the outside world and our experience. Damage to the brain, as in accidents, dementias or congenital malformations, produces a commensurate damage to personality.

Consider one of the functions supposedly  if we listen to Plato  carried out by the soul: memory. A major knock on the head can make you lose your memories of the past several years. If the soul is an immaterial substance separate from our physical being, it should not be injured by the knock. If memory were stored in the soul, it should not have been lost.

The neuronal activity in the brain is responsible for the cognitive and emotional dysfunctions in people with autism; it would be cruel and unethical to blame their hypothetical souls.

Manipulation of the brain is sufficient to alter emotion and mood. The soul is totally superfluous to this process.

The ability of psychotherapeutic drugs to alter mood provides another line of evidence against the presence of the soul. If you produce a chemical imbalance in the brain, such as by depleting dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin with tetrabenazine, you can induce depression in some people.

Correspondingly, many depressed people can be helped by drugs that increase the function of these neurotransmitters in the brain.

The brain is where thinking takes place, love and hatred reside, sensations become perceptions, personality is formed, memories and beliefs are held, and where decisions are made. As D.K. Johnson said: There is nothing left for the soul to do.

George Paxinos, Visiting/Conjoint Professor of Psychology and Medical Sciences, UNSW & NHMRC Australia Fellow, Neuroscience Research Australia

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
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.

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.

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Iran on Friday condemned air strikes in Yemen by a coalition led by its regional rival Saudi Arabia that are reported to have killed 20 civilians.

"Sadly, the indifference of the international community and continued sale of all kinds of arms to Saudi Arabia have emboldened this regime in its attacks on the oppressed and defenceless people of Yemen," foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said, quoted by state broadcaster IRIB.

The Saudis "continue their endless violations" while "the meaningful silence of some Western countries on the massacre of innocent people will undoubtedly make them more hated in the eyes of the world and a partner in the child-killing regime's crimes," he added.

According to a Yemeni government official, the Saudi-led coalition air raid in the Red Sea port of Hodeida on Wednesday night killed 20 civilians.

He said the residential neighbourhood was "probably hit in error".

Coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assiri said rebel leaders had been the target. He said the alliance had no information on casualties because it is not present on the ground there.

The strikes came with Riyadh facing mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its 18-month campaign against Shia Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen.

Shia Iran strongly opposes the Saudi-led military intervention but denies arming the Houthis, who control large parts of the country including the capital Sanaa.

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A man who appeared at last weeks district court sitting in Longford charged under the Road Traffic Act was disqualified from driving for four years.

Kamil Piech (24), 9 Palace Drive, Longford appeared before Judge Seamus Hughes charged with driving while over the legal limit of alcohol at Lanesboro, Longford on July 13, 2016.

He was also further charged with driving without a driving licence on the same date.

Outlining the case to the court, Garda Orla Finneran said that on the date in question she was on patrol when she observed the defendant driving a car.

The court heard that the car being driven by the defendant was owned by another person and he was not insured to drive it.

Garda Finneran also told the court that when the defendant was cautioned after being charged, he replied I admit it was me but due to a family situation, I was driving.

The court also heard that an intoxilyzer test indicated a reading of 94 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and further investigations proved that the defendant was not insured on the car he was driving at the time of the incident.

In mitigation, the defendants solicitor Frank Gearty indicated that his client was pleading guilty to the charges before the court.

He also admitted that on the date in question, the defendant had gone out for a spin in the car with drink on board.

He did this silly thing, Mr Gearty continued.

He is a young Polish man who has never even had a driving licence and has a little daughter.

Following his deliberations on the matter, Judge Hughes convicted the defendant and fined him 250 in respect of each charge before the court.
Well-known local biker Linda McGee raised over 1,700 for Special Olymics Longford by combining her enthusasim for biking with her love of sport, in a fundraising bike ride 'Linda's Run'.

Linda is a notable figure in the motorbike scene, most recognisable wearing her familiar helmt. She's often found riding with her pilot Billy Behan who described her as a legend in the biker community.

The 27-year-old said she has loved motorbikes ever since she was a little girl and two years ago fulfilled her dream of becoming a biker, going on regular spins with her biker friends.

Having qualified to go forward in swimming and bowling in the National Qualifiers for The Special Olympics, the Longford town native decided to put on a fundraising drive for Special Olympics Longford, which took place on August 7.

The offical mascot of Bikers for Bethany, Linda is accustomed to donning her leather for charity. Explaining the motivation behind Linda's Run, she said a few months ago myself and some of my friends qualified to go forward to the next round of the National Qualifiers in The Special Olympics; I qualified in swimming and bowling. I decided to ask my biker friends to help me do a motorbike run to help me raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Longford.

Despite the rain, seventy bikers turned out to what she described as a really great fun ride where they rode to Galway City for burgers.

The fundraising drive was a resounding success, with a very contented Linda handing over the cheque to Liam Madden of Special Olympics Longford.

Speaking to the Longford Leader, Billy praised Linda's efforts saying it was all her own hard work. It was brilliant, the weather wasn't great it rained and was windy but as Linda herself says 'we're not sugar lumps, we're bikers'.

Thanking everyone who donated and took part on the day, Linda concluded I would like to say a huge thank you to all my biker friends that showed up, donated and shared the road to help me raise 1,700 for Special Olympics Longford. 
The weekend is upon us again, and as always, theres plenty to see and do around the county. Here, we have compiled a list of events that are taking place over the next few days.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Longford Ladies RFC will celebrate 10 years of womens rugby in Longford with dinner and dancing in the rugby clubhouse from 7.30pm. Tickets now available at the clubhouse or contact 086 7340208 for details.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Granard Tidy Towns committee are holding a 5k family fun run/walk starting at the Community Centre at 5pm. Refreshments will be served afterwards in JVs.

The second Longford Jam takes place in John Brownes, Longford, with music from 9.30pm.

Sponsor or join Isla Duffy as she completes a 5k walk/run in her wedding dress in The Mall at 9.30am in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

The second annual Longford Colour Run will happen this Sunday, with registration from 9am at Longford Fitness, N4 Axis Centre. This year, proceeds will be divided between Temple Street, Longford Mental Health and the Lakelands Area Retreat and Cancer Centre (LARCC). Participants of all ages and abilities are invited to take part. For more information or to purchase your ticket, search for Longford Colour Run on Facebook.

The Darren McGlynn Memorial Tractor Run takes place, with registration from 9am. The run will start at 12 noon sharp from Cloonfour, Rooskey. Admission is 20 per tractor. Refreshments will be served afterwards and there will be a raffle on the day.

The Horsepower Gym at Unit 6, Mastertech Business Park, Athlone Road, Longford will play host to a Longford Strong Man competition from 1pm.

If youre looking for ideas for your big day, the Longford Arms is the place to be on Sunday for a Wedding Fair and Bridal Fashion from 2pm to 5pm.

The Shaun Whiter annual charity shoot takes place at Granard/Abbeylara Shooting Grounds from 11am, with the last card at 3.30pm. Everyone welcome, and for more information contact Kevin McLoughlin at 086 837 6419.

If you have an event coming up, let us know! Get in touch by calling the newsroom on 043 33 45241 or by emailing newsroom@longfordleader.ie.
The Late Late Show line-up this evening will feature a very familiar face for many Longfordians.

RTE presenter Daraine Mulvihill, will join athletes Ellen Keane and Niamh McCarthy to speak with host Ryan Tubridy about Team Irelands success at this years Paralympics in Rio.

Daraine is from Dunboyne, Co Meath, but her father, Liam, former Director General of the GAA, hails from Kenagh Co Longford and Daraine has many relatives in the county.

Daraines own challenge with disability stretches back to her teenage years, when she contracted a virulent strain of meningitis at the age of 16. The virus left her close to death and, in a life-saving move, her parents agreed to allow surgeons to amputate both her legs below the knee to prevent the meningitis from spreading. The disease also left her temporarily paralysed.

It hasnt held Daraine back however - quite the opposite. Daraine also presented the Paralympics coverage from London 2012 and fronted an RTE Two series in 2014 entitled; In Your Shoes.

Daraine will join an exciting line-up tonight including President Michael D Higgins, Love/Hate star John Connors, comedian Jessica Thom and actress and writer Stefanie Preissner. Music will be performed by The Blizzards, Cathy Davey and Ralph McTell and John Sheehan.

Tune in to RTE One tonight from 9.35pm.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By EAC Network Published: September 23 2016

LI not-for-profit receives finalist award to HIA-LI Business Achievement Award.

Woodbury, NY - September 22, 2016 - EAC Network is thrilled to announce it was honored as a finalist in the not-for-profit category at HIA-LIs 22nd Annual Business Achievement Awards on September 20th at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.

The human service agency was selected among hundreds of applicants for its deep compassion, dedication, and impact on Long Island populations in need of support. EAC Networks President & CEO, Lance W. Elder, accepted the award at the HIA-LI gala luncheon.

Our agency feels privileged to be named a finalist in the not-for-profit category of the Business Achievement Awards, said Mr. Elder upon receiving the recognition. HIA-LI has long recognized the best of the best businesses on Long Island and we are proud to be nominated along with other great organizations that work to benefit our community.

HIA-LI is pleased to recognize EAC Network as a finalist in the not-for-profit category of our Business Achievement Awards competition, said Terri Alessi-Miceli, President of HIA-LI. Our finalists represent some of the highest performing and best run companies on Long Island and in the world. EAC Network has been named a finalist in recognition of its achievements in industry leadership, creativity, successful operations, corporate vision, and other characteristics vital to developing and growing a winning organization.

In choosing the finalists, the selection committee considered multiple factors. The award criteria included:

Positive employer/employee relations

Commitment to the growth or betterment of the Long Island business community

Revenue and profitability trends over the last three years

Three to five-year vision for the company's future

Additional criteria that were considered included:

Recent outstanding accomplishments

Technical innovation or innovative processes

Expansion into new markets

Industry leadership

Overcoming adversity

EAC Network congratulates Mercy Haven, Inc. on winning the HIA-LI Business Achievement Award in the not-for-profit category, as well as fellow finalists AHRC Workforce, CN Guidance & Counseling Services, Family & Childrens Association, and the Suffolk Y JCC.

About EAC Network

EAC Network is a not-for-profit social service agency that empowers, assists, and cares for over 71,000 individuals across Long Island and New York City. EAC Networks mission is to respond to human needs with programs and services that protect children, promote healthy families and communities, help seniors, and empower individuals to take control of their lives. The organization has grown tremendously since its inception in 1969 and now offers over 70 diverse programs that address many of societys core problems. Individuals lives are being destroyed by addiction, families and children continue to struggle to overcome poverty, abuse, and neglect, and seniors face isolation and abandonment. EAC Network aims to build a better community one individual at a time.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Health & Wellness, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 23 2016

The goal of Eat Smart New York is to improve health and reduce obesity among low income families who receive SNAP benefits or are SNAP eligible.

Islandia, NY - September 22, 2016 - Long Islands Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Education/Eat Smart New York (SNAP-Ed/ESNY), Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Suffolk and Nassau County, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), and RIDES Unlimited of Nassau and Suffolk County hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring four of eight new wrapped buses featuring images and messages encouraging healthy lifestyle choices at the RIDES UNLIMITED in Islandia on Friday, September 16.



Pictured: CCE of Nassau County President Bill McCabe and CCE of Suffolk County Executive Director Vito Minei cut the ribbon as Sal Nicosia from Sen. Tom Crocis office and Eat Smart NYLI staff look on.

The buses will display core SNAP-Ed/ESNY program messages encouraging healthy food choices and physical activity as a part of a healthy daily routine. These core messages will also be included in the digital advertising and social media campaign. The goal of Eat Smart New York is to improve health and reduce obesity among low income families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or are SNAP eligible.

The SNAP-Ed/ESNY program is funded through a $6.5 million five year grant from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. The grant is part of a $14.7 million in federal funding provided to the state for nutritional education and assistance.

About CCE of Suffolk

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County is a non-profit educational agency dedicated to strengthening families and communities, enhancing and protecting the environment, promoting sustainable agriculture, and fostering countywide economic development. Affiliated with Cornell University, and funded in part by Suffolk County government, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County is part of the state and national extension system that includes the land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CCEs sites and program areas include Agriculture, Marine, 4-H Youth Development, Family Health and Wellness, Suffolk County Farm and Education Center.

About CCE of Nassau

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau enable peoples to improve their lives and communities through partnerships that put experience and research knowledge to work. Extension staff and trained volunteers deliver education programs, conduct applied research, and encourage community collaborations. Our educators connect people with the information they need on home horticulture; food and nutrition; positive activities for youth and families; finances; energy efficiency; economic and community development; and sustainable natural resources. Our ability to match university resources with community needs helps us play a vital role in the lives of individuals, families, businesses, and communities throughout Nassau County.

About Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE)

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) founded in 1977 and headquartered in Old Bethpage, benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to help individuals of all abilities realize their full potential. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing, recovery services, transition to work, employment, day, community and family services, respite, crisis services, education and after-school support, primary and specialty health care and advocacy. For more information, please call 516-870-7000 or visit www.familyres.org.

About Rides Unlimited of Nassau and Suffolk

Rides Unlimited of Nassau & Suffolk (RIDES) is a not for profit (501 C3) for-hire passenger transportation company whose primary purpose is the transportation of differently-abled individuals. Rides is authorized by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) as a contract carrier between all points in the City of New York and the Counties of Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester. With over 100 routes operating daily, Rides transports approximately 1500 passengers throughout its vast transportation system that includes both a fixed route and a demand responsive service. Our Islandia based facility is powered by solar panels, and we are in the process of constructing our own (CNG) fueling station to power our fleet of CNG vehicles. As stakeholders in the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition (GLICC), we promote a balanced approach to the development of sustainable, alternative fueled vehicles in order to improve air quality, achieve energy independence, and allow for economic growth.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 23 2016

Over 300 children and adults came to volunteer and helped remove approximately 400 pounds of litter and garbage from the Jones Beach shoreline.

Wantagh, NY - September 22, 2016 - Senator Michael Venditto (R, C, I-8th Senate District), in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, recently sponsored a Beach Cleanup at Jones Beach State Park. The event was part of the 31st annual New York State Beach Cleanup and was funded and coordinated by the American Littoral Society.



Over 300 children and adults came to volunteer and helped remove approximately 400 pounds of litter and garbage from the Jones Beach shoreline. Jones Beach is one of the most widely utilized State Parks in New York with 6 to 8 million people visiting the park each year.



It was great to see so many children, families and community organizations, from across Long Island, volunteer their time to help clean up debris along the beach and shoreline. We have some of the most beautiful beaches right here in our backyard, and it is of the upmost importance that they are kept clean and safe for us to enjoy today and in years to come. Thank you to everyone who participated, said Senator Venditto.
Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: September 23 2016

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold a public meeting Monday, September 26, at 7 p.m.

Public meeting on Monday, September 26, at 7 p.m. will be to discuss findings regarding the presence of oak wilt, a tree fungus, recently detected in Central Islip. DEC will also share its plans to suppress the oak wilt outbreak.

Central Islip, NY - September 22, 2016 - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold a public meeting Monday, September 26, at 7 p.m., to discuss its findings regarding the presence of oak wilt, a tree fungus, recently detected in Central Islip. The meeting will be held at Central Islip Public Library, 33 Hawthorne Avenue, Central Islip. At the meeting, DEC will share the results of its survey and plans to suppress the oak wilt outbreak.

In early August 2016, DEC and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets announced that oak wilt had been detected in the Central Islip area of the town of Islip, Suffolk County. The disease was identified by the Cornell Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic after samples from a symptomatic oak tree were submitted by a tree care professional.

Oak trees are one of the more common tree species on Long Island and in the Central Islip area.

Oak wilt is a serious tree disease in the eastern United States, killing thousands of oaks each year in forests, woodlots, and yards. Oak wilt is caused by a fungus, Ceratocystis fagacearum, which grows in the water-conducting vessels of host trees causing the vessels to produce gummy plugs that prevent water transport. As water movement in the tree is slowed, the leaves wilt and drop off. The infected tree eventually dies.

This is the second time that oak wilt has been confirmed in New York State. It was first discovered in Schenectady County in 2008. After samples from affected trees tested positive for the fungus, the tree care professional removed and destroyed four trees exhibiting infection. The only known treatment to contain and kill the oak wilt fungus is to remove the infected trees, as well as any surrounding host oak trees.

DEC will utilize the eradication protocols from the Schenectady County occurrence to control the Islip infestation. In August, an emergency order was issued establishing a protective zone that prohibits the removal of any living, dead, standing, cut or fallen oak trees or any portion thereof, including branches, logs, stumps or roots, green oak lumber and firewood (of any species) out of the immediate quarantine area unless it has been chipped to less than one inch in two dimensions. The order also creates a 150 foot "red oak free zone" around the specific location the infected trees were discovered. All red oak located in these zones will be removed by DEC and destroyed in order to protect the remaining oak trees in the area.

The protective zone boundary is bordered by the backyards of homes along Connetquot Avenue (west), Sportsmen Street (south), Deer Path Road (east), and Allwood Avenue (north).

In early September 2016, DEC staff began going door-to-door in Central Islip to inform property owners about oak wilt and provide information about how to protect remaining oak trees.

This follows aerial surveys undertaken in August 2016, which sought to determine the number of trees that may have been impacted by oak wilt in the Central Islip area and the potential number of trees that may be removed from the red oak free zone. If additional trees need to be removed, DEC expects to do this work within the next six months.

The public is encouraged to report any occurrences where an oak tree suddenly loses its leaves to the Forest Health Information Line toll-free at 1-866-640-0652. For more information about oak wilt or the emergency order, visit DEC's oak wilt information page.
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
Israeli troops on Friday shot and wounded a Palestinian who the army said was attempting to stab Israelis at a bus stop in the occupied West Bank.

"An assailant attempted to carry out a stabbing attack at the Elias junction, near the community of Kiryat Arba," a military statement said.

"Forces at the scene shot the assailant, who is receiving medical treatment."

An army spokeswoman told AFP that Israeli civilians had been waiting at the stop with soldiers standing guard nearby and it was not known who was the intended target.

She said the attacker was a Palestinian male, but had no further details of his identity.

Kiryat Arba is an Israeli settlement in the southern West Bank close to the flashpoint Palestinian city of Hebron.

The incident occurred at the same spot where one week ago two Palestinians rammed a car into the bus stop, lightly injuring three civilians before troops killed one of the assailants.

His female companion was shot in the stomach and taken to a Jerusalem hospital in serious condition.

The latest incident was the 10th since September 16, when 28-year-old Jordanian citizen Saeed Amro tried to stab police officers in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and was killed by a policewoman on the spot.

The Elias junction car ramming followed later the same day.

The upsurge of the past seven days has shattered several weeks of relative calm.

Israel's deadly use of force against Palestinian protests in Gaza and the West Bank since last October has killed 230 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, one Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP count.

Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the 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.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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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.

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.

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A Turkish court on Friday put a prominent journalist under arrest just a day after he was released over accusations related to the failed July coup, in a case that has sparked global concern.

Journalist and writer Ahmet Altan was detained late on Thursday, after he had been freed earlier in the day after almost two weeks behind bars.

The new arrest warrant was issued following an appeal by prosecutors.

The veteran journalist was taken to court early Friday and remanded in custody charged with "attempting to remove the government or attempting to obstruct its work", the Anadolu news agency said.

He was also charged with "being a member of a terrorist organisation", referring to the movement of Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

An Istanbul court also placed his academic brother Professor Mehmet Altan under arrest on the same charges.

Ankara accuses the preacher of ordering the July 15 attempted coup and the movement of being a "terrorist organisation", claims which Gulen strongly denies.

Ahmet Altan is a novelist who has also written for some of Turkey's best dailies including Hurriyet and Milliyet as well as founding the opposition daily Taraf.

Mehmet Altan has written books on Turkish politics.

The pair are accused of making comments with a "subliminal" message that the putsch was imminent during a talk show on the Can Erzincan TV channel on July 14, the eve of the coup.

The broadcaster, seen by the authorities as strongly pro-Gulen, has since been shut down.

The Altan brothers case has been a touchpoint for activists and fellow writers across the world worried about what they claim is the erosion of freedom of expression in Turkey.

Turkey's bestselling and Nobel-winning author Orhan Pamuk lashed out at the initial arrest of the journalist, warning that Turkey was heading towards becoming "a regime of terror".

He joined nearly 300 writers, including J.M. Coetzee, Salman Rushdie and Elif Safak, earlier this month in penning a piece calling for their release and for the Turkish government to respect freedom of speech.

"Like his brother and others now in jail, his (Mehmet Altan's) crime is not supporting a coup but the effectiveness of his criticism of the current government," they wrote.

Dozens of journalists have been detained since the attempted coup while over 100 media organs including newspapers have been shut down.

The Turkish government insists those detained were not engaged in normal journalistic activity.

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The Islamic States safe haven in Sirte, Libya has been reduced to a single square kilometer, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier today.

Carters testimony was echoed by Al Bunyan Al Marsoos (Solid Structure) operations room, which draws fighters from militias based in Misrata and is allied with Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA). Al Bunyan Al Marsoos launched an offensive against the Islamic States stronghold in May. Earlier today, it posted a map (seen above) showing the jihadists shrinking territory.

Al Bunyan Al Marsoos has repeatedly posted versions of this map. The group indicated in mid-August that the jihadists were operating in only a few neighborhoods. That assessment was generally consistent with an infographic produced by the Islamic States own Amaq News Agency. The Islamic State has lost even more ground since then.

During his testimony before the Senate, Carter explained that he and other US officials had expressed concern that if left untended, Libya could be the next ISIL headquarters, as ISILs control over the city of Sirte was seen as their contingency plan for where they would go when they lost Raqqa and Mosul. ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is the US governments acronym for the Islamic State.

But because the President authorized us to act, Carters written testimony continued, ISIL is now under tremendous pressure there, with its territory in Sirte reduced to a single square kilometer. Carter also described the Islamic States remaining safe haven in the city as a single neighborhood.

Indeed, Sirte is so important to the Islamic State that the groups deceased spokesman, Abu Muhammad al Adnani, mentioned it alongside Raqqa, Syria and Mosul, Iraq in a speech that was released in May  the same month Al Bunyan Al Marsoos began closing in. Raqqa and Mosul are the de facto capitals of the caliphate and, as such, the most important cities under the jihadists control.

In his speech, titled That They Live By Proof, Adnani implicitly conceded that the Islamic State could lose one or all three of these cities. Adnani, who was killed in August, argued that neither the loss of individual leaders, nor the loss of a city or the loss of land, would mean that the Islamic State has been defeated as long as the jihadists retained the will to fight. His words were a far cry from the Islamic States motto of remaining and expanding, which was often evoked during the organizations rise in power.

Al Bunyan Al Marsoos fighters have been receiving American air support as part of Operation Odyssey Lightning since Aug. 1. As of Sept. 21, according to United States Africa Command, the US has carried out 161 airstrikes in Sirte. The precision bombings often strike enemy fighting positions, weapons, the jihadists vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), as well as other targets.

At least four Western nations reportedly have special forces inside Libya: France, Italy, the US and UK. They may not all be operating in Sirte. But in addition to the US, press reports indicate that Libyas special forces are taking part in the offensive.

As the battle for Sirte heated up, Abu Bakr al Baghdadis loyalists were forced to dispatch their martyrs. As The Long War Journal previously reported, the Islamic State claimed only suicide attack in all of Libya between January and April. But the group claimed 26 martyrdom operations in and around Sirte between May and the end of August.

The Islamic State claims that Al Bunyan Al Marsoos has suffered heavy casualties in the past few days. On Sept. 19, Amaq News Agency, which is one of the so-called caliphates main propaganda arms, reported that more than 30 militiamen were killed and dozens wounded during clashes that took place yesterday in the 3rd Neighborhood, east of Sirte city. Of course, Amaqs claims are impossible to verify and the media outfit has an incentive to exaggerate its enemies casualties. Still, it is possible that Amaqs report is more or less true, as the two sides are engaged in heavy fighting in close urban corridors. And while the jihadists appear to be confined to a single neighborhood, they are still able to strike in the surrounding areas.

As Al Bunyan Al Marsoos men have cleared the Islamic States forces block by block, they have posted on social media some of the oddities found in the city. On Sept. 20, for example, the group published on Facebook images of the Islamic States marriage contracts. As first reported by Agence France-Presse, Baghdadis men agreed to give women guns and explosive belts in exchange for entering into wedlock.

Other images depict the horrible effects of war on Sirte, including severely damaged buildings and debris strewn throughout the city.

Note: This article contains sentences published in previous Long War Journal reports on the battle for Sirte.

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for 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 Taliban and allied jihadist groups control 10 percent of the Afghan population and contest another 20 percent, the top US commander in Afghanistan said. General John Nicholson, the commander of NATOs Resolute Support and US Forces-Afghanistan, characterized the fact that 30 percent of the Afghan population is controlled or contested by the Taliban as a positive development, as the Taliban is primarily operating in the rural areas of Afghanistan.

We believe the Afghans control or heavily influence 68 to 70 percent of the population, Nicholson told reporters at a Pentagon press briefing today. We believe the enemy control or influence about 10 percent of the population. And then the balance, roughly a quarter, is in play, is contested.

This is a positive in the sense of the majority of the population is under control of the government forces and this primarily the population centers, and so on, and the enemy is primarily in more rural areas that have less impact on the future of the country, Nicholson continued.

While Nicholson downplayed the importance of the Talibans presence in rural Afghanistan, the Taliban uses the rural areas to raise funds, recruit and train fighters, and launch attacks on population centers. Additionally, Taliban allies such as al Qaeda run training camps and operate bases in areas under Taliban control.

Nicholson described press reporting on Taliban offensives, including the groups recent operations that threatened to overrun the provincial capitals of Kunduz, Helmand, and Uruzgan, as exaggerated reports about how dire the security situation is. These reports, Nicholson claimed, force the Afghan government to respond.

Nicholson sidestepped a question from a reporter who asked what percentage of territory that the Taliban control, and restated his estimate is based on population control.

The Long War Journal, based on press reporting, military and government statements, and Taliban claims, estimates that the Taliban controls 10 percent of the districts in Afghanistan and contests another 12 percent.

Contested means that the government may be in control of the district center, but little else, and the Taliban controls large areas or all of the areas outside of the district center. Control means the Taliban is openly administering a district, providing services and security, and also running the local courts. Often, the district centers are under Taliban occupation or have been destroyed entirely. The Taliban does not always hold the districts it takes. It occasionally will seize a district or the district center, occupy it and fly the flag, leave after a few days, then return at a later date. These districts are considered contested at best.

The Long War Journal believes that the Taliban controls and contests more that 22 percent of Afghanistans districts. For instance, based on historical Taliban operations, it is likely that additional districts in Kunar, Nuristan, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Logar, Wardak, Zabul, Ghazni, Nimruz and Kandahar are Taliban administered or contested. But without a claim of control or news reporting to substantiate the Talibans presence, the exact status of these districts cannot be determined.

The Taliban control and contest more territory today than at any time since US forces invaded the country after al Qaedas attack on 9/11.

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.
Missiles rained down on rebel-held areas of Syria's Aleppo on Friday, causing widespread destruction that overwhelmed rescue teams, as the army prepared a ground offensive to retake the city.

Nearly 30 civilians including several children were killed and dozens wounded in the raids by Russian warplanes and regime aircraft, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said.

The intensity of the bombardment, which included artillery barrages and barrel bombings by helicopters, brought new misery to the estimated 250,000 civilians besieged by the army.

The escalation came after US Secretary of State John Kerry failed to reach an agreement with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on terms to salvage a failed ceasefire.

Asked by reporters at the United Nations whether the truce could be reinstated, Lavrov simply said: "You should ask the Americans."

A US official told AFP that no Kerry-Lavrov meeting had yet been scheduled for Friday, "but that could change".

An AFP journalist in rebel-held east Aleppo reported relentless air raids and artillery fire overnight and Friday morning.

Entire apartment blocks were flattened, overwhelming rescue teams from the White Helmets civil defence organisation.

In the Al-Kalasseh district, three buildings were levelled by a single strike, and rescue workers were trying frantically to reach survivors using a single bulldozer and their bare hands.

The White Helmets' headquarters in the Ansari district was badly damaged along with an ambulance and a fire engine. A second centre operated by the group was also hit.

Also in Aleppo province, the Observatory reported 12 deaths in a Russian raid on the rebel-held town of Beshkatine and 11 killed in raids by unidentified aircraft on Islamic State group stronghold Al-Bal.

The bombardment came a day after the Syrian army announced an offensive to recapture east Aleppo, which has been held by the rebels since mid-2012 but has been surrounded by government forces since July.

The army urged civilians to distance themselves from "the positions of terrorist groups" and pledged that fleeing residents would not be detained.

A high-ranking military source confirmed that the bombardment was preparation for a ground assault.

"We have begun reconnaissance, aerial and artillery bombardment," he told AFP.

"This could go on for hours or days before the ground operation starts. The timing of the ground operation will depend on the results of the strikes and the situation on the ground."

Another military source in Damascus said "the goal of the operation will be to expand the area under the army's control".

He said reinforcements had already been brought to Aleppo.

The talks between Kerry and Lavrov in New York on Thursday broke up after Russia refused US demands that it promise to immediately ground the Syrian regime's air force.

"We cannot continue on the same path any longer," Kerry said, adding that "credibility" had to be restored to the process.

"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."

The conflict in Syria has cost more than 300,000 lives and displaced over half the country's population since it erupted in March 2011.

In a bid to relaunch peace talks, Kerry and Lavrov announced a ceasefire on September 9, with Moscow responsible for forcing government troops to stand down and allow in UN aid convoys.

Washington was supposed to pressure rebel forces to respect the truce and distance themselves from jihadists, but the ceasefire fell apart acrimoniously and the Syrian army declared it over on Monday.

UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said Thursday's failed talks were "long, painful and disappointing" and warned of escalating violence.

In Geneva, the UN said Friday it was considering a different route to send desperately needed aid to east Aleppo to circumvent the blocked main supply route.

In Damascus, an analyst close to the regime said it was no coincidence that the Aleppo assault began as the New York talks broke down.

"In Aleppo, negotiations are being conducted by fire," he said.

"The Americans must understand that so long as they don't implement their commitments, particularly for the rebels to distance themselves from... (jihadists), the Russians and the Syrian army will advance."

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US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Russian opposite number on Friday and made what he said was "a little bit of progress" on resolving their differences over the Syrian crisis.

"We're evaluating some mutual ideas in a constructive way, period," Kerry told reporters at the United Nations, one day after international envoys failed to find a way to revive a US and Russian-brokered truce.

Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have met several times this week in New York, including on Thursday as joint chairs of the 23-nation International Syria Support Group (ISSG).

But they have failed to agree on a way to revive the deal that they had reached in Geneva on September 9, under which Moscow would ensure its ally Bashar al-Assad honors a ceasefire and Washington would rein in Syrian rebels.

Both men are due to leave the city later Friday but there has been no sign of an agreement, with Kerry demanding that Moscow order Syria's air force to be grounded and Lavrov accusing the opposition of breaking the truce.

"I met with the foreign minister, we exchanged some ideas and we had a little bit of progress," Kerry said.

Earlier, before the meeting, Lavrov had been asked whether there was any way to revive the ceasefire. He replied simply: "You should ask the Americans."

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Over the last several years, Apple has taken a number of opportunities to present itself in stark contrast against one of its chief rivals, Google, but nowhere more in the firm position Cupertino takes against collecting any more data than it needs to about its customers.

Privacy is obviously a major concern in the digital age, and Apples stance is largely applaudedand with good reason. But at the same time, that choice doesnt come without its costs, both to Apple and to its users. By taking such a hardline stance, the company has hindered the development of some of its features, and perhaps even negated some of the advantages of its ecosystem.

There are places, it seems, where a balance is not only desirable but necessary. This isnt to say Apple should sacrifice security and privacy in favor of capabilities, but that the company should be able to make use of its immense talent to find a middle ground that maintains users privacy and provides the features that people want.

Face the facts

Apples Photos app got one of the biggest overhauls in macOS Sierra, and among the chief features of the app both on that platform and in iOS 10 was a machine-learning algorithm that, among other things, can identify people in your photo library.

When Apple first announced the feature, it made a big deal about the fact that the processing of photos for faces was done locally, on the device itself, rather than transmitted to servers. It was an obvious jab against Google Photos, which had already rolled out a similar feature, but did its processing in the cloud.

Again, theres a laudable element to this. People dont like to feel that their personal and private photos are being pored over, even if just by a machine. But these local silos have, at least at the moment, made the feature less useful, because the analysis happens on each device that the new Photos is on. That means even if all the photos on your iPhone are scanned for faces, when you upgrade your Mac to Sierra, the Photos app there doesnt benefit from the information on your phoneeven if theyre all the same photos.

Not only does that seem remarkably inefficient, but it also runs into possible collisions. For example, I store my pictures in iCloud Photo Library: My MacBook Air running Sierra and my iPhone 7 running iOS 10 both have my entire 23,154 photo library synced. And yet, if I look at the People album in iOS 10, it identifies 12 people; my Macs People album has only 11. Moreover, the total numbers of photos for each of those people largely differs between the two. For example, my phone identified 523 pictures of me; my Mac, only 306. Those are some pretty disparate numbers, and a search for photos on one is sure to look substantially different from the other. And if I make changes in one place to add in more photos to a certain person, Im just going to have to repeat that process on my other devices.

They dont talk

Photos isnt the only place that Apple could benefit from a more holistic approach to users data. Apples virtual assistant, Siri, also often seems condemned to live in a silo. After all, theres Siri on your Mac, on your Apple TV, on your iPhone, on your iPad, on your Apple Watchand though they sometimes seem to share information, much of the time they each seem to be operating in their own little vacuums.

Its pretty frustrating, for example, when I correct the pronunciation of a friends name on my iPhone, and then have to make the same correction on my iPad and my Mac. Itd be great if picking up a different device and interacting with Siri there didnt feel like you were talking to a totally different person.

Whats odd is that these are the exceptions to Apples general rule. The company knows its broad ecosystem is one of its biggest assets, and it usually takes full advantage of that fact. But for some reason, its drawn the line in the sand hereat least for now.

The happy medium is the message

Im certainly not advocating Apple ape Googles business modelthe two are very different companies, and what works for one often doesnt work for the other. But I find it surprising that Apple didnt include a solution that allowed for secure analysis of peoples faces that could be shared between your devicesafter all, they already store so much other sensitive information in the cloud, whether it be your credit card numbers, contacts phone numbers and addresses, or, say, all of your Siri queries. If the technology is secure enough to keep that information private, why is this particular use case singled out?

In that, I think the conversation comes back to Google, and Cupertinos interest in drawing a distinction between itself and its rival to the north. One topic Apple has spent some time talking about recently is differential privacy, wherein Apple can collect data to improve its machine-learning algorithms, but the data is transformed in such a way that its impossible to track down a single individual. I wouldnt be surprised to see such technology become a key argument down the road as to why Apple can send your dataincluding photosout for processing on a remote server and maintain your ironclad privacy.

So its a decision that has its roots in technology, policy, and politics. There are valid arguments for all of those thingsits just a shame that in the here and now it takes a potentially useful feature and turns it into, well, persona non grata.
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 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 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."

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Help us improve access to healthcare in eastern Uganda

23 September 2016



Donate Help us raise 10,000 to buy bikes for community health workers in Uganda

#lifechangers - Click to find out more Donate

Esther lives with her five children in the Tororo District of Iyolwa, eastern Uganda. When her eight month old son Fred fell sick, Esther called for a community health worker called Silver. Silver was able to reach the family quickly by riding a bicycle to their home. When he arrived, he found Fred was suffering from malaria and needed urgent medical attention.

Silver cycled to the next village, where he was able to arrange for a motorcycle to pick Fred up and transport him immediately to Iyolwa Health Centre III, the main health facility for the area. There, thanks to Silvers quick intervention, Fred received treatment and recovered.

Silver is one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately not all the community health workers in Iyolwa and neighbouring districts have bicycles, which is why Malaria Consortium is raising funds to provide up to a hundred more bicycles and repair kits for their use.

In Uganda, common diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia are life-threatening, especially to children under five like Fred.

Many community health workers are trained to diagnose and treat common illnesses as well as to teach communities about sanitation, to show them how to protect themselves from malaria. However, most of these workers are forced to travel across their area on foot. Each community health worker is responsible for as many as 100 households in a village, some of them up to three miles apart. This means their progress is so slow that many people needing healthcare are not reached quickly or sometimes at all. When a young childs life is at risk, this can have tragic consequences.

However, if they have their own bicycles, community health workers will be able to reach families like Esther's far more quickly and save more lives.

Will you donate and help us reach our goal, allowing Esther, her children and thousands of people like them to be within the reach of a community health worker? We are aiming to raise 10,000 by the end of the year: this will allow us to purchase and distribute 100 bicycles and repair kits. Help us make the new year safer for the children of Iyolwa!

Click here to donate

Country: Uganda

Keywords: Community delivery | Maternal, neonatal and child health
Spain's Basque region goes to the polls Sunday seeking to turn the page on past violence by ETA separatists, in elections that could also have an impact on the national political deadlock.

Opinion polls predict that the ruling moderate, nationalist PNV party will win in the northern region where memories of ETA attacks are slowly fading five years after the group quit violence, but where the desire for autonomy remains.

The ballot will also be watched closely further afield -- as will regional polls westwards in Galicia -- as the outcome may influence parties at a national level into helping unblock a nine-month deadlock and avoiding a third round of general elections.

On the ground in the lush, green region of 2.1 million inhabitants on the Atlantic coast, the focus is firmly on domestic matters, and on turning the page.

"Before we were scared all the time," said Clara Gonzalo, 81, as she watched the sun set with her husband on the seafront promenade stretching around the bay of the Basque town of San Sebastian.

"A bomb exploded beside our house, all our windows shattered, our little girl cried. Now we live," she added.

ETA is blamed for the deaths of 829 people in a four-decade campaign of bombings and shootings for an independent homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France.

There were also some 150 anti-ETA killings blamed on militias close to the police and police abuse, according to a study by the Basque regional government.

The group declared a permanent ceasefire in October 2011.

It has since sought to negotiate its dissolution with Spain and France in exchange for an amnesty or regroupment for the roughly 350 jailed ETA members in the two countries.

But Madrid and Paris refuse to negotiate with the group and argue it should disarm without any conditions attached.

As the campaign for regional elections focuses on the economy, some worry that memories of past violence are fading too fast.

"What surprises me most is the way that the issue of peace and the end of violence has grown old," said Jonan Fernandez, the top official for the regional government's reconciliation initiatives.

"It is as if 25 years have already passed" since the attacks stopped, he added.

Socialist lawmaker Eduardo Madina, who was injured by an ETA car bomb when he was just 26, said the "Basque Country is in a fuzzy border between remembrance and oblivion."

While he welcomes the disappearance of graffiti praising ETA, Madina said he fears Basques are also becoming indifferent to the group's victims.

Across the region though, unemployment has become the top worry for voters, with 58 percent of those questioned by the MyWord polling firm saying it was a major concern.

Only one percent of those surveyed said they were worried about ETA.

The region is in better economic shape than much of Spain, with unemployment at just 12.5 percent compared with 20 percent nationwide, and its gross domestic product per capita is 30 percent above the national average.

The PNV is on track to win about a third of the 75 seats in the Basque regional chamber, followed by left-wing separatists EH Bildu and anti-austerity party Podemos, polls indicate.

The Socialists and conservative Popular Party are expected to come last.

Out of both these mainstream, traditional parties, though, the Socialists are expected to lose the most seats compared to previous elections -- both in the Basque Country and in Galicia.

That, coupled with its dismal showing at national elections and rising internal strife, may pressure party chief Pedro Sanchez into allowing a right-wing coalition government through, rather than blocking it like the Socialists did in a parliamentary vote of confidence earlier this month.

Crucially for the central government, though, the re-election of the PNV is not expected to open a second separatist front in Spain.

Unlike leaders in the northeastern region of Catalonia who are pushing ahead with a plan to separate from Spain by 2017, PNV leader Inigo Urkullu argues independence "is a concept from the past."

He wants to fight instead for "shared sovereignty" with Madrid over the Basque region, which already enjoys a great deal of autonomy, especially in fiscal issues.

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The split of the Hollywood's most celebrated couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt has made an impact on archives in London's Madame Tussauds as the museum has chosen to split the wax replicas of Jolie and Pitt.

Launched in 2013, Madame Tussauds replaced the Hollywood golden couple at a 'respectful distances from each other'. The couple, popularly known as 'Brangelina' married in 2014 after 12 years of togetherness.
United Nations: Balochis and Indians held protest against Pakistan on last day across the street from UN office in New York city. About 40 people participated in the demonstration held behind the steel barricades, in the Hammarskjold Plaza.

A group of Indian American Community also joined them showing their support to the Balochistan people. Ahmed Mushtikhan of the American Friends of Balochistan also expressed happiness over the support of Indian people for them.
Are Your Savings Safe? U.N. Warns Next Financial Crisis Imminent

Savings Guarantee? U.N. Warns Next Financial Crisis Seems Imminent

There remains a risk of deflationary spirals in which capital flight, currency devaluations and collapsing asset prices would stymie growth and shrink government revenues. As capital begins to flow out, there is now a real danger of entering a third phase of the financial crisis 

UN Conference on Trade and Developments Annual Report (UNCTAD), September 22, 2016

This hard hitting critique in the UN Conference on Trade and Developments Annual Report, released this week, is suggesting that the third leg of the worlds intractable depression is yet to come.

Alarm bells have been ringing over the explosion of corporate debt levels in emerging economies, which now exceed $25 trillion. Damaging deflationary spirals cannot be ruled out, said the annual report of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

But what does these grand, scary predictions really mean for us? Bankruptcy? Economic collapse? Apocalypse now? End of the world as we know it?

The UN economists certainly think that a la 2007/2008, we are on the verge of the third leg of the global financial crisis  with prospect of epic debt defaults.

We may soon experience the end of the financial world as we know it  but investors and savers feel fine! Many bond and stock markets, including the S&P 500, continue on their merry way to all time record highs.

Few know, or (it seems) care anymore. As we end yet another week with yet another anticlimactic announcement from the all powerful Fed, it is understandable that many of us are feeling some cognitive dissonance when it comes to the real impact of central bank announcements, economic forecasts and political changes.

Bail-In Regime Cometh

There was one major solution to the crisis that was announced in recent years with so much spin you would be forgiven for thinking it has little to do with you. When in truth you are the one who could be most affected.

In 2012 the release of a joint paper from the US Federal Deposit Scheme and the Bank of England included the words; deposit schemes may have to contribute to the recapitalisation of a failed bank. Bail-ins in the UK banking system had become a possibility.

This was made official by a watershed moment in 2014 when Mark Carney announced the end of the bail-out era, he was calling time on too big to fail for banks.

Lets face it, the system weve had up until now has been totally unfairThe banks and their shareholders and their creditors got the benefit when things went well. But when they went wrong, the British public and subsequent generations picked up the bill  and thats going to end.

The media, politicians and until now, the general public fell for this. The promise of no more bailouts has resulted in feelings of reassurance that the taxpayer wont be asked to foot the bill when irresponsible bankers mess up.

But this is fundamentally wrong. As we outline in a forthcoming report on bail-ins, the British public and subsequent generations are still going to be picking up the bill.

For the first time depositors in the form of retail savers and companies with capital, (who also happen to be taxpayers) will also be exposed in the event of governments bailing out banks again.

But what about the much supported Deposit Guarantee Scheme? Its unlikely to last, or mean much when crunch time comes.

It is not enough to have just a Deposit Guarantee Scheme [for a major bank rescue] if the losses are vast enough, then the haircuts imposed by the resolution authority can in principle permeate to any level of the creditor stack. In the case of insured deposits, that means Deposit Guarantee Schemes suffering losses 

Paul Tucker, Deputy Governor Financial Stability of the Bank of England, October 2013

In the EU depositors are protected by some form of a deposit guarantee scheme, EUR100,000 or 75,000 for UK depositors, is protected in the event of bank failure. However, as we outline in our forthcoming report this amount or even any kind of insurance, is not guaranteed. Some politicians and think tanks are even recommending that deposit guarantee schemes be removed.

What does this mean in the context of a forthcoming third financial crisis and are your savingsguaranteed?

Next week Our Guide to Bail-ins will outline how likely UK depositors are to being subject to bail-ins and how they can set about protecting themselves from bail-ins.

Gold Prices (LBMA AM)

23 Sep: USD 1,335.90, GBP 1,027.17 & EUR 1,192.16 per ounce

22 Sep: USD 1,332.45, GBP 1,019.59 & EUR 1,186.68 per ounce

21 Sep: USD 1,319.60, GBP 1,015.96 & EUR 1,183.81 per ounce

20 Sep: USD 1,315.40, GBP 1,011.02 & EUR 1,175.84 per ounce

19 Sep: USD 1,315.05, GBP 1,007.99 & EUR 1,177.36 per ounce

16 Sep: USD 1,314.25, GBP 995.68 & EUR 1,170.08 per ounce

15 Sep: USD 1,320.10, GBP 998.26 & EUR 1,174.23 per ounce

Silver Prices (LBMA)

23 Sep: USD 19.82, GBP 15.28 & EUR 17.66 per ounce

22 Sep: USD 19.88, GBP 15.22 & EUR 17.69 per ounce

21 Sep: USD 19.43, GBP 14.95 & EUR 17.43 per ounce

20 Sep: USD 19.17, GBP 14.78 & EUR 17.15 per ounce

19 Sep: USD 19.12, GBP 14.65 & EUR 17.13 per ounce

16 Sep: USD 18.91, GBP 14.36 & EUR 16.85 per ounce

15 Sep: USD 18.96, GBP 14.32 & EUR 16.87 per ounce

This update can be found on the GoldCore blog here.

Mark O'Byrne

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WINNERS MoneyMate and Investor Magazine Financial Analysts 2006

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday it was wrong of the United States to use the threat of an attack by North Korea to deploy a THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea.

"It is inadmissible to use this situation as a pretext for massive militarization of northeast Asia and deployment of another position area for U.S. global missile defense there," Lavrov told the United Nations General Assembly.

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Heres Why Eastern Europe Is Doomed

BY LILI BAYER : The EU is falling apart. Europes exporters face a crisis. Its southern economies are troubled. Germany has economic challenges of its own. But as Europes crises deepen, something else will become more important.

The erosion of the Schengen zone could hurt Eastern members ties with the West. Their economic and social stability depend on access to the EU. This includes funding, investments, trade, and labor markets. So the East is sensitive to economic changes in Western Europe and the continued fracturing of the bloc.

Impact of free movement on employment

Access to EU labor markets is vital. It has helped the Eastern members avoid employment crises. The Czech Republic, for example, boasts a 4.2% unemployment rate.

Jobless levels in the EUs Eastern states are low. This is largely because their workers are mobile and cheaper to hire than workers in the West. Millions have moved to countries like the UK and Germany in search of jobs.

According to Polands Central Statistical Office, 2.2 million Poles lived abroad for more than three months in 2013. In 2014, over 740,000 Polish and over 160,000 Lithuanian citizens resided in the UK alone. Estimates vary, but over 500,000 Hungarians reportedly live abroad. About 300,000 of them are in the UK.

The movement of workers helps lower unemployment rates. It also aids domestic stability. And it brings wealth back to Eastern European countries through remittances. Remittances in Lithuania, Hungary, and Bulgaria added more than 3% to their GDPs in 2014. In Greece and Italy, remittances make up only 0.3% of GDP.

However, two developments threaten to limit these benefits. First, Brexit could close access to jobs in Britain. This could raise unemployment levels and reduce remittances in the East.

Second, any moves to limit free movement could affect workers from the East. Many EU members are already starting ad-hoc border controls. They have received temporary waivers for them. This loss of free movement could stop workers from moving West for jobs.

EU funding and Western investment

The EUs Eastern states also depend on funding and investment from the bloc. These countries all receive more money from the EU budget than they give.

The largest recipients are Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania. EU budget spending exceeds 4% of gross national income (GNI) in these countries. Their contributions to the EU budget are less than 1% of GNI.

This may shift after 2020. By that time, the EU will reassess member needs based on income. But based on current policies, poorer countries will still benefit from large budget transfers.

Further, foreign direct investment (FDI) from the EUs West drives economic growth in the East. Western companies began opening offices and factories in the East in the early 1990s. Today, much of the FDI in the region comes from countries like Germany and Austria. FDI is vital in smaller economies. In Bulgaria, Hungary, and Estonia, FDI stocks were over 70% of GDP in 2014.

Moreover, most of the regions exports go to Western Europe. For example, according to UN Comtrade data, more than half of Polish exports go to Western European markets.

The region is a critical part of Germanys industrial supply chain. Goods imported from Eastern Europe are used to make German exports. Growth in the EUs East thus depends on demand for German exports, as well as the free movement of goods and access to Western markets.

Differing risks in the future

The EUs Eastern members depend on Western Europe. But each country has its own needs. Hungary and Bulgaria are more exposed to shifts in the EU than is Poland, for example. They depend more on exports and FDI. Those two countries receive more EU money as a percentage of national income.

But Poland would also suffer if demand for its exports or access to European markets declined. It would likely suffer economic and political crises, as 2 million Poles returned home after losing their jobs.

As the EU adds more countries in the East, economic connections are multiplied. For the blocs Eastern members, the fate of Western economies and EU decision-making are both critical. In the long run, these countries could locate new export markets and attract FDI from outside Europe. But the EUs Eastern members will stay exposed to Western European markets in the near term.

Watch George Friedman's Groundbreaking Documentary Crisis & Chaos: Are We Moving Toward World War III?

Eastern Europes vulnerability is one signal 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.




FIELDALEI was scrolling through my news feed at CVS waiting for medication and I came across his story, Danielle Draper said. I just started crying.

While in line, Draper ran across a story on Facebook about a 10-year-old boy from Ohio named Kyler Bradley. Bradley had recently been diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG, a rare, cancerous tumor of the brainstem. The tumor, which occurs almost exclusively in children, is inoperable. Currently, there is no cure. However, Bradley refused to take no for an answer.

He believed that if he got enough prayers, the Lord would heal him, Draper said.

While Draper does not usually follow similar stories online, Bradleys touched her. The Fieldale resident reached out to Bradleys parents, Kirk and Rebecca Bradley, who gave Draper their address. Draper sent Kyler cards acknowledging every holiday. She also tried to meet Kyler, but weather complications prohibited their gathering. Hoping for good springtime weather, Draper organized an Ohio fundraiser for the third week of April 2016. Kyler passed away one week before the event, six months after his diagnosis.

Draper met Kirk and Rebecca for the first time at their sons funeral. Being hailed an honorary fire chief while alive, the local fire department received Kylers casket from superheroes Thor, Captain America, Spiderman and Wolverine as well as his father and brother. The fire truck carried Kylers casket, wrapped in an American flag, to his final resting place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Fairfield Township, Ohio.

Even though Draper never met Kyler in person, that did not hinder her support for the Bradley family.

My daughter-in-law has been going back and forth from Ohio, Rita Phillips said of Draper.

Draper has travelled to Ohio several times since April for fundraisers. This Saturday, she will host a fundraiser in Fieldale.

She hopes that the event will draw as much awareness and it will funds.

No one knows about it unless they have a child with it. They dont even know why you get it, Draper said. I just want to raise as much money and awareness as I can. I dont want any parent, friend or child to go through this. No one should have to lose their life to cancer.

Phillips is on board with Drapers mission.

Danielle has two children of her own, eight and seven, and I couldnt imagine if anything happened to one of them, Phillips said.

Drapers ultimate goal hinges around DIPG research, a topic about which Kylers parents are passionate.

His parents donated his brain to a hospital. Kylers tumor is still growing, Draper said.

On the hometown front, Drapers fundraiser will include raffles, 25 vendors from different companies, silent auctions, furry friends from the SPCA and a Fieldale Fire Department fire truck in honor of Kyler. There will also be a representative from Ohio selling Kyler Strong Foundation bracelets and t-shirts.

Though she did not know what the turnout might be, Draper said, I figure anything is better than nothing. Already, I have had donations and an outpouring of support from the community.

The event will take place this Saturday, September 24, at Jordan Creek Park in Fieldale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to the Martinsville Bulletin in Wednesdays paper, the Secretary of Transportation of Virginia has decided to spend some of the more than $14 millions on improving Bassett Forks and squandering the rest on studies on the U.S. 220 corridor. Secretary Layne, Commonwealth Transportation Board members and others made this decision.

Others who are they? Certainly not the Henry County Board of Supervisors, the majority of businesses in Henry County, the majority of people in Henry County. I asked in an email to CTB member William Fralin who the others were and he answered the people behind this decision are the members of the CTB in consultation with the Secretarys office. If there were others, I would like to know who they are and where did they get the authority to override the HCBOS decision.

I feel that the earmark, gotten long before HB2 and Smart Scale came into being, is grandfathered in and can be spent on preliminary engineering, surveying and purchasing right of way and accepting of donated land to get the connector road ready for the Smart Scale project when it comes about. $8.5 million was considered enough to do the aforementioned work in 2015 before the HCBOS offered to donate 68 percent of the land needed for the road.

A connector road that is shovel ready is what we are hoping to achieve with the $8.5 million earmark. We think Secretary Layne, our CTB members William Fralin and Court Rosen do not feel the intense need for a project like this to happen for Henry County. Studying the 220 corridor does not boost our economy, as much as needed progress on a connector road can.

Elected representatives from our area worked hard to get the $9.3 million dollar earmark that is plainly designed to be spent on the future I-73 near Martinsville almost eleven years ago. Since then almost $800,000 of this earmark has been spent by VDOT to change the route of I-73 and using the 58 bypass near Martinsville.

I am maintaining this road project was started at the time the money was spent and comes under the grandfather clause and not under the rules of a two year old House Bill 2 and now Smart Scale. Aubrey Layne says this money has been moved from I-73 to 220. How can he say this when he also says the CTB has not voted on moving this money yet? Layne, Fralin, and Court Rosen, CTB members, are trying to move the money to 220 and I do not see the first job for Henry County coming from this decision.

The proposed connector road could provide thousands of jobs and preserve those we have now. In a couple of years when these CTB members will no longer be on the CTB, the decisions they make can affect Henry County for many years to come. I hope all members of the CTB will do what is right for our area and vote for this money to be spent on the connector road near Martinsville where it was originally intended. Remember the HCBOS cannot donate the ROW unless it is surveyed for the connector road and this will be a huge step forward for Henry County.
The ballot for Labour leader has ended. The result will be announced tomorrow at 12 noon. Barring a nuclear attack, all the indications are that Jeremy Corbyn will win convincingly against his challenger Owen Smith, probably with a bigger mandate.

Without the purge and dirty tricks campaign waged by Labour HQ against Corbyn supporters, his margin of victory would be even bigger. He has faced an absolute barrage from the right wing and their media. They have thrown everything against him, bar the kitchen sink. First of all, our right-wing democrats tried to keep him off the ballot paper, but failed. Then they blocked some 130,000 new members from voting, as they had been members of the Party for less than six months. Other sabotage included closing down Labour Party meetings to prevent them endorsing Corbyn, under the spurious pretext of a threat of intimidation, violence and abuse. They then used the Compliance Unit, a right-wing Star Chamber, to purge left-wing members for all kinds of reasons, after weeks of trolling social media for incriminating evidence. Many left-wingers have been fingered by right-wing MPs and local officials and then suspended. Some members were even expelled, such as supporters of Socialist Appeal and the Marxist Student Federation, for supposedly not supporting Labour principles. Any excuse was used to whittle down Corbyns support. Added to this was the scandal of tens of thousands of members who simply did not receive a ballot paper. In the meantime, right-wingers could act with complete impunity.

The right-wing Establishment threw its entire weight against Corbyn. Panorama and Dispatches ran programmes shortly before the deadline for voting which were simply hatchet jobs. One portrayed the party as completely unelectable under Corbyn, while a six-month undercover investigation by the other into Momentum revealed the horror story of Trotskyist infiltration and double-dealing. It was the worst kind of innuendo and hack journalism, all intended to undermine Corbyn.

Even Owen Jones, the Guardian commentator, shifted to the right. He wants Labour to win, you see, but believes Corbyn is too radical so he even contemplated voting for Owen Smith, if only he could win a general election! He is like the man who said if you dont like my principles, then I will change them!

However, these shenanigans will not succeed. Corbyn is on course to victory. The whole party has been completely transformed into the biggest left party in Europe. From under 180,000 in May 2015, it now has around 650,000 members, the vast majority of whom joined to support Jeremy Corbyn. Some 70,000 turned out to rallies up and down the country. They are getting involved and getting enthused and will not put up with this bureaucratic purge.

Joanne Taylor expressed their feeling in an email to the Metro: I represent the grassroots membership of the Labour Party and we do not want New Labour or any other Labour Party leader, we want Jeremy Corbyn. All the Conservative wannabes within the Labour Party forget the true meaning of Labour. Its not about smug, blue collar, nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday office workers but hard grafters  factory workers, cleaners, zero hours workers, labourers and those needing to work six days a week just to pay the bills.

Unlike King Canute, they refuse to recognise that they cannot stop the new wave of radicalisation. They are desperately clinging to the past, the golden age of Blairism, where they had complete domination of the party. When they ruled the roost, they had no compunction in excluding and expelling left-wingers and imposing right-wing candidates on constituency parties. These bureaucratic methods were cheered on by the capitalist press and media as a way to modernise the party. They used any unscrupulous means to drive out the left and consolidate the Labour Party as a party for big business.

Image: Socialist Appeak (UK)The right wing, who are completely dominant in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), have the cheek of the devil. These hypocrites tried every means possible to make Corbyns life hell as soon as he was elected. The PLP meetings were a bear pit of intimidation against Corbyn and his small group of supporters. These careerists used every means to drive him out. He was repeatedly stabbed in the back by these democrats. Then they tried to destroy and humiliate him by mass resignations from the Shadow Cabinet and then a massive vote of no confidence. This they believed was the coup de grace. No other Labour leader in history has been subjected to such betrayal. But Corbyn refused to resign and they forced a leadership challenge. But there was one problem: the membership of the Party, which still supported Jeremy Corbyn! This support gave him the confidence to resist these dirty attacks.

The leadership election was seen by the Establishment as the last throw of the dice. All the old hacks of the past were wheeled out, one after the other, to attack Corbyn, starting with our beloved Lord Kinnock, the man who lost Labour two general elections in a row. A Corbyn victory, they warned, would bring hellfire and damnation on the Labour Party. He could never win an election! He would destroy the party! The Tories would be in power for generations to come, or even longer!

Even after the poll had closed, they could not resist attacking him. David Miliband, who was defeated for the leadership by his own brother, chimed in from New York, saying Labour has not been so far from power since the 1930s. He then went on to attack Corbyns policies, which Owen Smith avoided doing: Nationalisation cannot be the answer to everything; anti-austerity speeches cannot explain everything; corporate taxation cannot pay for everything. It doesnt add up. It wouldnt work. People are not stupid.

Of course, Miliband is arguing for the Labour Party to remain on a capitalist path. Labour must not in any way challenge big business. On the contrary, he wants us to bow down before the bankers and capitalists and do their bidding.

Miliband went on to say that it was disastrous that people were labelled closet Tories or Tory Lite if they disagreed with Corbyn. But such labels simply tell the truth. Labours right-wingers are little different from the Tories in their ideas, the way they speak and the way they dress. Under New Labour there was little difference between Labour and the Tories. That explains the massive rejection of Blairism and his Tory policies and the surge towards Jeremy Corbyn and what he stands for.

The situation has pushed the right wing into despair. They have lost hope. It will take a miracle for them to regain their position. But there are no miracles. There is talk of splits and wars of attrition. John McTernan, former adviser to Tony Blair described Corbyn as most unpleasant and most dangerous. He stated unequivocally that I am absolutely in favour of a split in the Labour Party. Corbyn and his people should go! This is the real language of the right wing.

Tom Watson, the deputy Leader, who has worked hand in glove with the right wing, now calls for reconciliation. He proposes to bring back elections to the Shadow Cabinet in order to clip Corbyns wings. Only then can we put the band together, he said. McNicol, the general secretary and open tool of the right wing, also urged compromise. But Corbyn replied that if elections to the Shadow Cabinet are to take be reinstated, then the membership should be involved. I think we have to stick with one member, one vote, he said. But the right wing opposes this idea tooth and nail. They have contempt for the rank and file. Being too Corbynite, Watson now wants to scrap Labour supporters introduced under Miliband.

But what is this band anyway? Not a band of fellows, but the PLP which is hostile to Corbyn. Corbyn has put out an olive branch to them, asking the right wing to accept his expected overwhelming mandate. While some will come back into the Shadow Cabinet, thinking of their future careers, others will remain in permanent opposition.

Owen Smith has said he will not serve, as have Hilary Benn, Chuka Umunna and Yvette Cooper. The right are divided but not reconciled. They will bide their time. Some have already talked of further leadership challenges. Whatever happens, the fault lines are there for a split. It is no accident that Tim Farron, the leader of the Lib Dems, has been busy wooing them to join him. Mr Farron has in particular praised Tony Blair and is reaching out to those dissatisfied by Labour to come and join him on his Lib Dem life-boat, which has been holed below the waterline. The 8-strong Lib Dems do not offer much of a hope. Nevertheless, his appeal does illustrate where the interests of Labours right wing really lay.

In reality, the right wing do not accept Corbyn and never will. It seems they are prepared to bide their time, but that is all. In the meantime, they are organising through the mis-named Progress and Labour First organisations, the real party within a party. Typically, they attack Momentum - or Socialist Appeal - and the whole of the left for organising their supporters, although it is perfectly fine for them to do so. These organisations, with their own membership, programme and structures, get their funding from shadowy sources linked to big business and their rich friends. The right wing act directly as a capitalist Trojan Horse within the Labour Party, promoting the interests of the market economy and capitalism. This is their function.

Progress, which is chaired by Wirral South MP Alison McGovern, published a strongly worded editorial in its magazine, urging anti-Corbyn MPs to remain in the party and fight for clause one socialism. This clause in Labours constitution refers to maintaining a Labour Party in Parliament, as if Corbyn and the mass of his supporters dont want such a presence! It is not enough to simply state the need for Labour to be in parliament. That on its own is hardly a battle-cry of the oppressed. What is required is Labour Party in parliament that is prepared to fight to defend working class people and change society. By referring to clause one, they are simply trying to defend the right wings control of the leadership, presenting themselves as the only ones who can win elections.

Their attempt to stop the unstoppable wave of radicalisation to the left is a lost cause. The leadership of the party, including all the MPs, must be chosen by the rank and file and be under its democratic control. We must put an end to this careerism at the top. Parties must have the automatic right to choose who its candidates are. There must be no bans and proscriptions. As expected, the right-wing democrats have threatened to fight any threat of deselection. They have no loyalty to the party but every loyalty to their own careers. That is why they have threatened to split from the party. Such threats must be countered by the will of the majority. We will not be blackmailed by the Tory press or threats to split the party.

The left should counter the campaign of the right with a mass campaign to reach a million members, restore party democracy and reinstate Clause Four, which was ditched by Tony Blair. Jeremy raised this question of Clause Four last year. This clause defined Labours commitment to socialism by abolishing capitalism: To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.

The essence of the old clause four was that Labour should not patch up or reform capitalism, which is in deep crisis, but take over the commanding heights of the economy, the banks and major industries under democratic workers control and management. The introduction of a socialist plan of production would end the anarchy of capitalism and allow Labour to transform the lives of millions by organising the economy not on the basis of profit, but on the basis of need.

The task before us is to bring the Labour Party back in line with its socialist founding principles. The years of New Labour and support for capitalism must be put where they belong, in the dustbin of history. The party must once more represent the interests not of the market, but the working class. The victory of Jeremy Corbyn is a step towards this. It is the beginning of the socialist regeneration of the Party. This Corbyn Revolution must be completed with the adoption of a bold socialist programme that will put an end to this system once and for all. Faced with such a determined turn to genuine socialist policies, the right wing will join their real friends in the Tory party, where they belong. On this basis,a rearmed and renewed Labour Party could win a massive majority and transform the entire situation in Britain and internationally.
What you seek is seeking you, O brother, you are a mere thought and what is left of you is some skin and bones.

This is how the Sufi poet and scholar Jalal El-Din El-Rumi perceived the world.

Born Mohamed ben Mohamed Ben Hussien Bahaa El-Din Al-Balkhi in 1207 AD or 604 AH, but known as Jalal El-Din El-Rumi, the poet is the founder of the Sufi Mawlawia sect. He died in 1273 AD.

El-Rumi, who was born in Balkh in Afghanistan, moved with is father to Baghdad at the age of four. He and his father moved through many countries during his childhood until settling down in the town of Konya in Turkey in 623 AH during the reign of Saljouk.

The famous book The 40 Rules of Love by the Turkish writer Elif Shafk is inspired by Rumi's original manuscript of the same title.

However, the Turkish writer featured two parallel themes, one of an American woman of Jewish origins who is going through a midlife crises and the other the 13th century when Rumi first met his Sufi mentor Shams Al-Tabrizi, describing how both of them managed to create the epic Sufi poetry The 40 Rules of Love, which they managed to write during 40 days of Sufi spiritual solitude.

Writer Mohamed Eid Ibrahim in his translation of Rumi quartets explains: "Rumi was 37 years old when he first met Al-Tabrizi, who was in his sixties.

Rumi then was a traditional Sufi, when Al-Tabrizi took all his books and threw them in a deep well, to show him that he needed to live and experience what he was reading and writing about. After that they became best friends which made many Al-Tabrizi followers jealous of Rumi's closeness to one of the Sufi gurus of the time. Unfortunately in 1248 Al-Tabrizi was assassinated and until today no one knows who killed him.

Rumi's quartets number 1,659, out of which 331 were translated into English by John Moein and Coleman Barks in 1989.

Rumi was known for his brilliance as a teacher her of fiqh (philosophy of Islamic law).

However after the death of his father in 628 AH, he quit teaching and the whole materialistic world and focused on Sufism. He was into sports, music and reciting as well as composing poetry. Rumi was a pious Muslim but he attracted lots of followers of different religious beliefs because of his flexible and tolerant thoughts.

He respected other beliefs and always adopted a positive attitude as he promoted charity, piety and kindness. Rumi believed that perception ought to be through compassion. To him and his followers, all religions are good, and true in its own right. He also believed that the way to know God could be sought through music and poetry and zikr, spiritual music to him helps the seekers to be closer to God.

This high spiritual state of transcendence developed into the idea of the whirling Sufi dance that became a Sufi ritual. His poetry and other Sufi books that were written in Persian, his mother tongue, left a great impact on Islamic culture especially on the culture of Persia, the Arab world, Turkey and on Bengali culture.

In the modern age, lots of his books have been translated into different languages. His most famous works are the quartets, The Book of Courting, and many others

He died in 1273 AD and was buried in Konya. After his death, his son Sultan as well as Rumi's followers established the famous Mawlawia Sufi sect which is famous for its whirling dervishes.

For the Mawlawias, listening to music is a spiritual journey that escalates one through the self and compassion to a state of perfection (complete harmony with the universe and its maker). This journey starts by whirling which multiplies compassion and decreases selfishness, clearing the path of truth so people can reach perfection. After this act, the mourid (seeker), becomes more mature and full of love and compassion in the service of humanity. This Sufi path is still practiced today in the Ghouri Cultural Centre.

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SPRINGFIELD -- Richard B. Flynn, who retired in August 2013 as Springfield College president, received more than $4 million as president emeritus in fiscal 2015, according to tax documents filed by the college.

Flynn received $3.9 million in reportable compensation, generally defined as salary, and $110,992 in other compensation, which can include insurance and other benefits, according to the documents. That's according to an IRS Form 990 that Springfield College filed for the year, a requirement under federal tax code.

In fiscal 2014, he was still working and was paid $638,114 in reportable compensation and an additional $265,142 in other compensation for a total of $903,924, according to that year's IRS 990. He served as president for just a two months of that fiscal year, in July and August 2013.

Stephen A. Roulier, Springfield College executive director of communications, said the payments to Flynn as president emeritus include his retirement plan's deferred income and interest over the 14 years, along with contracted payments for such things as accrued but unused vacation pay.

Richard B. Flynn

Flynn's base salary for his final year was $350,000, a figure Roulier said is in line with presidents of similar institutions.

"It's all the accumulated retirement, which was paid in 2014, his last year as an employee. No further retirements payments were made after 2014," Roulier said in an email.

Flynn has no active role on campus as the president emeritus, Roulier said.

Springfield College's current president, Mary-Beth Cooper, was paid $434,782 in fiscal 2015, according to the IRS 990. Of that, $363,329 was salary and $71,453 was other compensation.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland said in a report issued in February that most presidents of private colleges are paid in the $100,000 to $500,000 range, although a fairly large number of presidents make between $500,000 and $1 million. Some are paid more than $1 million a year. The median pay is $301,153, and the mean is $377,261, economists at the Cleveland Fed said. Both those figures put private college presidents in the 99th percentile of compensation for wage earners in the U.S.

Annual salaries and compensation earned by presidents of other Springfield-area private colleges seem to fall roughly in line:

Anthony S. Caprio

Vincent Maniaci

Carol A. Leary

The practice of retirement pay for college presidents and of compensation for unused vacation time when those presidents leave has faced criticism elsewhere.

Dana Mohler-Faria retired as president of Bridgewater State University in 2015 after for 13 years. A longtime state employee, he had accrued more than $1 million worth of unused sick and vacation time as of the day he stepped down, which he cashed in for $269,984.

The retirement payout was in addition to Mohler-Faria's $183,421 annual state pension, as well as the $8,333 per month he still receives as an adviser to the university, according to reporting at the time by the Boston Business Journal.

The $269,984 was the largest such payment recorded since at least 2006, according to the Boston Business Journal, a sister publication to The Republican and MassLive.

The story spurred reforms, and Mohler-Faria paid the state back $11,892 for roughly three weeks of vacation that was not properly accounted for.
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Members of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce pose here at the U.s. Capitol in Washington as they attend the Washington Symposium 2016 hosted by U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield.

(Photo Provided)

WASHINGTON -- Taxes, health care, energy prices and the looming presidential election drew attention this week as members of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce toured Washington as part of the chamber's annual Washington Symposium hosted by U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal.

"We had a very good turnout from Berkshire County and from Hampden County," Neal said.

There were 22 chamber members on the trip representing various businesses and nonprofits. They included representatives from both Baystate Health and Sisters of Providence Health System.

They heard not only from Neal but also from a host of Beltway experts including U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, both Democrats, and from Massachusetts U.S. Reps. Joseph P. Kennedy, D-Brookline, and Michael Capuano, D- Boston. They also heard from U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, a veteran of the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

The Springfield-area delegation also heard from Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, chairman of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, on which Neal sits as a ranking minority member.

"They got to hear his tax proposal," Neal said. "It was political, but not partisan."

Besides lawmakers, the group visited columnist Mark Shields, whose work appears weekly in The Republican, and from pollster Stan Greenberg.

"What we are trying to do, everyone is trying to figure out how to interpret the polling data that we are seeing in the presidential cycle," Neal said.

Nancy Creed, president of the chamber, said while the polling data shed light on the race for the White House, the outcome is not clear. "This is something that is unique in our history," she said.

Overall, the trip was a forum to discuss issues important to local business.

Neal said that Patricia Bergowicz of Onyx Specialty Papers, a manufacturer in Lee in Berkshire County, asked Kennedy about the high cost of energy in Massachusetts. Kennedy, a grandson of slain Sen. and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, is on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"It is about making Massachusetts competitive," Neal said.

On Friday, the delegation had breakfast with Ambassador Anne Anderson of the Republic of Ireland. The Brexit vote, an Great Britain's impending exit from the European Union, carries potential and peril for Ireland, Neal said.

Ireland might benefit because American companies might look to Dublin as an English-speaking city within the European Union.

But there is also the border with Northern Ireland to worry about. Today, it is an open border with minimal security checks.

"Ireland is the only country with a land border with Great Britain," he said.
The Big E, now celebrating its centennial, continues its run in West Springfield through Oct. 2. However, it is not the only fair in Western Massachusetts this weekend.

The Belchertown Fair, now in its 159th year, will kick off on Friday. Admission to the three-day fair is free.

Other events worth checking out this weekend:

Springfield Symphony Orchestra kicks off season on Saturday

Tom Papa to open comedy series at CityStage on Friday

The Root Cellar in Greenfield hosts Grand Opening celebration

Northampton home to Wes Anderson film festival this weekend

Western Mass. concerts by Ben Folkds, Elle King, Maren Morris and more

Check out masslive.com/events for all of our events listings.

Did we miss anything? Post your suggestions in the comments section below.
Each week, MassLive showcases pets available for adoption at shelters at rescue organizations in Western Massachusetts.

With the participation of the shelters listed below, many animals should be able to find a permanent home.

We also provide some pet-related news items that we hope you will enjoy.

Rusty patched bumble bee recommended for endangered list

In this August 2015 photo provided by The Xerces Society, a rusty patched bumble bee collects pollen from a flower in Madison, Wis. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, formally recommended this bumble bee for endangered status after reviewing reports from the Portland, Ore.-based Xerces Society that show the species has disappeared from about 90 percent of its historic range in the past 20 years. (Rich Hatfield/The Xerces Society via AP)

Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Federal wildlife officials have made a formal recommendation to list the rusty patched bumble bee as an endangered species because it has disappeared from about 90 percent of its historic range in just the past two decades.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service made the recommendation after the Portland, Oregon-based Xerces Society petitioned the agency on behalf of the bee in 2013 and presented studies showing it was struggling due to a combination of disease, habitat loss, climate change and overuse of pesticides on commercial crops.

If approved, the species would be the first bee listed as endangered in the continental United States, said Rich Hatfield, senior conservation biologist with the Xerces Society.

The group, which advocates for the preservation of pollinator insects such as butterflies and bees, used "citizen scientists" to take counts of the rusty patched bumble bees.

The bees once ranged over 28 states stretching from Minnesota to Maine and into parts of Canada, but are now limited to small and scattered colonies in about a dozen states, including Illinois, Ohio and Minnesota, and one Canadian province, the Fish & Wildlife Service said in a statement Thursday.

Even those populations may have disappeared or been reduced because the last counts were done in 2000, the agency said.

"This is a very difficult thing to track. It's not like honey bees that are out in boxes that people can go out and count so keeping track of them in the wild is very difficult," Hatfield said of the bumble bee's numbers.

The rusty patched bumble bee gets its name for a crescent-shaped, reddish patch on its abdomen. It is one of 4,000 native bee species in North America, Hatfield said.

It is an important pollinator for crops such as cranberries, blueberries and tomatoes and has increasingly been used in commercial farming because it is bigger and stronger than the honey bee. Because of its bigger size, it causes a higher vibration in the pollen-laden anthers of the flowers it is visiting, resulting in more and better fruit harvests, Hatfield said.

But the populations of bumble bees being used to pollinate greenhouse tomatoes, cranberry bogs and blueberry fields have become infected by disease and spread a virulent pathogen to their wild cohorts, causing those colonies to collapse, he said. The phenomenon is similar to the colony collapse that has affected honey bees in recent years, he said.

Honey bees create hives of up to 50,000 individuals and make honey to survive through the winter. Bumble bees live in small colonies of 50 to 500 individuals and don't make honey because they don't live through the winter, Hatfield said.

They rarely sting because they don't have large colonies to protect and don't have a honey stash to defend, he added.

Seven species of yellow faced bee in Hawaii were proposed for listing by the Fish & Wildlife Service last year, but the recommendation has yet to be finalized, Hatfield said.

"I think one of the great things about pollinator conservation in general is that no matter where you live, you can do something about this," Hatfield said. "All these animals need our flowers from spring through fall and if we can help create or restore some habitat that's been lost, we can give bees a chance to recover."

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed listing for the rusty patched bumble bee and the agency will make a final ruling within a year of Thursday's date, said Georgia Parham, an agency spokeswoman.

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WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SHELTERS:

Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society

Address: 163 Montague Road, Leverett

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 548-9898

Website: www.dpvhs.org

Address: 171 Union St., Springfield

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 781-4000

Website: www.dpvhs.org



Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center

Address: 627 Cottage St., Springfield

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; Thursday, noon-7 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 781-1484

Website: tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com

Westfield Homeless Cat Project

Address: 1124 East Mountain Road, Westfield

Hours: Adoption clinics, Thursday, 5-7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Website: http://www.whcp.petfinder.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westfieldhomelesscatprojectadoptions



Westfield Regional Animal Shelter

Address: 178 Apremont Way, Westfield

Hours: Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 564-3129

Website: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/ma70.html

Franklin County Sheriff's Office Regional Dog Shelter and Adoption Center

Address: 10 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 676-9182

Website: http://fcrdogkennel.org/contact.html

Polverari/Southwick Animal Control Facility

Address: 11 Depot St., Southwick

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 569-5348, ext. 649

Website: http://southwickpolice.com/chief-david-a-ricardis-welcome/animal-control/

Berkshire Humane Society

Address: 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 447-7878

Website: http://berkshirehumane.org/

Purradise Feline Adoption

Address: 301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington

Hours: Monday and Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Friday,10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Telephone: (413) 717-4244

Website: http://berkshirehumane.org/contact-us/

Greyhound Options, Inc.

Address: 43 Sygiel Rd., Ware, MA. 01082

Telephone: 413-967-9088

Website: greyhoundadoptions.org


SPRINGFIELD -- A group of housing advocates held a rally outside Springfield City Hall Thursday evening, calling for expanded affordable housing and eviction reform.

Members of the demonstration, organized by local activism groups Arise for Social Justice and Springfield No One Leaves, marched from the corner of Sherman and State Streets to Court Square, carrying banners and chanting slogans.

"What do we want? Affordable housing! When do we want it? Now!" the marchers said.

Speakers, including people who have experienced homelessness, called on the city to ensure its residents have access to housing and to launch a study of Springfield's housing stock.

"We are rallying because there are too many people in Springfield live on the edge of homelessness," Executive Director of Arise for Social Justice Michaelann Bewsee said in a statement. "Many are already homeless - they are staying in shelters or sleeping on the street. Some want us to think that this problem has gone away, but it hasn't, it's gotten worse."

According to Friends of the Homeless, which operates the city's homeless shelter on Worthington Street as well as 110 units of permanent housing, 1,200 to 1,400 people experience homelessness in Springfield each year.

Speakers cited a 2014 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report to Congress that estimated that Massachusetts had 21,237 homeless residents -- the fifth highest total in the country.

Bewsee said the city had failed to adequately respond to the group's request that it establish a housing taskforce. City Housing Office Director Geraldine McCafferty sent Arise a letter detailing the city's efforts to combat homelessness and rehabilitate housing stock, but did not agree to create the taskforce, according to a copy of the letter provided by Arise.

"There is no way to survive on the amount of money most people make in this city," Bewsee said.

Speakers from Arise and Springfield No One Leaves delivered speeches and recited poems to the crowd, calling on the city's residents to resist foreclosures and evictions.
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has hung bright orange rubber dinghies from the walls of an elegant Renaissance palace in Florence to draw attention to the plight of refugees, but some complain that the installation ruins the harmony of the city centre.



The boats frame the second-floor windows of the Strozzi Palace and are part of Ai's first career-spanning retrospective in Italy, entitled "Libero" (Freedom), which opens on Friday and runs until Jan. 22.



As a symbol the boats resonate in Italy, where migrants arrive almost daily by sea on often flimsy vessels from Africa. But the installation has prompted some strong criticism on social media, including from right-wing political parties.



"I never expected that this boat installation would capture people's imaginations so much, and that people would be so critical of it," Ai told reporters on Wednesday.



But he said he welcomed the controversy, adding that he considered refugees his "brothers" and "heroes of our time".



"I have enormous respect for those people who fight for their freedom," he said.



Ai's support for refugees is rooted in his own experiences.



After his father was labeled an enemy of the Chinese state, Ai spent much of his childhood in remote corners of the country in forced internal exile with his family.



Apart from the facade of dangling boats, which is titled "Reframe", the exhibition includes Lego-block portraits of four Florentine dissidents of the past, including Dante Alighieri, author of the mediaeval epic poem "The Divine Comedy".



In 2011, Ai himself was arrested for allegedly publishing subversive material on his blog. After 81 days in jail, he was put under house arrest and kept under constant surveillance. The government gave him back his passport last year.



Ever since, he has been travelling the world documenting and calling attention to the plight of refugees and migrants.



In February he wrapped the giant columns of the Berlin Konzerthaus with 14,000 life jackets brought from the Greek island of Lesbos, a stepping stone for hundreds of thousands of boat refugees last year, many fleeing wars in the Middle East.



Italy has taken in more than 400,000 boat migrants since the start of 2014 and is currently housing some 150,000 asylum seekers in state-funded shelters.

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

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CHICOPEE -- At the request of the developer, the City Council voted unanimously to delay for six months taking any action on the proposal to convert the Cabotville Mill into 600 apartments and 400,000 square feet of retail space.

The council voted 12-0 this week to grant the time extension to SilverBrick LLC. The extension will expire in February, but the council also agreed to meet on the proposal in December to make sure it stays current on the plans.

"We want to work with this developer. It will be a boon to the downtown," Councilor Shane D. Brooks said of the project.

SilverBrick LLC submitted an application for a special permit for the project on July 28. The application includes requests for waivers for noise levels, signage, parking lot screening, screening of mechanical equipment, and the company is asking to reduce the number of parking spots from the required 1,085 to 623.

Under city regulations, the City Council has 90 days to act on the special permit, and if it fails to do so the permit is approved automatically. SilverBrick LLC asked for an extension of the time requirements while it works out details of the sale of the property. The sale will not be finalized until the special permit is granted.

"We respectfully request that the draft review, public hearing and City Council vote pertaining to the special permit application be postponed for 180 days until transaction-related matters are clarified," Aaron Papowitz, founder and managing principal of the company, wrote in a letter to the council.

SilverBrick is in negotiations to purchase the 170-year-old mill building from 200 Tillary LLC. Company owner Johsua Guttman, a New York City developer who is known for converting former industrial buildings into lofts, purchased Cabotville in 2005 and planned to create about 240 condominiums and use the first floor for retail and other businesses. He made some improvements but then the project stalled for years.

Councilor James K. Tillotson said he is happy the regulations allow the City Council to extend the deadline at the request of developers. While the project could help revitalize the downtown area -- something city officials have struggled with for decades -- it is also important to ensure it is done properly, Tillotson said.

"I'm hoping the city is protected in this," he said, adding that the city must ensure the building is safe for those who will live and work there.

One of the reasons the original plan to renovate the mill stalled is the main water pipe that serves Cabotville runs through the canal parallel to Front Street and could freeze if the water level is too low in the winter. The canal is owned by a different entity, so the owners of Cabotville do not have control of the water level.

The Fire Department refused to grant a permit because there was no reliable source of water to feed the sprinkler system, which had been upgraded, saying that could endanger residents and businesses.

The city received a $2.64 million MassWorks Infrastructure Grant from the state to improve the water line and other utilities such as sewer pipes, storm drains and electrical lines in the west end of Chicopee Center. Using some of the money, it has hired an engineering firm that is studying the problem of the water line.
Cocaine-trafficking.jpg

A man from the Dominican Republic was arrested in Andover on Wednesday after Massachusetts State Police found him to be in possession of over 160 bags of cocaine.

(Massachusetts State Police)

ANDOVER  A Dominican national using a false identity was arrested by Massachusetts State Police on Wednesday, after Troopers discovered he was in possession of over 160 bags of cocaine.

Francis Yermin Mejia-Gonzalez, 36, was pulled over for several motor vehicle violations in Andover, and provided Troopers with an identification card bearing the name "Marvin Perez-Varela."

After further investigation, the trooper who had pulled Mejia-Gonzalez over discovered more than 160-bags of cocaine in his vehicle. The drugs weighed approximately 800 grams and were worth over $35,000, according to State Police.

Mejia-Gonzaelz's identity was not revealed until he was booked, at which point his fingerprint revealed who he was.

An Immigration and Customs report (ICE) revealed that Mejia-Gonzalez had used a visa to gain entry into the U.S., but had stayed longer than the visa allowed. During his time in country, Mejia-Gonzalez acquired a fake ID.

He has been charged with cocaine trafficking, giving a false name to police, and a number of different motor vehicle violations.
A conference on current archaeological research on tombs and temples of the 25th and 26th dynasties in Thebes is to be held in Luxor on Sunday

Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany is set to inaugurate on Saturday a number of archaeological sites, as well as the second round of the Thebes in the first millennium BC conference in Luxor.

The conference is organised by the South Asasif Conservation Project in conjunction with the Ministry of Antiquities and the Egypt Exploration Society.

Mahmoud Afifi, head of the ancient Egyptian department at the Ministry of Antiquities, said that the conference will feature presentations from 46 Egyptian and international scholars and has attracted close to 200 participants.

The main focus of the conference, he said, is current archaeological research on tombs and temples of the 25th-26th dynasties in the Theban area.

Papers on other Egyptian sites and monuments of the Kushite and Saite periods are also invited from all areas of research including archaeology, art history, history, chronology, religion, linguistics, and anthropology. The conference will also feature discussion panels to facilitate communication.

The conference will be accompanied by field trips to archaeological sites related to the period, including the Kushite and Saite tombs of the South Asasif necropolis, North Asasif Necropolis and Karnak temple.

On the fringe of the conference, Afifi said, the minister of antiquities is to inaugurate the Second Pillared Hall of the tomb of Karakhmun, a high-ranking official of the 25th dynasty, after its restoration.

The tomb of Karakhamun is the first fully reconstructed room in the ruined Kushite tomb re-discovered by the South Asasif Conservation Project, directed by Dr. Elena Pischikova, in 2006.

Pischikova said that the Egyptian-American mission is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year with important discoveries in the tombs of Karabasken, Karakhamun and Irtieru, as well as well as a massive amount of conservation and reconstruction work.

One of the main goals of the project is the conservation and reconstruction of ancient monuments in their original location and opening them to Egyptian and foreign visitors.

Pischikova said that the tomb of Karakhamun is the most important reconstruction task undertaken by the project. The tombs ceiling had collapsed and its rooms and remaining decoration were buried beneath large chunks of fallen bedrock.

As a result of intense clearing, the team discovered the entrance staircase, vestibule, two pillared halls, and the painted burial chamber of Karakhamun as well as around 35,000 fragments of the detached original decoration.

The Second Pillared Hall, Pischikova explained, was found in the worst condition, with crumbled walls and fallen decoration. Its reconstruction started in 2012.

In 2016 the antiquities ministry's conservation team and epigraphers from the project were able to rebuild the two doorframes at the entrance to the hall, four pilasters, four pillars, all the walls, the false door, and the architrave.

The reconstructed decoration includes 24 chapters of the Book of the Dead, Pyramid Texts, 6 offering scenes, and a false door with a statue of Osiris.

The central higher aisle, topped by two architraves and cavetto, is a unique feature, recreating a temple space in an elite tomb.

The beautiful carving of the ten images of Karakhamun creates an exclusive gallery of early Kushite images of a tomb owner, Pischikova highlights adding that the number of known decorated elite tombs of the 25th dynasty is very limited and each of them has unique features.

The reconstruction of the tomb of Karakhamun, one of the first tombs of the Kushite renaissance, is an important contribution to historians' understanding of Egypt in the first millennium BC and brings back to life a beautiful example of Egyptian art.

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(Beijing)  Individuals and companies that fail to follow a court order to settle debts will be banned from bidding for government-funded projects, according to rules released by China's top court on Thursday.

Those who have defaulted on alimony, child support or salaries to workers will also be barred, according to rules drawn up by the Supreme People's Court together with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Bidding agencies with one or more defaulters are also banned from presenting proposals on behalf of their clients, the top court said.

Government departments calling for tenders are required to conduct background checks on bidders using a national database for defaulters, it said. But the rules did not spell out the punishments if those administering bids fail to comply.

Earlier this year, the government banned debt-dodgers from flying and traveling on high-speed trains or in sleeping compartments of conventional trains. They are also not allowed to serve in companies as legal representatives, board members, supervisors or senior executives.

There were over 3 million defaulters on the Supreme Court's blacklist at the end of 2015, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said.

Contact reporter Li Rongde (rongdeli@caixin.com); editor Poornima Weerasekara (poornima@caixin.com)
Migrate and build new websites, provide support to MSU community in the CMS. Assist in developing and maintaining university Web resources and applications. Support the end-users of various apps and services Web Communications provides to campus. Build, maintain and enhance digital development standards (Web, mobile, email, digital signage).

Competitive salary/benefits.

Apply at: https://jobs.montana.edu/postings/6358
Les membres du gouvernement ont pris note que le paud av signer un Exchange Note de Rs 174 millions de roupies avec le Gouvernement du Japon afin dextendre les subsides pour les hopitaux du pays aini que pour le Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care-Cardiac Centre, que plusieurs regulations seont promulge concernant la douane, de celle de la (Historic Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2022 pour creer un musee historique de la voiture, de lorganisation de trois divali shows dans le pays du 14 au 16 octobre 2022 entre autres.

1. Cabinet has agreed to the accession of the Republic of Mauritius to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The Treaty which is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, makes it possible to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in a large number of countries by filing an international application. Such an application may be filed by anyone who is a national or resident of a PCT Contracting State.

There are currently 156 countries which are party to the PCT. The accession to the PCT would, inter alia, offer more visibility to the country on the international Intellectual Property arena and increase the attractiveness of the Mauritian jurisdiction for the filing of patent applications, especially in the emerging sectors such as Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Research on Sea Sponge.

2. Cabinet has agreed to the Government of Mauritius signing an Exchange of Notes with the Government of Japan for a Grant Aid of JPY550 million (approx. Rs174 million). The Government of Japan has agreed to extend the grant for the procurement of the medical equipment for the five regional hospitals of Mauritius and the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care-Cardiac Centre at Pamplemousses under its Economic and Social Development Programme.

3. Cabinet has taken note that the following regulations would be promulgated:

(a) the Customs (Amendment) Regulations 2022;

(b) the Customs Tariff (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 5) Regulations 2022;

(c) the Excise (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2022;

(d) the Excise (Amendment of Schedule) (No. 4) Regulations 2022; and

(e) the Excise (Amendment) Regulations 2022.

These Regulations provide for the implementation of measures mentioned in the Annex to Budget Speech 2022  23 relating to customs laws as well as other policy and technical measures.

4. Cabinet has agreed to the promulgation of the Road Traffic (Historic Motor Vehicles) Regulations 2022, in the context of the setting up of a Historic Motor Vehicle Museum in Mauritius for showcasing a car collection of at least 150 originals, vintage and classic cars of 40 years or more. These cars are unique and would be exhibited under their unique registration marks.

5. Cabinet has taken note that the Ombudsperson for Financial Services (Sworn Statement) (Revocation) Regulations 2022 would be promulgated. The Ombudsperson for Financial Services (Sworn Statement) Regulations 2019 have now become obsolete.

6. Cabinet has agreed to the submission of the National Report on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to the United Nations Environment Programme as one of the deliverables of the Global Monitoring Plan under the Stockholm Convention on POPs, which has been ratified by the Republic of Mauritius.

The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, also known as POPs. Parties to the Convention are required to comply with provisions of the Convention, take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs in the environment and provide background data on POPs in ambient air and human milk under the Global Monitoring Plan.

7. Cabinet has taken note that the Department of Civil Aviation would host the fourth African-Indian Ocean Free Route Airspace Project Management Team (AFI FRA PMT) Meeting in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, from 25 to 28 October 2022 in Mauritius.

The objective of the meeting is to provide the AFI FRA PMT with a forum to develop a road map for the regional Free Route Airspace project as well as to gain insight of the challenges and lessons learnt by Mauritius during the implementation of the project within the Flight Information Region. Some 60 participants from among the 48 Member States are expected to attend the meeting, along with some 10 participants from the key aviation stakeholders in Mauritius.

8. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage organising three Divali Shows at national level from 14 to 16 October 2022, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, and with the participation of local and international artists. These three live performances would equally form part of the 12 Fetes Nationales being organised throughout the island in the context of the 55th Anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius which would be celebrated next year.

9. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Mauritius Post Ltd, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, to mark the 250th Anniversary of the postal services in Mauritius. The event would coincide with World Post Day to be celebrated on 09 October 2022 under the theme Post for Planet.

An official function would be organised on 08 October 2022 at Caudan Arts Centre, Port Louis and the event would include: (a) the opening of a Philatelic Exhibition to be organised in collaboration with the Association Philatelique de lOcean Indien and an exhibition on the historical journey of the Mauritius Post Ltd;

(b) the launching of two stamps and two First Day Covers on the 250th Anniversary of Postal Services in Mauritius and 175th anniversary of Blue and Red Penny stamps; (c) the unveiling of a Commemorative Plate as well as a stele, depicting the 250th Anniversary of the postal services in Mauritius; (d) the recognition of six employees having the longest years of service in the postal sector, including one from Rodrigues; and (e) the launching of a new logo for the Mauritius Post Ltd. In addition, the Mauritius Post Ltd has also planned other side activities. These activities would also be extended to Rodrigues in the coming month.

10. Cabinet has taken note of the status of road capital projects being implemented by the Road Development Authority as at 31 August 2022. For the current financial year, seven projects have been completed, 10 are under construction, contracts have been awarded for two projects, five projects are at procurement stage and six others are at preparation stage.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world. Some 618.7 million cases have been reported globally, of which 598.6 million persons have been successfully treated. With regard to Mauritius, as at 21 September 2022, there were 57 active cases of COVID-19, out of which 10 were admitted at the New ENT Hospital.

12. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the Minister of Financial Services and Good Governance in the 22nd Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Council of Ministers Meeting and the 5th Sub-Saharan Africa Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Public/Private Sector Dialogue held recently in Zambia as well as his official mission to South Africa.

A delegation from Mauritius attended the 44th ESAAMLG Task Force of Senior Officials Meeting, whereby the Enhanced Follow-up Report of Mauritius which included a request for technical compliance re-rating of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 15 on New Technologies was considered. It was the only outstanding recommendation where Mauritius had a rating of Partially Compliant. On the basis of the progress made by Mauritius in addressing the deficiencies relating thereto, the ESAAMLG Task Force approved the upgrading of that Recommendation to Largely Compliant. With this technical compliance upgrade, Mauritius is, now, Compliant or Largely Compliant to all of the 40 FATF Recommendations.

The Council of Ministers approved the appointment of Mrs Fikile Zitha from South Africa, as the new Executive Secretary of ESAAMLG. The 5th Sub-Saharan Africa AML/CFT Public/Private Sector Dialogue was launched immediately after the Council of Ministers Meeting with the theme Virtual Assets and the Implementation of the AML/CFT Programmes in the ESAAMLG Region.

During the mission of the Minister to Johannesburg, South Africa, he participated in various meetings with potential investors and prospective operators for the Mauritius International Financial Centre in order to explore the interest of the investor community in South Africa to invest and operate in the Mauritian jurisdiction.

13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security in the African Green Revolution Forum and the First-In-Person Regional Dialogue with African Food Systems National Convenors organised by the African Union Development Agency, the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, the Food Workstream of the United Nations Global Crisis Response Group on Food Energy and Finance and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa held recently in Rwanda.

The theme of the Forum was Grow, Nourish, Reward  Bold Actions for Resilient Food Systems. The Forum was organised following the Food Systems Summit, a United Nations initiative, preceding the National Dialogue on Food System. The African Green Revolution Forum was a platform to encourage African Food Systems Convenors to engage in the implementation of strategies related to the recent food, energy and finance crisis on the African continent. In the margins of the African Green Revolution Forum, a National Convenors Meeting was held and the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security made a presentation on the National Pathway.

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The dilapidated small room with a clay bed Yang Gailan and her children used to sleep on. Photo: Xiao Hui / Caixin

(Gansu province)  The deaths of four children at the hands of their poverty-stricken mother who then committed suicide has sparked outrage and an online debate about how corruption and red tape have undermined China's poverty-alleviation efforts.

The incident has led many to ask why the billions of yuan that has poured into China's anti-poverty program had failed to reach the neediest. The family, among the poorest in their village, had received no government aid since 2014.

The situation "exactly reflects the painful reality of the extent of China's poverty," wrote Xiang Songzuo, chief economist of the Agricultural Bank of China, on his verified microblog. "On one side, there are corrupt officials embezzling hundreds of millions at every turn and the rich spending thousands every day,  while on the other side there are those in extreme poverty who lose all hope in life."

Yang Gailan, 28, used a hammer to bludgeon her 6-, 5- and 3-year-old daughters and her 5-year-old son before drinking pesticide on Aug. 24, police in the northwestern province of Gansu said. Three children died instantly, while the fourth died at a hospital with the mother. Yang's husband, Li Keying, took his own life a week after the children were buried.

Yang was from Agushan village in Kangle county. There were anti-poverty slogans written in bright red on the walls along the dirt road leading to her small, dilapidated adobe house.

The house, in which she lived with her father and grandmother, was built in 1952 and had never been renovated, some villagers said. The windows lacked glass panes, and the walls were worn out. A chest-high wardrobe, an old TV set and several small wooden stools were all the furniture the family had. Part of the roof of the room in which Yang had slept had caved in, and parts of the walls had crumbled.

But the family had been removed from a list of those eligible for a government low-income allowance in 2014 by the village committee because their annual income per person put them above the poverty-line benchmark of 2,300 yuan ($345) a year, said Li Jinjun, the former village party secretary.

Yang's grandmother and other villagers said many poor families had been shut out from the relief program because local officials had used flawed methods to estimate their income. Others said they had to bribe authorities to get on the aid list.

Days before the incident, Yang had told her family that the people who denied them access to cash support and other poverty relief subsidies "were forcing her to do something (extreme)."

Desperate Measure

Several neighbors told Caixin that Yang's family has been struggling financially for years.

Earlier, the family had received 2,800 to 3,900 yuan in state income support for poor families, which they had used to buy seeds, fertilizer and groceries.

But in 2014, the village committee stopped the cash payments and said the family was not eligible for other subsidies for renovating the house or to start a business because their income was above the eligiblity level. But Yang's grandmother and other villagers said the local officials' estimates were flawed.

Last year, the village committee estimated that Yang's husband had earned 21,000 yuan by working 200 days at a construction site.

But a villager who worked at the same site said the two had actually found work for only 60 days, and Yang's husband had earned only 7,000 yuan, only a third of the government estimate.

Yang Lanfang, Yang Gailan's grandmother, told Caixin the family made about 2,000 yuan a year from selling produce from their 3-acre plot, but village officials have estimated that they earned about 7,000 yuan each year from the land.

On Sept. 16, the Kangle county government said it had sacked or demoted six officials, including the county's deputy governor and the Agushan village party secretary, saying officials had "merely used their own assumptions" and not the facts when calculating villagers' incomes, and this had shut out many families from the government assistance program.

A team of investigators from a poverty-alleviation unit under the State Council, China's cabinet, was sent to the village two days after the deaths to look into alleged abuses of public funds earmarked for poverty relief, said Su Guoxia, a spokesperson for the State Council's Leading Group.

Relatively well-off families, particularly those related to the village administration, were allowed access to state funds, a list of beneficiaries seen by Caixin shows.

For example, a family that owned two vehicles and a sand-supplying business was included in the list.

Another villager, who asked not to be named, said he had paid village and township officials 2,000 yuan to be included in the list of those eligible for state benefits for the poor.

Unmet Needs

Over 55 million people, or about 4 percent of the country's population, live on less than $2 a day, official figures show.

The central government wants to eradicate poverty by 2020. But its ambitious poverty relief program has failed to improve the lives of those living in the poorest regions such as Agushan village because there is a mismatch between the support these programs offer and the real needs of the people, according to academics.

Local villagers in Agushan agree. For example, poor families are entitled to a housing subsidy of 12,000 yuan, which they can use to build new homes or renovate old ones, said Li, Agushan's ousted party secretary. But farmer Qi Zhiqing said his family had no means to raise the other 58,000 yuan needed to build a new home  a problem facing many others  and therefore, the government money for housing support was left untouched.

The relief program also includes a 10,000-yuan subsidy to purchase cattle and a 40,000-yuan interest-free bank loan to start a business. Qi said he had taken this loan and started growing herbal plants, including the popular goji berries, but the family ended up losing money because there was no support to find buyers for their produce.

The Agushan incident has highlighted the two main problems with the government's anti-poverty drive, analysts said. Those who are eligible such as Yang's family are left behind due to corruption and official incompetence at the village level, while livelihood support programs fail because they do not provide enough technical and business training to poor families, they said.

Authorities must also broaden the scope of poverty alleviation programs to include access to better education and affordable healthcare, said professor Zhang Zhaoxin from the Rural Economy Research Center under the Ministry of Agriculture.

"Many rural families fall into poverty because they spend too much on medical bills or schooling for their children," Zhang said.

Contact reporter Li Rongde (rongdeli@caixin.com); editor Poornima Weerasekara (poornima@caixin.com)
(Beijing)  China's largest specialty steel producer was finally driven into bankruptcy after the company defaulted on 3.6 billion yuan ($540 million) in debt, missing eight payments since March, according to a creditor document circulated online.

The Liaoning provincial government "has confirmed that Dongbei Special Steel Group will enter bankruptcy proceedings, and the bankruptcy plan is expected to come out by the end of September, and the provincial government demands the implementation of the plan to be completed in October," says a creditor meeting summary that began circulating online Wednesday morning.

Dongbei is based in the northeastern port city of Dalian.

Sources from China Development Bank, the underwriter of the bonds issued by Dongbei, and several bondholders confirmed the bankruptcy to Caixin.

The summary shows that Bank of China's Dalian branch convened an urgent meeting Monday, when it briefed creditor banks about the latest debt disposal progress. However, holders of the steelmaker's bonds were not included in the meeting, a bond investor told Caixin.

Credit defaults in China reached 26.8 billion yuan so far in 2016, more than double the total value of 12 billion yuan in debt defaults last year, according to Wind, a Chinese financial data provider, as the country overhauls industries with excess capacity amid the ongoing economic slowdown.

Earlier last month, the steelmaker resisted pressure from its bondholders to file for bankruptcy. The about-face raised questions among investors about the amount of assets that the company still had.

Since September 2015, Dongbei has not made public any financial reports, defying persistent demands from its creditors.

Dongbei was stitched together in 2004 by Liaoning, which merged three steel producers  Dalian Iron & Steel Group, Beiman Special Steel and Fushun Special Steel. Dongbei is the controlling shareholder of Fushun, which is on the Shanghai stock exchange.

According to a document drafted by the Liaoning government about tackling the debt crisis in Dongbei that came to light in July, the province wanted to safeguard the equity of Funshun Special Steel, as it involves military industry.

The same document also reveals that the ratio of Dongbei's debts to assets had reached 120 percent, and its liabilities jumped by 10 billion yuan to 55.6 billion yuan in May since September 2015.

Contact reporter Dong Tongjian (tongjiandong@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com)
(Beijing)  For overseas financial companies looking to break into China's vast private investment funds market, Beijing's recent vow to let them compete directly with local private funds still seems a distant promise.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., for one, is not entering the fray anytime soon.

The U.S. banking giant received Beijing's permission early this month to establish a wholly owned asset management subsidiary  the first of its kind on the mainland  in Shanghai's free trade zone.

Sources close to the government said the firm was also on track to be the first beneficiary of a groundbreaking regulatory change announced a few months ago. It would allow foreign private fund managers to sell products in China and, more importantly, buy Chinese stock for its clients.

But the plan did not pan out. JPMorgan executive Wang Qionghui said they first would focus on getting approval for cross-border business. That means opting for an existing pilot program that allows foreign institutions to raise money from Chinese investors but invest the funds abroad.

Though not giving up hope yet, Wang said, "We're paying close attention to developments on a private fund license," which is necessary for foreign companies to buy Chinese stocks for clients, she told Caixin.

She did not say what was preventing the firm from getting the license, which involves being approved by the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC) as a private fund manager that can buy stock in the A-share market. The association is a self-regulatory group that helps the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) supervise investment funds.

The AMAC has released guiding opinions in July on how foreign institutions can apply for the license. But some of the requirements have met with opposition from candidate firms, said a source close to the association who asked not be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. Conflicts include the firms' reluctance to move their entire China investment operations onto the mainland and their demand for fewer restrictions on where the parent company of a license holder must be located, according to the source.

The association is holding back on granting a license to JPMorgan because it has not decided how to resolve the conflicts, the source said.

The pilot program that Wang said the JPMorgan subsidiary is aiming for instead is known as the Qualified Domestic Limited Partner (QDLP) program. It was launched three years ago in Shanghai and has been extended to the cities of Tianjin and Qingdao. The program allows foreign hedge funds and asset management companies to set up subsidiaries in China and sell products to Chinese investors. But it requires them to invest the funds abroad, a restriction that limits the foreign competition faced by Chinese private securities funds.

People familiar with the pilot program said none of the firms was performing well. Many were struggling to sell enough products to cover their operating costs, and some have had their unused investment quota taken back by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

But "no one wants to give up easily on the Chinese market because it is really a big cake," said an executive from one of the companies.

Many view the yet-to-be-named new program as their opportunity to turn things around, said Zhang Jinwei, an executive of Hong Kong-based Value Partners Group Ltd., which owns a QDLP subsidiary.

The new program, unveiled by the CSRC on the last day of June, targets foreign private fund companies, as the QDLP does, but differs from it in one key aspect: it requires select institutions to invest the funds they received from Chinese investors inside China, rather than outside the country.

The new program would allow foreign private fund managers to compete directly with their Chinese peers on both product sales and portfolio management. It has been hailed as the most important progress China has made toward opening its capital market to foreign fund managers since 2002, when it allowed foreign mutual funds to enter the country.

Foreign portfolio managers have always looked forward to "entering the A-share market and to sharing in the dividends of China's economic growth," Josh Gu, director of quantitative research at Hedge Fund Research, which provides data and analysis of hedge funds.

Many wholly foreign owned enterprises with QDLP status in Shanghai were counting on the city government to grant them convenient access to the new program so they can invest both in and outside China at the same time, Zhang said. But the regulators "seem to have their own concerns," he added.

The fact is that the Shanghai government may never permit those QDLP institutions to participate in the new program, a source close to the city government said. "The finance office of the Shanghai government has said it wants to keep the two programs separate  even though in essence they are the same, only one for investing inside China and the other outside," he said.

"This may have to do with Shanghai government's objective of developing the city into a global financial center, which requires more emphasis on cross-border businesses," the source added rather than domestic investment. The new program, which requires fund managers to sell products and make investments inside China, does not involve currency conversions and is not considered cross-border business by the officials. So it doesn't fit with Shanghai's goals.

Other potential candidates of the new domestic investment program have qualms about the guiding opinions from the AMAC on getting a domestic investment license.

The CSRC requires, for example, that the foreign institutions locate their entire China investment team inside the country, meaning that their office, personnel and even software infrastructure must be physically based on the mainland, but this is not how many international investment companies operate, the source close to the AMAC said.

This was one of the main concerns raised to the regulators in a July meeting by representatives of foreign firms that want to participate in the new program, according to the source.

Others included opposition to the requirement that transaction orders be made by trading systems located inside China, and that the major shareholder of the fund company be registered in a country that has cooperative securities regulatory agreements with China. The second requirement excludes offshore tax heavens such as the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands, where many investment firms are registered.

Regulatory restrictions are not those foreign institutions' only concern. Under the QDLP program, many have had trouble attracting Chinese investors because they're only beginning to appreciate hedge funds' balanced investment strategies, Gu said. In general, Chinese fund companies tend to give investors higher, albeit less stable, returns by tapping the volatile Chinese stock market. That makes them more appealing to many Chinese investors, he said.

"Anyone wanting to make the best of the A-share market's revelry could be disappointed" when they realize that a hedge fund is not going to give them returns that are that high, Gu said.

Despite the temporary lack of progress, "developing private fund business is definitely an important part of our business in China," Value Partners' Zhang said.

The CSRC has promised to revise the new program's rules in response to foreign fund managers' concerns at the July meeting, according to people who attended the discussion, but it's unclear how long it would take.

"There are so many details" that need to be ironed out, Zhang said. But the delay may not affect their ambition, he said, because the whole private fund industry in China is young. Considering how much it has yet to grow, both foreign and Chinese private fund companies are still near the starting line, he said.

Contact reporter Wang Yuqian (yuqianwang@caixin.com); editor Ken Howe (kennethhowe@caixin.com)
(Beijing)  Chinese authorities said it will spend 950 billion yuan ($142.4 billion) to relocate about 16 million people out of poor areas nationwide as China strives to meet its poverty eradication goal by 2020, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Thursday.

But only 9.8 million of those to be moved are below the poverty line, earning less than $2 a day, while the others have been ordered to move as part of the government relocation program.

Families from 1,400 rural counties in 22 provinces will be affected, said Yang Qian, a senior official from the National Development and Reform Commission, at an internal meeting. But the country's top economic planner did not give any details about where these families will be resettled or what type of compensation they will get. Yang only said "the people will be fully consulted over where they will go."

About 3.2 million chosen for relocation were living in areas affected by severe desertification, soil erosion, water depletion and extreme cold weather, Yang said. Another 3.4 million were being relocated because they lacked access to basic infrastructure, education and medical care in their areas. Others being moved have had their livelihoods affected by natural disasters or were living in government-sanctioned nature reserves, Yang said.

Regional authorities are being required to cough up nearly 360 billion yuan to fund the move, Xinhua said.

Authorities will offer job training and livelihood support for resettled families and provide a pension and medical insurance, Yang said.

In some impoverished regions, poverty has much to do with the natural environment, geographical location and even history, said Professor Tao Ran from the School of Economics at Renmin University in Beijing.

"It will be counterproductive if authorities insist on tying them to their (impoverished) land when fighting poverty," he said.

Contact reporter Li Rongde (rongdeli@caixin.com); editor Poornima Weerasekara (poornima@caixin.com)
A second suspect was charged Friday morning in the murder of two Forest City men.

Icey Chennell Gooden, 26, of 4217 Sundown Road, Morganton, was charged with the murders of Albert Alexander Austin, 35, and Spencer Jermain Murray, 29, whose bodies were found in a burned car in Morganton on Sunday.

Brian Jerome Robinson, 33, of 1122 Valley Trace, Morganton, who was charged Thursday with the murder of Austin, now faces an additional charge of murder in the death of Murray, according to his warrant for arrest. He was brought before a Burke County magistrate on Friday and issued the second murder charge.

The murders were committed with malice aforethought, according to the suspects' arrest warrants.

The two men's bodies were discovered Sunday morning around 8 a.m. when Burke County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to Canoe Creek Way in Morganton. When they arrived, deputies found a burned Cadillac Deville with human remains inside, according to previous reports.

Investigators learned the Cadillac belonged to Austin, of 555 Poors Ford Road, Lot 5, in Forest City. However, the vehicle was registered to Murray, of 165 Astrid Lane, in Forest City, according to previous reports.

Robinson was arrested without incident just after 2 p.m. on Thursday at Oak Forest Drive, in Morganton, according to information from BCSO.

Anyone with information is asked to contact BCSOs Criminal Investigation Division at 828-438-5500, or Burke County Crime Stoppers at 828-437-3333 anytime day or night.

More information on this developing story will be published as it becomes available.
Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.
by Thom Forbes , Featured Columnist @tforbes, September 22, 2016

A police department was conducting a heavily publicized investigation. It asked the community for help. A resident wanted to provide a tip but could not access the department's Web site, which was unable to scale to the deluge of traffic it was getting.

We became aware of this on social media and escalated it internally to get a resolution, recalls Jeremy Wasner, director, social strategy for Rackspace, the Windcrest, Tex.-based managed cloud computing company.

The police department was a client -- and, even though Rackspace had not written the code that was at fault, it provided a solution to a problem it knew about only because it is always paying attention to what people are saying about it  and its customers  online.

The company has been practicing social listening since it first got involved with social media in 2008, and sees it as a natural extension of the people-based Fanatical Support philosophy that has been baked into its modus operandi since 2000.

advertisement advertisement

When brands got involved with social early on, they were using it as a broadcast mechanism. Oh, this is the new email; I can spam all my customers and prospects with my brand message and get new business out of it, says Wasner.

Many, of course, still do  even if its under the guise of a lookbook or filtered through an influencer.

We just took a fundamentally different approach, Wasner continues. We recognized it as a channel to communicate directly with customers who were having problems but who havent reached out to support yet, or dont know they have to reach out to support yet, or have a need and are asking their community for help.

Melissa Parrish, VP, research director at Forrester Research, cited Rackspace in a webinar hosted by Brandwatch CMO Will McInnes Tuesday. Among other examples of brands such as Hallmark, Taco Bell, Red Roof Inn and Gatorade using social intelligence effectively, Parrish mentioned another scenario where Rackspace takes a complaint it observes from an anonymous Twitter handle, identifies the customer, fixes the problem and then notifies the customer that the problem is solved before he or she has even formally complained.

Thats is the definition of surprise and delight, as Parrish puts it, but it is also having an impact on the bottom line. In short, Rackspace has determined that monthly spend increases among most customers who have their problems solved preemptively.

Then there are the negative consequences of not paying attention.

Parrish recalls that CBS heavily promoted live streaming access to its Grammy Awards broadcast across all devices last February. But, similar to streaming problems the network experienced during the Super Bowl that I tweeted about myself, the attempt to follow its audience didn't go smoothly. To make matters worse, it seemed as if CBS had a deaf social ear: A promotional tweet popped up at the same time that many viewers were railing about the service not working for them.

If the network had been using social listening in the right way  real-time  it would not only have responded to the angry users, but also would have killed the prescheduled tweet for CBS All Access, the very service that had gone awry.

Let go of your social marketing strategy, Parrish urges at the outset of her presentation. What she means is that social is a much bigger conversation than just marketing.

Social listening and social intelligence tools assist across the entire lifecycle of your product, she says. And social insights gleaned from those tools can  and should  be used to help to improve all functions within the company, from human resources to operation to PR.

McInnes is laudably coy about what Brandwatch, his U.K.-based company, might bring to the table during his own presentation, making the webinar a worthwhile listen on the ride home. In response to one question at the end, he offers an interesting tale about how a major, global ice cream brand learned that a key assumption it had made about its customers was just plain wrong after listening to them on social.

Turns out that its heavy discounting on weekends was unnecessary because ice cream is not usually an impulse buy, but rather is quite premeditated.

My experience precisely, even if Ive never gone social about it.
by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, September 23, 2016

Newspapers are getting cheated of the value of their own work by Google and Facebook, according to the official organization of British newspaper publisher. It argues that the tech companies pose an existential threat to quality journalism and is asking the British government for help.

In a briefing delivered to government ministers on Thursday, the UKs News Media Association conceded that the rise of Google, Facebook and other online platforms has presented traditional news media with opportunities, as well as threats. On the plus side, by aggregating and disseminating news content to their users, they potentially give publishers access to vast new audiences.

But in the process, they also divert traffic from publishers sites, instead monetizing the news content through advertising on their own platforms.

While acknowledging that opportunity exists alongside the peril, the NMA still stated: The situation is far from win-win, and significant value is being captured by companies that do not invest in original journalism at the expense of those who do.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to meet these costs, partly because of the lower value of digital advertising compared to print, but also because of the diversion of advertising spend from publishers toward aggregators.

In response, newspaper publishers are asking the British government to ensure that online platforms operate within a framework that is fair, non-abusive and respectful of media plurality.

Although the NMA was vague on what actions the government could take to level the playing field, these presumably include regulations forcing Google and Facebook to pay publishers for aggregated content, perhaps by sharing ad revenues derived from it.

On a related subject, the NMA is also asking the government for help against ad-blockers, noting that the latter are part of the scramble to generate ad revenues from content to which they have made no contribution.

The move comes not long after the EU announced new copyright rules that would require big online platforms to pay publishers for the right to display headlines in search results and news feeds. However, similar efforts have failed in the past, most notably in Germany and Spain.

For its part, Google noted that it sends billions of clicks to news publishers every month, in addition to new services like AMP, which helps publishers with faster loading times.
by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, September 23, 2016

The television advertising business is at long last beginning to see some of the change thats been anticipated for so long. But calling those changes programmatic is, at least at this stage, far off the mark, says Jim Nail, principal analyst at Forrester.

The title of Nails new report, which he summarized during a webinar hosted by 4C Insights this week, declares his preferred terminology for whats really happening: TV Planning and Buying Goes Data-Driven and Audience-Based.

The term programmatic took hold in the television arena because the industry assumed that TV ad buying would evolve just the way its gone in digital media: selling impressions at low cost, via real-time auctions, employing lots of data. But TV cant and wont replicate digital medias course because the two have fundamentally different challenges, he said.

TV And Digital: Different Problems, Different Evolutions

Digital medias problems were hard-to-monetize excess inventory; direct sales inability to operate at the speed required in digital; and the dominance of Facebook and Google, thanks to their overwhelming scale.

In contrast, television has a much better inventory supply/demand balance: At present, theres still higher demand than supply in prime time, which is driving high CPMs. TVs real problem is transaction friction, Nail said: Its still operating in the direct-selling mode, with a lot of manual transactions, which is impeding its ability to respond optimally to digital medias siphoning off of ad dollars. However, given the high value of prime-time TV inventory, in particular, and inventory owners fear that programmatic buying will drive down pricing, its not surprising that it took them so long to even dip a toe in, he said.

There are some opportunities in automation: Local stations might arguably be able to realize higher CPMs on their spots within prime-time programs, or even remnant inventory if aggregation of local buys across the country were streamlined, he said. But the television business, by and large, is still doing very well, which again translates to little motivation to shake things up, Nail said.

Another reason that TV isnt exactly mimicking digital medias course is that the still-small scale of addressable-by-household TV, even in streaming, doesnt yet warrant much of inventory owners focus. In addition, for all of the friction, [inventory owners] still believe that sellers have more control over pricing when theyre operating in the direct selling model, Nail said. Not to mention that the legacy infrastructure used by networks and stations is pre-Internet, and far from capable of handling the real-time data exchanges standard in digital media.

Moreover, much as people like to complain about ratings and Nielsen, nobodys in a hurry to rip them out of the system because of the disruption that would cause in the well-established buying, reconciliation and settlement system that uses ratings as the core currency, Nail added. And again, theres that fear [among inventory owners] that change could lower prices.

He confirmed that the networks approach to the so-called programmatic initiatives being announced is very much geared to ensuring that they fully understand the implications for their business before deciding how broadly to offer these options  and that such transactions will be largely limited to private marketplaces for some time.

For example, he said, prior to this years upfronts, NBCUniversal SVP Aaron Radin told him that for its pilot programs, the network was seeking a limited number of client and agency partners who really want to lean in and learn with us.

Nail also underscored the current lack of automation in television by noting that Joshua Summers, CEO of audience-based TV ad sales platform clypd, recently said that the order files and schedules clypd generates must often be manually loaded into legacy platforms that lack direct integration capabilities.

TVs Eroding Advantages Spurring Audience Buying

Up to now, three advantages have insulated traditional TV advertising from change, Nail pointed out: The ability to deliver audiences at scale at specific times (even as that scale continues to decline); the well-honed legacy planning and buying processes and skills that allow implementation of massive campaigns with a relatively small amount of labor; and the storytelling power of video, once exclusive to TV.

These advantages are, of course, now being eroded by audience fragmentation across media and platforms and time-shifted viewing, as well as the availability of video on all kinds of devices. And its the shrinking scale of traditional linear TV audiences thats driving demand for the ability to buy TV using audience data beyond standard age/gender demographics, he noted.

In short, in television, programmatic is for now primarily going to mean use of a lot more data to identify and reach prospects for specific products and services  a direction being seen in the acquisition of data companies by Nielsen and comScore, among other developments, Nail said.

And automated use of analytics to harness the hugely expanded audience data now available through set-top boxes, alternative viewing platforms, data suppliers and overlays will mostly happen in the planning, rather than buying, process, he stressed. So despite the barriers to automation in implementing buys, data-driven planning tools will have a big impact on the nature of buys going forward.

As one MVPD executive noted, we make the pitch to use the data in a post-campaign analysis. We provide data  on the optimal media exposure and strategy. If they can optimize their linear buys just 10%, it can generate big savings.

Audience-based or index-based buying will enable reaching more prospect households for the same or fewer ad dollars, Nail declares. Thats a huge value to TV buyers  and its not really a big stretch from some of the current processes and ways they think about buying TV, so its much easier to implement than [blowing] up the world [by going] to a fully programmatic system, in the digital media sense.

Entrenched Practices, Fears Among Biggest Hurdles

But even the audience-based buying half of the equation wont happen with a flip of a switch, Nail cautioned. Agencies are still afraid that media companies will jack up pricing if theyre told too much about clients targeting strategies, and media companies still fear that advertisers will try to cherry-pick their inventories without paying more. Ive begun to see some momentum in resolving this, but its going to take some time, Nail said.

Also, advertisers have to learn new audience-definition processes, he emphasized. The idea of the 18-to-49 audience is so engrained that its not so easy to get them to think about how to define audiences more specifically, and then what kind of data can connect them to those audiences.

And while agency media buyers are analytically adept, more advanced data sets and targeting will require new levels of sophistication. Theyll need to super-size their analytical skills, Nail said.

Both digital and television pros will have to learn each others businesses to realize the benefits of advanced television buying, he added. If youre a digital person thinking youre going to take over TV, youve got some [learning and] work to do  and if youre a TV person thinking No one will ever buy TV the way I buy TV, its also time for you to think about what you need to do to upgrade your skills and knowledge.

Remaining roadblocks to evolving TV buying, he noted, include the data standardization needed to enable automated transactions, and the improved inventory forecasting needed to predict granular audience delivery. Nail expects the infrastructure consolidation needed to create a broader planning platform to happen fairly quickly, but entrenched business practices to evolve more slowly.

He quoted a media agency executive who observed that when it comes to programmatic television, were not even in the first inning yet. Were still singing the national anthem.

4Cs Josh Dreller also presented the companys new platform, designed to enable integrating social media intelligence in TV audience buying, in this webinar. More on that in a future column.
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 been published in the Royal Society journal Open Biology. 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 recognised 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.

Article: A role for the p53 tumour suppressor in regulating the balance between homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining, Sylvie Moureau, Janna Luessing, Emma Christina Harte, Muriel Voisin, Noel Francis Lowndes, Open Biology, doi: 10.1098/rsob.160225, published 21 September 2016.
Antibodies are one of the body's first lines of defense against infection, but their role in tuberculosis (TB) has gone largely unstudied. Now, by harnessing a unique technology for rapidly analyzing human antibodies, a team of researchers led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard University has uncovered key differences in antibodies isolated from different groups of TB patients - findings that could spur new diagnostic tools and open a new scientific path towards an effective TB vaccine.

"Our work shatters some long-standing paradigms on TB," explains co-senior author Sarah Fortune, professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard Chan School and director of TB research at the Ragon Institute. "That means we'll need to think differently about how the body develops natural immunity to the infection and how effective vaccines should be engineered."

About a third of the world's population carries the bacteria that cause TB, known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mtb. In 2014, nearly 10 million people worldwide became newly infected with Mtb and 1.5 million died. Although there are drugs that can treat the infection, drug-resistance is a pervasive problem and the most potent tool for long-term TB control - a vaccine - remains an elusive goal.

For decades, scientists have probed the roles of different immune cells in the body, mainly T-cells, in fighting off TB, but relatively little attention has been paid to another key form of immune defense: Y-shaped proteins known as antibodies. Fortune and her colleagues set out to answer a couple simple questions about antibodies in TB: First, are they different in people who are actively sick with TB versus those who can control the infection? If so, do those differences simply reflect disease state or do they play a functional role in shaping the course of TB infection?

Notably, studies of other infectious diseases have recently shown that antibodies exert an array of important functions, via the targets they recognize (using their forked front ends) and the signals they send (through their tails, which can bind to receptors on cells' surfaces). For example, an innovative method for studying antibodies in a comprehensive, unbiased way shed new light on their roles in HIV. The approach, known as systems serology and pioneered by co-senior author Galit Alter and her colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Ragon Institute, provided a powerful tool for probing the biology of TB.

Fortune, Galit, and their colleagues teamed up with clinical researchers Cheryl Day of Emory University and Blanca Restrepo of the University of Texas in Houston, who contributed patient samples collected from two groups of TB patients: those with so-called latent infection, who are able to naturally control TB, and those with active disease, who lack such control. "The real power of this collaboration is that it allowed us to apply cutting-edge immunological tools to TB," said Fortune.

By analyzing antibodies from the two TB patient groups and comparing them to each other, the Ragon-Harvard Chan School team was able to home in on some key differences. Although latently infected patients had lower overall levels of antibodies compared to those with active disease, their antibodies carried distinct molecular modifications - specifically unique sugar groups, called digalactose. On its own, the result has important implications because it could lay the foundation for a rapid diagnostic tool that distinguishes patients with active TB from those without.

But these sugary modifications are more than mere decorations; they also appear to boost the antibodies' power to activate the immune system and propel Mtb-infected cells to kill the bacteria. Although these findings represent an important first step in unlocking the role of antibodies in TB infection, much more work is needed to understand the mechanisms through which these antibodies exert their differential effects.

Even still, the work opens up a tantalizing possibility. "One of the long-standing challenges in generating a TB vaccine is that we don't really know how to build a vaccine that generates a robust T-cell response," explains Fortune. "But now, with our findings suggesting an important role for antibodies, it casts light on a path toward TB vaccine development that is much more straightforward. That's incredibly exciting."

Other Harvard Chan School authors included co-lead authors Lenette L. Lu and Tracy Rosebrock, Constance Martin, and Vivian Leung.
In this free webinar, learn about the rapidly growing cell and gene therapy and vaccine markets. Attendees will get an overview of the manufacturing process for adeno-associated virus (AAV) and how Akron Bio's new facility is designed to address ...
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The stress of going to university can also affect a young person's well-being, as taking on tens of thousands of pounds in debt and the competitive job market can leave students feeling under pressure to gain a high-class degree.Counseling could help student before the concern becomes a crisis. Evidence shows that counseling services are highly effective, but student-to-counselor ratios can be three to four times lower than the required number. Therefore, according to Hepi, those universities spending the least need to increase funding threefold.Nick Hillman, Hepi director, said: "Mental disorders are most common in young adults, just at the age when many people become students. Going to university can be stressful, especially for first-in-family students. Typically, you lose your established support networks, move to a new part of the country and take on large debts. Occasionally, it even ends in tragedy.It is vital that people entering university for the first time know that support is available, that any problems can be shared, and that asking for help is normal.Universities UK's chief executive, Nicola Dandridge, said: "It must be a core part of the offer to students, parents and staff as well as to local and national stakeholders. Student well-being must be at the heart of the university."The report's author, Poppy Brown, a third-year student at Oxford, added: "A majority of students experience low well-being and over one-in-ten have a diagnosable mental illness. The scale of the problem is bigger than ever before.""Yet support is hard to access, universities often underfund their counselling services and the NHS does not recognise how vulnerable students are. We need to tackle these problems." she added.As well as increased spending, the report recommends that students should be allowed to register with one doctor at home and one at university to ensure continuity of care; universities should adopt mental health action plans to improve their service; and all staff who have regular contact with students should be given mental health training.Source: Medindia
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In the study, researchers examined prescription opioid use for 79 patients after dental impaction surgery, and how a small financial incentive and information about a pharmacy-based drug disposal program would affect patients' willingness to properly dispose of unused medications. Researchers also tested the effectiveness of using a text message-based platform to collect data on pain and prescription medication use.During enrollment, participants received a debit card preloaded with $10. Surveys assessing pain levels and medication use were delivered via text message every day for the first week following surgery, and again on days 14 and 21 following surgery. For each survey completed, the participant would receive an addition $3 credit on the debit card (a possible $27 total). Patients who completed a follow-up health interview received an additional $10.Just 24 hours after surgery, patients reported an average pain score of 5 out of 10 while taking pain medication. By the second day, more than half (51 percent) reported a low pain score (0-3 out of 10), and by the fifth day, almost 80 percent had a low pain score.The majority of patients (94 percent) received a prescription for an opioid medication to manage pain, with 82 percent also receiving a prescription-strength nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and 78 percent received a prescription antibiotic. On average, participants who did not have post-surgical complications (93 percent) received prescriptions containing 28 opioid pills, but three weeks following surgery had only used 13, leaving more than 1,000 unused opioid pills. Only five patients used all of the prescribed pills."Results of our study show within five days of surgery, most patients are experiencing relatively little pain, and yet, most still had well over half of their opioid prescription left," said Elliot V. Hersh, DMD, MS, PhD, a professor in the department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Pharmacology at Penn Dental Medicine, and a co-author on the study. "Research shows that prescription-strength NSAIDs, like ibuprofen, combined with acetaminophen, can offer more effective pain relief and fewer adverse effects than opioid-containing medications. While opioids can play a role in acute pain management after surgery, they should only be added in limited quantities for more severe pain."Additional results showed that offering information specific to a drug disposal program led to a 22 percent increase in the number of patients who had either properly disposed of or planned to properly dispose leftover opioids. Patients in the control arm received routine postoperative instructions with a controlled substance information sheet including details about the risks of keeping unused opioids and explained that a study hotline was available for information on drug disposal. Comparatively, participants in the intervention arm received the same instructions along with a one-page overview of a pharmacy-based drug disposal program."Expanding the availability of drug disposal mechanisms to community locations that patients regularly visit - such as grocery stores and retail pharmacies - may substantially increase the use of these programs," Maughan said. "By providing a one-page information sheet coupled with a small financial incentive patients were significantly more interested in proper disposal of unused opioid pills. The results suggest that future trials might also use similar low-intensity and low-cost interventions to reduce the misuse of opioid medications."Other co-authors on the study include Lee R. Carrasco from the department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Pharmacology at Penn Dental Medicine, Frances S. Shofer, Kathryn J. Wanner, and Elizabeth Archer from the department of Emergency Medicine at Penn Medicine, and Karin V. Rhodes from the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine.Source: Newswise
Pregnancy is an extremely sensitive and delicate phase in a womans life requiring utmost care and attention. While numerous medical conditions can affect the mother during pregnancy, conditions like epilepsy and hypertension can prove to be fatal for both the mother and the baby if not immediately attended to by an expert healthcare professional.

Heres a complete review of why epilepsy during pregnancy happens and how it can be treated.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder where there is a disturbance in the nerve cell activity of the brain causing convulsions or seizures and loss of consciousness, along with abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The hallmark of this disease is its recurrence and chronic nature.

Seizures can affect ones daily life including work, and personal relationships. They can originate after a brain injury, stroke, Alzheimers disease or due to a familial tendency, though often the cause is idiopathic i.e. unknown. Almost 65 million people around the globe are affected by epilepsy, of which 6 out of 10 have epilepsy due to an unknown cause.

Treatment options are plenty once an accurate diagnosis is made. Drugs form the mainstay of treatment followed by other methods. There is no permanent cure; however, the intensity, severity and complications of this neurological disorder can be effectively managed with medical supervision.

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The combination of epilepsy and pregnancy is extremely risky; however, most women who have epilepsy during pregnancy can deliver healthy babies just like a normal pregnancy. Epilepsy or seizures are a common occurrence in women of the reproductive age affecting approximately 600,000 people in the UK.

Since pregnancy itself is an emotional and physical change, the added stress can lead to an aggravation of episodes of seizure in these women. The concern is the increased risk of fetal malformations, miscarriage i.e. abortion and perinatal death.

Pregnancy itself does not lead to seizures. Usually, women who already have had seizures prior to pregnancy have repeated episodes. This may be because drugs do not work optimally during pregnancy and the woman might need higher dosages. Also, women who have severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy may end up vomiting all the medicines. Occasionally, some women have convulsions for the first time during pregnancy.

Factors such as hormonal changes, water retention and stress are known triggers for seizures.

Labor can increase stress in a woman affecting overall health. Other contributing factors which can trigger a seizure include:

Hyperventilation (rapid or deep breathing)

Missed medications

Sleep deprivation

Convulsions during pregnancy pose a risk to both the mother and the child. The severity of the risk depends on the type of seizure - partial or generalized.

Partial seizures carry lesser risk in comparison to generalized seizures; however, partial seizure can lead to generalized seizures.

Risks associated with seizure disorder during pregnancy are:

Trauma due to fall

Increased tendency for premature labor

Miscarriage

Decreased heart rate of fetus

Preterm birth

There are some risks associated with anti-epileptic medications too and include birth defects or deformities. The most common malformations include cleft lip and cleft palate, neural tube defects, spina bifida and heart abnormalities. However, the risks associated with seizures during pregnancy are much higher than risks due to usage of anti-epileptic medications.

Seizures can either be partial or generalized type. Generalized seizures affect both the parts of the brain. They thereby affect the whole body leading to loss of consciousness and falling down while having an episode. Partial seizures affect only a small part of the brain and produce symptoms in the body part which is controlled by the affected brain area. Differentiation between both types of seizures is important as treatment for both is different.

In addition to convulsions, other symptoms include:

Headache

Changes in the mood

Fainting and falling down

Confusion and dizziness

Memory loss

Tongue biting

Absent and repeated blinking of eyes, licking lips in absence seizures

Nausea and vomiting

Both epilepsy and its medications affect the mother and the developing fetus during the entire period of gestation. While most women have a successful pregnancy, there are certain risks associated with epilepsy during pregnancy. These include:

Hypertension

Stillbirth

Generalized seizures associated with loss of consciousness and violent jerky movements can lead to trauma or fall, or a reduced oxygen supply to fetus, which could lead to preterm labor or birth

Small baby

Neural tube defects

Reduced absorption of vitamin D in the body leading to lowered levels of vitamin D

Severe bleeding in the newborn baby due to low levels of vitamin K

Babies can show withdrawal symptoms following birth due to the sudden stoppage of exposure of anti-epileptics from the mother during pregnancy

Breastfed babies may have sleeping issues and may feel sleepy or drowsy. However, the advantages of breast feeding outweigh the side effects of anti-epileptics

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The key to a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby are timely monitoring and management which not only includes prenatal care, but also post-natal care.

Women with seizure disorders must visit their doctor more often during pregnancy. Medications given to prevent seizures will be strictly monitored to avoid any unnecessary complication or side effects. The least possible medicines in their smallest doses are prescribed and it is always recommended not to discontinue them unless specified by your healthcare provider.

About 2-3% of pregnancies may develop fetal malformations due to the use of anti-epileptic medications. A careful evaluation needs to be done before the woman plans her pregnancy to choose the right drug for every patient. Valproic acid and lamotrigine are highly effective drugs in epilepsy.

However, valproate used during first 28 days of pregnancy carries a risk of 1-2% of congenital malformations in the baby. Studies show that children of women who have taken valproic acid during pregnancy have a lower IQ or have an increased risk of developing autism. Single drug therapy is a safer option for treatment. The newer drugs available are better tolerated and are much safer during pregnancy.

Your obstetrician will discuss the entire plan for your care during pregnancy. If required, a neurologist will also be included for your routine checkups. Ultrasound scans need to be performed more often to monitor development of your baby. Blood tests must be done to monitor levels of anti-epileptics in the blood. Genetic counseling should be done to understand the risk of your baby inheriting epilepsy.

If you are on anti-epileptics, it is recommended to take 5 milligrams of folic acid every day. Preconception folic acid is also advised for women who have epilepsy and are trying to conceive.

The risk of seizures during labor is very low; however, it is recommended to plan your babys birth in a well-equipped maternity unit hospital. Vitamin K injection will be given to your baby immediately after birth.

Avoid smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and excess caffeine intake during pregnancy.

There is no reason not to breastfeed the baby, unless specified by your consultant. However, it is best to discuss the benefits of nursing with your doctor while on anti-convulsants.
During a recent visit to Venezuela to attend the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, Palestinian President Mahmoud 'Abbas met with representatives of the Palestinian community in the country and with Palestinian students. The meeting, held on September 17, 2016, dealt with the situation in the Middle East. Addressing the issue of the Palestinian refugees, 'Abbas said that he too is a refugee who has the right of return. "It is true that I live in Ramallah, but Ramallah is not my city," he said. "I have not returned [to my native city] and I am entitled to demand my right to return [there]." The next day, he made a similar statement about the refugees' right "to return to their homes" on his Twitter page. In the September 17 meeting, 'Abbas also spoke of the need for reconciliation with Hamas. Referring to the recent spate of Palestinian attacks on Israelis, he said that Palestinian children who have lost hope are taking up knives to carry out stabbing attacks.

The following are excerpts from his statements at this meeting.



'Abbas in Venezuela (image: Maannews.net, September 18, 2016)

"I Am A Refugee And I Have The Right To Return"

Addressing the issue of negotiations with Israel, 'Abbas said that, although the channels of negotiation are currently closed, "our hand is nevertheless extended in peace, [a peace] based on the two-state solution on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the [Palestinian] capital, and [based on] resolving the outstanding problems, including the problem of the refugees." He added: "There are six million [Palestinian] refugees, and I am one of them. I am a refugee. It is true that I live in Ramallah, but Ramallah is not my city. I have not returned [to my native city] and I am entitled to demand my right [of return], for I am a refugee who lost his land and his homeland. This is one of the problems that must be resolved in negotiations with Israel."[1]

The next day, 'Abbas's Twitter page posted the following message from him: "President Mahmoud 'Abbas: There are six million Palestinian refugees who are waiting to receive what they are entitled to, [waiting] to be allowed to return to their homes in accordance with UN Resolution 194."[2]



'Abbas's tweet

On The Stabbing Attacks: Children Are Taking Up Knives Of Their Own Volition To Carry Out Stabbings

'Abbas went on to say that "the situation in Palestine is characterized by many difficulties, but also by daily achievements. Every day there are martyrs and children who take up knives. Children are taking up knives of their own volition. Do not believe those who say that certain elements are pushing and inciting them. These are children who have lost hope and are taking up knives to carry out stabbing attacks."[3]

There Is Need For Reconciliation With Hamas

On the topic of Hamas, he said: "There is need to achieve national reconciliation, for without Gaza there is no homeland; the homeland is Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem." He added: "We have a disagreement with Hamas but [Hamas] is part of the Palestinian people. We have disagreements, but we live together. We disagree on politics and ideologies, but we live in the same state and want to live in coexistence in this state. It is democracy and elections that will decide between us."[4]

Endnotes:
If you thought there was no hope left for Bollywood to compete with international cinema, well, a Tamil film is making the country really proud right now. Visaranai, a Tamil film, has been selected as Indias official entry to Oscars 2017 under the Best Feature Film In A Foreign Language Category and here are 8 things you must know about this film everyones talking about!

1. The film revolves around how corruption and brutality of the police force could potentially ruin a common mans life.

2. Visaranai is based on a novel written by M Chandrakumar, an autorickshaw driver who is fondly known as Auto Chandran.

3. Filmmaker Vetrimaran was so touched by the story and the message it conveyed about corruption and injustice that he decided to take it up as a film project.

4. It became the first Tamil film in 72 years to compete at the Venice International Film Festival. The film received rave reviews, even a standing ovation. It was also honoured with Cinema For Human Rights award.

 Grass Root Film Company

5. The film has also bagged three National Awards, best Tamil feature film, best editing and best supporting actor.

6. The story is inspired by the life of Chandran who was brutally harassed in a prison in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh in 1983.

7. Dhanush may have played the lead role in the film but because of pre-scheduled projects he was unable to commit his time to the film. He did, however, end up producing the film.

8. Visaranai competed with 29 films to make it to Oscars 2017!

 Grass Root Film Company
In a bizarre incident, a 35-year-old man died after he was allegedly bitten by his wife for not allowing her to visit her parents living in Fatehpur district.

The incident came to light after the man's mother lodged an FIR against her daughter-in-law with the local police on Thursday.

According to reports, Arvind lived with his wife Gomti Devi, their two children and his mother Gulabi Devi in Pahadipur village under the limits of Bakewar police station of the district. Furious over not allowing Gomti to go to her parent's house, she bit Arvind on his neck, his chest and his stomach causing deep wounds. He was rushed to the district hospital where he bled to death during treatment.

According to sources, on Wednesday night, their neighbours heard loud shrieks from Arvind's house and rushed there, but Arvind's wife Gomti and her two children refused to open the doors. Later, Gulabi, somehow alerted the neighbours. When they broke the door they found Arvind lying in a pool of blood with grievous injuries around his neck and other body parts.

(This article was originally published in The Times Of India)
In a surprise move, Russia has sent its troops to Pakistan to participate in the joint military exercise Druzbha 2016. This is being seen as a big blow to Indias diplomatic efforts following the Uri attacks, especially because earlier reports had suggested that Russia had decided to cancel the drills.

#BREAKING | Russia calls off joint military drills with Pakistan  News18 (@CNNnews18) September 19, 2016

Lt General Asim Bajwa, director general, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan, shared the news via Twitter, A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016.

A contingent of Russian ground forces arrived Pak for 1st ever Pak- Russian joint exercise (2 weeks) from 24 Sep to 10 Oct 2016 pic.twitter.com/eWzQMlENL6  Gen Asim Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) September 23, 2016

While Indias relations with Russia have been steady for the past few decades, this decision of Russia is being seen as a tit-for-tat move after Narendra Modi decided to take his relationship with the US to the next level, meeting Obama seven times in less than two years.

 Twitter

The Military Exercise will take place at an unknown location in PoK, as per the reports, from September 24 to October 10. It must be noted that Russia had been one of the most vocal voices after the Uri attacks, even naming Pakistan in connection with the cowardly act. Vikas Swarup, the Indian MEA spokesperson, had shared this message from Russia following the Uri attacks:

In view of the attack in the Indian air base at Pathankot in January this year, we note with concern the resurgence of terrorist attacks near Line of control. It is alarming, and according to New Delhi, the attack on military unit near the town of Uri was committed from the territory of Pakistan.

This change in Russias policy with regards to Pakistan will be of great consequence for South-East Asia, which is facing a new form of state-sponsored terrorism from the Pakistani state. It will be interesting to see Indias response to the joint military exercise as the story is still developing.
Some companies are going all out to make their employees happy this Diwali. From limousine service and chopper rides to wine tasting and skydiving, these companies are gifting dream experiences to their employees! Yes, no kidding, those are the kind of Diwali gifts some lucky employees are gonna get this Diwali. Firms like Flipkart, Amazon (dont mind the strict work culture), Larsen & Toubro, InMobi and a few others are the ones that will have the happiest faces this Diwali.

 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Emotional Satisfaction Over Material Gifts

Bosses and CEOS are realizing the importance of gifting experiences rather than material gifts. They say an experience has a far greater impact on you than a material gift, which youd either use up or put away for use later, or even pass on to someone else. And boy, they make sense.

 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Siddharth Reddy, CEO of BI Worldwide (a Chennai-based firm) said, Companies have understood that the rewards efficacy is measured by creating lifetime memories, which have a high re-consumption value every time that memory is shared or recalled, against cash incentives that are short term.

And What Do The Companies Get From This?

Loyalty, of course! And better performance. When companies reward employees in terms of emotional experiences, it automatically works towards making the employee more attached and thankful to the firm. Every time the employee would see the pictures, he/she would recall his ex-employer... Its a deal to win a great performer for life, said Kevin Freitas, HR leader at InMobi as quoted by HT.

InMobi, a mobile advertising firm, has on its list customised vactions to Europe, Bali and even a beer festival holiday in Berlin. And no ones complaining! Thats not all  Larsen & Toubro will be showering its employees with gifts including skydiving, treehouse stays, vineyard tours and others.

 Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Luxury experiences like these are not something a middle class or even an upper middle class person would buy on his/her own. Too busy in fulfilling the needs of the family and taking them on budget vacations, a luxury experience like a chopper ride would never make it to our list of to-dos. But when your company decides to make your dreams come true, theres no way you are leaving it ever.

Okay bye, gotta accidentally mail this piece of news to boss.
Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias met today, Thursday September 22, with representatives of Jewish organisations based in the United States, i.e. the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the American Jewish Committee, Bnai Brith International, the World Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry and the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee.



At the meeting, which was held in a very good climate, the strategic relationship between Greece and Israel, the cooperation between the Greek and the Jewish Diaspora, as well as security issues concerning the wider Middle East were discussed.

The Minister elaborated on the unambiguous stance of Greece vis-a-vis all types of anti-Semitism and measures the country has taken to honour the memory of Greek Jews and their contribution to the Greek society.
Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail.

Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories.

The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name.

Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022.

Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG).

The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients.
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.
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.
Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management. The Consumer Banking and Lending segment offers diversified financial products and services for consumers and small businesses. Its financial products and services include checking and savings accounts, and credit and debit cards, as well as home, auto, personal, and small business lending services. The Commercial Banking segment provides financial solutions to private, family owned, and certain public companies. Its products and services include banking and credit products across various industry sectors and municipalities, secured lending and lease products, and treasury management services. The Corporate and Investment Banking segment offers a suite of capital markets, banking, and financial products and services to corporate, commercial real estate, government, and institutional clients. Its products and services comprise corporate banking, investment banking, treasury management, commercial real estate lending and servicing, equity, and fixed income solutions, as well as sales, trading, and research capabilities services. The Wealth and Investment Management segment provides personalized wealth management, brokerage, financial planning, lending, private banking, and trust and fiduciary products and services to affluent, high-net worth, and ultra-high-net worth clients. It also operates through financial advisors. Wells Fargo & Company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services. This segment serves consumer and small business customers through a network of branches, ATMs, call centers, and online and mobile banking channels. Its Corporate & Institutional Banking segment provides secured and unsecured loans, letters of credit, and equipment leases; cash and investment management services, receivables and disbursement management services, funds transfer services, international payment services, and access to online/mobile information management and reporting; foreign exchange, derivatives, fixed income, securities underwriting, loan syndications, and mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets advisory related services; and commercial loan servicing and technology solutions. It serves mid-sized and large corporations, and government and not-for-profit entities. The company's Asset Management Group segment offers investment and retirement planning, customized investment management, credit and cash management solutions, and trust management and administration services for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, and their families; and multi-generational family planning services for ultra high net worth individuals and their families. It also provides outsourced chief investment officer, custody, private real estate, cash and fixed income client solutions, and fiduciary retirement advisory services for institutional clients. The company has 2,591 branches and 9,502 ATMs. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. The Chemicals segment produces and markets ethylene and other olefin products; aromatics and styrenics products, such as benzene, cyclohexane, styrene, and polystyrene; and various specialty chemical products, including organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalysts, and chemicals used in drilling and mining. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks into petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, aviation, and renewable fuels at 12 refineries in the United States and Europe. The M&S segment purchases for resale and markets refined petroleum products, including gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels primarily in the United States and Europe. This segment also manufactures and markets specialty products, such as base oils and lubricants. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Winnebago Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells recreation vehicles and marine products primarily for use in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The company operates in six segments: Grand Design Towables, Winnebago Towables, Winnebago Motorhomes, Newmar motorhomes, Chris-Craft Marine, and Winnebago Specialty Vehicles. It provides towable products that are non-motorized vehicles to be towed by automobiles, pickup trucks, SUVs, or vans for use as temporary living quarters for recreational travel, such as conventional travel trailers, fifth wheels, folding camper trailers, and truck campers under the Winnebago and Grand Design brand names. The company also offers motorhomes, which are self-propelled mobile dwellings used primarily as temporary living quarters during vacation and camping trips, or to support active and mobile lifestyles under the Winnebago and Newmar brand names. In addition, it offers other specialty commercial vehicles for law enforcement command centers, mobile medical clinics, and mobile office spaces; commercial vehicles as bare shells to third-party up fitters; and boats in the recreational powerboat industry under the Chris-Craft and Barletta brand names. Further, the company is involved in the original equipment manufacturing of parts for other manufacturers and commercial vehicles. The company sells its products primarily through independent dealers in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Winnebago Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 1958 and is based in Forest City, Iowa.
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.
An airman was found unresponsive Friday at San Luis Beach, Guam, and later pronounced dead at Naval Hospital Guam, according to an Air Force release.

The active-duty airman, unidentified pending next-of-kin notification, was temporarily assigned to Andersen Air Force Base, the release said. San Luis Beach is located on the U.S. naval station on the island.

The Air Force said the airman's death is under investigation.

"It is the worst kind of tragedy when we lose a member of our Air Force family," said Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox, 36th Wing commander, in the statement. "Our condolences are with the immediate family and everyone affected by this loss."

Exercise Valiant Shield 16, a large-scale war game in the Pacific, was ongoing all week throughout Guam and off its coast. The exercise, which included 18,000 personnel and more than 180 aircraft from the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, concluded Friday.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@Oriana0214.
The commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force in the Pacific ordered a squadron of AV-8B Harrier aircraft to stop operations temporarily after one of the jump jets crashed off Okinawa on Thursday.

The pilot ejected safely with injuries requiring brief hospitalization, but the aircraft -- attached to Marine Attack Squadron 542 out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, and deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit -- was destroyed.

It's not clear what caused the crash, and the incident remains under investigation.The name of the pilot has not been released.

III MEF officials announced Friday that Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson had ordered a "temporary operational pause" for Harriers assigned to the command in the wake of the mishap. Currently, VMA-542 is the only Harrier squadron operating under III MEF. The announcement did not make clear how long the pause will last, or whether squadron leaders have discretion in when they can observe the pause.

Thursday's crash was the third major Harrier mishap in just seven months for the Marine Corps.

In March, a Harrier from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) and deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge in the Arabian gulf caught fire on the deck of the ship upon takeoff. The pilot was able to egress safely and the fire was extinguished, but the incident caused at least $2 million in damage to the aircraft.

And in May, another Harrier attached to VMA-542 crashed off the East Coast. The pilot ejected, but the aircraft was lost.

The causes of the two previous crashes have yet to be released.

The Harrier, which entered service for the Marine Corps in 1985, is set to be replaced by the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter as new squadrons activate over the next decade.

The aging platform was the first to be chosen for an independent readiness review by the Corps' deputy commandant for aviation, Lt. Gen. Jon Davis, Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns told Military.com in a statement.

Launched in August 2014 and wrapped up in December 2015, the review identified key "degraders" or parts especially vulnerable to age and stress, and improved the supply chain for these parts, Burns said.

Officials also established a target of 66 ready basic aircraft as the fleet goal and benchmark for readiness.

As of July 31, Marine Harrier squadrons have an average of 9.4 ready basic aircraft out of the goal of 11 per squadron, and pilot flight hours, hit by limits on available aircraft, are at 13 out of the 15.4 average hour goal, Burns said. These numbers represent a 26 percent increase in pilot hours per month and a 23 percent increase in squadron ready aircraft since 2014, she said.

This Harrier operational pause is the second in as many months for Marine Corps aviation. In August, Davis ordered that all F/A-18 Hornet squadrons undergo a 24-hour operational pause, taken over the course of a week, following a series of three Hornet crashes in the span of 12 months.

Commandant Gen. Robert Neller would later tell Military.com the pause was designed to address smaller-scale ground mishaps.

"We're working really hard on aviation, because we've dug ourselves a deep hole," Neller said in a brief interview. "We're digging ourselves out. It's not going to happen overnight. It's going to happen if we get consistent, stable funding of parts and sustainment, and we get new airplanes."

-- Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct Lt. Gen. Nicholson's job title.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
Despite an ongoing investigation into the U-2 crash in California on Tuesday, the U.S. military is still flying the high-altitude spy plane in missions, officials said.

"Flying operations worldwide for the U-2 Dragon Lady have not been impacted as a result of a recent crash here on September 20, 2016," Beale Air Force Base posted on its official Facebook page.

"As a result of the crash, Beale put a hold on flying training missions locally in order to respond to the incident," it added. "The 9th Reconnaissance Wing intends to return to normal flying operations locally this week."

The plane, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, went down at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday near the Sutter Buttes mountain range.

One U.S. Air Force pilot was killed, and another was injured. The installation on Wednesday identified the deceased pilot as Lt. Col. Ira S. Eadie, assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron.

The second pilot, who remains unidentified, was injured in the accident, but sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to the statement.

"Our ability to fly missions in support of commanders has not been impacted by the recent crash," Col. Larry Broadwell, 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander, said in a statement. "We continue to carry out our mission of providing high altitude [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] and delivering that decision advantage to combatant commanders."

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 last fatal U-2 crash occurred in 2005 in the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
As you look at your post-military career, you will likely feel overwhelmed by the choices, opportunities, industries, and companies you can now choose from. It will feel natural to limit your perspective on companies, as a way to manage all the choices you face. Unlike in the military, your civilian career will not follow as predictable a path, and you might find yourself making lateral moves, or even moving backwards, in able to advance your livelihood.

Look Past the Product

A common mistake transitioning service members make when looking at potential employers is judging the company by their lead product. Does Verizon do more than make cell phones? Does Raytheon make more than missile defense systems? Does Goldman Sachs do more than invest in stocks? Does Starbucks just sell coffee? Of course they do! Each of these companies, like other businesses, has many layers of career opportunities to offer.

I recently spoke to a soldier getting ready to join the civilian workforce. He was concerned about being able to stay in the community and town he loved, because there werent many jobs available for someone like me, he said. I asked what that meant, and he told me that his specialty was human performance and organizational management. All we have are manufacturing companies in my town.

What Can a Company Offer You?

I asked him to name a company in his area. He picked one. Then, we looked on the company website and found all of these teams and departments inside that one company:

Human Resources

Marketing

Design

Logistics

Supply Chain

Finance

Corporate Communications

Training

Research and Development

Facilities Management

Real Estate

Shipping & Receiving

Information Technology

Veteran Resources Network

Sales

The companies you will talk to in your transition will likely meet you through one channel -- maybe you apply for a job in Supply Chain, or perhaps you meet the Marketing Director at a reception, or maybe your friend works in Human Resources. Instead of projecting a narrow view of the company and what they can offer, consider all the facets that make a business run and where you might fit in.

Start With Your Talents and Interests

Consider your military training, skills, talents and interests. Your career in Human Performance in the military might suit you well in Human Resources, Leadership and Development, Branding, Marketing, or even Sales, if you remain open minded.

Consider Working with Veterans

Are you passionate about working with service members leaving the military? Many companies have veteran hiring initiatives (and resource groups) that could benefit from your perspective and experience. Perhaps your skills in finance or logistics, combined with your passion to serve military veterans, could make you a great candidate for an opportunity within a company learning how to hire veterans.
Dan Gilbert isn't done with Detroit.

Bedrock Detroit, his commercial real estate arm, already manages 80 acquired properties in the city - giving it control of 14 million square feet of space in Michigan's largest central business district.

Beyond that, the company - now at 435 employees - also manages numerous parking facilities, including 6 surface lots downtown.

Those totals include neither the Greektown Casino, which is a Bedrock affiliate, nor acquisitions in Cleveland, where Gilbert owns the Cavaliers.

But despite Bedrock's $2.2 billion worth of investments taking place since 2011 and the extreme amount of work to restore many of the buildings, the company created by Quicken Loans chairman and founder Gilbert continues to pursue projects that are remaking the core of Detroit, said John Olszewski, vice president of construction.

"We're very proud of what's going on," Olszewski said Thursday during a presentation at the Washtenaw Contractors Meeting in Ann Arbor.

The pace of building acquisition and, more recently construction, keeps the team busy, he said.

And the activity by other developers spurred in part by Bedrock's renovations and leases downtown means that new opportunities along Woodward from Jefferson to Grand Circus Park are rare.

"As the momentum builds, there's less and less to look at," he said of opportunities from downtown to Midtown.

Yet, without getting specific, Olszewski gave some hints at what's next.

Upcoming projects include:

* Plans for 2 new parking decks. "Our 17,000 parking spaces aren't enough," said Olszewski.

* More new construction. "We're looking at taking down smaller (properties) and building," he said.

* More acquisitions. "We have several projects in due diligence that I can't talk about right now."

* And one major project located downtown. No hints, from Olszewski, who reiterated after the presentation that it was still in progress. "Our next project will be large and long," he said.

Some of the projects may extend north beyond the Q Line, the streetcar system nearing completion along Woodward through Midtown, Olszewski indicated. And a big void in the market is large-floor office space, he added.

Bedrock's pipeline of projects will stay active for 6-10 more years, Olszewski said. That will keep local construction trades busy for at least a decade.

The conversation didn't turn to investment metrics or rates of return. The Bedrock culture is guided by principles of pursuing creativity and "doing the right thing," Olszewski said.

"Numbers and money follow."

To that end, he said, the Bedrock acquisitions aren't just about buildings. That's part of it, along with historic preservation and detailed restoration, since many fell into near-catastrophic disrepair over the past two decades.

"It's also about activating alleys and placemaking," he said, noting how the Bedrock properties have active cultural, civic and art components.

Bedrock investments are not the only ones in Midtown and Downtown, Olszewski stressed. "We're not the only people there."

But as opportunity fades among the new ownership and construction, the experience in the city is changing, and that's important to Bedrock, Olszewski said. Bike lanes, wider sidewalks, deliberately chosen retail and green space all are helping to "fill in" the city between major projects.

That all makes the city attractive to new residents, and new commercial tenants.

"We have a plan," he said. "We want unique, destination firms and businesses."
JohnBursch1.JPG

John Bursch, the lawyer hired by Tesla Motors to challenge Michigan's ban on direct sales to consumers by automakers, is a sole practitioner. His office is now in a strip mall tucked behind a McDonald's along M-37 on the outskirts of Caledonia, a bedroom suburb in southeast Kent County.

(File photo | Mlive Media Group)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - John L. Bursch, the lawyer hired by Tesla Motors to challenge Michigan's ban on direct sales to consumers by automakers, has two ordinary Hondas parked in his garage.

Bursch operates as a sole practitioner from an office in a strip mall tucked behind a McDonald's along M-37 on the outskirts of Caledonia, a bedroom suburb in southeast Kent County.

He's also not big on fancy luxury cars like the Tesla, whose prices start at $72,700. According to state records, the only vehicles registered in his name are a 2006 Odyssey minivan and a 2009 Accord sedan.

But don't mistake Bursch's humble office and ordinary choice of personal vehicles for a lack of legal horsepower.

He's a former Michigan solicitor general who recently left a partnership with Warner Norcross & Judd, a 120-member law firm based in downtown Grand Rapids.

He's argued before the U.S. Supreme Court nine times, most recently on behalf of Michigan's ban on same-sex marriages. He's scheduled to argue before the high court in November in a trademark case involving cheerleader uniforms.

"It will be the smallest town in America with a Supreme Court practice," Bursch told The National Law Journal, which took note of his move in an article on Aug. 22.

The 44-year-old father of five who favors wearing bow-ties has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court nine times in the past six years as Michigan's Solicitor General and a Warner Norcross partner.

In 2013, The Wall Street Journal estimated Bursch was involved in 30 percent of the case identified as the "biggest" of court's last term.

Bursch told the National Law Journal he left Warner Norcross after the same-sex case, in which he was one of two lawyers who argued unsuccessfully that right to define marriages should be left to the state.

After Warner Norcross initially refused to take the case, a majority of the firm's 120 members voted to allow Bursch to work independently on the case for State Attorney General Bill Schuette.

"It's one of those issues where I think there are strong emotions on both sides. With over 7,000 active clients and almost 500 people at the firm, we've got people on both sides of the issue," Bursch told the National Law Journal.

Earlier this month, Bursch became involved in Schuette's unsuccessful attempt to block straight-ticket voting. He filed a brief on behalf of State Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof and House Speaker Kevin Cotter, defending the ban passed by their two chambers earlier this year.

The Supreme Court declined to take up the case, meaning voters will be allowed to cast straight-ticket votes in the November presidential election.

In the Tesla case filed Thursday, Sept. 23, Bursch takes on the state officials and state laws he once defended by challenging the state's law that bars auto manufacturers from holding dealership licenses.

In a 24-page complaint filed in Grand Rapids-based U.S. District Court, Bursch argues the state's "unwillingness to give Tesla its owner dealership license is unconstitutional by impeding the flow into Michigan of vehicles manufactured and purchased outside of the state."

The state ban "prevents Tesla from servicing a vehicle located in Michigan, even when the consumer purchased that vehicle entirely outside the state, thus creating a severe disincentive for Michigan residents to purchase Tesla vehicles outside of the state," Bursch argued.

Bursch declined to comment on the Tesla case, referring all inquiries to Tesla's public relations department.
chadcarr.jpg

Senate Resolution 209 and House Resolution 348 have declared Sept. 26, 2016, as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Awareness Day in the state of Michigan, in honor of Chad. Photo provided l ChadTough Foundation

(ChadTough Foundation)

LANSING, MI -- During his short time on earth, Chad Carr made people laugh to the point of tears and left a smile on countless faces he encountered -- even while battling Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, or DIPG.

The rare form of pediatric cancer eventually took Carr's life prematurely at age 5, but not before he raised awareness about the disease across the globe with the story of his courageous battle.

As the Carr family prepares to spend what would have been Chad's sixth birthday on Monday, Sept. 26, without him, his memory has been recognized in Lansing. On Thursday, Sept. 22, Jason, Tammi, CJ, Tommy and other members of the Carr and Curtis families were in Lansing to support resolutions honoring Chad Carr.

Senate Resolution 209 and House Resolution 348 have declared Sept. 26, 2016, as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Awareness Day in the state of Michigan, in honor of Chad Carr.

State Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) and state Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) introduced the resolutions on Wednesday and Thursday. Warren also offered Senate Concurrent Resolution 31 to urge the U.S. Congress and the state of Michigan to increase funding for DIPG research. Both resolutions, and the Senate Concurrent Resolution, were passed.

"I was proud to offer resolutions to honor Chad Carr, who showed remarkable courage and tenacity in his fight against DIPG, and to urge an increase in the resources dedicated to fighting this terrible disease," Warren said in a press release. "While the past few decades have seen tremendous progress in treatments for most pediatric cancers, there are still few options for DIPG. The work that the Carr family has done through the ChadTough Foundation is supporting the kind of research that will make a difference in the pursuit of a cure, and I look forward to seeing more federal and state research dollars dedicated to the same cause."

In September 2014, Chad Carr was diagnosed with DIPG, a fatal form of brain cancer affecting 200 to 400 school-aged children in the U.S each year. Chad succumbed to his illness on Nov. 23, 2015, at the age of 5. Chad's parents, Tammi and Jason Carr, founded the ChadTough Foundation to spread awareness and raise money to support research into DIPG and other pediatric brain tumors. The foundation has raised more than $1 million since.

This weekend's RunTough for ChadTough event on Saturday, Sept. 24, will stand as the family and community's celebration of Chad's birthday as they honor his legacy and celebrate the joy he brought to all that he encountered.

The event currently has 1,789 registered participants and has exceeded its fundraising goal of $50,000 with the total at $69,577 and counting.

"Our family is grateful that the state of Michigan is recognizing DIPG awareness day," Tammi Carr said. "This is about more than just our beautiful son Chad. It is about all of the children who have fought DIPG and all of those families to come who will receive that terrible diagnosis. They deserve better, and we will work side-by-side to make sure that research is moved forward."
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.
The Ministry of Electricity and Energy will announce the winners of a tender to build a 300-megawatt power plant in Yangon next week, ministry officials said.





The tender was issued in July for a five-year contract to supply 300MW of power to Yangon each day  the governments first tender after taking office in April.

Of the six tender applications only three were in compliance with the requirements, according to government officials.

One is from a consortium of China ITS, China Energy Engineering Corporation, Hunan Electric Power Design Institute, China Construction Eighth Engineering Division, Guangzhou Diesel Factory, and Khin Maung Nyunt Trading.

The second consortium consists of local firms National Infrastructure Holdings, and MCM Pacific, and US companies APR Energy and Ace Resources Group.

The third application came from Karpowership Asia Company.

U Soe Myint, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Electricity and Energys office, told The Myanmar Times that the winner would be announced next week.

Demand for electricity from Myanmars largest city is rising fast  from 1050MW in 2015 to 1250MW in 2016 according to Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation.





The government is hoping that the new plant will help prevent frequent power outages.

Translation by Win Thaw Tar
The Yangon Region government will call a tender before the end of this month for private companies interested in providing river transport services, U Maung Aung, secretary of the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA), said.





The regional governments chief minister U Phyo Min Thein announced a transport reform initiative covering roads, railways and waterways in July. The bolstering of river transport services is designed to reduce transportation costs and traffic jams on roads, said U Maung Aung.

YRTA will call a tender to provide a waterway express and taxi service to carry cargo and commuters. The transport authority will also work to upgrade port services, U Maung Aung added. The transport body is planning to start water express transport services on the Hlaing and Yangon rivers, and Nag Moe Yeik creek.

We hope to start the service in October and so well call the tender this month, he said, adding that local and international firms would be able to collaborate to apply.

State-owned Inland Water Transport (IWT)  which operates under the Ministry of Transport and Communications  will be in charge of issuing a licence to operate the express system, and making sure safety regulations are met, he told The Myanmar Times previously.

The government is also planning to reform the loss-making IWT, which has long held a monopoly on waterway transport  in earlier years an import source of movement for passengers and freight.

The Yangon administration is hoping that waterways can once again become a key transport route for cargo ships and container barges, said IWT managing director U Zaw Win.

We will arrange to carry cargo on special container barges directly to industrial zones, he said. By doing so, well also help reduce traffic jams. The Yangon Region government will handle the commuter express and taxi service, but well cooperate if needed.





According to a five-year business plan drawn up by the government, IWT will construct three container barges a year.
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.

Alex's 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 UN. "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 UN, 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.
The government is planning to open Myanmars struggling insurance industry to foreign firms early next year and free local players from an array of restrictions  part of a coordinated push to speed up liberalisation in a sector crucial to economic development, a senior government official told The Myanmar Times.





Were going to speed up liberalisation, meaning we are going to allow foreign players, said U Thant Zin, an official in the Financial Regulation Department under the Ministry of Finance and Planning. At the same time the government will remove restrictions on local firms that force them to offer the same  often unpopular  products at the same prices.

Efforts to create an efficient insurance market that can provide citizens with more economic security began under the previous government. That administration broke state-owned Myanma Insurances decades-long monopoly in 2012, allowed private companies to enter the market the following year and announced foreign firms would be allowed to compete in 2015.

Over 20 foreign companies subsequently opened representative offices, but they are still waiting for the chance to do business. And Myanma Insurances monopoly was replaced by an oligopoly of 12 local companies that can only compete on customer service, U Thant Zin said.

Work has already begun on a liberalisation roadmap that aims to address these issues, and that needs to be presented to the government in December, U Thant Zin said. But there are many more challenges facing the nascent insurance sector.

An American Chamber of Commerce White Paper published in July noted that in addition to product restrictions, there is a shortage of experienced professionals, IT systems and no set standards on what volume of cash reserves are required for different insurance policies.

These numerous systemic weaknesses leave the entire system vulnerable to collapse, the paper said.





The US business body noted that allowing foreign firms to enter the market would help bring in much -needed capitalisation and experience to the Myanmar market. But this will involve addressing several key issues in the next few months.

First, we have to protect our local insurance companies, [making sure] they have enough capacity to compete with foreign players, said U Thant Zin.

Local firms are eager to see restrictions on products and prices lifted, and welcome government approval for an industry association that will be consulted on the process. The previous government prevented firms from forming an insurance industry association, but with the regulators blessing an association should be in place in the next few months, said U Thuang Han, director of CB Insurance.

He added that whether local firms need to worry about competition depends on how the government structures liberalisation.

If we are allowed to create [our own] products and compete freely then were not much worried, he said. The problem is that now local insurance companies cant create their own products and all have to charge the same.

Private insurers have watched their businesses grow, but progress has been slow. Myanma Insurance is still allowed to offer a far larger suite of products, and private firms complain that around half of the policies they can offer are not popular.

Local firms will need time to develop their own products and pricing structures so that they are well-prepared when foreign firms do start to compete for clients, U Thuang Han said.

U Thant Zin said the government has to balance the need to protect local firms and the need to liberalise the market  something ASEAN and other international players are calling for. Myanmars membership in the ASEAN economic community means it has a commitment to liberalise a wide range of sectors including banking, insurance and aviation.

But liberalisation means careful discussions about whether to allow 100 percent foreign-owned insurers or require them to form joint ventures with local firms, and in which sectors to allow competition, he said.

These two issues are the ones foreign insurance representatives are most eager to get clarification on, said the chief country representative of one international firm. Foreign insurers will need licences to operate  just like foreign banks  but there has been no decisions made on how many licences will be issued and what the process will look like, U Thant Zin added.

International lenders have been awarded licences allowing them to make loans to foreign and local-foreign joint venture corporations. But corporate lending is just one area of business, and allowing foreign insurers to provide services is more complicated, said U Thant Zin.

The sectors where insurance liberalisation is most important are life and health insurance, but these services are intertwined with the health sector, the structure of Myanmars population and many other market factors, he said.

And there are many, many different areas of insurance, he said. We have to think about many things and still have a long list of things to do.

Liberalising the health insurance sector, for example, will be done in discussion with the health ministry and civil society groups, in addition to local and foreign insurers, U Thant Zin said. Foreign insurance companies will also be members of the new insurance association, he added.

We want private-sector participation, meaning every stakeholder from the market, he said.
Amid estimates that Yangons population of 7 million-plus will move into double-digits in the next 10 to 20 years, what is being done to solve the commercial capitals housing crisis?





The problem is exacerbated by the slow pace of economic and social development, which keeps incomes down.

Yangon, home to 7.3 million people, according to the 2014 census, is also the epicentre for much of the countrys industry and services, and generates about 20 percent of Myanmars GDP.

About 25pc of its dwellings are temporary huts and shanties thrown up to house the huge influx of squatters attracted by factory work in the citys industrial zones, according to the Department of Urban and Housing Development under the Ministry of Construction.

Up to 65pc of Yangon residents own their homes, and the other 35pc rent, according to department data. Meanwhile, the population is expected to grow each year, says U Myint Naing, the departments assistant director.

The population of Yangon may expand to about 10 million in the next 10 to 20 years. Getting the accommodation question right is important not just for now but for decades into the future, he said.

Most Yangon residents  almost 60pc  earn only K300,000 a month (US$244) or less, according to department estimates from 2015. But affordable housing is in short supply: Most of the boom in accommodation construction over the past few years has been at the luxury end of the market.





U Toe Aung, assistant director of the City Planning and Land Administration Department of Yangon City Development Committee, said, Though by World Bank standards K300,000 counts as medium income, someone earning that kind of money cannot buy a house.

If a combination of government and private building can provide the necessary low-cost housing in the numbers required, such a solution is not yet in sight.

The main challenge of low-cost housing is the need for sufficient investment to be able to sell apartments for under K10 million, said U Myint Naing. Most building materials have to be imported. There are no plans to build K10 million apartments under current market conditions, he said.

If the government is unenthusiastic, private builders show even less interest.

It could be possible to build low-cost homes on state-owned land, with the government providing water and other infrastructure, for less than K10 million per apartment. But given the limitations of the government budget, it would be very difficult to provide enough of them, said U Myint Naing.

YCDCs U Toe Aung said that, in any case, renting was a better option for low-income residents.

Even civil servants dont earn enough to buy those apartments. The solution might be to develop the rental sector, he said, adding that however the government might find it difficult even to do that.

Private developers are not interested, and the government will not be able to build a lot of rental accommodation. It will be a very long-term proposition, he said.

A spokesperson for the City and Housing Development Bank, which offers loans to home-buyers, said much of the public was unfamiliar with the concept of borrowing money to fund a home purchase.

The Ministry of Construction is planning to sell more than 1000 low-cost apartments in Yangon and to build and sell 8000 apartments over the next two years, Assistant Director U Myint Naing of the Department of City and Housing Development has announced. But set against the estimated 4.6 million Yangon residents earning K300,000 a month, that will be a very small drop in a very large bucket.

Translation by San Lay and Khine Thazin Han
The Shwe Bank building  the metal-clad affront to both architectural tradition and Euclidean geometry which officially opened at the corner of Pansodan and Merchant streets earlier this year  counts few friends among the Yangon public. The chair of the Association of Myanmar Architects said it looked like a UFO in the middle of a village road. Thant Myint-U of the Yangon Heritage Trust shocked nobody by calling the structure incredibly ugly, and Coconuts likened it to Darth Vaders office. Perhaps sensing his peers were plotting to string him up from a traffic light outside the building, even Aung Myint, the buildings designer, disavowed himself from the project, telling local media the exterior was quite different from what I had envisioned.





There is so much to loathe about the building. Its drab olive exterior, which evidently borrowed the same pantone swatch used for Australias plain-packaging cigarette laws, selected by a government committee for the sheer visceral repulsiveness the colour inspires. Its preposterously angular octagonal spires are a throwback to any one of half-a-dozen straight-to-VHS films premised on battling cyborgs to escape a futuristic prison. Its complete lack of regard for the surrounding environment leaves it resembling the corporate equivalent of a pillbox bunker, as if it were built mainly for tellers to man the windows and fire a hail of bullets at all the nearby buildings that so roundly eclipse it in both sophistication and splendour.

Yet I cant help but feel that somewhere in the design and execution of this building was the germ of a good idea, and I for one am glad it graces the intersection of two of downtown Yangons most beautiful roads.

Regarded as a whole, it looks ugly as sin in the middle of the day. But at night, lit in dim halogens on an otherwise dark street, the bizarre contrast between the building and its surroundings is lost, and it stands gentle and unimposing. Its metal cladding is a cut-price  and apparently effective  solution to hiding the mould blooms that blight every other building in its vicinity. Its interior is well-spaced and almost elegant. The space between the branchs various business units is designed to minimise customer walking distances, and furniture is arranged in a way to reinforce the impression of a vast and tranquil environment. (Its just a shame that, like every other bank in Myanmar, it has no customers.)

Set back from the street, the Shwe Bank building is also a rare example of a concession to public space in a city that suffered a lack of it for decades. German philosopher Jurgen Habermas wrote that political action is contingent on the existence of civic space for it to foment, and in Yangon, more than most places, that civic space exists on the street. The single greatest tragedy of downtowns development in the past five years has been the tearing up of sidewalks everywhere to allow more automotive traffic. What were once languid pedestrian thoroughfares are now sites of agitation and claustrophobia. Having forced streetside merchants to fight for space on the street or sit in the gutter, the municipal governments subsequent push to round up every samosa hawker and shoe seller into a purpose-built market shows the lack of official regard for how the people of Yangon interact with their city. The open concrete spaces around the Shwe Bank, along with the return of the corners book merchants, are, by contrast, a reminder of what those streets once felt like.

Even those who abhor the building should find reason to begrudgingly accept it. As with the rest of Southeast Asia, heritage and planning are fringe issues, perennially flittering on the margins of the public consciousness. The most famous expression of public opposition to a development in the past two years, the Dagon City project in the shadow of Shwedagon Pagoda, withstood months of opposition from architects, local residents and heritage authorities but only fell over when Ma Ba Tha turned it into a religious issue. Elsewhere, poorly serviced satellite towns and flyovers proliferate to a degree that is already beyond sustainable without the input of local communities and without any public conversation of the consequences.

Yangon urgently needs a discussion about what kind of city its people want it to be. There is so much to love about the Yangon Heritage Trusts vision of the city: its call to level the port terminal and marry the downtown grid with the river, its mix of preservation and development. Yet when development issues are reported  usually in response to a YHT event  too often it seems that journalists reduce the debate to one on the merits of buildings, privileging the archaeological over the lived experience of the citys inhabitants. Without a wider dialogue, as Gillian Tindall writes, to preserve things deliberately, for the sake of doing so, is to lose them in another way, and to risk keeping the shell of a world at the expense of its meaning. What is needed to bridge this gap is a poignant sense of threat, which, in the wake of all the animus it has aroused, the Shwe Bank building has done.

For this service to the public good, it should be allowed to remain in place, without any attempts to mitigate its incongruous and ugly appearance, so it can be regarded by future generations as a relic of our present. It is, after all, firmly a product of its time, owned by a conglomerate enriched by a monopoly, opaque in its dealings, rewarded for its close relations to power with a highly coveted banking licence in the closing months of the last governments term.





The buildings that are loved and marvelled at here all share a colonial heritage. To celebrate them is to lionise a time when this city was cosmopolitan, lyrically evocative and economically booming, with the benefits of its wealth and affluence, by design, available only to a privileged few. Yet this era bears all the hallmarks of that one, and at the moment we treat its edifices as eyesores instead of monuments. Long may the Shwe Bank building stand, hated until such a time as it is ready to be loved.

Something on your mind? Talk it out this Weekend! Write to us at [email protected].
Meiktila, 2013. Violent clashes erupt between Buddhists and Muslims. A Muslim shopkeepers store is burned to the ground, a monk is burned alive and many more lose their lives in the tense days that follow.





This story  well-known in Myanmar and to those who look on from abroad  started and ended with a decorative symbol: in this case a golden hairclip, which sparked an outbreak of communal unrest that left more than 30 people killed.

Unreported by the media, however, was another story: the story of a monk who helped Muslims find refuge in his monastery, who refused to see his robe as symbol of division and concerned himself only with protecting human life.

Inspired by this lesser known tale, filmmaker We Ra has adapted it for the big screen in his film The Robe, which will premiere at the Asian Short Film Competition at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) from October 6 to 15.

This is the first time a Myanmar film has been screened at the Busan International Film Festival.

An alumnus of the Asian Film Academy at BIFF and founder of his own production company, Green Age Films Production, We Ra, now a seasoned filmmaker, has long dreamed of seeing one of his films at Busan.

I remember seeing the big screen at Busan. I talked to the screen and said, One day I will come back here with my film, We Ra told The Myanmar Times.





And although the competition was steep this year, with over 300 films submitted and only 10 places available, We Ra finally realised his dream with a film that is close to his heart, and he says, portrays another side of Myanmar.

The Robe follows a young monk trying to escape the military at the height of the Saffron Revolution in 2007. He runs around an apartment complex, trying to convince people to open their doors to him but is met with silence as others bang on doors and another monk falls ill on a stairwell. Somewhat apprehensively, the monk knocks on a door adorned with Arabic script. A young woman in a niqab answers and welcomes him in.

For We Ra, this is a new kind of origin story, one which transcends religion and its symbols. In order to save himself, the fleeing monk must disrobe and don traditional Muslim garb to avoid suspicion from the soldier. The young woman, showing him that coverings are impermanent, takes off her niqab and sits face to face with the monk  a scene which, in todays Myanmar, may seem impossible.

It is not really important to worry about one religion or another, We Ra said passionately. When people need help, others should help. Starting from very long ago, theres no Buddha, no God, theres no anything. Theres only love.

A Buddhist himself, We Ra is interested in instances of true human emotion and empathy and how they relate to pertinent social justice issues.

We Ra first had the idea for The Robe after filming the protests of 2007. Back then, he says he was just an amateur trying to record what was happening in the streets as a record for generations to come.

When the time came to film The Robe in 2016, We Ra went to the local authorities with his idea and asked for permission to shoot in the street. He was allowed to film in Dagon but still needed to find a room which would become the main setting for the film  the Muslim womans home.

Many people were afraid to open their homes to We Ra and his team, fearing the backlash that would inevitably come from a story about Buddhist-Muslim partnership, especially during the Saffron Revolution.

I said to people, if you really love religion, you have to love another persons religion. Somehow I explained this to people and they allowed me to use their staircase and room. I am very lucky.

Initially, the two main actors who would play the monk and the Muslim woman were nervous about their roles. To quell their anxieties, We Ra spent 10 days intensively training not only them but also himself and his co-writer, reading up on Buddhist and Muslim texts and giving great thought to what it means to be a monk or a Muslim.

By the end of the training, the two actors were ready for the challenge. They said to me, We dont care, were going to act.

This is not about acting, he said. I am talking about the psychology of human beings. What does it mean to be a human being?

With this film, We Ra says he hopes to look beyond the defining symbols of religion  be it a robe or a head covering  and present an alternative story to the violence that makes newspaper headlines.

When the religious extremists find out about this, they say why have you done this, you are not a Buddhist, We Ra said. But I read and believe in what Buddha says. The robe is just a robe.

In Buddhism, monks must meditate before wearing the robe, wearing it only to ward off cold, heat and insects, and to cover ones body parts that might cause shame. Anything beyond that, he says, is a different interpretation.

We Ra remains steadfast in his belief that the human takes precedence over any kind of religious symbol, an opinion which, though it may be unpopular, he says he cannot let go.

In Myanmar, we are a Buddhist country but not only Buddhist. We have other religions and people who live here equally, they are also our people, he said.

After Busan, We Ra hopes to screen The Robe internationally at film festivals, eventually ending up back in Myanmar where he hopes it will screen at the Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival as well as some local festivals.

When I screen my film here, I know there will be problems, he said, referring to the likelihood of censorship. But I want to ask people, Do you really hate someone? Do you really want to kill someone? Myanmar is not like this. We are not like this. Why are we trying to discriminate against each other? If you really love your god or your Buddha, then you would never do this.

We Ra, like a young James Baldwin  a black American author known to sharply analyse the United States  is lovingly critical of his fellow citizens. It is out of love for human relations and the potential for them to change that We Ra and his film The Robe challenge our preconceptions: whether they be about clothing, skin colour or anything else.

Once I met a soldier on the train, We Ra said. He was very sad because people see him as a soldier and think he is a bad guy. The same happens in my film. There are good people and bad people in this world  and I am trying to do something; I am just trying to show love through film.
China has unveiled a sparkling new hotel as part of its drive to get tens of millions more tourists to visit Tibet, even as critics say the push is slowly eroding the local culture.





With a presidential suite that costs US$1000 a night, and views over the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas, the luxury Artel Hotel is a potent symbol of Chinese plans for the autonomous territory.

Tourism officials are hoping to see visitor numbers increase by nearly 50 percent in the next four years, said Wang Songping, deputy director of the Tibet Tourism Development Commission.

Tibet attracted 4 million Chinese tourists in 2005. We hope well get 24 million this year and 35 million by 2020, he said.

Critics say the influx will lead to more of Chinas dominant Han ethnic group settling in Tibet and eroding native Tibetan ways of life, and argue the majority of economic benefits of mass tourism will not go to locals.

Official figures say that Tibetans currently make up 90pc of the local population, but groups opposed to Chinese rule say the real figure is significantly lower.

Beijing says it peacefully liberated Tibet in 1951 and insists it has brought development to a previously backward region where serfs were exploited.





But many Tibetans accuse Beijing of repressing their religion, diluting their culture and exploiting natural resources to benefit the Han at the expense of locals and the environment.

The 103-room Artel opened in mid-August in Lulang, a picturesque village situated at 3700 metres (12,100 feet) in a southeastern forested area in the autonomous region of Tibet.

It is part of a tourist complex built in an old part of town previously occupied mostly by government buildings and restaurants that now boasts its own shopping street, a lake and an arts centre.

Nicknamed the Switzerland of the East, the village is seen by authorities as a flagship project for its ambitious plans for Tibets tourist sector.

Transport links are being developed to cater for the influx, including a motorway opening next year, and a high-speed rail line from the capital Lhasa, expected to open in 2021.

Another high-speed rail line to Chengdu, capital of neighbouring Sichuan province, home to more than 80 million people, should be completed in 2022.

Wang said the number of Chinese tourists, who currently make up 95pc of visitors to Tibet, has increased by an average of 20pc each year since the 2006 opening of the first railway linking Tibet to the rest of China.

But while outside visitors can boost the local economy, mass tourism has downsides, said Tibet expert Francoise Robin.

Cultural performances shown to visitors are either favourable reinterpretations of Chinese history or Chinese versions of songs or dances, she said.

Tibetans themselves end up picking up these distorted versions.

And while some Tibetans were developing responsible tourism initiatives and eco-tourism, such businesses could often not be developed on a large scale, she said.

The influx of tourists is expected to bring in billions of dollars but many are concerned that not everyone will benefit from the windfall.

Travel agents and other people who work in the tourism industry are mostly Han Chinese, said Robin. The Tibetans ... are among the last in line to benefit.

At the Artel Hotel, Baima Cicuo, a 17-year-old local trainee who works as a housekeeper, said she was happy in her job  at least in front of her boss.

Before, I depended on my farmer parents. But now I earn 1000 yuan ($149) a month and I learn a lot of things, she said in fluent Mandarin.

The hotel, owned by Poly, a Chinese state-owned group, has invested 280 million yuan ($42 million) in the project, says commercial director Ray Peng.

It currently has 40 employees, 15 of whom are Tibetan.

Its guests are likely to be overwhelmingly Chinese. Less than 5pc of visitors to Tibet are foreign tourists, who need to obtain an entry letter as well as a Chinese visa when travelling to the region, where they must join an authorised tour group.

Despite the widespread perception that the restrictions are meant to stop the outside world from learning too much about the tensions between ethnic Tibetans and Han, officials insist that is not the case.

These restrictions are in place because we cant yet provide world-class services for tourists, said Bianba Zhaxi, deputy governor of Tibet.

We will be open to tourists from across the world in a few years, he added.

But Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, deputy speaker of Tibets parliament in exile, said the restrictions serve to hide the truth about Tibet from the outside world.

If foreign tourists and media are able to travel freely in Tibet, without organised tours, and can collect the views of people, then I think tourism can have a good impact, he said.

Otherwise, nobody will speak and share the problems of the Tibetan people.
Fifty-two villagers arrested by the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), an ethnic armed group, were set free on September 21, according to Shan State Police Brigadier General Aung Aung.





The RCSS detained the residents of seven villages in the area of Namh Lang administrative unit in Thibaw/Hsipaw township, alleging that they were drug addicts and involved in the illegal narcotics trade.

The armed ethnic group released the villagers on the evening of September 21, returning them to their respective villages, Brig Gen Aung Aung said.

They said the detainees were given anti-narcotics education and were then released, he said.

In the wake of the villagers detention, the Tatmadaw and Myanmar Police Force ordered the RCSS liaison office in Kyaukme township to release the villagers or legal action would be taken against the group.

Despite the RCSS claim that the arrested villagers were drug addicts and dealers, state police largely suspect that the ethnic Shan armed group was recruiting.

Sai Nong, an RCSS liaison officer from Taunggyi, said his organisation has evidence that the detained villagers were drug addicts or dealers. When asked about the RCSS release of the villagers, however, he said he had no information concerning the circumstances of their release.

He denied that his organisation was recruiting.





Drug problems are very bad in that area. It is the duty of the police to find the dealers and take action against them. It is not our responsibility, he said.

The account of Sai Nong aligned with that of U Zaw Zaw Aung, a National League for Democracy member in Thibaw, who said his friends and party members from the area informed him that the villagers were linked to drugs.

After they signed a promise stating that they would not be involved in drug dealing or drug taking, the villagers were released. This is what my colleagues told me, U Zaw Zaw Aung said.

He added that he does not believe that the villagers were taken by the RCSS for the purpose of recruitment, because, he said, If the RCSS wants to recruit them, they would not have been released.

Administrative bodies in the region would follow up with the villagers and investigate whether they were in any way linked to drug dealing, police said.

U Zaw Zaw Aung said the issue of drug dealing and abuse has become a growing threat to young people in Thibaw and Lashio townships.

The government should take serious actions against the drug dealers. There are drug addicts and dealers everywhere, he said.

The RCSS signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) last October with the government led by then-president U Thein Sein. That agreement prohibits signatories from engaging in forcible recruitment.

Disputes and problems are meant to be resolved through a mechanism prescribed in the agreement, which involves a joint monitoring committee that is made up of representatives from the government, ethnic armed groups, civil society organisations and civilians. Political negotiations regarding decades-old grievances are supposed to be solved via political dialogue at the Union Peace Conference.

Brig Gen Aung Aung said authorities would present the matter to the next meeting of the state-level joint monitoring committee and protest the RCSS actions. A meeting of the state-level joint monitoring committee was convened earlier this year in Kho Lam, Shan State.

No action will be taken if breach of the NCA terms is determined this time, but similar action in the future will not be tolerated, said the brigadier general.

We have a gentlemens agreement under the NCA. We will warn the group [at the next joint monitoring committee meeting] that such behaviour is not respecting our agreement. Such activity in the future will not be looked on kindly, he said.

After signing the NCA last year, clashes between the RCSS and the Taang National Liberation Army, a non-signatory ethnic armed group based in northern Shan state, erupted in November. Months of ensuing skirmishes in the states north saw thousands of civilians displaced.
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to promote human rights in Rakhine State as she made her UN debut as her countrys de facto leader on September 21.





In a scene unthinkable several years ago, the onetime opposition icon who was put under house arrest took the rostrum of the United Nations to speak on behalf of Myanmar.

But some supporters who long fought for Daw Aung San Suu Kyis freedom have voiced dismay that, as a politician, she refuses to recognise the Rohingya  a persecuted Muslim minority in Rakhine State.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did not mention the Rohingya by name in her address but pledged to back a commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan that was recently set up to advise on Rakhine State, where thousands of Rohingya have spent four years in dire displacement camps.

There has been persistent opposition from some quarters to the establishment of the commission, she said, referring to protests that greeted the commission. However, we are determined to persevere in our endeavour to achieve harmony, peace and prosperity in the Rakhine State, she said.

I would like to take the opportunity to ask for the understanding and constructive contribution of the international community, she added.

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. Before heading to New York, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi met with US President Barack Obama who agreed to scrap the remaining sanctions against Myanmar.





US policymakers privately say that they recognise Daw Aung San Suu Kyi faces intense domestic pressure in her country, where the Rohingya are the target of widespread public derision and are largely not considered citizens.

In her UN address, she referred to her country mostly as Myanmar, and not as Burma, the usage insisted upon by her opposition party when she was under house arrest.
The Amyotha Hluttaws Natural Resources and Environment Conservation Committee yesterday introduced a bill amending Myanmars Gemstone Law with the aim of preventing monopolisation of the industry.





The amendments prevent an investor from holding many large plots of land for long periods of time  for example, 20 or 30 years. We have tried hard to decrease the likelihood of a monopoly occurring due to one company having a lot of money or political connections, committee chair U Kyaw Thiha told media after the Amyotha Hluttaw session.

The Myanmar Gemstone Law was enacted in 1995 under the State Law and Order Restoration Council. It was amended in January.

At that time, the law was revised to allow people to mine for gemstones on large, medium or small plots. Since then, there have been cases where a single investor has been granted mining permits over many acres of land for an extended period of time.

This raised concerns that the state and its people would not enjoy the benefits of the countrys abundant natural resources. The newly introduced bill is intended to address these concerns.

It is still difficult to amend the entire law to satisfy everyone ... We will amend it incrementally, discussing it one section at time, in order to make it a better law, U Kyaw Thiha said.

The new amendment bill was developed in consultation with gems traders, miners and other interested associations, who made written submissions to and held meetings with the Mining, Natural Resources and Environment Conservation Committee.

The amendments seek to strike a fair balance between the state, citizens and companies involved in gemstone mining.





If we look at Southeast Asia or Asia, none of our neighbouring countries produce jade or ruby. Only our country produces them. The extraction of natural resources can be a source of tension among some ethnic minorities, particularly in Kachin and Shan states. Problems might occur in cases where the extracted resources are taken for the sole benefit of non-ethnic areas or groups, or conversely only for Shan State or Kachin State, U Kyaw Thiha said.

The US has announced that it will scrap remaining sanctions on Myanmar, including embargoes on jade and rubies. With the blacklist lifted, rights groups fear a vacuum will be created in terms of leverage on the notoriously corrupt and highly profitable gemstone industries, with more profits lining the pockets of military elites and tycoons.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
Outrage against the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission continued to gain momentum yesterday with a pending lawsuit and the Presidents Office announcing it would review the rights bodys involvement in a child torture case.





The president also instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide security for the teenage victims and their families, as well as for a journalist who initially reported the case, according to a statement.

The human rights commission (MNHRC) is under fire for negotiating a financial settlement for underage victims of enslavement who endured psychological and physical abuse over a prolonged period at a Yangon tailoring shop. The MNHRC is accused of washing its hands of the case after arranging the compensation, and completely bypassing the appropriate legal channels. It took social media backlash to prompt the arrest of the alleged perpetrators of the abuse this week.

Prominent lawyer U Robert Sann Aung said yesterday the commission members had neglected their obligation to resolve a case of violent human rights abuses and protect the young victims. He added that commission members should be held accountable for criminal concealment of child abuse and human trafficking.

His legal clinic has prepared to sue the commission, pending approval of the case from the Presidents Office.

The commission members told the public that they are prepared to face a lawsuit and are not afraid to defend their work on trial. Therefore, I decided to sue them, U Robert Sann Aung said, referring to the MNHRCs bold declaration at a September 21 press briefing.

The commission was alerted to the abuse of child maids Ma San Kay Khaing, 17, and Ma Thazin, 16, by Ko Swe Win, the chief correspondent at local media outlet Myanmar Now. He informed the MNHRC after months of inaction following a report he had initially filed at the Kyauktada police station.

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 Ava Tailoring shop on 40th Street. A third victim, Ma Tin Tin Khaing, also reportedly endured abuse, according to the Yangon Police Force.





The MNHRC arranged to have the chronic abusers pay a total of K5 million (US$4065) to the victims families to account for unpaid wages. The MNHRC said it believed their negotiation was a fair and responsible resolution of the complaint.

But human rights groups, lawyers, activists and members of the public have slammed the commission for not going further and demanding judicial action, but instead creating a situation that fostered impunity.

U Zaw Win, a member of the MNHRC involved in the negotiating process, admitted yesterday that the commission had never investigated the situation at the tailoring shop, and had never even talked to the teenage victims.

We didnt meet with the girls but we interviewed their mother and aunty. We didnt need to inquire into the on-the-ground situation because the girls families came to our office, said U Zaw Win.

When they were accused at the September 21 press conference of being remiss in their responsibilities and functioning like brokers to human trafficking, the MNHRC responded that it had done what it could for the girls.

We figured at the time that we could solve the case satisfactorily to all parties involved with a compensation agreement, said U Zaw Win, who formerly served as director general of the Correctional Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Myanmars lower house yesterday accepted an urgent proposal from MP U Htay Win Aung (NLD; Dawbon) suggesting that disciplinary action be taken against the MNHRC members.

An online petition demanding 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 had gathered just shy of 1500 signatures as of yesterday evening.

U Sit Myaing, vice chair of the MNHRC, yesterday declined to defend the rights body against the outpouring of anger.

I have nothing to say. They [MPs] can continue the legislative process as they wish, he said.

A police tribunal is also investigating the allegation of police inaction over the initial filing of the case in June.

The case has served as a pertinent reminder of the all-too-common prevalence of child labour and child abuse in Myanmar. According to a survey conducted by the International Labour Organization in 2015, out of 12 million children in the country, 1.1 million are child labourers, many of whom are engaged in dangerous work that destroys the childhood of the children.
The military has stopped taking delivery of Korean-made helicopters once touted as the crown jewels of the domestic arms industry after they failed a safety test in the U.S.

About 50 of the KAI KUH-1 Surion helicopters have already been deployed warfare-ready.

The Surion failed flight safety tests in cold, wet conditions in Michigan between last October and March, according to data from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration published by Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee Chul-gyu.

The flight test was carried out at 5 to -30 degrees Celsius and found that more than the permissible level of 100 g of ice built up at the air inlet of the engine. If ice is sucked into the engine, the airfoil can break down and stall the engine, according to GE, the maker of the engine.

The Defense Ministry and the DAPA recently told Korea Aerospace Industries, the developer and maker of the chopper, to halt supply.

A KAI spokesman claimed the tests were conducted in extremely cold and wet conditions, which do not reflect Korea's dry and far less cold winters. "In Korea, ice normally forms in helicopters at an altitude of 600-900 m in early foggy winter in November and December and in early spring in February and March," an official with the Aviation Meteorological Office said.
Police have promised to launch a new strategy to control narcotics, taking a more health- and development-centred approach than their previous punitive action plans.





According to Police Colonel Zaw Lin Tun, the new narcotics control policy could be released as soon as April 2017.

The new policy will address the problems of increased drug consumption and production in Myanmar.

Poppy cultivation decreased under the previous policy but it didnt have much success in reducing drug production and consumption, which have increased due to economic and social problems, Pol Col Zaw Lin Tun said at a September 21 seminar in the capital.

Drafting of the new policy is expected to take around eight months. The project will be financially supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

UNODC officials have pushed for drug policy reform to more effectively target traffickers and organised crime networks.

Input will be sought from overseas specialists in designing the draft. We will also invite the participation of interested NGOs through advertisements in the newspapers, Pol Col Zaw Lin Tun said.

At the seminar, Narcotics Control Central Unit chair and Minister for Home Affairs Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe stressed the need for a retooling of the policy.





Drug consumption is occurring all over the country. Crimes committed by young people under the influence of drugs are increasing, he said.

A road-map for the design of the new policy has already been developed and the minister has pledged his support for its implementation.

Another seminar will be held in February of next year to provide an update on the policys development, which will be followed by a third and final seminar, scheduled for April 2017, where it will be released.

Myanmar remains the worlds second-largest producer of opium, feeding a vast market in China. About 90 percent of all opium poppy cultivation in the Golden Triangle area, which includes parts of Thailand, Laos and Shan State, can be traced back to Myanmar.

The country also manufactures an ever-increasing number of methamphetamines, which are now reportedly available in every district across the country, with a particular increase in northern Shan State. Quantities of methamphetamines seized in East and Southeast Asia almost quadrupled between 2009 and 2014.

Translation by Khant Lin Oo
On August 30, Amnesty International called for an independent inquiry into the death and possible sexual assault of a young Rohingya woman who was found at a military compound in the Rakhine State capital Sittwe. In a two-part series that highlights the plight of Rohingya women and the lack of medical support and justice for gender-based violence available to them, The Myanmar Times asks: Who was Raysuana and why did she die?





There's a patch of brown earth in the village of Let That Mar. It is surrounded by a bamboo fence and on top of the earth lays a sun-bleached palm branch. Under it lays the body of Raysuana, who was found naked and barely conscious at a military compound, and died after being denied access to hospital care under a system of institutionalised discrimination tantamount to ethnic apartheid.

I need to tell you we tried to save her, says Yasmin (not her real name), the clinic nurse who took care of Raysuana from the time she reached the clinic on the morning of August 18 until she died around 12 hours later.

She couldnt tell us what happened because she was not able to speak, the nurse added, showing the public space where the young woman was treated at Thet Kya Pin Clinic.

The clinic is a small healthcare facility where people of the Rohingya Muslim minority living in IDP camps and villages outside the Rakhine State capital Sittwe can receive basic medical treatment under oppressive rules that deny them freedom of movement and many other rights, restricting their ability to receive proper hospital treatment.

It was only with her final breathing that she could talk to us. She came round, then she called out for her mother. Maybe for a minute she was awake and she cried for her mother. Ma, she said. Mother where are you? Then she died, recalls Yasmin.

Like the other medical staff involved in Raysuanas case, the nurse says the main reason the young woman was not sent to hospital was that nobody knew who she was so there was no one to go with her to the hospital as attendant, and she could not be sent alone.





That belief was critical to Raysuanas story, but the case also highlights a whole series of failures in system and in practice that means Rohingya people  and particularly women  are having their lives put at risk.

The world will never know the exact details that led to Raysuanas death. What we do know is that she was Rohingya  a member of the mainly stateless Muslim minority in Myanmar who are denied basic human rights under internationally condemned policies.

She had no close relatives in the area to support her or demand an inquiry into what would be a highly controversial case given potential army involvement. The Myanmar military have constitutionally enshrined impunity; and she was buried, with the approval of a local leader, without an autopsy or further investigation into possible sexual assault and cause of death having taken place.

It is not even clear how old she was. Those who knew her estimate her age to have been between 25 and 30.

Yet despite the disadvantages she faced in life, Raysuana was loved by those who knew her and considered a quiet, caring and notably intelligent young woman who was particularly thoughtful toward others and was fluent in three languages. She is missed.

A second mother and friend

I am so sad. I loved her like she was my own daughter. I still cannot believe she has gone, says So Ma Li Khatu, a homely woman who estimates her own age to be around 60.

She embraces a small naked child with one hand and uses the other to clutch at her heart behind the fabric of a tattered blouse as she recalls her lost daughter.

So Ma Li Khatu became Raysuanas second mother in 2012, when the young woman appeared on her doorstep in Ohn Taw Shay village asking for food after communal violence broke out in Sittwe between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Muslim community, forcing tens of thousands, mainly Rohingya, to flee their homes.

The riots were brutal and bloody. Entire villages were razed and innocent victims were butchered as they fled.

Raysuana came asking for something to eat after she had to run away from Aung Mingalar, says So Ma Li Khatu, referring to a Muslim quarter in the centre of Sittwe that has since been turned into a ghetto and cut off from the outside world by armed guards.

Ohn Taw Shay lies outside the main Rohingya IDP camps and villages where access to outsiders is restricted by the government. It is isolated by paddy fields and streams, and fortuitously escaped the violence that hit so many communities in 2012.

For three years, Raysuana found shelter, care and support there. But she missed her younger brother, who had left Rakhine State for Malaysia before the violence, and particularly her mother, who had fled to join him after the riots.

I felt for her in my heart so I took her to live with me, says So Ma Li Khatu. She was a quiet girl; she helped me take care of my chickens and goats and lived with us. In the three years I knew her, she was always helpful and good but she always missed her family in Malaysia.

She didnt care about getting married, added one village leader. She just wanted to be with her mother.

As she went about her business tending the livestock and helping around the house, Raysuana was coming up with a plan to join her family in Malaysia. So began a series of events that meant Raysuanas later disappearance would go unnoticed for days.

In late July, Raysuana went to stay with the family of a friend  a girl who was engaged to Raysuanas brother in Malaysia  in Let That Mar village, which sits a short walk across the paddy fields on the outskirts of Thet Kya Pin village.

So Ma Li Khatu says she had not seen her foster daughter for almost three weeks and had no idea she was missing when news of the young womans death reached her.

An escape plan

The riots of 2012 occurred when long-running tensions erupted between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and the Muslim minority who self-identify as Rohingya with a long history in Myanmar, but are considered illegal Bengali immigrants by most of the rest of the population.

The violence left around 200 people dead and about 140,000  mainly Rohingya  displaced. Four years on, around 120,000 Muslims are still confined to IDP camps, where they  like other Rohingya  face a brutal policy of discrimination. There are severe restrictions on their movements, they are denied other basic rights and face numerous abuses.

The intolerable conditions have driven thousands to flee Rakhine and seek a new life in Muslim-majority Malaysia, with many taking dangerous sea routes to do so. Raysuana and her young friend in Let That Mar village hoped to join this escape, though there is no indication they had become involved with people traffickers before Raysuanas death.

Although she was considerably younger at just 17, the girl of the family in Let That Mar village and Raysuana had become close in recent months.

She cared for [my daughter] so much. Like a younger sister. They would go out together to chat or have something to eat and they would always bring food back to us, says the girls mother Su Ra Ka Tu. She was a good person. Very loving.

As the friendship developed, Su Ra Ka Tu decided to arrange a marriage between her daughter and Raysuanas younger brother. Together the two friends arranged a plan: Raysuana would travel to Malaysia and the young bride-to-be hoped to join at some point.

She used to come here to stay with us sometimes for short visits, but this time she was just waiting for the money to arrive from her brother so she could travel to Malaysia, explains one village elder who knew Raysuana.

He shows a photograph of her that someone had taken on a mobile phone. It is displayed with a gaudy floral frame round it.

Her brother liked her to send pictures of herself to the family in Malaysia, he explains.

But days went by and the money from Malaysia did not arrive. Villagers said that, around two weeks after arriving in Let That Mar, Raysuana set off for another village, which locals refer to as La Ma Shi, in hopes of finding laundry work and raising some money herself.

It was a decision that would lead to her death.

A dangerous journey

I didnt know she had gone missing. I just thought she was at La Ma Shi doing laundry, says Su Ra Ka Tu, who puts Raysuanas departure from her home five days before her death.

She says her daughter has lost her dearest friend.

No one The Myanmar Times spoke to at La Ma Shi village saw Raysuana arrive there. Maybe she did come and nobody had any work for her so she moved on, suggested one community leader there, adding that it was not unusual for people in the camps and villages to go door-to-door in search of work.

What happened next remains a mystery, but the fact she was found at the adjacent military compound suggests whatever befell her occurred not so far from La Ma Shi.

At a teashop on the edge of La Ma Shi, customers said they had heard about the incident. One man suggested Raysuana may have gone to the military compound to ask whether anyone there needed laundry services, but most discussing the case suggested that was unlikely as the base was generally avoided by local women.

What is almost certain is that she would have had to pass the local checkpoint on her way in and out of the village. These checkpoints, operated by police and military personnel as part of the restricted-movement system, are notorious as posts where Rohingya women face sexual harassment and abuse.

While there is no evidence that Raysuana suffered such a fate, residents were clear that if shed had to pass the checkpoint alone, particularly in the evening, she would have been at risk.

It is not safe, the teashop customers agreed.

The possibility has been raised that Raysuana could have fallen victim to someone from her own community. However, the discovery of her body in a military area in the early morning  a site which has restricted access at all times, and from which Muslims are banned from entering in the evening, according to locals  means any Rohingya person who chose to abandon an injured Raysuana there was taking a serious chance.

La Ma Shi lies next to the military compound. Three different military organisations  the A Myauk Tat, the Sittwe Army and the Kh La Ra 20  have bases there laid out in a rough triangular shape with a shared grounds in the middle, explains U Hla Myint, the administrator of Thet Kya Pin village.

He was the first in the Rohingya community to hear news that Raysuana had been found.

A grim discovery

On the morning of August 18, I got a phone call from a man who was an intermediary, recalls U Hla Myint.

He said the commander of the A Myauk Tat military needed to talk to me about an emergency.

The village administrator learned that a young Rohingya woman had been found nearly naked in the bushes outside one of the military offices at the compound.

U Hla Myint rejected the idea that personnel from the base should bring the injured woman to Thet Kya Pin, imagining the potential for serious trouble were word to get out to the Rohingya community. Instead, U Hla Myint volunteered to go and retrieve her, he says.

When he got to the compound, U Hla Myint spoke to various senior military staff. They showed me the body of the victim in the bushes. She was only wearing a bra and nothing else. Someone had covered her with a blanket.

Throughout interviews for this article, several witnesses referred to Raysuanas body while she was still alive. Medical staff who examined her later have downplayed claims that she was unconscious, saying she was conscious but not lucid.

But witnesses who saw her initially described her as unconscious. If that is the case, it is a clear indication that she should have been treated as an emergency case and referred immediately to hospital. She was not.

When I saw her, she was unconscious but breathing, recalls U Hla Myint.

The three-bar [military officer] asked me, Do you know this girl, and I told him no, and that she wasnt from our village, says U Hla Myint.

Then the sergeant said to me, She is your ethnic people, thats why you have to take her body.

I told them again that I did not know her, but they said they would not go to the police, and for a second time they said she belonged to my ethnic group and so I should take her.

U Hla Myint took the young woman to the clinic at Thet Kya Pin. He says he was not aware of her specific injuries, but that it was clear she was in a serious condition.

He found some clothes for her and then, leaving her with medical staff at the clinic, set off to try to find her relatives, asking around local villages whether anyone knew of a missing woman.

When Raysuana arrived at the clinic at around 8am there was no doctor there. She was attended to instead by a medical assistant, and a woman who helped care for the injured girl and who said she had observed bleeding around Raysuanas vagina.

It was only around 9am that the state doctor arrived. After what was later acknowledged to be only a cursory examination  due in part to concerns over a male doctor examining a female patient  it was decided that she was not an emergency case. She was admitted to the clinic as an in-patient instead of being sent to hospital.

Less than 12 hours later, she was dead.

Despite a second doctor from an INGO attending at the clinic later that day, Raysuana was still not admitted to hospital. Despite clear indications that she may have been a victim of gender-based violence, no protocol in response to that was followed. Despite police having been informed of the incident, no criminal inquiry was launched.

I have no idea what the police are doing about it, says U Hla Myint.

As for the lack of medical treatment, he responds, We Rohingya people are not allowed to go to the hospitals ourselves. If there were no restrictions on movement, we would have taken her to the hospital in Sittwe, but at this moment in time we cannot.

On Monday, the second part of this series will look at what happened between Raysuana reaching the clinic and her death; why she did not receive the help she needed; and what, if anything, authorities and other agencies are doing to prevent such a case from happening again.
An attempt to seize the Mandalay Region head office of the former ruling party and to restore it to public use has been rebuffed by the regional government. The value of the land, almost 1 acre in extent, in Chan Aye Tharzan township, is estimated at billions of kyat.





It has been home to the regional head office of the Union Solidarity and Development Party since about 2002.

Regional MP U Aung Shwe (DPM; Chan Aye Tharzan 1) submitted the demand to the Mandalay Region Hluttaw on September 20.

But Municipal Minister Dr Ye Lwin said Mandalay City Development Committee could not comply with the request. Its freehold land and was used by Mandalay Region Cooperative Department, but the name of the official tenant was changed to Mandalay Region USDP in 2002, according to the land history records, he told MPs.

In 2002, the cooperative ministry said it would transfer the land to USDP in exchange for four sites in the Mandalay industrial zone, though there is no record of any land transfer.

Then the USDP sought permission to locate their headquarters there. MCDC had no objection, he said, adding that the party, which formed the countrys government from 2010 until last Novembers election, was the tenant.

U Aung Shwe said, The original owner of the land is the Union of Myanmar Wholesale Cooperative Federation. That makes it state-owned land. He said that because the transfer to the USDP had not been carried out under the Transfer of Property Act or Agreement Registration Act, it was illegal.





According to the records, the state-owned land and buildings were unofficially transferred to the USDP. The land is still publicly owned. Its use by a private association represents a great loss to the people.

The MP said the value of the land in 2002 was K500 million, and its current value was several billion kyat.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
A car stirs up a cloud of dust as it drives along a dirt road through a wilting, dried-out forest. The heat is so intense that the trees are nothing more than stems, their leaves lying in piles on the ground.





But a one-hour drive along this road from Magwe brings visitors to Mann Se Daw. Often referred to as Myanmars up-country oasis, its a beautiful spot on the banks of Mann Creek.

For decades, people have stopped at Mann Se Daw while on pilgrimages to the nations longest Buddhist festival, held yearly at Shwesettaw Pagoda. Also located beside Mann Creek, the pagoda is about 640 kilometres (400 miles) north of Yangon.

Se Daw is in Minbu township, and about 12 kilometres (7 miles) from Shwesettaw, near Eyema dam. The local-style resort comprises a group of bungalows and a restaurant built over the knee-deep creek, where small fish swim in the clear water.

The area is known for its si htamin  glutinous rice cooked in oil  and fried sparrow, which can be bought cheaply. Over the past three years, the area has gained in popularity, particularly among young people looking for a cheap getaway.

The difference with Shwesettaw [Pagoda Festival] is that everything is cheap here. And also, liquor, beer and toddy juice are available here because it is not a religious festival, said Ko Kyaw Kyaw Oo, a regular visitor.

There are many lodging houses along the creek where visitors can stay for about K5000 a night. Those who do not want to rent a room can rest at a public building with a roof made of palm leaves.





The eight restaurants and 14 lodging houses are run by residents from neighbouring villages, who also operate businesses at Shwesettaw Pagoda Festival.

Se Daw first rose to prominence decades ago, when pilgrimages to Shwesettaw became popular. Unlike the modern highway buses that today ply the route, the small local cars would stop many times along the way.

When we were young, if we went to Shwesettaw we had to go via Myaung Baung road. Se Daw was one stop on the trip. Jeeps and Hinos used that road before a new one to Shwesettaw was built, said 62-year-old U Ohn Maung from Magwe.

But while a stay at Se Daw is refreshing and relaxing, the same cant be said for the journey. Whether travelling by car or motorbike, visitors to Se Daw always return with one piece of advice: Remember to bring a face mask for the dust.

Translation by San Lay
Even as it was hit with an earthquake and with flooding, Myanmars second-largest city has seen an uptick in tourists numbers so far this year.





More than 227,000 foreign tourists visited Mandalay between January and August, according to the regions Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The number represents almost a 26 percent increase on last years figures from the same period.

About 300,000 foreign visitors in total came to Mandalay Region last year. Now, more than 220,000 foreign visitors have already come to our region before the end of the year and it has happened during the non-peak season. The number of visitors may increase even further in the coming peak season, said U San Yu, assistant director of the regional Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Over 400,000 visitors are expected by the end of the year, he continued.

U San Yu said that the ministrys main goal is to increase tourist numbers in Myanmar, especially from neighbouring ASEAN countries. Earlier this year, the ministry announced that it was hoping to welcome 6 million tourists across the country in 2016.

Some have questioned whether Myanmars nascent tourism industry and infrastructure will be able to handle such numbers. Criticism has also been levelled at the validity of the governments figures given that the majority of visitors tallied in previous annual counts are not actually tourists but day-trippers who cross land borders with Thailand and China, and contribute relatively little to the economy outside of border towns.

In this regard, Mandalays figures seem to include more genuine tourists given that the region does not share any borders with neighbouring countries.

Tourists visiting Mandalay usually visit iconic destinations such as the U Bein Bridge and Mandalay Hill to see the sunset, said tour guide Ko Nyan.

Visitors mostly come to Taunggyi, Inle and Bagan via Mandalay. Visiting via Mandalay is convenient for them and Mandalay has interesting places to visit such as the U Bein Bridge or Inwa ancient city, he said. We expect that visitors from Europe will come to Myanmar now more than ever. We need to create great tourist destinations in every state and region.





Translation by Win Thaw Tar
A drive to cleanse Yangon Regions Buddhist clergy will receive high-level official support, government officials have assured senior clerics. Both Union Minister for Religion and Culture Thura U Aung Ko and Yangon Regions chief minister, U Phyo Min Thein, have given the operation a green light.





Attempts to defrock or remove erring monks began under the last government but made little headway, apparently because of a combination of bureaucratic inertia and confusion over the targets of the purge.

Though widely revered, the nations half-million monks do include some bad apples, even if their transgressions rarely exceed gulping down the occasional glass of beer. From time to time fake monks  men who shave their heads and don clerical garb to dun contributions from unsuspecting passers-by  are unmasked. More worrisome are indications that the hierarchy wants to crack down on political or social opinions it disapproves of. Last years high-profile trial of U Ottara was a case in point. Also known as the London Sayadaw, he was acquitted of trespassing charges arising from a dramatic police raid on a Yangon pagoda. But evidence presented during the trial seemed to suggest that the real motive behind his prosecution was his outspoken criticism of conservative senior abbots.

At a meeting of the Yangon Region All Order Sangha Organisation Committee, or Buddhist hierarchy, on September 20, it was announced that both the Union minister for religious affairs, Thura U Ko Aung, and the Yangon Region chief minister, U Phyo Min Thein, had expressed support for the so-called Sasana cleansing plan.

The government will cooperate with senior monks in their efforts to deal with monks who flout Buddhist disciplines, said Thura U Aung Ko.

Committee chair the Venerable Iddhi Bala had requested the backing of the current government, saying their predecessors had failed to extend full cooperation in dealing with fraudsters under the cleansing plan.

It was implemented by the tract and township sangha committees, but government officials failed to cooperate. I would like to urge the government to help, he said.





To a question from the Thaketa township sangha committee on the extent of regional government cooperation, U Phyo Min Thein said, The government will follow all the instructions of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee.

The Yangon Region chief minister also pledged to act against monks who take part in demonstrations and protests against sangha (Buddhist hierarchy) rules. Monks who gamble or take part in protests will be reminded of the Dhamma [Buddhist teaching], he said. The chief ministers commitment suggests that township administrators and the police will be involved in the cleansing.

Myanmar, which is about 98 percent Buddhist in most regions, is home to about 60,000 monasteries and more than 520,000 monks.

U Gunnar Linkara, a former committee member, said, Our last attempt to cleanse the sangha failed, but now the government is on our side. He said clerical fraudsters had grown increasingly emboldened, fighting back when senior monks attempted to discipline them. They even attack the police, so why should they care what I think? he said.

The meeting, which brought together monks and nuns representing all Yangons 45 townships, presented Thura U Aung Ko with K210 million toward the repair of damage caused to religious buildings by last months Bagan earthquake.
Ive recently returned from Rakhine State. There to cover the first visit by Kofi Annan and the other members of the Rakhine Advisory Commission to the troubled region, I stayed on to speak to people in a number of communities about their current concerns.





There was no shortage of issues to look at: restricted healthcare, inadequate shelter, ongoing and increasing food insecurity, gender-based violence, police intimidation, lack of access to justice, and everywhere the miserable, endless cycle of poverty in which people across all communities in Rakhine State find themselves trapped.

Many of these abuses and troubles are intertwined, but one single factor stands out as contributing across so many issues to the plight of the states Muslim population: the restriction on the movements of those who self-identify as Rohingya and assert a long history in the region, but who are considered illegal Bengali immigrants by most in Myanmar.

Which is why, however positive the commissions intentions and however much Mr Annan illustrated a sensitivity to the need to be seen as remaining impartial  recognising the concerns of the ethnic Rakhine community as well as the Muslim one  his response to a question at a press conference in Yangon after his Rakhine visit was concerning.

The commission was asked, Did any of you witness anything you would describe as oppression? The former UN secretary general diplomatically replied, Personally, I did not see it there.

But Mr Annan and his team did see a major and ongoing rights abuse in the very first community they visited in Sittwe  one which did not involve obvious violence, but which contributes directly to death and misery because it restricts access to medical care, adequate shelter, food and justice.

The convoy of delegates and media that rolled through the entrance to the Aung Mingalar ghetto was not, on this high-profile occasion, stopped by armed guards and asked to prove it had permission to pass the barriers. Any of Aung Mingalars Muslim residents wishing to leave, however, were certainly not going to receive the same courtesy.





The very existence of Aung Mingalar  a fenced-off ward in which Rohinyga are confined on ethno-religious grounds  is a human rights abuse, and the residents Mr Annan met with were suffering the impacts of restriction on their movements even as they spoke to him.

The removal of that basic right to freedom of movement  the same right that is denied to most of the states 1 million-plus Rohingya population  contributes to so many other violations. It restricts access to vital medical care and contributes to food insecurity because they cannot travel to seek work to feed their families.

Any organisation tasked with addressing sectarian divides in Rakhine State must tackle far more problems than the original tensions that sparked the violence. They now must also try to unpick the incredibly complex set of deliberate and incidental rights violations which occurred in the riots wake. That includes what has become an entrenched system of apartheid, imposed by the state and tacitly supported for the past four years by an international community unwilling to risk the potential consequences of leaving Muslim IDPs without aid.

The deep mistrust of international actors that has arisen among many ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in the face of the ongoing UN and INGO response to the crisis only further complicates attempts by the commission to resolve community tensions. This was underscored by the rent-a-crowd bussed in to protest against the appointment of Mr Annan, a foreigner, as chair of the advisory body.

We are not here to do a human rights investigation or to write a human rights report  I hope our recommendations will be helpful as we intend to reduce tension and support development, Mr Annan told press after his visit.

It is hardly surprising that the ethnic Rakhine representatives on the commission would emphasise development over rights. That also suits a wider Union government approach.

Commission representatives and the UN in Myanmar have stressed that the commission is an entirely separate entity from the UN  a distinction necessary to assuage concerns among those in Rakhine who accuse UN organisations of pro-Rohingya bias in the state.

Nonetheless, the influence of those with UN connections is evident. It is not unexpected that the commission is following the current emphasis by the UN leadership in Myanmar which stresses development as the way forward for Rakhine. It is an approach that has created bitter divides within the UN in Myanmar between those agencies with a focus on rights and those supporting development.

Unquestionably Rakhine, the poorest or second-poorest state in the country depending on whose definition you use, could benefit from development.

The state is invaluable in terms of its geopolitical position, and its oil and gas resources have so far been used to benefit others and not allowed to generate the community dividends they ought to have. People of all ethnic and religious backgrounds in Rakhine need help to escape the poverty cycle.

But attempts to boost development and end community tensions and injustices, while over 1 million people remain trapped within their own villages because of their ethnic background, are doomed.

The reality is that outside Sittwe, many ethnic Rakhine communities and their Muslim neighbours who identify as Rohingya have a functioning relationship, particularly when it comes to trade. But the fact that exchanges are in large part based around Rakhine traders bringing in goods to Rohingya who are not allowed to travel just underscores the intrinsic disparity.

Likewise, I heard reports from credible sources that a small number of Rohingya labourers are being employed by contractors on some state development projects  but given the current movement restrictions, such work is effectively illegal and the potential for labour rights violation is enormous.

To support the idea that development holds the key to ending community tensions while one group of people are denied basic rights and treated as second-class citizens, or in this case deemed not worthy of citizenship at all, is to support the development of a society that will be fundamentally unequal and unjust.

The very existence of the commission is a positive step forward. Muslim representatives have expressed hope that it can secure them a better future. Meanwhile, if most ethnic Rakhine people I spoke to questioned a foreigners ability to understand their problems, they were also willing to acknowledge Mr Annans international experience and expressed respect for the fact that, like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, he is a Nobel laureate.

There is room for the commission to do great good. But to do so it must be brave and it must be honest. The temptation to avoid the thorny issues of rights abuses and focus on the diplomatically acceptable language of development must be strong.

If Mr Annan is to leave a worthwhile legacy in Rakhine State, however, he must not just ignore, but instead champion, human rights.
The U.S. Senate has passed legislation calling for a Wall of Remembrance in Washington that lists the names of all American soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War. The bill just awaits U.S. President Barack Obama's signature.

The bill was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate on Monday after the House of Representatives authorized it in February. It was introduced last year by Republican lawmaker Sam Johnson, himself a Korean War veteran.

The wall will be added to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. It will be of glass and contain the names of 37,000 U.S. soldiers as well as information on the number of allied troops who fought and died in the war.

Democratic lawmaker Charles Rangel, who sponsored the bill with Johnson, said in a statement that the wall will remind everyone that "freedom is never free."
The FBI says it is gathering information about an alleged incident involving Brad Pitt and his children aboard a private flight last week.

It said it was evaluating whether to launch an investigation.

Pitts wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday citing irreconcilable differences.

Jolie has asked for physical custody of the couples six children, asking the judge to give Pitt visitation rights.

The FBI told the BBC: 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.

Pitt released a statement to People magazine after Jolie filed for divorce, saying he was saddened, and adding: 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.

Jolie had filed for the dissolution of their marriage

Jolies lawyer, Robert Offer, said the decision to divorce had been made for the health of the family.

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating Pitt because of confidentiality laws.

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has said it is not investigating actor Brad Pitt in connection with reports of allegations regarding his children, following claims they were looking into the matter.

They told the BBC: The LAPD is not handling any report or allegations into child abuse for Mr Brad Pitt.


Ace hiplife artiste, Tic Tac, will headline the MUSIGA Peace Concert in Sunyani on Friday, September 23 at 6:00 pm on the Semanhyia road in Sunyani near the main station.

The concert is part of MUSIGA's peace initiative dubbed 'Using Music for National Cohesion During Election 2016', and it is supported by STAR-Ghana.

The hiplife star who is renowned for a slew of hit songs says he is very excited to be headlining the peace concert and called on Ghanaians to maintain the peace before, during and after the elections.

According to the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of MUSIGA, Daniel Adjei, aka Kosoo, the concert will feature many of the leading stars of the region, including CST Amankwah, Ama Grace, Dada Thick, among others.

Kosoo, therefore, called on all peace lovers to throng to the Semanhyia road on Friday and pledge for peace. He said representatives of political parties and other stakeholders will be present at the peace concert.

The peace concert train moves to Tamale on October 15 and climaxes in Accra on December 3. Media partners include Sun City Radio, Citi FM, Pluzz FM, Multimedia Group Limited and GBC.

As part of the union's peace initiative, a compilation album of peace songs has been released by MUSIGA, featuring songs by Iwan, AK Songstress, Pastor Joe Beecham, among others.

The Next Generation Ministers, led by Joe Mettle, won the Best Peace Song of the Year at this year's VGMAs in Accra and received a cash prize of GH 10,000, donated by Midland Savings & Loans for their effort. The song is also included on the compilation album as well as an all star song and all star music video.

So far, MUSIGA has held peace walks in nine regional capitals, with the final walk slated for Accra on Friday, September 30.
With Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale's hit song, Mahama Paper ringing out at almost every National Democratic Congress (NDC) event, one could be forgiven for thinking the song was an endorsement of President John Mahama's campaign for reelection.

But Shatta Wale himself has rubbished such notions by saying he was no intentions of endorsing any political party.

In a Facebook post the dancehall artiste was explicit in his non-partisanship saying, I will not endorse any political party or its candidate but rather preach peace and entertain their gathering!

In times like this when the political climate is about to be heated up, we need to intensify our campaign for peace. For this reason, Shatta Wale will take advantage of any stage presented by any political party or movement to preach peace and stability in the country before, during and after the election. Im a musician and a performer and if they require my services to entertain their following, that is strictly business, however, I will not endorse any political party or its candidate but rather preach peace and entertain their gathering!

'Celebrity endorsements ahead of polls'

President John Mahama has received the endorsement of showbiz personalities like Selasie Ibrahim, Mr. Beautiful, John Dumelo , Mzbel, Bukom Banku , Ayitey Powers and Papa Nii.

The likes of Cwesi Oteng, Agya Koo Lucky Mensah , Wisa Greid , Dada KD, Kwabena Kwabena, Barima Sidney, Leo Mensah, Daddy Lumba and Nana Quame have also come out in support for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Cacheu (Guinea-Bissau) (AFP) - The museum's first display spares little: a naked slave kneels with her hands tied, right shoulder freshly branded with her owner's mark by a white man with sleeves rolled to his biceps.

The town of Cacheu on the coast of Guinea-Bissau was a Portuguese trading post where millions of slaves saw west Africa for the last time, bound, branded and shipped off to the Americas.

A new memorial has opened to commemorate the exiled sons and daughters of this impoverished nation, not only to recall Portugal's brutal venture into Africa but also to establish itself on the historical tourism circuit.

"The idea is to show that Cacheu was the first place where Europeans practised transatlantic slavery on an industrial scale," said Alfredo Caldeira, who heads the archives of the Mario Soares foundation -- named after the late Portuguese president -- which helped create the memorial.

Among the items on display are wooden collars that slaves were bolted into two by two and a huge, rusty pot where slaves' rations were cooked.

"Despite its size, it wasn't enough to feed everyone. The portions were very small and the dishes quite basic. It was all cooked quickly so they could get back to work," said tour guide Joachim Lopes.

After taking in the horrors, retail therapy is at hand, with t-shirts and caps splashed with a chain logo available from the shop.

"The tourist aspect is important," said Caldeira. "But the main thing is to allow these people to rediscover a collective memory and dignity."

Exterior of the museum to transatlantic slavery in Cacheu, Guinea-Bissau supported by the Mario Soares foundation

Cultural potential

Cacheu is home to fewer than 10,000 people today, but was the capital of Portugal's former colony from the 16th century onwards, trading in people until the late 19th century.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Africa in exploratory missions dispatched in the early 15th century. They would go on to trade, with Brazil's help, an estimated five million of the 11 million humans believed to have traversed the Atlantic, according to historians.

The idea for the memorial came in November 2010 when the first "Quilombola" festival was held in Cacheu, a name that refers to communities in Brazil formed by escaped slaves.

Their descendants from Brazil and the Caribbean had made an emotional pilgrimage to the land of their ancestors after identifying their roots through their DNA.

"They told us their stories. A lot of people cried that day. Some of them asked themselves if they were kin. We danced, we hugged, we shook hands," said high school teacher Augusto Joao Correia.

The Cacheu memorial's founders now hope for success akin to neighbouring Senegal's celebrated Goree island, another Atlantic "point of no return" for slaves that has become a must-see for visiting heads of state and celebrities.

"Despite its contested position as a hub for the slave trade, Goree is key for tourism in Senegal, visited by several US presidents," said Djiguatte Amede Bassene of the African Research Centre for the Slave Trade (CARTE) based in Dakar.

"Elsewhere in Africa, other countries are asking: 'why not us'?"

Cacheu may also have in its sights a UNESCO project linking and promoting sites of historical interest and research into the slave trade, in which Goree is already involved.

The European Union donated 519,000 euros ($579,000) to the Cacheu project, 90 percent of its total cost, with the specific aim of increasing the cultural potential of such sites as a source of sustainable income for the country.

Rare hope

Lined with palm trees and painted a brilliant white, the three years of work by Portuguese architects have culminated in an impressive structure that stands out in a quiet, crumbling town that suffers in the rainy season.

The edifice was once the headquarters of the Casa Gouveia, the name of the Portuguese colonial-era firm that traded all kinds of goods, including people.

"In this building, local and European products were exchanged for men. Several of the objects testify to that," said the memorial's coordinator Cambraima Alanso Cassama.

Development of the site has not been without controversy.

A four-storey salmon-pink hotel has sprung up a few hundred metres (yards) away, but developers are accused of destroying human bones buried where the foundations were laid.

Other marks of the past are left to rot: the "bridge of no return" -- the slaves' final boarding point -- has partially collapsed and flounders among the rigging and nets of fishermen.

Regardless, the memorial is a rare spark of hope for Cacheu's residents: the World Bank describes Guinea-Bissau as one of the world's "poorest and most fragile countries". A series of coups and economic crises have also left it vulnerable to drug smugglers.

And the country's slave-trade story remains largely untold. One of the last traces was a 500-peso bank note that showed slaves lining up to board two vessels on the beach.

The bank note, however, dropped out of circulation when Guinea-Bissau joined the CFA-franc zone in 1997.
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The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has urged Ghanaians to usher in change by voting out the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says considering the way President John Mahama has mismanaged the Ghanaian economy he would still not fair better if given a second term.

Citing rising unemployment among Ghanaian youth, skyrocketing prices of commodities in the market, and general hardship in the economy, he said: Mahama would be unable to do the work if we are to give him 100 years.

The NPP leader made these remarks when he addressed chiefs and people of Ada in the Greater Accra Region during a campaign tour ahead of the December polls.

Political activities ahead of the presidential and parliamentary election have picked up especially on the part of the two largest political parties namely the NPP and the NDC.

The NDC launched its manifesto a week ago making it one among the only two political parties to do so. The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) outdoored its manifesto before choosing its Vice Presidential Candidate.

With 74 days to the polls, the NPP is yet to make known its manifesto. Acting NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, told Joy News the manifesto would be launched on October 8.

Many political pundits have found this worrying, considering the NPP has been accusing the NDC of plagiarizing its ideas. They believe a party that is accusing another of stealing its policies should have launched its working document five clear months to the election.

Even though the party's manifesto is yet to be made public, the NPP flagbearer has been campaigning on issues functionaries of the party have said form part of the NPPs manifesto for the election.

Nana Akufo-Addo has said he would set up the Coastal Development Authority to undertake development projects in coastal communities. Regions to benefit from the Authority include Greater Accra with Ada as one of the areas to benefit, Central, Volta, and Western Region.

The NPP leader believes poverty has taken a toll on Ghanaians and he urged residents of Ada to vote for him for his ideas to be implemented.

The NDC, he said, dont have a policy; they dont have ideas to help us so we have to choose a government that will bring in effective policies that will create jobs and give us money.

Touching on the resources of Ghana, Mr Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians are going hungry despite the rich deposit of resources in the land.

Things that needed to be done have not been done that is why we are going hungry, he explained.

He said he would effectively manage the resources of Ghana to create jobs both in the agriculture and industrial sectors, undertake social infrastructure and ease out the burden of parents by implementing the free senior high school policy.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brakopowers | Email: [email protected]
Vodafone Ghana is rewarding 750, 000 customers nationwide in a 90-day promotion dubbed Yee Twi KE reloaded.

This follows the success of last years Yee Twi KE promotion which rewarded close to 180,000 customers with exciting cash prizes and airtime on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

This years version is expected to be bigger with a total of GH2.5million worth of prizes to be won and an ultimate prize of GH150,000 at the end of the three-month period.

Over the years, Vodafone has introduced ground-breaking campaigns that have whipped up enthusiasm among its customers and reinforced its ethos as the telecommunications company of choice in Ghana.

Commenting, Agnes Emefa Essah, Consumer Business Director at Vodafone Ghana said Yee Twi KE Reloaded is a promotion we are thrilled to execute again because of the extraordinary impact it had on our customers.

"Over the years, our quest to create a solid and admired brand continues unabated. Yee Twi KE reloaded will reward over 750, 000 customers nationwide to the tune of GH2.5 million  a truly remarkable feat. These are interesting times for our customers and we are happy to be sharing it with them.

Under the mechanics of the promotion, the customer is simply required to scratch, top-up or build points to win. Vodafones 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.

Customers can withdraw cash prizes at any Vodafone Cash agent or Vodafone Retail Shop nationwide. Cash prize winners will have their prize monies delivered to their phones through Vodafone Cash. In order to ensure that the cash prizes are paid to the actual winners, they need to recharge their mobile phones with the airtime on the scratch card. They can then withdraw the cash at any Vodafone Cash agent nationwide, or register their Vodafone Cash accounts and buy airtime with their prize money.

Additionally, Customers will be building points whenever they recharge credit, make calls, use the internet, send SMS or purchase their preferred bundles.

Since last years promotion, heart-warming testimonials from previous winners such as Ishmael Manaaf prove the power of such campaigns in transforming lives.

Ishmael was able to expand his licensed chemical store with his GH10,000 prize money to enhance service to his customer base.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
23.09.2016 LISTEN

Coordinator for the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) 2016 election campaign, Kofi Adams, has defended President John Mahama who has been accused of splashing money to passersby on one of his campaign tours.

President Mahama, while campaigning in the Greater Accra Region, was captured on a video which had gone viral on social media, in which hes seen distributing some items believed to be money.

He has since been accused of taking the practice of vote-buying to absurd levels, ahead of the December 7 polls.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Kofi Adams said the President did not commit such an act as being speculated.

He explained that there were multitudes around the vehicle but he [President Mahama] pointed to a particular person away and handed what I saw to be party paraphernalia to the person.

Kofi Adams also argued that, assuming it was even money the president was distributing, he sees nothing wrong with it.

Assuming without admitting that it was even money that you decide to give to somebody, can that be described as sharing?

Ignore Mahama's vote buying propaganda

The NPP has urged Ghanaians not to heed to alleged vote buying tactics employed by the NDC ahead of the December polls.

They made the call after the President visited the Western Region few months ago, where he distributed outboard motors and other items to fisher folks in the region.

The NDC government took over in 2009 and ordered all projects to stop and so the cold stores construction which was on going, and the Nyanyaano one about almost completed, was stopped till 2015 (6 years) and just last week that of Shama and Half Assini after 7 years were commissioned, the NPP in the Western Region said.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
China's trade with North Korea surged in August, raising concerns that Beijing is deliberately loosening sanctions against the North amid an escalating arms race in the region.

Trade between China and North Korea had been declining gradually since Beijing got behind international sanctions against the North in April. That it has picked up again exposes a fundamental weakness in the sanctions, which allow trade of goods not explicitly linked to the North's nuclear and missile programs to continue.

Experts say it is difficult to distinguish between trade that is vital to the livelihood of ordinary North Koreans and money used for military purposes.

According to Chinese customs officials, trade between the two countries totaled US$628.3 million last month, up a whopping 30 percent from the same period last year, before the tougher sanctions went into effect.

China's exports to North Korea jumped 41.6 percent to $336.9 million, while the North's exports to China rose 18.7 percent to $291.3 million. Trade fell 8.2 percent in May, the month after the sanctions kicked in, rose again 9.4 percent in June, and then fell 15.7 percent in July, raising hopes that China was serious about cracking down.
Names of all validated creditors of DKM Diamond Microfinance in the Upper East Region, will be published on the 30th of September, 2016, at designated centers with their corresponding banks to cash their claims effective first week of October, the liquidator of DKM has disclosed.

An official Liquidator of DKM, Mrs. Yemima Oware during an encounter with creditors of DKM in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, indicated that, names of all verified claimants will be pasted at the DKM branch in Bolga and at the regional coordinating council on 30th September for claimants to check their names for payment.

She added that, the Agricultural Development Bank, Ghana Commercial Bank and Fidelity Bank, have been contracted to pay all validated creditors of DMK Microfinance over the counter.

Mrs. Oware said customers whose names are not captured on the validated list, should not worry, adding that, the validation process is still ongoing and that customers will be updated accordingly.

The claims that came in was 63,000, but through a forensic audit by Price water house coppers, we had about 93,000 separate claims coming in.

So I cannot confirm how many customers have been verified for payment of claims and cannot also tell whether customers will be paid their full principal with interest or not until next week Friday.

Mrs. Oware further said, her outfit will come out with modalities on how to pay decreased depositors and those whose deposit slips were destroyed by disasters.

Commenting on the fate of some DKM depositors who had won court cases against the company, a partner of Price water house coppers Ghana limited, Eric Nana Nipah, said DKM Diamond Microfinance will negotiate with the affected parties for an amicable resolution of the issue.

Some creditors of DKM Microfinance told Citi News they were excited about the move by the liquidator to ensure that their monies are paid.



By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The Coalition on the Right to Information (RTI), Ghana has observed with interest the selection of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama by UNESCO to deliver the keynote speech at an event scheduled for September 26th to mark the first International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) (officially September 28), at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. September 28 was previously called the Right to Know Day before it was declared by UNESCO member States in November 2015 as an international day to be celebrated as the IDUAI

Will the selection of President Mahama to speak at the September 26th event mark a new dawn for access to information in Ghana? Should we expect that after this international event, H.E will be motivated to, upon his return, engage Parliament to secure the passage of the RTI Bill with the critical amendments, as his government committed to do under the 2012-14 and 2016-17 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Action Plans?

President Mahama is scheduled to speak on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions specifically elaborating on the role of media and access to information in promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, promoting access to justice for all and on building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The event which is aimed at highlighting the key importance of Access to Information in the success of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will bring other guest speakers including journalists, NGO workers, entrepreneurs, academics etc. to share their experience and ideas on eleven SDGs with emphasis on how access to information will help in achieving them.

The RTI Coalition believes that the selection of President Mahama to speak on such a day as the IDUAI and on such a topic, even though ironic given that Ghana has failed for more than a decade to put in place an access to information legislation, presents an opportunity for the President to make concrete commitments on the passage of an effective and efficient RTI legislation before the current Parliament lapses in 2017.

The Coalition would like to remind President Mahama that the progress to secure the review and passage of the RTI Bill since 2013 when H.E resubmitted the Bill before Parliament, has been very slow. In June 2016 the consideration of the Bill was stalled due to the lack of political will by the current Parliament to prioritize the consideration of the Bill as they promised.

As a Coalition, we are concerned that President Mahama has not demonstrated strong commitments to the passage of the RTI Bill despite his partys commitment to same in their 2008 and 2012 manifestos. Being an election year, the failure by the 6th Parliament to pass the Bill before its tenure lapses would mean that the process will have to commence all over again with the new government and the new Parliament. As a result of this, the Coalition sent a petition to President Mahama through the Chief of Staff on August 18 2016 asking him to deliver on his partys previous manifesto promises on the RTI Bill. Till date the Coalition has not received any response to the petition.

It is interesting to read the NDCs 2016 manifesto promising as part of its 2017  2021 commitments to implement the Right to Information Bill when passed by Parliament, same promise that was made in 2012. However the 2016 manifesto omitted the very relevant part of the 2012 manifesto on the passage of the Bill as follows - the next NDC Administration will  and work with the legislature to prioritise the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, meaning that government is not committed to engaging Parliament to ensure the passage of the Bill before and even after the elections. Does this mean that Ghanaians should wait for another four years before this law is put in place? As the Co-Chair of Eminent persons on the SDGs and given that the UNESCOs celebration this year is focused on powering sustainable development with public access to information, shouldnt the passage of an RTI law IN HIS EXCELLENCYS OWN COUNTRY be a priority now?

We would like H.E to know that Ghana as the beacon of democracy in Africa, as he emphasized at the recent UN General Assembly (UNGA), is lagging behind in terms of promoting access to information for citizens to effectively participate in governance and make informed choices. Several other African countries including countries in transition have successfully passed the law. For example: South Sudan, Guinea, Niger, Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Nigeria, Rwanda and most recently Kenya and Tanzania to mention but a few, have all passed the law.

ISSUED BY THE RTI COALITION, GHANA, SEPTEMBER 23 2016
I KILLED GIRL, 7 AND HAD SEX WITH HER BODY  MAN, 22, CONFESSES

A 22-year-old man yesterday confessed to the Accra Central District Magistrate Court to killing a seven-year-old girl at Ashaiman, near Tema, after which he had sex with the corpse.

NDC HAS BETTER ECONOMIC RECORD THAN NPP  FIFI KWETEY

The NDC has reiterated that it has a great track record of using foreign loans to invest in solid projects which have started bringing high returns to the country.

AVEYIME RICE PROJECT DEAD

No one needs to be told on entering the yard of Volta Praire Limited, formerly known as the Aveyime Rice Project at Aveyime, Battor, in the North Tongu District in the Volta Region, that the project is dead.

GOVT URGES BANKS INTO OIL AND GAS FUNDING

For the country to achieve its lofty local content goals, the financial services sector, led by the banks, would have to cast off its fear of the risks and huge into funding local companies offering services in the upstream oil and gas industry, government has said.

SHEA BUTTER EXPORT REACHES $64M

Export earnings from shea butter products last year reached $64 million, up from $52 million in 2014, representing a 23 percent growth according to the latest figures from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA).

ICT SECTOR RECORDS DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH

In spite of a slowdown in the economy, Ghanas ICT sector has seen high double-digit growth over the past 12 months, supported by new infrastructure and value-added mobile services.

IM NOT BRIBING VOTERS  MAHAMA

President John Mahama has denied reports suggesting he was bribing voters ahead of the December 2016 general elections.

GCB BOARD CHAIRMAN HOT

The Board Chairman of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Daniel Owuredu is struggling to parry allegation of playing double roles in the running of the bank, having appointed himself as Chairman of the Credit Sub-committee of the bank.

NEARLY 10,000 KILLED IIN ROAD ACCIDENTS DURING ELECTION YEARS

Road traffic accidents and the associated injuries and fatalities in Ghana during an election year, in particular, show a worrying trend.

NDPC TARGETS YOUTH IN LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in collaboration with National Youth Authority has launched a comprehensive programme to actively involve the youth in the 40-year Long Term Development Plan of the country.

NURSES RAISE RED FLAG OVER MOVE TO USE NDC FOOT SOLDIERS AS HEALTH WORKERS

The Today Newspaper is reporting that the Mahama-led NDC has recruited and trained some of its foot soldiers to work as community health education workers in the country.

GH4.717BN SECTOR MONEY WASTED

Minority MPs say an amount of GH47171 billion which was injected into the road sector since January 2009 has become waste.

VIRGINITY FOR SALE AS WOMEN TURN TO CREAMS TO RESTOR CHASTITY

With most men desiring to take ladies who are virgins to the altar, some ladies are stepping up their game by repackaging the virginity.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
The last, recent joint note of Italian and Egyptian attorneys on Giulio Regeni's murder shows that a good degree of cooperation in the investigation has been finally reached. Unfortunately that has required various months during which Egyptian transparency wasn't so high. Moreover, as the Italian attorney Pignatone has reminded, that underway is not a joint but a mere Egyptian investigation, to whom Italian investigators are only collaborating. So, the chances that we will know one day who and why really killed Regeni are in the hands of destiny and of Egyptian judiciary. For now, it appears fallen at least the trail to the alleged gang of kidnappers killed by the Egyptian police last March.

It is quite obvious that someone among the Egyptian apparatus has tried to sabotage the investigation  too many false trails, omissions and so on. That doesn't mean, however, that Regeni was killed by Egyptian authorities, not to mention a direct involvement of President al-Sisi, which is really unlikely (even if speculations about that appeared on the Italian newspapers La Repubblica, citing a mysterious Egyptian source). The admission that police investigated on Regeni isn't an admission of guilt. Egyptian authorities said that the denunciation came from an independent trade union and that the investigation lasted only three days. Could that support the hypothesis of a murder committed by union officials? Whether or not, we are probably still far from any truth, both real or official.

As the judicial sky is clearing up a bit, even on the political stage something has moved between Egypt and Italy after the great chill followed to Regeni's murder last winter. Italy tried to spark off a diplomatic guerrilla against Egypt, persuading her Western allies to isolate the Arab country. Unfortunately for her, that utterly failed. Western countries showed to evaluate al-Sisi's contribution against terrorism and Islamism far more than any moral reservation about democracy and human rights. That should have sound unsurprisingly to the Italian Government, as P.M. Matteo Renzi himself once called al-Sisi a great leader and F.M. Paolo Gentiloni described him as an ally against jihadism. No wonder that Italy's Western partners shares the same idea on al-Sisi, unchanged for them by any Regeni case.

As professor Anis H. Bajrektarevic rightfully diagnosed the trend of 2010s: No Spring on a single string, right?! How could any social cohesion, indispensable for the MENA democratization, possibly work in the world of simplified choices and various binary categorizations (the us-vs.-them/either-or), where primary loyalties are (returned) to sect, tribe or ethnicity? This dilemma relates not only to democracy, but also to the very quest of secularism  for the one presupposes the other  ever since the French Revolution. In this or any other part of the (developing) world, institutionalization of democracy without secularization of state inevitably leads to a dysfunctional, destabilizing and (self-)debilitating government: divinization of the office and personalization of power

Therefore Italy began to soften her stance. In May already, just one month after having recalled it, Italy has reinstated her Ambassador in Cairo. Italian attorneys have began to issue conciliatory statements about their Egyptian colleagues. Even the July vote of the Italian Parliament, the one that stopped Italian free supply of F-16 spare parts to Egypt, was just a speed bump, result more of an independent move by some parliamentarians than of a studied decision by the Government. In fact persists in the Italian public opinion a trend, lead by Regeni's parents and supported by Amnesty International, pressing for a tougher stance against Egypt, able to condition a large number of MPs but actually in the minority in the country.

So, everything is bound to be settled between Italy and Egypt? Not so fast. Even if Regeni case is no more a decisive factor, may well be a tool in future disputes. And disputes may easily arise from the Libyan theater. Al-Sisi in Libya strongly supports his alter ego, Khalifa Heftar, the most committed enemy of any Islamist factions. On the contrary Islamists abounds in the other camp, the Tripolitanian one, even after the instate of Fayez al-Sarraj and his GNA. Pressed by Western powers, al-Sarraj installation has been possible only thanks to cooptation of a large part of the former Libya Dawn coalition, including Islamists as Abdelhakim Belhadj or Abdelrauf Kara, not to mention the Muslim Brotherhood which is a bete noire to al-Sisi.

Recent conquest of the oil ports by Gen. Heftar has aroused official condemnation by Western countries, but it's difficult to predict how much of that public opposition could flow into private connivance. Heftar has already received help by a lot of countries that in the meantime strongly supported the GNA  maybe because splitting up the country is emerging in their assessments as the only viable solution to the Libyan conundrum. The same could be true for Italy, especially if  as it seems  Haftar could be a more reliable guardian of Libyan oil (a large stack of total ENI production) than Ibrahim Jidhran was.

 Daniele Scalea, geopolitical analyst, is Director-general of IsAG (Rome Institute of Geopolitics) and Ph.D. Candidate in Political studies at the Sapienza University, Rome. Author of three books, is frequent contributor and columnist to various Tv-channels and newspapers. E-mail: [email protected]
INTRODUCTION

Refined petroleum products are an important resource in every country.

Various governments impose taxes on fuel to generate revenue that finances essential public goods and services for the benefit of the citizenry. Governments also provide a boost to targeted sectors of the economy or help the needy by way of fuel subsidies.

An unintended effect is that the price differentials created by these taxes and/or subsidies produce a financial incentive for unscrupulous individuals and businesses to engage in several forms of fuel fraud. These include: smuggling, adulteration and dilution of fuels, transit fuel diversion and round-tripping as well as outright theft. Moreover, fuel fraud is not just an in-country problem but can cross borders where cheaper, inferior products are smuggled in as adulterants or subsidized fuels are smuggled out to neighbouring countries where they sell at higher prices.

Smuggling of unwanted adulterants into Philippines fuel supply chain, for instance, has been estimated to cost the country as high as $750 million annually in tax revenue.[2] This money could certainly have done a lot for the Philippines. This makes one wonder how much African countries are losing annually due to fuel fraud. The situation could be worse for African countries that simultaneously tax certain petroleum products and subsidize others. This is because not only is the expected tax revenue not realized but the subsidies are also wasted as they are diverted from the targeted recipients to criminals. The government loses twice when crooked businesses dilute taxed fuel with the cheaper subsidized products.

Attempts have been made in the past to mark or identify various fuel products in order to prevent fraud. For example, fuel marking with dyes has been in use since the 1950s but can be easily defeated using cheap and simple methods to launder out the dye. However, newer technologies using molecular markers as part of an overall fuel supply chain protection program have proven to reduce existing criminal activities and deter others. The impact of fuel fraud, how fuel marking programs operate and the results of some current African programs are presented here to support the further adoption of this technology across the continent.

Impact on Government Revenue

A report by the World Bank (2001) on petroleum taxation stressed that taxes on petroleum products are a critical source of government revenue. The report further explains, .taxing fuel is one of the easiest ways to get revenue: collecting fuel taxes is relatively straightforward, and the consumption of fuels as a group is relatively price inelastic and income elastic, ensuring buoyant revenue as income rises and tax rates are increased.[3] In other words, because petroleum products cannot easily be replaced by close substitutes, taxing them is less distortionary: the decrease in demand due to the tax-inclusive price will not be that large. Additionally, as personal incomes increase, individuals are more likely to increase fuel consumption, making fuel tax revenue vital to the government.

Where fuel fraud is prevalent, a large amount of the anticipated tax revenue will not be collected. Tax evasion occurs when taxed fuels are diluted with products that have lower taxes or no taxes, such as: fuels smuggled in from other countries; subsidized petroleum products; duty-free transit fuels; stolen petroleum products; inferior products such as solvents, waste oils and others. Fuel fraud takes place in many countries, including even advanced countries in Europe. Bloomberg news reported that fuel fraud costs the EU about $4 billion annually in tax revenue.[4] Elsewhere in Africa, Algeria lost approximately $1.3 billion to fuel fraud in 2013.[5] These figures are indeed alarming especially for African countries that rely heavily on foreign aid to support a large percentage of their budgets annually. Failure to collect taxes due to fuel fraud could lead to unnecessary fiscal deficits and aid dependency.

The government of Ghana has for some time been riddled with a heavy debt burden despite the discovery and subsequent production of crude oil (in commercial quantities) in 2011. Driven in part by an IMF fiscal reform and credit facility, the country adopted a modern fuel- marking program, using the expected increase in revenue to close the fiscal gap. The results include over 100% Return on Investment (ROI) and an estimated increase of about $11 million in tax excise collection per annum.[6] The fuel marking programme has helped the government to raise more revenue from the taxed petroleum products without having to increase the tax rates. The Ghana National Petroleum Agencys (NPA) program is based on the technology and best practices of US-based Authentix, Inc.

Governments that implement fuel marking programs can generate virtually all the expected revenue to fund vital goods and services, creating a good governance environment for businesses to thrive, the economy to grow and ultimately improve the living standards of the people.

Impact on Subsidy-Targets

Another crucial issue for governments is subsidy abuse. Various governments provide subsidies to boost industries such as farming and fishing, help provide a social safety net for the needy as well as distribute the benefits of discovered abundant natural resources. A common subsidy is the provision of lower taxes or no taxes for kerosene so that poorer families can have access to affordable cooking and heating fuel. There may also be subsidies provided for marine premix fuel and off-road diesel with the overall objective of increasing economic growth.

The lower price of subsidized products provides an incentive to use it as an adulterant in more expensive or fully-taxed fuels. Subsidy abuse also occurs when subsidized fuels are smuggled out to higher-priced markets in typically the neighbouring countries to lower transportation costs. There is also the issue of round-tripping of imports notable in Nigeria. Although Nigeria exports crude oil, refined petroleum products are usually imported and subsidized. After these products are imported and the subsidy is paid, some criminals take them out of the country and bring them in again to double the subsidy.[7] In Niger, round-tripping of exports also exists. The immediate effect is that subsidy funds are diverted from the intended beneficiaries to criminals and may well be used to finance other criminal activities.

There are several impacts of subsidy abuse. The economic growth goals for the targeted sectors are not achieved. The government also loses twice when these subsidized fuels are mixed with the fully taxed ones, losing the tax revenue and the investment in the subsidies. Increases in subsidy expenditures due to diversion could culminate in the depreciation of the countrys currency and its credit rating[8]. Subsidy diversion is a problem for many countries. 5

Fuel marking programs can help combat subsidy abuse by marking the low- and no-tax fuels at concentrations in the low parts per billion levels and testing for the marker in the higher taxed fuel. Once marked, even when added at low quantities, the presence of the subsidized fuels can be detected using special analysers at the border or within the country catching both smuggling and adulteration of high taxed fuels. Ghana, for instance, has seen a 78% reduction in adulteration as a result of the program. Serbia also recorded a significant decline in the sales of base oils (known as diesel adulterants) by seven times. Similar fuel marking programs would enable African governments to obtain a large proportion of the fuel revenue due to them and also ensure that the subsidies reach predetermined beneficiaries.

Other relevant impacts

Apart from tax evasion and subsidy abuse due to fuel fraud, there are also other negative effects which the fuel marking programs could help address.

When fuel is adulterated with cheaper or inferior products, the quality of fuel suffers and typically does combust completely in machines or vehicles. This could lead to a quicker rate of depreciation of various machines or vehicles. This means that money which could have been used for profitable investments would be spent on maintenance instead. This could discourage Foreign Direct Investment if investors lose confidence in the profitability of their ventures due to this challenge. Fuel marking programs can reduce the rate of adulteration quite quickly, helping to ensure that citizens get value for money and removing some barriers to foreign investment.

Additionally, dilution of fuels with waste oils could have a serious detrimental impact on the environment. With greenhouse gas emission and climate change as a global concern, this effect cannot be overlooked. Fuel marking programs provide the evidence to help remove polluting adulterants from the fuel supply chain hence improving the environment. A fuel marking program would culminate in the supply and sale of more environment-friendly petroleum products by reducing adulteration and maintaining high quality.

Some Key Prerequisites of a Successful Fuel Integrity Program

There are some other essential factors to consider so that African governments can implement successful programs in their countries.

First, a government should seek out a partner with a proven track record of excellence in fuel marking programs with the state-of-the-art molecular fuel -marking technology. The partner should conduct a situational analysis to identify the problem(s) particular to the country, designing a technical and operational solution for the program that specifically addresses those problems. Often a multi-layered approach is used with a field test to screen for diversion or dilution problems. If a field test fails, further lab tests are conducted with sophisticated analysers that provide high quality evidence in support of enforcement actions or legal proceedings. To ensure that the program is meeting its objectives, the government should insist that regular procedural performance and marker inventory audits be included in the program design and costs.

Although it may appear as a good idea to give different parts of the fuel marking program to different companies in order to create competition and efficiency, this may lead to a lack of accountability. Best practice would be to partner with a company that will have the sole responsibility for the program, while potentially using local subcontractors for some operational aspects in order to create employment locally.

Second, legislation is critical to the success of the program. The government and other relevant institutions must cooperate with the partner to pass legislation and/or clear any ambiguities in existing legislation to ensure that culprits caught and arrested could be prosecuted. Without legislation and cooperation, the program cannot succeed in curbing tax evasion and subsidy abuse. Cooperation by the Government of Ghana and the NPA with Authentix yielded positive revenue results for Ghana. It is no surprise therefore that the NPA and its Chief Executive, Mr Moses Asaga, recently received two awards from the prestigious Socrates Committee of the Europe Business Assembly in Cannes, France. The NPA received the International Prize for Best Enterprise for 2015 award, while Mr Asaga was honoured with the Best Manager award for 2015.[9]

Last but not least, legislation should be paired with strong enforcement of punitive measures. If culprits caught are not punished, the law will be seen as harmless. This does not create the strong deterrent effect necessary to reduce fuel fraud. Punishments such as fines, immediate bans and imprisonment should be meted out to culpable entities in order to ensure that the program delivers desired results. In Ghana, the deterrent effect culminated in a substantial reduction in the amount of fuel product dilution from 34% to 7% within just 6 months of the program.6

CONCLUSION

Fuel fraud via tax evasion has robbed African governments of millions of US dollars in tax revenue annually. Subsidy expenditures from the remaining scarce resources also find their way to various criminals instead of intended beneficiaries such as the poor in the country.

The fuel marking programs that use modern marker technology is an innovative way of curbing these illicit activities and ensuring that individuals and firms get value for money spent on fuel. Despite calls from economists such as Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Christine Lagarde at the recently held World Economic forum in Davos for a new measure of economic progress other than GDP growth, GDP growth still remains crucial (for the time being). African governments have for too long focused solely on capital (investment) and labour to stimulate economic growth while relatively neglecting total factor productivity typically from technological advancement and innovation. Meanwhile, studies show that total factor productivity could account for about 60% of a countrys economic growth.[10] It is high time governments of African countries leveraged the technology used in these programs to boost economic growth and generate revenue internally rather than depend heavily on foreign aid and borrowing to finance essential public goods and services.

This paper was authored by Hubert Nii-Aponsah, IMANI Africas Deputy Head for the Center for Political and Economic Affairs. For comments and enquiries, please email [email protected]

[1] Asian Development Bank. (2015). Fuel-Marking Programs: Helping Governments Raise Revenue, Combat Smuggling, and Improve the Environment. Issue 24, The Governance Brief.

References

[2] Philippine Daily Inquirer. (6th March, 2014). With Oil Smuggled in, Government Waves Tax Revenues Goodbye.

[3] Robert Bacon. (2001). Petroleum Taxes  Public Policy for the Private Sector. The World Bank.

[4] Konstantim Rozhnov and Marek Strzelecki. (27th August, 2013). Fuel Fraud Costing Europe More Than $4 Billion in Lost Taxes, Bloomberg news.

[5] Shoaib-ur-Rehman Siddiqui. (28th September, 2013). Algeria smuggling crackdown cuts fuel line to Morocco. Business Recorder.

[6] Asian Development Bank. (2015). Fuel-Marking Programs: Helping Governments Raise Revenue, Combat Smuggling, and Improve the Environment. Issue 24, The Governance Brief.

[7] Citifmonline. (17th March , 2016). Buhari battles to clean up Nigerias oil industry. Retrieved from http://citifmonline.com/2016/03/17/buhari-battles-to-clean-up-nigerias-oil-industry/

[8] Biman Mukherii, Sudeep Jain and Saurabh Chaturvedi. (28th August, 2013). Subsidies, Oil Prices to Put Pressure on Indias Rupee, Fiscal Gap, India News.

[9] Business World. (12th October, 2015). NPA, Asaga win awards. Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/Otoson/Desktop/fuel%20paper/NPA,%20Asaga%20win%20awards%20-%20Business%20World%20Ghana.html

[10] William Easterly and Ross Levine. (2001). "It's Not Factor Accumulation: Stylized Facts and Growth Models". The World Bank Economic Review, Vol. 15, No. 2 177219
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to visit Marks Farm, a dairy (specifically fresh milk) producing farm at Lowville - New York State, USA. The farm is run with some of the most advanced technologies for producing milk from cattle (cows) that you can think of. There are about 10,000 cattle on the farm with less than 100 employees running activities.

A lot of the work on the farm is mechanized. All the cows are tagged with electronic identification cards with which managers monitor how much feed they consume, how many steps they walk each day, their health conditions, among others. The farm is located on a 10,000 acres land but the cattle do not go grazing on the field. They are kept in enclosed areas and feed is prepared for them to consume on daily basis there. Their only task is to produce fresh milk.

There are no bulls (male cattle) on the farm. So, in order to get the cows pregnant for enhanced milk production, they are artificially inseminated with semen. Once they give birth, the calves (babies) are taken from them and then they get into milk production state. Three times a day, they are marched through metallic cages to a mechanised milk collection point, where their udders (breasts) are sucked with no human intervention.

On Marks Farms website, I found that it makes 28 million US dollars every year. That is more than the entire amount of 91.54 million cedis (23 million US Dollars) that the Government of Ghana made available to the Ministry of Agriculture in 2015.

Meanwhile, this is only one of the more than 47,000 dairy farms in the US and Marks Farms is not even one of the largest. Also, Marks Farm produces about 340,000 pounds (40,000 gallons) of milk daily. This translates into more than 600,000 cups of milk each day. We only need three Mark Farms to provide enough milk on daily basis for all the 1.6 million kindergarten school pupils in the entire Ghana. One farm. Owned by one family. So, so productive.

Stark contrast

I found the work on this farm particularly interesting because that is not the kind of dairy farming activities you will find on this side of the world. Several centuries after the world moved on from hunting and gathering to domestication as a sustainable form of agric production, herds of cattle led by fearless herdsmen continue to roam bushes in Ghana, threatening the very stability of communities like Agogo in the Ashanti Region.

We are all witnesses to how cattle have destroyed hundreds of farms; herdsmen have allegedly killed farmers who try to protect their farms from the cattle and the demonstrations that have erupted in such communities as a result; as well as the unsuccessful police cum military operations to flush out these guys that have cost millions of cedis.

Farms like the Amrahia Dairy Farm on the Accra  Dodowa Road which was started by former president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah have virtually collapsed. In Ghanas second biggest city, Kumasi, we have the Boadi Dairy/Cattle Research Station, a research institution run by my alma mater, the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. This is a dairy farm with few cows which produces what we all call fresh yoghurt for sale on campus as an internally generated fund (IGF) raising means.

The funny part is this; this diary farm imports powdered milk from Europe and other parts of the world and dissolves into fresh milk for sale. When their colleagues dairy farmers and researchers are busy milking cows. Can you imagine? In fact, estimates by the UN Trade Statistics are that as at 2011, Ghana spent more than 80 million US dollars importing milk and milk products annually.

Intensified Dairy Farming

I subsequently sat in a lecture by Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam of the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis who gave some very startling statistics on the intensification of dairy farming in the US you will find interesting. As at 1944, there were 26.6 million cattle producing 53.1 billion kg of milk in the US annually. As at 1997, the number of cattle had reduced to 9.2 million because of closure of lots of the farms. But the amount of milk produced yearly rose to 84.2 billion kg of milk.

The number of cattle over the 60 year period had reduced by about 60 percent, but amount of milk had increased by about 300 percent. This, she attributed mainly to improved genetics as a result of artificial insemination. And you can say without any shred of doubt that intensified and mechanised methods of production made this possible.

Cost of intensive production

I visited Marks Farms with a number of colleagues Im currently on a training progamme with at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the Cornell University, Ithaca - New York State, USA. Its called the Cornell Alliance for Science Program. Whilst I fell in love with what I saw at Marks Farms and would love to see dairy farms in Ghana advance to that status, some of my folks were appalled.

I dont like places where animals are used and exploitedwe have to do things that harm them lesshumans using other beings like that, I dont think it is a good way to live, Argentine Animal Rights Activist Florence Natalia Gonzalez who works with the NGO, Animal Libre, told me in an interview. Ms Gonzalez added: In this farm, they are not being harmed but we saw little calves far away from their mother. Some had rings in their mouths so they cannot suck the breast milks and the pinches hurt.

I think animals are important. They feel like we feel. They have emotions. They are not plants. They want to be free. They want to experience good things. And being in a place and smelling their own faeces can you imagine how difficult that could be? she explained further.

A final quote from Ms Gonzalez: Do you know what happens when they stop giving good milk, they kill them. So there is only a bad end for all the cows So I think on this planet, we should also think about the suffering of the animals.

My thoughts

Every year, about 56 billion farm animals are killed by humans for food. This excludes fishes and other sea creatures which exceeds the number of farm animals. Animal Rights Activism is underlined by the objective that: "Animals have the right to be free from all forms of human exploitation." Animal Right Activists dont want animals to be killed and used as food; they dont want animals helping with difficult work on farms and all over the world, they have demonstrated and filed suits in court to push for this. In fact, there is one such protest coming off in my neighbourhood in Downtown  Ithaca next month.

But in a world where one in every 10 persons does not have enough food to eat, according to the World Food Programme; where 12.9 percent of the population is undernourished and in fact in Sub Saharan Africa, its one out of every four persons; where poor nutrition causes 3.1 million deaths in children every year; where one out of every six children is under weight; and where one in every four children are stunted because of lack of proteins and other nutrients; should we really care about animal rights?

Should we really be concerned about animal comfort? Should we really be thinking about keeping animals alive in conducive atmospheres and pamper them? I honestly dont think so. I think that is what God created animals for; to provide food for men and help keep safely the environment men live in.

By Joseph Opoku Gakpo / www.josephopokugakpo.wordpress.com
On September 21  23, 2016 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of South Africa and Republic of Zimbabwe, Andrei Molchan, is on a working visit to Harare, Zimbabwe.

Ambassador of Belarus met the with acting President of Zimbabwe  Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, held meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, as well as with management of large commercial agricultural, construction and industrial companies.

During the meetings, a wide range of issues related to the development of cooperation between Belarus and Zimbabwe was discussed, including the strengthening of political dialogue, implementation of arrangements reached during the visit of E.Mnangagwa to Minsk in 2015, as well as participating of the Republic of Belarus in large-scale infrastructural programs in Zimbabwe.
General Manager of LOreal West Africa, Sekou Coulibaly has urged corporate institutions to not only make donations to physically challenged persons but also empower them.

He said the whole society has a role to play in ensuring that people living with physical disabilities are empowered to pursue their personal goals and dreams without barriers.

The days when physically disabled persons were considered as a liability in society are quickly passing. More and more people living with physical disabilities in Ghana continue to confound expectations by excelling at their chosen crafts and surpassing their peers.

Mr Sekou was speaking at the unveiling of a refurbished facility for the Demonstration School for the Deaf at Akropong in the Eastern region.

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 LOreal West Africa in 2009.

The unveiling of the refurbishment work done for the school was held as part of LOreal West Africas annual Corporate Social Responsibility campaign known as Citizens Day.

In the past, LOreal West Africa has demonstrated its commitment to development and capacity building by mobilizing its staff to come together on Citizens Day to give back to communities across the country.

The refurbishment done as part of this years Citizens Day celebrations saw a replacement of hair dryers, installation of new salon hair sinks, provision of swivel chairs and two hair care sterilizers, repairs of ceiling and roofing, painting, and landscaping at the school and presentation of Hair Care Products.

Students and trainers were given refresher courses in new trends of hair dressing and braids management using Dark & Lovely Relaxers and Braids & Weaves products.

The school's choir

Aside this, LOreal West Africa committed to provide refresher courses for the Vocational teachers in modern hair trends.

The management of the Akropong School for the Deaf expressed profound thanks to the entire staff of LOreal West Africa.

They were particularly grateful because this was a project that LOreal West Africa had initiated and returned to maintain.

They praised this as a virtue their students could emulate by finishing everything they start.

LOreal West Africa also provided the school with some of its well renowned beauty products from Dark & Lovely, Maybelline New York and Blue Ice amongst others.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | NSA
James Roberts, Research Fellow, the Heritage Foundation giving a presentation of the Index

Ghana has been ranked 72nd in the 2016 World Index of Economic Freedom ahead of Cote dIvoire, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso.

The country, which scored 63 points in the World Index, placed first in the sub-region while Cote dIvoire, which scored 60, placed 92nd, with Benin, 59, placing 101 in the world rankings.

The 2016 Index of Economic Freedom analyzed economic policy developments related to economic freedom in 178 economies.

The analysis was based on four pillars, which are rule of law (property rights and freedom from Corruption), government size (fiscal freedom and government spending), regulatory efficiency (business freedom, labour freedom and monetary freedom) and open market (trade freedom, investment freedom and financial freedom).

Comparisons

In the 2016 World Index of Economic Freedom, Ghana performed well in every aspect of the four main pillars as compared her neighboring countries- Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Cote dIvoire.

However, the country performed woefully in comparison with countries such as South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.

In 1961, Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/Capita in Ghana was $190, whereas South Korea was meager $92.

Today, Ghanas GDP/Capita stands at $1,380 while South Korea has $27,222.

Doubts over ranking

The 2016 Index of Economic Freedom demonstrated that countries with higher levels of economic freedom substantially outperform others in economic growth, per capita income, healthcare, education, protection of the environment, reduction in poverty and overall well-being.

However, many Ghanaians have expressed doubts about the ranking, stating that the country is performing poorly in all the four areas.

They said the scores of the index do not reflect the reality on the ground, arguing that the economy of Cote dIvoire, which is behind Ghana in the ranking, was performing better than Ghana.

[email protected]

By Cephas Larbi
President John Mahama has denied reports suggesting he was bribing voters ahead of the December 2016 general elections.

It followed a publication in yesterday's edition of DAILY GUIDE, which referred to a recent video in circulation in which the president was seen giving out cash to certain people while on a campaign trail. In another video footage, he was seen giving money to a Gonja chief in public.

Immediately, the story came out, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Julius Debrah, was first to shoot it down, claiming that it could not be true because the president does not carry cash with him when he is out and that if anything at all, it could have been campaign leaflets he (president) was sharing.

Speaking on Joy FM's 'Super Morning Show' programme yesterday, Mr Debrah, who has been paying courtesy visits to chiefs in the three Northern regions ahead of the elections, said although he had not seen the video, he did not believe the president would do such a thing.

I believe sincerely that knowing President Mahama, he would not deliberately go to a market place and start throwing money around. He is a very experienced person. Having worked with him closely, I believe that under no circumstance will he be throwing money around, he stressed.

The chief of staff indicated that it is also possible that it could be a leaflet. Anytime the president goes round, he does not carry cash on him; and that is the tradition from generation so I will be very surprised if the president had cash on him.

Contradiction

However, a source close to the president told DAILY GUIDE yesterday that the president gave out some money out of the goodness of his heart while campaigning in Accra and Sunyani recently.

According to the source, regarding the first incident in which the president was seen in the video, which has gone viral, President Mahama saw a little girl crying because some boiled eggs she was selling in traffic had been pushed down by enthusiastic supporters and trampled upon.

He therefore called the girl and gave her GH50 to compensate for the loss, the source added.

In the second instance, as narrated to DAILY GUIDE, the source said President Mahama gave a woman GH20 to compensate for her onions which had also been scattered and trampled upon.

There are other reports which suggest that President Mahama was seen giving money to a Gonja chief in public, which has raised concerns and also gone viral on social media.

The source claimed the president gave an amount of GH500 during the NDC manifesto launch in Sunyani after the chief had appealed for funds to go to the hospital to treat an ailment.

According to the source, President Mahama was worried about the impression being created that he was bribing voters wondering, With over 12 million voters, how many people can a person bribe to win an election?

Interestingly, President Mahama's NDC Campaign Coordinator, who doubles as National Organiser of the NDC, Kofi Adams, raised doubts about the authenticity of the video footage.

Speaking on Neat FM's morning show yesterday, he said, I doubt the authenticity of the video. And I doubt that what the president gave out was money.

According to him, The president in the video pointed to one particular person to give out the gift. He might have done that for a reason. The president is compassionate and a giver. I don't see anything absolutely wrong about that. There is goodness in giving just like how others are giving waakye and koko.

The video

In that video, the presidential convoy is seen moving at a snail pace on the streets of Sabon Zongo at Abossey Okai, Accra, with the president spotting a white cap on top of a black coloured T-shirt and responding to cheers from the crowd.

As the crowd cheered him on, he beckoned someone from the crowd to come and ordered his driver to halt.

He is then seen reaching out for money from the vehicle and giving it out to the person, who meandered his way through the crowd amidst tight security to take the money.

As the vehicle moved again, the president beckoned a few others to come and reached out for more cash from the vehicle and gave it out to them.

He repeated the gesture a number of times, as the crowd surged forward to grab his hand for some cash.

Since the beginning of this year's electioneering campaign, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has shared a lot of goodies and freebies.

The media have captured the sharing of gas cylinders, roofing sheets, outboard motors, fish pans, pieces of cloth sewing machines, motorbikes, bicycles, mobile phones, laptops and a whole lot of commodities apparently to entice the electorate to vote for the party.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
Seoul has the most sex crimes in the country and the lowest arrest rate.

According to data from the National Police Agency on Thursday, the capital had the most sex crimes at 43,464, followed by surrounding Gyeonggi Province with 32,854 and Busan with 11,513.

But Busan topped the list at for arrests with 89.3 percent, and Seoul had the second lowest rate of 76.4 percent, only higher than Jeju's 65.5 percent.

In Seoul Gangnam District had the highest number of sex crimes over the past six years, followed by Gwanak and Seocho. Gwanak saw the most sexual harassment, and Gangnam had the most cases of hidden cameras. But Gangnam's arrest record was poor at just 66.7 percent, ranking 13th from the bottom among 252 districts nationwide.

Gwanak and Seocho performed even worse, ranking 10th and eighth from the bottom.


The Board Chairman of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB Bank), Daniel Owiredu is struggling to parry allegation of playing double roles in the running of the bank, having appointed himself as Chairman of the Credit Sub-committee of the bank.

Following media publications pointing out several anomalies at the bank, including granting of huge loans to some clients with little or no security thereby over-exposing the institution, Mr. Owiredu admitted on Paul Adom-Otchere's 'Good Evening Ghana' programme on Metro TV yesterday that indeed he is playing dual roles as the board chairman and presiding over the Credit Risk Sub-Committee where huge loans are approved. The final report of the Credit Sub-committee is usually presented to the board for final approval, which is incidentally chaired by Mr. Owiredu, raising serious conflict of interest situation.

There is also a growing concern by some stakeholders of the bank that the chairman is operating like an executive chairman since he is said to be caught in the day-to-day operations of the bank as his consent is needed in the daily decisions of the financial institution.

However, he explained that there was nothing wrong with him presiding over the credit committee since his predecessor had also played the same role.

He cited his predecessors Dr Fritz Gockel and Kojo Thompson as having chaired the same committee.

He said the Large Credit Sub-committee was established by Kojo Thompson in 2010 and he only follows the precedent.

He said his chairing of the Credit Risk Committee doesn't affect checks and balances, explaining that there are other people in the bank who also approve loans but on limited levels.

The Sub-committee reports to the board, presided over by Mr Owiredu after its work, thereby creating a big gap about good corporate governance issue.

But he said loans are approved after the legal department has gone through the documents.

However, some of the individuals and corporate entities could not service the loans and it is said that there is no adequate security to protect the bank.

His inclusion, according to sources, empowered the board chairman to unduly influence activities of the sub-committee.

Mr Owiredu had earlier issued a rejoinder denying the allegation that some dodgy loans had been approved without adequate collateral.

Mr. Owiredu is a mining expert, having served as the President of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Executive Vice President, Managing Director of the then Ashanti Goldfields and Chief Operating Officer of Golden Star Resources Limited, before he was appointed to the GCB Board.

A DAILY GUIDE Report
There was utmost silence in an Accra Central District Magistrate Court yesterday when a 22-year-old man narrated how he strangled a seven-year-old girl to death and had sex with the corpse for three hours.

The accused, Lucas Agboyie aka Gabriel or Kojo, a mason apprentice, said he murdered the girl after smoking weed and informing the victim, Ruth Amankwah that he wanted to have sex with her.

Lucas, also nicknamed Sympathy or Sky Lover, told the court presided over by Worlanyo Kotoku  while tears were rolling down the cheeks of the victim's mother  that the deceased tried to escape from him but he pulled her back to indicate his seriousness.

He said not even the pleas from Ruth to spare her were enough to save her, adding that he pressed the throat of the victim until she was dead and had sex with her in his metal container at Kubekro No. 1 near Atadeka, Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra, on April 19, 2015.

While stressing that he had regretted the act, he claimed that he did not know what led him to kill the girl, although he admits smoking weed prior to the act.

Stunned by the action of Sympathy, the magistrate repeatedly questioned him whether he knew Ruth was dead before having sex with her, and he answered Yes.

Charged with murder contrary to Section 46 of Act 29/60, the plea of Sympathy had not been taken.

Judge's Concerns

At the hearing of the over one-year-old case, Mr. Kotoku expressed worry about the delay of the Attorney General's advice on the matter.

He stated that there was no need for the case to drag on, especially when the accused had been consistent with his narration of a series of events in respect of the murder.

There was also no prosecutor at the court as the investigator repeated his three-month-old mantra that the substantive investigator had been indisposed.

Sitting continues on October 4.

Facts

Ruth was a Class One pupil of the Meshach Academy School at Zenu, also in Ashaiman, who lived with her mother at Kubekro where the accused also lived about 200 metres away from them.

At 8am on Sunday, April 19, 2015, the mother of the deceased prepared porridge and sent the victim with GH20 to buy bread from a nearby shop for their breakfast.

Having waited for a long time without Ruth returning home, the parents became alarmed and searched for her in the area but to no avail, until an informant told the complainant that she saw Sympathy pulling the deceased into his metal container.

Body Found

Following that the search team went into the said container but the accused was not there.

The team rather found Ruth's naked body lying dead in a supine position on an old student's mattress with blood oozing from her mouth and nostrils. Sympathy was consequently arrested.

When questioned, he admitted the offence, confessing that he killed Ruth and had sex with her afterwards.

Pushed further for names of possible accomplices by the search party, the accused initially insisted he killed Ruth on his own volition, but later mentioned one Baba Ali as the one who contracted him to murder the victim for money, house and a vehicle.

The accused person was however, not able to lead the police to the said Baba.

[email protected]

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
Prison officers at Ankaful Maximum Prisons at Cape Coast in the Central Region yesterday arrested two women who allegedly attempted to smuggle 47 parcels of a substance believed to be Indian hemp (wee) to the inmates at the prison.

According to information, the two women, Mary Nyanka, 22, and Grace Kusi, 60, were arrested by the officers on duty at about 9am.

Briefing DAILY GUIDE, the Central Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Prisons Service, ASP Daniel Matchato, said the two suspects had concealed the substance in mobile phones and containers of locally manufactured soaps.

The stuffed soap

ASP Matchato hinted that the women claimed the parceled Indian hemp were meant for two inmates  Razak Abubukar and Ali Omar Fulani  who are serving 15 and 63 years respectively at the prison.

The suspects, who reportedly claimed to be relatives of the inmates, have since been handed over to the Elmina District Police Command for investigation.

Email:[email protected]

From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast
Customers of DKM Microfinance expecting refunds of their locked up investments have lauded the progress of work by the Official Liquidator.

Some of the customers tell Citi Business News the move comes as a great relief despite the length of time it has taken to get access to their monies.

In fact I can say there is hope for us as customers with the discussion that have gone on today (Thursday). My only concern is that all of the affected customers will feel satisfied with whatever decision, one customer remarked.

Over 70,000 customers of DKM are expected to be paid their investments after a year that the company's operations were suspended for flouting some financial regulations in the country.

The affected customers of DKM in the Upper East region spoke to Citi Fm's regional correspondent, Fred Awuni after a creditors' meeting with the Registrar General's Department on Thursday (September 22, 2016).

Well, I'll say the process has been good so far. We cannot necessarily rely on what the Official Liquidator is telling us unless we receive our money, one gentleman stated.

Another disgruntled female customer intimated, From what we have been told, I can say I am satisfied with the process so far. Like the others, I will have to wait for the September 30 date and confirm whether my name has been captured in the creditors list.

She added, I hope they will keep their word on whatever that they have assured us of should there be any challenges.

The central bank in May 2015 suspended the operations of DKM Microfinance Company after it failed to hold sufficient assets to meet its liabilities to depositors.

A lot of complaints and agitations have been raised against the company and government by the aggrieved customers with some reported to have lost their lives over the matter.

Some have even threatened to vote the government out of power if it failed to secure their locked up investments.

Meanwhile the list of validated creditors in the Upper East Region is expected to be published on the 30th of September with payments scheduled for first week in October this year.



By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
The Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Anthony Akoto Osei has described as unfounded, claims by the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) mismanaged the economy when it was in office.

The NDC at a press conference dubbed, setting the records straight to counter the NPP's recent Promises Made, Promises Broken, Promises Repeated media encounter, said Ghana's economy saw an impressive performance under the John Attah-Mills  John Mahama administration against the poor performance by the NPP's John Kufuor.

Addressing the press, Minister of Transport, Fifi Kwetey, said in spite of the many financial resources that was available to the NPP, it was unable to ensure a significant growth in terms of infrastructure development.

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.

But Dr Akoto Osei in a sharp rebuttal on Good Evening Ghana dismissed these claims.

According to him, it is rather the NDC that has nothing positive to show for the management of the country's economy under the Mills and the Mahama administration.

Giving examples to support his claim, the Old Tafo MP revealed that some contractors who embarked on various governmental projects for the NDC have still not been paid.

The situation, according to him, has compelled the contractors to borrow from some banks which in his view is collapsing the banking system.

When you don't pay contractors, there is arrears. These contractors have gone to borrow from the banking system. They are collapsing the banking system so it is showing as debt in the banking system. That is a serious problemYou don't present the budget statement and say you cannot find 1.7 billion. It will show up somewhere.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @EfeAnsah
Special Aide to the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mustapha Amid has emphatically stressed the need for President John Dramani Mahama to be serious in ruling the country instead of his usual jokes and his lies which cannot impact positively on the country.

He said Ghanaians are really facing serious economic hardships and need people who are serious like Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to rule the country.

Dr Amid said this during the campaign launch of the Cape Coast North Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for NPP Mrs Barbara Asher Eyisi at Cape Coast.

He expressed concern about the way President Mahama was promising the people of Cape Coast pre-paid meters instead of introducing better policies for the betterment of all.

The President has insulted the people of Cape Coast North and really need to be voted out since you also deserve better conditions of living, he added

He disputed allegation by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the NPP dislike Muslims, adding NPP is the only party that has Muslims at heart, hence the introduction of Zongo Development Fund when voted into power.

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joseph Ghartey noted that Nana Addo would not disappoint Ghanaians when elected as the president of Ghana.

Mr Ghartey hinted that Nana Addo would develop the coastal areas when voted into power with a policy dubbed Coastal Development Fund, adding about 2.5 billion people living in the coastal areas are poor.

The MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abram (KEEA) Constituency, Dr Nana Ato Arthur urged the party supporters to work in unity to win the election one touch instead of being complacent.

He appealed to the supporters not to wait to be appointed as campaign managers before working for the party since Ghanaians would not forgive the party if they lose the election.

The Parliamentary Candidate for the Cape Coast North, Mrs. Asher Eyisi promised not to disappoint her constituents when elected into parliament.

Email:[email protected]

From Sarah Afful, Cape Coast
Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo, wife of the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been very busy in recent times supporting her husband in the ongoing political campaign.

She stressed that her husband and the NPP can be relied upon to fulfill election promises when they come to power.

Speaking at the Mallam Presbyterian Church in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency in Accra, Mrs. Akufo-Addo stressed that Nana Akufo-Addo has built his image on being a reliable man and that he will deliver on whatever promises that he has made to the people of Ghana.

As part of her tour of the Weija-Gbawe Constituency in Accra, Mrs. Akufo-Addo also spoke to the congregation at the Mount Olive Pentecost Church at Top Base in Gbawe.

There she reminded voters of the track record of the NPP government.

She told them that the NPP, which started the school-feeding programme, Metro Mass Transport, the National Health Insurance Scheme, among other social interventions, has promised to introduce more social interventions in a Nana Addo-led administration.

When in 2000, the NPP campaigned on introducing a National Health Insurance Scheme to replace the existing cash and carry system, we delivered on our promise.

Mrs Akufo Addo stressed the need to change the incumbent government which has failed to address the major issues facing the country after eight years of power.

She said rising unemployment among youth, the perennial energy crises that have crippled businesses around the country, the high cost of living in Ghana and the failing health insurance scheme would be addressed as soon as Nana Addo assumes office as President of Ghana.

She encouraged the congregants to keep her husband in their prayers as the campaign season comes to a climax and to vote massively for him to fulfill his promises to them and put the country on the right track.

Mrs Akufo-Addo also visited Oblogo, where she took part in a health screening of the people of the area.

She took the opportunity to thank the people of the Weija-Gbawe Constituency for the warm and hospitable welcome that she received from them.

Healthcare is a crucial cornerstone of the development agenda of the NPP and the only hope for Ghanaians is to elect a government which understands that healthcare impacts the daily lives of Ghanaians and is not just something to talk about every four years come election season, she indicated.

She later visited Tetegu, where she outdoored the campaign office of the Weija-Gbawe constituency.

Mrs Akufo-Addo was accompanied by regional executives, parliamentary candidate for Weija-Gbawe, Tina Naa Mensah and her constituency executives and some party bigwigs.
The Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition Progressive People's Party (PPP) to take a second look at their manifestos with a view to making categorical, specific and more binding statements that are smart enough to deepen decentralization and local governance in Ghana.

CLGA made the call in a statement signed by its Acting Executive Director, Vladimir Antwi Danso, saying the review processes should allow for the manifestos to cover all aspects of the decentralization system which should look at fiscal and administrative decentralization.

CLGA indicated, We would like to briefly comment on the manifestos of the ruling NDC and PPP and appeal to them to beef up their plate with some suggestions that we're humbly, through this medium, offering.

It said, These concerns the following that the NDC intends to roll out: the implementation of the National Decentralization Policy (NDAP) Framework II (2015  2019) and the National Plan II (2015  2019).

The statement asserted, It is our humble opinion that as a ruling government, the NDC should have concentrated on achieving the outstanding activities under the NDAP Framework and the accompanying Action Plan, due for implementation from 2017  2019.

We were expecting concrete and/or categorical statements on this, with specifics on how they would prioritize decentralization and local governance after the expiration of the current framework in 2019, CLGA said in the statement.

On the Constitutional Review Commission's (CRC's) recommendations to pay allowances to assembly members, CLGA said that on this, the NDC, in its manifesto only promised to 'initiate processes to implement the commission's recommendations on allowances to assembly members.'

The organization contended, We view this promise as non-committal and lacking the expected seriousness that needs to be attached to the work of the assembly members. Incidentally, the CRC recommendations have already been overtaken by a government White Paper on the said recommendations.

It said the NDC also needs to come to Ghanaians again and explain in detail its promise of ensuring that the positions of MMDCEs are made electable.

Eloquently promised in the manifesto is the CRC's recommendation to have MMDCEs elected. The CLGA wants the NDC to come again, it charged.

On President John Mahama's promise to create five new regions, the statement indicated, The CLGA is of the view that this promise is not specific and doesn't commit the government enough to deliver on that promise.

Turning to the PPP, the organization underscored, The CLGA also takes note of the decentralization and local governance promise of the PPP on page 14 of their manifesto on 'sharing power with people' under which they promise to ensure the election of all MMDCEs and assembly members.

In the view of the CLGA, this is a good promise that if implemented will lead to deepening local level democracy. However, the CLGA encourages the PPP to be very categorical in the code of electing the DCEs and assembly members.

The standard required mode needed to deepen local level democracy and popular participation is when they are elected by popular votes on universal adult suffrage basis. The PPP is also encouraged to review its manifesto to cover all aspects of decentralization system which should look at fiscal and administrative decentralization.

BY Melvin Tarlue
THE EASTERN Regional executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday conveyed its supporters across the length and breadth of the Kwahu ridge in buses to welcome Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, in the Nkawkaw Constituency  which happens to be the stronghold of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr Amissah-Arthur, who doubles as the NDC vice presidential candidate for Election 2016, while addressing the crowd at the old taxi rank as part of his three-day regional campaign tour, said the number of people that came to receive him showed that they acknowledged the massive development that the NDC had made in the area.

According to him, the infrastructure development being witnessed nationwide over the last four years under President Mahama is unprecedented. 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 it.

Every government has done its part but ours surpassed everyone's. You are all witnesses to it so if Mr Mahama is seeking your mandate for another four years, let's support him.

He added, We will not discriminate. The state resources will be shared equitably. Those in need of water will be provided with water, whether they voted for us or not, because they are also Ghanaians.

Veep Amissah-Arthur called for peaceful co-existence before, during and after the December 7 elections.

Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur said the NDC is a united and peaceful party and that with unity the country would progress. He re-echoed the need to vote for Halidu, the NDC candidate for the Nkawkaw Constituency.

FROM Daniel Bampoe, Nkawkaw
Central Bank Governor Dr Abdul Nasir Issahaku has raised concern about the alarming incidence of electronic fraud in the banking industry.

According to him, electronic fraud currently constituted more than 80 percent of all complaints and fraud cases that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) received from the banking industry.

Speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB) in Accra yesterday, he said though the world was moving to electronic banking, the associated risk could be enormous.

I wish to urge banks to step up their risk assessment to curtail the surge. As I have emphasized earlier, this trend could cause reputational damage not only to banks but may have systemic implications that could even lead to blacklisting of the country by FATF, the International Anti Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) body.

Not quite long ago, Ghana was blacklisted for money laundering and it took a lot of hard work to overcome that challenge.

He advised banks to invest more to educate users of online banking and conduct proper security assessments of banking apps and tools before integrating them into their core operating systems.

To reduce the risk further would require a much wider and more coordinated effort among banks, payment networks, regulators and governments to strengthen security, especially among the weakest links in our financial infrastructure. When it comes to electric fraud what we need as an industry is cooperation and not competition.

Legacy debt

Commenting on the restructuring of the VRA and TOR's debt, Dr Issahaku said total industry exposure to the VRA stood at GH2.2 billion out of which, under the restructuring agreement, an upfront of GH250 million had been made to the lender banks on pro rata basis.

The remaining exposure has been restructured over a period of five years with quarterly principal and interest payments. The debt restructuring of the cedi and US dollar denominated VRA legacy debts will be repaid from an account opened for the proceeds accruing under the Power Generation and Infrastructure Support sub-account, under the Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA, 2015).

An estimated 50 percent proceeds would be used to retire the VRA legacy debts.

The other 50 percent of proceeds under the ESLA plus the current enhanced internally generated funds of VRA will all be escrowed into a centrally managed account to be used to service trade and other creditors of the power sector.

In respect of the industry exposure to TOR, he said a long-term agreement had been executed between all parties to restructure the legacy debt of TOR over a ten (10) year period commencing September 30, 2016.

As part of the arrangement, TOR would pay an initial investment amount of GH150 million to the lenders and this would be invested over a 10-year period at a rate of 20 percent annum. The initial investment amount will cater for the principal repayment whilst interest payment would come from the Energy Sector and TOR's own internally generated funds which would be transferred into the TOR/MOFEP Crude Oil Repayment Account.

More capital injection

The governor advised banks to inject more capital to enable them become strong and resilient and position them to take on big ticket deals both locally and internationally.

The Asset Quality Review undertaken on the loans and investments portfolio of banks in Ghana by some accounting firms on behalf of the Bank of Ghana in the first half of the year also points to the need for injection of additional capital by banks.

If we want to grow at an accelerated pace in order to reduce poverty and advance economically, then we need to build the capacity for embarking on bigger projects with sound capital base to absorb shocks without losing momentum.

In view of this, a technical committee has been set up within the Bank of Ghana to review and recommend an appropriate level of minimum regulatory capital for banks in Ghana. The new capital level and the modalities for meeting same by existing banks would soon be announced.

Alhassan Andani, president of GAB, assured the governor of the association's commitment in collaborating with the Central Bank to improve operations of players in the banking industry.

[email protected]

By Samuel Boadi
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's comments at the Hoover Institute on Monday clearly demonstrate the shift in Washington's perception of the North Korean nuclear threat. Carter said the U.S. Forces Korea must be prepared to "fight tonight" not because they want to but because the "diplomatic picture is bleak." Carter said the U.S. will not accept a situation where it is under threat of a North Korean nuclear attack.

Calls for a preemptive strike against North Korean nuclear facilities have gained increasing traction in Washington after Pyongyang conducted its fifth nuclear test earlier this month. Michael Mullen, a former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a preemptive strike was possible as a form of self-defense if the North actually threatens the U.S. Appearing at a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing to become the next head of the U.S. Strategic Command, Air Force General John Hyten said it is only "a matter of time" before North Korea develops an intercontinental ballistic missile and vowed to set the North Korean nuclear threat as his top priority.

The U.S. government had focused on using UN-led sanctions to pressure North Korea to scrap its nuclear weapons, but the North has developed its nuclear weapons and missiles to levels that now pose a serious threat to the U.S. Pyongyang claims to have developed rocket engines that would now put the mainland U.S. within range. The U.S. is allergic to threats against its home territory even if it weighs other threats in different ways. The Clinton administration actually tried to launch surgical strikes against North Korea's nuclear facility in Yongbyon during the first North Korean nuclear crisis from 1993 to 1994. The plan was thwarted at the last minute due to strong opposition by the Kim Young-sam administration and mediation by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. As a result, the 1994 Geneva Accord was scrapped. The U.S. may now feel that this is the last chance to eliminate the North Korean nuclear threat.

But there are factors that would complicate a preemptive strike. The locations of North Korea's nuclear materials must first be identified, and measures must be taken to respond to a retaliatory strike by the North. No information is available what measures the U.S. has prepared. What is important is that U.S. defense officials have begun to consider a preemptive strike a serious option, and that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is far more serious than many think. It is time to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Read this article in Korean
About 1,500 residents of Adabraka and its environs in Accra have benefited from a free health screening exercise organized by Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) in partnership with the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL).

The exercise comprised free dental screening, eye care, general medical screening and Hepatitis B and C screening and vaccination.

Persons under the age of 18, as well as those above 60 were registered for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The annual event, according to the Finance Director of ABL, Graham Lurie, fulfills the company's objective of helping to create a thriving world where incomes and quality of life are growing.

Mr. Lurie said ABL will continue to support the acceleration of growth and social development through its value chains with such health interventions.

Health is an essential component in the development of every community. At Accra Brewery, creating a thriving world also means investing in people but most importantly it is investing in physical well-being which fosters prosperity for all, he said.

Mr. Lurie assured the Adabraka community of ABL's continuous support and thanked Voltic Ghana Limited for donating natural mineral water to refresh the beneficiaries.

The Hepatitis B Foundation and the Accra Diamond Lions Club also provided free services.

Over the past years, ABL has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at supporting health care delivery in Ghana in its quest to augment government's efforts to attain the nation's Sustainable Development Goals.

The company has been investing in an annual free HIV/AIDS screening for residents of Agbobloshie.
On Thursday September 22, as I sat across Nii Arday Clegg Snr, the Morning Starr host for the news review in the Starr FM studio, I knew something was wrong, he was a man burning with emotions and hurt. And his demeanour betrayed his emotions.

As a result, I consciously refused to engage him like we often do before we go on air for the review. He needed the space to fix himself for his show.

I knew there was a wrong to be corrected, I just couldnt imagine the extent Robert Clegg would go to heal his reputation that had been unfairly injured, just the night before by a man many respect.

As a practicing journalist, I have been privy to countless instances where people have given casual apologies for their lies and everything went back to normal, like it never happened. But my orientation about lies has changed for good, thanks to Robert Clegg and Paul Adom-Otchere.

Nii Arday Clegg

As I sat in the Komla Dumor Newsroom to listen to an interview between Mr Adom-Otchere and Robert Clegg over a lie Paul had told about Robert, my blood run cold and fingers numbed.

Never have I heard or read a man ripped-off his pride, reputation and integrity over a lie. It was excruciating for the soul and body, even for me who was merely listening. Nii could punish with words and he went for the kill.

As I listened to the sleek and fluent Paul beg for mercy, I felt sad and let down by a broadcaster who has become a standard in TV talk shows in Ghana. In my opinion Pauls Good Evening Ghana is the best TV current affairs show currently. Pauls ability to breakdown even complex topics for the understanding of the average viewer is legendary.

But did Paul deserve all that sledge punishment by his former schoolmate? I am afraid, yes! He did.

He had unfairly impugned crime to the reputation of a man who lives on his integrity. Robert says his integrity is his life and I admire him for it. Nii is boastful about his integrity and I am yet to come across someone who will challenge it.

Paul Adom-Otchere

But on this peculiar occasion Nii was lucky, he had a huge platform to fix the wrong that was done him. And I trust he has succeeded with it, if feedback is anything to go by.

But that whole exercise got me thinking. It got me to appreciate the enormity of the pain others have suffered and possibly died of because of some dangerous lies that were told about them.

In our country today, there are many whose only truth about President John Mahama is the wicked lie that he had countless children with different women. The President has denied the claim but the lie may have stuck and unlike in the case of Nii and Paul, those liars were never subjected to strict proof. They are free.

Again, many in this country still hold on to the lie that the NPP flagbearer is hooked onto some substances even though there has been no shred of evidence to that. He still clears his name over those allegations every now and then. That is yet another evidence of what a lie can do to people.

Growing up, I heard stories about the fact that former president JJ Rawlings was a leader who fortified himself and his government with several spirits and idols who were resident in a particular room at the Osu Castle. Mr Rawlings has left government for many years, I am yet to see any of those idols that were kept at the Castle. Those were obviously dangerous lies.

President Kufuor and the late Mills had their own share. And those are not lost on us. You remember that gay lie that was thrown at the law professor?

The worst of them all, was what we all heard about Ghanas first President Kwame Nkrumah. We heard about a certain Kankain Nyame, the famous god of Dr Nkrumah whom he supposedly fed with the blood of pregnant women. Those were lies. And the fact that I still remember this story years after his demise, shows the damage such a lie did to the reputation of the good leader during his era.

Lies are just not another part of the story, liars are just not deviants. In some cases, their actions kill and destroy beyond repairs. We all, may have been before. Lets just take a second look at ourselves.
The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Youth League say any presidential candidate seeking the youth vote must commit to passing a law that bars his family and friends from receiving government contracts.

The condition is part of five others outlined which they say are crucial in the fight against corruption, the CPP youths said in a press statement Wednesday.

The statement was released as Ghanaians observed Founder's Day held in commemoration of the September 21 birthday of Ghana's first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who is praised as a visionary and selfless leader.

They expressed the desire that the countrys next president must demonstrate his commitment to fighting corruption through the passage of new laws.

We propose that, for any candidate to earn our votes, we must demand that they must commit to sponsoring and or supporting to passed a piece of legislation that excludes all Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) from bidding for public contracts, the statement said.

PEPs shall include the immediate associates and family members of politicians such as siblings, cousins, uncles, aunties, nephews and nieces as well as parents and close friends," it added.

The youths have already dragged the President John Mahama to Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for investigations into a car gift he received from a Burkinabe businessman and friend.

The CPP Youth suggested that none of the notable presidential candidates make the cut when it comes to their anti-corruption record.

Picking up on their own presidential candidate, Ivor Greenstreet, the statement said he doesnt appear to see anything wrong with President Mahama taking the so-called Ford gift.

The CPP Youth League also referred to a 2015 Judgement Debt Commission report that accused the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of causing financial loss to the state in the sale of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) drill ship.

The Youth League also pointed out that the presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, was cited for conflict of interest and financial impropriety by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in 1996.

Concerning the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings , the CPP Youths said, one can also recall the court appearances of Nana Konadu of the NDP, regarding her alleged objectionable appropriation of the Nsawam Food Canneries.

The Youth, therefore, want presidential candidates to pledge to abide by some conditions by publicly declaring their assets and also causing the setting up of contract courts.

This court shall serve, among other purposes, to receive complaints from contractors who are having their contract terms reneged on by public officers within two months, the statement said.

TheYouth League called on Ghanaian youth to use their vote to fight corruption by demanding that their presidential candidates show commitment to their six-point plan to fight corruption.

PRESS RELEASE

BY: CPP YOUTH LEAGUE (FIGHTERS)

Use Votes To Fight Corruption

Today marks the 107th anniversary of the birth of the great, charismatic and incorruptible first president of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. This anniversary is very significant because it occurs just a few months before Ghanaians elect yet another man to occupy the office which Nkrumah once held with purpose-driven urgency and an uncompromising sense of distinction and dignity.

It is, therefore, crucial that while Ghanaians prepare to go to the polls in December, we endeavour to elect a Candidate who most embodies the positive attributes of our first president; particularly, the virtue of incorruptibility.

It is clear that almost Sixty (60) years after independence; corruption is a singular canker that has ravaged Ghana to the point of threatening our very survival as a nation state. According to the Auditor Generals Report, each year through corruption, Ghana loses over US$3 billion of money taken from the already impoverished masses as tax.

It, therefore, defies common sense when we see elected officers globe-trotting, cup-in-hand, begging for a few hundred million; and in the process selling off our dignity and sense of independent decision making as a nation.

While on their cadging sprees, these leaders consciously fail to seal the gaping holes created in our public administration system, thus draining all the monies begged, back into their own pockets and that of their cronies.

The masses who are then burdened to pay back these debts suffer the double trauma of higher taxes in the wake of deplorable or no amenities. This wicked state of affairs is abnormal, and all voters must know that they have the power to change it with their thumbs.

Corruption has deprived Ghana to the extent that the insanitary and unsafe conditions of living are killing off Ghanaians in a most insidious manner, without many realizing it.

Each year, over 2,000 Ghanaians are killed in road accidents, about 10,000 children under age five die from diarrhoea, while Malaria wipes off 3 Children every single day. These mass deaths of Ghanaians are comparable, if not worse than countries where terrorism is rife.

However, we are lulled into a false sense of peace and security, while our people continue to perish in their numbers. We must not be deceived into believing that peace only means the absence of war. Ghana cannot boldly claim that its citizens are at peace when they keep dying off at such alarming rates. The so-called Peace Council must bury its head in shame or come again.

Meanwhile, people continue to share drinking water with animals, our drainage and sanitary conditions remain deplorable and our transport system remains a death trap. Little can be of boast about our educational system and other sectors. As such, the vicious cycle of the systematic decimation of the lives and hopes of Ghanaians continue unabated.

The voting population must connect the dots and realize that all the suffering can be traced down to the deranged levels of corruption that has gripped our country. Ghanaians must not cast a single vote for any candidate who entertains any doubts about tackling corruption head on. It is said that a fish rots from the head. As a result, many of the troubles we are faced with are due to corrupt leaders and their high levels of tolerance for corruption.

Consequently, it is crucial for voters to check for the incorruptibility of candidates before giving them their mandate. Because, as shown above, voting for a corrupt candidate clearly means signing the death warrant of several thousands of Ghanaians and untold hardships for another four God forsaken years.

Sadly, many of the candidates offering themselves for election this year have had allegations of corruption pointed at them. Currently, the Presidential Candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, is being investigated by CHRAJ in a bribery scandal. Meanwhile, Ivor Greenstreet of the CPP doesnt appear to see anything wrong with John Mahama taking the so-called Ford gift.

NPPs Nana Akuffo Addo was fingered in the drill ship saga; and Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom of the PPP also has investigations into his dealings, by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), hanging over his head like the sword of Damocles. One can also recall the court appearances of Nana Konadu of the NDP, regarding her alleged objectionable appropriation of the Nsawam Food Canneries.

Clearly, corruption is so pervasive in our society that those seeking to lead us out of it have in one way or the other been tainted by it. The Fighters, therefore, encourage each voter to seek the following commitments from the various Presidential and Parliamentary candidates before voting for them.

It should be clear to every Ghanaian voter that, any leader who shies away from committing to any of the provisions below or similar others, is not ready to fight corruption and by inference, is not ready to lead Ghana out of poverty.

We propose that, for any candidate to earn our votes, we must demand that they:

Go beyond the constitutional provisions, and immediately declare their assets publicly before the month of December, to show their true commitment to fighting corruption Must declare publicly their support and push for the asset declaration law to be amended to include public declaration of assets Must commit to sponsoring and or supporting to be passed a piece of legislation that excludes all Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) from bidding for public contracts. PEPs shall include the immediate associates and family members of politicians such as siblings, cousins, uncles, aunties, nephews and nieces as well as parents and close friends. Must commit to supporting the passing of a legislation which shall see to the establishment of a Contracts Court. This court shall serve, among other purposes, to receive complaints from contractors who are having their contract terms reneged on by public officers within two months. The purpose of this is to ensure that the public officers in charge are held responsible. This will also check collusion between public officials and contractors who milk the State through unreasonable judgment debts. Any contractor who fails to lodge such a complaint within the stipulated time shall be made to lose their entitlements by reason of contributory negligence. Ensure that public officers are criminally liable for all contracts and other documents they sign on behalf of the State. Must commit to supporting a radical reformation of our security forces and judiciary as a matter of national emergency.

While these demands are not exhaustive, The Fighters encourage all voters and the media to add to this list and push them in order to free our country from the grips of rampant corruption.

Even as we make these demands at the personal and community level, we encourage the media to also elicit these commitments from the various candidates when they appear on their platforms. A clear, direct and unambiguous demand for answers to these commitments we believe will help Ghanaians sift out those candidates who are only in to continue the rot from those who mean to save mother Ghana.

Finally, we appeal to the voting populace not to be influenced nor swayed by the tokens the candidates will come bearing in the name of gifts, in order to buy votes. They are not doing you any favours because these items were bought with remnants of your tax monies which they have hoarded over the years. Rather pay close attention to their message and demeanor to make voting decisions.

As we take time off to rest and reflect on this significant holiday, let us not forget to strongly utilize our votes for the economic emancipation of our country. For that was the next phase of the struggle Osagyefo Dr. Kwmame Nkrumah left us.

God Bless you all, and God Bless Our Homeland Ghana.

Revolutionary Regards;

CiC Ernesto Yeboah

National Youth Organizer, CPP Youth League (CiC  Fighters)

Commander Jason Tutu

Head, Communication and Student Command - Fighters

Commander Hardi Yakubu

General Secretary  Fighters

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com
The Kingdom of Morocco has officially submitted a request to accede to the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act, and therefore, become a Member of the Union. An Adviser to King Mohammed VI on Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Taieb Fassi Fihri, informed the Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, when they met, on 22 September 2016, in a bilateral meeting in the margin of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The Adviser informed the Chairperson that Morocco had submitted the letter of intent on Thursday, 22 September 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He also handed a copy to the Chairperson.

Acknowledging receipt, the Chairperson advised the Envoy that due process will be followed, including officially informing Member States, as per the provisions of the AU Constitutive Act. The Kingdom of Morocco will be officially notified of the outcome.

The Kings Adviser on Foreign Affairs also informed the Chairperson of plans underway to host COP22, which is scheduled to take place in Marrakech in 2017.
The Members of Council, University of Ghana

Attn: Chairman of Council Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi

September 22, 2016.

Dear Honourable Members of the University of Ghana Council,

Counter-Petition for the Conservation/Preservation of the Statue of Mahatma Gandhi

We, the undersigned, respectfully submit this petition for the preservation of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi to the esteemed Council of the University of Ghana for your consideration.

Introduction

On September 12, 2016, a five-member GandhiMustComeDown Movement, made up of Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Prof. Akosua Adoma Perbi, Dr. Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, Dr. Obadele Kambon and Mr. Mantse Aryeequaye, presented a Petition to the Council of University of Ghana requesting the demolition of the newly erected statue of Mahatma Gandhi of India on the Legon campus of the University.

We, in this Counter-Petition, are persuaded that the reasons advanced by the GandhiMustComeDown Movement are not sound, bereft of comprehensive examination of the entire history of Gandhis political life, mischievous and wrong. Granting their request would, therefore, negatively affect the image and standing of the University of Ghana. Furthermore, it could severely harm diplomatic ties between India and Ghana.

In what follows, we take a critical look at the GandhiMustComeDown Petition from a perspective of its structure, content, developmental and ideological direction. In so doing, we observe that the GandhiMustComeDown Petition is neither inspired nor driven by any domestic-initiated process on the continent of Africa towards the liberation of the African economy and political management from the stranglehold of Western-led international finance institutions.

We observe further that the Petition originates from Western processes of removing the constant reminders of the shame of the Wests enslavement of Black Africans from their public institutions.

We hold here that these Western processes are the result of African pressures mounted by the Black African Reparation Movement across the world for reparation in atonement of the pain inflicted on Black Africans for more than five hundred years.

We view this guilt in the Western conscience as an occasion to escalate such pressures to the level of putting the mentioned stranglehold on African existence in greater stress for its ultimate disentanglement for the total freedom of Africans all over the world. To this end, there is the need to cultivate the Spirit of Resistance such as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah acquired from the Gandhian practice in recent memory for the successful construct of Positive Action in Africa.

Dear Council Members, it is from this perspective that we hold that a counter-movement of GandhiMustStand to the ill-informed, ill-motivated and myopic GandhiMustComeDown Movement should be put in place to better project the African Personality through actions directed at fundamental African Liberation and Freedom.

We, thus, pray the Council of the University of Ghana to stand firm by its decision! Gandhi Must Stand!

Observations and Reactions

In its structure, the Petition is preceded by an introduction and followed by five sections. The sections are: (1) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhis racist identity (2) There are currently no statues of our own heroes and heroines on our campus (3) Removal of racist symbols from world-class universities (4) Protests against statues of Gandhi throughout the world (5) There was no consultation about the placing of the statue. Lets patiently pick each of them one after the other for critical examination and comprehension.

Beginning with the Introduction, the Petition states June 14 2016 as the date on which the Gandhi statue was erected at the Recreational Quadrangle which is between the Balm Library and the N2 lecture hall. It informs us further that it is the only statue of a historical personality on Legon campus. It goes on to claim that shortly after the erection members of the University community and the general public made calls for its removal. The GandhiMustFall Movement of five associates is thus formed to ensure that the statue comes down.

It goes on, therefore, to state its first reason as Gandhis racist identity. To establish this, the Petitioners quote isolated statements from Vol. I, Vol. II and Vol.V of Gandhis works in 1895 and 1896. In general, the quoted statements are an objection to the European authorities policy of locating Indians close to Black Africans and subjecting them to the harsher laws exacted on the Blacks. It is clear that the statements, written by Gandhi in his youth, portray Indians as being of a superior type over Blacks whom they refer to by the derogatory name of Kaffir.

It is most strange that the GandhiMustComeDown Petitioners do not examine Gandhis actions and pronouncements beyond 1920. If we fast forward to the 1930s, we find, as Gussae Hamror writes in connection with Gandhi: "he himself (Gandhi) wrote about his many flaws in South Africa in his autobiography:-) What you will find in Ghandi's legacy is not righteousness, but honesty, self-critique and growth, combined with a rare dismissal of personal material comfort and ambitions. It will be a big mistake for humanists to vilify him. We actually need more folks today like Ghandi who are brave enough to criticize themselves as openly and repent as he did.

In October 1931, Gandhi visited Oxford and had this to say. In conversation with students and faculty, he said: "England has got successful competitors in America, Japan, France, and Germany. It has competitors in the handful of mills in India, and as there has been an awakening in India, even so there will be an awakening in South Africa with its vastly richer resources -- natural, mineral and human. The mighty English look quite pigmies before the mighty races of Africa. They are noble savages after all, you will say. They are certainly noble, but no savages and in the course of a few years the Western nations may cease to find in Africa a dumping ground for their wares." Gandhi, speaking at Oxford, October 24, 1931 (CWMG, Volume 48, p.225).

Gandhi, before his audience, in 1931, refers to Africans as rich, noble and no savages!

In 1939, in a correspondence with S.S. Tema, member of the African Congress, Gandhi said "You, on the other hand, are the sons of the soil who are being robbed of your inheritance. You are bound to resist that. Yours is a far bigger issue." Gandhi to Rev S.S. Tema, member of the African Congress, January 1, 1939 (CWMG, Volume 68, pp. 272-273.). Gandhi endorsed Africans legitimate right to self-determination.

Furthermore: A deputation from South Africa led by Sorabji Rustomji came to India in 1946 (CWMG, Vol 83, pp. 352-354). It was protesting against racial legislation in South Africa. A member of the delegation asked Gandhi: "You have said we should associate with Zulus and Bantus. Does it not mean joining them in a common anti-white front?" Gandhi replied: "Yes, I have said that we should associate with the Zulus, Bantus, etc!!! This was in 1946!

In his autobiography of 1957, he narrates: I considered myself a citizen of Natal, being intimately connected with it. So I wrote to the Governor, expressing my readiness, if necessary, to form an Indian Ambulance Corps. He replied immediately accepting the offer. I had not expected such prompt acceptance.... I went to Durban and appealed for men. A big contingent was not necessary. We were a party of twenty-four, of whom, besides me, four were Gujaratis. The rest were ex-indentured men from South India, excepting one who was a free Pagan. In order to give me a status and to facilitate work, as also in accordance with the existing convention, the Chief Medical Officer appointed me to the temporary rank of Sergeant Major and three men selected by me to the rank of sergeants and one to that of corporal....At any rate my heart was with the Zulus, and I was delighted, on reaching headquarters, to hear that our main work was to be the nursing of the wounded Zulus. The Medical Officer in charge welcomed us. He said the white people were not willing nurses for the wounded Zulus, that their wounds were festering, and that he was at his word's end. - (The Story of My Experiment with Truth, An Autobiography of Mahatma K. Ghandi, 1957, Beulahland Publications, page 313-314).

Evidently, if the GandhiMustComeDown group stepped out of 1906, freed themselves from the ancient captivity, they would appreciate the non-racist, universalist Gandhi had become in his later years! Indeed, meticulous research reveals that Gandhi was, in his later life, not the racist he's made to be. Admittedly, certain earlier pronouncements of his were despicable, but he tidied up, indeed, changed with time. And, indisputable evidence abound.

In our consideration such common failing among peoples must not be made absolute in a person unless it feeds into a conscious policy formulation to enslave a people so derogatorily regarded. Nevertheless, claims that Indians, perhaps on the prodding of Gandhi, do not want Blacks beside them are certainly false from what we have demonstrated above.

In its second reason, the GandhiMustComeDown petition states a view that should there be a need to build statues and that they must be of African heroes so that such statutes could serve as an opportunity to our youth to learn our history. The Petitioners, one of whom is a history lecturer (Prof. Akosua Adoma Perbi of the History Department), lament that our youth know so little about our own history. They question the rationality in uplifting other peoples heroes at our University when we havent lifted our own. In reaction, they find it fitting to make a statue of a former member of the Council - Mr. Sam Aboah.

We believe that the University, when it finds it apposite, can honour any citizens who deserve it. But, that cannot be done at the expense of Gandhi. Gandhi was a quintessential intellectual and political theorist who, in the course of more than two decades called for demonopolization of the state to sub-national jurisdictions, an idea that has captured the imagination of the modern world. He pointed to the state as a corrupting force which degrades the individuals sense of moral responsibility. He calls for something of a direct democracy.

Todays Occupy Movement is founded on the ideas of Gandhi. Our students have a lot to learn from Gandhi!

In Ghanas decolonization struggle, Nkrumah depended heavily on the immortal legacy of Gandhi. In this regard Nkrumah writes: In ''What I Mean by Positive Action'', I called for non-violent methods of struggle. We had no guns. But if even we had, the circumstances were such that non-violent alternatives were open to us, and it was necessary to try them before resorting to other means. In those days, when we talked of tactics of non-violence we meant the kind of tactics employed by Ghandhi in India. 'Violence' was to pick up the gun. 'Non-violence' implied practically any other means short of picking up a gun.' (Kwame Nkrumah, Revolutionary Path , 1973, p. 86)

Further, Nkrumah states: 'The main purpose of the All-African People's Conference to be held in Accra, Ghana, in December, 1958, will be to formulate concrete plans and work out the Gandhian tactics and strategy of the African Non-Violent Revolution in relation to:-

1. Colonialism and Imperialism.

2. Racialism and Discriminatory Laws and Practices.

3. Tribalism and Religious Separatism.

4. The position of Chieftaincy under:

(a). Colonial Rule

(b). A Free Democratic Society

(Kwame Nkrumah, op. cit., p.132)

Gandhi then provides us with a powerful tool on non-violent struggle. It guided peoples struggles historically and globally.

The Petitions third reason is a record of attempts in various institutions in the United States, Europe and, by extension, South Africa to clean up the shame of Black slavery in terms of persons and institutions that defended and promoted it. The Petitions long catalogue of such institutions, mainly in states and cities in the U.S., shows the various attempts. The South African attempts and acts are the logical extension of dealing with the memory of slave advocates and beneficiaries. By this reason the Petitioners merely seek to be part of the Western concern.

What we find curious about this GandhiMustComeDown Petition on this issue of racism is that this reason for asking for the demolition of Gandhis statue is not based on any Ghanaian or African urgency. It is loudly predicated on the Petitions concern with Western nations concern with redressing their shame over the over five hundred years of brutal acts of annihilation, subjugation and exploitation of the Black person. The rhyming theme of this section is Western institutions seeking to obliterate the shame of their origins from the blood and toils of Black slaves. Cecil Rhodes is part of that standing shame. How do GandhiMustComeDown Petitioners find space in that shame to address it? It is mind boggling, to say the least.

The Petitioners are only trying to force their way into Western efforts to clean up through finding a false accomplice in the person of Mahatma Gandhi. They neglect Africas internal problems for which they have no solutions and rather seek comfort in distractions born of Western concerns to hide their deficiencies. This is the shame they must address. Not the Wests.

In their fourth reason, they try to rally support for the clean-up of racist shibboleths with this pointer that the Western concern is a world concern. They add to the American states and cities others in the United Kingdom as well as South Africa. Thats all. The rest of the world in Asia, Australia and South America are quietly glossed over without mention as part of the world dusting off the tag of Black slave dealers, exploiters and killers. This skewedness is as serious as it is disconcerting.

For its fifth reason, the GandhiMustComeDown Petition raises issue with administrative procedures that were claimed to have been flouted with only the former Vice-Chancellor as the main and only culprit for taking the sole decision of allowing the erection of the statue. In this particular respect, the Petitioners are particularly and passionately interested in finding out how much money was harvested from the deal. This can hardly be a reason to bring down the statue. Would they retract the petition if they had been told that something flowed from it? Why?

Finally, we have taken note of allegations of Gandhis lifetime support for the caste system in India. We pray the Council of the University to take Gandhis own views on the caste system which he condemns as follows in 1931: I do not believe in caste in the modern sense. It is an excrescence and a handicap on progress. Nor do I believe in inequalities between human beings. We are absolutely equal. But equality is of souls and not bodies  We have to realize equality in the midst of this apparent inequality. Assumption of superiority by any person over any other is a sin against God and man. Thus caste, in so far as it connotes distinctions in status, is an evil( http://www.academia.edu/326347/ ).

We are also of the view that in the spirit of international cooperation, the statue must stay. Professor Mike Ocquaye, a reputable political scientist, has warned of possible break in diplomatic ties between Ghana and India should the statue be demolished. Prof Ocquaye, Ghanas former High Commissioner to India states: 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. Mutual cooperation and peaceful co-existence require that Gandhian stand!

Dear Council Members, Gandhi oppressed and exploited no Black African. The unfortunate remarks cited against him in his youth are a general failure of peoples with a false sense of their superiority and lacking in mature consciousness. There is copious evidence to show that Gandhi criticized himself for his inadequacies. It takes heroes to openly engage in auto-criticisms! But, he has never regretted for his policy of non-violence or the Spirit of Resistance! That is what his statue must inspire in us to seek the fall of imperialist neo-colonialist capitalism but not the fall of his inspiring statue. GANDHI MUST STAND!

The University of Ghana, as she strives for world class status, has done herself a great service by erecting the monument in honour of Gandhi. Legon is, by this, championing the theory and praxis of peaceful, non-violent restructuring of society associated with Gandhi. Bravo.

We thank you for your attention!

Lang T. K. A. Nubuor (Director, Centre for Consciencist Studies and Analyses)

Isaac Winful Dadzie (Research Analyst and Member of the Convention Peoples Party)

Dr. E. Tweneboah Senzu (Head of Economic Research & Analysis - Africa, Bastiat Institute Ghana)

Mr. Abraham Allotey (Business Consultant)

Sela Buame (Law Student, University of Ghana, Legon)

Dr Kojo Opoku Aidoo (Senior Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, Legon)

GandhiMustStand Movement

This petition will be delivered to:

Chairman of Council/Government Appointee

Prof. Kwamena Ahwoi

University of Ghana

Members of the University of Ghana Council
The campaign for election 2016 has registered its lowest point yet. President Mahama caught on camera dishing out cash to his financially distressed and malnourished compatriots has dwarfed all the other oddities recorded in his campaign so far.

We wonder what could have accounted for his resort to the open doling out of cash as opposed to the concealed module or even doing so through emissaries.

Subtlety is the word: when it is ignored the impression is that the president has little or no respect for Ghanaians.

We are compelled to recall his interview with the BBC reporter on bribery. His response was preceded by a question as to whether he as a person had ever been bribed.

It sounded interesting, more so when juxtaposed with his ongoing cash-laced road show across Ghana. Those who grease the palm of others must have been recipients of same from others.

This stage of his plan to prop up his campaign with bribery is a scaling down from the V8 vehicles to cash, and from chiefs to the ordinary Ghanaian enduring the heat of the scorching sun as they sell assortment of sweets or sachet water. They do not need expensive vehicles to be influenced.

The president has gotten it all wrong as Ghanaians are more discerning than they were when he concluded that they 'have short memories.'

Something very serious has definitely informed the president's new preference of streetside bribery. If the move has not emanated from his campaign managers or even advisors but his novelty, then our president requires an immediate examination of sorts by psychiatrists. What he is doing of late is indeed beyond our ken and other Ghanaians: it is unprecedented and a parlous precedence which should not be encouraged, lest it joins the other oddities in our political culture. It was such a pitiable spectacle and would have been dismissed as cooked-up, were it a mere textual presentation or report, but for its capture and dissemination on social media.

We are hard-pressed not to believe that he seeks particular features in recipients before releasing the cash perhaps as prescribed by his Marabout or some deity somewhere within or even outside the country.

Such actions prompt myriad theories, this one not an exception.

He points at a person and then proceeds to dole out the cash, the action making others to jostle to catch his attention. How sad!

The Chief of Staff, perhaps finding the development incredible and therefore lost for defence, said his boss was only distributing leaflets. Thank God he did not describe the report about the president's distribution of something as mendacious.

President Mahama now distributes leaflets during his campaign trail. So what could the leaflets be about and can we see a sample without delay?

Debasing the presidency under such circumstances is not only inappropriate, but crude and condemnable.
One person died while two others sustained severe injuries when a Toyota Corolla they were travelling on board veered off the Dome-Kwabenya Road and landed into a ditch.

Driver of the vehicle, according to eyewitnesses, was over speeding when the accident occurred.

The driver, according to reports, died on the spot while the two others, believed to be his friends, also sustained various degrees of injury.

The two passengers, who are in critical condition, are currently responding to treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

Superintendent Yussif Tanko, the commander in-charge of the Mile 7 District Police, who visited the scene of the accident with a team of police personnel, told the paper that the accident occurred at about 4am yesterday.

The Toyota Corolla vehicle, with registration number GR 5089-16, was from Dome St John's area and heading towards Kwabenya.

Reports indicate that the deceased has not been identified.

The deceased reportedly lost control of the vehicle which somersaulted several times before landing into the ditch.

The injured persons were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital by some good Samaritans.

The eyewitnesses later called the police to convey body to the Police Hospital mortuary.

He said the mangled car was later towed to the Mile 7 Police Station to ease traffic in the area.

( [email protected] )

By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
The first batch of Ghanaian pilgrims, from Saudi Arabia touched down at the Tamale Airport yesterday.

The 500 Pilgrims were received symbolically at the Tamale Hajj Village (Jubilee Park) by family members and well wishers including curious persons.

Earlier, such well wishers and others had been advised not to go to the airport as the pilgrims would be bused from the airport to the Tamale Jubilee Park after the completion of arrival formalities.

Before their final movement to the Pilgrims Aiport in Jeddah, the Chairman of Accredited Hajj Agents Association of Ghana, Alhaji Issah Umar Meishinkafa and some executive members paid a working visit to the weigh-in center for pilgrims scheduled for the 3rd flight which is expected to fly from Jeddah to Tamale on Saturday September 24.

Alhaji Issah who was accompanied by his Vice Chairman, Alhaji Inusah Dagomba Boy, Alhaji Alhassan(PRO)and other members, was very excited with the current smooth process.

He attributed the current development on the past experiences and the cordial working relationship between the PAOG and his Association.

He commended the team of officers on duty for a good job done so far and urged them to be extra patience in their line of work because as frontliners they are expected to meet people from different backgrounds with different behaviour and attitude.

Alhaji Awudu Ibrahim who is the head of the weigh-in team, expressed gratitude for the surprise visit at the time that contribution of stakeholders such as the Agents is very much needed. The pilgrims always feel excited when they see their Agents at such places.

Management of pilgrims' luggage which include in large part, souvenirs and personal belongings including those for sale is critical in the Hajj exercise.

The luggage were moved to the Jeddah International Airport before the movement in buses of the pilgrims scheduled for the first Tamale airlift which touched down yesterday.
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC Congress (NDC) supporters in the country have been given a difficult task to carry sick people in their communities on their back to polling stations on the election day to vote.

Kofi Portuphy, National Chairman of the NDC, believed that massive patronage of the December 7 election would result in an electoral victory for the NDC to retain political power and remain in government.

According to him majority of the people are satisfied with the performance of President Mahama therefore they would give their mandate to the NDC to sustain their splendid works.

I appeal to all NDC members across the country to carry sick and weak people in your communities to the polling stations so that they too can exercise their franchise on the day of voting.

He was addressing scores of NDC supporters during the ruling political party's manifesto launch, which was launched at Sunyani, capital of the Brong-Ahafo Region on Saturday.

Mr. Portuphy also entreated NDC members to be courageous by visiting the polling stations in their numbers on December 7 so that the party could win a comfortable victory at first round.

He said no amount of threats and intimidations should prevent NDC members from going out to vote for President Mahama to continue leading the country to the Promised Land.

The NDC national chairman described the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a divided political party, which is not ready to steer the affairs of the state so they should not be voted for.

According to him, Ghana would retrogress if the electorates made a mistake by voting for the NPP in the upcoming elections, stressing that the NDC deserved another term in political office.

Mr. Portuphy admonished NDC supporters to volunteer by spreading the contents in the NDCs manifesto so that the electorates, especially the floating voters, would vote for the NDC to retain power.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr & Daniel Yao Dayee, Sunyani
Ghanaian gospel musician, Cwesi Oteng, has said the late President Evans Atta-Mills, would have loved to hand over power to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

According to him, Nana Akufo-Addo's achievements and contributions to the country's democracy are relevant, and that the country's history cannot be written without mention of him.

Cwesi Oteng, who paid a courtesy call on the NPP flagbearer on Friday, September 23, said, I said somewhere that, if the history of Ghana is being written, it cannot be complete without your name in it. I even told someone that Former President Atta-Mills would have loved to hand over power to your presidency. The gospel artiste last weekvia a Twitter handle when he posted, I would like to show my support for @NAkufoAddo and to fully endorse him to be our next POGH. I believe Ghana needs a breath of fresh air. Cwesi Oteng said he believes Ghana could do much better than it is doing now, but needs to have its leadership outside political colours so that Ghanaians can choose a right leader for President. Ghana was promised a better Ghana and now everybody has seen how a better Ghana is like; and so we can believe in change and dare it, he said.Cwesi Oteng is among a tall list of other Ghanaian entertainers who have declared their support for the NPP flagbearer ahead of the December polls. Others include,, Dada KD, Kwabena Kwabena, Barima Sidney, Leo Mensah, Daddy Lumba and Nana Quame.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, President John Mahama has also received the endorsement of showbiz personalities such as Selasie Ibrahim, Mr. Beautiful,, Mzbel,, Ayitey Powers and Papa Nii.

 By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
Six candidates have been proposed by Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the position of WHO Director-General.

Member States proposed the following candidates:

 The Government of Ethiopia has submitted the nomination of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus;

 The Government of Italy has submitted the nomination of Dr Flavia Bustreo;

 The Government of France has submitted the nomination of Professor Philippe Douste-Blazy;

 The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has submitted the nomination of Dr David Nabarro;

 The Government of Pakistan has submitted the nomination of Dr Sania Nishtar;

 The Government of Hungary has submitted the nomination of Dr Miklos Szocska.

The deadline for proposals closed on 22 September 2016. Since 22 April 2016, WHO's 194 Member States have had the opportunity to propose candidates.

The Director-General is WHOs chief technical and administrative officer and oversees WHOs international health work. The current Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, was appointed in 2006 and will complete her second term on 30 June next year.

On 1-2 November, a forum will be held for candidates to present their visions to WHO Member States, and the public, and answer questions from Member States on their candidacy. The forum will be webcast in all UN languages on the WHO website: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

In January 2017, WHOs Executive Board will draw up a shortlist with a maximum of 5 candidates. Executive Board members will then interview these candidates and nominate up to 3 to go forward for consideration by the World Health Assembly in May 2017, when Member States will vote in a new Director-General. Previously, just 1 nomination was submitted by WHOs Executive Board to the World Health Assembly, which then made the final appointment.

The new Director-General will take office on 1 July 2017.
The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the party will do everything possible to break through any cloud of press tyranny.

Koku Anyidoho says this is to ensure that majority of Ghanaians hear their voice positively.

It is improper for a group of media persons to sit up somewhere to gang up against the government and think that what they say is the order of the day. We will not accept any media tyranny," he said.

"The NDC has brought out its manifesto and we are ready for the battle ahead, he added

Speaking at a press soiree organised in honor of the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah who is in the Upper West Region for a Campaign tour he said the party was not perturbed by the bad press is given to it by some media houses.

The former press aide to the late President Mills was emphatic by the grace of God the party will be retained in the December polls.

He also spared time to question the running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia saying, Wherever you find Dr Bawumia, tell him to produce the extra 90 percent of foreigners that he claimed are on our voter's register.

He insists the former Deputy governor of the Central Bank must justify the 76,286 people he claimed are Togolese who vote in the Volta Region to clear his name of being a pathological liar.

Speaking to the press, the Chief of Staff noted that the greatest challenge he noticed in the Upper West Region during his tour was the lack of jobs, which the people especially the youth are yearning for.

He stated that the plan of the government is to introduce a green revolution in their next term of office where agricultural mechanization centers will be set up for farmers to have access to tractors and other farm subsidies.

He believes the programme will employ thousands of people in the country.

Mr Debrah appealed to Ghanaians especially the unemployed to give the NDC a second term for them to implement the good policies contained in their manifesto.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Rafiq Salam | Joy News
The establishment of a Norwegian embassy in Bamako will strengthen our bilateral relations with Mali, and enable us to have a closer dialogue on the security challenges facing Mali and the wider Sahel region, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Brge Brende.

The Government has recently stepped up Norways efforts to promote stabilisation and conflict resolution in the Sahel region. Developments in Mali in the time ahead will be of great importance for the region as a whole. Norways contribution to the UN mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has added an extra dimension to Norways efforts in the Sahel. Earlier this year, Minister of Foreign Affairs Brge Brende and Minister of Defence Ine Eriksen Sreide visited Mali for political talks and for meetings with Norwegian military personnel.

Norways efforts in Mali are part of our focus on fragile states and on countering violent extremism. Promoting peace and stability in the Sahel will be important for fostering growth and development, and for preventing high rates of migration from the region in the future, said Mr Brende.

Mali is one of the focus countries in Norways development policy, and Norway wishes to be a long-term partner with a view to promoting peace, security and development in the country.

Our future cooperation was a key topic when I met Malis Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, this week in connection with the UN General Assembly. Mr Diop welcomed the news that Norway is to establish an embassy in Bamako. The authorities in Mali have wanted a Norwegian diplomatic presence in the country, said Mr Brende.

Norways engagement in Mali dates back to the time of the drought in the country in the 1980s. Broad cooperation was established, involving Norwegian civil society groups and international partners, to prevent famine, poverty and conflict in the region. Since then, Norways engagement has been expanded, and today includes efforts to promote education, peace and reconciliation, and support for processes of stabilisation and democratisation. Norways participation in MINUSMA has strengthened the Governments peace efforts in the region. The Norwegian Embassy in Bamako is due to be opened in the summer of 2017.
The General Secretary of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has slammed the leaders of the trainee nurses and midwives who protested, for being insensitive to the bigger picture of health care in the country and only dragging along trainees at the expense of their academic work.

Speaking on a local radio station in the Upper West Region, Mr. Asiedu Nketia noted that, the leaders of the trainees were not students and would not suffer the academic effects of the protest.

Those who are leading the trainee nurses association, none of them is a trainee nurse. They have finished school and when they do the demonstration to disrupt the classes, it doesn't affect them. They have written their final exams already. They have the space to go round all the schools to cause agitation. When it leads to the closure of the schools, they are not affected, the NDC General Secretary explained.

On Thursday, the trainee nurses and midwives marched from the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through some principal streets of Accra to express their anger with government for refusing to pay allowances they said were due them.

The demonstration was also to advocate for employment of all qualified nurses and midwives. The aggrieved nurses have complained that the government has failed to create job opportunities for them.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia further highlighted what he perceived to be some degree of insensitivity on the part of the leaders of the protest, stating that they wanted the allowances at the expense of better working conditions for all nurses.

..You are insisting that the money that should be used to build more hospitals where you can get more spaces to work should be diverted to employ you, what you are saying is that, you want to be concentrated in the few major hospitals. If you are 10 nurses to one patient; you don't care so long as you take you salary.

Dont politicize our plight

But the President of the Trainee Nurses and Midwives Association, Godwin Akazee, has warned against the warping of their demands with politics.

Speaking during the demonstration on Thursday, Mr. Akazee said, all the issues that we have raised, they are all genuine issues. But politicians have their own way of doing things and they always have their own way doing things and they always put political notions into it.

Let me say categorically without reservations that whether NPP, NDC, CPP or whatsoever government is in power, if there is the need for us to demand for a reduction on our school fees, we will do so. If there is the need for us to demand for our long overdue allowances to be paid, we will do so, he stated defiantly.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
23.09.2016 LISTEN

Aside written laws emanating from the Bible, Quran, constitutions and in some cases popular quotes by famous people, a lot of phrases have often dominated our communities over the years. Some dominate temporary, and some, most of which cannot be traced to anybody in particular, also dominate permanently. We will all agree that most of these quotes are sometimes controversial.

And it becomes increasingly controversial especially when there is a religious twist to it. Some of these quotes have been justified over time because they have been able to yield the expected results it preaches if practiced. And some of them have diminished over time because of the fruitless results it has yielded by those who practiced. Even though they sometimes yield the required results, the means to the attainment of the desired result may not necessarily be the ideal means. But just as Niccolo Machiavelli ones said the end justifies the means method is all that matters to the beneficiaries. Among some these permanently popular phrases which Christians and non-Christians alike often quote is Heaven helps those who help themselves, and I would like to add my input to it.

This phrase seeks to encourage people to get involved in their own problems. It is often mistaken as scriptural quote because of the God/heaven element in it. But t is originally attributed to a freemason, Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of America. On top of my head, I remember president Kuffour ones counseling N.P.P that heaven helps those who helps themselves. And many people hold extremely opposing views with regards to this phrase. But I just want to narrow it down to Christians and other believers. . .My main purpose for this article is to find out whether there is any truth in this phrase, Or whether it a phrase which when quoted, renders the quoter unreligious

Some Christians have criticized the expression as being contrary to the bibles message of Gods grace. This belief is often backed by scriptures such as zech 4:6 it is not by might or power, 1 sam 2:9 by strength shall no man prevail, it is not of him that willeth nor runneth but God that showeth mercy, all of which explains the supremacy of God over our human abilities. And aside atheist, I dont think anyone regardless of his/her religious affiliation disagrees with the fact that God reigns supreme over all the earth. So to them, it is not about hard work but the grace of God. Which I also share.

Others have also suggested that, in a typical Ghanaian school setting for instance, you can pray as fervently as Elijah, study all the relevant course books throughout the globe, cover all relevant past questions from cover to cover and make a distinction after school, but if the theory of whom you know is not existent in your life, it will just be an exercise of futility. So rather than exerting much of your energy in churching and studying, you should rather channel it to activating some links through student politics, dating dadabiis and networking with colleagues from rich homes. As funny as it may seem, that theory is very potent. And to them, never mind the means, but mind the potency of the means. And that is how the heaven helps those who helps themselves apply to them. It is all about understanding the system and operating in it.

And I understand some of the views many have expressed, even though my drift is quite different. But do these scriptures admonish us to give up on our God given strengths? Or does it mean hard work is unnecessary if you are a born again Christian? And for the others is it the end that justifies the means? Lets go

As sovereign as God is, he has bound himself by laws such that he has forbidden himself from forcing anyone to do anything against his/her will. So as free as salvation is, you can only be saved if you willingly accept Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour. And to me, if God says its not by mind and power, it teaches me that in as much as God has blessed us with some abilities and strengths, We are not trusting in them because it can fail us. A typical example is a very bright student who is tipped by everyone to get distinction, and during the final exam, he gets mad or sick. That is my understanding of that scripture. This means that if you get through exams successfully it is not by those abilities and intellect you may have, though you may have it, but God kept your brain from insanity. This applies to all the facets of life. God is always working to preserve his children.

If we flip it to the other side, God can also bless a student with a good health, sane mind and strength during exam. But apart from of a shadrach, meshack, Abednego miracle type of staying clean of burns in a flame of fire, if he hasnt fed the mind with any information, he might be as strong as Sampson and very prayerful like Elijah, but with no information in the brain, finding something wrong to write on the paper will prove fruitless. Because Jesus believes in preparations, that is why he said he is going to prepare somewhere for us in heaven.

For those who have also decided to ignore hard work to activate whom you know only, you must rethink and realize that whom you know will take you, but without hard work, its just a matter of time and you will be on the downward again. In the bible, hard work is greatly encouraged and they can be found in scriptures such as col 3:23, prov 4:13, prov 12:24 among others.

Therefore, there must be a continual and congenial mixture of grace hard work. Because in the book of James 2:19-21, we are enlightened that faith alone without works is dead. So yes, we have faith but none of these variables stand alone. So indeed heaven helps those who help themselves but your works doesnt help if you dont activate Gods blessing to water and preserve your good works..
The University of Ghana (UG), has once again been named among the world's most reputable academic institutions.

The institution was ranked in the band of 601- 800 institutions worldwide, according to a 2016 release by the Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Stella Amoah, said the ranking places the University of Ghana ahead of its peers in the country, as it has become a force to be reckoned with on the continent and on the global front.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are generated from five pillars, each of which represents a key area of higher education excellence  teaching (the learning environment), research (volume, income and reputation), citations (research influence), industry income (knowledge transfer), and international outlook (staff, students and research).

For a University keen on enhancing internationalization, it is welcome news that the University of Ghana's strongest pillar was International Outlook where its was ranked in the 5th decile, she added.

University of Ghana was placed 10th on the African continent in June this year by the Thompson Reuters rankings.

The continued upward mobility of the University of Ghana in world rankings is an attestation of the University's quest to become a world-class research intensive university over the next decade, she said.



By: Jonas Nyabor/Citifmonline.com/Ghana
Libreville (AFP) - The streets of Libreville emptied rapidly Friday with residents fearing a new bout of bloodshed as the Constitutional Court prepared to rule on who will be Gabon's next president following a bitterly-contested election.

Across the nation, there is widespread concern that a ruling in favour of President Ali Bongo, who won by a wafer thin margin provoking charges of fraud, could spark a fresh wave of furious opposition protests like those which followed the announcement of his victory.

"Everyone is panicking, everyone is afraid," explained Jean Rodrigue Boukoumou, a teacher who, like many others, was waiting outside a bank in the Gabonese capital to withdraw his money to stock up on food.

"We want to withdraw our money to be able to buy provisions. We have families to feed if the country descends into chaos," he told AFP, expressing a widely-held fear.

With the country in political limbo for nearly a month, the court was to rule on whether to uphold Bongo's victory by fewer than 6,000 votes, or to overturn it.

Defeated challenger Jean Ping, a career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, filed a legal challenge earlier this month, demanding a recount.

He and his supporters are hoping to end the Bongo family's 50-year grip on power in this oil-rich country of 1.8 million people.

Gabon's opposition leader Jean Ping a career diplomat and former chairman of the African Union Commission, has filed a legal challenge and demanded a recount of the August election results

Across Libreville, the atmosphere was on a knife-edge with riot police deployed at key junctions in order to head off any more unrest should the judges decide against 73-year-old Ping.

'Judgement Day'

Along the seafront, trucks carrying paratroopers and soldiers, their weapons at the ready, rumbled alongside cars, shared taxis and armoured vehicles on a road which passes both the court and the presidential palace.

Officers in riot gear had begun fanning out through the city on Thursday, and by Friday morning, long queues could be seen outside banks and ATMs.

Wary locals have also been stockpiling food to last through the weekend, worried that any fresh unrest could see the streets blocked by checkpoints.

"Judgement day" blared the headline in one newspaper, while another front page led with: "The hour of the last judgement is upon us."

"Until the results are announced, you are requested to avoid going anywhere until further notice," the embassy of France said on its website in a notice to its 10,000-strong community.

Ping has warned the country could face serious instability if the court rejects his appeal for a recount.

But the government has warned Ping, a former ally-turned-opponent, that he would be held responsible if fresh violence breaks out, and could find himself arrested if he crosses "the red line."

Court under huge pressure

The court met on Thursday and has retired to consider its verdict. Under the constitution, the 15-day deadline for resolving electoral disputes is Friday, although the announcement could still be delayed until Saturday.

Gabon's Constitutional Court President Marie Madeleine Mborantsuo hands the Gabonese constitution to Ali Bongo Ondimba, after he was sworn in as president in 2009

"The case is under deliberation," said the court's president Marie-Madeleine Mborantsuo, a former beauty queen and one-time mistress of Bongo's father who now holds this oil-rich nation's fate in her hands.

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".

And his entourage reacted furiously after Mborantsuo gave an interview earlier this month in which she said it would be "rare" to decide on a reversal of the results.

"Nobody wants to be in Mborantsuo's shoes," said a diplomatic source. "She is under enormous pressure from both camps."

The nation had erupted in protest after Bongo was declared the winner following an election sparked claims of fraud.

During the ensuing chaos, demonstrators set fire to the parliament and clashed violently with police, who arrested around a thousand people.

Opposition figures say "more than 50" people were killed in the violence, but the government gave a figure of three dead.

In his legal challenge, Ping asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, a stronghold of the Bongo family, where the president won more than 95 percent of the votes and turnout was declared to be more than 99 percent.

EU observers have said there was a "clear anomaly" in the province's results.

On Tuesday, lawyers for the two sides said they had agreed to a recount although they disagreed over the scope of it.
Two things got my goat this past week. One was seriously ridiculous and the other was ridiculously serious. Let me start with the seriously ridiculous thing. I know we are into dangerous territory when the President of the Republic starts dressing up funny.

I dont know whose bright idea it was for the President to start dressing in military clothes when he goes to military functions. I dont know if it is part of the election campaign season madness but I hope sincerely he doesnt do it again. Even if we are supposed to take it as a joke, the President and his advisors should please take it from me that it isnt funny.

It took this country an almighty struggle for the military to accept that they are under the authority of the elected civilian government. We went through years of national embarrassment with people who should know better, trying to convince us that a military uniform, bought with taxpayers money, conferred on a soldier the right to rule and terrorise his compatriots. We went through years of chaos when young people joined the Armed Forces hoping for a professional career only to have their prospects derailed by the adventures of a few.

The Armed Forces are sticklers for adherence to hierarchy and gradually and ever so gradually, they have accepted that their Commander-in-Chief is the elected President of the Republic.

The source of the power of the Commander-in-Chief does not come from the uniform he wears. The source of his power does not lie in whatever military rank he assumes. He is a civilian who commands our military. He stands above the military and commands the military through the power granted him by the Constitution. Once elected by the people of Ghana, the President does not need any other trappings.

Is it about titles?

I dont know if President John Dramani Mahama is beginning to feel underwhelmed by the title of President, and wants to adopt the titles assumed by the likes of President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia. You would recall the Gambian President is supposed to be addressed as His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh Babili Mansa. Maybe President Mahama thinks if he got a military title, he would go up in our estimation and Dr Bawumia will stop calling him Incompetent.

He probably wants us to call him President Field Marshall John Dramani Mahama; but I couldnt let that pass my lips since I cant think of Field Marshall without adding Idi Amin. Plus, a Field Marshall is after all a five-star General and so if our President is really angling for a military title, he will have to settle for Generalissimo, which is what you call a six-star General. I dont think there is any danger of anybody in the Ghana Armed forces ever reaching that rank, so we can safely call him His Excellency President Generalissimo John Dramani Mahama.

If, however, the President thought he was dressing up in military uniform to frighten us or to buy extra respect, then I have news for him. It did not work.

He looked passable in the fatigues, but quite frankly, in the ceremonial uniform, the President looked ridiculous. Plus, I hadnt realised that our young Dramani was beginning to show signs of middle-age spread. That uniform showed up what he had been hiding successfully thus far; he was bursting out of the uniform and real soldiers dont have pouches. Dont do it please; it is seriously ridiculous.

Another matter

Now to the ridiculously serious thing. Again, I have no idea if this has anything to do with election campaign madness.

Last Thursday morning, the offices of the Lands Commission in Accra were invaded by two pickup loads of young men. The pickup trucks were branded with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) election posters and the young men all wore fugus in NDC colours. Those around could see they had knives and clubs in their fugus.

They tried to storm the office of the Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission with menace as they threatened violence. They spoke loudly and said they had come to teach the executive secretary a lesson. They said their government was in power and the executive secretary was denying them a piece of government land at Roman Ridge that they wanted.

Luckily for the executive secretary, he was not in his office at the time of the invasion but his secretary and the rest of the staff at the commission were well and truly traumatised.

The police finally arrived and arrested the men. They have not yet been charged or taken to court and the indications are they are not likely to be taken to court.

I hear the police claim they are under pressure not to prosecute these thugs who invaded a public office, threatening mayhem and destruction.

It is a frightening state of affairs to have such a display of impunity. These events took place in broad daylight and in these days of smartphones, there are photos and videos of the invasion and the NDC pickups and number plates are clearly visible. These photos and videos are on the Internet and being circulated on social media.

I understand that the man who wants the land at Roman Ridge to be given to him had been in the office on the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding the invasion. He made no secret he felt entitled because his party was in power. He wouldnt listen to any explanation offered by officials of the commission that Flagstaff House had placed a ban on all allocation of government land.

He felt entitled to push his way into the office without so much as a by-your-leave and to bang on doors and tables because according to him, his party is in power. He felt entitled to then marshal an invasion force of thugs clad in party colours and riding in branded party vehicles to terrorise the Lands Commission.

This man, Yahya Alhassan, I am told he is called, must surely be standing on a very firm stone. He must be certain he wouldnt be prosecuted whatever he does and maybe equally certain that in the unlikely event he was prosecuted, he wouldnt spend a lot of time behind bars. There does exist the Prerogative of Mercy.

And he would probably get that piece of land because his party is in power. Now this is ridiculously serious.
23.09.2016 LISTEN

By Kofi Mensah, GNA

Obuasi, Sept 23, GNA - Deputy Finance Minister, Mrs. Mona Quartey, has repeated the government's unwavering commitment to ensure transparency in the spending of the oil and gas revenue to propel the growth of the economy and fight poverty.

She indicated that it would do everything to make the extractive industry more beneficial to the people.

She said this in a speech read for her at a two-day dissemination workshop of the 2014 Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) reports for the mining and oil/gas sectors of the economy, in the gold mining town of Obuasi.

It brought together stakeholders including civil society organizations, Municipal and District Chief Executives, District Coordinating Directors, finance officers and chiefs to discuss the findings and recommendations.

Mrs. Quartey underlined the critical importance of the natural resource sector to the nation's development agenda, saying, 'it has remained the most important and significant sector of the Ghanaian economy'.

She noted that mining for example contributed 8.0 per cent to the Gross National Product (GDP) and 34.7 per cent to the total merchandize export, in year 2014.

The sector's contribution to government's revenue during the period stood at 5.0 per cent, she added.

She said it was against this background that 'for us as a country, we belief that the extractive industry transparency initiative (EITI) process is here to serve the interest of the government, private companies and other relevant stakeholders' as it helped to identify the challenges in the sector and how to address these.

Mr. J. B. Okai, Director, Policy and Planning, Ministry of Petroleum, said the new petroleum law would ensure better regulation of petroleum upstream activities.

The law has clauses meant to bring transparency and accountability in the management of the nation's petroleum resources, he stated.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. John Alexander Ackon, called for all to act together to prevent economic decline of the other sectors of the economy because of the oil and gas production.

GNA
Accra , Sept. 23, GNA - As part of the process to strengthen the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), some selected staff of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have been taken through a three-day workshop on integrity.

Sponsored by the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), the workshop was to facilitate the administration of their service in truth and integrity.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the workshop, Mr John Kuudamnuru Vianney, the Commissioner of Customs Division of the GRA, said the main focus of the GRA was to 'instill high levels of professionalism and discipline among staff.'

Mr. Vianney said it was in this direction that customer care manuals were developed and the training organised for all staff to help improve on service delivery.

He said that the GRA with the support of the UNDP had developed integrity manuals - Training Curriculum, Trainees' Manual, Trainer's Manual and a Training- to guide trainers and re-orient officers.

Mr. Vianney assured the stakeholders that the GRA management was 'very committed to improving the quality of service in all aspects of the Authority's mandates.'

Mr. Dominic Sam, the UNDP Country Director, said that the Customs Administration was one of the organisations at a risk of becoming vulnerable to all sorts of corruption.

The 2014 Global Enabling Trade Report cited corruption at Ghana's borders as one of the most problematic factors for trade, while the country was ranked 73rd out of 138 on Customs Transparency.

Also, the 'Afro-Barometer Survey' and the 'Voice of the People Survey' conducted in Ghana showed that Ghanaians regard Customs as being corrupt.

Mr. Sam said the UNDP had, therefore, decided to support Customs Division to retain trust among the Ghanaian citizenry by helping the implementation of the recommendation in the report.

He, therefore, called on the media not to serve just at the watchdog but also 'to increase the awareness in the fight against corruption'.

Mr Charles Ayamdoo, the Director of Anti-Corruption at the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), said that it was enlightening to know that the GRA was seeking to deal with the challenge of corruption at the Customs.

He said this attempt would build integrity in Ghana and for the GRA as an institution.

Mr. Ayamdoo said that the measure put in place to deal with corruption was in line with 'the strategic objectives of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan adopted in 2014.'

The NACAP serves as guide for dealing with the corruption menace.

He said CHRAJ was always ready to collaborate with partners in 'efforts to promote integrity in their institutions', adding that, the workshop had been very beneficial to the anti-corruption campaign.

GNA
Akim Akroso (E/ R), Sept 23, GNA - Madam Agnes Enyonam, a 59 year old kenkey seller at Akim Akroso, in the Eastern Region, has been electrocuted at her residence.

The incident occurred when she reportedly tried to switch off a bulb on her compound.

Mr Alexander Ghartey, a son of the deceased, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Akim Akroso that the matter had been reported to Akroso Police.

He said Mr Kofi Arhin, a carpenter, who was passing by at the time of the incident, found Madam Enyonam's hand glued to the switch on the wall.

The carpenter, after cutting the cable, raised the alarm and Madam Enyonam was first rushed to the Akim Akroso Polyclinic, but she was referred to the Akim Oda Government Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police investigations continue, while the body of Madam Enyonam has been deposited at the Akim Oda Government Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.

GNA
23.09.2016 LISTEN

Tema, Sept. 23, GNA - The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr John Kudalor, says policemen and women who show partisanship in any election related issue will be severely dealt with.

According to him, the police must show and be seen to fair and just to secure a successful election.

Mr Kudalor, who was on a working visit to the Tema Police Region, said the 2016 general elections would be keenly contested hence the need for the Police to be adequately prepared to create a peaceful environment for Ghanaians to elect whoever they want to steer the affairs of the nation.

He said the Police high command has meet with the leadership of political parties and the Electoral Commission (EC) on several and different occasions to discuss frank and practical ways of securing the elections.

Mr Kudalor asked all police regional commanders to comply strictly with the communique of the national police command conference as there in lies their conviction and strategy to ensure peace and security before, during and after the 2016 elections.

He also asked the commanders to engage the youth and political parties in their regions as they encourage welfare meetings of policemen and women to discuss and evaluate their strategies.

The IGP charged them to collaborate with the media so that accurate information is given to the public.

Mr Paul Manly Awini, Tema Regional Police Commander, said his command has instituted various strategies and done research to secure peace in the region.

"We have carried out a thorough assessment of the threats associated with the periods before, during and after the elections. The threat assessment is a continuing process of regular assessment of the risks associated with the elections.'

According to him, a Regional Election Security Task Force whose membership include representatives from all security agencies and the EC, has been formed to oversee the election security operations.

"A Regional Election Desk has also been formed to monitor all election related issues in the region, analyse and document them to inform decision making and policy operations"

He hinted of the formation of a Regional Joint Operations Centre which would coordinate all election related police operations.

Mr Awini said, 'We are linking up with various stakeholders including political parties, civil society based organisations as well as other identifiable groups."

GNA
Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - Senior Apostle Anthony Ahenkan, General Overseer of Emmanuel Salvation Church, has called on President John Dramani Mahama, to consider how far the good Lord has brought him by ensuring free and fair elections on December 7.

He said it was the Lord who made him Vice President on January 7, 2009 and eventually the Head of State; hence the need to show gratitude to Him by making sure that there is no needless tension and bloodshed.

Apostle Ahenkan made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

'The President should know that it was God who made him the leader of Ghana, and whether Ghanaians appreciate what he has achieved or not, he should focus on God and ensure that it was during his era that there was another peaceful general election.

'He should not allow material considerations or political authority to cloud his mind and should rather think about the larger interest of Ghana,' he said.

Quoting Daniel 2: 21- 22, he said it is God who changes the times and the epochs. He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.

Apostle Ahenkan also called on Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party and other opposition political parties that God knows their mindset in seeking political power and it is within the authority of the Almighty to grant them victory in the 2016 general election.

He said Nana Akufo - Addo should make it sure it that was his time as leader of the main opposition party that Ghana had incident- free elections.

He said the media and security personnel are major stakeholders in Election 2016 and should therefore stick to professionalism by avoiding partisan interests that could lead to bloody shed and undermine the presidential and parliamentary elections.

He said everything that has a beginning has an end, and so every leader bad or good would have an expiry date one day.

'No political party would be in power for life. Whether four years or eight years, the end would come.

'The electorate should therefore be mindful of the value of their lives, which is greater than the tenure of office of the political parties of their choice.

'Every Ghanaian should therefore comport him or herself before, during, before and after the elections in order not to shorten their lives through political violence.'

Apostle Ahenkan said what every politician should know is that the country and the people belong to God hence the need for them to hold them as sacred.

GNA
Addis Ababa (AFP) - Morocco on Friday made an official request to return to the African Union, 32 years after quitting the bloc in protest at its decision to accept Western Sahara as a member.

"The Kingdom of Morocco has officially submitted a request to accede to the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act, and therefore, become a Member of the Union," the AU said in a statement.

Rabat first announced its intention to return to the club in July, with King Mohammed VI saying his country wanted to "take up its natural place within its institutional family."

Morocco quit the AU in protest in 1984 when the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) -- commonly known as Western Sahara -- was admitted as a member.

Morocco has occupied the sparsely populated Western Sahara area since 1975 in a move that was not recognised by the international community.

It maintains that Western Sahara is an integral part of the kingdom even though local Sahrawi people have long campaigned for the right to self-determination.

In 1991, the United Nations brokered a ceasefire between Moroccan troops and Sahrawi rebels of the Algerian-backed Polisario Front but a promised referendum to settle the status of the desert territory is yet to materialise.

The Moroccan monarch in July said his nation's decision to return to the AU did not mean it was changing its stance on Western Sahara.

Rabat's membership bid must be approved by a vote of the AU Commission in order to be accepted.
In my opinion they are seven types of voters. We all vote based on different kinds of reasons and for diverse leadership qualities. Whatever rationale one has, our democracy grants one the right to vote and to use that right however one wants. However, the secrecy of the ballot entails we can never tell how well people use that right. Hence, it is important to have more civic education and a good constitution to strengthen people's effective participation into the democratic process, not by merely voting but by voting based on credible information. Lets have a look at what kind of voters we may be and the associated biases we can avoid.

1. The Self-Benefit Voter:

These make up a candidates support base as they simply cannot bend. They are usually the party leaders,relatives, friends and sponsors who expect a direct benefit from the candidates victory. The quality of this support base can have a positive influence on the other types of voters. This voters reasons are compromised and engaging them in a debate is mostly useless as they are biased and not open to criticism. Lesson: We cant change their minds, the only thing we can do is observe their conduct as this can reflect their true intention for the country.

2. The sympathy Voter:

For instance, these voters will vote for President John Mahama because of late Professor Atta Mills presidency was inadvertent cut short. These voters will vote for President John Mahama because the Late President Atta Mills trusted him with power. These voters will vote for President John Mahama because he didn't finish his term. These voters will vote for Nana Akuffo Addo because he has lost several times. The sympathy voter, is an emotional voter who will relate to the circumstances of the candidate and not the qualities. Emotional voting should be avoided by all means period. Lesson: These voters need to learn that the interest of the nation are more important than the compensation to a candidate in whatever circumstances.

3. The Wind Voter:

Are you a voter who goes with the wind, you follow the crowd, use the buzz words and spend more time chanting party slogans than debating issues? You may want to fit in with peers and are too lazy to make independent decisions. You need to know that it is not about the name of the candidate but their message and track record. The ruling party and the strongest opposition usually captures these voters and the supporters may switch allegiance between the two. These voters need to look beyond the noise and watch the conduct of party officials not their words. Lesson: These voters need to learn the elections are not just for the moment but that their decision will shape them next four years.

4. The Undecided Voter:

This voter make his or her decision in the last few days. They spend most of their time listening or criticising all the candidates. They are pessimists and require more explanations from candidates and not rhetoric. They usually have nothing in common with the candidates or party and may feel there are segregated from the political process. The undecided may have been disappointed by their preferred candidates past performance and have lost hope in them. These may also include minorities, certain religious groupings or races. Lesson: Politicians are not perfect but there is always a lesser evil, your vote may be amongst the best ones.

5. The Common Interest Voter:

This voter engages in the politics and spends time listening to candidates and fellow electorates. They are receptive to all candidates and prefer one who meets their most valued interest. They are usually the first timers or young voters who want tertiary education, the women who want empowerment, the nurses who want better working conditions or young entrepreneurs who want contracts. These voters will make good decision depending on how much information is made available to them. Due to their numbers they form a very good swing vote. Lesson: Dont concentrate on one common interest with the candidate but look at the whole picture or the context in which your interests will be met.

6. The disaffected Voter:

These voters are highly discontented towards authority. They feel the whole system is a failure and a candidate or party with a poor track record does not stand a chance. They are the employees or traders who cant get a loan, the graduate who cant find a job, the unpaid retirees, the nurses who got fired, the working class family that is financially stressed and the disgruntled unions, civil society or NGOs. This voter group distrusts politicians but lookout for better alternatives. These voters have experience with election candidates and will improve their choice with every election that comes. Lesson: Dont make the mistake of giving up on voting, you are probably the most important group due to you large numbers and good judgement

7. The Sophiscated Voter:

This voter is educated, has a good job, may be highly engaged in politics, or is a political analyst or pundit and is well informed. This voter knows what he wants and asks the how questions. He is not influenced by populism or the wind of change but makes independent decisions. He has preference to an equally educated candidate and well explained manifestos. He is sensitive to questionable characters and seeks improvement in the style of politics. This voter knows there is no best candidate but can objectively chose a better candidate. Lesson: Most of these voters need to engage more in debates with everyone not just amongst themselves, because they can add value to the process.

Politics as a game of numbers, a politician cannot ignore one voter group for the other. Each group has some influence over the other and each group can be the difference between victory or loss. They say your vote counts but your good vote matters more. Identify which group you belong to, look out for the biases and choose wisely.

Ibrahim Hardi,contact 0208235615,Email [email protected]
Residents of Saltpond, in the Mfantsiman Municipality, of the Central Region have threatened to boycott the December polls as a protest against what they describe as a continuous neglect and marginalisation of the town by successive governments.

They said in spite of the role and contribution of Saltpond towards the socio-economic and political development, the town had been abandoned and was in a state of decline with respect to development projects.

Speaking at a media conference, Dr Ransford Gyampo, the President the Saltpond Forum, a non-profit community-based Organisation (CBO), said the town had been abandoned for far too long, therefore, it would do anything possible to seek its development.

He said the Saltpond Forum, which organised the conference, was prepared to mobilise the youth base of the town against any political party that would continue to ignore and relegate the development of the town to the background.

He, therefore, urged the Government to adopt a positive and proactive approach in addressing the pertinent developmental challenges confronting the town.

 We are as a matter of urgency, demanding that the Government provide the people of Saltpond with an update on the resources accruing from the oil field and how beneficial it has been for us, he said.

Dr Gyampo said Saltpond had produced great personalities who had contributed immensely to Ghanas development and deserved to be honoured by developing their hometown to create employment for their grandsons and daughters.

If the two main political traditions in Ghana today have their historical antecedents in Saltpond, then it is logically plausible to argue that Saltpond undoubtedly qualifies to be labelled as Ghanas political Mecca, he said.

He said the town also served as the avenue for important political meetings and activities that led to the formation of the first political party in the country, United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and the Convention Peoples Party (CPP).

Dr Gyampo said it would be proper to establish a political tourism or a mausoleum in Saltpond to keep the town alive considering the important political role it had played in the political dispensation of the country.

He complained that almost all the factories in the town, including the Saltpond Ceramics Factory and the Unilever soft drinks factory, which were vibrant until the early 1990s, had collapsed.

The Saltpond Forum alleged that there were some indications to relocate the Municipal Capital from Saltpond to Mankessim because of the towns stalled development, saying it would not augur well for the progress of Saltpond.

He said politicians had been treating the people of Saltpond with contempt and gross disrespect because since 1992 no President had graced their Nkusukum Festival, while they attended other festivals in the Region.

The forum had also urged the chiefs of the three towns within Saltpond to co-exist and work in unity to preserve the name and image of the town

They urged distinguished personalities who hailed from the town to be concerned and contribute to the development of the area.
23.09.2016 LISTEN

ISIS is allegedly an Al Qaeda-linked Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant, known for its ruthless tactics and suicide bombers and who currently poses a threat throughout the Middle East. It is also known as a militant group Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham, (ISIS) or the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Allegedly, according to mass media this group has declared its intent to restore the Islamic Caliphate, renaming itself as simply the Islamic State (IS) and naming a leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as Caliph.

The declaration by ISIS to restore the Islamic Caliphate under their new caliph Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi is one of the silliest stories that have ever been sold to the gullible western public. This story sounds like a cheaply produced Hollywood movie that targets Islam and Arabs and attempts again to dehumanize them by portraying them as evil killers. Maybe, the Christian fundamentalist and previous Karate champion Chuck Norris should produce one of his low grade movies where he can eradicate all of ISIS and its caliph with his iron fist and as a result will save the taxpayers millions of dollars defending against the ISIS threat to America.

ISIS is allegedly an off-shoot of Al-Qaeda who actually was the constellation of the previous fighters who played a key role in defeating the soviet troops during their war in Afghanistan. These well-trained mercenaries were mobilized, and utilized in every conflict where Islam is viable from Chechnya to Iraq and from Syria to Bosnia.

Many different entities in the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, and the Arab world have tried and largely failed to combat the ISIS propaganda machine. Even the single most credible voice on jihad al-Qaida failed to reign in the Islamic State. So governments and even terrorist groups have not been successful in quelling its advance, but that doesnt mean that there arent valuable elements in all these approaches.

Many of the counter-propaganda efforts have been limited in scope and funding, and have lacked clear political goals. Many of them were created to fight al-Qaida, not the Islamic State. It is difficult for risk averse governments to match the Islamic States advantages in volume and originality. We need to view the problem of the Islamic State as a political problem with a media dimension, not the other way around. All too often we think that these are public relations or messaging issues. But theyre related to the real world: there is a real war in Syria and Iraq, theres real violence, there are real people being killed. Mosul did fall to the Islamic State, it wasnt imaginary. So we need to realize that when we talk about messaging, it is intrinsically linked to a political reality. We cannot divorce propaganda from the political reality on the ground.

In order to understand why the Islamic State has grown and flourished so quickly, one has to take a look at the organizations American-backed roots. The 2003 American invasion and occupation of Iraq created the pre-conditions for radical Sunni groups, like ISIS, to take root. America, rather unwisely, destroyed Saddam Husseins secular state machinery and replaced it with a predominantly Shiite administration. The U.S. occupation caused vast unemployment in Sunni areas, by rejecting socialism and closing down factories in the naive hope that the magical hand of the free market would create jobs. Under the new U.S.-backed Shiite regime, working class Sunnis lost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Unlike the white Afrikaners in South Africa, who were allowed to keep their wealth after regime change.

As a result, the creation of an illusory ISIS state might ensue in a prearranged conflict with neighboring Iran, creating another war like the one that Saddam Hussein was encouraged and financed to launch against the Ayatollah and his Islamic State of Iran in the 1980s.

The struggle among the Muslim sects will serve into killing thousands of them and the remapping of the countries involved. Once again, the Muslim Jihad (struggle) against each other will lead to new homogeneous states such as a Sunni state, Shiite state, and Christian state in addition to other ethnic states.

It happens quite often that actions of Washington and the West in general in various regions of the world contribute to creation of serious problems, including drug trafficking, religious extremism and terrorism, after which Washington heroically mobilizes the international community to neutralize the problems.

In general, under the slogan of struggle for pure Islam, international terrorism is becoming a form of transnational crime. In fact, it has become a lucrative business with capital turnover running into billions, with drug trafficking, hostage taking, smuggling weapons and precious metals. Islamic State and its brand of fiery ideology is only one facet of this broader conflict, which involves dozens of countries with mixed motives and interests. Not all converge with the common goal of ending that artificial experiment that only exists because it has backers who find it convenient. What is clear is that bombs in Raqqa will not end imminent attacks on European soil.

The US ruling class alongside its European allies saw the terrorism as opportunity to remodel the global politics and political economics in its contrived project of US-led hegemony. The War on Terror, started by George Bush, saw not just destruction of Afghanistan, Iraq and partly Pakistan, but has also led to more destabilization of not just Middle East and Africa but the whole world.

The situation in Libya is a product of both Washington and Wall Street in their ongoing drive to dominate Africa and its resources. The all-out attacks leveled against various independent and anti-imperialist governments and movements throughout Africa and the Middle East is part and parcel of western objectives to extend their economic and political stranglehold over former subject nations and emerging states.

Under the false pretext of fighting terrorism, US and European Union is striving to secure its hegemony over Africa, launching ever more wars of aggression in an effort to exclude the European colonial powers from their former spheres of influence. The US Army has already deployed its troops against ISIS in the north (Libya), Al Shabab in the east (Somali) and plans to send in the center and the west against Boko Haram and A.Q.I.M..

America will become more vigilant as a result of the ISIS creation. Domestically, more government control will be enforced and implemented to allegedly reduce the risk of terrorism on the homeland and to protect the public. Meanwhile, anti-Middle-Eastern/Muslim feelings will continue to be fostered while more Muslim immigrants flock to the gates of the Europe. Unfortunately, the public never understands that for every U.S. intervention in another country, the end results are more immigrants for whole world.

With the fall of Fallujah in 2014 which occurred at roughly the same time that President Obama called ISIS a junior varsity team after the war in Syria changed. It became the first social media war, the war that attracted western Muslims in an unprecedented number, the first tweeted war. The right cocktail of forces elevated the ISIS media presence from good to great: the Islamic State of Iraqs encounter with Syria, the global emergence of Twitter, and the more widespread knowledge of English all turbocharged ISIS propaganda.
Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Dr Wilberforce Dzisah has warned students of the institute to avoid wearing miniskirts and shorts for lectures or risk being sanctioned.

According to him, the caution follows concerns by management of the school about an increase in indecent dressing among the students.

Management has raised concerns about an increase in indecent dressing by students. Management has therefore decided on the following and this should not only go to fresh men and women but for the continuing students as well. No shorts or miniskirts are to be worn for lectures. Clothes which expose your vital parts shall not be entertained, he warned.

GIJ campus

Dr Dzisah who gave the caution at the schools matriculation of fresh students for the 2016/2017 academic year said the caution was to both fresh students as well as continuing ones.

Management will apply sanctions with regards to any violations of these directives, he added.

Explaining the rationale for the new directive, Dr Dzisah said the primary aim of the students was to study and successfully complete their prescribed academic programmes and that such provocative clothing had the tendency to sway them off their focus.

Life at the university can be intellectually and socially engaging and exciting. However, one can easily lose focus and strain into fruitless and unproductive ventures. Your primary aim here is to strive to successfully complete your prescribed academic programme, he explained.


Some residents of Saltpond in the Central Region have also joined the current chorus of no development, no vote chorus, with barely three months to the elections, demanding their share of proceeds from the Saltpond Offshore Crude Oil Producing Company.

They accuse the current and previous governments of depriving them of the basic necessities due them, despite the revenue accrued from the Saltpond Offshore Crude Oil Producing Company.

Some communities in the country in recent times have threatened not to vote in the upcoming general election; if the necessary development projects are not implemented.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the President of the Saltpond Forum, Dr. Ransford Gyampo, asked government to provide them with updates on the revenues from the company or risk losing their vote.

We sensed a gradual grand but surreptitious scheme to relocate the municipal capital to Mankessim simply because of Saltpond's stalled development. We believe this approach is very irresponsible and a defeating solution to a problem that can easily be tackled to honour the role and contribution of Saltpond towards Ghana's development.

He further called on government and presidential hopefuls to come to their aid else they would advice themselves.

We call on government and indeed all presidential hopefuls to immediately turn their attention to Ghana's political Mecca. We have been abandoned for far too long and today we are prepared to mobilise the good people of Saltpond to boycott the upcoming general elections in protest against their marginalization, if we do not see any sign of concern from the ruling government and the opposition, he added.

About Saltpond

Saltpond is the capital of the Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region.

The area is noted for offshore crude oil resources. Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited, and two joint venture partners operate the Saltpond Oil Field.

Saltpond Oil Field faces closure

Meanwhile the Saltpond Oil Field, Ghana's oldest oil producing field, was to be decommissioned this year because of its inability to turn around its dwindling fortunes and remain economically viable.

Oil production from the field, which is about 65 miles west of Accra and operated by the Saltpond Offshore Production Company Limited, has declined consistently, hence considerations for a closure.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
23.09.2016 LISTEN

- Rates of HIV, malaria, and TB diseases have decreased since 2000; suicide and binge drinking have become greater threats to health

- International collaborative Global Burden of Disease enterprise offers insights into progress and challenges in achieving the UNs Sustainable Development Goals

By successfully combating diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, Ghana has made great health progress since 2000. But the country needs to make even greater progress if it hopes to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, according to a new scientific study in The Lancet.

Ghanas health gains were made against a global backdrop of expanded health coverage, greater access to family planning, and fewer deaths of newborns and children under the age of 5 are among several health improvements contributing to many countries progress toward achieving the SDGs.

While Ghana has increased access to basic health services to many more people, high percentages of the population remain at risk because of lack of clean water and poor hygiene. In addition, while access to family planning methods increased between 2000 and 2015, only 36% of women ages 15 to 49 who want contraceptives or other resources are able to access them.

The Clinical Assistant Professor at IHME, Dr. Tom Achoki, said, Ghana has shown promising health progress in the past 15 years, particularly by combating problems like childhood stunting and deadly diseases like HIV, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. But Ghana needs to take action to further drive down these disease rates, and tackle major challenges like water and hygiene.

He added that Much more energy and resources will be needed for Ghana to meet the SDGs.

The study by the international Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) collaboration, published today in The Lancet, analyzed each countrys progress toward achieving health-related SDG targets by creating an overall SDG Index score. Countries were then ranked by their scores to show which nations are closest to achieving the targets.

A nations SDG index score is based on a scale of zero to 100. As a result, Iceland tops the list with a score of 85. The lowest-scoring nation was the Central African Republic, at 20. Ghana has a score of 43, ahead of Kenya (score of 40), Cote dIvoire (35), and Nigeria (34); and just behind South Africa and Botswana (both with scores of 46) and Namibia (45).

To see how nations compare to others, countries were divided into five categories, based on a combination of education, fertility, and income per capita. This new categorization goes beyond the historical developed vs. developing or economic divisions based solely on income. Ghana was determined to be part of the second lowest group.

The studys top findings for Ghana include:

Malaria rates also fell from 284 cases per 1,000 people to 209 cases per 1,000 people over the 15-year period.

Cases of new or relapsed tuberculosis declined from 2.3 per 1,000 people in 2000 to 1.5 per 1,000 people in 2015.

The neglected tropical disease rate was nearly halved from nearly 78,000 cases per 100,000 people in 2000 to approximately 38,000 per 100,000 people in 2015. These include ailments like the eye malady trachoma, the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, and the lymphatic system ailment lymphatic filariasis.

The suicide rate increased from 8.3 deaths per 100,000 people to 9.7 per 100,000 people in 2015.

Alcohol consumption is on the rise with 7% of the population at risk of health loss from binge drinking, up from 6% in 2000.

IHME Director Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray stated that, We know that international targets can motivate countries and motivate donors.

According to him, the international Global Burden of Disease collaboration is committed to providing an independent assessment of progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

For example, Ghanas SDG Index score increased between 2000 and 2015, from 30 to 43. The rate of new HIV infections dropped from 2.2 new cases per 1,000 people in 2000 to only one case per 1,000 15 years later. One potential driver of the decrease in HIV and other communicable diseases in Ghana is the concurrent increase in access to health services. In 2015, 67% of Ghanaians who needed an essential health intervention received it, in contrast to just 29% in 2000.

The proportion of countries that have accomplished individual targets varies greatly. For example, more than 60% of the 188 countries studied shows maternal mortality rates below 70 deaths per 100,000 live births, effectively hitting the SDG target. In contrast, no nation has reached the objective to end childhood overweight, or to fully eliminate infectious diseases like HIV or tuberculosis.

The GBD is the largest and most comprehensive epidemiological effort to quantify health loss across places and over time. The GBD enterprise  now consisting of more than 1,800 researchers and policymakers in nearly 130 nations and territories  is coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.
Dr Wilberforce Dzisah, Rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) has said that the media can openly declare its support for any of the political parties.

He said all human activity, including the practice of journalism, is governed by competing ideologies which seek to proffer alternatives to the national development, adding that since political parties were the vehicles designed to bring about those changes, the press could endorse those political parties it believed could bring about the radical and structural transformation their readers or electorate wanted to see.

He, however, warned that the freedom of the press to endorse political parties would amount to an exercise in futility if journalistic objectivity was lost and if reports were slanted, jaundiced and tainted with the very ills for which we (the media) berate others.

According to him, Edmund Burke, the British philosopher, parliamentarian, author and political theorist, noted, when he described the media as the fourth estate, that the powers of the media were immense and comparative to the other organs of government.

Dr Dzisah therefore, admonished the media to go behind the veil to establish a sense of legitimacy of the various presidential and parliamentary candidates and the political parties to the benefit of the voter.

In less than three months, Ghanaians will be trooping to the polls to elect either President John Mahama or Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), respectively, to lead the country. They will also be electing 275 parliamentarians into the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

Dr Wilberforce Dzisah was speaking at a three-day workshop on Effective Election Reporting organized by the Ghana Institute of Journalism in collaboration with the United States Embassy at Sogakope in the Volta Region.
As part of preparations ahead of this year's general elections, the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) launched its manifesto on Saturday, September 17 the fall out of which dominated discussion within the week.

On Monday the New Patriotic Party responded to some promises made by the NDC during the manifesto launch.

Boakye Agyarko, the Policy advisor to the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo called the media to a conference he dubbed eight years of broken promises by the Mahama led government. In that encounter with the media he enumerated promises, he said had been broken by the Mahama administration.

The NPP's Director of Policy, Boakye Agyarko

Related: 8 years of broken promises- NPP punches Mahama

And away from politics, doctors at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital expressed worry over the increasing number of babies born without anus .

On Tuesday, a memo from the Ghana Education Service (GES) directing the posting of teachers without appointment letters surfaced. The Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa suggested the memo could not be authentic but his colleague Minister, the Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu explained that the memo was to check possible fraud within the public service.

Related: Controversial GES memo is to curb fraud - Employment Minister

Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Haruna Iddrisu

Much later, the same day, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made a u-turn by confirming that the memo was not fake but had been authored and sent to Regional Directors of Education in error. He said the directive in the memo was however reversed by the Education Ministry and expressed the ministry's commitment to posting the 16,000 teachers who had early on been asked to stay home.

Also on this day, a story about a Municipal Fire officer's manhood being bitten by a female subordinate in the Brong Ahafo region shocked the country.

Related: Bitten manhood: Fire chief suspended

The incident happened when Eric Ansah allegedly attempted to rape the 24-year-old lady. He bled, treated, discharged and later suspended by the service.

Then came Wednesday, the Founder's day holiday, a holiday set aside to celebrate the birth of Ghana's first president and his unassailable efforts in winning independence for Ghana.

The holiday provided opportunity for many Ghanaians to rest and make merry but death struck. The death of Hiplife artiste Omanhene Pozoh hit many Ghanaians.

The sadness of Pozoh's death gave way to politics. The president who was on a campaign trail was seen in a video sharing something that looked like money. The video went viral.

The General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia at a campaign tour of the Upper West Region dismissed rumours president John Mahama wants Kaleo-Nadowli MP Alban Bagbin defeated in the upcoming elections.

On Thursday, Mahama's controversial video surfaced again. The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah came to his defence saying President John Mahama might have been sharing leaflets to traders at Abossey Okai in a video that went viral .

Related: What is wrong with the President sharing money, assuming he did? - MP asks

The NPP's 2016 Vice Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia challenged the government to respond to his economic lecture.

Although the government has insisted it is not a response to the NPP, a press conference organised by the NDC dubbed " Setting the Record Straight" was held.

Transport Minister, Fifi Kwetey comparing the NDC record to that of the NPP said the NDC has done much better.

He said the incompetence of the Kufuor-led administration was exposed after Ghana left the Highly Indebted Poor Country(HIPC).

On Friday, some unknown assailants attacked Electoral Commission officials at Suhum in the Eastern Region and threatened to kill them if they failed to transfer the votes of some people living outside the constituency.

The Suhum constituency of the NDC later claimed responsibility for the act and apologised to the officials.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com | Akosua Asiedua Akuffo | [email protected]
The General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union, (GTPCWU), is petitioning the Ghana National Gas Company Limited over the dismissal and suspension of some workers at the Atuabo Gas Processing plant.

A total of forty-five workers have been affected in various disciplinary measures taken by the management of the Ghana Gas Company Limited for demonstrating against poor working conditions at the facility.

The appointments of thirteen (13) workers at the Atuabo Gas processing plant have been terminated while thirty two (32) others have been served with various terms of suspension for engaging in the act.

But a petition signed by the General Secretary of the Petroleum and Chemical Workers' Union, stated, the National Union wishes to petition your high office against the untimely termination of appointment and suspension of our members of Ghana Gas who were involved in the recent demonstration at the Atuabo Gas plant.

According to the union, 'the actions were taken without information to the National Union as social partners in industrial relations.'

The General Secretary of the General Petroleum Workers' Union, Fuseini Iddrisu explained to Citi Business News the decision was against the consensus reached at a meeting with the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry on September 14, 2016.

The management was warned never to dismiss anybody but to our surprise, it went ahead with the dismissals and suspensions. We think that management has done this without the consent of the other parties like the workers' union and government represented by the Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Fuseini Iddrisu asserted.

The workers, last month protested against what they referred to as poor working conditions .

They intimate their lives will continue to be at risk, if the issue remains unresolved.

At the time, the Head of Corporate Communication at Ghana Gas Company Limited, Alfred Ogbarmey explained that the actions were flawed since the concerns had already been addressed.

The protests had culminated in a lot of management meetings between the Ministry of Employment and Ghana Gas Company over the fate of the workers.

Meanwhile Fuseini Iddrisu explains to Citi Business News the national union of petroleum workers will embark on protests if the management fails to intervene by Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

Honestly we are thinking that once we have petitioned the Board Chairman of Ghana Gas, we expect that by Wednesday, he would have intervened. But if nothing is done by that time, we will meet to determine the next line of action, he stressed.



By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
The presidential nominee of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has stated that, President John Mahama's continuous stay in office after the December elections, will threaten Ghanas future.

According to him, every sector of the Ghanaian economy, over the last 8 years, has witnessed constant decline, coupled with the collapse of every social intervention programme implemented by the Kufuor government.

Speaking at a rally in the Tema West Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Akufo Addo appealed to Ghanaians to save the country by voting out President Mahama in this year's elections.

We have to save Ghana from John Dramani Mahama, and secure the future of our country. The continuous stay in office of John Dramani Mahama is a threat to the future of our country. That is why in December, Ghanaians are voting for change. We (in the NPP) are coming to change Ghana, and bring in a government that is going to return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity, he said.

Akufo-Addo also appealed to Ghanaians to ensure that, the NPP is given a chance to turn around the fortunes of Ghana since to him, the NDC has nothing good for them.

He [President Mahama] says despite all these years he has spent in office, he wants another 4 years so he can show to Ghanaians what he will do for them. In 8 years, we don't know what they have done for the people, and he wants another 4 years? he asked.

What does Mahama want to continue?

The NPP flagbearer further wondered why the NDC was seeking another them despite retrogressing the country.

What does he want to continue? Is it the 'dumsor'? Is it the record levels of unemployment? Today the NHIS has collapsed. Is this what he wants to continue? When schools reopen, every parent is in tears because there is no money to pay fees. Is this what he wants to continue?



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
The Electoral Commission wants the law to deal with thugs believed to be supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), who ransacked its office at Suhum in the Eastern Region.

The thugs allegedly destroyed the equipment belonging the EC in the ongoing voter transfer exercise, forcing the Commission to suspend the exercise in the area.

The thugs were said to have initiated the attack following an EC officer's resolve not to transfer the vote of some of the voters, who could not identify themselves as required by the process.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Director of Communications at the EC, Eric Dzakpasu, condemned the act, describing it as criminality.

He said the perpetrators must be punished without fear or favour.

Whether it is in the realm of politics or not people must be punished, law enforcement must work. Because the EC is not empowered to do anything beyond reporting to the appropriate authorities about this incident and some of these incidents happen and some of the security services know. In the case of Suhum, my colleague indicated that the people who perpetuated this act are well known in the community. They are known to the police and those around so why should be allowed to go free?

What we are witnessing at some of these offices are now acts of criminality and ones they are acts of criminality; I think law enforcement must come to play otherwise all that would be witnessed would be impunity. The EC officer certainly went to the Police to lodge a complaint and that should be enough as a way of pressing for charges; and if a criminal comes to accept his criminality and apologizes I think in law, the appropriate sanctions must be applied especially where the people have come forward to accept criminality, Mr. Dzakpasu added.

NDC takes responsibility for destruction

Meanwhile the Suhum Constituency of the NDC have reportedly accepted responsibility for perpetuating the attacks and has apologized accordingly.

Kukuom confusion

The scuffle follows a similar incident which happened in Kukuom in the Asunafo South District in the Brong Ahafo Region.

There were clashes between members of the NDC and the NPP, who accused each other of manipulating the voter transfer exercise in the constituency for their gain.

The exercise there has since been suspended.

In Ghana, criminal acts committed by political party activists largely go unpunished, particularly acts committed by persons affiliated to the party in power.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
By A.B. Kafui Kanyi, GNA

Ho, Sept. 23, GNA - Dr. Seidu Alidu, a Senior Lecturer of the Department of Political Science, University of Ghana, Friday, urged the media to set the agenda for peace as the country prepared for general election in December.

He said the citizenry was desirous of peace and, therefore, charged journalists and other media practitioners to 'reignite consciousness and professionalism' to help consolidate the country's democratic gains.

Dr. Alidu said this at a workshop for media practitioners in the Volta Region on 'Peace Angle Journalism', organised by the National Media Commission, with the support from the United Nations Development Programme.

He described Ghana as 'negatively peaceful' with many chieftaincy, ethnic and political hotspots and asked the media not to allow politicians to exploit those 'fault-lines' for political gains.

Monsignor Anthony Kornu, a Member of the Volta Regional Peace Council, said words played active roles in maintaining peace and charged the media to play its gate-keeping role effectively.

'We, as a people, must know how to handle words because they are sharper than the sword,' he explained. 'No matter how peaceful people are, the wrong use of words by a third party can destroy their peace.'

The Most Reverend Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, the Catholic Bishop of Ho, the Chairman of the Volta Regional Media Advisory Committee of the National Media Commission, in a speech read on his behalf, said it was not enough to talk about peace, but the citizenry ought to believe in it and work at it.

GNA
23.09.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - Health regulations to save the lives of present and future generations from the scourge of tobacco use, have still not been adopted by Parliament since four years now.

This is affecting the implementation of the Part six of the Public Health Act, 2012 (ACT 851) - Tobacco Control Measures, which was passed by Parliament to ban tobacco smoking in public.

Ghana is a party to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and has since ratified it in 2004.

The treaty enjoins the country to take administrative, legislative and any other means to curb the incidence of smoking and reduce the hazards associated with it.

A statement by the Coalition on Tobacco Control signed and copied the Ghana News Agency by Mr Labram Musah, the Programmes Director of the Vision for Alternative Development, a member, therefore called on the government for the immediate passage of the Legislative Instruments (LIs) on the Tobacco Control Measures.

It said the passage of the LIs would save the people from the devastating economic, social and environmental consequences of tobacco use and exposure.

The Coalition said globally, countries are formulating policies that would effectively control the use of tobacco, especially among the youth.

'Research has showed that women and children are the most affected by tobacco. Tobacco use is a major risk factor to Non-Communicable Diseases. 80,000 to 100,000 young people around the world become addicted to tobacco every day.'

It said according to the World Health Organisation, tobacco-related death would be around one billion in the 21st century if the current smoking patterns continue.

The Coalition observed that tobacco products are the cheapest on the Ghanaian market and goes for as low as 0.15 pesewas and that a ban on single sale of tobacco product would reduce the use by minors and the poor.

The statement said currently, in Ghana, 50 men get killed by tobacco every week and this number is expected to grow if urgent action is not taken, adding:

'Even more troubling is that 32,500 boys and 21,000 girls smoke cigarettes in Ghana each day.'

The Coalition said it was encouraged by the initiatives of the Ministry of Health, Foods and Drugs Authority, Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Subsidiary Legislation to swiftly adopt the draft Tobacco Control Regulations when Parliament reconvene in October.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) advocated the passage of the Public Health Act of 2012 (ACT 851), which included the Tobacco Control Measures and this was achieved through the support of government and parliament.

The CSOs over the past four years have engaged government on the development of a draft Tobacco Control Regulations, which when adopted would reduce tobacco deaths, heart diseases, infertility, lung cancers and disabilities resulting from tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke.

It further causes extreme poverty and research has proved that in developing countries, heads of families spend 10 to 15 per cent of their household income to buy tobacco products, which deprived families of basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, school fees among others.

The Coalition expressed support to the Ministry of Health and Parliament in their determination to ensure the adoption of yet another comprehensive Tobacco Control law.

It expressed happiness for including in the Regulations key provisions of pictorial health warnings, covering 65 per cent at the top of the front and back of the tobacco products packages, banning the sale of single sticks of single sticks of cigarette/tobacco products and banning a pack of tobacco products containing less than 20 sticks.

The others are comprehensive smoke-free interventions ensuring indoor public places/areas are smoke-free, provisions on tobacco industry interferences on public health policy.

This provision is to ensure that, any interaction with the tobacco industry is made public so as to ensure transparency, and provision on a comprehensive ban of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Dr Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the WHO in 2007 urged countries, which have taken measures to protect the people from tobacco use to do so immediately by passing laws requiring all indoor workplaces and public places to be 100 per cent smoke-free.

GNA
By Hafsa Obeng, GNA

Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce (GNCC) is to hold a trade mission to Korea in line with its objective of strengthening mutual trade relations and identifying related strategic priorities that exist between both countries.

The trade mission, which is the first of its kind, is expected to start from September 30 - October, 10.

Mr Stephane Abass Miezan, Chairman GNCC, Western Region said the mission would provide opportunities including business to business meetings to allow participating companies promote trade and investment activities in areas of food and beverage, machine and equipment, IT and electronics, automobile and general merchants.

He said the mission, which would be embarked on together with the Free Zones Board and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, is to create a formal relationship for the corporation of the Chamber of Commerce in both countries.

This would create an avenue for the sharing of ideas, expertise and experience as well as collaborate in the discovery and tapping into various opportunities in both countries.

'This formal relationship when established, will focus on assisting businesses from both countries to find alternative markets for their products, organise business delegation, facilitate the introduction of new products as well as explore future and mutually agreeable markets outside the region,' he said.

Mr Miezan, who is also the leader of the business delegation to Korea noted that members of the Chamber would not only concentrate on buying finished products but rather look for the opportunity to create joint ventureship, that would lead to the establishment of factories and businesses in Ghana to serve the West African Sub- Region and the entire African market.

He said: 'The mission would in the long run lead to the creation of employment opportunities for the youth and the expansion of businesses in Ghana.'

He expressed the hope that the trade mission would set the path for deepening and establishing a more strategic trade partnership between both countries towards achieving economic and social benefits and improving the living standards of the people.

Some activities lined for the mission in Korea include, business to business meetings, company and factory visitations, participating in buyer-seller meetings, and travel to Gwangju Metropolitan City.

GNA
By Laudia Sawer, GNA

Tema, Sept 23, GNA - The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has inaugurated a 35-member Inter Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) for the Tema Metropolis.

Members of the committee included representatives of all political parties in the three constituencies of the Metropolis, faith based organizations, youth and women's groups, media and Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and the Electoral Commission.

Mr Isaac Keane Antwi, Tema Metropolitan Director of NCCE, said the Commission during the 2012 general elections, introduced the IPDC in all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District (MMDAs) areas.

Mr Antwi added that the Committee would provide a platform for dialogue among the various political parties, as well as create a conducive atmosphere for conflict resolution among parties.

Committee members are also to increase political education among stakeholders in the Tema Metropolis.

He indicated that the Coordinating Director of the MMDAs were mandated to chair the IPDC and ensure that peace prevailed in the area before, during and after the elections.

He urged political party activists to eschew all forms of violence in order to maintain the peace in the harbour city.

The NCCE Tema Director bemoaned the lack of commitment among the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) members to such programmes geared towards engaging and dialoguing on political activities in the area.

He, therefore, asked them to actively participate in such programmes and find common grounds to solve and prevent outbreak of violence and misunderstanding related to the elections.

Mr Hope Dziakpor, Budget Officer for the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), representing the Metropolitan Chief Executive, called for tolerance among political players.

Mr Dziakpor urged them to consciously educate their followers to desist from unlawful activities during campaigns as they see their opponents as important agents for development.

Political party representatives on the committee accused each other of removing and defacing party posters and banners.

They agreed to educate their members against the act.

GNA
By Kodjo Adams, GNA

Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts is to develop Osu into marine drive enclave to meet international standards for tourist attraction.

The Ministry is championing the development of the coastline from Osu to down-town Accra into a tourist resort to position the community as an attractive destination for tourism, job creation and income generation for the youth.

The project seeks to link Osu to Abokobi in the Ga East District on a heritage trails as the two towns share a common and interesting heritage of the Basel Missionary activities and traditions.

Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Sector Minister announced this on Thursday at the inauguration of a 13- member Osu Tourism Development Committee as part of preparation for the Greater Accra Regional World Tourism Day which falls on September 27.

This year's World Tourism Day is on the theme: 'Tourism for All, Promoting Universal Accessibility.'

The Committee would work with other sub-committees to execute activities relating to the establishment of some tourism infrastructure, sanitation, safety and security, community awareness creation, local and international marketing and promotion of Osu.

The Committee would facilitate the training of target groups including tour guides, craftsmen, caterers and accommodation providers.

She said tourism is the fastest growing industries of the world which contribute significantly to global and local economies.

The industry is also a major contributor to the sustainable development of the world's resources as it helps to conserve and preserve historical, cultural and natural heritage and reduce poverty in the deprived communities.

Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, the Osu Mantse said it is critical to promote cultural heritage tourism, which is the best option in promoting unity in the community and economic development.

He said the Osu Traditional Council would from next year rebrand their festival to promote their heritage by initiating a week of restoration during, which the Osu township would be cleaned and painted by the community members.

The Chief has appealed to government to declare Osu as a heritage zone and be added to the World Heritage list.

He urged government to release the Osu Castle to the traditional council and the Ministry for it to use as a tourist site and to help train tourist guides and curators to tell the story of the slave trade.

GNA
23.09.2016 LISTEN

By Kodjo Adams, GNA

Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - The Beige Foundation under the social responsibility arm of the Beige Group has outdoored a talent development initiative dubbed: 'Youth Excellence League,' in Accra.

The project was established as part of the life skills development programme run by the Beige Academy to recognise and award exceptional youth talents in the junior high school, senior high school and the tertiary institutions.

The project would bring together the crAme de la crAme of the best brains amongst the youth in the country for the Foundation to seek not to only identify and support these talents but to push them to crave for excellence in their future aspirations.

As part of the novelty programme, five awardees were inducted into the league from the junior level to the tertiary and supported with GHa1000.00 to GHa3000.00 where 20 per cent of the money would be liquidated while the rest of the 80 per cent would be invested for the beneficiaries.

The project would consider widening its network to make room for youth involved in other vocational skills endeavors.

Mrs Anne-Marie Blackmore said their outfit believed that the youth form a significant part of the nation; hence the need to give them a push that will inure to the benefit of the country in the right direction.

She said the awardees were selected based on their remarkably performance in academics whose overall achievements are outstanding and are worthy of celebration.

She explained that the Youth Excellence League would actively search for, identify and support youth who demonstrate exceptional skills in their academic programme.

The project would be implemented in as many institutions as practicable with the ultimate aim of extending its coverage to the rest of the country.

Mrs Blackmore said the Beige Foundation ideals, is to develop talent, modify behaviour and nurture a new breed of young talent to promote a culture that would lead these young ones into becoming advocates for excellence.

She noted that the Foundation has partnered non-governmental agencies, orphanages and corporate entities to impact the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children through projects with Missionaries of Charity, the Ayenya Community School and Foster Home.

Professor Stephen Adei, Chairman of the Beige Group said the initiative was to develop the talents of the young ones and instill in them the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship for future development.

He said the group would launch an emergency fund for Ghanaians to meet any unforeseen situation such as death and accidents.

Prof Adei urged the awardees to be focused, acquire knowledge and skills and establish good relationship with God in their sphere of disciplines to succeed in life.

GNA
Korleman (GAR) Sept. 23, GNA - The people of Korleman have put in place a three-year plan at the estimated cost of GH 300.000.00, to bring development to the area.

Projects to be constructed include extra three-classroom block with office and a store, a clinic and public places of convenience.

Nii Korle VII, the Chief of Korleman disclosed this at the launch of the plan at a durbar of the annual Homowo festival.

He said the projects would be supported with communal labour in addition to contributions of GH 50.00 a man, GH 20.00 a woman and non-resident citizens pay GH100.00.

Nii Korle appealed to the Department of Feeder Roads to assist the community to re-gravel their six-kilometer road, which links Amasaman and Nsawam trunk road to facilitate goods and services.

He called on the Ga West Municipal Assembly, the Member of Parliament for the area and the World Vision International office based in Amasaman, to support the people with the provision of school infrastructure to accommodate the more than 500 school-going children who are at home.

Mr Emmanuel Nii Okai Laryea, the Member of Parliament for the area who was the guest of honour, pledged cement and roofing materials for the proposed projects by the people of Korleman.

He asked them to continue to initiate more development projects to attract government's support.

GNA
Kinshasa (AFP) - Heavy fighting in the city of Kananga in central Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed many lives, concurring sources said.

The violence erupted on Thursday and continued into Friday, with attacks on the city's airport by supporters of a tribal chief who was killed in August by the military, they said.

"There was a bust-up in Kananga but calm returned in the late afternoon," DR Congo government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP.

At least 10 people were killed, according to an incomplete AFP toll compiled from various sources.

The vast central African country, a former Belgian colony, is chronically unstable and is the theatre of conflict between many rival groups.

Central government is also in the grip of a political crisis.

Rioting and protests against President Joseph Kabila on Monday and Tuesday claimed at least 50 lives, according to the UN.
business Auto industry creates jobs but not too many permanent ones A CNBC-TV18 analysis has revealed that in the last financial year, while the countrys top 4 automakers a Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, M&M and Hero MotoCorp a together created over 13,000 new jobs a an overwhelming 70 percent were however on a contract basis, i.e. jobs lacking permanency.
you are here:
business DLF close to selling rental business; pare debt: Sources Brookfield, Blackstone and GIC are the frontrunners for the deal and could also make a joint bid for the 40 percent stake in the rental business. Sources say that all bidders are in final stages of due diligence.
The second day of a trial that could cost the Burke County Board of Education millions of dollars starred one of the plaintiffs who says hes out big bucks.

Scott Carlton took the stand Thursday and told jurors hes lost nearly $2 million in projected income and those are conservative figures.

Carlton claims he had a thriving business that was seeing income growth every year, but following a scandal involving the school board in 2011, he was forced to close down his car wash because the business died in the fallout.

Carlton and fellow plaintiff Tom Wood have both testified that they became involved in the local school system when the contract of former Superintendent David Burleson wasnt renewed and Dr. Art Stellar was hired to take over the position. Carlton said hed personally known Burleson and felt compelled to start attending school board meetings when he heard about the upcoming changes.

He (Burleson) was very beloved by our community, Carlton said.

He said he became even more concerned when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools put Burke County schools on probation. SACS is responsible for ensuring that schools are accredited and without its nod of approval, Burke County students could find themselves unable to transfer credits.

Carlton said this was very concerning to him as a father, but also as a stakeholder in Burke County. He said new businesses would be unwilling to locate to the area knowing the local schools were not accredited.

It would be extremely detrimental to our community, he said.

When SACS said it would yank its backing unless major changes were made, it created a sense of urgency, Carlton testified. He said he joined a committee to work on restoring the systems good standing with SACS.

I wanted to see if we couldnt save our school system, he said.

While serving on the committee, Carlton met Amy Morgan, who was employed by Burke County schools and worked as a sort of secretary for the group, he said.

Morgan later sued Carlton and Wood after the two presented a packet of information to the board which, in part, said Morgan and Stellar were allegedly having an affair.

Like Wood, Carlton claims that information was supposed to remain confidential and his name shouldve never been associated with the packet. Since the claims clearly made their way back to Morgan, Carlton said his name was muddied in the ensuing scandal.

Carlton testified that his business, Express Lube and Wash, had been doing well for the 19 years its been up and running and he was looking to expand it at the time Morgan filed her suit. As a result of the backlash, he claims he wasnt able to grow the business and even had to shut down the car wash portion, losing a substantial amount of money in the process.

Carlton said that in 2009, the car wash alone profited nearly $95,000 and made more than $118,000 the next year. In 2011, the year Morgan filed her lawsuit, the business had made more than $98,000 through November, when it died, according to Carlton.

He said based on those numbers and his knowledge of the business, he calculated a profit of $105,500 per year for the car wash, not including his defunct expansion plans. Assuming he would work until 2029, when he turns 70, the car wash wouldve produced a total of nearly $2 million profit.

Carlton said those were conservative figures, and had he been able to expand the car wash as hed intended, he potentially was looking to turn even more profit.

However, Carltons tax returns tell another story, according to the defense attorney.

In 2010, Carltons returns show gross earnings from his business to be just under $500,000. In 2011, they rose to $509,147. A year later, the returns showed a total of $579,508 from Express Lube and wash.

The gross sales continue to go up every year since all of this bad publicity, the defense attorney pointed out.

Carlton agreed that the numbers on his tax return did appear to show increased profits, even after the school board scandal, but that the figures didnt reflect the ins and outs of the business.

The tax returns that Carlton submitted, which were entered into evidence in court, also showed that his yearly net profit is substantially less than the numbers he presented as gross profits.

In 2011, he claimed a net profit of only $5,779. The following year, he claimed the business lost a little more than $3,000.

Carlton said those numbers were so low because he chose to put money back into the business, rather than show a profit for the year.

The defense also appeared to poke holes in Carltons claims to medical expenses in his suit. Like Wood, Carlton said hes sought professional help because of the mental duress hes been under in the past five years. He said hes seen Dr. Carroll Wheeler, a local psychiatrist and friend of his, for years.

When asked if Wheeler charged for the many hours of counseling, Carlton said, I dont think he does.

Carlton is expected to take the stand again Friday to finish his testimony. With several more witnesses slated to testify in the matter, Judge Todd Pomeroy said he doesnt expect the testimonies to be over until sometime next week.

The case resumes at the Burke County courthouse on Friday at 9:30 a.m.
The silence was shattered when Keith Lamont Scott was shot by a cop. Granted, it was an uneasy silence. We all knew it was. Anybody paying attention knew it was there just below the surface, building up pressure while we uneasily watched tragic shootings in other parts of the country.

Hopefully nobody thought that just because we didnt have riots meant that there was no tension. The studies have been done and shown that the Queen City has racial issues, both in terms of human relationships and economic opportunity. Yet, we sanctimoniously held up the lack of riots in the QC like a China doll that was as fragile as it was unrealistic.

We all know that Charlotte expends a lot of effort keeping up appearances. We, like our tea sweet, sometimes so sweet that it left us unable to speak  silent. But now our over-sweet silence has been broken.

The shooting of Scott and the protests/looting afterwards showed us that Charlotte is not superior to other major U.S. cities. It is here  was always going to be here as long as our radio stations, churches, schools and communities remained informally segregated. It is here  was always going to be here for as long as all city, county and state officials did was study and talk about opportunity and the need for stronger community.

There are decades-worth of studies and major news reports that documented the challenges, particularly in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Yet, all anybody did was study it and throw some token ideas around. Its a reality that CMS has essentially re-segregated since the 1990s.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force was formed in 2015 after a study showed that Charlottes poverty is virtually intractable. As one might anticipate, that study indicated overwhelmingly, that poverty affected minorities far more substantially than whites. With re-segregated schools firmly in place until CMS could study its part of the problem (hooray for a study!), the city could have followed the lead of other major cities in establishing its own minimum wage, one commensurate with the higher cost of living in the QC.

But, as we all know by now, the city chose instead to first pursue anti-discrimination policies related to bathrooms (not that theres anything wrong with that). The far-right General Assembly then focused the political attention squarely on who uses which bathroom while they slipped in a major provision forbidding municipalities from enacting higher minimum wages than the state. In other words, state senators from rural communities with lower costs of living can dictate minimum wages in urban areas with higher costs of living  thus hamstringing the city council from doing the most obvious thing they could do in the short term to address economic distress. Yep, plenty of blame to go around.

What happened this week in Charlotte didnt just happen  the tinder has been piled and drying for some time. So here we are now, the 17th largest city in the country in crisis.

If social media is any indication, we arent doing very well at having the necessary conversation about how to chill out, either. We would do a lot better to recognize that these conversations only work if we acknowledge that theres a lot of stuff we dont know and need to know  but we're so damn busy yelling at each other that we can't hear. Thats when we need to be reminded that we are entitled to our own opinions but not our own facts.

Rioting and looting ultimately reveal a selfishness in some that is more powerful than the pain that led to the protest, for sure. Yet, peoples willingness to tear stuff up is directly proportional to their feelings of lack of ownership. Thats why the person who dinged my car in the Target parking lot didnt even leave a note, and its why, when peoples adrenaline is really running after having been shot with tear gas, they dont mind breaking windows  which then prompts many of those watching on TV to say, Look at those savages disrespecting property.

And thats when the conversation becomes an argument and, well, Lord, help us.

Sadly, one person, who by all accounts was satisfied to pick up his son after school, and another person, who by all accounts was a good cop and a good guy, have become symbolic of a firestorm that is so much bigger than either social or news media know how to comprehend. It makes me sad for those two black men and their families. It makes me sad for our city. The silence seemed so tranquil. But Id be lying if I said I was surprised.

Charlotte resident Jonathan Henley is the host of Road Signs radio show, which airs Sunday nights from 10 p.m. to midnight on 1065 The End. Contact Henley via email at roadsigns@1065.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/roadsignsradio. Read past columns and join his blog at www.1065.com/onair/road-signs-51152/.
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To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research.

Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
In a study targeting Millenial first-time homebuyers, one big bank appears to be offering the same sort of mortgage advice brokers pride themselves on.



Were advocating for a prudent approach to budgeting and always ensuring that the house Canadians do buy  whether theyre Millenials or not  is well within their means to afford, Pat Giles, Associate Vice President, Real Estate Secured Lending at TD, told MortgeBrokerNews.ca Clearly, with the survey suggesting Millenials are willing to spend more and not compromise, what we want to make sure is that theyre having that conversation with a mortgage specialist first to make sure they understand the full cost of homeownership and if it fits within their overall budget.



If that sounds oddly familiar, its because its the sort of advice youve likely given your own clients.



MortgageBrokerNews.ca asked if this was a purposeful approach, noting that brokers are chipping away at bank mortgage share  especially among first-time homebuyers, which the study targets.



No, I think this is a message to people to say that there are key activities and key considerations that you need to take into account when youre purchasing a home, Giles said. I think there are a number of common mistakes that Canadians tend to make when theyre going out and purchasing a home, especially if its a first home.



The study, which is rife with terms and sayings that often appear in the social media feeds of many Millenials  such as YOLO and sorry not sorry  found 48% of those buyers would likely spend more to live close to work compared to 34% of Canadians as a whole.



It also found many Millenials are unlikely to move to a smaller house (38%), sacrifice amenities (81%), compromise on neighbourhood (80%), and give up a car (89%).



According to Giles, the results highlight the importance of budgeting and researching before buying a home.



Another common mistake is for people to confuse the maximum mortgage they qualify for with their budget, when clearly the cost of home ownership is much higher than just the down payment and the regular mortgage payment, Giles said. For us, this is a good opportunity to highlight the importance of doing your research and having a conversation with a mortgage specialist.



Or, you know, with a mortgage broker.


With the Vancouver and Toronto housing markets continuing to surge ahead, a Simon Fraser University academic cautioned about investing in these overheated markets via pension plans.Finance professor Andrey Pavlov said that while real estate provides an option for investors who are looking expand their portfolios beyond bonds and stocks, they might suffer from double damage if they own properties in cities where their pension funds are also involved in.The situation that is bad is if most of your plan members are homeownersand you invest in the same market, then youre doubling down on the situation that can hurt in two different ways, Pavlov told Global News.Outside of Toronto and Vancouver, I think the rest of Canada is fine for real estate investments. So it depends what they have chosen.Statistics Canada recently found that approximately $150 billion has been invested by employer-sponsored pension plans into the countrys housing segment. Over 6 million Canadians are enrolled in these plans, with a total value of $1.6 trillion.As of Q1 2016, 34.5 per cent of pensions are invested in bonds, while 27.8 per cent were in stocks and 9.2 per cent were in real estate.[The] value of investments in real estate rose 3.4 per cent, continuing a four-year upward trend, Statistics Canada reported.
If you have an Instagram account and live in Dayton, I am fairly certain youve seen the awesomeness of this citys newest startup, Something Old Dayton. Havent yet? Go follow them now @somethingolddayton. Now let me share a little about this couple who I fell in love with over plush vintage furniture and fabulous antique finds.

Originally from Springfield, Virginia and Virginia Beach, Mari + Kyle met while attending college in Richmond. From Virginia, the couple moved to D.C. before making their final stop here in Dayton just two years ago. Kyle continues to work for the government as a computer engineer contractor, but his entrepreneurial spirit, Maris artistic eye and both of their love of vintage treasures would inevitably fuse to create something magical.

A year and a half ago, Mari was reading an article online about a company that offered vintage furniture rentals. Having a degree in Craft and Material studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, experience as a Visual Display intern at Anthropologie, a life-times worth of experience crafting and art-making, a love of vintage furniture and assisting behind-the scenes at the weddings of friends, Mari always wanted to find a way to use her skills professionally. It was after reading that article that she realized that maybe, just maybe, she could finally evolve a long-time hobby into a business.

The Fosters, like many, have always dreamed of a family business. Something unique to them that would grow along with their family. When Mari shared the idea with Kyle, his logistical mind went into high gear, planning and moving forward. Mari laughed as she told me she immediately had regrets, being pregnant with their second child and in no position to start a business. It wasnt until a spontaneous request to style a vow renewal reception that these two, on a complete whim, were to plan essentially a whole wedding in a week. Well, they did it. It was amazing and as Mari adorably said, I dug it! You would never know there were doubts when you see what they have created, and the community they are building around what they do. I dig it too, Mari.

In the infancy of their business, Mari and Kyle ran the operation out of their basement but with wedding and photographer clients growing rapidly the small vintage rental business quickly out grew their home. They looked for a while at spaces for storage, and though toured several nothing seemed to work with their style / brand and few were in their budget. It wasnt until a call to the Davis Linden building that the pieces fell into place. It was perfect, and just like that Something Old Dayton had a new home on Linden Ave. An opportunity for a full photography studio with vintage furniture, antique treasures and Maris styling expertise, Something Old Dayton has quickly become a destination for photographers, wedding planners and Daytons biggest brands for commercial shoots and events.

Like many business owners in Dayton, Kyle and Mari definitely know and value the importance of community and working together in this city. Their marketing efforts consist of a mix of cold calls and emails, but social media and engaging online with photographers, wedding planners, florists and more is really driving their business. They work hard to add unique and hard to find items to their inventory for their clients, whether by hunting for or making them from scratch, like their collection of handmade wooden farm tables.

As members of the Rising Tide Society and the Dayton Tuesdays Together group, both said it is key to have a support system of like minded business owners supporting each other. Creating connections and building long term relationships is a major part of their growth strategy as they continue to evolve their business. The Fosters are Linden Heights residents and LOVE Dayton. When I asked if they were here to stay both smiled and said, Yes, this is home. We talked candidly about Dayton, I see a city on the rise, driven by artistic endeavors said Mari. She talked about how much Dayton reminded her of Richmond and how creatives reshaped that city and the same is happening here. From giving purpose to old structures, to food and art culture Dayton continue to grow breathing new life into the region. So, its Dayton to stay. Dayton to stay.

I enjoyed our conversation so much, and as a client I have to say they are amazing to work with as well and I look forward to many more collaborations this and next year. As a self proclaimed junker I also had to ask where they find all of their amazing rentals. Mari graciously offered up her secret. Craigslist, flea markets, estate sales, personal connections, FB Buy Sell Trade groups, Goodwill, pretty much anywhere and Im always looking! she laughed. If youre a photographer, wedding planner, or company that wants to host a unique event in a creative and stylized space, check out Something Old Dayton. Curious about them? Attend their open house on September 30th to meet these two and tour their space. Also, be prepared for their two little cuties to be crawling around. Its kind of a perk of working with them. Welcome to Dayton Kyle + Mari, I personally am super excited to watch your business and family grow!
Spooky sites Fall is the season of holiday spectacle in Moorpark. In December, of course, Pinedale Road transforms into Candy Cane Lane and dazzles visitors with Santa splendor. But for those who...

Local hula group inspires global connections When the pandemic ushered everyone indoors, Moorpark resident and longtime dancer Lisa Rauschenberger decided to get people back outsidesocially distanced, of course. She began to hold weekly hula lessons at...

Teens face high stakes in the Oval Office A press room befitting Americas commander in chief was set up inside the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. Journalists and others gathered inside. Ladies and gentlemen, I need you all...
Mortgage fraud was up year-over-year in the second quarter, with Florida remaining the state with the highest risk of fraud, according to new data from CoreLogic.

More than 12,000 mortgage applications were estimated to have indications of fraud in the second quarter, according to CoreLogics 2016 Mortgage Fraud Report. The companys mortgage application fraud risk index was up 3.9% year over year from the second quarter of 2015, continuing a general upward trend in fraud since 2010.

This is consistent with the loosening of credit policy after historically tight credit policies post-crisis, CoreLogic stated in its report.
As the oil and gas industry continues to recover from its painful downturn, geoprofessionals are headed to Midland to talk rocks, education and best practices.

The West Texas Geological Society is holding its 27th Fall Symposium Wednesday and Thursday at the Midland Horseshoe. This years theme is On the Rocks But Still Afloat.

This is a challenging time for many individuals, families and companies as the oil industry experiences another low in its cyclical nature. Many of us have experienced several on the rocks episodes, but the fact that we are still afloat shows the ingenuity, resourcefulness, and tenacity of geologists, said Jerry Tochterman, chairman of this years symposium.

Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick will open the symposium with her keynote address at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

These symposiums, core workshops, field trips and publications offer invaluable resources from professionals who share their knowledge and experiences representing years of experience, education and millions of dollars of project expenditures, Tochterman said.

This years presentations vary greatly, but you never know what nugget you might pick up that stimulates or supports a geological idea that leads to success, he said. During an economic downturn, the more a geologist knows and learns can lead to greater opportunities.

The two-day symposium will feature presentations of technical papers by authors who showcase current research, field studies, core analysis and other aspects of the Permian Basin, analogous areas and developing technologies.

There will also be poster sessions highlighting similar research.

There will be an optional ethics luncheon on Thursday with a presentation by Christopher Mathewson, Regents Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University.

The symposium will conclude with an optional field trip to the Guadalupe, Delaware and Apache mountains that will last through Oct. 2.

For more information about the symposium, go online at www.wtgs.org, call 683-1573 or email the association at wtgs@wtgs.org.
As OPEC prepares to meet in Algiers next week, the oil market is reminding the groups members whats at stake if they fail to reach a deal.

More than 800,000 barrels a day of additional crude is pouring into the global market this month from last as Russia pumps at an all-time high while Libya and Nigeria restore disrupted supplies, according to statements from their ministry officials. That would imply a tripling of the supply surplus, estimated currently at about 400,000 barrels a day by the International Energy Agency.

We are overproducing and were not going to draw down inventories like we thought we would, said Chris Bake, a senior executive at Vitol Group, the biggest independent crude trader. Were still building crude inventories and thats a problem.

The global oil oversupply will persist into 2017 as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries such as Saudi Arabia pump near record levels, others such as Iran and Iraq bolster capacity and production outside the group weathers the price slump, according to the IEA. Prices may struggle to hold above $40 a barrel unless OPEC acts, Citigroup predicts.

Crude is stuck at less than half the level it averaged at the start of the decade, straining the finances of producers around the world. Oil rallied last month on speculation OPEC and Russia might revive a pact to cap production, though prices have since cooled. Brent for November settlement fell 54 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $47.11 a barrel at 10:17 a.m. in London on Friday.

While OPEC officials have been meeting from Vienna to Paris to Moscow in attempts to reach consensus, theres skepticism a deal will be possible. All but two of 23 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg this week predicted there wont be an agreement in Algiers on Sept. 28.

The volatility in supply created by the unexpected return of exports from Libya and Nigeria makes it harder to settle on any plan for stabilizing the market, Ed Morse, New York-based head of commodities research at Citigroup, said by phone.

Theres just too much oil in the market, said Morse. Its very difficult to come to the conclusion that a freeze would be credible or doable when youve got the combination of whats happening in Libya and Nigeria. It makes a shambles of any extrapolation of balances.

Libyas output has climbed to 390,000 barrels a day after a halt in fighting between rival armed factions, National Oil Corp. Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said on Sept. 22. Thats 50 percent higher than the monthly average for August estimated by Bloomberg.

Nigeria has revived output to 1.75 million barrels a day following a cease-fire deal with militants in the Niger Delta region, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Emmanuel Kachikwu said on Sept. 19. That compares with 1.44 million last month, near the lowest in more than two decades, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Russia pushed output to a new record 11.09 million barrels a day in September, Energy Ministry data show. While President Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 2 that producers can overcome the tensions that have so far prevented an agreement, there are doubts over the practicalities of Russias involvement.

No Russian contribution to a freeze is believable as the government doesnt have enough control over companies like Rosneft PJSC to prevent them from boosting supply, Citigroups Morse said.

OPECs last attempt at a deal with Russia collapsed in Doha on April 17 when Saudi Arabias influential Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman insisted at the last minute that Iran had to participate in a freeze. Iran refused as it was just starting to revive exports following the end of international sanctions.

Now that Iran has returned to pre-sanctions production capacity, the odds are in favor of some basic agreement, said Helima Croft, chief commodities strategist at RBC Capital Markets LLC in New York. All producers may have a stronger incentive to cooperate as the global surplus lingers and low oil prices take a toll on their finances, according to Bassam Fattouh, director of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

The financial pain and the incentive to reach an agreement is stronger, Fattouh said. The re-balancing process is taking longer than expected.

A pact could give exemptions to countries like Nigeria and Libya to restore output, but without any agreement there would be no restraint on OPEC supply. That could swell the global surplus projected for next year by the IEA, a Paris-based adviser to consuming nations.

If they do not freeze, they risk sending the price into the $30 to $40 a barrel range, said David Hufton, chief executive officer of PVM Group in London.
Volunteer organizer Barbara Dunton approaches tonights womens prayer event with an emotional take. In conjunction with Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth's Revive Our Hearts Women's Conference simulcast, First Baptist Church will host Cry Out! in its Fellowship Hall. Dunton finds an exhilaration to it all.

I believe God honors the prayer of women, she said. I truly believe the time is now and that He is moving and calling women to pray for our world.

So she stepped in to help out.

With some fellow volunteers, Duntons team organized Cry Out! To give an opportunity for women to come together and pray for the families, community, the nation and the world.

I really have to give credit to Karen Watts, she said. She is a Revive ambassador and was instrumental in informing us on everything.

Wolgemuths Revive Our Hearts Conference is a nationwide event. Dunton and fellow volunteer Denise Beckham see this as the chance to be heard.

"This is not a conference about how to pray or how to be better at praying," volunteer Denise Beckham said. "This is an opportunity for women across the United States to come together and spend time in prayer. The prayer emphasis is based on the calling of a solemn or sacred assembly. The solemn assembly is found in the Old Testament and begins with a call from God for His people to examine themselves and to turn back to Him."

Women from all denominations are welcome to participate. Invitations have been sent to churches throughout Midland in hopes of amassing a full house.

Although it is geared toward women, men are encouraged to come. There will be opportunity for men's prayer albeit separately from Cry Out! Participants.

Limted child care will be available as well as a simulcast in Spanish.

For those who are unable to attend, Dunton added that they can still participate.

People can log on at home, she said. The simulcast is free to every church and every person.
HOUSTON (AP)  A supplier of cookie dough that Blue Bell Creameries blamed for a possible listeria contamination of some of its ice cream products said Thursday that its product tested negative for the pathogen before it was sent to the Texas-based company.

Blue Bell announced Wednesday it was recalling select flavors of ice cream distributed across the South and made at its Sylacauga, Alabama, plant after finding chocolate chip cookie dough from a third-party supplier  Iowa-based Aspen Hills Inc.  that was potentially contaminated with listeria.

Blue Bell halted sales, issued a voluntarily recall of all its products in April 2015 and shut down its three plants due to bacteria contamination that was linked to 10 listeria cases in four states, including three deaths in Kansas. The company, headquartered in Brenham, about 70 miles outside Houston, resumed selling its products about four months later. Before resuming production, the company said it had implemented new cleaning and sanitizing procedures at its facilities, as well as new testing programs and new employee training.

The iconic ice cream brand is beloved in Texas, where people impatiently awaited its return to store shelves after the recall.

No illnesses have been reported from the latest recall of ice cream distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, Blue Bell said.

Blue Bell said on Thursday in an email to The Associated Press that it found listeria contamination in packages of cookie dough ingredient received from Aspen Hills.

But a statement from Aspen Hills said its cookie dough product tested negative for listeria before it was shipped to Blue Bell and that the "positive listeria results were obtained by Blue Bell only after our product had been in their control for almost two months."

Aspen Hills said that Blue Bell is the only customer who received the cookie dough product "included in our voluntary recall." Blue Bell has been a customer of Aspen Hills since January.

Following the recall last year, Blue Bell signed agreements with health officials in Alabama, Oklahoma andTexas  the three states where its plants are located. The agreements require the company to inform the states whenever there is a positive test result for listeria in its products or ingredients. Officials in those three states have also conducted additional visits of Blue Bell's plants as well as done their own tests of product samples.

Since then, inspections have been less frequent in Alabama  the location of the plant where the latest contamination was found  than in Oklahoma and Texas, according to information from the three state governments.

Alabama tested ice cream products quarterly from Blue Bell's plant in Sylacauga, Alabama, and has not found any problems with listeria, said Ron Dawsey, deputy director of the Bureau of Environmental Services with the Alabama Department of Public Health.

"It appears at this point the issue was with the supplier," Dawsey said.

An inspector visits Blue Bell's plant in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, monthly, according to Stan Stromberg, director of the food safety division for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Since Blue Bell resumed production in November, inspectors with the Texas Department of State Health Services have visited the Brenham, Texas, plant more than 50 times, conducted 22 routine inspections and 22 equipment tests and were on-site 17 additional times for other reasons such as reviewing records, evaluating trainings and collecting samples, said agency spokeswoman Christine Mann.

Listeria is a "hearty" organism that can enter a food supply chain in different areas, said Dr. David Greenberg, an associate professor of infectious disease and microbiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Steven Kronenberg, a San Francisco-based attorney who has worked on lawsuits related to food safety issues and recalls, applauded Blue Bell for quickly issuing a recall.

"It's difficult to say what else Blue Bell and the regulatory authorities should be doing. It sounds like they have been on top of it to the extent that they can," he said.
A John Lennon custom made suit is going up for auction in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The suit will be sold in a live auction set up by the Boston-based company RR Auction. The auction will feature his tweed grey and black two-piece suit, as well as other Beatles artifacts.

The suit was originally made by the bands tailor, Douglas Millings, introduced to the Beatles by Brian Epstein back in 1962. Epstein long served as their manager and made the executive decision that being visually palatable would endear the Beatles to a pop audience. Millings went on to make many of the stage costumes for the Beatles between 1962 and 1966.

NME reports that the inner breast pocket of the suit has a white D.A. Millings & Sons tag that has John handwritten on it. The trousers also have his name written on the lining near the zipper. Lennon had previously given the suit to Madame Tussauds in New York, and had granted the waxwork museum permission to use it in an exhibit.

Reportedly, the suit will be sold for $65,000 during the auction and there are already bids pending on the internet. The auction will take place next week (Sept. 26) at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, located in Cambridge. Information on the items up for auction, in addition to the bidding process, are available on the RR Auctions website.

The auction also includes a postcard signed by the band, including a signature from their fill-in drummer Jimmie Nicol, as well as receipts from the Star Club signed by George Harrison, Ringo Starr and Pete Best.

 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Poverty should not be barrier to ...
Family members of some of the Pulse attack victims and survivors are channeling their grief into legislative action against firearms.

Families, survivors of Pulse attack calling for assault weapons ban

Petitioning Congress for legislative reform

#ORLANDOUNITED: Complete Coverage



Amanda Alvear snapchatted her last moments at Pulse night club.

She used to love going to the nightclub," said mother Mayra Alvear. "'Mommy this is a great place. I am going with my friends and we all have a great time.'

Alvear says June 12, 2016 is a day she does not want to ever relive.

The life of my daughter and everybody else's is irreplaceable, Alvear said.

Alvear drives from Tampa to Kissimmee every Thursday to get together with the family members of other Pulse victims.

Seeing his friends there be killed, you know it's not easy," said Rosemary Ramos. "You see that everyday and every night when you go to sleep, when you wake up. You only sleep a couple of hours and thats it.

For them its a coping mechanism. But now they want to do more than just sit and talk. Theyre fighting for gun law reform.

We want justice for them," Alvear said. "We don't want this just to be forgotten, we want to fight for our kids.

They even created a video, asking congress to ban military assault weapons. They specifically talk about the AR-15 rifle, a semi-automatic rifle based off a military weapon. While the AR-15 has been a primary weapon in many recent mass shootings, it was not used in the Pulse attack.

That weapon was the Sig Sauer MCX, a semi-automatic weapon that can have assault-style variants.



Finding a purpose and a reason for my daughter's death and all the other victim's deaths," Alvear said. "Finding a way to do something for them.
A 10-year-old boy accused of killing his 2-year-old cousin will not remain in jail while awaiting trial, an Ocala judge ruled Friday morning.

10-year-old boy charged with aggravated manslaughter

He's accused of killing 2-year-old cousin

Boy transferred to detention facility while awaiting trial



The boy, who is charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death of Journee Blyden, will remain in home detention at the Heart of Florida Youth Ranch in Citra. He is expected to be transferred later in the day.

The judge also ruled that the 10-year-old should be supervised and will not be allowed near younger children. The judge is allowing the boy supervised visits with his 9-year-old sister, who is also in the facility.

Earlier this month, detectives went to the Ocala home where the 10-year-old lived. The boy told investigators that he fell down while holding his 2-year-old cousin. However, a medical examiner ruled Journee's death a homicide.

Celeste Snyder with the State Attorneys Office described what its like having a 10-year-old defendant.

Its tough, but were doing the best job that we can, keeping in mind that he is a young and immature 10-year-old," Snyder said. "He was 9 years old when the event happened. So were trying to work with him. We all have children, so were trying to use those skills in helping him through this.

The 10-year-old will remain at the Heart of Florida Youth Ranch until his next status hearing, scheduled for Oct. 27.

NOTE: Per News 13s crime guidelines, we are not disclosing the name of the 10-year-old boy because he is a minor.
Plainview police have joined family members in attempting to locate Glennis Hamilton, 59, who was last seen Tuesday, Sept. 20, when he unexpectedly checked out of the Quality Inn Motel in Plainview.

Hamilton is an escort driver for trucks transporting wind turbine blades and other components to and from the BNSF Wind Energy Distribution Center on East Fifth Street in Plainview.
AMARILLO  A couple arrested earlier this year after a traffic stop in Carson County and then found to have 3,825 grams of heroin in bundles in a suitcase in the cargo section of their vehicle, have been sentenced, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Carlos Castro-Noriega, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 63 months in federal prison. Last month, Judge Fitzwater sentenced Cristina Melissa Gomez, 24, to 46 months in federal prison. Each pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and aiding and abetting.
The first day of fall is Thursday, Sept. 22, with the Autumn Equinox in Plainview and across the Texas Panhandle-South Plains at 9:21 a.m. Its the day of the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator, moving southward from Northern Hemisphere to Southern Hemisphere.

Aside from the date on the calendar, it should feel like summer outside today, before changing to more autumn-like conditions this weekend.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock advises that an upper level low will push southeastward toward West Texas by the weekend. It will bring with it a strong cold front that will lower highs into the 60s and 70s by Sunday and Monday, with lows in the 40s and 50s.

Showers and thunderstorms also will be possible ahead and just behind the front.

In the short term, the NWS indicates that an upper level ridge over Texas will weaken by early Wednesday while the next storm system comes ashore in the Pacific Northwest.

The region should see a warming trend going into the weekend as surface flows continue to be out of the south to southeast ahead of a cold front over the Central Plains.

As the cold air mass begins to move south, rain chances will begin to improve late Saturday afternoon with some isolated amounts of up to 1.5 inches, particularly across the Rolling Plains.

The main cold front is expected to push through the northwestern portion of the South Plains by Sunday morning, and through the remainder of the area by the afternoon. It promises to be the regions first strong cold front this fall, bringing with it fairly strong winds gusting from 25 to 35 mph.

Next week will start off with below average temperatures across the region, forecasters predict. Monday will likely be the coolest day with highs ranging from the mid-60s to mid-70s throughout the region, while lows Tuesday morning will range from the low 40s to mid-50s.

Temperatures will gradually warm into the mid-70s to low 80s on Tuesday and Wednesday as the upper low moves off to the northeast and upper-level ridging begins to push in from the west.

In Plainview, rainfall chances have been set at 20 percent Friday night, increasing to 50 percent Saturday through Sunday night, before decreasing to 30 percent on Monday.
A firefighter was injured and eight people were displaced when a two-alarm blaze Friday morning broke out inside a Victorian home in San Franciscos Bernal Heights neighborhood.

The fire, reported at 8:37 a.m. on Prospect Avenue near Virginia Avenue, sent smoke into the neighborhood as officials warned people to stay away from the area. A preliminary investigation traced the origin of the fire to a heater on the top floor, said Assistant Chief Kevin Burke of the San Francisco Fire Department.
Visitors to the Witte Museums new Mays Family Center cant miss the monumental Porfirio Salinas painting Spring Scene of Texas Hill Country. It occupies a wall of the center that essentially was built as a frame.

What many might not realize, though, is that they have seen the painting before. For four decades, it served as a backdrop to a diorama of stuffed longhorns at the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum at the Lone Star Brewery.
Catherine Banner creates both a book and an island in The House at the Edge of Night.

The fictional, 5-mile island is called Castellamare, and it sits in the Mediterranean off the east coast of Sicily, within sight of Siracusa.

Its a whole world unto itself, though, in Banners novel, which covers four generations of a family over 95 years.

In Banners elegant prose, the setting and the characters are shaped by the isolation and the inevitable change that occurs in the world, culminating mainly with the 2008 global financial crisis.

The novel begins before World War I, when an grown orphan from Florence arrives at the island seeking work as a doctor.

Amadeo Esposito must leave shortly thereafter for the war, but returns, eventually delivering two babies on the same night, one by his wife and another from an affair with the wife of the islands count.

Along the way, Amadeo collects stories and writes them down in a little red book. In a novel heavy with symbolism, this act is the most symbolic of all.

It represents how Banner herself took tales collected by other Italian authors, including Giuseppe Pitre, Laura Gonzenbach and Italo Calvino, and reinvigorates them in new contexts.

Just as composers Antonin Dvorak and Johannes Brahms used folk songs and dances to write their great symphonies, Banner borrows ancient folk tales to write episodes that make ordinary situations seem magical and bursting with meaning.

More Information The House at the Edge of Night By Catherine Banner Random House, $27 See More Collapse

The borrowing of tales does not diminish Banners imagination, however. Her characters are fresh and original. They come into conflict and fall in love and face lifes difficulties to grow as characters.

The title comes from the name of the islands aging bar, which Amadeo takes over after giving up as a doctor.

There, Amadeo raises a family, to which grandchildren and great grandchildren come and go, some leaving the island to live all over the world and others staying to operate and modernize the bar.

Miracles happen. A World War II British soldier washes up from the sea one day and eventually becomes an Esposito family member.

Competition comes. Archaeological discoveries on the island lead to a tourism trade that produces a hotel.

Radios and televisions arrive to raise awareness of the rest of the world.

Ferry services improve to further connect the island to the world.

The islands first bank changes many dynamics, too.

The one constant is the islands yearly festival celebrating its earth-mother saint.

Its all a pleasing, human journey of time and growth, seasoned with Italian charm. Italys old tales endure by blending into a 20th century guise.

dhendricks@express-news.net
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A former Danbury man was shot and killed earlier this week while sitting a car in a residential neighborhood of Newark.

Adam Sismour, 34, a former Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was spotted in a residential neighborhood by a passerby, who saw he was in distress and called authorities. Sismour died hours later in a nearby hospital, a spokeswoman for the Essex County Prosecutors Office confirmed Friday.

The prosecutors office, which is leading the investigation, said there is no known motive for the crime and no suspect in the case.

Sismours father, Richard Sismour, remembered his son in a statement on a fundraising web page relatives set up on the familys behalf.

Adam had a big heart that was full of love and passion for his family, his country, his friends and most of all his children, the elder Sismour wrote. Adam has made an impact on so many people's lives and his memory will live on within each of us.

The fundraising page on youcaring.com is raising money for the college education of Adam Sismours two children. As of Friday afternoon, the day of Sismours funeral, the site had raised more than $13,000.

Sismour moved with his family to Danbury from Pennsylvania in the mid-1990s. He spent four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during two tours as squad leader and machine-gunner in the 3rd Battalion 6th Marines Kilo Company in Iraq and in Afghanistan. It was not immediately clear when he moved to New Jersey.

After returning from military service, Sismour completed his bachelors degree in business management with a minor in justice and law administration.

Sismour was featured in a News-Times story in 2010 that reported on his difficulties obtaining disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder after his second tour ended in 2006.

At the time, the veteran said he hoped to start a good career so he could support his daughter, Olivia, then seven months old, who he said had played a pivotal role in his life.

"Me and her mother are just blessed to have her," he told the News-Times. "I mean, she's beautiful and already has her own personality. She loves to laugh."

Any opportunity I get to spend with Olivia, I'll take, no matter what," he added. " I just want to be able to see her grow up and be there for her."

In addition to Olivia, Sismour is survived by his son, Noah, and his longtime girlfriend, Teresa Correa. Both Sismour and Correa graduated from Danbury High School in 2001.

Richard Sismour, himself a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, told the News-Times when his son returned from Iraq that he was he was very proud of his son and his service.

"We're very thankful that he's come back safely because we were nervous when we first heard he was coming home, Sismour said. You hear so much about all those wonderful boys who are due to come home but never make it because their helicopter is suddenly shot down. I could never handle that."

dperrefort@newstimes.com
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Albany

John C. Egan, who served under seven governors of both parties and helped shape the Capital Region as a key member of the team that constructed the Harriman Office Campus, Empire State Plaza and other state facilities, died Friday at age 86.

Egan also served as the chief executive officer of Albany International Airport from 1995 to 2003, overseeing development of the airport complex.

After stepping down as General Services commissioner in 2010, he went on to become president of Renaissance Corporation of Albany, a philanthropic organization.

Egan had first served as OGS commissioner from 1980 to 1989 under governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. He was named to the post again in 2007 by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

He spent more than 50 years in state service, including stints as executive director of the New York State Dormitory Authority and state Transportation Commissioner.

Former Assemblyman Jack McEneny, an Albany Democrat, said Egan's death comes at an ironic time given the news this week of eight people named in a criminal complaint by Preet Bharara, U.S. attorney for the Southern District, in a case of alleged state bid-rigging, improper lobbying and conflicts of interest.

"You compare that to the life and career of John Egan. It restores hope," he said. "It's perhaps consoling to realize there is an alternative and such sterling characters do exist, none better than John Egan."

McEneny, a student of Albany history, noted that Egan began his career on the bottom rung of the state career ladder and ended up with the confidence of many governors.

More Information According to an obituary to appear in Sunday's Times Union, the funeral will be private. However the family asks that those wishing to honor John Egan's memory make charitable contributions to the Wildwood Foundation (www.wildwood.edu, 518 836-2305) or the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org, 855-653-2273). Survivors are wife Virginia, four children and 17 grandchildren. See More Collapse

"He started as a power plant attendant at Dannemora, and he worked his way up politically," McEneny said.

As OGS commissioner, he said, Egan was known for his personal touch.

"He would walk through. He seemed to know every employee by name. More than that, he'd ask about their families," he said. "He saw the dignity of his workers but he also cared about them."

McEneny said Egan and his wife, Ginny, also had a wonderful marriage.

"The two of them were devoted to each other and went everywhere together," he said.

Other leaders also mourned Egan's loss.

"John Egan, often called 'the builder,' was best known for his hands-on approach that guided the construction of the new Albany International Airport, lowered air fares and brought Southwest Airlines to Albany," the current CEO, John O'Donnell, said in a statement. "As a mentor, John Egan was responsible for launching the successful careers of many local and state leaders. His personal touch of 'walking the track' to meet with staff and greet passengers has left an indelible mark on our hearts."

Albany County Legislature Majority Leader Frank Commisso also paid tribute.

"John Egan was an excellent leader who could talk serious business one minute, only to leave you laughing seconds later," he said in a statement. "His people skills were second-to-none. The passing of John Egan certainly leaves a void in the community. He and his family will certainly be remembered in my prayers."

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, also expressed sorrow at the loss.

"I was deeply saddened today to learn of John's passing and my sympathies go to his wife, Ginny, his children and grandchildren," he said. "My thoughts are with them tonight. Many leaders in our state relied on John's talents, and New York has been made a stronger place because of his love for public service and dedication as a community builder. I was proud to work with John in state service, and I can say from that experience that he left a mark on our communities which will be felt for years to come."

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy made public Egan's passing after he said he learned from family friends. He shared the news via social media.

"I actually worked under John for 11 years at the airport," McCoy told the Times Union. "He came up there and started to build the new terminal for us. A lot of our landscape and architecture is from John Egan and his leadership. He is going to be sorely missed."

McCoy's announcement of Egan's passing did not sit well with the family.

"This is just awful. A half hour ago, I was telling my daughter," his son Dan Egan said at 6 p.m. Friday. "Our family is not commenting because we are still informing family members. We feel it is deeply inappropriate that anybody is commenting on this at this moment."

Dan Egan had challenged McCoy for the county executive's position.

During the planning for Empire State Plaza, John Egan once told the Times Union, there were meetings every Thursday on the Plaza construction in New York City with architect Wallace Harrison and Gov. Nelson Rockefeller.

"The governor would get an idea on Thursday and everything would change," recalled Egan. Rockefeller scrapped a plan for a massive Freedom Arch similar to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis late in the design process and replaced it with the complex that includes the State Museum, State Library and State Archives.

"It cost an extra $250 million, but he wanted to do it and we did," Egan said.

Egan grew up in Dannemora, and he started working in the boiler room at Clinton Correctional Facility in 1947. His father, John "Jack" Egan, was the head of maintenance there for 35 years.

He shared his memories after two inmates escaped in 2015. "I'm very saddened by it all," he told the Times Union. "They've got some of the toughest guys in the state locked up there, and there had never been a breakout. There was so much pride in that institution from the guards, the staff and the entire community."

He also served in the Army for two tours.

Egan commented on the state investigation into potential wrongdoing in May.

"We're all sick over this," Egan, who met regularly with other former state officials, said. "State service used to be something to be proud of. It was about integrity. We did it the right way. Mario Cuomo harped on the rules, and everybody understood the right way to do things. Everybody competed on a level playing field. That system of competitive bidding and fairness seems to have broken down."

He then paused before adding "At least we could sleep well."

tobrien@timesunion.com  518-454-5092 
1 Voters purged: Ohios process for maintaining its voter rolls wrongfully removes eligible people, a federal appeals court ruled Friday as the perennial presidential battleground state prepares for the fall election. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the New York-based public advocacy group Demos sued Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted in April, claiming the state illegally drops registered voters from its registration list based on their failure to vote in recent elections. A three-judge panel of the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati found Ohios process violates the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.

2 Obama veto: President Obama vetoed legislation Friday that could allow Americans to sue Saudi Arabia over whether it supported some of the Sept. 11 hijackers, potentially triggering the first veto override of his presidency. Obamas veto was the 12th in his eight years in office. But given the breadth of support for the bipartisan measure  it passed unanimously in both the House and Senate  the veto could be the first lawmakers are able to overcome with an override vote. The White House has warned that enacting the legislation could prompt legal and economic retaliation from foreign governments. Obama has raised the specter of the U.S. government being sued in courts all over the world, and has pointed to Saudi Arabias threat to sell off hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. debt and other assets.
Making the decision to jump out of the corporate world and build your own business takes guts. Depending on your source, the attrition rate for start-ups is somewhere between 30 and 95 percent. Access to venture capital is, by many accounts, starting to dry up. Getting a loan from the bank requires proof that you dont really need the loan in the first place.

Its a rough and tumble world out there, and the path of an entrepreneur doesnt come standard with safety nets. But, the good news is that you can make it in business if youre willing to embrace sacrifice. In my own personal path, I know that the only reason I survived was that I put my fledgling startup before my own needs, on more than one occasion. Sacking out on a friends couch, selling my Mercedes and having my wife work a job gave me the time and resources I needed to grow my business into what it is today.

Related: 7 Lessons for Building Powerful Networking Communities

In all the talk of sacrifice and high rates of attrition, theres one area that isnt given the attention it deserves. Theres a silver lining to all the doom and gloom: the professional networking opportunities offered by industry organizations. The biggest regret I have is that I didnt plug into these organizations sooner. I thought I was too small to join in the conventions and be taken seriously. I was wrong, and my ability to recognize this fact saved me countless hours of pounding the pavement and dealing with frustrating, low-quality vendors.

1. Exposure to potential partners.

Ive seen many entrepreneurs head down two distinct paths: (1) they launch their business and spend all of their time trying to convince people theyre bigger than they really are, or (2) they hide while they try to strengthen themselves behind the scenes, with the hope of one day being strong enough to come out of the shadows and compete with their larger competitors.

Both of these paths result in missed opportunity. While the first one spins tall tales and tries to bluff his way towards opportunity (creating mistrust and ethical challenges), the other is too scared to get out into the arena. Both businesses suffer -- one based on a lack of trust and the other from a lack of exposure.

Trade groups and professional organizations offer an opportunity to network with people that have already been around the block a few times. They have industry experience, and if youre a genuine, hard-working person, theyll try to help where they can. And, as your company scales, youll be able to model their leadership styles. I highly recommend embracing a transformational leadership style. According to WiseToast, Transformational leaders motivate others to do more than they originally intended and often even more than they thought possible.

Industry partners will help you set more challenging expectations and typically achieve higher performance. They may be competitors, but theyre people too. Theyre part of the organization because they want to see the industry grow and thrive; and by virtue of your start-up, whether you feel like it or not, your company is part of the industry.

2. A strong reputation.

The most valuable asset my business has is the reputation weve earned for taking care of customers and following through on our promises. That reputation has allowed us to avoid spending money on advertising and other expensive get attention quick schemes. Short of creating a compelling website, our best advertisement is the word-of-mouth generated by satisfied customers.

Related: Millennials Have Rediscovered the Benefits of Joining a Professional Organization

Just last week I learned of a project from a competitor. They were swamped and couldnt handle the customers needs. So, they took care of the customer by sub-contracting the assignment to my organization. Even without buying from us, the customer was still putting money in our pocket. Its a powerful phenomenon that only comes with the connections and track-record that visibility in a professional organization can provide.

3. Protection from legislation.

This point is probably the most important one. Trade unions and industry associations help protect startups (the proverbial little guy) from the high-cost of short-sighted government legislation. Lobbyists might have a bad reputation in political circles, but for small business, the access to political capital that they offer can mean the difference between being profitable and filing for bankruptcy.

The best way to access the government, as a start-up, is through an industry organization. Take advantage of the group-rates on services your company needs, and help shape the voice of the organization by participating in its functions. As a result of your input, you can gain a seat at a much bigger table. When a legislator is contacted, action is more likely if theres a large voting-bloc behind the request.

With more than 63 percent of new jobs created between 1993 and 2013 coming from small business, its now more important than ever to protect small business owners from government (local, state and federal) action that could slow down our recovering economy. A real-world example of this would be the E-Cigarette Association. As governments and international tribunals meet to discuss regulation of the emerging e-cig industry, the thousands of small businesses that have sprung up are at risk. Regulation results in increased operating cost; the ECA is designed to help provide the smaller businesses a united voice to help shape government policy in a way that protects both entrepreneurs and consumers.

Related: 9 Networking Blunders That Undermine Your Reputation

Start-ups must actively pursue memberships in organizations that support their industry. Their active participation helps establish reputations, prevent burdensome government regulation and uncover opportunities for partnership with existing industry members.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
CASS CITY  Cass Citys Rawson Ravenous Readers will kick off their fall book club series at noon Sept. 28 in the district library, with a presentation by author Dave Vizard, who resides in the Caseville area.

The presentation, Anatomy of Mystery, is a question and answer slide show that details how A Grand Murder, Vizards latest novel, was created.
Northwood University has entered into an accounting articulation agreement with Macomb Community College in Warren. This marks the sixth agreement with Macomb Community College.

The articulation agreement is designed to help accounting students transition smoothly into a baccalaureate degree program from the two-year institution at either Northwood Universitys traditional residential campus in Midland or many of its adult degree program centers, including the Troy and Livonia centers.
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Austin police have issued a warrant for the arrest of an employee at a bar on 6th Street who is accused of raping a patron there, according to media reports.

Willie Curtis Harvey IV, 43, is accused of forcibly having sex with a woman in February while working at New York, New York, 222 E. 6th St., according to the warrant for his arrest obtained by KVUE.

Police charged Harvey with sexual assault, a second-degree felony, according to the warrant. He was not in police custody as of Friday morning, said Lisa Cortinas, spokeswoman for the Austin Police Department.

RELATED: Baylor mocked by Rice's marching band over sexual assault scandal

Calls made to New York, New York went unanswered.

According to the warrant, Harvey went up to a woman who was celebrating her birthday at the bar told her she needed to kiss him or give him the water she was holding. The woman gave him the water, and he handed back to her and attempted to kiss her, which the woman refused, the warrant said, according to KVUE.

RELATED: Reports of improper teacher relationships up for 8th year

Harvey then, according to the warrant, led the woman to the back of the bar where he asked her if she was okay with this, to which the woman said she wanted to go back to her friends. Harvey then allegedly unbuttoned the womans pants, bent her over a couch, and penetrated her for 30 to 45 seconds as the woman cried and told him to stop.

One of the womans friends got worried and as she headed to the back, she saw her friend exiting the room crying, and adjusting her pants.

RELATED: Texas youth pastor charged with 3 counts of sexual assault of teen church goer

An investigator contacted the bar who identified the man as Harvey. When asked, Harvey told officials the sex was consensual.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
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Keith Lamont Scott, the man whose fatal shooting by Charlotte, North Carolina police this week sparked unrest in that city and protests nationwide, told a state district judge in Bexar County in 2005 that his family had suffered from a tremendous amount of racism and hate crimes, court documents say.

Scott made the statement in a motion that unsuccessfully argued for a reduction to his seven-year sentence for aggravated assault, a second-degree felony to which he had pleaded no contest under an agreement with prosecutors that reduced the charge stemming from the Sept. 17, 2002 incident from a first-degree felony.

RELATED: Graphic: Wife's video shows deadly police encounter

In his sentencing, Scott told the judge he fired 10 shots at Anthony Trinidad, an acquaintance he said had threatened him and whom he feared was a thief, in self-defense. The available court records do not provide a full account of the shooting.

Scott also was charged with evading arrest two days after the shooting incident. He pleaded no contest to that charge on Feb 4, 2005 and was sentenced to 15 months in jail. He was convicted of aggravated assault on July 19, 2005.

More for you Man charged with stalking Black Rifle Coffee employee

Scott served most of his prison term and was released on April 1, 2011.

Scott, 43, was killed Tuesday. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said officers were attempting to serve another person with an outstanding warrant when Scott emerged from his car with a handgun and did not comply with commands.

Scott's family denied Scott owned or had a gun at the time. Family members were allowed to view videos taken from police dashboard and body cameras, but police have not released videos to the public as of Friday afternoon. The family's attorney told the Charlotte Observer they have more questions than answers.

RELATED: Keith Scott's mother says rioting worsens family's situation

At his San Antonio sentencing for shooting at Trinidad, Scott said he had six children and had been working for JPMorgan Chase & Co. in credit card collections at the time of the shooting.

He told the judge that Trinidad put my wife and kids in total fear, and I didnt know what to do. I was scared to go and talk to him. But I figured I would be less of a man if I didnt stand up for my family and go and try to tell him, You know, you need to back off. I didnt have any intentions to really hurt the young man.

RELATED: Naked crack-smoking woman tries to spit on Dallas officer

To which the judge replied: You shot at him ten times.

According to records, Scott's San Antonio residence was listed at 910 West Commerce Street, the property for San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries. A spokeswoman for SAMM, which previously operated a homeless shelter at that address, said it had no record of Scott being a client there.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye
A jury began deliberations Friday in the trial of a man charged with sexual assault of a child, accused of molesting a 16-year-old girl and threatening her with rape if she told anyone.

A six-count indictment also accuses Frederick Lee, 39, of indecency and forcing the sexual performance of a child. The girl told police about the abuse in October 2013 when San Antonio police officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a home on the Northeast Side.

The Express-News does not identify victims of sexual assault.

The victim, now 19, testified Wednesday that Lee abused her on two occasions in late summer of 2013. She said before each encounter, Lee gave her alcohol and a white, powdery substance that the defendant put up her nose, before he forced her to allow him to perform sex acts on her.

I was very scared and I didnt know what to do, she said. I just wanted it to be over.

The victim, who appeared increasingly nervous and spoke haltingly when testimony turned toward Lee, told the jury that he touched and fondled her in her private area, and made her watch him touch himself.

I kept on telling him no, I didnt want to do this, the victim said.

She said Lee threatened her with rape if she told anyone of their encounters.

Annette Santos, a sexual assault nurse examiner at Christus Santa Rosa Childrens Hospitals Center for Miracles, testified Thursday that she examined the victim about three months after the alleged abuse. Santos said the results were normal and she found no injuries or sexually transmitted diseases, but said the girl told her she was afraid, which made her grades suffer, and that she cut herself.

Sexual assault of a child is a second-degree felony. If convicted, Lee faces up to 20 years in prison and has opted to be sentenced by state District Judge Lorina Rummel, who is presiding over the trial.

ezavala@express-news.net

Twitter: @elizabeth2863
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A man accused of fatally shooting a man in the doorway of his motel room Saturday on the West Side was arrested Thursday afternoon.

Jon Kyle Brock, 26, faces a charge of capital murder in the death of Kerry Troy Patrick, 26, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

Officer Douglas Greene, an SAPD spokesman, said police are pressing the capital murder charge because items were stolen from Patrick's room during the incident.

Patrick was shot about 5 p.m. at the InTown Suites, 7490 Culebra Road, during a struggle to keep his assailant out of his room, investigators said SaturdayPatrick died at the scene, police said.

Lone Star Fugitive Task Force detectives arrested Brock at about 2:15 p.m. on Thursday in an apartment complex in the 7500 block of Ingram Road.

No handgun was recovered, Greene said.

Investigators said that Brock and Patrick had been feuding with one another before the shooting.

Because of that altercation, the suspect was very frustrated with how that situation between the two of them came out, Greene said. We don't know for sure if the suspect went to that location to physically fight the individual or to intentionally shoot him and kill him.

As Brock was led to a police vehicle Thursday night at the Public Safety Headquarters, 315 S. Santa Rosa St., he admitted to having regrets.

Im a friendly guy, he said.

Asked if he had a feud with Patrick, Brock said No, that was my homeboy.

While Brock was the suspected shooter in the case arrest warrants were obtained for, four more suspects, according to a news release from the San Antonio Police Department.

Pamela Meimar, 26, Dijon Martinez, 24, Marvelle Martinez, 22, and Patrick Jasso, 22, were all arrested on capital murder charges, according to a release. Meimar is accused of making arrangements to meet the victim at the hotel.

jbeltran@express-news.net

Twitter: @JBfromSA
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Police in Pearsall stopped two illegal gambling organizations on Wednesday, seizing 46 8-liner machines and at least $5,300 in cash, according to the department.

The two businesses, Your Lucky Day Game Room and La Perlita Bar, were allegedly running illegal gambling operations that gave payouts to customers, said Pearsall police Capt. Pedro Salinas.

RELATED: 3 suspected of running illegal gambling ring on South Side, providing H-E-B gift cards for winnings

Salinas said the police department seized 44 8-liners from Your Lucky Day and 2 from the other location.

The captain said the two locations were violating a city ordinance that puts detailed restrictions on gambling in the area. The ordinance requires businesses pay a $3,000 facility fee annually, along with $1,800 for each 8-liner machine in their business.

RELATED: Report: Gambling is losing its appeal among millennials

The businesses also violated the ordinances by blacking out the windows, keeping the front doors locked with a security camera watching the door and not having enough parking spaces per 8-liner machine, Salinas said.

Casino gaming in Texas remains illegal, but owning and operating an 8-liner is not illegal. Some city's have begun to impose regulations on 8-liners as another way to prosecute offenders.

While the initial bust collected about $5,300 in cash, Salinas said he expects more money to come from the machines, which have not been processed yet.

RELATED: Man, 33, charged with murder in shooting at illegal gambling room near San Antonio

Since the case has turned into an alleged felony money laundering scheme, the businesses will likely be unable to get those machines back, Salinas said.

No arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.

Pearsall is about 57 miles southwest of San Antonio.

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twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
SAN ANTONIO  A 32-year-old man has been identified as the victim in a fatal wreck that occurred Thursday after a girl in her teens lost control of her vehicle and crashed into him on the highway, according to San Antonio police.

Robert Corley Cornish stopped his vehicle at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the far right shoulder of the highway in the 6000 block of Southeast Loop 410 to address an equipment malfunction with his trailer.
Some of those who have come to the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina, over the past two days say they want justice for what they say is the wrongful police killing of a black man in Charlotte earlier this week. Others say they want more respect -- from the police, from politicians, from everyone. Some say they just want to be heard, whatever that may mean to them. The reasons are varied -- but there is simply no sign that all of these protesters, who are overwhelmingly black, have come because they hate white people.

That's exactly what Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-North Carolina, said in an interview with BBC News on Thursday evening, when asked what the protesters' grievances are. "The grievance in their mind is the animus, the anger, he said. "They hate white people, because white people are successful and they're not."
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A 19-year-old in Michigan is on his way to becoming the tallest man in the world, if he surpasses the current record: 8 feet and 2 inches.

Broc Brown, 19, told Barcroft he has grown about 6 inches every year. Right now, Brown, who was diagnosed with Sotos Syndrome when he was 5, is 7 feet and 8 inches tall. Had he not surpassed the age limit, Brown would have been dubbed the worlds tallest teenager, but he became too old for the prize which only allowed those 18-years-old and under.

Sotos Syndrome is a genetic disorder known as cerebral gigantism and effects one in every 15,000 people.

Darci Brown, Broc Browns mother, said her son was 5 feet and 2 inches tall when he was in kindergarten, 6 feet tall when he reached middle school, and was 7 feet tall in high school.

Theres nothing that can stop him from growing, Darci Brown told Barcroft, adding that doctors told her her son would not live past his teenage years. "I dont know if he will ever stop."

RELATED: Photos: Guinness World Records celebrates 60 years

Due to his size, Broc Brown suffers from a curvature in his spine, which is also narrowing and a strain on his heart. He was also born with one kidney barring him from taking pain killers, despite his severe back pain. Additionally, he has ADHD and intermittent explosive disorder, which involves sudden episodes of violent outbursts.

Broc Brown met with a Sotos Syndrome specialist in Arkansas to see if he could alleviate some of his pain. Dr. G. Bradley Schaefer told Broc Brown he wouldnt be able to help with his pain, but that the 19-year-old would have a normal lifespan.

Its the best thing I could have heard, Broc Brown said. Im so happy I will live for a long time.

Schaefer said Broc Brown was easily the tallest man (he) had ever seen.

In addition to health problems, Broc Brown and his family also face financial problems. He outgrows clothes and shoes at a rapid speed. He grew out of a size 26 shoe, the same size Shaq wears. He now wears a size 28 shoe and needs his clothes made for him because what they sell in stores rarely fits, the family told Barcroft.

RELATED: San Antonio's giant North Star Mall boots recognized by Guinness World Records

The family told Barcroft one pair of socks for the 19-year-old costs $18.

Broc Brown sleeps in an 8-foot-long bed and a custom chair that cost the family $1,000. The familys community raised $10,000 for him to buy clothes and shoes, which afforded Broc Brown multiple outfits and shoes that he soon grew out of the following year.

Despite his obstacles, Broc Brown hopes to get a job and live a normal life.

I hopefully want to work for a sporting goods store, so something like that, a cashier or something, he said. I just want to have my own job.

Darci Brown said she never wants to push her son to something he doesnt want to do.

I just hope he has a good life and is happy with everything he ever does, she said.

RELATED: Justin Bieber holds eight new Guinness world records

Broc Brown is in good company Sultan Kosen currently holds the Guinness World Record for tallest man alive clocking in at 8 feet and 2 inches tall. Kosen is from Ankara, Turkey and has a hard time fitting in clothes and cars, but he said one of the perks of being so tall is his gets to help his mom with household chores like changing a lightbulb or hanging curtains, according to the Guinness World Records website.

The tallest man ever recorded was Robert Waldow, who died in 1940. Waldow, who was from Alton, Illnois, was 8 feet and 11 inches tall.

The tallest male teenager is currently Kevin Bradford, an 18-year-old from Doral, Florida. He is 7 feet and 1 inch tall, according to the Guinness website.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
A hard worker who never failed to care for his family, Ramon Diaz was devastated when his wife died of ovarian cancer in 1988.

But Diaz was quick to rally, gathering his three daughters and son around him to carry on without their mother.

The children clinged to their dad like he was their cornerstone, his niece Sandy Haylett said. He was there to pick up the broken pieces and put them together.

Continuing to raise his brood with the same values in which he believed, Diaz urged his children to finish their educations.

He came home from work and checked that they had done their homework, made sure they attended school, his daughter Alejandra Diaz said. He made sure we had everything at home that we needed.

Diaz, 70, died Sept. 21 of multiple health problems.

A middle child of 10 children, Diaz and his wife were living in Monterrey, Mexico, in the 1960s and 70s when the company he worked for began laying people off.

When his sister-in-law and her husband, who were already established in San Antonio, agreed to open their home to them, the couple took the opportunity to move to the U.S.

When they got here, they worked at a restaurant for a little bit  he had odd jobs here and there, Haylett said.

More Information Ramon Diaz Born: Aug. 31, 1946, Monterrey, Mexico Died: Sept. 21, 2016, San Antonio Preceded by: Wife Consuelo Diaz; two siblings. Survived by: Daughters Alejandra Diaz, Juanita Mauricio and son-in-law Ethan, and Nancy Diaz; son Ramon Diaz Jr. and daughter-in-law Crystal; 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; six siblings. Services: Visitation from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, funeral at 10 a.m. Monday, both at Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 N. Loop 1604 East. See More Collapse

Settling on the West Side, Diaz learned to speak English and became an American citizen.

That is when he filled out the paperwork for SAWS, which was the City Water Board at the time, Haylett said. I remember that my aunt pushed him to progress; they wanted a better life for their children.

Working for SAWS for many years, Diaz eventually became a supervisor, retiring less than 10 years ago.

When his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the mid-1980s, Diaz, took her back to Monterrey in the last months of her life.

It was my moms wish, Alejandra Diaz recalled.

Continuing to work in San Antonio, Diaz visited whenever possible, hiring a nurse to care for his wife when he was unable to be there.

We went over there every time we could, Alejandra Diaz said.

After his wife died, Diaz returned to San Antonio with his children.

He played the role of mother and father, Haylett said. He never said, I cant do this anymore, Im tired. He never gave up on his children.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
If you are a music enthusiast of sorts, where would you go if wanting to listen to Oud, the group-stringed instrument derived from ancient Barbat; or Ney, the end-blown 7-holed wind pipe, supposedly the oldest musical instrument in use? The opportunity will be Saturday at Maverick Plaza, La Villita from 4-9 pm, where 7th Eid Festival will feature those and more.

San Antonio residents and tourists will get an opportunity to join festivities of the Muslim holiday, which will be open to public with free entrance. The sounds of music, tantalizing tastes, unique crafts and the eye-catching fashions that are not a part of their daily life, would appeal those who seek and enjoy cultural innovations and fusion.

Muslim Cultural Heritage Society (MCHS) has been organizing Eid Festival for the past 6 years to showcase to the society the diverse lifestyles, customs and traditions of Muslim communities from around the world. These efforts are what get MCHS the support of the City of San Antonio Department for Culture and Creative Development and that of the Texas Commission on the Arts. This years Eid Festival theme is Peace and Pluralism.

Events like these are what set San Antonio apart from other cities, symbolizing its wholehearted embracement of diversity. However, its human nature that, when good things happen, its life as normal but when something bad happens, the damage doesnt end with that tragedy. It leaves Muslims and all other communities dealing with the aftermaths in unanticipated ways. MCHS, a non- religious, non- political organization has been involved in promoting peace in San Antonio with community involvement, and through collaborative efforts of other organizations.

Two causes are designated for each years festival. At the heart of Eid Festival 2016, one will be honoring and commemorating our veterans by reviewing their aspirations and tribulations; and the other, exploring the challenges faced by the local refugee population. Over 20 non-profit organizations will be featuring their programs and services to the festival-goers. A charity clinic will be offering blood pressure checks, and diabetes screening, along with ask-a-doctor assistance.

Food lovers will have their day with mouth-watering exotic dishes, like biryani, a dish of rice and meat blended with light species; kababs over naan with chutneys; pakora, the gram flour-dipped vegetable fritters; mattabag, lamb and vegetable rolled in banana leaves; kushrie, the vegan rice pasta with lentils; haleem, a confluence of meat, lentils and wheat grain; mango lassi; cream soda floats; or all time favorite baklava, to mention a few.

Cultural performances with international flairs would range over poetry, sufi music, folk songs, traditional dances and a childrens fashion show, presenting an array of colorful costumes from around the world. Interactive participation will be encouraged, especially during a spiral dance, inviting crowds to a joyful circle.

Highlight of the evening will be a bridal parade, with the bride, the groom and the party, all in their traditional garbs.

A world bazaar would await the shoppers with choices of dresses, jewelry and crafts. Henna artists will be available to decorate hands with temporary tattoos. Childrens fun activities would comprise face painting, bead art and finger coloring. Language enthusiasts could get name tags written in Arabic, or learn to speak a few words in Turkish. All in one Saturday evening.

Eid Mubarak! Happy Eid!

Nazli Siddiqui is a founding member of the Muslim Cultural Heritage Society, a freelance writer and a blogger.
Too many patients cannot afford prescription drugs. Nearly 1 in 10 American adults dont take their medications as prescribed because they cant afford to, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Center for Health Statistics.

Out-of-pocket costs for pricey new drugs leave even some insured and relatively affluent patients some hard choices on how to afford them, says Joseph Walker in the Wall Street Journal. One Illinois patients doctor prescribed a new leukemia drug for her that promised to roll back the cancer in her blood with only moderate side effects. Then she found out how much it would cost her: nearly $8,000 for a full year, even after Medicare picked up most of the tab.

The increasing cost of prescription drugs has become a source of growing concern. Major drug companies have made hefty price increases for widely used medications the past five years, a Reuters analysis of proprietary data found. Prices for four of the nations top 10 drugs increased more than 100 percent since 2011, according to Reuters, and six others went up more than 50 percent. Together, the price increases on drugs for arthritis, high cholesterol and other common problems added billions in costs for consumers, employers and government health programs, Reuters reported.

The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, the ADC Review/Journal of Antibody-drug Conjugates reports. Quoting market research firm Kantar Media, it said that advertising dollars spent by drugmakers have increased by 30 percent in the last two years to $4.5 billion.

We know that part of the price of prescription drugs pays for the cost of prescription drug advertising. So, if pharmaceutical companies were not allowed to advertise in the U.S., wouldnt that mean the cost of prescription drugs to consumers could be less?

Direct-to-consumer advertising is advertising for drugs or medical devices aimed at consumers instead of health care professionals  the ads we see on TV or in magazines telling us to ask our doctors about X.

The question is: How helpful is this information? How better informed are we after watching these ads? Kurt C. Stange, professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at Case Western Reserve University, says, Consumer advertising, delivered to the masses as a shotgun blast, rather than as specific information to concerned patients or caregivers from healthcare professionals, results in more prescriptions and less appropriate prescribing.

The American Medical Association agrees. Last November, responding to the billions spent to promote prescription products, the AMA voted to support a ban on such advertising, claiming it could help reduce the price of prescription drugs. Physicians cited concerns that a growing proliferation of ads is driving demand for expensive treatments despite the clinical effectiveness of less costly alternatives.

Drug prices are higher in the U.S. than in the rest of the industrialized world. The U.S. has 5 percent of the worlds population but accounts for 42 percent of global prescription drug spending. It is unconscionable when pharmaceutical companies arbitrarily raise the price of lifesaving prescription drugs 100 percent or more.

And thats how I see it.

Larry Johnson is a motivational speaker and author. You may contact him via email at larjo1@prodigy.net or visit his website at www.mexicobytouch.com
For decades, activists and educators have demanded that Texas public schools teach students about the Mexican-American communitys role in and contributions to this country.

Now, Texas education officials at the State Board of Education are considering whether to approve Mexican American Heritage, a textbook that disparages those contributions and is riddled with factual errors, glaring omissions, and offensive racial stereotypes.

Consider a few notable examples. The textbook refers to Mexican workers as lazy, and states that drinking on the job could be a problem. It asserts that undocumented immigrants cause economic and security problems, including poverty, non-assimilation, drugs, crime, and exploitation.

In fact, decades of research indicate that immigrants, on average, are less prone to criminal activity than the native U.S.-born population. Many studies, including one conducted by the state of Texas, revealed that undocumented immigrants produce more in state revenues than they receive in state services.

In another particularly absurd section, the textbooks authors assert that during the 1960s civil rights movement, Chicanos adopted a revolutionary narrative that opposed Western civilization and wanted to destroy this society.

The reality is that many members of that movement were veterans, educators, students and founders of civil rights organizations like MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund). Rather than destroy this nation, they fought to uphold the nations highest ideals: equal opportunity and dignity for all.

The inaccuracies do not stop there. The textbooks explanation of the Civil War amounts to a push by the South to fight for states rights, rather than protect the institution of slavery.

The publishing company wishing to sell its textbook to Texas public schools is led by a former SBOE member who condemned public education as tyrannical and a tool of perversion during her tenure. Adoption of the textbook would not only embarrass the state, it would represent a missed opportunity for Texas to adopt a textbook that reflects the last 40 years of Mexican-American studies scholarship. Teaching culturally relevant ethnic studies courses, when done right, can improve outcomes for some of Texas most underserved students.

For example, a University of Arizona study found that students who took Mexican-American studies classes increased their chances of passing state standardized tests and graduating from high school. Another study by Stanford University scholars showed that ninth-grade ethnic studies curriculum implemented in the San Francisco Unified School District reduced dropout rates and led to significant improvement in the ninth-graders grades, attendance and course credits earned.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, it is important to remember that Mexican-American history, especially in Texas, is U.S. history. All students lose when that history is distorted, inaccurate and incomplete.

Last week, more than 200 students, parents, educators, and community leaders spoke out against the textbook at the SBOEs public hearing. The SBOE will vote whether to approve the submitted book in November. To make your voice heard and learn more about how to get involved, visit www.MASforTexas.org. At stake is whether public schools will serve as gateways to higher learning or centers of false propaganda promoting a publishers politicized agenda.

Celina Moreno serves as MALDEFs legislative staff attorney in its Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio.
Education is always one of the major issues facing state lawmakers, and it is encouraging to see one local legislator doing his homework.

State Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, has visited every one of the 55 public schools in his district and spoke directly to those affected by his votes in Austin. That is a commendable accomplishment for a lawmaker whose district extends from U.S. 90 north to Hardberger Park.

Bernal has held seminars to share the information he gathered and compiled a report, titled What They Said and subtitled What I Learned from Conversations with Texas Education, to share with his colleagues at the Capitol.

Education promises to be a topic that sparks much debate during the upcoming session. The pro-vouchers forces who tout giving parents a private school option will be pushing their agenda again next year.

School finance should be addressed, too.

During the last couple of sessions, lawmakers adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward funding while the courts considered a finance lawsuit brought by Texas public school districts. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that the state funding system is constitutional, but it urged reform.

Our Byzantine school funding system is undeniably imperfect, with immense room for improvement. But it satisfies minimum constitutional requirements, Justice Don Willett wrote.

The Legislature seems to work best when it is under a court order, but we hope state leaders will address the inequities in the system to allow for a more level playing field for all children in Texas public schools.

If every lawmaker worked as hard as Bernal to understand the needs of the public schools in their own backyards, it would lead to more insight and maybe even better legislation.
It appears to be pretty close to official. A bill reforming the federal criminal justice system appears dead.

Once touted as a bill that would enjoy bipartisan support and pass, it is now a victim of a divided GOP caucus in the House and Senate. And that is unfortunate, yet another sign of gridlock that must be surmounted.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is a major architect of this bill, one clearly in the nations interest. The measure would reduce the length of mandatory minimum sentences and change the types of prior drug convictions that trigger these sentences. It would divert federal efforts to felons who commit violent crimes and broaden chances for early release of some prisoners who get credit for good time served.

But it has run afoul of presidential candidate Donald Trumps law and order platform. Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia criticized the bill as not recognizing that the United States suffers from an under-incarceration problem. Others do not want to give President Barack Obama, who has pushed for such reform, a win in this election year.

The problem is that the United States does indeed suffer from over-incarceration problems. With both federal and state incarcerations involved, the U.S. leads the world in imprisoned residents, topping such sterling jailers as China, Russia and Iran.

While crime has surged in some urban areas, the nation is generally experiencing low crime rates compared to the levels seen in the 1990s, when these get-tough measures were approved.

And the get-tough laws have had a harmful impact on minority communities. People of color are overrepresented in federal prison. The prison population is 37.5 percent black and 34.4 percent Latino, but blacks are 13.3 percent of the U.S. population and Latinos 17.6 percent.

An American Civil Liberties Union report found that such nonviolent offenses as stealing a $159 jacket and selling $10 worth of marijuana were among the crimes counted in the three-strikes rule.

Our hope is that after November, the divisiveness stalling this bill will give way to recognition that many of the countrys ailments are being unaddressed.

Another hope is that those states that havent already  some have enacted reform without increases in crime rates  will also recognize that harsh sentencing and other get-tough measures have been counterproductive.

For the moment, however, count Cornyns worthy bill as just one of the latest casualties of continuing polarization and gridlock.
The United States does not own the internet. And ICANN, the group that oversees domain names, does not control it.

These are the two things to keep in mind when trying to sort out Texas Sen. Ted Cruzs latest baffling mission  to keep the internet American and out of the control of evildoers such as Russia, China, Iran and the United Nations.

This would be a mere Cruzian foray into fantasy but for the threat  again  that he will attach this to a short-gap spending bill for the government. That could mean another shutdown.

ICANN, by the way, is the nonprofit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It is now under contract by the U.S. Commerce Department to oversee domain names. That contract expires Sept. 30, ending what has been a transition to more international  i.e., private-sector  oversight, spurred by Edward Snowdens revelations of U.S. spying on the internet and on foreign leaders.

Managing domain names does not constitute controlling the internet. The entire world has an interest in standardized naming protocols. And the internet is actually about 50,000 different private networks around the world that allows us to connect with one another. Networks worldwide, not solely in the U.S.

Yes, some 170 countries advise ICANNs 20-member multinational board. Russia, China and Iran are among these 170 countries. So are the U.S. and other Western nations. But an advisory panels recommendation to the board must be unanimous, meaning if, for instance, there were an attempted recommendation to move ICANN from California, where it is now located, any one country could block that. And such advice comes only rarely as is.

All of these factors resulted in Politico fact-checkers to rate Cruzs assertions in this matter false recently. It wrote, Theres no pending government handoff of control of the internet that we can see. Also, the member-countries of an advisory panel to the nonprofits board can only make a recommendation if every nation agrees; thats not U.N.-like.

Enter the former presidential candidates attempt to use the government spending bill to block this transition. This giveaway is a matter of national security and censorship, he says.

The experts say this poses no such threats. But shutting down government is a very real one, as the nation saw from Cruzs first such efforts over Obamacare in 2013.

It mustnt come to that. Cruz must relent. Absent that, the Senate must deny him his latest grab for the spotlight.
North Koreas most recent nuclear test was a grim reminder that sanctions alone will not stop this rogue nation from developing weapons of mass destruction and provoking global fear. The repeated tests have escalated tensions in the Korean Peninsula, exacerbating relations with China and setting South Korea and Japan on edge.

Experts have said North Korea likely will develop a missile that could reach the United States by 2020. After North Koreas latest nuclear test, international leaders pledged even tougher sanctions against this isolated state. Sanctions are a powerful tool, but they have yet to stop North Korea from developing its nuclear program and they come with the cost of potentially harming ordinary citizens.
Dancing with the Stars + Rick Perry = oops!

Lo-Rena Scott, Tarpley

Whats going on?

We have a presidential candidate who has slammed American prisoners of war for being captured; mimicked the handicapped; trashed our military on the Russian airwaves; stolen money from those seeking to get educated; kicked a baby out of his rally; thinks he knows more about ISIS than the generals; lied about sending investigators to Hawaii; lied about being against the war in Iraq; dodged the draft; claims to have seen thousands of Muslims dancing in the streets of New Jersey after 9/11; lost money running a casino; has been sued over a thousand times; accused of everything from housing discrimination to sexual misconduct; owes millions of dollars to foreign banks; filed multiple bankruptcies stiffing contractors and lenders for millions of dollars; called a woman a fat pig; evicted people under the guise of eminent domain to build a waiting area for his limousines; prefers the leadership of a ruthless dictator over our own president; claims he cannot release his tax returns during an audit when he is actually free to do so; and the list goes on and on.

According to recent polls, this candidate has a seven-point lead in Texas.

This is crazy!

Richard Harris

Political farce

It makes no difference who wins. The president does not make the laws; Congress does. If Donald Trump wins, Democrats and anti-Republican congressmen will form a coalition to oppose everything he wants to do.

If Hillary Clinton wins, Republicans and the ultra-right will block everything she wants to do. Nothing changes. As an independent, I consider all the pre-election hype to be a farce of self-interest.

Richard L. Verner

Hindsight

In recent weeks, professional athletes and others have been raising the ire of people for kneeling or otherwise demonstrating for various causes during the playing of the national anthem or at other times. These demonstrators are being accused of being disrespectful to the flag, unappreciative of the military and unpatriotic.

During the winter of 2002-03, the United States was preparing to invade Iraq. Numerous religious leaders from a wide spectrum of traditions and others of good will argued instead for peace and not more war in the Middle East. Those dissenters were also accused of being disrespectful to the flag, unappreciative of the military and unpatriotic. They were accused of supporting terrorism. The country went to war anyway.

Fast forward to 2016. In one of the most contentious presidential campaigns in history, the two major candidates agree on one thing: Going to war in Iraq was one of the biggest mistakes in the history of American foreign policy. Both Trump and Clinton now oppose the war in Iraq, though both originally supported it. Those who argued in 2002-03 that the war would eventually be judged immoral and unjust are now being vindicated by the leaders of both major political parties.

In 2016, be wary of condemning demonstrators. It may be that in the 2028 presidential campaign, both major candidates will agree with the dissidents who are despised today. The protesters of 2016 may also get the last laugh.

The Rev. Dr. Paul Ziese, MacArthur Park Lutheran Church

Trumps bromance

One way to judge how Donald Trump would govern as president is to look at how the foreign leader he most admires governs. Of course, Im referring to Vladimir Putin of Russia, a country where dissenting journalists are murdered with impunity and where anyone associated with human rights or environmental groups can face up to six years in prison. A new law has recently sent bloggers who opposed Russias invasion of Crimea to jail  an invasion which Trump is all right with.

And how about murdering journalists? No big deal! As Trump explained, I think our country does plenty of killing also. Trump praised Putin for having very strong control over his country. No argument there. So if you would like to know how Trump would govern  or at least would like to govern  just think Putin!

Carl Lloyd

Eight more years?

Re: Outsourcing policy, Your Turn, Sept. 15:

The letter writer looks for anything to criticize Donald Trump without engaging his brain first. Trump was asked what to do about North Korea. The response was leave North Korea to the Chinese. Wow. Just think of the response Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama have had for eight years. At least Trumps thoughts were new. Just think eight more years of same with Hillary unless North Korea decides to  what?

Philip McKeon, Converse

Precious right

Too often these days, I am either hearing or reading about people who stated they might not or will not vote this election. I fervently hope they are saying this only to blow off steam  not because theyve become ambivalent toward the candidates. We the people have been blessed with many rights; one of them is the opportunity to choose our leaders. We dont always get it right, but for the most part, we havent done too badly.

As I see it, throughout history, many people worked for this right, many more fought for this right, and if we dont utilize it, we are doing a disservice to ourselves and to all those who strove to afford us such a wonderful opportunity.

I believe that with the right to vote comes an obligation to vote. Before the big day, we need to thoroughly research our candidates and their track records so that we become informed. Then, on Election Day, we can vote for the candidate we discerned to be the best fit for office.

Vote. Young and old, vote.

Cherryl Sagan
If youve been outside this summer, then you most likely know that it is HOT! However, despite the undeniable heat, we often forget to take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our families when we head out for a cookout or fun filled weekend. By taking the time to consider the fast and easy-to-follow sun safety tips, you can help reduce painful sun burns and dangerous heat exposure.

Tip 1: Choosing a Sunscreen

You may think that choosing a sunscreen consists of grabbing whatever is available; however, that is not the case. Choosing a sunscreen can require a bit of thought and consideration, and it is a critical part of sun safety.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, is SPF 30 or higher, and is water resistant. So when youre out at the store looking for things to buy for that trip out, remember to pick up a sunscreen that meets these recommendations - not just the first bottle of sunscreen you see.

Tip 2: Sunscreen Safety

I know what youre thinking, "do you really need safety tips to apply a little bit of sunscreen?" In truth, yes you do.

Before you apply that same sunscreen that you used last summer - and probably the summer before that - be sure to check the expiration date. Sunscreen can lose its effectiveness after three years. Also, remember to put the sunscreen on before you get dressed as shorts and sleeves can ride up, exposing unprotected skin.

Tip 3: Dress Well

Dress coolly and casually. Synthetic fibers (like polyester or lycra) are more protective than cotton or linen. Also, darker colors hold heat more than lighter colors. Your best bet is clothing specifically designed to shield you from the sun, like fabrics with built-in UPF protection.

Tip 4: Dont Forget Your Scalp

A hat is your best bet for protection, but if you don't feel like wearing a hat, there are plenty of spray-on sunscreens designed for the head that won't leave your hair a greasy white mess.

Tip 5: Sunglasses

Buy your sunglasses from a trusted source. Dont buy cheap sunglasses from an untrusted source and expect them to protect your eyes. Ask your eye doctor about it if youre unsure about what kind of sunglasses to get.

Tip 6: Pick the Right Time To Be Outside

Try to limit the amount of time you spend in direct sun light between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, that is when the sun is shining the strongest. This means to move your beach chair in a shady spot or head inside during you lunch break if you work outside.

There are now cool stickers and bracelets that can monitor your level of exposure and alert you when it's time to take a break.

Tip 7: Using Shelter

When you have spend your entire day outside, try to use umbrellas, sun protective parasols, and tents to help you beat the sun the right way.

Tip 8: Checking Your Skin Regularly

Make sure to check your skin regularly for changes, which can be early indications of skin cancer. The good news is that if caught and treated early, most skin cancer is curable. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you perform a self-check of your skin once a month, keeping an eye out for warning signs.

Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Attorneys

Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys is a personal injury law firm with offices in Corpus Christi, Texas, San Antonio, Texas and Houston, Texas representing accident victims nationwide. Our priority is to provide our clients with the best legal representation. Our experienced trial attorneys are committed to defending your rights in personal injury matters including defective products, recalled drugs, child injuries, and auto accidents.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, contact our offices immediately - we are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
Police revived an unresponsive male in Peru on Friday morning, while carrying out a search warrant.

Officers administered Narcan, which is used to block the effects of opioid drugs, to revive the male, who was then taken to the hospital by Peru EMS, according to a press release from Peru Police.

The male is expected to recover.

Police said other people were in the home, including children.

During the search, detectives seized felony amounts of marijuana and thousands of dollars in currency, according to police. The investigation is continuing and laboratory analysis of items seized will take place.

The exact location and name of any suspect will be released upon filing of formal charges, police said.

Members of the Peru Police Department Special Investigations Unit, Peru Police Emergency Response Team assisted by investigators with the La Salle County States Attorneys office and the Illinois State Police Zone 3 investigations conducted a search warrant 6:15 a.m. Friday at a home near the west side of Peru.

The search warrant was obtained as result of the continuing narcotics enforcement effort that has been taking place targeting narcotics trafficking in the Illinois Valley.

I am especially proud today of the work of the officers as not only were their enforcement efforts successful I am convinced the officers saved a persons life this morning," said Peru Chief Doug Bernabei in a press statement. "There can be no greater thing a police officer can do.
Yves here. This article makes a radical observation: that if you look at absolute inequality, as opposed to relative inequality, inequality has increased around the world. This calls into question one of the big arguments made in favor of globalization: that the cost to workers in advanced economies are offset by gains to workers in developing economies, and is thus virtuous by lowering inequality more broadly measured.

By Miguel Nino-Zarazua, Research Fellow, UNU-WIDE, Laurence Roope, Researcher, Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford, and Finn Tarp, Director, UNU-WIDER. Originally published at VoxEU



Since the turn of the century, inequality in the distribution of income, together with concerns over the pace and nature of globalisation, have risen to be among the most prominent policy issues of our time. These concerns took centre stage at the recent annual G20 summit in China. From President Obama to President Xi, there was broad agreement that the global economy needs more inclusive and sustainable growth, where the economic pie increases in size and is at the same time divided more fairly. As President Obama emphasised, [t]he international order is under strain. The consensus is well founded, following as it does the recent Brexit vote, and the rise of populism (especially on the right) in the US and Europe, with its hard stance against free trade agreements, capital flows and migration.

Watch Finn Tarp and Miguel Nino-Zarazua discuss the trends in global inequality in the video below

These are clear manifestations of a growing discontent among the working middle classes, particularly in the industrialised world, who see globalisation as the primary source of growing inequalities, and an obstacle to their prosperity. These views have no doubt been fuelled in large part by the Global Crisis of 2008-09 and the Great Recession that followed immediately afterwards. However, in reality, concerns about inequality are not new. From Plato and Aristotle to classical economists such as Adam Smith and Karl Marx, some of historys greatest thinkers have stressed the undesirable effects of inequality on the social fabric. Not only are high levels of inequality widely perceived to be socially unfair. As present events are making abundantly clear, they also have negative implications for political stability (Alesina and Perotti 1996), crime (Kelly 2000) and corruption (Jong-sung and Khagram 2005), among other things. It is now also understood that inequality reduces the efficacy of economic growth for reducing poverty (Ravallion 2001).

So what has actually happened to global inequality? Has global income inequality gone up (or down) in recent decades?

In a new paper, we show that relative global inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, declined steadily over the past few decades from 0.739 in 1975 to 0.631 in 2010 (Nino-Zarazua et al. 2016). The relative Gini takes the value zero for a society where all are equal, and the value of one for a society where all income goes to one person. The fall over the past 35 years (i.e. the blue line in Figure 1) was driven primarily by declining inequality between countries, arising from the extraordinary economic progress observed in fast developing countries such as China and India. And this overall trend was achieved despite an increasing trend of inequality within countries. In contrast, absolute inequality, as measured by the absolute Gini coefficient, which is based on absolute changes in income, and depicted by the red line in Figure 1, has increased dramatically since the mid-1970s.

Figure 1 Trends in global inequality from a relative and absolute perspective

Relative Versus Absolute Inequality

Whats the difference between relative and absolute inequality, and which trend is more important? As one of us (Finn Tarp) recently explained in an interview, take the case of two people in Vietnam in 1986. One person had an income of US$1 a day and the other person had an income of $10 a day. With the kind of economic growth that Vietnam has seen over the past 30 years, the first person would now in 2016 have $8 a day, while the second person would have $80 a day. So if we focus on absolute differences, inequality has gone up, while a focus on relative differences suggests that inequality between these two people has remained the same.

Relative inequality indicators have been by far the most widely used in empirical economic analysis, but, based on economic theory and empirical evidence, it is far from clear that we should favour relative over absolute notions of inequality. The evidence suggests that many people do perceive absolute differences in incomes as being an important aspect of inequality (Amiel and Cowell 1992, 1999).

What Has Happened Across World Regions?

In contrast to the clear trends in global inequality, we found substantial differences in trends across the different regions of the world. For example, Figure 2 shows that inequality, both relative and absolute, increased substantially and steadily throughout 19752010 in North America, and also in Europe and Central Asia, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, though with some ups and downs along the way according to relative inequality measures. Absolute inequality rose in Latin America, East Asia, and the Pacific, while relative inequality fell.

Figure 2 Regional relative and absolute inequality

We also observed considerable variation within regions with respect to levels of, and changes in, domestic inequality over the period of analysis. For example, in Europe, the UK experienced an increase in relative inequality of 38%, while France saw a reduction of 16%; in Latin America, relative inequality in Argentina increased by 25%, while Brazil managed a reduction of 10%; in South Asia, Bangladesh experienced an increase of 60%, while Nepal saw a reduction of 38%.

Could the Increased Absolute Global Inequality Have Been Prevented While Achieving the Same Rates of Economic Growth Observed in the Past 40 Years?

Declining relative inequality between countries, driven by the emergence of China and India as economic powerhouses, has, as noted, been the main factor in reducing global relative inequality. Yet insufficient economic convergence, together with substantial growth in per capita incomes, has meant that the increased absolute differences in mean incomes between countries have resulted in increased absolute global inequality. Could this increased absolute inequality have been avoided, while maintaining the same economic growth that has lifted many millions of people in poorer countries out of poverty?

The answer is not straightforward. There are both technical considerations and issues of political economy associated with this question. As can be inferred from a paper by one of us (Roope 2015), economic growth of the magnitude observed in the past four decades, together with falling absolute inequality, is technically possible. However, as we demonstrate in our latest study, at current national levels of per capita incomes, without even greater convergence among countries, the answer is no (Nino-Zarazua et al. 2016). Although average incomes in large developing countries are now much closer proportionally to those in high-income countries, the absolute gaps in income between countries are so high that even if domestic inequality were completely eliminated in all countries (which is obviously impossible), absolute inequality today would still be much higher than it was 40 years ago. Thus, while redistributive policies and investment in public goods like health and education are likely to mitigate both types of inequality, further convergence among countries is essential to bring global absolute inequality down to the levels seen before the recent era of globalisation.

Thus, it is, in our judgement, necessary to exercise care when discussing reducing absolute inequality, especially in poor countries. Over the past 40 years, over one billion people around the world have been lifted out of poverty, driven largely by substantial growth in income in developing countries. While this growth has been accompanied by a striking rise in absolute inequality, it has also improved the lives of hundreds of millions of people. It is difficult to imagine how in practice such growth, and the associated poverty reduction, could have occurred without an increase in absolute inequality. There would be huge implications for the fight against global poverty if attempts were made to halt economic growth in order to appease absolute inequality. Instead, the policy emphasis should be on creating more inclusive growth with falling relative inequality  these two goals are complementary.

The inclusivity aspect of growth is now more imperative than ever. Globalisation has not been a zero sum game. Overall perhaps more have benefitted, especially in fast-growing economies in the developing world. However, many others, for example among the working middle class in industrialised nations, have seen their incomes stagnating in real terms for over 20 years. It is unsurprising that this has bred considerable discontent, and it is an urgent priority that concrete steps are taken to reduce the underlying sources of this discontent. Those who feel they have not benefitted, and those who have even lost from globalisation, have legitimate reasons for their discontent. Appropriate action will require not only the provision of social protection to the poorest and most vulnerable. It is essential that the very nature of the ongoing processes of globalisation, growth, and economic transformation are scrutinised, and that broad based investments are made in education, skills, and health, particularly among relatively disadvantaged groups. Only in this way will the world experience sustained  and sustainable  economic growth and the convergence of nations in the years to come.

See original post for references
To produce biopharmaceuticals on demand, just add water

(Nanowerk News) Researchers at MIT and other institutions have created tiny freeze-dried pellets that include all of the molecular machinery needed to translate DNA into proteins, which could form the basis for on-demand production of drugs and vaccines.

The pellets, which contain dozens of enzymes and other molecules extracted from cells, can be stored for an extended period of time at room temperature. Upon the addition of water and freeze-dried DNA, the pellets begin producing proteins encoded by the DNA.

Researchers at MIT and other institutions have created tiny freeze-dried pellets that include all of the molecular machinery needed to translate DNA into proteins, which could form the basis for on-demand production of drugs and vaccines. (Image: Christine Daniloff/MIT. Antimicrobial peptide illustration by Ymahn/Wikimedia Commons)

Its a modular system that can be programmed to make what you need, on the spot, says James Collins, the Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering and Science in MITs Department of Biological Engineering and Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES). You could have hundreds of different DNA pellets you can add in the field.

These pellets, a few millimeters in diameter, could be easily carried by soldiers, astronauts, or health care workers heading to remote areas, says Collins, who is the senior author of a paper describing this strategy in the Sept. 22 online edition of Cell ("Portable, On-Demand Biomolecular Manufacturing").

The papers lead authors are Keith Pardee, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto and former research scientist at Harvard Universitys Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering; Shimyn Slomovic, an IMES postdoc; Jeong Wook Lee, a Wyss Institute research scientist; and Peter Nguyen, a Wyss Institute Technology Fellow.

Cell-free synthesis

Collins and many others in the growing field of synthetic biology have previously designed cells to perform many functions they dont normally have, such as producing drugs or biofuels. Over the past few years, Collins has shown that this kind of design can also be done outside of cells, by extracting the necessary cellular components and freeze-drying them onto paper or other materials.

The cell-free extracts consist of a few dozen enzymes, DNA, and RNA, as well as ribosomes and other molecular machines leading to transcription and translation, Collins says.

In the new study, the researchers took the paper out of the equation: The cellular extracts are simply freeze-dried into pellets, which remain stable for at least a year. To activate protein production, the researchers add water to rehydrate the pellets, along with freeze-dried DNA that encodes the desired protein.

This approach could be useful for generating a wide range of products, including both drugs and molecules that could be used to diagnose illness. In the Cell study, the researchers produced small proteins that could be used as a diphtheria vaccine, as well as antimicrobial peptides, which hold potential to fight bacterial infections.

They also programmed the pellets to generate enzymes that form a multistep metabolic pathway that synthesizes a complex drug known as violacein, which has anticancer and antibiotic activity.

For diagnostic applications, the researchers used the pellets to produce several different types of antibodies, including one that can detect the bacterium Clostridium difficile, which can produce severe inflammation of the colon.

Easy storage

This approach could prove easier than using live cells to generate biopharmaceuticals because the freeze-dried components are easy to store and ship, and they dont need to be refrigerated.

Collins and colleagues paint a future where freeze-dried, cell-free biomanufacturing platforms can be used to synthesize therapeutics, vaccines, and biochemicals on demand, without the need for a cold [supply] chain, says Michael Jewett, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at Northwestern University, who was not involved in the research. By moving manufacturing from the factory to the front lines, we might be able to provide patient-specific medicines where medicines are not available now.

Collins anticipates that this type of technology should be useful in a variety of settings.

It could be used in a very simple carry kit for health care workers going in the field in developing regions, he says. We think it could be very useful for the military, when youre going out on a mission in the field, or for hikers and athletes going for long hauls. You could even have it in the back of your car as an expanded first aid kit.

These pellets could also be incorporated into educational tools  the biotech equivalent of a chemistry kit, Collins says. You could envision using these pellets to allow students to conduct synthetic biology experiments at home, or in middle schools and high schools.
There's a lot happening around Tipperary this weekend to suit all tastes.

Events range from family fun days to social dancing, exhibitions to historic talks, plus a well known Clonmel baker celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Cashel choir fundraiser

On Friday night Cashel Community School will hold a fundraiser in aid of the school choir's forthcoming trip to New York.

The school choir (pictured) will sing favourite tunes, and for those who have enjoyed school shows in the past there will also be extracts from school musicals both past and present.

Tickets are available on the door and also from Mr Murray.

See you in Ardfinnan

One of the big events is the family fun day on the banks of the Suir in Ardfinnan on Sunday with activities starting at 2pm. There will be fun for all the family with a special focus on the beautiful Suir as it passes through the village.

Arts Centre celebration

South Tipperary Arts Centre in Nelson Street, Clonmel is hosting a party this Saturday to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The fun starts at 12.30pm, continuing until 5pm, and includes performances by Banna Chluain Meala and On Your Toes dancers.

Busy beekeepers

South Tipperary Beekeepers Association will hold their annual Honey Show on this Saturday and Sunday in the Central Technical Institute, The Mall, Clonmel

The show is open to the public on Sunday from 2 to 4pm. Admission is 3 and 5 for a couple/family.

Library expo

An exhibition of watercolours by Mary Burke and glass art by Anji Butler opened in Clonmel Library on Thursday and continues until October 1st and all paintings and glasswork are for sale. Marys watercolours reflect our rural surroundings, its flora and fauna, with many paintings of local places.

In contrast, Anjis glass paintings, featuring iconic musicians of the 20th century, should make this exhibition a diverse and exciting one.

Hewitts celebrate golden jubilee

Hewitts home bakery and coffee shop in Mitchel Street, Clonmel is celebrating fifty years in business.

People are invited to call into the shop on this Saturdayfor lots of freebies and special offers to say thank you for helping them reach this amazing milestone.

Remembering Fr Sheehy

In 1766 Fr Nicholas Sheehy, Parish Priest of Clogheen, Burncourt and Ballyporeen was hung, drawn and quartered, having being tried and found guilty of being an accessory to murder.

On Saturday at 11am in The Main Guard, Clonmel the County Museum will host a talk to commemorate the 250th anniversary of his execution.

The talk will be given by Professor Maurice Bric of University College Dublin. Admission is free. To book your seat please contact Julia on 076-1065254 or e mail julia.walsh@tipperarycoco.ie

Carrick family fun

A free Family Fun Weekend sponsored by Carrick-on-Suir & District Lions Club takes place in Carrick-on-Suir this Saturday and Sunday.

The first event will be the "Art in the Park" chalk art competition for children at Town Park on Saturday from 2pm to 4pm. All children aged 4 to 14 are invited to draw with chalk in the Town Park. Prizes will be awarded for each age category.

Mass will be celebrated in St. Nicholas Church on Saturday at 7.30pm. The Suir Valley Choir will sing at the ceremony.

The festival will finish with a Family Cycle from Carrick-on-Suir to Faugheen and back to Carrick on Sunday. Cyclists will leave from the Library Car Park at 2pm. Cyclists will break for ice cream in Faugheen before returning to Carrick.

Ulysses in Carrick

Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick on Suir, will present Strolling Through Ulysses! this at 8.15pm.

Strolling through Ulysses! is a guided humourous tour through the curious events and quirky characters of Ulysses the story of Bloomsday, June 16, 1904.

This entertaining and informative journey, written and performed by Robert Gogan, hones in on extracts from the novel, which explores the eclectic style of Joyces writing.

Folk group concert

Ar Log, the first Welsh language professional folk group, will perform at Brewery Lane Theatre, Carrick-on-Suir this Saturdayat 8.15pm.

The group is celebrating 40 years of touring in 20 countries over three continents.

Tickets cost 15. To book telephone: 086-1274736.

Social dancing

On Friday night Halla na Feile in Cashel will hold social dancing from 9pm to midnight. Music is by Checkers, refreshments served and admission is 8.

Social Dancing Classes on Tuesdays with dancing from 8.30pm to 10.45pm, admission 5. The Autumn programme is in full swing. Beginners and improvers are always welcome.

Harvest thanksgiving

The Annual Thanksgiving for Harvest will be held at St Paul's Church of Ireland, Cahir, on Sunday at 7.30pm. All are welcome.

Hospice fundraiser

A coffee evening and raffle will take place in Monard Hall after 6.30pm Mass this Saturday, September 24, in aid of South Tipperary Hospice. You are invited to come along and support this very worthy cause.
Chronic diseases, poor air quality, shorter lifespans

Not too interested in environmental stewardship

(NaturalNews) As much as some Americans and elected leaders like to push a phony global warming agenda that they claim is being caused by human industrial activity, that doesn't meanisn't real.It is. And what's more, it's far worse in other places around the globe than in the U.S., which is often blamed for being the world's top polluter, though that dubious honor actually goes to China Third on the list is Russia. In fact, some places are so toxic that travel news sites and others related to tourism have warned that visitors could suffer substantial health problems if they stay too long.One of those Russian cities is the Siberian enclave of Norilsk, population around 175,000. Founded in the mid-1930s as a slave labor camp, the city has become one of the world's largest producers of nickel, having some of the world's biggest deposits of the metal. So polluted is the city, that the Blacksmith Institute , which focuses on environmental issues, named it one of the top 10 most polluted cities on the planet in 2007. And WikiTravel advises potential tourists "that a substantial stay could jeopardize your health," adding that the average lifespan there is far less than the Russian average because of this pollution.Not much has changed since the Blackstone Institute designation. In recent days, the Daldykan River turned a bright red virtually overnight, and Norilsk Nickel has since claimed responsibility ... sort of.It's the nickel and other heavy metals that are to blame , however. While it's been Norilsk's financial lifeline, it is also poisoning its people and environment. Mining there began in the 1930s using political prisoners of then-Soviet premier, Josef Stalin. By 1953, the city was producing 35 percent of the Soviet Union's total nickel output, as well as 12 percent of its copper, 30 percent of its cobalt and 90 percent of its platinum group metals. Today the city produces 20 percent of the world's nickel and half of its palladium,Norilsk Nickel's 1942 plant, which was un-originally named for the year it began operations, was only shuttered in late August of this year. The closed plant was responsible for releasing more than 4 million tons of cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, arsenic, selenium and zinc into the air each year. Over the decades, the effect of that kind of pollution has been dramatic. No vegetation will grow within a 20-mile radius of the city, and acid rain covers an area that is as big as the country of Germany. The heavy metal pollution is so pervasive that the soil itself can even be mined. So it's no wonder that lifespans are short, and even short visits can be toxic to your health.In fact, reports the UK's, life expectancy there is a full decade less than in other parts of Russia, while the risk of developing cancer is two times higher, and respiratory disease is widespread due in part to a lack of personal air purification systems . Some estimates, the paper reports, say that the polluted air over the city may be responsible for 37 percent of child deaths and 21.6 percent of adult mortality rates.The fact is, Norilsk Nickel has a well-established history of creating environment chaos. That includes a recent incident in 2014, in which 145,000 pounds of nickel and additional contaminants leached into the Kokemaki River in Finland.Officials in Finland reported finding copper, lead, cadmium and cobalt in water, and mussels that lived and bred in the Kokemaki River have died.Amazingly, however, the company claims it is doing all it can  and has been since 2005  to be kinder to the environment. Days after the "red" river incident, the company blamed it on abnormally heavy rains in the region which caused a dam that contained the contaminants to overflow.
Adverse events never compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated

Vast majority of adverse events never identified, reported

(NaturalNews) It is still generally assumed that the safety and effectiveness of vaccines have been thoroughly established through decades of scientific research and comparison between varying people groups. But the truth of the matter is that vaccine statistics, while they might sound nice on the surface, are fundamentally flawed, and the rate of adverse events from vaccination is likely much higher than we've all been led to believe.One such underestimated adverse event is Guillain-Barre syndrome, or GBS, a severe autoimmune condition marked by major nerve damage and, in some severe cases, even paralysis. GBS is said to be extremely rare, occurring in only one out of every 1 million vaccinated individuals, a rate so low, claim many doctors, that its likelihood to occur in those recently vaccinated matches that of the general population at large.But this little factoid is not actually backed by science, suggests a prominent New York pediatrician by the name of Dr. Lawrence B. Palevsky. As relayed by, recent statements made by Dr. Palevsky highlight the general lack of accurate reporting on vaccine adverse events, not to mention the skewed way in which existing safety studies fail to properly assess their risk of occurrence.One of the biggest problems, he says, is how data is compiled on vaccine adverse events. The recently vaccinated are typically only monitored for just a few days or weeks, which is hardly enough time to detect the presence of autoimmune diseases like GBS that often take several years to emerge. The comparison group, also known as the "background rate," is also erroneous, as most people in the general population have been vaccinated at some point throughout their lives.By comparing the rate of adverse events among those recently vaccinated to those who were also vaccinated, but at an earlier date, statisticians are able to make the claim that adverse events like GBS are rare in conjunction with vaccines. But if a true comparison were made between those vaccinated and those not vaccinated, and over a much longer evaluation period, the results would be striking."In this type of study design, the investigators are studying a group of vaccinated people and comparing the data to a background population of people just like them, who are also vaccinated," explained Dr. Palevsky."We can't conclude anything about the vaccinated population in this type of study design because the data are being compared to themselves, and not to a set of data from a proper unvaccinated control group. Yet, this is the main type of study design that is used to evaluate vaccine safety."But the vaccine industry refuses to conduct this type of honest research, as it knows the results will be unfavorable to its interests. So it fights tooth and nail in the courts to block it from ever occurring, effectively pulling the wool over the eyes of the public and perpetuating the lie that vaccine adverse events are rare and nothing to worry about.The other problem is that conventional doctors are at a disincentive to report adverse events to the government. Besides the fact that most of them have been trained to look only for acute reactions to vaccines rather than long-term damage, it is simply not in their best interests to ever admit that a vaccine they recommended may have caused harm to a patient, even when it obviously did."There is minimal incentive for doctors to report [adverse events] because it takes time and work," Sandy Lunoe wrote for. "Doctors may fear being contacted by the manufacturer... [and it] may be unpleasant for doctors to admit to patients that a vaccine which was recommended was the cause of the condition."
There is zero evidence that this will work as designed

Just another big-government 'feel-good' program?

(NaturalNews) Americans receiving taxpayer-funded food stamp benefits are about to have their lives made even more convenient: The Obama administration is set to allow them to shop online, which means that the government assumes welfare and food stamp recipients also have the Internet.As reported by, recent modifications to the food stamp program, SNAP, are ostensibly meant to alleviate the problem of "food deserts"  that is, provide a service to recipients who live in places with fewer healthy grocery stores.In recent days, the Department of Agriculture began the process of soliciting companies to participate in a two-year pilot project that would allow SNAP recipients to buy groceries online. If it is deemed to be a success, the program will be expanded, unless the next president curbs it or eliminates it altogether.Gunnar Lovelace, one of the co-founders of Thrive Market, an online healthy grocery vendor, toldthat his firm has "an opportunity to be putting pressure on making sure that food stamps are a 21st century program."Of course, being guaranteed a share of government money is likely motivation enough for Thrive Market founders, though it's not yet clear if the company will actually be one of the retailers included in the pilot program, which is set to launch next summer.Thrive is just one of several online food retailers that started a petition over the summer to allow SNAP beneficiaries to shop online with food stamps. Other signatories include Blue Apron, a meal kit service, and Soylent, a meal replacement company. In all, some 310,000 people signed the petition.Lovelace claims that he didn't begin the petition campaign to make the Department of Agriculture look bad. Rather, he says, "Our goal is to be long-term partners in innovating."Lawmakers are also lining up behind the program  most of them liberal Democrats who, like President Obama, have long favored expanding government handout programs rather than attempting to reign them in by creating opportunities that make Americans less dependent on government (taxpayer) largess. Recently, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., wrote a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in support of the pilot program."It would help us move toward a hunger-free and more nutritious America," they wrote, though it isn't clear how moving the SNAP program online will alleviate hunger. "Unfortunately, many of our governmental policies and programs have not kept pace with the dramatic improvement in healthy food access that technology offers."But is this the best deal for taxpayers who, ultimately, are footing the bill? While some natural and organic food sellers offer good products at decent prices, generally speaking it is more expensive Also, there is little information regarding the actual number of people this program, for what it will cost to implement, will actually help. Government officials said they expect the program to mostly benefit the disabled, the elderly and anyone else who may have trouble leaving home, and that it may also help those with little access to healthier food options But SNAP recipients are still on budgets, so even if they are given access to "healthier" options, if those options are more expensive, chances are good they won't use them. In addition,reported, SNAP benefits do not include delivery fees, which will also limit the number of recipients using online grocery programs.What's more, government officials and academics fail to understand the basic economics of SNAP food buyers and conventional brick-and-mortar businesses. Case in point: Food equity researcher Mari Gallagher, who coined the term "food desert," discovered that in the Chicago communities of Roseland and Pullman, 85 to 87 percent of SNAP-authorized grocers and food retailers did not provide sufficient nutritional varieties in their selection, reported theHowever, what this finding doesn't appear to take into consideration is that perhaps local food sellers are much more aware of what their SNAP customers want and are regularly buying  so they stock their shelves accordingly. Simply expanding an existing entitlement program to make it "21st century" by allowing recipients to shop online, in no way guarantees a healthier food consumption outcome.So, why do it at all? Because it's a "feel-good" solution?And what if a recipient doesn't have an Internet connection  will taxpayers have to provide them with one?
(NaturalNews) If you thought Big Pharma couldn't sink any lower, you were wrong. A recent report led by theand the Center for Public Integrity, has revealed that the manufacturers of opioid drugs, such as OxyContin, Vicodin and fentanyl, spent a whopping $880 million on campaign contributions and lobbying efforts. This huge amount of money was spent pushing against state efforts to restrict the amount of prescription opioid drugs floating around.For the unaware, the United States is currently experiencing an opioid epidemic  one that has been particularly profitable for Big Pharma. OxyContin has been one of the most prolific drugs in the prescription opioid craze, and one of the most addictive.writes that a recent expose by theuncovered the fact that Purdue Pharma knowingly lied about their product. Despite being marketed as a 12-hour pill, the' handiwork revealed that Purdue "knew the claim was a lie, as did its sales reps, patients, medical professional and even regulatory authorities. At best, Oxy only provided eight hours of pain relief ..."This means that patients were exposed to withdrawal symptoms, received inadequate care, and were often pushed up to a higher dose of OxyContin  which puts patients at increased risk of death. However, higher dosages make more money than more frequent doses, so this was a very clever, and malevolent , marketing choice by Purdue.You can see where this is the kind of company that caresabout public well-being, and quite a lot about profits. It is not surprising that Purdue Pharma, and others like them, have spent nearly a billion dollars trying to protect their hold on the American people. Between 2006 and 2015, Big Pharma spent nearly 200 times more fighting opioid restrictions than opioid restriction advocates spent in the same time period. Sadly, it is not just Big Pharma pushing their agenda. Even organizations that many people consider to be "respectable," have dipped their toes in the pond. The American Cancer Society, for example, has reportedly teamed up with the pharmaceutical industry.Opioids are very similar to heroin, only they can be prescribed to patients as pain relievers. Due to their highly addictive nature, it is no surprise that the industry desperately wants to protect their ability to be prescribed to anyone for just about anything; opioids are a cash cow.Dr. Andrew Kolodny, a tremendous supporter of prescription opioid reform, told the: "They are reaping enormous profits from aggressive prescribing." And while they benefit, millions suffer.Over 2 million Americans reportedly suffer with an addiction to opioid drugs. Just shy of a half-million people suffer with heroin addiction, as well. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that roughly 80 percent of all heroin users report that their addiction began with misusing opioid drugs . Being that prescription opioids are rather expensive, it is no surprise that people eventually move on to less expensive options. This figure shows that it is not just people currently using prescription opioids that are being harmed by these drugs, but many others as well. One could even postulate that a significant portion of heroin overdoses could be traced back to opioids, in addition to the thousands of deaths caused by opioids directly. Some estimates indicate that opioids are related to up to 60 deaths each day Spending $880 million on protecting their profits instead of supporting legislation that would help to end the opioid epidemic ensured that their priorities would be easily understood. Despite the claims of Big Pharma companies like Purdue that they actually care about addiction and the people affected by it, it has becomeclear that thethey care about is the fact that it makes them money.
A Swedish scientist by the name Fredrik Lanner is waltzing through the ethical line of science as he attempts to edit the genes of a healthy human embryo.

According to the report from CBS News, modifying a human embryo has been considered taboo in the scientific community for safety and ethical concerns. One small slip up could introduce a new disease in the human gene pool that can be inherited by future generations. Scientists are also concerned on the possibility of "designer babies," where parents could choose traits they want for their babies.

However, Lanner clarified that he is doing his experiment in order to further understand how genes regulate early embryonic development. He noted that his work could one day be used by scientists to develop new treatments for miscarriage and infertility. Additionally, Lanner also hopes to open new ways to use embryonic stem cells to treat many diseases.

"If we can understand how these early cells are regulated in the actual embryo, this knowledge will help us in the future to treat patients with diabetes, or Parkinson, or different types of blindness and other diseases," explained Lanner, a developmental biologist at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, in an exclusive interview with National Public Radio. "That's another exciting area of research."

For his experiments, Lanner and his team injected a gene-editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 into carefully thawed five human embryos donated by couples who had gone through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

However, one of the embryos did not survive the cooling and thawing process, while another one was severely damaged while being injected. The remaining three embryos, which were two-day old when they were injected, survived in good shape, with one of them dividing immediately after being injected.

Even after experimenting with a dozen of healthy human embryos, Lanner remains unsure how his experiment is going, but he is quite confident that he will succeed in modifying individual genes in the embryos to determine their function.


Climate change is affecting the world's coffee supply. According to a new report from The Climate Institute, an independent research organization in Australia, the global area suitable for coffee production could be cut by up to 50 percent in a few decades due to the effects of climate change. This could result in coffee supply shortages and increased prices.

"We're fearful that by 2050, we might see as much as a 50 percent decline in productivity and production of coffee around the world, which is not so good," Molly Harriss Olson, chief executive of Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, which commissioned the report, said in a statement.

Coffee is the second most valuable commodity exported by developing countries and is worth around $19 billion worldwide in 2015. People all over the world are drinking around 2.25 billion cups of coffee a day. However, coffee production is barely keeping up. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, coffee bean inventories are expected to drop to a four-year low in the 2016-2017 growing season due to lower shipments.

Coffee is known to thrive best in tropical regions, but they are the most vulnerable to climate risk. The top coffee-growing countries such as Honduras, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Guatemala are in the top 10 countries most affected by climate-related damages.

According to the report, rising temperatures will cause dramatic shifts in where and how much coffee is produced all over the world. For instance, Mexico could lose most of its coffee plantations by 2020, and the same could happen to Nicaragua by 2050. Moreover, Tanzanian Arabica plantations could suffer critically low yields by 2060.

Climate change has also caused pests to quickly spread across coffee plantations and affecting the crops. Coffee leaf rust has devastated over 50 percent of crops in Central America and Mexico, which produce 15 percent of the world's Arabica coffee beans combined. The fungus eats away coffee plants and thrives in warmer climates.

The effects of climate change on coffee supply have been recognized by leading coffee companies such as Starbucks and Lavazza. According to a report by Quartz, Starbucks is on a move to replace roya-damaged coffee trees and the coffee company Keurig Green Mountain is supporting research on coffee preservation.
Elon Musk is determined to reach Mars as early as 2018. SpaceX already exhibited its capability to do so with powerful rockets and successful launches and re-entries from Earth to the International Space Station (ISS) and back. NASA is almost always dragged into the success of SpaceX, so what could be NASA's exact role in SpaceX mission to Mars? While some reports say NASA is helping SpaceX reach the red planet, others argue that the space agency's role is very limited.

In 2018, SpaceX is supposed to launch the Red Dragon mission, an unmanned flight to Mars. Musk plans to land the upgraded Dragon version to the surface of the red planet using a new technology called "supersonic retro propulsion." NASA will play a "critical" role for the mission to succeed, reports say.

NASA's director of commercial spaceflight, Phil McAlister, discussed what's included in the partnership between SpaceX and the agency in a teleconference. For one, NASA and SpaceX have been partners. NASA is using SpaceX' cargo rockets to deliver goods to the International Space Station (ISS) during resupply missions while Musk has always expressed his ambition to colonize Mars and has sought the help of NASA to achieve that.

"[SpaceX] realized they could really utilize and benefit from an expanded level of assistance from NASA," McAlister said in a teleconference. "We're kind of like a consultant to SpaceX. We're providing very specific areas of expertise, McAlister added.

In return, NASA will get access to the data that will be gathered by the Red Dragon from lift-off until its mission to Mars.The NASA official did not dispel the possibility of the mission's failure, saying that he believes it's a good investment and recognizes its potential to succeed.

However, McAlister himself said that NASA's role is also very limited. Some say that NASA will play a very small role in SpaceX mission to Mars. It will only entail the sharing of expertise, input and advise from NASA engineers that will enable SpaceX to enhance and develop the technology that will get them to Mars. This may be because SpaceX might eventually seek "more independence" from NASA in future Mars missions. Nevertheless, NASA won't have full insight into the overall mission but will be entitled to data that is otherwise unavailable to the agency without SpaceX, according to a report.

So whether people are looking at the extent of NASA's participation as too small or a big role, there's no denying that NASA and SpaceX will both benefit from their mutual partnership.

Furthermore, if a mission to Mars succeeds, it will be a milestone not only for SpaceX but for all of mankind. The SpaceX Red Dragon unmanned mission is already slated for launch at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base as early as May 2018.
A team of multi-institutional paleontologists and researchers has identified and named a new species of extinct reptiles believed to be 230 million years old, predating dinosaurs.

The most peculiar characteristic of the new species, named Triopticus primus, is its thickened skull roof, which is very similar to the distantly related pachycephalosaur dinosaurs that lived more than 100 million years later.

The discovery, described in a paper published in the journal Current Biology, suggests that iconic dinosaur shapes and bone structures were already present in some animals hundred million years before dinosaurs appeared.

"After the enormous mass extinction 250 million years ago, reptiles exploded onto the scene and almost immediately diversified into many different sizes and shapes. These early body shapes were later mimicked by dinosaurs," explained Sterling Nesbitt, an assistant professor of paleontology at Virginia Tech and co-author of the study, in a press release.

In order to reconstruct the brain structure of Triopticus, the researchers put the fossil specimen under CT scan at The University of Texas at Austin. The scan revealed that bone and brain structure of the extinct reptile is also similar to the much later dome-headed dinosaur.

At present, the researchers only have a fragment of a skull, making it nearly impossible to determine the precise looks and size of the Triopticus. However, researchers estimate that the ancient reptile was likely no bigger than an alligator. The remainder of the face and jaw, the vertebrae, and the rest of the skeleton is missing, either long lost to natural elements, waiting to be found in the field still, or inside a plaster jacket not yet opened at the lab at UT Austin.

The fossil of the Triopticus was found in Otis Chalk, Texas. Surprisingly, many of the fossils of Triassic reptiles uncovered together with the Triopticus also shared similar structures found in later dinosaurs. Researchers believed that the dinosaurs have evolved to mimic the body shapes of ancient reptiles after the Triassic-Jurassic extinction event, which wiped out the first group of reptiles.
Are we alone in the universe? NASA is not yet ready to answer that as the agency recently denied that the press conference concerning Jupiter's moon Europa, scheduled on Monday, Sept. 26, is "not about aliens."

NASA announced in a media advisory that it would be conducting a press conference regarding Jupiter's icy moon Europa. Europa is believed to hold huge oceans underneath its surface. If there are indeed liquid water on the satellite, then the possibility of finding some sort of microorganism or any other life-form is viable.

In the advisory, NASA said it will conduct a teleconference announcing the findings of NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope about the Jovian moon, Europa. The astronomers that will discuss the "surprising findings are Paul Hertz, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, William Sparks, astronomer with the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Britney Schmidt, assistant professor at the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and Jennifer Wiseman, senior Hubble project scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; a full house of experts that can only mean that the agency is dropping something big. But not as big as extra-terrestrials.

Many speculated that NASA may finally announce that experts had already found alien life forms in Europa, the moon, being one of the top candidates in the search for alien life together with Saturn's moon, Titan. But NASA dissipated the fire before it can go out of hand and said they will be talking about "surprising findings of Europa but it won't include any news about extra-terrestrials.

"Monday, we'll announce new findings from Jupiter's moon Europa. Spoiler alert: NOT aliens," a NASA official said in a Tweet.

The agency made it pretty clear that no aliens were discovered just to set things straight, also not to disappoint alien hunters and conspiracy theorists who would be anticipating the press conference as eagerly as scientists around the world.

But, what NASA will reveal may be directly related to what everyone is keen to know about. NASA might announce the confirmation of "subsurface" oceans in Europa. Some are also asking if the moon contains more water than the Earth, and the astronomers may give light to that during the press conference.

With NASA saying that there would be no discussions about aliens in Europa, what could then be surprising about the moon? The list of potential discoveries goes on but no one can know for sure until the agency dropped the bomb on Monday. NASA will stream the teleconference live through the NASA Live Channel.
At least one more potential victim of a San Marcos man accused of sexually assaulting women while he worked for a ride-hailing service has come forward.

Jeremy Vague, 37, a former driver with Uber and Lyft in San Diego, is facing four felony counts in the sexual assault and sexual battery of three women. Escondido police believe there may be additional victims.

Police announced Vague's arrest Wednesday, and received calls from two additional victims in the following 24 hours.

One adult woman called on behalf of her friend, who she believes was assaulted by Vague. Police are in the process of interviewing her.

The other potential victim may be a juvenile, police said.

Authorities say on Sept. 16, at approximately 1:15 p.m., an 18-year-old student at Palomar College San Marcos campus requested a ride to an Escondido home through Uber.

The driver, identified as Vague, arrived in a blue, 2014 Chrysler minivan 7SMH182, according to Escondido Police spokesperson Justin Murphy.

Instead of taking the victim home, Vague intentionally turned off the Uber app and veered away from the route to an area where he sexually assaulted the victim, Murphy said.

After the assault, the suspect drove the rider home and dropped her off.

Wednesday night, Palomar College sent out an e-mail alert to students advising them of what happened.

Students at the school said the news is upsetting.

"I know a girl today who took an Uber to class, and I told her to be very careful because of the news," said Ivette Patricio, a student. "It's scary because it's our lives at stake, we're coming here to get an education and the last thing we should be worrying about is getting assaulted in any way."

Vague was arrested on Friday and is being held without bail.

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, the same suspect allegedly attempted to lure another Palomar College student into his van during school hours. The woman did not feel comfortable and did not request a ride-hailing service.

During the evening on Wednesday, Sept. 7, the same suspect gave a woman a ride through the Lyft service. Vague is accused of sexually battering the 19-year-old rider and another 19-year-old female who was waiting for her.

Escondido Police say investigators were not aware of the initial report until after the Sept. 16 investigation began.

Police said Vague's employment at Lyft and Uber has been suspended pending the investigation.

The Escondido Police Department is asking anyone who may recognize Vague or the circumstances to reach out to their investigators.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation can call Detective Damian Jackson at (760) 839-4932.
Police have identified two students in a hate crime investigation at San Jose State University.

University police say there were two separate incidents where someone posted a swastika and hate speech inside the campus dorms.

According to police, the two suspects did not appear to know each other and acted individually.

SJSU President Mary Papazian says she is saddened and outraged over the incidents.

Papazian said university police have determined that one of two swastikas scrawled at residence halls earlier this week was not a hate crime, and the other is still under investigation.

One of the swastikas was "accompanied by undeniably hateful, anti-Semitic language,'' Papazian said. Police identified the student responsible and determined that the act "targeted no one in particular and is not by definition a hate crime.''

The second swastika was drawn on a white board in a common area of another dormitory and remains under investigation, Papazian said.

The swastikas were discovered Tuesday.

The incident comes after another racist incident on campus.

Earlier this year, three white students were convicted of misdemeanor battery against their African-American roommate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Fire crews responded to a two-alarm brush fire near San Bruno Mountain on Thursday.

The fire was reported about 3:30 p.m. at Guadalupe Canyon Parkway and Bayshore Boulevard in Brisbane, fire officials said. It was burning brush and trees near two roadways at the foot of San Bruno Mountain.

When firefighters arrived, the blaze covered about 1 to 2 acres between southbound Highway 101 and Bayshore Boulevard. A second fire started across the freeway on the northbound side of 101, according to the South San Francisco Fire Department.

No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported, fire officials said. But traffic on 101 was quickly backing up as the afternoon commute was beginning.

San Mateo County's Alert system warned motorists to avoid 101 at Cow Palace and Bayshore Boulevard due to the fire.

Crews from South San Francisco, Brisbane, Daly City and Cal Fire were at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Wells Fargo executives and board members have been slapped with a lawsuit alleging they were aware fake accounts were being opened in millions of customers' names.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in San Francisco County Superior Court by lawyers representing Wells Fargo shareholder William Sarsfield, and comes after California and federal regulators fined the bank a combined $185 million for the alleged unauthorized accounts.

Sarsfield is being represented by Burlingame-based Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP.

The complaint alleges Wells Fargo's senior management allowed the bank to commit a major fraud on consumers, which "resulted in serious harm to the bank."

"We're asking for a claw back. In other words, that those executives that knew what was gong on have to give back those bonuses because that is really the public's money," Attorney Joe Cotchett said.

Wells Fargo declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wells Fargo sales staff opened more than 2 million bank and credit card accounts that may have not been authorized by customers. Money in customers' accounts was transferred to these new accounts without authorization. Debit cards were issued and activated, as well as PINs created, without telling customers.

In some cases, Wells Fargo employees even created fake email addresses to sign up customers for online banking services.

The San Francisco-based bank will pay $100 million to the CFPB, a federal agency created five years ago; $35 million to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and $50 million to the City and County of Los Angeles. It will also pay restitution to affected customers.

Wells Fargo said the agreements were made with its customers in mind and out of a desire to show accountability.

"Wells Fargo reached these agreements consistent with our commitment to customers and in the interest of putting this matter behind us," the company said in a statement in response to the fines. "Wells Fargo is committed to putting our customers' interests first 100 percent of the time, and we regret and take responsibility for any instances where customers may have received a product that they did not request."

Wells Fargo said they've refunded $2.6 million in fees associated with products that were opened without authorization.
A man was fatally shot in Berkeley on Thursday night, and the shooter is at large, according to the Berkeley Police Department.

The shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. at Fairview and Harper streets. Officers responded to reports of multiple gunshots in the area, police said.

The suspect, described as an adult male, walked up to a group of people and opened fire, hitting one person, police said. The man then fled the scene.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said it appears he was targeted.

People in the area reported hearing seven or eight gunshots. One woman said the victim lived in the neighborhood and was 19 years old, but police did not confirm his age or residence.

Police continued to work the active crime scene late Thursday, shutting down a perimeter in the 1800 block of Fairview between Adeline and Ellis streets. Harper Street between Woolsey and Fairview streets also was closed while officers investigated.

Anyone with information about the shooting should contact the Berkeley Police Department Homicide Detail at 510-981-5741 or the 24-hour non-emergency number of 510-981-5900. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crimes Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
If given the chance, not many people might choose to work on their 95th birthday  but National Park Service Ranger Betty Soskin sees her work as an opportunity to share her wisdom.

Soskin, the oldest park ranger for the country, is in Washington, D.C., to help celebrate the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

"I know how my generation met the threat of its day," Soskin told a group of local students on Thursday.

Soskin met with the local students to share her experience growing up during World War II and what is was like for women and minorities like herself during the civil rights era.

"We have no nostalgia for that period. That is a painful period of rejection," Soskin told News4.

Sharing her story is Soskin's full-time job back in her home state of California, where she works at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond.

She didn't become a park ranger until she was 85 years old.

Soskin said touring the new African American museum brought memories of the days during her childhood when she traveled with relatives from California to Louisiana.

"When we got to El Paso, Texas, we would have to go into the Jim Crow car," Soskin said.

Recently, she made national headlines after someone broke into her home and brutally attacked her, stealing the presidential coin she received after lighting the national Christmas tree last December. In July, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell gave Soskin a replacement coin during a surprise ceremony.

Jewell asked Soskin to go with her to the grand opening of the African American museum on Saturday.

As Soskin says in her blog, "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!"
One of five Oakland police officers charged in connection with a sexual misconduct scandal pleaded not guilty Friday.

Brian Bunton, 40, is accused of warning Jasmine, a teenager who formerly self-identified as Celeste Guap, to stay away from an intersection known for prostitution because of an ongoing police operation. Investigators uncovered text messages between Jasmine and Bunton who went by the screen name "Superman."

Arraigned on charges of felony obstruction of justice and engaging in prostitution, Bunton was the first of his colleagues to appear in court.

Bunton didn't comment after the hearing, but his lawyer Dirk Manoukian told local media outlets that the father of two realized he's made mistakes.

"He's the type of person that's remorseful for some of the decisions he made," Manoukian said. "There [have] already been consequences, so absolutely, he understands."

Also on Friday, Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay announced disciplinary recommendations for nine Richmond police officers tied to Jasmine, who is at the center of a sex abuse scandal that has rocked the Bay Area.

According to the discipline letters, one Richmond police officer will be fired, one demoted, two suspended, and five reprimanded for their actions.

The Richmond Police Department released a slew of discipline recommendations which Lindsay signed off on. According to city officials, the nine officers have already been sent the disciplinary letters.

Each officer has 10 days to request a private hearing. After the private hearing, Richmond Police Chief Allwyn Brown will issue a recommendation to Lindsay, who will determine the final level of discipline.

Under state law, officials aren't allowed to name the officers who will be disciplined.

"The fact we've had to take these disciplinary actions is extremely disappointing to me and angers me as it should the public," Lindsay said.

Officers in at least seven Bay Area law enforcement agencies have been under investigation in connection with the scandal. Prosecutors in San Francisco and Contra Costa County are still investigating and may file further criminal charges.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has filed felony charges against two Oakland police officers and a Contra Costa sheriff's deputy. A former Oakland police sergeant and a former Livermore police officer have been charged with misdemeanors and two other Oakland police officers are also expected to face misdemeanor charges.

The 19-year-old woman says she worked as a prostitute and exchanged sex with officers for money or protection from arrest. She says she has had sex with 30 northern California officers, four of them before she turned 18.

Her attorney Pamela Price said the teen is no longer working as a prostitute. She is now receiving psychological care at Stanford University, she said.

"It's a relief" that the case is finally "moving forward," Price said. Jasmine is glad to see the police officers implicated in the case being prosecuted, she added.

"She wants to see these officers held accountable," Price said. "She wants the system to go through the process and then she wants to be able to go on with her life."

Meanwhile, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt slammed the police officers.

"The City of Richmond has worked very hard to make the Richmond Police Department a national model for community-involved policing," he said. "I am both disappointed and outraged that the individual behavior of some Richmond police officers has brought discredit to the department and serves to undermine community trust.

"I know that this outrage is shared by my colleagues on the Richmond City Council."

The proposed disciplinary actions follow a thorough investigation that complied with the Police Officers' Bill of Rights. The investigation involved an examination of over 10,000 text messages and cell phone records, over 5,000 social media pages, and conversations with 45 people, according to official documents. Investigators logged 750 work hours in completing the investigation, including 13 hours of recorded, voluntary testimony from the teenage witness over the course of the interview sessions. The final investigative report contains 275 pages of findings.

The Richmond Police Department's Office of Accountability, which led the investigation, identified eleven current and former police personnel involved in the misconduct. Two of the eleven officers had left the police department prior to the investigation.

"I am sorry that the misconduct of these individuals has brought embarrassment to the City of Richmond and the Richmond Police Department," Brown said.

Bay City News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A top San Francisco Department of Building Inspection official insisted on Thursday that it was an anonymous 311 complaint  not two weeks of intense media coverage  that led the city to launch a probe of the sinking Millennium Tower project last month.

It was one of the series of revelations about the citys response at a hearing about the troubled project that Supervisor Aaron Peskin called mind blowing.

Peskin expressed dismay over the citys apparent lax response and record keeping on a project that has long been sinking and leaning. He said he was more than troubled there was no city follow-up back in 2009 when the developer admitted the building was sinking at twice the predicted rate.

This is not somebodys toilet that is leaking on Taraval Street, Peskin said. This is a big deal.

The complaint that finally triggered the city probe  lodged Aug. 16 and disclosed for the first time Thursday  followed two weeks of national media reports about the luxury building having sunk 16 inches.

It came six days after U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Aug. 10 wrote Mayor Ed Lee to express increasing alarm about the buildings problems. Peskin expressed disbelief that the city had not even launched a probe at the time the mayors office got Feinsteins letter.

Im just asking, he said. What does it take to get you guys to take something seriously that it might be a life and safety hazard?

What protocols we have now will be different than the ones before, said Ron Tom, the assistant director of the Department of Building Inspection.

Tom testified that complaints drive enforcement efforts as the agency simply does not have the staff to act.

In general, we are not monitoring the behavior and safety of every building in San Francisco, Tom said, adding that are some 200,000 buildings in the city. Our primary charge is for issuing permits and doing inspections.

After buildings are constructed, he said, his agency depends on complaints.

Tom stressed the towers troubles are unique in his experience.

We have never, ever received a situation in which we have developed knowledge about a building of this magnitude, he said, adding that the agency is changing our protocols to change this and develop checks and balances to assure such a failure does not occur again.

As for what prompted the probe, Tom said it was the anonymous complaint and not media reports that prompted him to act.

He told Peskin he did not pay attention to media and only acted when he became aware of the issues by way of the complaint.

I dont watch the news, sorry to say, he said after the hearing. He said he may have heard something "peripherally, but it was that complaint that triggered him to act.

In the anonymous complaint released Thursday, the author expressed concern about the sidewalk defects, water lines, gas lines, electrical lines, sewer lines and the overall safety of the residents and the public" and urged the city to act so as to avoid a tragic disaster.

Three days after that complaint, on Aug. 19, city building inspectors finally went to the building at 301 Mission St., records released Thursday show.

Those records do not specify what was done on that visit, but inspectors did inform the building manager that Millennium officials had 30 days to provide an engineering report verifying any and all structural and building life safety systems.

The developer has yet to respond, however, although that deadline lapsed earlier this week.

Tom said the questions are: Is the building safe? Are life safety systems being compromised? He said ongoing monitoring will ensure that the building problems will not be ignored.

Peskin said several times that the accounts of various officials of what occurred blows my mind.

Building officials struggled to explain how it was that they failed to disclose the complaint under the Public Records Act request lodged by NBC Bay Area. In the end, they pledged to do better.

Although the assistant agency director said the investigation began after the anonymous complaint, the head of the agency, Tom Hui, told Peskin he and other building officials had actually visited the Millennium building in late July.

William Strawn, spokesman for the agency, said after the hearing that the visit was prompted by media questions building officials were fielding about the sinking project. Strawn said building officials found nothing extraordinary during that visit, though they did see cracks in the basement garage. No investigation was launched at that time.

About 20 owners of luxury condos at the Millennium Tower were in the crowd at the hearing. One of them, Nina Agabian, expressed outrage about what she heard.

We are all living there and wondering really about our safety, she said. Nothing that we heard today has instilled any confidence.
The victim, Sharon's friend Greeshma has reportedly confessed to poisoning him with the intention of murder.
Its no secret that the State of Illinois is in a state of financial gridlock.

But did you know theres an official board which actually welcomes your suggestions on how to save money?

Or at least theres supposed to be. NBC5 Investigates discovered that board, known as the State Government Suggestion Award Board, has spent at least the last 10 years, just as gridlocked as the state itself. Indeed, the saga of the board, is something of a case study on how dysfunctional the State of Illinois has become.

Created in 1985 by the General Assembly, the Suggestion Board offers cash awards for the best money-saving ideas. The board originally only accepted suggestions from state employees, but later began accepting ideas from any Illinois citizen.

An early report, from 1993, said the board had identified some $12 million in savings to date.

But the last time the board actually accepted a suggestion was ten years agoa single employees idea about weather stripping a single door at a single building. Since 2008, the Board has considered a total of 667 ideas, but has accepted none of them. Starting in 2013, the Suggestion Board didnt even meet for lack of a quorum. The same was true in 2014, and 2015. No one could get their act together to elect a chairman, establish a schedule, or even figure out a place to meet.

Well, we certainly saw it as an underutilized program, says Mike Hoffman, the acting director of Central Management Services who inherited the entire dysfunctional mess from the two prior administrations. Its one we were interested in re-invigorating.

And it appears they have done just that. The Suggestion Board now has a quorum, and has 175 new ideas which have been submitted over the last six months. Although the online submission form specifies employee suggestions, CMS assures us that the board will accept  and possibly award  ideas from all Illinois citizens.

The prior process was unnecessarily cumbersome, Hoffman says. By correcting those issues, we expect that we are going to get a good number of ideas that we can implement, and that we can share some of those savings with those who suggest them.

Hoffman says one idea which is on the verge of being implemented, is expected to save the state $100,000 annually by reforming the way various departments use certified mail.

A lot of these ideas are very simple, but it takes a fresh set of eyes looking at them, or it just takes someone to listen, he said. We implement as many feasible ones that we can, and that number can really add up.

NBC5 Investigates found that the board had become so disorganized, they could not even keep track of the money they saved. While the 1993 report boasted of $12 million in reforms, subsequent reports in more recent years, stated that the number was only $566,021. And no one is sure how that disconnect happened.

As you can imagine, this is not the only program that has grown dysfunctional or allowed to run dormant, Hoffman notes. So were trying to get as many of these programs up and running as quickly as we can.

If you have a suggestion you want to submit to the state, you can submit it online, here.
More than 25 people have been arrested in raids aimed at combating the sale of fentanyl-laced heroin in the Chicago area, police announced late Thursday.

Detectives from the Chicago Police Department's Narcotics Division organized an investigation and undercover drug buys following an increase in overdose deaths linked to the dangerous combination of fentanyl and heroin, officials said in a release.

Drug samples then underwent expedited testing by State Police and detectives conferred with state and federal prosecutors to build their case.

More than 25 convicted felons and documented gang members were taken into police custody on Thursday, and police were continuing to arrest additional suspects in the raids.

The Chicago Police Department partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police, United States Attorney's Office, Cook County States Attorney's Office and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program of the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy in the investigation.

Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson was scheduled to discuss the arrests along with U.S. Attorney Zach Fardon and officials from all partnering agencies at a news conference from CPD headquarters at 2 p.m. Friday.
Protesters organized outside of Malcolm X College Thursday night while Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled his plan to combat city violence.

The group listened to a live stream of the mayors speech from outside the building. Protesters denounced the mayor on a megaphone and some raised their fists in the air. The protests were peaceful and Chicago police were present throughout the demonstration.

I dont care how many police officers you have on the streets in the city of Chicago, activist Jamal Green said. It will not reduce crime. You have to change the conditions in the community.

Many of the protesters wanted to get into the event but could not.

Some who did get in say they left feeling inspired.

The message was hopeful, said Jennifer Alexander, an attendee.

A pastor in attendance, Robert East, said the lack of male role models is a great weakness in the city.

Antonio Brown said he is going back to school and helping kids after his 7-year-old son was killed last summer.

If I can do it, anyone can do it, Brown said. Anything theyve got to do with solving violence, Im good with.

Kevin Freeman, another attendee, said everyone in the city needs to be a stakeholder when it comes to stopping violence.

It all starts at home, he said.
A man has been charged with groping a woman on Loyola University's campus in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood earlier this month, police announced Friday.

Soroush Aflaki, 22, of the 6900 block of North Greenwich Avenue, was charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery in a public place, according to a release from Chicago Police.

Aflaski was identified as the man who inappropriately touched a woman as she was walking on campus in the 6300 block of North Winthrop on Sept. 19, according to police.

The attack is one four reported between Sept. 6 and 19, police said in an earlier community alert, detailing three assaults against students and one against a faculty member.

Tatjana Williams-Jones, 19, said she was attacked while walking home from the library before 1 a.m. on Sept. 7 on the 6300 block of North Winthrop.

Somebody came up behind me on a bicycle and started groping me, she said.

Williams-Jones said she fought the attacker off and that he looked a little older than her.

He looked Middle Eastern, he had a very heavy Arabic accent, Im guessing, and so he was like its different in my country, you can do this, she said. I was so in shock I didnt know what to do so I just grabbed and tried to like throw him to the ground.
In a plot twist that seemed to be straight from a movie, a man confessed in court on Thursday to a murder for which his identical twin brother had been convicted, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Karl Smith, 38, was on the witness stand at the Leighton Criminal Court Building in Chicago when he testified that he was the gunman in a 2003 shooting that left one man dead and another injured, the Tribune reports.

His brother Kevin Dugar was convicted in the shooting in 2005 and sentenced to 54 years in prison, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

A gunman opened fire on three people near Sheridan Road and Argyle Street in the city's Uptown neighborhood in March 2003, according to the Tribune, killing Antwan Carter and wounding Ronnie Bolden.

Bolden later identified Dugar in a photo lineup that did not include Smith, according to Dugar's petition for a post-conviction hearing, the Tribune reports.

Smith, who adopted his mother's maiden name, said Thursday that he didn't come forward because he thought his brother would be acquitted, according to the Tribune, and he even sat in on at least one day of Dugar's trial.

Smith is serving a 99-year prison sentence for a 2007 home invasion and armed robbery in which a 6-year-old boy was shot in the head, the Tribune reports, never confessing to the murder until he wrote his brother a letter in 2013.

Dugar responded by telling Smith to contact his lawyers, according to the Tribune.

Prosecutors questioned Smith's motivation for the confession, the Tribune reports, telling the judge that he only came forward after a court upheld his own conviction for attempted murder in the 2007 case.

It was unclear when the judge will decide if Dugar should be given a new trial.
A Chicago man who spent 17 years on the run, including four on the FBIs Top 10 Most Wanted list, for allegedly sexually assaulting two women, one of them fatally, was arrested in Mexico, authorities announced Friday.

Fidel Urbina, 41, whose last known address was in the 2100 block of South Fairfield Avenue in Chicago, is charged in Cook County Circuit Court with the sexual assault and murder of one woman and the beating and sexual assault of a second woman, according to an FBI news release. He has been the subject of a worldwide manhunt since 1999 after being charged in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Urbina was taken into custody Thursday without incident, according to the FBI, just outside Valle de Zaragoza, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was apprehended by Policia Federal Ministerial Interpol. He will remain in custody pending extradition proceedings.

Urbina was charged in March of 1998 in relation to the kidnapping and rape of a Chicago woman and was released on bond while awaiting trial. During this time Urbina is suspected by authorities to have bludgeoned Gabriella Torres, 22, to death. Torres body was found in the trunk of a burning vehicle in an alley in the 2300 block of West 50th Street in Chicago, authorities said.

Many family members have waited a long time for this day to come and they deserve the opportunity to face the accused in a court of law, said Michael J. Anderson, special agent in charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office in a statement.

On July 20, 1999, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Urbina. On August 26, 2006, a provisional arrest warrant was signed by a Mexican federal magistrate.

The search for Urbina, authorities said, was coordinated by the Chicago FBIs Violent Crimes Task Force, which is composed of FBI special agents, detectives from the Chicago Police Department, and Cook County Sheriffs Police investigators.

I'd like to thank our federal partners at the FBI for their outstanding work in apprehending Fidel Urbina, whose merciless actions against innocent victims robbed one family of a daughter and left a permanent scar on a woman fortunate enough to survive his attack, said Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson in a statement. Mr. Urbinas capture should serve as a warning to violent offenders what can be accomplished through the combined weight of federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts.

Urbina was the 497th person to be placed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, which was established in 1950.
A suspect has been charged in connection to a "camera looking device" found in the bathroom of a Chicago Public School, police announced Friday.

Elliott Nott, 41, of the 4800 block of North Spaulding Ave., was charged with seven counts of unauthorized videotaping and one count of child pornography, all felonies, according to a release from the Chicago Police Department.

A Cook County judge ordered Nott held in lieu of $75,000.

The camera, which authorities called a "motion activated video recording device," was found at Ogden International School located in the 0-100 block of West Walton Street in the citys Gold Coast neighborhood on Sept. 7.

Melissa Howlett, assistant states attorney, said police found putty that was used to afix the camera to the bottom of a sink in the bathroom.

Each image shows the victims buttocks or genitals during the recording and the childs buttocks and pubic area are also seen on video, Howlett said.

Nott had been a CPS teacher since 2009 and coached girls track and field.

The state alleges that Nott knew a child knew a child used the restroom but his attorneys deny that.

We do not believe, again, if any of the allegations are true, that there was any intent to videotape children, Mark Basile, Notts attorney said.

Nott has at least two other arrests, one in 1993 for window peeping and another in 2004 for loitering and prowling. He was found guilty in the 2004 case and ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Days after the discovery of the camera, the principal told parents a school employee had been fired as a result of the incident. It was not immediately clear what Nott's role was at the school.

This device is not designed to send information, so we are confident that no images were transmitted by the device, Principal Michael Beyer said in an email to parents after the camera was found.

Parents expressed their concerns about the issue.

"You send your kids to school and you look for them to be in a safe place and for them to get an education," said parent Sheena Lee. "When you come back to hear something like that, it's always disturbing to think that adults are plotting on children."

Nott is due back in court Oct. 12.
Two men suspected of a bank robbery that ended in a police pursuit and crash on the highway were in custody Friday afternoon, according to the FBI.

Illinois State Police said two men robbed a BMO Harris Bank in Matteson and were being pursued by Matteson police.

The suspects' vehicle then hit another car while entering the tollway near I-80 and I-294 where they then fled on foot, police said.

Illinois State Police was responding to the crash while Matteson police search for the suspects.
Following the fatal police shooting of a black man, riots erupted for a second night Wednesday on the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina.

"Not to say that something like this could never happen in New Haven," Mayor Toni Harp said. "We certainly hope that it doesnt, but we do everything that we can to have a strong relationship with the community."

Spokesperson David Hartman said New Haven Police have a track record of keeping demonstrations from getting out of control, like when the Occupy movement camped out on the New Haven Green in 2012.

"As long as theres an advanced communication," Hartman said. "We can make sure that we can help protestors in doing what theyre lawfully able to do."

Mayor Harp credits officers training for preventing chaotic protests.

"I think our police are some of the best trained in America around de-escalation," she said.

In Charlotte, police have yet to release body camera footage from officers who witnessed the deadly shooting of Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday.

"We are going to have body cameras in New Haven," Mayor Harp said.

The city has received grants to help pay for body cameras, Harp said. Protocols for how to use them are part of the current police union negotiations.

"They see that this would be a tool that would work in their interest, too," Mayor Harp said of her conversation with the police union president.

New Havens IT department has already set up a system to store footage from police body cams, Harp said. She added she hopes officers will start wearing them sometime early next year.

Dozens of officers have already tested out different brands of body cameras, Hartman said.

The body cameras will be another tool in a city that prides itself on strong police-community relations, where officers are encouraged to get to know the residents in the neighborhoods they serve.

"When you see the same officers over and over again, thats what hopefully builds the trust," Hartman said.
A 15-year-old student at Manchester High School was charged with taking out a knife during a verbal altercation with another student, police said.

On Friday, Manchester police were called to the high school around noon to investigate the incident between the two students.

Several witnesses said one of the students in the argument was holding a knife at his side, police said.

A student resource officer at the school did find a knife on the 15-year-old student involved.

The teen was charged with having a weapon on school grounds, second-degree threatening, breach of peace and carrying a dangerous weapon.

There were no other details immediately available.
A Connecticut man who spent 48 years on the lam after escaping from a work camp in Georgia will be allowed to remain in the state, free as he is on parole, his attorney said.

Robert Stackowitz, 71, was arrested at his home in rural Sherman in May, after officials processing his Social Security application discovered a warrant for his arrest.

Stackowitz is in poor health, his attorney said.

Stackowitz's lawyer, Norman Pattis, said Georgia officials will let the fugitive stay in Connecticut and the state of Connecticut has agreed to accept supervision of him until his sentence ends in 2022.

"We are grateful to Georgia and Connecticut officials for this extraordinary consideration of Bob's medical needs. Their graciousness literally saved his life," Pattis said in a emailed statement.

Stackowitz was imprisoned for a robbery conviction and escaped in 1968 from a prison work camp in Carrolton, Georgia.

Pattis provided previously undisclosed details of Stackowitz's life before the robbery and his time on the lam, including stints as a high school auto shop teacher, a Ford dealership mechanic and boat repairman.

Pattis said Stackowitz grew up in Bridgeport and did modeling work as a child. He later got married and had a daughter. He divorced at age 22, which broke his heart and prompted him to hit the road traveling for a while.

Stackowitz ended up in Georgia in 1966, where he met two other men who asked him to be the getaway driver for a home burglary in Henry County, Pattis said, but the homeowner was there, and the burglary turned into a home invasion robbery. Pattis said no one was injured.

All three men were arrested and sentenced to prison.

While in prison, officials learned of Stackowitz's mechanic skills and allowed him to tune up the warden's car and work on school buses at a facility next to the prison camp, Pattis said. It was at the bus facility where he escaped from custody.

Stackowitz, apparently with enough cash to buy a plane ticket, went straight to an airport and flew back to Connecticut and went on to teach an automotive class at Henry Abbott Technical High School in Danbury and worked at a few Ford dealerships, Pattis said.

Stackowitz eventually settled in Sherman, a small town in western Connecticut along the New York border, where he repaired boats at his home. In Sherman, he went by the alias Bob Gordon, but some people also knew him as Bob Stackowitz, Pattis said.

Stackowitz never remarried, but lived for several years with a woman who later died of cancer, Pattis said.

"This is a great guy who made horrible mistakes as a young man," Pattis said. "He would freely admit that what he did was wrong. My hope is that Georgia officials will be inspired by a realistic view of justice."

Stackowitz will remain free on parole as long as he complies with conditions of his parole. Pattis said his client must break no laws, comply with doctor's orders and remain at his Sherman home.

Georgia officials will periodically review his status and there will be an annual review of his right to remain in Connecticut.
Green Party presidential hopeful Jill Stein visited Central Connecticut State University Thursday.

College campuses have been friendly territory for the little known physician who also ran for president in 2012 on the Green Party ticket, though her name never made it onto the Connecticut ballot.

She described herself as the sensible alternative to both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

We say, forget the lesser evil, fight for the greater good like our lives depend on it," Stein told the crowd of about 200 in the middle of CCSU's New Britain campus.

Stein brought with her a message that the federal government has an obligation to pay to cancel out all student loan debt in the United States. She said she would pay for it by charging Wall Street traders a more than 5 percent sales tax on every trade they make.

Wall Street firms, Stein said, got a bailout in 2008 during the financial crisis, that left ordinary Americans out in the cold.

They found a way to bail out the crooks on Wall Street. Well if they did that, its about time they bailed out the victims of that crashed economy, the young people who were held hostage by student loan debt.

Stein suffers from a serious lack of name recognition. She's consistently polled in the low single digits and she will not be on the stage for the first presidential debate scheduled for next Monday at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. However, like she's done in the past, she will be at Hofstra to protest for what she calls an "open debate system."

We will be there, like it or not, we are showing up because we have a right.
A 28-year-old Andover woman was badly injured in a crash on Route 6 in Andover this morning and LifeStar flew her to Hartford Hospital.

State police said two vehicles were slowing down for a school bus with flashing lights on the westbound side of the road around 6:20 a.m. Friday, but Crystal McLaughlin didn't slow down and hit the back of the car in front of her, which pushed that vehicle into the one in front of it.

LifeStar transported McLaughlin and state police said she appears to have serious injuries.

An ambulance transported the driver of the middle vehicle, Gavin Dixon, 20, of Newfield, Maine, to Windham Hospital to be evaluated for possible injuries, according to state police.

The driver of the first car that slowed down did not have any apparent injuries.
After six days of an exhausting effort to find two missing Connecticut boaters, the Coast Guard has suspended its search for them.

Rescuers were unable to locate 54-year-old Linda Carman and her son 22-year-old Nathan Carman, of Middletown, along with their 32-foot fishing boat. The pair was reported missing Sunday night when loved-ones didnt hear back from them.

The Coast Guard searched an area near Block Island, a search that expanded through 62,000 square miles. The search expanded from the coast of Rhode Island to New York and as far as New Jersey.

Theyre good people and if theyre not home, they should be, Said Sharon Hartstein who has been friends with Linda for over 20 years. She said Coast Guard officials came to her home today to tell her the news.

Hartstein said Linda let her know she would be leaving Rams Point Marina in Point Judith early Sunday morning and they were supposed to come back later that day.

She showed us the last text messages between her and Linda: So she sent this email Friday, I mean text message, saying that they were going from Rams Point around 1 [a.m. Sunday], back by 9 [a.m. Sunday]. Call me 12 noon if you dont hear from me. Thanks for being there.

As the search is suspended for the pair, NBC Connecticut has learned, according to Windsor Police, Nathan is the grandson of John Chakalos, the 87-year-old man who was found dead in his home by a gunshot wound to the head back in December 2013. Linda is Chakaloss daughter.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Before that, Nathan  who suffers from Aspergers Syndrome -- was also the center of a 2011 investigation when he went missing and was found in Virginia.

Middletown Police also tell NBC Connecticut they have made several attempts this week to go to the home in hope of the Carmans returning.

While coast guard officials said they found a white cushion Thursday in Point Judith, where the pair left from, at this point they have not been able to determine whether it is connected to their boat.
A deputy city marshal charged with murder in the shooting of a 6-year-old boy is asking a Louisiana judge to throw out his indictment. Derrick Stafford is saying he acted in self-defense by opening fire on a car driven by the boy's father.

Jeremy Mardis, the 6-year-old autistic boy shot by police during the November incident, was the youngest person shot by police in 2015. The boy's father, Christopher Few, was wounded after what officials described as a pursuit.

Body camera video that captured the shooting led to the arrests, police said. Louisiana State Police superintendent Col. Michael Edmonson called the video "extremely disturbing."

But a court filing by Derrick Stafford's attorneys says the police body camera video lacks audio for the first 27 seconds, making it impossible to determine if Stafford started shooting before or after Few raised his hands inside the car.

Stafford's lawyers claim the Few ignored officers' commands to stop and rammed into a vehicle that another deputy marshal, Norris Greenhouse Jr., was exiting.

Stafford and Greenhouse await separate trials on second-degree murder charges.

Second-degree murder carries a mandatory punishment of life in prison without parole, the attorney general said. A charge of attempted second-degree murder carries up to 50 years in prison.

Greenhouse is free on $1 million bail, while Stafford remains jailed, NBC News reported.
Federal investigators say two women orchestrated an identity theft ring that targeted at least 20 people. But it's how suspects Jamila Williams-Stevenson and Loretta Coburn are said to have gotten some of their victims personal information that is most shocking.

Authorities said several of the alleged victims had been patients at Yale-New Haven Hospital where Williams-Stevenson was working as a companion or sitter.

It's believed she used her job at the hospital to steal patients information and identities.

It was people that was expected to die, said Donna Walker, one of their alleged victims. I really believe that.

Walker said she had suffered from a brain injury and didn't expect to survive.

She thinks Williams-Stevenson didn't expect her to make it either, which made her a target. According to Walker, once Williams-Stevenson and Coburn got her information, they quickly made use of it.

They had my social security number, said Walker. I got a notice from the post office that said that my address had been changed.

According to the court affidavit, once the two changed their alleged victims addresses, they took control of their mail, then took control of their finances.

I find out that they have been applying for credit cards, said Walker.

Willy Amply is also one of their alleged victims. He said his daughter was a patient at Yale New Haven Hospital and like Walker, she was in bad shape.

She was in the mental part of the hospital, Amply explained.

Amply said someone claiming to be from Yale New Haven Hospital called needing information.

They had called me and wanted me to be her beneficiary for some reason if something happened to her, so that's how they got it, said Amply.

He had handed over all of his personal information and more of his daughters.

They had made an insurance policy out on my daughter while she was in the hospital, Amply continued.

Federal investigators learned Williams-Stevenson had made herself the beneficiary on a $50,000 life insurance policy on Amply s daughter.

According to the U.S. Attorneys office, the suspects carried out an identity theft and mail fraud scheme for two years until being arrested in July.

Williams-Stevenson faces charges of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, while Coburn was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.

The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters stopped by Williams-Stevensons home and asked her if she wanted to talk about some of the things she is accused of doing with identity theft. She simply answered, No.

We also stopped by Coburns house, but nobody answered the door.

Through court paperwork, the Troubleshooters know at least 4 of the victims were patients at Yale New Haven Hospital. One of them, is an 84-year- old woman who passed away.

Federal investigators won't say if any of the other identity theft victims were patients too.

However, we asked Yale New Haven Hospital, a spokesperson said "They don't know but are investigating."

The hospital also provided a statement saying in part:

"The actions alleged to have been taken by Ms. Williams-Stevenson's are reprehensible." The hospital said it is "Taking steps to ensure that this sort of activity does not occur again."

You know if you are on deaths door, that is where you want to be, at Yale New Haven Hospital, said Walker.

Although Walker thinks Yale-New Haven Hospital delivers stellar medical care, she wants them to do more to protect patients information from employees.

Officials with the hospital said they are cooperating fully with the U.S. Attorney's office and that Jamila Williams-Stevenson is no longer employed there.
Neurofibromatoses are a group of disorders that cause tumors to grow in the nervous system. One of those conditions, NF 2, causes many patients to go deaf because the tumors grow on the nerves responsible for hearing. A drug already in use for some cancers is not only halting the hearing loss in some patients, but reversing it.

Heather Sheeley-Johns can walk along a busy city street without worry. For years, cars, horns and sirens were impossible to hear.

I think things were a little more muffled. Having a very difficult time figuring out where the sound was coming from, described Sheeley-Johns.

Sheeley-Johns was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis 2 in her late twenties. Tumors on one cranial nerve caused her hearing to get progressively worse.

Jaishri Blakeley, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, detailed, Losing hearing at that age can be very traumatic and very isolating.

Dr. Blakeley is an expert in tumors of the nervous system. NFs are not cancer but grow relentlessly and have no effective therapies.

Surgery is for sure the standard of care. The trouble with surgery is its very difficult to remove the tumor, without damaging the nerve, explained Dr. Blakeley.

Dr. Blakely is studying the impact of an already FDA-approved drug on NF 2 tumors. Bevacizumab is given intravenously every three weeks for 30 to 60 minutes. The drug shrinks the blood vessels near the tumor, making the tumor smaller.

If there was something that could prolong my hearing there wasnt a doubt, I had to try, Sheeley-Johns told Ivanhoe.

Thirty-six percent of the trial participants gained back hearing on the drug. Sixty percent of those patients kept their hearing, even when they were off the drug for three months.

It has not only stopped the hearing loss but my hearing has actually gotten better by about 30 percent, said Sheeley-Johns.

Life-changing treatment for those in the prime of their lives.

Sheeley-Johns hearing gains have lasted several years, but since this is an experimental treatment, doctors arent sure if the results will be permanent. Dr. Blakeley said this drug is not for every patient, since side effects include an increase in blood pressure, change in ovarian function, and the possibility of kidney damage.
Grand Prairie police said a missing 16-year-old girl was found with a 25-year-old educator in a Richardson motel room.

Police said Amy Botton was physically unharmed when they found her at an Econo Lodge on North Central Expressway.

Richardson police took Michael Perez, who was formerly employed as an educator at Grand Prairie High School where Botton attended, into custody.

Perez will be charged with harboring a runaway, according to police. He will be booked into Richardson Jail Friday. Officers said he will likely be transferred back to Tarrant County eventually.

Police said they were worried about Bottons welfare and suspected she was with Perez.
Big Tex returned to Fair Park in Dallas Friday morning.

The 55-foot-tall cowboy resumed his post as the official State Fair of Texas welcomer at 10 a.m.

The mascot sported a new Dickies shirt and jeans, plus a ribbon to honor the Dallas police officers killed in July.

The biggest attraction at the State Fair of Texas is wearing something new this year. Big Tex has a blue ribbon to support the Dallas Police Department.

Big Tex remained silent during this event, saving his voice until his signature "Howdy, Folks!" greeting on Opening Day.

That billowing greeting is a tradition that's held steady for decades. However, Big Tex has undergone a few makeovers over the years.

Big Tex, the 55-foot-tall cowboy mascot, retook his post as the official State Fair of Texas welcomer at 10 a.m.

Big Tex: Then and Now

1952 - 2012 2013 - Present Height: 52 ft. 55 ft. Chest 31 ft. 33 ft. 9 in.

Biceps 7 ft. 8 in.

10 ft. 9 in.

Boots 7 ft. 7 in.

12 ft.

Hands 3 ft.

5 ft. 6 in.

Head 8 ft.

10 ft.

Inseam 16 ft.

20 ft.

Shoudlers 12 ft. 6 in.

13 ft.

Sleeves 22 ft. 6 in.

13 ft.

Neck 10 ft.

11 ft.

Waist 23 ft. 6 in.

27 ft.

Collar 12 ft. 6 in.

16 ft. 8 in.

Hat 75 gallon

95 gallon

Boot Size 70 96 Original Cost $750 $500,000



Online: BigTex.com

Chopper 5 captures crews standing Big Tex up outside the Dallas fairgrounds Friday morning.
For the first time ever, there are more Asian students in the Coppell Independent School District than any other ethnic group.

New enrollment numbers from the Texas Education Agency show 11,881 attend students in Coppell schools, including 4,839 Asians  or 41 percent.

But some families feel their voices aren't being heard because out of the seven board members, not one is Asian American.

Now, Coppell parent Dr. Pankaj Jain is suing over what he says is a lack of Asian representation on the school board.

"It's just time to request a school board system to comply with U.S. laws," Jain said.

Like many school districts, Coppell has an at-large election system, meaning board members are elected based on how the entire city votes, not individual districts.

According to the lawsuit filed Thursday, "The at-large election system denies Asian American voters a fair opportunity to elect the candidates of their choosing."

"It's high time the school district recognize the growing needs of Asian parents and Asian students and Asian cultures have tremendous values," Jain said.

In an e-mail, a Coppell ISD spokesperson said the district, "Has not received any legal notification of a lawsuit related to an alleged violation of voter rights. Additional comment by the District may be provided at a later date and time."

Three similar lawsuits have been filed against the Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Irving and Grand Prairie school districts. Each lawsuit ended in the plaintiff's favor.
The Black Police Association of Greater Dallas Friday joined Dallas Police critics demanding a series of reforms. They include civilian police review with power to demand testimony from officers under oath about alleged misconduct.

"We, as an organization of black police officers, are stepping up to the plate and we're going to do what's necessary to get this done," said Lt. Thomas Glover, president of the 600-member BPA.

Glover said Dallas had a powerful civilian review panel in the late 1980s but it was watered down over the years and has been strongly opposed by police and city leaders recently. Those defending the current arrangement have argued police and prosecutors have sufficient authority to investigate misconduct.

Glover said citizens should have a stronger role.

"The transparency comes and the trust is built when you allow groups like this here, and when you allow citizens who we serve to sit down at the table," Glover said.

Beside Glover for the announcement were protest leaders and local ministers who have questioned Dallas police policies.

"None of us are anti-police," said the Rev. Frederick Haynes, pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church. "But we are anti-police misconduct. We're anti-police brutality. And we're anti-policing system that systematically discriminates against people of color."

A civilian review panel with subpoena power is also a key reform demand of the Next Generation Action Network, which sponsored several police demonstrations in Dallas this year, including the July 7 rally that preceded the shooting deaths of five officers.

Lt. Glover said the demonstrators are not to blame for the actions of a lone gunman that night.

"There is no way the city of Dallas can repeat what happened on July the 7th. And one of the major steps in preventing that from happening again is, we've got to have everybody at the table," he said. "We've got to have trust. And in order to build trust, we've got to be open and transparent."

Other points of the BPA's seven-point plan promote community cooperation, police diversity training and identifying problem officers and potential violence against officers.

"I would like to applaud the Dallas Black Police Association for their courage and for their integrity in speaking out against police brutality," said Next Generation Action Network representative Kim Cole. "I understand it's not going to be popular, but it's right. And sometimes, that's how it is."

Glover and others at the announcement said Dallas has made more progress on reducing brutality and use of force than some other cities but they said more progress is needed.

Efforts to reach Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and leaders of other Dallas Police Officer groups for comment were unsuccessful Friday.
In a strongly worded letter, the head of Dallas' Black Police Association said police brutality against unarmed men has become an "epidemic."

The lieutenant who wrote those words has been a Dallas police officer for more than 30 years, and says it's time to speak out on what he calls a growing and dangerous problem.

Lt. Thomas Glover told NBC 5 he used the word "epidemic" to draw attention to his message, which is that regardless of your ethnicity, every American should agree there's a problem with police brutality and that we must work together for real solutions.

The police association is scheduled to hold a press conference to "offer our prayers, condolences, and deepest sympathy to the family of Mr. Terrence Cruter of Tulsa, Oklahoma" Friday morning.

The stream will be carried live at the top of this article at 11 a.m.

"Actually coming out and boldly and profoundly saying it's an issue and it's even an epidemic  I know there will be people who dislike that  but we have to say it and we have to get the truth out there first, before we can get solutions," Glover said Thursday.

In the letter, the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas wrote, in part:

"There is an epidemic of unarmed black men being shot by police officers. It is so pervasive, if not checked it will soon rise to levels exceeded only by lynchings, and slavery...It is time to jog our consciousness and stop this epidemic from spreading; we cannot continue to have innocent lives lost."

Later, the letter states:

"As black police officers, we are expected to perform our duty at times when one would believe that we are forced to chooses between two sides. One side tells us remaining silent on this issue is necessary to survive in this profession, the other tells us to speak up loudly if we are to survive in our ethnic community. As black officers we will choose the side of right and use all of our energy, time, expertise, and funds to render this epidemic officially over."

In defending his letter, Glover told NBC 5 that, "I used the word epidemic in the press release because one person, just one person needlessly dying who was unarmed and not participating in criminal behavior, not threatening the life of another citizen or a police officer, thats one too many."

"And I can go on and on talking about the cases just this year, just this year, where a police officer shot and injured or shot and killed an unarmed black man," he added.

Glover said the shootings should be troubling to everyone, regardless of their race.

"It's troubling because it's out of the norm," he said. "It appears to be inhuman at times. It is inhuman when someone loses their life when they're not trying to harm anybody."

Glover is calling on his own police department to make serious reforms.

"In order to build trust we have to be transparent and also allow some kind of mechanism so that citizens truly believe they have a voice," he said.

Glover said the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas supports giving subpoena power to a civilian oversight board, so that citizens can question officers involved in deadly shootings, and he supports greater transparency with releasing police video footage.

"We have to allow access to video cameras and body cameras. And when you take a long time to release it ... what people think is that you're trying to cover something up or make an excuse, a rationale," he said.

In calling for greater transparency with releasing police videos following an officer-involved shooting, Glover is in-step with Next Generation Action Network leader Kim Cole, who organized a protest in downtown Dallas Thursday night.

"Be transparent. That is our interest with regard to police reform. We want transparency and accountability," Cole said.

"Aug. 28th, almost a month ago, there was an officer-involved shooting, and police issued no details," she said, referring to a deadly shooting on West Davis Street in Oak Cliff. "The Dallas Police Department hasn't revealed any dash-cam footage, they haven't revealed any body-cam footage. I don't even know the name of the victim. Is that transparency?"

Glover acknowledged the letter will strike many officers as inappropriate and needlessly controversial.

"The most important thing I can say is that we represent the African American community, and we represent the police department. It's a dual role, yes, but there is no struggle when you stand up for what's right. And standing up for reforms is right," Glover said.

There are about 600 officers in the Black Police Association of Greater Dallas. It is predominately black, but there are Latino, white and Asian officers as well.

The BPA is holding a press conference Friday morning at 11 a.m. along with the Dallas NAACP, several prominent church pastors, and other community leaders, to discuss these issues.

//

Black-Police-Assn-Press-Release-Docx (PDF)

Black-Police-Assn-Press-Release-Docx (Text)
Police said a 16-year-old boy is responsible for one of three recent robberies targeting teens with cell phones in Garland.

Three teenagers had their cell phones stolen during separate instances in Garland on Wednesday and Thursday morning before school, Garland police said. The incidents happened either at a bus stop or on the teens' walks to school.

Police said the teenagers were approached by one or two men who assaulted the teens and then stole their phones. They all had their cell phones visible, police said.

One of the teens said one robber mentioned having a gun, but never saw it. Another teen said a gun fell out of one of the robbers pockets, police said.

The first robbery happened to a 13-year-old boy who had his phone stolen at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday in the 1600 block of North Glenbrook. Officers said a 16-year-old suspect was arrested in the days after.

Detectives suspected two similar robberies, both happening the next day, were committed by other people.

Detectives said they think the thieves are only targeting victims whose cell phones are visible.

The suspects are described as African-American men in their late 20s or early 30s. One of the men was described having a mustache or goatee, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Garland PD at 972-485-4840, or submit tips to Crime Stoppers for a reward of up to $5,000 by calling 972-272-8477 or going to www.garlandcrimestoppers.org.

NBC 5's Brian Roth contributed to this report.
New parents in Frisco came home from the hospital with a bill they didn't expect to pay, so they called NBC 5 Responds to help.

Narendran Pandiakumar and Nancy Selvanathan couldn't wait to bring home their new baby boy, Nygle.

"It was awesome," Selvanathan said. "I was so excited."

The couple made it through the delivery without complications, but things weren't as smooth with her insurance plan through UnitedHealthcare. A bill of $3,700 for the delivery was denied by the insurance company.

"It's a huge bill. And I have so many expenses covering the baby," Pandiakumar said. "So it was stressful."

They called UnitedHealthcare to find out why the delivery wasn't covered and were told their doctor didn't provide the right information to process the claim.

A coding error. The doctor checked and resubmitted.

"[The insurance company] said it wasn't covered under his insurance," Selvanathan said. "Usually in India this happens, but I didn't expect it in the United States."

The doctor eventually said they needed payment. They asked for $2,000 of the bill, all of which would be refunded if UnitedHealthcare decided to cover the bill.

Pandiakumar submitted his issue online to NBC 5 Responds and we reached out to the insurance company.

"I got a call from UnitedHealthecare the next day," Pandiakumar said.

That $3,700 bill: now covered.

"We were calling them for like 6 months and they didn't even want to talk to us," Nancy Selvanathan

And the $2,000 the couple was told they were responsible for? it never had to leave their wallets.

UnitedHealthcare sent us a statement saying:

"All of the information required to process the claim was recently received from the physician's office and the claim has been paid. We are sorry Mr. Pandiakumar and his family have been inconvenienced."

This now-happy family, is ready to spend that money somewhere else.

"Now we can be relieved," Selvanathan said.
A school bus carrying about 50 middle and high school students flipped on its side into a ditch beside a rural road near Houston, sending 14 students and the driver to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Ralph Gonzales says the 15 appeared to have bumps and bruises and were taken to hospitals for precautionary examinations.

The accident happened about 3:30 p.m. Friday on Farm-to-Market Road 1942 near Crosby, about 35 miles northeast of Houston. Gonzales said the driver of the Crosby school district bus swerved the bus into a roadside ditch to avoid another vehicle.

Crosby school Superintendent Keith Moore said the bus was not equipped with seatbelts.

A representative for the school district Houston NBC affiliate KPRC that none of the students were trapped on the bus after the crash.
Prosecutors say a suspect in a series of Interstate 35 rock-throwing incidents in Central Texas has been convicted of sexual abuse in an unrelated case.

A jury in Austin on Thursday convicted Patrick Eugene Johnson of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. Travis County jurors will decide punishment for the 60-year-old Johnson, who faces up to life in prison.

Authorities say Johnson, who was arrested in June, was charged with molesting a boy numerous times since 2012.

Johnson still faces multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in what prosecutors say I-35 rock-throwing incidents in the Austin area.

Three motorists were injured, including a person who suffered brain damage after the rock crashed through his windshield in 2014.
A zookeeper screamed for help into her radio before she was fatally attacked by a Malayan tiger, but the 350-pound animal crushed her neck before her co-workers could reach her, an autopsy report released Friday showed.

The Palm Beach County medical examiner determined that Stacey Konwiser, 38, died of a fractured spine, a lacerated jugular and other neck injuries suffered when she was attacked on April 15 by the tiger named Hati.

The male tiger, then 12 years old, had been at the zoo for two years on loan from the zoo in Fort Worth, Texas.

Konwiser had entered the tigers' night house, an area where they eat and sleep that is not visible to the public, to prepare for a presentation.

The report by medical examiner investigator Aleita J. Kinman says the tiger's cage was supposed to be locked, but it was open, and Konwiser's view of the animal may have been blocked by a large box inside the enclosure.

Hearing her screams, Konwiser's co-workers rushed to the tiger exhibit and found the tiger standing over her body.

Zoo officials have defended their decision not to shoot the rare tiger, saying they feared a bullet could strike Konwiser or further enrage Hati if it didn't kill him instantly.

Instead, they tried unsuccessfully to lure him into a cage before shooting him with a tranquilizer dart. Paramedics were able to reach her 17 minutes after the attack. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

No cameras were operating in the area of the attack. Officials have said they are only used to monitor breeding efforts, so were turned off.

There are only about 300 adult Malayan tigers in the wild and they are considered endangered.

Zoo officials didn't immediately return a call Friday seeking comment. Investigative reports on the attack by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are pending.

Konwiser had worked at the Palm Beach Zoo for three years after working at the Palm Springs, California, zoo.

Konwiser had given notice that she had accepted a job with the Food and Drug Administration, but the zoo had offered to match her salary and give her new responsibilities in an effort to keep her. She had not given a decision. Her husband, Jeremy, is a Palm Beach Zoo employee.
Ted Cruz says he's voting for Donald Trump for president  a shocking about-face after he rocked the Republican convention by dramatically refusing to do so.

The Texas senator says on Facebook that he made the decision for two reasons. First, his promise to support the Republican nominee. And second, his belief that Democrat Hillary Clinton is "wholly unacceptable."

The flip-flop was a stunner since the Texan was booed lustily during a floor speech at his party's convention for urging Republicans to "vote your conscience" without naming Trump.

Sen. Ted Cruz says hes voting for Donald Trump for president  a shocking about-face after he rocked the Republican convention by dramatically refusing to do so.

Cruz finished second to Trump in a bitter primary and for months balked in offering support, despite his previous pledge to endorse the eventual Republican nominee.

Trump says that he's "greatly honored" by what he describes as the senator's endorsement.

Trump said in a statement that he and Cruz "have fought the battle" and called Cruz a "tough and brilliant opponent."

Recent polls had suggested that Cruz's popularity was slipping nationally and back home in Texas, where he could face a primary challenger for re-election in 2018.
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.
Gigi Hadid will not be manhandled.

The supermodel, in Milan for Italy's fashion week, was exiting MaxMara's show arm-in-arm with sister Bella Hadid on their way to a chauffeured car. After pausing to take a few quick photos with fans, Hadid was suddenly lifted into the air by a man who grabbed her from behind.

The man was later identified as Vitalii Sediuk, who has gained notoriety for physically accosting a handful of Hollywood's most famous figures on red carpets, including Will Smith, Bradley Cooper and Leonardo DiCaprio.

In photos captured of the altercation, both Hadid sisters fought back at the stranger, Gigi elbowing Sediuk in the neck before he let her go and ran away.

Every Outfit Gigi Hadid Wore During Fashion Month Spring 2017

In videos of the altercation, Hadid chased after the man before returning to her car and asking security to find him.

When a website published a headline blaming Hadid for "not model behavior," the blond beauty took to Twitter to sound off.

"To unknown article writer: fan?!!! The ACTUAL fans that were there can tell you what happened. I'm a HUMAN BEING," she tweeted. "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."

While Bella hasn't issued any comments on the event, she did retweet remarks from a fan account.

"Men [need] to learn the boundaries about touching women like this isn't acceptable in society. I hate it when they aren't listening," the tweet read. "Who tf do you think you are trying grabbing Gigi without your consent, it is NEVER okay to grab someone let alone a woman. Educate yourself."

Meanwhile, Sediuk spoke of the incident on his Instagram account, calling it encouragement for the fashion industry to put "true talents on the runway and Vogue covers."

"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," he wrote on social media.

"This is also a wake up call for Anna Wintour who turned Vogue into tabloid by putting Kardashians and other doubtful celebrities on a cover of a well-respected magazine."
A Tijuana man is facing chargers for smuggling nearly 6,000 pills containing an ultra-deadly mix of the drug fentanyl, the U.S. Attorney's office announced.

Jose Arturo Acevedo, 35, was arraigned on multiple charges related to smuggling the 5,857 pills, 55 pounds of methamphetamine, 24 pounds of cocaine and 12 pounds of heroine, the U.S. Attorney's office said. He faces four counts of importation of a controlled substance.

Fentanyl is a Schedule II synthetic laboratorieskiller produced in laboratories. When made in labratories, the drug can be 100 times more potent than morphine, and even inhaling or absorbing a trace amount through the skin can be fatal.

Acevedo allegedly entered the San Ysidro Port of Entry on July 19, according to the filed complaint. In his car, he had 24 packages of drugs hidden in a speaker box lying on the floor of the car behind the front seats

The thousands of blue pills Acevedo allegedly smuggled had the markings and physical dimensions of oxycodone. However, Drug Enforcement Administration lab officials determined the pills actually contained fentanyl.

The escalating number of fentanyl seizures concern law enforcement authorities.

In the past two weeks alone, officials have seized fentanyl in powder form three times.

We are extremely troubled by the number of fentanyl seizures weve seen recently, said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy in a statement. Drug users, listen up! This is life or death. If you are buying painkillers on the street and not in the pharmacy, your drugs might contain fentanyl, and even miniscule amounts of fentanyl can have devastating consequences for those who abuse it or literally even touch it. The extreme danger of fentanyl cannot be overstated.

Th drug can be anywhere from 25 to 50 times more potent than heroin. In some parts of the U.S., heroin is spiked with fentanyl, or replaced entirely with it.

The Drug Enforcement Agency released a nationwide public health alert on the drug last year.

Acevedo is scheduled to appear in court next on Oct. 24 at 2 p.m.
After a man threw urine on a California McDonald's employee because he was angry about his order, police asked for the public's help to identify the man Thursday.

Around midnight on July 26, two men and a woman ordered bundt cakes at a McDonald's drive-thru at the intersection of Mariposa and Bear Valley roads in Victorville, said Det. Mike Mason of the Victorville Police Department.

A man sitting in the back seat of the car became angry and started arguing with the woman working at the window because she had their order wrong, and told the customers their total would cost a dollar more than the previous amount.

Mason said they still purchased the cakes.

About 10 minutes later, the man came back to the McDonald's, parked, and walked up the the drive-thru window and peeked in, Mason said.

When the woman working walked back toward the window, the man started screaming at her and threw a large cup of liquid at her, police said. The liquid, later identified as urine, covered her head, face, body, and entered her mouth.

He left in what police described as a small, compact, four door vehicle.

Although they purchased the order with a credit card, it was a prepaid card, Mason said.

Anyone who may have information about the incident, or recognizes the man was asked to call Det. Mason at 760-241-2911.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More
A 15-year-old girl says she was overwhelmed with emotion when sheriff's investigators told her she was one of 33 students and staff members who were on the hit list of a student at Encore High School in Hesperia.

"I started crying," Madison Argo said. "It was just really shocking because I knew him, like I thought he was a friend."

Argo said most of the people on the list were friends with the student.

Over the weekend, San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies were alerted by a parent that the boy, a 14-year-old eight-grader, had allegedly made a threat on social media. Investigators questioned him and his parents, but didn't make an arrest until Tuesday after they say they discovered a hit list and a plan at his parents' two homes.

"That student had limited access to firearms, as well as there was some information about explosives that was obtained during the search warrant," Sheriff John McMahon said.

On Wednesday, school administrators told parents and students about the arrest, explaining that the boy was kept away from school until he was taken into custody.

"We sent our kids to school for three days  three days  while this was still being investigated," said the girl's mother, Christy Argo. "By Monday we should have been notified."

Madison Argo says other people on the hit list included the school's founder. She's glad her former friend is now behind bars.

"I don't know if he would have actually gone through with it, but it's possible," she said.

It's unclear if the boy, who has not been identified, will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult, or when he will face a judge for the first time.

Officials said they are confident that the student was acting alone and they are not seeking additional suspects.
Staff members at a Southern California animal shelter thought they had an intruder on their hands this month after alarms were set off one weekend inside the building.

A check of the shelter in the San Bernardino County community of Apple Valley revealed items scattered around the front desk, but no sign of anyone in the building. Staff members said they found phones, papers and files pulled off the front counter, evidence that initially suggested the work of an escaped cat.

Because usually, it is the cat.

But the first clue came Sunday when a staff member noticed a dog missing from her adoption kennel near the back of the shelter.

It wasn't a case of an intruder -- they had a furry fugitive on their hands.

The missing dog was reported to the shelter Monday morning, about the time that staff members reviewed security camera video. The video showed Ginger the resourceful German shepherd as she opened doors and hopped on a counter to have a look around, explaining the untidy front desk.

Ginger needed to open three doors between her kennel area and the front parking lot to make her great escape, according to staff. She can be seen on her hind legs in the front lobby, unlatching the last barrier to the parking lot and the wonders of Southern California's Victor Valley.

Ginger was found safe about three miles from the shelter. She was returned to her kennel and is waiting for a loving, and secure, home.

Visit the shelter's Facebook page for more information.
Two gunmen were sought in a double shooting in South Los Angeles that killed one man and wounded a woman Thursday night.

The Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to a shooting at 11:47 p.m. near the intersection of 48th Street and Halldale Avenue, and discovered a man and a woman sitting inside a van with gunshot wounds, according to the Los Angeles Police Department 77th Division.

The woman said they were sitting in the van and were approached by two men, who demanded money, police said.

When the man and the woman said they didn't have any, a gunman shot them, police said.

The man, who was sitting in the driver's seat, was killed at the scene.

The woman was taken to a local hospital in stable condition.

The men were seen in a dark vehicle fleeing southbound on Halldale Avenue.

No further details were immediately available.
Students, faculty and staff at Pomona College are mourning the death of physics professor Alfred Kwok, who died recently while on a trip to Kings Canyon National Park. He was 50 years old.

According to the Tulare County Coroners Office, the cause of death for Professor Kwok was blunt force trauma. He fell from a great height, causing trauma to multiple parts of his body.

The school held a gathering for students and faculty to share memories of the late professor. Students also wrote their memories on whiteboards:

"Kwok always stayed in Millikan until 2-3 a.m. and would always help with whatever class you were working on  even philosophy."

"Professor Kwok single-handedly bridged the gap between profs and students."

"He always knew what each person was interested in, and always had advice and experience to share."

Courtesy of Pomona College

According to the school, Kwok had been a faculty member at Pomona since 2000. He taught physics and astronomy. As a researcher, some of his interests included laser spectroscopy and nonlinear optics.

Kwok had previously received the Becton Prize for Excellence in Engineering and Applied Science, according to the school. He had also been a finalist for the Optical Society of Americas Newport Research Award.

Aside from his research and teaching, he was an avid climber and loved being outdoors in the mountains, the college said.

"Anything he loved in life, he always wanted to share, whether it was physics or food or hiking," said one message on the whiteboard. "His joy in life always bubbled over."

The college has not yet released any memorial service information, but the school said they will provide information as details become available.
The Wells Fargo scandal continuous to grow two weeks after the company was fined by the federal government for allegedly illegally opening 2 million unauthorized accounts for its customers in order to meet aggressive sales goals.

That resulted in a $100 million fine, the largest ever issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Over the last five years customers have sued Wells Fargo over those practices. But those cases were thrown out by the courts because of arbitration agreements.

Arbitration agreements can be a big problem for consumers. You know all those forms you sign when you open an account to buy a car or sign up for cable service? Almost all of them now have arbitration clauses in them, which means you're not allowed to sue the company.

Instead, the company has hired an arbitration company to handle their disputes and the whole process is top secret.

If you try to sue, like several Wells Fargo customers did, it gets thrown out by the court. Consumer attorneys say it's one of the biggest inequalities for consumers today.

Here are some tips for when you encounter arbitration clauses like the one Wells Fargo used:

If it's a smaller company, demand they remove it from the agreement. Sometimes they will. If arbitration is mandatory, research the arbitrator before you sign. Some have better reputations than others. Check to see if you're allowed to go to small claims court. Most big companies will let you handle smaller cases in small claims. In California, that could cover you up to $10,000.

Doing these things could protect you if the company wrongs you.

As for Wells Fargo, it has apologized and pledged to make changes to its business.
A Westwood nanny was sentenced to a year in jail Friday, for taking naked pictures of three boys in her care, authorities said.

Matilde Flores, 48, took care of a 6-year-old boy and his two 3-year-old brothers at their home in Westwood for two years, according to Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer's office.

According to prosecutors, in December 2013 Flores started taking naked photos of the boys secretly in a bathroom in their home.

After one of the boys told their parents "Flores had taken naked photos of them on her phone," their father found such photos on the phone and both parents called police, a spokesperson for Feuer said in a statement.

Police arrested Flores on June 10, 2016, and found 199 photos of naked children on her phone, according to Feuer's office.

Flores was sentenced to one year in jail, five years probation, and is prohibited "from being alone with any minor children or performing any work with minors," a spokesperson for Feuer said in a statement. She must also register as a sex offender.

Flores had entered a no contest plea to possession of child pornography and two counts of child annoying, according to Feuers office.

A restraining order was granted for the victims, and will last 10 years.
Demonstrators carried signs, chanted and marched in a peaceful protest hours after the family of a black man shot by police released video showing the events leading up to his death.

Friday's march through Charlotte's business district was the fourth night of demonstrations over the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott earlier in the week.

After darkness fell, dozens of people took to the streets to urge police to release dashboard and body camera video that could show more clearly what happened. Police have said Scott was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book.

The group, which appeared smaller than previous nights, carried a banner that said "Just Release the Tapes."

Earlier in the day, footage recorded by Keith Lamont Scott's wife and released by his family shows his wife repeatedly telling officers he is not armed and pleading with them not to shoot her husband as they shout at him to drop a gun.

The 2 -minute video released by the family does not show the shooting, though gunshots can be heard. In the video Scott's wife, Rakeyia Scott, tells officers that he has a TBI, or traumatic brain injury. At one point, she tells her husband to get out of the car so police don't break the windows. She also tells him, "don't do it," but it's not clear exactly what she means.

As the encounter escalates, she repeatedly urges police, "You better not shoot him."

After the gunshots, Scott can be seen lying face-down on the ground while his wife says, "He better live." She continues recording and asks if an ambulance has been called. The officers stand over Scott. It's unclear if they are checking him for weapons or attempting to give first aid.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Friday that there is footage from at least one police body camera and one dashboard camera that shows the shooting. The family of Scott, 43, was shown that footage Thursday and demanded that police release it to the public.

Putney said Friday that releasing the footage of Scott's death could inflame the situation. He has said previously that the video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so.

"It's a personal struggle, but I have to do what I think is best for my community," Putney said.

During the same news conference, Roberts said she believes the video should be released, but "the question is on the timing."

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.

Earlier in the week, the Charlotte protests turned violent, with demonstrators attacking reporters and others, setting fires and smashing windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants.

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 26-year-old Justin Carr. A suspect was arrested, but police provided few details.

On Thursday, protests were largely peaceful after National Guard members came to the city to help keep order and the mayor imposed a curfew.

Scott's mother also asked protesters to "give up the rioting" on Friday because it's worsened the situation.

The mother of Keith Lamont Scott told WCSC TV of Charleston, South Carolina, that he would not want the violence that followed his death Tuesday. Vernita Scott Walker of James Island says a peaceful walk is fine, but the rioting and looting "makes it bad for the family."

On Friday, a choir from The Citadel Church in Greensboro stood a street corner singing spirituals for two hours, drawing a crowd of curious onlookers who were moved enough to clap along.

The Rev. Gregory Drumwright directed the choir of approximately two dozen, saying they wanted to be "vessels of peace, vessels of righteousness, not rage."
An attorney for the family of the black man shot by Charlotte police says newly released video recorded by the victim's wife does not prove whether the shooting was justified.

Instead, Justin Bamberg tells The New York Times, the video shows "another vantage point" of the incident, in which 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott was fatally shot. Bamberg says he hopes Charlotte police release their own videos of the shooting. They've so far refused to do so. Police Chief Kerr Putney said there's at least one video from a body camera and one from a dashboard camera.

The police video could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting.

Police have said Scott refused repeated commands to drop a gun; residents say he was unarmed. It's unclear from the video shot by Scott's wife whether he had a weapon.

Video of a deadly encounter shows Scott's wife repeatedly telling officers he is not armed and pleading with them not to shoot her husband as they shout at him to drop a gun.

The video, posted Friday by The New York Times and NBC News, does not show clearly whether Scott had a gun. Police have said he was armed, but witnesses say he held only a book. The 2 -minute video does not show the shooting, though gunshots can be heard.

Scott's wife tells officers that he has a traumatic brain injury. At one point, she tells her husband to get out of the car so police don't break the windows. She further tells him, "don't do it," but it's not clear exactly what she means.

As the encounter escalates, she repeatedly tells police, "You better not shoot him."

After the gunshots, Scott can be seen lying face-down on the ground while his wife says "he better live." She continues recording and asks if an ambulance has been called. The officers stand over Scott. It is not clear if they are checking him for weapons or attempting to give first aid.

In the footage, Scott's wife states the address and says, "These are the police officers that shot my husband."

Representatives for the police department and the mayor's office did not immediately return emails from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The video emerged after a third night of protests over the shooting 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 were watched over by rifle-toting members of the National Guard.

Protesters called on police to release video that could resolve wildly different accounts of the shooting earlier this week. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney said Friday that there is footage from at least one police body camera and one dashboard camera.

The family of Scott, 43, was shown the footage Thursday and demanded that police release it to the public. The video recorded by Scott's wife had not been previously released.

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.

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.

Thursday's protests in Charlotte 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 the footage of Scott's death. Putney said Friday that releasing it could inflame the situation. He has said previously that the video will be made public when he believes there is a "compelling reason" to do so.

"It's a personal struggle, but I have to do what I think is best for my community," Putney said.

During the same news conference, Roberts said she believes the video should be released, but "the question is on the timing."

Earlier in the week, the Charlotte protests turned violent, with demonstrators attacking reporters and others, setting fires and smashing windows of hotels, office buildings and restaurants.

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 26-year-old Justin Carr. A suspect was arrested, but police provided few details.

Police have said Scott was shot to death Tuesday by a black officer after he disregarded repeated warnings to drop his gun. Neighbors 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 chorus of voices calling on officials to release video of the shooting grew Friday, with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and North Carolina's attorney general pressing for the public release. On Friday, a Clinton aide announced that the Democratic candidate would be making a stop in Charlotte on Sunday. But Charlotte's mayor pushed back, asking Clinton to give the city more time to calm down. Clinton said she intends to visit Charlotte the following week instead.
Its a good thing Instagram celebrity Doug the Pug lives in the United States.

If he were from the United Kingdom, he might confront an unexpected stigma this week after the British Veterinary Association called for prospective dog owners to avoid flat-faced dog breeds.

The warning targets canines of the brachycephalic variety, or dogs with little to no snout, like pugs, bulldogs, and shih tzus.

According to The Guardian, Sean Wensley, president of the BVA, said prospective dog owners need to consider that these dogs can suffer a range of health issues throughout their lives, from eye ulcers to painful spine abnormalities and severe breathing difficulties that can result in otherwise preventable surgery.

Many domestic canine lovers say the Brits are grossly overreacting.

Richard Goldstein, chief medical officer at Manhattans Animal Medical Center, explained that nearly all thoroughbreds will come with baggage because of their specializations; if youre looking for a problem-free dog, he recommended swinging by a shelter and picking out a medium-sized mutt.

That said, Goldstein has his own brachycephalic pooch, an 8-year-old English toy spaniel he absolutely adores.

Our role is not to try to eliminate certain breeds or tell people that they shouldnt get them, said the vet. I definitely feel like theres a place for them, and I dont feel like we should be discouraging the appropriate owner from adopting one.

The American Kennel Club agrees with the message, writing that it "emphatically supports freedom of choice in selecting a pet."

"AKC actively promotes efforts to ensure that people are educated, understand the demands of responsible ownership and have access to healthy, well-bred dogs that are right for them," a spokesperson told NBC.

They emphasized "that breeding programs should be undertaken responsibly for the purpose of preserving breed characteristics and producing healthy, well-socialized purebred puppies... Owners should be diligent in the care and overall well-being of their dog by keeping track of their exercise, health visits, vaccinations and other preventative measures that aid in their dog maintaining its best health."

All breeds have their pros and cons, and flat-faced canines do come with flaws.

Goldstein allowed that brachycephalic dogs are more prone to airway and back problems, and sometimes suffer from skin damage, like many breeds.

According to Julie Legred, executive director at the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, "brachycephalic breeds have an increased risk of complications during anesthesia." But, she countered, by following protocols and using certified veterinary technicians, such surgical errors dramatically decrease.

Because the dogs' faces are so close to the objects they sniff, their owners must be attentive, said Cynthia Cool, a pug breeder in Vacaville, California.. Theyre also more sensitive to weather than other breeds.

If youre walking the dog, you need to exercise them when its cooler as opposed to too warm outside, she advised.

In terms of life expectancy, Cool bragged that some of her pugs celebrated 16th birthdays. On average, the animals make it to 11 or 12, which is typical for a dog under 20 pounds. By contrast, Goldstein said that large dogs tend to have the shortest lives, with some considered geriatric at only 5 years old.

John Little, president of the Bulldog Club of America, didn't seem convinced about his favorite pooch's deficiencies.

The fact is that the bulldog is an exceptional breed, he added. Its a tremendous pet, and it has all the characteristics we want in it.

Not all canine experts pushed back hard against the BVA's recommendations.

The American Veterinary Medical Association said in a statement to NBC that flat-faced dogs and their associated physical attributes "that negatively affect the animal's welfare should not be bred, as those characteristics and related problems are likely to be passed on to their puppies."

But rescues are a different story, the group said.

"Existing dogs with these conditions should not be passed over for adoption as long as the potential owner is informed of the animal's potential health risks and is willing to provide an appropriate lifestyle and necessary veterinary care as issues arise."
Computer hackers swiped personal information from at least 500 million Yahoo accounts in what is believed to be the biggest digital break-in at an email provider.

The massive security breakdown disclosed Thursday poses new headaches for beleaguered Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer as she scrambles to close a $4.8 billion sale to Verizon.

The breach dates back to late 2014, raising questions about the checks and balances within Yahoo  a fallen internet star that has been laying off staff and trimming expenses to counter a steep drop in revenue during the past eight years.

At the time of the break-in, Yahoo's security team was led by Alex Stamos, a respected industry executive who left last year to take a similar job at Facebook.

ONCE MORE UNTO THE BREACH

Yahoo didn't explain what took so long to uncover a heist that it blamed on a "state-sponsored actor"  parlance for a hacker working on behalf of a foreign government.

The Sunnyvale, California, company declined to explain how it reached its conclusions about the attack for security reasons, but said it is working with the FBI and other law enforcement. Yahoo began investigating a possible breach in July, around the time the tech site Motherboard reported that a hacker who uses the name "Peace" was trying to sell account information belonging to 200 million Yahoo users.

Yahoo didn't find evidence of that reported hack, but additional digging later uncovered a far larger, allegedly state-sponsored attack.

"We take these types of breaches very seriously and will determine how this occurred and who is responsible," the FBI said in a Thursday statement.

MOST ACCOUNTS EVER STOLEN

The Yahoo theft represents the accounts ever stolen from a single email provider, according to computer security analyst Avivah Litan with the technology research firm Gartner Inc.

"It's a shocking number," Litan said. "This is a pretty big deal that is probably going to cost them tens of millions of dollars. Regulators and lawyers are going to have a field day with this one."

Yahoo says it has more than 1 billion monthly users, although it hasn't disclosed how many of those people have email accounts. In July, 161 million people worldwide used Yahoo email on personal computers, a 30 percent decline from the same time in 2014, according to the latest data from the research firm comScore.

The data stolen from Yahoo includes users' names, email addresses, telephone numbers, birth dates, scrambled passwords, and the security questions  and answers  used to verify an accountholder's identity. The company said the attacker didn't get any information about its users' bank accounts or credit and debit cards.

"Yahoo used the same account for most of [its] properties, so all of those properties will be potentially vulnerable," Slawic Ligier of Barracuda Networks said.

Security experts say the Yahoo theft could hurt the affected users if their personal information is mined to break into other online services or used for identity theft. All affected users will be notified about the theft and advised how to protect themselves, according to the company.

Yahoo also is recommending that all users change their passwords if they haven't done so since 2014. If the same password is used to access other sites, it should be changed too, along with any security questions similar to those used on Yahoo.

"We never move on," Ligier said. "Things that go on the internet, they never get erased. All the information is still out there."

THE VERIZON IMPACT

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.

That deal, announced two months ago, isn't supposed to close until early next year. That 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're incensed by the theft of their personal information.

Verizon said it still doesn't 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.

DELAY OF SALE?

At the very least, Verizon is going to need more time to assess what it will be getting into if it proceeds with its plans to take over Yahoo, said Scott Vernick, an attorney specializing in data security for the law firm Fox Rothschild.

"This is going to slow things down. There is going to be a lot of blood, sweat and tears shed on this" Vernick said. "A buyer needs to understand the cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses of its target these days."

Investors evidently aren't nervous about the Verizon deal unraveling yet. Yahoo's stock added a penny Thursday to close at $44.17. But the Verizon sale represents a sliver of Yahoo's total market value, which primarily consists of a stake in Chinese e-commerce leader Alibaba Group currently worth $42 billion.

NBC Bay Area's Scott Budman contributed to this report.
An administrator at Miami International Airport is facing charges for what is alleged to be a massive scam through his job.

46-year-old Ivan Valdes pled not guilty to four charges, including bribery and bid tampering. Details of the charges are still unknown, but the probe reportedly involved approximately $5 million in bids and bribes.

He faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence in the federal case and additional prison time on the state charges. His attorney declined comment in an email Friday.

State attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle detailed Valdes's alleged scam- working as the project manager to replace light fixtures at the airport.

"They intentionally corrupted the competitive bid system, forcing the airport to purchase light fixtures for twice the actual retail value," Rundle said.

Some 9,000 outdoor light fixtures were bought with tax dollars for about $9 million.

"Of that $9 million, Valdes and his three co-conspirators netted approximately $5.2 million from the scheme," Rundle said

Valdes has worked for their airport for 27 years, working his way up to his current job as the director of the terminal maintenance division  supervising a department of over 100 workers with an annual salary of $98,000.

Airport officials would not say if Valdes has been removed from his job, but would say that no other officials are currently facing charges.
Miami police have arrested the man allegedly responsible for the theft of a naked statue of Donald Trump that stood over a section of the Wynwood neighborhood.

Pedro Rodriguez, 36, has been charged with grand theft and burglary, police say.

Miami Police PIO said the naked Donald Trump statue has been returned and is in its owners possession. No further details were disclosed on the status of the statue.

According to the police report, a witness told police he saw the suspect walking on the roof of the business; the suspect then removed the statue and dropped it into the back of a pickup truck with a Florida tag that was parked in front of the business. The witness was able to capture a picture of the truck while it was driving away. The witness added that the suspect was the driver of the truck.

Authorities conducted a record check of the tag number, which identified Rodriguez as the truck's registered owner. The witness acknowledged that Rodriguez was the one he saw taking the statue.

Eugene Lemay, president of Mana Contemporary, released a statement Friday evening:

"The sculpture... was stolen from the property of Mana Wynwood on Thursday, September 22 before dawn. The owners of Mana Wynwood have filed a police report and shared security footage from the scene. The theft of the sculpture will not undermine our determination to stand strong for what it represents and what we want to communicate: a profound statement against any forms of bigotry, racism, and discrimination during this presidential election campaign."

One of five statues created by a Cleveland man showing the GOP Presidential nominee with no clothes on had been at a display near Northwest 2nd Avenue and 23rd Street. It was moved there after appearing on top of a billboard just blocks away before police asked it to be moved over safety concerns.

The statues began appearing last month in places such as Los Angeles, Seattle and New York City  which was the first location of the one that later appeared in South Florida.
Police released the identity of the Florida International University student who was found dead inside his dorm room Thursday.

Alexander Ghiz, 20, was found dead inside his dorm room located at Everglades Hall at 1590 Southwest 111th Avenue in Miami around 11:45 a.m.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were sent to a check on the welfare of Ghiz. Once authorities entered the dorm, Ghiz was located inside and pronounced dead.

Homicide detectives are investigating but no foul play is suspected, Miami-Dade Police said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of a student who was found deceased in his room in one of the Modesto A. Maidique Campus residence halls," Larry W. Lunsford, Vice President for Student Affairs, said in a statement.

Check back with NBC 6 for updates.
Investigators are looking into whether the man who planted explosives in New York and New Jersey over the weekend took a train into New York Penn Station with the devices, senior law enforcement officials told NBC 4 New York.

Officials said it's not yet clear how Ahmad Rahami got to and from Manhattan the night that two bombs were planted in Chelsea.

A criminal complaint says that a car belonging to Rahami's family entered the Lincoln Tunnel that night at about 6:30 p.m. and returned at 11:30 p.m. But officials said surveillance camera coverage of the tunnel does not allow them to see who is driving.

Officials said that investigators are also looking into the possibility he got to the city by other means, including a train to Penn Station or a car-for-hire service such as Uber or Lyft.

It comes after sources familiar with the investigation told NBC 4 New York that Ahmad Rahami likely learned how to build the mechanisms that could trigger a bomb while in community college in the United States.

Rahami took an electronics class while a student at Union County Community College, and the sources said he would have learned how to build a triggering-type device while in that class.

The college said on Friday afternoon that Rahami enrolled in several non-credit courses at the college that are open to the general public. It said that there was no additional record that he went to class or enrolled in any additional courses.

The college added that it is cooperating with the investigation.

Rahami faces federal charges that he planted bombs last weekend in New York and New Jersey. One of the New York bombs exploded on 23rd St., injuring 31 people.

He remains in a hospital after a shoot-out with Linden, New Jersey police on Monday. One of the questions investigators are trying to answer is whether he had any terror training during a variety of trips abroad.

The sources also said that investigators have now spoken to Rahami's wife, who has been traveling for months and was apparently unaware of his plans.
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 Police identified the set of remains found Wednesday in Brentwood as Miguel Garcia-Moran, who hadn't been seen since February.

His body was found near that of Oscar Acosta, a 19-year-old Brentwood High School senior not seen in months.

It comes amid increasing concerns about gangs in the town after the deaths of Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas, two high school best friends

The second of the two bodies found in the woods near Long Island Railroad tracks earlier this week has been identified as a 15-year-old boy not seen since February, authorities said Friday.

Suffolk County authorities said the body found in Brentwood on Wednesday is Miguel Garcia-Moran. His remains were found near those of Oscar Acosta, a 19-year-old Brentwood High School student who had also been missing for several months.

The bodies were discovered as police searched the town in the wake of the killings of high school best friends Nisa Mickens and Kayla Cuevas. The two girls, 15 and 16, were both found beaten to death in the town last week.

Authorities said that the two were victims of gang violence; police later said that Acosta's death was linked to gangs as well.

Garcia-Moran's parents had also expressed concern that he may have been a gang target. Police, who said the teen was the victim of a homicidal beating, are investigating whether his death could be linked to organized crime.

It's not clear if the deaths of Mickens and Cuevas were connected to the killings of Acosta or Garcia-Moran.

Authorities also said Friday that they're investigating whether a person in federal custody on unrelated charges could be linked to any of the killings.

Friday's revelation comes as Brentwood school officials warn parents about sending students to bus stops in "clothing that could be considered gang-affiliated" after someone grabbed and set ablaze a student's blue shirt.

Suffolk County police said on Friday that the department was launching an "all-out assault" on gangs in the 11-square-mile town as well as in Central Islip and Wyandanch.

On Thursday, police scoured the grounds of a state-run psychiatric hospital in the area where the remains were found. 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 ongoing homicide investigations.

Anyone with information on the killings of Garica-Moran, Acosta, Mickens or Cuevas is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. A $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the deaths of Mickens and Cuevas.
A bicyclist is in danger of losing his leg after he was struck by a dump truck in Manhattan that fled the scene Friday, authorities say.



Police say the biker, a man in his 30s, was hit by the truck on 40th Street and Eighth Avenue shortly after 3:30 a.m. The dump truck driver drove off.



The bicyclist was taken to Bellevue Hospital; he is expected to survive, but police said a severe leg injury will likely require an amputation of the limb.



Some streets were shut down in the area as authorities investigated.
A ground zero first responder suffering post-traumatic stress disorder was turned away from a New York City hospital when he tried to bring his service dog to a therapy session, he says.

Fifteen years after responding to ground zero, former New Jersey EMT Jamie Hazan had finally gotten the perfect prescription for his post-traumatic stress disorder: Bernie, a service dog.

He takes Bernie nearly everywhere, including doctors appointments. But when Hazan arrived at New York State Psychiatric Institute hospital in Washington Heights for his therapy session Tuesday, he was told Bernie wasn't welcome.

Hazan began recording the exchange on his cellphone.

"You can call whoever you want but I have a service dog and he's allowed to come in," he's heard telling hospital workers.

Despite federal and state laws allowing service dogs in public places, security guards called police when Hazan and Bernie wouldn't leave.

Hazan later told NBC 4 New York, "At a mental health care facility, it makes it an egregious violation of human rights."

Under New York state law, service animals like Bernie are allowed into hospitals. When reached by NBC 4, a hospital spokesperson said the hospital "sincerely apologizes for the unfortunate situation."

"NYSPI is distressed and perplexed that these employees failed to abide by this policy and will take immediate action to address this incident and to make sure that other visitors are not treated like this going forward," a statement from the hospital read.

Hazan said he hopes his experience brings attention to the laws and more respect to those who count on service dogs like Bernie.
What to Know Sources say there is a 50-50 chance the Assembly will pursue impeachment of the governor

The trial has produced allegations Christie knew about politically motivated lane closings

Christie is near the end of his second term as governor

Key members of the New Jersey Assembly have begun researching whether or not to bring articles of impeachment against Gov. Chris Christie, NBC 4 New York has learned.

This follows early testimony in the George Washington Bridge scandal trial, which some Assembly members believe shows the Republican governor had more knowledge of the lane closures in Fort Lee during and after that week in 2013 then he has led the public to believe.

One committee chairman who did not want to be named said "clearly obstruction of justice" would be an obvious charge against the governor.

The legislator told NBC 4 New York the chances are probably 50-50 that the assembly would pursue impeachment.

A Christie spokesman offered a one-word response to the report: "Ridiculous."

The decision on impeachment will be up to Democratic Speaker Vincent Prieto and if he gives the go-ahead, the Assembly Judiciary Committee would begin the process.

It takes a majority of the 80-member Assembly to vote articles of impeachment.

If it passes the Democrat-controlled body, the trial would be in the Senate, where two-thirds of senators would be needed to convict. Although Democrats hold a majority in the Senate, they would need three Republican senators to join them if all Democrats vote to convict.

Christie is nearing the end of his second term, with a new governor due to be sworn in 16 months from now. The one-time presidential candidate and key Donald Trump advisor is often mentioned as a possible attorney general in a Trump administration.

Earlier this month, Christie acknowledged to MSNBC that the bridge scandal was likely a factor in Trump passing him over for vice president.
New York City police say a man whose body was found stuffed inside a crate at a marina in the Bronx had been shot.

Police said Thursday that 60-year-old James Michael Brannon had a bullet wound to his head. His decomposed body was found on Monday at the Hammond Cove Marina on Reynolds Avenue in the Locust Point section.

Police say Brannon's last known address was in Bozeman, Montana.

Police are investigating the death as a homicide.
The bodies of 115 migrants were pulled out of the waters off the Egyptian coast on Friday, an official said, three days after hundreds of migrants heading to Europe, drowned when their overcrowded boat capsized.

An Associated Press reporter near the Nile Delta city of Rosetta saw between 20 to 30 bodies early Friday morning, brought in by fishing boats and delivered to a group of waiting ambulances lining up at the coast guard pier.

Many of the dead are women and children who were unable to swim away when the boat sank on Wednesday.

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.

"UNHCR is deeply saddened by the loss of life after yet another boat capsized in the Mediterranean," the U.N. refugee agency said in a statement. Of the 150 people rescued, UNHCR said that the majority are Egyptians in addition to Sudanese and other nationalities including Somalians and Eritreans. Four people described as smugglers were arrested on Thursday and authorities are investigating the incident.

Egypt has been a traditional route of migrants to Europe by sea, however since 2014, UNHCR said, there has been a steady increase in the number of migrants intercepted while trying to leave. 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.

Over 4,600 people of different nationalities were arrested this year, UNCHR said, a 28-percent increase compared to last year.

At a small pier called el-Borg, hundreds of families gathered hoping to identify the bodies of their loved ones. Women screamed, and relatives pushed and shoved while swarming the ambulances heading to the hospital.

Fishermen said that they had difficulty collecting the badly decomposed bodies, with one saying, "We didn't know how to pull them."

The intense smell of decay filled the air and many covered their faces with masks.

Survivors and relatives told the AP earlier that the boat sank around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, nearly 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from the Egyptian coast and it took the coast guards around six hours to come to the rescue. Fishing boats in the vicinity were the first to provide help.

At Rosetta General Hospital, Abdel Raouf Mustafa Abdel Garih, father of a still-missing migrant, spoke late Thursday about his son: "a young man, who was 23 years old, he left on the basis that he would go work there, and the boat never came back, and we don't know where he's headed now. We've been here for three days now."

Many of the survivors 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.

After his release, survivor Ahmed Darwish commented, "My advice is that no one should undertake this risk, and especially anyone who saw these things, they will never do it again."

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.
As Seen On

As seen on News 4
Police in Delaware County say they've developed new leads and have a new person of interest after talking with -- and clearing -- the boyfriend of Natasha Gibson who was found dead on the front porch steps of a Yeadon home Thursday morning. Gibson's throat had been slashed.

Investigators released new surveillance video Friday morning of the man they've identified as a new person of interest. The video shows him walking into a convenience store early Thursday morning to buy a can of beer.[[394633051,C]]

At the murder scene along Baily Road near Orchard Avenue, investigators followed a blood trail for more nearly two miles into Upper Darby and ultimately Southwest Philadelphia. It was there, at 61st and Baltimore, where they found a bloody steak knife in a storm drain. The victim's purse was found a block away, and in that same area, Yeadon Police Chief Donald Molineux said Thursday that it was Gibson's boyfriend who was seen on surveillance video with an injured, bleeding arm.

Molineux said Gibson, 32, had been trying to break free of her relationship with 35-year-old Mark Epps, who Chief Molineux described as a man with a violent history who'd threatened Gibson.

Investigators say they found Epps late Thursday night and "as a result of a lengthy interview and investigation, investigators have determined that Mark Epps is no longer of a person of interest in this crime."

Epps mother, Lisa Epps was adamant Thursday when she told NBC10's Deanna Durante there was no way her son was involved.

"No! No! No! He has not seen that girl for 8 or 9 months," Lisa Epps said. "No, he had nothing to do with this."

Police released surveillance video Friday of the man they now want to question, without explaining why they wrongly thought Thursday he was Gibson's boyfriend. Investigators say the man in the surveillance video was bleeding when he walked into the store to get that can of beer. The time stamp on the video -- 12:34 a.m. -- was after Gibson's murder, according to police. He came into the store from one direction and left in another.

Yeadon police warn he is considered armed and dangerous. They're asking and anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact Yeadon Police Detective J. Houghton 610-623-1500 or CID Detective Michael Jay, 610-891-4700.
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 former volunteer firefighter in central Pennsylvania has admitted setting four fires last year.

Collin Miller pleaded guilty on Wednesday to counts of arson and recklessly endangering another person. Several other charges against the 23-year-old were dismissed.

He's scheduled to be sentenced in November.

Investigators say shoe prints linked Miller to an August 2015 fire at a vacant home in Silver Spring Township, near Harrisburg. He was reportedly seen in the area by firefighters.

Court documents show Miller admitted he broke into that home and set it ablaze.

He later admitted to starting fires at his own Mechanicsburg home and another vacant home, as well as one between two businesses.

The Sentinel in Carlisle reports Miller had been a volunteer with the Washington Fire Company.
After a month of searching, a Camden man was arrested and charged in the shooting death of 8-year-old Gabrielle Hill-Carter, Camden County's prosecutor and police chief announced Friday.

Detectives tracked Tyhan Brown, 18, to Tennessee where he was arrested overnight by U.S. Marshals and charged with first degree murder.

Hill-Carter was shot in the head while riding her bike outside her home in the 900 block of South 8th Street in Camden on August 24. She died two days later.

She wasn't the intended target, but caught in the crossfire when several men opened fire on someone else, then jumped into a car and fled.

In their attempt to find the shooter, police charged Brown's mother Shakia Land and another woman, Natasha Gerald, with hampering their investigation. Investigators say the women gave detectives false alibi information about Brown.

Family Photo

A reward of more than $76,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the Hill-Carter's killer.

Part of the reward money came from Vahan and Danielle Gureghian, founders of the organization that operates Camden Community Charter School where Gabby would have been a third grader this year.

"While nothing will bring back Gabby, and a suspect's capture will do little to ease her family's grief, it sends a clear message to others who would dare endanger a child -- you will be caught no matter how far you run," the Gureghians said in a statement after learning of Brown's arrest.

Neighbors of Hill-Carter expressed gratitude in an open letter penned after Brown's arrest.

The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force found Brown at a relative's home in Clarksville, Tennessee. He'll be extradicted back to New Jersey.
Update: Yeadon police said Friday Mark Epps is no longer a person of interest in this crime.

Police continued to search Friday for the estranged boyfriend of a woman found dead with her throat slashed near her friend's suburban Philadelphia home.

The body of 32-year-old Natasha Gibson was found early Thursday feet from the front door of her friend's home on Baily Road near Orchard Avenue in Yeadon, said police. [[394527521, C]]

"He looked out the front door and discovered her there," said Yeadon Police Chief Donald Molineux.

The suspect, who fled the scene, suffered a hand or arm wound during the incident, said police. A blood trail led police to Philadelphia, where they found a knife in a sewer. [[394524001, C]]

On Thursday, police named Mark Epps as a person of interest in the slaying.

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. Epps' criminal history includes assault, weapon and drug charge, said Molineux. Epps was released from prison last year.

"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. "OK, 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 asked 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 former co-worker plans to run against Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams in the Democratic primary.

Joe Khan told Philly.com he's running because Williams has "lost his way." The news outlet reported Khan's plans Thursday.

"He was someone who actually had some good ideas," Khan said. "That person who came into office seven years ago is a very different person today."

Williams was elected Philadelphia's first black district attorney in 2009 and is running for a third four-year term next year. Khan and Williams previously worked together as assistant Philadelphia district attorneys. Khan left the position in 2006 to become an assistant federal prosecutor.

Khan, 41, a married father of two young children, said he wants to restore integrity to the office, as federal investigators have looked into Williams' personal and political finances.

Federal investigators are known to have subpoenaed the records of the Second Chance Foundation, a charity founded by Williams, and Williams' campaign records. Last month, Williams amended his financial disclosure forms to report having received $160,050 in previously undisclosed gifts from 2010 to 2015. Williams hasn't been charged with a crime and hasn't directly commented about the subpoenaed records.

Williams' campaign spokesman, Dan Fee, said "integrity is central" to the district attorney's work and approach to his job.

"He looks forward to discussing his record and agenda for a third term with whoever decides to run," Fee said in an email.

Khan resigned as assistant federal prosecutor on Sept. 6, and his wife, Jessica, recently left her job as an appellate attorney in Williams' office so Khan could run against the district attorney, Khan said.

Khan's work as a federal prosecutor included public corruption investigations in Allentown and Reading that resulted in multiple convictions.

"I'm extremely proud of what we were able to accomplish while we were there," Khan said.

Khan suggested Williams' problems start with the man himself.

"What I have heard from all corners in the criminal justice system is that this is not a district attorney who encourages people to challenge his thinking," Khan said. "If you want to run a bad district attorney's office, the best way is to hire a bunch of yes-men or to govern by fear."

Fee insisted Williams routinely consults with experts and others before making decisions.

"It's an oddity of life: Some people who don't get their way confuse that with not being listened to," Fee wrote.
Every time a police officer in California causes someone serious injury, it must be entered into a new, online system.

The new online tool, called URSUS, is an effort to be more transparent; the system is available to the public.

When officials go to fill out the form, they will fill out a variety of fields, including the race of the injured person, how the interaction started and why force was used.

The information will all be entered online and will become available to the public.

There needs to be transparency because what you dont know, you fear, said Al Abdallah, with the Urban League of San Diego County. Abdallah called URSUS is a big step toward police accountability.

All 800 California police departments must use URSUS to report any incident where officers cause death, serious injury or use force.

This is extremely important, said Abdallah. I think we begin to break down the barriers of do I have a police force that is with me or against me?

Captain Vern Sallee, with the Chula Vista Police Department, said they are open to being more transparent.

Although, he notes, some information like citizen complaints and officer involved shootings are already available on their website. You can see that information by clicking here.

The police departments have to be better at telling the story about why police engage in use of force, said Sallee.

He believes URSUS will help educate the public, even if high-profile police shootings don't happen often in Chula Vista.

The truth is this that use of force is used very,very rarely. Certainly less than 1 percent of our contacts, Sallee said.

Supporters say URSUS is the first statewide database of its kind in the country.

Abdallah hopes it serves as a model for other states.

We need something like URSUS at the federal level, not just the state level..this is at least a start," he said.

Christie Hill, Senior Policy Strategist at the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, sent NBC7 a statement, stating in part:

The new database announced by the California Department of Justice is another step toward expanding publicly available information on police use of force, and we look forward to learning more about it, and how the information will be shared with the wider public. But California law remains one of the most restrictive in the nation when it comes to public access to investigations and discipline in specific incidents of police misconduct. Few departments have committed to releasing video of police shootings and other incidents.

California police departments must report the use of force data under a state law passed last November.

The Department of Justice unveiled the new database Thursday, but police departments have a few months to comply.

They have to report their 'use of force' incidents that happened in 2016 by January 1, 2017.

You can preview URSUS by clicking here.
The halls of an elementary school in San Diego were covered in gold Friday as students showed their support for a resilient fellow classmate who has been cancer-free for three years after a bone marrow transplant from her little brother.

Gold balloons and signs raising awareness for childhood cancer draped every corner of Park Village Elementary School in Rancho Penasquitos to highlight the need for more funding for pediatric cancer research.

Park Village Elementary School rallied Friday for a 3rd grade student, Rina Sy, who has been cancer-free for three years after receiving a bone marrow transplant from her little brother. Students wore gold to highlight the need for funding for pediatric cancer research in Rinas honor.

The Going Gold event was inspired by 9-year-old student Rina Sy and her incredible story of survival  a story only possible thanks to her little brother, Patrick Sy.

On Mothers Day 2013, at the age of just 5, Rina was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia  Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia, Philadelphia Chromosome.

Sy Family Photo

Her mother, Marianne Sy, said the family immediately began exploring bone marrow transplant options for Rinas treatment, checking the compatibility of loved ones. Chances were slim, Sy said  a one in four chance that someone would be Rinas match.

The answer was right before their eyes: Rinas little brother, Patrick, turned out to be her perfect bone marrow match.

Marianne said Patrick was only three years old at the time. To explain the magnitude of the situation to the boy in a manner that he could fully grasp, Marianne and her husband used an analogy involving the popular mobile games Angry Birds and Bad Piggies.

The Sys told their son that Rina had Bad Piggies in her body and he had Angry Birds in his body that could fight the bad guys.

[We told him] we have to figure out how to take those Angry Birds from your body and put them into your sisters body so they can have a battle with the Bad Piggies. And we dont know whos going to win, but we pray the Angry Birds are going to win, Marianne recalled.

Sy Family Photo

The process was long and complicated.

The Sy family spent 18 months at Rady Childrens Hospital. Rina underwent five rounds of chemotherapy, six rounds of radiation and 23 blood transfusions.

Patrick was hospitalized, too, and Marianne said doctors extracted 10 ounces of liquid marrow from his tiny body to transplant into Rinas body.

The transplant worked.

We are three years cancer-free today, Marianne told NBC 7 on Friday, beaming in her gold attire at Park Village Elementary School.

Today, Rina is in 3rd grade and Patrick in 1st grade.

The Sy family continues to share their story and to champion increased funding for pediatric cancer research, giving back to Rady Childrens Hospital in any way possible  the place they called home for so many months.

Park Village Elementary School stands behind them. Friday marked the second year the school has gone gold in September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Marianne said her family is deeply touched by the support  especially from the students themselves.

The kids have become advocates, which is just my dream, she told NBC 7. These kids are hopefully going to be doctors and scientists and researchers someday but today, theyre advocates. Theyre rooting for their other classmates who are fighting cancer and beating it.

Cancer survivor Rina Sy, 8, and her family are leading fundraising efforts to help support research for childhood cancer. Rina was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at age 5, but her brother saved her.

The school has been collecting donations to benefit cancer research for Rady Childrens Hospital in gold boxes placed in classrooms and through fundraising events like bake sales.

Tanya Iraca, of Rady Childrens, said the hospital continues to be inspired by Rinas story and grateful for the familys philanthropic efforts as advocates in the fight against childhood cancer.

The family knows the only way to eradicate pediatric cancer is through research, said Iraca. They give back in any way they can  sharing their story and hosting fundraisers like this.

Iraca said Rady Childrens Hospital diagnosed 290 young patients with cancer last year.

Doctors want to see those numbers go down and Iraca said best way to make progress is to fund more research and obtain the best possible tools to win the fight.

To learn more about Rinas story and how you can donate to her familys fundraising mission, visit the Resilient Rina blog.
A man called NBC 7 Responds after he says his phone carrier charged him for using thousands of dollars-worth of data, while he was asleep.

Greg Sacco said he doesnt do anything fancy with his smart phone.

I just have it with me so if it rings, Im there, he said.

Greg said he recently replaced an old iPhone that was giving him trouble. One night, Greg said he had the phone charging while he slept when the phone was flooded with text messages.

Must have been 60 or 70 text messages, one right after the other telling us that were over our limits, Greg said.

The next morning he said he called his phone carrier Verizon to ask whats going on. Verizon told him they would investigate what the text messages were about.

A month later, Greg received his monthly bill in the mail. It wasnt his usual $197 bill, the total was $3,720.

According to the bill, Verizon said Gregs phone used more than 340GB of data in one evening. Thats the equivalent of watching 23,000 YouTube videos in one night.

Greg took his phone back to the Apple store where he said they told him there appeared to be a software glitch.

They [Apple] deleted this phone, rebooted it, reloaded it and ever since they did that, nothing has happened, Greg said.

Greg said he talked to more than a dozen people at Verizon trying to explain the problem but the bills kept coming.

So, Greg turned to NBC 7 Responds for help. We contacted Verizon to find out more about the charges.

Verizon Wireless has erased my debt and eliminated over $5,200 in data charges, Greg said.

Verizon eliminated the charges for the data usage and additional charges added after the jump in data occurred.

Verizon thanked us for bringing the issue to their attention in a statement a Verizon representative said, we strive to provide the best possible experience for our customers, at every touch point. In this case, we did not deliver on that promise. We appreciate NBC 7 bringing this issue to our attention and will do our best to continue earning Mr. Saccos business.
In wake of the recent shootings of black men by police officers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Charlotte, North Carolina, Steve Harvey hosted an hour-long show dedicated to improving race relations.

Harvey assembled a diverse audience Thursday that included both police officers and people who say they live in fear of police. During the episode, Harvey spoke about raising his own three sons and how told them how to respond if they're ever stopped by police.

"It has been ingrained in us from the time I was taught how to drive, I was taught how to behave when I'm stopped," he said.

Harvey went into detail about the procedure he tells his sons to follow, everything from hand placement on the wheel to the vocal volume they should use with officers. As the officer approaches the car, he said wrists should be displayed on top of the steering wheel and should only be moved when his sons are told to do so by the officer. Every single move the driver makes in the car should be narrated, Harvey said, and not without calling an officer "sir" or "ma'am."

"Submit to every single thing he tells you, and try to get back to the house," Harvey said.

Got a lot of feedback from my "what to do when u get pulled over." The 1 & ONLY goal is to increase the chance that my sons #gethomesafe  Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) September 23, 2016

Harvey tweeted that the procedure doesn't always work, "but in that moment, the only goal is to try to #gethomesafe."

After the segment aired, Harvey received both praise from viewers on social media about his advice and criticism from those who both defended the police and those who condemned the recent shootings across the country.

Emory Law professor Dorothy A. Brown wrote on Twitter in response to the tips that "as we know that doesn't always work."

"That is so terrifying," she wrote. "We can't do anything to guarantee our safety."
A former Metro Transit Police officer accused of trying to support ISIS terror could see himself dying soon behind bars, according to a lawsuit hes filed against the Alexandria Sheriff, which oversees the jail in which the officer is being held.

Nicholas Young, who was arrested in August on a federal charge of attempting to support a terror group, has lost 7 to 10 pounds since his arrest and is suffering an acute deterioration in mental health while in custody, according to his suit.

Young is being held in the Alexandria jail as he awaits further court proceedings. In his lawsuit, Young said he is being held in solitary confinement in an 8-foot wide cell for 22 hours each day. The solitude is contributing to a breakdown in his health, Young said in his suit. Young said the confinement also could impact his legal case. In his lawsuit, attorneys said solitary confinement could coerce Mr. Young into pleading guilty to charges to which may have meritorious defenses.

Through his suit, Young is seeking a transfer from solitary confinement to the jails general population.

According to the lawsuit, (Young) recently bit off a portion of a tooth while grinding his teeth in a paroxysm of stress, for which (deputies) informed Mr. Young he could not expect to receive medical assistance for several days. His suit also said Young has notified his attorney he could see himself dying soon in custody. It said Young is apparently the only detainee currently held in solitary confinement not charged with, and without a history of, violence.

Young, of Fairfax, is accused of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He was arrested at Metro headquarters in early August. It's the first time a law enforcement officer has been accused of aiding the terrorist organization. Young, 36, met on 20 separate occasions with an FBI informant whom he believed was a man being radicalized, prosecutors said. He sent the man 22 digital gift card codes to be used with mobile messaging accounts that ISIS uses in recruiting, according to prosecutors.

Young served with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police department for 13 years. In recent years, he was working his job while under investigation and surveillance, according to multiple reports and his lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Youngs attorneys received an explanation from the sheriff about the use of solitary confinement. The suit said, On September 15 and 16, 2016 undersigned counsel received a phone call, and follow up email, from Sheriff (Dana) Lawhome, which clarified the following: Mr. Young is being held in 22-hour-a-day isolation 'for his own safety'; notwithstanding the deleterious effects of constant isolation on Mr. Young's health and well-being, Mr. Young will not be moved to the general population unless and until the press coverage of Mr. Young's case diminishes.

The conditions of Mr. Youngs detainment are for the U.S. Marshals and the Alexandria Detention Center to decide," said Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. "We take no position on the matter.

"The Alexandria Detention Center does not have solitary confinement," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "Mr. Young has been placed in the appropriate housing unit based on the recommendation of our experienced classification staff. In this case, he is in administrative segregation, meaning he does not have contact with other inmates, which is for his own protection. Sheriff Lawhorne has monitored Mr. Youngs situation since the day he arrived and he has corresponded with Mr. Youngs family and his attorney on numerous occasions."

Youngs civil suit has been assigned to an Alexandria-based judge.

The next court proceeding in his criminal case is scheduled for November. Young faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.
At least 50,000 used cellphones have been pawned in the Washington, D.C.-area since 2013, raising the risk private information can spread, according to a review by the News4 I-Team.

The sale of used phones is legal throughout the region, but privacy experts question whether sellers are successfully wiping the phones clean of sensitive information.

State police records obtained by the I-Team show 14,268 phones were pawned in Maryland alone last year. The I-Teams review of pawn operations in Washington and Montgomery counties found phones being sold at prices as low as $40. But phones purchased by the I-Team at pawn shops and online revealed personal information, including photos, addresses, phone numbers and personal contacts, were not fully deleted before the sales.

Atlantic Data Forensics CEO Brian Dykstra, a Howard County computer and wireless security expert, said troves of information and data can remain hidden on used cellphones.

Literally years worth of data that you think youve deleted is still sitting on the device, he said.

Dykstra said many phone owners fail to successfully wipe phones clean.

Factory wiping your data from the phone, back to the default, is best, he said. Dont just `surface` wipe it.

The I-Team purchased a series of used phones online and at local pawn shops and took the phones to a private forensics lab for expert review. The expert forensics teams found evidence of personal photos, phone numbers and potential home addresses inside the used phones. Though the I-Team and forensics team chose not to view the personal information, evidence of its existence on the used phones was clear.

The I-Team bought one used phone from a Craigslist seller from McLean. Franklin Dam, a stay-at-home father, said he wiped the phone of personal information by following instructions for a factory reset.

I wasnt sure if I had traded stocks on that phone or used a password, Dam said. That was my biggest fear, that a password would get out.

Dams phone was the only phone found to be fully clean of personal information after its sale, according to the review by private computer forensics teams.

Reported by Scott MacFarlane, produced by Rick Yarborough, and shot and edited by Steve Jones.
A local family found out they are the descendants of a man who was born a slave and created now-famous works of art -- one of which will go on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C.

Daisy Whitner said it all started with a phone call she received from a genealogist in the spring.

"I said, 'I'm on my feet now. You know a lot about my grandparents.' Who are you? You know, and she said, 'Well, I know a lot about your family.'"

The genealogist invited Whitner and her family to Dave Day, a festival in South Carolina that honors a famous African American artist who had been born a slave.

Known as Dave the Potter, Dave challenged anti-slave literacy laws by learning to read and write and he inscribed poems on the pots he made. Some of the surviving pots have sold for more than $100,000.

It was at the festival that the family learned they are direct descendants of Dave.

Back home, another member of the family, Wanda Holmes, arranged for them to view one of Dave's pots that is displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

It was a powerful moment for them as they saw the work of a man who perservered after his family had been sold away from him.

"You read books about slavery, but it was somebody else. But when it's your relation, then it becomes personal. It touches you here and you can't stop crying because you can feel their pain," said John Williams, relative of Dave the Potter.

"Then you also feel the pride of him being able to accomplish, under those circumstances and you wonder if you could ever do that or if you could be that strong," said relative Pauline Williams Baker.

Dave's pot is moving to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and will be there on Saturday for the museum's grand opening.
A high school student died Friday morning after he was shot inside a Prince George's County apartment Thursday night, Bladensburg Police said.

Diego Gomez-Martinez, of Bladensburg, was with a group of teens playing video games at an apartment in the 4200 block of 58th Avenue when he was shot.

Witnesses said four to eight people were inside the apartment and others were outside. A teenager witnesses said they didn't know came out of the apartment about 8 p.m. then went back inside. Then the witnesses heard a gunshot and saw the same teenager running out of the building moments later.

"We got a shirt and we pressed down on his bullet hole 'til the feds got here," said Malik Hebrin, a friend of the victim.

Gomez-Martinez was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Police are investigating to determine what led to the shooting. It's possible it was accidental.

A Prince George's County Public Schools spokesman confirmed the victim was a sophomore at Bladensburg High School.

"He was looking forward to a life of college and career and exploring what different experiences the world had in store for him," Principal Aisha Mahoney said. "It's just sad."

Bladensburg Police originally investigated the shooting. The death investigation has since been turned over to the Prince George's County Police Department.

Anyone with information is asked to call Prince George's County Police at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text "PGPD" plus their message to CRIMES (274637), or submit a tip online at www.pgpolice.org.
A known gang member could have been sentenced to 13 years in prison for his role in the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Montgomery County, Maryland, but a judge sentenced him on Thursday to just 18 months.

Cecil Burrows, 23, was convicted in 2013 for his role in the rape. Burrows encouraged three men to rape the blacked-out teen in his home in Olney and recorded the attack, prosecutors said.

Sentencing guidelines call for Burrows to serve a minimum of seven years and maximum of 13 years, but Judge Sharon Burrell gave him a year-and-a-half-long term.

The sentence left one neighbor of Burrows angry.

"I'm really outraged that the judge only gave him 18 months. That's a crime in itself," she said, asking that her name be withheld.

Burrows agreed to a plea deal under which he would serve a maximum of 13 years. He was on probation for theft and assault at the time of the rape.

Burrell said in court Thursday that the other men who attacked the teen are serving as long as 15 years in prison.

The judge was not available to speak with News4, a representative said.

The investigation into the gang rape began after Lil R gang leader Andres Cortez bragged about the rape to a coworker and showed him video of the attack, police said. The coworker told his boss, who told police.

After Burrows serves his sentence, he will be deported to India.

The attack devastated the victim, Assistant States Attorney Patrick Mays told The Washington Post.

She got a life sentence, he said. Shell never be the same.
Two men were attacked with a machete in two separate home invasions in Burke, Virginia, Friday morning.

The first incident happened just before 2 a.m. Friday in the 6300 block of Fenestra Court. Police say four people wearing masks forced their way into the townhome and assaulted the 28-year-old victim with a machete.

A short time later, the same four suspects forced their way into a home in the 6300 block of Birch Leaf Court, where they assaulted a 62-year-old man with the same weapon.

The two scenes are about a block and a half apart.

Police say the victims are acquaintances and were targeted. Both men suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspects fled the area in a waiting vehicle.

Police say there's no threat to the public at this time.
One University of Maryland student has been diagnosed with the mumps and two other cases are suspected, officials say.

All three cases of the contagious disease involve students and are believed to be linked to each other, university health officials said Friday in an email to students and faculty.

"This is not cause for alarm," the email said.

University of Maryland students are required to be immunized against the disease, but the vaccination is not 100 percent effective, university health officials said.

Common symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, muscle aches and swollen salivary glands, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Complications can cause inflammation of the brain and deafness.

Mumps can be transmitted through saliva and spread through kissing, coughing and sharing utensils.

The number of reported mumps cases hit a low of 229 in 2012 but has risen in recent years. The 2016 total as of mid-August was 1,786, according to the CDC.

Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
Bold thieves are ripping off tires and rims from vehicles in Arlington, police say.

In just minutes, the suspects strip the vehicles of all four tires and leave them sitting on concrete blocks.

Arlington County police said three vehicles' tires have been stolen this month.

On Sept. 8, thieves stole the tires and rims off of a Honda Accord parked in the 1600 block of South Joyce Street. Police were called about the car about 7:15 a.m.

"There was a car, a newer Honda and it had no tires. It seemed kind of odd because there was not jack, nothing. Just blocks," said Brett Warnebold, who saw the car. "You knew something was up because it was sitting kind of funny."

Just around the corner, the suspects did the same to another Honda Accord parked at the Horizon House Condominium parking garage at 1300 Army Navy Drive. Police arrived to that scene about 7:30 a.m.

Surveillance video shows the two thieves pull up to the site of the second robbery in what appears to be a light colored four-door sedan. The suspects go back and forth holding tools and taking the tires and shoving them in the backseat of their car.

Then, one of them gets the final tire and puts it right in his lap in the passenger seat before the other suspect drives away.

Police described the first suspect as a male wearing a hooded jacket, pants and gloves. The second suspect is described as a medium to dark skinned male with a beard and skull cap.

Management at Horizon House Condominium warned its residents about the theft.

Police said the suspects took the tires and rims off of a Porche SUV early Tuesday morning at a parking garage in the 900 block of South 15th Street.

Officers found the SUV on plastic crates. The suspects repositioned a security camera in the garage and broke the passenger window to the SUV, police said.

Police believe the suspects are selling the tires.

To prevent your wheels from being stolen, police said drivers should park at an angle so it is harder for thieves to take the tires off and to use wheel locks.

Police also advise not to let people follow behind you into garages with restricted access.
A Virginia man caught by an undercover agent who was pretending to advertise a 10-year-old girl for sex was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.

Justin Frank Clark, 28, pleaded guilty in June to attempting to coerce and entice a minor, according to a press release from the Eastern District of Virginia's U.S. Attorney's Office.

Clark communicated via email from April to May with the agent, and arranged to travel from Stafford County, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., for sex, prosecutors said. Clark also sent pornographic videos involving children, they said.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton sentenced Clark to 10 years in prison along with 10 years of supervised release. He will have to register as a sex offender upon release.
Bed bugs were found at one of the Nature's Classroom locations in Charlton, Massachusetts.

According to the envrionmental camp, the bed bugs were found in numerous residential rooms at the environmental camp.

The Union Leader reported students from Litchfield Middle School were at the four-day camp this past week and came home a day early due to the bugs.

After one student discovered suspicious bits on his arm the school decided to end the trip early.

The camp brought in a canine to determine whether any of the residential rooms were infested and found bed bugs in three rooms.

All of the rooms and luggage are being heat-treated.

Nature's Classroom has twelve New England locations, four of which are located in Massachusetts.

Lynn Woods Elementary School and Shoemaker Elementary School have cancelled their class trips to the camp which were scheduled for next week.

Bed bugs were previously found at the Nature's Classroom site in Freedom, New Hampshire, back in 2014.
A Black Lives Matter flag on the campus of the University of Vermont in Burlington is drawing both support and condemnation.

"I think it's a great statement for the university to make," UVM alumna Amanda Fleming said of the flag that started flying Thursday.

The Black Lives Matter message now flies alongside the Vermont and U.S. flags, on a pole where banners for environmental causes and LGBT rights have previously flown.

The raising of the flag follows a week that saw a white Oklahoma police officer charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, and protests and clashes in North Carolina, following another fatal police shooting of a black man there.

The UVM student government association told necn that following those painful incidents, the flag display was meant to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

"I like how the university is projecting that they're supporting everybody," said UVM freshman Ariel Tubbs.

"As an African-American on campus, it may at times be hard to have your voice heard, but this is actually a significant thing," said Kome Ekor, a UVM junior. "So I'm kind of happy about that."

However, not everyone is as enthusiastic.

On the Facebook page of necn affiliate NBC 5, there was backlash.

"UVM you disgust me," Facebook user Kyle Ketner wrote, noting he is a veteran who did not like how the Black Lives Matter flag was placed on a pole so near the U.S. flag.

"Should be removed," wrote Mary Lyons, another Facebook user. "ALL lives matter, why are we isolating one race? The only flags that should bly (sic) at UVM are the American flag and the state flag!"

"All lives matter...this shows a divided America....and if the ones breaking the law would act accordingly when a policeperson says something, nobody will get shot," wrote Facebook user Cheryl Dixon.

The vice president of the student government association said the SGA has received lots of support from students and educators on campus.

However, Tyler Davis said plenty of complaints have also come in, mostly from off-campus. Some have even used racial slurs and profanities, he added.

"It's a divisive topic," Davis said. "The end goal is to achieve equity and have all lives matter. But for now, we have to focus on those which are most marginalized."

The original plan was to have the flag fly through Monday, but if student groups request it, that could be extended, Davis said.

A student demonstration is planned for late Monday afternoon, Davis told necn. Participating students plan to wear all black, then take a picture by the Black Lives Matter flag.
The Coast Guard suspended the search for two missing boaters who did not return from a fishing trip near Block Island, Rhode Island.

Officials received a report on Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. that 54-year-old Linda Carmen and her 22-year-old son Nathan Carmen had not returned.

They were last seen Saturday evening departing from Ram's Point Marina in Point Judith in a 32-foot boat.

The Coast Guard searched over 62,000 square nautical miles, from south of Block Island, Rhode Island to the Canyons off New York.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coast Guard at 508-457-3211.
A rare "corpse plant" is about to flower at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

"It's been fun," said Kim DeLong, Dartmouth's greenhouse manager. "I love seeing all the enthusiasm this has generated on campus and in the community."

Dartmouth named its 7-foot-tall corpse plant "Morphy," taken from part of the plant's Latin name.

The species is among the world's largest and rarest flowering plants. It is native to tropical regions of Asia, like Sumatra, and blooms just once every six years or so, DeLong explained.

When the corpse flower is in bloom, a spectacle which lasts for only a few short days, it emits an odor that can be shocking to the nose.

"A dead body, roadkill, feces, urine, garbage, all together," DeLong said, describing the smell of the corpse flower. "Yeah, it's pretty bad."

The last time Morphy's dark burgundy flower unfurled was back in June, 2011.

The plant's foul odor, in the wild, is meant to attract flies and beetles to help pollination, DeLong said.

At Dartmouth, it's people who are now being lured by anticipation of the impending bloom.

"I think it's just the beauty of the natural world," Bob Tyrrell of Somersworth, New Hampshire said of the plant's allure as he visited it inside the Dartmouth College greenhouse. "Something that's gross to us is a way of life for something else. It's incredible!"

"Particularly at this time, when there are so many difficult things in the world, to have so many people come to visit a plant to see it flowering is very exciting news to me," said Toni Hover of South Royalton, Vermont, who also came to see Morphy Thursday.

DeLong said Dartmouth plans to hand-pollinate the plant and offer its seeds to other institutions. She said she hopes to spread knowledge about this giant, which is challenged in nature by deforestation.

DeLong's best guess as to when the bloom will happen is sometime early next week, but of course, when that happens is up to the plant, not its human admirers.

The Dartmouth College greenhouse is open to the public, and is free to visit.

For more information on Morphy, including how to watch a web cam of the plant, visit this website.
Gillette Stadium has paid a more than $22,000 fine for allowing Bruce Springsteen to break the town of Foxboro's concert curfew.

The Massachusetts town made national news when it extended its weeknight concert curfew for The Boss' Sept. 14 show by 15 minutes from 11:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Yet according to town officials, Springsteen didn't play his last note until 11:54 p.m. - four hours and one minute after the show started.

Town Manager Bill Keegan tells The Sun Chronicle that without even being asked, the Kraft Group sent the town a check for $22,429 to cover the fine.

Keegan says there was also one noise complaint, although it came early in the show. The Foxboro concert was the last on Springsteen's tour.
Police say a man is being charged following a crash that resulted in the death of his passenger Thursday morning in Whitingham, Vermont.

According to necn affiliate NBC 5, Patrick Belliveau was located and arrested four miles from the scene of the crash.

Police say he crashed off the side of Tunnel Street around 2 a.m. and left on foot.

His passenger, Jordan Belliveau, 20, was trapped inside the vehicle and has to be rescued. He was airlifted to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Patrick Belliveau allegedly had a .089 percent BAC and is being charged with gross negligent operation and leaving the scene with serious bodily injury. He may face an additional charge of DUI.

It's not clear when he's due in court of if he has an attorney.
The Waldoboro Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating a wanted man who evaded officers by escaping through a hole in the floor of his home in the Maine town.

Officers were dispatched to 36-year-old Brian Bennett's Flanders Corner Road home on Wednesday to take him into custody on an active arrest warrant out of Belfast District Court.

Police say Bennett locked himself inside the residence when officers arrived and refused to surrender. After gaining entry to the home, police found that Bennett fled through a hole in the floor.

Bennett was last seen running down his driveway. Lincoln County sheriffs attempted to track him with a police dog but were ultimately unsuccessful.

Anyone with information regarding Bennett's whereabouts is asked to contact Waldoboro police.
Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the shooting of another teen at a Stoughton, Massachusetts, CVS, but police say the gunman is still on the loose.

The two arrested are ages 15 and 16.

Police are still searching for Marcus Pierre-Louis, 23, the suspected gunman in the shooting. Police believe he is armed and dangerous.

An 18-year-old male was shot in the shoulder Thursday. He was treated and released from South Shore Hospital. Investigators say the attack was not random.

Outside the store Friday, customers still couldn't believe a shooting happened inside the store.

"People say it never happens in your neighborhood," Myles Walsh said. "Obviously it did."

Meanwhile, a few miles from the CVS, Pierre-Louis' neighbors still couldn't believe the close connection.

"It is a little disconcerting that you have someone who is now a fugitive from justice living next door to you," one neighbor said.

In 2014, necn interviewed Pierre-Lewis for a story about last-minute Christmas shopping.

Investigators continued to look for him Friday evening.
Drivers get ready! A portion of Route 128 in Needham, Massachusetts, will be shut down for a weekend in November while construction crews demolish the old Highland Avenue bridge.

"The weekend is very busy, I think this is definitely going to hurt our business," said Dina Medeiros, an employee at Acapulcos.

Some businesses in Needham are concerned about the highway closing while some aren't.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, demolition of the old Highland Avenue bridge will take place from Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7.

"I don't think this will be a big problem," said Sheila Roy, owner of Boston Consignment. "A lot of people who shop with us know their way around and they'll find a way to get here."

Local businesses have endured the construction zone near Highland Avenue since January of last year.

It's all part of Add a Lane, a project that expands the mainline highway and upgrades interchanges.

"We have lost business because of it," said Medeiros.

Amy Cunningham-Waltz, a manager from Gymboree, agrees.

"Horrible. Horrible," said Cunningham-Waltz. "Weekends we have four classes in a row it's huge, it's like a regular workday for us."

Construction workers that spoke to necn said highway traffic will divert to on and off ramps that will take them across Highland Avenue and back onto the highway.
A teenager was shot Thursday afternoon inside a CVS in Stoughton, Massachusetts, and three suspects are on the loose.

Police confirm an 18-year-old male was shot in the shoulder. He was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton.

"It is brazen, it is brazen," Donna McNamara, Stoughton's interim police chief, said Thursday evening.

According to investigators, three people went into the store, and an altercation ensued. The store closed while police were processing the crime scene.

The shooting occurred near the store's front checkout counter.

"We have people we are interviewing at this time," McNamara said. "We have not identified anyone yet."

She added the preliminary investigation indicates this shooting was not random.

"Certainly, this bothers me," she said. "It was not a random act."

The incident caused Stoughton Public Schools to cancel all after-school programs Thursday at Stoughton High School and O'Donnell Middle School.

"I almost came here to pick up my migraine medicine, that's just crazy," Lisa Prisincano said. "I just feel terrible, imagine if I was here with my son and everything."

A Massachusetts State Police K-9 was helping in the search for suspects.
The state has dismissed charges filed against an Avon, Connecticut doctor who was arrested in January after he was accused of sexually assaulting patients during medical visits.



Dr. Khosro Pourkavoos was charged after police investigated a woman's complaint that he sexually assaulted her in his office and identified other potential victims, police said, but the state granted a motion on Thursday to dismiss the charges.



Two separate warrants were issued in January, charging Pourkavoos with one count of second-degree sexual assault and two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault.

Then "an additional 13 females came forward and gave statements to police alleging that they were inappropriately touched by Dr. Pourkavoos," according to a warrant.

Hartford Superior Court Judge Julia Dewey accepted the motion within 15 minutes of hearing from the doctor's defense team as well as an attorney representing two of the women who went to Avon police with allegations of sexual assault against Pourkavoos a few years ago.

Pourkavoos didn't wish to speak to NBC Connecticut, but his attorney, James Bergenn, described his client's feelings.

"Imagine being accused of a crime and waiting three years for the truth to finally come out," Bergenn said.

The doctor's attorneys also reminded the public of 6,000 other patients who had to find a new doctor. They called the Avon police work, "sloppy."

But, an attorney for some of the victims in court Thursday said this decision is no doubt disappointing.

"He's been exonerated and vindicated and needs to get his license back," said attorney Pat Tomasiewicz, who represents Pourkavoos.

The state's dismissal of the charges comes three years after the first allegations of sexual assault during a medical visit by Pourkavoos surfaced.

"You can imagine the pain that he has suffered over the last three years, knowing every turn he tried to do the right thing and people were trying to vilify him," Tomasiewicz said.

"This was medically necessary care. That's why case got dismissed. Everyone of them had a bonafide medical purpose," Bergenn added.

"This isn't (Edwin) Njoku, this isn't (Tory) Westbrook there is no DNA, there was absolutely no evidence of sexual gratification during these patient exams," Tomasiewicz said.

The defense team for Pourkavoos said things just didn't add up between the police reports used to arrest the doctor, witness statements, documentary evidence, along with the credibility of some alleged victims.

Several told police rectal and breast exams given weren't appropriate, nor was the doctor wearing gloves at times.

"The state of Connecticut hired an expert witness. They hired their own doctor. They met with our experts. The experts agree that the examinations performed, under the circumstances, were appropriate, Tomasiewicz said.

On Thursday, a lawyer for two of the victims was hoping for a different outcome, but said there are still several civil cases pending.

"I just represent the victims here and want to make sure that their voice was heard," said Zak Jazlowiecki, who represents two of the women who made allegations against the doctor. "They're disappointed in the system. You know, they're hurt, but they'll still have their day in court going forward."

Defense lawyers also question the police investigation, alleging a police investigator used leading terms during interviews.

"Before the arrest the department -- Avon never consulted with a medical expert," Tomasiewicz said.

"The one thing that is in common are words the inspector used, which the patients didn't. Patients don't say fondle. The inspector says fondle," Bergenn said.

Avon police have no comment yet as they haven't had time to talk to the court or specific investigators involved.

Two victims didn't wish to speak at court either. There is still much more to go, with about a dozen civil cases going through the courts now as well.

It's unclear what the future holds for Pourkavoos, but the Department of Public Health said his medical license remains temporarily suspended.


Lynn churches hear of hope from 13 local projects Lynn churches hear of hope from 13 local projects

On Wednesday evening members of different churches from across Kings Lynn gathered to hear about the vision, news and developments of 13 Christian community projects serving the town in a myriad of different ways each bringing hope, love and the Kingdom of God. Jenny Seal reports.

On Wednesday, September 21 at 7pm, Churches Together in Kings Lynn met to hold their AGM at the London Road Methodist Church. Following the brief business of the meeting chaired by Moderator Rev Catherine Dixon and supported by Secretary Peter Coates (pictured right), representatives of 13 local Christian community groups were each invited to speak for five minutes to convey something of the heart of their project.



The meeting of around 70 people, gathered from a host of different churches, heard about the activities and vision of recently established initiatives such as the Job Club, CAP Debt Centre, KLimate Concern, Read, Write, Click and Celebrate Kings Lynn which are already making a difference to the lives of the people they serve.



It also heard from more established projects including the Kings Lynn Foodbank which along with emergency food provision is also running a FISH club, an Eat Well Spend Less course and is launching a Fuel Bank this Autumn. Representatives from Open the Book, Methodist Knit & Chat Group, the North Lynn Methodist Church Ecumenical Partnership and the CROWNS Trust talked with enthusiasm and passion about how they are continuing to serve and develop their provision.



The 13 representatives related news, developments and stories of hope from their projects, which between them provided support with jobs skills, debt help, literacy, befriending, emergency food, eco-awareness, fun, schools outreach and creative ways to encounter the Gospel.



Emily Hart, the Manager of the CAP Debt Centre said: Its really good to see how different organisations working together with that Christian heart can impact people in the community here. Its really exciting to hear about the different projects here tonight from different areas because people are being reached in Kings Lynn.



During the updates Alison Hill from Celebrate Kings Lynn announced that a Christmas Celebrate will take place on Saturday, December 10 in the Bandstand of the Walks and plans are afoot for the second Celebrate in King's Lynn on Saturday, June 3 with the option of adding an evening youth event to the programme.



Talking about the event that happened for the first time in June, Alison said: I think the best comment I heard was "it was like heaven on earth". And when I asked the person why she felt that, she said: because this is what heaven will be like  all the churches joining together."



Alison asked churches to nominate a representative to join the team for their first planning meeting on Tuesday, September 27 at 7.30pm at King's Lynn Baptist Church. A plea for volunteers also came from Mike Ikwuagwu (pictured right) for the Job Club, which offers an 8 week course for jobseekers to develop skills needed to get into employment, running every Tuesday, 10am-4pm at 99c High Street.



Rev John Belfield, a Deacon of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Kings Lynn and a Chaplain in HMP Whitemoor shared developments from the Purfleet Trust seeking to increase its support of homeless people within the town, as well as his personal vision to start a Community Chaplaincy Project.



He said: I would like us to establish here in West Norfolk a Community Prison Chaplaincy because we have a lot of people coming from Norwich prisons and Peterborough prisons into Kings Lynn and there are lots of horror stories. So watch this space. If you are interested in joining me let me know. I havent started; I dont know how to start except Ive started here tonight.



Andrew Frere-Smith also talked about his role as the Imagine Norfolk Together Development Worker funded by Norwich Diocese and the Church Urban Fund supporting churches in Kings Lynn to get involved in social action. He said: Im here as a resource and Id love to help you if there is anything that youd like to do in your community.



Rev Catherine Dixon ended the meeting by encouraging everyone to pray for the projects that had been represented. She said: I dont think any of us quite realised how many exciting things were happening in Kings Lynn. We can so often think, especially if we are in small churches that arent doing exciting projects, that the church is failing and we can think where is the Kingdom of God? But actually tonight I think we have seen the Kingdom of God is here in the midst of us in Kings Lynn and that is a wonderful, wonderful thing.



Network Norfolk will feature more articles about some of these projects over the coming weeks.



Main Photo: Clockwise from top left: Alison Hill, Andrew Frere-Smith, Emily Hart and Rev John Belfield






Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21.

Former church leaders and now freelance ministry coaches, Jonathan and Paige Squirrell, are the guest speakers at the next dinner of Norwich FGB on Monday, November 21.

Bringing light to Halloween Anna Price encourages Christians to engage positively with Halloween rather than hide away, on what many see as the darkest night of the year. Read more

First service takes place at Norwich church site SOUL Church hosted around 400 people for a special service on the site of their new building on Heartsease Lane. Read more

Dereham draws up list of warm places for winter As rising energy prices make it harder to heat homes, churches in Dereham are leading the way in creating warm spaces where people can go. Read more

South Norfolk church scoops national award A medieval Anglican church in a tiny hamlet in South Norfolk has won a national award and a 10,000 boost. Read more

Dereham churches help people to help themselves A group of churches in Dereham have launched an ambitious project which aims to meet needs in the town, including the provision of food and skills training. Read more

Executive assistant and nursery manager jobs SOUL Church is a vibrant, welcoming and growing church in Norwich. They are seeking an organised and versatile Executive Assistant to provide key support to the churchs Senior Pastors, as well as a qualified Nursery Manager to head up SOUL Nursery. Read more

Halloween light in Gorleston church On Halloween this year, St Mary Magdalene Church in Gorleston will be preparing to welcome around 200 families to experience their Light on a Dark Night event. Read more

An opportunity for Norwich to pray for the nation Rev Nigel Fox, who has served as a Methodist Minister for 15 years in Norwich, shares an open invitation to pray for the nation at a crucial moment. Read more

Norwich church seeks musicians Kingdom Ambassadors International Church is appealing for instrumentlists, keyboardists and guitarists to be part of their worship experience. Read more

Please keep Rishi in your prayers Andy Bryant urges us to pray for our political leaders, especially the new Prime Minister, and avoid unhelpful judgementalism. Read more

Emilys art boosts growing Yarmouth foodbank A pupil at a primary school in Bradwell has been selling her pictures in order to raise money for the Yarmouth and Magdalen Foodbank, which is expanding its capacity and is seeking more volunteers. Read more

Patrick Regan helps Norwich to bounce forwards On Saturday St Stephens in Norwich hosted Bouncing Forwards as part of a national tour by the mental health charity Kintsugi Hope. Read more

Painting and biblical feasting in Overstrand There will be opportunities to improve your painting skills and indulge in some biblical feasting next month at the Pleasaunce in Overstrand in North Norfolk. Read more

Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more

National award for Dereham Christian bookshop The Green Pastures Christian bookshop in Dereham has won a national award for providing boxes of Christian books to 21 local schools. Read more

Norma's care home jigsaw challenge complete A resident at Norwich-based care home Corton House has completed an incredible 70 jigsaw puzzles in celebration of the homes 70th anniversary this year. Read more

Norwich charity's appeal to support Palestinian students A Norwich educational charity, set up in memory of a Norwich Anglican priest, to support students from a Palestinian refugee camp, is inviting people to support its Christmas appeal  to be launched on November 29. Read more
Eindhoven, Netherlands -- The 25th Global Forum, an annual policy and strategy conference sometimes called the Davos of ICT, was held this week in Eindhoven, a smart city and technology hub with a rich industrial past.

Eindhoven was the original home and de facto company town of Philips Electronics, one of the worlds leading technology giants. Then, under pressure from Asian and global competitors, Philips began a long process of exiting its historic lines of business.

Eindhoven suffered an economic and psychological blow when in 1997 the company moved its headquarters to Amsterdam.

The resulting economic and social disruption challenged Eindhoven to reinvent itself. The community focused on research and innovation (R&I), and built upon its Philips legacy to become the industrial design center of its country and the European region.

+ FROM LAST YEAR'S CONFERENCE: 5G, Arctic gold rush excite global tech forum attendees +

Starting in the 1990s, through the catalyst of a collaborative enterprise called Brainport Eindhoven Region, the city built a smart-city future and earned international recognition as Intelligent Community of the Year in 2011.

Now, according to Mark Bressers of the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, Eindhoven is representative of a nation that has one-third of its economy based on ICT and digitalization. At the national level, the Netherlands is third in the world in ICT research, after the USA and South Korea.

The Global Forum often previews world trends in the information and communication industries. Delegates came by invitation-only from countries representing all the continents.

Keynote speaker Marta Arsovska-Tomovska, Ministry of Information Society and Administration for Macedonia, said, Since the year 2000, over 55% of Fortune 500 companies are gone, by digital disruption.

She spoke of Macedonias population of 2 million people and outlined their ambitious plans to build a digital future.

The Minister says they have four main strategies:

Digital by Nature

Digital by Design

Digital Together

Digital but Still Human

Macedonia plans to double the number of computer science and engineering graduates rapidly, and increase the quantity and quality of its technology schools and teachers. They intend to orient students to technology from early childhood through university level, including the foundation of a dedicated ICT university.

Smart Cities take the spotlight in the global urban future

As it has repeatedly done in recent conferences, Global Forum dedicated an 11-member panel to Smart Cities. The topic is burgeoning yet becoming more diffuse and in need of strategic focus and concrete demonstration.

On the panel, John Jung spoke on the challenges of managing traffic as cities grow. He is a founder of the Intelligent Community Forum, a think tank based in New York City, which awards the Intelligent Community of the Year.

Jung lives in Toronto, and notes that gridlock in Canadas biggest city costs its citizens $11 million annually in lost productivity.

Some solutions may evolve from autonomous transport. Singapore is experimenting with driverless taxis. Eindhoven has a driverless bus under test, which is allocated its own dedicated traffic lane.

Columbus, Ohio, the Intelligent Community of the Year for 2015, has put together a $140 million transport grant to advance its smart-city status to the next practical stage.

Eric Legale, from Issy-les-Moulineaux in the Paris region, listed the most congested cities in Europe. The five worst are London (33% more congested than any of the others); Stuttgart; Antwerp; Cologne; and Brussels. Moscow is sixth. Paris is 15th, yet they are embarking on new automated metro lines for more than 200 kilometers and 68 new stations to be built by 2030.

+ RELATED: Smart City Challenge: 7 proposals for the future of transportation +

Mika Mannervesi, of the city of Salo in Finland, presented on their project for smart lighting. Salo was the birthplace of Nokia mobile phone manufacturing, and has extensive technical expertise.

Salo has replaced city street lighting with LEDs. For further efficiency, a successful field test programmed the lights to turn off when there is no traffic movement of any kind, so that empty streets would not be illuminated.

Eikazu Niwano of NTT in Tokyo said Japan is driving for the realization of Hyper Smart Society (Society 5.0), an initiative by the government of Japan beginning 2016.

Society 5.0 is so-named to indicate the new society created by transformations led by scientific and technological innovation, after the huntergatherer society; agricultural society; industrial society; and information society.

NTT envisions a Hyper Smart Society Service Platform using cyber security, IoT, Big Data, AI, Device, Network and Edge Computing.

Niwano says many Japanese companies are pushing forward on these concepts for ICT-based solutions, preparing for the next 2020 Summer Olympics, which will be hosted by Tokyo.

Dr. Sylviane Toporkoff, president of Global Forum, led the 2016 conference, along with Vice President Sebastien Levy; Founding Partners of sponsor ITEMS International.

The next Global Forum will be held in fall 2017, probably in Canada for the first time in the 25-year history of the event.

Jay Gillette is professor of information and communication sciences at Ball State University, director of its Human Factors Institute, and a senior research fellow at the Digital Policy Institute. He also served as Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies at the University of Oulu, Finland for 2014-2015.
Company director scammed unsuspecting victims

A BUSINESSMAN who scammed investors out of 13.3m has been disqualified from being a company director for 15 years following a hearing at the High Court.

Thirty-seven-year-old Ian James Hamilton, the director of Industry RE Ltd (IRE) operated a number of alternative investment scams between 2009 and 2013.

Mr Hamiltons last known address was in Newbury in 2013, but it is believed he subsequently lived in Dubai and possibly Spain.

The main scams were a money circulation scheme and selling interests in land in Dominica that the company never owned.

His disqualification follows an investigation by the Official Receiver at Public Interest Unit, a specialist team of the Insolvency Service.

The Official Receivers involvement commenced with the winding up of the company by HM Revenue & Customs.

Tony Hanon, Official Receiver at Public Interest Unit, said: As is so often the case, if an investment scheme appears too good to be true, it probably is.

The company persuaded members of the public to part with substantial sums by falsely promising investors extremely high rates of return.

In reality, the scheme operated only for the benefit of those running the company, principally the director, Ian Hamilton.

There were two schemes run by IRE, both of which were dishonest.

In the first scheme IRE received money from consumers by guaranteeing a return on their investments, which was actually a money circulation scheme.

Most investors believed they were purchasing carbon credits, which IRE said that it would repurchase within 12 months for 30 per cent more than investors had paid, and sell the credits onwards to a connected company in Dubai.

In total IRE made payments totalling more than 8.6 million to customers that included what were claimed to be investment returns.

However, the investigation found that IRE had not made any of the claimed investments and did not receive any profits that it could use to pay investment returns to investors.

The other scheme operated by IRE was the sale of interests in an Eco Resort that it claimed would be built in Dominica.

Consumers were persuaded to pay 25,000 for an interest in the supposed resort, and were promised a return of 80 per cent on their investment within two years.

However IRE never told investors that it had not acquired the land on which the resort was to be built.

IRE received sums totalling 7.6 million from investors to buy interests in the eco resort, none of whom have received any return.

A number of customer updates have been circulated by the company between December 2012 and 3 August 2013.

In these documents Mr Hamilton stated that the company had relocated to Dubai, and there then followed a serious of purported explanations of why the company was delayed in being able to make payments due to customers.

In December 2012 sums totalling more than 1.1 million were transferred from the companys bank account in a single day.

Mr Hamilton suggested that money was being held by a connected company in Dubai, but he failed to provide any information or company records to support his version of events.
One person injured in industrial accident at Kwik Fit

POLICE have cordoned off Kwik Fit in London Road, Newbury following an industrial accident this afternoon in which one person has been seriously injured.

Police, ambulance and the fire service arrived at the scene just after 3pm with police officers closing off the repair centre and part of Marconi Road which leads into the workshop.

Customer Steve Clarke, was outside the centre when the accident occurred.

He said: "I was just getting my tyres done when I heard a big bang and looked around and saw a car on its roof.

"It looked quite serious.

"The ambulance was here in just a matter of minutes, it was really quick."

A police spokesperson said: "Thames Valley Police officers were called at 3.03pm by the ambulance service following reports that a man had been injured in London Road, Newbury.

"The fire and ambulance service also attended the scene. A man sustained serious injuries and has been taken to hospital for treatment.

"Officers remain at the scene along with the fire and ambulance services."
Elli Avram Sets The Internet On Fire With Her Bold And Sizzling Hot Pictures In A Towel; Check Here
What if one blood test could screen for more than 50 types of cancer?
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy with showers. High 58F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Reporter/Columnist

Julie Wurth is a reporter covering the University of Illinois at The News-Gazette. Her email is jwurth@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@jawurth).
New research at the University of Adelaide has shed light on how many doctors are attending the funerals of their patients and the reasons behind their choice. The researchers say more needs to be done within the medical profession to openly discuss the issue.

In a study published online ahead of print in the journal Death Studies, researchers from the University's School of Psychology and School of Medicine report on the practices and attitudes towards funeral attendance of more than 430 Australian doctors. The publication is part of a nationwide survey of more than 1000 health professionals.

"Our survey was aimed at better understanding what motivates health professionals to attend their patients' funerals, what barriers they may experience in attending, and their attitudes towards the issue of funeral attendance," says Dr Sofia Zambrano, who conducted this work as a follow up to her PhD in the School of Medicine at the University of Adelaide.

The survey found that 57% of the doctors surveyed had attended at least one funeral of a patient - but the number varied greatly depending on which medical specialisation they had pursued. For example: 71% of general practitioners had attended a patient's funeral; 67% of oncologists; 67% of psychiatrists; 63% of palliative medicine specialists; 52% of surgeons and 22% of intensive care specialists.

"The death of a patient can be a very emotional and isolating experience for physicians, and some may regard it as the ultimate failure of their professional care," says Associate Professor Greg Crawford, study co-author and Associate Professor of Palliative Medicine in the University's School of Medicine.

He says the benefits of attendance may be twofold: "Funeral attendance seems to be a practice that may help physicians deal with their emotions after a patient dies, and in turn it can also be of comfort for the patient's family.

"However, there are differing views within medicine about whether or not it's acceptable to attend a patient's funeral, with some doctors seeing it as 'unprofessional', and others feeling that their colleagues would disapprove of them attending, which in fact were factors associated to non-attendance to funerals in our study," Associate Professor Crawford says.

The study also found that female doctors were more likely to attend a patient's funeral than their male counterparts, were more open to crying and expressing grief at the funeral, and they actively discussed attending patients' funerals with their colleagues and families. Those who were least likely to attend were young male doctors with fewer years of medical experience.

Dr Zambrano says that because the decision is a personal one, the paper's authors have refrained from advocating attendance or non-attendance at funerals. "We aim to contribute to a more open discussion about this poorly researched topic, and to provide a clearer picture of actual practices and attitudes of a large sample of physicians and other health professionals," she says.

"The role of peer perception and the hesitation of doctors to discuss funeral attendance and death more broadly with colleagues are important issues to consider. The medical community should ask itself whether funeral attendance needs to - and can - be addressed more openly, whether death and dying should be discussed more candidly among health professionals, and what effects these discussions may have on job satisfaction and on the mental health of medical practitioners."
Stuttering, an interruption in the flow of speech, affects about three million Americans. It begins most often in childhood, affecting four men for every woman. A precise cause of this complex communicative disorder is not known.

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.

Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

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: [email protected]

"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."
More than 100 disgruntled Tesla owners in Norway have sued the US automaker because the electric cars don't accelerate as quickly as promised, their lawyers said.



The 126 plaintiffs claim their electric vehicles don't accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, as marketed.



"At the core of the matter is that there are consumers seeking compensation because the cars have less horsepower than promised," one of the lawyers for the owners, Kaspar Thommessen, told AFP without specifying the amount of damages sought.



They are suing Tesla for breach of consumer law.



The dispute concerns the Tesla S P85D, a sedan featuring one of the fastest accelerations in the world, listed at 700 horsepower by the carmaker. But according to the dissatisfied owners, the real horsepower is only around 469, making accelerations a little less spectacular than expected.



"Some may think that this is just whining," Tesla owner Frode Fleten Jacobsen told business daily Dagens Naeringsliv. "But many people pushed their financial limits in order to own a car with 700 horsepower, and when you notice that you didn't get what you paid for you feel cheated," he said.



He said he dished out 873,900 kroner (about 94,000 euros, $105,350) for his car. Tesla Norway meanwhile said its tests and those conducted by third parties showed that the car consistently performed as marketed, or better.



"With respect to acceleration, Tesla described the S P85D as having a 0-100 km/h time of 3.3 seconds, and Motor Trend and others actually achieved a time of 3.1 seconds," a Tesla spokesman wrote in an email to AFP.



The case will go before an Oslo court in mid-December. Norway, where electric cars are exempt from taxes, is one of Tesla's biggest markets. The company has sold more than 1,600 cars so far this year.



In August, zero emission cars, from all brands combined, accounted for more than 15 percent of new car registrations, a market share which is unparalleled in the world but which is facing stiff competition from hybrid cars.


Volkswagen is looking at ways to expand its truck operations in Asia, the head of its heavy trucks unit said, as it seeks to build a global business to challenge rivals Daimler and Volvo.



Volkswagen (VW), pushing strategic changes a year after its diesel emissions scandal, said earlier this month it would take a stake in U.S. truckmaker Navistar as part of a technology and purchasing alliance with the firm.



Though VW's trucks division is preoccupied with aligning its MAN and Scania brands more closely to boost cost savings, overseas expansion remains on the agenda despite the rising costs of the group's "dieselgate" emissions scandal.



"Our goal, of course, was first of all to cover the blank spot North America," VW trucks chief Andreas Renschler said, as the deal with Navistar will give VW access to the lucrative U.S. trucks market. "We are looking at the issue of India."



"You can assume that we will come up with certain ideas for Asia too," Renschler told reporters during the Hanover trucks show, without being more specific.



Renschler, a former head of Daimler Trucks, said the VW division was considering steps to further expand in China where subsidiary MAN owns a stake in local manufacturer Sinotruk Hong Kong.



Separately, Renschler said VW has no plans at present for a public listing of its trucks business, nor is there a timetable for such a move in coming years as speculated in the media.



MAN, a market leader in Brazil for trucks weighing more than 5 metric tons, plans to improve product management in India and expand its sales network on the subcontinent where it has a subsidiary, MAN trucks chief Joachim Drees said.



"I believe we can generate further growth there," Drees told Reuters. "We see the potential to become better in India", where MAN currently sells about 2,000 trucks a year.



MAN has no plans for further job cuts in Brazil after slimming down operations in Latin America's largest economy as truck demand slumped amid the economic recession, according to Drees.



"We will keep employment levels for the time being," he said. MAN employs about 1,800 workers in Brazil to build trucks and buses.
Hyderabad: Incessant rains battered Hyderabad and Telangana for the second consecutive day causing flooding in several areas.



Authorities in Hyderabad have sought help of Army for possible rescue operations as heavy rains continue to lash the city and outskirts.



The MeT department has forecast heavy rains for the next three days on account of a low pressure buildup in Bay of Bengal.



A high alert was sounded in the city on Thursday and the government declared a two-day holiday for all educational institutions while information technology companies were urged to provide 'work from home' option to the employees.







Greater Hyderabad Mayor B. Rammohan said the help of Army was sought for rescue work in areas like Alwal, Nizampet and Begumpet where overflowing water bodies and open drains have inundated residential areas.



Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has also sought assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to undertake rescue and relief works.



Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is on a visit to Delhi, directed officials to be ready for any eventuality. He spoke to Municipal Administration ADevelopment Minister K. T. Rama Rao and top officials over phone to review the situation.



The chief minister asked the officials to shift people residing in low-lying areas to safer zones and take help from police, NDRF and Army.



Rama Rao, who was monitoring situation from GHMC office, told reporters that they had contacted Army for undertaking rescue and relief works. He said NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) were positioned to take up rescue and relief works.



Along with Rama Rao, Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali, Home Minister N. Narasimha Reddy and top officials were monitoring the situation from control room at GHMC head office.



With water level in Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city reaching full tank level and water being let out through a surplus drain, GHMC alerted people living in areas along this drain. All three parks surrounding the lake have been closed for public.



Rama Rao said the situation was being closely monitored. The government declared a holiday for all schools in GHMC limits on Friday and Saturday.



Heavy rains on Wednesday claimed three lives in the city. More rains Thursday evening added to the woes of the people already marooned in the affected areas. In Bhandari Layout of Nizampet, several apartments remained inundated for a second day.



People returning home from offices were caught in traffic jams in almost all parts of Hyderabad and its twin Secunderabad . Traffic came to a halt on major arterial roads due to overflowing storm water drains and sewerage manholes.



(With inputs from IANS)
Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Friday gave a 48-hour ultimatum to all Pakistani cine and tele-artistes to quit India or face consequences.



MNS Chitrapat Sena chief Ameya Khopkar told the media that there was "an anti-Pakistan" wave across India after the September 18 terror attack that left 18 Indian soldiers dead in Jammu and Kashmir.







"The MNS calls upon all Pakistanis working in Indian tele-serials, films and other shows to leave the country within 48 hours. If they fail to do so, we shall deal with them in our style," Khopkar warned.



The MNS' 'go back' order would also apply to sportspersons and singers, he added. The MNS would stop producers from shooting shows involving Pakistani actors.



Veteran Actor Om Puri called MNS' move to issue an ultimatum to Pakistan Artists as Childish.



"They are training guns in the wrong direction. Uri attack should be condemned in strongest possible words. Appropriate action should be taken to teach the perpetrators of the attack, a lesson. But artists should be spared. They are not enemies," Om Puri told CNN-News18.



In the past, the MNS and Shiv Sena have adopted an aggressive stance against Pakistani personalities visiting Maharashtra.


































Panaji: Goa children's Court will on Friday pronounce the final verdict in the rape and murder case of Scarlett Keeling, in which two local men, Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho, have been charged with drugging the teenager and leaving her to die on Anjuna coast.



Speaking to CNN News18, Scarlett's mother Fiona MacKeown who reached Goa earlier this week said, At this stage I don't know which way the judgement would go. This trial is a test of the competence of the CBI. I am told they are the best investigating agency of India."



When asked about her life after the unfortunate murder of her daughter, she said, "It's not been brief, it's been a long eight years as I have been unsure of where I stood most of the time."



"Those who killed my daughter perhaps had the confidence that I would not be able to last the slow process of a trial. But my resolve to stand up and fight for my daughter's justice has not diluted, she said.



The case was initially investigated by Goa Police and later handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). "I have faith in the competence of CBI and I hope that

the accused would be proved guilty," Fiona said.



Vikram Varma, the advocate appointed by Fiona, said the verdict will be a test for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as they took over the case after the state police tried to cover up by terming it as a case of accidental death.



"Politicians at that time claimed that there is no narcotics business prevalent in Goa.", he said.



Slamming the politicians, Vikram said "Drugs were found hidden under the kitchen table of one of the accused."



"Politicians know the truth, but do not want to hamper the narcotics business in order to please the vote bank," Verma further added.



Scareltt's 52-year-old mother Fiona is likely to wind up her India trip on September 26 and for the last time she intends to visit the Anjuna coast, where Scarlett's corpse was found.



"I want to go there (Anjuna) and connect with my daughter. That may be my last trip to the coast whose dark memories still haunt me," Fiona said.



After 16-year-old Scarlett's body was found, Fiona had lived in Anjuna for a couple of weeks trying to piece together the evidence in the case.



"After the incident we stayed at Anjuna for couple of weeks but we were advised to move out from there considering the safety of our lives. The local goons were very active," she alleged.


Mumbai: Security forces on Friday released the sketch of one of the suspected terrorists allegedly seen by some students near the Uran Navy base in Mumbai.



Security agencies are combing Mumbai for the suspect whose sketch has been released. He was seen along with 4-5 others in pathan suits, carrying weapons and backpacks near the Uran base.



The other suspects were reportedly wearing masks to cover their face.



Highest state of alert was issued on Thursday by the Western Naval Command along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts in Maharashtra after reports of suspicious movement of this armed group dressed in Pathan suits in Uran.







The Maharashtra police, the NSG, Navy special commandos, the CISF and Maharashtra's specialized counter terror force have launched massive manhunt for these suspects.



Security has been tightened at the Mumbai airport, Gateway of India, Hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Siddhivinayak temple.



These four to five people in Pathan suits with shoulder bags were reportedly spotted by local students on Thursday.



Sources claim that the students said they overheard the men say the words "school" and "ONGC".



"They heard them talking about ONGC, School etc. They got scared. After mustering courage, they rushed to school teacher to inform her about what they saw. The teacher immediately informed the Uran police station and the police arrived within few minutes", sources said.



The government run power giant ONGC has a plant at Uran and also a few container terminals.


Kozhikode: The Uri terror attack loomed large as the Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive met on Friday ahead of the two-day National Council meeting starting Saturday amidst demands for tough action against Pakistan.



The party itself sought to focus on the pro-poor agenda during the deliberations with BJP President Amit Shah asking its state governments to execute the schemes aimed at the welfare of the poor in the centenary birth anniversary year of its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay.



On the first day of the three-day exercise, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate from Saturday, Shah focused on the party's 'garib kalyan' agenda in his address to the office-bearers.



Against the backdrop of the Uri attack in which 18 soldiers were killed, a key leader maintained that the party appreciates the sentiments in the country and that "action will keep happening" against Pakistan.



BJP fielded its General Secretary Ram Madhav, who has advocated punitive action against Pakistan, before the media to outline the Council's focus on 'antyodaya' (uplift of the last man) and say how it is an occasion for the party to rededicate itself to Upadhyay's ideals.



Madhav parried a volley of questions about the party's position on the Uri attack but made it clear that it will be deliberated in the Council.



"We are a party of grassroot workers. We understand and appreciate the sentiments in the country," he said.



Prodded again, Madhav said, "A lot has happened in the last three days, especially on the diplomatic front".



The party will air its views in the coming days, he said. "Let's wait for a while. There is joy in wait. You (media) will get your food," Madhav said.



Asked about the "lack of action" despite leaders, including him, making strong comments against Pakistan, he said, "You want only statements or action too? Actions too will keep happening."



Soon after the Uri attack, Madhav had spoken about India adopting the policy of "for one tooth, complete jaw", asserting that the days of strategic restraint are over.



Modi, who is scheduled to address a public meeting on Saturday, is expected to speak on the Uri incident at a time when there has been a clamour within the party and outside for action against Pakistan.



There has been criticism of the Prime Minister with some detractors recalling the attacks he had made against the UPA government for its alleged soft attitude towards Pakistan- sponsored terror.



Shah will also speak on Saturday and deliver his address to the Council on Sunday when Modi will give the valedictory speech.



Both leaders will touch on the Uri incident in their speeches, party leaders said.


New Delhi: Whether you want to explore your spiritual side or go on a soul discovery trip, you can try going to Ladakh, Goa or Ajmer on a wanderlust.



Amit Agarwal, Senior Marketing Manager - India and Southeast Asia, online accommodation booking website Hotels.com, lists some destinations for spiritual getaways:



* Hemis Monastery, Ladakh: Hemis Monastery is the largest and richest Buddhist monastery in the Ladakh region. It features a famous collection of ancient statues, sacred thangkas, and various other artefacts. During the tourist season, it is often recommended to participate in the Hemis Spiritual Retreat run by the monks.



* Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa: This is one among the most famous churches in India. This church has been declared a world heritage site. Located in the beach city of Goa, the church is over 300 years old.



The church is said to hold the remains of St. Francis Xavier and the body is opened for public display at a particular time of the year. During this period, thousands of believers come to this church, which includes even foreign tourists.



* Moinuddin Chisti, Ajmer: The place occupies a prominent place among the spiritual healers of the world. The dargah is named after a Muslim scholar. The essence of the values feted in the dargah are truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence.



* Rishikesh: Rishikesh is a popular place to meditate and relax. It is the place where one can learn about other aspects of Hinduism. Situated on the banks of the river Ganga, surrounded by hills on three sides and not far from Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Rishikesh lures those seeking knowledge and peace with its numerous ashrams and yoga institutes.




Los Angeles 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 news 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.
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will expand his cabinet on September 26 in perhaps the last reshuffle of his council of ministers ahead of the Assembly election in early 2017.



Governor Ram Naik will administer oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at Raj Bhavan on Monday, a Raj Bhavan release said.



This will be the eighth expansion of the Akhilesh Yadav government since it assumed office in 2012.



The UP council of ministers can have 60 ministers and there are three vacancies at present.



Sacked Mines Minister Gayatri Prajapati is all set to be inducted as a cabinet minister as part of a compromise formula to end the recent family feud in the Yadav clan, but he may

get a different portfolio.
New Delhi: A delegation of Delhi Congress unit on Friday met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged "financial irregularities and illegalities" in the Mohalla clinics run by the AAP government.



The delegation led by Delhi Congress unit chief Ajay Maken apprised the LG about the "anomalies" in the Mohalla clinics and demanded a CBI enquiry into it, said a party statement.



"The AAP government extended pecuniary advantage to members and office bearers of the party by paying more than the prevailing market rent to them whose premises were used for opening Mohalla clinics," Maken alleged.



The memorandum submitted to Jung also said that the Mohalla clinics "lacked basic health facilities" and that established health guidelines were being "violated" there.



Delhi Congress had on Thursday released its report on the Mohalla clinics, accusing the government of "ad-hocism" in running them.
New Delhi: Escalating its attack on the government over the Uri terror attack, Congress on Friday demanded the resignation of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, saying they have "failed" to deliver.



As the BJP National Council meeting started at Kozhikode, the opposition party also advised BJP to introspect over the national security situation, which it claimed is "under siege" for the last over two years since the advent of the Narendra Modi government.



"Since they are not able to perform competently, they should quit," party spokesman Tom Vadakkan told reporters in reply to questions on Parrikar and Doval.



So far the Congress was only seeking the resignation of Parrikar.



Vadakkan said Prime Minister Modi should fix responsibility of his NSA and the Defence Minister, who, he claimed had "publicly boasted after Pathankot attack that without his permission no one can enter India".



Regarding the Uri attack, he said reports point to a "massive intelligence and operational failure" and wondered as to what is the accountability for this "failure".



"India's borders and national security have been under siege for last 2.5 years. There have been more than 900 ceasefire violations in Jammu and Kashmir," he said, targeting the Prime Minister for using "sari-shawl diplomacy" with Pakistan.



"Modi used rhetoric of '56 inch chest' before the Lok Sabha election and said he would bring back 10 heads in exchange for one. On becoming the PM, Modi has used sari-shawl diplomacy," he remarked.



He recalled that prior to the 2014 election, Modi constantly counselled the Congress government to "stop writing love letter" to Pakistan.



Slamming Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for his attack on India at the United Nations General Assembly, he dubbed Sharif as "vice chancellor of global university of terror". He said the global community is fully sensitised on the activities of the Pakistan establishment.



Faulting the Modi government over inviting ISI after the Pathankot attack to the very air force base, he said the NIA subsequently gave a "clean chit" to the Pakistani government.



"We hope they don't repeat that in the case of the Uri Attack," he added.



Alleging that the government's policy on Pakistan is based on "wholesale confusion rather than pragmatic cohesion", he said the net result has been that a renegade nation like Pakistan which stood isolated because of the policies of the UPA government is now attempting to re-position itself positively.



The party wanted the government to follow a three-pronged strategy vis--vis Pakistan that would lead to its diplomatic isolation, besides imposition of economic sanctions against it and a resolute strategic response.
Bithoor in Kanpur holds pride of a place in the annals of the modern Indian history. The sleepy non-descript village on the banks of Ganga was the epicenter of the revolt against the East Indian Company in the North. Somewhere on the scattered ruins of what would once have been Baji Rao's fortress, his valiant general Tantiya Tope must have planned his offensive during the 1857 mutiny. Bithoor, was the key strategic position and link between mutineers led by Begum Hazrat Mehal in Lucknow and Rani Laxmi Bai's forces in Jhansi.



Co-incidentally or otherwise, as Bharatiya Janata Party prepares a high stake political battle in Uttar Pradesh, the entire top brass of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh met for three days on the campus of an engineering college near Bithoor in July. It was here that the Sangh gave final shape to the next big ideological battle it prepares to fight in the media space.



A derivative of the vociferously contested nationalism and intolerance discourse which continues to intermittently rage since BJP's ascension to power two years back, RSS is now attempting to re-draw the battle lines by triggering a parallel debate on the Idea of Bharat or India.



The pre-natal exercise and preparations have been going on for a while now. In the Bithoor meeting it was communicated to the Awadh prant to start making preparations for a conclave- the first of its kind- of 250 columnists in Lucknow September last week.



Those invited for the event will debate and discuss the idea of India broad theme: 'Bharat ki bhartiya avdharana banaam abhartiya advdhrana' (Bhartiya versus non-bhartiya idea of India), is the theme around which these opinion makers will discuss the Idea of India.



Despite having a sympathetic BJP in power at the center there has been a reluctant admission within the sangh of not having enough fire-power to take on the alternative opinion. That RSS was not able to put forth its point of view during the JNU controversy and intolerance debate has worried BJP ideological mentors. The recent developments in Kashmir and its media coverage will also come up for discussion in the conclave.



The seminar is being seen as a part of the larger RSS strategy to dominate the media discourse- both in legacy and new media. In the first leg of this campaign, Hindi columnists and writers from 35 prants will participate in the event being organized by the in the last week of September by the Prachar Vibhaag or the Communication Department of the RSS headed by Dr Manmohan Vaidya, Joint General Secretary Dr Krishna Gopal.



RSS is planning to hold a similar convention of English columnists and bloggers somewhere down south during winters.
Bengaluru: In a state where there is a near-unanimous consensus on challenging the latest Supreme Court order to release 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu besides setting of a new interstate panel to oversee dams located inside Karnataka, Bharatiya Janata Party is caught between state sentiments and its national compulsions.



The plot gets only thicker from here on because loyalists of BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa believe there is a conspiracy at work hatched by a few BJP ministers in the Central government to finish off his political career using the highly emotive Cauvery issue.



The ruling Congress and opposition Janata Dal (Secular) has been taunting BJP  the main Opposition party in the state assembly  on why it hasn't enlisted the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ensuring that "justice" is served to Karnataka, the first South Indian state to vote BJP into power. So far, BJP has shied away from answering that question, all the while reiterating that it stands by Kannadiga sentiments on the issue.



But the apple-cart tumbled on Wednesday when BJP decided to skip an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The meeting saw an unprecedented coming together of disparate political parties and had former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and the Congress CM speaking in the same voice. Yeddyurappa's attempt to put up a brave face, by saying his party skipped the meeting because it had nothing more to advice the state government on Cauvery, didn't seem to have helped.



Ironically, it was Siddaramaiah who was on the mat until a few days ago when he agreed to the SC ruling last week to release 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. BJP went to town joining the JDS saying the Chief Minister had capitulated. The shoe now is on the other foot.



Siddaramaiah quickly gained ground after the latest SC verdict ordering additional water release for Tamil Nadu. He called on Deve Gowda at the latter's residence, a grand political gesture where he passed the buck on to the larger Karnataka political leadership. The 83-year-old leader is the most influential voice in the Vokkaliga community  a community that widely populates the Mysore-Mandya-Bangalore-rural belt, which will take the brunt if Cauvery water is released to Tamil Nadu.



Siddaramaiah had parted ways with the JDS nearly a decade back, and not on good terms. The patch-up over a river has undoubtedly earned him many brownie points.



Strategically enough, the Congress ministers kept away from commenting on the BJP's boycott of the all-party meet, saying tactfully - and perhaps, tongue-in-cheek - that the BJP leaders had other commitments. Obviously, their commitment then to the cause of the Cauvery was thus under (untold) scrutiny. Protesters moved their dharnas to the door-steps of BJP MPs. "We voted in 17 MPs, not one has the power to talk to the PM?" they said.



Late at night, a lone tweet by AICC spokesperson Dinesh Gundu Rao set social media into gear  "On behalf of Congress, want to thank all political parties (except BJP) for ably guiding government at all-party meeting."



Memes are doing the rounds about BJP's double-speak (and even triple-speak  speaking three voices, one in TN, another in Karnataka, a third at the Centre). The hashtag is ModiMosa  mosa in Kannada referring to betrayal.



Smarting under the hugeness of the political impact this issue could have -- remember Karnataka elections are two years away and BJP dreams of coming back to power  BJP spokespersons are struggling to stay in the perception battle.



A statement by BJP's Shaina NC that "she thinks" we need "to rise beyond selfish interests" and share Cauvery waters has left the BJP more red-faced. On the defensive, party spokesperson CT Ravi has been tweeting frantically that the Karnataka unit of BJP is as devastated as the rest of us about the SC order.



Note, he said that Karnataka unit of BJP is devastated but no word about the rest of the party.



Another spokesperson S Prakash argues on social media again that the all-party meeting, "made no path-breaking decision. I am sure you have realised the futility of this meeting which failed to find ways out of the mess".



Too little, too late. For, before this, came a master-stroke by Deve Gowda himself.



Late Wednesday evening, he decided to attend the all-party meeting at the Vidhana Souda  the landmark legislature building, a site he has not stepped into for 20 years. The political narrative soon shifted to, "An octogenarian politician puts aside all past tiffs with the Congress to attend the meeting, going into the Vidhan Souda after 20 years."



On Thursday, he and the Congress have been out playing the put-your-ego-aside game, 'advising' BJP to 'at least' participate in the legislature session. Well-played as always, Gowdre!



But well, there are more bouts coming right up, next week.
New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs speech at the UNGA centred on Kashmir might have earned a loud guffaw in international circles, but as it turns out it fell short of even the expectation of Pakistan Parliamentarians.



Syed Khurshid Shah, Leader of Opposition in Pakistan Parliament, has also said the performance of the Sharif governments advisers on foreign affairs has led to the country getting isolated in the world community and that it did not enjoy good relations with any of its neighbours.



The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader called Sharifs speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday ordinary because, apparently, his PM didnt say enough to put India on a spot.



Instead of delivering an ordinary speech, the prime minister should have emphatically and categorically highlighted threats and problems being faced by Pakistan due to Indian involvement in incidents of terrorism in the country, said a statement issued by his office.



Shah also criticised the PM for not taking parliament into confidence and tore into Sharifs adviser on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz. It seems that the prime minister considers his adviser on foreign affairs a Mr know all, he said.



A Dawn report quoted Shah as saying that he was concerned over the tabling of a bill in the US Congress seeking to declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism.

Shah asked the government to give up the practice of running foreign policy on an ad-hoc basis and adopt a consistent policy, a veiled reference to the fact that the countrys foreign and defence policies were directly being controlled by the Army.



It is regrettable that the two most important ministries  defence and foreign affairs  are being run on an ad-hoc basis, he said.



The Opposition leader asked the government to take the parliament into confidence over the recent escalation in tension between Pakistan and India which he said had almost created war hysteria.
New Delhi: The south Asian countries on Friday agreed to operationalise the Saarc Terrorist Offences and Drugs Offences Monitoring Desks (STOMD) and the Saarc Drugs Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) so as to strengthen efforts against terrorism, an official release said.



During the two-day meeting held from September 22 to discuss anti-terror mechanism, representatives of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) countries discussed the issues of terrorism, trafficking and cyber crimes, the release said.



"There were discussions on fine tuning the Saarc anti-terrorism mechanism by improving and sharing regional monitoring systems, real-time exchange of information, capacity building through training of human resource and early ratification of the relevant SAARC conventions," it added.



The member-countries also endorsed the importance of regional cooperation in effectively tackling terror.



"They shared their experiences on various legislations to counter terrorism," the release said.



Other issues like corruption and money laundering were also brought up for discussions, the release added.



The meeting was chaired by Intelligence Bureau Director Dineshwar Sharma.




Harley-Davidson of Lynchburg will host Warrior Fest from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 20452 Timberlake Road. Tickets are a $10 donation. Children age 10 and younger are free. Tickets include a BBQ lunch.

Representatives from the Vietnam Veterans Council, Rolling Thunder, Combat Veterans, Order of the Purple Heart and American Legion will speak from noon to 1 p.m., and all funds raised will go to the Lynchburg Area Veterans Council, which provides support to area veterans by helping them with medical needs, expenses and more.

Harley-Davidson aims to raise $20,000 through the event, which features a raffle drawing for a Street 750 Harley Davidson at 5 p.m.

Other activities include the bands Lil Lemon at 11 a.m., J. Train at 1 p.m. and Morris Creek at 3 p.m.; a ride at 9 a.m.; a peoples choice bike show at 10 a.m.; and a BBQ lunch at noon.

Amy Trent
State charges will be dropped against a Vinton man accused of storing his grandmothers body in a drum while cashing her Social Security checks since he now faces federal indictment, the Commonwealths Attorney said Thursday.

Robert Andrew Wozniak, 48, goes on trial in U.S. District Court in Lynchburg in November. A grand jury indicted him Sept. 15 on theft of government property and Social Security fraud.

Bedford County authorities have said Wozniak discovered his grandmother, Betty Wozniak, deceased and then transported her body to his home at 100 Trapper Lane, keeping the remains stored for months.

Soon after Bedford County sheriff's deputies began their probe, they determined that fraud allegedly occurred over a series of jurisdictions, Wes Nance, Bedford County acting Commonwealths Attorney, said in an email.

Allegedly Mr. Wozniak lived in at least two other jurisdictions prior to moving to Bedford County while improperly obtaining benefits meant for his relative, Nance said. Federal authorities were contacted about the investigation, he said.

Federal, state and local agencies, the Commonwealths Attorney and the U.S. Attorney decided a federal prosecution would be the most appropriate avenue to take, he said.

Nance said that means his office plans to discontinue charges against Wozniak and we do not anticipate reinitiating them.

Those state charges included disposing of a body with malicious intent to avoid detection and four counts of obtaining money by false pretenses.
Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney Michael Doucette on Thursday formally requested an investigation by the Virginia State Police into discrepancies involving the finances of the nonprofit Lynchburg Fire Foundation.

The discrepancies surfaced earlier this month. The Lynchburg Police Department recommended the Lynchburg Commonwealths Attorney ask the Virginia State Police to conduct the investigation to avoid any conflict of interest between the police department and the Fire Foundation, according to a city news release this week.

We want complete and total transparency, Lynchburg Police Chief Raul Diaz said Thursday.

We dont want members of the public to think, because we work so closely with the fire department  and its not the fire department, by the way, its the foundation  we dont want people to think we skirted something.

Again, its a matter of optics and perception. We want to be above board. We want everyone to understand were doing everything lawfully and were not showing any particular favoritism or bias, and we feel that the best way to accomplish that is to let an outside agency do the investigation.

A statement this week provided by Jamie Maxwell, a member of the foundations board, said the foundation had discovered there may have been a misappropriation of funds by a member of the foundation board of directors. This person has been removed from the board and no longer has any ties to the Foundation.

In an interview, Maxwell declined to specify the amount of the discrepancies.

The fire foundation began in 2001 and helps support the Lynchburg Fire Department and community at large through fund-raising and other activities. Its 2014 tax return, the most recent return publicly available through the nonprofit database GuideStar, showed the foundation had about $37,400 in end-of-year net assets.

The foundations board currently is comprised of employees of the Lynchburg Fire Department, according to Martin Misjuns, a member of the board and a firefighter with Station 8 on Old Graves Mill Road.

The 2014 tax return lists seven officers or directors. One of them is Jason Campbell, who until recently was deputy chief of administration for the Lynchburg Fire Department.

According to City Manager Bonnie Svrcek, Campbell no longer is employed with the Lynchburg Fire Department.

In an email, Svrcek declined on Thursday to say when Campbells employment with the city ended or for what reason, citing it as a personnel matter.

Attempts to reach Campbell for comment Thursday were unsuccessful.

Other officers or directors listed on the 2014 return include Steven Ferguson, Lynchburg Fire Department Chief; Heather Childress, a LFD battalion chief; Darryl DuBose, a firefighter based at Station 4 on Birch Street; Maxwell, a master firefighter with LFD; Misjuns; and Neil Patterson.

DuBose said he no longer is a member of the foundation. An attempt to reach Neil Patterson was unsuccessful. According to the citys website, Patterson is a firefighter based at Fire Station 1 on Clay Street.

Ferguson said in an interview Wednesday he is a member of the foundations board.

Childress is a battalion chief with the fire department. She said she currently serves on the foundations board but not as an officer.

According to Childress, the most recent president was Jason Campbell. The position of board president now is filled on an interim basis by Maxwell, she said.

Childress declined to answer questions concerning the discrepancy in the foundations finances.

You dont understand how difficult this is, she said.

In an interview Wednesday, Maxwell said discrepancies in the foundations finances were discovered in early September; the Lynchburg Police Department was notified Sept. 19. Maxwell declined to specify the time period in which the discrepancies occurred.

The Lynchburg Fire Department is not under investigation, according to the city news release this week. Maxwell said there are no financial ties between the foundation and the fire department.

Doucette said in an email he had spoken Thursday morning to Capt. Keith S. Keesee, commander of the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Division Three, and emailed a formal request letter to Keesee that afternoon. Keesee responded that he had received the letter, Doucette said.

Based on my conversation with Capt. Keesee, I anticipate that their investigation will begin very soon, Doucette said.

In tax documents available through GuideStar, the Lynchburg Fire Foundation is listed as The Fire Foundation Inc. Total revenue in 2014 for The Fire Foundation Inc. was slightly more than $30,000. Total expenses were about $16,900 that year, the most recent year available on GuideStar. End-of-year net assets or fund balances are listed as $37,425.84.

No tax documents are available through GuideStar for 2013.

In 2012, total revenue was nearly $39,000. Total expenses exceeded revenue leaving a deficit of $897.57. Net assets or fund balances at the end of 2012 was $25,190.19.

.
The 5th Congressional District candidates meet twice next week, with the first forum scheduled for Monday in Appomattox, leading off for the nationally televised presidential debates later that evening.

ABC-13 WSETs Mark Spain will moderate between state Sen. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, and Democrat and former Albemarle County supervisor Jane Dittmar at the Appomattox Inn & Suites from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.

The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance and the Appomattox Chamber of Commerce will co-host the forum, not long before Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump go head-to-head from 9 to 10:30 p.m. in a televised debate.A panel of business alliance officers compiled the questions, drawing from the business alliances legislative priorities and input from members, according to Director of Public Policy and Special Programming Caroline Biggs.

Im looking forward to discussing the issues that really matter to the citizens of the 5th Congressional District and to outline my plans for economic growth based on my long experience with job creation and economic development, Dittmar said in a statement.

With the district drawn substantially in GOP favor, The Cook Political Report and the University of Virginia Center for Politics newsletter Sabatos Crystal Ball rank the race as likely Republican.

Dittmar outraised Garrett significantly early on and has released two TV ads in the Lynchburg/Roanoke and Charlottesville markets. Having served the people of Appomattox in the Virginia Senate for several years, I am very excited about participating in a Congressional debate here, Garrett said in a statement sent by his campaign. Debates like these are a great opportunity for voters to hear from the candidates directly without the filter of the news media and fancy TV ads.

Garretts statement said Dittmar declined multiple debate opportunities.

I am willing to debate her any time, any where. I trust that given the facts, Virginia voters will make the right decisions, Garretts statement said.

A response from Dittmar Communications Director Genevieve Cox compared the 5th Congressional Districts eight debates to the three scheduled for the presidential race.

We are looking forward to continuing to debate Senator Garrett, but any statement from his campaign saying that were dodging debates is ludicrous when there are eight on the books, Cox said. Lets stop playing politics and get back to talking about what matters to voters such as jobs and securing a strong future for our children.

The Appomattox debate is free and open to the public, but those wishing to attend are asked to reserve a seat online at www.lynchburgregion.org.

The University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy will host the weeks second candidate forum, the races third, on Wednesday.

Dean Allan C. Stam and Professor Gerald Warburg will moderate with questions focusing on domestic and foreign policy, according to the center website. The 6 p.m. event in Garrett Hall is free and open to the public.The first debate was held in August by the Senior Statesmen of Virginia at the Senior Center in Albemarle County. Five more are scheduled to follow after Wednesdays forum at U.Va.

The 5th Congressional District includes Appomattox, Campbell, Nelson and counties and southern Bedford County.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe hustled Thursday morning from his black SUV toward the entrance of the Roanoke Regional Chamber and the Clean Energy Business Roundtable inside as demonstrators outside shouted their dismay about his support for two separate multi-billion dollar fossil fuel infrastructure projects.

Protesters chanted, We need jobs that are clean and green, not a dirty pipeline poisoning streams!

Once inside the building, McAuliffe said the demonstrators presence provided evidence of democracy at work. But he said the protesters failed to understand that he has no say in the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline and separate but similar Atlantic Coast Pipeline. He said the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality must grant related water permits for the natural gas projects as long as applications filed by the private companies involved meet statutory requirements.

As interstate pipelines, both the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast projects must get approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to proceed.

McAuliffe has repeatedly emphasized his belief that the pipelines will boost economic development in the state, noting, for example, that many modern manufacturers rely on natural gas.

Later, after the roundtable ended, McAuliffe avoided the protesters altogether by exiting through a back door at the chamber building.

Meanwhile, several roundtable participants, including executives from businesses large and small that are involved in renewable energy projects, congratulated McAuliffe for his administrations support of solar and wind energy and efforts to promote energy efficiency. Discussion focused on clean energy projects completed, underway or proposed, as well as on how utilities, state government and regulators, including legislators and the State Corporation Commission, could provide additional support for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

One sponsor of Thursdays event was Advanced Energy Economy, a national association of businesses whose stated mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy companies. J.R. Tolbert, a vice president for Advanced Energy Economy, said before the roundtable that McAuliffe has done more under his watch to open up our state to investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency than any other leader.

McAuliffe was elected in November 2013 to a four-year term that began in January 2014.

Event co-sponsor Virginia Energy Efficiency Council released Thursday preliminary results of an industry census it says shows that the annual revenue for clean energy businesses in Virginia increased from $500,000 in 2013 to $2.1 billion in 2016.

Mark Goodwin, president and CEO of Apex Clean Energy, participated in the roundtable. Apex hopes to install wind turbines on North Mountain in Botetourt County. Goodwin described as commendable McAuliffes commitment to accelerating the shift to clean energy in Virginia.

Still, roundtable participants and McAuliffe agreed that Virginia needs to do more to support clean energy and energy efficiency and to attract and support related businesses and jobs.

Tony Smith, CEO and president of Staunton-based Secure Futures, a solar energy development company, said the state might want to examine how to establish economic incentives for utilities such as Appalachian Power to invest in solar installations owned by small businesses and homeowners.

The governor appeared in Roanoke less than a week after FERC released the draft environmental impact statement for the controversial Mountain Valley Pipeline. McAuliffes support for the natural gas project has led many environmentalists to question his commitment to clean energy.

An executive summary reported that FERC had determined that the construction and operation of the 42-inch diameter, 301-mile buried pipeline, which would transport natural gas at high pressure, would result in limited adverse environmental impacts, with the exception of impacts on forest  a conclusion that stirred alarm and incredulity among many pipeline opponents.

On Wednesday, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Virginia Organizing released statewide poll results that they said showed 55 percent of the 732 Virginia voters contacted by phone opposed McAuliffes efforts to back construction of the two pipeline projects.

During a news conference held to announce the poll results, Don Jones, a son of 86-year-old Giles County landowner George Jones, said he believes stress about the Mountain Valley Pipeline route potentially traveling across the familys property contributed to his father having a stroke earlier this year.

On Thursday morning, about 15 pipeline protesters gathered along Jefferson Street in downtown Roanoke, waiting for McAuliffes arrival for the roundtable. Four state troopers and a Roanoke police officer stood nearby, observing the protesters, whose numbers included Betty Werner and three other members of a farm family from Franklin County, an artist, several retirees, two Virginia Tech students and others.

Werner said the family has struggled to understand how a private company could gain access to their property for route surveying without their permission and ultimately garner the potential to use eminent domain to acquire an easement across it for the pipeline.

The stress has been horrendous, she said.
Hawk Claus spreads Christmas cheer in DC's Grifter Got Run Over By a Reindeer first look

Take a look at two stories from the DC holiday special including the titular chapter and a Hawkwoman and Hawkman tale
GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us.
MSJ: Business class too cheap

He called on the business class to invest more in the manufacturing sector in order to diversify the economy.

The business class in large measure wants to get as much as possible by doing as little as possible, Ab- dulah declared. Their investments are in the malls which are simply spaces where goods are imported for us to consume. Abdulah spoke at a pre-budget forum put on by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions and NGOs (FITUN) at the Oil Field Workers Trade Union Paramount headquarters in San Fernando on Wednesday. After detailing the causes of the countrys current economic demise, Abdulah called on the business class to step up to the plate and transform the economy from one of importation to one of manufacturing and importation.

Preventing this from happening, however, is the cheapness of the business class, Abdulah said.

He referenced the business classs response to the governments June deal with Venezuela to supply them with $50M worth of goods. Our manufacturers were unable to provide the goods that the Venezuelans required. They didnt even say let us employ a second and third shift to employ more people because we have a guaranteed market, we getting foreign exchange, we getting paid in US. Abdulah said that, as he understood it, manufacturers were unwilling to pay the transportation cost for their goods to be placed on planes and ships. They had no advertising cost in Venezuela, no cost of freight or insurance, they had no marketing cost, it was the easiest guaranteed market that anybody could have looked forward to. Trade and Industry Minister, Paula Gopee- Scoon, announced in June that the first shipment to Venezuela amounted to $26.9M of the $50M asked for.

This was the first shipment made in an initial three-month deal.

Abdulah, a former General Secretary of the OWTU, went on to dig into the countrys increasing levels of inequality.

According to him, 17% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2007, a number which increased to 25 percent in 2014. This happened when government revenue increased from some $25B to $50B.

The country earned more, but poverty increased by 8%. In July of this year, Wayne Yip Choy, the fired CEO of Angostura won a five year long court battle for wrongful dismissal. Angostura was ordered to pay Yip Choy $28M. Abdulah referenced this payment as a sign of gross inequality and illustrated how vast the gap is between the rich and the poor with a string of mathematical calculations.
Trini Revellers to launch Al Zawaj

According to band PRO Enrico Rajah, Trini Revellers will bring forth some of their most spectacular costume designs, with ideas coming all the way from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Oman and a host of Middle-Eastern countries, with the glitz and glamour of materials purchased locally thats going to blow your minds. He promised masqueraders and patrons, they would view some of the most eye-catching Arabian costumes yet.

Sections include The Wedding, Al Sahrah (Party in the Street), Al Trini Arabs, Sands of Al Hammad, Al Qabayil, Al Tabel, Al Zaffa and Al Sabiya.

The presentation revolves around a love story between two young people Fouad and Fazia who fell in love and wanted to get married, but couldnt do so because of strict regulations in Fouads country. The band attempts to capture the traditional preparations that occur before the start of the wedding ceremony and during the ceremony as well. The spectators will see a riot of colour in this presentation, Rajah said.

The Dabke Dancers will perform a dance that is traditional to all weddings, and guests include the royal families of the Middle East, the girls and boys of Anaz, belly dancers from Egypt and the diplomatic corps.

Because of the grandiose affair, Tribes from the Sands of Al Hammad and other Tribes (Tuaregs and Bedouins) will come to the wedding.

In addition, wedding guests will be treated to drummers and an Al Sahrah.

The actual wedding is known as Al Zaffa where the bride and bridegroom will be married.

Rajah said: This presentation required a lot of research. In addition, the recently arrived Arabs have offered lots of valuable information to enhance the quality of the band. A special thanks goes out to those gyro sellers on the avenue and the knowledgeable support from the workers at Lawrence of Arabia (Gaith Sukaria and Brahim Sukaria). Some of the sections have been given their authentic Arabic names as a result of the nature of this presentation. However, as is customary, mas outfit Rugeri that brings a significant section in the band launched its Al Trini Arabs section last Sunday and wowed invited guests.

Designer Jennifer Mac Intosh explained the concept of the costume.

She said: Of course, Trinidad was invited to the wedding. So the costume is based on Trinis going to an Arabian wedding. Trinis will be Trinis.

They want to look pretty and strut their stuff, hence the beads and the feathers. It was the feeling in order to be acceptable they should incorporate some of the Arab culture, therefore the hijab below the chin surrounding the face. Trinis wear hats, and the front of the headpiece is a spin off of a small hat worn by Princess Kate recently. The colours are true Trini red, white and black. For more info on the launch check the Revellers mas camp at 35, Gallus Street, Woodbrook.
MOTHER SNATCHED

I cant say what caused this, the 34-year-old womans worried father told Newsday yesterday.

If is money, they are struggling. Close relatives and friends of Ria were in tears as they appealed to the abductors to release her unharmed as she has never hurt anyone in her life.

Police yesterday confirmed that their investigations so far have revealed that Rias abductor was dressed in police operational gear. Up to press time, no ransom demand was made and police remain baffled saying they are yet to determine a motive.

The well-known hairdresser of Ragoo Village Extension, Wellington Road in Debe, was snatched moments after kissing her nine-year-old daughter Elena and son Toraz, five, as she saw them safely through the school gates.

She drove away from the school, up a hill, a stones throw away to Picton Estate Drive, where she is said to make a routine turn every morning and evening before heading back home. Police believe her abductors were lurking nearby and according to reports, as she attempted to make the turn, was pounced upon by a man dressed in police uniform.

The man, police said, dragged Sookdeo out from behind the steering wheel of her red Nissan X Trail van and threw her into a waiting black Nissan X trail van before speeding off. Surveillance cameras in the area picked up the vehicle. Up to late yesterday an island wide search continued for the missing woman.

Newsday was told the getaway vehicle was spotted in the Lengua district.

Yesterday, Sookdeos husband Mark Sookdeo, parents Frankie and Chandra Rajkumar and best friend Donna Narace wept as they appealed for her safe return.

Scores of other relatives and friends rushed to the family home as news spread of her kidnapping. Behind the yellow caution tape, her red van with the door on the drivers side still open was seen. In the vehicle, her handbag and cell phone were untouched.

It is the turn she makes every day, said her weeping husband Mark Sookdeo who wondered aloud how he would break the news to their children when they arrived home from school. I make that same turn whenever I am off and come to drop them to school,  he said.

Mark was at work when he received the disturbing news and arrived on the site still dressed in his work coverall. This is the worse information someone could ever get and I come down here and see all this, he moaned.

Mark said he never heard his wife complain of any problems or threats to her safety. He said he would usually drop the children to school on his off days.

The couple recently purchased the X Trail and a Fielder station-wagon. A police report stated that at 8.15 am, Sookdeo dropped off her children at the Picton Presbyterian School and proceeded to drive a short distance off to turn her vehicle on Picton Estate Drive.

Police said as she attempted to turn, a heavily tinted black X Trail van pulled in front of her.

A male occupant dressed in police uniform exited the black vehicle, pulling Sookdeo out from the drivers seat and throwing her inside their vehicle before speeding off with her. A party of officers led by Insp Don Gajadhar and including W/ Sgt Morrison, Cpl Bacchus and PCs Marshall, Rampersad and Joseph visited the scene. They were able to use footage from surveillance cameras in the area to assist with investigations.

Sookdeos father Frankie Rajkumar told Newsday his daughter and son-in-law are a struggling couple just like any other young family. He said he spent time with her on Wednesday night and she was normal. He (Mark) was laid off and only recently got back his job at Petrotrin.

I cant say what caused this. If is money, they are struggling.

They bought this vehicle (Xtrail) about four months ago and a Fielder. They dont have enemies, they live good with people, he said.

They just dragged her out the vehicle, her phone, her purse everything remained there. She is a good looking girl, very pretty. My head hurting me right now with worry, Rajkumar said. Sookdeos best friend Donna Narace asked: Who would want to do that to Ria? She wont even harm a fly.

She is so fragile. She dont know about violence, she is scared of everything. Narace added, I am begging whoever have Ria, please let her go because she has nothing you want. She does not deserve this. Meanwhile, the victims cousin Councillor Marsha Khan described the family as a closeknit one and described Ria as the most genuine and most friendly person who bears no malice against anyone. Rias mother Chandra said she is leaving everything up to God.

Officers were assisted in their search yesterday by the National Security Helicopter Viper One along with members of the San Fernando CID, Southern Division Task Force, Highway Patrol, Rapid Response Unit and officers of the Barrackpore Police Station.
WASA promises to deal with rats

In an e-mailed response to Newsday yesterday, Plenty stated: The Water and Sewerage Authority wishes to acknowledge there is a rodent problem at our Penal compound that is currently engaging the Authoritys attention. The Authority views this situation very seriously and with that in mind undertook the clean-up of the site removing unusable material and relocating the garbage collection bin. The final step to be taken to eradicate these rodents will be action for pest control on September 23.

Thereafter the situation will be monitored to ensure there is no reoccurrence of this situation. The Authority furthermore wishes to assure customers supplied by the Penal Water Treatment Plant that the safety of their water supply has in no way been compromised by this situation.The Authority apologizes for any distress caused to those who frequent this facility. On Tuesday, workers complained about a rat invasion which forced them out of a 20-foot-container they have occupied for the past five years. For the past month, workers have reported for duty on mornings and then leaving immediately.
FFOS: Dont eat fish

FFOS said this was significantly higher than any scientific study on the matter or similar investigation into environmental and human health concerns. Tests were carried out after thousands of dead fish washed up on the shore of the Gulf of Paria in late July. The EMA announced on Tuesday that samples from 12 geographic areas would be sent to the United States Food and Drug Administration for indepedent testing.

While the EMA said the testing would provide basis for a definitive statement on the issue, FFOS said why the internationally accredited and certified laboratories throughout Trinidad and Tobago were bypassed in favor of the FDA remained unclear. Why is a very serious public health concern to the citizens of TT being handed over to a US government entity without a deadline, while locally available resources are being overlooked and previous reports, such as the National Environment Assessment Task Force Oil, FFOS queried.

FFOS alleged that the FDA has historically and continues to be accused of dishonest and politically/corporately motivated misconduct.

We empathise with our members, the local fishermen whose livelihoods have been impacted by these investigations, but our concern must be the protection of their lives and the health of the public above all else.
New system to stop ghost gangs

There is a theory outside there that the government will rise or fall on the back of CEPEP or URP, declared San Fernando West Member of Parliament, Faris Al Rawi. He spoke to a crowd gathered in the San Fernando City Hall for the PNMs 45th Annual Conference for his constituency. But what I want to tell you is that the Prime Minister has committed to a CEPEP and URP that does not involve ghost gangs! In order to measure work and ensure the efficient performance of CEPEP gangs, a new system was required, said Al Rawi. Because $43 million a month could be spent on productive payment where the work is measured and performed as opposed to estimated on people that you cant find. Ghost gangs refer to the discovery of names on the CEPEP payroll that were listed without corresponding ID card and bank account numbers, which breached the payment system and hinted at corruption in the programme.

According to Al Rawi, the system to alleviate this is already in place and the effects of it would be seen in time to come. You will see the emergence of a properly structured, properly staffed enterprise where there is equality, equity, and fairness in the system. The integrity of the CEPEP programme has been called into question throughout the year. Most recently, Oropouche East MP, Roodal Moonilal, accused National Security Minister Edmund Dillon of influencing the distribution of CEPEP contracts in his Point Fortin constituency.

He produced a letter which he later published on his Facebook page which showed a list of 11 contractors being recommended by Dillon to the Secretary of the CEPEP Tenders Committee.

Dillon has since not responded to Moonilals allegations.

In his address, Al Rawi assured the PNM stalwarts in attendance that Mr Big will be brought to justice, but to just have patience a little bit now. Though you have not yet heard of Mr Big in chains or behind bars, I will repeat what the PM said last night: the wheels of justice turn slowly but dont for one moment think that they not turning properly...we closing the loop holes for criminality in this country...
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(Newser)  The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees said Thursday they have concluded Russian intelligence agencies are making a "serious and concerted effort" to influence the US presidential election, the AP reports. 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.

"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," Schiff and Feinstein said. "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. The US 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. Asked whether the US might respond to the hacking, President Obama's homeland security adviser said "Stay tuned." (Read more Russia stories.)
(Newser)  It already has animal style, so why not vegetable style? Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition demanding the California-based In-N-Out burger chain add a veggie option, USA Today reports. According to the Change.org petition, which has received more than 30,000 signatures, vegetarians eating at In-N-Out are stuck with French fries or a "cheese-slathered bun." It adds that there is no "healthy, humane, and sustainable option" at the restaurant. The Los Angeles Times points out that In-N-Out's official menu is "renowned for its simplicity," but the restaurant does offer a grilled cheese sandwich on its "secret menu." In-N-Out is aware of the petition, which will be sent to the company's president, but has no comment.

The petition was started by the Good Food Institute. "Southern California is a mecca for plant-based eating and food," the nonprofit's executive director, Bruce Friedrich, says. "In-N-Out should be leading the charge." And while his petition may gaining signatures, Business Insider points out anti-veggie burger comments are drowning out the pro-veggie side on the In-N-Out Facebook page. And not everyone against the petition is a meat-eater. One vegan wonders why any vegetarian would want to "support a company that slaughters cows by the thousands" even if it has an awesome veggie burger. Regardless, Friedrich hopes a veggie option can crack the In-N-Out menuor at least its secret menu. (Read more In-N-Out stories.)
(Newser)  Thursday night was the silliest night in scientists' calendars, and with winners including a man who wore prosthetic extensions to live among a herd of goats in the Alps for several days, this year's Ig Nobel awards did not disappoint. In front of a rowdy crowd, real Nobel winners handed out the awards to those who had the year's oddest research. Winners also received $10 trillionin a single Zimbabwean banknote (US value: less than $1). Some highlights from the annual ceremony at Harvard University, which was presented by the Annals of Improbable Research:

"Goat man" Tom Thwaites wore his goat legs to the awards ceremony .He tells the BBC that he gained a "goat buddy" during his time in the Alpsbut there were some tense moments. "I was just sort of walking around, you know, chewing grass, and just looked up and then suddenly realized that everyone else had stopped chewing and there was this tension which I hadn't kind of noticed before and then one or two of the goats started tossing their horns around and I think I was about to get in a fight," he says. Thwaites shared the biology prize with Charles Foster, another Brit who has spent time living in the wild as, among other things, a badger, an otter, and a fox.

Science reports that the medicine prize went to a team of neurologists and psychologists, who, with the help of video cameras, mirrors, and volunteers injected with a chemical that causes a mild itch, discovered that scratching the left side of your body will relieve an itch on the right side if you're looking in a mirror at the time.

A Japanese team won the perception prize with a study published as "Perceived Size and Perceived Distance of Targets Viewed From Between the Legs: Evidence for Proprioceptive Theory." Their research involved bending over and looking at things from between their legs to see if they looked any different.

Egyptian urologist Ahmed Shafik was posthumously awarded the reproduction prize for his research on how wearing trousers of polyester, cotton, or wool affected the sex lives of rats. The rats that wore polyester had the biggest drop in sexual activity, notes the Guardian.

This year's Ig Nobel in chemistry went to Volkswagen, for "solving the problem of excessive automobile pollution emissions by automatically, electromechanically producing fewer emissions whenever the cars are being tested."

(Previous Ig Nobels have gone to scientists who swallowed parboiled dead shrews and a researcher who allowed bees to sting every part of his anatomy .)
(Newser)  Saddle up for The Magnificent Seven, Antoine Fuqua's remake of the 1960 classic about a mismatched group of seven in search of justice. This version has been updated with a more diverse cast and a bit more humor, but otherwise it's pretty much the same. Here's what critics are saying:



Richard Roeper sums it up like this for the Chicago Sun-Times: The Magnificent Seven is a "rousing, albeit sometimes cheesy, action-packed Western bolstered by Denzel Washingtons baddest-of-the-baddasses lead performance, mostly fine supporting work, and yep, some of the most impressively choreographed extended shootout sequences in recent memory." However, "Peter Sarsgaard wildly overplays his role" as villain and Chris Pratt is "underwhelming."

Fuqua and his multicultural cast succeed in "updating the story with the crackle of the contemporary without sacrificing the basic plot's lean, compelling simplicity," writes Cary Darling at DFW.com. "The final, very violent confrontationwhich takes up much of the back half of the filmis dizzyingly well-choreographed" and "Washington's commanding presence helps elevate what otherwise might be ordinary."

There's "not much dramatic tension of good versus bad" due to the pacing of the villainous Sarsgaard's appearances, but the film still does justice to the original, writes Soren Andersen at the Seattle Times. It's a "highly enjoyable picture, packed with sweeping Western vistas and massive quantities of gunplay," he adds. "Count this one as a guilty pleasure."

Tirdad Derakhshani, however, was "sorely disappointed." Yes, the flick is "supremely competent, enjoyable, even gleefully fun" but it's also "largely forgettable," Derakhshani writes at the Philadelphia Inquirer. While the makers of the 1960 film produced "a creative reconfiguration and reinterpretation" of Seven Samurai, Fuqua and his team simply "parrot." At least Washington is "brilliant."

(Read more movie review stories.)
(Newser)  The rusty patched bumblebee has gone from a widespread and well-known pollinator to the edge of extinction in just 20 years. Reuters reports that the species, which got its name from the reddish patch on its abdomen, has been proposed for the endangered species list by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It would be the first of the US and Canada's 47 bumblebee species on the list. The bee's population has dropped by close to 90% since the late 1990s because of factors including disease and habitat loss, according to Fish and Wildlife, which describes this species and other bumblebees as pollinators that "contribute to our food security and the healthy functioning of our ecosystems."

Rusty patched bumblebees were once found in at least 26 eastern states, but they're only seen in a handful of states today, according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which asked the government to safeguard the species. The Los Angeles Times notes that the bee's decline is bad news for anybody who eats food: It has a longer life span than most bumblebees and is better than most at pollinating crops, including cranberries, plums, alfalfa, and apples. (Spraying for Zika mosquitoes in South Carolina ended up killing millions of honeybees.)
(Newser)  A congressman has apologized for his eye-raising comments about the protesters in Charlotte during a TV interview Thursday, but that's hardly quelling accusations of racism. Asked about the protesters, Republican Rep. Robert Pittengerwho represents North Carolina's ninth congressional district, which covers parts of Charlottetold BBC Newsnight that "they hate white people because white people are successful and they're not. I mean, yes, it is, it is a welfare state. We have spent trillions of dollars on welfare, and we've put people in bondage so they can't be all that they are capable of being," per the New York Times.

Criticism was swift on social media, with many urging voters to ensure Pittenger, 68, isn't re-elected in November. North Carolina State Rep. Grier Martin, a Democrat, said the comment was "one of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard" and that he was "ashamed to have served with this fool" in the North Carolina General Assembly. Pittenger countered that he had intended "to discuss the lack of economic mobility for African Americans because of failed policies." He later told CNN he was "quoting" protesters who appeared on CNN on Wednesday. "It didn't come out right, and I apologize. I have many, many good friends in the African-American community," he said. (Read more Charlotte stories.)
(Newser)  The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is demanding a full-scale investigation into the rape of at least 11 women at the hands of Mexican police during a crackdown on protesters in 2006a crackdown ordered by now-President Enrique Pena Nieto. Fox News Latino reports Pena Nieto was the governor of the state of Mexico when hundreds of people took over a town square to protest police stopping vendors from selling flowers at a nearby market. More than 40 womenvendors, students, and activistswere violently arrested, according to the New York Times. The commission found that at least 11 women were "raped, beaten, penetrated with metal objects, robbed, and humiliated, made to sing aloud to entertain police."

The government initially accused the women of making it up but eventually acknowledged the rape and abuse. Regardless, no police were ever prosecuted. Instead, the women were prosecuted, with five of them spending more than a year locked up on minor charges, such as blocking traffic. One woman tells the Times the experience "haunts" her. While Pena Nieto was not directly accused of wrongdoing by the commission, any thorough investigation would involve looking into his involvement in ordering the crackdown. It's yet another scandal for a president whose approval ratings have been tanking amid accusations of corruption and violence. In total, two protesters were killed and another 207 were "victims of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment" in the 2006 incident. (Read more Enrique Pena Nieto stories.)
(Newser)  Did notorious gangster Al Capone have a soft spot? An intimate letter he penned from prison suggests so. The three-page letter, which being auctioned off next week, is addressed to Capone's son, Albert "Sonny" Capone. The mobster signed it, "Love & Kisses, Your Dear Dad Alphonse Capone #85" (his number at the Alcatraz prison), the AP reports. "Well heart of mine, sure hope things come our way for next year, then I'll be there in your arms," Capone wrote. "It's an exceedingly rare personal letter showing the softer side of the notorious gangster," says the executive VP of RR Auction, which is handling Monday's auction in Cambridge, Mass., and expects the note to fetch around $50,000.

The legendary Brooklyn-born mobster, who ruled gangland Chicago during Prohibition, was charged with income tax evasion in 1931; he was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison, much of which he spent at Alcatraz. He was released from prison in 1939; riddled with syphilis, he suffered a stroke and died in 1947 at age 48. Though the letter to his then-college-aged son is dated only "Jan 16th," experts say he likely wrote it in 1938, four years after he transferred to Alcatraz. In a somewhat surprisingly cheerful tone, his letter describes the daily grind in prison, which Capone tried to relieve by playing banjo and mandola. Capone ended the letter encouraging his son to stay strong: "Well Sonny keep up your chin, and don't worry about your dear Dad, and when again you [are] allowed a vacation, I want you and your dear Mother to come here together, as I sure would love to see you." Read more from the letter here. (Read more Al Capone stories.)
(Newser)  This should calm tensions on the Korean peninsula. Asked in parliament on Wednesday whether South Korea had a plan in place to take out North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should the need arise, the country's defense minister didn't beat around the bush. "Yes, we do have such a plan," Han Min-koo replied, per CNN, which called the response "candid" and surprising to some. "If it becomes clear the enemy is moving to attack the South with nuclear missile, in order to suppress its aims, the concept [of the special forces] is to destroy key figures and areas [that] include the North Korean leadership," Han said, per Korea Times.

CNN reports this special forces unit is already assembled, but other reports suggest it's still a concept. UPI reports Han also said the country needs half-a-million active-duty soldiers in order to fend off a hypothetical attack from the North, which has 1.2 million. In an appearance before the UN General Assembly on Thursday, South Korea's foreign minister questioned North Korea's fitness to be a "peace-loving UN member." This is notable, reports the Korea Times, in that the South has not officially spoken out against the North's membership in the 15 years the North has had it. The country "is totally ridiculing the authority of the General Assembly and the Security Council," Yun Byung-se said. (North Korea has only 28 websites.)
The world was in awe when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted on his social media account Thursday that he and his wife are laying out plans to put $3 billion dollars for medicine research that will help cure top diseases which causes death in our generation. This movement is part of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his pediatrician wife Priscilla Chan spoke at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) William J Rutter Center Wednesday. A teary Chan narrated the root why the recent plans of CZI came about. While working in her field, she witnessed the pain that her parents went through.

Yahoo recounted Chan's story through a quote where she mentioned that our world right now has limitations in understanding the human body and has little access to information as to why it leads to certain diseases. She also pointed out that because of these limitations, it confines the boundaries in alleviating suffering in humans.

CZI will dig into the causes and preventions of the world's most-known killer diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, heart disease and neurological diseases. The Guardian reports that the biggest project will cost $600 million for the construction of a Biohub at UCSF. This will be the center where scientists and health engineers from UCSF, Berkeley and Stanford will meet to discuss, obtain and invent tools that will help cure diseases.

Coming in second on the line up of projects is the creation of a transformative technology that will be widely used by scientists everywhere. The technology's importance is likened to that of the 'telescope' which help researchers and scientists observe microorganisms which are affecting the human body.

According to Cornelia Bargmann, an American Neurobiologist and front-runner of CZI claims that this technology is needed to develop new cures and further understanding on diseases "in all areas of medicine."

To a big surprise, the plan also won the approval of Microsoft founder Bill Gates who was welcomed by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on stage. Gates said that CZI has already done a lot of great things in providing education and knowledge to students. He added that this whole new plan is a bold challenge, however, it will provide great progress in medicinal studies.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High near 10F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low -1F. Winds light and variable.
New Delhi:

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 last night, police said on Friday.



The schools and colleges in Uran and adjoining areas have been shut on Friday.



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 Uranand 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 (NSG) and state polices 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 on Thursday sounded 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.

Also read:

Watch Video: Mumbai goes on high alert, NSG teams deployed

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 Societys 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 Indias biggest naval base, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, fertiliser plants, refineries, power plants and the countrys 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 Navys elite strike force.

(With PTI Inputs)

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New Delhi:

India has signed the Euro 7.8 billion deal for 36 Rafale jets with French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian in New Delhi on Friday. The new 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, has been 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 per cent offset clause.

The combat readiness of a countrys defence forces is of utmost importance to safeguard the sovereign and territorial integrity of a nation.

The Indian Air Force has long been wanting to overhaul its obsolete fleet of fighter aircrafts which it procured long time back in the early 70s and 80s. Ever since the collapse of our long term defence partner mighty Soviet Union in the early 90s, India has never been able to strike a long term relationship with a foreign partner in procuring the state of art fighters, which are critical to Indias strike capabilities in air.

Here are some insights into how the Rafale deal unfolded -

Rationale behind the Rafale Deal

 Rafale was not the only contender in Indian Air Forces bid to revamp its fighter fleet. Several international aviation manufacturers expressed interest upon knowing that the Indian government had a massive plan to revamp its Indian Airforce fleet by introducing MMRCAs.

 Six world-renowned aircraft manufacturers entered the fray and competed hard to bag the contract of 126 fighter jets, which was touted to be the largest-ever defence procurement deal of India.

 The Initial bidders were Lockheed Martins F-16s, Boeings F/A-18s, Eurofighter Typhoon, Russias MiG-35, Swedens Saabs Gripen and Rafale.

 The IAF tested all aircraft and after careful analysis on the bids, two of them  Eurofighter and Rafale  were shortlisted. Dassault finally was awarded the contract to provide 126 fighter jets, as it was the lowest bidder and the aircraft was easy on maintenance.

Rafale Fighter

Category: Fighter

Role: Twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)

Manufactured By: Dassault Aviation (France)

Role: Multirole aircraft that is capable of performing a wide-range of combat roles such as air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence.

Rationale behind Actual Procurement Process

 Indian Air Force sought additional fighter jets in 2001 as their fleet largely consists of heavy and light-weight combat aircraft. So the Defence Ministry considered bringing in intermediate medium-weight fighter jets. Though the idea has been around since 2001, the actual process began in 2007.

 The Defence Acquisition Council, headed by then Defence Minister A.K. Antony, approved the Request for Proposal to buy 126 aircraft in August 2007. This kick-started the bidding process.



How many Rafale's is Indian procuring:

 Deal was initially estimated to be worth $10.2 billion (Rs.54, 000 crore).

 The plan included acquiring 126 aircraft, 18 of them in fly-away condition and the rest to be made in India at the Hindustan Aeronautics facility under transfer of technology. So Rafale won the contract.

The Indian side and Dassault started negotiations in 2012. While it is usual for such negotiations to stretch to several months, the Rafale negotiations has been on for almost four years now. The agreement was signed only in January this year. Though the initial plan was to buy 126 jets, India brought it down to 36 fighters so as to have it in ready condition.

Benefits of the Deals:

France:

 Rafale jets are currently operational in only the French, Egyptian and Qatari Airforce. Therefore, Dassault hopes to meet its revenue targets by exporting Rafale jets.

 India was the first country that agreed to buy Rafale, after it was in operation in the Libyan airstrikes. If India inducts these jets in its military fold, other nations could well be potential buyers for the Rafales.

India:

 India chose Dassault over its traditional partner Russias MiG. It also overlooked U.S.'s Lockheed, at a time when India and U.S. were aiming for improve military ties.

 Procurement of combat aircraft is long overdue for the Indian Air Force. This deal is Indias biggest-ever procurement. If all goes well with the Rafale deal in terms of transparency and quality norms, it would well set an example for the future of other major defence procurements.

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New Delhi:

In a heart warming story which came out in the open on Thursday; Anuj Varshney, Rajat Kumar, Honey Sharma, Anshul Kumar and dozens of youth from Chandausi town of Sambhal District near Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh have appealed to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi by writing a letter with their blood seeking revenge against the terrorists over the killing of Indian soldiers in the Uri attack.

They have requested that the Indian Government should give a benefiting reply to Pakistan for unleashing this reign of terror at Uri.

The letter states the following:

"Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan should be paid back in the same coin. Pak PM Sharif should be given a reality check. The country must take some strong action after Pakistan PM Sharif's address at the UNGA. Talks wont hold good any longer, war is the only resort. Kill 10 Pakistanis for every Indian soldiers sacrafice. There is no scope of diplomacy or negotiation, action is the need of the hour."

Explaining the motives behind the letter, Anuj Varshaney, one of the youths, said,"The group wrote this message with their blood so that the Indian establishment may seek revenge of our martyrs by killing the Pakistan terrorist and thereby serve justice to their supreme sacrifices."

The recent attack in Uri has build up a strong wave of anger and resentment against the Pakistan establishment, Nawaz Sharif and their state sponsored terrorists.

In light to this growing sentiment, PM Modi would have to take some strong action against Pakistan very soon.

The citizens of our country are brimming / seething with anger after the recent terror attacks in Uri, South Kashmir that left 18 soldiers of the Indian Army dead and many more injured. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's 'Kashmir Bogey' in the ongoing US General Assembly has aggravated the pain and anguish for Pakistan in the hearts of the Indians.

The Pakistan PM has been severely condemned for his speech, which has been seen as a false propaganda to garner support from the international fraternity on the Kashmir issue. Where on one hand, the country has being paying homage to the sacrifices of the brave Indian soldiers, the citizens have also expressed their strong protests against Pakistan by burning the Pakistani Flag and effigies of their PM Nawaz Sharif.

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New Delhi:

A report on 'Child Online Protection in India' was released by UNICEF which helps in mapping 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, school going 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.

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New Delhi:

In a major security breach at the Indira Gandhi International airport only two days after the terrorist attack in Uri, a man carrying a bag scaled the perimeter wall of the airport on Tuesday morning and roamed around the runway area with a bag in hand, unnoticed for almost half-an-hour.



Sangram Singh, from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh, crossed the Airport restricted area perimeter and walked up to the runaway undetected. He roamed the runaway until the alarm went off, half an hour later.



His interrogation has not revealed anything suspicious.



A senior security officer at IGI airport said the intrusion was detected around 8am on Tuesday. "The security operations control centre (SOCC) reported that PIDS had raised an alarm about an intrusion. Security men were divided into teams and an instant manhunt was launched. Around 9.30am, the suspect was held near gate number 10, on city side area," he said.



Despite the alarm, Singh managed to walk back to gate number 10 of the airport, where he was apprehended by airport security. The Intelligence and CISF interrogated him and later handed him over top Delhi Police.



Sangram Singh was in Delhi to catch a train to his hometown Sagar, MP. But what he was doing at the airport is still unclear.

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New Delhi:

Pakistan Army has made its operational plan ready in case of any surgical strike from Indian armed forces under its Cold Start Doctrine, according to a report in Pakistan news website.



A report in The News International claims that the Pakistan forces have selected targets in India for an immediate response in case of any military strike from Indian side.



The report further quoted Pakistani defence sources as saying, Pakistan is fully prepared to meet any military challenge from India. Our operational plan is ready, quid pro quo targets are finalised and forces have been dedicated. Pakistan would not digest any aggression from India."



Whether it is a Cold Start or hot pursuit, we are ready, The News International quoted another defence source as saying in its report.



He was responding on a question about Indias reported preparations to attack selected targets in Pakistan under the Cold Start war doctrine.



On Sept 21, the same Pakistani website had reported that India moved the units of Indian Army and Indian Air Force to forward air bases near Line of Control (LoC) to launch surgical strikes as part of its three-phased strategy.



Pakistan's decision to close airspace over the countrys northern areas and flights by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter planes was taken as a precautionary step on Wednesday, and 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 in Karachi Stock Markets (KSE) when it opened on Thursday.

The small investors ran for cover and the Karachi 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 tensions between the nuclear-armed adversaries have soared recently after the Uri terror attacks.

Heavily armed terrorists had stormed the Army camp in Kashmir's Uri sector in the wee hours of September 18, killing 18 jawans and injuring 19 other personnel in the terror strike in which four militants were neutralised.



Battle reaches 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.

Also Read | Who is India's NSA Ajit Doval and what is 'Doval Doctrine'?

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New Delhi:

The 'Nokia 216 Dual SIM' was launched by US tech giant Microsoft on Friday morning. The phone has been modestly priced at Rs 2,495.

The 'Nokia 216' could attract the entry level segment customers who are not very tech-savvy about their gadgets buys. The high end smartphone users could also use the device as a backup when their smartphone's battery die down.

Featuring two cameras with LED flash, the internet enabled Nokia 216 Dual SIM comes with an FM Radio, MP3 and video player and bluetooth audio support for headsets, a company statement said here. It said the devices can store up to 2,000 contacts with a memory card support of up to 32GB.

The mobile phone is available in black, grey and blue colours. The gadget has been crafted with polycarbonate shell that is built to give it longevity, Microsoft said. The company added that it has an "outstanding" battery life that will keep users connected for longer. The phone will be available in India from October 24 at best buy price of Rs 2,495, it said.

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New Delhi:

The 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty has 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.



Also read: India to rethink Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, says MEA



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.



In the second half of the 20th century, more than 200 water treaties were successfully negotiated. The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived two wars, and remains in force today. (With Inputs from PTI)

Also read: Indus Waters Treaty represents a source of cooperation, says UN Diplomat



Take poll here

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New Delhi:

India on Friday signed the Euro 7.8 billion (Rs 580,000 crore) deal for 36 Rafale jets with French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian in New Delhi. The new jets which come equipped with latest missiles and weapon system, will give Indian Air Force a cutting edge over arch rival Pakistan.



The deal for the aircraft, the first fighter jet deal in 20 years, was signed by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Drian.



Also present were the chief executive officers (CEOs) of top French companies, including Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale.

#WATCH Deal for 36 #Rafale fighter jets between India and France signed; deal is worth 7.8 billion euros. pic.twitter.com/3SeWCcRRQe a ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

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 per cent offset clause.A

Here are some insights into how the Rafale deal unfolded -A

Rationale behind the Rafale Deal

aA Rafale was not the only contender in Indian Air Forceas bid to revamp its fighter fleet. Several international aviation manufacturers expressed interest upon knowing that the Indian government had a massive plan to revamp its Indian Airforce fleet by introducing MMRCAs.

aA Six world-renowned aircraft manufacturers entered the fray and competed hard to bag the contract of 126 fighter jets, which was touted to be the largest-ever defence procurement deal of India.

aA The Initial bidders were Lockheed Martinas F-16s, Boeingas F/A-18s, Eurofighter Typhoon, Russiaas MiG-35, Swedenas Saabas Gripen and Rafale.

a The IAFA tested allA aircraft and after careful analysis on the bids, two of them a Eurofighter and Rafale a were shortlisted. Dassault finally was awarded the contract to provide 126 fighter jets, as it was the lowest bidder and the aircraft was easy on maintenance.

Rafale FighterA

Category:A Fighter

Role:A Twin-engine Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)A

Manufactured By:A Dassault Aviation (France)A

Role:A A Multirole aircraft that is capable of performing a wide-range of combat roles such as air supremacy, interdiction, aerial reconnaissance, ground support, in-depth strike, anti-ship strike and nuclear deterrence.

Rationale behind Actual Procurement Process

aA Indian Air Force sought additional fighter jets in 2001 as their fleet largely consists of heavy and light-weight combat aircraft. A So the Defence Ministry considered bringing in intermediate medium-weight fighter jets. Though the idea has been around since 2001, the actual process began in 2007.A

aA The Defence Acquisition Council, headed by then Defence Minister A.K. Antony, approved the Request for Proposal to buy 126 aircraft in August 2007. This kick-started the bidding process.



How many Rafale's is Indian procuring:

aA Deal was initially estimated to be worth $10.2 billion (Rs.54, 000 crore).A

aA The plan included acquiring 126 aircraft, 18 of them in fly-away condition and the rest to be made in India at the Hindustan Aeronautics facility under transfer of technology. So Rafale won the contract.

The Indian side and Dassault started negotiations in 2012. While it is usual for such negotiations to stretch to several months, the Rafale negotiations has been on for almost four years now. The agreement was signed only in January this year. Though the initial plan was to buy 126 jets, India brought it down to 36 fighters so as to have it in ready condition.

Benefits of the Deals:

France:A

aA Rafale jets are currently operational in only the French, Egyptian and Qatari Airforce. Therefore, Dassault hopes to meet its revenue targets by exporting Rafale jets.

aA India was the first country that agreed to buy Rafale, after it was in operation in the Libyan airstrikes. If India inducts these jets in its military fold, other nations could well be potential buyers for the Rafales.

India:A

aA India chose Dassault over its traditional partner Russiaas MiG. It also overlooked U.S.'s Lockheed, at a time when India and U.S. were aiming for improve military ties.A

aA Procurement of combat aircraft is long overdue for the Indian Air Force. This deal is Indiaas biggest-ever procurement. If all goes well with the Rafale deal in terms of transparency and quality norms, it would well set an example for the future of other major defence procurements.

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New Delhi:

The Maharashtra Navnirman Senas film wing, the Chitrapat Sena, on Friday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to all Pakistani artists to leave the country or else it will send them by force.



The MNS Chitrapat Sena's president Amey Khopkar has issued a statement, which says, We gave a 48 hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or MNS will push them out."



The MNSs diktat comes at a time when ties between India and Pakistan are particularly tense, after the attack by infiltrators in Uri, Kashmir, which left 18 Indian military personnel dead.



MNS has also threatened to block the release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees and Ranbir and Aishwarya's next Aae Dil Hai Mushkil as the movies have Pakistani actors, Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan, respectively.



The MNS' strident anti-Pakistan stance is not new.

In January this year, the Raj Thackeray-headed political organisation had threatened to disrupt a proposed concert by ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, if it was held in Mumbai. Ali's concert, which had incidentally been planned by the Nationalist Congress Party, and was scheduled for a month after the Pathankot terror attack, was finally cancelled.



In October 2015, the MNS had refused to allow the screening of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan's film Bin Roye in Maharashtra.

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New Delhi:

The Delhi government is at loggerheads with the Lt Governor once again as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on September 23 to review his decision of removing Krishna Saini as chairperson of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) in public interest. He claimed that the AAP government followed proper procedures during the selection process.

In his 27-page note to Jung, Kejriwal said cancelling the appointment of Saini will only lead to "serious problems" for the power sector and adverse impact on the consumers which could not been the "intention" of the Lt Governor. The Delhi Chief Minister has also offered to meet Jung personally and request him to revoke scrapping of appointment of Saini as the chairman of power regulator body. In the note, Kejriwal cited Transaction of Business Rules (TBR) and said all laid down rules were followed by the Delhi government while appointing Saini.

"The entire selection process was conducted in a fair and transparent manner and in full conformity with law while bearing public interest in mind. There is not an iota of mala fide, bias or other irregularity in the process," Kejriwal said in the note.

The LG's office had on Monday said Saini was appointed to the top post of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) in March without Jung's approval, as mandated under rules and procedures.

The Delhi CM said that since the AAP government has challenged the High Court order stamping the primacy of LG in the city administration, the matter is sub-judice and it would be appropriate to await the final orders of the Supreme Court.

The Kejriwal government had constituted a Selection Committee to appoint the Chairman of DERC this year. The CM said that the committee was headed by a retired High Court Judge and included the Chairman, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and the Chief Secretary as Members.

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New Delhi:

In a shocking incident, a Samsung Note 2 smartphone caught fire soon after emitting smoke onboard a Singapore-Chennai flight of IndiGo. The incident took place on Friday morning when the plane was making landing at the airport.



"The crew noticed smoke from the bin and found the device was emitting smoke after possibly catching fire. They used fire extinguishers on it," said a spokesperson of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).



"We advise flyers to exercise caution while flying with Samsung Note devices. They should either keep these devices switched off or not travel with them," said a DGCA spokesman.



An IndiGo statement said: "IndiGo confirms that a few passengers travelling on 6E-054 flight from Singapore to Chennai noticed the smoke smell in the cabin this morning (September 23, 2016) and immediately alerted the cabin crew on board. The crew quickly identified minor smoke coming from the hat-rack of seat 23 C and simultaneously informed the pilot-in-command who further alerted the ATC of the situation on board."



It added: "Taking precautionary measure, the cabin crew on priority relocated all passengers on other seats, and further observed smoke being emitted from a Samsung note 2 which was placed in the baggage (of a passenger) in the overhead bin. The crew discharged the fire extinguisher which is as per the standard operating procedures prescribed by the aircraft manufacturer, and quickly transferred the Samsung note 2 into a container filled with water in lavatory."

All the passengers were deplaned after the aircraft made a normal landing at the airport. The concerned departments will further examine the cellphone.

"We are thankful to passengers for their vigilance and cooperation extended to the crew on board," the Indigo said. Samsung officials have been summoned on Monday by the DGCA, which has asked Indigo to hand over the smartphone for a probe.

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New Delhi:

Chinese telecom giant Huawei has partnered with electronics contract manufacturer Flextronics for making Honor smartphones in India starting with three million units from next month, besides creating 10,500 jobs.

"The investment in electronics manufacturing, which was around Rs 11,000 crore, has risen to Rs 1.24 lakh crore. It isa great sense of satisfaction, as indicated to me, this(Huawei) will be 40th manufacturing unit in the country," IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said while innaugurating the Huawei-Flex Chennai manufacturing facility from here.

Huawei will start making its Honor series phones at the manufacturing plant of Flextronics from October 1. "Today we announce the start of manufacturing of our Honorphones in India with Flextronics. This underlines our long term committment for India. Spectrum auction is coming and we will like to commit to Indian industry that we will make available all out latest technology product including 4G, 4Gplus and 5G products," Huawei India Chief Executive Officer Jay Chen said.

He said that Huawei is the third-largest smartphone maker after Apple and Samsung. "We have partnered with Flextronics who work with us globally to make our Honor series smartphones in the country. Initially we have tied up for 3 million units and will scale up as per demand. This project will create 3,000 direct employment opportunity at Huawei and 6,000 indirect jobs," P Sanjeev, Vice President Sales (India Business Head for Huawei& honor Consumer Business).

He said that hiring of 3,000 people will be completed by the end of this year, taking Huawei's direct workforce toaround 12,000 in India. Flextronics will hire an additional 1,500 people to workon the Huawei project.

"We have capacity to make 10 million phones in India. Wewill scale up production as per requirement of Huawei. Flextronics will hire 1,500 people dedicated for servicing Huawei smartphones," Jeff Reece, President, Networking Solutions, Flextronics said.

Reece said that Flextronics will provide after-sales services, shipping of phones to retailers and reverse logistics when devices from customers for repairing needs to be picked up.

"We will set up 45 experience centres for Huawei initially," Reece said. Sanjeev said that Huawei has tied up with 350 distributorsto sell smartphones from over 50,000 retail counters in the country covering all the districts.

"We have been aggressively competing in India. Now I can say we are ready in all aspects for giving massive push to our business in India. We believe India will overtake US as the second largest smartphone market in 2017. If we have to grow our rank globally, we need to focus on India," Sanjeev said. Huawei will sell both Huawei and Honor phones through offline channel partners.

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New Delhi:

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said that India has signed an agreement with France to procure 36 Rafale fighter jets, which is the first fighter aircrafts deal in 20 years. He also said that this will pave way for the Indian Air Force to fulfil its crucial need of getting required fighter jets.



I am pleased to inform you that India has signed an agreement for procurement of 36 Rafale aircrafts with weapon systems, with five years complete spares and maintenance, performance based logistics, Indian enhanced special provisions, an achievement which I think will give the Indian Air Force the required potency in terms of penetration and capabilities, Parrikar said.

ALSO READ: All you need to know about the Rafale Deal

he Euro 7.87-billion (Rs 59,000 crore approx) deal for Rafale fighter jets was signed by India and France on Friday. The Rafale fighter jets are equipped with latest missiles and weapon system besides multiple India-specific modifications that will give the IAF greater potency over arch rival Pakistan.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his visiting French counterpart Jean Yves Le Drian signed the Inter-Governmental Agreement. The agreement was signed 16-months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Indias plans to buy 36 Rafale fighter aircraft in fly away condition during his trip to France.

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Islamabad:

Pakistan on Friday warned India that by granting asylum to Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti, it will become an aofficial sponsor of terrorisma.

aIndia granting asylum to Bugti will amount to harbouring a terrorist by a state...thus (India) becoming official sponsor of terrorism,a Pakistanas Defence Minister Khawaja Asif tweeted.

India Granting asylum to Brahmdagh Bugti will amount to harbouring a terrorist by a state..thus becoming official sponsor of terrorism.. a Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) September 22, 2016

Asifas remarks came after it emerged that Bugtias application seeking political asylum in India was yesterday received by the Home Ministry which is examining it.

Bugti, who has been living in Switzerland, on Tuesday approached the Indian Embassy in Geneva seeking asylum in India and exuded confidence of a positive response from New Delhi.

Bugti is the President and founder of Baloch Republican Party. The decision of seeking asylum was taken at a meeting of the Baloch Republican Party on Sunday in Geneva.

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.

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Dubai:

Away from the 50-over format for a while, India were placed third while mainstay Virat Kohli held the second position in the batting chart in the latest ICC ODI rankings released on Friday.

India were positioned third with 110 points behind Australia (124) and New Zealand (113). With 813 points in his kitty, Kohli was only behind South African talisman AB de Villiers and a place ahead of another experienced Protea Hashim Amla in the batting list.

Besides Kohli, Rohit Sharma (7th) and Shikhar Dhawan (8th) were the other Indians in the batting list dominated by the South Africans and the Asian giants. No Indian bowler featured in the ODI chart, and there was no one from the country in the allrounder list as well.

As far as future team movement is concerned, fourth-ranked South Africa have a chance to climb up to second position in the ICC ODI rankings when they host number-one ranked world champions Australia in a five-match series from September 30 to October 12.

While Australia and South Africa will aim to consolidate their current positions, Bangladesh, the West Indies and Pakistan will target to improve their rankings. World champion Australia is currently on 124 points and without an immediate threat to its top ranking with New Zealand second on 113 points.

But a series win for South Africa, who are a fraction of a point behind India, against Australia could help them move ahead of the reigning ICC Champions Trophy winner. A 3-2 series win will put South Africa in third position on 112 points, while a 4-1 series win will lift it to second position on 114 points.

For Australia, a 3-2 series win will maintain their current 124 points with a maximum drop to 118 points in the case of a 5-0 series whitewash. Even if they also loses their preceding one-off match to Ireland and get blanked by South Africa, Australia will retain number-one position at 116 points with South Africa behind it on decimal points.
Islamabad:

Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Friday said Pakistan's armed forces were capable of countering any threat to the country's security at any cost, amid an intensifying war of words with India over the Kashmir issue.?

"The army chief while speaking to officers and men said that let there be no doubt that our valiant armed forces have the capability to counter complete threat spectrum and Inshaallah with the backing of entire nation we will defend each and every inch of our beloved country, no matter what the cost," the army said.

Sharif was visiting the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) located near Kharian in Punjab and inaugurated state of the art features to upgrade its infrastructure to accommodate foreign armies and Pakistani security forces' growing demand for training.

He claimed that Pakistan has been victim of terrorism for over a decade and sacrificed a lot but "we have turned the tide against terrorism primarily due to resilience displayed by the whole nation and professionalism of our security forces".

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers.

Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault even as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif again raked up the Kashmir issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly session on Thursday.

Hours after Sharif's speech, India described Pakistan as a "terrorist state" and accused it of carrying out "war crimes" against Indians through its "long-standing policy" of sponsoring terrorism, saying the country is now host to the "Ivy League of terrorism".

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL challenging the Centre's policy to allow private bank officials to be appointed as Managing Directors or CEOs of public sector banks.

A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud rejected the petition filed by Bank Officers' Confederation challenging the policy pertaining to such appointments and held that there was nothing wrong with it.

The court had on May 5 sought responses from the government and Reserve Bank of India on the PIL, which had also challenged reduction of cut-off age for being considered for the top post from 58 to 55 years.

The plea had contended that the cut-off age for eligibility was "unjustly, irrationally and unilaterally" reduced against the advice and views of the Appointments Committee of Cabinet.

The PIL, filed by former president of All India Bank Officers Confederation K D Kheda, had challenged the February 26 advertisement for appointment of CEOs and MDs of Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and IDBI Bank.

Quoting provisions of Banking Companies Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings Act 1980, the plea had contended that only whole-time directors of public sector banks, whose names are cleared by the Central Vigilance Commission, can be appointed to head public sector banks.

It had alleged that eligibility criteria for the posts of CEO and MD of the five banks have been set "with a sole objective to make all existing executives directors of Public Sector Banks ineligible."

"Executive Directors of PSBs, who were the only persons eligible under old policy, will automatically become ineligible solely on account of cut-off age of 55 years with three years Board experience, which is purposely and qualifiedly reduced in the case of appointment of MD & CMD only for these five large PSBs," the petition said.

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New Delhi:

With the festival of Diwali just around the croner, Delhi Cabinet minister Kapil Mishra on Friday advised the Secretary of Environment in the Government of NCT of Delhi to ensure a complete ban on Chinese crackers across the national capital.

Not only these China-made fire crackers are harmful but they are also a major threat to the domestic industry.A Earlier, on the basis of specific intelligence reports regarding large scale smuggling of sub-standard, poor quality Chinese fire crackers by way of concealment and mis-declaration, strict surveillance was maintained by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).A

Despite the fact that Possession and sale of foreign-made explosives is a punishable offence under the Explosives Act, its market is flourishing throughout. Diwali celebrations every year witness the increasong trend of Chinese fire crackers which exacerbate the majo problem of air pollution in Delhi/NCR.What makes them so famous is their cheap price.

They are cheaper because chemicals such as potassium chlorate and perchlorates that are banned in India and hazardous for climate are used in it.
Chennai:

Captain cool Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday met Tamil superstar Rajinikanth with the crew of his biopic MS Dhoni: The untold story. He went live on Facebook during the meet. Dhoni was in Chennai to promote his upcoming biopic. He told Rajinikanth about the film and discussed about its Tamil and Telugu versions.

His bopic is set to release on September 30. MS Dhoni: The Untold Story covers the struggle and journey of India's ODI captain. Sushant Singh Rajput was introduced to Thalaivar by Dhoni. He is playing the lead role in the biopic.

Dhoni is known as Thalaiva by his fans as he holds warm relations with the capital city of Tamil Nadu as he was the skipper of dismantled Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.
Cape Town:

South African scientists have produced first test tube buffalo by in vitro fertilisation(IVF) technology. The buffalo bull calf was born on 28th June. It has been named Pumelelo.

They unveiled the calf at a game farm north of Johannesburg in South Africa's Limpopo province. The scientists are hoping to use it in production of northern white rhino, which is an endangered species. Only three white rhino's are left on the planet.

"This success is of major importance for the prospective breeding of endangered species, and that is the reason why we are undertaking this work," said Morne de la Rey, a veterinarian and the managing director of Embryo Plus, which specialises in bovine embryo transfers and semen collection, mostly for the cattle industry.

Proud parents are biological mother and egg donor "Vasti" and sperm donor "Goliat", which is Afrikaans for Goliath. The baby bull has a surrogate mother which has taken to him

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New York:

Six-year-old Alex wrote to President Obama asking for a young Syrian refugee to be resettled in his home. Referring to Omran Daqneesh, the five-year-old Syrian boy whose photo went viral all bloodied and covered in dust, sitting on a chair, Alex shown the highest level of empathy by asking for Obama's help to bring him home.

President Obama reads ten letters from Americans each day, a new method unveiled in August. Alex's innocent letter got worldwide attention and went viral on social media. Obama in his speech at the United Nations Leaders' Summit on Refugees and Migrants in New York.

He said he would teach him how to speak English, to ride a bike and added that his sister Catherine would share her toys with him. Obama read Alex's words aloud in a speech he gave at the United Nations earlier this week, before posting a video of Alex reading the letter himself to Facebook. In his message, Obama asked people to read the letter to "understand why he had decided to share it with the world."

"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," the President wrote. "We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were," he added.

The post has collected more than 100,000 "likes" and been shared more than 60,000 times, with many Facebook users praising the compassion shown by Alex. One Facebook user wrote: "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."

Another added: "I heard this earlier today, as read by my president. Even with that pre-conditioning, made me cry while reading it just now. Neither of these sweet little boys, someone's sons, are Skittles." Donald Trump Jr., the son of the Republican presidential nominee, had sparked controversy on Monday when he compared Syrian refugees to a bowl of Skittles candies.

The generous offer from Alex comes as Syria, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Somalia have each produced more than 1 million refugees due to ongoing crises, according to the UN. Earlier this year, the world body's refugee agency said that the number of refugees and displaced people worldwide had surpassed 60 million for the first time.

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New Delhi:

A delegation of Delhi Congress unit on Friday met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged "financial irregularities and illegalities" in the Mohalla clinics run by the AAP government.

The delegation led by Delhi Congress unit chief Ajay Maken apprised the LG about the "anomalies" in the Mohalla clinics and demanded a CBI enquiry into it, said a party statement.

"The AAP government extended pecuniary advantage to members and office bearers of the party by paying more than the prevailing market rent to them whose premises were used for opening Mohalla clinics," Maken alleged.

The memorandum submitted to Jung also said that the Mohalla clinics "lacked basic health facilities" and that established health guidelines were being "violated" there. Delhi Congress had on Thursday released its report on the Mohalla clinics, accusing the government of "ad-hocism" in running them.

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New Delhi:

Diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have been rising since the September 18 attack on an army base in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 18 Indian soldiers. Pakistan has rejected allegations of its involvement in the assault even as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif again raked up the Kashmir issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly session.



Hours after Sharifs speech, India described Pakistan as a terrorist state and accused it of carrying out war crimes against Indians through its long-standing policy of sponsoring terrorism, saying the country is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism.

ALSO READ: Uri terror attacks loom large over BJP National Executive meet



Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Friday said Islamabads armed forces were capable of countering any threat to the countrys security at any cost. Here is what Raheel Sharif said fearing war with India:



1. Let there be no doubt that our valiant armed forces have the capability to counter complete threat spectrum.

2. Inshaallah with the backing of entire nation we will defend each and every inch of our beloved country, no matter what the cost.



3. Pakistan has been victim of terrorism for over a decade and sacrificed a lot but we have turned the tide against terrorism primarily due to resilience displayed by the whole nation and professionalism of our security forces.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Pakistan found itself at the receiving end of the European Parliament as it lashed the country for its woeful human rights record in Balochistan. Vice President of European Parliament, Ryszard Czarneki has expressed solidarity with Balochi people while claiming that the European Union while threatening Pakistan with economic and political sanctions.

I told the European Union during our human rights debate that if our partner countries do not accept human rights and standards, in this situation we should react and seek sanctions like some moves in economic fields, said Czarneki.He further said, Pakistan has two faces. It is the open face to us and the other is the brutal face towards Balochistan, he said, adding that all the 28 members of the EU should react against Pakistans brutal operations and policies towards the Baloch people.

Along with condemning Pakistan's double standards, Czarneki also claimed that the Pakistan government is controlled by the military.Baloch activists meanwhile held a silent vigil in Geneva on September 23 in order to honor Balochi martyrs. Baloch Republican Party chief Brahamdagh Bugti criticized the Pakistani establishment and army for brutally torturing and inflicting a genocide on Baloch people.

Bugti further urged the international community to take cognizance of the severe human rights exploitations occuring in Balochistan and help the Baloch nationalists to attain an independent land. Author Tarek Fatah who was also part of the vigil, criticized the mainstream media for ignoring the plight of Baloch people. Further, he praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising his voice in support of Balochistan.

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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...
Fed court rules second amendment null and void for medical marijuana patients

The federal government believes patients using medical marijuana do not have a right to exercise the Second Amendment.

Earlier this week the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling by the state of Nevada that it is illegal for medical marijuana card holders to own a firearm for self-defense, according to Fortune.

The 3-0 court decision is based on a federal law that classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Other drugs in the schedule include heroin, LSD, ecstasy, peyote, and methaqualone.

The court ruled the use of medical marijuana raises the risk of irrational or unpredictable behavior with which gun use should not be associated.

While a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration claims the use of marijuana increases the potential for violence, other studies contradict this conclusion.

A study published by the journal of Addictive Behaviors determined use of the drug is unrelated to IPV (intimate partner violence). Alcohol increased the odds of several types of aggression while marijuana did not appear to affect any, according to data. A scientific study in Spain found that found THC-like chemicals significantly decreased the aggression levels of mice, a conclusion suggesting the effect of marijuana may in fact be the exact opposite of alcohol.

Numerous studies have determined cannabis is beneficial for a wide variety of ailments, including cancer, Parkinsons Disease, PTSD, arthritis, Crohns Disease, and a number of other illnesses. Scientists at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute found cannabidiol inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells and other studies have concluded cannabis medicine helps relieve chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Many oncologists agree medical marijuana alleviates the side effects of chemotherapy.

A review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health found cannabis has medicinal properties beneficial for chronic pain, muscle spasms, involuntary movements, sleep disorders, HIV-related weight loss and Tourette syndrome, Reuters reported last year.

However, the federal government insists there is not sufficient evidence proving the medical value of cannabis. Earlier this month the Drug Enforcement Administration turned down requests to remove marijuana from Schedule I.

Right now, the science doesnt support it, the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Chuck Rosenberg, said after the decision was made public. He said the governments decision is tethered to the science, The Washington Post reported.

On August 10 the Obama administration announced it plans to remove federal barriers prohibiting marijuana research. Currently the University of Mississippi is the only institution authorized to grow the drug for use in medical studies.

It will create a supply of research-grade marijuana that is diverse, but more importantly, it will be competitive and you will have growers motivated to meet the demand of researchers, John Hudak, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told The New York Times.

Sources:

Fortune.com

ScienceDirect.com

Reuters.com

WashingtonPost.com

NYTimes.com

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Tech giants form news cartel to control official news while discrediting and censoring all stories they dont want you to see

Washington (AFP)  Facebook, Twitter and news organizations including Agence France-Presse have joined a coalition of media and technology groups seeking to filter out online misinformation and improve news quality on social networks.

Article by AFP

First Draft News, which is backed by Google, announced Tuesday that some 20 news organizations will be part of its partner network to share information on best practices for journalism in the online age.

Jenni Sargent, managing director of First Draft, said the partner network will help advance the organizations goal of improving news online and on social networks.

Filtering out false information can be hard. Even if news organizations only share fact-checked and verified stories, everyone is a publisher and a potential source, she said in a blog post.

We are not going to solve these problems overnight, but were certainly not going to solve them as individual organizations.

Sargent said the coalition will develop training programs and a collaborative verification platform, as well as a voluntary code of practice for online news.

We live in a time when trust and truth are issues that all newsrooms, and increasingly the social platforms themselves, are facing, she said.

Each partner is committed to sharing knowledge, developing policies and devising training in how journalists use the social web to find and report news.

The announcement comes amid concerns over the growing role of social networks, especially Facebook, in delivering and filtering news, and sometimes allowing hoaxes and misinformation to proliferate.

The partner network includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, The New York Times, Washington Post, BuzzFeed News, CNN, ABC News of Australia, ProPublica, AFP, The Telegraph, France Info, Breaking News, Le Mondes Les Decodeurs, International Business Times UK, Eurovision News Exchange and Al Jazeera Media Network.

Other organizations in the network include Amnesty International, European Journalism Centre, American Press Institute, International Fact Checking Network and Duke Reporters Lab.

First Draft was formed last year with support from Google News Lab and has worked with YouTube on verifying user-generated videos, among other projects.

Read more at: Breitbart.com

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The state Supreme Court has decided not to rule on the constitutionality of the law used to kick a Brookfield woman out of the Republican Party, bringing to an end a year-long legal battle that roiled town politics.

Jane Miller had been expelled last year from the town GOP by Republican Registrar of Voters Thomas Dunkerton, who cited a little-used state statute allowing such actions against members deemed to fail a good-faith test. She sued for readmission to the party, but a lower court rejected her request.

Miller appealed, arguing that the statute is unconstitutional, in part because the expulsion meant she could not vote in local and national primary elections and prohibited her from participating in the party of her choice.

But in July, after Dunkertons resignation, new GOP registrar by Ryan Murphy accepted Millers application to register as a Republican. Dunkertons attorneys argued that her readmission to the party undercut her appeal.

All along, she was seeking to have the court find the statute unconstitutional, said attorney Kevin Palumberi, who represents Dunkerton. If it was found unconstitutional, she would have to be readmitted to the party. She circumnavigated that by seeking readmission on her own. There was nothing left for the court to do. Its moot.

The court did not offer a rationale for its decision to dismiss the case, but attorney Susan Bysiewicz, who represents Miller, agreed that was likely the reason.

Miller was disappointed that the court wont consider the constitutionality of the statute.

This was, to me, an easy way out for the court, Miller said. They did not rule on the merits of the case.

Dunkerton and former Republican Town Chairman Matt Grimes voted to remove Miller from the GOP voter rolls in April 2015, saying that her unsuccessful run for the Board of Finance on the Democratic ticket in 2013 and her financial support of Democratic candidates proved she was not loyal to the party.

In a hearing on the matter, Millers husband, Larry, who also faced expulsion under the statute, was allowed to stay in the party.

The controversy was often cited as a reason why a group of Republicans tried to wrest control of the Republican Town Committee at a leadership caucus in January. The opposition group, led by Larry Miller, was unsuccessful at the caucus, but they successfully petitioned to hold a primary election in which Grimes and several other party leaders lost their seats on the town committee.

This has had an effect on the Brookfield Republican Town Committee, Jane Miller said. It has energized it and brought forth some new members, and hopefully this will never happen again in Brookfield. Its taken a toll on us, but there have been a few wins.

Millers battle in state court is now over, but a separate federal case remains open. In the federal suit, Miller argues that she was discriminated against by Grimes, Dunkerton and two other Republican officials, arguing that men who have acted as she had have not been forced to leave the party.

A separate lawsuit, filed against the town by Dunkerton over his outstanding legal fees, also remains unresolved.

Bysiewicz, a former Connecticut secretary of state, said she and Miller are lobbying the state legislature to repeal the good faith law, an effort that failed in the last legislative session.

This is bad law, Bysiewicz said. "Were extremely disappointed that the Supreme Court didnt take the opportunity to strike down this archaic erasure law. We strongly believe that the law is unconstitutional on its face and that it can be used by local elections officials to disenfranchise people.
Photo used with permission from Christine Negroni, author of The Crash Detectives to be published Sept. 2016

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The death of Mia Farrows son Thaddeus on Wednesday was just the latest blow for the acclaimed actress, whose life has been marked with misfortune since her move to Bridgewater more than 30 years ago.

Farrow, who starred in Woody Allens Hannah and Her Sisters and the horror classic Rosemarys Baby, has dealt with several tragedies including the suicide of her brother, Patrick Farrow, in 2009.

Three of her 14 children, 10 of whom are adopted, have died, including Thaddeus Wilk Farrow, 27, who police say shot himself in a car on Route 67 in Roxbury.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Mia Farrow mourned the loss of her son, whom she adopted from Kolkata, India.

Were devastated by the loss of Thaddeus, our beloved son and brother, Farrow wrote. He was such a wonderful, courageous person who overcame so much hardship in his short life. We miss him.

Roxbury First Selectman Barbara Henry described Thaddeus Farrow as a great kid. She said she came to know him while working as an aide at Bridgewaters Burnham School.

It was heartbreaking both for Bridgewater and Roxbury, Henry said. He was just the sweetest kid. Its just so sad.

Beyond her starring roles on the big screen, Farrow is also known for her marriages to Frank Sinatra, then 30 years her senior, and conductor Andre Previn, and her relationship with Allen.

Her 10-year affair with the director dissolved in 1992 amid allegations he had sexually abused their adopted daughter, Dylan, a charge he steadfastly denied.

Farrow had told a pediatrician about the abuse, according to published reports. The doctor alerted police, who investigated the claim but filed no charges.

Allen said at the time Farrow planted the story in her daughters head. He sued for custody of the girl, then 7, but Farrow was granted full custody instead.

She adopted Thaddeus Farrow, a paraplegic, in the mid-1990s after seeing him in Kolkata, where he had to crawl and beg for food, according to Vanity Fair magazine. After Thaddeus was adopted, he used crutches or a wheelchair to get around.

The magazine reported he was interested in mechanics and was training to become a police officer.

Farrow reportedly contracted polio as a child. Mia Farrow herself was a survivor of childhood polio.

In 2000, Thaddeus Farrow and his mother participated in a global summit on polio eradication at the United Nations in New York.

"If people could follow Thaddeus through just one day of his life and see just how hard it is for him, I think there would be no abstainees in saying, Let there be no more polio,  Mia Farrow said during the event.

Police said Thaddeus Farrow was found in a blue Subaru suffering from a gunshot wound and taken to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to the chief medical examiners office, he died of a single gunshot wound to the torso.

Two of Farrows other children, Tam Farrow and Lark Previn, died at ages 19 and 35 respectively. Tam Farrow died from heart disease after a long illness, according to published reports, but the cause of Lark Previns death was not made clear by her family.

Officials said Thaddeus Farrow lived in Torrington, about a 28-mile drive from his mother's home. He had lived at his mother's until a few years ago, according to public records.

Farrow herself moved to Bridgewater in 1981.

Many Bridgewater residents interviewed Wednesday by Hearst Connecticut Media reported seeing the actress occasionally over the years, but none said they knew her or any of her children personally.

Vivian Wainwright, who has lived in town since 1973, said she periodically saw Mia Farrow at the Bridgewater Village Store on Main Street and within the last five years, saw her at a local restaurant.

Its sad, Wainwright said of Thaddeus death.

At a nearby deli and gas station on Route 67, Taylor Yancoskie said he did not know Thaddeus, but was an acquaintance of his sister, Quincy.

Thats terrible, Yancoskie said. I cant believe that.

Mia Farrow was scheduled to attend the New Milford Film Festival Sunday for a screening of the 1968 film Rosemarys Baby, which she starred in. But organizers say they do not know if she will still attend.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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NEW MILFORD - Actress Mia Farrow has canceled a Sunday appearance at the New Milford Film Festival following the death of her son, Thaddeus, on Wednesday.

Farrow was to have participated in an audience question-and-answer session at the Bank Street Theater following a special screening of her hit 1968 movie Rosemarys Baby.

The screening will still be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, and will be followed by a Q&A with actor Jack Gilpin, who starred in One Life to Live and is a close friend of Farrows. Tickets are $20, and all proceeds go to a newly formed scholarship for area children.

Farrow only decided to visit New Milford because of the fundraising, said Valerie Lorimer, a chairperson for the New Milford Film Commision. Keeping with Farrow's mission, the show will go on, Lorimer said.

The commission hopes to raise $5,000 to help children in the area who are interested in film.

Thaddeus Farrow was found in a car in Roxbury on Wednesday with a gunshot wound to the torso and was pronounced dead at Danbury Hospital. The death was ruled a suicide.

More News Sons death another blow for Farrow

He had lived with his mother in Bridgewater until a few years ago, when he moved to an apartment in Torrington.

On Thursday, Farrow posted a message on Twitter saying that her family was devastated by the loss.

He was a wonderful, courageous person who overcame so much hardship in his short life. We miss him, she wrote. Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and words of kindness.

She also posted a link to a suicide prevention organization.

Farrow adopted Thaddeus in the mid-1990s after meeting him in Kolkata, India. He was a paraplegic.

The film festival that kicks off this weekend in New Milford is something the towns film commission hopes will become an annual event. In addition to the Rosemarys Baby screening and Gilpin Q&A, it will include a selection of films from the Manhattan Short Film Festival and a screening of local director Chris Bryants movie, Soldiers of Vietnam.
TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Centennial College opened its doors to a renovated, ramshackle former factory on Warden Avenue on October 17, 1966. Despite its humble beginnings as Ontario's first public college, Centennial grew rapidly by offering the Baby Boom generation a new path to rewarding careers.

To mark Centennial's 50th anniversary, the college is cancelling classes on Tuesday, September 27 to release its students, faculty and staff to "Paint the Town Green." Thousands of volunteers will fan out across the city to lend a hand in 11 major Toronto parks with a variety of "green" initiatives such as planting trees, spreading mulch, removing trash from waterways and nature trails, painting fixtures and beautifying public areas.

Given Centennial College's remarkable reputation internationally, its partner schools in China, Korea, India, Turkey, Panama, Brazil and other countries will release their students to make meaningful contributions in their own communities. In the spirit of the day, the president of Suzhou Centennial College near Shanghai, China, is excited to be collecting litter in the beautiful canal city of Suzhou.

This "greening" initiative is Centennial's way of giving back to the communities that made Ontario's first college what it is today. The official Paint the Town Green kick-off is taking place at 10 AM in Bluffers Park at the foot of Brimley Road at the lake. And keep an eye out for the CN Tower on the evening of September 27  it is turning Centennial green for the occasion!

Date & Time: 10 AM on Tuesday, September 27 Location: Bluffers Park at Lake Ontario, end of Brimley Road South

Scarborough Speakers: Ann Buller, President, Centennial College

Photo opportunities and interviews with college representatives and volunteers will be available at Bluffers Park and other parks throughout the day.

SOURCE Centennial College

For further information: Mark Toljagic, Communications Officer, Centennial College, 416-605-6012 or 416-289-5000, ext. 7142/[email protected]
MONCTON, NB, Sept. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government's commitment to strengthening Canada's middle class and helping those working hard to join it means making post-secondary education more affordable for students.

As of August 1, the Government is providing more money for tuition for over half of all students in New Brunswick  7,500 students. Canada Student Grant amounts have been increased by 50 percent:

From $2,000 to $3,000 per year for full-time students from low-income families

per year for full-time students from low-income families From $800 to $1,200 per year for students from middle-income families

per year for students from middle-income families From $1,200 to $1,800 per year for part-time students from low-income families

As a result of these enhancements, when combined with the New Brunswick Tuition Access Bursary, the average full-time undergraduate student from a low-income family in New Brunswick could receive up to $6,500 in grants.

Beginning November 1, no single Canadian will be required to make any repayment on her education loans until she or he is earning at least $25,000, thanks to the Government easing rules for Canada's Repayment Assistance Plan.

Thanks to these new measures, students are getting financial relief that will allow them greater access to post-secondary education, and the ability to start their careers not only with the skills they need, but with more money in their pockets.

This summer the Government of New Brunswick introduced a free tuition program, known as the Tuition Access Bursary, to provide upfront financial assistance to New Brunswick students that need it most and who's annual household income of $60,000 or less. In order to be eligible, students must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate program at a publicly-funded university or college in the province.

Quotes

"Education is the key to future success and prosperity. Our investments are making post-secondary education more affordable and more accessible for students. It's going to help grow the Canadian middle class and help Canadians get the skills and experience they need for good jobs."

-The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

"Our government understands that creating jobs and making post-secondary education more accessible and affordable is what New Brunswickers want. We are proud to work with the Trudeau government to get things done by improving financial assistance programs available to students."

The HonourableDonald Arseneault, New Brunswick Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Quick Facts

Budget 2016 provided the first significant increase to Canada Student Grants and the Repayment Assistance Plan income thresholds since 2009.

Increases to Canada Student Grants are expected to benefit 7,500 students from New Brunswick .

. The increase to Canada Student Grants will provide additional assistance of $1.53 billion over five years.

over five years. The increase to the Repayment Assistance Plan eligibility thresholds will provide additional assistance of $131.4 million over five years.

over five years. According to Statistics Canada, over a 20-year period, students with a bachelor's degree will earn between $442,000 and $728,000 more than someone with only a high school diploma.

Associated Links

Budget 2016

Canada.ca/Student-Financial-Assistance

Student Financial Assistance Estimator

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Backgrounder

BUDGET 2016  Making Post-Secondary Education More Affordable

Enhancing Canada Student Grants

Canada Student Grants (CSGs) provide up-front, non-repayable financial assistance to low- and middle-income students and students with permanent disabilities or dependents. Eligibility is assessed at the time the student applies for student loans.

Budget 2016 proposed to increase CSG amounts by 50 percent:

from $2,000 to $3,000 per year for full-time students from low-income families;

per year for full-time students from low-income families; from $800 to $1,200 per year for full-time students from middle-income families; and

per year for full-time students from middle-income families; and from $1,200 to $1,800 per year for part-time students from low-income families.

Increasing the CSGs would benefit over 350,000 students across Canada: approximately 247,000 low-income students; 100,000 middle-income students; and 16,000 part-time students per year. This measure will provide assistance of $1.53 billion over five years, starting in 201617.

Budget 2016 also proposed to expand eligibility for CSGs to help even more students receive non-repayable assistance through an investment of $790 million over four years. The new eligibility thresholds are expected to be in place for the 201718 academic year, following consultations with provinces and territories. Under the new model, the existing low- and middle-income thresholds will be replaced with a single progressive threshold under which grant amounts will gradually decline based on income and family size.

Repayment Assistance Plan

For Canada Student Loan borrowers having difficulty making their payments following their studies, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) can offer help. The RAP makes it easier for borrowers to manage their student loans by paying back what they can reasonably afford, based on their family income and size. Students must apply for the RAP in order to receive this support.

Since its introduction in 2009, the Repayment Assistance Plan income thresholds, which currently begin at $20,210 (gross income), have not been adjusted and do not reflect minimum wage increases.

In New Brunswick , for instance, $8.25 /hour in 2009 amounted to a yearly salary of $17,160 at 40 hours/week. However, the increase to $10.30 /hour by 2015, amounted to a yearly salary of $21,424 , which is above the current minimum affordable payment threshold.

Budget 2016 proposed to increase the loan repayment threshold under the Canada Student Loans Program's Repayment Assistance Plan to ensure that no borrower who applies will have to repay their Canada Student Loan until they are earning at least $25,000 per year. This income threshold is for a single individual; for other family sizes, see the table below. Students earning more than this amount may also be eligible for reduced payments. Students who think they may face difficulties repaying their loans should contact the National Student Loans Service Centre to learn more. This measure will provide assistance of $131.4 million over five years, starting on November 1, 2016.



Annual Family Gross Income Thresholds for RAP Zero Payment by Family Size Family Size Current RAP Thresholds RAP Thresholds as of Nov. 1 Percentage Change 1 $20,210 $25,000 23.7% 2 $31,570 $39,052 23.7% 3 $40,790 $50,457 23.7% 4 $48,110 $59,512 23.7% 5+ $54,830 $67,825 23.7%

Provincial and territorial information for Canada Student Loans and Grants

The Government of Canada works with most provincial or territorial governments to deliver federal and provincial student loans and grants.

In Ontario , British Columbia , Saskatchewan , New Brunswick , and Newfoundland and Labrador the Government of Canada and the provincial governments work together to provide financial assistance through Integrated Student Loans and Grants.

, , , , and and the Government of and the provincial governments work together to provide financial assistance through Integrated Student Loans and Grants. In Alberta , Manitoba , Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island , Canada Student Loans and Grants are available alongside provincial or territorial student financial assistance.

, , and Prince , Canada Student Loans and Grants are available alongside provincial or territorial student financial assistance. In Yukon , only Canada Student Loans and Grants and territorial grants are available to permanent residents of the Yukon .

Non-participating jurisdictions

Quebec, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories chose not to participate in the Canada Student Loans Program and receive an alternative payment from the Government of Canada to administer their own student financial assistance measures.

New Brunswick

Although the Government of Canada directly finances federal student loans, New Brunswick processes Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) applications and conducts eligibility assessments for Canada Student Loans and Grants alongside provincial student loans and grants. Up to 60 percent of a New Brunswick student's demonstrated financial need is covered by the CSLP, with New Brunswick covering the remaining need through the New Brunswick Student Assistance Program, up to a stipulated maximum amount. The CSLP has an integration agreement with New Brunswick, which means that students from New Brunswick have a single loan repayment.

New Brunswick is building upon the improvements to the CSLP by moving forward with the introduction of the Tuition Access Bursary (TAB). Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the TAB, in conjunction with the federal low- and middle-income grants, will provide an amount equivalent to tuition costs to students with a gross family income of $60,000 or less, attending a public university or college located in New Brunswick.

The CSLP and New Brunswick, alongside other provinces and territories, work closely together to improve the coordination of federal and provincial programs, to improve student financial assistance, and to respond to the needs of students.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

For further information: Carlene Variyan, Director of Communications, Office of the Hon. MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, [email protected], 819-654-5611; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
Media Release: EMBARGOED until Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 6pm Pacific Standard Time

TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, National Capital Chapter, is pleased to announce a Royal Wish. 14-year-old Victoria Foster will be granted her most heartfelt wish to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. On Thursday September 22nd, Victoria and her family traveled from Ottawa, Ontario to Victoria, British Columbia. On the evening of Saturday, September 24th, at 5:30pm PST, she will present the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, travelling with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, with flowers at the Official Welcome Ceremony to Canada and British Columbia. The welcome ceremony will take place at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria.

Victoria is diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that affects her lungs and digestive system. Every day before school she wakes up at 6:20am to start treatments, which last for almost an hour. She also goes through treatments for another hour in the evening while she is doing homework. She relies on medicine to help her digest food, and an inhaler to help her breathe when she is short of breath.

When Victoria was given the opportunity to have her most heartfelt wish granted through The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, National Capital Chapter, she knew right away that she wanted to meet the Royal Family in person. Victoria loves the Royal Family and has pictures of them on her wall. She visited Buckingham Palace this year and has seen the crown jewels at the Tower of London, and on another visit to England she went to Windsor Castle. Victoria has also memorized all the names of the Kings and Queens of England, in order, since William the Conqueror. To say the least, it will be a dream-come-true for Victoria, to meet the Royal Family!

About The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada is the largest all-Canadian wish granting charity, dedicated to granting wishes to Canadian children between the ages of 3 and 17 who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. For more than 30 years, Children's Wish has worked tirelessly to grant heartfelt wishes to nearly 25,000 children and their families.

Last year we granted nearly 1200 wishes, our largest wish granting year in our 32 year history. With the help of our generous donors and volunteers, we will continue to meet the increasing need of Canadian children to realize their single-most heartfelt wish. Children's Wish grants approximately three wishes each and every day, all year long. Each wish is carefully structured to meet the particular needs of the child and their family.

We continue to receive strong wish referral support through our medical community relationships to grant wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses. Now more than ever, we are encouraging Canadians to donate and support The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada to help us continue to grant the next most heartfelt wish. Children's Wish is a national charity with chapters in every province and territory. Visit www.childrenswish.ca for more information and to donate.

SOURCE The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

Image with caption: "Wish child Victoria in front of Buckingham Palace in London, United Kingdom. (CNW Group/The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160923_C4991_PHOTO_EN_780644.jpg

For further information: and to schedule interviews, please contact: Leanne Brown, Regional Director, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, National Capital Chapter, C: 613-795-5551, [email protected]
The 14th Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) has successfully developed Chinas first quantum radar system last month, Xinhua News Agency reported. The system, which is based on the technology of single photon detection, counts as yet another major milestone for China in quantum research.

The quantum radar system was developed by the Intelligent Perception Technology Laboratory of the 14th Institute of CETC. Researchers completed experiments on quantum detection and target scattering characterization. In the target detection experiment, conducted in a real atmospheric environment, the detection ability of the system was proven to be over 100 kilometers.

According to a Sept. 8 report by Mingbao Daily, the theoretical basis of the quantum radar is that an object will change its quantum properties after receiving photonic signals. The quantum radar can easily detect stealth aircraft and is highly resistant to becoming jammed. Military experts have stated that once a stealth aircraft is located by the radar, it stands little chance to escape the strikes of air defense missiles.

The radar can allegedly detect objects at range of up to 62 miles.

There has been scientific analysis around quantum radar

A quantum radar device could detect microwave reflections that would normally be swamped by the noisy background radiation. It would contain two devices capable of interconverting visible light with microwaves, a capability that exists with current technology. First the top converter couples two entangled beams, a microwave one (red wavy line) and a visible one (red straight line); then the microwave reflection is converted to visible light that interferes with the initial visible beam in the detector.

Quantum entanglement scheme previously demonstrated for visible photons into the microwave regime could boost radar performance.

Short range radar can detect stealth aircraft but not with very good accuracy Traditional limitation of VHF and UHF-band radars is that their pulse width is long and they have a low pulse repetition frequency [PRF]which means such systems are poor at accurately determining range. As Mike Pietrucha, a former Air Force an electronic warfare officer who flew on the McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel and Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle once described to me, a pulse width of twenty microseconds yields a pulse that is roughly 19,600 ft longrange resolution is half the length of that pulse. That means that range cant be determined accurately within 10,000 feet. Furthermore, two targets near one another cant be distinguished as separate contacts.

Signal processing partially solved the range resolution problem as early as in the 1970s. The key is a process called frequency modulation on pulse, which is used to compress a radar pulse. The advantage of using pulse compression is that with a twenty-microsecond pulse, the range resolution is reduced to about 180 feet or so.

Quantum radar is based on the theory of quantum entanglement and the idea that two different particles can share a relationship with one another to the point that, by studying one particle, you can learn things about the other particlewhich could be miles away. These two particles are said to be entangled.

In quantum radars, a photon is split by a crystal into two entangled photons, a process known as parametric down-conversion. The radar splits multiple photons into entangled pairsand A and a B, so to speak. The radar systems sends one half of the pairsthe Asvia microwave beam into the air. The other set, the Bs, remains at the radar base. By studying the photons retained at the radar base, the radar operators can tell what happens to the photons broadcast outward. Did they run into an object? How large was it? How fast was it traveling and in what direction? What does it look like?

Quantum radars defeat stealth by using subatomic particles, not radio waves. Subatomic particles dont care if an objects shape was designed to reduce a traditional, radio wave-based radar signature. Quantum radar would also ignore traditional radar jamming and spoofing methods such as radio-wave radar jammers and chaff.

Lockheed Martin had a patent related to quantum radar in 2008
Bad debts in the Chinese banking system are ten times higher than officially admitted, and rescue costs could reach a third of GDP within two years if the authorities let the crisis fester, Fitch Ratings has warned.

China debt and banking problem is described at the Telegraph UK from a Fitch Ratings report

The agency said the rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) has reached between 15pc and 21pc and is rising fast as the country delays serious reform, relying instead on a fresh burst of credit to put off the day of reckoning.

It would cost up to $2.1 trillion to clean up this toxic legacy even if the state acted today, and much of this would inevitably land in the lap of the government.

The damage eclipses losses during the global financial crisis in Britain and the US, where the direct costs of bank rescues were roughly 8pc of GDP. It would be closer to the trauma suffered by Ireland, Greece, and Cyprus when their banking systems collapsed, but on a vastly greater scale.

Michael Pettis has been looking at Chinas debt situation for many years. Pettis says, The conclusion is inexorable. Beijing must find a way of generating domestic demand without causing Chinas debt burden to surge, which basically means it must rebalance the economy with much faster household income growth than it has managed in the recent past, and it must begin aggressively writing down overvalued assets and bad debt to the tune of as much as 25-50% of GDP without causing financial distress costs to soar. Everything else is just froth.

Pettis calculated that if we believe debt is equal to 240% of GDP, and is growing at 15-16% annually, and that debt-servicing capacity is growing at the same speed as GDP (6.5-7.0%), for China to reach the point at which debt-servicing costs rise in line with debt-servicing capacity Beijings reforms must deliver an improvement in productivity that either:

Causes each unit of new debt to generate more than 5-7 times as much GDP growth as it does now, or

Causes all of the assets backed by the total stock of debt (which we assume to be equal to 240% of GDP) to generate 25-35% more GDP growth than they do now.

Credit reached 243pc of GDP by the end on last year, double the level in 2008. Banking system assets have grown by $21 trillion over that time, 1.3 times greater than the entire US commercial banking nexus.

Fitch estimates that the ratio will jump to 253pc this year, and 261pc next year.

The credit addiction is becoming increasingly dangerous for two reasons. The efficiency of credit has collapsed. Fitch estimates that each new yuan of credit generates just 0.3 yuan of economic growth, down from 0.8 before the Lehman crisis.

We think the Chinese authorities can still clear this debt, said Mark Williams from Capital Economics. In an extreme scenario  with non-recoverable loans of 25pc  we calculate that the government would have to spend a full 35pc of GDP bailing out the banks. That would lift debt to 90pc. That is high but in principle it is possible.

Mr Williams said it will be very hard for Beijing to repeat the tricks used to overcome the last banking crisis in the late 1990s. A roaring global boom  and surging nominal GDP  whittled down the burden of states bail-out bonds, and the use of financial repression to hold down deposit rates for effectively imposed the cost on savers.

Neither are now possible. Deposit rates have been liberalized. The global context is entirely different and China is starting to face demographic strains from a shrinking work force. Mr Williams said the biggest worry that the Communist Party fails to deliver on reforms, leading to economic stagnation and a darkening calculus for the debt trajectory. Were afraid that growth could drop to 2pc, he said.
LightningStrike is the first aircraft in history designed to demonstrate the following:

Distributed hybrid-electric propulsion ducted fans

Innovative synchronous electric-drive system

Both tilt wing and canard for vertical take-off and landing

High efficiency in both hover and high-speed forward flight

Aurora Flight Sciences was recently awarded a six-month $2.9M contract from NASA for continued development of the companys D8 aircraft, an ultraefficient subsonic commercial airliner. The contract is provided to begin the process of defining X-Plane requirements and associated research needed to enable the D8 aircraft.

The D8 is a commercial aircraft concept that enables substantial efficiency improvements within the next decade; by entry into service the D8 will be over 50% more fuel efficient than current best-in-class aircraft while simultaneously reducing airline operating costs.

The US Marines are interested in a laser armed version of an Aurora drone. The LightningStrike uses a hybrid electric distributed propulsion system. A Rolls-Royce AE 1107C turboshaft engine drives three Honeywell generators, which produce a total of three megawatts of electrical power.

It has excess power for other uses while the aircraft is in cruise mode the lift fans only use one megawatt.

SOURCES- Aurora Systems, Defense One
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said that the 114 roads constructed across the 20 local governments and 37 local cou...

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday said that the 114 roads constructed across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas in the State was already impacting on the state economy.Speaking through his Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule at the commissioning of Ketu Adaloko and Babalola Ilogbo-Oke Agbo road in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the governor said the States Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has started increasing.He said the decision to embark on the 114 road construction across the state put at a cost of N19.4 billion was the multiplier effect it would have on the development of the states economy, especially from the grassroots.He said the process for the road selection was done in line with international best practices, adding we asked every council chairman to present roads within their councils that required the state government intervention. The list we received was in hundreds.Ambode also disclosed plans to link inner roads in the State to the Lagos Smart City Project, expressing readiness to commence deployment of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in October across the State.Speaking at Coker-Aguda LCDA, the governor said the government will complement the project with strategic security management driven by technology.Represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Olufemi Odubiyi at the commissioning of 500meters Bolaji Banwo Street in Coker Aguda LCDA, he said security remained one of the cardinal objectives of his administration, and that technology will play a key role in securing residents.Also in Coker Aguda LCDA, Ambode commissioned 580meters Opere Street through a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Surulere Constituency 1, Desmond Elliot.Speaking to journalists, the Governor said: One of the cardinal areas in which we focus on is security in the State and we have realised that the man policing we have in Lagos is not sufficient if you look at the ratio of the policemen that we have to the citizens of the State.We have come up with an initiative which is an ongoing project and it is called the Smart City Project. In the area of security, we are going to be deploying CCTV Cameras to ensure that when you are sleeping, you have a guaranty that you are being watched.The present administration is interested in making sure that this city is safe and technology is one of the areas we are looking at by deploying CCTV Cameras which will be linked to our Command and Control Centre in Alausa. We are going to have an eye over Lagos and this is because of the importance this government is paying to security of lives and property, he said.The governor also commissioned at least 14 other roads across seven LGs and LCDAs including Lekki LCDA, Lagos Mainland, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Badagry LG, Ojo LG, Agbado Okeodo LCDA and Ifako Ijaiye LG.The commissioning of the 114 roads which was flagged off last weekend is expected to end today with the commissioning of another set of 12 roads.
President Muhammadu Buhari has told the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, that Nigeria would welcome intermediaries from th...

President Muhammadu Buhari has told the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, that Nigeria would welcome intermediaries from the global body as part of his administrations commitment to swapping the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok with Boko Haram fighters in custody.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.He said: The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of Boko Haram to discuss with,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, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also 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.
The death toll in the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Egypt this week has risen to 148.

The death toll in the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Egypt this week has risen to 148.Beheira, Wahdan el-Sayed, Spokesman for the Delta province, said in Cairo that rescuers on Friday recovered more than 90 bodies, bringing the number of dead so far to 148.He said, The toll is likely to increase as the search operations continue.The bodies retrieved were those of Egyptians, other Arab nationals and Africans.Fifty-seven other bodies were recovered in the past two days after the boat sank on Wednesday off the Egyptian coastal town of Rosetta.However reports gave conflicting figures for the exact number of people aboard the boat.It gave an estimate of 400, while another report said the vessel was carrying no fewer than 300 people.It said that the boat passengers included Egyptians, Syrians, Sudanese nationals, Somalis and Eritreans.Authorities succeeded in rescuing 163 people, including 123 Egyptians, from the accident, according to the report.In recent years, Egypt has seen an increase in migrants trying to travel across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.Report says regional turmoil and high unemployment rates are the main factors behind the risky journeys.NAN
Human Right lawyer, Festus Keyamo has asked President Muhamamdu Buhari-led federal government a salient question over the sale of nation...





Human Right lawyer, Festus Keyamo has asked President Muhamamdu Buhari-led federal government a salient question over the sale of national assets.On a lighter note, since they say the people are a country's greatest assets, are they also going to sell some Nigerians to fight recession?, Keyamo asked in a post on his social media account on Friday morning.Recall that Business magnate, Aliko Danote, Senate Bukola Saraki had at different for a advised President Muhammadu Buhari to sell off nation's asset to revive the ailing economy.The National Economic Council also on Thursday approved federal government plan to sell some national assets and inject the proceeds into the economy.This drastic step is aimed at tackling the current economic recession, a statement from the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo said.There have been calls on the federal government to sell its assets as part of measures to take the economy out of recession.
The National Economic Council, which comprises Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and 36 state governors, has endorsed plans by the Federal Go...

The National Economic Council, which comprises Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and 36 state governors, has endorsed plans by the Federal Government to sell some national assets as part of efforts to address the current economic recession in the country.The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said in a statement that the sale of national assets was one of the recommendations of the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma (SAN), during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday.Other recommendations, he stated, included the diversification of the economy and the use of recovered loot.The statement added that as part of measures to revive the economy, the Presidents Economic Management Team is working on plans to generate immediate larger injection of funds into the economy through assets sale, advance payment of licences renewal, infrastructural concession, use of recovered funds etc. to reduce funding gaps; and implementation of fiscal stimulus/budget priorities.The government also wants to fast-track procedures through legislation and implementation of Strategic Implementation Plan of the budget; and engage in the meaningful diversification of the economy and cut down importation.In her presentation, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, revealed that the balance of the Excess Crude Account was $2.453bn as of September 20, 2016.On the budget loan support facility for the states, Adeosun told the council that N50bn had so far been disbursed to the state governments.In the area of housing, the finance minister noted that there was a target of N1bn to operate a Public-Private Partnership (N500bn initial) to create a blended pool of long term funds to intervene in housing development finance and mortgage provision.She said the aim was to deliver family housing priced from as low as N2.5m up to N18m, delivered in a ready-to-occupy condition with essential services, including water and electricity.Adeosun added, The delivery target is 400,000 to 500,000 housing units per annum. The ultimate aim of the programme is to channel funds from savers to borrowers so that builders have the required capital to construct and prospective buyers can access credit to purchase.The fund will attract low cost local and international capital, including from domestic pension and insurance funds, FG funding as well as contributions from state governments and other agencies.The Governors of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu; Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi; and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Yetunde Onanuga, told journalists after the four-hour meeting that the council members commended the Economic Management Team and supported the plan to steer the nation out of recession.Bagudu added, The National Economic Council met today (Thursday) at its sixth meeting of the year, which is the 70th National Executive Council meeting and the Ministers of Budget and National Planning and the Central Bank Governor all made presentations and the highlights of the presentation were the sad news that the economy was in recession largely due to the dependency on single commodity, which is crude oil, which prices we do not control.And in particular, it was noted that our economic managers, the National Economic Team, are responding in competition with economic managers elsewhere; so, its not an easy task, it is a very difficult task and we crave the indulgence of our nation to give them a chance for the measures to take effect.Ajimobi said the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform presented the draft regulation on Land Use Act 2013 to NEC.According to him, the regulation seeks to make provisions to streamline mortgage transactions and clearly delineate the rights, duties and obligations of a mortgage.Onanuga stated that Adeosun and the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, briefed NEC on the best options for managing floating Forex policy introduced by the CBN.Highlights of the presentation, she said, included CBN introduced cautious Monetary Policy orientation as dictated by consumer price and exchange rate, adoption of policy tightening measures for flexible Forex rate to address persistent pressures occasioned by scarcity and speculative demands, improving market dynamics by CBN, interventions to states in the area of salaries and in commercial agriculture.Some of the governors at the meeting included Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Ayo Fayose (Ekiti); Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Abubakar Mohammed (Bauchi); Willy Obiano (Anambra); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa) and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.The governors of Ogun, Rivers, Nasarawa, Katsina and Lagos were represented by their deputies.NLC, TUC, NUPENG oppose planned salesBut organised labour has warned the Federal Government to reject the recommendations to sell the countrys assets, specifically its shares in the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited and the aviation industry.The Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, in separate statements on Thursday, described the advice given by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi and Aliko Dangote as selfish and not in the national interest.They pledged to resist any further sale or concession of national assets under the guise of fighting economic recession.The President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said governments investments in the LNLG and Joint Venture oil upstream operations were profitable and should be preserved for the future.Wabba said, It is on record that dividends, in excess of $1bn, have accrued annually to the national coffers from the gas company over the past 12 years. These calls are more worrisome when one considers the history of sovereign assets divestiture in the past. Where are the proceeds from sales of the assets in the power sector for instance?With the benefit of hindsight, it is obvious that these assets were distributed to favoured individuals and surrogates of the ruling elite without any appreciable benefits to Nigerians.The TUC described those calling for the sale of national assets as enemies of Nigeria.The TUC President, Mr. Bala Kaigama, and the Acting Secretary-General, Mr. Simeso Amachree, said in a statement on Thursday that the suggestion for the sale of the assets was also disgraceful.The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria warns those calling for the sale of national shareholdings in Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited and concession of the countrys airports to drop the idea if they do not want to incur the wrath of workers. Those suggestions are disgraceful and portray them as enemies of the state, it said.NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, called on the Federal Government to ignore the advice and encourage foreign and local investors to set up new refineries.He reiterated that the economy could be revived through short-term, medium-term and long-term economic measures to ameliorate poverty and suffering of Nigerians.
Ijaw youths have slammed the Federal Government anti corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC over alleged d...

Ijaw youths have slammed the Federal Government anti corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC over alleged deliberate witch-hunt against former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.The youths under the auspices of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide said it was unfortunate that the EFCC failed to learn from the fallout of the way it handled the case of Tompolo. President of the IYC, Engr. Udengs Eradiri said the commissions indiscreet media trial of Tompolo led to the crisis in the Niger Delta that plunged the country into the current economic recession. His words, I thought the EFCC by now would have begin to face squarely its jobs of fighting corruption instead of the media charade that is their usual modus operandi.They have not learned from the Tompolo incident instead of focusing on facts and doing their job following due process they quickly went to the media and that incident has led this country to where we are today.He also described as unacceptable and illegal to place the former first family on media trial without following due process. Dame Patience, he said like most former First Ladies made her money from gifts and gratifications adding 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, he said. The former first family, he said, deserved respect adding that the youths would not tolerate further attacks and insults on Jonathans family. He said despite the humiliation Jonathan suffered from the wife of late former President Musa YarAdua, he never harassed the late Presidents family when assumed the leadership of the country. 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, Eradir said.He lamented that despite the corruption traced to the former late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha and his family, the government still approved a university for his wife. 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 are you treating one former first family differently and then everybody wants to humiliate Jonathans family in the best of their ability. The former First Lady, Patience, has no question to answer.The EFCC is destroying Buharis anti-graft policy because when your anti-graft is beginning to show it is one-sided, it will lose credibility, he said.The IYC boss further asked the EFCC to go return about N23bn, $100million and other assets it seized from the former Governor of the state, late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha. He wondered what the EFCC was still doing with the money when Bayelsa and other states were facing financial difficulties.Bayelsa State funds are in their hands, they have not returned it. Why are they keeping the funds? Are they meant to keep funds that they recovered. Why is the money not being paid into TSA if they believe they are proceeds of corruption.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that considering how hard he prayed to become the President of the country, he cannot complain about...

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that considering how hard he prayed to become the President of the country, he cannot complain about the challenges facing the country.Buhari was quoted in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, as saying this while briefing Nigerian professionals in the United States about the challenges facing the country.The President, who hailed the professionals for representing the country well, told them that Nigeria was in crisis because the leaders failed to plan for the future, adding that looters were trying to sabbotage efforts to turn the situation around.He said, Those who stole Nigeria dry are not happy. They recruited the militants against us in the Niger Delta, and began to sabotage oil infrastructure. We lose millions of barrels per day, at a time when every dollar we can earn, counts.It is a disgrace that a minimum of 27 states, out of 36 that we have in Nigeria, cant pay salaries.But I prayed so hard for God to make me President. I ran in 2003, 2007, 2011, and in 2015, He did. And see what I met on ground. But I cant complain, since I prayed for the job.Buhari said although Nigerians made billions between 1999 and 2015, producing an average of 2.1 million barrels of oil per day with oil prices at an average of $100 per barrel, the country neither saved nor develop infrastructure.Suddenly, when we came (into power) in 2015, oil prices fell to about $30 per barrel.I asked; where are the savings? There were none. Where are the railways? The roads? Power? None. I further asked; what did we do with billions of dollars that we made over the years? They said we bought food. Food with billions of dollars? I did not believe, and still do not believe, he said.He also decried the failure of the countrys military, which was once respected globally, to tackle Boko Haram initially, allowing the insurgents to run riot, killing innocent people in churches, mosques, markets, schools, motor parks, and so on.And they would then shout Allahu Akbar. But if they truly knew Allah, they would not do such evil. Neither Islam, nor any other religion I know of, advocates hurting the innocent. But they shed innocent blood, killed people in their thousands. Now, we have dealt with that insurgency, and subverted their recruitment base, he said.The President, who said God has been very good to him, said he understood that things would not be easy for him and his party.After 16 years of a different party in government, no party will come and have things easy. Its human, he said.
Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central senatorial district in the National Assembly has described those calling for the sale of n...





Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central senatorial district in the National Assembly has described those calling for the sale of nation's assets as economic predators and parasites.Recall that Business magnate, Aliko Danote, Senate Bukola Saraki had at different fora advised President Muhammadu Buhari to sell off nation's asset to revive the ailing economy.Also, the Nigerian governors during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday approved a federal government plan to sell some national assets and inject the proceeds into the economy.This drastic step is aimed at tackling the current economic recession, a statement from the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said yesterday.There have been calls on the federal government to sell its assets as part of measures to take the economy out of recession.But Mr. Sani said the call for the sale of our National assets and investment is condemnable.The proponents are economic predators and parasites who wants to profit from the recession, Shehu Sani said in post on his social media account.The Kaduna senator, therefore, advised Nigerians to resist and rise up against this heists and roguery.
A Chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Katsina State, Alhaji Umar Tata, on Friday urged Nigerians to support Presiden...

A Chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Katsina State, Alhaji Umar Tata, on Friday urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari with prayers to lead Nigeria out of its present predicaments.Tata, the partys governorship candidate in 2015, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Funtua, Katsina state.He cautioned Nigerians against over-reliance on the President, saying that he is human and capable of making mistakes.A Chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Katsina State, Alhaji Umar Tata, on Friday urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari with prayers to lead Nigeria out of its present predicaments.Tata, the partys governorship candidate in 2015, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Funtua, Katsina state.He cautioned Nigerians against over reliance on the President, saying that he is human and capable of making mistakes.Tata however urged all levels of government to work closely to end current economic hardship being faced by Nigerians.
Saul Friedlander, a respected Pulitzer prize-winning historian, has denounced Donald Trump as dangerous' and 'crazy.



Saul Friedlander, a respected Pulitzer prize-winning historian, has denounced Donald Trump as dangerous' and 'crazy.

Saul, who is also a world authority on the Holocaust, said Friday he would leave the United States if Donald Trump was elected president.The 83-year-old Israeli-American writer, who escaped the Nazis by being hidden in a Catholic boarding school in France, described Trump as a dangerous crazy.He said the controversial Republican candidate could win Novembers election because of Hillary Clintons tendency to lie and to hide things.One cannot exclude Donald Trump winning even though he is a dangerous crazy, he told AFP.He says whatever comes into his mind.Friedlanders magisterial two-volume history of Nazi Germany and the Jews charts Adolf Hitlers rise to power in a period where populism was rising across the world as it is today.We dont know what (Trump) thinks, said the writer, whose parents perished in Auschwitz after being handed over to the Germans by French police as they tried to escape to neutral Switzerland.At the same time, there is a huge swathe of Americans, mostly poor, angry whites, who dream of having him in the White House.He is kind of a release valve for their anger against the establishment represented by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.Because she has, unfortunately, a tendency to lie and to hide things, he said, referring to her recent bout of pneumonia, which her campaign was only forced to disclose after she was seen stumbling into her car. Rising anti-Semitism Trump, by comparison, seems totally open and frank, even if he has not published his income tax returns.Friedlander, who is based in Los Angeles, also warned of the rise of anti-Semitism and of Holocaust denial.Negationists are, in general, anti-Semites, and I am utterly opposed to debating with them. It gets you nowhere, they will always find a so-called detail showing that all these stories of gas chambers were a joke.They are obsessed by the idea that Jews could have invented the story of their extermination, said the author, whose new books, Reflections on Nazism and Where Memory Leads, have just been published in France.The historian  who left France for Israel after World War II and worked as an assistant to former president Shimon Peres  has been very critical of the Jewish states treatment of the Palestinians.But I am also worried about the rising movement, particularly on US university campuses, questioning Israels right to exist. Build peace not settlements He said extremism on both sides had done profound damage to the chances of a Middle East peace settlement.I remain a supporter of a two-state solution, but my friends in Israel say that if a Palestinian state is created on the West Bank, it will be in the hands of Hamas, like Gaza. Then Israel will be surrounded by people determined to destroy it, they say.However, if we want to build peace, we have to halt settlement building, destroy wildcat settlements and abandon others, Friedlander said of Israeli construction on land seized during the 1967 Six Day War that the Palestinians want for a future state.We have to do that at least to show good faith.If not, we risk losing the values of justice and equality that were once at the heart of Israel and Zionism, he added.
In 2012, when former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala signified her in...

In 2012, when former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala signified her intention to run for the World Bank presidency, there was a quake  she was endorsed by a majority of the emerging economies.As a matter of fact, she was the candidate of the African continent as they had put forward her name as the best qualified candidate to represent Africa and challenge the West.She was the most qualified candidate, having worked at the World Bank for decades, including a stint as its second in command. The only country that stood her way was the United States which controls not less than 16 per cent of the Banks shares.Before I go on, let me present her unabridged Curriculum Vitae for the world to see. Her intimidating credentials include: Harvard University degree in Urban and Regional planning (magna cum laude); Ph.D. in Regional Economic Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1981; Vice-president and Corporate Secretary and later, Managing Director of the World Bank Group. Can I say our dear Okonjo-Iweala is over-qualified for this job?The US and allies took notice of this, as well as respected media organisations such as the New York Times, The Economist and UK Guardian which paid glowing tributes to her and urged the World Banks board to take a serious look at her, as they juxtaposed her candidature with those of Ocampo of Colombia and Kim who was the choice of the United States of America. Her appeal to reason to the United States fell on deaf ears.She was endorsed by over 30 former staffers who wrote an open letter praising her deep experience in international and national issues in economic management. On paper, her opponents  the Colombian Jose Antonio Ocampo and the Korean American, Dr. Jim Yong Kim stood no chance against her. Ocampo stepped down and endorsed her, leaving her to slug it with Dr. Kim, who later won.Why a liberal country like the US will support a less qualified candidate with no demonstrable experience like Dr. Jim Yong Kim, a medical practitioner, against Dr. Okonjo-Iweala still baffles rational minds. To some of us, Kim's victory stood merit and competence on their head. It also institutionalised and glorified nepotism. With America's might and anointing on Kim, the result was out before the voting.But the media and the world, especially the developing nations, were agog and chorused for Ngozi. She lost gallantly.But the world has learnt a lesson: who backs you up signposts your success or failure. You can't be nominated by America and lose to a third world nominee even if you are a world-class economist like Okonjo-Iweala. Only in this world will a low-rated medical personnel defeat an economist in a contest for the World Bank presidency.She lost out gallantly and even made a point in the process. It was the first time in the World Bank's history that the United States' hold on the position was challenged. Okonjo-Iweala congratulated Kim and said the competition had led to "important victories" for developing nations, which have increasingly pushed for more say at both institutions. Still, she said more effort was needed to end the "unfair tradition" that ensured Washington's dominance of the global development lender.It didnt take long before Kims incompetence began to show. The recent poor handling of staff relations in the Bank is one of the reasons Kim should not be trusted for the position.He seems more like a stranger to the bank he is supposed to preside over. He lacks the requisite administrative skills needed to manage one of the most robust institutions in the world.It takes more than just academic brilliance to handle sensitive issues like human relations in the Bank. This would have been better handled by Okonjo-Iweala if the US had supported her.The embarrassment the administration has caused the Bank would have been avoided with Okonjo-Iweala at the helm of affairs. She is no stranger to the Bank. Okonjo-Iweala who has worked as the Banks Managing Director would have understood the inner workings of the Bank better than an outsider. The Obama administration can still undo this error by sticking to reason in the future. This is my stand!Bade Adebolu is an Accountant based in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. He can be reached via badeadebolu@gmail.com
The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
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.
When the Council Bluffs Community School District last brought its expanded physical plant and equipment levy to voters last September, the measure to increase the levy passed handily.

But a second, related item, which would have extended the PPEL levy through 2028, failed by just five votes. Now, that same measure is back on the ballot again  and we encourage Council Bluffs voters to approve it this time around in a special election Tuesday.

In essence, the school district already received the green light from voters to increase the levy for an increase in spending authority, but only for the short term. School officials need the ability to have financial security heading forward to invest in the education of Council Bluffs students.

Part of the challenge for Council Bluffs when it comes to property tax rates  a distinct issue from budget cuts, which are largely driven by spending restrictions imposed on school districts  is its relatively low valuation. On a per-student basis, the district has $223,520 worth of valuation per student, while the state average is $339,539.

School funding in Iowa is complex; it can be likened to a series of buckets from which districts can draw money to pay for only certain items. The money from a PPEL can be used only on equipment, maintenance on buildings, technology and other infrastructure expenses.

Those dollars are not subject to the spending cap, so shifting expenses to PPEL would allow Council Bluffs more flexibility with its budget. Particularly as the school district faces a budget crunch before the next academic year begins, every dollar that can be used to better the educational capabilities for these schools.

Because of the complex system used to fund Iowa schools, the money cant be used to address a shortfall from the general fund  but it would prevent the district from having to dip into its cash reserves or general fund to address needed repairs and investments.

Thats why the Council Bluffs district could afford to make good on its promise to lower its general fund levy to adjust for the expanded PPEL last year. The states spending limits for schools will keep the district from ratcheting up its levy much higher because it can only spend so much per student.

Most of the PPEL projects  which include replacing the roofs at two schools, alarm repairs, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and technology  are critical investments that any business or organization would seek for its own facilities. Others, such as playground equipment and music instruments, would dramatically improve the quality of the well-being of students of all ages.

Having a dedicated funding stream for these projects is part of why Council Bluffs, and other area schools, are in better shape than many of our neighbors in the Omaha metro.

Voters have already given the district the OK to use the money. All they need to do is extend the time period in which it can be used  and we encourage them to do just that on Tuesday.
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.
Trade has helped grow Nebraska for decades. Whether you are a rancher who exports beef to Japan or a center pivot manufacturer who has expanded your operations to China, trade has been critical to growing our Nebraska farms, ranches and businesses. Just look at the numbers: In 2014, Nebraska exported $10.66 billion worth of goods, of which $6.59 billion worth was ag-based. Whatever pessimism we hear about trade from politicians these days, it is critical that we remember how key our trade relationships are to growing opportunities for the next generation of Nebraskans.

To see how trade has benefited our state, theres no better example than our relationship with Japan. Since Kawasaki first put down roots in Lincoln in 1974, Nebraskas trade relationship with Japan has been helping to create jobs and growing our economy. Our long-standing relationship with Japan has made the country the states No. 1 direct foreign investor and third largest trading partner.

This relationship has flourished because of a long-term commitment by numerous Nebraska diplomats including previous governors and business leaders. My administration has continued this tradition. In 2015, I led my first trade mission to Asia during which I met with executives from Japanese companies to thank them for their investment in Nebraska and to talk about how we could support future expansions.

The trade mission has borne fruit. Over the past year, Kawasaki announced it would establish its first North American aerostructures line in Lincoln with a multimillion-dollar investment. Morio Denki, one of Kawasakis suppliers that produces electrical components for rail cars, also announced its expansion in Nebraska. In addition to these expansions, we have also seen recent investments from other Japanese companies including Marubeni, Kewpie, Itochu and NTT.

Continuing to cultivate relationships with Japanese companies can help encourage additional investment and build Nebraskas reputation as a great place to do business. Last week, I traveled to St. Louis to attend the 48th annual Midwest U.S.-Japan Conference. At the event, I addressed the conference and met with Japanese business executives as well as the countrys ambassador to the United States. During my address, I announced that Nebraska would host the association in Omaha for its 50th annual conference in 2018. The event will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Nebraska to showcase our state as a great place to do business for Japanese business executives and leaders looking for opportunities to invest and grow their businesses.

While relationship building through trade missions is key to expanding trade opportunities for Nebraska, we must also work to break down trade barriers that are limiting growth in markets for our products. Right now, Congress is considering the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal that would help expand markets for Nebraskas commodities along the Pacific Rim with countries like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, among others. The deal would reduce trade barriers, such as tariffs on our commodities like beef, making our products much more attractive to millions of consumers. For example, it would take Japans 38 percent tariff on our beef down to 9 percent, and in Vietnam it would go from 20 percent to zero.

Trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership are good for growing Nebraska and our relationship with key trade partners like Japan. As Congress continues to consider the Trans-Pacific Partnership, I encourage you to contact your congressman and senators. You can find all their information by visiting house.gov or senate.gov. If you have feedback for my office, I hope you will contact me by emailing pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or by calling 402-471-2244.
Departing Cowboys front-rower James Tamou was forced to contemplate how North Queensland's 2015 premiership success may have influenced their 12-point loss to the Sharks on Friday night.

The Cowboys were vying to become the first club in 23 years to win back-to-back premierships in a unified competition leading into their preliminary final clash at Allianz Stadium.

Instead they were met by a Sharks ambush where Cronulla halves James Maloney and Chad Townsend ran riot over their more-fancied Cowboys opponents.

While a Cowboys premiership quinella was never a focus, Tamou alluded to North Queensland's emphatic 39-0 win over the Sharks in last year's semi-finals as a key motivator for their opponents.

"The fire was there but we weren't consistent enough. The fire burns a lot more with teams that haven't been there yet or might have been kicked out of the finals last year I'm guessing," Tamou said.

"Maybe the words 'back-to-back' might have come up but we were taking this game as another opportunity. Last year was last year, we let that be," he added.

"We have had a target on our heads all year and it was up to us to step it up. To come this far is a great achievement but it wasn't what we wanted.

"It was our opportunity lost. It was up to us to solve it and we weren't able to. It was our fault."

Draw Widget - Finals Week 3 - Sharks vs Cowboys

Tamou will now head to the Penrith Panthers for the 2017 NRL Telstra Premiership season.

The 27-year-old will arrive at the foot of the mountains with 170 first grade games including a premiership victory, 12 Tests for Australia and 14 State of Origins for New South Wales under his belt  all of which was achieved while at the Cowboys.

"It hasn't sunk in yet. I'm felling nothing. I'm sure it'll take its time," Tamou said of his departure.

"Once everything settles and I get to look back at it, yeah I'll definitely be proud with what we have accomplished here and how far we have come.

"When I first came up to first grade to now, it's a lot to take in. It's a big blur at the moment.

Tamou believes the Cowboys still have a lot to be excited about moving forward and said the club remains in good hands as he hailed big futures for the likes of Coen Hess, Kalyn Ponga and Jason Taumalolo.

Taumalolo himself said he and fellow young forwards like John Asiata and Pat Kaufusi have lost a mentor in Tamou.

"He's been there from day dot for me," Taumalolo said.

"I was there when he first met his partner and had kids. To see him progress to the man he is now has been a credit to himself.

"To see him join a new club next year is obviously a huge loss for us. I'll take the memories I've had with him and I'll remember him for the player he is now and for the man he is off the field."

Sharks smash Cowboys to advance to GF

Sharks v Cowboys: Five key points

Cowboys lament horror first half

Success follows Maloney but it's no fluke

Ennis not using retirement as Sharks motivator



Game on. Data off.

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Watch all the NRL action live on your compatible tablet or mobile device with data-free streaming on your Telstra mobile plan.

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For use in Australia only.
A company that owns three Northwest Indiana hospitals announced this week that it is exploring a sale.

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, which owns Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso, LaPorte Hospital and Starke Hospital in Knox, has suffered major financial losses and seen its stock price drop significantly over the course of the past year.

"Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced today that the Company, with the assistance of advisors, is exploring a variety of options with financial sponsors, as well as other potential alternatives," the company stated in a news release on Monday.

It went on to state that discussions "are at a very preliminary stage and there is no timeline established for this review." Community Health Systems declined further comment about the sale of its company after issuing Monday's statement.

Its three local hospitals issued this statement in response to a Times inquiry: "La Porte, Porter Regional and Starke hospitals are focused on operating local hospitals that improve the health of our patients and communities. Our full attention has and always will be on providing safe, high-quality care for our patients, and meeting the pressing community health needs before us. Operationally, we are focused on strategic planning for growth across the system, and supporting the clinical excellence and development of healthcare providers and colleagues who take care of our community."

Community Health Systems bought Porter hospital in 2007 and LaPorte and its sister Starke hospital earlier this year. The company had for years been aggressively acquiring hospitals, becoming one of the country's largest for-profit hospital chains. But that strategy may have backfired, as Community Health Systems has recently been taking the opposite approach, by getting rid of hospitals to alleviate debt. Earlier this year, it spun off 38 hospitals into a separate company.

The company's stock price was at $10.20 a share Thursday, down from roughly $60 a year earlier. Community Health Systems sustained a loss of $1.2 billion in the second quarter of 2016.
PORTAGE  An Illinois man is under arrest on several charges, including pepper spraying three Wal-Mart employees as he ran from the store early Friday morning.

Two of the employees were sprayed in the face and suffered from burning eyes and skin, while the third was sprayed on the back of her head. All three were treated at the store.

The incident started about 1:45 a.m. Friday when Brian McGrath, 44, of Waukegan, Illinois, ran out of the store at 6087 U.S. 6 with a cart full of merchandise, including tires.

According to the employees, they asked to see a receipt as McGrath exited, and he mumbled to them this is a safety check and continued walking out before turning and spraying the employees.

Police spotted McGrath driving east on U.S. 6 and continued following him until he turned north on McCool Road in South Haven and then stopped in the parking lot of a gas station. According to the report, McGrath initially didnt follow police instructions to get out of his car and lay on the ground. A second officer pulled him from the car and placed him on the ground where he was handcuffed.

McGrath allegedly told police he ran because he was being chased and that he used the pepper spray because he feared being attacked. He allegedly told police he didnt recall stealing any items.

However, police reported finding $1,320 worth of stolen items in the car, ranging from gummy bears to archery equipment, tires, beer, wine and laundry detergent.

McGrath was charged with felony theft, three counts of felony robbery with injury, misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and three misdemeanor counts of battery with injury and was transported to Porter County Jail.
CEDAR LAKE  Police said Thursday they found $2,100 in counterfeit bills in a vehicle used by two Sauk Village residents charged with felony forgery.

Trevon L. Gunn, 23, and Destiny M. Bills, 21, are facing charges in Lake Criminal Court alleging they used a fake $100 bill to make a small purchase Sept. 14 at an OReilly Auto Parts in Cedar Lake and attempted to use another fake $100 bill to make a purchase at a nearby Family Dollar, police said.

Cedar Lake police were called to O'Reilly Auto Parts and determined the $100 bill there was counterfeit, Deputy Chief Carl Brittingham said.

Police later recovered the $2,100 in counterfeit bills in a vehicle Gunn and Bills were traveling in, he said. All of the bills displayed the same serial number and were determined to be counterfeit, he said.

Three people were charged earlier this week in connection with counterfeit money used at stores in Valparaiso and Portage.

Gunn and Bills are suspected of using counterfeit bills on various dates at locations throughout Northwest Indiana and suburbs in Illinois, Cedar Lake police said. Lowell police recently issued a warning to businesses to check money after receiving reports of a large number of counterfeit $100 bills being passed.

Other agencies investigating similar incidents can reach Brittingham at (219) 374-5416, ext. 118, or carl.brittingham@cedarlakein.org.
DYER  Three passing trains hampered the search for a robbery suspect Thursday morning, but police say they are now working several leads after it appears some of the mans escape route could have been captured on video surveillance.

Dyer police responded just before 10 a.m. Thursday to Just Cigarettes, 135 Fagen St., for a report of a robbery, according to a Dyer Police Department news release.

The clerk told police the suspect implied he had a weapon and grabbed an unknown amount of currency from the cash register before fleeing the scene.

The suspect, described as white, with a medium, skinny build, was also reportedly wearing a ski mask, blue jeans and a light colored T-shirt.

Responding units checked the area as St. John and Lake County Sheriff police departments assisted in the search with K-9 units. A Lake County Sheriffs helicopter also assisted, checking the railroad tracks and nearby wooded areas.

Police recovered a discarded ski mask during the search.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Dyer Police Department at (219) 865-1163.
CROWN POINT  Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez sentenced Aaron Cantrell Williams, 24, of Portage, on Friday to two years with the Indiana Department of Correction on a level 5 felony charge of criminal confinement without consent by using a vehicle.

Williams was originally charged with rape and kidnapping in April 2015 in a sexual assault that took place Sept. 15, 2014. He could have faced a prison sentence of three to 16 years if convicted of rape, a felony level 3 charge.

In a plea agreement, Williams pleaded guilty on June 17 to the criminal confinement charge. The Lake County prosecutors office agreed to drop the rape and kidnapping charges in that plea agreement.

In her victim impact statement, a Lake County woman said, I thought I was going to a movie with a man named Chris, she said, adding that the sexual assault by Williams on Sept. 15, 2014, in Williams car left her with feelings that danger comes at all times  I trusted him. I no longer trust anyone.

According to court records, after taking the victim on what was supposed to be a date, Williams drove her to the Lake Station park where he sexually assaulted her. He then left the woman there and took her cellphone.

DNA collected from the woman after the attack was sent to the Indiana State Police laboratory and was a match to Williams. He has been out on a $5,000 cash bond since April 17, 2015.

The two met on a social media website, although Williams gave a false name because he was already in a committed relationship, his defense attorney Nicholas Catsadimas told the judge.

Catsadimas said Williams financially supports his son and mother when asking for a sentence with Lake County Community Corrections and probation.

After the victim read her statement, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Nadia Chivers told Vasquez that Williams was out on bond in a domestic battery case in Porter County when he committed this offense.

He is a danger to society, Chivers said, asking Vasquez for a sentence of four years with the Indiana Department of Correction, with two years of incarceration and two years with Lake County Community Corrections.

After hearing the arguments and victim impact statement, Vasquez cited elements of Williams character, including that he hid his true identity and was out on bond from Porter County case only three months before the assault.

This doesnt bode well for you, the judge said, then shook his head. The victim testifies, puts her heart on the table in front of strangers.

Vasquez sentenced Williams to the two-year term with one year to be served with the Indiana Department of Correction and the second year in the Lake County Community Corrections program. The victim held onto friends hands in the gallery as Williams was placed in handcuffs.
INDIANAPOLIS  The unions representing state troopers and Indiana police officers are throwing their support behind Democrat John Greggs campaign for governor.

On Friday, the Indiana State Police Alliance Political Action Committee and the Indiana Fraternal Order of Police formally endorsed the former Indiana House speaker in his race against Republican Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Wayne Flick, executive director of the state police alliance, said this is the first time the 1,800 active and retired members of his organization have endorsed a Democrat for governor.

It is apparent when speaking with Mr. Gregg that he respects and honors our Indiana state troopers, Flick said.

He has pledged to us that he will work tirelessly to improve the equipment, the working conditions, and most importantly, the compensation our troopers receive for the services they provide the citizens of Indiana.

A new state trooper earns $40,902 a year with a maximum annual salary after 20 years of $61,208, according to the state police pay matrix. Flick said troopers havent received a pay raise since 2008.

We have trouble recruiting and retaining, Flick said. All were doing right now is training people, and when they come out of our academy theyre going to other police departments (that pay better).

Toby Deaton, vice president of the Indiana FOP, said local police are supporting Gregg and his running mate, Indianapolis state Rep. Christina Hale, a Michigan City native, because they are experienced, practical and will be strong advocates for public safety as theyve both been throughout their time in public life.

Gregg said he and Hale are humbled and honored to have the support of the brave men and women of Indiana law enforcement.

We are committed to working with them to address the public safety challenges Indiana faces and keep all Hoosiers safe, he said.
CHICAGO  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a $36 million mentoring initiative for thousands of youths from high-crime neighborhoods and asked for the communitys help Thursday in a major speech outlining his plan to fight and prevent violence in the nations third-largest city.

Along with recent police reforms and statewide legislation, he highlighted a new public-private partnership thatll help an estimated 7,200 youths over the next three years. The invitation-only speech came as the city has seen a troubling spike in crime and his police department is under an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation.

Every one of us has a role to play in rebuilding the vital partnership between our police and the community, Emanuel said in his speech at Malcolm X College on Chicagos near West Side. So today I am calling on all Chicagoans to join in a comprehensive plan to confront gun violence. No matter who you are, what your background is, where you live in Chicago, this fight belongs to all of us. 

Outside of the college a couple dozen protesters stood quietly as Emanuel was about to speak. Some held signs calling for a civilian police accountability council they want created to investigate police misconduct cases.

Emanuel, in his second term as mayor, has been trying to rebuild trust in his leadership, particularly after the 2014 death of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager shot 16 times by a white police officer. The officer was charged with murder, but only after a judge ordered the public release of the graphic squad car video last year. Circulation of the video prompted frequent protests, allegations of a cover-up and repeated calls for Emanuel to step down.

The Justice Department has since launched a systemic probe of department practices. In recent days, Emanuels administration has announced plans to add nearly 1,000 police officers, as well as an expansion of the use of body cameras and mandatory de-escalation training for all officers.

His speech also touched on new technology, including gunshot-tracing cameras; gun legislation; partnering with federal authorities; and the need for more neighborhood resources.

Emanuel also asked Chicagoans for help. Calling respect a two-way street, he said theres no pass for people to taunt police or for officers belittling citizens who need help.

Fighting crime requires a partnership between the police and the community, he said. And we all know that this partnership has been tested in Chicago. It is a problem that has festered in this city for decades. The shooting of Laquan McDonald brought it to the breaking point.

Emanuel recapped changes instituted by his administration, including abolishing the agency that handles police investigations and pitching a new system for reviewing police misconduct and department audits.

Chicago has seen a dramatic rise in the number of shootings and homicides this year. In August alone, there were 90 homicides, marking the first time in two decades there have been that many in a single month. Overall, the city has recorded more than 500 homicides this year  higher than all of 2015  and is on pace to climb past the 600-homicide mark for the first time since 2003.

The citys image has also come up on the presidential campaign trail with Republican nominee Donald Trump suggesting Thursday that Chicago is more violent than Afghanistan. Trump also endorsed a stop-and-frisk policing method for the city, which a federal judge said New York City used unconstitutionally because of its overwhelming impact on minority residents.

Emanuel has said the violence spike was new, noting the number of homicides in 2014 was among the lowest on record. That year closed with roughly 400 murders.

Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said he asked for additional officers and Emanuel delivered. The plan, which will start in January 2017, is to add 516 new officers, 92 field-training officers, 200 detectives, 112 sergeants and 50 lieutenants. The changes will increase the number of sworn officers from about 12,500 to about 13,500.

The effort is expected to cost about $134 million. Whats missing is how the cash-strapped city will fund the officers. Emanuel declined to detail where the money will come from. Already his tenure has seen a property tax hike and the council approved new water and sewer tax increases earlier this month.
HAMMOND  With the idea of a manned Mars mission coming ever closer to reality, educators from around the country gathered at Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana this week to learn the details of the newest Mars mission, which will help students simulate what a trip to the Red Planet would be like.

The weeklong workshop brought together leaders from eight Challenger Centers from around the country. The Challenger Center is a leader in STEM education, which incorporates science, technology, engineering and math.

Rebecca Manis, executive director of the Northwest Indiana Challenger Center, said it isnt a matter of if, but when, a real-life manned Mars mission launches.

Its a big deal, because NASA is focused on going to Mars, and groups like SpaceX and Elon Musk are, as well, she said. Its not a matter of if, but when, its going to happen.

The new Mars mission, called CodeRed: My STEM Mission, is made possible through collaboration with NASA. It updates a past Mars mission, which first debuted around 2002, Manis said.

The software is new, some of our components are new, and the science is updated, she said. It makes our Mars mission more relevant and ties it to current events.

During the training, educators will learn the storyline behind the new Mars mission, as well as understand how to do the labs and the use the equipment.

The science components are different, and we have to learn how to integrate those, as well as develop teacher curriculum materials, she said.

The Challenger Center of Northwest Indiana also got a new probe to support the Mars mission and other missions through a donation from ArcelorMittal.

Manis said the center currently offers four different missions and will be launching the new Mars mission for students next year, after staff and teachers can be properly trained.

There are also plans to launch another new mission, called LunarQuest, in the spring.

Manis said representatives from Challenger Centers in Massachusetts, Arkansas, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Virginia and St. Louis were in Hammond learning about the new Mars mission. They will take what they learned back to their centers and launch the mission there, and then more centers will be trained on the program. Ultimately, 30 Challenger Centers will launch the CodeRed Mars mission, Manis said.

The Hammond Challenger Center was chosen as a training site because it is only one of two centers in the country that has dual facilities.

We have two mission control rooms, two spacecrafts and it works out well to have training here, she said.
VALPARAISO  The Multi Agency Academic Cooperative Foundation hosted an official groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday at the site of the new firefighter training academy.

The MAAC Fire Training Academy at 4203 Montdale Drive, will support more than 80 fire departments and more than 2,000 firefighters throughout Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton counties, officials said.

This is a true demonstration of teamwork and proactive collaboration, said project lead Celina Weatherwax, of Weatherwax Strategies.

Portage Fire Chief Tom Fieffer said the new training center once completed will allow his firefighters and those from all five counties in Northwest Indiana a central location for training and meetings.

Firefighters presently conduct training within their own departments or go to a central but distant location, such as OHare International Airport.

If we can do it here its less stressful and more time efficient, Fieffer said.

Valparaiso Fire Chief Chad Dutz said the new training center will also add to more cooperation between all the area fire departments.

Given the times we have to lean on each other...We can share resources and get quality training, Dutz said.

Valparaiso Assistant Fire Chief Jon Daly agreed that the new center will bring about more camaraderie among area firefighters and build relationships.

We need to rely on each other, Daly said.

The first phase of the training center will include rehabbing an existing tool barn to house equipment, engines and to be used as an office, Weatherwax said.

That work should be completed by early November.

The second phase, which will be started in the spring, will include construction of a new building, which will be used for classroom training and to store indoor training equipment.

Future plans include the construction of a burn tower on the nearly 5-acre site which will also feature props like vehicles and a train car to provide training in different emergency scenarios, Weatherwax said.

We are committed to developing a state-of-the-art campus that will serve as a leading provider of safety, emergency preparedness and response training. Our dedication stems from our desire to ensure that we develop a valuable asset that truly benefits all of Northwest Indianas public safety community now and in the future, Weatherwax said.

John M. Buchman III, who spoke prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, said the value of the training center cant be overrated.

Buchman serves as branch chief for the Indiana Firefighter Training Section of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Its about training and survival. Its a dangerous job, Buchman said.

State Fire Marshal James Greeson said the current Indiana fire training system began 11 years ago.

During that time, the Northwest Indiana Training District has been a leader in the delivery of the fire and public safety training. District 1s attitude of collaboration and the willingness of the professionals here to participate and partner with the state has enhanced training opportunities for firefighters and public safety stakeholders throughout Northwest Indiana, Greeson said.

Greeson said the state will be partnering with MAAC.

Over the next few weeks the fire marshals office will be giving more details, Greeson said.

Buchman said the partnering will mean financial assistance but he declined to provide the amount at this time.

Weatherwax and other officials praised Stewart McMillan, who didnt attend the groundbreaking, but who was instrumental in pushing forward the idea for the training center.

His mission has always been about serving others, Weatherwax said of McMillan.

Weatherwax said the McMillan family foundation made a philanthropic investment to the MAAC Foundation.

Stewart McMillan serves as chairman of Valparaiso-based Task Force Tips, which manufactures firefighting equipment.
LAPORTE  A group of still upset and shell-shocked residents will be part of an effort to reduce the type of disruption they experienced from fireworks going off during a recent weeklong convention outside LaPorte.

A living hell, is how Juanita Haney of the 2600 block of West Joliet Road described her home life roughly 1,000 feet from where mortars as large as 16 inches in diameter went off during the Pyrotechnics Guild International convention in August.

It was like Baghdad. We felt we needed a bomb shelter, she said.

Comments from her and other residents Wednesday night came during a meeting of the LaPorte County Board of Commissioners, who voted to fully address the situation.

Her husband, Joe Haney, said the worst disruption was during a Thursday night competition by PGI members that ran into the early morning hours.

Cracked windows and broken picture frames that fell off walls were among the damage reported from acts Joe Haney felt bordered on criminal.

Our houses shook from five oclock in the afternoon well past the 1 a.m. curfew to 2 (a.m.) and sometimes three oclock in the morning, said Joe Haney, who added the mortars were more than twice the size of the largest ones used at a typical municipal fireworks show.

Residents said the emotional toll included jitters from sudden ground shaking blasts, sleepless nights and flashbacks for some military veterans brought on by the detonations.

Joel Arneson, who lives along West 18th Street, said he even had to have his 11-year-old daughter live somewhere else to calm down until the event was over.

His dog also ran off and has not come back.

I did not realize they were going to be that large of fireworks, Arneson said.

Jerry Williams of Red Bud Drive said only one hummingbird out of the many he used to see has returned and only about half the ducks that used to live in a nearby marsh have returned.

Residents said they were angered that Ind. 2 was closed throughout the entire event and some said they believed officials cared more about the money the convention would bring to the area than how it would impact nearby residents.

A petition containing more than 100 signatures is asking that such fireworks never be allowed again unless theyre a half mile away from their homes.

LaPorte County commissioners voted to have discussions with nearby residents along with other stakeholders like the LaPorte County Fair Board and the LaPorte County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

They would then form a committee, if necessary, to arrive at solutions in the event the PGI, which also had its convention here in 2012, returns for a third time.

Maybe they can come up with a consensus thats acceptable, said Commissioner Vidya Kora.
MICHIGAN CITY  A priest, an imam, a rabbi and a minister found commonality in their faiths during a discussion for an audience of nearly 200 at the First Presbyterian Church.

The Forum on Common Ground on Thursday brought together The Most Rev. Donald J. Hying, Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Gary; Imam Sayed Mohammad Hanif Shah of the Islamic Center of Michigan City; Rabbi Reni Dickman of Sinai Temple, Michigan City, and the Rev. Ericka Parkinson-Kilbourne, of the First Presbyterian Church.

The event, hosted by Concerned Citizens for Syrian Refugees, aimed to explore the commonalities of the Abrahamic religions  those that trace their origins to Abraham  Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

All four holy leaders agreed the three religions teach many similar ideas, including all lives matter.

Shah decried the notion that ISIS represents Islam, as Muslims are not allowed to be aggressors. He said all lives matter, including those of animals.

There is no doubt that all lives matter. Every single living things life matters  even the life of a dog or a cat, Shah said. If a snake doesnt hurt you and doesnt poison you, then you dont have any right to take his life. No human being has any right to take his life. How can the same religion support to kill innocent human beings?

Shah stressed Islam is a peaceful religion and terror espoused by ISIS is not Islamic extremism but attacks against all that Islam represents. He pointed out that Muslims in the Middle East are those who suffer most from the acts of ISIS and the Taliban and said the attackers are actually the enemies of God.

The fight is against the existence of God, Shah said. My brothers and sisters, whatever you hear, between truth and false, there is a distance. If you hear anything about Islam, you can call us and we can discuss it.

Hying said Catholicism is fundamentally a love story and that the religion also upholds the dignity of the human person.

Every single life matters, and we start there, Hying said.

When answering an audience members question about how the church views the LGBT community, Hying said the church may not agree with the lifestyle, but any sort of conversation has to be predicated on the love and respect for the other person.

Dickman said she knows Islam is a religion of peace.

It breaks my heart that any Muslim should feel they are in a position to defend who they are, what they believe, Dickman said. We are your brothers and your sisters and we are your friends.

She said Jews honor the dignity of the person through their religious holidays, particularly Passover, in which the Jews recall their deliverance by God from slavery in Egypt.

We know the heart of a stranger, Dickman said. We know what its like to be oppressed.

She said Jewish values are based on God as the creator of all life, and every human being is made in the image of God.

Every human being has a spark of the divine in him or her, she said. That dignity is immutable because it comes from God.

Parkinson-Kilbourne said she was grateful for the group and the forum to dispel the myths.

Did you hear a nugget of your faith? she asked the audience. That was the point of all of us being here today.

Shah said the gathering was blessed.

This is what Allah and God wants to see  his followers together and united, Shah said.
Wasteful, corrupt government continues in its course absent any meaningful consequences.

A welcome deterrent to such bad government arrived courtesy of the Indiana Legislature in 2013. The General Assembly passed a law allowing cities or towns to secede from wasteful townships when the assistance tax rates of those townships go higher than 12 times the state average.

It was a big stick provided to compel better fiscal management with consequences for not doing so. And now its a question that can and should be put to Griffith voters, without the delay of obstructionist legal reviews and lawsuits filed by the Calumet Township trustees office.

The 12 times clause marks a dramatic example of waste only present at the time in one township in the state: Lake Countys Calumet Township.

According to a recent report released by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, prompted in part by a legal opinion from the Indiana attorney general, Calumet Townships tax rate remains at that exorbitantly high level.

In fact, a past Times analysis of the issue revealed Calumet is the only one of the states more than 1,000 townships anywhere close to the states threshold for secession.

Enough time has passed since the law passed for Griffith voters to petition for a special election, putting the matter of secession to a voter referendum.

Griffith appears to have collected the requisite number of signatures and is ready to move forward with a referendum.

Now the ball is in the Lake County election boards court, and the body should approve the ballot issue and set a date without delay.

Calumet Township Trustee Kimberly Robinson, whose office is attempting to stonewall the referendum, should get out of the way. Attorneys for her office argue Griffith secession proponents didnt follow state law in framing the language in their petition for a special election on the matter and didnt properly certify the petitions results.

These sound like delay tactics.

Its true Robinsons office stands to lose about $1 million per year if Griffith successfully secedes and joins a neighboring, yet-to-be-determined township.

Its also not Robinsons fault the township reached the fiscal state in which it finds itself.

Robinson is only in her first term, and we believe she has tried to take some steps in the right fiscal direction.

Financial transgressions perpetrated by past trustees, including Dozier Allen and Mary Elgin, paved the way to a low valley of intense voter distrust and fiscal disaster.

Allen was federally convicted and served time for essentially stealing from township taxpayers.

Elgin faces felony charges in Hammond federal court of compelling political payments from government employees. Her trial is slated for later this year.

Combine all that with a massive tax rate, considerably higher than anywhere in the state, and its easy to see why Griffith voters would want a chance to express their feelings about the matter at the polls.

All of the conditions have been met for them to get that chance. Its time to make it happen.
EAST CHICAGO  Residents in areas of the Calumet neighborhood where EPA will soon begin removing lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil will have an opportunity to talk to EPA officials about cleanup plans and network with each other Saturday during an open house.

Several individuals have reached out to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about forming a Community Advisory Group, and they will be provided with a table during the open house, an agency spokeswoman said.

Maritza Lopez, a resident of East Calumet, said she and several others leading the group We the People of East Chicago, will be at the open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Riley Park.

EPA plans to begin excavation work this fall at nearly 40 properties in cleanup zones 2 and 3  the middle and eastern parts of the neighborhood, which is within the USS Lead Superfund site. EPA selected the cleanup plan in 2012.

We the People, which is in the process of incorporating as a nonprofit, will represent residents in all three cleanup zones in the neighborhood and hopes to work with other community groups active in the area, Lopez said. The group plans to survey residents in zones 2 and 3 before Saturdays meeting, she said.

Were talking about single moms with children, were talking about seniors, were talking about people with all different backgrounds, Lopez said.

The group wants to learn the full scope of residents concerns and use the information to work with EPA, she said.

I just honestly feel this was a volcano brewing, and it finally blew up, Lopez said. Were not looking to place blame. We just want it fixed, and we want it fixed the right way. We dont want a quick fix. We want the correct fix.

To help with the survey or connect with We the People of East Chicago, email wtp4ec@gmail.com or contact Rosa Maria Rodriguez on Facebook or at (219) 801-1896.

Sherry Hunter, who lives in zone 2 and has been advocating on behalf of residents in zones 1 and 2 as part of the group Calumet Lives Matter, said shes concerned because EPA never said residents at the West Calumet Housing Complex needed to leave their homes during cleanup.

The East Chicago Housing Authority in July began moving forward with plans to relocate more than 1,000 residents and demolish the complex. Where the residents will go remains unclear, but the EPA has shelved plans to excavate soil in the area until the city decides on a future use for the land.

Hunter has been surveying residents about whether they want the complex demolished, and a number do not, she said. Anyone who wants to participate in Hunters survey can reach her at sjehunter@aol.com.

What to expect during cleanup

While it may be safest for residents to relocate during excavation activity, its not unreasonable to allow people to stay in their homes if EPA takes the proper measures to mitigate the spread of contaminated soil and dust, experts said. Residents should take some precautions, too.

EPA said at least 20 out of 145 properties sampled in zone 2 as of Friday will be targeted for cleanup this year, weather permitting. EPA is targeting properties this fall with lead levels above 1,200 parts per million and arsenic levels above 68 ppp, its standards for emergency soil removal. The agency eventually will clean up any properties with lead levels above 400 ppm and arsenic above 26 ppm.

The federal agency began soil testing in zone 2 this summer south of 149th Place, because they are closest to the former USS Lead facility and have the highest probability of being contaminated. There are a total of 586 properties in the zone.

At least 19 properties, including Riley Park, are scheduled for cleanup this fall in zone 3. At least 226 additional properties in zone 3 will require cleanup work starting next spring, though the number is subject to change because of resampling, EPA said. A total of 411 out of 463 properties in zone 3 were sampled.

Residents should try to prevent dust from entering their homes by keeping doors and windows closed and wiping feet before entering the home, said Jill Johnston, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California.

While experts said it would make sense for EPA to offer deep cleaning inside residents homes after soil outside is removed, the federal agency said it typically does not provide such a service.

EPA is developing a site-specific plan, the agency said in a statement. We will provide information to residents during the open house and to the specific residents whose yards will be remediated.

EPA has been deep cleaning residents homes in the zone 1, which includes the West Calumet Housing Complex and Carrie Gosch Elementary School. EPA said it sampled dust inside 108 homes in zone 1 as of Sept. 15, and 52  or nearly half  exceeded the agencys screening level for lead of 316 parts per million.

Both Johnston and Bruce Lanphear, a professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University who studies exposure to neurotoxins such as lead, said EPA should take steps to mitigate the spread of dust by watering down soil and monitoring lead in airborne dust.

If residents can replace carpets after excavation is complete, they should, Lanphear said.

Carpets can actually act as a real sink, he said.

Residents living within the Omaha (Nebraska) Lead Site were able to address another lead exposure pathway  lead paint  from inside homes during an EPA cleanup, thanks in part to the work of a Community Advisory Group.

Lead exposure is cumulative

The majority of the homes in zones 2 and 3 of the USS Lead site were built before 1959, long before use of lead paint ended in 1978. In addition, lead exposure is cumulative, experts said.

East Chicago drinking water, even when it comes from Lake Michigan, contains some lead but still meets environmental standards. Children in the area are at higher risk not only because of lead in soil, but because their growing bodies also absorb lead from water and possibly old paint.

Any remediation plan should look comprehensively at that to try to get lead out of the whole community, Johnston said.

She also recommended residents ensure that the lab analyzing childrens blood samples has a low reporting limit.

Really, you want them to be using 1 (microgram per deciliter) as the cutoff, she said. Its not particularly difficult. The technology is readily available to see lead at those levels.

The CDCs level of concern for lead in the blood is 5 micrograms per decliter, and the East Chicago Health Department is offering case management to children with levels above that point, City Attorney Carla Morgan said.

East Chicago residents can have their blood tested by calling the Health Department at (219) 391-8467. Residents who had preliminary tests showing elevated levels are strongly encouraged to return for confirmatory tests.

In an effort to prevent further lead poisoning among children in the neighborhood, the NAACP has started fresh produce giveaways several days a week at two local churches.

Residents can pick up fresh citrus and vegetables donated by Strack & Van Til and Whole Foods from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays at First Baptist Church, 4911 McCook Ave., and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 4756 Melville Ave.
CROWN POINT  A fundraiser walk to honor a Northwest Indiana native killed by a whale while working as a SeaWorld trainer will be Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds.

The sixth annual Dream Big Walk to support the Dawn Brancheau Foundation will feature a scenic 2-mile walk around the fairgrounds, along with animals from the Columbus Zoo and other activities.

Brancheau, a native of Cedar Lake who attended Andrean High School in Merrillville, was killed by an orca during a 2010 show at SeaWorld Orlando, where she was a trainer for 15 years. Her death at the age of 40 set off a controversy that resulted in SeaWorld trainers being disallowed from performing in the water with killer whales and the theme park discontinuing its breeding of captive orcas.

Her family started the Dawn Brancheau Foundation after her death.

This foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children and animals in need, said Brancheaus sister, Debbie Frogameni, who lives in Orlando. Sunday will be an afternoon of exercise, community service and sharing with people who have supported us the projects that have happened over the year through their support.

Registration starts at 2:30 p.m. From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., participants are encouraged to help with onsite community service projects. Those include making blankets and filling backpacks to distribute to Kenyan children serviced by Matanyas Hope, creating Cards from the Heart for local senior citizens, assembling family food bags for Chicago families serviced by Horizons for Youth, and assembling doggie adoption bags for the South Suburban Humane Society.

The Dream Big Walk will begin at 3:30 p.m. with welcoming remarks and an animal presentation by the Columbus Zoo. After the walk, there will be an opportunity to meet the animals  which are scheduled to include a kangaroo, cheetah, penguin and armadillo  followed by family fun games and a picnic dinner.

Participants also are invited to donate new and gently used backpacks for children serviced by Matanyas Hope.

This years event proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Lake; Mercy Home for Boys and Girls; Matanyas Hope; Horizons for Youth; Sojourner Truth House; South Suburban Family Shelter; Savior Children Foundation; South Suburban Humane Society; and The Dream Big Scholarship at Andrean High School.

For more information or to register, visit dreambigwalk2016.kintera.org.
The NYPD says it will hold a department trial for the officer who shot and killed Ramarley Graham in the Bronx in 2012.

A statement from the NYPD reads, "We have concluded the evaluation of the internal disciplinary case involving Police Officer Richard Haste and a determination has been made to move forward with a department trial."

Graham was 18 years old when he was shot inside his home by Officer Richard Haste, who said he thought the teen was reaching for something in his waistband.

No weapon was ever found.

In a statement, Royce Russell, attorney for Ramarley Graham's family, said, "Given those in positions to bring justice to the Graham have failed them miserably, I am cautiously optimistic that the Graham family can have some closure and be spared of any 'kangaroo justice.'"

Graham's family says they're hoping all of the officers involved are fired.

"A lot of people know I have no faith in the system," said Constance Malcolm, Graham's mother. "Until I get a call or me going to the trial and hear that he's fired - not just Richard Haste, because it's more than just Richard Haste. It's also 12 officers that was involved in the murder of my son and they're just going after him. Which is good, but what about the other ones?"

Haste was stripped of his gun and badge and is on modified duty.

A grand jury indicted Haste on a manslaughter charge, but a judge later tossed it out. A second grand jury declined to re-indict him.

The department trial could result in Haste being fired from the NYPD.

Stu London, Haste's attorney, released a statement in response to the news, saying, "Officer Haste understands how tragic the loss of a life is for the family of Ramarley Graham. However, he remains convinced that his actions were justified based on the information related to him by his team."
Several news outlets are reporting Friday morning that the father of the accused Chelsea bomber had spoken to the FBI in 2014, asking investigators to keep an eye on his son because he was obsessed with terrorism.

Investigators say that the suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, wrote in a journal about bombs and how a top member of the Islamic State terror group encouraged people to commit violence in their communities.

Rahami is accused of setting off two explosives last Saturday night  one on West 23rd Street that injured more than two dozen people, and another earlier in the day near the starting line of a race in Seaside Park, New Jersey. No one was hurt in that blast.

Rahami remains in a New Jersey hospital after taking part in a shootout with police Monday morning in the city of Linden, NJ.

Investigators said they have not been able to question him because he is too severely injured.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said he will be moved to New York soon to face federal charges in the case.

Law enforcement officials said Rahami's wife has returned to the United States after giving a statement to a U.S. embassy in the United Arab Emirates.

They have not said that she is suspected of any wrongdoing.
President Barack Obama has vetoed the bill that would allow families of September 11th victims to sue the Saudi Arabian government.

The President said the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act" would upset long-standing international principles of sovereign immunity.

The bill would gives families the right to sue the Saudi government in a U.S. court for any role the country may have played in the attacks.

Fifteen of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were Saudi nationals.

The bill easily passed both chambers of Congress and was sent to the president's desk just before the 15th anniversary of the terror attacks.

Congressional leaders say they believe they have enough votes for an override, which would be the first in Obama's presidency.

Sen. Charles Schumer said the president's decision is disappointing, but he believes the bill will become law.

He released a statement that reads, "This is a disappointing decision that will be swiftly and soundly overturned in Congress. I believe both parties will come together next week to make JASTA the law of the land. If the Saudis did nothing wrong, they should not fear this legislation. If they were culpable in 9/11, they should be held accountable. The families of the victims of 9/11 deserve their day in court, and justice for those families shouldnt be thrown overboard because of diplomatic concerns."

In addition, the group September 11th Advocates said in a statement that Obama "vetoed justice."

"We are truly dismayed that President Obama has decided to protect terrorists and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by vetoing The Justice Against Terrorism Act, (JASTA). Our murdered husbands and the other 3,000 dead of 9/11 deserve better from this President," the statement reads, in part.

The statement goes on to read, "We look forward to Congress - in a truly unanimous and bi-partisan manner - voting JASTA into law and protecting Americans against the terrorists who spread hate, violence, and murder around the globe."
MEXICO CITY  Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon, an architect who fused the legacy of Mexicos pre-Hispanic past with European Modernism to design some of his countrys most distinctive public buildings, died on Sept. 16 in Mexico City. He was 90.

The cause was a heart attack, said Miquel Adria, a friend and the editor of the architecture magazine Arquine.

Over seven decades, Mr. Gonzalez de Leon expressed his vision in plans for museums, government buildings, universities and office complexes.

The monumentality of many of his structures evokes the pyramids and platforms of Mesoamericas ancient cities, as well as the imposing palaces and churches of the regions Spanish conquerors.
Geena Davis stars in The Exorcist, a scary new series inspired by the 1973 horror classic. MacGyver and Van Helsing are also updated, though perhaps not quite as successfully. And Transparent returns for a third season, with three more Emmy wins to its credit.

Whats on TV

THE EXORCIST 9 p.m. on Fox. Geena Davis plays Angela Rance, a Chicago hotel manager who turns to her priest (Alfonso Herrera of Netflixs Sense8) when something in her home seems amiss. Her husband (Alan Ruck) has suffered a brain injury. Her older daughter (Brianne Howey) hasnt been herself after surviving a car crash that left a friend dead. And Angela hears whispers and scratching in the walls. Thank God for her happy-go-lucky younger daughter (Hannah Kasulka), who is about the only thing keeping her sane. Its well-made, well-acted television, Neil Genzlinger wrote in The New York Times about this new series, spun from the 1973 movie, considered one of the film worlds scariest. Where its going after the first episode is anyones guess, but fans of sophisticated horror will certainly be curious to find out.
This Weeks Movies: The Dressmaker The Queen of Katwe The Magnificent Seven The Magnificent Seven is a remake of the 1960 western, in which seven hired guns protect a village. In her review, Manohla Dargis writes: The film is a remake of a remake thats as fresh as recycled recycling suggests. Under the adequate if unremarkable direction of Antoine Fuqua, the film leaves no genre element untouched, from gun spinning to trick riding to atmospherically flapping dusters. The new movie is as moth-eaten as the serapes strewn through the 1960 film, but theres no denying the appeal of the image of Denzel Washington riding a horse. He is, to state the over-obvious, a great star, which means that he has that ineluctable whats-it for selling the goods no matter what their sell-by date. The Queen of Katwe is about a girl from a poor township in Uganda who becomes a champion chess player. In his review A.O. Scott writes: Mira Nairs The Queen of Katwe, has a richness and unpredictability that separates it from other, superficially similar movies. Phiona, the main characters circumstances are harsh, and the film hardly minimizes the brutal choices and painful limitations placed on women in Uganda. However the film refuses to turn African life into a pageant of grimness and deprivation. Phionas awakening sense of her own talent is the engine that drives the main plot. The growing awareness of the powers of her mind is thrilling to watch, and as visible, as palpable as irresistible  as any boxing match or soccer game. In The Dressmaker a social outcast returns to her hometown in search of vengeance, and ends up impressing the locals with her sewing skills. In his review A.O. Scott writes: Jocelyn Moorhouses costume and production designers make the most of the 1950s period setting, and its fun to watch good actors play dressup, especially Hugo Weaving, who plays a cross-dressing constable.While the film has an intriguing start, it 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.
FRIDAY PUZZLE  If youre going to push yourself to do the late-week puzzles, you might want to practice on a puzzle like Andrew Zhous, which allows you to succeed while feeling slightly naughty: You may feel challenged by the more obscure entries and tougher clues, but you can find just enough gettable entries to keep you going. Todays puzzle will require you to tough it out for quite a while, but youre definitely solving with the pros now.

And the reward for pushing yourself is a puzzle crammed with some Scrabbly, awesome entries that you will not see earlier in the week.

Mr. Zhou has worked nine unique entries into his grid today, and I think theyre all very lively. I did not know about the philosopher BOETHIUS, but I am very glad to add him to the #NowIKnow hashtag. Other entries that have been seen before in The New York Times Crossword but add to the fun of this solve include WAX POETIC, OCTOPUSSY, GO PRO and AUTOTUNE.

Tricky Clues

 10A: There are a few different kinds of bridges, but today, Mr. Zhou is thinking about the kind that span waterways. One type of support for a bridge of that sort is an I-BAR.
MILAN  The Milanese midcentury Luigi Caccia Dominioni building, nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood that is traditionally home to the Milano Bene, the wealthy, conservative members of society, may bear little physical resemblance to Andy Warhols silver-painted Manhattan loft that came to be known as the Factory.

But the Italian fashion designer Arthur Arbesser has created in this space, leased from a friend and shared with the Finnish photographer Henrik Blomqvist, a kind of 21st century version of the Factory, where its members work, play and create together.

This is a city dominated by its longstanding fashion families, but Ive created an alternative family, Mr. Arbesser said.

In an increasingly fluid fashion world, it may well be a template for the future of Italian design. A five-minute telephone call with someone that intellectually stimulates you is far better than a Google search, said Marco de Vincenzo, Mr. Arbessers friend and a fellow designer.
Federal authorities in New York have issued a subpoena for records pertaining to allegations that Anthony D. Weiner exchanged sexually explicit messages with a 15-year-old girl, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

Mr. Weiner was the subject of an article on Wednesday in The Daily Mail, a British newspaper, that said he had an online correspondence with the girl beginning in January that included suggestive texts and explicit messages sent over social media.

According to The Daily Mail, the girl, who was not identified, said she did not want to press charges because she believes her relationship with Weiner was consensual. Still, she and her father agreed to be interviewed out of concern for other underage girls, the publication reported.

It was not clear which records investigators in the office of the United States attorney, Preet Bharara, would subpoena. The person was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
One chilly day last November, two well-dressed men walked into the Metropolitan Fine Arts and Antiques store on West 57th Street in Manhattan, looking for Chinese figurines carved from ivory.

It was the second time the men had been in the store, with its antique chandeliers and walls of breakfront cabinets filled with vases, ornate clocks, statues and other finely wrought objects. A salesman brought them a statuette from another floor, saying it had been fashioned from a mammoth tusk. One of the men bought the piece for $2,000.

The men were actually undercover investigators for the state Environmental Conservation Department, and the statue turned out, after testing at the American Museum of Natural History, to be carved from the ivory of an African elephant. That was enough for the authorities to obtain a search warrant, and on Dec. 28 state officials discovered a floor at the store with 126 ivory items, including scores of intricate carvings and two pairs of uncarved elephant tusks, one of them seven feet long. The sales prices listed for the objects totaled $4.5 million. One pair of tusks was priced at $200,000.

The salesman, Victor Zilberman, 62, and the stores owners  brothers Irving Morano, 46, and Samuel Morano, 48  were arrested on Thursday and charged with selling ivory without a license, a felony in New York State under a law passed in 2014 that is intended to severely curb the ivory trade. The three men were arraigned before Justice Mark Dwyer of State Supreme Court in Manhattan on two counts of illegal commercialization of wildlife and were released without bail.
A longtime foster father, already accused of sexually abusing five of his adopted sons and endangering the welfare of two foster children, was charged on Thursday with abusing another boy in his home on Long Island.

The foster father, Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu, 60, pleaded not guilty in Suffolk County court in Riverhead on Thursday. An indictment against him unsealed the same day includes five counts of sexual abuse involving two adopted sons he was previously accused of abusing and an additional child, described as an adopted son who was under the age of 13 at the time of the abuse.

In March, Mr. Gonzales-Mugaburu was charged with 17 counts of sexual abuse, endangerment and sexual misconduct involving a dog. Following additional testimony from boys involved in the original indictment, Mr. Gonzales-Mugaburu also faces a Class A felony charge. He could face from 25 years to life in prison if he is convicted.
(A Northern Spy tree can take up to 10 years to bear fruit, said Mr. Bussey, whose encyclopedia, The Illustrated History of Apples in North America, is scheduled to appear next year.)

Some helpful tips as we bite into apple-picking season:

 The best apples are those that ripen later, around October through December.

Better-developed sugars, more complex flavors and more satisfying to eat, Mr. Bussey told us.

 Once youve picked them, keep them somewhere cool to slow the decaying process.

(Until, of course, you bake them into an apple cake, apple pie, tarte Tatin or bourbon Bundt.)

 And dont judge an apple by its color.

They can run from practically black and tints of blue to yellows, greens and reds, Mr. Bussey said.

Its just their genetic makeup, he said, adding that the pretty apples dont always taste the best: Under the skin is really where it counts  not whats on the outside, but on the inside.
ALBANY  For eight of the nine defendants charged on Thursday in the wide-ranging bribery and bid-rigging scheme surrounding Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos economic development programs in upstate and Western New York, the motive for the alleged crime seemed to be simple, old-fashioned greed.

But for Alain E. Kaloyeros, a physicist who rose from a basement laboratory at the State University at Albany to oversee hundreds of millions of dollars in state economic development funds over a quarter-century, a more complex purpose seemed to be at work. Beyond money, the rewards he sought appeared to be power, prestige and, perhaps most of all, the fulfillment of a long-held dream: reinventing upstate New York as a Rust Belt Silicon Valley.

With an early zeal for nanotechnology, a taste for head-turning cars, a sardonic tongue and a talent for luring major corporations with government financing, Dr. Kaloyeros, 60, is widely credited with transforming Albany from a drowsy government town into an unlikely center for high-tech research.

It was pretty much a miracle, said Lloyd Constantine, a top aide to Eliot Spitzer, the former governor. From my standpoint, from the administrations standpoint, he was doing a spectacular job. Revitalization of the upstate economy was Job No. 1. And he was doing it, and doing it really well.
Donald J. Trump visited the Detroit Economic Club last month to tell a story about a once-great city destroyed by free trade.

The city of Detroit is the living, breathing example of my opponents failed economic agenda, Mr. Trump said. She supports the high taxes and radical regulation that forced jobs out of your community, and the crime policies have made you far, far less safe. He concluded: She is the candidate of the past. Ours is the campaign of the future.

In fact, Mr. Trump is the candidate of Michigans past, which is one reason hes losing the state in almost every survey. When he talks about making Michigan great again, he is evoking the years between World War II and the 1973 oil crisis, when an auto industry job that paid for a house, two cars and a cottage Up North was, in the words of the author and automaker Ben Hamper, a precious birthright.

Like much of Mr. Trumps nostalgic campaign, his promise to keep manufacturing jobs in America seems better suited for the attitudes  and the voters  of the 1980s. Back then, Michigan was in a xenophobic mood, especially toward the Japanese, who were often doing a better job of building the fuel-efficient cars Americans wanted to drive. In a suburb of Detroit, a Chinese-American man was beaten to death in a bar brawl by a Chrysler foreman who told him, Its because of you were out of work. In Flint, people at a United Automobile Workers fund-raising event paid $5 to whack a Toyota with a sledgehammer.
Heres what we can be fairly sure will happen in Mondays presidential debate: Donald Trump will lie repeatedly and grotesquely, on a variety of subjects. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton might say a couple of untrue things. Or she might not.

Heres what we dont know: Will the moderators step in when Mr. Trump delivers one of his well-known, often reiterated falsehoods? If he claims, yet again, to have opposed the Iraq war from the beginning  which he didnt  will he be called on it? If he claims to have renounced birtherism years ago, will the moderators note that he was still at it just a few months ago? (In fact, he already seems to be walking back his admission last week that President Obama was indeed born in America.) If he says one more time that America is the worlds most highly taxed country  which it isnt  will anyone other than Mrs. Clinton say that it isnt? And will media coverage after the debate convey the asymmetry of what went down?

You might ask how I can be sure that one candidate will be so much more dishonest than the other. The answer is that at this point we have long track records for both Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton; thanks to nonpartisan fact-checking operations like PolitiFact, we can even quantify the difference.

PolitiFact has examined 258 Trump statements and 255 Clinton statements and classified them on a scale ranging from True to Pants on Fire. One might quibble with some of the judgments, but theyre overwhelmingly in the ballpark. And they show two candidates living in different moral universes when it comes to truth-telling. Mr. Trump had 48 Pants on Fire ratings, Mrs. Clinton just six; the G.O.P. nominee had 89 False ratings, the Democrat 27.
At a Senate hearing on Tuesday, John Stumpf, the chairman and chief executive of Wells Fargo, gave the Banking Committee a non-apology for the banks pervasive abuse of customers.

True, Mr. Stumpf repeatedly said he was sorry that 5,300 (now fired) employees had illegally opened millions of unauthorized accounts in order to meet aggressive sales targets. But as several senators pointed out, the contrition rang hollow, because Mr. Stumpf has not held himself or other top managers accountable. He has not offered to resign. He has not fired any senior executives. He has not forfeited any compensation received while the fraud was inflating the banks performance, nor has he endorsed clawing back the pay of other culpable executives.

So far, Wells Fargo has settled with regulators for $185 million in fines, plus restitution to customers who incurred fees on the sham accounts. That was a record settlement for some of the government agencies involved in the case. But for Wells Fargo, the sum was not deemed material, according to Mr. Stumpfs testimony. Perhaps there is more punishment to come, because as the hearing made clear, the problems go beyond bogus fees.

For example, under questioning, Mr. Stumpf could not say how Wells Fargo would redress harm to customers whose credit scores may have been damaged by credit cards opened without their consent. Senator Jon Tester, Democrat of Montana, pointed out that customers who pay an extra half of a percentage point on a mortgage, because unauthorized credit had lowered their credit scores, would each pay $50,000 more in interest over the life of a 30-year $500,000 mortgage.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Before Keith L. Scott joined a growing list of black men killed by the police and before his death became the center of violent protests here, he lived a sometimes troubled but relatively quiet life in a close-knit family.

Those who knew Mr. Scott, 43 and a father of seven, say he worked hard to provide for his loved ones, mentored some who lived near him, and enjoyed spending time with a large family that included his wife of 20 years and many extended family members. It is that image that is gnawing at many close to him who say angrily that he should not have been shot.

However, the police paint a different picture of Mr. Scott, who spent several years in prison in Texas and who had been convicted on a variety of criminal charges over the years. They say he brandished a gun, which they found at the scene, and ignored demands to drop it, before an officer, who is also black, fatally shot him. Details of the shooting remain unclear, and the authorities have not released any video of it.

Before he moved to Charlotte, Mr. Scott, who went by his middle name, Lamont, lived in Gastonia, a town about 20 miles west of Charlotte.
Through all of it, Mr. Emanuels place has been complicated. While calls months ago for his resignation have quieted, his relations with some residents remain strained and tenuous. In a poll conducted this spring, 62 percent of residents said they disapproved of his job performance, and two-thirds disapproved of his handling of the police. His approval rating was even worse among African-Americans.

The speech had been a matter of much anticipation here. Mr. Emanuel announced it weeks ago, then delayed it a few days. That raised speculation over its content and whether Mr. Emanuel, known for his blunt, hard-charging style, could address questions about race, policing and parenting without alienating residents.

In the end, Mr. Emanuel spoke directly about young gang members: the group of people who the police say are responsible for a majority of the shootings in Chicago, and who are also a majority of those being shot.

To have any chance of stopping them from killing each other and the innocent bystanders, we have to stop them from giving up on themselves and their future, Mr. Emanuel said, pledging $36 million in government and donated funds over the next three years to provide mentors to 7,200 eighth, ninth and 10th graders in the citys most violent neighborhoods.

Now, look, parents and grandparents of this city are raising good kids against great odds, Mr. Emanuel said. In some cases, though, we have kids growing up without positive role models in their lives, and the danger we face today is that the gangs in the city of Chicago are willing to be that role model; theyre willing to be that mentor; theyre willing to be that family.
Mr. Chertoff, a former federal judge and prosecutor, said that profiling techniques not relating to ethnicity were already available to the authorities, and that ethnic profiling was counterproductive.

Not only is it a waste of time, but youre offending people who in many ways you want to be your allies, he said, adding, When you ethnically profile, you play into the hands of the enemy.

If elected, Mr. Trump would have little direct power over local law enforcement, but presidents do set the tone at the Justice Department, which can sue municipalities that violate civil rights. Under President Obama, the Justice Department has sought to address racial unrest by scrutinizing police departments in cities like Baltimore and Cleveland. Mr. Trump has been critical of the Obama administrations oversight of the police, raising the prospect that he would take a very different approach.

Presidents have far broader discretion in areas related to national security and immigration. In some instances, Mr. Trump has advocated unprecedented measures that would be unlikely to survive legal scrutiny, such as a proposal to ban all Muslim immigration that he offered during the Republican primaries.

Mr. Trump has also proposed to enlist local law enforcement agencies to fulfill his promise to deport millions of people who entered the country illegally, largely from Latin America and Asia. He has pledged to expand and revitalize a federal program known as 287(g), which empowers local police departments to help enforce federal immigration law.

But like New Yorks stop-and-frisk policy, this program has come under fire for its racial impact. In 2012, the Obama administration discontinued its most hotly criticized element, which allowed the police to question people about their immigration status on the street, following concerns that it violated the rights of American citizens of Hispanic descent.

In some places, local law enforcement wound up picking up people who were citizens or who had legal status in the country, said David Martin, who served as principal deputy general counsel of the Department of Homeland Security from January 2009 to December 2010. There has been no close attention at all on the part of the Trump campaign policy people to see whats being done right now, what is effective and what are the trade-offs that the Obama administration is making.
WASHINGTON  Mel Brooks performed a bit of slapstick near the portrait of George Washington. President Obama tried his hand at stand-up comedy beside his lectern. Audra McDonald almost missed her moment on stage.

The ceremony Mr. Obama hosted on Thursday to award the nations highest honors for achievement in arts and the humanities was a raucous celebration in the stately East Room.

The president recognized what he called an impressive crew of two dozen from the worlds of art and literature, including Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records; the composer Philip Glass; the authors Sandra Cisneros and Ron Chernow; the poet Louise Gluck; and the chef Jose Andres.

Weve got Terry Gross, Mr. Obama said, referring to the host of the NPR program Fresh Air who is known for her questioning of celebrities and public figures, and a whole bunch of people who Terry Gross has interviewed.
SAN FRANCISCO  The developers of the luxurious Millennium Tower laid out the risks and potential defects of the 58-story building in minute detail when its apartments went on sale seven years ago.

The color and texture of the marble and granite hallways may not be completely uniform, said a disclosure statement given to potential buyers. The streets below the tower could be congested and noisy, and the landscaping in the common areas could change, subject to availability of certain species of plants.

But the 21-page disclosure document left out what owners of units in the buildings now say was a crucial detail: that the building had already sunk more than eight inches into the soft soil by the time it was completed in 2009, much more than engineers had anticipated.

If they had disclosed the defect, I would have never bought here, said Jerry Dodson, the owner of a two-bedroom apartment on the 42nd floor that he bought with his wife for $2.1 million. Never was there a hint that the building was sinking beyond design.
OTTAWA  Canada and China will begin talks that may lead to a free-trade agreement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday.

The announcement was the latest of Mr. Trudeaus sometimes contentious efforts to develop stronger ties with China. It came during a news conference with Premier Li Keqiang of China, who is on a four-day visit. This month, Mr. Trudeaus government said with little fanfare that it was negotiating an extradition treaty with China, a country with a dubious human rights record and sometimes questionable legal processes.

No details were offered about what form any trade deal might take, but Mr. Trudeau said that he hoped to double trade with China by 2025.

In Beijing in August, Mr. Li made a similar announcement. But Canadian officials later said that statement was premature, citing differences between the countries on labor standards, environmental protections and the role of Chinese state-owned firms.
AMMAN, Jordan  Members of the political arm of the opposition Muslim Brotherhood won seats in Jordans Parliament in a symbolic comeback, and women increased their numbers in the legislature, according to results of parliamentary elections released on Thursday.

Although most of the 130 seats in the lower house of Parliament were retained by pro-monarchy loyalists, the Islamic Action Front, the Brotherhoods political arm, and other Islamists not affiliated with the Brotherhood won a total of 16 seats.

The Brotherhood had boycotted the last two elections to protest what it said were unfair practices in the electoral system that favored pro-government candidates. Jordan had stripped the Brotherhood of its official registration this year, but the Islamic Action Front remained registered and legal. The group decided to field candidates this time after the government adopted changes that encouraged the participation of political parties and opposition groups.

Jordans lower house of Parliament has limited political power or influence over the governments policies. King Abdullah II appoints the prime minister, cabinet members and members of the upper house of Parliament.
JERUSALEM  They took the stage, one after the other, two aging actors in a long-running drama that has begun to lose its audience. As the Israeli and Palestinian leaders recited their lines in the grand hall of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, many in the orchestra seats recognized the script.

Heinous crimes, charged Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president. Historic catastrophe.

Fanaticism, countered Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister. Inhumanity.

Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu have been at this for so long that between them they have addressed the world body 19 times, every year cajoling, lecturing, warning and guilt-tripping the international community into seeing their side of the bloody struggle between their two peoples. Their speeches are filled with grievance and bristling with resentment, as they summon the ghosts of history from hundreds and even thousands of years ago to make their case.

While each year finds some new twist, often nuanced, sometimes incendiary, the argument has been running long enough that the world has begun to move on. Where the Israeli-Palestinian conflict once dominated the annual meeting of the United Nations, this year it has become a side show as Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Abbas compete for attention against seemingly more urgent crises like the civil war in Syria and the threat from the Islamic State.
He instructed Mr. Kerry to keep talking to Mr. Lavrov, and the two came to terms five days later in Geneva. Mr. Obama, his aides said, was determined not to give Mr. Putin a platform to declare Russia was working hand in hand with the United States in Syria, particularly since he did not believe the Russians would abide by the terms of the agreement.

The president wasnt prepared to offer the Russians what they wanted most  a symbolic show of U.S. cooperation  until the Russians delivered on their end of the bargain, said the White House press secretary, Josh Earnest. Thats why the bargain is structured the way it is. And its rooted in our skepticism that they would deliver.

The president doesnt want U.S. credibility to be sullied by Russias dishonesty and willingness to sacrifice principle in the name of convenience, Mr. Earnest added.

Mr. Obamas skepticism appeared warranted when the aid convoy was hit by a warplane that American officials believe was Russian. White House officials reacted harshly. Benjamin J. Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser, said, The question is whether or not we just walk away from the table completely at this point, or whether or not we do some more diplomacy and consultation to determine whether or not there is some path forward.

Again, though, Mr. Obama left it to Mr. Kerry to reproach Mr. Lavrov at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

To the extent he mentioned Syria during the General Assembly, it was in broad-brush humanitarian terms. At a meeting with other world leaders on the refugee crisis, Mr. Obama read a letter by a 6-year-old boy from Scarsdale, N.Y., who wrote to him to offer a home to Omran Daqneesh, the 5-year-old Syrian boy from Aleppo who was photographed, dazed and bloodied, after being rescued from an airstrike.

The White House recorded the boy reading the letter aloud, and the video went viral on social media.

Mr. Obamas struggles with Syria are most palpable when he tries to sum up his foreign-policy legacy. In his speech to the General Assembly, for example, the president cited his diplomatic overtures to Cuba and Myanmar, as well as the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accord, which he said exemplified the power of global collaboration. But when he referred to Syria, Mr. Obama spoke of constraints rather than possibilities.
Most museums take years to complete multimillion dollar fund-raising campaigns, working laboriously to secure lead gifts and come up with the last dollar.

Now the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo has introduced a new, unorthodox model. On Friday, the museum announced that  in less than 12 weeks  it had raised $103 million for its $125 million expansion to be designed by Rem Koolhaass firm, OMA, thanks to the largess of the Los Angeles financier Jeffrey Gundlach and the assistance of Amy Cappellazzo, a Sothebys chairwoman, who are both from Buffalo.

Its probably the fastest capital campaign in U.S. history, said Janne Siren, the gallerys director. It has certainly been a whirlwind.

The museum will be renamed the Buffalo Albright-Knox-Gundlach Art Museum, or the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
Dumped on a pad of land as if by a truck, an installation by Ben Watt-Meyer, a Toronto-based artist and landscape architect, is a mound of wave-eroded bricks collected from Ontario Place and the Leslie Street Spit and ordered into a rainbow from asphalt-colored through clay to bone. It doesnt seem out of place as a site in obvious transformation, he said. The work, Rubble Pile, recognizes Torontos quick, thorough and ongoing transformation, emphasizing a mostly forgotten cycle: Ontario Place itself was erected on artificial islands created by the material from demolished buildings. The cycle is about to begin again.

What the new site will be exactly, the province, which owns and operates Ontario Place, hasnt yet said. Since it shuttered the amusement park for flagging admissions, a number of ideas have been debated: a casino, commercial and residential development, public green space. Eberhard Zeidler, 90, the original architect of Ontario Place, said that a new vision is exactly what the park requires. It needs a strong mind to say, Here we do something, and we do something right.

Occupying one of the smaller concrete silos, formerly the tornado simulation from the Wild World of Weather exhibit, a Toronto-based artist and curator, Heather Nicol, has hung a delicate polyester structure resembling a seedpod or a womb from the ruins of the display. Over a speaker, a young girl reads from a childrens book about tornadoes: Ontario has more tornadoes than anywhere in the world with the exception, she stumbles a few times on the word, of the United States. The sound of thunder interrupts. Tornado Pod is an expression of both the hope and anxiety that accompany the exercise of planning for the future.
In Chicago, Danzig, Dave Lombardo (best known as the drummer for the metal band Slayer), the bassist Jerry Only and the guitarist Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein pushed aside decades of differences and lawsuits to race through 26 songs, from anthems like Where Eagles Dare to obscurities including She, the B-side of bands first single. The songs sported much of the ageless, defiant joy they did so long ago, and as the four band members bounded across stage, muscles rippling beneath skintight clothes, they looked oddly immortal.

Alas, the resurrection of the Misfits is also the end, according to Danzig, who has nearly completed an album of Elvis Presley covers: If theres going to be another Misfits record, Id probably have to write the stuff, he said. And Ive got a full plate, so I dont know.

Danzig, 61, also discussed the Misfits stage show and the rebelliousness of punk music. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Until Riot Fest in Denver in early September, you hadnt played with the Misfits in 33 years. Why reunite now?

Jerry and I had solved and resolved all our differences. And Ive seen a lot of musicians dying too young recently, like Bowie and Prince. That just got in my head. People had been trying to get us to reunite for a long time, anyway. I said that if were going to do it, we might as well do it now while were all in really good shape. Its not easy to be in terrible shape or be a drug addict and perform, you know?
Terry Jones, an original member of Monty Python, has a form of dementia that is affecting his ability to communicate, his family said in a statement.

The statement, published on Thursday on the website of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in Wales, also known as BAFTA Cymru, said: Terry has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, a variant of frontotemporal dementia. This illness affects his ability to communicate, and he is no longer able to give interviews.

On Friday, Ben Timlett, a producer on one of Mr. Joness films, said in an email that Mr. Joness son Bill confirmed that the statement had been released to BAFTA Cymru on behalf of the family.
New Yorks financial regulator wants information from Caliber Home Loans, one of the nations fastest-growing mortgage firms, about its handling of distressed mortgages and origination of mortgages to borrowers with checkered credit histories.

The request for documents is an indication the New York Department of Financial Services is ratcheting up an early stage investigation into Caliber, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lone Star Funds, a large private equity firm based in Dallas, said a person briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly.

The New York regulator made the request in a letter sent a week ago to Caliber, said the person briefed on the matter. The regulator told Caliber it was investigating multiple complaints from consumers in New York and wanted information related to the firms procedures for handling distressed mortgages and foreclosures.

The regulator is also asking for information about mortgages Caliber has begun writing to borrowers who have filed for bankruptcy or been foreclosed on but are repairing their credit histories. Caliber is one of the few mortgage firms that has begun making so-called nonprime loans nearly a decade after the start of the housing bust.
The MAC might be back. And that would be bad news for the beleaguered shareholders of Yahoo.

The announcement on Thursday that Yahoo had been hacked and some 500 million of its customer accounts with sensitive, confidential information were leaked is a blow to its business. It could also have significant implications for Yahoos $4.8 billion deal to be acquired by Verizon.

The sale agreement the parties negotiated includes an out for Verizon if there is a material adverse change, known as a MAC, to Yahoos business during the time between signing and closing.

A material adverse change is specifically defined to include any:

circumstance, event, development, effect, change or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate . . . has had, or would or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, results of operation or financial condition of the business, taken as a whole.

For those with the patience to read through this lawyer language, you will note that it defines a MAC not very helpfully as a material adverse effect. Given the redundancy here, the true definition of a such a clause has been explained by the Delaware courts, the place where any dispute over the Yahoo deal will be litigated.

And it is a high standard. In Huntsman v. Hexion, Judge Stephen P. Lamb found that Huntsman had not suffered a material adverse effect, and that the specialty chemicals company Hexion, which, along with its private equity backer, Apollo Global Management, had sued to end its deal with Huntsman, had knowingly and intentionally breached the merger agreement.
Yahoo had no shortage of issues when it was trying to sell itself. But now that it has finally sealed a deal, the theft of data on 500 million users has thrown another wrench in the works.

As well as compromising the digital identities of so many users  including their bank accounts and medical information  the hacking also has far-reaching implications for its acquisition by Verizon and how investors conduct their due diligence in the future.

Verizon said it had only limited information and understanding of the breach. It is unclear whether the company carried out security tests before agreeing to buy Yahoo.

It is not legally required but, as one security company notes, it can affect a valuation  such intrusions can lead to lawsuits and stolen intellectual property. The theft has also raised questions about a possible breach of contract.
PARIS  Jerome Kerviel, the rogue trader who nearly brought down the French bank Societe Generale more than eight years ago, has had his fine reduced on appeal: By 99.98 percent, in fact.

The courts ruling was the latest legal victory for Mr. Kerviel, who in June won a wrongful dismissal suit against his former employer. That was despite the shock in global markets in January 2008, when Societe Generale disclosed that Mr. Kerviel, then a junior trader on its derivatives desk, had managed to make 50 billion euros, or $56 billion, in unauthorized trades.

The unwinding of those transactions resulted in a loss of 4.9 billion and brought the bank, Frances third-largest, to the brink of collapse. At the time of his conviction, he was ordered to pay that sum to the bank in restitution.

But on Friday, an appeals court in Versailles, near Paris, cut Mr. Kerviels fine to 1 million, including damages and interest.
It was the worst  and, in one critical way, the best  news that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo could have received.

The names of the nine people charged in a scheme outlined by federal prosecutors on Thursday read like a starting lineup of friends of the New York governor, longtime acquaintances and deep-pocketed donors and their associates  and one man who had come to be like family to Mr. Cuomo. And the charges contained within were as ugly as they come in government work: bribes, extortion, fraud, conspiracy.

If part of the governors job is to judge the character of those closest to him, Mr. Cuomo had seemingly failed spectacularly, damaging the reputation of the marquee projects he promoted as salvation for hard-pressed areas in central and western New York, and hurting his own manicured image as a competent and ethical leader of a state mired in dysfunction.

Yet Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, could find some measure of relief in the conspicuous absence of one name on the list of defendants: his own. Despite the sordid allegations against his former aide and friend, Joseph Percoco, and Alain E. Kaloyeros, a state official whom Mr. Cuomo had repeatedly praised as a visionary, the governor makes only cameo appearances in the complaint.
WASHINGTON  To an amateur eye, Ahmad Khan Rahamis travel history might appear to be a red flag: He had traveled to Pakistan, the home of Al Qaeda, four times between 2005 and 2014. The last time he stayed for a year.

So Mr. Rahamis arrest in the bombings last weekend in New York and New Jersey  and the revelation that he cited jihadist leaders in his journal  has raised an obvious question: Did the government miss something?

Possibly. But Mr. Khans extended family, originally from Afghanistan, lives in Pakistan, and he told customs officials on his return from his trips that he had been visiting family, officials said. He had married a Pakistani woman during a 2011 visit. In 2014, he had to arrange an American passport for their baby, born that year in Pakistan. Both are plausible explanations for an extended stay.

An initial review of the governments handling of Mr. Rahamis travel, based on records described by law enforcement officials, suggests no obvious lapses. That could change if more details of his exchanges with border officials become public.
China lifts ban on US beef products Updated: 2016-09-23 09:40 By ZHU WENQIAN/ZHONG NAN(China Daily)

A shopper selects beef products at a supermarket in San Diego, California.BLOOMBERG

Premier's remarks spark rally in cattle futures, may relieve glut of cold storage supplies in US

Chinese authorities on Thursday announced the conditional lifting of a 13-year import ban on some US boneless beef and beef on the bone.

The removal of the ban applies to cattle that are under 30 months old, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday by the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

The authorities said China would allow imports of beef that comply with China's traceability and quarantine requirements.

China has banned imports of most US beef since 2003, partly due to the concerns over the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as "mad cow disease". The lifting of the ban will be subject to the completion of detailed quarantine requirements, which will be announced at a later date, the statement said.

Premier Li Keqiang told business groups in New York on Tuesday that China would soon resume imports of US beef.

Li's remark about Chinese shoppers soon having a greater choice of beef sparked a rally in US cattle futures, which closed at just under 1 percent higher at $1.085 per pound at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Wednesday.

US cattle futures fell to six-year lows earlier this month, as supplies have expanded in the country, with a glut of cold storage beef, and China offers a potential outlet, The Wall Street Journal reported.

In the first six months of 2016, China imported 295,721 metric tons of beef, jumping 60.8 percent year-on-year. The value of imported beef reached $1.3 billion, up 48.3 percent year-on-year, according to the General Administration of Customs.

Because of rising feed prices, limited grazing land and the breeding cycle, China's cattle-raising sector lags behind consumer demand, resulting in higher beef prices in the past five years, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

"With an emerging middle-class and their rising income, Chinese people are increasingly preferring high-quality and safe food products, including beef," said Wang Kai, a professor at Nanjing Agricultural University.

"Currently, the supply of beef in China falls short of demand, and China has found it is impossible to grow all of the food it needs and has consequently formed closer ties with the world food market."

"Demand for beef, mutton, fruit, wine and dairy roducts will certainly provide many opportunities for major agricultural produce exporters such as the US, Chile, Brazil and Argentina."

Tian Shen, a 24-year-old office worker in Beijing, said she prefers premium imported beef products in the supermarkets, as they have higher meat qualities and taste better.

Contact the writers at zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn and zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
Still no sign of them.

Two days after the release of an image that investigators said showed two men who had come upon a suitcase containing an unexploded bomb on a Manhattan street, the authorities said on Friday that their identities and whereabouts remained unknown.

Investigators said they considered the men to be witnesses, and wanted to talk to them as part of their effort to piece together the events of last Saturday, when bombs exploded in Seaside Park, N.J., and on West 23rd Street in Manhattan. Several unexploded bombs were found elsewhere, including the one in the suitcase, which was found on West 27th Street a few hours after the bomb went off four blocks away, and five others, which turned up late on Sunday near a train station in Elizabeth, N.J.

After coming upon the abandoned suitcase on 27th Street, the men discovered a plastic bag inside containing a pressure cooker that had been fashioned into a bomb. They set the bag on the sidewalk and left with the suitcase.
HUANGSHAN, China  In February 2015, a group of about 15 people met at a restaurant in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. This past August, four of the attendees were convicted by the Tianjin Second Intermediate Peoples Court of subversion of state power, and details from their conversation were used as evidence against them.

In the last three decades, China has made the world marvel at an economic miracle that has brought hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty. The quality of life for millions of Chinese people has skyrocketed in just a generation.

All along, Chinas leaders have had an implicit pact with the people: Well leave you alone if you leave us alone. Get as rich as youd like, and youll have a lot of personal freedom, but steer clear of politics. For many older Chinese who lived through the Mao years, the expansion of personal freedoms has felt revolutionary.

The convictions of the four men in the Tianjin court are another sign that the terms of the pact are changing. The government of President Xi Jinping is hypersensitive to criticism and will no longer stay out of our personal lives. Private conversations are fair game for punishment.
To the Editor:

Re Our Immigrants, Our Strength, by Bill de Blasio, Anne Hidalgo and Sadiq Khan (Op-Ed, Sept. 20):

Kudos to the writers  the mayors of New York, Paris and London, respectively  for their efforts toward inclusion for refugees entering their cities. They could do much better, however, if they followed the model of Canada in terms of how they treat refugees.

Rather than pursuing an inclusive approach because, as suggested by the mayors, violence by refugees is infrequent, Canadians follow an inclusive approach because they know that violence is more likely to be prevented when people are treated humanely.

Canada provides refugees with free medical care, housing and job assistance and even cash to help them buy basic household items and clothing. Refugees to Canada do not live in camps but in houses in Canadian communities.

They are not considered refugees once they enter Canada but permanent residents and can eventually become citizens. Canadas humane approach to outsiders is a likely reason it has yet to experience a major terrorist attack.
Demands for retaliation are growing in India after a deadly attack by armed militants that killed 18 Indian soldiers early Sunday morning at a base in the Kashmir region controlled by India near the border with Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. For Indias military, there is no doubt where responsibility lies: Pakistan.

Pakistan has denied involvement, but that rings hollow: Its military has long supported terrorist groups intent on attacking India. Indias director general of military operations, Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh, said the attackers were foreign terrorists whose weapons bore Pakistani markings.

On Thursday, Indian troops were reported to be fighting militants in Kashmir near the Line of Control that splits the region.

India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers, and Pakistan has been building up its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country. It would be disastrous if the current situation escalated into a full-fledged military confrontation. A retaliatory strike by India against Pakistan risks doing just that. It is highly irresponsible for the national general secretary of Mr. Modis governing Bharatiya Janata Party to urge, as he did on Facebook after the attack: For one tooth, the complete jaw. Days of so-called strategic restraint are over.
To the Editor:

The Afghan War Quagmire (editorial, Left Unsaid series, Sept. 18) leaves out the notable progress Afghanistan has made over the last 15 years, in partnership with the United States and more than 40 other countries.

The values of democracy, pluralism, liberty and free enterprise  which Afghans and Americans share  continue to be institutionalized in Afghanistan. Unlike what the editorial argues, our shared success in this worthy endeavor is based on sound policy and strategy, enshrined in a compact between Afghanistan and our international partners: the Self-Reliance Through Mutual Accountability Framework.

This underpins the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework, our five-year blueprint for ending Afghan dependence on foreign aid. And in the Brussels conference on Afghanistan in October, we will discuss with the United States and other partners the very questions raised by the editorial and offer policy solutions for sustainable results.

In this regard, we agree with a number of American scholars and former ambassadors, generals and special representatives who recently wrote an article headlined Forging an Enduring Partnership With Afghanistan.
Charlotte, N.C.  Since a police officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday afternoon, the ensuing protests have dominated national news. Provocateurs who attacked police officers and looted stores made headlines. Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard joined police officers in riot gear, making the Queen City look like a war zone.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Pittsburgh on Thursday, Donald J. Trump offered a grave assessment: Our country looks bad to the world, especially when we are supposed to be the worlds leader. How can we lead when we cant even control our own cities? Mr. Trump seems to want Americans to believe, as Representative Robert Pittenger, a Republican whose district includes areas in Charlotte, told the BBC, that black protesters in the city hate white people because white people are successful and theyre not.

But Charlottes protests are not black people versus white people. They are not black people versus the police. The protesters are black, white and brown people, crying out against police brutality and systemic violence. If we can see them through the tear gas, they show us a way forward to peace with justice.
When a presidential campaign often inhabits the gutter its not easy to establish its low point.

Weve seen Donald Trump vilify Muslims, Mexicans and women. Weve seen him indulge airy suggestions that rifle-bearing Americans might like to shoot Hillary Clinton. Weve seen him belabor the lie that President Obama was not born in the United States  until he recanted. For Trump, the low road to the White House is paved with boorishness. But perhaps his son Donald Trump Jr. set the nadir this week when he compared Syrian refugees to a bowl of Skittles.

A caption accompanying a photograph of the candy said: If I had a bowl of skittles and I told you just three would kill you. Would you take a handful? Thats our Syrian refugee problem. Trump Jr. tweeted, This image says it all.

Where to begin? With the fact that human beings are not Skittles? With the fact that after more than five years of war 4.8 million Syrians are refugees and 6.1 million are internally displaced and Trump Jr., even with his coddled New York existence, can surely make the calculation that this amounts to almost 2.5 million more human beings than live in the five boroughs?

With the fact that you do not flee your home because you have a choice (like choosing between Skittles and M&Ms after a Manhattan dinner party) but because you no longer have one? With the fact that, according to a Cato Institute study of refugees admitted to the United States between 1975 and 2015, the chance of an American being killed in a terrorist attack committed by a refugee is 1 in 3.64 billion? With the fact that Syrians want to work, make a living, put their kids in decent schools, and recover their dignity, just like the rest of us?
Whoa, Yahoo!

When the internet company began its life in 1994, its founders added an exclamation mark to its name to convey a sense of excitement. But now that exclamation mark serves only to punctuate the incredulity of those who have seen the companys long, steep fall become even worse this week.

Image

Yahoo, which is in the throes of completing a sale of its core business to Verizon Communications, revealed on Thursday that it was breached in 2014 by what it believed was a state-sponsored actor, resulting in the theft of the account information of at least 500 million users. The hacking is the biggest known intrusion into the companys computer network, writes Nicole Perlroth, exceeding other breaches in the last few years at companies like Sony.

It is another stumble by Yahoo, even as the companys last chapter as an independent entity seemed to be written. A $4.8 billion sale to Verizon was announced in July after Yahoo tried  and failed  under Marissa Mayer, its chief executive, to rev up growth in the last few years. Its unclear how the sale will be affected, if at all, by the revelation of the breach.
Shelagh Delaney was still a teenager when she sent her first script off to a London theater in 1958, enclosing a note that fairly bristled with a bold defensiveness.

I am sending this play to you for your opinion, she wrote. Would you please return it to me, as whatever sort of theatrical atrocity it is to you it means something to me.

Theres a similarly endearing blend of brisk audacity and unmistakable vulnerability in the young heroine of that play, A Taste of Honey  which, far from being received as an atrocity, became a hit in the West End and on Broadway, and then a film.

Her name is Jo, and the actresses who have played her to acclaim over the years include Joan Plowright and Amanda Plummer. Add to that list Rebekah Brockman, whose memorable and assured portrayal is one of the chief attractions of Austin Pendletons rather patchy revival, at the Pearl Theater Company. Another draw is the terrific jazz trio that takes up residence in Jos living room; more on that in a bit.
Americas most prominent birther has finally disavowed the myth he helped to create. Will Donald J. Trumps concession affect the publics belief about whether President Obama was born in the United States?

Results from a new Morning Consult poll of registered voters suggest that fewer Americans now believe that President Obama was born outside the country  the false claim that Mr. Trump renounced last Friday  although birtherism continues to linger among a subset of the public.

The poll finds that only 62 percent of Americans say President Obama was born in the United States, but thats a substantial increase from the 48 percent who said this in a Morning Consult poll conducted in January. (The number who said they didnt know his place of birth was essentially unchanged: 18 percent in January, 17 percent now.)
Baidu set to lose leading role in digital advertising Updated: 2016-09-23 09:44 By MENG JING/HU MEIDONG(China Daily)

A smartphone showing the Baidu Browser application is seen in this picture illustration, February 22, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Online search giant Baidu Inc is set to lose its top spot in the nation's booming digital advertising market this year to its rival Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, according to a report from London-based market research firm eMarketer.

E-commerce heavyweight Alibaba has so far notched up a 28.9 percent share of China's digital ad market, equating to $12.05 billion, said eMarketer, which researches digital marketing, media and commerce.

In previous forecasts eMarketer had predicted that Baidu, which uses search result listings to generate income from advertisers, would stay out in front. Last year, Baidu earned 28 percent of China's digital advertising revenue, compared to Alibaba's 24.8 percent.

But eMarketer has downgraded its outlook for Baidu this year as it has witnessed challenges in the past few months due to tighter government controls on search result advertising. Baidu's digital ad revenue is expected to see sluggish growth this year of just 0.3 percent to $8.87 billion. Meanwhile, Alibaba and Tencent Holdings Ltd will continue to surge ahead and report increases of 54 percent and 68 percent, respectively.

Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent, the top three firms in China's internet industry are estimated to take a total of 60 percent in the country's digital ad revenue of $41.66 billion in 2016.

But the government's tightened controls on online advertising are only part of the reason for Baidu's slowing ad revenue. Analysts said that the Beijing-based Baidu's lack of strong mobile products is another factor affecting its ability to attract advertisers.

Shelleen Shum, an analyst from eMarketer, said the tighter regulation of internet advertising is expected to weigh heavily on Baidu's search revenues in the near term.

"Although also affected by the new regulations, Alibaba's ad revenue, particularly from the mobile sector, shows no sign of abating thanks to the robust growth of its e-commerce retail business," she said.

Baidu's net income for the quarter ending June 30 was 2.4 billion yuan ($359 million), down 34.1 percent year-on-year, as the company dealt with the impact of tougher controls on internet advertising and in the healthcare sector.

"Huge traffic is the bedrock of online advertising business. But unlike Alibaba and Tencent, which have numerous successful mobile products that can attract traffic from users. Baidu still lacks a new cutting-edge to help jumpstart its slowing traditional search business," said Lyu Ronghui, an analyst with internet consultancy iResearch Consulting Group.

Apart from e-commerce, Alibaba's cloud computing business is growing rapidly to help turn enterprises user into advertisers while Tencent has been gearing up to monetize its popular app WeChat and has a thriving gaming business which can also make money on advertisement.
WASHINGTON  An Army board has decided to discipline Chelsea Manning, the former Army analyst, with two weeks of solitary confinement in connection with her suicide attempt in early July at the prison barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., her lawyer said Friday.

One week of that punishment is suspended, but would be reinstated if she got into any other trouble in the next six months, her lawyer, Chase Strangio of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in an interview.

Mr. Strangio also said Ms. Manning, who is serving a 35-year prison sentence for leaking archives of secret military and diplomatic documents via WikiLeaks, would appeal the Army boards decision. He sharply criticized solitary confinement, saying it was very likely to exacerbate problems for someone struggling with very recent suicidal ideation.

At the time of the leaks and her court-martial, Ms. Manning was known as Pfc. Bradley Manning. Mr. Strangio said his clients suicide attempt was linked to her mounting despair that she might serve many more years in prison without being able to proceed in her gender transition.
LONDON  Larry Sanders, the brother of Senator Bernie Sanders, is running to fill the seat being vacated by David Cameron, the former prime minister, in the British Parliament.

Mr. Sanders, 82, was chosen on Thursday night by the Green Party as its nominee in an Oct. 20 special election in the constituency of Witney, about 67 miles west of London.

Like his younger brother, Mr. Sanders grew up in New York City and attended James Madison High School and Brooklyn College. In 1969, after graduating from Harvard Law School, he moved to Oxford, England, where he has devoted his career to social work and the law and been an advocate in areas like mental health and education.

The brothers are close and share progressive political views. At an emotional moment during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July, Larry Sanders, as a delegate representing Democrats who live abroad, cast a vote for his brother, saying their parents would have been immensely proud of him.
WASHINGTON  President Obama vetoed legislation on Friday that would allow families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for any role in the plot, setting up an extraordinary confrontation with a Congress that unanimously backed the bill and has vowed to uphold it.

Mr. Obamas long-anticipated veto of the measure, known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, is the 12th of his presidency. But unless those who oppose the bill can persuade lawmakers to drop their support by next week, it will lead to the first congressional override of a veto during Mr. Obamas presidency  a familiar experience for presidents in the waning months of their terms.

In his veto message to Congress, Mr. Obama said the legislation undermines core U.S. interests, upending the normal means by which the government singles out foreign nations as state sponsors of terrorism and opening American officials and military personnel to legal jeopardy. It would put United States assets at risk of seizure by private litigants overseas and create complications in diplomatic relations with other countries, he added.

I have deep sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, who have suffered grievously, Mr. Obama wrote. But enacting the measure would neither protect Americans from terrorist attacks nor improve the effectiveness of our response to such attacks.
WASHINGTON  The House speaker, Paul D. Ryan, has expressed no particular opinion on the stop-and-frisk police tactics advocated this week by Donald J. Trump. He does not have any certain thoughts about Mr. Trumps repeated praise of Vladimir V. Putin. He sort of suggested that Mr. Trump should release his tax returns, but what he really meant, it seems, is that candidates in general should do so. Then again, he said that he would defer to Mr. Trump on the decision.

The man who once pointedly withheld his endorsement of the Republican presidential nominee, who called a statement of Mr. Trumps the textbook definition of a racist comment, who questioned whether Mr. Trump shared his partys values and our principles on limited government, the proper role of the executive, adherence to the Constitution, has suddenly gone taciturn.

Since Congress returned from its seven-week recess this month, Mr. Ryan has largely refused to answer any question about Mr. Trump, from his policy proposals and campaign antics to his latest controversial statements.

At his weekly Capitol Hill news conferences and in other interviews, Mr. Ryan generally redirects questions about Mr. Trump to his own ideas. Look at what the House Republicans have offered in our Better Way, Mr. Ryan often says, referring to the House policy platform, in a live form of an outgoing phone message.
Election Day is Nov. 8, but most states require voters to register well before then. Deadlines in the remaining states are rapidly approaching.

Were sorry. It is already too late to register for the presidential election in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia or West Virginia.

Heres a rundown of the remaining deadlines. The mail dates refer to the day by which an application must be postmarked. States that offer registration on Election Day often have special requirements. On a desktop computer, you may search for your states name with keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl F on a PC or Command F on a Mac.

Tap on a states name for more detailed information.

The Remaining Deadlines

Wyoming: The deadline to register by mail was Oct. 25, but residents can register in person until Nov. 8.
BEIJING  For 36 years the Chinese state nearly turned out the lights on childbearing, ordering most families to have just one child and to focus instead on economic growth. An authoritative public letter to Communist Party members from the central government in September 1980 detailed the one-child policy.

The program was effective. In the city of Yichang in the central province of Hubei, the fertility rate today is just 0.72 children per woman, according to a study by city officials and Chinese academics that was reported by Pengpai, an online news website. That is one of the lowest in the country. Data from the Chinese governments national census in 2010 puts the overall fertility rate at 1.18, below the replacement rate of more than 2.1.

So this week Yichang officials snapped on the lights again, issuing another public letter  this one to local party members and civil servants  urging them to fulfill their duty and procreate for Chinas new two-child policy, which came into force nationwide on Jan. 1.

Here are excerpts:

We require all party members and Communist Youth League members in city departments and companies, especially cadres at all levels, to stand at the forefront and take a high degree of responsibility for caring for the countrys happy future, the peoples welfare and their own descendants to come, by thoroughly implementing the meaning of the two-child policy and using practical actions to lead the way in responding to the partys call. Young comrades should start with themselves, and older comrades should educate and monitor their children.

Howls of amazement and resentment followed in Chinese news outlets and on social media. Here are some reactions attached to one of many articles circulating online, this one from Sina.com:

In those years you fined everywhere. You beat people, tore down homes, confiscated livestock, and forced people to abort. Today you want to force people to have a second child.  Muranxuanxie lihua, Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region If the state gives me a million, Ill have a child.  Sichiyuan, Jinchang, Gansu Province If housing prices fall by half, talk to me then about having a second child.  Xiaolong V8, Beijing The government wants to manage a couples bed affairs, thats really messed up.  Zhijing louzhu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

Several days after it was published on the Yichang government website with the red stamps of a clutch of departments indicating wide local support, the letter disappeared, a sign it was politically sensitive. The appeal for more children could be seen as implicit criticism of Beijings population policies of the previous 36 years.
YUMINGZUI VILLAGE, China  On a moonless night, when there was nothing in the air except the smell of rotting seaweed and the songs of drunken fishermen, Wang Xinfeng sneaked onto a boat by the dock and sailed into the darkness.

Like his father and grandfather before him, Mr. Wang, 53, made a living combing the Yellow Sea for flounder, herring, fat greenling and yellow croaker. But now the government, hoping to limit environmental damage and encourage villagers to find new jobs, had banned fishing during the summer.

Mr. Wang, desperate to pay medical bills, had taken to venturing into the water at night to avoid detection.

I was raised at sea  this is my home, he said. Even if its a rough life, I have to fish.

For centuries, residents of Yumingzui, a village of 562 people in the eastern province of Shandong, enjoyed a quiet life by the ocean, harvesting enough fish, sea cucumbers and abalone to support a prosperous seafood trade. While nearby villages fell victim to tourism and development, Yumingzui persevered, clinging to ancient fishing rites and homes made of seaweed.
Ms. Parks difficulties have much to do with South Koreas fractured domestic politics, in which liberal and conservative parties have often seized on North Korea as a way to discredit one another.

When progressives were in power from 1998 to 2008, they provided the North with massive shipments of aid, and engaged in investment and trade, betting that such actions would draw Pyongyang out of its hostile posture  what was known as the sunshine policy.

That decade of engagement slowed North Koreas nuclear pursuits for a time, but did not stop them  the North conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Ms. Parks conservative predecessor, Lee Myung-bak, who took office in 2008, reversed course, curtailing aid and trade with the North, punishing it with tougher sanctions and refusing to negotiate until it committed to denuclearizing.

Ms. Park, 64, who became president in 2013, went farther down that path. The prevailing argument in Seoul and Washington  wishful thinking, critics say  was that the North would eventually buckle under economic pressure, or perhaps even implode under the untested leadership of Kim Jong-un, the young leader who came to power in late 2011. After Pyongyangs fourth nuclear test in January, Ms. Park cut the Koreas last remaining economic tie: a jointly run industrial park in the border town of Kaesong.

But the Norths nuclear program has only accelerated in recent years. Three of the Norths five nuclear tests have taken place under Mr. Kim, during whose rule the North has tested 31 ballistic missiles, twice as many as it did during the 17 years that his father, Kim Jong-il, was in power. This year alone, the North test-launched 24 ballistic missiles. On Sunday, Yun Byung-se, South Koreas foreign minister, acknowledged that North Korea was at the final stage of nuclear weaponization.

The Norths missile threat was Ms. Parks justification for accepting the deployment of an American missile-interceptor battery, known as Thaad (for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), on South Korean soil, a proposal that had been discussed with Washington for years. But that decision angered China  North Koreas sole major ally, whose cooperation is crucial for enforcing sanctions  which sees Thaad as part of an American effort to encircle it.
The bombardment targeted rebel-held districts in eastern Aleppo and opposition communities in the surrounding countryside. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which opposes the government and tracks the conflict from Britain, said 72 people had been killed in all of Aleppo Province, including 24 women and children. But most of the dead were in the city itself.

Mr. Le Mesurier reported 95 dead and 147 people hospitalized in Aleppo city alone.

Rescue workers shared numerous videos of men digging children out of piles of debris and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.

Hanaa Singer, the representative for Unicef in Syria, said in a statement that attacks had damaged the pumping station that provides water to eastern Aleppo, where 250,000 residents are surrounded by government troops. In retaliation, she said, a pumping station in the citys eastern side was shut off, stopping water from flowing to 1.5 million residents in the citys western side.

The population would have to rely on well water, which is often contaminated and would raise the risk of outbreaks of disease, she sad.

Ammar al-Salmo, head of the Aleppo branch of Syria Civil Defense, a volunteer rescue organization, said that three of his groups centers had been bombed and that some of their rescue vehicles had been knocked out.

It is as if Russia and the regime used the truce only to maintain their weapons and plan on next targets, Mr. Salmo said from Aleppo. It is like doomsday today in Aleppo.
First national gene bank opens Updated: 2016-09-23 09:58 By CHAI HUA(China Daily)

A scholar at the China National GeneBank puts gene samples into liquid nitrogen for preservation.XINHUA

National GeneBank, the country's first national gene bank, was officially put into use on Thursday. The complex is expected to offer strong support to the development of the genetics industry.

Located in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the billion-dollar CNGB covers an area of 47,500 square meters with a unique design like terraced fields and has saved more than 10 million bio-samples with a data storage capacity of 20 petabytes for phase I.

One petabyte is about 400 billion pages of word documents.

It is the world's fourth national-level gene bank. The other three are in the US, Europe and Japan.

Wang Jian, president of Shenzhen-based genetic sequencing firm BGI, said: "The CNGB's data will be open to society, providing strong support to the development of the genetics industry."

China's genetic sequencing market, one of the most important aspects of the industry, in 2016 has become the largest in the world with an annual growth rate of above 20 percent, according to research firm iResearch Consulting Group.

To further support the development of the industry, the National Development and Reform Commission in 2011 approved the establishment of CNGB and entrusted BGI-Research with its construction.

Mei Yonghong, former mayor of Jining in Shandong province who is now director of CNGB, said he believes the gene bank can link all elements of gene-related fields, from resources and scientific research to applications in different industries, such as precision medicine and agriculture.

At the opening ceremony, CNGB signed cooperation agreements with some international and local partners, such as Svalbard Global Seed Vault, German Cancer Research Center, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and Huawei Technologies, which provides data storage service for the bank.

Lyu Jiancheng, vice director of SIAT, said the CNGB will help them to write genes of 10 million phages (a kind of virus) so that they can make new reagents and develop new medicines.

The opening of the gene platform will also reduce costs in the genetic industry, thanks to home made equipment with high precision.

The world leading gene company Illumina has managed to practice individual genetic sequencing within the cost of below $1,000 in 2014, but Mei Yonghong said the aim of CNGB is 1,000 yuan ($152).

BGI's new genetic sequencing equipment BGISEQ-500, which is expected to hit the market in October and the price is said to be one third of its counterparts.

CNGB owns 150 sets of the equipment now and the platform could satisfy the gene sequencing needs of 50,000 people.

Xu Xun, executive director of CNGB, disclosed the machine is completely manufactured in Shenzhenan important reason for its low price, and more models of their genetic sequencing equipment will be released in November.
CAIRO  The Egyptian authorities said Friday that they had recovered 162 bodies after the sinking of a ship full of mostly Egyptian migrants in the Mediterranean this week.

The death toll, which is expected to rise to nearly 300, reflects the mounting economic pressure on Egyptians as well as a possible shift away from Libya as a point of departure for migrants headed to Europe, migrant aid workers said.

The boat capsized Wednesday off the coast of Rosetta, the Nile Delta port city east of Alexandria. Witnesses estimate that the boat was carrying 450 people.

The police said most were young Egyptian men in their late teens and their early to mid-20s. The military said it had rescued 163 survivors.
GENEVA  United Nations human rights officials expressed alarm on Friday at a sharp rise in civilian casualties in Yemen since peace talks collapsed last month, the great majority of them inflicted in airstrikes by a coalition led by Saudi Arabia.

At least 329 civilians have been killed, and at least 426 have been injured since the beginning of August. Fighting resumed after Aug. 6, when talks collapsed between the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemens president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and forces aligned with Houthi rebels supported by Iran who control the capital and large portions of the country.

The toll was reported as Saudi Arabia and Arab allies waged a diplomatic campaign at the United Nations Human Rights Council to stave off an international investigation into the conduct of hostilities and possible war crimes.

Heavy Saudi pressure on Western governments and businesses succeeded in stalling a similar initiative in the Council last year; diplomats say the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, has again lobbied against an independent international inquiry. They add that growing awareness of the bloodshed has made it harder for the United States and Britain, Saudi Arabias major suppliers of arms and munitions, to look away.
Such steps help explain why data from the National Association of College Stores, a trade group for thousands of campus retailers, show that student spending on books and supplies generally has been flat or declining, even though textbook prices have risen. Average annual student spending on required course materials  a category that includes new and used textbooks, access codes and digital books  declined 14 percent to $602 for the 2015-16 academic year, from $701 in 2007-8. (Last years spending, however, was an uptick over the average of $563 in 2014-15).

The main reason students acquired an access code, the college store associations research arm said, was that their instructor required it.

Richard Hershman, vice president of government relations at the association, said the new report raises a number of valid concerns around digital. He said that pricing and distribution models for digital materials were evolving and that student concerns should be taken into account. Faculty typically decide what materials are required, he said, and many instructors see online tools as helpful to students. It may be, he suggested, that they can offer an opt out alternative for students who are unable to purchase them.

Student advocates say they worry that the proliferation of digital access codes may make it harder for students to use cost-cutting alternatives, like sharing  or even skipping the textbook purchase entirely. The move to unique digital codes essentially rules out sharing, they said, since the codes are usually attached to an individual student account and, once activated, cannot be reused.

For any student who was not paying full price before, Mr. Senack said, this is definitely a concern.

Jeanne Ryder, a sophomore at Rutgers University, said she learned about the drawbacks of access codes last year, when she spent hundreds of dollars on a hardcover Italian textbook that was stolen, along with her backpack. The book had come with an online activation code, she said, but it was missing and the publisher told her she would have to buy a new one. She was unable to obtain a new replacement code, even though she had her receipt. She ended up borrowing the book from another student.

Here are some questions and answers on college textbooks and access codes:

How can I keep the price of textbooks manageable?

Most students visit their campus bookstore for convenience, but its also wise to check prices online. Sites like CampusBooks.com compare prices for renting and buying from various online merchants. Also, you can check with your schools library to see if it makes copies available, or if it offers open source textbooks.
Jim Shay, a retired steelworker, said he, too, had experienced problems with an estate sales agent. He said he had collected tens of thousands of dollars in antiques over the years. But he was in a rush to sell his house in suburban Detroit so he could join his wife outside Jacksonville, Fla.

He sold about $11,000 in antiques, but the bigger, more valuable items  worth another $10,000, he estimated  were supposed to have been taken to auctions. So far, he said, he has not received any money for them, though he has seen some of the items advertised on estate sale websites.

As for payment, the first check for $8,600 bounced, he said. It took him four months of calling to get a check that cleared.

Mr. McQuade said his company stopped listing estate sales agents who received complaints about not acting honestly toward customers or violating their terms of service. But the more common complaint is that the estate agent accepted too little for someones belongings. Thats where the communication comes in, he said. Their expectations were more than likely too high.

(Tip: All that brown Victorian furniture isnt worth as much as people paid for it, but midcentury modern furniture is popular right now.)

After much back and forth with the police, not to mention complaints filed with various estate sales websites, Mr. Davis said the agent finally sent him a cashiers check. It was two months late and for a lot less than the Davises had expected.

We had our family day sale, and all of the receipts from my relatives added up to more than the amount she sent, he said. Our neighbors told us it was packed on Saturday, but the sales receipts did not reflect the activity in the home.

The agent, when contacted, contends that she acted properly.

The Davises say they hope others will learn from their experience. If people are going to do estate sales, Id encourage them to take their time to find the right person, Mr. Davis said. My biggest bit of advice would be if you have red flags, stop, even if youre under a lot of pressure.
REMEMBER when doctors made house calls?

While only a relative handful of doctors still offer them, there is growing evidence that comprehensive home medical care could be a viable alternative to the attendant woes and soaring expenses of institutional health services, particularly for those in late retirement.

It will take some important legislative changes before focused, less intrusive care in a dignified, comfortable setting can become more widely available. The polarizing politics surrounding the Affordable Care Act makes any reform to the health care system particularly challenging. Still, given the overall popularity of Medicare  Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both say they support it  getting a new home medical care benefit through Congress looks more promising.

At the heart of the home care renaissance is a combination of high-tech, portable medical equipment and the age-old practice of doctors coming into the home to personally examine and treat their patients.

We can do X-rays, EKGs, medical records and other applications in the home, said Dr. Thomas Cornwell, who has made more than 32,000 house calls in his Chicago-based practice and wants to see Medicare support more home-based medical care.
He also views the foundations work as a counterbalance to the overheated Chinese art market. If you look at China in the past few years, a lot of conceptual artists are emerging whose work does not work in any auction market, he said. I am not saying that the auctions are bad. I am just saying that the art scene needs to be more diversified.

Adrian Cheng was already a collector of global contemporary art, he said, including artists as varied as Adrian Villar Rojas, an Argentine, and Thomas Houseago, who is British. He showed his international flair in 2008 when he started K11 Art Malls in Hong Kong and Shanghai. These art-and-commerce shopping centers have exhibition spaces and public works from the likes of Damien Hirst and Olafur Eliasson.

Two years later, he established the foundation after noting a lack of infrastructure in China to support young artists, including women, and the need for a way to offer them opportunities at prestigious institutions.

Since then, it has formed partnerships with Palais de Tokyo and the Pompidou Center in Paris, as well as the Serpentine Galleries and the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.

In 2013, it sponsored the Ink Art exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This year, Adrian Cheng cemented his influence by joining the board of the Public Art Fund. While he says that his business will invest $2 billion in the K11 brand in China, he is not saying how much will go to his foundation for art projects in the United States.
Mishka is one of many walk-ins who will tell of Russias condition and change Rostovs static life. The movie star last seen dragging her barking borzois offers up for study the constellation of beauty marks on her back. Americans flit through, dispensing candy, cigarettes and opportunities. The most important introduction is to a young girl named Nina, who has a ripe sense of curiosity and a skeleton key that will allow her into any room, which is how Rostov splits his pants while contorting on the balcony as a Bolshevik assembly argues agenda points in the ballroom below. Zeligs dont only have to appear in the frame of a newsreel. Rostov is always nudging up to history, clinking glasses with foreign diplomats and discussing films with Kremlin operators. Khrushchev makes an appearance.

But comrades must work, so the gentleman becomes a waiter. How important is good service? Even as a youngster on the estate in Nizhny Novgorod, he understood the power of a seating arrangement: In fact, if Paris had not been seated next to Helen when he dined in the court of Menelaus, there never would have been a Trojan War. In the era of jockeying Soviet apparatchiks, its a skill Rostov can repurpose. Proper manners, he points out, always have their place. Does a banquet really need an asparagus server? Nina asks at one point. Does an orchestra need a bassoon? is Rostovs reply.

As Nina grows up, her fervency and love of knowledge are transferred from the science experiments she conducts in the ballroom to the diktats of the party. At the beginning of the 1930s, Rostov catches sight of her in the lobby among a few adoring male comrades, about to leave with some cadres of the local Komsomol to help collectivize the provinces. She is dazzling, then gone. As the purges continue, Rostov becomes the recipient of a gift from Nina even more precious than her skeleton key. He handles the situation, and all other situations, with capability and aplomb.

What happens when a novel centers on a character so capable, so witty and at ease in the world, even as that world convulses around him? Rostov has a portrait of his long-dead sister on the wall of his room, so its evident his life is anchored in pain  Russia is pain  but he remains untouchable, built to outwit the system. Part of the problem is that Towles repeatedly invokes the tortured, challenged, hand-wringing, deeply human characters of Russian literature. In contrast, Rostov seems destined always to succeed.

Towles is a craftsman. What saves the book is the gorgeous sleight of hand that draws it to a satisfying end, and the way he chooses themes that run deeper than mere sociopolitical commentary: parental duty, friendship, romance, the call of home. Human beings, after all, deserve not only our consideration but our reconsideration  even those from the leisured class. Who will save Rostov from the intrusions of the state if not the seamstresses, chefs, bartenders and doormen? In the end, Towless greatest narrative effect is not the moments of wonder and synchronicity but the generous transformation of these peripheral workers, over the course of decades, into confidants, equals and, finally, friends. With them around, a life sentence in these gilded halls might make Rostov the luckiest man in Russia.

The count found political discourse of any persuasion to be tedious. Bolsheviks are a bore, getting in colloquiums and congresses to levy complaints, and generally clamor about the worlds oldest problems in its newest nomenclature. But even the gray Soviet world melts inside the golden warmth of the Metropol. The transformation is whats important. Rostovs battles are less political and more concerned with the fight against any gradual diminishment of pleasure.

At one point, he learns that the existence of a wine list, a monument to the privilege of nobility, runs counter to the ideals of the revolution. Thus the 100,000 bottles in the Metropols cellar have had their labels removed, supposedly rendering them blissfully equal. No matter. Our accomplished gentleman will overcome. Down in the cellar, his talented fingers can still feel the telltale embossed ridges cut into a particularly important bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
Gradually, though, we come to realize that this apparent irresolution is a deliberate means of offering us as readers the same psychological experiences as Sneeds characters. Despite their obvious diversity, the members of the books patchwork cast are united by their occupation of a common emotional territory: the chasm of uncertainty that divides safety and danger, normalcy and dysfunction, happiness and misery, inaction and action.

In the story titled Older Sister, Alex, who has survived a drunken campus rape, is tormented about whether to report her case to the authorities. Clear Conscience follows an escalating flirtation between siblings-in-law. The central character in The Couplehood Jubilee is a woman who rejects the commercialized and oppressive trappings of marriage, leaving her relationship with her longtime boyfriend in the hazy limbo of informal commitment. The emotion linking Sneeds poignantly relatable characters is a paralyzing sense of equivocation. With razor-sharp yet sympathetic incisiveness, she explores their capacity to question even the most seemingly unshakable convictions in the lives they think theyve chosen.

The individuals in Sneeds stories are standing tenuously on tiptoe at the precipice of irrevocable change, not yet having fallen off into scandal, crime, estrangement, insanity. She catches them in moments of relative stillness, moments revealed not in tales of wild adventure but of inward conflict, indecisive contemplation. For instance, in Beach Vacation the reader grapples with the suspicion that a womans husband is having an affair, a matter that remains agonizingly unresolved at the storys conclusion.

Sneed never settles many of the questions that arise throughout the collection. Paradoxically, however, this uncertainty only serves to highlight the engaging power of her writing. Our unease indicates that weve absorbed the unsettling truth saturating her stories: that placid surfaces often camouflage the rumblings of disquiet, transition, even rebellion, beneath.

Rather than relying on elaborate turns of plot, Sneeds prose gains blunt force as it hovers in the silent interstices between actions. Five Rooms, perhaps the most affecting story, derives its title from the bitingly sarcastic, formidably perceptive 16-year-old narrators reflections on what it must be like for Mr. Rasmussen, the blind man she helps at the prompting of her mother, to live in unremitting darkness. Hes told me that he lives in four rooms now instead of five, Josie explains, adding, The fifth room, his sight, is like a forbidden chamber at the top of the stairs that hell never be able to go into again. Josies hesitant effort to understand her new companions plight, coupled with her wry cynicism  He went blind nine years ago, when I was 7, but I didnt meet him until last year, because before then, Mom hadnt yet had the great idea that I needed to be a compassionate dork  reveal a character in the flux of maturation, struggling to understand the burdens of adulthood, which are also shadowed by her fathers absence and her mothers string of bad boyfriends. At the finish of Josies story, we feel deprived of comfort and closure. Which is probably just how she feels too.
Its too bad, in a way, that the novel requires Ugo himself to be remote or absent for long stretches, for hes certainly Wilsons wildest, most idiosyncratic character. But the mystery of Ugos vision is essential to the plot, in that upon the question of his basic sanity rest the chances of these various D-list hacks getting out of their jungle location alive.

The logistics of shooting in Colombia bring the film crew into contact with a very real underworld of violent Marxist revolutionaries and quietly sinister representatives of drug cartels. There is no such thing as customs on the Amazon, one young guerrilla tells another, no such thing as government, no danger. They could, he says, train on grenade launchers and Uzis, never worry about being heard. Wilson does all she can with these figures, and ultimately uses them to produce a gratifyingly artful climax; nevertheless, the revolutionaries in particular come off as somewhat stock  young, bumbling, sexually liberated yet done in by petty jealousies. Like the actors, they are playing roles, complete with fake names that must supersede their real ones; like the crew, they are urban creatures by nature, overmatched by the hostile new environment into which their hubris has driven them: When she closes her eyes, Wilson writes of one, she can see nothing but the place theyre in, nothing but rot and rain and dead things left to soak, razor grasses and legions of invisible insects vibrating the air. . . . Their enemy, now, has no brain and a billion arms and can send spores rooting in wetlands of their bodies. They are all too weak.

For decades, some film critics have sustained the ludicrous idea that Cannibal Holocaust  an Italian production in the wake of the Red Brigades and the assassination of Prime Minister Aldo Moro  is actually a work of sophisticated social commentary, somehow about sensationalism instead of being merely sensational in itself. Deodatos reply to one such interviewer  to his credit, as far as I am concerned  was that he just wanted to make a movie about cannibals. Similarly, while the publishers of We Eat Our Own appear to want to position it as (according to its jacket copy) a thoughtful commentary on violence and its repercussions, it is, thank God, no such thing: Wilson is concerned only with detail, with specificity and precision in the moment, and its that concern that marks her as a novelist of real substance and promise. Waiting nervously to be called to the set  still without a script, his requests for directorial guidance met only with hostility  the actor playing Richard ventures out one evening to what passes for a nightclub, really just a former storefront with its windows painted black: You drink. Theyre playing a song in English that you dont recognize, projecting a black-and-white porno from the 1930s onto each of the three walls. . . . The guitars pluck, the rhythm too slow for dancing. Teenage girls dance anyway, in clusters, in front of men slouching in red chairs. The light from the projector turns their bodies white, then black, then marbled. . . . They have skinny chains looped around their abdomens, little shiny scars on their bellies, tiny girlish teeth. The dark crowds over them like a thunderhead and flees as they nudge each other into the beam of the projector. That indoor-thunderhead image is a particular beauty. Wilson appears to have done a ton of research for this novel, but no amount of research can teach a writer to do that.

Jungle Bloodbath is eventually completed and controversially released; flash-forward transcripts from Ugos criminal trial serve as occasional entractes between chapters, and in them the unrepentant Ugo is at his volatile best, infantile and superior at the same time. His petulant refusal to answer questions directly, however self-serving, exposes the trial itself  its determination, in a world drenched in violent imagery, to distinguish the real from the unreal  as absurd. And when the fed-up prosecutor asks him directly how he can possibly justify the horrors he has put on the screen, at such terrible cost to his cast and crew, Ugo answers simply: Did it scare you? With that question, rhetorical and multitiered, he effectively rests his case.
So one of Cliffs challenges is to present a basic biography of this man-child who was old when young and young when old. Cliburns story  how he rocketed to fame by winning the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 23  has been told before, in 16 excellent pages toward the beginning of Joseph Horowitzs The Ivory Trade (1990) and in Howard Reichs Van Cliburn (1993). But their emphasis was more on the music than on diplomacy and the Cold War. By the time Cliburn arrived in Moscow in the spring of 1958, the United States had countered the Soviets Sputnik 1 and 2 with Explorer 1, but the psychological damage had been done. There was a space race as well as an arms race.

As for the piano race, everyone assumed a Russian would win, probably 29-year-old Lev Vlassenko. But Cliburn captivated the crowds and caused a problem for the judges: Could they award him the gold medal? As Cliff writes, in a system where all decisions went through the party, there was only one way to avoid blame: Refer it upward. One of the judges, the pianist Emil Gilels, went to the culture minister, who went to Khrushchev, who did not interfere. If the young American is the best, he said, go right ahead, give him the prize. Cliburn remains the only American pianist who has won the gold medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition.

Cliff argues that a powerful new weapon exploded across the Soviet Union when Cliburn sat down at the piano  love: one mans love for music, which ignited an impassioned love affair between him and an entire nation. It was anything but illicit. Max Frankel, who as a New York Times correspondent was a witness to Cliburns triumph, wrote later that the Soviet public celebrated Cliburn not only for his artistry but for his nationality; affection for him was a safe expression of affection for America.

Like so many subtitles, Cliffs (The Van Cliburn Story  How One Man and His Piano Transformed the Cold War) oversimplifies a more nuanced account. Cliff did not turn up evidence that Cliburn ever passed secret diplomatic dispatches back and forth; as he writes, Cliburn may have been courted by presidents and Politburo members, but he was also watched by the F.B.I. and K.G.B.
Chemical giant shows wares at industry fair Updated: 2016-09-23 10:21 By ZHUAN TI(China Daily)

China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina), a State-owned enterprise that ranks 234th on the Fortune Global 500 list this year, is attending the 15th China International Chemical Industry Fair that runs from Sept 21 to 23.

The fair is being held at the Shanghai Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center.

As one of the largest producers of chemical products in China, ChemChina shows its core products and services in such sectors as material science, bioscience, advanced manufacturing and basic chemical engineering at the annual event.

The company's e-commerce platform was officially launched at the fair. Its overseas subsidiaries, including Adisseo in France, Pirelli in Italy, Adama in Israel and KraussMafei in Germany, are also participating in the event.

The company's e-commerce platform, which started trial operations in June, has offered chemical product transaction services for a large number of customers. More than 500,000 metric tons of chemical products have been traded through the platform.

The platform provides one-stop deal services for a range of enterprises in such sectors as chemical manufacturing, logistics and finance.

In the material science sector, ChemChina is focusing on automobile accessories at the fair. More than 50 related products of its 15 enterprises are displayed at the event.

The company also set up a mimic modern farm at its booth. Adisseo, a French subsidiary of ChemChina and one of the global leaders in animal feed solutions, is displaying its products, including methionine and vitamins, against the backdrop of the farm. Adisseo is also the world's second-largest producer of methionine.

Adama, an Israeli subsidiary of ChemChina, is showing how drones and mobile terminals can help provide farmers with modern agricultural solutions.

Italian tiremaker Pirelli, which was acquired by Chem-China in March last year, is displaying high-quality tires at the fair. KraussMafei from Germany, another subsidiary of ChemChina, exhibits its interactive intelligence platforms. The KraussMafei Group is one of the leading manufacturers of systems for plastic and rubber production and processing.
Drakes other legacy to the movement was an equation he devised in 1961 for estimating the number of alien civilizations in our galaxy capable of communicating with us. The astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, in WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE: An Astrophysical Tour (Princeton University, $39.95), revisits the Drake equation using contemporary data. The equation holds that the number of communicating alien civilizations is a function of seven variables, starting with the rate at which new stars are born in our galaxy, the fraction of these stars that host planets and the number of planets per star that are habitable. In 1961, scientists could fill in only one variable; the other six were sheer guesswork. With our advanced understanding of the cosmos, Tyson  whose book is written with the astrophysicists Michael A. Strauss and J. Richard Gott  is able to work out, in some technical detail, a more sophisticated estimate. The verdict? According to his calculations, we might expect to find as many as 100 alien civilizations in our galaxy communicating with radio waves right now. So, he concludes, we have a chance.

In ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS: The Scientific Search for Alien Life (Yale University, $30), a lively introduction to the field of astrobiology, the astronomer Jon Willis concurs that exoplanets are an exciting development. But because our first contact with alien life, he suspects, is likely to be a meeting of microbes rather than a meeting of minds, he is more optimistic about finding a simple organism elsewhere in our own solar system. Perhaps it will be an extremophile bacterium of the sort scientists have recently found on Earth living in conditions previously assumed to be fatal (like volcanic hot springs and subzero temperatures). Three of Williss top contenders for habitats are Mars, Jupiters moon Europa and Saturns moon Titan. But if forced to choose a single project for both feasibility and promise, he would send a spacecraft on a flyby mission to Saturns ice moon, Enceladus. The craft would collect (and bring back to Earth) icy particles and gases from Enceladuss subsurface liquid ocean, whose chilly waters are regularly spouted into space via geysers. Maybe wed find something alive in that stuff.

Do planetary scientists, with their arcane interests and occasional searches for alien life, strike you as an exotic tribe? Do they seem to require decoding by an anthropologist who conducted fieldwork in their midst? If so, you might consult Lisa Messeris study PLACING OUTER SPACE: An Earthly Ethnography of Other Worlds (Duke University, paper, $23.95). Messeri, an anthropologist whose undergraduate degree is in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, spent 15 months working with  and closely observing the customs of  several groups of planetary scientists, including astronomers at a Chilean observatory, NASA researchers creating 3-D maps of Mars and exoplanet scientists at M.I.T. What she was trying to understand was their pursuit of planetary place. By this phrase she means to identify a rarely considered aspect of their professional practice: how these scientists, whose objects of study exist at distances and scales and time-frames that can defy human grasp, nonetheless manage to conceive of these uncanny things more intimately as places or worlds, thus allowing the scientists to better engage with them.

Exoplanet scientists offer the best example of what Messeri is talking about. Exoplanets are not visible from Earth, even with the assistance of the most powerful telescopes; instead, they are inferred from subtle changes in the light from the stars they orbit. A slight dimming in the light, a slight wobble in the light  it is from such fine measurements that astronomers determine an exoplanets existence, the radius of its orbit, its mass and its density. From its density, they extrapolate what it is made of. In practice, this means exoplanet scientists pass their days looking not at planets but at data: light curves and radial velocity graphs and theoretical models. To become an exoplanet scientist, Messeri shows (in part by undergoing some training herself), is to learn to see and convey these abstractions as something more relatable  as super-Earths or mini-Neptunes or such. To excite the community about a particular visualization, as Messeri nicely puts it, is to convince them that the image contains a world. And to really excite the community, presumably, is to convince them that a world contains little green men.
It takes a lot of courage to be the first person to run, a Japanese civil engineer told the students of the seaside town of Kamaishi. The year was 2010, and the engineer was referring to a 10-year-old girl who, on Dec. 26, 2004, was vacationing with her family on a Thai beach when she saw the sea sliding beyond low tide, recognized the sign of an imminent tsunami and screamed for everyone to flee, saving herself and the nearly 100 people who followed her. The story of her leadership inspired the engineer to offer disaster-preparedness lessons at 14 vulnerable Kamaishi schools, possibly saving many lives when disaster struck again.

These are among the few happy endings in Muir-Woods otherwise wrenching indictment of humanitys shortsightedness. Examining case after case of earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami and volcanic eruption across centuries, Muir-Wood shows greedy developers and corporations playing down risks to cut immediate costs and politicians gaining popularity when they dole out disaster relief while money spent on preparedness wins no votes. Journalists exacerbate the problem by trumpeting the heroism of search-and-rescue teams and then quickly losing interest in the more systemic problems. Muir-Wood, himself a talented storyteller, makes a strong case for rewarding those who take comparatively dull precautions. Before risk, he notes, there was only fate.

WATER IN PLAIN SIGHT

Hope for a Thirsty World

By Judith D. Schwartz

256 pp. St. Martins, $26.99.

One in 10 people lack access to clean water, dramatically increasing their likelihood of experiencing disease, poverty, gender inequality and war. Schwartz promises to illuminate potential solutions to this drastic inequity but instead delivers an infomercial for a land-stewardship system in which livestock return carbon to the soil, increasing the soils water-retention properties and reversing climate change  or so the systems founder, the Zimbabwean farmer Allan Savory, contends.

What about the significant, documented contributions of livestock production to global warming and degraded land and water quality? Visiting Savory at his ranch, Schwartz calls it a mini miracle in land and water restoration. But she fails to mention that respected researchers have denounced his theories and seems to share his overt contempt for the scientific method. The rest of the book describes her tours of ranches and farms around the world that employ Savorys practices. At each stop, her credulity is astonishing. When her rancher host in Mexico says that his Mennonite neighbors have poisoned their own wells with fertilizer such that almost every family has someone dying of cancer, Schwartz, unbelievably, declines to fact-check his claim or, apparently, speak to a single Mennonite. Schwartz may have legitimate insights into water management, but such failures of reporting  prevalent throughout  make her impossible to trust.
Did you know what you wanted to do for a career before you went to college?

I had a sense, but there was a strong turning point for me. Until my senior year of high school, I was the know-it-all. I thought I was supersmart. I got a 1,600 on my SATs, even though I didnt study for them. But I had terrible grades because I ditched class all the time.

But then I got rejected from every college I applied to  every single one, even my safety schools. I also totaled my car, and some things happened around a set of friends I had. Basically my life fell apart. It was a period of massive humbling.

But then my life came back together. Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor at the time and reinstated the education budget, and suddenly I got into Berkeley. A lot of things fell back into place, and that was the moment when I decided, O.K., Im going to stop wasting my life away.

You worked at McKinsey right out of college. Tell me about that experience.

That was when I was 22 and 23, and I was in meetings and running projects with very senior people. I knew I had to figure out how to present myself in ways that would make me seem older and more experienced. So I had a number of rules for myself.

One was that in front of clients, I would try my best never to smile, because if you look serious youll seem older. And whenever they asked me personal questions, I would give completely noncommittal answers to make them think I was much older. So if they asked me, Do you have kids? then I would say, Oh, kids are a handful.

But the strongest lesson I learned at McKinsey that I now share with every single new hire is what they call the obligation to dissent. It means that the youngest, most junior person in any given meeting is the most capable to disagree with the most senior person in the room.

So if I hire an intern, that intern is the most qualified person in the company to say, Victor, I heard this was your mission, your values, and these things are off. Thats just because the more removed you are, the less you drink the Kool-Aid. You have a fresh perspective.
Do you think executive compensation is out of control or that a company should have to disclose its political contributions?

If so, you may also think that your mutual fund should vote on these and other issues in accordance with your beliefs. Good luck with that.

As investors, we are supposed to be able to sound off on corporate governance matters at the companies whose shares we own. We do so by voting on the issues when they arise at a companys annual shareholders meeting.

But if you invest, as most people do, with a large fund manager, like BlackRock or the Vanguard Group, the chances are very good that your objections to common corporate practices are not getting through. That is because fund overseers vote your shares and often do so without regard to your views.
When it debuted in 1982, Cane River was already a rarity: a drama by an independent black filmmaker, financed by wealthy black patrons and dealing with race issues untouched by mainstream cinema. Richard Pryor had even tried to take it to Hollywood.

But since a negative resurfaced two years ago, it has attained a certain mythic quality, connecting a disparate group of people across the country: New York preservationists dedicated to restoring it; a cultural historian in Louisiana devoting an academic paper to it; an archivist in Los Angeles fascinated with it. And the directors son, the music journalist and filmmaker Sacha Jenkins, who knew about the film but has never seen it, and who has been left with a question no small number of sons have asked about their fathers.

Who was this guy?

His name was Horace Jenkins, an Emmy Award-winning television director and producer (Sesame Street, Tony Browns Journal), who died at 42 just a few months after Cane River, his only dramatic feature, enjoyed a gala debut in New Orleans. Scheduled to screen in New York the following February, Cane River attracted the interest of Mr. Pryor, who had an agreement with Columbia Pictures to showcase work by African-American writers, actors and directors. But the overture was rejected by the films producers, and the story of Cane River seemingly ended with Mr. Jenkinss death  at least until that negative was found among a number of orphaned films at the decommissioned New York film lab DuArt, for decades one of the principal film-developing companies in the business.

There, it became part of the efforts of Sandra Schulberg and her organization, IndieCollect, to preserve derelict works of independent American cinema. The negatives were initially moved to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles but are being returned so IndieCollect can undertake a state-of-the-art restoration.
Jan Staller has an eye for urban ruin, and one summer in the early 1980s, it brought him to Times Square. Mr. Staller, 64, is best known for his images of New Yorks desolate landscapes. In Times Square, he was drawn to what he thought were dead zones: a subterranean shoe-repair shop squeezed into a subway station and a coin-operated fortune teller perched by the subway stairs. They were so grimy and old, so redolent of another time, the first 50 years of the 20th century, he said.

But before he could shoot, the present time intervened. Two young men in gang colors saw him setting up his tripod and asked him to take their picture. They were the kind of people Mr. Staller had avoided in Times Square, intimidating just by their presence, but their request put them in a new light. They were so innocent, he said. As he posed the two men, adjusting ones jacket so the insignia was visible, other denizens of the square asked him to take their photographs as well. Maybe some werent nice people. Mr. Staller did not know. But the afternoon sun took the edge off the street life, revealing Times Square as what it really was for the people there: home. Mr. Staller returned again and again throughout the summer, no longer so interested in the attractions that had brought him there in the first place.

Most photographs of life in Times Square are quick street shots, meant to capture the carnival on the fly. Mr. Stallers are formally posed portraits, time-consuming enough that the subjects had relaxed and showed their gentler sides. Its contemplative rather than candid, he said. The scenes were not what he was looking for, but they taught him something about the city he thought he knew. Life wins.
At Milanos, a 137-year-old dive on Houston Street between Mulberry and Mott Streets, earlier is better.

One of the last scruffy spots in an overwhelmingly chic neighborhood, the bar opens at 10 a.m. to a sparse crowd of older men conversing quietly, if at all, over their first drink of the day.

The early bird is rewarded here. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, afternoon cocktails come with an unlikely twist: live jazz from 2 to 4 courtesy of a small group of accomplished musicians who have also claimed the place as their own. Milanos is not a live-music club, but for nearly two years now, it has hosted one of the jazz scenes best-kept secrets.
Mr. Koen pointed out a picnic table aboard the boat that he had made out of mammoth planks of driftwood. He said he grew up in the Adirondacks surrounded by lakes and had always lived or worked around water.

Ive either been in it, on it, or under it, all my life, said Mr. Koen, who also held jobs on offshore oil rigs. He started work at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in Manhattan in 1984 and worked his way up from a volunteer to director of operations.

He figured out ways to transport decommissioned military planes, tanks and other apparatus to New York and mount them on the carriers deck as exhibits. And he used his penchant for wood carving to salvage scraps from the Intrepids flight deck and transform them into models of the carrier, given as mementos to important guests and benefactors.

I was never good with books  I graduated high school with a degree in shop class  but I always enjoyed working with my hands, Mr. Koen said.

As for the 46-foot kicking around boat he found on eBay, he said he didnt tell his wife until after he had bought it, adding that he spent the next three nights sleeping at the firehouse.

He named the boat, a buoy tender, the Lt. Michael P. Murphy, after a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan. He uses it for odd jobs for friends, and for barbecuing while drifting on the Hudson.

Its top speed is about 8 miles per hour. Mr. Koen prides himself on finishing last every year at the annual New York Tugboat Race.
A few late worshipers trickled in and joined the circle, hastily removing their shoes and respectfully bowing in the direction of Sheikha Fariha, who had the bearing of a slightly bossy school principal. During the service, one man discreetly made to leave the room. Her eyes tightly closed, legs crossed and back straight, Sheikha Fariha snapped, Where are you going? The man jumped at being noticed and sheepishly replied, To the restroom. She dismissed him with a wave of her hand without ever opening her eyes.

Sitting on the floor of the main prayer hall was Juliet Rabia Gentile, 36, who has belonged to this order for more than a decade. I was always interested in Sufi culture: music, dance, art and the works of the Persian poets Rumi and Hafez, Ms. Gentile said. It was definitely more of a cultural rather than spiritual interest at first.

Her upbringing in New York City was Christian. Initially, my family thought I was experimenting and it would probably go away after a couple of years, she said. Certain friends were surprised Id become a Muslim, especially post-9/11.

The groups female leadership was a lure for Ms. Gentile, who is proud that American Sufism has cultivated an atmosphere of acceptance. Our sheikha is an unusual product of American religious freedoms, she said.

But she is also aware that Sufis are in a difficult position, both within Islam and within American culture. Sufis nowadays are under attack and called heretics, she said. Its ironic given all the Islamophobia, theres been a surge of growth of interest. People just want to understand.

Ms. Gentile doesnt wear the headscarf outside the Dergah. I can sense that the vibe here is changing, she said. Americans have reached heightened paranoia in the two years since ISIS emerged. People are becoming irrational.

She said her fellow New Yorkers were less likely to be swayed by panic. But she is nonetheless wary. Fear is a strong drug, she said.
TOLUCA, Mexico  In this industrial city near the Mexican capital, workers gather outside the gates of a sprawling Chrysler plant for a late shift assembling Dodge Journey S.U.V.s. Its a sought-after job, with autoworkers in Mexico earning an average of about $5 an hour, compared with the nations minimum wage of less than $4 for the whole day. Yet it is a fifth of what autoworkers make in Detroit, and that has helped Mexico become a global powerhouse in car production. The finished products can be seen in the parking lot: thousands of shiny new S.U.V.s, black, white, silver, red, waiting to be shipped around the planet, particularly to the United States, where Americans bought 100,000 Journeys last year.

Scenes like this are at the heart of the populist, anti-trade rage driving Donald J. Trumps presidential campaign. His central promise: to rewrite or scrap the 22-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, which he blames for sending countless jobs overseas.

And while Hillary Clinton knocks most of Mr. Trumps positions, she has echoed this one. Too often past trade deals have been sold to the American people with rosy scenarios that didnt pan out, she said in a speech near Detroit. The president of the United Auto Workers, Dennis Williams, said she promised him that she would renegotiate the deal.

How these attacks on trade translate into policy is one of the most important questions to come out of this election. The Nafta-bashing rattles Mexican businesses in a nation that has built its economy on the accord and depends on commerce with its northern neighbor for a third of its income. Last year, Mexico exported $316 billion worth of goods and services to the United States, a sizable chunk of the countrys gross domestic product of $1.1 trillion. Amid the election, some companies have delayed related investments, a Mexican financial newspaper reported. And when Mr. Trump goes up in the polls, Mexicos peso sinks in value.
KPMG announces 50 leading Fintech companies in China Updated: 2016-09-23 14:16 (chinadaily.com.cn)

KPMG China made its first announcement of 50 leading Fintech companies operating in China, as the country is fast becoming one of the leading Fintech markets globally and an important innovation center in the Fintech sector.

Fintech companies are non-traditional financial institutions that are using technology to disrupt the financial sector, using innovation and efficient technology to provide better financial services and risk management.

Over the past several months, KPMG China shortlisted 50 leading Fintech companies. These companies were selected by over 20 senior partners from KPMG international member firms and KPMG China with specialists in several fields including IT, data analytics, capital markets, risk control, business operation, finance and tax management, venture capital, and entrepreneurial guidance.

Six criteria were used to evaluate shortlisted firms: (1) the application of advanced IT technologies and breakthroughs; (2) data collection, mining and execution driven by technology; (3) innovation in business structure and its disruption of traditional finance; (4) the ability to address current issues and improvement in financial efficiency; (5) valuation and recognition in the capital markets; and (6) development potential and future prospects. These six criteria cover the key factors in the Fintech sector.

According to Arthur Wang, Head of China Banking, KPMG China, the country is fast becoming one of the leading Fintech markets globally and an important innovation center in the Fintech sector.

The 50 leading Fintech companies in China are engaged in developing new technologies to push for the transformation of the financial services industry. They are proactively exploring and adopting advanced IT technology (such as big data, risk modeling, cloud computing and blockchain) to increase efficiency in financial services through disruptive innovation.

Simon Gleave, Asia Pacific partner-in-charge, Financial Services, KPMG, said: "We are very pleased to see that these innovative companies are pushing forward China's reform in the financial sector. A new ecology of the financial industry is taking shape and we believe these innovators will play important roles in a new generation of financial services."

The companies shortlisted were distinguished by their innovative business practices as well as their ability to develop technology-driven solutions for some of the biggest issues facing the financial services sector. The application of advanced technology is leading major breakthroughs in the financial services sector, for example risk quantification models, which have helped shorten the approval time for consumer loans, or big data, which is being harnessed to detect fraudulent behavior more effectively.
Kallaloo, a mass of greens and okra, pork and crab, slow-simmered into a deep, darkly flavorful stew, is a dish usually best found at grannys house  if youre lucky enough to have a West Indian granny. Or you could head to Balter, in St. Croixs historic Christiansted, where the homespun dish takes on a gloss with foraged leaves of sea purslane and house-pickled peppers adding pops of color and crunch against a luxuriously soft background. The result is the sort of artful twisting of Caribbean comfort food that characterizes this elegant restaurant, which opened in April.

Belying its name, which comes from an archaic Danish word meaning to dance clumsily, Balter has a polished charm. Housed in 18th-century slave quarters, dark beams stripe the ceiling, local art adorns the walls, and wooden shutters shade the windows. When the founders Patrick Kralik and Digby Stridiron discovered the building, it was a wreck. Their loving two-and-a-half-year restoration incorporates colonial elements like a decorative Danish brick oven and a bar fashioned from the buildings original roof planks. We wanted to evoke pieces of St. Croix, Mr. Kralik said.

This homage extends to the menu, which reads like a primer of West Indian cuisine. I was inspired by the recipes and techniques of the people who lived here, said Mr. Stridiron, also the restaurants executive chef, who worked in the Florida kitchen of Norman Van Aken before returning to his native St. Croix. (Mr. Kralik is from Charleston, S.C.) Influences include the indigenous Taino people, Danish and French colonists, and neighboring Puerto Rico, as well as African flavors brought by the former slave population.

On my recent visit, the kallaloo (also spelled callaloo), laced with seared pork belly, came ladled over fungi (pronounced FOON-jee), a soft porridge of cornmeal and okra that has its roots in slave traditions. A pan-seared fillet of wahoo was nestled into a mound of mofongo, a savory Puerto Rican staple of mashed plantains, garlic and pork. Indeed, tropical fruits and vegetables like plantain, passion fruit, guava berry and chayote are sprinkled throughout the menu. (Mr. Stridiron said that 90 percent of the restaurants produce comes from St. Croix.)
The grenache grape is almost stealthy in its ubiquity. It is grown and made into wine pretty much all over the world, often known by its French name, grenache, but sometimes by the Spanish garnacha.

Yet as widespread as grenache is, its among the least heralded international grapes. Its greatest expressions have come in places where it is part of a blend, as in Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Priorat. While coexisting with other grapes never held back cabernet sauvignon or Bordeaux from becoming an international star, grenache has not ascended similarly.

It is not for want of trying. The early pioneers of Rhone-style wines in California championed grenache 30 years ago, and while delicious grenache wines from producers like Bonny Doon Vineyard, Qupe and Edmunds St. John have earned modest popularity, they, like the grape, have always lurked somewhat in the background.

Nonetheless, grenache can make superb wines in diverse places. It can achieve magnificence in the stony and sandy soils of Chateauneuf, in France, and in the slate of Priorat, in Spain. The wines made in the limestone of Gigondas in the southern Rhone may be less imposing, but they can be just as winning. And grenache is a main constituent of humble but satisfying wines made all over the south of France and Mediterranean Spain.
A look inside a lucrative launchpad Updated: 2016-09-23 07:58 By Ren Qi(China Daily Europe)

Eastern Spaceport in far east Russia opens its doors to the world, but don't press ny buttons

Someone played the Star Wars theme music on their mobile phone when we stepped into the Vostochny Cosmodrome, at the Eastern Spaceport in far east Russia.

Although Baikonur Cosmodrome, the Earth's first and largest operational space launch facility, still belongs to Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the government needs to pay a $115 million annual lease for the site to Kazakhstan until 2050.

A public performance in Blagoveshchensk's main square, which is a river away from the Chinese city of Heihe. Photos by Ren Qi / China Daily From left: A statue of Yuri Gagarin at the Eastern Spaceport. Inside the rocket launch tower.

Located in the Tsiolkovsky town of Amur Oblast, the Vostochny spaceport was constructed on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007 to reduce dependency on Baikonur. The first launch from the new base was made in April.

Alexander Molchanov, deputy general of the Eastern Spaceport, tells me I was the first Chinese correspondent to visit the mysterious site since its construction.

Olga is a guide at a small museum in the spaceport and she explains why the place is so mysterious. She says the city where we stood was called Uglegorsk, which means coal hill, in the 1960s.

"But there is no coal here," she says with a smile. "The name was just a cover, as the place was established in order to serve the nearby intercontinental ballistic missile base of the Soviet Armed Forces.

"Then in September 2015, the city changed the name to Tsiolkovsky in honor of the founder of theoretical astronautics, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, and no one had expected Chinese correspondents to visit the site so soon," Olga says.

A vehicle took me through forests, grassland and some construction sites, and finally I arrived at the rocket and spacecraft assembling facility.

"In order to keep safe and not get lost, you can visit any corner but don't open any closed doors or press any buttons on the machines," Molchanov tells me. He says no one who works there is in the military, and that Russia wants the spaceport to be known to the world.

Then I walked in, and was shocked by the huge rocket-assembling equipment, which is more 30 meters long and 5 meters high. I noticed every machine in the room was extremely clean, with no dust even on the highest surface.

"The temperature and humidity in this assembling facility is strictly controlled, and the need for cleanliness is extremely high as well," Molchanov says. "Some parts of the facility are even cleaner than a hospital operating theater."

Four kilometers from the facility, I was taken to the 53-meter-high rocket launch tower. I didn't see any heavy security at the 1,600-metric-ton tower, which stands in a wide field.

Molchanov points at the tower, saying there will be a second launch there in July or August 2017, and a manned spacecraft is expected to be launched in 2018.

The aerospace industry was the pride of the former Soviet Union. Now, in spite of a troubled economy, Russia maintains that pride. I see a statue of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, in the yard of the spaceport. The whole country, government and people, hope to rebuild the nation's leading role in space exploration by having this new rocket launching center.

Alexander Kozlov, governor of Amur Oblast, tells me the new spaceport can generate an income of $9.2 million per year and provide more than 2,000 jobs.

Russian media once called the Eastern Spaceport the most ambitious large-scale construction project in modern Russia.

US magazine Foreign Affairs published a comment piece, Russia Seeks Far East realignment: Domestic Initiatives in December, saying the construction of the Eastern Spaceport shows the ambition of President Putin to develop Russia's far east, with the expectation that it will stimulate the Russian economy.

During my half-day visit, I was repeatedly told the Eastern Spaceport, as well as the whole aerospace industry in Russia, welcomes any cooperation with other countries, such as China and European nations.

Wu Fei, a researcher from the Center for China and Globalization, tells me Russia is looking forward to working together with the European Union on aerospace, as it is the only industry that can slip the leash from the United States if they start to cooperate. By cooperating with the EU, Russia is able to obtain research funding from Europe.

Moreover, Russia can improve its image in Europe if it makes progress in aerospace research, Wu says.

Contact the writer at renqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page7)
Children played in front of destroyed buildings in Douma, outside Damascus, on Eid al-Adha. Mohammed Badra/European Pressphoto Agency

Estimates range from about 590,000 people to more than a million living in these areas. They subsist on whatever local land they can manage to farm or expensive black market goods. Disease and malnutrition are increasing threats.

A partial cease-fire brokered by the United States and Russia this month included an agreement to safely allow aid into some besieged parts of Syria.

Instead, aid deliveries faced heavy delays as they waited for permission from the government. Then, on Monday, a convoy carrying flour, medicine and clothing into a rebel-held area in western Aleppo Province was hit by airstrikes after the Syrian Army declared the cease-fire over.

Damaged trucks and supplies in the aftermath of an attack on an aid convoy in Aleppo Province. Omar Haj Kadour/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry desperately called for a grounding of military aircraft in parts of Syria as a way to save the cease-fire.

The United Nations said that supplies for 40,000 people successfully reached Moadamiya, a suburb of Damascus, on Thursday.

Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid trucks drove through rebel-held Harasta, a suburb of Damascus, in June. Amer Almohibany/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

But getting aid into those areas is incredibly complicated. To operate legally, the United Nations and many other aid organizations require the authorization of the Syrian government. The International Committee of the Red Cross, for example, communicates with all armed groups involved  including the Syrian government  to deliver aid to any area, Krista Armstrong, a spokeswoman, said.

And, of course, there are disputes over how the aid should be coordinated. This month, seventy-three aid groups announced that they would stop sharing information with United Nations agencies in Damascus, accusing them and their partners of being influenced by the Syrian government.

Turkey Qamishli Kobani Hasaka Manbij Aleppo 20,000 people Raqqa Idlib Euphrates River 80,000 Latakia Syria Deir al-Zour 347,000 Tartus Homs Palmyra Abu Kamal lebanon Sparsely populated areas 41,000 Damascus Iraq 509,000 Nawa Suwayda Jordan Turkey Aleppo Raqqa Idlib 20,000 people Euphrates River 80,000 Deir al-Zour 347,000 Syria Homs Palmyra Lebanon Sparsely populated areas 41,000 Damascus Iraq 509,000 Turkey Syria Idlib Raqqa 20,000 people Deir al-Zour 347,000 80,000 Homs Palmyra Iraq Damascus 550,000 Source: Siege Watch | Numbers are estimates of current population under siege.

According to the United Nations, there are at least 17 places in Syria that are under siege. Groups like Siege Watch, a joint project of PAX and The Syria Institute to collect data on besieged areas, say there are many more throughout the country.

Nearly all the areas are under siege from the Syrian government, which sets up checkpoints, physical barriers and sometimes even land mines to keep people from going in and out.

Douma 140,000 Harasta SYRIA Damascus Arbin 55,000 Misraba 8,000 Beit Sawa Jobar 225 Hamouriya Jisreen Kafr Batna Damascus Beit Sahm 16,500 Moadamiya 45,000 2 MILES Yelda Douma 140,000 Harasta SYRIA Damascus Arbin 55,000 Misraba 8,000 Beit Sawa Jobar 225 Hamouriya Jisreen Kafr Batna Damascus Beit Sahm 16,500 Moadamiya 45,000 2 MILES Yelda SYRIA Douma 140,000 Damascus Harasta Misraba Arbin 55,000 Beit Sawa 11,250 Hamouriya Jobar 225 Autaya Ein Tarma Damascus Kafr Batna Jisreen Beit Sahm Moadamiya 45,000 Yelda 16,500 Hajar al-Aswad 2 MILES SYRIA Damascus Douma 140,000 Harasta Arbin 55,000 Misraba 8,000 Beit Sawa Jobar 225 Hamouriya Jisreen Kafr Batna Damascus Beit Sahm 16,500 Moadamiya 45,000 Yelda 2 MILES Douma 140,000 SYRIA Harasta Damascus Arbin 55,000 Hamouriya Damascus Kafr Batna Moadamiya 45,000 Yelda 4 MILES The New York Times | Source: Siege Watch

The Syrian government has evacuated some people from besieged areas under surrender deals made with weakened local opposition leaders.

The terms of those deals are usually all but dictated to the locals, with their only real alternative being getting bombed, says Valerie Szybala, executive director of The Syria Institute, a think tank on the Syrian civil war.

In rebel-held Daraya, a suburb of Damascus that had been under siege for four years, council members said they had little choice after negotiations with the government. About 8,000 people, a tenth of Darayas original population of 80,000, were evacuated in August by the Syrian government in exchange for surrendering control of their territory.

Rebel fighters and activists were evacuated to opposition-held areas of Idlib Province in northern Syria while thousands of civilians were moved to government-held Damascus suburbs.
Media advisory: NZEI Te Riu Roa Annual Conference to plan next steps in campaign for better funding, not bulk funding

What: NZEI Te Riu Roa Annual Conference

Where: Rotorua Energy Events Centre

When: 1pm Sunday 25 September until Wednesday 28th September

A national summit of educators beginning this weekend will plan the next steps in the joint NZEI-PPTA campaign for better funding, not bulk funding.

Nearly 400 elected representatives of the union's 48,000 educator membership will meet at the NZEI Te Riu Roa Annual Conference in Rotorua starting this Sunday afternoon.

Entitled Ourselves, Our Values, Our Actions, the conference will run from 25-28 September and start with a powhiri at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre at 1pm on Sunday.

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Louise Green says that the conference could not come at a better time.

"More than 37,000 educators from around the country have given us a strong mandate for further action to stop the Government's bulk funding "global budget" proposal and to fight for better funding. The conference is a key opportunity for us to plan our next steps."

Louise Green will give a keynote speech on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Other speakers at the conference include Australian teachers' leader Maurie Mulheron, who is President of the New South Wales Teachers Federation.

Further information about the conference is available here.

For more information contact Stephanie Mills 027 4486226.
Perfect partners Updated: 2016-09-23 07:58 By Ren Qi in Vladivostok, Russia and Chen Yingqun in Beijing(China Daily Europe)

China and Russia eye the benefits of pan-Eurasian cooperation

Russian workers operate Italian plastic bottle cap manufacturing machines in a factory named Euro Plastic. In the room are piled sacks of plastic raw materials from China.

Located in Vladivostok, the largest city in Russia's far east, the modern factory seems to reflect the current international business mood of the country.

On one hand, the name Euro Plastic shows the ambition of Russian enterprises to gear up to the European market.

But the factory has almost no connection with Europe, as trade between Russia and EU has plummeted since the latter applied stern sanctions in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.

On the other hand, the light industry of Russia, even as something as small as plastic bottle cap manufacturing, has a strong need for China's raw materials.

China is looking for more economic cooperation with the largest country in the world.

It received encouragement when its Belt and Road Initiative was given a positive response by the Russian leader in June after being first proposed in late 2013.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin signed a joint declaration on cooperation in coordinating development of the Eurasian Economic Union and Silk Road Economic Belt in May last year.

Further, Putin stated in an interview with Chinese media during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June that Xi's Belt and Road Initiative was an interesting one with good timing, and the countries of the union all agreed to start cooperation under the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

The statement from Russia that the two projects appear to have such a bright future surprised experts from both countries, as years ago the two proposals were seen as competitors in the region.

Alexander Gabuev is a senior associate of the Russian Moscow Center think tank, and he says China's economic and political clout in resource-rich Central Asia is growing, "sometimes at Russia's expense".

Gabuev says it is an undeniable fact that the Belt and Road used to be a major concern for Russia before 2015, and the initiative was seldom responded to by Russian officials. However, in the past two years, the international situation has changed tremendously. Russia's economy fell so fast that the former superpower realized the importance of enhancing cooperation with the giant initiative.

Fifty-seven countries signed on as founding members of the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank last year. Moreover, as well as pledging $100 billion for the bank's coffers, China also established the $40 billion Silk Road Fund.

Kerry Brown, from the China Studies Center at Sydney University, says China would like to provide countries along the road with low-interest, long-term loans - similar to those given in Africa for big infrastructure projects.

"Regional connectivity is the main objective of the strategy of China's Silk Road," says Kamel Mellahi, a professor of strategic management at Warwick Business School. "There is little doubt that it's a win-win project for all countries involved."

Russia agrees. Now more Russians, both government officials and entrepreneurs, want to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Eugene Belokurov, general manager of Euro Plastic Vladivostok, says the raw materials in the factory are 100 percent from China. However, he is more interested in attracting China's cooperation in the fields of technology and investment.

At present there are seven Euro Plastic factories in Russia, and more than 50 billion plastic products are produced by the company every year. The business is still in the investment payoff period and has not yet made a profit, after investment in the factories reached 250 million roubles ($3.8 million; 3.5 million euros; 3 million). Yet Belokurov sees much potential for the company. He says that if it can receive technological support and financial investment from Chinese enterprises or factories, Euro Plastic may open more factories.

Belokurov's expectation reflects those of Russian companies that start branches in the relatively less-developed far east, and exploring cooperation with China has also become one of the main tasks for government sectors of Russia.

The Ministry for Development of the Russian Far East is responsible for the economic and social development in the region. Alexander Galushka, minister of the federal ministry, says Russia, especially the far east, will play an important role in coordinating the development of the EEU and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The far east region has so far attracted investment over of $16.9 billion, 14.7 percent of which - including cement plants, road construction projects, and investment in economic zones - comes from China.

On June 30, the Russian government approved the establishment of the 13th Advanced Development Territory in Khabarovsk state, and there will be $1.2 million of Chinese investment in the rivet manufacturing industry.

In March, Russian media reported that Chinese investors had injected more than $1.9 billion into Russian far east development projects, including an oil refinery and a logistical center, as well as a cement factory and a plant for reworking ferrous scrap metals.

Galushka says Russia always welcomes China's participation in the development of the far east. "We are planning to build more different types of economic zones in the future, and we are expecting more Chinese investors to join."

Considering the ongoing EU sanctions, closer ties between the bloc and the China - Russia project seem threatened. On one hand, those nations want to share the benefits from the up-coming cooperation of the EEU and Belt and Road, but on the other hand, they just can't, he says.

Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, says if Russia makes progress, that does not necessary hurt Europe, infrastructure will be improved along the Eurasian corridor and that helps Europe a great deal.

"However," he says, "the EU's relationship with Russia will not change. I think the members of the EU have made it very clear that sanctions will remain. It is very sad as this is a natural fit between Europe and Russia.

"For example, Europe has huge overcapacity in milk, and Russia has huge shortage of milk, but we cannot trade."

Wu Fei, a researcher at the Center for China and Globalization, says the European economy may face issues after Brexit, but the EU still maintains a strong role in the cooperation of EEU and Belt and Road.

Wu says the two initiatives are very complementary: the biggest issue of Belt and Road is that there are not so many investment projects along the Silk Road Economic Belt, as well as not many projects with quick payoffs. But there are plenty of such projects in EEU, such as those in the Far East, the Ural mountain area, investment in Yekaterinburg, and development of the Arctic Ocean channel.

Meanwhile, Russia is hoping for more. In President Putin's plan, the cooperation of EEU and Belt and Road will also attract Europe to establish a Pan-Eurasian partner relation.

Chris Cheung, director of the EU SME Center, points out that in order to realize such a relationship, China would be the key element between the EU and Russia, and the EU should not lose faith in China's economy despite its slowdown.

But at least now, the interest of the EU in the Chinese market is still growing, Cheung says. China's policy of moving toward consumption as a greater driver of growth means that there is greater demand for EU products.

He notes China's industry supply chain is in the process of transforming: new technologies will be required to support China's advancing industrial processes, whether it is machines, software or internet-based technologies, and innovative businesses from Europe are eager to take part.

Wu agrees, and he cites the Yekaterinburg investment projects as an example. The projects are attracting Chinese and German capital at the same time.

"If the EEU and Belt and Road can establish some dialogue mechanisms, and combine the manufacturing and consumption of different countries into a integrated strategic alliance - in which China, Russia and European countries are all involved - a real pan-Eurasian partnership is coming," Wu says.

Contact the writers atrenqi@chinadaily.com.cn

Some of the Workers at the only car manufacturing factory in Vladivostok, the largest city in Russia's far east. The city government says it hopes to cooperate with Chinese car companies. Photos by Ren Qi / China Daily The light industry of Russia, even as something as small as plastic bottle cap manufacturing Euro Plastic, has a strong need for China's raw materials.

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page1)
Gov. Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange have sent a letter to Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson and District Attorney E. Paul Jones calling on them to close down VictoryLand.

It is widely known that VictoryLand began operations on Sept. 13, 2016 and continues as of todays date to operate electronic bingo machines, the letter said. This is a violation of Alabama law.

Bentley and Strange asked for a response by Sept. 30 with details on their planned enforcement.

More than 3,000 people attended VictoryLands reopening on Sept. 13.

The casino was closed in 2013 after a raid by the attorney generals office seized 1,615 electronic bingo machines, but owner Milton McGregor announced on Aug. 21 VictoryLand was set to reopen.

Gov. Robert Bentley signed an executive order in November 2015 removing the attorney generals authority to enforce gambling laws and giving it to county sheriffs.

During the opening, McGregor said he wasnt worried about the state closing the casino.

(Strange) is through with gaming issues, McGregor said. Gaming and the bingo issue will be handled by the sheriff and the DA to determine the legality, and they have done that. Without question, everything on this floor is legal.

A representative for VictoryLand was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson said he didnt have comment about the letter until he spoke with his attorney.

All Im trying to do is whats right for the people of Macon County and enforce the law, Brunson said.

District Attorney E. Paul Jones said he could not comment on the letter because he had not received it yet.

My duties do not include the investigation of crimes, Jones said. My duty is the prosectution of crimes once they have been investigated and charges made by a law enforcement agency.

Jones said hes looked at the law and theres no requirement for his office to investigate crime, only prosecute crime.

If a legitimate law enforcement officer makes a case relating to Macon County, then certainly I will prosecute it, Jones said.

Jones said his office couldnt afford to raid VictoryLand.

I am told it cost the state $1 million when it raided VictoryLand (in 2013,) Jones said.

In 2010, Joness budget for the Fifth Judicial Circuit office, which spans Macon, Tallapoosa, Chambers and Randolph counties, was $850,000, but in the 2017 fiscal year his office was $405,000, Jones said.

There is no way in hell that I could afford to conduct a raid on VictoryLand, even if I wanted to, Jones said.
Joe Lovvorn has been certified as the representative for House District 79.

The Alabama Secretary of States office announced Lovvorns certification to fill former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbards vacated seat in a press release Thursday afternoon.

Were excited to get to work and get this district represented, Lovvorn said. And start moving forward for next term.

Hubbard automatically vacated the seat when he was convicted of 12 felony ethics violations in June.

I think the district, Ive said many times before, has to do a little political healing here in Districty 79, Lovvorn said. I look forward to moving forward, and people can start focusing on the future.

Lovvorn narrowly avoided a runoff with Sandy Toomer by 53 votes in the Sept. 13 Republican primary.

Gage Fenwick, an Auburn University student and Libertarian candidate for the seat, submitted a petition with more than 300 signatures to the Secretary of States office on Sept. 13, but once the office verified the signatures, the petition was short of the necessary 300 minimum signatures.

No details were released on how many signatures were verified.

"Because no other candidates submitted the required information in order to appear on the ballot, Mr. Lovvorn can be certified as the new representative for HD 79 without holding another, costly, special election," said Secretary of State John Merrill in the press release.

Fenwick previously told the Opelika-Auburn News if he didnt get enough signatures for the ballot he would run a write-in campaign.

We were told by Daniel Dean, of the Elections Division, that the party would receive an official report on the number of signatures that were verified along with the number that were not. We have yet to be informed of these figures, Fenwick said in a statement.

Fenwick said Alabama has some of the toughest ballot access laws in the country.

In the statement, Fenwicks campaign said the Secretary of States office told them the number of valid signatures to qualify was 276 not the 300 the office said Thursday.

There is now concern that the campaign was either given the wrong number to begin with or that a new standard was reached and the Secretary of States office failed to inform the campaign, the statement said.

Fenwicks campaign said they looked forward to finding out the number of signatures they would have needed to qualify.

I am disappointed in the results reached; however, the fight for liberty is far from over. I will continue to hold our government accountable for its actions and continue to fight the corruption that is clearly evident, Fenwick said in the statement.

Fenwick said the district deserves to have a choice for representation and pointed out that 88 percent of registered voters did not vote in the Republican primary.

I certainly am supportive of anyone trying to make the ballot, Lovvorn said. I know there are certain requirements I had to meet, and we worked through them with the campaign. I was fortunate enough to win the primary. I encourage anyone that wants to get involved and make a difference.
Medical advice that has readers in stitches Updated: 2016-09-23 07:58 By Liu Zhihua(China Daily Europe)

Dr Panda has one mission: To rid the world of medical mumbo jumbo, so that people have a clear understanding of various diseases and how to prevent them.

And while he's raising awareness, he manages to raise a few smiles, too.

This ursine expert is the central character of Little Doctor Cartoons, an animated series devised by real-life medics Miao Zhongrong and He Yizhou.

They share the animations via an account on WeChat, the Chinese social media app, and have so far clocked up more than 70,000 followers.

"Acquiring medical knowledge is good for everyone," says Miao, an expert in cerebrovascular disease at Tiantan Hospital in Beijing. "This kind of knowledge can save lives, and we're happy with what we're doing."

Dr Panda comes from Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, and runs a restaurant selling his hometown's specialty noodles. He spends much of his time chatting with his friend, Sha Daidai (literally "the silly one"), about health issues, and is often sought out by customers seeking help with an ailment.

The first cartoon went online in March, with the WeChat account gaining about 10,000 new followers every month since then, according to data from Tencent, the technology company that runs the app.

"Reading Little Doctor Cartoons is one of the most enjoyable things for me in a day," one reader says. "The illustrations are simple but lifelike. And with the humorous conversation, the cartoon makes dry, complex medical information funny and easy to remember."

A story about appendicitis posted on July 31 received more than 12,500 views. In it, Dr Panda helps a customer who complains of severe pain in his lower right abdomen as well as fever, nausea and vomiting. After diagnosing the customer, he explains to Sha Daidai what appendicitis is, how it is detected and how it can be treated, including via surgery.

As with other stories, readers use the comments section to discuss their experiences with the condition, or similar ailments, and express thanks for what the cartoons have taught them.

Miao says he writes the scripts, often while lying in bed before 6 am, and then sends them to He, an intensive care specialist at Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai, who draws the illustrations, often late at night after a busy shift. Each cartoon takes about two hours to sketch.

Although the stories are fictional, most are based on the doctors' personal experiences, or on stories told to them by patients or fellow medical professionals.

Cartoons can help doctors to communicate with patients, as it is a way to explain medical issues and possible treatments, or simply just make them feel better, Miao says.

He Yizhou says he started drawing cartoons in about 1999 but became fascinated with them two years later while studying for his master's degree.

He set up the Little Doctor Cartoons account on WeChat in the spring of 2014 after posting the illustrations on other platforms, such as blogs and other social media.

At first, the cartoons focused on his observations about the life of a doctor. However, this year, at the suggestion of a mutual friend, He and Miao began working together, focusing on health education.

The pair says China has a shortage of health education materials that cover a broad range of topics and are interesting to ordinary people - something they are keen to help remedy.

"People need accurate medical information, but China invests very little in public health education and patients know little about disease prevention and treatment," says Miao, who sits on the board of national medical associations in the fields of stroke, cerebrovascular disease and neurology.

In developed countries, health education brochures with interesting graphics or cartoons that help people to easily understand disease prevention and treatment are widely available, but this is not the case in China, he adds.

Disputes between doctors and patients in Chinese hospitals have been a major problem in recent years, with some incidents ending in death. Miao believes such violence would be reduced if clear and accurate medical information was more readily available.

Patients often have unrealistic expectations about the ability of doctors to offer remedies, he says, which can cause tension in the doctor-patient relationship when the outcome of a treatment is disappointing. Not all illnesses are curable, and sometimes it can even be difficult to correctly diagnose a condition.

"As Hippocrates said, 'Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always'. Despite patients' best hopes, doctors are not almighty, but many patients are unaware of this," Miao says. "It's important for doctors to be able to give information to patients in a way that is easy to understand. We hope to make medicine knowledge more accessible to every one."

He Yizhou says he hopes that eventually the cartoons will be translated into other languages and will endure for decades to come, just like Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, the oldest continuously published English-language medical textbook.

liuzhihua@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page1)
Enter if you dare.

The 17th Door creaked open its doors Friday night at the Tustin Market Place for the duration of the Halloween season.

Update: Fullertons 17th Door haunted house just got scarier: Heres what to expect with the 2022 installment

Perhaps you are wondering, The what? Understandable. This is only the 17th Doors second year. But I predict that by the time it rolls around again next September, just about everyone in Southern California will have heard of the elaborate  and bizarre  haunted house.

PRE-SHOW

With few expectations, I attended a preview of the attraction Wednesday evening. I could not visualize what, exactly, I was submitting myself to. The press release said something about a girl named Paula and bad decisions and bulimia and downward spirals. And doors.

Pre-show, the lobby bustled with sinister clowns, ghouls, zombies, indeterminable freaks and so on. Some were chomping pizza. Others were snapping selfies.

I spotted a ghastly pregnant woman  yes, I actually assumed she was with child  milling about. Then another. And another. I began to suspect foul play.

The characters all looked so weird that I subconsciously prejudged the humans behind the masks as weird. Snob.

THE CHARACTERS

But then I chatted with a clique of young men hanging out before curtain call. They were all 17th Door veterans who derived such a kick out of playing dress-up last year that they returned for round two.

Creepy school custodian Tyler ODonnell is, in real life, an electrician who makes the commute from Corona. Macabre clown A.J. Winchester is a guitar salesman in Tustin. His sidekick Carlos Curiel is a house painter in Brea. Pig demon Ian Blanco of Tustin usually wears cool clothes and works at a skateboard store.

The most sinister among them, a guy sprouting gnarly pig tails and oozing depravity, refused to break character  heckling me with growls and crazy gesticulations. Finally, in a quite normal voice, Angel Ramirez admitted that he owns a tattoo shop in faraway Malibu.

Wandering solo was Chad Bowman, pathetic Paulas icky boyfriend. Get this: Hes a Golden West College administrator by day. I auditioned two weeks ago, Bowman said. Its been so fun.

On with the show.

GOING INSIDE

Visitors formed a long line, with groups of about six herded through every minute or so. After signing cause-for-pause release forms stating that our survivors couldnt sue should we die of fear, Register photographer Kevin Sullivan and I crossed the first threshold with a few other risk takers.

I will reveal little of what I saw, or else Id have to kill you.

In truth, The 17th Door folks are quite generous in permitting media to record sans micromanagement  with the exception of one room we were asked to keep quiet about so as not to dampen its shock value. Still, a meticulous step-by-step description might dilute the element of surprise.

Suffice it to say, this thing is no small undertaking. Each of the 30 rooms (a dozen were added for the sequel) exhibits attention to detail down to the filthy toilets in the decrepit locker room.

In a freezing meat locker  complete with the scent of blood  realistic pig carcases dangle. A paddy wagon feels as though its really moving. A storm of plastic balls nearly drowns you in a narrow passageway. Ghosts attack in a chapel and a deranged student attacks in a classroom.

Bulging-bellied Paulas scream piteously at every turn, exchanging insults with their abusive moms. I will leave the hospital delivery room to your imagination. Just know that the special effects are quite clever  and gross.

AFTERMATH

The storyline? I still have no idea. What was that meth lab doing there? Or, for that matter, the ingenious ball room? Cant say.

I didnt for a second feel the need to cry mercy, per instructions, to escape the lurking monsters, banging sounds and flashing lights  partly because I was too fascinated with this 34-minute tour of the grotesque to give up on it. But I can understand how someone who detests loud noises or the sense of being trapped might want out.

Sponsors of The 17th Door recommend parental discretion for kids under 16. My two bits: I agree with that age minimum, given the moments of R-rated subject matter. If one room in particular was toned down a bit, the event would be fine for most preteens  who, after all, love this sort of stuff.

Oh, and two more bits: You think the lines for 17th Door are massive this year? Wait until you see them next year. The 17th Door is growing in fame  or infamy  by the night.

Contact the writer: sgoulding@scng.com
As Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, bassist-vocalist Mark Hoppus and the bands new member, Alkaline Trio guitarist-vocalist Matt Skiba, wrapped up with producer and Goldfinger frontman John Feldman in the recording studio last year, they knew they had created something special.

Barker and Hoppus had just parted ways with founding member Tom DeLonge and made the decision to forge ahead with Skiba stepping in. There was a lot of dramatic back and forth between DeLonge and the remaining members of Blink, but once the dust settled, the latest incarnation of the band went out and played a few shows, including a warm-up gig at the Roxy in West Hollywood and it also headlined the annual Barker-curated Musink Tattoo Convention & Music Festival in Costa Mesa in March 2015.

The positive response from fans at the live shows was encouraging and only added to the enthusiasm in the studio where Barker, Hoppus and Skiba wrote and recorded like mad men. The result was Blink-182s seventh release, California, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 on July 1, temporarily knocking Drakes unstoppable release, Views, out of the top spot. It was the bands first chart-topper in 15 years.

I was very confident that we made a great, great album, Barker said during a phone interview last week during a tour stop in Denver. The band will be wrapping up its summer-long jaunt with a quartet of shows in Southern California including two nights at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Sept. 29 and Oct. 7 and the Forum in Inglewood on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

For everyone to finally hear it, for it to get such great feedback and debut at number one and for the fans to be so passionate about loving this record, its insane, Barker continued. Weve had people tell us that California is their favorite album and that means a lot because I think its rare that a band that has recorded however many albums weve done now, to have the latest be their favorite, that is pretty awesome. Its usually not that way. Its usually like, I only like your old (stuff)! So it feels real good out on tour to have people singing along and have them be just as passionate about the new songs as they are about the old ones.

Both Barker and Hoppus said they are saddened by the fact that theyll be one of the last acts to perform at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre as it will be demolished at the close of this concert season. Growing up in the Inland Empire, Barker recalled going to a couple of Halloween shows put on by Danzig and Oingo Boingo as a teenager and said that one of his favorite memories was coming out and performing as TRV$-DJAM alongside his longtime friend Adam DJ AM Goldstein at KROQs Weenie Roast y Fiesta just three months before Goldsteins death in 2009.

Man, I played Weenie Roast there with Transplants and Blink has played there a bunch of times, but that time with AM, I think no one knew what to expect, he said. I think maybe they thought it would be walk-out music, but it turned into everyone just staying and really enjoying what we did, which was really cool. I wont forget that.

Hoppus said he was as excited as he was nervous about having Blink-182 serve as the surprise band at the final Weenie Roast at Irvine Meadows earlier this year.

It was really cool, although somehow I felt a little more pressure than normal just because we were the surprise, he said during a separate phone interview earlier this month. It was really like one of the first times people saw us with the new music and with Matt on such a big scale, but it ended up being just a lot of fun.

Skiba, who had some pretty big shoes to fill, continues to receive high praise not only from Barker and Hoppus, but critics and fans as well, as he has been embraced by Blink-182 devotees.

Hes been a great friend for a long time obviously and he was great to write this album with and hes just great to be in a band with, Hoppus said.

I think its a real testament to the legacy we have with Blink-182 and it just made sense to have Matt come in for these shows. Everybody loves Matt. Hes just a really honest, gregarious, caring person. In my opinion, hes one of the greatest voices in rock n roll and everything he sings, it sounds like its coming from the depths of his soul. He has an amazing turn of phrase when he writes lyrics, hes a great guitarist and performer so he kind of brings everything to the table.

The band members said that the tour, thus far, has been a bit like summer camp as theyve gotten to hang out with support acts such as A Day to Remember and All Time Low, both of which will be along for the final gigs in Southern California, as well as the All-American Rejects.

Its a really great package and the whole thing has been really good because the bands are similar enough that it makes sense for us to all tour together, but were different enough that you dont feel like youve seen the same band three times in a row, Hoppus said.

Blink-182 has rotated in and out several new songs, including Bored to Death, Shes Out of Her Mind, Cynical and Sober from the latest album into the set list, but have also been playing it a bit loose for the first time, Barker said. In the past, touring had been a much more strictly regimented, leaving very little room for negotiation when it came to dropping something in at the last moment.

Theyve also enjoyed spontaneously appearing and performing during some of the opening sets. Skiba jumped out with A Day To Remember when they covered an Alkaline song in Chicago and Barker got on stage with the band on drums, busting out the double bass pedal, which is something he hasnt done since he was 13, during one of the bands heaviest metal songs in Denver.

You have to have some fun when youre on tour, Barker said. To do stuff like that, it just makes it more enjoyable and you dont feel like youre doing the same thing night after night and you have something different to look forward to. Its really an experience. Thats rock n roll. I always say that I want bands to try something, anything, and even if they (mess) up, try something new and dont let every show be the same every night. I mean, I change drums around sometimes, not to the point where Im messing everyone up, but you play what you feel and feed off of the crowd.

While Hoppus said hes looking forward to playing these last tour dates and then staring at a blank wall for a few days, it wont be long before Blink-182 is back at it, as the band is already scheduling shows in December and Barker said theres a possibility that the guys will work out some more material for a deluxe version of California.

We have a lot of songs that didnt even make the album that are just sitting on a hard drive, he said. I think the plan is when we get home to finish up what we didnt release and maybe have that out by sometime early next year.

Contact the writer: 714-796-3570 or kfadroski@ocregister.com
SANTA ANA  A 36-year-old man was convicted Thursday of sexually assaulting two underage female relatives in Santa Ana.

Jurors for Ruben Tajimaroa, however, deadlocked 8-4 for guilt on one count of sexual intercourse with a child 10 years or younger, prompting Deputy District Attorney Whitney Bokosky to dismiss the charge.

The jury found Tajimaroa guilty of sexually assaulting the two girls  who are nine years apart in age  in attacks dating back to 2004.

The older victim, now 18, was born in Mexico and was 6 years old when she moved to Santa Ana with her mother and a sibling, according to Bokosky.

Shortly after the mother and her two daughters moved here, the defendant started touching the older girl, Bokosky said. In one incident, he took her into a shower and sexually assaulted her, Bokosky said.

She was confused, she didnt understand, Bokosky said. She didnt know it was wrong.

Tajimaroa also showed the girl pornographic videos and would record the girl on a cell phone when she was nude, Bokosky said.

He told her he liked watching her when she was naked, Bokosky said.

When the girl was 12 and went on a church retreat she began to realize the conduct was wrong, so she prayed for the defendant, Bokosky said. She confronted him and told him to stop molesting her, the prosecutor said.

In September of last year, the other girl, who is now 9, told her mother, my privates hurt, but (Tajimaroa) didnt touch me, Bokosky said.

That raised the suspicions of the girls mother, who took her to a clinic for a checkup, Bokosky said. She was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, the prosecutor said.

The incident with the younger victim prompted the older girl to tell her mother about the defendants molestation, Bokosky said.

When Tajimaroa was arrested in September of last year, police found pornographic videos in the room he was renting, Bokosky said.

When police questioned him he admitted to molesting the older girl, but denied touching the younger one and blamed the infection on poor hygiene, Bokosky said.

Tajimaroas attorney, Lisa Eyanson, said her client did admit to lewd acts with the older girl.

But he had a closer relationship with the younger girl and would not molest her, Eyanson said.

My clients relationship with the two girls is very different, the defense attorney said.

Tajimaroa  scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21  faces at least 25 years to life in prison.
Believe it or not, rules and regulations dont serve the sole purpose of creating headaches for companies. When you look at regulations from a creative standpoint, they may result in a healthier, more productive environment for employees and the surrounding community. Take Google, a company required to provide health insurance, but taking it a step further with onsite doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors. Or Clif Bar, which reduces its environmental footprint by providing bikes and encouraging carpools, public transportation and walking to get to the office.

In Orange County, federal clean water regulations prohibit businesses from discharging pollution into our waters. For the waste hauling industry, the business as usual is transporting waste and recyclables from your house or business to material recovery facilities. Here, sorting ensures that items are recycled and the least amount of trash ends up in landfills. Many facilities in Orange County were not fully aware of the impacts their operations could have on the community.

Without proper controls, these facilities could become problematic for the local ecosystem. For example, when it rains in Orange County, waste at these facilities could potentially wash into storm drains, which drain to Huntington Harbor, Newport Harbor and the Santa Ana River. Eventually, this stormwater would make its way to our ocean and beaches. Have you ever wondered why the county issues beach advisories for three days after it rains? Industrial stormwater pollution like this is why.

Through cooperation and collaboration, Orange County Coastkeeper works with local businesses to reduce stormwater pollution and comply with mandatory water rules. Partnerships with waste haulers like Republic Services of Orange County not only benefitted water quality by improving standard protocols, but also created a better environment for employees.

We partnered with Republic Services on best management practices addressing stormwater management and making operations at its facility more environmentally efficient. Coastkeeper also worked with Republics material recovery facility in Anaheim to implement basins designed and constructed to capture and infiltrate stormwater for 85 percent of Orange Countys storms. While keeping stormwater out of our rivers, bays and ocean, these basins also allow stormwater to seep into the ground, where it is naturally filtered and replenishes our groundwater supply.

You wouldnt expect to see serene spaces covered in drought-tolerant landscaping at a waste facility, but the basins at Republic Services are just that. Republic workers now spend their lunch hour next to their largest basin because it transformed the outdoor area into a peaceful place to enjoy some fresh air.

Everyone benefited from Republics creative compliance, so Coastkeeper kept searching for room for additional improvements. We identified storage techniques for liquids at fuel pump islands in order to prevent rainwater from mixing with fuel, oil and other chemicals, as well as in oil-catching devices on trucks, along with other preventative measures so waste doesnt enter the storm drain system.

We are proud to say that waste haulers like Republic Services of Orange County are setting an industry-wide example for responsible business practices. We are seeing many comparable facilities following in their footsteps, implementing similar practices and creatively tackling regulatory processes. Entire communities reap the benefits, proving that sometimes, business as usual needs to shift into unusual territory.

Garry Brown is the executive director of Orange County Coastkeeper.
WASHINGTON  Hackers on Thursday posted hundreds of emails from a young Democratic operative that contained documents detailing the minute-by-minute schedules and precise movements of the vice president, the first lady and Hillary Clinton during recent campaign fundraisers and official political events.

The emails included names and cellphone numbers of numerous Secret Service agents, spreadsheets with the names and Social Security numbers of campaign donors, and PowerPoint presentations showing step-by-step directions for where officials like Vice President Joe Biden should walk when they arrived at events.

The hackers who posted the emails also distributed what they claimed was a scanned image of the information page from Michelle Obamas passport, though the authenticity of the image could not be verified.

The emails were stolen from the personal Gmail account of the Democratic operative, Ian Mellul. They reveal how widely White House officials, Clinton campaign operatives and Secret Service agents have exchanged detailed and sensitive information with people using personal email accounts.

There is no indication that Mellul, 22, who was in effect working as a freelancer when the White House or the Clinton campaign needed help, did anything wrong, and government officials declined to talk about the use of the private account.

About a year and a halfs worth of emails from Melluls account were posted late Wednesday by the website DCLeaks.com, which earlier this month released a batch of emails from the personal account of Colin L. Powell, the former secretary of state, in which he voiced his scorn for Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and his personal peeves with Clinton, his Democratic opponent.

The newly released emails do not provide specific security details, but they do reveal the types of movements that top political officials make at such events. If emails were hacked before an event, that could present a more serious security issue.

One document instructed Biden to walk up four steps at a loading dock in Cleveland before climbing 26 steps to a holding room. Another used blue arrows to show the route Clinton should walk through a donors house in Houston. Both documents included close-up pictures of the event locations.

Mellul, who volunteered to work as an advance staff member for the White House and the Clinton campaign as he finished his undergraduate education at George Washington University in Washington, declined to comment. Ive got to hang up, he said Thursday when reached on his cellphone.

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 FBI 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.

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 fundraiser for 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 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 Clinton. Those emails were often sent to a large number of people, including Mellul. In other cases, Mellul emailed copies of the documents to other campaign or government officials, including Secret Service officials.

Good morning all, Mellul wrote on May 20, the day of a Hillary for America fundraiser. Please find the attached site diagram for Houstons HFA finance event this evening. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Ian.

The emails begin in February 2015, when Mellul was in the honors program and studying political science. In the messages, Mellul comes across as a conscientious and courteous young man whose friends would email him for help with their school essays and resumes.
A man and woman have plead guilty to impersonating police officers earlier this month in Huntington Beach.

Armando Raul Hernandez-Perez, 27, of Aliso Viejo and his passenger, April Noemi Lopez-Fabian, 20, of Laguna Hills were in a black, unmarked, police-style Crown Victoria on Sept. 6 on I-405 when they used red and blue strobe lights to pull over a car driven by an off-duty Irvine police sergeant.

Hernandez-Perez was dressed in all black and had a uniform-style shirt with an American flag patch on the shoulder, while Lopez-Fabian,wore blue jeans and a black sweatshirt, the California Highway Patrol said.

The sergeant phoned 911 and trailed the car, enabling officers to pull over Hernandez-Perez and Lopez-Fabian on Center Street.

Inside the car, toy weapons were found: a shotgun with an orange tip, an assault-style rifle and a scope, the CHP said. Authorities have not released details of the motives of Hernandez-Perez and Lopez-Fabian.

The pair pleaded guilty to fraudulent impersonation of a peace officer, a misdemeanor, on Sept. 7.

Lopez-Fabian also pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia.

Lopez-Fabian and Hernandez-Perez were both sentenced to 60 days in the Orange County Jail.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter @thechalkoutline
SAN FRANCISCO  Federal housing officials approved a preference plan that advocates said Thursday will help low-income minorities stay in increasingly unaffordable San Francisco.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will allow San Francisco to set aside 40 percent of affordable units at a new senior complex for low-income applicants who live in certain districts. The agency informed the city of its decision on Wednesday.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and other city officials had sought permission to reserve 40 percent of the units for people in the neighborhood where the new complex is located, but HUD officials rejected the plan as limiting equal access to housing in violation of fair housing law.

The rejection disheartened city leaders struggling to keep San Francisco affordable for residents, especially for dwindling numbers of African Americans who have left historically black neighborhoods for lower-cost suburbs.

In 1970, there were 100,000 African Americans in San Francisco. There are fewer than half that today even as the population has increased.

Supervisor London Breed, who is president of the board and pushed for the preference, welcomed the change of heart.

Weve lost a large population of African Americans in San Francisco, but weve also lost a large number of middle-income San Franciscans, she said. It has been really difficult for people who grew up here to find affordable places to live once they become adults.

The new plan gives preference to low-income people living in five rapidly gentrifying districts, including the Mission and Western Addition, where the new senior complex is located. The Western Addition once housed a thriving black community called the Harlem of the West before it was destroyed by redevelopment starting in the 1950s.

Still, the odds of scoring a spot in the federally subsidized complex remain daunting. For example, 6,000 people have applied for the 98-unit building.

HUD officials declined further comment Thursday. But in a letter to Lee, Gustavo Velasquez, the assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity wrote that HUD is keenly aware of the larger challenges faced by lower income residents struggling to live in high-cost areas.
SAN DIEGO  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 Californias 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 nations 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 doesnt 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, saying 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 Diegos San Ysidro port of entry since October, compared with 339 for the 2015 fiscal year.

The influx is so heavy that inspectors at San Ysidro, the nations busiest border crossing, are turning back Haitians with appointments to come at a later date, leaving hundreds waiting in Tijuana.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been releasing many Haitians with notices to appear before an immigration judge, triggering a process that can take years. Many head to Florida, which has a large Haitian community.
Such a capital travel experience Updated: 2016-09-23 07:59 By Chris Peterson(China Daily Europe)

The quirks and delights of getting about in London

I'm a little weary of writing about the ongoing saga of Brexit, the now resolved case of Hinkley Point, the protracted death throes of the opposition Labour Party, and the ghastly UKIP crew who have done so much to push Britain into an unnecessary crisis.

So I thought I'd switch focus this week and look at London's overcrowded yet wide-reaching transport system. After all, I love to travel.

London, may be crowded, trains and tubes may run late, and traffic can sometimes be a nightmare. Sometimes, however, something happens to throw into sharp relief my chosen subject.

It happened as I was starting to write this column in my head. At around breakfast time, reports starting coming in of a train derailment just northwest of London. By the time I reached the office, it had become clear that a landslide caused by heavy rain had derailed a commuter train, which had then hit another train. By some miracle, no one was badly hurt.

To be honest, these things are rare in the UK. But here's the thing - the reason I knew so much about this incident was that a passenger on the derailed train was an old friend, Sarah Lowther, who in the past has contributed to China Daily's European edition.

Pro that she is, within minutes of the accident, Sarah was posting pictures and a commentary on Facebook, despite being a bit shaken up and suffering a sore neck. But she's OK.

Sarah is from Hartlepool, a gem of a seaport town on England's northeast coast, where my family come from - they breed 'em tough up there. Anyway, I digress.

London's lucky enough to have a widespread network of underground trains, known universally as The Tube, complemented by a great system of buses and suburban commuter trains.

Nothing, of course, is perfect, and the suburban commuter trains in particular throw up their specifically British idiosyncrasies. They can be late, crowded and noisy.

One of the most depressing phrases in the English language, often heard as I climb the stairs to the London-bound platform at Westcombe Park, is "Southeastern apologizes for the late running of this train " followed by that day's particular excuse.

The following reasons for delayed trains have been given regularly: Crew late in reporting for duty, leaves on the line, frozen points, sunshine in the drivers' eyes, unruly passengers on the train (at 9 am?), heavy rain, and (almost daily) signalling problems, which usually translates as thieves having stolen the copper wire used to link signals in the night.

Buses, by and large, lead a charmed life, having as they do their own dedicated bus lanes.

They will soon, I hope, get even better, as a Chinese vehicle manufacturer has teamed up with a British bus maker to introduce London's first all-electric double-decker, which I hope will improve the air quality as they gradually replace the fume-belching diesels we have at present, although to be fair some of those have become hybrids.

Air travel is a mixed blessing. Yes, it's terrific that my wife and I were able to fly from London to Toulouse at a seriously cheap fare. It's great that we were able to travel down to Gatwick on a dedicated fast train right into the heart of the airport.

But it's a serious pain in the backside that you then have to go through a security process that can take up to half an hour, longer on busy days. And I bitterly resent having to take my belt off.

Now, where are the keys to my car?

The author is managing editor of China Daily European Bureau. Contact the writer at chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page11)
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.
SANTA ANA  A Cerritos man who shot and killed his best friend from South Korea was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison after a jury determined that the friend had asked him for assistance in committing suicide.

Beong Kwun Cho, speaking through a Korean translator, apologized during his sentencing hearing in a Santa Ana courtroom to both his family and the family of Yeon Woo Lee, who the 57-year-old Cho was convicted of shooting in Anaheim more than five years ago.

I beg serious forgiveness (for those) who suffered a lot of pain because of my actions, Cho said.

He told Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas M. Goethals that he would accept any punishment that the judge deemed necessary.

During the trial, Chos attorney, Assistant Public Defender Robert Kohler, argued that Lee had wanted to die for years but couldnt kill himself. Suicide brings great shame to families in South Korea, where the two men had immigrated from.

Cho said that Lee had bullied and manipulated him into pulling the trigger.

Lee reportedly traveled to Orange County after his business and marriage in Korea supposedly failed. Chos attorney said Lee had planned to make his death look like a botched robbery and couldnt find anyone other than Cho to carry it out.

Cho told police that as Lee knelt in a street gutter, Lee said he raped Chos wife and threatened to do the same to his daughter.

Cho shot Lee at point-blank range in the back of the head, authorities said.

This was Mr. Lees plan all along, Kohler said during Fridays sentencing hearing. He choreographed every moment up until the final detail.

Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons argued that Cho should serve the maximum time behind bars. Between his manslaughter conviction and his use of a firearm, Cho faced up to 21 years.

Mr. Cho could have walked away, and Mr. Lee would still be alive, Simmons said.

Jumi Lee, Yeon Woo Lees daughter, also pushed for Cho to receive the maximum sentence. She recalled Lee as a positive, passionate and loving man.

Her mother, Lees wife, had just received roses and a handwritten letter from Lee promising that he would see them soon. The family was in South Korea.

It was my first time losing someone I loved so much so sudden and in such a cruel way, Jumi Lee said. Our family had to suffer the loss of our father and the feeling of such a betrayal.

Cho stared straight ahead for much of Jumi Lees statement. Toward the end, he dropped his head slightly, took off his glasses and wiped his eyes.

Judge Goethals said he accepted the jurys determination that Cho had killed his oldest and dearest friend during the heat of an argument.

It is difficult for the victims family to accept the verdict, I understand that, the judge said. But they didnt hear all the evidence and the compelling defense story.

Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com
One published media report this month said the campaign to legalize marijuana in California had raised $18 million. Within days, other major news outlets pegged the total at just one-third that amount, while a nonprofit campaign watchdog group said the figure was $11 million.

Why the conflicting numbers?

Its complicated. And it points to the growing difficulty of tracking funds in California campaigns, despite  and in some respects because of  election fundraising disclosure requirements that are among the most extensive in the nation.

One factor in the case of Proposition 64, the pro-legalization initiative on the November ballot, has been a proliferation of committees filing reports each time they move funds between groups promoting or opposing the measure. Thats led to millions of dollars being counted twice and has made it difficult to track the origins of some of the money.

One of the biggest challenges for citizens is just finding the information, let alone having some basic context for what theyre looking at, said Laura Curlin, data director for Berkeley-based MapLight, which tracks campaign finances.

Due to Californias robust reporting laws, getting accurate campaign fundraising data typically requires retrieving and analyzing multiple documents filed with the Secretary of State in different formats and on different cycles.

Transparency also has been hampered by a state website thats hardly been updated since before the MySpace era, despite a series of federal court rulings over the past six years that have made it easier for major donors to remain anonymous.

Most of the public doesnt pay all that much attention to the issue, said Rick Hasen, a law professor at UC Irvine who specializes in elections. But those who do pay attention will have a harder time following the money.

MONEY MATTERS

How fundraising is reported can influence the outcome of elections, according to Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles who focuses on campaign finance.

The public views the amount of money you have raised as a proxy for viability, she said.

That perception can influence how citizens vote, she said, along with the ease or difficulty of fundraising as balloting approaches.

Reports of a surge in financial support for a measure can motivate opponents to give more, Levinson said. But if the financial advantage of one side or the other is portrayed as extremely large, she said it can scare off potential donors who dont want to throw money at a losing cause.

Being able to accurately track whos giving cash to a campaign can have an even bigger impact on an election, Hasen said.

He pointed to Proposition 16 in 2010. The measure would have made it harder for new public utilities to get started in California or fledgling utilities to expand. After it was disclosed that the private utility giant Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was bankrolling the effort, voters rejected the measure.

FOLLOWING THE FUNDS

Experts say theres cause for concern about how money is quietly influencing politics in todays climate.

Dark money and gray money is a huge problem, Levinson said.

The U.S. Supreme Courts 2010 ruling in the Citizens United case contributed to the growth in campaign super PACS by allowing corporations and unions to spend as much as they want on independent ads and mailers to support or defeat candidates.

Such political action committees are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into the 2016 election, including campaigns in California.

The Citizens United decision also paved the way, Levinson noted, for nonprofit social welfare or trade groups to spend unlimited amounts campaigning for or against ballot measures and individual candidates with no requirement that they disclose who gave them that money.

PACs and nonprofit groups can shuffle money back and forth for a variety of tax, organizational and tactical reasons, including an attempt to hide the source of the true contributors from the public, Hasen said.

With Proposition 64, there are eight committees supporting the measure and two working to defeat it. Thats double the number of committees working around any of the other 16 measures on the November ballot.

When the conflicting campaign totals were reported in early September, the primary Yes on 64 committee had taken in $6.6 million. But when that was combined with all the fundraising reported by the other pro-legalization committees, the total reached nearly $18 million.

Some of the biggest PACs backing Proposition 64 also are supporting measures in other states. That makes it tough to determine how much of the money will go to the California effort.

In addition, several million dollars have been transferred between independent committees before reaching the official Yes on 64 campaign. In some published reports, that appears to have led to counting the same funds multiple times.

Californias hyper-disclosure requirements can cause confusion, said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of New York-based Drug Policy Action, which advocates for drug law reforms across the country and is financially backing passage of Californias measure. But he said theres been no nefarious motivation for moving funds between pro-Proposition 64 committees.

His organization has two types of nonprofits, Nadelmann said, each with distinct roles, contributors and committees backing the measure. Money is sometimes moved between the groups for budget reasons or to be sure contributions are being used as donors requested, he said.

The states Fair Political Practices Commission has opened an investigation into a complaint filed by the Yes on 64 camp about how long it took Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action  the biggest financial backer of efforts to defeat Californias marijuana legalization measure  to disclose $1.4 million in contributions from an out-of-state donor, agency spokesman Jay Wierenga said Friday.

Theres no estimate for how long the investigation will take, Wierenga said. Most are wrapped up within 180 days, but he said the agency prioritizes campaign-related investigations in the months leading up to the election.

SAM Action leaders say they only recently reported the donations because it wasnt originally clear what portion would go toward defeating Prop. 64.

TACKLING THE TECHNOLOGY

When Californians voted to become the first state to allow medical marijuana in 1996, campaign spending could be tracked only by sorting through hard copies of forms filed at the Secretary of States Sacramento office.

That changed in 2000 when the agency launched Cal-Access, an online database of campaign finance information. But the site hasnt been updated to allow searching, aggregating and sorting contributions by donors or other basic computer-assisted analysis. The site also crashes frequently.

Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, is seeking to change that. His Senate Bill 1349  now awaiting Gov. Jerry Browns signature  would require the state to overhaul Cal-Access and replace it with a system thats easier to navigate.

With all the money being spent in this years elections and on various ballot measures, disclosure is more important than ever, Hertzberg said. He said his bill modernizes Californias database so campaign and lobbying disclosures are quick and easy for everyone to access online immediately.

Secretary of State spokesman Sam Mahood said if Hertzbergs bill becomes law, a new version of Cal-Access will be operational in 2019  just before the next presidential election cycle kicks into high gear.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7963 or bstaggs@ocregister.comTwitter: @JournoBrooke
IRVINE  Are you worried about Orange County losing its suite of native plants and animals through urban development?

Consider volunteering for Irvine Ranch Conservancys native seed farm program.

The nonprofit group tasked with preserving, restoring and sharing the resources of the wilderness and recreational preserves of the former Irvine Ranch operates a 14-acre farm near Jeffrey Road and Portola Parkway.

Conservancy employees and volunteers plant and harvest about 45 different types of native species, such as the California fuchsia, sticky monkey-flower, arroyo lupine and California poppy, spokeswoman Jackie Jones said.

The native seed farm started in 2009 to achieve Irvine Ranch Conservancys goal to restore almost 5,000 acres of native habitat.

Without the farm, there was not enough native seed available for purchase to supply restoration projects throughout the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks  up to a ton a year  and many plant species were simply not available, Jones said. Whats more, if the Irvine Ranch Conservancy were to collect that much native seed from healthy habitats, it would deplete the natural seed bank, causing more problems for the land down the road.

The public is invited to volunteer at the Native Seed Farm from 8-11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round. Registration is required at LetsGoOutside.org.

No experience is needed, all tools and training are provided, and activities vary throughout the year as seasonal demands change.

Contact the writer: 949-445-6397 or tshimura@scng.com
Q. Honk: When a neighbor has a medical emergency, not only do the paramedics arrive in their emergency vehicle, but they are accompanied by two large fire trucks. While the paramedics are in performing first aid, the firemen are outside with their trucks, visiting. Once the paramedics are through, or leave with a patient, everyone leaves. This seems to be a routine. Why?

 Steve Keller, Mission Viejo

A. The Orange County Fire Authority, which serves your town, Steve, and much of O.C., could roll out the nearest fire engine, paramedic and a private-company ambulance, fire Capt. Larry Kurtz told Honk.

Although all OCFA firefighters are at least EMT qualified, we have advanced-life-support paramedics that operate on select units as well, the captain said in an email. They are sometimes assigned to paramedic vans and sometimes theyre on board engine companies.

Occasionally, this results in more than one engine company showing up to a call, because the unit with the paramedics on board may not be the first company to arrive.

By reducing the number of vans, and increasing engine companies with paramedics, the system has become more efficient, he said, cutting down on the vehicles that often show up.

Today, youre more likely to see just a paramedic engine company and an ambulance on the scene, although we may adjust the number and type of units responding, depending on the circumstances of the call.

The OCFA doesnt charge on such calls, so even if more of its units than necessary show up, it doesnt cost anyone more.

If the call turns out to be non-critical, the captain said, extra personnel will wait outside so we dont crowd the patients home.

Q. For the last two years, Ive seen an early 1980s Volvo station wagon with a personalized Nevada license plate about. The renewal tag says 09. Does Nevada issue personalized plates that dont require a renewal tag? Is this plate legal in California?

 Dick Olhoffer, Fountain Valley

A. A spokesman for Nevadas Department of Motor Vehicles, Kevin Malone, said that 09 actually represents the month, September, and not the year of the annual registration.

In small print, the year is printed on the tag  and like our registration tags here in California, Nevada police can easily distinguish the year by the color of the tag. Nevada rotates three colors.

(A California Highway Patrol officer told Honk such an out-of-state tag once stumped him, too.)

Now, Dick, this chap could be in the military or have a spouse in the Armed Forces and be exempt from getting California plates while living here. Or he could be trying to illegally save a few bucks.

You, or anyone, can anonymously report him and others not properly registered here to the California Highway Patrol. The URL is longer than Honks column, although not nearly as exciting, so just Google CHP cheaters.

For a decade, the CHPs Californians Help Eliminate All The Evasive Registration Scofflaws  or CHEATERS  has hunted down the deadbeats to get fees and penalties out of them.

Last year, the CHEATERS program, which fields 1,500 complaints a month, collected $2.2 million, said Jacob Williams, a CHP spokesman and officer.

Contact the writer: honk@scng.com
Theres concern among Republicans  and hope among Democrats  that Donald Trumps high unfavorable ratings will prompt some GOP voters to stay home, hurting not only Trumps chances but also down-ticket Republican candidates.

Newport Beachs Mike Schroeder, a former chairman of the state GOP, is among those to acknowledge the likelihood. Republican state Senate candidate Ling Ling Chang has tried to distance herself from Trump, pointing to his outrageous and offensive comments. And a key strategy of local Democratic congressional candidate Doug Applegates campaign is reminding voters that his opponent, Rep. Darrell Issa, has endorsed Trump.

But a growing national PAC endorsed by 34 Republican staffers and elected officials is taking it a step farther.

The group goes by the name R4C16  Republicans for Clinton 16. Unlike Schroeder and Chang, who say they wont be voting for either major party candidate, R4C16, is actively campaigning to both defeat Trump and maintain Republican majorities in the House and Senate.

Theyve also set up a vote-swapping tool on their website to help Clinton. It targets Republican voters in swing states who are planning to cast protest votes for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. It encourages those Republicans in five crucial states to instead agree to vote for Clinton in exchange for Republicans in safe states casting votes for Johnson, thereby registering the desired protest ballots.

By voting tactically in 2016, conscientious Republicans can still prevent the worst-case scenario: Mr. Trump taking over the White House and the GOP, reads a statement by R4C16 co-founders John Stubbs and Ricardo Reyes, both whom served in the George W. Bush administration.

R4C16 sounds sincere in its support of Clinton, saying it thinks shed be the better president. But some Republicans may be withholding their support of Trump because they see Clinton as better for unifying the GOP going forward, according to Fullerton College political scientist Jodi Balma.

There is this a strategy that another four years of hating Hillary will keep Republicans energized and focused, she said. Of course, that doesnt take into account the Supreme Court nominees expected from the next president.

Death penalty

Ive yet to meet anybody who thinks Californias death penalty is working.

Its only been carried out for 14 of the past 49 years because of legal challenges and court rulings. In that time, there have been 13 executions in the state while 743 inmates sit on death row.

Those who want to repeal the death penalty as well as those on the other side, who want to streamline the system so that inmates are executed more expeditiously, have measures on the November ballot. But evidence from a Field poll this month hints that both could fail.

Perhaps the most significant finding is that 55 percent of likely voters prefer life in prison without a chance of parole and 45 prefer the death penalty. Thats a gain for the anti-capital punishment side from 2009, when those favoring the death penalty prevailed, 44 percent to 37 percent with 19 percent having no opinion. If that trend continues, the death penaltys days are probably numbered even if survives this years vote.

Support for Proposition 66, which would expedite the death penalty, was at 35 percent with 23 percent opposed and 42 percent undecided.

Support for Proposition 62, which would replace the death penalty with a life sentence without the possibility of parole, was at 48 percent, with 37 percent opposed and 15 percent undecided. But the percentage of no voters for propositions tend to swell right through Election Day.

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, Fields Mark DiCamillo writes in his analysis of the data.

He points out that in 2012, a measure to repeal the death penalty was ahead 45 percent to 38 percent one week before Election Day, but was defeated in the polls 52 percent to 48 percent.

Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com
By now, it has become almost routine  the police shooting, the outrage, the protests.

And the decisions.

Do you release the footage? Do you deploy riot gear? Do you call in the National Guard?

For city leaders across the country, this is their new reality, in which a tragically common incident  the shooting of a black man by police  has the potential to unleash chaos upon their communities, in which the wrong decision can set a city afire.

On Thursday, it was Charlottes turn to struggle through those decisions. As they did, Mayor Jennifer Roberts and her police chief were drawing on the painful lessons learned in places such as Ferguson, Missouri, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Baltimore, Chicago and Minneapolis.

But even with so much history as a guide, Roberts and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney have been unable to prevent violent clashes between protesters and police. Even now  more than two years after riots in Ferguson rocked the nation, after countless after-action reports, investigations and panel discussions by mayors who have weathered their own cities protests  it remains extraordinarily difficult to de-escalate public anger when the local police shoot and kill another black man.

In Charlotte, the most heated debate has centered on how transparent authorities should be about their investigation into Tuesdays fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott. Scotts family and police have given starkly different accounts of the shooting. Relatives say he was holding a book. Police say he was holding a gun.

At a news conference Thursday, reporters shouted repeated questions about whether police would release video footage of the incident recorded by officers body cameras. Putney said he had no plans to release the video, citing long-standing police policy not to do so until a shooting investigation is complete and unless there was a compelling reason.

Putney said that he had seen the video and that it does not give me absolute definitive visual evidence that would confirm that a person is pointing a gun. Even if he released the video, he said, he doubted whether it would help to calm things down.

I can tell you this, Putney said. Theres your truth, my truth and the truth. . . . Some people have already made up their minds. He added that police have presented some evidence already to back up their version of events. That still didnt change the mind-set and perspective of some who wanted to break the law and tear down our city, he said.

Tulsa takes different tack

In stark contrast to Charlotte, officials in Tulsa this week waited just two days before releasing multiple videos and recordings documenting the fatal shooting of a 40-year-old black man in that city.

A news release sent to journalists Monday included links to the videos and said in the first sentence that Tulsa police were releasing the information in an effort to collaborate and show transparency. At a news conference later that day, Police Chief Chuck Jordan assured reporters, We will do the right thing.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett was also on message.

It was something that we talked about over the years, that if something of this magnitude were to happen, being transparent, giving out information as quickly and as complete as possible, the Republican mayor told local news station KOTV. That was our desire and our decision. We dont want to be perceived as trying to cover something up.

Other cities have also moved aggressively to release videos of officer-involved shootings as soon as possible in an effort to avoid becoming the next Ferguson.

Im not trying to second-guess any mayor . . . and every situation is different, said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. But what weve seen is the faster you release that kind of information and the more the public knows about it, more often than not, its better.

Still, to pin everything on the decision about whether to release video is simplistic, said Darrel Stephens, who served for years as Charlottes police chief and now serves as executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association.

Over three days, Stephens said, he watched in anguish as his former city went up in flames. He said he feels deep empathy for Putney and other city officials.

There are good reasons why you wouldnt necessarily release video, Stephens said, to avoid tainting the accounts of people who claim to be eyewitnesses, for example, or to avoid tainting the prosecution and potential jurors.

What is missed amid the controversy and hand-wringing over best practices and how best to defuse anger on the streets is the fact that these incidents continue to evolve.

Just last year, for example, Stephens said Putney found himself in an almost identical situation in Charlotte. Many African-Americans were angry when a jury deadlocked and did not convict a white officer who had shot and killed a black man in 2013.

Back then, Putney and Roberts took many of the same steps they are taking now to reach out to the community. Then, they managed to calm that anger and channel it into improvements in police-community relations.

Putney did an admirable job. And it was the same moves as hes doing now, Stephens said. Whats changed is everything else.

For example, the amplifying effect of social media continues to grow, he said. As does the level of national anger over such shootings, each of which draws more media attention and more national activists rushing to the scene. Its a whole new world, and it keeps changing, he said.

It is a world that Charlottes mayor is trying desperately to figure out. On Wednesday night, just hours before Charlotte erupted in a second night of violence, Roberts spoke about steps she is taking to meet with community activists, position officers to prevent more violence and defuse the underlying anger.

I understand the anger, she said in a telephone interview between meetings, her voice cracking at times with weariness. A family is now missing a brother, son, a dad.

She said she was trying to find a compromise on the video, asking to see it herself and asking that police also show it to a handful of leaders from groups such as the local NAACP.

Roberts said she believes the anger on her citys streets  the bloody clashes, looting and street bonfires  is being driven by this nationwide outrage over repeated shootings of black men by police. But the anger has local roots as well, she acknowledged.

As mayor of a city that remains starkly segregated by wealth and race, Roberts said she has tried to narrow those gaps and bridge the resentment and distrust built up over years of disparate police enforcement and economic inequalities.

We still have discrimination in our society. We still have disparity. Were working really hard to ameliorate that, Roberts said. We have many different groups working on closing the economic gap in Charlotte, people working on the gap in schools and education.

Like so many mayors in the same situation these past two years, Roberts said she has tried to remain optimistic. She continues to search for answers.

On her wall, she said, hangs a quote that she has considered frequently in the past week. One of the best ways to get me to achieve something is to tell me I cant, it reads.

Its been a tough year for me, Roberts said. But if I can help, I will feel like my life has had a purpose.
CHINO  A state parole board on Thursday denied freedom for a 72-year-old man convicted in the ambush killing of a Cypress police sergeant in 1976.

The board at the Institute for Men in Chino ruled that Bobby Joe Denney continues to be a danger to society, nearly 40 years after he gunned down Sgt. Donald Sowma, 44, in a botched medical-clinic burglary. He was also denied parole in 2008 and 2013.

Just outside of the prison, 30 Cypress police officers and friends and relatives of Sowma gathered. For hours, the group held up signs reading, Dont Dishonor Sgt. Sowma, and Dont let a cop killer go free! Deny Denney!

He will be eligible again in five years.

We just think somebody who commits this type of crime should not be released into society, said Sgt. Matthew Timney, vice president of the Cypress Police Officers Association, as a passing car honked. Well never forget him (Sowma) and the sacrifices he made to the Cypress Police Department, to the people of Orange County, and the people in the state.

At the hearing, Sowma relatives and members of the Cypress Police Department described the devastating loss.

In the early morning hours on Nov. 19, 1976, Denney, the son of an Oklahoma county sheriff, burglarized a medical clinic in Cypress in an attempt to steal prescription drugs.

Armed with a gun, he broke in through a locked window, triggering a silent alarm. Sowma, a 12-year veteran, was one of the first on the scene.

The sergeant heard a noise, and as he approached a doorway waving his flashlight, Denney fired a single shot, hitting him in the chest. Denney delayed rescue attempts by firing a second shot at the responding officers.

Officers risked their lives to retrieve Sowma and rushed him to a hospital, where he died.

Denney was taken into custody following a six-hour standoff in which he fired a third shot at officers, authorities said. Authorities said Denney and his wife had booked a hotel room directly across from the medical clinic. A police scanner and narcotics were found in their possession.

Denney was convicted of first-degree murder in 1977 and sentenced to life in state prison. His trial took place while there was a national moratorium on capital punishment. A year later, the death penalty was reinstated for anyone convicted of killing a police officer in the line of duty.

Sowma, a married father of four, was remembered Thursday as a great supervisor and police officer.

He was one of the guys who loved being out in the field, Timney said. He was promoted to the position of lieutenant but less than a year later he requested to go back to a sergeant rank so that he could be on patrol and work in the field with his guys.

He is the only Cypress police officer to be killed in the line of duty. A street near the police station was named for him.

After the hearing, Sowmas children gathered in a parking lot just outside the prison and thank members of the Cypress Police Department.

Its so hard for our family every time we have to come out here, said son Jack Sowma, 59, of Lake Elsinore. It brings back all those memories.

Inside, he had told the two-member board how his fathers death impacted his family, including how his mother never recovered  that was the love of her life. She died two years ago having never loved again. I just let them know what this has done to our family and our lives.

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com, 714-834-3773
SANTA ANA  Police are asking for the publics help identifying a man suspected of robbing a convenience store at gunpoint early Thursday morning.

The man walked into a Circle-K/Shell Gas Station in the 700 block of Dyer Road shortly before 4 a.m. and demanded cash, police said. He left on foot.

The man in surveillance footage released by police is wearing a light blue sweatshirt with a hood and dark blue sweatpants and holds a black handgun.

Email information to Detective Adrian Silva of the Santa Ana Police Departments robbery unit, at asilva@santa-ana.org. Anyone who wants to remain anonymous can call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227).

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or jsudock@ocregister.com
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 concrete 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.

Online, in newspapers and in interviews, many people, including experts on preserving the Great Wall, went much further in condemning the repairs to the section, in Suizhong County, in the province of Liaoning.

This was vandalism done in the name of preservation, Liu Fusheng, a park officer from the county who first raised an outcry about the work, said in a telephone interview. Even the little kids here know that this repair of the Great Wall was botched.

Newspapers also lamented. The Beijing News, widely read in the capital, put the ruination of the ruins on its front page.

Where is there still any feel of that most beautiful wild Great Wall? asked a commentary on a news website in central China. Its just a road winding through the hills.

The repairs to the 1.2-mile section of the wall were undertaken two years ago but came to wide attention only Wednesday, after a local newspaper, The Huashang Morning News, described what had been done in the name of preservation.

Liu, who helped draw notice to the work, said officials commissioned the repairs because they were worried the wall would collapse entirely from erosion and tourists walking on top. But in their haste, they wiped out the gnarled features that people had come to treasure, including the crenelations and towers, Liu said.

Its like a head thats lost its nose and ears, said Liu, who has spent 15 years studying that section of the wall. Once the towers there had stone carvings, but they had fallen to the ground before the repairs, he said.

They didnt restore the carvings back to where they belonged and just tossed them aside, Liu said. They used new bricks to fill in the original spots, and that saved a lot of expense.

Construction of that section of the wall started in 1381, part of the sprawling web of fortifications and protections that Ming dynasty emperors built to ward off and police marauding nomads from the steppes.

But now city dwellers who come to marvel at the isolated section of the wall in Suizhong County leave wondering why they bothered to travel so far to see a strip of concrete, one villager living nearby told The Huashang Morning News.

Officials have sworn that they did not use cement but rather a mix of lime and sand. Liu said they used both.

In an interview, Dong Yaohui, a vice chairman of the China Great Wall Society and an expert on preserving the wall, called the attempt an extremely rudimentary mistake.

Our principle in repairing the Great Wall is to minimize interference, Dong said. Its not important whether you used lime or cement. Repairing it like this has wiped out all the culture and history.

He said the society, a government-sponsored organization, had been investigating damage along the entire Great Wall in the hope of spurring more action and stronger rules to preserve it. Theres serious damage on many parts of the Great Wall, he said.

Cultural preservation officials responsible for that part of the wall defended their efforts. They said that the section was in danger of falling down, that the higher authorities approved their plans and that, like emergency dental work, beauty was not their priority.

But since the uproar, the officials have conceded that the results were less than satisfactory. The State Administration of Cultural Heritage declared that it was time  two years after the repairs were done  to get to the bottom of what had gone wrong.

There will be no indulgence or conniving, the administration said on its website. Preserving the Great Wall is a sacred and unshirkable duty of all cultural relics workers.

One villager who worked on the repairs two years ago saw a silver lining to the topping.

Now the top of the Great Wall has become a smooth pavement, the villager, Zhang Yuwu, told The Huashang Morning News. Except when it rains or snows, its a lot easier to walk on than before.
Google helps folk art to achieve global reach Updated: 2016-09-23 08:01 By Deng Zhangyu(China Daily Europe)

Internet company teams up with Chinese partners for online cultural exhibition

Ancient handicraft skills still practiced today by China's ethnic groups have gone on show in an online art exhibition hosted by Google.

The Art of Chinese Crafts features high-resolution images and videos of more than 1,800 artworks from six folk art museums and institutes.

More than 1,800 artworks made by China's ethnic groups, including the walnut carving and shadow puppet, have gone on show in an online art exhibition hosted by Google. Photos Provided to China Daily A woman from the Miao ethic group makes embroidery. Handmade puppets collected by the China Intangible Heritage Industry Alliance are also in the online show.

Viewers can get a detailed look at traditional products such as shadow puppets, fans, Tibetan thangka drawings, kites and ancient costumes, or can watch as members of the Miao ethic group makes silver embroidery.

The Google Cultural Institute opened the exhibition on Aug 23. It comes two years after its first online show of Chinese art, which featured about 1,400 artworks.

This year's show is in partnership with 20 institutes, including the China Paper-Cutting Museum, the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology's Museum of Ethnic Costumes, the China Intangible Heritage Industry Alliance and the Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum.

All together, the internet giant's Chinese art partners reaches 20 this year.

Simon Rein, program manager at the Google Cultural Institute, says his company not only showcases intangible Chinese heritage and craft art in high-res images and virtual reality technology, but also funds museums to take videos of craftsmen and women to record their techniques.

Last year, he says, the institute, which works with more than 1,200 museums worldwide, saw 51 million users generate 270 million page views on Google's arts and culture website.

The online exhibition platform helps China's lesser-known museums to reach people overseas, according Lin Wen, digital director for the Museum of Ethnic Culture at Minzu University of China, a college in Beijing that focuses on studies and research into the nation's ethnic groups.

The museum's collections include antiques, documents and books, costumes, and tools used in daily life by various communities.

According to Lin, more than 10,000 people speaking 17 languages visited its online show in the first month after it uploaded 13 collections of pictures last year.

"It's an online expansion of our museum," Lin says. "We specially set up a digital department to prepare for the future trend of digital museums."

This year, the museum visited Miao communities in Guizhou province to shoot videos about the local culture. It completed seven short movies on Miao embroidery, silk jewelry and tapestry, ancient stilt houses, and local customs and festivals. The videos are part of The Art of Chinese Crafts exhibition.

"It's the first time we've tried to take videos for an online exhibition to show our ethnic culture," Lin adds. "We'll do more in the future to show China's ethnic groups to the world."

China Intangible Heritage Industry Alliance, which has provided collections showing stone carvings, clay sculpture and thangka, is also using videos and pictures to highlight handicrafts that are in danger of disappearing, says Wang Shuyun, one of the founders of the alliance.

Rein says the number of people who have viewed the exhibition via a mobile device had surpassed those who used a computer.

He adds that Google will continue to use its technologies to help protect global art and culture - and to show to the world off for free.

Google's services are unavailable in China. Scott Beaumont, president of Google Greater China, declined to answer when asked at the news conference in August whether the cultural institute's cooperation with Chinese museums signals the US company's return to the country.

However, Chinese museums that have collaborated with the Google Cultural Institute agree that the online platform is effective for spreading Chinese art and culture overseas.

dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page20)
The Goleta Water District has taken a rancher to Santa Barbara Superior Court over his water sales to nearby Montecito. If the rancher prevails, all Californians could emerge the winners. The case has already showcased a key reality: in the Golden State, water is not evenly distributed.

The 725-acre Slippery Rock Ranch near Santa Barbara sits above 200,000 acre-feet of water, a lake-size supply well beyond the needs of the ranchs avocado trees. Owner Dick Wolf, who produced Miami Vice before creating the popular Law & Order television franchise, sought to sell some of the excess water to Montecito, which lacks groundwater resources and relies on surface supplies.

The GWD sued to stop the sales even though in late 2015 it had itself purchased 2,500 acre-feet of California Aqueduct water from the Antelope Valley and East Kern Water Agency for $1.2 million. Water districts in Santa Clara were also in the running, but Goleta needed the water more. The districts that lost out, however, did not respond with a lawsuit to block further sales.

The GWD claims that the lake-size reservoir under the ranch is connected to Goletas underground basin, a contention the ranch denies. The ranchs Cory Black told reporters that the assertion that water on private property belongs to the GWD is not grounded in fact or law.

The GWD had purchased water from the ranch in the past and, Black said, only initiated litigation after negotiations for purchasing more water broke down. How did water that they had been negotiating to buy suddenly become theirs?

Black also charged that the GWD is squandering ratepayers money on frivolous litigation. The court will decide whether the action is frivolous, but Black seems to have a case regarding the wasteful spending.

GWD water supply and conservation manager Ryan Drake told the Santa Barbara News-Press that the cost of the action against the ranch has increased the districts legal budget by more than $300,000, or 32 percent. According to the report, Ratepayers are picking up the tab. The GWDs budgeted legal costs for the year are $1.3 million, considerably higher than the other three South Coast water agencies.

Drought conditions prompted the GWD to impose restrictions but also to slap farmers with a surcharge that doubled their water bills. Some accused district bosses of poor planning and overstating the water supply.

Meanwhile the ranch seeks a judgment establishing its private water rights.

This is more than a local issue between two parties.

Private tradable water rights empowered arid Australia to make the best use of its existing resources. As the countrys National Water Commission explains: Water markets and trading were the primary means to achieve this.

Today, according to the commission, Australias water markets are internationally recognized as a success story, allowing water to be put to its most productive uses, for a price determined by water users and generating economic benefits valued in hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

In arid, drought-ridden California the biggest obstacle for water-starved areas is not private landowners such as the ranch, who are willing to sell the supplies they own. The obstacle proceeds from top-heavy, litigious bureaucracies that seek to prevent such sales.

A verdict in favor of private tradable water rights would make all Californians the winners.

K. Lloyd Billingsley is policy fellow at the Independent Institute and author of California Water: A Case Study of Bureaucracy Versus Tradable, Private Water Rights.
SANTA ANA  A judge on Friday denied a motion for a new trial for convicted double-killer Daniel Wozniak, paving the way for his sentencing later in the day.

In his ruling, Judge John D. Conley noted the brutality of the crimes and that Wozniak selfishly chose to kill two friends for money to pay for his wedding and honeymoon.

The court finds that the aggravating circumstances are so very substantial that these two murders warrant the death penalty, Conley said.

The judge also denied a motion to dismiss any death-penalty sentence for Wozniak, despite argument from his defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Scott Sanders, alleging police and prosecutorial misconduct.

The defendant got a fair trial, and thats the bottom line, the judge said.

Woznaik is expected to be sentenced to death later in the day.

The 31-year-old community theater actor from Costa Mesa was convicted in December of killing two friends for money to pay for his wedding and honeymoon.

In January, a jury deliberated for 1 hour and 19 minutes  one of the shortest death penalty deliberations in county history  before recommending the death penalty.

On May 21, 2010, Wozniak lured Sam Herr, 26, to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos and then shot and killed him. The actor returned the next day and cut off Herrs head, a hand and a forearm and tossed the body parts in Long Beachs El Dorado Park.

In an attempt to throw police off of his trail, Wozniak used Herrs cell phone to lure Juri Julie Kibuishi, 23, to Herrs apartment. Prosecutors said Wozniak then shot and killed her.

Many friends and family members, including fellow Army veterans who served with Herr in Afghanistan, filled the courtroom on Friday. Those closest to the victims will give statements in court later in the day before the sentence is handed down.

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com
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Beef Buzz News

China Lifting US Beef Ban Good News for Cattle Industry, But Deal is Far From Official

Historic news for the US beef industry happening this week, with the announcement from Chinese officials that China intends to reopen its market to American imported beef from animals under 30 months of age. Their doors have been shut to the US since 2003 after the 'cow that stole Christmas' - an incident when mad cow disease was found in the US. Thirteen years later though, the nation boasting a growing population of 1.3 billion, says it will lift the ban. China has been a hot topic in recent months. Farm Director Ron Hays spoke with president of the US Meat Export Federation, Phil Seng this past July about China's then situation.





"The Chinese market is a very vexing market, it has been closed since 2003," Seng said this summer. "We've had to go through all kinds of steps now to even get close to getting that market open. It looks like the major hurdle at this point and time is traceability."

Seng also said during that interview, that the US government is very focused on making progress with China and remarked he has never seen such enthusiasm for getting a job done. A sign Seng took very encouragingly. Obviously, the enthusiasm Seng spoke of would seem to have paid off. However, the deal is far from official.





Before product ever begins to ship, the next step in this process will be for the USDA to begin technical negotiations with China's Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to approve certificates and protocols for beef exports from the US to China. The devil will be in the details of these negotiations, as the US-China relationship is delicate at best.





In a statement released yesterday, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, "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." He went on to say that his office and the Obama administration is committed to continuing to "press trading partners to eliminate unfair barriers to trade that hamper American farmers and ranchers."





Seng said in July many more bouts of negotiations would be needed for trade in China to happen, and his tune hasn't changed much since then.





"While this is an important first step in the process of resuming beef exports to China," Seng said, "USMEF understands that China must still negotiate with USDA the conditions that will apply to U.S. beef exports entering this market. 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."





While intentions and promises are all well and good, China's Premier Li Keqiang in his announcement, did not offer a timeframe in which the market would open. There is speculation that trade could commence by the end of the year from some trade groups.

Listen to Phil Seng of USMEF discuss China's decision to lift the ban on US beef with Farm Director Ron Hays on today's Beef Buzz.





The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.





















Listen to Phil Seng of USMEF discuss China's decision to lift the ban on US beef with Ron Hays

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National Sorghum Producers Hire New Executive Director for Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma

National Sorghum Producers announces the hire of Jordan Shearer as the executive director for the Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma state sorghum organizations. Shearer will begin his new position on Oct. 3, 2016.





"Jordan's experience and affinity for policy will allow him to hit the ground running on day one," said Tim Lust, NSP CEO. "We look forward to working with him to continue growing the sorghum industry in these states."





The newly created position combines management of the state sorghum associations and commissions for the three states. As executive director, Shearer will oversee all sorghum-related activities in the three states as well as work with each group's board of directors to coordinate programs.





Shearer has served as chairman of the Oklahoma Sorghum Association for the last five years as well as working as a project director for the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts and actively farming in Slapout, Oklahoma. He was also a member of Leadership Sorghum Class I, a Sorghum Checkoff program established in 2011.





Source - National Sorghum Producers











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The fine art of fighting cancer Updated: 2016-09-23 08:01 By Fu Jing in Brussels(China Daily Europe)

Therese Zaremba-Martin is 71 but looks much younger. The Belgian puts this down, in part, to her fondness for painting Chinese mountains and rivers, which she says has also helped her recover from treatment for cancer.

"Painting has given me energy and force, especially when I was very ill last year," she says from a studio in Brussels where she is learning painting techniques from a Chinese master.

She and Zhang Wenhai roll out a copy she made of the classic masterpiece Dwelling in Fuchun Mountain, the original of which was created by Huang Gongwang six centuries ago.

Part of the classic masterpiece Dwelling in Fuchun Mountain, by Huang Gongwang of the Yuan Dynasty (1269-1354). Fu Jing / China Daily Belgian artist Therese Zaremba-Martin and her Chinese master Zhang Wenhai roll out a copy of the painting.

Her version took three years to complete, roughly the same length of time that Huang spent on the original, which he painted in old age between 1347 and 1350.

Huang's painting, considered to be among the 10 best examples of ancient Chinese art, captures the magnificent early autumn view of the banks of Zhejiang province's Fuchun River.

In June last year, when she had finished three-quarters of her painting, Zaremba-Martin was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Of course, it was depressing, but I also started thinking of life, the meaning of life, and the importance of people," she says.

Her family and friends have been helpful and supportive, and she is getting as close as she can to nature, fresh air and friends.

After taking a break from painting for three or four months last year while she was weak and undergoing treatment, she said her mind drifted back to finishing her copy of the masterpiece.

Her teacher Zhang, who is 35 and originally from Shanghai, is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels and offers private tuition in Chinese calligraphy and painting.

He says he too thought painting might help and suggested she use it as "part of the treatment formula".

Zaremba-Martin, though still weak, picked up her brush. "Every time I finished one part, I had to go back to see if I need more strokes. Then suddenly, the brush, the ink and the energy became different," she says. "I had the impression I was no longer painting, and it was my brush going along the way. It was right, but very strange."

Zaremba-Martin, who has worked as a freelance interpreter, mainly in German, French and English, since she was 26, is married to an interpreter who she met in Germany in 1972. They have three children and five grandchildren.

She has loved Oriental art since she was young but initially could not tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese paintings.

"If I found a book with such paintings, I always wanted to buy it and I told my relatives to buy such books for my birthdays," she says.

She learned how to paint at school but has only really focused on her art in recent years.

"It was my daughter who said, you have spoken about it enough and you need to start to do it," she says.

At first, she started to learn calligraphy. Then, in 2008, she met Zhang, who initially introduced her to traditional Chinese wood carving.

She tried it for one week and liked it but told Zhang she really wanted to learn about traditional Chinese painting.

Zhang not only teaches her about art technique but also about philosophy, She says.

She has finished reading two Chinese classics, Water Margin and Journey to the West, which also help her better understand the meaning of the paintings.

Yao Yueyang contributed to this story.

fujing@chinadailycom.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page21)
Steady progress pledged on UK nuclear plant project Updated: 2016-09-23 08:02 By Hu Yongqi(China Daily Europe)

China and Britain have vowed to work steadily towards completing the $23 billion Hinkley Point nuclear power plant project.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson discussed the issue in New York on Sept 19.

They met on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meetings to exchange views on issues of common concern.

The deal, in which a Chinese company will help build the Hinkley Point plant in southwest England, was announced when President Xi Jinping visited the UK in October.

The project was approved at the weekend by British Prime Minister Theresa May.

May succeeded David Cameron after the Brexit vote in June and later decided to review the project, which cast doubt on whether it would be carried out as a landmark cooperation project between China and Britain.

Johnson said his country would act to promote the steady construction of the Hinkley Point project.

Wang said China appreciated Britain's decision concerning the project and expected a smooth construction process. He said bilateral relations could enter a "golden age", because both countries had achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields.

Wang said China wanted to link its Belt and Road Initiative with Britain's development strategy while promoting cooperation in in various forms.

China attaches great importance to Britain's role in, and impact on, international affairs and endorses its policies on free trade, Wang added.

Johnson said Britain was glad to see the progress both countries had made in their relations while sharing many common interests.

China is an increasingly important partner for Britain, which has been committed to developing ties with the world's second-largest economy, Johnson added.

He said Britain was willing to boost cooperation in various fields by linking with the Belt and Road Initiative to make a bigger step forward in the "golden age" of joint ties.

huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page26)
If youve seen one Western, any Western  half of any one Western  theres not a moment in The Magnificent Seven that will surprise you, though there are a few that might charm you.

The Antoine Fuqua-directed remake of the 1960 classic  which was itself a remake of a much better film (Akira Kurosawas Seven Samurai)  Magnificent Seven rides high on star power and old-fashioned craftsmanship. But hoary cliches and lumpy pacing keep it from being much more than a solid Sunday afternoon movie. The kind to catch on TBS a year or so from now while you drift in and out of naps while waiting for dinner and dreading Monday.

The basics of Magnificent Seven remain pretty basic.

Shortly after the Civil War, robber baron Bartholomew Bogue (sweaty, sickly Peter Sarsgaard) and his army of goons take over a small town by force, burning the church and killing a bunch of its God-fearing farmer folk.

The newly widowed Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) goes to a nearby town and seeks the aid of the bounty hunter Chisolm (Denzel Washington, filling Yul Brynners boots nicely). Emma wants Bogue out of her town. She offers Chisolm a bag of money for his skills at shootin folks dead. Chisolm, who has some unfinished business with Bogue, agrees and begins assembling a team of scoundrels and strays. Spoiler: He finds six other guys.

He recruits a gambler (Chris Pratt), a sharpshooter (Ethan Hawke), a tracker (Vincent DOnofrio), an assassin (Byung-hun Lee), a Mexican outlaw (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) and a Comanche warrior (Martin Sensmeier).

If youre keeping track, thats a black man leading two white guys, a Mexican, a Native American, a South Korean and a grizzly bear (DOnofrio) on a suicide mission against a tyrant. Thats a pretty darn diverse cast, especially for an 1870s-set Western. The multiculturalism and team-building aspects sometimes give Magnificent Seven the vibe of a Fast and Furious movie.

This diversity is the Westerns freshest feature. If the movie contributes nothing else to the genre, at least theres that.

Chisolm and Emma wrangling together the team accounts for the movies first and best hour. As with the 1960 film, one of the pleasures of the new Magnificent Seven is watching several scene-stealers jockey for position in the frame.

With Washington serving as the sturdy, stoic center of the film, his co-stars get to bring the quirk and comic relief. Pratt shines brightest, obviously. This role of handsome, goofy rogue was tailor-made for him. Lee, Hawke and DOnofrio also leave an impression, though Garcia-Rulfo, Sensmeier and pretty much all of the townsfolk get lost in the ensemble.

The problem with Magnificent Seven  a problem with most of Fuquas films  is simple: Its too long. And the movie begins to lose momentum after its stellar setup. Once the seven are assembled, they hurry up and wait for the big gunfight.

Bogue and his army are about a week (or 30 minutes of screen time) away from the town, and so were treated to a training montage (Movie rule No. 454: The townsfolk are always bad shots), as well as scenes of dialogue that reek of whiskey and exposition.

Shes about the same age your sister would be right now, Hawke tells Washington of Bennett, lighting the fuse for a painfully predictable backstory reveal. In fact, most of the character payoffs feel like they were determined by a focus group.

With sharper dialogue and characterizations, these before-the-storm scenes might have sung. But the script (co-written by Nic Pizzolatto of True Detective) rarely veers from the Western playbook. Theres a lightheartedness to the film that occasionally evokes Sergio Leones movies. But not enough of the dark wit that made those films such classics.

The explosive finale does put some air back into The Magnificent Seven. Its well-staged and well-shot, and best of all, its an action sequence that takes place on an actual set. In physical reality and stuff. As computer animation continues to consume all movie spectacle, its a treat to see something so tactile as a gunfight.

The visuals get a further boost from Omaha cinematographer Mauro Fiore, who shot the film on film. The colors are rich and warm, and the wide-screen vistas and closeup movie-star faces evoke the golden age of the movie Western.

Thats the thing about the movie: It looks the part. It wears its hat, boots and holster like a boss. It delivers its wisecracks capably. But when the time comes to shoot, it cant hit enough of its targets.

*******

The Magnificent Seven

Grade: C+

Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Haley Bennett, Vincent DOnofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Peter Sarsgaard

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Rating: PG-13 for extended and intense sequences of Western violence and for smoking, some language and suggestive material

Running time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

Theaters: Aksarben, Alamo, Bluffs 17, Majestic, Midtown, Oakview, Regal, Twin Creek, Village Pointe, Westroads
A 32-year-old Elkhorn-area man who barricaded himself in his parents home was arrested Friday morning on suspicion of assaulting his wife.

The Nebraska State Patrol said troopers were dispatched about 3 a.m. to a residence near 174th and Blondo Streets after a woman reported that she was assaulted by her husband. The man left the residence in the couples 2016 Dodge Journey before troopers arrived.

Just after 5 a.m., the man was found at his parents home near 204th Street and West Maple Road, the patrol said. Troopers set up a perimeter and attempted to make contact with the man.

Troopers informed staff members at nearby Hillrise Elementary School of the situation, the patrol said.

Around 7:30 a.m., troopers entered the home and the man surrendered, the patrol said.

He was arrested and was being held at the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of domestic assault and obstructing law enforcement operations, the patrol said.
Eight former or current elected members of the Omaha Tribal Council and one employee have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they improperly paid themselves bonuses with federal money.

The indictment alleges that the group misused funds that were supposed to provide health care to members of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.

Barbara Freemont, 64, and Jessica Webster-Valentino, 46, each received bonuses of $89,693, while seven others each got $13,404 in bonuses, according to court documents.

Webster-Valentino, Jeff Miller, 52, and Rodney Morris, 62, are current members of the council, which is an elected position, according to the councils website.

Webster-Valentino is the treasurer, Miller is the secretary, and Morris is listed as a member.

Amen Sheridan, 55; Doran Morris Jr., 45; Forrest Aldrich, 66; Mitchell Parker, 68; and Tillie Aldrich, 47, are former council members, according to Jan Sharp, the chief criminal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Nebraska.

Parker is the deputy CEO of the Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center, the source of the appropriated funds, according to prosecutors.

Freemont has not been on the tribal council, but is a current employee with the health center, serving in the finance department as a contract specialist.

All nine have been 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.

If found guilty on all three charges, they could face a maximum of 25 years in prison or a $750,000 fine or both.

Officials with the Omaha Tribal Council did not return calls seeking comment.

The Omaha Tribe had filed claims in 2005 and 2012 against the Indian Health Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for $8.9 million in unpaid contract costs from 1995 to 2011.

The defendants are accused of misapplying $388,792 to bonuses or other incentives to themselves or other tribal employees on account of the claims, according to the indictment.

The misused money was doled out in October 2012, but the claims were not resolved and paid until 2015, officials said.

The bonuses were paid using carryover funds from fiscal year 2012, which were supposed to be used for health care for tribe members through the health center.

Freemont and Webster-Valentino issued and cashed checks without the normal review procedure or tribal council approval, prosecutors said.

In an email between the two women, Freemont suggested increasing the bonuses to the tribal council members, because they would not complain about the payments to her or Webster-Valentino if the members received more, too, prosecutors alleged.

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 Federal Bureau of Investigations Omaha Division, in a statement.

The FBI and Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services investigated the case.

The defendants are not in custody but will be summoned when court dates are set, Sharp said.

Officials expect arraignment hearings to be scheduled for late October.
LINCOLN (AP)  Lancaster County authorities say a 24-year-old Appleton, Wisconsin, man was taken into custody Thursday after nearly 100 pounds of marijuana were found in his car.

The Lancaster County Sheriffs Office said a deputy pulled over the car on Interstate 80 around 2 p.m. in connection with several traffic violations. The deputy reported a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car, the Sheriffs Office said, and a search of the vehicle turned up the pot in eight trash bags.

The man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

Copyright 2016, the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Treynors newest school board member wants to change the culture of the Treynor Community School District by firing its superintendent and school attorney.

Heidi Guttau-Fox defeated Matt Finnegan in a special election Tuesday to replace Kent Boese on the board. Boese resigned in July after moving out of the district.

Guttau-Fox told the Council Bluffs Nonpareil that she viewed the contest as a referendum on the school districts handling of sexual abuse allegations and other problems.

Guttau-Fox said her single issue in the election was seeking the removal of Superintendent Kevin Elwood and school attorney Joe Thornton from their positions. She said the community needs healing and a fresh start.

Board member Gary Funkhouser told the Des Moines Register  in an opinion column by Rekha Basu published in August that described Treynor as a broken community  that there are only eight to 10 families who have children in the district who are not pleased with the operation of the school district, while the rest support the Treynor schools.

Guttau-Fox said the turnout and the result of the election  she won 488-317  disprove Funkhousers statement to the Register.

Jodie Beckman, an official in the Pottawattamie County Auditors Office, said 805 out of 2,132 registered voters cast a ballot in the Treynor school district.

Guttau-Fox said the vote was enough to signal a mandate for change. I think it is a message to the girls who have been victimized that the community does support them, she said.

Among the issues facing the Treynor school district has been the fallout of Elwoods decision in 2013 to allow his son to continue to work as a custodian while being aware his son faced sexual assault allegations involving fellow students.

Elwoods son ultimately pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment charges and is a registered sex offender. The superintendent, meanwhile, served a 30-day suspension imposed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners for violating professional ethics.

The district, more recently, mishandled a request for a student to leave the district for an online school. The district also faced a civil rights lawsuit, which it settled out of court, and the community has remained divided over Elwoods continued employment.

Guttau-Fox has three children in the district, and she was a fourth-generation student in the Treynor schools. She has been an attorney for 19 years and is a partner at the Baird Holm LLP in Omaha. Shes also a director and shareholder with TS Bank.

Neither Finnegan nor Elwood responded to messages left at their homes Tuesday.
IOWA CITY (AP)  University of Iowa officials say they are ready to take action to fight sexual abuse on campus after about 1 in 5 female students who responded to a voluntary online survey reported being raped.

The results from the Speak Out Iowa survey, made available to students online for seven weeks last fall, were released this week.

Only 9.3 percent of U of I students took the survey, but of those respondents, 21 percent of undergraduate female students said they had been raped and 20.5 percent reported attempted rape, according to the Iowa City Press-Citizen. More than 11 percent of first-year women undergraduates say they were raped during the first semester.

The number is horrible, Tom Rocklin, U of Is vice president for student life, said Wednesday. Its a scourge in our society. Whats important is that we work to bring that number down.

U of I officials said the survey results were in line with national data and research about sexual assaults on college campuses. The school says 52 percent of its students are female and about three-fourths of the survey respondents were women.

A similar survey by Penn State University released in the spring found that 18.1 percent of undergraduates reported being the victim of a sexual assault. That survey had a higher participation rate, with 27 percent of undergraduates responding.

The University of Iowa surveys small participation rate left officials unsure whether respondents experiences were typical for the larger campus population. Some researchers say assault victims are more likely to participate in such voluntary surveys but others speculate that assault victims might be less likely to respond because the incident was so distressing.

Carolyn Copps Hartley, a U of I professor of social work who was chairwoman of the Sexual Misconduct Climate Survey Subcommittee of the UI Anti-Violence Coalition, said theres no way to be sure that the survey reflects overall campus assaults.

For the students who wanted to tell us about their experiences, this is what they told us, Hartley said. So I cannot say for sure this is the rate on campus, but weve got numbers that we need to respond to.

In response to the survey, which started Oct. 26, 2015, the university said it has developed a plan with provisions for prevention, education, intervention and policy changes.

The plan includes a refresher course for incoming undergraduates about sexual misconduct, which would follow a similar course required of students before they arrive on campus. The university also plans to explore options to work more closely with high schools to educate younger students about sexual assaults.

The university also plans to greater publicize resources for victims, including providing a safety booklet in every residence hall and updating crime alerts to make them more effective.

Copyright 2016 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Douglas County officials are considering three finalists to be the countys new 911 director.

They include two Nebraska 911 center chiefs and a retired 911 director from Wisconsin.

Philip Brazelton is a captain supervising the Washington County Sheriffs Office communications division. He has held the position since 2006. Brazelton was project manager from 2003 to 2006 of a Washington County Sheriffs Office effort to create a new county-wide 911 center and radio system.

Julie Righter Dove oversees the City of Lincolns Emergency Communications Center. After starting as a dispatcher in 1975, she has led the center since 1997.

David Sleeter was director of 911 communications for Rock County, Wisconsin, from 1995 until his retirement in 2012. He has overseen jail, dispatch and 911 operations in Juneau County, Wisconsin, and also worked as an undercover drug officer and deputy sheriff in Tennessee.

The Douglas County Board interviewed the three finalists last week.

County Administrator Patrick Bloomingdale said he will brief the 911 User Group this week and receive their advice, as required by an interlocal agreement among Douglas County, the City of Omaha, fire and police departments and other 911 users in the county.

Bloomingdale anticipates selecting a director by the end of next week, pending County Board approval.

The new director will replace Jenny Hansen, who resigned in June after less than five months on the job.

Former Douglas County 911 Director Mark Conrey is serving in the interim.
Family, friends and fellow soldiers gathered in Omaha on Friday to say goodbye to seven Nebraska National Guard soldiers who are deploying to the Middle East.

One first lieutenant and six noncommissioned officers from the Omaha-based 195th Forward Support Company will be gone for six months, said Lt. Col. Kevin Hynes, a Nebraska National Guard spokesman. The location wasnt disclosed.

The soldiers are part of an airborne-qualified special operations unit and will give logistical support to Special Forces troops operating in the area.

The unit is capable of building small bases from the ground up, Hynes said, and is skilled at many tasks including wiring, construction, bricklaying, medical support, truck repair and even mail delivery.

It is one of only two such units in the country, and its members deploy frequently in small groups. Another team returned from a deployment during the summer, Hynes said.

Brig. Gen. Kevin Lyons, the Nebraska Guards land-component commander, spoke at the ceremony, which was held at the North Omaha Readiness Center, 11650 Rainwood Road.
Goodbye to cash and cards Updated: 2016-09-23 08:02 By Anthony Warren in Hong Kong(China Daily Europe)

In China's developing smart economy, you can go out without a wallet but not your cellphone

China's Internet economy is changing. Retailers, consumers and payment services are moving beyond websites and credit-card transactions into the realm of an interconnected 'smart economy'.

The trajectory of this change - with consumers and financial institutions becoming increasingly entwined - was the focus of a China Daily Asia Pacific roundtable discussion held at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center on Sept 13. Panelists discussed the topic, Defining the digital era: China's smart economy.

At a roundtable event held in Hong Kong, on Sept 13, panelists discuss how consumers, businesses and financial institutions are adapting to the fast growth of China's smart economy. Parker Zheng / China Daily Asia Weekly

Alice Mong, executive director of the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, said that as a Chinese-American, the fact that some 700 million mainland Chinese are connected to the Internet "gives you a context of what China is doing these days".

Such rapid growth sometimes makes it easy to overlook how young many Internet companies are. Google began in 1998 and Yahoo in 1994, while Baidu opened in 2000 and Xiaomi in 2010.

"It shows you how many of these companies have been around less than 20 years, especially those in China," said Mong.

Online development advancing at breakneck speed showed how the region was "setting the benchmark" for the new digital era.

Xiang Bing, founding dean and professor of China business and globalization at the Beijing-based Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, may have better insight than most into the strengths of China's e-commerce and financial technology sectors. After all, one of the alumni from his school is Jack Ma, founder of Internet giant Alibaba.

Xiang said that having created his online empire, Ma returned to Xiang's college to recruit economics professors for roles in his companies. He did this not once, but twice.

For Xiang, the smart economy is just one of the sweeping changes that have washed over China in the past few decades. It is the economic prosperity and progress hinged on three "typhoons", he said, for "when typhoons blow even pigs can fly".

The first of these, Xiang said, was neoliberalism, which began in 1979 and influenced China's reforms of the 1980s. The second was the wave of globalization, including China's entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. And the third "typhoon" was the introduction of the digital use, and democratization, of information.

For those nations that adopt and adapt global trends, he said, a shift to digital technologies has helped speed up economic restructuring.

"Despite all the arguments, I'll stick to my guns and be very optimistic about China's economic prospects," he said, admitting that whenever he thought differently he had been proved wrong.

"I have underestimated this economy each and every time," he joked.

When it comes to the digital economy, said Xiang, China certainly has advantages.

"The government has been promoting Internet Plus since 2014," he pointed out, adding that incentives have been used to promote the online sector.

"I think China is more ready than many other countries, despite huge challenges," he said. The country does not even need to seek innovation to drive growth, Xiang said, as the government has more options than ever before, including deregulation of sectors.

The mainland has a wealth of choices, but for Hong Kong a smart economy is a necessity, according to Albert Wong, CEO of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.

"We need to do technology innovation in Hong Kong - not because we can do it, but because we have to do it," Wong said.

"I think the economy in Hong Kong, (if we are) honest with ourselves, is not doing too well. Technology is one of the keys to move us to the next step."

A government-funded organization, the Hong Kong Science Park hosts more than 600 innovating companies. As well as biotechnology and other fields, the organization is also involved in developing technologies to create a 'smart city'.

Despite the science park's good reputation among Hong Kong people, Wong said there is a concern that developments have not been promoted enough, even though some of the companies are "pretty cool".

Hong Kong can not deliver technological advances on its own, though, and partners are required. "Hong Kong is only so big," said Wong, "and not just physically."

With data playing a "huge part" in a viable smart economy, tapping into the cross-border ecosystem is important.

AsiaPay is in the business of using information across borders. Its founder and CEO, Joseph Chan, said that as an electronic payment service provider the company has worked with payment brands and merchants in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and elsewhere in Asia since 2000.

"A lot of the developments are in helping Asian merchants to provide more payment convenience to Chinese travelers and retailers," Chan said.

When Chinese e-commerce first took off, the businesses were focused largely on the manufacturing sector. But the shift to service industries and brand building has required Chinese companies to better understand the behavior of buyers, both at home and abroad.

The interconnectedness of the smart economy has helped in other areas.

Online platforms, for instance, offer payment in installments or on-the-spot personal loans. Such services that put users' entire financial experience in one basket are becoming a reality, said Chan.

Part of that drive for development has been fostered not just by the growing Asian economy but by more demanding customers, said Frankie Ho, general manager of Baidu International. The company is an online platform that offers online solutions to top-tier companies.

"E-business' greatest benefit is in data," Ho said, with the collection of economic data and information useful in building the knowledge of the user base.

Rather than developing new tools, Ho said, the big issue will be "how to move what we (already) have into the mobile landscape". It is about bringing developed markets directly into the hands of the cell phone or tablet user.

For the recently introduced system of payments using a mobile phone, some countries have used contactless methods - phones being "tapped" against a scanner. But China has gone one step further: Many payments can be sent at the touch of a button.

"In China, you can forget to bring along your wallet - but you need to bring your phone," said Ho.

Chan, the CEO of AsiaPay, agreed. "We're talking about a cash society to cashless, which is more like a plastic or card society," he said.

"And after that it's a cardless society. Right now, more and more people (in China) are using their mobile phones to tap and pay."

While most of the speakers generally had nothing but praise for the smart economy, Peter Greenhill, head of e-business at Equiom Group, a financial solutions company, offered a pragmatic view of its downsides - and an even more futuristic vision.

"The phrase smart economy has, unfortunately, been used to mean different things in different countries," Greenhill said. In his experience it was not a new idea - nor a one-off concept with a limited future.

The result will be lost jobs, he said, as bricks-and-mortar banks, travel agents and shops find customers head online. On top of that, there are issues governments and companies need to look at, from data privacy to money laundering.

"All of the smart changes people have been talking about, they're not completed," he said.

"Are they reshaping economies? Absolutely - just as they've done since at least the 1970s. But it's now at a much faster pace. It's accelerating all the time."

And if Greenhill is correct, these smart economy tools will eventually be viewed as "old and outdated".

He is working with innovators on the next generation of systems, using 3D and virtual reality to create unprecedented interconnectedness in everything from health to education.

As technology becomes increasingly borderless - and data moves freer and faster around the globe - the challenge is for Hong Kong and the rest of Asia to continually adapt and find roles in its development.

anthony@chinadailyapac.com

(China Daily European Weekly 09/23/2016 page29)
Update, 12:30 a.m. EST: Charlotte police say they don't plan to forcibly remove protesters from the street after curfew as long as the situation remains peaceful.

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.

**********

Update, 12:05 a.m. EST: 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.

**********

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 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 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 waited until Thursday's 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 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."

Copyright 2016, the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The police chief of Kimball, Nebraska, has been placed on administrative leave.

City Administrator Daniel Ortiz confirmed that Mayor Keith Prunty placed Chief Darren Huff on leave but declined to elaborate, saying only that Darren Huff is still the police chief for the City of Kimball.

Huff was formally appointed to be Kimballs police chief in April 2014 after serving as the interim chief during an investigation of Mark Simpson that resulted in his resignation.

Huff is Kimballs fourth police chief in a nine-year period. In 2007, the City Council ousted longtime Chief Bill Shank. Doug Provance served until 2011, when he resigned and Simpson replaced him.

The Western Nebraska Observer, Kimballs newspaper, speculated that the chief being placed on leave may be related to a traffic stop over Labor Day weekend.

Huff said the stop was related to a report of shots being fired north of Kimball. He said he witnessed some people firing rounds on property outside city limits, which is lawful, but they soon left the property. Officers later stopped one of the drivers south of Kimball.

The officers reportedly secured the weapons and asked the driver and passenger to get out of the vehicle, but there were no citations or arrests.

Some citizens complained about the stop in a letter to the newspaper, the Observer reported.
A 28-year-old Norfolk woman was killed Thursday night in a one-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 81 north of Madison.

The Madison County Sheriffs Office said Daisel Diez-Sanchez died in the crash about 8:30 p.m.

The Sheriffs Office said Diez-Sanchez was northbound on Highway 81 when she lost control of her vehicle, which veered into the east ditch, struck a tree and then rolled onto its top. Diez-Sanchez was pronounced dead at the scene, the Sheriffs Office said.

Her husband, Yoandys Sanchez-Ruiz, 31, also of Norfolk, was treated at the crash scene for minor injuries, the Sheriffs Office said.

The husband and wife were wearing seat belts, the Sheriffs Office said.
LINCOLN  A state trooper who says he was unfairly denied a transfer to the governors security team lost a legal battle Friday to gain access to the internal records kept by the Nebraska State Patrol.

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the score sheets filled out by the patrols hiring board during job interviews are not public records and do not have to be turned over to Trooper Todd Steckelberg.

The veteran road trooper from Omaha sued his employer last year, alleging hed been treated unfairly because of a history of conflicts with Col. Brad Rice, the superintendent of the agency.

Steckelberg argued that he was the most qualified applicant seeking transfer to the governors security detail, but was denied the transfer because Rice held a grudge against him and had turned other high-ranking patrol administrators against him.

Steckelberg wanted the score sheets to bolster his case. He argued that they could not be withheld because they were not confidential personnel records.

Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong ruled in the patrols favor, and the high court upheld that ruling.

Rice served 29 years with the agency before his retirement in 2010. Gov. Pete Ricketts tapped Rice to lead the agency in 2015, but his road to confirmation was difficult after questions were raised about his attitude toward women in law enforcement.

In 2007, a federal jury awarded $70,000 in back wages and damages to a female trooper who successfully sued Rice and other patrol administrators for denying her a promotion. She also won $172,000 in legal fees from the agency.

During his confirmation hearing, state lawmakers questioned Rice about his views on women in the agency. He told state lawmakers that he would not base promotion decisions on gender.

Fridays high court decision marks another setback for Steckelberg. In March, U.S. District Judge John Gerrard dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the trooper had failed to raise a legitimate claim.

Steckelbergs lawyer, Joy Shiffermiller of Lincoln, has refiled the lawsuit. A motion to dismiss it a second time is pending.

The patrol is being defended by Attorney General Doug Peterson and his assistants.
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.
Mondays presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton could determine the outcome of the election.

As polls show Trump leading in some swing states and closing the gap in others, it appears the only burden he must overcome is the one Ronald Reagan shared: looking presidential enough that voters trust him with so much power.

The way these debates have usually gone in the past is that the Republican candidate is asked about abortion, gay rights and other social issues and the Democratic candidate is asked about subjects that appeal to a wider range of voters.

Lester Holt, the NBC Nightly News anchor, will moderate the first debate. Here are some questions he should ask:

 For Clinton: You once supported traditional marriage but now favor same-sex marriage. Polygamists now want to receive legal and cultural approval. Do you oppose polygamy, and if so, on what basis?

Follow-up: What is your standard for defining right from wrong?

 For Trump: You were pro-choice, you said, until you heard about a baby who was going to be aborted but wasnt. You called the child a total superstar. Do you have a utilitarian view of human life  that a baby is valuable only if it grows up to be a superstar  or is every life valuable?

 For Clinton: You said you would have a bunch of litmus tests for Supreme Court nominees, including requiring potential nominees to have a commitment to preserving a womans right to an abortion. Would you overlook qualified candidates if they oppose abortion?

 For Clinton: You appear to have an interventionist foreign policy record. What is your standard for sending American forces into battle, especially in the Middle East, where nothing ever seems to get resolved?

Follow-up: Israels enemies have vowed to destroy the only democracy in the Middle East and one of the United States few allies in the region. As president, would you support the Jewish state or demand that it give up more land to Palestinians when the land it has already relinquished has brought it no closer to peace?

 For Trump: Many voters are worried about your praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who routinely behaves like the KGB agent he once was. Putin has invaded and occupied territories, censored the news and been accused of murdering his opposition. Why do you admire his leadership? Should you become president, what do you think your public praise of Putin will accomplish that will be in Americas interests?

Follow-up: Under what circumstances would you use military force against Russia or our enemies in the Middle East?

 For both: North Korea is developing nuclear weapons that will fit on top of missiles capable of reaching the U.S. Would you authorize a missile defense system able to shoot down North Korean missiles, despite Chinas opposition to such a system?

 For Clinton: The federal government took in record amounts of tax money in 2015  $3.18 trillion  but the debt is approaching $20 trillion, and you want to spend more. Why wont you propose cutting programs that arent working?

 For Trump: What agencies and programs would you eliminate or reform?

Public interest for the debates will be at Super Bowl level. These and similar questions would produce the information undecided voters need to cast their votes wisely.

The future of this country hangs in the balance.
Kearney-area residents voiced concern this spring to local and state officials about an ongoing problem at the state-run facility for youth offenders.

Young residents at the center, operated by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, were walking off campus time and again, spurring worries about public safety.

On a single day, six youths left the grounds.

Another time, four juveniles walked away, and three of them are associated with the subsequent theft of a car.

In another incident, a Kearney man was allegedly punched after he tried to help a center staffer catch a teen.

Now a new report from the state inspector general for child welfare explains the larger story of what was going on: The Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center-Kearney was without a full-time administrator for seven months, during which time the facility experienced major setbacks.

In the report, Inspector General Julie Rogers described the situation during that September-to- April period this way:

Central Office administrators were unaware of the specifics of programs and planning at YRTC-K that were unlawful and producing negative outcomes for youth. Youth at YRTC-K, especially those living full-time in the Dickson Unit (for more challenging offenders), were continually subject to conditions that were not compliant with Nebraska law, DHHS regulations and operating procedures.

The Dickson Unit was understaffed, Rogers reported, and youth offenders were spending all day every day in their separate unit of Dickson for the entirety of their stay, contrary to policy. Dickson Unit youths received little or no required treatment and support services, the report says.

Rogers described the seven-month period as one of widespread noncompliance with statute, with an increase in assaults and the workforce vacancy and turnover rates.

During the 2015-16 fiscal year, Rogers received information concerning 117 critical incidents at the Kearney center, compared with 29 the year before. Sixty percent of the 2015-16 incidents occurred during the interim administration period.

The report says the number of walk-aways from the center increased from 29 during fiscal 2014-15 to 62 during fiscal 2015-16.

Before the interim administration period, the center was making notable progress in reaching goals for treatment and services, the report says. But during the leadership gap, Rogers wrote, this progress was almost completely erased.

Rogers makes a sound case that HHS failed in major ways to provide proper management of the facility during the transitional period.

The facility has seen considerable improvement since the new director, Mark LaBouchardiere, began work in April. LaBouchardiere has two decades of experience with youth facilities such as the Kearney center, and Rogers report explains wide-ranging, positive steps he has put in place to improve treatment and support, security and community relations.

With LaBouchardiere at its head, the Kearney center has an opportunity to move beyond the turmoil of the recent past. Its imperative that HHS leaders make sure that when transitional periods arise in the future, proper procedures and coordination are in place to avoid the debacle recently seen in Kearney.

Nebraska lawmakers, too, have matters to study, such as whether to adjust, again, the states juvenile justice reforms. Those reforms have produced positive changes, but one effect has been to increase the number of difficult offenders at the Kearney center.

Rogers report makes for sobering reading. Its bad enough that the young people and staff at the Kearney center faced such an awful situation and that the centers lack of security raised months of concern for local residents.

Nebraska leaders need to make sure something like that never happens again.
BJP's Cauvery misadventure: Yeddyurappa's loyalists smell a conspiracy

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 23: The BJP's Karnataka chief, B S Yeddyurappa on Tuesday made a hurried statement congratulating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for deciding to defer following the Supreme Court order on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The statement by the BJP strongman who is also the former Chief Minister of Karnataka looked like a desperate one considering his party skipped the all party meeting on an issue that is extremely emotive in the state of Karnataka.

In media circles, the talk was that the BJP had missed its chance on making a grand statement on this issue. However, the fact is that the BJP completely misread the situation and did not expect Siddaramaiah to take such a decision.

The official line that the BJP had given was that the last time the Congress did not listen to us and hence there was no point in attending the all party meeting.

To add to all this there are some Yeddyurappa loyalists who have already started saying that there appears to be a conspiracy against him by his own leaders in Delhi. The loyalists wonder why the Prime Minister had not given an appointment to Siddaramaiah over this issue especially when Karnataka is a state where the BJP can form a government.

Yeddyurappa and his loyalists felt that had the PM intervened the BJP could have taken credit for the same.

Some of his loyalists say that there are some leaders in the centre who did this deliberately to ensue that Yeddyurappa does not return to power in Karnataka.

They say that there is an attempt to finish his political career by using the Cauvery issue against him.

A conspiracy

Yeddyurappa's loyalists are miffed with the manner in which the Centre has handled this situation. His loyalists say that the BJP lead government should have taken more interest in this subject.

It is such an emotive issue and could have helped the BJP strengthen its base in the Cauvery basin. After all Karnataka was the first southern state to vote the BJP into power.

BJP feels that they are in a good position in the next elections. Today many within the BJP are worried and in hush-hush tones say that the Cauvery decision on Siddaramaiah was a master stroke.

The BJP also suspects that the Congress and the JD(S) which came together on this issue is a signal that they would look to form the government next time.

BJP today would make all efforts to reverse the image when the legislative assembly session takes place on Friday. Its leaders would be there in full strength and attempt to make a strong statement on the Cauvery issue. For the BJP the immediate goal would be to reverse its image that took a beating for skipping the all party meet on Cauvery.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 11:19 [IST]
One of the SC judges hearing Cauvery issue, used to represent Jayalalithaa: HD Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 23: Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy made a passionate address in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday which is debating the Cauvery waters issue. In the beginning of his address, he said that Karnataka has been wronged by the Supreme Court.

"I am not here to insult the Supreme Court or its order," he said. He, however, said that he gets to hear a lot of news regarding certain issues and one among them is that one of the judges hearing the Cauvery case used to represent Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa in a case when he was an advocate.

Kumaraswamy added that while he has been hearing such things, he did not wish to speak anything more on this and neither was he trying to caste any aspersions.

After the Supreme Court had passed an ad interim order there were protests in Karnataka. During that time there was talk about Justice U U Lalit who is on the Bench along with Justice Dipak Mishra. It was said that Justice Lalit as an advocate had appeared for Jayalalithaa in one of the cases.

Also read: Cauvery water will be used for drinking purpose: Karnataka council resolves

Kumaraswamy in his address further stated that it is impossible to release water. He constantly referred to the Supreme Court's observation, "Live and let live."

He asked, "If the water is released, then we will have no drinking water. How do we live." He was then interrupted by Congress leader, Ramesh Kumar who rose and said, " We too need to live. Can we have lunch and resume the session?" The session was then adjourned for half an hour.

OneIndia News
Special assembly session on Cauvery: In one line, defiance of the Supreme court?

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 23: A special session of the Karnataka legislative assembly will be convened on Friday over the Cauvery Waters issue. Both the houses will meet at around 11 am on Friday following which a one line resolution will be passed.

The indication for now is that the resolution would state that Karnataka cannot release water to Tamil Nadu as per the directive of the Supreme Court of India.

The decision to convene a special session of both houses was taken following an all party and Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. On Monday, the Supreme Court had directed the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a period of seven days.

Karnataka had expressed displeasure and its inability to release any water. Many had termed the directive of the court as regressive and all leaders were united when it was decided that the court's order should not be abided by.

Also read: Cauvery row: Can Karnataka be held in contempt for defying SC order?

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah met with former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda and dished out support to take such a decision. BJP, however, boycotted the meeting.

During the Cabinet meeting which was also attended by the legal advisors to the state, it was explained that Karnataka could be held in contempt if it did not follow orders of the court.

However, it was decided that they would go to court and cite a legislative resolution which decided that water cannot be released. The Supreme Court hears the matter next on Tuesday at 2 pm.

OneIndia News
Cauvery issue: Karnataka message to SC, TN Cauvery is now only for drinking not irrigation

Bengaluru

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Bengaluru, Sept 23: A special session of the Karnataka legislative assembly was convened on Friday over the Cauvery Waters issue. Even as ministers in Karnataka geared for the discussion in the Assembly, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa was admitted in the hospital on Thursday night.

Cauvery water will be used for drinking purpose: Karnataka council resolves

While the result of the special session of the Karnataka legislative assembly is awaited, here are the latest updates from both the states over the issue:

6.30 pm: The Karnataka legislative assembly has resolved to release Cauvery water only for drinking water. This would mean no release of water to Tamil Nadu as per directive of Supreme Court.

6.14 pm: TN is asking for water despite having it says Siddaramaiah. Who do we go to for drinking water? Today what the assembly decides my government will abide by it Siddaramaiah says amidst applauds from members.At the cabinet I had said let us go before the assembly.

5.59 pm: First priority is drinking water Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah says.TN wants is asking water for samba crop. We need drinking water. We have to preserve water.We have a lot of respect for the judiciary. Our intention is not to disobey the supreme court order.

4.48 pm: Kumaraswamy dozes off as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaks.

4.52 pm: Karnataka says it has released 18.248 tmc of water to TN from Sept 1-20, TN says they had received 18.292 tmc during this period.

4.45 pm: After Tamil Nadu Karnataka too files objections to supervisory committee order. Says there is just 27.6 TMCft water cant release anymore. We need 26.33 tmcft for drinking water Karnataka also says.

4.20 pm: TN tells Supreme Court that Karnataka not interested in releasing water. Objects to supervisory committee order which ordered release of 3,000 cusecs of water.

4.13 pm: We have to take a hard stand. Let none think we are weak. We have to send out a strong message says H D Kumaraswamy. Just because we are following SC orders don't think we are weak the former CM also says.

4.00 pm: Tamil Nadu is never satisfied says H D Kumaraswamy. I request the central government to intervene.

3.56 pm: After a lunch break, the special legislative session in the Karnataka assembly has resumed. Kumaraswamy continues to speak.

3.54 pm: Tamil Nadu has filed objections in Supreme Court against the Supervisory Committee's order stating that as per the SC verdict, Karnataka still needs to release 17.5 TMCft water more.

3.43 pm: The Assembly broke for lunch on a light note. As JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy kept poking at the Supreme Court's remark to Karnataka to "live and let live" on the Cauvery waters issue and asked the weighty, "If we release water, then we'll not have enough water even for drinking for ourselves. How will we live then?", Congress leader and minister Ramesh Kumar rose up from his chair and with all the gravitas he could summon, said, "We must live, too. Can we break for lunch and resume the session later?" The legislators did just that.

2.56 pm: Assembly breaks for lunch. Will resume at 3.30 pm.

2.54 pm: Ramesh Kumar of Congress, while reacting to the live and let live comment made by SC requests Kumaraswamy to take a break from speaking. "Let us also live let us go for lunch and come back," he said.

2.50 pm: Tamil Nadu does not agree to our distress formula. We have always abided by the Constitution. What does SC mean by live and let live? We will clearly not live if we release water. Can they hold us in contempt if we protect our people?, asked Kumaraswamy.



2.42 pm: We can't be held in contempt for protecting our drinking water, says H D Kumaraswamy.

2.40 pm: There is talk that one of the judges hearing Cauvery case was appearing for Jayalalithaa when he was an advocate. I,however, don't wish to speak about it, says H D Kumaraswamy.

2.38 pm: The Supreme Court asks us to go before the supervisory committee and then passes order on its own says H D Kumaraswamy.

2.27 pm: We are not trying to trouble the farmers of Tamil Nadu says H D Kumaraswamy. We are only expressing our pain.

2.16 pm: Karnataka Legislative Council adopts one-line resolution that Cauvery water in state dams be utilised only for drinking purpose.

2.08 pm: There is no way we can release water. No other decision other than not releasing water can be taken says Shettar

2.07 pm: I urge the the house to take a decision on Cauvery says Jagadish Shettar. This house knows there is situation of distress. Reservoirs have alarming low levels of water Jagdish Shettar says.

2.00 pm: Advisory committee meeting underway in Bengaluru; Chief Minister Siddaramaiah present.

#CauveryIssue: Advisory committee meeting underway in Bengaluru; Chief Minister Siddaramaiah present. pic.twitter.com/AA1Sym2ehB  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

1.30 pm: Session gets underway in Karnataka Legislative Council.

1.00 pm: Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah wished Jayalalithaa a speedy recovery.

I learnt Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa is unwell & hospitalized. I wish her speedy recovery.  CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) September 23, 2016

On the other hand, Jayalalithaa was admitted in hospital on Thursday night for fever and dehydration. However, doctors on Friday said that she was stable and was consuming regular food. Earlier it was said that they are waiting for an auspicious time for her to be discharged from the hospital.

OneIndia News
Cauvery water will be used for drinking purpose: Karnataka council resolves

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 23: The Karnataka Legislative Council on Friday adopted a one line resolution that Cauvery water in the state dams will be utilised only for drinking water purpose. Both houses of the Karnataka assembly are currently in session to discuss the Cauvery Waters issue following a Supreme Court directive to release water to Tamil Nadu.

During the sessions several leaders said that the water levels in the four resrvoirs is alarmingly low. It was pointed out that there is just 26.5 TMC ft water in the four reservoirs. In this regard it was resolved that the Cauvery water in the dams shall be utilised only for drinking water purposes.

Meanwhile, the debate in the legislative assembly is underway. The session began with a reference following which opposition leader Jagadish Shettar opened the debate.

Shettar said that there is more water to give. Other leaders said where is the question of releasing water for Samba crop when there is no water to drink. The leaders said that the people are on the streets waiting anxiously for our decision and we should not let them down.

Further the leaders asked for a proper resolution of the problem. "Let us request Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to talk. It is only through talks can we resolve the problem." The leaders assured the CM that they were with him. Stick to your decision but don't go back on it, the leaders added.

OneIndia News
Karnataka resolves to release water only for Cauvery basin and Bengaluru

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sep 23: The Karnataka legislative assembly has resolved to release Cauvery water only for drinking water. A similar resolution was passed by the legislative council earlier in the day.

As per the resolution which was backed by all members in the assembly water would be released only for drinking purposes.

The house said that there is an acute situation of distress. The combined storages in the four reservoirs- Krishna Raja Sagar, Hemavathy, Harangi and Kabini had reached an alarmingly low level with only 27.6 TMCft of water, the resolution also read.

"It is now resolved to direct that in this state of acute distress it is imperative that the government ensures that no water from the present storages be drawn, save and except for meeting drinking water requirements of the villages and towns in the Cauvery basin and for the entire city of Bengaluru. The above resolution is unanimously passed considering the needs of the inhabitants of the state of Karnataka whose interests are likely to be gravely jeopardized if water in the four reservoirs is in any way reduced- other than for meeting the drinking water requirements of the inhabitants of in the Cauvery basin including the city of Bengaluru," the resolution also read.

Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah in his concluding remarks said that there was no way that Karnataka can release any more water.

Tamil Nadu keeps asking us for water. The North-Eastern monsoon is about to hit Tamil Nadu and hence they will have no shortage of water. However, in Karnataka there is acute shortage of water, he also said.

He further said that he abides by the Constitution. We do want to disobey the Supreme Court's order. However, the situation is such that we have no water at all the CM also said.

He ended his remarks by saying that his government will abide by what the house asks him to do. This comment was applauded by all members in the house.

The decision to convene a special session of both houses was taken following an all party and Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

On Monday the Supreme Court had directed the state to release 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a period of seven days.

It was decided at the Cabinet that they would go to court and cite a legislative resolution which decided that water cannot be released.The Supreme Court hears the matter next on Tuesday at 2 PM.

Karnataka had expressed displeasure and its inability to release any water. Many had termed the directive of the court as regressive and all leaders were united when it was decided that the court's order should not be abided by.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah met with former Prime Minister, H D Deve Gowda and dished out support to take such a decision.

OneIndia News
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.
Pakistan flies the F-16s: Spooked by us, say Indian officials

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, Sept 23: As India steps up the pressure on terrorist state Pakistan in the aftermath of the Uri attack and also for sponsoring the Kashmir unrest, a tweet by a senior journalist stated, F-16 planes flying at 10.20 pm over Islamabad. The tweet by GEO TV's senior journalist, Hamid Mir posted at 10.53 pm on September 22 created quite a stir.

While Mir appeared to have hinted that it was a military drill carried out by the Pakistani Air Force, he also retweeted a post that read, "don't worry it is just to assure the people of Islamabad that our forces are fully aware and ready to fight."

F-16 planes flying at 10:20 pm over Islamabad  Hamid Mir (@HamidMirGEO) September 22, 2016

@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

In the aftermath of the Uri attack, India has decided to take some stringent action against Pakistan. This exercise could well be a result of that and Pakistan it trying to show its might, said an Indian intelligence official.

Other officials say that this is more of a psychological tactic as Pakistan believes that its terror camps would be hit. There has been a lot of activity along the border and the operational readiness of the army is also being strengthened.

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

Further several presentations have been made to government explaining a military operation which could be conducted to step up the heat on Pakistan.

Spotting of the F-16s over Islamabad comes in the wake of Pakistan army chief, General Raheel Sharif assuring his nation that they are ready to face India.

Indian officials say that this exercise is nothing but propaganda. "It was an exercise carried out to send a message to India that Pakistan was readying its air force in case of any strike. It would not be right to say that the exercise was carried out to assure the people of Pakistan about their might," the official also adds.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 10:40 [IST]
Dana Majhi did not seek help to take wife's body: Odisha government

Bhubaneswar

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Bhubaneswar, Sep 23: The Odisha government has disputed the claim of Dana Majhi that he was denied a hearse or an ambulance to take his wife's body to his village in Kalahandi district.

"As stated by the nearby patients, their attendants in the ward, Dana Majhi took the patient without notice of anybody as they were asleep in the night," said the report of Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO).The report said the patient was not declared dead.

Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak furnished the report in a written reply to Congress MLA Prafulla Majhi in the state Assembly on Friday.

"Sri Dana Majhi had never sought for any help or ambulance like dead body carrier etc to any of the hospital staff in that night. In case of poor patients, if approached, transportation arrangement is made from CMRF/RKS or Red Cross Fund.

"But in the case of Sri Dana Majhi, neither himself nor anybody had sought for any help or assistance like dead body carrier etc to any of the hospital staff," said the CDMO report.

However, the government has terminated staff nurse Rajendra Rana from service and the security agency for not informing hospital authorities about the matter.

Dana Majhi walked over 10 km with his wife's body on his shoulders and made international headlines in August this year.

Following the incident, several organisations had extended help to Majhi.

IANS


Fire breaks out in BEST AC bus, no passenger hurt | VIDEO

As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand

In Pics: Mumbai on high alert after 5-6 masked persons sighted in Uran

Feature

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Mumbai, Sept 23: Multiple security agencies continued their hawk-eyed vigil on Friday to apprehend the five-or-six masked persons sighted in Uran, Mumbai by some students early on Thursday. Maharashtra Police also released sketches of two suspects.

Earlier, security at all critical installations and sensitive locations in Mumbai and adjoining Raigad, Navi Mumbai was beefed up with police road blocks, fishermen keeping a lookout in Arabian Sea and aerial-surface combing operations underway in different parts.

The schoolchildren reported to their school that they had seen four men at around 7 PM near the naval base in Uran. The men dressed in black had their faces covered and were speaking a different language the schoolchildren reported.

They informed their teacher, who in turn alerted the police and the entire security apparatus swung into action within hours.

Schools, colleges, shops and establishments in Uran and surroundings remained shut for the second day today as security officials continued their search to locate the potential mischief makers.

Returning from a trip to the US late Thursday night, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to the people not to panic as adequate security arrangements were in place in Uran, around 50 km on the mainland from Mumbai.

Commondos guarding the coast Mumbai police commandos guard the coast along Gateway of India as a high alert was issued by the Naval Quarters. Security beefed up at Raj Bhavan, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and many VVIP areas. Heavy security arrangements after two school children spotted suspicious looking gunmen at Uran. Security was intensified at Raj Bhavan, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the BARC, DAE, Mantralaya and surrounding VVIP areas, key railway termini and stations, prominent beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu, various oil and fertilizer companies' installations on the eastern coast of Mumbai, the naval harbour, JNPT and MbPT. Mumbai police keeping Hawkish vigil Policemen keeping vigil on people. Huge posses of police were witnessed in parts of south Mumbai, road blocks and checking of select vehicles continued overnight in an efforts to detect the missing suspects. Police and other security agencies launched operations to nab masked persons sighted in Uran

Mumbai police checking passengers of a taxi at a checkpost .The ongoing operations are described by security personnel as the highest ever state of alert after the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror strikes. Search operation to nab gunmen Mumbai: Mumbai police issued a high alert after two school children spotted suspicious looking gunmen at Uran, near Mumbai on Thursday.

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 15:36 [IST]
Fire breaks out in BEST AC bus, no passenger hurt | VIDEO

Maha min asks collector if he drinks alcohol; video goes viral

As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand

(In pics) What's happening in India

Feature

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Monsoons have wreaked havoc in various parts of India, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Mumbai. News of flood-like situation in Guntur and the ensuing rescue operations by the NDRF in various parts of Andhra Pradesh is going viral.

Meanwhile, Mumbai is also facing a high-alert situation as two school kids reported seeing suspicious-looking gunmen in Uran. Police officials and intelligence agencies have been pressed into action to collect information about the same.

Down South, the Cauvery water row is taking many twists and turns. The Karnataka Legislative Council has adopted a one-line resolution, saying that the Cauvery water in the state dams will be utilised only for drinking water purpose.

Here are the pics:

Standing in attention Mumbai: Mumbai police commandos guard the coast along Gateway of India as a high alert was issued by the Naval Quarters after two school children spotted suspicious looking gunmen at Uran, near Mumbai on Thursday. PTI Searching for 'suspicious gunmen' Mumbai: Mumbai police issued a high alert after two school children spotted suspicious looking gunmen at Uran, near Mumbai on Thursday. PTI Sitting in protest Chikmagalur: Youth Congress activists, with blindfolds and stones kept on heads, protest against BJP MPs on the Cauvery issue, in front of Gandhi statue in Chikmagalur on Thursday. PTI Jump of life Hyderabad: A man tries to cross a waterlogged street in Hyderabad following heavy downpour on Thursday. PTI Wading through water Mumbai: Waterlogged at Hindamata due to heavy rain, in Mumbai on Thursday. PTI

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 15:03 [IST]
8 dead in Guntur as rains lash AP, Telangana; Schools remain closed

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Hyderabad, Sept 23: Eight people are reportedly dead in flood-hit Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, as rains lash the twin states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for the past 24 hours.

Following this, high alert has been sounded by the MeT office, which said that more rains can be expected for the next two days. Schools have also been shut down for the safety of students.

Meanwhile, promising help to the people of Hyderabad, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said that Army, RAF, and the NDRF will be brought in to help in the rescue operation. Chopper services were deployed for the rescue operations as people were stranded in their homes and the roads. Food packets and edibles were also dispersed in various localities.

About 40 passengers of the APSRTC bus were rescued as they were stuck midstream on a causeway at Krosuru and flood water gushed in from Utukuru rivulet.

Deputy Chief Minister N China Rajappa toured various parts of the state to oversee the rescue operations. He also announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the deceased.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 11:00 [IST]
Airbnb, Gujarat pact to enhance travel experience of tourists

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 23 Home-share booking site Airbnb has partnered with Gujarat government to enhance travel experience of the tourists, both domestic and international, visiting the state and also boosting the tourism sector there.

"Gujarat ranks among the top states in India for us, both in terms of listings and growth. We will work together to bring homestays and travel options in the state onto an international platform," Airbnb India Country Manager Amanpreet Bajaj told PTI.

He added that the two entities will work together to boost tourism and create positive travel experiences for both domestic and international visitors in Gujarat.

Gujarat is a vibrant attraction to tourists in India and abroad, enriched with its cultural nuances as well as the hospitality of its local populace, he said. "Airbnb and Gujarat government will come together to assist homestays to come onto our global platform.

We will also hold educational and sensitization sessions on 'hosting standards and best practices' for current or potential hosts of homestay facilities and unique properties in Gujarat," he added.

Airbnb will also help provide information to its users on less-explored but high potential destinations in Gujarat to promote tourism to these destinations.

The San Francisco-based firm is confident of manifold growth in its business in India over the next few years, driven by a surge in volume of travellers using its platform and increase in number of listed properties. About 17,000 properties are now listed in India with 115 per cent growth being seen in listing in 2015 from the previous year.

In terms of travellers (bookings), there has been 185 per cent increase in travellers from India and 184 per cent increase in bookings in India (in-bound) in 2015 from the previous year.

The Indian travel market is set to pass the USD 40 billion dollar mark by 2020, according to industry reports.

PTI
Anbumani Ramadoos urges PM to make sure GM mustard is not approved

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 22 Former Union Health minister Anbumani Ramadoss today sought urgent intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make sure that GM mustard is not approved by the country's biotech regulator GEAC.

In a letter to Modi, Ramadoss said that it is apparent that testing for GM mustard, which has received a safety clearance from a technical panel of experts in the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has not been "adequate".

"When Bt brinjal was being debated for approval in India, as the then Union Health Minister, I had ensured that the ministry took a rigorous, pro-people and pro-science stand and I expect the Government to do the same with GM mustard, given that mustard is more widely grown and consumed and in more ways than Brinjal.

"If we want to protect citizens' health and environment, this GM mustard should not be approved at all and I urge you to intervene urgently and make sure that it is not permitted to be grown in India," Ramadoss said in his letter.

GEAC had constituted a sub-committee of scientific experts to examine the biosafety data on GM mustard.

After the committee examined it, the report was placed on the Environment Ministry's website inviting comments from stakeholders within a period of 30 days before the biotech regulator took a decision. The report claimed that the hybrid variety did not pose any risk to biodiversity or agro-ecosystem.

Ramadoss said that he had also written to the Union Health Minister JP Nadda in November last year pointing out that there is absolutely no need for opting for this "unsafe" technology.

"In fact, the very basis on which this GM mustard is being pushed  its yield superiority  has not even been verified by the regulators," he said.

Ramadoss also said,"there are reports that the one health safety expert put into the technical panel represents a conflict of interest that should not have been there, and is also someone who did not participate in the assessment processes.

"Quite apart from this is the fact that GM mustard underwent very little testing on the health front," he said.

PTI
Ancient idols returned by US produced in TN court

India

oi-PTI

Kumbakonam (TN), Sep 22: Four ancient stolen temple idols, including those returned by the US during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit there in June this year, were produced before a court here today.

Tamil Nadu idol wing police produced the idols of Hindu deities dating back to to Chola Period of 11th  12th Century AD before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate S Baskaran. These included statue of Saint Manikkavichavakar, a Hindu mystic and poet from the Chola period (850 AD to 1250 AD), valued at USD 1.5 million, and a Lord Vinayakar idol estimated to be 1,000-year-old, which were returned by the US government at a function in Washington on June 7 attended by Modi.

The US had returned over 200 stolen cultural artifacts, which are estimated at USD 100 million. The four idols were part of the 28 antique idols stolen from two temples in Sripuranthan and Suthamally villages in Ariyalur district during 2006 and 2008 and subsequently smuggled out of the country.

They were illegally exported to USA at the behest of New York-based Subash Chandra Kapoor, alleged kingpin of an international racket in antiques. Idol wing police, investigating the theft of idols, arrested Kapoor after his extradition from Germany with the help of Interpol in 2012.

Besides the artefacts returned by the US, an idol of Goddess "Bhoodevi" and "Chakrathazvar" were produced in the court after they were identified by priests and locals of the respective temples earlier.

Judge Baskaran registered the details of the idols and ordered them to be kept at the icon safety centre at the Nagesawaran Temple here.

Idol wing DSP Ashok Nataraj told reporters that so far seven of the 28 idols stolen from the temples in Ariyalur had been recovered. "The rest of the idols are in the Kapoor Museum in America and we are in the process of recovering them," he said.

Idol wing Inspectors Natarajan and Ravi were also present in the court.

PTI
Badal govt has lost moral right to continue: Amarinder Singh

India

oi-PTI

Hoshiarpur, Sep 22 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.

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, Gagneja's 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 BJP's 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
Video: Why Chinas former president was escorted out from stage

'Don't allow differences to become disputes: China envoy's parting shots

US views China as top security threat despite Russia's war

China reaffirms support for Putin after Xis record 3rd term victory at congress

China imposes anti-dumping measures on US distiller's grain

India

oi-PTI

Beijing, Sep 23 China will impose anti-dumping duties on distiller's dried grains (DDGs) from the US requiring importers to pay a cash deposit on purchase.

The domestic industry has been "substantially" harmed by the dumping of DDGs, the Ministry of Commerce said in its preliminary ruling following an investigation launched earlier this year.

Starting today, importers of the product must place deposits with Chinese customs at 33.8 per cent of the import value, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

DDGS are the nutrient rich byproduct of dry-milled ethanol production, which are used in animal feed.

China is the world's biggest buyer of DDGS, with most imports coming from the US.

PTI
They stay among you to kill you: Ansarul Bangla Team could be Indias biggest threat

Don't trust Pakistanis: al Qaeda to Kashmiris

India

oi-Vicky

"When Indian forces built up pressure in 2002, Pakistan had become submissive." In a 11 page message issued by the al Qaeda, its leader takes on the Pakistani agencies and calls on Kashmiris not to trust them.

The al Qaeda has now thrown its hat into the Kashmir ring and has accused terrorist state Pakistan of betraying the people of the Valley. In a message titled, "Jihad of Kashmir- A Call to Reflection and Action," the outfit says that fighting a battle under the supervision and cooperation of Pakistan is as good as wasting time.

The message further states that Pakistani agencies only fulfill their own interests. The message that runs into 11 pages is released in Hindi, English, Bengali and Urdu.

If Jihad is not liberated from the influence of the Pakistani agencies, the oppression of the people of Kashmir would never end, the message also reads.

The al Qaeda also says that in the year 2002, when the Indian army had built up force along the border and showed some force, the Pakistanis had become submissive. To show resolve is not part of the Pakistan army's doctrine, the message further states.

The message also calls on the Kashmiris to say good bye to the Pakistanis. It is time to distinguish between friends and enemies. The Pakistanis are not sympathisers they are selfish, the message further reads.

The Pakistanis are traitors who betrayed the people of Kashmir and hence it is time to say good bye to them, the al-Qaeda's Usama Mahmoud also says in the message.

OneIndia News
Family keep dead man for days thinking he is in coma

Family planning: 145 districts to be targeted under new plan

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 23: To accelerate access to high quality family planning choices, the Centre will soon launch a mission focusing on 145 districts across seven states of the country which have high fertility rates.

The Union Health Ministry will launch 'Mission Parivar Vikas' in these districts of seven states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam which have high Total Fertility Rates (TFR) and constitute nearly 50 per cent of the country's population.

"Health Ministry will soon launch 'Mission Parivar Vikas' in 145 high focus districts having the highest total fertility rates in the country," an official statement said. Health Minister J P Nadda had earlier stressed the need for micro-planning in more than 100 districts to reach the targeted Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and achieve the goal of population stabilisation.

TFR is the average number of children expected to be born per woman during her entire span of reproductive period and India has a TFR target of 2.1 per cent.

It said the main objective of the mission will be to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework.

The 145 districts have been identified based on total fertility rate and service delivery (PPIUCD and Sterilisation performance) for immediate, special and accelerated efforts to reach the replacement level fertility goals of 2.1 by 2025.

PTI
Finally, the deal's done: 17 years to Rafale

India

oi-Raghotham

By S. Raghotham

Among other missions it will fulfill, the Rafale will form the new air component of India's triad of nuclear weapons delivery.

1. India today sealed the long-pending deal to buy 36 Rafale multi-role combat jets with the French government. It signals the end of a long and tortuous procurement process that was first initiated 17 years ago in 1999. But it's also the beginning of yet another three-year-long wait before the Indian Air Force gets the first Rafale aircraft.

2. In 1999, former air chief A.Y. Tipnis proposed that India buy a new lot of Mirage 2000s from France as the Russian MiG-21s would soon have to be retired and India's fighter strength would deplete. The IAF was happy with the Mirage fighters that it had bought from France in the late 1980s, which performed well during the Kargil conflict, too.

3. In 2001, however, Tipnis' successor S. Krishnaswamy proposed that given India's growing status as a regional power as well as its expanding economic interests, India should rather buy a more capable aircraft. What was until then a plan to buy a multi-role combat aircraft became a global tender for a medium, multi-role combat aircraft, meaning India was opening up the bid to both single-engine and twin-engine aircraft. A request for proposal was floated six years later in 2007.

4. Six companies bid for what was then billed as the 'mother of all defence deals' -- after all, India wanted 126 fighters, the largest such deal on offer anywhere in the world at the time, and had earmarked some $10 billion for them.

[In Pics: Signing of Rafale Fighter Jets deal]

5. America's Lockheed Martin offered the single-engine F-16 fighters, and Boeing the twin-engine F/A-18; Russia's MiG Corporation offered the MiG-35; Sweden's SAAB proposed the single-engine JAS-39 Gripen fighter; the four-nation European consortium (Britain-Germany-Spain-Italy) Eurofighter offered the Typhoon jets; and France's Dassault initially offered the Mirage-2000 and later the Rafale jets.

6. After extensive field trials over plains, deserts and over the Himalayas, the IAF shortlisted the Rafale and the Typhoon, taking into account their commercial bids, too.

7. Both the Rafale and the Typhoon began their development journey in the early 1980s. In fact, initially, Eurofighter and Dassault had tried to join hands to develop a single combat aircraft for Europe. But the French withdrew and decided to build their own aircraft after differences cropped up over what kind of an aircraft they wanted to develop. The Eurofighter was keen on a bomber, the French were keen on an aircraft that would be good at air-to-air combat, a fighter. Eventually, though, as defence budgets shrunk through the late 1980s and the 1990s, combat jets had to become multi-role aircraft, capable of both air-to-air and air-to-land combat.

8. Eventually, India named Dassault as the preferred bidder in 2011.

A USAF KC-135 refuels a Rafale jet during a French mission in Mali) (Source: YouTube. Video shot by SSgt David Clark.

9. When negotiations started, however, a number of issues came up that prolonged the procurement process right up to 2015. India insisted on assembling 108 of the 126 aircraft in India, demanded significant technology transfer and 50 percent direct offsets, that is, ploughing back 50 percent of the project value into India in the form of joint ventures and new factories in India that would produce components and sub-systems for the aircraft, thus building up India's aerospace industrial capabilities.

10. The French, meanwhile, allegedly had quoted a low figure to win the tender, but then started to jack up the price, a move complicated by the Rupee's devaluation between 2011 and 2013 and by the fact that India was for the first time trying to do life-cycle costing for a defence deal, at which the MoD had no prior experience.

11. The deal with Dassault completely fell through when it became known that the total value of the deal would be of the order of $25-30 billion.

12. But the IAF desperately needs new aircraft to fill its diminishing fighter squadron strength. With this is mind, the Narendra Modi government decided to shelve the tender process altogether and go in for a government-to-government deal with the French, and to buy a much smaller number -- 36 Rafale jets, or two squadrons of 18 jets each -- all to be built in France, and the first Rafale to be delivered in 2019.

13. Yet another year of negotiations took place before the two governments agreed on a price. France started by quoting 12 billion Euros for the 36, but has eventually come down to 7.87 billion euros. In sheer value, it's still a 787-sized (pardon the pun) deal, boeing...oops...going the French way!

OneIndia News
Fire breaks out in BEST AC bus, no passenger hurt | VIDEO

Maha min asks collector if he drinks alcohol; video goes viral

As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand

News flash:Tension in Karol Bagh area after animal parts are found

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Sept 23: Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on Thursday. Doctors said that her condition is now stable.

Get all the latest news updates of the day:

11:17 pm: Gulbarga (K'taka) DC announces holiday tmrw for schools & colleges in Sedam, Chitapur, Chincholi & Gulbarga north div due to heavy rain.

11:05 pm: Tension in Karol Bagh area after animal parts are found

10:27 pm: 'Tigers' squadron of IAF successfully fired the long range 'Beyond Visual Range' Air-to-Air MICA missile from Mirage-2000 Upgrade aircraft.

9:56 pm: Chikungunya: 2K blood samples test positive, AIIMS studying viral strain

9.14 pm: Disability should not stop anyone from achieving what they desire to. This has been exhibited well in my case: Mariyappan Thangavelu

9.10 pm: I am very happy that I won gold for the nation. I achieved this with whatever little was available for me: Mariyappan Thangavelu

9.06 pm: Tamil Nadu: Rio Paralympics Gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu receives warm welcome at Chennai airport on his arrival

8.40 pm: If they want cricketers to come into the system spell out their names, it is a professional job: Ravi Shastri

8.40 pm: I think a dialogue must still continue, genuine efforts should be made by both the parties: Ravi Shastri on Lodha committee recommendations

8.20 pm: There are certain areas where I thought that we can still have a dialogue with the Lodha committee. If they felt that things aren't going well they've every right to mention what can be done. If I have an idea which is constructive & in 3 years you are telling me to leave, then how can I achieve anything in 3 years: Former Indian cricketer, Ravi Shastri

8.10 pm: Delhi: Japan-India Parliamentarians Friendship League delegation meet Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

8.00 pm: Department of Environment is advised to take immediate necessary steps to ban Chinese crackers for public interest: Delhi Govt.

7.40 pm: Judgement, outcome I personally felt is unfortunate: Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar on 2008 Scarlett Keeling murder case verdict

7.30 pm: Nearly 30 civilians killed in bombardment of Syria's Aleppo (Source: AFP)

7:24 pm: Navi Mumbai: As far as Indian Navy is concerned, search ops based on y'day's sightings of suspected terrorists is over: Defence PRO on Uran.

7:11 pm: Delhi: A delegation of West Pakistani Refugees met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, submitted a charter of demands.

6:50 pm: A 22 year old youth killed after security forces opened fire during a protest in Nadihal Sopore, Baramulla District (J&K).

6:40 pm: Do you people only want statements, or want to see some action? Action will be taken, you wait & see: Ram Madhav on Pak issue.

6:20 pm: The karnataka legislative assembly has resolved to release Cauvery water only for drinking water. This would mean no release of water to Tamil Nadu as per directive of Supreme Court.

6:10 pm: AAP MLAs demand time to file documents i.e. HC order on cancellation of parliamentary secretaries. EC give next date of Oct 7 to file reply.

5:58 pm: French defence minister Jean-Yves Drian meets PM Narendra Modi.

5:50 pm: High alert along LoC, BSF troops are patrolling the border.

5:44 pm: I don't have faith in the justice system here to give us justice, anymore: Scarlett Keeling's mother.

5:30 pm: 2008 Scarlett Keeling murder case: I had some hope in CBI but it is clear that either they are incompetent or corrupt & I believe they are not incompetent: Keeling's mother

5:27 pm: Samsung fire incident: This equipment (Samsung mobile) will be further examined by the concerned departments. IndiGo has voluntarily informed the DGCA.

5:22 pm: Won't allow release of Shah Rukh Khan's 'Raees' & Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' as Pak actors have worked in it: Shalini Thackeray, MNS.

5:18 pm: EU may impose restrictions, economic & political, on Pak if it fails to stop atrocities on Baloch:Ryszard Cza rnecki (VP, European Parl).

5:02 pm: Manik Sarkar had said that India has a big brotherly attitude with its neighbouring countries yesterday.

4:50 pm:TMC & Congress walk-out of Tripura Assembly on demand of withdrawal of alleged comment by the CM Manik Sarkar.

4:33 pm: Samsung phone catches fire onboard Indigo flight. Phone was in passenger's bag in overhead cabin

4:20 pm: SC maintains that Subarata Roy will go to jail. Gives him time till September 30 to surrender.

4:10 pm: Geneva: Protesters hold a silent candle light protest outside UNHRC to highlight the atrocities committed by Pak in Balochistan.

3:57 pm: Rafale is a potent weapon which will add to the capability of IAF: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

3:46 pm: Hyderabad: Heavy rainfall triggers water logging in several areas.

3.40 pm: Delhi High Court allows WhatsApp to go ahead with their new privacy policy.

3.33 pm: BJP Office bearer meeting begins in Kozhikode.

3.26 pm: This is contempt of court by K'taka Govt. If the Govt won't follow the Court's order, what will happen in future?: CR Saraswathi (AIADMK).

3.18 pm: Protesters hold a silent candle light protest outside UNHRC to highlight the atrocities committed by Pak in Balochistan in Geneva.

3.02 pm: Foreign nationals in Mumbai with valid docs provided by GoI, need not worry. We'll provide adequate protection when required: Mumbai Police.



3.01 pm: 2008 Scarlett Keeling murder case: Goa court acquits both the accused.

2.51 pm: SC to hear in November, PIL filed by NGO Swaraj Abhiyan seeking SIT probe in purchase of Agustawestland helicopter by Chhattisgarh Govt.

2.50 pm: Tamil Nadu does not agree to our distress formula. We have always abided by the Constitution. What does SC mean by live and let live? We will clearly not live if we release water. Can they hold us in contrmpt if we protect our people?

We can't be held in contempt for protecting our drinking water says H D Kumaraswamy.

2.45 pm: Cauvery water will be used for drinking purpose- karnataka council resolves.

Triple talaq is nothing but gross injustice to women, this is a totally wrong law: Maulana Saif Abbas,Shia cleric pic.twitter.com/EalxaFt9hd  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

2:40 pm: Triple talaq is nothing but gross injustice to women, this is a totally wrong law: Maulana Saif Abbas,Shia cleric.

2.25 pm: Delegation of Japan-India Parliamentarians friendship league calls on PM Narendra Modi.

Delhi: Delegation of Japan-India Parliamentarians friendship league calls on PM Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/AytIpGcith  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

1.55 pm: There is no way we can release water. No other decision other than not releasing water can be taken says Jagdish Shettar.

1.50 pm: I urge the the house to take a decision on Cauvery says Jagadish Shettar. This house knows there is situation of distress. Reservoirs have alarming low levels of water Shettar says.

1.42 pm: There is no way we can release water. No other decision other than not releasing water can be taken says Shettar on Cauvery water row.

1.41 pm: Mount Abu (Rajasthan): Selfie with a python? Think again...

1.40 pm: Sahara apologises to Supreme Court for use of intemperate language used by its counsel Rajeev Dhawan.

1.39 pm: Special session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly underway.

1.38 pm: Siddaramaiah condemns Uri and Pathankot attacks.

1.37 pm: French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Drian pays homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate.

1.26 pm: We won't let 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' & 'Raees' release as it has Pakistani actors: MNS.

1.14 pm: Kerala HC has postponed the review petition on Lavalin scandal case to November 9th 2016.

1.10 pm: We have not received a response yet but we hope FIR is registered soon considering the gravity of the complaint: Swati Maliwal.

12.57 pm: So many people take pictures with me, we dont know everyone do we? They dont have it written on their faces: Tej Pratap Yadav on SC notice.

12.50 pm: BJP leaders who have a picture with him should also be sent out a notice: Tej Pratap Yadav on SC notice.

12.47 pm: Deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets between India and France signed; deal is worth 7.8 billion euros.

12.44 pm: Deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets between India and France signed.

12.34 pm: President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Narendra Modi launch Vice President Hamid Ansari's book 'Citizen and Society'.

12.25 pm: PM Narendra Modi speaking at the launch of Vice President Hamid Ansari's book 'Citizen and Society'.

12.10 pm: Debate to be held for two hours only. Speak on distress not against SC leaders advised by speaker.

12.05 pm: Law minister T B Jayachandra to move motion in Karnataka legislative assembly.

11.58 am: Special Session in Karnataka Legislative assebmly likely to commence at 12pm after JD(S) leader H D Revanna said that it would not be auspicious to start the session between 10.30am and 12pm.

11.55 am: SC seeks reply of Centre and CBI on VVIP chopper scam.

11.50 am: Maharashtra: An NSG commando at Uran Police station after a meeting of security forces.

Maharashtra: An NSG commando at #Uran Police station after a meeting of security forces pic.twitter.com/ZmYO5sSE27  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

11.30 am: Each speaker in the Karnataka assembly will be given only five minutes to speak on the Cauvery issue.

11.20 am: Special Session will urge Prime Minister to intervene in the Cauvery matter.

11.13 am: Ahead of the Special legislative session, it has been decided not to use strong language against the SC.

10.55 am: Supreme Court orders Subrato Roy be taken back into custody. Supreme Court was miffed with the wrong statements on property given by Sahara. Sends Roy and two directors back to Tihar.



10.27 am: NSG teams deployed in Mumbai after a high alert was issued in the state.

10.07 am: Terminal B of New York's LaGuardia Airport evacuated, unattended vehicle being investigated.

9.55 am: Srinagar (J&K): Shutdown and restrictions continue for the 77th day.

Srinagar (J&K): Shutdown and restrictions continue for the 77th day. pic.twitter.com/5luSceA9yK  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

9.40 am: Combing operations in Uran continue, Maharashtra Home Dept confirms that its probing seizure of an abandoned boat on 7th Sept near Uran.

9.22 am: Seven people dead and two missing after heavy rains and flooding in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

9.17 am: A Pakistani national has been apprehended by the BSF at Akhnoor sector, J&K.

9.05 am: J&K: BSF resort to firing after noticing suspicious activity along LOC in Keran sector, search ops underway.

8.23 am: Security tightened at Mumbai airport after high alert was issued.

Security tightened at Mumbai airport after high alert was issued #Uran pic.twitter.com/1NkrZdSPQo  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

8.18 am: Special legislative session in Karnataka today. Session to pass one line resolution on Cauvery. Session likely to resolve not to release water to Tamil Nadu as per directive of Supreme Court.

8.07 am: Lawyers protest against Pakistan at Wagah border against Uri attack.

Lawyers protest against Pakistan at Wagah border #UriAttack pic.twitter.com/WkUWWqeRr0  ANI (@ANI_news) September 23, 2016

8.00 am: Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa hospitalised.

OneIndia News
Israel offers to assist India in border fencing

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 23: Israel today offered to India its expertise for strengthening border fencing, stressing that the two countries share "similar challenges" on many fronts, including cross-border terrorism.

The comments made by Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon assume significance in the wake of last Sunday's terror attack in Uri, where the terrorists were believed to have come from Pakistan crossing the Line of Control.

The top Israeli diplomat said his country is following the development with concern and affirmed that cooperation on terrorism shall be a permanent feature of bilateral ties.

Carmon said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, during his last visit to Israel, was shown the country's preparedness level at the borders.

"Our message is, yes, Israel has the expertise, because it has been under threat. We do share similar challenges. We have the solutions. We can work together on the solution.

"We have shown in other areas that we can cooperate and this might and should be the case here as well," Carmon said during a media briefing on the upcoming HLS and Cyber Conference in Tel Aviv.

Asked about the Uri attacks, which claimed the lives of 18 soldiers, Carmon said Israel's cooperation with India on a daily basis on anti-terrorism, defence and homeland security "is there, was there and will continue to be there".

"There is a need to confront terrorism. There is a tactical way to do this. There is an international, diplomatic way to do this and I am sure and confident that India knows exactly what it needs to do," he said.

Carmon said that Israel was willing to share conceptual and technological knowledge on how it was countering cyber threats, which he said can emanate from anywhere and not any particular country.

The conference will be held between November 14-17 where a number of Indian companies are expected to participate.

PTI

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 16:57 [IST]
Who is Yasin Malik? The Kashmiri separatist sentenced to life in terror funding case

Should Kashmir be given to Pakistan: Row erupts after this question appears in MP civil service exam

From hijab to Kashmir, Zawahiri was Al-Qaeda's voice for everything anti-India

Its not militancy: 12,000 Kashmiris aspire to join Indian army; fight terrorism

India

oi-Oneindia

By Maitreyee Boruah

As India and Pakistan are waging a bitter diplomatic fight over Kashmir, hundreds of Kashmiri youths have a strong message.

They want to fight cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan by joining the Indian army.

Testimony to the fact is that more than 12,000 Kashmiri men have registered online for an ongoing recruitment rally to join the Indian army, which will conclude on September 25.

The enrollment drive is underway at Anantnag in south Kashmir, the epicenter of violent protests in the Valley since July.

An army spokesperson told reporters that the overwhelming participation of Kashmiri men in the army rally held great significance. He added that it was no mean feat especially at a time when separatists and militants had asked Kashmiri youths to not join the security forces.

"After the overwhelming response on the first day and in spite of 'Anantnag Chalo'(march to Anantnag) call (by separatists), a large number of candidates from the districts of Budgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam turned up on the second day of the rally today," the spokesperson told reporters on Thursday.

The large-scale participation of the enthusiastic youths in the rally shows the desire of Kashmiris to get respectable employment opportunities in the Indian army. These men also want peace and normalcy back in the Valley.

"Besides reflecting the sense of duty and patriotism, love for adventure and need for employment, the large turnout of youth at this rally, also represents clearly the desire for calm, peace and normalcy of the candidates themselves, their family and friends," the spokesperson said.

The first day of the enrollment drive saw the participation of around 500 local men on September 21.

"The number of applicants could have been more had there been no problems in the internet connectivity in the Valley," the spokesperson said.

A similar army recruitment drive will be conducted at Bandipora district in north Kashmir from September 29.

The Valley is on the boil in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

Reports say around 80 have been killed and around 10,000 civilians and security personnel have been injured in two-and-a-half months of violence.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 12:18 [IST]
As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand

Uri terror attack: MNS asks Pak artistes to leave India

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Sep 23: Amid tension in the wake of Uri terror attack, the MNS today asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan to leave immediately, failing which their shootings will be stalled.

Actors like Mahira Khan (starring Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Raees') and "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" star Fawad Khan are hijacking the opportunities of Indian artistes, Shalini Thackeray, wife of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, said in a press conference.

She said these two actors have been served the ultimatum to leave the country. In Karan Johar's "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", which is slated to release next month, Fawad is in a supporting role Mahira plays the lead role opposite SRK in 'Raees'.

However, Mumbai police assured the actors that they need not worry as they will be given protection. Shalini, who is the general secretary of MNS, told PTI that their Chitrapat wing has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to all the Pakistani actors to leave the country.

"We have started dashing off letters to Pakistani actors, whose country is allegedly sponsoring terrorism, to stop their acting business here.

"We would also issue letters to the producers on what grounds they are hiring the Pakistani actors, when there are ample number of actors here in the country and struggling to find an opportunity," she said.

In a country of 1.25 billion people where lakhs and crores struggle a lot for an opportunity to be launched in movies, these big brands are giving opportunity to Pakistani artistes, she added. To a query on what MNS would do if the Pakistani artistes don't leave, Thackeray said, "Our workers would push them out... would not let them do their acting business."

PTI
Slip of Tongue in Pak Parliament: Speaker pronounces Nawaz Sharif's name instead of Shehbaz Sharif

MP: Muslims burn effigy of Nawaz Sharif in Jhabua

India

oi-PTI

Jhabua (MP), Sep 23: Hundreds of Muslims here today burnt an effigy of Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif condemning the attack on the Uri Army base on September 18.

The protesters gathered at Husani chowk after Friday namaz at Jama Masjid and marched to Rajwara chowk shouting slogans like 'Hindustan Zindabad' and "Pakistan Murdabad".

They burnt the effigies there. They said the effigy also represented terrorists. "We burnt an effigy symbolising Sharif and terrorists," said Maulana Shan-a-Alam of the Jama Masjid. Addressing the community, he said Indian Muslims will give befitting reply if Pakistan tried to attack the country.

Maulana Khurshid Alam, another cleric, said Indian Muslims would never betray the country. In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Pakisan prime minister Sharif had described the slain Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani as a "Young leader", whereas he was nothing but a terrorist, he said.

PTI
Gap between rich and poor has widened, needs to be bridged: Gadkari

Nitin Gadkari stresses on need for agricultural revolution

India

oi-PTI

Panaji, Sep 23 Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has stressed on the need for agricultural revolution in the country by providing electricity at low rates to farmers from pithead power plants.

"We need to start an agricultural revolution in India by providing cheap electricity to farmers from pithead power plants and urea produced using domestically available Coal Bed Methane (CBM) or coal gasification. Expensive urea imports from China would not be required," Gadkari said last evening.

The Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister was addressing the 17th Regulators and Policymakers Retreat organised by The Independent Power Producers Association of India in South Goa.

"Innovation in water management, including de-silting of rivers, using innovative check dams for micro-irrigation rather than big hydro projects, are required," he said.

On the viability of power sector, Gadkari said, "How can coal prices vary without power prices correspondingly varying? The power sector would not survive."

"In the past, state governments have given too much importance on increasing the generation capacity without giving due importance to transmission and distribution segments in the power sector," the minister said.

"With the advancements of new technology and innovations, significant growth is expected in the Indian power sector and the agriculture sector will be one of the beneficiaries of such growth," he said. The need is to focus on agriculture sector and provide electricity 24/7 to rural areas at low prices, he added.

Expressing confidence in the government's plan to revolutionise the agriculture and irrigation sectors, he noted that some laws regarding environment and forests create hindrance in economic development. The conference that began yesterday is based on the theme 'India  Meeting the Aspirations?' The event looks at the aspirations of young Indians keeping in mind the ways of improving their living standards by benchmarking it with the western narrative of development.

Participating in the event through video conferencing, Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu explained how the country is undergoing massive transformation in power sector through a pro-active approach and better policies and regulations. He said, "Rickshaw, taxi and train to be integrated in scheme for multi-modal transport."

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, in a pre-recorded message, said the UDAY scheme is the most significant step taken to remove financial constraints in the distribution segment and will bring efficiency in the workings of the state electricity distribution companies.

PTI
This is 21st century, where have we reached in name of religion: SC on hate speeches

SC maintains Subrata Roy will go to jail, directs him to surrender by Sept 30

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Sept 23: The Supreme Court maintained its order in which it had cancelled interim bail granted to Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy and two of its directors.

The court granted Roy time till September 30 to surrender. The court however agreed to hear the application filed by Roy on September 28 and maintained that no arrest shall be carried out till then.

Earlier today the Supreme Court ordered that Roy be sent back to the Tihar jail in Delhi. It is better you go back to jail the bench said while cancelling the interim parole arrangement.

While making submissions, counsel for SEBI informed the court that most of the properties mentioned in the list for auction had already been attached by the Income Tax Department. SEBI said that since these properties were attached it could not sell them.

While cancelling the interim arrangement, the SC observed that it was better he went back to jail.The court said, "you provide a list of properties which are already attached by the IT department. You do not cooperate and hence it is better you are back in jail, the court said while cancelling the interim arrangement of parole".

Following this order there was drama with Sahara's advocates apologizing to the Bench after one of its counsel was pulled up by the court for using harsh language. After considering the apology the Supreme Court allowed the Sahara chief, Subrata Roy to move a fresh bail application. The court however said that Roy will remain in jail until the bail application was heard.

The Supreme Court took strong exception to the manner in which Sahara's counsel Rajeev Dhawan advanced arguments. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India, T S Thakur while coming down heavily on the manner in which Dhawan addressed the court said that some play with the dignity of the court.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 17:10 [IST]
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This is 21st century, where have we reached in name of religion: SC on hate speeches

Special anti-corruption courts in every district: SC to take up plea next week

SC notice to Lalu's son, Shahabuddin in a scribe murder case

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Sep 23: The Supreme Court today directed CBI to proceed with the investigation in slain journalist Rajdev Ranjan's murder case and directed the Bihar police to provide protection to his family.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also issued notices and sought response from RJD leader Shahabuddin, Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, the son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Bihar government on the plea of Ranjan's wife seeking transfer of the case from Siwan in Bihar to Delhi.

The apex court directed the CBI to file a status report of its investigation before it on October 17, the next date of hearing.

The bench directed the Superintendent of Police, Siwan to provide police protection to the Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan and their family.

Asha had moved Supreme Court seeking transfer of probe and trial in the case to Delhi alleging that media reports had shown two absconding killers of her husband in the company of recently-released RJD leader Shahabuddin and Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav.

She had sought reliefs including a direction to CBI to take up the investigation forthwith in view of the fact that the proclaimed offenders, Mohd Kaif and Mohd Javed, have been spotted with Shahabuddin and the state Health Minister, where several cops were also present. Kaif surrendered in a Siwan district court of Siwan on Septmeber 21.

The scribe, working with a vernacular daily, was shot dead on the evening of May 13 in Siwan town by some sharp- shooters allegedly at the instance of then jailed RJD leader, the plea alleged, adding that despite being named by the family of the journalist, Siwan police did not name Shahabuddin in the FIR as a key conspirator.

It also alleged that the RJD leader was irked over some reports by the slain journalist on the issue of murder of three sons of Chandrakeshwar Prasad. Shahabuddin has been convicted and awarded life term in one of the cases.

Shahabuddin, who was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7, was released from Bhagalpur jail on September 10. He was in jail for 11 years in connection with dozens of cases against him.

PTI

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 17:03 [IST]
In a first, two inmates of Institute of Mental Health tie the knot

TN govt to launch 50 'Amma Free Wi-Fi' zones

India

oi-PTI

Chennai, Sept 23: In yet another people-friendly initiative, the ruling AIADMK government today issued orders to set up 'Amma Free Wi-Fi' zones in 50 places across the state .

Cashing in on the 'Amma' brand, the state government had earlier introduced several people-friendly schemes like Amma Water, Amma Cement, Amma Medicine besides launching Amma Canteen offering food at subsidised rates.

"In a move to implement the Free Wi-Fi zone scheme as announced in the party manifesto, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa issued orders to set up Amma Wi-Fi zone in 50 spots, comprising larger bus terminuses, commercial complexes and parks," a release from Chief Minister's office said.

Similarly, higher secondary school and college students would also be given free access to internet as per the poll promise, it said. In the first phase, 50 schools will be covered at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Jayalalithaa is fondly called 'Amma' (Mother) by her cadres.

Meanwhile, Jayalalithaa has issued orders to construct an integrated IT complex, spread across two lakh square feet at the Electronic Corporation of Tamil Nadu Special Economic Zone in Sholinganallur at a cost of Rs 80 crore, another release said.

The proposal to construct the complex was against the backdrop of exports from the Special Economic Zone constituting 25 per cent, valued at Rs 16,536 crore, it said. The government said, 650 permanent e-registration centres will be set up by the Tamil Nadu e-governance Agency allowing people to access the services offered by government departments.

"The Centres will be set up at a cost of Rs 25 crore," it said. For customers who opt to make use of government services through mobile applications, the release said, a new scheme, Assured Multi-Modal Access, would be launched offering the services of government department in mobile phones.

"Initially, 25 government schemes will be launched through this facility at a cost of Rs one crore," it added.

Noting that the offices of Tamil Nadu e-governance agency and the Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation were operating in rented premises, the release said new buildings at a cost of Rs five crore would be constructed to house the government offices.

PTI
'19 dead' in clashes with IS in Libya's Sirte

International

oi-PTI

Tripoli, Sept 23: Ten jihadists and nine pro-government fighters died in clashes on Friday 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 country's Government of National Accord launched an offensive against the jihadists in May. The hospital in Misrata, a town half-way between Sirte and Tripoli, to which casualties are ferried, said on Facebook that nine pro-GNA fighters were killed and 40 wounded.

Loyalist military sources said at least 10 IS militants also died in the latest bout 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.

PTI
Are you awake?: EAM Jaishankar recalls when he got a call from PM Modi at midnight

Afghanistan blames Pakistan for financing Taliban, Haqqani network

International

oi-PTI

United Nations, Sept 23: Slamming Pakistan for sheltering terrorists, Afghanistan told world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly that Islamabad was waging an "undeclared war" on its people by plotting "merciless" terror attacks through groups like the Taliban and the Haqqani network.

Afghanistan Vice President Sarwar Danesh said despite repeatedly asking Pakistan to destroy known terrorist safe havens, there had been no change in the situation.

"Taliban and the 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".

Alleging that Islamabad was waging an "undeclared war" against the Afghan people Danesh demanded that it stop the "merciless attacks of terrorist groups."

He also blamed the recent attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul on Pakistan saying it had "existing evidence" that these attacks were planned and organized from inside Pakistan's territory.

"We ask all of you, where were the previous leaders of the Taliban and the Al Qaeda residing, and where were they killed? At this very moment, where are the leaders of the Taliban and the Haqqani network located?" Danesh asked the General Assembly.

He urged world leaders to ensure that no distinction be made between good and bad terrorists in the global fight against terrorism.

Despite security threats, Afghanistan has kept the doors of peace open for those Taliban elements and other armed opposition groups who are willing to give up violence and agree to live under the Afghan constitution, Danesh said.

He added that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group composed of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and America 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

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 13:32 [IST]
At UNSC, US calls on world to tell Russia to stop its nuclear threats

Curfew declared in US city as unrest continues

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Sep 23: A curfew was imposed in the US city of Charlotte as protests against the police continued after a black man was shot dead.

As hundreds of demonstrators filled the streets of Charlotte on Thursday night to express their anger over Tuesday's incident, Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed an order for a curfew, officials said, ABC news reported.

The curfew is part of a proclamation of a state of emergency, that explains such a measure is necessary "in order to more effectively protect the lives and property of the people."

Chanting "No Justice, No Peace" and "Don't Shoot, Hands Up," protesters began peacefully marching down streets -- surrounded by rifle-carrying National Guard officers -- carrying signs that read "End Police Terror," "Black Lives Matter," "I Hope I Don't Killed For Being Black" and "Black Power."

IANS
Fact Check: This video of a bus being attacked is from Egypt and not related to the ongoing violence in Iraq

Egypt migrant shipwreck death toll rises to 55

International

oi-PTI

Rosetta (Egypt), Sept 23: Rescuers brought more bodies ashore on Friday 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 Thursday 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.

PTI
In Pics: What made headlines across the world

International

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Cuba, a first by a Japanese premier to the country, saying he wanted to open a new page in relations.

Abe met with Cuban President Raul Castro during the visit and said: "I sincerely hope my stay here becomes an opportunity to open a new page in the relationship of friendship between both nations."

In other news, people paid their tributes to the victims of 2013 suicide attack on a church, in Peshawar in which a dozen of people were killed. The attack is termed to be one of the dealiest ones by militants in Peshawar.

Here are some images from across the world about news that made the headlines:

Shinzo Abe meets Fidel Castro Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting in Havana, Cuba. Peshawar remembers 2013 church attack victims People pay tribute to victims of a 2013 suicide attack on a church, in Peshawar, Pakistan. 2013 Peshawar church attack victims remebered Pakistani Christians attend a special service to pay tribute to the victims of a 2013 suicide attack on a church, in Peshawar, Pakistan. Dozens of Christians were killed in one of the deadliest suicide attack by militants in Peshawar on Sept 23, 2013. Obama honours Mel Brooks with the 2015 National Medal of Arts President Barack Obama presents actor, comedian and writer, Mel Brooks with the 2015 National Medal of Arts during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. France honours Francoise Rudetzki, Mark Mooligan France's President Francois Hollande applauses Francoise Rudetzki, former head of "SOS attentats" (SOS attacks), an association of victims of terrorism and French-American Mark Mooliganafter they were awarded with the Legion of Honor, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris. Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu addresses UNGA Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters.

OneIndia News
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

Pakistan must try to corner India: Daily

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Islamabad, Sep 23: Pakistan was on Friday urged by a leading daily to talk individually to countries to step up its diplomatic offensive against India.

"China is already on Pakistan's side," the Nation said in an editorial. It said greater efforts must be made to make Muslim countries publicly denounce India's policy.

It said South Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were all on India's side. Iran, it pointed out, had opted for neutrality.

"The rest of the world has chosen to look the other way, which could be countered by Pakistan asking for individual support one by one. The US and other global powers have so far chosen not to get involved," it said.

India-Pakistan ties have hit a new lot over Kashmir, and especially after the September 18 attack on an army camp in Uri which left 18 soldiers dead.

IANS


Video: Why Chinas former president was escorted out from stage

'Substandard' renovation of Great Wall in China draws flak

International

pti-PTI

Beijing, Sep 23 The renovation of a 700-year-old stretch of China's historic Great Wall in Suizhong county has triggered a public outcry and scrutiny over claims of poor workmanship.

The little-known Xiaohekou section, which has a reputation among hikers as the most beautiful original Great Wall, is a nationally protected cultural relic.

The restoration occurred in 2014 and drew public attention after someone recently posted photos online. In the photos, the wall appears to have been covered in a smooth, white material.

Local authorities say it is sandy soil. But netizens thought it looked like cement, which seemed to destroy its original beauty and its status as a cultural relic.

Liu Fusheng, a local resident who claimed to have climbed the Xiaohekou section every day, said construction workers used cement mixed with white dust and sandy soil to flatten the walkway into a smooth surface, Beijing News reported.

However, local authorities said that sort of speculation was inaccurate.

The cultural relics protection bureau of Suizhong county said the repair was an emergency project because the section might have collapsed in heavy rain. It said that the material used was sandy soil, not cement, state-run China Daily reported today.

The Liaoning provincial culture department also said the section had been in grave danger of being ruined by a natural disaster, such as a flood, so urgent project was undertaken to lay a protective cover on severely damaged areas.

According to the department, the restoration work extends eight kilometres.

"There is no wall left in this section, only the stone foundation, which is badly damaged. The experts' suggestion was to put the original stones back and put a very thin cover on it for protection from dust and water," department spokesman Yang Shitao said.

Built from the third century B.C. to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall stretches over 21,000 kms.

Over four million tourists visit the Great Wall every year as it is the centre of China's tourism campaign. Each tourist pays about USD 17 to visit it at different places, especially in Beijing.

According to SACH statistics, about 30 per cent of a 6,200-km section of the wall built in the Ming Dynasty has disappeared, and less than 10 per cent is considered well- preserved. The Great Wall has faced threats from both nature and humans.

Earthquakes, rain, wind and other natural elements have left the wall with many decayed and crumbling bricks.

PTI
After two year of COVID-19 delay, China plans to issue visas for stranded Indian students

Taiwan 'double agent' gets 18 years for spying for China

International

oi-PTI

Taipei, Sep 23 A Taiwanese court has sentenced a former intelligence officer to 18 years in prison for reportedly working as a double agent and spying for China as relations worsen with Beijing.

Major Wang Tsung-wu was sentenced yesterday by Taiwan's High Court on convictions of engaging in espionage as well as violating national intelligence and security laws.

The court provided no further details, citing national security restrictions. Local media reported how Wang was allegedly turned by China when he was sent there as an undercover agent for Taiwan's Military Intelligence Bureau around 20 years ago.

He spied for Beijing for more than a decade, reports said. Wang was recruited by China in 1995 and leaked confidential information before he retired in 2005. He also recruited retired colonel Lin Han in 2013 to help collect intelligence, according to Hong Kong-based Apple Daily.

Lin had travelled to Singapore and Malaysia to meet with Chinese intelligence and passed on information about the identities of the Taiwan bureau's officers and their missions, Taipei-based Liberty Times reported.

Wang was paid around USD 96,000 while Lin received about USD 76,000 for the information they passed, it added. Lin received a six-year jail term for violating national intelligence law, the High Court said. Both men can appeal the ruling.

It is the latest in a string of espionage cases and comes as ties between Taiwan and China turn increasingly frosty since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took office in May.

Taiwan and China have spied on each other ever since they split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. Beijing still regards the self-ruled island as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.

In 2011, an army general who headed an intelligence unit was sentenced to life for spying for China, in one of Taiwan's worst espionage scandals. That sentence came despite a rapprochement between Taiwan and China under then-president Ma Ying-jeou of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party.

Earlier this year a mainland Chinese man was jailed for four years for recruiting a former major-general and other local military officers to spy for Beijing. The major-general received a sentence of two years and 10 months.

AFP
Tamil prisoners in Sri Lanka go on hunger strike

International

oi-PTI

Colombo, Sep 23: Some 20 Tamil political prisoners held in Sri Lanka have gone on a hunger strike protesting against their detention, prison officials said.

The prisoners, currently lodged in north central Anuradhapura prison have been on a hunger strike demanding their release since Wednesday, they said.

They demand that if their cases are being further delayed, the cases must be transferred to the court in the northern towns of Vavuniya and Jaffna which are Tamil- dominated. Prison officials said they are considering transferring some of the prisoners on hunger strike to the Jaffna prison for the convenience of their relatives.

The suspects held for LTTE activities are dubbed political prisoners by the Tamil groups. Meanwhile the main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA), said they welcomed the announcement by the government that 23 political prisoners, a separate group of Tamils, will be released through the process of rehabilitation.

"We urge the government to continue this process of re-evaluation and release the rest of the political prisoners also without delay," the TNA statement said.

The Ministry of Resettlement and Rehabilitation said the rehabilitation offer is being made to 23 of 96 suspects arrested over alleged links to the LTTE.

PTI
Thailand: PM Prayuth can stay in office, court says

Thailand shooting: 34 killed in a shooting and knife attack at child care center, officials say

Thailand shooting: PM orders probe into childcare attack that killed 34, including many children

Three policemen killed in Thailand blast

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Bangkok, Sep 23: Three policemen were killed and two others injured on Friday in a bomb blast in southern Thailand, officials said.

The bomb was hidden along a road in Purong district in Yala province, and was detonated when a van carrying the policemen was passing by, a senior police official told EFE news.

One injured policeman was in critical condition, the official added.

IANS
Fire breaks out in BEST AC bus, no passenger hurt | VIDEO

As the countdown clock struck zero, rocket of Aakash BYJUS took off from Bandra Bandstand

Maharashtra on alert as search for suspected terrorsits continues

Mumbai

oi-Vicky

Mumbai, Sept 23: Search operations continue around Uran, Maharashtra after two schoolchildren reported spotting four men dressed in black carrying guns on Thursday.

A state 1 alert was declared as the area of spotting was near the ammunition depot. Further the area in question is close to INS Abhimanyu.

Police officials who questioned the children, prepared a sketch of one of the persons they are believed to have seen. The sketch has been released and the people have been asked to provide any information if they come across such a person.

A high alert has also been issued in Gujarat following this information. The Western Naval Command declared a high alert along the coastline of Navi Mumbai, Raigad, Mumbai and Thane.

Also read: Navy on high alert in Mumbai as armed men spotted near Uran base

The area in which these people are said to have been spotted houses a naval base and the ONGC plant.

While Navy choppers combed the area, the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Maharashtra Police and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) are also conducting operations.

The Navy's spokesperson said, "A report that some suspicious persons have been sighted early morning in Uran, Maharashtra was received in the morning. As per the report, 5-6 people were sighted in Pathan suits and appeared to be carrying weapons and backpacks."

OneIndia News
After Kapil Sibal's apology SC agrees to hear Subrata Roy matter

New Delhi

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Sept 23: There was more drama in the Supreme Court after the Sahara group apologized on behalf of their counsel Rajeev Dhawan for using intemperate language in the court. The Supreme Court had ordered that Sahara chief Subrata Roy will go back to jail.

After considering the apology, the Supreme Court allowed Sahara chief Subrata Roy to move a fresh bail application. The court, however, said that Roy will remain in jail until the bail application was heard.

Supreme Court took strong exception to the manner in which Sahara's counsel Rajeev Dhawan advanced arguments. The bench headed by Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur while coming down heavily on the manner in which Dhawan addressed the court, said that some play with the dignity of the court.

The Bench also said that there are some senior advocates who are disrespectful to the court. "We are seriously considering withdrawing designation granted to such senior lawyers," the Bench also said.

Sahara immediately withdrew Dhawan as its counsel and tendered an apology until through senior advocate Narendra Hooda.

The bench, however, said that every statement made by Dhawan must have been made on the instructions of Sahara. "We presume it is on the instructions of Hooda." Kapil Sibal who is ailing from Chickengunya also apologised to the court and promised that it would never happen again. Roy too pleaded with the court to accept his apology and he apologised from the core of his heart.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 14:51 [IST]
Livid Supreme Court sends Subrata Roy back to Tihar jail

New Delhi

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Sept 23: The Supreme Court on Friday sent Sahara Chief Subrata Roy back to the Tihar jail in Delhi. The court also sent back two directors of Sahara back to jail along with Roy. Roy who is out on parole will now be taken back to the Tihar jail along with his two directors.

The Supreme Court was miffed when it found out that the Sahara group had furnished wrong statements on the property status. The Bench was upset when it was informed by SEBI that the statements was wrong.

While making submissions, counsel for SEBI informed the court that most of the properties mentioned in the list for auction had already been attached by the Income Tax Department. SEBI said that since these properties were attached it could not sell them.

It is better you go back to jail, the Supreme Court observed after hearing the counsel for SEBI. Sahara's counsel sought before the Bench that a hearing be fixed on September 30.

The court asked the counsel to tell Sahara to deposit Rs 300 crore. However, the counsel while seeking another hearing on September 30 told the Bench that it could not deposit the money.

While cancelling the interim arrangement, the SC observed that it was better he went back to jail. The court said, "You provide a list of properties which are already attached by the IT department. You do not cooperate and hence it is better you are back in jail," the court said while cancelling the interim arrangement of parole.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 11:27 [IST]
Uri attack: Terrorists got away as they dressed in army fatigues

New Delhi

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Sept 23: Investigations being conducted in connection with the Uri attack has revealed that the terrorists had had not been reported by the villagers as they felt that they were from the army. The villagers of Sukdhar where the terrorists are believed to have stayed told investigators that they thought these were army personnel.

The terrorists were spotted by villagers on Saturday itself. It was on Sunday that these terrorists entered the army base at Uri and launched the attack. However, none of the villagers raised an alarm since they thought these terrorists were army personnel, initial investigations reveal.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which took over the probe is also trying to find out how the terrorists managed to breach the area. The fencing was cut in several places, preliminary investigations have found.

Also read: Uri Avenged with Special Op? Army, govt sources rubbish story

It is suspected that the terrorists may have gone undetected as the grass and wild bushes in the area could have facilitated them from going undetected.

Investigators are also collecting phone data from all connections in Uri in an attempt to find out if any local had helped these terrorists. Further all intelligence alerts issued in the past two months are being provided to the investigators. The IB has said that there was an alert issued of an attack on an army base.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Friday, September 23, 2016, 10:11 [IST]
Amidst tension between India and Pakistan over Kashmir unrest and recent Uri attack, India drop a hint of water war between the two nations. It might scrap the Indus water treaty with Pakistan if needed. India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960. Under the treaty, India can use only 20 per cent of the water of the Indus for irrigation, transport and power generation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been hospitalised to a private hospital after she complained of fever and dehydration. The 68-year-old AIADMK chief was taken to Apollo Hospitals late last night and her condition is stated to be stable now.
Mumbai is on high alert and forces in Delhi have been put on standby after school children saw suspicious men in Uran Naval Base yesterday and immediately informed police. The Navi Mumbai Police have released the sketch of one of the suspicious men. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also took to twitter to inform that all precautionary measures are taken.
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SURABAYA, Indonesia, Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weekends are indeed the right time to gather with family, whilst also exploring..
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PAPUA New Guinea has asked third world countries to assist in taking refugees from Manus Island who have refused to be resettled in the country.Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Rimbink Pato made the call in New York on Monday as he co-chaired the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting to seek solutions to the escalating global humanitarian crisis concerning large movement of refugees and migrants.He told the conference at PNG currently hosts a total of 1007 refugees and other migrants from around the world at the regional processing facility on Manus Island. Of these, 671 are prima facie refugees, 204 asylum seekers and 132 migrants.Mr Pato said that PNG had made every effort to have the refugees settled in PNG, even waving the statutory fee of K10,000 for a certain group of asylum seekers to enable them citizenship by naturalisation since this was unaffordable for the asylum seekers, but to no avail.He also shared the challenges such as resources constraints that PNG faces in dealing with refugees and migrants, particularly those facilitated at the Manus regional processing centre.Mr Pato was among world leaders who participated at the meeting and unanimously adopted the New York Declaration which provides a non-binding platform that sets out a range of commitments such as protecting human rights and global co-operation to deal with mass movement of refugees and migrants worldwide.Mr Pato underscored PNGs commitment to be an integral part of the global solution to the plight of mass migration of refugees and migrants.He also pledged PNGs support for the key commitments outlined in the New York Declaration adopted at the meeting by the world leaders.The Manus Island processing centre is also a demonstration of the PNG Governments humanitarian gesture, goodwill and recognition of the countrys international human rights obligations.It also demonstrates the bilateral and regional cooperation with Australia and other partners since 2012, to address not only refugees and migrants, he said.
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia:

Mid-sized investment bank Avendus Capital, based in Mumbai, India, has hired Ambit Investment Advisory chief executive officer Andrew Holland and Vaibhav Sanhavi as well as 10 other top management executives of the firm as it enters into the hedge funds business. Holand and Sanhavi were hired as CEO and co-CEO of the newly-established Avendus new company focused on hedge funds to augment its alternative asset management unit.

Avendus co-founter Ranu Vohra said the new hedge fund would use long-only and long-short strategies to augment its existing business of of Avezo Advisors Pvt Ltd (Avezo), a joint venture firm with Zodius Capital. Avezo is headed by Neeraj Bhargav with $200m in assets that are invested in across technology companies and PIPE deals, said VC Circle. Avezo is a SEBI-registered portfolio management entity.

"We are very excited to have one of the most experienced and respected teams in the alternative asset management business join us. With Andrew and team will take our business to the next level of growth," Vohra was quoted as saying.

Vohra explained that Avendus is targeting to manage $2bn over the next five years with the launch of its hedge fund business. Currently, the unit would be managed under Avendus alternative asset management business but a brand name would be decided after the team i......................

To view our full article Click here
Matthias Knab, Opalesque:

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 estab......................

To view our full article Click here
Reprinted from RT

US President Barack Obama made his eighth -- and final -- address to the United Nations General Assembly this week. What a relief, not to be subjected to any more florid speeches filled with vacuous, psychopathic lies.

Unfortunately, his successor -- whoever that is -- will pontificate more of the same. For the American psycho power-system is delusional about being a force for good.

As usual, Obama delivered another one of his soaring rhetorical pirouettes. The American Conjurer-in-Chief presented a sweeping vista of history that was a travesty of reality. Sweeping American global crimes under a carpet of lies.

"I say all this not to whitewash the challenges we face," he declared at one point, without a trace of irony that that was exactly what he was doing.

What is nauseating about an American president standing up in front of the world's nations at the opening of the UN annual assembly is not merely having to tolerate listening to such venal verbiage. It is an insult to common human intelligence to witness such brazen falsification of world conflicts -- and specifically the sickening self-exoneration of American responsibility.

With patronizing, syrupy cant, Obama urged nations and world leaders to "work together" in order to resolve conflicts by "our commitment to international cooperation rooted in the rights and responsibilities of nations."

Obama even had the gall to quote Martin Luther King by calling on nations to join with the United States as "co-workers of God."

But how can any nation possibly combine constructive efforts with a superpower that is so deluded about its systematic criminality?

In his address, Obama referred to a host of wars, flash-points and security problems. He mentioned Ukraine, Syria, the Israeli-Palestinian deadlock, tensions in the South China Sea, North Korea's nuclear weapons, alleged Iranian nuclear ambitions, Middle East instability, racism, sectarianism, fundamentalism and ISIL terrorism.

In front of the world, Obama had the audacity to blame Russia of "attempting to recover lost glory through force" by purportedly threatening Ukraine, the Baltic region and Europe.

"After all, the people of Ukraine did not take to the streets because of some plot imposed from abroad," claimed Obama, in a breathtaking denial of how the US and European Union actually destabilized the country in 2013-2014, leading to a CIA-backed coup d'e'tat and an ongoing war in eastern Ukraine.

In virtually every conflict cited by Obama it can be factually counterposed that US intervention has played a critical role in unleashing hostilities and tensions with a death toll exceeding millions of victims. Yet all he would admit, with astounding understatement, was that the US has "made our share of mistakes" over the past 25 years since the end of the Cold War.

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Reprinted from Smirking Chimp

With the advent of Donald Trump, what was once covert in the Republican message has become overt. Yesterday's dog whistle is today's screaming siren. Case in point: anti-immigrant bigotry, which was most recently expressed in Donald Trump Jr.'s recent "Skittles"-themed Twitter attack on Syrian refugees.

Think about that. Don Jr. compared people who are fleeing horrific violence to ... tiny candies. This emotional inability to distinguish human beings from inanimate objects, and therefore to empathize with their suffering, seems to border on the sociopathic. Even Wrigley, the candy's manufacturer, distanced itself in a statement that said: "Skittles are candy. Refugees are people. We don't feel it is an appropriate analogy."

But anti-immigrant arguments aren't always based solely on fear or dehumanization. Economically vulnerable populations are often told that immigrants "take our jobs" and drag down wages.

Is it true? The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine appointed an interdisciplinary task force to look at that question. It found that, on the contrary, "immigration has an overall positive impact on long-run economic growth in the United States."

Immigration, the report says, has "little to no negative effects on overall wages and employment of native-born workers in the longer term." Native-born teenagers who have not finished high school may work fewer hours, at least in the short term. (They won't lose jobs.)

As far as the downside goes, that's pretty much it.

On the upside, "the prospects for long-run economic growth in the United States would be considerably dimmed without the contributions of high-skilled immigrants" who create jobs for highly-paid and lower-income workers alike. And the study found that recent immigrants tend to have more education than earlier immigrants.

"Immigrants," the report concludes, "are integral to the nation's economic growth."

But if immigrants aren't weakening wage growth and job prospects, who is? Perhaps no group bears more responsibility for the plight of the middle class than billionaires. An IMF study confirms that increasing inequality, especially at the very top of the wealth and income scale, is weakening economic growth.

"In contrast," the report found, "an increase in the income share of the bottom 20 percent (the poor) is associated with higher ... growth." And higher growth means more jobs.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, a world-leading expert on inequality, writes, "Our middle class is too weak to support the consumer spending that has historically driven our economic growth." But instead of ensuring that lower-income and middle-class people share in economic growth, the opposite has been happening: even after last week's improved economic news, most of the economy's gains are still going to the wealthiest Americans.

The 0.01 percent -- the 16,000 wealthiest Americans -- have as much wealth as 80 percent of the nation's population, some 256,000,000 people. Their shared wealth comes to $9 trillion. And at the end of 2015, a mere 536 people in the United States had a collective net worth of $2.6 trillion.

Why?

We now know what we have long suspected, thanks to political science research published at Princeton University: political decision-making in this country is driven by corporate and ultra-wealthy elites, not by the democratic majority. This oligarchical usurpation of influence has led office holders at all levels to implement policies that kill jobs, depress wages, and increase inequality.

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UPDATE:David Meyer, who sold the Cannnonball Ranch to DAPL, also has a grazing lease on the 429 acres owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just north of the Cannonball River where the main encampment is located. If you remember, the special permit issued by the Corps last week did not include this land, due "to grazing rights."

####

Water and sacred land protectors near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota are facing a formidable foe. Months of prayerful and peaceful protest have come under additional assault with the sale of private land adjoining the protest area to Dakota Access LLC. The Dakota Access Pipeline now owns the Cannonball Ranch, where there are known and unknown burial grounds. This puts additional mapping of spiritual sites essential to tribal identity in jeopardy. Adding to the insult and uncertainty, there is a 1500-foot easement on either side of the property, according to protest spokespeople.

In an emotional appeal yesterday at the Protecting Native Land and Resources, Rejecting North Dakota Pipeline Forum, Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II invoked the memory of Sitting Bull as he pleading for a future that includes clean water for future generations.

Sitting Bull came from Standing Rock and one the most famous quotes that he has is, "Let's put our minds together and see what we can build for our children." So today as this is the topic, something that guides us in our decision-making as leaders: We are putting our minds together so that the kids, the ones not yet born, have something better than what we have today.

At the same forum, Archambault broke the news that the Cannonball Ranch was sold to the pipeline company.

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Schematic of nuclear mushroom cloud. Picture yourself and your family in an updraft pink arrow, care of the Deep State and the MSM. For peace and your survival -- support OpEdNews!

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Recently the mainstream media (MSM) gave saturation coverage to a picture of a little boy pulled from the rubble of Aleppo after his home and family were crushed in what was dubiously reported as a Russian airstrike. Promptly dubbed "Aleppo Boy," his dusty image immediately went viral in every prestige outlet. The underlying message: we -- the "international community," "the Free World," the United States, you and I -- must "do something" to stop Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his main backer and fellow Hitler clone Vladimir Putin.

Not long before, another little boy , also in the area of Aleppo, was beheaded on video by the "moderate" U.S.-supported jihad terror group Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki. His grisly demise received far less media attention than official Aleppo Boy. This other kid received no catchy moniker. No one demanded we "do something." In fact, western support for the al-Zenki jihadists -- which the Obama administration refused to disavow even after the beheading and allegations of chlorine gas use -- can itself be seen as part of "doing something" about the evil Assad.

Another small detail readily available in "alternative media" but almost invisible in the MSM: Mahmoud Raslan, the photographer who took the picture of Aleppo Boy and disseminated it to world acclaim, also took a smiling selfie with the beaming al-Zenki beheaders. But, hey, says Raslan, I barely know those guys . Now let's move on . . .

For those who have been paying attention, Aleppo Boy is a familiar example of what is known as "atrocity porn ," titillating the audience through horror and incitement to hatred of the presumed perpetrators. Atrocity porn has been essential for selling military action in "wars of choice " unconnected to the actual defense of the U.S.: incubator babies (Kuwait/Iraq); the Racak massacre (Kosovo); the Markale marketplace bombings, Omarska "living skeletons," and the Srebrenica massacre (Bosnia); rape as calculated instrument of war (Bosnia, Libya); and poison gas in Ghouta (Syria). Never mind that the facts, to the extent they eventually become known, may later turn out to be very different from the categorical black-and-white accusations on the lips of western officials and given banner exposure within hours if not minutes of the event in question.

As I have detailed in a recently posted study, How American Media Serves as a Transmission Belt for Wars of Choice , atrocity porn is part of a well-established pattern. Whenever a U.S. president, whether Democrat or Republican, plots a military intervention in another country, MSM dutifully parrot government-provided content, taking advantage of the fact that few information consumers have the critical context to know when they are being misled.

The media's acting as a transmission belt for war is best understood by seeing the MSM as themselves an integral part of a multifaceted, hybrid public-private entity encompassing an astonishing range and depth. Centered in Washington with secondary concentrations in New York and Silicon Valley, it is variously known as the Establishment, the Oligarchy (as called by Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions), or the Deep State (as analyzed in depth by my longtime Congressional colleague Mike Lofgren). This entity includes elements within all three branches of the U.S. government (especially in the military, intelligence, and financial sectors), private business (the financial industry, government contractors, information technology), think tanks, NGOs, the "Demintern," both political parties and campaign operatives, and an army of lobbyists and PR flacks. Students of history will note a startling resemblance to the old Soviet nomenklatura. The Deep State is not just Dwight Eisenhower's "Military-Industrial Complex." Compared to these guys, Curtis LeMay was a peacenik.

There is hope, though. Under assault from this year's anti-Establishment challenges from Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, the failure of Barack Obama's policies in Syria and Ukraine, and boiling anger from a shrinking American Middle Class, both the Oligarchy and its media component show signs of losing their grip. Of particular note is growing public skepticism of the MSM in favor of digital "alternative media" across the political spectrum: OpEdNews ,Antiwar.com , RonPaulInstitute.org , zerohedge.com , LewRockwell.com , Counterpunch.com , Unz , Takimag, Consortiumnews , and others. Other publications open to alternative views serve as conduits to more mainstream opinion, such as Chronicles magazine on the (genuine, not Neocon) Right, The Nation on the Left, the libertarian Reason , and the foreign policy realist publication The National Interest . A growing segment of the American public is discovering a skill once well-honed by the citizens of the former communist countries: reading between the lines of the official media (which is assumed to be full of lies) and making informed comparisons to samizdat alternative media, foreign sources, and the rumor-mill to guess what the truth might be.

There is also danger. The Deep State could risk a major war in a bid to save its wealth, power, and privileges. The idea of "kickstarting World War III" may seem to be alarmism, if not conspiracy-mongering. But such speculation isn't entirely baseless in light of the willingness of some American politicians, including some who aspire to the Oval Office (and one who might actually get there) to impose a no-fly zone or "safe area" in Syria, and threaten to shoot down Russian aircraft to do it; give lethal aid to Ukrainian forces, along with putting American and other NATO advisers' and trainers' "boots on the ground"; or directly challenge Beijing's claim of sovereignty over rocks in the South China Sea through U.S. and allied air and naval transit despite Chinese warnings of a military response. If such a confrontation were to get out of control, either by design or accident, the resulting conflict could assume unexpectedly catastrophic proportions. Instead of saving the Deep State, a world war (one that is presumed to go nuclear) could hasten its extinction, along with that of much else besides.

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After the Democratic convention, many Democrats breathed a sigh of relief because it appeared that Hillary Clinton had an "insurmountable" 8-point lead over Donald Trump. Two months later, that lead is almost gone and Dems are worried. What happened?

The latest Huffington Post Poll of Polls (http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-general-election-trump-vs-clinton) shows Clinton with a 4.0 percentage point lead over Trump. The latest Five Thirty Eight (http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/?ex_cid=rrpromo) summary shows Clinton with a projected 60.5 percent chance of winning, a 2.3 percentage point victory, and 288 electoral votes. Over time, Trump's ceiling has stayed about the same, 42 percent of the likely vote; however, Hilary's numbers have gone up and down -- sometimes getting as high as 49 percent and as low as 42 percent.

Several factors have contributed to the closeness of the presidential race: First, since reorganizing his campaign Trump has been more disciplined compared to the old Trump. He still makes rash comments but not the same craziness that characterized the Judge Curiel and Khan family periods.

Second, mainstream Republican voters have become relatively inured to Trump and, apparently, have decided that the almost daily stream of Trump revelations (shady business dealings, bizarre charity expenditures, white supremacist associations, etc.) are the work of a "corrupt" mainstream media. In the latest Washington Post poll (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/the-demographic-groups-fueling-the-election/) Trump gets the support of 86 percent of Republican likely voters -- Clinton gets the support of 90 percent of Democratic likely voters.

In the fifties, Republicans chanted "Better Dead than Read;" this year their mantra seems to be "Better Evil Donald than Liar Hillary.'

Third, the candidates are unusually unpopular -- in the latest Gallup Poll (http://www.gallup.com/poll/189299/presidential-election-2016-key-indicators.aspx?g_source=POLITICS&g_medium=topic&g_campaign=tiles#pcf-image ), Hillary has a 40 percent favorable rating and Trump has a 34 percent favorable rating. As a consequence, many "Independents" are either undecided or have committed to a third-Party candidate.

Fourth, Hillary's numbers went down after a bad week: during the September 7th "Presidential Forum," NBC host Matt Lauer focussed on Hillary's email problems for roughly half her allotted time. This hurt Clinton in the short term -- but probably helped her in the long-term because she seemed to address every conceivable email issue. Clinton followed this with her "deplorables" remark on September 9th -- that to many of us didn't seem extreme but, nonetheless, cost her support among persuadable Republicans. And then Clinton fell ill on September 11th. The press played this up as an example of the Clinton's campaign's lack of transparency -- which seemed incredibly unfair because the Trump campaign has zero transparency -- and it knocked down Hillary's numbers. Since getting back on the campaign trail, Clinton's polls and favorable ratings have improved.

I've long argued that the election would be decided by two factors: the candidates performance in the September 26th debate -- the first debate has historically been the most important -- and the get-out-the-vote effort. I expect Hillary to do well in the first debate and I expect her campaign to do much better getting out the vote.

At this point, I look at two indicators to gauge how Hillary is doing. the first is key swing states. I'm assuming that Trump will win Ohio and Clinton will prevail in Florida. Among the big three, the key state is Pennsylvania, where Clinton currently has a 6.6 percentage point lead; if Clinton falls behind in Pennsylvania she has a problem. (There's also a competitive PA senate race -- McGinty versus Tommey; currently a dead heat.) To a lesser extent, I look at New Hampshire (Clinton up by 5 points), Nevada (dead heat), and North Carolina (dead heat). the latest Cook Report electoral projection shows Clinton getting to 272 by winning Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. (I believe that Clinton will also win Florida, Nevada, and North Carolina, thereby winning more than 300 electoral votes -- and probably guaranteeing that Democrats control the Senate.)

The second indicator is support among college-educated white voters. The latest Washington Post poll (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/the-demographic-groups-fueling-the-election/) indicates that Clinton has maintained her lead among these voters: plus 12 points among women and plus 1 among men. This is the largest shift from the Romney voters to the Trump voters and, if it continues, guarantees a Clinton victory. (It's hard to foresee a Trump victory based solely upon support of non-college-educated white men.)

The 2016 election is Clinton's to lose. What she should do now is remind voters of what she stands for -- she's already done a good job defining Trump negatively (a recent Fox News Poll [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/09/18/fox-news-poll-many-voters-want-new-leadership-but-still-uneasy-about-trump.html] found that 59 percent of respondents believe Trump does not have the temperament to be President.) In the process, Clinton needs to soften her image -- my contention is that a lot of persuadable voters want to like her but don't. She needs to have a more cordial relationship with the press. And, she needs to stop making mistakes!
Rising Prevalence of Various Ailments Boost the Demand for Biosimilars Market Worldwide

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The global market for biosimilars is getting a strong impetus due to the growing pressure to cut medical and healthcare expenses. Biosimilars are available at rates lower by 10%-30% in comparison to their parent products. The rising global geriatric population is fueling the frequency of chronic disorders, adding to the growth of the global biosimilars market.Download Free Exclusive Sample of this Report:The market study offers a comprehensive analysis of the global biosimilars industry, evaluating the essential factors such as growth drivers, restraints and challenges, and the development opportunities in this market.Furthermore, the market forecasts, together with other detailed information, will assist existing as well as new participants in the global biosimilars market in assessing the potential of this market. Equipped with in-depth primary and secondary research, this market study on the global industry for biosimilars will help formulate market strategies that put the dominant market trends to good use.The global market for biosimilar products is expecting a surge due to off-patent biologic products. Biosimilar drugs are cost-effective, which is a major factor responsible for the increased demand for these products. Further, the rising prevalence of various ailments is another factor boosting the growth of this market.Coupled with government initiatives and assistance, the strategic collaborations between market players that lead to rising numbers of clinical trial activities for biosimilars and increased productivity are propelling the global biosimilars market significantly. However, the high production costs and intricacies of the product, together with several strict rules and regulations in various economies regarding the usage of the same, are adversely impacting the biosimilars industry. Adding to this is the innovative strategies devised by biologic drug producers, which are hampering new entrants into the global biosimilars marketEurope is the dominant regional market for biosimilars. The precise regulatory guidelines, presence of multiple biosimilar drugs such as tevagrastim, omnitrope, and binocrits, as well as the numerous products in the pipeline are the various reasons fueling the biosimilars market in Europe. The impending patent expiration of 15 biologics in the near future will also help the biosimilars market. On the other hand, the U.S. has a limited biosimilars industry, due to strict government regulations. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest growth in the coming years.Developing economies are significant potential markets for biosimilar products. But the global market is expected to face strong challenge from the complex infrastructure required for the production of biosimilars as well as the rigorous clinical trials needed to obtain the approval of regulatory bodies.Browse Research Report:The global biosimilars industry is a highly fragmented market thanks to the large-scale activities of companies such as Abbott, Astra Zeneca, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Cipla, Sandoz, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Genentech. Sandoz, the generics division of the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical giant Novartis, has recently launched Zarxio under the trade name Filgrastim-SNDZ in the U.S., marking the entry of biosimilars drugs in the nation. This move has also marked Sandoz as the leader in the global biosimilars market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) Market: APAC and Europe are the Leading Markets - Recent Study

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2016 Global Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) Industry Report is a professional and in-depth research report on the world's major regional market conditions of the Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) industry, focusing on the main regions North America Europe AsiaAnd the main countries United States Germany Japan ChinaCheck complete report @The report firstly introduced the Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) basics: definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview; industry policies and plans; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures and so on. Then it analyzed the world's main region market conditions, including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc. In the end, the report introduced new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis.Avail more information from Sample Brochure of report @The report includes six parts, dealing with:1.) Basic information;2.) The Asia Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) industry;3.) The North American Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) industry;4.) The European Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) industry;5.) Market entry and investment feasibility;6.) The report conclusion.Order a copy of Global Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) Industry 2016 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:Sales ManagerMayur S.2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343
Story Bound Publishing And San Diego Author Laura Daleo Release New Vampire Fantasy Novel  The Vow

The Vow by Laura Daleo

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Story Bound Publishing And San Diego Author Laura Daleo Release New Vampire Fantasy Novel  The VowStory Bound Publishing and San Diego author, Laura Daleo are pleased to announce the release of their new vampire fantasy novel, The Vow. This is the first book published by Story Bound Publishing. Daleo has released two other fantasy novels, Immortal Kiss (February 2015) and Bound by Blood (June 2016).Finals are over, and twenty-year-old Claire Matthews can hardly wait to begin summer break untilshe arrives home to an army of police swarming her parents front lawn. Detective Reynolds delivers the dreadful news that the man and woman inside the home are dead, and Claire is forced to identify their mummified bloodless bodies. Her world comes to a grinding halt when she learns that it is her mother and father who are the deceased, and her younger brother, JJ, is nowhere to be found. The predator accuseda vampire.Claire is no stranger to vampires; in fact, these days vamps are a dime a dozen. One-hundred-thirty years ago a vow was made, combining the two worlds. A vampires survival no longer required a human sacrifice. Vampire Centers were created, offering human blood through transfusion; yet, why were her parents bled dry? Why now? What changed? Could a rogue vampire be responsible? Was it possible vampires, Nate and Parker, JJs best friends, suddenly hungered for human blood?The Vow is available in both print and ebook formats.Book Description:The VowBy Laura DaleoPublisher: Story Bound PublishingPublished: August 2016ISBN: 978-0997846102ASIN: B01KGI59H4Pages: 238Genre: Dark Fantasy, Vampire FantasyAbout The Author:Laura Daleo was born and raised in San Diego, California where she majored in Fine Arts at Mesa College. She is best known for her love of animals and shares her home with three humorous Basset Hounds, Stuart, Morgan, and Dexter, her toughest critics. Laura has held positions in several industries, Restaurant, Telecom, Biotech, Research, and Retail. A creative writing class in junior high sparked her desire to tell stories. Throughout Laura's professional career, she crafted her writing skills by taking courses and by joining a writer's critique group and Writers Digest. She enjoys anything paranormal or urban fantasy related and writes in both genres for adults.Contact Information:Laura DaleoEmail: laura.d.daleo (at) gmail.comWebsite:Twitter:Facebook:Laura Daleo was born and raised in San Diego, California where she majored in Fine Arts at Mesa College. She is best known for her love of animals and shares her home with three humorous Basset Hounds, Stuart, Morgan, and Dexter, her toughest critics. Laura has held positions in several industries, Restaurant, Telecom, Biotech, Research, and Retail. A creative writing class in junior high sparked her desire to tell stories. Throughout Laura's professional career, she crafted her writing skills by taking courses and by joining a writer's critique group and Writers Digest. She enjoys anything paranormal or urban fantasy related and writes in both genres for adults.BookBuzz.net59 Heritage Way DriveRome, GA 30165
GPSengine and Alematics forge new partnership in tracking fleets

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www.gpsengine.net

Alematics a tracking device manufacturer for fleet tracking and management and GPSengine, a leading hosted platform service provider in IoT, GNSS, Tracking and Telematics,have established a new partnership to support Alematics tracking devices on GPSengines Platform Connect hosted platform. Based in Taiwan and with a core focus on tracking devices, Alematics provides a range of trackers suitable for a range of industries and applications. The combined solution made available by this partnership provides customers with a ready to go solution. Projects in the fleet tracking space take time to develop and implement and this incurs costs for organisations even before they can see basic tracking. With this combined offering, organisations can install Alematic trackers and start tracking straight away utilising Platform Connect, reducing the cost and time to implement traditional solutions.About Platform ConnectPlatform Connect is a hosted platform service that receives, processes and stores information from GNSS, IoTs, devices, sensors, applications and third party services.About AlematicsAlematics () vision and aim is to provide added value for people and companies by creating the latest technologies that bring comfort, efficiency and security to everyday life. Established by an experienced team with proven expertise in Fleet and Security management solutions, Alematics provides a range of products built to high standards and strict quality control.About GPSengineBased in Brisbane, Australia, GPSengine is a white label IoT platform provider, specialising in vehicle tracking. Recognised globally for innovation and quality, the GPSengine platform is the result of more than 10 years working in the telematics space. Since 2014 their primary focus has been the development and support of an easy-to-skin, customisable white label GPS tracking platform, as well as seamless integration of supporting hardware. This combination means GPSengine delivers a comprehensive M2M technology enabling companies to connect and monitor assets with confidence. (GPSenginePO Box 2454Fortitude Valley, QLD, 4006Australiainfo@gpsengine.net
Private Motor Insurance in the UK - Market Dynamics, Competitive Landscape and Overview of the Leading Companies to 2019

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Private Motor Insurance in the UK - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2019 Size and Share Published in 2016-09-18 Available for US$ 2795 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionThis report is the result of extensive research on the private motor insurance industry in the UK, covering the market dynamics and competitive landscape through insights and forecasts.It also discusses key products and distribution channels, and gives an overview of the leading companies in the category, along with details of their performance.Get the Full Report :SummaryThe report provides market analysis, information and insights into the UK private motor insurance business;It also provides a snapshot of market size, market dynamics and market segmentation;The report analyses key drivers, claims, distribution and the outlook for the market;Furthermore, it summarizes news and regulatory developments in the category.ScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the private motor insurance market in the UK.It provides historical values for the private motor insurance market for the reports 2010-2014 review period and forecast figures for the 2015-2019 forecast period.It offers analysis and outlooks of the private motor insurance business.It provides a snapshot of market dynamics and market drivers.It profiles top private motor insurers in the UK and outlines their performances.Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Reasons To BuyGain an understanding of the UK private motor insurance market.Learn about the performance of market drivers, market dynamics and product offers.Explore key competitors in the category and their performances.Find out more on key regulations and recent developments in the market.Key HighlightsHow did the private motor insurance market perform in the last five years?What are the forecast market sizes and growth rates for private motor insurance to 2019?How are new regulations and trends in litigation influencing the category?What market drivers are expected to have effects on the private motor insurance market and how will those drivers influence future growth?Inquiry on this report:Table of Content1 Executive Summary2 Introduction2.1 What is this Report About?2.2 Definitions2.3 Methodology3 Market Analysis3.1 Market Size3.1.1 Penetration and density3.1.2 Comprehensive motor insurance3.1.3 Non-comprehensive motor insurance3.1.4 Motorcycle insurance4 Claims4.1 Fraudulent claims5 UK Average Motor Insurance Premiums (ABI)6 Market Drivers7 Market Outlook8 Distribution Channels9 Competitive Landscape9.1 Review - The Best Performers of 20149.2 Product InnovationResearchMoz 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.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG
Mexico : Main Drivers of investment, Key Institutions, Financing Methods and Infrastructure Insight

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Infrastructure Insight: Mexico Size and Share Published in 2016-09-19 Available for US$ 2995 at Researchmoz.usDescriptionThe report provides a detailed look into the infrastructure sector in Mexico, including analysis of the state of the current infrastructure, the regulatory and financing landscapes and the major projects in the construction pipeline.The report covers all key infrastructure sectors: roads, railways, electricity and power, water and sewerage, communication, and airports and ports.Get the Full Report :SummaryMexicos infrastructure construction expenditure is poised to grow at a relatively strong rate over the next decade.The total value of the infrastructure construction market reached MXN961 billion (US$51.9 billion) in 2015, according to Timetric, up from MXN766.7 billion in 2010, and it will rise to MXN1.2 trillion in 2020 (in nominal value terms). This rapid growth in spending is based on the assumption that a number of the large-scale infrastructure projects move ahead as planned, including the MXN171 billion Mexico City New International Airport, the expansion of Veracruz port, the Mexico City-Toluca high-speed train and the Oriental Nuclear Power Plant.ScopeA concise analysis of the administrative, economic and political context for infrastructure in Mexico.An in-depth assessment of the current state of infrastructure in Mexico, including roads, railways, electricity and power, water and sewerage, communications, airports and ports.A focus on main political and financial institutions involved in the infrastructure market, as well as the competitive and regulatory environment.For each infrastructure sector, an explanation of the key drivers of growth in new investment and an analysis of the project pipeline, with a detailed look at the prospects for major projects and the companies that have secured contracts.Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report:Reasons To BuyAssess the current state of Mexico infrastructure, and the main drivers of investment, including the key institutions and financing methods.Investigate forecasts and gain an understanding of key trends in each of the main infrastructure sectors.Analyze the main project participants operating in each sector, to better understand the competitive environment.Identify top projects by sector, development stage and start date, to inform your expansion strategy.Key HighlightsTimetric is currently tracking 173 large-scale infrastructure construction projects in Mexico, at all stages of development from announcement to execution. These projects have a total investment value of MXN91.3 billion (US$4.8 billion).The electricity and power sector accounts for the largest share of the project pipeline, with a total project value of MXN42.1 billion. This is followed by airports and other infrastructure projects, with a pipeline value of MXN20.5 billion.When its current infrastructure is compared to the other regional peers (Argentina, Brazil and Colombia) through the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report, Mexico performs better in terms of overall quality.The administration of President Enrique Pea Nieto has expressed its commitment to deliver better infrastructure so as to support the economys growth and improve opportunities for citizens. Under the NIP 2014-2018, the government is looking to invest MXN7.8 trillion (US$591 billion) to be distributed across a number projects in the sectors of transportation, telecommunication, urban development, energy, water, health, and tourism.Inquiry on this report:Table of Content1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2. CONTEXT2.1. Administrative Divisions2.2. Political Scene2.3. Public Finances and Credit Ratings2.4. Demographics2.5. Economic Performance2.6. Construction Output3. THE STATE OF INFRASTRUCTURE3.1. Roads3.2. Railways3.3. Electricity and Power3.4. Water and Sewerage3.5. Communications3.6. Airports and Other Infrastructure4. THE COMPETITIVE AND REGULATORY LANDSCAPE4.1. Roads4.2. Railways4.3. Electricity and Power4.4. Water and Sewerage4.5. Communications4.6. Airports and Other InfrastructureResearchMoz 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.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ bit.ly/1TBmnVG
Global E. Coli Testing Market Set for Rapid Growth, To Reach USD Around 2.0 Billion by 2021

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The report covers forecast and analysis for the E. coli testing market on a global and regional level. According to the report, the global E. coli testing market was valued at around USD 1.2 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach approximately USD 2.0 billion by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 6.5% between 2016 and 2020. The study includes drivers and restraints for the E. coli testing market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the E. coli testing market on a global level.The major driving factor for the global E. coli testing market is increasing government support for E. coli tests and the rising occurrence and high morbidity of E. coli. The development of drug-resistant species is another key factor is anticipated to drive the market growth in the years to come. However, high cost of enzyme-substrate test is expected to curb the market growth in the near future. Nonetheless, technological advancement coupled with increasing use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for environment water testing is projected to open up new growth opportunities during the forecast period.Get a copy of free Sample Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the E. coli testing market we have included competitive landscape, and analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the market. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein testing method segments and end-user segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Based on testing methods, the E. coli testing market can be segmented into membrane filtration (MF), enzyme-substrate methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and others. Enzyme substrate tests accounted for largest share of the total market in 2015. Membrane filtration is another leading segment and expected to exhibit strong growth in the near future.The E. coli testing market is segmented on the basis of different end-user such as diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, waste water treatment organizations, bottle water suppliers and others. Bottle water suppliers segment accounted for large chunk of the market share in the 2015. This growth is mainly attributed to increasing water pollution. Diagnostic laboratories segment is another key outlet and is expected to witness significant growth within the forecast period.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @The report provides company market share analysis in order to give a broader overview of the key players in the market. In addition, the report also covers key strategic developments of the market including acquisitions & mergers, new product launch, agreements, partnerships, collaborations & joint ventures, research& development, product and regional expansion of major participants involved in the market on global and regional basis. Moreover, the study covers price trend analysis, product portfolio of various companies along with patent analysis (2011-2016) bifurcated into patent trend, patent share by company and patent analysis according to region.The study provides a decisive view on the E. coli testing market by segmenting the market based on testing method of E. coli testing, end-users and regions. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021. Based on test the market is segmented into membrane filtration (MF), enzyme-substrate methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and others. Key end-user market covered under this study includes diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, waste water treatment organizations, bottle water suppliers and other end-user. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa.The report also includes detailed profiles of key players such as Abbott Laboratories, Danaher Corporation, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., and Hologic, among others. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business and recent developments of the company.Read Report TOC:About A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
3D Printing Gases Market - Advanced technologies & growth opportunities in global Industry by 2024.

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3D printing or additive manufacturing practices are required to be undertaken in controlled environments with minimal exposure of materials and processes to impurities to produce high quality products. Gases such as nitrogen and argon are commonly used to provide the inert atmospheres required to meet the high-tolerance standards of this field.3D printing gases are used for various purposes, apart from improving the quality of 3D-printed parts. These include reducing oxidation of forged parts by lowering the oxidation content in the print chamber; maintaining constant pressure to create a stable printing environment; inhibiting combustible dust during sieving and powder handling to improve safety; lessening the clumping of powder in feed tube, and controlling thermal stress through gradual cooling for preventing part deformities.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:The global 3D printing market has seen exponential growth in the past few years. The technology has started making inroads into the mainstream manufacturing and consumer products market. The market is likely to witness rapid growth in the near future, consequently driving the global 3D printing gases market.The report on 3D printing gases provides an account of the major elements of the market, its current state, product and technological advancements, and impact of major drivers, challenges and trends. It also provides a forward-looking perspective about the markets growth prospects from 2016 through 2024.Global 3D Printing Gases Market: Trends and OpportunitiesRising use of 3D printing techniques across the manufacturing, consumer goods, health care devices, automobiles, aerospace and defense, and energy industries is the major factor driving the global 3D printing gases market. Application of 3D printing technologies in the manufacture of complex production parts for the oil and gas industry is likely to boost to the growth of the global 3D printing gases market.Based on mode of distribution, the market can be segmented into cylinders and cylinder packs, liquid cryogenic tanks, pipeline supply, and on-site gas generation. The cylinders and cylinder packs segment dominated the 3D printing gases market.Global 3D Printing Gases Market: Region-wise OutlookBased on geography, the 3D printing gases market has been examined for North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America is the leading market for 3D printing gases. Presence of some of the worlds largest and most prominent industrial gas companies and the immense research and development activities being undertaken in the field of 3D printing in the region are the major factors boosting the growth of the 3D printing gases market in North America.Emerging markets in Asia Pacific such as India and China also offer immense growth opportunities in the global 3D printing gases market. Rising focus on implementing 3D printing techniques across the manufacturing sector boosts the 3D printing gases market in the region. The 3D printing gases market in Asia Pacific is projected to expand at the fastest pace during the forecast period. The end-user industries such as health care, design & manufacturing, and oil & gas are likely to account for a significant share of the 3D printing gases market in terms of volume in this region.Global 3D printing Gases Market: Competitive ScenarioThe global 3D printing gases market features presence of several international players and intense competition. Companies in the market are adopting strategies such as acquisitions, expansions, joint ventures, and research and development to cater to the specific needs of the 3D printing industry.Major players operating in the market are BASF SE, Air Liquide S.A., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., The Linde Group, Praxair, Inc., Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc., Iceblick Ltd., Universal Cryo Gas, LLC, and Messer Group.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Browse Industry Research Report with free Analysis:The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisAbout UsTransparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who 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.Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700Albany NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453E-mail: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Ecological Appeal of Edible Insects makes them Super Food and Boost industry Worldwide - Global Industry Analysis 2016  2024

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Insect are often considered as pest for animals and crops. However they are fundamental part of nature and are a source of food at low cost. Insects are not merely famine food eaten at times of scarcity or situation when harvesting of conventional food becomes difficult. Edible insect as food and feed has emerged as agile issue due to rising cost of animal protein, food and feed insecurity, growing population and rising demand for protein among the middle class. The consumption of insects or entomophagy contributes to positive health and livelihood.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical industry insights:The edible insect market can be segmented by type as- Mealworm, Grasshoppers, Locusts, Caterpillar, Termites, Beetles and Others. Moreover it can also be segmented by application type such as- Human food, Animal feed (Poultry and Aquaculture) and Others. Geographically the market can be segmented as- North America, APAC, Europe and Rest of the World (RoW) regions.Palatability of insect and presence of edible insects in local food culture are the driving forces which are shaping the global edible insects market. Moreover insects are rich source of protein and are low cost substitute for animal proteins. Lack of legal framework governing the insect consumption and deficit of networking and distribution channel among producers are the restraining factors hindering the growth of edible insects market. Moreover consumer awareness and negative perception about insect consumption is another growth barrier.Asia- Pacific region has shown growth in edible insects sector. Countries such as China, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka contribute to this growth along with Africa (Rest of the World (RoW)). The global edible insect market is expected to grow over next six years with a significant growth rate.Some of the key player of the edible insects market are- EnviroFlight, LLC, Kreca V.O.F., AgriProtein Technologies, Reese Finer Foods Inc, HaoCheng Mealworm Inc.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisAbout UsTransparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who 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.Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700Albany NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453E-mail: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Smartwatches Market Set For Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 21.09 Billion By 2021

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The report covers forecast and analysis for the smartwatches market on a global and regional level. According to the report, the global smartwatches market was valued at approximately USD 16.44 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach approximately USD 21.09 by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 53.01% between 2016 and 2021. Global demand for smartwatches stood around 21.1 million units in 2015 expected to reach 108.2 million units by 2021 with a CAGR of 42.8% during estimate period. The study includes drivers and restraints for the smartwatches market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the smartwatches market on a global level.Get a copy of free Sample Report @In order to give comprehensive view on the smartwatches market to users of this report we have included an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the market. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein price range segments and operating system segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The smartwatches market is expected to witness significant growth due to the increasing usage of smartphones and high demand of internet accessibility. The major driving factor for smartwatches market is transforming technological preferences in young population like wide use of different electronic gadgets. Entry of new startups and further market penetration of established players is projected to intensify the competition in the market arena. The high demand of low range smartwatches from price conscious people is expected to develop an astounding growth in key players of this market. Affordable prices of smartwatches and rising demand from young population are emerging trend which is likely to open new market avenues in the near future. However, some restraints like limited battery life associated with product may hamper the growth of this market.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @On the basis of price range of smartwatches, the global smartwatches market is divided into high-end, mid-end and low-end smartwatches. High-end smartwatches accounted for approximately 90% share of the global market in terms of revenue in 2015. This was mainly due to the awareness of the smartwatch as fitness tracking device. Mid-end smartwatches was the second largest segment of the global smartwatches market.Android wear, watch OS (iOS) and other like tizen OS, pebble OS, LinkIt OS, etc., are the operating system used in smartwatches. Android wear smartwatches dominated the global market and accounted for significant share of the overall market share in 2015. This is primarily owing to high number of applications of smartwatches.The study provides a decisive view on the smartwatches market by segmenting the market based on price range, operating system and regions. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021. Based on price range the market is segmented into high-end, mid-end and low-end smartwatches. Android wear, watch OS (iOS) and other like tizen OS, pebble OS, LinkIt OS, etc., are the operating system used in smartwatches. 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. This segmentation includes demand for smartwatchesbased on individual operating systems in all the regions and countries.Read Report TOC:The report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as Apple Inc., Nike Inc., Garmin Ltd., Qualcomm Incorporated, Sony Electronics Inc., Martian Watches, Pebble Technology Corporation, Fitbit Inc., ConnecteDevice Ltd., and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business and recent developments of the company.About A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Automotive sunroof market size is estimated to be valued at USD 9.76 billion by 2022

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Automotive sunroof market size is estimated to be valued at USD 9.76 billion by 2022; as per a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Innovation in component materials coupled with rising number of factory-installed sunroofs is expected to drive industry demand over the forecast period. In addition, increased aftermarket demand is also anticipated to fuel growth.Surging use of these products by automotive manufacturers in concept cars to make the interiors look luxurious is predicted to boost demand over the forecast period. Escalating consumers preference for vehicles equipped with larger sunroof is expected to propel panoramic sunroof market growth over the next few years.Request for a sample of this research report @Inbuilt automotive sunroof market accounted for majority of the overall revenue in 2014, since these are a popular factory installed variant. Commonly known as moonroofs, inbuilt models are expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7% from 2015 to 2022.High cost and regular maintenance are estimated to pose a challenge to the automotive sunroof market size. As these systems have drains and holes, it may cause clogging and leakage of water into the car. Hence, regular maintenance is required and thus involves high maintenance cost.Buy this research report @Growing alternative fuel vehicle segment is likely to drive the demand for solar roofs, which is expected to present a growth opportunity to key industry participants.Browse key industry insights from the report, Automotive Sunroof Market Size By Product (Glass [Pop-up, Inbuilt, Spoiler/Tilt & Slide, Top Mount, Panoramic], Fabric [Foldable, Removable]), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2015  2022 in detail along with the table of contents:Key insights from the report include:Glass sunroof market size accounted for majority of the overall share in 2014. The segment is expected to continue dominating demand over the forecast period. OEMs look to achieve high product quality and passenger safety amid growing product complexity, such as the use of toughened glazing with ceramic coating. There exist design challenges in glass sunroofs, since increased weight on the top changes the center of gravity, and companies need to meet stringent safety standards on roof crush.Europe automotive sunroof market share was valued at USD 1.69 billion in 2014; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.4% from 2015 to 2022 on account of considerable presence of luxury vehicles in the region. The UK and Germany are the key contributors to this growth.Asia Pacific aftermarket automotive sunroof market demand is on the increase, driven by growing consumer preference to install these products and enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the vehicle.Key industry players capturing significant automotive sunroof market share are Webasto, Inteva, and Inalfa. Webastos logistics strategy is based on the Webasto Production System (WPS), with which it aims to provide high product quality and superior delivery service. The company focuses heavily on maintaining quality in order to achieve competitive differentiation.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 ViewDelaware 19970United States
Metalworking Fluids Market size, 2015 - 2020

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The report covers forecast and analysis for the Metalworking Fluids market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on volume and revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes study of opportunities available in the Metalworking Fluids market on a global level.Get a copy of free Sample Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the Metalworking Fluids market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario, and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters five forces model for the Metalworking Fluids market has also been included, strategic development along with patents analysis is included in this report. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, where in type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @Metalworking Fluids finds widespread applications in Removal, Forming, Protecting and Treating Applications. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021.The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.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 Castrol Limited, Exxon Mobil Corporation, FUCHS, and Houghton.This report segments the Metalworking Fluids market as follows:Browse detail report @Metalworking Fluids Market: Applications Segment AnalysisRemoval FluidsForming FluidsProtecting FluidsTreating FluidsMetalworking Fluids Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and 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:
Global IPTV Market Set for Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 93.59 Billion by 2020

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The report covers forecast and analysis for the antioxidant BHT market on a global and regional level. According to the report, the global antioxidant BHT market was valued at USD 197.86 million in 2015 and is expected to reach approximately USD 265.91 million by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 5.10% between 2016 and 2021. The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes study of opportunities available in the antioxidant BHT market on a global level.Get a copy of free Sample Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the antioxidant BHT market, we have included analysis of Porters five forces model, patent analysis and strategic developments in the report for the antioxidant BHT market. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein regional segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The demand-driving factors of the antioxidants BHT market are the globally increasing prices of feed, and the increasing use of antioxidants in improving the animals disease resistance. Moreover, expansion of food and pharmaceutical industries is expected to augment antioxidant BHT market growth over the projected period. Long-term exposure to high doses of BHT is toxic and it may cause liver, kidneyand thyroid problems and also affecting lung function and blood coagulation. However, harmful effect of BHT may hamper the market growth within the forecast period. Nevertheless, ongoing research to enhance BHT antioxidant properties is expected to open up new growth opportunities over the next few years.Browse detail report with in-depth TOC @Based on application, the antioxidant BHT market can be segmented into animal feed, food and others (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, rubber, electrical transformer oil, fuel additive, etc.). Fooddominated the market with over 48% share of the total market in 2015. Antioxidant BHT helps in reducing the rate of oxidation of feed, thus preventing wastage of feed.This helps the farmerto bring down feed costs. Thus, food segment is expected to exhibit significant growth in the years to come.Animal feed is another leading segment of antioxidant BHT market and is expected to show strong growth in the near future. Other applications like cosmetics, rubber etc also expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.Asia Pacific was the leading regional market for antioxidants BHT in 2015. Asia Pacific accounted for over 55%share of total revenue generated in 2015.This growth is mainly due tothe presence of robust manufacturing bases for foods, and feed.In addition, China was the largest consumer of antioxidant BHT in 2015. Furthermore, North America was the second largest regional market and is expected to witness significant growth in the years to come. This growth is attributed to the high demand for protein and meat consumption. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are also expected to exhibit significant growth within the forecast period.The study provides a decisive view on the antioxidant BHT market by segmenting the market based on application and geography. Based on application, antioxidant BHT market can be segmented into food, animal feed & others (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, rubber, electrical transformer oil, fuel additive, etc). All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africawith its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.Read Report TOC: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 Caldic, Cargill, LANXESS, Impextraco, Perstorp Group, Merisol USA LLC, Milestone Preservatives Private Limited, Eastman Chemical Company, Oxiris Chemicals S.A., Nova International, Feiya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., JiYi Chemical (Beijing) Co. Ltd andNanJingLongYan Chemical Co. Ltd.About A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Major Factors Changing the current status of Spirometer market

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Global Spirometer Market 2016-2020 Order This Report by calling BigMarketResearch.com at +1-971-202-1575About the Spirometer MarketA spirometer is a medical apparatus used to measure the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs. The device produces a spirogram that is a graphic record of the ventilation patterns of the lungs. Spirometers are used for basic pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to help detect respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.The global spirometer market to grow at a CAGR of 8.31% during the period 2016-2020.Get Sample Copy of this report @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global spirometer market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, Technavio considers the revenue generated from the total consumption of spirometer globally. The report does not include revenue generated from the aftermarket service of the product.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC Europe MEAGlobal Spirometer 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 operating in this market.Purchase a copy of this Global Spirometer Market 2016-2020 at USD 2500 (Single User License):Key vendors Becton, Dickinson, and Company MIR Philips Schiller Welch AllynOther prominent vendors Cardiotech Contec Medical Systems Fukuda Sangyo Geratherm Respiratory GmbH Jones Medical Instruments MGC Diagnostics nSpire Health SDI Diagnostics Thor Medical Systems VitalographMarket driver Rising awareness about respiratory disorders For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge Long replacement cycles For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Growing popularity of home healthcare For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey 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 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?Get Complete Report @About Company:With the arsenal of different search reports, we help you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency.With the window of opportunity getting open and shut at a speed of light, it has become very important to survive in the market and only the fittest and competent enough can do so. So, we try and provide with latest changes in the market that can suit your needs and help you take decision accordingly.Contact us:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect: + 1-503-894-6022Toll Free: + 1-800-910-6452Fax: +1 (855) 5505975Email: help@bigmarketresearch.comWeb:Blog:
Global Medical Tourism Market to Rise at 17.90% CAGR from 2013-2019, Malaysia to Emerge as Leader

Medical Tourism Market

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Albany, New York: Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has recently announced the addition of a new study on the global medical tourism market. The research report, published by Transparency Market Research (TMR), estimates this market to register a remarkable CAGR of 17.90% during the period of 2013-2019.The market study, titled Medical Tourism Market (India, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, Turkey, South Korea, Costa Rica, Poland, Dubai and Philippines) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013  2019, states that the worldwide market for medical tourism is likely to increase from a value of US$10.5 bn in 2012 to a value US$32.5 bn by the end of the forecast period.Browse Full Global Medical Tourism Market Report withIndia, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brazil, South Korea, and Singapore are leading the global medical tourism market on account of the availability of medical treatments at low costs in these countries compared to that of the western nations. Alongside, Dubai, Costa Rica, Philippines, and Poland are also projected to exhibit substantial growth in medical tourism over the forecast period, states the research report.According to the market study, the technological advancements in the field of medical and healthcare have widened the range of treatments available in these economies, and thus, have boosted the global medical tourism market significantly. Among the Western European medical tourists, Thailand has become a popular destination for cosmetic surgeries. The country received almost 2.5 mn patients in 2012, which was around 45% of the total number of foreign tourists that had arrived in Asia for medical treatments.Request A Research Report Sample :Analysts, however, project Malaysia to lead the global medical tourism market over the forthcoming years. In 2012, approximately 0.7 mn patients got medical assistance in this country. By the end of 2019, around 2 mn patients are likely to visit the Malaysia for medical treatment, notes the market study.Further, the research report states that, for complex surgeries, India and Singapore are emerging as the most popular destinations among medical tourists. The increasing popularity of India for efficient cardiac treatments has been attracting a huge number of patients from all over the world.Some of the major participants operating in the worldwide medical tourism market, mentioned in this research report, are Prince Court Medical Center, Min-Sheng General Hospital, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Bumrungrad International Hospital, Asian Heart Institute, Bangkok Hospital Medical Center, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd., Fortis Healthcare Ltd., Raffles Medical Group, and Samitivej Sukhumvit.About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. Headquartered in New York, U.S., MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com
Automotive Keyless Entry Systems Market to ship more than 130 million units by 2021

Automotive Keyless Entry System Market | Beige Market Intelligence

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/automotive-keyless-entry-systems-market-to-ship-more-than-130-million-units-by-2021/

http://www.beigemarketintelligence.com/reports/research-report-automotive-and-transportation-market/automotive-keyless-entry-system-research-report/

Strategic Assesment of Automotive Keyless Entry System Market  Forecast Till 2021 is a new report recently published by Beige Market intelligence with a worldwide coverage as well as a segmentation by product (remote keyless entry, passive keyless entry) by vehicle type (passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles) by geography (APAC, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, and North America) and by end-user market (original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket). The market research report provides growth trends, analysis and forecasts for the period 2016  2021 and predicts the market to ship more than 130 million units of automotive keyless entry systems by 2021.Emerging markets tend to be an important factor that is driving the sales for automotive keyless entry systems considering these markets provide ample of opportunities for OEMs to sell their products. The demand for automobiles in general from the developed nations has been more or less steady.The emerging markets however have continued to show a continuous growth and OEMs are ensuring that technology is what drives the growth of the market in these regions. The BRIC nations in particular have seen quite a lot of activity in terms of the number of companies that have been entering and expanding their operations within the given markets. Many global automakers have partnered with automakers of emerging market nations to gain access to their markets. For example Ford has partnered with Changan Auto and BMW sells its cars in China through Brilliance China Automotive.North America to be the leading contributor to the Automotive Keyless Entry Systems Market in 2021The Automotive Keyless Entry Systems Market in North America is expected to be the leading contender in comparison to the other regions in 2021 with more than 40 million units of these systems expected to be shipped in the region. Increasing number of instances of automobile theft in the region has made it absolutely necessary for alarm systems to be installed in all vehicles which a keyless system is able to offer in addition to the convenience of locking the vehicle remotely.Read More HereTo know more about the Strategic Assessment of Worldwide Automotive Keyless Entry Market  Forecast Till 2021, please visit the linkAbout Beige Market IntelligenceBeige Market Intelligence is a provider of competitive business intelligence, working across various industry verticals. Our expertise and knowledge ensures that the market analysis Beige provides is comprehensive, detailed and complete. The analysis helps our client organizations become aware and to make educated decisions, as far as investing or devising a marketing strategy is concerned. The actionable insights delivered through our market research provide a comprehensive market analysis for every level of market segmentation in an industry.Our team of experts ensure the analysis you receive is not just analyzed and presented, but can also be customized based on the clients requirement. Our deliverables guarantee our current global client base do not look beyond Beige when it comes to competitive intelligence.Beige has an employee base present across the globe. Our analysts come with numerous years of industry experience, which ensures we not only understand our clients but deliver high quality reports as well.Beige Market IntelligenceChinnapannahalli Main Road, Doddanekundi Bangalore- 560037contactus@beigemarketintelligence.comUS: +1 347 903 9949UK: +44 20 323 99499APAC: +91 99 012 75473
Global Medical Lifting Slings Market to Reach US$632.8 bn by 2023; Rising Incidence of Lifestyle Diseases to Boost Market

Medical Lifting Slings Market

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Albany, New York: Market Research Reports Search Engine has announced the addition of a report, titled Medical Lifting Slings Market and Geography - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2015 - 2023, to its repository. The report studies the global medical lifting slings market from the ground up, comprising details regarding the prevailing market trends, recent trends, future outlook, and opportunities. It also explores the drivers and restraints that have impacted and will have an impact on the market.The report pegs the overall value of the global medical lifting slings market at US$312.0 mn in 2014. Expanding at a CAGR of 7.8% between 2015 and 2023, the market is expected to reach US$632.8 mn by the end of 2023.Browse Full Global Medical Lifting Slings Market Report withWith the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases and the growing number of people with disabilities, the demand for medical lifting slings has significantly risen over the past few years. Lifting slings are necessary medical devices used along with hoists to support ailing or disabled patients while they are lifted or transferred. Patient care on a daily basis requires lifting patients or providing body movements to perform daily activities such as bathing, toileting, and walking. These tasks may involve handling chronically ill or disabled patients. Hence, patient care is considered more complicated than handling materials in an industrial setting. Additionally, in some cases, patients may have medical or psychological conditions that can complicate movement activities and manual lifting. Such factors substantially aid the expansion of the global medical lifting slings market.With an aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the global market for medical lifting slings, the report segments the market on the basis of product type, sling point, end user, sling shape, and geography. Based on product type, the market is segmented into seating slings, bariatric slings, universal slings, stander slings, transfer slings, hammock slings, toileting slings, and others. The end user segments of the market include hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, home healthcare, and others. Hospitals as an end user report the maximum contribution to the market in terms of revenue owing to their affluence and the tendency of large healthcare institutions to make bulk purchases.Request A Research Report Sample :Regionally, the report segments the market into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. Each of these regional markets is qualitatively and quantitatively assessed to explore prospects in the major countries located across these regions. Of these regional markets, Europe dominated the market in 2014, followed by North America. Favorable regulations implemented in Europe pertaining to non-manual patient handling and high rate of adoption of slings in hospitals and healthcare centers of the region have been the primary drivers of the medical lifting slings market in Europe. Other demographic factors such as the increasing geriatric population and rising disposable income also substantially contributed to the market for medical lifting slings in the region.The report is compiled with the aim of updating the market stakeholders about its prevailing dynamics and the markets future outlook. An overview of the competitive landscape is therefore included in the report. For the purpose of the study, companies such as Argo Medical Inc., ArjoHuntleigh, GF Health Products, Inc., Bestcare, LLC, DJO Global, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare, Invacare Corporation, Etac AB, Joerns Healthcare, LLC, and Prism Medical are profiled in the report.About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact usState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United StatesTelephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com
Smart Fabrics Market To Increase at Steady Growth Rate

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Smart fabrics, also known as smart textiles, E-textiles or electronic textiles, are the fabrics that has electronics and digital components embedded in them. These are the fabrics that can sense stimuli from environment and adapt and react to those stimuli in a predetermined manner. Smart fabrics can incorporate actuators/sensors, communication and processing for applications in automotive sector, consumer products and health monitoring. The basic elements of smart fabrics are semi conductive and conductive yarns and threads, Nano electronics applied to yarns, fibres or woven elements. Smart fabrics are even chemically treated to provide distinct and special features. Smart fabrics are traditional fabrics with integrated functionalities, which could include storage or power generation, sensing devices, human interface elements, assistive technology or radio frequency functionality. Smart fabrics are distinct from wearable fabrics in a way that wearable devices are only carried and contained by clothing, whereas smart fabrics has wearable devices integrated into the fabrics. Nowadays, smart fabric technology is developing in the fields of sport, medical, artistic communities, fashion etc. The global smart fabrics market is expected to expand at a healthy CAGR in the forecast period.Global smart fabrics market  Drivers and RestrainsThe ever increasing use of electronics devices in day to day life is driving the smart fabrics market due to major application of smart fabrics as an electronics device. The ease of use of smart fabrics and the integration of electronic devices in it, makes it an integrated device for normal use as a simple fabric, which further contributes in the flourishing global smart fabrics market. The rising awareness and multiple applications of smart fabrics such as energy harvesting, sensing, and thermo-electricity is anticipated to bolster the global smart fabrics market.However, the smart fabrics devices require a portable power supply that need to be removed during washing and needs to be charged frequently. Thus this is a factor that can slowdown the growth of global smart fabrics market. Also the initial high cost and the expertise required to manufacture these fabrics can be a hurdle in the path of global smart fabrics market.Request Free Report Sample@Global smart fabrics market  SegmentationOn the basis of the product type, the global smart fabrics market can be segmented as follows:Ultra-smart fabricsActive smart fabricsPassive smart fabricsOn the basis of the functionality, the global smart fabrics market can be segmented as follows:Thermo-electricityEnergy harvestingSensingLuminanceOn the basis of the end use industry, the global smart fabrics market can be segmented as follows:HealthcareAutomobilesElectrical & ElectronicsArtichetureConstructionGlobal smart fabrics market  Region wise OutlookThe global smart fabrics market can be divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East and Africa. North America is a leading player in the global smart fabrics market due to the ever increasing electronics market in this region and the booming information technology sector. Asia Pacific is the next upcoming region in the global smart fabrics market owing to the flourishing healthcare industry and construction industry. India and China are the leading countries in this region contributing in the growth of global smart fabrics market. The ever increasing automobiles market in Europe is a driving factor for the growth of smart fabrics in this region, thus witnessing a healthy CAGR in the forecast period. Latin America and Middle East and Africa are at a nascent stage in the global smart fabrics market but are projected to have a significant CAGR in the future.Visit For TOC@Global smart fabrics market  Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global smart fabrics market are:adidas GroupTextronics, IncOutlast Technologies LLCMilliken & CompanyKCWWInternational Fashion MachinesInteractivewearFibertronicEleksen Group PlcAbout 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:
Market Forecast Report on Vehicle-To-Grid 2016-2026

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Vehicle-to-grid is a technology, which enables electric vehicles to be charged by connecting to the grid installed in different bases. The stored charge or power in the electric vehicles can be used for driving the car as well as it can be utilized for running the electric systems at offices and houses during power failure. The power stored within the electric vehicles through grid are capable of lighting the houses and offices. The power generated from various sources is distributed through the grid installed at houses or parking lots. The basic requirements for vehicle to grid are power connection, communication system and a metering system. The vehicle to grid systems helps in managing the loads generated and equally distributing it. However, the vehicle to grid being a new technology in the market, it is still in the pilot phase and it has not been fully commercialized. The adoption of this technology is limited to some of the developed regions such as the North America, Japan and Europe market. The global market for vehicle to grid will have a slow growth over the forecast period registering a single digit CAGR.Global Vehicle-To-Grid Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe global vehicle to grid market is primarily driven by the demand for environmental friendly power sources for vehicles and household purposes. The penetration of electric vehicles is attributed to the growth of vehicle to grid market. With the high power storage capacity batteries of electric vehicles the electric vehicles acts as a power storage facility which can be used in case of any electric power failure. Moreover, the vehicle-to-grid technology eliminates the traditional non-renewable source of energy such as petroleum and thermal power thus reducing the emissions. The electric vehicle owners can sell the electricity to utilities during a power failure. However, there are some challenges attributed to the vehicle to grid technology, which might restrain the global market for vehicle to grid. For instance, the vehicle to grid requires the coordination of electric vehicles at the utility center to use as a single storage device, which makes it hard to unplug any vehicle when needed during the course of charging.Request Free Report Sample@Global Vehicle-To-Grid Market: Market SegmentationBased on vehicle type, the global vehicle to grid market can be segmented into:EVs (Electric Vehicles)PEVs (Plug in Electric Vehicles)Global Vehicle-To-Grid Market: Regional OutlookBased on the geographic regions, global automotive seating systems marketing market is segmented into seven key market segments namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Among the aforementioned regions, North America market for the vehicle-to-grid market over the forecast period. The vehicle to grid technology is widely adapted in the region as the penetration of EVs and PEVs in the region are high as per the data released by the United States Energy Department. The Western European market and the Japan market for the vehicle to grid is followed by the North America market where the initial implementation of the technology has shown effective results. According to the OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development), the increasing penetration of EVs and PEVs in China will provide opportunities for the vehicle to grid models in the region.Visit For TOC@Some of the major players identified in the global vehicle to grid market includes, AC Propulsion, IncEdison International., DENSO CORPORATION., Boulder Electric Vehicle, and Nissan 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 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:
Wearable Technology Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 20.8% till 2025 | The Insight Partners

http://theinsightpartners.com/reports/wearable-technology-market

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A blend of top-down and bottom-up approaches were used to come to the exact market sizes and development rates of the global wearable technology market and its segments. Various secondary information sources were used to find the overall revenues, product portfolios and geographic reach of the companies operating in the wearable technology market. Estimates of the products and application classification revenues were confirmed and validated through primary interviews. Primary interviews are conducted with various players in wearable ecosystem and key opinion leaders to confirm the provided percentage split and market share. Considering the current market scenario and various other factors into our analytical approaches, the global Wearable Technology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.8% during the forecast period 2016  2025 and accounts for US$ 170.91 Bn in the year 2025.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Wearable Technology Market to 2025 @The wearable technology market is divided on the basis of products and application, the products segment is further categorized on the basis of smart clothing & smart glasses, sleep sensors, smart watches, activity monitors, augmented reality headsets, continuous glucose monitor, heart rate monitors (HRMS), drug delivery devices, hand worn terminals, wearable patches, jewelries. The application segment is further classified on the basis of infotainment, fitness & wellness, healthcare & medical, industrial & military, safety & security, and fashion & lifestyleThe geographic segments considered in this report are North America (NA), Europe (EU), Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The geographic analysis highlights that North America accounted for the largest share in the global wearable technology market in 2015. The Asia-pacific region is expected to register a faster growth from 2016 to 2025 at a CAGR of 22.6%, due to the increasing technological adoption trends in this region.Request sample copy @The key drivers for this market are increasing adoption of mobile devices, increasing acceptance across various application areas and increasing spur in venture capital funding for various wearable ecosystems players.The report provides qualitative and qualitative insights about growth rates, key market shares and factors driving the market drivers for all segments. The report highlights the growth rates and market sizes of various segment and highlights the sections expected to experience high growth rate in various geographic segments. The report also consist of company profiles of the market leaders and various players in the wearable technology ecosystems. These company profiles include product portfolios, market developments, financial performances and SWOT analysis for each company. The report also offers a competitive landscape of the wearable technology market. The competitive landscape provides the market share of the major players operating in the wearable technology market.Inquire about discount on this report @About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.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
Smart Parking Systems Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.9% till 2025 | The Insight Partners

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A combination of various approaches to zero down on the market size, market shares and growth rates of the global smart parking market were used. The segment revenues, differences in growth rates and the driving and restraining factors were found out by conducting drilling secondary research. Few estimates based on the analysis of the researcher were also validated through primary interviews. Few experts in the domain of smart parking systems were approached to conduct primaries and based on their views and analysis of the researcher, the entire report was jotted down.Browse market data tables and in-depth TOC of the Global Smart Parking System Market (20152025) @The global Smart Parking Systems Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.9% during the forecast period 2015  2025 and accounts for US$ 430.38 Mn in the year 2025.The global smart parking systems market is segmented on the basis of parking site, components, end-user industry and regions. By parking site, the global smart parking systems is segmented as on-site parking and off-site parking. Hardware, software and services constitute the components segment of the global smart parking systems market. In terms of the end-user industry this market has been segmented into transport facilities, government and municipalities, commercial institutions and corporate institutions.Geographically, this market has been segmented into the following regions, North America Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa and South America. Geographically, North America leads the Smart Parking systems market but it is expected to lose its dominance to APAC during the forecast period. High growth rate in the APAC countries especially India and China are propelling the growth of this market. The APAC market with the highest growth rate is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.9% during the forecast period.Request for Sample copy @The key drivers for this market include development of IoT in industrial things, switching of municipalities, rise in the urban populations and the need for scalable and efficient parking system that saves a lot of time of the customers. Along with the above mentioned drivers, bundled services are also fuelling the growth of this industry.Smart parking systems is propelled significantly by the off-street parking segment. Research shows there would be significant adoptions in this segment as this type would be beneficial for consumers a lot. However, high initial costs is the point that is expected to restrict the growth of this market.Inquire about discount on this report @A detailed analysis on the growth trends, market shares on various dimensions, driving and restraining factors for smart parking systems, opportunities in the future for these systems is provided in the report. A few leading players in the Smart Parking domain have also been profiled in the report. The profiling of the market players acquaints the reader with their financial information about revenues as well as segment revenues, a competitive SWOT analysis for each player and the recent developments by the player in the Smart Parking domain. The key developments are related to the mergers and acquisitions by the players in the recent past.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
Tablet Based E-Detailing Market to Witness Steady Growth During the Forecast Period 2016-2026

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http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/tablet-based-e-detailing-market

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The technological advancements and innovations in the pharmaceutical promotion techniques has unlocked potential for the companies that are striving to promote pharma products. E- Detailing is a process that uses electronic devices to provide sales presentations to physicians. E-Detailing is a solution for pharmaceutical sales professionals looking to interact with doctors in more efficient manner and increase the value of communication. Previously sales representatives were supposed to wait for long hours and then get a chance to brief about their product to physician. The E-Detailing enables online product presentations. Key pharmaceutical players have realized the need to allocate resources for e-detailing strategies in order to ensure that their products can create better brand value. E-detailing is beneficial to enhance the brand value, and facilitate sales. This eliminates the need of face to face meeting with physician. Global Tablet let based e-detailing market is anticipated to exhibit a significant CAGR over the forecast period.Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: Drivers and restraintsE-Detailing provides wide range of benefits to pharmaceutical companies to promote products in efficient and effective manner and this helps to bolster the global tablet based e-detailing market during the forecast period. Physicians are always fond of advanced technologies such as tablet based e-detailing that can help them to access the information any time possible, thus it is a driving factor for tablet based e-detailing market. The reduction in manual errors in detailing process, market access effectiveness, and the elimination of complex value stories based on health economics evidence to the payers from value communication apps are further expected to contribute in the growth of global tablet based e-detailing market.Request Free Report Sample@However, there are some disadvantages in the use of e-detailing system that includes the need to train the sales professionals to manage advanced technologies. Also Tablet let based e-detailing is costlier than conventional detailing method. These factors can slowdown the growth of tablet based e-detailing market.Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: SegmentationGlobal E-Detailing Market can be segmented as following typesBy Product:Tablet letsLaptopsiPodsBy End UserPharmaceutical IndustryBiotechnology IndustryTablet Based E-Detailing Market: OverviewThe demand of tablet based e-detailing market is increasing in pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies due to its efficiency and effectiveness in promotion of pharmaceuticals brands. Through e-detailing companies can share their product updates or information to the physician. The global tablet based e-detailing market is expected to account a lucrative market as well as robust growth rates over the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: Region-Wise OutlookE-Detailing market is segmented into seven key regions: Those are North America, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Western Europe, and Asia pacific excluding japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America is anticipated to dominate the tablet based E-Detailing market due to the presence of pharmaceutical stalwarts in the countries like US and Canada. North America is followed by Asia Pacific in terms of market share of tablet based e-detailing market owing to the rise of pharmaceuticals industry in the countries like China and India. Europe is growing at a modest CAGR in the global tablet based e-detailing market. Latin America and Middle East and Africa are at a nascent stage in the global tablet based e-detailing market and is expected to have a significant contribution in the market in the forecast period.Tablet Based E-Detailing Market: Key playersSome of the key players areAstraZeneca, Plc.Abbott Health care, Inc.Novartis, and AG.Hoffmann La RocheMerck & Co.Johnson and JohnsonPfizer, Inc.Sanofi AventisBoston Scientific.GlaxoSmithKline, Plc.Full Report Analysis@About Us:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Global Graphite Market : Asia Pacific holds the biggest share

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Persistence Market Research has published a research report, titled Global Market Study on Graphite: Battery Segment To Witness Highest Growth by 2020. This comprehensive research report gives a 360-degrree view of the market dynamics and trends in the global graphite market. Along with presenting key insights, the report offers a SWOT analysis and a Porters five forces analysis of the overall market. According to the research report, the global graphite market was valued at US$13.6 bn in 2013 and is estimated to reach US$17.5 bn by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 3.70% from 2014 to 2020.Browse the full Global Market Study on Graphite: Battery Segment To Witness Highest Growth by 2020 report @The global market for graphite is experiencing acceleration due to growing usage of graphite in the battery and automotive industry. Graphite is mainly used for making clutch materials, gaskets, exhaust systems, motors, and cylinder heads. Graphite has slowly replaced asbestos, which was used for linings in vehicles and for disk brake pads. The biggest advantage of graphite is that it creates less noise while braking. Furthermore, graphite is also an important material used in the production of extremely lightweight carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), which is mainly used by the aerospace industry and makers of Formula One cars. In recent times, graphite has also been in great demand in the passenger car industry as it reduces the weight of the vehicle, thereby resulting in less fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.Download Research Study Here @The global graphite market is segmented on the basis of form, end use, and region. The forms of graphite available in the market are natural graphite and synthetic graphite. The synthetic graphite segment is sub-segmented into carbon fiber, graphite electrode, graphite blocks, graphite powder, and others. Graphite is generally used in refractories, lubricants, electrodes, foundries, batteries, and others. Regionally, this market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World.Out of all the geographical segments, Asia Pacific holds the biggest share in the overall graphite market. This dominance is mainly due to the technological advancements in application of graphite in areas of fuel cells, solar power systems, pebble-bed nuclear reactors, and the automotive and aerospace industries. The biggest contributors to the growth of the Asia Pacific regional market are the emerging economies of India and China. The growing demand for steel and other metals has led to a growth in the demand for graphite electrodes in Asia Pacific, which is subsequently propelling the graphite market.About UsPersistence 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 UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Introducing Ellp, A New Device Helper

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Story: A bunch of tech enthusiasts based on the sunny island of Malta are creating a new and effortless way to simplify users device experience forever. With all lifes complexities, the Ellp team went back to basics and came up with an easy-to-use tool that empowers busy people to set their own rules and easily automate a vast number of day-to-day device tasks, for free.Inspired by the If-this-then-that concept applied to connect apps, Ellp uses simple logic to automate tasks that are specifically carried out on peoples devices - simplifying technology for everyone. What if users could automatically save their tagged Facebook photos to a preferred folder? How about getting notified when downloading the same file multiple times, taking up precious space? Or better still, what if YouTube opens up each time a user plugs in their headphones? With Ellp the possibilities are endless.How does it work? Ellp automates activities based on a series of triggers and actions around internet, social media, online protection, storage space, multimedia, performance and more.The automation process is simple:1. The user selects the tasks they want to automate2. Edits according to their liking3. Starts enjoying a smoother device experienceEllp is intended to make automation available and accessible to everyone. Whether tech savvy or a casual user - Ellp suits all. Staying true to our core values, we want to present a product that simplifies people's lives by paving the way for a better device experience. Ellp is the one tool you need to ensure that your device is automatically handling routine and critical tasks around one's online activities, social media, photos, device performance, and much more. - Gilbert Camilleri CEO of Ellp.Good News: Ellp is collecting email addresses for those that would like early access to the Beta Version to be released in mid-October. By simply sharing Ellp with their friends, the user will also be able to unlock a cool bonus feature! Ramping up their position as they share with friends. The top 10 referrers will join the VIP team, earning access to other gifts! The product will first be available on Windows with the aim to launch Ellp on Android and iOS / Mac in 2017.Sign-up now:Twitter:Facebook:Press link:Check out our video at:Ellp is a startup software company, made up of a bunch of tech enthusiasts based on the sunny island of Malta. It's main focus is on creating a new and effortless way to simplify users' device experience forever.Ellp LimitedAddress: Orange Point, Dun Karm Street, B'Kara By-Pass, Birkirkara, BKR9037, MaltaContact: Kristina GrechPhone Number: (+356) 79205362Email: pr@ellp.com
Industrial Valves Market

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The report analyzes & forecast industrial valves market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on revenue and revenue is given in USD million. This report is thereby produced to give a comprehensive overview of the ongoing trends in the market. This study includes a review of market dynamics with focus on key market drivers, growth challenges (restraints), and opportunities in industrial valves market on a global level.Get a copy of free Sample Report @The report also offers transparent view on industrial valves market along with competitive scenario and product portfolio of leading vendors. The value chain analysis and Porters five forces analysis included in the report further help in assessing the market situation and competitiveness of industrial valves market. Market attractiveness analysis highlights key type and application segments of the industrial valves market based on their market size, growth rate and comparative attractiveness against other segments.The study provides a crucial view on the industrial valves market by segmenting the market based on type & application. All segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021. Key type segments covered under this study includes gate valve, butterfly valve, ball valve, check valve and globe valve.Know more before buying this report @Oil & gas, chemical, power, water & wastewater and others are the major application segments of industrial valves market The regional segmentation includes current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa.The competitive profiling of key players of this market includes company and financial overview, business strategies adopted by them, and their recent developments which can help in assessing competition in the market. Key players profiled in the report include Alfa Laval, Velan Inc., Delta Pacific Valves Ltd., GWC Valve International Inc., Cameron International, Goodwin Plc, Camtech Valves, Pentair Plc., Neway Valve (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. and Valvitalia S.P.A amongst others.Purchase a direct copy of report with TOC @This report segment of global industrial valves market as follows:Industrial Valves Market: Type Segment AnalysisGate valveButterfly valveBall valveCheck valveGlobe valveIndustrial Valves Market: Application Segment AnalysisOil & gasChemicalPowerWater & wastewaterOther applicationBrowse full report @Industrial Valves Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East & 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:
Clinical Trials Market Volume Analysis, Segments, Value Share and Key Trends 2015-2025

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Clinical trials are research studies performed on humans to gain specific information about biomedical interventions such as novel vaccines, devices, treatments and drugs and thereby generating safety data. Clinical trials are regulated by health authorities and ethics committees.Documents required for performing clinical trials are investigators brochure (IB) which include current and relevant scientific information about the investigational product, United States Food and Drug (FDA) form 1572, protocol and amendments, inform consent, other written information for participants, recruitment advertisement, financial disclosure form (FDF), master clinical trial agreement (MCTA), institutional review board (IRB) approval, medical licensure, training records, laboratory accreditation, visit monitor reports, miscellaneous document, signature sheet and documentation of investigational drug destruction. The International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) brings together regulatory authorities of Europe, the United States, Japan and experts from pharmaceutical industry to frame and regulate the technical and scientific aspects of pharmaceutical product registration. The Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) states rules and standard guidelines for clinical trials. ICH guidelines are followed as law by several countries in the world.Request Free Report Sample@Clinical trials are conducted in four phases namely, Phase I, II, III and IV. Phase I is conducted for safety, phase II is conducted for efficacy, phase III is conducted for final confirmation of safety and efficacy and phase IV is conducted for post sales studies. Risk to participants involved in clinical trials decreases from phase I to phase VI. Number of participants increases from phase I to phase IV resulting in increasing cost of trials. Based on the phases of clinical trials, global clinical trials market is segmented as follows:Phase IPhase IIPhase IIIPhase IVBased on indication, global clinical trials market is classified as follows:Blood disordersOphthalmologyAutoimmune diseasesCirculatory diseasesCancerGenitourinary diseasesCongenital diseasesMusculoskeletal diseasesCentral nervous system (CNS)InfectionsDermatologyMetabolic disordersCardio vascular system (CVS) diseasesGastrointestinal diseasesMental disordersOthersBeing relatively costly process, in order to reduce economic burden on company and shift focus on core business activities, many companies outsource their clinical trial activities to contract research organizations (CROs). Contract research organizations provide services such as clinical trial management, clinical research and preclinical research. Factors such as advancement in technology and increasing demand of innovative solutions in healthcare industry are driving the market of global clinical trials towards growth. On the other hand, factors such as high cost and stringent regulations are restraining the growth of clinical trials market globally. Geographically, the global clinical trials market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World.Visit For TOC@North America is the leading consumer of global clinical trials solutions, followed by Europe. Ample availability of funds to outsource clinical trials serves as the major growth driver for the North America clinical trials market. Asia-Pacific demonstrates impressive growth potential for clinical trials market and is expected to show the highest growth rate as compared to other regions in the world. Countries such as India are attractive markets due to advantages such as availability of skilled practitioners and availability government support in terms development of outsourcing hubs thus attracting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to outsource clinical trial activities to CROs in this region. Some of the market leaders contributing to the global clinical trials market include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ltd., Sanofi Aventis A.S. and Roche Group.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:
Rising Popularity of Yoga across World to Fuel Demand for Yoga Mats

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QYResearchReports.com has recently announced the addition of a new study based on the global market for yoga mats. The research report, titled Global Yoga Mat Market Research Report 2016, examines the historical as well as the current performance of this market, emphasizing especially on each of the geographical segment.With the heightened popularity of yoga across the world, the demand for yoga mats has witnessed a remarkable rise in the recent times. Analysts expect this demand to remain high in the years to come. Mostly utilized at homes and yoga studios, yoga mats are specially designed to support consumers, by preventing their hands and feet from slipping when practicing yoga.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @This 122-page research study provides an all-inclusive analysis of the worldwide yoga mat market, taking various factors, such as production capacity, pricing of the product, the dynamics of demand and supply, revenue, and the growth rate of the overall market, in consideration.According to the research report, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and India are the primary regional markets for yoga mats. India, being the origin of Yoga, leads the demand for yoga mats across the world. The swift proliferation of this ancient practice in other parts of the world has also boosted the demand for yoga mats in North America and Europe significantly.In this study, the global market for yoga mats has been broadly analyzed on the basis of the product type and the application. Based on the product, the market has been classified into rubber yoga mats, PVC yoga mats, and TPE yoga mats. PVC yoga mats report a higher demand among consumers than other yoga mats due to the grip they provide. The segment is likely to witness strong demand in the coming years, states the research study.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Based on the application, the report segments the global yoga mats market into yoga mats for household purposes and yoga mats for yoga clubs. As of now, the demand for yoga mats used for household purposes is higher than the latter, states the report.The research report also presents a detailed assessment of the competitive landscape of the global market for yoga mats. It reviews the profiles of the leading players in this market in order to study their growth potential and the trending strategies adopted by them for business expansion.Manduka PROlite, Easyoga, HATHAYOGA, Gaiam, Yogarugs, JiangXi Lveten Plastic, Khataland, Kharma Khare, Aerolite, Aurorae, Barefoot Yoga, Hosa Group, PrAna Revolutionary, Copeactive, Lululemon, Yogabum, Jade Yoga, A. Kolckmann, Hugger Mugger Para Rubber, Yogasana, Liforme, Keep well, and Microcell Composite are the key manufacturers of yoga mats across the world, states this research study.Read More @About UsQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYReseachReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Fragrance Market : Opportunities, Demand and Forecasts, 2020

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Commonly known as perfume, fragrance is a mixture of essential oils or aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents commonly used to provide pleasant scent to the human body, animals, food, objects and any living space. Over the years, people used herbs and spices such as almond, coriander, myrtle, conifer resin or and bergamot as well as flowers to provide pleasant aroma or scent to their food ingredients. Fragrance oil also known as aromatic oil is used to provide aroma/pleasant scents to the products. These oils are blended with synthetic aroma compounds or natural essential oils which are diluted with scented oil such as, propylene glycol, vegetable oil or mineral oil. Aromatic oils are mostly used for perfumery, cosmetics and flavoring of food.Download Sample of this report @Fragrance in the western countries is mostly applied to the pulse point of the body such as behind the ears, nape of the neck and insides of wrists, elbows and knees. The pulse part of the body is warm as compare to other body parts, it provide warmth to the perfume which allow it to release continuous fragrance. Fragrance industry manufactures various types of perfume depending upon the usage. Lightly scented products such as bath oil, shower gel and body lotion are used in the morning, eau de toilette for afternoon and perfume for evening. Perfume can hold its scent for longer period of time as compare to other scented products.Global fragrance market can be bifurcated into three categories such as perfume, deodorant and others. Households user has the largest market share for fragrance products, followed by personal care. North America has largest market share for fragrance products, followed by Europe and Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific region is expected to show highest growth for fragrance products in coming future owing to increasing domestic demand in the developing countries such as India and China.Increasing population coupled with increasing disposable income in the developing countries such as India and china is expected to drive the global fragrance market. Increasing disposable income allow the customer to spend more on luxury products among which fragrance plays key role.According to the National Bureau of Statistics China, annual per capita disposable income of urban households in China increased from USD 2,271.0 in 2008 to USD 3408.5 in 2012. The overall annual disposable income in India medium household income increased from USD 1,366.2 billion in 2010 to USD 1,587.6 billion in 2013. Additionally, use of fragrances for reduction of stress and change in moods and increasing use of fragrances by household is expected to provide ample growth opportunities for the global fragrance market. Appearance and personal care have become sense of pride, self reliance and confidence. From being non-essential product fragrance/perfume have emerged as an essential product in todays era. Also, economic development in growing markets coupled with increased demand for youth-oriented fragrances and celebrity scents are expected to drive the global fragrance market.For more detailed information (desk of content material), Figures and Tables of the report @Owing to the better growth prospect in the fragrance market many multinational companies have started entering the market. The companies do not manufacture the products on their own but sell the fragrance product by their brand name and distribute the profit margin with the original manufacturer. Some of the major companies operating in the global fragrance market are Revlon, Inc., The Raymond Group, Estee Lauder Inc., L'Oreal Group, Beiersdorf AG, Christian Dior S.A., Calvin Klein, Inc., Burberry Group plc, Giorgio Armani S.p.A, Unilever, NIKE, Inc. and LacosteKey points covered in the reportReport segments the market on the basis of types, application, products, technology, etc (as applicable)The report covers geographic segmentationoNorth AmericaoEuropeoAsiaoRoWThe report provides the market size and forecast for the different segments and geographies for the period of 2010 to 2020The report provides company profiles of some of the leading companies operating in the marketThe report also provides porters five forces analysis of the market.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
Hepatitis C Drug Market : Share, by Application Hospitals, Private Labs, Physician Offices 2015 and 2021

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Hepatitis C Drug Market for (Hospitals, Private Labs, Physician Offices, Public Health Labs and Blood Banks) by Application - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015  2021 According to the report, global demand for hepatitis C drug market was valued at USD 11.81 billion in 2015, is expected to reach USD 27.63 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 17% between 2016 and 2021.Access report sample visit atHCV is a major public health problem that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. Certain drugs, toxins, heavy alcohol use, bacterial and viral infections can cause hepatitis infection. The most common types of hepatitis infections are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C and they are caused by three dissimilar dissimilar viruses. Although each virus can cause similar symptoms, they have different modes of transmission and can affect the liver differently. Hepatitis C infection can bring both acute and chronic hepatitis disease. Approximately, 80% of patients get chronically infected with hepatitis C disease. Hepatitis C infection (HCV) spreads through the blood of infected individual by the use of shared needles or supplies used to infuse drugs. Vaccines are available only for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B viruses. Research into the development of a vaccine for hepatitis C is under way.The prevalence of the infection, new productive treatments, relatively lesser time of treatment from before, and rising government subsidizing, can drive the hepatitis C drug market. Lack of awareness and information about HCV and treatment expense of disease can influence the hepatitis C market. In the last few years a couple of new drugs have been launched in the market which has huge success and captured maximum market share of the hepatitis C market. However, cost of these drugs is too high. Hospitals, private labs, physician offices, public health labs, and blood banks are the key application of hepatitis C drug market.Do Inquiry before buying report visit atNorth America was one of the fastest growing hepatitis C drug markets across the world with more than 40% share of the total revenue generated in 2015. U. S. is the largest revenue contributor for worldwide Hepatitis C market. Government funding for drug development will continue to play an essential role in the growth of U.S. HCV treatment market. Europe was the second major market for Hepatitis C in 2015.Ongoing research and development in pharmaceutical industry for hepatitis C drug development is expected to propel the market growth in the coming years. Moreover, interest for Hepatitis C medication is expanding in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa due to prevalence of the disease in the regions combined with expenditure on healthcare infrastructure.Browse the full report atHarvoni and Sovaldi are newly discovered drugs for Hepatitis C. Marketed by pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences and has more than 95% cure rate. The problem with this drug is its high cost, Harvoni drug is one of the expensive drug in the world. Some of the key player in the hepatitis C drug market includes Merck & Co, Kenilworth, Roche, Basel GlaxoSmith, Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb.The report segments the global hepatitis C drug market asHepatitis C Drug Market: Application Segment AnalysisHospitalsPrivate labsPhysician officesPublic health labsBlood banksHepatitis C Drug Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaRequest Table Of Content atAbout UsZion 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 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:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite:
Global Solid Wooden Flooring Consumption Market 2016 Industry Productions, Shares, Competitive Research & Emerging Companies

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http://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-solid-wooden-flooring-consumption-industry-2016-market-research-report.htm

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The report presents an in-depth inquiry into the global Solid Wooden Flooring market scenario. The reports provides a complete outline of the current market state and future growth prospects, and tracks the historical growth of the global Solid Wooden Flooring market. The report also states the leading companies operating in the global Solid Wooden Flooring market.The report provides a framework of the global Solid Wooden Flooring market considering the products, applications, and key areas of the market. The research report projects the global marketas valuation between Solid Wooden Flooring and Solid Wooden Flooring along with the value of the market during the forecast period. The report also highlights the chief regional segments of the global Solid Wooden Flooring market and provides their projected share in the global market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The study focuses on the drivers, restraints and opportunities in the global Solid Wooden Flooring market. Each year within the forecast period has been thoroughly analyzed with reference to the expected market value of products and regions in the respective year. Both primary and secondary research have been used for the accomplishment of the study.The reports provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Solid Wooden Flooring market on the basis of the market drivers and restraints that are likely to have an effect on the marketas growth, along with the growth opportunities for the vendors operating in the market. The report also focuses on key market features such as the competitive rivalry within the market.The study presents a summary of the leading market players along with their strategies, innovations regarding products and services, and their position in the market.Browse Complete Report with TOC @Table of ContentsChapter One Solid Wooden Flooring Industry Overview1.1 Solid Wooden Flooring Definition1.1.1 Solid Wooden Flooring Product Pictures & Product Specifications1.2 Solid Wooden Flooring Classification & ApplicationChapter Two Solid Wooden Flooring Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.1 Solid Wooden Flooring Raw Material & Equipments Supplier and Price Analysis2.2 Solid Wooden Flooring Labor & Other Cost Analysis2.3 Solid Wooden Flooring Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis2.4 Solid Wooden Flooring Manufacturing Process AnalysisChapter Three Solid Wooden Flooring Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Solid Wooden Flooring Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Solid Wooden Flooring Manufacturing Plants Distribution3.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Solid Wooden Flooring R&D Status and Technology Sources3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Solid Wooden Flooring Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Solid Wooden Flooring Production by Regions, Technology and Applications4.1 2010-2016 Solid Wooden Flooring Production by Regions(such as US, EU, China and Japan etc)4.2 2010-2016 Solid Wooden Flooring Production by Product Type & Application4.3 2010-2016 Solid Wooden Flooring Price by key Manufacturers4.4 2010-2016 US & China Solid Wooden Flooring Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value Analysis4.5 2010-2016 Europe and Japan Solid Wooden Flooring Capacity Production Price Cost Production Value Analysis4.6 2010-2016 US and China Solid Wooden Flooring Supply Import Export Consumption4.7 2010-2016 Europe and Japan Solid Wooden Flooring Supply Import Export ConsumptionChapter Five Solid Wooden Flooring Sales and Sales Revenue by Regions5.1 2010-2016 Solid Wooden Flooring Sales by Regions (such as US, EU, China & Japan etc)5.2 2010-2016 Solid Wooden Flooring Sales Revenue by Regions (such as US EU China Japan etc)5.3 2010-2016 Solid Wooden Flooring Sales Price by Regions (such as US EU China Japan etc)5.4 2010-2016 Solid Wooden Flooring Demand by ApplicationsRead More @About Us :QYresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Ascorbic Acid Market : Revenue Share, By End-User Segment Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverages, Personal Care 2015 And 2021

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Ascorbic Acid Market for Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverages, Personal Care and Other End-user Industries: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015 - 2021. According to the report, the global ascorbic acid market was around 150.2 kilo tons in 2015. The global ascorbic acid market revenue accounted for USD 820.4 million in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 1083.8 million by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 4.8% between 2016 and 2021.Access sample report visit atThe global Ascorbic Acid market is expected to witness moderate growth over the forecast period on account of increasing demand from pharmaceutical industry. Majority of ascorbic acid manufactured is used as an antioxidant. The major end-user industries of ascorbic acid are pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, personal care and others. Pharmaceutical industry is largest consumer of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C helps to recycle vitamin E. About one-third of total production of ascorbic acid is used for vitamin preparations in the pharmaceutical industry. The rest is mainly applied as an additive to food and feed to enhance product quality and stability. Ascorbic acid added to foodstuffs during processing or before packing protects color, aroma, and nutrient content. The usage of ascorbic acid in food & beverages industry is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period.Ascorbic acid production is hugely dependent on availability of raw material. Thus, any fluctuation in availability and prices of raw material can severely affect ascorbic acid market. This is expected to curb the growth of ascorbic acid market over the years. However, investments in research and development by major industry players coupled along with exponential technological advancements in pharmaceutical industry is expected to act as a major opportunity for ascorbic acid market.Do Inquiry before buying report visit atIn terms of geography, Asia-Pacific was largest consumer of ascorbic acid in 2015. The consumption in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a rapid pace mainly due to availability of low cost manufacturing facilities in China. China is the largest consumer and producer of ascorbic acid. Moreover, the ever increasing demand for food and health supplements primarily in Asia Pacific is expected to boost the demand for ascorbic acid in this region. Europe and North America also consume ascorbic acid on large scale. The demand for ascorbic acid in this region is also expected to grow in coming years as a result of increasing demand from personal care and food & beverages end-user industry. Ascorbic Acid demand is increasing in emerging nations such as Brazil, India and China.Browse the full report atSome of the key players of the market include, DSM, DuPont, BASF SE, Northeast Pharmaceutical Group, Shandong Luwei Pharmaceutical, Bactolac Pharmaceutical Inc, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group, Hebei Welcome Pharmaceutical Co, North China Pharmaceutical Group, Dishman Group, Aland Nutraceuticals Group, NBTY Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc. and others.This report segments the global ascorbic acid market as follows:Global Ascorbic Acid Market: End-user Segment AnalysisPharmaceuticalFood & beveragesPersonal CareOthersGlobal Ascorbic Acid Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyUKFranceAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaRequest Table Of Content atAbout UsZion 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 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:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite:
Energy Management System (EMS) Market Will Reach USD 63,161.5 million by 2021

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Zion Research has published a new report titled Energy Management System (EMS) by Software (Utility, Industrial, Residential, Enterprises Energy Management) Market - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2015  2021According to the report, the global energy management system (EMS) market accounted for USD 31,294.6 million in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 63,161.4 million by 2021, growing at a CAGR of around 12.4% between 2016 and 2021.Access sample report visit atEnergy efficiency means to consume less energy with an increased output. Energy management system is gradually being recognized as one of the most significant and cost-effective solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases produced as part of industrial processes, including in the utility, enterprises and residential sector. In fact, energy management system has the technically capable to reduce industrial energy use by approximately 18%. The importance energy management system made it clear that todays industry is responsible for approximately 22% of global CO2 emissions. In global arena, energy management system creates active role in reducing the energy consumption in industrial, enterprises and residential sector.Globally, markets of energy management system are driven by increasing awareness in industrial sectors for the efficient utilization of energy consumption. Moreover, increasing alertness about carbon emission management serves as a major factor which may fuel the growth of energy management system market within a forecast periods. In addition stringent government policies and guidelines or government intervention over misuse of energy consumption can accelerate the growth of energy management system market. However, lack of financial resources in new entrant enterprises serve as a major restraining factor which hindered the growth of energy management system market. In addition, high operational costs in initial stage coupled with late return on investment are most likely to slow down the growth of energy management system market.Do Inquiry before buying report visit atBased on software, energy management system market is segmented into five types: utility energy management software, industrial energy management software, enterprise energy management software, residential energy management and others. Energy management system market is dominated by the industrial energy management software market due to wide extension of industrial hub across the world. Moreover, energy use in industries is much more related to operational practices than in the commercial and residential sectors. The energy-using systems in industries are designed to support the production practices which may are relatively energy efficient under an initial production scenario. In 2015, industry management software account for over 55% of global energy management system market share.Based on geography, energy management system market segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. North America was the largest market share in 2015. North America held approximately above 40% of market share in 2015 in terms of revenue. In addition, growing tendency towards efficient utilization of energy in Asia Pacific region coupled with rise in industrialization are likely to expect the growth of energy management system market in coming years.Browse the full "Energy Management System Market" report atKey market player of energy management system market are Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) Ltd, Cisco Systems, Inc., General Electric Company, Honeywell International, Inc., International Business Machine Corporation, Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Emerson Process Management, CA Technologies and Eaton Corporation PLC.This report segments the global energy management system market as follows:Global Energy Management System (EMS) Market: Software AnalysisUtility EMS SoftwareIndustrial EMS SoftwareEnterprise Energy Management SoftwareResidential EMSOthers.Global Energy Management System (EMS) Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaMiddle East and AfricaRequest Table Of Content atAbout UsZion 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 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:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@marketresearchstore.comWebsite:
Dashboard Cameras Market Driven by Strict Road Safety Regulations; Emerging Trends of 2020

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Transparency Market Research has recently published a research report to offer definitive insight into the global dashboard camera market. The research report, titled Dashboard Camera Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020, evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats faced by the market segments in the overall dashboard camera market with the help of a SWOT analysis. Furthermore, research analysts have also examined the historical data and compared it with the present market scenario to determine the trajectory of this market for the coming years.PDF Brochure Download for more Details:According to the research report, the global dashboard camera market was valued at US$1,458.2 mn in 2013 and is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 15.3% between 2014 and 2020. Dashboard cameras are seen in private cars, rental vehicles, commercial vehicles, and law enforcement vehicles amongst others. These are real-time video recording devices that are installed on vehicle dashboards to capture the surroundings of the vehicles in order to monitor driving behavior, help the driver to park correctly, and to maintain video evidence in the event of an accident.The primary growth drivers for the global dashboard camera market are strict road safety regulations, dropping prices of dashboard cameras, and growing awareness about advantages of using dashboard cameras. Furthermore, the growth of the automotive industry and the increasing installations of these cameras by car manufacturers, especially in the newer cars, are also expected to drive this market in the coming years. The only major factor restraining the growth of this market is the implementation of the Privacy Act in countries such as Austria, Portugal, and Belgium where cases of video recording of public places are liable to be reported.Read More:The global dashboard camera market has been segmented on the basis of type, technology, and geography. The type of dashboard cameras in the market are advanced dashboard cameras, basic dashboard cameras, and smart dashboard cameras. The technologies used in this market are multi lens, single lens, and rearview dashboard camera. Geographically, this market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.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.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Radiographic Film Processor Industry 2016 Market Research Report

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SummaryThe Global Radiographic Film Processor Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Radiographic Film Processor industry.The report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions and classifications. The Radiographic Film Processor market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status.Development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures are also analyzed. This report also states import/export consumption, supply and demand Figures, cost, price, revenue and gross margins.Browse Report Summary With TOC @The report focuses on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product specification, price, cost, revenue and contact information.With 145 the 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.Get Sample Report @Table Of Contents:1 Industry Overview1.1 Basic Information of Radiographic Film Processor1.1.1 Definition of Radiographic Film Processor1.1.2 Classifications of Radiographic Film Processor1.1.3 Applications of Radiographic Film Processor1.1.4 Characteristics of Radiographic Film Processor1.2 Development Overview of Radiographic Film Processor1.3 Enter Barriers Analysis of Radiographic Film Processor2 Radiographic Film Processor International and China Market Analysis2.1 Radiographic Film Processor Industry International Market Analysis2.1.1 Radiographic Film Processor International Market Development History2.1.2 Radiographic Film Processor Competitive Landscape Analysis2.1.3 Radiographic Film Processor International Main Countries Development Status2.1.4 Radiographic Film Processor International Market Development Trend2.2 Radiographic Film Processor Industry China Market Analysis2.2.1 Radiographic Film Processor China Market Development History2.2.2 Radiographic Film Processor Competitive Landscape Analysis2.2.3 Radiographic Film Processor China Main Regions Development Status2.2.4 Radiographic Film Processor China Market Development Trend2.3 Radiographic Film Processor International and China Market Comparison Analysis3 Environment Analysis of Radiographic Film Processor3.1 International Economy Analysis3.2 China Economy Analysis3.3 Policy Analysis of Radiographic Film Processor3.4 News Analysis of Radiographic Film Processor4 Analysis of Revenue by Classifications4.1 Global Revenue of Radiographic Film Processor by Classifications 2011-20164.2 Global Revenue Growth Rate of Radiographic Film Processor by Classifications 2011-20164.3 Radiographic Film Processor Revenue by ClassificationsEnquiry 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:
Policing Technologies is being Used Extensively as Crime Rate and Terrorist Activities Surges

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Technology has been an integral part of police departments and has shaped it in many important ways. Advancements in technology have created enormous potential for enhancing police work. Often technologies have been adapted from the commercial marketplace as in the case of radios, cars, and computers among others. Crime control can be strengthened by using technology, for example, enhancing the ability of the police in identifying and monitoring offenders and also facilitate in identifying the places and conditions that can contribute disproportionately to crime. Enhancement in technology has also resulted in improving evidence collection, speeding up of the detection process, and also response to crimes. Furthermore, technological advancements pertaining to weapons, protective gear, and surveillance capabilities has reduced fatalities and deaths of officers, bystanders, and suspects drastically. The policing technologies market on the basis of type has been segmented into five segments; aviation technology, communication technology, detection and surveillance technology, less lethal technology and others.Free PDF For Full Details with Technological breakthroughs is @The policing technologies market in Europe is primarily driven by factors such as increase in terrorist attacks coupled with increasing crime rates. Europe has been a victim of several terrorist attacks in recent years which have positively impacted the policing technologies market in the region. There has been increasing demand to make law enforcement departments more efficient in order to counter the terrorist attacks. Moreover, there has been an increase in crime rate across various countries in Europe. Issues such as drug related crimes are on the rise and countries such as Greece have been a victim of the same. For example, Omonoia Square in Greece has been an epicenter for drug-related activities.However, lack of proper training is one of the major restraints hindering the growth of the policing technologies market. The rapid growth in technology has resulted in an overwhelming number of products, services, and requirements which further results in additional staff training. The incorporation of new technology into police work also requires the need to thoroughly test, develop policy, investigate, and train. There are varied complexities associated with the adoption and use of various new policing technologies as a result of which there is often a long time gap in the adoption of these technologies. Police agencies need extensive training to become familiar with latest technologies such as facial recognition software, DNA testing, driverless cars, and gunshot locating detection systems among others.The competitive profiling of the key players in the Europe policing technologies market and their market shares across six countries which include U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Russia and others have been exhaustively covered under the purview of the study. Moreover, the distinct business strategies that have been adopted by the major players in the market have also been included in the report. For providing a detailed insight into the Europe policing technologies market, the market attractive analysis has been provided in the report.Market Insight of policing technologies can be Viewed @A comprehensive analysis of market dynamics, which include the market drivers, restraints and opportunities, is included under the scope of the report. Market dynamics are the distinctive factors that influence the growth of the specific market and therefore help to study the current trends in the global market. Additionally, Porters Five Forces analysis has also been included under the scope of the research. Thus, this report provides an inclusive study of the Europe policing technologies market and also provides the forecast of the market for the period from 2016-2024.Some of the major players in the market are: PredPol, Inc., Aventura Technologies, Inc, Reveal Media Ltd., Zepcam B.V., Basler AG, SmartWater Technology Limited, Computer Sciences Corporation, Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination Products Inc., Aeryon Labs Inc. and Taser International Inc.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Transparency Market Research90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Smart-Phone Global MarketIncluding: Mobile Devices, 3G, 4G, Handheld Devices, From Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Lenovo, LG and OthersForecast 2013 - 2020Covering: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle east & Africa, and Latin America

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ReportBazzar has announced a new report titled Smart-Phone Global MarketIncluding: Mobile Devices, 3G, 4G, Handheld Devices, From Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Lenovo, LG and OthersForecast 2013 - 2020Covering: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle east & Africa, and Latin America to their offerings.Browse report summery with TOC:The Global smartphones market has been estimated and analyzed on the basis of revenue.The data comes from associations, key players, government websites and otherauthentic sources. The forecast has been provided on the basis of anticipated growth in the number of users and considering the impact of drivers and restraints in the market.Secondary sources such as annual reports of industry players, government sources, online databases, various associations and others were employed to determine the revenue generated by the sale of smartphones globally. Analysis of value chain, drivers, restraints, opportunities and Porters five forces is included. The analysis was verified through primary interviews with industry experts.Primary interviews have been done through emails, telephone and web based applications. The participants in the interviews typically include senior management employees working with key industry players and technical experts in the smart phone industry.Request Sample Report:Table of Content:Global Smart-Phone Market 11. Abstract 71.1. Executive Summary 71.2. Scope Of The Report 71.3. Market Research Methodology 82. Market Landscape 82.1. Market Overview 82.2. Market Growth Drivers And Restraints 8Market Drivers 82.3. Market Trends 93. Market Size And Forecast By Revenue 103.1. Market Size And Forecast By Volume 113.2. Porters Five Forces Analysis 124. Competitive Landscape 144.1. Value Chain Analysis 155. Market Size And Forecast 175.1. Global Smart-Phone Market By Operating System 175.2. Android Global Smart-phone Market 175.3. Ios Global Smart-Phone Market 185.4. Windows Global Smart-Phone Market 195.5. Others Global Smart-Phone Market 20Get Discount:About Us: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:
Beaverton was honored with the Michigan Municipal Leagues 2016 Community Excellence Award on Sept. 16 during the Leagues Annual Convention on Mackinac Island.

The peer-nominated Community Excellence Award, affectionately called The Race for the Cup, was started by the League in 2007 to recognize innovative solutions taking place in Michigans cities, villages and urban townships. Its the highest and most prestigious award bestowed by the statewide League. The winning community receives a large cup trophy that can be displayed for the next year. Last years winner was the City of Westland.

Beaverton, with a population of just under 1,100, won for its innovative, volunteer-driven effort to save an old, vacated two-story school building and turn it into the now-vibrant Beaverton Activity Center.

There were literally thousands and thousands and thousands of volunteer hours to put this whole project together, said Scott Govitz, former Beaverton mayor and current president of the Beaverton Activity Center. So for all of us, who were instrumental in putting this project together with a whole lot of other community members, this is a great source of pride. So not only do we have a new center for the community, now we have recognition by winning the Community Excellence Award.

Govitz particularly thanked the red vests, which is the nickname for the red-vest wearing volunteers who serve the center and helped get it open. A group of red vests attended the convention to explain the project to attendees.

I have to give credit to the red vests, they are the heart and soul of what we do. They are our volunteers day in and day out and they were here to take care of business. I also think our story is compelling. Were a small community and what we were able to accomplish from the stand point of bringing an entire project to fruition using all volunteers and making it happen is an inspiring story and also something other communities can replicate.

The project breathed new life into the former school building and quickly became a focal point and hub of activities in the community. It has brought about new and first-ever cultural events and sporting activities for youth and adults. It created meeting rooms that were nonexistent, a place to exercise and hold programs and classes. Its also a library, fitness center, health center, coffee shop, heritage center, pre-school, after-school gathering place, summer recreation location, place for worship, kids programming, adult programming, historical society and more.

In short, its been everything and more that took four solid years and thousands of volunteer hours to plan and fundraise, and over another year to reconstruct, Govitz said.

Beaverton, which competed in the strength and structure category, was one of four finalists in the statewide Community Excellence Award competition. The four finalists were among 13 projects, programs and initiatives involving 14 Michigan communities vying for the statewide award the highest Michigan Municipal League honor.

This years Race for the Cup began in the spring and projects were divided into four categories: Funding for the Future, Michigan in Motion, Place for Talent and Strength in Structure. Each entry was ranked by a panel of judges and the public had a chance to weigh in through an online voting component. The projects final score was based on the judges ranking (75 percent) and the online voting (25 percent). The top entry in each category advanced to the final round.

Representatives from the final four presented their projects at the Leagues 2016 Convention on Mackinac Island, Sept. 14-16. After hearing the presentations, the 500-plus convention attendees voted for their favorite project, with Beaverton receiving the most votes. Beaverton was awarded the CEA Trophy Cup at the conclusion of the convention, Sept. 16.
The Michigan House of Representatives recently had a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the state Capitol. First responders and members of the military from around the state were invited to mark the occasion and honor the first responders and members of the military who gave their lives in the line of duty in the past year. Don Brown, chief of the Shepherd Tri-Township Fire Department, attended as the guest of House Speaker Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant. A video of the ceremony is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGS5xmp1OSc
Dave Camp has been away from Congress for almost two years now. But, his impact will still be felt for many years to come, now that the Midland native has donated his papers to the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan.

Its an honor that there is a place right here in the state that I represented  this incredible Bentley Library  that can house those papers for future research on tax reform, welfare reform and adoption, said Camp as he sat down with the Daily News.

Terrence McDonald, director of the Bentley Library, agreed.

Dave Camps impressive engagement with many of the most important fiscal issues in America during his term will make his papers an important source for those interested in recent American history, said McDonald in a press release.

Camp joins a host of political office holders that have donated their papers to the Bentley Library, such as former governors John Engler and James Blanchard.

Many political people from Michigan have done the same thing, said Camp. For example, Congressman John Dingells papers just went there. He and I left Congress at the same time. And Sen. Carl Levins papers.

The library approached Camp about adding his papers to those of his predecessors. The library has an entire department that houses papers.

They are all set up for it. Rather than try to create an archive somewhere, it made sense. They have the institution, the archivists, they can organize it. You can either be in Congress or you can be archivist. We were not archivists in my office, laughed Camp.

The library was interested in specific papers relating to Camps 24 years in office serving the 4th Congressional District and his years as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. The collection contains photographs, office records, polling data, surveys, notes, promotional materials, committee materials and more, including a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, printed photos throughout his political career and digital holdings including 140 videos from Camps YouTube channel.

They really wanted those things that had a public aspect to it. For example, a note or letter from a governor or another public official, they wanted. But, my personal notes to people in the 4th District, which I wrote thousands of them, they do not want those, Camp said.

The library and Camp have been very careful to protect the identity of those constituents he served.

Any casework or anything that identified a person individually they dont have, that was all shredded. (When I left office) I think we shredded 54 huge boxes of case work files over all the 24 years.

The papers will include campaign materials, photos and other items, including items from his mother, Norma.

My mom kept a scrapbook of all the Midland Daily News articles. They actually wanted those because it showed a snapshot from the perspective of what was happening in (the area), he said.

After 2000, almost everything was digital so it became very easy for the Bentley Library to retrieve items, including every floor speech Camp made along with all the constituent photos taken on the steps of the Capitol.

Fortunately, Camp preserved a lot of his press clippings from the 4th District before 2000 in hard form.

Some of the papers are not even in business anymore. Those kind of show what is going on at the time. We only gave them press clippings of those things (that related to) Congress, not everything, he said.

After leaving Congress at the end of 2014, Camp took a position as policy advisor at Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC) in March of 2015.

Im still involved with tax policy, trade issues, health care and trying to make sense of those policy issues, he said. Im a policy advisor, not a lobbyist.

His new role has a lot of similarities to his time in Congress.

Ive met some great people that work there and some of the people they try to serve are really incredible. I get to keep some of the issues Ive been working on all these years, but in a different role, he said.
Tri-City Brewing Co., a Bay City-based microbrewery, is poised to relocate to a larger facility following the Bangor Township Boards unanimous approval of a 12-year, 50 percent tax abatement at its September meeting.

The microbrewery, located on 3020 Water St. on the citys east side since its inception in 2007, is building a 10,000-square-foot building on a 3.5 acre parcel on Shrestha Drive in Bangor Township, near the Bay County Civic Arena. Bay Future, Inc., which worked with Tri-City Brewing and local officials to keep the microbrewery in Bay County, said the company plans to invest more than $1.3 million in its new manufacturing facility and tap room.

Kevin Peil, founder and president of Tri-City Brewing Co., said he expects the new location to tap new interest in his company.

We are very excited to have received this abatement and are looking forward to opening our new location in Bangor Township, he said. Due to our former location, in part, we were one of Bay Citys best kept secrets. Now, the secret is out.

Peil closed on the 3.5 acre parcel in September of 2015 and since has been hard at work designing and building in anticipation of a tentative grand opening in November. At 10,000 square feet (roughly double the size of its current facility), the new building will be a little smaller than the retail floor size of a Walgreens store, according to Bay Future. Moreover, the companys expansion is expected to create five new jobs to add to the seven employees on the brewing companys payroll, Bay Futures Vice President of Economic Development Trevor Keyes said.

Keyes said that 80 percent of the new facility will be devoted to production and 20 percent of the space dedicated to a taproom. Tri-City Brewing offers 20 house-made beers on tap and distributes four beers across the state. They include Hells Half Mile Lager, which can be found at every Meijer store in the state, Giant Slayer Russian Imperial Stout, Charity Island IPA and Torchon Belgian Pale Ale.

Bangor Township resident Dan Drayer has frequented Tri-City Brewing and never came away disappointed.

Theres not one bad beer, he said. Theres a flavor for everyone, from its light selections to its Giant Slayer Russian Imperial Stout. Its the best thing going in our area for a beer lover. Its a microbrewery youre most likely to find in a big city like Detroit and we have one right here in our backyard.

From a business perspective, the move can only help grow the business, he said. I dont want to say the Water Street location was a secret but certainly it wasnt as widely known as it could have been. I think their new location is a great move.

According to Pure Michigan, the craft beer craze is not showing signs of abating  at least not in this state. The tourism-boosting agency reports that some 250 breweries are located here, placing it Michigan fifth in the nation in the number of breweries, microbreweries and brew pubs.
The Flint Water Crisis was a failure on several levels of government.

As fingers were pointed and investigations continued, the public was reminded of one thing.

Turns out in Michigan, the governors office has a certain level of exemption from the Freedom of Information Act. That office isnt the only branch of government immune from this sunshine provision.

The 1976 law explicitly exempts the governors office from records requests. And a 1986 opinion by the state attorney general said legislators also intended to exclude themselves from the law.

The recent turmoil in the state demonstrated it was time for this provision to end.

The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to subject Michigans governor and lawmakers to public records requests. It is the first time such bills have cleared a legislative chamber since passage of the Freedom of Information Act 40 years ago.

Rep. Ed McBroom, a Vulcan Republican and sponsor of the proposed Legislative Open Records Act, said it would dispel the clouds of doubt, suspicion and mistrust and continue to really push forward with the idea that the folks of this state can trust their leaders that they put in office to be doing whats right, to be going about the business of this state when we are in a taxpayer-paid for office. We work for them. They have the oversight over us.

The bipartisan 10-bill package, which passed on 100-6 and 99-7 votes in the GOP-controlled House, was sent to the Senate, whose Republican leader has been unenthusiastic about the legislation previously.

Michigan is one of just two states to wholly exempt the governor from open records laws. It is among eight states where the legislature is explicitly exempt.

We think this is a place where the state needs to join the rest of the country.

Trust in the establishment is at a low in the state and across the county. This would be a small step in repairing this bond.

This bill needs to be passed and signed into law. Not doing so would be political self-destruction at this point.
Republic of Korea Air Force F-15 Eagles and Airmen of the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron simultaneously trained for separate missions over the Pacific Ocean last week thanks to an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to Kadena Air Base.



The 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 provided fuel for Korean fighter pilot training sorties as well as a real-world simulated working environment for medical aircrews.



By conducting multiple missions at the same time, it maximizes the utilization of limited resources, said Lt. Col. Tom Wilson, 18th AES chief nurse.



[ROKAF] F-15s called upon the refueling support from the 909th ARS to help them improve nighttime flying skills.



The South Korean fighters are looking for training for a long- distance flight using tanker support to get them ready and prepared for that journey, said Maj. Jacob Johnson, 909th ARS instructor pilot. This builds their confidence and proves their capability to do that.



For additional training intensity, 909th ARS pilots flew with ROKAF F-15s in the middle of the night, which challenged fighter pilots to safely perform in-flight refueling in an austere environment.



When you do a night time refueling its more difficult to see the other aircraft, its harder to see the fuel receptacle, and it plays a little trick on depth perception, said Senior Airman Charlton Hampton, 909th ARS boom operator.



ROKAF pilots were not the only warfighters training in the dark. Medical aircrews from the 18th AES performed a flight check of various patient care procedures inside the cargo cabin of the Stratotanker.



Its a normal mission where we fly with the 909th ARS and perform training in medical emergencies, cardiac emergencies, smoke and fumes in the cargo area, and rapid decompressions where well put on an oxygen apparatus and tend to our patients, said Capt. Matthew Huard, 18th AES flight nurse.



Working space for personnel can become cramped in the long and narrow cargo hold of the KC-135, but 18th AES aircrews utilize every inch of the compartment and adapt to the needs of the mission.



On this aircraft we could have nine patients in different configurations, and if we have to do without patient litters we can secure them on the floor, said Huard. The KC-135 wasnt originally designed for patient care but weve made it happen, and its a big breakthrough, especially for the United States Air Force.



Since the KC-135 serves as both a refueling platform and a critical patient transport, Airmen of the 909th ARS and 18th AES stay alert for any possible orders to support real world operations.



We have the capacity to respond quickly, so they just give the word and we go on crew rest and then get ready for launch as soon as they need us, said Johnson.



Huard added, If patients need to fly out to the next level of care, we can absolutely do that for them and get them there in a very short time.



Between flying air refueling operations for U.S. allies over the seas and transporting patients to hospitals around the globe, the 909th ARS and the 18th AES enhance Kadena Air Bases role as the Keystone of the Pacific.



This training makes sure every person involved in this process is able to work together and communicate, but it also sends a message to our allies, as well as our adversaries, that we can accomplish our mission anytime, anywhere, said Johnson.
Within 30-minutes of an AV-8B Harrier Jump Jet crash, Airmen with the 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadrons were in the air intent on saving the life of the pilot stranded in the Pacific Ocean.



The pilot was able to eject from the aircraft before the crash and into the cold waters of the Pacific, where he waited for rescue.



We received the notification of an ejection and immediately went into action, said Capt. Paul Fry, 31st RQS combat rescue officer.

Nearly 30 minutes after the notification, both United States Air Force assets and their partner Japan Self Defense Force aircraft were on the scene searching for the downed pilot.



Once we got the call, our helicopter maintenance unit did a great job getting our aircraft ready to go, said Capt. Zachary Martin, 33rd RQS pilot. We can really thank our training for the quick response because as soon as we got the call everyone just fell into their training habit patterns and we went wheels up.

Many different units from across Kadena AB came together to get out to the pilot, who was floating in the open ocean, after ejecting from the aircraft.



Our team linked up with our sister-squadron, the 33rd Rescue Squadron, and proceeded to fly out to save the pilot, said Fry. While we were going to his location we discussed the mission plan and ensured everyone was on the same page.

And then they saw him. Ninety-five miles off the coast of Hedo Cape, Airmen and JASDF rescue members saw the lone pilot.

As soon as we arrived on scene we saw the survivor and began the process of putting the pararescueman into the water to rescue him, said Staff Sgt. Marcus Taylor, 33rd RQS special mission aviator.

According to Fry, the pilot seemed uninjured so one pararescueman was sent into the water to get him.

I was actually doing a travel voucher when the call came in, explained Staff Sgt. Austen Carroll, 31st RQS pararescueman. So I grabbed my water bag and ran to the bird to get started. In the rescue community we are always ready to go, even at a moments notice.

Once on scene, Carroll freefell about 10-feet from the helicopter into the water and immediately swam to the patient. While in the water he performed an initial assessment of the pilot to make sure he was ok to be pulled inside the helicopter.

We were able to find him so quickly because our JASDF partners were on scene so quickly with eyes on him, said Carroll. Once I assessed he was ok, I got him to the hoist and we pulled him up.

Now the Airmen had the downed pilot and began immediate medical attention.

Once inside, we performed a more in-depth medical assessment while flying to Camp Foster where he received care, said Fry. The Air Force rescue community is very good at full spectrum personnel recovery in austere conditions. It really was a textbook rescue as far as mission requirements. Plus, we are able to work with our JASDF partners, who are very good at what they do, so having them there was a great demonstration of our bilateral capabilities.

For these rescue squadron members, saving this pilots life is why they take their realistic training and exercises so seriously.

This really was a total joint partnership and team effort. A bunch of people came together to save a life, said Carroll.

For one pilot, all alone in the sea, their intense training meant the difference between his life and death.



We train a lot for these exact types of missions so anytime we can go out and bring someone back alive, its a really good feeling, said Fry.
Yokota displays airlift capabilites

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kyle Favorite, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules loadmaster, holds a U.S. flag outside of a C-130H during the 2016 Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 17 ,2106. The U.S. Flag, waved by Favorite, was held out of one C-130 as a Japanese flag was simultaneously held outside another taxing aircraft symbolizing the U.S.-Japan partnership and reinforcing the general idea of the festivalto increase bilateral relationships between the two counties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe/Released)
The U.S. Air Force has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing public release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Divert Activities and Exercises Initiative, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on September 26, 2016.

The purpose of this initiative is to establish additional divert options to support training activities and increase regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities, while ensuring the ability to meet mission requirements in the event access to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, or other western Pacific locations is limited or unavailable. Under this action, the U.S. Air Force proposes to construct facilities and infrastructure at an existing airport or airports to support a combination of cargo, tanker, and similar aircraft and associated support personnel.

Publication of the Final EIS is the third of four steps in the formal EIS process and reflects public input and comments received on the Revised Draft EIS, which was released for public review in October 2015. As stated in the Final EIS and officially announced in February 2016, the U.S. Air Force selected Tinian as the preferred alternative. In accordance with federal regulations that guide the EIS process (40 CFR 1500-1508), the U.S. Air Force will issue a Record of Decision on whether and how to implement the Proposed Action no sooner than 30 days after release of the Final EIS. A Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision will be published in the Federal Register and local newspapers.

The modified Tinian-only alternative was selected as the preferred alternative. Saipan and the Hybrid options remain reasonable alternatives. The EIS analyzes many factors for each alternative, including quality of life, noise, cultural and historical interests, safety, potential effect on natural and coastal resources, land use, effect on existing air traffic, effect on tourism, and recreation.

Upon announcing the selection of Tinian as the U.S. Air Forces preferred alternative in February, 2016, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James said, We believe this initiative will provide critical strategic operational and exercise capabilities for U.S. forces and provide economic benefits to the local community.



Electronic copies of the Final EIS are available at www.PACAFDivertMarianasEIS.com and printed copies can be reviewed at the following locations:

Saipan: Saipan Office of the Mayor; JoetenKiyu Public Library

Tinian: Tinian Office of the Mayor; Tinian Public Library

For more information, contact PACAF Public Affairs at 808-448-3224.








NORMAL  A 74-year old Normal man has been identified as the driver of a McLean County Unit 5 school bus involved in a three-vehicle crash last week at Veterans and Commerce parkways in Bloomington.

Yahya Khalilallah was driving a bus for First Student carrying junior high and high school students on Sept. 13 when the bus rear-ended a utility trailer being pulled by a sport utility vehicle that was forced into a third vehicle, according to an accident report released by the Bloomington Police Department in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The Pantagraph.

Police previously released initial details of the accident but refused to disclose the driver's name without a public records request.

Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner said the name was withheld because an arrest had not been made. The driver was issued a traffic citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

The McLean County sheriff's Department and Normal police routinely release the name of drivers in traffic crashes to the media. Most recently, Normal police provided the name of the driver in a fatal crash where the driver was ticketed but not taken into custody.

The bus struck a 2004 GMC Yukon driven by Bret M. Capella of Springfield that collided with a 2007 Toyota Camry driven by David L. Heid of Goodfield, according to the reports released nine days after the accident.

No students were injured in the accident but some parents took their children to emergency rooms for follow-up, according to the accident report.

A spokesman for First Student said the driver had been with the company for more than two years. He was terminated after the Sept. 13 accident, according to the company.

In addition to the recent traffic citation, Khalilallah was issued four other tickets in McLean County since 2008 for driving more than a year with an expired license, driving on a suspended license, operating without insurance and failure to use a seat belt.

Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel said last week that First Student is obligated under its contract to make sure drivers are trained and qualified when they are hired.

First Student and Unit 5 did not respond to questions Thursday on the qualifications of the driver.
SPRINGFIELD  Bloomington physician David Gill is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to restore his name to the Nov. 8 ballot as an independent candidate in the 13th Congressional District.

Gills campaign announced Friday morning that it has appealed to the nations high court to reverse a decision from the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that led to his removal as a candidate. The appeals court blocked an order from a lower court that would have guaranteed Gill a spot on the ballot, and the Illinois State Board of Elections voted unanimously Monday to remove him.

We live within a rigged political system, and our inability to obtain a fair hearing before the Court of Appeals is not surprising, Gill said Friday in a prepared statement. We turn now to the Supreme Court, with hopes that our case receives the same level of intellectual honesty that we received in U.S. District Court.

Gill, whos run for Congress four times previously as a Democrat, collected only 8,491 of the 10,754 valid signatures he needed on his nominating petitions to earn a spot on the ballot alongside Republican U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville, and Democratic challenger Mark Wicklund of Decatur.

After Wicklund and former Macon County Republican Party Chairman Jerry Stocks objected to his petitions at the elections board, Gill filed a federal lawsuit challenging the states signature requirement for independent congressional candidates. He argues that its unconstitutional because its out of line with the requirement for major-party candidates. Davis and Wicklund each had to gather fewer than 740 signatures because their parties are considered legally established based on previous voter turnouts.

After hearing arguments last month in Springfield, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough didnt rule on the merits of Gills argument, but she ordered the elections board to allow him on the ballot because he and his supporters would suffer irreparable harm if he were excluded. She said the state failed to show that it would be harmed by allowing him to appear.

A three-judge panel of the Chicago-based appeals court blocked that order and denied Gills requests for a quick hearing so that a decision could be made before Election Day.

Sam Cahnman, the Springfield attorney representing Gill in the case, acknowledged that the chances of the Supreme Court stepping in are low.

Anytime you go to the Supreme Court, its a long shot, Cahnman said, but no other options remained after the appeals court refused to take up the matter swiftly.

They wont even give us an opportunity to have a decision on the merits, he said.

Gill has until a week before the election to notify local election authorities if he wants to run as a write-in candidate.

The Illinois attorney generals office, which is representing the elections board in the case, did not respond Friday to a request for comment.

Local election authorities had until Friday to prepare absentee ballots to mail to military and overseas voters.
Netflix has not yet announced the actual date of when the first season of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (ASOUE) begins streaming on the platform, but the planning continues behind the scenes. The writers have apparently started working on the second season Wednesday night. ASOUE's author Daniel Handler, who is also overseeing the show, has met with his writing team at his home.

Photos from Daniel Handler's wife's Instagram account showed that the writers of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" are back at work. Lisa Brown shared less than half a dozen shots of ASOUE books as well as the team gathered around a table with their laptops, pads and pencils.

Behind them was a board where the storylines have been laid out, though Lisa Brown made sure to blur this. The captions on the photos do not specifically indicate the purpose of this gathering. However, it's easy for eager fans to conclude that they are now brainstorming and planning "A Series of Unfortunate Events" Season 2.

Writer's room going on in my house. #lemonysnicket #seriesoffortunateevents A photo posted by Lisa Brown (@lisabrowndraws) on Sep 20, 2016 at 2:26pm PDT

It was only back in August that "A Series of Unfortunate Events" wrapped up filming the first season in Vancouver, per a previous Parent Herald report. But it makes sense for the writers to immediately return to work because time element is crucial in this particular TV series.

The books of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" were released from 1999 to 2006, but the time that elapsed in the actual stories are a lot shorter. Unofficial Snicket Faq established that the entire story of ASOUE took place within four months only, though others say it took a little over a year. Regardless, the cast of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" might be required to return to work soon since the children lead actors -- Malina Weissman (Voilet) and Louis Hynes (Klaue) -- age faster in the real life than in the events in the books.

Meanwhile, as Neil Patrick Harris (Count Olaf) has confirmed, "A Series of Unfortunate Events" Season 1 is going to cover the first four books from its 13-book releases. It is expected that the show will debut in early 2017 on Netflix.
"Fuller House" Season 2 finally gets an air date. Netflix announced that the show will begin streaming its new season on Dec. 9, and in line with this, the platform also released a new poster to mark the show's return. What else can fans expect from "Fuller House" Season 2? Here's a short rundown below.

Netflix officially confirmed the air date for "Fuller House" Season 2 in a Twitter post, along with a new poster. Lead star Candace Cameron Bure (DJ Tanner-Fuller) couldn't help but express her excitement for the new season on her daytime talk show. "Our season this year is very holiday-themed. We have a Halloween show, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve!" the former child star announced as her face lit up, Daily Mail reported.

In the past months, the "Fuller House" cast couldn't really keep the holiday theme a secret, as they have been constantly sharing photos during filming. Back in August, Candace Cameron Bure also let it out that she believes "Fuller House" Season 2 is coming in December, before Netflix made it official, as Parent Herald reported.

Consider it an early holiday present. @fullerhouse Season 2 is coming to Netflix Dec 9. pic.twitter.com/fZdFbNtr4l  Netflix US (@netflix) September 21, 2016

"Fuller House" Season 2 will feature a handful of exciting guest stars that viewers should be thrilled to watch. Among those expected to grace the new season include Uncle Joey's family, New Kids On The Block and Jodi Sweetin's real-life daughter Zoie.

But "Fuller House" Season 2 is also expected to iron out one hitch that was left out in Season 1. Will DJ finally pick between Steve and Matt? "There's still a lot of relationship issues, but she does choose someone this season," said Candice Cameron Bure, via Hollywood Life. Interestingly, the show is also bringing back DJ's ex-boyfriend Nelson from the original series for "Fuller House" Season 2.

"Fuller House" is one of Netflix's most-watched series. Based on a late 80's network sitcom, the show is a reboot that features the "Full House" kids in their mid-life. The legacy cast, featuring Jon Stamos, Bob Saget and Dave Coulier, are still part of the Netflix show, as recurring characters and executive producers.

Mark your calendars for the release of "Fuller House" Season 2 on Dec. 9 on Netflix. The new season is expected to have 13 episodes as with Season 1.
As filming for Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 2 is set to begin in October, one fan favorite -- Millie Bobby Brown -- expressed uncertainty for her character's return. The actress is now back in England and has recently visited a talk show, where she confirmed about not being sure she's in the sequel.

Millie Bobby Brown spoke with Lorraine Kelly on her chat show on ITV, where the hot topic was "Stranger Things" and its upcoming season. "I'm not sure I'm going to be in it," the young star said, Express reported. It is possible Millie Bobby Brown could only be keeping details to "Stranger Things" Season 2 hush-hush, but then she also stated that she's up for another exciting project next.

"It's been very overwhelming and very incredible," Millie Bobby Brown further said of her experience working on "Stanger Things," which instantly became a popular show. According to TV Guide, Millie Bobby Brown, the rest of the "Stranger Things" kids and the show itself have become the toast of Hollywood in recent months. For all its success, the young actress commended the writers, directors and the cast. She also acknowledged she's quite lucky to become part of the show.

However, being in such a popular series comes with a price, as the kids of "Stranger Things" have recently been embroiled in a controversy. During last Sunday's Emmys, Millie Bobby Brown and her "Stranger Things" co-star, Gaten Mattarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin, happily gave away peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the audience in a skit.

But according to the Los Angeles Times, some complained that it was quite an irresponsible skit because of the potential of triggering a peanut allergy. "You never just hand out peanut butter. That's such a liability," a source said. Even the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America weighed in on the controversy, per Muchies. The group sent out a statement to ABC, which produced this year's Emmys.

Meanwhile, Netflix and "Stranger Things" creators, the Duffer brothers, confirmed that the series will be back for Season 2 in 2017. It will pick up one year after Season 1's final episode. Stay tuned to this site for more news and updates about the show.
Uh-oh! Are Kate Middleton and Prince William the world's most slammed royals? Well, the royal couple appeared to have earned the title as they often faced criticisms from the scrutinizing public. But why are the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge often face these somewhat ridiculous brickbats.

In a world obsessed with royalties, the public's growing fondness over the royal families is quite unsurprising anymore. With that said, it is also expected that British royal couple Kate Middleton and Prince William are considered among the most popular royals in the world. However, being one of the most-loved royals also comes with a great price and that is being a target of critical remarks.

Kate Middleton and Prince William are known to be untraditional royals since they apparently don't follow the royal standards and traditions. Although some are impressed that the royal couple are anything but traditional with Majesty magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward saying they're following Princess Diana's legacy (via Marie Claire), other skeptics still criticized them for breaking the royal norm.

In March, Kate Middleton found herself in a middle of a major public backlash when she broke a royal tradition and snubbed the royal's annual St. Patrick Day celebration to spend more time with her two kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Even though the Duchess' determination of making her children a priority was pretty impressive, some of the royal subjects were disappointed saying, "if the Royals start breaking with good traditions then I'm not sure what they're there for," as per Daily Mail.

Aside from breaking traditions, Kate Middleton and Prince William are also slammed for their lavish lifestyles, not to mention their apparent laziness when it comes to fulfilling their royal obligations and responsibilities. However, the Duke of Cambridge had refused to address the "laziness" accusations when he was interviewed by ITV's Mark Austin back in March, Celeb Dirty Laundry noted.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton and Prince William were once again slammed for being like "Hollywood snobs." Based on the latest Celeb Dirty Laundry report, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were labeled as such because of their "Hollywood-like" demands, particularly for bringing 12 assistants on their upcoming Canada trip.

As reported by Daily Mirror, Kate Middleton and Prince William will bring a 12-personal entourage of assistants including an operations manager, a personal assistant, a tour secretary, three private secretaries and four press secretaries. These people, along with the royal couple's children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will reportedly accompany them as they fulfill 30 royal engagements on their week-long Canadian tour.

What are your thoughts on Kate Middleton and Prince William's royal lifestyle? Share them below and check out Parent Herald for more news and updates.
Netizens were heartbroken when a photo of a shell-shocked Syrian boy from Aleppo, whose home was bombed, went viral last August. The photo has been shared a thousand times but a 6-year-old kid did more than express his concern on the internet instead, he wrote U.S. President Barack Obama a letter to specifically ask that the Aleppo Syrian boy be brought to his home and live with his family.

CNN reports that 6-year-old Alex, who hails from New York, sent President Obama a handwritten letter where he talked about Omran Daqneesh, the 5-year-old Aleppo victim from Syria. "Can you please go get him and bring him to my home?" Alex asked in his letter to Obama, which the White House posted in full.

Alex further wrote that the Aleppo Syrian Boy could become his brother and a member of the family. He also said that he would be willing to teach Omran English or ride a bike. Alex related that he's already got a Syrian friend in school, whom he can introduce to Omran.

Impressed and moved by Alex's letter, President Obama shared it on his official Facebook page. The leader of the United States also shared Alex's letter at the recent United Nations Summit to emphasize on how crucial it is to help the refugees.

BBC reports the United States has already accepted over 10,000 refugees this August but more help is still needed. Several high-profile individuals, including Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and his wife Amal, have enjoined the world take action as the crisis continue to escalate.

In a previous Parent Herald report, Angelina Jolie described the conditions in the refugee camps as less than fit for human beings and aid has been slow. The women and children continue to suffer from lack of food, education and proper shelter, with some even experiencing abuses in these camps.
Fans are definitely itching to know more about the rumored "Descendants of the Sun" season 2 premiere. While nothing has been set on stone as of writing, speculations are rife that alleged real life couple Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo will reprise their roles in the upcoming run.

New reports are suggesting that the "Descendants of the Sun" season 2 plot will be more thrilling and exciting. Apart from introducing the two lead's families in the new season, a new character will reportedly join the South Korean Special Forces unit.

The new character will reportedly be played by Korean superstar Lee Min Ho. The "Bounty Hunters" actor will reportedly fall in love with Hye-kyo's character and will cause tension between the two lovebirds in the upcoming season. If rumors are true, it looks like Joong-ki's character will somehow be lost in "Descendants of the Sun" season 2, and Lee Min Ho's character will have the opportunity to get closer to Hye-kyo's Kang Mo Yeon, Mobile & Apps noted.

Fans are advised to take the rumors with a grain of salt. Until KBS2 formally announces that "Descendants of the Sun 2" has been green lit, fans are left with pure speculations and theories about the new season.

Apart from "Descendants of the Sun" season 2, fans are also interested with Hye-kyo and Joong-ki's reported real life romance. Rumors have been circulating that the on-screen pair has decided to take their relationship from reel to real.

Stay tuned for more "Descendants of the Sun" season 2 updates here!
The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABS), based in Bangkok, has issued a call for papers today examining the role of intellectualism in Buddhist studies. The key questions posed for the upcoming edition of the journal are:

In your Buddhist University or Buddhist Studies Program, what is the role of intellectualism within your program? How is intellectualism promoted or prohibited? Some professors promote critical thinking skills within their studies, some professors ensure their students are better prepared for future endeavors  what are your contributions to Buddhist Studies? How have you made the genre of Buddhist Studies a better place for everyone, your students and any lasting legacy? What are other Buddhist universities or programs doing for the benefit of the academic genre of Buddhist Studies  do they have liberal learning curriculum where students can select their own courses or must they participate in a set program, which cannot be deviated from where students must learn the same thing, in the same style  where creativity is frowned upon?

Further, they seek exploration on the theme of Cultural Implications of Critical Thinking, which was the topic of another Thai journal, Manusya (2001). With the question of whether Buddhism (or anything not stemming from Platonic thought) counts as philosophy again being asked  and loudly answered, again and again  this topic presents itself as especially timely. A writer in the above-mentioned Manusya journal notes that concerns exist, that Asian cultures may be inhospitable to critical thinking, possibly due to the very high esteem in which teachers are held (Evans p.80, citing the call for papers).

In responding to this concern, Evans suggests that critical thinking is a matter of creative engagement with current history:

The key, of course, is the structure of the engagement. To be critical, the activity can be neither a retreat into local custom nor an enthusiastic embrace of whatever is perceived to be the dominant culture. To think and act critically means to stand creatively within the tensions among ones own culture, the other cultures and the emergent culture of the tensions, it means effecting the breach within the historical situation. (p.93)

Given this definition, Evans suggests that Asian cultures are quite capable of critical thinking, even when it does not look like what many in the West would expect. He notes that criticisms of Asian culture are not restricted to them; as some people criticized the hippies on the grounds that their non-conformity did not include non-conformity toward one another. The criticism, Evans rightly notes, misses the point. While Asian cultures typically hold teachers in high esteem, this does not mean that failed teachers or thoughts fraught with scandal are immune to public censure. And while Buddhists in Asia have been criticized as non-confrontational to even despotic regimes, one need look no further back than the Saffron Revolution in Burma (Myanmar) in 2007 to see that this is not strictly the case.

As for my own conclusions that Asians are plenty capable of critical thought and being philosophers in a very thorough sense, you can read one of my older articles on the topic, such as this one from 2013: Buddhism: religion or philosophy?

For articles from the IABU on Buddhist Critical Thinking Skills, see their 2013 Journal.

And for a very current discussion of multicultural philosophy (with conversation of the above-mentioned article on non-Platonic traditions), see this storify by Bryan W. Van Norden:

The Debate over Multicultural Philosophy https://t.co/mgITSQIDIL  Bryan W. Van Norden (@BryanVanNorden) September 15, 2016

Deadline for submissions to the journal: 24 February 2017

E-mail questions and final papers to the IABU Manager: dion2545@hotmail.com. Papers will be peer-reviewed and published (by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Press) as soon as possible, following the deadline and administrative procedures.
by Erin Daza Sigler

For those of you who consider yourself patriotic, what does it truly mean to be proud to be an American in the land of the free and home of the brave with Liberty and Justice for all? Most recently I have seen people all over my feed outraged that our flag was disrespected because someone chose to exercise their 1st amendment rights during the national Anthem. My question is what greater dishonor to our country than ignoring several portions of the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution? In particular the 5th and 6th Amendments and most specifically, the part of the 5th Amendment that states no person shall be deprived of LIFE, liberty, or property, without DUE PROCESS OF LAW.Why does that not produce the same sense of outrage?

This is NOT an attack on hardworking police officers who do their job with integrity and respect for those around them. This is an OUTCRY for accountability and some serious reflection when it comes to a justice system that has been TAINTED for centuries by Systemic Racism.

Every time we remain silent we are only perpetuating the cycle that has led us to this point in history in the first place. Some of you may be unsure what to say, but silence is not an option. Our silence =our compliance.

By affirming Black LIVES and Black RIGHTS, it does not negate your own lives and rights; but rather it is a small step of many toward working toward EQUAL rights in a country that was founded under the concept of LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL but we still have so very far to go.
Patna: In a reversal of fortune, senior Congress leader and the head of the party's Intellectual Cell Anil Sulabh was arrested in Patna on Thursday on charges of fraud involving the Indian Institute of Health Education and Research Center.

Sulabh, who happens to be the director of the institute, was taken into police custody after authorities found the institute was still enrolling new students despite it not having any affiliation with any university in Bihar or elsewhere.

Talking to the reporters, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manu Maharaj said that the Congress leader was arrested after hundreds of students filed complaint against him and the Center for 'playing with their future' knowing full well that the diploma from the institute was not recognized anywhere or by anyone. They also complained that neither the classes were held regularly nor the examinations leaving the students in lurch about their future.

Sulabh's son was also taken into custody and a case of fraud was filed against his wife who, along with a few others, is a member of the trust.

Denying any wrongdoing, Sulabh tried to put the blame on Magadh University and the Governor's office saying that the institute is indeed affiliated by Magadh University but due to new rules set by the Governor's office, the syllabus and exam terms must be cleared by the Raj Bhawan.

"It was the responsibility of the Magadh University to send paperwork to the Governor's office. However, it failed to do so leading to delay in exams," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress in Bihar threw Sulabh under the bus saying he was not the President of the party's 'Intellectual Cell' but instead, was the member of the Congress Idea unit.

"He was removed from his post on December 8, 2015 by party state President Ashok Kumar Chowdhary," Congress spokesperson H K Verma told the reporters.
Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday welcomed Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal and other prominent Sikhs from across the nation on the opening day of the 3-day Sikh International Conclave ahead of the 350th Prakash Utsav to be celebrated next year.

{gallery}newsimages2016/sept/092216{/gallery}In his inaugural speech at the Sri Krishna Memorial Hall, Kumar said that the state government was considering creating a 'Sikh Circuit' on the pattern of 'Buddhist Circuit' since Bihar happened to be a destination of utmost importance to Sikhs across the globe.

The Chief Minister, who has put industrial development in Bihar on the backburner following a series of failure in attracting large industrial houses to invest in the state thus relying solely on tourism to generate revenue, said that the government was also mulling on ideas to launch a 'Sufi Circuit', a 'Ramayan Circuit', and a 'Gandhi Circuit' in Bihar in view of the immense historical importance of the state.

Blaming the Congress-led UPA government at the Center, Kumar said that he had appealed to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide finance assistance to Bihar for it to be able to host grand Sikh events at Patna Saheb but nothing was done in this regard.

"After being ignored by the Center, we decided to make all arrangements for this 3-day conclave on our own despite our limited financial resources," he said.

On the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal handed a check of Rs. 10 crore to his Bihar counterpart to build a state-of-the-art guesthouse for the visitors to Patna Saheb Gurudwara. A magazine dedicated to Guru Govind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru, was also released by the Chief Ministers of the two states.

For the next three days, noted Sikh personalities from all over the world would discuss the life and ideologies of Guru Govind Singh and other prominent Sikh religious leaders.

Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind, Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, Bihar Tourism Minister Anita Devi and a number of senior bureaucrats were present on the occasion.
Patna: Authorities in Patna on Friday morning recovered the decaying body of a married woman from a house in Vishnupur mohalla under Gardanibagh police station after neighbors complained about a foul stench coming out of the rented home.

Shortly after, the police arrested a man who had been seen with the woman in the past and charged him with murdering the woman.

As reported, the arrested man who was identified as Bhola Singh, aka Vikki, told the police that he was having an affair with Nibha Rai, the victim, who was married to one Supan Rai but had been estranged from him for some time.

The two were in relations for last several months and Bhola used to give her gifts to buy her love for him. On the night of Sept. 19, the two came to this house that served as their personal hideout as well. There, Nibha complained about Bhola not using deodorant saying the body odor was too much for her and he needed to take a shower and put on some cologne.

This enraged Bhola who first argued with her and then strangled her until she was dead. After making sure she was dead, he left the body in the room and escaped, police said.

Nibha, who got married to Supan in 2006, has a seven-year old son who lives with his maternal grandmother in Bihta.

Police is investigating the case.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Kahrizak Torture Victim Rejects Former Tehran Prosecutor's Apology for Detainees' Deaths

09/23/16

Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Amir Javadifar died beside me as he was begging for water. I can never forget those moments.



Reza Zoghi, torture victim at Kahrizak Detention Center



Reza Zoghi, who was tortured at the Kahrizak Detention Center in south Tehran where three young men died as a result of the torture, has rejected an apology from then-Tehran Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi.

His apology is an insult, Zoghi told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. The first night we were transferred from Kahrizak to Evin Prison, Mortazavi threatened us [and told us] to say we had not been tortured. I dont understand his apology and more importantly, he was not the only person responsible for what happened. Without a doubt there were higher ranking officials who supported Mortazavi, but were never identified or put on trial for the deaths at Kahrizak.

After the peaceful protests that followed the disputed 2009 presidential election in Iran, dozens of protesters were rounded up by security forces and taken to the Kahrizak Detention Center. According to eyewitnesses, many were tortured. Three men died as a result of their torture. Mortazavi was deeply implicated in the transfer of the protestors to Kahrizak, and then falsified the cause of their death in order to cover up evidence of torture and murder at the facility.

Zoghi, who was 23-years old when he was taken to the prison, currently lives in Izmir, Turkey.

Those who witnessed what happened at Kahrizak were never asked to appear in court to tell their story. Also, except for Mr. [Mohsen] Rouholamini [whose son, Mohsen, died there], no one has been able to pursue his case. All the other plaintiffs were pressured into silence with threats and intimidation and many of them left Iran, said Zoghi.







Saeed Mortazavi: "I express shame"



Mortazavi, the main suspect in the Kahrizak suit brought against him by the Rouholamini family, submitted a letter about the deaths of the detainees to the Appeals Court on September 11, 2016.

As I was the Tehran prosecutor at the time, I express shame for this terrible incident, even though it happened without any deliberate intention, as God and my conscience are my witness, wrote Mortazavi.

The bloody incidents that happened after the great plot hatched during the June 2009 presidential election were described as a crime by the supreme leader of the revolution [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei], and I, the prosecutor at the time, deeply apologize and seek forgiveness from the innocent martyrs [Amir] Javadifar, [Mohsen] Rouholamini and [Mohammad] Kamrani, and hope God Almighty would bless them with the highest rank.

The Green Movement grew out of the widespread protests against Irans widely disputed presidential election in 2009. The administration of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, supported by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, swiftly responded with a harsh crackdown against protestors and anyone deemed supportive of the cause. The government still views the Green Movement, referred to by hardliners as the sedition, as a foreign-instigated plot aimed at regime change, and has kept its leaders under house arrest since 2011.

According to former Tehran University Law Professor Ghasem Sholeh Sadi, Mortazavis apology could be interpreted as an admission of guilt, but it could prove difficult to hold him responsible in court.

The court could take this apology as an indirect admission of committing a crime, Sadi told the Campaign. But you cant count on that because it depends on how you look at a lot of other laws relevant to this case, especially given that Mr. Mortazavis apology is vague. In his apology he wrote that it was not intentional and that he was not aware of what had happened.

Speaking to the Campaign in reaction to Mortazavis trial, Zoghi said: I and many of the former detainees have wanted to take our cases to international tribunals, but we dont know how to proceed. We couldnt pursue it in Iran because of all the threats and intimidation, but we are victims and our voices havent been heard.

Recalling the night detainees were transferred from Kahrizak Prison to Evin Prison, Zoghi told the Campaign: That night Mortazavi visited us and warned us not to say anything about being tortured. Then a human rights group visited us and we also had two visits by a group of MPs. We told them everything and gave our criticism. Meanwhile we were being interrogated every day and they wanted us to confess to what they were telling us. They wanted us to say that we were conducting propaganda against the state or colluding against national security.

Zoghi continued: We received treatment in the clinic for our injuries from the very first days when we arrived at Evin Prison. They bandaged our wounds and gave us shots and pills against infections. About two weeks went by before they allowed us to contact our families. I was freed on bail about 17 or 18 days after I was detained. The others were released a day or two before or after. By that time, the torture marks on our bodies were not so visible.

According to Zoghi, about 150 people were rounded up at a protest rally in Tehran on July 10, 2009, and taken to Kahrizak, which at the time was not officially listed among the countrys detention centers. Five days later, three detainees-Mohsen Rouholamini, Mohammad Kamrani and Amir Javadifar-died as a result of torture.

Ramin Pourandarjani, a 25-year-old doctor who was serving as a conscript at Kahrizak Prison, and who had attended the injured prisoners, also died on November 10, 2009 amid mysterious circumstances. Dr. Pourandarjani had been named as a suspect in the Kahrizak torture case, and had been repeatedly questioned. On December 1, 2009, Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi claimed Pour-Andarjani had died from drug poisoning.







Reza Zoghi praying for Amir Javadifar who died due to torture at Kahrizak

Read related article (in Persian) by Saham News





Tortured and Threatened

In an interview with the Campaign, Zoghi recalled the events following his arrest: We were arrested by a few plainclothes agents near Revolution Square [in Tehran] on July 9 [2009]. We were first transported in a van to a security police station where they really beat us up during questioning. They also photographed us. Then, around 10 or 11 at night, we were transferred to another police station and were again questioned until morning. Then a judicial official named [Ali Akbar] Heydarifar gave us a piece of paper with five charges listed against us, including propaganda against the state and assembly and collusion against national security. He forced us to sign it and told us we were being sent to Kahrizak. He said we were going to be there until the end of the summer and by that time, if we were still alive, they would investigate our cases.

Every day they would force us to walk on the hot asphalt, said Zoghi. Every day, twice a day, they would take us to the yard in front of the infirmary and beat us with pipes. During the five days we were there, we were fed half a potato and half a loaf of bread, twice a day. There were about 150 of us, plus another 30 dangerous criminals, kept in a 60 square-meter area. We couldnt stretch our legs to sleep so some of us had to stand up and take turns sleeping. One time they tied three of the detainees to the ceiling and viciously beat them. Before they were brought to Kahrizak, many of the detainees were already in bad shape from being severely beaten during police questioning.

Zoghi added that when they were released, about three weeks later, 124 of the Kahrizak detainees lodged complaints at the Military Court on Shariati Street.

The day I went there I saw a lot of the detainees. A few days later we received a letter that we could get free medical treatment. I went to Imam Khomeini Hospital where I was able to get pills to treat infections, Zoghi told the Campaign.

At the time I was serving my compulsory military service and hadnt showed up at my barracks for a month. So a few days after I was released from prison, I was taken into custody by military police and three months were added to my service as punishment. After that I was busy with my military service and couldnt follow up with my complaint. But there was a Colonel Nezamdoust who visited me several times and threatened me, telling me not to pursue my complaint. Finally I gave up. It was very painful. I had been threatened so many times that I couldnt go through with it.

In fact, none of us were actually able to pursue our cases. In the end, only the Rouholamini family was able to drag Mortazavi to court. But what upsets me was that none of our names were mentioned during the trial. Its true that we survived, but we were all tortured. Amir Javadifar died beside me as he was begging for water. I can never forget those moments.

Despite all the threats and intimidation, I and the others tried to voice the truth about Kahrizak. But even as Im speaking here [in Turkey], Im afraid something might happen to me if I leave the house.

Mortazavis Trial

More than three years after the deaths of Rouholamini, Kamrani and Javadifar in 2009, their families finally succeeded in bringing Mortazavi to trial in February 2013 at Branch 76 of the Criminal Court presided by Judge Siamak Modir-Khorasani. The former Tehran prosecutor was charged with being an accomplice to murder and illegal detention and assisting in writing a false report along with two other officials, Hassan Zare-Dehnavi and Aliakbar Heydarifar.

Mortazavi denied all the charges. But Heydarifar accused Mortazavi of ultimate responsibility for ordering the detainees to be transferred to Kahrizak. According to Mohammad Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer who represented the family of Javadifar, seven prominent medical examiners testified that all three victims died from blows to soft tissues on their bodies during a 72-hour period.

In November 2014, Mortazavi was acquitted of being an accomplice to murder, but was permanently banned from holding state positions. He was also fined two million rials (about $60 USD) for filing a false report.

Massoud Alizadeh, another detainee who was tortured at Kahrizak, told the Campaign in August 2015: I never thought that with all the evidence against him, Saeed Mortazavi would be acquitted. Mortazavi was the one who sent us to the detention center and then wrote a false report that the detainees had died of meningitis.... This is a great tragedy. One should feel sorry for a judicial system that lets a murderous criminal go free.

The Rouholamini family has not stopped fighting for justice. They filed an appeal against Mortazavi for the murder of their son and the case, which was taken up by Branch 22 of the Appeals Court in May 2015, remains in progress.
Iran's President Rouhani Urges Implementation of Nuclear Deal at UN

09/23/16

By Margaret Besheer, VOA



Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 22, 2016.

(photo by Ahmad Moeinijam,



(photo by Ahmad Moeinijam, Islamic Republic News Agency

UNITED NATIONS - 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.







Highlights of President Rouhani's speech

READ: Full text of PA president Abbas's speech to UN General Assembly





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.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef addresses the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters, Sept. 21, 2016.

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.
Acers first Windows 10 Mobile phone, the Liquid Jade Primo, doesnt just double down on Microsofts belief that your phone can replace your PC: Its thrown down its cards, spit on the floor, and dared you to do better.

Inside the box is the phone, a case, a display dock, a mouse and a keyboard. All you need is a monitor to take your work out of your pocket and onto a big, productive screen. If the Liquid Jade Primos camera didnt struggle so much, this might be the Windows phone to beat.

Unfortunately, its notbut you dont have many alternatives. HPs Elite x3 smartphone is just around the corner, and HP promises business users will be able to tap into a world of virtualized Win32 apps that power traditional PCs. Acer doesnt offer this capability. Otherwise, the Liquid Jade Primo is simply a larger, more powerful, more expensive Lumia 950, the basis for this comparative review.

Mark Hachman Acers Liquid Jade Primo may seem a little too big for your hand, but remember that you can hold down the Windows key to trigger a one-handed mode.

Quality construction includes a few oversights

On paper, the 5.5-inch Liquid Jade Primo matches up well with Microsofts own phone. But it comes with a big honking price tag, too: $649. Add up the price of an unlocked 5.7-inch Lumia 950XL ($499), Display Dock ($99), a keyboard and mousethe two bundles are almost identical. But the slightly smaller 5.2-inch Lumia 950 is far cheaper: $349, or even $298 direct. That, plus a Display Dock, is just under $400. If you already own a standalone mouse and keyboard, the Liquid Jade Primo may be a bit too rich for your blood.

As phones go, the Liquid Jade Primo feels like an executives phone: large, weighty, authoritative. Youll feel the heft, though, as it weighs 0.33 lb (150 g) alone and about 0.42 lb with the case attached. I measured the phone at about 6.19 inches long by 3 inches wide by 0.375 in (9.5 mm) in thickness, with the case attached.

Mark Hachman

Adding a case to the package is a nice touch: the plastic case covers the phone on the rear and sides (with cutouts for the volume rocker, power button, front/rear cameras and speaker), with a flip cover for the front that protects the screen. Unfortunately, its not like HTCs Dot Cover, which allowed some information from the glance screen to pass through; youll need to flip open the cover to view it. Oh, and dont drop it into the sink, either, as the Liquid Jade Primo isnt waterproof.

A much more significant drawback, however, is that Acer didnt take the case into account when using it with the display docking station. If you have the case attached, youll need to remove it each time you dock the phone. That gets old fast.

You might wonder if the case will prevent Windows 10s tap-to-pay Wallet app from working: no, but it never will, either. Thats because the shipping version of the phone runs Windows 10 Mobile version 10586.318, rather than the more recent Windows 10 Anniversary Update that enables tap-to-pay. Its a moot point, however, since the phone lacks the required NFC connection. Acers phone doesnt support Windows Hello, either, lacking an iris scanner or fingerprint reader.

Otherwise, Acers choice of hardware is a mixed bag: the 19201080 resolution display will disappoint those used to higher-res displays on Android and iOS, though the AMOLED screen displays deep, rich blacks. (The Lumia 950 uses a 25601440 AMOLED display.) Qualcomms 1.8GHz Snapdragon 808 (also inside the LG G4, among others) is the same chip that the Lumia 950 uses. As the rest of the phone world moves beyond 32GB of internal storage, Acer has stuck with it. Theres an optional microSD slot, up to 128GB, that provides external storage. (The phone actually ships with two SIM slots, one of which can accept microSD cards. If you choose to use two SIMs, youll forgo the SD expansion slot, however.) The included 3GB of RAM provides plenty of headroom for multiple apps, and theres LTE Cat. 6, Bluetooth 4.0 EDR and 802.11ac for connectivity.

Mark Hachman As with most phones of its generation, the Acer Liquid Jade Primo is powered by a USB-C charger. The Lumia 950 charger worked just fine.

Unfortunately, as a business-oriented phone, Acer has made some sacrifices. The Liquid Jade Primos external speaker is loud enough, but with a flattish audio responsetypical for most smartphones. Among the Microsofts Lumia 950s hidden features, however, were a graphic equalizer and Dolby Audio. The Liquid Jade Primo does away with that, which is disappointing.

Acers 2,870mAh battery is non-removeable, though the plastic backing on the phone will unsnap at least partway from the top. (Oops.) Everything is powered via USB -C (Type 3.1), and a green LED will light when the phone is fully charged.

The Continuum experience: Why you should buy

If youve followed any coverage of the Lumia 950 or Windows 10 Mobile, then youre probably familiar with Continuum: Microsofts PC-like experience for users who connect their phones to the Microsoft Display Dock. Acers bundle contains one of its own, also referred to as a Display Dock, and the experience is virtually identical.

The advantage Acer offers, however, is that the Liquid Jade Primo nestles into a slot, connecting via an upturned USB-C connector in the base. (The Lumia 950 lies flat, connected to its Display Dock via a USB-C cord.) Im a little concerned about how the connector will hold up over time, however, as I occasionally needed to wiggle it a bit to seat it correctly.

Mark Hachman Acers dock is sturdy and well made, with two USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.0 port, and an HDMI connection. Note that the Acer mouse dongle will occupy one of the USB 2.0 ports, and the keyboard the other.

To connect the phone, youll need a monitor with HDMI. Acers manual indicates that the the dock wont work with a monitor at a higher resolution than 1080p, though I didnt test that claim. Youll need to launch the Continuum application on the phone, and the Connect app on the PC, to establish the connection between the two devices.

Once connected, the phone displays the desktop in a Windows 10 desktop-like environment, using the phone as a touchpad. Thats a little awkward when the phone is docked, so fortunately Acer threw in a mouse and keyboard. Acers two-button wheel mouse is a bit of a throwback in that theres a dongle, rather than a direct Bluetooth connection to the phone. Neither the mouse nor the keyboard is quite the quality that you might expect from a Microsoft or Logitech model, but both were surprisingly comfortable. Of course, you can always replace them with your own equipment.

Mark Hachman Dock the Acer Liquid Jade Primo for a PC-like experience.

Otherwise, as Ive found before, a wired connection to the Liquid Jade Primo is really the only way to use the Continuum experience. Moving the mouse felt a little laggy, but the keyboard proved responsive, and I was able to type my notes about the phones performance in Word Mobile, saving constantly to the cloud.

Note that only UWP apps like Word, PowerPoint, and Calendar are available via Continuum. For others, such as Yelp, you can use Edge and the mobile Web site instead. Acer did not ship any third-party bloatware, or any of its own applications, with the phone it shipped me for review.

Mark Hachman With the phone docked, Skype wanted to take images with the front-facing camera in landscape mode. Undocked, the Liquid Jade Primo shot Skype video in portrait mode.

Im not entirely sure the world has bought into Microsofts vision of the phone as your PC, but the Liquid Jade Primo does.

Performance: Just fine for Windows 10 Mobile

The Liquid Jade Primos memory and processor arent the absolute cutting-edge, but theyre close enough not to make a difference. On more than one occasion, I tried to swipe right on the home screen to reach the second screen of apps, and the phone didnt respond on the first try or moved sluggishly. Apps loaded snappily enough, however.

Acers Liquid Jade Primo is about equal in performance to the Microsoft Lumia 950. The two share the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexacore processor.

Unfortunately, Windows phones lack the modern testing apps that have been written for Android and iOS. To compensate, I ran a few browser-based tests to generate equivalent results across the various platforms, adding an older Android-based Samsung Galaxy Note 5 just for fun. Really, though, theres just one comparison to make here: the Lumia 950 versus the Liquid Jade Primo.

I tested using older, outdated benchmarks (SunSpider), as well as modern tests that measure how the phone handles modern Web technologies (WebXPRT and JetStream). Finally, I used the Oort Online benchmark, just to see how the phones would handle moderately advanced graphics.

In general, the Liquid Jade Primo performs just as well as the Lumia 950, and slightly worse than the older Note 5. But while the Note remained relatively cool throughout, the Liquid Jade Primo warmed up fast. Acer boasts that the Liquid Jade Primo includes an advanced cooling system that routes heat away from the microprocessor. Under load, however, the phone heats up dramatically, and there appears to be some thermal throttling going on, too. All of the heat appears to vent out near the top of the phone, however, away from your hand and where the dock would grasp the phone.

Im not entirely certain which Windows 10 Mobile apps demand a powerful CPU, however. Asphalt 8: Airborne remains a testing icon, as its a fast-paced, somewhat graphically intensive game that ran well. But Windows 10 Mobiles small stable of gamesMinecraft, Grand Theft Auto III, Terrariadont necessarily need a lot of horsepower. I doubt most business apps dont either, with the possible exception of a video-intensive app like Cisco WebEx Meetings.

What most smartphone owners demand, however, is long battery life. To test it, I adapted the battery-life test that we use for PCs and smartphones: looping an (unconverted) 4K video until the battery expired.

Unfortunately, while the version of Windows 10 on the Liquid Jade Primo allowed me to set the brightness intervals at increments from 1 to 100, the Anniversary Update within the Lumia 950 uses far more granular settings, so I had to approximate the two. In any case, the 2,870mAh battery on the Liquid Jade Primo and the 3,000mAh battery on the 950 yielded nearly identical results: 5 hours, 49 minutes for the Liquid Jade Primo; and 5 hours, 43 minutes for the Lumia 950.

An obviously flawed camera

Camera shootouts may be a thing of the past, but longtime Lumia owners take pride in the phones photographic capabilities. While the Liquid Jade Primos 21MP rear camera slightly outclasses the 20MP model on the Lumia 950, something about its lighting sensor caused it to fall short.

First, the specs: The Liquid Jade Primos camera includes a f/2.2 aperture on both the front and rear cameras, smaller than the f/1.9 aperture on the 950. The Liquid Jade Primo boasts a front-facing 8MP camera, far outpacing the 5MP, f/2.4 camera on the Lumia 950. Acers phone also shoots 4K video with the rear camera and 720p with the front-facing camera.

Test shots in our photo lab using the Acer Liquid Jade Primo. Clockwise from upper left: full brightness, minimal brightness, lamplight, lamplight with flash.

The Liquid Jade Primo shoots acceptable photos in daylight, but everything looks a bit washed-out at a distancethe Lumias photos are simply richer, with truer blues and greens. Thats not the case during closeups, though, which makes me think that the Liquid Jade Primos light sensor might be a bit off. On the other hand, the Liquid Jade Primos zoomed shots look much better than the Lumia 950s: Everythings a bit fuzzy, but details were much more discernible compared to the grainy results the 950 yielded.

Test shots in our photo lab using the Microsoft Lumia 950. Clockwise from upper left: full brightness, minimal brightness, lamplight, lamplight with flash.

What I assume to be a light sensor issue shows up using the flash, too. Note the low-light test photos we shot, which blew everything out. Another photo I shot indoors with the flash on gave me the same result. Outside and at night, the Liquid Jade Primos dual-LED flash seems underpowered except at short distances. Like the Lumia 950, Acers phone also uses Microsofts post-processing HDR technology to adjust lighting when that feature is enabled.

Our photo testing includes a shot in low light, with the flash on. The Liquid Jade Primo blows it out Mark Hachman as it did to this random corner of the room we use for photo testing. But the flash on the Liquid Jade Primo doesnt do much to light this night scene.

Video shot with the Liquid Jade Primo looked pretty grainy, though a few selfies I took with it (video and still images) looked decent. Keep in mind that, when used with Skype, the front-facing camera becomes your window to the world. However, Acers omission of the Anniversary Update means that Skype communications will be handled by two separate apps: chats and audio calls inside the main Skype app, and video calls inside the Skype Video app. Its annoying and arbitrary, but thats the way it is for now.

Mark Hachman The Liquid Jade Primo suffers somewhat on outdoor shots.

Finally, I didnt like the fact that the Liquid Jade Primo glitched twice: once, when I tapped the screen to focus a video, the phone froze and only recorded four seconds or so of a 20-second video. The phone also crashed and rebooted when I tried to tap the screen to focus during a night shot, with the flash on. Im not sure if thats an issue with Microsofts OS or the phone itself. Either way, I wasnt happy.

Mark Hachman When the Liquid Jade Primos sensor doesnt wash out the image, though, the colors come through well.

A decent first effort may not be good enough

Microsofts Windows 10 Mobile needs some sort of miracle to pull it back from the brink. As a larger, more expensive alternative to the Microsoft Lumia 950, the new Acer Liquid Jade Primo isnt it.

Given that the Lumia 950 and Liquid Jade Primo are about equal in terms of performance, other factors become the tipping point: price, mainly. As long as Microsofts Lumia 950 remains on store shelves, its a better deal. Microsofts Lumia ships with a superior camera and display, an identical processor, and a dock to provide a Continuum experience.

Windows phones are now the new BlackBerry: not the phones consumers want to carry, but the phones some businesses will require. Right now, it all boils down to just three devices: the Lumia 950, the Liquid Jade Primo, and HPs Elite x3. We expect to begin testing the Elite x3 shortly, which will finally answer the question of which is the best in the category.

Mark Hachman Acer has to hope that the Liquid Jade Primo becomes a must-have phone for businesses.

The larger question, however, is whether Windows phones will find their way. If Acer were to tweak a few features, the Liquid Jade Primo could be a successful, desirable, Windows phone. But does Acer have the time to make those changes before the clock runs out on Windows phones? Im not sure it does.
Why wont Linux install on modern Lenovo laptops? The discovery of this problem set off a recent firestorm. But contrary to initial speculation, its not that Microsoft is forcing Lenovo to block the installation of Linux on its laptops. Its that Intel isnt making modern hardware compatible with Linux.

Intel needs to provide better Linux support

The reason Linux wont install on Lenovos laptops is a technical one. As Lenovo explained: To improve system performance, Lenovo is leading an industry trend of adopting RAID on the SSDs in certain product configurations Unsupported models will rely on Linux operating system vendors releasing new kernel and drivers to support features such as RAID on SSD.

Heres the problem: Linux doesnt support internal solid-state drives in RAID (Intel RST) mode. Linux can see the drive in AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) mode. However, certain Lenovo laptops dont allow the mode to be changed in the BIOS. You can boot Linux from a USB drive, but not install it on the laptops SSD.

As Lenovo explained, Linux developers need to make the Linux kernel compatible with this new feature. Only then will Linux work with the Lenovo Yoga 900 and other laptops that require this feature.

The real question is, why doesnt Lenovos BIOS let you disable RAID mode and use the Linux-compatible AHCI mode on certain laptops, as you can on most other laptops. As Linux developer Matthew Garrett points out, Intel is likely to blame:

Why would Lenovo do this? I dont know for sure, but its potentially related to something Ive written about beforerecent Intel hardware needs special setup for good power management. The storage driver that Microsoft ships doesnt do that setup. The Intel-provided driver does. RAID mode prevents the Microsoft driver from binding and forces the user to use the Intel driver, which means they get the correct power management configuration, battery life is better and the machine doesnt melt.

The problem isnt, as some commenters suspected, due to Microsofts Signature PC program. There are also valid concerns that Secure Boot could eventually block Linux from being installed, but that isnt happening yet. The fact is, Intel just isnt helping Linux developers, as it should:

The real problem here is that Intel does very little to ensure that free operating systems work well on their consumer hardwarewe still have no information from Intel on how to configure systems to ensure good power management, we have no support for storage devices in RAID mode, and we have no indication that this is going to get better in future. If Intel had provided that support, this issue would never have occurred. Rather than be angry at Lenovo, lets put pressure on Intel to provide support for their hardware, Garret says.

If youre going to take up your pitchfork, at least put Intel in your sights rather than Microsoft.
Samsung Electronics may have some comfort after its debacle with faulty batteries in the Galaxy Note7 smartphone.

The South Korean company reported Thursday that about 500,000 devices, or half of the recalled Galaxy Note7 phones sold in the U.S., have been exchanged through its program.

Interestingly, 90 percent of Galaxy Note7 owners have been opting to receive the new Galaxy Note7, since the phones became available on Wednesday, Samsung said. That figure suggests that most of the users of the Note7 have chosen to stay with the smartphone model, with new batteries, rather than go in for a refund or exchange the phone with another Samsung model.

Under an official program announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1 million Note7 smartphones were recalled following concerns about faulty lithium-ion batteries in the devices, which could overheat and even explode. CPSC said it had received 92 reports of the batteries overheating in the U.S., including 26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damages, including fires in a car and garage.

As part of the arrangement with the CPSC, Samsung said users could return the phones for a refund, or exchange it for a new Note7 device, in which the battery issues had been resolved. The company also announced an exchange of the Note7 with Samsungs Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge devices, and replacement of any Note7 specific accessories, with a refund of the price difference between devices.

The company said Tuesday that over 500,000 new Galaxy Note7 replacement devices had arrived in the U.S. and been shipped to carrier and retail stores, and would be available for exchange at retail locations nationwide on Wednesday.

It is not clear how soon Samsung plans to meet the balance demand for replacement Note7 devices. The company could not be immediately reached for comment.

Samsung and CPSC have urged consumers of Note7 phones sold before Sept. 15 to power down their device.

A number of countries have issued recalls for the phones, including Canada. The Note7 was banned from use or charging on U.S. airlines by the Department of Transportation.
Technology has considerable potential to make the world better, but those benefits are far from guaranteed. Plenty of downsides can pop up along the way, and some of them have Turing Award winners especially worried.

1. The internet echo chamber

Technology by itself is not evil, but people can use it for bad things, Barbara Liskov, an Institute Professor at MIT, told an audience of journalists Thursday at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum in Germany. I do worry a lot about whats going on.

The ability to selectively filter out news and opinions that dont agree with ones own viewpoint is one of Liskovs top concerns.

With such tech-enabled polarization, people are no longer necessarily good citizens because they may not understand whats going on in the world, said Liskov, who won a Turing Award in 2008.

2. Attacks on freedom

If I can use email, terrorists can too, said Raj Reddy, former founding director of Carnegie Mellon Universitys Robotics Institute and winner of the Turing Award in 1994. They can communicate with impunity with encryption today.

The challenge is to preserve freedom of speech and privacy without enabling criminals, and that raises a host of new moral and philosophical issues. To address them, governments will violate your personal freedoms, Reddy said.

3. Buggy IoT software

I used to make a living as a programmer, so I appreciate how hard it is to make good software, said Vint Cerf, who won a Turing Award in 2004 and is now vice president and chief internet evangelist at Google.

A bug in a spreadsheet thats used to determine an important policy, for instance, could have profound consequences. So, too, could bugs in software that controls devices in the internet of things (IoT).

We rely on the software in devices to perform properly, Cerf said. If it doesnt, a house could burn or a car could go over a cliff.

Cerf doesnt worry about killer robots taking over. I dont think thats the big threat, he said. Its ordinary devices that have a lot of software in them that dont work the way we expect them to.

4. A digital dark age

Cerf also worries about the possibility that the photos, documents and other content that we save digitally today may no longer be renderable in the future because the software required to access it will have become obsolete.

The software has to be executable 100 years from now, Cerf said.

Using virtual machines in the cloud to emulate the necessary outdated hardware will be part of the solution, Cerf said, but other issues will also need to be worked out, including ownership of the intellectual property involved and business models to support long-term preservation.

5. Internet safety

Finally, I worry about kids on the internet, Liskov said. I think its much harder to be a parent now than it used to be.

Computer scientists didnt foresee the explosion of the internet or evil hackers and internet trolls, she added. When we started, we were all friends.

What gives me hope is that weve encountered things like this in the past and weve figured out better ways to deal with them, Liskov said. I hope well be able to do the same again. In the meantime, I worry about my granddaughter.
Wildomar will improve its procedures for posting vacancy notices for city government positions, the city said this week in a written response to a Riverside County grand jury report.

The grand jury is a civil watchdog panel appointed annually by Riverside County Superior Court to investigate complaints about government misconduct.

Jury members serving for the year ending last June 30 issued nine reports, including one based on a Wildomar citizens complaint that the city was failing to comply with state requirements for publicly displaying notices announcing vacancies that it wanted to fill.

The report agreed with the complaint and recommended the city comply with the law by posting all vacancies at the city clerks office, the public library and other designated locations.

Thats their recommendation  to put two bulletin boards in buildings we dont own, said Wildomar Mayor Bridgette Moore. Its unheard of, but were going to do it.

City Manager Gary Nordquist replied in the citys official response that the city has been complying with the posting law. The city, however, agreed with the jurys recommendation to have the Wildomar librarys display replaced.

Nordquist said the city in conjunction with the library, a county branch, would install a larger, locked case where notices would be clearly visible and could not be removed by the public. The city also will comply with the jurys recommendation to have a locked case installed at the Wildomar Post Office for posting city notices.

In addition, Nordquist said the city goes beyond the requirements by publishing news of vacancies on the citys web site, in email blasts, in the newspaper and in City Council agendas.

City Hall observer Kenneth Mayes said in an email that he was pleased the city responded, but believes it was inadequate.

As to their response, I feel they did nothing more than play lip service to the Grand Jury, he said. Case in point, they claim they are in compliance. At the time of the Grand Jury investigation, they were not in compliance as borne out by the investigation.

Moore disagreed that the city was out of compliance with the requirements given the availability of the notices from multiple sources.

If this is their only complaint and recommendation, Wildomar is doing well, she added.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9690 or michaelwilliams@pressenterprise.com
Mayor Bonnie Wright acknowledged Hemet has its issues, but said the future is bright if everyone works together.

Together we are Hemet strong, she said at the end of her State of the City address Thursday, Sept. 22.

Wright cited new businesses and renewed housing projects as a step in the right direction. But she also noted that the city is facing its share of issues.

I want to be frank with you, the city is not without its problems, she told more than 200 people gathered at the Four Seasons Lodge. These include crime, blighted areas and the homeless. However, we will continue to work to address these issues.

The event itself went much like Hemet has recently. A good start followed by a glitch (a highlight video was delayed for more than 10 minutes) then a lot of people pitching in to make it work.

Technology aside, some in the audience of mostly community leaders seemed motivated by the mayors words.

Were going in the right direction, said Gary Fowler, a pastor. Im pleased to see this crowd who are mostly servants.

Its that volunteer spirit that will help the city move forward, he said.

Others were left wanting more.

It was a very broad overview. We didnt get much detail, said Melissa Diaz Hernandez, who has been working on homeless issues in the city. I dont think it provided a true state of the city.

She said last years event gave more details and statistics about life in Hemet.

Wright stuck primarily to the positive. She mentioned a number of businesses that have recently opened, are ready to open or have remodeled, as well as six new businesses coming to Hemet. She also highlighted revived housing tracts.

All of this new investment points to a brighter future for the city, Wright said.

There was no talk of the upcoming election, where three seats will be on the ballot in the citys first election by districts. There also will be Measure U, which is asking voters to approve a sales tax increase from 8 percent to 9 percent. While the money will go into the general fund, officials have said they will use the additional funds for public safety.

After the talk, Wright said she wanted to assure the public that leaders are trying to improve the quality of life in the city of more than 80,000 residents.

Were working internally on many significant issues, Wright said. Before long, the public will see the fruits of our labors and what were able to accomplish.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9086 or cshultz@scng.com
A forum for Temecula City Council candidates will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, in the Civic Centers council chambers, 41000 Main St.

The forum is being hosted by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, which has invited all nine of the candidates competing for two available seats.

The field includes both incumbents: Mayor Mike Naggar, who will be seeking his fifth four-year term on the council, and Councilman Michael McCracken, who was appointed last year to serve on the council after Chuck Washington was called up to serve on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

The other candidates are Ronald Bradley, a city manager who has worked in Hemet and Temecula; Jeffrey Frichner, education director for a local Tutor Doctor location; Angel Garcia, owner of a San Diego-based consulting firm; James Cooley, a retired naval officer; James Stewart, a barbershop owner who has served on the Rancho California Water Districts board of directors; Adam Ruiz, a real estate professional, and Skylar Tempel, a student who recently graduated from Temecula Valley High School.

The forum will be moderated by Brian Connors, director of marketing for Southwest Healthcare System who serves as the chamber boards first vice chair.

The candidates will introduce themselves and then field two rounds of questions each. That will be followed by roundtable discussion questions and closing statements, according to a chamber release.

RELATED:

Naggar, Ruiz and Bradley filling war chests for council race
Inland Empire education leaders made a collective pitch for Proposition 51, a statewide initiative that would authorize $9 billion in general obligation bonds to construct and modernize K-12 public schools, charter schools and community colleges.

We want to see quality schools for all of California, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said at a press conference outside Ontario-Montclair School Districts De Anza Middle School Thursday morning. Our students deserve the best. They need a learning environment thats modern, well-lit, conducive to learning, has the (internet) bandwidth, the science classrooms, the science labs, has a career-technical education facility, to get kids excited about school.

If approved, Prop. 51 would provide $7 billion in general obligation bonds for K-12 public schools and another $2 billion for the states community colleges. Torlakson has been crisscrossing the state as part of the Yes on 51 campaign.

About 33 of our schools are over 50 years old, and three of them are over 100 years old, said Mays Kakish, chief business officer for Riverside Unified. The district is pursuing its own school bond this year, Measure O. Without Prop. 51 passing, (a) match for new construction and modernization and projects will not be available.

Riverside schools currently have classrooms that have no air-conditioning, despite 100 degree-plus days, and more than 400 portable classrooms that need to be replaced.

Critics, including Gov. Jerry Brown, oppose Prop. 51 for being an additional $500 million annual bond obligations for Californians, who already pay $2 billion annually to pay for previous statewide education bond measures. Brown has called the Californias $400 billion of debt a wall of debt. Critics also say that school bonds should best be handled at the local level, by school district officials who are more accountable to voters than officials in Sacramento.

Even though weve had a large building program, we continue to want to expand career paths, said John Peukert, assistant superintendent for facilities and operations at San Bernardino City Unified. The district hopes to teach students diesel and heating and air-conditioning technical skills to help meet some the needs of a growing job market.

The district also hopes to modernize aging schools and build new schools to prepare for anticipated growth, he said.

The kids are doing their jobs , Elvia M. Rivas, president of the Ontario-Montclair School District school board, said after Thursdays press conference. Her district is pursuing its own $150 million bond on the Nov. 8 ballot, which would earn additional matching funds from the state if Prop. 51 passes. This is an award-winning school, it did a complete 180 (degree) turnaround. The staffs doing their job. The communitys doing their job. Its our job to make sure that they have a facility thats up to par, where the kids can have a facility where they feel safe, in a healthy environment thats conducive to learning. We can get those funds and make it happen.

De Anza Middle is 61 years old.

Im not even 61 years old, Rivas said, and I have three bulging discs. I can only imagine the things that are wrong with this school.

During the recession, many school districts chose to defer maintenance on existing facilities and put off purchasing many upgrades to avoid, or at least lessen, personnel cuts.

It has been 10 years since the state of California has put a measure in front of the voters to say will you invest in our schools by building high-quality classrooms, geared for the modern world? Torlakson said. The voters said yes, back in 2006.

Torlakson wasnt done drumming up support for Prop. 51 in the Inland Empire on Thursday after his visit to De Anza Middle, though: He was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at a $500/plate fundraiser for Prop. 51 at the Radisson Hotel in Ontario at midday.
A Riverside County Superior Court jury is deliberating whether the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man by his fathers hand was an act of self defense or murder.

Throughout the six-week trial, defendant Smith Ellison Jr., 68, and his attorneys have maintained that he shot Jason Ellison with a pistol as Jason Ellison charged him about 2:45 p.m. April 17, 2015 outside his home in the 21800 block of Rogers Lane in Mead Valley. But prosecutors allege the shooting was premeditated, and a culmination of years of quarreling.

Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Michael Lough  in his closing remarks Wednesday, Sept. 21  urged the 12-person jury to convict Ellison, whom he described as a violent man with a history of domestic violence.

When are we going to hold the defendant accountable for the suffering of his own children? Lough said.

John Sweeney  one of Ellisons attorneys  in his rebuttal argued that to make the assumption that his client shot the victim out of aggression was an overstep. Nobody other than Ellison witnessed the shooting.

Can you really say that you, Mr. Lough, know exactly what happened up there? Sweeney said. You cant.

Ellison, who was 66 at the time of the shooting, called 911 after the incident occurred to report it.

I shot my son, Ellison told a deputy, according to search warrant documents. He jumped on me.

Ellison was taken to a hospital where he later died.

Earlier that day, Ellison and the victim were arguing about an ATV, witnesses reported. Ellison told the victim to come to his home and retrieve it.

When the victim arrived, bringing along his 4-year-old daughter, Ellison did not open the security gates to the driveway, according to court records. The two talked on the phone, and Ellison told the victim to hop the fence, witnesses told investigators.

As Jason Ellison walked up the driveway, the two began to argue. At one point, the victim used two hands to lift up his shirt. Thats when his father shot him.

Discrepancies between Ellisons account of what happened and what the evidence revealed were presented throughout the trial.

Evidence of the defendants domestic violence history was also presented throughout the trial.. Lough, in his remarks Wednesday, said the shooting stemmed from the Ellisons contentious relationship.

This was never about ATVs to the defendant, Lough said. It was about control and disrespect.

Sweeney urged the jury to be critical of prosecutors reliance on the past to paint his client as someone capable of purposely killing his own son.

Be very weary of a prosecutor who brings up 30-year-old incidents in an effort to boot-strap a case that he cant prove in the present, Sweeney said.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9284, atadayon@scng.com, @PE_alitadayon
The fight over gun control has come to the 31st Congressional District in San Bernardino County, with both sides endorsing dueling candidates in the race.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the campaign Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands, announced the endorsement of former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly. Giffords was critically wounded in a 2011 mass shooting and she and Kelly have been vocal gun control advocates ever since.

The day before, Republican challenger Paul Chabot touted the endorsement of the National Rifle Association. The race for the seat representing San Bernardino, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga and other parts of the county is a rematch of the 2014 contest won by Aguilar over Chabot.

Gun violence is a topic in the 31st, where the Dec. 2 San Bernardino terror attack took place. In addition, San Bernardino is on pace to exceed last years homicide total.

Chabots NRA announcement featured a one-minute video, Freedoms Safest Place, featuring NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre.

Tragedy introduced us to the heroes of San Bernardinos police department, LaPierre says. But tragedy is routine in their city, where politicians slash their budget and cut their ranks. Now, violent gangs wage bloody turf wars every night.

Let me be clear. I am proud and honored to have the endorsement of the NRA, Chabot said in his news release.   As a military officer and retired law enforcement deputy, guns have long been a part of my career in protecting our nation at home and abroad. I took an oath to uphold the Constitution and I will carry on that oath when elected to Congress.

The Aguilar campaigns news release included a statement from Giffords and Kelly.

Pete Aguilar has been a tireless voice in Congress for responsible change that keeps guns out of the wrong hands, saves lives, and makes our communities safer, they said. At every step, Congressman Aguilar has worked to help break the gun lobbys grip on Washington. We are grateful to have him as a champion for the vocal majority of Americans calling on Congress to act to reduce gun violence, and we look forward to continuing to stand with Pete Aguilar in the fight for safer communities.

Gun control has been a hot topic in another local race. Assembly candidate Eloise Reyes has accused Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown, D-San Bernardino, of going against her constituents interests with her votes on gun legislation. Brown has defended her votes and said Reyes attacks stem from her lack of a record.

The race between Aguilar and Chabot has grown particularly negative in recent weeks, with Chabot calling Aguilar Agu-liar and Aguilars campaign questioning Chabots financial disclosure paperwork.
UPDATE (Tuesday, Sept. 27): Corona man charged with murder of homeless woman

Nobody seemed to really know the 60-year-old homeless woman. But a great many liked her. So when she was fatally stabbed in a downtown Corona shopping plaza, folks showed up by the dozens to mourn.

She was probably one of the few homeless people in our neighborhood who didnt bother nobody, said 57-year-old shop owner Charles Johnson. What assistance she got, I dont think anybody knew. But she bought her own food.

She died at a hospital soon after the 11 a.m. attack Thursday, Sept. 22, in front of a 99 Cents Only store in Corona Plaza along the 700 block of South Main Street.

UPDATE: Slain homeless woman read Bible, rejected handouts

Witnesses told police the stabbing happened during a confrontation between the woman and another transient. Officers detained a 54-year-old suspect two blocks away. He had a knife, they said.

Steven Loia was arrested for investigation of murder.

And as the workday ended, Corona Plaza filled with folks who turned a bus bench into a memorial covered in balloons, candles and flowers.

This is her bench, said 20-year Corona resident Jeannie Causey. If she only knew how many people loved her

The woman Causey knew as Beverly was a gracious and polite soul, but stubbornly independent.

People have bought her hotel rooms so she couldshower and freshen up. And she refused that, Casey recalled. She would say, Im just fine, thank you. I dont need anything.

She gave a similar turn-down to Ramon Ward, who said he offered her money when he first encountered her at Corona Plaza on Thanksgiving Day 2015.

He finally managed to slip her a bagful of food, he said. But he had to leave it beside her bus bench while she was asleep, because she wouldnt (otherwise) accept it.

Even the cops knew her.

In a city with its share of homeless problems, this was one transient police say wasnt a troublemaker. A decade ago, she could be found six or seven blocks away on a bus bench at the Civic Center, said Sgt. Paul Mercado. For some reason, she switched to the Corona Plaza bus bench.

She sits here all the time, all day, Shebecame a figure in the community, Mercado said. Its very sad.

As the crowd grew, the investigation continued. Police had no motive for the killing, Mercado said, and werent even sure if the woman and her killer knew each other.

One things for certain, Mercado said. Police seldom, if ever, got complaints about the woman.

She didnt bother anybody, he said. Its inexcusable. Senseless.

Mourners are out on Friday at the Main Street bus stop in Corona where homeless woman Beverly was slain Thursday. pic.twitter.com/1IB9WZPdvz  Brian Rokos (@Brian_Rokos) September 23, 2016

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The body of a missing Pomona College professor from Claremont was recovered Wednesday from an alpine peak in Kings Canyon National Park.

Alfred Kwok, 50, was reported missing Tuesday after he failed to return from a solo hike Sunday. The longtime physics and astronomy professor had planned on hiking from Onion Valley in Inyo National Forest into Kings Canyon National Park.

Kwok was expected to climb the rugged back country of Deerhorn Mountain and return the same way, according to a press release from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

On Tuesday afternoon, a helicopter search crew located Kwoks body on the upper southwest face of Deerhorn Mountain. His body was recovered Wednesday and transferred to Tulare County Coroners Office where he was identified.

The cause and circumstances of his death remain under investigation, the release states.

Kwok was an associate professor of physics and astronomy and had been a faculty member for 16 years, the college posted on its website.

On Wednesday, students and faculty gathered in the campus Physics Commons to share stories about the professor. who was an avid hiker.

He was a source of energy and excitement, Physics Professor Tom Moore said in a statement. He genuinely loved being a teacher. He was always thinking about how to get something across better.

Following the gathering, students walked up to a whiteboard and shared their memories of Kwok.

Professor Kwok single-handedly bridged the gap between profs and students, one message read.

Another message stated: He invited me on a moderate hike of 22 miles.

Kwok earned his Ph.D. from Yale University and his B.A. from UC Santa Cruz.
Thirteen months after making one of the greatest fast-food comebacks in Southern California history, Naugles has announced plans to open up to 1,000 restaurants through franchising.

Fransmart, which helps emerging brands expand through controlled franchising, announced the Naugles deal Tuesday. The company is responsible for the growth of top fast-food and fast-casual brands such as Five Guys Burgers and Fries, The Halal Guys and Fountain Valley-based Slapfish.

Expansion of Naugles will occur throughout North America in the form of traditional drive-through restaurants, as well as locations inside food halls. Initial locations will open first in Orange County, Fransmart said.

Christian Ziebarth, who wrested the Naugles trademark from Del Taco last year, said franchising is the best way to reach people who crave Naugles all over the country.

Because there are many displaced fans, this is our best route to be able to reach them in a timely manner, Ziebarth said in a statement. Our growth will still occur at a steady, controlled pace. Itll take some time to build to 1,000 locations. This will not happen overnight.

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The first 100 restaurants are expected to open in the next five to six years. They will be a mix of franchise and corporate-run locations as Ziebarth still plans to run his own restaurants.

In 2010, Ziebarth launched a battle with Del Taco over the rights to the Naugles trademark. The Mexican fast-food brand merged with Del Taco in 1988. The Naugles restaurants slowly diminished, with the last one closing in 1995.

Ziebarth argued Del Taco abandoned the brand years ago, legally allowing him to make a claim. Last year, he won the trademark fight, allowing Ziebarth and his investors to revive the brand. The first temporary restaurant opened in August 2015 in Fountain Valley to overwhelming crowds.

RELATED

OPENING DAY: Naugles overwhelmed by crowds  We ran out of food

HISTORY: Fast food  from McDonalds to Del Taco  has Inland roots

Contact the writer: nluna@scng.com
Prosecutors in Tulsa, Oklahoma filed first-manslaughter charges Thursday against the white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man on a city street.

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 Crutchers 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 Crutchers vehicle abandoned on a city street, straddling the center line. Shelby did not activate her patrol cars dashboard camera, so no footage exists of what first happened between the two before other officers arrived.

The police footage shows Crutcher approaching the drivers 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 Sheriffs Office was sentenced to four years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the shooting death of Eric Harris.
More than 90 percent of the populations for both Riverside and San Bernardino counties had some kind of health insurance in 2015, according to the recently released American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Riverside County had 90.2 percent coverage and San Bernardino County had 91 percent, the ACS said in its 2015 estimate report.

The percentages of Inland people with health insurance rose by about 10 percent from 2014. It had remained at roughly 80 percent since 2012, when the ACS began collecting annual, county-by-county data on the subject.

2015 was the year the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, required a tax penalty of $325 for each uninsured adult in a household who could not claim one of several exemptions, including inability to afford coverage, hardship waivers, income below 100 percent of the poverty level, or religious reasons.

The same penalty was $95 in 2014. It goes to $695 for 2016.

For 2015, the highest percentage of Inland residents with health insurance were those age 65 years or older and eligible for Medicare. Both counties had better than 98 percent of their population with health insurance for that age group.

More than 96 percent of those younger than 18 years in the Inland area also had health insurance.

The lowest percentage of coverage in age groups was for younger adults, 82.6 percent for Riverside County residents aged 25-34 years, 83.9 percent percent for San Bernardino County residents aged 35-44 years.

One of the challenges for the Affordable Care Act has been fewer-than-needed health insurance sign-ups from healthy younger people who have less coverage demands. Their payments strengthen the insurance pool.

Among the groups with the lowest percentage of coverage was the not a citizen classification, with 69.5 percent insured in Riverside County, 67 percent in San Bernardino County.

Under the Affordable Care Act, immigrants who are in the United States illegally cannot purchase health insurance through the exchanges the law set up.

Under SB 10, signed in June by Gov. Jerry Brown, California will ask the federal government to allow people in that group to buy insurance from the exchanges, but without subsidies from state or federal governments.

Contact the writer: rdeatley@scng.com or 951-368-9573
The best part of space? The view.

Or so thinks former astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, who was the special guest at the Corona Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

I was looking up and there was nothing my field of view but the Earth, said Stefanyshyn-Piper, who flew into space in 2006 and 2008, logging 27 days in space and five space walks. And (then) you turn around and see the space station. You have this white-and-silver space station and then you have the black of space behind it.

The astronauts visit to a packed room was meant to inspire students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (known as STEM programming).

We are preparing the Mars generation, said Shaun Smith, of NASAs Armstrong Office of Education in Palmdale, referring to a hoped-for mission to Mars in 2030.

Such programs, Smith said, will help foster the next generation of explorers.

Astronaut Stefanyshyn-Piper first considered space in 1996 while she was repairing ships underwater for the Navy. At the time, NASA needed engineers to help build the International Space Station.

If I can fix a ship underwater, then I can probably build a station in space, she recalled thinking.

During her presentation, Stefanyshyn-Piper regaled the audience with stories about maneuvering in zero gravity.

Even the most mundane tasks, she said were difficult, from sleeping to brushing her teeth.

She reminded students about the importance of science.

Weve got engineers and scientists who figured out what we need to do so that we can put this stuff up in space, she said. This is why we need people in STEM to do cool stuff in space.

She added that many items in our everyday lives originated in the space program.

Stefanyshyn-Piper then satiated audience members curiosity by answering questions that ranged from the nature of black holes to how much pressure there is in the shuttle.

Lucas Grinius, a 13 year-old member of Boy Scout Troop 107, said his interest in engineering  and his career goal to join the Air Force  prompted him to attend.

Its interesting the path she took from diver to astronaut, he said. I learned that its not always a direct path to what you want and that it can branch out to something amazing.

Stefanyshyn-Piper, who retired as an astronaut in 2009 and returned to the Navy, took pictures with attendees.

She said her favorite part about talking to children is hearing them tell her how shes inspired them.

All of the young people, in about 20-30 years, (will be) up here telling their stories, she said.

Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com
John Szilagyi was still in his pajamas the morning of April 25 when he took a phone call from someone who sounded like his granddaughter, Christa, a college student in Indiana, who said she was in legal trouble in Florida.

She was just sobbing, recalled Szilagyi, 79, a resident of Murrieta. His wife, Gloria, 77, had just heard the same wailing and handed him the phone. (She said) Please help me, Grandpa, I want to go home so bad. Please dont tell my parents.

The original caller who claimed to be a public defender said he wanted to put Christa on a plane back home. But first, Szilagyi was told, he had to pay $3,000 to get her before a judge by purchasing Apple iTunes gift cards and reading the serial numbers to the caller. And once Szilagyi did that, he received another call demanding that he pay $2,000 more using the same method in order to hire a sheriffs deputy to walk Christa through security at the Florida and Indiana airports.

RELATED Phone scammers now demanding Apple iTunes gift cards

A little while after the second payment was made, Gloria Szilagyi called her son, who phoned Christa. She was in class or at home the entire time, they learned. The Szilagyis had become one of the latest victims of the Grandparent Scam.

The twist in this case is the relatively new use of iTunes gift cards  instead of a reloadable debit card  to pay the crooks. The iTunes cards can only be used to buy songs, iBooks and services from the iTunes store, Apple says.

I didnt even know what an iTune was, said John Szilagyi, who doesnt own a computer or cell phone. I could kick myself in the butt.

Szilagyi agreed to tell his story in order to alert others after reading a Sept. 18 article about the nationwide scam in The Press-Enterprise.

ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE

The caller weaved a wild tale, plausible up to a point. Christa had flown to Florida for the funeral of a friend who had been killed in a traffic collision. Near the airport, police pulled over Christas taxi and found a suitcase full of illegal drugs. Police didnt believe that the drugs belonged to Christa, but she had to be seen by a judge before she could leave the state.

The Szilagyis talked it over and decided to help Christa.

Everything happened so fast, John Szilagyi said.

He went to the Apple store at the Promenade Mall in Temecula. The employee eyed him, and mentioned something about a scam, but didnt elaborate, Szilagyi said. He made the $3,000 purchase with a credit card, went home and read the serial numbers to the scammer.

The person called back and said he needed $2,000 more. Szilagyi returned to the Apple store and spoke with the employee, who talked with the manager, returned and sold Szilagyi the additional cards. Szilagyi went home, called the scammer again and read the serial numbers.

After the Szilagyis learned they had been tricked, they contacted Apple and their credit card company but were told it was too late: The cards had been drained of their value.

Its been a nightmare, he said.

Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said in the Sept. 18 Press-Enterprise story that the company is warning retailers to be alert for purchases of the gift cards in large quantities. Those retailers include Apple stores. But when Szilagyi returned to the Apple store Sept. 21 to confront the employees  newspaper article in hand  an employee was overheard telling Szilagyi that the store had received no such memo.

Szilagyi said Apple should have done more to head off his gift card purchases. And he is also upset with his credit card issuer. Szilagyi believes he should have been issued a refund under its fraud protection policy but hasnt seen a dime.

Just fraud all over the place, Szilagyi said. Someone needs to answer for this.

Contact the writer: brokos@scng.com or 951-368-9569
Ghana has been ranked 72nd in the 2016 World Index of Economic Freedom ahead of Cote dIvoire, Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso.



The country, which scored 63 points in the World Index, placed first in the sub-region while Cote dIvoire, which scored 60, placed 92nd, with Benin, 59, placing 101 in the world rankings.



The 2016 Index of Economic Freedom analyzed economic policy developments related to economic freedom in 178 economies.



The analysis was based on four pillars, which are rule of law (property rights and freedom from Corruption), government size (fiscal freedom and government spending), regulatory efficiency (business freedom, labour freedom and monetary freedom) and open market (trade freedom, investment freedom and financial freedom).



Comparisons



In the 2016 World Index of Economic Freedom, Ghana performed well in every aspect of the four main pillars as compared her neighboring countries- Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Cote dIvoire.



However, the country performed woefully in comparison with countries such as South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.



In 1961, Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/Capita in Ghana was $190, whereas South Korea was meager $92.



Today, Ghanas GDP/Capita stands at $1,380 while South Korea has $27,222.



Doubts over ranking



The 2016 Index of Economic Freedom demonstrated that countries with higher levels of economic freedom substantially outperform others in economic growth, per capita income, healthcare, education, protection of the environment, reduction in poverty and overall well-being.



However, many Ghanaians have expressed doubts about the ranking, stating that the country is performing poorly in all the four areas.



They said the scores of the index do not reflect the reality on the ground, arguing that the economy of Cote dIvoire, which is behind Ghana in the ranking, was performing better than Ghana.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
expressPay, Ghanas leading financial technology company, today announced the launch of an industry-first instant money transfer service in collaboration with Visa and local commercial banks. Dubbed, Bank Direct, the service enables consumers to instantly send and receive money into their bank accounts from any Visa cardholder or mobile money wallet.



First of its kind in West Africa, expressPays Bank Direct was launched at an event graced by dignitaries, executives of the banking, finance and mobile technology industries. The service is expected to significantly change the mobile payments landscape by uniting traditional banking with mobile finance to the benefit of consumers.



Bank Direct effectively eliminates the need to travel to ones bank to transfer or receive money. Ghanaians can simply transfer money from their bank accounts or mobile money wallets to any bank account with an associated Visa card. It is a convenient, seamless and secure way to send money to friends and family anywhere in Ghana and can be accessed from the comfort of your home or office, said Curtis Vanderpuije, CEO of expressPay.



With a substantial proportion of the Ghanaian population unbanked, Bank Direct will foster financial inclusion, while capturing the informal economy, and enabling a cash-lite, and more money-efficient society. The service improves existing systems through interoperability while streamlining processes to use mobile money to connect with money in bank accounts. We are proud to work with Visa to make this revolutionary service possible, Mr Vanderpuije added.



expressPays Bank Direct is the result of local innovation and global capability as the international payments gateway giant, Visa lent its full support to make the service a reality.







Speaking on the functionality of the expressPay Bank Direct initiative Ade Ashaye, Country Manager for Visa in West Africa, stated that BankDirect makes for seamless peer to peer money transfers. Funds that are transferred via the Bank Direct service will be deposited directly into the recipients bank account and can be accessed through branded point-of sale terminals, ATMs and e-commerce merchants. Funds will also be available through other banking channels such as online banking, mobile banking, agents and branches.



Bank Direct is a cost effective, fast and convenient way of transferring money. The service also brings the advantages of Visas global network - security, reliability and global acceptance. It also eliminates the long forms, complex routing numbers waiting time associated with conventional fund transfers, Ashaye concluded.



How Bank Direct works



People can send money and receive from one bank account to another directly from their phone or computer by downloading the expressPay app (www.expresspaygh.com/app) on Google Play Store or the Apple Store.







To send with Bank Direct:



1. Login to expressPay or sign up if you dont already have an account



2. Select Bank Direct from the Send money category



3. Enter recipients phone number and click Pay to send



4. The recipient instantly receives transfer confirmation!







To receive with Bank Direct:



1. Click the link in SMS notification received with details of the transfer



2. Enter your Visa card number to link your phone number with your card



3. The money instantly[1] hits your bank account!

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
It is emerging that the Fire Officer whose genital was bitten, has claimed that the lady is his girlfriend, a claim she has strongly disputed.



Eric Ansah, the Techiman Municipal Fire Officer in the Brong-Ahafo Region, reportedly told the police in his statement that his subordinate who bit his penis is his girlfriend.



The Fire Officer, who has been suspended over the alleged sexual escapade, reportedly had his penis bitten by his female subordinate, whose name was given as Ataa Takyi, 24.



But the lady has told the police that the fireman attempted to rape her in the early hours of Saturday at her residence in Techiman.



As a result, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has sharply reacted to the reported sexual misconduct of the officer by suspending him.



Following the media report, Chief Fire Officer, Albert Brown Gaisie, is said to have directed the Brong-Ahafo Regional Fire Command to suspend the officer in question for allegedly sexually assaulting the lady who is a subordinate employed under the Youth In Fire module of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).



The fire lady told DAILY GUIDE that at about 12.20 am last Saturday, she heard a knock on her door and went to open it only to see Mr. Ansah (her boss) standing there with a large plastic bag.



She said when she asked him why he was there at that time of the night, the officer told her that he wanted to bring her some dirty clothes to wash for him.



According to Ataa, when she collected the bag and turned to enter her room, the fire chief followed her and sat on one of the chairs in the room.



She said when she asked him to leave the room because she was going to bed, her boss refused to do so.



Instead, the lady claimed the officer began fondling her breasts and pulling her cloth.



She said she complained bitterly but the officer told her that as the municipal fire officer, he could get whatever he wanted and so she should give in.



I resisted initially and later he threatened me saying he is the commander and so anything he wants he gets it; and because he said that I got scared he would do something bad to me, Ataa narrated.



Being afraid of losing my job, I decided to give in with a different motive to defend myself.



I told him I am ready and so he should do whatever he wants to do with me; but after romancing with him for three minutes, I grabbed his penis and bit it hard, according to Ataa.



She said the officer collapsed as blood was oozing from his manhood.



She said she realised he was bleeding and feared he could lose his life and therefore called for help, adding that Mr Ansah was taken to the Dr Kesse Hospital at Techiman for medical attention.



He was treated and discharged.



The Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Fire Service, Prince Billy Anaglatey, said even though the Regional Fire Service had not officially lodged a complaint with the national headquarters, they had asked that the officer in question be suspended for now.



Speaking to pulse.com, he said, We have not received any official report from anybody, but quickly the Chief Fire Officer has directed the Brong-Ahafo Regional Commander to immediately suspend the Municipal Fire Officer who has been mentioned in the case.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Scores of trainee nurses and midwives on Thursday morning poured out onto the streets of Accra to express their anger with government for refusing to pay allowances they said were due them.



The demonstration was also to advocate for the employment for all qualified nurses and midwives as the aggrieved nurses complained that the government has failed to create job opportunities for them.



The protesting nurses and midwives trainees said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government risked losing their votes if it did not show any commitment to addressing the pertinent issues affecting them. The nurses who had tied red bands on their wrists, heads, some around their arms marched through the streets of the city chanting war songs.



They marched from the Obra spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle through some principal streets of Accra and converged on the Hearts Park to present their petition to government.



Some of them were holding placards with inscriptions such as; An hungry nurse will snatch Mahama from his wife, No allawa, no vote, Mr. President, just the allawa and Sir Mahama, where is our paper, we deserve better.



One protesting trainees said to Citi News, our allowances have been seized by the government. the government has refused to give us our allowances which I will say is our right. We need to get these allowances.



Me and my colleagues, we have decided that in the 2016 elections, we are not going to vote. It is very painful, for us to work without getting anything, another student lamented.

Source: Citifmonline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Chief of Akroso in the Eastern Region Nana Kwabena Ofori 11 has fully endorsed the candidacy of President John Mahama for the 2016 elections.



He made the statement when Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as part of his three days tour to the Eastern Region. He called on Nana Ofori II at his palace at Akim Akroso to pay homage to the respected traditional leader.



He also interacted with him and also introduced the NDC parliamentary candidate for the Akroso, Asene, Manso Constituency.



The chief said under President Mahama, majority of the projects that they put before him has been delivered with a just a few left. Hence they give him their blessings for another four years so that he continues with his good works.



On his part, the Vice President said objective of the NDC is to support the vulnerable and deprived to also climb the socio-economic development ladder.



He was greatful to the chief for his compliment on the NDC government. He said government is also focused on bridging the development gap between the urban and rural communities.



Vice President Amissah Arthur noted that government is determined to do this in collaboration with the people by equally distributing the national resources even to remotest part of the country.



He said continuity is key hence the need to maintain the NDC to continue with it development drive for Ghanaians. He used the opportunity to introduce the NDC candidate for the area Mr. Roland Aquah so that he would be able to compliment the good works for President John Mahama.

Source: Maxwell Okamafo Addo/ email: [email protected]









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has appealed to Ghanaians to vote for President John Dramani Mahama to continue with the good work he is doing for the country.



He described as exceptional the level of infrastructure development realised under the Mahama Administration.



Vice President Amissah-Arthur was speaking at rally at Nkawkaw to kick-start a three-day campaign tour of the Eastern Region.



Vice President Amissah-Arthur is being accompanied by Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Bismark Tawiah Boateng, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Michael Teye Nyaunu, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Manya Krobo, among others.



Vice President Amissah-Arthur also said a vote for President Mahama on December 7, would be a vote for progress and development.



He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to have confidence in the Mahama led-administration because he was not a divisive person as he had demonstrated throughout the period that he had been at the helm of affairs.



He said President John Mahama would continue to share the national care equally to all communities no matter where they were located.



Vice President Amissah-Arthur also urged all Kwahu citizens to vote for the NDC because it was a party that best served their interest as business people.



He said the Government had put in place the necessary infrastructure in the area in terms of water, roads and electricity to enable their businesses to thrive.



He also introduced the NDCs Parliamentary candidate for the Nkawkaw Constituency, Mr Tamimu Halidu, to the crowd.



Mr Tawiah Boateng, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the NDC, stated that the Regions agenda of sharing the votes and Parliamentary seats 50/50 was on course.



He said President Mahamas infrastructural development in the four years of his rule was unparalleled in the history of the country.



He said people of the Kwahu area had also received their fair share of these infrastructural development, hence, the building of Community Day Schools, the Kumawu- Konongo-Kwahu Water Project and the construction of the Nkawkaw-Atibie Road.



Earlier, Vice President Amissah-Arthur and his team paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Nkawkaw Zongo, Abdul Nasser Usman.



He also used the occasion to address the large number of NDC supporters, who had gathered at the place, to vote massively for President Mahama to continue with his good projects.



The Chief of Nkawkaw Zongo, Abdul Nasser Usman, said the Zongos had benefited tremendously under the NDC Government.



He said the Zongo communities would continue to the support the Government to continue with its good works.



Later, Vice President Amissah-Arthur paid a courtesy call on Nana Kodua Kesse, the Oyoko hene of New Juaben Traditional area, the Chief of Koforidua Zongo, Abdulai Nassiru Mohammed and the Imam, Subaila Mohammed.



Thereafter, Vice President Amissah-Arthur addressed the Ewe Community at Koforidua Ayigbe-Town.



He urged them to embark on House to house campaign to tell the people about the good story of President Mahamas transformational agenda.



He later introduced Mr Ransford Owusu Boakye, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for New Juaben South, to the gathering and urged them to vote for him.

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
The Daily Guide newspaper, owned by the Acting National Chairman of the NPP, Freddy Blay, has once again been caught in another monumental lie against President John Mahama.



Yesterday, under the screaming front page headline  Mahama shares Cash for Votes, the paper claimed that the President went distributing cash at Sabon Zongo at Abossey Okai during his Greater Accra Regional campaign tour last week. The story, written by Charles Takyi-Boadu read in part;



President John Mahama, in his inordinate ambition for re-election in the December general election, has been spotted sharing money on his campaign trail. The most recent is a video footage on social media in which the President is seen standing in his open-top V8 Toyota Landcruiser and doling out cash to people in the street during a campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region. The video, which has since gone viral and captured on several websites was obviously shot by an amateur photographer who was reportedly observing proceedings from the balcony of a story building



The Daily Guides story goes on to say that In that video, the Presidential convoy is seen moving at a snail pace on the streets of Sabon Zongo at Abossey Okai with President Mahama spotting a white cap on top of a black coloured T-shirt and responding to cheers from admirers. As the crowd cheered him on, he beckoned someone from the crowd to come and ordered his driver to stop. He is then seen reaching out for money from the vehicle and giving it out to the person who meandered his way through the crowd amidst tight security to take the money. As the vehicle began to move, the President beckoned a few others to come and he reached out for more cash from the car for them. He repeated the gesture a number of times as the crowd surged forward to grab his hand obviously for some cash



However, enquiries made by this paper indicate that the Daily Guides report is lie, a concocted story from the fertile imagination of the writer, Charles Takyi-Boadu and the editor of the paper, Fortune Alimi.



When this paper contacted President Mahama yesterday via phone and put the allegation before him, he simply laughed it off, explaining what happened on that occasion.



According to him, when they entered Sabon Zongo, the passage was narrow and the crowd following him was very heavy. From the top of his vehicle, he saw a little girl with a tray of boiled egg in the crowd being pushed by the cheering crowd amidst the jostling. The tray fell from the girls head and the crowd trampled on the fallen eggs. The girl then burst into tears. Touched by what only he could see because of where he was standing, he ordered the man who commands his convoy (who was in his vehicle) to stop the convoy. The convoy thus stopped.



President Mahama said he then took GH50 from his ADC, pointed to the crying girl in the crowd and then reaching down from the top of the vehicle, gave it to a woman standing by her thinking she was with the girl. However, he was surprised to see the girl still crying so he asked her if the woman was the mother. When the girl shook her head and he noticed the woman had moved away, he took another GH50 from his ADC and gave it to the girl. This drew wild cheers from the teeming crowd.



President Mahama recalled that it was even the crowd that helped the girl forward towards his vehicle to enable her take the money because they knew he was compensating her for what she had lost. It explains why the people around were not scrambling for the money.



The crowd that thronged the Abossey Okai area when the President stormed there has dazed the NPP especially as it is believed the place is their stronghold. It is therefore understandable that the partys activists, including the Acting National Chairman and his boys, would try to put a spin on what happened there in a desperate bid to shore up their flagbearers tottering campaign. NPP activists have been sharing the video on social media with glee, leaning on their own misunderstanding and desperately wanting others to believe their concocted story.



More Anon

Source: Daily Post









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
This is Australian newspapers at their very best: over a century old and deep in the stomach of an enormous ocean fish.

Researchers at the Natural History Museum of London were restoring a stuffed 3m sunfish specimen, which was caught in Sydney Harbour in 1882, when they discovered a scrap of the The Sydney Morning Herald from January 26, 1883. How bloody bout it.

Heres the fish on the day it was caught, on December 12, 1882. It is absolutely a very large fish.

wtf

It is rare for sunfish to be seen in harbours, which made its arrival in Sydney Harbour particularly unusal. Upon being taken from the harbour, it was stuffed and became part of the London museums collection. Its apparently a little bit worse for wear these days, so a team was dedicated to restoring it.

During conservation the sunfishs wheat straw stuffing was removed and replaced, leading to some unusual scenes pic.twitter.com/uZOWC2KwQO  NaturalHistoryMuseum (@NHM_London) August 7, 2016

Nobody knows exactly how the Herald founds its way inside a stuffed sunfish, but there ya go. According to the SMH, the big news back on the halcyon day of January 26th, 1883 was a Test match and a tram line out to Sydneys eastern suburbs. Coulda been bloody 2016 for all we know.

Source: SMH.

Photo: Twitter / Natural History Museum in London.
Alright, the radness curve of this article resembles an uppercase U. Were currently just falling off that cliff, but stick with it yeah?

This morning, UK grime lord Stormzy pulled out of most of his remaining live shows for the forseeable future, citing reasons out of his control. Thats not exactly great for us Down Under, considering the bloke was set to tear up Listen Out festival, which kicks off tomorrow, alongside Anderson .Paak, A$AP Ferg, Baauer and a slew of other legends.

Sorry once again ?????? A photo posted by #MERKY (@stormzyofficial) on Sep 22, 2016 at 2:03pm PDT

Right, were here at the bottom of the U. Its a bit shit, especially if youre the kinda person who has worked merky into your everyday vocabulary. Still, theres a slope back up to excellence, and its the rapid announcement of replacements from Listen Out itself.

After searching bloody quickly for something special we can arrange in time for the festivals, Aussie crew One Day have been picked as the lucky act for the Melbourne, Sydney and Brissy legs of the fest.

Over in Perth, still coasting on the mammoth emergence of newie Ra, Slumberjack will be pummelling punters with that sweet futurebass goodness.

So, it is a bit shit that not one, but two landmark grime artists have canned their Australian tours in the space of a fortnight, but hell, at least punters have copped some dependable replacements:

Source: Triple J.

Photo: Roger Kisby / Getty.
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.
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.
Rachel Brougham: This is why Halloween is the best
Oil output triples, OPEC under pressure to Act in Algiers

LONDON/ DOHA

Petroleumworld.com 09 23 2016

As OPEC prepares to meet in Algiers next week, the oil market is reminding the group's members what's at stake if they fail to reach a deal.

More than 800,000 barrels a day of additional crude is pouring into the global market this month compared with August as Russia pumps at an all-time high while Libya and Nigeria restore disrupted supplies, according to statements from their ministry officials. That would imply a tripling of the supply surplus, estimated currently at about 400,000 barrels a day by the International Energy Agency.

We are overproducing and we're not going to draw down inventories like we thought we would, said Chris Bake, a senior executive at Vitol Group, the biggest independent crude trader. We're still building crude inventories and that's a problem.

The global oil oversupply will persist into 2017 as members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries such as Saudi Arabia pump near record levels, others such as Iran and Iraq bolster capacity and production outside the group weathers the price slump, according to the IEA. Prices may struggle to hold above $40 a barrel unless OPEC acts, Citigroup Inc. predicts.

Crude is stuck at less than half the level it averaged at the start of the decade, straining the finances of producers around the world. Oil rallied last month on speculation OPEC and Russia might revive a pact to cap production, though prices have since cooled. Brent for November settlement rose 0.6 percent to $47.94 a barrel at 11:50 a.m. in London on Friday.

Skepticism Grows

Saudi Arabia told Iran it would be willing to reduce it's output -- which is close to a record 10.7 million barrels a day -- if Iran were to agree to freeze at its current level of 3.6 million, according to two people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the talks were private. A second day of discussions between the two regional rivals at the OPEC headquarters in Vienna ended Thursday without an agreement .

While there has been a flurry of meetings between OPEC officials from Vienna and Paris to Moscow in attempts to reach consensus, there's still skepticism a deal will be possible. All but two of 23 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg this week predicted there won't be an agreement in Algiers on Sept. 28.

The volatility in supply created by the unexpected return of exports from Libya and Nigeria makes it harder to settle on any plan for stabilizing the market, Ed Morse, New York-based head of commodities research at Citigroup, said by phone.

There's just too much oil in the market, said Morse. It's very difficult to come to the conclusion that a freeze would be credible or doable when you've got the combination of what's happening in Libya and Nigeria. It makes a shambles of any extrapolation of balances.

Libya's output has climbed to 390,000 barrels a day after a halt in fighting between rival armed factions, National Oil Corp. Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said on Sept. 22. That's 50 percent higher than the monthly average for August estimated by Bloomberg.

Nigerian Output

Nigeria has revived output to 1.75 million barrels a day following a cease-fire deal with militants in the Niger Delta region, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Emmanuel Kachikwu said on Sept. 19. That compares with 1.44 million last month, near the lowest in more than two decades, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Russia pushed output to a record 11.09 million barrels a day in September, Energy Ministry data show. While President Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 2 that producers can overcome the tensions that have so far prevented an agreement, there are doubts over the practicalities of Russia's involvement.

No Russian contribution to a freeze is believable as the government doesn't have enough control over companies like Rosneft PJSC to prevent them from boosting supply, Citigroup's Morse said.

Last Failure

OPEC's last attempt at a deal with Russia collapsed in Doha on April 17 when Saudi Arabia's influential Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman insisted at the last minute that Iran had to participate in a freeze. Iran refused as it was just starting to revive exports following the end of international sanctions.

Now that Iran has returned to pre-sanctions production capacity, the odds are in favor of some basic agreement, said Helima Croft, chief commodities strategist at RBC Capital Markets LLC in New York. All producers may have a stronger incentive to cooperate as the global surplus lingers and low oil prices take a toll on their finances, according to Bassam Fattouh, director of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.

Chakib Khelil, the former Algerian energy minister who steered OPEC the last time it decided to cut supply, said he's confident the group will reach an accord next week as low oil prices force members to act.

A pact could give exemptions to countries like Nigeria and Libya to restore output, but without any agreement there would be no restraint on OPEC supply. That could swell the global surplus projected for next year by the IEA, a Paris-based adviser to consuming nations.

If they do not freeze, they risk sending the price into the $30 to $40 a barrel range, said David Hufton, chief executive officer of PVM Group in London.








Combining daytime coverage in Atlanta with night-time coverage from Sydney provides around-the-clock remote management of intensive care unit (ICU) patients by critical care specialists, when adverse events are most likely to occur [1], decreasing the risk of complications, shortening patients length of stay and saving lives [2]. Critical care units such as ICUs are high-tech units to care for patients with severe and potentially life threatening conditions that require constant and close monitoring. Philips eICU program is a comprehensive program that enables health care professionals from a centralized eICU center to provide around-the-clock care for critically ill patients. A study that compared patients receiving usual ICU care with patients who received their ICU care from a hospital that utilized the eICU program, showed that the latter were 26% more likely to survive the ICU and discharged from the ICU 20% faster [3]. We are operating in a time when connected health solutions can truly make a difference in a patients experience, said Kevin Barrow, Managing Director Philips Australia and New Zealand. We know that funding for critical care and critical access is not growing despite increases in demand driven by population growth. This program uses a proactive and continuous care model that enable the right care to be delivered remotely at the right time. Kevin Barrow added: We aim to transform the delivery of care to address growing clinician shortages while improving patient outcomes. I am confident that the application of these kinds of solutions will shape the future of healthcare. If we are able to do this across continents we can certainly replicate it locally, connecting Australian clinicians with patients in need across regional and remote areas. The solution allows for near real-time remote monitoring and early intervention via advance audio-visual technology and algorithms that can predict deteriorations in health, giving clinicians the ability to communicate with local caregivers via live video link, continuously monitor patient health, and advise on the best course of treatment from wherever they are located. This innovation means hospitals dealing with intensive care physician and nurse shortages can provide patients with 24/7 clinical expertise and additional, proactive support to the in-hospital care team. Bringing critical care closer to the patient, remote monitoring removes the hurdle of geography and reduces the burden of transporting patients. This will help healthcare providers avoid transport associated costs, while patients or their families wont have the stress of transferring to higher level critical care centers. Thanks to our eICU program we can continuously monitor Atlanta-based patients from MQ Health in Sydney and support the bedside team by recognising adverse physiology, making critical diagnoses and intervening before those issues become significant problems, said Dr Timothy Buchman, Chief, Critical Care Service, Emory Healthcare. In Australia, these types of technologies also have far-reaching potential to support care of rural and remote patients. Currently the optimal medical treatment, in a stressful setting such as the ICU, can be thousands of miles away. The introduction of electronically-delivered specialist care has the potential to standardise the quality of care between the CBD and the countryside. Clinicians collaborating with industry on innovative technological advances that lead to improvements in patient care is the vision of Macquarie University and MQ Health, said Professor Michael Parr, Clinical Program Head, Critical Care and Anaesthetics at MQ Health. This partnership will provide the opportunity to build on North American experience and improve intensive care outcomes for rural and remote Australia, and showing what is achievable through global collaboration. References [1] Gershengorn H.B. 2016. Nighttime Extubations Are Associated With Worse Outcomes For U.S. Intensive Care Unit Patients. Outstanding Epidemiology and Health Services Research in Critical Care. Available online: http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2016.193.1_MeetingAbstracts.A6150. Date accessed: September 2016. [2] Tang, Z. et al. 2007. Workflow in intensive care unit remote monitoring: A time-and-motion study. Critical Care Medicine: 35(9): 2057-2063. Available online: http://interruptions.net/literature/Tang-CritCareMed07.pdf. Date accessed: September 2016. [3] A Multicenter Study of ICU Telemedicine Reengineering of Adult Critical Care, Chest Journal, March 2014. Available online: http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1788059&resultClick=1. Date accessed: September 2016.
A woman walks past a Moleskine store in Milan April 3, 2013. Shares in upmarket notebook maker Moleskine made a lacklustre debut in Milan on Wednesday as growth concerns and broad market weakness weighed on this year's first major stock listing in crisis-hit Italy. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

By Agnieszka Flak and Gabriela Baczynska

MILAN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian luxury car importer D'Ieteren (IETB.BR) has agreed to buy a 41 percent stake in notebook maker Moleskine (MSK.MI) 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 (436.88 million pounds).

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.

Story continues

"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.

Goldman Sachs and Cleary Gottlieb advised D'Ieteren on the deal, while Rothschild acted as financial adviser to Moleskine.

($1 = 0.8913 euros)

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak in Milan and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Reviewed by Robert Hugill on Sep 16 2016

Star rating: 4.0

Unpredictable yet striking, Gerald Barry's response to Beethoven's words



Beethoven performed by bass Schott & Sons, Mainz performed by Stephen Richardson and O Lord, how vain, The coming of winter, and Long Time, and the Crash Ensemble performs First Sorrow. This disc from Orchid Classics has at its core composer Gerald Barry 's interest in his great predecessor Beethoven. The disc is bookended by two substantial works setting Beethoven's own words:performed by bass Stephen Richardson and the Crash Ensemble conducted by Paul Hillier , andperformed by Stephen Richardson and Chamber Choir Ireland conducted by Paul Hiller. In between Chamber Choir Ireland and Paul Hillier perform, and, and the Crash Ensemble performs

Gerald Barry's music is a very particular, not to say acquired, taste with its regular rhythms, metricality, and sense of order, and yet alarming unpredictability. Barry seems to delight in doing what we might not expect, whether it is harmony that seems deliberately uneven, discontinuities in the logic or sudden lurches in the vocal line.His mini-operawas written in 2007 for Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. It sets Beethoven's letters to his 'immortal beloved' in translations by Emily Anderson (from). With Stephen Richardson singing the vocal line, Barry's music creates a real sense of Beethoven the person, highly trenchant, unpredictable yet touching in his address to his beloved. But though the words are those of Beethoven the music is most definitely not, yet something of the energy which lights up the performance seems relevant. There is a Stravinskian energy to the instrumental writing, mixed in with Barry's on distinctive voice. I was rather uncertain of the work at first hearing, but it grew on me particularly the profoundly touching ending. And Stephen Richardson's performance is a tour de force, supported by Paul Hillier and the Crash Ensemble.was written in 2009 for Chamber Choir Ireland and again the work sets Beethoven's letters in Emily Anderson's translations. This time, as the title hints, the correspondence comes from the end of Beethoven's life, between him and his publishers concerningand his. Paul Griffiths' booklet not talks about the work being more theatrical than; it was written around the time of Barry's comic opera. For me it is a rather austere and unnerving work. Perhaps lacking the instrumental support of the earlier work, the startling changes in musical direction and huge leaps rather stand out. But Stephen Richardson's performance is outstanding, the opening involving a series of scalar passages descending from high falsetto to basso profundo.was written in 1995 for Trinity College, Dublin. Barry sets words by Sir Philip Sidney in a short work which is rather austerely haunting. Though early, you can hear the familiar Barry processes at work here. Though different in texture, this is true of. Written in 1997 for the Cork International Choral Festival it sets a ninth century Irish Poem.is Barry's fourth string quartet, written in 2006-7 for the Crash Ensemble. The instruments play without vibrato and though the title and subject matter come from a Kafka story about a circus trapeze artist, I found it rather reminded me of a viol consort re-invented for 21st century ears, until the final section when the ensemble plays a what is described as a chorale whilst singing Barry's setting of the words 'Twinkle twinkle little star'!was written in 2012, again for Cork, and this time sets the opening of Proust'sIt is a rather strange piece, something of a game which works a C major scale very hard indeed.The performances from Stephen Richardson, Chamber Choir Ireland, the Crash Ensemble and Paul Hillier are exemplary and invigorating. I still find Gerald Barry's music rather unnerving and frustrating. Not every piece on this disc works well for me, but the openingis stunning and well worth acquiring the disc for.Gerald Barry (born 1952) - BeethovenGerald Barry - Oh Lord, how vainGerald Barry - The Coming of WinterGerald Barry - First SorrowGerald Barry - Long TimeGerald Barry - Schott & Sons, MainzStephen Richardson (bass)Chamber Choir IrelandCrash EnsemblePaul Hillier (conductor)Recorded Hall Hallows College Chapel, Drumcondra, Dublin, June 2012 and March 2013ORCHID CLASSICS ORC100055 1CD [71.21]Available from Amazon.co.uk
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Hillary Clinton has a healthy lead over Donald Trump with just days until the first presidential debate, according to a new poll released Thursday by Associated Press/Gfk.

#NEW #National @AP/GFK Poll: Clinton 45 (+6)

Trump 39

Johnson 9

Stein 2 H2H

Clinton 50 (+6)

Trump 44https://t.co/obYD1XQPit  Political Polls (@PpollingNumbers) September 23, 2016

In a head-to-head matchup against Trump, the Democratic nominee hits the critical 50-percent mark and beats Trump by six points among likely voters. In a hypothetical contest that includes third-party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, Clinton maintains her six-point edge over Trump and beats him by a margin of 45 percent to 39 percent.

The survey is the latest sign that public opinion is beginning to shift back in Clintons favor during a critical moment in the campaign. After several weeks of poor media coverage and closer-than-ever polls, some Democrats were worried that she was losing steam.

With more and more national data, including another poll out Tuesday showing Clinton up five, its clear that the momentum is in her favor.

State polling data also had good news for Clinton on Thursday, with the Democratic nominee ahead in polls from Wisconsin, Virginia, and Colorado. In states like Florida and North Carolina, must-wins for Trump, the two major candidates are locked in tight battles.

Fortunately for the Democratic nominee, state polling tends to lag behind national surveys, meaning her clear improvement nationally is likely to show up in swing-state polls in the near future. Her slight Electoral College lead could become more comfortable in the coming weeks.

As we inch closer to the first presidential debate and the key month of October, Clinton is likely feeling good about the current trajectory of the race.
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Top New Jersey legislators have moved from discussing potential impeachment to researching how to impeach Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

NBC 4 in New York reported:

Key members of the New Jersey Assembly have begun researching whether or not to bring articles of impeachment against Gov. Chris Christie, NBC 4 New York has learned.

.

One committee chairman who did not want to be named said clearly obstruction of justice would be an obvious charge against the governor.

The legislator told NBC 4 New York the chances are probably 50-50 that the assembly would pursue impeachment.

It seems like the odds should be higher than 50/50 given that both the prosecution and defense in the current Bridgegate trial agree that Christie knew about the lane closures as they were happening.

Christie lied to the people of his state when he claimed that he knew nothing about the closures. Gov. Christie was an active participant in a crime that jeopardized the lives of citizens, and he obstructed justice. All of this had come before he wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on bogus investigated where he cleared himself of any wrongdoing.

Chris Christies political career died with the Bridgegate scandal, but for the good of the people of the state, Christie must be impeached and removed from office as soon as possible.
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The Hillary Clinton campaign held a special press call to call on the debate moderator, media, and voters to fact check Donald Trump. In order to help the press, debate moderators, and voters fact check Trump, the Clinton campaign has released 19 pages of Trump lies.

HFA Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri said, Donald Trump has shown a clear pattern of repeating provably false lies hoping that nobody will correct him. As we head into this debate, we want voters and viewers to be on alert that they should keep track. Any candidate that tells this many lies, clearly cant win the debate on the merits.

In total there are 19 pages of fact checked Trump lies that can be read here.

The Clinton campaign is specifically focused on Trumps 7 Deadly Lies:

FALSE: Trump opposed the Iraq War.

Washington Post: Trump: I was totally against the war in Iraq. // Four Pinocchios.

FALSE: Trump opposed intervention in Libya.

Factcheck.org: Donald Trump on Libya, May 20 interview on MSNBCs Morning Joe: I would have stayed out of Libya. // False.

FALSE: Clinton supports open borders.

PolitiFact: Trump says Clinton wants to create totally open borders. // False

FALSE: Clinton wants to get rid of the Second Amendment.

ABC News: Claim: Hillary Clinton wants to abolish the Second Amendment // False.

When Trump made this same claim earlier in the cycle, Politifact rated the claim false after finding no evidence of Clinton ever advocating for the abolishment of the Second Amendment Bottom line: theres no evidence to support Trumps claim.

FALSE: President Obama and Clinton founded ISIS.

Washington Post: Is Obama the founder of ISIS? // Absolutely not.

Absolutely not. Its like saying that Ronald Reagan is the founder of al-Qaeda because the arms he sent to the mujahideen in Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion led to the creation of al-Qaeda. Its a ludicrous claim.

FALSE: Clinton would allow 620,000 refugees into the U.S. with no vetting.

Washington Post: Trump: This includes her plan to bring in 620,000 new refugees from Syria and that region over a short period of time. // This is an invented figure.

FALSE: Trump will make Mexico pay for the wall.

NPR Fact Check: Trump: And Mexico will pay for the wall. 100 percent. // Mexican President would not pay for the wall.



The release of so many pages of fact checked lies was a brilliantly clever move from the Clinton campaign. Palmieri repeated the Clinton belief that the moderator should be fact checking Trump at the debate, but since it has been made clear that this isnt going to happen, Clinton is giving voters and the press all of the materials that they need to fact check Trump in real time at the debate.

Throughout his entire campaign, Trump has been allowed to lie without consequence, but that is about to change at the first presidential debate.

The Hillary Clinton camp is ready, and they are mobilizing an army of fact checkers to take down Trump.
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The Morning Joe show watched Hillary Clintons new Donald Trump ad this morning, called Mirrors, and they were not happy  with Donald Trump. Hillary for America says the ad underlines Donald Trumps hateful and offensive message that hes sending to girls across the country.

The ad shows little girls and young women looking in the mirror as they hear Trumps own words and asks, Is this the president we want for our daughters?

In the ad, you are treated to Donald Trumps views on women, saying things such as Id look her right in that fat, ugly face of hers; Shes a slob, she ate like a pig; and, A person who is flat-chested, its very hard to be a 10.

Watch Mirrors courtesy of Hillary for America:

Take a look at Morning Joes response courtesy of MSNBC:

Nicole Wallace pointed to the profound effect the ad has on men, who are protective of their daughters. Rick Tyler, former communications director for the Cruz campaign, agreed.

Mika Brzezinski said, after watching,

You grow up as a young girl and a young woman in America, and the first thing that youre hit with as a girl is all those types of things, and it hurts.

As she then pointed out, Trump has given the Clinton campaign a lot of material.

Donny Deutsch, demonstrating the ads effect on a male audience, had an even stronger response, saying,

You want to punch him in that ad. You want to literally punch his face.

It hurts our girls, agreed Brzezinski. It shapes their futures, it shapes their choices, it shapes their outlook.

Deutsch continued, confessing that,

To me, the biggest concern about a Trump presidency, beyond the nuclear codes, is how does it set up for our behavior? He is setting the mark for what is appropriate, acceptable and even aspirational behavior.

Nick Confessore of The New York Times pointed to his chest and said, I have two daughters, I feel that ad right here.

We all do. If you have a heart, it is impossible not to. The ad is powerful and effective, highlighting, says Hillary for America, the dangers of a Trump presidency simply by replaying his own words.

Those words are ugly, bullying, and hurtful, and Donald Trumps attitude towards women not only unforgivable, but intolerable.
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The Cincinnati Enquirer has endorsed Republican presidential candidates for nearly 100 years, but today they endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.

The Enquirers editorial board wrote:



The Enquirer has supported Republicans for president for almost a century  a tradition this editorial board doesnt take lightly. But this is not a traditional race, and these are not traditional times. Our country needs calm, thoughtful leadership to deal with the challenges we face at home and abroad. We need a leader who will bring out the best in all Americans, not the worst.

Thats why there is only one choice when we elect a president in November: Hillary Clinton.

.

Trump is a clear and present danger to our country. He has no history of governance that should engender any confidence from voters. Trump has no foreign policy experience, and the fact that he doesnt recognize it  instead insisting that I know more about ISIS than the generals do  is even more troubling. His wild threats to blow Iranian ships out of the water if they make rude gestures at U.S. ships is just the type of reckless, cowboy diplomacy Americans should fear from a Trump presidency.

The Enquirer clearly framed the choice in this election as between a person whose statements suggest that his presidency would be a danger to the welfare of the country or a very qualified and competent public servant who is almost certain to do a good job, but who at a minimum will keep the country safe and moving forward.

When a newspaper that has endorsed Republicans for almost a century draws the line at Trump, the Republican Party has nominated someone who is totally unelectable.
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A non-partisan study revealed devastating news for the Republican Party and Donald Trump. The Trump healthcare plan would make health care more expensive and cost 19.7 million mostly poor, and ill Americans their health insurance.

The non-partisan study from the Rand Corporation funded by The Commonwealth Fund of Trumps health insurance plan found, Repealing the ACA would result in 19.7 million fewer people with health insurance in 2018. This estimate assumes that individuals who newly enrolled in Medicaid under the ACA, but who were eligible under prior law, would remain enrolled even if the law were repealed. Repealing the ACA and adding a tax deduction for health insurance would result in 15.6 million fewer people with health insurance. The Medicaid block-grant program results in 25.1 million fewer people with health insurance, including approximately 5.5 million people who were eligible for Medicaid under pre-ACA rules who lose coverage because states may lack the funds to sustain enrollment among this population. Allowing insurers to sell across states lines reduces coverage by 17.5 million people.

In contrast, the same analysis of Hillary Clintons plan would provide access to health insurance to additional 9.6 million people, and reduce the cost of health care by 39%.

Donald Trumps health care plan would make health care less accessible, more expensive, and would jeopardize the lives of tens of millions of sick and poor Americans.

The choice for voters regarding policy is simple. A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for going back to the old system of more expensive health insurance and denial of coverage. Trump is a step backward that would literally cost people their lives and at minimum reduce the quality of life of tens of millions of Americans.

If voters can through the media chatter and noise, and look at what Trump is proposing to do as president, the decision in this election will get more obvious.

Trump doesnt want attention focused on his policies, which is why the last thing he needed three days before the first presidential debate was to have his fraudulent health care plan exposed to the world.
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The Republican Partys alternate reality is a crazy place, one that bears not even a passing resemblance to that we actually inhabit, or that the rest of us experience day to day. In their world, however, if it is not the Illuminati or New World Order you have to fear, its witches.

Robert Maginnis, Right Wing Watch tells us, is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Family Research Council senior fellow. Hes also flipping crazy, to use the vernacular.

Maginnis told televangelist Jim Bakker that witches are advising high-ranking government officials in Washington, D.C. and that theres demonic forces in that city.

Watch courtesy of Right Wing Watch:

I know that theres demonic forces in that city. I have personally met people that refer to themselves as witches, people that say they advise the senior leadership of the country. We invite within the federal government people to advise us and often some of those advisers, I think, have evil motivations, things that you and I would not approve of.

Oh dear. Where to begin?

What is ridiculous about Magannis concerns is that they are entirely contrary to the United States Constitution he swore to uphold as an army officer. There are no religious tests  they are forbidden by Article Six, Section 3 of the Constitution. And the First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, which means it doesnt matter if it is a Muslim, a Christian, an Atheist, or a witch who is doing the advising.

Maginnis and Jim Bakker may not approve, but then how many of us look forward to people like them advising a president? There are things in government none of us like, but that is part of living in a democracy.

Jim Bakker takes the indefensible position that even though no Christians are being shot or arrested or imprisoned, that Christians are being persecuted in this country. He claimed,

[T]he cross is being degraded in America, the Christians are beingthe very thing Jesus said would happen in the Last Days, that we would be, because we serve God, we would be attacked, we would be hated for the name of Christs sake. It seems like our nation is kinder to other faiths and Christianity is being put down further and further and further.

It is remarkable that conservatives tell us African-Americans are not subject to racism even while theyre being gunned down by police, while Christians, who are not, are persecuted.

Conservatives have sadly adopted the position, now being mainstreamed by Donald Trump, that only white Christian Americans are really Americans and that everyone else has to somehow conform to their beliefs. People have often questioned the importance of taking notice of these people.

Donald Trumps campaign, which has brought them all under his ideological tent, should be answer enough. These are no longer ideological outliers. These are the people from whom Donald Trump is now taking advise; the people who have named him their messiah.
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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 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 her company doesn't make much profit from each emergency allergy shot and signaled the company has no plans to lower prices.

The list price of EpiPens has grown to $608 for a two-pack, an increase of more than 500 percent since 2007. Parents who rely on multiple EpiPens to respond when their children have allergic reactions, whether at home or at sporting events, have lashed out at Mylan in growing public outcry.

In nearly four hours of questioning, the soft-spoken CEO often seemed unsure, or declined to answer directly, when asked about the company's finances and profits, infuriating lawmakers.

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"You could make this thing go away by being honest and candid, but I don't think you are," House Oversight Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, told Bresch as he ended the hearing. Afterward, Chaffetz told reporters he thought Bresch 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."

Bresch found little sympathy in the room. 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 approximately $50 in profit on each shot. Chaffetz said he finds that "a little hard to believe."

When asked if she understood what the furor was about, she argued the complexity of drug pricing is partially to blame.

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"I truly believe the story got ahead of the facts," Bresch said.

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 one year.
NEWTON, Iowa  The Byron teenagers who were found Friday morning in Iowa were actually caught after a short chase and rollover crash, officials said.

Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty told the Newton Daily News that an Iowa State Patrol trooper pulled behind a stopped vehicle about 10:30 a.m. Friday on U.S. Highway 14 near Interstate 80, east of Des Moines. A Jasper County deputy also stopped to assist.

Megan O'Keefe, 16, and Dakotah Fouts, 17, were in the car, which had a Minnesota license plate.

The trooper asked Fouts to come to the patrol car to answer some questions, the sheriff said; when he did, O'Keefe climbed into the driver's seat and sped away.

She made it less than a mile before swerving to the left and rolling the car into a ditch south of the interstate, the report says. The vehicle caught fire, but the flames were quickly extinguished.

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O'Keefe was taken to Skiff Medical Center in Newton with injuries that didn't appear to be life-threatening, the Daily News reported. She was conscious and alert after the crash.

Fouts was taken into police custody.

Halferty said the vehicle, which was heavily damaged in the crash, had been reported stolen. Charges are pending.

The Newton Fire Department also responded to the scene.
MINNEAPOLIS  Standing in the pouring rain on slippery rocks, two Minneapolis police officers and a paramedic pulled a man to safety Wednesday night from a storm sewer that drains into the Mississippi River.

The trio saved the man's life, said Sgt. Catherine Michal.

"These officers here risked their lives, as well as the paramedic, to bring this gentleman to safety."

Officers Molly Trupe and Craig Brown, and paramedic Chad Durand responded to the call just before 9 p.m. on the west side of the river below the Interstate 35W bridge.

The unidentified man and his friend told police they went down by the river before the rain started. Then it started pouring.

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Brown's body camera was apparently swept away in the water, but Trupe's stayed intact.

The tape shows emergency responders trying to get a rope to the man. But they couldn't reach him that way. They opted to pull on a rope the man was already holding. Trupe found the other end by walking along a ledge, her partner said later. Brown held Trupe by her belt as she pulled the man to safety.

"We've been working together for a while, he's got my back," Trupe said.

Michal said the incident is a reminder to stay home during heavy rainstorms, adding that Minneapolis police responded to many calls relating to the weather Wednesday night.
David Brock, who runs neck-and-neck with Sid Blumenthal for the prime spot in Hillary Clintons basket of deplorables, has repeatedly asked for an inquiry into the Trump Foundation. Fair enough. But how about an inquiry into the affairs of David Brock and his Media Matters operation?

There are solid grounds for such an investigation. Brock may well have engaged in money laundering and he paid his ex-boyfriend $850,000 not to go to the IRS with damaging information about how Brock was running his Media Matters empire. In addition, though this predates Media Matters, he stands accused of illegally obtaining phone records.

The essence of the money laundering allegation is this:

(1) Brock operates over a dozen pro-Clinton organizations from his office in Washington, D.C. (2) Records expose a constant flow of money between his organizations. (3) Brocks unregistered Professional Solicitor, the Bonner Group, receives a 12.5% cut every time money is moved.

The payoff by Brock to his long-time live-in boyfriend William Gray (whom Brock thanked in several of his books) is discussed in this Fox News article, with links to court documents and a police report, about the nasty legal battle between Brock and Gray. Brock admitted making the payments, which he characterized as blackmail.

Brocks willingness to pay Gray nearly one million dollars certainly suggests he had something mighty important to hide.

The accusation of obtaining illegal phone records is leveled by my friend Mark Paoletta. It dates back to the 1990s when Brock was writing The Seduction of Hillary Rodham (an instructive book, which I discussed here and here) and Mark was helping him.

According to Mark, a draft of the book was mistakenly faxed to the wrong number. Desperate to find out who had received the draft (it turned out to be a Clinton loyalist), Brock persuaded a lawyer at the telephone company to retrieve the unlisted fax number from the companys database and gave the customers identity to Brock. Brock reported to Mark that the phone company lawyer told Brock that providing this information was illegal and he (the lawyer) would be fired if it ever were disclosed.

Brock proceeded anyway. Using the illegally obtained information, Brocks lawyer contacted the party to whom his book draft had been faxed and was able, through whatever means, to put out the fire.

Flash forward 20 years, and Media Matters reportedly is contemplating suing Fox News for allegedly hacking into the phone records of its officials, including David Brock. If the allegation is correct, one can understand why Media Matters might sue.

Yet, its ironic that, according to Mark, Brock himself engaged in similar misconduct. Indeed, one cant help asking whether there is any sleazy conduct from which Brock would abstain.
Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu gave his annual address to the UN General Assembly yesterday (text here, video below). There is something thrilling about hearing the truth about important matters blurted out before a largely unfriendly audience that knows every word is true. In this crowd Netanyahu is the little boy who cried that the emperor has no clothes. Whether in text or video form, the speech in its entirety is worth your time.

The speech is interesting throughout, from beginning to end. It is mercifully free of cliches and claptrap. It is historically informed.

Netanyahu promotes Israel. He talks up Israels friends. He talks down Israels enemies. He skillfully uses humor as a solvent. He powerfully condemns Palestinian incitement. He warns against the Iranian threat. He decries militant Islam. He even mentions Minnesota. (Thank you, Prime Minister Netanyahu.)

He is morally serious. He is a great spokesman for his country. He is in every relevant respect the un-Obama.

Quotable quote: Ladies and Gentlemen, the UN, begun as a moral force, has become a moral farce.Todays automatic majority against Israel at the UN reminds me of the story, the incredible story of Hiroo Onada. Hiroo was a Japanese soldier who was sent to the Philippines in 1944. He lived in the jungle. He scavenged for food. He evaded capture. Eventually he surrendered, but that didnt happen until 1974, some 30 years after World War II ended. For decades, Hiroo refused to believe the war was over. As Hiroo was hiding in the jungle, Japanese tourists were swimming in pools in American luxury hotels in nearby Manila. Finally, mercifully, Hiroos former commanding officer was sent to persuade him to come out of hiding. Only then did Hiroo lay down his arms. Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished delegates from so many lands, I have one message for you today: Lay down your arms.

One more: Are the half million slaughtered Syrians helped by your condemnation of Israel? The same Israel that has treated thousands of injured Syrians in our hospitals, including a field hospital that I built right along the Golan Heights border with Syria. Are the gays hanging from cranes in Iran helped by your denigration of Israel? That same Israel where gays march proudly in our streets and serve in our parliament, including Im proud to say in my own Likud party. Are the starving children in North Koreas brutal tyranny, are they helped by your demonization of Israel? Israel, whose agricultural knowhow is feeding the hungry throughout the developing world? The sooner the UNs obsession with Israel ends, the better. The better for Israel, the better for your countries, the better for the UN itself.

And a little humor: If UN habits die hard, Palestinian habits die even harder. President Abbas just attacked from this podium the Balfour Declaration. Hes preparing a lawsuit against Britain for that declaration from 1917. Thats almost 100 years ago  talk about being stuck in the past. The Palestinians may just as well sue Iran for the Cyrus Declaration, which enabled the Jews to rebuild our Temple in Jerusalem 2,500 years ago. Come to think of it, why not a Palestinian class action suit against Abraham for buying that plot of land in Hebron where the fathers and mothers of the Jewish people were buried 4,000 years ago? Youre not laughing. Its as absurd as that. To sue the British government for the Balfour Declaration? Is he kidding? And this is taken seriously here?
Ammo Grrrll has discovered THE EASIEST JOB: Columns that Write Themselves. She writes:

Writing a weekly column is a privilege and a joy. Once I settle on a topic, the words usually flow pretty freely, and when they dont, I power on, which is what we women do! Writers block or Dehydrating Flu-monia, we dont stop until we have to be heaved head-first into a van!

Often I fiddle  in a powerful womanly way  with the column over a period of days or even weeks, until it is almost unrecognizable from the first draft. Sometimes the subject is too serious to try for funny, and sometimes, Ive fiddled all the funny out of it. Sorry. Funnyish is supposed to be my beat. Funny, yet still powerful. Because: woman.

But it has gotten me thinking about The Easiest Job In the World  being the Liberal Black Point of View Columnist. (The brilliant conservative, Dr. Thomas Sowell and other black conservatives being refreshing exceptions, of course.) With leftists, every single thing that happens looks like a nail because your only weapon is the sledgehammer of crying Racism. At everything. No matter how the story plays out, the ending is always the same! No black Oscar nominees one year? What could it possibly be but raaacism?

Travel back with me in the Wayback Machine to remember Henry Louis Gates and the policeman who acted stupidly by arresting him when he (allegedly) became obscene and belligerent.

To review: Gates had just returned home from a trip to China and was having difficulty getting into his home through a jammed front door, even with help from his driver. A neighbor, alert as good neighbors should be  and our neighbor, The Paranoid Texan is  dialed 911.

From there, of course, accounts differ. The cop, Sgt. James Crowley, asked for photo I.D. And Gates may or may not have gone berserk, mentioning the mans mama among other things and assuring the officer that he had not heard the last of him. As usual, the President weighed in before he had any facts, reminding us slack-jawed morons that America had a history of tendentious relations between law enforcement and black people. He threw in Hispanics as well, though there were none in the vicinity of the incident. But theyre voters. And it never hurts to try to convince otherwise happy people how oppressed and downtrodden they are.

Later, after the idiotic beer summit, most observers agreed that each party involved could have taken it down a notch and the whole incident would have been a big nothingburger. What, and miss the chance to pontificate and keep your base enraged?

Let me ask my multi-phobic basket of Commenters: wouldnt you have been GRATEFUL that the cops appeared to check out two men breaking into your residence? Heres my point though: the fix was in. It was going to be raaacism either way.

Why, it is obvious, said the liberal columnists, that Dr. Gates was not instantly believed because the racist cop didnt think that a black man could live in such a nice neighborhood. Or the fact that he DID live in such a nice neighborhood rankled. WaPo columnist, Mr. Eugene Robinson, trotted out the old reliable chestnut uppity. The working-class white cop didnt like taking guff from the uppity black professor who probably lived in a nicer house than he did.

Surely no white person breaking into her own home would have to show ID claimed the liberal commentariat. Well, no. Once, when I locked myself out of my car (again), I was interrogated vigorously and IDd by cops as to why I was fiddling with a coat hanger to get in.

So, of course, I pulled a realistic Glock-looking BB-gun out and pointed it at them and then I ran. No, I didnt. I remember now. I treated the cops with extreme courtesy and they thought my most persuasive argument was: What self-respecting car thief would steal a 10-year-old Rabbit with 103,000 miles on it? It has no resale value and cant even go fast enough to be a good get-away car. Once we got in, there was all kinds of crap with my name on it in the car, which I like to think of as a purse on wheels.

And then just yesterday a Mexican teller must have found me uppity, because, despite knowing me by name, she made me show picture ID at my bank. This was understandable because it was to cash a reimbursement check from a medical lab for $13.92. Should that have bounced, my guilt at breaking Chase Bank would have been unbearable. But never let facts get in the way of a narrative. Raaacism is the only possible reason to ever have to show ID. Especially to vote.

But The Great Gates Incident could have played out a different way. Lets say Dr. Gatess home WAS being broken into by two black men the neighbor doesnt recognize and the cops come. They take the word of the burglars that they live there and do NOT ask for I.D. Perhaps they didnt dare to offend or profile  like the neighbors near the Islamic Terror HQ in San Bernardino where Farook and Malik lived. (Motto: Employ us; throw us a baby shower, and we will kill you all!). Perhaps the cops just say Have a nice day and drive away. Dr. Gates returns home to a cleaned-out house and finds out that a 911 call was made but the cops let the burglars go.

No matter for the liberal columnist, black or Guilty White. Would the cops get heaped with praise for not being profilers? Of course not. As I said, the ending would still be the same: Racist cops dont care about protecting black homeowners!

Another column that writes itself.
Congress is ironing out another of its continuing resolutions. Conservatives led by Ted Cruz are insisting that the resolution include language that would block the transition away from U.S. oversight of the Internets domain name system. Donald Trump has backed Cruz in this fight.

Why is ongoing U.S. oversight so important? Because, as Rick Manning, president of Americans for Limited Government, says:

Continuing U.S. oversight of the Internets domain name system protects the First Amendment rights of everyone who uses the Internet and prevents the creation of a global monopoly that one day could censor the Internet absent U.S. governance.

Sen. Cruz explains that if we hand oversight of the domain name system to an international organization, as President Obama seeks to do, countries like Russia, China, and Iran might be able to censor speech on the Internet, including here in the U.S., by blocking access to sites they dont like.

These and other authoritarian regimes would love nothing more than to censor the web on a global basis. Unless Congress acts, the Obama administration will significantly improve their prospects for doing so.

Unfortunately, the congressional Republicans may be on the verge of caving. According to Manning, its being reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan have surrendered U.S. oversight of the Internets domain name system in negotiations with the Democrats to fund the government.

It would be particularly pathetic for Speaker Ryan to cave. As Manning notes, the Obama Administration ignored previous defunds of the internet giveaway. For Ryan now to rubber stamp the giveaway would make a mockery of his his call to restore Article One powers.

Manning warns:

A vote for the continuing resolution is a vote to surrender the Internet to Google, Facebook, China, Russia, the United Nations and who knows who else. We will mourn the day we gave this away, and Republicans will have been the ones who rubber stamped it.

Fortunately, the reported GOP capitulation is not, apparently, a done deal. Thats the good news. The bad news is that time is running short.

To make your opposition to the internet giveaway known to Congress right away, you can sign this petition and call 202-224-3121.

JOHN adds: This Michael Ramirez cartoon, with a classical theme, is apt. Click to enlarge:
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says it has captured over 700,000 fresh companies doing various businesses in various sectors of the Nigerian economy. This is to help the federal government realise tax revenues to fund the economy out of the current recession.

The FIRS Chairman, Tunde Fowler, told Reuters that about 10 million individuals on the tax agencys radar watch may also be compelled to defray their outstanding tax liabilities to government on or before December.

The Nigerian government has come under pressure in desperate search for alternative funding for an ambitious $15 billion (N4.72 trillion) fiscal stimulus plan to speed up the economic recovery process.

Government is equally planning to raise about $1 billion through Euro bond capital issue, as well as sourcing for loans from various multilateral and international lending institutions including the World Bank, African Development Bank, and others, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said.

Besides, she said, government is also considering proposals from a recent ministerial retreat, supported by some members of the National Assembly, for the sale of some of the countrys oil and gas assets to raise capital.

How to find money to finance the over N6.06 trillion 2016 budget has been a major headache for government, with the impact of dwindling oil revenues casting looming shadows.

Earnings from oil have remained abysmal since last year, with global oil prices still very low, with OPEC Secretariat calculations showing light sweet crude futures trading at $43.27 per barrel on Thursday, against $42.54 the previous day.

Mr. Fowler said part of the strategy to mobilize revenue locally to pursue the economic recovery agenda included efforts by FIRS to step up its tax drive, to realize and surpass its over N4.95 trillion target for tax revenues, from the N3.73 trillion set the previous year.

Persuading Nigerians to pay tax is no easy task, Mr. Fowler said, while expressing optimism that the target would be met before the end of the year.

He said the agency has so far realized about N2.3 trillion between January and August, despite the difficult times the countrys economy is currently undergoing.

On areas contributing significant revenue to the government for the period, Mr. Fowler said the value-added tax (VAT) increased by about 25 per cent over last years figures.

Corporate income tax earnings, he said, has equally improved significantly over the same period, although he lamented the negative impact of declining global oil prices on petroleum profit tax from the joint venture operators.

Part of the agencys strategy to meet its target, he explained, included unleashing inspectors from the newly created tax monitoring unit in the service to update taxpayers databases, capture new businesses and individuals under the tax net, by tracking and checking their tax payment records.

He said the drive resulted in the addition of over 700,000 companies that never paid taxes before from their businesses over the years, while about 10 million individuals across the country were also added.

Part of incentives to encourage payment of taxes by corporate citizens and individuals, he said, include a proposed waiver to be granted on interest and penalties for the period between 2012 and 2015 to allow people and businesses pay only the principal amount of tax liabilities due.
The Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of States and Government, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has called on member-states to implement protocols that would facilitate integration in the sub-region.

Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf made the call via a video message at the opening of the second ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja on Thursday.

She noted that protocols to enhance sub-regional development were slowly implemented by member-states.

She expressed concern that sub-regional trade was less than 13 per cent and that challenges existed in the free movement of goods and persons.

We must all deploy all efforts and resources toward achieving the ECOWAS Vision 2020 of creating a borderless, peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region.

We need a region built on good governance where our people have the capacity to access and harness these resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development and environmental preservation.

As a community, we currently have several challenges that can all be turned to opportunities if we conjugate our efforts and harness the collaboration that is needed to achieve our objectives, the chairperson said.

She commended the efforts of the ECOWAS Parliament in developing a four-year strategic plan for economic development and sub-regional integration.

Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf said she would visit Abuja in October and expressed optimism in working with the different ECOWAS institutions and the people working to make our regional integration a reality.

One of the founding aspirations of ECOWAS was to create a community of people rather than a community of states.

As the link between the people and the government, this august assembly can play a major role in achieving that goal, she said.

In an interview with journalists, the Speaker of the parliament, Moustapha Cisse Lo, said that the protocols governing the enhancement of power of the parliament were yet to be ratified by member-states.

Mr. Lo said the ratification of relevant protocols was vital to the process of enhancing the legislative functions of the parliament.

He added that the parliament was working with the Authority of Heads of State, the council of ministers and the commission to facilitate the process.

He further said such legislative functions would enable the parliament to enact laws that would facilitate integration and promote the well-being of citizens within the sub-region.

The heads of states have said that for it to become a legislative assembly, it has to be elected by direct suffrage; that is what the treaty says.

We are working on a consensus with heads of states, the council of ministers and with the ECOWAS Commission.

We are asking at the moment that we have the right of mandatory advice on the budget, after that, we can discuss with heads of state at what stage we will become a legislative assembly.

(NAN)
A Nigerian blogger on Thursday spent his fourth night in detention for writing a controversial blog post.

Jamil Mabai, a blogger based in the Northwestern state of Katsina, was arrested by officers of the Nigerian Police Force on Monday in Kaduna.

The blogger is a known critic of the Katsina administration led by Aminu Masari on his blog, Cliqq Magazine.

A Magistrate Court in Katsina on Thursday declined jurisdiction to try him. The judge instead asked that he be further detained.

Mr. Mabais arrest is believed to have been ordered by the governor, a claim the latters spokesperson denied.

A family friend of Mr. Mabai told PREMIUM TIMES that the governor was not happy with his recent post condemning the recent purchase of 3000 metal coffins for distribution to Mosques in the state.

Mr. Mabai said by purchasing the coffins, Mr. Masari is simply saying Katsina people deserve to die.

He also questioned the rationale behind buying the coffins at N40,000 each at a time the government was unable to pay civil servants outstanding arrears of salaries.

Writing via his tweeter handle, @jaymb000 Mr. Mabai said, What have we done to deserve this? Why will a Gov. Purchase coffins with public money?

Our source on Thursday said Mr. Mabai was arrested on Monday in Kaduna where he had gone to celebrate the Eid el kabir Sallah celebration.

The Police followed him from Katsina to Kaduna and arrested him there, he said.

He also said when they picked him up, they first took him to Unguwan Sanusi police station before they proceeded to Kankara local government and finally Katsina town.

Friends and relatives of the blogger were apprehensive of his whereabouts, until the Police finally charged him to court on Thursday.

Mr. Mabai himself posted a tweet on his handle to say  Finally they have taken us to court at GRA including one other Social Media activist, Bishir Dauda.

Our source confirmed that the blogger was taken to the Magistrate Court Number 1, at the GRA.

He said as soon as the matter was announced, the judge said he cannot entertain the matter for lack of jurisdiction.

He said the judge ordered that the accused be taken to prison pending when he would be arraigned at a separate court.

However, by the time the court made the pronouncement, it was too late to take them to the prison. They were, therefore, taken to the GRA Police station in Katsina, after which they would be taken to prison tomorrow, he said.

Efforts to speak with the spokesperson of the Police in Katsina, Salisu Agaida, were unsuccessful as his phone line could not be reached.

It is not clear if the police will arraign Mr. Mabai before a proper court on Friday.

WHY WE ARRESTED

However, media reports had quoted the state Commissioner of Police, Usman Abdullahi, explaining why the blogger was arrested.

Mr. Abdullahi said Mr. Mabai was detained for posting tweets to say the government bought the coffins because it wanted people to die.

The state government complained that Jamil wrote that it had bought 3,000 coffins and distributed to mosques and may be it wanted Katsina people to die.

Any reasonable person will ask one or two questions. This is why we had to invite him to assist the police, he said.

When contacted, the spokesperson to Mr. Masari, Abdu Labaran, denied that the state reported the blogger to the police.

To the best of my knowledge, the state government did not complain about any blogger to anybody. Unless it is done without my knowledge, he said.

Mr. Labaran also said he spent the whole day with the governor on Thursday and no mention was made of the arrest or arraignment of anyone on the orders of the governor.

GOING AFTER BLOGGERS

Also arraigned alongside Mr. Mabai are Bashir Dauda and Umar Faruq. They were all accused of writing about the story with the intent to cause civil disturbance and expose Mr. Masari to public ridicule.

Their arrest and arraignment is coming on the heels of the arrest and detention two weeks ago of another blogger, Emenike Iroegbu, on the orders of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.

Mr. Iroegbu who publishes Abia Facts Newspaper was accused of defaming Mr. Ikpeazu.

He allegedly published a story accusing the governor of burying a 9-year-old boy in the government House, Umuahia.

In the same vein, another blogger, Abubakar Usman, who publishes abusidiqu.com was recently arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Comkission, EFCC, who accused him of cyber stalking.

Mr. Usman was released after much public condemnation.
Members of the Boko Haram on Thursday attacked a military location in Borno State killing two soldiers, the Army has said.

The insurgents were, however, repelled by soldiers who killed 15 of them, the Army said.

The Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said the insurgents launched the attack at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. The colonel said the battle lasted for two hours.

Apart from the two dead soldiers, four others were injured in the attack, Mr. Usman said.

Read Mr. Usmans full statement below.

Troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE Task Force Battle Group and Multinational Joint Task Force presently harbouring in Abadam village dealt decisively with elements of Boko Haram that attempted to attack on their location. The attack which was launched by the terrorist group at about 6:30 am today, Thursday 22nd September 2016 and it lasted for about 2 hours.

During the fierce battle, the troops killed 15 of the insurgents, with many escaping with gunshot wounds.

Sadly however 2 soldiers paid the supreme price in action while 4 others were wounded in action. The bodies of our late colleagues and the wounded have since been evacuated.

The gallant troops recovered weapons and ammunitions from the insurgents These includes, 1 Gun truck, 1 60mm Mortar tube, 7 60mm Mortar bomb, a General Purpose Machine (GPMG), 3 damaged AK 47 Rifle, 4 Bandoliers of Anti-Aircraft rounds of ammunition.

The troops have continued mop up and clearance operations of the remnants of the terrorists. They have also intensified vigilance and high level of alertness.

We shall oblige you with photographs later.

You are please requested to disseminate this information to the public through your esteemed medium.

Thank you for your usual and kind cooperation.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman

Acting Director Army Public Relations

PRNigeria encourages institutions to be transparent in their information management as it provides news items from authoritative sources for free use by the media.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has arrested one of its operatives for allegedly collecting a N15 million bribe.

The commission said in a statement on Friday that Uzodinma Agbazue, a deputy detective superintendent, was arrested on Thursday for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy and extortion.

Mr. Agbazue was arrested following a complaint by a lawmaker currently under investigation by the Commission, the statement signed by the commissions spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said.

The lawmaker alleged that the EFCC detective collected N15 million from him with a promise to compromise the investigation.

According to the complainant, Mr. Agbazue allegedly approached him, claiming he had been mandated by the officer handling the case to discuss and reach an agreement on how to kill the case, the statement said.

Following the approach, a sum of N15 million was given to Agbazue whose game plan collapsed after the Investigating officer, who was ignorant of his scheme, refused to do his bidding, Mr. Uwujaren said.

With the investigation gathering increased momentum after parting with the hefty sum, the complainant became uncomfortable and demanded a refund.

The complainant stated that, when he requested for the refund of his money, Agbazue only returned N5 million claiming that the balance of N10 million had been given to someone to kill the case from the top, the statement adds.

The lawmaker also alleged that the operative collected N1 million at a different time as assistance for settlement of his wifes medical bill.

Agbazues action is in contravention of the Commissions mandate and ideals as the EFCC will not solicit or accept gratification from a suspect to compromise a case under investigation, EFCC said.

The suspect will be subjected to administrative action as precursor to possible prosecution at the end of the investigation.
The Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima, on Thursday received a delegation from the Danish refugee council in his Bama office where he relocated to on Wednesday.

Governor Shettima had said that he temporarily moved his office 75km away from Maiduguri, the state capital, in order to monitor the ongoing reconstruction of the town that was completely destroyed by Boko Haram.

On Thursday, Mr. Shettima hosted a six-member delegation from the Danish Refugee Council in Bama to discussion a partnership strategy with the state in ongoing reconstruction works.

The Country Director of the Danish Refugee Council in Nigeria, Shah Liton, had to fly into Bama in a helicopter that conveyed them from Maiduguri to meet the governor.

The Governor had said any meeting requiring his presence would only be held in Bama town unless where he is summoned by the Presidency or where unforeseen emergencies come up, Isa Gusau, the governors spokesperson, said.

The visiting Danish Group met Mr. Shettima at the 21 Armoured Brigade reception tent in Bama.

The delegation, amongst others, offered to assist Nigeria by removing mines planted by insurgents in farmlands in order to encourage the returnee IDPs resume their farm works.

The Danish delegation said they were impressed with the way the returnees were trying to settle down despite what they went through.

We have seen serious destructions here in Bama, we also know that as people prepare to return they will be concerned about going back to means of livelihood one of which is their farms, said the Danish official.

We will offer to bring specialists to remove mines planted in those farms to make it possible for people to use the farms. We will also want to know your other priorities so as to know where to intervene, the Danish group told Mr. Shettima.

Mr. Shettima informed the visitors that his government would prefer a cashless intervention that would come in the form of building materials, reconstruction of schools, intervention on agriculture to create jobs and gender empowerment with particular interest in educating and economic empowerment of women.

The governor informed the visitors that Boko Haram insurgents had destroyed virtually all the primary schools, thousands of private houses, municipal buildings, clinics, markets and water installations.

Earlier in the day, he inspected series of destroyed areas and some ongoing reconstruction works in parts of Bama town.

He said he will focus on rebuilding schools, healthcare institutions, water installations and some private homes under the first phase.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has asked the National Chairman of the party to immediately convene a meeting of the National Executive Committee to discuss the current economic recession and advise President Muhammadu Buhari on what to do.

Mr. Frank said this in a statement on Thursday. In the statement, he referred to himself as acting National Publicity Secretary, but, officially, the party says he is not, and cannot speak for the party.

APC has had no substantive Publicity Secretary since Lai Mohammed was appointed minister last year. Instead of Mr. Frank, APC has said only Mr. Oyegun and the National Secretary, Mala Buni, can speak for the party.

Mr. Frank said the role of the party leadership was not only to conduct primary elections but to add value to governance.

He added that such emergency meeting on Nigerias prevailing economic crisis would give more members of the party the opportunity to express their views and provide expert suggestions.

Mocking Mr. Oyegun, Mr. Frank said the only thing the current leadership of the party is known for is to conduct primary election which he said were even charasterised with crisis.

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, said Mr. Frank.

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 advice them on what quickly should be done.

He also said an APC NEC meeting was overdue according to the party constitution which states in article 25 b( i) that the National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the national chairman or at the request made in writing by atleast two-third of the members of the National Executive Committee provided that not less than fourteen (14) days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.

The APC chieftain also highlighted pending issues which arose from the last NEC meeting but yet to be addressed.

It was agreed at the last meeting that there should be 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 Trustee (BOT) is still pending and some other issues, including crisis all over the state, 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.

He commended the leadership of the National Assembly for taking steps to support the president on his effort to rescue the nation from the economic woes inherited.

Messrs. Oyegun and Buni couldnot be reached by phone for comments on this story. Their lines were were off.

But in previous statements signed by Mr. Buni, the party repeatedly blamed the countrys current hardship on the the 16-year rule of the PDP which lost power 16 months ago.
The Nigeria Diaspora Security Forum has called for the introduction of Closed Circuit Televisions in police interrogation rooms across the country to check allegations of torture of crime suspects.

In a statement on Friday, the group expressed concern about the latest report issued by Amnesty International revealing detailed account of alleged torture by Nigeria Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in detention cells.

It is important that Nigeria Police Force revisit their Police Reform Strategy and consider a top-bottom revamp of police culture because the lip service approach to policing by consent needs to stop, the group said in a statement issued by its Chair, Temitope Olodo.

NDSF is calling on the leadership of Nigeria Police Force to introduce some practical initiatives to stamp out corruption, torture and indiscipline in the police force such as:

Establishment of an independence team to investigate and recommend better ways to handle welfare in Nigeria Police detention cells across the country, said Mr. Olodo.

Introduction of CCTV in interrogation rooms and establishment of Police and Community Police Forums across the 700 plus local government areas of the federation to ensure community ownership of policing in their local areas.

Amnesty International had, in a 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.

But in a swift reaction, the Nigeria Police Force rejected the report, describing it as misleading, a clear misrepresentation of facts, unverified accounts and absolute distortion of the current situation in Special Anti-Robbery Squad [SARS] throughout the country.

In its statement, the NDSF called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to declare a war of corruption within the Police Force and improve the image of the security establishment.

Nigeria Diaspora Security Forum (NDSF) is calling on Nigeria Inspector General of Police to explore diversification of Nigeria Police Force recruitment strategy to inject professionals at middle and senior level of the Force to help stamp out the culture of corruption that is plaguing the security establishment, the group said.
They converged from different parts of the United States of America. Top rate professionals all, Nigerians whom Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Matters and International Relations, described as 15 of the best people God ever created.

The professionals were in New York to meet with the Nigerian President. Top flight aeronautics engineers, physicians, I.T experts, a Judge, a top policewoman, entrepreneurs, an Import Specialist at Customs and Border Protection, professors, two straight A students, and many others.

The parley provided President Buhari opportunity to bring them up to speed on how and why Nigeria got into trouble, with an assurance that with all hands on deck, including the best brains in the Diaspora, the country would bounce back in the shortest possible time.

I am very pleased with this meeting, President Buhari stated. Wherever you go in the world, you find highly competent and outstanding Nigerians. They not only make great impact on their host countries and communities, their financial remittances back home also help our economy, particularly at a time like this, when things are down.

We got into trouble as a country, because we did not save for the rainy day. For example, between 1999 and 2015, when we produced an average of 2.1 million barrels of oil per day, and oil prices stood at an average of $100 per barrel, we did not save, neither did we develop infrastructure. Suddenly, when we came in 2015, oil prices fell to about 30 dollars per barrel.

I asked; where are the savings? There were none. Where are the railways? The roads? Power? None. I further asked; what did we do with billions of dollars that we made over the years? They said we bought food. Food with billions of dollars? I did not believe, and still do not believe.

In most parts of Nigeria, we eat what we grow. People in the South eat tubers, those in the North eat grains, which they plant, and those constitute over 60 per cent of what we eat. So, where did the billions of dollars go? We did a lot of damage to ourselves by not developing infrastructure when we had the money.

Talking of our military, they earned respect serving in places like Burma, Zaire, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra-Leone, and then, suddenly, that same military could no longer secure 14 out of 774 local governments in the country. Insurgents had seized them, calling them some sort of caliphate, and planting their flags there; till we came, and scattered them.

We raised the morale of our military, changed the leadership, re-equipped and retrained them; USA, Britain, and some other countries helped us, and today, the pride of our military is restored.

Boko Haram ran riot, killing innocent people in churches, mosques, markets, schools, motor parks, and so on. And they would then shout Allahu Akbar. But if they truly knew Allah, they would not do such evil. Neither Islam, nor any other religion I know of, advocates hurting the innocent. But they shed innocent blood, killed people in their thousands. Now, we have dealt with that insurgency, and subverted their recruitment base.

Those who stole Nigeria dry are not happy. They recruited the militants against us in the Niger Delta, and began to sabotage oil infrastructure. We lose millions of barrels per day, at a time when every dollar we can earn, counts. It is a disgrace that a minimum of 27 states, out of 36 that we have in Nigeria, cant pay salaries.

But I prayed so hard for God to make me President. I ran in 2003, 2007, 2011, and in 2015, He did. And see what I met on ground. But I cant complain, since I prayed for the job. In the military, I rose from 2nd Lieutenant to Major-General. I was military governor in 1975 over a state that is now six states. I was head of state, got detained for three years, and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), which had N53 billion of that time in Nigerian banks.

God has been very good to me, so I cant complain. If I feel hurt by anybody, I ask God to help me forgive. He has done so much for me.

After 16 years of a different party in government, no party will come and have things easy. Its human. We need quality hands to run Nigeria, and we will utilize them. I will like to welcome you home when its time. But Ill like you to be ready.

All the Nigerian professionals pledged to contribute their quota towards re-launching their fatherland to a new dawn.
The United Kingdom has expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded so far by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the tackling of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

The UKs Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Simon Ancona, a rear admiral, said this when he led a delegation of the UK Ministry of Defence and Engagement on a courtesy visit to Nigerias Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonisakin, a general.

Rear Admiral Ancona said the way the Nigerian military subdued Boko Haram terrorists has further put the Nigerian Armed Forces in particular and the nation in general on a positive radar of global assessment index.

He commended the military and allied security agencies for their doggedness and sacrifice that have led to the decimation of the murderous terrorists group and called for sustenance of the onslaught to wipe insurgency from our land.

The officer pledged that the UK Armed Forces would continue to work closely with their counterpart in Nigeria towards strengthening the capacity of the Nigerian military to be more potent and responsive in the discharge of their constitutional mandate.

He said the delegation was in Nigeria as a follow-up to variety of regional and global security matters discussed earlier in the year at a Peace Keeping Conference held in the UK.

The visit, he said, would further strengthen and improve the historic and harmonious bilateral relationship between the two nations.

In his response, General Olonisakin expressed gratitude to the UK Government for all the assistance the Nigerian Armed Forces had enjoyed from the UK.

He however solicited a stronger tie in intelligence sharing, military hardware, manpower capacity building and training in counter Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Deep Penetration Detection Devices (DPDDs).
President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the international community not to further delay or downplay the need for humanitarian intervention in Nigerias North-East and the Lake Chad Basin.

It is time for collective global action to invest in the people of Nigerias North-East and the Lake Chad Basin region, the president told a high-level event on The Humanitarian Crisis in the Lake Chad Basin: A Turning Point, in New York, on the margins of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71).

We are renewing the call for re-dedicated international action to end the humanitarian needs of victims and address the root causes of terrorism itself, he said at the event jointly-sponsored by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the African Union, the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

President Buhari noted that the complexities and severity of humanitarian crisis across the world have increased in recent times, resulting in devastating repercussions. Political and socio-economic structures as well as the growth trajectory of many countries have been negatively affected leaving traumatized populations. The dual impact of Climate Change and terrorism cum insurgency has created deeper implications for peace and security, social harmony and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

While commending the Multi-National Joint Task Force for degrading Boko Haram, he said the Nigerian government has been fully responsive to the urgency to save innocent lives, protect victims of Boko Haram atrocities, guarantee stability and facilitate the resumption of normal social and economic activities in the North-East of the country.

The Government of Nigeria is not overwhelmed by the enormity of this humanitarian challenge. Rather, we remain resolute in defeating terrorism in all its forms. We have put in place a robust people-driven counter-terrorism strategy built on a combination of revamped security operations and a human rights-based approach to help bring about rehabilitation, reintegration and reconstruction, the President said.

According to him, Nigeria has been providing food support, reintegrated healthcare, shelter, psycho-social support and access to water and sanitation amenities for those in need. We are also engaging highly respected community and religious leaders to discourage vulnerable youth from being radicalized.

President Buhari expressed delight that displaced persons have begun to return to their communities in Konduga, Mafa, Benisheck and Ngala in the North-East.

On the missing Chibok schoolgirls, the president said it incident has remained in our national consciousness, adding that the administration is working hard to ensure the release of all Nigerians held captive by Boko Haram, including the Chibok girls. We are ready to ensure their swift rehabilitation, reintegration and the continuation of their studies once returned to their families.

On the Lake Chad, President Buhari said the shrinking of the Lake has also like Boko Haram, adversely affected the communities around the Basin by increasing their hardship.

Given the enormous challenge posed by the dwindling waters, the president noted that no single state in the region can independently meet the needs of the victims of the depressing occurrence.

Nigeria thus, reiterates its call for stronger international action and support for the implementation of the Lake Chad Development Resilience Action Plan, he said, even as he urged increased global attention and active engagement than it is currently receiving.

President Buhari, who did not fail to appreciate the critical support the North-East and Lake Chad Basin have been receiving from the United Nations and development partners, pledged Nigerias preparedness to collaborate in order to find a lasting solution to this human disaster.
The U.S. Diplomatic Mission to

Nigeria on Friday announced the opening of applications from qualified young Nigerians for the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship programme.

The Embassy in Abuja said the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship programme of President Obamas Young African Leaders Initiative, and a key part of the U.S. commitment to invest in the future of Africa.

The embassy said Nigerian youth are encouraged to pursue the opportunity offered by the programme to access a six-week training course at a top U.S. university in one of three tracks: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership or Public Management.

Eligible candidates should be between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of application and have a demonstrated track record of leadership in a public, private, or civic organization, and a commitment to contributing their skills and talents to build and serve their communities, the embassy said.

It directed interested candidates to either visit http://www.yali.state.gov to apply and seek further information, or the Information Resource Center at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, U.S. Consulate General in Lagos or one of the 11 American Corners in Nigeria.

Deadline for application was given as October 26.

Nearly one in three Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and around 60 per cent of Africas total population is below the age of 35.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is part of the Presidents overall effort to invest in the education and training of the continents next generation of leaders.

In 2010, President Obama launched YALI as a vehicle to support an emerging generation of African leaders.

In 2014, the program was expanded to include 500 young African leaders from sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2016, 1,000 young Africans participated in the Fellowship.

Since its inception, 186 young Nigerians have participated in the fellowship, and over 45,000 young professionals in Nigeria have joined the YALI network.

In 2016, 100 young Nigerians participated in the fellowship.
Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana, has said that it was time President Muhammadu Buhari took steps to recover Nigerias stolen funds stashed away in foreign banks, instead of continuing to appeal to the conscience of the leaders of the western countries.

Mr. Falana told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday, that the federal government should set up a team of local and foreign lawyers to initiate legal proceedings in the appropriate jurisdictions for the recovery and repatriation of the nations looted wealth.

He said western governments wont readily support repatriation of stolen funds, since their economies were benefiting from such funds.

In spite of several promises the British government did not return any fund under former Prime Minister David Cameron. In the same vein, the outgoing Barrack Obama administration (in the U.S) will not repatriate a dime to Nigeria.

Nigeria, Africas largest country, has been plundered for several decades by corrupt government officials who prefer hiding stolen funds  billions of dollars  in foreign banks.

President Buhari has made the repatriation of such funds a top priority of his administration.

Mr. Buhari, during the ongoing 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States, met on the sidelines with President Johann Schneider-Ammann of Switzerland, where he (Buhari) asked for the urgent release of Nigerias stolen funds hidden in the European nation.

The Swiss government had earlier set conditions to release the money which largely involved official assurance that the money would be judiciously utilised for public good.

The United States Secretary of States, John Kerry, in March, had pledged his countrys commitment to help Nigeria get back its funds hidden in the U.S. banks.

When the then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was caught on tape, in May, describing Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country, Mr. Buhari famously remarked that he would rather want a return of his countrys stolen assets, instead of an apology from Mr. Cameron.
A Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani, has described proponents of sale of the countrys national asset as economic predators and profiteers who want to take advantage of the situation in the country.

Mr. Sani, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts, said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that Nigerias capitalist forces raped Nigeria to recession and now they want to kill and bury it.

Nigeria is currently going through one of the worst recessions in its history, due to the crash in oil prices.

Nigerias business mogul and Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote, recently suggested that it makes more economic sense to sell off the countrys remaining asset like the multi-billion dollar Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Joint Ventures, and use the proceeds to help the economy out of recession.

Mr. Dangotes suggestion, backed by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, has sparked off intense debate among Nigerians.

Mr. Sani, from Kaduna State, condemned the suggestion as being against the interest of the nation.

He said privatization in Nigeria has not delivered the much anticipated efficiency and services other than enrich a few fronts and their masters.

There is currently nothing to show for the sale of government houses, (and) firms. The advocates of sale of our collective national asset simply want to dispossess Nigerians and expand their business empire.

They call themselves private sector and business men; they refused to invest in agriculture, solid minerals or science and technology, they simply want to buy off profitable public asset.

There are no captains of industry in Nigeria other than crony businessmen, rent seekers, commission agents who depend on patronage from government.

Mr. Sani said the countrys businessmen prefer to buy off ready-made oil wells and gas from the Niger Delta, instead of investing funds to find oil and gas in Lake Chad and Benue trough.

He called on Nigerians to rise up against any attempt to sell the countrys asset, arguing that, Selling our national asset to stem recession is like selling ones lungs to buy food.

Recession should excite innovation and ideas and not justify roguery. . Nigerias poor have always lived under systemic recession and depression and on the edge of extinction, he said.
A senior Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, has written to the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, demanding an immediate discontinuation of the houses investigation of Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Mr. Falana said the probe was an attempt to suspend Mr. Jibrin, despite an ongoing court case against such move.

Mr. Jibrin, a member of the house from Kano, is accused of misconduct after he accused Mr. Dogara and other leaders of budget fraud.

The house has not investigated the alleged corruption.

Instead, it mandated the Ethics and Privileges Committee to probe claims by some members that Mr. Jibrin damaged their reputation by making public allegations, and not following internal channels.

The committee opened sitting Friday, but Mr. Jibrin is billed to appear on Monday.

Mr. Falana, who is Mr. Jibrins lawyer, said in his letter that Mr. Dogara should disband the committee because its constitution contravened the house rules.

Citing order 9 rule 5 of the House, he said Mr. Dogara lacked the powers to constitute a panel over a matter that was before a court.

Mr. Falana said Mr. Jibrin had filed an action before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court with suit No.: FHC/ABJ/CS/50/5/2016 between Mr. Jibrin and the House of Representatives and 13 others.

Mr. Falana said Mr. Dogara was represented in the suit by his lawyer, Ikechukwu Obiora & Co.

He threatened to commence contempt of court proceedings against the speaker if the investigation of Mr. Jibrin continued.

In a separate statement Friday, Mr. Jibrin said he would ensure the Mr. Dogara did not escape the unfolding budget padding scandal unscathed, saying his day of reckoning is so close.

There is nothing you can do on earth to stop it. No amount of lobbying, legislative antics or blackmail of members of the House, Senate, executive arm or individuals outside the House can help you and your cabal of few corrupt members, Mr. Jibrin said in the statement. Mr Speaker, this struggle is like the rising sun, it is unstoppable.

On Friday, the ethics committee, headed by Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta), heard testimony from Emmanuel Oker-Jev, a lawmaker who moved the motion for Mr. Jibrins censure and suspension on Wednesday.

Mr. Oker-Jev tendered evidence of how Mr. Jibrin allegedly rubbished the integrity of the House through his widespread dissemination of internal House documents against the leadership of the House.

Mr. Jibrin raised questions about the impartiality of the committee in another statement to Mr. Ossai Friday.

You did not state what I did that amounted to misconduct so (that) even if I intend to attend, I can know what exactly I am being accused of and come prepared, Mr. Jibrin said. This is clear indication that the outcome of your investigation is already predetermined.

Mr. Jibrin scolded Mr. Ossai for prioritising disciplinary actions against him rather than address the allegations in his own petition against Mr. Dogara.

The letter by Mr. Falana came after Mr. Jibrin had assured that he would appear before Mr. Ossais committee, if its hearing was made public. Fridays sitting today was witnessed by journalists.

Mr. Ossai told PREMIUM TIMES on Friday afternoon that he was not aware of any letter from Mr. Jibrins lawyer.

I have not seen any letter from them, Mr. Ossai said. But even if they write to us, it wont stop the members of the committee to continue doing the work the House has mandated them to do.

Mr. Ossai said his committee hopes to see Mr. Jibrin on Monday and reiterated that it would be an open hearing.
The Adamawa State governor, Muhammadu Bindow, has approved a plan for employment of 149 nurses in the state.

The state Head of Service, Musa Kaibo, made this known in Yola on Thursday at a reception for the General Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, Thomas Shettima.

Mr. Kaibo said the plan is to ensure adequate presence of nurses in hospitals across the state.

He lauded the emergence of Mr. Shettima, an indigene of the state, as the General Secretary of NANNM and urged him to be a good ambassador of the state.

In his remarks at the ceremony, the governor re-iterated his administrations commitment to the welfare of health workers.

Mr. Bindow, who noted that the salary of health workers, particularly nurses, has been regular in the state, said his administration would sustain the tempo.

He also lauded Mr. Shettima and urged him to continue to make the state proud and remain a good ambassador.

The National President of NANNM, Abdulrafiu Adeniji, and Adamawa NLC chairman, Dauda Maina, also felicitated with the celebrant and lauded the state government for its commitment to workers welfare.

Mr. Shettima thanked the state branch of the association for organizing the reception in his honour and pledged he would not fail in his role of Secretary General of NANNM.

He also lauded dignitaries at the event, particularly Governor Bindow and members of his cabinet, for honouring him by gracing the occasion.
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has said that criminal elements dislodged by recent military operations in Zamfara have infiltrated the state.

Mr. Al-Makura raised the alarm when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, visited him in Lafia.

He said that three hideouts of the criminals have been identified in the state and appealed to the Army chief to also extend its operation to the state.

Since the military operation in Zamfara that dispersed the criminal elements, we have noticed a gradual sipping of some of them into our vicinity and we have been able to identify about three areas as their hideout.

Once we finalize our survey, we shall liaise with you to use your usual formula to defeat the miscreants, he said.

The governor commended the military for decimating the Boko Haram terrorists, and joining hands with other security agencies to curb security challenges in Nasarawa state.

Mr. Al-Makura pledged to support military authority to ensure successful take off of the Command Science Secondary School located in the state.

The governor also appreciated the support of the Army chief in decongesting the Abuja-Keffi highway.

He disclosed that the government had set up a task force to relocate all hawkers and petty traders operating along the road, to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

In his response, Mr. Buratai said the military was poised to rid the country of all criminal elements wherever they are hiding.

We have more military exercises to carry out and wherever the criminals elements dispersed by our operations migrated to, we shall follow them and clear their doubts, Mr. Buratai said.

He assured people of the state that the military would continue to monitor and collaborate with other security agencies to address any act of criminality.

(NAN)
In what appears a clampdown on workers who planned to protest non-payment of salaries, security officials on Friday sealed the Kano State secretariat.

The office of the Kano State of Head of Service, Auwalu Naiya, was also sealed by the security operatives.

Our reporter who visited the secretariat saw heavily armed security officials at the entrance while the workers were absent from the area..

Text messages had earlier been sent to the almost 700 unpaid workers to converge at the office of the head of Service for the protest.

The affected staff, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, were those who were excluded or found culpable in the biometric data exercise mandated by the state government to eliminate ghost workers and ascertain the number of employees of the state.

The state government had on Thursday warned all workers not to participate in the planned protest.

Journalists who tried to speak to the Head of Service were prevented from doing so by his spokesperson, Mustapha Fagge, who said he was in a meeting.

However, Mr. Fagge and the reporters remained outside the secretariat for hours waiting for Mr. Naiya.
A former Speaker of Nigerias House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, on Thursday narrated a part of his life hitherto unknown to the public.

The son of a well-known Abeokuta socialite said he served apprenticeship in aluminium production after his university education.

He made the disclosure on Thursday at a public lecture he delivered at Federal College of Education, Abeokuta.

I became an apprentice in my fathers company after returning from abroad after my university education. I learnt aluminium production. I can say boldly that I know the in and out of aluminium production.

Mr. Bankole said he took the step to build himself up, in view of the unemployment challenges facing the country, which he said started over 30 years ago and remains unresolved to date.

He called for a restructuring of the nations education system to cope with the challenges.

The former Speaker called on administrators of tertiary institutions in the country to improve their admission process.

He also called for greater attention to the training of teachers, as their products become managers of the nations human and material resources as politicians, pension managers and lawmakers.

Mr. Bankole frowned on the system whereby the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) set lower cut off marks for admission into teacher training institutions, and urged administrators to re-evaluate the practice.
NORTH WILDWOOD  Theres a science to being a successful pop-up shop on Olde New Jersey Avenue during the Irish Festival.

You have to stand out, several vendors said as they set up their tents Friday morning.

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

I try to get different things and better thingsbetter quality, Eileen Nolan Cooper, of Somers Point, said. There are hundred vendors here.

Dozens of vendors set up shop Friday, praying for sunshine and a large crowd. An estimated 250,000 people will filter through the Wildwoods for the 25th annual Irish Festival, which includes live music, a parade, among other activities.

Many of the vendors dont have traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Coopers business, called Tis Herself, only does Irish festivals. She sells Irish-themed jewelry, Christmas ornaments, childrens clothes, home decorations, perfume and more.

John Gerners pop-up shop, dubbed Serendipity Designs, does a couple of events, but he said the North Wildwood festival is the main event they do. The stand sells T-shirts, hats and other apparelall green, of course.

T-shirts go real well, said Gerner, 54, who has a house in the Anglesea section of the city. We have a Marilyn Monroe shirt that goes really well.

The shirt features an Irish version of one of Monroes famous quotes. Next to a picture of the celebrity icon reads: A girl knows her limits, but an Irish girl knows she has none.

Though an outsider might think the festival just features a hodgepodge of similar merchants, Gerner said the Irish Festival vendor market is highly-regulated. Organizers space out similar shops and try to prevent too many identical products.

They do a pretty good job of policing that, Gerner said.

He said the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish-Catholic organization that organizes the festival, enforces the rules.

One shop that certainly stands out on Olde New Jersey Avenue is American Highlander, an outlet for all you kilt-related needs. Christopher Beyer said his company has a store in Toms River but travels to festivals to promote kilt-wearing.

He said he wears the traditional mens skirt almost every day. Beyer lauded the comfort and flexibility of the kilt.

Youll wonder why you ever wore pants, Beyer said. Pants are kind of stupid.

A lightweight version at the American Highlander tent cost $50, and the full kit goes for $100.

The free festival runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday along Olde New Jersey Avenue.
The dropping price of natural gas will mean cheaper rates for South Jersey Gas customers starting Oct. 1.

The average residential customer using 1,000 therms per year will see prices drop about 3.5 percent, or about $43 less per year at the Folsom-based utility, the state Board of Public Utilities said Friday.

The decline would have been more significant - about 14 percent -- but a warm winter last year triggered a weather-related feature built into annual rates.

Colder-than-normal winters mean customers who spent more to heat their homes see a cut in future bills through the Conservation Incentive Program used at utilities like South Jersey Gas, which happened two years ago. And vice versa when temperatures are warmer than normal.

Natural gas companies across the state saw cheaper prices for the fossil fuel, which led to wholesale price declines at the major natural gas utilities: New Jersey Natural Gas, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, Elizabethtown Gas and South Jersey Gas.

The reason has been the continued decline in the price of natural gas, whose supply has been boosted through the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to reach reserves deep in the earth.
The question of "Where do babies come from?" has been answered, throughout movie history, with some unsavory characters. In the case of "Rosemary's Baby," a demonic neighbor was to blame. In "Knocked Up," it was Seth Rogen's doing. The truth can hurt.

But evading the query has its own lineage, too, and in "Storks," the cop-out answer - one I suspect most toddlers don't even buy - has been given the full animated movie treatment. "Storks," at least, has the sense to tweak the old myth (the folklore of baby-delivering storks goes back before Hans Christian Anderson and runs all the way to "Dumbo") and imagine the large birds more like Amazon delivery drones.

The storks, from their remote island enclave, have given up the baby business to embrace the more lucrative line of online sales. Now they deliver things like new cellphones to equally expectant customers, a flock right out of Jeff Bezos' own heart.

A cutthroat corporate environment has also replaced a more natural habitat. Junior (Andy Samberg) is a company bird devoted to pleasing his suit-clad CEO (Kelsey Grammer). But his promotion is jeopardized when he fails to carry out an order to fire the place's lone human worker, Tulip (Katie Crown), an orphan baby now grown and mostly wrecking the assembly lines.

You'd assume a movie about storks would inevitably be about parenting, but the film, directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland, is more about maintaining a work-family balance. Junior begins questioning his workplace allegiance while he and Tulip, having accidentally put the baby-making machinery back into action, desperately try to deliver a wished-for baby.

The baby request comes, by letter, from the lonely son (Anton Starkman) of an overworked realtor couple (Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell). In a nice touch, they work from home, a convenience that has nevertheless obliterated their home life. "We never stop" is their mantra, one countless parents today can surely easily identify with. Their boy taunts them: "I'll be in college in the blink of an eye."

If there was more inquiry into this part of "Storks," the film may have found its emotional core. But instead, the bumbling quest of Junior and Tulip takes precedent, as they elude things like a pack of baby-smitten wolves. (Their leaders are voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele.)

Stoller, a comedy filmmaker ("Neighbors," ''Forgetting Sarah Marshall") making his animated debut, and Sweetland, a veteran Pixar animator, come from different worlds and the mix of humor and sentiment doesn't quite gel.

On the other hand, Samberg in bird-form is surprisingly true to Samberg the human. To a degree rare in animated movies, "Storks" has assimilated Samberg's comic sensibility in PG form. His Junior is goofy, self-deprecating and sweet, and says things like "Cool beans."

Executive produced by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller ("The LEGO Movie"), "Storks" has a lot of the ingredients for a playful, irreverent cartoon. One clever fight scene with penguins plays out in total quiet, so as not to wake the baby.

But the movie doesn't have enough to hang itself on; the premise is too flimsy and that old question of "Where babies come from?" remains oddly avoided, in even a child-friendly way. Kids, you're just going to have to look for answers elsewhere.
Seven warriors fight for the vulnerable, in a formula that bears revisiting in "The Magnificent Seven." Akira Kurosawa's 1954 masterpiece, "Seven Samurai," begat the classic 1960 Western "The Magnificent Seven," then a late '90s TV series and now, a big budget action adventure Western directed by Antoine Fuqua. It's an appealing concept - bad guys who can be good, loners who can work together and find camaraderie in a team when it comes to protecting innocents.

With the blockbuster cast that Fuqua has assembled, including Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio and Peter Sarsgaard, as well as stunning cinematography by Mauro Fiore, this Western epic remake should be an easy home run. It's all there - except for the writing, and that failure is the Achilles' heel that never lets this version of "The Magnificent Seven" achieve liftoff.

Written by "True Detective" scribe Nic Pizzolatto alongside "Expendables" and "The Equalizer" writer Richard Wenk, "The Magnificent Seven" is long on violence and short on story, character development, motivation, and all the things that make any kind of violence satisfying to watch. Therefore, despite all the star power, charisma, and dusty heroics on screen, it's impossible to care about any of it.

The biggest problem is a failure to adequately establish the villain, Bartholomew Bogue. Sarsgaard does his sniveling best with the two scenes he is given to portray Bogue, a tyrannical capitalist who equates democracy with God with the free market, and who has seized the town of Rose Creek for the purposes of gold mining. In a pre-credits opener, we see just what a baddie he is, tormenting children, shooting up a church, and mowing down innocent citizens, but it's just not enough to justify the endless violence that the seven return, especially since the townspeople are endangered and killed in the melee themselves.

To top it off, there's not enough backstory and character motivation to believe that these seven would put themselves on the line for this town. Spunky Emma (Haley Bennett) retains the services of warrant officer Sam Chisholm (Washington), who has a deep secret memory of Bogue that sparks his interest in the job. The other six he strong arms into joining him, including Faraday (Pratt) and Vasquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo). He calls on old pal Goodnight Robicheaux (Hawke) and his associate, Chinese fighter Billy Rocks (Byung-hun Lee), and somehow convinces Comanche warrior Red Harvest (Martin Sensmeier) and cowboy Santa Claus Jack Horne (D'Onofrio) to join up too. Why any of them participate in the massacre is frankly, a mystery.

The Western genre has always worked as a metaphor - a fable that allows us to work out our contemporary quandaries through a period piece screen. In this "Magnificent Seven," there's a celebration of guns that feels both of that era of lawless shootouts and of this era too.

These gunmen protect citizens entitled to freedom from unfettered capitalism. It's a politically complicated message, at once conservative and liberal, speaking to both sides. While there might be an intriguing moral wrapped in this violent package, without the human element urging the story forward, the "Magnificent Seven" turns out to be rather insignificant after all.
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ATLANTIC CITY  Redenia Gilliam-Mosee, the former president of the citys Boys and Girls Club and the first African-American woman vice president in the resorts casino industry, will receive one of the highest honors in the gaming industry.

Gilliam-Mosee will posthumously be inducted into the American Gaming Associations Gaming Hall of Fame during an event at The Venetian Las Vegas on Wednesday. Gilliam-Mosee died on New Years Day 2010 at the age of 60.

She was the face, the voice and the conscience of the gaming industry in its earliest days in Atlantic City, said Michael Pollock, managing director of Spectrum Gaming Group.

The Gaming Hall of Fame, since its inception in 1989, recognizes leaders with gamings highest honor who have distinguished themselves through significant contributions to the industry. This year, a five-person selection committee of industry stakeholders reviewed a number of nominations.

Born in Newark, Gilliam-Mosee and her family moved to Atlantic City when she was 10.

Gilliam-Mosee  who worked as a chambermaid in high school  later left the resort to earn her bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Wilberforce University in Ohio, and a master's degree in city and regional planning from Rutgers University. She then taught as an assistant professor in the Planning and Community Development department of Livingston College, on the Piscataway campus of Rutgers University, from 1971 to 1979.

Gilliam-Mosee got her hard work and dedication from her mother, said state Superior Court Judge Nelson Johnson

Her mother expected excellence from her children, said Johnson. She was smart, tough and at the same time classy. She was special.

She returned in 1979 to work as a consultant for Bally's Atlantic City, where she was an executive for more than 20 years.

Its an overdue honor, said state Sen. Jim Whelan, D-Atlantic, a former Atlantic City mayor, of her induction. Icon is the right word to describe her. She was proud of growing up here and being an Atlantic City High School graduate. She acted as a bridge between the city and casino industry, something that is lacking right now.

Despite her success, Gilliam-Mosee always worked to make the city a better place, Pollock said. During her tenure, she helped leverage millions of dollars from the casino industry on behalf of community initiatives.

Her commitment to the city was unquestioned, and as a result, her company  Ballys  was seen as sharing that commitment, Pollock said. She was seemingly everywhere in those early days, and it is no exaggeration to say that she showed other gaming executives in other markets how to connect to their communities. In other words, her legacy still exists.

She spearheaded a $3 million upgrade for the Boys and Girls Club, which doubled its capacity when the new facility opened more than 15 years ago; and a project called Jacobs Family Terrace, the city's first casino-sponsored housing project; and HOPE: Homeownership Opportunities for Performing Employees, a program dedicated to helping Bally's Atlantic City workers buy their own homes.

Her nature was to give back and make sure that young people coming up had opportunities, Whelan said. She cared about the future.

Contact: 609-272-7046

Twitter @ACPressHuba
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
OCEAN CITY  The dog days of summer are over. In shore towns throughout Cape May County, however, the dogs days just about to get started.

Ocean City allows dogs on the beach from Oct. 1 to April 30. But one councilmans proposal to extend that to summer was met with so much opposition, he dropped it.

The debate is not new, as shore towns throughout the years have grappled with accommodating pet lovers while pleasing others who dont want to deal with animals  or animal poop  on beaches. The debate in Ocean City reflected the passions on both sides.

At-large Councilman Keith Hartzell said the proposal stirred up so much controversy that it reminded him of when the dry city founded by Methodist ministers considered a BYOB alcohol policy for restaurants  something shot down in a 2012 referendum.

You knew going in what the problems were. Dog owners had to be responsible, they had to pick up after their dog and the dog needed to stay on the leash, he said.

Hartzell came up with several ideas including a dog beach tag to fund the cleaning of the beaches and installation of waste bag machines. He said he didnt want to see dogs on the beach during high-traffic times, and also didnt want only a few dog-designated beaches.

I think what everyone wanted was people wanted to walk their dogs from where theyre staying, he said.

Other towns have adopted dog-friendly beach options.

Malibu Beach in Egg Harbor Township is known as Dog Beach. The small beach at the base of the Ocean City-Longport bridge is open to dogs all year round.

Dogs are welcome on Sunset Beach in Lower Township Sept. 15-March 30.

Barnegat Light beaches allow dogs from October through mid-April.

In Stone Harbor, dogs are allowed year-round on the beach from 7 to sunset and they must be leashed.

In 2014, Wildwood debuted its dog-friendly beach on Poplar Avenue, open to dogs all summer at all times.

Wildwood welcomes dogs on beach at Poplar Avenue Last September in the heat of a prolonged summer, Wildwood Commissioner Pete Byron went to t

Wildwood City Commissioner Pete Byron, who led the effort that opened the dog beach there, said that it's been so successful they expanded this year to include a fenced area for off-leash dogs.

The animal people are so happy to have this opportunity that they kind of self-police and take care of themselves, he said, adding that dog waste was a non-issue.

Byron said that he chose the single beach as opposed to city-wide access because it accommodated both sides, and because it was much easier to police.

Not everyone is a pet lover, he said.

Byron said that the dog beach has been a tourism boon for the city.

Sometimes youve got to take a chance, he said Youve got to think about the greater overall positive impact on the town.

Ocean City resident Sandy Miller said she supported allowing dogs on the beach.

I think its a good idea as long as they stay on leashes and as long as they pick up, Miller said.

Miller, who was walking her goldendoodle, Coconut, on the beach at 14th Street on a September morning prior to the start of the permitted dog season, said the exercise is good for both of them.

Her concern was the same as many of the nay-sayers, whom Hartzell said had issues with cleanliness.

Hartzell said many of those who opposed the idea werent year-round residents.

Were a beach community and everybody uses the beach, he said. Its not just about the people that live here. People buy tags, youre using the beach.

Hartzell said he had first mentioned the idea to Mayor Jay Gillian and members of council a few times after requests from constituents.

It kind of became a runaway train because I think people thought we were voting on it, we were going to do it, he said.

Hartzell said he was simply trying to solicit feedback. He said he understood the challenges: enforcement, self-policing by citizens, cleanliness and fees.

For now, Ocean City beaches will remain dog-free in the summer, Hartzell said.

Hartzell said there may be a chance for resurrection in the future.

Ill be open-minded if people have ideas. After going through it, I cant imagine what it would be, he said.

Contact: 609-272-7251
Hillary Clinton recently explained her plan to deal with the Islamic State. "We've got to do it with air power," she declared at NBC's Commander-in-Chief Forum, adding that "they are not going to get ground troops. We are not putting ground troops into Iraq ever again. And we're not putting ground troops into Syria. We're going to defeat ISIS without committing American ground troops."

If that sounds familiar, it should. It is a perfect description of the "Clinton Doctrine" - President Bill Clinton's disastrous, failed policy of fighting terrorists from the air.

Why were terrorists emboldened to attack us on 9/11? Because, during Bill Clinton's eight years in office, they had waged a virtually unimpeded offensive against the United States. On Clinton's watch, terrorists launched a string of escalating attacks, each one bolder than the last: the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993; the attack on Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia three years later; the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.

Each of these attacks was carried out with no effective U.S. response. Clinton employed a combination of law enforcement (the arrest of Ramzi Yousef for the World Trade Center bombing) and symbolic, pinprick cruise-missile strikes - firing, in the words of President George W. Bush, "a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent to hit a camel in the butt." The terrorists were allowed to maintain their haven in Afghanistan, where they planned the 9/11 attacks, which was well underway - including the deployment of some of the hijackers to the United States - before Clinton left office.

When al-Qaida carried out those attacks 15 years ago, it never expected that the United States would send ground forces into Afghanistan to remove the Taliban regime and drive the terrorists from their sanctuary. After his capture, 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed told his interrogators that al-Qaida had expected the United States to continue the law enforcement approach it had taken under Clinton, which would have given him time to carry out his planned second wave of attacks. Those attacks were disrupted, he said, by the unexpected ferocity of the U.S. response.

Today, the terrorists no longer fear the ferocity of the United States' response.

On taking office, President Barack Obama attempted to revive the Clinton Doctrine - ramping up airstrikes while withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq and drawing them down dramatically in Afghanistan. The Predator became for Obama what the cruise missile was to Bill Clinton - an easy way to appear as though he was taking tough action against terrorists, when he was in fact following a policy of retreat.

The rise of the Islamic State put a halt to Obama's retreat, but not before the Islamic State cancer was allowed to grow and metastasize across the globe. According to a recent CNN analysis, since Obama dismissed it as the JV team in 2014, the Islamic State has carried out or inspired 143 attacks in 29 countries outside of Iraq and Syria that have killed 2,043 people and injured thousands.

Indeed, in many ways, the security situation today is far more dangerous than it was before Sept. 11, 2001. Our defenses are better, but the threat is more complex.

Today, as in the 1990s, terrorists emboldened by U.S. weakness have launched a series of escalating attacks - in the French cities of Paris and Nice; in Brussels; in San Bernardino, Calif.; in Orlando - with virtually no consequence. And Hillary Clinton's proposed response? Double down on her husband's failed policies and those of his Democratic successor. No ground troops. Airstrikes. Law enforcement.

Bush's strategy was to fight them over there so that we do not have to face them over here. The Clinton strategy is to fight them from the air so that we do not have to face them on the ground. But as we learned on 9/11, if we fight them from the air alone, we will face them on the ground - American ground.

The Clinton Doctrine failed once. Do we really want to go back?
Enough!

Atlantic City is under siege. It has been that way for quite some time but it now seems that every effort is being made to economically crush and politically disfranchise the African-American community.

The latest offense is a proposed referendum to redistrict Atlantic City Council. For those residents unfamiliar with the term, "redistricting" is the process by which the city changes its divisions for representation purposes. The drawing of district or ward lines has major implications for how African-American voices are heard in the halls of local government. Redistricting has been used across the country to dilute black voting strength and make it almost impossible for the needs of the community to be met. The process is often wrought with bias, as so-called neutral redistricting efforts are used by interests outside the community to wrestle political and economic control from local residents.

One device that has been particularly harmful and the subject of many voting rights cases is the use of at-large districts. Electing local officials citywide has been used as a way to minimize black political representation and create a scenario where a black majority population is reduced to minority political representation. When wards or districts exist, it provides the community the opportunity to elect someone truly of their choosing and more likely someone representative of the demographics of the ward. It also improves the likelihood that representation on a city council will reflect the demographics of the whole city in terms of racial and ethnic diversity. At-large scenarios allow for the concentration of resources to dominate an election and produce an outcome that is contrary to the population of the city. Residents learned that years ago in Atlantic City and it's why they now have districts from which they elect council members in addition to at-large seats. It creates a balance that assures us the voices of the whole community will be heard and its needs addressed.

This latest move to disfranchise the black community insults the over 50-year fight in the country for voting rights. It is particularly insulting in this city, second only to Selma as the epicenter in the fight for voting rights. It was here in 1964, on the world famous Boardwalk, that a courageous black woman from Mississippi, Fannie Lou Hamer, led the charge for voting rights at the Democratic National Convention in Convention Hall. Just one year earlier NAACP field secretary Medgar Evers, a champion of civil rights, was assassinated in Mississippi as blacks mounted the fight for their right to vote. It is that history that should command the attention of African-Americans today and cause them to not only be outraged but unified in their efforts to fight the turning back of the clock on civil rights in Atlantic City.

It seems that everyone lays claim to Atlantic City, depletes it to the point of its implosion, and then places blame upon the residents as an excuse to reconstruct the city for their own purposes. For sometime now the people of Atlantic City haven't mattered. That much has been clear. Casino gaming was never intended to benefit the whole community and now we see the remnants of a dying industry with shuttered casinos giving the city the appearance of Roman ruins. Black people in Atlantic City have been treated as an annoyance, as "things" that are in the way of the plans of those who have their designs on this beautiful shore community. Political disfranchisement is the final step to the total subjugation of African-Americans in Atlantic City. It's time all citizens showed that black lives matter here in Atlantic City too.

I urge those who call this city home, who love the city and believe the people have a right to political representation and to be heard, to reject this stealth attack upon the whole community. It matters not who is the face of this effort but more importantly whose interest is being served. We must stand united to preserve voting rights in Atlantic City. History demands our vigilance and it is what we owe to generations before us who shed blood for not just our right to vote but our right to representation of our choice.

The Rev. Collins A. Days Sr. is pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Atlantic City.
The expansion of Medicaid allowed under the Affordable Care Act has outperformed its parent program, especially in New Jersey. While national enrollment in ACA plans has fallen 15 percent just since spring, Medicaid has reduced the share of New Jerseyans without health coverage while saving the state significant money - for now.

Gov. Chris Christie, who was the eighth Republican governor to opt for Medicaid expansion despite opposition to Obamacare, announced at the end of last month that 566,655 additional residents have joined NJ FamilyCare, the state's version of Medicaid. With the higher earnings limits for Medicaid eligibility, NJ FamilyCare now serves 1.7 million low-income and disabled residents.

As of last year, just 8.7 percent of people in the state - 770,000 - didn't have health insurance, down from 1.1 million in 2011, the Census Bureau's American Community Survey showed last week.

The gains have been significant in South Jersey. Those with health insurance increased in the period to 91.5 percent in Atlantic County (from 85.5 percent), to 89.5 percent in Cumberland County (from 84.5), to 90.9 percent in Cape May County (from 88.3), and from 91.5 percent to 93.3 percent in Ocean County, according to an analysis by NJ Spotlight.

Expanded Medicaid also has saved money. The state estimates it will have net savings of $353 million this fiscal year and $355 million the next, reflecting lower payments to hospitals for charity care, increased revenue from state tax on health plans and savings on group coverage.

Christie said the state expenditure per Medicaid beneficiary decreased from $9,690 in fiscal 2014 to $8,940 in fiscal 2015.

This comes after a study early in the year found the share of New Jersey children without coverage had dropped from 6.3 percent to 4.8 percent, with the biggest gains among Hispanic children and South Jersey cities benefiting substantially.

Still, the broader health coverage at what seems a lower cost could turn out to be temporary.

So far, the Affordable Care Act has paid the entire cost of additional people covered under Medicaid. Starting next year, New Jersey will pick up 5 percent of the cost and the following year 10 percent. As the ACA struggles to keep its coverage exchanges functioning despite the withdrawal of major insurers, the federal government may choose to shift more of the Medicaid cost to New Jersey and other states.

Knowing this, Christie said he's "not for Medicaid expansion at any price" and acknowledged it will be future governors who must evaluate the federal program's continued cost-effectiveness.

As we've said before, the coverage gains are certainly worthwhile and in a well-configured insurance and care system should be affordable to society. But clearly more health care reform is needed to make them sustainable.

Our view
(Rewrites throughout, adds weather forecast, adds river forecast, adds quotes, adds byline)

By Karl Plume

CHICAGO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Heavy rains and flooding swamped a broad swathe of the northern Midwest this week, halting the harvest of corn and soybeans and forcing the closure of at least two Iowa crop processing plants, traders and farmers said on Friday.

Farmers' concerns grew that standing water in fields could damage unharvested crops, while floodwaters swelled the Mississippi River and threatened to disrupt the loading of export-bound grain barges.

Parts of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota received several inches of rain at midweek, with two-day rain totals topping 10 inches (25 cm) in some areas, meteorologists said.

The region is expected to see two days of drier weather before more showers through next week, said David Streit, agricultural meteorologist with the Commodity Weather Group.

Cargill Inc stopped taking deliveries of corn and soybeans at its processing plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, due to flooding in the area, with the nearby Cedar River forecast to reach major flood stage over the weekend.

The soy plant is scheduled to be closed through next Wednesday, but it was still buying soybeans and would reassess the closure on Monday, an Iowa grain merchant said.

Farmers, meanwhile, are waiting for fields to drain and dry out before resuming the harvest, a process that will take longer in cooler September weather than it would in midsummer heat.

Soggy conditions and waterlogged fields have raised concerns about crop damage and disease, which could reduce farmer revenues at a time when grain prices are already near multi-year lows.

"If (soybeans) are under water for more than a day or two, it will be bad," said University of Minnesota extension agronomist Seth Naeve.

"Those flooded areas probably will get harvested, but farmers will have to harvest them separately, and have them accepted at elevator at a lower price or at a salvage rate."

Story continues

Just 2 percent of Minnesota's soybeans and 2 percent of Iowa's corn was harvested as of last Sunday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Rising water in the Mississippi River, the main shipping route that links Midwest farms with Gulf Coast export terminals, may halt grain barge loading at some river elevators as vessels are unable to access loading spouts, export traders said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it is currently not planning to close any of the Mississippi's locks as the latest National Weather Service forecast shows water rising near, but not above, the lock-closure stage.

(Additional reporting by Julie Ingwersen and Michael Hirtzer; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alan Crosby)
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.




Hong Kong police say they have recently arrested more than 2,000 people in raids on suspected criminal triad gangs (AFP Photo/Philippe Lopez) (AFP)

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.
DALIAN, China, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On 21st Sept., the 2016 "Healthy China" Forum, hosted by the committee of Global Innovation Forum and sponsored by ZHEN-AO, Shuangdi, Inc. and Gene Tech Biotechnology Co. Ltd., was held in Dalian.

Experts at home and abroad attending the forum and exchanged their ideas and views on the future development of biotechnological innovation and advanced achievements based on current accomplishment of technological innovation of biotechnology and nucleotide. Rolf M. Zinkernagel, the Nobel laureate of Physiology or Medicine, Professor of University of Zurich, also attended the forum and introduced the cutting-edge researches on the safety and nutritional function of nucleotide as well as its future application in immunity and health field.

"Healthy China" is becoming a national strategy and provides a great opportunity for Precision Medicine industry. While enterprises, as a saying goes, "to forge iron, one must be strong", should never stop innovating so as to win the market, according to Chen Yuqi, the vice chairman of China Nutrition and Health Food Association, vice president of China Health Care Association and Chairman & CEO of ZHEN-AO.

ZHEN-AO, based in ZHEN-AO Bio Valley and located in Dalian Advanced Equipment Manufacturing Zone with an area of 38,000 square meters and a total investment over 2.2 billion yuan, is the first enterprise that introduced nucleotide to Chinese families. Bio-manufacturing, bio-pharmaceuticals, biological products, biological agriculture and biological environmental protection constitute the main pillar industries of ZHEN-AO.

Image Attachments Links:

http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=276397

SOURCE ZHEN-AO
HELSINKI, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

New business ecosystem brings together global forerunners and agile ICT start-ups to develop first autonomous shipping solutions in the world.

Empowering the digitalization and harvesting effectively its benefits is priority area in the Governmental Program of Finland. Digitalization has also a strong role in the development of the competitiveness of the Finnish maritime cluster. Autonomous maritime ecosystem is a concrete action of Finnish digitalization strategy and Finnish Marine Industries envisioning.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411187LOGO )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411188 )



The aim is to provide world's first unmanned maritime products, services and vivid ecosystem by 2025. As a part of the ecosystem, the Ministry of Transport and Communications is committed to enable testing of autonomous vessels in Finland in a flexible manner.

The players in the business ecosystem include global leaders like Rolls Royce as well as numerous innovative ICT companies.

Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, is committed financing autonomous marine ecosystem development and boosting new innovations into markets in the coming years.

"We are especially enthusiastic about colliding our world class ICT start-up scene with strong maritime players. New networks will boost exchanging ideas and create pioneering community for intelligent shipping", says program manager Piia Moilanen from Tekes.

In practice, the initiative will create a common roadmap for reaching autonomous marine operations and enables effective co-operation and coordinated development between industry, research institutes, class societies and authorities. The roadmap creation and implementation is steered by a group of leading industry partners.

DIMECC as a team leader

DIMECC Ltd acts as the ecosystem manager and is responsible for the achievement of effective co-operation and concrete objectives between the players.

DIMECC is the leading co-creation platform with a target to speeds up time to market. DIMECC's network consists of 2.000+ R&D&I professionals, 400+ organizations, 69 shareholders and 10+ co-creation facilitators. DIMECC's shareholders contain the leading maritime, ICT and software companies.

Tekes - the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation is the most important publicly funded expert organisation for financing research, development and innovation in Finland.

Further information



Piia Moilanen, Arctic Seas Program manager

piia.moilanen(at)tekes.fi

Puh. +358-50-5577-748



Rauli Hulkkonen, Chief Adviser

rauli.hulkkonen(at)tekes.fi

Tel. +358-2950-55893



DIMECC: World's first system of autonomous ships kicks off at the Baltic Sea - DIMECC's innovation ecosystem brings forerunners and investments to Finland

SOURCE Tekes  the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation
DUBLIN, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "China Attorney Hourly Rate Report 2017" report to their offering.

The "China Attorney Rate Report 2017" is the most comprehensive analysis of the explosive legal market in the People's Republic of China. The growth in legal activity and hourly rates has mirrored the Chinese economy with double-digit growth since 2005. The Report details the hourly rates at major Chinese national Firms as well as non-Chinese Firms trying to make in-roads into the country. China and Asia in general will soon out-strip both the United States and UK legal markets in terms of legal spend, according to the Report.

Key Topics Covered:

1: Rates & Projections for the Top 200

2: Individual Firms Rates & Projections

3: Rates & Projections by Practice Area for Top 200

4: Rates & Projections by Cities for the Top 200

5: Rates & Projections by Industries for the Top 200

Companies Mentioned

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Allen & Overy LLP

Appleby Global Group Services Limited

Ashurst LLP

Covington & Burling LLP

DLA Piper

Dacheng (Dentons)

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

& Wardwell LLP De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Greenberg Traurig LLP

Hammonds LLP

Han Kun Law Offices

Herbert Smith Freehills

Hogan Lovells LLP

Ince & Company

Jade & Fountain PRC Lawyers Corporation

Jones Day

K&L Gates LLP

Mayer Brown LLP

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Morrison & Foerster LLP

Mourant Ozannes

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

Paul Hastings LLP

Reed Smith LLP

Ropes & Gray LLP

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sidley Austin LLP

Troutman Sanders LLP

Vinson & Elkins LLP

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

White & Case LLP

Zhong Lun Law Firm

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/76552v/china_attorney

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

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Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
PUNE, India, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Epoxy resin market in composites is forecast to register the highest growth between 2016 and 2021 driven by increasing applications and technological advancements with overall expected 5.77% CAGR with Asia-Pacific leading the market for epoxy resins, both in terms of volume and value followed by North America and Western Europe.

Complete report on global epoxy resin market spread across 179 pages, profiling 10 companies and supported with 134 tables and 42 figures is now available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/192074-global-epoxy-resin-market-by-application-geography-forecasts-up-to-2017.html .

The global epoxy resin market is projected to reach USD 8.77 billion by 2021, registering a CAGR of 5.77% between 2016 and 2021. The market is witnessing a moderate growth rate owing to increasing applications, technological advancements, and growing demand in Asia-Pacific. Epoxy resin is largely used in paints & coatings applications.

The epoxy resin market in the composites application segment is projected to witness the highest growth in. Economic expansion in the developing countries of Asia-Pacific will raise demand for composites insulation in both building construction and automotive industries.

Asia-Pacific is the largest market for epoxy resin, both in terms of volume and value. It is followed by North America and Western Europe. China, the U.S., and Germany are the largest producers of epoxy resins in these regions. The building & construction is the largest consumer of epoxy resins materials in Asia-Pacific. China and Japan have the largest share in the Asia-Pacific epoxy resin market.

Key vendors profiled in this report such as Olin Corporation (U.S.), Nan Ya Plastics Corporation (Taiwan), Huntsman Corporation (U.S.), Hexion Inc. (U.S.) , Kukdo Chemical Co. Ltd. (South Korea), Chang Chung Plastics Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), Aditya Birla Chemicals (Thailand), The 3M Company (U.S.), BASF SE (Germany) and Sinopec Corporation (China). Order a copy of Epoxy Resin Market by Physical Form (Liquid, Solid, and Solution), Application (Paints & Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants, Composites), End-Use Industry (Building & Construction, Aerospace, Wind Power, Marine, Consumer Goods) - Global Forecast to 2021 research report at http://www.reportsnreports.com/purchase.aspx?name=192074 .

In the process of determining and verifying, the global epoxy resin market size for several segments and sub segments gathered through secondary research, extensive primary interviews were conducted with key people. In Tier 1 (40%), Tier 2 (25%) and Tier 3 (35%) companies were contacted for primary interviews. The interviews were conducted with various key people such as C-level (35%) and Director Level (25%) and others (40%) from various key organizations operating in the global epoxy resin market. The primary interviews were conducted worldwide covering regions such as Asia-Pacific (50%), North America (11%), Western Europe (36%), Central & Eastern Europe (1%), Middle East & Africa (1%) and South America (1%).

On a related note, another research on E-Coat Market Global Forecast to 2021 says, cathodic acrylic is expected to witness the highest growth in the global e-coat market. Asia-Pacific is the largest region in the e-coat market. The global e-coat market is estimated to grow from USD 3.08 billion in 2016 to USD 3.80 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 4.34% between 2016 and 2021. Companies like Axalta Coating Systems, PPG Industries, Inc., BASF SE, Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, Tatung Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd., KCC Corporation, Luvata Oy, Hawking Electro technology Ltd. and NOROO Paint& Coatings Co., Ltd. have been profiled in this 179 pages research report available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/412445-electrocoating-e-coat-market-by-type-cathodic-epoxy-cathodic-acrylic-anodic-by-application-passenger-cars-commercial-vehicles-automotive-parts-accessories-heavy-duty-equipment-appliances-others-by-region-global-forecasts-to-2020.html .

Explore more reports on the Chemicals market at http://www.reportsnreports.com/market-research/chemicals/ .

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HAGEN, Germany, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

EUROPART Premium Parts : B y the end of 2016 with more than 7,000 products in its range

Over 1,500 top-sellers in the new DAF catalogue

EUROPART presents at the IAA 2016 the wide range of spare parts and consumables of EUROPART own brand and the new DAF catalogue.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411160 )

One focus of the EUROPART fair presentation is the extensive range of products of EUROPART own brand. "The demand for high quality alternatives to original parts, matching parts with the same functionality and quality, continues to grow steadily," explains EUROPART CEO Pierre Fleck.

The range of EUROPART own brand now includes more than 6,500 parts, every year 500 new references are added. New in the range, for example, are LED working lights, water pumps, cooler, coolant expansion tanks and fan visco clutches for all common truck models in range of own brand. By the end of 2016 the own brand range will comprise around 7,000 items. "Our goal is to offer our customers all the necessary spare parts, tools and accessories from a single source and, if possible, to offer those as EUROPART own brand Premium Parts" explains Pierre Fleck.

Over 1,500 top-sellers in the new DAF catalogue

The over 320-page EUROPART DAF catalogue covers the extensive program with more than 1,500 articles suitable for DAF model series XF, CF and LF model years 1997 to 2016. Truck specialists, workshops and fleet operators will find the top sellers and all common parts for DAF trucks - organized, and each provided with color image and matching order number.

Pressekontakt:

Stefanie Schmidt

Martinstrae 13

58135 Hagen

st.schmidt@europart.net

Tel.: +49(0)2331-3564-4101



SOURCE EUROPART Holding GmbH
According to Frost & Sullivan, hybrid IT is fast becoming the new normal across organizations in Asia Pacific. The increased utilization of data centers and cloud services in Asia Pacific has led to a gradual update or upgrade of companies' existing IT systems, which is giving rise to the hybrid IT environment. An enhanced customer experience and greater focus on business model innovation is also driving service providers to accelerate their pace of service innovation.

CenturyLink is a leading global hybrid IT solutions provider that powers the needs of 98 per cent of Fortune 500 companies. Frost & Sullivan analysts determined that CenturyLink's leadership in product innovation, coupled with a sound marketing and business development strategy, brought it to the top of the pack.

Sandeep Bazaz, Industry Analyst, Digital Transformation, Asia Pacific at Frost & Sullivan, said that CenturyLink has continued to invest in developing enterprise-class solutions to better serve the changing needs of business and also improve its service portfolio by acquiring companies in service lines of managed services, disaster recovery, cloud application management and database as a service. CenturyLink also provides cost-effective solutions and a strong partner ecosystem that has helped grow its customer base in the Asia Pacific region.

Last year, Frost & Sullivan also presented CenturyLink with the Company of the Year Award for the North American Cloud Industry, in addition to the Asia Pacific Hybrid IT Strategy Award.

"Frost & Sullivan's continued recognition is a clear testimony to CenturyLink's relentless pursuit of excellence and innovative capabilities to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers," said Gery Messer, managing director, Asia Pacific, CenturyLink. "We have a strong team and the right assets in place to help our customers embark and progress on their hybrid IT journey."

CenturyLink's increased commitment to Asia Pacific is reflected in the launch of the CenturyLink Cloud platform in Australia and its exclusive business partnership to provide advanced hosting and managed IT services to enterprises in India (Nxtra Data) earlier this year.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a global communications, hosting, cloud and IT services company enabling millions of customers to transform their businesses and their lives through innovative technology solutions. CenturyLink offers network and data systems management, Big Data analytics and IT consulting, and operates more than 55 data centers in North America, Europe and Asia. The company provides broadband, voice, video, data and managed services over a robust 250,000-route-mile U.S. fiber network and a 300,000-route-mile international transport network. Visit CenturyLink for more information.

Related Links

http://www.centurylink.com



SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.
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

SOURCE GFT Technologies SE
DUBLIN, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Molluscicides Market Analysis & Trends - Industry Forecast to 2025" report to their offering.

The Global Molluscicides Market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 4.4% over the next decade to reach approximately $840.3 billion by 2025.

This industry report analyzes the global markets for Molluscicides across all the given segments on global as well as regional levels presented in the research scope. The study provides historical market data for 2013, 2014 revenue estimations are presented for 2015 and forecasts from 2016 till 2025.

The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies. With comprehensive market assessment across the major geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and Rest of the world the report is a valuable asset for the existing players, new entrants and the future investors.

The study presents detailed market analysis with inputs derived from industry professionals across the value chain. A special focus has been made on 23 countries such as U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, Spain, France, Italy, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, etc. The market data is gathered from extensive primary interviews and secondary research.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Market Outline

2 Executive Summary

3 Market Overview

4 Molluscicides Market, By Application

5 Molluscicides Market, By Material

6 Molluscicides Market, By Source

7 Molluscicides Market, By Mode Of Applications

8 Molluscicides Market, By Geography

9 Leading Companies

Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd.

American Vanguard Corporation

BASF SE

Bayer Cropscience AG

Certis Europe B.V.

De Sangosse SAS

Doff Portland Ltd.

Farmco Agritrading Ltd

Lonza Group AG

Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc.

Sharda Europe

Sipcam Ltd

The Scotts Company Ltd

Unichem Limited

W. Neudorff GmbH Kg

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fqmnrm/global

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

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Related Links

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SOURCE Research and Markets
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

At the onset of the financial crisis in 2009, the members of the largest economies in the world launched a crusade against tax havens and banking secrecy.

Eight years later, IMD business school Professor Arturo Bris says the Swiss private banking industry has been unfairly treated and abused using questionable arguments extraterritoriality - KPMG reports that the number of private banks in Switzerland has declined 24% between 2008 and 2015. The US and the European Union have signed exchange-of-information treaties with many countries, and the list of tax havens has been reduced.

"What has probably been one of the most successful battles fought after the financial crisis - the elimination of tax advantages to individuals - has pursued the wrong target," said Professor Bris.

He points out that US, British and other taxpayers were actually defrauding in their home countries, not in Switzerland or the Cayman islands.

"In many cases, as was the case with Switzerland, banking secrecy was massively confused with tax advantages that are gained by charging lower rates to individuals. Tax competition may be considered unfair and undesirable when capital is movable and the wealthier can chose, by means of residency or through shell companies, the lowest possible income and wealth tax rates," he said. "However, this argument does not seem to hold for corporations."

Bris's point being made with the recent letter sent to leaders of the EU members from the Business Roundtable, a group of CEOs who account for $7 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 16 million employees. The letter expresses discontent about the recent decision of the European Commission that ordered Ireland to recover up to 13 billion from Apple, plus interest, for alleged tax savings that were unfairly granted by the government of Ireland. The letter was sent on behalf of CEOs from companies such as General Electric, JP Morgan Chase, Exxon Mobile and Johnson & Johnson.

"The letter makes two essential points," Bris said. "First, that the rule of law must prevail and that the Commission's demand on Apple is illegal; and second, that the US-based CEOs have the power to threaten the European Union with financial harm and pain by significantly reducing their investment."

Mr. John Engler, a former Michigan governor and signer of the letter as President of the Business Roundtable, makes no claim regarding the fairness of the European Commission's demands.

"I find it outrageous that Apple's tax rate in 2015 was 0.005% as the Commission has alleged. Yet I find it even more insulting in the disparity of the world that this shows, knowing that the demand comes from the US. How can those who have fought against personal tax havens in the last years now be so complacent with corporations such as Apple and other multinationals? These companies are clearly avoiding taxes to increase their competitiveness all at the expense of the countries where they operate," Bris said

Bris believes that in the coming years, tax policy will be one of the most effective tools that countries will use to ease income and wealth inequality. But the starting point has to be corporate - not personal taxes. Apple's tax rate is infinitesimal compared to the personal tax rates faced by any of its customers or employees. Bris says this is detrimental to world prosperity and competitiveness for three reasons:

First, because the vast majority of Apple's shareholders, who benefit the most from low taxes, are based in the US. Through globalization Apple is increasing the gap between rich countries (like the US) and the rest. What Nobel prize winner Angus Deaton has called "the Great Escape," will only be more difficult as nations that need tax revenues, especially those coming from large corporations, are deprived from them.

Second, because tax advantages to companies widen the gap between capital and labor income, they increase income inequalities within countries. Corporate taxes are taxes on capital income for individuals.

Third, because pre-defined advantages make the world less competitive. While these unpaid taxes in the European Union are probably benefitting Ireland (at the expense of other members of the EU), they are overall making the EU less competitive vis-a-vis the US and UK. It is therefore perfectly legitimate - I would even argue highly desirable - that the European Commission gets the unpaid taxes back.

Professor Arturo Bris is Director of the IMD World Competitiveness Center.

About IMD

IMD is a top-ranked business school based in Switzerland and Singapore. We are the experts in developing global leaders through high-impact executive education and offer a Global Leader Index where executives can benchmark themselves. We are 100% focused on real-world executive development; we offer Swiss excellence with a global perspective; and we have a flexible, customized, and effective approach. (http://www.imd.org)

Contact:

Matthew Mortellaro

+41 21 618 03 52

Matthew.Mortellaro@imd.org



SOURCE IMD International
A self-driving car may someday have to decide between your life and the lives of others. But how should the car choose? If you dont know how to make that decision, thats okay  Washington doesnt either.

Thats one big takeaway in a new, lengthy document from the Department of Transportation that lays out options to make autonomous vehicles saferand represents the most public sign of the attention self-driving cars are getting from politicians despite their inability to vote.

Over just the past three months, a Tesla driver died when his cars autopilot software failed to detect a turning tractor-trailer, Ford (F) began showing off its own autonomous (and exceedingly polite) vehicles, Lyft founder John Zimmer predicted that the majority of that ride-hailing services trips would involve self-driving cars by 2021, and Uber launched a trial of self-driving cars in Pittsburghin which human drivers remain seated upfront, just in case.

Its enough to make Google, once the most public advocate of driverless cars, look like its falling behind.

The rapid progress has also left government policy makers and auto-industry lawyers with their own catching up to do.

DOT on the spot

On Tuesday, the Obama administration set out its plan to bring national oversight to self-driving cars that, as President Obama argued in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette op-ed, bring such benefits as safer, more accessible driving and less congested, less polluted roads.

Remember, we human drivers arent as good as we think. US motor-vehicle crashes killed 35,902 people in 2015, and driver choice or error caused 94% of those accidents.

The Department of Transportations proposed framework, as outlined in a 116-page National Highway Traffic Safety Administration document, stresses guidance over regulation.

NHTSAs recommended Safety Assessment covers 15 criteria, from Data Recording and Sharing to Object and Event Detection and Response. The agency doesnt stipulate metrics and in some cases tosses the hard choices for Highly Automated Vehicles to the industry.

Story continues

For example, under Ethical Considerations, the paper shies away from a bright-line rule like, say, A self-driving car may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Instead, it admits that when a self-driving car can only protect one person at the cost of another, its programming will have a significant influence over the outcome for each individual. Yes, it will.

NHTSA counsels against expecting people to take over after a software malfunction: human drivers may be inattentive, under the influence of alcohol or other substances, drowsy or physically impaired in some other manner.

Thats something Google learned early on, when it found that Google employees whod volunteered to test self-driving cars started ignoring the road  even though cameras in test cars recorded their behavior.

Its complicated

Today, car manufacturers certify their own vehicles, after which NHTSA conducts spot checks and, if necessary, orders recalls. The paper devotes much of its length to exploring other alternatives, from the kind of pre-market testing the Federal Aviation Authority does to certify each new aircraft type to intermediate levels of regulation that might involve third-party testing.

My own prediction: NHTSA will gravitate towards enforcement mechanisms that dont require new legislation, since weve all seen how inefficient Congress can be at moving forward with tech policy.

A panel discussion at a conference in New York revealed other potential complications, most involving the information that a self-driving or only partially-autonomous car must handle to do its job.

Autonomous vehicles create and generate an enormous amount of data, said Allison Hoff Cohen, managing counsel at Toyota (TM). For self-driving cars to take off, she said, that data must stay private by default  with clear customer incentives for any disclosure you might make.

Who would want that data? Car-insurance firms, for one. For years, some have offered discounts to motorists willing to have their driving habits tracked; panel moderator Jonathan Beckham, a lawyer with Greenberg Traurig, suggested insurers would line up to offer additional benefits if they could get more insight about drivers of partially autonomous vehicles.

State and local governments looking to ease traffic will also want to tap into the artificial brainpower of self-driving cars, observed Darius Withers, in-house counsel at Accenture LLP (and a regular on Washingtons Beltway). The data is particularly valuable to them, he said.

Until cars reach total autonomy  at which point the steering wheel goes away  well also have to decide how much liability falls upon drivers who disable all or part of a cars automated systems.

Toyotas Cohen noted that a car that can read the roads could also read its occupants. She sketched out a future in which an autonomous car would drop a parent off at her job, then return home and take the kids to school, recognizing each family member automatically.

That could streamline many family errands, but it would also intersect with different privacy rules  which, as she said in a conversation after the panel, get particularly strict in Europe.

Starting off in first gear

The politics of all this are almost guaranteed to get weird. People have understandable hangups about yielding control to robots, even when theyre demonstrably worse than their machines, and the high prices of many vehicles sold today with assisted-driving features threaten to add a little class resentment to the mix.

And itll only take one story about somebody behaving grossly irresponsibly in a self-driving car to set back the entire discussion.

But we have to figure this out. Tens of thousands of lives are at stake, year after year. I dont know how long it will take to put self-driving cars into wide and accepted use, but I hope its less than 10 years from now  when my daughter will be old enough to get her drivers license.

More from Rob:

Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

BASF CEO to head the German Chemical Industry Association

The Annual General Meeting of the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) in Dusseldorf has elected Dr. Kurt Bock as the VCI's next president. Bock is Chairman of the Executive Board of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen and has been a member of the VCI executive council and board since fall 2011. His two-year term begins on September 24, 2016 and runs as stipulated in the by-laws until the 2018 annual general meeting.

Speaking as the newly elected president, Bock said: "The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is in the midst of radical change. Globalization and digitization are transforming production and business models in our industry. This comes at a time when rapidly growing populations in emerging and developing countries and the need for sustainable development are calling for new solutions. This process of transformation offers huge potential to boost competitiveness and innovation and strengthen Germany's industrial base. Chemical and pharmaceutical industry players have the expertise and the ideas to help shape the necessary technological and societal change in a responsible way. With a sustainable and forward-looking "Chemie 4.0" we can make a major contribution to improving prosperity and quality of life. The best way to realize this opportunity is if all the relevant stakeholders in industry, politics and civil society pull together."

The VCI vice-presidents elected at the meeting are

Werner Baumann , Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Bayer AG,

, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Bayer AG, Hans Van Bylen , Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA,

, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Dr. Klaus Engel , Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Evonik Industries AG.

The president and three vice-presidents constitute the association's executive board.

Please note: You will find photos and a curriculum vitae of Dr. Kurt Bock under: http://www.vci.de/pressefotos

VCI

Phone +49/69-2556-1496

E-Mail: presse@vci.de

SOURCE The German chemical industry association (VCI)
VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global special purpose needles market is projected to be valued at US$ 17,261.5 million by the end of 2026, registering a CAGR of 7.4% during the forecast period (2016-2026). In a new report titled "Special Purpose Needles Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026", Future Market Insights delivers key insights on the factors and trends impacting the global special purpose needles market over a 10-year forecast period (2016-2026).

The market for special purpose needles is witnessing steady growth across the globe owing to an increasing geriatric population. According to analysts at Future Market Insights, "Increasing prevalence of diabetes and infectious diseases and increasing incidence of cancer and spine disorders across the globe are the primary factors driving the growth of the global special purpose needles market." Availability of better reimbursement options for some types of special purpose needles in developed economies is likely to propel demand for special purpose needles over the forecast period. A key trend witnessed in the global special purpose needles market is the development of advanced techniques in the production of special purpose needles to facilitate enhanced patient safety and comfort. However, rise in awareness on needle free injections and risks associated with injections are major factors expected to hamper the overall growth of the special purpose needles market over the forecast period.

Request for Free Sample Report with Table of Contents: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-583

The global special purpose needles market can be segmented on the basis of product type (Fine Aspirating Needles, Biopsy Needles, Hypodermic Needles, Pen Needles, Suture Needles, IV Catheter Needles, Implantation Needles, Dental Needles, Ophthalmic Needles, Blood Collection Needles, Spinal Anaesthesia Needles, Epidural Needles, AV Fistula Needles, Cannula Needles); application (Sample Collection, Drug Delivery); and distribution channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Private Clinics, Retail Pharmacies and Drug Stores, E-Commerce).

Segmentation highlights

The Pen Needles product type segment is expected to gain popularity over the forecast period, driven by increasing global adoption of small sized needles for insulin injections. The Pen Needles product type segment is estimated to reach a valuation of US$ 644.3 Mn by the end of 2016, registering a CAGR of 9.1% over the forecast period.

by the end of 2016, registering a CAGR of 9.1% over the forecast period. The Sample Collection application segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.7% while the Drug Delivery application segment is expected to register a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period.

Demand for special purpose needles over the forecast period is expected to be the highest in the Hospital Pharmacies distribution channel segment, which is expected to register a CAGR of 8.5% in terms of value.

Regional forecast

The North America market has been estimated to dominate the special purpose needles market while the market in APEJ is expected to be the fastest growing in terms of revenue growth. The markets in North America, Western Europe, and APEJ are estimated to collectively hold 74.7% market share of the global special purpose needles market in 2016.

Preview Analysis on Global Special Purpose Needles Market Share Analysis by Region: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/special-purpose-needles-market

Vendor insights

Medtronic, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Terumo Corporation, Smiths Medical, Boston Scientific Corporation, Novo Nordisk A/S, Argon Medical Devices, Inc., Stryker Corporation, NIPRO Medical Corporation, Cook Medical, and SERAG-WIESSNER GmbH & Co. are some of the major companies operating in the global special purpose needles market. These companies are adopting innovative strategies to bring in improvements to their product design and are initiating advanced R&D activities and market consolidation to strengthen market foothold and expand customer base.

More From FMI's Cutting-edge Intelligence:

Wearable Medical Devices Market Segmentation By Product - Wearable Therapeutic, Monitoring and Diagnostic Devices; By Application Type - Patient Monitoring, Sports and Fitness; By Distribution Channels - Hospital Pharmacies, Clinics, Online Channels and Hypermarkets: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/wearable-medical-devices-market

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Market Segmentation By Product - Stand-Alone NPWT Devices, Portable NPWT Devices, Single Use Disposable NPWT Devices and NPWT Accessories (Canisters); By End User - Hospitals, Clinics and Home Care Settings: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/negative-pressure-wound-therapy-market

Laparoscopic Devices Market Segmentation By Therapeutic Application - Bariatric Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, General Surgery, Gynaecological Surgery, Urological Surgery; By Product - Direct Energy System, Trocars/Access Device, Internal Closure Devices, Laparoscopes, Hand Access Instruments, Insufflation Devices, Robotic Assisted Surgical System; By End-Use - Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Internal Closure Devices, Clinics: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/laparoscopic-devices-market

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Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends.

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
PALAISEAU, France, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

An in-depth look at a few truly innovative products to look out for!

2 products awarded by Systematic Paris Region for the quality and strong industrial potential of their innovation: Soleka (Reuniwatt) and MeshGems (Distene)

In accordance with its strategic plan, Systematic Paris-Region is truly fulfilling its role as a factory for creating new products. Over 160 products have originated from its collaborative R&D projects. During its Annual Convention, 2 products from a selection of 10 innovations originating from the cluster's projects have been rewarded by an independent high quality jury[1], in light of the significance of their innovation and the benefits they bring to the market.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160219/335212LOGO )



Soleka and MeshGems, the 2 products rewarded at Systematic's Annual Convention

The Reuniwatt company unanimously received the Jury Award for Soleka, its SaaS solution: a solar power forecasting tool easing the introduction of renewable energies in the energy mix.

Power supply managers must be able to ensure that the supply and demand for electricity are equal at all times. However, solar power is an intermittent energy that cannot be stored, which can jeopardise the network's equilibrium. Thanks to Soleka, solar farm and smart grid operators have the key data they need in order to make decisions regarding solar energy supply levels.

The Ecosystem Prize[2] was awarded to Distene and its MeshGems Suite of Meshing Software Components. The MeshGems technologies aim to optimize the link between CAD and the simulation-based design in Industry. Integrated into more than 60 CAD/CAE software vendors such as ANSYS, Autodesk, CST, Dassault Systemes, LSTC, MSC Software, Siemens PLM, and many others, MeshGems has established itself as the market leader in the world: in fact, most of the CAE engineers in industry certainly already used this technology without even knowing it.

Among the products shortlisted by the cluster for participation in these awards:

Asterios (Krono-Safe) : an automated integration solution for real-time applications

BlueHomeCare (Bluelina): a range of innovative services designed for dependent people

Calliope LTE Platform (Sequans) : an LTE communication platform for Internet-connected objects

ISAP (Egidium Technologies) : a monitoring and real-time decision support platform for the protection of critical infrastructures

LYNX (Evitech): a crowd situation analysis solution for threat detection and for the monitoring of sensitive sites.

About Systematic Paris-Region - http://www.systematic-paris-region.org - @Pole_SYSTEMATIC | LinkedIn

With its Open Innovation focus, the Systematic Paris-Region innovation and technology cluster brings together an ecosystem of excellence of 800 members. Systematic connects stakeholders from software, digital and industry, and boosts digital projects through collaborative innovation, SME development, networking and business sourcing, across a range of strategic sectors: energy, telecoms, healthcare, transport, information systems, factory of the future, digital city, and security. The cluster is also promotes its members, its region and its innovation projects, with the aim of raising their profile and enhancing the attractiveness of the Paris Region and its ecosystem.

The cluster and its projects are strongly supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the French State (Direccte) and Paris Region.

--------------------------------------------------

1. The jury consisted of Olivier Ezratti, Consultant; Aurelie Barbaux, Usine Digitale; Yannick Levi, Parrot; Laurent Kott, Inria; Fadwa Sube, Optiva Capital / member of Systematic's Executive board; Paul Richardet, Numa; Yann Glever, Deloitte and Maris Raishvarg, Partech Shaker

2. Opened to votes through Internet

Contact: Sabrina Peseux, Head of Communications - sabrina.peseux@systematic-paris-region.org

SOURCE Systematic Paris-Region
ALBANY, New York, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Some of the leading companies operating in the Middle East and Africa technetium-99m market are General Electric Company, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Siemens Healthineers, Advanced Cyclotron Systems, Inc., and IBA. Transparency Market Research finds that most companies in this avenue are focused on presenting a diverse and technologically advanced product portfolio to maintain a strong foothold in the technetium-99m market. Establishing a strong distribution channel and making the most of their innovation capabilities also form a part of the players' competitive strategy.

The opportunity in the Middle East and Africa technetium-99m market was pegged at US$273.3 mn in 2015 and is projected to be worth US$636.1 mn by 2026, expanding at a CAGR of 8.1% therein.

Browse Latest Research Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/technetium-99m-market.html

Gamma Cameras Hold Leading Share in MEA Technetium-99m Market

By isotopic application, gamma cameras held the leading share in the technetium-99m market in MEA, creating an incremental opportunity of US$164.7 mn over the course of the forecast period. The SPECT segment, on the other hand, is projected to register a 9.0% CAGR from 2016 to 2026, higher than any other application segment. While hospitals formed the leading end-user segment of the technetium-99m market, diagnostic centers are currently the most attractive segment in terms of CAGR. Geographically, Turkey formed the leading regional segment in 2015 and is projected to value US$151.1 mn by 2024, expanding at a 9.6% CAGR from 2016 to 2026.

Advancement in Imaging Technologies a Key Contributor

"The prevalence of non-communicable and chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiac disorders, is much higher in the developing economies of MEA than communicable diseases and this is mainly attributed to the rise in life expectancy, changes in lifestyle, and the growing percentage of geriatrics," the author of the study notes. These factors have resulted in the increased demand for diagnostic equipment and imaging procedures, thereby driving the demand for technetium-99m. In addition, the advancement in imaging technologies, such as SPECT/CT, are fueling the demand for technetium-99m in various radiopharmaceutical applications.

Download Sample Report Copy or for further inquiries, click here: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=14858

Reactor Outages Limiting Production of Mo-99 in MEA

TMR notes that the frequency of planned or unplanned reactor outages has been limiting the production of Mo-99, which restricts the growth of the technetium-99m market in MEA. Other factors acting as deterrents include the rising adoption of alternative imaging modalities and the shortage of technicians, radiologists, and medical professionals in the MEA.

On the bright side, the rising adoption of dual modality imaging techniques and hybrid imaging is projected to drive the use of technetium-99m in the Middle East. "Diagnostic imaging procedures are likely to be revolutionized by the use of multimodality imaging techniques because of their applicability in the development of personalized treatment plans," the lead analyst predicts. This will lead to the growing adoption of technetium-99m.

Several countries around the world have begun focusing on non-reactor-based production of Mo-99 without the use of highly enriched uranium and this method holds immense promise for the technetium-99m market in MEA.

Browse Press Release on Regional Industry: http://www.europlat.org/mea-technetium-99m-market.htm

This review is based on the findings of a TMR report titled "Technetium-99m Market: - MEA Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2016 - 2026."

MEA Technetium-99m Market, by Isotopic Segment

Gamma Camera

SPECT

MEA Technetium-99m Market, by End-user

Hospitals

Diagnostic Centers

MEA Technetium-99m Market, by Geography

Saudi Arabia

Algeria

Bahrain

Cyprus

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Israel

Jordan

Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Mauritania

Oman

Palestine

Qatar

Syria

Tunisia

Turkey

Yemen

Browse Related Research Reports:

Radiopharmaceuticals Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/radiopharmaceuticals-market.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/radiopharmaceuticals-market.html Nuclear Medicine/Radiopharmaceuticals Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/nuclear-medicine-radiopharmaceuticals-market.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/nuclear-medicine-radiopharmaceuticals-market.html Computed Tomography (CT) Systems Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ct-systems-market.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.

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
A Global Gathering Presents Tremendous Opportunities

Supported by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Australian Consulate, UK Trade and Investment, the French Consulate, and other consulates and commercial counselor's offices in China, the 3rd SIC will host over a hundred brands from Japan, Australia, Taiwan, HK, Germany, France and more. The Japanese Pavilion, for example, will present over 40 leading brands including TOTO, Paramount Bed, Shiga-SH, Anjoy, Erecta, NAKA, TacaoF and Aiphone. Over 20 renowned Australian enterprises will feature their advanced home nursing and healthcare services plus healthcare consultation services and systems. Taiwan will bring over 30 reputable brands and enterprises such as Huijia, Bedding World, Jet Crown, and Nam Liong.

Five Exhibition Areas Showcase First-Tier Name Brands

The SIC's 30,000 m2 exhibition space is divided into five thematic exhibition areas: the International Zone, Barrier Free Living, Rehabilitation Services, Elderly Smart Care and Healthy Living. The Barrier Free Living area will showcase leading-edge furniture, building materials, bathroom items, architectural designer brands, products, digital technology and design solutions for the elderly. The Rehabilitation Services area presents high-quality safety products and services for the elderly, including known brands such as Da Fukang, Shidao and Guangdong Prosthetic Rehabilitation Center. The Elderly Smart Care area will feature the new concept "Internet + Smart Living for the Elderly" to showcase first class healthcare management systems, wearable health devices, smart home technology and products. The Healthy Living area will showcase the global pursuit and understanding of a healthy lifestyle, including healthcare and leisure, tourist and cultural services for the elderly.

Summit Forum Provides Insight into Industry Restructuring

The 2016 China International Silver Industry Summit Forum will be staged during the 3rd SIC. The forum will be keynoting on innovations and breakthroughs in the industry's supply-side reforms. A total of 20 sessions including the plenary, parallel and special sessions, and business matchmaking meetings will be held to provide forward-looking insight about the reforms, senior housing development and operation, overseas elderly care practices and cases, and innovations in professional training. It is estimated that over 10,000 representatives will participate.

Forum highlights include the China-Japan Silver Industry Seminar, organized in conjunction with JETRO, to provide exclusive matchmaking opportunities for the exhibitors and Japanese enterprises. The China-Australia Retirement Forum, jointly organized with the Australian Trade Commission, is to interpret new developments, policies and trends in the silver industry of the two countries. Furthermore, "one-on-one" procurement sessions will be provided to pair reputable real estate developers and chain stores with suppliers and distributors to cut business deals at a highly-efficient, rapid and direct fashion.

Pre-registration for SIC has begun on the official website, www.silverindustry.cn/en, where visitors can obtain an exclusive bar code for quick entry to exhibition venues. Visitors with priority pre-registration shall receive their visitor pass in the mail from the organizer, FOC. Pre-registration before November 4 qualifies attendees for free tickets to forum sessions and other exclusive privileges -- this is truly an event worth waiting for!

Contact:

Ms. Xia Lingxu

Tel: +86 (0)20 89899600 / +86 13570451966

E-mail: xialingxu@polycn.com

Related Links

http://www.silverindustry.cn



SOURCE Guangzhou Poly Jinhan Exhibition Company Limited
LONDON, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Is cancer patients' survival improved by high-throughput gene sequencing? A prospective clinical trial demonstrates that establishing molecular portraits improves survival of cancer patients by identifying actionable mutations for which an ad hoc targeted therapy can be offered. The final results of the MOSCATO trial (NCT01566019) will be disclosed this Friday September 23rd during an inaugural presentation at the MAP meeting, co-founded and co-organized by Cancer Research-UK.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160527/373029LOGO )



"The primary objective of the MOSCATO trial was to demonstrate that incorporating high-throughput gene sequencing and using it to make therapeutic decisions could improve the clinical outcome for at least 25% of advanced/metastatic cancer patients. Final results showed that 33% of patients had an improved survival. This is the first demonstration that comprehensive genomic analysis could improve the clinical outcome for cancer patients" stated Pr Jean-Charles Soria, PI of the MOSCATO trial and Chairman of the Drug Development Department at Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus in Paris. Pr Soria will present the final results of MOSCATO during the MAP congress (Molecular Analysis for Personalised therapy).

"This positive result is particularly remarkable because the MOSCATO trial (Molecular Screening for CAncer Treatment Optimization) specifically excluded patients with well-established actionable targets for which approved and marketed targeted drugs are available (ie lung cancer with EGFR mutation, or ALK translocation, B-RAF mutant melanoma, GIST with KIT mutations or breast cancer with HER2 amplification)." stated Pr Fabrice Andre, Head of the INSERM U981 research laboratory, and co-designer of the trial.

MOSCATO trial is an academic trial performed and sponsored by Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus. It enrolled 1110 patients between November 2011 and March 2016. Patients enrolled in this trial suffered from various forms of solid tumors (lung, breast, head and neck, genito-urinary, gastro-intestinal, and a variety of rare cancers). An on-purpose tumor biopsy was collected from consenting patients, and tumor DNA was analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) in the French NCI-labeled genetic platform at Gustave Roussy. Within a median of 14 days after the biopsy, an expert panel of scientists (biologists and bio-informaticians) and clinicians reviewed the results to define actionable molecular alterations and select ad hoc therapies.

Pr Gilles Vassal, Head of Clinical Research at Gustave Roussy, stated "MOSCATO is one among 12 trials deployed within the precision medecine initiative at Gustave Roussy. However it is the first trial to demonstrate in a prospective manner that precision medecine improves survival. This trial has requested a strong and large commitment from the whole institution, leveraging on multiple expertises: clinical teams, interventional radiologists, bio-pathologists, bio-informaticians, bio-statisticians, as well as clinical research and sponsoring personnel".

"Among the 411 patients with an actionable target (49% of all enrolled patients with an available biopsy), 199 patients were treated with an ad hoc targeted therapy (19% of all enrolled patients with an available biopsy)." stated Dr Christophe Massard, head of the early drug development multidisciplinary committee at Gustave Roussy.

To evaluate the clinical benefit of the targeted therapy, the patient was used as its own control. The progression-free survival (PFS) from the most recent therapy on which the patient had just experienced progression before enrolment in MOSCATO was established for each patient. This PFS was compared to the PFS observed under the targeted therapy selected within the MOSCATO trial. Indeed, it is well established in oncology that as patients progress across multiple lines of therapies, PFS durations tend to decrease at each consecutive new line. The vast majority of the targeted therapies selected within the MOSCATO trial, where those available within open phase I trials running at Gustave Roussy (over 60 phase 1 trials are currently enrolling patients within the Drug Development Department at Gustave Roussy).

33% of patients treated within the MOSCATO trial had an improved outcome (at least a 30% increase of their PFS with the targeted therapy as compared to their baseline reference PFS). Moreover, 62% of the patients had disease control (ie objective response or stable disease).

"While SAFIR 01 has proven the feasibility of performing complex molecular characterisation of tumours in daily clinical practice, the MOSCATO trial demonstrates that this approach is effective to improve cancer patients'outcome" highlighted Pr Jean-Charles Soria.

Source : The MAP meeting, 23rd of september 2016, London- http://www.map-onco.net/

SOURCE Gustave Roussy
NEW YORK, September 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

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.

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SOURCE TechSci Research
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the hottest races of this election year is happening right here in Pennsylvania. The Senate race between Pat Toomey (R) and Katie McGinty (D) will impact both the state of Pennsylvania and the balance of power on Capitol Hill. On Monday, October 24th, the two candidates will have an opportunity to make their case to the voters as 6abc presents the 2016 Pennsylvania Senate Race Debate. Moderated by Action News anchor Jim Gardner, the debate will take place at Lew Klein Hall, Temple Performing Arts Center.

The one-hour LIVE event starts at 7pm and will be the final televised debate before Election Day. The debate is presented by 6abc and the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters. Expect to hear the candidates discussing the key issues including the economy, jobs, and immigration.

"It is every citizen's right and privilege to vote and we're very proud to present this critical debate to our viewers to help them make their decision," says Bernie Prazenica  6abc President & General Manager. "Pennsylvania voters have a chance to impact the balance of power in the Senate and we hope this debate will give the candidates a chance to make their positions clear to the voters."

"It is fitting that Temple University, a state-related university, be the location for this debate just one week before an election that is important to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to our nation," said Temple President Richard M. Englert.

6abc Action News is the #1 local news brand in the tri-state, and the undisputed news leader for the past 35 years. 6abc.com, the official website of Action News, is also the #1 local TV news website in the market.

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania is a grassroots membership organization dedicated to encouraging informed and active participation in government by all Pennsylvanians, working to increase understanding of major local, Pennsylvania and national public policy issues, and influencing public policy through education and advocacy.

SOURCE WPVI-TV

Related Links

http://www.wpvi.com


ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Family Physicians announced the recipients of its most prestigious awards this week at its annual meeting. Four family physicians from across the nation were recognized for their outstanding contributions to family medicine and the health of the public.

Each of these awards recognizes family physicians who have made exceptional advances in furthering the health of their communities through service and education.

Karen L. Smith , MD, FAAFP, of Raeford, North Carolina , was named the national 2017 Family Physician of the Year. The award honors one outstanding family physician who provides patients with compassionate, comprehensive care, and serves as a role model in his or her community, to other health professionals, and to residents and medical students.

Smith has served the citizens of rural Hoke County, North Carolina, for more than two decades. She provides the full spectrum of family medicine, from obstetrics to care for the elderly. "The Power of Touch: Spiritual, Physical and Emotional" are words she lives by, both in her clinical work and personal life. Despite running a bustling independent family medicine practice, Smith's care extends beyond the exam room to her family and community.

Raeford is located in an impoverished rural area of the state where primary care physicians are in short supply. Smith invests heavily in her community, and in 2004, she built a state-of-the-art clinic to serve patients. This established her as one of Hoke County's most important and progressive health care providers.

More than a decade ago, Smith's practice was one of the first rural, independent family medicine practices to simultaneously invest in technology such as interactive patient portals and kiosk-based check-ins. Smith has since earned a national reputation as a leading proponent, early adopter and expert in health information technology, such as electronic health records. She also is an aggressive promoter of computer literacy among her patient population.



David Gaus , MD, a family physician in Madison, Wisconsin , was awarded the AAFP's Humanitarian Award. The Humanitarian Award honors extraordinary and enduring humanitarian efforts by AAFP members, both within and beyond the borders of the United States .

Gaus is founder and executive director of Andean Health & Development in Ecuador, based at the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The mission of AHD is to provide quality, sustainable health care for rural Latin America. The hospital provides high quality secondary care to an extended community of 80,000 and also serves as a training ground for physicians, nurses and other leaders in the local community.

After receiving a bachelor's degree in accounting at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Gaus traveled to Ecuador where he spent two years volunteering at an orphanage. The experience was life changing and led him to medical school, followed by residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He returned to Ecuador and soon discovered that rural hospital care was the country's greatest need.

Working with Father Theodore Hesburgh, former president of Notre Dame, Dr. Gaus founded AHD in 1997. Their pilot project was a hospital in the underserved community of Pedro Vicente Maldonado. It opened in 2000 and by 2007 was financially self-sustaining.

Nick Turkal , MD, a family physician in Milwaukee, Wisconsin , received the Robert Graham Physician Executive Award. This award is reserved for AAFP members whose executive skills in health care organizations have contributed to excellence in the provision of high quality health care, and demonstrated that family physicians can have an impact on improving the overall health of the nation.



Turkal currently serves as chief executive officer of Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, Wisconsin . He leads the strategic vision and daily operations for Wisconsin's largest integrated health care provider and largest private employer. He oversees clinical quality work that is recognized nationally. Aurora is the top performing health system in the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project, a CMS partnership with Premier, Inc., a nationwide organization of not-for-profit hospitals. It provides financial rewards to hospital that demonstrate high quality performance in acute care.



During his decade of service as CEO, Aurora has grown from a $3 billion to more than $5 billion enterprise. He has set the gold standard for cutting wasteful spending and reinvesting in programs that increase quality and access.

John Beasley , MD, a family physician in Madison, Wisconsin , received the Thomas W. Johnson Award. The award recognizes people who have made outstanding contributions to family medicine education in undergraduate, graduate and continuing education spheres.



Beasley currently serves as clinical professor at the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison . He has contributed more than 40 years of service toward the advancement of family medicine education on local, regional, national and international stages.



His clinical interests include EEG reading (electrical activity in the brain) and aviation medicine. He was one of the co-developers of the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) course. He founded the Wisconsin Research Network and was the founding chair of the International Federation of Primary Care Research Networks.

About the American Academy of Family Physicians

Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 124,900 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits -- that's 214 million visits annually -- 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America's underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine's cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.



To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP's award-winning consumer website, www.FamilyDoctor.org.

SOURCE American Academy of Family Physicians

Related Links

http://www.aafp.org


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
NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The challenges of complying with global regulations for the Life Sciences industry when managing healthcare professional (HCP) interactions have been on the rise around the world. That fact has driven AHM, with nearly 20 years of experience as a leading global provider of software and service solutions for the management of HCP interactions, to share its industry knowledge with healthcare organizations across countries and continents.

Healthcare organizations (HCOs) in Europe and other regions around the world are centralizing their HCP interactions management. Europe, particularly, has seen ever-increasing regulatory oversight as a result of the newly implemented European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) Guidelines. EFPIA represents 1,900 European HCOs. These strict regulations have led AHM to bring together trusted experts and opinion leaders to share best practices and compliance solutions for managing HCP interactions at two important upcoming European events in October:

First, AHM hosts its third international event, Life Sciences European Compliant HCP Interactions & Risk Mitigation Seminar , on October 4 th in Windsor, UK . Industry subject matter experts will share their challenges, best practices and innovative solutions to address complex transparency requirements and the ever-changing HCP compliance landscape. Several solution leaders, including Cvent and Porzio Life Sciences, whose consulting services and compliance tools help Life Sciences companies master the regulatory environment, will deliver key messages on new transparency data and innovative integration solutions that deliver end-to-end compliance solutions for global HCP interactions across all meeting and engagements. This seminar will include thought-provoking sessions around centralization of HCP data, complete global meeting and interactions management, and strategies for simplification of transparency reporting. This event is by invitation only. However, pharmaceutical companies are able to request an invitation here.



, on in . Industry subject matter experts will share their challenges, best practices and innovative solutions to address complex transparency requirements and the ever-changing HCP compliance landscape. Several solution leaders, including Cvent and Porzio Life Sciences, whose consulting services and compliance tools help Life Sciences companies master the regulatory environment, will deliver key messages on new transparency data and innovative integration solutions that deliver end-to-end compliance solutions for global HCP interactions across all meeting and engagements. This seminar will include thought-provoking sessions around centralization of HCP data, complete global meeting and interactions management, and strategies for simplification of transparency reporting. This event is by invitation only. However, pharmaceutical companies are able to request an invitation here. Second, AHM will be presenting and exhibiting at the 4th annual Pharma Compliance Conference on October 5-6 th in London, UK . The conference will bring together senior compliance executives to share experiences and discuss EFPIA guidelines. AHM's keynote at the general session will define globalization and the key components in shaping a global standard for engaging HCPs within an HCO. Visit the AHM booth to learn more about global HCP meetings management services, the new Cvent linkage capabilities, and to request a CentrisDirect  demo.

For more information on AHM or any of these events, email [email protected].

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SOURCE AHM

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NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC honored Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades with the global advocacy organization's prestigious Light Unto the Nations Award for his steadfast defense of democratic values, relentless pursuit of peace, and unwavering commitment to friendship with the United States and Israel.

David Harris, AJC's Chief Executive Officer, who has met with President Anastasiades many times in Cyprus and New York, presented the award. Honorary AJC President Stanley Bergman welcomed the nearly 100 guests to his home, where the event took place. John Shapiro, AJC President, concluded the session.

"As the Prophet Isaiah said, the highest calling in life is peace or "eirini" in Greek, but to have peace requires courage ('tharros') and wisdom ('sofia'). President Anastasiades has shown these qualities in his determination to reunite his island nation peacefully, and in his genuine friendship to the United States and Jewish people," said Harris.

Anastasiades said he is "immensely proud" to receive AJC's Light Unto the Nations Award. Saluting the close, cooperative partnership developed over the years between his country and AJC, the president said the award is "a testament to our joint belief in advancing closer Cypriot-Israeli cooperation and strengthening regional synergies and transatlantic relations."

"AJC, through its longstanding cooperation with the Hellenic diaspora, has been instrumental, indeed the architect, of the quadrilateral partnership developed among the U.S., Greece, Israel and Cyprus," said Anastasiades. "We count on AJC's indispensable support in continuing to deepen Cyprus-Israel ties."

"AJC has demonstrated that it is a trustworthy and tireless advocate of our common values and vision for the region," that are based on shared principles of democracy, tolerance, peace and the fight against anti-Semitism, he said.

"Israel is a very important strategic partner and a stabilizing force in the Middle East region," said the president, adding that Cyprus will continue to "advocate in support of the security of the State of Israel, and call for refraining from unilateral measures which could detrimentally affect EU-Israeli relations."

On anti-Semitism, President Anastasiades referred to the many Cypriot municipal leaders who signed AJC's Mayors United Against Anti-Semitism statement as a concrete example of his country's commitment to fight anti-Semitism. "Anti-Semitism is an evil that must be eradicated to the full," he said. More than 500 European and U.S. mayors, including 22 mayors from Cyprus, joined the initiative earlier this year.

The president expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached for the peaceful reunification of the island, which would bring an end, he said, to the 42-year-old Turkish occupation of 40 percent of the country. "The Turkish contribution in concrete terms is critical," he said.

The award was presented at an AJC breakfast event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly opening. Senior national AJC leadership, top representatives of the American Greek and Cypriot communities, and several Israeli diplomats attended the ceremony.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 30, 2016, the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School will host the annual Social Enterprise Conference. This year's one-day conference will focus on urbanization and how it is shaping the human experience in powerful ways. Top Fortune 500 companies participating in the event include: Microsoft, Propel, IBM, Vizalytics Technology, and Neighborly, among others. The event will feature keynote addresses and panel discussions focused on answering some of the most challenging questions that residents and companies in rapidly growing cities face including: Will urban change expand opportunity and equity, or will it entrench inequalities? What can companies do to drive inclusion in the tech and startup space? How can other cities learn from the policies and innovation of New York City?

A full agenda can be found here: http://www.columbiasocialenterprise.org/conference/program/

The event will also be livestreamed and can be viewed here: http://www.totalwebcasting.com/view/?func=VOFF&id=columbiagsb&date=2016-09-30&seq=1 .

Who:

This year's featured speakers include:

Jimmy Chen , Chief Executive Officer, Propel

Chief Executive Officer, Propel John Paul Farmer '04BUS , Director of Technology and Civic Innovation, Microsoft

, Director of Technology and Civic Innovation, Microsoft Jenny Fielding , Managing Director, Techstars

Managing Director, Techstars Anthony Fox , Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation

Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation Aileen Gemma Smith , Chief Executive Officer, Vizalytics Technology

Chief Executive Officer, Vizalytics Technology Sophia Tu , Senior Manager, IBM Corporate Citizenship

, Senior Manager, IBM Corporate Citizenship Bruce Usher , Co-Director, Tamer Center for Global Enterprise at Columbia Business School

Co-Director, Tamer Center for Global Enterprise at Jase Wilson , Chief Executive Officer, Neighborly

When:

Friday, September 30, 2016, 8:45 am  5:00 pm

Where:

Roone Arledge Auditorium, 1st Floor, Alfred Lerner Hall

Columbia University

116th Street and Broadway

New York City

About the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School's Tamer Center for Social Enterprise was established in 2015 by a generous gift from Sandra and Tony Tamer, which expanded the existing Social Enterprise Program at Columbia Business School, which was originally founded by Professor Ray Horton on 1981. The Center provides today's leaders with the understanding for how business can contribute to society and the environment, by emphasizing the vital role that social enterprise plays in transforming communities. For more information, please visit http://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/socialenterprise/.

About Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is the only world-class, Ivy League business school that delivers a learning experience where academic excellence meets with real-time exposure to the pulse of global business. Led by Dean Glenn Hubbard, the School's transformative curriculum bridges academic theory with unparalleled exposure to real-world business practice, equipping students with an entrepreneurial mindset that allows them to recognize, capture, and create opportunity in any business environment. The thought leadership of the School's faculty and staff, combined with the accomplishments of its distinguished alumni and position in the center of global business, means that the School's efforts have an immediate, measurable impact on the forces shaping business every day. To learn more about Columbia Business School's position at the very center of business, please visit gsb.columbia.edu.

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SOURCE Columbia Business School

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AACHEN, Germany, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 company's 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.

"Hagen's 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. Axino's 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 company's innovative solutions include platforms and modular software solutions integrate easily and cost effectively with Axino's technology partner's 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.

About Axino Solutions

Axino Solutions, based in Aachen, Germany, is a leading-edge provider of communications solutions and services worldwide. The company develops innovative software and systems for planning and implementation of comprehensive customer-specific software IT solutions for various customer segments, including automotive, energy, pharmaceutical, retail, telecommunications, as well as public municipalities and government entities.

Media Contact

Lisa Perez

[email protected]

www.axino-group.com

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SOURCE Axino Solutions GmbH

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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Newgen Software Inc., a leading global provider of Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Customer Communication Management (CCM) and Case Management (CM) solutions, is pleased to announce the successful deployment of Automatic Exchange of Information filing module for both the Foreign Account Tax Compliant Act (FATCA) and Common Reporting Standard (CRS) for the Barbados Revenue Authority. Newgen implemented the solution in a short period of five weeks, which will eliminate manual filing and improve process efficiencies.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130912/638839 )



Newgen's FATCA Solution is built on its proven BPM, ECM and Business Activity Monitoring tool, which offer a highly secure solution for end-to-end automation of FATCA and CRS. This enables self-registration of financial institutions, managing reports and activities and automated exchange of information and extensive validation of FATCA and CRS data. The configuration option enables little or no manual interaction with the system.

On this successful implementation Mr. Anand Raman, Vice President, Newgen Software Inc. said, "Newgen supports the vision of efficient and effective delivery of public sector services. Our products are aimed to deliver customer centric services at optimized cost. We look forward to strengthen this partnership, and enable the Barbados Revenue Authority to ensure better service delivery and greater transparency, with the use of Newgen's FATCA module."

Mr. Anthony Gittens, Senior Manager Policy and Planning, Barbados Revenue Authority said, "Incorporating Newgen's FATCA module to automate the FATCA and CRS compliance process will enhance the efficiency of filing. Newgen's deployment of this online solution was commendable and they executed it within a short timeframe."

Newgen is one of the only companies that provides FATCA Reporting solutions for both financial institutions as well as tax authorities. It's FATCA and CRS solution has been implemented in other jurisdictions, such as Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines and are awaiting cabinet approvals in five more territories. Newgen is also working with financial institutions in the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific for its FATCA module.

About Newgen:

Newgen Software Inc. is a global leader in banking process automation with more than 200 leading banks and financial services institutions as its clients. Newgen's banking process management framework automates critical business processes for banking institutions across commercial lending, consumer lending, customer on-boarding, online account opening, trade finance, digital and mobile customer experience strategy.

Visit http://www.newgensoft.com

Media Contact:

Asif Khan

[email protected]



SOURCE Newgen Software Inc.
CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Biologica Technologies announced today the official launch of its adipose filler, Allofill, during this weekend's American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) - Plastic Surgery The Meeting in Los Angeles, CA. Allofill is the first product of its kind; a ready to use, 'off the shelf', adipose-derived injectable filler that works with the body to provide an all-natural tissue scaffold with native growth factors. Allofill retains the native extracellular matrix (ECM) components of allograft-derived adipose tissue and over time will be remodeled into a patient's own soft tissue.

"We are excited to bring this first of its kind technology to market and provide plastic surgeons a new, unique option as compared to autologous fat transfer (AFT) and the various hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers available on the market," stated Amit Govil, president and founder of Biologica Technologies.

Biologica's exclusive tissue processing methods have the ability to harvest various growth factors found within allogeneic adipose tissue and bind them to a collagen scaffold. The result is a unique allograft product with higher growth factors than a standard autologous fat transfer and more natural than an HA, or similar, dermal filler.

About Biologica Technologies

Founded in 2015, Biologica Technologies is a privately-held company fully dedicated to improving patients' lives and the health care providers' experience through innovative biologic solutions. The first aesthetic product, Allofill, is an adipose-derived filler containing naturally occurring growth factors which can be used to fill soft-tissue defects as a noninvasive alternative to autologous fat grafting. Additional products to follow include an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) and cartilage matrix, both processed via Biologica's exclusive technology and containing naturally occurring growth factors. The company is headquartered in Carlsbad, CA.

Related Links

www.biologicatechnologies.com

www.allofill.com

SOURCE Biologica Technologies

Related Links

http://www.biologicatechnologies.com


PISCATAWAY, N.J., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackStratus, a leading provider of security and compliance technology tailored for both SMBs and large enterprises, announced today that it is a main sponsor of Autotask Community Live!, a global event by the Autotask Corporation that brings together top technology providers, resellers and MSPs. The event will take place from September 25th  27th at the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida. During the event BlackStratus will showcase CYBERShark, its new white-label, SaaS-based platform tailored for MSPs requiring an affordable SIEM service for their SMB clientele.

CYBERShark takes BlackStratus' proven enterprise class security and compliance platform, tested and trusted by large enterprise customers for years, and delivers it via the cloud to small and midsize businesses at an affordable price point. BlackStratus' Security-as-a-Service empowers IT Service Providers to build a sustainable managed services business without the need to invest in costly infrastructure, buy hardware appliances and recruit security analysts. By simply sending their end-customer event log data to the advanced CYBERShark cloud, IT Service Providers will receive a white-labeled portal view of their customers' compliance reports and security posture complete with step-by-step remediation to resolve security incidents and malicious activity.

"Partnering with BlackStratus affords our customer base a very unique white-label SMB SIEM service that on one hand protects the small to midsize business while on the other hand opens new lines of revenue for our customer base," said Len DiCostanzo, Senior Vice President of Autotask Workplace Sales.

CYBERShark Benefits to IT Service Providers

Provides unparalleled threat and risk visibility in real time

24/7 monitoring performed by security experts at Security Operation Center (SOC) Offers guided remediation via actionable trouble tickets  no in house security expertise needed

Dramatically reduces cost and time to repair

Includes Proofpoint commercial intelligence for highly accurate identification of known threats and threat actors

Advanced correlation and analysis of network traffic, system alerts, and behavior patterns in real time

Ensures compliance with detailed reports for HIPAA, PCI, FISMA, and other regulatory requirements

Has no hardware requirements

Can be up and running on day one

Purpose Built for IT service providers

Low monthly cost

The CYBERShark security and compliance platform identifies security issues and provides comprehensive remediation steps to resolve these issues, which can be fed directly into Autotask. Description and remediation strategy is provided in line and supporting evidence is attached in ticket notes (IP addresses, ports, etc.).

"We're delighted to be a platinum sponsor at Autotask Community Live! and to partner with Autotask on our new flagship Security-as-a-Service for the SMB market, which will ultimately reduce the exponentially growing number of cyber threats and compliance violations on small to midsize businesses," said Dale Cline, CEO of BlackStratus.

BlackStratus will be showcasing CYBERShark at its booth, located at booth 2. The company will also be hosting a welcome reception on Sunday, September 25, followed by educational sessions on Monday and then a breakfast on Tuesday.

About BlackStratus

BlackStratus is a pioneer of trusted security and compliance solutions deployed and operated on premise, in the cloud or "as a Service'' by providers of all sizes, government agencies and individual enterprises. Through patented multitenant security information and event management (SIEM) technology, BlackStratus delivers unparalleled security visibility, prevents downtime and achieves and maintains compliant operations at a lower cost to operate. BlackStratus is headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, and protects millions of devices and thousands of businesses worldwide.

For more information about BlackStratus, please visit www.blackstratus.com. Follow the firm via Twitter at @BlackStratusInc.

BlackStratus PR Contact:

David Splivalo

[email protected]

1.703.798.2395

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SOURCE BlackStratus

Related Links

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PUNE, India, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Bottled Water Testing Equipment Market by Technology (Traditional, and Rapid), Component (Instruments, Consumables & Reagents, and Reference Material), Test Type (Microbiological, Chemical, Physical, Radiological), and Region - Global Forecast to 2021", The market is projected to reach USD 6.46 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2016.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 83 market data Tables and 53 Figures spread through 164 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Bottled Water Testing Equipment Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/bottled-water-testing-equipment-market-147003570.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The market is driven by increasing need for quality testing of water, increased bottled water consumption around the world, and stringent regulatory requirement by different regulatory bodies.

The chemical test type was the largest in the Bottled Water Testing Equipment Market in 2015

The market for bottled water testing equipment for chemical segment was the largest in 2015. Chemical tests in bottled water include various tests of chemicals such as toxic by-products, pesticide pollutants, and pharmaceutical residues. The increased usage of pesticides in the agriculture is depsited in the water which inturn is processed as bottled water. The chemical contaminants pose health problems, resulting in strict regulations of their levels by national governments and international bodies. Therefore, the analysis of relevant contaminants requires high valued equipment which makes this segment fastest growing.

The rapid technology segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR by 2021

Rapid techniques refer to methods used for rapid results are projected to form the fastest-growing segment in the Bottled Water Testing Equipment Market, from 2016 to 2021. This segment is further sub-segmented into chromatography, spectroscopy, testing kits, and other instruments, where other instruments include molecular-based techniques such as PCR, Immunoassay, and others. These methods are used in the detection of indicator organisms such as E. coli and other pathogens. These advanced technologies are quick, accurate, and easy to use. Some of the rapid methods are expensive and require extensive sample preparations. However, the availability of new testing methods has reduced the overall cost of determination.

India is the fastest-growing country in Bottled Water Testing Equipment Market

The India Bottled Water Testing Equipment Market is projected to be the fastest-growing in the Asia-Pacific region. Given India's population and size, there is ample potential in the market for bottled water manufacturers to meet the rising demand from consumers. The major bottled water manufacturers such as Coca-Cola (Kinley), Nestle, and PepsiCo (Aquafina) have found India to be a potential market and are increasing their geographical share in the country through expansion of a number of bottling water plants.

Make an Inquiry: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=147003570

The Bottled Water Testing Equipment Market report includes a study of marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios of leading companies. It includes the profiles of leading companies such as Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (U.S.), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Waters Corporation (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific (U.S.), and PerkinElmer, Inc. (U.S.). The other players who are active in the industry are Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (U.S.), Restek (U.S.), Accepta (U, K,), and LaMotte Company (U.S.).

Browse related reports:

Food Safety Testing Market by Contaminant (Pathogens, Pesticides, GMOs, and Toxins), Food Tested (Meat & Poultry, Dairy Product, Processed Food, and Fruits & Vegetables), Technology (Traditional and Rapid), and by Region - Global Forecast to 2021

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-safety-365.html

Food Pathogen Testing Market by Type (E.coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria), Technology (Traditional, Rapid), Food Type (Meat & poultry, Dairy, Processed food, Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals & Grains), & by Region - Global Forecasts to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/food-pathogen-testing-market-202386163.html

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.

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
As part of the new MOA, Carnival Corporation's cruise joint venture in China agreed to order two new cruise ships to be built by a newly formed China-based shipbuilding joint venture between China's largest shipbuilder, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), and Italy-based Fincantieri S.p.A., the world's largest cruise shipbuilding company. The MOA also grants Carnival Corporation's cruise joint venture the option to order two additional China-built cruise ships.

Carnival Corporation's cruise joint venture in China will operate the new ships as part of its plans to launch the first multi-ship domestic cruise brand in China. Based on Carnival Corporation's Vista-class platform, the design for the new ships will be tailored for the new Chinese cruise brand and the specific tastes of Chinese travelers. The first of these ships is expected for delivery in 2022.

The partners signed the memorandum of agreement at a signing ceremony held today at the 11th annual China Cruise Shipping and International Cruise Expo (CCS11) in Tianjin, China.

Carnival Corporation's cruise joint venture  a partnership announced last fall with CSSC and China Investment Capital Corporation (CIC Capital) in which Carnival Corporation holds a minority interest  is expected to initially launch its new domestic Chinese cruise brand using ships that are purchased from Carnival Corporation's existing fleet and homeported in China. Based on the MOA announced today, the joint venture would then add new China-built cruise ships starting in 2022 to further accelerate growth in the Chinese cruise market, which is expected to eventually become the largest cruise market in the world.

Separately, Carnival Corporation and its Chinese partners also announced today that the Chinese central government has now granted approval for the cruise joint venture to officially incorporate in Hong Kong. This news follows a standard regulatory approval process with Chinese officials that has taken place since the joint venture agreement was originally announced in London in October 2015.

"We are excited about the potential for the first new cruise ships to be built and deployed in China for the enjoyment of Chinese travelers, which will be an important milestone in the development of the Chinese cruise market," said Alan Buckelew, global chief operations officer for Carnival Corporation. "As we work with our Chinese partners to launch the first domestic Chinese cruise brand in the next few years, being able to offer cruises on China-built cruise ships represents a new opportunity for us to generate excitement and demand for cruising amongst a broader segment of the Chinese vacation market, which is already the largest in the world and continues to see strong growth every year."

Buckelew added: "We see this collaboration with CSSC and Fincantieri as a potential cornerstone of a domestic cruise presence in China, serving Chinese guests with world-class cruise ships that are built in China for the first time. We are grateful to have this opportunity, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership as we continue supporting China's goal to be one of the world's leading cruise markets."

About Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest leisure travel company in the world, with a portfolio of 10 cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia comprised of Carnival Cruise Line, Fathom, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK).

Together, these brands operate 101 ships visiting over 700 ports around the world and totaling 225,000 lower berths with 18 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2016 and 2022. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com, www.aida.de, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.pocruises.com and www.fathom.org.

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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc

Related Links

http://www.Carnivalcorp.com


Each year, 42 million people in the United States face hunger, including 13 million children. The Caterpillar Foundation's investment of $750,000 will support food sourcing initiatives, such as Mobile Pantries, BackPack Programs, and Partner Agency Support, at Feeding America member food banks in the 44 counties that surround Caterpillar facilities.

"Feeding America is thankful to the Caterpillar Foundation for its commitment to fighting hunger," said Matt Knott, president of Feeding America. "Hunger is an issue that affects every community in our country. This partnership will help local food banks provide nearly 2.5 million meals to people in need."

This support will impact a number of feeding programs in Caterpillar communities including the Feeding America BackPack Program, an effort that provides food to children on the weekends when free or reduced-price school meals are unavailable. Grants also will be used to support mobile food pantries and provide nutritious food to local feeding agencies. Caterpillar Foundation has helped provide more than 5 million meals to Caterpillar communities since 2015.

"The Caterpillar Foundation is committed to transforming lives in the communities in which we live and work," said Michele Sullivan, president of the Caterpillar Foundation. "We are committed to alleviating poverty and supporting our neighbors who may not know where their next meal will come from."

The Feeding America network responds to the hunger crisis in America by providing food to people in need. It provides more food to children, families and seniors than any other charitable organization: more than 3.7 billion meals each year. To find the Feeding America food bank in your area, visit: www.feedingamerica.org

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org , find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter .



About the Caterpillar Foundation

Founded in 1952, Caterpillar's philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $650 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to education and basic human needs. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, please visit www.togetherstronger.com.

Contact: Ross Fraser, [email protected], 312.641.6422

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140711/126271

SOURCE Feeding America

Related Links

http://www.feedingamerica.org


Rabbis of the Central Rabbinical Congress of the USA and Canada  the Rabbinic umbrella association representing hundreds of Orthodox Jewish congregations with a combined membership of over 250,000 that organized the protest  decried Israel's conscription policy, passed in 2014, which curtailed a 60 year old policy exempting all Yeshiva students from military service. Since then, many who refused to enlist were incarcerated for weeks and sometimes months under brutal conditions. Those who peacefully protest those policies, are subject to harsh punishments as well.

For instance, a father of seven, Rabbi Shmuel Zalman Weissfish, was recently incarcerated for peacefully protesting the draft. He was denied bail and is now scheduled to remain detained until the completion of his trial, which can take many months.

"The Israeli Army is an irreligious entity, and it is impossible for Orthodox Jews to fully practice their religion while in the army. We cannot serve in the army; because, the Torah prohibits us to create a state before the coming of Messiah because, the Torah prohibits us to wage war against any sovereign nation!" declared Rabbi David Niederman, the intergovernmental liaison for the CRC.

Forcing Orthodox Jews to serve in the army against their religious convictions violates Resolution 1989/59, passed by the UN Commission on Human Rights on March 8, 1988, Rabbi Niederman said. The resolution: "Recognizes the right of everyone to have conscientious objections to military service as a legitimate exercise of the right of freedom of thought, conscience and religion as laid down in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

"Mr. Netanyahu, before preaching values and principles to others, think about what your government does to your own citizens, our Jewish brethren," Niederman demanded.

At the conclusion of the demonstration, the CRC expressed their resolute to continue protesting until Rabbi Weissfish is released from prison and until when the current evil draft policy ends. The CRC is determined to continue and increase the campaign to awaken the international community to Israel's suppression of the religious freedoms of its Orthodox Jewish citizens.

Contact Rabbi Issac Green

347.385.1405

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411292

SOURCE Central Rabbinical Congress
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, September 26, China Institute will host a small, exclusive breakfast to honor China's top haute couturiere Guo Pei. Ms. Guo, who has dressed Chinese icons Fang Bingbing and Zhang Ziyi, among others, is best known to Western audiences for designing the iconic golden gown worn by pop music artist Rihanna at the 2015 Annual Met Gala.

The breakfast will honor Ms. Guo's remarkable achievements and indelible mark on global fashion. She will discuss her personal journey to becoming China's premiere couturiere, including how she got her break, and how her background has influenced her designs. After the talk, there will be an opportunity to view some of Ms. Guo's exquisite designs up-close, including the Rihanna gown. Yue-Sai Kan, an Emmy-winning television host and producer, as well as beauty entrepreneur, bestselling author and humanitarian, will moderate a Q&A session.

Ms. Guo, who also contributed iconic looks to the Met Costume Institute's best-attended exhibit in history, "China: Through the Looking Glass," commented, "With my designs, I aim to express elements of Chinese culture through the language of fashion. I am honored to partner with the China Institute to grow American awareness and understanding of my home country China."

China Institute trustee Sophia Sheng added, "We're thrilled to have Guo Pei join us to help celebrate the 90th anniversary of China Institute. Her work, which lies at the intersection of tradition and innovation, is incredibly inspiring as we look to build new audiences for the next 90 years."

China Institute  a not-for-profit organization advancing deeper understanding of China through programs in art, culture, education and business  will host the breakfast on Monday, September 26 from 10-11am ET, at the Waterfall Mansion and Gallery at 170 East 80th Street, on the Upper East Side. The event is part of a new design and fashion offering that includes a mentorship initiative pairing Chinese designers with New York City-based designers, and an annual spring fashion luncheon.

In addition to the breakfast, China Institute is hosting its annual Blue Cloud Gala next week, with Ms. Guo as an honoree. China Institute's benefit gala, taking place on September 27th, will also honor Bob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Richard L. Gelfond, CEO of the IMAX Corporation. Ms. Guo has generously donated one of her well-known designs to be auctioned at the gala, with the proceeds going to the China Institute.

To RSVP for the breakfast, email [email protected], or call 212-744-8181 x158.

About China Institute

China Institute advances a deeper understanding of China through programs in education, culture, business and art with the belief that cross-cultural understanding strengthens our global community.

Founded in 1926 by a group of American and Chinese educators, China Institute in America is the oldest bicultural, non-profit organization in America to focus exclusively on China. The organization promotes the appreciation of Chinese heritage, and provides the historical context for understanding contemporary China. Programs, activities, courses and seminars are offered on the visual and performing arts, culture, history, music, philosophy, language and literature for the general public, children and teachers, as well as for business.

Contacts:

Elizabeth Ingrassia

[email protected]

www.chinainstitute.org

Connie Wang

[email protected]

212-715-1657

SOURCE China Institute

Related Links

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NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb today announced that Graham Fulcher has been appointed Chief Actuary for Overseas General Insurance, the company's international general insurance business. He succeeds Michael Kessler, who was recently appointed Vice President, Chubb Group and Chief Reinsurance Officer.

Mr. Fulcher will be responsible for leadership of the actuarial function across Chubb Overseas General including reserving, pricing, portfolio management, planning and forecasting, and financial reporting and compliance. He will be based in London and report to John Jones, Chief Financial Officer of Overseas General Insurance, and Paul O'Connell, Vice President, Chubb Group and Chief Actuary, Global Property and Casualty.

Mr. Fulcher rejoins the company from Willis Towers Watson's insurance consulting business, where he held a number of senior management roles, most recently as Managing Director of its U.K. and Irish practice that serves the property and casualty and life insurance sectors. Previously, he was Chief Actuary of ACE European Group from 2005 to 2008, and the Chief Actuary of European operations for ACE Tempest Re from 2002 to 2005. ACE Limited acquired The Chubb Corporation in January 2016 and adopted the Chubb name.

"We are delighted to welcome Graham back to our company," said Juan C. Andrade, Executive Vice President of Chubb Group and President, Overseas General Insurance. "Graham is an experienced manager with deep actuarial experience in both P&C and life insurance. He will be leading an excellent team of seasoned actuaries. We look forward to his contributions in helping us to continue growing our business profitably around the world."

Mr. Fulcher earned his undergraduate and post-graduate degrees at Cambridge University. He is a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries, qualifying in 1993 when he was awarded the Joseph Burns prize for performance in the qualifying examinations.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com.

SOURCE Chubb

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NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Care LLC ("CC"), a leading national medical marijuana company, announced today that it was selected as a licensee to grow and dispense medical marijuana, and derivative medicines, to qualifying patients in the State of Delaware. Following a competitive application process, Columbia Care was selected and awarded one of only two additional, highly coveted, fully integrated licenses. This brings the total number of licensed operators in Delaware to two with a third expected to be awarded later on this year. Both the Company's cultivation and manufacturing facility and its pharmacy, known in Delaware as a Compassion Center, are projected to open in Kent County in the second half of 2017.

"Our organization is delighted and honored to be selected as one of Delaware's operators. On behalf of our Delaware-based team and the entire national organization, we are so thankful for this opportunity and privilege. We commit to work tirelessly with all of Delaware's stakeholders to provide access to the highest quality medicine and customer service," said Columbia Care CEO Nicholas Vita. "As the first state to ratify the Constitution, Delaware has a storied history of demonstrating national leadership while maintaining its unique sense of community. We will endeavor to contribute to the fabric of the First State and improve the lives of qualifying patients. Our deepest thanks to all stakeholders for their support including the Governor, Secretary, Department, Administrators, Legislature, Senators, Congressmen and all of the individuals who have given us this honor and opportunity. Go Blue Hens!"

Consistent with the Company's national, medically-focused operating model, Columbia Care's Compassion Center in Delaware will be designed and operated with patient comfort and safety as the top priorities. The Compassion Center will be staffed by a dedicated team trained to provide the highest level of professionalism, compassion, confidentiality and respect for patients and their medical conditions. All aspects of safety and security in both facilities will be provided by professionals with law enforcement backgrounds utilizing industry-leading security measures. For more information about Columbia Care Delaware, please visit www.col-carede.com.

Delaware is the seventh jurisdiction in the United States where Columbia Care has been approved to cultivate, manufacture and dispense cannabinoid-based medicines and products. For more information on the Delaware Medical Marijuana Program, including information on how to register, please visit http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/medmarhome.html.

About Columbia Care LLC

Columbia Care is one of the nation's largest and most experienced manufacturers and providers of medical marijuana products and services. The Company is licensed in highly selective and regulated jurisdictions and has completed more than 450,000 successful patient interactions since its inception. Founded by two former Goldman Sachs executives, and working in collaboration with some of the most renowned and innovative teaching hospitals and medical centers in the country, Columbia Care is a patient-centered healthcare company setting the standards for compassion, professionalism, quality, caring, and innovation for a burgeoning new industry.

For more information on Columbia Care, please visit www.col-care.com.

SOURCE Columbia Care

Related Links

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ATLANTA, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Whiskies of the World is delighted to announce the winners of the 2016 Whiskies of the World Awards. The awards, which launched two years ago, are part of the Whiskies of the World organization that includes tasting events in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, San Francisco and San Jose. This year's awards include 17 'Best in Class' winners and a 'Best in Show' recipient. The 'Best in Show' award is decided by unanimous decisions from all the judging panels.

Whiskies from around the globe were judged on a 100-point basis with a concentration on aromatics, flavor, and finish. Blind judging was performed by a panel of seventeen Texas tastemakers who are all influential figures in the state's beverage industry.

"I'm impressed and pleased by the amount of details the judges put into evaluating each product," explained Douglas Smith, Whiskies of the World Event Director. "I feel good that each product is thoroughly evaluated by several judges and I am thrilled to share the results from this year's competition!"

The 2016 Best in Show Winner:

Kiln Embers: Wemyss Malts

For full results visit www.whiskiesoftheworld.com/awards.

Whiskies of the World refers to craft as a whisky that is two years old or younger. Those types of whiskies are not judged using the same criteria of an older whisky.

Join us for the upcoming Whiskies of the World Expos: Austin, TX on September 29, Houston, TX on October 1st and Atlanta, GA on October 22nd. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit whiskiesoftheworld.com.

About Whiskies of the World LLC:

Whiskies of the World LLC, an IWSC Group North America event, began in San Francisco, CA in 1998. Under the direction of whisky enthusiast and event director, Douglas Smith, the event has expanded into Texas and Georgia. The IWSC Group is a global leader of alcoholic beverage events, including the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition. IWSC Group North America was launched in 2015 and currently includes the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Spirits of the Americas, Spirits of Mexico and Whiskies of the World.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160913/408372LOGO

SOURCE Whiskies of the World

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IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, insight, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, confirmed today that it will release its third quarter 2016 financial results after the market close on Monday, October 24, 2016. The press release, with accompanying financial information, will be posted on the CoreLogic investor website at http://investor.corelogic.com.

The company will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss third quarter 2016 financial results on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time).

All interested parties are invited to listen to the event via webcast on the CoreLogic website at http://investor.corelogic.com. Alternatively, participants may use the following dial-in numbers: 1-877-930-8098 for U.S./Canada callers or 253-336-8228 for international callers. The Conference ID for the call is 85282281.

A replay of the webcast will be available on the CoreLogic investor website for 30 days and also through the conference call number 855-859-2056 for U.S./Canada participants or 404-537-3406 for international participants using Conference ID 85282281.

About CoreLogic

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The Company's combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed solutions. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

CORELOGIC and the CoreLogic logo are registered trademarks owned by CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100609/CLLOGO

SOURCE CoreLogic

Related Links

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VARADERO, Cuba, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a rare vote, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) has adopted a proposal for a stronger shark finning ban by an overwhelming margin, despite objections from Japan. The European Union and the United States have proposed for several years that NAFO strengthen its ban on shark "finning" (slicing off a shark's fins and discarding the body at sea) by prohibiting the removal of shark fins at sea. This year, the proposal was for the first time co-sponsored by Norway and the host country of Cuba, and gained new, outspoken support from Canada and Iceland. A similar ban was adopted by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission in 2014, but other regional fisheries bodies have yet to accept such change.

"We are elated that North Atlantic fishing countries have taken a strong stand against shark finning and are leading the way toward adoption of best practice rules to prevent it globally," said Sonja Fordham of Shark Advocates International. "We are deeply grateful to Cuba, our host country, for introducing the finning ban measure at this year's meeting, and bringing it over the finish line at last."

NAFO banned finning in 2005, but allows fins to be removed at sea, as long as the fin-to-carcass weight ratio does not exceed 5%. Using ratios has proved difficult for enforcing finning bans, while "fins-attached" landing rules are widely recognized as best practice. The US and EU are expected to re-introduce a fins-attached proposal at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting in November.

This year's NAFO meeting marks a dramatic policy change for Canada and Korea, who helped defeat the "fins-attached" measure in 2015. Overall, nine NAFO Parties voted "yes" on the proposal, Japan voted "no," and Russia abstained.

"We are thrilled that Canada has -- at long last  joined the chorus of countries supporting this cornerstone of responsible shark fisheries management," said Katie Schleit of Ecology Action Centre. "We are grateful for their enthusiastic support and hopeful that this new, national policy means that Canada will now join 30 other countries cosponsoring stronger finning bans and other safeguards for sharks at ICCAT."

Shark Advocates International is a project of The Ocean Foundation.

SOURCE Shark Advocates International
BEIJING, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- September 11, 2016 at the CAEXPO in Naning, China, founder and CEO of China's leading transactional B2B e-commerce company DHgate.com Diane Wang, was named as Vice Chairperson of the China-ASEAN Entrepreneurs Confederation to the ASEAN economies, to support the creation and implementation of e-commerce infrastructure and a favorable regulatory environment where e-commerce can flourish throughout the region.

The ASEAN region is primed to become the next big e-commerce market in Asia, however according to AT Kearney, e-commerce currently only accounts for less than 1% of retail sales in the region, but could grow up to as much as 25% annually. Consulting firm Frost and Sullivan estimates that revenues in the region will likely exceed $25 billion by 2020, up from $6 billion in 2016.

Diane Wang, who is an e-commerce industry influencer in China, not only founded DHgate.com, Chinas largest transactional B2B online marketplace, but also previously co-founded and served as CEO of Joyo.com, which was China's largest domestic transactional B2B platform and is now present day Amazon China.

The development of e-commerce, especially cross-border e-commerce is closely related to policy and the regulatory environment for business. ASEAN hopes to follow the example of China, who created many policies that empowered e-commerce platforms to provide infrastructure for sellers, and then for sellers to utilize that infrastructure to distribute their products, not only to Chinese citizens, but to buyers all around the world.

Wang said, "the global digital generation is coming, the digital economy already represents 22.5% of the entire global economy, this year China brought the concept of a 'global digital economy' to the G20 platform for the first time, and emphasized that cross-border e-commerce has become the new growth-engine of the global economy, I am confident that the ASEAN region will become the world's next e-commerce powerhouse."

ABOUT DHgate.com

DHgate.com is the first to market and the biggest transactional cross-border B2B e-commerce marketplace in China, aiming to provide global buyers with quality products at competitive prices. Founded in 2004, DHgate.com has approximately 12 million global buyers from 230 countries and regions, with 1.4 million global sellers offering 40 million products. DHgate.com's business enables buyers to directly access global manufacturers of the world's top brands with rich product selections. DHgate.com is an all-in-one platform with integrated services for international logistics, cross-border payments, internet financing, etc. DHgate.com's US, UK, Spain, and UAE product distribution warehouses allow for 24 hour delivery and convenient product returns & refunds, bringing great convenience to buyers at http://www.dhgate.com.

SOURCE DHgate.com

Related Links

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RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion (NYSE: D) announced today that David A. Heacock, president of Dominion Nuclear and the company's chief nuclear officer, will retire, effective March 1, 2017. Beginning Oct. 1, Daniel G. Stoddard, senior vice president of Nuclear Operations, will become senior vice president and chief nuclear officer. Heacock will remain president of Dominion Nuclear until his retirement.

During the transition, Stoddard will continue reporting to Heacock, but will have a dotted-line relationship as chief nuclear officer to Paul Koonce, CEO of the Dominion Generation Group. Stoddard will begin reporting directly to Koonce on March 1.

"Dave's knowledge and reputation in the nuclear industry is unparalleled," Koonce said. "He is an expert on issues facing both the company and the industry as a whole. In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck near North Anna Power Station in 2011, he quickly guided the company and regulators. He also led the industry's response to the safety analysis following the Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan.

"We are grateful for his knowledge and leadership," he said.

"At the same time," Koonce added, "Dan will pick up the mantle and continue making Dominion's nuclear program a leader in the industry."

Heacock, who received his bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia, joined Virginia Power in 1979 and has held numerous management positions in Nuclear Operations, Generation and Transmission & Distribution. He served as president of the company's Dominion Virginia Power operating segment from October 2007 to May 2009.

Stoddard, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree in marine engineering, also earned his master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia. He joined Dominion in July 2006 as director-Nuclear Station Safety & Licensing, and was named site vice president-North Anna Power Station later that year. He assumed the post of vice president-Nuclear Operations in February 2010, and was promoted to senior vice president-Nuclear Operations in May 2011.

Also on Oct. 1, Mark Sartain, vice president-Nuclear Engineering, who currently reports to Heacock, will begin reporting to Stoddard. Mark Mitchell, vice president-Nuclear Construction, will continue his dotted-line reporting relationship to Heacock until March 1.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 25,700 megawatts of generation, 14,400 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,500 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves more than 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion

Related Links

http://www.dom.com


MOSCOW, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

ElcomSoft Co. Ltd. updatesElcomsoft Phone Breaker 6.10, the company's mobile acquisition tool, providing forensic specialists the ability to unlock iOS 10 backups significantly faster compared to iOS 9. The new discovery in iOS 10 backups potentially allows recovery speeds thousands of times faster compared to password-protected iOS 9 backups.

"All versions of iOS prior to iOS 10 used to use extremely robust protection," says Vladimir Katalov, ElcomSoft CEO. "Chances of recovering a long, complex password were slim, and even then a high-end GPU would be needed to accelerate the recovery. As a result of our discovery, we can now break iOS 10 backup passwords much faster even without GPU acceleration. This is no doubt great news for law enforcement and digital forensic specialists around the globe."

iOS 10 Backups: Significantly Weaker Protection

Changes in iOS 10 allow for much faster enumeration of backup passwords. iOS 9 backups were slightly more than 150,000 passwords per second using a powerful NVIDIA GTX 1080 accelerator. For iOS 10, Elcomsoft Phone Breaker peaks at 6 million passwords per second using a CPU alone without the help of a GPU.

This means that a truly random, 6-character alphanumerical password (single-case letters) protecting iOS 10 backup will only take a few minutes to break. Add an extra character, and it still takes several hours to brute-force, which is also very reasonable. For reference, the same 7-character password protecting an iOS 9 backup would take almost a week to break.

Benchmarks

The following benchmarks were obtained for iOS 9 and iOS 10 backups using the same hardware.

iOS 9 (CPU) : 2,400 passwords per second (Intel i5)

iOS 9 (GPU) : 150,000 passwords per second (NVIDIA GTX 1080)

iOS 10 (CPU): 6,000,000 passwords per second (Intel i5)

About Elcomsoft Phone Breaker

Elcomsoft Phone Breaker is a mobile forensic tool helping law enforcement specialists to extract information from offline and cloud backups created by Apple, BlackBerry and Windows devices.

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.

Contact: Olga Koksharova, [email protected] , fax US, toll-free: +1-866 448-2703, UK +44-870-831-2983.

SOURCE ELCOMSOFT Co. Ltd.
To mark its decennial this year, the Embassy of Monaco celebrated last night with a cocktail reception in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Ambassador's residence which was attended by VIP guests from the diplomatic, government, social, philanthropic, media and business communities. A message of congratulations acknowledging the close ties and bond of more than 150 years between the United States and Monaco was received from President Barack Obama .

When he inaugurated the Embassy, Prince Albert said the Embassy would facilitate even closer links between the United States and Monaco. "I believe that both of our countries have been fortunate to build many bridges of friendship over the years. By working together, we will not only keep these bridges strong, but we'll keep them open forever."

In recognising the efforts of Monaco's Embassy and representational offices across the United States last night, His Serene Highness said "our American friends know how much we share the same values and ideals and are eager to work on the same issuesand will always be warmly welcomed in Monaco."

"The Embassy might be one of the newest  and smallest - diplomatic missions in the nation's capital but we are a positive, proactive team focused on supporting the vison of our Sovereign and his Princely Government, and promoting Monaco's many cultural, philanthropic and business attributes to our friends across the United States. We share the same ideals and concerns, and we join with them - and the international community - to confront the great challenges of our time," said Her Excellency Maguy Maccario Doyle, the Principality's Ambassador to the United States.

"We have proudly championed the important environmental mission of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation since 2006, and this year were delighted to inaugurate the US chapter of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. Our fifth anniversary as a permanent observer to the Organisation of American States was highlighted in 2015. We are able to accomplish so many diverse and engaging projects with the invaluable support of our consular network who reflect the diversity, creativity and dynamism of the Principality," said Maccario Doyle, who also serves as Vice President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation's US chapter, which celebrates its own tenth birthday this year.

www.monacodc.org @MonacoInUSA #Monaco

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411351

SOURCE Embassy of Monaco

Related Links

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MONTREAL, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - EquiSoft is pleased to announce the addition of a new team of technology experts located in Hyderabad, India. This office opening will allow EquiSoft to considerably broaden the range of resource mix options for its client base in the AsiaPacific region and around the world.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160923/411279LOGO)

EquiSoft is a leader in the design and development of digital business solutions for the wealth and insurance industries. The company is also the only global specialized integrator for the Oracle Insurance Policy Administration (OIPA) solution, owing to its deep expertise in processes within new business, underwriting, compensation management, policy servicing and claims management.

Developing new opportunities globally

"We are increasingly being presented with business opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, said Simon Richardson, Regional Director for EMEA & APAC. It can be very challenging to effectively support a delivery in that part of the globe, when most of your resources are in North America or even South Africa. Since we had already planned to expand our business development activities in that region, we decided to establish a local capability that can also be leveraged to serve our global clients more effectively."

All EquiSoft resources, in every location, have industry-specific expertise. They have access to a wealth of knowledge gained by the company over the past 20 years, by working successfully with major global insurance companies and other financial institutions.

Adding to the mix of resource options

"Over the years, we've completed numerous integration projects and system upgrades, and as certified OIPA integrators, we could see the importance of hiring resources that are highly specialized, said EquiSoft Founder and CEO Luis Romero. It's not just a question of lower cost and lower risk on the initial project, but it's really important in the long run to avoid refactoring costs that could have a significant impact."

With its growing team of experts now based on four continents and in different time zones, EquiSoft has the capacity to provide its clients with onshore, nearshore and offshore resources that are not only knowledgeable, but also very experienced in the insurance and wealth industries. This ensures that clients can benefit from lower manpower costs, lower implementation risk, multi-cultural and multi-disciplined resources, as well as lower maintenance costs in the long term.

"Our business strategy is very simple, added Romero. We aim to meet our client's needs by offering the best mix of options in terms of technology and expertise, which allow them to achieve success in their projects, save substantial costs in the long term and ultimately deliver value to their end customers."

About EquiSoft Inc.

Founded in 1994, EquiSoft offers innovative business solutions to its clients in the insurance and wealth management industries to support their growth through the use of highly specialized and cost-effective technologies. In addition to being an Oracle OIPA integration partner for more than 15 carriers globally, EquiSoft also develops and markets innovative front-end applications (InsuranceElements and WealthElements) recognized as having industry-leading user interface and state-of-the-art technology. To complete this unique offering, EquiSoft also brings extensive experience in data migration through its subsidiary, Universal Conversion Technologies (UCT). Recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Service Provider Award by Wealth Professionals, the company has a growing team of nearly 250 specialized resources based in Canada, the US, Latin America, South Africa and India.

Website: www.equisoft.com

SOURCE EquiSoft

Related Links

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According to Frost & Sullivan, hybrid IT is fast becoming the new normal across organizations in Asia Pacific. The increased utilization of data centers and cloud services in Asia Pacific has led to a gradual update or upgrade of companies' existing IT systems, which is giving rise to the hybrid IT environment. An enhanced customer experience and greater focus on business model innovation is also driving service providers to accelerate their pace of service innovation.

CenturyLink is a leading global hybrid IT solutions provider that powers the needs of 98 per cent of Fortune 500 companies. Frost & Sullivan analysts determined that CenturyLink's leadership in product innovation, coupled with a sound marketing and business development strategy, brought it to the top of the pack.

Sandeep Bazaz, Industry Analyst, Digital Transformation, Asia Pacific at Frost & Sullivan, said that CenturyLink has continued to invest in developing enterprise-class solutions to better serve the changing needs of business and also improve its service portfolio by acquiring companies in service lines of managed services, disaster recovery, cloud application management and database as a service. CenturyLink also provides cost-effective solutions and a strong partner ecosystem that has helped grow its customer base in the Asia Pacific region.

Last year, Frost & Sullivan also presented CenturyLink with the Company of the Year Award for the North American Cloud Industry, in addition to the Asia Pacific Hybrid IT Strategy Award.

"Frost & Sullivan's continued recognition is a clear testimony to CenturyLink's relentless pursuit of excellence and innovative capabilities to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers," said Gery Messer, managing director, Asia Pacific, CenturyLink. "We have a strong team and the right assets in place to help our customers embark and progress on their hybrid IT journey."

CenturyLink's increased commitment to Asia Pacific is reflected in the launch of the CenturyLink Cloud platform in Australia and its exclusive business partnership to provide advanced hosting and managed IT services to enterprises in India (Nxtra Data) earlier this year.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a global communications, hosting, cloud and IT services company enabling millions of customers to transform their businesses and their lives through innovative technology solutions. CenturyLink offers network and data systems management, Big Data analytics and IT consulting, and operates more than 55 data centers in North America, Europe and Asia. The company provides broadband, voice, video, data and managed services over a robust 250,000-route-mile U.S. fiber network and a 300,000-route-mile international transport network. Visit CenturyLink for more information.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140806/134213

SOURCE CenturyLink, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.centurylink.com


SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This month Go Au Pair's application and matching process just took a leap forward for Host Families and Au Pairs with the unveiling of a new Host Family Community which replaces the old Host Family Portal. The website has been filled with loads of useful information, additional Au Pair search capabilities, and has been updated to minimize the paperwork for families.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/411053

Go Au Pair introduces new Host Family Community with advanced features

"We listened to feedback from our Host Families over the years and took their suggestions and created the Go Au Pair Community," said Kristy Hobberstad, Placement Coordinator with Go Au Pair. "People want to have more of a hands-on approach. With the new community, now our Host Families get to be as hands on as they want during the mutual match process."

Go Au Pair has added more than two dozen search filters it possible for Host Families to easily narrow down the list of Au Pair candidates that meet their family's needs. Families are able to save favorites, rate candidates, and add notes for each interview conducted. When a Host Family reaches out to Au Pairs on their favorites list, the Au Pairs are able to see a much more comprehensive Host Family profile. With the Au Pairs and Host Families learning more about each other, the result will be more successful matches.

Compared to other agencies, Go Au Pair families gain a lot more access to all of the Au Pairs at once to consider. They aren't limited to who they can view in the available Au Pair pools. Actually, sometimes in other agencies, the Au Pairs don't have a choice in who chooses them. Go Au Pair offers a mutual match process where both Host Families and Au Pairs decide together if they are the right fit.

One of the most extraordinary features about the new Community is the neighborhood, which includes comprehensive information for the families to use throughout the duration of the time they are with their Au Pair. For example, families can use the Community to search for all of accredited schools in their local area where the Au Pair can complete the educational component of the program. The Community also has a comprehensive Knowledge section where families can easily find program information, successful tips, and a variety of other Au Pair Program resources.

"Matching with an Au Pair is exciting and fun and something to look forward to and we hope the community encourages that excitement," said Hobberstad."I hope the online Community becomes a place where Host Families are able to find the perfect Au Pair for their family."

Because of all these new features in the Community, families have already begun to give rave reviews about the benefits of limited paperwork, additional resources, and new search features.

Go Au Pair is one of the original Au Pair Program sponsors designated by the Department of State in 1989. There are Go Au Pair representatives in over 50 countries on six different continents and in more than 100 American cities. Their company headquarters is in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Related Images

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Related Links

Go Au Pair

Community Registration

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Go Au Pair

Related Links

http://www.goaupair.com


LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall and Local 2010 Secretary-Treasurer Jason Rabinowitz led hundreds of Teamster women on a march through Hollywood today in support of University of California (UC) Teamsters seeking a fair contract.

Teamsters attending the union's annual women's conference joined the rally in downtown Hollywood, calling on the University of California (UC) system to deliver a fair contract for members of Teamsters Local 2010.

Teamsters Local 2010 represents 14,000 critical support staff who work at University of California campuses statewide. More than 80 percent of the Teamsters are women, and about 63 percent are people of color. The union is currently in contract negotiations with the University of California, the state's third largest employer.

The UC system has for decades been driving down frontline workers' pay, while giving raises to its senior executives. Over the past two decades, administrative, support and clerical workers have seen the UC system hold down their real wages by nearly 24 percent. The UC system is also attacking workers' retirement security.

"On behalf of the 1.4 million members of the Teamsters Union, I am proud to stand here in solidarity with all UC Teamsters. We are here to send a clear message that the Teamsters will not back down until the University of California delivers on a fair contract," Hoffa said.

"The Teamsters Union will stand for nothing less than a contract that honors the work of UC Teamsters," Hall said. "This is a major public university system. There is no reason why workers should see their pay, benefits and future under attack."

"Today, Teamster women delivered a clear message to the University of California: it's time to stop discriminatory pay practices. It's time to bargain in good faith with the union. It's time to pay womenand all workers who make UC workenough to live!" said Jason Rabinowitz, Teamsters Local 2010 Secretary-Treasurer.

Local 2010 President Catherine Cobb said the university has failed in its mission to serve the public.

"As executive pay skyrockets, the UC support staff, who are mainly women, have been left behind," Cobb said. "Teamster women: stand united and tell UC to pay women enough to live!"

"We are not alone. There are 14,000 UC Teamsters and hundreds of thousands of union sisters and brothers standing with us. It's overwhelming to see such support," said Lou Ilagan, a University of California at Irvine CME coordinator and member of Local 2010.

"The University of California should not be creating a culture where women cannot make ends meet. It is ironic that I work with a major university whose mission is to serve the public, yet it fails to serve those who make the university great," said Ruth Lopez, a financial counselor with UCSD Health Systems and Local 2010 member.

Also speaking at the rally in support of the Local 2010 workers were Rusty Hicks, L.A. County Federation of Labor, Exec. Secretary-Treasurer, and Kamala Lopez, actress, activist and director of the documentary "Equal Means Equal."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Christian Castro, (213) 247-9500

[email protected]

Kara Deniz, (202) 624-6911

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


UITHOORN, the Netherlands, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

HOYA Vision Care Company, a key player in the global market for ophthalmic lenses, is proud to announce a global premiere: Yuniku, the world's first 3D tailored eyewear that is designed entirely around the optimal vision of the wearer. Yuniku is the result of a highly successful partnership with Materialise, leading provider of 3D printing software and services, and collaboration with Hoet design studio, pioneer in innovative eyewear designs. The 3D tailored eyewear, launched today, is a Silmo d'Or nominee in the Equipment category at Silmo 2016 in Paris.

Regular frames and lenses can be customised only to a certain degree. The frame and fitting are a given, and lens parameters have to be adjusted to suit them, providing the best possible - though not always ideal - vision experience. Yuniku, by contrast, uses a revolutionary vision-centric approach. It begins by assessing the wearer's visual needs and facial features. Advanced software calculates the ideal position of the lenses in relation to the eyes, and then designs the frame based on those unique parameters. 3D printing allows us to further tailor the frame according to the visual, comfort and aesthetic needs of the customer.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160922/410763LOGO )



The range features an exclusive selection of frame designs, colours and finishes. These are complemented by a choice of a premium progressive, single vision or indoor lens solution.

"Yuniku is an exciting step forward in custom eyewear. By capitalising on advances in 3D printing technology, we have removed the limitations posed by traditional spectacles," says Jon Warrick, Vice President Global Marketing. "For the first time, wearers can enjoy the ultimate in optical performance, without compromising on style or fit."

"The greatest impact and reach comes from those few innovations that transform entire supply chains, introduce new business models, increase operational efficiency, and greatly improve customer experience. I am proud to say that Yuniku is a prime example of transformative innovation," adds Alireza Parandian, Global Business Strategist - Wearables, Materialise.

"For us it was an obvious continuation of implementing 3D printing in eyewear design," says Bieke, daughter of Patrick Hoet and director of the design office. "Yuniku refers to the unique facial anatomy of each person, but also to the unique design of the frame. The frame design is a very important factor to consider. After all, you don't make a first impression twice!"

How does Yuniku work?

The Yuniku concept is fully integrated, ensuring seamless customisation, production and delivery. Customers are involved throughout, offering maximum opportunity to interact and create their own unique eyewear.

In store, the customer's facial features are scanned and their visual needs are recorded. Based on the collected data, the optimal wearing parameters are defined and fixed and an automatic sizing recommendation for the frame is made. This ensures not only optimal vision but also the most comfortable frame fit, because each frame can be customised to suit every unique face.

Frame design, colour and finish can all be chosen to match the customer's individual style. A virtual image of what the customer will look like in the selected eyewear is displayed on the screen, ensuring complete satisfaction with the end result.

Innovative technology on an open platform

Yuniku was developed in collaboration with the most qualified partners. The proprietary methods for lens optimisation and frame customisation, which make Yuniku such a transformative innovation, are described in pending patent applications. To design the base frame collection, HOYA and Materialise collaborated with Hoet design studio, well known for its bespoke Theo brand. As Yuniku is an open platform, further branded frames, from both Hoet and other designers, will be added to the collection.

Yuniku

Yu-ni-ku is Japanese for 'unique'. It is actually the phonetic, Western spelling of the Japanese word for unique. It stands for dynamic, intuitive and innovative; for one of a kind. An innovative power that knows how to meet the needs of its time, allowing it to capture the collective unconsciousness.

Note to editors

About HOYA

Founded in 1941 in Tokyo, Japan, HOYA is a global med-tech company and the leading supplier of innovative high-tech and medical products. HOYA is active in the fields of healthcare and information technology providing eyeglasses, medical endoscopes, intraocular lenses, optical lenses as well as key components for semiconductor devices, LCD panels and HDDs. With over 150 offices and subsidiaries worldwide, HOYA currently employs a multi-national workforce of over 34,000 people.

About Materialise

Materialise incorporates more than 25 years of 3D printing experience into a range of software solutions and 3D printing services, which together form the backbone of 3D printing technology. Materialise's open and flexible solutions enable players in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, art and design, and consumer goods, to build innovative 3D printing applications that aim to make the world a better and healthier place. Headquartered in Belgium, with branches worldwide, Materialise combines the largest group of software developers in the industry with one of the largest 3D printing facilities in the world. For additional information, please visit: http://www.materialise.com

About HOET

With more than 25 years of experience in (eyewear) design, being founders of the brand THEO for which HOET introduced the first laser cut frames and chemical etched frames, the HOET design studio is a synonym for evolution and innovation. The studio is also pioneer in bringing custom made 3D printed frames to the optical market. Essential to their design process is extensive research, thorough knowledge of materials and the talent to adapt old techniques and shape them into new ones.

Website: http://www.yuniku.com / http://www.hoya.eu

YUNIKU  is a registered trademark of Hoya Corporation.

 2016 All rights reserved.

SOURCE HOYA Vision Care Europe
BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) and Boston-area Hyundai dealers will present Massachusetts General Children's Hospital with a $250,000 Scholar Grant to be used to improve care and increase treatment options for kids with cancer. Massachusetts General Children's Hospital 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 Massachusetts General Children's Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114 on Saturday, September 24 at 11:00am at a Handprint Ceremony during which the handprints of local Boston-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*:

Dr. Howard Weinstein , Unit Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children

Dr. Hanno Hock , Assistant Professor of Medicine

Pediatric cancer survivor and 2016 HHOW National Youth Ambassador, Ryan Darby (age 13)

John Hyland , Regional Manager, Hyundai Motor America

Suzanne Iovanna , Dealer Principal, Pride Hyundai Of Lynn

*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

Related Links

http://www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org


WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Friday, September 23, Hyundai Hope On Wheels (HHOW) will announce the winners of its annual Hyundai Scholar and Young Investigator Awards. Thirty-four researchers will receive a combined $7.5 million to continue research and study for pediatric cancer research. This announcement builds upon HHOW's major milestone of reaching $115 million in grants to pediatric cancer research since 1998. At the press conference, Hyundai Hope On Wheels will thank the many stakeholders that have made it possible for the organization to reach this first milestone in their fight to end childhood cancer. HHOW will also announce its plans to continue funding pediatric cancer research with a goal to award an additional $100 million to pediatric cancer research in the United States.

"We are proud to continue to fight to end childhood cancer," said Dave Zuchowski, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "While much has been achieved, there remains a lot more work to be done. As we look to the next five years, we are committed to funding the amazing work that's being done by the individuals, hospitals and organizations across the country, who are so pivotal to finding a cure. To all the kids, families and cancer researchers fighting this terrible disease  you are not alone and Hyundai remains committed to this important cause."

The press conference will take place today, Friday, September 23, at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Room HVC201, from 8:00  9:00 a.m. and will feature several members of Congress, whose support is critical in the fight to end childhood cancer, as well as His Excellency Ahn Ho-young, the Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea.

Specifically, the press conference will feature:

His Excellency Ahn Ho-young, Ambassador of the Republic of South Korea

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD 8)

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA 3)

Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-TX 18)

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX 10)

Dr. David Poplack , Director, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Texas Children's Hospital

HHOW National Youth Ambassadors, Hannah Adam (FL) and Ryan Darby (MD), both 13 year old cancer survivors

Mr. Dave Zuchowski , President and CEO, Hyundai Motor America

Mr. Scott Stark , Chairman, Hyundai Hope On Wheels Board

Mr. Zafar Brooks , Executive Director, Hyundai Hope On Wheels

The HHOW press conference will be held prior to the House Childhood Cancer Caucus media event, also located at the Capital Visitor Center, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Bringing together policymakers, members of Congress, the advocacy community and families, Hyundai Hope On Wheels is engaging a range of stakeholders in our mutual goal to end childhood cancer.

2016 National Call To Action: Give Hope A Hand

As September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, HHOW has been raising awareness by giving a multitude of research grants during the month. Specifically, HHOW will award 34 pediatric cancer research grants, totaling $7.5 million, to help researchers across the country get closer to the goal of ending childhood cancer. Exciting research projects are being funded on some of the latest and cutting edge science, such as immunotherapy, DNA sequencing and novel therapies.

In addition to funding research, 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

Related Links

http://www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org


LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, Belgium, September 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

IBA Launches Groundbreaking Online Platform to Gather the Leading Experts in Adaptive Proton Therapy and Create a Community to Develop Research Open Source Software

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, today unveils its unique platform, 'Leading the PATh', which gathers the leading experts in the field of proton therapy all in one place. It is anticipated that 'Leading the PATh' will enable the worldwide medical community to shape the most efficient Proton Adaptive Therapy (PATh), a proton therapy process which improves the accuracy of what is considered to be the most precise cancer treatment available today.

The platform www.leadingthepath.org will enable physicians, physicists, academics, researchers, industry experts, patient association advocates and policymakers from all over the world to exchange experiences, discuss best practices and enhance knowledge, to improve the next generation of proton therapy treatment.

This platform also includes access to a research software platform. This software will be distributed under an open-source license to foster creativity and innovation within the proton therapy community. In addition, users will be invited to access and test a software application that proposes a new example of proton adaptive workflow.

Damien Bertrand, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator, says: "Open-mindedness and willingness to foster collaboration across the medical community has always been part of IBA's DNA. Sharing expertise and best practice will help the community win the fight against cancer. We are very proud to be part of this one-of-a-kind mobilization, and we remain determined to help our clinical partners alleviate the burden of the patients who are the center of our attention at all times."

Gery Gevers, Vice-president Research & Development, says: "With over 50% of the market share, IBA already serves the largest User Community in proton therapy. We firmly intend to continue our work to provide access to the best cancer treatment to as many patients as possible. Adaptive Proton Therapy should contribute significantly to the goal of treating the 20% of radiation patients who could benefit from proton therapy, rather than the 1% who are currently being treated."

About IBA

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBA's proton therapy solutions are flexible and adaptable, allowing customers to choose from universal full-scale proton therapy centers as well as compact, single room systems. In addition, IBA also has a radiation dosimetry business and develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry.

Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1,400 people worldwide, IBA has installed systems across the world. IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange NYSE EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB).

More information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com.

IBA is looking forward to welcoming you at ASTRO 2016. Don't miss the opportunity to meet some of the leading experts in the field of proton therapy. More information and program available at: http://www.perfectingcancercare.com/

SOURCE IBA
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Azadian Law Group, PC regarding the Starbucks Breakfast Sandwich class action settlement.

If you purchased breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks locations in California between April 28, 2015 and August 17, 2015, you may be entitled to either reimbursement or credit from a class action settlement.

A proposed settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit claiming that during the period between April 28, 2015 and August 17, 2015, certain Starbucks stores in California charged customers a price higher than the listed price for two breakfast sandwiches: the Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwich and the Sausage & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich. Some company-owned Starbucks stores in California allegedly charged customers $3.75 when the listed price was $3.45 for the Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwich and $3.45 when the listed price was $3.25 for the Sausage & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich. Starbucks denies all claims and liability in this case but has agreed to settle to avoid further expense, inconvenience, interference with its ongoing business operations, and burdensome litigation.

Who is a Class Member?

You are a class member if you purchased either a Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon Breakfast Sandwich or Sausage & Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich from a company-owned Starbucks store in California between April 28, 2015 and August 17, 2015. Note this issue did not affect licensed Starbucks stores (i.e., those located on or in grocery stores, including but not limited to Vons/Safeway, Albertsons, Ralph's, Target stores, hotels, college campuses, and airport terminals).

What does the settlement provide?

Settlement funds of up to $365,237.40 will be made available to reimburse or partially reimburse Class Members for the sandwiches. From the settlement fund, Plaintiff will request an incentive fee of $5,000 for her efforts and Class Counsel will request reimbursement of litigation costs of approximately $6,500, but not to exceed $7,000. Class Counsel will also apply to the Court for an award of reasonable attorneys' fees that seeks an award of attorneys' fees consistent with California law, but not more than 25% of the Gross Settlement Fund. Additionally, Starbucks has agreed to pay the costs related to notifying the class about this settlement and to administer the settlement.

If you made purchases connected to your Starbucks Rewards account, you will automatically receive a credit to your Starbucks Rewards account in the amount of $0.25 for each sandwich purchased during the Class Period for which you were overcharged. You do NOT need to complete a Claim Form.

If you made a purchase NOT connected to a Starbucks Rewards account, you MUST complete a Claim Form online at www.BreakfastSandwichSettlement.com by December 22, 2016. To file a claim, choose one of the following options:

Option 1: If you have Proof of Purchase, you can receive $0.25 for each valid purchase. The refund shall be issued in the form of an Electronic Coupon Code to use toward the purchase of any product of your choice at company-owned Starbucks stores. This credit will expire 90 days after issuance.

Option 2: If you do not have Proof of Purchase, you must confirm under penalty of perjury that you purchased at least one Reduced-Fat Turkey Bacon or Sausage & Cheddar breakfast sandwich during the class period. You will receive a $0.50 Electronic Coupon Code to use toward the purchase of any product of your choice at company-owned Starbucks stores. This credit will expire 90 days after issuance.

What are my rights?

Do nothing: If you made valid purchases not connected to a Starbucks Rewards account, you will not receive money, but you will still be bound by the Court's decisions.

Exclude yourself: You will not receive benefits from the settlement but you will maintain your right to sue Starbucks about the legal claims in this case. To exclude yourself, you must do so in writing by December 22, 2016.

Object: You may object to any part of the settlement in writing by December 22, 2016.

The proposed Settlement Agreement is subject to Court approval. On January 23, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in Department 307, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Central Civil West Courthouse, 600 South Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90005, a hearing will be held on whether the proposed settlement should be approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate. You or your lawyer may appear at the hearing, but you don't have to. The motion for attorneys' fees and costs and plaintiff incentive awards will be posted on the settlement website at www.BreakfastSandwichSettlement.com after they are filed.

This is only a summary. For complete details, including the Claim Form, detailed court documents, and other information, visit www.BreakfastSandwichSettlement.com or call toll-free 1-844-412-1945.

SOURCE Azadian Law Group, PC